From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Mon, Mar 21, 2016 11:10 pm Subject: I will pay you up your rent charge and a 20% compensation. . Hello dear, How are you today ? Well I have heard you all and i will like to explain some issues to you. i have been having a problem with my Dad who i live with before , but right now due to our differences, i have to left the country. My father works with Oil Contractors in Saudi Arabia and Africa including some parts of the Asian and US. I work with my father as his personal auditor and we move around for his contracts where ever he is awarded. My first boy friend, Brian Daniel, absconded with my dad's money which was kept with me after a completion of a contract in Romania,. When my boy friend absconded with the huge sum of 125,000 Euro, this brought about the first breakup between me and my father, because he thought, I plan with my ex-boyfriend to loot his business, but not knowing that i am an innocent about this embezzlement. So my father has been harsh and tough against me about this. When i noticed all his behaviors towards me and the bad acts of his new wife, i decided to leave him to meet a friend in a city call Islington in London whom have met during our staying there for a contract. . I left because my dad have been treating me bad and stopped me from working with him, even having any access to his assets, and i felt no where to go than to leave him and make plans personally for my future. . Now, i am in need of your help, i have gotten the enough money to run myself when I get to you, i want to come over to your place and make a new life for myself and live happily with you, I do not want to stay here anymore, you know I'm a foreigner here and it is absolutely dangerous for me to live here, that is why i need your gesture assistance. How i want you to help me is? I have some money, which I have gotten from an over invoiced Contract remuneration executed by my father with some contractors, so I have taken up the money from the contractors, but I am hiding up myself here where i stayed with here in Islignton, because i might got setup if they know i have such huge amount of money (US$5.7million), so for me to be more safe and secure, I put this money in to two boxes and i deposited the money with the BRINKS SECURITY COMPANY, because i believe that is the safest way for me and they work around the world and i a registered company. I deposited the boxes with some of my travelling luggage with the BRINKS company because they render private diplomatic delivery service and i told them that the boxes are my travelling luggage, which I want to send forth to my husband because i am returning home, then i paid them up their custody and security fees. So, I want the 2 boxes sent to you while i catch up with you as soon as it is been delivered to you while I pay you up your rent charge and a reasonable amount for compensation, only 20% of the money in the boxes to you. Every arrangement for the delivery is perfect, I have obtained customs papers for private freight and there are seals on the boxes showing that it is a private delivery and check performed, it is free from customs checks, it will be delivered to you by the diplomats of the BRINKS company, you do not need to burn out to receive it. I need you now to help me out, so that you can make the Clearance from the Security Company as the Recipient of the fund. And once the fund gets to you, I will be there with you, so that you can arrange everything properly before my arrival. Like I said, I will pay for your rent and fulfill my 20% promise of the money to you. I will appreciate your trust towards me and hoping to hear from you and to meet you in-person. Thanks Sarah From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Tue, Mar 22, 2016 8:18 am Subject: Darling, contact the security company Hello my sweet love, Well am happy to hear from you that you can help me out, and I'm using this time to promise you that if you can render the help as you said, after the 20% i promise you, i will surprise you in a way you don't expect and again for you to know that all am telling you is the truth. All i finally need from you now is TRUST, because am really afraid of man since that my stupid ex boy friend has done bad to me, and i want you to know that this money is the only hope i have so please try to be faithful with me and i will fulfill my promised. Below is the contact of the Brink security company. I want you to know that have go through so many stuff in my life and now i want to settle down and don't worry as soon as you get in touch with the security company then we will see each other and meet at the airport. Also important my love you will also write to the Brinks company that you need information's and details about the delivery of my luggage to you. Below is the details of the company and also my deposit details company address : brinkssecuitycompany@gmail.com My deposit details is below : Company: BRINKS SECURITY COMPANY. Contact Person: Mr Alexander Borsetto (Custodian Manager) My deposit details is below :Company: BRINKS SECURITY COMPANY.Contact Person: Mr Alexander Borsetto (Custodian Manager) brinkssecuitycompany@gmail.com HERE ARE MY DEPOSIT DETAILS : Deposit Number: XX/881/05 Sort/Clearance Code: NIGBR04/576-45/MP56 33 Deposit Certificate #: XYZ 33 94 07 Depositor: Miss Sarah Walker Hope to read from you soon, HERE ARE MY DEPOSIT DETAILS :Deposit Number: XX/881/05Sort/Clearance Code: NIGBR04/576-45/MP56 33Deposit Certificate #: XYZ 33 94 07Depositor: Miss Sarah WalkerHope to read from you soon, De : brinks company < brinkssecuitycompany@gmail.com > Envoye le : Me, 6 Avr 2016 15:14 Sujet : Re: Hello, my sweet love, please contact the security company. Attention Sir, Sir, You do not need to burn out to receive the luggage. Our agent shall make the delivery to your door step with the address that you have provided to us. Once the luggage arrive to you the agent shall call you for delivery, You shall need to make the clearance and also on Monday morning we shall tagged the luggage for shipping to you and also immediately send to you the bill of lading for the delivery CLEARANCE FEE . . . $ 450 SERVICE CHARGES . . $ 275 SHIPPING . . . . . . . . . . . $ 200 TOTAL . . . . . $ 925 Please sir make the payment via western union money transfer or money gram to the company accountant and send to us all the details for the payment as soon as the payment is been paid. Name : Alessandro Borsetto Country : United Kingdom Question : Payment name Answer : Sarah Amount : $ 925. Do get back to us with the payment details. . Yours sincerely, Alexander Borsetto From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Sat, Apr 9, 2016 12:30 am Subject: If you can help me, I will travel down to you. Hello Dear, I do want you to know that if you can help me get my luggages that is where am going to see the money and travel down to you. Just try and help me out because you are all I count on, baby,I love you. Hope to read from you soon, Kisses, SARAH From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Sun, Apr 17, 2016 6:43 pm Subject: can you send me my flight fee ? Hello Dear, I want you to know that am not here for photo sharing and if you know you want to help me, can you send me my flight fee so that i can book a flight from London to meet youor what do you think? Hope to read from you soon, SARAH From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Mon, Apr 25, 2016 8:22 am Subject: I would have come down myself to meet you. . Good morning honey, How are you doing ? I'm sorry for replying you so late, I don't have internet that is why. I want you to know that I understand the fact thatI want to be with you because I love you that was why I chose you. I want you to understand that if I have the money for my flight ticket I would have come down myself to meet you as a personbut I am so broke for now. I'm not asking you to give me all because all I need from you is $450 and I will be glad if you can make the payment to this address as soon as possible so that I can be with you soon. Below is my address and don't forget to send it via Western Union Money Transfer. ADDRESS : 21 ISLINGTON PK ST,LONDON, ZIP CODE : N1 1QB, COUNTRY: UNITED KINGDOM NAME : SARAH WALKER Hope to read from you soon, Kisses, From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Tue, Apr 26, 2016 10:52 am Subject: So let me know what you have for me, if you really want to see me. Hello Dear, How are you doing ? I wouldcome to you because I can see you are a very and honest man. I would like you to know that I will strive hard and get the money but can you try and send $80 to my traveling agency so that all my traveling papers will be complete ? That's all I need from you now, and let me know if you can afford that so that I can send you the Agent information, she's in Nigeria at the moment. So let me know what you have for me, if you really want to see me. Hope to read from you soon, Kisses and hugs, Sarah From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Wed, Apr 27, 2016 1:50 pm Subject: You must make the payment via western union or money gram. Good morning my dear, How was your night ? I hope you slept well.I want you to know that I really want to come to you. Here is the address which you need and I was told that it was when I paid the fee that was when I will be able to have my flight details and I will be told when to come to you. Here is the details below. You must make the payment via western union or money gram anyone that is closer to you and get back to me with the scanned receipt so that I can tell them so that they can have it cashed and send me my flight details to you. First name: Akingbein Adesipe Last name: Agbeke Zip code: 23439 State: Ogun state City: Abeokuta Country: Nigeria Text question: Who is the money for ? Answer: Sarah Hope to read from you soon Kisses, Sarah From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Thu, Apr 28, 2016 8:18 am Subject: Re: I miss you, come to me ! Hello Dear, How are you today ? I hope you make the payment in the morning so that you can make me happy as I want to make you happy. Please don't let me down. Just make me happy so that I can be with you as soon as possible. You must make the payment via Western Union and Money Gram anyone that is closer to you and get back to me with the scanned receipt so that I can tell them so that they can have it cashed and send me my flight details to you. First name : Akingbein Adesipe Last name : Agbeke Zip code : 23439 State : Ogun state City : Abeokuta Country : Nigeria Text question : Who is the money for ? Answer : Sarah Hope to hear good news from you soon, Kisses and hugs, Sarah From: brinks company < brinkssecuitycompany@gmail.com > Sent: Mon, Jun 6, 2016 12:04 pm Subject: Total amounted needed to be paid is $1,825 Attn : Sir, We have make the process and also the delivery schedule to you and is estimated to be delivered to you by Tuesday morning. But before the delivery, you are liable to first make the below payment to our nearest office to you. Shipping fee : $750 Clearance :. . $400 Insurance :. . $375 Tax :. . . . . . . $300 - - - - - - - Total. . . . . .$1,825 Total amounted needed to be paid is $1,825 and the payment is to be paid before the luggage is to be shipped. Kindly revert to us immediately you get our message for further process and once the payment is be paid we shall send to you the shipping way bill and online tracking number for the shipment. We wait to your anticipation Deposit department. Logistics Manager. Brinks Security Services Ltd. Brink Hse, Othaya Rd, Lavington Nairobi. From: brinks company < brinkssecuitycompany@gmail.com > Sent: Sat, Jun 11, 2016 1:41 pm Subject: Once the $1,825 payment is been paid, send to us all payment information Attn : about walkersarah555@gmail.com walkersarah50@hotmail.com , Top of the day to you sir, We have now make the process of the luggage delivery to you and please kindly make the payment to the security company account from western union or money gram to the below details. Name : Sarah Mwende State : Nairobi. Country : Kenya. Zip code : 11011 Question : Behalf Answer : Bakit Top of the day to you sir, We have now make the process of the luggage delivery to you and please kindly make the payment to the security company account from western union or money gram to the below details.Name : Sarah MwendeState : Nairobi.Country : Kenya.Zip code : 11011Question : BehalfAnswer : Bakit - - - - - - Amount : $1,825 Once the payment is been paid kindly send to us all the payment information Sender name : Mtcn or ref : Address : Telephone number : Or on safer side scan and send to us the receipt, Once we confirmed the receipt we shall send to you the shipping confirmation and tracking number for the luggage. And our delivery agent will notify your by sms or with call We wait to your anticipation Deposit department. Logistics Manager. Brinks Security Services Ltd. Brink Hse, Othaya Rd, Lavington Nairobi. From: brinks company < brinkssecuitycompany@gmail.com > Sent: Sat, Jun 11, 2016 3:02 pm Subject: The contact is The contact is : We wait to your anticipation Deposit department. Logistics Manager. Brinks Security Services Ltd. Brink Hse, Othaya Rd, Lavington Nairobi. The contact is : smwende.brinks@outlook.com We wait to your anticipationDeposit department.Logistics Manager.Brinks Security Services Ltd.Brink Hse, Othaya Rd,Lavington Nairobi. From: brinks company < brinkssecuitycompany@gmail.com > Sent: Sat, Jun 11, 2016 3:21 pm Subject: The contact is The contact is : walkersarah555@gmail.com The contact is : walkersarah50@hotmail.com Name : Walker Sarah. Name : Walker Sarah. We wait to your anticipation Deposit department. Logistics Manager. Brinks Security Services Ltd. Brink Hse, Othaya Rd, Lavington Nairobi. From: walker sarah < walkersarah555@gmail.com > Sent: Sat, Jun 11, 2016 3:24 pm Subject: Just try and pay this fee to the company and collect the tracking number. . Hello Honey, I never believe you could still write to me and you make me happy and your message makes me feel so great. I want you to know that you have always gotten my love and there is nothing I can do without you, just try and pay this fee to the company and collect the tracking number so that you will know when our luggages will get to you. I know you love me,I love you too. Hope to read back from you soon, Kisses and hugs, Sarah If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... Your digital subscription includes access to all content on our agricultural websites across the nation. Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - This Week's Paper. 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 New business incubation space in the works for downtown Salina Saline County is in the approval process for an incubator space for retail and specialty food businesses in downtown Salina. On Anzac Day, Samoa College student, Aunoa Uele was announced as the winner of the 2016 First World War Centenary Competition organised and funded by the New Zealand High Commission. Aunoa will represent Samoa in September at the Battle of the Somme commemorations in France, joining other winners from the Cook Islands Tonga and Niue. This is her winning entry. What the sacrifices made by the Samoan and Allied servicemen and women during the First World War mean to me True courage is not confined to the soldiers will power and commitment on the battlefield; it belongs to the daily conquests of what we recognise as our own personal weaknesses (Dwight L Moody North American evangelist of the 19th century, edited by CommonSense) The quote above simplifies the focus of what my essay sets out to discuss. It aims at identifying what the sacrifices made by the Samoan and Allied servicemen and women during the First World War mean to me. World War One broke out in 1914 and was expected to last only for a few weeks but it ended four years later in 1918. It is recorded that there were 5509 losses per day and 10 million killed on the battlefields. In particular, Somme battle was a pivotal event that laid basis for the Allied victory in the First World War. Victory of this battle was achieved by advancing 12 km into German-held territory. This victory was of great significance as it led the Allied Forces to overall victory in the war. Although the war is such a negative historical event, the servicemen and women sacrificed a lot. True essence of what this sacrifice means to me are categorised as follows: courage and bravery, perseverance and commitment and unity. Courage and Bravery. It is certain that all the fellow servicemen and women were indeed very courageous and brave. Evidently in their initial decision to .sacrifice their whole lives to join the service. They went to war physically and mentally prepared for what to expect, and with a clear understanding of what they were fighting for and what the consequences might be. They had to forsake their families and children; they left their whole lives behind and risked everything. However this did not in any way discourage these brave men and women from serving what they saw was a good cause to fight for. The actions of these servicemen and women appeals to me because it inspires me as a young teenager still learning about life and what it ought to become. It teaches young ones like me that bravery and courage are values that we, as growing generations should learn about as well as act out. We need to apply these values to everyday lives where we can be brave and be courageous in serving a good cause. Perseverance and Commitment. We were reduced to a miserable condition with deep mud everywhere and no greatcoats or blankets. For night after night ... we hardly slept. Sleep was a matter of bits and pieces amounting to very little. One night, there was a thin cover of ice on a path beside us. We thought with longing of fires, dry clothes and hot baths. We became unspeakably weary and dreary. Sergeant Major Cecil Malthus from Andrew MacDonalds On my way to Somme. The above provides us with an insight within the war zones. Although the servicemen and women who went to war encountered poor, miserable, cold and exhausting conditions, they were determined to reach their goal and succeed. They endured all the hardships they encountered and fought till the very end. The servicemen and women went out to war wholeheartedly and with so much willpower. With all the odds against them, they managed to persevere and soldiered on. It is fair to say that giving up may have crossed the minds of some if not all, just like many of us when we come to a stumbling block in life. Of course it would cross our minds to give up but our fellow servicemen and women remained committed to the service they signed up for and persevered and strived to achieve their goal. This has become a valuable lesson for me and also applicable to young ones out there. When we give up easily in chasing our goals, the sacrifices our fellow servicemen and women remind us that success doesnt come easily but is achieved through perseverance to endure any pain and hard work through full commitment. Unity. The formation of the Allied side comprising the British Commonwealth, France, Belgium, Serbia, Italy and other countries joined in unity pulling together all their strength, expertise and manpower and military capabilities. It was only though this unification that Germany was defeated. And at war, the Allies were unified under one common goal and that was to defeat Germany and reinstate peace. As the saying goes, United we stand, divided we fall. Therefore to me, it is vital that we, the youth of today, should stand together to work towards the common goal to be great leaders of tomorrow. We shall stand tall in unity to promote peace and prosperity and stand together to defeat tensions and wars. Only then will we be able to discover our true potential and be empowered to achieve our goals successfully. As we commemorate 100 years on, the detrimental effects of the great human loss are still very much felt. As one German officer described, Somme, the whole history of the world cannot contain a more gruesome word. Thus this event is marked as one of the saddest battles in history due to the high number of casualties. It is certain that time will not heal all the broken hearts of the families of fallen servicemen and women. However this essay has allowed me to evaluate their sacrifices and what they mean to me. It has given me a greater insight into the true essence of such sacrifices and the greater need as a youth of today to ensure that lessons we learn, are a platform to guide the actions we should take to succeed and maintain peace and harmony in the world. As Moody clearly and fittingly describes it, True courage is not confined to the soldiers will power and commitment on the battlefield; it belongs to the daily conquests of what we recognise as our own personal weaknesses. NZHC Winner of the WW1 Centenary Competition Aunoa Uele Samoa College Tongas government is exploring ways it can increase the number of women participating in politics, and is taking its lead from Samoa. There are currently no female MPs and there have only been a handful of women in both local body and national politics. In the lead-up to Junes town and district officer elections, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been holding workshops to encourage women to participate. The Ministrys Chief Executive, Mary Bing-Fonua, said the government was looking at various options and examples across the region. For more details http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/302783/tonga-to-explore-parliamentary-quotas-for-women The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D) will be hosting the Annual Exhibition of ie Samoa (fine mats) and Siapo to commemorate National Womens Day 2016. The National Exhibition of the Ie Sae and Siapo is scheduled for 7am in front of the government building on Thursday, 5 May 2016. The event is conducted on an annual basis and this years commemoration promotes womens crucial role as producers of such important arts and crafts of Samoa as well as their role as income providers for their families and communities. The revival of the production of the Ie Samoa and Siapo is not only to invigorate the cultural significance of these arts and crafts but also to promote womens crafting as a source of income to contribute to the economic development of Samoa. The sustainability of the art of fine mat weaving and siapo making is being promoted through the work of the Ie Samoa Committee which is chaired by the Prime Minister and comprised of representatives of government, private sector, Women in Business Development Incorporated and civil society. The implementation of this programme is spearheaded by womens committees, which encompasses of young women as well as women with disabilities. The role of men as weavers and supporters in the promotion of the ie sae and siapo production is crucial in the sustainability of this important program. This initiative by the government is to stimulate the cultural significance of using One Ie Sae for traditional obligations. This is evident in usage of these priceless Measina in traditional gift for Very Important People during Independence celebrations, funerals and family obligations. In addition, the Ie Samoa and Siapo is a source of income for women who have traded these crafts as either gift exchange or for money both with Samoans locally and overseas. The sustainability of this program will not only promote their cultural significance but also as a means to support economic development for women and their communities. Members of the public are invited. Police officers in full riot gear took over the compound of Maluafou College yesterday. Students were promptly sent home and the school will be closed today for safety reasons, with the authorities on full alert about a possible attack on the school by another school up the road. The threat was made on Facebook with a post by someone identified as Vadoz Lokoz calling on students to bring knifes, petrol bombs and rocks for the attack. The threat, suspected to have been made by an Avele College student, follows a brawl between the two schools at Maluafou last Friday. The threat instructs Avele students to take the Magiagi bus and get off just on the riverside, opposite Leifiifi College. The students are then told to proceed to Maluafou to start the attack. Beat all the boys and girls of the school, no one is to be spared including the teachers, the post reads. The note instructs year 9 students to bring small knives, year 12 students to bring bottles and year 13 students are asked to bring petrol. Make sure you beat up the girls of Maluafou as if you are beating up a boy and stab them with the knives. It was not possible to get a comment from the Police yesterday. When the Avele Principal, Matafeo Reupena Matafeo, was contacted for a comment, he said his staff was having a meeting. I know why you called but we are having a meeting at the moment discussing that issue, he said. He did not elaborate. Neither the Principal of Maluafou College or the Director of E.F.K.S Education, Reverend Vavatau Taufao would comment on the issue yesterday. But a teacher at Maluafou College, who spoke to the Samoa Observer on the condition of anonymity, said the decision to close the school is for safety reasons. We heard rumors that our school will be under attack, he said. We dont want to take any chances on the safety of students. So we thought this is the best thing to do as we seek a mediation meeting with Avele. Im hoping that this will be resolved before the end of the week because we have been preparing for our English Day but now that cannot go ahead. The teacher blamed the wrong use of social media for the escalating problem. Once the students get on to it, the teachers cant do anything about it, he said. The teacher also confirmed that five students from Maluafou were taken by Police over the fight last week. Whats happening is very disappointing, the teacher said. But we cannot risk the safety of students and we think its best that they are at home while the Police are trying to sort out what is happening. The Office of the Attorney General has stepped in to action recommendations from the Ombudsmans Office on prescribing a clearer process in the use of firearms by Police officers. Ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma made the recommendations following an investigation into the unlawful and cruel arrest of Suitupe Misa at the Fugalei market. Maiava recommended that section 13 of the Police and Powers Act to be reviewed by the Ministry of Police in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. This is to prescribe a clearer process and parameters for issuing authorizations for the use of firearms, and the inclusion of a provision and guidelines for use of firearms in urgent situations without prior Ministerial approval. New Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, confirmed that his Office is undertaking the review with the Police Commissioner, Fuiavailiili Egon Keil. We have commenced looking into the section (13 of Police and Powers Act), Lemalu responded in an email to the Samoa Observer. And we have invited the Police Commissioner to work together with us in looking at clarifying and solidifying the rules and laws of firearms use. I have otherwise been informed that the police are now seeking warrants from the Court for any use of firearms. Lemalu said it is his view that any laws and regulations regarding the use of firearms by the police need to carry the balance between the protection of the rights of our citizens and the ability of hard working police officers to protect themselves in the line of duty. He added that his Office is not instructed to deal with any other part of the report. Under the Police and Powers Act 2007 section 13 (2) the Commissioner shall not permit a police officer to have in his or her possession a firearm, ammunition, explosives or dangerous weapons for use in the exercise of that officers duties. It also pointed out in section 13 (2)(a) that the Minister has to approve the arming of the police officer or person. Lawyer for Suitupe Misa, Sarona Ponifasio, said they too are reviewing the Ombudsmans report. Mrs. Ponifasio said it is premature to comment but a decision will be made upon completing the review. Police Commissioner, Fuiavailiili Egon Keil had issued a statement saying he has respect and reverence for the laws of Samoa and is sensitive to every persons Constitutional Rights. The Samoa Police will continue to do whatever it takes within the law to keep our country and our people safe, he said. The Ombudsmans Office had concluded that the investigation has made a series of serious findings that will require follow up action. The most serious involve the findings that the arrest of Suitupe was wrongful and unlawful, said Maiava in the report. The use of firearms was not permissible and reflects a worrying trend under the new Commissioner to a U.S. style of policing that is demonstrated to have a negative impact on public safety and security. The actions of the Commissioner leave a lot to be desired, as do the actions of some of the officers during the arrest and their subsequent involvement in this investigation. A candidate for the recent General Election, Ofoia Nomeneta Ofoia, has been convicted and fined for making a false declaration with the Office of the Electoral Commission. District Court Judge, Vaepule Vaemoa Vaai, sentenced Ofoia yesterday. The candidate for Vaa Fonoti constituency pleaded guilty to the criminal charge filed by the Office of the Electoral Commission. In February 2016, Ofoia lodged his nomination form with the Electoral Office where he made a false declaration that he had no previous conviction. Acting Electoral Commissioner and lawyer, Faimalomatua Mathew Lemisio, represented the office in the District Court. Faimalo told the Court that Ofoia did not reveal previous conviction when he signed the declaration form. It was only when the current M.P. for Vaa o Fonoti, Tialavea Seigafolava presented copies of the police report to the Electoral Commission they were made aware of it. In the report it had records of two convictions for the defendant, said Faimalo. The first conviction was a charge of threatening words in which he was convicted and fined with $80tala in the FF Court (Faamasinoga Fesoasoani). The second conviction is actual bodily harm which he was convicted and fined in the Supreme Court in December 2015. Before Judge Vaepule sentenced Ofoia, he gave him an opportunity to speak about the matter. The father of five told the Court that he had a different interpretation of the declaration and the law. From my understanding on that part, I thought the conviction is referring to those who have been punishable for life in prison, said Ofoia. I only understood it later when the Electoral Office contacted me and I sought a lawyer who explained it to meI do not deny that (I made false declaration), I understand it now and I accept it. However, Judge Vaepule was not convinced. Not fully understanding it is not a defense, said the Judge. You are an accountant, you are not someone who does not have any professional background it doesnt matter what profession that is. There is a reason why the Electoral Office had put these (forms) in place is to screen the candidates to prevent those with previous convictions from running. Vaepule noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty and ordered him to pay $800. Failure to do so means six months in prison. Israel's military on Monday ordered a well-known Palestinian journalist to be held for four months without charges or trial, in so-called administrative detention. The military said Omar Nazzal is being held on suspicion of "unlawful activity" for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small PLO faction that has been labeled a terrorist organization by Israel. Nazzal's lawyer, Mahmoud Hassan, said he believes his client, a leading member of the Palestinian journalists' union, is being targeted because of his political activism. Hassan noted that under the system of administrative detention, the defense is not shown any alleged evidence against a detainee. Nazzal, 53, has been in Israeli custody since he was seized at an Israeli-run crossing between the West Bank and Jordan last month, while traveling to a meeting of the European Federation of Journalists. The journalist headed Palestine Today, a TV station affiliated with the militant group Islamic Jihad, for five months, but quit earlier this year shortly before Israel shut it down. He also had ties to the PFLP which in the past was involved in attacks on Israelis. Hassan denied his client was linked to violence. "This arrest is a political arrest," the lawyer said. The number of Palestinians in administrative detention reached 627 at the end of February, according to official figures by the Israel Prison Service that are regularly published by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem. Critics say Israel's large-scale use of the practice amounts to a violation of rules of due process. The number of administrative detainees has doubled since the start of the current round of Israeli-Palestinian violence in September. Since the fall, Palestinians have carried out frequent attacks on Israelis, including stabbings or ramming by cars. The attacks have killed 28 Israelis and two Americans. On the Palestinian side, some 200 people have been killed by Israeli fire the vast majority in what Israel says were attacks or attempted attacks. Critics say Israeli security forces and civilians often used lethal force unnecessarily. In a fatal shooting last week, 24-year-old Maram Taha and her 16-year-old brother Ibrahim were shot and killed at a busy West Bank crossing. Maram Taha was the mother of two girls, four and five years old. Israeli police alleged at the time that the Taha siblings ignored calls to halt and that the woman threw a knife at a policeman before being shot dead. The police statement did not explain why lethal force was used and why Ibrahim Taha was killed. Two knives were found on the teen, but only after the shooting. Police have said they will not release security camera footage of the incident until an investigation is completed, even though they have in the past made such images public within hours of stabbings. Police initially said Israeli troops were involved in firing the fatal shots, but on Monday, authorities said that private security guards shot the siblings. Police officers at the scene acted "according to regulations," including firing warning shots in the air, the police said. The siblings' family and Palestinian witnesses have disputed the police account, saying the siblings were some 20 meters (yards) away from security forces and could have been stopped without deadly force. Later, Monday night Israeli police said a 60 year-old-man was evacuated to hospital for treatment after he was stabbed in Jerusalem's old city in what it said was likely a Palestinian attack. -AP Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) 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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 Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join This girl has a radiant smile, And it seems she has savvy and style. This was Valentines Day. No one sent gifts her way, So she bought them and selfied the pile. Congratulations to contest winner Deborah Dickinson-Deacon of Amherst, New York! For her limerick describing F. Sands Brunners illustration, Valentines Gifts (above), Deborah wins $25 and our gratitude for an entertaining poem. If youd like to enter the Limerick Laughs Contest for our next issue of The Saturday Evening Post, submit your limerick through our online entry form. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today Deborahs limerick wasnt the only one we liked. Here are some of our other favorite contest entries, in no particular order: For me? Well, Im just pleased as punch. The problem: I dont have a hunch Who the gift could be from. Lets hope not that bum Fred Bruner who stuck me with lunch. L.J. Williams, Topeka, Kansas Valentine gifts are such fun, No matter how often they come. I will save them and then Ill thank the young men Just as soon as I know who theyre from. Alfred W. Cross, Sacramento, California Although shes aglow with her heart, It really would give her a start To know that her flower And mini card shower Were a last-minute thought at Walmart. Kevin Rorabaugh, Ellis, Kansas Such Valentine gifts make me weep A card with a message thats deep, Some candy whats more, Therere posies galore. So where is the jewelry, you creep? Betty Lyons, Newton Falls, Ohio This Valentine babe such a cutie Blushed at chocolates and violets as booty. If shed known modern taste To maintain a tight waist She might have requested tofutti. Mia Berman, New York City, New York His girl was utter perfection, So he sent her a lovely confection. She blushed chin to locks When she opened the box Cause he sent her the lovers selection. J. Janes, Marinette, Wisconsin Perusing the many entreaties That came from her various sweeties, The candy she tried Came with one downside: The risk of type two diabetes. Patrick McKeon, Pennington, New Jersey Ive waited all year for this day, And Ive only got one thing to say: While candy is nice, It just wont suffice; Id rather go roll in the hay! Michelle Gordon, Airway Heights, Washington Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/02/2016 -- The report "Coated Steel Market by Resin Type (Polyester, Fluoropolymer, Siliconized Polyester, Plastisol, and Others), by Application (Building & Construction, Appliances, Automotive, and Others) - Global Forecast to 2020", The global coated steel market (20152020) is projected to reach USD 26.68 Billion by 2020 registering a CAGR of 5.30% between 2015 and 2020. The major driver identified for the global coated steel market is growing demand from end-use industries such as construction, automotive, and appliances; stiff competition in the coated steel industry; inexpensive than electro-galvanizing process; product quality and differentiation; durability of cut edges; and fluoropolymer continue to grow in the building & construction market. Browse 79 market data Tables and 72 Figures spread through 167 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Coated Steel Market - Global Forecast to 2020" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/coated-steel-market-173368855.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Growing demand from end-use industries is driving the demand for coated steel The growth of the downstream industries is the key driving force for the coated steel market. For example, in the refrigerator market, the sales in the Asia-Pacific region have witnessed a steady growth in the past few years. China and India are the key production hubs of refrigerators due to huge domestic demand and low production costs. The great demand from such end-use industry has driven the market for coated steel. The increasing potential to spend on upgrades for kitchens, roofing, and basic home improvements and additions most of which include steel coated products are driving the coated steel market. Polyester the largest resin type for coated steel In 2015, the polyester resin segment accounted for the largest market share, in terms of value. Polyester resins form highly durable structures and coatings are cross-linked with a vinylic reactive monomer, which is most commonly styrene. The current industry trend highlights the use of polyester resin above all other resin types. In addition, it has limited use in the coatings industry primarily because curing is strongly inhibited by oxygen, leaving the surface of the polyester-coated steel soft and sticky. Due to these properties, the polyester-coated steel are the most broadly used coated steel, globally. For more Info Speak to Our Analyst @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=173368855 Asia-Pacific is the largest market for coated steel, both in terms of volume and value, followed by Europe and North America. Countries such as the China, India, South Korea, Russia, and the U.S. and the Middle Eastern countries are the major markets of coated steel. Due to increasing demand on the domestic front, increasing income levels and easy access to resources, Asia-Pacific has emerged as the leading market of coated steel. Brazil has also emerged as a key market for coated steel manufacturers. Not only is the demand for coated steel expected to be strong in Brazil, but its proximity to the U.S. is also expected to turn it as a hot spot for setting up production facilities. Key market players in coated steel market The key players in this market are ArcelorMittal S.A. (Luxembourg), SSAB AB (Sweden), Salzgitter AG (Germany), OJSC Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) (Russia), Voestalpine AG (Austria), OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) (Russia), ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany), Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (Japan), United States Steel (U.S.), Essar Steel Ltd. (India), Tata Steel Ltd. (India), Lysvenskii Metallurgicheskii Zavod Zao (Russia), and Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. (India), and others. Enquire Before Buying of this Report @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=173368855 Browse Related Reports: Coil Coatings Market by Type (Polyester, Fluoropolymer, Siliconized Polyester, Plastisol, and Others), by Application (Steel & Aluminum), and by End User Industry (Building & Construction, Appliances, Automotive, and Others) - Global Forecast to 2019 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/coil-coatings-market-266690883.html Paints & Coatings Market by Resin Type (Acrylic, Alkyd, Epoxy, Polyurethane, Polyester, & Others), by Technology (Waterborne, Solvent Borne, High Solids, Powder & Others), by Application (Architectural & Paints) - Global Forecasts to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/paint-coating-market-156661838.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets [MANILA] Its been said often enough that statistics dont lie, people do. Nowhere is this perhaps more apparent than in the research field of election polls, where what we see as factual numbers may not be the facts we are led to believe. In the Philippines, pollsters are as much in the centre of hotly contested presidential elections, with one candidate assailing what she terms as voodoo surveys that have become the kingmakers and not the voters. For physicist Giovanni Tapang of the University of the Philippines Diliman, theres little doubt that poll surveys if done properly can be a useful instrument to arrive at a sampling of public opinion. Although the number of respondents may seem small, typically 1,200 or so, statistical survey methodologies provide a powerful tool to gauge the general pulse from only a handful of people, he notes. Theres a branch of political science or mathematics, depending on who, Tapang says, conducts this devoted to studying elections. Called psephology, from the Greek word psephos or pebble used by ancient Greeks to cast votes, it uses statistical analysis and game theory to analyse elections and opinion polls. Tapang says the problems manifest when there is lack of transparency in choosing the sample groups, which should be done in a random manner. Additionally, the way survey questions are framed and sequenced can create bias against certain candidates while favoring their opponents whose side in fact paid for the survey. In this regard, its important to look at the progeny of surveys to determine their credibility. Who conducted them? Who commissioned them? Are the funders identified with political interests? Another problem arises when polls tend to undersample block and regional voting, including the vote delivery of religious and political blocs. In semi-feudalistic settings like the Philippines, where patronage politics is the norm, undersampling can heavily skew poll estimates. Because of the inexactitude of the models and methodologies of election polling, no wonder then it gets a bad rap for being fuzzy science or even pseudoscience. For Tapang, the simple challenge to pollsters is to show how and why their surveys are non-biased. Put another way, its for the pollsters to disprove that facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable. This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets South-East Asia & Pacific desk. Theresa May, UK Home Secretary, believes that Britain must withdraw from the European convention on human rights despite the result of the European Union referendum. However, the home secretary's opinion was met with some negative reaction, including that of Charles Falconer, the shadow justice secretary, calling it as misguided. The British Conservative politician used a speech in central London to insist that it was the convention, instead of the EU, that had led the extremist Abu Hamza's extradition to be postponed for years, which had nearly stopped the radical Abu Qatada's deportation. According to May, the ECHR could tie the parliament's hands, contribute nothing to prosperity, provide less security by disallowing the deportation of dangerous foreign individuals, and yet does not do anything to change Russia's attitude on the issue of human rights, The Guardian reported. She also added that in spite of the EU referendum, in order to reform the human rights laws in the country, it is not the EU they must leave, but the ECHR as well as the jurisdiction of its court. The home secretary, who is being eyed to be the future Tory head, did not only use the speech to extend her support to the EU's membership, but also to call out the party's Eurosceptic wing. However, her comments have put her on a conflict with other cabinet members like Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who already expressed his plans for a British bill of rights, in accordance to Britain's stay in the convention. Labour's Falconer also accused May of giving up the country's commitment to human rights for her own leadership ambitions. He called the comment as ignorant, since one has to be an ECHR member in order to become an EU member, BBC News reported. Aside from the Labour, Grieve also expressed his disappointment over May's comment, citing its lack of comprehension regarding the positive effect of ECHR to the EU. He further accused the home secretary of trivializing the positive effect that the case of Abu Qatada had on the justice system of Jordan, and noted that Abu Hamza and Qatada were removed. Russia's parliament has elected a former police general as human rights ombudsman on Friday. The move, however, sparked some criticisms from the opposition. The new Russian ombudsman, Tatyana N. Moskalkova, rose to being a major general of the Interior Ministry after working her way through the ranks of the Russian and Soviet police for more than 20 years. Moskalkova won a seat in the parliament after retiring in 2007, or as the Duma, a member of Just Russia, which is the left-leaning pro-government party. Unlike the majority of her predecessors in the ombudsman position, Moskalkova lacks the needed experience for a human rights activist. Hence, raising concerns from the human rights advocates as well as from Vladimir V. Zhirinovsky, the Kremlin-friendly politician who is opposed to her career direction, NY Times reported. Another notable personality who criticized Moskalkova's election was Lev Ponomaryov, the leader of the movement For Human Rights. Ponomaryov doubts how both of them can communicate given Moskalkova's background. Rising to Moskalkova's defense was Sergei M. Mironov, the leader of the parliamentary party, stating that she has been defending human rights beginning her tenure in the Russian and Soviet and Interior Ministries. In a speech prior to the vote, Moskalkova told the lawmakers that the issues related to human rights are now actively abused by the American and Western institutions, in an attempt to blackmail, manipulate and even to try to destabilize Russia. She further said that they are all aware of the several lies surrounding Ukraine and Crimea, and that it is vital that they protect and defend not just one person, but Russia's entire system of values as well, BBC News reported. The move to rename Russia's Interior Ministry came from Moskalkova when she suggested in 2015 to have it changed into Cheka, which is the name of Soviet's first state security organization and also notorious for its major role in the purges of Stalin. Texas grapples to deliver adequate facilities and psychiatric care for mental patients despite funding from lawmakers. Patients are on waiting lists for hospital beds and private facilities do not meet the state's population growth. Stephanie Contreras, the executive director of the Grande Valley affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and has a son, who has schizoaffective disorder said that his son was turned away from state's hospitals because they were full. She further said that her son was emotionally traumatized by the difficulty of getting into high-quality psychiatric care. He had also the difficulty of having the shifting team of medical professionals. She reiterated that from time after time, there would no beds in the valley. This is a public health emergency, according to advocates for people with mental illness. They encourage the Texas lawmakers to finance more hospital beds in 2017. On the other hand, they said that where those beds would go--and where the money would materialize from to pay for them--remains to be seen, as stated by Texas Tribune. They have troubled on the decline in the number of beds in relation to the state's population, which is from 11.3 to 10.5 beds for 100,000 people from 2013 to 2015. Meanwhile, the Texas lawmakers are pointing to having new funding that urges the mental health professionals to work in underserved areas. They are also imposing the new telemedicine regulations that are planned to make patients connect with psychiatrist easily. Sen. Jane Nelson, the Senate's chief budget writer and former Health and Human Services Committee said that Texas had invested "significant resources" in mental health care in recent years. The public expenditures on mental health care were about $192 million from the 2013 session to the 2015 session. She further said that there was a total of $483 million for mental health spending from Medicaid, which is the joint state-federal insurance program for the poor and disabled. Nelson said in an emailed statement that they have serious challenges to address, but she wants to make sure they have a true understanding of their commitment to mental health. There have been many countries that had already phased out nuclear energy production altogether after the worst radiation leaks in history. But experts believe that another accident might kill the industry. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, some thirty years ago, led to an enormous leak of radiation across Eastern Europe. Since the accident many feared the additional construction of nuclear power plants. The tragedy is believed to have caused thousand cases of cancer according to a news article on The World Post. Categorized by the International Atomic Energy Agency as a 'major accident', it was one of history's biggest tragedy/accident until the meltdowns in Fukushima, Japan in 2011. The data shows its impact: during the thirty-two years prior to Chernobyl, 409 reactors were actually opened, however only 194 of these have been connected within the 30 years since. There were several other factors in play as well. Some of the change was directly down to the disaster that took place in Ukraine. Italy, for instance, had voted in a referendum after what happened in Ukraine to stop the production of nuclear energy. John Large, a consultant nuclear engineer, believes that the regulations as well as the transparency demands, which were introduced in the wake of a 1979 meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, had actually had a much bigger impact as cited on The Guardian. "Fukushima will have the same effect," Large said in a statement. The disaster in Japan, as a matter of fact, pressed the German government to phase out its nuclear power plants, with the last one closing in 2022. "Nuclear energy is failing because it is simply too expensive," said Dr Paul Dorfman. Dr Paul Dorfman is a senior research fellow at the Energy Institute, University College London. "If there's another nuclear accident in the next five or 10 years, you can say goodbye to the industry," he added. There have been a number of issues involving the environmental impacts from the proposed coal export terminal in Longview, Washington. From coal dust, greenhouse gas emissions, to noise and traffic congestion, experts have been analyzing the risks of developing the proposed project. The Washington Department of Ecology and Cowlitz County are examining the environmental risks that might happen if the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminals coal export project will push through. According to kuow.org, the project will need to export up to 44 million tons of coal a year to Asia after delivering it to Longview by rail from the Rocky Mountain region. In the study, officials from both the county and the state presented all possible impacts the project will bring to air, water, fish, wildlife, and communities from transporting the coal, and also the construction and the operation of the terminal. The study found that the project will cause a significant damage to the environment and not all damages can be reduced. However, officials are proposing measures to follow to reduce coal dust and greenhouse gas emissions. To improve rail lines, prepare for a higher risk of oil spills and add a quiet zone for trains passing through Longview. After brainstorming these possible measures, experts still noticed that the mitigation measures would not completely get rid of the environmental impacts the project will bring. Opb.org stated that the report found greenhouse gas emissions from the project would be "significant"- describing it as an equivalent of adding more than 600,000 passenger cars to the road each year. The emissions would affect Washington State even though they are global in nature, officials found. "The climate impacts resulting from this increase to greenhouse gases would persist for a long period of time," the report says, "and would be considered permanent." Lauren Goldberg, an attorney with the environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper, said the report gives officials all the evidence they need to deny permits for the project. "The report lays out a laundry list of significant impacts from the project," she said. "There are number of places where the report identifies the massive amounts of carbon that this project will spew - equivalent to roughly seven new coal-fired power plants. These are stunning impacts for a state like Washington that's shutting down coal-fired power plants." However, she also said that the review falls short on reduction measure that will actually neutralize the damage form the project, and it fails to fully evaluate the public health impacts of coal dust emissions. "There's human health impact study that still needs to be completed and hasn't been done yet," she said. Astronomers have found a unique object that might be from an inner solar system material from the time of the Earth's formation billions of years ago. According to experts, C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) is the first object to be discovered on a long-period cometary orbit that has the characteristics of a pristine inner solar system asteroid. It may help understanding how the solar system formed. The study's lead author, Karen Meech of the University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy and her colleagues have concluded that C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) was formed in the inner Solar System at the same time as the Earth itself, but was ejected at a very early stage. Science Daily explained that the researchers' observations show that it is an ancient rocky body rather than a contemporary asteroid that strayed out. It is one of the potential building blocks of the rocky planets, such as the Earth, that was expelled from the inner Solar System and preserved in the deep freeze of the Oort Cloud for billions of years. Karen Meech explained the unexpected observation saying, "We already knew of many asteroids, but they have all been baked by billions of years near the Sun. This one is the first uncooked asteroid we could observe: it has been preserved in the best freezer there is." C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) was originally identified by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope as a weakly active comet a little over twice as far from the Sun as the Earth. It's current orbital period (860 years) suggests it was nudged comparatively recently into an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun. According to eso.org, the team immediately noticed that there was something different about C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS). It does not have the characteristic tail that most long-period comets have when they approach so close to the Sun. Because of this, it has been known as a Manx comet, after the tailless cat. Within weeks of its discovery, the team obtained spectra of the very faint object with ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile. After careful study of the C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS), the research team found that it is normal for asteroids known as S-type to have a light reflected in the inner asteroid's main belt. It does not look like a typical comet, which are believed to form in the outer Solar System and are icy, rather than rocky. It looked like the material has undergone very little processing, showing that it had been kept frozen for a very long time. The authors conclude that this object is probably made of fresh inner Solar System material that has been stored in the Oort Cloud and is now making its way back into the inner Solar System. Co-author Olivier Hainaut (ESO, Garching, Germany), concluded saying, "We've found the first rocky comet, and we are looking for others. Depending how many we find, we will know whether the giant planets danced across the Solar System when they were young, or if they grew up quietly without moving much." FLORENCE, S.C. Big Give Pee Dee marketing coordinator Libby Wiersema said everyone can be a philanthropist Tuesday during the 24-hour online giving event. In its second year, Big Give Pee Dee will give donors a chance to donate to the 46 participating nonprofit organizations. The event is presented by the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation in conjunction with Give Local America. Online giving will begin at midnight today at biggivepeedee.org. There is a minimum donation of $25. Donors will be able to make their donation in honor or memory of someone special to them. Wiersema said the Big Give is an easy way for the community to really get behind local nonprofit organizations in a 24-hour cycle and give to more than one organization. The online giving event also teaches nonprofits a new way of fundraising to remain sustainable in the age of the internet. Those are the two goals; raise much-needed funds for nonprofits in the Pee Dee as we head into the summer season, Wiersema said. Were also raising awareness of the nonprofits and teaching them fundraising techniques where they can use beyond the Big Give. Wiersema said the Big Give is an easy way for the community to really get behind local nonprofit organizations in a 24-hour cycle and give to more than one organization. Participating nonprofits will be able to win incentives throughout the day for fundraising milestones, including $1,000 from both First Reliance Bank and Honda of South Carolina. Throughout the course of the day, donors will be able to track their favorite causes and possibly help them walk away with one of the cash prizes, Wiersema said. The fundraiser will be social media driven. Donors are encouraged to take selfies of themselves making donations and post them to social media using the hashtag #IGivePeeDee. Several participating organizations will host events Tuesday during Big Give Pee Dee. The public can attend the events, have fun and donate. Events will be hosted by All 4 Autism, Williamsburg Technical College Foundation, Vital Aging of Williamsburg County, Marlboro Civic Center Foundation, House of Hope of the Pee Dee and the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation. Robert Welch, director of Vital Aging of Williamsburg County, said the organization serves indigent seniors in need. Services include home-delivered meals, wellness centers, home living support, I-Care/IR&A and Family Caregiver Support. Tuesday at the Kingstree Wellness Center, located at 912 Fourth Avenue, Welch said people can participate in festivities and have a worker assist them with their online donation if they are not comfortable doing it themselves. Vital Aging will have senior games available and provide snacks such as barbecue sandwiches. Mostly what were asking folks that day, if theyre not able to go to the center that day, go to www.biggivepeedee.org and select Vital Aging, Welch said. Vital Aging participated in the fundraiser last year, and Welch said it is a good effort by the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation. My hats off to Sarah Shelley and Libby Wiersema for taking the initiative with the Big Give, Welch said. I think its a great thing in the Pee Dee to highlight the efforts of the Pee Dee. Lynn Covington, office manager at the Marlboro County Civic Center, said people who stop by the center Tuesday and make a donation toward the civic center foundation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. will have a chance to win a prize by playing Plinko on their 6-foot tall Plinko board. Prizes consist of gift certificates to local restaurants, gourmet cupcakes and event tickets, among others. Covington said the Marlboro County Civic Center Foundation was the only nonprofit in the county participating in the Big Give last year and again this year. Last year the foundation raised more than $800. We would like to exceed what we did last year, knowing that were a rural county, a poor county, Covington said. We say $1,000 would be magnificent. Participating in the Big Give is another trick in the organizations bag to be able to get money and continue its mission as a nonprofit, Covington said. Stopping by the theater Tuesday also will give people a chance tour it. Covington said the theater's foot traffic isn't good during times they dont have events. For more information about Big Give Pee Dee, visit biggivepeedee.org. The growing number of patients who claim marijuana helped them drop their painkiller habit has intrigued lawmakers and emboldened advocates, who are pushing for cannabis as a treatment for the abuse of opioids and illegal narcotics like heroin, as well as an alternative to painkillers. Its a tempting sell in New England, hard hit by the painkiller and heroin crisis, with a problem: There is very little research showing marijuana works as a treatment for the addiction. Advocates argue a growing body of scientific literature supports the idea, pointing to a study in the Journal of Pain this year that found chronic pain sufferers significantly reduced their opioid use when taking medical cannabis. And a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association found cannabis can be effective in treating chronic pain and other ailments. But the research falls short of concluding marijuana helps wean people off opioids Vicodin, Oxycontin and related painkillers and heroin, and many medical professionals say its not enough for them to confidently prescribe it. In Maine, which is considering adding opioid and heroin addiction to the list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana, Michelle Ham said marijuana helped her end a yearslong addiction to painkillers she took for a bad back and neck. Tired of feeling like a zombie, the 37-year-old mother of two decided to quit cold turkey, which she said brought on convulsions and other withdrawal symptoms. Then, a friend mentioned marijuana, which Maine had legalized in 1999 for chronic pain and scores of other medical conditions. She gave it a try in 2013 and said the pain is under control. And she hasnt gone back on the opioids. Before, I couldnt even function. I couldnt get anything done, Ham said. Now, I actually organize volunteers, and we have a donations center to help the needy. Bolstered by stories like Hams, doctors are experimenting with marijuana as an addiction treatment in Massachusetts and California. Supporters in Maine are pushing for its inclusion in qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, and Vermonters are making the case for addiction treatment in their push to legalize pot. Authorities are also desperate to curb a sharp rise in overdoses; Maine saw a 31 percent increase last year, and drug-related deaths in Vermont have jumped 44 percent since 2010. Vermont officials also blame opioid abuse for a 40 percent increase over the past two years of children in state custody. I dont think its a cure for everybody, said Maine Rep. Diane Russell, a Portland Democrat and a leader in the state effort to legalize marijuana. But why take a solution off the table when people are telling us and physicians are telling us that its working? Most states with medical marijuana allow it for a list of qualifying conditions. Getting on that list is crucial and has resulted in a tug of war in many states, including several in which veterans have been unsuccessful in getting post-traumatic stress disorder approved for marijuana treatment. Its hard to argue against anecdotal evidence when you are in the middle of a crisis, said Patricia Hymanson, a York, Maine, neurologist who has taken a leave of absence to serve in the state House. But if you do too many things too fast, you are sometimes left with problems on the other end. In New Hampshire, where drug deaths more than doubled last year from 2011 levels, the Senate last week rejected efforts to decriminalize marijuana. There are some promising findings involving rats and one 2014 JAMA study showing that states with medical marijuana laws had nearly 25 percent fewer opioid-related overdose deaths than those without, but even a co-author on that study said it would be wrong to use the findings to make the case for cannabis as a treatment option. We are in the midst of a serious problem. People are dying and, as a result, we ought to use things that are proven to be effective, said Dr. Richard Saitz, chair of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health. Cannabis could have limited benefits as a treatment alternative, said Harvard Medical Schools Dr. Kevin Hill, who last year authored the JAMA study that found benefits in using medical marijuana to treat chronic pain, neuropathic pain and spasticity related to multiple sclerosis. But he urged caution. If you are thinking about using cannabis as opposed to using opioids for chronic pain, then I do think the evidence does support it, he said. However, I think one place where sometimes cannabis advocates go too far is when they talk about using cannabis to treat opioid addiction. The findings in the Journal of Pain study that found chronic pain sufferers reduced their opioid use when using medical pot were limited because participants self-reported the data. Other research is forthcoming, including a study by Rand Corp. that has found states with medical pot dispensaries saw reductions in admissions to treatment centers for opioid abuse and dependence. Substance abuse experts argue there are already approved medications. It would also be wrong to portray marijuana as completely safe, they say, because it can also be addictive. But supporters point to doctors like Dr. Gary Witman, of Canna Care Docs, who has treated addicts with cannabis at his offices in Fall River, Stoughton and Worcester, Massachusetts. Since introducing the treatment in September, Witman said, 15 patients have successfully weened themselves off opioids. None have relapsed. When I see them in a six-month follow up, they are much more focused, Witman said. They have greater respect. They feel better about themselves. Most importantly, Im able to get them back to gainful employment. Eighteen-year-old Kristian Roggio was riding in a friends car when another driver careened across a Brooklyn street, colliding head-on and killing her. That driver had inhaled aerosol dust cleaner moments before to get high, and prosecutors say he was impaired enough to be charged with vehicular manslaughter. But New Yorks top court threw out the case, ruling the chemical composition of the dust cleaner wasnt on the states list of banned substances a requirement under the law and that he couldnt be charged under a statute meant for drunken driving. That ruling nine years ago highlights a loophole that still exists in New York and a dozen other states which base intoxicated driving not on a police officers observation of impairment but on a specific list of banned substances 34 pages long. Such laws were intended to give a scientific basis to drugged-driving charges. But some law enforcement officials say they have failed to keep up with the boom in designer drugs such as synthetic marijuana, known as K-2 and homemade concoctions that are chemically distinct from traditional narcotics, which is leading them to push for a change in New Yorks law. They say that even though laws have been passed making it unlawful to sell or possess synthetic drugs, drugged driving laws havent caught up with the rise in those narcotics. If we cant define the chemical and its not on the list, we cant prosecute you, said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. It is really frustrating for us in law enforcement especially as these chemical drugs become more and more popular with our kids. Were basically fighting drugged driving with one hand tied behind our back. Experts say synthetic and homemade drugs impair a users cognitive and motor skills just like their recognized illegal counterparts. And although state banned lists are occasionally updated, thats not happening fast enough to keep up with the black-market chemists who are continually making slight changes in their compounds to stay one step ahead of the law. Every kid with access to the Internet has access to unregulated designer synthetic drugs that are largely unknown to law enforcement, said Brendan Ahern, a New York attorney and former vehicular crimes prosecutor who has trained police officers and prosecutors on drugged driving. There are certainly cases that are occurring routinely with drugs that law enforcement has the inability to detect. In 2012, in Long Islands Nassau County, officers stopped an erratic driver who admitted she snorted a bath salt known as Disco Powder. Police found traces of the drug in her car, but prosecutors couldnt charge her with intoxicated driving because the drug, which was made to mimic an outlawed stimulant, was just different enough chemically to escape legal scrutiny. Literally thats all it took, Singas said. It was to just change the composition. Its not just designer drugs. Some prescription drugs can also escape scrutiny. In June 2014, a woman who crashed into a parked car in Suffolk County was arrested after telling police she had taken antidepressant and seizure medication before the crash. The officer, who said the woman was stumbling, had slurred speech and failed a field sobriety test, arrested her on a drugged-driving charge. But a judge dismissed the charges against her last year after finding that the prescription pills werent on the banned list. Thirteen states in the U.S., including Minnesota, Arkansas, Massachusetts and Ohio, rely, at least partially, on a list of specifically banned substances. Thirty-seven states, and Washington, D.C., have more expansive definitions of the word drug. Legislation is pending in New York to align its law with other states that rely on an officers observation of a drivers condition or have broader definitions. Californias law, for example, allows for an intoxication charge if a driver uses any drug that causes impairment. Peter Gerstenzang, an attorney from Albany who specializes in DWI defense, questioned whether such a broadening of the law was a good idea. The specificity of it was designed so that you didnt get a situation where somebody had some kind of reaction to a non-listed substance that affected their driving, Gerstenzang said. You could have a reaction to aspirin, to Advil. It depends on the physiology of the individual. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today announced the appointment of Academy Award winning actor Cate Blanchett as a global Goodwill Ambassador. The announcement comes as Blanchett returns from a mission to Jordan to witness the ongoing humanitarian operation for people displaced by the conflict in Syria. She met Syrian refugee families to hear first-hand about the perilous journeys they had undertaken and the daily challenges they face. I am deeply proud to take on this role, said Blanchett. There has never been a more crucial time to stand with refugees and show solidarity. We are living through an unprecedented crisis, and there must be shared responsibility worldwide. It feels like were at a fork in the road, do we go down the compassionate path or do we go down the path of intolerance? As a mother, I want my children to go down the compassionate path. Theres much more opportunity, theres much more optimism and there is a solution down that path. Prior to her appointment, Blanchett had been working closely with UNHCR for over a year to raise awareness about the forcibly displaced. In 2015, she travelled to Lebanon to meet Syrian refugees and to hear about the experiences of stateless people as part of her support for UNHCRs #IBelong Campaign. She has also supported World Refugee Day, UNHCRs appeal for the Europe refugee crisis, and attended the Women in the World Conference in New Delhi to represent UNHCR and moderate a high level panel discussion on the global refugee crisis. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said: I am very pleased that Cate Blanchett is joining us. Goodwill Ambassadors play a pivotal role in creating better public understanding and support for refugees, and never has there been a greater need to build these bridges. She has already demonstrated great commitment to the cause and we look forward to seeing her inspire many more people in her new role. Is Donald Trump the Republican Partys leading misogynist? Not this week. That honor goes to California Rep. Duncan Hunter, who pressed forward a bill that would require women to register for a draft. Dont be confused. A former Marine, Hunter doesnt think women can hack it in military combat. Hes hoping that Americans will agree and start a fight that will play out in Congress. A slim majority of his colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee saw things differently. They passed Hunters interestingly titled Draft Americas Daughters Act by a vote of 32 to 30. Six of his fellow Republicans broke ranks to support it. Duncan voted against it. Hunter wants a backlash. Sorry, bro, but youre too late with this little ploy. Women have already begun proving that they can make it through the elite training programs such as that of the Army Rangers. And, no, the physical standards werent lowered. Two days before the House committee voted, Capt. Kristen Griest was given the OK to transfer into the infantry ranks. Shes one of three women who already completed the grueling training. Brig. Gen. Diana M. Holland commands West Point. Women began flying combat missions in the mid-1990s. And the definition of a front-line soldier was blurred if not decimated by the realities of terrorism, IEDs and how ground forces operated in Iraq and Afghanistan. Women are already in harms way and they are serving willingly, bravely. In fact, 160 women died serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, according to the Washington Posts count. In light of those female soldiers deaths, it was sort of an anticlimactic in January when Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the opening all combat roles to women, to begin this spring. He was following the plan first set in motion in 2013 under his predecessor Leon Panetta. This directive hasnt been undertaken lightly. Each branch of the military has studied it, surveyed troops and come up with strategies to meet the sort of hell, no, not while Im peeing standing up attitudes of people like Hunter. It may surprise many Americans that we still have draft registration, as no American has been drafted since 1973. All men aged 18-26 are required to register for selective service. Because women were long excluded from applying for combat roles, they were also deemed not required to register. The U.S. Supreme Court decided this, arguing that its not fair to expect women to register and then tell them they arent eligible for most of the jobs. However, that has been changing incrementally as more women are proving they can handle what men have always said we could not. There are definitely physical differences between men and women. But were talking elites here, from both genders. Most men couldnt pass through the rigorous training necessary for some of these combat roles. It should also be noted that the day after the House committee voted, two U.S. senators, Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, introduced the bipartisan Military Retaliation Prevention Act. Its part of ongoing efforts to reform the military justice system to wipe out the retaliatory efforts of some men against female soldiers reporting sexual assaults. The bill is one of many necessary efforts to ensure that women can serve their country and also remain safe from those who are supposed to be on their side. Rep. Hunter is banking on a strategy thats been thrown into the path of women for generations. Its the one that coos to women that they dont really want to be treated equally, that they dont really want to be afforded the same opportunities as men. He expects that women will shrink and run when actually confronted with the demands of combat. A draft is there to put bodies on the front lines to take the hill, he said. The draft is there to get more people to rip the enemies throats out and kill them. Women are supposed to cower and cover their eyes at the thought of it all. But the route to forming the strongest, best-functioning military we can build is not to exclude half of the population. The answer is to allow qualified men and women to serve in all roles. This is how women make progress in society: in increments. Change by change, bravely standing up to opposition like the tiny grenade Hunter tried to toss out this week. Mary Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Readers may email her at msanchez@kcstar.com. Archaeologists say they've had a peek inside another room in a monumental ancient tomb in Greek Macedonia that is believed to date back to the era of Alexander the Great. The ongoing excavations at the Kasta Hill burial mound in Amphipolis -- about 65 miles (104 kilometers) east of Thessaloniki -- have generated excitement and speculation over what (and whom) archaeologists might find inside. The latest images, released by the Greek Ministry of Culture yesterday (Sept. 14), show an arched, soil-filled room, with some traces of red paint on the limestone walls. The chamber lies beyond beyond the two female statues known as caryatids that were uncovered last week. [See Photos of the Alexander-Era Tomb Excavation] The Kasta Hill tomb is enclosed by an enormous wall whose perimeter measures 1,600 feet (490 meters). In August, archaeologists revealed two broken sphinxes at the entrance to the burial complex. Over the past several weeks, they've been removing soil and walls of heavy sealing stones to probe deeper into the tomb. They've discovered mosaic floors, and last week, the team uncovered the wavy-haired caryatids - statues that take the place of columns or pillars - standing guard at the second doorway. The archaeologists, led by Katerina Peristeri, have said they believe the tomb dates back to the late fourth century B.C. and has the characteristics of a work by Dinocrates, Alexander the Great's chief architect. But excavators are unlikely to find the body of Alexander the Great himself; historical records indicate he was buried in Alexandria, though his body has never been found. "This is an ongoing excavation; much more will be discovered as the excavation goes forward," Beth Carney, a history professor at Clemson University, told Live Science in an email. Carney, who is not involved in the excavation, said the tomb seems remarkable for its huge circumference and carved portals, but she isn't sure what evidence the archaeologists have for a late fourth century B.C. date. The date of the tomb could prove important if archaeologists find bones inside that are tough to identify. Archaeologists have quarreled for decades over the identity of a couple buried in the lavish Macedonian tomb at Vergina in northern Greece, near the site of the early capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia. When Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos opened the grave (dubbed Tomb II) at Vergina in 1977, he claimed to have found the resting place of Alexander's father, Philip II, a powerful leader in his own right who paved the way for his son's conquests before he was assassinated in 336 B.C. But others have suggested that the tomb actually belonged to Philip III Arrhidaeus, Alexander's (perhaps mentally disabled) half-brother, who was executed in 317 B.C. after a less successful reign. "The dating of all Macedonian-type tombs is contested, thanks in good part to the controversy about the date of Tomb II at Vergina," Carney said. "Ten or 20 years could make a big difference in the range of possibilities. I am guessing so far [the date for the tomb] is on the basis of stylistic similarity." Original article on Live Science. The Holy Land: 7 Amazing Archaeological Finds In Photos: Ancient Greek Tomb With Zigzag Art Discovered 8 Grisly Archaeological Discoveries Copyright 2014 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. As world leaders meet in New York City to discuss solutions to slowing human-caused global warming, new numbers from the Global Carbon Project show that the planet is headed for the worst-case scenario feared by climate scientists, in which the average global temperature would be about 8 degrees F hotter than it is today. Carbon dioxide emissions -- the main human-generated contributor to global warming -- are set to rise again in 2014, reaching a record high of 40 billion tons, according to the report by the British research organization, up from 36 billion tons of emissions in 2013. If you're trying to visualize 40 billion tons, consider that a ton of pure C02 would fill a balloon about 10 yards in diameter, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. China, the United States, the European Union and India are the biggest carbon dioxide culprits, together accounting for 58 per cent of emissions. China's CO2 emissions grew by 4.2 per cent in 2013, the USA's grew by 2.9 per cent and India's emissions grew by 5.1 per cent, according to the project's press release. "Our study shows no progress in curbing global carbon emissions," University of East Anglia climate researcher Corinne Le Quere, one of the report's authors, told New Scientist. She expressed dismay that global carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and cement production are growing at an even faster rate in 2014, and seem to be plateauing. "And they are projected to be around that for the next five years," says Le Quere. "There is no progress in spite of all the talk." The project is a partnership of the University of East Anglia's Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Exeter. The science has been clear for at least 20 years and the call for immediate action is getting louder every day. So why has so little been done about climate change? The lack of action becomes even starker as a new report out today by a working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change points out that the longer we wait, the harder and costlier it will be to do anything effective -- and the worse things will get. Is it procrastination, politics, ignorance or something else? And is there any hope that the tide will turn in time? More Flooding, Hunger Ahead Due to Climate Change: Report One cause of the delayed response is that when scientists started talking about the mounting evidence of global warming in the 1980s, powerful interests vested in fossil fuels wasted no time in executing a very effective campaign to muddy the waters, says Naomi Oreskes, a professor of history and science studies at the University of California, San Diego, and the author of several books, including the relevant "Merchants of Doubt." "There's no question that the disinformation campaign has been effective," Oreskes told Discovery News. "On the federal and international level we've made no real progress." The tactics used to cast doubt on climate science are the same as those used to stall science-based controls on tobacco, acid rain, the ozone hole and DDT. For climate, the effect is 20 or more years of inaction and lost opportunities. How Global Warming Will Change Your Life Another, often overlooked, problem is that climate science hasn't been taught in schools until very recently. "Most Americans have never learned the basics of climate change at school," said Mark McCaffery, who directs the climate change program at the National Center for Science Education. "People have had to put together their own information. At the same time, 1 in 4 people in this country are students." Scientists are also part of the problem. They have failed to make their case in a way that the public and politicians grasp, said Oreskes. Climate change is alarming; it's also a political and financial problem. "The science community has a hard time communicating because it's not supposed to be emotional," said Oreskes. "How do convey a sense of alarm without being alarmist? Scientists are not good at that. People don't really understand why climate change matters." Yet another obstacle is the fact that climate change is bad news that requires us to make unpopular changes in our lifestyles. 9 Popular Cities Losing War with Rising Seas "We're talking about the entire economy of the world," said Oreskes. "The vast majority of us have built an economy that is built on fossil fuels. Changing it is not going to be easy." This is not the first time Americans have had to face changes that threaten the fundamentals of their economy. Historians looking at the current situation see some parallels with the antebellum South. In that case it was slavery that provided the labor for goods that benefited the entire United States. Unfortunately, in that case it took a horrific civil war to change the country's economy. It's in nobody's interest to go that route again. "The Civil War is a deeply troubling analogy," Oreskes said. There is hope, however, based on what's now happening in education, McCaffrey said. "We've been making enormous headway in just the last few years," he said. "Many teachers are stepping up with their own largely ad hoc efforts, but more is needed to provide the 1 in 4 people in the U.S. now in school with the knowledge and know-how they need." A new U.N. report confirms climate change's effects are foreboding. So why haven't we done more? April 19, 2012 -- Forty years ago this week, the crew of Apollo 16 captured this image of Earth rising above the lunar landscape. The Apollo missions enabled humanity to see for the first time our planet as it appears from space. As Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell once said: When I was orbiting the moon and could put my thumb up to the window and completely cover the Earth, I felt a real sense of my own insignificance. Everything I'd ever known could be hidden behind my thumb. As we approach Earth Day on April 22, we look at the efforts of people throughout the ages to explore, understand and portray our world and its place in the Universe. Babylonia Believed to be the earliest known representation of Earth, this stone tablet from Babylon shows the world as a disc, surrounded by a ring of water called the "Bitter River." The world is dominated by the area surrounding Babylon itself, and the Euphrates River bisects most of the inner circle. Unearthed in southern Iraq in the late 1800s, the tablet is housed in the British Museum. Celestial Spheres In his 2nd century treatise, the "Almagest," Claudius Ptolemy proposed an explanation for the apparent movement of stars and planets, in which Earth was central and immovable, and surrounded by, at progressively greater distances, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and a sphere of fixed stars. This geocentric view of the cosmos did not meet its first real challenge until Copernicus proposed that the planets revolved around the Sun, and Galileo used his telescope to observe the phases of Venus. Flat Earth The Greek philosopher Aristotle determined that Earth was spherical and not flat almost 2,500 years ago. The notion of a flat earth retained at least a few die-hard devotees for a surprisingly long time. For example, this 1893 map by Orlando Ferguson, recently acquired by the Library of Congress, cites Scripture that condemns the globe theory and promotes a book that knocks the globe theory clean out. ANALYSIS: What if Earth Were a Cube? Lenox Globe It is popularly believed that ancient cartographers filled in unknown and unexplored areas of the world with the phrase Here be dragons. In fact, only one known ancient map the so-called Lenox Globe, which is believed to date to around 1510 - displays the phrase HC SVNT DRACONES, from the Latin hic sunt dracones. (The phrase is written near the equator on the eastern cost of Asia.) Some nineteenth-century writers, however, believed that it referred, not to dragons, but to the Dagroians, a people who feasted upon the dead and picked their bones. PHOTOS: Sea Monsters Real & Imagined Terra Australis Incognita In this copy of a 1602 map that was created on behalf of Chinas Wanli emperor by Italian Matteo Ricci and collaborators, the familiar outlines of most of the worlds continents are coming into shape, although obviously many details remain unfinished. To the maps makers, however, the likes of Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica are not even figments of the imagination, replaced instead by an enormous southern landmass. The notion of an unknown southern land a terra australis incognita - was first mooted by Aristotle in 322 BCE; not until 1820 did Fabian von Bellingshausen become the first man to see the Antarctic continent. South Pole For centuries, gaps in maps were filled by explorers who set out across land and sea, often at immense personal risk. The true nature of Terra Australis had long been established by the time Robert Falcon Scott and comrades stood at the South Pole on Jan. 17, 1912; but existing knowledge could not diminish the terrible toll the conditions exacted on the men. Great God! wrote Scott in his journal, this is an awful place. All five members of Scotts polar team died before they could reach their base camp. PHOTOS: Forgotten Discoveries of Scott's Antarctica Moscow at night Time and technology have enabled us to explore, not just across the surface of the globe or even beneath its waves, but from on high. Here, Moscow is seen at night from the International Space Station, flying at an altitude of approximately 240 miles on March 28, 2012. A solar array panel for the space station is on the left side of the frame. The Aurora Borealis, airglow and daybreak frame the horizon. Pale Blue Dot In contrast to earlier suppositions about our place in the firmaments, we know now that our globe is not at the center of the cosmos, and that other celestial bodies are not attached to interlaced spheres that rotate around us. We are but one world among many, in one solar system among many, in one galaxy among many. In this image, taken by the Voyager I spacecraft from a distance of 4 billion miles, Earth is but a speck a pale blue dot in the cosmic night. As the U.S. government shutdown grinds through its fourth day, science projects are falling like flies as they get starved of funds. And now, one of the most symbolic of scientific institutions has become the latest casualty of the political ineptitude on Capitol Hill. Today, as of 7pm Eastern Time, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (site offline) will shut down all of its North American facilities. This includes the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in New Mexico, plus the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. Apart from a skeleton crew that will remain behind as security for the radio antennae, the vast majority of the NRAO's 475 employees will be laid off in an unpaid furlough. NEWS: How a Government Shutdown Could Affect NASA The NRAO is funded by the National Science Foundation (site offline) and since the government shutdown on Oct. 1, the NRAO only had a week's worth of operating funds (left over from the last fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30) that sustained the organization through to today. "We're really at a dead halt," NRAO Director Anthony Beasley told Science Insider. Ripples of the shutdown are being felt at international radio telescopes too. The recently-completed Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, for example, is heavily funded by U.S. participation. Although the U.S. contingent has "some additional resources in the bank in Chile," according to Beasley, that will only last for another 3-4 weeks should the the deadlock in D.C. continue that long. PHOTOS: Monster Desert Telescope Construction Complete Critical systems are being maintained by around 90 employees who have to weather the funding storm. Cryogenically cooled electronics, for example, need to be maintained - simply switching off these systems would be prohibitively damaging and expensive. But if the shutdown pushes into November, the NRAO may not have enough reserves to pay for its electricity bills. "This is a very difficult situation," said Beasley. Amid all the bad news, there are a couple of glimmers of hope for space, particularly the planetary sciences. The NASA Mars rovers Curiosity and Opportunity, for example, remain up and running (for the time being) as the scientists and engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., are contractors managed by Caltech. Also, NASA's next Mars mission, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter, was granted an emergency exception under federal law to continue preparations for its Nov. 18 launch to the red planet. If preparations were suspended, and the mission missed its primary 20-day launch window, the launch could have been bumped to 2016. The new Mars orbiter is considered critical for continued and uninterrupted communications with NASA's surface missions. ANALYSIS: Resolving the Radio Background of the Universe But for the NRAO, there is little good news - North America is about to go "radio blind" and there's little anyone can do about it. The radio observatories shut down will impact the science community severely. Several thousand scientists use the data from NRAO installations and hundreds of them, according to Beasley, are considered "heavy" users. The radio observatories study everything from star formation, galactic evolution to the origins of our Cosmos. Of course, the government shutdown doesn't only affect radio observatories. All sciences that depend on government funds have been impacted; every facet of U.S. society has been hit and people are suffering as a result. Government employees have been furloughed and the public that depend on those services will have to do without. The nation's infrastructure and economy will be greatly affected. In the pursuit of an idiotic ideology, a very small group of politicians (with no idea about what they are fighting for, let alone the consequences) has shut down our eyes on the Cosmos. This is a reckless act that isn't just a blip on the radar of knowledge; it will reverberate far beyond the shutdown - hurting science and the inquiring minds who investigate that science - long after the politicians decide to work for the U.S. people again. Image: One of the dishes of the iconic Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico. Credit: Corbis Costa Rica has now powered the entire country for more than 75 days using only renewable energy. The country hasn't needed fossil fuel for all of 2015 thanks to hydropower and a heavy rainy season. The nation of 5 million inhabitants also gets renewable energy contributions from a mix of solar, geothermal and wind power. VIDEO: Using Magma to Create Energy Because Costa Rica needs a steady flow of water to maintain such an impressive feat, the Central American nation has budgeted nearly $1 billion to tap into its many volcanoes, expanding its use of geothermal power. Geothermal energy generated 10 percent of the nation's power last year. The country tops an impressive list of nations producing much of their power from renewable sources. Reports Quartz, Sweden, Bulgaria and Estonia have already met their 2020 renewable energy goals. Denmark creates 40 percent of its energy from wind. And the Dutch territory Bonaire is already producing nearly 100 percent of its energy from renewables and hopes to go over the top using algae as a biofuel. Costa Rica aims to be entirely carbon neutral by 2021, reports inhabit.com. Most people would agree that fossil fuels simply need to go. Theyre the cause of pollution, wars and climate change. Scientists have been researching alternative energy solutions like wind and solar power, and hydrogen fuel for cars, for years. But while some automakers -- like Toyota and Honda -- are bringing hydrogen-fueled cars to market, wind and solar are still more expensive than oil and coal and may not be the best solution for all places or uses. For example, some medical devices that are implanted in a human body could benefit from super tiny batteries that last decades. 10 Best Places to Harness Solar Power So scientists continue the quest for abundant, cheap and efficient energy by investigating lesser-known sources, ones that may seem a little unusual, even ridiculous, unrealistic and, in some cases, morbid. I think in order to solve the impending energy needs we might have to go a bit beyond, said Bobby Sumpter, a senior research scientist of computational theoretical chemistry at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Here are 11 of the more unusual sources that go above and beyond the norm. Who knows -- one day, you may use sugar to power your laptop, bacteria to run your car or dead bodies to heat a building. Body Heat Stretching the imagination when it comes to energy could get us closer to generating energy the way nature does: free and efficient. In London, Mayor Boris Johnson announced that excess heat from the subway tunnels and an electric substation would be funneled into British homes. Public Art Generates Renewable Energy, Beautifully Sugar Traditionally, putting sugar into a gas tank is a prank that can ruin a cars engine. But someday, it could be a great way to fuel a vehicle. We should not dismiss ideas, we should let people pursue ideas of unusual things, Diego del Castillo Negrete, a senior research scientist in the Fusion Energy Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory said. Researchers and chemists at Virginia Tech are developing a way to convert sugar into hydrogen, which can be used in a fuel cell, providing a cheaper, cleaner, pollutant-free and odorless drive. The scientists combine plant sugars, water and 13 powerful enzymes in a reactor, converting the concoction into hydrogen and trace amounts of carbon dioxide. Tidal Power: Energizer Bunny of Renewable Energy The hydrogen could be captured and pumped through a fuel cell to produce energy. Their process delivers three times more hydrogen than traditional methods, which translates into cost savings. Unfortunately, it might be another decade before consumers can actually dump sugar into their gas tanks. What seems more realistic in the short term is using the same technology to create long-lasting sugar-based batteries for laptops, cell phones and other electronics. Solar Wind One hundred billion times more power than humanity currently needs is available right now, out in space. It comes through solar wind, a stream of energized, charged particles flowing outward from the sun. Brooks Harrop, a physicist at Washington State University in Pullman and Dirk Schulze-Makuch of Washington States School of Earth and Environmental Science, think they can capture these particles with a satellite that orbits the sun the same distance Earth does. 8 Cray Cray Ways to Harness Solar Energy Their so-called Dyson-Harrop satellite would have a long copper wire charged by onboard batteries in order to produce a magnetic field perfect for snagging the electrons in the solar wind. The energy from the electrons would be beamed from the satellite via a infrared laser to Earth, since the infrared spectrum would not be affected by the planets atmosphere. This Dyson-Harrop satellite holds a few technical problems that researchers are currently trying to fix. It has no protection from space debris, and some of the power could be lost as its beamed through Earths atmosphere. Plus, finding a way to aim the laser beam across millions of miles of space is no small task. What seems more realistic is to use this satellite in order to power nearby space missions. Feces and Urine Most people think that feces and urine should be disposed of immediately. But feces contains methane, a colorless, odorless gas that could be used in the same way as natural gas. At least two solutions -- one in Cambridge, Mass., called Park Spark and one in San Francisco run by Norcal Waste -- is focused on converting dog poo into methane. Top 10 Countries on Wind Power In both solutions, dog walkers are provided biodegradable bags, which after theyre filled, are placed into a large container called a digester. Inside, microorganisms process the poo, giving off methane as a byproduct. The methane can be used to power lights In Pennsylvania, a dairy farm is looking to cow manure for energy. Six hundred cows that produce 18,000 gallons of manure daily are helping the farm save $60,000 a year. The waste is used to produce electricity, bedding, fertilizer and heating fuel. And Hewlett-Packard recently released a study explaining how a dairy farmer could make money by leasing land to Internet server companies, who could power computers with the methane. Human waste is just as good. In Bristol, Australia a VW Beetle car is powered by methane captured from a raw sewage treatment plant. Engineers from Wessex Water estimate the waste from 70 homes can generate enough gas to make the car run for 10,000 miles. And lets not forget urine. At the Heriot-Watt University's School of Engineering and Physical Sciences in Edinburgh, scientists are looking for a way to make world's first urine-powered fuel cells. It could be a viable way for astronauts or military personnel, for instance, to produce power on the go. Urea is an accessible, non-toxic, organic chemical compound rich in nitrogen. So yes, humans are constantly carrying around a chemical compound that can produce electricity. People: Dead or Alive The next time youre standing in a crowded subway in the middle of summer, dont sweat it. The heat your body produces can warm an entire building, complete with offices, apartments and shops. At least thats what's happening in Stockholm and Paris. Jernhuset, a state owned property administration company is putting together a plan to capture body heat from train commuters traveling through Stockholms Central Station. The heat will warm water running through pipes, which will then be pumped through the buildings ventilation system. Top Wacky Wind Turbines: Photos Paris Habitat, owner of a low-income housing project in Paris, will also use body heat to warm 17 apartments in a building, which is directly above a metro station near Pompidou Center. On a more morbid and less sweaty note, a crematorium in the United Kingdom is using gasses released from the cremation process to heat a crematorium. The energy in cremated bodies is already being captured when it has to pass through filters to remove the mercury in the deceaseds fillings. Instead of letting the energy escape, pipes are used to pump it through the building. Vibrations Go out and party; it may help the environment. Club Watt in Rotterdam, Netherlands is using floor vibrations from people walking and dancing to power its light show. The vibrations are captured by piezoelectric materials that produce an electric change when put under stress. The U.S. Army is also looking at piezoelectric technology for energy. They put the material in soldiers boots in order to charge radios and other portable devices. Although this is an interesting renewable energy with great potential, its not cheap. Club Watt spent $257,000 on this first generation 270-square-foot floor, more money than it can recoup. But the floor will be reprogrammed to improve output in the future. Your dance moves really can be electric. Ultimate Alternative Energy Quiz Sludge California municipalities alone produce 700,000 metric tons of dried sludge annually, which has the potential to generate 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per day. The University of Nevada, Reno, is drying sludge to make it burnable for a gasification process, which turns it into electricity. A team of researchers at the university built the processing machine as a way of producing low cost and energy efficient technology. The machine turns gooey sludge into powder by using relatively low temperatures in a fluidized bed of sand and salts to produce the biomass fuel. VIDEO: Truckin From Diesel To Veg Oil The waste-to-energy technology is designed to be on site which means companies can save on trucking costs, disposal fees, and electricity. Although the research is still ongoing, estimates show that a full-scale system can potentially generate 25,000 kilowatt-hours per day to help power reclamation facilities. Jellyfish Jellyfish that glow in the dark contain the raw ingredients for a new kind of fuel cell. Their glow is produced by green fluorescent protein, referred to as GFP. A team at The Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, placed a drop of GFP onto aluminum electrodes and then exposed that to ultraviolet light. The protein released electrons, which travel a circuit to produce electricity. The same proteins have been used to make a biological fuel cell, which makes electricity without an external light source. Instead of an external light source, a mixture of chemicals such as magnesium and luciferase enzymes, which are found in fireflies, were used to produce electricity from the device. These fuel cells can be used on small, nano devices such as those that could be implanted in a person to diagnose or treat disease. Jellyfish Rearrange Limbs After Injury Exploding Lakes There are three known "exploding lakes," in the world, so called because they contain huge reservoirs of methane and carbon dioxide trapped in the depths by differences in water temperature and density. If temperatures should change and the lake turns, these gases would immediately fizz to the surface like a shaken bottle of soda, killing the millions of people and animals living nearby. In fact, such an event happened on Aug. 15, 1984, when Cameroon's Lake Nyos unleashed a huge cloud of concentrated carbon dioxide, instantly suffocating hundreds of people and animals. In Rwanda, Lake Kivu is such a place. But the government has built a power plant that sucks up the noxious gases from the lake to power three large generators, which produce 3.6 megawatts of electricity. The government hopes that in the next couple of years, the plant could be producing enough power for one-third of the country. Bacteria Billions of bacteria live out in the wild, and like any living organism, they have a survival strategy for when there is a limited food supply. E. coli bacteria store fuel in the form of fatty acids that resembles polyester. That same fatty acid is needed for the production of biodiesel fuel. So, researchers are looking to genetically modify E. coli microorganisms to overproduce those polyester-like acids. The scientists removed enzymes from the bacteria to boost fatty acid production, and then dehydrated the fatty acid to get rid of the oxygen, which made turned it into a type of diesel fuel. The same bacteria that can make us sick can also help save people money and the environment, by providing fuel for transportation. : , A doctor who recently returned to New York from treating Ebola patients in Guinea tested positive for the deadly virus Thursday, news reports said. The doctor, Craig Spencer, 33, was taken to Bellevue Hospital and placed in isolation, The New York Times said, calling it New York's first diagnosed case of the deadly disease. After notifying the staff of Doctors Without Borders that he had nausea and an elevated temperature of 100.3-degree Fahrenheit, Spencer was rushed by ambulance from his home in Harlem to Bellevue. Spencer was transported by a specially trained HAZ TAC unit wearing full protective gear, according to a release from the New York City Department of Health. Bellevue is one of three hospitals in Manhattan and eight in the state of New York equipped to handle patients diagnosed with Ebola. Health officials in New York City have retraced the whereabouts of Spencer who reported that he started to feel "tired" on Tuesday, authorities said. On Wednesday Spencer went on a three-mile jog and that evening he traveled to Brooklyn from upper Manhattan on the subway to go bowling with friends in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He then took a taxi arranged by the online car service, Uber, back to Manhattan. In a press conference Thursday evening, city officials said they did not believe Spencer was contagious during his outings since he was not symptomatic while he moved about the city on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the bowling alley he visited Wednesday night closed on Thursday so officials could thoroughly clean the space. "He did not have a stage of disease that creates a risk of contagiousness on the subway," Mary Bassett, the city health commissioner, said. "We consider it extremely unlikely, the probability being close to nil, that there will be any problem related to his taking the subway system." Spencer's fiancee has been placed in quarantine at Bellevue, according to the New York Times, and two other friends who had contact with him on Tuesday and Wednesday are remaining at home and self isolating. Spencer was a fellow of international emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. He had been working with Doctors Without Borders in Guinea treating Ebola patients. He left Guinea on Oct. 14 and then flew via Brussels back to New York City, arriving at JFK Airport on Oct. 17. Authorities said Spencer felt well during his travels home. As per Doctors Without Borders guidelines, Spencer had been checking his temperature twice a day to monitor for any signs of the disease. In a statement, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital described Spencer as "a dedicated humanitarian" who went to "an area of medical crisis to help a desperately underserved population." - via New York Times and AFP. A dense sandstorm engulfing parts of the Middle East left at least two people dead in Lebanon and hundreds suffering from respiratory problems on Tuesday, as officials warned residents to stay indoors. Large parts of Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Cyprus were shrouded in a thick cloud of dust from the storm that began sweeping into the region on Monday. In Syria, the storm cut visibility for government warplanes and helicopters, which carried out many fewer strikes than usual, a monitor said. Amazing Sand Dunes Around The World: Photos Among those worst affected were Syrian refugees living in official and informal camps, particularly in Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry said two women had died at hospitals in the Bekaa Valley region because of the storm, without specifying their nationality. "The number of cases of choking and shortness of breath caused by the sandstorm has risen to 750," the ministry said. Police distributed face masks on city streets as authorities warned people suffering from health problems, the elderly and pregnant women to stay indoors. The storm was felt particularly in Lebanon's dozens of informal camps where hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees live with limited shelter. In the Bekaa region, a woman wrapped her headscarf over her mouth as she walked by a makeshift tent in one camp. 16 U.S. Weather Photos that Will Amaze You Lebanon's weather service said the storm was expected to abate from Wednesday night. Mouin Hamzeh, secretary general of Lebanon's governmental National Council for Scientific Research, said satellite images "clearly show that the sandstorm came from northern Iraq in the direction of central and northern Lebanon, north and east Syria, and southern Turkey." "It usually happens twice or even three times a year in Lebanon but during spring, March and April, and the unusual thing today is the density of the storm," he told AFP. In neighbouring Syria, the storm also swept across much of the country, reducing visibility everywhere from coastal Latakia province to eastern Deir Ezzor. Storm impedes Syria strikes In the city of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor, several hospitals were no longer receiving patients suffering respiratory problems after running out of oxygen tanks, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. NEWS: How Heat Kills Syria's health minister urged citizens to "avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoors" and said hundreds of people had been treated for cases of asthma and other respiratory problems. The dust cut visibility for government aircraft, which carried out relatively few strikes during the storm, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. "The sandstorm has paralysed regime airplanes, there were only a few strikes in Damascus province," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. Thick haze was hanging over Jerusalem and much of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, with officials also warning the vulnerable to stay indoors. The view from the Mount of Olives - which normally offers a sweeping panorama of Jerusalem's Old City and the Al-Aqsa mosque compound with its golden Dome of the Rock - was completely obscured by the dust. Photos: The Good and Bad of Summer The thick cloud also enveloped parts of the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where residents were told to limit their time outdoors. Health officials warned that the concentration of dust particles in the air was many times above normal levels. Several flights were diverted from the coastal airport of Larnaca as visibility dropped to 500 metres (yards). The island was also suffering from a heatwave, with inland temperatures hitting 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit). The interior ministry said that dozens of Syrian refugees who had been rescued from a fishing boat off the coast of Cyprus on Sunday had been moved from a makeshift camp to a better-equipped facility because of the extreme weather. VIDEO: What Heat Looks Like The effects of the storm had also reached Cairo, where the city skyline was obscured by a thick haze. Wahid Saudi, a top official at Egypt's weather authority, said the dust had blown in from the eastern Mediterranean region and was expected to clear after several hours. Seven men have been arrested in Egypt after digging up an ancient temple under a house in Giza, just outside Cairo. Egyptian news website Ahram reports that the illegal excavation revealed the remains of a temple from the reign of Pharoah Tuthmose III. The dig revealed huge limestone blocks covered in hieroglyphics, which belong to a massive temple, according to Egypt's Antiquities Minister Mamdouh El-Damaty. Ahram reports that two marble columns were also unearthed, along with seven reliefs and a large armless colossus of a seated person, made from red granite. Major General Momtaz Fathi, an aide to the interior ministry and a director in Egypt's tourism police, said that the find was made in mid October. The arrests were made after Egypt's tourism and antiquities police heard about the illegal excavation. Police found diving suits, diving masks and oxygen cylinders when they raided the dig, according to Ahram. The unearthed artifacts were taken to the nearby archaeological site of Saqqara for restoration and further study. The Hod Zeleikha area of Giza where the illegal dig took place has now been declared an archaeological site, according to El-Damaty, who noted that more of the temple will be excavated. Tuthmose III, known as "the Napoleon of ancient Egypt" as a result of his military successes, reigned from 1479 to 1425 B.C. Located on the outskirts of Cairo, Giza is best known as the location of the Great Sphinx and the pyramids. More from FoxNews.com/Science: Science determines catchiest hit song of all time Researchers spot 'cryptic' fanged deer Wreck of 17th-century Dutch warship discovered Ian Thomas Ash, originally from New York, is a freelance documentary filmmaker who has lived in Japan for 10 years. When the magnitude-9.0 earthquake hit off the coast of northeastern Japan on March 11, Ian felt its effects in the nation's capital, Tokyo. The impact of the quake, tsunami and the ongoing threat of radioactive fallout from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant 150 miles away is taking its toll. In a recent guest article for Discovery News, Ian documented the impact the ongoing crisis was having on the populace of the nation's capital. He also wrote about what he saw during a trip to the city of Ishinomaki, one of the many cities hit hard by the tsunami. In April, Ian documented the journey made by a group of volunteers led by three brothers who travel to tsunami-devastated Ishinomaki City. He also interviewed ENS Margaret Morton, who was stationed aboard the Navy destroyer USS Mustin when the earthquake struck. In this third article of a four-part series, Ian ventures inside the stricken Fukushima power plant's 30 kilometer radiation exclusion zone with cameraman Colin O'Neill to document the conditions the local population are currently enduring. Part 1, Japan Crisis: Entering the Radiation Zone, was published on May 9, and Part 2, Japan Crisis: The Children of Minamisoma City, was published on May 18. You can see more of Ian's documentary work by visiting Ian's YouTube Channel. He also regularly updates his personal blog, Documenting Ian. As the children who live within the 30 kilometer zone of the damaged nuclear power plant in Japan headed back to school last month, my cameraman and I were there to document it. I spoke with the parents of the children and with the children themselves. I met with school teachers and city officials. I also interviewed the superintendent of schools and the mayor of Minamisoma City. I asked each person I met the same question: Are these children safe? Shockingly, the overwhelming answer always seemed to be: We don't know. My cameraman and I were confused; radiation levels published by public interest groups tend to focus on the peaks and hotspots while the figures released by the government tend to present the averages. One medical doctor told us there was no danger to children (even while admitting that it would be "better" to voluntarily evacuate one's own children) while one of the local pediatricians who was remaining in the city to continue to treat his patients had evacuated his own wife and child to Tokyo where it was "safer." In part 3 of this behind-the-scenes look at the children living in the radiation zone of Minamisoma City, the children prepare to go back to school. But before they do, I ask their elementary school principal a tough question: "Are the radiation levels at the school which is 32 km from the damaged nuclear power plant (and therefore technically outside the zone) significantly lower than the radiation levels inside the 30 km zone?" More by Ian: March 22, 2011: Despite Radiation Fears, I'm Not Leaving Tokyo' March 28, 2011: After the Tsunami, To Be Alive Is Enough' April 1, 2011: Japan Tsunami Clean-up: So Much to Be Done April 7, 2011: Japan: Pride, Honor and Respect in the Face of Chaos May 9, 2011: Japan Crisis: Entering the Radiation Zone (Part 1) May 18, 2011: Japan Crisis: The Children of Minamisoma City (Part 2) Video credit: Ian Thomas Ash and Colin O'Neill Tsunamis typically batter island nations and coastal cities, so landlocked Switzerland is probably the last place you'd worry about one. But think again. Tsunamis can occur in lakes, too, and giant waves in enclosed bodies of water actually have the potential to have even more devastating effects. In recent years, Nature reports, scientists have turned up alarming evidence that about 13 million people who live around Alpine lakes may be endangered by the risk of devastating waves, which can be generated by mountain rock slides or earthquakes. In a paper presented in August at the International Association of Sedimentologists in Geneva, Swiss scientist Katrina Kremer and colleagues reported that there have been at least five tsunamis in Lake Geneva in the past 4,000 years, including one in 563 that wiped out the city of Geneva. NEWS: Island Rising Out of Pacific Could Be Tsunami Hazard In that catastrophe, which Kremer and other coauthors described in a 2012 Nature Geoscience article, a piece of a mountain fell into a geologically unstable portion of the Rhone river, which flows into the lake. The falling rock caused parts of the river delta to collapse, generating a 24-foot-high surge of water that destroyed the city. Another highly vulnerable place is the shore of Lake Lucerne, which scientists discovered was the site of two devastating tsunamis in the 1600s, including one that generated 15-foot-high waves. The amount of sediment on the lake's slopes has increased since then, making it more vulnerable to being dislodged by an earthquake and causing a tsunami. VIDEO: Tsunami Warning Center Uses Top Technology As a result, Swiss officials are now starting to factor the risk of tsunamis into their emergency planning for the first time, according to Phys.org. Lake tsunamis aren't confined to Switzerland. Richard A. Schweickert, an emeritus professor of geology at the University of Nevada in Reno, told the New York Times in 2012 that there is evidence that part of the shoreline of Lake Tahoe collapsed sometime in the past 20,000 years, generating waves up to 100 feet in height. Thousands of panic-stricken villagers fled their homes fearing flash floods after an overnight landslide blocked a river in quake-hit Nepal's mountainous northwest, officials said Sunday. The landslide at around midnight sent mud and rocks tumbling into the Kali Gandaki river in Myagdi district, causing water levels to rise by 150 metres (490 feet), said local official Yam Bahadur Chokhal. "We have evacuated about 100 people from the affected area. People in other villages don't need immediate rescue but thousands have left on their own," Chokhal told AFP. PHOTOS: Deadly Nepal Quake Devastates Vast Region As fresh landslides dumped debris into the river during the day, the two-kilometer-long artificial lake created by the blockage began to overflow the newly created dam, home ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal told AFP. "The artificial lake has begun to overflow the dam... but there does not appear to be any risk of flooding," Dhakal said. An army helicopter carrying soldiers and geologists had reached the site earlier in the day and officials were monitoring the water flow closely, Dhakal said. PHOTOS: Nepal Landmarks Destroyed by Quake "Once the soft soil flows away with the water, security forces might blast holes into the hard rocks blocking the river but we have to be very careful to ensure that there is no sudden surge," he said. The region has witnessed several small landslides in recent days, said local official Trivikram Sharma, based in the district headquarters of Beni 185 kilometers (115 miles) west of Kathmandu. "After the two quakes, villagers have reported several minor landslides and late last night they said the hill just came down," Sharma said. "We cannot immediately assess the risk of flash floods but people are obviously scared that the artificial dam will burst suddenly and submerge their homes." Everest Expeditions in Question After Nepal Quake No one was hurt in the landslide, according to officials. But police have issued an alert for villagers living along the river, which begins near the Nepal-China border and flows into northern India, eventually joining the Ganges. The snow-fed waters are also the site of Nepal's largest hydroelectric project that generates 144 megawatts of power, located south of the landslide-blocked area. Twin quakes have devastated Nepal in recent weeks, killing more than 8,600 people and leaving thousands in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter. A landslide into the Kali Gandaki river in Nepal, seen above, sent villagers fleeing ahead of rising waters. A massive earthquake killed more than 3,700 people Saturday as it tore through large parts of Nepal, toppling office blocks and towers in Kathmandu and triggering a deadly avalanche at Everest base camp. Photo: Members of the China International Search and Rescue Team arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 26. Officials said the quake was the Himalayan nation's worst disaster in more than 80 years. But the final toll from the 7.8 magnitude quake could be much higher, and dozens more people were reported killed in neighboring India and China. Above, a temple lies in ruins at the Durbar Square in Patan, Nepal. Tibetan kids eat breakfast supplied by rescue teams in Jilung County of Xigaze City, southwest of Tibet on Sunday. Photo: Indian bystanders int he city of Siliguri look at a collapsed house following the Nepal earthquake. Emergency workers fanned out across the Himalayan nation to rescue those trapped under collapsed homes, buildings and other debris. Offers of help poured in from governments around the world, with the United States and the European Union announcing they were sending in disaster response teams. "Deaths have been reported from all regions except the far west. All our security personnel have been deployed to rescue and assist those in need," Bam told AFP. The Red Cross (IFRC) said it was concerned about the fate of rural villages close to the epicenter of the quake northwest of the capital Kathmandu. Photo: Rescuers recover injured from rubble in Nepal's devastated capital city, Kathmandu. "Roads have been damaged or blocked by landslides and communication lines are down preventing us from reaching local Red Cross branches to get accurate information," said IFRC Asia/Pacific director Jagan Chapagain in a statement. Officials said 10 people were killed when an avalanche buried parts of Mount Everest's base camp in Nepal where hundreds of mountaineers have gathered at the start of the annual climbing season. "We don't have the details yet, but 10 have been reported dead so far, including foreign climbers," Gyanendra Kumar Shrestha, an official in Nepal's tourism department, told AFP. "We are trying to assess how many are injured. There might be over 1,000 people there right now, including foreign climbers and Nepalese supporting staff." Photo: Many neighboring countries felt the earthquake's impact, including India. AFP Nepal bureau chief Ammu Kannampilly, on an assignment to Everest together with a colleague, was among those caught up in the chaos. "We are both ok... snowing here so no choppers coming," she said in an SMS on an approach to base camp. "I hurt my hand - got it bandaged and told to keep it upright to stop the bleeding." Experienced mountaineers said panic erupted at base camp which had been "severely damaged", while one described the avalanche as "huge". Photo: People work to clear up earthquake damage in Siliguri, India. "Huge disaster. Helped searched and rescued victims through huge debris area. Many dead. Much more badly injured. More to die if not heli asap," tweeted Romanian climber Alex Gavan from base camp. Kathmandu was severely damaged, and the historic nine-storey Dharahara tower, a major tourist attraction, was among buildings brought down. At least a dozen bodies were taken away from the ruins of the 19th-century tower, according to an AFP photographer who saw similar scenes of multiple casualties throughout the city. "It was difficult to breathe, but I slowly moved the debris. Someone then pulled me out. I don't know where my friends are," Dharmu Subedi, 36, who was standing outside the tower when it collapsed, said from a hospital bed. Photo: A road blocked by a landslide in Gyirong County of Xigaze Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the wake of the massive Nepal quake. At least 42 people were known to have died in India, including 30 in the eastern state of Bihar, while buildings in the capital New Delhi had to be evacuated. The United States Geological Survey said the shallow quake struck 77 kilometers (48 miles) northwest of Kathmandu at 0611 GMT, with walls crumbling and families racing outside their homes. The quake tore through the middle of highways in the capital and also caused damage to the country's only international airport which was briefly closed. Kari Cuelenaere, an official at the Dutch embassy, said the impact had swept the water out of a swimming pool at a Kathmandu hotel where Dutch national day was being celebrated. "It was horrible, all of a sudden all the water came up out of the pool and drenched everyone, the children started screaming," Cuelenaere told AFP. "Some parts of the city fell down, there was dust rising... There were many (rescue) helicopters." Photos: Pedestrians walk past collapsed buildings in Kathmandu, Nepal. Aftershock tremors could be felt more than two hours after the initial quake. USGS initially measured the quake at 7.5 magnitude and later adjusted it to 7.8, with a depth of 15 kilometers. Nepal and the rest of the Himalayas are particularly prone to earthquakes because of the collision of the Indian and Eurasia plates. The thrust of the India plate beneath Eurasia generates a large amount of seismic activity, the USGS says on its website. Photo: Pedestrians walk past collapsed buildings in Kathmandu, Nepal. A spokesman for Nepal's home ministry said the government had released around $500 million as emergency funds for rescue operations. India dispatched two military transport planes to help with the rescue and relief efforts and there were similar offers from around the region, including Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said a disaster response was being flown to Nepal and that the Obama administration had authorized an initial $1 million "to address immediate needs." In Europe, Britain, Germany, Norway and Spain also pledged support and assistance. Photo: People gather around a collapsed building after an earthquake in Durbar square in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. A regional governor in Poland said Monday he had serious doubts about the alleged discovery of a Nazi gold train days after a deputy culture minister revealed he was "more than 99 percent sure" one had been found. "There is no more proof for this alleged discovery than for other claims made over the years," Tomasz Smolarz, governor of the southwestern region of Lower Silesia, told reporters. Two anonymous fortune hunters claim they have pinpointed the Nazi-era loot. Hidden Treasures Discovered by Chance "It's impossible to claim that such a find actually exists at the location indicated based on the documents that have been submitted," Smolarz said, adding that he had set up a special unit including historians and geologists to scrutinise the alleged discovery. Global media have for days been abuzz with talk of trains full of jewels and gold stolen by the Nazis after the two men - a German and a Pole - claimed to have found an armoured train car buried near the city of Walbrzych. On Friday, Polish Deputy Culture Minister Piotr Zuchowski said he had seen a convincing ground-penetrating radar image of the alleged Nazi train. PHOTOS: The Last Nazis "I'm more than 99 percent sure such a train exists, but the nature of its contents is unverifiable at the moment," Zuchowski told reporters, adding that he could make out platforms and cannons on the photo. Smolarz said Monday he had not seen any such image. "The fact that this train is armoured suggests there could be valuable objects inside" including artworks, archival documents or treasures, Zuchowski added. PHOTOS: Ancient Palmyra Treasures at Risk From ISIS The World Jewish Congress has asked that any valuables found that once belonging to victims of the Holocaust should be returned to their owners or heirs. Zuchowski said someone who had been involved in hiding the train, which is over 100 metres (330 feet) in length, had disclosed its location before dying. PHOTOS: Gold-Filled Wreck Found in Finland Rumours of two special Nazi trains that disappeared in the spring of 1945 have been circulating for years, capturing the imagination of countless treasure-hunters. The lore is fuelled by a massive network of secret underground tunnels near Walbrzych - including around the massive Ksiaz Castle - that Nazi Germany built and where legend has it the Third Reich stashed valuables. April 12, 2012 -- Ghostly relics of the sunken RMS Titanic threaten to sink investors' bank accounts just in time for the centennial of the passenger liner's tragic maiden voyage, which ended in a piercing collision with an iceberg on April 15, 1912. A 17-ton chunk of the ship's fragmented hull, recovered in 1998 and shown here on display at the Luxor in Las Vegas, is the largest of nearly 6,000 artifacts now up for grabs at two U.S. auction houses. Also for sale are a diamond bracelet spelling out the name "Amy," a man's bowler hat, White Start Line dishware, and a postcard a young man wrote to his parents before the ship went down. A secret bidding war is currently underway for a singular collection of more than 5,000 of these objects, which constitute the first and only auction of artifacts hauled up from the North Atlantic seabed since the wreck's discovery in 1985. A U.S. court order mandates this monumental Edwardian treasure trovecurrently the property of the salvage company RMS Titanic, Inc.be sold as a single lot to an individual buyer. The prospective new owner must agree to display and restore the collection, valued at $189 million. Average history buffs may have a better shot at acquiring one of 180 other Titanic-related items in a second, online auction that goes live April 19. The crew of a Canadian vessel dispatched to the wreck site two days after the Titanic sank recovered many of these objects, including a wooden deck chair that an ill-fated passenger may have clung to before succumbing to the icy water. NEWS: Wireless Could Have Saved Lives on the Titanic Grave or Memorial? Salvagers discovered this 17-ton section of Titanic's hull in 1994 and raised it in 1998. Dubbed the "Big Piece," it is the largest object ever recovered from the wreck site. From the starboard side of the ship, this fragment contains portholes from C and D decks. The large portholes looked into cabins C 79 and C 81, and the smaller ports between them looked into the attached private bathrooms. Over the years, some people have complained that dismantling the wreckage is akin to robbing the graves of the 1,500 Titanic passengers who died at sea. Representatives of RMS Titantic, Inc., salvo-in-possession of the ship and its wreck site, see things differently: "Many of the artifacts we've brought up from the site would have disintegrated and been lost forever had this company not risked life and limb, and spent millions of dollars and countless hours to raise and rehabilitate them using cutting-edge conservation techniques," chairman of Premier Exhibitions and RMS Titanic Inc., Mark Sellers, said in announcing the current sale earlier this year. "After all of these efforts, we have determined that the time has come for us to transfer ownership of this collection to a steward who is able to continue our efforts and will preserve and honor her legacy." Honoring Her Legacy One of the wealthy women among Titanic's first-class passengers may have left this 26-gem, gold-and-silver bracelet behind. There were at least two passengers named Amy on board, as well as an Amanda and an Amelia. Recently, a man offered $100,000 for the bracelet alone, convinced that it had belonged to his great-grandmother, Amy, but the house handling the auction for RMS Titanic, Inc., had to turn him down because of a law forbidding the sale of individual items salvaged from the wreck site. Cherubic Memories This iconic bronze cherub, recovered in 1987, probably lost its left foot as salvagers ripped it from the post it adorned along Titanics Grand Staircase. Each level of the staircase was decorated with inlaid wood and gilded ornaments such as this cherub, which graced one of the upper landings where children of first-class passengers played as their parents visited. ANALYSIS: Titanic Wreck Site Mapped Grand Elegance The elegance of Grand Staircase, which descended through six decks and was topped by a dome of iron and glass, is evident in this modern replica. The original Grand Staircase was a favorite meeting place for Titanic's first-class passengers, who would meet there before a visit to the Turkish Baths, say, or after dinner. ANALYSIS: Did the Moon Conspire To Bring Down Titanic? Sturdy Survivor Recovered from inside a leather bag in 1987, this bill accrued little damage during its 75-year visit to the bottom of the North Atlantic. In 1912 both private banks and the U.S. federal government were still issuing paper money. Banks in various cities printed "promissory notes" in proportion to the national debt they underwrote. This $1 U.S. Silver Certificate measures over seven inches in length; a current U.S. $1 bill is about six inches. Status Symbol During Edwardian times, when Titanic sailed, the hard, felt bowler hat was compulsory wear for men with any claim to status. Indeed, clothes denoted status as plainly as any military uniform. To appear in public without a hat meant being seen as wretchedly poor, just plain eccentric or even faintly obscene. This bowler hat, recovered from wreck site in 1993, held up surprisingly well considering it was found without the protection of a leather bag or trunk. Simple Patterns Heavy and serviceable, the third-class dishware was marked with the White Star Line's logo to prevent theft. Like all china aboard, the name Titanic never appeared, allowing its use on other White Star Line ships. It is generally thought that this pattern of china was also used for crew's service. Sweets, Anyone? The intricate handmade cut design of this crystal dish, discovered in 2000, indicates that it was probably used in first class. This blog features breaking news about the recent earthquake in Nepal. Check back for daily updates as coverage of the rescue efforts continues. UPDATE 5 p.m. Monday: The massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on Saturday reduced to rubble many of the country's iconic landmarks, reported Discovery News' Rossella Lorenzi. At least four out of seven Unesco World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley have been devastated. The United States said Monday it is sending $10 million in relief to help the victims of the massive earthquake in Nepal, where the death toll surpassed 4,000, including at least four Americans. The Pentagon also ordered two dozen U.S. Army Green Beret commandos, who were already in Nepal on training missions to join in rescue efforts, officials said. Some of the Green Beret special forces troops -- who were in Nepal for high-altitude training -- are helping to search for victims "along popular trekking routes" including the Mount Everest base camp route, spokesman Col. Steven Warren told reporters. UPDATE 2 p.m. Monday: About 200 climbers on Mount Everest are being airlifted from base camp. Helicopters carried 60 climbers Monday, two at a time due to the dangers of flying at such high altitude, reported the BBC. Nearly every member of the Nepalese army and police force are assisting in the search and rescue efforts, officials reported. Located on a major fault-line dividing the Indian and Eurasian plates, quake-prone Nepal is set to suffer more aftershocks in the coming months, some of which might be major, experts say. A magnitude 8.1 quake killed 10,700 people in Nepal and India in 1934, nearly destroying Kathmandu. A previous mega-quake in the area dates back to 1255. ::: More than, 4,000 people were killed in the massive 7.8 magnitude quake centered near the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu on Saturday -- and the death toll was rising Monday morning. Reconstruction is expected to costs billions. Offers of help have poured in from around the world, with dozens of nations or aid groups volunteering everything from sniffer dogs to an inflatable hospital. The nine-story Dharahara tower, a major tourist attraction in Kathmandu's Durbar square with its spiral staircase of 200 steps, has been reduced to just its base. Nepalese doctors have set up makeshift operating theaters as they work round the clock to treat the wounded. A new drone video (below) captured in Kathmandu shows the extent of the damage. "We not only lost many lives and homes," wrote Kishor Rana who posted the video on Facebook, "but we lost many pieces of our cultural heritage, our history." How to Help The site Charity Navigator lists seven vetted relief groups that are assisting in aid and recovery efforts. These agencies will be providing food, shelter, medicine, clothing and hygiene items. All received a 3 or 4-star rating from Charity Navigator: AmeriCares CARE Direct Relief GlobalGiving Save the Children Seva Foundation AFP contributed to this report. Two Chinese police officers run away from the site of an aftershock Sunday on China National Highway 318 after the massive earthquake in Nepal. A massive earthquake killed more than 3,700 people Saturday as it tore through large parts of Nepal, toppling office blocks and towers in Kathmandu and triggering a deadly avalanche at Everest base camp. Photo: Members of the China International Search and Rescue Team arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 26. Officials said the quake was the Himalayan nation's worst disaster in more than 80 years. But the final toll from the 7.8 magnitude quake could be much higher, and dozens more people were reported killed in neighboring India and China. Above, a temple lies in ruins at the Durbar Square in Patan, Nepal. Tibetan kids eat breakfast supplied by rescue teams in Jilung County of Xigaze City, southwest of Tibet on Sunday. Photo: Indian bystanders int he city of Siliguri look at a collapsed house following the Nepal earthquake. Emergency workers fanned out across the Himalayan nation to rescue those trapped under collapsed homes, buildings and other debris. Offers of help poured in from governments around the world, with the United States and the European Union announcing they were sending in disaster response teams. "Deaths have been reported from all regions except the far west. All our security personnel have been deployed to rescue and assist those in need," Bam told AFP. The Red Cross (IFRC) said it was concerned about the fate of rural villages close to the epicenter of the quake northwest of the capital Kathmandu. Photo: Rescuers recover injured from rubble in Nepal's devastated capital city, Kathmandu. "Roads have been damaged or blocked by landslides and communication lines are down preventing us from reaching local Red Cross branches to get accurate information," said IFRC Asia/Pacific director Jagan Chapagain in a statement. Officials said 10 people were killed when an avalanche buried parts of Mount Everest's base camp in Nepal where hundreds of mountaineers have gathered at the start of the annual climbing season. "We don't have the details yet, but 10 have been reported dead so far, including foreign climbers," Gyanendra Kumar Shrestha, an official in Nepal's tourism department, told AFP. "We are trying to assess how many are injured. There might be over 1,000 people there right now, including foreign climbers and Nepalese supporting staff." Photo: Many neighboring countries felt the earthquake's impact, including India. AFP Nepal bureau chief Ammu Kannampilly, on an assignment to Everest together with a colleague, was among those caught up in the chaos. "We are both ok... snowing here so no choppers coming," she said in an SMS on an approach to base camp. "I hurt my hand - got it bandaged and told to keep it upright to stop the bleeding." Experienced mountaineers said panic erupted at base camp which had been "severely damaged", while one described the avalanche as "huge". Photo: People work to clear up earthquake damage in Siliguri, India. "Huge disaster. Helped searched and rescued victims through huge debris area. Many dead. Much more badly injured. More to die if not heli asap," tweeted Romanian climber Alex Gavan from base camp. Kathmandu was severely damaged, and the historic nine-storey Dharahara tower, a major tourist attraction, was among buildings brought down. At least a dozen bodies were taken away from the ruins of the 19th-century tower, according to an AFP photographer who saw similar scenes of multiple casualties throughout the city. "It was difficult to breathe, but I slowly moved the debris. Someone then pulled me out. I don't know where my friends are," Dharmu Subedi, 36, who was standing outside the tower when it collapsed, said from a hospital bed. Photo: A road blocked by a landslide in Gyirong County of Xigaze Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the wake of the massive Nepal quake. At least 42 people were known to have died in India, including 30 in the eastern state of Bihar, while buildings in the capital New Delhi had to be evacuated. The United States Geological Survey said the shallow quake struck 77 kilometers (48 miles) northwest of Kathmandu at 0611 GMT, with walls crumbling and families racing outside their homes. The quake tore through the middle of highways in the capital and also caused damage to the country's only international airport which was briefly closed. Kari Cuelenaere, an official at the Dutch embassy, said the impact had swept the water out of a swimming pool at a Kathmandu hotel where Dutch national day was being celebrated. "It was horrible, all of a sudden all the water came up out of the pool and drenched everyone, the children started screaming," Cuelenaere told AFP. "Some parts of the city fell down, there was dust rising... There were many (rescue) helicopters." Photos: Pedestrians walk past collapsed buildings in Kathmandu, Nepal. Aftershock tremors could be felt more than two hours after the initial quake. USGS initially measured the quake at 7.5 magnitude and later adjusted it to 7.8, with a depth of 15 kilometers. Nepal and the rest of the Himalayas are particularly prone to earthquakes because of the collision of the Indian and Eurasia plates. The thrust of the India plate beneath Eurasia generates a large amount of seismic activity, the USGS says on its website. Photo: Pedestrians walk past collapsed buildings in Kathmandu, Nepal. A spokesman for Nepal's home ministry said the government had released around $500 million as emergency funds for rescue operations. India dispatched two military transport planes to help with the rescue and relief efforts and there were similar offers from around the region, including Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said a disaster response was being flown to Nepal and that the Obama administration had authorized an initial $1 million "to address immediate needs." In Europe, Britain, Germany, Norway and Spain also pledged support and assistance. Photo: People gather around a collapsed building after an earthquake in Durbar square in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. Last fall, we showed you some satellite pictures of mysterious geoglyphs squares, lines, crosses, rings and even a swastika that had been etched into the landscape of Kazakhstan by an 8,000-year-old civilization. So when you look at picture of the giant T shape that NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captured in March from above the desert in the United Arab Emirates, you might wonder if it similarly was left behind by the ancients. NEWS: Satellite to Map Earth's Dirt from Orbit As it turns out, though, the T is just an odd happenstance. NASA says that the letter shape is formed by greenery - for the most part, date trees - that were planted along a highway and the Liwa oasis. The green stands out startlingly because of the surrounding area's dusty brown coloration. Liwa lies 155 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi, and about 62 miles south of the Arabian Gulf. It's at the edge of the Rub' al-Khali, AKA the Empty Quarter, a 255,000 square-mile desert that has more sand in it than the Sahara. As Lonely Planet notes, the area has an assortment of villages and farms - situated along the top of the T - in the midst of "endless landscape of undulating sand dunes, shimmering in shades of gold, apricot and cinnamon." NEWS: Mushroom-Grown Chairs are Strong, Compostable It's such an exotic place that when Google needed pictures for its Street View database, it shot them with a camera mounted on the back of a camel. And if you think the T is odd, check out this Gizmodo blog post filled with even weirder geometric shapes in other satellite images. Here's something that we found even more surprising. NASA actually has compiled an entire 26-letter alphabet from satellite photos, from a cursive-style letter A' formed in rock by a river in Utah, to a Z' that it detected in smoke rising over Canada. If you step outside before dawn during the next week or so, you might be able to see bright meteors streaking through the sky. The Orionid meteor shower is peaking now, and it will likely be a very good show this year, weather permitting. The moon will be slimmed down to a narrow crescent before sunrise on Tuesday (Oct. 21) morning during the peak of the shower. The skinny lunar sliver will not even rise until around 5 a.m. local time. Even if you can't see the meteor shower from outside your home, you can watch it live online. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama will host a webcast tonight (Oct. 20) starting at 10 p.m. EDT (0200 Oct. 20 GMT) featuring live views of the meteor shower. You can watch the meteor shower webcast on Space.com. Epic Aurora Photos from the Space Station The Orionids can best be described as a junior version of the famous Perseid meteor shower. The meteors are known as "Orionids" because they seem to fan out from a region to the north of the constellation Orion's second brightest star, Betelgeuse. [See amazing photos of the Orionid meteor shower of 2013] Currently, Orion appears ahead of Earth in the planet's journey around the sun, and does not completely rise above the eastern horizon until after 11:00 p.m. local time. Halley's Legacy The Orionid meteor shower is created each year when Earth passes through dust left behind by the famous Halley's Comet. PHOTOS: Russian Meteor Strike Aftermath The comet actually creates two different meteor showers on Earth every year. The orbit of Halley's Comet closely approaches the Earth's orbit at two places. One point is in the early part of May, producing a meteor display known as the Eta Aquarids. The other point comes in the middle to latter part of October, producing the Orionids. Comets are the leftovers from when the solar system first formed, the odd bits and pieces of simple gases methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide and water vapor that went unused when the sun and its attendant planets came into their present form. These tiny particles mostly ranging in size from dust to sand grains remain along the original comet's orbit, creating a "river of rubble" in space. In the case of Halley's comet, which has likely circled the sun many hundreds, if not thousands of times, its dirty trail of debris has been distributed more or less uniformly all along its entire orbit. When these tiny bits of comet collide with Earth, friction with our atmosphere raises them to white heat and produces the effect popularly referred to as "shooting stars." What to Expect The best time to watch the meteor shower begins from 1 or 2 a.m. local time until around dawn, when the constellation Orion is highest above the horizon. The higher in the sky Orion is, the more meteors appear all over the bowl of the sky. The Orionids are one of just a handful of known meteor showers that can be observed equally well from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Typically, Orionid meteors are normally dim and not well seen from urban locations, so it's suggested that you find a safe rural location to see the best Orionid activity. ANALYSIS: How the Falling Meteor Packed a Sonic Punch The Orionids are one of the better annual displays, producing about 15 to 20 meteors per hour at their peak. Add the 5 to 10 sporadic meteors that always are plunging into our atmosphere and you get a maximum of about 20 to 30 meteors per hour for a dark sky location. Most of these meteors are relatively faint, however, so any light pollution will cut the total way down. The shower may be quite active for several days before or after its broad maximum, which may last from the 20th through the 24th. Step outside before sunrise on any of these mornings and if you catch sight of a meteor, there's about a 75 percent chance that it likely originated from the nucleus of Halley's Comet. After peaking on the morning of Oct. 21, activity will begin to slow, dropping back to around five per hour around Oct. 26. The last stragglers usually appear sometime in early to mid November. ANALYSIS: How Many Tiny Asteroids Buzz Earth? "They are easily identified ... from their speed," David Levy and Stephen Edberg write in "Observe: Meteors," an Astronomical League manual. "At 66 kilometers (41 miles) per second, they appear as fast streaks, faster by a hair than their sisters, the Eta Aquarids of May. And like the Eta Aquarids, the brightest of family tend to leave long-lasting trains. Fireballs are possible three days after maximum." You can also watch another meteor shower webcast featuring expert commentary about the Orionids on Tuesday night via the Slooh Community Observatory. More from SPACE.com: Halley's Comet Peppers Earth's Atmosphere With Debris | Video Meteor Shower Quiz: How Well Do You Know 'Shooting Stars'? How Meteor Showers Work (Infographic) Original article on Space.com. Copyright 2014 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. An Orionid meteor streaks above Norway in 2013 in this stunning skywatcher image. On Aug. 6, 2014, the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft completed its decade-long journey to reach Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, becoming the first spacecraft to ever orbit a comet. The mission will reach its epic climax when it releases a small robotic lander, called Philae, onto the cometary surface in November. The lander will drill into the surface while Rosetta tags along with the comet's orbit as Churyumov-Gerasimenko makes close approach of the sun. Although Rosetta is unprecedented in that no other mission has achieved orbital insertion around a comet, it's certainly not the first robotic probe to make an intimate cometary encounter. So here's a rundown of 7 encounter of 6 comets by 5 spacecraft since the first close encounter with Halley's Comet in 1986. Unquestionably the most famous comet in history, Halley's Comet was a prime target for space agencies in 1986 during its 75- to 76-year orbit through the inner solar system. Comet science is still a developing field, but in 1986, very little was known about the composition of these interplanetary vagabonds. In October of that year, the 15-kilometer-long Halley's Comet was visited by the European Space Agency's Giotto mission. The half-ton probe came within 600 kilometers (373 miles) of the comet's nucleus, taking the first photographs of the outgassing vapor from discrete areas of the surface producing its tail and coma (the gas surrounding the nucleus). It was this mission that confirmed the "dirty snowball" theory of cometary composition: a mix of volatile ices and dust. However, Giotto was only able to get so close to the famous comet with the help of the "Halley Armada," a number of international spacecraft all tasked with observing this rare event. Giotto captured the closest imagery, but two Russia/France probes (Vega 1 and 2) and two Japanese craft (Suisei and Sakigake) observed from afar. At roughly half the size of Halley's comet, Comet Borrelly was found to have similar attributes to its famous cousin. The nucleus was also potato-shaped and blackened. Outgassing vapor was also observed coming from cracks in the nucleus crust where volatiles were exposed to sunlight, sublimating ices into space. NASA's Deep Space 1 probe flew past the comet with a close approach of 3,417 kilometers on Sept. 22, 2001. Comet Wild 2 -- pronounced "Vilt" after its Swiss discoverer Paul Wild who spotted it in 1978 -- underwent a dramatic alteration in 1974. It is calculated that due to a close pass of Jupiter in 1974, the 5 kilometer-wide comet now orbits the sun every 6 years as opposed to its leisurely 43 years before the gas giant bullied it. The orbital modification meant that Wild 2 was an ideal target for NASA's Stardust mission to lock onto. On Jan. 4, 2004, the Stardust probe gave chase, getting so close to the comet that it was able to collect particles from Wild 2's coma. This image was taken at a distance of less than 240 kilometers (149 miles). The Stardust sample return canister came back to Earth safely, landing in Utah on Jan. 15, 2006. The microscopic particles captured from the comet continue to provide a valuable insight into the organic compounds comets contain. Interestingly, the Stardust spacecraft was granted a mission extension (dubbed New Exploration of Tempel 1 -- NExT). In 2011 it rendezvoused with its second comet, Tempel 1 -- the scene of NASA's 2005 Deep Impact mission -- to analyze the crater that Deep Impact's impactor left behind on the cometary surface. NASA's Deep Impact mission reached the eight-kilometer-wide (five-mile-wide) comet Tempel 1 in 2005. On July 4, the probe deliberately smashed its impactor into the comet's nucleus, producing a cloud of fine material. A crater -- 100 meters wide (328 feet) by 30 meters (98 feet) deep -- was left behind. A treasure trove of compounds were spotted by the Deep Impact spacecraft and the explosion could be observed from Earth. In 2011, the recycled Stardust-NExT mission visited comet Tempel 1 for the second time. The fifth space probe encounter with a comet happened on Nov. 4, 2010. NASA's recycled Deep Impact probe -- now the EPOXI mission -- visited comet Hartley 2, examining its strange-shaped nucleus. Described as a "peanut" or "chicken drumstick," this comet is an oddity. During its close approach of under 700 kilometers (435 miles), EPOXI photographed the comet's irregular topography: two rough lobes connected by a smooth center. Jets of gas could be seen being ejected from discrete locations. During the Hartley 2 flyby press conference at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), mission scientists expressed their surprise that these jets of vapor are being emitted from sun-facing and shaded regions on the comet surface. Needless to say, analysis of the Hartley 2 flyby data will keep scientists busy for some time to come. "This is an exploration moment," remarked Ed Weiler, NASA's Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, during the conference. On Feb. 14, 2011, the veteran Stardust-NExT (New Exploration of Tempel) mission made history by visiting a comet for the second time. Comet Tempel 1 was first encountered by NASA's Deep Impact mission in 2005 after smashing the cometary nucleus with an impactor. This second encounter provided scientists with an unprecedented opportunity to study the same comet after six years of orbiting the sun. Preliminary findings suggested Tempel 1 has undergone some erosion during those six years in deep space. Also, the impact crater left behind by Deep Impact was imaged during the Stardust-NExT flyby and it appeared to match the size and shape predicted after the 2005 impact. However, the crater appeared smoother than expected, so work is ongoing to analyze the 72 photographs taken by the flyby to understand the processes shaping the comet's nucleus. The death toll from Pakistan's killer heatwave rose past 1,000 on Thursday, with more fatalities expected, as cloud cover and lower temperatures brought some relief to the worst-hit city Karachi. Morgues and gravediggers in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic hub, have struggled to keep up with the flow of bodies since the scorching temperatures began last weekend. Hospitals have been on a crisis footing and dedicated heatstroke treatment centres have been set up around the city to treat the tens of thousands affected by heatstroke and dehydration. 16 U.S. Weather Photos that Will Amaze You "The death toll is more than 1,000 and it may reach up to 1,500," Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman for the Edhi Foundation, Pakistan's largest welfare charity and a leading provider of emergency medical care in Karachi, told AFP. According to figures collected by AFP from hospitals around the city, a total of 1,079 people have died as a result of the heatwave. Karachi hospitals have treated nearly 80,000 people for the effects of heatstroke and dehydration, according to medical officials. After days of temperatures hovering at highs in the mid-40s Celsius (around 110 Fahrenheit), sea breezes and cloud cover have brought some respite to the port city in the last two days. The Met Office forecast temperatures of around 34 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with 75 percent cloud cover. How Heat Kills The Edhi Foundation said their mortuaries in the city had received such an influx of bodies that they were struggling to keep them properly chilled. Victims' families have also faced challenges in burying their dead, as grave-diggers have struggled to keep up with demand in the scorching heat. While temperatures of 45 C and higher are not uncommon in parts of inland Pakistan, Karachi normally remains cooler thanks to its coastal location. This year's heatwave has also coincided with the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, during which millions of devout Pakistanis abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Under Pakistani law, it is illegal for Muslims to eat or drink in public during daylight hours in Ramadan. The majority of the deaths in Karachi have been among the elderly, the poor and manual labourers who toil outdoors, prompting clerics to urge those at risk of heatstroke not to fast. Doctor Qaiser Sajjad of the Pakistan Medical Association in Karachi said that a lack of understanding of heatstroke among the public - how to spot symptoms and treat them - had contributed to the deaths. "The main reason was a lack of awareness among the public - no-one knew how to cope in such a situation," he said. The situation has not been helped by power cuts - a regular feature of life in Pakistan - which have stopped fans and air conditioners from working and interrupted Karachi's water supply. Peru is creating a national park to protect a vast territory in the Amazon basin that is vulnerable to drug trafficking and illegal logging and mining, the country's environment minister said Saturday. Called the Sierra del Divisor National Park, it covers an area of about 14,170 square kilometers (5,470 square miles) in a region inhabited by a variety of indigenous communities living in self-imposed isolation. Peru's President Ollanta Humala will travel to the region Sunday to sign a decree creating the park, Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal said on his Twitter account. The park has an estimated 3,000 species of plants and animals, many of them found nowhere else in the world, according to the government. The announcement comes just three weeks ahead of a UN summit aimed at sealing a global pact on climate change. Advocates of the new park have said it will enable the capture of 150,000 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of nearly 40 percent of Peru's daily carbon output. Sierra del Divisor has been a protected zone since April 2006. Since then, the communities living there have lobbied for its designation as a national park to stiffen legal protections against encroachment by loggers, miners and drug traffickers. Sierra del Divisor is the second national park created since Humala took office in 2011, after the Gueppi National Park, a 6,260 square kilometer expanse centered on the Gueppi River in southeastern Peru. The Nazca Plateau in Peru contains two dozen new geoglyphs that predate by two centuries the famous monkey, spider and hummingbird listed at the UNESCO World Heritage site. Almost invisible on the surface, the images were captured by researchers from the University of Yamagata in Japan thanks to 3-D scans of the ground a mile north of the city of Nazca. The team discovered 24 geoglyphs of animals, "some of which probably depict Andean native camelid, llamas," the researchers said in a press release. Labyrinth Lies Within Mysterious Desert Drawing The number of images adds to the 17 geoglyphs of similar style unearthed in the adjacent area by the same team last year, stretching the discovery to 41 ancient outlines. "All these geoglyphs were drawn on the slopes of the hill, to make them clearly visible," team leader Masato Sakai said. Ranging from around 16 feet to 66 feet tall, the images are estimated to date back to 400 B.C. to 200 B.C. The dating makes them earlier versions of the motifs previously found on the plateau, which are believed to have been created between 400 A.D. and 650 A.D. According to Sakai, the newly found geoglyphs feature a different technique compared to the most famous Nazca lines. Mysterious Nazca Lines Formed Ancient Pilgrimage Route He explained the Nazca Pampa, the arid region of Peru between the Andes and the coast, is covered with black oxidized pebbles. White ground lies underneath. "If you remove the surface pebbles along lines of interest, white lines emerge. This technique was employed to draw the contours of the most famous animal figures," Sakai told Discovery News. On the contrary, Sakai noted that to draw the newly discovered figures of llama and other animals, the Nazca people removed the surface pebbles with the shape of the animals, so that white ground filled their bodies. Older Than Nazca: Mysterious Rock Lines in Peru Mostly known for their ability of carving in the desert hundreds of geometric lines and images of animals and birds that are best viewed from the air, the Nazca flourished in Peru between the first century B.C. and the fifth century A.D. and slid into oblivion by the time the Inca Empire rose to dominate the Andes. Their civilization was also obsessed over trophy heads. Indeed, they boasted the largest collection of human heads in the Andes region of South America. More Than 50 Nazca Lines' Found in Kazakhstan According to Sakai, the discovery is particularly important as there is no other site on the Nazca Plateau that boasts a concentration of 41 geoglyphs. "Yet they are in danger of being destroyed by the recent expansion of urban areas without being recognized as geoglyphs," Sakai said. "It is important to share this information with local people and government to preserve them," he added. Some of the newly found geoglyphs are believed to depict llamas. Sept. 12, 2011 -- In the search for buried history, archaeologists pour their resources into uncovering the remnants of the distant past. With know-how, persistence and a little luck, archaeologists can push aside dirt and rock and find an artifact of historical significance. Although chance plays a big role in unearthing history, archaeological treasures have been stumbled upon purely by accident, often by those outside the scientific community. In these photos, explore several particularly serendipitous finds of unique artifacts, some of which reach as far back as prehistory. On Sept. 12, 1940, four teenagers followed their wayward dog into a cave complex near the village of Montignac in southwestern France. To their surprise, the caves hosted something remarkable: nearly 2,000 paintings and etchings of animals, humans and abstract shapes on the walls dating back between 15,000 and 25,000 years. Known as the Lascaux caves, the complex features figures depicted in surprising detail given the age of the illustrations. Animals portrayed on the cave walls included horses, stags, bison and felines. Archaeologists believed the caves were used for ritualistic purposes. Some parts of the illustrations even appear to construct a narrative, but what they mean exactly has yet to be deciphered. The caves were open to the public in 1948, but closed in 1963 in order to preserve the site from damage. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of over 800 biblical texts made of animal skin and papyrus. Dating to around 2,000 years ago, between the years 200 B.C. and 70 A.D., the scrolls could well be the oldest such documents in existence and have deepened historians' understanding of religious history. These documents may have been lost to history had a Bedouin shepherd named Muhammed edh-Dhib and his cousin not stumbled upon the first manuscripts along the northern shore of the Dead Sea at a remote site known as Qumran in 1947. The last fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls collection was uncovered in the mid-1950s. Although the scrolls have been extensively studied and translated, one big mystery remains: Who exactly wrote them? As Napoleon Bonaparte's army marched through north Africa during his campaign in Egypt, they stumbled upon what would become known as the Rosetta Stone, after the town where it was discovered. Within Bonaparte's army was a squadron of scholars called Institute of Egypt, also known as the Scientific and Artistic Commission. As the military settled around the Nile Delta, the Institute explored local ruins and artifacts. After the discovery of the stone in 1799, several copies of the inscriptions on its face were made, since no one could read them at the time. By 1802, the Greek and Demotic portions of the stone had been deciphered by scholars. The hieroglyphics posed a different challenge all together, however, and it would take 20 years before French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion announced that he had cracked the code. By deciphering the hieroglyphs, Champollion opened a whole new door to understanding the civilization of ancient Egypt. The Rosetta Stone is currently kept in the British Museum. In case you don't know what a geoglyph is, ancient Peruvians went through the trouble of leaving a picture-perfect definition. Known as the Nazca Lines, these giant carvings into the Earth were only discovered by airplane in the 1930s. Located in the Nazva desert in southern Peru around 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Lima, the geoglyphs resemble a number of animals including a spider (as seen here), a condor, a monkey, a tree, as well as human figures and geometric patterns. Why exactly indigenous tribes living in the area between 100 B.C. and 650 A.D. felt compelled to produce these works remains a mystery, though archaeologists agree that it is likely tied to religious customs. In 1991, German tourists stumbled upon a frozen body in a glacier on the Otztal Alps between Italy and Austria. Although they originally thought the corpse to be the result of a recent death, the iceman mummy, named Otzi, in fact dated back 5,300 years. Since Otzi's discovery, the mummy has been extensively studied. Scientists have learned everything from his last meal to his cause of death to his possible occupation and they have even made reconstructions of his face. Otzi died in the spring as a result of an arrowhead striking his left clavicle artery. He likely received a ceremonial burial and was found beside tools and other personal items. Over the years, metal detector enthusiasts, particularly those in the United Kingdom, have uncovered archaeological treasures buried beneath the Earth. In 2009, 30-year-old Nick Davies hauled in 10,000 ancient Roman coins that he had found inside a clay pot buried in Shropshire, U.K. That same year, a trove of 1,500 gold and silver pieces dating back to the Dark Ages were found on a farmer's field in the western region of Staffordshire, England. Last year, 63-year-old David Crisp uncovered 52,000 ancient Roman coins, later given a value of around $1 million, in a clay pot in southwestern England. A Qatari appeals court on Sunday acquitted a U.S. couple charged with parental neglect leading to the death of their adopted daughter. Matthew and Grace Huang were arrested in January 2013 after the death of their eight-year-old daughter Gloria, who had been adopted from an orphanage in Ghana. The couple, who are of Asian descent, were initially accused of starving to death their child to sell her organs but were later jailed for three years on the charges of parental neglect. On Sunday the appeals court ruled the couple were not guilty and said they were free to leave Qatar, based on witnesses' accounts that Gloria was "not neglected in leading a normal life." The witnesses had testified that they saw Gloria eating one day before her death, the presiding judge said. "This negates the charge that she was prevented from eating, a charge that the court of first instance used as a base for its initial ruling," the judge said. The couple were released in November last year pending trial, but the court denied their request to leave the country to join their other two adopted children in the United States. Both adoption and multiracial families are rare in Qatar, a conservative Gulf Arab emirate, and the family's supporters maintain Qatari authorities misunderstood the Huangs' situation. The public prosecutor had pushed for the death penalty for the Huangs. In addition to imprisonment, the lower court had ordered the couple to pay a fine of 15,000 riyals ($4,100) each and to be deported after serving their sentence. Super Tuesday has arrived, with more states and more delegates on the line today than at any other point in the primary season. After more than a year since the first candidate declared for the race, voters in 13 states and one territory finally have a chance to cast their ballots or line up to caucus for the candidate of their choice. Super Tuesday has the potential to be one of the most decisive days in the still early stages of the presidential election. While the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary can thin out the field, and the South Carolina primary can give a candidate momentum or shift race dynamics, Super Tuesday is when aspiring nominees can catapult to insurmountable leads. Election 2016: The Problem with Polls The reason Super Tuesday carries so much weight comes down to delegate math. To become their party's presidential nominee for the general election, a Republican presidential candidate has to win 1,237 delegates out of 2,340 total available, while a Democratic presidential candidate needs 2,383 delegates out of 4,132 total, and that includes the 712 superdelegates who are free to lend their support to whomever they choose. Up until now, only around 2 percent of the pledged delegates on the Democratic side and 5 percent of Republican delegates have been allocated following the results in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. On Super Tuesday, 865 pledged delegates, or 21 percent of the total, are up for grabs on the Democratic side, and 595 delegates, or 25 percent, are available to the Republican candidates. The biggest prizes Tuesday are the contests in Texas and Georgia, which have more delegates available than other states. Surprising Factors That Could Affect Your Vote Winning a state doesn't mean winning all of its delegates, because none of the states up for grabs are true winner-take-all primaries or caucuses for either party. All of the states allocate delegate proportionally based on ballot counts or they use a "winner-take-most" system. How the distribution breaks down by state by party is a little complicated, but FiveThirtyEight provides a guide for understanding how delegates are apportioned by state on the Republican and Democratic sides. Super Tuesday has been a part of the primary calendar since 1984, although the earliest usage of the term traces back to the presidential primaries four years earlier. On March 13, 1984, nine states voted to determine who Democrats would send to challenge the incumbent, President Ronald Reagan. Although Sen. Gary Hart won the majority of the races that day, former Vice President Walter Mondale won the narrative by focusing the media's attention on the outcome of Georgia. His campaign rebounded, and he eventually won the nomination on the convention floor, only to get trounced in the general election. Strangest Presidential Candidates in History The 1984 election was the last year a party went without a candidate until the convention. Four years later, Democrat Michael Dukakis and Republican and eventual President George H.W. Bush would clinch the nominations for their parties thanks to the results of Super Tuesday contests. With the exception of the 2008 presidential election campaign, when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton battled until June, Super Tuesday has generally closed out the competition allowing both parties' presumptive nominees to focus their campaigns on the general election. Voter Suppression: Old Strategy, Modern Tactics Even if Super Tuesday doesn't produce a clear frontrunner for both parties, a possibility particularly given the number of candidates still vying for the nomination on the Republican side, the primary season is unlikely to extend to the national conventions in July. In two weeks, after March 15, when five states - Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio - hold their primaries, nearly 60 percent of the delegates on the Republican side and 50 percent of those on the Democratic side will be allocated, according to The Green Papers. While no one can say for sure who will eventually become the next president of the United States, by the end of the month, everyone will know the two people who might get the job. And after Super Tuesday, the picture of who those two individuals might be will get a lot clearer. When New Hampshire voters cast their ballots in today's primary election, the candidates won't be the only ones tested by the results that emerge out of the the Granite State. Political pollsters will also find out how reliable their predictions turn out to be. Polls are supposed to provide an unbiased, authoritative view of the state of an election, but the strength of the reputation of any polling firm is the accuracy of its data. Results of elections in recent years have tested those reputations. In 2012, Gallup, one of the most trust political polling organizations, wrongly picked Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to emerge victorious over incumbent President Barack Obama, and Gallup wasn't alone. Last week, the Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll released a day before voting incorrectly predicted the outcome of the Republican presidential caucuses. Similar polling mishaps occurred abroad in national elections in the United Kingdom and Israel in 2015. Polls aren't simply a predictive measure of who will win an election. They can influence media coverage of competing campaigns, especially given that news organizations often focus on the horse race in day-to-day coverage. Candidates who perform well in polls tend to get more attention from voters as the media spotlight focuses on who's ahead. Polls even determined who could and couldn't participate in recent debates when the Republican field was too large to accommodate all of the candidates on the stage. Given how important survey data are to election dynamics, why is it that polls occasionally miss the mark on major elections, even when accounting for their margin of error? What are the underlying issues facing polling firms as an industry? Why Betting Markets and Polls Don't Agree Technology poses one of the biggest challenges to the reliability of the data traditional polling firms are capable of gathering. These public opinion analysts rely on phone calls in order to conduct a survey. When over-the-phone dialogue is increasingly displaced by texting, instant messages or other means of communication, the traditional pollster has a more difficult time connecting with audiences. Federal regulations restricting auto-dialing cell phone lines , meant to protect mobile users from intrusive solicitation calls, make the work of polling firms more difficult and expensive, as operators have to dial numbers manually and often cannot connect with the intended respondent. Caller ID after all makes it easier for potential voters who don't want to be bothered answering a number they're not familiar with to ignore polling firms. Potential survey participants still reachable via landline tend to be older than wireless-only households. Online polls offer one possible alternative. Although they provide the benefit of instant access and feedback and are less costly than traditional polling, Internet-based public opinion survey face their own challenges in terms of response bias and under-representation of certain demographic groups. Your Politics Stink: People Can Skew Ideology For public opinion analysts to know what the state of the race, someone has to pick up the phone when pollsters call. A lot of people need to answer, in fact, particularly for a national survey that might need around 1,000 survey. In piece for the New York Times last summer , Cliff Zukin, past president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and a Rutgers University political science professor, cited "a decline in people willing to answer surveys" as one of the chief obstacles to increasing unreliability of public opinion data. Although response rates by themselves do not determine whether a poll will be accurate, they can create the potential for bias in the results by leading to under representation of certain demographic groups. Weighting can correct over representation by certain segments of the electorate, but cannot completely eliminate potential bias from a poll. How Will We Vote in 2020? It's no secret that the face of the American public is changing with each generation, but pollsters are still catching up with demographic trends. A poll can only predict the outcome of an election if it can appropriately survey the people who compose the electorate. Doing so has historically proven a challenge for pollsters, who have admitted as much. Following its mistaken 2012 prediction, Gallup conducted a sweeping review of its polling practices and promised an overhaul to its operations. Certain minority groups were underrepresented in its sample, a problem faced by other pollsters as well. Polling firms also struggle to reach young and new voters with its data collection efforts. Better-educated are more likely to respond to surveys than the less educated, and likely voters who are more engaged are also more likely to participate in polls. Surprising Factors That Could Affect Your Vote While the main focus of election coverage has understandably been the presidential contest, candidates running for office in local, state and congressional races will eventually win the attention of media organizations, voters and pollsters alike. Down-ballot races are more difficult to predict than national elections. Although this partly has to do with the fact that fewer voters have a greater influence on an election outcome, pollsters may also struggle to reach a representative sample of likely voters. Sample sizes are smaller in state and congressional races, particularly for primary elections, increasing the possibility of significant discrepancies between vote tallies and polling data. According to FiveThirtyEight , according to their database of House polls that show one candidate leading a contest by between 5 and 10 percentage points, 23 percent picked the wrong winner. Voter Suppression: Old Strategy, Modern Tactics In order to get an inside view of the state of the race and also to drive the narrative of horse-race coverage, candidates may choose to commission a polling firm to conduct a survey. Naturally, when the person paying for the poll has an interest in the outcome, results can be skewed. Since 2002, partisan polls have had an average bias of 4.25 points favoring the side that commissioned the survey, FiveThirtyEight reported in 2014 . Although these polls are often taken with a grain of salt when reported in the media, candidates can make the mistake of relying too heavily on their results. In 2014, internal polling by former House majority leader Eric Cantor showed him with a comfortable 34-point lead over Dave Brat in a primary. Instead, Brat successfully ousted Cantor despite the disadvantage in terms of funding and establishment support, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in congressional electoral history. Counting Votes Is a Tricky Business Polls are at snapshot in time. When results are released, the data always indicate a time period over which the survey was conducted. Campaigns aren't static events, of course. News events within and outside of the race dynamics can mold and reshape perceptions of those running for office. Candidates can build momentum that ultimately sways the last on-the-fence voters to fall in with one camp or another come Election Day. Momentum is one of the reasons pollster J. Ann Selzer cites in her examination of the tighter-than-expected outcome on the Democratic side during the Iowa caucuses. In a dynamic race, numbers can shift even overnight. Notorious Political Ads of the Past: Photos MAR 3 2015 4:15 PM ET // BY AFP A volcano in southern Chile erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of some 3,600 people from nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, one of Chile's most active, began spewing lava and ash around 3 a.m., prompting authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. As sirens sounded, bright yellow-orange lava spewed from the volcano about 500 miles south of the capital Santiago. A column of ash rose as high as 9,200 feet. Authorities closed roads leading to the area as residents streamed into shelters at designated safe zones well removed from the volcano. But within about seven hours the eruption calmed, and there were no longer any visible signs of activity. "It's an active volcano, but at this point it has calmed down," said President Michelle Bachelet after flying into the region for an emergency meeting with local officials. A senior physician whom other doctors saw as their mentor in the battle against the Ebola virus died on Thursday from the disease, according to Reuters. Sixty-seven-year-old Victor Willoughby was the 11th doctor in Sierra Leone to die from Ebola. He was diagnosed with the disease on Saturday and died just hours before a dose of a new drug could be administered to him. 10 Things That Kill the Ebola Virus Health care workers have been hit particularly hard by virus - more than 350 of those working in the medical field against the disease worldwide have died. Overall Ebola has infected more than 18,569 people, the vast majority in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Of those, more than 6,900 have died, AFP reported. The death of Dr. Willoughby was a huge loss for Sierra Leone, Dr. Brima Kargbo, the country's chief medical officer, told the AP. "Dr. Victor Willoughby was a mentor to us physicians and a big loss to the medical profession," said Kargbo. "He has always been available to help junior colleagues." Health officials had tried to get an experimental drug, ZMab to treat Willoughby. The drug, developed in Canada, is related to another experimental drug, ZMapp, which was used to help treat American doctor Kent Brantly. Video: How Does Ebola Kill People? The arrival of the drug on a Brussels Airlines flight raised hopes that the doctor might be saved, but Willoughby died just hours before it could be administered, Kargbo said. Photo: A doctor checks a man in an isolation room. Credit: Getty Images Hat tip to Reuters. The Ebola virus has so far stumped medical experts who, for nearly a decade, have attempted to formulate a vaccine. But the virus itself is far from omnipotent. At least 10 things destroy the virus, according to reports issued by the CDC, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and others. Ebola-contaminated items are frequently incinerated following local regulations. Once burned to smithereens, previously contaminated items are relatively harmless, according to the CDC. A CDC report entitled "Ebola-Associated Waste Management" mentions that "Ebola-associated waste that has been appropriately incinerated, autoclaved (sterilized), or otherwise inactivated is not infectious, does not pose a health risk, and is not considered to be regulated medical waste or a hazardous material under Federal law." Are Ebola Politics Snuffing Out the Science? Just a 3 percent solution of acetic acid kills Ebola on contact, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. This organic acid is what gives vinegar its characteristic pungent taste. Canada prohibits the sale of vinegar containing over 12.3 percent acetic acid, and other countries have similar restrictions. Most vinegars should therefore kill Ebola, but percentages of actual acid content vary. Facts About the Ebola Virus Boiling the virus for five minutes kills it, the PHAC reports. This is not a good way to destroy Ebola, however, because some of the living virus could escape as water vapor before the liquid reaches a boiling point. Ebola Patients Generate 440 Gallons of Medical Waste Daily Ebola is susceptible to "alcohol-based products," according to the PHAC. Most hand sanitizers contain alcohol. Ebola, however, can enter through tiny cracks in the skin before hand sanitizer, or other alcohol-based products, takes effect. "Ebola on dry surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops, can survive for several hours," the CDC reports, helping to explain why caregivers are advised to fully cover their hands and arms when touching objects in a patient's room. Ebola has an even longer lifespan in bodily fluids, such as blood, outside of a patient. In such a form the CDC mentions that the virus "can survive up to several days at room temperature." 12 Diseases That Just Won't Quit Glutaraldehyde is an extremely pungent, oily liquid. A product containing 1-2 percent of it can kill the Ebola virus, according to both the PHAC and a fact sheet created by the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute. Glutaraldehyde in small amounts is often found in wart removal products. Can You Get Ebola on Public Transportation? Bleach that most of us have at home is powerful stuff when it comes to killing germs. A solution with just 5.25 percent bleach destroys Ebola, according to the World Health Organization, the PHAC and the CDC. Chlorine powder, commonly used to disinfect swimming pool water, kills Ebola too. Video: Worried About Germs? Adopt the Fist Bump Greeting How about a simmering soup of Ebola? No one wants that, but simmering Ebola for 30-60 minutes at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the PHAC, can inactivate and/or destroy the virus. Ebola surprisingly appears to tolerate some amount of radiation, which is why contaminated items are not usually just zapped clean. Gamma irradiation plus a bit of glutaraldehyde kills Ebola, though, as does substantial UVC radiation, reports the PHAC. A virus-killing robot called "Little Moe" by the San Antonia-based company Xenex uses pulses of ultraviolet light to disinfect Ebola-contaminated surfaces in mere minutes. Do Cell Phone 'Radiation Shields' Work? In an "Information to Travelers" alert, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control mentions, "Ebola virus is easily killed by soap." It goes on to advise that travelers should "wash hands regularly, using soap or antiseptics." The problem again is that Ebola and other viruses can enter through small skin cracks before an individual washes his or her hands. While soap can kill the virus on contact, hand washing with soap is not sufficient to prevent transmission. Why Antibacterial Soap is Dangerous A fabulous sunken treasure may be recovered off Finland coast as archaeologist divers say they have found the wreck of a legendary 15th-century vessel. According to historic documents, the Hanneke Wrome was one of two ships that left Luebeck, Germany, for Tallinn, Estonia, on Nov. 11, 1468. Records also indicate the cargo included 10,000 gold coins and gold jewelry - a treasure estimated to be worth more than $150 million today. Photos: Gold-Filled Wreck Found in Finland Strong east winds, actually very rare in Finland, caught both vessels. While the other ship managed to get to Tallinn, the Hanneke Wrome went down in the storm with more than 200 passengers and crew. "It was one of the major maritime casualties of the time and it wasn't the only one to occur on that route," team leader Rauno Koivusaari said. In 1994 the Ms Estonia sank while crossing the Baltic Sea, en route from Tallinn to Stockholm. Taking 852 lives, the sinking was one of the worst disasters at sea of the 20th century. An experienced wreck researcher who also discovered the treasure-filled Vrouw Maria in 1999, Koivusaari found what he believes is the Hanneke Wrome's wreck south of the Finnish island of Jussaro. "The wreck is scattered in east-west direction, confirming the dynamic of the sinking during the eastern storm," Koivusaari told Discovery News. Photos: Recovering a Silver Treasure He added that documents in Tallin state archives record two different distances for the ship sinking, one 10 miles from Tallin and other 14 miles from Tallin. "Both of them were right. One measured the distance in Hanseatic nautical miles and the other used the league, a unit of lenght invented by Romans and still in use at that time. The ship was found right at that recorded distance," Koivusaari said. Measuring some 130 feet in length, the Hanneke Wrome appears in an underwater video shot by team member Micke Ahgren. The footage shows well-preserved sections of the wooden hull and even an anchor. "It is right the kind of anchor used in the Hanseatic ships," Koivusaari said. Sunken Ship of Gold' Contains Bounty of Jewelry, Treasures He added the wreck shows it was built in the construction style of a cog ship, but it is bigger and may be a hulk ship instead. Hulk ships were mostly used as a river or canal boats. "The wreck has more than one mast, perhaps even three. I could see a joint knee integrated with the ship ribs. This is strange, but really nobody knows much of this ship style," Koivusaari said. Koivusaari and his team have so far identified a few items. Video: Cool Jobs: Shipwreck Explorer "There were roof tiles, an unknown lead object and barrel lids. Researchers at the University of Helsinki are currently trying to find out if they belong to honey barrels," he said. "However, we have not started to make any excavation yet," Koivusaari said. Finland's National Board of Antiquities has planned further investigations of the wreck in the summer, which include dating of the wood to confirm the vessel is indeed the Hanneke Wrome. If recovered, the sunken treasure will become property of the Finnish government. Image: Underwater image of the wreck. Credit: Rauno Koivusaari Press Release May 1, 2016 ON LABOR DAY, BONGBONG MARCOS GETS ENDORSEMENT OF TWO BIG LABOR GROUPS Marcos' Pro-Labor Advocacy Cited On Labor Day, Vice Presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. received the endorsement of two large labor groups, namely the Philippine Trade Group Workers Organization (PTGWO) and the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) as they cited his pro-labor advocacy. Among others, Marcos has filed a bill for the establishment of a Jobs Creation Council to provide more job opportunities and better working conditions. He likewise opposed contractualization and recently backed the calls of labor groups for a hike in the minimum wage. PTGWO has over a hundred affiliated labor unions and reputedly the largest labor federation under the umbrella of the TUCP (Trade Union Congress of the Philippines). At the group's assembly in Rajah Sulayman Park in Ermita, Manila PTGWO Secretary General Atty. Hernan Nicdao and the group's National President Atty. Arnel Polendo raised the hands of Marcos before their members to formally endorse his candidacy. Thanking the group for its endorsement, Marcos noted that if he wins as Vice President and given the choice of a portfolio he would choose the Department of Labor and Employment to continue his efforts to promote the interests of the country's labor force. "Kaya po lagi kong sinasabi na aking hihingin yung DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) para matapos na yung kanilang polisiya na pikit-mata sa mga end of contract, sa mga 5-5-5, sa mga contractualization. Itigil na natin yan at ibalik na natin ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa sa Pilipinas," Marcos said. In a separate gathering at the Lyceum of the Philippines in Manila, leaders of the Federation of Free Workers Philippines, which boasts of over 200 thousand members, also endorsed the candidacy of Marcos to representatives of their member organizations. "Unang una, ipinaglalaban niya ang seguridad sa trabaho ng mga manggagawa sa Pilipinas," acknowledged FFF National President Atty. Sonny Matula. He likewise noted that transport groups under FFF had earlier lobbied for the group to support Marcos. Aside from reiterating his commitment against anti-labor practices like contractualization, Marcos also said it is important to institute policies to encourage better partnership between the private sector and the government as a means to encourage and generate more jobs. In addition, Marcos also said the government must pour in more investments for business-driven infrastructure that would not only provide immediate employment opportunities but also drive economic growth for the benefit of the entire nation and not just for the rich. Likewise, Marcos urged labor leaders to join his call for national unity, saying this is necessary for everyone to work together to address the problems besetting the country. "Kayat magsama-sama tayo at sabay-sabay nating harapin ang magandang kinabukasan na kumikilala sa karapatan ng mga manggagawa," said Marcos. Aside from Marcos, FFW endorsed the Senatorial bid of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez. Press Release May 1, 2016 SUAREZ CLAN OF QUEZON BACKS BONGBONG MARCOS Rallies Officials of Vote-Rich Calabarzon to Unite Behind Him Former Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez and his family on Saturday declared their support for the Vice Presidential bid of Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. as they rallied the vote-rich CALABARZON (Region IV-A) officials to back the Senator's candidacy. Data from the Commission on Elections indicate that CALABARZON is the region with the most number of voters with about 7.6 million registered voters followed by the National Capital Region with 6.3 million. Speaking before the Convention of Barangay Chairmen of Region IV-A at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, Suarez said that as a young leader he looked up to the Senator's father, the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. "Kaya sinabi ko noon basta't may tumakbong Marcos nasa likod ang pamilya Suarez," he said. Also present in the gathering to show their support were his son, Quezon Governor David Suarez, and his wife Aleta who is the incumbent representative of Quezon's 3nd District. Suarez lauded the concern of Bongbong for the welfare of local government units, particularly barangay officials. Suarez said he and Bongbong worked together for several years to press for the passage of a law that would give retirement benefits for barangay officials. "Kung magkakaisa tayo, kaya nating maghalal ng Pangulo at ng Pangalawang Pangulo. Ipakita po natin ang boses ng CALABARZON," Suarez told the Barangay Chairmen. Several incumbent Mayors from the region were also present in the event. Marcos, for his part, thanked the Suarez family and the Barangay Chairmen of CALABARZON for supporting his candidacy, as he vowed to continue his work of promoting the interest of local government units, particularly of barangay workers. The Barangay Chairmen welcomed with enthusiastic applause Marcos' report on the approval on third reading in the Senate of the Barangay Retirement Benefits Bill. Suarez also endorsed the Vice Presidential bid of Marcos in a private lunch-meeting with Mayors of Quezon province, with 32 out of the 39 incumbent Mayors present. After the Quezon sortie of his "Unity Caravan", Marcos proceeded to San Pablo City in Laguna where he met with former Laguna Governor E.R. Ejercito and several of incumbent Mayors and Mayoralty candidates in the province. A huge number of San Pablo residents greeted Marcos when he arrived at the city hall plaza where he held a brief rally to seek their support and spread his call for national unity. In all his campaign sorties, Marcos has been calling for national unity, stressing that Filipinos need to work together to enable the country to surmount all its problems and proceed towards a better and more progressive future. Press Release May 1, 2016 BPO superpower PH needs gov't call center for permits, services--Recto The Philippines may be the world's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) superpower but its government has no unified 24-hour call center that will reply to queries on often-transacted documents or often-sought services, said Sen. Ralph Recto in calling for an "improved customer service culture" in the public sector. Recto said the administration that will assume office on June 30 should consider "pooling the resources of the top 10 government agencies in terms of clientele base" in building "a common hotline service." "There should be a go-to number, a one-stop national helpline," Recto said. "If a refrigerator maker has a 24-hour helpline, why can't a government agency which earns more money from more clients not maintain one?" Recto said. He said such a hotline or government call center will benefit users of public documents. '"If you're an overseas contract worker, you need to have one number you can call, which will then route your calls to the responsible agency, instead of spending hours in traffic going to the offices of POEA, OWWA, MARINA, NBI, TESDA, SSS and many more, " he said. Recto said if a single hotline number is not feasible at the moment, then one of the first executive orders the next president must issue is the mandatory putting up of a round-the-clock hotline by agencies serving a large clientele base. "One good candidate," Recto said, is the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth). "If HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) can afford to maintain 24-hour call numbers, then PhilHealth certainly could," he said. Recto said profitable pension agencies or government-run mutual funds, with their good bottomlines, should be able to expand their hotline services. To their credit, GSIS, PAGIBIG and SSS have their own 24-hour hotlines, but the challenge, according to Recto, "is to designate more customer care representatives and expand capacity, because as they become more popular, more satisfied customers will be using them, Recto said. Recto said agencies that earn billions yearly from the documents they issue should use part of their income in establishing 24/7 helplines. Among these are DFA, which would earn P4.6 billion from passport issuance this year; NBI, with a 2016 forecast revenue of P594 million from clearances; POEA, which will collect P496 million in clearances; and LTO, which will rake in P14.5 billion in vehicle registration fees and P1.6 billion in driving licenses. Recto said that while "there may be self-help apps for many problems or queries in applying for a government document or service, there are complicated queries that can only be answered by a human voice at the other end of the phone. " Building a "customer care culture" through easy to access help and information is one way to cut red tape in the country, Recto said. Next to crime, red tape is another scourge that the succeeding President needs to put on top of government's "hit-list" to put the country back in order, the senator said. "If the next President has a hit-list in the anti-crime campaign, he or she must also draw up a hit-list to cut down red tape in government transactions," he said. Citing a report issued by the World Bank last October, Recto noted that red tape costs the country P140 billion in opportunity losses annually. The same report ranked the Philippines at a low 95th among 189 economies in overall ease of doing business. As one way of cutting red tape, Recto said the next administration must study proposals to limit the number of times that an ordinary citizen has to go to government agencies to get licenses and transact business. Government must also maximize information technology, he said. "Documents can be applied for online and released online." Recto added that another hotline which needs fixing is the Philippine National Police's 117 emergency numbers. "You can call pizza delivery and it arrives in 30 minutes. You call the police and you don't know when they would show up," Recto said. Recto said the 117 system lacks people, slowed down by obsolete hardware, and is swamped with prank calls, "with the 2 million prank calls alone in 2012, or 96 percent of total calls received." He said there is a need to put up unified number because many areas are using different numbers. "Emergency numbers must be short, easy to memorize and uniform throughout the land." Press Release May 2, 2016 GRACE POE ON SIGNING OF WAIVER As a public servant, I firmly believe that it is every government official's responsibility to give the people open and fair governance. I have signed a waiver of my bank secrecy rights, in line with my commitment to freedom of information. Press Release May 2, 2016 Recto to DOST: Free public Wi-Fi in 12 regions must begin next month Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto today called on the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to work double time and live up to its commitment to provide free broadband internet access in 12 regions beginning next month. "I expect the DOST to abide by their commitment. The government's free Wi-Fi project must roll out and be operational next month in time for the opening of classes this school year," said Recto, who sponsored the project's funding in the 2015 and 2016 national budget. "The President is leaving office next month. Let free public Wi-Fi be one of his parting gifts to the nation," the senator added. According to Recto, a report submitted to him by the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) of the DOST showed that the government's free Wi-Fi project will commence rolling out in the provinces on the second quarter of the year. "For millions of Filipinos in the provinces, particularly the youth, this is Christmas in June. Hopefully, beginning next month, select areas in 12 regions will be the first to benefit from free public Wi-Fi," said Recto, whose re-election bid is being supported by three presidential candidates. "This is just the initial phase. We expect the DOTC-ICTO to expand the coverage of free Wi-Fi to all regions in the coming months," the senator added. Areas identified for the initial phase include the following: NCR (186 Sites) Region 1 (257 Sites) Region 2 (13 Sites) Region 3 (96 Sites) Region 4A (135 Sites) Region 4B (29 Sites) Region 5 (60 Sites) Region 6 (31 Sites) Region 7 (83 Sites) Region 8 (66 Sites) Region 9 (29 Sites) Region 11 (64 Sites) The ambitious undertaking, officially called the Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places Project, aims to provide free broadband Internet access to 1,462 Class 1-6 municipalities, and 44 key cities nationwide. Under the original plan, no-charge Wi-Fi access will be set up in selected airports, hospitals, public schools, plazas, seaports, government offices and other public places. "Our students, both in public and private schools, need not spend their precious pesos in internet cafes for research purposes. Knowledge will be at their fingertips, for free 24/7," Recto pointed out. "Not only students will benefit greatly from this project. Transactions in government agencies will also be seamless and hopefully, hassle-free," he added. The idea, Recto explained, is to choose installation areas which will yield the greatest public benefit. "And this is what DOST Secretary Mario Montejo and his team are doing: making sure the government gets more bytes and benefits out of the buck," Recto said. Under the sponsorship of Recto, the project was allocated a budget of P1.4 billion in 2015 and P1.65B this year. Recto said free Wi-Fi access in major government hospitals is also important so that the sick and those who take care or treat them "can have a lifeline they can use to call a friend." Communication is important for families whose loved ones are admitted in hospitals, he stressed. "If you're a son of an OFW and you would like to get in touch with your father because your mom has been stricken ill, then you can do it within the hospital premises," he said. According to Recto, the installation of a Wi-Fi service in a Land Transportation Office (LTO) station in Quezon City is also a good start. "Ang concept kasi na ipinaliwanag sa akin is to install it in frontline government offices which draw the longest queues and the largest crowds," he said. "If you're at the NSO at may problema ka sa birth certificate mo, kung may access doon, pwede mong i-Viber ang kailangan pang dokumento," Recto said. Recto also welcomed DOST's plan to set up free Wi-Fi in airports and seaports "as these would be a big help to tourists and travelers." Six initial sites chosen by the DOST for its pilot test in Metro Manila last year are Quezon City Memorial Circle, Quezon City Hall, PHILCOA, Social Security System, LTO in Quezon City, and Rizal Park in Manila. Press Release May 2, 2016 MIRIAM NUDGES RIVALS ON HUMAN RIGHTS Presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago, an elected judge of the International Criminal Court, challenged her rivals in the May elections to include human rights concerns in their list of priorities. Santiago on Monday lamented that three of her four fellow contestants for Malacanang failed to respond to the questionnaire sent by international observer Human Rights Watch (HRW). Only Santiago and Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas shared their human rights views, HRW revealed. Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte did not answer the questionnaire. "Human rights should be at the forefront of the agenda of any person running for public office. A rights-based approach in public policy has historically proven to be most effective," the senator said. The list of questions HRW sent out as early as March 22 quizzed candidates on the issues of impunity, violence against indigenous groups, the Reproductive Health (RH) Law, journalist killings, summary executions, the Anti-Torture Law, persons displaced due to conflict, and the HIV/AIDS situation. "The Philippines has made broad strides in human rights policy in the past decade," Santiago said, citing the passage of important laws that she either authored or supported in the Senate. These include: Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women; R.A. No. 9745 or the Anti-Torture Law; R.A. No. 9851 of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity; R.A. No. 10354, or the RH Law; R.A. No. 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act; R.A. No. 10361, or the Kasambahay Law; and R.A. No. 10353, or the Anti-Enforced Disappearances Law. She also considered as gains the Philippine commitment to the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, and accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, both in 2011. But Santiago stressed that "policies aimed at promoting human rights are meaningless unless fully and wholeheartedly implemented." She cited as challenges failure to convict a perpetrator of torture despite the passage of the Anti-Torture Act, and hurdles in the implementation of RH Law amid a hold order on contraceptive implants and congressional budget cuts. "The culture of impunity threatens to perpetuate human rights abuses. Cases that need to be immediately resolved include the continuous disappearance of activists working in the countryside, allegedly because of military operations; the deaths of some 50 media workers in Maguindanao; and the recent deadly skirmish between elite cops and Moro rebels in Mamasapano," Santiago added. The senator also tagged as urgent the need to protect the rights of vulnerable members of society, including children, women, and indigenous groups, especially in times of disaster and conflict. "Child labor remains rampant, with underage workers reported even in the most dangerous of sectors such as small-scale mining. Children are also being recruited by rebel, terrorist, and paramilitary groups," she said. Santiago added that in the aftermath of disasters, stories of abuse against children and women abound. "The Philippines must address with urgency the militarization of indigenous communities," the senator further said. Human rights priorities under her administration, Santiago said, include: The swift approval of the Freedom of Information Law, to open the military to scrutiny amid allegations of abuses and to protect journalists; The abolition of private armies and a review of state sponsorship of militias and paramilitary groups; Full and conscientious implementation of the RH Law; An immediate review of the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture, and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life; The introduction of a national quick response hotline for enforced disappearances and torture; The urgent passage of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act; and The declaration of a national emergency to address the spread of HIV/AIDS. Santiago, a widely respected expert in constitutional and international law, is also known as a strong defender of human rights. She first became popular as a trial court judge for a landmark human rights ruling during martial law. The Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce has come together with Washington-Franklin Elementary to plant a butterfly bush for a special celebration of the life of MaKennah Barron on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the school. Barron lost a lengthy battle with cancer about a week ago. Her strength and positive attitude throughout her battle was a positive example to all who knew the 8-year-old personally or who followed her story. We have invited the community, as well as businesses to attend the celebration of MaKennahs life with the Barron family, said Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce Events Coordinator and Member Services Manager Brittany Gladbach. Not only through social media, but throughout the community she has really made an impact on everyones life. Gladbach said MaKennah has really been an inspiration to all ages with her courage, determination and just really shining through. It came to mind because MaKennah was so fascinated with butterflies, said Gladbach. She really hit all of our hearts and we at the Farmington chamber love to support our community. MaKennah was an inspiration for all of us to leave a mark where she went to school. Gladbach said the first thing they did was contact the school and they all loved the idea. She added they are going to keep it low key as a reminder because they dont want it to be something the kids see every day and it remind them of sadness. We want it to be a reminder of happiness and we are really excited about the celebration, said Gladbach. We would like to thank Fox Farm Nursery ...for their donation of this butterfly. They did not even hesitate with donating it. They said they wanted to do that." Meat-Shaped Stone is the inelegant name for a sculpture from Chinas Qing dynasty that is one of the most visited and revered art objects in the world. Owned by the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, it has never been out of Asia. But it is coming in June to San Francisco and San Francisco only, for a three-month exhibition at the Asian Art Museum. Carved of jasper 200 years old, the sculpture is the size of a fist but is much larger in its symbolism. Though the loan is a friendly gesture to honor the 50th anniversary of the Asian Art Museum, it is also fair to say the Taiwanese government would not allow the stone out of the country if it did not see the San Francisco museum as a strong exhibition partner going forward. It testifies to the great importance and reputation we have in the international world, says Jay Xu, the effervescent director of the city-owned museum. We are one of the leading institutions of Asian art in the entire universe. True, perhaps, but the bold proclamation from Xu comes just five years years after an embarrassing financial squeeze that forced San Francisco to step in and fend off the Asians lenders by restructuring an ominous debt load. Rumors were unkind, suggesting that bankruptcy, default or worse loomed ahead. New symbols The Asian started to do well from the very day the newspapers said, The Asian Art Museum is in crisis, says Xu, 52, who was new on the job when the stock market tanked in 2008, a result of the Great Recession that hit all nonprofits. But Asian culture is steeped in symbolism. To reverse the museums fortune, Xu has employed one upside-down logo, two guardian lions and an energetic new foundation chair, Akiko Yamazaki, 48. Now, to mark its first half century, the Asian has raised $50 million in fresh donations and pledges, which is impressive, considering it was able to build an endowment of only $40 million in its first 49 years. Half the $50 million will be used to finish what the Asian started when it moved into the old Main Library on Larkin Street 13 years ago, adding an exhibition hall on the rear of the building and redoing the lobby so that the building finally works as a museum. The other $25 million will bolster the endowment, which is low for an institution of its size and stature. Too low, by some estimates, because the Asian carries $92 million in debt owed to JPMorgan Chase, backed by a city guarantee. To ensure payment, the Asian has set aside $72 million in a separate endowment to be drawn only to service the debt. With 25 years left on the loan, why doesnt the Asian postpone the expansion, add the new cash to what is already there, retire the debt, and be free and clear? For one thing, says Xu, because there would be substantial prepayment penalties. But more importantly, because nobody ever came to a museum based on its conservative fiscal management. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle I have a great deal of confidence in what we are doing here, he says. So does city Controller Ben Rosenfield, who now oversees the Asians finances and signs off on its budget, as dictated by terms of the bailout. The museum is not yet where they want it to be, says Rosenfield, who admits to being squeamish about the debt-to-endowment ratio. But the good news is that it is in a dramatically improved place from where it was five years ago and trending in the right direction. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Donors choice At the moment, the capital campaign at the Asian is in a quiet phase. But in 2017 it will restart in the direction of $100 million in restricted funds, meaning donors can specify where their money is to be spent. Rarely do they choose to reduce debt. An endowment of $100 million would put the Asian in line with the San Francisco Ballet, which has $105 million in reserve, and the San Francisco Opera, which has $155 million. All of those are considerably lower than that of the San Francisco Symphony, which has an endowment value of $270 million, according to figures supplied to The Chronicle by these organizations. In fiscal 2013-14, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (which did not respond to repeated requests for updated information) showed a combined endowment of $120 million for the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum. Connor Radnovich/The Chronicle Theyve been at it a lot longer than we have, says Tim Kahn, president of the Asian Art Museum Foundation, the 50-member fundraising arm of the museum. Kahn has a point. The de Young opened in 1895, while the Asian did not get started until 1966, as a wing of the original de Young building in Golden Gate Park. Called the Avery Brundage Collection, the wing was built in haste by the city after local Asian art enthusiasts managed to secure the collection of Brundage, a Chicago construction magnate who also chaired the International Olympic Committee. The Avery Brundage Collection, which opened June 11, 1966, to a crowd of 13,000, came with 7,700 artworks but no funds to manage them. Operating funds werent really needed at the time, though, because the Asian was part of the de Young and owned and operated by the city. The Asian did not become a separate entity until 1973. It was a free museum until after the 1978 passage of Proposition 13, which drastically reduced California property taxes and ended most civic freebies. New locale Following the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, the de Young building was deemed unsafe and the Asian was wooed into the old Main Library building, part of the Beaux-Arts complex in the Civic Center. To make the move, voters approved $52 million in bonds, but the job cost more than that. Entrepreneur Chong Moon-Lee kicked in $15 million for naming rights, but fundraising still came up short, leading to the decision to delay construction of a special exhibitions pavilion at the rear of the library. Instead, todays Asian consists of three smaller rooms linked together. Visitors have to leave through one gallery door, then walk through a door to another gallery, meaning there is no natural flow to experiencing its exhibits. The experience is disjointed. Do you go here to here or there to there? says Yamazaki, who knew the logistics were a problem as soon as the Asian opened in March 2003. Sinking portfolios That problem became less significant when the stock market began its long decline in 2007. The Asians investment portfolio started to sink in value, as did those of donors. They stopped giving at the same moment the Asian needed it most. Then its lenders started getting skittish, demanding more collateral or the forfeiture of $20 million. Thats when the city had to step in like a big brother and apply leverage. Museum trustees insist that things were never as bad as rumors suggested. But they were bad enough that they felt the need to turn everything upside down starting with the Asians logo of the letter A. A branding consultant suggested that the A become a V, a suggestion of the donations and visitors the museum needed to come funneling in. Foundation chair Yamazaki brought the proposed emblem to show her husband, Yahoo founder Jerry Yang, a pioneer in Internet search engines. He made the observation that the V is the math symbol representing for all, an even better interpretation than the funnel. I came back and told everybody and we were like wow, says Yamazaki. This has to be it, because the symbolism is exactly what we want it to be. Lions stand guard Another symbolic touch: two bronze guardian lions, which were donated to the collection and set on plinths at the entrance in 2013. You could say the lions have protected us, says Xu, who began negotiating to borrow works from the National Palace in Taipei five years ago. To close the deal to exhibit Meat-Shaped Stone, he promised a return loan of Ritual Vessel in the Shape of a Rhinoceros, an 11th century bronze that is part of the Brundage collection. Nobody in the universe has it, says Xu, but we have it. Nicknamed Reina (queen in Spanish and Tagalog) in a museum visitors contest, the rhino also has a Chinese nickname, Bao Bei, (precious one), both conjuring a better image than Meat-Shaped Stone. The Queen will travel to Taiwan in the escort of other selections from the permanent collection. It will be the items first visit abroad since the 1960s, and is expected to improve the already stellar international reputation of the Asian, according to its trustees. I cant think of a city our size outside of Asia that is a better place to view Asian art right now, says Kahn. I look at San Francisco as being on the East Coast of the Pacific. In 2010, before the guardian lions and the logo flip, the Asian drew 213,000 visitors, with admission fees contributing $931,000 toward the operating budget of $30 million. In 2015, the Asian drew 270,000 visitors, bringing in $1.2 million. Those numbers should rise this year with the opening of Emperors Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, featuring 180 rarities, to open June 17. The last time works from the National Palace Collection toured was 20 years ago, and 150,000 people came to see them at the old museum in Golden Gate Park. And that show did not have Meat-Shaped Stone. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingsf Instagram: sfchronicle_art This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One moment Erica Deeman was an intern at Pier 24 Photography. The next, she was a featured artist there, her portraits of women from the African diaspora shown in their own gallery between ones dedicated to famous photographers Robert Frank and William Eggleston. For someone who had never taken a serious picture until four years ago, having 11 oversize color prints on display at one of the largest spaces in the world dedicated to photography amounts to a Horatio Alger story, especially since her pictures were made with a borrowed camera. This is something that I could not have imagined in this short a time frame, and at such a prestigious establishment says Deeman, who is 39 and just two years out of the Academy of Art University. The portfolio, called Silhouettes, fulfilled a graduation requirement for her bachelors of fine arts. It was not a graduation requirement that she also work for free at a gallery, but she did, pulling a 9 to 5 shift one day a week at Pier 24. Shed been there for nine months before she brought in her portfolio to show to another gallery, after work. She had stashed the portfolio with her coat and was headed out the door when Christopher McCall, the director of Pier 24, noticed her carrying it. I was on my way to show my portfolio to somebody, and Chris said, Why dont you show me? recalls Deeman, who is from industrial Nottingham, England, (Robin Hoods hometown) and is hesitant to self-promote in the brash American way. I said, Well ... OK. The collectors That simple transaction resulted in Deemans pictures being in a group show called Collected that takes over all the gallery space at Pier 24, the massive shed next to the Bay Bridge. The Pier, as Deeman calls it, exhibits the collection of its benefactors, Andy and Mary Pilara, and others. The exhibitions run for up to a year and usually display one collectors interest. Now for the first time ever, selections from all the big-name collectors in the Bay Area are here together. The collectors represented range from Bob and Randi Fisher, who offered William Egglestons full-color portfolio of 60s and 70s highway work, called Los Alamos, to Susie Tompkins Buells collection of documentary classics heavy in Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. Also there is rarely seen work by Robert Frank, from the Bluff Collection, and a room crammed wall to wall and floor to ceiling with rock and jazz portraits and album covers by Richard Avedon and Lee Friedlander, from the collection of publisher Nion McEvoy. Right in there with all of these names is Deeman, who qualifies for Collected because Pilara was so impressed by her work that he collected 10 of her images. My work focuses on the question of identity and how much visual information is needed to begin a dialogue of understanding who somebody is, she says, during a break from Art Market San Francisco, where she was earning a days wages setting up exhibits. Silhouettes started in 2013 as Deeman was transitioning from being an account director in a London advertising agency to fine art photographer in San Francisco. She already had one bachelors from Leeds Beckett University and had started on her second. Always interested in portraiture, she invited an African American woman she did not know to have her picture made at the Academy of Art studio. She set up for a traditional shoot with front lighting but was intrigued by lighting the subject from behind, to create a silhouette. When I saw it, I felt something akin to anthropology, she says. It was almost sculptural, yet still portraiture. Thus began a series of 30 portraits that took nine months. Deeman used strangers she met on the street, friends of friends and people reached through Craigslist ads. The only requirement was that they be willing to pose with shoulders bare. There was no makeup or hair or anything like that, she says. I just asked them to come as they feel confident. Gabrielle Lurie/Special to The Chronicle Prototypes shot The prototype series was shot with a digital camera and printed on Inkjet paper, 10 inches by 10 inches. These are the images that McCall saw. She has the compelling combination of technical precision and culturally charged content, says McCall. This allows her to render the work in a beautiful, empathetic way without stripping it of its powerful message. McCall suggested that all the portraits be reshot so that they could be blown up and still retain their clarity. This meant recontacting all of Deemans subjects and asking them to come in again, to the Academy of Art studio. She used a Hasselblad 501 medium-format camera on loan from the school, and paid for her own color film. Seven dollars a roll, she says. She got a discount printing voucher from a school friend, which allowed her to print one enlargement, 4 feet by 4 feet. She brought that picture into Pier 24 to show McCall her progress, and stashed it in the curatorial room. Pilara came in and asked who the photographer was. When he found out, Deeman got a stipend in order to finish her printing, 30 images in all. The entire series got its own private 10-day pop-up show at Pier 24. But 10 days cannot compare with nine months. The exhibitions are long because Pier 24 allows just 90 visitors a day, plus a few school groups, to give the art room to breathe. Make a reservation for a Thursday and you might find Deeman out on the floor. She is still working her volunteer shift, one day a week, 9 to 5. The Pier, yeah, she says. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art Collected: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Through Jan. 31. Free. Pier 24 Photography, on the Embarcadero, S.F. Appointment required. (415) 512-7424. www.pier24.org Erica Deeman shows her project Silhouettes at http://bit.ly/Africandiaspora This week, we are proud to introduce the first two of our new weekly Datebook columnists, and obviously, we hope you like them. New to The Chronicle Little diamond in the Excelsior brings neighbors together After Jon Carroll retired, we sent the word out to find his replacement. You could say that Jon Carroll is simply too big to be replaced by one writer and that is true. But its also true that the Bay Area is such a rich trove of wonderful voices, we have opted to offer a different writer each day for our back page. When Jeramie Andehueson and his husband, Andrew, moved into a two-bedroom apartment in the quiet East Bay city of Alameda last year, they thought theyd laid a blueprint for the next 20 years of their lives. Jeramie Andehueson, a hairdresser, and Andrew Andehueson, general manager of a Starbucks, joined a local wine club, showed up to neighborhood charity fundraisers and planned on raising a family. Then on Nov. 3, the couple came home to find an eviction notice tacked on their door. Wed done nothing wrong, said Jeramie Andehueson, who found out, shortly thereafter, that the landlord of his building had set rent at $2,300 a month for two vacant two-bedroom apartments upstairs higher than the Andehuesons rent of $1,925 a month. The next night, crowds of housing activists flocked to a special City Council hearing to address the citys housing crisis. The raucous seven-hour hearing ended with two arrests and a 65-day moratorium on no-cause evictions and rent increases above 8 percent. The councils action didnt come in time to help the Andehuesons, who expect to move out of their apartment in February. But it buys city leaders time to seek long-term relief for residents of the small city who say theyre under siege by greedy landlords. The impact of rising rents has become a wrenching topic in Alameda, a city of 75,000 where 55 percent of residents rent their homes. It seems that everyone knows someone who has received a no-cause eviction or an excessive rent increase, said the citys Mayor Trish Spencer, herself a tenant for 16 years. Days after the city passed its moratorium, 34 households in one apartment complex received eviction notices, said Councilman Tony Daysog. Property values are surging, and landlords are reaping the benefits of that, said Dean Preston, head of the tenants rights group Tenants Together, based in San Francisco. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Leah Millis/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Leah Millis/The Chronicle Show More Show Less Ballooning rents have met a groundswell of opposition in many Bay Area cities, Preston said, including San Mateo, Santa Rosa, Mountain View, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, and now, Alameda. Violence at council meeting But in Alameda, what might seem like the obvious solution regulation has become so contentious that it caused blood to spill at the Nov. 4 council meeting, where a police officer tackled 68-year-old tenant advocate Bob Davis to the ground, leaving a bloody trail on the floor. Davis, who was among a throng of people attempting to push their way into the meeting, allegedly dragged Public Works Director Bob Haun to the floor, causing Haun to break his hip. I go to the store, and people are talking about rents and housing, said Catherine Pauling, coordinator of the Alameda Renters Coalition, a group that is pushing for rent control and protection from evictions. People live in constant fear that theyll come home to find an Order to Vacate notice on the door, Pauling said. In July, the average monthly rent in Alameda was $2,251, up significantly from $1,737 in July of 2013, according to the data site RealFacts. Leah Millis/The Chronicle Activists from the renters coalition are begging for rent control, but some officials fear that any attempt to stabilize rents would unfairly penalize the mom-and-pop landlords who rely on the extra income for their retirement. We have a lot of them, said Spencer, the citys mayor. If you look at the ones who attended that meeting (on Nov. 4), theyre older, they might have a couple homes or a duplex, and they talk about it being their retirement. One such landlord, Karin Lucas, said at the meeting that a rent control law would erode the relationship she has with her tenants. Many other property owners feel the same, Lucas said. We take care of our small, older properties, and try to treat our tenants fairly. Regulations considered Spencer opposes setting a limit on rent increases, but says shed support a law that empowered the citys Rent Review Advisory Committee to set limits on individual rents. The committee can suggest rent caps through a mediation process, but its decisions arent binding. Leah Millis/The Chronicle Other council members have their own proposals. Councilman Frank Matarrese wants to lobby the state for more tax credits to build affordable housing, and tax deductions for renters. Daysog is pressing for a law that would require landlords to assist the tenants they evict, perhaps with a direct deposit and two months rent on a new apartment. Daysog sees relocation assistance as compensation to help families get through that painful experience. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Compensation is used in San Francisco, where the law requires landlords to pay $4,500 to tenants in no-fault evictions. Elderly and disabled tenants or parents with children are entitled to an additional $3,000. But Councilman Jim Oddie said that paying people to leave their homes amounts to social cleansing. I dont like the idea that if you get a 60-day notice, you have to leave the island, Oddie said. He wants the city to hold mandatory binding arbitration for any rent increase above 8 percent. The citys population increased by 6.1 percent in the past 15 years, first with a wave of first-time home buyers who replaced many of the elderly longtime residents, and more recently with younger renters, said Daysog, who grew up on the islands west end. Leah Millis/The Chronicle Where hipsters come to die Its where hipsters come to die after youve had your fun in Oakland or San Francisco, you come to Alameda, Daysog said. Its becoming the literal home of Pixar employees who work in Emeryville. But the citys housing supply hasnt kept pace, owing partly to a ballot measure that voters passed in 1973 that restricted construction of multifamily homes. The idea behind Measure A was to preserve the islands small-town character. Jeramie Andehueson said he might be willing to pay $2,300 a month in rent if thats what it takes to stay in Alameda even though the increase might require working longer hours, or ditching the wine club. Were pretty set on staying in Alameda, he said. Weve gone to community events, weve established our social repertoire here, we want to raise a family. I dont see why we should leave. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UPDATE, 3:10 p.m.: CINCINNATI Angel Pagan will miss a minimum of four days with a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring, an MRI confirmed. Manager Bruce Bochy said the test matched the medical staffs prognosis Sunday almost to a T. While that is relatively good news, that timeframe and it could be more than five days always poses a quandary on whether to disable the player. For now, the Giants will watch and wait, especially since second baseman Joe Panik might rejoin the starting lineup Wednesday. Bochy said Panik is available to pinch-hit Wednesday night. As noted in the original post below, the Giants summoned Mac Williamson back from Sacramento, and he will start against left-hander Brandon Finnegan. For now, Bochy plans a left-right platoon in left field with Gregor Blanco. Gregor will be out there tomorrow, with my right to change my mind, Bochy said. ORIGINAL POST: CINCINNATI The Giants on Monday made the two logical moves to gain coverage in the wake of Angel Pagans left-hamstring strain. They optioned reliever Steven Okert to Triple-A Sacramento and brought back Mac Williamson, who will start in left field against left-hander Brandon Finnegan and bat sixth. That means the Giants will go with 12 pitchers for the first time this season, counter to what manager Bruce Bochy said was going to happen before Pagan got hurt. Given the struggles at the back end of the rotation, the Giants were going to carry 13 pitchers for the foreseeable future. The Giants need the extra position player because Joe Panik is not expected to return before Tuesday night as well. Pagan hurt himself running the bases in Sundays 6-1 win in New York. We should have a better idea later today on how much time Pagan can expect to miss. The Giants were hoping Sunday it was about three days, but that sounds quick. Williamson was hitting .355 with four homers for Sacramento. In a brief callup with the Giants in April he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. I have to point out a very telling story in Mondays Cincinnati Enquirer in which Joey Votto, after one of the worst months of his career, bared his soul and said he would rather quit the game and leave the $200 million left on his contract on the table than continue to play the way he has. Now, we know Votto is not going to do that, but it just shows how frustrated he is. Itll be intersting to see if lightening his mental load might help him at the plate, where he is hitting .230 with a .330 on-base percentage and ..310 slugigng percentage. Tonights lineups: GIANTS Span CF Duffy 3B Posey C Pence RF Belt 1B Williamson LF Crawford SS Tomlinson 2B Cueto P REDS Hamilton CF DeJesus SS Votto 1B Phillips 2B Bruce RF Suarez 3B Schebler LF Barnhart C Finnegan P Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: hschulman@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @hankschulman. The deaths of the Western worlds most hated men were covered on the same date 66 years apart. The Chronicles front page from May 2, 1945, covers the death of Adolf Hitler and The Chronicles front page from May 2, 2011, covers the death of Osama bin Laden. The German radio said tonight that Adolf Hitler was killed this afternoon in his Chancellery command post in Berlin and Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz, commander in chief of the navy, had succeeded him, the United Press story on The Chronicles front page from 71 years ago read. The reported death of the Fuhrer 12 years and three months after he established the Nazi Reich that was to have endured a thousand years was not confirmed by the Allies. At the time, the Nazis said Hitler died in a fall. We know now that he committed suicide as the Allies closed in. More than six decades later, the news of a sociopaths death was just as shocking. Osama bin Laden, the glowering mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was killed in an operation led by the United States, President Obama announced late Sunday, the Associated Press story on The Chronicles front page read. A small team of Americans carried out the attack and took custody of bin Ladens remains, the president said in a dramatic statement at the White House. Justice has been done, the president said. See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspaper's history. Chronicle Covers is a yearlong project highlighting one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive every day for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken, art director Danielle Mollette-Parks, producer Michelle Devera and editorial assistant Jillian Sullivan contributed to the project. Tim ORourke is the executive producer and editor of SFChronicle.com. Email: torourke@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TimothyORourke More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Uber is settling a discrimination suit by blind passengers with an agreement to carry the passengers guide dogs in their vehicles and to fire drivers who refuse, advocates for the blind said over the weekend. The suit, filed by the National Federation of the Blind in September 2014, said many Uber drivers have refused to take passengers with dogs. For example, the suit said, one Uber driver agreed by phone to take two passengers to a home in Menlo Park, but when he arrived and saw a guide dog, he shouted, No dogs, and sped away. Another driver locked a Sacramento passengers guide dog in the trunk, the suit said, and Uber tried to charge cancellation fees to some blind passengers after its drivers refused to transport them. Uber denied discriminating and said it had a policy of accommodating passengers with disabilities. Uber also argued that, as a ride-hailing service that merely connects drivers and passengers, it wasnt covered by laws that require taxis and other transportation services to carry a disabled passengers service animal. But a federal magistrate in San Francisco refused to dismiss the suit last year, leading to a settlement before the case was scheduled for trial. With court approval, it will be the first nationwide settlement of a disability suit against such a company, advocates said. The agreement announced Saturday requires Uber to tell drivers about their obligation to carry guide dogs, the advocacy groups said. They said Uber will also be required to dismiss any driver who knowingly violates that policy a single time, or violates it for any reason more than once. Uber will also pay the plaintiffs legal fees, in an amount yet to be determined. Uber and similar services can be a great asset to the blind when they are fully and equally available to us, Mark Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind, said in a statement. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Michael Hingson, one of the blind plaintiffs, said in a statement through his lawyers that he was looking forward to being able to use the Uber services when Uber makes the changes needed to fix its discrimination problem. Larry Paradis, executive director of the nonprofit Disability Rights Advocates and a lawyer for the passengers, has said his organization is also negotiating with Ubers competitor, Lyft, without filing a suit. He said Lyft passengers have reported similar problems. Robert Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko Donald Trump was autopiloting his way through one of his Were going to win, and were going to win in a way nobody has seen before riffs at the California Republican convention in Burlingame when he said something that should thrill Democrats and crush the hopes of the states Republicans. Ideally, were going to be together, Trump said, extending his version of an olive branch to California Republicans. But, he added, I think I will win if were not together. In other words, Trumps campaign remains only about Trump. And the rest of California Republicans be damned. This is fabulous news if youre a progressive, because having Trump at the top of the GOP ticket is political uranium, poisoning any hope that California Republicans had of seeming more palatable to women, Millennials and Latinos, people who are also known as the future of California. A Trump-centered run will lock the state GOP in its neutered position for the foreseeable future: No statewide GOP elected officials. Permanent minority status in the Legislature. A minor speed bump to progressive ballot measures. It frustrates and saddens me, said Luis Alvarado, a Los Angeles consultant who has spent years trying to get grassroots Latino Republicans elected across California. How do you tell people that you are different when he represents the party? Trumps name on the ballot will hurt people like Lee Ramos, who came to the convention in Burlingame this weekend intending to vote for the billionaire businessman and front-runner. Ramos is a 73-year-old retired small business owner running for the Costa Mesa City Council. In the Orange County citys 65-year history, a Latino has never served on the council, even though the city is now about 40 percent Latino. This is Ramos second run for the board. Two years ago, he knocked on more than 7,500 doors and finished fourth out of eight candidates. This year he thinks he can make it. But if Trump is the nominee, Yeah, it is a lot harder for me, he said. The night before the convention started, Trump held a rally in Costa Mesa not far from where Ramos and his wife live. City officials said 8,200 people filled the Pacific Amphitheatre, at the OC Fair and Event Center. At the same time, hundreds of people protested outside. Some of them damaged police vehicles, and seven people were arrested for failing to disperse. It was right down the street from our house, Ramos said. But nah, I didnt go. I watched it on TV. After hearing Trump in person, Ramos changed his mind about whom he was going to vote for. After listening to the billionaires rambling, insult-laden speech Friday in Burlingame and Cruzs equally conservative, but more coherent, address the next day, Ramos said Cruz just seemed more presidential, more well-seasoned. Trump seemed like he would need on-the-job training. We just had a president who needed on-the-job training. The irony for Trump is that in California and perhaps beyond his fate is in Latino hands, said Mike Madrid, a longtime Sacramento GOP consultant who studies the Latino electorate. In the June 7 GOP primary, whoever wins the popular vote in each of Californias 53 congressional districts no matter how many Republicans live in them receives three delegates per district. The states nearly 700,000 Latino Republicans are concentrated in Democrat-dominated urban districts like ones represented by Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland. These Latinos will have 6 times the voting power as a white Republican in Orange County, Madrid said. Because you can win one of these districts with 8,000 votes rather than 80,000 votes. As of now, about 26 percent of Latino Republicans back Trump, 33 percent are for Cruz, 4 percent back Ohio Gov. John Kasich, 27 percent are for another candidate or undecided, 6 percent refuse to answer, and 3 percent will not vote, Madrid said of polling hes conducted. The irony, Madrid said, is that the national group with probably the least amount of influence Latino Republicans in California will be the decisive voting bloc on whether Donald Trump becomes the nominee or not. Their dilemma: Do they want to win now with Trump and lose for a long time afterward or go with a less toxic brand? Now the olive branch is in their hands. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Malia Obama, President Barack Obama's oldest daughter, will take a gap year after high school before attending Harvard University in fall 2017. The 17-year-old senior at the Sidwell Friends School is set to graduate in June, according to a White House statement. During her school's signing day, Malia wore a Harvard Class of 2020 shirt. Both Barack and Michelle Obama graduated from Harvard Law School. >> Click the gallery above to see the colleges other celebrities attended Though some parents think a gap year will hinder momentum in studies, taking a gap year is a popular choice for students looking to experience things outside the classroom. According to the New York Times, Harvard encourages students who are admitted to the university to do so. Many colleges even offer scholarships for students to travel, complete an internship or volunteer during a gap year. It was not immediately known Sunday what Malia intends to do with that time. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Seventy years ago today, six inmates at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary set into motion the bloody escape plan that would become known as 'The Battle of Alcatraz.' On May 2, 1946, the ringleader of the plan, Bernard Coy, initiated the prison break. For weeks, he'd been watching the guards and searching for weaknesses and he found one. The gun gallery was caged off with bars, but Coy reckoned he could pry the bars apart and push himself through to reach the weapons. He began losing weight, 20 pounds, so he could make the tight squeeze. A little after 1:30 pm, Coy's plan went into action. As guard Bill Miller opened the gate to conspirator Marvin Hubbard's cell, Coy and Hubbard grabbed the guard and beat him unconscious. Coy took Miller's keys and sprung three more conspirators before climbing to the top of the unguarded gun gallery. At the top, he used purloined pipes and pliers to spread the cage bars just wide enough to push his body through. When the next guard came along, Coy used the guard's necktie to strangle him into unconsciousness. With both guards incapacitated, Coy raided the gun gallery for weapons and ammo. Armed and free, Coy and his five fellow escapees readied for the next part of their plan: Using the guards as hostages to negotiate their way onto a boat to San Francisco. And then their plan started to fall apart. Coy tried every key on Miller's key ring, but none opened the cell block door. Unbeknownst to the convicts, Miller had hidden the crucial key in the toilet of the cell where he was being held. Across the water at 2:07 pm, San Francisco residents heard the first wail of the prison siren, only used during dire emergencies. Thousands gathered along the waterfront to watch the battle unfold. Back on The Rock, Coy had opened fire with his rifle on the guards gathering outside the cell block. Panicked, one of his conspirators, Joseph Paul Cretzer, decided he had to kill the hostages so they wouldn't be able to testify against them. With a stolen revolver, he shot into the cell containing the captive guards, fatally wounding Miller. Police, military and prison guards began the assault from outside, attacking the cell block with rifle-launched grenades as night fell. The sky was lit by the tracers from the artillery. "The island was a ring of fire in the night," Chronicle reporter Edward McQuade wrote. Don't miss this incredible original 1946 newsreel of the Battle of Alcatraz: On the morning of May 4, the smoke settled and the guards stormed the cell block. Inside, they found three dead conspirators (Cretzer, Coy and Hubbard) and three survivors who surrendered. All told, five died, three escapees and two guards. But two more deaths would follow. Two of the surviving conspirators were sentenced to death (and later executed in the gas chamber of nearby San Quentin). The third was Clarence Carnes, the youngest inmate in the history of Alcatraz, imprisoned for killing a garage attendant during an attempted robbery when he was 16. It was determined Carnes tried to stop the other conspirators from murdering the guards; he was given 99 more years instead of death. Carnes stayed at Alcatraz until its closure in 1963. A zip line ride turned into a terrifying near-death experience for a Bay Area tourist vacationing in Mexico when the device malfunctioned. Heather Gladden, a mother of four who lives in Cloverdale, had made it about half way across a forested gorge at Puerto Vallarta's Nogalito Eco Park last month when she suddenly felt herself falling. "Next thing I could hear the trees rustling through my ears and the noise of the tree branches," Gladden told KPIX5. "And then just a hard yank and then when I opened up my eyes I was upside down in the tree." Her husband, Ryan, ahead of her on the next zip line platform, said the line broke or came free from whatever hardware had anchored it. The end of the line whipped down the chasm. Ryan rushed down the canyon slope, following the sound of of his wife's screams. He found her hanging upside down 40 feet up the tree that broke her fall. It took about a half an hour for Ryan, fellow travelers Monica and John Lee of Hayward and zip line employees to rescue Heather from the branches. Gladden suffered cable burns, open wounds and major bruising to her legs and buttocks, and a possible torn ACL. A manager from the zip line company reportedly told the Press Democrat that "the cable on the zip line did not detach or break at the end but only drooped when a cable support mechanism failed." The manager also reportedly stated that "she believed it was a slow drop." It did not feel slow for Gladden, who was hurled through the jungle canopy. "I free-fell for, I don't know, 10, 20 seconds," she told the Press Democrat. The Lees say they heard the line snap and witnessed Heather's 500-foot plunge. The Nogalito website says the zip line is 500 feet high and nearly four-tenths of a mile long. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The ships, warplanes and sailors might be long gone, but Alamedas former Naval Air Station is alive once more: this time, with booze. In the long-deserted hangars, outbuildings and warehouses of the former Navy base, a neighborhood of high-end alcohol manufacturers has arisen, a sort of beverage version of the Gourmet Ghetto. Distillers, brewers and wine makers now comprise a Spirits Alley, drawing tourists and locals alike to enjoy a drink with friends in unique surroundings, with spectacular views of San Francisco and the bay. Clustered along Monarch Street, the businesses include notables such as Hangar One and Rock Wall Wine Company. But the granddaddy of them all is St. George Spirits. Founded in 1982, St. George Spirits was the first craft distiller in the country since Prohibition, and has grown from a one-man operation with a single still to a thriving business housed in a 65,000-square-foot former airplane hangar, a roster of 15 spirits, and distribution on almost every continent. Despite the companys growth, the guiding ethic remains unchanged, said Lucy Farber, St. Georges operations manager. We dont release a spirit unless we have something new to contribute to the conversation, she said. We focus on high-quality ingredients and capturing the essences of those ingredients. In that way, were very much a Bay Area type of organization. Among the companys most popular offerings is Terroir Gin, described as an ode to the wild beauty of the Golden State. Its aroma profile includes bay laurel, coastal sage and Douglas fir, plus coriander seeds toasted on a well-seasoned wok. Its meant to taste and smell like a hike in the hills, Farber said. The journal Tasting Table described it as What John Muir would have carried in his flask. Since its inception, St. George Spirits has combined Old World distilling techniques with the bounty of California botanicals. Founder Jorg Rupf, who came to the U.S. as a judge with Germanys Ministry of Culture, was struck by the variety and abundance of California agriculture, and started experimenting by making eau de vie (clear brandy) with pears, raspberries, cherries and kiwis. That was in 1982 in Emeryville. The result was superb, but the problem, Farber said, was that in 1982 everyone was eating salads and drinking Chardonnay. Not brandy. So Rupf sold his products overseas, and embarked on a campaign to broaden the palate of American drinkers. He opened a tasting room, entered contests, went to fairs and conventions, and gradually made some headway. In the 1990s, he hired Lance Winters, a brewer and former Navy nuclear engineer, and St. George branched into whiskey. Rupf retired in 2010, and Winters is now the master distiller. In 2004, St. George outgrew its digs in Emeryville and relocated to the former Naval Air Station, which had been mostly deserted since the Navy left in 1997. St. George was among the first businesses to move in, and its success has spurred other distillers, wineries and brewers to follow suit. One of those is the vodka distiller Hangar One, which St. George purchased in 2003. The companies parted ways in 2014, but remain neighbors at Spirits Alley. St. George may have some of the most highly acclaimed gins, whiskeys, liqueurs and brandies, but its perhaps best known for its absinthe. St. George was the first distiller in the U.S. to sell the storied green liquor since it had been outlawed in the U.S. in 1912, and opening day was memorable, Farber said. We had TV news helicopters overhead, a line four hours long. The entire batch sold out in six hours, she said. Today, Terroir Gin is St. Georges top seller, although Winters and his crew are continually working on new concoctions. One of those is Baller Single Malt Whiskey, a Japanese-style Scotch with a California twist. Its aged in casks that had held Japanese plum liqueur made from California-grown ume fruit, giving the whiskey a fruity, smoky taste. Its perfect for highballs, Farber said. If you go to Spirits Alley St. George Spirits: 2601 Monarch St., tasting room hours are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. (510) 769-1601, www.stgeorgespirits.com. St. George Spirits are available at most liquor and grocery stores. Brix Beverage, 1951 Monarch St.: A soda and juice distributor that makes its own naturally-sweetened soda called Alameda Craft Soda, with flavors like Hangar 25 Cola and Oaktown Root Beer. (510) 564-2700, www.brixbev.com. Building 43 Winery (Steeltown Winery), 2440 Monarch St.: A winery and tasting room operated by a husband-and-wife team, complete with live music and special tastings. (510) 263-0399, www.building43winery.com. Faction Brewing Company, 2501 Monarch St.: Check out the popular and award-winning Puddy Porter and A-Town Ale, along with a broad selection of IPAs, stouts, porters and Belgians. (510) 523-2739, www.factionbrewing.com. Rock Wall Winery, 2301 Monarch St.: Named for the Navy's defensive rock wall nearby, the winery offers a wide variety of offerings from California grapes. (510) 522-5700, www.rockwallwines.com. Hangar One, 2505 Monarch St.: Currently undergoing renovations, Hangar One will reopen to the public this year. (510) 871-4950, www.hangarone.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Alamedas light-industrial area near the Park Street Bridge makes an appropriate setting for Rhythmix Cultural Works, a veritable factory of creativity since 2007. Encompassing a 150-seat theater, art gallery, six live/work studios and other work spaces in a former brick warehouse, Rhythmix hosts concerts and performances for all ages, dance and childrens theater classes and workshops across a wide variety of genres. Its newest offering, however, takes inspiration from a source thats particularly close to home: Alamedas waterfront, including those who have lived along its shores. For three days in May, a group of 25 artists musicians, dancers, actors and even a chalk artist will present an interactive half-mile walking tour called Island City Waterways, that leads from the Fruitvale Street Bridge to the Rhythmix theater, where special ship projections, a narrator called the Old Mariner and a chance to record personal stories await. It focuses on the waves of immigrants whove come here, from the Ohlone to Spanish and Mexicans, Chileans and Peruvians, Chinese, Italians and Japanese, said Janet Koike, a co-creator of Island City Waterways and the founder and artistic director of Rhythmix. Along with Rhythmix executive director Tina Blaine, Koike and other members of Maze Daiko world music ensemble will also perform during the 90-minute, four-stop tours. This is a piece that couldnt happen anywhere else: Well have dancers crossing the Fruitvale Bridge, well have woven grass spheres to be tossed into the estuary, well play percussion music on the bridges and have dancers on the docks. Well create a huge mural on a sail to be installed along the journey, Koike said. Its all very visceral and not the same thing as sitting and watching. We want people to get comfortable with the idea that every day you can be creative and open to an artistic experience. The first day of Island City Waterways tours, May 20-22, will be reserved for local school children typical of Rhythmixs outreach to a diverse population. Ginny Parsons, one of three Alameda artists whose work will be featured in Waves of Inspiration, a companion exhibition to Island City Waterways in Rhythmixs K Gallery, hailed the centers efforts to integrate art into public life, its support of local artists and free programs for students. Rhythmix has created a community that values art, provided a place where people come together and understand and accept each other, no matter where we are from, Parsons said. Also creating community and an ambulatory art experience in Alameda is the Second Friday Art Walk. The monthly event links a core group of six to eight galleries in the Park Street district that hold opening receptions, including food and music, said Chris Rummell, manager of Redux Studios & Gallery, which has sponsored the art walk for the last three years. It has been held on and off since other Alameda and nearby Oakland galleries first initiated it years ago, under the name Estuary Art Attack, Rummell said. But now hes encouraging more businesses and restaurants to participate by staying open late or offering special discounts. If were hosting our gallery reception and we have 150 people coming, it makes sense to have other things to do, to keep the foot traffic up, Rummell said. The May 13 art walk will be a good time to view Altered Paintings 4, a popular annual exhibition at Redux, a social enterprise of nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul. The show features mass-market paintings originally donated to St. Vincent de Pauls thrift shops, then sold for $10 to people who transform the piece in ways large or small before returning them for display at Redux. There are a lot of kids and folks who are not professional artists who look forward to participating in it every year, Rummell noted. The Alameda International Film Festival will also return this year, after a decade or so away. Mark Farrell and Colin Blake, formerly executive directors of Alamedas Long Day, Short Film Festival, are creating a new festival to showcase movies of every format, from 10 seconds to 2 hours, including documentaries, childrens film and drama, Farrell said. While the exact date and venues have yet to be announced, Farrell said he and Blake expect it to be a three-day weekend event in downtown Alameda in early October. Well start with a gala party, showing a longer film, with a series of programs the second day and a VIP screening and party on the final day, Farrell said. Upcoming events in Alameda Rhythmix Cultural Works: 2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda. (510) 865-5060, www.rhythmix.org. Among notable events this month: Waves of Inspiration, artwork by Ginny Parsons, Pons Marr and Marc Ribaud, on view in the K Gallery 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays May 4-June 29. Opening reception 6 to 9 p.m. May 6. Free. Island City Waterways, Half-mile walking tour with performances along Alamedas Waterfront Trail, ending at Rhythmix, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. May 21-22. Free, but reservations recommended; see www.islandcitywaterways.org for details. The Amazing Bubble Show, all-ages interactive show by the Amazing Bubble Man, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 29-30. $15, $10 ages 12 and younger. Redux Studios & Gallery: 2315 Lincoln Ave., Alameda. (510) 865-1109, www.svdp alameda.org/redux.php. Host of: Second Friday Art Walk, self-guided tour of local galleries, 6 to 9 p.m. May 13 and every second Friday of the month. Free. See www. facebook.com/2ndFridayArt. Altered Paintings 4, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily through June 3. Free. Alameda International Film Festival: October 2016; exact dates, locations and program format to be announced soon. Check www.facebook.com/ LongDayShortFilm. This story originally appeared on Hoodline.com. The man who introduces himself as "Dr. Color" answers the door of his Edwardian home sporting a pink-checked dress shirt, white muttonchops, and a twinkle in his eye. Bob Buckterit will become clearis many things. But he is, foremost, an architectural colorist. It's a job he nearly invented himself. For 46 years he has been called in to concoct tasteful and appealing color schemes. "I do everything," he says. "Commercial, industrial, institutional. My specialty is historic homes." Quick: imagine a colorful San Francisco Victorian. The way it looks in your mind's eye probably has something to do with Buckter's decades of steady influence. You may have seen his small blue signs "Bob Buckter, Color Consultant" affixed to colorful buildings around the city. But those represent a minuscule fraction of his output. He estimates he's done some 15,000 (!) exterior color jobs in San Francisco. If you add in the other buildings that have cribbed his schemes, it becomes clear that Buckter is more than just a San Francisco original: he's partly responsible for what people here and around the world think San Francisco looks like. Ben Zotto / Hoodline "That's a heavy influence in this town. It's the way this town looks, you know. I'm not on an ego trip, I'm just telling you facts." He pauses, then adds, "And I am on an ego trip," and laughs. Contemporary Colors Buckter is above all a pragmatic designer. His goals are to please his clients, the general public who will see the results, and himself, in that order. Absent from this list are historians, who might quibble with his approach. "These are far from any kinds of the colors used back then," he says, referring to one of his typical jobs. "A lot of these buildings were pretty plain. They were off-whites, or light beiges, and a black sash or a green sash and that's it." "I design contemporary colors to suit individual needs and preferences. That's my motto. You want to copy what was there originally, go ahead and copy it. It's a free world. You want me to come in and do a design for you, I will." "Colors always go in trends. The Williamsburg colors that we used 200 years ago, I happen to like. The Victorian colors that were used 120 years ago, I usually don't like." Ultimately, Buckter is a populist. "When most people see something and they like it, that's how I define good taste. That's my definition." Anyone paying attention to the real estate market won't be surprised to hear what most people like right now: "Lot of grays. Gray is the big trend right now." Why? "I don't know. All the techies are going for it." A part of Buckter's business is consulting for high-end property investors. "One lady bought a building and added some bedrooms and she wanted all the right colors, so I went in there and did that, and she got half a million over asking. You know, curb appeal and what the market sees. First impressions are extremely important.... If they're going to sell it, they want top dollar." "You look like Dr. Color" Bob Buckter is a native San Franciscan. He started out as a house painter in 1970, but quickly realized that he had an unusual knack for color design, so he began consulting on the side. "That was a difficult uphill task because, why should people pay two, three hundred dollars for somebody to pick colors? But I was able to convince peoplesome peopleto do that." He thought, "I like this. I want to try to be the best at it, if I can. Or at least very good." Enough people were convinced, and within a few years, he was locally known for it. But this fledgling career was almost derailed by a different kind of success. Buckter's other side gigs in real estate were so lucrative that he was able to retire from all of it at age 30. He sailed around the world for a year, and when he came back, he decided he "would just do color consulting as a hobby." That was 1977. "My first year I did 40 jobs, then it turned into over 600 jobs a year. .. It got bigger." It was in the early-to-mid 1980s that Buckter acquired his professional alias. A property manager in the East Bay with whom he frequently worked pointed at a small bag he brought to job sites. "He said, you look like Dr. Color with that bag, and it stuck." His workload, consistent for decades, took a hit during the recession of 2008, and never quite recovered. "And then after things started to come back, a lot of other people got into the color business... Now everybody's doing it." He says, "I was the man. I still am, to a fair degree." His color business may be less frenetic these days, but he's no less busy for it; "Dr. Color" is only one of Bob Buckter's personas. "I have two other major life frames of reference," he says. "I have a chalet up in Squaw Valley. I go up there and spend 70 days a year and I know a lot of people up there and I love to ski. My nickname up there is Jack Powder. And then, I spend 70 days a year down in Costa Rica, because I am a conservationist of the rainforest. I bought up a huge chunk of land out in the country that I am preserving, enhancing, restoring, planting new trees, and defending against poachers. A thousand acres. I built a rustic rainforest lodge up near the top of the mountain overlooking the world. I go down there every other month. Down there, my nickname is." here he pauses for effect "Bob Del Cerro Nara. 'Cerro' means mountaintop. 'Nara' is the name of the mountain ... That's another huge part of my life." Buckter also restores and shows classic Mercedes-Benz convertibles, sneaking inauthentic color improvements past the judges. He may not be a Victorian fetishist, but Buckter has a sense ofand love forhistory. His own Edwardian home has been diligently remodeled since he bought it a few years ago, but with period-correct craftwork that Buckter himself has done: oak floors with inlaid walnut, and intricately painted ceiling medallions and wainscoting. He found a large piece of salvaged stained glass and punched open a new window sized just for it. His passion for the project is evident as he explains each detail. Buckter's office is in the front room of the home. He points out the tools of his trade: shelves and shelves of color swatches from all the major paint manufacturers. Then continues gesturing around the room. "I got a hold of these light fixtures, matching, over in Berkeley. I picked out the drapes. I'm a decorator besides a colorist. I can do that kind of stuff too. I can pick out fabrics and textures and all that stuff." "This is a brand-new staircase. Look at these winders, I mean, that's a piece of work. It's perfect." Did he design it? "I worked with my carpenter on it." But he's already walking away, eager to show off the next thing. Paint-by-number Buckter is meticulous but unfussy, perhaps reflecting a more practical kind of daily design. Making sure his clients are happy is the first order of business, and there are always multiple solutions that can work. His prices are reasonableunchanged in 15 years and starting at around $400 for a simple projectand his turnaround is quick. How soon can he get started? "Immediate. Today and tomorrow. Or sooner. If it's anywhere in the Mission I can come and walk over to [the] front door the next morning." He does jobs outside the Bay Area too, by mail. He'll start by asking the client (or clients; he likes to have all the stakeholders in one place) what colors they like. If they aren't sure where to start, he'll pick up on clues: shades from their clothing or their furniture. Then he'll begin choosing paint samples. "I pull out large 8"x10" color swatches. ... I start out with the main body, then go into a major trim then into a minor trim, and an accent... Once I get a palette together that I believe the client is going to be happy with, then I specify it. Half of my work is design, the other half is directing the painters. I take photographs and do a paint-by-number scenario." Although every job is different, Buckter has developed a consistent style that many of his historic projects adhere to: a medium value of low intensity for the main body. A light value for outlining the major trim and features of the building, "like an off-white, sometimes beige." Then a much deeper minor trim color, for sparing use on, for example, window sashes. Usually another accent or two. "That white major trim only started forty-five, fifty years ago down here. I'm the one that basically made that very popular.... And there's a practical reason for it too. That color shows up on some of the horizontal surfaces. Part of color design has to do with how much sun and solar exposure you get.... The lighter the color, the longer it lasts." Another signature move is coloring the ground floor to a darker shade of the main body color, to make the base of the building feel more solid. "Architects use the illusion of something that is heavier, stronger, concrete block. ... I like to think I take it another step further. Darker bottom, stronger, heavier. Outline the major trim. Post and beam, not going to fall over on me!" This particular patterning and subdivision of parts, now visible on so many buildings in San Francisco, may be Buckter's enduring legacy. Once you know what to look for, you'll see it everywhere. Tickled Pink Buckter flips through a promotional calendar from a painting firm he's collaborated with. Many of the photos show his color jobs: Hayes Valley, Haight-Ashbury, the Mission. He stops at one on Castro St: "They were tickled to death, they loved it. And I'd already done the building previously." Different owners? "Probably. It'd been like 20 or 30 years. Some of these jobs are the third time around, which is great." He pauses. "A lot of people keep the colors though, so I don't get called, because they're happy with them and it still looks good." One vista he hasn't directly touched is the famed "postcard row" of painted ladies on Alamo Square. He's done other historic work on the park, but not on that uniquely iconic stretch of Steiner St. They are "a bit understated for my taste," he says. Understated is not Buckter's default mode. "I did a pink place on Ashbury. A study in pinks. Four or five years ago but it still looks good. I rarely get the opportunity but I can do it! And I know how to do it! And [the owner] said, 'Do it Dr. Color!' And I did! And she's tickled pink, she loves it." Buckter says pink schemes were popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s but they never came back. "It's a polarizer, either you like it or you don't." What about his placards posted up around the city? Does he pay for the advertising, or give clients a discount in exchange for hanging them? No, he just asks. "I just say, you like it? Mind if I leave a sign up here? Most of the people say yes. Some people say absolutely not. Some people ask for it up front. ... I just did a historic Queen Anne cottage in Napa, about two weeks ago. They're going to make it into a bed-and-breakfast. It's right alongside of another B&B that's all done, looking great. My task is to try and knock that out of the water and put these people on the map. And they said, 'We'd really like to have your sign, too'." Many of the calling cards stay only temporarily, but others have lingered for decades, attesting to his long arc of influence and his clients' pride in the results. Dr. Color is a busy man, and his signature historic work is only a fraction of the workload. "Like, Monday, I did three jobs: two hotel interiors, and a condominium homeowners' association exterior, and I took a look at a shopping center. Big one." He goes on to describe what's on the docket for later. "Some people have a synagogue and they're doing the interior colors on it, and they're lost, and they're stuck, and they want me to get over there as soon as I can and help them out. .. I'm called in on emergencies sometimes." After nearly half a century in color design, Buckter is still excited by new challenges. He lights up describing a San Jose hotel project with "three big buildings. We're going to divide it into three color schemes. And bright! Bright yellows, blue, periwinkle, violet... That's going to be a fun project. They're all brand new colors for me." Bob Buckter turns 70 later this year, but he's "not really" looking at retirement. "I'm good for a couple more years. This is me. How do I define myself in the world? I'm Dr. Color, you know? Take that away from me, and like, what am I?" What about Jack Powder, and Bob Del Cerro Nara? "Oh yeah, oh yeah," he says and chuckles. Bob Buckter, Color Consultant, is available for a range of color design, architectural enhancement, and restoration projects. His website is drcolor.com, and he can be reached by email at drcolor@drcolor.com, or by phone at (415) 922-7444. This story originally appeared on Hoodline.com. A 45-year-old electrician from Pleasanton died in an industrial accident in San Francisco, officials said Monday. Co-workers found the man, identified as Mose Bamont by the city medical examiners office, unconscious Friday at the work site on Main Street between Howard and Folsom streets, police said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Bamont was doing a tenant-improvement job at the time of his death, according to his employer, Metropolitan Electrical Construction of San Francisco. I dont think anyone knows what happened, said Brian Kenyon, the companys electrical service department manager. This is a huge tragedy. The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the death. Citing an outside source, Cal/OSHA said Bamont appears to have died from electrocution. The medical examiners office was scheduled to conduct an autopsy Monday to determine a cause and manner of death. Colleagues and fellow members of Bamonts union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 6, expressed shock and grief on social media. I was deeply saddened to hear about this on Friday, and it just doesnt get easier, Joseff Tabisaura, a former colleague, wrote on Facebook. We lost a good one. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Alameda may be an island unto itself, but its smack dab in the middle of some of the countrys best dining landscapes via San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland. So for lucky residents and visitors that means top-notch ingredients and skilled chefs seeking a quieter, more gentle lifestyle, as well as lower prices on meals thanks to lower rents. Waterfront restaurants line the piers, newer shopping areas beckon with upscale eateries and options range from Italian to Chinese to German to Vietnamese to even wine and waffles, where you can enjoy lox on a waffle with your Mitchell Katz Livermore Valley Chardonnay. Whats not to love about that? Here are some Alameda stars well worth checking out. Crispian Bakery Earlier this year, the creative Crispian crew hosted a beer and cookies pairing party at Alameda Island Brewing Company next door. And why not? Crispian pastry chef Beth Woulfe said she came up with a variety of cookies that go surprisingly well with some of AIBCs brews. Just debuted on Park Street last summer, the brick-clad bakery is named after the Feast of Crispin, heralded in William Shakespeares Henry V (with a spelling twist; Shakespeare wrote, This day is called the feast of Crispian). In a nutshell, it honors twins and Christian saints Crispin and Crispinian, who were martyred then beheaded in the year 286. The official October 25 St. Crispins Day also salutes English survivors of the Battle of Agincourt. However it all works, it means visitors get to indulge in French-style breads and pastries, crafted by Woulfe and bread baker Christian Fidelis de Goes, who met while working together at Thomas Kellers Bouchon Bakery in New York. The cases brim with light-as-air French macarons, marbled financiers, eclairs and naturally fermented breads based on whole grains and charmingly displayed on wood cutting boards. According to Fidelis de Goes, long, cold fermentation enhances bread flavor while also make it easier for people to digest. It feels very European here, like a chic living room set with small wood bistro tables, the walls artfully cluttered with framed art of all kinds and a chalkboard above the espresso machinery offering filtered coffees, lattes and fine teas. Ham and cheese croissants, tangy-sweet blue cheese savory cookies, triple-cream Brie on crunchy pain de campagne toast, wheat-free muffins, and sweets like cinnamon rolls or craquelin sugar cube-stuffed buttery brioche are all available to try. And most visitors leave with breads to enjoy later by slathering with butter and jam, including baguettes, olive loafs, sesame bread and focaccia. The Crispian connection isnt as far-fetched as it might seem, by the way. Born and raised in the East Bay, Woulfe holds a bachelors degree in English from Princeton University, where her senior thesis was on the role of food in literature. Alameda Island Brewing Company On any given day, you can stop by this microbrewery and discover something new and a particularly tiny-batch. Perhaps its a Broadside Imperial Oatmeal Stout aged in a bourbon barrel, or an Otis IPA spiked with organic mandarins and lemons. Founded by home brewer Matthew Fox, the Island name was a natural choice for the former Coast Guard agent and his wife, a fourth generation Alamedan. He partnered with his brewery landlord and fellow beer lover, Bill Phua, and built out a 10,000-square-foot, 20-barrel brew house with a 1,500-square-foot tasting room and dog-friendly patio set with reclaimed wood tables. Its all about sampling in this casual spot, with some five to 10 beers on tap daily and flights encouraged. Find your favorites, then take them in growlers to go. That might be soft, malty sweet Cavanaugh Kolsch, a robust, chocolate toned German-style Control, Alt, Delete beer, or a hoppy Neptunes Pale Ale kissed with grapefruit and citrus punch. The signature, though, is Alamedas IPA, packed with Zythos hops for what Fox calls a floral, piney, and citrus bouquet with just enough malty caramel sweetness to balance it out, while still stripping the enamel from your teeth. Periodically, Fox invites in local guest brewers and snack experts, like the folks from the Salt Point Pretzel Company of Oakland, and Crispian Bakery with their famous beer-friendly cookies. Trabocco Since November 2013, Trabocco has been a beacon of fine Italian dining at Alamedas South Shore Center Plaza, setting expectations with a glamorous open kitchen, trendy decor of subway tile, lots of sleek wood and dangling Edison light bulbs and a gossamer net sculpture billowing from the ceiling. The sculpture is more than just art: a trabocco, we learn, is a small pier with a complex architectural fishing hut at its end. Set with numerous poles, pulleys, nets and beams, they are found along the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo, Italy. Indeed, chef-owner Giuseppe Naccarelli was born and raised in the mountain village of Palombaro, Abruzzo. After running his own restaurant near his hometown for a number of years, he found his way to California, where he enjoyed a 19-year career with the Il Fornaio chain. Now, much of his cooking relies on seafood, like a classic mix of grilled octopus tossed with potato, celery, red onion, lemon and olive oil, roasted salt-cod marinated with roasted bell peppers atop crispy polenta or a stew stocked with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and fish fillet in tomato-octopus broth with grilled bread for dunking. Gnocchi is housemade, as is the stellar chitarrine pasta draped in cocoa powder infused rabbit ragu. But anything wood-fired is a highlight, too. Even a simple half-chicken is elevated to sumptuous fare thanks to a vibrant herb-chile marinade infusing its juicy meat and a generous sprinkling of Abruzzese salt on its crackly skin, all served alongside roasted root vegetables and potatoes scattered with almonds. If you go Crispian Bakery: 1700 Park St., Suite 120, Alameda, (510) 239- 4751, crispianbakery. com. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Alameda Island Brewing Company: 1716 Park St., Alameda, (510) 217-8885, www.alamedaislandbrewing company.com. Hours: 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Trabocco: 2213 South Shore Center, Alameda, (510) 521-1152, trabocco.com. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One of the three young drifters accused of killing a hiker in Marin County and a backpacker in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park cut a deal with prosecutors Monday, pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Sean Michael Angold, 24, changed his plea while agreeing to testify at the trial of his co-defendants, Morrison Haze Lampley and Lila Scott Alligood, in last years gun slayings of 67-year-old Steve Carter and 23-year-old Audrey Carey, authorities said. Terrence Bennett, Angolds attorney, said his clients plea in the cooperation agreement pertained only to Carters death. A second-degree murder conviction carries a sentence of up to 15 years to life in prison, while Lampley and Alligood face potential life sentences without the possibility of parole. There will be no sentencing until the cooperation agreement is fully executed, Bennett said. Marin County District Attorney Edward Berberian, who opted not to pursue the death penalty in the case, said Angold will probably testify against Lampley and Alligood at a preliminary hearing set to begin May 9. This is something that has been under negotiation for a period of time, Berberian said. Both families of the murder victims were advised of this. They were fully informed as to what was developing and were fully aware of what was transpiring today. They have been very supportive of us moving forward in the way we need to move forward. Lokita Carter, the widow of Carter, said, I trust that justice will be served to its fullest extent for these two unbearable and unforgivable murders, and that today's events will support this goal. Lampley, 23, Alligood, 18, and Angold were charged with the fatal shooting of Carey, a Canadian backpacker on her first solo trip, in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park. Her body was found Oct. 3 during the second day of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. Two days later, Carter, a respected tantra teacher, was shot multiple times on a scenic fire trail in the Loma Alta Open Space Preserve near Fairfax. He was still clutching the leash of his Doberman pinscher, which was also shot but survived. According to the charges, prosecutors believe Lampley was the gunman in Carters death, but it is still unclear who pulled the trigger in Careys killing. The drifters were arrested outside a soup kitchen in Portland, Ore., after authorities said they tracked the three there using the GPS in Carters stolen station wagon. The defendants had the Smith & Wesson handgun used in both slayings in their possession, as well as Careys passport, airline tickets and camping gear, police said. The gun was allegedly stolen from a car at San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf on Oct. 1. Amy Morton, an attorney for Alligood, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Chief Deputy Public Defender David Brown, who is representing Lampley, said his office had not yet been given information on Angolds plea deal. We will need to review this new development in Mr. Lampleys case, he said. According to social media posts, Lampley and Alligood had a romantic relationship. Residents in the San Franciscos Haight-Ashbury neighborhood said that in the weeks before the killings, the three had camped out in Buena Vista Park, blending in with the areas transient population. They quickly developed a reputation for erratic behavior and methamphetamine use. Lampley, who went by his middle name of Haze, has past convictions for theft and weapon possession, records show. In a Facebook post in August, he listed each letter of the alphabet with a corresponding fact about himself. Next to the letter H, he wrote, Hometown: San Francisco. Next to the letter I, he wrote, In love with, with a link to Alligoods profile. Next to the letter K, he wrote, Killed someone? Yea long time ago. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: v ho @sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo Some say the price of being a celebrity is the loss of a private life, and being bombarded by paparazzi and overenthusiastic fans is part of the bargain. Comedian Amy Schumer and a man have differing accounts of an incident that happened on Saturday, where a fan began recording a video of Schumer in Greenville, S.C. Schumer posted a photo of a man, later identified as Leslie Brewer, and wrote that Brewer put a camera in her face and when she asked him to stop, the man said, "No, it's America and we paid for you." A photo posted by @amyschumer on Apr 30, 2016 at 9:23am PDT Schumer wrote: "This guy in front of his family just ran up next to me scared the s--t out of me. Put a camera in my face. I asked him to stop and he said ' no it's America and we paid for you' this was in front of his daughter. I was saying stop and no. Great message to your kid. Yes legally you are allowed to take a picture of me. But I was asking you to stop and saying no. I will not take picture with people anymore and it's because of this dude in Greenville." The actress later went on to clarify via Twitter that she will take photos with "nice people" when she wants to. Brewer, however, disagreed with Schumer's account and reached out to Fox Carolina, the local broadcast news station, to tell his side of the story. Brewer said he found out that Schumer was in the area through other pedestrians. When he saw the comedian, he took out his phone and started recording, but stopped when she asked. He then said the two began to argue about him shooting the video and that Schumer walked away before returning to take his photo. Brewer posted the clip of the encounter to his Instagram account which can be seen here and wrote, "Amy schumer just got mad at me and cussed me out lmao!!! Awesome." In the video, Schumer asks Brewer to delete the video, before the recording cuts off. Brewer told another news station, WSPA in South Carolina, that Schumer got mad about the recording and called it "disrespectful." "She turns to my daughter and wife and says 'is this the type of example you want to set for them?" Brewer told the station. "I wish I would have finished recording. I wish I would have never stopped to show people what really happened." Brewer said that once Schumer mentioned his parenting in their argument, he told her that he wouldn't delete the video after all. "I think she's tried to paint some kind of picture of me that I am an aggressive guy and that I came up to her," Brewer said. "If you see my video, you can tell that she wasn't scared. "At the end of the day, I feel as though I did what every other fan would have done if they would have seen one of their celebrities." OSCEOLA, Ind. Ted Cruzs conservative crusade for the presidency fought for new life Monday ahead of an Indiana vote that could effectively end the GOPs primary season. The fiery Texas senator hinted at an exit strategy, even as he vowed to compete to the end against surging Republican front-runner Donald Trump. I am in for the distance as long as we have a viable path to victory, Cruz told reporters after campaigning at a popular breakfast stop. With his supporters fearing Cruz could lose a seventh consecutive state Tuesday, the candidates formulation hinted at a time when he may give up. Like Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Cruz is already mathematically eliminated from reaching a delegate majority before the Republican Partys national convention in July. He retreated to Indiana more than a week ago, hoping a win could at least help him deny Trump an outright primary victory and lead to a contested convention. But a recent poll of likely Indiana voters showed Trump holding a commanding lead. At a stop in Monday in Marion, Trump supporters confronted Cruz. Lyin Ted! yelled one, using Trumps pet name for his rival. What do you like about him? Cruz asked the man. Name one thing. Everything, the protester replied. After six straight victories across the Northeast late last month, math and momentum are on Trumps side. The anti-Trump movements only hope is to deny the billionaire businessman a 1,237-delegate majority by defeating him in Indiana and the handful of contests remaining over the next month. Then, Cruz or another candidate would have to beat him when delegates gather in Cleveland in July. Millions of Americans are praying for this state, Cruz said. The entire country is depending on the state of Indiana to pull us back from this cliff. Trump sensed an Indiana knockout. Honestly, if we win Indiana, its over. Its over. Theyre finished. Theyre gone, the former reality television star told voters at a rally in Carmel. Tuesday features a primary on the Democratic side, too. And front-runner Hillary Clintons chief rival, Bernie Sanders, like Cruz, vowed to fight hard as hard as we can for every vote. Clintons campaign hasnt dropped a dollar on television or radio advertising in Indiana. Sanders has spent $1.8 million. RICHMOND, Va. Republican lawmakers in Virginia will file a lawsuit challenging Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffes decision to allow more than 200,000 convicted felons to vote in November, GOP leaders said Monday. Republicans argue that the governor has overstepped his constitutional authority with a political ploy designed to help the campaign of his friend and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the important swing state this fall. Gov. McAuliffes flagrant disregard for the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law must not go unchecked, state Senate Republican Leader Thomas Norment said in a statement. He added that McAuliffes predecessors and previous attorneys general examined this issue and concluded Virginias governor cant issue blanket restorations. Republicans have hired Charles Cooper, a Washington, D.C., attorney known for defending Californias ban on same-sex marriage before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. GOP leaders said the lawsuit would not be paid for using taxpayer dollars. The pending legal fight highlights the important role Virginia will probably play in this years presidential contest. Clinton could benefit from a surge of new minority voters, who typically vote Democratic. But even if all the 206,000 ex-felons signed up, they would represent only about 4 percent of total registered voters in the state. The governor is disappointed that Republicans would go to such lengths to continue locking people who have served their time out of their democracy, said McAuliffes spokesman, Brian Coy. These Virginians are qualified to vote and they deserve a voice, not more partisan schemes to disenfranchise them. Virginia, Iowa, Kentucky and Florida are the only states that strip all felons of their voting rights for life unless a state official restores them, according to the Sentencing Project. 1 Bergdahl case: An appeals court has cleared the way for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahls legal case to resume, rejecting prosecutors arguments that defense attorneys were given too much leeway on accessing classified documents. The United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals denied prosecutors appeal in a ruling released late Saturday by defense attorneys. The court also lifted a stay from February on pretrial proceedings being heard at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Bergdahl faces charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after he walked off an outpost in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban and its allies for five years. He was released in 2014 as part of an exchange for five detainees in Guantanamo Bay. 2 Deadly crash: Six people, including four children, died in a highway crash in Jupiter, Fla., authorities said. The crash involved a minivan and a sport utility vehicle Interstate 95 about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Wysocky said Heidi Solis-Perez lost control of her minivan, struck a median, and bounced into the path of the SUV. Six passengers died, including four children in the minivan. Heidi Solis-Perez and another passenger were listed in serious condition. The SUV driver received minor injuries, the highway patrol said. 1 Plot foiled: A mans planned attack on a Jewish center in Miami was thwarted by the FBI through an undercover operation involving a dummy bomb, authorities said Monday. James Medina, 40, made his initial appearance in federal court Monday following his arrest last week in the alleged plot against the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, which includes a synagogue, a school and meeting halls. Medina is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a potential life prison sentence. Prosecutor Marc Anton said the FBI learned in March that Medina a Muslim convert who said in court he also goes by James Muhammad planned to bomb the center. An undercover operative was used to provide Medina with a fake bomb, and he was arrested after accepting it Friday, Anton said. A bail hearing is scheduled for Thursday. 2 Solar plane: A solar-powered plane has landed in suburban Phoenix after a flight from California on the latest leg of its round-the-world journey. Solar Impulse 2 arrived in the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear on Monday night. The aircraft took off from Moffett Airfield in Mountain View shortly after 5 a.m. Monday. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg flew the plane, which began its globe-circling journey last year. Solar Impulse 2 flew from Hawaii to Silicon Valley last week. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops before crossing the Atlantic. CHASKA, Minn. Five of Princes six surviving siblings appeared in court Monday for the first hearing to start sorting out an estate certain to be worth millions, a task complicated because the star musician isnt known to have left a will. In a hearing that lasted a little over 12 minutes, Carver County District Judge Kevin Eide formalized his appointment last week of Bremer Trust to handle matters involving the estate of Prince, who died unexpectedly last month at age 57. Princes sister, Tyka Nelson, requested the appointment so that the company can manage Princes estate until an executor is named. Eide asked the packed courtroom whether anyone knew of a will, and the courtroom was silent. Lawyers for Bremer Trust said they hadnt found one but would keep looking. The court is not finding that there is no will, but that no will has yet been found, the judge said. The hearing didnt address how long the estate may take to settle or how much it is worth. Princes property holdings alone in Minnesota, including his Paisely Park studios in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen, are worth about $27 million, but music industry experts say his earnings after death are likely to be far more. Nelson is Princes only full sibling. Four half-siblings Alfred Jackson, Norrine Nelson, Sharon Nelson and Omarr Baker were present. A fifth, John Nelson, didnt attend. Norrine Nelson and Sharon Nelson exchanged a hug in the courtroom, and family members chatted quietly. Tyka Nelson sat at a table between her two lawyers, while the four others sat side-by-side in the well, just behind their lawyers. None of the siblings commented afterward. Frank Wheaton, an attorney for Alfred Jackson, said the siblings were cooperating in settling the estate. Everyone is in full accord, he said. Even if all the heirs really are in agreement, its going to take a long time to settle the estate, said Judith Younger, a University of Minnesota law professor who isnt involved in the case. Other claimants are likely to come forward, any disagreements with tax authorities over the value of the estate could result in litigation, and Minnesota courts havent settled yet whether the rights to someones likeness, such as Princes, can be inherited. It is a real mess that he left behind, she said. Its also possible that a will could turn up and that it could lead to fights over its validity, Younger said. I find it so hard to believe, Younger said, noting how careful Prince was to keep control of his music and other business affairs. How can there not be a will? A law enforcement official said investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks beforehand. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican officials warned Monday the islands default on a $422 million bond payment is only the beginning if Congress doesnt help resolve the situation soon. The U.S. island territory did not make nearly $370 million of the payment that was due, the third and largest since 2015. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said a much more significant default could occur July 1 if Congress doesnt restore the governments ability to restructure debt under Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Garcia blamed lobbyists for hedge funds, which he blasted as vultures, for the fact that Congress left on its recess last week with a restructuring bill stalled in committee. Our worst enemy at the moment is politics, he said. The government on Sunday ordered a suspension of payments on debt owed by the islands Government Development Bank, a default that will probably prompt lawsuits from creditors and could be a prelude to a much larger payment due July 1. The governor said Puerto Rico cant pay the bonds without cutting essential services. Island officials spent the weekend trying to negotiate a settlement that would have avoided the default but apparently came up short. The development comes as Congress has so far been unable to pass a debt restructuring bill for Puerto Rico. Nearly all the bonds are held by a variety of U.S. hedge funds and mutual funds. Garcia said Puerto Ricos government could not make the payment without sacrificing basic necessities for the islands 3.5 million residents, including keeping schools and public hospitals open. We will continue working to try to reach a consensual solution with our creditors, he said. That is one of our commitments. But what we will never do is put the lives and safety of our people in danger. The governor had been warning since last year that the islands overall public debt of more than $70 billion is unpayable. Pasta Pelican Restaurant: The views are delicious, spanning across to Jack London Square. Signatures at the longtime local favorite include ricotta stuffed tortellini with chicken and artichoke hearts, fresh basil and mushrooms in cream sauce. 2455 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda, (510) 864-7427, www.pastapelican.com. Speisekammer: Since 2002, this charming party spot has been delivering the goods with sides of rowdy live music and plenty of beer. Specialities include Semmelknodel, a delectable bread-bacon dumpling made smothered in savory mushroom sauce, and gemusestrudel, a delicate strudel stuffed with goat cheese, red pepper and spinach on a pond of carrot sauce. 2424 Lincoln Avenue, Alameda, (510) 522-1300, www.speisekammer.com. Wine & Waffles: Breakfast its whats for dinner at this clever wine bar/speakeasy. What a theme blue cheese fondue waffles fries, a chicken n waffle sandwich, lox n capers on a waffle, and plenty of other small plates like pretzel cheeseburger sliders, Baja fish tacos and jalapeno bacon mac n cheese. 1505 Park Street, Alameda, (510) 523-2301, facebook. com/WineandWaffles. Dragon Rouge Vietnamese Bistro: The patio nestles up to the tidal canal, in the shadow of the Park Street bridge. Inside gets loud, but its all fun, for sharing well-crafted dishes like crepe battered catfish, vegetarian pho with mushroom broth, tiger prawn clay pot, and bouncing beef tenderloin wok fired with vegetables, garlic and butter over watercress. 2337 Blanding Avenue, Alameda, (510) 521-1800, dragonrougerestaurant.com . East Ocean Seafood Restaurant: You know youre in a good spot when youre greeted with an aquarium stocked with rock cod, black bass, tilapia, catfish, Maine lobster and Dungeness crab, plus seasonal specialties like spot prawns, geoduck and giant clams. The menu is dotted with Hong Kong style soups, roast Peking duck, dim sum, and regional flavors like chilled pork shank with jellyfish, or lettuce cup squab. 1713 Webster Street, Alameda, (510) 865-3381, eastoceansea foodrestaurant.com. Waterfront Deli: As expected, this cheerful cafe serves egg salad or Reuben sandwiches, a turkey burger, and hot entrees like lasagna with green salad and garlic bread. But surprise, another specialty is Korean food, from the Korean owners who offer bright bites like bibimbap in housemade fiery Gochujang sauce, or the curious East Meets West of Korean marinated bulgogi beef with avocado, jalapeno and garlic spread on a roll. 1070 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, (510) 769-0240, waterfrontdeli.com The Hobnob: You can play board games while you nibble on truffle fries, ahi tartare tacos, jerk chicken skewers with habanero pineapple salsa, and fish n chips. This is a true neighborhood hangout, darkly lit with a cluttered bar offering the best seats in the house. But with deals like $8 bottomless mimosas at weekend brunch, and mini cheese burgers to grease up your belly, its a happy place at all hours. 1313 Park Street, Alameda, (510) 769-1011, thehobnobalameda.com. Mosleys Cafe: Its a tiny, place, but the views are great, dockside overlooking Coast Guard Island. Service is breakfast and late lunch until 3 p.m., but a lot of the items are housemade, like gluten-free cheddar-rosemary- garlic biscuits, almond flour snicker-doodles, and banana bread. And its all tasty. Start the day with cinnamon French toast and pour-over Oakland Bicycle coffee, then move into a marvelous mid-day with a lacy thin spinach-Brie crepe, housemade vegan or vegetarian soup, and hibiscus iced tea. 2099 Grand Street, Alameda, (510) 263-8363, mosleyscafe.com. SANTA CRUZ (BCN) A man suspected of downloading and sharing child pornography was arrested Thursday at his Soquel home, according to Santa Cruz police. A five-month-long investigation into a network suspected of disturbing child porn led investigators to the arrest of Jonathan Wells, 43, at his home in the 3700 block of Vista Drive, police said. During the investigation, which began in December, police investigators accessed the network, using an undercover identity and determined Wells was a source of the child pornography files that were being shared on the network, according to police. During a search of Wells' home, investigators seized multiple computers and external hard drives that were allegedly used to download and provide child porn on the network, police said. Wells confessed to downloading child porn as well as making files available for sharing on the network. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, according to police. At the home, investigators also seized 39 firearms, including six handguns, two assault style rifles, large caliber rifles and an assorted collection of black powder firearms. Investigators are working to determine if the firearms were legally owned by Wells, police said. MILLBRAE (BCN) San Mateo County sheriff's deputies are asking for help today locating a 27-year-old Millbrae man missing since Thursday. Keith Green was last seen at about 10 p.m. Thursday when he left his home, sheriff's Detective Salvador Zuno said. Deputies do not know how he left his home. Green left his wallet, car and other belongings behind, Zuno said. A hiker found Green's cellphone Friday morning in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Deputies do not have a description of what Green was wearing when he was last seen, but he has two distinctive tattoos on his neck, Zuno said. Anyone who sees Green is asked to call sheriff's Detective John Carroll at (650) 259-2313, or if they want to remain anonymous, the anonymous tip line at (800) 547-2700. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The GOP presidential candidates may be gone from the Bay Area, but their influence lingers. After two days at the center of the political world, the Republican state convention in Burlingame settled back into the typical grind of party business on its last day Sunday, with the usual in-house disputes over bylaw revisions, rule changes and officer elections. As the nearly 700 delegates engaged in a lengthy wrangle over an obscure point of party rules, party Chairman Jim Brulte noted that there was a bright side. Look at it this way, the former state senator said. Were just warming up for Cleveland, where the Republican National Committee will meet in July for what could be a raucous battle over who will be the partys presidential nominee. States key role in race Businessman Donald Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich all were in Burlingame this weekend to make their cases for the GOP nomination, talking about their plans for the country and pledging undying love and concern for California. Of course, with the exception of Kasich, who sandwiched his Friday night speech with campaign appearances in San Francisco and San Jose, the only part of the state they visited was the mile or so stretch of highway between the airport and the Hyatt Regency hotel in Burlingame. By Sunday, Trump and Cruz were in Indiana, stumping in advance of that states crucial Tuesday primary. But as Cruz said in his speech Saturday, Whoda thunk it? After decades of near irrelevancy to presidential primary process, this year California could decide the course of the Republican nomination. The weekends big-name appearances, though, may have had less of an effect than party leaders and the presidential hopefuls had wished. This (campaign) has been going on so long, I didnt hear anything new, said Bill Jahn of Big Bear Lake (San Bernardino County), who hasnt picked a candidate yet. I just hope when this nomination process is complete, everyone can calm down and work together. That concern was echoed by two other delegates, Debra Del Conte of Dublin and Michaela Hertle of Pleasanton. While neither was willing to go public with her presidential choice, both women said they would back whoever ultimately wins the nomination. Similarities on issues The three candidates are really more alike than people want to believe, Hertle said. Most of their differences are in personality, but on the issues, not so much, she added. Whats just as important as the presidential battle, though, are the California partys efforts to build a diverse bench of young Republican candidates for local offices, with a look to the future, Hertle said. We need to find minority leaders who share our Republican values, she said. The face of a 60-year-old Republican male cant be our face any longer. Wealthy Palo Alto physicist Charles Munger Jr. the bow-tie wearing son of the longtime Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman has spent millions in recent years backing Latino and female GOP candidates and organizations in California in an attempt to diversify a party long dominated by white men. Much of the work funded by Munger and carried out by others could be set back years, analysts predict, if Trump is at the top of the GOP ticket. Trumps litany of offensive remarks toward Latinos, women, Muslims and others has caused his disapproval ratings among those demographic groups to soar to record heights. But Munger refused to bash Trump or even to speculate about what his presence on the ballot could mean in the race. Its not helpful if party brass such as I are really loud in our statements about the relative merits and demerits of different candidates, because ultimately we may have to support a candidate who is not my personal individual choice, Munger said. My job is to unify the party. A protest Friday, with hundreds of loud and angry demonstrators surrounding the hotel in an effort to keep Trump from getting inside to give his speech, went a long way toward unifying the delegates. Burlingame resident Chris Conway, 51, found himself as the star of viral videos Friday when dressed in pro-Trump Make America Great Again ball cap and a blue blazer anti-Trump demonstrators surrounded him outside the hotel. One sucker-punched him in the back of the head as he tried to walk into the building. Conway said he absorbed other blows and was spat upon, but was in otherwise good spirits after listening to Trump. He was a bit miffed the candidates speech wasnt customized to us in California but otherwise liked it. Primary only for GOP However, as a decline-to-state voter, he wont be able to vote for Trump in Californias June primary because its open only to registered Republicans. Since hes a bit dubious of both parties, hes not planning to change his registration, preferring to wait to vote for Trump in November. Both the Republicans and the Democrats like to put you in a box, Conway said. Thats not for me. I just want to vote for Mr. Trump. For Jay Taneja, a 36-year-old Riverside businessman, the rowdy protest showed the need for people to recognize First Amendment rights for both demonstrators and Trump supporters. It shows the hypocrisy of the other side, which is always talking about the need for safe spaces, but isnt willing to provide it for people they disagree with, said Taneja, who said he is leaning toward Cruz. The antagonism goes both ways, however: In the ballroom where the delegates gathered Sunday, for example, the Wi-Fi password was a none-too-subtle Hilarycantbetrusted. Thats kind of a great password, dont you think? said Brulte, the state chairman. John Wildermuth and Joe Garofoli are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com, jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth, @joegarofoli BAGHDAD An explosives-laden car detonated on Monday in the Iraqi capital, killing at least 18 Shiite pilgrims who were commemorating the anniversary of the death of a revered imam, officials said. Shortly after the explosion, the Sunni extremist Islamic State group, which sees Shiite Muslims as apostates, claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement. It said the assault was carried out by a suicide bomber, but Iraqi officials denied that. Islamic State militants frequently target commercial areas and public spaces in mainly Shiite towns and neighborhoods. According to an Iraqi police officer, the car was parked in Baghdads southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood and blew up shortly after midday. The explosion killed at least 18 and wounded 45 people, the officer said. A medical official confirmed the causality figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity. Tens of thousands of Shiite faithful have been making their way this week to the northern Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhimiyah, where the 8th century Imam Moussa al-Kadhim is buried. Security forces have blocked major roads in Baghdad in anticipation of attacks against pilgrims who traditionally travel on foot from different parts of Iraq. Mondays attack came a day after two car bombs in the southern city of Samawah killed at least 31 people and wounded 52, an attack that was also claimed by the Islamic State. The annual Shiite pilgrimage prompted antigovernment protesters on Sunday to disband their demonstration at least temporarily in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone that they had stormed a day earlier. While the Islamic State has suffered a number of territorial defeats in the past year, the group still controls significant stretches of territory in Iraqs north and west, including the countrys second largest city of Mosul, estimated to still be home to more than 1 million civilians. Militants have recently increased attacks inside Baghdad. MANILA Allegations that the front-runner in the Philippine presidential election had a large sum of money in an undeclared bank account were not resolved Monday, allowing the issue to hang over the final week of the closely fought race. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has alleged Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte kept more than $4.2 million in a joint bank account with his daughter that he did not declare in 2014 as required by law. Trillanes, who is running for vice president and is backing a rival candidate of Duterte in the May 9 race, went to the Bank of the Philippine Islands and met with the mayors lawyer but said the questioned account was not opened for scrutiny. When Trillanes stepped out of the bank, some of the dozens of Duterte supporters yelled liar at him before he was whisked off by escorts in a van. Riot police stood by to maintain order in the business district where Trillanes supporters also came, carrying posters that read: We dont want corrupt candidates. A large throng of journalists, TV cameramen and photographers stood outside the bank to await the outcome of the meeting between Trillanes and Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo. Panelo said the mayor authorized him to ask that the questioned account be opened to prove the allegations were false, but bank officials told him it would take seven days to study the request. Dutertes spokesman initially denied last week that the mayor had such a bank account. The mayor, however, acknowledged its existence on Friday in a news conference but denied he had committed any wrongdoing, although he did not explain where the money came from. I will admit there is money in that account, Duterte told reporters, saying it was less than the amount Trillanes had alleged. BEIRUT Syrias military extended its own, unilateral cease-fire around Damascus for another 48 hours on Monday amid an intense diplomatic push by the United States and Russia to restore a partial truce for the entire country one that would include war-battered Aleppo, Syrias largest city. American officials say one idea being considered by the U.S. side is a map that would be drawn up with the Russians laying out safe zones where civilians and members of moderate opposition groups covered by the truce could find shelter from persistent government attacks. It was not immediately clear whether Russia would accept such a plan or if Moscow could persuade Syrian President Bashar Assads government to respect the prospective zones. One U.S. official said hard lines would delineate specific areas and neighborhoods. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry did not specifically refer to such a proposal in his comments to reporters in Geneva, where he met Monday with the Saudi foreign minister and the U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. There are several proposals that are now going back to key players to sign off. We are hopeful but we are not there yet, Kerry said, adding that de Mistura was headed to Moscow on Tuesday for talks. Aleppo has remained on a knifes edge as rebels and government forces trade rockets and bombs across the northern city and its outskirts, according to activist monitoring groups. Fierce violence took the lives of more than 250 civilians over the previous nine days, opposition activists said. The violence eased somewhat on Sunday. Still, rebels on Monday lobbed rockets into government-held areas in the western part of the city while government helicopters dropped crude barrel bombs on opposition-held areas in Aleppo and surrounding villages, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Speaking later to staff at the U.S. mission in Geneva, Kerry said he hoped that an agreement about Aleppo could be announced within the next few days. Also Monday, the Turkish military said artillery shelling and drone attacks by the U.S.-led coalition struck Islamic State positions in Syria and killed a total of 63 militants. The state-owned Anadolu Agency said the strikes took out multiple rocket launchers and gun positions. Four drones deployed from the Incirlik air base, a launching point for U.S.-led coalition forces in southern Turkey, took part in the operation and killed 29 militants. The air strikes were informed by intelligence gathered by the Turkish army, the private Dogan news agency reported. CAIRO Egypts journalists union called for the dismissal of the interior minister and began a sit-in at its headquarters in Cairo on Monday, protesting the detention of two journalists on its premises the previous night. After an emergency meeting, the Journalist Syndicate also announced a general assembly to be held on Wednesday as well action on World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday. Throughout the day, dozens gathered at the buildings steps, chanting journalists are not terrorists, and the Interior Ministry are thugs. Most of the side streets were blocked off by police, and by the end of the day entry to the area was heavily restricted. The union described the polices entry into the building as a raid by security forces whose blatant barbarism and aggression on the dignity of the press and journalists and their syndicate has surprised the journalistic community and the Egyptian people. Police denied they entered the building by force and said only eight officers were involved, acting on an arrest warrant for the two journalists accused of organizing protests to destabilize the country. Demonstrations without prior authorization are banned in Egypt, and rallies in general are rarely allowed unless they are pro-government. Protesters are subject to arrest. The Ministry of Interior affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two, who turned themselves in as soon as they were told of the arrest warrant, the ministry said. The two journalists, Amr Badr and Mahmoud el-Sakka, are government critics who work for a website known as January Gate, which is also critical of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis government. The journalists syndicate has been a rallying point for demonstrations in the past. Even under longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, it was one of the rare places people could air grievances without fear of arrest. But is increasingly being blockaded. BANGKOK Japans foreign minister announced a $7 billion initiative Monday to promote development in Southeast Asias Mekong region, which encompasses parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand through which the river flows. In a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Fumio Kishida affirmed the importance of Southeast Asias economic prosperity to Japan. He pledged $7 billion in funding over the next three years to support development and growth in the region. LUCKNOW, India Wildfires that have killed at least seven people in recent weeks were burning through pine forests in the mountains of northern India on Monday, including parts of two tiger reserves. With dense smoke billowing in the skies, authorities urged villagers to be on alert and tourists to avoid traveling to the Himalayan foothills. Dozens of fires were spreading unpredictably in the states of Uttarakhand and neighboring Himachal Pradesh, officials said. We are struggling to bring the situation under control, forest officer Bhanu Prasad Gupta said in the state of Uttarakhand. After state firefighters were unable for months to put out the fires, the Indian government sent air force helicopters over the weekend to drop water on blazes covering nearly 8 square miles of pine forests. But the thick smoke and remote, mountainous terrain were making the job difficult for about 9,000 firefighters, army soldiers and forest guards sent to battle the flames, Gupta said. Hundreds of tourists have abandoned plans to visit the popular hill towns of Ranikhet, Almora and Pauri after smoke reduced visibility on steep mountainous roads. During the scorching summer, resorts in Uttarakhand are a favorite weekend getaway for people in New Delhi, 250 miles to the south. While wildfires are not uncommon in the dense forests of the Himalayan foothills, there were more fires than usual this year and they were unusually intense, according to forest department official Ujjawal Kishan. The fires began early in February, after a particularly dry winter and two years of poor monsoon rains, and raged out of control last week as temperatures soared. In total, 13 districts of Uttarakhand have been affected, along with six districts in Himachal Pradesh. The fires were worsening the already-high air pollution over northern India, while also destroying forest ecosystems and affecting nesting birds and other animals. This is the breeding season of many avian species, wildlife official Ramesh Unnwal said. The fire has destroyed their eggs. About 2 square miles of protected forest land had been destroyed in the Corbett National Park and Rajaji National Park tiger reserves, but officials reported no evidence so far of any tiger deaths. The burned area is a small fraction of the parks combined area of 520 square miles. Officials said they are not sure what sparked the fires. Scientists say climate change brings warmer temperatures that dry up forests and exacerbate drought. The aftermath of the El Nino climate pattern has worsened drought conditions and could still weaken this years monsoons, expected to begin in June. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Is it OK for a person who holds a state license to grow cannabis to also perform audits of other cannabis producers and to get paid for the work in pot? Acting on a tip phoned in to a hotline earlier this year, investigators at the Office of the State Auditor are asking the New Mexico Health Department to answer that question about a certified public accountant who performed nearly half of the required audits for the Medical Cannabis program in 2014. Yet Vivian Moore claims there's nothing wrong with her "side business." Two letters obtained by SFR show that on April 18, Kevin Sourisseau, the director of special investigations for State Auditor Tim Keller, to then-Deputy Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher, suggesting that Moore may not be independent and questioning the exchange of cannabis product with her Mother Earth Organics dispensary in Las Cruces. If the allegations are true, there are likely material independence issues if Ms. Moore conducts audits for any of the medical cannabis producers, writes Sourisseau. Kenny Vigil, a spokesman for the health department, confirmed last week that Moore has been doing audit work for cannabis producers since 2013. In 2014, according to regulators, Moore completed 10 of the 23 audits, or nearly 45 percent of all audits submitted to the department by growers. Sourisseau contends there may also be tax consequences for the exchange of cannabis with Moores dispensary, Mother Earth Organics in Las Cruces, and expressed concerns about the in-kind payments, because they are inherently difficult to value monetarily and thus create tax liability ambiguity. After initial fact-finding determined , Sourisseau also referred the potential independence issues to Jeannette Contreras, the executive director of the Public Accountancy Board, to review. Meanwhile, Gallagher, who Gov. Susana Martinez to replace Retta Ward as health secretary last week, is still reviewing Sourisseaus letter and hasnt publicly commented on the issue. But Moore tells SFR there is no conflict of interest, or I wouldnt have been allowed to perform them in the first place. Just because someone thinks there is one doesnt make it so, Moore writes in a text message while she's traveling out of state. She claims that she completes at least four hours of ethics training every two years and has safeguards in place to ensure there is no impairment in my independence. According to Moore, the transfer of cannabis doesnt mean the audits themselves are not independent. She says she doesnt provide her clients managerial advice and disputes the idea other growers or nonprofit managers have influence over the audit outcomes. My professional license is too important to me for a $5,000 fee, she writes in an email to SFR. I would resign from an engagement before I would succumb to undo influence or pressure. Moore also claims all the cannabis transfers have been documented with the health department and that she has paid all of her taxes. Moore, who also serves as the treasurer of the Cannabis Producers of New Mexico, says as an industry insider she is uniquely qualified to do the required audit work, which other CPAs have been reluctant to do in the past. For example, in 2010, when the New Mexico Department of Health originally mandated the grower audits, the accountancy board, aware of conflicts with federal drug laws, declined to issue a letter permitting CPAs to conduct them. Instead, the board recommended auditors seek independent legal advice and that the Department of Health remove the audit requirement until such time that federal and state laws regarding medical cannabis do not conflict with one another. Since then, producers who dont use Moore say theyve found some CPAs willing to do the audits and that her total fees are similar to what other auditors are charging. Still, some producers say they dont believe Moore should be doing the audits. I think a reasonable person would say there is at least an appearance of a conflict of interest, says one new producer, who didnt want to be identified. When we finish our first year in business, well definitely contract with someone who isnt also licensed to grow cannabis. There should be at least an arm's length distance with these audits. SFR has requested to review all the audits submitted to the health department by Moore and other CPAs but did not receive them in time for this story. Santa Fe Reporter Constitutional Challenges Maggie Shepard at the Albuquerque Journal reports the New Mexico Supreme Court is considering when and . Its a risky proposition. If witnesses refuse to testify because theyre afraid, prosecutors could have to drop cases. If judges keep the public out, convictions could be reversed on appeal. Pot Audits Questioned Investigators at the state auditors office want the health department and Professional Accountancy Board to determine if some state-mandated medical cannabis audits, which were are truly independent. Procurement Study On Friday, State Auditor Tim Keller announced his office will and determine if the right procedures are being utilized at the Department of Finance and Administration, the General Services Department and the Department of Information Technology. The study will focus on a variety of aspects of state purchasing such as sole-source purchases, emergency purchases, bid-tailoring, and in-state business, small business and veterans preferences. Pull Together KOB reports that Children, Youth and Families Department officials are launching their Pull Together television campaign featuring UFC fighter Carlos Condit today. The goal: . But some see it as just a slick way to rebrand the troubled agency. Medical Treatment Helps Addicts On Sunday, ABQ Journal reporter Olivier Uyttebrouck had a long story on the impact of opiate use disorder in communities around the state and how struggling with addiction. River Contamination Lingers Its been eight months since the Gold King mine spill, but state officials say is still contaminated. Legal Eagle One of the immigrant students we reported on in last spring , passed the bar and been sworn in as a lawyer. Left Out Sadly, some altogether. In 14 states, the Associated Press reports, unaccompanied minors from Central America have been discouraged from enrolling in schools or pressured into what advocates and attorneys argue are separate but unequal alternative programs essentially an academic dead end, and one that can violate federal law. Obama Out President Barack Obama received after his last speech to the White House Press Correspondents Dinner on Saturday. NPR reports, Known for his comedic timing and one-liner delivery, Obama didn't disappoint. If you missed it, you can . Santa Fe Reporter The Story Thus Far (Heavy Spoilers!) In last weeks episode, we learned that everyone either needed to die or had already died last season. Even worse, we came super-close to having an entire Game of Thrones without boobs. Considering thats just about the only thing that makes this show truly worth watching, youd think the show-runners would be more careful. There were face stabbings and Jon Snow corpse sightings along with witches who arent actually young, blind Starks, more weak-willed women (so sick of this shit) and a lot of jumping around to different parts of the land to see what everyone was up to. Brienne finally caught up with Sansa and swore fealty, Tyrion learned that he was gonna be stuck in Meereen whether he liked it or not, Daenerys told the Dothraki to watch the fuck outin their native tongue, no lessand Jamie/Cersei reunited presumably to bang one another into the annals of fucking disgusting history. The Gist Exterior, night, a swamp. We pan over a couple of jackasses who lack pupils in their eyes because that young male Stark kid is getting a Christmas Carol-esque look into his familys past, courtesy of Max von Sydow. In this vision, that dude Hodor speaks with actual words while everyone is all like, Wow, this dude is huge! Who the hell is this guy? We smash-cut back to the swamp while von Sydow is like, Im more tree than man now! and Hodor just keeps saying his name like some kind of bullshit second-string Pokemon. Ugh. How are new people supposed to get psyched on this? Anyway, the Stark boy suddenly appears in the snow to tell some girl Ive never seen that Hodor was actually called Wylis. Some wood nymph appears to tell the girl that shes gotta do more than stare over icy precipices at sunsets, and the girls like, Yeah, maybe. Over on the Wall, Jon Snows friends still dont believe the Nights Watch is just gonna let them walk away alive, because these Watch jerks really hate Snow big time, so everyone starts drawing swords while Snow's killers begin smashing down the door like a bunch of idiots. Dont they know Snows pals have that albino wolf on their side? Nothing much comes of it, though, because that giant from before busts all up in there with those Braveheart-looking motherfuckers themselves, the Wildlings. Can anyone around here ever get two goddamn seconds to chill out and maybe have a snack? The Wildlings dont really kill anyone, but they do put these two guys I dont recognize into jail, and we slowly pan over Snows totally brutal sword wounds. Kit Harington at this point knows exactly what it must be like to play one of those soap opera coma victims. Back in, uh, that one town where Cersei and Jamie live, some homeless dude joins me in being grossed out by the Lannister incest thing. This was a bad idea, though, because some massive knight gives him a good old-fashioned head-smash-into-a-wall-so-hard-his-brains-come-out-ing. Oh! This is that guy from last season who was told to watch out for Cersei. Whoever assigned this guy to Cersei should have told him to pick his battles cause, like, if hes smashing the heads of everyone who thinks shes gross, hes not gonna have time for much else. Cersei tries to go to her incest monster of a daughters funeral, but her son (who is also the king now, dont forget) sends the cops to her house to tell her she cant come. Meanwhile in the funeral home, Jamie God of Egypt Lannister asks the kid why he wouldnt let Cersei come to see her daughters corpse, and hes like, Because Im weak, man! Shit! The leader of homeless guys, who you may recall imprisoned Cersei and Margaery and who wears a nightshirt at all times, shows up and starts yapping about his list of fears. Jamie kind of threatens him, but the guy has his goons swarm in and makes a speech about how if poor people rise up they can really mess up peoples lives. While this goes down, Cersei just sulks on some balcony overlooking the city, and her kid is like, A-boo-hoo-hoo! Help me be strong! Back in Meereen, Tyrion tells some poor castrati that dudes without dicks oughtta drink all the time and learns that dragons wont really eat anything when their mom isn't home. He tells Dragon Tits servants that they should still feed those fools or theyre gonna have a bunch of cat-sized dragons hangin around. As such, he decides hes gonna force-feed them lizards himself. And so, in the basement of the castle, he goes to meet the dragons, which seems dumb to me since he knows theyre hungry. Anyway, he tells one of them all about his birthday party when he was a kid, and this does seem to calm the winged beast. They hug for a sec, and he sets it free while the other dragon sneaks its way up like some kind of clever raptor. He frees that one, too, and then gets the hell out. Now, you might think this means we get to see a bunch of people getting melted by dragons, but we sure don't. Instead, we jump over to see whats up with blind-ass Arya Stark. Boo! Arya is still getting beaten up by that jerk-ass girl from the House of Black and White almost daily, while Im just wondering why Denzel could do it blind in Book of Eli and Arya cant even avoid getting her face beaten in. But wait! Oh shit! Its that faceless wizard guy from last season, and hes not dead at all, and hes just been testing her this whole time! Zam! He kind of alludes to maybe giving her the gift of sight back, but like almost every scene ever, it cuts away after about three seconds. Back at Ramsay Boltons house, plans are being made to do something that isnt clear. I think they want to fight the Watch or something. Ramsays mom gives birth off screen while this happens, and Daddy is like, Youll always be my firstborn. And Ramsay is like, Yeah, no shitthats how chronological order works! as he stabs his dad in the gut like some kind of maniac. Yeah, this role is probably super-fun for the actor (who was in the excellent Hulu show Misfits), but its actually growing a little tedious to wonder what bonkers shit hes gonna do next. I mean, shit, what's even left? Fuck Ramsay Bolton, actually. Hes a dick. Well, but I guess he's still a dick in charge of Winterfell. He takes a post-Oedipal-murder stroll through the snow to meet up with the Bolton family doula, who's got his new baby brother, and its pretty tense because this dude is nuts! But he wouldnt kill a baby, right? Oh God, get that fucking baby away from this dude! Thankfully, he gives the baby back and is like, "Come check out the dogs with me in the scary dog kennels." They do, and right away he lets a bunch of the dogs out while the girl is, like, freaking out andholy shit! He killed that girl and that baby! Dude, enough now, show-runners! You've seriously just about desensitized us to the concept of baby murder. Meanwhile, in the snowy woods nearby, Sansa and Brienne are hanging around with that young squire guy and Theon/Reek. These suckers think Snow is still alive, but theyre in for some serious bummer-ass news, huh? Reek whines about making up for his past transgressions and cries for some reason. Sansa is also sad, which does make one wonder who the hells side is any person on at any point, and why were supposed to care about Theon. Or anyone. But mostly Theon. While that weird discussion plays out, we join an already-in-progress convo between some long-haired dude Ive never seen and his daughter. He jibber-jabbers about what it means to be awesome at naval combat but still wants to own land, but he should probably read Tolstoys How Much Land Does a Man Need (we all should) because its much better than Game of Thrones and far less absurd. He winds up on some rickety-ass rope bridge with some guy he used to know, the practicality of whichespecially in a windswept seaside zone where it rains all the timeis not even really up for debate because its just that stupid. They blah blah blah on the bridge awhile, and the long-haired hippie is thrown off the thing. Seriously, they never should have built that stupid bridge. Its cute, however, that these seaside people have all kinds of ocean-based rituals and religious ideologies. One does have to wonder why they think that leaving a maritime-themed coffin in the sea well before the breakers will end up with anything other than the damn thing coming back. Across the land, that one witch whos actually old is asked by Snows buddy about Snow coming back to life. I knew it! I knew they were gonna bring this turkey back to life. Shes hesitant, though, and explains how no man should have domain over whatever exists beyond the veil of death. She ain't wrong, but all the same, its a good thing its so cold on the Wall, because Snows body has not yet begun to rot. Huzzah! The ritual involves a haircut and beard trim and the burning of the clippings. Despite how this would surely smell, she just keeps on a-cutting and giving him a nice shampoo and speaking in foreign tongues. Everyone stands around watching and feeling hopeful, but it doesnt seem to pan out. And then, of course, it fucking does. Snow is alive again, surprising exactly no one. Smash-cut to credits. The Pros: Snow came back to life. End of list. The Cons: Oh. My. God! Seriously, its impossible to care about any of these people. Except for Snow, of course. The Grade: D Season 6 keeps on being boring as hell and cutting all over the place too much. The slow rate at which were given answers is infuriating, especially for a show with 10-episode seasons. As in, couldnt they let more things happen? Are they just running on fumes because theyre out of Martin material? Theres also that ultimate issue that there is zero accessibility for newcomers. I watched all of last season and still dont know what the fuck. Throw in gratuitous baby murders that seem to exist simply for shock value, which is growing all the more tedious in how one-note they're makin' this guy, and pretty much all that can be said is, Why is everyone so whiny around here? Theres a fine line between drama and melodrama, and Game of Thrones seems to be coming ever closer to blurring that line in ridiculous ways. Plus, there was almost no dragon action, no nudity and only a few non-babies wound up dead. Lame. Santa Fe Reporter New Zealand shares fell after Westpac Banking Corp posted earnings that missed estimates on increased impairments. Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, which also reports this week, and Kathmandu Holdings were among leading decliners. The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 28.76 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,791.82. Within the index, 31 stocks fell, 14 rose and four were unchanged. Turnover was $122 million. Westpac dropped 5 percent to $32.34 and ANZ Bank fell 4.2 percent to $25.53 on the NZX, pacing declines on the S&P/ASX 200 Index. Westpac posted first-half cash profit, which excludes one-time items, of A$3.9 billion. While that was up from A$3.78 billion a year earlier it missed analyst estimates as the charge for bad debts surged to A$667 million, a six-year high. "Yes it did miss (estimates) but not by a huge amount," said David Price, a broker at Forsyth Barr. "The Australian market is fairly brutal when companies don't make forecast." Kathmandu, the outdoor clothing retailer that counts Australia as its largest market, fell 1.9 percent to $1.56. Meridian Energy fell 3.6 percent to $2.555, leading declines among utility stocks, Mighty River Power, which is to change its name to Mercury Energy in line with its retail division, fell about 3 percent to $2.93. TrustPower fell 1.3 percent to $7.65, Vector dropped 1.2 percent to $3.31 and Contact Energy fell 0.2 percent to $5.07. Z Energy, which last week got antitrust approval to buy rival petrol station chains, rose 0.5 percent to $7.88. Fonterra Shareholders' Fund rose 0.3 percent to $5.83. This week's GlobalDairyTrade auction is expected to record another small gain in prices of dairy products. Among other large-cap companies, retirement village operator Summerset Group fell 1.8 percent to $4.36 and retailer Warehouse Group declined 1.5 percent to $2.72. Xero, the cloud-based accounting service, fell 1.2 percent to $16.20 and A2 Milk fell 1.1 percent to $1.75. Price said there has been "indiscriminate buying from offshore" of New Zealand's biggest listed companies and today's selloff was just as widespread. Volumes were relatively light and may remain light this week as many fund managers head to Australia for a Macquarie investment conference, where companies are invited to give presentations. Price said the conference often becomes the venue for "confessions season" with some companies choosing to give guidance or make other comments about their performance. Investors were also conscious of the kiwi dollar having gained back up to 70 US cents, creating an extra drag for exporters and companies getting much of their revenue offshore. Fishers & Paykel Healthcare fell 0.3 percent to $9.12. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service The Office of the Auditor-General is extending its probe into Housing New Zealand's procurement processes after finding "significant weaknesses" in the way it managed conflicts of interest and shortcomings when contracting Auckland investment banker Andrew Body to advise on social housing policy between 2011 and 2013. Body advised the government on social housing reforms that involve selling state houses to social housing enterprises. At the same time, his company, Andrew Body Ltd, was representing a UK-based investment fund, John Laing, that "may seek to become involved in the provision of social housing". Body disclosed that as part of his process of appointment to a ministerial advisory panel in 2011 but not to HNZ. The state-owned social housing provider contracted ABL for work worth $2.3 million over five financial years to 2016, with the highest cost in one year hitting $1.4 million. Labour's shadow housing minister Phil Twyford last year raised lack of "an open competitive process, ... poor use of public money ... and the poor management of two potential conflicts of interest" in ABL's engagement, as described by the OA in a response to Twyford published on its website today. It "recommended to HNZ that it apply more scrutiny when considering a closed tender process, to confirm it is the only appropriate approach in the circumstances." It also acknowledged HNZ's "changes in procurement arrangements to address...shortcomings. However, given the risks, we are extending our audit work in 2015/16 on Housing New Zealands procurement," said deputy controller and auditor-general Greg Schollum in a letter that also took a flick at the Treasury's Transactions Unit. Among the HNZ changes the auditor is "satisfied" are being acted on, was the need to explicitly manage conflicts of interest. "We would also expect the social housing procurement process that is being managed by the Transactions Unit of the Treasury to take any potential conflicts of interest into account. We have been assured by the Transactions Unit that it does so." The New Zealand Herald reported an HNZ spokesperson last September saying "the work Andrew Body Ltd carried out for Housing New Zealand was separate to [the work on the advisory panel] and therefore no conflict of interest was required to be declared." ABL's client, John Laing, had already invested in New Zealand social policy provision contracts as a party to the privately run Wiri prison, in Auckland, the Herald reported. In Housing NZ's 10 contracts with ABL, six were valued at over $100,000 and none went to open tender, despite the agency's policy from 2009 to go to market for contracts worth more than $100,000. The auditor understood this was because the work required particular expertise which HNZ believed ABL had, it was required in a short time, it could not be specified highly, and it required a provider capable of working with some level of uncertainty. However, HNZ could not provide the auditor with documentation from the first contract it signed with ABL in 2009, which was worth $20,200 and covered work under its Tamaki redevelopment project. In one instance, Housing NZ made a case to its executive team to use ABL as a preferred supplier, but could not provide evidence for that selection process either. "HNZ believes in hindsight that engaging with the open market would have been difficult in the ABL procurements and that an 'invitation-only' request for proposal to suitably pre-qualified entities should probably have been the appropriate approach under its policy at the time." ABL had been closely managed by HNZ staff but for some procurement there was no evidence that value for money, including overall costs, had been properly considered. Other cost-limiting measures such as a capped daily fee, time estimate or limit and work review existed in about half the contracts. HNZ's records of its conflict of interest management also had "significant weaknesses," the auditor said, and it has recommended the agency be explicit about its management of such issues in future. The government agency has had its own central procurement team as of 2013, though the auditor noted contracts can still be let without going through that team. "We expect HoNZ to ensure that this does not compromise the integrity of its procurement processes," it said. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service The former owners of the Australian Clear Grain Exchange made false representations about their relationships with Australian grain handlers, Wellington's High Court has heard. Ralec is facing stock market operator NZX in what's expected to be a nine-week trial over NZX's purchase of the Australian Clear Grain Exchange in 2009. NZX is suing for between A$20.7 million and A$37.6 million, and Ralec has countered with a suit totalling A$14 million plus bonuses. NZX claims Clears former owners, Grant Thomas and Dominic Pym, and their companies Ralec Commodities and Ralec Interactive misled NZX when it bought the commodities trading platform with wildly inaccurate forecasts. Ralec subsequently filed a counterclaim against NZX, later adding the market operator's former chief executive Weldon to the list of defendants. It claims NZX, which bought the platform for A$7 million with the potential for further earnouts, failed to fund the exchange sufficiently. The case pre-dates much of NZX's existing management, having first hit the courts in 2011. This afternoon, counsel for NZX Brian Latimour told the court that Thomas and Pym had misled NZX by characterising their relationship with bulk handling companies (BHCs) as positive. BHCs provide storage, handling and port terminal services for bulk grains, and are vital for growers wishing to export bulk grains. "Clear's relationship with BHCs was, we submit, in fact, identified by Clear as a negative matter during Clear's first grain harvest over the summer of 2008 to 2009," Latimour said. A letter from Pym to Thomas from Oct. 28, 2008, said Clear's issues with BHCs needed to be resolved, as they could seriously impact its business model, cash flow, and survival, Latimour said. Growers and buyers were uncertain about Clear's payment structure, and Clear had two clients which accounted for the majority of its business which it was desperate to keep happy, he said. The grain exchange was set up to take advantage of the break-up of the Australian Wheat Board monopoly and was looking to capture a slice of the A$100 million to A$150 million growers spent annually on commissions to sell their products. NZX wanted to use the exchange to expand its agricultural products offering and use it as the basis for an agri-portal for spot market and commodity data, though that hasn't eventuated due to Clear's muted trading volumes. Earlier in the day, Ralec's counsel requested the proceedings be live streamed to their clients and lawyers who will be in Australia for all or part of the trial, from the point when evidence is presented. NZX's lawyers said they needed to consult with their clients but would want to be clear about who had access to the live stream if it were to occur. Opening statements for both sides have been predicted to take between five and six-and-a-half days. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service Air New Zealand says its 2017 earnings won't match the $800 million it has forecast for 2016 as the airline faces increased competition and gets less benefit from foreign exchange hedging. The Auckland-based airline faces some near-term challenges that will have an impact on the 2017 results, according to an investor day presentation. It didn't quantify the impact of increased competition but said the benefit of foreign exchange hedges in 2017 will be about $120 million less than in 2016. While 2017 earnings "will be solid" they won't be at the level of 2016, it said. Its forecast for 2016 pre-tax earnings, excluding the contribution from Virgin Australia, given with the first-half results in February, build on the record $457 million the company earned in the first half, which was driven by lower fuel prices and a jump in passenger revenue as the airline added new routes and refurbished is fleet. Air New Zealand said increased capacity in the industry was driving "significant growth of seats across the network" and it expects "headwinds to overall yield as (the) market adjusts to new capacity". Against that, it expects to continue to benefit from growth in inbound tourism, a favourable outlook for fuel prices and the scale of its fleet. The airline is halfway through a $2.2 billion capital expenditure programme to add new aircraft, reduce the age of its fleet and cut back on the variety of planes it operates. It expects to have reduced the average age of its fleet to 6.7 years by 2018 from 8.6 years in 2012. It will be made up of the wide-body B787, B777s, the narrow-body A320 and the ATR762s and Q300 turboprops, reducing the fleet types by three to five in total. Its gearing rose to 52.4 percent in 2015 from 42.9 percent the previous year, and it aims to keep gearing in a range of 45 percent to 55 percent, it said today. The increase reflected investment in its fleet and a stronger US dollar. Air New Zealand has been reviewing its ownership of Virgin Australia and stopped equity accounting the investment on March 30, with changes in fair value now recorded in its profit and loss statement. Virgin is also reported to be cutting back route frequency, while the Australian national carrier has also warned of a softer outlook for Australian domestic aviation. The shares last traded at $2.51 and have declined 15 percent this year, partly reflecting rival Qantas Airways' decision to trim its expansion plans in response to weaker demand. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service A payment to any creditors of the Kea Petroleum group of companies "seems highly unlikely", and depends on the sale of Kea's Mauku-1 exploration permit, says the Deloitte liquidator for the onshore Taranaki oil and gas explorer, which had a London Stock Exchange listing. In his first six-monthly report since the company chose liquidation over a court battle with its primary potential creditor last November, liquidator David Vance warned the sale of Mauku-1, otherwise known as Petroleum Exploration Permit 381204, "needs to make substantial progress in the next few weeks otherwise, in conjunction with (the regulator) New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, the permit may have to be surrendered." One party has expressed interest in Mauku-1 and is attempting to bring one or two other parties into the permit. PEP381204 is in its second five-year period of issue, and Kea has owned it 100 percent since 2010 when it took the permit over from Genesis Energy. It had sought farm-in partners without success, despite the Mauku-1 exploration well drilled in May 2013 intersecting with reportedly "good quality Mangahewa 'C' sands in the footwall of the Taranaki Fault", in an area "which is a prolific producing reservoir in the Taranaki Basin", some 60 kilometres southwest of the producing Pohokura oil and gas field. The liquidator had found some specialist line hanger equipment belonging to Kea in a rented warehouse. In the absence of buyers, it was sent for scrap, with funds realised paying rent and scrapping costs. No other assets had been discovered and the only contingent creditor claim lay with the former contractor to the company over an alleged breach of contract. It was that dispute which saw Kea opt for liquidation rather than face court costs, as plunging oil prices have snuffed out prospects for numerous small-scale oil and gas explorers globally. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service Team Shaw recognizes Arbor Day Home to over 8,200 active duty military members, 1,200 civilian employees, and approximately 12,000 family members, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina is a busy place. However, driving down Shaws streets or walking the residential areas, one would hardly know the base is home to five large units, including U.S. Air Force and Army Central Commands and a numbered Air Force headquarters. The 20th Civil Engineer Squadron strives to keep a small-town feel on the busy base by constantly caring for existing plants and trees on base and providing new ones throughout the year. Members of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the 20th CES, and 20th Fighter Wing leadership gathered to plant an Overcup Oak, a tree native to South Carolina, in honor of Arbor Day here April 29. Planting a tree on Arbor Day symbolizes our commitment to maintaining healthy trees in our surroundings, said Aaron Souto, 20th CES base forester. One of the major objectives of our integrated natural resources management plan is to protect, improve, expand, and restore the native habitats on the lands utilized by the U.S. Air Force here at Shaw. Integrated natural resources management plans are in place at all U.S. Air Force installations and aim to ensure the bases comply with all environmental regulations, maintain natural resources in a sustainable and healthy condition, and ensure continued access to the land and air necessary to accomplish the U.S. Air Force mission. Not only has Shaw complied with these environmental regulations, for the past 18 years the base has gone above and beyond by earning Tree City, USA status from the Arbor Day foundation. Shaw earned this status by maintaining a forestry department and tree care ordinance, holding an annual Arbor Day ceremony, and spending approximately $24 per capita on trees each year; well over the $2 per capita minimum requirement. Arbor Day is a special day on which we take time to give something back to our environment by planting trees, and by doing so, they give back to us, said Col. Stephen Jost, 20th FW commander. Not only do trees beautify our community, they moderate temperatures, help reduce air, water and noise pollution, and provide habitats for wildlife. By caring for the land the base occupies in an environmentally responsible way, the 20th CES and all of Team Shaw are doing their part to sustain the bases resources and beauty for future generations as they continue to fly, fight, and win. 02/05/16 09:50 Panama Consul General in Genoa rejects malignancy of being a 'comfortable' country Montenegro: "We are first in the world as registered vessels, and second to none for standard quality and controls!" BENGALURU: Trying to make a way into the list of smart and affordable smartphones, Huawei introduces its metal build Honor 5C in China. With high end features, the gadget proves to be powerful as well as affordable; priced at 899 Yuan which is approximately 9,210 INR. It is the successor model of Honor 4C that was launched in India last year at 8,999 INR. The smartphone comes in two colors i.e. space silver and dark gray, and will be available in the market very soon. The Honor 5C features a metal unibody design and a 5.2-inch full HD (1920 x 1080p) display. Powered by a Kirin 650 64-bit octa-core processor, the phone houses a 2GB RAM and a 16GB internal storage. It operates on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system with Huawei's EMUI 4.1 on top of it. Honor 5C is backed with 3000 mAh non-removable battery, making it efficient enough to run high end applications. The smartphone also includes an expandable storage slot supporting a micro SD card of up-to 128GB capacity. When it comes to camera, the smartphone features a massive 13-megapixel shooter on the back with a Dual tone LED flash, f/2.0 aperture, and an 8-megapixel selfie camera with 77 degrees wide-angle lens. The camera capabilities effectively trigger a seamless and exceptional photography experience. Focusing on the aspect of connectivity, Honor 5C offers Dual SIM (Dual standby), Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), 4G LTE with voLTE support, GPS with A-GPS, MicroUSB 2.0 port and a Bluetooth 4.1. The smartphone also yields a fingerprint sensor 2.0 on the back panel and dual stereo speakers at the bottom. It weighs around 156 grams and measures 147.173.88.3 mm. Read Also: Panasonic Enters the Sub-10,000 Smartphone Category with the Eluga I3 Top 5 Upcoming Budget Smartphones NEW DELHI: Sweden-based electric vehicle maker Clean Motion plans to invest $10 million (about Rs 66 crore) in India over the next three years to expand operations including setting up of an assembly unit for its Zbee three- wheelers in the country. The company, which runs its electric three-wheeler Zbee in Gurgaon's DLF Cyber City, aims to provide last-mile connectivity in India's congested urban areas and is talking to mall developers in Bengaluru and Mumbai as well as SEZ operators in Hyderabad. Besides, it is also targeting tourist spots like Taj Mahal to operate its fleet of electric three-wheelers, which are positioned as a premium product unlike e-rickshaws. "We plan to invest $10 million over the next three years. At the end of the third year, we expect to have a fleet of around 2,000 vehicles cumulatively," Clean Motion Country Head Anil Arora told PTI. As a startup, the company has already seeded $1 million in the project, he added. "Our product is powered by lithium ion batteries with design and looks targeting at the premium segment. Not only through fares, we are also looking at advertising on Zbee as a second revenue stream," he said. Elaborating on the company's expansion plans in India, he said: "We aim to be present in all the places where there is requirement for last mile connectivity. Whether its malls, metros or tourist places we are going to be there." To meet its targets, Arora said Clean Motion is ramping up assembly of Zbee in India. "Currently, we manufacture two units a day and aim to increase it to four units a day by the end of this year at Faridabad," he said. It imports most of the Zbee components from Sweden and is now looking at locally manufacturing of critical parts. "We are looking at locally producing main mechanical parts except for the body in India. The body shell is imported from Malaysia which is not a problem," Arora said. The company operates on a franchise model and has entered into an agreement with DLF group to operate Zbees for providing last mile connectivity from DLF CyberHub to nearby offices and metro stations. Under the franchise model, the company rents out vehicles and even looks after the hiring of drivers for three seater Zbee, which can attain a top speed of 45 km per hour and run for 50 km on a single charge. He added the company is also in the process of developing a cargo version of the vehicle, which would mainly cater to the e-commerce firms in the country to be used in product deliveries. Read Also: Get Ready To Splitstream Lamborghini Huracan Hot 5 Car Trends Serving Innumerable Purposes MUMBAI: 'Kalvari' (Tiger Shark), the first of the six French Scorpene class submarines being built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd for the Indian navy, went to sea for the first time on Sunday, an official said here. The submarine sailed out at about 10 a.m. under her own propulsion for her first sea trial, off the Mumbai coast. During the sortie, a number of number of preliminary tests on the propulsion system, auxiliary equipment and systems, navigation aids, communication equipment and steering gear were performed, the official said, adding various standard operating procedures were also validated for this new class of submarines before she returned to harbour in the evening. Over the next few months, the submarine will undergo a barrage of sea, surface, diving, weapons, noise trials, etc testing her to the extremes of its intended operating envelop. Later, she will be commissioned into the Indian Navy, giving a major boost to the 'Make In India' initiative of the government. She is part of the ongoing project for constructing six Scorpene class submarines, in collaboration with DCNS of France, which will include transfer of technology to MDL. In April 2015, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had directed that all-out efforts be made to complete the project on schedule after which teams from MDL, Indian Navy and DCNS worked round-the-clock on it. The submarine was undocked on pontoon on April 6, 2015 in Parrikkar's presence, underwent vacuum tests and battery loading at Naval Dockyard before returning to the MDL for completion of the basin trials and harbour acceptance trials phase. The state-of-art features of Scorpene include suerpior stealth to launch a crippling attack on enemies with precision-guided weaponry, including torpedoes, tube-launched anti-ship missiles both underwater and on surface. The Scorpene submarines are designed to operate in all areas including the tropics, and encompass all means and communications to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. They can undertake multifarious missions like anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance, etc. The submarine class are built from special steel capable of withstanding high-yield stress with high tensile strength that allows them to bear high hydrostatic force and enable deep diving for enhanced stealth. She was built according to modular construction principle, which divides it into a number of sections and building them in parallel. The complexity of the task can be gauged from the fact that it involves laying around 60 km cables and 11 km pipes in extremely congested and limited spaces inside the submarine. The Scorpene is equipped with weapons launching tubes (WLT), and its weapons can be easily reloaded at sea with special handling and loading equipment. The array of weapons and complex sensors fitted on board the Scorpene are managed by a high technology combat management system. India joined the elite submarine building nations on February 7, 1992 with the commissioning of the first indigenously-built sub, INS Shalki at the MDL. It is still in service. The MDL has constructed different types of warships including Leander and Godavari class frigates, Khukri class corvettes, Delhi and Kolkata class destroyers, Shivalik class stealth frigates, 1241 RE Missiles boats, Shalki class subs, P-15B class destroyers, the first of which was launched in April 2015, and the P-17A class stealth frigates, a follow-up on the P-17 stealth frigates. Read Also: Popular Indians at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Will Provide Better Life To Poor: Modi MUMBAI: There were no takers for the defunct Kingfisher Airlines' intellectual properties like brand names and trademarks, once valued at over 4,000 crore, at an hourlong auction here on Saturday. The auction, which started at 11.30 a.m., ended at 12.30 p.m. without notching a single bid against a reserve price of 366.70 crores, said officials. The IPs on the block included the famous Kingfisher logo, its catchy word mark 'Fly The Good Times', Flying Models, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher, Flying Bird Device, which are valid upto January 2017 and November 2024. This was the second failed attempt by the consortium of lending banks led by State Bank Of India (SBI) to auction Vijay Mallya's IPs after a similar measure to dispose off his movable and immovable assets, including the Kingfisher House in Vile Parle on March 17. Way back in April 2014, the SBI had invited offers of expression of interest for these IPs from various concerned parties, but the response to the same is not known. Saturday's auction of the IPs was conducted by SBICAP Trustee Company under the Sarfaesi Act, through an online auction platform, AuctionTiger.net. As on March 31, 2014, Mallya owes the 17-banks consortium 6.963 crore plus interest which has piled up till date. Last month, the banks had attempted to auction the 17,000 sq. feet Kingfisher House with a reserve price of 150 crores, and later it tried to sell off the company's vehicles, office assets, aircoditioners, trolleys, tractors, etc., to recover some part of the huge outstandings. Meanwhile, Mallya, who left India on March 2, has admitted he is staying put in London under a "self-imposed exile". Mallya's diplomatic passport has been revoked, and a non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case after he repeatedly failed to honour its summons in past two months. Amidst reports that Mallya has acquired British citizenship, the central government has initiated deportation proceedings against from Britain. Read Also: Will Provide Better Life To Poor: Modi Modi Rides E-Boat, Says India Has To Become Stronger NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday launch the 8,000 crore scheme to provide 5 crore free cooking gas connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families from Uttar Pradesh's Ballia. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, to be run essentially using the money saved from 1.13 crore cooking gas users voluntarily giving up their subsidies, aims to provide cooking gas connections to 5 crore women beneficiaries from BPL families over the next three years, said informed sources. The prime minister will also visit his constituency Varanasi, where he will distribute e-rickshaws to beneficiaries. "He (Modi) will visit Gyan Pravah - Centre for Cultural Studies and Research at Varanasi and hold a meeting with prominent citizens in Varanasi," an official source said. The prime minister will also launch a scheme for environment-friendly E-Boats at the famous Assi Ghat. These E-boats will not only reduce pollution, but will also bring down the operational costs, thereby enabling higher incomes for those who earn their livelihoods through such boats on river Ganga, the official source said. Read Also: Modi Rides E-Boat, Says India Has To Become Stronger Will Provide Better Life To Poor: Modi BALLIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pledged to ensure a better life for the poor, saying his government was "for the poor". "This is a government for the poor. Whatever we do will be for the poor," the prime minister said here, launching the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. "We have worked a lot on labour related issues," he added. The scheme will provide free LPG connections to five crore women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families between 2016 and 2019. He said schemes "must be made for the welfare of the poor not keeping in mind considerations of the ballot box". The prime minister greeted the workers, or shramiks as he described them, on the occasion of May 1, Labour Day. "I laud the hard work of all shramiks and appreciate their role in the progress of India. In this century, our mantra should be: All shramiks of the world, let's make the world one. Unite the world." Modi is in Uttar Pradesh on a day-long visit. He will visit Varanasi later in the day and distribute e-rickshaws and interact with its owners. He will also a scheme for environment-friendly e-boats at the famous Assi Ghat. "These will help bring down pollution," Modi tweeted earlier. Read Also: Modi Rides E-Boat, Says India Has To Become Stronger Modi Sets Poll Pitch In UP, Launches LPG For Poor Scheme I have written many columns on Trump, the big bad wolf. But to be fair to the Donald (and to burnish my credentials as a serious journalist) let me state some of things I like about him. Low taxes, especially zero estate tax : Can you imagine paying hardly any taxes and then passing on all your money to your children tax-free? Thats Trumps tax plan and I love it. I dont care how he has convinced his millions of rabid followers that this is a good deal for them, but hey, Ill take it.I just hope that he has a plan to control those mobs when they see that the rich keep getting richer under his plan while the working class sinks to new lows. Trump the rabble-rouser better evolve credibly into Trump the administrator. Opening the door to younger/smarter immigrants : Trump has talked about giving instant work visas to foreign students graduating from Harvard and MIT. I say let us also grant immediate access to Chinese students graduating from Peking University and Tsinghua University (Harvard and MIT of China). When I went to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to study computer science, you had to be in the top 100 out of 100,000 kids to do that. Why not admit any student coming out of the IITs and other such Indian institutions? If the goal is making America great (again), Trump is right to try and round up as many of the brightest minds we can. American exceptionalism is over, if it ever existed : Do you know how many times over the last 30 years that Ive lived in the U.S. that I had to hearabout how exceptional the U.S. is? I know it is but to hear it every day can be tiresome. Now we have Trump coming along and saying that all Americans are losers (except the Donald, of course) and we lose against the Chinese, the Mexicans, the Russians, and even the Saudis. The only nation we apparently do not lose against is IndiaJWith Trump in charge we can at last acknowledge that yes, we are a tad better than third world countries but we need to watch out because they are rapidly catching up. Time to pull the plug on the Saudis :I actually like Trumps isolationism. Our true friends like the UK, Israel, and Germany can defend themselves (and we can always step in if we must). It is time that we stopped propping up the Saudi royal family and the other sheikhs in the hood. We have done this for 30 years, about the same amount of time that they have been funding anti-American hatred. I never understood the love that previous administrations have had for the kingdom, against all sense of justice and righteousness. Trump is right to want to change that. We do need to do something for Japanas the Donald suggested, perhaps they could pay us for guaranteeing their security. Tear up those trade deals : The U.S. has helped China become the great power it is through trade deals that enabled them to destroy the manufacturing base of the U.S.. Perhaps the horse has left the barn, but better now than never. The Donald and Bernie are right to question these deals and question their underlying assumptions that they create American jobs and improve our quality of life. There is no doubt that the 1% has benefited greatly from trade, but to say that they have been great for the working class is an unsupported assertion that we hear so often that we take as a self-evident truth. Finally, religion takes a back seat : Under Trump I have no doubt that religion will final take a back seat in American life. Sure, he does not like Muslims, but otherwise it is obvious that he is not a religious man. Just uninformed about Islam, just as he is uninformed aboutso many things. I dont get how his rabid fans do not see through his lack of Christian zealperhaps they do, and do not care. Either way, it is great to see a Republican candidate who does not hide behind the bible to justify his/her lack of empathy on various social causes. There are things that are likeable about Trumps policies. I listed a few that matter to me and there are possibly many other such policies that are of interest to Indian Americans. However, he does need to stop spewing hate. Painting entire races, countries, and religions with a broad brush is not only immature and unbecoming, it is plain dangerous. He must end that dangerous rhetoric immediately so that we can begin to appreciate some of his more sensible pronouncements. Theres a lot to be said for the Donald, if only he shuts up long enough for us to show our appreciation STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Today's archive page is from June 4, 1983. Mariners Harbor Health Care Center is abruptly shut down by St. Vincent's Medical Center, less than two years after its reopening. Citing a cut off in state funding aid, the hospital says: "In view of the lack of state funding of the significant operating subsidies that are necessary for the clinic, the Medical Center was faced with no alternative but to allow the unit to close." This is the second time the center is suddenly shut down; the last time was in 1977, after a change in Medicaid reimbursement schedules. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A felon from Stapleton accused of shooting and wounding a woman who had been lured to a Mariners Harbor apartment building last year under the guise of buying a puppy, was sentenced Monday to six years in prison. Last month, Marquis Fisher pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted second-degree robbery stemming from the March 9, 2015 incident. Authorities said the victim, Danielle Riggi and her boyfriend, Abby Youssef, met with Joshua Klein, one of Fisher's co-defendants, outside a Mariners Harbor check-cashing business. Klein convinced them to go into the building at 35 Holland Ave. to purchase a puppy, said prosecutors. Once inside the apartment building, two masked men ambushed the couple in a third-floor stairwell, said authorities. Police said Fisher, then 19, was one of those men. A second man, who authorities initially alleged was Keith Heyward of Mariners Harbor, yanked a chain with a gold cross from Youssef's neck, and Fisher shot Riggi in the hip. However, Heyward's lawyer, Mark Geisser, has contended his client had "nothing to do with the robbery." Heyward was arrested on March 12 of last year after selling the filched gold-cross chain inside Gold Rush on Forest Avenue in Graniteville, court documents said. In February, Heyward pleaded guilty to felony counts of stolen-property possession and drug possession, and was sentenced to up to six and a half years in prison. Prosecutors said then that witnesses couldn't positively identify Heyward as a robbery participant. However, there was "no doubt" he was "directly involved" in selling the jewelry taken during the shooting, said prosecutors. Klein, meanwhile, had previously pleaded guilty in September to third-degree robbery and was sentenced to 28 months to seven years behind bars. Besides prison time, Fisher was sentenced, under a plea agreement, as a second violent felony offender to five years' post-release supervision. Garbed in orange Correction Department scrubs, Fisher declined to make a statement before Justice Stephen J. Rooney imposed sentence. "No, I'm all right," the defendant told the judge. His lawyer, Maria Guastella, declined comment outside court. Assistant District Attorney Adam Silberlight prosecuted the case. jody Mourners enter Harmon Funeral Home on Forest Avenue for Jody Haggerty's wake on Sunday afternoon, May 1, 2016. (Staten Island Advance/ Bill Lyons) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mourners young and old arrived at Harmon Home for Funerals in West Brighton under gray skies and a light rain on Sunday afternoon for the wake of beloved long-time neighborhood tavern owner Jody Haggerty, 67, who died Thursday at Richmond University Medical Center. "He's gonna be missed in the neighborhood," said Antoinette McNamara, owner for 22 years of Pretty Woman hair salon on Forest Avenue, across the street from Jody's Club Forest popular restaurant and bar. "He was the heart of Forest Avenue," added Jillian Berra, a West Brighton native who now lives in New Jersey. "I knew him all my life -- his daughters used to babysit me." "It was his personality," said Todt Hill resident Curtis Lockwood, one of the directors of the CYO Center on Anderson Avenue in Port Richmond and a patron at Haggerty's restaurant for 20 years. "He was charming and made you feel at home whenever you came in," Lockwood commented. "And the food was fantastic." Under Haggerty, Jody's Club Forest was headquarters for the Island's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, the original Pepper Martin Run (now the Arielle Newman Run) and numerous meetings -- official and otherwise -- of the local political class. It was also home to one of the largest NCAA Tournament pools in the country. 'GOOD FAMILY MAN' "He was my brother-in-law's brother and a good family man," said Audrey, a Concord resident who did not want to give her last name but noted that she knew Haggerty for 35 years. "There are a lot of bartenders inside who have known him longer than me," commented a woman who said she knew and loved Haggerty for several decades but did not want to be identified as she was leaving the funeral home with her two young children. Some mourners waved a reporter away, including one grieving woman employee at Jody's Club Forest who said politely: "Please, not right now." "We have a very large crowd," reported Harmon Home's funeral director John McGinley at the front door entrance. The wake will continue Sunday evening, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Monday, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., at the funeral home on 571 Forest Ave. Jody Haggerty's funeral is set for Tuesday, with an 11 a.m. mass in Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Tompkinsville, followed by burial in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A new day dawned Monday morning for two police precincts on Staten Island, as a pair of commanding officers began their new assignments. Capt. Matthew Harrington, a 19-year veteran of the NYPD who most recently served as commander of the South Shore's 123rd precinct, took the reins of the 121st Precinct. Harrington's previous assignments included serving as lieutenant in the 13th Precinct in Manhattan, and a captain in the 66th in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Capt. Kenneth Noonan took over for Harrington as commander of the the 123rd Precinct. Noonan, who joined the Police Department in July of 1999, most recently served as executive officer of the 121st Precinct. Prior to that, he served as a cop in the 72nd and 78th precincts, both in Brooklyn, a sergeant in the 5th and 9th in Manhattan, and a lieutenant in the 68th Precinct in Brooklyn. Harrington will have his work cut out for him as he takes his new, higher-profile assignment. The 121st Precinct's seven homicides in 2016 were, for a period, the most in any precinct in the city. That figure is now good for second in the city, behind Brooklyn's 75th Precinct, which has seen eight homicides, according to NYPD CompStat data. Law Day has been observed annually since 1958 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a proclamation urging Americans to reflect proudly on the legal system bequeathed to them by the founding fathers. Traditionally celebrated on May 1, Law Day fell on Sunday this year. Accordingly, ceremonies in courts, and educational initiatives in schools, were held toward the end of last week and will take place in a multitude of venues this week too. This year's Law Day theme, devised as usual by the American Bar Association, is "Miranda: More than Words." In announcing the topic, the organization exhorted Americans to celebrate the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Miranda v. Arizona, which was handed A down fifty years ago next month. The ABA touted the ruling as providing an apt basis to reflect upon "the procedural protections afforded to all of us by the U.S. Constitution." For those who don't get their fill of the 1966 decision from speeches, essays, posters, and placards, the ABA is selling T-shirts with the word "Miranda" emblazoned on them in bold capital letters. Politics and controversy In reality, all of this is just another dose of propaganda from an organization that's lost thousands of members in recent years because of its advocacy for liberal political causes. Examples include its official support for abortion-on-demand, affirmative action, and same-sex marriage, and its presentation of a special achievement award to Anita F. Hill following her unsubstantiated, vigorously-disputed claims of sexual harassment against then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Contrary to what the ABA is proffering to Americans and, shamefully, seeking to inculcate in the minds of children, the Miranda decision was highly controversial when handed down, and remains just as controversial today. Far from being a sterling example of how the Constitution protects citizens' rights, it's a classic example of how raw judicial activism twists the venerable document to suit the personal beliefs of pretentious judges. This to the enormous detriment of the American people's right to govern themselves, the bedrock principle upon which this country was founded.A Judicial activism While many people know, and most have at least heard of the Miranda rights, they appear nowhere in the Constitution. Indeed, they would have struck the document's framers as absurd, something the ABA certainly knows, but nonetheless omitted from its Law Day materials. Their origins, like every other product of judicial activism, are the brains of the judges who concocted them. AA In this case it was Chief Justice Earl Warren, the liberal icon, who wrote the Miranda decision, and the four associate justices who joined its core holding. That's why the Miranda rights shouldn't be categorized as constitutional in dimension without a robust salute to the ingenuity and gall of Warren and company. The relevant portion of the Fifth Amendment at issue in the Miranda case provides: "No person...shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." This privilege against self-incrimination is a fundamental constitutional right that has been reasonably extended to apply to any out-of-court admission or confession taken by law enforcement from a person in custody. To the extent that a challenged statement has not been voluntarily given by a defendant, it can and should be excluded from evidence. Radical principle The Warren Court, however, was not content to leave the time-honored standard of voluntariness as the criteria for determining a custodial statement's admissibility. Instead, it promulgated the radical principle that no such statement would henceforth be admissible in evidence, whether voluntarily given or not, unless the declarant was informed, prior to interrogation, that he has the right to remain silent; that anything he says will be used against him in court; that he has the right to consult with an attorney and to have the attorney present during interrogation; and that, if he cannot afford an attorney, a lawyer will be provided for him free of charge. These Miranda rights now routinely cited by many, including the ABA, as "constitutional rights" were thus invented by Earl Warren and his cohorts, and thereupon decreed by them to be part and parcel of the Fifth Amendment's privilege against self-incrimination. False confessions Like so many other products of judicial activism, there would have been no problem with the Miranda rights had they been enacted by the people's duly-elected legislators, either at the federal or state level, rather than arrogant judges who trampled upon the democratic process. In fact, a strong case can be made in support of requiring police to inform people in custody of these very same rights. Custodial interrogations are inherently coercive, which is the primary reason the criminal justice system is being plagued by an alarming number of false confessions. In fact, according to the Innocence Project, more than one in four people, wrongfully convicted but later exonerated by DNA evidence, had made a false confession or incriminating statement to law enforcement. One can only imagine how much more prevalent this phenomenon would be if police were not required to inform individuals in custody of these rights. But again, that judgment properly belonged to the American people, not an imperial judiciary. Miranda v. Arizona was wrongly decided fifty years ago because there's no basis for the ruling in the Constitution. It remains just as wrong today, regardless of how much the left-leaning ABA subverts Law Day to sell it as a cause for celebration. [Daniel Leddy's column appears each Tuesday on the Advance Editorial Page. His email address isA column@danielleddylaw.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/LegalHotShots.] panhandle.jpg Staten Islanders are reporting more and more encounters with panhandlers. (Advance file photo) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - It's one of those quintessential New York questions: What do you do when a panhandler asks you for money? The question has taken on added urgency here on Staten Island, with residents reporting more frequent encounters with panhandlers. Unfortunately, there have also been reports of panhandlers acting more aggressively, making for a more menacing feeling. A few weeks ago, the Advance reported on an aggressive panhandler approaching cars at a traffic light in New Brighton. The Advance has also reported that more and more Staten Islanders mention panhandling when they are asked about the quality-of-life issues that concern them most. Staten Island Ferry commuters have told tales of being approached by panhandlers while walking through dark or dimly lit parking areas to their cars. A Westerleigh woman said she began taking the express bus instead because some of the panhandlers she encountered "appeared very threatening." And at the Hylan Plaza and Hylan Commons shopping areas in New Dorp, you may be approached by one of the panhandlers frequently seen in those environs. The two men seem to have a regular routine, trading spots with each other outside coffee shops in the plazas. But when the Advance approached one of them men for an interview, he refused, collected his belongings, got into a red Ford Explorer (with a driver who appeared to be waiting for him in the parking lot), and drove off. So you have to wonder about the level of need there. How can we tell the difference between those who genuinely need a helping hand and those who are looking to take advantage of someone's kind-heartedness? The sad truth is, we can't. And more uncertainty has been added to the equation by the explosion of heroin and prescription-pill addiction that continues to sweep Staten Island and the nation. You have to ask yourself how many folks out there are begging for change in order to feed their habits. Some people genuinely do need help. And for them, there are numerous public and private places where they can go to get it. There are social service programs funded by the federal, state and city governments. That includes for people who are homeless. Social services may not solve all their problems, and a homeless shelter is nobody's idea of the promised land, but it's a start. For those who are hungry, there are food banks, including those run by private charities or religious organizations. There are soup kitchens where those in need can get a free meal, no questions asked. There are government-funded food stamps to help people get some nutrition when they can't make ends meet. It makes a lot more sense for those who are truly in need to seek that kind of aid rather than stand in front of a coffee shop or the ferry terminal begging for spare change. And few things make a neighborhood go downhill faster than when it becomes known as a magnet for panhandlers. That's not the environment we want on Staten Island. If you do have sympathy in your heart, or just want an aggressive panhandler out of your hair, then by all means put some money in their cup. But if you really want to help people in need, you might consider giving that money to a food bank or soup kitchen in your neighborhood instead. Or you might volunteer at one, or buy some extra groceries and drop them off. That's really the only way for you to know that you're actually helping somebody and not just enabling them. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The developers of Riverside Galleria -- a retail complex that will include a large waterfront promenade, a multiplex cinema and eateries with outdoor dining -- have devised a traffic and parking plan that they say will prevent traffic backups on Arthur Kill Road. The retail complex -- that is being developed by New York City developer Melohn Properties Inc., which has offices in St. George -- will be 457,000 square feet on 21 acres of waterfront property on the shores of the Arthur Kill, almost directly underneath the Outerbridge Crossing. The plan calls for creating three new roads nearby the project that is bounded by the Outerbridge Crossing to the north, Arthur Kill Road to the east, Richmond Valley Road and Mill Creek to the south and the Arthur Kill Waterway to the west. "We only have 600-feet of frontage on Arthur Kill Road. The solution we have come up with, which we think will pull any type of traffic congestion off Arthur Kill Road, is to create a (network) of new streets that are connecting the two edges of our property where they touch Arthur Kill Road," said Nathaniel Zuelzke, project leader and senior designer of the Manhattan-based STUDIO V Architecture, the architect for the project. "We have about 2,330 odd linear feet of new road that form a U-shape, and our project will front primarily onto these new roads, as well as a small section of Arthur Kill Road where we are keeping the Cole House," he added. He noted that there will be 300-foot-long dedicated turn lanes into the new road network. "This will ensure there is no traffic backup on Arthur Kill Road, and will allow the existing two lanes to continue moving smoothly," said Zuelzke. These plans still need to be approved by the city before they can be implemented. PARKING SOLUTIONS As part of the project, developers will create a three-level parking garage for more than 1,700 cars. "STUDIO V has essentially built a park within the parking garage. They cut out retail above it and will have trees and greenery that will grow up from underneath in the parking through the first level of retail up into the center court," said James Prendamano, managing director of Casandra Properties, leasing agents for the project. THE CENTER COURT An integral part of Riverside Galleria will be its Center Court. "The Center Court will span from the lowest parking level to the street level to the upper level. It will be landscaped and will be part of the site's storm water strategy, helping collect water and heavy rains, and bring that back to the landscape in a very controlled manner," said Zuelzke. WATERFRONT ACCESS The project's design includes preserving 10 acres of wetlands on the site, creating natural buffers and incorporating sustainable components, such as green roofs on buildings. In addition, there will be a natural area with walkways that will rise above an interactive area where visitors can overlook the wetlands. There also is a proposal for an outdoor amphitheater overlooking the water, said Zuelzke. "I think the waterfront aspect is one of the most exciting aspects of the project," said Zuelzke. "We also have an area we are calling the beach where you can really get down to the water itself, and we have an overlook deck with a view to the Outerbridge." LEASES SIGNED In September, Riverside Galleria developers announced that they signed a lease with Gregg and Jesse Scarola, managing partners of The Atrium, to build a 55,000-square-foot theater with 12 to 16 screens and rooftop bar. The theaters will have luxury seating -- full reclining, oversized chairs, and a handful of loves seats for more intimate movie viewing. In addition to the theater, the site will include about 300,000 square feet of retail and a 40,000-square-foot supermarket, said Prendamano. "Riverside Galleria will be a destination more than a just a retail center. We are getting away from what 'hot spots,' with all black-top and above-grade parking; that's very unattractive. ..We've completely deviated from that almost entirely," said Prendamano. PROJECT TIMELINE The project is expected to break ground late next year and take two years to complete, said Leo Chung, project architect with STUDIO V Architecture. "We anticipate the ULURP (Uniformed Land-Use Review Procedure) to be complete by the end of the year," said Chung. "We are seeking some waivers under the current zoning district. (a manufacturing zone) More than 100,000 square feet of the retail isn't allowed, and we are asking for a waiver for that," he added. There are also permits needed to exceed height limits under the current zoning, which is needed to accommodate the dine-in theater and supermarket planned for the site, he said. COLE HOUSE PRESERVATION The developers will preserve and renovate the 19th-century Cole House as part of the project. The architects for the project have reached out to local community groups, and have floated the idea of using the house as a meeting place, welcome center or restaurant, among other uses. The home -- on Arthur Kill Road at Richmond Valley Road that was built in the 1800s and is also known as the Dissosway House -- isn't landmarked. But the developer has decided to preserve the home, rather than demolish it. The developers will be preserving many of the the home's historic elements. FOLLOW Tracey Porpora on The government will provide capital support of up to 50 per cent of one time expenditure incurred with an upper ceiling of Rs 1 lakh per seat. New Delhi: The government has invited bids from companies willing to set up call centres in small towns with financial support under India BPO Promotion Scheme. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) invites online bids through Request For Proposal (RFP) from the eligible companies, who are desirous of setting up BPO/ITES operations, under the India BPO Promotion Scheme, the tender said. The IBPS under Digital India Programme provides financial support in the form of viability gap funding to eligible companies engaged in creation of employment opportunities by promoting IT and IT enabled services (ITeS) particularly by setting up BPO or ITeS operations. The IBPS also seeks to incentivise establishment of 48,300 seats in respect of BPO or ITES operations across the country. The number of seats is distributed among each state in proportion of its population. The government will provide capital support of up to 50 per cent of one time expenditure incurred with an upper ceiling of Rs 1 lakh per seat. Special incentives will also be provided within the ceiling amount. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree The Supreme Court on Saturday refused to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for conversion of diesel cabs into less-polluting CNG mode for plying on city roads. New Delhi: As protesting taxi drivers created a traffic chaos here On May 2, the government said it will request the Supreme Court to reconsider the ban on plying of diesel taxis in the national capital. "The government has decided to request the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision on ban. The ban has created an unprecedented situation of thousands of taxis getting off road and people facing severe hardships," Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters. The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting, attended by Gadkari, Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete and Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar. Hundreds of taxi drivers today blocked National Highway 8 and the Ring Road here to protest against the action by enforcement agencies following the court order. The Supreme Court on Saturday refused to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for conversion of diesel cabs into less-polluting CNG mode for plying on city roads, sending off-road thousands of diesel taxis, including those run by aggregators like OLA and UBER. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital of which 27,000 run on diesel. Gadkari said the government "respects" Supreme Court and is committed to the issue of environment and has already taken a slew of steps to curb pollution. "We respect Supreme Court...We have to be sensitive towards pollution. We have been inundated with updates on people facing hardships. That is why we have decided to update the Court on all the measures we had taken in the last two years to curb the pollution," the minister said. Gadkari said there are reports that the ban has resulted in immediate loss of jobs to thousands of people and also serious commuting problems to working men, women and youth in the National Capital Region. He said the government is aware that many establishments in Delhi-NCR, particularly in IT and BPO sectors have late working hours and non-availability of safe transport facilities would pose a security threat to those. After the ban, major companies in Delhi-NCR have decided not to provide any transport facility to their employees. The very first thing many early Hawaiian Ironman finishers did after returning from that race was produce a race back home. I raced Kona in February of 1981 (the image just below is me riding into T2 in that 1981 race, the first held in Kona) and produced a triathlon in my town in August of that same year (the image further below is me racing in that 1981 race I produced). We were apostles, not capitalists. We wanted to bring a sliver of our own apex experience to those in our towns. Ironman was the engine. It was the mother ship, fueling the growth of triathlon though growing its own brand, albeit at a glacial pace compared to today. A decade after that first Ironman in which I participated there were no more than 7 Ironman races worldwide. Triathlon did well in the 80s, less well in the 90s. USA Triathlon's annual membership fell to about 15,000 by the mid-90s and entire states like Michigan and Minnesota lots of multisporters in those states were almost bereft of triathlons. What caused that downturn? Hard to say for sure. Partly demographics. High school running the primary sport funneling people into triathlon was at a high ebb in the 1960s and 1970s, but dipped in the 1980s so there was less feeder-fuel to support triathlon in the 90s. Also, the first generation of triathletes had aged by the 90s; and there was a general economic downturn in the early 1990s. What brought triathlon back at the end of the 1990s? Also hard to say. Fans of Olympic triathlon cite this, but I suspect a large boost was the upsurge in U.S.-based Ironman races founded and built by then-Ironman-licensee Graham Fraser. Lake Placid, Couer d'Alene, Florida were all his races. Graham produced a race in Provo, Utah, ill-fated because of a death during the swim. The event was not renewed after that. What's notable about that race is that a triathlon ecosystem emerged from it, short-lived though Ironman Utah was. Clubs, races and stores rose up in Utah contemporaneously and it's hard to imagine that this was coincidental. Lake Placid did the same for the growth of triathlon in metro-New York City. In those days Ironman created its own weather. Primary Succession, according to plant and animal ecologists, is the first growth in a barren land before it becomes an ecosystem. Ironman has in many cases been a pioneer species the first plant in a barren landscape. A climax community is at the other end of a series of ecological stages. This is where we are now, in North America. This is where triathlon has been for at least 3 or 4 years already. Does an Ironman race plopped into a climax community mean the same to a local triathlon ecosystem as it does when it's pioneering barren ground? Is Ironman the same force for good today, in a built-out triathlon community, as it was 15 and 20 years ago? I surveyed several stakeholder cohorts clubs, coaches, race organizers and consumers asking questions designed to help me drill down on this question. In all, about 400 clubs, coaches and RDs responded to my surveys. I'll be pursuing the answer to this question over the next several days in a number of articles. The survey results were interesting and in some cases surprising. Respondents' answers in the aggregate are expert testimony when I ask questions of fact, as in, are your revenues, membership, customers up or down? When I ask opinions, their answers are not fact-based. But when a certain cohort tends to hold the same opinion on a question, it is a fact that they hold this opinion, even if the opinion is false. The fact that a lot of people think global warming is not taking place, or that childhood immunization causes autism, is notable, relevant, newsworthy, and demands a response even if the underlying opinion is baseless. There is only one survey question I asked where I disagree with many of the stakeholders I surveyed. The graph above displays the results of the clubs, coaches, retailers and RDs when I asked them all the same question: If the Ironman brand and all its races were gone tomorrow, what the effect be on your business (or membership)? The one dire option was catastrophe and the possibly-dire option was, I don't know but I don't want to find out. The sum of both these answers did not total more than 17 percent for any of these cohorts. Not a single RD thought the loss of Ironman and its races would be catastrophic to his business, and more than 75 percent thought there would be no difference or their businesses would flourish as a result. More than 6 in 10 tri clubs answered this way. Ironman has been a benefit to some areas and I will argue (with specific examples) that triathlon would have been better off in a number of communities had Ironman stayed the hell out. Still, Ironman has been our sport's flagship, and were it instantly gone tomorrow this would in my opinion be catastrophic for triathlon. The fact that a significant number of business stakeholders in tri see this differently either speaks to their antipathy for the brand or for a lack of honest appraisal of what the brand means. The final question on the survey sent to all these stakeholders in all these groups is,What else would you like to say? A lot of local business stakeholders are cheesed off at Ironman. It is a tough competitor and those in certain business cohorts can point to the scars. (Ironman's sometimes sharp elbows probably bend the answers to the If Ironman brand were gone tomorrow, question.) Is Ironman a good citizen and a good local stakeholder in each community in which it situates a race? Based on survey results the answer is yes in many cases, not so much in others. I'll do my best to support this with specificity throughout the week. This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted. In its bid to promote air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities, the aviation ministry on October 30 last year suggested a 2 per cent cess on each domestic and international passenger. Small aircraft like Bombardier Q400, ATR and Embraer E170 could be exempted from a fee of Rs 8,000 per flight that the government has proposed to mop up funds for subsidising air travel to smaller towns. It (exemption) has been proposed in the aviation policy sent to the cabinet for approval, an aviation ministry official said. The proposed fee would lead to an increase in fare on metros and other high traffic sectors where airlines operate with A320s and B737s that carry up to 180 passengers. In its bid to promote air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities, the aviation ministry on October 30 last year suggested a 2 per cent cess on each domestic and international passenger. It, however, later dropped the proposal in the face of strong protest by both domestic and foreign airlines. I dont see feasibility of this levy. Either the 2 per cent cess or the Rs 8,000-fee, you need a new legislation, said Kapil Kaul, India head of aviation consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA). An airline industry executive wishing not to be named pointed out that passengers flying on metro routes are already paying indirectly for subsidising travel on smaller cities under the route dispersal guideline (RDG). The proposed Rs 8,000 fee per flight would be the second levy for subsidising airfares on regional routes. Excessive burden on passengers flying on metro routes could affect growth, he added. Regional planes with seating capacity not exceeding 80 already enjoy incentives like zero landing charge and lower sales tax of 4 per cent on aviation turbine fuel (ATF). The exemption from the proposed fee would be a further boost. The government has been offering sops to small jets as it helps connect small towns and far-flung areas. Bigger planes cannot land at smaller airports and also they are commercially unviable due to low traffic volume. The operating cost of a 70-seater plane is twice that of A320 or B737. In terms of capacity, an A320 is almost 2.5 times that of turboprop Q400 or ATR and as a result have lower CASK (cost available seat kilometre), said an airline executive. As per latest financial figures, the largest domestic carrier, IndiGo, had a CASK of Rs 2.92 in the quarter ending March 2016. Excluding fuel, the cost per ASKM stood at Rs 2.02. The move to levy a fee per flight is set to benefit regional airlines Air Costa, Air Pegasus and Turbo Megha that operate on shorter routes like Hyderabad-Vijayawada and Chennai-Madurai with small planes as it would help them better compete with the bigger airlines that operate with narrow body A320 and B737. Fearing market distortion as a result of additional cost burden, bigger airlines such as IndiGo could take court route to stall the proposal. An industry source said the airline has conveyed this to the civil aviation ministry. While Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet have some smaller jets in its fleet, other major carriers IndiGo, Vistara and Air Asia India operate only A320s as part of their business model. State-run Air India has 11 small planes in its fleet, while Jet and SpiceJet fly 18 and 14, respectively. Largest domestic carrier by passenger flown IndiGo has 107 A320s in its fleet. Vistara and AirAsia India has 9 and 5 aircrafts, respectively. Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Reconnaissance Man Economics for the Disinterested ...a fast-paced polar bear attack thriller! Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has ruled out allowing as many as 500 poker machines in the Canberra casino, but has not made a decision on whether some machines will be permitted. At present poker machines are allowed only in the city's clubs which have just under 5000 pokies between them. But the government is considering a bid from the new owners of Canberra's casino to be given access to poker machines as part of a $330 million redevelopment of the casino and surrounds, including upgrading the convention centre. An artist's impression of the proposed new Canberra casino. The casino wanted 500 machines, but Mr Barr said on Monday night that cabinet had rejected the number as too high. If some poker machines were allowed, the casino would be forced to pay more tax than clubs, to make higher community contributions than clubs and put in place more harm minimisation measures "over and above" those in clubs, he said. The Canberra Business Chamber, too, got behind the proposed company tax cut, and was confident the budget would be supportive of the private sector. But confidence faltered on the question of whether or not the budget would support the public sector. The chamber said there would be disappointment in the business community if there were further cuts to the public service and national institutions. "The chamber has always argued the funding levels of our national institutions must be preserved to ensure the quality of visitor experiences and enable the institutions to continue to build their collections," the chamber said. "These institutions and the associated tourism are important to the ACT economy. "We hope [Tuesday's] federal budget shows the Commonwealth government views the ACT region as a vibrant and important jurisdiction and not only as the seat of Parliament." On the infrastructure front, as Victoria and NSW were set to receive big contributions to rail projects, the chamber called again for a $250 million investment in a national convention and meeting centre in the capital. The Gungahlin community has called on both political parties to commit to the duplication of all of Horse Park Drive, saying the weekend promises made were not enough. On Sunday, both the Labor government and the Liberal party promised to duplicate Horse Park Drive from the Federal Highway to Mulligans Flat Road, a stretch of 6km, costing $57 million. Gungahlin resident Kris Brassington says more people should use public transport. Credit:Jay Cronan Peter Elford, president of Gungahlin Community Council, said all of Horse Park Drive should be duplicated, with Gundaroo Drive and Gungahlin Town Centre requiring attention too. "There is community frustration that these upgrades aren't planned for and aren't delivered before congestion becomes acute," Mr Elford said. His younger brother Milan Urlich, 28, fronted court last Thursday charged with murder and interfering with a dead body in relation to Mr Carville's death. Andrew Carville was last seen alive on November 4. Marc Urlich, 43, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, and interfering with a dead body. A Victorian man has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to the alleged murder of Andrew Carville, whose body was found dumped in bushland in Canberra's northeast last year. ACT Policing said in a statement they arrested Marc Urlich on Saturday as part of the ongoing investigation into the killing. Urlich entered not guilty pleas to each charge when he appeared in court for the first time before Magistrate Robert Cook. Defence lawyer Steven Whybrow initially asked for the matter to be stood down until later in the day to allow for further discussions on whether the defence team would make a bail application. He later asked for the case to be adjourned until later in the week. Mr Whybrow also sought orders in relation to a preparation of a brief of evidence in a bid to "expedite the process" now his client had pleaded not guilty. A one-year-old girl died in a fierce unit fire in Queanbeyan on Monday afternoon, after a neighbour tried to kick in the door to save her. The girl's 22-year-old mother was in a serious but stable condition at The Canberra Hospital on Monday night and her three-year-old brother in a stable condition. Police and ACT Fire & Rescue crews outside the Queanbeyan unit where a fire claimed the life of a one-year-old girl. Credit:Jay Cronan Firefighters were called to the fire shortly after 2.30pm and found the girl's body inside at around 4pm. New Delhi: India will monitor thousands of mines with the help of satellites starting this year, a government official said, after a three-month pilot project found rampant illegal extraction of limestone in a big state. Mines secretary Balvinder Kumar declined to name the state ahead of the completion of surveillance in some other regions, but said the findings echoed a multi-billion-dollar iron ore scam that led to a three-year mining ban and turned India into an importer from a net exporter of the steelmaking commodity. Local media have reported about illegal limestone mining in two of the top producing states Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The Indian Bureau of Mines is digitising maps of all mines under the purview of the ministry to check as satellites pass over every 23 days whether companies are violating rules by mining outside their lease areas. We suspect that there is rampant illegal mining by the unorganised sector, Mr Kumar said. After covering all the major minerals like iron ore and limestone in the next three months, we will look at sand mining. A lot of money is being made there. A Karnataka minister was arrested in 2011 and iron ore mining was banned for three years in the state and in Goa after Indias top court found that fly-by-night operators had profited from a surge in Chinese demand for the iron ore. Mr Kumar said the scam had crippled Indias steel industry and the government was keen to avoid a repetition. He said he would soon write to the top bureaucrat of the state where limestone is being illegally mined to initiate action. Karnataka, AP, Rajas-than and Gujarat are the countrys top producers of limestone, a raw material for making cement. Gujarat-based Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics is helping the ministry monitor mineral extraction. The amount Westpac earns from credit cards fell sharply in the first half of 2016, and will continue to drop as big card issuers cut merchant fees. According to Westpac's interim results announced on Monday, the bank's income from credit cards fell by $42 million in the first half of 2016. The hit to Westpac's credit card fees is one of the few permanent reductions in its non-interest income. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer This hit to its fees is one of the few permanent reductions in its non-interest income which at $2.96 billion was 8 per cent below the 2015 first half and 6 per cent below market expectations. It marks the beginning of reductions in merchant fees from Visa, MasterCard and American Express as the Reserve Bank of Australia prepares to cap the fees at the end of 2016. "The credit card fees were down, reflecting the changes to interchange rates, which for us had a big impact on our premium cards portfolio," Westpac chief financial officer Peter King said in the results briefing. Illustration: John Spooner. Even at this early stage I noted eerie parallels with a long-running set of inquiries that I had chaired over many years into various aspects of military justice. As in these banking scandals, the military had lost files, partially recreated files and lost evidence; written records were of dubious quality, cultural attitudes in one decade had a different hue in a Senate inquiry, and whistleblowers were penalised, harassed, transferred and dismissed. Independent review was to be avoided at all cost. Nobody could find a way through the forest of issues. Basically the banks now face the same set of issues. They profited from the scandals and now want to move on, ignore the fraud and blame someone else. In both financial services and military justice alike there was only the "odd bad apple" and never systemic misbehaviour. Bank executives and senior military officers said it so often that it became holy writ and all relevant line officers and management staff repeated the mantra. Public hearings serve a critical purpose. Particularly Senate hearings. Often they are inquisitorial in nature. Seasoned political operators put aside party differences to find solutions. Senate inquiries can be uncomfortable times for those under scrutiny. Bank executives had prepared well. They had a script and stuck to it. Senior counsel and executives acknowledged isolated problems, occasional misbehaviours and the odd mistake on behalf of staff. They pointed to a proud name and polls that demonstrated a reputation of honesty, integrity and trust. Except that behind the scenes momentum was building. The press was becoming more critical, parliamentary colleagues were starting to take an interest and seeking explanations, additional clients were putting in further submissions or rebutting the evidence of bank executives, law firms and industry ombudsman bodies started to highlight inconsistencies, omissions and different treatment of similar fact clients. I had participated in literally hundreds of public inquiries in my time in the Senate and as a legal advocate for 20 years before entering politics. My views remained open until I read the CBA submission and heard evidence from their counsel and senior executives. I was astonished at their tone, their approach and their refusal to seriously engage in the issues under review. It was only at this stage that I seriously began to consider the option of recommending to government the instigation of a royal commission. Some of the developments in the continuing saga of military justice guided my thinking here. Bitter experience told me that industry was incapable of putting its own house in order. There was still way too much denial. There was no willingness to accept responsibility. I knew that cabinet ministers were reluctant to enforce reform. It was likely that the then government had given assurances to the banks. A solution would not come from within the industry. There was one intractable issue, however. How does anyone address issues if files don't exist, are incomplete or critical material is absent? How does one come up with a solution that avoids visiting the entire loss on the client? The answer is a royal commission. The application of legal standards of proof and absence of files or documentation would leave most complaints without prospect of success in any financial investigation or judicial process. Normal recourse to justice is doomed from the outset. A royal commission would examine the utility of the doctrine of plausibility as a vehicle for resolving the unresolvable. The application of this doctrine in the military justice matters has offered a solution to thousands of individuals after decades of denial. It has been the critical circuit breaker that allowed the Australian Defence Force to get on with its business. Barack Obama got quite a bit of air time for mocking Donald Trump this week. The best gag was to pretend to defend Trump against the accusation that he lacked the foreign policy credentials to be president. "But in fairness," said the President, "he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan." But how do you mock Trump, once co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant, better than Trump does? The reality of The Donald is actually funnier than Obama's fiction. When an interviewer challenged Trump for fabricating a claim that an anti-Trump protester was linked to Daesh or Islamic State, the candidate's defence was to say: "I only know what's on the internet." The sense of urgency that can grip a party in election mode, particularly when it believes its opponent may have stolen a policy march, is as fascinating as it is revealing. On Sunday, the My Gungahlin website carried a video of Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris declaring that the state government would duplicate Horse Park Drive from the Federal Highway where it meets the new Majura Parkway to Mulligans Flat Road at a cost of $57 million. The video's poor sound quality attested to the fact that it was done hurriedly. And the reason for this haste? The Labor Party wanted to trump the announcement the next day by Opposition transport spokesman Alistair Coe that a future Liberal government would duplicate Horse Park Drive from Federal Highway to Gundaroo Drive. When he learned of the video, Mr Coe quickly matched Labor's duplication promise, budgeting it at $57 million, like Labor. Gungahlin is one of Canberra's fastest growing urban developments, and it makes sense to ensure that the arterial roads that traverse it and link it with other regions have the required carrying capacity. That certainly accords with the Canberra Liberals' view. In recent months they have pledged to duplicate Gundaroo Drive (at a cost of $60 million) and to connect with William Slim Drive with a fly-over on Barton Highway (433 million). In its 2015-16 budget, the Barr government announced that around $62 million would be spent on road upgrades in Gungahlin. Of that, only $17.1 million was earmarked for spending on Horse Park Drive, with duplication between Mulligans Flat Road and the Federal Highway to the continuing subject of a feasibility study. One success; two failures. When North Korea claimed to have fired a missile from a submarine last weekend, Kim Jong-un was so thrilled by the spectacle of this weapon bursting from the sea that the portly "Supreme Leader" was photographed beaming with delight. Five days later, Mr Kim's generals tried the simpler task of launching two missiles from dry land, only for both to fizzle out and plummet back to earth. Oddly enough, there were no pictures of this occasion. Month after month, North Korea tests a fearsome weapon and occasionally explodes a nuclear bomb in a way that is calculated to send a chill down our spine. But resist the temptation to shiver. In truth, the old ritual of the North Korean missile launch does not matter much. This is not because Mr Kim is a harmless sort of dictator: the reality is actually even more worrying than it might seem. The idea that a tyrant needs something as sophisticated as a ballistic missile to inflict serious harm on a distant enemy is hopelessly outdated. Harry Wu, who was brutalised for 19 years in communist Chinese prison labor camps, spent the rest of his life drawing the world's attention to the human-rights violations in his former homeland. The son of a wealthy Roman Catholic family from Shanghai, Wu was arrested in 1960 when he was 23 and just short of graduating from college. He was accused of criticising the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 and of being insufficiently supportive of Mao Zedong's regime. He later wrote that he had not initially been told why he was imprisoned, but that eventually a guard "opened my file and said:'You are a counter-revolutionary rightist and you are sentenced to life'." Shuttling among farms, mines and prison camps, he said, he was beaten his back and arms were broken in fights with his fellow prisoners and placed in a coffin-like cement case. He lost 34 kilograms before he was released in 1979, aged 42, three years after Mao's death. Wu, who has died aged 79 while on holiday in Honduras, moved to the United States in 1985, arriving with $40 to take an unpaid post as a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, and supporting himself by working nights at a doughnut shop. He became a US citizen in 1994 and a tireless critic of the "reform through labor" system, known as laogai, which he refused to let the world disregard, even as Washington and other capitals sought commercial and political ties with China. Nedra and Bill went on to have four children: John, Warwick, Kate and Alison. They were inseparable for almost 60 years. Their love was pragmatic and immense. He did nothing by half. In his mid-20s, Orme was made a managing partner at Smithers Warren. During his time at the firm, he also sat as chairman of various companies, including the Germany company Nixdorf Computers, then the fourth-largest technology business in Europe. He was thrilled by technology. He took pride in mastering systems, be they new computers or the public transport networks of foreign cities. Raised modestly, he believed in the rightness of charity. He volunteered wherever he could. He was surprised when he found people not to be good. He worked quietly and ceaselessly for others, especially during retirement. He believed the law to be too expensive and too difficult to access. He spent decades working pro bono in the aid of widows. His last major battle was for a simplification of probate law to eliminate the need for solicitor consultation. Orme was made president of the Australian Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1967, a body focused on businesses' contribution to social development, and became executive vice-president of the Junior Chamber International the same year. Although not religious, he was approached to become president of the Sydney YMCA in 1972. The organisation was moribund, its executive out of touch with society and social purpose. He accepted the position and approached each board member individually, asking them to resign. Most had been in their positions since before he was born. In the eight years he ran the organisation, he lifted participation from 30,000 to 170,000 and rescued it from financial collapse. At the same time, he sat on the executive committee of the Wayside Chapel. Again, he ignored religion his interest lay in results. Like the chapel's pastor, Ted Noffs, he was a humanist. Orme supported Noffs through a heresy charge brought inside the Methodist Church; Noffs presided over the marriage of Orme's eldest daughter and gave naming ceremonies for his children and grandchildren. In 1975, Orme left Smithers Warren to head the NSW Privacy Committee. He held the position until 1982, at which point he was made general manager of the management consultancy W.D. Scott & Co, later starting his own practice with Nedra. In the 1990s, he became involved with Australian Lawyers for Refugees, working at Port Hedland, and later co-ordinated the collection of evidence of war crimes in East Timor for the International Commission of Jurists. This became his great disappointment. He never saw justice for the victims of soldier rape interviewed in Australia. His report was hidden, frustrated by cowardice and political expediency. Two decades later, he still wept when he mentioned it. The great revelation of his life, however, came in 1978. Nedra could not get him to slow down. A friend suggested he try walking. He and Nedra read Hilaire Belloc's The Path to Rome. As with everything else, he became obsessed. Over the next few decades he walked, by his calculation, 50,000 kilometres. He revelled in walking the Alps. With Nedra, he walked 3200 kilometres from Brittany to Venice and 2300 kilometres across Britain, from Land's End to John O'Groats. In America, he walked the John Muir Trail with his eldest son, John. In Sydney, he set out to map a circle walk of the harbour. With a group of volunteers, he worked five days a week for five years to produce a series of maps and marked routes, the lawyer in him hunting out every right-of-way and crown land passage to connect the bush tracks that ring the harbour. He fought and convinced councils and rule-bound bureaucracies. He found funds where there were none. He loved duck and good wine. He believed there were few lunches that could not be improved by tinned beetroot. Most meals he ate, whether in a Michelin-starred restaurant or cooked on his Trangia stove, he thought the best he had ever eaten. Orme lived with such verve that when he recounted events they were touched by the hyperbole of enthusiasm. Situations grew to match his passion. Friends would say they enjoyed his stories until they realised they had been at the same event. The successes about which he was most loquacious, however, were his eight grandchildren's. He loved family. In 1959, he and Nedra bought a Depression-era shack on the beach at Burning Palms, in the Royal National Park south of Sydney. For half a century, across three generations, he holidayed there. He watched his family grow up in an unending summer with no power and a 40-minute hike to the nearest road. It was a life of surf and improvised meals, a shelter from his stubborn impulse to work. Orme was an enthusiastic letter writer. He believed in the power of a free press. He trusted newspapers more than he trusted politicians. "We must always be active in protecting our civil liberties," he signed off one letter to the Herald. "We must never relax." Tuba virtuoso John Butler first came to mainstream public prominence in 1968 when he appeared on Australia's first televised talent quest, Channel O's Showcase - the X-Factor of the 1960s. John was a showman as well as a superb brass player and his dancing performances of fast-moving popular tunes like Tico-Tico and Flight of the Bumblebee, gained him third place in the grand final, a remarkable achievement with such an unfashionable and unwieldy instrument. John Butler went on from there to become one of Australia's best-known tubists and was a regular in recording studios for jingles and advertisements as well as playing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Elizabethan Trust Orchestra. He was also often seen soloing on the very popular Music for the People at the Myer Music Bowl. In 1976, John was invited to play at the first International Tuba Festival in Switzerland. Ever-proud of his Australian heritage, John commissioned new works from local composers Larry Kean and Johnny Hawker for the occasion. In recognition, John was invited to join the Advisory Board of International Tuba Association and is listed as one of only 18 worldwide honorary life members of the association John Henry Butler was born in 1932. His father, Herb, was a cornetist in both the Preston City Band and the Preston Salvation Army Band and he gave John his first instrumental lessons. It's fair to assume that John wasn't the most attentive Sunday school scholar but he was a precocious instrumentalist. The two actors have been at loggerheads since the 'Queen' star called Hrithik her 'silly ex'. Mumbai: Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, who is embroiled in a legal tussle with Kangana Ranaut, has criticised a Twitter trend which attacks the actress by calling her "characterless" and "publicity hungry". The trend titled, "Characterless Kangana", features tweets mentioning her past affairs. "I like her acting but not her cheap tricks CHARACTER LESS KANGANA," one Twitter user wrote, while another posted, "Kangana used controversial way for making publicity. That is just so cheap. CHARACTER LESS KANGANA." Read: Hrithik-Kangana legal battle: Cops record actress' statement for three hours Soon after the trend began, Hrithik wrote, "It is characterless to judge another. Whatever may be the case. Strangle the anger. Channelize love." It is characterless to judge another. Whatever may be the case. Strangle d anger. channelize love Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) May 1, 2016 The two actors have been at loggerheads since the 'Queen' star called Hrithik her 'silly ex'. The feud between Hrithik and Kangana turned nasty after they slapped legal notices on each other. Read: Hrithik might not have hacked Kangana's email id: Cyber cell forensic team Hrithik, who was the first to send the legal notice, has demanded that she apologise in a press conference and clear the air about their alleged affair which he firmly refutes. A defiant Kangana, 29, had said she was not a 'dim-witted' teenager and refused to apologise. She instead shot off a counter-notice to Hrithik warning him to take back his notice or face a criminal case. Read: 5 shocking revelations in Adhyayan's explosive interview about Kangana The three-month-long battle between Hrithik and Kangana is showing no signs of abating, what with allegations and counter allegations being made every day by either side. The actors have been engaged in a no-holds-barred fight with personal photographs, messages and emails leaked out in public. It's hard to bring off an old-fashioned program of divertissements which is largely what this is without an old-fashioned line-up of virtuoso technicians. The very good dancers of the Australian Ballet have broader expectations to meet in their wide-ranging repertoire. But on opening night there was an exception: Chengwu Guo. His spectacular aerial fireworks were thrilling. Not just high, whirling jumps but astonishing rolls in mid-air, propelling himself with scissoring legs. The whole evening was worth it, just to see his performance. Luckily there was also a highlight of a different kind. Company member Alice Topp is developing her talents as a choreographer of complex, interesting and characterful relationships. Vivienne Wong, Rudy Hawkes and Kevin Jackson presented Topp's first mainstage work, Little Atlas, to music by Ludovico Einaudi, with communicative skill and contemporary understanding qualities the AB has in generous measure. The Australian Ballet - Miwako Kubota and Brett Chynoweth in Grand Pas Classique. Photo Daniel Boud Credit:Daniel Boud An audience favourite, Christopher Wheeldon's slowly unfolding romantic duet from After the Rain, was given a beautifully paced rendition by Robin Hendricks and Damian Smith. And there was another company premiere corps de ballet member Richard House's gentle Scent Of Love. The rest were older works whose selection was explained in a program note by artistic director David McAllister as a lead-up to the classically based choreography of today. It is the last vestige of appointment viewing in our household. For 22 weeks of the year, for the past seven years, my wife and I settle down for an hour to be engrossed in the lives of others. These aren't any ordinary people but then The Good Wife isn't any ordinary show. For seven seasons we've been entranced by the cases, catastrophes and the chaos that seems to follow Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), her fractured family and her fellow Chicago-based lawyers around. Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick and Chris Noth as Peter Florrick in The Good Wife. We've watched characters grow, laugh, cry, love and scheme, as political and legal careers have blown up and been smashed apart and marriages and relationships blossom and disintegrate. While it has ostensibly been the tale of Alicia's journey from meek wife standing by her philandering husband to supremely confident independent woman, that simple summation doesn't do Michelle and Robert King's show justice. No, The Good Wife has always been about the ensemble, a cadre of regulars and an extended family of bit players, all of whom have made their contribution to moments of high drama, black humour and delicious tension. Many of them have been played by Broadway or television veterans (everyone from Michael J Fox to Nathan Lane, Stockard Channing and Vanessa Williams has had a stint on the show) all seemingly having a ball with the rich dialogue and dramatic interplay. The roars of lions filled the cargo section of Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport as 33 lions rescued from South American circuses landed in South Africa where they will be released into a bush sanctuary for big cats. It was the largest airlift of lions in history, said Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International, which carried out the operation. "These lion have suffered tremendously," Creamer said as the lions were loaded in crates on to trucks on Saturday. The NSW government is planning a controversial cull of more than 5000 horses to effectively wipe out the Snowy Mountains brumbies, a breed descended from animals brought over by the British colonists. In a move described by critics as "horrific", NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman announced plans to reduce the population of brumbies in the region, south-west of Sydney, by 90 per cent. The NSW government is planning a controversial cull of more than 5000 wild horses to wipe out the Snowy Mountains brumbies. Credit:Andrew Taylor The cull would involve ground shooting, trapping, mustering and fertility control but would avoid methods regarded as excessively cruel, such as aerial shooting. Western Sydney had its coldest night since September as autumn-like conditions finally arrived in parts of the city. Bankstown and Campbelltown were among suburbs to dip into the single digits, with Camden reaching a chilly 6.1 degrees. The mercury drop followed the passage of a cold front that has left drier air in its wake, meaning a "pretty nice" week is ahead for the Sydney, Rob Sharpe, a meteorologist with Weatherzone, said. "It will definitely feel more like autumn this week," Mr Sharpe said, noting that the city's overnight temperatures would dip to 14 degrees most nights until the weekend. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's besieged cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos insists he had no knowledge the Liberal Party-aligned Free Enterprise Foundation was being used to channel illegal political donations to the NSW Liberals. Senator Sinodinos, who last week refused to front a Senate inquiry into the Free Enterprise Foundation, was targeted by Labor's Senate leader Penny Wong in question time. Senator Arthur Sinodinos Credit:Andrew Meares She referred to evidence heard by the Independent Commission Against Corruption from former NSW Liberal state director Mark Neeham and former party chief fundraiser Paul Nicolaou that Sinodinos knew the foundation "was being used to channel and disguise donations to the Liberal Party". "Did he ever participate in or witness discussions about the use of the Free Enterprise Foundation to channel and disguise donations by prohibited donors?" Senator Wong asked. Mr Dutton repeated his government's insistence that alleviating the plight of those at Nauru and Manus Island would inevitably lead to a flood of asylum seeker boats, saying: "No action [that] advocates or those in regional processing countries take will cause the government to deviate from its course. We are not going to allow people to drown at sea again." Melburnians protest over treatment of refugees, after the death of Omid. Credit:Chris Hopkins Asked whether he believed self-harming refugees were mentally ill and desperate, rather than acting at the behest of advocates, Mr Dutton said they had "paid thousands of dollars to people smugglers to come to Australia and they haven't arrived in Australia. They are frustrated by that, I can understand that". The Turnbull government has refused to allow those in offshore detention to travel to Australia, and is under intense pressure to find a third country in which to resettle them. The second refugee to set themselves on fire in recent days. Very few refugees have taken up the option of resettlement in Cambodia - a policy which has cost the government $55 million and is widely considered a failure. The Cambodia option is only open to Nauru refugees. The Papua New Guinea government has recently said the Manus Island detention centre would close, and it would invite refugees to stay in that country only if they did so voluntarily. However Mr Dutton said having fled their country of origin and been offered protection, refugees "can't then say 'we're not happy with the fact we have been able to seek refuge here, we want to go to another destination', in this case our country". "That is not the way this country operates its border protection system ... the arrangement is people can live within PNG," he said. The second self-immolation has sparked renewed criticism of the Turnbull government's handling of offshore detention. The young woman on Monday night received treatment at the Republic of Nauru Hospital. It is understood she was due to arrive at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital burns unit on Tuesday morning. Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the woman was "badly burnt [and that] all her clothes have been burnt off." A former Australian teacher at Nauru, who once taught the victim, said she was "a kind woman, a good friend and would never harm anyone". "Hadon used to come to English classes at night because she was too shy to come in the normal day classes," said the former teacher, who did not wish to be named. "Gradually, in her gentle voice, she told us tragic pieces of her past in Somalia. She wanted to learn, she longed for a future." Despite initial reports identifying her as 21, refugee advocates said she was just 19, and had come to Nauru when she was 16 or 17. They believe she was one of three refugees returned to Nauru last week after travelling to Australia for medical treatment, following head injuries suffered in a motorbike accident on the island. Mr Rintoul said she was forcefully removed from a Brisbane detention centre by the Australian Border Force in the early hours of the morning. He claimed those who knew the woman believed she had not yet fully recovered from the injury. "This is another self-harm attempt that is [Immigration Minister] Peter Dutton's responsibility," Mr Rintoul said. Unconfirmed social media reports on Tuesday suggested the woman was on suicide watch in the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation centre before being removed and forced back to Nauru. The department has been asked to verify this. Mr Dutton confirmed the woman had recently been in Australia for medical treatment but would not confirm she had previously tried to commit suicide. The incident follows the self-immolation of Mr Masoumali on Nauru last week. That incident occurred during a visit by UNHCR representatives to inspect conditions on the island. Mr Masoumali died in a Brisbane hospital on Friday, after waiting more than 24 hours for medical evacuation to Australia. Before setting himself alight, he is believed to have yelled, "This is how tired we are; this action will prove how exhausted we are. I cannot take it any more." There have also been reports that a 20-year-old Iranian man doused himself in petrol on Nauru over the weekend, but was restrained before setting himself alight. Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles, whose party supports the principle of offshore processing, said the latest self-immolation report was "deeply distressing". "That this is the second incident of this kind to take place within a week is a clear sign there is something wrong with how the Australian government is managing its offshore processing network," he said. "The Turnbull government's policy, focused only on deterrence with no feasible pathway to permanent migration in a resettlement country is leaving people desperate and without hope." In a statement the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said it was deeply saddened by the death of the Iranian refugee and was seeking more information about the latest incident. "There is no doubt that the current policy of offshore processing and prolonged detention is immensely harmful," it said. "There are approximately 2000 very vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. These people have already been through a great deal, many have fled war and persecution, some have already suffered trauma. "Despite efforts by the governments of Papua New Guinea and Nauru, arrangements in both countries have proved completely untenable." The UNHCR said the refugees and asylum seekers should immediately be moved to "humane conditions with adequate support and services". The government of Nauru said the woman was suffering critical injuries and on Monday night was being treated by four emergency doctors from Australia, including two anaesthetists. Emergency evacuation had been requested. "We are distressed that refugees are attempting such dreadful acts in order to attempt to influence the Australian government's immigration policies," it said in a statement, adding that refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru enjoy the same freedoms as local people "but have better facilities". "Refugees and asylum seekers are not distressed due to their conditions. Their conditions are better than most other refugee camps across the world," the statement said. "These actions are purely and simply being taken because they believe that political protests will influence the Australian government and possibly help them gain entry to Australia." The Nauru government said refugee advocates, Australian politicians and human rights lawyers should "work with us in sending the message to refugees on Nauru that such drastic actions will not work, and to refrain from such protests". "Refugee advocates must stop giving refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru false hope and stirring up these protests. Nauru cares deeply about each person who is a part of our refugee community ... locals have reached out to them and continue to consider them as our friends and neighbours." The statement said that reports the Nauru Hospital provided substandard care to Omid "are totally false. The highest level of care was provided until the air ambulance arrived." Greens immigration spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said there was "a tragedy unfolding on Nauru and we can't just stand by and watch". "This young woman has been driven to despair by her treatment on the island. Malcolm Turnbull needs to intervene. The situation on Nauru is spiralling dangerously out of control," she said. "I refuse to accept that this is the best we can do. There are not just the two options of dangerous boat journeys or people burning themselves to death. "There is a better way, where we process people's claims for asylum where they are and then bring them to Australia safely." - With Bianca Hall and Jorge Branco For all the cost-saving potential of the internet age, it seems there's still nothing quite like getting on a plane and travelling there - wherever there is. Unfortunately, that detail remains shrouded in mystery when it comes to the NBN. Despite the vast savings in time and money we are told can be gained from video-conferencing and from such broadband innovations as virtual inspection tours, the company building the infrastructure designed to facilitate these exciting e-commerce opportunities has spent a staggering $1.54 million on international air travel since the Coalition came to power. That's airfares alone, not accommodation, just travel; and just international travel at that. In an answer to a question on notice, submitted to the Senate standing committee on environment and communications, which had sought details of all travel undertaken by NBN employees, the company advised: "International flight costs for the period 8 September 2013 to 29 January 2016 have amounted to $1,540,016." Fashion's greatest night of nights is upon us once again where the creme de la creme dress to the nines in a bid to outdo each other for front page coverage at one of the most exclusive parties in the world so much hyperbole, but there's really no other way to describe the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have already jetted into New York City with their brood North, 2, and Saint, 5 months, ahead of Monday night's red carpet action. The publicity aficionados have been milking up pre-ball coverage by getting out and about as much as possible in the Big Apple. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have already jetted into New York City with their brood for this year's Met Gala. Credit:Getty Images Kris Jenner's cash cow has even been Snapchatting the results of her increased exercise regime, managing to drop 27 kilograms post baby to get down to 63.3kg ahead of the big night. Thus leading to speculation it'll be another super skintight number like last year's Roberto Cavalli piece, which really would be nothing new. Then again she could have Ye rustle her up something special from his homeless chic Yeezus collection. Some of Australia's largest superannuation funds rank among the best in the world in protecting their members from the adverse effects of climate change. In a survey of superannuation funds and other "asset" managers, such as insurers and sovereign wealth funds, the Australian industry super fund for NSW public servants, Local Government Super, ranks second in the world. It was beaten to first place by UK-based pension fund, The Environment Agency Pension Fund. Local Government Super in 2014 said it would exclude companies with a material exposure to ''high carbon-sensitive'' activities as well as coal-fired electricity generators. Credit:Michele Mossop The $120 billion Future Fund, Australia's sovereign wealth fund, ranks No. 93 in the world. The 500 largest asset owners in the world are ranked on three capabilities engagement, risk management and low-carbon investment. Superannuation and pension funds account for nearly two-thirds of the 500 asset managers. Ever since it was announced that Silambarasan would be teaming up with Adhik Ravichandran, especially after the latters directorial debut Trisha Illana Nayanthara became a rage among youngsters, news about the movie was eagerly anticipated. As promised, the filmmakers announced the title and also released its first look yesterday both of which are quite quirky and innovative. As Simbu is playing a triple role, the movie is named Anbanavan Asarathavan Adangathavan (AAA) probably suggesting the actors three different characters in the film. Adhik tweeted, The title #AAA this is just a beginning more #verithanam 2 come (sic). Meanwhile, the actors much delayed project Idhu Namma Aalu, alongside Nayanthara, directed by Pandiraj is expected to release soon. Well before the Productivity Commission reports on the efficiency of the superannuation regime, Tuesday's federal budget may well irrevocably damage its attractions as a retirement savings vehicle for many Australians. With changes to the substantial taxation assistance to negative gearing already ruled out, the probability of adverse taxation changes to the super contributions of middle and higher income groups has increased significantly. The combination of higher upfront taxation on contributions and lower and uncertain investment returns could well prove to be a lethal mixture encouraging investors to direct their voluntary savings elsewhere. Treasury has long considered that the introduction of compulsory super has reduced the need for taxation concessions to encourage superannuation contributions. The budget could spoil the appeal of super. Credit:Jim Pavlidis The harsh reality, however, is that millions of Australians will need to make substantial voluntary super contributions if they're to achieve a comfortable retirement. The compulsory super arrangements are flawed by not covering all taxpayers. All self-employed taxpayers and those relying on investment income are excluded. Furthermore, many of those covered have accumulated relatively small balances from past contributions and won't be able to catch up merely by relying on future compulsory contributions. Even those on annual incomes above $200,000 are entitled to compulsory employer contributions of $20,000 annually. After applying the mooted 30 per cent contributions tax, the annual increase in their account balance is only $14,000. China's breathtaking appetite for all things Australian - iron ore, real estate and baby formula - has gone sky high. Now Chinese people could soon be getting a taste for Australian air, if two Sydney entrepreneurs have their way. John Dickinson and Theo Ruygrok have devised a way to bottle the air we breathe freely and are selling cans of pure Yarra Valley atmosphere for $18.80 each. "We want to give people internationally a chance to taste what our beautiful air is like," Mr Dickinson said. China's breathtaking appetite for all things Australian - iron ore, real estate and baby formula - has gone sky high. Now Chinese people could soon be getting a taste for Australian air, if two Sydney entrepreneurs have their way. John Dickinson and Theo Ruygrok have devised a way to bottle the air we breathe freely and are selling cans of pure Blue Mountains atmosphere for $18.80 each. "We want to give people internationally a chance to taste what our beautiful air is like," Mr Dickinson said. The "waggle" dance of honey bees has led to human trials on how to stop a drug-induced jetlag experienced by many people after surgery. Researchers who previously discovered bees were experiencing jet lag - or time zone confusion - after general anaesthetic are now testing a light therapy solution on humans. Researchers discovered that giving bees strong light while they were under anaesthetic prevented them from suffering drug-induced jet lag. A team at the Department of Anaesthesiology at the University of Auckland in 2012 revealed bees thought time had not passed after six hours under anaesthetic, despite otherwise being perfect at knowing the time. "We found out that by having an anaesthetic the bees are shifted to a later time zone," Associate Professor Guy Warman said. The writer-producer of an upcoming Port Arthur massacre movie says Australia's gun laws should be relaxed, backing the Shooters and Fishers push to stifle calls for tighter regulation. Paul Moder announced his plans to shoot a film about the convicted mass murderer Martin Bryant in the lead up to the 20th anniversary of the horrific event that triggered Australia's radical reforms to gun ownership. Some survivors and families of Port Arthur victims have condemned the project. On Monday Moder told Fairfax Media that gun ownership "is not the primary focus of why I'm making this film, but I do feel strongly about the erosion of people's rights in Australia, particularly in regards to the firearm ownership issue". A US tourist has been found safe and well in bushland on the NSW South Coast after spending two nights lost in a national park, police say. Alyce Tidball, 65, had set off for a bushwalk at 3pm on Saturday from the rural property where she had been staying in the Deua River Valley area in the Deua National Park, about 40 kilometres north-west of Moruya. Alyce Tidball went for a bushwalk on the NSW South Coast on Saturday afternoon but did not return. Credit:Facebook Ms Tidball, who is believed to have been in Australia for about a month, phoned friends to say that she had become lost while walking alone. Her phone battery ran out, and she did not return from her walk. A NSW Police spokeswoman said the woman was found just before 11.30am on Monday. She was suffering from some minor injuries but could walk on her own. NSW Ambulance paramedics were due to assess her condition at the scene. A 16-year-old boy charged over a foiled terrorism plot allegedly tried to learn how to make a bomb and said he wanted to "terrorise" Australians on Anzac Day, a court has heard. The boy was arrested on the day before Anzac Day, just hours after police allegedly intercepted him sending encrypted messages via a social networking app saying he wanted to get a firearm and a bomb-making manual. During a bail application on Monday, his father wept as he promised he would monitor his son 24/7 and said he thought he was doing the right thing by giving the boy, an apprentice electrician, privacy and space to spend time alone in his bedroom at night. The alleged messages were sent on five nights between April 16 and 24 to an undercover officer posing as an overseas extremist, according to police documents tendered in Parramatta Children's Court on Monday. NSW Greens MLC John Kaye is being remembered by colleagues as a politician of "enormous principle, energy and commitment" following his death from cancer at age 60. It was revealed in February that Dr Kaye, who was elected to the upper house of the NSW parliament in 2007, had been diagnosed with cancer and would be unable to return to Parliament to resume his duties before the end of March. The Greens announced the public education and renewable energy advocate passed away on Monday night after a battle with cancer. "John passed away after a struggle with an aggressive cancer which developed in recent months. He died peacefully in his home surrounded by friends and family," fellow Greens MLC David Shoebridge said in a statement. Lindt cafe siege gunman Man Haron Monis was a dangerous, selfish psychopath and lone wolf terrorist who would have killed more hostages had police not ended the ordeal, an inquest has heard. Monis also adopted violent extremism as a means of self-aggrandisement, and his mix of anti-social and narcissistic personality disorders put him at the "epicentre" of a dangerous personality group, psychiatrist Jonathan Phillips said on Monday. But he also found Monis did not have a psychiatric illness, rather a complex personality disorder that led to vicious, deceitful, manipulative and anti-social attitudes and behaviour. "He lived by the premise that he was always right," Dr Phillips told the coronial inquest into the siege that took place over two days in December 2014. NSW Parliament House was evacuated on Monday morning as police investigated a possible threat to the building in the Sydney CBD. Security ordered everyone to leave the Macquarie Street building just before 10.30am. Staff made their way into The Domain at the back of Parliament House as several police cars arrived on Hospital Road. It is understood a suspicious package found outside was the focus. A bomb squad officer was seen checking the item. Rajinikant in a still from the film Kabali Though Rajini movies have quite a huge fan following in Telugu, a release in the industry would not be easy now as a complaint on his earlier movie Kochadiyaan is still pending with the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC). According to the complaint, Vikramasimha (Telugu version of Kochadaiyaan) was a big loss for distributor Lakshmi Ganapathi Films and financier Sobhan Babu. Apparently, Rajinikanths wife Lata had given the distributor an assurance of 7.60 crore, in case of loss but allegedly failed to do so, after the flick bombed. Moreover, Rajinis Lingaa too, was a big flop in Telugu, which has created a fear among Telugu distributors to try their hands with yet another Rajinikanth movie. Ricardo Francis Herman Dasilva beat his former partner so savagely she was left nearly unrecognisable before trying to burn her house down with her body inside, a jury has heard. In his opening address to Newcastle Supreme Court on Monday, Crown Prosecutor Lee Carr said Mr Dasilva's behaviour became increasingly erratic after his break up with Wyong High School maths teacher, Amanda Carter, 46. Real estate agent Ricardo Dasilva, accused of murdering his estranged fiance in the bedroom of her Central Coast home. Credit:Newcastle Herald The real estate agent is alleged to have entered Ms Carter's Woongarrah home in May 2010 and delivered a number of blows to her head using a blunt object, while she lay sleeping in her bed. The court heard she was discovered by her daughter the next day, with no signs of forced entry to the house. A demonstration of the interlock system fitted to a test vehicle by an employee at Guardian Interlock Systems. Credit:Wolter Peeters The driver's record of attempts to start the car is recorded and monitored. Roads and Maritime Service may advise participants who continue to try and drink and drive to get medical advice or they may even be given an extension in the time they are required to stay on the program. Installation costs the user about $400 and there's also a monthly leasing fee of about $150. A Centre for Road Safety survey found that more than 80 per cent of 1700 respondents approve of the Mandatory Alcohol Interlock Program for high range and serious drink-driving offenders. John is about to start using an interlock, having been banned from driving for one month. Credit:Fiona Morris Don't blow it. There were about 700 people voluntarily taking part in the interlock program when the new legislation came into effect on February 1, 2015. Bernard Carlon, the executive director, said since its introduction NSW courts have made 4290 interlock orders and Roads and Maritime Services has issued more than 1325 interlock licences for set up and monitoring of the program. For the first 12 months after the introduction there was an average 20 interlock licences issued each week but that number has since doubled to an average of 40 each week. "The number of interlock licences is expected to increase as more offenders serve their initial upfront period of disqualification and then enrol in the program by having an interlock device fitted to their vehicle and licence issued," Mr Carlon said. "Based on experiences in other jurisdictions with interlock programs, we expect that the mandatory NSW program will reduce reoffending of high-risk drink-drivers, which will help reduce alcohol-related road trauma." An evaluation of the new program has started. It will assess the road safety benefits and outcomes for participants. Les Libbesson, owner of Guardian Interlock Systems, one of the largest suppliers of the devices, said data of the driver's use of the machine allowed authorities to decide if the person should remain on the program. "Modern-day interlock programs in Australia are performance-based. The authorities get the data straight from us, enabling the authorities to monitor the performance. I have an example of a lady in Victoria who went on it for six months in February 2007 and she's still on it because she can't go for a single month without having multiple attempts to drink and drive." Lawyer Sam Macedone represented Mr Uzabeaga. He said he considered the program very successful and it was rare in his experience to see someone charged with drink-driving again after having used the interlock. "It just seems to be what they need to remind them that you don't drink and drive. For once the law has put together something that is some form of rehabilitation, as opposed to hitting you over the back of the knuckles for doing something wrong and leaving it up to you not to do it again." John*, of Gymea, who owns a small retail business and did not want to be identified, believes the interlock device will save his life. He will start using it next month. John was diagnosed with cancer last year and was undergoing radiotherapy. He went for a body scan in January and was expecting results in the second week of February. "The day I was pulled over I had been working all day Friday and I was getting really apprehensive because my test results were due on the Tuesday," he said. "I had been seeking some help for anxiety and depression. "I just went to the local hotel on a Friday night after work. I had three schooners of mid-strength beers, but I had them really quickly and I hadn't had anything to eat all day. I really didn't think that I was over the limit. As it turned out I was low-range, 0.06." He'd also had a low-range offence in 2011. A toddler is in a critical condition after being pulled from a pond on Sydney's northern beaches on Monday. The three-year-old boy was rescued from the pond at a home on Chiltern Road in Ingleside, police said. Police, several ambulances and fire crews arrived just before 3pm. Paramedics treated the boy before taking him to Sydney Children's Hospital in a critical condition. Police are hunting two men who robbed a Queensland hotel with an axe and assaulted two women. The men approached the Gladstone hotel employees about 1.15am Sunday morning, assaulted them and fleeing with cash, police said. Hotel staff in Gladstone were threatened with an axe in a robbery overnight. Credit:James Croucher A police spokesman said the man armed with the ax kneed both women in the head, leaving them with minor injuries. Both men were wearing hoodies and were described as dark skinned. Queensland unionists have linked the importance of Labour Day with Anzac Day as they mark its restoration to the traditional date in May. The public holiday was shifted to the second half of the year by the former Newman government in order to better space out public holidays throughout the year and reduce the impact on businesses, before the Labor party reversed the change. The Palaszczuk government has moved the Labour Day holiday back to May. Queensland Council of Unions president Rohan Webb said last week "tens of thousands" of people turned out for Anzac Day. "We have no doubt we're going to see tens of thousands of people come out here for Labour Day to recognise the achievements of working families in this country," he said at the march in Brisbane's CBD. Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright on Monday told the BBC he was the creator of controversial digital currency Bitcoin, ending years of speculation about a person who until now has gone by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. The BBC said Wright gave technical proof supporting his claim to using Bitcoins known to be owned by Bitcoin's creator. It said prominent members of the Bitcoin community had also confirmed Wright's claim and said Wright repeated the claim to The Economist and GQ. "I was the main part of it, but other people helped me," the BBC quoted Wright as saying. An iPhone recovered in last year's at-sea disappearance of two Florida teenagers will be sent to Apple in hopes that the company can recover vital information from it, a judge has agreed. "Good luck," Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Gregory Keyser told the families of Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos after finalising a court order under which the phone will be shipped overnight to Apple. Perry Cohen, left, and Austin Stephanos. Cohen and Stephanos were last seen on July 24, 2015, in Jupiter, Florida. Credit:Handout/AP The chances of Apple being able to recover data, including any photographs that might be stored in the device, remain unclear. During the court hearing on Friday, US time, a lawyer described the phone, which didn't have a protective case, as rusted and deteriorating because of its exposure to saltwater. The boys, both 14, vanished while on a fishing trip on July 24. Their families went to court to settle a disagreement over what should be done with Austin's phone after its recovery. The phone was found on board the teens' capsized boat, which was recovered on March 18 about 160 kilometres off Bermuda's coast by the Norwegian multipurpose supply vessel Edda Fjord. The promise of a new centre for biomedical engineering based in Melbourne hangs in the balance after the federal government refused a request from the Andrews government for $60 million. Described by Premier Daniel Andrews as "a critically important part" of Victoria's future, the yet-to-be-built Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery is a research institute to be located at St Vincent's Hospital in Fitzroy. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews with Health Minister Jill Hennessy. Credit:Penny Stephens The centre is intended to be a research and education hub, concentrating on fields as diverse as organ and tissue regeneration, drug design, next generation biomedical devices and prosthetics. Australia's national security service believed Numan Haider was intent on fighting in Syria for Islamic State months before he stabbed two policemen in Melbourne. ASIO began investigating Haider in May 2014 because of the high volume of contact he had with the al-Furqan Islamic Centre, where Islamic extremism was discussed, according to a statement tendered to the inquest into the teenager's death. The inquest concluded last week. The coroner said Numan Haider had been radicalised before the attack. On September 23, 2014, Haider stabbed a Victoria Police officer and an AFP colleague outside the Endeavour Hills police station, before the Victorian officer recovered and shot the 18-year-old dead. Haider and the policemen had arranged to meet to discuss the teen's failed bid to renew his passport. Months earlier, ASIO learned the mobile phone Haider was using was falsely registered to a vacant block, according to a statement tendered to the inquest. In June 2014 ASIO gained a warrant to conduct telephone intercepts on the phone. Sykes son, Ziad, who weighed 5.9 kgs at birth, is now one of the heaviest babies ever delivered in Western Australia. (Credit: YouTube) An 18-year-old woman was compelled to undergo a caesarean section after doctors warned her not to push because the size of her baby could end up breaking her pelvis. Breanna Sykes from Perth, Australia was shell-shocked after she gave birth to a baby boy weighing nearly six kilograms on Saturday. Breanna Sykes, 18, was warned by doctors not to push fearing she would break her pelvis. (Credit: YouTube) Sykes son, Ziad, who weighed 5.9 kgs at birth, is now one of the heaviest babies ever delivered in Western Australia, reports Perth Now. The average weight of a newborn baby is just over three kilograms, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Several doctors from all over Joondalup Health Campus where Ziad was delivered had flocked to catch a glimpse of the big baby. The average weight of a newborn baby is just over three kilograms, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. (Credit: YouTube) However, doctors have assured Sykes that her chubby newborn is perfectly healthy and explained that his exceptional size may be a result of genetics. Earlier her doctors had estimated Ziads weight to be just over four kilograms but then decided to put her under anaesthetics after she suffered an anxiety attack due to the severity of her contractions. A boy who weighed 10.2 kg and was born to Sig. Carmelina Fedele in Aversa, Italy in September 1955 holds the Guinness world record for the heaviest baby at birth. A Victorian Labor Party figure is facing weapon charges and had his local council election partly bankrolled by an alleged Calabrian Mafia boss in a major embarrassment for the ALP in the lead-up to the state election. A Fairfax Media investigation can reveal that Moreland City councillor Michael Teti is facing three firearms charges and, according to court records, had a warrant issued for his arrest after failing to appear in court in May. Michael Teti Credit:Jason South Donation records show Cr Teti, who controls a Labor Party branch and has used his factional power to influence the selection of state ALP candidates, received several thousand dollars in political donations from figures or firms closely connected to the Calabrian Mafia in 2012. A firm called Alta Strada gave Cr Teti $1000 and is directed by the alleged boss of Melbourne's Mafia. The man's name is suppressed by a court order but his nickname in the underworld is "Blondie" and several of his closest associates have also donated to Cr Teti. "I would ask Sir, can I have my dog back," pleaded a man who has been charged over the death of 22 horses. Bruce Akers, 63, a former wrestler who represented Australia at the Olympics, appeared at the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on Monday morning charged with 92 animal cruelty offences. Nearly two dozen horses were found dead on Sunday, April 3 at a property on Batey Court in Bulla, 35 kilometres north of Melbourne. The property is owned by Mr Akers' daughter, Christy Akers. Victorian Parole Board chief Bill Gillard has dug in, despite fierce pressure to resign after revelations he advised the alleged head of Melbourne's mafia on how to fight the police chief commissioner's decision. Corrections Minister Wade Noonan announced on Friday morning that Mr Gillard would be given time to address the allegations. Head of the adult parole board, Justice Bill Gillard. Credit:Patrick Scala Mr Noonan said he had given Mr Gillard a Monday deadline to respond. For generations of Aussie children, your chocolate milk could define you. Milo was standard. Quick was wild and carefree. And then there was Akta-Vite: the ridgy-didge, 100 per cent Aussie health-food choc-milk. Now, more than three decades after it was sold to American frozen-food empire Sara Lee, Akta-Vite is coming back to the family. The family, in this case, is Nicholas Health and Nutrition, owned by the Nicholas family that built an empire on the back of the first Australian-made aspirin, Aspro. A nightclub lockout trial is needed in Perth according to the state's top doctor, following a vicious brawl that broke out in Northbridge on Sunday morning. Chairs, tables and even pavers were thrown during a fight that broke out among early morning revellers, apparently sparked after someone asked for a light. Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Gannon said evidence from NSW's 1.30am lockout law (with last drinks at 3am) showed a 33 per cent reduction in people presenting drunk to emergency departments on a Friday and Saturday night. "We have to get past the idea that you can pile on the booze in some bloodhouse until 5am-6am," he told Radio 6PR's Gary Adshead. Police and State Emergency Services volunteers have called off the Perth Hills search for 77-year-old Alice Smallhorn, missing since Saturday, after a Byford resident found her. Police said the resident, of a property on Barge Drive, Byford, saw her walking out of the bushland and recognised her as the missing person. The search resumed at first light for Ms Smallhorn, who reportedly has dementia. Police had held serious concerns for the welfare of Ms Smallhorn, who reportedly has dementia, and was last seen at home on Kiln Road, Karrakup, more than 36 hours ago. More than 30 SES volunteers and the police helicopter searched the bush surrounding her home on Sunday. Local police continued to search overnight and SES volunteers joined them again at first light. The six search teams were assessing terrain to see if specialist resources were required when Ms Smallhorn was found. American spy agency the CIA has marked the fifth anniversary of the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by surprisingly "live tweeting" the mission to kill him. US special forces shot bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011 in Operation Neptune Spear. Osama Bin Laden's group advised that Islamists should emphasise taking care of civilians they conquered. Islamic State hasn't heeded its words but the US should. Credit:AP The operation was the culmination of years of intelligence gathering, and was portrayed in the Oscar and Golden Globe-winning film Zero Dark Thirty. Jakarta: Indonesian police have detained hundreds of pro-independence demonstrators in the eastern province of Papua on the anniversary of Dutch New Guinea's 1963 integration into Indonesia. About 500 people were detained in the provincial capital, Jayapura, police said, and dozens in other cities of the province of around 3.5 million. There were no reports of violence. Pro-independence activists protest outside the Dutch parliament in The Hague last month. The demonstration coincided with a visit by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Credit:AP "In spirit they support Papua's separation from Indonesia," said Papua police spokesman Patridge Renwarin. Beijing: The national peak body representing the legal profession in Australia has urged the federal government not to ratify an extradition treaty with China, citing concerns the mainland's criminal justice system lacked procedural fairness and was "steadily marching in the wrong direction". Addressing the parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in Canberra on Monday, the Law Council of Australia said there was no way to guarantee those extradited would be granted a fair trial, nor were there any effective measures to prevent torture or China going against diplomatic assurances and administering the death penalty. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting in Beijing in April. Credit:Andrew Meares "There's no consequence, what's Australia going to do?" David Grace, QC, of the Victorian Bar told the committee. Vatican City: She was six years old when she was raped and thrown off an eight-storey balcony. Now Pope Francis has called for "severe punishment" for paedophiles such as her abuser. News of Fortuna Loffredo's death in 2014 hit the headlines in Italy again this week, prompting Pope Francis to call for several punishments for paedophiles. Credit:Screengrab/Stampa "This is a tragedy. We should not tolerate the abuse of minors," Francis said, departing from prepared remarks at his weekly Sunday message and blessing to tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square. "We must protect minors and severely punish abusers," he said. What begins as social drinking turns into alcoholism for many, but there are many who want to come out of it. Bengaluru: Sitting at one of the quiet corners of Stracey Memorial High School, a group of about thirty addicts gather late in the evenings to discuss one of the most debilitating issues of all ---alcoholism. What begins as social drinking turns into alcoholism for many, but there are many who want to come out of it. "I was the General Manager at a company until alcoholism gripped me and I was forced to leave the job," says 46-year-old Gnaneswar, who has not touched any alcohol for the past six years. "I haven't even taken a sip of beer in the last 6 years as I am completely out of it," says Gnaneswar, who is an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bangalore and helps other alcoholics get rid of this problem. This group is not a rehabilitation centre or an NGO, but just a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strength and hope with each other, so that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from alcoholism too. At the age of forty, Gnaneshwar became an alcoholic and was told to leave the house many times. "For me back then alcohol was a religion and I would even lie to get things done my way. I would do it for money as well. All I cared about was drinking," says Gnaneswar. His addiction cost him his job, his family and his friends. "I still remember the day when I was hospitalized and my father asked me to leave the house as hed had enough. On the third day, a few people from this group met me and the rest is history!" But he is not alone in the journey to get rid of this addiction. "There are people who have not touched alcohol for thirty years and they help one another. But the first step is acceptance. Only if the alcoholic accepts his condition will we include him into the group, where we don't charge anyone a single penny." There are 72 centres across the city, which conduct sessions from 7 pm to 8 pm and each centre witnesses around 30 to 40 alcoholics. "We have teenagers and senior citizens attending our sessions," says Gnaneswar. Every single alcoholic who has fully recovered tries to reach out to others as well. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser aFeather Brow Couture Launch New Website The new website reflects their commitment to stay at the leading edge of technology as well as to keep in touch with their clients via regular newsletters and special promotional offerings. 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Every brow is individually designed by hand, to mimic the existing brow-hairs creatively tailored to suit the clients face. Ursula Cervellone said, The new website needed to be a reflection of the delicate and beautiful micro blading work we do. I am extremely pleased with the [web designers](http://www.sydneyseo.partners)[](http://www.sydneyseo.partners) ability to have captured this in the look and feel of the website. We are very encouraged by the feedback already received from customers visiting the website since its launch. Visit the website to learn more about the company here: http://featherbrowcouture.com.au About Feather Brow Couture [Feather Brow Couture](http://featherbrowcouture.com.au) is Sydney NSW Australia based and recognized experts in Microblading, micro-pigmentation also known as 3D eyebrow feathering. Other eye beauty services include eye lash lift, tint and extensions. Cartel Blue Inc. Announces Six Figure Apparel Order From Israel Based Apparel Boutique and Wholesale Distributer, Taglit Ltd. LOS ANGELES, CA (Marketwired) 05/02/16 Cartel Blue Inc. (OTC PINK: CRTL) is pleased to announce that Israels Taglit Ltd. high-end boutique stores and wholesale distributor has signed a six figure apparel order with shipment to be completed by June 30, 2016. Taglit Ltd., Rishon Le Tsiyon, Israel will introduce and launch Cartel Blue mens premium vintage jeans throughout country of Israel. Taglit Ltd. has multiple boutique locations and is a wholesale distributor of high-end apparel. Its initial order from Cartel Blue is a test market order. Taglit Ltd. apparel buyers have indicated to Cartel Blue sales representatives that they fully expect Cartel Blues mens premium vintage jeans to strike the right cord with its customers for many reasons. In particular, Taglit Ltd. apparel buyers voiced strong confidence in Cartel Blues mens premium jeans based on their authentic look and the fact that they are manufactured in the worlds capital of premium jeans, Los Angeles, California. Yigal Cohen, said, Our consumers will travel through time when considering a purchase of seriously authentic Cartel Blue mens vintage premium jeans. Fabric, construction and washes are done to a T. No doubt the U.S.A. based Cartel Blue brand will perform well for us. The Companys President David Rhodes, said, Cartel Blue feels honored to launch its mens premium vintage jean line in the Israel market. We are excited to have the opportunity to present our companys apparel products in this market that will not only give Cartel Blue exposure to Israeli consumers but those many consumers that visit Israel. We look forward to further apparel orders from Taglit Ltd. For information regarding capitalization and corporate data, please make reference to (OTC PINK: CRTL) Cartel Blue, Inc. (OTC PINK: CRTL) is a Los Angeles California based eco-friendly apparel line that utilizes high quality fabrics and designs with contemporary and edgy marketing strategies advocated by popular and unique celebrities in the film, television, and music industries. Cartel Blue, Inc.s mission is to bring its unique sportswear to consumers concerned with high quality fashion and/or social-issue change that enlarges their personal freedoms. Being a collection driven company, our vision is to become the preferred option for customers in the premium denim and sportswear market. Please visit us at for more information. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Cartel Blue, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Image Available: Cartel Blue, Inc. Investor Relations E-mail: Glassdoor Survey Finds 3 in 5 U.S. Employees Did Not Negotiate Pay in Current/Most Recent Job Fewer Women Negotiate Than Men MILL VALLEY, CA (Marketwired) 05/02/16 , the worlds most transparent jobs and recruiting marketplace, today released the results of revealing salary negotiation is not as common as one might think. Close to three in five (59 percent) of U.S. employees(1) accepted the salary they were first offered at their current/most recent job, and did not negotiate. Women are far less likely to negotiate than men. Among employees, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of women accepted the salary they were offered and did not negotiate compared to 52 percent of men. The survey, conducted online by Harris Poll of 2,015 American adults 18 and older(2), revealed that only one in 10 (10 percent) of U.S. employees report they successfully gained more money in their salary negotiations in their current or most recent job. Men were more than three times more likely than women to be successful in negotiating greater pay. Among U.S. employees, 15 percent of men reported their salary negotiations for their current or most recent job resulted in more money compared to just 4 percent of women. The survey also revealed that older workers (aged 45-54) negotiated their salary less than younger workers. 66 percent of those aged 45-54 accepted their initial salary offer without negotiation, compared to 55 percent of those 35-44, and 60 percent of those aged 18-34. Significantly more women aged 45-54 (77 percent) did not negotiate compared to 56 percent of men the same age. These findings are especially interesting in light of a recent report from Glassdoor Economic Research that reveals the gender pay gap increases with age. While the (3) in the U.S. is 5.4 percent, the gender pay gap for younger workers (18-24) is 2.2 percent compared to 10.5 percent for workers over age 55. These new findings substantiate a negotiation gap between men and women that increases with age. While we were surprised that the majority of candidates do not negotiate their initial offers, we have confirmed the negotiation gap exists between men and women and this is something employees, managers and employers should pay attention to in hiring and compensation reviews, said Dawn Lyon, vice president of corporate affairs and chief equal pay advocate at Glassdoor. Greater salary transparency can illuminate pay gaps that exist at companies and empower people and employers to close them. Employees and candidates can now arm themselves with insights from Glassdoor about how much a specific job title is worth and build their case with data to gain confidence to simply ask for what they deserve. The Glassdoor Salary Negotiation Insights Survey comes on the heels of , which featured Hillary Clinton and other leaders, last month in New York City. The roundtable discussed Glassdoor Economic Researchs recent report on the and what can be done to close the gap. Glassdoor currently holds approximately 12 million workplace reviews, ratings and insights shared by employees, including millions of , on more than 540,000 companies(4) around the world. Glassdoor has also recently conducted several research reports and surveys diving deep into the topic of pay and salaries. : (1) Employees are identified as those employed full- or part-time unless otherwise noted. (2) US Survey Methodology This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Glassdoor from March 8-10, 2016 among 2,015 adults ages 18 and older, among which 1,157 are employed or unemployed and looking for a job, 950 are employed full/part time. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact (3) Demystifying the Gender Pay Gap, Glassdoor Research, March 2016 (4) Glassdoor Data Labs, April 2016 is the most transparent jobs and recruiting marketplace that is changing how people search for jobs and how companies recruit top talent. Glassdoor combines free and anonymous reviews, ratings and salary content with job listings to help job seekers find the best jobs and address critical questions that come up during the job search, application, interview and negotiation phases of employment. For employers, Glassdoor offers and employer branding solutions to help attract high-quality candidates at a fraction of the cost of other channels. Glassdoor, which has more than 30 million users and content from more than 190 countries, operates one of the most popular job apps on and . The company launched in 2008 and has raised approximately $160 million from Google Capital, Tiger Global, Benchmark, Battery Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, DAG Ventures, Dragoneer Investment Group, and others. Glassdoor is a registered trademark of Glassdoor, Inc. The AquaHacking 2016 Challenge : The Tech Community Comes Together to Help the St. Lawrence River MONTREAL, QUEBEC (Marketwired) 05/02/16 Starting this week, Quebecs technology and digital community will focus on the most pressing issues facing the St. Lawrence River as part of the AquaHacking CHALLENGE: Hacking for the St. Lawrence. This hacking CHALLENGE, organized by the de Gaspe Beaubien Foundation, aims to develop innovative solutions. The participating teams, made up of developers, designers, programmers, coders, IT professionals, water experts and creative minds, will have five months to develop functional technological solutions (mobile, web, or other), explains Ms. Dominique Monchamp, executive director of the de Gaspe Beaubien Foundation. Here are some examples of the challenges to be met: Why participate? A total of $50,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the six finalist teams. In addition, these teams will land their first client contracts and will have access to a bank of hours to consult professionals in the fields of finance, law, and marketing. All of the CHALLENGE participants will be in close contact with IT solution companies and project partners. They will also receive support from mentors, technology experts, or water specialists from organizations such as , the , , and the . The finalists will have the opportunity to present their solutions to a jury of high-profile entrepreneurs, capital venture investors, IT executives, and environmental experts. To ensure that the winning solutions will be developed to their full potential, they will also receive support from renowned incubators, namely, , (Ecole de technologie superieure) and (Concordia University). The grand final for the CHALLENGE will take place on October 7, 2016, the second day of the . The Summit will take place at the . The CHALLENGE participants will also have access to data sets provided by , the Quebec , and the . In addition to funding provided by the , AquaHacking 2016 receives financial support from as major partner, as well as , the , the , , the , , and . Furthermore, and the will contribute to the project by sharing their valuable expertise on the St. Lawrence River. The , Concordia Universitys , , , and (City of Quebec), all of which contribute to the development of the Quebec technology ecosystem, also support AquaHacking. To find out more about the AquaHacking 2016 CHALLENGE, the general public is invited to the next 6@8 info sessions, which will be held in the cities of Montreal and Quebec. To register for the CHALLENGE, participate in an information session, or to know more: Twitter: @AquaHacking Facebook: About the de Gaspe Beaubien Foundation Created in 1990 by Nan-b and Philippe II de Gaspe Beaubien, the Foundation generously spends time and resources in support of individuals, families and communities. It supports those who work in the field for positive change and sustainable prosperity. The Foundation focuses particularly on three fields: supporting families in business, improving governance in healthcare, and preserving water. Contacts: Source: Gaspe Beaubien Foundation Information and interview requests: Diep Truong Exergue Communications 514 524-7348 GeckoSystems Japanese Partners Demonstrating Multi-Million Dollar AI Robot Technologies CONYERS, GA (Marketwired) 05/02/16 GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (OTC PINK: GOSY) () announced today that two of their Japanese business partners will be demonstrating their BaseBot(tm), Lou, to a new business partner prior to the CEOs trip to Japan. For over eighteen years GeckoSystems has dedicated itself to development of AI Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service. I am pleased to report that due to the continued hard work of one of our Japanese representatives, Mr. Fujii Katsuji, we have again achieved demonstrable progress securing viable joint ventures in Japan. This latest demonstration to one of several joint ventures being entertained, is particularly significant due to the breadth and depth of the robotics expertise of ICCL () and their insistence we meet them as soon as is prudent in Japan to sign the JV agreement, commented Martin Spencer, CEO, GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. The demonstration of GeckoSystems BaseBot, Lou, is scheduled for May 13th in Japan. Spencer will be traveling to Japan on May 20th and expects to return early to mid June in order to have sufficient time to meet with present JV partners, support ICCL in their million-dollar grant submission to the Japanese government, and meet with potential new licensees, such as the Japanese trading company earlier mentioned. Here is a third party video demonstrating the high level of mobile safety that GeckoSystems advanced, proprietary, AI centric sense and avoid mobile robot technology can provide for drones, self driving cars, AGVs, and mobile robots of all forms due to the human quick reaction time (Worst Case Execution Time) of their GeckoNava AI navigation system: Late last year, GeckoSystems had their white paper on Worst Case Execution (reflex or reaction) Time sufficient for mobile service robots safe usage proximate to humans, translated into Japanese. Mr. Katsuji has been presenting that seminal discussion to many Japanese companies. That paper explains the importance of GeckoSystems breakthrough, proprietary, and exclusive AI software and why this premier Japanese robotics company, ICCL, desires to enter a contractual joint venture relationship with GeckoSystems. In order to understand the importance of GeckoSystems breakthrough, proprietary, and exclusive AI software and why another Japanese company desires a business relationship with GeckoSystems, its key to acknowledge some basic realities for all forms of automatic, non-human intervention, vehicular locomotion and steering. 1. Laws of Physics such as Conservation of Energy, inertia, and momentum, limit a vehicles ability to stop or maneuver. If, for instance, a cars braking system design cannot generate enough friction for a given road surface to stop the car in 100 feet after brake application, thats a real limitation. If a car cannot corner at more than .9g due to a combination of suspension design and road conditions, that, also, is reality. Regardless how talented a NASCAR driver may be, if his race car is inadequate, hes not going to win races. 2. At the same time, if a car driver (or pilot) is tired, drugged, distracted, etc. their reflex time becomes too slow to react in a timely fashion to unexpected direction changes of moving obstacles, or the sudden appearance of fixed obstacles. Many car accidents result from drunk driving due to reflex time and/or judgment impairment. Average reflex time takes between 150 & 300ms. 3. In robotic systems, human reflex time is known as Worst Case Execution Time (WCET). Historically, in computer systems engineering, WCET of a task is the maximum length of time the task could take to execute on a specific platform. In big data, this is the time to load up the data to be processed, processed, and then outputted into useful distillations, summaries, or common sense insights. GeckoSystems basic AI self-guidance navigation system processes 147 megabytes of data per second using low cost, Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Single Board Computers (SBCs). 4. Highly trained and skilled jet fighter pilots have a reflex time (WCET) of less than 120ms. Their eye to hand coordination time is a fundamental criterion for them to be successful jet fighter pilots. The same holds true for all high performance forms of transportation that are sufficiently pushing the limits of the Laws of Physics to require the quickest possible reaction time for safe human control and/or usage. 5. GeckoSystems WCET is less than 100ms, or as quick, or quicker than most gifted jet fighter pilots, NASCAR race car drivers, etc. while using low cost COTS and SBCs 6. In mobile robotic guidance systems, WCET has 3 fundamental components. a. Sufficient Field Of View (FOV) with appropriate granularity, accuracy, and update rate. b. Rapid processing of that contextual data such that common sense responses are generated. c. Timely physical execution of those common sense responses. In order for any companion robot to be utilitarian for family care, it must be a three legged milk stool. For any mobile robot to move in close proximity to humans, it must have (1) human quick reflex time to avoid moving and/or unmapped obstacles, (2) verbal interaction with a sense of date and time, and (3) the ability to automatically find and follow designated parties such that verbal interaction can occur routinely with video and audio monitoring of the care receiver uninterrupted. At this time, there are approximately 2,200,000 million Japanese over 65 living alone. Their greatest fear is to die alone and that their demise not be known to others for a few days. For this reason and many others, the Japanese government pays 90% of the cost of personal robots used for eldercare such that concern would be well addressed. Further, the Japanese government is paying 75% of the R&D costs to develop robotic healthcare solutions for greater productivity to provide more economic care giving for their extraordinarily large senior population. This recent article further underscores Japans commitment to eldercare capable, welfare robots: Japan govt to urge nursing care robot development We are very much looking forward to meet with Mr. Spencer and discuss the large Japanese market for welfare robots, stated Mr. Takashi Nabeta, CEO, ICCL. GeckoSystems has already done primary market research, focus group market research, and the most extensive in home personal robot trials in the world. Due to GeckoSystems worlds first in home personal mobile robot trials that have been conducted and documented, management is confident they have the right stuff to be very synergistic with ICCL, as does ICCL, in readily satisfying the Japanese governments requirements for an eldercare capable mobile robot R&D grant. GeckoSystems worlds first in home trials began in 2009: Continued into 2010: The benefit of a companion robot capable of safely running errands and/or automatically following the care receiver requires real time sense and avoid of moving and/or unmapped obstacles. This is a functional necessity for a sufficient value proposition for ready adoption and sales. This linchpin requirement is why ICCL is jointly submitting with GeckoSystems. GeckoSystems developed their AI mobile robot navigation technologies some years ago to address those very important requirements for any mobile robot to be truly utilitarian (convenient like a home appliance), while being cost effective, with their breakthrough AI mobile robot technology, . Prior to this agreement to form a JV to jointly migrate GeckoSystems AI mobile robot self-driving solutions to the Japanese marketplace, ICCL signed an NDA with GeckoSystems that includes this necessary Safety Clause: Both parties understand and agree with the general concerns that mobile robot solutions may be used to lethally harm persons, other living things, property, and a countrys infrastructure if terrorists, criminals, or other private or public enemies of peace, security, and tranquility were to secure access to and/or use of them. Therefore, both parties completely agree that MSR safety is of the greatest importance in the utilization of MSR technologies. All MSR technologies shared by both parties in any manner will be treated with the utmost secrecy and respect due to that reality and potential. GeckoSystems has been acknowledged routinely by an internationally recognized market research firm one or more time in each of the last five years and being anywhere from the top one in three to the top one in eight in the world in service robotics. 2015: 2014: 2013: 2012: While GeckoSystems AI mobile robot solutions have been largely unnoticed in the US, many ongoing negotiations continue in Japan and Europe due to the companys AI mobile robot solutions robust utility and portability to virtually any and all forms of mobile robots whether air, land, or sea. That includes drones, self-driving cars, and essentially all mobility systems requiring complete safety from hitting any obstacles in those situations in which the reflexes of a highly skilled and experienced jet fighter pilot could readily evade. GeckoSystems has had their safety clause Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with iXs Research Corp. since April of 2013 and with Fubright Communications, Ltd. since April of 2015. IC Corp. Ltd. has been under NDA since December of 2015. During these unforeseen delays, due to the continued hard work of two of our Japanese representatives, Mssrs. Fujii Katsuji and Tsunenori Kato, CEO, Ifoo Company Limited, we have again achieved demonstrable progress securing viable licensing agreements in Japan. This latest, one of several being negotiated, is particularly significant due to the breadth, depth and heritage of this nearly 100-year-old Japanese trading company, stated Spencer. Both companies are certain that their advanced mobile service robot will contribute to Japans rapidly aging society by helping seniors live safer and easier and will be recognized by the Japanese reviewers by their approval of this $1,000,000 grant submission. Recently, a premier Japanese government trade organization has expressed interest in assisting GeckoSystems exporting to the Japanese market. A near term meeting in Atlanta, Georgia is being scheduled to learn their probable level of assistance. Certainly, on both sides of the Pacific, we are doing as much as is prudent and/or feasible to maximize the benefit of the monetary costs and time in going to Japan. This demonstration being performed prior to my arrival allows us to proceed in our multi-faceted negotiations forthwith during my stay there. After many years of patience by our current 1300+ stockholders, they can continue to be completely confident that the present management will update them routinely and to work to maximize their investments in GeckoSystems, whether by organic growth or being acquired at a rewarding premium, concluded Spencer. Robotic systems are looked at as the future assistants that are designed to help people to do what they want to do in a natural and spontaneous manner. Moreover, with the emergence of ubiquitous computing and communication environments, robots will be able to call upon an unlimited knowledge base and coordinate their activities with other devices and systems. Additionally, the growing spread of ubiquitous computing will lead to robot technologies being embedded into ubiquitous ICT networks to become human agents of physical actions, enhancing and extending the physical capabilities and senses. The report focuses on giving a detailed view of the complete service robotics industry with regards to the professional and personal applications as well as the geography market. Apart from the market segmentation, the report also includes the critical market data and qualitative information for each product type along with the qualitative analysis; such as Porters Five Force analysis, market time-line analysis, industry breakdown analysis, and value chain analysis. The global service robotics market is estimated to reach up to $19.41 billion by 2020 growing at a CAGR of 21.5% from 2014 to 2020. Global Service Robot Market 2014-2018: Key Vendors are GeckoSystems, Honda Motor, iRobot and Toyota Motor The report recognizes the following companies as the key players in the Global Service Robot Market: GeckoSystems Intl. Corp., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., iRobot Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. From Forbes: makes some key points: * The multibillion-dollar global market for robotics, long dominated by industrial and logistics uses, has begun to see a shift toward new consumer and office applications. There will be a $1.5 billion market for consumer and business robots by 2019. * The market for consumer and office robots will grow at a CAGR of 17% between 2014 and 2019, seven times faster than the market for manufacturing robots. Note: BusinessInsider.com s forecasts do not include pent up demand for family care social robots anywhere in the world. GeckoSystems has been developing innovative robotic technologies for over eighteen years. It is CEO Martin Spencers dream to make peoples lives better through AI robotic technology. An overview of GeckoSystems progress containing over 700 pictures and 120 videos can be found at . These videos illustrate the development of the technology that makes GeckoSystems a world leader in Service Robotics development. Early CareBot prototypes were slower and frequently pivoted in order to avoid a static or dynamic obstacle; later prototypes avoided obstacles without pivoting. Current CareBots avoid obstacles with a graceful bicycle smooth motion. The latest videos also depict the CareBots ability to automatically go faster or slower depending on the amount of clutter (number of obstacles) within its field of view. This is especially important when avoiding moving obstacles in loose crowd situations like a mall or an exhibit area. In addition to the timeline videos, GeckoSystems has numerous YouTube videos. The most popular of which are the ones showing room-to-room automatic self-navigation of the CareBot through narrow doorways and a hallway of an old 1954 home. You will see the CareBot slow down when going through the doorways because of their narrow width and then speed up as it goes across the relatively open kitchen area. There are also videos of the SafePath(tm) wheelchair, which is a migration of the CareBot AI centric navigation system to a standard power wheelchair, and recently developed cost effective depth cameras were used in this recent configuration. SafePath navigation is now available to OEM licensees and these videos show the versatility of GeckoSystems fully autonomous navigation solution. The company has successfully completed an Alpha trial of its CareBot personal assistance robot for the elderly. It was tested in a home care setting and received enthusiastic support from both caregivers and care receivers. The company believes that the CareBot will increase the safety and well being of its elderly charges while decreasing stress on the caregiver and the family. CareBot has incorporated Microsoft Kinect depth cameras that result in a significant cost reduction. Above, the CareBot demonstrates static and dynamic obstacle avoidance as it backs in and out of a narrow and cluttered alley. There is no joystick control or programmed path; movements are smoother that those achieved using a joystick control. GeckoNav creates three low levels of obstacle avoidance: reactive, proactive, and contemplative. Subsumptive AI behavior within GeckoNav enables the CareBot to reach its target destination after engaging in obstacle avoidance. More information on the CareBot AI mobile companion robot: GeckoSystems stock is quoted in the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) markets under the ticker symbol GOSY. GeckoSystems uses LinkedIn and Twitter as its primary social media site for investor updates. Spencer tweets as @GrandpaRobot Statements regarding financial matters in this press release other than historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such statements about the Companys future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, technology efficacy and all other forward-looking statements be subject to the Safe Harbors created thereby. The Company is a development stage firm that continues to be dependent upon outside capital to sustain its existence. Since these statements (future operational results and sales) involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Companys actual results may differ materially from expected results. GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. Main number: +1 678-413-9236 Fax: +1 678-413-9247 Website: Google Hosts Diversity-Focused Mass Innovation Nights CAMBRIDGE, MA (Marketwired) 05/02/16 Mass Innovation Nights is collaborating with Google for the second time to host a startup showcase event on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. The 86th monthly event will be held at Googles offices in Cambridge (355 Main Street). Mass Innovation Nights are free monthly product showcase and networking events in the greater Boston area. To attend, please . Mass Innovation Nights 86 (#MIN86) is called Innovation for Everyone. Participating startups will be either founded by an entrepreneur representing a minority or are aimed at solving a problem dealing with issues of diversity. Exhibiting at Google is a great opportunity for the startups we represent, said Bobbie Carlton, Innovation Nights founder. This kind of event is great exposure and draws an excited and engaged audience. It is no secret that the tech industry suffers from a lack of diversity, said Liz Schwab, public affairs manager at Google. Events like these helps build visibility for entrepreneurs and provide examples of innovative ideas addressing diversity issues. The event is free to attend, but attendees are encouraged to support local entrepreneurs by helping spread the word about the new products they see, by posting a blog, sending out a Tweet, or a sharing a post on Facebook. A single event can generate hundreds of social media posts. Participating startups this month are: CAKE Forever Ink Project History UnErased Jerez Electronics Pink Truck Designs PIVOT tripBuddy Veera VeraCloud Xpert Eye About Mass Innovation Nights Mass Innovation Nights (MIN) offers an opportunity for people interested in innovative new products to connect live and online in the Boston community. For companies, the Innovation Nights community offers increased online and social media visibility as well as an opportunity to showcase in front of a supportive live audience. Each month, ten companies bring new products to the event, and the social media community helps spread the word. The events have helped to launch more than 800 local products in the past seven years. Follow MIN on Twitter or visit the website at Media Contact: Kristen Avini Director Mass Innovation Nights 510-221-8122 Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Women on Waves, a non-profit organisation which sends ships containing medical abortion medication to countries where abortion is illegal, have upgraded their tactics to include the use of drones. There are 49 countries in the world today where abortion is still completely illegal. In many more, it is legal only under the narrow pretext of saving a womans life, and many other countries have strict regulations relating to abortion that ultimately take away a womens control over their own bodies even in cases of rape or incest. Women on Waves, a non-profit organisation which sends ships containing medical abortion medication to countries where abortion is illegal, have upgraded their tactics to include the use of drones. Medical abortion consists of the use of two drugs, Mifepristone, used first and Misoprostol, used second, which causes the uterus to expel its contents, essentially triggering a miscarriage. The founder of the organisation, Rebecca Gomperts, cites the World Health Organisation, which states: Mifepristone with misoprostol has been proven highly effective, safe and acceptable for abortions occurring up to nine weeks. The ships dock in international waters where local laws do not apply, and invite women on where they would be provided medical abortions. The drone operates on a similar concept, Rebecca said: With the drone what we do is we fly the pills from one country to another and in both countries it is legal to do it because these regulations have never been made for such an action... so we are using the gaps in the rules that are there. The first successful drone delivery went from Frankfurt an der Oder in Germany to Slubice in Poland, where abortion is illegal except in extreme cases, like rape. Their website says: As the abortion drone weighs less than five kilograms, is not used for any commercial purposes, will stay within the sight of the person flying it and does not fly in controlled airspace, no authorisation is required under Polish or German law. Source: www.indy100.independent.co.uk Kauf und Ubertragung einfach und sicher Uns vertrauen Kunden weltweit For city money, South Bend apartments allot 40% of rooms to poor tenants The need for reasonably priced one- and two-bedroom units is dire in the city. Many renters are older and disabled residents who live alone. The Bishnoi community resides in the western part of the Thar region of India. These people are the followers of Guru Jambeshwar and have been following his 29 principles since 15th century. Eight of those 29 beliefs ask the community to protect and preserve all kinds of flora and fauna. And hence as a devotion to the nature, you will often see mothers of this group breastfeeding fawns. (Photo: Screen grab) The Bishnois are scattered in various regions of India like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan and animals are considered as an integral part of their family. Their belief is that causing damage to animals is similar as causing harm to oneself. These people are vegetarians as nature is sacred for them. Even though this community is of Hindu, they follow burial ritual when somebody dies because that doesnt require them to burn trees and also burial enriches the soil. (Photo: Screen grab) The animals graze in the fields in Bishnoi areas without any fear. The community is against poaching. In 2013, Rajesh Bedi published a book named Rajasthan: Under the Desert Sky in which he featured Kiran Bishnoi breastfeeding a three-month-old fawn. Accroding to the book, Kiran has fended the dogs that killed fawns mother and rescued her. She named fawn as Aarti and breastfeeds her along with her own baby daughter. She did this till the animal was young enough to be released into nature. (Photo: Screen grab) "These baby deers are my life and theyre like my own children. I feed them milk and food and ensure theyre given proper care and attention in the house like all my family members. They are not orphans when they have us around, they have new mothers like me who offer them a mothers feed for a healthy life, Mangi Devi Bishnoi, 45 told Daily Mail. (Photo: Screen grab) "We do not see them as just animals. They are very much like a family member. We take care of everything they may need to live a healthy life. We keep them protected in our house so that dangerous animals like wild dogs do not harm them. If theyre injured we keep them safe in our house and treat them like our children. My parents have never differentiated between a baby deer and me, " says 24-year-old Ram Jeevan Bishnoi. (Photo: Screen grab) We are one family and it is in our religion to protect them. We have followed this way of living for over 550 years with a lot of love and affection. We are very protective of our animals, especially the babies. We are helping them. Feeding them is what they need. We are very proud of what we do, added Ram Jeevan Bishnoi. Bengaluru: In a shocking incident caught on CCTV camera, a Manipuri woman was abducted while she was standing outside her PG residence by an unidentified person who allegedly tried to molest her, with no passerby coming to her rescue. In the video, the woman is seen speaking on her mobile phone when an unidentified man grabs her from behind and carries her off. He then took her to an under-construction building in an adjacent road where he allegedly tried to molest her. Several people were seen walking on the street but none tried to help her when the incident happened on the night of April 23 at Kathriguppe, a residential locality in south Bengaluru, but came to light only today. Recounting her ordeal, the woman said "I started shouting, he tried to close my mouth, then I bit him to rescue myself. Reacting to it he hit me, then I fell unconscious due to fear." He then fled from the scene leaving her lying unconscious. "I was unconscious for about five minutes, by then he was not there. My bag and phone was still there," she said. She said police came and enquired with her about the incident after the CCTV footage emerged. Manjula Manasa, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, assured all assistance to the victim. "Senior police officials should and will have to take action," she said. The woman said she felt the man's intentions were to sexually assault her, as he did not try to steal any of her belongings. "I feel this because I had a bag, purse and mobile with me and he did not target it. I think his intention was to sexually assault me," she said. Asked about police response, she said police asked her to file a case, but the owners of her paying guest suggested against it, saying it may cause problems for her. "I think they did that fearing bad name for their PG," she said. Police said they have obtained the CCTV footage, and would nab the culprit soon. DCP (South) Lokesh Kumar said he only got to know about the incident after it was reported in a TV channel, adding that investigation was now underway. Police response to the case was also being inquired into and action would taken if there were any lapses, he said. "The PG owner has now filed a complaint. In his complaint he has said that the woman had stated that she will decide on filing the complaint after discussing with her dear ones," Kumar said. The woman had left her PG room the next day and the owner was under the impression she would have filed the complaint. He came forward to file one after getting know that none had been made so far, the DCP said. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Nathalia Holt spoke about women in NASA's history and her new book at Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C., on April 20. Author Nathalia Holt signs her new book on early rocket history with advice to women who aspire to become space scientists:"Reach for the stars!" In partnership with Space.com, landmark Washington, D.C., bookseller Politics and Prose hosted Holt's book lecture at the restaurant Busboys and Poets on April 20. At the event, Holt spared no superlatives in describing her feelings when she first learned about the little-known women who formed the backbone of early NASA. Her new book, "Rise of the Rocket Girls" (Little, Brown and Co., 2016), follows the women as many as 200 who worked as "computers" in the 1940s and 1950s. These female mathematicians computed with a pen, pencil and slide rule to calculate trajectories and designs for early rockets. But despite their vital role in space history, these women's contributions to putting America in space were ignored for more than half a century, Holt said. Viewers can watch Holt's entire lecture in a new video from Politics and Prose. [Giant Leaps: Biggest Milestones of Human Spaceflight] "Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars" by Nathalia Holt (Image credit: Little, Brown and Company) At the lecture, Holt told an audience of enthusiastic space fans she was "shocked" that so many women mathematicians and engineers in those days were never given credit for their hard work in building the space program. Indeed, without these women, rocket pioneers such as Wernher von Braun could not have helped the United States catch up with the Soviet Union after the launch of its first satellite, Sputnik, and later put a man on the moon. For her book, Holt tracked down and interviewed many of those "rocket girls," most in their 80s, to get the real story of their work in the evolving missile and space effort after World War II at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. With those interviews, along with black-and-white photos and details from JPL's archives, Holt pieced together a remarkable story of smart, tenacious, underpaid and overworked women who could work through the complex computations necessary to put the first U.S. space satellite, Explorer, successfully into orbit. Holt's book paints a portrait of a group of women who were patriotic, loyal, humble and sweet but also incredibly intelligent, tenacious and hardworking. Most had earned advanced degrees in mathematics, physics or engineering, and gravitated to JPL because it had a "progressive hiring attitude" toward women at a time when only 25 percent of women worked outside the home. Holt's research showed those women pioneers were paid less than their male counterparts and were never given official credit by the government for their hard work. Yes, it was sexism plain and simple, Holt said. In fact, on the 50th anniversary of JPL and the Explorer launch, NASA did not even invite most of the women to the gala celebration. Nonetheless, the women were deeply appreciative for the chance to be part of such a historic endeavor, Holt added. It's perhaps sad, Holt said, that it took so long for these women space pioneers to be recognized. But hopefully, their uplifting story will inspire women today to persevere as scientists, engineers, physicists and rocket designers in the effort to put men and women on Mars, she added. Men continue to dominate the fields of study needed for humans to explore space, although a lot more women today are taking part in many facets of space travel, including designing new spacecraft, flying on missions and searching for extraterrestrial life, Holt noted. "My hope is, this will inspire young women today to go into science," Holt said. If her hopes come true in this 21st century of mind-boggling advances in our understanding of the universe, no doubt she will be happy to hear what the first person to step onto Mars may say: "This is one small step for man and woman, one giant leap for humankind." Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Scientists have found three alien planets orbiting an ultra-cool dwarf star about 40 light-years from Earth and they might have the potential to support life. This artist's illustration depicts a view of the three TRAPPIST-1 system planets, with one of the worlds crossing the face of its sun Three potentially habitable Earth-size planets have been discovered orbiting a dim, cold nearby star that is barely larger than Jupiter, researchers say. "These kinds of tiny, cold stars may be the places we should first look for life elsewhere in the universe, because they may be the only places where we can detect life on distant Earth-sized planets with our current technology," study lead author Michael Gillon, an astronomer at the University of Liege in Belgium, told Space.com. Astronomers focused on a star originally named 2MASS J23062928-0502285 that was discovered using TRAPPIST (TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope), a telescope in Chile. This dim cold red star, now known as TRAPPIST-1, is located in the constellation of Aquarius about 39 light-years from Earth. In comparison, Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system, is about 4.3 light-years from Earth. [Watch: See how the 3 TRAPPIST-1 Planets Might Support Life] This artist's illustration depicts an imagined view from the surface of one of the three newfound TRAPPIST-1 alien planets. The planets have sizes and temperatures similar to those of Venus and Earth, making them the best targets yet for life beyond our solar system, scientists say. (Image credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser) TRAPPIST-1 is 2,000 times less bright than the sun, a bit less than half as warm as the sun, about one-twelfth the sun's mass, and less than one-eighth the sun's width, making it only slightly larger in diameter than Jupiter. TRAPPIST-1 is a type of star known as an ultracool dwarf that is very common in the Milky Way, making up about 15 percent of the stars near the sun. Scientists spotted the three planets by observing TRAPPIST-1 dimming at regular intervals as the worlds crossed in front of it. This is the first time that distant planets, called exoplanets, have been found around an ultracool dwarf, the researchers said. "So far, the existence of such 'red worlds' orbiting ultracool dwarf stars was purely theoretical, but now we have not just one lonely planet around such a faint red star, but a complete system of three planets," study co-author Emmanuel Jehin, an astronomer at the University of Liege, said in a statement. These three planets are each only about 10 percent larger in diameter than Earth. "The kind of planets we've found are very exciting from the perspective of searching for life in the universe beyond Earth," study co-author Adam Burgasser at the University of California, San Diego, said in a statement. The two innermost planets are about 60 to 90 times closer to their star than the Earth to the sun, with orbits only 1.5 and 2.4 days long, respectively. The orbit of the third planet is currently less certain, ranging between 4.5 and 73 days long. The small size of the star and its planets' orbits means "the structure of this planetary system is much more similar in scale to the system of Jupiter's moons than to that of the solar system," Gillon said in the statement. Although all three planets orbit very near their star, the inner two planets receive only four times and two times, respectively, the amount of radiation that Earth receives, since their star is much fainter than the sun. The third outer planet probably receives less radiation than Earth does, the researchers said. Given how close TRAPPIST-1's trio of planets are to its star, the researchers suggest TRAPPIST-1's gravitational pull likely forced these worlds to become "tidally locked" to it. When a planet is tidally locked to its star, it will always show the same side to its star, just as the moon always shows the same face to Earth. This causes those worlds to each have one permanent dayside and one permanent nightside. The third of TRAPPIST-1's planets, the one farthest from the star, may lie within the star's habitable zone the area around a star where planets have surfaces warm enough to have liquid water, a key ingredient to life as it is known on Earth. The two planets closest to TRAPPIST-1 may have daysides that are too hot and nightsides that are too cold to host any kind of life as it is known on Earth, but the researchers suggest that the borders of the planets' day- and nightsides may be sweet spots temperate enough for life. For the most part, exoplanet-hunting missions have focused on finding systems around sun-like stars emitting visible light, but these stars can be so bright, they can drown out key features of their planets, the researchers said. In contrast, cold dwarf stars emit mostly infrared light, and are so faint they would not overwhelm details of their planets. TRAPPIST was designed to look for planets around 60 nearby ultracool dwarfs. [7 Ways to Discover Alien Planets] "The detection of these planets [around TRAPPIST-1] should intensify the search for more systems around ultracool dwarfs," Gillon said. "Exciting scientific adventures are now beginning." This image shows a size comparison between Earth's sun (left) and the tiny, ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 located 40 light-years from Earth. The star is home to three alien planets that may have the potential to support life. (Image credit: ESO) Since the planets around TRAPPIST-1 are relatively nearby, scientists can in principle analyze the compositions of their atmospheres, "and further down the road, which is within our generation, assess if they are actually inhabited," study co-author Julien de Wit, a planetary scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said in a statement. "All of these things are achievable, and within reach now. This is a jackpot for the field." The masses of these worlds remain unknown, but future research can pinpoint how much each of these planets gravitationally pulls at its siblings when they get close to each other, Gillon said. The strength of each planet's gravitational pull will help scientists deduce its mass, which in turn will help them estimate the planets' densities and, thus, compositions, he added. "We can tell if the planets are probably rocky, or rich in ice like the moons of Jupiter, or rich in metal like Mercury," Gillon said. The researchers noted that the Hubble Space Telescope and the forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope could help analyze the atmospheres of those planets for molecules linked with life, such as water, carbon dioxide and ozone. "Now we have to investigate if they're habitable," de Wit said in the statement. The scientists detailed their findings online today (opens in new tab) (May 2) in the journal Nature. Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. AP government is promoting construction of water pits in rural areas by providing funds to the farming community. (Photo: Representational Image) Vijayawada: A 2-km walk to raise awareness about the importance of constructing rain water harvesting pits to save water was held here this morning. Andhra Pradesh Ministers D Umamaheswara Rao and P Raghunatha Reddy flagged-off the walk in which nearly 1,000 people, including students and youths, participated. The ministers also launched the construction of two water harvesting pits at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium here. On the occasion, AP Water Resources Minister Umamaheswara Rao said the state government is promoting construction of water pits in rural areas by providing funds to the farming community in the name of 'Neeru-Pragati' (water and development) scheme. The government targets to construct 8.5 lakh farm ponds this year in the state, he said. The minister said the farmers who own below five acres of land, may use the funds from MGNREGS to construct farm ponds on their lands. He also appealed to people in urban areas to construct water harvesting systems in every house to improve the ground water level. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Strache grinningly waves the red-white-red flag of Austria at every opportunity; he had one in his hands even on election night. But the connection between the party and the Austrian nation remains unclear. The party is dedicated Austria uber alles, but many of its supporters seem even more devoted to the greater German nation. Yet the country's constitution -- which the president is charged with defending -- clearly forbids annexation with Germany. All this makes up the undercurrent of the conflict. Hofer promotes a system of Swiss-style direct democracy, but also thoroughly sympathizes with Orban and Putin -- and with Marine Le Pen, of course, as well. The position of president thus proves to be problematic -- because it encompasses authoritarian potential. In the constitution of 1920, largely written by the famous constitutional lawyer Hans Kelsen, the role of president was effectively that of being the country's notary. Reflecting the pre-fascist era, the Christian Conservatives gave the office more weight in 1929; inspired by the German Imperial President Hindenburg, the Austrian presidency was granted absolute powers. Now the president was to be directly elected by the people and responsible for naming the chancellor, ministers, judges, and high-ranking officials. Additionally he became commander in chief of the federal army. Same Old Messages The Second Austrian Republic's post-World War I declaration of independence says the country was to be modelled on the spirit of the 1920 constitution. The federal presidency, however, remained as it had been in 1929. Until now this has never been a problem as all presidents respected the constitution and never tested their powers. The situation now looks different. Candidates from the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) and from the conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP) received a combined 22 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential elections, not even two-thirds of Hofer's result. Those in the governing grand-coalition know they are themselves to blame for the debacle. First, the two parties in the coalition -- the SPO and the OVP -- should have put forward better candidates. Those nominated were little more than stopgap solutions. Second, the situation is peculiar. The economic data is positive and there can be no talk of social upheaval. But the two parties have ruled together for too long. The voting public has grown tired of the same old messages from the same two men who continually get in each other's way while merrily calling: "Let's do it!" Third, the refugee crisis has played into the hands of chauvinists. It is almost as if the government and right-wing opposition are in a competition to see who can destroy European Austria quicker. This frenzy is accompanied by the triumphant howling of the powerful tabloid newspapers, which have joined in the attacks on the government. "Seal Off Austria!" read one memorable headline in the Kroner Zeitung newspaper. Fourth: Europe. The resurrection of border checks on the Brenner Pass shows a distressing amount of historical indolence. The blocking of the Balkan route in cooperation with Balkan states not bound by EU laws was celebrated in Austria as a triumph over Angel Merkel's "welcoming culture." One can understand the concerns of a small country that takes more than its share of refugees and feels abandoned by the other EU member states. But instead of using the crisis to build up an effective EU border protection regime, those in government have preferred to play the national card prior to the European card. The lengthy grand-coalition has led to political paralysis. Platitudes about carrying on, cooperation and consensus have corroded all political distinctions. The nth tightening of the right to asylum has ultimately benefitted Strache more than the government. The Austrian Malady Strache and his gang have only needed to offer slogans about drastic measures, national pride and "Austria first" to seem like fresh faces who can finally bring about change. The fact that his colleagues first became well known for their involvements in nepotism and corruption scandals -- the collapse of the Hypo Alpe Adria Bank in Carinthia, which cost taxpayers billions of euros, is a prime example -- seem to have been forgotten. Norbert Hofer wants to make the most of his presidential role. He has said that people will be amazed by all that is possible. Yet his first debate with his opponent last week, the Green Party economist Alexander Van der Bellen, saw them both painstakingly seeking to avoid open conflict. The Austrian malady seems as extant as ever. There are problems, but they are wrapped in the bubble wrap of consensus. Foreign powers are warning of authoritarian, pre-fascist developments? That will only benefit Hofer: We Austrians elect who we want. Parties recommending against voting for Hofer? That would only motivate his opponents. This accommodating brand of politics paralyzes one half of the FPOs opponents, while the other resorts to alarmism and warnings of Bonapartism, the Third Republic or Orbanistan. It should be remembered that Austria is distinct from Hungary and Poland by way of its strong civil-society institutions -- and that the Social Democratic mayor of Vienna, Michael Haupl, beat Strache in fall 2015 communal elections by campaigning on the defense of human rights. This election will be close. Van der Bellen is almost 13 percentage points behind Hofer. The OVP has refused to recommend one candidate over the other -- indeed, many in the party are unopposed to governing together with the FPO. The SPO is hemming and hawing, but it is already joined with the FPO in a governing coalition in the Austrian state of Burgenland. Many of its top politicians have spoken out in favor of -- sshh! -- Van der Bellen. The chancellor and vice-chancellor both have an expiration date. And I am still happily explaining in the foreign media that there aren't yet any brown-shirted masses marching through the streets of Vienna. Armin Thurnher, 67, is publisher and editor-in-chief of the Viennese weekly magazine Falter. He is also the author of the book "Republik ohne Wurde" (which translates to "Republic without Dignity"), which takes an unflinching look at his country's political elite. Oran (Algeria), May 1, 2016 (SPS) - Prime Minister of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) Abdelkader Taleb Omar, on Sunday, urged all those who support Moroccan regime, especially France, to review their unjust positions towards Saharawi people. In an address at a ceremony marking the Labour Day, whose official celebration has taken place in Oran (432-km west of Algiers), in the presence of Algerian and Saharawi ministers, Taleb Omar said Morocco and all those who support it, mainly France, has to assume responsibility for the standoff and the hindrances to the efforts made by the United Nations to reach a fair solution to Western Sahara issue, calling them to review their unjust position towards Saharawi people. The Saharawi premier said France, which stands as an obstacle to the implementation of UN resolutions, must assume its historical responsibilities over Saharawi people's tragedy and suffering. He called the international community to speed up the return of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to organize a referendum on Saharawi people's self-determination, inviting UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to ensure the required resources for MINURSO to resume its mission. Abdelkader Taleb Omar urged the European Union to side with the international legitimacy concerning Western Sahara issue. He invited it to refer to European Court's latest decision about the trade agreement with Moroccans as well as to internation court's which denounce Morocco's attempts to plunder Western Sahara's natural resources under the pretext of investment. (SPS) 062/090/700 Luanda, May 2, 2016 (SPS) - Speaker of Angolan National Assembly Fernando da Piedad Dias dos Santos has reiterated his country's "unfailing support" to the legitimate struggle of Sahrawi people for their right to self-determination, said Sunday the Sahrawi news agency SPS. Fernando da Piedad Dias dos Santos has reiterated Saturday the unfailing support of Angola and its people to the legitimate struggle of the Sahrawi people, under the leadership of its sole and legitimate representative Polisario Front, for their inalienable right to self-determination and independence and for the liberation of the nation, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)." The Angolan speaker, whose country is member of the United Nations Security Council, expressed his country's position during his discussions with Sahrawi Ambassador to Angola and Namibia, Malainine Sadik. He also expressed wish to see the international community showing more solidarity with the Sahrawi people and intensifying efforts to enforce their rights to live free and independent in their homeland. The Sahrawi ambassador expressed "deep gratitude of the people and the Government of SADR to the Republic of Angola for its continued solidarity with the just cause of Sahrawi people. (SPS) 062/090/700 Oran, May 2, 2016 (SPS) - Prime Minister Abdelkader Taleb Omar said Sunday, in Oran, that the Sahrawi people are expecting an action from the United Nations (UN) Security Council to get Morocco to respect the international legitimacy. The Sahrawi people are waiting for a resolution of the Security Council to extend the mission of MINURSO (The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), responsible for the organization of self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi people in front of Moroccos obstinacy and its expulsion of this missions staff, he said on a press conference. We are peace and not war partisans. We just do not abandon our right to independence and we will use all legitimate means to defend this right without concealing the return to the armed action, he said. While broaching the measures to be taken in this regard, the Prime minister underlined that the Sahrawi Liberation Army decided on a plan on its preparation for any eventuality and the organization of manoeuvres to assess its military capacities. The strength of the Sahrawi people lies in their willingness and determination for their right to live, he stressed. (SPS) 062/090/700 CBI had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the VVIP choppers deal scam case. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday examined former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Tyagi arrived at CBI headquarters at around 10 am for questioning. The Milan Court of Appeals, equivalent of an Indian high Court has given details of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter-maker Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal. The order mentions the name of Tyagi at several points. CBI had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case. WATCH: Former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi reaches CBI headquarters in Delhi for questioning. #AgustaWestlandhttps://t.co/pMoOgzNJvC ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2016 The allegation against the former Air Chief was that he had reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000m to 4,500m (15,000ft) so that AgustaWestland was included in the bids. However, this decision was reportedly taken in consultation with the officials of SPG and the Prime Minister's Office including then NSA M K Narayanan. CBI has alleged that the reduction of the service ceiling maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally allowed the UK-based firm to get into the fray as otherwise its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. CBI which has received a copy of the Milan court order has now prepared a fresh set of questionnaire to put to Tyagi. Tyagi has denied allegations against him and has claimed that the decision to reduce the ceiling was taken by a group of senior officials. The agency had already questioned Tyagi but this session is the first after the Italian court order. His cousins have also been called by the agency. Bryan Mayer was the second student to complete Fleishers Craft Butcherys renowned apprenticeship program. The expert butcher is now heading back to the classroom to educate the next generation of whole animal butchers. This month, Mayer will return to Fleishers as the director of butchery education, where he will continue its tradition of revitalizing the art and craft of whole animal butchery. The Brooklyn-based craft butchery is known for its locally sourced and ethically raised meats, which it has sourced from small regional farmers since 2004. Mayer brings more than a decade of butchering and teaching experience to this position. From 2008 to 2012, he worked his way up to head butcher and lead instructor at Fleishers. More recently, he founded Kensington Quarters in Philadelphia, the citys only sustainable, whole animal butcher shop, restaurant and classroom. In his new role, Mayer will grow Fleishers apprenticeship program by doubling its capacity for educating restaurant chefs, professional butchers and recreational home cooks, and by expanding its chef education initiatives at Fleishers locations in Connecticut and Brooklyn. At the Greenwich and Westport locations, for example, the number of short-form public class offerings will expand. They are typically held on weeknights and weekends. The fully immersive program is a commitment, Mayer said. Butchers are in the classroom five days per week throughout the entire year. By time they graduate, students will be able to break down a carcass, understand the retail side of the business and learn the science of butchery, from different styles of cutting to animal anatomy. What well be able to do is lay the foundation for students to continue their process, Mayer said. Today the highly competitive Butcher Apprenticeship Program graduates 15 butcher per year and hopes to double that number moving forward. With the expansion of this program, Fleishers hopes to place itself at the forefront of the resurgence of the independent local butcher shop. The more butchers out there, the more people become aware of the tenets of what Fleishers promotes, Mayer said. It gives people more access, more butchers, more butcher shops, and prices go down and become more affordable. In addition to training more butchers, Mayer wants to work with well-known chefs to implement whole animal cookery in their kitchens. Many recreational cooks draw inspiration from what they witness at restaurants, on cooking shows and in magazines, according to Mayer. If done right, he thinks this cult of cooking could empower people to use high-quality ingredients, like Fleishers meats, and rewrite the narrative of the ethical food movement. This empowerment will include showing consumers what product to buy and how to cook it. For example, pork workshops have always been popular, and they want to build upon that success with expanded offerings for pig breakdown instruction. They also plan to launch classes on how to work with chicken since its a more everyday purchase, Mayer said. Overall, theres been great interest in the public classes, as well as private classes for occasions such as birthday parties or corporate outings, at the Connecticut locations. Mayer also wants to bring slaughter workshops to the public. Though people may get squeamish at the thought, he said hes never lost anyone after his demos. In fact, his workshop makes the farm-to-plate concept more tangible for participants, and they are then able to make better decisions at the deli counter. Megan.Dalton@scni.com; 203-625-4411 STAMFORD A $2 million settlement for a former city man who suffered serious head injuries after falling down an apartment stairwell should serve as a warning to negligent landlords, the mans attorney said on Monday. A Stamford jury recently awarded the settlement after finding the Irving Avenue property owners failed to provide a staircase handrail, resulting in Carlos Silvas fall in 2010. This is a message to landlords especially the smaller landlords who may think it is cost effective to ignore these safety rules set out by city ordinance to now think twice about not complying with the law, said John LaCava, Silvas attorney. I am happy they realized the seriousness of my clients injuries. While $2 million may seem to be a lot of money, and it is, the injuries that he suffered were very serious, and it was really fair compensation for those injuries. Silva, 51, spent six weeks in Stamford Hospital - much of the time in the intensive care unit - after the spill, LaCava said. Formerly employed as a window dresser, Silva lost his job after the accident a direct result of the cognitive and behavioral problems he suffered from his injuries, LaCava said. Silva has returned to his native Peru and did not attend the trial, the attorney said. Attorney Ingemar Heredia, who represented homeowners Sara Lima and Leonidas Carias in the case, said the accident has caused decimating losses for all parties involved. Heredia said he was retained last August when the couple who had been representing themselves in the case, needed an attorney for the trial, which lasted two days. Lima and Carias had limited homeowners insurance and had no liability insurance to pay for that type of accident. They also couldnt afford to pay for an expert witness whose testimony about Silvas intoxicated state on the day of the accident could have shifted more responsibility for the accident onto the tenant, Heredia said. The jury found Silva only 10 percent responsible for his injuries. Carias, who lived in the house, had testified that a handrail was in the stairwell when he rented the upstairs room to Silva several years earlier. Any number the jury came back with would have been too much for my clients to pay, Heredia said. The owners felt horrible for this person, Mr. Silva, who fell and his life changed forever. Lima and Carias will declare bankruptcy as a result of the award, Heredia said. jnickerson@scni.com; Do you have a mobile app lingering in the App Store and prompting just a handful of downloads each day? Has the excitement of a huge launch waned, leaving you wondering what you should do with the app? Related: 3 Essentials for Marketing Your Mobile App Ive been there, too. While the first app I ever created hit number eight under Educational Games, in 2011, my second app tanked: It generated a big zero on launch day. However, after a few tweaks, it went on to become my biggest revenue-generating app. Sometimes, its not your app idea that's your problem; the problem is that your app hasnt had a chance to shine. Here are seven strategies to revive your apps downloads and help you decide whether your software idea is worth pursuing. 1. A paid-to free-campaign This is one of my favorite strategies, and on average it generates 5,000 to 20,000 downloads in a matter of days. In fact, we have generated hundreds of thousands of downloads for a few of our clients this way. If youre not familiar with a paid-to-free campaign, its where you make a paid app available for free for a couple of days. If you have a free app out there, you can also make one of your in-app purchases free. However, the in-app purchase must be a non-consumable type, which means that the product is purchased once by users and does not expire or decrease with use. For example, your remove ads IAP is considered a non-consumable purchase. Consumable purchases generally are subscription-based and can't be made free within iTunes Connect. To successfully run this campaign, you need to get exposure on a website such as AppAdvice or BGR.com. Ive run this campaign without receiving press, and have seen only a few hundred downloads as a result -- whereas I've seen press coverage generate thousands of downloads. For more details on how to execute something similar, see the Paid to Free Campaign on my blog. 2. App Store Optimization Focusing on low competition, relevant keywords in your app name and your keyword field (iOS-only) can have a tremendous impact on downloads. Performing App Store Optimization, better known as App Store SEO, has resulted in a 277 percent increase in downloads for my app. One of my favorite tools to generate keywords is OneLooks reverse dictionary. The tool will provide you with a list of keywords that are related to whatever you input. You can then input these keywords into a tool like Sensor Tower or App Tweak to get a traffic and competition score. I tend to focus on keywords that have very little competition. Related: How Dreamt It Got Approved for Apple's App Store in 2 Hours 3. Seek a publisher There are many game publishers in the space that can provide you with immediate downloads. Publishers such as Ketchapp, Genera Games, Fortafy Games and others have the marketing knowledge, App Store connections and cross-promotional capabilities to ensure your game has a chance to become a hit. Before approaching any of these publishers, make sure your game is as polished as possible. Do not pitch them your minimum viable product. Even if these publishers end up passing on your game, the act of pitching them can lead to valuable feedback. 4. Revamp Your Designs The design of your app plays a huge part in convincing users to download it. From the icon to the App Store screenshots, to the user interface, users will be judging the quality of your software based on these superficial parameters. Thats why its important to test and have high-quality designs. Rich Wagstaff, an independent app developer, doubled his downloads simply by changing his app icon. He has been able to maintain his ranks by building a high-quality app that has good retention. 5. Make your app multilingual and local. Given the 28 regions in the App Store, and the fact that there is an App Store in each country, you would be naive to think that the world searches only for apps in English. Unless your app is designed for a specific language, you should take the time to localize your app in as many languages as possible. Gonzalo Juarez, co-founder at eTips, reports that localizing his apps has led to a greater-than-200 percent increase in downloads, including downloads in countries without previous exposure. Nick DInnocenzo, founder at Noobs Limited, saw three times the downloads for his app after he localized for 10 different languages. Juarez suggests first translating the words used in your app name and keyword field. Once you see an increase in downloads for a particular language, he suggests further translating your app description, then your screenshots and finally your in-app content. 6. Run Facebook ads. You can revive a dying app by buying app installs with Facebook ads, but you need to have a strategy in place for those ads to be effective. Buying installs provides two main benefits for an app that needs reviving: It moves it up in the App Store or Play Store rankings (because download velocity directly affects rankings). It helps you collect feedback from your new users, as well as valuable analytics data you can use to identify what you need to focus on to improve the app. Andrew Hubbard, of Smart App Marketer, suggests starting with a $25-to-$50-per-day budget and testing three different ad sets, with the budget split evenly among the three. Each ad set will target a different audience. Have one ad set target a "look-alike audience" based on your previous app installs, and the two other ad sets target people interested in two of your closely related competitors in the App Store. Let them run for at least 24 to 48 hours before turning off the worst performers. You can then also increase your budget allocated to the top performers (lowest CPI). Be sure to have analytics set up using either Google Analytics or Flurry. Install the Facebook SDK in your app and test different ad designs. 7. Sell the app, Finally, maybe, the time has come when you should move on: You've tried many of the strategies listed here, and still nothing has moved the needle. When iOS 8 was about to be released, I decided to sell my portfolio of childrens apps because I didnt want to update the code and graphics for my seven apps. They were still generating downloads, but I wanted to focus on games, so I decided to sell the apps. Websites like Flippa and Fliptopia make it really easy to buy and sell apps. From my experience, Fliptopia requires you to connect to your developer accounts so the buyer has all the downloads and sales information before bidding on your app, whereas Flippa will ask you to input these numbers manually. Muoyo Okome, founder of Daily Spark, sold his own app portfolio for multiple six figures on App Business Brokers. He suggests that having your business systemized will attract a higher bid from buyers, who typically search for a revenue-generating machine, not one that needs constant managing. Also, it is important to have a marketing plan in place to show potential buyers how they can grow revenues. Related: Write an App Store Description That Excites With These 5 Tips Conclusion Each of these strategies works in a different way, and can have varying impacts on your downloads and/or your revenue.Of course, selling your app as part of the seventh strategy will end a potentially recurring revenue stream, but this might just be the motivation for you to move on to bigger and better things. Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Srinagar: Union minister V K Singh's statement that separatist leaders can talk to Pakistan High Commissioner was welcomed by the moderate Hurriyat Conference on Monday while the hardline faction said peace will not be restored until promises made by the Centre to Kashmiri people were fulfilled. While welcoming Singh's statement, Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the Centre has realised that red lines do not work in politics or diplomacy, the chief of hardline faction, Syed Ali Shah Geelani said peace cannot be achieved till promises made by India to the people of Kashmir at the national and global level are fulfilled. "It (Singh's statement) is better late than never. Perhaps the government of India has realised the red lines which they had drawn do not work either in politics or diplomacy," Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told reporters here. Terming it as a "welcome change" and an "acceptance of the reality", he said there is no other option for India and Pakistan but to engage with each other and take along the people of Kashmir. He suggested that the Centre need to revisit the policies of "shedding the beaten track and take new initiatives" of former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to address Kashmir issue. In a written reply in Parliament on April 28, Singh had said that since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so-called Kashmiri 'leaders' are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India. The Mirwaiz said the Kashmir is among India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and Hurriyat has always maintained that it is the primary party to the dispute. He also accused the state government of using "oppressive methods" to silence the separatists. The Mirwaiz threatened mass agitation if the curbs on the movement of separatists are not withdrawn immediately. Meanwhile, dismissing Singh's statement, Geelani said "It is not an issue for us whether we are invited or not. Our only concern is that the promises made by India to the people of Kashmir at the national and global level are fulfilled." "UN resolutions be implemented to give an opportunity to the people of J-K the right to self-determination. Till then peace cannot be achieved," he told reporters. He said Kashmir was not a border dispute between India and Pakistan, but an "internationally accepted dispute and the solution of which lies in implementation of UN resolutions." Geelani alleged that plans were being made by BJP and RSS to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir by holding an all-India level medical entrance test. "They will then be selected at all-India level and if students from here are selected, they will be sent to different states and doctors from other states will be forced upon us. "This is the plan of RSS and BJP, to turn Valley of Muslim saints into a Hindu Rashtra. They want to force Hindutva upon us," Geelani said. About his successor in his party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and the Hurriyat Conference amalgam, Geelani said the leader would be chosen after consultations following his death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with the e-rickshaw beneficiary, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doctoring his date of birth and educational qualifications and threatened to reveal the facts on Tuesday. Party leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil would be addressing a press conference on Tuesday on the issue. On Sunday, vice-chancellor of Gujarat University M N Patel said that Modi had completed his post-graduation in political science in 1983 and had scored 62.3% as an external student of the varsity. Patel revealed the information days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Central Information Commission (CIC) of covering up the Prime Ministers educational qualifications. Congress had on Sunday alleged discrepancies in Modis date of birth. In students register of MN College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Narendra Modis date of birth is mentioned as August 29, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950, Gohil had said in Ahmedabad. Gohil had also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modis Masters degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. A rmed police have shot a man dead during a raid linked to the alleged murder of a Kent pensioner. Kent Police say they were carrying out a pre-planned operation at 8.30pm last night in the village of Goudhurst when the shooting took place. A spokesman for the force said a 36-year-old man was killed when shots were fired at a house in Smiths Lane. A gun was also recovered, police said. The raid was linked to the murder of Roy Blackman, 73, who was found bludgeoned to death in his bungalow near Biddenden on March 21 after burglars allegedly stole his safe. A later post-mortem found Mr Blackman died from blunt force injuries to his head, neck and chest. The Kent Police spokesman said the dead man, who has not been formally identified, had been arrested in connection with the investigation into Mr Blackman's murder and was on bail. Roy Blackman: The pensioner was bludgeoned to death / Kent Police He said: After being notified by Kent Police, IPCC investigators deployed to the scene to oversee post incident procedures. Tests are being carried out on what appears to be a non-police firearm found at the scene, and forensic examination will continue throughout today. As with any fatal police shooting, an independent investigation was declared by the IPCC soon after being made aware of the incident. A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a woman and a boy were stabbed at a flat in Vauxhall. It is understood that police were called to Tyers Street at 3.45am on Sunday. Today Walter Pantellaro, 26, was accused of a series of offences. He is charged with the attempted murder of a 22-year-old woman and the wounding with intent of her 15-year-old brother. Pantellaro is also accused of racially/religiously aggravated common assault by beating and possession of a knife in a public which police said was in connection with a separate incident. He appeared at Camberwell Magistrates Court on Monday and remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Inner London Crown Court on May 27. The injured woman remains in a critical condition while her brothers injuries are not said to be life-threatening, police said. T his is the shocking moment two teenage boys attack a moped rider with a hammer before speeding off on his vehicle in east London. The attack, carried out on November 4 in Leytonstone Road, was one of 34 robberies 16-year-olds John Smith and Shemar Williams carried out over a two-week period. In the video, the pair are shown waiting up the road for the moped driver to arrive before blocking his path. When he tries to resist, one of the teenagers swings at his head with a lump hammer, threatening him again until he gives up his bike. Jailed: John Smith and Shemar Williams / Met Police The robbers targeted 33 other people during their spree around Forest Gate and Stratford, either stealing mopeds from their drivers or riding up behind women and swiping their handbags. Often, the pair brandished a hammer or knife and, on one occasion, a rider was hospitalised following their attack on him. On Friday, Williams, of Chestnut Avenue, Forest Gate, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail, with a further 18 months for two separate knife-point robberies. Smith, of Romford Road, Forest Gate, was jailed for five years. Both boys had previously admitted conspiracy to rob at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Detective Superintendent Raffaele D'Orsi, from Operation Venice, the Met's moped crime team, said: "I want to commend my colleagues from the borough who secured this successful conviction. "Their work in this case has led to two dangerous individuals being taken off the streets, ultimately stopping them from committing more offences and causing serious injury to potential victims." A south-west London woman today heaped praise on the fantastic emergency services who came to her aid when her home flooded after she went into labour. Briar Coles, 32, had to be rescued from her Chessington home by boat while she had contractions after a burst water main plunged her entire street under water. Today she thanked the police, fire crew and paramedics who joined in with the recovery effort and helped to ensure her baby girl Andreya was born healthy just hours later. The physiotherapist said she realised her home was moments from flooding after being woken up in early hours of last Saturday (23) by a phone call from a neighbour. Healthy: Andreya was born on April 23 weighing nine pounds six ounces / Briar Coles I got up and heard an alarm going off. I first thought my fiance Barrys motorbike might be being stolen, she said. Then I saw all the neighbours lining the street. I didn't really notice the water to begin with. I rang my neighbour back. She said: Just to let you know the whole street is flooded and its about to come into your house. Proud dad: Barry Pitts, 32, with his newborn daughter / Briar Coles Obviously I was in shock. I woke up Barry. He went out to try and save the car but it was too late. By that point the water was at foot level, and neighbours were yelling across the street. Barry shouted across the road to say I was in labour, and then waded down to where the police were. Sisters: 22-month-old Ariana holds Andreya / Briar Coles After 10 minutes there was a police medic who managed to wade back to see me. Not long after more emergency services were on the scene trying to convince Ms Coles to leave her 22-month-old daughter behind with a friend so she could go to hospital. Eventually medics managed to get her into a rescue boat and transported her to a waiting ambulance, and hours later she gave birth to Andreya, weighing nine pounds and six ounces. Rescue: Despite the contractions, Briar was able to snap photos of the recovery effort / Briar Coles Ms Coles thanked all the emergency crew who helped with the rescue effort but reserved special praise for the police medic who was first on scene. He had no waterproof gear on, only police gear, she said. It was freezing cold, that water, as well as probably dirty and contaminated. It was five minutes after our neighbours had told him. I cant thank him enough. He was great. And the whole fire rescue team, and the paramedics. Everyone was fantastic. Pc Shepherd, the police medic first to reach Ms Coles, said: I had just arrived on scene when I heard the call on the radio informing us that there was a woman going into labour in one of the flooded houses. As a trained medic I made the call to go into the water, reach her house and provide any help that I could. I knew that the ambulance was not going to be able to get to her. "The water was freezing cold and it was up to my knees. It was worth it, I am happy that I was able to help Briar. Ms Coles now faces three to six months living nearby with her fiance Barry Pitts mother while the damage done to her home is repaired. But she insisted the situation could have been much worse and said she was pleased no one was hurt. Knee-deep: A police medic had to wade through the water to reach Ms Coles and her family / Briar Coles Some 40 homes had to be barricaded against flood waters after a leak sent gallons of water spilling into the street in the middle of the night. Firefighters said the water was up to 40 inches deep in places following the burst at about 1am on Saturday April 23. Several streets including Hook Road and Clayton Road were affected. P rincess Charlotte has celebrated her first birthday with a shower of gifts and cards from 64 different countries today. From Armenia to Zambia, world leaders, community groups and well-wishers sent a collection of items to mark the landmark day, which comes after Kensington Palace released new photos of the princess. Her uncle Prince Harry gave the child a New Zealand rugby sleepsuit and Wellington rugby snowsuit, brought back during his tour of Nthe country. Playing out: Princess Charlotte at home in Norfolk / The Duchess of Cambridge Kensington Palace also revealed how Prime Minister David Cameron gave the princess a copy of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales. A cot blanket made from Tasmanian merino wool, sourced from Launceston's renowned Waverley Woollen Mills, was sent by the Australian government. Princess Charlotte - In pictures 1 /106 Princess Charlotte - In pictures HRH The Duchess of Cambridge PA KENSINGTON PALACE/AFP via Getty Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing with their newborn daughter at St Mary's Hospital on May 2, 2015 in London, England. The Duchess was safely delivered of a daughter at 8:34am this morning, weighing 8lbs 3 oz who will be fourth in line to the throne Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus with Prince Louis and George PA Princess Charlotte pictured at Kensington Palace in the first of three images released to mark her fourth birthday HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Princess Charlotte arrives for her first day of school Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on 29 September 2016 in Victoria, Canada Getty Images Cheekily looking out from behind Kate as she arrives for school PA Meeting Helen Haslem, the head of the lower school at Thomas's Battersea PA Princess Charlotte runs with a flower in the third picture released to mark her fourth birthday HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Princess Charlotte pictured playing at the Cambridge's their home in Norfolk in the second of three images released to mark her fourth birthday HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Prince George gives his little sister Princess Charlotte a kiss . This photograph was taken by the Duchess of Cambridge in mid-May at Anmer Hall in Norfolk HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Princess Charlotte on her first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing with their newborn daughter at St Mary's Hospital on May 2, 2015 in London, England. The Duchess was safely delivered of a daughter at 8:34am this morning, weighing 8lbs 3 oz who will be fourth in line to the throne John Stillwell/PA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing with their newborn daughter at St Mary's Hospital on May 2, 2015 in London Getty Images The announcement of the birth of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge's second child outside Buckingham Palace on May 2, 2015 in London Getty Images People take photographs of the official announcement of the birth of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge's second child at the gats of Buckingham Palace on May 2, 2015 in London Getty Images A general view of crowds gathered at Buckingham Palace after the birth of the new princess on May 2, 2015 in London Getty Images Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is pushed in her silver cross pram as she leaves the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate after her Christening on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge Getty Images Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is pushed in her silver cross pram as she leavesthe Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn Chris Jackson/Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge stand as Prince George of Cambridge looks into Princess Charlotte of Cambridge's pram as they leave the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate after the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn Matt Dunham/Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge speak with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, as they leave the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate after the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn Matt Dunham/Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge Chris Jackson/Getty Images Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is pushed in her silver cross pram as she leavesthe Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn Mary Turner/Getty Images Princess Charlotte of Cambridge plays with a teddy as she is seen at Anmer Hall earlier this month taken by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Sandringham in November 2015 HRH The Duchess of Cambridge The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, in a photograph taken late October 2015 at Kensington Palace in London PA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with their children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, enjoy a short private skiing break on March 3, 2016 in the French Alps, France Getty Images Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, President of the Football Association, is given an England shirt for Princess Charlotte during a visit to the England Women Senior Team at The National Football Centre at St. George's Park on May 20, 2015 in Burton-Upon-Trent Getty Images Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh watch a fly past during the Trooping the Colour, marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall on 11 June 2016 Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge watch a fly past during the Trooping the Colour, marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall on 11 June 2016 Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge watch a fly past during the Trooping the Colour, marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall on 11 June 2016 Getty Images Zara Tindall, Anne, Princess Royal, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Countess of Wessex watch a fly past during the Trooping the Colour, marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall on 11 June 2016 Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they arrive at Victoria International Airport, in Victoria, Canada, on the first day of their official tour of Canada PA William, The Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte visit Canada Mark Large/Daily Mail The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron,Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on 24 September 2016 Mark Large/Daily Mail Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on 29 September 2016 in Carcross, Canada Getty Images Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on 29 September 2016 in Victoria, Canada Getty Images Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at a children's party at Government House in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on 29 September 2016 Reuters The Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte at a children's party for Military families at Government House in Victoria during the Royal Tour of Canada PA Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada Getty Images Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada Getty Images Britain's Princess Charlotte plays with balloons at a children's party at Government House in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Reuters Princess Charlotte of Cambridge plays with a dog named Moose at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on 29 September 2016 in Carcross, Canada Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on 29 September 2016 in Victoria, Canada Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on 29 September 2016 in Victoria, Canada Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte leave from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on 01 October 2016 in Victoria, Canada Getty Images Princess Charlotte leaves from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on 01 October 2016 in Victoria, Canada Getty Images Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte leave from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on 01 October 2016 in Victoria, Canada Getty Images Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte on 01 October 2016 PA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive to attend the service at St Mark's Church on Christmas Day 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive to attend the service at St Mark's Church on Christmas Day 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire Getty Images Princess Charlotte of Cambridge leaves following the service at St Mark's Church on Christmas Day 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire Getty Images Princess Charlotte pictured in Norfolk, England (April 2017) HRH The Duchess of Cambridge The Duchess of Cambridge beckons the bridesmaids and pageboys, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte towards a waiting car following the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton to James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, west of London, on May 20, 2017 AFP/Getty Images The Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge look out from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade on 17 June 2017 Getty Images Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge view helicopter models H145 and H135 before departing from Hamburg airport on the last day of their official visit to Poland and Germany on July 21, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany Getty Images The Duchess of Cambridge carries Princess Charlotte of Cambridge as they arrive with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge on day 1 of their official visit to Poland on July 17, 2017 in Warsaw, Poland Getty Images Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at Warsaw airport to start a 3 day tour on July 17, 2017 in Warsaw, Poland Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's 2017 Christmas card photograph Getty Images Princess Charlotte on her first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Princess Charlotte arrives at the Lindo Wing after the birth of his Prince Louis on April 23, 2018 GC Images Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PA Princess Charlotte plants a kiss on her newborn baby brother Prince Louis in this adorable snap taken by their mother HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Britain's Prince George of Cambridge hold hands with their father, Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, as Britain's Prince Louis of Cambridge is carried by Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on their arrival for his christening service at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, London on July 9, 2018 AFP/Getty Images Princess Charlotte playing as her father, the Duke of Cambridge, takes part in the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy at the Beaufort Polo Club, Downfarm House, Westonbirt, Tetbury PA Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, (2R) and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, (L) and their three children Prince Louis of Cambridge (2L), Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (C) and Prince George of Cambridge (R) posing for a photograph at Anmer Hall in Norfolk in the Autumn of 2018 Matt Porteous via AFP/Getty Images Princess Charlotte pictured at Kensington Palace to celebrate her 4th Birthday HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Princess Charlotte on a family visit to The Duchess of Cambridge Back to Nature Garden co-designed with Adam White and Andree Davies at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London Matt Porteous via PA Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge having fun together after the inaugural Kings Cup regatta hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on August 08, 2019 in Cowes Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte greet people as they leave the St Mary Magdalene's church after the Royal Family's Christmas Day service on the Sandringham estate Reuters Charlotte arriving for her first day of school at Thomas's Battersea in September 2019 PA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte greet people as they leave the St Mary Magdalene's church after the Royal Family's Christmas Day service on the Sandringham estate PA The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George taken in Norfolk (2019) by the Duchess of Cambridge PA Princess Charlotte smelling a bluebell at their home in Norfolk in Spring 2019, which was referred to by the Duchess in the 'Happy Mum, Happy Baby' podcast with Giovanna Fletcher. PA Princess Charlotte makes an appearance on The Big Night In paying tribute to frontline key workers during the coronavirus pandemic BBC Kensington Palace The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George attend a special pantomime performance at London's Palladium Theatre, hosted by The National Lottery, to thank key workers and their families for their efforts throughout the pandemic PA They also contributed 5,000 to the Healesville Sanctuary, part of Zoos Victoria, to support its work. The Prime Minister of Canada gave Charlotte a snowsuit, a book, and donated 54,000 to Immunize Canada. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of New Zealand contributed a selection of teddy bears, baby blankets and bootees, all made from Stansborough wool. The princess has also received gifts during various state visits, including a set of Chinese figurines, and a silver rattle from Mexico. During their recent visit from the White House, the Obamas dropped off a jigsaw and a teddy resembling their dog Bo, to match Prince George's. Princess Charlotte turns one A spokeswoman for Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for all the letters, gifts and good wishes they have been fortunate to receive in the year since Princess Charlotte was born. "Princess Charlotte has received gifts and letters from schools, community groups and well-wishers across the world, including blankets, clothes, cards, books, toys and hand-knitted bootees. "The couple have taken a number of gifts into their home, some gifts are stored within The Royal Household, and some gifts were donated to organisations which could make good use of them." T wo exceptionally talented RAF student pilots who died after their plane crashed into a remote field in Yorkshire have been named by police. The light aircraft they were travelling in crashed in fields between Castle Howard and the A64 north of York on Saturday. North Yorkshire Police today named the victims as 25-year-old Ajvir Singh Sandhu from Essex and Cameron James Forster, 21, from Sussex. Both men were student pilots in the RAF. Group captain Ian Laing, station commander at Royal Air Force Linton-on-Ouse, said: "We were very saddened to hear of the deaths of Aj Sandhu and Cam Forster in a civilian flying accident at the weekend. They were both exceptionally talented young men in the prime of their lives. The thoughts of everyone at RAF Linton-on-Ouse are with their family and friends at this difficult time. Police said they received multiple calls from members of the public at about 10.40am on Saturday after the aircraft came down. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are continuing to probe the cause of the crash. Speaking at the scene on Saturday, Superintendent Mark Grange, of North Yorkshire Police, said the plane landed more than 200m away from the nearest houses and looked like it had come straight down. He added: [The aircraft is] in a bad way and it's obviously come down heavily. It's sat on its underside so it has not flipped. Whether they tried to land like that I don't know. I cannot say where they were going and what they were doing in the air. A n investigation has been launched after almost 100 people fell ill on board a Disney cruise ship. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 92 passengers and five crew members reported suffering from a stomach bug on the Disney Wonder last week. The ship, which had almost 2,700 passengers and 1,000 crew members on board, departed Miami on Wednesday last week for the Bahamas and returned to Florida on Sunday. The ill passengers, whose primary symptom was vomiting, were reportedly confined to their rooms for 24 hours. Cruise activities were unaffected. A Disney Cruise Line spokesman told the Orlando Sentinel: Our primary focus was on taking care of our guests and crew. We have a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing this kind of situation and closely follow CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of common stomach-related illnesses. The Standard has approached Disney Cruise Line for further comment. The last time a Disney cruise ship had a significant illness outbreak was in 2002, on board the Disney Magic. The Disney Wonder, which began sailing in 1999, is one of the oldest liners in the fleet. P rince Harry has launched the 2017 Invictus Games in Canada and urged the nation to embrace the sporting spectacle and salute those who have served their country. Harry said he was proud to be part of the event's "unconquerable spirit of determination" first expressed by competitors during the inaugural Games staged in London. He is gearing up for the follow-up Invictus which will be held in Orlando, Florida, next week but flew to Canada to help kick-off the third Games which will be hosted by Toronto in 2017. The prince has been the driving force behind the Paralympic-style event for injured servicemen and women and veterans and was joined at the launch ceremony by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Harry launches Invictus 2017 In a speech Harry highlighted what had been achieved by the first Games, saying: "We created a platform which helped to smash the stigma that existed around their injuries, particularly for those missing limbs, who showed that they weren't afraid to talk about their experiences. "We showed that veterans didn't need our sympathy, just the opportunity to play a meaningful role in society once again. "They showed us the strength of the human spirit. They showed us that despite huge adversity, the impossible was possible. The Invictus spirit was born - an unconquerable spirit of determination, camaraderie and service that I am incredibly proud to be a part of." As Harry spoke on stage at the exclusive Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto, he was flanked by Canada's Invictus team which will be flying to Orlando in a few days. The prince told the audience of veterans, their families and military servicemen and women: "2017 will be your chance, your opportunity to salute those that serve your country; to salute those that put themselves in harm's way so you don't have to. "On home soil, during this most auspicious of years, as Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary and remembers the events and sacrifices at Vimy Ridge, you will have the chance to cheer on the custodians of the Invictus spirit. "Your support will create a life changing atmosphere for competitors and spectators alike. Who knows, it may even help a Canadian clean sweep of medals." Additional reporting by Press Association. The affected workers, including women, said in the letter that they felt the Centre's monetary need was more than theirs as the central government's expenditure was more. (Photo: Videograb) Latehar, Jharkhand: As a mark of protest, MGNREGA workers in Manika block of Latehar have in separate envelopes returned their Rs 5 'meagre' wage hike to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May Day. Enclosing the money with a letter, the workers affiliated to the Gram Swaraj Mazdoor Sangh "expressed concern" at the "meagre" hike as they felt that the central government was facing "paucity of funds", otherwise the wages would have definitely increased in tune with Jharkhand's minimum daily wage which is Rs 212. "The minimum wage under centrally-sponsored MGNREGA in Jharkhand is Rs 162 and after the hike it stands at Rs 167. But we are fortunate that increase in 17 other states was less than five rupees. It appears that the labourers in Odisha have become prosperous as their wages have not been increased," the letter said. Further, the affected workers, including women, said in the letter that they felt the Centre's monetary need was more than theirs as the central government's expenditure was more. "Pondering over all these factors, we, the MGNREGA workers, in unison, have decided to return to you the five-rupee hike with the hope that you may make happy companies, friends and employees," the letter concluded signing off "labourer" as the sender. The MGNREGA workers took out a protest rally under the banner of "Gram Swaraj Mazdoor Sangh" and held a meeting to mark the day on Sunday, a press release by the protesters said. HM King Mohammed VI Arrives in UAE for Fraternity and Working Visit Contact: K. Drawi, 240-994-2476 ROCKVILLE, Md., May 2, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Morocco's King Mohammed VI, accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, arrived on Saturday 30th in Abu Dhabi, coming from Qatar, for a fraternity and working visit to the United Arab Emirates. At his arrival at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport, the King was greeted by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Later on, the two leaders held talks on ways to enhance relations of cooperation between the two countries in various fields. The talks also dealt with issues of common interest and the latest developments in the regional and international arena. On this occasion, HM King Mohammed VI was greeted by a number of Emirati sheikhs and ministers, notably HH Sheikh Tahnoune Bin Mohammed Al Nahyane, representative of the governor of the eastern region, HH Sheikh Seif Bin Zaid Al Nahyan, vice president of the ministers council, interior minister and HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Nahyan, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation. For his part, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zaid Al Nahyan was welcomed by members of the delegation accompanying HM the King during this visit, composed mainly of HM the King's advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, foreign minister Salaheddine Mezouar and Morocco's ambassador in Abu Dhabi Mohamed Ait Ouali. Following this meeting, HM the King was greeted by Morocco's ambassador in Abu Dhabi Mohamed Ait Ouali as well as by members of the diplomatic mission of the Kingdom in the UAE. New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party has said that Hurriyat leaders are Indian citizens and the government does not have any problem with them meeting the Pakistani High Commissioner or any foreign representative in India. However, it clarified that there would be no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan. Minister of state for external affairs General VK Singh on April 28 gave a written reply in Parliament said, Since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so called Kashmiri leaders are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India, said VK Singh in his reply. Read: Pathankot attack: Talks possible only if Pak takes action, says Ajit Doval However, India has consistently maintained that there is no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan as per the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. Indias displeasure at Pakistans attempts to interfere in Indias internal affairs has been repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan, he further stated. In August 2014, the Modi government had imposed a new pre-condition to talks with Pakistan, cancelling foreign secretary meet on the argument that the Pakistani High Commissioner had met Hurriyat leaders before the official talks. Read: Pakistan blinks first, cancels NSA-level talks with India The India- Pakistan dialogue process was also temporarily halted after the Pathankot attack, following which Abdul Basit, the Pak envoy to India, said talks between the two countries have been suspended. Last week, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, held their first bilateral meeting after the Pathankot attacks during the Heart of Asia conference in New Delhi last week. A farmer walk with a calf on parched lake bed at drought-hit Hukunda near Chikmagalur in Karnataka on Thursday. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: As crops failed in large swathes across the state and water bodies have dried up over the last two years, the Telangana state government fought shy of moving the Centre for relief funds. This cost the government large amounts of funds from the Centre to mitigate the effects of drought, and adversely impacted farmers. When it actually did approach the Centre, its cl-aims were full of holes, and local politics appeared to dominate the list. Therefore, when the Centre announced Rs 1,540 crore for Karnataka, Rs 3,050 crore for Maharashtra, Rs 2,033 crore for Madhya Pradesh and Rs 1,800 crore for Tamil Nadu for drought relief, Telangana state got `700 crore while what it sought was over Rs 3,000 crore. In 2014-15, the year the state was formed, the government did not declare drought in any mandal. This deprived the state of funds from the Centre; farmers lost out on input subsidy and rescheduling of loans. Last year, the government sat on reports for months even as the state experienced an unprecedented drought right from the start of the 2015-16 kharif season. It was only at the end of November that the government finally listed 231 mandals, out of the 430 in the state, as drought-hit. This list contained some mandals with normal rainfall while several of those that were drought-hit were missed out. The government overlooked the reports submitted by the collectors, giving scope for the Opposition to accuse the TRS government of discriminating against Assembly constituencies held by Opposition MLAs. For instance, four mandals in Siricilla constituency held by IT minister K.T. Rama Rao figured in the list though only Gambiraopet experienced deficit rainfall. Three mandals in Huzurnagar constituency held by finance minister Etela Rajender recorded deficit rainfall but did not figure in the list. Barring Hyderabad, the government declared drought-hit mandals in the remaining nine districts. While all mandals in Mahbubnagar, Medak and Nizamabad districts were declared drought-hit, the list of the other six districts turned controversial. The government had constituted a nine-member committee headed by special chief secretary, finance, K. Pradeep Chandra in October 2015 to select drought-hit mandals. Collectors were asked to submit the list of drought-hit mandals to the committee for scrutiny and make recommendations to the government. Mr Chandra said, The committee has no role in the declaration of drought-hit mandals. We have only brought the facts to the notice of the government. The final decision on declaring drought-hit mandals rests with the government. Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said, We followed the State Handbook for Management of Drought 1995 and Centres manual for drought management while selecting drought-hit mandals. There is no question of discriminating against any mandals on political grounds. Mr Srinivas Reddy is incharge of declaring the drought-hit mandals. While the Karimnagar collector had repeatedly recommended 40 out of 57 mandals as drought-hit, the government selected 19. Most mandals were in constituencies held by ruling TRS MLAs. In Warangal district, the collector had recommended 30 out of 51 mandals as drought-hit, but the government selected 11, mostly held by TRS MLAs. I approached the High Court against this discrimination but the government submitted before the court that it would examine the issue and rectify the discrepencies. This has not not happened so far, said Congress legislator T. Jeevan Reddy from Jagtial in Karimnagar district. In Jeevan Reddys Jagtial constituency, three mandals Jagtial, Rayakal and Sarangapur are drought-hit and Karimnagar district collector Neetu Kumari Prasad recommended drought in all these mandals. But none of these mandals figured in the final list. Opposition puts blame on KCR Opposition parties and social organisations are putting the blame dir-ectly on Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for the poor handling of the two successive years of drought in TS. For one, the Chief Minister had frequently stated there was no use declaring a drought. Two, the official machinery maintained a casual approach in identifying drought-hit mandals. Mr Rao went into damage control mode Friday by chairing his first drought meeting in his two-year term with collectors in attendance, but the Opposition said it was too late. The CM repeatedly ridiculed visits by Central teams both in the Assembly and outside. He termed them as timepass teams which simply come and go with no end result. If this is the approach of the CM towards drought, how do we expect of the official machinery to be serious, said TS TD working president A. Revanth Reddy. The TJAC, which wor-ked with the TRS during the statehood agitation, is upset with the governments approach. There are no concrete measures to provide relief. The identification of drought-hit mandals itself is faulty. While all the 430 mandals are witnessing severe drought, the government decla-red only 231 as drought-hit. It should take village as unit and not mandal, said TJAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram, who toured the districts and submitted a report on April 27. The BJP said the TRS government had failed to spend the drought funds sanctioned by the Centre on providing drinking water. Over Rs 300 crore central funds are lying unused at district level, said TS BJP president Dr K. Laxman. The Centre is ready to help the state government, but there is no serious initiative from its side to use the funds and ask for more, he said. A 35-year-old Sidney, Nebraska, man was killed early Sunday when a semitractor trailer slammed into the rear of his minivan on Interstate 80 in the Nebraska Panhandle. The Nebraska State Patrol said Victor Wooley died in the 1:25 a.m. crash on eastbound I-80 just west of Big Springs in Deuel County near the I-80 and Interstate 76 split into Colorado. Capt. Jamey Balthazor said Wooley was a passenger in a 1997 Dodge Minivan, driven by Sophia Wooley, 26, also of Sidney, that apparently stopped in a traffic lane of eastbound I-80. A 2004 Peterbilt semi driven by Timothy Medicine Horn of Murdo, South Dakota, struck the rear of the minivan, he said. He said the accident was investigated by the patrol and the Deuel County Sheriffs Office. The addition of $15,000 in safety gear will give the Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department a better chance for success when it is called to rescue people trapped in grain bins. On Saturday, several firefighters completed 50 hours of training from the Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office, according to the departments Facebook page. The new grain bin rescue equipment was made possible by a grant from Farm Credit Services, a donation from Wiles Brothers Fertilizer Inc. of Plattsmouth and proceeds from a spaghetti dinner. The new equipment includes ropes, helmets and harnesses. Firefighters also learned how to create a grain bin rescue wall to keep rescuers from sinking into the grain. The rescue wall digs into the grain to surround a trapped person. Specialty ropes will also allow firefighter to conduct rescues from high angles and low angles. A Nebraska-to-Alaska rescue operation is gearing up to save the tractor used by Americas last homesteader. Friends of Homestead National Monument of America have launched a crowdfunding Internet campaign in hopes of raising nearly $44,000 to lift the tractor out of the Alaska wilderness and truck it 3,500 miles to Nebraska this summer. It would be restored and displayed at the monument near Beatrice as part of the story of the Homestead Act of 1862. Time is critical, said Diane Vicars of Beatrice, president of the friends organization. The 1942 Allis-Chalmers Model B tractor is deteriorating as it sits idle, exposed to the weather and threatened by periodic wildfires. We have to do something sooner than later or its really going to be too late and well be out of luck, Vicars said. Mark Engler, Homestead National Monument superintendent, said the tractor from the nations last homestead would be an important artifact to display on the site of the nations first homestead. The monument near Beatrice in southeast Nebraska preserves the site of Union Army soldier Daniel Freemans claim. We think of homesteading as something that happened long ago, but it didnt end until the 1980s in Alaska, Engler said. To have something as significant as the last homesteaders tractor and preserve it for future generations would complete the loop from the first homestead to the last. Engler said he has approached the University of Nebraska-Lincoln tractor club to restore the machine as a service project. The Homestead Act was one of the most significant and enduring events in the westward expansion of the United States. By granting 160 acres of land to claimants for free, it allowed nearly any man or woman an opportunity to stake a claim in exchange for building a dwelling and cultivating the land. It was in effect until 1976 and 1986 in Alaska. Four million settlers, including former slaves and immigrants, attempted to successfully homestead; less than half succeeded. Forty-five percent of Nebraska was claimed by homesteaders. In Alaska, homesteaders claimed less than 1 percent of the land. One of them was Ken Deardorff, a Californian and Vietnam War veteran, in 1974. Deardorff staked an 80-acre claim in remote wilderness 200 miles east of Anchorage along the Stony River. He was 29 years old. He built a cabin and other structures on the property from white spruce trees. He fished for salmon and hunted moose and other wild game for food. Transportation was limited to a boat or a dog team. The site still has no roads or electricity. It is 30 miles from the nearest town and 85 miles south of McGrath. Deardorffs most important tool was the tractor, Vicars said. Purchased in 1976, the tractor was disassembled and flown to near the homestead in three trips before being dog-sledded to the site and reassembled. Deardorff used the tractor for 17 years to remove tree stumps and perform other chores. He cleared more than 6 acres of forest to meet the Homestead Acts requirements of farming one-eighth of the final claim for five years. That reduced the final claim to just under 50 acres. Although Deardorff fulfilled all requirements of the Homestead Act in 1979, he did not actually receive title to the land until 1988. The federal Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service recognize him as the nations final homesteader. Deardorff moved off the homestead in 1984 and sold the land in 1993. The Allis-Chalmers B has been there ever since. The current landowner will sell the tractor for about $1,000 to $2,000 and wants to see the machine preserved for its historic value, officials said. If funds cant be raised to buy the tractor and transport it out of Alaska, it probably would be sold for parts and scrap. The crowdfunding initiative is at www.gofundme.com/anzz8w3r. In addition to establishing the online fundraising campaign in mid-April, the friends organization has approached foundations for funding. Vicars acknowledged that $44,000 is a lot of money to acquire a rusty old tractor. People say we could spend less and get something like the Deardorff tractor, she said. But you dont go to museums to see something sort of like the actual artifact. You go to see the real thing. This tractor has a story and an emotional connection that is well worth every penny. Contact the writer: 402-444-1127, david.hendee@owh.com This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. The people living in the hobli are forced to carry water from borewells in the farms (Photo: PTI) (Representational Image) Hubballi: Enraged over the severe scarcity of drinking water, people of Savalagi hobli in Jamkhandi taluk of Bagalkot district were involved in a verbal clash with local legislator and former Union minister Siddu Nyamagouda. Tempers ran high when the Congress leader tried to downplay the water scarcity and maintained that there is no such problem as borewells have been drilled. The people told him that all borewells drilled by the district administration have failed as the underground water table has receded considerably. Even the Krishna river flowing through the village has totally dried up. There was tension for a while when supporters of the legislator entered into an argument with the villagers. Savalagi has a 15,000 strong population and half of them live in their farms while the remaining people stay in the hobli. The people living in the hobli are forced to carry water from borewells in the farms to their homes by traveling around 4 km. They claimed that they cannot fetch water from far-off places as most of them are daily wage workers and have to focus on earning a livelihood. They demanded at least 10 water tankers every day to meet drinking water needs. The people withdrew their protest after Tahasildar A.I. Adade promised to drill borewells and supply water in tankers by visiting the hobli. 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The coke oven is planned to start operations in the second half of the financial year 2017-18. As stated by the Turkish Iron and Steel Producers' Association (TCUD), Turkey s steel imports from China in the first quarter of this year rose by 19 percent on year-on-year basis to 679,000 mt. In the first quarter of this year, Turkey 's semi-finished imports from China increased by 719 percent to 411,000 mt compared to the 50,000 mt recorded in the same period of 2015. In the quarter in question, Turkey s flat steel imports from China decreased by 68 percent to 114,000 mt, while its long steel imports from China were down by 13 percent to 57,900 mt, both on year-on-year basis. Monday, 02 May 2016 15:51:37 (GMT+3) | Istanbul As of today, May 2, traders' rebar offers in the Turkish domestic market are as follows: Region Dimension Price (TRY/mt) Price ($/mt) Price changes (TRY/mt) Price changes ($/mt) 28.04.2016 28.04.2016 Marmara 8 mm 1,483 532 17 0 Marmara 12 mm 1,466 525 17 1 Iskenderun 8 mm 1,424 510 17 1 Iskenderun 10 mm 1,415 507 17 1 Iskenderun 12 mm 1,407 504 17 1 Izmir 8 mm 1,441 516 8 2 Izmir 10 mm 1,432 513 9 2 Izmir 12 mm 1,424 510 8 2 Karabuk 8 mm 1,449 519 9 2 Karabuk 12 mm 1,432 513 9 2 All prices are ex-warehouse and on actual weight basis and exclude VAT. $1 = TRY 2.79 Hyderabad: In a humanitarian gesture, the Telangana Tourism department will help a Filipino woman conduct the funeral of her baby at the Trimulgherry Cemetery. The baby had died soon after birth. The woman, Ms Grace Alexandria (40), works as a nurse in Dubai. She was pregnant and was on her way to Manila from Dubai on an Emirates flight last week. On the flight Ms Alexandria, who was 28-week pregnant, developed labour pains and gave premature birth to a baby whose condition was critical. The flight made an emergency landing at Shamshabad airport and she and her baby were admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, for treatment. However, the baby died three days ago. As she faced problems travelling to her home country with the dead body, she approached some churches in the city to conduct the funeral but was told that only those with memberships in respective churches were allowed to do so. After coming to know about the incident, principal secretary of tourism Mr Burra Venkatesham visited the woman in hospital on Monday and offered all possible assistance from the Telangana government. He made arrangements for the funeral on Tuesday at the Trimulgherry Cemetery. The hospital too agreed to reduce the bill on the request of Mr Venkatesham. He also offered to bear the ticket cost and other expenses of the woman on behalf of the Tourism department. A restaurant, maybe a bit of office space and as many as 90 market-rate apartments are planned for the 900 block of Locust Street in downtown St. Louis. TWG Development of Indianapolis recently bought four adjoining buildings on the block for about $1.2 million from Urban Street Group of Chicago. Tony Knoble, TWG's president, said Monday the company plans to retain the buildings' historic character. The developer has had some preliminary talks with St. Louis officials about the project and plans to use state and federal historic preservation tax credits to help finance the work. TWG is an experienced redeveloper of old buildings. Urban Street Group had considered an apartment project on Locust but instead sold the four buildings to the company from Indianapolis. The buildings are part of a portfolio of downtown buildings Urban Street bought in 2012 from businessmen brothers Mike and Steve Roberts. The Chicago company completed as apartments the Roberts Towernow the Tower at OPOPand also kept the apartment building in the former St. Louis School Board headquarters. Urban Street sold the Roberts brothers' Mayfair Hotel, which was reborn as the Magnolia. The company still owns, for now, the Orpheum Theater but has shed its other buildings on Locust. Knoble said TWG's plans are preliminary. Current thinking calls for 85 to 90 apartments, he said. What will happen to the small building at 10th and Locust has yet to be determined. Knoble said it will be rehabbed or replaced with a new building. He said he believes that corner is an excellent location for a restaurant. If all the pieces fall in place, construction on the overall project could begin early next year, Knoble said. Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright told the BBC that he was the creator of controversial digital currency bitcoin, but some skepticism remained about the identity of a person who until now has gone by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. The BBC reported on Monday that Wright gave some technical proof demonstrating that he had access to blocks of bitcoins known to have been created by bitcoin's creator. Unmasking Nakamoto could be significant for the future of bitcoin, a computer-generated, digital alternative to other currencies that has attracted the interest of banks, speculators, criminals and regulators. Researchers believe Nakamoto may be holding up to one million bitcoins, which is worth about $440 million, and the price of the cryptocurrency could plunge if that was to be unloaded. Wright declined requests from The Economist to provide further proof that he was Nakamoto. "Our conclusion is that Mr Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain," The Economist said. "Indeed, it may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin." The BBC said prominent members of the bitcoin community had confirmed Wright's claim. "I was the main part of it, but other people helped me," the BBC quoted Wright as saying. Hopes that bitcoin would become broadly used helped buoy its price to more than $1,000 in December 2013, when its market capitalisation was $13 billion. But the market cap has retreated since then, to about $7 billion currently. Bitcoin fell more than 3 percent after news of Wright's claims, from $454.89 to below $440, before recovering slightly. Wright told The Economist he would exchange bitcoin slowly to avoid pushing down its price. "If Mr Wright is in possession of Satoshi's original nearly one million bitcoins, he will be for sure closely watched by investors trying to guess his future moves," Tomas Forgac, who runs bitcoin startup Coin of Sale, told Reuters. HOME RAIDED In December, police raided Wright's Sydney home and office after Wired magazine named him as the probable creator of bitcoin and holder of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the cryptocurrency, which has attracted the interest of banks, speculators, criminals and regulators. The treatment of bitcoins for tax purposes in Australia has been the subject of considerable debate. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) ruled in December 2014 that cryptocurrency should be considered an asset, rather than a currency, for capital gains tax purposes. On Monday, the ATO said it had no comment while police were not immediately available for comment. In a blog post dated Monday, Wright appeared to out himself as bitcoin founder by posting a technical explanation, including examples of code, of the process by which he created the currency. He thanked all those who had supported the project from its inception. "This incredible community's passion and intellect and perseverance have taken my small contribution and nurtured it, enhanced it, breathed life into it," he wrote. "You have given the world a great gift. Thank you." However Wright did not make a clear admission that he was Nakamoto. "Satoshi is dead," he said. "But this is only the beginning." Unlike traditional currency, bitcoins are not distributed by a central bank or backed by physical assets like gold, but are "mined" by users who use computers to calculate increasingly complex algorithmic formulas. If Wright is Nakamoto he "is now the leader of a movement," said Roberto Capodieci, a Singapore-based entrepreneur working on the blockchain, the technology underlying the currency. That movement ranges from libertarian enthusiasts to banks experimenting with cryptocurrencies, all of which pay homage in some way to Nakamoto's writings. Top of the list of outstanding issues is the future of bitcoin itself, where two groups are debating over changes to the size of the blocks in the blockchain, the digital ledger that stores transactions. "He may help to settle the issues internal to the bitcoin community: block size and new node protocols," Capodieci told Reuters. OLYMPIA, Wash. Boeing announced Friday that it saved $305 million through state tax breaks last year, marking the first time the company has been required by law to publicly disclose such information. In a statement, the aerospace giant also said it invested more than $13 billion in the state in 2015 citing tens of millions in community contributions as well as tuition for employees seeking continuing education. Company officials also noted the 777X composite wing center in Everett that's opening next month. "Boeing's investments demonstrate that when a state creates competitive policies, its citizens reap tremendous benefits from the activity that follows," said Bill McSherry, Boeing's vice president of government operations and global corporate citizenship. "These incentives work." The disclosure to be filed with the state Department of Revenue by Monday is a new requirement under a tax-incentive transparency law passed in 2013 that affects Boeing and hundreds of other aerospace firms in the state. Later that year, the Legislature approved a suite of tax incentives aimed at Boeing and the aerospace sector meant to ensure that the 777X was produced in Everett. Most of the tax breaks were first approved in 2003 and set to expire in 2024, but the new legislation extended them until 2040. State Sen. Reuven Carlyle, a Democrat from Seattle who had pushed for transparency of the tax exemptions, said Friday that the information is "incredibly valuable for the public." "The public can now open the books and decide for themselves whether a tax break has a return on investment," he said. Carlyle said the $305 million in tax breaks compared to the $13 billion spent by the company is a "compelling return on investment and solidifies our state as the global center of innovation." Jon Holden, the president of Machinists Union District 751 in Seattle, cited the move of more than 1,000 high-skilled engineering jobs in the state to other regions as "a really bad return on our state's investment of tax dollars." "We've given Boeing the largest corporate tax incentives in U.S. history, but without any job requirements, all we've done is create incentives for Boeing to take away both our jobs and our tax dollars," Holden said in a written statement. Numbers released earlier this week showed the company had lower quarterly earnings compared to last year because of higher costs for Boeing's products and labor. Boeing is currently in the process of reducing its 160,000-person workforce by about 4,500 to help keep its costs under control. Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister and education minister Kadiyam Srihari on Monday announced fresh dates for Eamcet May 15 and TET May 22. He said that the Telangana government would take a decision on the medical stream entrance exam depending on the Supreme Court decision on Neet. However, Higher Education department officials sought to put to an end any confusion that might arise among the students fraternity. TSCHE chairman N. Papi Reddy said that both engineering and medical exams would be held as scheduled on May 15. Like AP Eamcet that was held on April 29, TS will conduct the engineering exam in the morning (10 am to 1 pm) and medical exam in the afternoon (2.30 pm to 5.30 pm). If the apex court gives an order that all medical admissions should be taken up based on Neet, the afternoon exam on May 15 will be useful for filling agriculture, pharmacy, veterinary and horticulture seats in various colleges in the state, he said, adding there was no question of cancelling the medical test totally. Eamcet hall-tickets can be downloaded from May 12 onwards and the results will be declared on May 27. Counselling will be held in June and engineering classes are set to begin from July first week. Meanwhile, the TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) will be held on May 22. Candidates can download hall-tickets from May 13. Both entrance exams will be hold only in government institutions in view of the private colleges? stir opposing vigilance inspections. Holding Eamcet will not go waste, says Telangana minister The Telangana government has rushed additional advocate general J. Ramachandra Rao to New Delhi to be present in Supreme Court on Tuesday, when the Neet case comes up for hearing. The government has already filed a review petition in SC against Neet. Health minister C. Laxma Reddy held a meeting with senior officials of the Medical Education department on Monday at the Secretariat to decide the future course of action on NEET. There is no question of cancelling the Eamcet medical exam. It will be held as usual. We will wait for the final outcome of the case in Supreme Court since several review petitions have been filed against Neet, Mr Reddy said. Officials informed the minister that there was no loss in holding the Eamcet medical entrance test even if the SC ruled in favour of Neet since the Eamcet scores could be considered to fill seats in agriculture, veterinary, nursing colleges etc. With coal use declining in nearly every state, Missouri and Illinois remain among the largest consumers of the carbon-heavy fuel. Declining coal use among utilities and power producers in other big coal states have left Illinois and Missouri as the No. 2 and No. 3 users of the fuel, respectively. Texas burned the most coal in the U.S. last year. In 2007, Illinois was No. 4, while Missouri was No. 6. Missouri burned just less than 40 million tons of coal last year, surpassing Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana in its use of the fuel. Illinois burned slightly more than 40 million tons in 2015, according to figures released last week by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Coal use in Missouri and Illinois has declined since 2007, dropping 13 percent in the Show-Me State and 23 percent in the Prairie State. But those drops havent been near as large as those in some other coal-heavy states. Ohio and Pennsylvania, for instance, have started generating more electricity with natural gas since fracking opened up huge reserves of the fuel in the Utica and Marcellus shale plays that run through those states. Coal use has dropped 49 percent in Ohio and 44 percent in Pennsylvania since 2007. Nationally, coal has fallen from generating about half of the nations electricity at the beginning of the century to about one third today, causing the bankruptcy of big coal firms like St. Louis-based Peabody Energy and Creve Coeur-based Arch Coal. Low natural gas prices have driven much of the coal rout, but so have environmental regulations that dissuade utilities from building new coal plants or lead to the retirement of old ones. Coal is also the most carbon-intense fuel, and proposed limits on carbon pollution to limit global warming are expected to put further pressure on the fuel. Missouris electricity generation is dominated by coal power, with nearly 80 percent coming from coal. The states largest utility, St. Louis-based Ameren Missouri, generates some 77 percent of its electricity with coal. Most of the rest comes from its Callaway County nuclear power plant in Mid-Missouri. Ameren says it will retire its Meramec coal plant in South St. Louis County in 2022. A decade later, it will shutter its Sioux coal plant in St. Charles County, replacing the capacity with a natural gas plant and more wind power. In Illinois, much of the state outside of the Chicago area buys coal power. Many of the plants were formerly owned by Ameren Illinois, which sold them to independent power producer Dynegy in 2013. But Illinois also generates about half of its power from carbon-free nuclear power, although nuclear power giant Exelon warns those plants struggle to compete with low-priced renewable energy and may have to shut down absent assistance from the state. WASHINGTON Businesses better have good evidence to back up claims of health benefits from their products, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Monday after the Supreme Court rejected POM Wonderful's challenge to FTC findings that the juice maker's advertising was misleading. The Supreme Court left in place a lower-court ruling that largely upheld the regulatory agency's determination about the pomegranate juice maker's advertising claims that its products fight ailments such as heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. "The outcome of this case makes clear that companies like POM making serious health claims about food and nutritional supplement products must have rigorous scientific evidence to back them up," FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a statement. The FTC said POM could state that its juice treated or prevented disease only if the claim was backed by at least one randomized, controlled clinical trial using human subjects. Other claims of health benefits must be backed by "competent and reliable scientific evidence," the FTC added. POM spokesman Steven Clark said that "we continue to stand behind our efforts to publicly convey valuable information about the health benefits of POM." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled last year that POM Wonderful could not advertise that its pomegranate drinks treat or prevent heart disease or other medical conditions unless it has proof, upholding the FTC's 2010 order. The advertisements that the FTC challenged appeared in Parade, Fitness and Prevention magazines, as well as online and on product tags, the FTC said. "Many of those ads mischaracterized the scientific evidence concerning the health benefits of POM's products with regard to those diseases. The FTC Act proscribes - and the First Amendment does not protect - deceptive and misleading advertisements," the appeals court said in its ruling, referring to the U.S. Constitution's protection of free speech. The advertisements that most concerned the FTC were discontinued in 2005 and others were halted in 2007, POM's lawyers said. The case is POM Wonderful v. FTC, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 15-525. Michael Ondaatje, celebrated author of "The English Patient," is this year's winner of the St. Louis Literary Award. He will accept the award Oct. 6. Michael Ondaatjes exquisitely intense language stirs our senses, sharpens our intellect, and sparks our imagination. Philip Boehm, chairman of the award committee, said in a statement. He is a master of evoking places as well as people and summoning the mysteries lurking with each. Although best known for that novel, which became an Academy Award-winning best picture, Ondaatje's work also includes memoir, poetry and film. Books include "The Cats Table," "Divisadero" and "In the Skin of a Lion." Collections of poetry include "Secular Love," "The Cinnamon Peeler" and "Handwriting." He has also made two documentary films, "Sons of Captain Poetry" and "Clinton Special." The 72-year-old writer was born in Sri Lanka and spent much of his childhood and college years in Great Britain. Now living in Toronto, Ondaatje is a Canadian citizen. As the latest winner of the St. Louis Literary Award, he joins a long list of celebrated writers, including Saul Bellow, Salman Rushdie, Chinua Achebe, Tennessee Williams and Joan Didion. The award has been given by the St. Louis University Library Associates since 1967. It has brought the biggest names in literature to the city. Coincidentally, Ondaatje spoke to a sold-out crowd in Columbia, Mo., late last month for the city's first Unbound Book Festival. FERGUSON On a humid July evening, a Ferguson police officer spotted a malfunctioning taillight on a trailer and pulled over the pickup that was hauling it. Robert Mentzel, a property manager, wasnt driving and was in the passenger seat. Still, the officer ordered him to produce his identification. Why do you need to see my license? asked Mentzel, then 54. Youve got to have probable cause. The officer responded with an ultimatum: Provide your identification or go to jail. Mentzel handed over his license while suggesting he shouldnt have to. He was arrested anyway. Today, nearly two years later, Ferguson prosecutors are pursuing a conviction against Mentzel, one of dozens of defendants charged with failure to comply a charge that the U. S. Department of Justice has said Ferguson police have routinely abused. Some critics say they believe financial and personal interests are driving the effort at a time when Ferguson should be working to enact the terms of a Justice Department agreement to reform the citys police and court practices. Many of the cases involve protesters accused of disregarding orders to leave an area as police broke up crowds during demonstrations after the shooting of Michael Brown in August 2014. While some defendants have taken plea agreements, paid their fines, or had their cases dismissed, a handful believe their arrests were unjustified and refuse to accept anything short of acquittal. After approving a far-reaching consent decree with the Justice Department, city leaders promised to move the community forward. Yet the private lawyers employed by the city to prosecute ordinance violations have refused to back down, even in cases the Justice Department cited as infringements on constitutional rights. All told, the prosecutions have cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. Convictions in those cases may yield a fine of $150 the hourly fee for Ferguson prosecutors. From 2014 to 2015, the amount prosecutors billed Ferguson rose from $30,260 to $61,705. For work during the first three months of 2016, prosecutors charged Ferguson just over $30,000. If that pace continues, prosecutors could cost the city more than $120,000 this year. Stephanie Karr, Fergusons chief prosecutor and a lawyer with Curtis, Heinz, Garrett and OKeefe, defended the citys legal approach. Violations of law are contrary to the public health, safety and welfare, she said in an email. Therefore, the public interest is served by taking action to prevent further violations of the law by making offenders accountable. Meanwhile, city leaders have bemoaned Fergusons multi-million-dollar budget deficits and warned of significant staff and service reductions if voters did not approve tax increases in April. Moreover, the city has been losing cases at a greater rate than its peers. Ferguson prosecutors received not-guilty verdicts in 40 percent of trials heard by the city judge over a 14-month period ending in February the highest rate of not-guilty verdicts among similarly sized municipalities, according to data from the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator. At a trial Wednesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court, Associate Circuit Judge Joseph S. Dueker questioned the merits of one Ferguson failure-to-comply case. J. Patrick Chassaing one of four Ferguson prosecutors could not produce an officer who had arrested the defendant, nor a witness who saw the defendant disregard an officers order, nor a witness who could testify that the defendant heard a police order to disperse. Theres no testimony regarding this defendant at all, not that she was even there, Dueker said. Still, Karr disagreed that some failure-to-comply cases that she and her colleagues were pursuing had insufficient evidence. If I, as prosecutor, determined there to be a lack of evidence, the case would be dismissed, she said in an email. If I determine the evidence to be sufficient to show that a violation occurred, then my duty is to prosecute the case. Battleground for lawyers A case can be moved from a municipal court to St. Louis County Circuit Court at a defendants request. For the past few months, the associate circuit courts on the third floor of Justice Center in Clayton have served as the battleground for lawyers from two of St. Louis Countys influential legal organizations: the nonprofit ArchCity Defenders and the Curtis Heinz law firm. Lawyers with Curtis Heinz work as prosecutors, judges and/or city attorneys in 26 of the countys 90 municipalities, including Ferguson. While Curtis Heinz profits from the countys medley of municipalities and the courts that fund them, ArchCity has worked to challenge that system. Within days of protests breaking out after Browns death, ArchCity lawyers published a white paper arguing that excessive ticketing in north St. Louis County violated the Constitution, contributed to job loss and damaged confidence in the police. The paper, which described Ferguson as a chronic offender, helped explain some of the anger behind the protests and led to legislation limiting revenue from fines. A Justice Department report on Fergusons police and court expanded on the papers themes and singled out Karr for criticism several times. Among the accusations were that she engaged in retaliatory conduct against lawyers who challenged the city. Limited authority For nearly 10 hours on Jan. 13, four ArchCity lawyers, along with criminal defense attorney Justin Farishon, met with Chassaing in a conference room at Ferguson City Hall to depose police officers in six failure-to-comply cases. In all but one case, the officers could not identify the arresting officer, said William Waller, an ArchCity lawyer. The depositions cost the city $1,470 in legal fees. Carl Lumley, president of Curtis Heinz, said his firms lawyers were just doing their jobs. While I am not involved in these prosecutions, I am not at all surprised that after all the events in Ferguson there would be an unusual level of cases to prosecute, with attendant expense, he said. Ferguson City Manager DeCarlon Seewood said he learned of the rising legal costs from a reporters records requests. But he said he could not intervene because prosecutors are supposed to operate free from political influence. We really cant dictate to the prosecutor which cases they take, which cases they dont take, or how they handle those cases, said Seewood, who was hired in November. For me as a city manager, if I stepped into that role, I would be overextending my authority. Karr became the city attorney for Ferguson in 2004 and moved there soon after. The city made her prosecutor as well in 2011. Protesters targeted Karr this year after the City Council voted 3-2 to appoint Laverne Mitchom, a retired educator who attended some protests, to a vacant council seat. Karr essentially blocked the appointment when she said four votes were needed. At Fergusons next council meeting on Feb. 2, Keith Rose, also arrested in 2014 in Ferguson for failure to comply, brought signs that read Stop the KARR-ruption. Difficult to prove The most high-profile Ferguson trial began on Feb. 8, when Chassaing argued to a St. Louis County jury that the Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, who was taken into custody in September 2014 while on his knees praying outside the Police Department, disobeyed officers as they disbanded a protest. On Feb. 9, Sekous case resumed. A jury acquitted him in less than 20 minutes. Hours later, the Ferguson City Council approved a Justice Department agreement, called a consent decree, but with key changes that diluted the documents power. That provoked a Justice Department lawsuit. The council also unanimously agreed to seat Mitchom. The decree requires officers to obtain a supervisors approval before making a failure-to-comply arrest, to keep data on such arrests and to discipline police who abuse the charge. But it does not prevent the prosecution of defendants previously arrested. The next day, Francesca Griffins trial centered on whether an officer had ordered her to drop her keys, and whether the 35-year-old mother of three could have put them in her bra. That case ended in a hung jury. A week later, Ferguson secured a date for new trial, which has yet to take place. Other prosecutors say they are reluctant to pursue failure-to-comply charges. Christopher Graville, a prosecutor in four municipalities, says such cases are difficult to prove. The order has to be lawful. The defendant has to have heard it. And a reasonable person must have been able to understand it. The majority of times I dismiss it, he said. Presumed guilt Ferguson approved its consent decree with the Justice Department after Mitchoms appointment provided the crucial vote to put the agreement back on the councils agenda. It was filed in federal court on March 17, resolving the Justice Department lawsuit. Karr and Chassaing have forged ahead with the failure-to-comply prosecutions. Four trials were held last month in St. Louis County Circuit Court regarding failure-to-comply arrests from August 2014, including those of Michael Powers, legislative director for St. Louis Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, and Meghan Flannery, an employee at St. Louis Alderman Antonio Frenchs North Campus education center. The two had gone to the Police Department to wait for French to be released from jail after he was arrested. They were later arrested, too, after there were confrontations between protesters and police outside the police department. The other cases stemmed from failure-to-comply arrests when protesters gathered after a prayer vigil outside the Police Department on Aug. 11, 2014. But no witness testified that they saw any of the defendants disobey police orders to leave the area. In the trial of Rose, the activist said that after a vigil, a Ferguson police officer told him to wait on a parking lot while police cleared the street. Moments later, he said, he saw an officer from an unknown department point at him, then St. Louis County Police put him in handcuffs. A Ferguson officer testified he remembered seeing Rose among the protesters. But no witness remembered seeing defendants in two other trials. Judge Dueker has yet to rule in the four trials. But in the most recent two trials, he pointed to a lack of evidence. He said the prosecutors cases seemed to hinge on the belief that because the defendants had been arrested, they must be guilty. Chassaing acknowledged the cases were circumstantial, but said the judge should convict the defendants. The judge, he said, could infer that because officers took the defendants into custody, they had been among 11 protesters disregarding police orders to stay out of the street. As the courtroom emptied one afternoon, Chassaing noted that lawyers cant choose the facts in their cases. But they can choose whether to prosecute, others say. Given the lack of evidence, these cases have become personal for the prosecutors, said Roses lawyer, ArchCitys Joshua Canavan. Chassaing disagreed. He said the demonstrators threatened to rape and kill officers, their spouses, children and pets, and some had ignored repeated commands to leave the area. These cases were pursued in order to deter others participating in future protests from assuming there are no limits or parameters to their activities and that repeated orders to leave given to what became a very ugly crowd, he wrote in an email. High weeds Of the 38 Ferguson municipal cases pending in St. Louis County Circuit Court, 18 involve a failure-to-comply charge, including the case of Mentzel, the property manager stopped for the taillight who was ordered to provide his license on July 14, 2014, a month before the protests. Mentzels statement about the officer needing probable cause referred to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a demand for identification violates the Fourth Amendment unless a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a crime. In America, you dont have to show your papers, said Javad Khazaeli, who represents Mentzel, along with ArchCity. This is essentially him saying, Show me your papers. In a police report, Officer Eddie Boyd III argued that when Mentzel invoked his constitutional rights Boyd had reasonable suspicion that Mentzel was a fugitive; and because he was told more than once to produce his ID, he had disobeyed the order. But Mentzel said he reached for his wallet to produce his license while questioning Boyds right to see it. Mentzels account of the arrest appears in the Justice Department report. So did other incidents involving Boyd, a former St. Louis city and St. Ann officer facing two lawsuits in federal court over failure-to-comply arrests in Ferguson. The day Mentzel was jailed, the city also cited him for high weeds at a house on South Harvey Avenue. When Boyd pulled over the pickup, it was on South Harvey. Inside the trailer with a broken taillight was a lawnmower. At the time, Mentzel was on his way to cut the grass, he said. Now that case is also in Judge Duekers court, costing taxpayers $150 for every hour Karr spends on it. A Caledonia, Mo., woman has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly injecting another woman with drugs last year. Shannon Harvey, 36, also faces a charge of distribution of a controlled substance. A probable cause statement from investigators with the Washington County Sheriff's Department said Harvey told police she had injected the victim, 50, at the victim' request on Nov. 29. The following morning, people inside the apartment found the woman dead. An autopsy said she died of mixed drug intoxication. Harvey was being held on $100,000 bond. EAST ST. LOUIS A teenager has been certified as an adult to face murder charges in the killings here of two men in a stolen SUV one year ago. Tony Townsend, now 17, of the Orr-Weathers apartments, was indicted by the St. Clair County grand jury on two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Robert Burrow Jr., 21, and Isaac Monigan, 19. Their bodies were found in the vehicle in the early morning of June 24 in the 2500 block of Ridge Avenue. Townsend was 16 at the time of the offense. He was indicted April 21 after a judge certified him to face charges as an adult. East St. Louis police said the SUV had been stolen in a carjacking the day before. COLLINSVILLE A toddler was reunited safely with her mother Thursday night after Collinsville Police Department said she was allegedly abducted by her father. The father was still at large. Police said Tchaka Malik Spiller, 24, left with his two-year-old daughter against the wishes of the child's mother about 10:15 p.m. The girl was returned to a family member and she was then reunited with her mother, police said. They provided no more details about the return. Police said Spiller had brought his daughter back to her mother's residence after an authorized visitation. The couple argued and Spiller then left with his daughter in the woman's black 2004 Hyundai Sonata with Illinois license plate Z352747. Police and the mother of the child made contact with Spiller and ordered him to bring the child back and he refused. The Madison County State's Attorney's Office charged Spiller with one count of child abduction. Bail was set at $100,000. Spiller is believed to be in St. Louis or en route to Kansas City or Chicago. According to police, there is no indication that Spiller is a threat to the safety of his daughter. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Spiller and his daughter is asked to contact the Collinsville Police Department at 618-344-2131 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. Vijayawada: A four-day-old baby boy died under mysterious circumstances at the old government hospital here on Monday. There were injury marks on the babys body and family members said that the infant had died of ant bites. There was tension in the area as relatives and leaders of political parties staged a protest, alleging negligence of hospital staff as the reason behind the babys death. According to reports, Lakshmi, wife of autorickshaw driver Anjaiah, a native of Penumaka village of Guntur district, had given birth to the baby in the old government hospital four days ago. On Monday morning, Ms Lakshmi found the baby dead. She also observed injury marks on the infants body. Though the hospital staff put the baby on incubator, he did not respond. Minister orders inquiry A four-day-old baby boy died under mysterious circumstances at the old government hospital here on Monday. As per relatives, a saline bottle that was hanging on a stand had fallen on the infant, injuring him. There were also other marks like rashes on the body, like ant bites. The hospital staff, however, denied the allegations. The body was shifted to the mortuary for post-mortem. Health minister Kamineni Srinivas has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The minister, who is on a London tour, also phoned hospital staff and asked about the incident. Collector A. Babu and sub-collector Srujana inspected the hospital and met the parents of the infant. The government has ordered an inquiry and the sub collector has been appointed as the inquiring officer. The collector said that there was no negligence on part of the hospital staff as per preliminary information and the post-mortem report would reveal the facts. Local MLA Gadde Rammohan visited the government hospital and consoled the family of the infant. YSRC leaders K. Pardhasarathy and P. Goutam Reddy visited the hospital and staged a protest. JEFFERSON CITY A new analysis by state education officials shows how much money Missouri school districts could ultimately lose under a Republican-led revamp of the states education funding formula. The calculations are based on projections that assume the state will someday fully fund its school aid formula. School districts would not see these losses in the next year. For example, if the formula were fully funded under the bill on Nixons desk, St. Louis Public Schools could receive $147 million in state aid. That would be $9.6 million less than it could get if the existing law had full funding. Nixon, a Democrat in his final term in office, said the numbers show the change approved by lawmakers would cut the target to fully fund the school funding formula by $456 million. These projections demonstrate in stark detail the negative impact this bill would have on school districts across the state, Nixon said in a prepared statement. From Belton and Branson to Poplar Bluff and Pleasant Hill, Senate Bill 586 would cut the target for fully funding the formula by millions of dollars increasing the burden on local taxpayers and opening the door to more special interest giveaways. The legislative sponsor of the proposal scoffed at the governor, saying the plan endorsed by lawmakers restores a cap on growth in the aid formula that was removed in 2009. Nixons claim of a negative effect on school districts would only occur if he and lawmakers would have found a way to fully fund schools, said Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles. Its like if I went out and bought a Powerball ticket for Wednesday and if I didnt win, that would mean I lost $350 million, Wood said. The money is not there. Its not anything were taking away. In his January budget proposal, Nixon asked for $85 million for the kindergarten through grade 12 budget. The House and Senate approved a $70 million increase. Both figures were far short of the $439 million target set in the school aid formula. The formula revamp reinstates a 5 percent annual cap on the growth of the formula. Supporters said the new plan would be better for school districts when it comes to budgeting because theyd know how much they are going to receive each year. When the current formula was created in 2005, it contained a 5 percent cap meant to limit the growth of the states target for adequately funding schools. The cap was removed four years later because of an expected influx of new gambling revenue. The gambling money never came, and the formula has continued to rise. Under the numbers released Monday by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Affton School District could see a drop of $1.4 million in state aid. Ferguson-Florissant could see a cut of $6.7 million. Webster Groves could see $2.4 million less. By contrast, districts such as University City, Brentwood, Kirkwood and Ladue would see no reduction in state aid. They are among districts that needed no extra money to meet the per-pupil spending target when the aid formula was revamped in 2005. In fact, many were taking in more state money than the 2005 formula called for. Rather than lose money, those districts were allowed to keep their prior aid levels. Nixon has until Wednesday to act on the legislation, giving lawmakers enough time to consider overriding a possible veto before the May 13 adjournment date. The bill is Senate Bill 586. Twice I heard the Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles tell his story, one that he had told passionately and painfully hundreds of times over five decades. "Blood everywhere," he would say, shaking his head as if it was yesterday. It was April 4, 1968, when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot while standing on the balcony of a Memphis motel. Kyles, who had come to pick up King for dinner on that late afternoon, had just stepped back into the room from the balcony when the shot rang out, forever changing the Civil Rights Movement. Kyles died April 26, at 81. With his death, gone are the last of the first-hand accounts from that motel balcony. I first heard Kyles relive the story in 2009. He was at John Burroughs High School, part of Black History Month programming. Kyles arrived at the Lorraine Motel to pick up King and take him back to his house for dinner. He arrived an hour early, knowing that King notoriously dawdled. Also in the room was the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, who worked with King (Abernathy died in 1990). The three men swapped stories. The conversation was light. Just the night before, King had given his famous Ive Been to the Mountaintop speech. Kyles coaxed King along, helping him pick out a tie. King went to the balcony. Jesse Jackson was outside and wanted King to meet someone. Kyles went out on the balcony for a moment, urging King that it was time to go. Then Kyles turned away. He made it about five steps when he heard the shot. He saw King fall, and the massive amounts of blood. Kyles tried to get the motel operator on the phone but she had run out to the courtyard to see what happened. He pulled a spread from the bed and covered Kings body up to the neck. The tie Kyles had selected for King was severed by the bullet, the knot turned upside down. A cigarette that King was holding in his hand, ready to smoke in the car and out of sight of the public, was now crumbled in his fist. Kyles removed it, knowing that King was self-conscious about his vice and would not want young people to know he was a smoker. From Kings pocket, Kyles also removed a pack of cigarettes, something he kept over the years. The students at Burroughs said hearing Kyles speak was better than anything written in a book or captured on film. He has made history real again, said Meredith Stoner, who was a senior at Burroughs at the time. As Kyles spoke, the students maintained eye contact. There was no chatting, no texting, no leaving in the middle of the talk. Students wanted to know: What was King like? A human being with frailties like everyone else. What do you know about him that we havent read? He might have been a leader, but when his wife said take out the trash, he took out the trash. What got you into civil rights? A desire to get past the silly segregation and give everyone the same chance to succeed. Kyles also shared his lesser-known civil rights struggles. His 5-year-old daughter was one of 13 children accompanied by their parents into a white Memphis school, forcing integration in that city. He was arrested for sitting in a front seat on a Memphis bus. Kyles said the death of King accelerated the civil rights movement. The outrage spawned a more passionate movement, he said. But he seemed to surprise the students by what he said next. Had King lived longer, we would have used him up and hed have been in the way. Its how God works. He took him young. His time was over. King was 39 when he was killed. The time since Kings death has passed in a blur, Kyles told the Burroughs students. I cant even process that its been 40 years. Three years later, he met with students from Wilson School in Clayton, who had stopped in Memphis as part of a civil rights bus tour that also included a stop in Little Rock, Ark. His story was very much the same, but no less compelling. Kyles was more frail this time. Age was catching up with him. But his energy level grew as students hugged him and posed for photos with the man who had just brought history to life for them. Kyles would often tell young people that, yes, progress has been made, and it was great to see the election of the countrys first black president. Despite telling his story more times than he can count, Kyles told me that as long as someone wanted to hear it, he would share it. That opportunity is gone now. But Kyles has educated and inspired generations after him, reminding them that King and his colleagues were all in their 20s and 30s when history was being made. And he would often borrow from King when offering advice to his young audiences. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Good advice for anyone, no matter what your goals or what you are fighting for. Doug Moore covers diversity and demographics. He joined the Post-Dispatch in 2000. Dr. Marvin E. Levin, an endocrinologist and Washington University professor who wrote a classic textbook on diabetes, died Saturday (April 30, 2016) at Missouri Baptist Medical Center of complications from pneumonia. He was 91. Dr. Levin was born in Indiana and moved to St. Louis at age 7. He graduated from Soldan High School. In World War II, Dr. Levin served as a medical assistant at a hospital in San Francisco, where injured soldiers from the Pacific theater were taken for specialized treatment. After the war, Dr. Levin returned to St. Louis to receive his undergraduate and medical education at Washington University, where he nurtured a lifelong affiliation. An advocate for diabetes patients throughout his career, Dr. Levin helped start the universitys foot clinic and was associate director of the endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism clinic. He was well known for his skill and determination to prevent lower leg and foot amputations in people with diabetes. Despite the seriousness of his specialty, Dr. Levin liked to keep his patients and students laughing with a good joke. Dr. Levin stayed active in diabetes research after retiring from private practice in 1989. He wrote more than 150 articles, papers and book chapters and co-authored the textbook The Diabetic Foot, which was published in 1973 and is now in its seventh edition. Washington University honored Dr. Levin with its distinguished alumni award in 1998. He had previously established the Barbara and Marvin E. Levin visiting professorship in endocrinology. Active in the Jewish community, Dr. Levin was a longtime member and former president of BNai El congregation in Frontenac. He also served as a board member of the St. Louis chapter of the Anti-Defamation League. Over their 40-year marriage, Dr. Levin and his wife Barbara of Town and Country enjoyed collecting art and sculpture. Another hobby, travel photography, earned Dr. Levin photo credits in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the Archives of Internal Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine. In addition to his wife, Dr. Levin is survived by daughters Lynn Levin, of Southampton, Pa., and Judith Levin, of St. Louis; a son Michael Levin, of St. Louis, and three grandchildren. A visitation will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday with services following at 1:30 at Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Washington University School of Medicine or a charity of choice. By now youd think Fergusons city officials would be tired of being embarrassed. Tired of wasting money trying to recapture the bad old days, when its cops wrote tickets for whatever they wanted, knowing that the municipal court system had their backs. The city has dropped a lot of cases, but as Stephen Deere reported in Mondays Post-Dispatch, its still paying well-connected lawyers $150 an hour to prosecute shaky cases against people who were cited for failing to comply with police orders. If the judges on the Missouri Supreme Court have any remaining doubts that St. Louis Countys 81 municipal courts must become part of the St. Louis County Circuit Court, this saga should do away with them. Dozens of old failure to comply cases have been transferred from the Ferguson Municipal Court to St. Louis County Circuit Court. Little-known fact: Anyone facing a charge in a municipal court can ask to have his case heard by a jury in circuit court. Its usually not done because its time-consuming and can be expensive if defendants hire lawyers. On the other hand, even though Ferguson has reformed its municipal court, you dont get a jury there and youre not playing on the prosecutors home turf. In the failure-to-comply cases, defendants are represented by lawyers from Arch City Defenders. That legal advocacy group was highlighting problems with the countys municipal courts long before the Aug. 9, 2014, fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson brought the issue to national attention. Some of the failure-to-comply cases date to before Browns death, when Ferguson police officers used charges like failure-to-comply and manner of walking to enforce their will and drum up revenue for the city. Others stemmed from the protests that followed. Harried police officers found themselves being cursed and hassled by protesters. The legal shorthand for these sorts of charges is contempt of cop. If its not more than verbal abuse, its not illegal. As the Justice Departments report on Ferguson Police noted, Just as officers reflexively resort to arrest immediately upon noncompliance with their orders, whether lawful or not, they are quick to overreact to challenges and verbal slights. There is some resentment among Ferguson police officers, and more broadly, among many Ferguson officials, about the blame and punishment that have been visited upon them. Its understandable, but it doesnt change the fact that the law was enforced unfairly. Ferguson should move on. Drop the cases. Stop paying lawyers with money the city doesnt have. Abide by the constitutional policing consent decree signed with the Justice Department. And the lawyers still dining out on municipal court cases should expand their practice areas. If the Supreme Court does its job, it will stop this gravy train. This is still in the proposal phase and has not been debated yet. I think this is the first step in a process that should occur. Bengaluru: The confusion over paying of property tax in the city continues with the BBMP's officers themselves lacking in clarity on the issue. Although Mayor B. N. Manjunath Reddy has announced there will be no zonal revision to lessen the people s tax burden, the civic agency's revenue officers are still taking it into account when collecting the tax, claiming they have not received any official word on its withdrawal. A senior tax inspector said people being asked to pay the tax with the zonal revision in place on the promise that the excess amount would be adjusted against their tax next year, were reluctant to pay it and as a result there was a dip in collection. We are asking citizens to wait until May 5 to get clarity on the revision. But this is not encouraging many to pay up and the revenue of the BBMP through property tax collection has gone down drastically over previous years, he added. Despite the many protests over the lack of clarity on various issues related to online tax payment, the BBMP has miserably failed to come to the rescue of property owners. Consequently many are still not able to pay arrears for their vacant sites and houses. And tax issues concerning newly constructed flats and ex-servicemen besides properties which enjoy exemption have not been resolved either. BJP hiked property tax during its rule: Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy With the BJP protesting against the hike in property tax, the ruling Congress on Monday pointed out that the guidance value-based zonal classification of taxation was proposed by former Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy in 2012, who represented the BJP. Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy told the media that the BJP had proposed a hike of 15 to 30 per cent in property tax and had notified it in the gazette too.The BJP has no moral ground to protest. Its an open secret that zonal classification based on the guidance value was proposed by Mr Murthy in 2012. Even the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had slammed the BBMP for maladministration and for not revising the taxes once in three years as mandated by the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act, he said. On the protest by the BJP on the floor of the BBMP Council, he said, The Congress is against the deployment of marshals as we never wanted to send across the signal that the corporators are uncivil. But the way the BJP members in the Council behaved, it has become necessary to seek marshals. Four former mayors of Bengaluru, K.H.N. Simha, J. Huchappa, M. Ramachandrappa and P.R. Ramesh, who were present during the press conference, submitted a memorandum to Mr Reddy seeking stern action against the four BJP corporators, including their leader Padmanabha Reddy. Bengaluru: Bengaluru MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar has officially joined the row against women in the reproductive age group of 15-50 not being allowed to enter Sabarimala, with the Supreme Court accepting his intervention petition on Monday. Chandrasekhar, who spoke to Deccan Chronicle shortly after his petition was accepted, said, The defense being made by the Kerala government and the Travancore Devaswom Board is simply atrocious. They are not voicing the beliefs of the lakhs of devotees who go to Sabarimala each year, myself included. Gender discrimination is the crux of the current argument, which is incorrect and irrelevant, he said. Chandrasekhar, who, by his own admission is a Sabarimala bhakt, having made the pilgrimage for the last 21 years, says, The age-old traditions that surround the temple and its deity, Lord Ayyappa, need to be upheld. They are unique to him. Lord Ayyappa is believed to have been a Brahmacharya like his father, Shiva. "That's why menstruating women don't enter Sabarimala. It has nothing to do with impurity, like the Devaswom Board is currently claming," he explained. Making his point on twitter, he also said, "Mosques are places of prayer and it is a monotheistic religion that can be brought under a single umbrella - the Quran. Hindu temples, however, are not just places of prayer, but it is where different deities also reside. Each deity comes with his or her set of rules and traditions. There are temples in India that men cannot enter." It is only natural that "women in this modern age," he said, react badly to the idea of being called impure. "Hinduism makes no such claims, however. No God views people as pure or impure. This is simply to do with the traditions linked to the deity in question." The Supreme Court has said that intervening petitioners will be heard after hearing the Kerala government, the Temple board, and others in the matter. Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar in intervention application seeks to safeguard the rights of the devotees of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala, who have a fundamental right of practicing their religion in accordance with the beliefs, cultural traditions and rituals associated with the particular deity - the celibate Lord Ayyappa who presides over the Sabarimala Temple His plea comes in wake of SC on previous occasion questioning whether the biological phenomenon of menstruation is the criterion to judge a woman's purity and, if so, what is the mechanism to judge the male's commitment to observing vows as part of the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The bench said the right of a State to do so is subject to a central law. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the autonomy of the states in enacting laws for conduct of common entrance tests (Cets) for admission to professional courses and to fix fees for the said courses. A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Justices Anil R. Dave, A.K. Sikri, R.K. Agrawal, A.K. Goel and R. Banumathi gave this ruling while upholding a law enacted by Madhya Pradesh government to regulate primarily the admission of students in postgraduate courses in private professional educational institutions. Provisions are also made for fixation of fee. In addition, the said Act and rules also contain provisions for reservation of seats. Writing the judgement, Justice Sikri, dismissed appeals from Modern Dental College, Madhya Pradesh, and others who are unaided private medical and dental colleges. The bench said there was no violation of right of autonomy of the educational institutions in common entrance tests being conducted by the state or an agency nominated by the state or in fixing fee. The bench said the right of a state to do so is subject to a Central law. Once the notifications under Central statutes for conducting common entrance test called Neet become operative, it will be a matter between the states and the Union, which will have to be sorted out on the touchstone of Article 254 of the Constitution. Three-member panel set up to oversee MCI act Further, taking note of an expert committees report about corruption in the functioning of Medical Council of India in the grant of affiliation to medical colleges, the bench set up a three-member oversight panel headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha to oversee all statutory functions under the MCI Act. All policy decisions of the MCI will require approval of the Oversight Committee. The Committee which also includes Prof. (Dr.) Shiv Sareen (Director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences) 3. Shri Vinod Rai (former Comptroller & Auditor General of India will be free to issue appropriate remedial directions. The Committee will function till the Central Government puts in place any other appropriate mechanism after due consideration of the Expert Committee Report. Initially the Committee will function for a period of one year, unless suitable mechanism is brought in place earlier which will substitute the said Committee. The bench pointed out that by enacting the State law incidents of corruption in the State machinery were brought in the public eye immediately and have been addressed expeditiously. The same could never have been done in case of private actions. Even on a keel of comparative efficiency, it is more than evident that the State process is far more transparent and fair than one that is devised by the private colleges which have no mechanism of any checks and balances. The bench directed the matter to be listed for hearing after one year. The bench said the right of a State to do so is subject to a central law. Once the notifications under the Central statutes for conducting the CET called NEET become operative, it will be a matter between the States and the Union, which will have to be sorted out on the touchstone of Article 254 of the Constitution. (Updated - May 2, 2016 9:24 AM EDT) Bristow Group (NYSE: BRS) disclosed the following on Monday: Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure. On Friday, April 29, 2016, an accident occurred with an Airbus Helicopters EC225LP (also known as a H225) model helicopter operated by another helicopter company, which resulted in a crash near Tury outside of Bergen, Norway. The aircraft was carrying eleven passengers and two crew members at the time of the accident. Thirteen fatalities were reported. The cause of the accident is not yet known and is under investigation by authorities in Norway. Bristow Group Inc. (the Company) operates a total of twenty-seven H225 model aircraft worldwide as follows: Five H225 model aircraft registered in Norway; Thirteen H225 model aircraft registered in the United Kingdom; and Nine H225 model aircraft registered in Australia. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority issued a safety directive on April 29, 2016, requiring operators to suspend public transport flights and commercial air transport operations of all Airbus Helicopters EC225LP model aircraft registered in, or flying in or offshore of, Norway. The safety directive permits continued search and rescue flights of the affected aircraft in Norway for the purpose of saving life. As a result, the Company will continue to operate four H225 model aircraft in Norway solely for search and rescue missions, but the Company will not be operating a fifth H225 model aircraft in Norway until further notice. The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority also issued a safety directive on April 29, 2016, requiring operators to suspend public transport flights and commercial air transport operations of all Airbus Helicopters EC225LP model aircraft registered in, or flying in or offshore of, the United Kingdom. As a result, the Company will not be operating a total of thirteen H225 model aircraft registered in the United Kingdom until further notice. The Company has also suspended operations of six of its nine H225 model aircraft in Australia. The Company will continue to operate up to three H225 model aircraft in Australia solely for search and rescue missions. The Companys other aircraft, including search and rescue, continue to operate globally. The Company expects to increase utilization of other in-region aircraft and implement contingency plans designed to identify other available aircraft that can be safely and quickly mobilized to minimize or eliminate the impact on our clients critical operations. It is too early to determine whether the accident will have a material impact on the Company. The information in this Item 7.01 is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as may be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) signed a definitive agreement to acquire 62,500 net acres, and current natural gas production of 50 MMcfe per day from Statoil USA Onshore Properties, Inc. (Statoil) for $407 million, subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close on or about July 8, 2016. Primarily located in Wetzel, Tyler, and Harrison Counties of West Virginia, the acquisition adds a sizeable amount of acreage within EQTs core development area and complements the Companys adjacent operations in Wetzel County, West Virginia. The 62,500 acre acquisition includes existing Marcellus production and approximately 500 undeveloped locations that are expected to have an average lateral length of 5,600 feet. Much of this acreage is contiguous with EQTs existing development area; therefore, the lateral length of 106 existing EQT locations can now be extended from 3,000 to 6,500 feet, which will reduce overall costs and deliver stronger well economics. In line with the Companys consolidation strategy, this acquisition increases EQTs core undeveloped Marcellus acreage by 29%. The acquisition also includes drilling rights on an estimated 53,000 net acres that are undeveloped and prospective for the deep Utica. Assets include 31 Marcellus wells, 24 of which are currently producing three complete, not online and four drilled, not complete. The resource potential of the acreage is estimated at 9.2 Tcf; and 87% of the acreage is either held by production or has lease expiration terms that extend beyond 2018. The acreage has an 84% net revenue interest. There is no change to the Companys 2016 CAPEX or Operating Cash Flow guidance. The headquarters of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., seen in Laval, Quebec November 9 2015. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Caroline Humer BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman on Monday mounted a vigorous defense of Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: VRX), ruling out any sale of the drug company's "crown jewel" assets but saying price cuts and even a new name may be in its future. Ackman, whose Pershing Square Capital Management owns 9 percent of Valeant, predicted the company would turn around with the help of its new chief executive officer and by selling greater volumes of products instead of just raising the price of its drugs. He also took aim at Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, who criticized Valeant at Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting over the weekend. "The company is not a sewer," Ackman said on CNBC television's "Halftime Report," echoing the words Munger used to describe Valeant. "It is not fair to indict an entire company based on the actions of a few," Ackman said. Valeant has become Ackman's biggest headache in the last year as the stock price tumbled some 85 percent. One year ago he touted the Canadian company as one of his best ideas at the Sohn Investment conference. This year he will not be speaking at the conference, where he has been a regular for years. Ackman told CNBC, he is sticking with Valeant because he feels he can "fix" the company. "The time to invest is pretty much when everyone thinks this is a bad idea," Ackman said, calling Valeant "the cheapest large company I've seen in my career." In the roughly six weeks that Ackman and his firm's Vice Chairman Steve Fraidin have been directors on Valeant's board, the board has hired Joseph Papa to replace Michael Pearson as chief executive and ensured that the company released its long delayed annual report on Friday. On Monday, Ackman said that Valeant does not have to sell any assets to meet obligations and added that it will have a "an investment grade balance sheet sometime within the next two to three years without selling one asset." At some point the Valeant name may be jettisoned, Ackman said, acknowledging that company employees are now embarrassed to say they work for the company. Valeant's aggressive accounting tactics and practice of pushing up prices on newly acquired drugs has hurt the company, putting it into the crosshairs of other prominent investors, including Munger and Buffett at Berkshire, who called Valeant's business model "enormously flawed." Munger acknowledged Ackman's investing acumen in an interview with Fox Business, saying "he's certainly made a brilliant investment in General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP) and he's totally right about Herbalife (NYSE: HLF)" where Ackman has a $1 billion short position. Ackman said Valeant's management and the board understand the anger shown toward the company by lawmakers and investors. As Ackman spoke, Valeant's stock cut its losses by nearly half to trade at $32.52 per share. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Caroline Humer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Cynthia Osterman) LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., May 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonendo, Inc., the developer of a disruptive technology for the endodontic marketplace, attended the recent AAE16 annual session in San Francisco which was the most widely attended AAE annual session to date. In addition to unconventional educational tracks, the AAE16 recognized students for their exceptional work showcased as part of the prestigious AAE/DENTSPLY Student Awards. The top ten scoring resident presentations were awarded $1000 for their presentations in three categories: 1. Oral Research, 2. Poster Research, and 3. Table Clinic. Pierre Wohlgemuth, DDS, and Davide Cuocolo, DDS, of New York University (NYU), won second prize in the research poster category. The NYU postgraduate students, under the mentorship of Dr. Asgeir Sigurdsson, presented their research poster on the Effectiveness of the GentleWave System in Removing Separated Instruments. The results show that the GentleWave System can remove separated hand instruments approximately 72% of the time without compromising the dentin structure1. Regarding the recognition, Davide Cuocolo DDS, endodontic postgraduate student at the NYU School of Dentistry, stated, We knew since the beginning that this research project was very important, since separated instruments in the canals, in certain situations, are really tough, if not impossible, to remove. Dr. Cuocolo went on to say, We knew that our research was very solid and useful for the everyday life of an endodontist and we look forward to sharing further results at AAE17 in New Orleans, April 26-29, 2017. Chris Rabbitt, Chief Commercial Officer, stated, On behalf of Sonendo I would like to thank both Dr. Wohlgemuth and Dr. Cuocolo for their excellent research and on placing second in this years Poster Research category. To learn more about Sonendo and The GentleWave System please visit www.sonendo.com. 1Wohlgemuth P, Cuocolo D, Vandrangi P, Sigurdsson A. Effectiveness of the GentleWave System in Removing Separated Instruments. (2015) J Endod 41:1895-8. About Sonendo Sonendo, Inc. is a privately-held, venture-backed company developing innovative and disruptive technologies to transform dentistry by Saving Teeth Through Sound Science. The first commercially available product from Sonendo, the GentleWave System, available in the US, shows significant improvements in clinical efficacy, and treatment efficiency when compared to conventional root canal techniques2-3. For more information please visit: www.sonendo.com. 2Molina B et al. (2015) J Endod. 41:1701-05. 3Haapasalo M et al. (2014) J Endod. 40:1178-81. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations and on information currently available to management. All statements that address events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including without limitation our expectations with respect to the timing and progress of research and development activities. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they speak only as of the date when made. Sonendo does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results, developments or events could differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Media Contact: Bob Guyatt Vice President of Marketing 949.766.3636 Source: Sonendo Farmington Hills, MI (PRWEB) May 02, 2016 Many injured car accident victims are being contacted by insurance company adjusters who offer money to settle with them shortly after a wreck, says head trial attorney Steven Gursten of Farmington Hills-based Michigan Auto Law. But when these people are contacted by insurance companies, there's very little information on the web to help decipher whether it's a fair offer, or to help calculate what the settlement value of their case could be worth, Gursten added. Now the auto accident attorneys at Michigan Auto Law have developed a new, interactive online tool to help accident victims calculate the potential settlement value of an automobile accident lawsuit. Car and truck accident victims can use the interactive tool by visiting: http://www.michiganautolaw.com/accident-case-worth/ . "The short answer to the age-old question, "What's my case worth?" is probably a lot more than what the other driver's insurance company is offering," Gursten says. After answering a few short multiple choice questions using the tool, users will receive a free evaluation of the potential value of their injury or the value of hiring a lawyer to file a lawsuit. They will also find answers to frequently asked questions, including: How the state where the crash occurs matters. Qualifications of an experienced attorney who can help determine settlement value. Factors that determine how much an auto case is worth, from both the plaintiff attorney and insurance company perspective. How insurance companies determine the value of an auto accident injury claim in 2016. Whether or not an accident victim even needs to hire a lawyer. And what to do when the insurance company is calling with a "low-ball" settlement offer. "With this new tool, we provided some of the key factors that insurance companies consider when deciding upon the settlement value of an auto accident case," said Gursten. "But remember, the entire point of an insurance claims adjuster contacting you early on after a car accident is that he or she is likely seeking a substantial discount of what your claim is worth. They're contacting you precisely because they don't want you talking to an attorney." About Michigan Auto Law: Michigan Auto Law has 17 lawyers exclusively litigating automobile accident and No Fault insurance litigation throughout the state. The law firm has received a top-reported jury verdict or injury settlement for a car crash or truck accident victim for the past 17 consecutive years, according to published year-end compilations by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Michigan Auto Law has law offices in Farmington Hills, Detroit, Sterling Heights, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. For more information, visit http://www.michiganautolaw.com or call (800) 777-0028. About Steven M. Gursten: Steven Gursten is recognized as one of the nation's top attorneys litigating serious auto accident injury and wrongful death cases Steve is an active leader in many organizations, including President of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association and Past Chair of the American Association for Justice Truck Accident Litigation Group. He has been named a Michigan Lawyers Weekly Lawyer of the Year. Steve is also listed in Best Lawyers in America and is named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan by Super Lawyers. He frequently lectures at legal seminars throughout the country on topics such as trial advocacy, Michigan No Fault law, traumatic brain injury and maximizing auto accident settlements. Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/04/prweb13379533.htm Gurajala, a village in Maganur mandal of Mahbubnagar district, has a government employee in 90 per cent of its 125 households. Railroad to literacy, and jobs with the government: Gurajala Households: 125, Employees: 98. Gurajala, a village in Maganur mandal of Mahbubnagar district, has a government employee in 90 per cent of its 125 households. Except for a few people, most of the population has been educated at least till Class X. All women from the self-help groups are literate. Half-a-century ago, the number of literates in Gurajala, located on the banks of the Krishna near the Krishna railway station, was in the single digits. Due to a lack of connectivity, most children did not go to school. This changed after the commissioning of the Krishna railway station in 1970s. Soon the villagers started sending their children to schools in Karnatakas Raichur or Gadwal in Mahbubnagar district. As the children began finishing school, they began exploring government jobs. Those who secured employment with the state dedicated their free time to training and motivating juniors on how to what strive for securing a government job. Today, 40 persons from the village are teachers and another 40 are working with the Karnataka Electricity department in Raichur. Eight have completed their engineering and settled in Telangana state or Karnataka as government engineers. Ten work with other government departments. A further 15 villagers have retired from the railways and 14 villagers who have completed their BEd. and DEd are preparing for TET and other exams. Gurajala mandal parishad president Shiv Raj Patil told this newspaper about this remarkable transformation. After getting railway connectivity, our literacy rate has increased every year. There are very few illiterates in the village and most of them are old, he said. Nearly 200 persons in the village are drivers, and 20 of them are with the RTC. 70 own lorries. Hitting the road on wheels of fortune: Pocharam Households: 211, Drivers: 200 Every home in Pocharam village in Ibrahimpatnam mandal of Ranga Reddy district has an individual employed as driver. Nearly 200 persons in the village have taken up driving as a trade and of them 20 are with the Telangana State Road Transport Corpo-ration. The rest work as lorry and taxi drivers. The story behind this started 40 years ago when sand in the village and at Ibrahimpatnam Pedda Cheruvu began to be transported out. The villagers used to work as cleaners with lorries transporting the sand. Later, they learned driving and motivated one another to upgrade skills. The elders in the village, Mr Butti Shankaraiah, Mr Palle Srisailam, Mr Palle Narsimha and others encouraged the young to learn and take up driving. Pocharam sarpanch K. Prabhakar said 90 per cent of the villages drivers were literate. Out of 200 drivers, 70 own lorries. Most of the drivers have studied up to at least Class 10, he said. He said that since last year, the drivers have not been having it so good. Recently, the traffic police in Hyderabad has imposed restrictions on lorry parking. Since four months, lorries are not being allowed to park at Cham-papet which is the place for sand selling, he said. Operating the earth-moving poclainer has become something of a local speciality. Moving the earth isnt so difficult: Kachevarigudem Households: 380, Proclainer operators: 700 Kachevarigudem, a remote village in Nalgonda district under Garidepelle mandal has become the capital of proclainer operators in the state. An astonishing 700 proclaimer drivers live in the village and each of the 380 households in the village has at least one operator. Four decades ago, a few people from the village migrated to Vizag and worked in the Vizag Steel Plant as labourers on daily wage. In course of time they learned how to operate proclainers and cranes. This trade was progressively taken up by most of the men in the village. Mr Dasaraju Ramu, a proclainer operator from Kachevarigudem, said that all the households had at least one proclaimer operator. Many of the proclaimer operators are graduates. During the summer, they are on the field at locations across the country. In the monsoon, all operators come back home to the village, Mr Ramu said. LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA) (Paris: ERF), the world leader in environment testing services, announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire EAC Corporation Ltd. (EAC) from Asahi Industries Co., Ltd. (Asahi) in Japan. As part of the acquisition, Asahi and Eurofins will enter into an exclusive supplier contract for a period of 3 years. The transaction is expected to close by the end of May. EAC provides environment testing services nationwide, with a strong competence in water and dioxin testing, and is one of the leading laboratories in the Northern Kanto region of Japan. Established in 1972, EAC employs about 70 staff and generates revenues of about EUR 5m. The acquisition of EAC reinforces Eurofins local footprint, as well as its platform to further deploy the Groups analytical expertise, especially in water and dioxin testing. With a leading position in Radioactive Material Analysis (RMA) following the acquisition of Nihon Kankyo (2012) and Nihon Soken (2015), the acquisition of EAC should allow Eurofins to also strengthen its service offering in water and dioxin testing. Furthermore, EACs site location is a strong geographic fit with Eurofins existing presence in the Southern Kanto region. Therefore the operational and geographic fit of this acquisition should allow the Group to become a reference laboratory for environment testing in Japan. Comment from Dr. Gilles Martin, Eurofins CEO: EAC is a good strategic fit to the Groups existing activities in Japan. This acquisition reinforces the Groups growing Asia Pacific footprint, and is a further demonstration of our commitment in the region. We look forward to giving EAC access to the full capabilities of the Eurofins network. For more information about Eurofins, please visit www.eurofins.com Notes for the editor:Eurofins a global leader in bio-analysis Eurofins Scientific believes it is the world leader in food, environment and pharmaceutical products testing, as well as one of the global market leaders in agroscience, genomics, discovery pharmacology and central laboratory services. In addition, Eurofins is one of the key emerging players in specialty clinical diagnostic testing in Europe and the USA. With over 23,000 staff in more than 225 laboratories across 39 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 130,000 validated analytical methods for evaluating the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products, as well as for innovative clinical diagnostic. The Group provides its customers with high-quality services, accurate results on time and expert advice by its highly qualified staff. Eurofins is committed to pursuing its dynamic growth strategy by expanding both its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer its clients unique analytical solutions and the most comprehensive range of testing methods. As one of the most innovative and quality oriented international players in its industry, Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the expanding demands of regulatory authorities and healthcare practitioners around the world. The shares of Eurofins Scientific are listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0000038259, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP). Important disclaimer:This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and estimates contained herein represent the judgement of Eurofins Scientific management as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. Eurofins Scientific disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements and estimates. All statements and estimates are made based on the information available to the Companys management as of the date of publication, but no guarantee can be made as to their validity. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005449/en/ Investor Relations Eurofins Scientific Group Phone: +32 2 766 1620 E-mail: [email protected] Source: Eurofins Scientific Bangor, Maine (PRWEB) May 02, 2016 Husson University announced today that it will be hosting two exhibitions of student artwork at the beginning of May. The works displayed at these exhibitions are some the finest examples of student creativity. "Art lovers throughout the Greater Bangor area should make it a point to visit Husson and see what our students have created," says Kathi J. Smith, an assistant professor of studio arts and art appreciation at Husson University. "The fine arts faculty and I have selected the best student work produced during the semester for inclusion in these exhibitions." The first exhibit is a "Selected Student Work" show at the Robert E. White Gallery in Husson's Campus Center. Located in Peabody Hall, the exhibition in the Campus Center will run through May 3. In addition, the Bi-Annual Hart Open Studio Event - Open House/Student Showcase is scheduled for May 2 from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. in the Hart Studio (basement of Hart Hall). Light refreshments will be served at 4 p.m. Both of these events feature the creative expressions of Husson students in arts-related courses. The show is a collaborative effort by the School of Science and Humanities and the New England School of Communications. The showcase in Hart Studio is also serving as a Grand Opening event where members of the public and Husson's campus community can see the newly renovated space. A wide variety of creative mediums will be represented at these exhibitions. Student drawings, paintings, pastels, photography, graphic design, set design, collages, assemblages and batik prints will be on display. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. "These showcases are designed to give students an opportunity to share their work with the public," continued Smith. "It's also an opportunity to highlight some of the exceptionally talented students at Husson University." Public exhibitions are a valuable part of the art educational experience. They serve as venues where students can exchange creative ideas with their peers and receive feedback from members of the public. Students who are contributing the creativity to these shows participated in one or more of the following courses: FA 101 - Art and Human Experience FA 205 - Painting 1 FA 299 - Art and Childhood Development FA 120 - Drawing 1 FA 299 - The Art of Cartooning CT 245 - Photography MC 245 - Graphic Design I MC 335 - Graphic Design II EP 448 - Final Portfolio & Proficiency Review About the Robert E. White Gallery at Husson University Artists who work in every possible medium including watercolors, still lifes, oil paintings, pastels, sculptures, acrylics, photographs and etchings, are featured at the Robert E. White Gallery. With a new show approximately every eight weeks, the gallery provides students with a glimpse at how artists with ties to Maine express themselves, giving them added insight into the place where they've chosen to go to school. The gallery was established in 1992 and named for, and endowed by, Husson alumni and former Board of Trustees Chair Robert E. White '65. The Robert E. White Gallery is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It is located in Peabody Hall on the campus of Husson University at 1 College Circle, Bangor, ME. For additional information contact: robertewhitegallery(AT)husson.edu. For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells, and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies; science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/HussonUniversity/StudentArtExhibits2016/prweb13383365.htm SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank governor threw the full weight of the bank behind a structural reform effort on Monday, but did not mention whether the bank would be engaging in quantitative easing, which it is under pressure to provide. The governor's comments followed a day after Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said in a television interview that policymakers were contemplating the best strategy to support two state-run policy banks involved in a massive overhaul of South Korea's shipping and shipbuilding industries. "We should be extremely wary of the possibility of any temporary effects like negative influences on financial markets or a worsening of corporate liquidity," Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol told his top officials before leaving for the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank. Lee added corporate structural reform was "very important" for Asia's fourth-largest economy. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has said allowing the Bank of Korea to undertake some form of quantitative easing should be considered to ensure credit goes where it is needed during the structural reform process. Park has said the quantitative easing mix being considered was not of the kind that has been seen in advanced economies such as the U.S., Japan or the European Union. "We are thinking of a mix of fiscal and monetary policy rather than just one," Yoo said on Sunday. When asked whether quantitative easing being undertaken by the central bank was possible, Yoo added that it too was a candidate for inclusion in the policy mix. Last Friday, the central bank's labor union criticized calls for quantitative easing, saying it could harm the central bank's independence and the union would protest against it for as long as possible. "What the government is calling for is not quantitative easing. They are crying out wine and selling vinegar," the union said in a statement. A task force of officials from the government, central bank and other related bodies, will hold its first meeting later this week - chaired by the first vice finance minister. (Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Kim Coghill and Eric Meijer) Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican May 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (Corrects May 1 story to make clear in paragraph 14 that Peter Saunders has not resigned from Vatican sex abuse commission) By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis called for "severe punishment" for pedophiles on Sunday after new details emerged in Italy of the 2014 death of a six-year-old girl who is alleged to have been thrown from an eighth-storey balcony by her abuser. "This is a tragedy. We should not tolerate the abuse of minors," Francis said, departing from prepared remarks at his weekly Sunday message and blessing to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square. "We must protect minors and severely punish abusers," he said. Though the Catholic Church itself has been rocked by its own abuse scandals, he did not mention them on Sunday as he has in the past. Italians have been shocked as details emerged in the case of six-year-old Fortuna who died in June 2014 after a fall from an eighth-storey balcony in Naples. After re-opening the case, police charged a 43-year-old man with having thrown the girl to her death in a housing block in a rough area of the city after raping her. Police said they suspected he killed her so she would not talk. The man, who has also been accused of molesting other children and is now in prison in Rome, has denied the charges. On Saturday Italian President Sergio Mattarella called for an "ample, rapid and severe" judicial process concerning the case, which has dominated newspapers' front pages for days. Child abuse by priests has plagued the Roman Catholic Church itself for decades. While some cases of sexual abuse in the Church were exposed piecemeal, such as in the U.S. state of Louisiana in the 1980s, the scandal exploded in 2002, when it was discovered that U.S. bishops in the Boston area moved abusers from parish to parish instead of defrocking them. Similar scandals have since been discovered around the world and tens of millions of dollars have been paid in compensation. While the pope has vowed "zero tolerance" for abusers in the Church, victims groups have accused him of not doing enough. They say he should do much more to make bishops more accountable for covering up abuse or not preventing it. A commission he set up to advise him on how to root out abuse in the Church has struggled to find its stride. In February, Peter Saunders of Britain, a prominent and outspoken member, was forced to take a leave of absence from the group after being fiercely critical of the Vatican's handling of abuse scandals. In March, Cardinal George Pell, under fire for his handling of sexual abuse of children by priests in Australia decades ago, gave four days of evidence to an Australian government commission, which again put the Church's problem with abuse on the world stage. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Richard Balmforth) By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - An unarmed soldier was arrested at a Maryland National Guard armory on Monday after he barricaded himself inside a building that housed a cache of small weapons, authorities said. The soldier surrendered without a struggle after negotiating with Baltimore County Police for more than two hours at the facility in Parkville, Maryland, according to a post on a department blog. The man, whom police did not identify by name, never gained access to weapons stored in a vault inside the building, police said, and there were no injuries. The incident comes at a time of heightened security at U.S. military bases after several violent episodes in recent years, including deadly shootings at two facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee last year. The blog said the man was being evaluated and that unspecified charges were pending. The soldier had no authorization to enter the armory, which also houses a shooting range and an obstacle course, said Colonel Charles Kohler, a Maryland National Guard spokesman. Investigators were trying to determine the man's motives for entering the building and how he was able to get inside. The building requires a security code to enter, a police spokeswoman said. (Editing by Cynthia Osterman) A Houthi follower rises a weapon as he attends a rally marking one year of Saudi-led air strikes, in Yemen's capital Sanaa, March 26, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi By Mohammed Ghobari CAIRO (Reuters) - The Yemeni government suspended direct peace talks to end the country's civil war on Sunday after the Houthi movement and its armed allies seized a military base north of the capital Sanaa, two members of the official delegation to the talks said. The Houthi assault killed several of the soldiers defending the Umaliqa base. Unlike most of Yemen's soldiers, those at Umaliqa had refused to take sides in the war between the Iran-allied Houthis and the Saudi-backed government. The Houthis had tolerated this neutrality until they launched a surprise push into the facility in Amran province and seized its large cache of weapons at dawn, local officials said. "We have suspended the sessions indefinitely to protest these military actions and continued violations of the truce," one member of the government delegation to the Yemen peace talks in Kuwait told Reuters. The delegate declined to be named, citing rules on media commentary at the U.N.-sponsored peace talks. Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi, Yemen's foreign minister and the government's top delegate to the negotiations in Kuwait, said in the Houthi assault had "torpedoed" the talks. "We will take the appropriate position in response to the Houthi crime at the Umaliqa base in Amran for the sake of our people and country," he wrote on his official Twitter account, without elaborating. Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam dismissed the delegation's protest. In comments posted on his official Twitter account he accused the government of "wasting time" and "fabricating excuses" to continue the war. Buttressed by a truce which had been largely holding since April 10, the talks in Kuwait had been inching ahead in recent days and the Houthis said Saudi Arabia had on Saturday released 40 Yemeni prisoners. For its part, Yemen's Houthi-run state news agency Saba accused the mostly Gulf Arab coalition and Yemeni government forces of violating the truce 4,000 times, saying shelling, bombing raids and warplane overflights had raised tensions. The war has killed at least 6,200 people and unleashed a humanitarian crisis in the already impoverished country. Yemen's army has split, and military bases and commanders have mostly taken either the Houthi or the government side. (Writing by Noah Browning and Katie Paul; Editing by Gareth Jones and Nerys Avery) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 2, 2016 United States Steel Corporation (Exact name of registrant specified in its charter) Delaware 001-16811 25-1897152 (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer Of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 600 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2800 (Address of principal executive offices, zip code) Registrants telephone number, including area code: (412) 433-1121 Not applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE The following information was provided by United States Steel Corporation (the Company) to certain qualified institutional buyers in an offering memorandum related to the private placement of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2021. As of March 31, 2016, the book value of the fixtures, real estate, machinery and equipment included in the collateral was approximately $2.2 billion. The collateral includes, but is not limited to, all of the Companys general intangibles, intellectual property and intellectual property licenses, equipment, letter of credit rights, investment property, along with certain fixtures and owned real property. No appraisal of the value of the collateral has been made in connection with the offering, and the value of the collateral in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. The fair market value of the collateral may differ from the book value as of the date of the offering or in the future. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2016, our non-guarantor subsidiaries represented approximately 30% of our net sales, approximately 47% of our operating loss and approximately 147% of our Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and as calculated in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2016) loss on a consolidated basis. As of March 31, 2016, our non-guarantor subsidiaries represented approximately 42% of our total assets and had approximately $1.2 billion of total liabilities (including trade payables but excluding intercompany liabilities), all of which would have been structurally senior to the notes. The notes proposed to be offered have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons absent registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The notes will be offered only to "qualified institutional buyers" under Rule 144A of the Securities Act or, outside the United States, to persons other than "U.S. persons" in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS. On May 2, 2016, the Company issued a press release, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1. ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. (d) Exhibits. Exhibit Number Description 99.1 Press release, dated May 2, 2016 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION By: /s/ Colleen M. Darragh Colleen M. Darragh Vice President and Controller Dated: May 2, 2016 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description 99.1 Press release, dated May 2, 2016 Exhibit 99.1 NEWS RELEASE CONTACTS: Media Sarah Cassella Manager External Communications T - (412) 433-6777 E - [email protected] Investors/Analysts Dan Lesnak General Manager Investor Relations T - (412) 433-1184 E - [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES PROPOSED SENIOR SECURED NOTES OFFERING PITTSBURGH, May 2, 2016 - United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2021. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for the repayment of outstanding debt, focusing on near-term maturities, and any remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes. The notes proposed to be offered have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons absent registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act or, outside the United States, to persons other than U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. www.ussteel.com 2015 U. S. Steel. All Rights Reserved This press release is issued pursuant to Rule 135c of the Securities Act, is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes or any other securities. The offering of the notes will not be made to any person in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. Cautionary Statement All statements included in this press release, other than historical information or statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as, but not limited to, "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "could," "may," "will," "should," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions, estimates and data concerning future results and events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Companys control that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Accordingly, U. S. Steel cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by these and other important factors and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. For more information on the potential factors, please review U. S. Steels filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, U. S. Steels Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. -oOo- 2016-012 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 2, 2016 VECTOR GROUP LTD. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) DELAWARE (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 1-5759 65-0949535 (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33137 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (305) 579-8000 (Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.425) Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Notes Offering On May 2, 2016, Vector Group Ltd. (NYSE: VGR) (the Company) commenced an offer to issue and sell an additional $200 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% senior secured notes due 2021 (the Notes). The Company expects to price the Notes on May 3, 2016. The offering is expected to close on May 9, 2016, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the offering will be priced or completed. The Notes will have the same terms except issue date and purchase price and will be treated as the same series as the $450 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% senior secured notes due 2021 issued by the Company on February 12, 2013 and the additional $150 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% senior secured notes due 2021 issued by the Company on April 15, 2014 (together, the Existing Notes). A copy of the press release related to the commencement of the Notes offering is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The Notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and to persons outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes will not initially be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or in a transaction that is not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws. This report does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase the Notes or any security, and there will not be any offer, solicitation or sale of the Notes or any other security in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The information furnished under Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of the Companys filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings, except to the extent expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. In this report, all statements that are not purely historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words believe, expect, anticipate, project, plan, estimate, intend, could, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available business, economic, financial and other information and reflect managements current beliefs, expectations and views with respect to future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company and its business. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement made in this report to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or actual outcomes. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is included with this report and is being furnished solely for purposes of Item 7.01 of this Form 8-K: 99.1 Press release issued by Vector Group Ltd. on May 2, 2016, announcing the commencement of the Notes offering. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. VECTOR GROUP LTD. By: /s/ J. Bryant Kirkland III Date: May 2, 2016 J. Bryant Kirkland III Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Exhibit 99.1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VECTOR ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF NOTES OFFERING OF AN ADDITIONAL $200 MILLION OF 7.750% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2021 Miami, FL, May 2, 2016 Vector Group Ltd. (NYSE: VGR) (Vector or the Company) announced today that it has commenced an offer to issue and sell an additional $200 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% senior secured notes due 2021 (the Notes). The offering is expected to price on May 3, 2016 and close on May 9, 2016, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the offering will be priced or completed. The Notes will have the same terms except issue date and purchase price and will be treated as the same series as the $450 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% senior secured notes due 2021 issued by the Company on February 12, 2013 and the additional $150 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% senior secured notes due 2021 issued by the Company on April 15, 2014 (together, the Existing Notes). The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 7.750% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2016. The Notes will mature on February 15, 2021, unless earlier repurchased or redeemed in accordance with their terms. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by all of the wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries of the Company that are engaged in the conduct of the Companys cigarette businesses. The guarantees provided by some of the subsidiary guarantors will be secured by first priority or second priority security interests in certain assets of such guarantors. The Company intends to use the net cash proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, additional investments in real estate through the companys wholly owned subsidiary, New Valley LLC, and in its existing tobacco business. The Notes are being offered in a private offering that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S. The Notes will not initially be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or in a transaction that is not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase the Notes or any other security, and there will not be any offer, solicitation or sale of the Notes or any other security in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, plans, intends, could and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Companys current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. All information set forth in this press release is as of May 2, 2016. Vector does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. Risk factors and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include, among others, our ability to successfully complete the proposed notes offering. *** Vector Group is a holding company that indirectly owns Liggett Group LLC, Vector Tobacco Inc. and Zoom E-Cigs LLC and directly owns New Valley LLC, which owns a controlling interest in Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. -2- The Employment Relations Authority has ordered a disability care company to pay a former worker $35,000. A disability carer who left her job after only getting paid $50 for overnight shifts has won a $35,000 payout. Lynette Cooper challenged her former employer, Wisecare, in the Employment Relations Authority after leaving the company in December 2014. Cooper worked for the Auckland company for 10 months but left because she "felt used". She said she was initially only getting $50 for working an entire shift overnight - well below the minimum wage on her sleep-over shifts. She was also not given any dedicated meal breaks if she worked eight hours or more. READ MORE: * Sleepover deal for caregivers looks close * Peter Cullen: Asleep on the job? An ERA decision released this week said when Cooper raised the issue, the manager who effectively ran the company responded: "I don't pay people to sleep". She made multiple complaints and was eventually given the minimum rate for the shifts, though Wisecare then scrapped its $50 tax-free shift allowance. Cooper was told she was required to be awake during each shift, even though that would make it impossible to maintain her other day work. Cooper announced in December 2014 that she was leaving because Wisecare had "consistently ignored her legal rights" and she "felt used". ERA chief James Crichton agreed with her and wrote in his decision that Cooper was entitled to wages from the employment. He said he was "satisfied on the evidence before me that Ms Cooper was unjustifiably dismissed from her employment because Wisecare had made it impossible for her to continue working for it by reason of the unsatisfactory way in which it treated her, once she began to seek to claim her legal entitlements." Crichton ordered Wisecare to pay Cooper $5000 compensation, $14,502 in wages, $6,800 in allowances, $1,160 in unpaid holiday pay and $7500 as a result of not being able to find work for three months. He said the payments also covered the employer's breach of good faith to Cooper. Wisecare did not participate in the ERA process. Those who would behave badly on Twitter, beware. Stephen K Amos has been watching. The comedian, known to draw on his personal experiences to generate laughs, has taken a different tack for his latest set. His material this time is based on his observations of the media, particularly the abuse of social media that so readily makes headlines. "The whole idea of the internet was to kind of gather information and the truth," Amos says. "People are just kind of being a bit ridiculous, abusing that luxury that we all have." Amos himself is well-versed in that luxury. A 20-year veteran of both screen and stage, he prefers the uncensored nature of stand-up. "It's the best job in the world the only job I can think of where I can say literally anything I want on stage." Amos has a well-worn process for devising his scripts. "I think of an idea, or something is bugging me, and that could be the starting point. And what I tend to do is I write a story in long hand and I try and add jokes to it." "I walk around with a pad and pen everywhere I go and when something springs to mind, I jot it down. And I try it out." Amos, who resides in South London, is in New Zealand this month for the NZ International Comedy Festival, having performed in the country a number of times, though "not as often as I'd like to", he says. READ MORE: Review: NZ International Comedy Festival gala 2016 Rosie Cann's feminist comedic magic Rhys Darby returns for NZ Comedy Festival Acting the cowboy not all plain sailing Rhys Darby's band Rhysently Granted releases new song, 'Jandals' Speaking to Fairfax Media from Perth, Amos explains: "When I come to Australia I try and tag on New Zealand because it's not that far away, and once you're on this side of the world, why not?" Amos has already performed in Auckland in April "it was much fun" and will take to the stage in Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth and Tauranga this month. Personnel of the National Disaster Response force extinguish the fire in the forests of Pauri Garhwal on Monday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: While Uttarakhand continues to battle massive forest fires spread across several districts, with at least seven people dead and hundreds of villages destroyed, Himachal Pradesh now faces a similar situation, with damage to 50 hectares of woodland in Shimla in a week. Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh, however, downplayed the fires and said the situation was fully under control and cannot be compared with Uttarakhand. There was brief panic among students of a boarding school in Kasauli on Monday as fires in the adjoining districts spread towards the educational institution, that led to an immediate evacuation of the children. Uttarakhand governor K.K. Paul on Monday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the forest fires, with the latter extending all support from the Centre. President Pranab Mukherjee also shared his concern with the governor and expressed his condolences to families which had lost their relatives in the forest fires. Meanwhile, two IAF helicopters made nine sorties from Nainital and Pauri on Monday to pour water. NDRF officials said the situation was likely to come under complete control by Tuesday. We have extensively brought down the number of locations under fire, said the officials. Former priest Peter Hercock - seen here at Wellington District Court - has been jailed for sexual abuse of four teenagers in the 1970s. GRAPHIC WARNING: Some content in this story may upset some people In the dimly-lit room of a Wainuiomata presbytery bedroom, priestly robes lay strewn across the floor. Background music plays softly on a record player, while on the bed a drunk teenager is about to be raped by her priest. FAIRFAX NZ Ann-Marie Shelley, of Upper Hutt, talks about her decision to identify herself as the victim of Peter Hercock's abuse. The girl can't feel her legs and has no idea what's happening. "I'll always remember that bloody horrible Leonard Cohen album." The year is 1974 and the 18-year-old is Ann-Marie Shelley. MONIQUE FORD/FAIRFAX NZ Rape survivor Ann-Marie Shelley surrounds herself with colour in her home, to make up for a 'colourless, soulless' childhood. READ MORE: * Hercock sentenced to six years and seven months' jail * Former Catholic priest Peter Hercock pleads guilty to historic abuse * Former Catholic priest faces historic sex charges * Catholic priests who abused New Zealand children will not be investigated * Church braced for new child abuse complaints Now 60, the grandmother surrounds herself with life. Her house is a cacophony of colour. Rainbows permeate every nook and cranny, from the lovingly decoupaged table tops, to the fence outside, and the papier mache vines decorating her home's walls and ceilings. SUPPLIED In this Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt class photo, taken in 1971, Anne-Marie Shelley is on the right end of the front row. The grooming process was well underway when this picture was taken, Shelley says. There is a cross by the front door, and a giant, scarlet love-heart on the adjacent wall. Even her book collection is colour co-ordinated in rainbow order. Louise Nicholas' book My Story peeks from amid the collection. "I had a childhood that literally had no colour in it. I grew up in a colourless, soulless household and this is the exact opposite. So, yes that's where my thing where rainbowy colours come from." FAIRFAX NZ Father Peter Hercock, of the Diocensan order, in the middle among seven ordained Roman Catholic priests who were pupils of St Patrick's College, Wellington, preparing to celebrate mass at St Mary of the Angels on Boulcott St on July 4, 1969. The other six were all Marists. Shelley's teenage years were rough. An alcoholic at the age of 14, she was sent by a teacher at Lower Hutt's Sacred Heart College to see the school chaplain and counsellor. A man called Peter Hercock. Ordained as a Catholic Diocesan priest in 1969, a year later he was working at the school and had regular meetings with Shelley. ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Rape survivor advocate Louise Nicholas pointed Ann-Marie Shelley towards police, who reopened their investigation into former priest Peter Hercock. Touching escalated to thigh rubbing and watching the young girl while she went to the bathroom. Strange as it sounds, none of this was of any great concern to a young Shelley, who had bigger problems. By 17 she had fallen pregnant, forced to adopt her baby out by her Catholic parents. ROB KITCHEN/FAIRFAX NZ Cardinal Tom Williams, who was Archbishop of Wellington at the time of Ann-Marie Shelley's complaint, says he simply can't remember any details about the case. A year later, having left Sacred Heart, she enrolled at nursing school but struggled to deal with the trauma of losing her child. A concerned tutor suggested she see a counsellor, did she know one? Shelley did. Peter Hercock. It was this encounter that led to the rape in the presbytery bedroom. Plied with alcohol by the priest despite him knowing of her alcohol addiction, Shelley says when she was taken upstairs she "couldn't feel her legs". Contact was broken off shortly after and 10 years later Shelley found herself in a violent marriage with three young children. With no choice but to flee the fists of her husband, she ended up in a Red Cross shelter for the homeless. Cramped in a tiny room with her children, Hercock again made contact. He had left the priesthood, he told her, but was still happy to help. One stormy night in 1984, Hercock snuck into Shelley's window, climbed on top of her and raped her while her children slept nearby. "I couldn't make a racket because who wants that, I couldn't risk the kids waking up." Do you know more about Peter Hercock's offending? Email shane.cowlishaw@fairfaxmedia.co.nz Despite the disgusting attack, Shelley was homeless and penniless so the second rape went to "the back of the queue". It was two decades before Shelley approached the church with her story. After discovering Hercock had abused other victims she went to the Catholic Abuse Protocol Committee. Set up to deal with complaints about priestly abuse, in 2003 the committee included John Dew - now cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington. Following an investigation into Hercock's behaviour an admission of guilt was obtained from Hercock during an interview, where he also revealed he had voluntarily attended a year-long sex offender treatment programme. Shelley received an apology letter from Hercock and another letter from then Archbishop cardinal Thomas Williams, stating little could be done as Hercock was no longer a priest. "Your complaint was received and found to be wholly credible from the outset," Williams wrote. "The interview with Peter Hercock gave him the opportunity to deny the truth of the complaint or accept it. In the event Peter Hercock admitted his guilt." THE LETTER A "reimbursement" of $25,000 was paid to Shelley, then known as Sam Shelley, by the church. Other victims of Hercock were also paid similar sums. But Shelley remained disappointed with the result, believing the church was focused more on their own reputation than the victims, and went to the police in 2004. DNA evidence was taken from Hercock, but soon after Shelley was told that nothing could be done because of restrictions of the Crimes Act. At this point it had been 34 years since she had first met Hercock. Shelley remained committed to seeing the matter through. "I had a bucket list before the term bucket list was ever invented and at the top of that was 'I must not die before I get justice for what Hercock's done'. "I just bided my time, really, and didn't ever give up hope of getting justice." Her chance came in 2014, when she spoke publicly in front of a Select Committee into sexual violence funding. Following her moment before the politicians, rape victims advocate Louise Nicholas approached Shelley. After hearing how police had failed to take the matter further she introduced her to the police's sexual assault co-ordinator. The case was reopened, leading to Hercock being charged and eventually pleading guilty. As has become a pattern with sexual offending within the priesthood, Shelley was not a sole victim. It's unknown how many woman Hercock abused, but three others have come forward to police. They include a 13-year-old fed whisky in the presbytery bedroom before an attempted rape, a 15-year-old who was indecently assaulted and a girl who engaged in regular sexual intercourse with Hercock at a bach run by nuns in Waikanae. Shelley met the three for the first time as they watched Hercock enter his guilty plea. SUPPORT FROM UP HIGH There are few people more qualified to talk to a sexual abuse victim than Nicholas. Her story is well-known, with little need to gloss over details. She claimed to have been raped and sexually violated over a period of years by several police officers, and suffered in silence for decades. With the help of investigative journalist Phil Kitchin, her story was sensationally publicised in 2004, proving a catalyst for a commission of inquiry into the behaviour of police and subsequent reforms. Nicholas is always a passionate and vigorous speaker, but becomes animated when talking about the strength needed by Shelley to continually fight for justice during such a long period. "I can absolutely see where Ann-Marie is coming from because she knows there's more (victims) out there and by others seeing what her and the others have done it may give them the courage and strength to get rid of the demons that have been sitting with them for so long. "To be able to put herself out there and say 'hey, this is me and this is what happened to me' is actually one of the most powerful processes you can go through as a survivor of sexual violence." Nicholas is modest about her own role in helping Shelley seek justice, pointing out she simply steered her in the right direction. Today the police are far better at handling sexual abuse cases than before, but she's unsurprised at their response to Shelley's initial complaint 12 years ago. "In 2004 it doesn't surprise me that they kind of swept this one under the carpet and it's a sad reflection on the culture back there. "What angers me more is for a survivor to be told that because of the issues around time and all that, it was a complete and utter lie, and they knew that." Also present at Shelley's Select Committee appearance was former police officer Mike McCarthy, then a Detective Senior Sergeant and national co-ordinator of the Adult Sexual Assault team. A driver of change within the police about how it handled sexual complaints, McCarthy remembers clearly the moment he heard Shelley speak. "It was one of those moments where you could see she was recounting an incredibly painful experience but also you could see the impact on her life." Catching Nicholas' eye, he told her later that if she approached Shelley and offered to put her in touch he would look at having the case reopened. While McCarthy says he is unsure of the details of the 2003 investigation, it was clear things should have been done better. "Her (Shelley's) experience at the time in my view wasn't good enough, her experience then wasn't what the police's current view is around investigating stuff [like this]. "My belief is that compared to 13-odd years ago the approach right from the outset and how it's received would be much more professional than it might have been." When asked for more detail about why no charges were laid in 2003, Hutt Valley investigations manager Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Barnett said police were not in a position to comment. But the way allegations of this nature were dealt with had improved vastly in the past 13 years, he said. "The sentencing of Mr Hercock brings to a close a comprehensive investigation by police, and we especially acknowledge those victims who were a vital part of the process to bring him to justice. "We are also pleased they will be spared the further scrutiny of a court trial, a result which could not have been achieved without their courage and the dedication of the investigation team to secure a guilty plea." THE CHURCH RESPONDS But what of the Catholic church's role in Hercock's offending? Did they do enough to prevent it? Should they have taken the matter further after receiving complaints about him? Former Archbishop of Wellington Tom Williams, the church's top man in New Zealand at the time of Shelley's complaint, says he simply can't remember. When contacted at his Kapiti home, the 86-year-old was quiet for a moment before saying he could not recall the case. Told a letter signed by him went into great detail, including the payment of cash, Williams denied it was for anything other than fair compensation. "Look you've got me on these things, I simply don't know. Firstly, I've never paid anyone anything to keep quiet, that I'm quite sure of. "I should be able to remember that because it's not that far back but honestly I've got no memory of it at all." His successor and current Archbishop of Wellington, cardinal John Dew, believes the church acted appropriately. While Hercock had in essence confessed to the crimes when interviewed by the Protocol Committee in 2003, it was not the church's place to take the information to police. The idea was to investigate the claims then make a recommendation to church authorities. In Shelley's case, the recommendation was an apology and compensation. When asked about her view that the church was more focused on its own reputation, Dew is certain that was not the case. "I wouldn't agree it was about the church coming out clean... I always felt the people on those committees really wanted to help those who were abused, who wanted justice done. "We never ever looked at it as hush money, we never even talked about compensation. We looked at it as a pastoral gesture in order to help people." Since a rush of complaints in the early 2000s the number of people coming forward had dwindled, but Dew wanted any other victims to feel comfortable in approaching the church. Abuse such as that suffered at the hands of Hercock was terrible. "We obviously regret this ever happened, we just know this should never have happened and we regret that it ever did." At her home amongst the rainbows, the apology is of little comfort to Shelley. "There are people who knew what this ex-priest was doing and have chosen to stay silent - and they are still saying silent. "I can't imagine why they think it's OK, because it's not OK. They will not go to heaven quicker by being quiet and they've done those of us who were hurt by that guy a massive disservice. Because they could have helped us earlier." If you or someone you know needs information or help after a sexual assault or abuse, contact ACC's sensitive claims unit confidentially on 0800 735 566. See toah-nnest.org.nz for information on where to seek help if you have experienced sexual violence or become concerned about harmful sexual behaviour towards others. Paul Fox was a psychiatrist for the Waikato DHB. He has been charged with sexually assaulting a patient while he was practising in the United States. A psychiatrist who once worked at Waikato Hospital has been charged with sexually assaulting one of his patients in the United States. The alleged assault took place just months before Paul Fox, a US citizen, started work at the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre. Fox, who also treated the US mass-murderer Adam Lanza, was charged with three counts of second-degree assault after police say he had "a sexual relationship with an adult patient while he was a practising psychiatrist in Brookfield." The charges were made public on Sunday. The Hartford (Connecticut) Courant reported the relationship took place between October 2010 and October 2011. Fox started working for the Waikato District Health Board as a psychiatrist in June 2012. READ MORE: * Sandy Hook killer's psychiatrist working in Hamilton * DHB investigates US psychiatrist The DHB executive director for mental health Derek Wright said the board was confident it undertook all reasonable background checks. "The offer of employment to Dr Fox was based on all information available at the time, along with the provisional vocational registration granted to Dr Fox by the Medical Council of NZ," Wright said in a statement. "While he worked for us, we were not aware of any concerns raised about the quality of his clinical practice." Fox told the DHB he had voluntarily surrendered his licence to practice in America because he no longer wished to work there, but the DHB was also aware there was a complaint laid against him. "Dr Fox did not disclose the nature of the complaint and further investigations by Waikato DHB did not produce results that were of concern at the time. We became aware of the specific details of the complaint in January 2014." The allegations sparked an internal review, but Fox left the DHB during the investigation at the end of January 2014. "An internal review of his patients confirmed that there were no reports, correspondence, or complaints relating to his clinical competence during his employment." His registration was cancelled by the Medical Council of New Zealand in February 2014. The US patient over which charges have been laid claimed she had a consensual sexual relationship with him for more than a year, according to the Hartford Courant. She told investigators she and Fox had sex in his office and spent time together on his boat. Fox also treated Lanza years before the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut in the US in 2012, where he shot dead 26 people. He told police investigating the shooting that he last saw Lanza when he was about 15 years old. It remains one of the worst massacres in America history. Fox was first licenced in Connecticut in 1988. He posted a US$100,000 (NZ$143,000) bond and will appear on the charges at Danbury (Connecticut) Superior Court on May 3. Ann-Marie Shelley, of Upper Hutt, talks about her decision to identify herself as the victim of Peter Hercock's abuse. Four troubled Catholic schoolgirls each visited their priest's rooms, alone, seeking guidance. What Peter Hercock did to the pupils of Sacred Heart in Lower Hutt instead left them feeling ashamed. On Monday, the women broke their silence to expose the former priest for sexual abuse going back decades. CAMERON BURNELL/ FAIRFAX NZ Former Catholic priest Peter Hercock in Wellington District Court on Monday. He was jailed for six years and seven months for the sexual abuse of four teenagers in Lower Hutt in the 1970s. Three had complained to the Wellington archdiocese in the early 2000s. The church investigated and paid them settlements after Hercock confessed but it did not tell police. The trio and one other victim ultimately did, and on Monday in Wellington District Court, Hercock was sentenced to six years and seven months' jail after admitting the sexual offending against all four. He stared blankly ahead as each read out statements in court, including Ann-Marie Shelley, whom he began grooming in 1971. FAIRFAX NZ Father Peter Hercock, circled, with other ordained priests about to celebrate mass at St Mary of the Angels in Boulcott St, Wellington, in July 1969. Thirteen years later, she was in emergency accommodation to escape her violent marriage when Hercock climbed through a window and raped her while her children slept. She told how she was a teen in the grip of alcoholism when he encouraged her to disclose her darkest secrets to him. She felt responsible for "causing a holy man to sin", she said. "To be raped by a priest is too great a trauma for a Catholic girl." MONIQUE FORD/ FAIRFAX NZ Ann-Marie Shelley was one of four women who read victim impact statements to the court. A second victim recalled Hercock's "calculated and ghoulish grooming" when she was 13. During the pair's sessions, meant to help her cope with her father's depression, Hercock made her sit on his lap. Later, he invited her to the presbytery, gave her whisky and attempted to rape her, slapping her when she resisted. She did not go to her mother's funeral, fearing Hercock would be there. "I still to this day find it hard to look at priests even in movies," she said. In 1973, Hercock began taking a 15-year-old girl to the presbytery. She had gone to him for counselling as her father had died and her mother was mentally ill. Hercock began with massages and, by 1976, progressed to sex at a Waikanae bach used by nuns. He stopped when her older sister became aware and complained to Catholic social services. She was confronted by a church member, the woman recalled. "They accused me of being a 'vile witch' and a 'jezebel'." Like Hercock's third victim, the fourth's father had died when she was a child and her mother was mentally ill. Hercock's "counselling" sessions included kissing and later sexual intercourse until 1973, when the priest told her he was giving her up for Lent. "I believed that I had somehow corrupted this man of God and led him into sin and he never corrected me." "YOU STOLE THEIR FAITH" Hercock was living in Nelson and had long left the clergy by the time the complainants came forward. His lawyer, Tony Bamford, said his client had been sexually abused by a clergyman when he was a schoolboy. But Judge Bill Hastings told Hercock: "You knew what you were doing and knew it was wrong. "You stole from these women something that makes all of us more human: the ability to have lasting, satisfying, mutually supportive relationships. "You also stole their faith. There can be no greater hypocrisy for a priest." Cardinal John Dew said the church was apologetic. In the early 2000s it had acted in what it believed was the best interests of the victims. "We just know this should never have happened, and we regret that it ever did." Rape survivors' advocate Louise Nicholas was in court to watch Shelley waive her name suppression, as Nicholas had done when accusing police officers of raping her. Afterwards, she praised Shelley's determination. "What you've got to remember is you don't need to carry the shame or the blame that this happened. That is now on the person that has harmed you." Justice Minister Amy Adams launches a pilot scheme in 2015, promoting greater information-sharing in domestic abuse cases. From left, Acting Assistant Commissioner Dave Trappitt, Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue, Adams, and Judge John Walker, who drove the concept. More judges are getting greater access to information on defendants' family violence histories to help them make bail decisions. The scheme, trialled for three months at Porirua and Christchurch District Courts late last year, gathered as much information as possible on a defendant's family violence history into a pack for judges to consult when considering both opposed and unopposed bail applications. From May 1, the trial will be extended through Wellington and Northland, taking in the Hutt Valley, Masterton, Kaikohe and Kaitaia District Courts as well as Wellington city and Whangarei for six-months. It will then be evaluated to inform a decision about a possible national roll-out. JARED NICOLL Hutt Valley District Court. Chief district court judge Jan-Marie Doogue said equipping judges with a more complete picture was crucial to making safe decisions, particularly as New Zealand has some of the worst family violence statistics in the developed world. "Judges need all the information that is available, but it is not always on hand. It is often fragmented and held in different parts of the justice system. "It needs to be brought together to inform judges making sometimes life-saving decisions, and the Judge's Pack does that." The packs feature Family Violence Summary Reports, with information held by police on a defendant's criminal and family-violence history. These could flag any prior family violence records, all police call-outs, safety orders, protection orders and any breaches. The packs also include victims' views on bail and information about Care of Children Act 2004 proceedings in all family violence bail hearings. Judge John Walker led the initiative in Porirua. He said the extra effort by everyone involved, such as police prosecutors and court staff, was paying off. "It's appreciated that providing this information to judges places extra burdens on the system, but when you are balancing the interests of safety of victims, that is the price those involved in the administration of justice must pay. "Judges report that the process has proved its worth time and time again when on the limited information previously available the risk to a victim appeared to be low but the additional information provided by the process has painted an entirely different picture. "In many cases the information provided by the new process has resulted in a shift from an unopposed bail with agreed conditions to one where all parties, police, defence, and judge, concentrate on how the level of risk could be managed if bail were to be granted." Police Minister Judith Collins said almost half of all serious assaults and homicides in New Zealand were related to family violence. "Family violence is a complex crime and it is vital that judges and registrars are provided with timely and complete information when making bail decisions in order to assess the cumulative pattern of harm in each case," Collins said. Justice Minister Amy Adams said, "Initiatives like this have the potential to improve how the justice sector keeps victims safe, manages offenders and holds them to account, and breaks cycles of violence." The Sensible Sentencing Trust has slammed the Crown prosecutor's decision to not pursue murder charges against David Haerewa and Tania Shailer. Haerewa and Shailer pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges at Rotorua High Court on Monday after murder charges were changed. They were convicted of killing three-year-old Moko Sayviah Rangitoheriri after his mother left him with the pair to care for at their Taupo home while she looked after another of her children at Auckland Starship Hospital. The pair pleaded not guilty to murder in September 2015 and the trial date was set down for Monday. Moko's family attended court yesterday to watch his killers plead. "This was Nia Glassie and the Kahui twins all rolled into one," Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar said. READ MORE: Pair plead guilty to Taupo boy's manslaughter "The assault was premeditated, prolonged and had all the criteria for murder." McVicar said plea bargaining is becoming a problem within the New Zealand justice system and is angered by this particular case. "We call it collusion of the worst possible type," he said. "This is happening more and more in New Zealand." McVicar said child death cases need to have harsher penalties associated with them. "A child is dependant on the adult taking care of them. "Common sense should dictate that when the life of a child is taken, the penalty should be increased." He said harsher penalties could go a long way to preventing reoffending, but the cause of child abuse needs to be addressed. "When you look at Nia Glassie, that was manslaughter as well." . Haerewa and Shailer have been remanded in custody until sentencing on June 27. Hamilton City Council is looking to form more partnerships with schools to build playgrounds, like this one just opened at Deanwell School. Lunchtime just got a heap more fun at Deanwell School. And it's not just the kids who'll benefit from the new $140,000 playground on the south side of Hamilton. The play equipment will also be open for community use, thanks to a partnership between the school, Hamilton City Council and service provider Downer. And if the measure in a playground is in how fast kids run to it to get playing, this one seems to be a winner. READ MORE: * Hamilton's latest 'destination playground' opens * Hamilton's next destination playground ready by spring * Playground new battleground for mums * Kids test Hamilton's latest play destination Tala Fiu, 10, was among the first to have a go on the climbable spinning net. "I felt really nervous because it spins around really fast when you jump on it," she said. "But it was fun at the same time." A curved flying fox and a sandpit were next on her list to try, she said, before heading to the swings and a kind of two-handed flying fox. Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, Deanwell School kaumatua Ray Isaacs told the kids there was no comparison between their playground and what he had as a child. "When I was your age, you just had a tree with a long branch." Pupils had their say on what they wanted, principal Pat Poland said. "That's why the sandpit's there." But the school would have been restricted if a partnership hadn't been an option, including in the size of the playground. As it stands, Hamilton City Council will take charge of maintenance, whereas if the school had fully funded the playground, it would also have been fenced because of potential vandalism costs. "We've got a bigger and much better playground out of [the partnership]," Poland said. "We had an old, run-down adventure playground and we had an old pirate ship. It was pretty famous in the community." But the pirate ship used to attract drug users and was eventually bowled, he said. Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker, who was at the opening ceremony, said the Deanwell playground was the council's first partnership with a school. "It makes a really good use of playgrounds, instead of them staying inside the school, not for anyone else to use." The council intends to do more, but doesn't have particular schools lined up at this stage. And the type of play equipment people want is changing, Hardaker said. Overwhelming community feedback on the playgrounds plan showed kids want more challenges from the equipment. "The old swing and the slide, which sort of did it in my day, don't do it today," she said. French prime minister Manuel Valls has made a flying visit to New Zealand, discussing Rainbow Warrior and Helen Clark. France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls says the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior by French agents in Auckland in 1985 was a "huge mistake". Valls said in a press conference at Auckland Museum on Monday that "30 years ago our relationship was quite challenging". "We had made a huge mistake. We have turned over a new leaf and we are facing toward the future." PETER MEECHAM France's Prime Minister Manuell Valls met with John Key during his visit to New Zealand. Valls' one-night trip to New Zealand was the first visit by a French Prime Minister since 1991 when Michel Rocard came to apologise for the Rainbow Warrior bombing. READ MORE * France v NZ: can't we all just get along? * Hobbit's Peter Jackson honoured by French in Auckland ceremony * Rainbow Warrior bombing: French agent responsible says sorry 30 years on * Steve Hansen mentions Rainbow Warrior in attempt to praise French rugby The bombing claimed the life of photographer Fernando Pereira and was the first time an act of international state-sponsored terrorism had been committed in New Zealand waters. Prime Minister John Key said the incident was mentioned by Valls at a dinner on Sunday night. "It was probably important for him to raise rather than for me to raise as the host," he said on Monday. "Hindsight's a wonderful thing. I'm sure they would never repeat that. "In the end the relationship has to be stronger than one particular thing that was a big mistake by France and we have to look forward and put those things behind us." Key said Valls did not strictly offer an apology: "I just think he phrased it that it was a big mistake and I think there's real regret on the French side." Key used the visit to lobby the French on former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark's bid to be UN Secretary-General. Valls praised Clark as a great candidate but was diplomatic in saying that there were many nominations to consider. He said it was too early to say which way France - as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - would vote. Key said the pair had a great discussion about Clark. "I think it's pretty fair to say there's zero chance of the French vetoing Helen Clark and I think a pretty good chance under the right circumstances that they would support her. They certainly knew the work that she's done and the role that she's played." The visit to Auckland involved a traditional Maori welcome for Valls and the visiting French delegation and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial Museum cenotaph. Valls left on Monday morning to take a private jet to Canberra, where he was due to meet Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to talk about a major submarine contract that has been won by a French shipbuilder. Ashburton Mayor Angus McKay has been cleared of wrongdoing after it emerged he spoke about a controversial water-bottling deal in a public meeting last year. The Ashburton District Council is selling Lot 9 of its business estate, which comes with permission to extract 1.4 billion litres of water per year. NZ Pure Blue has since been revealed as the buyer, and intends to setup a water-bottling plant. It remains unclear who owns the company. WAYNE WILLIAMS A premises in the Ashburton Business Estate, where the Ashburton District Council is in the process of allowing a bottled water company to extract 40 billion litres of water. Late last year, rumours began circulating that a water-bottling plant would start in Ashburton. The sale of Lot 9 was confirmed by the council in March, partly in response to the speculation. READ MORE: * For sale: 40 billion litres of Canterbury's purest water * Councillors kept in dark over controversial water deal * Second Canterbury property with water extraction rights up for sale * NZ Pure Blue behind Ashburton water sale deal The source of those initial rumours was traced back to McKay, who appears to have inadvertently revealed aspects of the deal at a public meeting. At an Ashburton Grey Power meeting in September, McKay alluded to the sale of Lot 9 in a discussion about the future of the town. A complainant alleged that McKay violated the council's code of conduct, which prohibits discussion of matters being considered in-committee. A report in a recent council agenda said the matter was "amicably resolved". "It was agreed the mayor's reference to a water bottling plant at the [Grey Power] meeting was not a breach of the council's code of conduct." The report said similar information was publicly available on Environment Canterbury's website since processing the council's resource consent in 2011. 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. Hyderabad: As temperatures continue to soar, the Indian Meteorological Department is circulating a warning issued by Indian Oil corporation urging motorists not to fill their vehicles fuel tanks to maximum capacity. The warning is only for vehicles running on petrol. The message says one should fill a vehicles tank till only half its capacity to avoid igniting the fuel inside due to heat. A senior official from Indian Oil said, Petrol is volatile and it turns into vapour quickly. Now that temperatures are high, this process takes place at a faster rate. So it is advisable that people leave around 20 per cent of their petrol tank empty for safe accumulation of vapour. If the petrol tank is filled to the brim, theres no space for vapour to accumulate and that could cause an explosion or fire. Even in tanker trucks, which transport petrol, some amount of space is left for the very same purpose. Iromie at World Art Dubai By Dhananjani Silva View(s): View(s): A painting by Sri Lankan artist, Iromie Wijewardena of a group of Lankan fusion dancers was shown in Dubai in April when Dubai hosted its premier art fiesta World Art Dubai 2016, bringing together renowned and emerging artists and art galleries the world over under one roof. Iromie was the only Sri Lankan invited to represent the country at this years World Art Dubai, which showcased an impressive global collection of more than 3000 paintings of 140 artists from over 30 countries. An artist who has gained international stature with many local and international exhibitions, in addition to the number of awards to her name, Iromie had the opportunity to exhibit her painting at the Indian Gallery that was featured at the show, following an invitation by a gallery in India. The four day art festival, declared open by the ruler of Dubai, was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Showcasing the art work apart, it was a great learning experience to have had the opportunity to meet fellow participants and discuss the world art scene, she says. It was an opportunity to meet the worlds best since most of the galleries representing various countries had their artists with them instead of just their paintings. We were able to interact with the artists on the spot, to speak to them, to learn about their styles and the mediums, etc. There were also art talk shows, art demonstrations and lectures, cultural sessions, says Iromie It was quite an eye opener to find that Dubai is such a big art hub with quite a remarkable art loving public, she says. With so many private and public galleries and so much of hype especially because it is the art season in Dubai, the country has so much to offer an artist. We always think that West and South Asia have a history of rich art. But to think that the Middle East has so much contemporary work is something impressive, she says. The amount of freedom given to the artist to freely express themselves on canvas was something equally impressive, she says. What I noticed about the artists representing the Dubai Gallery was the way they have been free to express themselves about the human figure especially the female form. There was nothing to stop the artists from expressing their ideas on canvas, she says. Adding that her painting drew quite a good response, Iromie says she was invited to showcase her work at galleries abroad. It is important for artists to participate in international exhibitions to showcase Sri Lankas rich art to the world rather than being confined to Sri Lanka alone, she says. An artist who had been painting for 40 years, Iromies particular flair is to capture female beauty, especially the rural women their life styles and emotions on canvas in shades of bold colours. A journey she started with landscape drawings, she evolved into different areas as time went by from doing temple paintings to drawing the average rural woman. While some of her paintings are permanently displayed at prominent places such as the Visumpaya- the State Guest House, Josip Broz Tito Gallery Yugoslavia, Army Head Quarters Colombo, National Library Colombo, National Art Gallery, Central Bank, Lyudmila Zhivkova International Foundation Gallery Sofia Bulgaria, Bandaranaike International Airport Katunayake, she has served on many distinguished panels including the Jury Panel of the 12th Asian Art Biennale Dhakka Bangladesh and as an examiner Art/Design International Baccalaureate Organisation UK. May Day: Creating a new social force By Upali S. Jayasekera View(s): View(s): May 1 is celebrated as International Labour Day in most countries except those under military dictatorship or authoritarian rule. In the United States of America and Canada, the first Monday in September is observed as Labour Day whilst the first Sunday in May is celebrated as Labour Day in Great Britain, which can be considered as being out of step. However, there is no other international celebration that generates more enthusiasm and fraternity as the May Day Celebration. It was in the centenary year of the French Revolution that the Second International meeting in Congress in Paris on July 20, 1889, decided that May 1 every year be observed as International Labour Day. The decision resulted in the first May Day being held in 1890. Thus, when the working people, the world over, participate in May Day celebrations today, they will be celebrating the 126th May Day. The original decision to observe May Day was that it should be an enforced event, whether the governments and employers approved it or not. However, May Day came to be celebrated officially at international level only in 1917. Red was selected as the colour of the working people in recognition of the blood-shed in the eight-hour workday struggle. The decision to declare May 1 as International Labour Day arose from the historic struggle launched by the American workers for an eight-hour workday and the brutal attack by the police on the workers at a protest rally held at Haymarket Square in Chicago, U.S.A. on 4th May 1886. The American workers struck work on 1 May 1886 demanding an eight-hour workday. The workers of the Mc. Cormick Harvester Works who had been locked out from February 1886 too joined the short workday movement. When August Spies, an anarchist worker leader was addressing the workers at a place close to the Mc. Cormick Harvester Works, some of those gathered at the meeting moved away and heckled the scabs or strike-breakers who were leaving for their homes. The Police arrived within minutes and fired at the strikers, killing four and wounding a large number. The Police attack resulted in a protest rally being held against the brutal force unleashed on the unarmed workers on May 3, 1886. The protest rally was held on 4th May 1886 at the Haymarket Square in Chicago commencing 7.30 p.m. Towards the end of the meeting, the Mayor Carter Harrison who watched the meeting in progress went away convinced that there would be no violence. The crowd at that stage also began to disperse. Samuel Fielden continued to address the few hundred left when a squad of 180 policemen led by Inspector John Benfield, hated for his brutality, advanced on the crowd, ordered Fielden to stop speaking and the crowd to disperse. At that stage a bomb was thrown at the police from a side-walk injuring 66 and killing policeman Mathias Degan. The police retaliated by shooting at the crowd killing several and wounding over 200. As to who threw the bomb never came to be known. Eight anarchist labour leaders, August Spies, Samuel Fielden, Michael Schwab, George Engel, Adolph Fischer, Oscar Neebe, Louis Ling and Albert Parsons were indicted for the murder of Policeman Mathias Degan, and were brought to trial. Judge Joseph E. Gary pronounced the sentence as decreed by the Jury. Seven of the eight defendants were sentenced to death whilst one, Oscar Neebe, was sentenced to a 15 year prison term. The Supreme Court of Illinois, whilst admitting that the trial had not been free of legal error, affirmed the sentences entered into by the lower Court. The Appeal to the Supreme Court saw no change to the sentences entered into. Fielded and Schwab appealed for clemency and received executive pardon commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment, Louis Ling committed suicide before the death sentence could be executed. The four others, August Spies, George Engel, Adolph Fischer and Albert Parsons, who refused to appeal for clemency, were hanged on 11th November 1887. John P. Atgeld who became Governor of Illinois in 1893, on a petition signed by 60,000 presented to him, insisted on a thorough investigation into the bomb throwing incident and the trial against the eight defendants. When he pardoned the three in prison he concluded that the eight defendants had not been given fair trial and that the prosecution had failed to establish any connection between the defendants and the unknown person who threw the bomb at the Haymarket Square on May 4, 1886. He, in fact, charged the community of judicial murder. The executed worker leaders are regarded as martyrs to the cause of the working people and their monument at the Waldhiem Cemetery has become a shrine visited by thousands every year. The brutal attack on the workers by the police, the Haymarket Square incident, arrest, trial and conviction of the worker leaders who fought for a eight-hour workday proved the bias against the working people at the time and the immense power wielded by the employers. That had an impact on the thinking of the working people especially in the USA and countries of Western Europe. It projected the necessity to mobilise the working class to fight against inequity and for safeguarding the rights of the working people. An eight-hour workday was only a dream 126 years ago, and the employers never intended to concede the right of a short workday. It is the struggle launched by the American workers that made it a reality. It is the unity, fraternity and strength of the working people that led to the emancipation of those who worked to earn a living wage. With the observance of the first May Day 126 years ago, a new social force, that of the working people merged. The labour movement grew in strength and power and trade unions fought against injustice and discrimination and defended freedom, democracy and human rights. The world today is engulfed in conflict, competition for international supremacy between nations, attempts to destabilise governments and control economies, resulting in distrust and fear among countries. The advances in science and technology which could be used to improve living standards are used for destructive purposes. It is the working people who are mostly affected as a result. Hence worker solidarity and unity is as essential today as it was 126 years ago. Despite May 1 May Day being set apart for the working people, in Sri Lanka, May Day is observed as a political event. Politicians who have never worked for a living and political parties attach great importance to May Day rallies to show their strength. Every political party has a trade union under its control. The working people exhibit their disunity and weakness having surrendered May Day to politicians. CM Chandrababu Naidu also joined TD leaders and said that the Centre has the responsibility to accord special status for AP. Vijayawada: The political atmosphere is again turning hot between allies TD and BJP after the Centres statement in the Rajya Sabha that special status for AP is not possible. The MLAs and local leaders of both parties entered a verbal war on the issue. BJP leaders have complained against film star Sivaji who criticised BJP for refusing special status. According to reports, the relation between leaders of BJP and TD may worsen further. CM Chandrababu Naidu also joined TD leaders and said that the Centre has the responsibility to accord special status for AP. Former MLA and BJP city leader Velamapalli Srinivas has warned TD leaders against blaming the BJP. He also reacted to comments made by local leaders including TD MLC Budda Venkanna. MLC Budda Venkanna had criticised the BJP for not according special status to AP. He said that that TD might go for elections without BJP. He wondered how the BJP leaders are criticising TD instead of mounting pressure on their high command. Vijayawada West MLA Jaleel Khan said that the BJP would lose its future, if it fails to fullfil the promise of special status. He alleged that the BJP is neglecting Andhra Pradesh. He also criticised Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy for stopping YSRC MLAs from raising voice against BJP on special status issue. Meanwhile BJP leaders former minister D Purandeshwari and MLC Somu Veera Raju are attacking the TD when ever they have the opportunity. Recently, Purandeshwari had said that the Centre has not released funds for AP because TD did not submit expenditure status of projects. Vijayawada city BJP leaders including its president Dasam Vumamaheswara Raju made allegations against TD legislators, film star Balakrishna and J.C. Diwakar Reddy for supporting a defaulter who is also a travel operator. BJP leaders said that they would question the implementation of loan waiver scheme and other programmes too. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee during an election rally in support of party candidates in Coochbehar district of West Bengal. (Photo: PTI) Kolkata: At least 15 crorepatis are in the fray for the sixth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections to be held on Thursday, while 33 have declared criminal cases against themselves, a study said on Monday. "Out of the 169 candidates analysed, 15 are crorepatis. The average of assets per candidate contesting in phase 6 of the West Bengal assembly elections is Rs 57.24 lakh," said a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Among party wise crorepati candidates, 8 out of 24 are fielded by Trinamool Congress, 1 out of 25 candidates from BJP, 1 out of 4 candidates from Congress, 1 out of 4 candidates by AIFB, 1 out of 8 candidates of CPI(M) and 2 out of 24 independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore, it said. Out of the 169 candidates analysed, 33 have declared criminal cases against themselves, the report noted. "Among party wise candidates with criminal cases, 6 out of 25 candidates from BJP, 9 out of 24 candidates from AITC, 3 out of 8 candidates from CPI(M), 2 out of 4 candidates of AIFB, 1 out of 4 candidates fielded by INC, and 2 out of 24 independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits," it added. Two constituencies -- Panskura Paschim and Panskura Purba -- in phase 6 of West Bengal assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases. A total of 32 out of the 169 candidates analysed have not declared their PAN details and 93 have not declared income tax details. On the education details of candidates, 71 have declared their education qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass, while 58 have declared having a qualification of graduate or graduate professional. As many as 34 candidates have declared themselves to be postgraduates, while 2 have declared they are doctorates and 2 are just literate. Also, 84 candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years, while 80 are aged to be between 51 and 70 years. Five candidates have declared they are more than 70 years old. In the sixth phase of the West Bengal assembly election this year, 18 women candidates are contesting, the report said which has analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 169 candidates out of 170 who are contesting in phase 6 of the West Bengal assembly elections to be held on May 5, 2016. Across six phases, a total of 1,960 candidates have been analysed. Of 1,960 candidates, 244 are crorepatis, while 354 have declared criminal cases so far. You wont find Anzakistan on any map, but if Chopper gets his way itll soon be the mightiest of mighty superpowers the worlds ever seen. Australian comedian Heath Franklin presents Chopper Live From Anzakistan at Baycourts Addison Theatre on May 11. UPDATED: A ute was used to back through the door of a Fraser Cove shop in a smash and grab burglary overnight. A security guard at the scene told a SunLive reporter that the ram raid is believed to have happened around 11.30pm. The guard says a number of jackets near the doorway were taken in the burglary. Police were at the scene the morning fingerprinting the remaining door panel, which was left hanging from its rollers. A reporter at the scene says the shop security pillars are both torn from their mounts and the interior is littered with shattered glass. Its not yet known when the Fraser Cove shop will be able to re-open. Earlier: Glass is strewn on the floor at a Fraser Cove shop after a ram raid at the shopping centre. A vehicle was used to smash the front of the Kathmandu store about 11.30pm. A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says a security officer told him a number of jackets had been taken in the smash and grab burglary. A reporter at the scene says security staff and police are at the scene this morning. Anyone with information about the robbery can call the Tauranga Police Station on 07 577 4300. Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line. The crash happened at 3pm at the northwest end of the airport near Seawind Lane, off Jean Batten Drive. Read more here. Only one person was involved in the incident. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew was later dispatched to Tauranga Hospital with an Intensive Care Unit retrieval team to transfer the injured pilot to Waikato Hospital. The man was flown to Waikato Hospital at 11pm and remains in a critical condition with head and spinal injuries. Investigations into the cause of the crash are continuing. Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today announced a new university scholarship initiative for Indian students. The announcement was made with the President of the Republic of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in Auckland. Thirty five top Indian scholars are being offered the opportunity to study graduate and postgraduate programmes at all eight of New Zealands world class universities, including in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), fashion, and business related courses through the New Zealand Excellence Awards. India is New Zealands 10th largest trade partner. Last year our two-way trade reached $2 billion. This initiative signals the commitment of the New Zealand Government and our universities to strengthen the relationship and recognise India as a core trade, economic, political and education partner. Education is key to New Zealands bilateral relationship with India. In 2014 more than 20,000 Indian students chose to study in New Zealand, making India the second largest source of international students to New Zealand. Scholarship programmes like this are an important aspect of strengthening the New Zealand-India education relationship. Each Indian student studying here will act as an ambassador for New Zealand promoting the high quality of our university system. Continuing to grow the number of higher-level Indian students studying courses in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes is a top priority, especially in study disciplines that New Zealand industries need in order to keep growing, says Mr Joyce. The successful New Zealand Excellence Awards recipients will each receive NZD $5000 towards their tuition fees and will begin their studies in 2016 and 2017. SOURCE: Office of Steven Joyce Trio Eclat captivated a large audience in the first of this years Tauranga Musica series at Graham Young Auditorium on Sunday afternoon. With exquisite performances, Evans Chuang piano, Christine Kim flute and Rowan Meade clarinet led the audience through a varied program of international works. At approximately 10.45pm last night, Police were called to a Kokiri Cresent address where there were reports of a fire. When police arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames however the Fire Service was able to bring the blaze under control a short time later. Once the fire was put out, Police and Fire investigators begun a scene examination of the address. At this stage, it appears there was no one at the address during the fire. Police and Fire investigators will be unsure of the cause of the fire until investigations are complete. Police are asking for anyone who was in the Kokiri Cresent area last night around 10pm and saw anyone acting suspiciously, to contact Porirua Police on 04 238 1400. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Police can confirm this is one of the addresses from the incident on 22 April. However, as there is still an ongoing investigation into the fire, Police will not be commenting further at this time. Source: New Zealand Police. Hyderabad: A cat and mouse game has started in the Telugu Desam-Bharatiya Janata Party camp in Andhra Pradesh. While the ruling Telugu Desam is trying to blame the BJP by raking up key issues like non-release of promised central funds and special category status, the BJP at a meeting in Kadapa on Sunday decided to take up agitations against the state government, particularly on Rayalaseema issues. BJP leaders said they would visit the Srisailam dam backwaters on May 5. They also plan to take the state government to task for locating all projects and schemes in the coastal districts while neglecting Rayalaseema, BJP youth wing president Vishnuvar-dhana Reddy said. Read: Centre must grant special category status to AP: Chandrababu Naidu TD national president and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been expressing his displeasure over the Centre not heeding to his several requests to implement the various provisions in the AP Reorganisation Act. TD leaders have started targeting the BJP in the state for the Centre rejecting special category status for the state. Mr Naidu has reportedly commented recently that the Supreme Court had come to the rescue of AP and did justice on the contentious sharing of assets and liabilities of state institutions listed in the Ninth and Tenth Schedules of the AP Reorganisation Act but not the Centre though he has requested it to intervene for the last few months. He has said in public that he has visited Delhi 30 times and represented APs matters but nothing has happened. Read: Special Status issue takes TD-BJP ties to new low Mr Naidu's plan is to blame the Centre for not kee-ping its promises and choking the flow of funds to the state. His intention is to target and weaken the BJP. Against this background, the Niti Aayog will be holding a day-long meeting on May 4 in Delhi to review the implementation of provisions in the AP Reorgani-sation Act. There are speculations that knowing the mind of Mr Naidu, the BJP may try to move away from the alliance with TD and start reaching out to YSRC by the time of the 2019 elections. The BJP expects that YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy who is facing a crisis within the party, with many legislators and leaders defecting to the TD, and is fighting many cases in courts will yield more Lok Sabha seats while he stays confined to the AP Assembly. However, it is still too soon to see a picture since the elections are three years away. If the reports that the TD wants to move away from us is true, it is unfortunate. We never tried to weaken the TD. In fact we have pumped a lot of funds to AP and we never betrayed mitra dharma. We are not for moving out of the alliance, we know that the Central funds that have been sanctioned have not been spent for the intended purpose, AP State BJP president and Visakhapatnam MP K. Haribabu said on Sunday. But Mr Vishnuvardhan Reddy said, So far, we have been a bit hesitant in attacking TD, but we will not tolerate the manner in which the ruling party has been going at us. We know how to expose the state government. As part of it at the meeting at Kadapa to-day, we decided to take up agitations against the state government for the injustice it is doing to Rayalaseema. The National Government has made New Zealand a world leader in unaffordable housing, Labours Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says. The latest International Monetary Fund report shows New Zealand had the worlds second fastest growth in house prices at the end of last year, second only to Qatar. New Zealand also claimed the dubious honour of having the fastest growing gap between house prices and wages. Every week there is some new report that shows the housing crisis is out of control. Yet the Prime Minister continues to say theres no crisis and Housing Minister Nick Smith thinks houses are becoming more affordable. National has made it very clear they are willing to stand by while middle New Zealand kisses goodbye to the Kiwi dream of affordable home ownership. Instead of the bold reform that is needed, they trot out one half-hearted policy after another designed only to make it look as if they are doing something. Fixing this crisis will take bold reform. Labour has the policies, and the political will. We will: Launch a massive government-backed building programme of affordable houses for first home buyers. Crack down on speculators starting with a ban on non-resident foreign buyers purchasing existing homes. Reform restrictive land use rules that drive up section prices and choke off affordable housing. Guarantee all rental properties are warm and dry, and allow renters more security of tenure. National is out of touch with the majority of Kiwis who live in rentals, with Generation Rent, with families who are mortgaged to the hilt, with all the parents and grandparents who hate the fact their children may never own a home, and with all the kids growing up in campgrounds and garages, Phil Twyford says. SOURCE: Office of Phil Twyford Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will today arrive in Stuttgart, Germany, following his first visit to NZ Defence Force (NZDF) troops at South Camp in Egypts Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights in Israel. Visiting the Sinai provided a great opportunity to talk with Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) leadership and our 27 strong Kiwi contingent who form part of the deployment that for the past 34 years has maintained peace between Israel and Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula," Mr Brownlee says. The deployment to the MFO is one of New Zealands longest running peacekeeping deployments, with a continuous NZDF presence since the mission began in 1982. As in other deployments, NZDF personnel are doing an excellent job, in this case as drivers, trainers and key operational planning personnel contributing a huge amount to the MFO. The deployment is also highly appreciated by the Egyptian and Israeli governments, a point reinforced by Egyptian Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi, when I met with him on Friday, and Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, who I met in Tel Aviv on Sunday." While in Israel Mr Brownlee also met with Major General David Gawn, Head of Mission and Chief of Staff to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), in the Golan Heights. As a former New Zealand Chief of Army, Major General Gawn is extremely experienced and the visit was a timely opportunity for full briefings on the security situation in the region, Mr Brownlee says. UNTSO was the first peacekeeping operation established by the United Nations, with the first military observers arriving in the Middle East in June 1948. UNTSOs activities are spread over five host countries Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syrian Arab Republic. There are currently eight NZDF personnel serving as part of the UNTSO based in Israel, Jerusalem and Southern Lebanon, Mr Brownlee says. New Zealand is committed to international peacekeeping and peace monitoring efforts, and Kiwis can be very proud of the work NZDF troops are undertaking to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. Mr Brownlee is in Stuttgart to participate in a Counter-ISIL Defence Ministers meeting prior to returning home. SOURCE: Office of Andrew Little New Delhi: Congress on Monday forced three adjournments in Rajya Sabha during the pre-noon session demanding a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on CAG pointing to anamolies in Gujarat's Krishna-Godavari Basin gas project. Congress sought a discussion on the latest report of CAG listing irregularities in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation's KG basin gas project. While the government said CAG reports are examined by Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of state assemblies and there was no convention to discuss those in Parliament, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said their notice seeking a discussion was under examination of the Chairman. Read: UPA must answer who received kickbacks in Agusta deal: Parrikar This did not satisfy Congress members who rushed into the Well of the House raising slogans "Pradhan Mantri jawab do, jawab do." Kurien first adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes till 1130 hours, then till noon and thereafter till 1232 hours as similar scenes were repeated when the House reassembled after the brief breaks. No sooner were the listed papers laid, Madhusudan Mistry (Cong) sought to raise the issue of CAG slamming the handling of the Bay of Bengal KG Basin gas field project by Gujarat State Petroleum Corp (GSPC), a state government entity. Read: TMC seeks to raise chopper deal in Rajya Sabha, Chair rejects notice While Mistry alleged irregularities of over Rs 30,000 crore were found, Anand Sharma (Cong) said the government has been running away from a discussion on the issue. "We want this issue to be settled... the matter has to be discussed," he said. Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2005 had announced that GSPC had struck 20 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves in its KG basin block. But recoverable reserves have proved to just one-tenth of that and GSPC's borrowings shot up to Rs 19,716.27 crore as of March 31, 2015, according to CAG report. Read: Won't succumb to pressure in resolving oil disputes: Govt Kurien said if notice is given, Chairman will examine it and called Sukhendu Shekhar Roy to speak on his notice. Congress members did not relent and moved into the Well shouting slogans. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said PAC of state assemblies go into CAG reports and Parliament does not discuss them. "This is diversionary tactics. They are trying to divert attention from AgustaWestland (helicopter) deal," he said. The Supreme Court on May 6 will hear a plea to file an FIR against the people allegedly bribed in the AgustaWestland chopper scam. Rajya Sabha proceedings last week was taken over by accusations and counter accusations traded by BJP and Congress MPs about who was involved in the Rs 3,600 crore chopper scam. As Congress members refused to relent, Kurien was on his feet asking agitated members to listen to him. "Coming to the Well and shouting slogans is not justifiable, not acceptable. What are you going to achieve," he asked, adding that the Congress members were encroaching upon the rights of 12 members who had given notices to raise Zero Hour submissions. As the din continued, Kurien adjourned the House till 1130 hours. When the House met again, similar scenes of slogan-shouting Congress members trooping into the Well were witnessed, forcing Kurien to adjourn the house till noon. Before the House was adjourned, Naqvi said the House will discuss the AgustaWestland deal on Wednesday and asked Congress members to do their homework properly. As Rajya Sabha met for the Question Hour at noon, Congress members again rushed into the Well and started raising similar slogans. Chairman Hamid Ansari asked protesting members not to raise slogans. As the pleas went unheeded and members of the main opposition party continued raising slogans, Ansari adjourned the House till 12.32 pm. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter raised by Congress members pertain to the state and should be raised in the state assembly. Read: Identify middlemen in VVIP copter deal Earlier, Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday gave a notice in the House for suspension of all business to pave way for immediate discussion on the alleged AgustaWestland chopper scam. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said he will place all facts along with the detailed chronology about the controversial chopper deal before Parliament on May 4. "I will place the detailed chronology with documents giving facts about AgustaWestland chopper deal before Parliament on May 4," he said in Panaji. Read: UPA must answer who received kickbacks in Agusta deal: Parrikar AgustaWestland's Rs 3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force had been scrapped by the previous UPA regime over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents. In January 2013, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate whether kickbacks were paid to Indian officials. NRVCS (New River Valley Community Services) is encouraging local residents to wear green on Friday, May 13 in support of mental health awareness. This activity coincides with the national observance of Mental Health Month. According to spokesperson Mike Wade, employees at NRVCS are also being encouraged to wear green on May 13. The agency conducted its first wear green day last year with dozens of staff participating. Wade says he hopes the event will carry over into the community, giving individuals and families a reason to consider the importance of mental wellness. One out of five adults experience some form of mental illness each year, explains Wade. So, each of us likely has someone we know and love who is living with a significant mental health issue. Unfortunately, less than half of those individuals actually seek professional help for their mental illness, continues Wade, and the consequences of those conditions not being treated show up in lost productivity in the workplace, increased hospitalizations, higher dropout rates, damaged relationships, and even death in some instances. Wade points out that serious mental illness costs the United States more than $193 billion in lost earnings per year. He adds that adults living with a serious mental health issue face an increased risk of having chronic medical conditions and typically die on average 25 years earlier than others. Its incredibly important for individuals living with mental illness to get help, says Wade. Multiple studies have shown that early and effective treatment enables most people to lead healthy, happy and productive lives. Reducing stigma is another important part of the annual Mental Health Month observance, according to Wade. Stigma is still a very real issue in our society, Wade notes. The perceptions of a person living with mental illness are generally negative and we must do a better job of challenging the stereotypes and labels that are often associated with mental disorders. Its important for each of us to educate ourselves about mental illness and to be mindful of the words we use when speaking about mental health issues, adds Wade. That level of acceptance and understanding is what will ultimately help us overcome stigma. Wade points out that local residents can actively participate in the wear green campaign on Friday, May 13 via social media. Anyone interested in being involved can wear green and post photos on either Facebook or Twitter using the hashtags: #NRVCSgreen #MentalHealthMonth. NRVCS is the New River Valleys public provider of behavioral health services. The agency serves children, adults and families living in the counties of Floyd, Giles, Pulaski and Montgomery, as well as the City of Radford. Visit www.nrvcs.org, or call 540-961-8400. David Lesar, Halliburton In a Nov. 18, 2014 file photo, Halliburton Chairman, President and CEO David Lesar, third from right, rings the New York Stock Exchange opening bell. (Richard Drew | AP) WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two companies crucial to the business of U.S. energy exploration have abandoned their planned $34 billion merger, the Justice Department said Sunday. The department filed suit April 6 to block the merger of Halliburton and Baker Hughes. It claims the transaction would unlawfully eliminate significant competition in almost two dozen markets crucial to the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the United States. "The companies' decision to abandon this transaction -- which would have left many oilfield service markets in the hands of a duopoly -- is a victory for the U.S. economy and for all Americans," Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said in a statement on Sunday. Justice officials said the merger of Halliburton and Baker Hughes would have raised prices, decreased output and lessened innovation in at least 23 oilfield products and services critical to the nation's energy supply. As part of the agreement, Halliburton will pay Baker Hughes the termination fee of $3.5 billion by Wednesday, according to a joint release from the companies. "While both companies expected the proposed merger to result in compelling benefits to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders, challenges in obtaining remaining regulatory approvals and general industry conditions that severely damaged deal economics led to the conclusion that termination is the best course of action," Dave Lesar, Halliburton's chairman and CEO, said. "Today's outcome is disappointing because of our strong belief in the vast potential of the business combination to deliver benefits for shareholders, customers and both companies' employees," Martin Craighead, Baker Hughes' chairman and CEO, said. Halliburton and Baker Hughes announced their plan to combine in November 2014, shortly after oil prices began to fall. Few, however, predicted the depth and duration of lower prices caused by a global oversupply of oil. The glut slowed demand for drilling services and crushed the stock price of both companies. The Justice Department indicated its concern about the acquisition in a lawsuit it filed against ValueAct Capital, a hedge fund that had bought more than $2.5 billion in stock of Halliburton and Baker Hughes. The department said in the lawsuit that a Halliburton-Baker Hughes merger "threatens to substantially lessen competition in numerous markets." Europe's top regulator, the European Commission, said it had also had concerns about the deal. It said that it had investigated its potential impact on competition together with regulators in the U.S., Brazil and Australia. Starbucks iced coffee An iced coffee drink is pictured at a Starbucks near the University of Washington in Seattle on Monday, Feb. 11, 2008. (Ted S. Warren | AP) Spoiler alert: An iced coffee contains ice. However, a $5 million class action lawsuit against Starbucks accuses the coffee chain of using too much ice in its iced coffees. Chicago resident Stacy Pincus claims the company tells its baristas to put lots of ice in their cold beverages to use less liquid and save costs at the customers' expense. "Starbucks' cold drinks are under-filled to make more money and higher profits to the detriment of consumers who are misled by Starbucks' intentionally misleading advertising practices," the suit alleges. According to the New York Daily News, baristas are allegedly told to fill iced drinks to the top black line on Starbucks cups, filling the rest with ice. For cold drinks, the top black line marks them about half-full -- or half-empty, from Pincus' argument. Court documents claim a 24-ounce drink would therefore likely have only about 12-14 ounces of whatever drink was ordered, and the rest of the cost is just ice. "Ice is not a 'fluid,'" the suit argues. The lawsuit accuses Starbucks of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and breach of implied warranty. Pincus is demanding $5 million to repay any customer who purchased a Starbucks iced coffee in the past 10 years, and invites others to join the class action suit. In a statement, Starbucks spokesman Jaime Riley denied any deceit took place, and said the lawsuit is without merit. "Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any 'iced' beverage," Riley said. "If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it." Starbucks was similarly accused of underfilling its cups earlier this year for hot beverages, too. A class action lawsuit in California argued that "fill lines" are used to limit the amount of milk in each latte to reduce costs. The company also said that lawsuit had no merit, since beverages vary in size and customers are informed of "the likelihood of variation." McDonald's has also faced litigation in the past over its coffee, including multiple lawsuits claiming that the fast food chain's coffee is too hot. In 1993, a woman was awarded nearly $3 million after suffering third-degree burns from a cup that spilled in her lap. Jason Kopp 3 cropped.JPG Jason Kopp in a 2007 photo. (Chrissie Cowan | The Post-Standard) SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A Liverpool man is scheduled to plead guilty this morning to accusations that he and an elementary school aide sexually exploited three children to make child pornography. Jason Kopp, 40, is on U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby's calendar for an 11 a.m. change of plea, an indication that he will plead guilty. Kopp and Emily Oberst, 23, of Syracuse, were indicted last month on charges of sexually exploiting three children to make child pornography. The victims were a 16-month-old girl, a 4-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy, according to a federal indictment. One of the victims was a student at All Saints elementary school and day care center, where Oberst worked as an aide, according to sources. The FBI found naked photos of that child in a school bathroom at the school, the sources said. All Saints fired Oberst after her arrest last month. Oberst, of Syracuse, met Kopp online and the two were seeing each other romantically, sources said. The investigation began March 4 when an undercover federal agent started texting on Kik with a user who turned out to be Kopp, court papers said. Kik is an online messaging app that allows people to anonymously share photos, messages and videos. Kopp and an undercover federal agent had online conversations in which Kopp told him a female acquaintance had allowed him to have illicit contact with a baby girl, according to the FBI. The FBI later identified the acquaintance as Oberst, court papers said. Contact John O'Brien anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-2187 Jason Kopp 3 cropped.JPG Jason Kopp in a 2007 photo. (Chrissie Cowan | The Post-Standard) SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Liverpool man admitted today that he sexually exploited three children to make child pornography, but wouldn't acknowledge a prosecutor's detailed accounting of the crimes. Jason Kopp, 40, entered guilty pleas to 22 counts of sexual exploitation of a child and child pornography in a court appearance before U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby. Then the judge asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher to state the evidence the government would've presented against Kopp at trial. She read a lengthy "offer of proof," going into detail about Kopp's alleged crimes. Suddaby asked Kopp if he admitted to everything Fletcher read. Kopp's lawyer, Randi Bianco, said he was still willing to plead guilty, but would not admit to the details. Suddaby would not allow Kopp's guilty plea to stand without a full admission of guilt. "He either did it or he didn't," the judge said. "Or we can set a trial date." Bianco said she objected to a portion of the offer of proof that referred to the charges against Kopp's co-defendant, Emily Oberst. The judge chastised Bianco for not working that out before coming to court. "Don't come in here, prepared to enter into a plea agreement and not make a factual admission," Suddaby said. He adjourned the case to May 10. Kopp was accused in a federal grand jury indictment last month of working with Oberst, an aide at All Saints Elementary School and daycare center, to take photos of children in sexually explicit positions. Oberst, 23, of Syracuse, is scheduled to go to trial in August. The victims were a 16-month-old girl, a 4-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy. One of the victims was a student at All Saints, according to sources. The FBI found naked photos of that child in a school bathroom at the school, the sources said. All Saints fired Oberst after her arrest in March. Oberst, of Syracuse, met Kopp online and the two were seeing each other romantically, sources said. Contact John O'Brien anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-2187 William Fitzpatrick Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick (David Lassman | dlassman@syracuse.com) To the Editor: This letter concerns two stories in the May 1 edition of The Post-Standard. The front page carried a story on the investigation by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick in pursuit of possible wrongdoing by Syracuse City Hall in the COR Development Co.'s Inner Harbor project. County Court Judge Walter Hafner Jr. blocked Fitzpatrick's subpoena for emails, notes and other communications by the city's lawyers saying he did not intend to assist a "fishing expedition." In the same edition, there is a story about the U.S. Supreme Court hearing an appeal of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. Justice Stephen Breyer is noted as being worried about putting too much power in the hands of a criminal prosecutor "who is virtually uncontrollable." This seems to perfectly describe Fitzpatrick who has become overzealous in pursuing a disagreement between a developer and City Hall. These investigations are costing taxpayers thousands of dollars and appear to be based on nothing more than a personal vendetta. Mary Burnash Syracuse Tiruneveli: Making a fervent plea, senior BJP leader and Union minister for urban development and parliament affairs Venkaiah Naidu said Tamil Nadu should join the National mainstream by electing an Assembly that could work in tandem with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for better growth of the State. Campaigning for the BJPs candidates in this southern district on Sunday for the May 16 Assembly polls, Mr Naidu squarely blamed both the DMK and AIADMK, which have ruled the state between them for nearly 50 years now, for Tamil Nadus overall stagnation and competing with each other in doing corruption. Mr Naidu urged the Tamil Nadu electorate to choose between the freebies of the Dravidian parties and the development agenda of the BJP. Planned Parenthood William J. Gilbert stands by as abortion opponents rally in front of Planned Parenthood in Syracuse last July. (Kevin Rivoli | krivoli@syracuse.com) Stop hiding behind the Hippocratic Oath To the Editor: I wish to address the invalid points set forth by a group of medical providers, none an expert in Reproductive Health, concerning Planned Parenthood. As a women's health nurse practitioner with 30 years' experience, I will preface this by saying I am not now, nor have I ever been, employed by Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood provides sexual and reproductive health care, education, and information to 2.5 million men, women, and adolescents in the United States every year: 84 percent are 20 years and older and 79 percent are at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. An estimated 1 in 5 women has visited a Planned Parenthood at least once in her life. Eighty percent have sought services to prevent unintended pregnancies and, as a result, 579,000 are prevented each year. Three percent of all Planned Parenthood health services are abortion services but approximately 216,000 abortions are averted each year thanks to contraceptive services. In addition, 4.2 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections are provided along with 300,000 Pap tests for cervical cancer screening. When anti-choice proponents lack honest arguments, they often resort to lies, misinformation and half-truths. The reference to Margaret Sanger is one such example. It is untrue that Sanger wanted to exterminate the black race. Sanger actually opposed abortion, viewing it as a last resort to save a mother's life and, in fact, abortions were not legally performed until Roe v. Wade in 1973, four years after her death. Today's truth, based on 2011 CDC data, is that fewer than 1 in 10 abortion providers are located in neighborhoods where more than half of the residents are black. Each state individually imposes regulations on the practice of abortion, including parental notifications for minors, ultrasound requirements and informed consent. Some regulations are in the guise of the health and welfare of women, but in reality are hurdles designed to shame, intimidate and harass those who seek to exercise their constitutionally protected right to choose. In New York state, parental notification is not required. In others, one or both parents must give permission. In New York, an ultrasound is obtained if medically indicated. In other states, ultrasounds are mandated and the patient may be forced to look at her fetus or to listen to the fetal heartbeat in an effort to dissuade her from an abortion. In New York, informed consent is obtained at the time of the visit (after counseling). In other states, there is a 24- to 72-hour waiting period, with reams of paperwork to be read and signed and brought to the clinic ahead of time. In conclusion, without going into the fact that, up to the present, zero state investigations have determined that Planned Parenthood was selling or profiting from fetal tissue, and the fact that there are already public-funding bans on abortion, I challenge the letter writers to stop hiding behind the ancient Greek Hippocratic Oath to promote their agenda. Times have changed, and along with it, the oath. From the 1964 modern version, "I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those of sound of mind and body as well as the infirm," even those that choose to exercise their right to a safe, legal abortion. In my humble opinion, Planned Parenthood should continue to receive and be supported with public dollars. Katherine Adelson East Syracuse PP plays vital role for underserved women To the Editor: As a practicing board certified gynecologist, I was dismayed by the letter "Doctors, nurses oppose funding for Planned Parenthood." Planned Parenthood health centers play a vital role in improving the health and lives of women all across the country, especially poor, underserved women who are the most vulnerable. Planned Parenthood does not receive any federal funding to provide abortions. Pulling funding from this organization will only hurt women who need the critical preventive services that are provided. The authors of the letter may "seriously question" that Planned Parenthood provides preventive care screening, but I do not. Millions of American women rely on Planned Parenthood to get their Pap tests, STD screening, pelvic and breast exams (which are recommended annually by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) as well as to have their mammogram scheduling coordinated. The practitioners make appropriate referrals into the community for abnormal results or findings. Planned Parenthood provides contraception and contraceptive counseling. The most effective way to prevent abortions is to provide women with reliable free or low-cost contraception so they don't get pregnant when they don't want to be. I support Planned Parenthood and thank them for the care they provide to the women in our community and across the country. Dr. MaryAnn E. Millar Syracuse Family planning is key to solving world problems To the Editor: Planned Parenthood is the health care provider that 1 out of 5 women will turn to during her lifetime. For the women and men who come to us for health care, it is not about politics, it is about leading full and healthy lives. Our doors are open to anyone who needs our help, whether they need birth control, STD testing or an abortion. If you want to solve the problems of the world, like poverty, inequality, unemployment, infant and maternal mortality, access to family planning is the key. This is why I have dedicated my life to working for Planned Parenthood, because I am a good doctor and I want to do everything in my power to allow our patients and our communities to be as healthy as possible. I believe family planning is a fundamental right upon which all other freedoms and opportunities depend. The work we do is life changing and lifesaving. Planned Parenthood provides the best reproductive and sexual health care in the country. We value the critical importance of contraceptive care, we are there for the most vulnerable and marginalized in our communities and we proudly provide abortion care to our patients who need it. At Planned Parenthood, we believe in treating every patient with compassion, dignity and respect. But, we know that we don't walk in their shoes. We do not pass judgment. Whether we are counseling someone on birth control or an unintended pregnancy, our role is to provide our patients with medically accurate information about all of their options and to answer all of their questions. But most importantly, we support whatever decision they make, because only patients know what's best for them, their family and their future. The safety and quality of care we provide is a top priority. I am deeply proud of the support staff, nurses, clinicians and doctors who provide amazing care to our patients every single day. Women and men deserve to have access to high quality sex education and reproductive health care that respects their intelligence and the right to choose their own path in life. We are here to empower our patients to achieve their dreams, whatever those dreams may be. Planned Parenthood is committed to providing health care without judgment. No matter what. Dr. Rachael Phelps Phelps is medical director of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York. Abortions are a small percentage of Planned Parenthood's services To The Editor: How amazing -- a group doctors and nurses call for defunding Planned Parenthood in a letter filled with misinformation and lies about Planned Parenthood. They accuse PP of "trafficking in baby body parts," presumably the result of a video falsely claiming this. Twelve Republican states investigated the trafficking claim. All found PP innocent. A Texas investigation also cleared PP, but found those making the video guilty of falsifying claims against PP. As for defunding PP, the signers stand against 30 key medical associations that have publicly stood with PP by arguing against defunding, including American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians and American Nurses Association. What of the "safety" regulations they want imposed on PP clinics? The American Medical Association and ACOG in a legal brief have opposed "regulations on abortion care that jeopardize the health of women," found "no medical basis to require doctors to have local hospital admitting privileges," and said "legislators should not interfere with patient care, medical decisions and the patient-physician relationship." As for the preposterous claim that PP is racist because their clinics often serve in minority areas, the writers are apparently unaware that PP serves those most in need. The attack on Margaret Sanger's belief in eugenics is totally irrelevant to PP. I find it interesting that the writers focus on 3 percent of PP's work, abortion, and don't mention the primary work PP does -- family planning, which saves women from the burden of serial pregnancies and enables women and families to lead better lives. It's the writers who do harm to the millions of women and families relying on PP, which does so much good. Rosemary Agonito Syracuse MagsDeFranValeskyMash.JPG New York state Assemblyman William Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, and Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, talk about their legislative priorities for the remainder of the state Legislature's 2016 session. (Provided photos) SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- What issues should New York state lawmakers make their top priorities in the last 1 1/2 months of their 2016 legislative session, now that the state budget is passed? Three veteran lawmakers from Central New York - state Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, D-Syracuse, and state Sens. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse and David Valesky, D-Oneida - identified their top priorities in interviews with syracuse.com. The Legislature is scheduled to be in session for 21 more days in Albany before it breaks for the rest of the year on June 16. DeFrancisco, Magnarelli and Valesky noted that the state budget passed April 1 included agreements on many of the bigger issues, including an increase in the state minimum wage; a $1 billion increase in school funding, including the elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment that hurt wealthier suburban schools; and creation of a paid family leave system. DeFrancisco 1. Pass a bill requiring New York to gradually pay for the full cost of providing legal services to indigent defendants in criminal cases. The state requires counties to provide lawyers to represent poor people charged with crimes, but the state pays less than a third of this costs. The counties had to pay $372 million of the $521 million spent in 2014 for this purpose. Five counties, including Onondaga, successfully sued New York over this issue, and the state has agreed to fully reimburse them. But the other 57 counties were not part of that settlement. DeFrancisco has sponsored a bill, S6341, that would require the state to increase the percentage it pays each year and to pay 100 percent of the costs beginning in 2019. The bill has never been voted on in the Senate or Assembly. "I think it's only fair for all the counties that the state pick up that burden rather than requiring 57 counties to bring a lawsuit," DeFrancisco said. Related story: Should NY have to pay more to provide lawyers to poor people accused of crimes? 2. Create a state commission to investigate misconduct by prosecutors. DeFrancisco first introduced a bill in 2014 to create a panel that would investigate complaints against prosecutors and sanction them, if warranted. It would be similar to the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct, which investigates judges. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has criticized this proposal in 2014, saying it was retaliation for investigation attempts by the state's Moreland Commission on Public Corruption, which investigated lawmakers. DeFrancisco denied that. DeFrancisco's bill, S00024A, has not been voted upon by the Senate or Assembly. 3. Passing Tiffany Heitkamp's Law, named after a 20-year-old Nottingham High School graduate who was killed in a boating accident in the Adirondacks in 2006. The boat's driver, Keir Weimer, was drunk. He had a prior driving while ability impaired conviction and another pending DWI charge. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter and a misdemeanor charge of boating while intoxicated after Heitkamp's death. Tiffany's Law would strengthen New York's drunken driving laws against repeat offenders like Weimer by linking drunk driving offenses regardless of the type of vehicle being driven. Under current law, law enforcement can't charge a person with a felony as a repeat offender unless he or she happens to be driving the same type of vehicle. The New York State Senate has passed the Tiffany Heitkamp's Law multiple times. But it has never passed in the New York State Assembly. What about ethics reform? DeFrancisco generally thinks current laws require enough disclosure by lawmakers about outside income. He opposes some other ethics proposals, like closing the LLC loophole in campaign finance. He supports passage of a law that allows the state to revoke the pensions of elected officials convicted of public corruption crimes related to their official duties. "I'm sure there will be some ethics legislation passed. The laws in effect now were enough to get Sheldon Silver." Magnarelli 1. Passing Tiffany Heitkamp's Law. Magnarelli said he's tried to get the Assembly to pass the bill to pass this law, but there was too much opposition. To win over Assembly members, he said he will try to soften the bill. He's considering revising the bill so that a judge can give a harsher penalty to a person convicted of a DWI who later gets convicted of boating while intoxicated, or vice versa, but the second offense would not automatically become a felony. Related story: Mom befriends drunk boater who killed her daughter; their mission: tougher law 2. Pass Peter Falk's Law, named after the late famous actor who played "Columbo" and was a Syracuse University alum. Magnarelli sponsored this bill at the request of Peter Falk's children, Catherine Falk, who was fighting her father's second wife in court because she had refused to let Falk's children visit him in the hospital. This bill would require a guardian of an incapacitated adult or elder to contact relatives of the person if they are admitted to a medical facility for acute care for three days or more, or in the case of death, require they provide relatives with information on funeral arrangements. It creates a legal process by which the adult children can petition a court if they are unreasonably being denied visitation. Magnarelli's bill, A3461, has not been voted upon in the Assembly. The Senate in 2015 passed an identical bill sponsored by DeFrancisco. 3. Pass the School Bus Camera Safety Act, which would provide state aid to school districts to install cameras on school buses to record images of vehicles illegally passing stopped buses, and allows for $250 fines for offending motorists. Magnarelli's bill, A1520C, has been pending in the Assembly for several years without being voted upon. "We have a real problem with people passing school buses," Magnarelli said. What about ethics reform? Magnarelli says he generally favors allowing the state to revoke an elected official's pension if they're convicted of crimes related to their official duties. But he is concerned that might hurt the convicted official's spouse or dependent children, who were innocent. "If I commit a crime that my wife doesn't take any part of, should my wife and family lose that pension. Some people will say yes. I don't really think that's fair." Another Magnarelli priority: Passing a bill that allows ridesharing companies like Uber or Lyft to operate in New York outside of New York City, and taking steps to reduce the heroin and opioid crisis in New York. Valesky 1. Ethics reform: Valesky said he will push for passage of two of the ethics reforms that Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed in his State of the State speech in January. One is passing a law to allow the state to forfeit pension payments due to elected officials convicted of crimes related to their duties. The other is closing the LLC loophole that allows wealthy donors to anonymously donate almost unlimited amounts of money to candidates running for public office through limited liability corporations. He said the scheduled sentencings this month of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos underscore the need for additional reforms. "I think with the sentencing for both of those former legislative leaders, it certainly serves as yet another reminder to the public that many of us believe our laws need to be strengthened, and we need to do that," Valesky said. 2. Ridesharing in Upstate cities: Valesky is a co-sponsor of a bill that would amend the state insurance laws to allow companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in New York, outside of New York City. Those businesses hire a network of drivers who use their personal vehicles to ferry travelers around for a fee. The legislation has not come to a vote in the Senate or Assembly, but it has powerful backers like Sen. James Seward, who chairs the Senate insurance committee. Upstate mayors like Syracuse's Stephanie Miner have voiced support as well. "I'm very anxious to see that issue brought to a successful conclusion," Valesky said. "We need to resolve issues in state insurance law. Unless we do something legislatively, it's difficult to see how that process will move forward." Related story: Why you can't catch an Uber or Lyft in Syracuse, but can in 60 smaller cities 3. A bill that provides Madison County with a share of the slot machine revenue from the Oneida Indian Nation's Yellow Brick Road Casino. The Senate and Assembly both voted to pass this bill. It awaits action from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who can sign it into law or veto it. Valesky said he's received no indication from Cuomo's administration about what the governor will do with this bill. 4. Dissolving the Madison County Sewer District, transferring the county sewage treatment facility and other sewer district assets and liabilities to the town of Cazenovia: Valesky and Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-Nelson, have sponsored bills to eliminate the sewer district set up in the 1970s and have the town of Cazenovia run the sewer service for residents of the village and town of Cazenovia and the town of Nelson. Contact Mike McAndrew anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-3016 USS Hampton The U.S. Navy and Japan have awarded a $45 million contract to Lockheed Martin in Salina to produce sonar systems that detect and hunt submarines. The U.S. Navy submarine USS Hampton is shown as it's escorted by the tug John. P. Wronowski northbound on the Thames River off Groton, Conn., bound for the navy submarine base Friday, April 22, 2016. The San Diego-based Hampton recently completed training with the Groton-based USS Hartford in the Arctic and is stopping in Groton en-route to a 22-month scheduled Engineered Overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day via AP) (Sean D. Elliot) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lockheed Martin's plant in suburban Syracuse has been awarded a $45 million contract by the U.S. Navy and Japan to provide sonar systems for anti-submarine warfare, according to the Pentagon. The U.S. and Japan exercised an option on a previously awarded contract for the TB-37 multi-function towed arrays, sonar systems which allow surface ships to hunt and attack enemy submarines at various depths in the ocean. Under terms of the latest deal, the contract will combined purchases for the U.S. Navy (73 percent) and Japan (27 percent) under the foreign military sales program, the Pentagon said. The Lockheed Martin plant at Electronics Park in Salina made its first foreign military sale of a towed-array sonar system to Japan last year. The new order approved Friday by the Pentagon includes tow cables, electro-optical slip rings, drogues and engineering services in support of Lockheed's AN/SQQ-89 anti-submarine warfare system. About 66 percent of the work on the contract will be performed at Lockheed's plant in Salina, the Department of Defense said. Lockheed plants in Millersville, Md. (33 percent) and Marion, Mass. (1 percent) also will work on the contract through September 2018. Lockheed employs about 1,600 people on its campus at Electronics Park in Salina. The new contract is expected to help maintain the existing workforce. Lockheed said last week it wants to reduce the workforce in its Mission Systems and Training division by about 5 percent, or 1,500 employees, through voluntary layoffs. The division includes the Salina plant. Company officials did not say how many employees in Salina are eligible for the voluntary program. Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Andrew Cuomo In this Wednesday, March 30, 2016 file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo talks to media members outside his office at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York's attorney general has been given authority to probe whether local law enforcers broke the law investigating a fatal shooting by a police officer in Upstate New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an order Sunday permitting Eric Schneiderman to probe any alleged "unlawful acts or omissions" related to Edson Thevenin's April police shooting in Troy. On Friday, Schneiderman sued the Rensselaer County district attorney for the case's files. He argued Joel Abelove has violated an executive order mandating such slayings be examined by the state when the victim is unarmed or there are questions about the person's dangerousness. Thevenin was shot eight times by Troy police Sgt. Randall French after, authorities said, Thevenin trapped the officer between two cars. A grand jury declined to indict the officer days later. Schneiderman demanded files in the case after reports that two bystanders who witnessed the shooting were not asked to testify in front of the grand jury, the Albany Times Union reported. A message left at Abelove's office wasn't returned. Chennai: Taking on the Dravidian majors on their own home turf is not an easy task for a national party like the BJP desperate to gain a foothold in the state. Unlike the previous elections, the saffron party is going beyond its traditional pockets to convince the electorate in Tamil Nadu on the folly of choosing between the AIADMK and the DMK. The message from the BJP is clear people ought to make a wise choice and walk with the Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP if they want development. During this Assembly election the saffron party has a slight edge over the other parties in the state, as it could invoke Modis name whom the party claims to be an epitome of good governance and dispenser of corruption-free government. Secondly, the development plank, which the BJP is banking on heavily, is far more credible compared to the freebie culture introduced by the Dravidian majors, a senior BJP leader said. Distributing freebies is neither good governance nor a development initiative. Both the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK are known for corruption while the BJP has a clean record. So, this lends more credibility to our campaign, he added. The BJP has intensified its campaign in Tamil Nadu with the central ministers fanning out to nooks and corners of the state and sweating under the hot sun talking about the good work of Mr Modi and telling the people how they will gain if lotus blooms in Tamil Nadu. Without mincing words, Union Communication and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, on a brief visit to the city on Saturday, made his partys intention clear. Corruption and lack of development in Tamil Nadu, he said were major poll issues. We need to see development in a larger contextpeople need to walk with BJP and with Narendra Modi for the real turnaround of TN, he appealed. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? If I could ask Crist and DeSantis these debate questions ...| Opinion Here are a few Treasure Coast-related questions I wish the gubernatorial candidates would be asked during Monday night's debate in Fort Pierce. SHARE Quintin Hall, 30, Fort Lauderdale; warrants for burglary of a conveyance, fraudulent use of a credit card. Fernando Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 29, Lake Worth; warrants for robbery with a firearm, first degree murder with a firearm, false imprisonment. Jonathan Knapp, 24, 1900 block of Southwest Palm City Road, Stuart; warrant for resisting officer with violence with a weapon. Fatima Green, 25, 1900 block of Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce; warrant for violation of probation, grand theft. Steven Ellis, 31, Lawrence, Mass.; grand theft (auto). Michael Miller, 23, West Palm Beach; trafficking in amphetamines or methamphetamines. Alain Quadros, 21, Central Nyack, New York; trafficking in amphetamines or methamphetamines. Jonathan Brown, 36, 5700 block of Southeast 47th Avenue, Stuart; possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine) with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school. Randolph Demons, 53, 5400 block of 47th Avenue, Stuart; out-of-county warrant, Martin County, for violation of probation, burglary of a structure; possession of cocaine. Arrested in Indian River County. Matthew Keel, 27, 4800 block of Southeast Graham Drive, Stuart; warrant for violation of probation, high speed or wanton fleeing, possession with intent to sell MDMA. Arrested in St. Lucie County. Fatima Green, 25, 1900 block of Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce; warrant for violation of probation, grand theft. Arrested in Martin County. The rear window of a vehicle is shattered after it was shot at with what police suspect was BB gun. (PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT) SHARE The rear window of a car damaged by what police suspect was a BB gun. (PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT) Shattered vehicle glass on the ground after it was shot at with a BB gun, police say.(PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT) The rear window of a vehicle destroyed by what police suspect was a BB gun. (PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT) Suspected BB gun damage to a vehicle. (PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT) By Staff Report Port St. Lucie police are investigating four reported vandalism complaints linked to BB gun shootings Thursday and Friday in the center of the city. The following are the locations, dates, times and extent of damage reported: The 1700 block of Southwest Brisbane Street, 7:51 p.m. April 28; rear vehicle window shattered. The 300 block Southwest Thornhill Drive, 8:19 p.m. April 28; rear vehicle window shattered. The 400 block Southwest Prado Avenue, between 11 p.m. April 28 and 6:20 a.m. April 29; two vehicles rear windows shattered and hole in front window of house. The 1900 block Southeast Airoso Boulevard, between 6 p.m. April 28 and 11 a.m. April 29; dents on side of vehicle. A possible suspect vehicle was seen in the area of the Brisbane Street incident is described as a black SUV. There was no description given of people inside the SUV. Police are asking anyone with information to call the Port St. Lucie Police Department at (772) 871-5001 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-8477. SHARE Elsa Triana Gonzalez, 49, 500 block of El Rancho Drive, Fort Pierce; driving while license suspended, third or subsequent offense. Nafredrick Robinson, 24, 900 block of Fra Mar Place, Fort Pierce; possession of cocaine. Keith Ardley, 25, Okeechobee; driving while license suspended. Tiffany Cicio, 22, 2100 block of Southwest Bird Avenue, Port St. Lucie; possession of a controlled substance (Xanax) without a prescription. Ronald Biggs, 27, 300 block of Eastport Circle, Port St. Lucie; warrant for violation of probation, carrying a concealed weapon. Christy Briggs, 51, 2600 block of U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; child neglect without great bodily harm. Samuel Garcia, 29, 1000 block of Southwest Bay State Road, Port St. Lucie; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Kendrick Daniels, 26, 1200 block of North 16th Street, Fort Pierce; carrying a concealed weapon - firearm. Akheem Mahabier, 18, 1000 block of Southwest Hamrock Avenue, Port St. Lucie; battery by a person detained in prison or jail facility. Rachel Coplen, 37, Bartow; warrant for violation of probation, organized fraud, uttering a forged bill, check or draft. Kevin Brunner, 51, Kissimmee; out-of-county warrant, Osceola County, burglary of a dwelling/occupied conveyance. Davarious Cooper, 19, 1500 block of Havana Avenue, Fort Pierce; warrant for court order, hold, Indian River County, burglary of an occupied dwelling. William Samuells, 60, 1000 block of Boston Avenue, Fort Pierce; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Tawana Barnes, 31, 2700 block of Avenue H, Fort Pierce; aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability (domestic). Dexter Smith, 57, 3100 block of Avenue I, Fort Pierce; warrant for court order for pretrial detention and termination of pretrial supervision, possession of cocaine. Olivere Espaillat, 40, Opa Locka; property damage - criminal mischief. Natasha Reeves, 35, 200 block of North U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; battery - domestic; battery on an officer. Matthew Keel, 27, 4800 block of Southeast Graham Drive, Stuart; warrant for violation of probation, high speed or wanton fleeing, possession with intent to sell MDMA. James Thompson, 33, 2400 block of Seneca Avenue, Fort Pierce; driving while license suspended, habitual offender. Jacob Goldbaum, 23, 2100 block of Southwest Wayne Street, Fort Pierce; out-of-state fugitive, Woodford County, Illinois, failure to appear, manufacture/delivery of marijuana. Tameka Forte, 2600 block of Bennett Drive, Fort Pierce; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Crisanta Perez, of Stuart, looks over the candlelight vigil honoring the lives of four of her grandchildren on Monday at her home in Stuart. Perez's daughter, Heidi-Solis Perez, (not pictured) lost control of the minivan she was driving Saturday night when the tread on a tire separated on Interstate 95. Six people were killed in the accident. (LEAH VOSS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) By Laurie K. Blandford and Isadora Rangel of TCPalm CORRECTION: This article has been modified from its original version to update the link to the online fundraising site. MARTIN COUNTY Crisanta Perez gazed silently Monday at the shrine of flickering votive candles and children's photographs in front of her Stuart home. She lost four grandchildren in a Saturday night fatal crash on Interstate 95 in Palm Beach County in which two other adults died. "I wish I knew this was a dream I'm going to wake up from, and they are going to be here," said Perez in Spanish. Her daughter, 33-year-old Heidi Solis-Perez, was driving a 2001 Mercury Villager southbound on I-95 near the Martin County line at 9:35 p.m. Saturday when the tread on a tire separated and caused her to lose control of the minivan, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky. Four of Solis-Perez's children 5-year-old Marillany Julian-Solis, 7-year-old Alexander Julian-Solis, 14-year-old Macareo Julian-Solis and 17-year-old Sandy Julian-Solis were killed, Wysocky said. The children attended Martin County schools, said School District Superintendent Laurie Gaylord, and grief counselors are available for students, parents and staff. Two others in the minivan died in the crash: Solis-Perez's 31-year-old boyfriend, Reynaldo Diaz of West Palm Beach, and 18-year-old Andres Perez of Stuart. The relation of Andres Perez to the family is unclear. Solis-Perez was taken to Delray Medical Center in serious condition, Wysocky said. Her 11-year-old daughter, Daisy Julian-Solis, was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach in serious condition. "There were five (children)," Perez said, "and now she's only got one left." An updated condition for Daisy wasn't available Monday, but Wysocky said she's expected to survive. Solis-Perez was upgraded to fair condition Monday at Delray Medical Center, said hospital spokesman Ryan Lieber. "She's doing better," Perez said. "The physical part is over, but emotionally she's doing very bad." The number of people ejected from the minivan and whether anyone was wearing a seat belt remained under investigation Monday, Wysocky said. About 50 friends, neighbors and co-workers milled in and out of Perez's home in the 400 block of Southeast Madrid Street to pay their respects beneath Perez's blue tarp-covered front yard. "We're all brothers and sisters," Perez said. "All the people you see are the ones supporting us." Stuart resident Zach Sadler, who said he worked with Reynaldo Diaz, walked past the rows of chairs and tables assembled at Perez's home, toward the shrine. Sadler remembered how he and Diaz would bring coconuts to the home, and the children would run out "really excited." "He became one of my best friends," Sadler said. "He kind of taught me how to be a humble person." Solis-Perez was on her way to visit her sister who lives in Pompano Beach when the crash occurred, Perez said. The close-knit family was originally from Guerrero, Mexico. She and Diaz had been together for only a few months, Perez said. Before they got together, Solis-Perez had been alone for many years after she separated from her children's father. Perez described her daughter as "an excellent mother" who always had her children following her like a mama duck with her ducklings. "She lived for her children," Perez said. "That's why she's devastated." Friends of her family set up a fundraising account online because Solis-Perez didn't have much money, Perez said. She was always working but would enjoy as much time with her children as possible. "Only God knows why things happen to us," Perez said. "Maybe it's to unite us more, and you can't do anything against God's will. That's the crude reality." MARTIN COUNTY The Treasure Coast has its first confirmed Zika case, a Martin County resident, Florida Department of Health officials said Monday. The unidentified person contracted the mosquito-borne virus while traveling abroad, as have all 99 people statewide who have the virus. The discovery means Martin County joins 16 other Florida counties in being under a state declaration of health emergency. Officials in Martin County government, mosquito control, health and others will convene to talk about what needs to be done and to increase public education. The health department is organizing the meeting. Martin County Mosquito Control has been spraying the area where the person lives. The location isnt disclosed for privacy reasons. Martin County has been prepared for the news it received today, said Gabriella Ferraro, Martin County spokeswoman. We have been working for months, doing household inspections, performing outreach and educating residents. Since January the countys mosquito control had done 120 property inspection, compared to 60 last year, she said. Mosquito Control is educating residents on how to keep mosquitoes from breeding around their homes. Hospitals have been questioning patients about where they have traveled. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, common to Florida, carries the virus in Central and South American nations and in the Caribbean. The concern has focused on preventing domestic mosquitoes from biting returning foreign travelers exposed to the virus and infecting Florida mosquitoes. There are no known Zika-infected mosquitoes in the continental United States. There are no confirmed cases of Zika in humans in St. Lucie and Indian River counties. Martin Countys case is one of three new cases announced statewide Monday. One is a pregnant woman, raising concerns about the virus potential effects on her unborn infant. All three people are showing symptoms. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Zika flu-like symptoms, including fever, can last from seven to 10 days. It is recommended that women who are pregnant should avoid traveling to nations with Zika outbreaks. WHAT YOU CAN DO Call Martin County Mosquito Control at 772-288-5657 to set up an inspection of their property to reduce the possibility of breeding areas. Empty any containers of water including bottle caps that are outside where the Aedes mosquito lives. That mosquito can carry Zika and it breeds in still water. It is known for living around houses. SYMPTOMS Only one in five people know they have Zika, which usually causes flu-like symptoms. It can appear to be a cold with a rash. The virus appears to die out in human blood in about 10 days. It can remain much longer in male semen and through that can be passed to women. MORE ON ZIKA SHARE By Colleen Wixon of TCPalm VERO BEACH Utilities commissioners want more information before supporting negotiations for a sale of the entire Vero Beach electric system. Utilities Commission Chairwoman Laura Moss initially asked the commission Monday to adopt a formal recommendation that the City Council pursue selling the system to Florida Power & Light co. But Moss withdrew her proposal when other commissioners said the idea was premature. Moss hoped to send a message in time for Tuesday's council meeting, when County Attorney Dylan Reingold is scheduled to make a similar request. Voters have twice favored the sale of the electric system to FPL, she said. "If they go forward selling the entire system, we can stop debating Indian River Shores. Indian River Shores would not be an issue," Moss said. "Of course, the terms have to be favorable." Reingold is scheduled to ask the council to reopen negotiations with FPL to buy the city's entire electric system. According to Reingold, officials of the Florida Municipal Power Agency during the legislative session indicated a willingness to help resolve the issue and sale. The Utilities Commission met Monday with the city Finance Commission to discuss the potential economic impact to Vero Beach of losing Indian River Shores customers in a partial FPL sale. Vero Beach electric counsel Robert "Schef" Wright projects a $42.4 million impact after 30 years and a $59.6 million impact after 50 years. Both estimates are well above the $13 million FPL offered for the Shores portion of the Vero Beach system. Vero Beach electric customers have complained for years about high rates. City voters have indicated a preference to sell the electric utility to FPL, but that effort stalled because the city has been unable to get out of its agreements with FMPA, a power co-op involving multiple municipalities. More than 60 percent of Vero Beach electric customers live outside the city limits, and they have been fighting to sever ties with Vero's utility in favor of FPL. Reingold said Monday he had no formal presentation planned, but wants to start a discussion about FPL negotiations. Prisoner Eriese Tisdale arrived Monday at his new home on Florida's death row after being driven overnight by St. Lucie County Sheriff's officials, according to Major Pat Tighe. Tisdale is pictured here during his sentencing at the St. Lucie County Courthouse on Friday in Fort Pierce. (ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) SHARE Images from the Eriese Tisdale sentencing at the St. Lucie County Courthouse on Friday in Fort Pierce. (ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) By Staff Report STUART Condemned prisoner Eriese Tisdale arrived Monday at his new home on Florida's death row after being driven overnight by St. Lucie County Sheriff's officials, according to Major Pat Tighe. On Friday, Tisdale, 28, was ordered transferred to Florida State Prison in Raiford by the judge who sentenced him to death for murdering St. Lucie County Sgt. Gary Morales during a 2013 traffic stop in Fort Pierce. For security reasons, Tisdale had been housed at the Martin County Jail since his Feb. 28, 2013 arrest. He left the jail at 1 a.m. Monday for the five-hour trip to the prison located 274 miles north of Stuart. "Mr. Tisdale has been successfully transported and accepted into the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections," Tighe said Monday in an email. Last week, Tighe said Tisdale must arrive at death row with no personal belongings and is given state prison garb to wear. In October, a jury convicted Tisdale of first-degree murder of a police officer and other offenses. The same jury voted 9-3 in favor of execution. Security personnel arrest youth who tried to fling his chappal towards Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during "Janta Ka Darbar" programme in Patna. (Photo: PTI) Patna: A youth was arrested on Monday after he made an abortive attempt to throw slipper at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The incident occurred when the Chief Minister was busy meeting with other people during Janata Ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri programme at his official residence 1, Anney Marg. The youth has been arrested and we are trying to find out real motive behind the act, Senior SP Patna Manu Maharaj said. It later appeared that the youth was protesting the advisory issued by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar government which stops people of Bihar to cook or perform Havana pujas during daytime in rural areas. The CM when asked about his reaction on the issue condemned the act and said, Throwing chappals at me will not solve problems but I have forgiven the youth and have asked the DGP to forgive him from my side. Adding to this he said, Running a government is like wearing crown of thorns. Its my duty to create an environment of safety and governance in the state. I dont need certificate of religion from anyone my government works for the people, Nitish Kumar said. The advisory was issued by the disaster management department last month to avert incidents of fire in the state. By Editorial Board Will Martin County and the city of Stuart ever get together? Like two star-crossed lovers, the city and county have tried a few times during the past 10 years to consolidate their fire-rescue departments. But alas, this courtship failed to produce a union. Each party found things in the other it didn't like and abandoned this promising relationship. However, mutual attractions and the possibility of each government saving money on fire rescue expenses run deep. MORE | Rich Campbell: Proposed merger of Stuart, Martin County fire-rescue departments faces many hurdles Strike up the band! The city and county are dating again! Last year, the Stuart and Martin County commissions agreed to spend almost $100,000 to hire a consultant Fitch & Associates LLC to determine if a fire-rescue consolidation is possible. Specifically, could a merger reduce expenses while maintaining current levels of services? The draft report, released in March, concluded both objectives are attainable. Fitch recommends the creation of an independent fire district a separate taxing district governed by an appointed or elected board that would oversee the district. The governments of Sewall's Point, which contracts with the city for fire rescue services, and Ocean Breeze, which contracts with the county, would decide if they want to join the district or continue their contractual agreements. About $5.4 million could be trimmed annually from the county's and city's joint $40 million fire-rescue expenses by taking two firetrucks and one ambulance offline, and by eliminating 32 positions (through attrition), according to Fitch. Potential savings also could be realized by closing Martin County Fire Rescue Station 23 on Kanner Highway and Stuart Fire Rescue Station 1 on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. And a merger can be accomplished, according to the report, while maintaining current levels of service. The latter is the sine qua non of the consolidation effort. Elected officials from local governments, who are convening a joint session Tuesday to discuss the Fitch report, must show there will be no reduction in services if they decide to move forward with the proposal. The meeting is 9:30 a.m. at Flagler Place (201 S.W. Flagler Ave. in Stuart). Creating an independent fire district requires approval by the state Legislature and governor. There are 54 independent fire districts in Florida, according to a 2014 report by the LeRoy Collins Institute. The nearest to Martin County is the St. Lucie County Fire District. It is governed by an appointed, seven-member board: two from the St. Lucie County Commission, two from the Fort Pierce City Commission, two from the Port St. Lucie City Council, and one appointed by the governor. The members are selected on an annual rotating basis. State Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said Tuesday he won't consider filing a bill to create an independent fire district in Martin County unless it first goes to a referendum. The Editorial Board of Treasure Coast Newspapers concurs with Negron's position. Voters should have a say in this issue. We've been here before. The difference this time is we have a detailed road map outlining a potential merger. At the very least, our elected officials should continue pursuing this relationship. A Florida East Coast Railway freight train rolls north past Southwest St. Lucie Avenue at the Sailfish Circle roundabout in downtown Stuart. (XAVIER MASCARENAS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) By Gil Smart of TCPalm Quick context on what Treasure Coast residents are talking about this week: With friends like this, who needs enemies? For nearly two decades, one of Florida's most powerful lobbying firms has used its clout to help Martin County obtain millions in funding for water quality projects. But now lobbyist Brian Ballard is working the other side of the fence, backing the controversial All Aboard Florida proposal that Martin County officials are trying hard to derail. Ballard, of Ballard Partners, helped pass a law to expedite the state permitting process for the Miami-to-Orlando passenger train, which the county has committed $2 million to fight in court. Martin County officials in 2014 told Ballard Partners not to lobby on its behalf with respect to All Aboard Florida; the county has engaged other lobbying firms for the job. And county officials say the money spent on Ballard over the years for other projects has paid dividends. But some political observers suggest the mere appearance of a conflict of interest should prompt Martin County Commissioners to rethink the relationship. "At least give taxpayers a good reason or arguments why they want to continue with Ballard Partners, considering they are also representing their opponent," said Ben Wilcox, of the Tallahassee-based Integrity Florida government watchdog group. Tricia Todd's disappearance becomes national story As of this writing, Tricia Todd still is missing, despite the efforts of dozens of volunteers and sheriff's deputies with bloodhounds, ATVs, helicopters and even horses. Now the national media is picking up on the story of the 30-year-old Hobe Sound woman who vanished April 27 after failing to pick up her 2-year-old daughter, with Fox News and NBC Nightly News, among others, running reports. Will it help locate Todd? No one can know. Searchers continue to scour Todd's neighborhood and woods, where she sometimes went on long, early morning walks. Detectives from the Martin County Sheriff's Office will travel to North Carolina next week to interview Steve Williams, Todd's ex-husband. Deputies call Todd's disappearance suspicious, though they acknowledge there's a chance Todd doesn't want to be found. It also is possible she is injured and unable to make contact. Anyone with information should call 911 or sheriff's detectives at 772-220-7060. Anyone wanting to join the private search effort can go to Facebook and search The Search for Tricia Todd. Todd is described as having red hair, hazel eyes, weighing about 110 pounds and is 5 feet, 4 inches tall. MCSO searching for missing Hobe Sound woman, Trisha Todd. Call 9-1-1 with info. See MCSO FB for more. pic.twitter.com/egkGNkeMW5 MartinCountySheriff (@MartinFLSheriff) April 28, 2016 What's old is new again, crocodile version This happens sometimes. In recent days, the story of beachgoers spotting a crocodile in the surf near the Sebastian Inlet was one of the most popular items on TCPalm.com. It also is nearly seven years old. The story originally appeared on TCPalm on July 9, 2009. So why is it suddenly trending now? Because this happens sometimes. Readers may be Googling a term like "crocodile," and an older story appears at the top of the Google feed. Then that story gets shared and shared again. The Sebastian crocodile story went viral on Facebook last week and, as a result, it became one of the most-viewed TCPalm stories of the weekend. And as noted, this isn't the first time it has happened. Earlier this year, a story about a shooting at Indian River State College originally published Feb. 7, 2013 somehow caught fire and was among the most popular stores for several days. And it's hard to imagine it won't happen again. As the saying goes: The Internet never forgets. But who knew its memory would be so good? SHARE Charless Mackett, MD By Kim Leach-Wright, Your Newsweekly Contributor Indian River Medical Center (IRMC) is proud to announce Florida Blue has designated the medical center as a Blue Distinction Center for its Cardiac and Maternity Care programs, and Knee and Hip Replacement surgeries. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's Blue Distinction Centers are nationally-designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community. Blue Distinction Centers have met rigorous program standards and demonstrated quality and improved outcomes for patients, with low rates of complications and readmissions. In addition to meeting established quality thresholds, each of these distinctions also requires IRMC to demonstrate better cost-efficiency compared to other hospitals. A hospital must also maintain national accreditation at the facility level for cardiac care and knee and hip replacement surgeries. The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program, a new designation under the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, evaluates hospitals on several quality measures. In addition, hospitals that receive this designation have agreed to meet requirements that align with principles that support evidence-based practices of care. This includes initiating programs to promote successful breastfeeding. The program also evaluates hospitals on overall patient satisfaction, including a patient's willingness to recommend the hospital to others. Nokia on Tuesday announced plans to purchaseWithings for US$192 million in cash as part of its move into the healthcare devices arena. The deal is expected to close in early Q3, and Withings will become part of the Nokia Technologies business. We have said consistently that digital health was an area of strategic interest to Nokia, and we are now taking concrete action to tap the opportunity in this large and important market, Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri said. The deal will strengthen the companys position in the Internet of Things market, he said. Healthcare is expected to be one of the largest vertical IoT markets, and mobile health, with a compound annual growth rate of 37 percent, will be the fastest growing healthcare segment through 2020, Nokia disclosed. Withings products include activity trackers, scales, thermometers, and blood pressure, home and baby monitors that run on its digital health platform and have an ecosystem of more than 100 compatible apps. The company has a well-established presence in the mobile health space born of relatively early entry into the activity tracking and smart scales market, noted Jonathan Collins, a principal analyst atABI Research. Ongoing development of a range of innovative offerings has extended the reach of the company within m-health as well as the range of m-health devices themselves, he told the E-Commerce Times. Nokia has chosen a company that has certainly showed potential and that could benefit from greater financial support, Collins said. Health Is Wealth The IoT healthcare market is the biggest growth market over the next seven years in terms of revenue, pointed out Laura DiDio, a research director at Strategy Analytics. Healthcare is bigger than the other two major markets for IoT the financial and industrial sectors, she told the E-Commerce Times. It affects everybody and has a big impact in both the consumer and enterprise space in IoT. Further, healthcare in IoT has a wide swath of applications ranging from wearables to predictive analysis and enables research in various fields, DiDio said. It impacts and intersects other verticals, including insurance and biopharma. Sitting Back and Raking It In Nokia has 19 percent of the 3,000 patents considered essential to 4G LTE tech and is the leader there, DiDio said. The company has 16,000 patents issued and pending in the United States and another 20,000 outside of the U.S., the majority in Europe. Its holds patents related to WiFi and older 2G and 3G technologies such as GSM, GPRS, Edge and W-CDMA, on which it has a stranglehold, she pointed out. Now that it has sold off its handset business to Microsoft, Nokia can monetize the communications patents they have and can charge other people royalties if they dont use them internally, DiDio noted. The company is sitting on King Solomons mine, and a lot of people are going to overlook that, she added. The gadgets will be great, but theyve also got this treasure trove of patents. Going Up Against Giants Nokia will have to take on Google, Microsoft and Apple, all of which have a presence in the healthcare field, as well as Fitbit and other makers of wearable devices for the fitness and healthcare fields. Microsoft Research has its Medical Devices Group, which is developing sensors and sensor technologies and combining them with machine learning and signal processing technologies. It also offers Windows 10 IoT Core for medical devices. Google X earlier this year unveiled a health tracking band. Its also working onsmart contact lenses. Several other healthcare technologies were under development at Google that may have been handed over to parent company Alphabet. Apple has been hiring medical tech talent since 2014 and in March unveiled itsCareKit health tracking platform. The company might make a regulated medical device, CEO Tim Cook has indicated. Nokias ability to push into the space alongside larger rivals will require significant investment and commitment, ABIs Collins said. IBM has announced an expansion of its flash storage portfolio to help clients more quickly extract value from data so it can be turned into a competitive advantage. IBM launched three new all-flash array products incorporating industry-leading performance a minimum latency of 250s (microsecond) to solve the challenge of accessing the massive amounts of data quickly for cloud-based applications and workloads. Consumers today are demanding cloud-based applications that are fast, easy and intelligent. Sub-second response times are critical when data is retrieved from the cloud to deliver a unique, personalized and positive customer experience. IBM MicroLatency technology transfers data within the flash array via hardware instead of the added layer of software. Also built into the solutions are features designed to solve cloud requirements such as quality-of-service (QoS) to prevent the impact noisy neighbor problems have on application performance, secure multi-tenancy, thresholding, and easy-to-deploy grid scale out. The drastic increase in volume, velocity and variety of information is requiring businesses to rethink their approach to addressing storage needs, and they need a solution that is as fast as it is easy, if they want to be ready for the Cognitive Era, said Greg Lotko, general manager of IBM Storage and Software Defined Infrastructure. IBMs flash portfolio enables businesses on their cognitive journey to derive greater value from more data in more varieties, whether on premises or in a hybrid cloud deployment. Flash Solutions for Diverse Client Needs With todays news, IBM is unveiling an end-to-end flash portfolio with features specifically needed for cloud environments. Providing simple onramp for flash storage for IT service providers: The FlashSystem A9000 comes fully configured which helps drive down the cost of implementing an all-flash environment. Delivering scalable storage for cloud service providers: The FlashSystem A9000R, with its grid architecture, provides easy scaling up to the petabyte range. The FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R both incorporate data reduction features, including pattern removal, deduplication and real-time compression, as well as IBM FlashCore technology to deliver consistent low latency performance. They are priced as low as $1.50 per gigabyte. Optimized all-flash systems for enterprise-class servers: With the all-flash IBM DS8888, customer databases and data-intensive applications are accelerated resulting in improved business performance and customer satisfaction. Clients around the world are adopting IBM Flash Storage. For example, the Arizona State Land Department was seeking a solution that could speed access to data. @ Technuter.com News Service Even though the FBI versus Apple court case never got off the ground, the encryption war continues. The latest battle involves a case in LA, where a federal judge has signed a warrant ordering a person to unlock her smartphone using her fingerprints, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The FBI obtained a warrant that required identity theft suspect Paytsar Bkhchadzhyan to unlock her iPhone using TouchID about 45 minutes after being taken into custody. US Magistrate Judge Alicia Rosenberg signed off on the document. In 2014, the US Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement can search the phones of criminal suspects if they have a warrant. It also stated that police can order a person in custody to provide fingerprints without a judge's permission. It's still unclear why authorities wanted Bkhchadzhyan, who has a string of previous convictions and is the girlfriend of an alleged Armenian gang member, to unlock her phone. The action has ignited arguments over whether or not it violates a person's 5th Amendment rights, which protects against self-incrimination. "It isn't about fingerprints and the biometric readers," said Susan Brenner, a law professor at the University of Dayton, told the times."The contents of that phone, much of which will be about her, and a lot of that could be incriminating." Albert Gidari, the director of privacy at Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society, has a different opinion: "Unlike disclosing passcodes, you are not compelled to speak or say what's 'in your mind' to law enforcement," he said. "'Put your finger here' is not testimonial or self-incriminating." A 2014 Virginia case set a precedent when a judge ruled that the suspect could be compelled to provide fingerprints to open a locked phone but not a password. With this latest case of a person being forced to unlock a device with their prints, could more courts start issuing similar warrants? Most doctors choose not to give babies painkillers for surgery. The reason may be that some practitioners refuse to believe that babies feel pain, or that the effects of administering general anesthesia in youngsters is still relatively inconclusive. Now, the largest study ever to examine the impacts of general anesthesia (GA) in babies has established that an hour of GA during surgery is no more damaging to infant brains than local anesthesia (LA) given at two years of age. However, the jury is still out as the longer-term effects of GA to some aspects of babies' neurodevelopment cannot be examined at such a young age. Meanwhile, although there is a growing body of research that shows the negative effects of anesthesia on the brains of young monkeys and lab rats, the initial findings of the Melbourne-led study sent a wave of relief through the medical community worldwide. Testing Babies' Mental Capacity In this GAS study, researchers and practitioners at 28 hospitals in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, and the United States tested the cognition, language and motor skills of 722 infants who were randomized to receive either general or local anesthesia for hernia repair surgeries two years prior. Experts compared the mental performance of infants who received less than an hour of GA against those who received a local or spinal anesthetic, which leaves babies still awake but numb and immobilized from the waist down. Lead researcher Andrew Davidson, an associate professor at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and senior staff anesthetist at Royal Children's Hospital, said their study revealed absolutely no difference between the two groups. "We can't conclude they're both safe," said Davidson, who presented the findings at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists annual meeting Sunday. "But there's no reason to think the spinal anaesthetic would be unsafe because all of the animal data shows that it is okay." In fact, the study suggests that spinal anesthetic had safer short-term outcomes than general anesthesia, including fewer breathing complications during recovery, but at two years old, there was no difference. Conflicting Findings Davidson and his colleagues' findings were published in late 2015 in the journal Lancet and had come into conflict with studies that supposedly show how GA interferes in the way the brain develops in monkeys and worms. In 2012, a study published in the journal Pediatrics had linked even a single dose of anesthesia to later harm in babies, including difficulty in language and learning problems. There is a caveat though: the 2012 study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, and it only provided an association. Pediatric anesthesiologist Lena Sun, one of the researchers of the 2012 study, said they do not want to scare parents. "If children need to have surgery, you need to weigh all the risks and all the benefits in terms of what you need to do," said Sun. What's Next? Davidson says the findings of their study provided a wave of relief for many anesthetists, especially as research in the past decade showed negative impacts. Still, he warns that the findings were not conclusive. Another limitation is that it only covered an hour of surgery, which captures roughly half of surgeries that babies and toddlers usually undergo. In the meantime, Davidson and his team are already beginning to retest the children in the study as they turn five years old. Named "T-Rex," the next trial will include 500 children who will be tested for surgeries that last at least three hours. Photo : Bridget Coila | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Other than smartphones, the offers and discounts are also extended to home appliances. Mumbai: To celebrate the Make for India campaign, the Korean manufacturer Samsung has announced some offers and discount. The tech giant has discounts where gadgets are available for as low as Re 1, the balance however can be paid in installments. The Samsung India website reads Thank you India for making Samsung the most trusted brand. Started April 29, 2016, the Make for India celebration is scheduled to go on till May 15, 2016. Other than smartphones, the offers and discounts are also extended to home appliances. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Obesity and type 2 diabetes have both been linked to psoriasis in a recent study on Danish twins. But how can carrying excess pounds possibly lead to the chronic skin condition? Psoriasis marked by skin inflammation resulting in patches of itchy red and pink marks has previously been associated with components of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health indicators that include obesity and diabetes. The link could be explained by different factors, perhaps genetics or lifestyle habits such as alcohol intake. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark probed the link further by assessing data from 33,588 twins, more than half of which were women. They found that the risk for obesity a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 was higher in psoriasis patients, with the likelihood of obesity climbing as BMI was increasing. They also noted that the average BMI of individuals with psoriasis was higher than those without the skin disorder, or a BMI of 25 versus 24.4. Furthermore, twins with psoriasis exhibited a higher BMI than twins without the skin disease and they surfaced as more likely to be obese, too. Results indicate a common genetic etiology of psoriasis and obesity, concluded the researchers in their study published in the journal JAMA Dermatology. The findings, while not providing direct causation, add to the mounting body of research showing the link between obesity and psoriasis, which could emerge from either case: psoriasis predisposing individuals to a more sedentary lifestyle and therefore behaviors that promote obesity and diabetes, or both obesity and diabetes driving psoriasis. In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Joel Gelfand of the University of Pennsylvania said that the unique twin design of the study offers a new genetic dimension to earlier findings. According to him, both old and new studies observed that psoriasis goes beyond being a skin disease it is backed by systemic health issues. Other studies, he added, have found that psoriasis patients are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes even without major risk factors for the blood sugar condition, with the risk increasing along with the severity of their psoriasis case. Some of the risk may be due to shared genetics between psoriasis and diabetes, Gelfand explained. It is also thought that chronic inflammation in psoriasis may predispose patients to diabetes. To explore the gene connection further, genetic variations in IL12B, IL23R and IL23A genes have been seen to influence not only psoriasis risk, but also the severity of both the skin disorder and type 2 diabetes. Other researchers have also suggested the role of the CDKAL1 gene in psoriasis and diabetes predisposition. Gelfand urged psoriasis patients, particularly those ages 40 to 70 with greater severity, should get medically screened for diabetes. Overweight or obese ones may also lower their diabetes risk and render their skin disease less active by maintaining a healthy weight. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Beware: an epidemic of heat-incited injuries is likely hitting workers out in the field as climate change continues to take hold, a new U.N. report has revealed. Developing countries are facing up to 10 percent losses in working hours due to dire workplace conditions brought about by climate change, with losses rising above $2 trillion by the year 2030. Outdoor workers are facing a slower pace, taking longer break periods and seeking refuge from the heat by working during the dawn and dusk hours. More than a billion employees and employers in vulnerable nations are already grappling with severe heat in the workplace, according to the report Climate Change and Labor: Impacts of Heat in the Workplace, a joint project of the International Labor Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO) and U.N. Development Program. Presented at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the report marked International Workers Memorial Day and called attention to increasing workplace heat as an immediate occupational hazard leading to heat stroke and death. [Workplace heat] is another layer of vulnerability to developing countries already reeling from the adverse impacts of climate change, said Cecelia Rebong, ambassador and permanent Philippine representation to the United Nations, who called for adhering to the carbon emissions limit or 1.5 degree Celsius goal set out in the Paris climate deal. Most at risk are the southern United States, Central America and the Caribbean, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, to name a few. These highly exposed zones are concentrated on outdoor labor and industrial services with ineffective climate control in place, added the report. In the West African territory, the number of extremely hot days every year has now doubled since the 1960s, with a rise of about 10 scorching hot days every decade. Even if the 1.5 degree Celsius limit is met, some regions would face nearly a full month of added extreme heat each year by year 2030, the report warned. The heat is expected to reduce productivity, increase work breaks and elevate injury risks. Matthew McKinnon, U.N. climate vulnerable support forum manager, witnessed the dramatic effects of high heat on his recent Ghana trip. We had truck drivers who were complaining that the rates of tire bursts were increasing a lot because of the heat, he told the Guardian. Farmers too were worried that they had to spend too much time in open fields in the hot season. In many low- and middle-income nations, more than half of the labor force is already facing heat hazards that also affect employees in factories with poor air systems and ventilation. Most prone to the challenge are men slogging through heavy-lifting work, as well as pregnant women especially in rural settings forced to work for economic reasons. Heat reaching a maximum threshold and temperatures climbing beyond 2 degrees Celsius, McKinnon said, could spell disaster in the tropics and sub-tropics. Probably the worst-hit in the coming century are countries like Cambodia, Bangladesh and Burkina Faso, which had already lost 2 to 3 percent of their daylight work hours by the middle of the 1990s because of extreme heat. Once temperatures go above the bodys 37 degrees Celsius, one would need to expel heat via sweat evaporation. If dress codes or high humidity gets in the way of doing this, it would be necessary to reduce the rate of working to prevent dehydration and heat stroke. The report called for reasonable measures like availability of drinking water in the workplace, frequent rest breaks, manageable output targets and increased employee income and condition protection. Governments and employers have to take this issue of the cauldron of a warming planet seriously and develop some effective policy responses and practical measures to protect workers, said UNI Global Union general secretary Philip Jennings. Photo: John Pavelka | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Women not only face a still persisting gender pay gap, but expectant and new moms also suffer an increasing amount of unfair treatment at the workplace, a new report in the United Kingdom revealed. Citizens Advice, a network of more than 300 charities in the UK, warned that there was a 25 percent rise in people looking for workplace advice on maternity and pregnancy issues last year. This suggests that pregnancy discrimination which is illegal is still prevalent. Discrimination In The Workplace The report, which mentioned at least 22,000 visits in the Citizens Advice website, included issues such as the following: getting their work hours reduced receiving zero-hour contracts receiving pressure to come back to work early after maternity leave in several cases, getting forced out of their jobs One of the thousands of cases involved a woman asking the group for help after her employer reduced her work hours by more than 50 percent after she announced her pregnancy. The woman said her boss explained work was not enough to keep her on her previous hours. Another case was just as problematic: one woman asked her employer why she did not receive maternity pay, only to be told the company had terminated her contract during her maternity leave. Discrimination Is Still Prevalent The astounding evidence is the latest indication that pregnancy discrimination is still prevalent in the UK. In March this year, research commissioned [PDF] by the government had found that 75 percent of new moms and pregnant women experience work discrimination. At least one in nine women even lose their jobs. This study, which was carried out by the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), suggested that pregnancy discrimination has significantly increased in the past 10 years, when 45 percent of women reported they faced such discrimination. What Should Be Done? Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said new moms and pregnant women should be encouraged at work. The last thing that a pregnant woman needs, she said, is a threat to her job security or income. A spokesperson for the government has condemned workplace discrimination, saying that it is unlawful and completely unacceptable. He said the government is determined to stand up for workers, adding that they are taking action to tackle pregnancy discrimination. The EHRC has called for reforms to give women, especially expectant mothers, more protection in the workplace. The group also explored the possibility of an insurance scheme to help employers offer better cover and pay for maternity leave, as is the case in Denmark. Meanwhile, Guy said Citizens Advice is ready to help women facing pregnancy discrimination. "Anyone with concerns about pregnancy or maternity discrimination can get free, impartial advice from their local Citizens Advice," added Guy. Photo : Raul Hernandez Gonzalez | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Just as some insects reduce the severity of wildfires, human activity stamps an opposite effect: it could be blamed for driving an increase in the phenomena's frequency and location, a new study revealed. Researchers from George Washington University (GWU) examined wildfires in California and found that human activity - which is given little attention in scientific literature - has as much impact on wildfire frequency and location as climate influences. This suggests that most of the models of wildfire predictions do not account for human factors, and therefore, can become misleading when identifying drivers or causes of wildfires. How Human Activity Affects Wildfires While climate change influences the severity of fire season as well as the amount and vegetation, humans contribute by deciding where structures are built. They also contribute to the frequency and location of ignitions from different sources, which include cigarettes thrown on the highway or electrical poles that topple down because of Santa Ana winds. As a result, GWU scientists say humans are responsible for at least 90 percent of California wildfires. Associate Professor Michael Mann, lead author of the study, said we do not have much control over how climate change will trigger future wildfires, but we can influence the other half of the equation: variables that control our own impact on the landscape. Wildfire Predictions The research team also developed a new model that proportionately includes human behavioral threats and climate change, allowing scientists to accurately predict how much land in California is in danger of burning through 2050. Researchers found that from 1999 to 2011, California reported an average of $160 million in yearly wildfire-related damages, with about 13,000 homes affected. In their model, Mann and his colleagues estimated that wildfire damages will more than triple by the middle of the century, increasing the annual cost to at least half a billion dollars. "This information is critical to policymakers, planners and fire managers to determine wildfire risks," said Mann. What We Should Do So how do we reduce our impact on wildlife severity, frequency and location? Mann suggests that housing development incentives should be removed in areas prone to wildfire, public land should be better managed and current firefighting approaches should be improved. The findings of the study are published in the journal PLOS ONE. Photo: Daria Devyatkina | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A merger agreement between Baker Hughes and Halliburton ended up with the two companies deciding to call off the deal that was reportedly worth $28 billion. Halliburton will pay a termination fee worth $3.5 billion to Baker Hughes by Wednesday, following an announcement that said the termination had taken effect on April 30. "While both companies expected the proposed merger to result in compelling benefits to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders, challenges in obtaining remaining regulatory approvals and general industry conditions that severely damaged deal economics led to the conclusion that termination is the best course of action," said Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Dave Lesar of Halliburton. Lesar added that while the decision to call off the merger is disappointing, the company managed to remain strong and continues to focus on helping its customers in maximizing production while keeping costs at its most affordable rate. The deal, which two companies formally agreed to back in November 2014, faced opposition from antitrust regulators in Europe and in the United States. It could have brought together two oil services companies, globally ranked at second and third, into becoming a duopoly, leaving several oilfield service markets in their hands. In other words, there would only be two dominant suppliers to cover 20 business lines within the field of global well drilling and oil construction services. One would be the merged businesses of Baker Hughes and Halliburton, and the other would be Schlumberger NV. U.S. Attorney General Loretta E Lynch says the companies' decision to terminate the merger agreement is a victory not only for the U.S. economy, but also for all Americans. Regulators in Europe, Brazil and Australia along with the DOJ have heavily scrutinized the merger and expressed concerns that it could result to increased prices in the oilfield services industry or decreased competition and innovation. The canceled merger is also a major blow to investment banking groups, which served as advisers to the companies during the course of the deal. Baker Hughes was advised by Goldman Sachs Group Inc, while Halliburton had Credit Suisse Group AG as its lead financial adviser, along with Bank of America Corp. The fee for financial advising, which usually ranges at a percentage point of the merger value, is largely affirmed once the transaction is finalized. Halliburton is set to discuss the aborted merger agreement on Tuesday, May 3, in a conference. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Under Armour, the sportswear brand based in Baltimore, faces competition from a Chinese brand who is very lax about respecting intellectual property. They say the sincerest form of flattery is imitation, but brands such as Under Armour, Inc. seem to be tired of such compliments. The Chinese copycat is called Uncle Martian, and the resemblance of its brand identity with Under Armour's is striking. For one thing, the two companies have really similar logos. Uncle Martian's features an inverted U sitting below a stylized letter U. However, the letters in the copycat brand do not intersect. China's online medium reacted swiftly to the blatant copyright infringement. Thanks to a myriad of consumers who put more value on quality than on quantity, the rollout of the copycat brand saw skepticism instead of standing ovations. More and more Chinese citizens can afford to purchase global brands, which makes the local market less friendly to cheap imitations. A Weibo user that uses the "Diving Watcher" handle chastised Uncle Martian for its business practices. "[...] All you do is plagiarize, don't you feel it's disgusting?" the user asks. It seems that the enterprise behind Uncle Martian is an apparel manufacturer in Fujian Province, located in southeastern China. The New York Times attempted in vain to contact Tingfei Long Sporting Goods in order to get a statement. Chinese companies have a history in banking on popular brands from overseas. A few years ago, some entrepreneurs from the country opened a faux Apple store in one provincial city, complete with the iconic logo and all. Reports on unauthorized Apple shops have been looming in 2015, as well. Those familiar with KFC will rub their eyes in disbelief when gazing upon the logo of fast-food chain Yonghe King, due to the uncanny similitude. Last year, Michael Jordan filed a legal action against Qiaodan Sports, a Chinese sportswear brand that manufactures products similar to the Air Jordan line, belonging to Nike. For the non-Chinese speaking readers out there, Qiaodan is a rough translation of "Jordan." What is more, the firm placed the iconic number 23 on its products. "Uncle Martian's uses of Under Armour's famous logo, name and other intellectual property are a serious concern and blatant infringement," Under Armour's spokesperson says. The company notes that all legal and business courses of action are in tow to settle the matter. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. U.S. mobile carriers jumped on the opportunity to purchase 126 MHz of "beach front" wireless spectrum during an auction organized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC's efforts to convince televisions to sell unused spectrum to mobile carriers proved fruitful, and the extended bandwidth should enable faster speeds and higher networks reliability for the consumer sector. Mobile carriers and various other interested bidders will be able to buy packages of 10 MHz from the FCC following the auction. Leaders of the wireless industry complained that in order to meet the blooming customer demand, new spectrum is required. The low-band spectrum reaches longer distances and enables significant penetration of walls and obstacles, making it ideal for phone calls. Mobile carriers have had their eyes on the 600 MHz band for some time now, and in the wake of the auction it is expected that they will push out 5G services much easier. No official word permeated the media on how many TV stations yielded their spectrum, but the FCC did hint that the number was consistent. TV stations had two options: they were able to relocate their OTA signals to different spectrums or simply clear certain bandwidths. Both courses of action offered them a share in the auction. Experts from the field estimate that this stage of the auction will pull between $45 and $60 billion. "Today's announcement reflects the voluntary decision by many broadcasters that this auction truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. He went on to say that the initiative's success relies on "robust participation" from broadcasters. The FCC leader also points out consumers will benefit greatly from the result of the auction. Players from the industry, such as trade group CTIA, commended the increased space of maneuver for mobile carriers. The head of CTIA, Meredith Attwell Baker, notes that the organization expects to see 4G LTE and 5G growing fast after the auction. The next step in the auction starts on May 31, and it consists of broadcasters taking government bids on their licenses. After that, the FCC evaluates the government-purchased licenses and sells them to wireless operators. The latter stage is scheduled for the end of June or start of July. Looking at the numbers, the process is the largest auction in FCC's history. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Claude Shannon, the "Father of Information Theory," is one of the latest figure celebrated at Google Doodle on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Although the anniversary date has already passed, it's worth an extra feature to highlight the importance of Shannon's work. Born on April 30, 1916 in Petoskey, Michigan, Shannon was an electrical engineer, mathematician and cryptographer. Google Doodle celebrated his contributions and achievements in the field of digital computing and electronic communication by depicting him as a juggler, holding a set of number ones and zeroes. These two numbers were instrumental in how Shannon transformed computing upon learning that he could use them to represent pictures, words, videos and more. Shannon is known for his most famous work called "A Mathematical Theory of Communication (1949)" where information theory was first introduced. It is also where the term "bit" (binary digits) was first used, which refers to the number 1 and 0 combination that means yes-no, on-off, and true-false. "It's impossible to overstate the legacy of Claude Shannon," said Google. "The paper he wrote for his master's thesis is the foundation of electronic digital computing." Google added that Shannon, while being a cryptographer for the U.S. government during the second World War, developed the world's first unbreakable cipher. Shannon also enjoyed tinkering with electronic switches and did it as a way to have fun, according to Google. He is said to have invented an electromechanic mouse which he called Theseus. The mouse is touted to have a "super" memory and uses such to find its way around a maze easily and with no mistake after a single "training" round. His mouse invention may strike as an early form of artificial intelligence and he is said to have regularly brushed shoulders with Alan Turing and Einstein. One thing that should be noted, however, is how Shannon managed to avoid one of the trappings that is commonly found among geniuses - taking oneself very seriously. Known for his world-class pranks and juggling skills, Shannon was often seen in the halls of Bell Labs riding a unicycle. Apart from the electromechanic mouse, Shannon also invented a rocket-powered Frisbee and a flame-throwing trumpet. Perhaps the former could be a bit of an inspiration source for today's space rockets, while the latter may have become instrumental for night time band marching performances. Shannon died in 2001 at the age of 84 and was said to be suffering from dementia at the time of death. His animated doodle on Google's homepage was created by artist Nate Swinehart. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Using technical proof, Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright has outed himself as the man behind Bitcoin, being one and the same with the perceived creator of the cryptocurrency, Satoshi Nakamoto. On May 2, Wright published a blog post where he makes his claim. He also shared technical demonstrations with the Economist, BBC and GQ to prove that he is indeed the person who developed the foundations on which Bitcoin is built upon. "Satoshi is dead. But this is only the beginning," wrote Wright. By going public, Wright is looking to put an end to media speculation on who Satoshi Nakamoto really is. Media outlets have conducted their own investigations before and have come up with numerous different individuals as candidates. In December 2015, however, following reports from Gizmodo and Wired, Wright's home was raided by Australian police after he was named by the two to be Bitcoin's founder. He was supposedly identified through leaked transcripts of legal interviews, blog posts and emails, although Satoshi Nakamoto's real identity was never revealed. Newsweek was able to identify one Dorian Prentice as the cryptocurrency's creator back in 2014 but those claims have been denied. The Economist believes that "important questions remain" but Gavin Andresen, Bitcoin Foundation's chief scientist, believes Wright and has published a blog to support the entrepreneur's claims. "I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt: Craig Wright is Satoshi," he said. Andresen flew to London to meet with Wright after an email exchange convinced him that the entrepreneur was the same person he had communicated with in 2010 and 2011. In that meeting, he witnessed messages signed with keys - keys that should only be in Satoshi Nakamoto's possession - verified on a computer that couldn't have been tampered with. Jon Matonis, one of Bitcoin Foundation's founding directors, shares Andresen's views about the Bitcoin creator. He had been in London as well for the proof sessions and he had the chance to go over relevant data through cryptographic, technical and social lines. Matonis believes that Wright's work satisfies those three categories. Currently, about 15.5 million Bitcoins exist, each valued at about $449. It is said that Satoshi Nakamoto - Craig Wright - is in possession of about a million Bitcoins. If those were converted to cash, they would give him a net worth of about $450 million. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Michigan legislators proposed two new bills on April 28, aimed to penalize individuals who hack into computer systems for fraudulent purposes. Specifically, Senate Bills 927 and 928 will ideally help regulate the connected and autonomous vehicle industry. In many instances, the digital systems embedded within motor vehicles are vulnerable to hacking. Depending on the situation, a malfunctioning electronic system may seize control of the vehicle from the driver and cause injury. Senators Mike Kowall and Ken Horn sponsored the two bills. Kowall told Automotive News that he "hopes" they never have to enact the punishment associated with the crimes. If the violation involves an aggregated amount of less than $200, an individual who is found guilty may be imprisoned for up to 93 days or fined up to $500. In the event that the crime is more severe, fines may go up to $50,000, and jail sentences could exceed 20 years. Senate Bill 927 is described as, "an act to prohibit access to computers, computer systems, and computer networks for certain fraudulent purposes; to prohibit intentional and unauthorized access, alteration, damage, and destruction of computers, computer systems, computer networks, computer software programs, and data; to prohibit the sending of certain electronic messages; and to prescribe penalties." Senate Bill 928 is a bill to amend 1927 PA 175, or "the code of criminal procedure." Kowall continued to tell the news source that the goal is to be proactive, rather than wait for some of these hackers to tap into automotive electronic systems. The severity of the automotive hacking was exposed in a 2015 article published by Wired, which showed how easily a Jeep Cherokee could be hijacked. In the experiment, hackers tapped into the vehicle and managed everything from the air conditioning to the windshield wipers. At one point, they were able to cut the transmission, eliminating the driver's ability to use the accelerator. A similar experiment conducted by Wired in 2013 involved a Ford Escape and Toyota Prius. Though they were different cars, hackers were able to command the steering wheel, honk the horn and disable the brakes. Car manufacturers have supposedly been working closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to address security holes in vehicle communications systems. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Rome/New Delhi: A UN arbitration tribunal has ruled in favour of an Italian marine, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at the Hague. Two Italian marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy here. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN Court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. However, the tribunal's order is expected to be made public tomorrow. Read: SC extends Italian marine Massimiliano Latorres stay in Italy till Sept 30 Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was "misrepresenting" the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. Information reaching the Indian government said "India and Italy asked to approach Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Possible return to Italy strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required." "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Read: India's jurisdiction suspended,overridden in marine case: Italy Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Meanwhile, Italian new agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi)" after the news that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence, as per ANSA. Later, the sources reproduced "relevant extracts" from the order of the Arbitral Tribunal. According to the extracts - (a) The Order neither releases nor frees any Marine. It only recommends further relaxation of bail conditions of one Italian Marine (Girone) to be considered and decided upon by the Indian Supreme Court. It may be noted that Sgt. Girone is already on bail on Orders of the Supreme Court, the sources said. (b) The Arbitral Tribunal s Order clearly recognises that "Girone is under Indias authority alone" and that the "Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction" over him. (c) The Order therefore asks India and Italy to approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of the bail conditions of one Marine (Girone) under strict conditions to be laid down by the Indian Supreme Court, they said. (d) The Tribunal has suggested that these may "include the following conditions and guarantees: Italy shall ensure that Sgt. Girone reports to an authority in Italy designated by the Indian Supreme Court in intervals to be determined by the Court; Sgt. Girone shall be required by Italy to surrender his passport and shall be prohibited from leaving Italy unless the Supreme Court of India grants him leave to travel; Italy shall on its own motion, apprise the Supreme Court of India of the situation of Sgt. Girone every three months", the sources said. (e) Italy itself has accepted that if Girone is allowed by the Indian Supreme Court to return to Italy, "he will remain under the jurisdiction of the Courts of India"..."without prejudice to the authority of Indias courts". (f) The Order also says that "India must be assured, unequivocally and with legally binding effect, that Sergeant Girone will return to India in case the Arbitral Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the Enrica Lexie incident". Italy has already given multiple undertakings to this effect, they added. (g) The Tribunal affirms that "these undertakings constitute an obligation binding upon Italy under international law". The Tribunal also "confirms that Italy is under an obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India if the Arbitral Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the Enrica Lexie incident", the sources said. 2. The Tribunal is adjudicating only on the limited question of whether India or Italy has the jurisdiction to try the two Marines for the killing of two innocent Indian fishermen. Only after the Tribunal decides which country has jurisdiction, will the criminal trial commence. Pending this final decision of the Tribunal, both Marines are currently on bail on orders of the Supreme Court and will continue to remain under its jurisdiction till the verdict of the Arbitral Tribunal. In a survey published this past April by the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Ipsos, approximately 57 percent of global consumers said they were "much more" or "somewhat more" concerned about Internet privacy than they were last year. These results come after researchers surveyed approximately 24,000 Internet users between 16 and 64 years of age in 24 countries. Just 30 percent claimed that they thought their government was doing enough to keep personal information secure and safe from private companies. About 80 percent were "concerned" that their information was being bought or sold on the Internet, or that it was being monitored. "Global citizens are increasingly worried about their online privacy and security, especially when it comes to how their personal data is handled by private corporations and governments," wrote the authors of the report. "There are unanswered questions about the extent to which global citizens can trust the Internet's limitless reach and whose responsibility it is to govern this unchartered space." Perhaps Internet users have reason for concern. For instance, researchers at the University of Michigan recently published a report that exposed flaws in the security of Samsung's SmartThings. The SmartThings system supports a wide range of devices, including door locks, fire alarms and motion sensors. The researchers discovered that more than 55 percent of SmartThings apps (the apps required to handle connected devices) are "over-privileged." This means that they have full access to connected devices, even if they only need limited access. These SmartApps, as they're called, also do not protect events that carry sensitive information, such as lock codes, according to the researchers. During experimentation, the researchers exposed common vulnerabilities within SmartThings, and were able to successfully steal lock pin-codes. Additionally, they could disable a vacation mode SmartApp and cause fake fire alarms, all without physical access to the home. The researchers said that they identified their findings to SmartThings on Dec. 17, 2015. As of Jan. 12, 2016, the SmartThings internal team is supposedly working on strengthening OAuth tokens. Samsung has said that it conducts app reviews to prevent malicious apps from reaching end-users, but the study authors do not believe these efforts are enough. Update: SmartThings published a blog on May 2, specifying that its research team has implemented a number of security updates that address potential vulnerabilities. Thus far, SmartThings customers have not reported any attacks as a result of the app approval process it has in place. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Starbucks is facing a $5 million consumer class lawsuit after a customer from Chicago accused the chain of using too much ice in its cold drinks. Stacy Pincus, the plaintiff, says Starbucks falsely advertises its cold drinks measurements in fluid ounces. In reality, Pincus points out, the vendor's figures are accurate only after ice is added to the mix. "Starbucks is advertising the size of its cold drink cups on its menu, rather than the amount of fluid a customer will receive when they purchase a cold drink," the suit reads. The legal action underlines that this practice is deceitful and fools customers. To those who are not coffee drinkers, you should know that Starbucks offers four sizes of drinks Tall, Grande, Venti and Trenta. Tall means you get 12 fluid ounces, Grande gives you 16 fluid ounces, Venti brings 24 fluid ounces to your table and Trenta delivers a full 30 fluid ounces of liquid coffee. At least, this is how the products are advertised. According to the lawsuit, a customer who orders a Venti cold drink will not get 24 fluid ounces, but only 14 ounces of liquid. The rest is simply added ice, Pincus makes clear. Starbucks has reacted through the voice of spokesperson Jamie Riley, who explains why the lawsuit is groundless. "Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any 'iced' beverage," says the spokesperson. Riley goes on to say that the baristas are happy to replace a beverage, should the a customer solicit it. Pincus claims she is ready to represent all customers who were deceived by the chilling reality during the last 10 years. She asks for damages in value of $5 million, citing fraud, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment. In a touch of irony, the customer notes that hot Starbucks beverages usually cost less than cold ones, despite containing more coffee. The lawsuit brings back memories of a previous case where fast-food chain McDonald's was sued by a customer in 1992. The customer's complaint was that the drive-through coffee was unnecessarily hot, scolding him. Starbucks is the biggest coffee retailer in the world, counting over 24,000 stores in more than 70 countries, 11,000 of which are in the United States. Reports of underfilled Latte drinks caused uproar among Starbucks' clients in March 2016, and led to some filing class-action lawsuits against the coffee shop chain. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Smartphones above Rs 30,000 price tag come with premium features, and let us face it; only a fraction of the mobile users in India actually use a costlier premium phone. If you are planing to buy one, you should either be a diehard fan of the premium-ness or you should be having plenty of money. Whatever the reason may be, we at TechTree are listing out what we feel to be the best ones available currently in this segment. [Master Image Source: digitaltrends] 1. Apple iPhone 6s Plus [Image Credit: techradar.com] When it comes to premium features, the first company that comes to our minds is Apple. No matter how costly their smartphones are, there are people standing in queue on the launch date to purchase the latest smartphone by Apple. With 3D Touch display incorporated into the smartphone, the 5.5 inch device comes with a exceptional camera that is capable of capturing 4K video and Live Photos, along with great detailed photographs. The price range starts from Rs 55,789 (16 GB variant) and goes upto Rs 73,150 (64 GB) and Rs 84,249 (128 GB). However, there may be slight variations in the price depending on different retailer. 2. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge [Image Credit: CNET] Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is definitely one of those best devices available out in the market today. With a 5.5 inch Quad HD display screen, 4 GB RAM, and 32 GB internal storage, the smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. You can also find a fingerprint scanner on the home button of the Galaxy S7 Edge. The battery is of 3,600 mAh capacity. While we can definitely get these features in almost most of the budget phones nowadays, the exclusive feature that comes with the S7 Edge is the saturated AMOLED display, with a curve which allows you to utilize your device on a better level. Apart from all, it's the Samsung flagship device for the year 2016 and wouldn't you want to have it? Price range starts from somewhere around Rs Rs 48,900 for the 32 GB variant. 3. Huawei Nexus 6P [Image Credit: bgr.in] This flagship device from Google is a premium device that was launched alongside the affordable rival, LG Nexus 5X. This is the first Huawei smartphone being manufactured under the Google's Nexus programme, making this a special phone for every Huawei and Nexus fan! Sporting a metal body, the 5.5 inch device comes with USB Type-C for fast connectivity. The device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and the camera is capable of capturing some mind boggling shots. The price range of the device varies according to the internal memory that comes out-of-the-box. For a 32 GB variant, you will have to pay somewhere around Rs 34,499 and for a 64 GB variant the price goes up to approximately Rs 40,999. 4. BlackBerry Priv [Image Credit: CNET] Now, this is something that is more close to the heart of those people who are typical BlackBerry fans, and have been using a BlackBerry phone even in the era of Android smartphones. This 5.4 inch device runs on Android and what else would you want? It comes with all the goodness of an Android device, yet being as secured as the original BlackBerry device. Along with this, the smartphone also comes with a physical QWERTY keyboard that actually allows you to type in like the original BlackBerry device. The smartphone comes with a 18 MP primary camera, and is backed by a 3,410 mAh battery. The internal storage capacity is of 32 GB while the device is powered by a 3 GB RAM. The Priv comes with a price tag of around Rs 55,550. 5. Microsoft Lumia 950 XL [Image Credit: PocketNow] This smartphone marks the return of Microsoft into the smartphone business, and if you are a Windows phone fan, then you are going to definitely love this device. With a 5.7 inch display, 3 GB RAM, and 32 GB internal storage, the smartphone comes with a 20 MP primary camera and 5 MP front facing sensor for selfies. To keep the smartphone cool, the company has incorporated the liquid cooling technology right into the phone itself, making it a perfect choice as your personal computer. Adding on to this fact, the smartphone can be used as a portable computer using the Continuum. The smartphone runs on Windows 10 Mobile operating system. While we have made our best to come up with a list of five best premium smartphones, there might be a device which has been left out. If you have been using one and would want to recommend other readers in this price segment, please share your views in the comments section below. Apple, Top 5, Premium Smartphones 25 year-old cofounder of HackerOne makes $100,000 a year from finding bugs Bugs are a major pain to the tech industry because a single unpatch bug can mean a worrisome data leak of millions of users of that particular product. Hunting for bugs by default becomes a prized profession and bug bounty hunters are known to make good amount of money. But 25 year-old Jobert Abma takes the cake of being a hacker and a bug bounty hunter rolled into one. Abma is the cofounder of a hot new startup called HackerOne which is into the business of bug hunting. Abma has been breaking into computers since he was 13 and he has been helped in it by his best friend Michiel Prins who is also the cofounder of HackerOne. Growing up in the Netherlands, Abma gave Prins an unusual graduation present: the username and password to a local TV station that did a regular news broadcast about the school. The duo then took control of the TV station and ran their own broadcast on live TV instead. The TV station was not amused, Abma told Business Insider. The teachers blamed Prins, who was a year older than Abma, for the hack, and he never told them that I was to blame, Abma says. Prins wound up having to do 25 hours of community service washing windows, but thats what best friends are for. Next up, both of them attended college together at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. In college they found a flaw in the software that managed grades of the students. Instead of using the flaw for increasing their grades, they told software vendor about the flaw and never heard back, Abma recalls. So they reported the hole to the university. The school contacted the company and the company patched the flaw. The university was so impressed, it hired the pair to do a bigger vulnerability test on that software for the university. We made so much money on that contract that we could pay for our college tuition, he says. We were going to college and at the same time working for the university. The university lauded their work published their research. That was a very exciting time. We were 19 and 20 years old. And we were making roughly $10,000 a week just the two of us, he says. For two college kids, that was a very large amount of money. With this background, the two moved to San Francisco and cofounded HackerOne along with Merijn Terheggen and Alex Rice, the former head of product security at Facebook. I know someone who is going for $500,000 this year as his personal goal. Hes capable. HackerOne is a website where companies can ask hackers to attack them, and then pay fees based on the holes found. The scarier the hole, the bigger the fee. HackerOne takes a 20% commission in all the bug discoveries that its hackers make. HackerOne gives the tech company access to tailormade and screened pool of top quality hackers. It also offers the hackers pentesting software and tools for finding bugs. Its customers include everyone from big tech companies to startups, including the Department of Defense, GM, Slack, Twitter, Yahoo, and Uber. The startup has 500 customers and about about 50 employees and has raised $34 million in funding. Australian computer scientist claims he is the elusive Bitcoin creator, Satoshi Nakamoto The hunt for creator of worlds most popular cryptocurrency, the Bitcoin seems to have finally come to an end. Australian computer scientist Craig Steven Wright has publicly identified himself as Satoshi Nakamoto, founder of Bitcoin. Wright has told three media organizations the BBC, the Economist and GQ that he is the father of Bitcoin. The computer scientist has also published a blog post that he says includes cryptographic proof for the claim. Ever since Bitcoin was first created in 2009, the identity of its founder has been a secret. The Bitcoin creator used the name Satoshi Nakamoto but almost all bitcoin aficionados believe that this name is an alias. The hunt for elusive Satoshi Nakamoto has led tech reporters on a wild good chase many a times. One time a Newsweek reporter, Leah McGrath Goodman claimed to have hunted him down only to be ridiculed by the man who was mistaken to be Satoshi. All the same, at least a dozen of people have in the past been named as Bitcoin creators or claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto. The New Yorker ran an article in 2011 that suggested a graduate student in cryptography at Trinity College could be the founder. The student denied the claim and the matter came to a rest. Now Wright has claimed he is the Satoshi Nakamoto. Wrights claim is not new, in 2015, Wired ran a story naming Wright as the Bitcoin inventor. Either Wright invented Bitcoin, or hes a brilliant hoaxer who very badly wants us to believe he did, Wired wrote at the time. Wright claims he came out as the founder of Bitcoin to set the record straight and dispel the myths out there and unleash its potential to change the world for the better. He published a blogpost on Monday seeking to remove all doubts among skeptics, he claims. In it, the computer scientist claims to verify the cryptographic keys to a key Bitcoin block, or group of transactions, that dates to the early days of the currency. Wrights claim has been backed by two leading Bitcoin developers, Jon Matonis and Gavin Andersen. Anderson, a chief scientist at the Bitcoin Foundation, says that Wright demonstrated the supposed verifications keys to him at a meeting in London a couple of weeks ago. After spending time with him I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt: Craig Wright is Satoshi, he said in a blog post. Matonis, who is the founding director at Bitcoin Foundation, said he was also convinced Wright was the founder of Bitcoin, after attending a private proof session with him. Other than these two, the Bitcoin community remains skeptical about Wrights claims. Other Bitcoin developers say that publishing a blog claiming to be Nakamoto means nothing as anyone can do it. They also claim cryptographic keys found on Wrights blog posts have been backdated. The page copies a signature out of the Bitcoin Blockchain from 2009, said Greg Maxwell, the chief technology office at Blockstream, a Bitcoin startup. Wright tried to convince the cryptographic procedure for a reporter in the Economist, which reported that, as far as we can tell he indeed seems to be in possession of the keys. Our conclusion is that Mr. Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain, Economist said in its report. Wright did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Some people will believe, some people wont, he told the BBC. And to tell you the truth, I dont really care. He told the Economist and the BBC he was not seeking publicity. I dont want money, I dont want fame, I dont want adoration. I just want to be left alone, he said in a video posted by the BBC. Wrights claims about being Nakamoto do raise a fundamental question. Why did he wait for 6 years before claiming to set the records straight. Till Wright manages to convince all the skeptics and the Bitcoin community at large, the hunt for the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto is not over. A suspect in child sex abuse case jailed indefinitely for refusing to decrypt his hard drives A Philadelphia man suspected of possessing child sexual abuse images has been in jail for seven months and counting after being found in contempt of a court order demanding that he decrypt two password-protected hard drives. Surprisingly, the former Philadelphia Police Department sergeant, has not been charged of child sex abuse crime. He remains in jailed in Philadelphias Federal Detention Center for steadfastedly refusing to unlock two drives encrypted with Apples FileVault software. The authorities believe that that suspects hard drive is filled with child abuse images and hope to nail him. The man is to remain jailed until such time that he fully complies with the decryption order. The case once again highlights the extent to which the authorities are going to crack encrypted devices. In the San Bernardino shooters iPhone 5c case, the FBI challenged Apple into decrypting the shooters iPhone in a court. FBI dropped that case after they had paid a reported $1 million for a hack. The authorities cited a 1789 law known as the All Writs Act to compel (PDF) the suspect to decrypt two hard drives it believes contain images of child sex abuse. The defence says that compelling the target of a criminal investigation to recall and divulge an encryption passcode transgresses the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. The Supreme Court has never addressed the compelled decryption issue. But Donoghue says the court came close in 2000 when it said a suspect cannot be forced to disclose the sequence of numbers that will open a combination lock. A federal appeals court ruled in 2012, however, that a bank-fraud defendant must decrypt her laptop, but the ruling wasnt enforced as the authorities obtained the password elsewhere. It remains to be seen how long the suspect stays in jail or he finally yields to the authorities and decrypts the two hard drives for them. Resource : Ars Technica. Tor and VPN users will be target of government hacks under new spying rule We had reported a landmark judgement by the United States Supreme Court, which will give FBI powers to hack any computer in the world using a single warrant. The same judgement contains a innocuous para related to Tor and VPN users. The newly approved rule change by the U.S. Supreme Court will allow FBI to search and seize any computer around the world, found to be using privacy tools like VPN or Tor. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday quietly approved a rule change to Rule No.41, that would allow a federal magistrate judge to issue a search and seizure warrant for any target using anonymity software like Tor to browse the internet. Rule 41 will become a law in December if the U.S. Congress doesnt take any legislative action against it. As said in our previous article, the new ruling bestows enormous powers to FBI to be able to search computers remotelyeven if the bureau doesnt know where that computer is locatedif a user has anonymity software installed on it. The rule changes, which the FBI said were necessary to combat cyber crime, come amid escalating tensions between the intelligence community and technology and privacy advocates, and just a day after the U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill that would require the government to obtain a probable cause warrant from a judge before seizing data stored with tech companies such as Facebook, Google, and Dropbox. Whatever euphemism the FBI uses to describe itwhether they call it a remote access search or a network investigative techniquewhat were talking about is government hacking, and this obscure rule change would authorize a lot more of it, said Kevin Bankston, director of the policy advocacy group Open Technology Institute (OTI), which previously testified against the changes. Congress should stop this power-grab in its tracks and instead demand answers from the FBI, which so far has been ducking Congress questions on this issue and fighting in court to keep its hacking tactics secret. The new rule will affect millions of Tor and VPn users. Many Facebook users are already preferring Tor to surf FB. As of April, over one million people use Tor just to browse Facebook, the social media giant noted in a blog post. Chief Justice John Roberts submitted the change to Congress as part of the courts annual collection of amendments to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which inform every federal prosecution in the country. Rule 41, in its current form, stipulates that magistrate judges can only authorize searches within their own jurisdiction. The amendment would allow them to issue warrants to hack into and seize information on a computer if its location has been concealed through technical means. Absence of opposition to the rule could mean that we have a subversive spying campaign against Tor and VPN users around the world without even the user knowing it. A 40 anos de Malvinas "Revisar el pasado es pensar el futuro". La frase de la presidenta de Telam, Bernarda Llorente, resume el espiritu del documental coproducido entre la agencia de noticias y el canal publico de TV sobre la cobertura que los medios de comunicacion hicieron del conflicto, plagada de censura y mentiras. Una autocritica necesaria para mirar hacia adelante en un (ya viejo) contexto de fake news y negocio informativo. The incident originated when a North Korean merchant ship apparently crossed the Northern Limit Line, which serves to divide the territorial waters in the Yellow Sea. | Read More Geneva: Scrambling to resuscitate a nearly dead truce in Syria, the Obama administration has again been forced to turn to Russia for help, with little hope for the desired US outcome. At stake are thousands of lives and the fate of a feeble peace process essential to the fight against the ISIS, and Secretary of State John Kerry has appealed once more to his Russian counterpart for assistance in containing and reducing the violence, particularly around city of Aleppo. "We are talking directly to the Russians, even now," Kerry said on his arrival in Geneva as he began talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. "The hope is we can make some progress, but the UN Security Council Resolution calls for a full country, countrywide, cessation and also for all of the country to be accessible to humanitarian assistance. Obviously that hasn't happened and isn't happening." "These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation. We obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond to the international communities' powerful statement to the UN Security Council." Kerry spoke at length on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to that end, and had been hoping to meet with Lavrov soon, according to US officials. In Geneva, Kerry met with Judeh and was to meet UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday before returning to Washington. But Lavrov was not expected to be in Geneva, complicating Kerry's efforts to make the case directly to the Russians for more pressure on their Syrian government allies to stop or at least limit attacks in Aleppo. The State Department said Kerry, in his meetings, would "review ongoing efforts to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities nationwide in Syria, obtain the full humanitarian access to which the Syrian government committed and support a political transition." Specific, viable options to achieve those broad goals are limited, and Friday's announcement of a new, partial cease-fire that does not include Aleppo underscored the difficulty Kerry faced. US and other officials described that initiative, brokered mainly by Russia and the United States as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, as a "reinforcement" of the February truce, now largely in tatters, that they hope to extend from Damascus and the capital's suburbs and the coastal province of Latakia to other areas. "This is an agreement within the task force, but certainly on the part of the US and Russia that there would be a reinforcement of the cessation of hostilities in these specific areas as a start, with the expectation that this ... would be then extended elsewhere," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. Syria's military extended a unilateral cease-fire around the capital for another 24 hours on Sunday, and relative calm set in across much of the country after days of heavy fighting concentrated in Aleppo. For that city, the US is considering drawing up with the Russians a detailed map that would lay out "safe zones." Civilians and members of moderate opposition groups covered by the truce could find shelter from persistent attacks by Syrian President Bashar Assad's military, which claims to be targeting terrorists. One US official said "hard lines" would delineate specific areas and neighborhoods. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It was not immediately clear whether Russia would accept such a plan or if Moscow could persuade the Assad government to respect the prospective zones. Some US officials are skeptical of the chances for success, but also note that it is worth a try to at least reduce the violence that has wracked Aleppo for the past week, with hundreds killed and thousands wounded. Kerry discussed the deteriorating situation in calls over the past days with de Mistura and the head of a Syrian opposition negotiating committee. "We are working on specific initiatives to de-escalate the increased fighting and defuse tensions and hope to make tangible progress on such initiatives soon," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. For the administration, Friday's announcement about the partial cease-fire is largely a means to measure the commitment of the warring parties to the concept of a truce that could lead to serious peace talks. "It's a test for the Russians and for the regime, as well as for the Syrian opposition," Toner said. The administration's problem is that the Russians, the Assad government and the opposition backed by the US and its partners have all failed that test in the past. In particular, the administration has been routinely disappointed that Russia has not lived up to pledges that US officials think it has made. From the start of the conflict, the administration has sought numerous times for Moscow to use its influence with Damascus to bring about an end to the violence and to advance a political transition. At each turn, those hopes have been dashed with Russia continuing, and even increasing, its support for Assad. US officials concede there is little to suggest that will change. The CIA tweeted an image of Osama Bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan with the caption "Daring UBLRaid was an IC team effort & in close collaboration with our military partners." Washington: The CIA has marked the anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden by live-tweeting -- with a five-year delay -- the raid by US special forces on the Al-Qaeda founder's compound in Pakistan. Using the hashtag #UBLRaid, the CIA blasted out updates of the May 2011 strike as if it was unfolding in real time -- in a highly unusual move for the secretive spy agency. Read: 5 years on, doctor who helped CIA track bin Laden languishes in Pak jail "To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. #UBLRaid," @CIA said in announcing its social media blitz. To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Tweets included the now famous picture of President Barack Obama and other high-ranking US officials watching matters unfold from the White House's Situation Room. 1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 "1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan #UBLRaid," read one tweet. 1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 "3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury #UBLRaid," read another. 3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 That was followed just minutes later by: "3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed #UBLRaid." 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The CIA's Twitter move got quite a bit of attention, with not everyone enthused. "@CIA Are we tweeting Hiroshima on August 6th too? Or is THAT in bad taste?" tweeted one user, Kris Knight. Another who identies as Amber V tweeted: "Don't you have better things to do, like catch living and breathing bad guys, or secretly invade our privacy, or something? @CIA#UBLRaid" But others reacted positively. "Watching the @CIA relive on Twitter the #UBLRaid today reminds me of how proud I am of the men and women who do what they do. Thank you," tweeted Toby Knapp. CIA focus on al-Baghdadi With 1.33 million Twitter followers, the Central Intelligence Agency has sent 1,662 tweets since it joined the social media service in February 2014. "We are the Nation's first line of defense. We accomplish what others cannot accomplish and go where others cannot go," reads the Twitter bio. Read: Five years after Osama bin Laden killing, CIA chief eyes IS head Previous @CIA tweets in recent days have featured a video about the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine and a counterfeit Nazi stamp. Amid the tweetstorm, CIA chief John Brennan said Sunday that taking out the head of the Islamic State group would have a "great impact." He also warned that Al-Qaeda remained a threat, and that IS was not just an organization but a phenomenon. Post the ceremony, he will be recognised as the legitimate inheritor of the dynastic dictatorship which was started by his grandfather Kim Il-Sung. (Photo: AFP) Pyongyang: As North Korea's Kim Jong-un prepares for his coronation ceremony, he has ordered a ban on all the weddings and funerals taking place at that time. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the 33-year-old North Korean leader is preparing for his coronation ceremony after which he will be recognised as the country's supreme leader. Post the ceremony, he will be recognised as the legitimate inheritor of the dynastic dictatorship which was started by his grandfather Kim Il-Sung. The legacy was passed through his late father Kim Jong-Il. "This congress means everything for Kim Jong-Un," said John Delury, a North Korea expert at Yonsei University in Seoul. "It is the most public, historic setting in which he can demonstrate that he is fully in charge, and that everyone follows his orders," Delury said. "Nominally, it's for the party, but really this congress is for Kim," he added. Kim wasn't even born when the last congress was held in 1980 to crown his father as the heir apparent to founding leader Kim Il-Sung. When his own turn came, following the death of Kim Jong-Il in December 2011, there were numerous doubters who suggested the Swiss finishing school graduate lacked the survival skills needed for the Machiavellian world of North Korean power politics. But he proved them wrong, purging the party, government and powerful military of those seen as disloyal, and displaying a ruthless streak that notably led to the execution of his powerful uncle, and one-time political mentor, Jang Song-Thaek. conservatory - Comes from an Italian word for a hospital for foundlings, to whom music was taught. More... ambulance - Once brought the hospital to the patientand kept the name when it reversed the process and started bringing the patients to the hospital; its original meaning was "mobile hospital following an army." More... nosocomial - "Pertaining to a hospital" or "originating in a hospital." More... bedlam - The word bedlam is a contraction of Bethlehem, a hospital in London that became a lunatic asylum. More... HUA HIN, 29 April 2016: Four Thai men have now been arrested for the brutal attack on a British family in Hua Hin during Songkran, while the identities of the victims have also been revealed, Thai Visa.Com reported earlier today. The victims have been named as Lewis Owen, 68, his wife Rosemary Owen, in her sixties, and their son Lewis John Owen, 43. They are believed to be from Wales. On Thursday, a photograph was released to local media showing Rosemary recovering in her hospital bed, pictured alongside officials, who hospital staff claimed were for the Thailand Authority of Thailand. There were also as yet unconfirmed reports that some of the suspects were out on bail. A CCTV video of the attack in Soi Bintabaht, 13 April has been shared, worldwide, with news organisations, newspapers from New Zealand to the UK and social media platforms reporting the incident that will have a disastrous impact on the nations tourism. Worldwide media quoted Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn, a Hua Hin based journalist for Daily News, who wrote on his Facebook page that four men have been arrested. Siwa (Neng) Noksri and Chaya (Boy) Jaibun are the latest two along with Supatta (Mong) Baithong and Yingyai (M) Saengkhamin, both 32, who were arrested 17 April and shown in bulletproof vests in front of grim-faced police. Supatta has already given evidence that he was drunk and offered the lame excuse that the altercation started after the younger Owen brushed his arm. The video clearly shows a full-scale melee as several Thai men assaulted the tourists ultimately leaving them all Canadian company CMX Renewable Energy Inc. has sought a license to build a 150-megawatt solar power plant in the central province of Ninh Thuan at an estimated cost of US$150 million, news website Dau Tu reported Sunday. Around 1 percent of the plant's output would be provided free to locals, a company executive was quoted as telling the province's authorities at a meeting. CMX is the latest foreign investor to have expressed interest in producing solar energy in Vietnam even as the government is drafting policies to encourage private investment in the sector. According to one of the plans being considered by the government, state monopoly Electricity of Vietnam and other electricity distributors will be obliged to buy all the output from solar power plants in 10-20 years, the government's website reported. The plants are also expected to get special treatment with respect to taxes and land, it said. With around 2,000-2,500 hours of sunlight annually, Vietnam's solar energy potential is considered to be the equivalent of 43.9 million tons of oil a year. However, the country's first solar power plant will not go on stream until next year. It is a 19.2-megawatt plant being built in the central province of Quang Ngai by Vietnamese investor Thien Tan Group at an estimated VND862 billion ($36.12 million). Last year South Korea's SolarPark Korea Company sought to build a 300-megawatt plant in another central province, Ha Tinh, at $650 million. Another Korean investor, conglomerate Hanwha, also reportedly planned to invest $200 million in developing a 100-200-megawatt plant in Thua Thien-Hue. The crocodile that prompted an alert on the Soai Rap River nearly Ho Chi Minh City in the past two weeks. Photo: An Long A crocodile was caught in Long An Province today, two weeks after it was seen swimming in Soai Rap River which runs between the province and Ho Chi Minh City, prompting public warnings. Some people found the crocodile sunbathing on the river bank and reported to the police, said Nguyen Anh Dung, chairman of Can Giuoc District Peoples Committee in Long An Province. After that, the police and local residents managed to catch it with nets, he said. Park rangers believe that the 70kg reptile is a farm crocodile. They approved the polices proposal to sell it to a crocodile farm. Part of the money will be used to pay residents who joined the hunt, Dung said. The crocodile was first seen in the river near the Tan Tap Port on April 18. Local authorities have warned people not to swim or wash clothes in the river to avoid being attacked. Le Van Nam has difficulty sleeping at night thinking of the fall in yields year after year on his rice field allegedly due to less silt being washed down the Mekong River because of upstream dams. In the last winter-spring crop, my 5,000 square meters only produced 3.5 tons of rice while it was four tons the previous year, the farmer from An Giang Province said. Declining flows down the Mekong River due to the building of dams upstream have been partly blamed as have severe droughts -- for reduced yields and worsening erosion in the delta. According to the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, floods in the 4,900-km river used to bring silt and fish. However, declining flows in recent years have made the land less fertile. Silt has significantly reduced in the past several years in An Giang, Lu Cam Khuong, deputy director of the provincial agricultural department, said. Most An Giang farmers said rice yields are falling, Dan Viet newspaper reported. Mainstream dams According to the NGO International Rivers, China has built seven hydropower dams on the upper Mekong River (known as the Lancang in China), and plans to build 21 more. Since mid-2006, the Governments of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand have granted approval to many companies to study the feasibility of 11 mainstream hydropower dams. In Laos construction of dams in Xayaburi and Don Sahong are already under way. By changing the river's hydrology, blocking fish migration and affecting the river's ecology, the construction of dams on the Lower Mekong mainstream would have repercussions throughout the entire basin, International Rivers said in a statement. Sinking delta Scientists said the Mekong Delta is suffering from the cumulative impacts of saltwater intrusion, erosion and declining groundwater levels as a result of El Nino and the upstream dams. Tran Cong Lap is among many farmers who are well aware of the impacts. Saltwater has been intruding deeper inland. I have more than 5,000 square meters of land but lost 4,000 square meters to erosion, he said. Le Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Research Institute for Climate Change, said he has not seen silt being washed down at a monitoring center in An Giang. Lack of freshwater can be recovered by rainwater. But the lack of silt is very dangerous because the Mekong Delta will sink without any chance of recovery. According to scientists, the Mekong Delta was formed by silt over the past 6,000 years which has also to a great extent kept seawater out. Without sufficient silt, seawater will encroach deeper inland and cause serious erosion. Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent researcher on the Mekong Delta ecosystem, said the deltas coastline used to be protected by a soft shield of silt that no longer exists. Hydropower dams upstream release water after gathering up silt and the Mekong Delta downstream would suffer the most, he said. Chinas dams have reduced the volume of silt being washed down to the delta to half of the previous 160 tons a year, causing erosion. After another 11 planned dams being built upstream, there will be only a quarter of the amount. The formation of the delta will be disrupted and it will gradually disappear. Da Nang senior officials eat seafood to promote the product consumption in the city. Photo credit: Doan Cuong/Tuoi Tre The Da Nang Seafood Week began Sunday as local authorities rejected allegations that the mysterious mass fish deaths in several central provinces has spread to the city. The food fest at the Bien Dong Park will go on until May 7, promoting seafood and also helping local fishermen sell their catch. Fifteen resorts and restaurants are participating in the event where tourists can choose live seafood to be cooked. All the seafood at the event is tested for safety by the city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. According to the city Department of Industry and Trade, people around the country are anxious and afraid to buy seafood following the mass fish deaths on the central coast. The seafood week aims to promote seafood sales since consumption has dropped significantly at many markets in the city, the agency said. People fear Da Nang will suffer the same fate as provinces to its north like Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Ha Tinh, where hundreds of tons of fish have washed ashore in recent weeks, apparently killed by industrial effluents. Suspicion has centered on Hung Nghiep Formosa Steel Company, a major company in the Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh Province that has admitted to discharging wastewater into the sea albeit treated. At least two police officers are killed and 23 people wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on police headquarters in the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep which authorities suspect was carried out by Islamic State. Seoul's Hankook Ilbo daily reported Monday that Pyongyang was plotting to abduct South Koreans to trade for the 13 defectors. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Seoul: South Korea warned on Monday that there is a risk of its citizens being abducted by Pyongyang in retaliation for the defection of a dozen North Korean staff at a restaurant in China. Twelve women working at the restaurant in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo defected to the South with their manager last month. Seoul said they came voluntarily while the North insists they were tricked into defecting by South Korean spies who effectively "kidnapped" them. The South's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, said overseas missions had been advised to heighten their vigilance. "We are closely watching out for multiple possibilities, including abduction or terrorism by the North," said ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee. "We are trying to ensure the safety of our nationals," he told reporters. Seoul's Hankook Ilbo daily reported Monday that Pyongyang was plotting to abduct South Koreans to trade for the 13 defectors. "They set the target of 120 people including expats, soldiers and officials," the newspaper said, citing an official source familiar with North Korean affairs. Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have, over the decades, fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. But group defections are rare, especially by overseas restaurant staff who are generally hand-picked from families that are "loyal" to the regime. Pyongyang has proposed sending the women's parents to Seoul to meet their daughters and has released a video of them tearfully demanding their return. North Korea has a track record when it comes to abductions. In the most high-profile case, late leader Kim Jong-Il had a famed South Korean film director and his actress wife kidnapped in Hong Kong in 1978, in order to make films in the North. The couple escaped in 1986. In 2002, North Korea admitted it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and customs. Aged care and waste management workers in the ACT look set to become eligible for portable long service leave as part of a growing scheme to be approved by the Legislative Assembly. As the federal budget dominates national political debate on Tuesday, the ACT Assembly is expected to vote for an extension of the existing portable long service rules, created in 2009, to benefit workers in aged care and waste facilities. Industrial Relations Minister Mick Gentleman said the changes would mean all employees were recognised for hard work during their careers. Credit:Jamila Toderas The vote will bring the entitlements of workers in the sectors in line with those workers in construction in Canberra, contract cleaning, community service agencies and security services. Residential aged care and community aged care workers will be covered, along with garbage collectors and sorters at nominated waste management facilities. The plan will also allow the Long Service Leave Authority to make minor adjustments to employer levies to meet economic circumstances of the relevant industries. The authority's governing board will be given the power to adjust the levy rate charged to employers for long service benefits, but won't be obligated to do so. QBE Insurance Group has become a target of environmental activists for its underwriting of fossil fuel risk. Eight activists pasted images of damaged coral reef and major fuel projects at its headquarters in Sydney just after 8am on Monday. Eight activists pasted images of damaged coral reef and major fuel projects at QBE's headquarters in Sydney. Posters of bushfires, destroyed reefs and major energy projects, many of which featured the company's slogan of "made possible by QBE", were plastered on the walls of the offices at 8 Chifley Square. They were torn down by building security around 10 minutes after 8am. Michelle Guthrie has vowed to use her position as the ABC's first female managing director to create a more diverse public broadcaster, with greater representation of women and multicultural communities. In an email to staff on her first official day in the job, Ms Guthrie said the ABC must "extend our reach and our relevance into areas where we are under-represented", which "means more diversity in both our staff and our content". Before departing the job after 10 years, former boss Mark Scott described himself as a "grey man in his 50s", and said one of his regrets was that the ABC still did not reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Australia. The owner of a Sydney 7-Eleven has been fined more than $200,000 after a court found he short-changed two migrant employees almost $50,000 and falsified records. Harmandeep Singh Sarkaria, who owns and operates the Blacktown 7-Eleven fuel outlet, underpaid two Pakistani staff $49,426 and routinely made false entries to the head office payroll system about the number of hours they had worked, the Fair Work Ombudsman found. One of the workers was underpaid a total of $43,633 in the two years to March 2014. The ombudsman found the two workers were often paid the equivalent of $10 an hour, instead of the legal wage of $22 an hour and up to $29.27 an hour on weekends. Mr Sarkaria made false entries to 7-Eleven's payroll system that gave the impression the employees had only worked 10 hours a week when they had in fact worked significantly more. He also gave Fair Work investigating the underpayments false time and wage sheets. Men are killers. In the vast vast majority of cases of family violence, it is men who are the killers and women who are the victims. What follows is a brief explanation of the government's continuing contempt of those who are victims in the context of brand new, frightening research from Monash University. These two stories run parallel, documenting the track of family violence in this country. We apparently have a climate in this country of not accepting domestic violence. Oh look! We have advertisements telling little boys not to push girls over the in the playground. Oh look! That's $30 million. Despite this lip service, the endemic nature of family violence will continue to flourish because the federal government is refusing to fund the most useful legal protection women have, Australia's extraordinary community legal centres. Rome: An international tribunal has ruled that an Italian marine accused of killing two fishermen in India should be allowed to return home pending trial, Italy's foreign ministry said on Monday. Salvatore Girone and fellow marine Massimiliano Latorre are accused of shooting the fishermen while protecting an Italian oil tanker as part of an anti-piracy mission off India's southern Kerala coast in 2012. While Latorre was allowed to travel back to Italy in 2014 for treatment after suffering a stroke, Girone has been barred from leaving India pending the resolution of a dispute between New Delhi and Rome over which country has jurisdiction in the case. He is currently living in Italy's embassy in New Delhi. Italy initiated international arbitration proceedings in the case last year, referring the row to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague and asking it to rule on where the men should be tried. In an interim ruling cited by Italy's foreign ministry to be officially announced on Tuesday, the PCA -- which helps resolve disputes among states -- found Girone should be allowed to return home until the arbitration process is complete. "The decisions regarding his return will be arranged by Italy and India," the foreign ministry said in a note, adding it expected "a constructive attitude from India". The detention of the marines, the murder charges and the long wait for the case to be resolved are sore subjects in Italy, with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi regularly flayed by opposition leaders for failing to get both men home. "Happy for Salvatore Girone's return, I confirm our friendship with and desire to collaborate with India," Renzi wrote on Twitter. Italy insists the oil tanker, the MV Enrica Lexie, was in international waters at the time of the incident. India argues the case is not a maritime dispute but "a double murder at sea", in which one fisherman was shot in the head and the other in the stomach. Italy's foreign ministry said the tribunal's decision was "good news for the two marines, for their families and... the government", which would immediately begin consultations with India so Girone could be returned "shortly". Girone's wife, Vania Ardito, told Italian media she wanted to "thank everyone who has been involved in this case". His father, Michele, said: "If it's true, I'm overjoyed. It's wonderful news". Its not a trivia question Ive come across. But if someone asked: which language, only found in Australia, is spoken over an area the size of Spain and is the second most common language in the Northern Territory? would you get it right? The correct answer Kriol is not a traditional Indigenous language, but refers to the creole language spoken across swathes of northern Australia. No one really knows how many people speak it, but the 2011 census figure of 4000 is certainly an under-representation. Linguists put the number of Kriol speakers closer to 20,000, knowing that census data struggles to accurately capture high levels of multilingualism in remote Aboriginal communities. Tom E Lewis translated parts of King Lear into Kriol for the Malthouse Theatre production of The Shadow King. Credit:Jeff Busby Kriol is now even a language of Shakespeare. The critically acclaimed King Lear adaption The Shadow King (2013) was partially translated into Kriol by Aboriginal actor and musician Tom E Lewis (main image). It will debut internationally in London this June, coinciding with celebrations for Shakespeares 400th anniversary. But what is Kriol? Well, Kriol is (not surprisingly) a creole language. Some may immediately associate the word creole with southern USA, which is home to French-influenced culture, cooking and language. But that association is a red herring. Two myths are fast growing up around the Government's decision on Australia's future submarine to fill in the void of public information about the competitive evaluation process. The first is that the choice of France's DCNS over Japan's Mitsubishi-led bid represents a strategic "cave" to China. The second is that the Government's commitment to building 12 submarines in Adelaide's shipyards is a purely political sop to South Australia, devoid of strategic logic. Both myths can claim perhaps a morsel of truth to sustain them. Details are already dribbling out and more will enter the public domain in coming weeks. But their power to distort Australia's strategic and defence debate is damaging and needs rebuttal. The China kowtow myth received a high-profile boost in a Wall Street Journal editorial this week, claiming that the "most significant influence" on the Government's choice "may have been China". Note the use of "may". The editorial further asserted that "it isn't lost on Tokyo that Mr Turnbull announced his decision a week after he visited China". Greg Sheridan's column in The Australian at the weekend reinforced the assumption that the Turnbull administration opted against Japan out of deference to Beijing. Such innuendo only sweetens the temptation for bruised egos in Japan to leap to the same, facile conclusion. For however poorly Australia has treated Japan in this process, blaming the "China factor" only avoids harder questions about shortcomings in the Japanese bid. Japan's Nikkei newspaper also noted this week that "some in the Japanese government suspect that Canberra is reluctant to rile Beijing". Yet it concluded that it was Japan's initial hesitancy over local production and inexperience in overseas defence sales that ultimately left it in third place behind slicker European campaigns, better primed for the export pitch. In the end, the overriding factors were that Japan's bid was not a technical stand-out from the competition; nor did it react quickly enough to Tony Abbott's replacement by a leader less personally invested in elevating the bilateral relationship with Australia's best friend in Asia. China will be relieved that Australia and Japan are not collaborating on submarines and is likely to see this as a strategic gain. But, as my colleague Sam Roggeveen has observed , China still faces an eventual doubling of Australia's submarine fleet. This is a strategic signal that makes sense only in the context of rising concern about China, as reflected in the recent defence white paper. Moreover, it appears increasingly clear that DCNS was preferred partly because the French sub design includes a transition path to nuclear propulsion unique among the bidders. 'Option F' is therefore a hedge towards 'Option N' . The Government was at pains in the submarine announcement to emphasise the participation of prominent US experts in the evaluation process, a heavy hint that the "regionally superior" capability claims of the French design have already received a technical US seal of approval, irrespective of Washington's strategic enthusiasm for Japan-Australia high-level defence cooperation. The myth gaining traction domestically is that the submarine build in Adelaide is nothing more than a $50 billion election subsidy to South Australia, hiding behind a strategic smokescreen. This reflects a combination of cynicism and parochialism in the Australian defence debate. With a general election looming, and the ruling coalition's vulnerability in South Australia well known, the tub-thumping tenor of the PM's announcement ("Australian built, Australian jobs, Australian steel") unfortunately does everything to encourage this. In a tangible sense, the submarine build is a kowtow to Adelaide (not Beijing): a $50 billion jewel in the crown of the Federal Government's wider commitment to a continuous surface naval build in the state. For sure there's never been a more exciting time to be a South Australian shipbuilder. Other states must console themselves with much smaller contracts and the chance to be a part of submarine supply chain. Since Australia's share of China's iron ore imports jumped from 58 to 64 per cent last year, they will at least have a majority input for the basic raw material of China's naval shipbuilding program. If not Australian submarines, then Australian targets perhaps? Beyond marginal employment gains from this massive investment, the wider economic benefits to the nation are open to question, and it arguably sends a worrying signal of corporate welfarism to industry. The premium of an indigenous build is not only financial but temporal. The government could have shaved a few years off the future submarines' initial operating capability by importing the first pair, while onshore production is ramped up. But the so-called "hybrid" option has apparently been jettisoned in the cause of maximising local inputs. That means the Collins will have to hobble on as the mainstay of Australia's conventional deterrent into the early 2030s, by when Australia's much-vaunted "capability edge" may have receded altogether. But Canberra's willingness to pay more for an onshore submarine build is not simply top-down electoral expediency, it is also explicitly supported by 70 per cent of the Australian public, according to this year's Lowy Institute poll. Yet this has done nothing to allay growing cynicism around the Government's intentions, which has only intensified since the PM's announcement. The ABC ran an online commentary boldly asserting that the submarine buildup lacks any credible strategic justification, hence its "actual purpose is bailing out South Australia as a tight election". Parochialism, always present, is being magnified in an election year. Any large-scale defence procurement attracts its share of politics and special interests. This one more than most. But we need to be collectively on guard against facile myths. The primary fact remains that Australia has committed to a step-change in its conventional deterrent capability for strategic reasons and is also investing heavily in a national maritime capability, which can never be entirely purchased off-the-shelf. Don't let electioneering or the "made in Adelaide, designed in France" labels distract you from that. Dr Euan Graham is director, International Security Program at the Lowy Institute. May 3 is World Press Freedom Day, the UN-gazetted date that focuses global attention on defending media producers from attacks on their lives and their independence and pays tribute to the many journalists who've been killed or imprisoned in the course of their work. This year's celebration marks the 250th anniversary of the world's first freedom of information law, established to cover the modern territories of Sweden and Finland. It's fitting, then, that Finland's capital Helsinki is hosting UNESCO's annual global World Press Freedom Day conference this week. Less fitting is the Finnish Government's attempt to intrude into a global journalistic investigation. Illustration: Simon Bosch. The creeping threat to investigative journalism posed by the erosion of journalistic source protection internationally is in the spotlight in Helsinki as journalists at Finnish public broadcaster YLE come under pressure from the government to hand over a cache of documents from the Panama Papers. YLE analysed the files as one of the global media houses collaborating on the biggest act of cross-border investigative journalism in history. More specifically, Morrison has confirmed that there will be a modest tax break for those earning over $80,000 a year, which he claims is the average full time wage. And just like the similarly whimsical approach to facts taken by Obi-Wan Kenobi, what Scott says is true from a certain point of view. More specifically, it's the average full time wage, not the average Australian wage - that, as m'colleague Peter Martin pointed out, is actually $60,000. Which, you might notice, is less than Scozza's threshold. Even so, the vast majority of Australians make a good deal less than $80k a year. That average is skewed because over the last three years the wealthy have become wealthier while wages have stagnated. Indeed, if you're on a salary rather than an owner of investments, you're probably slightly worse off than you were in 2012. So naturally the government are keen to address this, by um, ensuring that those at the top get to keep even more of their wealth. Yay? What has the future ever done for us? Labor, meanwhile, are seemingly determined to create problems for themselves by apparently not reversing cuts to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency made by the Coalition. The government have been trying and trying and trying to kill ARENA ever since Tony Abbott got into power. Axing it altogether has failed twice in the Senate, so Tone had to content himself with slashing $1.3 billion in funding while all poor Malcolm could do was change the regulations around it to prevent it funding new renewable energy projects - which, given the name and purpose of the organisation, seems somewhere between "counterproductive" and "downright childish". It was largely assumed that Labor would plan to reverse the cuts, but shadow environment minister Mark Butler got awfully coy on the matter, confirming only that "Any legislation required to enable the Prime Ministers' cuts to ARENA is an issue at this stage for the government," which is politicianese for "I know you are, but what am I?" Why does this matter? Well, among the things ARENA is currently providing funding toward is next-generation solar cells being developed at the University of NSW which are being made out of copper, zinc, tin and sulphur - all of which are abundant, unlike rare elements used in current cells such as tellurium and indium, or poisonous ones like cadmium or selenide. In other words: safer, cheaper solar energy generation. The sort of thing that might help developing nations leapfrog straight to renewables, thereby avoiding the century-plus of massive pollution that most of the developed world had to endure, and which Australia seems inexplicably determined to maintain. You might think that this is the sort of game-changing tech that could at the very least be a massive export opportunity - not to mention, y'know, help save the world - and even consider that a responsible government might be a teeny-tiny little bit interested in such a thing. Then again, [insert something pious-sounding but fundamentally meaningless about living within one's means here]. The cocktail hour: there are still things to love about Australia, honest Geelong's Back to Back Theatre has received one of the biggest arts grants to date from the federal government's controversial Catalyst program, revealed by arts minister Mitch Fifield's department online on the eve of the federal budget. Back to Back received $800,000 over four years for international projects, the second-biggest Catalyst grant after the $1 million announced in April to acquire painter Hans Heysen's residence and studio in South Australia's Adelaide Hills. Back to Back Theatre's acclaimed Ganesh vs the Third Reich is one of many productions the Geelong company has toured internationally. The ministry for the arts released updated recipient lists across three categories on Monday, showing $10 million worth of money going to 70 projects around the country, Senator Fifield said. Others included Melbourne dance festival Dance Massive ($400,000), a Japanese tour of Indigenous art from the National Museum of Australia ($289,000), the Asia TOPA festival of Asia Pacific performing arts ($285,000) and an international production of work by South Australia's Australian Dance Theatre ($79,136). The name was inspired by the natural phenomenon occurring when two divergent streams of water meet, usually forming a flat plain of muddy sediment. "We want The Delta Project to signify bringing two bodies together, two worlds together," says Dunbar. "And from that mud or sand we can mould something and create something out of that." The Delta Project's latest work is Under My Skin, funded by Creative Victoria and the Australia Council for the Arts and premiering at the Next Wave festival of emerging art on May 5. Two hearing dancers, Amanda Lever and Luigi Vescio and two deaf dancers, Seymour and Lam, perform in the piece, choreographed by Dunbar and hearing choreographer Lina Limosani. Under My Skin plays with the idea of different personas; the masks we wear in different situations. Dunbar was inspired by her late speech teacher, who passed away two years ago. "What I learned about her after her death was that she had many different personas," says Dunbar. "She would wake up in the morning and decide who she was going to be that day. It made me think more about how we present ourselves in the world." The aim of The Delta Project is to create works that cannot only be performed by deaf people, but appreciated by them too. To this end, Under My Skin is extremely visual; the lighting, designed by Richard Vabre, doubles as visual cues for the dancers, while new media artist Rhian Hinkley has made projections out of images of the dancers faces that will be cast onto the dancers' bodies and onto the wall behind them. "It's about seeing them in close up, obviously for the deaf audiences a big part of sign language is facial expressions so we wanted to give the audiences the ability to see their faces at times," says Hinkley. Sound designer Russell Goldsmith had the task of creating a score for people who can't hear. "It's an electronic dance score but I've started with the lower frequencies and based the rest of the show around that," he says. "There's lots of bottom-end content, lots of sub content that can be felt rather than heard and that appeals to the body more than the eardrum." Organs in the body usually perceive sound waves that are lower than 100 hertz, while humans generally can't hear sounds lower than 20 hertz. Goldsmith has based most of the soundtrack between 25 and 100 hertz. "The challenge there is to create work that sounds interesting and doesn't sound like you're trapped inside a speaker at a rave," he says. He compares it to an artist painting a canvas for the colour-blind. "I've had to turn off that part of my brain that's concerned about what I can hear and to think about what others can hear, or feel," he says. Spoken text is commonly included in contemporary dance these days; here snippets of Auslan have been incorporated into the choreography instead, but Dunbar says it's a case of a random word signed here or there rather than meaningful dialogue. "Rather than being pedestrian or literal, we're trying to be aesthetic about it," she says. Organisers of the biennial Next Wave festival say the 2016 program is the most accessible yet for both artists and audiences with a disability. No solo female artist has topped any of the station's 30 Hottest 100 countdowns on her own, whether for the year's best songs, or the various all-time countdowns. In the aftermath of Beyonce's epic sixth album, Lemonade, her Australian fans have set their sights on their Queen becoming the first woman to top Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown. Kimbra placed first in 2011 but she was guesting on Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know. Missy Higgins came second in 2004 with Scar (she also grabbed sixth place with Ten Days) and Lorde was also second in 2013 with Royals. Fearless and in control: Beyonce in Hold Up, from her new album Lemonade. Unlike the ill-fated #tay4hottest100 campaign ahead of the 2014 list, the station will not stand in the way of a possible #Bey4Hottest100 push for the 2016 countdown. In fact Triple J appears to fully support Beyonce in a way that must infuriate and confuse Swifties. All votes for Swift were discarded from the 2015 countdown for several reasons, eight of which made up a Buzzfeed parody published on an ABC web page. The most significant reasons were because the campaign apparently contravened some of the countdown rules (no corporate promotion, no votes submitted by a third party) and because she had never been played on the network. But there was a lingering perception what was really behind Triple J's refusal was music snobbery, that Swift was too much of a commercial pop artist for them, which of course is code for not cool enough. The dumped West Australian MP Dennis Jensen has hit out at what he says are machine politics and branch stacking in the Liberal Party and is threatening to run as an independent in the seat of Tangey. Dr Jensen delivered a blistering speech late on Monday night to Parliament, where he used privilege to accuse his Liberal Party rival Ben Morton of branch stacking his way to victory in the recent preselection and described the "Coalition as the worst economic managers". Dumped MP Dennis Jensen has lashed out at the Liberal Party. Credit:Andrew Meares Dr Jensen did not name Mr Morton once, but excoriated the party's former state director's motives for challenging him for preselection, calling him "the branch stackers and Liberal Party party machine candidate". "The Liberal apparatchik candidate clearly believes that his bosses are the Liberal Party, not the constituents. Indeed, he believes he has a right to the seat as did some Liberal Party powerbrokers. The kidnappers of an Australian charity worker in Afghanistan still had not made any demands four days after the 60-year-old woman was snatched at gunpoint, the charity's chairman has said. Kerry Jane Wilson, 60, was abducted from her charity organisation's office in the eastern city of Jalalabad early on Thursday morning by two men who talked their way past the front gate by posing as officers of the country's internal security agency. Dominic d'Angelo, the charity's chairman, said on Monday that to the best of his knowledge, there still had been no contact from the kidnappers, though he stressed this was not itself a reason for additional concern. "In previous cases where internationals have been kidnapped, they can be resolved very quickly, in a matter of days. Sometimes it can extend much longer. The windows vary in terms of how long it takes for kidnappers to make contact," Mr d'Angelo said. London: In a major red flag for the security agencies in Britain , hackers of the terror group Islamic State have claimed that they have planted a spy who works in UK s Ministry of Defence. According to a reports, cyber experts that work for the ministry of defence and are in charge of protecting its systems and data admitted that they face a constant stream of threats from insiders The jihadist hackers claimed that they have attained sensitive security information from their moles working for the British government and they plan to publish the information that can help them to carry out lone-wolf attacks. The British Government never reveals the identities of its drone operations or those working in the fight against the Islamic State as they fear attacks on their families and friends by extremists. However, in an alarming claim, the jihadists said they have attained information on the locations of drone operators. A hacking group that works for the Islamic State was run by a Briton had written about their plan of releasing high-level intelligence information. In our next leak we may even disclose secret intelligence the Islamic State has just received from a source the brothers in the UK have spent some time acquiring from the Ministry of Defence as we slowly and secretly infiltrate England and the USA online and off, the group wrote. With constant threats from the Islamic State, UKs ministry of defence was forced to send an internal mail in the organisation to its personnel, warning them against publishing or revealing any information about their jobs, location and family members on the social media or any other online platform. They were also asked to ensure that their family members did not divulge any such information to anyone either. Read: Islamic State hackers publish US military 'hitlist' This latest development comes after the 'Islamic State Hacking Division' had circulated online the names, home addresses and photographs of more than 70 US staff, including women and urged supporters: "Kill them wherever they are, knock on their doors and behead them, stab them, shoot them in the face or bomb them." At the bottom of the ISIS document is an image of the Statue of Liberty with its head cut off. The ISIS hacking division was previously led by Junaid Hussain, a former British Muslim computer hacker from Birmingham who was killed in a US drone strike in Syria last August. The Financial Review has more detail on the company tax cut and the time it will take before big business will benefit . We lead off this morning with the Sydney Morning Herald's report of a "Google Tax" to be unveiled in Tuesday's budget . The Daily Telegraph carries the perennial piece about how preparing a budget intrudes upon one's family (cue quotes on cute songs being sung on Spotify about working for your dollar) complete with an anecdote of Morrison being "spotted" at one of Canberra's most popular pubs with the political class watching the footy on the weekend. It also reports there will be more cuts to the public service taking the size of the bureaucracy to their lowest level since 2006-7. Also perennial, are political fights over costings and modelling. Labor put its policy to raise tobacco taxes through the independent Parliamentary Budget Office. It came back estimating a ten year tax take of $48 billion. The Coalition, which promised no new taxes in opposition, looked at that and thought, "you bewdie" and is set to adopt the measure tonight despite former Prime Minister Tony Abbott sledging it as a "workers' tax." But there's no way the Coalition could eat humble pie and adopt a Labor policy without some kind of political throwback. Now Treasury modelling, which is conducted for the government (the PBO is set up for the use of all parliamentarians, not just government) estimates the total tax take is actually going to be $28 billion over ten years. Western Sydney will get a new university campus from next year as tertiary institutions jostle to establish their presence in one of Sydney's fastest growing areas. The University of Wollongong will build a 7000-student campus in Liverpool and offer courses from its business, science, engineering, social sciences and arts faculties. At present, up to 7000 students leave the area each year to study elsewhere, with no permanent tertiary institutions in the city despite almost half the population being under 30. Universities are aggressively pursuing potential students in the area, with Western Sydney University taking out ads on Monday to remind students that they were also establishing a campus for 150 postgraduate students in the Liverpool CBD, while the University of Sydney will expand its Westmead operations, 20 kilometres away, to cater to 4800 students by 2020. But Centrelink says the applications were handled properly and continues to blame the debacle around this year's Student Payments on unforseen high demand. Federal government sources say hundreds of thousands of claims were processed in panicked haste in recent months as Centrelink bosses scrambled to pick up the pieces of another tech failure compounded by a shortage of staff to do the job properly. Tens of thousands of young people may have missed out on the chance to go to university or TAFE this year after their Student Payment claims were "auto-rejected" by Centrelink, insiders claim. The massive delays in processing this year's student payment claims have caused widespread hardship to would-be students across Australia. Many have missed out on the chance to study as they waited up to four months to be told if they were eligible for Student Payments, a process that is supposed to take four weeks. The backlog for payment claims is now at about 27,500, according to Centrelink, after it peaked at about 90,000 in March several weeks into the first term of the academic year. Centrelink has appointed a special national manager to manage the student payment crisis through a command centre a similar reaction to that in the Brisbane floods emergency in 2011 and drafted in at least 650 extra staff, Fairfax Media understands, to try to cope with what is being described as the agency's worst ever customer service crisis. Centrelink and its political boss, Minister for Human Services Alan Tudge, have repeatedly said the delays were caused by "unprecedented" demand for Student Payments this year with nearly 250,000 young people lodging claims. Botany Bay Council has lodged an alternative plan for a council amalgamation in its area, which would create a 'port' council taking in Port Botany and the airport by taking parts of neighbouring councils, including Randwick, City of Sydney, Marrickville and Rockdale. The proposal would take the the industrial areas south of Rainbow Street, Randwick, and McEvoy Road, Waterloo, to create what Botany mayor Ben Keneally says would be a more coherent way to manage transport and development around the two major gateways. Unity plan: Port Botany and Sydney Airport would be brought under one council area under Botany Bay council's alternative amalgamation proposal. Credit:Tamara Dean But the proposal threatens to push out the timetable for amalgamations. A public hearing on the proposal has been set down for May 27 and submissions can be made until June 12. Australia's largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower markets is considering its future at its long-standing home in western Sydney. Sydney Markets, which includes the produce, flowers and growers outlets, is canvassing the possibility of relocating from its home in Flemington. Chief Executive Bradley Latham stressed that no firm decision had been made, but a study would be commissioned to evaluate the future of the business. "We're undertaking a study in regards to the future of the market. What we first need to understand is how long we will be at our current site for, which could be 5,10,15 or 20 plus years," Mr Latham said. "It is trading really well at the moment but there will come a time when we will have to relocate. Having said that, I think it's prudent to earmark a future location because if we don't, the markets will end up too far away." The three people set to decide whether James Packer can build a $1.5 billion tower on land reserved for public parkland have knocked back only two applications between them in four years, records show. The NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) is the final decision-maker for Mr Packer's Crown casino, apartment and hotel complex, as well as the changes needed to locate it on a site approved in 2010 for parkland. There was "currently no planning approval" for a hotel on the site, said a spokesman for Planning Minister Rob Stokes, who added that this was why the proposed concept plan changes were being considered by the PAC. Crown is arguing that it was guaranteed the location when awarded a restricted gaming license in 2013. Police are calling for help to find a missing 14-year-old boy believed to be driving a small blue sedan. The boy was believed to be driving a car like this 2004 Toyota Echo. Credit:QPS Media The boy was reported missing from Dysart, southwest of Mackay, on Sunday night and police said he was located on Monday night. A 14-year-old boy who went missing in central Queensland has been found safe. He was last seen at a home on Perry Street in Dysart, south-west of Mackay, on Sunday night. Police were worried about his safety because of his age and the belief he was driving a light blue 2004 Toyota Echo while unlicensed and underage. He was described as Caucasian and about 170 centimetres tall with a slim build, short brown hair and brown eyes. The car had a Queensland registration of 603 SPP. Anyone with information about the boy or car should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. One man is seriously injured in hospital and another facing assault charges after a gathering in a Gold Coast park turned violent. The men were part of a larger group drinking at a park in Surfers Paradise on Monday evening. Police said the drinkers were homeless people. A homeless man has been charged with serious assault occasioning bodily harm. Credit:Georgia Matts About 8.40pm, it's alleged two men, 37 and 47, who knew each other got in a fight and the older man was knocked unconscious. Paramedics took him to the Gold Coast University Hospital with serious face injuries, where he was believed to be in a stable condition. Mining is environmentally damaging, but as a society we broadly accept this because of the financial benefits it provides, and because we assume ways can be found to fix the damage. Miners are now legally obliged to rehabilitate the area after mining is completed, but still some mine sites have had to be treated at the publics expense. Rectifying the damage caused by mining can be difficult. The new soils created are often infertile and can be easily eroded if the original landscape is not restored. Some sites may contain high levels of heavy metals, acids or salts, which make rehabilitation difficult. Many of Australias mines havent been cleaned up as thoroughly as they should have been. Credit:Michele Mossop These materials may be mobilised by rain and contaminate rivers if sites are not properly treated. In such situations, re-establishing plant cover of any kind and immobilising the hazardous materials is challenging. Mine rehabilitation can also be expensive. Estimates of the cost of rehabilitating some mines exceeding A$500 million and taxpayers are sometimes at risk of being left with the bill. The report showed a photo of a Swiss passport next to an explosive belt posted online by a suspected Swiss terrorist who had travelled to the Middle East, and an ISIS video showing the Swiss flag among the 60 countries seen as targets. Bern: Swiss authorities were monitoring the social media activity of about 400 possible terrorists who might pose a security threat, the NDB federal intelligence service said on Monday. Switzerland is not a primary target for Islamist attacks because it is not part of the military campaign against groups such as ISIS, but the security threat level has been elevated nonetheless, the NDB's annual report said. The report showed a photo of a Swiss passport next to an explosive belt posted online by a suspected Swiss terrorist who had travelled to the Middle East, and an ISIS video showing the Swiss flag among the 60 countries seen as targets. "Attacks in Switzerland are more to be expected from lone wolves or small groups that would be conducted with simple means, little preparation and minimal logistical effort," the report said. Authorities have been closely tracking suspected terrorists who return to Switzerland from countries, Syria in particular, where they are believed to get training in carrying out attacks. A Swiss court last month sentenced three Iraqis for terrorism offences, a verdict that the senior prosecutor said should send a message to terrorists not to see the country as an easy target. The three main defendants, who had denied wrongdoing, were arrested in early 2014 on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks and helping ISIS terrorists enter the country. The Swiss attorney general's office has more than 60 open cases linked to jihadist militancy, it said on Monday. Inventor. Craig Steven Wright: "Satoshi is dead." Credit:YouTube Hobbyist. Author. Police raiding Craig Steven Wright's Sydney home in December 2015. Credit:John McDuling Saute chef. Cybersecurity nerd. But, mostly? Businessman. In fact, when he appeared at the Bitcoin Investor's Conference in Las Vegas in October 2015, not many seemed to know who he was. "I'm a former academic who, these days, does research commercially that no one ever hears about, which suits me very well." he told the convention via Skype. "I basically work in designing protocols and doing a whole lot of things that people don't realise is actually possibly yet. Will be back to publishing papers soon." "But hold on a second," the moderator interrupted him, laughing nervously. "Who are you? What do you ... No one here ... tell me who you are." "I'm a bit of everything," he responded. "How did you first learn about Bitcoin?" she asked. "I've been involved with all this for a long time," he answered, "I try and stay, I keep my head down." According to Wright's personal blog, he is a 45-year-old "computer scientist, businessman and inventor" who was born in Brisbane, Queensland in October 1970. He holds a doctorate in theology and "has submitted his completed thesis for his second doctorate in computer science". In addition, he holds several masters' degrees and has written books about systems audits and IT regulations and compliance along with having held "several senior executive positions with companies focused on cryptocurrency and smart contracts, digital forensics and IT security." According to the Economist, his CV lists a masters in statistics from the University of Newcastle, one in law from Northumbria University and several more masters in IT and management from Charles Sturt University. He was also a saucier in the early 1990s, after training in French cuisine. Meanwhile, he was studying nuclear physics and nuclear magnetic resonance at the University of Queensland, Business Insider reported. "I am a bit of an academic junkie and go from degree to degree as a sort of hobby, so this all adds to the level of being over-qualified for most things," he once said, according to Business Insider. That certainly seems to be the case when considering his long and varied career. Most of it has been focused on information technology for a wide array of companies, including the Australian Securities Exchange and Centre for Strategic Cyberspace and Security Science. Wright was appointed as the Asia Pacific Director of Global Institute for Cyber Security Research, according to a 2003 press release from Charles Sturt University. There he would "establish similar relationships with regional intelligence agencies, governments and security vendors to those that GICSR have in place with the NSA, FBI, DHS, NASA and NIST in the USA ... to assist government, industry and security vendors to be much more aligned to the cyber threats posed ... [by] groups that pose a direct and growing threat to National Security through economic impact." In 2007, he became the first person in the world to earn certification in Compliance and Audits from Global Assurance Information Certification (GIAC). The certification had been around since 2003, and only 11 people had even completed the exam, which reportedly requires 36 hours of testing, by the time Wright passed it, ComputerWorld reported. But his interests seem far more varied than his work experience suggests. The dissertation for which the he earned his PhD was titled "Gnarled roots of a creation theory," and he's been a trustee for the Uniting Church since 2007, Business Insider reported. His LinkedIn, which now appears to have been removed, once read, "If you need to ever need to know of Dionysus, Vesta Ceres (Roman Goddess of the Corn, Earth, Harvest) or other mythological characters I am your man. I could even hold a conversation on Eileithyia, the Greek Goddess of childbirth and her Roman rebirth as Lucina." And he's publicly had a foot in the world of digital currency since at least 1999. That year, the government in Northern Territory granted the first online casino licenses to a company based in Alice Springs, according to a white paper from Spectrum Gaming Group. Online gambling was new, and cybersecurity regarding the money transferred there was paramount. Wright claims to have been involved in the designing of the casino's architecture, Forbes reported. More than ten years later, in June 2013 still two years before publications would claim he founded Bitcoin Wright founded a now-defunct technology firm called Hotwire PE using $US23 million in Bitcoin (which also represents 1.5 per cent of all Bitcoin in existence), Wired reported. The following February, he announced the company would be opening Denariuz, the first Bitcoin-based bank, Business Insider reported. Everything would be run like a traditional bank users would carry debit and credit cards, have savings accounts and be able to take out loans only the currency would be Bitcoin. He hoped the bank would reach a million customers around the world, though it would include no physical branches or ATMs. He even hoped to bring credit companies like Visa and American Express into the fold, allowing Denariuz customers to spend Bitcoin using those cards. The timing couldn't have been worse, though. Just after announcing the bank, a Bitcoin marketplace exchange in Tokyo, called Mt Gox, collapsed spectacularly after hackers allegedly stole 750,000 Bitcoins. Losses were estimated at more than $US400 million, and the backlash against the digital currency was enormous. Since the point of Bitcoin is that it's untraceable, so too are its thieves. "What's fascinating and disturbing about the bankruptcy is the size of the loss," said Mark Williams, a former Federal Reserve official who teaches finance at Boston University, told The Washington Post. "There's no legal recourse. There's no financial system ... In essence, if a criminal gets the coin, the criminal owns the coin." The bank never came to pass. Hotwire PE failed, but Wright's comments during the fallout seem particularly telling. A year before anyone suspected him of being the founder of Bitcoin, he told InvestorDaily, "There was never any flaw with bitcoin. There was never any coding error with bitcoin and there was never any protocol error with bitcoin." "Mt Gox treated it like a game; they didn't treat it like they were actually running an exchange," he continued. A year later, his name would become known to all in the tech community. In 2015, several news organisations were allegedly contacted by a source who claimed to know the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Wired and Gizmodo both published lengthy features pointing to Craig Wright and an American computer forensic expert named Dave Kleiman, who died in 2013, as the true faces behind Satoshi Nakamoto. Some publications agreed with this assertion, but many more didn't. Even Wired walked its story back. After all, as The Economist wrote just today, "It may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin." Previous attempts had failed spectacularly. Newsweek, in particularly, had enough egg on its face to make an omelet after publishing a 2014 cover story titled "The Face Behind Bitcoin," which erroneously claimed a California man named Dorian Nakamoto was the cryptocurrency's creator. As that conversation heated up, so did another surrounding Wright just days later, his house in the Sydney suburb Gordon was raided by ten police officers. His offices were also being raided, and the Australian Taxation Office was clear in that, "This matter is unrelated to recent media reporting regarding the digital currency bitcoin," it said. Though it bears repeating that if Wright is Nakamoto, he would be in possession of hundreds of million dollars of Bitcoin, which, as a cryptocurrency, has been considered an asset by the ATO since Dec. 2014, Reuters reported. The raid seemed to be related a tax dispute concerning his former company, Hotwire. And after the raid, Wright all but disappeared from the Internet, Gizmodo reported, deleting most of his social media and blog presence. Until today, when he claimed that Nakamoto, the entity that released Bitcoin's code on Jan. 9, 2009 and the white paper two months prior, was dead. On his blog, he wrote: I have been staring at my screen for hours, but I cannot summon the words to express the depth of my gratitude to those that have supported the bitcoin project from its inception too many names to list. You have dedicated vast swathes of your time, committed your gifts, sacrificed relationships and REM sleep for years to an open source project that could have come to nothing. And yet still you fought. This incredible community's passion and intellect and perseverance has taken my small contribution and nurtured it, enhanced it, breathed life into it. You have given the world a great gift. Thank you. Be assured, just as you have worked, I have not been idle during these many years. Since those early days, after distancing myself from the public persona that was Satoshi, I have poured every measure of myself into research. I have been silent, but I have not been absent. I have been engaged with an exceptional group and look forward to sharing our remarkable work when they are ready. Satoshi is dead. This left us with one option. The only option you're supposed to be considering when watching Game of Thrones: that option was Foxtel. The cheapest way to pay Foxtel to watch Game of Thrones? Foxtel Play. Let's talk about Foxtel Play. Foxtel Play turned out to be a complete disaster. Last year I wrote an article detailing the many ways in which Foxtel made it extremely difficult for me to pay them money to watch Game Of Thrones. You can read the whole story here. Here's the TL;DR version: I had such an incredibly difficult time trying to get Foxtel Play to work that after three hours of failure and abysmal customer service I gave up and downloaded a torrent. I refused to feel bad about that. The article I wrote detailing my Foxtel experience struck a chord. A large number of people seemed to relate. It was one of our most read and shared stories of 2015. It spread so far and wide that eventually Foxtel got in contact with me regarding my experience. It was a civil conversation. Very nice and polite. Essentially Foxtel provided me with a login and a password for Foxtel Play, just to check it out. At the time I remember thinking, 'this doesn't change anything'. This doesn't address the issues I had signing up for the service, it doesn't address the customer service I had to endure. Most importantly, an unavoidable fact: I was only receiving this kind of individualised attention because I wrote a widely read article criticising the Foxtel Play service. This was, in the nicest possible sense, an attempt to stop me talking negatively about Foxtel Play. For the thousands of other users experiencing similar issues, nothing would change. I tried it regardless. I installed the Foxtel Play app on my PlayStation 4 and surprise surprise another disaster. Let me start with the basics. I would like to state from the outset: Foxtel Play is a service people are paying anything between $25 and $50 dollars for. If I was buying just for Game of Thrones you're talking $30 minimum. This is a deal. This is considered a discount. To clarify: the package I was provided for review would have cost regular punters $50. A month. Here are some of the issues I regularly encountered. Foxtel Play runs at best at an extremely low resolution. 480p is the best you're getting. Foxtel Play runs a totally noticeable bar at the side of the screen that I can only assume is piracy protection. Foxtel Play only allows you to use three different devices at one time. You could change this once per month. My PlayStation 4, my tablet and maybe my brother in-law's PS4 were my default three devices during my time using Foxtel Play. Say I'm cooking and I want to watch something on my laptop, that's not gonna happen unless one of the other devices gets the boot. Foxtel Play would frequently crash. It would frequently stop to buffer. How frequently? Once I tried to watch a movie with my family and it crashed five times during the movie. Once I tried to watch a live UFC event on my laptop and I had to restart the Foxtel app four times. I missed entire fights. I should note at this point, that this was my own personal experience with Foxtel Play. Your mileage may vary. Let's compare this to Netflix, a service I pay $11.95 per month for. Netflix runs at full 1080p always. If the show is available in HD it runs in HD, without fail. Despite the fact I have terrible internet. Netflix has never crashed on me. Ever. Netflix has no limits on devices. I've used my Netflix account on my PS4, my Xbox One, my Wii U, three laptops, my Nexus 7, two iPads, two mobile phones, my brother in law's PlayStation 4 I could go on. Suffice to say I use my Netflix login everywhere I go. No problems. No issues. Again, my personal experience. Your mileage may vary. The gap between these two services: utterly astronomical. I cannot even communicate to you how much better Netflix is compared to Foxtel Play in design, execution, content, user experience, performance. Everything. You can claim this comparison is apples and oranges. I disagree. Regardless, the gap is insurmountable. Now consider the fact that the service Foxtel Play had provided me was worth $50 per month. Netflix was charging me $11.95. Now, back to Game Of Thrones. Season six started this week and I no longer have the Foxtel Play review account. Roughly a week ago Foxtel Play began offering customers a one-time only offer. Between April 19 and April 29 users could subscribe to Foxtel Play, getting the base service and the separate Premium Movies and Drama package required to watch Game of Thrones for only $30 per month. Only. $30. Per. Month. A service that frequently crashes, buffers, 480p resolution. $30. Per. Month. I am going to say something very publicly. And I would like to preface this by stating the following: I am a person who likes to pay for things. I still buy Blu-Rays. I buy video games. I rent movies on the PlayStation Store. I am currently a paying subscriber to Netflix, Spotify, PlayStation Plus, Xbox LIVE and UFC Fight Pass. But, given that Foxtel Play is the only avenue I have for watching, I have no problem admitting that, for the foreseeable future, I will be illicitly downloading Game of Thrones season 6. I will most likely buy the Blu-ray when it is released but until then, I will torrent this show and I refuse to feel bad about that. The headlines and the stories are predictable. It's a tradition as rigid as Anzac Day. The day after the first episode of a new Game of Throne seasons: Australians pirate in record numbers. Australia is a nation of pirates. Australia has a piracy problem. Australia doesn't have a piracy problem. Australia has a distribution problem. More specifically: Australia has a Foxtel problem. A Melbourne archaeologist wants experts to be allowed to examine bodies certain to be unearthed during the $250 million Queen Victoria Market revamp. Gary Vines, an archaeologist with heritage consultant Biosis, said it would be a shame if archaeological digs were prevented. The Old Melbourne Cemetery looking north toward Victoria Market. Experts have confirmed that thousands of bodies lie buried beneath the market in the Old Melbourne Cemetery, at a rate of about one every 2.15 square metres. Although most of what used to be the Old Melbourne Cemetery is now covered by an asphalt car park, it is believed an archaeological treasure-trove lies beneath, much of it undisturbed. EXCLUSIVE A former Victorian police officer who allegedly became a trusted member of a criminal syndicate that traded in drugs and guns has been charged with several offences, including commercial trafficking. David Lister was allegedly found carrying half a kilogram of ice at an airport within months of resigning from the force. Mr Lister was a senior constable based in the northern suburbs before he was allegedly recruited by the syndicate that supplied ice to Melbourne's north west, central Victoria and the Queensland city of Townsville. Police say he resigned from the force in January. North West Regional Crime Squad detectives say they have dismantled the cartel, which is linked to shootings and cannabis crop run-throughs in Melbourne's western suburbs, after a series of warrants on Monday and the charging of eight alleged key syndicate members, including its suspected ringleader. Firefighters have extinguished a blaze at Victoria's oldest Greek Orthodox Church, just a day after hundreds gathered for Greek Easter celebrations. An MFB spokesman said firefighters were called to the Holy Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady about 1.40pm on Monday, after passing police saw smoke billowing from the church windows and roof. The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Credit:Penny Stephens About 200 people evacuated from nearby buildings when the fire took hold. Part of Victoria Parade was closed for several hours before re-opening to traffic about 4.45pm. The church, at the corner of Victoria Parade and Lansdowne Street, was built in 1901 and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. Firefighters from the nearby Eastern Hill Fire Station arrived within minutes, forcing entry and bringing the blaze under control about 30 minutes later. A mentally ill man who killed his elderly father with a claw hammer when he was hanging up the washing has been ordered to spend up to 25 years in the state's maximum security psychiatric hospital. Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher on Monday said Slave 'George' Pedevski believed he had to kill his father on God's orders. A psychiatrist said George Pedevski's thoughts were so disorganised that he did not know right from wrong. Credit:Pat Scala Justice Croucher said Pedevski had been refusing to take his medication for chronic paranoid schizophrenia for months because he did not believe there was anything wrong with him before he attacked his father. The judge placed Pedevski on a custodial supervision order to be served at the Thomas Embling psychiatric hospital for a nominal 25 years after he had been found not guilty of murder due to mental impairment. Oh no, has our city finally realised it should be cold at this time of year? The day after storms lashed Victoria, Melburnians have woken to a bone-numbing morning, one of the coldest of the year so far, with the temperature in the city hovering at about nine degrees after 4am on Monday - but with a fresh north-westerly bursting through the state making it feel more like five degrees. And according to the Bureau of Meteorology (and yes, they know they have been wrong about this before) the warm reprieves we have been enjoying are going to be few and far between for the remainder of the autumn. Yet she knows several other families living outside of the zone who have secured enrolments. Megan Smith, co-principal of Clifton Hill Primary, said the school follows education department policy, and accepts "occasional enrolments from outside our neighbourhood boundary where we have the room". It is "absolutely incorrect to suggest that we enrol students based on class," she said. But Clifton Hill admits on its website that it is the closest school for just 65 per cent of students, while "the remaining 35 per cent being drawn mainly from neighbouring middle class inner suburban areas. A minority of students are drawn from public housing." It goes on: "The school's strong academic reputation attracts students from outside the area and waiting lists apply at all levels". Under the current rules, oversubscribed state schools can accommodate additional enrolments from outside their zone on specific curriculum grounds. This means that a student outside of the zone can enrol in a school if they excel in a particular area - music, sport, or a second language. But the process lacks transparency, and Melbourne University's Senior Lecturer in Education Policy and Politics, Dr Glenn Savage said principals are prioritising affluent and academic students. "I think it's unconscionable that principals choose students based on socio-economic backgrounds, and there is evidence to suggest that this is happening at the moment." Dr Savage said there is very little accountability around enrolment decisions, and this has led families to feel they have been unfairly rejected. "I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't have out-of-zone entries, but it's the haziness and lack of clarity of the process that is driving a lot of these problems." The Greens who represent thousands of inner-city voters in areas where there is marked segregation along race and class in schools said the real issue was parents' "unfair assumptions" about the education delivered at some schools. "The main issue is that there are unfair assumptions about schools that principals are trying to change," Greens Melbourne MP Ellen Sandell said. She said many inner-city schools were stretched and extra funding would make them more attractive to all families. Deputy Greens leader and federal Melbourne MP Adam Bandt said schools should reflect the diversity of their local community. "When making the big decision about where to send their children, I'd encourage parents to pay a couple of visits to their closest public school before deciding," he said. Architect and town planner Damien Bonnice said popular state schools should not be allowed to select desirable students outside of their zone, as this robs neighbouring schools of enrolments. An analysis by Mr Bonnice, a former Clifton Hill Primary School council president and treasurer, showed that between 2009 and 2015, prep enrolments at Clifton Hill Primary increased by 115 per cent, while Fitzroy Primary School's dropped by 32 per cent and North Fitzroy Primary School's fell by 22 per cent. "The system is chaotic," he said. "The education department is not exercising its authority to impose caps on popular schools it needs to force students to go to their local primary school." Education Minister James Merlino said Victorian schools did not segregate students along racial lines, and every student should have access to a quality education. "The Department of Education proactively and constantly monitors enrolment policies to ensure families have a place at their local school," he said. An education department spokesman said some schools were allowed to enrol students on curriculum-specific grounds to extend them in certain subjects, "however these programs must not adversely impact the enrolment of students at their designated neighbourhood school". They said from next year, Clifton Hill Primary would limit the students it accepted from outside its zone who did not already have a sibling attending the school. "In previous years the school was able to enrol students from outside its enrolment boundary, however due to significant local population growth it is now at capacity," he said. A road worker who had his work ute stolen from Melbourne's CBD early Monday morning - and was hit as he tried to stop the thief - has been discharged from hospital. Matt Whiting, who works for Momentum Traffic Management, was working at a Spencer Street road works site just before 1am, when he noticed a stranger climbing into the white BT50 Mazda ute, police said. The victim, 28, ran to the front of the vehicle and was struck as the car left, causing him to fall to the ground. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The ute was later spotted by a 3AW listener in Upwey, and located by police in Darling Avenue around 10am. Momentum Traffic Management owner Nick Cashin, told the radio station earlier on Monday that his workmate was OK and on his way home from hospital. Three boys charged with murder over the bashing death of a 26-year-old man after a post-Australia Day brawl in Perth are due to face court together for the first time later this week. Patrick Slater was attacked with star pickets, screwdrivers and rocks during a fight between two groups near Elizabeth Quay Station in the early hours of January 27, and later died in hospital. Patrick 'Paddy' Slater died at the Esplanade Train Station in Perth on Australia Day 2016 Two boys, aged 14 and 17, appeared in Perth Children's Court heard on Monday, when a fresh date was set as neither were ready to submit a bail application. The court heard the pair would also not be in a position to apply for bail at their next appearance on Friday, when they will be joined by a 12-year-old co-accused. Red Cross also voiced alarm at Friday's tragic boat sinkings, warning that more were likely to come. (Representational Image: AFP) Rome: Fifteen migrants are missing after their boat sank on Friday, the second shipwreck that day in the Mediterranean, bringing the number of lives lost to almost 100, the UN said today. A boat carrying around 120 people had sunk early Friday, four hours after leaving Libya for Italy, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokeswoman Carlotta Sami told AFP, adding that "some 15 persons went missing". Among the missing were four Nigerians, two people from the Ivory Coast, three from Guinea, two from Sudan and one from Mali, she said. Survivors were being disembarked in Pozzallo, Sicily, she said, adding that eight people had been taken straight to hospital "due to their serious health conditions," and that two bodies had also been disembarked. The news came a day after the International Organization for Migration said that only 26 people were rescued from an inflatable boat carrying around 110 migrants when it sank off Libya in a separate shipwreck Friday. Sami said Sunday that 27 people, including four women, were rescued from that boat sinking. Survivors had provided harrowing accounts of the tragedy, both UNHCR and IOM said. "Due to the very bad conditions of the sea, some two hours after the departure the small boat started to take on water," just a few miles off shore, Sami said in an email. IOM spokesman in Italy, Flavio Di Giacomo, told AFP Saturday that the vessel had been "in a very bad state, was taking on water and many people fell into the water and drowned." The boat in the end broke into two parts throwing all the passengers into the waves, Sami said. Rough seas and waves topping two metres (seven feet) hampered attempts to find any other survivors. Sami said the health conditions of several of the survivors were "reportedly serious." "Survivors say they lost relatives and friends during the shipwreck," she said. The first hint of the tragedy came early Saturday, when Italy's coastguard said an Italian cargo ship had rescued 26 migrants from a flimsy boat sinking off the coast of Libya but voiced fears that dozens more could be missing. The coastguard received a call from a satellite phone late Friday that helped locate the stricken inflatable and called on the merchant ship to make a detour to the area about seven kilometres off the Libyan coast near Sabratha. The migrants rescued were transferred to two coastguard vessel and taken to the Italian island of Lampedusa. More than 350,000 people fleeing conflict and poverty have reached Italy on boats from Libya since the start of 2014, as Europe struggles to manage its biggest migration crisis since World War II. The Red Cross also voiced alarm at Friday's tragic boat sinkings, warning that more were likely to come. A Perth mother has shared her heartbreak about caring for her terminally ill toddler, admitting she wants him to die so he can have peace. Isabella and Roy Darch's son Bede was diagnosed with an aggressive terminal brain cancer at four months old and given only weeks to live. Bede's mother Isabella has blogged about the heartbreaking emotional dilemmas posed by her son's condition. Credit:teambede.com Nearly three years on, Bede, who his parents call "small but mighty", has defied the odds through extended stays at Princess Margaret Hospital and nine months of intense chemotherapy. He cannot talk or see and requires around-the-clock care. Mr Joko said they were still working hard to release another four Indonesians captured by the group in a separate incident on April 15. Indonesians tugboat crewmen who were taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines disembark in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sunday. Credit:AP Indonesian President Joko Widodo thanked the Philippines government for their cooperation in helping secure the release of the Indonesians, who were captured by the Islamist rebels while travelling in southern Philippines waters in March. Jakarta: Indonesia has called for increased sea security after the 10 crew of two Indonesian vessels were released by Abu Sayyaf militants following a month-long hostage ordeal. But he said attention must also be given to the security of the waters in the region, with a meeting this week between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines slated to discuss increased security. Kidnapped Indonesians crewmen in the Philippines are greeted by officials upon arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta on Sunday. Credit:AP It is expected foreign ministers and military chiefs from the three countries will discuss the possibility of joint patrols, a measure which in the past has been hindered by their competing territorial claims in the area. Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan has previously expressed concerns Indonesia did not want the popular shipping route in the Sulu Sea to become a "new Somalia". The area has long been synonymous with piracy but since the mid-1960s, when Muslims living in Mindanao in the southern Philippines rebelled against the government in Manila, the Sulu Sea has also been linked to Islamist insurgency. In 2014, the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a peace deal brokered by Malaysia. But delays in its implementation have led to concerns that the Middle East-based Islamic State may take advantage of unrest and establish operations in the area. Washington: When Jennifer Norsworthy was unexpectedly killed by a blood clot in the early morning on April 22, her family was devastated. She was 40 years old, and she left behind six children and one devoted, grief-stricken husband, according to CBS affiliate WHNT. Toby and Jennifer Norsworthy with their six children. Credit:Screengrab/CBS WHNT "Toby loved Jennifer," Ricky Self, an associate pastor at the couple's church, told the station. "She was his world and so he was of course heartbroken when she passed away." The grief was so traumatising for Toby Norsworthy, relatives suspect, that it ended up costing him his own life 24 hours later, when he died of a heart attack, according to the Huntsville, Alabama, Times. If Trump takes Indiana then he's probably off to stare down the Democrat's Hillary Clinton in a general election. The Indiana primary vote has long been held out as the make-or-break finish to the GOP pre-selection battle, and Trump leads in more than half-a-dozen polls taken in the last two weeks by an an average of 9.3 per cent. Washington: Tuesday in the US will likely be the day when the inevitability of Donald Trump winning the Republican presidential nomination finally catches up with his last battle-scarred challenger Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Yes, there are about a dozen other state primaries to go, including the big enchilada in California on June 7. Cruz seemingly has long accepted that it all would come down to how Indiana votes, but on Monday, Cruz argued that he could still prevail without a win in Indiana. Senator Ted Cruz talks with Elizabeth Craig's children during campaigning in Osceola, Indiana. Credit:AP But politically, Cruz has been curling up and dying since as far back as April 5 his last victory, when he won in Wisconsin. At that point the pundit class made clear that Cruz needed to capitalise on the Trump stumble the nation needed to hear that Trump was a loser. Instead Trump has been turbo-charged, racing through a succession of eastern states New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut with close to 60 per cent or more of the vote. On Monday, Cruz was like the proverbial headless chook, as he bolted from one end of Indiana to the other 10 stops in all. Trump was more measured just two stops. For an event held at the soaring US Institute of Peace building in Washington, the swanky afterparty hosted by MSNBC following the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner sure saw some conflict. In the early-morning hours of Sunday in the US a scuffle broke out between Fox News correspondent Jesse Watters and Ryan Grim, the Huffington Post's Washington bureau chief. The fight - unusual among a tuxedo-clad crowd more used to venting their differences with Twitter snarks - briefly caused ripples in the party, where political staffers and journalists were grooving to tunes spun by DJ Biz Markie and noshing on mini servings of chili cheese fries. Here's how it went down, per several witness: Grim and Watters were among a group located in a heated tent just outside the main party area. The two apparently don't have a personal relationship, but Grim realised who Watters was and recalled a beef he had with the "O'Reilly Factor" correspondent that dated back to 2009, when Watters, known as an "ambush journalist," had engineered an on-camera confrontation of writer Amanda Terkel, now a HuffPo colleague of Grim. Afridi, believed to be in his mid-50s, has no access to a lawyer, and his appeal against a 23-year prison sentence has stalled. (Photo: AFP) Peshawar: Five years after his fake vaccination programme helped the CIA track and kill Osama bin Laden, Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi languishes in jail, abandoned by the US, say supporters, in its bid to smooth troubled relations with Islamabad. Afridi, believed to be in his mid-50s, has no access to a lawyer, and his appeal against a 23-year prison sentence has stalled. "I have no hope of meeting him, no expectation for justice," his elder brother Jamil told AFP. Photo of Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi with his brother and other family members. (Photo: AFP) Read: Five years after Osama bin Laden killing, CIA chief eyes IS head The former senior surgeon lives in solitary confinement in a small room, according to his lawyer, able to see his immediate family no more than six times a year. Afridi`s role in one of the most famous assassinations of recent decades is murky. Details of how he was sought out by the Central Intelligence Agency are unclear -- Pakistani reports suggest officials at Save the Children acted as go-betweens, though the charity denies involvement. What is known is that Afridi`s job was to run a fake Hepatitis C vaccination program with the aim of obtaining genetic samples from Abbottabad, a garrison city and home to the Pakistan Military Academy, the country`s answer to Westpoint. It was there that Al-Qaeda chief bin Laden and his family had set up home in the mid-2000s, under the noses -- and some say protection -- of senior Pakistani military officers. In the darkness of May 2, 2011, two helicopters full of elite Navy Seals touched down inside the compound. Osama bin Ladens compound in Abbotabad which was raided by the CIA. (Photo: AFP) In a dramatic raid just one kilometre (half a mile) from the military academy, they fought their way in and surprised the terror mastermind. They shot him in the head and fled with his body, abandoning a damaged Black Hawk helicopter. The killing was a huge success for US President Barack Obama, whose country was profoundly scarred by the attacks on New York and Washington of September 2001. It decapitated al Qaeda, badly hampering the organisation's ability to carry out further atrocities. But it drove a wedge between Islamabad and Washington, with lingering suspicions that the Pakistanis had for years been covering up the whereabouts of one the world`s most wanted men. Weeks after the raid, Afridi was arrested and thrown in jail, accused of having ties to militants, a charge he has always denied. Commentators believe Pakistan opted to punish Afridi in this way, rather than try him for treason -- aiding a foreign power -- because that would have entailed a public trial that would thrown a spotlight on Islamabad's role in harbouring bin Laden. A furious US senate committee voted to cut aid to Islamabad by $33 million -- $1 million for each year of his original sentence. The sentence was later cut by 10 years. But since then, US pressure for Afridi's release has tapered off, and analysts say Washington has dropped the issue, preferring to concentrate on what its sees as more pressing matters -- such as negotiating with Islamist extremists in Afghanistan. "The Taliban talks have taken priority over everything. The Americans don't want to muddy the water by raising other issues that are contentious," says Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani author and security expert.Qamar Nadeem, Afridi's lawyer who has been denied access to him for the past two years, believes his client`s best hope for early release is US pressure, "But so far they have not shown their support," he says. He is allowed to see his wife and children every two months or so, according to Nadeem. But an appeal against his sentence that began in 2014 is bogged down in adjournments and an uncooperative government. Though elder brother Jamil and his siblings won a Peshawar High Court decision granting them visiting rights, that verdict has not been implemented, and he has been told by his lawyer that pursuing the matter could result in harm to the doctor. "They are not admitting the High Court decision. What can I say? I am pessimistic," he said. Read: With five-year delay, CIA 'live-tweets' bin Laden raid Author Rashid says justice for Afridi has gone by the wayside for the US, which would rather Pakistan use its influence with the Afghan Taliban to encourage them to restart peace talks with Kabul. "The Americans have ceased to criticise Pakistan on many fronts," he said. But Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington said all hope is not lost for Afridi. He said, rather than having abandoned him, the Americans may have decided that shouting about it is not going to work. "In Washington the issue has likely moved off the front burner because it's clear that Pakistan isn't willing to play ball and negotiate an arrangement that could set him free," he said. "(But) the Afridi issue has never really gone away, and my sense is that US officials quietly press Pakistan about it from time to time." Fireball Tim's Malibu VLOG - Wheels and Waves Car Show, Springfield's Classic Vette, 2016 Hyundai Azera, 1967 Ford Galaxie +VIDEO HOLLYWOOD USA - May 1, 2016: Top episodes this week include Fireball announces an all new WHEELS AND WAVES Car Show at Gladstones in Malibu, Rick Springfield's Classic Vette, the 2016 Hyundai Azera first drive, a 1967 Ford Galaxie at Malibu Cars & Coffee and a Skyline GTR Spotting! Watch the Show! FIREBALL MALIBU VLOG is an Automotive Hollywood Video Blog starring Filmmaker, Hollywood Car Designer and Host Fireball Tim. He takes us on a weekly automotive journey through his show from the beaches of Malibu and Southern California, featuring amazing CAR CULTURE, CELEBRITY Interviews and Automotive DESTINATIONS. Fireball is a legend in the Car Design world, having conceived vehicles for over 400 of Hollywood's biggest films, Author and Award Winning Filmmaker and has been a Host for Speed, TLC, Discovery and Velocity. He's also the Host of THE MALIBU CARS & COFFEE Event showcasing some of the best cars and celebs in the world. Subscribe to his Vlog on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/fireballtim) hit his Automotive Blog (http://www.fireballtim.com) & be sure to check out the VLOG STORE https://shop.spreadshirt.com/fireballmalibuvlog LA PAZ, Bolivia, May 2, 2016 -- The Boeing 737 MAX 8 has marked a key achievement after completing high altitude flight testing in La Paz, Bolivia. It's the first international trip for the 737 MAX flight-test fleet. The airport's 13,300-foot (4,050-meter) altitude tested the MAX's capability to take off and land at high altitudes, which can affect overall airplane performance. "The engines and other systems performed well, as expected, under extreme conditions. That's exactly what we wanted to see," said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager of the 737 MAX program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Flight testing for the 737 MAX is on schedule with three test airplanes having completed more than 100 flights combined. The fourth and final test airplane will make its first flight in the coming weeks. The program remains on track for first delivery in the third quarter of 2017. Contact: Dina Lorraine 737 MAX Communications +1 206-853-9620 dina.m.lorraine@boeing.com Photo and caption are available here: http://boeing.mediaroom.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-737-max-makes-first-international-journey-for-flight-testing-300260735.html SOURCE Boeing RELATED LINKShttp://www.boeing.com Ferrari Announces CEO Succession MARANELLO, Italy - May 2, 2016: Ferrari N.V. announces the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Amedeo Felisa, after 26 years of dedicated service. Mr. Sergio Marchionne will assume those responsibilities while retaining his current role as Chairman of the Company. Mr. Felisa will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of Ferrari with a specific mandate as technical advisor to the Company. Sergio Marchionne had this to say: "I have known Amedeo for more than a decade and I have had the opportunity to work with him closely for the last two years. He is beyond any doubt one of the best automotive engineers in the world. During the last 26 years, he has worked tirelessly to fuel and guide Ferrari's technical development, producing an array of cars which have set the standard for both performance and styling." The Board of Directors wants to officially express its gratitude to Amedeo for his contributions and is delighted to be able to count on his services as technical advisor to the leadership team going forward. These executive changes are effective immediately. www.ferrari.com (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151023/279900LOGO ) The Sirisena government has accused former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of large-scale corruption and siphoning off billions of dollars during his decade-long tenure. (Photo: PTI) Colombo: Sri Lanka has set up a special panel to probe its nationals named in the "Panama Papers", the finance minister said on Monday while promising to investigate "each and every" Sri Lankan tax evader who may figure in the leaked documents. Sri Lankans are said to figure in the leaked documents and the government of President Maithripala Sirisena, which came to power in January on a promise to clean up corruption, said it would probe "each and every Sri Lankan" whose names were likely to figure in the documents to be made public on May 9. The Sirisena government has accused former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of large-scale corruption and siphoning off billions of dollars during his decade-long tenure. Rajapaksa has denied the charges. The Finance Ministry has set up a special panel to probe individuals named in the 11.5 million documents on global tax evasion leaked from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. "Any names there we will write to them and compel them to respond, we will also use the diplomatic channels to gather information," Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. He told reporters the panel will consist of officials from the finance ministry, exchange control department and Inland Revenue department. "The panel will look into the names that will come up in the Panama Papers, as well as those already named in Offshore Leaks." Karunanayake also accused the Rajapaksa regime of failing to probe 46 Sri Lankans whose names figured in 2013 in the Offshore Leaks by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). One such official holding a high government position resigned recently allowing an investigation. MONTREAL, May 2, 2016, 2016; The Electric Circuit is pleased to announce that its proposal to set up a fast-charge corridor between Quebec and the Ottawa area has been selected by the Government of Ontario. This project was submitted further to a request for proposals for public and private partners to set up a public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) throughout Ontario. The rollout of this corridor calls for the commissioning of 14 fast-charge stations along Highways 401, 416, 417 and 17 by 2017. An additional eight 240-V (Level-2) charging stations are also planned at strategic locations in Ottawa. The Electric Circuit, a subsidiary of Hydro-Quebec, submitted a joint bid with Metro, St-Hubert restaurants and the City of Ottawa, which will install charging stations on its property. The charging stations will be manufactured by the Electric Circuit's supplier, Quebec-based AddEnergie. "Our government is strongly committed to transportation electrification, as we demonstrated with our Transportation Electrification Plan and our ambitious 2030 Energy Policy. Our objectives are clear: in addition to increasing the number of electric vehicles on our roads and supporting a low-carbon economy, we want to export Quebec's expertise. As Canada's first public charging network, the Electric Circuit is an excellent example, demonstrating our leadership in this area," said Pierre Arcand, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan. "This initiative reflects the ambitious objective set out in our Transportation Electrification Action Plan 2015-2020, which aims to have 100,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on our roads by 2020. The installation of charging stations along highways is another argument to convince future car buyers to make the switch to electric vehicles," said Jacques Daoust, the Minister of Transportation, Sustainable Mobility and Transportation Electrification. "We are very proud of the work accomplished by the Electric Circuit and its partners, whose actions contribute to transportation electrification in Quebec and now in Ontario. This is a great recognition of the Electric Circuit's expertise and the quality of service it offers EV drivers," added Eric Martel, President and CEO of Hydro-Quebec. "Rolling out a corridor between Quebec and Ontario is a major step for the Electric Circuit, as it allows us to continue to meet the needs of EV drivers. They can now travel more easily between Quebec and Ontario, which is great news for both tourism and the economy," said France Lampron, President of the Electric Circuit. About the Electric Circuit The Electric Circuit is the largest public charging network in Quebec. It is a major initiative in the implementation of the infrastructure required to support the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles in Quebec. The network comprises some 620 public charging stations, including 31 fast-charge stations, across 16 Quebec regions. Since its launch in March 2012, 136 private and institutional partners have joined the Electric Circuit, and the network now has over 7,000 members. Electric Circuit users have access to a 24/7 telephone help line run by CAA-Quebec, as well as a charging-station locator service. The Electric Circuit Web site, theelectriccircuit.com, and the mobile app for iOS and Android are updated as new stations are commissioned. The Electric Circuit card also allows users to access VERnetwork's 150 Quebec charging stations. STRATFORD, Conn., May 2, 2016 -- Lockheed Martin today announced the successful execution of the Combat Rescue Helicopter Program (CRH) Air Vehicle Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This important review signals that the CRH program is proceeding with detailed design activities for the HH-60W Air Vehicle and Logistics system. In addition, the team will continue toward the CRH Training Systems Preliminary Design Review in August, three months ahead of schedule. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, and the United States Air Force (USAF) hosted a five-day meeting in April to gather stakeholders and key collaborators from government and industry for an in-depth review that demonstrated that the overall design meets the systems requirements setting the stage for the next phase of the program. Review participants included members of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, both the USAF acquisition team and representatives of the USAF operational combat rescue community, as well as the Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin industry team and several other key suppliers. "The successful Air Vehicle PDR confirms the program is on the right track and marks a significant step for the CRH program," said Tim Healy, Sikorsky, CRH Program Director. "Sikorsky and the USAF are well aligned in this collaboration effort and this successful PDR moves us closer to bringing this vital aircraft to the warfighter. Specifically, I am very proud of our team. They are not only operating to an accelerated schedule, but the preliminary design that we have achieved here has well prepared us for detailed aircraft design and subsequent production. Our Training team is also executing extremely well and will be conducting the PDR for the Training System three months earlier than originally scheduled. This will further reduce our risk to achieving the USAF accelerated schedule for CRH and delivering this critical capability to the AF rescue crews faster. We are keenly aware that they are in combat every day, and that every day we can accelerate getting the HH-60W into their hands reduces the risks that they face on our nation's behalf." The U.S. Air Force awarded Sikorsky the Combat Rescue Helicopter contract in June 2014. The $1.2 billion Engineering Manufacturing & Development (EMD) contract includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue helicopter and mission systems, including delivery of four HH-60W helicopters, as well as six aircrew and maintenance training systems. The training suite includes devices that span full motion simulators and discrete aircraft systems used for training, such as hoist and landing gear. The USAF Program of Record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's rapidly aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services. The HH-60W is an advanced variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter design and features increased internal fuel capability, allowing for greater range, and an increase in cabin space. The CRH aircraft will feature GE T700-701D engines, composite wide-cord main rotor blades and fatigue and corrosion-resistant machined aero-structures to sustain maneuverability at high density altitudes. The design includes an advanced Tactical Mission Kit integrating multiple sensors, data links, defensive systems, and other sources of intelligence information for use by combat rescue aircrews. In 2015, the CRH program conducted the Training System Requirements Review (SRR) and System Functional Review (SFR) as well as the Air Vehicle SFR and SRR. J. David Schairbaum, USAF, System Program Manager, CRH, said, "Achieving the Air Vehicle PDR milestone is pivotal for our program. Successful execution of the CRH program is essential to meet the continued demanding personnel recovery mission in today's challenging operational environment. We are working closely with Sikorsky to assure this newly designed aircraft is delivered to the warfighter on schedule and within cost." Lockheed Martin will outfit the aircraft with its mission planning system, defensive systems, data links, mission computers, adverse weather sensors and system integration of all CRH-unique subsystems. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sikorsky-conducts-combat-rescue-helicopter-crh-air-vehicle-preliminary-design-review-pdr-300260823.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin CONTACT: Erin Cox, 203-414-5852: erin.m.cox@lmco.com RELATED LINKShttp://www.lockheedmartin.com U.S. EPA Provides $30 Million to Create Research Centers at Three Universities WASHINGTON ;The funding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing will be used to investigate regional differences in air pollution and the effects of global climate change, technology, and societal choices on local air quality and health. "We eagerly anticipate the centers; new models and research insights that will lead to improved air quality and public health," said Dan Costa, national program director for EPA's air, climate and energy research program. "Understanding how to maintain and improve air quality as the climate changes is the first step in working together to reduce risks." These grants to the universities are funded through EPAas Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Penn. to create the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions (CACES), which will improve current air quality models; develop new, faster, simpler models for evaluating policy options; and conduct detailed measurement studies in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Austin to identify the factors influencing regional differences in air pollution concentrations. Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. for Regional Air Pollution Mixtures: The Past and Future Impacts of Emission Controls and Climate Change on Air Quality and Health, which will investigate pollutant mixtures across the country using past data and future projections; will examine how changes in emissions, climate, and other factors affect pollution mixtures; and will predict how future changes in social and economic factors will affect air pollution and health-related impacts. Yale University, New Haven, Conn. for SEARCH: Solutions for Energy, AiR, Climate and Health, which will research the impacts of changes in the use of energy in the power and transportation sectors, such as impacts of expansion of the port of Baltimore following the expansion of the Panama Canal. Since 1999, the work of EPA's own staff scientists has been complemented by EPA funded research centers that enable some of the nationas best scientific experts in academia to research pressing environmental issues. Research results from these centers have contributed significantly to advancing air quality and environmental health science, and have been used by researchers and policymakers around the world. The centers that are being announced today represent the next generation of these important and productive air research centers. For more information on EPA's air, climate and energy research: http://www2.epa.gov/air-research Learn more about the grant recipients: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipients.display/rfa_id/588 SPRINGVILLE, Utah, May 2, 2016; IMSAR LLC, leaders in miniaturized Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), announce the sale of their detect and avoid radar technology to Fortem Technologies. This technology powered IMSAR's previously announced family of collision avoidance radar designed for the commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) market. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires an aircraft operating in civil airspace to be able to "see and avoid" other aircraft. Collision-avoidance systems seek to meet this requirement by allowing UASs to detect other airborne objects, predict potential midair collisions, and automatically maneuver the UAS to avoid catastrophes. A radar-based "sense and avoid" or "sense and avoid" solution for small UASs was previously not viable due to the high cost, weight, and complex technology and algorithms required. Fortem's product will enable small UASs to avoid midair collisions with manned or unmanned aircraft and even targets that lack a transponder, like cranes paving the way for the integration of UAS into civil airspace worldwide. According to Ryan Smith, CEO, IMSAR, key development milestones have been met allowing the spin out of "sense and avoid" to Fortem Technologies. Adam Robertson, VP, IMSAR, will be leaving to join Fortem Technologies after nine years at IMSAR. Dr. Britton Quist, IMSAR's CTO, says; "Radar is ideally suited because it operates effectively in darkness, cloud cover, fog, smoke, and precipitation." Timothy Bean, CEO of Fortem Technologies said, "Nothing like this exists in the UAS market today." Fortem Technologies has announced product availability in July 2016. Fortem and IMSAR can be seen May 2 through May 5, 2016 at the XPONENTIAL show in New Orleans, Booth 134, or by visiting www.imsar.com and www.fortemtech.com. About IMSAR IMSAR LLC is a privately owned research, development, and manufacturing company located in Springville, UT, that specializes in lightweight, low-power synthetic aperture radar devices and radar image processing. For more information, visit www.imsar.com. About Fortem Technologies Fortem Technologies is a privately held company that delivers solutions to enable the autonomous revolution. Fortem Technologies' proven solutions allow organizations to transition their UAS operations beyond human line of sight. This enables autonomous applications by insuring a clear airspace for UAS operations such as routine infrastructure monitoring. For more information, visit www.fortemtech.com. ATHENS, Ala., May 2, 2016 -- Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. (APNA) hosted the official opening of their newest plastics compounding facility. The facility's grand opening marks the newest North American investment for Asahi Kasei Corporation. This continues the growth track the company has experienced in recent years, creating approximately 50 new jobs for the region. "We are happy to have built this facility in Athens," said Yuji Kobayashi, Vice President, Representative Director, and Executive Officer for Material Business Sector at Asahi Kasei Corporation. "We have found Asahi Kasei's core values as a company to be in line with the city of Athens: forward thinking, open mindedness and willingness to embrace diversity." Asahi Kasei Plastics' second facility in North America will manufacture high performance plastic compounds for OEMs and tier suppliers in automotive, industrial, furniture and trucking markets. "We know our success here is possible when our customers succeed," said Hiroshi Yoshida, President of Performance Polymers SBU and Lead Executive Officer at Asahi Kasei Corporation. "We are committed to contributing to our partners' success by being available in various capacities, through our best-in-class applications development team and technical support." John Moyer, President of Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. and Lead Executive Officer at Asahi Kasei Corporation, also shared a few words, "The folks here in Athens, Limestone County and the state of Alabama have been very welcoming to Asahi Kasei. I want to give a special thanks to all those responsible for constructing this exceptional facility." A third production line that was recently delivered was also on display for attendees, and is expected to be in operation later this year. Asahi Kasei continues to strengthen their position in the battery separator market with their recent acquisition of Polypore International LP. On an international level, Asahi Kasei Plastics recently opened a sales office in Queretaro, Mexico. They are beginning the process to evaluate sites for a new compounding facility in the region. About Asahi Kasei Plastics Asahi Kasei Plastics is a leading international compounder of advanced engineered polymers. As the largest glass reinforced polypropylene manufacturer in North America, Asahi Kasei Plastics provides unique engineering solutions for global markets. "We are talking directly to the Russians, even now," Kerry said on his arrival in Geneva as he began talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. "The hope is we can make some progress, but the UN Security Council Resolution calls for a full country, countrywide, cessation and also for all of the country to be accessible to humanitarian assistance. Obviously that hasn't happened and isn't happening." Click to expand... This is sad on so many fronts. The current foreign policy makers I think are finally getting it through their head that what they want is not what is going to happen. Assad is the leader of the Syria. Thats it in a nut shell. Cry, stomp get mad and pout. It is what the **** it is. Russia is Assad's ally. The Russians are not and will not at this time remove or allow Assad to be removed. May 3: Takena Kiwanis breakfast meeting. Speaker: Kim Baker, assistant director, Boys & Girls Club of Albany, talks about organizing a track meet. Time: 7 a.m., Elmers Restaurant, 2802 Santiam Highway S.E. Cost: Free. May 4: Northwest Christian Chamber of Commerce, Albany Chapter, no-host breakfast. Speakers: Rick and Karen Rogers will speak on divine intervention and how it played a part in their professional and married lives. Time: 6:45 a.m., Elmers Restaurant, 2802 Santiam Highway S.E. Cost: Free. Info: 541-791-2901. May 10: Takena Kiwanis breakfast meeting. Speaker: Kathy Pitzer, general manager for Greater Albany Public Schools Nutrition Services. Time: 7 a.m., Elmers Restaurant, 2802 Santiam Highway S.E. Cost: Free. May 17: Takena Kiwanis breakfast meeting. Speaker: Bill Raschko, RE/MAX broker, talks about the real estate market. Time: 7 a.m., Elmers Restaurant, 2802 Santiam Highway S.E. Cost: Free. May 19: Lebanon Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center Business After Hours: American Bookkeeping and Tax Service, Inc. Time: 5 p.m., 430 Second Ave. S.E., Albany. Cost: Free. May 24: Takena Kiwanis breakfast meeting. Speaker: Jill Weissbeck, business and employment specialist for the Oregon Employment Department. Time: 7 a.m., Elmers Restaurant, 2802 Santiam Highway S.E. Cost: Free. May 27: Lebanon Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center Forum Lunch: Speaker: Jim Brenau of Willamette Valley Vineyards. Time: 11:30 a.m., Lebanon Community Hospital Training Center, 525 N. Santiam Highway. Cost: $15, RSVP required. Info: 541-258-7164. May 31: Takena Kiwanis breakfast meeting. Speakers: Fire Chief John Bradner and Police Chief Mario Lattanzio talk about new stations. Time: 7 a.m., Elmers Restaurant, 2802 Santiam Highway S.E. Cost: Free. JEFFERSON Center Market opened in late March, and the convenience store is the only spot in the city thats open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We never close, said owner Jay Singh. Were trying to serve the town at night so people dont need to go all the way to Albany if they need medicine or something else. The Jefferson Center Market is among about 20 stores owned by the Singh family throughout the state, from the coast to Eastern Oregon. The family has focused on smaller towns and tries to make sure their stores become part of the communities they serve, Singh said. We try to give them a clean store, better service and better prices, he added. So far, slushies and hot deli food have been the biggest sellers, but the store has a bit of everything including fresh donuts from The Donut Shop in Stayton. While Singh said that Center Market has been received well by most townspeople, there has been a bit of confusion with some locals regarding his ethnicity. Singh stressed that he and his family members, originally from India, are Sikhs. His father immigrated to the United States in 1992, and purchased his first store in Salem in 1998. The Center Market is located at the former site of the Plantation Inn. Renovations at the site took months, Singh said. We got really good feedback from City Hall. They were willing to work with us on everything, Singh said. Center Market in Jefferson, 237 N. Second St., can be contacted at 541-327-2601. A Fort Bragg soldier was arrested by the Fayetteville, North Carolina, police on Friday on charges of allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a fellow soldier. Johnathan Simpson serves in the same unit as his accuser, local police said on Saturday. Both are 26 years old. The alleged incident took place on April 25 on the 1000 block of Bragg Boulevard, which is off base, according to Fayetteville authorities. The two-way street has some stores and restaurants, as well as many empty parking lots. Few details are available about the alleged assault, but Simpson was arrested on Saturday and is being held at the Cumberland County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Simpson is a sergeant in the Army and has served since July 2009, according to his Facebook page. His photos show that the Iowa native is an avid fisherman and served in Afghanistan. Simpson is married but has separated from his wife, according to his Facebook status. I am married to the most beautiful girl in the world, his outdated About Me section reads. Im the happiest Ive ever been before, even if I am in a third world country while working almost 15 hrs a day. Army officials did not return requests for comment. This would hardly be the first instance of reported sexual assault at Fort Bragg, the most populous Army base in the U.S., which serves roughly 50,000 active-duty soldiers. In fact, alleged incidents of sexual assault and harassment on the base went up 4 percent from 2012 to 2013, the Fayetteville Observer reported last year. The number of reported rapes on the base were roughly equal to those in the city of Fayetteville, according to the Observer, despite a city population that is four times larger than that of the base. The number of reported sexual assaults in the overall armed forces has increased sharply since 2012, likely due to more reporting. In 2014, 6,131 service members reported a sexual assault, compared to 3,604 reported assaults in 2012. Successful prosecutions, however, remain rare. The 2014 report found that only 317 service members were court-martialed and sentenced for sexual assault that same year, according to The Military Times. In a high-profile case this winter, a Fort Bragg soldier was charged with sexually assaulting an underage girl. The soldier was slapped with incest, rape, and statutory rape charges in the case, which allegedly involved a family member. And other incidents involved high-ranking service members. A major at the base was convicted of rape and forcible sodomy in January 2015, recieving a 20-year prison sentence, according to the Fayetteville Observer. (He denied all the charges.) Another high-ranking service member pleaded guilty to lesser charges of an affair in 2014 after being accused of assaulting a female colleague, according to the Observer. He denied the assault. Two years ago, Simpson posted an image of hands cuffed behind an orange jumpsuit. If I got arrested, it reads, what would you think I did? Fought your neighbors across the street, one friend suggested. Another volunteered: Streaking! BAGHDAD, IRAQ Hussain Jassim refused to leave the Green Zone, once considered the impenetrable citadel at the heart of Baghdad, until his leader Muqtada al-Sadr ordered him to do so. We have entered parliament and we have broken its prestige in front of people because they are thieves, they deserve for that to happen to them, Jassim told The Daily Beast. He was one of thousands of angry protestors who on Saturday raided the Iraqi legislature, chasing MPs out of their own seats in government, and often assaulting or denouncing those not aligned with al-Sadr trying to run away from the melee. We saw them fleeing from us, Jassim said. Some legislators stayed behind, trapped in the basement of the parliament for fear of not wanting to confront the angry crowd outside. There were even false reports that a few had repaired to the sprawling U.S. embassy complex, seeking refuge from their own countrymen. Remarkably, Iraqs security forces tolerated the demonstrators day-long occupation of a notorious no-go area in the capital. The protesters climbed over concrete blast walls and burst through cordons with ease. Some tear gas was used, but law enforcement mingled comfortably with those against whom they were meant to guard. The security forces have dealt with us with a high sense of patriotism and responsibility, Jassim said. These protests were a long time going. Iraqs public coffers are a sieve, where billions have vanished in the salaries of ghost soldiers or into the bank accounts of well-connected pols and their kin. Problematic enough in peacetime and during high global oil prices, economic crisis is 2016 has become a national security crisis, as state bankruptcy could easily damage or end the ongoing war against the Islamic State. For months, al-Sadr, the firebrand Shia cleric al-Sadr threatened to take direct action if Iraqs parlous political establishment could not rid itself of cancerous corruption. Once a deadly foe of U.S. soldiers, al-Sadr has become, five years after Americas somewhat abortive military withdrawal, Iraqs new political kingmaker, unafraid to antagonize a Shia-led government whose premier was appointed with the backing of both Washington and Tehran. Among the Sadrists demands are early elections, genuine anti-corruption reforms (this, in a country where even anti-graft officials openly admit to being on the take), and an end to the political quota system, whereby government posts are decided according to sect and ethnicitya holdover of Americas transitional stewardship of post-Saddam Iraq and once thought of as a sufficient underwriter of pluralism. Many on Saturday behaved as if another despised tyranny were coming to an end. In one iconic photograph taken by Jean-Marc Mojon of Agence France-Presse, a young Iraqi boy is shown diving into a pool inside the Green Zone, his plunge pose mimicking the famous fall of Saddam Husseins statue in 2003, which symbolized the collapse of his Baathist regime. Majid Gharawi, an MP from the Ahrar parliamentary listSadrs blocjustified the protests as a normal and healthy reaction to legislative deadlock after three attempts of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to form a technocratic cabinet were rebuffed by a parliament which internally devolved into the kind of chaos that descended upon the institution from without this weekend, with MPs getting into fist fights and waging their own sit-ins over the past several weeks. Haider al-Mullah, a member of the Sunni Alliance of United Forces, called on al-Abadi to resign. The prime minister, al-Mullah told The Daily Beast, moved the crisis from government and his coalition to parliament. In a press release the Kurdish Alliance condemned the ransacking of the parliament building, which represents the nation and the assault on the second deputy speaker of parliament Aram Shekh Muhammed and some other Kurdish members of parliament and MPs from other blocs. According to Hiwa Afandi, the Head of Department of Information Technology of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil, all Kurdish MPs were ordered to remove themselves from Baghdad. A state of emergency was declared Saturday, as Shia militias under the command of Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri were mobilized to ensure that the Islamic State didnt take advantage advantage of the unrestor, better say, further advantage of it. On Sunday, the Islamic State detonated two car bombs in Samawah, a city about 120 miles south of Baghdad, killing at least 32. Samawah, which is majority Shia, had mostly been immune to the depredations of the army of terror which two years ago stormed into the northern provincial capital of Ninewah and conquered about a third of Iraqs territory. In recent months, the so-called caliphate has seen a series of major tactical defeats in Iraq and Syria and the loss of swaths of held terrain. As a result, it has amplified opportunistic acts of terrorism. The question, however, is whether crippling dysfunction in Baghdad can prevent or withstand these from tearing the country apart. An earlier Islamic State bombing on Saturday, this one of Shite pilgrims in the Nahrawan district close to Baghdad, killed two dozen. The occupation of the Green Zone may have been lifted, as of Sunday evening, but the stability and cohesion of the state are still very much in doubt. One of the protest organizers, Akhlas al-Obaidi, has given the government less than a week to broker a solution; otherwise, she said, the protestors would return on Friday. The Iraqi politicians have tried many times procrastinating peoples demands which are calling for reform, Mudahir al-Lamy, another protestor, told The Daily Beast. Yesterday, we sent a clear message to them that they have no place in the new Iraq. They have stolen our money, so today we ask them to be held accountable and put them in prison. with reporting by Abdulla Hawez from Baghdad and Michael Weiss from New York. Abdulla Hawez is a reporter for Yalla, an Erbil-based Iraqi news organization. By Linda Qiu and Lauren Carroll Sen. Ted Cruz is using this weeks pivotal Indiana primary to make a last stand of sorts against Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump . Cruz trails Trump by more than 400 delegates and is unable to win a majority of delegates prior to the GOP convention. Cruzs best hope is to keep Trump from hitting that delegate mark himself, and Indiana presents a favorable battleground. In interviews that aired Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press and ABCs This Week, Cruz dodged questions about what happens if he loses in Indiana. But he said the choice should be simple for Indiana Republican voters. Cruz told NBCs Chuck Todd that Trumps only economic agenda is imposing massive taxes on the American people. He also accused Trump of being a clone of Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton. I believe if the Republican Party nominates Donald Trump we will lose to Hillary, because when we offer Democrat-lite, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on the ballot, they support the same social policy, they support the same economic policy, Cruz said. Donald cant criticize Hillary Clinton on Planned Parenthood, because he agrees with her. They both say its terrific andand that it should keep taxpayer funding, he added. We decided to fact-check Cruzs claims about Trumps economic plan and Trumps position on Planned Parenthood. Trumps economic agenda Cruz said on Meet the Press that his top priority will be bringing jobs back to America, bringing manufacturing jobs back to Indiana, raising wages across this country. He then said Trumps only economic agenda is imposing massive taxes on the American people with a 40 percent tax hike of a giant tariff. That would send us into a recession. It would drive jobs overseas. It would kill small businesses. Cruzs claim about Trumps economic agenda rates Half True . First, Trump has outlined a few other economic proposals beyond tariffs like declaring China a currency manipulator, upholding intellectual property law, ending Chinas export subsidies and lowering the corporate tax rate to incentivize American companies to stay at home. Hes also suggested renegotiating or pulling out the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and stopping the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But Cruz has a point that Trump has talked at length about imposing tariffs on imported goods as a remedy for trade imbalances and lost American jobs. Hes specified a 35 percent tariff on some goods coming from Mexico and a 45 percent tax on all Chinese products, a proposal that in the last Republican debate he called a threat hed only enact it if they dont follow the rules. Trumps tariff proposals have been called uneducated and worrisome, and many economists (though not all) say they would hurt Americans. However, Cruz may be overstating the impact. The biggest losers would be U.S. consumers and companies, said Scott Lincicome, an international trade law and policy expert at the libertarian Cato Institute. Tariffs at the level Trump is suggesting would cause prices of cheap products like air conditioners and intermediate goods like auto parts to soar, and could kill millions of U.S. jobs. But as some of the costs would be absorbed by Chinese and Mexican exporters, a 40 percent tariff doesnt translate directly into a 40 percent tax hike. You would have to do some analysis to determine how much of a tax hike it is, but it is probably significantly less than 40 percent, said Joel Trachtman, a trade law specialist at the University of Maryland. Trump and Planned Parenthood Cruz also said Trump and Hillary Clinton have the same position on Planned Parenthood. They both say its terrific andand that it should keep taxpayer funding, Cruz claimed. That rates Mostly False . Theres no question about Clintons support for Planned Parenthood. Throughout the campaign, she has frequently attacked Republicans pledge to defund the organization. And Planned Parenthood endorsed Clinton in July, its first-ever presidential primary endorsement. I am not only against defunding Planned Parenthood, but I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding, Clinton told Fusion in January. Trumps position is more nuanced . On abortion in general, several times Trump has raised both Republicans and Democrats eyebrows by changing his position. Today, Trump says hes anti-abortion. As for Planned Parenthood, Trump has been fairly consistent since October 2015. He has praised some of the work the organization does but not with respect to abortion services. Trump has said Congress should stop providing the group with federal funding full stop as long as it provides abortions. Planned Parenthood does a lot of good jobs, a really good job in a lot of different areas. But not on abortion. So Im not going to fund it if its doing the abortion. I am not going to fund it, Trump said in February. Millions of women have been helped by Planned Parenthood, Trump said in March. But were not going to allow, and were not going to fund, as long as you have the abortion going on at Planned Parenthood, and we understand that and Ive said it loud and clear. For the last few years my efforts to counter anti-Muslim bigotry have been grounded upon the hope that if a person has a Muslim friend, he or she will have a more positive view of Muslims overall. In fact, a December poll supports that very thesis, finding a 20-plus percent more favorable view of Islam and Muslims by Americans who know a Muslim when compared to people who dont. Thats what makes the mosque controversy in the upscale town of Bernards Township, New Jersey, so astounding. The person spearheading the mosque, M. Ali Chaudry, is not only known by the community, but well liked. After all, he served as mayor of the town in 2004. And before that Chaudry, who has lived in Bernards Township since 1976, was elected to the town council twice as well as its Board of Education. Add to that Chaudry is a Republican in a GOP-controlled town. Yet despite Chaudry being a fixture in this town of approximately 25,000 people located 45 minutes from Manhattan, this past December the Bernards Township Planning Board denied his application to build a mosque so he and the other Muslims in the community could have a place to pray. And this was after dragging out the process for over four years, requiring 39 public hearings, and demanding changes to the proposed mosque never before asked of any other proposed house of worship. Having lived in town for nearly 40 years and having served on the Board of Education and as mayor, I was shocked at the denial, Chaudry explained to me. The added irony is that Chaudry once served on the very planning board that rejected the application, citing a lack of details over issues such as parking and traffic safety. Chaudry vehemently denies these claims. Chaudrys life truly represents the American Dream. He immigrated to the United States from Pakistan in 1976. Hired by AT&T, he worked tirelessly (like immigrants tend to) and rose to the level of CFO of AT&Ts public relations division. Being grateful for America accepting him and his family, he wanted to show his appreciation by giving back to his community. He did just that by serving on town boards as a volunteer and as an elected official. In addition hes currently president of the Rotary Club, and in 2013 Gov. Chris Christie appointed him to a three-year term on the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service. Having a local mosque to worship in (as opposed to renting out space at the Townships community center as they do now) was simply another manifestation of that American Dream. Americas promise freedom of religion is for all, not just for a few select faiths. I visited the location of the proposed mosque on Church Street. Its not a sleepy alcove. Rather, its a busy street thats home to two large churches, a school, and various businesses including a restaurant. But the idea of a mosque on Church Streetor on any street in the town for that matterwas clearly too much for some there. As I drove up the driveway of the proposed mosque location I was struck by the numerous professionally made signs on the property the Muslim community had posted that read Proud to be American featuring the American flag. Despite being persecuted for their faith and even having their mailbox defaced with the word ISIS, the Muslims there were still proud as ever to be Americans. To say Chaudry did everything asked of him by local officials is an understatement; he did more. Being a longtime resident, Chaudry wanted the mosque to fit in with the aesthetics of his community. Consequently, the proposed mosque had neither minarets nor a large dome like a typical mosque. Rather it was designed to resemble one of the towns upscale homes. But still Chaudry could sense the growing opposition to Muslims having a place of worship in Bernards Township. For example, a town ordinance required every proposed place of worship to have a ratio of one parking space for every three congregants. So with about 150 Muslims expected at the mosque, the original plan submitted provided 50 parking spots. However, the planning board instead surprisingly required the mosque to offer a whopping 107 parking spaces. Yet still Chaudry did as asked. However, it soon became clear given the anti-Muslim comments of mosque opponents that this dispute was not just about land-use issues. As James Sues, the executive director of CAIRs New Jersey office, explained, Xenophobes hiding behind zoning technicalities is becoming more and more common. But the Bernards Township case is really an extreme example. Sadly in my home state of New Jersey, this mosque controversy is not an isolated incident. Theres currently a mosque controversy brewing in Bayonne. And just eight miles away in Bridgewater Township, a well-publicized ugly mosque controversy raged for years. There the local officials also dragged out the application process, finally denying the proposed mosque. The local Muslim leaders responded by filing a successful federal lawsuit where the judge found the mosque denial was not legally justified, citing the anti-Muslim prejudice within the community. Bridgewater ultimately paid $7.75 million in damages as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Now back in Bernards Township, after the planning boards formal denial, Chaudrys options were to either go quietly into the night or to fight. Chaudry explained that the mosque denial made some in the Muslim community feel like they were not equal to other people in the town simply because of their faith. So Chaudry chose to fight, noting there are times when we have to stand up for our rights and seek justice for the benefit of all. In March, they filed a lawsuit in federal court versus the town to simply have the same rights as his fellow Americans. The complaint details the anti-Muslim comments made by those opposed to the mosque, such as a local volunteer firefighter telling Chaudry: Eleven brothers died on 9/11 and now you want to put a mosque next to my house with the insignia of the people who did that. And one of the towns elected officials posted comments in favor of Ben Carsons declaration that a Muslim should not be president of the United States. After a slew of negative press and the Department of Justice recently announcing it was opening a civil rights investigation into the mosque denial, last week the towns planning board voted to give Chaudry 90 days to submit a new site plan for the mosque. Is this truly a sincere effort by the town to resolve the issue? (Keep in mind Chaudry has already submitted numerous revised site plans as the town previously requested.) Is this legal maneuvering by local officials to help fight the lawsuit? Or is it simply a PR ploy to counter the media coverage painting the local officials as being motivated by or at least giving in to anti-Muslim animus? Its unclear but Chaudry explained he would happily sit down with anyone willing to engage in a dialogue to better understand what Islam is and who Muslims are. Lets hope they take him up on his offer. In any event, the question Bernards Township officials must now answer is whether they support the quintessential American value of religious liberty or whether they side with anti-Muslim bigotry. The people of New Jersey eagerly await their answer. Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist and businessman, boldly claimed on Monday to be the anonymous inventor behind the worlds most famous cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, promising to put an end to one of the most persistent and bedeviling mysteries on the Internet. Experts called bullshit almost immediately. Wrights claim first surfaced in a blog post and was followed by news stories based on interviews he gave to The Economist, the BBC, and GQ magazine. Any time someone claims to know or be the elusive Bitcoin founder, known by the alias Satoshi Nakamoto, its news. But Wright also said he had verifiable proof that he was the mystery man. Wright, who is reportedly working with a well-known biographer, made the news organizations promise not to publish their stories until hed put up his own blog post, which is filled with complex and impressive-looking cryptographic proofs that he says bolsters his claim. Im not seeking publicity, but want to set the record straight, Wright told The Economist of his motive to go public now. Wright had been previously identified by journalists as a possible candidate for Satoshi, but skeptics have said he may also be a scam artist. Wired reported last year that there are holes in Wrights resume, and that he may have misrepresented his academic credentials. People are assuming [the misinformation against me] is true, because Im not saying anything, Wright told The Economist. This impacts not just me and my work, but my family, my staff and everything else. To prove that he really is Satoshi, Wright said hed created whats known as a digital signature and affixed it to a document, in this case a speech by the novelist Jean-Paul Sartre from 1964, explaining why he was refusing to accept the Nobel Prize. Wright claimed that he made that signature using a cryptographic key that only Satoshi, as hes called, or someone close to him would possess. But cryptology and Bitcoin experts say Wright is lying, and that he simply ripped off an existing digital signature from another source and passed it off as a new one. Weve got him dead to rights, Dan Kaminsky, a prominent computer security researcher who says he has proven Wrights ruse, told The Daily Beast. The guys a scammer. Kaminsky is backed up by other Satoshi sleuths who spent much of Monday morning taking Wright up on his offer to check his work. On his blog, Wright offered step-by-step instructions for proving that his signature was authentic. On the Y Combinator website, one researcher claimed to have debunked Wright, arguing, as Kaminsky does, that the signature is not what Wright says it is. I cant think of a more convoluted way to go about claiming one is Satoshi than what Craig Wright has done so far, Jerry Brito, the executive director of Coin Center, a nonprofit research and advocacy center focused on cryptocurrency technologies such as Bitcoin, told The Daily Beast. Hes provided no cryptographic evidence verifiable by the public, and many of his answers sound plain fishy. Wrights demonstration, via his website and in sit-down interviews with journalists, has also struck some observers as needlessly circuitous and dramatic, and perhaps designed to pull a fast one on the press and other members of the public. This is how magicians and con men work. They do a huge amount of explanation, Kaminsky said. In the end, he gave Wright credit for a slick presentation. But, Kaminsky said, Wright was diverting peoples attention from the real trick, which was to lift an earlier signature from Bitcoin blockchain, a kind of ledger used to keep track of transactions. Wright has reportedly performed other in-person demonstrations besides the one on his blog for journalists and an important figure in the Bitcoin world, Gavin Andresen, the chief scientist at the Bitcoin Foundation. After a careful cryptographic verification of messages signed with keys that only Satoshi should possess, Andresen was convinced, he wrote in his own blog post Monday. I believe Craig Steven Wright is the person who invented Bitcoin. Still, others who sat down with Wright arent buying his story. Journalists at The Economist wondered why Wright wouldnt subject his claim to a test he didnt fully control. Why does he not let us send him a message to sign, for example? which he could then sign, the magazine asked. Establishing the true identity of Satoshiwho no one has ever met in the fleshprobably wont matter a wit to Bitcoins future. Whoever he really is, the founder has been out of the currencys development process for some time. The world of digital currency and electronic payments has moved on without him. But the quest to unmask the mysterious founder has obsessed journalists and some Bitcoin devotees. Its as if knowing the true identity of the genius is essential to appreciating his creation. The controversy is a 21st century version of the Shakespeare authorship question. The wrong people have been fingered as Satoshi before, and this isnt the first time Wright has been identified as the founder, either. But in taking credit now, new questions have been raised about his motives. Last year, Wired and Gizmodo reported, separately, that Wright might be the mystery man. But according to The Economist, six months earlier Wright had approached a Scottish novelist, Andrew OHagan, who had written a biography of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and is now working on a long profile of Wright for the London Review of Books. Had Wright been planning since last year to make a splashy public reveal in connection with his own potential biography? Wired subsequently reported information it said might show Wright to be a brilliant hoaxer. Brito, the Bitcoin expert, said Wrights history doesnt bode well for his story now. Given his past, he starts with a credibility deficit and what weve seen so far isnt helping. Whether Wright has finally came through with the proof or just pulled a stunt will be the subject of more rounds of intense debate. And already, Satoshi sleuths are moving beyond the realm of cryptographic evidence and into utterly subjective territory, including the mind of the man himself. The real Satoshi would have chosen a different proof, one Y Combinator commenter offered. To which another replied, How could you know what the real Satoshi would do? The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross is on a mission to defend the Geneva Conventionsthe decades-old laws of armed conflict meant to make war more humane, now being spurned by actors as diverse as the so-called Islamic State to U.S. candidates for president. If ISIS doesnt behave, why should we behave? said ICRC chief Peter Maurer, describing the chorus he hears from some officials he meetswhat he sees as a tragic reaction to terrorist brutality. I have big alarm bells going off. From Thursdays horrific attack on a hospital in Aleppo, to European countries turning away refugees, to Republican candidates musing about bombing terrorist families, Maurer and his team feel under siege. What the hell is happening to the world when those who were at the origin of international humanitarian law start questioning in public debates whether it has any relevance or should be respected? Maurer said in an interview with The Daily Beast. His language was uncharacteristically blunt for a former Swiss diplomat. So the International Committee of the Red Cross has launched a campaign, trying to explain to anyone who will listen why the Geneva Conventions matter, ahead of the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey in May. Maurer expressed his frustration with U.S. candidates and international leaders alike during one of his regular visits to Washington, D.C., last week. But the U.S. administration is not his target. While there was a moment of questioning these conventions under previous administrations, the latest has been a positive, he said of working with the Obama White House. Not least in order to protect the servicemen of the U.S. Army, he added. The conventions can offer some protection for U.S. soldiers if they are captured by another countrys military, as every country on the planet has signed the Geneva Conventions. U.S. defense officials say the ICRC has offered them confidential and frank reports that theyve come to trust on global U.S. military operations, including the operation of detainee facilities. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the communications. The Geneva Conventions were first drafted in the late 1800s and updated after World War II, designed to lessen the nightmare of war. Signatories agree to wide-ranging measures from what weaponry is permitted, to allowing access to prisoners of war, to allowing aid to reach civilians. You dont torture people. You dont indiscriminately attack civilians. You protect as good as you can the impact of your warfare on women and children, Maurer said, ticking off the tenets he preaches daily. You treat detainees humanely, because you know the other side will also treat detainees humanely. That means no waterboarding, nor indiscriminately carpet bombing cities filled with both enemy troops and civilianspractices extolled as possible future policies of Republican candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz respectively. When Trump made his much-heralded foreign policy speech last week, he repeated his call to ban Muslims from entering the country, but he made no mention of his previous calls to bring back waterboarding or to kill families of ISIS terrorists, both illegal under the Geneva Conventions. Would I approve waterboarding? You bet your ass I wouldin a heartbeat, Trump had said at a rally last fall. In an interview on Fox & Friends, he advocated targeting terrorist families. You have to take out their families, he said repeatedly. Trump later clarified such remarks to say he would not violate U.S. laws or treaties nor order his military or intelligence agencies to do that. But he then later clarified that to say the U.S. needs to expand laws to get over what he termed restrictions limiting a U.S. response to terrorism. GOP candidate Ted Cruz has said multiple times that he would defeat ISIS by carpet-bombing them into oblivion, though the Pentagon has made clear ISIS fighters are ensconced in civilian neighborhoods. So bombing them indiscriminately would kill tens of thousands of civiliansthe same way Allied forces leveled Dresden in Germany, or the U.S. leveled Hiroshima in Japan by nuclear bomb in World War II. None of the comments are helpful, Maurer said. This is very dangerous. Its one thing if a politician in a small country says a little bit of torturing is good to do, Maurer said. There is a qualitative differencewhen its a candidate to run a superpower. Its all the more ironic as the United States technically drafted the precursor to the Geneva Conventions, known as the 1863 Lieber Code regulating armed conflict, commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln to limit the devastation of the U.S. Civil War. Neither the Trump campaign nor the Cruz campaign responded to requests for comment, nor has Maurer tried to reach either of them. We are not interfering in the debates of a democracy in choosing the next leader, he said. But he said their widely reported comments are making his job harder, as he circles the globe from international capitals to conflict zones, trying to convince nations at war to put civilians ahead of winning at all costs. I cant tell you how damaging it is when leading politicians question what has been the legal standard, he said. Maurers job is to meet with leaders like Iraqi Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, explaining why Shiite militia groups in Iraq should follow the conventions. Maurer said the Ayatollah agreed to meet him, listened carefully and then issued a religious fatwa to remind Iraqi Shiites of the Muslim religious tenets requiring humane warfare. Conversations with leading Muslim leaders might not go the same way now, in light of U.S. and European politicians widely reported comments about Muslims and refugees. The European communitys treatment of migrants and refugees has been another nightmare that leaves Maurer with little comeback when he tries to encourage developing nations to take in refugees. Why should they do so if even the wealthy nations of Europe that helped draft the Geneva Conventions are refusing entry to Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans? The perception outside Europe is that the European Union at the first difficultyis basically throwing the text away, he said, referring specifically to the 1951 agreement on refugees that is part of the law of armed conflict. It leaves me having complicated conversation with the government of Ethiopia or Sudan who tell me, For Gods sake, you come from a nice place called Geneva. Talk about the implementation of the refugee convention with your neighbors! he said. The other reason for Maurers immediacy in defense of the laws of war: He sees no end in sight for many of the current conflicts. Todays conflicts are long-term, protracted, leading tosystem disintegration, he said, meaning a country is essentially reduced to rubble, with government, medical services, education and even electricity and water systems wiped out. It defies the notion of humanitarian relief being short term, for emergencies, he said. Emergencies now last for decades. The ICRC has had to adapt its mission, sometimes acting almost as a development agency in some parts of the world where no other agency can reach, but it can due to its stringent neutrality. But the core mission remains delivering aid to besieged innocents, or missives from a detained prisoner to a worried family, and reminding everyone that there are rules for war. Updated 12:54 p.m. 5/2/15: This story was corrected to note that the first Geneva Convention was drafted in the late 1800s, and the body of law now known as the Geneva Conventions went through a major update after WWII. What a weekend it has been for the Royal image makers. First we were treated to a short video of Prince Harry chatting with his granny by a roaring fire in a private sitting room at Windsor Castle, before trash-talking with Obama and Michelle to promote the forthcoming Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style event for wounded veterans which has become one of Harrys key projects. In the video Harry and Obama both riffed on the mic drop gag (with which Obamaperhaps over-excited to have discovered a meme he can really get behind?also finished his White House Correspondents Dinner speech). Next up was a flurry of activity on Sunday afternoon as an email from the offices of British Vogue arrived in the inboxes of royal correspondents up and down the country, revealing that at 9 p.m. local time (4 p.m. ET) pictures of Kates first Vogue cover would be landing. There was a coded warning in the email that the pictures were going to be as dull as we have come to expect everything Kate Middleton does to bethe series of images capture The Duchess in casual clothes rather than adopting a more formal approachand lo and behold, a series of photographs of Kate in a $50 Breton top by Petit Bateau, leaning over a gate looking entirely inoffensive duly appeared. Whilst there was respect to Vogue editor Alex Shulman, who said, To be able to publish a photographic shoot with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge has been one of my greatest ambitions for the magazine, for having landed Kate at all, rivals were quick to slam the cover and draw unflattering comparisons with Princess Diana. One editor, speaking anonymously, told The Daily Beast, I think its an atrocious coverespecially for one that should be celebrating a momentous anniversary. 100 years of Voguea magazine that has published some of greatest, most groundbreaking photography and they use a bland Kays catalogue image. Kate knew exactly what image she wanted to project in the Vogue shoot, and it is clear she took the reins in the project, making sure the magazine projected the image she wantednormal middle-class mumrather than what they wanted. Vogue would have had little chance but to acquiesce. Kate was probably also savvy enough the pictures would be savaged by the Sunday papers and she would be crowned the Duchess of Dull. By happy accident, she had a trick up her sleeve to make sure the Vogue story and images were quickly forgotten: releasing images of one of the only two people in the world who could knock her off the top of the news cycle; Princess Charlotte. On Sunday morning, the Palace released cute pictures of Charlotte ahead of her first birthday today (Monday) taken by Kate. They were, again, a composed study in classlessness and inoffensiveness. In one shot, Princess Charlotte wore blue, in another pink. The dress was bespoke, but her $50 cardigan was recycled from the Queens birthday shoot. But it was what Princess Charlotte was pushing that really marked this out as a considered study in the middle-class dream. Clutched in her ruddy fingers was the handlebar of a baby walker with alphabet blocks in the tray. Theres not a child in the land whose parents make more than 50,000 a year who hasnt had one of these given to them. Prince Harry and the Cambridges increasingly function as a royal trinity. But what this weekends powerful imagery made clear is that while Harry is happy to play up his regality, for Kate its all about demonstrating egalite. That might annoy magazine editors, and it might not be what we would have imagined gets taught at Princess school. Privately, the Cambridges live a life of incredible wealth and privilege, but, when Kate has anything to do with the imagery coming out of Kensington Palace, youd be hard pressed to spot it. Its like a scene out of a torture session that the CIA would later deny: a captor drugs and ties down the victim and begins sawing through his feet, severing ligaments, tendons, and nerves, and crushing bones. The victim is then forced to walk immediately after the disfiguring procedure on his newly amputated and painful stumps. This sort of mutilation happens dailyluckily not to humans, but to our beloved pets in the form of cat declawing surgery. Veterinarians who perform the procedure tout it a necessary evil to protect public health and keep finicky pet owners from discarding problematic cats to shelters where they might be euthanized. But critics of declawing have lately been speaking out in greater numbers, claiming the antiquated service is not only purely elective, but also harmful to the very pets that vets claim to be helping. Eight municipalities in California have successfully passed local bans on cat declawing, but now an unprecedented bill at the state level aims to make declawing illegal in New York. The bill, introduced in the Assembly and backed in the Senate, has pitted animal advocates against veterinarian groups and lobbyists willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars to keep the highly profitable procedure legal. The term declawing doesnt sound quite so badremoval of the tiny talons cats use to scratch. In reality, onychectomy is much more than nail removal. Whether its done with inexpensive guillotine clippers (the same style used to trim cat and dog toenails) or with a laserwhich makes a cleaner cut than a clipper or a scalpelthe result is the same: an amputated paw. The rounded bones removed in declawing are the very parts that allow a cats foot to roll forward when it walks and distributes weight in the feet as it moves. Cats are thus left with reduced mobility and largely defenseless thanks to their disfigured toes, which we often dont see because their paw tissue is left in place. Declawing can also cause behavioral issuesincluding biting, litter box problems, medical complications, and aggression. In the 2016 book Complications of Small Animal Surgery, the University of Guelphs Ameet Singh and Brigitte Brisson note the risk factors for feline declawing: infection, pain and lameness, bone fragments, tendon contracture, paw pad trauma, arthritis, nerve damage, remaining bone protrusions, and nail regrowthsome of which require additional correction surgeries. They also note that cats with chronic pain syndrome [post-declaw] may also exhibit behavioral changes such as increased aggression, inappropriate urination, licking or chewing at their paws, anorexia, and aversion to having their paws touched. Without nails to defend themselves, cats are only left with teeth to bite when they wants to be left alone or are in pain. According to one of the largest scientific studies on why cats are relinquished as pets, published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (PDF), nearly 14 percent of cats are given up for household soiling (litterbox mishaps), 28 percent for acting fearful, 10 percent for growling at people, and 9 percent for biting someoneall symptoms that have been linked to declawing. A 2004 study by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy also lists house soiling and behavioral issues as top reasons owners give up their cats. And declawing can lead to further medical complicationsincluding bones spurs, partial nail regrowth, and botched proceduresthat require additional (expensive) surgeries. *** One cat owner, who asked to remain anonymous, shared a story with The Daily Beast about a veterinarian who talked them out of Soft Paws (a small, soft vinyl sheath that can be adhered to claws, rendering them incapable of piercing surfaces without affecting a cats health or abilities) and into declawing three rescued strays. The cost for the declawing was $1,300. The average vet fee for applying nail sheaths is $10 (and they must be replaced professionally every six weeks for a small fee). All three felinesTeegar, Abby, and Ryderended up with infections that eventually led to the complete amputation of their front feet. One cat even had to get its front legs removed. With costs in the tens of thousands for aftercare, the owner says their insurance company has suggested they just give up and euthanize the cats. In the later part of the 20th century, cat declawing became an increasingly common practice at veterinary clinics. Vets informed clients that declawing protected nice furniture, prevented cats from hurting humans, and provided an easy solution to making an animal more acquiescent. By the 1990s vets were offering two- or four-paw declawing as part of a boutique cat package (vaccines, spay/neuter, check-ups, declaw). It was the pet-care equivalent of asking, Do you want fries with that? when a pet owner arrived with a new cat. Our empathy for cats still has room for improvement. Comparatively, declawing dogs is unheard of. But in recent years, cat declawing is under more scrutinyalong with other elective pet procedures such as clipping bird wings so a pet cant fly away, docking dog ears and tails for aesthetics, and debarking, defanging, and tattooing animals for cosmetic purposes. One of the biggest anti-declawing boosts came from Netflix in 2014, when it started streaming Dr. Jennifer Conrads The Paw Project. The documentary follows Conrads grassroots work as she helps exotic cats (tigers, lions, cougars, and cheetahs) find relief from botched declawing jobs. As she learns of the many health and behavioral issues for large cats (and helps get a statewide California ban on exotic cat declawing passed), she turns her attention to domesticated cats. The film also documents her effort to ban cat declawing in several California towns. Along the way, the film addresses the ethical issues, medical complications, and financial rewards of cat declawing. In the film, Conrad faces opposition from veterinarians backed by aggressive lobbyists, angry that the option of declawing would be taken away from them. Meanwhile, comprehensive behavioral studies on declawing are lacking. In 2016 declawing literature disseminated by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), studies are cited with as few as 57 cats as a sample size and some rely on data collected by untrained pet owners, not scientists, doctors, or animal behaviorists. Pro-declaw vets claim the procedure is necessary for public health and to save cats from euthanasia. The AVMAs position on declawing is: The decision to declaw a cat should be made by the owners in consultation with their veterinarian. Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents an above normal health risk for its owner(s). The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) official position on declawing is: The only circumstance in which the procedure could be condoned would be if the health and safety of the guardian would be put at risk. Sounds sensible, especially coming from two of the most powerful animal and veterinary organizations in the United States. Yet neither of the leading organizations on human public health and safetythe World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommend declawing. A spokesperson for WHO pointed out to The Daily Beast they do not take a stance on the issue, seeing it as a non-threat to public health, and even pointed out several countries that ban the practice. The spokesperson from the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the CDC told The Daily Beast they do not recommend declawing in any situation, but rather dissuade immune-compromised humans from getting a cat under one year of age, as kittens tend to be friskier with their claws and bites. If a person with compromised immunity still wants a cat, the CDC suggests not playing rough with cats, washing hands, keeping cats indoors, and treating all household pets for flea prevention. No mention of declawing in their recommendations or studies. Anywhere. The bacterial infection Bartonella henselaecolloquially named cat-scratch feveraccording to numerous medical textbooks and the CDC, can be contracted from ticks, fleas, dirt with flea feces in it, or any domestic pet thats been bitten by a bacteria-inflicted flea. The only way for a human to contract the bacteria is if an open wound comes into contact with the saliva and blood of a carrier or contact with flea feces. In their FAQ, the CDC notes that if someone has been scratched by a cat, short of cleaning the wound with soap and water, there is no particular action to take. In rare cases where a cat-scratch infection shows symptoms (fever, swollen lymph nodes, pustulated wound, muscles ache), they are typically self-limitingmeaning they spontaneously healwithin 3 or 12 weeks. There are an average of 22,000 cases of Bartonella henselae in the United States each year. A 2009 study noted that 437 children (the group mostly likely to be scratched, as they play haphazardly with kittens whove not yet learned bite/scratch boundaries) were hospitalized for symptoms requiring treatment. In modern medical literature, there is one case study linked to this bacterial infection that led to fatal encephalitisin a young boy who was not immune-deficient. With these statistics at hand, it is difficult to believe declawing is necessary as a public safety measure for humans. Surveyslike the one published in veterinary journal Pulse in Nov. 2009cite human health as a reason for up to 63 percent of cat declaw procedures. The survey simultaneously cites household destruction as a reason for 95 percent of cat declaws. Some pet owners and vets appear to be twisting the last resort excuse to declaw cats that would otherwise be relinquished for scratching furniture and other possessions. Were a culture of quick-fixes. Rather than invest in proper behavioral training of a pet, providing proper exercise and cat-specific scratching posts, and learning to keep cat nails trimmed or using nail covers, we turn to declawing. An estimated 14 million cats (25 percent of total current cat population) have been declawed, according to a study by Gary J. Patronek published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Seven of the eight towns in California where cat declawing is now banned have provided reports to the Humane Society of the United States (which enthusiastically backs the NY statewide ban proposal). The Humane Society shared copies of these reports with The Daily Beast. Each reflects a decrease in the number of cats relinquished to shelters since the ban has taken effectdown by as much as 43 percent in Los Angeles. While there are a number of factors that affect the decision to leave a pet at a shelter for possible euthanasia (50-75 percent of cats never leave open access shelters, depending on the location), these reports indicate that the lack of access to declawing procedures does not necessarily lead to an increase in giving cats away to shelters. *** So why are veterinarians fighting to keep this animal surgery legal? Dr. Jennifer Conrad of The Paw Project told The Daily Beast that declawing has almost no overhead cost to vets and is typically suggested as an add-on when a cat must undergo anesthesia for other procedures, such as spaying/neutering. At an average cost of $200-$350 per cat for the 10-minute declaw procedure, with some vets running sales on declawing for as low as $75 to entice a high volume of customers, its an easy cash cow for some veterinary practices. The veterinary publication Pulse, in its Nov. 2009 issue, claimed that 5 percent of vets make over $1,000 per hour on cat declawing procedures. The Humane Society of New York told The Daily Beast that for what it costs to get one cat declawed, the same amount could save multiple feline lives in the form of medical care, adoptions, and spay/neuters (which they offer for free) to prevent cat overpopulation. Last year, New York state Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D) introduced a billsponsored by Senator Joseph Griffo (R)that seeks to change the declawing game for cats, their owners, and veterinarians. The legislation would enact a total ban on declawing statewide. The bill did not make it to the floor in 2015, but now its back in committee for the 2016 legislative season. If the bill passes this year, New York will set a monumental precedent in the protection of animal rights and veterinary ethics at the state level. According to public records available through the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics, in 2015, the New York State Veterinarians Association of Veterinarian Technicians hired a lobbying firm to block Rosenthals bill, at the cost of $18,000 plus expenses. The New York State Veterinary Medical Society retained professional lobbyists for six months at a retainer rate of $15,000 and a veterinary expert for educational purposes at a cost of nearly $11,000 to oppose the bill. NYVMS President Dean Snyder remarked in the organizations July-August 2015 newsletter (PDF) that the group founded the Grassroots Legislative Network campaign to educate lawmakers and the Committee, as well as the Assembly Majority leaders, about how this legislation would adversely affect animals and their owners. And it worked! This bill saw no other action through the end of the legislative session! Indeed, the bill never made it to the state floor for debate. This year, with the bill back in Committee, NYVMS has hired Wilson Elser, rated No. 1 in the state of New York by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, to lobby on its behalf. The firm was hired for a $75,000 retainer plus expenses. With 17 top-tier lawyers listed on their roster of lobbyists in documents filed with NYJCPE, the firm has an ample stable of influence-peddlers ready to block New York from becoming the first state to ban feline declawing. The firm has submitted their first memo (PDF) to politicians reiterating the necessary for human health argument. The Daily Beast made several attempt to contact NYSVMS and its current president for comment; the organization did not respond. On the public-facing front, vet groups in support of declawing have a different, less obvious tacticplaying victim to garner sympathy and support. In the organizations January 2016 Connections publication, current NYVMS president Susan Wylegala claimed: The increased reliance on social media for communication has added even greater implications. This past year, the impact of a cyberbullying campaign was evident in the cancelling of the AVMA [American Veterinarians Medical Association] Favorite Veterinarian of the Year contest. Its an increasingly common refrain: Vets being cyberbullied by anti-declawing advocates. The AVMA canceled an online contest claiming activists hijacked the contest, where only one of the 10 Americas Favorite Veterinarian candidates has an openly anti-declawing practice. A 2014 AVMA study found 50 percent of vets claimed bullying via Facebook, 42 percent via poor Yelp reviews, and 25 percent via other online resources. The survey reported 47 percent of vets have considered a career change due to cyberbullying. They even offer online crisis management to dues-paying members. Meanwhile, the AVMA sent out a newsletter to its 88,000 members targeting one particular bully, Lori Shepler, a former L.A. Times photographer and owner of celebrity cat City the Kitty. Shepler has become a sort of Erin Brockovich of cat declawing. She reposts vet and vet techs declaw posts (always with their names and faces blurred out) from their social media platforms and writes an opinionated blog about her anti-declaw stance and research. With only 2,300 Facebook followers seeing the anonymous material Shepler shares, and the AVMA calling her out by name as a threat to over 88,000 people, it raises the question, Whos really the bully? The Daily Beast reached out to the AVMA to give them a chance to respond to their cyberbully discussions and to inquire why they do not back the New York state ban proposal. They had no comment. Meanwhile, with income and partnerships at stake, some notable animal rights organizations have chosen not to rock the boat over the declawing ban, by remaining silent on the proposed NY bill. Reviewing the list of active supporters of the proposed legislation, there are a few glaring omissions. The Daily Beast reached out to the ASPCA to inquire why they are not vocally backing the bill, as many other humane and local animal organizations have. Their press representative told us shed get get back to us, and simply emailed us the position available on their website (and quoted earlier in this article), that makes an allowance for declawing in cases of human health interests. The Daily Beast also reached out to the largest no-kill rescue in New York, North Shore Animal League, which touts celebrities like Beth Stern and George Clooney as spokespersons and adopters. We asked their Director of Communications why, as a highly visible operation, they are not backing the NY bill to ban declawing. She told us as a non-profit they do not take a position on legislation, and said shed get back to us after speaking with the organizations executives. She did not get back to us as of press time. However, their website does indeed illustrate involvement in previous legislative activity, such as the ban on puppy mills in New York and regulation of horse carriages in New York City. Declawing is a significant income source for some veterinarian practices. And some of these medical professionals are determined to keep the archaic practice of cat declawing in their arsenal of services that benefit humans, not animals. They believe they hold the right to choose whether a cat is declawednot the state, a city, animal behaviorists, nor any veterinarians association dedicated to humane cat treatment. They are smoke screening their clients, politicians, and the public on the issueand feline victims remain helpless at their whim. WASHINGTON, D.C. Two days before the Indiana primary, where polls suggest he is poised to do very well, Bernie Sanders was as combative as he has been about contesting the Democratic National Convention during a press conference on Sunday. With no talk of how he would want to influence the party platformsomething he has prioritized beforehe simply claimed that his campaign could persuade superdelegates to come to his side based only on the conclusion that Sanders beats likely Republican nominee Donald Trump in some general election polls. If I win a state with 70 percent of the vote, I think Im entitled to those superdelegates, Sanders said defiantly, referring specifically to Washington (a state he won by a huge margin) where many elected officials still back Clinton. But even as the senator from Vermont might not be preoccupied with the longevity of his movement, once the race is said and done, some of his staunchest supporters have moved on to the next phase of the political future. In the same week that the Sanders campaign downsized its staff by hundreds, reported a comparatively low month of fundraising, and refocused a majority of resources on the final delegate-rich contest in California, another coalition was plotting the next step. Dozens of former Sanders volunteers launched Brand New Congress last week, a PAC devoted to backing candidates who mirror Sanderss progressive agenda. They hope to grow the coalition from the ground up, as Sanders did with his own campaign. America needs an honest, accountable Congress to enact Bernies program, a description for the site reads. But trying to win each Congressional seat one-by-one is impossible. So lets run one campaign to replace Congress all at once (except those already on board) that whips up the same enthusiasm, volunteerism and money as Bernies presidential campaign. Its as lofty an idea as the prospect of Sanders winning the nomination itself at this point, but its imbued with the very political enthusiasm that made him such a successful candidate. Former national organizer Corbin Trent, one of the founders of the group, thinks that Sanders has laid the groundwork for the revolution already. Overall the concept is to win a supermajority in Congress that will be able to implement Sen. Sanderss agenda as legislation, Trent told The Daily Beast. To help create a Congress that responds to the needs of working families in America rather than big donors and multinational corporations. We intend to elect a Congress that reverses our slide into oligarchy and reinstates a representative government. The focus of the project is the 2018 midterm elections for which Brand New Congress hopes to get a head start right now as Sanders fights for his candidacys life for the last two months of the campaign. According to the organizations timeline, they hope to recruit viable candidates and organizers between May 2016 and February 2017. By the following month, they want to announce in excess of 400 candidatesto fill every congressional seatand come to an agreement on central tenets of a unified platform. From then on, theyd have until November of 2018 to get the candidates names out there and campaign as hard as Sanders has campaigned this cycle. For Trent, and at this point Sanders himself, there are a number of prospective candidates who already fit the bill. They are progressive Democrats from every part of the countryracially and gender diverse with varying levels of experience in governmental office from Washington state to New York. The growing roster includes Braddock city mayor John Fetterman, who lost in a recent Senate primary contest in Pennsylvania, Pramila Jayapal, a congressional candidate in Washington, and Zephyr Teachout, running for a House seat in New York. Fetterman, a kindred spirit in ideology and larger-than-life man of the people status, expressed remorse that he wasnt able to saddle his campaign to Sanders, thinking it would have helped both of them in the state. It would have been a fabulous matchup, Fetterman, who thinks Sanderss bid is all but done, told Moyers and Company. So it just amplified my disappointment when it didnt happen because the Pennsylvania loss really is a huge setback. Perhaps he was right that a partnership would have been a smart move. Those who have joined Sanderss informal coalition so far have found their fates tethered to him; if theyre on board, they reap the benefits of name notoriety and untapped financial resources. Nowhere is that more clear than in the case of Lucy Flores, a Nevada assemblywoman who is running for Congress with a platform that echoes some of the same income inequality tenets. After Flores endorsed Sanders, the senator from Vermont attached her name to a fundraising email sent out to his vast donor network, propping her up alongside Teachout, whose insurgent 2014 gubernatorial campaign against Andrew Cuomo became the proxy model for Sanderss own New York fight. In the first few weeks of April, Flores had raised $428,000 after being named in the email, which was more than her primary opponents put together in the first three months of the year. This is very much a revolutionized way that Bernie Sanders has financed a presidential campaign, Flores, the beneficiary of such revolution, told The Daily Beast. The sentiment across the board is that this is not over. She is one of eight Democratic candidates fighting for the 4th Congressional District election in Nevada in November. And whether or not Sanders ends up being the nominee, his influence has already given her a leg up, at least in notoriety. We can be progressive Democrats and win, Flores said. I think that youre going to continue to see a grassroots movement. While Sanders may have laid the groundwork for passing down an agenda of progressive politics to the next generationin the form of providing the framework for a volunteer organization and quite literally boosting individual candidatesthe path for him is not quite as certain. Still that doesnt mean hes going quietly or that hes ready to fully transition from candidate to movement leader. The senator from Vermont has recently made it clear that he would support frontrunner Hillary Clinton, the all-but-certain nominee barring an isolated attack from an alien life form on her Chappaqua home. Yet the degree to which he will get out there on the stump for her, galvanizing this extraordinary base at his fingertips, is to be determined. Sanders has said he is waiting to see the specifics of Clintons platform to make this decision. However, he may already be overestimating the degree to which he can demand a seat at the table. The people in every state in this country should have the right to determine who they want as president and what the agenda of the Democratic Party should be, he said after losing four of the five contests on April 26, putting further daylight between him and Clinton. That is why this campaign is going to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia with as many delegates as possible to fight for a progressive party platform. The question nowas Sanders commemorated a year since he began this unlikely campaignis whether the fight for his own candidacy is more important than the political legacy hell leave behind when its all said and done. Its not just about him, its about us, Flores said, echoing a refrain that has been the central tenet of Sanderss campaign. Donald Trump has boasted about the success of his Charlottesville winery, but the policies he has promoted on the campaign trail could cause his profits to wither on the vine. And thats precisely why Big Wine is dreading the prospect of a Trump presidency. He is exactly the polar opposite of what the [wine lobby]and the countryneed on immigration and trade, a California-based wine lobbyist told The Daily Beast. I mean, efforts [in Congress] are obviously stalled right now, but Donald Trump in the White House could very well set back progress immeasurably, of course. The wine industry despises Trumps hardline positions on international trade and immigration, and a President Trump would be nothing short of hostile toward any renewed legislative movement on reform that they have spent years trying to coax through Congress. Do not get me started on this, man, another wine lobbyist tersely stated. WineAmerica, the national association of American wineries, holds immigration reform as one of its core policy positions. The association joined the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform that was formed in 2001, and devoted a lot of time and energy advocating for the ill-fated Gang of Eight bill. The wine industry relies heavily on cheap agricultural labor, including seasonal workers who arrive via guest-worker programs and visasthe kinds of programs that Trump says he hates even as he takes advantage of them as a businessman. The Wine Institute, a political-advocacy organization for all things wine, would see little worth liking in a Trump administration. The group is run by Bobby Koch, a Democratic donor who happens to be the brother-in-law of Jeb Bush, one of Trumps top political enemies and former 2016 rival. The Institutes political action committee has thrown money at a bipartisan array of politicians and PACs this cycle, including Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton, and the pro-Jeb Right To Rise PAC. They supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership (a trade agreement that Trump has relentlessly attacked), which the Institute believes will help increase U.S. wine exports and sales globally. We congratulate the [Obama] administration for its hard work and look forward to reviewing the details of the agreement and continuing to work with Congress and the Administration on the TPP, Koch said in October. Trump, for his part, has repeatedly slammed TPP as a terrible deal and insanity, and called out the lobbying outfits pushing it. The only people that are supporting it politically are people that are controlled by the lobbyists for certain companies that want this to happen because its to their advantage, not to the countrys advantage, the real-estate mogul told Breitbart News in November. Given his positions, even Trumps own winery could suffer under his administration. For example Trump Winery is set to house at least 19 immigrant workers this year (PDF). Its an odd approach for a business that he has bragged about since buying the property for $6.2 million in April 2011. During a bizarre press conference in March that sounded more like an infomercial, the Republican frontrunner touted Trump Winery, stating that, I own it 100 percent, no mortgage, no debt. (Trump Winerys website, however, explicitly states that Trump Winery is a registered trade name of Eric Trump Wine Manufacturing LLC, which is not owned, managed or affiliated with Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their affiliates.) Were very proud of of it, Trump added. We make the finest wine, as good a wine as you can get anywhere in the world. Trump also recently claimed that he owns the largest winery on the East Coast, an assertion that left many in the wine industry scratching their heads. Thats not correct, WineAmerica spokesman Michael Kaiser said at the time. And depending on how you measure it, Trump Winery is not even the largest one in Virginia. Regardless, the free publicity it has received during this campaign has given a boost to the Trump familys wine business. Business overall has been up, and the percentage increase is anywhere from 50 percent to over 1000 percent, depending on which channel, Kerry Woolard, the Trump Winery manager told The Washington Free Beacon. Since the [March 1] Super Tuesday event, I would say its bumped up again, particularly online sales. The winery is now also selling the Trump campaigns Make America Great Again hats, in three different colors. And it might be the only winery in America that considers Trumps presidential bid as good for business. Imagine a car dealership lot, but with much larger machines for farm work, and you have an idea of what S.S. Equipment offers. The business sells, rents and repairs tractors, orchard equipment and other farm machinery, and that includes everything from used lawn mowers to brand new combines that can go for up to $500,000. Some of our customers are 10-acre customers. Some of them are 5,000- to 6,000-acre customers. Some of them are hobby farmers, and some of them are serious farmers, said Bob McKee, salesman. About six months ago, S.S. Equipment moved into its new space just off Highway 34, east of Corvallis. Weve upgraded our shop facilities by coming here. We have more exposure for the public, and its a bigger facility than we had before, said McKee. The business sells parts and the shop services equipment both new and old. And ancient. A farmer with a 1940s tractor is a regular client, McKee said. The business was formerly the South Corvallis New Holland store, but S.S. Equipment, which has a dozen stores in the Northwest, purchased it in February 2014. The S.S., by the way, stands for super store. With all of its stores, S.S. Equipment is the largest New Holland franchise in the Northwest, though the business also offers other lines of equipment. Were cheaper on a lot of our items than competitors. Were bigger, so we can operate on a smaller profit range, McKee said. And New Holland has been known for quality and advanced farm technology for years, said McKee, who worked for New Holland for 20 years before the switch. Combines and wind rowers have been the most popular items for the business because of the grass seed industry, but the rise of local hazelnut farms has led to new specialty orchard machines being offered at the store. The Corvallis-area business serves customers from north of town to the California border, so McKee has to have a bit of knowledge about a multitude of crops, including wine grapes, hay and more. Theres so much diversity here, its unreal. There are lots of specialty crops in Oregon, he said. S.S. Equipment, 34033 Excor Road S.W., is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 541-757-8112 or go to www.sseqinc.com/. Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp announced this morning that the Riverside campus soon will be transformed into a multi-million technology and testing research hub, while a unique educational center will be built along side it. The 1,900-acre campus adjacent to Texas 47 and Texas 21 land developed in 1942 for the Bryan Army Air Base and acquired by Texas A&M 20 years later already is home to the Texas Transportation Institute and Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, both of which are recognized internationally. Those programs will be enhanced, as private companies will be recruited to bring their technology - mainly transportation-related - to the Bryan campus for testing and to work with researchers in innovative ways. Driverless vehicles is just one example given. Sharps remarks were made in front of an ideal audience senior executives of private companies and public agencies engaged in innovating, testing and deploying advanced transportation technologies. The invitation-only Texas A&M Transportation Technology Conference at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. Many in the crowd pulled out their cell phones and started texting when Sharp revealed that they're already in talks with Kubota Tractors. He invited the executives to get in touch with him, promising that the system wants to secure their business. It is a big idea and it is important that the Texas A&M University System nurture big ideas, Sharp said. It is only through big ideas like this that Texas can achieve its goals for higher education. Riverside will be renamed RELLIS Campus an acronym of Texas A&Ms core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service initially will include seven newly-constructed facilities aimed at encouraging partnerships with private sector entities. The new facilities will include the previously announced $73 million Center for Infrastructure Renewal, which is intended to facilitate the development of improved methods and materials for transportation infrastructure and to educate private sector partners about how they can be applied. The according to the A&M system, the other six facilities will include the following: A $12 million Advanced Research in Transportation Technology Building for research design and testing in the growing field of automated and connected vehicles. A $12 million Cyber-Physical Research and Development Center that will be dedicated to robotics, autonomous and connected vehicle technologies and associated cyber-security facets.- $9 million centralized office and research facility that will be constructed for TEES.-A $6 million Safety Process Center that will test and learn the safest method to operate in large chemical operations.-A $6 million Industrial Distribution Center that will investigate the best way to manufacture and distribute products.-A $7 million TEEX training facility for law enforcement. While the majority of the $150 million dedicated to the project will be used for the construction of new facilities, the remaining $25 million will be allotted for investments in infrastructure such as roads, utilities and the demolition of 32 existing buildings. Texas A&M Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering Katherine Banks said in a press release following the announcement that thanks to state appropriations and donations, the entire $150 million for the project has already been committed. Banks added that construction on the Center for Infrastructure Renewal is expected to begin by this fall and the $25 million in infrastructure to the campus upgrades should be completed by the end of 2017. This is not a pipe dream, Banks said. It is going to happen. Both Bryan Mayor Jason Bienski and College Station Mayor Nancy Berry praised the project as having the potential to be an economic win for the area. This investment could be a game-changer for the region, Berry said in a statement. It will bring technology companies and major investment to our community as well as economic opportunity to our residents. We appreciate the Chancellors strategic vision and we look forward to assisting the A&M System with the implementation. The systems three state agencies the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute which currently operate on the campus will still remain and be the primary occupants at the site. The A&M System took over the Riverside Campus from Texas A&M University in September 2015. Before being deeded to Texas A&M in 1962, the site was the Bryan Air Base, a training facility that taught pilots during World War II. Making a return to our two favourite summer locations, Mount Maunganui and Nelson in early January 2023, we've got whiff of the first release lineup and me oh my, yes boy The biggest battle on the November ballot in Oregon likely wont be for any of the statewide offices: All the indications continue to be that the big brawl will be over a corporate sales tax. The latest sign came last week, when a grocers coalition announced that it was suspending its plans to push for privatized liquor sales in Oregon in order to focus its efforts on defeating whats currently known as Initiative Petition 28. (The coalition had other reasons to suspend the privatization effort, mainly that a legal fight over the wording of the initiatives ballot title would have made it difficult to gather the required number of signatures by the deadline.) So the fight moves to Initiative Petition 28. Thats the measure that would tax certain corporations 2.5 percent on their annual Oregon sales over $25 million. The smart money says that the measure easily will collect the signatures necessary to place it on the November ballot. And then youre likely to see a donnybrook that will make the battles over Ballot Measures 66 and 67, which raised taxes on businesses and the wealthiest Oregonians, seem like a pillow fight. Already state lawmakers have expressed concerns about the battle thats about to break out over Initiative Petition 28: Senate President Peter Courtney, for example, has missed no opportunity to compare the coming fight to the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. And state Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, has called for the governor and the Legislature to work on an alternative, lower corporate sales tax bill. Hass has worried that the ballot measure would trigger a nasty fight between unions and businesses, with a campaign price tag that almost certainly will overshadow the spending for the governors race. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber was worried about such a no-holds-barred battle between unions and business, and was working behind the scenes to prevent that, before his resignation last year. His successor, Kate Brown, hasnt taken a public position on the measure. She could be working behind the scenes, but Brown who rarely tips her hand on issues like this isnt saying. Its certainly not out of the question that the Legislature could try to step in to pre-empt Initiative Petition 28: The Legislature did something similar in its short session earlier this year when it approved bills increasing the states minimum wage and weaning Oregon away from coal-generated power. Legislators said both bills were necessary to attempt to forestall even more aggressive ballot measures. But the Legislature would need to act pretty quickly to stall Initiative Petition 28; the special session likely would need to be held sometime in the next couple of months, and a solid deal with wide support would need to be in hand before legislators gathered. One key moment will come in May, when lawmakers are scheduled to meet for interim hearings. State economists are working on an analysis of the tax measure, and the results of that analysis could be ready by those meetings. Nevertheless, the battle lines already are forming: Proponents of the tax increase say its needed to make sure that the states largest companies are paying their fair share toward vital state services such as education. Opponents are arguing that such a huge tax increase will cement Oregons reputation as being anti-business, will chase businesses out of the state and that consumers will end up footing much of the bill for the increased tax anyway. Maybe Courtney and Hass (and maybe even Brown) can work out a cease-fire. At this late date, though, our guess is that its only a matter of time before the shooting starts. (mm) Students at Callaway Elementary are excited to receive new books to kick off their summer reading goals. To help get kids reading more books this summer, bestselling childrens author Dav Pilkey is a giving free books to schools across the country. Pilkey gave the books to every student at 50 schools nationwide, including every student attending Callaway Elementary. Our students were thrilled to hear the news, said School Librarian Carolyn Sharpe. When Mr. (Jason) Guilliams shared the news during the morning announcements, you could hear the cheers reverberating through the halls. I am delighted they will each receive a book to kick off their summer reading. More than 4,000 educators entered the first Dav Pilkey Be a Reading Superhero Educator Contest, and one school from each U.S. state was selected as the winning school. Each of the winning schools received a new Scholastic book for every student in the school to take home to kick off summer reading. The contest is in support of the 2016 Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge a free reading program that helps kids take a summer leap into books and keeps kids reading all summer. Parents and educators can learn more about the challenge and register kids to participate at www.scholastic.com/summer. The complete list of winning schools is also available online. Educators who entered the contest were asked to fill out an online application posing the question: Please tell us what you are doing to help get your students reading this summer? As the librarian, I open the school library to our students several times during the summer, so they may come in and check out books, Sharpe said. Teachers volunteer their time to read stories and play board games with our students. I also send home a reading packet during the last week of school filled with suggestions for reading websites, age appropriate books and a listing of all childrens events hosted by Franklin County Public Library. Other examples of winning entries included educators using their personal funds to fill a backpack of books for every student and hosting special book-themed events, such as reading parades or a library day at the local community pool. When it comes to kids and reading, theres no such thing as a guilty pleasure, said Dav Pilkey, international bestselling author and creator of the phenomenally popular Captain Underpants series. Even though I struggled with reading growing up because of my dyslexia, I was fortunate to have parents who encouraged me to choose the books I wanted to read silly books with tons of illustrations that made me laugh out loud. And if it werent for these books that motivated me to keep turning the page, I wouldnt be the writer I am today. Summer is a great time to discover the fun and joy of reading and I am honored to be the global ambassador of the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge campaign. This contest shows educators consistently go above and beyond to ensure students are prepared for summer reading. From keeping the school library open over the summer to using their own personal funds to help build a childs home library, educators are true reading superheroes for their communities, said Michael Haggen, Chief Academic Officer, Scholastic Education. Thanks to author Dav Pilkey for his generosity, more kids will have access to high-quality books and discover the joys of reading for fun. We hope this, combined with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, helps support schools, families and their communities and keep children reading-ready over the summer months. This years theme for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is Be a Reading Superhero. As the 2016 Scholastic Summer Reading Global Ambassador, Dav Pilkey, together with Scholastic, launched the national contest to ensure all kids have access to great books this summer. The Summer Reading Challenge is a free, global reading program that encourages kids to take the summer leap into reading more books this summer. Starting May 9, kids can log on, read books and keep track of their reading minutes. Throughout the 18 weeks of summer, kids will be able to unlock stories from 18 childrens authors who will share how they became reading superheroes. At the end of the summer, the school in each U.S. state, territory and in the District of Columbia that has logged the most reading minutes will be named Best in State, featured in the 2017 Scholastic Book of World Records, and will receive a commemorative plaque as well as an official Scholastic party kit to celebrate their achievement. To learn more, visit mediaroom.scholastic.com/SummerReadingChallenge and follow #SummerReading on social media. Mississippi River levels impacting Burlington tourism, barge transport The problem is especially dire on the Lower Mississippi, where low water-level barriers are restricting corn and soybean shipments to New Orleans. For nearly the last eight years I have heard and read predictions of the apocalypse due to the policies and actions of the Obama administration. While I have not always agreed with him, I will continue to support Obama. I believe he is a good and rational man with the best interests of this country at heart. I hope that the next president is as grounded and progressive as Obama. I just watched a Trump rally in Indiana following his victories of April 26. Unfortunately, it is looking more likely that this megalomaniac will win the Republican nomination. What is more, he may even win in November. Do we really want a man in the White House who wears endorsements by bullies like Chris Christie, Joe Arpaio, and Bobby Knight? Do we really want someone on the world stage representing the US who admires Vladimir Putin, cannot define the nuclear triad and believes NATO is out of date? Where are the harbingers of the apocalypse now? What was funny in November of 2015 may become a nightmare in November of 2016. The American electorate needs to wake up and realize that the presidency of this nation is not a reality television show. Whatever happened to an Eisenhower Republican and a Kennedy Democrat? Somehow, they were betrayed by the Reagan Republican and the Clinton Democrat. Somehow we need to get back to the ideas of political diversity and national unity. If Trump wins in November, I expect the lines for passport applications to be long and the ferries to Canada to be doing a brisk business. Kenneth R. England Albany (April 27) During Trauma Awareness Month in May, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood and help ensure a sufficient supply for patient emergencies. Dennis Weidner knows how critical blood products are in trauma situations. In 1996, part of his left leg was amputated following a farming accident. Through the surgeries, I received 13 units of blood, he said. Weidner now gives blood as often as he can. HARTFORD U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, following confirmation of the first death in Puerto Rico from the Zika virus, is demanding Congress fund efforts to battle the disease. Protecting families from Zikas increasing public health menace should be a priority, not a partisan issue, said Blumenthal, D-Conn. An immediate, comprehensive response to this growing threat is necessary now, but Republicans have blocked action. NORWALK An intoxicated Bridgeport man allegedly slammed into the back of stopped vehicle on Sunday night on Connecticut Avenue, and then took off from the accident scene, police said. At approximately 8 p.m., police say the suspect, Piotr Mieszkowski, rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped at a red light. After striking the vehicle, Mieszkowski allegedly fled from the scene, police said. NORWALK Forensic evidence left at the scene of a 2015 Norwalk home burglary has led to the arrest of a Hamden man, police said. On Dec. 3, 2015 a resident of Ponus Avenue contacted police to report that their home had been broken into and items were stolen. The resident stated to police that they arrived home at around 3 p.m. to find broken glass and an open front door. They reported that laptops and jewelry were missing from the home. The Norwalk Police Departments Detective Bureau assumed the investigation, and while processing the scene, observed blood on the broken glass. That evidence was sent to the Connecticut State Forensic Laboratory for DNA testing and police said they received a positive hit for career criminal Edward Gladwell. Detectives obtained a search warrant for confirmation DNA from Gladwell, who is currently incarcerated in New Haven. On Friday, April 29, the suspect was brought to Norwalk Superior Court, where Norwalk police served an arrest warrant. Gladwell has burglary convictions out of New Haven dating back to 2006. He pleaded guilty to burglary charges in July 2006, in November 2008 and in May 2010. He was sentenced to six years in jail in 2010 and was given four years of special parole. Gladwell, 46, of 94 Melrose Drive, Hamden, was charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, and criminal mischief. May 1 Jose Morel-Muhguia, 39, of 1522 Iranistan Ave., Bridgeport, was charged with evading responsibility, failure to drive in proper lane, and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was given a court date of May 12. Piotr Mieszkowski, 38, of 33 Boston Terrace, Bridgeport, was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, following too closely, evading responsibility, failure to have headlights lit, and operating a motor vehicle with no insurance. He was issued a $500 fine and given a court date of May 11. Keidy Alvarez, 37, of 86 Roberts St., Shelton, was charged with second-degree breach of peace. He was given a court date of May 12. Maria Torres, 59, of 16 Fairweather Drive, Norwalk, was charged with disorderly conduct. She was given a court date of May 2. Luis Torres, 40, of 16 Fairweather Drive, was charged with disorderly conduct. He was given a court date of May 2. Norbert Larborfavi, 41, of 6927 59th St., Masbeth, N.Y., was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, failure to drive in the proper lane, and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was issued a $96 fine and given a court date of May 11. April 30 Sergio Hernandez, 43, of 159 Main St., Norwalk, was charged with disorderly conduct. He was issued a $1,000 fine and given a court date of May 2. Ana Paez Marte, 24, of 506 95th St., New York, N.Y. was charged with disorderly conduct. She was given a court date of May 2. April 29 Kristin Edwards, 45, of 76 Noroton Ave., Darien, was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. She was issued a $2,000 bond and given a court date of May 9. Michael Sierman, 35, of 15 Madison St., Norwalk, was charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license and following too closely. He was given a court date of May 3. Edward Gladwell, 46, of 94 Melrose St., Hamden, was charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, and criminal mischief. He was given a court date of April 29. Otis Linton, 45, of 46 High St., Stamford, was charged with failure to insure private motor vehicle. He was given a court date of April 29. NORWALK Thelma Cookie Middleton, a known prostitute from Norwalk, was last seen on Nov. 22, 1980 entering a dark blue car with a gray-haired man. Less than an hour later she was dead, her bullet-riddled body dumped on the side of the road near Taylor Farm. The shooting death of the 32-year-old woman remains unsolved and is being brought to light by the Norwalk Police Departments (NPD) Cold Case Unit. According to police, Middleton was a prostitute that worked a small area in South Norwalk. She was last seen around 5:30 a.m. entering a two-door dark blue Saab or Volvo with a white male with blonde or gray hair. The vehicle was observed heading from South Norwalk to East Norwalk over the Stroffolino Bridge, and approximately 45 minutes later her fully-clothed body was found at the entrance to Taylor Farm. The Norwalk police switchboard received a call from an unknown male caller that reported an intoxicated or injured person on the ground in front of Taylor Farm. Officer Robert Bardos responded to the scene and located Middleton lying on her back, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Several duck hunters in Calf Pasture Beach were interviewed and reported seeing no vehicles in the area upon their arrival at 6:10 a.m. One hunter stated that the body of Middleton was not there at 6:10 a.m. when he drove by. That same hunter reported hearing a gunshot from the area of Taylor Farm around 6:20 a.m., which he found unusual. Police said that various witness accounts last place Middleton in the South Norwalk area at around 5:30 a.m. One witness stated they observed Middleton as a passenger in a dark blue vehicle, possibly a Saab sedan, operated by a white male on Elizabeth Street at 5:30 a.m. heading towards South Main Street and then north. Another witness places Middleton walking on Haviland Street near Water Street. A third witness observed Middleton at the intersection of Water Street and Washington Street talking with a stopped vehicle. The witness reported seeing Middleton get into this vehicle, which then drove off over the Stroffolino Bridge toward East Norwalk. Evidence collected in the case will be sent to the state of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory for DNA examination as well as a re-examination of ballistic evidence. Close to 50 percent of Norwalks cold cases could be solved with DNA testing, which wasnt available decades ago, NPD Cold Case Unit investigator Lt. Art Weisgerber said. The state is now validating a new DNA kit, which is a more sensitive test that helps overcome the degradation in older cases, Weisgerber said. They (cold cases) are open, theyre just suspended as we go through them to see what cases are viable for todays forensic technology. Anybody with information is asked to contact Sgt. Alex Tolnay at (203) 854-3046 or atolnay@norwalkct.org. Anonymous Internet tips can be sent through the Norwalk police website: norwalkpd.com. Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing NPD into the text field, followed by the message and sending it to CRIMES (274637). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK As Norwalk continues to develop, a select group is working to preserve the natural landscape. The Norwalk Land Trust properties make up almost 100 acres of open space in Norwalk, preserving nesting and foraging habitats for at least 10 endangered species of wildlife that claim the city as home, according to the latest listing from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection in Hartford. Land Trust president John Moeling said the presence of these species, which range from birds to bats to frogs, has been recorded on three Land Trust properties including the Farm Creek Nature Preserve in Rowayton, the White Barn Preserve in the Cranbury District and Hoyt Island off Village Creek in South Norwalk. We provide almost 100 acres of habitats so these species arent interrupted, Moeling said. We put in a lot of work to make sure the wildlife can survive here. At the White Barn Preserve, for example, area development and construction is cause for concern when it comes to keeping the stream a lone tributary of the Saugatuck River clean and safe for the wildlife that calls it home. DEEP reports there are 24 endangered species, 15 threatened and three special concern species in Connecticut. In Norwalk, the endangered little brown bat has found refuge at the White Barn Preserve, as have two threatened species, the great and snowy egrets. Special concern species at the preserve include the spotted and Eastern box turtles. On Hoyt Island, four threatened birds have moved in including the bald eagle, great and snowy egrets and the American Oystercatcher. Moeling said there are likely more than 10 species in Norwalk, and the Land Trust is working hard to identify and protect them. The Land Trust is a volunteer organization, with more than 400 regular paying member donors who help fund the preservation of the NLT properties as well as the NLT schools program. Even with the presence of these species, Molting said the Land Trust has had to compete with developers to keep the land and surrounding areas as clean as possible. Norwalk is really intensely built up and we have very little open space and we have to fight like tigers to keep it, Moeling said. NORWALK -- Connecticut may be the "land of steady habits," but when it comes to municipal leaders, most mayors and selectman face the biennial possibility of being fired by voters. Norwalk is poised to become the 29th out of 169 cities and towns to give its chief executive four years in office. "A four-year term makes abundant sense," said Bill Fitzgerald. As chairman of Norwalk's bi-partisan Charter Revision Commission, Fitzgerald and six other members spent the winter investigating mayoral term lengths for the City Council. Commissioners unanimously supported giving future mayors two additional years in office. "A new mayor would have arguably a learning curve," Fitzgerald said. "And to spend the first year learning and the second year running for re-election I don't think gives the mayor sufficient time to learn the position and to be judged on his or her performance." Current Mayor Harry Rilling, a Democrat, agreed. And Rilling added that appointed commissioners of key budgeting, planning and zoning bodies enjoy four year terms, which can complicate a new mayor's job. "Until you get people who share and will promote your vision on some boards and commissions, things don't necessarily move forward as quickly as you'd like them to," Rilling said. The commission forwarded their recommendations to the council April 5. The latter has scheduled a public hearing Monday and will vote May 24 on whether to place the mayoral term change on November's ballot. If embraced by voters, the change would impact whomever wins the 2017 mayoral contest. Rewriting the charter Norwalk City Council President Bruce Kimmel wants the charter change. Asked if a majority of city residents will back it, Kimmel said: "That's a good question. I hope so, but I'm not sure." Edward Musante Jr., president of the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, is optimistic. That group has been interested in giving mayors more time in office for years. "Any good planning effort in terms of municipal development really requires long term vision, strategy and execution," Musante said. But, he said, prior to Rilling, Norwalk's mayors "have wanted to shy away from it. It can look self-serving." "Our sense was if you can get charter revision going it was going to (be supported by voters)," Musante said. "The problem was getting it going." Several years ago then-Mayor Richard Moccia, a Republican who served in office for eight years before losing to Rilling in 2013, proposed a lengthier term, then backed off. "Let's put it this way I just didn't seem to have much support from the council on it," Moccia said. "And it was my first term in. I said, 'You know what? I've got a lot of things I want to deal with.' When I found there was opposition I let it go." Moccia recalled there was public support for the change. "When I went out in public people would tell me, almost to a one, 'Geez, you gotta run again'?" Moccia said. Dumping the 'doozies' Veteran Councilman Douglas Hempstead, himself a former mayoral candidate, said the four-year term has always been backed by the business community. "I've never heard a public outcry for it," Hempstead said, adding given the "mood of this country" regarding politicians he will be surprised if the charter change survives. Hempstead agreed that the extra years give mayors an opportunity to make and implement "tough decisions." But he also wondered if having to face voters every two years has helped impose fiscal restraint within city government. "No matter the mayor, Norwalk is a pretty responsible, fiscally conservative city," Hempstead said. "And that's been under Republican and Democratic mayors. I don't know if that's been part of the success the fact you're accountable every two years. In a four year term you can throw out a couple of heavy tax increases, and by the third and fourth year not (raise taxes)." Hempstead said he is also worried about voter turnout in non-mayoral elections given the Charter Revision Commission did not recommend similarly lengthening council members' terms from two to four years. Kimmel said one concern is that four years is a long commitment when it comes to running for council and could dissuade candidates. He also said maintaining voters' ability to shake-up the council ever two years might not be a bad idea. "We've just had two real doozies (members) on the council and it was tough enough living with them for two years," Kimmel said. NORWALK Marcus Lee is like most 12-year-old boys. He likes to build with Legos, play video games and read comic books. He hates having his picture taken and doesn't trust strangers, but those who know him are privy to his quirky sense of humor. Some things set him apart from his peers, though. Lee is quick to get angry and hard to console, suffers from frequent headaches and often has trouble communicating effectively. At 4 years old, some of these traits had already become apparent, leaving his mother, Veronica Norris, concerned. She took him to a routine medical appointment where his pediatrician also noticed that something wasn't quite right, identifying potential symptoms of ADHD such as trouble focusing and sitting still, a quick temper and delayed speech. A slew of tests revealed something worse. "It wasn't ADHD," Norris said. "It was lead poisoning." Blood tests showed Lee's blood lead levels were at 47 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated there is no safe blood lead level, but anything over 5 micrograms is enough to severely affect physical and mental development in children under 6 and is required to be reported to state and local health departments and the EPA. Lee is one of 66 Norwalk children with active lead poisoning cases at the city Health Department, a problem that's only getting worse despite efforts by the city Health Department to intervene with its Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program, run by Nora Llach. Norwalk is fifth in the state for active lead poisoning cases, only behind Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven and Bridgeport, which in 2013 had 402 active cases, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health's most recent available data. "A lot of things aren't preventable," Llach said. "Lead poisoning is 100 percent preventable, and yet it's still a problem. It's our goal to stop that." Symptoms and diagnosis While the detrimental effects of lead have long been known, the water crisis in Flint, Mich., which left upwards of 6,000 children with dangerous levels of lead, has brought the topic back to the forefront of national conversation, sparking concern among area families about their children's exposure to the toxic heavy metal. In Norwalk, the problem doesn't come from water though. Health department officials said all cases in this area are caused primarily by lead dust from paint in older homes that haven't been maintained appropriately, a situation Norris and her family are all too familiar with. As a toddler, Lee spent most days at home with his grandma while Norris was at work. Together, they played inside on rainy days, and when the sun was out, in the side yard of their rental on Lowe Street. After about a year of living in the home, Lee began to exhibit symptoms such as aggression, vomiting and severe headaches that would cause him to bang his head on the ground. Unable to communicate his pain due to delayed speech caused by the lead coursing through his bloodstream, Lee's outbursts worsened. When he was finally diagnosed with lead poisoning, the health department came to inspect their home, a step taken in every case of lead poisoning where a child has blood lead levels over 15 micrograms. "It was so bad, they said it was in the dirt," Norris said. "The carpets were full of lead, the paint was peeling and there was lead dust everywhere. We obviously couldn't stay there anymore, but the damage had already been done." Though it was banned from use in paint in 1978, the EPA estimates roughly 70 percent of Connecticut homes contain lead paint. Lead poisoning caused by lead dust disproportionately affects children from low-income families in Norwalk who tend to rent or own older homes in the South Norwalk region of town. The Norwalk Health Department assists families with relocation when elevated lead levels are present, but due to a lack of lead-free affordable housing in Norwalk, many are forced to relocate out of the city. "Especially in New England we've always had a high concern for lead poisoning because we have a higher density of older homes," said David Deegan, an EPA spokesman from the Boston regional office, which covers Connecticut. "We have a higher proportion of housing that may still have lead paint on walls and around windows. Obviously it's a real concern for a lot of lower income people, because if the house is not well maintained and it's deteriorating that's how kids can be exposed to it." Llach said both the state and local health department have worked hard to develop outreach programs to contact, educate and test those communities most at risk, but even so, some families fall through the cracks. A single mother, Norris was working constantly and renting the home with her mother. She said she didn't even consider the possibility that lead in the walls would harm her family. "You never hear about it and you don't really think about it," Norris said. "You trust that the place you're living is safe now looking at it, how did I not know? Once a child has it, it ruins their whole life, it takes everything away from them. It broke my heart." Testing and prevention State law requires all health providers in Connecticut to conduct universal blood lead testing in children younger than three years old. According to the Norwalk Health Department, most providers test at 12 months and 24 months of age during well-child visits; however, the 2013 Annual Disease Surveillance Report from the Connecticut Department of Health shows only 50 to 60 percent of Norwalk children are tested twice for lead before age three, a statistic Llach said is probably about the same this year, though the current report has yet to be released. Darleen Hoffler, supervisor for clinical services at the Norwalk Health Department, said it is difficult to test all children, especially those from low income families who may not see a doctor regularly after age 2. Although lead paint is present in most homes in Norwalk, Llach said there are ways to live safely with lead in the home. The department provides resources on its website and at the office for those who are concerned about the presence of lead. In Lee's case, Norris said he had been tested when he was younger, but they moved into the home on Lowe Street after the age at which children are normally tested. They lived in the home for almost a year before Lee was diagnosed with lead poisoning. "Sometimes I think if I had been home more, maybe I could have caught something," Norris said. "But I was a working single mother and it was hard. I'm lucky with my job now I'm afforded the luxury of staying home more." Treatment and recovery After his diagnosis, Lee was rushed to Norwalk Hospital, where he spent several days receiving in-patient treatment. Over the next few years, he received chelation treatment -- a medical procedure that helps remove heavy metals from the blood -- until his lead levels reached 26 micrograms. Due to the risks associated with chelation, doctors said at that point the lead would have to leave his system naturally. Eight years later, Lee's most recent blood test shows his blood levels are still at 5 micrograms. "We're just hoping the next one comes back even lower," Norris said. "I want it all out of his body. He's my baby." Lee still struggles with the damage caused by the lead in his system, but as the heavy metal has left his bloodstream Norris said there's been noticeable improvements. His aggression has subsided as his communication skills have improved, and after moving schools several times he's found one that accommodates his needs. Despite his improvements, the house on Lowe Street is still there, an ugly reminder that Lee's life will never be the same. "I wish they would have demolished the house," Norris said. "It's a really painful reminder, and every time we drive by Marcus says, 'Mommy that's the bad house.'" Norris and her family now live in a lead-free apartment in Norwalk, the walls of their new living room are covered in family photos and certificates of Lee's accomplishments: A science fair participation certificate and an award for "providing comic relief," a certificate for "strong independent reading skills" and one for "showing good sportsmanship." "I gave him the name Marcus Lee because it's a strong name," Norris said. "It's the kind of name I can see up in lights somewhere, 'Marcus Lee,' he's going to be great, do great things with his life. He's worked so hard and come so far, and I'm just so proud of him. He's my pride and joy." It is critical and past due that Gov. Dannel Malloy and especially Connecticut Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell look at the inequity in funding of the students who attend the Bridgeport Public Schools as compared to the more affluent suburban school districts in Connecticut. As indicated in a recent op-ed commentary that appeared in various Connecticut newspapers, Interim Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools Frances Rabinowitz succinctly and dramatically pointed out how drastically underfunded the students who attend the Bridgeport Public Schools are as compared to the more affluent school districts in the Connecticut suburbs. Superintendent Rabinowitz cited, for example, the disparity in per pupil expenditure in Bridgeport in the amount of $13,923 compared to the Westport Public Schools where the per pupil expenditure for the upcoming school year amounts to $19,747, a difference of nearly $6,000 per student. Needless to say, this glaring inequity should be a disgrace to the State of Connecticut as well as for every citizen, whether suburban or urban, who need to be made more aware of how this woeful inequity impacts the students who attend the Bridgeport Public Schools. As Rabinowitz pointed out, the inequity in funding between Bridgeport and Westport students results in class sizes of 29 for Bridgeport elementary and middle school as compared to class sizes of approximately 20 students in Westport. Can you imagine the uproar that would be generated among suburban parents if their children were exposed to classes of 30 children? As a former elementary school principal for more than 30 years with the Fairfield Public Schools, I know from experience that if parents in my school were told that their children would be in a classroom of 30 students, the parents would rightfully be furious and up in arms! In light of this glaring inequity in school funding between the more affluent suburban school districts and urban districts in Connecticut such as Bridgeport, isn't it time for Commissioner Wentzell to reassess her priorities? It is her responsibility as well as the State of Connecticut to ensure that all students attending public schools in Connecticut are entitled to an equitable education. What is equitable about children in Westport having classes under 20 students and a child in Bridgeport in a class of 30 children? Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders had this to say about the educational inequities that exist in our society and a school district's dependency on local property taxes. He cites the fact that schools in the more affluent suburbs have "great schools" whereas schools in the poorer, inner-cities of our nation are "substandard." Moreover, he advocates that the federal government needs to play a more active role in order to "make sure that those schools who need it the most get the funds that they deserve." Educators and parents in Connecticut are aware that Wentzell is a huge advocate of standardized testing in Connecticut. Moreover, when the inner-city schools do not score as well as their suburban counterparts, Gov. Malloy and Commissioner Wentzell are also advocates of closing public schools in cities such as Bridgeport with their low test scores and replacing them with charter schools. Sadly, what also appears to be ignored by Malloy and Wentzell is the fact that the achievement gap between urban and suburban schools is more attributable to poverty more than any other factor, yet the Bridgeport teachers must bear the brunt and blame for the lower test scores and the inequities in school funding. In light of the above, as a former educational leader with many years of experience and with a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, I have an innovative research proposal for Wentzell's consideration in order to help rectify the consistent underfunding of the Bridgeport Public Schools. I would propose a longitudinal research study beginning with the incoming kindergarten class in September of 2017 in the Bridgeport Public Schools and for the longitudinal study to continue for a period of 13 years when these kindergarteners will be graduating from high school. My proposal would be for the State of Connecticut spearheaded by Education Commissioner Wentzell to apply for the funds from the federal Department of Education and from whomever is appointed as the new Secretary of Education in January of 2017. Hence these funds, if approved, would enable Commissioner Wentzell as well as the State of Connecticut to provide this federal funding directly to the Bridgeport Public Schools in order to provide a per pupil expenditure for the next 13 years that would exceed Westport's per pupil expenditure in the amount of $5,000 annually. In addition to lowering class size, the extra federal funds could also be used to provide other crucial resources in a typical public school that are commonly found in the more affluent suburban school districts. Hence, as part of the longitudinal research project those education officials conducting the research will examine standardized test scores and compare Bridgeport test scores for the next 13 years with other urban school districts in Connecticut such as Hartford, Danbury and New Haven who are not receiving the extra funding. In addition, as part of the longitudinal research study, a comparison by those conducting the research will be made in the year of 2030 regarding the percentage of Bridgeport students in the class of 2030 who go on to accredited four year institutions of higher learning upon graduation as compared to other urban school districts in Connecticut who are not receiving the additional federal funding. Needless to say, it will be interesting based on this study whether adequate funding of an inner-city's school district will impact the achievement and graduation rates and, if successful, would also be a useful tool for the Federal Department of Education in Washington, D.C. to consider for other inner-city school districts in the nation. Joseph A. Ricciotti, Ed.D. is a former educator from Fairfield. Last years flooding was caused by heavy, late-spring snow and rain in Wyomings eastern desert plains. Then the rain continued. The lake rose 5 feet in May. At peak flows in June, the North Platte delivered about seven times more water than normal into Big Mac. The reservoir rose nearly 2 feet during the first week of June. White sand beaches prized by campers, anglers and families were under water. When deputies raided Larry Tinnons auto salvage yard in Cottage Hills last month, they took note of several security cameras located throughout the business. They suspected that Tinnon, who was soon charged by the Madison County States Attorneys office with three methamphetamine-related felonies, was using the cameras to keep an eye out for police. Now the Madison County Sheriffs Department is seeking the courts permission to have that television forfeited over to them, using a pair of state drug laws: the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act; and the Illinois Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act. In a sworn statement accompanying the request, detectives noted that drug dealers frequently use security cameras to monitor their activities and to allow them to monitor their premises for police activity. It also noted that the television was connected to several security cameras at the business. Undercover drug agents reportedly made several meth purchases at the salvage yard in the weeks leading up to the April 13 raid. The business is located at 800 W. MacArthur Drive, in Cottage Hills. In addition to the television, detectives found $1,272 in cash inside Tinnons pocket, cash that they are also seeking to have forfeited. Detectives also allegedly found 3 grams of methamphetamine in his pants pocket, according to a sworn statement contained in the forfeiture papers. Police obtained a search warrant for the business after allegedly receiving several complaints related to possible drug sales and distribution at the salvage yard, according the Sheriffs Department. The business goes by several names, including Tinnon Motors, J&L Salvage and 140 Auto Parts. Tinnon, who was identified as the manager, or operator of the facility, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon. According to the charge, he possessed a Marlin Model 60 .22 caliber rifle and a .22 caliber Colt revolver at the time of his arrest. Circuit Judge Kyle Napp set Tinnons bond at $300,000. He is currently being held at the Madison County Jail. Two others were also charged in the incident. Lee Anne Edwards, 35, was living in a recreational vehicle located on the site, according to a news release from the Sheriffs Department. She was charged with unlawful delivery or possession with intent to deliver meth. Edwards bond was set at $60,000. Daniel W. Allsman, 39, who was living in the recreational vehicle with Edwards, was charged with unlawful possession of meth. His bail was set at $20,000. The Southwestern Illinois WorkNet Center has a new home at the Madison County Wood River Facility. Job seekers and employers on the lookout for the right employee can visit the Madison County Employment and Training Department/Southwestern Illinois WorkNet Center at 101 East Edwardsville Road. The WorkNet Center location in East Alton was closed recently by the Illinois Department of Employment Security and unemployment benefits will only be taken via their website, according to a news release from MCTD. Despite the change of location, job seekers and employers will see very little difference, said MCTD Executive Director Dave Stoecklin. Our goal is to continue to provide leadership in meeting the workforce needs of the area, Stoecklin said in a news release. We will continue our friendly and personal service to the community. It has always been our goal to reach out and assist with the labor needs of business, and while doing so, help those looking for new and better employment opportunities. The department has been offering services for job seekers and employers for nearly 50 years. They also offer a WorkNet center at the Bond County office at the Kaskaskia College-Greenville Education Center, at 209 North Third Street, Suite C, in Greenville. Both offices are funded by funds made available by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other grants. They provide assistance in job search, career counseling, job training, resume writing, and offer various workshops for the unemployed and those wanting to advance in their career or those interested in making a career change. A self-service resource center lab is open to the public during regular business hours, and staff is always available to help. Employers can also use the department to fund, assess and interview prospective employees at no cost. It also provides employee assessment services to local businesses at a fee for service. County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan praised the service for helping businesses staff their operations with qualified employees. It is critical to our economy to have services available that will not only attract new employment opportunities but also showcase our great workforce potential. The labor force is key to attracting new jobs to Madison County, and the Employment and Training Department are doing great work in furthering our economic base. The Madison County WorkNet Center recently offered several hiring events and workshops in December. They offered a workshop that offered job tips offered by a career specialist. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy faculty members Drs. Kelly Gable, Chris Herndon and Jessica Kerr have worked with the Illinois Pharmacists Association to develop and administer online training for pharmacists to help prevent opioid overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of opioid overdoses in the state of Illinois is increasing. Prescription pain relievers and heroin are the primary cause for these increasing rates. In 2014, the state of Illinois had an overall 8.3 percent increase rate of opioid overdose compared to 2013 when reviewing data from the National Vital Statistics System. Within local communities, alarming reports of patients who have died from an opioid overdose are becoming more common. It is known that the number of opioid prescriptions dispensed in a given year continues to increase without necessarily an increase in pain control. Chris Herndon, PharmD, associate professor in the SIUE Department of Pharmacy Practice, sees this first hand in his practice. Often times, chronic pain is multifactorial, Herndon said. Rehabilitation involves much more than medications. Unfortunately, financial barriers to a comprehensive treatment approach are often out of reach for many patients. This leads to over-reliance on medications as the only modality being used, and predictably, inadequate pain relief is the result. Patients suffering with severe pain may take prescribed medications inappropriately, take medications prescribed to someone else, or most concerning, take illicit street drugs in which little is known about what is actually being consumed. It is their hope that by further educating the community and health care professionals, everyone can join forces to stop this public health concern. This issue prompted the development of Public Act 099-0480, which was enacted in September 2015. The Act is comprehensive and has a heavy focus regarding opioid overdose and preventative measures to help decrease the death rate in the State of Illinois as well as creating pathways to assistance with treatments and preventative education in communities. A large focus of this public act allows anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, such as law enforcement officers, firemen, school nurses and other trained individuals employed by public/non-public schools to administer opioid reversal agent naloxone to any person who is having an opioid overdose. However, once all components of the training program have been completed, participating pharmacies and pharmacists can assist this population with obtaining rescue naloxone therapy and provide the required safety information regarding signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, how to provide rescue breathing, possible adverse effects of naloxone therapy, and emergent call for help by contacting emergency medical services to engage acute treatment. All of this assistance can be done by pharmacists without an individual prescription provided to the patient. Patients or caregivers will be able to go to a pharmacy and request these services assuming the pharmacy has completed the appropriate state paperwork. The Illinois Departments of Public Health, Human Services, and Financial and Professional Regulation collaborated on this venture to ensure that pharmacists are aware of the ruling and receive the recommended training to become a community resource for this epidemic. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare provider in most Illinois communities, and the use of opioid reversal agents, such as naloxone, has saved numerous lives, said Garth Reynolds, Illinois Pharmacists Association executive director. For more information contact Jessica Kerr, PharmD, associate professor and assistant chair of the SIUE Department of Pharmacy Practice at jekerr@siue.edu. Todays pharmacists improve patients lives through the medication and education they provide. Dedicated to developing a community of caring pharmacists, the SIUE School of Pharmacy curriculum is nationally recognized as a model that offers students a unique combination of classroom education, research, community service and patient care. The School of Pharmacys areas of excellence include a drug design and discovery core; pediatric practice; chronic pain research and practice; and diabetes research and practice. As the only downstate Illinois pharmacy doctorate program, the SIUE School of Pharmacy is addressing the growing need for highly trained pharmacists in a rapidly growing field. Yes, its true that the American Lung Association recently found that air quality in Madison County has been steadily improving. Still, that bit of good news is just a sliver in a recently-released 2016 State of the Air report that also gives the county an F grade and reminds residents here that they remain at risk from the health effects of unhealthy air. Compared to the 2015 report, Madison County has seen significant drops in ozone pollution, and has experienced fewer days of high ozone, commonly referred to as smog. But it also found that the St. Louis Metro area ranks as the 18th-most polluted area in the nation for ozone pollution. Thats in keeping with a trend of overall lower ozone pollution levels across the country, the report found. The 2016 State of the Air report finds unhealthy levels of ozone in Madison County, putting our local citizens at risk for premature death and other serious health effects such as asthma attacks and cardiovascular harm, said Michael Kolleng, the Healthy Air Campaign Manager of the ALA in Illinois. Across the nation, the report found continued improvement in air quality, but more than half the people in the United States live in counties that have unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution. Compared to last years report, Madison County experienced fewer unhealthy days of high ozone. The average of ozone action days decreased from 26 in the 2015 report to 19 in this years report. Kolleng stressed that ozone is harmful to public health, and especially to children, older adults and those with asthma or other lung diseases. When older people breathe ozone-polluted air, too often they end up in the doctors office, the hospital or the emergency room, he said. Kolleng attributes the nation-wide drop in ozone pollution to the cleaning up of coal-fired power plants, and cars, trucks, and other vehicles. However, Kolleng said in the release, research shows that climate change has caused warmer temperatures, which makes ozone harder to clean up. Kolleng said that particle pollution is made up of soot or tiny particles that come from coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions, wildfires and wood burning stoves and other wood-burning devices. These particles are so small they can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and can even be lethal, Kolleng said. Decreases in Madison County can be attributed partly to the clean up of coal-fired power plants and to the retirement of old, dirty diesel engines. Madison County Public Health Administrator Toni Corona said Thursday that air quality has been identified as a health priority in Madison County for at least six year now. An air quality forum is being planned for next fall. St. Clair County also received an F in the 2016 report. It had 30 orange ozone days and three red ozone action days, according to the ALA in Illinois web site. More information can be found at www.stateoftheair.org. The budget crisis in Springfield. . . blah blah blah. . . Well anyway, the state has once again closed the doors of another facility because it cant pay its bills. The latest victim - the Illinois Department of Natural Resources - recently announced that Horseshoe Lake State Park will be closed indefinitely. Horseshoe Lake State Park, located near Granite City, is one of two parks that will be shut down due to interruption of electrical and trash services. Camping at Horseshoe Lake was to begin on May 1, but will not be open. IDNR representatives said they will contact campers with reservations to work out other arrangements for refunds. IDNR spokesman Chris Young said all camping, boating and fishing activities will not be allowed for safety and security reasons. The Illinois State Comptrollers transparency website shows for Fiscal Year 2015, the Southwestern Electrical Cooperative Inc., provided utility services to the Department of Natural Resources, Corrections, Transportation and Central Management for a total of more than $200,000. Young said the state owed $829.58 for electrical service and $3,504.32 in trash service at Horseshoe Lake. Joe Richardson, vice president of communications for Southwestern Electric Co-op, said he could not confirm if the park was a customer of the electric company. It is our policy to protect the privacy of all of our customers, he said. If someone calls wanting information about a customer, I am not at liberty to give them the information. Richardson did say all customers of the company are treated equally. When the bill arrives, we give people three weeks to pay the bill. After that if the bill is not paid, the customer is subject to disconnection of services. Southwestern provides electricity in 10 counties in southwestern Illinois along the I-70 corridor for about 23,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers. State Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, said news of the park closure is frustrating. I am troubled and frustrated to hear about the closing of Horseshoe Lake State Park, he said. This great state park is a source of recreation for many people throughout my district. This is a prime example of how the budget impasse is trickling down into the facets of peoples everyday lives. We need to fix this issue and we need to fix it now. Young said more than 200,000 people visited Horseshoe Lake in 2015 and camping revenue was $9,429 per year. In addition to Horseshoe Lake, Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area is also closing due to interruption of services. Ramsey Lake is located east of Hillsboro. Young said Ramsey Lake owes $1,765.83 for electrical service. He said the park attracted 277,373 visitors in 2015 and generated $87,854 in revenue per year. Employees from the closed parks will be reassigned to other parks until the situation is resolved. Horseshoe Lake staff will report to Frank Holten State Recreation Area, while Ramsey Lake staff will reported to Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife area. The parks will open when the issue is resolved. A three-day international kite festival is providing a visual spectacular, bringing together numerous visitors to enjoy the sight of hundreds of kites. The event is being held in an urban area of Hung Yen province from April 30 to May 3 with the participation of kite makers from Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany and Vietnam. The kites can be seen on the outskirts of Hanoi, and feature various aerodynamic designs that allow them to fly unusually high. Traditional kites still make up a large number of those on display at the festival. Long, a member of a Vietnamese kite team, is configuring flutes before attaching them to a kite for a performance. A colorful flying squid beside a lizard and a dolphin. One of the most exciting parts of the event are the performances by the international teams. The performance by the Singapore team involves four kites flying to the background music of a song titled "Bonjour Vietnam". In the coming days, more than 500 kites will continue to fly, potentially attracting many more visitors to the show. It takes a lot of effort to get these giant kites up into the sky. Visitors can enjoy the kite performances while listening to the melodies produced by the Vietnamese "flute kites". Large kites require two milimeter thick fabric and hundreds of meters of string. This is also a favorite tourist destination near the Hanoi capital for many Vietnamese families. Author: Giang Huy Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rosalia Sciortino (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The exploitation, abuse and enslavement of low-skilled migrant workers in Southeast Asia continues. This makes only more blatant ASEANs failure to enforce the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers signed in 2007. The resolution to the deadlock stemming from the opposition of destination countries, particularly Singapore and Malaysia would commit ASEAN member states to align their immigration and labor laws and improve migrants working and living conditions. But how can protection for low-skilled migrants be achieved when discrimination against them lies at the core of ASEANs double standard approach to migration? Although far from aiming for full labor mobility a la the EU, ASEAN has recently budged toward more openness for selected groups of citizens. The ASEAN Economic Community, launched in December 2015, endorses the movement of professionals in eight occupations engineering, nursing, architecture, medicine, dentistry, tourism, surveying and accounting through Mutual Recognition Agreements that allow the easing of visa rules among member states. ASEAN also encourages the mobility of students, lecturers, investors and corporate executives. Yet there is still no discussion of liberalizing the flow of low-skilled workers. Reluctant to integrate them on nationalist and elitist grounds, governments in need of their labor have opted for contract-based migration of a temporary nature under bilateral agreements with the origin countries. Singapores dual-track policy encourages independent inflows for the highly skilled, but severely regulates inflows for lower-skilled workers through bilateral schemes, broker companies, work permit levies, security bonds and dependency ceilings. In Thailand, lower-skilled migrants from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar fall under a registration scheme that lies outside of that for other nationalities and types of workers and leaves them semi-undocumented and in a precarious state. Numbers do not justify such biased treatment. Low-skilled workers constitute the vast majority of Southeast Asias migrant labor. 80 percent of the 6.5 million intra-ASEAN migrants in 2013 were low-skilled, according to UN data. Thailand hosted about 3.5 million of them from mainland Southeast Asia. Malaysia and Singapore have about 1.5 million and 1 million migrant workers, respectively, from neighboring countries, particularly Indonesia. Also in 2013, the eight professions privileged in regional migration policies comprised less than 1.5 percent of ASEANs labor force. Low-skilled migrant workers are despised despite their contribution to the host country and to home countries through remittances, brokerage fees and skills transfer. Coming from weaker economies they contribute to the growth of wealthier countries in the region, compensating for an ageing and relatively prosperous population that is no longer interested in manual jobs. Demand for cost-effective migrant workers, compelled by poverty to accept lower wages and dirty, dangerous, difficult tasks, is high in labor-intensive industries such as construction, agriculture, fisheries and domestic employment. This demand is expected to grow with trade liberalization and the greater market competitiveness brought about by ASEAN integration. The oft-heard argument that contract migration is needed to regulate migration also requires scrutiny, as it may actually feed undocumented migration. Contract labor schemes are expensive for migrants and burden them with rules unsuited to their needs. Given inadequate avenues for legal migration, a large proportion migrants move through irregular means or become irregular in successive phases of the migration process by changing employers, moving to another location or overstaying their visas all forbidden under their contracts. The repeated tweaking of schemes to tighten controls has failed across the region, with business in Thailand and Malaysia the most dependent on undocumented and cheaper migrant labor. For migrants, the promised advantage of safer migration has proven to be a chimera, as their rights are violated by the same contract system that is meant to protect them. This emerged loud and clear at an unprecedented gathering of thousands of migrants, mostly women, last November in Jember, East Java. It was facilitated by the Migrant Care NGO and the National Authority for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers and the University of Jember. Systemic abuses were exposed such as migrants falling into debt due to high brokerage fees and low fixed salaries and wages, violence and harassment when work permits tie them to specific employers, the absence of rights to organize or join unions and women undergoing abortions for fear of being deported when pregnant. Discussions at the same meeting showed that the policy of ASEAN governments to bar autonomous migration by low-skilled workers, arguing that this is for their protection, is paternalistic and unsubstantiated. Yes, they are vulnerable, but it is not for lack of courage, agency and entrepreneurship: How could they otherwise migrate and survive in the direst of circumstances? Instead, it is the social and economic conditions that put them in a vulnerable position that need to be addressed. The dehumanization of migrants extends to the personal sphere. While high-skilled workers may settle with their families, low-skilled workers are accepted in contract arrangements as single persons with no provisions for accompanying spouses or regular family reunions. In host countries, low-skilled migrants are not expected to become engaged to or marry locals, since they are meant to be there only temporarily even if the reality is different. Among its other discriminatory procedures, Singapore requires low-skilled migrants to undergo HIV, tuberculosis and, if female, pregnancy testing every six months. If the tests are positive, they are returned to their countries of origin. Migrant baby births may also go against the wishes of both origin and destination countries: Thousands of children of Burmese migrants in Thailand are now stateless. Patchwork solutions to ameliorate the contract labor system, trying to stop sending or receiving workers bilaterally, or treating abuses as incidental trafficking cases addressed by rescuing and repatriating workers are insufficient. Real protection of low-skilled migrant workers can only occur if justice is placed at the center of the migration debate. To be fair to all migrants, a drastic policy shift is required to shelve contract arrangements and the dual system differentiating low- from high-skilled workers. Instead, governments should offer more than protection through reducing socio-economic gaps, endorsing decent work policies, strengthening migrants capacity to find jobs and negotiate favorable benefits on their own, consistently prosecuting exploiters, including migrants in decision-making, and formulating independent and permanent migration options for all migrants, irrespective of skill level. A truly ASEAN Community implies recognition that all migrants contribute to regional economic growth and are peoples of ASEAN. *** The writer is associate professor at Mahidol University and a visiting professor at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and emeritus regional director for Southeast Asia with the Rockefeller Foundation and the International Development Research Center This commentary will be part of the Reporting ASEAN: 2015 and Beyond series of IPS Asia-Pacific in partnership with the ASEAN Foundation. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 President Joko Jokowi Widodo visited Europe on a five-day trip last week. Jokowi was set to visit four countries, namely Germany, England, Belgium and the Netherlands. The presidential communications team said the trip would mark the first time Jokowi had met with three EU presidents the presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission. Why EU? Simply, the EU is one of Indonesias top trading partners. The trade value between Indonesia and the EU was US$26.14 billion in 2015, making it the country's fourth-largest trading partner. Meanwhile, the EU is Indonesias third largest investor, injecting $2.26 billion in investment in 2015. President Joko Widodos visit to Europe shows the government's concern over declining EU trade with Indonesia. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's exports to Europe have decreased by 5.6 percent annually over the last five years. In 2015, the overall trade fell by 11.74 percent while the balance of trade dropped 12.9 percent. Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) director Enny Sri Hartati blamed Indonesian trade attaches for not actively seeking and delivering trade information to help Indonesian traders improve their export performance. In 2015, total Indonesian trade with EU members amounted to $26.1 billion with a trade surplus of $3.5 billion. Germany is Indonesias biggest trade partner in the EU, trade with Germany amounting to $6.1 billion, followed by the Netherlands that shares $4.2 billion in trade with Indonesia. What was the focus of German visit? Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said cooperation in the education sector was the main focus of President Joko Jokowi Widodo's working visit to Germany. Fauzi Bowo, Indonesian ambassador to Germany, attributed Germanys low level of youth unemployment to professional skills gained through vocational education. Retno said enhancing cooperation in the education sector was particularly important for Indonesia, as it was now facing tighter competition following the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) at the start of the year. The issue of the death penalty arose during a meeting with German President Joachim Gauck at the president's office in Berlin. The President asked Germany to understand that Indonesias stance on capital punishment was related to the emergency status of drug abuse in the country. Indonesia has faced criticism from the international community for continuing to allow capital punishment for drug-related crimes. During the meeting, Jokowi and Gauck also discussed peace and security in both countries. Jokowi claimed that Indonesia was an example of how Islam, democracy and tolerance could go hand in hand. He said that despite being the most populous Muslim majority country in the world, Indonesia had managed to develop democracy and tolerance. Investment was also high on the agenda for the German visit. At an Indonesian-German business forum in Berlin on Monday, Jokowi tried to convince business actors to invest in Indonesia. He boasted that Indonesia had grown at 5.03 percent pace in the last quarter of 2015 despite the global economic slump. German investment in Indonesia is small compared to that of the UK or the Netherlands. According to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), German investment amounted to only $552 million between 2010 and 2015, across 547 projects, or less than 1 percent of German investment worldwide. Counterterrorism was also discussed by Jokowi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Results: What about UK? Indonesia and the UK signed agreements to tighten cooperation in five fields: the creative economy, sports, fisheries and maritime affairs, education and an agreement between Garuda Indonesia, Airbus and Rolls Royce. The MoU between Garuda Indonesia, Airbus and Rolls Royce aims to develop the capacity of the Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF). The MoU included a $1.2 billion procurement of several new aircraft engines from the UKs Rolls-Royce and the training of Indonesian engineers. The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) aims to ink 11 business agreements with UK companies totaling Rp 10 billion ($759,446), in the fields of energy, telecommunications, consumer products, agribusiness and industry. In front of the UK Parliament, Jokowi discussed Islam and democracy going hand in hand in Indonesia. Almost 3 million UK citizens are Muslim according to the Pew Research Center. Jokowi visited an exhibition showcasing five Indonesian designers, showing his support for the creative industry. During the presidential trip to London, a statement from a daughter of former PKI member shocked trip organizers. Soe Tjen Marching spoke out about her disappointment regarding Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitans refusal to apologize to 1965 victims. In the same week as Jokowis visit, a two-day symposium on the 1965 tragedy was held in Jakarta. Results: Investment deals worth a total of $19.02 billion in the energy, infrastructure, automotive and finance sectors Cooperation agreements in five fields MoU between Garuda Indonesia, Airbus and Rolls Royce The third visit was Belgium. What interests does Indonesia have in Belgium? Belgium is important because its capital Brussels is also the capital of the EU. Indonesia is trying to revive talks about an Indonesia-EU comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). Before Jokowis departure, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong stated that the initial phase of a CEPA with the EU would be discussed. The focus was to be the scope of the agreement, hence the term scoping paper. The government addressed 14 issues in its scoping paper, including as goods trade, customs and trade facilitation, technical regulations, trade in services and investment, public procurement and intellectual property rights. Kadin has prepared several recommendations for the negotiation, including the elimination of an EU ban on Indonesian airlines. Currently only Garuda offers direct flights to the EU. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has pointed out that Indonesia received almost 1 million visitors from the region last year. Talks of a CEPA were initiated in 2010 by the Indonesia-EU Joint Vision Group, but have stalled. Jokowi has requested that the Trade Ministry finish the talks within two years. A study on the CEPA was completed last year by Indonesian think tank CSIS. According to the study, a successful, comprehensive CEPA will lead to an increase in Indonesias exports by up to $1.1 billion, a continued trade surplus with the EU and more investment from the EU. On the other hand, without a comprehensive CEPA, Indonesia's exports to the EU could drop by 20 percent, or $4 billion, CSIS found. In addition to a CEPA, Indonesia and the EU also discussed forest-law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT). Improved FLEGT will help Indonesia obtain a license to export timber to Europe. Previously Indonesia has had difficulty exporting timber to the EU due to illegal logging. Results: Lastly, what news do we have from the Netherlands? The presidential visit to the Netherlands marks the first visit by an Indonesian leader to the country in 16 years, according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. This was the third visit by an Indonesian president, after Soeharto in 1970 and Abdurrahman Wahid in 2000. In 2010, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called off a planned visit after the Republic of South Moluccas (RMS) separatist group, based in the Western European country, called for Yudhoyonos arrest for human-rights abuses. Jokowi invited the Netherlands to invest in Indonesian infrastructure projects, particularly those that support Jokowis maritime sector development program. Two projects highlighted were the Sorong deep seaport and the Makassar deep seaport. The Netherlands is one of Indonesia's principal partners in trade and investment in Europe. However, the value of bilateral trade has shown a decline recently. In 2014, the trade value was $4.89 billion, while in 2015 it was only $4.22 billion. Investment from the Netherlands in Indonesia also declined from $1.73 billion in 2014 to $1.31 billion in 2015. Jokowi said the Dutch prime minister would visit Indonesia in November with a business delegation. Results: --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Arthen (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 As a young woman hopped off a motorcycle in the parking space of Paviliun 28 in South Jakarta's Kebayoran Baru area, a staff member emerged form the cafe-slash-cinema to greet and lead her inside. The young woman, named Mega, was there to attend an event labeled Bioskop Bisik (whisper cinema). Unlike regular cinemas, Bioskop Bisik is designated to help visually impaired people enjoy the silver screen, with the help of volunteers describing the scenes. Cici Suciati, the mastermind behind the event, told thejakartapost.com that she had had the idea after digital agency Think.Web, where she works as head of social media, conducted a project called YouTube for the Blind. Bioskop Bisik screens the movie "Keramat" (Sacred) for visually impaired people in Jakarta on April 17. (The Jakarta Post/Wienda Parwitasari) While we were waiting for that project to finish, we had the idea for Bioskop Bisik. The first screening was on Jan. 17 last year - we screened Janji Joni (Jonis Promise) at Galeri Indonesia Kaya [in Central Jakarta], she recalled. Partnering with nonprofit organization Mitra Netra foundation, which focuses on improving opportunities for the visually impaired, Cici reached out to the blind of South Jakarta; friendships quickly formed. During the latest get-together, 12 visually impaired people made their own way to the venue. Some took ojek (motorcycle taxis), while one group shared a mobile-app taxi. Actress Poppy Sovia, who stars in "Keramat" (Sacred), is one of the volunteers at Bioskop Bisik on April 17. (The Jakarta Post/Wienda Parwitasari) Inside the spacious area, they were busy chatting with 10 other first-timers and regular volunteers. Dina, a regular participant, said she had volunteered between five and seven times. This is a new and fun way of volunteering. I can give something to others in a way thats never been done before and Im able to see differently from their perspective, she said. Cici had nothing but praise for the volunteers: We recruit volunteers through social media; I am unendingly thankful to those willing to come and spend their weekends with us, without being paid. Megas entrance was greeted with a flurry of excitement from Dina, who walked her sightless friend to a corner table, where they sat down for a catch-up. I remember that one time I cried watching Guru Bangsa Tjokroaminoto [The Nations Teacher: Tjokroaminoto] and it was Dina who guided me through every scenes of the movie, recalled Mega. Visually impaired people walk together with the volunteers after Bioskop Bisik's movie screening of "Keramat" (Sacred) in Jakarta on April 17.(The Jakarta Post/Wienda Parwitasari) Predominantly Indonesian films are screened at Bioskop Bisik, with sponsorship from the movies director or production company. The owner of Paviliun 28 has agreed to hold the event in the second week of every month. Cici said she hoped that people would be encouraged to create this kind of activity in other parts of Jakarta. You dont need a huge team to arrange this kind of event; there are still a lot of visually impaired people out there in Bekasi and Pluit [] I hope this event can show how normal these people are; they laugh at the same jokes, they go to malls, read newspapers, take ojek. All that separates them from us is their inability to see. The theater door finally opened for the moviegoers to enter. 1986 classic Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap (Chase Me and Youll Catch Me) was being screened, and the audience settled comfortably on blue cushions big enough for three to four people, with each participant paired with one volunteer seated next to them. Soon afterwards, the opening scenes started playing on the screen, and the room was filled with the sound of whispers. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 Ten Indonesian seamen released by Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta around midnight on Sunday, having been held hostage for over a month. The airplane carrying the 10 tugboat crew members held captive by the rebels in the southern Philippines landed at 11:30 p.m, Presidential Press Bureau chief Bey Machmudin said as reported by Antara news agency. The arrival ended the men's 36-day ordeal, which began with their kidnapping on March 27. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told journalists on Sunday that the government had secured the 10's release through formal and informal networks, as well as intensified diplomacy. Meanwhile, four other Indonesians, along with more than a dozen nationals of other countries, remain in the hands of Abu Sayyaf. While the Philippine constitution forbids the involvement of foreign militaries in the country, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has said it it is ready and willing to assist operations to free the Indonesian hostages. TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said the military would in the meantime conduct intelligence operations to help secure the return of the remaining four Indonesians. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2 2016 The country is focusing on the safe release of the remaining four crewmen who are being held by the Abu Sayyaf militant group after securing on Sunday the release of 10 sailors following intensive 35-day negotiations. The company employing the 10 sailors had pledged to pay a ransom of 50 million pesos (US$1.08 million) to Abu Sayyaf but the government has not disclosed whether a payment has been made, saying that the successful negotiations involved comprehensive cooperation involving formal and informal parties, as well as an intelligence operation carried out by the Indonesian Military [TNI]. During a press conference held at the State Palace in Bogor, West Java, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said the Foreign Ministry would step up efforts to release the remaining four sailors, who work for a different company from that of the released seamen and were abducted separately by the militant group on April 16. I also thank the Philippine government for its cooperation, for without its help the release would not have come to fruition. We are still working hard to release the remaining four sailors, Jokowi said. He added that Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo would meet with their counterparts from the Philippines and Malaysia, which also has sailors kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf. The meeting will take place on Thursday to secure an agreement to provide security in the region in an effort to prevent future kidnappings. The 10 Indonesia sailors are scheduled to arrive in Jakarta from the Philippines early on Monday at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta. Two Indonesian-flagged vessels, the Brahma 12 tugboat and the Anand 12 barge, carrying 7,000 tons of coal and the 10 Indonesian crew members, were hijacked in late March en route from the Puting River in South Kalimantan to Batangas in the southern Philippines. Attending the press conference, Retno said that the Indonesian government was open to all options with regard to the negotiations but stuck to its stance to ensure the safety of the 10 sailors. Meanwhile, Gatot claimed that the TNI also had role during negotiations and expected fresh negotiations with the Philippines to release the remaining four sailors to also be successful with the launch of what he called total diplomacy. The Foreign Ministrys director for the protection of Indonesian citizens, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, refused to comment on the possibility of a ransom deal endorsed by the company of the 10 sailors. I dont know [whether the ransom has been paid], but the government is firm that it did not [make such a payment], Iqbal told The Jakarta Post. The government said earlier that it would give a green light should the company insist on paying the ransom, but it would not facilitate such a mechanism as part of formal negotiations. The release of the 10 crewmen came just one week after Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Canadian hostage after a ransom deadline passed. The 10 sailors were delivered to the local governors home before they were taken to an army base to prepare their transfer to Jakarta. They appeared tired but were in high spirits, said police superintendent Junpikar Sitin on Jolo Island as quoted by Reuters. Police and military officials said it was unclear whether a ransom was paid for the men. The Philippines rarely publicizes such payments, but it is widely believed that no captives are released without them. Abu Sayyaf, a formidable and brutal militia known for amassing tens of millions of dollars from the ransom business, is now holding 13 people, among them four Malaysian seamen and Japanese, Netherlands, Canadian, Norwegian and Filipino citizens. John Ridsdel, 68, a former mining executive, was executed on Monday by Abu Sayyaf, which kidnapped him and three others from a resort last year. His head was found in a bag a few hours after the deadline passed and a torso was discovered two days after. ___________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Miami Mon, May 2, 2016 After a half-century of waiting, passengers finally set sail on Sunday from Miami on an historic cruise to Cuba. Carnival Corp.'s 704-passenger Adonia left port at about 4:24 p.m., bound for Havana. Carnival's Cuba cruises, operating under its Fathom band, will visit the ports of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. The cruise comes after Cuba loosened its policy banning Cuban-born people from arriving to the country by sea, a rule that threatened to stop the cruises from happening. When it first announced the cruises, Carnival said it would bar Cuban-born passengers due to the government's policy. But the Cuban-American community in Miami complained and filed a discrimination lawsuit in response. After that, the company said it would only sail to Cuba if the policy changed, which Cuba did on April 22. Cuba-born passengers were aboard on Sunday, the company said. Carnival says the Adonia will cruise every other week from Miami to Cuba. Bookings will start at $1,800 per person and feature an array of cultural and educational activities, including Spanish lessons, Carnival's website says. Seventy-three-year-old passenger Rick Schneider told The Sun-Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1SH4Zi1) that he waited 60 years for the chance to make the journey. He bought a Cuban flag for the occasion, which he waved at protesters who opposed the cruises. The cruise is among the many changes in U.S.-Cuban relations since a thaw between the old Cold War foes began in late 2014. The Cuban government says the shift in policy removes prohibitions enacted when Cuban exiles were launching attacks by sea after the first Cuban revolution. On Sunday, Arnold Donald, Carnival's president and CEO, said the company worked and prepared to make the cruises a reality despite the challenges. "Times of change often bring out emotions and clearly the histories here are very emotional for a number of people," Donald told reporters." Restarting the cruises was an important element of the Obama administration's bid to increase tourism to Cuba after the Dec. 17, 2014, decision to restore diplomatic relations and move toward normalization. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar, Bali Mon, May 2, 2016 Australian national Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis, who is currently detained in Bali on allegations of child-sex abuse, could face 15 years' imprisonment if found guilty, prosecutors have said. Ellis, 70, was transferred to Kerobokan Penitentiary on Monday after the police completed his case dossier. Police handed over the dossier to prosecutors, along with the suspect and all evidence obtained. Evidence included three bicycles and a motorbike he allegedly gave to his victims. It is suspected that Ellis used such gifts to approach his alleged victims. The Denpasar Prosecutors Offices general crimes section head, Ketut Maha Agung, said that prosecutors would charge Ellis under Article 290 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on sexual abuse and the 2002 Child Protection Law. The article carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, said Maha Agung. He further claims that Ellis admitted to the allegations and conveyed his regret over the case. It is alleged that he abused 10 children. The police arrested Ellis in January, apprehending the Australian citizen based on information provided by the Lentera Anak Bali Foundation, a child-protection organization. Following up on the report, the Bali Polices women and childrens protection unit, supported by the foundation, Bali-Terre des Hommes Netherlands and Denpasars Integrated Service Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children conducted a joint investigation that began in December, which led to his arrest. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The United Nations (UN) and the government of the Republic of Korea announced the launch of the Big Ideas Competition for Sustainable Cities and Urban Communities on Monday. The competition seeks data-driven solutions to advance basic service delivery, sustainable transport and energy, resilience to natural disasters & climate change and harmonious urban environments. Engaging citizens at the forefront of collaborative design is at the core of our innovations work, said UNDPs Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Nicholas Rosellini, who is also Bangkok Regional Hub director. Given the complexities of challenges that cities in Asia are faced with, we need to encourage as well as give recognition to citizens ideas and insights in developing the next generation of innovations, he added. Residents of ASEAN countries and the Republic of Korea are encouraged to participate in the competition. The submission deadline is June 3. Applicants will compete for 11 country-specific prizes, three excellence prizes and one grand prize, with the total prize fund worth over US$35,000. I was very impressed by the ideas submitted last year, especially the breadth of creativity and the enthusiasm of respondents, said Derval Usher, head of the UN Global Pulse Lab in Jakarta. Working with citizens to address big societal challenges is an important approach to public policy, so we are delighted to be involved in the Big Ideas Competition once again. The Big Ideas Competition for Sustainable Cities is a collaboration between the Korea Association for ICT Promotion, the Korea Big Data Alliance, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning of the Republic of Korea, the National Information Society Agency of the Republic of Korea, the UN Development Programme Asia and the Pacific, UN Volunteers, and the UN Global Pulse Lab in Jakarta. The Australian governments Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also supports the competition. More information for applicants can be found on the UN Global Pulse website: http://unglobalpulse.org/news/bigideascompetitionsustainablecities (ebf) Vietnamese police have arrested and charged two men for publishing photos about the mass fish deaths online with the "intention of sparking protests" in central provinces, where people's livelihoods have been severely affected. Police in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces said they are holding Truong Minh Tam (46) and Chu Manh Son (27) in custody pending further investigation. The two suspects are accused of gathering information and photographs to publish on the internet with the aim of inciting protests. Tam and Son are accused of being hired by overseas organizations to take photos and film "sensitive" events, interview anti-state people and publish the collected materials on social media to "incite people" to stage demonstrations. The investigators said Tam got paid $400 a month for the job. Police said Tam and Son went to the Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh to carry out their agenda, which has made the security situation in the provinces "more complicated". Police seized vehicles and equipment the two suspects allegedly used to gather information. The case is under further investigation. Mass fish deaths in central Vietnam were first reported at the beginning of April. As of April 25, 70 tons of mostly demersal fish had died in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, according to official reports from the provinces. The Prime Minister has urged the ministries to find the exact cause of the disaster, while estimating the damage caused by the fish deaths and proposing support policies for affected households. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 China has denied that investments in many mega projects in Indonesia will result in a massive influx of Chinese workers, saying that Chinese workers' wages are higher than those of local workers. Indonesia has seen an increasing amount of investment from the world No. 2 economy. In the first quarter of this year, realized investment skyrocketed to US$ 464.6 million, a whopping 518.6 percent of the US$ 75.1 million year-on-year. The investment accounts for 6 percent of the combined investment realization of $7.29 billion in the first quarter, placing China in fourth position after Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. "They [Chinese-backed projects] will not use Chinese labors since the costs to employ them is eightfold compared to the local workers. If the company is rational they might not want to employ those Chinese workers," said Wang Liping, Chinese Embassy Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs, said on Monday. The Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has claimed the number of Chinese expatriates employed as part of Chinese investments had decreased over the years. BKPM said it would be prioritizing the support of China-back investments in labor-intensive projects in order to absorb the local workforce. "Currently there is no room for labor intensive industries in China. Wages are growing, and currently they [the industries] are shifting to a more consumer economy. Therefore, many Chinese industries have expressed their commitment to relocating to Indonesia," BKPM head Franky Sibarani said. According to BKPM data, realized investments from China in the first quarter this year reached 339 projects, absorbing 10,167 locals. China has secured the countrys first-ever high speed rail project connecting Jakarta to Bandung in West Java in addition to its role in the development of power plants and ports. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has uplifted service to Chinese investors with the launch of the China Desk to grab US$30 billion in investment commitment from the biggest economy in the Asia Pacific this year. The desk will be handled by officers fluent in Mandarin, similar to that at the Japan and Korea desks launched previously. "It has been delayed a bit from the previous plan to launch the desk in April. There are two main obstacles for Chinese investors in Indonesia. First, the language barrier and second, good partners," BKPM chief Franky Sibarani said on Monday in Jakarta. The language barrier, he explained, has led to undelivered complaints to the board. "Last year we helped a Chinese investor who incurred problems acquiring land in Banten. I met the president director face-to-face but then we reached a point where we could not communicate further due to a language barrier," he said. Regarding local partner recommendations, the BKPM and Chinese government agreed to narrow the source of partners to only two, the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia and the BKPM, to make it easier to track problems with local partners. Chinese economic and commercial counselor for Indonesia Wang Liping applauded the new desk. "This is beneficial to increase economic cooperation. Indonesia is currently number nine on Chinas investment destination list," Wang said. The BKPM recorded last year $21 billion in investment commitment from China. Of the amount, the agency has seen $2.1 billion realized commitment. With the new China desk, the agency targets a 42.86 percent commitment increase to $30 billion this year. In the first quarter of 2016, Chinese investors realized $0.49 billion in investment, making it the fourth-biggest country investing in Indonesia during the period, after Singapore ($3.02 billion), Japan ($1.67 billion) and Hong Kong ($0.53 billion). "Realization has increased 518.6 percent from $75.1 million in the first quarter of 2015. There has been an increasing trend over the past two years," Franky said. During the first quarter of the year, the BKPM promoted Indonesias investment potential in four cities in China, namely Shanghai, Beijing, Huzhou, and Dongguan. It attracted $10.8 billion in commitment. Five prioritized sectors for Chinese investors are infrastructure, agriculture, maritime and tourism. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Severianus Endi (The Jakarta Post) Pontianak, West Kalimantan Mon, May 2, 2016 The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) said a DNA test had proven a bone-like material confiscated by Supadio Airport authorities during a recent passenger security check was not a rhinoceros horn. The agency said an extraction process performed by the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta on a 125 cubic centimeter sample could not find any rhinoceros DNA in it. The test also failed to determine the type or species of the sample as it was contaminated with the DNA of other species, the agency added. BKSDA West Kalimantan head Sustyo Iriono said the DNA test result would not stop his agency from making other efforts. Together with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia, Sustyo said, the BKSDA would send the sample to other institutions to get more opinions. Kalimantan Island has many rare animal species that have not yet been discovered. Rhinoceroses have been detected physically in East Kalimantan. It is possible that this animal has its habitat in West Kalimantan. We have moved our informants in remote villages to detect the rhinoceros habitat while we monitor other endemic animals, Sustyo told journalists in Pontianak on Thursday. Earlier, the BKSDA West Kalimantan and WWF Indonesia sent the bone-like sample to the Eijkman Institute on March 16. The sample, which was quite similar to a rhinoceros horn, was confiscated from a flight passenger who left luggage at Supadio Airport in Pontianak. WWF Indonesia manager program for West Kalimantan, Albert Tjiu, said the rhino-horn-like material smelled good. It also had bone or fossil characteristics. We suspected that this material had been contaminated with sandalwood oil needed for a ritual. It is possible that the oil absorption has damaged its tissues so that it is difficult for us to identify what species it is, said Albert. The presence of rhinoceros in Kalimantan has been previously doubted by several parties because this species is known to have its natural habitat only on Java and Sumatra. In 2013, WWF Indonesia found footprints of rhinoceros in West Kutai forests in East Kalimantan. The finding was confirmed in March when conservation officials managed to catch a 10-year-old female rhinoceros, which needed to be treated as its leg had become infected from wounds inflicted by traps of wildlife hunters. Unfortunately, the rhino named Najaq did not survive. The presence of endemic Kalimantan animals other than orangutan and hornbills needs to be introduced to the public. This will hopefully move them to play greater roles to collect information and report findings of species that have never been known before, said Albert. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Brian Rohan (Associated Press) Cairo Mon, May 2, 2016 Egypt's journalists' syndicate called for the dismissal of the interior minister and an immediate sit-in at its headquarters in downtown Cairo on Monday, to protest the police detention of two journalists on its premises the night earlier. After an emergency meeting in the early hours of the morning, the group called for the "open-ended" sit-in to run through a Wednesday general assembly meeting and World Press Freedom day on May 3. Later Monday morning, dozens gathered at the steps of the building, chanting "journalists are not terrorists." They plan for a larger demonstration Monday afternoon. The syndicate described the police's entry into the building as a "raid by security forces whose blatant barbarism and aggression on the dignity of the press and journalists and their syndicate has surprised the journalistic community and the Egyptian people." Some syndicate members have said the raid was heavy-handed, involving dozens of officers and resulted in a security guard being injured. Police denied they entered the building by force and said only eight officers were involved, who they said were acting on an arrest warrant for the two journalists accused of organizing protests to destabilize the country. Unauthorized demonstrations in Egypt are banned, and demonstrators subject to arrest. "The Ministry of Interior affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two, who turned themselves in as soon as they were told of the arrest warrant," the ministry said in a statement. The two journalists, Amr Badr and Mahmoud el-Sakka, are government critics who work for a website known as January Gate, also critical of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government. It was unclear what size any sit-in at the syndicate could achieve. Police, backed by army troops, on Monday had initially barricaded the entire area and prevented people from approaching the building, but they eventually lifted the blockade. Still hundreds of uniformed and undercover police were deployed across central Cairo in order to prevent any protests. A day earlier, police prevented hundreds of workers from holding a meeting at the building to commemorate International Workers' Day, prompting independent trade union leaders to urge the government to allow them freedom of assembly. The syndicate has invited the trade union leaders to join the sit-in to denounce the "raid" and protest restrictions on freedom of assembly for labor organizers. It said the move was illegal and violated its charter, which forbids police from entering the building without the presence of a syndicate official, and is urging police to end their "siege" of the building and stop preventing journalists from entering. The journalists' syndicate has been a rallying point for demonstrations in the past, and was blocked in a similar manner ahead of planned anti-government protests last Monday. The building drew particular attention because it was from there that some 2,000 demonstrators gathered last month to protest el-Sissi's decision to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Police fired tear gas and arrested dozens to break up the protests, the first significant wave of street demonstrations since the former army chief became president in 2014. A second round of mass demonstrations over the issue planned for last Monday were stifled by a massive security presence, with hundreds of arrests and only small flash mobs managing to assemble, drawing tear gas and birdshot from the riot police. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Brian Rohan (Associated Press) Cairo Mon, May 2, 2016 Egyptian police prevented hundreds of workers from holding a meeting in Cairo to commemorate International Workers' Day on Sunday, while independent trade union leaders urged the government to allow them freedom of assembly. Kamal Abbas, of the Center for Trade Unions and Workers' Services, said some 650 workers came to the city center and initially sought an alternate location to hold a news conference after police prevented them from entering the journalists' syndicate building. The area was under lockdown by dozens of uniformed and plainclothes security forces, some wearing facemasks and carrying automatic weapons. A smaller group of workers later convened at Abbas' organization's headquarters and spoke out against what they described as government suppression of their constitutional rights. The journalists' syndicate has been a rallying point for demonstrations in the past, and was blocked in a similar way ahead of planned anti-government protests last Monday. After nightfall, police stormed the building and arrested two Egyptian journalists, Amr Badr and Mahmoud el-Sakka, who had been inside, syndicate leaders posted on social media. The two were posting on social media and had appeared in a photo circulating online holding a banner that read, "journalism is not a crime," after they said police raided their homes. Senior syndicate leader Khaled el-Belshy called for a "swift response by the journalistic community" for what he described on Facebook as a "brutal and unprecedented aggression" since the institution's founding in 1941. New York-based Human Rights Watch urged the government to legalize independent trade unions and end a decades-old system that enshrines a single official union. "Egypt's government is ignoring the basic right of workers to organize independently," said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The government seems intent on stifling the freedom Egypt's labor movement only gained after years of struggle that culminated in the 2011 uprising." Worker movements were among the early supporters of the 2011 revolt that ousted longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, ushering in years of tumult as the country was ruled by the military, elected but divisive Islamist Mohammed Morsi, and eventually President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Under Mubarak, the syndicate building was one of the few places demonstrators could gather to voice grievances, as long as they stayed on the building steps or the area directly in front of it. That changed under el-Sissi, the general who ousted Morsi in 2013. Protests now are effectively banned and activists from a wide spectrum Islamists to secularists and liberals are labeled terrorists and enemies of the state. The journalists' syndicate building drew particular attention because it was from there that some 2,000 demonstrators gathered last month to protest el-Sissi's decision to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Police fired tear gas and arrested dozens to break up the protests, the first significant wave of street demonstrations since the former army chief became president in 2014. A second round of mass demonstrations over the issue planned for Monday were stifled by a massive security presence, with hundreds of arrests and only small flash mobs managing to assemble, drawing tear gas and birdshot from the riot police. Spokesmen for the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of police, as well as the presidency's office did not respond to repeated telephone calls throughout the day seeking comment. Sunday coincides with Egypt's Orthodox Easter as well as a long holiday weekend celebrating the beginning of spring. Government social media accounts and that of national carrier EgyptAir posted notes in commemoration of Labor Day, with the Foreign Ministry applauding Egyptian workers for their skill and "capacity for production." The official Facebook page of the armed forces posted an image showing industrial cogs to mark the day. Last month, the International Labor Organization urged Egypt to respect international labor conventions on freedom of association that it has ratified. In its April 8 statement, the ILO also demanded the repeal of measures that prevent unions from publishing official documents and prohibit collective bargaining, exposing union leaders to the risk of dismissal and arrest. Egypt's independent trade unions were a focus of the doctoral thesis of an Italian student who was tortured and killed after he disappeared earlier this year on a day when police were out in force to prevent protests, fueling speculation they were behind his abduction and death. Italy has withdrawn its ambassador from Cairo to protest what it described as a lack of cooperation in the investigation, while Egypt denies security forces were involved. Also on Sunday, a political party founded by opposition leader Hamdeen Sabahi, the only candidate who ran against el-Sissi in the 2014 presidential election, issued a statement condemning the police blockade of the syndicate building and urging independent unions be allowed to organize freely. The Karama, or Dignity, party, which itself had been surrounded by armed security forces last Monday, said "It is a pity that Egypt's workers are prevented on their day to express demands and their rights." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agus P. Sari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2 2016 On this years Earth Day, which is held on April 22 annually, 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement in New York possibly the most important global environmental agreement of our times. It commits all countries around the world to holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above preindustrial levels. The agreement involves all countries, instead of only developed countries like the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. What does that mean for the world? And what does it mean for Indonesia? to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Elly Burhaini Faizal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The residence of Alfian Elvis Repi, a member of the crew of the tugboat Brahma 12 recently released by his hostage takers, the Abu Sayyaf militant group, has been much more lively than usual this past 24 hours. Journalists have descended on the two-story-house on Jl. Swasembada Barat, Kebon Bawang, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, after Alfian and the other Brahma 12 crew members were released from Abu Sayyaf captivity on Sunday. Alfians wife, Youla Lasut, could not hide her joy when journalists asked her about her husbands release. Alfian is still undergoing medical treatment at the Gatot Subroto Central Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta. Im very happy Bapak Alvian has been released. It cannot be expressed in words. Thanks be to God, said Youla as quoted by kompas.com at her home in North Jakarta on Monday. Youla learned about the release of Alfian from her relatives, just as she received information from Alfians company, at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Youla said she and other family members could not yet meet Alfian at RSPAD. They could communicate with the sailor only via phone and video calls. Youla said that so far, she could only ask her husband about his health. Youla further explained that Alfians company had previously promised her to seek a way to unite her husband and all of his family members. However, the hospitals tight visiting procedures did not allow them to carry out the plan. I have communicated with him by phone and video calls. I asked him whether or not he was healthy, and he said that physically, he was healthy. Other than that, we dont know yet. They [Alfian and other released sailors] are still at the hospital. They are still undergoing medical check-ups, said Youla. Coming home This picture shows the residence of Alfian Elvis Repi, a crew member of the tugboat Brahma 12 recently released by Abu Sayyaf militants, on Jl.Swasembada Barat, Kebon Bawang, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. (Kompas.com/David Oliver Purba) As earlier reported, the 10 Indonesian sailors taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta at around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday after their release on the same day. Thank God, finally, the 10 Indonesian crew members held hostage by an armed group since March 26, have been successfully released, Jokowi told journalists at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Sunday. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and State Secretary Pratikno accompanied the President in the press conference, but did not answer journalists questions. Jolo Police chief Junpikar Sitin said earlier in the Philippines that the 10 Indonesian citizens were released at noon on Sunday. Several unidentified persons brought the Brahma 12 crew members to the residence of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan Jnr amid heavy rain. The reason for their release remains unknown. A source who wished to remain anonymous said they were released following a ransom payment of 50 million pesos or around Rp 14 billion (US$1.06 million) to the Abu Sayyaf group, a claim that was later denied by the Indonesian government. Names of 10 Indonesian sailors released by Abu Sayyaf militants: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The government will relocate the Cilamaya port project to Patimban in Subang, West Java on account of risks to existing infrastructure, a top official has said. "The construction is expected to kick off in 2017 and the first phase of the construction will be completed in 2019," Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said at the State Palace on Monday. The government plans to build a deep sea port in Cilamaya, West Java. However, since the development might put the existing gas network nearby at risk, the government has decided to relocate the port site. The Transportation Ministry has conducted feasibility studies assessing six locations in the north coast of West Java and concluded that the Patimban area was the best possible alternative location. Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan said that the planned Patimban Port, with a capacity of 7.5 million twenty-feet equivalent units (TEUS) and the capability of accommodating 250,000 cars, would need a mammoth investment of Rp 40 trillion (US$3.2 billion). "In the first phase of construction, the port will have a capacity of 1.5 million TEUS from the planned 7.5 million TEUS," he said. During a limited Cabinet meeting on the Patimbang project, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo revealed that the government would also build a large port somewhere in Java to ease the burden of old and overcrowded ports, such as Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta, Tanjung Mas in Semarang, Central Java and Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, East Java in addition to the development of new seaports in the eastern part of the country. "We need a large port in the north coast area of Java to boost transportation efficiency and smoothen logistics. We expect to develop a port with a capacity of approximately 7.5 million TEUS by 2037," Jokowi said, adding that the presence of the new port could cut distribution channels and logistics costs. (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The government is focusing its attention on securing the release of four Indonesian sailors still being held captive by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines. It readjusted its efforts following the release on Sunday of 10 Indonesian seamen who had been held hostage by the terror group since March. We will intensify coordination with related parties to carry out measures to release the four crewmen, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told journalists after meeting with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Monday. Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso also attended the meeting to discuss the hostage release efforts, held at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister in Jakarta. The four Indonesian sailors were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group after it failed to hijack vessels belonging to their shipping company in Malaysian and Philippine waters in April. The 10 Indonesian sailors held hostage for more than a month in the southern Philippines arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma air base in East Jakarta on Sunday evening after being released earlier that day. Both Luhut and Retno refused to comment on a ransom of Rp 15 billion (US$1.14 million) demanded by the militant group for the release of the four hostages. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The government is focusing on freeing four remaining Indonesian citizens held captive by the Philippine Abu Sayyaf militant group following the release of 10 seamen by the notorious terrorists on Sunday. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo expressed his thankfulness over the release of the 10 sailors, who were taken hostage on March 26, after intensified efforts by the government. He also thanked the Philippine government for its cooperation and communication. However, he added, the government will not rest on its laurels, with four other Indonesian nationals still in the clutches of Abu Sayyaf. "We are continuing to work hard for the release of the other four crew members," Jokowi said at the Bogor Palace on Sunday. The four Indonesians were taken by the militants after a failed attempt by the group to take their vessels in Malaysian and Philippine waters on April 15. The President stressed the importance of border security both for Indonesia and its neighboring countries, citing a trilateral meeting with Malaysia and the Philippines this week to discuss the issue. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, who accompanied Jokowi to a press conference on Sunday, said the success of the release involved multiple parties from both formal and informal networks. "This was total diplomacy, moving away from a sole focus on government-to-government diplomacy and involving informal networks in order to achieve our purpose," Retno said. Meanwhile, Indonesian Miltary (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said the military would also conduct intelligence operations coordinated by the Foreign Ministry as part of efforts to free the four hostages. (rin) Politician Donald Trump, now leading in the Republican primaries, is strongly anti-immigrant. But Businessman Trump wants more high-skill visas and hires foreign workers in his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort. Which one is right? Here is Politician Trumps position on immigration on his website: The influx of foreign workers holds down salaries, keeps unemployment high, and makes it difficult for poor and working class Americans including immigrants themselves and their children to earn a middle class wage. And here is Businessman Trumps position in the March 3 Republican debate on Fox News, Theyll go to Harvard, theyll go to Stanford, theyll go to Wharton, as soon as theyre finished theyll get shoved out. They want to stay in this country. They want to stay here desperately, theyre not able to stay here. For that purpose, we absolutely have to be able to keep the brain power in this country. Will the real Donald please stand up? And lets hope that its not Politician Trump. Economic growth and employment in the United States could be improved by bringing in workers from abroad because employment is not a zero-sum game. Neither the economy nor jobs are a fixed pie to be divided, with more for some resulting in less for others. Rather, employment is a dynamic cycle always poised for growth. Greater immigration would allow the U.S. economy to operate more efficiently, creating more jobs for native-born Americans. In 2014, immigrants represented 29 percent of all new entrepreneurs, according to the Kauffman Foundations 2015 Index of Startup Activity. According to the Index, Immigrants continue to be almost twice as likely as the native-born to become entrepreneurs, with the Rate of New Entrepreneurs being 0.52 percent for immigrants, as opposed to 0.27 percent for the native-born. Immigrants tend to have different skills from the native-born population that complement the skills of the U.S. labor force and have only a small effect on wages, concludes University of California at Davis professor Giovanni Peri. Immigrants make the economy more efficient by reducing bottlenecks caused by labor shortages, both in high-skill and low-skill areas. Those skills and job preferences complement rather than substitute for native-born workers, too, making U.S. workers more productive and attracting capital that takes advantage of new opportunities for growth. Although immigrants will be substitutes for some primarily low-skilled workers, many of whom are also immigrants, the negative effect on such workers is much smaller than the positive effect for everyone else. The economy as a whole gains, with substantially more winners than losers, even in the short term. In our society, this makes it possible for the winners to compensate those who lose from immigration and still come out ahead. In 2014 42 percent of students who got PhDs in physics and 37 percent who got PhDs in chemistry were foreign non-resident visa holders, according to National Science Foundation data. The United States would be better off if these students could stay here and add to the wealth of the country, as Businessman Trump has pointed out, rather than being sent home. Previous research by Tel Aviv University professor Neil Gandal, University of Michigan professor Gordon Hanson, and Dartmouth University professor Matthew Slaughter has noted that the influx of Russian immigration to Israel did not lower wages. Nor did University of California (Berkeley) professor David Card find that the Mariel boatlift affected wages in Miami. As Businessman Trump knows, Americas goal should be an immigration policy that fosters economic growth. We should be giving visas to those skilled and unskilled workers who can contribute to the U.S. economy. Politician Trump, its already time to retire. Diana Furchtgott-Roth is a senior fellow and director of Economics21 at the Manhattan Institute. Follow her on Twitter here. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arif Gunawan Sulistiyono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The government is being urged to step up publicity campaigns for the tax amnesty policy to avoid public misunderstanding and noncompliance amid the heated debate over the low penalties to be given to tax evaders who join the program. Tax expert Darussalam said the tax amnesty bill gave the country a chance to improve the taxation system for sustainable tax revenue in the long term. He criticized the dispute over alleged injustices in the bill as going too far from its substance. The debate on the unjust aspects of the tax amnesty policy will take us nowhere. Let us not get stuck on the debate over the penalty as there is no absolute fairness in taxation, he stated on Monday in Jakarta. Some might say that the proposed tax amnesty penalty of between 2 percent to 6 percent was too low, he continued, but even if the penalty was raised to 10 percent, people would still question it as the current income tax rate was 25 percent. There is no absolute justice in tax. An argument about unjust aspects of the tax amnesty is not relevant. When Adam Smith was told to choose between justice and legal certainty in tax, he picked legal certainty, as justice that lacks legal certainty is another type of injustice, he said. Golkar politician Bambang Soesatyo said the tax amnesty policy might lead to a widespread taxpayer noncompliance. Without a proper promotional campaign, he said, many compliant taxpayers could be upset to see tax evaders awarded with the tax amnesty. They will tend to refuse or delay their income tax payment as they know the government will pardon defiant taxpayers as stipulated in the bill, he said as quoted by tribunnews.com. According to the problem inventory list (DIM), a part of the bill deliberation process that aims to get feedback on the bill from all factions of the House of Representatives, there were several main issues in the bill. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) urged the House to change the name of the bill to Asset Declaration and Repatriation bill, and also highlighted the problem of the low, unfair penalties for tax evaders. Some House members proposed that the duration of the policy be extended from 2016 to 2018, and some urged the government to mandate that repatriated assets be invested in small, medium enterprises (SME), instead of the money market. In general, Darussalam said he supported the bill being passed into law, as it would allow the tax office to ask for data from the banking industry for tax purposes. It will be very important for monitoring taxpayer compliance, he said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 The 10 Indonesian sailors released by the Abu Sayyaf terror group on Sunday have been reunited with their families. Representing the Indonesian government, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi officially handed over the 10 crewmen to their families in a ceremony on Monday. The sailors were held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in southern Philippines for 36 days. Their release was a long process; the situation in the field was very dynamic and really complicated, said Retno during the ceremony at Gedung Pancasila in the Foreign Affairs Ministry complex in Jakarta. The minister said the Brahma 12 tugboat crew members had undergone a health check at the Gatot Subroto Army Central Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta, and were all confirmed fit and healthy. Retno said the government had prioritized the safety of the crewmen in its rescue efforts, adding that all forms of communication had been utilized from the beginning of the hostage negotiation process, as one form of communication would not have been sufficient for such a large scale operation. "One brick is not enough to build a home", the minister said. The Indonesian government launched its rescue effort on March 28, shortly after it had received information regarding the hostages. On April 1, Retno visited the Philippines to meet with President Benigno Aquino III. During the visit, Retno took the opportunity to open communication networks with various parties. "[The successful rescue effort] was achieved through total diplomacy led by the government with the involvement of all members of society," said Retno. Julian Phillip, the deck officer aboard the Brahma 12 tugboat, said the vessel had been hijacked on March 25 at 3:20 p.m. local time. "We were approached by two speedboats. There were eight people wearing official Philippine police uniform on the boats," Julian said. He further said initially, the Brahma 12 crew members thought they were local policemen. They jumped into the tugboat fully armed and straightaway took hostage the crew members, he continued. All of the hijackers had firearms such as the M14 and or M16 double body and had draped their bodies with reload bullets, Julian said adding that the hijackers had then proceeded to tie up all people on board. Several crewmen were tied with ropes while the others were held in handcuffs. Julian went on to say that the extremist group members taken good care of them during captivity so as to ensure they stayed alive. However, the extremists repeatedly threatened them by pointing the tip of a knife, as if they were ready to slash their necks. Thats what they looked like, Julian told reporters, recalling the intense conditions he and his fellow crew members had faced during their captivity. Youla Lasut, wife of crewman Alfian Elvis Refi, represented the families of the hostages at the handover ceremony. Youla appeared emotional and could barely hold back tears during her speech. "First, I want to thank and express my deepest heartfelt gratitude to Jesus Christ. Because of his love and grace, my husband can now reunite with our family. There are no words to explain [how I feel]", Youla said as she broke into tears, explaining the faith which she held as a source of strength during the ordeal. Youla also thanked the government, shipping company PT Patria Maritime Line and the North Sulawesi administration, especially the provincial governor, Olly Dondokambey, who took time to visit her and her family to provide updates on the hostage situation. Tugboat operator PT Patria Maritime Line commissioner Loudy Irwanto Ellias was present at the ceremony. He conveyed his appreciation for the diplomacy efforts and moral support of the government, as well as all parties whom had contributed to the success of the rescue. "The company held the same vision as all authorities involved in this operation. This helped us to become a solid team, we walked in unity during the process, Loudy said. The 10 Indonesian seamen arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. The government is continuing in its effort to rescue four other Indonesians, taken hostage in a different incident. The four Indonesians remain in the hands of the same terror group. The government will not provide any ransom payment for the release of the hostages, Retno asserted. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 In the wake of the resignation of North Jakarta mayor Rustam Effendi, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has challenged any city officials who dislike him to resign to make way for "more competent" civil servants. He made the public challenge to senior city officials through a live broadcast on Kompas TV, urging any who opposed him to step down from their positions no later than Monday. The remarks came on the heels of the resignation of Rustam the previous week, which reportedly caused quite a stir at the Jakarta administration. "If civil servants feel they are too rich and no longer want to serve the administration, because now they cannot 'play' with the administration's projects, it would be better for them to resign. We have a lot of civil servants who can perform well," Ahok told journalists on Monday. The vacant positions would be filled not only by younger civil servants but also by senior city employees. However, as of Monday, no resignation letter had arrived on his desk, Ahok said. Rustam's resignation was not the first of Ahok's administration, with several high-ranking officials quitting their positions following differences of perspective with the outspoken governor. Those who have felt unable to work alongside Ahok include former Jakarta Housing Agency chief Novizal, Industry and Energy Agency head M. Haris Pindratno and Water Management Agency head Tri Djoko Sri Margianto Rustam's hinted at internal dispute within the city administration. Rustam resigned from his post after being scolded publicly by Ahok over his alleged negligence over eviction programs and floods in North Jakarta in mid-April. "I have drawn a line. The civil servants who want to build a new Jakarta follow me to the left, those who don't, please turn right," the governor went on. The resignation of city officials would also help the city's ballooning budget, with civil servant salaries reaching Rp 18.7 trillion in this year's city budget, Ahok added. (rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sofie Dewayani (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Mon, May 2 2016 When it comes to literacy, there seems to be nothing that we, as a nation, can be proud of. Despite 93 percent of its population claiming to be able to read and write, this nation has never made it out of the bottom five of the worlds literacy surveys. Recent surveys include the 2011 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) test, assessing fourth graders achievement in reading literacy, ranking Indonesia at 45th place out of the 48 participating countries, while the 2012 Program of International Student Assessment (PISA) survey evaluating the literacy skills of 15-year-old students, placed the nation at 64th place out of 65 countries in students reading scores. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 Indonesia paid no ransom to free 10 sailors taken hostage by Philippine rebel group Abu Sayyaf, with efforts relying on negotiations, the lead Indonesian negotiator claimed on Monday. The militant group had demanded a ransom of $1 million from the Indonesian government in exchange for releasing the 10 seamen held captive since March 26, setting an initial deadline of April 8. However, the government paid no money to the terror group, according to retired army general Kivlan Zein, who led the Indonesian team of negotiators in the release efforts. "The release was conducted without paying a ransom, based on negotiations and cooperation between the TNI [Indonesian military] and the Philippine military," Kivlan said on Monday as reported by Antara news agency. Kivlan, who is currently in the Philippines, had conducted the negotiations since March 27, a day after Abu Sayyaf millitants took tugboat Brahma 12 and barge Anand 12. He was representing the company operating the vessels, PT Patria Maritime Lines, a subsidiary of Indonesia's biggest heavy equipment distributor, PT United Tractors Tbk. Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II, a nephew of Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari, provided the most support, Kivlan said. The approach to Abdusakur was made because one of the kidnappers, Al Habsy Misa, was the former's driver and security guard when Abusakur was the governor of the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao from 1996 to 2001. "As a company representative I asked for his help to talk the kidnapper around, and he succeeded in doing so," Kivlan told Antara. Meanwhile, the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency and Philippine intelligence also made approaches to local administration chiefs in the southern province of Sulu. The local authorities also pressured the rebels with ground attacks and bombings to encourage them to release the hostages. Kivlan remains in the Philippines, and is engaged in attempts to secure the release of four further Indonesian crew members taken by the group. "We know their locations. I have made contact with the figure who kidnapped the four Indonesians. Hopefully we can free them," said the former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad). The 10 Indonesians were released on Sunday, less than a week after Abu Sayyaf beheaded Canadian citizen John Ridsdel when a sizeable ransom was not paid. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Mountain View, Calif., US Mon, May 2, 2016 A solar-powered airplane is preparing to leave California for Arizona to continue its journey around the world using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 will take off from Mountain View before dawn Monday for what should be a 16-hour flight to Phoenix. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg will be at the helm of the plane that began circumnavigation the globe last year. Borschberg's co-pilot, Bertrand Piccard, also of Switzerland, made the three-day trip from Hawaii to the heart of Silicon Valley, where he landed last week. The Solar Impulse 2's wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey. The two legs to cross the Pacific were the riskiest part of the plane's travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. "We have demonstrated it is feasible to fly many days, many nights, that the technology works" said Borschberg, 63, who piloted the plane during a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii and who kept himself alert by doing yoga poses and meditation. The crew was forced to stay in Oahu for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The single-seat aircraft began its voyage in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan. The layovers will give the pilots a chance to swap places and engage with local communities along the way so they can explain the project, which is estimated to cost more than US$100 million and began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Manado, North Sulawesi Mon, May 2, 2016 The family of Peter Tonsen Barahama, one of the Indonesian sailors held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines, have expressed their gratitude for the release of their loved one. Peters brother, identified only as Sam, said he was ready to fly to Jakarta to bring him back home. Peter is the captain of the tugboat Brahma 12. He was released yesterday after he and nine other Brahma 12 crew members had been held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group for a month. Peters company has sent us tickets to travel to Jakarta to meet our brother, Sam said as quoted by kompas.com in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Monday. Sam and his parents are scheduled to depart from Tahuna, Sangihe to Manado, on Tuesday, before they continue to fly to Jakarta. Sam said his family, especially his parents, could not wait any longer to meet with Peter. We are grateful to God that our brother could finally be rescued. Thank you to all parties that have striven to release him, said Sam. As reported earlier, 10 Brahma 12 crew members arrived in Jakarta on Sunday evening after they were released by the Abu Sayyaf militant group on the same day. Their release ended speculation on the condition of the 10 Indonesian nationals. Currently, four Indonesian crew members from a different ship are still being by Abu Sayyaf. One of the negotiators participating in the operation to release the 10 Indonesian sailors likened the hostage-takers to a naughty family member. Theres a naughty child in the family. So, how we can communicate with this child? said Eddy Mulya, a negotiation team member, who is also the coordinator of the political affairs division at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila. He was speaking to journalists at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta on Sunday evening. Eddy said the government managed to release the 10 Indonesian citizens thanks to negotiations and without any ransom payment. It fully resulted from negotiations. It was my friend Pak Baidowi and his friends who handled the negotiation process. We just followed it up, he said. In a press statement released to the media on Sunday it was said the hostages were released thanks to work conducted by the Surya Paloh Humanitarian Team, which synergized with education network the Sukma Foundation, also popularly known as the Sukma Bangsa School, in Aceh, led by Ahmad Baidowi. The 10 Indonesian sailors were taken to the Gatot Subroto Central Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta for a medical check-up shortly after they arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma at 11.30 p.m. Sunday. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hope Yen (Associated Press) Washington Mon, May 2, 2016 President Barack Obama's daughter Malia is taking a year off after graduating from high school before attending Harvard University as part of an expanding program for students known as a "gap year." Many colleges are encouraging the delayed entry to give students time to recharge after the stress of high school and build upon life or work experiences with a structured program of volunteer work, part-time employment or travel and internships in foreign countries. Gap years have been getting increased attention in the US, although the percentage of students who actually end up deferring their admission for a year or two remains small. They typically come from higher-income families. Some colleges have been seeking to make gap years more accessible to lower-income families by offering financial aid packages that allow students to explore different communities rather than jump right into college. Some things to know about a gap year: How it works Not all universities allow it, and policies and programs vary. Upon receiving their admissions letter, students may request delaying their entry for a year or in less frequent cases, two years outlining what he or she plans to do during their time off. In Harvard admissions letters, students are actively encouraged to consider taking a gap year. Once approved, during that year a student may need to provide updates or otherwise check-in periodically to the university as a way to affirm their activities and continued interest in the university. Interest in US is growing Gap years have long been popular in Europe, and more recently have begun to gain traction in the U.S. There are no official statistics kept on participation, but the Portland, Oregon-based American Gap Association found in surveys it conducted that about 30,000 to 40,000 students each year take advantage of the program. It said in 2015, participation increased about 22 percent from the previous year. The group reports that anecdotally, interest has been growing via participation in gap year fairs that promote the programs. Still, the percentage of students who defer admissions for a year or more remains very small generally 1 percent or less of an admitted class. What students typically do Many students opt to spend some time abroad studying, learning foreign languages or volunteering with nonprofit groups, according to a 2015 report by the American Gap Association, which cited students' desire to experience personal growth, see the world and take a break from the traditional academic track. Popular destinations for students according to the group were parts of Central and South America, Israel, India and Australia. But many students also reported doing volunteer or political campaign work, taking classes, traveling or doing outdoor adventures in different regions of the US. Advantages of a gap year Students who took a gap year typically say they entered college feeling more recharged and focused, while universities say those students often arrive on campus as better leaders more civically engaged and motivated. Anecdotally, "students come away much more mature and take their studies more seriously, and they are more assured of what they want to do major wise," said Jeffrey Selingo, author of the book, "There Is Life After College." More important, Selingo said, they know what they don't want to do. Limitations In part due to cost, students who take a gap year typically come from higher-income households, according to the American Gap Association. But Ethan Knight, executive director of the group, notes that some schools including Tufts University, Florida State University and the University of North Carolina have begun to offer some forms of financial aid to give cash-strapped students exposure to a broader range of experiences before college as well. Knight also advises that a gap year isn't right for everyone. He says a student might not be a good fit if he or she doesn't have a clear plan of learning or enrichment activities during the time off, or doesn't feel that they are academically burnt out and are looking forward to classes. "If a student really lights up at the prospect of going to college, then he or she is ready," Knight said. Associated Press writers Carole Feldman in Boston and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Wong Shiying (The Strait Times) Singapore Mon, May 2, 2016 The wrinkles on her face may indicate her age, but her eyes give nothing away. Bright and full of life, it is hard to believe that Madam Goh Gwek Eng is McDonald's oldest employee. The 92-year-old, who lived through the Japanese Occupation, has been working at the fast food chain for the past 18 years. With five children, 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, Madam Goh was kept busy as a housewife for a large part of her life. "Now that most of them are working or have their own families, the house is very quiet," said Madam Goh. When the boredom became too much, she sought help from a granddaughter who found her a job at a McDonald's outlet at Bedok Interchange in 1998. The restaurant is 20 minutes' walk from her home. At McDonald's, Madam Goh's years of experience in the kitchen came in handy. She picked up the skills with no difficulty, and became adept at preparing anything on the menu. On the challenges she faces at work, she said "frying fries is the most difficult, as I get very hot from standing in front of the fryer". Fortunately, help is available. She said: "My colleagues help me when they see me carrying heavy things or when I can't keep up with orders." Though her job may be repetitive and physically draining, Madam Goh enjoys what she does as it keeps her active. "I plan to keep working for as long as I am healthy," she said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Bangkok Mon, May 2, 2016 A British couple in their 60s who were brutally attacked during a holiday in Thailand have recounted the assault in court after a visit from government officials bearing gifts and apologies. Rosemary and Lewis Owen and their 43-year-old son were vacationing last month in the resort town of Hua Hin when a group of four allegedly drunken Thai men attacked them. A video of the April 13 assault that was widely shared in Thailand shows the three tourists getting punched and kicked until they fell unconscious. A Cabinet minister and other officials visited the couple Monday with fruit baskets, flowers and other gifts. They then were taken to the Hua Hin court for their testimonies to be recorded, before returning home Tuesday. A trial date has not yet been set. Severe drought and saltwater intrusion are affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Vietnams southern provinces and the Central Highlands. On April 8th, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that it will provide humanitarian assistance to help Vietnam respond to this crisis. On March 25, U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius declared a disaster due to the effects of the drought in Vietnam, said U.S. Consul General Rena Bitter. This allowed the U.S. to provide support to Vietnam through the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC), which has been actively coordinating relief efforts. With this assistance, VNRC will provide safe drinking water and water storage containers to those most affected and will carry out promotional activities to enhance the awareness of sanitation and hygiene. Since the end of 2015, Vietnam has experienced higher temperatures and below average rainfall, which has led to severe drought and saltwater intrusion, resulting in significant damage and threats to the national agricultural production and peoples livelihoods. According to a report from Vietnams National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the numbers of households experiencing water shortage are very high, especially in areas like Ben Tre and Tra Vinh. In addition, many schools, health care stations, hotels and factories are experiencing water shortages. Since 2000, USAID, through the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, has provided more than $18 million in disaster response, preparedness and risk reduction assistance in Vietnam. USAID programs have reached more than one million people in nearly 150 communities with disaster preparedness services. USAID-supported disaster relief efforts are closely coordinated with and directly support the Government of Vietnams relief efforts. The United States is proud to work with its partner, Vietnam, to help the people of Vietnam cope with an age-old enemy drought and meet their urgent water resources needs. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Bangkok Mon, May 2, 2016 Japan's foreign minister has announced a multi-billion dollar initiative to promote development in the Mekong region, which encompasses parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand through which the river flows. In a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Monday, Fumio Kishida affirmed the importance of Southeast Asia's economic prosperity to Japan. He pledged 750 billion yen (US$7 billion) in funding during the next three years to support development and growth in the region. Kishida also renewed his call for the establishment of a code of conduct in the South China Sea and that prosperity can only achieved if there is peace and stability in the region. The visit to Thailand is part of his regional tour that includes stops in China, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Neville Spykerman (The Star/ANN) Kuala Lumpur Mon, May 2, 2016 Come July, the minimum wage will be raised to RM1,000 (US$255.7) for workers in peninsular Malaysia and RM920 for those in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan as announced in Budget 2016. Addressing workers on Labor Day Sunday, Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government was also considering putting into place an insurance scheme to help both workers and employers to cope with a more demanding labor market. The new minimum wage, effective from July 1, is an increase of RM100 [11%] for workers in peninsular Malaysia and RM120 [15%] for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, he said during the national-level celebration attended by over 5,000 workers at the Putra World Trade Centre. With the new minimum wage to boost productivity, Najib said the government expected a more equitable distribution of income between capital owners and workers. The implementation of the national minimum wage policy in 2013, he pointed out, had already benefited 1.9 million private sector workers, which was later extended to the public sector via a new salary scale as announced recently. The Employment Insurance Scheme (SIP), he said, was to better protect employees as well as make it easier for employers to run businesses. The SIP, he said, was aimed at helping workers who had been laid off with their expenses until they found new jobs, including employment counselling services to improve their chances of landing new jobs. Training programs by SIP, he said, would also allow employers to improve the skills of their workers and pay them accordingly. The scheme will help employers adapt their organization to changes in technology and business structure while reducing the stress of bankruptcy or downsizing. The risk of conflict due to layoffs can be reduced because SIP will provide protection to employees during periods of temporary unemployment, he said. Najib said details of the scheme, which was being worked out, would be announced after the engagement process with all parties, adding that this will be a shared responsibility between employers and workers. Malaysians facing higher costs of living, added Najib, should not only view this from the aspect of the cost of goods and services but look towards striving to increase their skills and capabilities through education for access to higher-income jobs. High income can only come through high levels of skills and education and increasing productivity, he said, adding that a countrys survival was dependent on its ability to innovate and to think out of the box to generate wealth. In conjunction with Labor Day, Najib also launched a new mobile application called i-Perkeso, allowing workers to directly connect with Socso and help the organization improve its services. He also announced a new Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan for 2016 to 2020, adding that the previous plan had successfully reduced work-related accidents from 49,598 cases in 2006 to 42,148 cases in 2014 and fatalities were reduced from 7.24% to 4.21%. Also at the celebration were Human Resources Minister Richard Riot and Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kristine Angeli Sabillo (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) Mon, May 2, 2016 The Philippine government on Monday said it is glad that the 10 Indonesians kidnapped by the bandit group Abu Sayyaf are now free and safe after five weeks in captivity. The Philippine Government is pleased [with] the positive developments resulting in the safe release of ten Indonesian nationals abducted by the Abu Sayyaf on March 26, 2016, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement. It said that intensified operations continue on the ground. The DFA maintains close coordination with concerned foreign governments in ensuring the safe return of all the remaining hostages, it added. The 10 Indonesian sailors, crew members of the tugboat Brahman 12, were abducted last March while they were transporting coal from Borneo to the Philippines. The Abu Sayyaf later released a video threatening to kill the men unless they were paid 50 million pesos (US$1.06 million). On Sunday, the men were dropped off at the house of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan Jr. The Armed Forces of the Philippines reportedly refused to pay the bandits but a source cited by the Inquirer claimed that the 50 million pesos ransom was paid. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Amy R. Remo (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) Mon, May 2, 2016 Fresh from sealing a preferential deal with four European states last week, the Philippine government is now gearing for its first round of negotiations with the 28-member European Union for a similar free trade agreement that can help the country establish a strong foothold in one of its biggest markets to date. Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo said in an interview Friday the first round of talks between the Philippines and the EU would be held in Brussels from May 23 to 27 this year. We are eyeing to have an FTA with the EU as we want to secure more permanently the preferential duties for our products when we graduate from the generalized system of preferences (EU GSP+). For instance, some of our agricultural products were already being exported to Europe. But what we wanted to do is to be able to expand and not just penetrate the European markets, Rodolfo said. He said the country also wanted to attract more investments from Europe. He said the upcoming meeting would also provide an avenue for the Philippines and the EU to explain their respective domestic rules and limitations, look at modalities and agree on proposed timelines. The first round would serve as an orientation of sorts for the negotiating parties, he said. The Philippines currently enjoys a preferential trade treatment for over 6,200 product lines, which can be exported to the EU at zero tariffs under the GSP+ program. The countrys inclusion in this scheme, however, is time bound at 10 years, with a possibility that the Philippines would graduate early from this program, depending on how fast the economy would grow over the next decade. The target, therefore, was to secure a more permanent and long-term relationship with the 28-member bloc through an FTA. Having a bilateral agreement with the EU was deemed highly significant for the Philippines as it would help the country corner a far more significant share of the foreign direct investments EU companies are pouring into the region. If completed and signed, the PH-EU FTA would be the third bilateral agreement to be secured by the Philippine government after the PH-European Free Trade Association FTA and the Philippine Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (Pjepa). The EU is currently ranked as the Philippines fourth largest trading partner, third largest import source and fourth largest export market. Major exports of the Philippines under the EU GSP scheme include crude coconut oil, canned tuna, spectacle lenses, etc. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jim Gomez (Associated Press) Manila Mon, May 2, 2016 Allegations that the Philippine presidential election front-runner had a large sum of money in an undeclared bank account were not resolved Monday, allowing the issue to hang over the final week of the closely fought race. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has alleged Mayor Rodrigo Duterte kept more than 200 million pesos (US$4.2 million) in a joint bank account with his daughter that he did not declare publicly in 2014 as required by law. Trillanes, who is running for vice president and is backing a rival candidate of Duterte, went to the Bank of the Philippine Islands and met with the mayor's lawyer but said the questioned account was not opened for scrutiny. When Trillanes stepped out of the bank, some of the dozens of Duterte supporters yelled "liar" at him before he was whisked off by escorts in a van. Riot police stood by to maintain order in the business district where Trillanes' supporters also came, carrying posters that read: "We don't want corrupt candidates." A large throng of journalists, TV cameramen and photographers stood outside the bank to await the outcome of the meeting between Trillanes and Duterte lawyer Salvador Panelo. Panelo said the mayor authorized him to ask that the questioned account be opened to prove the allegations were false, but bank officials told him it would take seven days to study the request. "I have no problem with that," Panelo said he told bank officials. Trillanes made public a signed statement, where he named the informant who provided him documents showing Duterte's alleged secret bank accounts, including in the bank branch where he met Panelo on Monday. When an investigation by him and his staff showed that his informant's disclosures were credible, he said he decided to go public. "I believe it is important for our people to know about the gross misrepresentation and pretensions perpetrated by Mayor Duterte that he is poor and he lives a simple life when ... he held bank accounts containing hundreds of millions, if not billions of pesos," he said in the statement. Panelo described the documents the senator showed to back his allegations as "bogus." Trillanes has said he would resign as a senator if his disclosure was wrong. Duterte's spokesman initially denied last week the mayor had such a bank account. The mayor, however, acknowledged its existence on Friday in a news conference but denied he had committed any wrongdoing, although he did not explain where the money came from. "I will admit there is money in that account," Duterte told reporters, saying it was less than the 211 million pesos that Trillanes had alleged. The tough-talking Duterte has led voter preference polls ahead of the May 9 elections on a promise to eradicate crime and corruption in the country within six months if he triumphs. It remains unclear whether the controversy over Duterte's bank account will affect his strong popularity with a week to go before the elections. Duterte remained in the top spot in the most recent polls despite a storm of criticism after he remarked that he wished he could have been the first to rape an Australian missionary who was sexually assaulted and killed by inmates in a 1989 prison riot because she was so beautiful. Questions over the mayor's unexplained wealth, however, go against his pledge to fight crime, which has won him wide support, analysts said. Amid the controversy, two rival candidates, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe, separately said they have signed waivers allowing anti-graft officials to look into their bank accounts for transparency and challenged Duterte to do the same. ___ Associated Press writer Teresa Cerojano contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Mon, May 2, 2016 Lombok International Airport (LIA) in West Nusa Tenggara is now included in the list of airports with free-visa facilities for foreign citizens from 159 countries. "The free-visa entry for foreigners from 159 countries has been opened at LIA. Hopefully it can widen access for foreign tourists traveling to Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara in general," said the region's Tourism and Culture Agency head Mohammad Faozal to thejakartapost.com on Monday. There are currently 29 airports, 88 seaports and 7 border checkpoint posts in Indonesia where certain foreign citizens can obtain a free visa upon arrival. Faozal said the free-visa regulation could be enjoyed by foreigners who were traveling as a tourist, coming to visit their family, conducting social activities, attending art and culture seminars or participating in international exhibitions or meetings held by their office's headquarters/representatives in Indonesia. He was hopeful that the regulation would help boost the number of foreign tourists to West Nusa Tenggara as they would be able to head straight to Lombok without having to transit at another airport. Business-wise, airlines will be more encouraged to open direct flights to the region. Silk Air Lombok branch head Sufit Arif Barata told thejakartapost.com that the regulation would encouraged tourists from Asia or other parts of the world to visit Lombok via Singapore. The airline currently has four direct flights per week from Singapore to Lombok with most passengers coming from Germany, the Netherlands, UK and Norway in addition to Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and China. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara is becoming more popular with foreign tourists, according to the latest report by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). More than 7,300 foreigners traveled to the region in March, up 22.52 percent over to the same month last year, marking the fastest growth in tourism arrivals among all destinations in the country. During the first three months of 2016, the statisticians recorded 18,702 foreign tourist arrivals through Lombok International Airport. "In January to March, Indonesia recorded 2.54 million foreign tourist visits, up 4.66 percent compared to the same period last year," BPS head Suryamin told a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration has proclaimed a target of attracting an annual 20 million foreign tourists by the end of his tenure in 2019. For this year, meanwhile, the expectation is for 12 million visitors. To boost tourism in the archipelago, the government has designated 10 emerging tourist destinations, namely Lombok, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Thousand Islands in Jakarta, the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Mount Bromo in East Java, Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Wakatobi in Papua and Morotai in Maluku. The government has also issued a free-visa policy for 90 countries to increase the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia. Up to 84 more countries, including Australia and Brazil, will reportedly be added to the list soon. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, May 2, 2016 IndonesiaX, a massive open online course platform, has launched an online course in which materials are developed by HarvardX. The course, titled Contract law: From trust to promise to contract, is delivered in video format by Professor Charles Fried of Harvard Law School. Professor Fried is one of the worlds renowned experts in the field of contractual law and has been teaching in the Harvard Law School for nearly 50 years, and has also written a lot of studies about contracts. Professor Fried uses a storytelling approach to deliver his material, which gives his students a unique and interesting experience. The course videos are presented in English, however to ensure that every IndonesiaX course participants gets the same opportunity to learn, the platform provides an Indonesian translation. Professor Frieds course is a continuation of IndonesiaX and edXs partnership. The latter is the pioneer of the MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) initiated by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2012. The free online courses in IndonesiaX.co.id are created to democratize education in Indonesia. Whoever, wherever throughout Indonesia can learn from the best teachers from the best universities and companies in Indonesia as well as abroad to develop their knowledge and life skills, IndonesiaX president director Lucy Mangoendipoero Pandjaitan said in a press release as quoted by kompas.com on Monday. IndonesiaXs learning management system (LMS) is specifically designed for Indonesians and presented in Bahasa Indonesia. Since its launch on August 17 last year, the platform has garnered more than 60,000 online course participants for the 10 available courses. Local content IndonesiaX continues to add programs with local teaching assistants who will interact freely with participants via a discussion forum in Bahasa Indonesia. The verbatim transcripts in Bahasa Indonesia are also available for download, free of charge. Another MOOC launched today is from the Ten November Institute of Technology (ITS) titled Supply Chain Management delivered by Professor Nyoman Pujawan, who is the first professor in the supply chain engineering in Indonesia with certifications from APICS, USA as a CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional). Aside from the ITS MOOC, IndonesiaX is also producing three other MOOCs; one from Airlangga University (Unair), titled "Human Capital: tips in maintaining prime health", the Rumah Perubahan-presented "The art of startup" and one from University of Indonesia (UI), Disaster management. Registration for the three courses is open from Monday. IndonesiaX is trying to put Ki Hadjar Dewantaras message into life: everyone is a teacher and every house is a school. Isnt that a ubiquitous education phenomenon in todays digital era? said Prof. Mohammad Nuh from the ITS Engineering Faculty, who is one of IndonesiaXs advisory council members. The launch of MOOC HarvardX and ITS will be followed up by MOOCs from other universities and well-known companies. IndonesiaX is currently partnered with UI, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Padjadjaran University, Unair, ITS, Universitas Terbuka, Rumah Perubahan, Indonesia Stock Exchange and NET TV. Free online courses are available on the website www.indonesiax.co.id. (asw) Tomorrow afternoon, Sheldon Silver will find out how long hell serve in prison after a jury convicted him this past November on federal corruption charges. The longtime Lower East Side lawmaker was found guilty on seven counts, including honest services fraud, extortion and money laundering. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Prosecutors have urged Judge Valerie Caproni to impose a prison term of more than 14 years. The courts probation department suggested 10 years. The U.S. Attorney also wants Silver to hand over $5 million and pay a $1 million fine. Prosecutors decided, however, not to go after his apartment in the Hillman Cooperative on Grand Street and a home in Woodbridge, New York. Defense attorneys asked for a shorter term, even suggesting community service as an alternative. They would like the judge to take into consideration Mr. Silvers good works as a legislator. About 100 letters were submitted on his behalf. The lawyers have also advocated for leniency because their client is being treated for prostate cancer. According to the Daily News, it isnt clear whether Silver will be able to delay serving his sentence until appeals are exhausted: Manhattan Federal Judge Valerie Caproni could either rule Silver remain free while his appeal is heard, set a date for him to report to prison, or order he be taken into custody immediately, a source close to the case said. In another story today, the Wall Street Journal pointed out that the judge had a lot of leeway in deciding what sentence is appropriate: U.S. law says judges should decide sentences based not only on the offense, but also the defendants history and characteristics. Also relevant, the law says, are deterrence, public protection and the needs of the defendant, including medical care. In court filings, Mr. Silvers lawyers have highlighted his prostate cancer, bile-duct obstruction and knee problems. For judges, sentencing in public-corruption cases presents a particular quandary: While the convicted official usually isnt considered a threat to public safety, or capable of committing the same crimes in the future, the government has an incentive to punish such officials harshly to deter others from similar offenses. The difficulty you have in high-profile cases is that there is a philosophical argument that general deterrence sometimes trumps all other factors, said Benjamin Brafman, a defense attorney not connected to the Silver case who represented Carl Kruger, a former state senator who was convicted on public-corruption charges and sentenced to seven years. Well have full coverage of Silvers sentencing tomorrow. 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They were preparing to testify before the court after the couple earlier gave police accounts of what happened in the early hours of the first day of the Songkran festival on April 13. Police will escort the pair to the court at 1:30pm, Prachuap Khiri Khan police chief Kasana Chamsawang said. The four suspects each face jail terms of between six months and 10 years if they are found guilty on charges of physical assault causing severe injuries. The attack started when the couples 43-year-old son, Lewis John Owen, accidentally bumped into Suphattha Baithong, one of the suspects, in Soi Bintabhat in Prachuap Khiri Khans Hua Hin district, an investigation found. The Owens have blurred memories of what happened after the initial contact. But CCTV footage shows Mr Suphattha, 32, pushing Lewis Owen Jnr to the ground. As his parents tried to stop the scuffle, Mr Suphattha and his three friends punched the three in the face, kicked their bodies and stomped on their faces. The other suspects are Chaiya Jaiboon, 20, Siva Noksri, 20, and Yingyai Saengkhamin, 32. A video clip of the attack, which went viral online and made headlines overseas, was later seen by the victims after they recovered from their head and brain injuries. Police are searching for whoever leaked the footage of the attack and plan to charge them for dealing another blow to the countrys already battered tourism image. The video shows Thais dealing out to foreigners shocking and cruel attacks which have left a huge impact on the victims minds, Ms Orasa said. Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Thawi Naritsirikun has set up a committee to improve safety for Thai and foreign tourists. Vigilance will be tightened in Hua Hin district and Pak Nam Pran in Pranburi district, which are well known for their beaches, he said. Read original story here. Three candidates seek two spots in District 5 House race Three candidates are running for two seats representing District 5 in the state House: Kahden Mooney, Byron I. Callies and incumbent Hugh Bartels. It's our annual Labour Weekend tradition ...The Sound 'Hall Of Fame' Countdown... Where we honor the greatest 500 songs of all time as voted by you. Politicians do it. Businessmen do it. Secret societies do it. Even a well-trained dog does it. When it comes to handshakes, youve probably heard all the tired advice: Shake it like you mean it. Grip firmly, stand up straight, look them in the eyes. But heres a more interesting question: Why exactly do we feel the compulsion to shake hands when were saying hello, making a deal, or burying hatchets? Heres what the research says about this most common of rituals and how the act can change the way people perceive us. Why we shake it As anybody who owns a rear-sniffing dog knows, animals use ritualized physical contact when they meet somebody new. Handshake-like interactions are likely ancient. At a basic level, youre literally showing your hand and letting it (be) known that you can be trusted, because you dont have a concealed weapon or are hiding anything else, says Florin Dolcos, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Illinois who has studied the science of handshakes. Dolcos also points to a fundamental need for humans to connect physically with each other especially when establishing a sense of trust and safety. Handshakes could also be used to, quite literally, sniff other people out. A 2015 study conducted at Israels Weizmann Institute of Science used cameras to show that people often instinctively smell their hands after shaking somebody elses. The researchers theorize that this behaviour is similar to that displayed by other mammals, which often use their sense of smell as a part of social interactions. Its about trust In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Dolcos and his wife Sanda Dolcos, also a faculty member at the University of Illinois, found that simply adding a handshake to a social interaction made people more likely to view others more positively. In the study, researchers placed subjects in an fMRI brain scanner while showing them movies of social interactions. Some of these movies showed people engaged in approach behaviours that signalled a positive social interaction, while others included avoidance behaviours that suggested one person was less than thrilled to be interacting with the other. With all types of interactions, adding a handshake caused test subjects to rate the people they viewed as more confident, trustworthy, and interesting. Touch can help seal deals even bad ones This study re-enforces another one published in 2010 in the journal Psychological Science that found that minimal amounts of physical contact could increase a persons sense of security to the point that he or she is more likely to make risky financial decisions. For the study, researchers at Columbia University and the University of Alberta greeted some test subjects with a 1-second pat on the back of the shoulder prior to giving them the option of choosing between a certain cash payout or a risky bet. Those who received the touch were far more likely to take the riskier route. While the effect was seen on both male and female test subjects, it was present only when the person doing the touching was a woman a result that researchers theorize could be related to feelings of maternal security. Bottom line: A handshake or light touch on the shoulder really could help seal the deal especially if youre a woman. SHARE: LONDONAn Australian man long thought to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin has publicly identified himself as its creator. BBC News said Monday that Craig Wright told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The computer scientist, inventor and academic says he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. One Bitcoin is, at the moment, worth more than $450. His identity had been shrouded in uncertainty until now. The BBC said Wright had decided to make his identity known to stop the spread of misinformation about Bitcoin. I firmly believe that Bitcoin and the Blockchain can change the world for the better, he said. I didnt take the decision lightly to make my identity public and I want to be clear that Im doing this because I care so passionately about my work and also to dispel any negative myths and fears. He said he would now be able to release his research and academic work to help people understand the potential of Bitcoin. The BBC said that Wright supported his claim by signing digital messages using cryptographic keys used during the early days of Bitcoin. Jon Matonis, one of the founding directors of the Bitcoin Foundation, told the BBC he is convinced that Wright is who he claims to be and is responsible for a brilliant achievement. Wright also revealed his identity to the Economist and GQ. The Economist took a more skeptical path. Wright has the possession of certain digital keys that only Nakamoto would have, though the magazine said it did not have enough time to independently verify the key's verisimilitude. "Our conclusion is that Mr Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain," the Economist wrote. "Indeed, it may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin." The open source software for Bitcoin, which allows users to make online transactions anonymously and without going through banks or other financial institutions, was released in 2009. It started out more resembling monopoly money than real currency - people would trade the "coins" (really just lines of code) for favors or even give them away. But as the exotic system gained popularity, it gained value. Now anyone - tech nerds, central bank-averse Libertarians, criminals - can use bitcoins for anything from ordering pizza to trafficking drugs. Their value fluctuates wildly. Craig Steven Wright, a 44-year-old former academic "nobody," as Wired put it had never before appeared on the public lists of any Nakamoto-hunters and yet troves of leaked (or perhaps hacked) documents published by both Wired and the tech blog Gizmodo seemed to point to him last December. Within hours of the two stories' publication, Wright's online presence had all but vanished, Gizmodo reported, and Australian authorities were raiding Wright's suburban Sydney home. The BBC quoted a blog post by Gavin Andresen, chief scientist at the Bitcoin Foundation, in support of the claim: "I believe Craig Steven Wright is the person who invented Bitcoin," Andresen wrote. "I was flown to London to meet Dr. Wright a couple of weeks ago, after an initial email conversation convinced me that there was a very good chance he was the same person I'd communicated with in 2010 and early 2011. After spending time with him I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt: Craig Wright is Satoshi. "Part of that time was spent on a careful cryptographic verification of messages signed with keys that only Satoshi should possess. But even before I witnessed the keys signed and then verified on a clean computer that could not have been tampered with, I was reasonably certain I was sitting next to the Father of Bitcoin." with files from Ben Guarino, Washington Post Read more about: SHARE: Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly surprised culture and Internet watchers last week by announcing plans for a comprehensive review of Canadian content policies in a digital world. Joly says everything is on the table, including broadcasting regulation, Cancon funding mechanisms, copyright law, the role of the CBC and the future of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). While there is little doubt that the current framework was established for a different era, rules that have sheltered the industry from foreign competition and transferred hundreds of millions of dollars from consumers to creator groups will not disappear without a fight. Indeed, the most common refrain from the Canadian cultural community is likely to be that the existing rules should be extended to the Internet. Jolys consultation may be new, but questions about adapting Canadian content regulations to the digital environment have been around for some time. For example, the primary impetus behind the CRTCs much-maligned TalkTV consultation was the dramatic shift in the television landscape due to the Internet. With rapid growth of unregulated Internet-based alternatives such as Netflix drawing millions of Canadian subscribers and offering new venues for sales of Canadian content, the Commission was faced with difficult policy choices on how to adapt old rules into the digital reality. It implored creator groups to focus on leveraging the Internet by competing on a global stage, while urging broadcasters to adopt consumer-friendly packages given the emergence of greater consumer choice that ultimately seems likely to lead to a mass exodus from the regulated system. The reaction from the Canadian culture establishment? Most paid lip service to competing for new audiences, focusing instead on demands for Netflix taxes, Cancon requirements for digital services, retention of longstanding protectionist rules such as simultaneous substitution and the continuation of expensive consumer television packages to preserve existing channels. There is little reason to believe those groups will offer a different vision of Canadian content regulation this time round. In fact, they will likely expect even more from this consultation. In addition to regulations over Internet-based video services, there will be calls to implement an Internet service provider tax to fund the creation of Cancon. An ISP tax (or levy) was rejected by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2012, but rewriting the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act will offer the possibility of new consumer fees to offset declining contributions from the broadcasting sector. Levies on Internet access would run counter to other policy goals, however, notably ensuring universal, affordable broadband for all Canadians since increases to the cost of Internet service would likely widen the digital divide. The competing objectives highlight another complication of the consultation, namely the overlap between government departments. Canadian Heritage will lead on cultural issues, but there are significant implications for others such as Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains (responsible for telecommunications and copyright) and International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland (the Trans Pacific Partnership limits Canadian cultural policies). Policy overlap is particularly pronounced on copyright, with some groups eyeing the Cancon consultation as the chance to demand further changes to the Copyright Act, despite the fact that a review of that law is already scheduled for 2017. Moreover, copyright was just modernized in 2012, with new rules designed to foster digital user generated content, promote online distribution and tackle websites that enable infringement. If anything, Canadian copyright law is still more restrictive than its U.S. counterpart, where fair use laws offer more flexibility to creators of all stripes than Canadas fair dealing provisions. The modernization of Cancon regulation offers the opportunity to rethink longstanding policies by prioritizing global markets, consumer choice, competition and the benefits of an expanded creative class that includes both commercial and non-commercial participants. Next weeks column will examine some of the policy possibilities, but for now, Canadians should be wary of a consultation process that could quickly devolve into a rush to regulate the Internet with claims that cultural policies in the digital world is little more than old wine in new bottles. Michael Geist holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. He can be reached at mgeist@uottawa.ca or online at www.michaelgeist.ca . SHARE: MONTREALThe former head of online gaming company Amaya, two associates and three companies have pleaded not guilty to several securities-related charges following an investigation into allegations of insider trading, Quebecs securities regulator said Monday. David Baazov, 35, was charged in March with five offences, including aiding with trades while in possession of privileged information, influencing or attempting to influence the market price of the securities of Amaya and communicating privileged information. He was charged following an investigation by the Autorite des marches financiers that resulted in 23 charges against three people Baazov, Yoel Altman and Benjamin Ahdoot and three companies: Diocles Capital Inc., Sababa Consulting Inc. and 2374879 Ontario Inc. The accused all formally pleaded in writing in the last couple of weeks, said AMF spokesman Sylvain Theberge. He said the case will soon be forwarded to Quebec court for the selection of a judge and setting trial dates. Baazov, who took an indefinite paid leave of absence as CEO and chairman of Amaya after he was charged, has from the outset said the allegations were false. Ahdoot and Altman are facing four and six charges respectively, including for trading while in possession of privileged information and influencing or attempting to influence the market price of Amaya securities. Diocles Capital is facing five charges of trading while in possession of privileged information and influencing or attempting to influence the market price of Amaya securities. Sababa Consulting Inc. and 2374879 Ontario Inc. are facing a total of three charges for trading while in possession of privileged information. The charges stem from the alleged use of privileged information when trading company shares between December 2013 and the June 2014 announcement of a $4.9-billion (U.S.) deal to acquire the Oldford Group. That deal included the acquisition of gambling website PokerStars. The penalty for insider trading is $5,000 to $5 million per charge plus up to five years in prison, said Theberge. Read more about: SHARE: Canada's Competition Tribunal has issued a decision that some insiders say will open up the real estate industry to more online competition and services and, force it to comply with federal competition rules. The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) "continues to engage in, a practice of anti-competitive acts" in its restrictions surrounding the use of Multiple Listing Service (MLS) information, says a decision summary released by the tribunal on Thursday. The Competition Bureau argued at the tribunal that TREB's practices have kept information under the control of traditional real estate agencies, restricting the operation of industry newcomers, known as Virtual Office Websites (VOWs), and stifling innovation in the Toronto area. In welcoming the decision, Commissioner of Competition John Pecman issued a statement saying, "This is a good day for competition and innovation. We look forward to the hearing before the tribunal on remedies." He first challenged TREB's MLS restrictions in 2011. That application was dismissed, but the commission successfully appealed and the tribunal held another hearing last year. TREB CEO John DiMichele cautioned that the tribunal has only "partially granted" the Commissioner of Competition's application. "The tribunal has also asked that both parties provide input to remedies," he said in an emailed statement. For non-traditional real estate brokers, Thursday's release signals a major victory. They say that Canada's real estate practices have stifled innovations such as U.S. online real estate giant Zillow. "No one has attempted to enter the market in a meaningful way until this cloud is removed," said one expert. "Finally, the market will open up," said Lawrence Dale, a Toronto lawyer and founder of Realtysellers who has battled TREB for nearly a decade. "It will not be so easy any more for TREB and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) to abuse their control over the MLS to prevent competitors to the traditional model from operating as they have to date done so successfully," he said. "Since 2002, I was stopped by either TREB and/or CREA from offering various services. Now after two bureau proceedings I have complete vindication," said Dale. In the fall of 2007 TREB put Dale's VOW, a partnership with Bell Canada, out of business. "Bell valued that business at $1.4 billion after it was built out. The final chapter is now left to be written and I hope TREB and CREA can count that high," he said. The tribunal decision means buyers can do more of their own research rather than being dependent on a realtor, said John Pasalis founder of Realosophy, a Leslieville VOW that offers clients data on houses and neighbourhoods that they might not find in an MLS listing. "It matters to a business like ours because our approach is that buyers make better decisions if they have more information in their hands,"he said. "We advocate giving clients more information which is philosophically quite different than TREB's. TREB's philosophy is to have the agent be the gatekeeper. Any time you want information as a consumer you have to call your realtor," said Pasalis. The Competition Bureau originally brought the case before the tribunal in 2011 to stop TREB from restricting agents from providing information such as previous sale prices and, it said, "thereby denying agents the ability to introduce new and innovative real estate brokerage services using the internet." TREB argued vigorously that releasing the information, something real estate agents had always provided clients on a one-on-one basis, would violate privacy rights. But the real concern is that TREB realtors will "get cut out of the action," said Pasalis, who was a witness in the case for the Competition Bureau. The full tribunal decision is still confidential. Both sides have until mid-May to submit their recommendations for a remedy. They have the right to appeal to the trial division of the federal court, said a tribunal spokesman. SHARE: As Toronto City Council begins debate Tuesday about creating new regulations for the popular Uber service, company executives say they are taking steps to ease consumer worries about the ride-hailing app. At an editorial board meeting with The Star, general manager Ian Black shared details of some of the efforts. Heres a look at some key areas: Facial recognition In Toronto, Uber is testing software that requires drivers to take a photo during log-in and verify that it matches official photos on file. If the photo doesnt, they cant sign on. The technologys now at the point where its 99.99 per cent accurate and so thats kind of one of those ways we can use technology to remove the possibility of someone driving on someone elses account, Black says. Safe driving Uber is testing the use of telematics (such as sensors in smartphones), collecting data that can reveal whether someone drives erratically or brakes too harshly. The phone must be mounted to gather accurate data; the information could be sent to Uber when the driver is logged on to the app. Tipping Uber settled two class-action lawsuits last week in the United States that require it to clarify its policy on tipping. In a blog post, the company said its policy has not changed. Tipping is not included, nor is it expected or required, the post said, a position that was also echoed by Uber Canada spokeswoman Susie Heath. Fines Time is money, and Uber is testing a program in which riders who keep drivers waiting for more than two minutes are charged extra. Similarly, if a rider cancels a request for a ride more than two minutes after their initial request, they will face a small fee, a change from the previous five-minute grace period. Uber is running pilots of these policies in Dallas, Phoenix, New Jersey and New York. Unionization More than 1,000 Uber drivers in New York have signed membership cards with an association known as the Amalgamated Local of Livery Employees in Solidarity, or Alles. Since Uber management controls the fares charged for the service, drivers want and need security and protection, the association says. From Jennifer Pagliaro and Vanessa Lu Read more about: SHARE: At first glance, Houdini & Doyle has similarities to Canadas own Murdoch Mysteries that go beyond the merely superficial. Both are TV series depicting turn-of-the-century detectives and populated by historical figures. They are both produced by Shaftesbury. Parts of Houdini & Doyle, which premieres on Global Monday at 9 p.m., were shot in Canada. And the executive producers happen to be Canadian. That includes former Torontonian David Shore, the creator of House M.D., which featured a medical practitioner who was the Sherlock Holmes of the medical world. Shore says any similarities to Murdoch are purely coincidental. We came at it not having watched Murdoch; it is its own show. With shows around such as Downton Abbey, The Knick and Peaky Blinders, making a period drama was not a huge stretch. Even though its not set in contemporary times, the issues are still current, says Shore. Issues of prejudice, gender equality, fear of the outsider were complicated a hundred years ago and theyre complicated now, and we hope to look at that through the lens of these two men. London, Ont., native Rebecca Liddiard is the woman who collaborates with the two famous men in the series: author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and illusionist Harry Houdini. She plays the first female constable on the Metropolitan Police force as she investigates the underworld with the two renowned figures. It has occurred to me that its a little like Murdoch, but its also supernatural, which I think is key, says Liddiard (Between) in an interview. That whole element of the unknown seems to up the stakes; its darker, grittier, more shadowy, and you have the relationship between these two well known men at the heart of the story. Its also fascinating that Doyle, a trained medical doctor and a man of science who created the most logical fictional character on record, believed in the supernatural. Houdini, on the other hand, spent much of his life debunking the quackery behind mediums. A lesser known historical fact is that the two men were friends in real life. When I first heard about the friendship between the two men I kept thinking how has this not been made into a TV series already? says executive producer Shore. That combination of the author of Sherlock Holmes and Harry Houdini seemed perfect: it was about the cynic and the believer, and it goes to so much at the heart of what we deal with in the deeper aspects of life. I didnt know about the relationship between Houdini and Doyle, and I couldnt figure out how they would even cross paths, says Liddiard. But I remember talking to my mom and it was my mom who said they were friends, and she told me all about it before I even went to the auditions, so I have her to thank for prepping me. The 10-part British and Canadian co-production was shot in Manchester, Liverpool and at Torontos Black Creek Pioneer Village. The drama was ordered straight to series for Global in Canada and ITV Encore in the U.K., and licensed in the U.S. on Fox. Stephen Hopkins (24, Californication) directed the pilot. The role is a dream come true, says Liddiard. Its a fantastic role for a female. Shes the first woman to get a job in Scotland Yard, and shes met with obstacles and challenges. And then you see the relationship evolving based on how they treat each other based on gender and how she has to convince (Houdini and Doyle) that she should be treated as an equal. Liddiard is joined by Michael Weston (House) as Houdini and Stephen Mangan (Episodes) as Doyle. Producers do take liberties with the time line. The show takes place in 1901, but the two men did not meet till 1920. It really is interesting when you get into their lives and friendship how it gave a sense of the times, says Shore. SHARE: My mother has mood swings that I feel have always been abnormal. One minute shes very happy, and planning her next home renovation. The next, shes depressed, sitting in a dark room on the Internet. Next, shes buying expensive things. As a child, these things seemed fun and amusing. But, sadly, not always. I suffered emotional abuse/trauma through verbal and even physical attacks. Now, Im 28, have a daughter, age 4, and Im pregnant. Weve always had arguments that stem from her moods switching and her becoming very argumentative, rude and almost crazy. Today, I went to her house before getting my daughter from daycare. She seemed in a good mood. Suddenly, she said I should pick up my daughter, that Im leaving her too long. I said its fine. She began pacing the house, unsettled, became confrontational and argumentative. I got upset and said mean words back to her. She pushed me, called me a cow and told me to never come back. She slammed the door and told my dad to come in. He always defends her because he seems afraid of her. I dont want my daughter or my new baby to be around her, as shes unstable. My daughter loves my mother so much but I feel shes sick and doesnt respect me either. There have been incidents like this all my life. Unstable Mother Whats so sad about your story is that no one in your family helped your mother (which wouldve helped you) understand and manage what was driving her extreme mood changes. The symptoms youve described are familiar to bipolar or manic-depressive disorders, and other health-significant possibilities. Of course, she needed a doctors diagnosis of her condition, but for these and other mental health disorders there are treatments, medications and also natural alternative therapies, too. Youve suffered abuse that shouldve been addressed for both your sakes, because she suffered, too. Shes still at the mercy of these emotional highs and lows, until she gets checked and accepts professional help. Theres no shame in her needing to treat an imbalance thats negatively affecting her life and that of her family. Itd be to your benefit and your childrens too, to encourage a thorough health investigation related to her symptoms, especially if theres a genetic factor involved. This isnt the time to cut her off. Its time to try very hard to encourage your parents to get help for her and hopefully bring peace into everyones lives. Meanwhile, talk to a counsellor about the effect of all this on you, to get some support. My niece is still breastfeeding her three-year-old. She wears no bra, just lifts her shirt wherever she is or her child lifts it and suckles. This happens in restaurants, on the street, anywhere. Theres no sense of whats appropriate. Ive seen single men ogling her bare breasts, and find it very upsetting. Indiscreet In Canada, women have the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime. In the U.S., 29 states plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands exempt breastfeeding from Public Indecency laws. The same protections apply in many countries. Breastfeeding is promoted by the World Health Organization for up to two years, and many mothers embrace the practice for even longer, for health benefits for the child as well as convenience. Discretion is a subjective matter left to individuals. Others dont have to look, though some people, myself included, find a healthy breastfeeding child presents a beautiful sight. Tip of the day When a family member regularly has severe mood swings, a health checkup is badly needed. Read Ellie Monday to Saturday. Email ellie@thestar.ca or visit her website, ellieadvice.com. Follow @ellieadvice. SHARE: Yesterday they were lost causes, left to die. Today there is hope. Health Minister Eric Hoskins introduced a critical policy change on Sunday that will make an entire group of cancer patients those who have relapsed after chemotherapy eligible for life-saving stem cell transplants. Its one of several measures Hoskins announced in a statement following an ongoing Star investigation into the systemic collapse of stem cell transplant programs in Ontario hospitals. The minister, among other things, has committed to: Expanding access for stem cell therapy treatment, in Ontario and out of country, where clinically recommended, to leukemia patients who are not in complete remission after chemotherapy. Opening a second stem cell transplant centre in Greater Toronto at Sunnybrook hospital to take pressure off of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, which closed its doors to new transplant patients in March. Princess Margarets medical director told the Star it would be irresponsible for the hospital to add patients to its eight-month waiting list when they know these patients must receive a transplant within two to three months of diagnosis for the best chance of success. Streamlining the convoluted referral process for patients sent out of country, a process that takes weeks as Cancer Care Ontario stipulated that a special review committee must vet all cases before funding is approved. Creating a ministerial task force to provide the government with immediate and ongoing advice. (A ministry spokesman could not say which experts have been assigned to the committee.) Since last fall, nearly 200 of this provinces sickest patients, including those with blood cancers such as leukemia and immunologic disorders, have been referred to American centres for allogeneic transplants using stem cells from an unrelated donor at a projected cost of $100 million (U.S.) because programs in Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton dont have the space or staff to treat them. Since fall 2015, only 19 patients have actually received a U.S. transplant. In late January, Sharon Shamblaw, 46, a stay-at-home mom from St. Marys, Ont., travelled to Buffalo for a scheduled transplant her best shot at surviving acute myeloid leukemia. Hours before she was to be admitted, tests showed the cancer, kept at bay for five months by her Ontario doctor through chemo, had returned. Since the government agreed to fund out-of-country treatments only for patients in remission, the transplant was suddenly off the table. Two weeks ago, she entered palliative care at home. In a story about Shamblaw published last week, Cancer Care Ontario told the Star it is considered experimental to perform transplants on patients that are not in remission. It turns out thats not exactly true. Cancer Care Ontarios own consensus guidelines, submitted by expert physicians in July 2015, indicate that offering a transplant to a leukemia patient not in remission is standard practice. More on thestar.com: Ontario cancer patient cant say enough about Buffalo stem cell transplant Plea from dying teen: please help Top doctors, health critics blast Health Minister Eric Hoskins for stem cell transplant crisis While the odds of long-term survival are lower when a patient has relapsed or not responded to chemotherapy at all, a five-year study at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, where Shamblaw was to have received her transplant, showed a 20- to 25-per-cent survival rate for such patients. When somebody is in remission, the whole reason why theyre having a transplant is not because the leukemia is all gone, said Dr. Philip McCarthy, director of Roswells blood and marrow transplant centre. The leukemia is still there. Its just you cant find it with our current detection methods. The level of detection for leukemia is about a billion cells the size of a sugar cube, McCarthy explained.The trick is to treat relapsed patients while the number of diseased cells is relatively low. If you try to do a transplant with a high cancer burden, say a trillion cells, its not going to work, McCarthy said. Youre asking the donor cells to eradicate all those leukemia cells, and there are too many of them. In 2008, the Ontario governments own quasi-judicial tribunal, the Health Services Appeal and Review Board, established the precedent that providing an allogeneic transplant for a relapsed leukemia patient was not experimental. It is excellent that the minister has finally forced Cancer Care Ontario and the hospitals to face that fact, but that is small comfort to the families of the dead, said Amir Attaran, a professor in the faculties of medicine and law at University of Ottawa. This is not a singular mistake that you can attribute to aberration, Attaran said. This was systemic failure to obey the standard of care. Just how many patients are affected by this policy change is a secret Cancer Care Ontario still insists on keeping. On Friday, a government spokesman told the Star the health ministry would compel Cancer Care Ontario to release the number of patients who have relapsed or died while awaiting a transplant. The Star asked for the data last week to try to learn why so few patients approved for transplant have actually had one. Cancer Care Ontario now says the numbers are too small to report and that releasing them would risk identifying patients. One transplant doctor told the Star last week that four patients on his roster alone died while waiting for their approved U.S. transplant. For more than a decade, physicians at Princess Margaret, Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton and The Ottawa Hospital the only three Ontario centres equipped with highly specialized staff and space to provide allogeneic treatments using stem cells or bone marrow from donors unrelated to patients have warned Cancer Care Ontario this crisis would happen without immediate intervention. Dr. Richard Wells, a clinician-scientist at Sunnybrook, described the situation as a slow-motion train crash. One of his chief concerns now is seeing that his patients receive the urgent care they need. The referral process, he said, is bonkers. While Wells used to directly refer patients to Princess Margaret, now he must send them to The Ottawa Hospital, where an expert will determine whether a transplant is medically appropriate and which centre they should go to. The province has struck agreements with Roswell in Buffalo, the Cleveland Clinic, and Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. Each transplant costs about $500,000 (U.S.), which is two to three times the cost in an Ontario hospital. The treatment requires patients to be in hospital for a month and within a 15-minute drive of the hospital for two more months, usually at a nearby hotel, for regular checkups. There is a high chance at this stage that the donor cells will attack the patients body, a potentially fatal complication if not immediately treated. The patient is also asked to travel with a full-time caregiver who can help administer oral and intravenous medications. I sent a referral to Ottawa two or three weeks ago and weve heard nothing, Wells said. No one can tell us when this patient will be seen. Its a little bit of a black hole. It feels crazy to be waiting with no hint of what the timeline will be. Its tough on the patient, it really is. The average wait for a consult in Ottawa, based on the experiences of his first wave of patients, Wells said, is about three weeks. I hope they understand the referral process is absolutely crucial. Really, the referral process is all we can do for these patients right now in Ontario. If that sole task that we still have power to do we cock-up, it will be quite tragic. Shamblaws first-born daughter, Amanda, 26, had prepared to move to Buffalo for three months to be her mothers primary caregiver. Doctors in London, Ont., and Buffalo confirmed Shamblaws body is now too full of diseased cells to survive a transplant. We all still held hope up until now, Amanda said. Now we just have to work to prevent other people from suffering this unnecessary fate. SHARE: No one has been disciplined for the problematic rollout of a welfare and disability payment system that cost the public an extra $52 million to fix, Ontarios community and social services minister said Monday. Weeks after the Social Assistance Management System was launched in November 2014, serious defects and performance issues became public it erroneously queued up $20 million in overpayments and $382,000 of that was actually paid out. The ministry is also looking into an additional $35 million in potential benefit calculation errors highlighted by the auditor general in her annual report last year. The system cost about $240 million to design and implement, and the cost of fixing all of its glitches brought the total closer to $300 million. Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk found that the SAMS executive committee knew the system wasnt functioning properly and that it hadnt been fully tested of the functions that were tested the failure rate was one in eight but decided to launch it anyway. She also found that the project team didnt tell the executive committee about the full extent of the new systems problems, including informing the executive about 418 serious defects, instead of the actual total of 737. Community and Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek says she is not aware of anyone being disciplined over it, but that she has accepted responsibility. Some problems were anticipated, just as there would be with any large introduction of a huge system like this, but clearly those issues that did arise were above and beyond what was expected, she said. They felt that the problems had been overcome. Thats all I can say. About 10 days before SAMS launch date, documents obtained by The Canadian Press through a Freedom of Information request show that the minister received an email that included a memo from the team leader noting significant challenges both with the development of the solution and with site readiness but that the problems had been overcome. Jaczek is the one who should take the blame, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said. We think that that minister should not still be a minister, she said. She fumbled that ball in a very, very serious way. There was clear evidence that was told to her quite specifically that that system was not ready to go live. Jaczek also defended the awarding of a $32-million maintenance contract for SAMS to IBM, the company that designed the flawed system. Its a routine maintenance contract, she said Monday. Every large IT system needs a contract like that and it was of course issued through a competitive process and the successful bidder was IBM. Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown said he would have thought common sense would dictate IBM shouldnt have been eligible for that contract. Read more about: SHARE: A Brampton judge has acquitted a driver who failed a roadside breath test after accepting a former government scientists evidence that the device is faulty and the process used in Ontario flawed. Defence lawyer Richard Posner, who represented the man, said the judges findings not only call into question the integrity of the breath testing system in Ontario, but also the reliability of guilty verdicts in many other drinking and driving cases throughout the province. This is, in my view, having done impaired and over-80 cases for the past two decades, obviously of great significance because of the systemic nature of it, Posner said. (In Ontario, the maximum legal blood-alcohol concentration for fully licensed drivers is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Hence, the charge is known as over-80.) Calling his witness Ben Joseph a whistleblower, Posner said the essence of his testimony was that convicting people for breath readings obtained by the Intoxilyzer 8000C is flirting with disaster. The Crown has filed an appeal in the case, and the attorney general will make no further comment because the matter is before the courts, ministry spokesman Brendan Crawley wrote in an email. Last month, Ontario Court Justice Elinore Ready said she believed much of what Joseph said in court. He left the Centre of Forensic Sciences in 2013 to enrol in medical school. While on the stand over three days last year, Joseph cast doubt on the reliability of the Intoxilyzer 8000C, the device police officers across the province use to test the blood-alcohol level of drivers. The Centre of Forensic Sciences oversees the breath-test program in Ontario. Prior to the trial, Joseph studied the historical data and maintenance and calibration records for the breath-testing equipment used by Peel Region police to obtain a breath sample from Gurdev Singh on March 4, 2014. Joseph said he determined the instruments history was littered with inaccurate results and other failures. He noted that none of the devices maintenance records explained the malfunctions or what, if anything, police had done to address them. For that reason, no one could have confidence in the reliability of Singhs breath-test results, Joseph testified. In addition, Joseph told court that since, to his knowledge, all the 8000Cs used in Ontario lack an uncertainty of measurement an established error rate, used to ensure results account for uncertainty there is no way to be statistically confident about a subjects breath-test reading. He suggested he and other toxicologists at the forensic centre discussed their shared concern about uncertainty of measurement with breath-testing instruments, but it appears nothing was done. The judge agreed on both points. She said an instrument that is not properly maintained and operated could not provide complete results, and without an uncertainty of measurement, the instruments results are not reliable. Without such an uncertainty of measurement on Mr. Singhs instrument and being included on his test record cards . . . his readings are not complete, Ready said, reading from her ruling March 30. She also rejected the assertion by a Crown expert, toxicologist Robert Langille, that historical records were not relevant in determining the reliability of the breath result. Posner said across Ontario every day, the Crown presents printouts from the Intoxilyzer 8000C in court, and there is no way to determine the accuracy or reliability unless you know the uncertainty of measurement for that instrument. The irony is the Centre of Forensic Science oversees this program, and they would lose their accreditation if they ran a test, and they run tests daily, that generates a numerical value if there was not an uncertainty of measurement for that instrument, Posner said. In an interview, Joseph said at the moment, the Intoxilyzer 8000C is the only breathalyzer instrument used by police officers in the province, and he estimates there are up to 350 in use. He said his problem with the instrument began after he left the forensic centres northwestern Ontario office. He previously thought, and had testified on behalf of the Crown, that the devices historical data its black box of information was irrelevant to the breath-test results. But while at the centre, Joseph was aware that some police detachments were calling the 8000Cs manufacturer, Kentucky-based CMI, to complain that certain individuals were having a hard time providing a breath sample. The company did not respond to a request for comment. The company explained the machines flow sensor can fatigue and need replacing. But Joseph said his analysis led him to conclude that some people may have been charged wrongly with refusing to supply a breath sample because they were blowing into machines later found to have faulty flow sensors. Thats the big elephant in the breath room that nobody wants to talk about, Joseph said. All police agencies in the province were instructed to change the flow sensor following a significant drift away from the manufacturers set-point, but there was no investigation to look and see, as I did, if there were actual people charged with refused to give a sample. Police forces in Ontario began using the U.S.-manufactured Intoxilyzer 8000Cs about six or seven years ago. Joseph compared the case to Motherisk, the Hospital for Sick Childrens now discredited hair-testing program. Its no different. Its just another judge saying things in another forensic setting. Because of the lack of quality standards that Sick Kids did not adhere to, same thing, no uncertainty of measurement here, no proper maintenance here, so (it) calls into question the reliability of breath testing in certain instruments. A judge in Sudbury is set to rule June 23 in an impaired driving case after Joseph testified about his concerns. The testimony lasted until 11:30 p.m. The judge found it controversial, but he wanted to hear it all. What, if any, impact will R v. Singh case have? Thousands of people are charged with impaired driving annually in the province, and unless other Ontario courts start releasing similar decisions, very little is likely to change. What's wrong with Ontarios breath tests? According to expert Ben Joseph: An examination of historical data in Peel Region found unexplained inaccurate results and other failures. A key problem is that the instruments used in Ontario lack an "uncertainty of measurement." In other words, it's impossible to know how precise any given reading is. The devices' "flow sensors" wear out and if not replaced could lead to breath tests not registering. SHARE: OTTAWAThe federal government quietly spent $75 million to settle with victims and creditors affected by the Lac-Megantic rail disaster a contribution that also shielded it from lawsuits related to the deadly crash. Former transport minister Lisa Raitt said the deal, which involved 24 other defendants who settled, was under negotiation before her Conservatives lost the October election to the Liberals. The Liberals have refused to reveal how much the government gave to the $460 million settlement fund, even though at least two parties accused of wrongdoing in the deadly Quebec derailment disclosed their contributions. But in a recent interview Raitt said the amount was public. She said it was included in Transport Canadas supplementary estimates as well as in its quarterly financial report under out-of-court settlement. The amount listed is $75 million. Last week, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said the figure was classified when asked how much taxpayer money the government set aside for the settlement. Garneau also reiterated Ottawas denial under both the Liberals and the Tories that it had any legal responsibility for the 2013 oil-train accident that killed 47 people and levelled part of Lac-Megantic. We dont acknowledge that we had any responsibility; however, we did want to make a contribution because of the impact of this terrible tragedy in Lac-Megantic, Garneau said last week. Raitt agreed that the governments main goal behind the settlement was to speed up the process. The motivation was simple: this was an opportunity to get money to the victims for wrongful death in a shorter period of time through the U.S. bankruptcy proceedings as opposed to a long, drawn-out, litigious court case, Raitt said in a recent interview. The governments decision to settle may have also been made to avoid the cost of fighting the allegations in court. It would have faced numerous lawsuits related to the derailment on both sides of the border, said the U.S.-based bankruptcy trustee for the company at the centre of the crash Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway. Robert Keach has also said that, contractually speaking, the arrangement explicitly stated the settling parties were not acknowledging any liability with their contributions. The Transportation Safety Boards 2014 report on the crash said Transport Canada failed to recognize that the railway had urgent safety problems and was not following the rules. It also said the department failed to audit safety procedures at MM&A and didnt conduct enough inspections. Raitt responded to the TSB report at the time by saying the governments role was to put the rules in place. The companies, the Conservative minister added, were expected to follow those regulations something she said MM&A did not do. In the recent interview, Raitt reiterated the position that the rules werent respected. We dont believe we are liable and its not an admission of liability, said Raitt, who added she would have publicly disclosed the governments settlement contribution. Irving Oil has announced it had contributed $75 million to the fund. The train was transporting crude oil to Irvings refinery in Saint John, N.B. World Fuel Services Corp., the U.S. company that owned the oil aboard the train, announced a few months later that it provided $110 million (U.S.) toward the settlement. SHARE: OTTAWAIf Mike Duffy returns to his Senate seat this week, his arrival will not be heralded with an open landau and rose petals. But if he marks his arrival with a request for repayment of his salary while he was under suspension, his Senate colleagues have two choices. They can do the right thing and pay him back. Or they can embarrass themselves again. Yes, many Canadians will find the prospect of Duffy asking for a big fat cheque odious. In the court of public opinion, he is still seen as the king of feathered beds and padded expenses, but this is not about the man, it is about a principle. Our Senate has had any number of low points in recent memory, but the 2013 circus that led to the suspension of Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin was a gully of historic proportion. Before we rush to judgment over a case of rushing to judgment, it is worth noting that Duffy has not even confirmed he will take back his office this week, although it is a safe bet he will at some point. He has not argued for a return of his pay, although his lawyer Donald Bayne has set the stage for such a case, saying he would definitely seek to recoup two years salary if he was in the senators shoes. But we dont know whether Duffy is content to have won in the court (if not necessarily the court of public opinion), or whether his health or spirit is up for another fight, because this could mean a return to court. Its not known whether he would seek to rejoin the Conservative caucus and it is likely it wouldnt have him back. But on CTVs Question Period Sunday, Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos, the chair of the internal economy committee, made it clear that there would be no appetite to revisit the suspension and contemplate reimbursement in the Senate. Bayne has argued that political figures should be given due process and Duffy was given that due process when Judge Charles Vaillancourt dismissed 31 criminal charges against him. It ought to cause those who rushed to judgment, acted like a political herd in the Senate, to the great discredit of the Senate, (to) give real second thought in how they behaved in this, he said. The Senate will argue it is the master of its own house and it sets its own rules though Vaillancourt often searched in vain for such rules and oversight. It maintains it had the right to impose its own discipline and that expense abuse that falls short of criminality is expense abuse regardless. Looking back to October 2013, the haste to rid itself of the trio, was described this way in this column: For three days, a chamber that bills itself as the home of sober second thought stumbled along like a drunk brandishing a knife, seemingly intent on a public execution that ignores every Canadian tradition of due process or rule of law. It was not unanimous. Former senator Hugh Segal argued the tougher the penalty, the greater the need for due process. Due process is not a speech made under duress in a star chamber, he said. Conservative Sen. Don Plett said the move to suspend was political and he believed in due process. This is not a bid to canonize Duffy. The Senate has tightened its spending rules, everything from requirements that residency be proved annually to requiring receipts for cab fares under $30, but Duffy is no poster boy for reform. He raised so many red flags, the Senate had no choice but to try to clean house and the government leader of the day, Marjorie LeBreton, referred the matter to auditor general Michael Ferguson who found more than $1 million in questionable expenses. That was reduced under a review by retired Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie and, while every sitting senator has reimbursed the public purse, the Senate has gone to the courts to recover some $500,000 from retired senators. Duffy returns to a more independent place. Some have come to that status by choice. Liberals were sent there by dictate from their leader. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed the first waves of so-called independent senators, including a government representative in Peter Harder. The Senate would like to turn the page on this debacle. But the book is not finished until the lack of due process is at least officially acknowledged, whether pay is reimbursed or not. Tim Harper is a national affairs writer. His column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. tharper@thestar.ca Twitter:@nutgraf1 Read more about: SHARE: FORT MCMURRAY, ALTA.About 500 residents have been allowed to return home in northern Alberta after a wildfire forced them out on the weekend. Melissa Blake, mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, said late Monday evening the mandatory evacuation order was lifted for residents in the Prairie Creek neighbourhoods just south of Fort McMurray. However, Blake said residents must shelter in place and be ready to evacuate again if necessary. About 200 residents of the Centennial Trailer Park remain on mandatory evacuation and another 500 people in the Gregoire area were told to be ready to leave. Blake and the fire chief pleaded with people to take personal responsibility to prevent fires because conditions are extreme. People, Im asking for your appreciation of the danger and hazards that exist and to respect any sensible means, so please dont light your backyard fires this week, you can see how dry the conditions are, she said to reporters. She also urged people not use ATVs or off-highway vehicles on the backyard trails and to stop flicking cigarette butts out of vehicle windows. Darby Allen, regional fire chief for the Wood Buffalo municipality, said people must stay away from the fires, not only for their own safety, but because firefighters cant do their jobs if people get in the way. Today, we had a report from one of the water bombers that was flying over that there was a Jeep right alongside where the fire was burning. Someones driven in on the trail, which is, by the way, completely crazy. It impacts our ability to continue. We cant carry on dumping water when we know people are down there because thats dangerous from that height. Bernie Schmitte, forestry manager in Fort McMurray, said the wildfire was just 1.5 kilometres from the nearest residence and was 1.2 square kilometres in size. Allen said no structures have been lost and there have been no injuries. The fire broke out over the weekend and spread quickly due to tinder-dry conditions and high temperatures, which are forecast to continue Tuesday. A fleet of air-tankers and helicopters dropped fire retardant and water on the flames as crews fought the fire on the ground. The province said it will send more firefighters to the area and a heavy helicopter capable of dumping large volumes of water was en route. They have called in extra resources and we are absolutely grateful for the firefighters coming from other places to due battle for us here, Blake said. Crews kept the fire just over a kilometre away from Highway 63, the major road link south to Edmonton. Another blaze on the northern edge of the city called the Diamond Stone Ridge fire was being held. There were no reports of injuries, but air quality was a concern because of the smoke. Other areas reporting extreme wildfire hazards include the Slave Lake and Whitecourt regions northwest of Edmonton. A wildfire that popped up Monday afternoon along a runway at the Whitecourt airport was quickly controlled, while a large place 45 kilometres north of Red Earth Creek continued to burn out of control. With temperatures early in the week reaching up to nearly 30 C, provincial officials were issuing all sorts of warnings, including one for forested areas west of Calgary. Restrictions and fire bans were in place for much of the province. In May 2011 a sudden and quick-moving wildfire swept through the town of Slave Lake, destroying about one-third of homes and buildings and forcing thousands of people to flee the community. Read more about: SHARE: Cloud Nine Cafe, formerly of 1530 The Danforth, might be gone but area residents remain mystified as to why the notorious establishment was allowed to stay open as long as it did. Three people were killed either inside or close by in the past three years, beginning in 2013 when a Markham firefighter was stabbed to death while playing cards. (His killer was found not criminally responsible.) Last year, after another man was slain outside, the community learned the Rotana Cafe, the venues previous name, was operating without a business licence. The municipal licensing and standards division requested a hearing before the Toronto Licensing Tribunal, a little known entity made up of seven citizen members appointed by council for four-year terms. On September 3, 2015, three of its members held a hearing at the East York Civic Centre. What was said? Who was there? Was the panel aware of the murders? Community concerns? And who were the citizen members present? Scrum is unable to say. The summary of the decision posted online reveals little. (Decisions of the tribunal, however, may be requested by licensees or their lawyers.) What Scrum can tell you is the tribunal issued Rotana Inc., a three-year probationary licence, conditional on the owner ensuring patrons behaved themselves. The managing director of Rotana Inc., Hussein Souddo, was also told to provide an updated extract of his criminal record. According to a Toronto Licensing Tribunal information brochure, hearings are open to the public and the tribunal reaches its decisions without political or business interference. However, the TLTs web site says all tribunal hearings are open to the public unless the chair declares a meeting closed. Councillors Paula Fletcher (Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth) and Mary Fragedakis, (Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth) say the community was shut out at the licensing hearing. The councillors wrote to MLS director Tracey Cook asking for a new hearing for the renamed Cloud Nine Cafe. We do not understand how numerous statements and emails provided by the community members to Municipal Licensing & Standards and the local police divisions did not form part of the information shared at the pre-hearing tribunal meeting or the tribunal itself. Fast forward to April when Abdullah Farah, 20, was gunned down in a drive-by shooting Last week, MLS suspended Rotanas licence. A child care centre is set to occupy the space. But residents and neighbourhood businesses fear they havent heard the last of Rotana and want the licence permanently revoked. And residents would still like some answers. Theres got to be some reason why they issued a licence to this establishment where there had been two murders, local resident Hugh Johnston told Scrum. It was a complete failure of governance. Last month, Cook took time from the taxi/Uber file to write to Fletcher and Fragedakis. MLS has asked the TLT for a rush hearing on the status of Rotanas licence and whether it should be suspended or revoked. If their constituents want to qualify for standing at any future hearing to determine if Rotana can retain its licence, that will be for the TLT to determine. In the meantime, Fletcher and Fragedakis want city council to direct MLS, the city manager and city solicitor to explore opportunities for broader direct community input in Toronto Licensing Tribunal matters. They'll be making that request at a meeting that starts tomorrow. SHARE: Accused killer Dellen Millard was convinced his girlfriend would be the ace up (his) sleeve at his trial but she had a feeling she was being played. Its all very interesting in a game of strategy kind of way, Millard writes of the charges against him, in one of many secret letters he sent his lover Christina Noudga from jail. A major part of Millards legal strategy, the letters show, would be convincing his roommate Andrew Michalski to change his story but he needed his princess to be his secret agent to make it happen. This would be the key to his freedom. And when he got out, Millard promised, theyd be together. Help me Obi-Wan Rubikinks, youre my only hope, he writes (including a drawing of Noudga wearing a Star Wars helmet). It ends with DESTROY THIS LETTER NOW!!!!!! On the stand Monday at the first-degree murder trial of Millard and his friend Mark Smich, 24-year-old Noudga agreed with assistant Crown attorney Tony Leitch that she had a feeling Millard was buttering her up. Millard, 30, and Smich, 28, are co-accused in the death of Ancaster dad Tim Bosma, who disappeared May 6, 2013 after taking two men for a test drive in the Dodge Ram pickup truck he was selling online. Noudga who was the Crowns key and final witness in this case is charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. She was with her boyfriend late on May 9, 2013 when he towed a large trailer (containing Bosmas truck) to his moms house in Kleinburg, moved his incinerator into a wooded area of his Waterloo Region farm, and dropped a tool box off to a friend at 4 a.m. Noudga claims she didnt ask a single question during their mission that night. In his jailhouse letters spanning from July 2013 until her arrest in April 2014 shown in court, Millard shares his many fantasies with Noudga about their future together, swearing he realizes now, behind bars, that they deserve each other. I missed loving you because I was scared of being injured again, he writes to her in October 2013. Loving you was scary but worth it. The jury has heard that Millard had multiple women on the go infidelity Noudga had had her suspicions about. In November 2013, he reflects on a secret phone call theyd had. During a call with his mom, Madeleine Burns had passed the receiver to Noudga who listened silently as Millard sang her the song Wonderwall by Oasis. It was wonderful to think you could hear me on the phone. I could almost feel your presence, he writes. But these professions of love are interspersed with pleas for help. This is my life at stake, Millard tells her. Some of his letters appear script-like, with a clear narrative lies, she agreed with Leitch that he wanted her to relay on the stand. She said she ignored these passages, and denied recognizing they would be helpful to police. Millard also provides clear instructions on how she might approach Michalski (or Kodiak as Millard eventually code-names him in his letters) suggesting a New Years Eve party might provide a good opportunity for them to talk. She insists she never contacted Michalski, or anyone else Millard tells her to reach out to. Michalski has testified in this trial that on May 4, 2013 two days before Bosma disappeared Millard showed him a photo of a truck on Kijiji and asked if he should steal a truck from the asshole or the nice guy. Michalski said that on May 7, 2013 Millard told him hed stolen a truck. Live blog Despite Millards repeated instructions to Noudga to destroy the letters, she held onto them. They were seized from her bedside table after her arrest on April 10, 2014. When Leitch asked what she thought of his requests, and why she didnt go to police, she said she was in denial for a very long time. Noudga will be back on the stand Tuesday for cross-examination. Read more about: SHARE: The culture of policing in Peel is facing a radical change. In January the civilian board that oversees the force elected a new chair. He immediately blasted a report commissioned by Chief Jennifer Evans that supported carding. In April the board fired its executive director, the man who for 25 years had influenced many of its biggest decisions. And now community leaders, sensing the time has arrived, want the board to deliver on the promise that new chair Amrik Ahluwalia made the day he took over: to make the Peel police force a model for the world. The boards two most powerful members, Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey and her Mississauga counterpart, Bonnie Crombie, also want major changes. It wont be easy. Peel police have been dogged for more than a decade by a series of controversies, including dozens of cases of misconduct by its officers, allegations of systemic racism, and serious concerns raised by judges about the credibility of officers. Meanwhile, Evans has shown she can stand up to the new board and some of the changes it wants. I am excited about the new board and the new chair, said Sophia Brown Ramsay, programming director for the Black Community Action Network of Peel, who has met with the chief on numerous occasions. The board is our civilian oversight. These people work for the people. And now, finally, the board is being bold. Its frustrating to have a board that does not want to listen to the community it serves. She said it was even more frustrating to watch Evans do battle with board members over the controversial practice of carding, known as street checks in Peel. Last June the chief resisted Crombies and Jeffreys request for a report to justify carding. In September, when the board voted to have the chief shut down carding, Evans said no, claiming it was an invaluable policing tool. Brown Ramsay called the recent decision to dismiss Fred Biro, the boards longtime executive director, who supported Evans on carding, a bold move. This move shows the new chair and the new board is not just all talk, she said. Like many community leaders the Star spoke to, she wants the force to be more reflective of the people it polices, in two of Canadas most diverse cities. She is also concerned about the cost of policing and the reputation of the force. There has been a trust issue between the police and the community for quite some time. Thats not good for policing, and its not good for the community, she said. Patti Ann Trainor, a Brampton resident and advocate for progressive policing, is among the voices calling for more replacements. I really think they have to replace the chief, she told the Star. Chief Evans and some of her senior officers, there's this arrogance that they have. They're not really listening, they're just not getting it. After being elected chair of the police services board in January, Ahluwalia told the Star his goals are the same as the chiefs. We all want the same thing, he said. Sometimes our paths are different. Evans didnt respond to requests for comment. Biro was considered one of Evans most powerful supporters. After his dismissal, the man whom Ahluwalia replaced as chair of the board, Laurie Williamson, made some bold statements of his own. First they came to remove old, white guy, he told the Toronto Sun, referring to his departure as chair. Then, he said, he was absolutely stunned by Biros firing. I am worried they could be coming next for the chief, he said. He added that he was not supported for re-election as chair because of his pro-carding position. Williamson, a former car dealer and close friend of Hazel McCallion, could not be reached by the Star for comment. Evans would not address Williamsons comments, but the Star obtained an an internal email sent by the chief to the entire force the day after the comments were published: In light of recent media coverage, I want to assure everyone that although there have been changes made at the Police Services Board office, I am working with Chair Ahluwalia Please do not let rumours and/or media stories influence your commitment to this organization. Ahluwalia said Biros dismissal was a progressive move to help take the force in a new direction. He did not want to address Evans future with the force. Her contract expires next year. We have made a start with staffing, he told the Star. It will be completed in the near future. He said the list of challenges is large and the board will be meeting in June with the chief and senior management to discuss immediate priorities for reform. Mayors Jeffrey and Crombie were more specific about their goals. We need to continue with our efforts to ensure the composition of the police services matches the diversity of the Peel population, Crombie said. She also said she wants to focus on technology to modernize policing and reduce the costs of policing and to push for better provincial accountability for police boards. She said the province needs to review how it appoints people to police boards to make sure they are properly qualified. Jeffrey said having a new chair helps turn the page on whats been happening over the last few years. I think weve heard it through the carding conversations and Ive heard it in other conversations . . .We want accountability and transparency in how complaints are handled, and certainly on the carding issue, we want to know that theres a reasonable explanation for why people are being stopped. In September, after the Star released data obtained through freedom of information laws that showed black individuals were three times as likely to be stopped by Peel police in carding interactions than whites, Evans was asked why her force seemed to be targeting one group. She said she did not know, but would find out. The Star asked her again last week. Last week, Evans issued a news release lauding her own force for becoming the first in Ontario to implement strict new provincial regulations that govern street checks. Jeffrey said what she wants to see, beyond the new regulations, is a new police complaints process in Peel, So the public have confidence. She also said she wants to address budgeting efficiencies and for the force to better reflect the community it polices, which is a guiding principle laid out under the provinces Police Services Act. Data from 2010 showed that visible minorities accounted for 60 per cent of the population of Brampton and Mississauga, but only 13 per cent of Peel police officers. Ranjit Khatkur, chair of the Peel Coalition Against Racialized Discrimination, said now is the time for the force to start getting serious about listening to the community it polices, one that continues to change rapidly. Theres no question that the chief has to rethink how theyre doing business. You have many, many people in and out of Peel now keeping a close eye on the police. The community wants changes, the new board wants changes, the province has demanded changes to carding and is reviewing the Police Act, she said. So lets see if the chief continues with her old ways, or if she wants to be part of the change thats going to happen, whether she likes it or not. Read more about: SHARE: One man has been arrested in connection to the deaths of two young people shot in Scarborough last Friday. Joseph Anzolona, 26, of Toronto, and Cynthia Mullapudi, 24, of Markham, were sitting in a parked car in front of an LCBO when a lone gunman opened fire. In a Monday press conference, Staff Insp. Greg McLane of the Homicide Squad said Anzolona, seated in the back with Mullapudi, went inside the LCBO to make a purchase with one of the two friends seated up front. A short while after they re-entered the car, the accused opened the rear door and shot into the back seat multiple times. He then fled the area. The suspect, Harris Nnane, 24, was brought into custody on Sunday evening. Nnane is charged with two counts of first degree murder, and appeared in court today. McLane could not comment on a motive, but said he believes that Anzolona was targeted in this attack. Anzolona is previously known to police. McLane credited tips from the public in the swift apprehension of the suspect. Id like to formally thank those individuals for coming forward and participating in this investigation as you provided a great assistance to my investigators, which enabled this case to be drawn to a successful conclusion at such an early stage, he said. Anyone with video, photographs, security footage, or more information can contact investigators at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). SHARE: How the humble Bunz Trading Zone came to have a white-brick, open-concept office downtown and 11 people working in it is a secret. At the crux of that secret is an unnamed funder. Its not unusual for a startup to have an angel investor. But word that Bunz has one caused a stir among its, well, Bunz (as the members call themselves). His arrival meant their beloved commuBnity, started on Facebook when founder Emily Bitze needed a can of tomatoes three years ago, had become a business. Hes just a Bun, said marketing director David Morton. The guys worth like hes a wealthy guy he comes in and sits on the dog bed. The team is now grappling with how to support the startups growth by making money with a community created around the absence of it how not to trade its soul. Bunz started off as a Facebook page where members posted objects and services theyd like to trade for anything and everything except for cash. Since then, offshoot groups in different cities and for different interests (rentals, making friends) have also sprung up. Bitze says the Bunz app, launched more than two months ago, is a way to keep that community alive as posts get lost on the flooded Facebook page, now 40,000 members deep. We dont know the answer yet, to making the company sustainable, says Bitze, 32, who still plays in her band and keeps her bartending job while working full-time at the Bunz office on Richmond St. near Spadina Ave. We basically just dont want to do anything to compromise the community. Bunz regularly invites members to the office to consult with them about what they do and dont, would and wouldnt like, she says. Would they pay a dollar for the app? Would they tolerate ads or Groupon-style marketing? Were like a bunch of border collies, running around, herding, says marketing manager David Morton, also 32, his hands motioning the push and pull of a pack. Well be like, Where do you want to go? OK! But Bunz has an idea of where it wants to go with plans to grow the app to a global scale. So far, 26,000 people are on the app and have completed 18,000 trades with 89,000 items posted. In the future, youll be able to see what trades are within a certain distance of you, no matter where you are, according to community manager Eli Klein. At the same time, its finding ways to expand in the In Real Life (IRL) place it started, Toronto; with local business partnerships so people can meet in trading zones where they can feel safer meeting a stranger. The zones are mostly near the subway lines, since a lot of people choose to meet at subway stations. Two of the zones are Seventh Sister Bakery on Roncesvalles Ave. and Crosstown Cafe, near Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave., an area Bunz saw more and more people were trading in through a heat map, using data from its app. The idea resembles an initiative by police forces for safe exchange zones for purchases from Craigslist or similar websites. The zones are an attempt calm fears that arise from meeting with a stranger when buying off, say, Kijiji, which Morton identified as a sort-of competitor, though he says its concept is different. Bunz is creating real-life interaction for people outside the internet, says Bitze. The zones are an extension of Bunzs appeal, in a cold digital era, as Morton calls it. On a recent day, the app recorded 500 trades. Thats 1,000 people meeting in the city, Morton said. And it draws a generation short on cash, long on stuff, Klein says. Lets trade it. The charm differs. Maybe its just trading and some people really want a sense of belonging, and really want to meet people with similar interests, says Bitze. Either way, monetizing without alienating those people is delicate, says Richard Lachman, director of Ryerson Universitys Transmedia Zone. Its a process that has failed so many times, Lachman said, explaining a company like Bunzs value lies almost solely in its individuals. However it monetizes the trades, they have to pay into it, or they may feel like we were all friends and now suddenly youre selling me something, Lachman said. It could be made easier by the fact Bitze, Morton and Klein are known to users, who call Bitze Mother Bunz and Mom. (Lachman admits it may sound cult-y to someone on the outside.) Bitze and Morton say the value in their transition from Facebook page to startup is also supported by its people on a smaller scale: its three developers, employees and volunteered help. Were definitely struggling to keep up with how fast its growing, she says. Members get that a startup needs money to survive, Lachman says. Were not dumb about the way that the internet works, he says. It doesnt mean we cant get offended. Though the Facebook group may be difficult to trade on, it remains a lively discussion hub, a kind of glue. Over the summer, members helped each other find, then retrieve, stolen bikes. The community cares so much about itself . . . It was such a groundswell of strangers helping strangers, Klein says. But sometimes its also strangers arguing with strangers, who have recently delved into emotional topics and arguments surrounding social justice. How to keep everyone happy and keep things kosher, while allowing for self-regulation is tough to manage, Lachman says. It crosses a lot of boundaries between commerce and society, which happens because of the lack of money. The value of Bunz is also the story, he says. If it had an appraisal system, I feel like that would take away the magic of it. Community or commerce? The following are examples of startups that have weathered and been weathered by decisions that please and displease their community loyalists:. Flickr Flickr started out as an image-sharing platform, but its strength lay beneath the surface: in the community that had formed around it. With the ability to comment and tag family members, it became somewhat of a social network, a community all before Facebook and Instagram. But after Yahoo bought it in 2005, it didnt adapt quick enough and a series of changes made by the Internet conglomerate, like requiring a Yahoo login and email address, made users flee. Imgur Richard Lachman, director of Ryersons Transmedia Zone, uses Imgur (pronounced imager) as a successful example of a community grown on one platform that becomes its own. The meme-sharing website was started on Reddit, but evolved to become its own platform. Its a difficult transition to make, Lachman says, and one of the reasons it worked is because most of its ads are native created by a designated team that works with advertisers to create sponsored content aligned with its brand. Etsy Etsy didnt have to make significant transitions (say, from one platform to another). Its found ways to maintain and grow the community its had since the beginning. And money has been one of the sacrifices to long-term growth: in its IPO last April, it was worth $4 billion (U.S.), but has fallen to $1 billion, according to a recent New York Magazine profile. The company is a certified B Corp, meaning the companys priority is its community and its values, over its shareholders and even profitability. Its a philosophy that resembles what Bunz says its relationship with its angel investor is like. Twitter After a flutter of reports that Twitter was about to launch 10,000-character tweets in Sept. then again in January, the backlash was swift and Twitter hasnt flipped the switch yet. Im looking forward to not reading your future 3 page tweets, Twitter user @RampCapitalLLC tweeted in January, referring to the equivalent of 10,000 characters in 12-point font pasted into a Word document. Digg Started in 2004, Digg members could up or down vote (digg) content, resulting in lists of trending web content. At the same time, its founders hosted a podcast for three years. But the content aggregator struggled to support its growth with some parties finding ways for their content to dominate the platform. New features, like the Digg bar appearing on pages visited through Digg as well as sponsored content, created discontent among users. Digg was sold to Betaworks in 2012 for a reported $500,000. SHARE: Two thirds of Canadians surveyed believe the majority of sexual assault claims are true, despite the way the credibility of women complainants was impugned in the high-profile Jian Ghomeshi case. When Justice William B. Horkins acquitted the former CBC radio host at the end of March, he rebuked the three women for factual inconsistencies, questionable behaviour and outright deception. The success of this prosecution depended entirely on the court being able to accept each complainant as a sincere, honest and accurate witness. Each complainant was revealed at trial to be lacking in these important attributes, the judge wrote in his ruling. After the acquittal, a charitable organization for women and girls commissioned a poll to gauge whether the case tainted the publics attitude toward sexual assault allegations, said Anuradha Dugal, director of violence prevention at the Canadian Womens Foundation. The poll showed 67 per cent of Canadians believe the majority of sexual assault claims are true. According to the survey, only one per cent of respondents believed the majority of allegations are false. Seven per cent believe theyre exaggerated, while 24 per cent didnt know what to believe. Dugal said the results suggest the case did not have a terrifically negative influence people are still believing women, she said. Obviously wed like the numbers to be a lot higher, but we think that its a sign that, broadly speaking, Canadians are understanding more and more that people are not making false claims and the claims arent exaggerated. Broken down by gender, 75 per cent of women indicated they believe sexual assault claims are true, 21 per cent didnt know, 4 per cent believe theyre exaggerated and 1 per cent false. Fifty-nine per cent of men polled believe sex assault claims are true, 27 per cent didnt know, 11 per cent believe theyre exaggerated and 2 per cent false. When it comes to assigning blame, 73 per cent blame the perpetrator, 7 per cent lay fault with both the assailant and the victim, 11 per cent believe sexual assault is a social issue, so it is the fault of all Canadians, and 2 per cent blamed the victim. Dugal said she found the most disturbing part of the survey to be responses to the question: Why do you think the perpetrator is to blame for sexual assault in most cases? Forty-five per cent of Canadians believe its because the perpetrator couldnt control their sexual urges, and 61 per cent agreed the perpetrator must have thought they could get away with it. Thats very, very worrying, because that means most people think that you can get away with sex assault, Dugal said. Nevertheless, Dugal says there are steps that could be taken to alter public attitudes toward sexual assault, including more education for judges and prosecutors and others in the justice system. As well, students should be taught as early as possible about healthy relationships, to learn to challenge rape jokes and victim blaming, and understand how to help a sexual assault victim, she said. The online survey was conducted among 1,507 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The survey was conducted April 13-14. SHARE: ELKO About two dozen concerned citizens gathered in Northeastern Nevada Museum to discuss issues theyve faced working at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital or being treated there. The local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, which represents the nurses who work at the hospital, organized a town hall meeting Saturday and encouraged members of the community to share their experiences dealing with the hospital. There were also several guest speakers, including some former NNRH nurses, who spoke about the way the hospital handles staffing and claiming they were pressured to treat patients they didnt have the skill set to treat safely. SEIU president Cherie Mancini said it was important for people in the community to hear stories from hospital employees. We wanted them to understand how the workers feel about whats happening in NNRH, she said. We wanted them to be able to share their stories of situations that theyve been put into that have made them not want to work at the facility because of the staffing levels, or equipment that didnt work, or other various things that had happened to them. According to Mancini, nurses who didnt attempt to treat patients outside of their skill set often faced threats of suspension or termination. There have been instances of retaliation that we feel are very blatant, she said. Its a negative vibe there when people stand up for whats right. We heard tonight that they didnt feel confident taking a patient assignment where they feel like their skill set didnt match. Hospital officials did not attend the event, saying they were not invited and that the union is currently in contract negotiations with them. Members of the audience were given an opportunity to tell their stories. They spoke about services that are not available at NNRH, the costs of being transported to another hospital, and being overcharged for treatment. Ombudsman for the Nevada Office of Consumer Health Jan Brizee said she has heard complaints of the hospital overcharging patients who have insurance. When a provider has contracted with an insurance company they have to accept that contracted rate and that rate is lower than their regular prices, she said. Billing that difference is called balance billing and thats illegal in the state. Brizee continued by saying that a lot of patients are unaware of the law and will pay the bill to avoid having it sent to collections. People are very scared when their credit is threatened, she said. People are scared by that so they pay the bill because people are honest and they dont want to be skipping out on their bills when they dont realize that the bill is not accurate. Despite the small attendance Mancini said the intent of their first meeting was to get started bringing about changes at the hospital. She said she is hoping the hospital will invest more of its revenue into providing more services, and hopes to have someone from the hospital present at the next town hall meeting the union organizes. I invite them to come and address the public anytime, she said. The public has a lot of questions about whats happening and they have a right to know. In a bid to clamp down on high-pressure tactics, Liberal MPP Yvan Baker is proposing a ban on door-to-door rentals, sales and leases of water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioners and water-treatment systems. Too many consumers, mainly seniors, are being scammed by companies using misleading, aggressive and coercive methods, Baker (Etobicoke Centre) said Monday as he introduced a private members bill. Aside from voiding contracts signed at the door, the bill would provide for refunds to consumers, fines of up to $2,000 to individual sales persons and up to $25,000 for their companies. A 10-day cooling-off period implemented by the government a few years ago for contracts signed door-to-door hasnt gone far enough, said Baker, who appeared at a news conference with a woman whose mother was scammed. What companies are doing is criminal and they need to be stopped, said Lexy Fogel, speaking of a door-to-door sales company who talked her mother into a new furnace, even though hers was just five years old. They said it wasnt efficient enough, said Fogel, who lives in Toronto and noted her moms existing furnace was a rental with a sticker on it clearly indicating so. That day they put in a new furnace, she told reporters. She added that it has been a horrible situation to get restitution for the old furnace and the higher fees her mother is paying. Baker said he has been working on the bill for months. It comes after Mississauga and Markham municipal councils passed a resolution calling on the province to ban these types of door-to-door sales. In some cases, seniors and others have been signed to expensive, 10-year contracts for water filtration and other products and services. Last month, the government laid more than 100 charges under the Consumer Protection Act against a company called Ontario Energy Group and its director, Eugene Farber. The charges follow complaints about the company, but the allegations of wrongdoing have not been proven in court. Bakers bill targets water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioners and water-treatment systems, because they are the top source of complaints to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. According to ministry statistics, consumers who reported such complaints were bilked of $3.1 million last year, Baker said. While his bill would not prohibit sales people from knocking on doors, it would ban any contracts signed on front porches or in homes and this includes instances when consumers themselves have called a company. In such a case, contracts would have to be signed at a companys offices or deals finalized online. Consumer advocates said there are plenty of reputable companies that sell such products without going door-to-door, and that homeowners should look to do business with them. This is largely an obsolete sales technique, Michael Janigan of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre said of door-to-door sales in the era of the Internet and do-not-call lists. During the current 10-day cooling-off period for contracts signed at the door, consumers can cancel deals for any reason without having to pay cancellation fees. In the case of water heaters, the cooling-off period is longer, at 20 days, during which no water heaters can be delivered or installed at the customers home. Government and Consumer Services Minister David Orazietti said hes open to Bakers bill. Its a progressive piece of legislation in the sense that it raises the bar in terms of helping to protect consumers in Ontario. SHARE: Half of Ontarians are taking the side of doctors in their fee dispute with the province, according to a new public opinion poll. In the new province-wide survey by Forum Research Inc., 49 per cent of respondents supported Ontarios doctor in their fee dispute with the province, while about one in five, or 22 per cent, backed the government. More than a tenth (13 per cent) took neither side in the dispute and 17 per cent expressed no opinion. Forum president Lorne Bozinoff said it is not surprising to see Ontarians backing their physicians. I think when people were answering what side they were on, they were thinking about their own family physician, which they probably have a good relationship with and like, he said. But despite this support, an equal number, 49 per cent, thought that the 500 doctors who billed the province a million dollars or more was too much. Meanwhile a quarter, or 27 per cent, believed it was about the right amount while 18 per cent said they didnt know. Just six per cent called the amount too little. Bozinoff reasoned that Ontarians probably dont associate their family physicians with high billings, which could explain the difference in support. I dont think (the respondents) think their family doctors are billing for a million dollars, he said. When it came to a $6-million bill from a single eye doctor, a majority of Ontarians 68 per cent deemed that amount as too much. Regionally, supporting the province in the dispute was common to those in downtown Toronto (28 per cent). On the other side of the fence were respondents living in southwestern Ontario, 54 per cent of whom back the doctors. Bozinoff said he believes the doctors in the 416 (area code) are busier and may not be providing the same amount of attention to patients compared to physicians working in other areas of Ontario. The polling agency also found Ontarians support for doctors grew with age. Supporting the doctors is especially characteristic of respondents who identified as Progressive Conservative (66 per cent), while supporting the province is more common among Liberals (34 per cent). Support for the government is really only coming from those who voted Liberal and that is a shrinking group these days, said Bozinoff, adding the poll results reinforce the difficulty politicians face when pitting themselves against physicians. The survey of 1,157 randomly selected Ontarian adults was conducted by interactive voice response. The results are considered accurate to within three percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Some data have been statistically weighted by age, region and other variables to ensure the sample reflects the actual population as reflected in the census data. Poll results are housed in the data library of the University of Torontos political science department. SHARE: Navy SEALS may have killed Osama bin Laden in a raid five years ago Sunday, but anyone following the CIA on Twitter might think it all just happened. In a deeply bizarre social marketing move Sunday, the agency live-tweeted the raid that led to bin Ladens death, only it did so five years later. For anyone who might not be familiar with the term live tweeting an audience that may include the CIA it refers to the act of reporting something on Twitter as it happens in real-time. Sure, by its very nature, that sometimes includes a short lag time. Maybe a few seconds. In this case, it was five years. The takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time. History has been a key element of CIAs social media efforts, CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani said, according to ABC. On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honour all those who had a hand in this achievement. It began around 1 p.m. on Sunday, when the agency released this tweet: Then, for most of the day, the CIA tweeted out events from that day with time stamps, following through on the announcement it depicted the events as if they were happening Sunday. The tweets were connected with the hashtag #UBLRaid and the event concluded at 5:01 p.m. Eastern time (though the last tweet was time stamped 7:01 p.m). 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid. Some praised the agency for commemorating the event. 5 years ago at this exact moment, staying up past my bed time had never been so worth it, Davis Barlow tweeted. More, though, seemed to be criticizing the agency. Jezebel called the stunt both bizarre and extremely tone deaf. Many others took to Twitter, using the agencys hashtag, to express their discontent. The CIAs Twitter account has long been a hotbed of controversy. From its inception in 2014, when it tweeted, We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet, the CIA Twitter feed has been criticized for its tone by various outlets. They should put as least as much effort into following the law as they do into social media, Amnesty International program director Zeke Johnson told The Verge after the agency posted that first tweet. About a month after the agencys first tweet in mid-2014, the Guardian published an opinion piece by a former CIA employee arguing the agency shouldnt be on Twitter in the first place. Ridiculously glib tweets from the CIA paint the entire agency in a smug light, which is exactly the persona it so badly needs to avoid, the piece read. The CIA knows what everyone else knows: its in desperate need of a makeover. We havent forgotten about Benghazi or torture, and painfully awkward tweets like watching-your-dad-dance-to-CeeLo-at-your-wedding awkward wont make the CIA appear soft and fuzzy, just woefully disconnected from reality. The CIA does not need to be on Twitter, because it cant be transparent. Still, the account boasts 1.33 million followers as of Sundays Bin Laden commemoration. It is run by a woman named Carolyn Reams, according to Buzzfeed, who is the agencys social media manager and who is referred to around the agency as the social Khalessi a reference to the mother of dragons from the popular Game of Thrones book and television series. The agencys tweets have earned a reputation for being self-deprecating and even goofy. In addition, the agency is no stranger to social media stunts. In January, the Twitter account of the U.S. militarys Central Command was breached by hackers who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State. Just days later, the CIA sent out a tweet written in Russian. Naturally, many thought the account had been hacked, much like the Central Command account, CNN reported. Only it hadnt been. Far from it, actually. But dont feel silly if you were one of those people; Carolyn Khaleesi Reams said the tweet was designed so that people would think the agency had been hacked in an attempt to draw otherwise uninterested viewers to a story it tweeted a half-hour later about the agencys accomplishments during the Cold War, according to Quartz. (For the record, the tweet in Russian is a quote from Boris Pasternak, the late Russian author of Dr. Zhivago, which reads I wrote the novel in order for it to be published and read and it remains my only desire.) Lets review: The CIA wanted the American people to think it had been hacked. Some translated the quote to find it was by Pasternak. Others didnt, and those are the ones Reams was targeting. For those people, to include some in the press, who didnt take a really good close look at it, they thought, oh my gosh, were being hacked, Reams said, according to Quartz. It worked out quite well, I would say. Once, the agency accidentally led some of its followers to believe that North Korea was invading South Korea. That did happen, but it was in 1950. On the anniversary, Reams chose to tweet the following but forgot to add a hashtag, letting users know it was an on this day in history tweet rather than breaking news. I wasnt thinking and I forgot to hashtag everything, Reams said on a podcast with DigitalGov. And it wasnt one of those days where I could link them all and do it live, I had to schedule them and I had forgotten to hashtag everything. So I think I was at the dentist office, and I was sitting there in the chair and my phone is blowing up. So I finally pick it up and its my co-worker saying, Oh my god, people think that North Korea has invaded South Korea because thats what the tweet said. Despite snafus like these, the CIA defends its Twitter presence, arguing that its a means of reaching people who otherwise wouldnt be interested in the agency. CIA spokesman Preston Golson told NextGov last fall that the social teams responsibility is to explain as much as we can about our mission to the public. Read more about: SHARE: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIAEmployees at the Saudi Binladin Group, a construction giant, have set fire to more than seven company buses in the latest protest by disgruntled staff over not being paid salaries for months and a large round of reported layoffs. Maj. Nayef al-Sharif, the spokesman for the Civil Defence in the city of Mecca, said late Saturday that firefighters put out the blaze without any injuries reported. The Binladin Group has not issued any statements about the reported layoffs or the unrest. Calls and an email request for comment to the company were not immediately returned. For several weeks, thousands of the firms employees have been staging rare protests in Mecca and the Red Sea coastal city of Jiddah, with some saying they have not been paid for six months. The attack on the companys buses comes a day after the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying the company has terminated employment for 50,000 foreign workers and issued them exit visas. Many of those workers are apparently refusing to leave without being paid their late wages, the newspaper reported. Gulf-based construction firms have been among the hardest-hit due to lower oil prices that have curbed and sometimes delayed government spending on major infrastructure projects. The Saudi Binladin Group is one of the worlds largest construction firms. Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Jiddah, the firm has been behind some of Saudi Arabias most important projects, including roads, tunnels, airports, universities and hotels. It has carried out expansion work throughout the holy city of Mecca to accommodate more Muslim pilgrims, including construction of a massive clock tower with luxury hotels. The Binladin family has been close to Saudi Arabias ruling family for decades. Al Qaedas late leader Osama bin Laden was a renegade son of the construction firms founder, Mohammed bin Laden, and was disowned by the family in the 1990s. Despite the close family ties, the Saudi government barred the firm from acquiring new contracts after an initial government probe found the construction company was partly responsible for a crane collapse in Meccas Grand Mosque last year that killed 111 people days before the start of the annual hajj pilgrimage. The crane boom pierced the roof of the mosque housing Islams holiest site, the Kaaba, bringing down slabs of reinforced concrete and leaving bodies of worshippers lying amid pools of blood on the mosque floors. Saudi daily Arab News reported that the layoffs included engineers, foremen, steel fixers, carpenters and welders at the firm. The paper said employees were offered severance pay. The newspaper cited various possible reasons for the terminations, including government restrictions on the firm and changes to Saudi labour law that have made it more difficult for firms to hire expatriates over local Saudis. Read more about: SHARE: CAIROEgypts journalists union called for the dismissal of the interior minister and launched an open-ended sit-in at its headquarters in downtown Cairo on Monday, protesting the detention of two journalists on its premises the previous night. After an emergency meeting in the early morning hours, the Journalist Syndicate also announced a general assembly to be held on Wednesday as well as action on World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday. Throughout the day, dozens gathered at the buildings steps, chanting journalists are not terrorists, and the Interior Ministry are thugs. But most of the side streets were eventually blocked off by police up to several blocks away, and by the end of the day entry to the area was heavily restricted. The union described the polices entry into the building as a raid by security forces whose blatant barbarism and aggression on the dignity of the press and journalists and their syndicate has surprised the journalistic community and the Egyptian people. Union members said the raid was heavy-handed, involving dozens of officers storming their way in and resulting in a security guard being injured. Police denied they entered the building by force and said only eight officers were involved, acting on an arrest warrant for the two journalists accused of organizing protests to destabilize the country. Demonstrations without prior authorization are banned in Egypt and rallies in general are rarely allowed unless they are pro-government. Protesters are subject to arrest. The Ministry of Interior affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two, who turned themselves in as soon as they were told of the arrest warrant, the ministry said in a statement. The two journalists, Amr Badr and Mahmoud el-Sakka, are government critics who work for a website known as January Gate, which is also critical of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis government. They had begun their own mini-sit-in at the union headquarters after discovering that police had searched their homes while looking for them. It was unclear what size any sit-in at the syndicate could achieve. Police had lifted a days-long blockade overnight, but then began tougher restrictions on who could enter as the day went on. Heavily armed swat teams and barbed-wire covered transport vehicles withdrew from the street in front of the union building, but remained parked at nearby thoroughfares, where families and teenagers strolled past trucks loaded with men in black paramilitary uniforms. Hundreds of uniformed and undercover police have been deployed in the nearby vicinity to prevent any protests, although Monday is a national holiday in Egypt celebrating the first day of spring and much of Cairo was empty of its usual chaotic traffic. Later in the day, the prosecutor generals office issued a statement saying the two journalists were arrested under an April 19 warrant and that firearms, Molotov cocktails and inflammatory leaflets were found during the searches of their homes. A day earlier, police prevented hundreds of workers from holding a meeting at the syndicate building to commemorate International Workers Day, prompting calls by independent trade union leaders for the government to allow them freedom of assembly. The syndicate has invited the trade union leaders to join their sit-in to denounce the police incursion and protest restrictions on freedom of assembly for labour organizers. It said the move was illegal and violated its state-sponsored charter, which forbids police from entering the building without the presence of a syndicate official, and is urging security forces to end their siege of the building and stop preventing journalists from entering. The journalists syndicate has been a rallying point for demonstrations in the past, and even under longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, it was one of the rare places people could air grievances without fear of arrest. But is increasingly being blockaded, for example last Monday when organizers of mass anti-government protests called to use it as a rallying point. The building drew particular attention of late because it was from there that some 2,000 demonstrators gathered last month to protest el-Sissis decision to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Police fired tear gas and arrested dozens to break up the protests, the first significant wave of street demonstrations since the former army chief became president in 2014. A second round of mass demonstrations over the issue planned for last Monday across the city were stifled by a massive security presence, with hundreds of arrests and only small flash mobs managing to assemble, drawing tear gas and birdshot from the riot police. Read more about: SHARE: LOS ANGELESThe trial of alleged Grim Sleeper Lonnie Franklin Jr. headed to a close Monday after months of testimony about a serial killer who stalked women during the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic, then laid low for 14 years before renewing the grisly sex attacks. Closing arguments were scheduled to begin in the morning and could last two days. Franklin, 63, could face the death penalty if convicted. He is charged with killing nine women and a 15-year-old girl between 1985 and 2007. They were shot or strangled and their bodies dumped in alleys and trash bins in South Los Angeles and nearby areas. He also is charged with the attempted murder of a woman who survived being shot in the chest and pushed out of a car in 1988. At his trial in February, the women identified Franklin as her attacker and said he took a Polaroid photograph of her after the attack. Prosecutors said a photo showing the wounded woman slouched over in a car was found in Franklins possession when he was arrested in 2010. Prosecutors say many of the killings occurred in the midst of a crack cocaine epidemic in South Los Angeles and many of the victims were prostitutes. At one point, prosecutor Beth Silverman told jurors that Franklin targeted women willing to sell their bodies and their souls in order to gratify their dependency on this powerful drug. Prosecutors allege that firearms or DNA evidence connects Franklin to the killings. Before his arrest, a police officer posing as a busboy at a pizza parlour got DNA samples from dishes and utensils Franklin had been using at a birthday party. Franklins lawyers, however, argued that many DNA samples taken from Grim Sleeper victims or their clothing didnt match Franklin. Defence attorney Seymour Amster told jurors last month that many victims had DNA from more than one man on their bodies and that more than 20 DNA tests excluded his client. Both Silverman and Amster acknowledged disliking each other and at times held heated arguments in the courtroom out of the jurys hearing. In March, Amster yelled at Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy after she ruled that he would have to refile a subpoena. I am now going to rest. We have no defence, Seymour said to gasps in the courtroom. I cannot represent this man any further. However, he continued on with the case. Authorities dubbed the killer the Grim Sleeper because of a gap between killings from 1988 to 2002. SHARE: They are living in an unending war. It doesnt just affect them, but also the next generation. Director Tiffany Hsiung on the comfort women sexually abused by the Japanese military War and peace. The line between the two is often razor-thin. For people caught up in conflicts, war does not begin with a single shot, or end with the signing of a treaty. It is a continuum that may start with sporadic hostilities and end only after generations. In this years Hot Docs film festival, five films tell the stories of people in far-flung countries who are plunged into conflicts beyond their control, fight for causes against overwhelming odds, flee the savagery of war and face a lifelong struggle to repair their minds and bodies after unimaginable horrors. The films also document the heroic efforts that are needed to make peace once hatred has turned to violence. People become addicted to the narrative of war, says James Demo director of The Peacemaker, on the extraordinary efforts of Irish-American activist Padraig OMalley to find solutions to seemingly intractable conflicts between people who are consumed by hatred for their foes. Thats why wars are so difficult to end. Padraigs central premise is that that narrative is an addiction like alcoholism, and there are relapses. But if people begin to acknowledge it, things can improve. He sees the possibility to reconcile, and he knows that peacemaking is not immediate, its incremental. It takes trust, built over time. Once begun, conflicts burn out of control, accelerated by bloodshed. In the small British-ruled province of Northern Ireland, the 30-year war known as the Troubles took more than 3,600 lives, tore Protestant and Catholic communities apart and left a dark legacy of atrocities. Peaceful resolution did not come overnight. In the midst of armed struggle there was a parallel struggle for human rights and political change, waged through tactics of sacrifice and endurance from behind bars in Belfasts Maze prison, where Irish Republican Army members were imprisoned. It was a battle for hearts and minds as intense as the one on the streets. Its figurehead was 27-year-old IRA officer Bobby Sands, who died of a hunger strike after being elected an MP. No one knew the impact that would have at the time, says Brendan Byrne, director of Bobby Sands: 66 Days. It woke up North America to the need for it to be a player in making peace. That was the beginning of the peace process and the changes we see today. In Israel, where hope for peace with the Palestinians is currently fading, Yitzhak Rabin spent his youth as a warrior, fighting Palestinians and Arab armies who were hostile to the Jewish state. Yet he dedicated his later years to making peace with his enemies, even at the risk of his political career and eventually his life. He always spoke his mind no matter what the cost, says Erez Laufer, director of Rabin in His Own Words. He had the conviction that land is for political solution not settlement. He believed in expunging the motivation for conflict. Since his assassination, in 1995, by a Jewish extremist, relations between Israelis and Palestinians have worsened, settlements have expanded in the Palestinian Territories and violent attacks on Jewish Israelis continue. Now we feel we are living more in war than in peace, says Laufer. While Israel and the Palestinians struggle with a bitter low-level conflict, much of the Middle East has exploded, sending millions of refugees into neighbouring countries and Europe. But the lesser-known plight of the Asian refugees who sought shelter in Australia is a symbol of the growing disregard for the rights of desperate people fleeing wars to enter countries where they could find safety. Chasing Asylum, by director Eva Orner, exposes the policy of exiling refugees to indefinite captivity in remote Pacific islands, which was embraced by Australias main political parties as a way to stop floods of newcomers from arriving on its shores. But it has caused unending suffering for people already traumatized by war and terrorism, as well as international criticism. And it is a warning to other Western countries that seek to bar refugees as potential enemies. Even for those who survive it, the claws of war reach down through decades. World War II has long ended, and newer wars have caught the worlds attention. But the Korean, Chinese and Filipina victims of Japans sexual slavery in the 1930s and 40s are still suffering its effects, and their families must come to terms with the shock of the past. They are living in an unending war, says Tiffany Hsiung, director of The Apology, about the comfort women still seeking justice for the sexual torture they endured at the hands of the Japanese military. It doesnt just affect them, but also the next generation. Rape is now recognized as a war crime that destroys the victims physically and psychologically though they are often left without support. Its a form of genocide, Hsiung says. It affects women, their families, and their society. There must be accountability, and newer generations must understand the history, not be protected from it. What has happened is not just in the past. 5 Hot Doc films movies about war and peace The Apology Featured countries: Japan, Korea, Philippines Director: Tiffany Hsiung It took six years for Hsiung to understand and film the lives of former comfort women who are now in their last days, and some rapidly losing their memories. But memories of their terrible experiences at the hands of Japanese soldiers haunt their minds and bodies, making their quest for justice if only a meaningful acknowledgment of their suffering as sex slaves all the more courageous and poignant. An official apology to the South Korean government, and $8.3 million in compensation by Japan, has done little to heal their wounds. Whatever happens, their lives have been changed forever, says Hsiung, who followed the exhausting journey of one ailing Korean woman, Grandma Gil, through a modern Japan which is eager to put its brutal past behind it. But the survivors best hope, Hsiung says, is to shine a light on the infamous events that have left them isolated and shrouded in shame. Bobby Sands: 66 Days Featured country: Northern Ireland Director: Brendan Byrne Northern Irelands history is written in the blood of Catholics and Protestants who waged a 30-year struggle that amounted to civil war. Now, 18 years after a historic power-sharing , the province has moved on, but the name of Bobby Sands is still engraved in the minds of both sides. The days of rage that led to the young IRA officers imprisonment, jailhouse protests and eventual death from a hunger strike at the age of 27, are chronicled through Sandss diaries and archival material. Using docudrama re-enactments and interviews with Sandss surviving cellmates, friends and historians, the film unspools his interior life, as he moves toward certain death with determination and conviction that he is playing a part in history. And Byrne reveals the political game-playing in London, Washington and Dublin that left the province on a course of conflict until the shock of Sandss death, and those of prisoners who followed him, jolted the peace process into life. Chasing Asylum Featured country: Australia Director: Eva Orner Australia is famous as a sunny land of welcoming people. But for those fleeing conflicts in Afghanistan, the Middle East and parts of Asia its doors have been slammed shut. Seized as they attempt to reach Australia by boat, exiled to some of the worlds remotest islands, and living in squalid captivity in political limbo, they are forgotten castaways of the Wests most hard-line refugee policy. Australian-born director Orner used hidden cameras to reveal, for the first time on film, the appalling conditions of detention on the South Pacific island state of Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. They are closed to the media, and recent laws have criminalized Australian state employees who blow the whistle on the deprivation, repression and abuse suffered by those seeking asylum under international law. Conditions so harsh that even the aid workers have suffered post-traumatic stress. This week Papua New Guineas supreme court ruled that the refugees detention is illegal. The films upcoming showings in Australia are sure to raise a political storm. The Peacemaker Featured country: global Director: James Demo Padraig OMalley is an obsessive freelance peacemaker with a simple but laborious formula for reaching peace deals: bringing two sides that hate each other face to face to talk. For decades the University of Massachusetts professor and owner of a storied bar has done that by bringing in other conflict veterans who have already reached accords. Demo follows the little-known mediator who has worked with factions from Northern Ireland to Iraq, Israel/Palestine and South Africa while wrestling with his own alcoholism. Unlike institutional peacemakers, who work in highly structured settings, OMalley raises his own funds and support, but has the advantage of informality, and a round-table approach to talks among people who may have little common ground but come to understand each others dilemmas. His approach has been called a support group for Conflicts Anonymous. At a time of seemingly intractable conflicts, the film highlights an approach worth studying. Rabin in His Own Words Featured country: Israel Director: Erez Laufer As attitudes harden and the divide between Israelis and Palestinians becomes a yawning chasm, the peace efforts of earlier decades are fading into history along with the influence of the Israeli peace camp. It reached its zenith under the leadership of Yitzhak Rabin, whose early life was steeped in war, but who became the main proponent of peace with hostile neighbours Egypt and Jordan, as well as PLO leader Yasser Arafat. Lavishly documented with words and images from Rabins past as a would-be farmer, soldier, military leader, diplomat, politician and prime minister, the film is a historical record of a man who shunned the spotlight but worked relentlessly toward his goal of securing Israel through negotiation rather than battle, even at a time of terrorism. A portrait of an often-elusive leader who roused flaring anger among Israeli extremists, and died for his unswerving vision of Israels future. Hot Docs runs until May 8 at various theatres in Toronto. For more information, go to hotdocs.ca Read more about: SHARE: The Apology Featured countries: Japan, Korea, Philippines Director: Tiffany Hsiung It took six years for Hsiung to understand and film the lives of former comfort women who are now in their last days, and some rapidly losing their memories. But memories of their terrible experiences at the hands of Japanese soldiers haunt their minds and bodies, making their quest for justice if only a meaningful acknowledgment of their suffering as sex slaves all the more courageous and poignant. An official apology to the South Korean government, and $8.3 million in compensation by Japan, has done little to heal their wounds. Whatever happens, their lives have been changed forever, says Hsiung, who followed the exhausting journey of one ailing Korean woman, Grandma Gil, through a modern Japan which is eager to put its brutal past behind it. But the survivors best hope, Hsiung says, is to shine a light on the infamous events that have left them isolated and shrouded in shame. Bobby Sands: 66 Days Featured country: Northern Ireland Director: Brendan Byrne Northern Irelands history is written in the blood of Catholics and Protestants who waged a 30-year struggle that amounted to civil war. Now, 18 years after a historic power-sharing peace agreement, the province has moved on, but the name of Bobby Sands is still engraved in the minds of both sides. The days of rage that led to the young IRA officers imprisonment, jailhouse protests and eventual death from a hunger strike at the age of 27, are chronicled through Sandss diaries and archival material. Using docudrama re-enactments and interviews with Sandss surviving cellmates, friends and historians, the film unspools his interior life, as he moves toward certain death with determination and conviction that he is playing a part in history. And Byrne reveals the political game-playing in London, Washington and Dublin that left the province on a course of conflict until the shock of Sandss death, and those of prisoners who followed him, jolted the peace process into life. Chasing Asylum Featured country: Australia Director: Eva Orner Australia is famous as a sunny land of welcoming people. But for those fleeing conflicts in Afghanistan, the Middle East and parts of Asia its doors have been slammed shut. Seized as they attempt to reach Australia by boat, exiled to some of the worlds remotest islands, and living in squalid captivity in political limbo, they are forgotten castaways of the Wests most hard-line refugee policy. Australian-born director Orner used hidden cameras to reveal, for the first time on film, the appalling conditions of detention on the South Pacific island state of Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. They are closed to the media, and recent laws have criminalized Australian state employees who blow the whistle on the deprivation, repression and abuse suffered by those seeking asylum under international law. Conditions so harsh that even the aid workers have suffered post-traumatic stress. This week Papua New Guineas supreme court ruled that the refugees detention is illegal. The films upcoming showings in Australia are sure to raise a political storm. The Peacemaker Featured country: global Director: James Demo Padraig OMalley is an obsessive freelance peacemaker with a simple but laborious formula for reaching peace deals: bringing two sides that hate each other face to face to talk. For decades the University of Massachusetts professor and owner of a storied bar has done that by bringing in other conflict veterans who have already reached accords. Demo follows the little-known mediator who has worked with factions from Northern Ireland to Iraq, Israel/Palestine and South Africa while wrestling with his own alcoholism. Unlike institutional peacemakers, who work in highly structured settings, OMalley raises his own funds and support, but has the advantage of informality, and a round-table approach to talks among people who may have little common ground but come to understand each others dilemmas. His approach has been called a support group for Conflicts Anonymous. At a time of seemingly intractable conflicts, the film highlights an approach worth studying. Rabin in His Own Words Featured country: Israel Director: Erez Laufer As attitudes harden and the divide between Israelis and Palestinians becomes a yawning chasm, the peace efforts of earlier decades are fading into history along with the influence of the Israeli peace camp. It reached its zenith under the leadership of Yitzhak Rabin, whose early life was steeped in war, but who became the main proponent of peace with hostile neighbours Egypt and Jordan, as well as PLO leader Yasser Arafat. Lavishly documented with words and images from Rabins past as a would-be farmer, soldier, military leader, diplomat, politician and prime minister, the film is a historical record of a man who shunned the spotlight but worked relentlessly toward his goal of securing Israel through negotiation rather than battle, even at a time of terrorism. A portrait of an often-elusive leader who roused flaring anger among Israeli extremists, and died for his unswerving vision of Israels future. Read more about: SHARE: They said Id make a good lampshade, says Julia Ioffe. Ioffe is a journalist, who happens to be Jewish, and who happened to write a profile of Donald Trumps wife, Melania, for GQ. She has since been barraged with insults and threats, many of them violent, and many of them anti-Semitic. Basically, says Ioffe, I woke up to find that the Daily Stormer, which is a white supremacist website, wrote a piece saying that I had attacked Empress Melania, the wife of their glorious leader those are their words, not mine and they basically asked everyone to send me a tweet, saying how it made them feel. Mrs. Trump was born in Slovenia as Melania Knavs. She changed her name to Knauss to help her modelling career. Knauss met Trump at a party in New York in 1998, and they married in 2005. Ioffe interviewed Melania Trump for the story, and travelled to Slovenia to interview people who knew her growing up. Ioffe presents a picture of her as an intelligent, responsible, hard-working, intensely private woman, devoted to her family. Ioffe also got the first media interview with her illegitimate half-brother. The Stormers headline reads: Empress Melania attacked by filthy Russian kike Julia Ioffe in GQ! Immediately, Ioffe says, I was getting some pretty vile images in my email and Twitter feed. You know, caricatures of Jews being shot, execution-style; a Back to the Future poster redone as Back To The Oven; suggesting I would look good on a lampshade. In a post on Facebook, Melania Trump criticized Ioffe for invading her familys privacy and said the story contained numerous unspecified inaccuracies. While the tweets are disgusting and egregious, adds Ioffe, whats been weirder has been the phone calls that Ive been getting even late into the night regarding inquires I had supposedly left about caskets and homicide cleanups at my house. Other calls featured automated recordings of Hitlers speeches. Ioffe is not worried about these implied death threats. Its unpleasant to be sure, but Ive gotten blowback for my pieces online in the past. You know, as a journalist, this is what comes with the territory. This is just going after my religion and ethnicity. The volume, and the way that basically a whole army seems to have been snapped into action, is more disconcerting to me than the specific phone calls, says Ioffe, because it makes me think that, given Donald Trumps hostility to the press, suggesting that we loosen our libel laws so its easier to go after journalists; getting people at his rallies to boo at the press; constantly vilifying journalists and attacking them . . . the question is, what does this imply for our country, and the healthiness of our public discourse, and the freedom of our press. Ioffe and GQ have yet to hear from the Trumps what they believe to be inaccurate in the story. The only thing that Mrs. Trump did mention explicitly to me was that she believed I was invading her familys privacy. I can understand that. Shes an intensely private person. And I think that, as uncomfortable as it is for her and I know that this is one of the reasons that she wasnt so hot on the idea of her husband running for president this is unfortunately what comes with the territory of being the wife of the presumptive Republican nominee. The story was thoroughly fact-checked. The GQ legal team went over it. We even had lawyers in Slovenia look at this piece, says Ioffe. Ioffes family moved from the Soviet Union in 1990 to escape anti-Semitism. I dont think and I dont know that Melania Trump sent these anti-Semitic trolls to my virtual doorstep, says Ioffe. But she did express displeasure with my article. She named me. And this is what happened. This has happened to journalists before me, and Im sure it will happen again. Read more about: SHARE: NICKERSON, NEB.Half-ton pickup trucks crowd the curb outside the One Horse Saloon, a neon Coors Light sign in the window and rib-eye steaks on the menu, but otherwise Nickerson, Nebraska, is nearly silent on a spring evening, with only rumbling freight trains interrupting bird songs. Regional economic development officials thought it was the perfect spot for a chicken processing plant that would liven up the 400-person town with 1,100 jobs, more than it had ever seen. When plans leaked out, though, there was no celebration, only furious opposition that culminated in residents packing the fire hall to complain the roads couldnt handle the truck traffic, the stench from the plant would be unbearable and immigrants and out-of-towners would flood the area, overwhelming schools and changing the towns character. Everyone was against it, said Jackie Ladd, who has lived there for more than 30 years. How many jobs would it mean for people here? Not many. The village board unanimously voted against the proposed $300 million (U.S.) plant, and two weeks later, the company said theyd take their plant and money elsewhere. Deep-rooted, rural agricultural communities around the U.S. are seeking economic investments to keep from shedding residents, but those very places face trade-offs that increasing numbers of those who oppose meat processing plants say threaten to burden their way of life and bring in outsiders. Maybe its just an issue of the times in which we live in which so many people want certain things but they dont want the inconveniences that go with them, said Chris Young, executive director of the American Association of Meat Processors. Nickerson fought against Georgia-based Lincoln Premium Poultry, which wanted to process 1.6 million chickens a week for warehouse chain Costco. It was a similar story in Turlock, California, which turned down a hog-processing plant last fall, and Port Arthur, Texas, where residents last week stopped a meat processing plant. There also were complaints this month about a huge hog processing plant planned in Mason City, Iowa, but the project has moved ahead. The Nickerson plant would have helped area farmers, who mostly grow corn and soybeans, start up poultry operations and buy locally grown grain for feed, said Willow Holliback, who lives 40 miles (64 kilometres) away and heads an agriculture group that backed the proposal. When farmers are doing well, the towns are doing well, she said. The question of who would work the tough jobs was at the forefront of the debate, though many were adamant they arent anti-immigrant. Opposition leader Randy Ruppert even announced: This is not about race. This is not about religion. But both were raised at the raucous April 4 meeting where the local board rejected the plant. One speaker said hed toured a chicken processing plant elsewhere and felt nervous because most of the workers were minorities. More overtly, John Wiegert, from nearby Fremont where two meat processors employ many immigrants, questioned whether Nickersons plant would attract immigrants from Somalia more than 1,000 of whom have moved to other Nebraska cities for similar jobs, along with people from Mexico, Central America and Southeast Asia. Being a Christian, I dont want Somalis in here, Wiegert, who has led efforts to deny rental housing to immigrants in the country illegally, told the crowd. Theyre of Muslim descent. Im worried about the type of people this is going to attract. Others pointed out that, given Nebraskas unemployment rate is among the nations lowest near 3 per cent, few local residents would accept the entry-level jobs. While the projected wage of $13 to $17 (U.S.) an hour was above the regions current median wage for production workers, opponents argued meat processors generally have high turnover. We arent against jobs, farmer John Schauer said. We want clean, stable jobs. The land is flat and rich around Nickerson, which is a half-mile off a narrow state highway about 30 miles (48 kilometres) from Omaha. The towns tidy but often faded single-story homes sit on large, grassy lots. Theres a small cluster of commercial buildings, most of them long shuttered, and a grain elevator. Its school was demolished more than a decade ago, leaving only the old playground, but residents take pride in the regional school district. Superintendent Jeremy Klein told the village board he worried new students would overwhelm local schools and that tax breaks would limit any extra money to hire more teachers. Its impossible to know what the size of that impact will be, Klein said days later. SHARE: In Ontario and British Columbia, teacher unions have been in fierce legal battles with their respective provincial governments. In both cases, the main issue is whether governments should have the ability to unilaterally dictate the terms of teacher contracts. With the Supreme Court of Canada now set to weigh in, these decisions have enormous implications for school labour relations across the country. The Ontario case dates back to 2012 when the Liberal government, under Bill 115, imposed contracts on teachers, cut their wages, and removed their ability to strike. Why did the government do this? Pure politics. The Liberals were at the time facing a byelection which they hoped to win so that they could form a majority government. Their plan, according to a top Liberal strategist, was to bring down the hammer on teachers so as to attract right-of-centre votes. Of course the Liberals claimed that Bill 115 was all about fiscal responsibility. But as Ontario Superior Court Judge Thomas Lederer noted in his recent decision, It is telling that although all sectors were experiencing the same fiscal concerns, Ontario allowed for free negotiations and did not interfere with collective bargaining in any other sector. Quite telling indeed. Judge Lederer ultimately ruled that the Liberals actions were unconstitutional. Premier Kathleen Wynne and Education Minister Liz Sandals have now tried to distance themselves from Bill 115. But this is difficult given that Wynne was a senior member of the cabinet that crafted the legislation, and Sandals voted in favour of it. It is also hard for Wynne to pivot given that when she was running for the Liberal leadership, she repeatedly refused to disavow Bill 115 because criticizing her own party would have prevented her from winning. Instead, she repeatedly talked about how she would introduce a great new two-tier collective bargaining system that would fix everything. Negotiations have been taking place under this new system since 2014, yet there are still around 280 cases across the province (including Toronto high school teachers) where collective agreements have not been reached. The B.C. case involves similar actions taken by the B.C. Liberals. Back in 2002, when current Premier Christy Clark was the education minister, the Liberals stripped teachers of their right to collectively bargain about class size and composition. The British Columbia Teachers Federation took the government to court over the issue, and a judge ultimately ruled the law unconstitutional. However, undeterred by mere court rulings, the Liberals tried again to strip teachers collective bargaining rights by introducing similar legislation in 2012. Again the BCTF has taken the government to court, and now the Supreme Court has decided to finally settle the case. But whether or not it is legal for governments to strip teachers of their collective bargaining rights, it is clear that it is not good public policy. Some conservative groups, such as the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which plans to act as an intervenor in the Supreme Court case, seem to think that we would all be better off if governments were able to unilaterally dictate teacher contracts. After all, duly elected governments should have the broader public interest in mind. But if the Ontario Liberals were willing to throw the education system into chaos over a mere byelection, it should be clear that governments alone cannot always be relied upon to craft good education policy. If you want to see what education systems look like when collective bargaining power has been taken away from teachers, just look south of the border. In about a third of American states, teachers have no collective bargaining rights whatsoever, and in many others they are so weak that they cannot bargain over things like class size and composition. And has this lack of union power produced the well-functioning schools of conservative imagination? No. Rather, the U.S. perennially lags behind Canada and other developed countries in math, science and reading, and is currently in the midst of a nationwide teacher shortage because pay and working conditions are so poor that no one wants to enter the profession. The fact is that education systems work best when governments work in partnership with teachers and their unions. It is disheartening to see that the Ontario and B.C. Liberals require the courts to teach them this lesson. Sachin Maharaj is a PhD student and Canada Graduate Scholar in educational policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto and a teacher in the Toronto District School Board. SHARE: The new Environics survey of Muslims in Canada the sequel to their 2006 study includes some important pieces of data for contesting persistent, unfounded stereotypes. Many news reports headlined the fact that 83 per cent of Muslims feel very proud to be Canadian. It is also noteworthy that only 1 per cent of Muslim Canadians believe that many or most in the community support violent extremists like Daesh. And only 3 per cent said they had ever seen or heard violent extremism being promoted in a mosque in Canada. But instead of simply heaving a sigh of relief, we should also ask: why the intense need to determine whether Muslims are dangerous/radicalizing to violent extremism/supportive of Daesh/proud to be Canadian, in the first place? These questions reveal as much about Canadian society as a whole as they do about the Muslim Canadian communities placed under scrutiny. These types of anxieties about Muslims are more a product of dominant narratives than a reflection of reality. After all, analyses by government agencies and academics indicate that far right-wing and white supremacist violence is a greater danger in North America than is political violence by Muslims but the right-wing and white-supremacist threat generally fails to stimulate the hand-wringing about enemies within elicited by reports of radicalized Muslims. The questions put to Muslim Canadians formally in the Environics study, but informally as an almost daily condition of existence are a sign of how far the burden of suspicion has shifted: so that rather than being presumed innocent, Muslims must be proven innocent by survey. In this frame, the only violence made visible is Muslim violence, named terrorism and violent extremism, which Muslims are called upon to repudiate. Other sources of violence, which are also terrorizing and extreme, disappear from the picture. But Muslim terrorism is not the only project of violence we should be concerned about Canadians supporting. For example, a recent study by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Physicians for Global Survival demonstrates the staggering costs of the war on terror; their report estimates that at least 1.3 million, and perhaps more than 2 million, have been killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan alone during the course of this war. Just a few weeks ago, 17 civilians were killed in a series of U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan. (According Democracy NOWs report: The first strike reportedly hit the truck of a local elder who was on his way to resolve a land dispute killing the elder and 11 others. The second drone reportedly struck and killed two people who were collecting their bodies. A third drone strike reportedly killed three more who had come to see what had happened.) Incidents like this happen far too frequently in those parts of the world where the war on terror is being waged. In some areas, the civilian casualty rate of the drone program is as high as 90 per cent. Instead of putting Muslim Canadians under a special microscope to detect signs of support for violent extremism, shouldnt we also ask about levels of support for violent militarism in the general population? When Canadians are polled about the war on terror, the emphasis is usually on whether the war is necessary to protect Canadas security and global reputation not to suss out whether large numbers of Canadians endorse the broad-scale killing and destruction of societies that the war on terror has in fact involved. The object of such polls is to assess whether Canadian popular opinion demands continued participation in military missions not whether this opinion renders Canadians a violent and dangerous community (in stark contrast to the purpose underlying surveys of the Muslim population). As a Canadian, I am not regularly expected to condemn, apologize for, and disavow the violence executed by my government and its closest allies in the name of fighting terrorism. My causal connection to this violence is far tighter than any I might have to the atrocities of groups like Daesh, with whom I nominally share a religion, but no genuine political or social relationship. And yet, I and other Muslims in Canada are constantly held to account for the actions of our co-religionists on the other side of the world. My Muslim identity is made to bear a burden of collective guilt never imposed on my Canadian identity. The Environics survey challenges many common assumptions about Muslims in Canada but we need to change the questions we ask about Muslims, not just the answers to those questions. The very need for a study like the Environics one is a sign of the problem, not its resolution. Azeezah Kanji is a legal analyst and writer based in Toronto. Read more about: SHARE: Pierre Karl Peladeau never made any sense as leader of the Parti Quebecois. A union-busting corporate mogul leading a party that came out of the labour and social movements. A man with no long-term public commitment to sovereignty dedicating himself to making Quebec a country. Only a party shaken to its core by an unexpected and devastating defeat would throw itself into the arms of such a man. And yet thats precisely what the PQ did just less than a year ago when it hailed PKP as its new leader. His tearful resignation on Monday came as a bombshell in Quebec politics. He wept openly and said that after his split with his celebrity wife Julie Snyder he had no alternative: Im forced to make a heartbreaking decision between my family and my political project I have chosen my family. But the fact is the writing had been on the wall for some time. In January, when his marriage fell apart, he was besieged with questions about whether he still controlled his family conglomerate, Quebecor, and benefited from offshore tax shelters. He had failed to lift the PQ in the polls, and support for its raison detre, sovereignty, stood at just 33 per cent. One headline in the Montreal Gazette at the time asked: Is the Parti over for PKP? Peladeau, in short, was a disaster for the PQ just as every independent observer had predicted. The leader who made no sense to begin with ended up by imploding in spectacular fashion. The best thing for his former party is that it happened in record time, and it has a full two years to regroup under a new leader before it must face the voters again. For federalists, then, the departure of PKP is cause for some regret. It is hard to imagine that the party dedicated to breaking up the country could once again choose as leader someone so ill-suited to public life as Peladeau. The PQ has always attracted talented political figures think of Rene Levesque and it still has strong people like former ministers Bernard Drainville and Jean-Francois Lisee in its ranks. Either of them would be more effective. That, then, is cause for concern among Quebec Liberals. The administration of Premier Philippe Couillard is not particularly popular. The long-running Charbonneau inquiry into corruption in the construction industry reflected badly on his party. His government has also fought with public sector unions over its austerity agenda, and been on the defensive when it comes to environmental issues like the proposed Energy East pipeline. All that should have provided fertile ground for the Parti Quebecois to prepare for a serious run against the Liberals in the next election, scheduled for the autumn of 2018. But with the arrogant, inept and problem-plagued PKP at the helm, the PQ could not capitalize on any of the advantages that came its way. They should be glad to be shot of him. Still, the PQ has an enormous hill to climb after its lost weekend with PKP. The party has stumbled from crisis to crisis over the past couple of decades, and the root cause is clear: Quebec voters simply wont buy what theyre selling, i.e. independence. For anyone who cares about Canada, thats the best news of all. Read more about: SHARE: Re: Harriet Tubman will take the place of U.S. president on $20 bill, April 23 Harriet Tubman will take the place of U.S. president on $20 bill, April 23 It is indeed ironic that Harriet Tubman, an ex-black slave and an ardent anti-slavery activist, is slated to replace Andrew Jackson on the American $20 bill. It is to be noted that Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States and an inveterate slave owner. This is a fitting tribute to an outstanding abolitionist who shepherded hundreds of black American slaves to freedom in Canada. Harriet Tubmans 19 trips across the border did not go unnoticed as a significant group of slave owners put a bounty on her head. It is remarkable that the massive sum of $40,000 was put up to ensure her capture. Although her life was always at risk she skillfully evaded capture, and finally settled in St. Catharines on the Niagara Peninsula in 1851. Her recognition by the American federal government brought back fond memories of my visit to Salem Chapel in St. Catharines on Aug. 24, 2002. My wife, Avrie, and I were honoured to have been invited to the dedication of Salem Chapel as a National Historic Site. It was indeed a deeply emotional experience to set foot inside Salem Chapel whose original structure dates back to 1855. It is quite fitting that the Salem Chapel has become synonymous with the name Harriet Tubman, the world renowned slavery abolitionist and civil rights leader of the 19th century. So great was her leadership that she was fondly referred to as the Black Moses. And there is no question that she symbolized the best of the human spirit. Salem Chapel was undoubtedly the most famous Underground Railroad church associated with the life and times of Harriet Tubman. Here she catered to the social, cultural, political, and spiritual needs of the refugees fleeing the denigrating effects of slavery in the U.S. To be honoured with her indelible image on the American $20 bill is indeed a fitting tribute to Harriet Tubman our Black Moses. Rupert Johnson, Scarborough The Stars report that abolitionist Harriet Tubman will replace the slave-owning president Andrew Jackson on Americas $20 bill made me think of a pioneering African-Canadian woman whose recognition is overdue. Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a free African-American woman who fled the U.S. to Ontario after the passage of Americas 1850 Fugitive Slave Act is recognized for being the first black woman to publish a newspaper in Canada. She is however also the first female to achieve this feat. While John Bushell gets credited for being the first male newspaper publisher, Mary Ann, who also became a lawyer and educator, virtually never gets this significant credit. She accomplished what no other woman did at a time when half of Canadas population could not sign their names. This is a fact and her story is inspirational. Reporters, academics, authors, all, lets take the fact-laden road and acknowledge her now. Ingrid Walter, Toronto SHARE: Re: Police union's strong influence waning at city hall, April 25 Police union's strong influence waning at city hall, April 25 As Toronto, and hopefully other cities, consider lower-cost alternatives to the current system of paid-duty security, what is done in Vancouver, as reported, offers a useful model. Should Toronto alone imitate such a program, there could be about 250 well-paying jobs created, paying $50,000 per year: half of the current expense. And, if other municipalities and the province hitchhike on this, the job creation will be even greater. However, lets go further and consider this: such a system can offer unique, well-paying and responsible job opportunities for Ontarios disadvantaged minorities. But unlike Vancouver, we should not be so dogmatic as to exclude young people with minor criminal convictions, if properly vetted by the police or whomever. So can we get on with this and give some of our youth a chance? Mike Brown, Burlington SHARE: Re: My ex-wife is a vengeful, angry person with extreme wealth and incredible amounts of rage,' April 27 My ex-wife is a vengeful, angry person with extreme wealth and incredible amounts of rage,' April 27 Its bad enough that former Toronto symphony CEO Jeff Melanson and Eleanor McCain are having a rough time divorcing but why does the Star make its readers suffer along with them on the front page? I didnt know the word privacy had become obsolete. Geoff Rytell, Toronto After Jeff and Eleanor finish their lawyer-energized spitting match, neither will have any money left for their artistic endeavours. Sadly it will be too late for them to realize the children could have been their greatest artistic achievement. Peter Keleghan, Toronto SHARE: Re: Continental missile defence debate back for encore, April 25 Continental missile defence debate back for encore, April 25 If a rogue state wants to attack the United States with nuclear weapon, it is highly unlikely it will deliver it through a missile because it will expose the perpetrator and provoke an instant retaliatory nuclear response. This is why mighty Soviet Union, enjoying superior nuclear arsenal and missile delivery, did not dare to attack the United States with nuclear weapon at the height of the Cold War. It is far more likely that such a nuclear bomb will be delivered by a container ship with a nuclear bomb hidden as a cargo. As Graham Allison, professor of government at Harvard, pointed out in his book, Nuclear Terrorism: The nuclear weapon that terrorists would use in the first attack on the United States is far more likely to arrive in a cargo container than on the tip of a missile . The weapon could have arrived in any of the ways items of similar size and weight reach American cities every day. Approximately 21,000 pounds of cocaine and marijuana are smuggled into the country each day in bales, crates, car trunks even FedEx boxes. Any one of these containers could hold something far more deadly . A nuclear bomb smuggled into the country inside a ship or a truck and detonated by surprise would have no return address. In the aftermath of a nuclear attack, Americas leaders could find themselves with no idea of where it came from, or how and against whom to respond. As such, any continental missile defence will be an expensive boondoggle that will not protect North America from the real danger of nuclear terrorism. Mahmood Elahi, Ottawa SHARE: Re: Parents guilty in meningitis death, April 27 Parents guilty in meningitis death, April 27 The fact that, after being found guilty by a jury, the father of this little boy still has the nerve to blame everyone else except himself for this avoidable tragedy makes it evident he and his wife have not learned their lesson. They embody a new kind of dangerous criminal: the one at risk of reoffending by putting others lives at risk, because of their political agenda and personal beliefs. Add to this the fact that they run a business based on these (backward) beliefs, and are pushing for others to do exactly the same thing they did, and this makes them twice as dangerous, in my view. If they want to pretend this is the Middle Ages then, by all means, go ahead, but dont drag innocent children into the medical risks associated with using medieval kind of remedies. These parents should lose custody of all their children, at the very least. They are convinced that letting their boy die was the right thing to do, and wont hesitate to lovingly feed herbs and spices to anyone else in their care who is critically ill. As a civilized society we must protect vulnerable human beings from good intentions that become murderous actions. Martha Batiz, Richmond Hill There are large overlapping groups of people who distrust various segments of the medical establishment for a variety of reasons. Most boil down to they believe the segment they distrust are more interested in making money than in healing or that the human body is too complex to be studied scientifically. However it should be impossible to deny that modern medicine has made a huge difference in tackling both age-old diseases and newly emerging ones. Its a major part of why people now live twice as long as they did when natural or traditional medicines were the only treatments. Canadian law allows people access to these alternative medicines under the presumption that rational adults can make up their own minds. In this particular case, the family watched their sons condition deteriorate for 2 weeks using natural remedies and only took him to hospital, not when he could no longer eat, but when he stopped breathing. There are many words that could describe David and Collet Stephan but rational is not one of them. There have been no end of exposes on alternative medicines. While many consider them to be mostly harmless, as this case demonstrates our tolerance of such quackery has lethal consequences. Gary Dale, West Hill I hope David and Collet Stephan go to jail for the maximum sentence of five years in neglecting to take their child to the doctor. I also found disturbing the Stephans never had taken their son, Ezekiel, to the doctor. Ezekiel had never been vaccinated for anything. Had he been vaccinated against meningitis, Ezekiel might still be alive today. Had the parents taken him to emergency right away, Ezekiel might still be with us. Although David and Collet Stephan never used the defence they dont believe in traditional medicine due to their religious beliefs, there are people who deny their children medical treatment because of their religious beliefs. Any religion that teaches you must deny your children life-saving medical treatment from doctors is nothing but a cult. I hope the other children of David and Collet Stephan are permanently taken away from them and given to loving people who will give them good medical care when required. Ken Sisler, Newmarket SHARE: Re: Approval of Saudi arms deal was illegal, lawyer argues, April 22 Re: Jobs worth killing for? Online video April 24 Approval of Saudi arms deal was illegal, lawyer argues, April 22 According to the Prime Minister, the Saudi arms deal must go forward, notwithstanding profound universal concern about the Saudi governments cavalier attitude toward human rights. According to Justin Trudeau, We will continue to respect contracts signed because people around the world need to know that when Canada signs a deal it is respected. That statement is odd and troubling on many different levels. Does Mr. Trudeau believe himself to be Canadas CEO or its head of government? Are we employees of Mr. Trudeau or are we citizen of this country? Is Mr. Trudeau our boss or our servant? Does Canada, as a political entity, sign commercial deals, or is it rather commercial enterprises within Canada that sign deals, and it is the governments job to regulate those deals? Most importantly, perhaps: Is Canada a large commercial enterprise or a nation that calls itself a democracy? A likely explanation of Mr. Trudeaus statement is that he has a habit of improvising rationales that are at odds with rationality, such as his perplexing statements to the effect that Canada will use fossil fuel production to combat fossil-fuel-induced climate change. Stephane Dion has turned into a quick study in the art of sophistical rhetoric and improvised rationales. On the subject of the Saudi arms sales, he says he had reviewed the issue with the utmost rigour and will continue to do so over the life of the 14-year deal. It seems I have been under a false impression that his government had been elected for a four-year term. Earlier, he had cleverly stated that the sale was justified because the Saudi government has promised not to use the armoured vehicles to suppress domestic dissent. Even if we were to believe the Saudi claim, what about the serious concern about the Saudi ruling familys hobby of invading neighbouring countries and massacring their civilian populations? Do we need that blood on our hands? Al Eslami, North York Jobs worth killing for? Online video April 24 Full marks to Scott Vrooman for, like many other Canadians, pointing out the rank hypocrisy of Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government. Could there be a more blatant example of this than the Saudi Arms deal? While our Prime Minister will happily show up at any photo op for a Pride Parade or similar event (as he should), he quite clearly has no problem selling arms to a regime that executes people for the crime of being gay. If he cant see the hypocrisy of that, hes a fool. This governments supposed fresh new approach (transparency and honesty and optimism) is looking more and more like a variation of the half truths and manipulated facts that contribute to many peoples default setting with politics and politicians: distrust and cynicism. Paul Romanuk, Toronto SHARE: Ontario should require student teachers to learn about indigenous peoples, so theyre equipped to give a new generation of students the understanding to foster reconciliation, says a report to be released Monday by advocacy group People for Education. If teacher training about First Nations remains hit-and-miss, schools will struggle to bring about the deep awareness called for by Canadas Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), warned People for Education executive director Annie Kidder. Many teachers say they dont need to know about indigenous issues because they wont be teaching in areas where there are many First Nations students, but the TRC has called for a change to everyones education thats how well get true reconciliation, said Kidder. Under Ontarios new two-year teacher education program, which began last fall, faculties of education are urged to make sure prospective teachers recognize they have a responsibility to teach all students aboriginal or not about aboriginal peoples histories, cultures and perspectives. Thunder Bays Lakehead University already makes that mandatory for student teachers, and doubled the length of its Aboriginal Education course this year to a full 36-hour semester. Starting in September, all undergraduate programs will feature a minimum of 18 hours of Indigenous content, and faculties and programs will have the freedom to decide how that material will be taught. Were in the north, with a high aboriginal population, so our commitment to indigenous people and education is one of our mandates, said Professor Teresa Socha, chair of undergraduate studies in education. Trent University in Peterborough, Ont., has introduced a mandatory course on Indigenous and Sustainability Education as part of the new two-year teacher education program, and now requires undergraduates in the pre-teacher education stream to take a course from Trents Indigenous Studies department. Many teachers say they feel inadequate to do these topics justice in the classroom or theyre so afraid theyll teach it wrong, they freeze and dont really do anything, which is not what we hope for, said Nicole Bell, Trents Anishnaabe scholar and the faculty of educations senior indigenous education adviser. Yet Professor Susan Dion of York University, who also is aboriginal, is against making indigenous studies mandatory for student teachers, partly because I believe all professors should be integrating it into all courses, and not isolating it in one course that lets the rest of the faculty off the hook. If we want teachers to integrate indigenous education across the curriculum, we should model it for them, said Dion. Id rather see the province pressure faculties of education to hire more indigenous faculty members who will create courses that students want to take. The report also calls for better tracking of aboriginal student achievement across the province, more outreach to community groups to strengthen teachers understanding and the appointment of an assistant deputy minister for indigenous education. While it praises Ontario for its efforts over the past nine years to tackle the achievement gap of some 20 per cent between indigenous students and their non-native peers praising a rise in aboriginal-focussed courses and professional development for teachers the report laments that Ontario has failed to meet its goal of erasing that achievement gap by 2016. By the numbers: 82: Percentage of Ontario aboriginal students who attend provincially run schools. 31: Percentage of elementary schools that provided PD (professional development) in indigenous issues for staff in 2015, up from 25 per cent in 2014. 53: Percentage of high schools that provide PD in indigenous issues for staff in 2015, up from 34 per cent in 2014. 29: Percentage of elementary schools that hosted indigenous guest speakers in 2015, up from 23 per cent in 2014. 49: Percentage of high schools that hosted indigenous guest speakers in 2015, up from 39 per cent in 2014. 13: Percentage of elementary schools that consulted with indigenous community members in 2015, up from 12 per cent in 2014. 38: Percentage of high schools that consulted with indigenous community members in 2015, up from 27 per cent in 2014. Source: People for Education Annual Report 2015-2016 This has been updated from a previous version. SHARE: RUSH VALLEY, Utah (AP) The distrust and ongoing litigation often entrenched in the relationship between the federal government and the state of Utah over public lands management was nowhere to be found among the sagebrush in Tooele County recently. A nearly $1 million effort to restore sage grouse habitat in the Sheeprocks area of Rush Valley is unfolding with the efforts of the Utah Department of Natural Resources and 14 other partners including federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Utah. The work is important and matters on so many levels because the continued health and improvement of greater sage grouse populations means it stays off the endangered species list and that means greater autonomy over the land. Both state and federal employees noted the progress made so far during a tour, surveying a western desert landscape full of fallen pinyon-juniper woodlands violently uprooted in an assault by heavy equipment. In one removal method ominously called mastication, live trees are ground into nothing more than a pile of wood chips, all in a matter of minutes. The vegetation removal helps the imperiled bird, improves the ability of desired grasses and other plants to thrive and boosts the overall health of the watershed by curtailing erosion and helping with groundwater recharge. To me, what really saved us and pushed things forward is when everyone sat in a room together to address the problems on the landscape, said rancher and farmer Elizabeth B. Mitchell. Mitchells ancestors started working the land in the 1880s, an area that at one time strained under the pressure of more than 100,000 horses, sheep and cattle. That has changed over time, and ranchers and farmers are now working in tandem with government soil specialists, wildlife biologists and botanists to improve landscape health, instituting improvements such as rotational grazing, protection of streams and putting in pipelines to move cattle from place to place. Todays immediate threats to the fragile sagebrush steppe ecosystem have shifted to the onslaught of invasive grasses and pervasive wildfires six large scale fires over the last three years prompted the rehabilitation of 16,000 acres in the Sheeprocks area. The neat thing about this effort is how much private dollars are going into it because (the partners) have caught the vision, said the state Department of Natural Resources deputy director Robyn Pearson. If we can stop these fires, it is not money that will be pumped down a hole. Utahs Watershed Restoration Initiative, in its 11th year, is shepherding the effort to improve the Sheeprocks. Over the last decade, more than 93,000 acres have been restored under the initiative. The area is home to a sage grouse population that, contrary to other management areas in the state, is seeing a decline in numbers. Alison Whittaker, a habitat conservation specialist with the state, said the pinyon-juniper woodlands is a chief culprit in the species decline. One of our main goals is to push pinyon-juniper back up the hill where it belongs, she said. The encroachment of the woodlands into sagebrush landscapes causes a number of problems. The trees allow a perch for predators of the sage grouse, so the birds instinctively avoid the area. Additionally, the root system of the pinyon-juniper is like a sponge, soaking up the water that does hit the arid landscape or capturing snow and enabling much of it to be lost to evaporation. The greater sage grouse needs the sage brush to survive in the winter it is its only available food source. Over the last few months, the agencies worked with private landowners and initiated their own restoration efforts, with the Forest Service bringing on local contractors Giles Construction to unleash the bull hogging or mastication machine on dense stands of pinyon-juniper. Restoration of the greater sage grouse in Sheeprocks involves more than just man-handling the trees, of course. Another effort that includes Utahs state wildlife agency and Utah State University successfully relocated 40 sage grouse to the Sheeprocks management area this spring from northern Utah, with researchers and biologists planning to track some of the birds movements with VHF radio-collars or GPS backpacks. Nathan Schwebach, spokesman for the states natural resources department, said the often public controversies over land management gives the impression that state government and federal agencies are always at each others throats. While he admits there are often tough conversations, he said it is initiatives like the one being carried out at Sheeprocks that demonstrates the results of successful collaboration. The tour was followed up with a day-long workshop in Salt Lake City hosted by the Bureau of Land Management and being held throughout the West in states with sage grouse populations. The mood was testy at times the U.S. Department of Interiors deputy assistant secretary Jim Lyons got an earful from frustrated county and state officials but he said the goal was to hear concerns and issues early on before the federal agency implements sage grouse management plans. Lyons said he understands the local frustration, which is part of what is driving the workshops being held around the West. Our goal is to make sure that any guidance we provide is flexible enough to deal with local conditions. Street cats in a managed colony in the Barcelona sububur of Vallcarca. Carles Ribas Street cats: for some people theyre vulnerable animals in need of protection, for others, theyre pests that need to be eradicated. In Barcelona, the authorities estimate there are around 700 colonies of feral cats: some 9,000 animals in total. In the Catalan capital and in other cities in Spain, local councils have subcontracted out the problem of keeping feline populations under control to animal protection societies, which sterilize them, treat them for parasites and feed them. The combined cost of cat management for Barcelona and its neighbors Girona and Tarragona last year was 157,000. In total, almost 3,000 cats were sterilized in the three cities. Cat colonies are found in towns and cities throughout Spain. People living nearby say they are a health risk, often smell, and can be a nuisance when animals are in heat. Legislation passed in 2008 makes it illegal to poison cats, meaning that many local authorities are now opting to sterilize animals, a method that has been shown to be the most cost effective in keeping numbers down. It normally costs between 40 and 200 to sterilize a cat, but many vets will offer the service for a lower price for animal protection societies. Francesc Alcazar, a vet in the small Catalan town of Ponts says that a female cat is capable of giving birth up to three times a year, and that sterilization is the only long-term solution. AVEPA, which represents Spanish vets that specialize in household pets, says that if cats are to be sterilized, they should also be treated for parasites and vaccinated at the same time. Equally, it is critical of feeding animals living in colonies unless they are given medical treatment. Giving cats leftover food is also a potential health hazard and attracts other scavengers, such as boars, foxes, or seagulls, it says. Alcazar says sterilizing cats also helps prevent the spread of diseases such as toxoplasmosis, found in cat excrement, to humans. It normally costs between 40 and 200 to sterilize a cat, but many vets will offer the service for a lower price for animal protection societies In some towns in Catalonia, people continue to set poison for wild cats, but in other cities, local people usually women work to keep numbers down humanely. In the case of the popular tourist resort of Cadaques, a local feline society raises money to have cats treated, which are then returned to their colonies, where numbers are kept down through lack of breeding. The situation in smaller communities unwilling or unable to cover the cost of sterilizing cats illustrates how the problem can soon get out of hand. In Bellmunt dUrgell, a village of some 200 people in Lleida province, there are some 100 feral cats. In Bascara, in Girona, a colony of cats has moved into the local nursery. There comes a moment when it seems cats have more rights than people, says the mayor, Narcis Saurina. Feral cats are also a threat to small mammals and birds, which they often kill but dont eat. Sergio Romero de Tejeada, the director of the Aiguamolls del Emporda, says there are some 70 wild cats living in the park in the Catalan Pyrenees. Its a difficult situation and is creating a serious imbalance. They eat everything, but the law prevents us from putting them down, he says. English version by Nick Lyne. Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez at the May Day march in Madrid. SAMUEL SANCHEZ It will be a victory by attrition. When Spaniards go to the polls again on June 26 after the December election failed to produce a new government, turnout will be lower, a new poll for EL PAIS shows. And the Metroscopia survey also suggests that the Popular Party (PP) will benefit from that 3.2-point drop in voter participation (to 70%), and earn the most seats in parliament again. The poll also forecasts that the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the anti-austerity Podemos will both lose votes this second time round, while Ciudadanos and United Left (IU) will perform better. We will not deal with the PP, we are a radically different party. The PP is our adversary Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez According to Metroscopia estimates, the PP will receive 29% of the vote, followed by the PSOE with 20.3%, Podemos with 18.1% and Ciudadanos with 16.9%. The smaller Communist Party-led United Left (IU) stands to double its presence with 6.6%, although it may run in tandem with Podemos. No grand coalition Despite forecasts of a stronger PP emerging from the elections, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez the only candidate to have attempted a bid at the prime ministers office, attracting the sole support of Ciudadanos says he will continue to reject the notion of a grand coalition with the conservatives led by acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy. Secret talks with Podemos A. D. / F. M. The Socialist Party opened up a secret dialogue with Podemos in a bid to explore the chance of a deal without breaking with its official partner, Ciudadanos. Testimony gathered by EL PAIS among PSOE and Podemos leaders who are familiar with those contacts suggests that economic issues and the anti-austerity party's demands for cabinet positions were the real cause for failure to agree, rather than the idea of a hypothetical referendum on Catalan independence, which Podemos theoretically supports and the Socialists reject. We will not deal with the PP, we are a radically different party, he told members of the party federal committee behind closed doors at a Saturday meeting. The PP is our adversary. Rajoy has called for a cross-party coalition that would include Spains two main forces and possibly also the center-right Ciudadanos. But in the four months since the December election, Rajoy has been unable to attract support of any kind from other parties in Congress, which are unwilling to associate themselves with a party tainted by corruption scandals. Sources close to Sanchez say that even if Rajoy stepped aside in favor of a new candidate something Rajoy does not appear to be contemplating there would still be no chance of a grand coalition with the PP. But sources at the Saturday meeting also say that Sanchez's request for agreement from delegates was met with silence. The federal committee is responsible for laying out party guidelines, and it will do so again after this fresh election. The meeting barely mentioned the PSOEs only partner, Ciudadanos, with whom it drafted a governing program that has failed to attract enough congressional support for a majority: the Socialists have 90 seats and Ciudadanos has 40, short of the 176 required. One committee member, Javier Lamban, who is the regional premier of Aragon, said that the agreement that produced the 200-point joint program between the Socialists and Ciudadanos was a thing of the past and that it was time for each party to move on. English version by Susana Urra. 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. A woman from Cuba waves to the Adonia Sunday as it leaves port in Miami en route to Cuba. (Patrick Farrell/The Miami Herald via AP) In this April 29, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the California Republican Party 2016 convention in Burlingame, Calif. Tens of thousands of immigrants are applying for U.S. citizenship in a year when immigration has taken center stage in this year's presidential campaign, especially in the race for the GOP nomination. In interviews, many say the fear of Donald Trump becoming president is motivating many longtime immigrants to apply for citizenship in order to vote. Trump, the GOP front-runner, has made immigration a central theme of his combative campaign to win the Republican nomination. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) Spain's Congress of Deputies. ULY MARTIN Spains King Felipe will formally call new general elections for June 26 on Tuesday when he signs a decree presented by the Speaker of Congress, Patxi Lopez. It will mark the first time in recent Spanish history that a re-election has been called, and comes four months after inconclusive polls on December 20 that ended with the current situation of political stalemate. In the intervening months, the only two parties to reach agreement on a coalition have been the Socialists (PSOE) and the center-right Ciudadanos, but they failed to garner the support needed from the Popular Party and anti-austerity grouping Podemos in Congress to win an investiture vote. The campaign for the poll officially begins on June 10, but the four main parties have been electioneering for much of the last four months The campaigning for the poll officially begins on June 10, but the four main parties have been electioneering for much of the last four months, aware that a coalition administration was unlikely to emerge. Congress is set to resume on July 20. Parties have until May 13 to announce any coalition agreements, and until May 18 to present their candidates. Depending on the outcome of the elections, which polls suggest will produce a similar result to December, King Felipe would begin consulting the parties in the run up to the investiture vote, which would take place in August. English version by Nick Lyne. Protesters hold a giant Syrian revolution flag during a protest Sunday in front of the United Nations headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon. The protest was against Syrian President Bashar Assads military operations in areas held by insurgents around the country, mostly in the northern city of Aleppo. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) The autopsy report of a 29-year-old law student, who was found murdered three days ago in Kerala, featured the same haunting details of the 2012 Delhi gang-rapeof horrific torture, violent penetrations, and broken off body parts, reports said. Police say the woman, belonging to an economically backward Dalit family, had been subjected to cruel gang-rape before she succumbed to injuries, or was murdered. The horrors unfolded when the mother of the victim found her half-naked body in a pool of blood at their house in a rural pocket in Perumbavoor of Central Kerala's Ernakulam district on Friday. Police said their one-room house had signs of struggle all over its walls. Like in the Delhi gang-rape, the victim's body bore deep stab wounds, with parts of the intestine ripped out of her private part, reports said. Police suspect the involvement of more than one assailant and believe they must have inserted something sharp and heavy, such as an iron rod, into her body. Her nose appeared to have been cut off with something like a claw hammer, reported said. Multiple reports said the assailants appeared to have strangulated the victim with a shawl from behind, while raping and torturing her. Given the nature of the atrocities, police suspect revenge to be part of the motive, but have ruled this out as an act committed by a mentally-disabled person. Nevertheless, reports say all angles are being probed. Since quite a few crimes, involving murders, have been linked to the huge migrant-labourer population in Perumbavoor lately, the police are probing into that angle as well. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, whose passport has been revoked by the government, on Monday resigned from the Rajya Sabha. He sent his resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari on Monday, sources said. The resignation has come after the Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha unanimously recommended the expulsion of the liquor baron from the upper house of Parliament. Mallya, wanted for defaulting bank loans to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore, was an Independent member of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. He was given a week's time, ending Tuesday, to put in his papers. According to Parliament sources, during his tenure of almost 10 years as member of the Rajya Sabha, Mallya had been declaring his assets and liabilities as "nil". The union government too had revoked Mallya's passport after he failed to turn up for a probe into a Rs 9,431 crore default of loans from Indian banks. This has set in motion the process for the billionaire's possible deportation from Britain, where he is staying at present. Anti-Muslim acts in France tripled in 2015, with peaks in activity coming after two sets of deadly terror attacks, a government advisory commission said on Monday. A total of 429 anti-Muslim threats or hate crimes were reported last year, up from 133 in 2014, according to a report from France's National Human Rights Commission (CNCDH). Two "peaks" in abuse came after jihadists attacked satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in January 2015 and a subsequent assault in November that killed 130 people in Paris, said CNCDH president Christine Lazerges. Overall, complaints of hate threats or crimes saw a "consequential increase" of just over 22 per cent to 2,034 in 2015, the commission noted in its annual report on the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. However, anti-Semitic hate acts fell in 2015 to 808, a five per cent drop over the previous year. "Several gauges indicate an ebb in the anti-Semitism that marked France in 2015," said the commission, referring to the terror attack on a Paris Jewish supermarket in January 2015 that killed four people. "It is as if the violence against Jews prompted compassion and solidarity with them in public opinion," it noted. Still Lazerges pointed out that the results include only reported crimes and that the true rates are much higher. "Day-to-day racism is much more subtle," she said. Though the number of acts of hate against Jews fell in 2015 in France, they were still the target of about 40 per cent of the nation's total. In 2014 Jews were subject to 51 per cent of France's reported acts of hate. Part of the exhibition at Madrid's Palacio de Cibeles. Samuel Sanchez (EL PAIS) EL PAIS is ramping up its 40th anniversary celebrations this week with a program of events that includes a free multi-sensorial exhibition at Madrids Palacio de Cibeles. The show reviews all the main events of the last four decades and showcases its most relevant personalities. Visitors will also have a chance to experience Fukushima, Contaminated Lives, the first virtual reality feature in the history of EL PAIS. This new format lets viewers explore the effects of the tsunami as though they were at ground zero themselves. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition is launching a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here. Although it opened to the public on Monday, the exhibition will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday and attended by Mayor Manuela Carmena, representatives of the PRISA Group (the parent company of EL PAIS) and the shows sponsors. All scheduled events will take place inside the landmark Palacio de Cibeles. Live radio On Wednesday, May 4, which is the day when EL PAIS turns 40, the groups radio network Cadena SER will broadcast its program Hoy por Hoy from the buildings Caja de Musica auditorium. Visitors to the exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of EL PAIS. ULY MARTIN (EL PAIS) Join the conversation That same afternoon, Manuela Carmena and former High Court judge Baltasar Garzon will participate in one of a series of talks on current issues being organized by EL PAIS this year. The newspaper is asking its readers to join the conversation in an open dialogue based on information, analysis, tolerance, democracy and dignity. At 8pm on Wednesday there will be a roundtable with female correspondents, featuring Angeles Espinosa, Pilar Bonet, Macarena Vidal and Yolanda Monge, the EL PAIS correspondents in Dubai, Moscow, Beijing and Washington DC, respectively. Ortega y Gasset Awards On Thursday, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will preside the awards ceremony of the Ortega y Gasset journalism awards, which are granted by EL PAIS. The winners of the 33rd edition are Joseph Zarate for best investigative reporting, Lilia Saul and Ginna Morelo for best multimedia reporting, Samuel Aranda for best photography, and Adam Michnik, founder and director of Gazeta Wyborcza, for career achievement. Quiosco Awards On Friday, another set of awards will be handed out for innovation in the newsstand and newsselling sectors. UAM EL PAIS Journalism School Also on Friday, alumni of the UAM-EL PAIS Journalism School will meet at 9pm for a special 30th anniversary gathering. More than 1,100 students have trained at the school in the last three decades, and many have gone on to become respected correspondents, reporters and media executives. English version by Susana Urra. It didn't go well. Half an hour after the April 26 meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in New Delhi, it was clear that the talks were headed nowhere. The Pakistan high commission's statement about the meeting had references to Baluchistan and Indian spies and mentioned the need for the two countries to engage further. There was nothing in it that India wanted to hear. It was a dead end. It has not been an easy week for South Block as Indias difficult neighbours dominated the news cycle with their versions of events. Issuing an Indian visa to Uighur activist Dolkun Isa and subsequently revoking it under pressure was a ham handed way of dealing with China. The tough stand was probably in response to the Chinese opposition in the United Nations to declaring Jaish-e-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar a terrorist. And, the climb down was a major loss of face for India. The failed meeting between the foreign secretaries came soon after. It did not help that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was hospitalised with pneumonia. The statements speak for themselves, says former diplomat Vivek Katju about the failed talks with Pakistan. They bring up Samjhauta [train blast case], but in our statement it is absent. There is Mumbai in ours, but there is no mention of it in Pakistans statement. They bring up Kashmir, ours statement doesnt have it. And the way we both look at the Kulbhushan Jadhav incident [the Baluchistan spy case] is completely different. It looks straight out of Akira Kurosawas iconic film Rashomon, in which characters narrate the same incident differently. In the heat of April, the Indo-Pak relationship seems to have wilted. As former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh says, no prime minister has ever been able to tackle the challenges faced by the Indian diplomatic cadre on China and Pakistan. Yet, you learn from experience, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasnt really shown any clarity on whether these lessons have been learnt, he says. But it is difficult to fault Modi alone. As far as Pakistan is concerned, there are only two choices in the boxbad decisions and worse ones, says a former high commissioner to Pakistan. Modi stormed in on the promise of a new era. His well-attended swearing-in ceremony set the tone and then there was the hug in Lahore on Christmas day when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was celebrating his granddaughter's wedding. But as one seasoned diplomat puts it, every Indian prime minister has a fatal flaw. It is the belief that he or she will be the one to bring peace between India and Pakistan. Modi is no different, but in his attempts to bring about rapprochement, policy flip-flops have become more pronounced and frequent. Bilateral talks have been on and off, repeatedly. The bonhomie of the swearing-in quickly wore off, with India cancelling bilateral talks over the Pakistan high commissioner meeting separatist leaders. After a series of highs and lows, the secret meeting of the national security advisers held last December in Bangkok set a positive tone, leading to Swaraj's visit to Pakistan for the Heart of Asia conference. It set stage for Modi's surprise visit to Lahore on Christmas day and the scheduling of foreign secretary level talks for January 15. But terrorist attacks on the Pathankot Air Force base, which happened barely a week later, upset all plans, delaying the talks for more than three months. One of the major challenges Modi faces is the absence of domestic support. The general lack of consensus seems to have spilled into the realm of external affairs as well. The differences have now broken into the foreign policy arena, where earlier there was a consensus. Even in the Vajpayee era, there was much more open diplomacy, says Mansingh. As Pakistan turns hawkish, largely because of domestic compulsions such as civil-military tensions, the way forward may not be easy for Modi. But as he has stuck his neck out on the issue with his visit to Lahore, keeping Pakistan engaged is crucial for him. But there seems no tangible way forward. There is a need for political consensus on how to deal with Pakistan. Also we need an effective, calibrated strategy, says C. Uday Bhaskar, director, Society for Policy Studies, a Delhi-based think tank. With Modis penchant for keeping things close to his chest, Pakistan has been able to create an impression that it is India which is dragging its feet. Moreover, under Modi, external affairs is run out of the PMO, overseen by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar. Although exceptionally brilliant and hardworking, both are not known to be team players. Doval is a counterinsurgency specialist. And, he is overburdened with other stuff, including planning the PMs political trips, says a former spy. So, does Modi really have a strategy to handle China and Pakistan? There are glimmers of bold thinking, but no stamina to push those through, says Mansingh. But this seems to be how the Modi magic works. Lots of vigour, plenty of excitement, and as Bruce Jones, director of foreign policy programme at Brookings Institution, says, great power speed dating. India has gained many new friends. But the real test lies in turning the dating into a committed relationship. It is here that Modi falls short. Despite the progress made in ties with a number of countries ranging from Mongolia to Saudi Arabia, there is an inability to push tough ideas through. The Dolkun Isa issue is a case in point. India took a courageous decision to issue Isa the visa to attend a conference to be held in Dharamshala despite him being notified by China as a terrorist. He got an e-visa in 20 hours, although it normally takes up to three days. It was touted as India's tough response to the Chinese decision to save Mazood Azhar from being declared a terrorist by the UN despite direct personal entreaties by Doval, Swaraj and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. A few days later, however, the visa was revoked, following noisy protests by China. It was embarrassing, says Jayadeva Ranade, former member of the national security advisory board. Rakesh Sood, former ambassador to Afghanistan, says the move smacks of incompetence. It is flying by the seat of your pants. There seems to be no reasoned decision making or discussion. You are dealing with the issue of the day. It is firefighting. It does not lead to policy, he says. Uncertain future: Sushma Swaraj with Pakistan foreign minister's adviser Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad last December. Efforts to normalise ties with Pakistan have always been hit by roadblocks | AFP India's China policy, despite the selfie moments he created, has always been uneasy. The lesson that China needs to be dealt with in a firm manner and that it will not be moved by Modis charm offensive was clear from the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014. There was a Chinese border incursion to coincide with the visit and it went on despite the hospitality that was on display, with Modi flying down to Ahmedabad to receive Xi, breaking protocol. The return visit was lost in cultural diplomacy and yoga. We havent learnt to talk to the Chinese in the language they understand. The whole thing was a flop, says Mansingh, who thought the decision to grant visa to Isa was part of a new thinking. But before I could celebrate, we withdrew the visa. It was a bold initiative that quickly turned into a retreat, he says. For Modi, who came to power promising a tough line and shares a chemistry with Xi, the inability to make the dragon crouch actually raises the question, like in the immortal song of the Bee Gees, How deep is your love. It is believed that Modi tried to raise the border issue with Xi during his visit to Xian, but he was snubbed by the Chinese president. Xi apparently turned to the official next to him and asked, Why is he bringing this up here? Modi was told that such discussions would take place in Beijing. But nothing happened in Beijing. As usual, the Chinese controlled the narrative. India's relations with Pakistan seem to be progressing on a similar trajectory. Even if it was a mistake, no one will believe it, says Ranade about the visa issue. You embarrass yourself and then trot out excuses. It, in fact, gives an opening to point out that we issue visas without verification. This is not the first time that China has voted against us. There was Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, too. The Chinese are in bed with Pakistan that they cant afford to annoy them. India has given concessions like e-visa to the Chinese without getting anything in return. The home ministry was not in favour of granting e-visas, but Modi chose to please China. Indian concerns over Chinese investment in Pakistan and the proposed economic corridor have fallen on deaf ears. The hot line that was supposed to be set up between the military headquarters is still not functional. Even the Sino-Indian land boundary agreement is not making any forward movement. It didnt help that Doval, who is also the special envoy for border talks with China, chose to cancel a meeting with his counterpart because of the Pathankot attacks. And, with China and India competing within the same sphere of influence, the tension is only likely to grow. The deepening China-Pakistan ties, especially through the proposed economic corridor, are likely to exacerbate tensions with India further. Even though India showed an appreciation for Chinese concerns by revoking the visa issued to Isa, China does not seem to have a similar view on the Azhar issue. All China had to say was that it was the responsibility of all countries to bring him [Isa] to justice. The situation gets even more complicated with growing India-US ties, especially in the defence sector. Not everyone, however, believes that India has mishandled the Isa imbroglio. There is a view that the move by India to grant visa to the Uighur leader and then cancel it should be seen as a warning to China. It shows China that India could use this in future, says a diplomat from southeast Asia. After all, if India had let in a terrorist, even if it was only in name, it would have lost its moral standing. Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, says there was some tough talking by both sides during the visits of Doval, Swaraj and Parrikar. We put them on notice. The volte-face is probably because of pressure by the Chinese, he says. But had we let Isa in, we would be equating China with a terrorist state. It would have cost us. Kondapalli says at the next UN meeting, China would perhaps take a different view on the subject of Azhar. The public climb down will have its benefits. While this might be wishful thinking as strategic affairs analyst Sushant Sareen puts it or baloney, as Uday Bhaskar sees it, Indias difficult neighbours will not be easy to placate, especially as India tries to become more ambitious and turn into a bigger player in the region. The question is, will Modi be able to move from speeddating to committed relationships? [COMMUNICATED CONTENT] Rochester, NY is an out of town community where Middos and Limud HaTorah are the focal point. Located in Western NY between Buffalo and Syracuse, being part of our close-knit kehilla means that you are not just another face in the crowd. Additionally, our community is only a 3 hour drive from Toronto and 4.5 hours from Monsey, making it easy to visit family and friends. The cost of housing along with the quality of the neighborhood is hard to believe. You can purchase a 3 bedroom home for around $150,000 and a 4-5 bedroom home for between $200,000 and $225,000. Here is an example of a home purchased by a frum couple in the summer of 2014. A 5 bedroom home for $205,000! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROCHESTER, NY Our neighborhood is very clean, quiet and full of wonderful people. Career opportunities are available in a variety of fields, and we are happy to aid in job searches using our local connections and relationships with staffing agencies. Rochester has strong education and medical fields and is full of many opportunities for professionals. Rochesters Yeshiva Elementary school Derech HaTorah is anticipating openings for a half-time kindergarten Morah position and a half-time second grade Morah or Rebbe position for the 2016-2017 school year. There may be limudei chol positions available as well. If you are interested and qualified, please email your resume to [email protected] or call the school office at 585-266-2920. Whatever your stage in life, Rochester has something to offer. There are schools and Yeshivos to guide a person from preschool through Kollel, as well as many learning programs for adult men and women. Children receive personalized education from dedicated Morahs and Rabbeim who strive to help each student reach his or her potential through a variety of learning styles. Several Shuls and various Davening options for both weekdays and Shabbos, along with daily Shiurim round out the deal. Despite our size, Rochester is definitely a true Makom Torah. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROCHESTER, NY If all that isnt enough to pique your interest, here is one more incentive for considering Rochester. Derech HaTorah of Rochester, our Yeshiva elementary school, is currently offering a fantastic tuition break for new students. New families pay a flat rate of $1,000 per year for ALL of their childrens tuition for their first two years in Rochester. Whether you will be sending one child or eight to DHR, your expense will still be $1,000 total. So, if you are looking to relocate your family to a community where you can make a difference, where your children will have wonderful, wholesome friends, and where Torah hashkafos guide your way of life, dont waste another day. We are waiting to welcome you. See our website www.TorahRochester.com for more details or contact t Ben at [email protected] or 585-340-7143 t to learn more or to schedule a visit. Click HERE or on the image below to visit Torah Rochesters Android app. Tensions are running high between Berlin and Jerusalem as the German weekly Der Spiegel reports Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering withdrawing her nations commitment to Israels security and right to exist as a national priority for her nation. According to reports from Germany, Chancellor Merkel feels PM Netanyahu is taking advantage of the relationship enjoyed between the countries as Israeli policy throughout Yehuda and Shomron continues to thwart efforts towards a peace agreement between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority). Germany and Israel officially established diplomatic relations in 1965 and Germany has since been a staunch ally, one that has significantly contributed to Israels security, including the manufacture of advanced submarines for the Israel Navy. There has also been increasing sales from Israel to Germany including to Germanys air force in recent years. The current situation signals news tensions between the German leader and PM Netanyahu and his policies, including the stalemate in talks with the PA. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) An 8-month-old infant in Ashdod was infected with an aggressive bacterium that took his life. Chaim Dan Sasson zl was niftar on Sunday 23 Nissan after fighting the bacteria for a number of days. The child was flown to Hadassah Mt. Scopus Hospital in Yerushalayim where doctors battled to save the child who arrived on Tuesday night Chol Hamoed Pesach with high fever. When parents realized the severity of the boys condition they made arrangements to fly him to Jerusalem. The niftar was a nephew of Rabbi Gabi Sasson. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Yeshivat Makor Chaim of Kfar Etzion is suing a supplier that sold the school sugar with a forged hashgacha printed on the bags. The suit was filed with the Jerusalem District Court. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Noam Tzuker on behalf of the yeshiva, who purchased Primo brand sugar from Fine Food, located in the Atarot Industrial Area in northern Jerusalem, owned by Chever Abu Maadi. The bags of sugar stated Chief Rabbinate of Israel without stating it is kosher. The Chief Rabbinate removed its hashgacha from the company five years ago. The sugar also exhibited the logo of Badatz Sheiris Yisrael without the word Bhashgacha. When seeking to verify with the badatz, it was learned it never gave a hashgacha to this product. The lawsuit adds the packaging was strikingly similar to a main sugar producer, Sugat, alleging this was done to deceive clients. The yeshiva is asking the court to view the lawsuit as a class action suit and to award compensation of NIS 350-500 per person, seeking damages in the amount of NIS 4 million. Fine Food officials report they received a copy of the lawsuit and have handed it to their legal officials. Maadi also insists he still has a valid certification from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) According to the multicount indictment handed down on Sunday 23 Nissan in the Beersheva District Court against Madhat Abu-Sneima, 24, a Negev resident, he is a member of Hamas and was involved in numerous acts of terror against Israelis civilian and security forces in the Gaza border area. According to the prosecutor, the defendant has been a member of Hamas since 2007 and he was involved in monitoring IDF activities along the Gaza border, information he later used to plan terror attacks against IDF vehicle patrolling the area. He reportedly was also involved in firing rockets at an IDF base after Operation Pillar of Defense ended in 2012 as well as mortar attacks in the Kerem Shalom Crossing area. in 2014 he also paid $7,000 for rights to a smuggling tunnel used to bring smuggled items between Egypt and Gaza. He allegedly smuggled uniforms for Hamas naval commandos and other military equipment into Gaza. He profited $2,000 monthly for permitting terrorists to use his tunnel for smuggling. That tunnel was eventually detected and destroyed by Egyptian authorities. Charges against Abu Sneima include contacting a foreign agent, attempted murder, passing information to foreign agents with the intention of compromising state security, planning attacks, and membership in an illegal organization. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Hundreds of rowdy protesters broke through barricades and threw eggs at police outside a hotel where Donald Trump addressed the states Republican convention. Several Trump supporters said they were roughed up but no serious injuries were reported. The protest just outside San Francisco occurred Friday, a day after anti-Trump protesters took to the streets in Southern California, blocking traffic and damaging five police cars in Costa Mesa following a speech by the leader in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Demonstrators at both locations waved Mexican flags, an action meant to counter Trumps hard stance on immigration and disparaging remarks about Mexico. Because of the protest, Trump was rerouted to a back entrance. In a surreal scene, news helicopters showed the billionaire businessman and his security detail walking between two concrete freeway barriers before hopping down onto a grass verge and walking across a service road. That was not the easiest entrance I ever made, Trump quipped when he started speaking to the convention delegates. It felt like I was crossing the border. Outside, crowds of anti-Trump demonstrators broke through steel barricades and pelted riot police with eggs as the officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder to keep the demonstrators from entering the hotel. A man wearing a red hat bearing the Trump campaign slogan Make America Great Again was punched in the head from behind while being jostled by a group of shouting protesters. Another Trump supporter said he was punched and spit upon by demonstrators who also threw his phone to the ground. It went gangbusters. They attacked me, said Chris Conway, a mortgage broker from San Mateo. Burlingame is right outside San Francisco, a liberal bastion that became the focal point of the immigration debate last year when an immigrant in the country illegally, and who had been deported multiple times, shot and killed a woman walking with her father. Immigration has been one of Trumps main issues and he often has highlighted the San Francisco killing while touting his plan to build a wall along the entire Mexican border. Californias primary is June 7, a date once seen as too late to influence the selection process. Now it is seen as the election that either gets Trump over the threshold needed for the nomination or leaves him just short. Hell likely make many visits to California in coming weeks. That and his hard stand on immigration in a state where millions of immigrants live and thats run by Democrats who generally support more benefits, services and job opportunities for those in the country illegally raise the prospects of more raucous demonstrations. In Orange County, once a Republican stronghold but now home to a surging Hispanic population, a vocal but peaceful demonstration before a rally and Trump speech turned violent afterward. At least 17 people were arrested, five police cars were damaged and an officer was hit in the head by a rock but not seriously hurt, authorities said. One Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the Pacific Amphitheatre area. Dozens of cars including those of Trump supporters trying to leave were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies in front of lines of riot police. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force. (AP) The Adonia as it set off from Miami for a historic voyage to Cuba. EFE More information Un crucero vuelve a unir Estados Unidos y Cuba tras mas de medio siglo The United States and Cuba are united by sea once again. A Carnival cruise ship left Miami on Sunday en route to Havana, where it was expected to dock on Monday morning. The Adonia is the first cruise ship to journey between the two countries after more than half a century of frozen diplomatic relations. The vessel will make stops in Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos before returning to Miami on May 8. This trip is one of the main practical results of renewed diplomatic relations between the two nations. There are only 12 passengers of Cuban descent aboard the Adonia, the company said The Adonia left Terminal J in the Port of Miami amid heavy security. A dozen police cars were on site to make sure the historic trip went off as planned and demonstrators who tried to protest inside the terminal were denied access. There are 590 people aboard, half of whom are members of the press, while only 12 of the passengers are of Cuban descent. The presence of this last group has overshadowed news of the historic trip over the last few weeks. At first Carnival refused to sell tickets to Cuban natives residing in the United States, saying that the Cuban government forbids Cuban-born individuals living abroad from returning to the island by vessel (though not by air). Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition is launching a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here. The issue created a big fuss among Cuban exiles who organized protests in front of Carnivals offices in Miami. Some even filed discrimination lawsuits against the company, and even US State Secretary John Kerry criticized the companys decision. Carnival eventually dropped the ban and said it was willing to delay the trip for as long as Cuba kept the policy in place. The Cuban government repealed the measure within days. Arnold Donald, chief executive of Carnival Corporation, underscored the importance of this historic cruise: This means a better future for Americans and for Cubans. As the Adonia left the port, Cuban immigrants sailed a fleet of small boats as a protest against the Cuban governments discriminatory visa requirements for Cuban nationals living abroad. According to EFE news agency, Movimiento Democracia leader Ramon Raul Sanchez said his group would organize a demonstration at sea that would stretch all the way to the coast of Cuba if the government did not repeal the measure. This was ultimately not necessary as Cuba announced it was repealing the law. English version by Dyane Jean Francois. US Federal agents report the arrest of a man who was planning an attack against the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in S. Florida. According to local media reports, federal agents set up a sting to apprehend the suspect, who they learned was planning to use an explosive device in the attack against the Jewish Center. The attack was planned for Friday night, the last day of Pesach. The federal agents posed as terrorists and this led to the apprehension of the suspect. The suspected wanted to throw some kind of bomb over the wall and this could have RL led to catastrophic results on a crowded Friday night. It is stressed that the members of the Jewish Center were never in danger as the plot was thwarted prior to implementation the result of the proactive steps taken by FBI agents. No details regarding the identity of the suspect are being released at this time. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) An Australian man long rumored to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin has publicly identified himself as its creator, apparently ending one of the biggest mysteries in the tech world. BBC News said Monday that Craig Wright told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The computer scientist, inventor and academic said he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. His identity had been shrouded in uncertainty until now, and the medias inability to pinpoint the person responsible had led to a series of investigations. Last year, some reports claimed Wright was the founder and had used a false name to mask his identity. The BBC said Wright had decided to make his identity known to stop the spread of misinformation about Bitcoin. I didnt take the decision lightly to make my identity public and I want to be clear that Im doing this because I care so passionately about my work and also to dispel any negative myths and fears, he said. Wright said he believes that Bitcoin and blockchain, the technical innovation that makes the currency possible, can change the world for the better. He added that he would now be able to release his research and academic work to help people understand the potential of Bitcoin. According to the BBC, Wright supported his claim by signing digital messages using cryptographic keys used during the early days of Bitcoin. If Wright is the founder, he is likely a very wealthy person. The person going by the pseudonym Nakamoto is believed to have amassed about 1 million Bitcoins, which would be worth about $450 million if converted to cash, the BBC says. Jon Matonis, one of the founding directors of the Bitcoin Foundation, which says it helps support the use of the currency, told the BBC he is convinced that Wright is who he claims to be and is responsible for a brilliant achievement. Wright also revealed his identity to the Economist and GQ. The hunt for Bitcoins founder had become a mission for some journalists. Attention focused for a time on a Finnish sociologist, a Japanese math whiz and a Japanese-American engineer. In December, the technology magazine Wired and the website Gizmodo both published lengthy investigations based on documents and emails that concluded Wright was probably the man behind the pseudonym. He was living in an upscale suburb of Sydney at the time. The reports were circumstantial and contained no proof. But Wrights new statements, and his use of Nakamotos own encrypted signature, known as a PGP key, appear to have confirmed his role. Wright is believed to have hoarded a substantial pile of the digital currency, a holding so large it might crash the market for the digital economy if placed on the market today. (AP) Israels National Student Council plans to close all public high schools on Tuesday and Wednesday, 25 and 26 Nissan, a protest against the ongoing strike by driving examiners and a slowdown by the Secondary School Teachers Association. Regarding the driving examiners, that strike has been ongoing for about six weeks and road tests for students to get their drivers license are cancelled as a result. Regarding the teachers association, the latter has announced after Pesach it is stopping extracurricular activities which includes trips and outings. The strike organizers explain that if by the end of Tuesday, a solution is not proposed, they will continue into Wednesday as planned. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) On the eve of Indianas primary, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are looking past their struggling rivals and directly at each other, previewing the caustic one-on-one race that seems inevitable if they sew up the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations. Trump made clear Monday that he will have more to say about his accusation that Clinton is playing gender politics: Were making a list of the many, many times where its all about her being a woman. I havent started on Hillary yet, he told CNN, although actually hes been trashing her record for quite some time. For her part, Clinton told thousands at an NAACP dinner in Detroit on Sunday that President Barack Obamas legacy cant be allowed to fall into Donald Trumps hands and be consumed by these voices of hatred. She cited Trumps insidious part in the birther movement that questioned Obamas citizenship. But if theyre itching to engage in full measure, they still have party rivals to dispatch, and Trumps next challenge is to beat back Sen. Ted Cruz in Indiana on Tuesday. Hes got farther to go win the prize than does Clinton in her contest with Bernie Sanders. Trump is exuding confidence, telling a cheering crowd Sunday in Terre Haute: If we win here, its over, OK? Not quite, as the New York real estate mogul cant win enough delegates Tuesday to clinch the Republican nomination. But after his wins in five states last week, Trump no longer needs to win a majority of the remaining delegates in coming races to lock up the GOP nomination. Cruz has no such cushion. Already eliminated from reaching 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination outright, he desperately needs a victory in Indiana to keep Trump from that number and press ahead with his strategy of claiming the nomination at a contested convention in Cleveland this summer. This whole long, wild ride of an election has all culminated with the entire country with its eyes fixed on the state of Indiana, Cruz said Sunday at a late night rally. The people of this great state, I believe the country is depending on you to pull us back from the brink. The importance of Indiana for Cruz became evident even before he and fellow underdog John Kasich formed an alliance of sorts, with the Ohio governor agreeing to pull his advertising money from Indiana in exchange for Cruz doing the same in Oregon and New Mexico. But that strategy, which appeared to unravel even as it was announced, cant help either man with the tens of thousands of Indiana voters who had already cast ballots: Early voting began in Indiana three weeks before they hatched their plan. It also risks alienating those who have yet to vote, said veteran Indiana Republican pollster Christine Matthews. She said she believes many have continued to vote for Kasich in Indianapolis and in the wealthy suburbs north of the city. Indiana voters dont like the idea of a political pact, or being told how to vote, Matthews said. Trump went after Cruz on Sunday, suggesting evangelical conservatives have fallen out of love with him and mocked his decision to announce former GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina as his running mate. Theyre like hanging by their fingertips, he said, mimicking Cruz and Kasich: Dont let me fall! Dont let me fall! Trump let on that hes eager to move on to a likely general election race against Clinton. He said the end game of the primary battle with Cruz is wasting time that he could be spending raising money for Republicans running for the Senate. It would be nice to have the Republican Party come together, Trump told supporters in Fort Wayne. With that being said, I think Ill win anyway. (AP) A driver employed by the Dan Company referred to chareidim as animals, resulting in non-frum passengers on a bus to respond. There can be no doubt that the constant reference to chareidim as parasites and the use of other derogatory terms in reference to the frum community in the media has some feeling they are licensed to refer to chareidim as they see fit. Perhaps since the last Knesset pushed its share the burden agenda to induct chareidim into the IDF, the chareidim in Israel have been under a magnifying glass and too often believed to be a population that takes without making any contribution to Israeli society. The chareidim are blamed for using too much of the states services, for failing to educate their children properly, and simply as being takers without contributing to society. Chareidim traveling on a 45 bus from the Dan Company were shocked on Wednesday Chol Hamoed Pesach at about 20:20, when the driver referred to them as animals. According to persons who were on the bus traveling from Tel Aviv to Bnei Brak, prior to stopping, the driver announced I have to stop for these animals now. There were dozens of chareidim waiting for the bus at Gesher Bavli, returning from a day of Yomtov fun at Gan Yehoshua. Kikar Shabbos quotes eyewitnesses saying the driver was not in the least bit embarrassed, making certain to make his remarks in a loud tone so others on the bus could hear him. Some of the non-religious passengers criticized the actions of the driver. Some of the chareidim who got on the bus at that stop report the driver was quite volatile in his language towards them as they boarded. The driver then tried to explain his way out of the situation, stating he was angered because the people at the bus stop were standing in the street but it was clear to all that he foul language were simply the result of his hate for chareidim. Attorney Moshe Morgenstern reports a number of the passengers insulted by the driver turned to him during Chol Hamoed Pesach to report the incident and their pain. He adds he and his clients are waiting to see how Dan deals with the driver prior to deciding what action they will take, if any. Dan Company officials decried the actions of the driver, explaining such behavior towards any population is unacceptable. The company has summoned the driver for a hearing and adds it has the utmost respect for the chareidi tzibur. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times] It is known as the SuperPretzel. But can you buy it from just anywhere after Pesach? Most people know to avoid Chometz shavar alav haPesach Chometz that was owned by a Jew over Pesach (henceforth C-Shaap). How do they do this? They find out which stores are considered to be Jewish-owned and determine whether the owner sold the Chometz that belonged to them. Word has it, for example, that, this year, Target buys from a distributor that does not sell their Chometz. It is said that this was researched by Rav Heinemann. The issue is not just about the store owner, however. If the store purchased its Chometz from a Jewish wholesaler, then that too can present a problem. WHEN THERE IS A DOUBT If we are not sure whether or not something truly is C-Shaap this is termed Safaik C-Shaap. The Mishna Brura (449:5) rules that when there is a doubt one may eat Safaik C-Shaap in a case of need. It is, however, a debate among the Poskim. C& S WHOLESALE GROCERS One of the biggest wholesalers of grocery items is called C&S a company started nearly 100 years ago by Israel Cohen and Abraham Seigel. Today, according to Forbes, it is the 12th largest privately held company in the United States. C&S Wholesale Grocers is the lead supply chain company in the food industry today and the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S. According to their website, they supply independent supermarkets, chain stores and institutions with over 150,000 different products from more than 50 high-tech facilities, delivering everything from seafood to soup to soap. They state: In fact, if it belongs on a supermarket shelf, its probably moving through a C&S warehouse right now. The big question is, do they sell their Chometz? The answer is that they do sell their Chometz, and this year the sale was coordinated by the Chof K but was handled by the Beis Din of Rabbi Belsky ztl. Yes, Rav Belskys Beis Din is still functioning. This is the third year in a row where they are handling the sale. It is not only the Chometz that is being sold for C&S, but the operation itself is sold as well. This would, it seem, deal with the issue of the Chometz that is being purchased over Pesah too. DOING BUSINESS OVER PESACH But there is yet another question: C & S unquestionably still does business over Pesach with Chometz. Is there any inyan to be stringent based on the idea that selling their doing business on Pesach with Chometz may invalidate the selling of the Chometz that the Rabbi performed prior to Pesach? Most Poskim hold that it does not invalidate the sale and that which the company is buying and selling over Chometz is produce that actually belongs to a goy. The issue, however, is a debate among the Poskim. The Maharam Shick (OC #205) rules that the fact that the irreligious store owner is still conducting business demonstrates that the sale is, in fact, a sham sale. This is also the view of the Minchas Shai, the Divrei Malkiel (4:24), and the Sdei Chemed (Chometz 9:35). Rav Moshe Feinstein ztl (IM OC I #149) and the Divrei Chaim (II #46) both permit it, however. Indeed, Rav Moshe Feinstein writes that there is no concern whatsoever and no need to be stringent since the essence is that the Rabbi had sold it. The Chelkas Yaakov (III #31) seems to be lenient as well. The Star K had the following list of national chains regarding purchasing Chometz immediately after Pesach as being permitted. BJs CVS Costco Food Lion K-Mart Mars Petco Petsmart Rite-Aid Royal Farms Sams Discount Warehouse Shoppers Food Warehouse Sav-A-Lot Trader Joes Walgreens Walmart The author can be reached at [email protected] Facing a make-or-break moment for his slumping campaign, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was blitzing through Indiana on Monday in a desperate bid to overtake Donald Trump in the states primary and keep his own White House hopes alive. A victory for Trump in Indiana on Tuesday would be a dispiriting blow for Cruz and other forces trying to stop the front-runner, leaving them with few opportunities to block his path. Trump is the only candidate in the race who can reach the 1,237 delegates needed for the GOP nomination through regular voting, though Cruz is trying to push the race toward a contested convention. This whole long, wild ride of an election has all culminated with the entire country with its eyes fixed on the state of Indiana, Cruz said Sunday at a late night rally. The people of this great state, I believe the country is depending on you to pull us back from the brink. Several hundred people came to see him Monday at Bravo Cafe in Osceola, where he predicted a close finish in the primary and said: We need every single vote. Youre the perfect man for the job, a man told him as diners consumed coffee and eggs. God bless you, Cruz said, gripping his hand. Cruz was holding five events across Indiana on Monday. Trump was holding a pair of rallies in the state, though he was already confidently looking past Cruz and setting his sights on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. Trump made clear Monday that he would keep up his accusation that Clinton is playing gender politics: Were making a list of the many, many times where its all about her being a woman. I havent started on Hillary yet, he told CNN, although actually hes been trashing her record for quite some time. For her part, Clinton told thousands at an NAACP dinner in Detroit on Sunday that President Barack Obamas legacy cant be allowed to fall into Donald Trumps hands and be consumed by these voices of hatred. She cited Trumps insidious part in the birther movement that questioned Obamas citizenship. Clintons campaign announced Monday that she had raised $26 million in April. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has vowed to stay in the Democratic race, though he acknowledged Sunday that he faces an uphill climb. His only path rests on a long-shot strategy of winning over superdelegates, the elected officials, lobbyists and other party insiders who are free to back either candidate. Trump cant win enough delegates Tuesday to clinch the Republican nomination. But after his wins in five states last week, Trump no longer needs to win a majority of the remaining delegates in coming races to lock up the GOP nomination. The importance of Indiana for Cruz became evident even before he and fellow underdog John Kasich formed an alliance of sorts, with the Ohio governor agreeing to pull his advertising money from Indiana in exchange for Cruz doing the same in Oregon and New Mexico. But that strategy, which appeared to unravel even as it was announced, cant help either man with the tens of thousands of Indiana voters who had already cast ballots: Early voting began in Indiana three weeks before they hatched their plan. It also risks alienating those who have yet to vote, said veteran Indiana Republican pollster Christine Matthews. She said she believes many have continued to vote for Kasich in Indianapolis and in the wealthy suburbs north of the city. Indiana voters dont like the idea of a political pact, or being told how to vote, Matthews said. Trump went after Cruz on Sunday, suggesting evangelical conservatives have fallen out of love with him and mocked his decision to announce former GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina as his running mate. Theyre like hanging by their fingertips, he said, mimicking Cruz and Kasich: Dont let me fall! Dont let me fall! Trump let on that hes eager to move on to a likely general election race against Clinton. He said the end game of the primary battle with Cruz is wasting time that he could be spending raising money for Republicans running for the Senate. It would be nice to have the Republican Party come together, Trump told supporters in Fort Wayne. With that being said, I think Ill win anyway. (AP) Donald Trump said Monday he learned about foreign policy by building a business empire around the world and that gives him more experience than virtually anybody looking at this office, including former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Right now, we have hundreds of deals being negotiated all over the world by my company, and I deal with presidents, and I deal with prime ministers. I deal with everybody, Trump said during a CNN interview Monday morning. I probably have more experience than virtually anybody looking at this office. Trumps comment came in response to a joke that President Barack Obama made Saturday night at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Obama suggested that Trumps foreign policy experience was limited to his involvement with the Miss Universe pageant. In fairness, he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world Ms. Sweden, Ms. Argentina, Ms. Azerbaijan, the president said to a laughing audience on Saturday night. Trump repeatedly said Monday that the presidents comments about him were fine, but he pushed back against the accusation that he doesnt work with world leaders or have foreign policy experience. I have tremendous experience dealing very successfully with other countries, Trump said when asked by CNNs Chris Cuomo how his experience compares with that of Clinton. Hillary Clinton dealt with other countries, too. And one thing I give her credit for, she did a lot of traveling. But look at the results Syria, Benghazi. Look at her results. All of those results are terrible. Ive made a fortune going out of this country. Ive made tremendous amounts of money dealing outside of this country. Cuomo said that Trump will likely face pushback for his assertion that he is stronger on foreign policy than Clinton, who was secretary of state for four years and traveled more than 950,000 miles to more than 100 countries. Let me tell you, Im not getting pushback, Trump said in response. Whats pushback? You mean, something I said 10 seconds ago? Youre creating the phony pushback. Trump said that he has watched the presidents comments at the correspondents dinner but he decided not to attend this year because reporters mischaracterized his reaction to jokes at his expense at the dinner in 2011. Trump swears he had a great time at that dinner, although political reporters at the time described him as appearing embarrassed and have since pointed to that dinner as a key reason why Trump is running for president, which he says is not true. The press is very dishonest, they dont report the truth, and therefore its easier just not to go, Trump said. In the interview, Cuomo pressed Trump on this point: So thats why you didnt go? Because you felt that it wouldnt be reported accurately? No, because I felt that I will have a great time if I go I would have loved to have gone. I felt that I would have a great time if I go, but no matter how great a time, I knew they obviously would be talking about me, Trump said. No matter how great a time that I would have, it wouldnt matter. They will say, Donald Trump was humiliated. Donald Trump had a miserable time. You know? Thats what they did last time. I had really a great time. (c) 2016, The Washington Post Jenna Johnson A man accused of plotting to detonate an explosive at a large Jewish center in South Florida has made his first federal court appearance. A magistrate judge on Monday appointed a public defender for 40-year-old James Medina, who was arrested Friday. Medina faces life in prison if convicted of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. A bond hearing for Medina is set for Thursday. His attorney had no immediate comment. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz identified the intended target as the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, which includes a synagogue and school. Wasserman Schultz represents many of its congregants, who were celebrating Passover last week. Authorities say an FBI undercover investigation provided Medina with an inert device, and he was arrested after accepting it. (AP) Mr Toyotaka Kanakuras favorite flower is the Persian Buttercup, a multi-petaled plant that once flourished in Namie, Kanakuras hometown on the northeast coast of Japan. He sold them in his florist shop, a thriving business prior to March 11, 2011. On that fateful day, at 2.46pm, he was finishing off his lunch after decorating the graduation hall of the local high school, when a magnitude-nine earthquake struck some 130 kilometers off the coast, rocking the sea bed and shattering the lives of thousands of unsuspecting Japanese. He ran home and spent the night staring at the cracked ceiling of his house. At 6am the next morning, he heard the evacuation alert and, several minutes later he had joined the rest of Namie in a mass exodus while police cars and fire engines headed in the other direction. He only put a few things in his case he didnt think he would be away so long. [Click on the video below for the virtual news report. If you are on a mobile device, download the YouTube app for a clearer picture. You can also watch the report by downloading the El Pais VR app. For more information read this story] Click on the above image to explore Fukushima in virtual reality. A slight, reserved man, Kanakura nods and lowers his gaze. Japanese people are not generally given to expressing their feelings, he says, but he is clearly upset as he explains how much he has missed his work and his customers since March 11, 2011. His store sign, half covered by planks of wood, still reads The Prettiest Flowers. Once home to 19,000 people, Namie has been turned into a ghost town. Situated eight kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, it falls within the 20-kilometer exclusion zone. To reach Daiichi, you have to protect yourself with rubber boots, gloves and a mask. There is an electric fence that obliges you to enter through a police checkpoint where they can measure radiation levels. Former residents can only return once a month with government permission. It is the ground zero of the disaster. Evidence of the exodus has been frozen in time. In some houses, the doors have been left ajar, allowing monkeys and wild boar to use them for shelter. Others have their windows broken and the curtains blow desolately through the empty panes. There are plates of food on the tables, piles of hastily discarded clothes in the wardrobes, notes on fridges with lists for a week long gone and family photos in a muddle in open drawers. In the town, some shops have mannequins still wearing 2011 fashions and in the barbers, the scissors and electric hair clippers still bear the traces of their last haircut. But there is no sign of any Persian Buttercups. There is no sign of any flowers at all. In their place are huge dosimeters that alert the workers to the radiation levels as they try to reconstruct the worst-hit areas. Former residents can only return here once a month with government permission. It is the ground zero of the disaster The coast took the brunt of the disaster in more ways than one. First, a 15-meter wave destroyed everything in its path. At a crossroads, a traffic sign and some toilets are all that remains of a school. Of the 21,000 who lost their lives to the tsunami across the country, 200 died here. But that was only the beginning. Next, the Fukushima nuclear plant started to leak radiation that seeped insidiously into the atmosphere, the soil and the Pacific Ocean. According to experts, it will take 300 years for the environment to return to normal. One of the most frightening things about radiation is it that it is an invisible enemy. It doesnt smell and has no perceptible taste in food and water. It exists in dust particles in the air and in the soil, and on furniture. Its levels can change drastically here. Since the disaster, people have had to use radiation gauges as they move about within the exclusion zone, taking care not to swallow or inhale the particles; internal radiation can be devastating, passing easily to the blood and causing Leukemia. The worst culprits are radioiodine, which causes thyroid cancer in children, and cesium 137, an isotope that has a half-life of 30 years. Cesium 137 is everywhere here and the levels are above 2 microSieverts an hour (Sv/h): the government aims to get this figure down to 0.27 before it starts resettling families. In spite of this, Mr Kanakura, who currently lives outside the exclusion zone, has heard rumors that some people remain within the zone, shut inside their houses, living like ghosts. The operators store the radioactive waste in black bags. ALFREDO CALIZ One thing that will last longer than exile will be the stigma of having lived in the Fukushima area. For years to come, nobody will want products bearing the name Fukushima and many Japanese from other parts of the country are distrustful of the evacuees. Just like the hibakusha after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Fukushima victims are suspected of deliberately spreading radiation so they can claim compensation so far around 50 billion has been paid out to more than a million-and-a-half victims. The psychological damage to the evacuees is arguably worse than the threat of cancer. Around 14.6% of the victims are affected by depression and mental illness compared to 4.2% of the general population, according to a study carried out by Dr Koichi Tanigawa. Among those from the Fukushima district, there has been a vertiginous rise in suicides. As John Hersey noted in his Pulitzer-Prize winning book Hiroshima, those who survive will be forever stigmatized. One of the most frightening things about radiation is it that it is an invisible enemy. It doesnt smell and has no perceptible taste in food and water It has been 70 years since Hiroshima but Hiromi Hasai remembers it as though it were yesterday. At 8.15am, he had just started his day at an arms factory where he was learning to make bullets for machine guns. Suddenly, everything lit up by a light brighter than the sun, he recalls. Then the windows started to shake and I ran out. Everyone was saying that a bomb had fallen on their house but there was no sign of a plane. It was impossible. He was 15 kilometers from ground zero where Little Boy was dropped from an American jet and exploded with around 15 kilotons of energy. Now a retired nuclear physicist, Hasai, 88, campaigns against nuclear power, particularly in countries prone to earthquakes like Japan. They said that nothing like Chernobyl or the Three Mile Island would ever happen here. But it did. We were able to avoid the massive explosion but we dont know what will happen with the leaks and the safety of these devices is still in question. Until the meltdown, Japan had 54 nuclear reactors producing 29% of the countrys energy. Many were built in seismic zones but Japanese scientists did not consider a magnitude-nine earthquake possible off the coast of Tokohu. Forced into taking some responsibility for the meltdown, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) admitted: We were guilty of negligence for not implementing better safety measures and for thinking we had enough with what we had []. If we had implemented them before, the disaster could have been averted. The government has installed radioactive gauges in the affected areas. JAVIER TLES As much as 800 tons of radioactive waste has been leaked into the sea so far and Tepco admits that the cleanup operation will take 40 years or more. Meanwhile, three former directors of Tepco have been charged for not taking steps to avoid the meltdown. Though Fukushima has turned the majority of Japanese against nuclear power, the current Japanese government led by Shinzo Abe wants to restart as many nuclear reactors as possible (three are currently in operation), sending a message to the world that its business as usual. So far the meltdown has cost the country around 170 billion, with the task of decontaminating the affected areas still very much in progress. Every day, an army of operators takes a five-centimeter layer of topsoil from around the houses within the exclusion zones and fills thousands of black bags, which are stacked at the entrance of each town. Until the meltdown, Japan had 54 nuclear reactors producing 29% of the countrys energy But the task can seem futile. In the mountainous areas, the radiation in the trees penetrates the soil each time there is rain or a gust of wind. In Litate, 60 kilometers from the central prefecture, residents are being allowed to return during daylight hours while a level of 10 microSieverts of radiation an hour is still being recorded. Mr Toru Anzai, 63, wanders around the house he abandoned five years ago with plastic bags on his feet and his hands in the pockets of his blue anorak. He has been rehoused in a government block with others from Litate. He doesnt like his new home. Two years ago, he had a heart attack and a stroke and it seemed as though the stress and insecurity of his situation was killing him. But in the hospital they found a hole in the frontal lobe of his brain that was producing paralysis down the left side of his body. The doctor said it could have been caused by absorbing cesium over a period of time. We kid ourselves about the levels of radiation, says Mr Anzai. Whats the use of compensation? Ive lost everything: my life, my land, my memories Im very angry and every time I come here, I go to pieces. The clocks on the walls of Mr Anzais home stopped shortly after the disaster; not long after he was ploughing the family paddy fields and soon after he felt the earth begin to move beneath his feet. As a farmer, Mr Anzai was never happy about the nuclear plants. He ran home and filled a number of carafes with water. Something told him he shouldnt drink from the tap. He then shut himself inside with his five brothers and two days later, on March 14, he heard a thunderous noise as reactor two exploded after its cooling system failed. It didnt take long for the wind to bring the penetrating smell of melted iron mixed with sulfur to Litate as a massive toxic cloud blew towards his home. In spite of the mayor of Litates assurance that there was no risk of radiation, Mr Anzai bought his first dosimeter on April 18. It cost him 500 but the information it gave him was invaluable: the radiation in the room where he and his brothers had been sleeping for the past month was at six microSieverts an hour 20 times higher than the level stipulated by the government for relocating residents. Anzai and his neighbors in Litate were exposed to the highest levels of radiation of anyone in the area. El Pais Semanal accompanied Greenpeace for two days while they measured the radiation still being released by the central prefecture of Fukushima. The easiest way to do this is by measuring the mud in the ditches. The levels there are still far higher than the safe level fixed by the government, which is trying put an end to the emergency situation and cut the 700 a month benefits received by evacuees. Naoto Kan was the Prime Minister when the meltdown happened. He is now against nuclear power and wants the reactors to be closed down. ALFREDO CALIZ Its impossible to get rid of the waste even in normal circumstances, says Raquel Monton, who runs Greenpeaces anti-nuclear campaign. But when theres an accident, its unrealistic to think there is another solution besides time. The decontamination process, which isnt working, obscures a strategy aimed at getting people back to homes that are still not free of radiation. All this so the reactors can be restarted. The land of the living is contaminated, but also the land of the dead. In many of the towns within the exclusion zone, the cemetery has undergone the same decontamination process as the rest of the area and the operators have had to go digging around in recently dug graves whose headstones have been covered in some cases by black tarpaulin. Where once there were paddy fields, there are now mountains of black bags waiting to be incinerated in the decontamination depots. They have already disposed of 9.5 million bags but there are still 13 million to go before they will have cleaned up an area twice the size of Madrid. Meanwhile, the lives of the evacuees move slowly forward in the prefabricated houses that line the frontier of the exclusion zone. A colony of Portacabins in Koriyama, where residents of the Futaba district have taken refuge since the tsunami. They either lost their homes or were evacuated due to radiation risks. JAVIER TLES The camp of Portacabins in Koike 1 is located between a cemetery and a factory on the outskirts of Minamisoma, 30 kilometers from the Daiichi plant. The only thing separating the tiny 15m2 dwellings that house 200 people is a flimsy wall. At 11am Mrs Inaride Yuko is on her way home after doing her shopping and gets shakily off the bus with a bag full of rice cakes. Her knees can scarcely support her weight and she walks with the help of a stick. At the bus stop, theres a sign that says Love Station. Its an example of the Japanese tendency to take the sting out of reality with an ingenious, almost childish stroke. But this hasnt done much to help Mrs Yuko. At 73, the only thing she looks forward to is her drink of Okinawa sake. Anything else gives her a sore head. She has one glass in the morning and another before she goes to bed. It saves on sleeping pills and helps her get through the lonely days in the camp. On March 11, the tsunami swept away her home, which was located a kilometer from the coast. She and her son were saved by a miracle. The previous night they had felt a slight warning tremor and got the car ready for a quick getaway in the event of something bigger. Which, of course, came the next day. Their dog went crazy minutes before it happened and, taking heed, they fled to a nearby hill and watched as the sea descended on their home. Mrs Yuko thought she and her son would have a new house, maybe one made of wood from Finland. This is what she thought at the time, she recalls, as she takes off her gloves and prepares a pot of green tea. She bends her knees as best she can and lowers herself onto a futon to show some mementos from her previous life, such as a postcard from the Malaga town of Ronda. Much of her past life is stored in see-through boxes. Most who either lost their homes or had to evacuate them live in these kinds of camps. But there are also those who ignored the government evacuation order, such as Professor Takashi Sasaki, 76, and his wife, who suffers from Alzheimer. After the reactor exploded, 19,000 people fled the city of Namie, leaving their homes and businesses behind them. ALFREDO CALIZ At first they were scared at night, their town is deserted and in total darkness. But then they started to think that their neighbors in the camps had it worse. For example, 200 of the old and infirm died from the upheaval when the government made the mistake of sending them back to Litate and then evacuating them again. The professor, a Hispanophile who loves Miguel Unamuno, paraphrases the author to describe his situation: Our biological lives go on but our biographies have been stolen. Sasaki, who has written a book called Fukushima, Living the Disaster and has his own blog, is not worried about being contaminated. He and his wife, who lies in the room next door, will die before the radiation can take effect. What troubles him is that nobody is taking responsibility for what has happened. They say it was an accident. But its actually the result of having lost the essence of our culture, our contact with nature, our measured approach to work, our ceremonies We have failed in terms of our education and our traditions. Nowadays, the Japanese gods are convenience and progress. Nuclear energy is a reflection of that and the accident is a direct consequence. On the morning of the accident, Japans then-prime minister, Naoto Kan, replied to questions from Parliaments Financial Commission. He had been in power for scarcely a year and but with the yen through the roof and imports in freefall, he was running out of time. After the earthquake, which hit Tokyo with a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale, he aborted the meeting and rushed downstairs to the emergency room. The first news we had was that other reactors in the region had been shut down correctly, says a spokesperson from Greenpeace, whose ship Rainbow Warrior is sailing up and down the Fukushima coastline. An hour later, they gave us information on Daiichi and said the power had gone. Toyotaka Kanakura, 65, looks at his old florist shop. ALFREDO CALIZ As the ship comes within a kilometer or so of the nuclear plant, the spokesperson goes on to explain that Tepco lowered the geographical level of the site to take advantage of the seas power. If they hadnt done this, she says, the tsunami might not have hit the plant with such force. Kan, now a shunned ex-prime minister with a damning legacy, takes responsibility for what happened. He remembers ordering the director general of the plant and his employees to stay put when it looked as though Daiichi could explode. And, of course, like everyone who belongs to the countrys establishment, he approved nuclear energy and actively promoted it on an international level. Now he is seeking to redeem himself. On board the Rainbow Warrior, he is asked if he feels guilty. Of course, he says. And, above all, responsible. I now believe that all nuclear plants should be closed. Fukushima is just a warning, he says. The question is not whether something like it could happen again, but when and where. English version by Heather Galloway. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum City Comptroller Scott Stringers office is launching an audit of the city Board of Elections following Primary Day problems in the five boroughs, including the dropping of 120,000 voters from the rolls in Brooklyn. In a letter BOE Executive Director Michael Ryan, Stringer pointed out the major issues that occurred and demanded an explanation to prevent issues from continuing in future elections. Some problems mentioned in the letter were hitches in poll station operations, weak communication with voters, poor training for poll workers and voter disenfranchisement from purged voter rolls. Stringer referred to the April report released by his office titled Barriers to the Ballot, in which solutions to the citys overwhelmingly low voter turnout currently the lowest in the country before the 2016 presidential primary are addressed. Many polling locations were reported to have opened late or not at all, according to Stringer, and one site in Queens had its machines break down. Meanwhile, a voter in southeast Queens reported broken machines at his poll site at the start of the day, leading poll workers to instruct voters to place their ballot in a slot, and they would all get processed later, Stringer said. He asked Ryan to explain how these road blocks would be overcome in the June and September primaries as well as the November general election. In Barriers to the Ballot, Stringer said modern technology such as text and e-mail must be included in the communications strategy to get voters to the right place at the right time. Leading up to Primary Day, some 60,000 voters received letters that erroneously informed them that the election would be held in September and were later informed in a separate letter that it would be held April 12. Primary Day also had reports of workers who did not know how to operate the optimum scan voting machines, according to Stringers letter. In addition, some poll workers delivered conflicting information and told voters that an affidavit ballot would not count towards the election. The purged voter rolls in Brooklyn were mentioned last in the letter as well as the lawsuit already filed known as Campanello et al v. state Board of Elections, asking for the barred voters rights to be restored immediately. These errors have conspired to bar first time and longtime voters from exercising their fundamental democratic right, Stringer said. Indeed, voter enrollment data show that the number of eligible Democratic voters in Brooklyn precipitously dropped by more than 120,000 voters between November 2015 and April 2016, without any adequate explanation furnished by the Board of Elections. Stringers Barriers to the Ballot report proposes adoption of same-day registration, which would allow voters to register on the same day as elections. There is nothing more sacred in our nation than the right to vote, yet election after election, reports come in of people who were inexplicably purged from the polls, told to vote at the wrong location or unable to get in to their polling site, Stringer said about the audit his office will conduct. The people of New York City have lost confidence that the Board of Elections can effectively administer elections and we intend to find out why the BOE is so consistently disorganized, chaotic and inefficient, he said. With four elections in New York City in 2016 alone, we dont have a moment to spare. General election turnout for Queens was recorded at 24 percent in 2014, indicating a downward spiral from previous years. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Google Ad Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression Local safety experts offer advice for keeping Trick-or-Treat fun for everyone As families prepare for fun night of Trick-or-Treating, local safety experts are offering some tips on how to stay happy and healthy this Halloween season. By John Ingle of the Times Record News A watering hole was always a welcomed sight for cowboys, or at least for those portrayed in Hollywood movies depicting the rough and tanned faces of drovers working cattle along a trail to market. A shot of whiskey or some other libation to wet the whistle or help choke down miles of Texas dirt stirred up by thousands of hooves pounded the ground by horses and beef alike was likely the first order of business when the cowpokes hit a town or was within smelling distance of the firewater. The Stonewall Saloon in Saint Jo, built in 1873 by I.H. Boggess, was one of those rest stops along the Chisholm Trail and the last before a herd was taken across the Red River at Red River Station northwest of the small Montague County town. It's interesting that the first permanent structure in Saint Jo was a saloon, given the name of the town. Boggess and Joseph Howell laid out the town, originally called Head of Elm, with the saloon being the focal point. Howell, some surmise, never was much of a hell raiser, choosing instead to distance himself from debauchery. It is believed Boggess thought it took great character and willpower to not partake in alcohol consumption, and town folk began calling him "Saint Joe." The "e" was dropped from "Joe", and Boggess formerly changed the name of the town to Saint Jo. The history of the town's founding fathers, the Chisholm Trail, daily life in the old west and much more are what makes up the Stonewall Saloon Museum in the more than 140-year-old building. "I think the things that are in here that people come to look at are the fact that they get a sense of what the history of this area was about," said Dick Cain, a member of the museum's board of directors. "The photos on the wall show what the town square looked like back in the (late 1800s) all the way up through the 1950s. It shows people. It shows how they dressed; how they looked. "The saloon, itself, lends itself to, 'Yep. That's the way it was. That's what it looked like.'" Building of many uses The saloon closed its open drinking area in 1897 when a self-imposed county prohibition was put in place, Cain said, likely part of Howell's saintliness at the time. A local businessman bought the building and opened First Citizens Bank, complete with a safe from Cincinnati-based Hall's Safe Company. Saint Jo had two banks at one point, one too many for the tiny town to support, and First Citizens was bought and closed. Space in the building was rented out for a variety of ventures, including an oil company as well as a doctor's office throughout the years after the bank closed. It was in 1958 when the Stonewall Saloon Museum officially opened in Saint Jo, part of the towns centennial celebration. "They had things from around the area that people had donated," Cain said. "You know, Aunt Sarah's teapot and Grandpa Ernie's stove and so forth." The Stonewall Saloon Museum continued for the next 15-20 years, he said, until the curator at that time had died. Age began to catch up with the building and it began to deteriorate, including an exterior wall falling into the street; the owner at the time couldn't afford to have it repaired. Cain and other locals decided to purchase the building in 2008 with hopes of restoring it to a quality museum. It became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2011 and began to work on a list of projects. The building was gutted, removing years of weather-damaged walls and floors. It was while scraping through layers of wallpaper and plaster that the history-minded group discovered a mural on the wall. "We discovered some color on the wall. And the color on the wall we had a history specialist come and look, and he told us that's the way they decorated back in the '70s; the 1870s," Cain said. "A troupe of German artists came through and that's what they used for decoration." A rendition of what was discovered is now protected by a sheet of plexiglass for others to enjoy. It is one of many features that tells the story of Saint Jo and the surrounding area. The attractions What is a museum without artifacts? Visitors to the Stonewall Saloon Museum are greeted by the main attraction before they ever step foot inside the depository the building itself. Built more than 140 years ago from stone native to the area, the building was, and still is to some extent, the center of the town and the single building of which founders mapped the town. A couple hitching rails still used today by cowpokes heading to town from nearby ranches sort of serve as gatekeepers to the actual swinging doors of the saloon. They're the first step to an adventure back in time that displays the beginnings of a North Texas town, tools of the trade along the Chisholm Trail and daily life in Saint Jo. "We've got several little small displays of things that are old 'here's how lived' (items)," Cain said. "In today's world, people just don't really realize how tough the life was back in 1900. We've got, for example, there's two cemeteries north of town (that) between the two of them have more Texas Rangers there per capita more than anywhere else in Texas. Why? 'Cause Red River is just north of us and that was Indian country, the braves would come across and the Rangers would have to send them back. "So, it was some tough times. The last Indian raid in Texas happened just about three miles north of here." Pictures of early-day Saint Jo line the walls inside the old saloon showing men of the day, a bustling town square and matched horse races similar to drag racing, but on horseback. A large scythe and ox yoke hang on a wall, a reminder of the farming and ranching industry in the area. Guests can take a seat on a bench from the original train depot and watch a quick video about the area's history. Items of a frontier or plains town provide a glimpse to the past of necessities of the day including clothing, an old kerosene four-burner stove, a portable oven possibly set over an open flame, blacksmith and carpentry tools. Even a period child's toy baby carriage is on display, representing even the youngest settlers in the area. More to come Cain said the museum will almost double in size when the second floor of the building is completely renovated later this year. "We've got lots of things to put in there people have donated, we've just asked them to hang on to them ... ," the former McDonald's franchise owner said. "Part of that is because the upstairs is secure we've got an exterior metal door up there we can lock it up." Cain said the museum has some antique firearms to put on display, but will do so in a secure manner. Heating and air conditioning work still needs to be completed on the second level as well as preserving some of the old Muslim cloth wallpaper that still hangs on a few of the wobbly thin interior walls. Visit www.stonewallsaloonmuseum.com for more information and a preview of attractions. CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS Robin Payne testified on her behalf Thursday afternoon in the 30th district courtroom. Payne was charged in a sealed indictment in December 2014 of exploiting her 25-year-old disabled daughter. By Christopher Collins of the Times Record News A Wichita County district judge is scheduled later this month to hand down a sentence in the case of a woman who reportedly neglected her disabled daughter's medical needs but cashed her Social Security checks in 2013. Robin Frances Payne , 51, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of exploitation of a disabled individual in the case. Evidence presented at her sentencing trial last week and Monday showed that Payne had not taken her severely disabled daughter to the doctor in six years and that the her daughter's crib mattress was soaked with fecal matter when investigators searched the home. Payne's defense attorney called a litany of character witnesses to speak to the defendant's material instincts and work ethic. Most said that despite the challenges presented by raising a disabled daughter, Payne was a loving parent. 30th District Court Judge Robert Brotherton is expected to sentence Payne on May 20 after conducting a pre-sentence investigation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Three black University at Albany students were indicted for allegedly lying about an altercation on a CDTA bus in January that gained national attention and divided the school along racial lines. A subsequent criminal investigation and footage from cameras on the bus that early morning in January dispelled those claims and appeared to show that the friends were the aggressors, according to Albany County District Attorney David Soares' office. Twenty-year-olds Ariel Agudio, Asha Burwell and Alexis Briggs will be arraigned Wednesday in County Court before Judge Stephen Herrick. They previously pleaded not guilty in March to similar charges in City Court. The announcement of the indictment Monday by Soares' office comes after negotiations last month broke down on a possible plea deal between prosecutors and the women's lawyers that could have resolved the high-profile case that has polarized the campus. Soares' office sought to have the women to apologize as part of the plea agreement to the charges lodged in City Court. Under the indictment, Agudio of Huntington on Long Island faces one charge of assault, three counts each of attempted assault and falsely reporting an incident, all misdemeanors, and three counts of harassment, all violations. Burwell, who is also from Long Island, is charged with one misdemeanor count of assault, four misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting an incident and one count of harassment, a violation. Briggs of Elmira Heights in Chemung County is charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and two misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting an incident. The indictment alleges that around 1 a.m. Jan. 30, while aboard a CTDA bus on the UAlbany campus, the women struck and injured a 19-year-old female passenger. The indictment also alleges Agudio repeatedly struck and attempted to injure a 19-year-old male passenger and attempted to hurt two other female passengers, ages 18 and 20. Burwell also is charged with allegedly having physical contact with a 19-year-old male passenger. The three also falsely reported the incident to law enforcement, the indictment states, after they got off the bus. They repeated the allegations in days following the incident that cast the school into the national spotlight and prompted a rally where Burwell appeared with Briggs and Agudio and tearfully demanded justice. The confrontation sparked outrage on campus and prompted a rally amid charges the incident was racially motivated. Speaking in general terms, several area defense lawyers discussed possible reasons the case was presented to a grand jury and will now be adjudicated in County Court instead of City Court. Soares' spokeswoman Cecilia Walsh declined to comment. Chief Assistant District Attorney David Rossi is handling the prosecution of the case. Terence Kindlon cited the "bad blood" between Soares' office and City Court Judge William Carter from 2012 over the case against four Occupy Albany protesters. Carter, who is now running for county judge, wanted the matter to be prosecuted. Soares refused. The case was appealed to the state's highest court before being thrown out. That history between the two men "might be a factor of significance" and why Soares didn't want to take his chances that Carter, one of two City Court jurists, might preside in the UAlbany bus matter, said Kindlon. Schenectady-based defense lawyer Michael Horan said Soares might present a case to a grand jury to determine if a felony was committed. "It's not as simple as who started a fight because the victim could assault a person who started the fight and go beyond the point of defending themselves," added Horan. "It's another layer of protection especially because it's such a sensitive case." Albany defense attorney Paul DerOhannesian said Soares had every right to take the case to a grand jury. "It's an emotionally charged incident and has caused great division in the community for a misdemeanor," said DerOhannesian, adding that the UAlbany case is not like some police shootings that have generated controversy and emotions. "It's at the discretion of the DA if he wants to proceed in that route." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate New York Army National Guard Maj. Alvin Phillips of Albany not only leads soldiers, he also mentors youth leaders. Phillips, a veteran of two deployments to Iraq and a deployment to Guantanamo Bay, served as a military mentor for the U.S. Senate Youth program in Washington, D.C., last month. According to the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the U.S. Senate Youth program was established in 1962 to bring two student leaders from each state to Washington to see how government works. The students met with and attended policy addresses given by President Barack Obama, senators and cabinet members, officials from the departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies. They also met with a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Transportation, hotel and meal expenses were covered by The Hearst Foundations. Each delegate also was awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Phillips was one of 16 military personnel selected to assist in the program. "The opportunity to work with young people who really capture the best of our country is fulfilling one hundred times over,'' Phillips said. "While I had the honor to be their mentor, they also provided something much more to myself and fellow mentors the innate drive to foster more involvement in our communities." He currently serves as the public affairs officer for the Syracuse-based 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Prior to joining the New York Army National Guard, he served in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. In civilian life, Phillips works as the spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Newark, N.J. field office. He earned a degree in speech communication and political science from Syracuse University. Soldier advances David Martinsen of East Greenbush, an Iraq war veteran, was promoted to sergeant first class in the New York Army National Guard during a ceremony at state Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters in Latham. Martinsen manages the Army Guard Reserve program involving the screening of all application packets, processing and posting job announcements; coordinating requests for filling vacancies and promotions, and initiating transfer and promotions. Martinsen enlisted into the active Army in 2004 as a human resource specialist at Ft. Leavenworth and then enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2011 where he was selected as a human resource specialist within the Active Guard Reserve. He has earned five Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, an Army Good Conduct Medal, a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and a Parachutist Badge. New on duty Two Capital Region residents have graduated from basic combat training and individual training. They have been assigned to New York Army National Guard units. Private Nyaisha Clay of Schenectady is serving with Company E (Forward Support, Infantry), 427th Brigade Support Battalion in Queensbury. Specialist John Koenig of Troy is on duty with Headquarters and Support Company, 42nd Infantry Division in Troy. Korean War veterans Chapter 60 of the Korean War Veterans Association will hold a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 19 at the Ripe Tomato, 2721 Route 9, Malta. Hosts will be Marian Crandall, Joan Hughes and Lois Miner. For reservations, call 899-2506 or 695-3905. Veterans who served in Korea at any time, spouses, widows and friends are all invited to attend. For information, or to obtain an application to join the organization, contact Roger Calkins at 584-3037. News may be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy The defendant in a 2014 double-homicide case testified Monday in Rensselaer County Court that he told police he didn't want to talk to them when he was arrested. Jacob Heimroth took the witness stand during an evidentiary hearing to suppress statements and video and radio recordings made when he was arrested on Sept. 1, 2014. Heimroth, 35, said he asked the officers if he was being arrested on a harassment warrant when he was captured behind 730 Third Ave. in Lansingburgh. "I don't (expletive) trust none of them. I have nothing to say to them," Heimroth responded to questions by Joseph Ahearn, his attorney. Heimroth faces two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, burglary and grand larceny in the beating deaths of Maria and Allen Lockrow in their Lansingburgh home. Heimroth was indicted twice. Judge Andrew Ceresia dismissed the first indictment for lack of sufficient evidence. Heimroth is heading to trial on the second indictment. Heimroth's co-defendant, Daniel Reuter, pleaded guilty in April 2015 to two counts of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree burglary for his role in the Lockrows' deaths. During the suppression hearing Monday, District Attorney Joel Abelove called six city police officers to testify. Sgt. Randy French, who was involved in the fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin during an April 17 traffic stop, was among the officers. Ceresia stopped Ahearn's attempts to question him regarding that incident as not bearing on the homicide case. Ceresia reserved ruling in the suppression hearing until radio transmissions are reviewed and the attorneys submit legal briefs. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe Armen Navasardyan: It is good that Minsk and Kazan plans on Karabakh issue do not work at present (video) Armenia seems to have adopted a new position, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Armen Navasardyan said commenting on Serzh Sargsyans interview to US-based Bloomberg news agency. One of the most important ideas Serzh Sargsyan said during the interview was that at this stage he does not find it appropriate resume negotiations with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have gone down to the level of cannibalism. Their task is to destroy Armenians in Karabakh, and why not, those in Armenia, he said. Speaking about the challenges of Armenias diplomacy, Mr Navasardyan said, Our primary task is to return Karabakh to the negotiating table. He says the country that supports Azerbaijan Turkey - has become an evil for the international community. Speaking about the possible return of territories, Mr Navasardyan said, The issue of territorial concession must be excluded at this point. I consider it positive that neither the Minsk nor the Kazan principals work at this moment. With regard to Aliyevs short-sighted policy, the diplomat said, Aliyev feared that Karabakh will be involved in the negotiation process. Once Karabakh becomes a subject of international law, this will lead to its international recognition. The situation will change as soon as it is recognized by other countries. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy A Rensselaer County Court judge ruled Monday that a Troy police sergeant could not be questioned about his fatal shooting of a Watervliet man, a DWI suspect who was killed two weeks ago after his car was boxed in by two police cruisers. The judge's decision to block the officer from being questioned came during a hearing in an unrelated homicide case. Defense attorney Joseph Ahearn, who told the judge he had seen a troubling cellphone video of the April 17 police shooting, tried to ask police Sgt. Randy French whether he shot Edson Thevenin before or after he was allegedly struck by Thevenin's car. Ahearn, referring to his viewing of the video that was taken by a civilian witness, said: "My recollection of this is several shots were fired and the officer then yells 'my leg.'" Ahearn's comments are in line with information provided to the Times Union last week in which another person familiar with the video said it raised questions about whether the officer, who claimed he opened fire when his legs were pinned to his police cruiser by Thevenin's vehicle, opened fire before that happened. District Attorney Joel Abelove jumped up to object to Ahearn's attempt to use the information as a way of impugning French's testimony during the evidence suppression hearing for Jacob Heimroth, who faces first-degree murder and other charges in a 2014 double homicide of Maria and Allen Lockrow in Lansingburgh. After a 60-minute recess Monday, Judge Andrew Ceresia questioned French about his employment status. Under oath Monday, French testified that his service weapon was taken from him for ballistic tests related to the shooting. He said that he was given a substitute weapon and still has a badge. He told Ceresia he's on extended sick leave, which is routine for officers involved in on-duty shootings. French also said he had been cleared of any criminal conduct by a county grand jury, and that the police department said he had acted legally and will not face any discipline. French was dressed in civilian clothes and walked with a limp as he took the stand. Police Chief John Tedesco said French suffered soft-tissue injuries when Thevenin's vehicle pinned the officer's legs against his police cruiser. The judge ruled he would not allow Ahearn to question French about the shooting. Abelove announced the grand jury's decision that cleared French of wrongdoing five days after the fatal shooting. Monday's court proceeding took place three days after state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman declared his office was taking over the investigation and may seek to unravel the grand jury action conducted by Abelove's office. It's unclear whether Abelove gave French immunity from prosecution before he testified in front of the grand jury two weeks ago. Rensselaer County and Schneiderman's office were discussing a lawsuit filed last week by Schneiderman that seeks to seize jurisdiction. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed an executive order giving Schneiderman authority to investigate the shooting, including "any omissions by any law enforcement officer" in the case. In July the governor issued an executive order giving the attorney general the authority to investigate cases of unarmed civilians killed during encounters with police. Abelove had challenged that order. At a news briefing Monday at the Court of Appeals, Schneiderman told reporters: "Keep in mind here, the one thing you want to avoid at all costs is there being the wrong prosecutor asserting jurisdiction and it being subject to an attack later. The idea here is to get it right and to have the right prosecutor pursuing it. Our primary concern was that our jurisdiction was not respected, the governor's order was violated." A reporter asked Schneiderman if he had ever seen a grand jury process move so quickly as it did in clearing the sergeant of the Troy shooting in a matter of days. "I've never heard of such a case," Schneiderman answered. Asked what conclusion he would draw, the attorney general said the investigation was in its infancy. "I don't want to pre-judge, but we are pursuing this aggressively, we are going to do it thoroughly and fairly and that may mean things stay quiet for a little while, which frustrates you," he told reporters, "but the people of Troy, the family and the Troy Police Department, frankly, have a right to a thorough investigation and that's what we're going to do." Last week, the attorney general's office sent letters to the Abelove's office and Troy police demanding they turn over their investigative files in the case following reports that two civilian bystanders who witnessed the shooting did not testify in front of the grand jury that reviewed the shooting. A Troy business owner who took cellphone video of part of the incident told the Times Union that he saw the incident "start to finish." A person briefed on the investigation told the Times Union the man also gave a statement to police on the morning after the shooting in which he said it did not appear the officer was in imminent danger when he opened fire. The person said the video appeared to show Thevenin's vehicle moving forward toward the officer after the shots were fired. When contacted by the Times Union on Friday and Saturday, the two men who witnessed the shooting refused to speak with reporters. One of the men, a Cohoes resident, recently took a civil service examination to qualify for a job as a Troy police officer. His attorney, Lee Kindlon, on Monday said the man will meet with investigators from the attorney general's office this week. "It's our intention to comply with the investigation and meet with the attorney general as soon as possible," Kindlon said. He declined to say whether the Cohoes man saw anything that contradicts statements by Troy police and Rensselaer County prosecutors who said French lawfully opened fire on Thevenin, who did not have a weapon. Tedesco said the authorities believe Thevenin's car was a weapon at the time the officer shot him. The Troy business owner told the Times Union last week that Abelove did not call him to testify in front of the grand jury that cleared the officer. The Cohoes man also did not testify before the panel. Abelove has not commented publicly since the lawsuit was filed and declined to answer questions when approached in the county courtroom Monday. He also declined to comment about Ahearn's attempt to question French about the shooting incident. Earlier Monday, Mayor Patrick Madden said: "The city of Troy has, and continues to have, no involvement in the ongoing jurisdictional dispute between the NYS Attorney General and the Rensselaer County District Attorney. It would be improper for the city of Troy to discuss any facts of the case or comment further while the investigation and legal dispute continues." The last time a county grand jury investigated a fatal Troy police shooting, its findings were issued in November, about 10 weeks after the incident. Troy police Officers Joshua Comitale and Chad Klein were cleared of wrongdoing in an Aug. 22 shootout with a suspected carjacker, Thaddeus Faison, who was killed in Lansingburgh. Klein and Comitale are still recovering from their wounds. French's court appearance brought Troy Corporation Counsel Kevin Glasheen into the courtroom to hear the officer's testimony and the judge's ruling. Glasheen declined to comment on why he was there. Before French took the stand Monday, a Times Union reporter asked him about the shooting incident. "Can't talk about it," he said Schneiderman launched an investigation of Thevenin's death late Friday, three days after he sued Abelove, claiming the prosecutor "flagrantly violated" the executive order last week when the county office presented evidence to the grand jury. The lawsuit said Abelove put the case in front of a grand jury without notice and after the attorney general's office notified him of its interest in examining whether it would take jurisdiction under an executive order Cuomo issued last summer. Robert Gavin contributed. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454 5084 @KennethCrowe Albany Over the past few months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's comments about ethics reform have made use of third-person pronouns like "they," as in, "Certainly, they have time to do ethics reform." The governor speaking last month in Binghamton was referring to the Legislature, and the seven weeks left in the legislative session. He was even more explicit in his comments following the convictions of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos last year, saying the back-to-back convictions "should be a wake-up call for the Legislature and it must stop standing in the way of needed reforms." For the governor and the rest of the Executive Chamber, ethics became considerably more first-person on Friday, when it was revealed that Cuomo's former Executive Deputy Secretary Joe Percoco has fallen under the microscope of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as part of an ongoing probe into upstate economic development, including the Buffalo Billion initiative. The Daily News reported Percoco was on leave from his state job to work for Cuomo's 2014 re-election campaign during the time investigators are focusing on. Cuomo also ordered that an independent investigator Bart M. Schwartz, the former chief of the criminal division for the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District conduct a state-funded probe of the Buffalo Billion program Percoco, nor anyone else reportedly under investigation, has been accused of any wrongdoing. Over the weekend, the Capitol's denizens had time to consider how the revelation that Percoco as well as Cuomo-connected lobbyist Todd Howe were under investigation, and begin to puzzle out what it means for the final weeks of session including the prospects for ethics reform. "The political muscle memory will be that each legislative house will pass their own proposals, they magically won't match and yet lawmakers will feel like they have enough political cover to face voters in November," the New York Public Interest Research Group's Blair Horner said last week, before the revelations about Percoco. "Whether or not anything meaningful comes out of the session hinges almost entirely on whether the governor puts his political muscle behind the effort in the way that he did on raising the minimum wage and paid family leave." On Sunday, with a weekend to mull Friday's news, Horner said it's difficult to tell how the push for ethics reforms changes now, if it changes at all. "The tea leaves are not even dry to read," he said. Citizens Union's Dick Dadey said the optics of an investigation provide a boost to push for ethical fixes. "The governor always was able to point fingers to the other branch as having problems," he said. "Now, the (Executive Chamber) has an investigation going on that reflects poorly upon it. I think the governor will be more motivated than before to be seen as responding this worsening crisis of corruption in New York State." Cuomo pitched his reform proposals in January's State of the State address. They included limits on the outside income lawmakers can earn and closure of the "LLC loophole," Albany parlance for the ability of single donors to use multiple limited liability companies to multiply the force of their political giving. Specifically the question of outside income was at the heart of the case against Silver, who took bribes and kickbacks disguised as outside income. Greater disclosure of outside income for lawmakers and other public officials was addressed in the 2015 state budget deal. Lobbying is among the areas that Cuomo proposed reform in January, months before the investigation was made public. His proposal would require political consultants (a sometimes ambiguous term) who advise elected officials to register as lobbyists. In total, Cuomo proposed a dozen policies part of his ethics reform package, and he has since maintained that while ethics was not addressed in the state budget it remains a top priority. The administration is not tipping its hand on how Cuomo might follow through in the next seven weeks. In the end, while the trials of Silver and Skelos laid out explicitly for elected officials what needs fixing, an ongoing investigation does not imply illegality or outline what, if anything, requires a legislative change. That leaves some less than optimistic that the appetite for ethics reforms has or will begin to change. "If (reform) didn't happen after Silver and Skelos, the Percoco disclosure is not going to change anything," Effective NY founder Bill Samuels said. mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 New York Sen. Charles Schumer is calling for a federal investigation into an outdoor advertising company's latest effort to target billboard ads to specific consumers. Schumer has dubbed Clear Channel Outdoor Americas' so-called RADAR program "spying billboards," warning the service may violate privacy rights by tracking people's cellphone data via the ad space. "A person's cellphone should not become a James Bond-like personal tracking device for a corporation to gather information about consumers without their consent," Schumer, a Democrat, said in a statement Sunday. But the company, which operates more than 675,000 billboards throughout the world, argues that characterization of its program is inaccurate, insisting it only uses anonymous data collected by other companies. In a statement, company spokesman Jason King said the RADAR program is based on a years-old advertising technique that "uses only aggregated and anonymized information" from other companies that certify they're following consumer protection standards. King also provided The Associated Press a copy of a letter it sent earlier this year to another lawmaker who has similarly raised concerns about the ad service and consumer protections. The company "does not receive or collect personally identifiable information about consumers for use in Radar," CEO Scott Wells wrote in a March letter to Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat. "It's not necessary for the insights we are offering our advertising customers." The ad program is a partnership between Clear Channel and other companies, including AT&T and technology companies that collect location data from smartphone apps, company officials have said. In a video on its website, the company says it "measures consumers' real-world travel patterns and behaviors as they move through their day, analyzing data on direction of travel, billboard viewability, and visits to specific destinations." That information, the company says, is then mapped against Clear Channel's displays, which would allow advertisers to buy ads in places that would "reach specific behavioral audience segments." Clear Channel uses "aggregate and anonymous mobile consumer information," the company said. The program gives marketers a "solution that provides a more accurate way to understand and target specific audience segments," Clear Channel's vice president, Andy Stevens, said in a news release announcing the initiative in February. But an investigation into the company is necessary because most people don't realize their location data is being mined, even if they agreed to it at some point by accepting the terms of service of an app that later sells their location information, Schumer said. The Federal Trade Commission did not immediately respond requests for comment. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Geneva Scrambling to resuscitate a nearly dead truce in Syria, the Obama administration has again been forced to turn to Russia for help, with little hope for the desired U.S. outcome. At stake are thousands of lives and the fate of a feeble peace process essential to the fight against the Islamic State group, and Secretary of State John Kerry has appealed once more to his Russian counterpart for assistance in containing and reducing the violence, particularly around the city of Aleppo. "We are talking directly to the Russians, even now," Kerry said on his arrival in Geneva as he began talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. "The hope is we can make some progress, but the UN Security Council Resolution calls for a full country, countrywide, cessation and also for all of the country to be accessible to humanitarian assistance. Obviously that hasn't happened and isn't happening." "These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation. We obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond to the international communities' powerful statement to the UN Security Council." Kerry spoke at length on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to that end, and had been hoping to meet with Lavrov soon, according to U.S. officials. In Geneva, Kerry met with Judeh and was to meet U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday before returning to Washington. But Lavrov was not expected to be in Geneva, complicating Kerry's efforts to make the case directly to the Russians for more pressure on their Syrian government allies to stop or at least limit attacks in Aleppo. The State Department said Kerry, in his meetings, would "review ongoing efforts to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities nationwide in Syria, obtain the full humanitarian access to which the Syrian government committed and support a political transition." Specific, viable options to achieve those broad goals are limited, and Friday's announcement of a new, partial cease-fire that does not include Aleppo underscored the difficulty Kerry faced. U.S. and other officials described that initiative, brokered mainly by Russia and the United States as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, as a "reinforcement" of the February truce, now largely in tatters, that they hope to extend from Damascus and the capital's suburbs and the coastal province of Latakia to other areas. "This is an agreement within the task force, but certainly on the part of the U.S. and Russia that there would be a reinforcement of the cessation of hostilities in these specific areas as a start, with the expectation that this ... would be then extended elsewhere," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. Syria's military extended a unilateral cease-fire around the capital for another 24 hours on Sunday, and relative calm set in across much of the country after days of heavy fighting concentrated in Aleppo. Les Paul, father of the solid body electric guitar and recording innovator who pioneered multi-track recording and overdubbing, may be gone, but he is definitely not forgotten. Les Paul's Big Sound Experience, a 1,000-square-foot free interactive traveling exhibit, is coming to Albany Wednesday and Thursday at The College of Saint Rose's William Randolph Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media. Sue Baker, program director for the Les Paul Foundation and his friend for the last 10 years of his life, said Paul's persistence in the face of challenge inspired foundation members to create the exhibit. She said there's so many aspects of Paul that are amazing, and that's what guests and visitors get to experience. She said people have been enjoying the exhibit, and it's for all ages. "We want to show people an inside look at who Les Paul, the man, was," said Baker. Baker loves that Paul's music is so cutting edge. Paul changed music forever, because of his technological innovations. When he wanted to do something, he would figure out how to get it done. She said that Paul had persistence and a sense of curiosity, which is something we can all benefit from. More Information If you go Les Paul's Big Sound Experience Where: The College of Saint Rose's William Randolph Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media, 996 Madison Ave., Albany When: Noon-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday Info: https://www.strose.edu or www.lespaulfoundation.org See More Collapse The exhibit takes guests behind the scenes and into Paul's world. Baker said guests will be able to explore Paul's sound, music and technology innovations. They will also see how he pushed the limits of audio technology and learn how his inventions and techniques have formed the foundation of live and recorded music. Paul had a long career and was still performing when he died. There will be a double-sided listening station that allows guests to enjoy his music from the 1930s into the new century. Baker said that in the listening station you can really see the evolution of his music over the years. Paul is the only person who has been inducted in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Baker said guests can also take pictures ''with'' Paul using a photo-capture experience that puts them in the picture with a classic image of Paul to save and share. She said there is an interactive digital experience that lets guests create their own 20-second "new sound" recording, where they can take sounds and layer them. Some of the options are guitars, drums, bass, and even hawks and cowbells. After they create their new sound, they can share it through social media. Another feature of the interactive exhibit traces the evolution of the solid-body guitar over the years. There will be big touch screen guitars, and as you touch them you can understand more about the guitar. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Baker said his legacy is so inspirational that it can help anyone. You don't have to be a musician or technician to feel inspired by his work, challenges and creativity. She said Paul was not a saint, and he was full of mischief and life, and you'll see that at the exhibit too. Along with the Big Sound Experience, the Saint Rose music industry program will celebrate Paul's contributions with a special tribute concert and a live demonstration of his techniques and advancements. Paul Evoskevich, Matthew Finck, Andrew McKenna Lee and Sean McClowry are the faculty members who will be performing Paul's compositions in the special tribute concert. They'll be performing songs he made popular and new music inspired by his inventions and technical achievements at 8 p.m. in the Massry Center for the Arts. There will be a lecture and demonstration on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. by McClowry on Paul's achievements and how they matter to the modern digital recording studio. It will be at "Jack's Place" inside the Hearst Center. After reading a roundup of local roadwork planned this year, three people wrote with the same question. Q: I read your article on road work with interest, hoping to find a mention of the Krumkill Road closure that happened several months ago. The need to rebuild a bridge has caused great inconvenience as there are only long detours to go anywhere in central or downtown Albany. Can you get an update on this project? Has any work begun yet? Any estimate on a time frame to complete the work? Ann Brandon, Slingerlands More Information Hot spots What to watch for this week: Interstate 787, Albany: Single-lane and shoulder closures during off-peak hours near Exit 2. Off-peak lane closures and paving between McCarty Avenue and Pearl Street. Route 85, Albany: One lane in each direction separated by a concrete barrier between Interstate 90 and Western Avenue. Patroon Island Bridge: Single-lane and ramp closures during off-peak hours. Washington Avenue Extension, Albany: One lane closed in each direction from Crossgates Mall to New Karner Road, daytime on weekdays. Route 50, Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs: Flaggers and single-lane alternating traffic between Washington Street and Malta Avenue in Ballston Spa and Hutchins Road in Saratoga Springs each night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday night into early Saturday morning. Rexford Bridge, Clifton Park and Niskayuna: Construction activities at the intersections with Riverview Road in Rexford and Aqueduct Road in Niskayuna. Route 20, Nassau: Single alternating lanes controlled by signals on two bridges over Kinderhook Creek. Route 9 and 20, Schodack Center: One of two lanes in each direction closed on the bridge over Moordener Kill near Exit 11 over I-90. See More Collapse Q: I wanted to bring to your attention a road closure on Krumkill Road at the Albany/Bethlehem border. The road has been closed for almost 9 weeks now, with little to show for it. The residents of north Bethlehem have been told not to expect the road to open until July! Other than foot dragging, and bureaucratic paperwork excuses, nothing has been done by the two local governments involved. We are talking about the replacement of a culvert with a larger one, and the shoring up/repaving of a two-lane road. In this day and age, a project that should take no more than a few weeks and certainly not the projected 5 months. Insulting and disrespectful to all who live and work in north Bethlehem. John Googas, Bethlehem Q: I was wondering about progress on the repair work on Krumkill Road. In late February it was reported that emergency repairs were needed, because of a broken culvert. Then we saw flashing signage near the approaches from both ends, "Krumkill Road closed, local traffic only, through August." But now the signs are gone (already?). Can you find out the status of this repair job? Are they indeed allowing through-traffic there again? Thank you. Rose-Ellen M. Luther, Albany Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. A: Bethlehem Supervisor John Clarkson said the work is expected to start in June, and Krumkill Road would then reopen in July. "The design of the culvert replacement and roadway reconstruction are ongoing," he said. The repair is directly on the border between Albany and Bethlehem, he said, and the two municipalities have been working together. "The town of Bethlehem and city of Albany staff have done all that they can to expedite the culvert replacement and road repair, and state and federal regulators are also working quickly," he said. "Any period of time a local road is closed causes great inconvenience to people relying on it, which is why we've expedited the work as much as possible." "Getting There" is compiled by staff writer Tim O'Brien. Do you have a question about transportation? Call 518-454-5020 or email gettingthere@timesunion.com. Please include your name, town and telephone number. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate THE ISSUE: Rensselaer County's DA prematurely closed the investigation of a local man killed by a police officer. THE STAKES: The probe into the tragic death of Edson Thevenin must be fully investigated. More Information To comment: tuletters@timesunion.com or at http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion See More Collapse In defiantly insisting that he alone has jurisdiction in the case of Edson Thevenin, the Watervliet man shot and killed by a Troy police sergeant, Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove has inadvertently made it clear why we need the alternative pathway ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's for such probes. Mr. Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman stepped in forcefully Saturday, eight days after Mr. Abelove said he wouldn't prosecute the officer who killed Mr. Thevenin. The governor formally gave Mr. Schneiderman jurisdiction to investigate the case, which he was starting to do before Mr. Abelove tried to shove him aside by quickly taking the case to a grand jury. There's a back story: Mr. Abelove was an early and vocal critic last year when the governor issued the order naming the attorney general as special prosecutor in all deadly encounters between police and unarmed civilians. Prosecutors around the state called the governor's action flawed. We agree that Mr. Cuomo needed to clarify his ambiguous executive order. But that doesn't mean the order wasn't needed, or that a local prosecutor has any right to flout it. Too many tragic cases around the U.S. have eroded the public's confidence in the investigations into the deaths of unarmed civilians at the hands of police. Too often, local prosecutors have appeared to not aggressively probe local police agencies they work with daily and depend on to secure convictions. The executive order was a way to begin to rebuild public faith in our justice system. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. The way Mr. Abelove took charge of the probe after Mr. Thevenin's April 17 death is exactly what the governor's order was intended to prevent. Just a day after the shooting, Mr. Abelove stood next to the Troy police chief and declared that police Sgt. Randy French, who fired eight bullets at Mr. Thevenin's windshield, acted "in line with the law." Sgt. French fired after being pinned by Mr. Thevenin's car, police said. Mr. Abelove also denied that police weren't cooperating with the attorney general's office an assertion the police chief contradicted. Before the week was out, Mr. Abelove presented the case to a grand jury, which declined to indict Sgt. French. Case closed, he implied. Now we learn that there were eyewitnesses to the shooting who weren't called before the grand jury. And a civilian has stepped forward saying he captured the scene on video, contradicting police claims that there was no such video. Whatever Mr. Abelove's intent, it appeared that he was trying to shepherd the case through to a quick disposition. His sloppiness speaks volumes about the need for a thorough investigation by Mr. Schneiderman. Maybe Mr. Abelove and the grand jury reached the right conclusion. That's not the point at this moment; following the law to assure that justice is done is. The governor's order is the law, whether Mr. Abelove likes it or not. Rais Bhuiyan, the founder and president of World Without Hate, an organization dedicated to promoting forgiveness and kindness rather than hatred, addresses the UPT graduating class of 2016. Bhuiyan encouraged students to choose the path of mercy and forgiveness in order to fill their hearts with peace rather than hate. Suspension of trade with Turkey will harm Armenia's economy - says economist (video) Armenian exports to Turkey totaled $ 142 000 in the first quarter of 2016. In the same period, the country imported goods in the amount of $ 24 million. Economist Vilen Khachatryan is against the ban on the import or export of Turkish goods. He says it will only have a negative impact on Armenian businesses. "If we completely halt our foreign trade with Turkey, both importers and exporters will suffer losses as a result. The former will lose about $137-240 million while the latter over $1,5 million. Besides, Turkey will simply disappear as our import partner. Alternately, we can terminate the trade with Turkey only partially, which means we can stop either import or export but if we decide to stop imports, Turkey will immediately suspend exports, the economist said. Mr Khachatryan predicts what might happen if Armenia decides not to stop trade with Turkey. First of all, let me speak about public perception. People in Armenia believe that Turkey is sending its sends revenues to Azerbaijan. The latter buys weapons with the money to fight against Armenia. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that Turkey's GDP will total $721 billion in 2016 and $905 billion in 2021. Azerbaijans GDP will amount to $ 63 billion in 2016 and $87 billion in 2021. Turkey receives about 5 million dollars from its trade with Armenia, hence the thesis that Turkey finances Azerbaijan to purchase weapons and use them against Armenia cannot correspond to reality. Turkeys budget of $700 billion is enough for these expenses. Azerbaijans budget exceeds that of Armenia 6-7 times, while Turkeys budget 70 times. May 02, 2016 Perhaps the one great thing about being an entrepreneur is the sheer workout it gives to every inventive sense you own. Thus entrepreneurs often develop specific systems to help address problems, or go looking for already-developed systems to do the same thing. It's no different in communications, and based on a report from Forbes, necessity has long served as the mother of invention, even in communications. Communications' evolution has taken several hundred years to blossom into its fullest, going from the face-to-face conversation to Web-based real time communications (WebRTC) and beyond. The call center represents one of the greatest evolutions we've seen lately in communications, as it proceeds from a voice-only operation to encompass several different types of communication all at once, culminating in what's known as the omnichannel customer experience. Even the point of where to locate the call center has become a point for evolution; while many located call centers in other countries as a means to lower costs, that cost-cutting pursuit has often met with backlash as customers express distaste for dealing with people whose accent may not always be easy to follow. While many have taken this to prompt a return to the United States, others have worked to innovate around the matter. A company called Perfect Pitch offers a kind of sound board software that allows heavily accented speech to go in one end and come out sounding like a more familiar pitch and timbre, with specifically-selected voice talent handling the basic words for the sound board. A disclaimer early in the conversation points out the use of scripted audio, and users get to talk to someone who sounds like someone in their area. This might sound like a great idea, and on some levels it is. Yet those considering using it should take note that language issues aren't the only reason to consider not using foreign call centers. There's also a negative public perception of foreign call centers as these take jobs away from the home country. Those currently located in said country may not be quite so pleased to note a company is seeking involvement in the United States, for example, yet not employing United States citizens. That perception can damage the bottom line as surely as paying too much in employee costs, though a service like Perfect Pitch may make it take longer to discover. Whether or not that will prompt the reaction of unhappy customers wondering why their money is being sent to other countries, in a manner of speaking, remains to be seen. Still, in the end, invention in entrepreneurial occupations is to be expected, and often delivers excellent results. Not every invention pans out, but as long as there's a problem to be solved, someone will try to solve it. [May 02, 2016] ACE Data Recovery Announces Service Center Expansion to Canada ACE Data Recovery, a subdivision of ACE Data Group, LLC, announced the grand opening of six Service Centers in major cities of Canada: Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver, and Calgary. Just as Service Centers in the US, they are staffed with personnel ready to assist customers with starting a data recovery case. For over 35 years ACE Data Recovery has successfully provided professional data recovery services to corporations and individuals globally. The company specializes in extracting data from an extensive range of failed and damaged storage devices and servers and offers hard drive recovery and RAID data recovery, SAN and NAS recovery, SSD data retrieval services as well as tape data recovery. ACE Data Recovery will now offer instant access to one of the most experienced and sccessful data recovery service providers in the world to thousands of users in Canada. Expanding to six Service Centers in Canada allocates the company's commitment to assist their customers outside the United States. "Our mission is to provide reliable and cost-efficient solutions to Canadian users affected by data loss. We would like Canadians to be scrupulous while seeking a data restore service vendor. Data recovery companies are not equal and vary in their professional qualifications," said Charles Walker, the CEO of ACE Data Group. "We want our customers to be educated about our services. A well informed client will be able to describe an issue properly and understand the validity of our solution for them. As a result, our specialists will have a greater possibility of recovery in the most effective way." About ACE Data Recovery ACE Data Recovery is one of the top data recovery service providers specializing in extracting a wide range of files from failed and damaged storage devices and gadgets including HDD, SSD, RAID, SAN, NAS, USB flash drives, and tapes. Since its inception in 1981, ACE has had an international vision to assist thousands of customers globally, including Europe, Australia and Canada. The enormous amount of cases from Canadian users forced the company to open six Service Centers in Canada on May 1st, 2016. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, with additional labs in Falls Church, VA, Houston, TX, Chicago, IL and Toronto, ON (News - Alert), the company also has Service Centers in many major metropolitan areas. For additional information, please visit http://www.datarecovery.net or call 877-304-7189. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005163/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Alisha Zhao of Portland, Oregon Named One of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2016 Alisha Zhao, 17, of Portland, Ore., was named one of America's top 10 youth volunteers of 2016 today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards during the program's 21st annual national award ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Selected from a field of more than 29,000 youth volunteers from across the country, Alisha has earned the title of National Honoree, along with a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for her school, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of her choice. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005519/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates Alisha Zhao, 17, of Portland (center) and Michael Murray, 14, of Lake Oswego (right) on being named Oregon's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Alisha and Michael were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) Also honored this week in Washington, D.C., was Michael Murray, 14, of Lake Oswego. Michael and Alisha were named Oregon's top youth volunteers in February, and were officially recognized last night at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History along with the top two youth volunteers in each other state and the District of Columbia. At that event, each of the 102 State Honorees for 2016 received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank. The honorees each also received engraved silver medallions and all-expense-paid trips with a parent to Washington, D.C., for this week's recognition events. Alisha, a junior at Lincoln High School, created a club at her school to provide services to local homeless people, and then founded a nonprofit organization called "Kids First Project" to expand her efforts and focus on the needs of homeless youth. While volunteering at a homeless shelter several years ago, Alisha realized that the families there were not getting the help they needed to escape the generational cycle of poverty. "I met youth who were capable of becoming doctors, dancers, and even presidents, yet did not have the resources to achieve their dreams," she said. It quickly became a passion of hers to help supply those resources. As a freshman, Alisha started the Hope for Homeless Club, which, over the following two years grew to include more than 300 members and conducted projects serving 500 families and an additional 200 individuals. Then, Alisha decided to form a nonprofit that could deliver educational and recreational programs to homeless youth through multiple organizations and shelters. She recruited an advisory board, a board of directors and volunteer leaders, and began organizing activities to help homeless kids reach their potential, including arts and crafts projects, games, tutoring, peer mentoring, life skills classes and donations of school supplies. In recognition of her leadership, Alisha was appointed by Portland's mayor to be the first young person to ever serve on the city's Human Rights Commission. Michael, an eighth-grader at Lake Oswego Junior High School, started a club at his school that has collected enough food and money over the past few years to provide an estimated 10,000 meals to hungry Oregon families. "It became clear to me that I should focus on hunger when I learned how many people in my community do not have access to food," said Michael. In 2014, he worked with his principal and one of his teachers to get his club off the ground, then advertised for members. A core group of about 15 students now participate in Michael's "Hunger Fighters Oregon" club on a regular basis, meeting weekly to talk about how best to collect donations. At first, the members knocked on doors in their neighborhoods, but then began to conduct collection drives at their school. They also sell T-shirts that say "I won't stand for hunger." To further educate his fellow students about hunger, Michael delivered a 15-minute speech and a PowerPoint presentationat an assembly for each grade at his school, speaking directly to more than 900 middle-schoolers. All of the donations gathered by his club go to the Oregon Food Bank, which distributes them to food kitchens across the state. "I will never be able to know exactly how many people I helped directly," said Michael, "but if all of this helped one person who was hungry, then I accomplished what I set out to do." The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a national youth recognition program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." In addition to Alisha, these are the other 2016 National Honorees: Kayla Abramowitz, 14, of North Palm Beach, Fla., an eighth-grader at Watson B. Duncan Middle School, has collected nearly 10,000 DVDs, books and other items for 81 hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in all 50 states through her nonprofit organization, "Kayla Cares 4 Kids." Connor Archer, 18, of Stillwater, Maine, a senior at Old Town High School, works to educate the public about autism and the challenges faced by people with autism like himself, and has raised more than $12,000 for organizations that help people with special needs. Grace Davis, 11, of Louisville, Ky., a fifth-grader at Greathouse Shryock Traditional Elementary School, has helped raise more than $140,000 over the past four years to care for babies born prematurely by distributing piggy banks to students in her community and encouraging them to fill them up. Maria Keller, 15, of Plymouth, Minn., a sophomore at Orono High School, founded a nonprofit called "Read Indeed" when she was 8 years old, and has since collected more than 1.7 million books for children in need in 50 states and 17 other countries. James Lea, 17, of Las Vegas, Nev., a junior at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, helps brighten the holiday season for children who have recently lost a parent by surprising their families with an anonymous gift each day for 12 days, tied to the theme of the song "12 Days of Christmas." Jungin Angie Lee, 17, of Naperville, Ill., a junior at Metea Valley High School, co-founded a nonprofit organization that has generated nearly $200,000 over the past nine years through annual fundraising events to help find a cure for her rare neuromuscular disease. Zachary Rice, 13, of Long Valley, N.J., an eighth-grader at Long Valley Middle School, initiated an annual 5K run/walk that has raised more than $50,000 over the past three years to provide gaming systems and other fun distractions for young patients at Goryeb Children's Hospital in Morristown. Jackson Silverman, 10, of Charleston, S.C., a fifth-grader at Advanced Studies Magnet-Haut Gap Middle School, persuaded a local food bank to let him start a youth volunteer program there in 2013 that has by now packed more than 14,000 weekend lunch bags for kids in need. Clare Szalkowski, 10, of Dubuque, Iowa, a fifth-grader at Hoover Elementary School, started "Clare Cares" over two years ago to "build friendships and make our community a better place" by organizing projects that benefit bullied children, homeless and hungry people, and others in need of assistance. The distinguished selection committee that chose the National Honorees was chaired by Strangfeld and included Allison of NASSP; Andrea Bastiani Archibald, chief girl expert for Girl Scouts of the USA; Robert Bisi, senior public affairs manager for the Corporation for National and Community Service; Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light; Renee Jackson, senior manager of education programs at the National PTA; Maxine Margaritis, vice president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross; Peggy McLeod, Ed.D., deputy vice president, education and workforce development at the National Council of La Raza; Dru Tomlin, director of middle level services for the Association for Middle Level Education; Frederick J. Riley, national director, urban & youth development at YMCA of the USA; and two 2015 National Honorees: AJ Mattia of Washington Township, N.J., a sophomore at Holy Cross Academy, and Morlan Osgood of Loveland, Ohio, a senior at Loveland High School. Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org. About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of Oregon's honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005519/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2016 to be Announced May 2 SUNDAY (News - Alert), MAY 1, 6:00 P.M. - Top Two Youth Volunteers From Each State Honored WHERE: National Museum of Natural History, Constitution Ave. at 10th St. NW, Washington, D.C. WHAT: The top two youth volunteers of 2016 from each state and Washington, D.C. will gather for the 21st annual Prudential Spirit of Community State Awards Ceremony. From 6-7 p.m., they will hear from Prudential Financial Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld, a celebrity keynote speaker and four past honorees who have remained involved in service. Later, each 2016 honoree will be presented with a $1,000 award. Youth volunteers from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China and Brazil will also be honored. MONDAY, MAY 2, 9:30 A.M. - Honorees Promote Literacy at D.C. Elementary School WHERE: Thomson (News - Alert) Elementary School, 1200 L Street NW WHAT: The State Honorees will present donated books to the school and conduct small group reading sessions with the students. MONDAY, MAY 2, 12:45 P.M. - Nation's Top Ten Youth Volunteers of 2016 Announced WHERE: Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. WHAT: Bill Basl, director of AmeriCorps at the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Ruthanne Buck, senior advisor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, will help announce the nation's top 10 youth volunteers of 2016. The 10 National Honorees will be presented with personal awards of $5,000, gold medallions, crystal trophies and $5,000 Prudential Foundation grants for charitable organizations of their choice. Monday's ceremony will be streamed live starting at 12:45 p.m. EST at http://bit.ly/1MSV3F5 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005034/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] C5 Georgia Alumnus Teams up with Employer to Give Back C5 Georgia Class of 2011 alumnus Jacky Kwong continues to make a difference in the world, working with his employer ADP to turn their Corporate Social Responsibility focus toward C5 Georgia. Jacky conceived of and executed a fundraising event with the intent to offer a scholarship to a graduating C5 Georgia student. Shortly after the event, Jacky joined ADP, where he met Christy Brown, Vice President of Global Client Engagement, another C5 Georgia advocate. For the past three years, including this year, Christy has chaired or co-chaired C5 Georgia's graduation celebration, An Evening with Graduates. Together, Christy and ADP have tripled the amount of Jacky's gift, by Christy making a personal gift matching the amount Jacky raised, and then taking advantage of ADP's matching gift program. On May 3, 2016, Jacky will present his scholarship at An Evening with Graduates, presented by WestRock. Jacky's efforts are a shining example of how C5 Georgia students lad their communities with great character, compassion and commitment. This year, as we gather to honor our graduating class, celebrate their achievements, and hear their dreams for the future, we will be proud to share the podium with Jacky as he demonstrates that the impact of C5 Georgia does not end at graduation. Event sponsorship opportunities can be found at: http://c5georgia.org/newsevents/special-events/graduation/ ABOUT C5 Georgia C5 Georgia is a distinctly comprehensive leadership program that enables motivated students from challenging environments to develop the confidence, skills, and motivation to make a positive impact. Over the course of five years, beginning the summer before 8th grade, students embark on a structured journey of self-empowerment that prepares them to overcome challenges and become change agents for themselves and others. Through teaching students goal-setting, creative problem-solving, and accountability - among other skills that are critical to fulfilling their potential - in a progressive, year-round structure, C5 Georgia graduates are exceptionally capable of fulfilling their potential and affecting change in their communities. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502006309/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Clare Szalkowski of Dubuque, Iowa Named One of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2016 Clare Szalkowski, 10, of Dubuque, Iowa, was named one of America's top 10 youth volunteers of 2016 today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards during the program's 21st annual national award ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Selected from a field of more than 29,000 youth volunteers from across the country, Clare has earned the title of National Honoree, along with a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for her school, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of her choice. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005456/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates Allison Ockenfels, 18, of Wellman (center) and Clare Szalkowski, 10, of Dubuque (right) on being named Iowa's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Allison and Clare were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) Also honored this week in Washington, D.C., was Allison Ockenfels, 17, of Wellman. Allison and Clare were named Iowa's top youth volunteers in February, and were officially recognized last night at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History along with the top two youth volunteers in each other state and the District of Columbia. At that event, each of the 102 State Honorees for 2016 received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank. The honorees each also received engraved silver medallions and all-expense-paid trips with a parent to Washington, D.C., for this week's recognition events. Clare, a member of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois and a fifth-grader at Hoover Elementary School, started "Clare Cares" over two years ago to "build friendships and make our community a better place" by organizing projects that benefit bullied children, homeless and hungry people, and others in need of assistance. Clare was inspired to start her project after her older sister had an epileptic seizure at school. "This 'friend' made fun of her," said Clare. "Then she recruited others to make fun of her. That's when I knew I needed to do something about bullying because, unfortunately, bullying has touched nearly everyone's life, and that makes me sad." Her initial goal was to provide a "buddy bench" on her school's playground to promote friendship and discourage the isolation that bullied children often feel. Today, every elementary school in her region has a Clare Cares Buddy Bench on its playground - more than 30 benches in all. Clare also formed "kid committees" and scheduled "buddy events" to work on projects supporting the missions of local nonprofits. She and her fellow volunteers have made blankets for children experiencing trauma, created greeting cards for nursing home residents, and filled a Santa's sleigh for Toys for Tots. They also have provided 22 complete birthday packages to celebrate the birthdays of children in a homeless shelter, filled the shelves of a local food bank with more than a ton of food, and provided bag lunches every Monday for homeless men. Allison, a senior at Ockenfels Homeschool, has raised more than $150,000 since late 2010 to build kitchens at three schools in the African nation of Malawi and to provide daily meals for students living in poverty there. Allison was attending a conference when she learned about Mary's Meals, a charitable organization that feeds children at schools in the developing world. "Hunger and starvation are often a reality for many children in third-world countries," Allison said. "Parents are motivated to send their children to school because they know they will receive a nutritious meal every day. For many children, it is the only meal they receive." Allison learned that the organization is feeding over one million children worldwide every day, and that it takes less than $20 to provide a child with a daily meal for one year. Allison began by visiting local church parishes and asking their congregations for donations Then she knocked on the doors of local businesses and spoke about her cause at a school and at meetings of civic clubs. Allison also started a blog and a fundraising page on the Mary's Meals website. She now receives donations from all over the country, and has raised enough money to help feed more than 5,000 children in Malawi. Allison has visited two of the schools that benefited from her efforts. "It was amazing to meet the children," she said. "They swarmed toward us and greeted us with smiles and laughing." The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a national youth recognition program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." In addition to Clare, these are the other 2016 National Honorees: Kayla Abramowitz, 14, of North Palm Beach, Fla., an eighth-grader at Watson B. Duncan Middle School, has collected nearly 10,000 DVDs, books and other items for 81 hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in all 50 states through her nonprofit organization, "Kayla Cares 4 Kids." Connor Archer, 18, of Stillwater, Maine, a senior at Old Town High School, works to educate the public about autism and the challenges faced by people with autism like himself, and has raised more than $12,000 for organizations that help people with special needs. Grace Davis, 11, of Louisville, Ky., a fifth-grader at Greathouse Shryock Traditional Elementary School, has helped raise more than $140,000 over the past four years to care for babies born prematurely by distributing piggy banks to students in her community and encouraging them to fill them up. Maria Keller, 15, of Plymouth, Minn., a sophomore at Orono High School, founded a nonprofit called "Read Indeed" when she was 8 years old, and has since collected more than 1.7 million books for children in need in 50 states and 17 other countries. James Lea, 17, of Las Vegas, Nev., a junior at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, helps brighten the holiday season for children who have recently lost a parent by surprising their families with an anonymous gift each day for 12 days, tied to the theme of the song "12 Days of Christmas." Jungin Angie Lee, 17, of Naperville, Ill., a junior at Metea Valley High School, co-founded a nonprofit organization that has generated nearly $200,000 over the past nine years through annual fundraising events to help find a cure for her rare neuromuscular disease. Zachary Rice, 13, of Long Valley, N.J., an eighth-grader at Long Valley Middle School, initiated an annual 5K run/walk that has raised more than $50,000 over the past three years to provide gaming systems and other fun distractions for young patients at Goryeb Children's Hospital in Morristown. Jackson Silverman, 10, of Charleston, S.C., a fifth-grader at Advanced Studies Magnet-Haut Gap Middle School, persuaded a local food bank to let him start a youth volunteer program there in 2013 that has by now packed more than 14,000 weekend lunch bags for kids in need. Alisha Zhao, 17, of Portland, Ore., a junior at Lincoln High School, created a club at her school to provide services to local homeless people, and then founded a nonprofit organization called "Kids First Project" to expand her efforts and focus on the needs of homeless youth. The distinguished selection committee that chose the National Honorees was chaired by Strangfeld and included Allison of NASSP; Andrea Bastiani Archibald, chief girl expert for Girl Scouts of the USA; Robert Bisi, senior public affairs manager for the Corporation for National and Community Service; Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light; Renee Jackson, senior manager of education programs at the National PTA; Maxine Margaritis, vice president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross; Peggy McLeod, Ed.D., deputy vice president, education and workforce development at the National Council of La Raza; Dru Tomlin, director of middle level services for the Association for Middle Level Education; Frederick J. Riley, national director, urban & youth development at YMCA of the USA; and two 2015 National Honorees: AJ Mattia of Washington Township, N.J., a sophomore at Holy Cross Academy, and Morlan Osgood of Loveland, Ohio, a senior at Loveland High School. Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org. About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of Iowa's honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005456/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] DataKinetics Once Again Named as One of Canada's Top Companies on the Branham300 List DataKinetics, the world leader in Data Performance and Optimization Solutions, announced today that it has once again been named as one of Canada's Top Companies on the Branham300 List for 2016-making this the second consecutive year. DataKinetics saw a banner year in 2015: it experienced double digit revenue growth in the mainframe data performance and optimization space, and achieved an impressive list of clients representing Global 100 companies. Furthermore, the company spearheaded the creation of PlanetMainframe, an alliance of the world's top mainframe solutions provider companies. PlanetMainframe is now the world's definitive resource for mainframe technology. In addition to its tremendous growth, DataKinetics expanded its strategic Partner Alliance, welcoming InSoft Software, a world-renowned software development, training and consulting firm and fully owned subsidiary of Infotel. The partnership, which is centered on a multinational conglomerate of global leaders in the Fortune 500-focused mainframe space, began with the addition of HostBridge, SQData and zCost Management during the first quarter of 2015. DataKinetics also signed a partnership agreement in 2015 with Australian mainframe products and services company SCP (Strategic Consulting Partnerships) based in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. The partnership further aligns DataKinetics with the desire of the Global Fortune 500 to receive as much value as possible from their IBM (News - Alert) z Systems investments, value that far transcends simple cost reduction, while simultaneously extending DataKinetics' reach and commitment into the Australia, Southeast Asia and New Zealand markets. Additionally, DataKinetics launched a spin-off company: omNovos. It created omNovos to address the rapidly growing demand for omni-channel customer engagement solutions in the global retil market space. Within its first year, omNovos announced the acquisition of Vancouver-based mobile payment solution specialist MiniCheckout-the purchase added new functionality to the omNovos solution suite, as well as significant product development expertise to the omNovos team. The new venture, having already expanded into the North American and European markets, offers a host of omni-channel customer engagement solutions including customer retail engagement applications for both consumer and in-store staff, omni-channel marketing automation solutions, and professional services for data integration. Now, validating the company's expansion and subsequent growth activities, DataKinetics has again been officially listed on the Branham300 for 2016-continuing its climb up the rankings. As part of the Branham Group, a company that provides "Go to Market" direction to global IT products and services companies, the Branham300 offers a snapshot of the Canadian IT market and provides a gauge by which companies measure their success. "We are pleased and proud of our financial results and growth in 2015," commented Randy McCoy, Chief Financial Officer, DataKinetics. "With an impressive double digit revenue growth in the global mainframe software solutions market-the team's dedication and hard work truly represents top of class performance. Now, with yet another highly successful year behind us, and with 2016 off to a record start, our steady growth provides us with the profitability and cash flow to further invest in strategic initiatives to advance our position as the global leader in data performance and optimization, including our current geographic expansion in both ASEAN and Latin America." "The Branham300 is designed to promote Canada's Information and Communication Technology industry and the people who build technology businesses in Canada," said Wayne Gudbranson, CEO, Branham Group. "This year, we were thrilled to see Canada's Top 250 companies set another revenue record. It is a testament to the strength of our ICT sector." With more than 38 years of experience in the field of data performance and optimization, DataKinetics continues to help its global clients leverage existing systems, optimizing the issues that hold them back and propelling them to greater value and success. For more information regarding DataKinetics Data Performance and Optimization Solutions, please visit www.dkl.com. Additional links include www.omnovos.com, and www.planetmainframe.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005979/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Grace Davis of Louisville, Kentucky Named One of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2016 Lexington Student Also Honored for Volunteer Service Grace Davis, 11, of Louisville, Ky., was named one of America's top 10 youth volunteers of 2016 today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards during the program's 21st annual national award ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Selected from a field of more than 29,000 youth volunteers from across the country, Grace has earned the title of National Honoree, along with a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for her school, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of her choice. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005458/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates Christian Cole, 18, of Lexington (center) and Grace Davis, 11, of Louisville (right) on being named Kentucky's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Christian and Grace were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) Also honored this week in Washington, D.C., was Christian Cole, 18, of Lexington. Christian and Grace were named Kentucky's top youth volunteers in February, and were officially recognized last night at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History along with the top two youth volunteers in each other state and the District of Columbia. At that event, each of the 102 State Honorees for 2016 received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank. The honorees each also received engraved silver medallions and all-expense-paid trips with a parent to Washington, D.C., for this week's recognition events. Grace, a fifth-grader at Greathouse Shryock Traditional Elementary School, has helped raise more than $140,000 over the past four years to care for babies born prematurely by distributing piggy banks to students in her community and encouraging them to fill them up. One day Grace had an idea. What if every child in her school filled a piggy bank for a good cause, she thought. "As a kid, it is hard to think about raising money, but I knew this idea would take off," said Grace. With the help of her first-grade teacher, she took her idea, called "Piggies for Preemies," to officials at Kosair Children's Hospital, whose neonatal unit would be the beneficiary of the program. A local bank agreed to donate 604 piggy banks, one for every student in Grace's school, and as an incentive for filling those banks, offered a chance to win a $500 scholarship. The students were encouraged to think of creative ways to raise money, said Grace. Some had yard sales, some sold baked goods, others operated lemonade stands. Grace created fliers to advertise the program throughout the community and the bank provided piggy banks at all of its Louisville branches to anyone who wanted one. The media and the hospital's website further spread the word, and it wasn't long before students at other schools in her district and beyond began filling piggy banks. The program continues to grow; Grace's banking partner has announced it will distribute piggies at branches across the state. "It is so exciting to see piggies all around our city raising money and awareness for all preemies," said Grace. "People just love these pigs!" Christian, a senior at Lexington Catholic High School, has raised more than $50,000 from a landscape business he started as a seventh-grader and from private donations to build houses for destitute people in Haiti and sponsor 20 homeless children there. When Christian was 13, his life changed with the arrival of a Haitian boy named Odolphe, who had come to Lexington for medical treatment. It wasn't long before the boys were inseparable. But four months later, it was time for Christian's friend to go back to Haiti. "As I walked Odolphe to the plane, my heart began to shatter," said Christian. "He was going to leave the warmth of an American home, soft bed and plenty of food to go home to an 8 by 8 tarp-covered concrete slab that he shared with six family members." Christian made a promise to his friend that day that he would go to Haiti and build a home for Odolphe and his family. That was the day he decided to start his landscape business, which he calls "Mission Works Lawn and Landscaping." Eighteen months later,Christian, accompanied by his dad and four other adults, was able to make good on his promise. Assisted by charitable organizations in Haiti, Christian's group not only built a house for Odolphe's family, but brought much-needed supplies, refurbished a large chicken barn for their community and stocked it with 200 chickens, and educated people on water safety and nutrition. Christian also was able to sponsor 20 children, getting them off the streets and providing them with school tuition, books and uniforms. He returned in 2013 to begin another house and check on the progress of the students he continues to sponsor. Last year, he led 35 missionaries - many of them high school students - on a trip to Haiti to build two more homes, cover an outdoor kitchen and paint an orphanage. "This began not so much as a service project but maybe what one would call one random act of love," Christian said. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a national youth recognition program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." In addition to Grace, these are the other 2016 National Honorees: Kayla Abramowitz, 14, of North Palm Beach, Fla., an eighth-grader at Watson B. Duncan Middle School, has collected nearly 10,000 DVDs, books and other items for 81 hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in all 50 states through her nonprofit organization, "Kayla Cares 4 Kids." Connor Archer, 18, of Stillwater, Maine, a senior at Old Town High School, works to educate the public about autism and the challenges faced by people with autism like himself, and has raised more than $12,000 for organizations that help people with special needs. Maria Keller, 15, of Plymouth, Minn., a sophomore at Orono High School, founded a nonprofit called "Read Indeed" when she was 8 years old, and has since collected more than 1.7 million books for children in need in 50 states and 17 other countries. James Lea, 17, of Las Vegas, Nev., a junior at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, helps brighten the holiday season for children who have recently lost a parent by surprising their families with an anonymous gift each day for 12 days, tied to the theme of the song "12 Days of Christmas." Jungin Angie Lee, 17, of Naperville, Ill., a junior at Metea Valley High School, co-founded a nonprofit organization that has generated nearly $200,000 over the past nine years through annual fundraising events to help find a cure for her rare neuromuscular disease. Zachary Rice, 13, of Long Valley, N.J., an eighth-grader at Long Valley Middle School, initiated an annual 5K run/walk that has raised more than $50,000 over the past three years to provide gaming systems and other fun distractions for young patients at Goryeb Children's Hospital in Morristown. Jackson Silverman, 10, of Charleston, S.C., a fifth-grader at Advanced Studies Magnet-Haut Gap Middle School, persuaded a local food bank to let him start a youth volunteer program there in 2013 that has by now packed more than 14,000 weekend lunch bags for kids in need. Clare Szalkowski, 10, of Dubuque, Iowa, a fifth-grader at Hoover Elementary School, started "Clare Cares" over two years ago to "build friendships and make our community a better place" by organizing projects that benefit bullied children, homeless and hungry people, and others in need of assistance. Alisha Zhao, 17, of Portland, Ore., a junior at Lincoln High School, created a club at her school to provide services to local homeless people, and then founded a nonprofit organization called "Kids First Project" to expand her efforts and focus on the needs of homeless youth. The distinguished selection committee that chose the National Honorees was chaired by Strangfeld and included Allison of NASSP; Andrea Bastiani Archibald, chief girl expert for Girl Scouts of the USA; Robert Bisi, senior public affairs manager for the Corporation for National and Community Service; Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light; Renee Jackson, senior manager of education programs at the National PTA; Maxine Margaritis, vice president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross; Peggy McLeod, Ed.D., deputy vice president, education and workforce development at the National Council of La Raza; Dru Tomlin, director of middle level services for the Association for Middle Level Education; Frederick J. Riley, national director, urban & youth development at YMCA of the USA; and two 2015 National Honorees: AJ Mattia of Washington Township, N.J., a sophomore at Holy Cross Academy, and Morlan Osgood of Loveland, Ohio, a senior at Loveland High School. Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org. About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of Kentucky's honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005458/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] James Lea of Las Vegas, Nevada Named One of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2016 James Lea, 17, of Las Vegas, Nev., was named one of America's top 10 youth volunteers of 2016 today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards during the program's 21st annual national award ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Selected from a field of more than 29,000 youth volunteers from across the country, James has earned the title of National Honoree, along with a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for his school, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of his choice. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005518/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates James Lea, 17, (center) and Marquis Jamison, 13, (right) both of Las Vegas, on being named Nevada's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. James and Marquis were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) Also honored this week in Washington, D.C., was Marquis Jamison, 13, of Las Vegas. Marquis and James were named Nevada's top youth volunteers in February, and were officially recognized last night at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History along with the top two youth volunteers in each other state and the District of Columbia. At that event, each of the 102 State Honorees for 2016 received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank. The honorees each also received engraved silver medallions and all-expense-paid trips with a parent to Washington, D.C., for this week's recognition events. James, a junior at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, helps brighten the holiday season for children who have recently lost a parent by surprising their families with an anonymous gift each day for 12 days, tied to the theme of the song "12 Days of Christmas." In 2008, when James was 9 years old, his father died from a sudden heart attack. "It was hard on my brother, my mom, and me," said James. "Even though we would laugh at times, the pain never went away." Then one day in December, a mysterious gift of pears appeared on the family doorstep. And for each of the next 11 days, James and his family found another gift left for them. It turned out the family's church was behind the surprise, though they didn't know it at the time. "By the twelfth day, we were so excited and happy," said James. "We couldn't believe that we could feel so normal again." Wanting to pass along the joy their family had experienced, James and his brother started ringing the doorbells of other grieving families, leaving gifts, and running away. Soon after, they helped their mother found a nonprofit called "In12Days" to expand the effort. The family built a website and began reaching out to individuals, other charities and companies for support. Every year, they recruit 12 companies to donate $5,000 each to cover the cost of the surprises. To identify families suffering from loss, they contact schools, religious groups and civic organizations. Surprises include things like a basket of fresh pears, an inflatable pool turtle filled with Dove chocolates, a French hen meal, and a wreath of "calling birds" containing airline or sporting event tickets. So far, In12Days has touched the lives of more than 7,000 people in Las Vegas, Chicago, and San Francisco, said James, and now has over 1,000 volunteers supporting its mission. Marquis, a seventh-grader at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School, has volunteered in a variety of ways to aid homeless people, at-risk kids, young cancer patients and children with disabilities. He began his volunteering in kindergarten, handing out food to the homeless. In second grade, he cut off his long hair in front of his whole school to draw attention to kids with cancer, and raised more than $3,000 for a cancer foundation. A few years later, Marquis' mother started a nonprofit organization called "Vegas Youth Ambassadors," and Marquis became one of its most active participants. Besides handing out food, clothing and hygiene supplies to the homeless, Marquis has helped teach at-risk youth about teamwork, sportsmanship and how to be productive members of the community. In addition, Marquis has twice traveled to Sri Lanka and Thailand to work with orphaned children and deliver wheelchairs to children with disabilities. "I learned that it feels good to help other people and to stand up to make a change," said Marquis. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a national youth recognition program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." In addition to James, these are the other 2016 National Honorees: Kayla Abramowitz, 14, of North Palm Beach, Fla., an eighth-grader at Watson B. Duncan Middle School, has collected nearly 10,000 DVDs, books and other items for 81 hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in all 50 states through her nonprofit organization, "Kayla Cares 4 Kids." Connor Archer, 18, of Stillwater, Maine, a senior at Old Town High School, works to educate the public about autism and the challenges faced by people with autism like himself, and has raised more than $12,000 for organizations that help people with special needs. Grace Davis, 11, of Louisville, Ky., a fifth-grader at Greathouse Shryock Traditional Elementary School, has helped raise more than $140,000 over the past four years to care for babies born prematurely by distributing piggy banks to students in her community and encouraging them to fill them up. Maria Keller, 15, of Plymouth, Minn., a sophomore at Orono High School, founded a nonprofit called "Read Indeed" when she was 8 years old, and has since collected more than 1.7 million books for children in need in 50 states and 17 other countries. Jungin Angie Lee, 17, of Naperville, Ill., a junior at Metea Valley High School, co-founded a nonprofit organization that has generated nearly $200,000 over the past nine years through annual fundraising events to help find a cure for her rare neuromuscular disease. Zachary Rice, 13, of Long Valley, N.J., an eighth-grader at Long Valley Middle School, initiated an annual 5K run/walk that has raised more than $50,000 over the past three years to provide gaming systems and other fun distractions for young patients at Goryeb Children's Hospital in Morristown. Jackson Silverman, 10, of Charleston, S.C., a fifth-grader at Advanced Studies Magnet-Haut Gap Middle School, persuaded a local food bank to let him start a youth volunteer program there in 2013 that has by now packed more than 14,000 weekend lunch bags for kids in need. Clare Szalkowski, 10, of Dubuque, Iowa, a fifth-grader at Hoover Elementary School, started "Clare Cares" over two years ago to "build friendships and make our community a better place" by organizing projects that benefit bullied children, homeless and hungry people, and others in need of assistance. Alisha Zhao, 17, of Portland, Ore., a junior at Lincoln High School, created a club at her school to provide services to local homeless people, and then founded a nonprofit organization called "Kids First Project" to expand her efforts and focus on the needs of homeless youth. The distinguished selection committee that chose the National Honorees was chaired by Strangfeld and included Allison of NASSP; Andrea Bastiani Archibald, chief girl expert for Girl Scouts of the USA; Robert Bisi, senior public affairs manager for the Corporation for National and Community Service; Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light; Renee Jackson, senior manager of education programs at the National PTA; Maxine Margaritis, vice president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross; Peggy McLeod, Ed.D., deputy vice president, education and workforce development at the National Council of La Raza; Dru Tomlin, director of middle level services for the Association for Middle Level Education; Frederick J. Riley, national director, urban & youth development at YMCA of the USA; and two 2015 National Honorees: AJ Mattia of Washington Township, N.J., a sophomore at Holy Cross Academy, and Morlan Osgood of Loveland, Ohio, a senior at Loveland High School. Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org. About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. ### Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of Nevada's honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005518/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Technavio Announces Top Six Vendors in the Global Plant Automation Solutions Market from 2016 to 2020 Technavio has announced the top six leading vendors in their recent global plant automation solutions market report. This research report also lists 14 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. Competitive vendor landscape The global plant automation solutions market has grown drastically since 2000, and hosts a number of international, regional, and local vendors. The regional and local vendors offer cost-effective customized automation solutions. However, established international players, such as Siemens (News - Alert), ABB, and Honeywell, are expanding their footprint through R&D investments and product innovation. Schneider Electric invested USD 625 million in 2014 in R&D activities. "Major companies across oil and gas, power, chemicals, and petrochemicals, automotive, fertilizers, cement, pharmaceuticals, F&B, and other industries prefer established vendors with reliable supply and lasting automation solutions," says Bharath Kanniappan, a lead analyst at Technavio for automation. Though local vendors are making efforts to compete in the market, they find it difficult to compete with their established counterparts that dominate the market in terms of quality, features, and system capabilities. In addition, local vendors do not have significant funds to develop and innovate product lines and solution offerings. Request for sample report: http://goo.gl/EqhuOv Top six plant automation solutions market vendors Siemens Siemens was founded in 1847, and has headquarters in Munich, Germany. It is a multinational conglomerate with core activities in the fields of energy, healthcare, industry, and infrastructure sectors. It supplies systems for power generation and transmission, and medical diagnosis. In addition, the company specializes in infrastructure and industry solutions. The company - through its industry segment - offers a wide range of products and solutions to various industrial companies, mainly process and manufacturing industries. It offers automation technologies, industrial controls, and industry software that optimize complete product development and production processes. Honeywell (News - Alert) Honeywell International was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in New Jersey, US. The company offers aerospace products and services; turbochargers; control, sensing, and security technologies for homes, buildings, and industry; specialty chemicals; process technology for refining and petrochemicals; electronic and advanced materials; and energy-efficient products and solutions for homes, business, and transportation. ADI-Gardiner, Grimes Aerospace, Honeywell Electronic Materials, Life Safety Distribution, and UOP Russell are the subsidiaries of Honeywell. ABB ABB was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The company offers power and automation technologies to diverse industries, including utilities, transport, and infrastructure. The company's process automation division provides control systems, robots, controllers, and software systems for manufacturing and process industries. It sells its products through direct sales force and third-party network partners, including distributors, system integrators, and OEMs. The company also provides services that complement its products such as installation, training and life-cycle care, energy-efficiency appraisals, and preventive maintenance. Emerson (News - Alert) Electric Emerson Electric was established in 1890 and is headquartered in Missouri, US. The company provides technology and engineering solutions for industrial, commercial, and consumer markets. The company also provides systems and software, measurement and analytical instrumentation, valves, actuators, and regulators. It also provides reliability consulting, including digital plant architecture that allows communication of devices with centralized systems for industries such as petroleum, chemicals, F&B, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, and municipal water supplies. Schneider Electric (News - Alert) Schneider Electric was founded in 1836 and is headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France. The company provides integrated energy management solutions. The company serves numerous markets such as energy and infrastructure, data centers and networks, buildings, residential, industries, and machines. The company offers a wide of products, including boxes, cabling and interfaces, building management systems, bus, networks and communication, fuse switches, HMI, and motion and drives. It also provides motor starters, measurement and control relays, process automation and controls, PLC panel boards and switchboards, and power supplies and transformers. In addition, it offers protection relays and contactors, push buttons, switches and pilot lights, control stations and joysticks, sensors, radio-frequency identification systems, and signaling units. Rockwell Automation (News - Alert) Rockwell Automation was founded in 1903, and has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. The company provides industrial automation power, control, and information solutions. It serves diverse industries, including F&B, transportation, oil and gas, metals, mining, and life sciences. The company sells products through independent distributors and direct sales force in the US, Canada, EMEA, APAC, and Latin America. The company offers control platforms that perform multiple control and monitoring applications such as continuous, batch, and discrete process, drives control, motion control, and machine safety control. The product portfolio includes electronic operator interface devices, controllers, electronic I/O devices, communication, networking products, and industrial computers. Browse Related Reports: Global Process Automation and Instrumentation Market 2016-2020 Global Automation Market in Automotive Industry 2016-2020 Industrial Automation Control Market in APAC 2016-2020 Purchase these three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact [email protected] with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005560/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Edward Nalbandian: International community should take concrete steps to bring Azerbaijan to order (video) Speech of the Foreign Minister of Armenia at Aleksanteri Institute of University of Helsinki Edward Nalbandian: Despite the numerous appeals of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community to fully respect the trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994 and 1995, Azerbaijan has continued their violations Professor Kivinen, Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank Aleksanteri Institute and the University of Helsinki for hosting me here and providing an opportunity to discuss the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The bottom-line of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the realization of peoples right to self-determination, one of the core principles of international law. For decades that right has been obstructed by annexation, ethnic-cleansing, massacres and military aggression. Nevertheless, as history has proven on several occasions, it is impossible to ignore the choice of a people for self-determination. Being unable to solve the issue by military means Azerbaijan had to sign, with Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, in May 1994 ceasefire agreement, in July 1994 agreement on the reinforcement of ceasefire, and in February 1995 agreement on the consolidation of ceasefire, which have no time limitations. During the following years negotiations were held by the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. By the way, one of the first Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group was Finland (in this process were involved such prominent Finnish diplomats as Heikki Talvitie and Rene Nyberg). In this framework numerous rounds of negotiations were held on the levels of Presidents, Foreign Ministers which however, have not yielded results due to the continuous rejection of the Co-Chairs proposals by Azerbaijan. The essence of the negotiations has been, on the one hand, the necessity of finding a political settlement of the issue, on the other hand, consolidation of the ceasefire regime on the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of April Azerbaijan has unleashed large scale aggressive military operation along the entire Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh, which targeted also civilian infrastructures and settlements and which left several hundreds of killed and wounded. In more than 20 years of fragile ceasefire regime this became an unprecedented destabilization with the use of heavy weaponry, tanks, rockets, artillery, aviation. The continuous acquisition of offensive armaments, the feeding of its society with bellicose warmongering and the spread of hate-speech against Armenians by Baku sooner or later could not but result in such a situation. This is something that we had warned all our international partners during the past several years. Azerbaijan has been blaming the Armenians as well as the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, represented by the USA, Russia and France, for lack of progress in the negotiations. To such baseless accusations one could ask some rhetorical counter-arguments. Who is rejecting to accept the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs as a basis for negotiations? Who is opposing all confidence building measures - starting with preparing societies for peaceful solution to the creation of ceasefire violations investigation mechanism? Who is blaming the Co-Chair countries, including by calling them provocateurs and accusing them in Islamophobia? Who is permanently attempting to shift the negotiations of Nagorno-Karabakh issue to other formats, to structures which do not have any international mandate to deal with the resolution of the conflict and which have never resolved any conflict previously? There is one answer to these questions Azerbaijan. Thus, Azerbaijan is doing everything possible to fail any progress in the negotiation process, simultaneous to purchasing unprecedented amounts of offensive weaponry and then declaring that it has a right to use force as it does not see any perspectives in the negotiations. To put it simply, Azerbaijan has failed in the negotiations and is trying to find success via military option, where it has failed as well. Use or threat of use of force has been time and again condemned by the international community. Our neighbor has gone further, pursuing extremely dangerous policy of forcing its own will through the adoption of mass terror. During the four day war we witnessed also the exceptional brutality of Azerbaijani armed forces against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Using Grad multiple rocket launchers Azerbaijan shelled schools in Nagorno-Karabakh which caused death and injuries amongst the schoolchildren. In one of the villages in Karabakh three elderly persons, including a 92 year old woman, were brutally tortured, mutilated, their ears were cut and then they were killed. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded by Azerbaijani armed forces in ISIL style, which were subsequently demonstrated in the towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Moreover, when as a result of the mediation of the Red Cross, the bodies of Armenian soldiers were returned, it was undeniable that all of them had been mutilated after being killed. The shelling of Nagorno-Karabakh civilian areas is continuing to this day. These are gross violations of the international humanitarian law. For years Armenophobia has gotten wider dissemination in Azerbaijan on the state level. This is not a secret to anyone. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its report on Azerbaijan alerted with deep concern about the constant and negative official and media discourse concerning the Republic of Armenia and recommended the Azerbaijani authorities to adopt an appropriate response to all cases of discrimination and hate speech against Armenians. The cultivation of hatred towards Armenians in Azerbaijan leads to the most horrible crimes, including crimes against humanity. The Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as other parts of Azerbaijan more than two decades ago already experienced forced deportation and massacres. Almost a decade ago the Azerbaijani armed forces used all their capacity to attack one of the fewest remaining Armenian monuments in Azerbaijan - the Medieval cemetery in Jugha. Several thousands of medieval cross-stones, dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries, were bulldozed under the Azerbaijani governments watchful eyes and this area was turned into a military ground in a government sanctioned operation. The 16th International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly resolution regretfully stated with regard to this vandalism: this heritage that once enjoyed its worthy place among the treasures of the worlds heritage can no longer be transmitted today to future generations. Our numerous calls for sending international fact-finding missions to Nakhijevan, as well as attempts by a number of international organizations and countries have been rejected by the Azerbaijani side. Dear friends, In parallel to launching large-scale military operations, Azerbaijan pursues another goal as well. An attempt has been made to declare that the 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements have ceased their effect. These trilateral ceasefire agreements signed by Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia have no time limitations. Moreover the July 1994 agreement on the reinforcement of ceasefire requires the sides to maintain the ceasefire regime until signing of the big political agreement. These agreements have been continuously supported by appropriate decisions and statements of OSCE. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have already expressed their position to Azerbaijan, underlining again and again that the 1994 and 1995 agreements, whose terms do not expire, as before, make up the foundation of the cessation of hostilities in the conflict zone. The Co-Chairs called on to strictly adhere to the above-mentioned agreements and not to permit their violation. The adventurism of Azerbaijan has immensely harmed the negotiations and has been seriously impeding the peace process. Today our efforts, together with the Co-Chairs, are aimed at overcoming of the consequences created due to the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan. Without tangible consolidation of ceasefire regime the negotiation process will become hostage to Azerbaijani blackmailing. In that context the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, as well as the OSCE Chairmanship have emphasized that it is necessary to have the mechanism of investigation of ceasefire violations. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have always welcomed these proposals. Azerbaijan not only rejects its implementation, but on the highest level publicly assesses the ceasefire consolidation measures as a strange and ridiculous proposal. In fact there are leaders in the 21st century who can consider measures aimed at preventing the loss of human lives as something strange and ridiculous. This displays the genuine attitude of the authorities in Baku towards human lives, including their own citizens. The other proposal of which is being continuously undermined is about enhancing the capacities and the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, which Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have supported, but about which, again, Baku not only does not want to hear at all, but is doing everything to reduce their capacities having in mind to ban their activities, as it was done with the OSCE office in Baku. Moreover, Baku started to block the OSCE monitors from conducting of observation missions on the Line of Contact between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. The essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, about which I started my talk, was and remains the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to freely and securely determine their future. Nagorno-Karabakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan, it was annexed to the Soviet Azerbaijan by Stalin. Moreover, Azerbaijan has for decades carried out a policy of ethnic cleansing towards Nagorno-Karabakh, menacing the physical security of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, then unleashing an open aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh using mercenaries closely linked to the international terrorist organizations. Despite the numerous appeals of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community to fully respect the trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994 and 1995, Azerbaijan has continued their violations, concentrating heavy weaponry and military forces along the entire Line of Contact, further increasing its warmongering and launching a provocative propaganda campaign on international arena trying to accuse the Armenian side in exactly what it is itself doing, thus preparing ground for new military attacks which can have far-reaching negative consequences for the whole region. It is high time for the international community to take concrete steps in order to bring Azerbaijan to order. In these conditions, the right to self-determination is not just what the people of Nagorno-Karabakh rightly aspire, but it is the only key to a just solution of this conflict. Ladies and gentlemen, The large-scale military offensive this April has been a serious blow to the negotiation process and to more than two decades-long efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Now immense efforts are needed to restore the negotiation environment. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have proven their commitment to an exclusively peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Unfortunately Azerbaijan has acted against such a solution. In order to avoid a new war in the region all of the efforts of the international community should be directed to enforce an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. [May 02, 2016] Texas Counties Expand Court Solutions with CSI and Tyler Technologies Tyler Technologies (News - Alert), Inc. (NYSE: TYL) has signed contracts with Collin and Galveston counties in Texas to integrate redaction technology into the Tyler Odyssey court and justice solution already used by the counties' courts. CSI (News - Alert) Intellidact software is directly available to Tyler clients from Tyler as CSI (Computing System Innovations) is a Tyler Solution Partner. Tyler is focused on helping its courts and justice clients ensure that information exchanged in judicial environments remains secure against data and identity theft, and Intellidact is a valuable tool. Data security is paramount given today's privacy and cybersecurity challenges, with data being more available than ever given the necessary exchange of information between disparate departments, agencies and jurisdictions. CSI became a Tyler Solution Partner in September 2015, and the partnership is building momentum. The Intellidct software seamlessly integrates with Odyssey, making it easy to implement, and Odyssey clients have shown enthusiasm for its advanced capabilities. As one of the most widely used redaction and indexing tools in the industry, Intellidact helps manage data privacy of court documents. In total, Odyssey serves more than 100 million residents, a third of the U.S. population, in more than 600 counties across 22 states. It is used by more than 60 counties in Texas. Odyssey has been successfully implemented statewide in Indiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota; statewide implementations in Idaho, Maryland, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington are currently underway. Collin County, a northern suburb of Dallas, is home to nearly 900,000 residents and is the sixth most populated Texas county. Galveston County, south of Houston, has more than 320,000 residents. About Tyler Technologies, Inc. Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) is a leading provider of end-to-end information management solutions and services for local governments. Tyler partners with clients to empower the public sector - cities, counties, schools and other government entities - to become more efficient, more accessible and more responsive to the needs of citizens. Tyler's client base includes more than 14,000 local government offices in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and other international locations. Forbes has named Tyler one of "America's Best Small Companies" eight times and the company has been included six times on the Barron's 400 Index, a measure of the most promising companies in America. More information about Tyler Technologies, headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at www.tylertech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005189/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Travelers Institute Hosts Small Business - Big Opportunity? Symposium in Stamford to Celebrate National Small Business Week The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) will hold a Small Business - Big Opportunity symposium today in Stamford, Connecticut. Industry professionals will cover a range of small business challenges, including preventing and responding to a cyber breach, access to capital in today's lending environment and business continuity planning as a competitive advantage. The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Women's Business Development Council will join Travelers in hosting the event. "Small businesses help fuel the economy by creating jobs and putting money back into their communities," said Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute and Executive Vice President of Public Policy at Travelers. "We are pleased to bring our symposium series to Stamford during National Small Business Week to help entrepreneurs face their challenges, develop effective plans to overcome them and achieve long-term success." Seth Goodall, New England Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, will deliver the keynote address, "Strategies for Small Business Success." Following the keynote address, Woodward will moderate a panel discussion, "Finding Solutions to Small Business Challenges," joined by Goodall and the following panelists: Tim Francis, Vice Presidnt and Enterprise Cyber Lead, Travelers William Pierz, President, Shoff Darby Companies, Inc. Janet Siegenthaler, Manager of Business Counseling & Access to Capital, Women's Business Development Council www.sba.gov/NSBW. The Small Business - Big Opportunity series was launched in 2011 to bring industry and government professionals together to discuss solutions to some of today's small business challenges. For more information, visit www.travelersinstitute.org/smallbusiness. About the Travelers Institute The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., engages in discussion and analysis of public policy topics of importance to the insurance marketplace and to the financial services industry more broadly. The Travelers Institute draws upon the industry expertise of Travelers' senior management, as well as the technical expertise of many of Travelers' underwriters, risk managers and other experts, to provide information, analysis and solutions to public policymakers and regulators. Travelers is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. For more information, visit www.travelers.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005602/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Truffle 100: Sopra Steria Moves up to Second Place in the 2016 Ranking of Software Publishers in France Regulatory News: Sopra Steria (Paris:SOP) moves up one place to take second position in the 12th annual edition of the Truffle (News - Alert) 100, ranking the top 100 software publishers in France. "We are delighted to have moved up a place to the No. 2 spot in the Truffle 100 ranking, a benchmark indicator for our software development business. This progress validates our strategy, which is to continuously improve the excellence of our software offering. This is at the heart of our commitment to support our customers in their successful digital transformation," said Vincent Paris, CEO of Sopra Steria. Software development has been a key strategic focus to the Group for over 40 years. Sopra Steria creates and deploys application solutions to deliver advanced software, based on cutting-edge information technologies, know-how and expertise, helping our customers to develop their business. Using the software solutions developed by Sopra Steria all of which rank among the leaders intheir respective markets, our customers are able to pursue excellence in three key areas: Financial services (Sopra Banking Software subsidiary), with a software suite used by more than 600 customers in 70 countries; Human resources (Sopra HR Software subsidiary), with a range of solutions covering all the needs of HR information systems, deployed with more than 850 customers in over 54 countries; Property, with management solutions in France. About Sopra Steria Sopra Steria, a European leader in digital transformation, provides one of the most comprehensive portfolios of end-to-end service offerings on the market: consulting, systems integration, software development, infrastructure management and business process services. Sopra Steria is trusted by leading private and public-sector organisations to deliver successful transformation programmes that address their most complex and critical business challenges. Combining high quality and performance services, added value and innovation, Sopra Steria enables its clients to make the best use of digital technology. With over 38,000 employees in more than 20 countries, Sopra Steria had revenue of 3.6 billion in 2015. For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005904/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Two Alaska Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Alaska's top two youth volunteers of 2016, Jenevia Wika, 16, of Anchorage and Isabella Weiss, 14, of Palmer, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 21st annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Jenevia and Isabella - along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country - each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005435/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates Jenevia Wika, 16, of Anchorage (center) and Isabella Weiss, 14, of Palmer (right) on being named Alaska's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Jenevia and Isabella were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), named Jenevia and Isabella Alaska's top high school and middle level youth volunteers in February. In addition to their cash awards, they each received an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., for four days of recognition events. Jenevia, a junior at South Anchorage High School, has helped collect and donate more than 13,000 pairs of jeans for homeless teens in Alaska. Three years ago, Jenevia and her older sister heard about DoSomething.org's "Teens for Jeans" initiative and, after learning that teen homelessness is a big problem everywhere, they knew they wanted to get involved. "One in three homeless are under the age of 15 years old," said Jenevia. "I felt it was important to pay it forward and give back to our Alaskan community while inspiring others to do the same." Two years after the onset of their project, her older sister went off to college and Jenevia took the reins. This year, to accomplish her goal of helping homeless teens, Jenevia announced her campaign in an article in her church's bulletin, created posters and fliers promoting the drive, and met with peers, her student council, church groups and business owners to raise awareness of teen homelessness. She then placed collection boxes around the community. After the drive was over, she collected the jeans, brought them home to sort, and delivered them to Covenant House, which provides services for homeless young people. Jenevia is especially proud that she collected 6,569 pairs of jeans this year, substantially more than in both previous years and the second-highest total in DoSomething's national capaign. "The most memorable part was having thousands of jeans piled up throughout the house," she said. "I could not help but smile and feel great about the positive difference I was going to make in so many lives." Isabella, an eighth-grader at Colony Middle School, interviewed 19 residents of a local senior center to record the memorable experiences of their lives, and also arranged a "movie night" at the center. Isabella and her family began volunteering in the cafeteria of the senior center three years ago, and got to know a remarkable 92-year-old woman there. Isabella visited her regularly to keep her company, and ended up helping her make Christmas gifts for local children. "She showed me the joy of helping the elderly," said Isabella. So when Isabella was looking for a service project to prepare for her bat mitzvah, she knew she wanted to do something to help the seniors at the center. "I wanted to connect with these seniors, let them know somebody cared, and provide them with an opportunity to share their wisdom," Isabella said. After meeting with the center's management to figure out what she could do, Isabella began meeting with residents and recording them as they shared their memories and wisdom. "They made me laugh, they made me cry, and they really made me think about life," she said. Isabella then transcribed and edited the stories into typed documents, and began planning a movie night to bring a little fun to the center. In addition to screening "Singing in the Rain," Isabella served homemade treats, gave a speech, and read two of the stories she recorded. Now, each month, one of her 19 stories will be featured in the senior center's newsletter for all to read. "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. More than 29,000 middle level and high school students nationwide participated in this year's program. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of Alaska's honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005435/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Two Brothers Separated for 65 Years Reunited by MyHeritage MyHeritage, the fastest-growing destination for discovering, preserving and sharing family history, announced today the reuniting of two long-lost brothers born in the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp who subsequently separated as young children and grew up in Israel and Canada, respectively. Izak Szewelewicz, who was born in the displaced persons camp at Bergen-Belsen, Germany shortly after World War II, was adopted by an Israeli family in 1948 at the age of three, and was then raised in Israel. Izak's mother, Aida, had meanwhile immigrated to Canada, and later found and contacted Izak when he was an adolescent. They met a few times, but she always refused to speak about the identity or fate of Izak's father or anyone else from the family. Only a few years ago, Izak received documents from the Bergen-Belsen archive that delivered a shocking revelation: he had a brother named Shepsyl in the camp, as well as another relative. The records indicated that both relatives had emigrated to Canada, separately from his mother. In September 2013, Izak's nephew Alon Schwarz reached out to MyHeritage with a special request: to help him find Izak's lost brother. MyHeritage rose to the challenge. Together with Alon Schwarz, MyHeritage Head Genealogist (UK) Laurence Harris embarked on a relentless search that eventually led him to successfully locate Melanie Shell, the only daughter of Shep Shell. Shep's name had been anglicized upon arrival in Canada; his original name was Szepsyl Szewelewicz. Izak's brother had been found. An emotional reunion between the brothers took place in Canada. A few days later, the brothers went to visit Aida, whereupon Shep met his mother for the very first time since he was a baby. In March 2014, MyHeritage arranged for the brothers to have their DNA tested, revealing more surprising details of the family story, and more secrets kept by Aida for nearly seven decades. "MyHeritage brings families together," said Laurence Harris. "We provide tools for our users to make family history discoveries and connet with long-lost relatives. Izak and Shep's reunion was the result of our technology, databases, and in-house expertise in action, and our unending willingness to help people. Seeing how meaningful the outcome was for the brothers and their families is the very best reward imaginable for our efforts in this pro bono initiative." Shep Shell, a former Paralympic athlete who represented Canada in international tournaments, wrote to MyHeritage: "I can't tell you what it means to finally meet my brother after 65 years and find that I also have a wonderful, large family as a bonus. What is even more amazing is the fulfillment of my lifelong dream to find my birth mother. Finding her alive was the icing on the cake. Finding Aida closes a circle for me and gives me peace of mind that I am not alone." Alon and Shaul Schwarz have produced and directed a feature-length documentary about this story, entitled Aida's Secrets. The film follows the family's efforts to uncover their post-World War II history and captures the reunions between the two brothers and between Shep and his mother. Aida's Secrets will have its world premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto on May 3, 2016. About MyHeritage MyHeritage is the world's fastest-growing destination for discovering, preserving and sharing family history. As technology thought leaders, MyHeritage is transforming family history into an activity that's accessible and instantly rewarding. Its global user community enjoys access to a massive library of historical records, the most internationally diverse collection of family trees and groundbreaking search and matching technologies. Trusted by millions of families, MyHeritage provides an easy way to share family stories, past and present, and treasure them for generations to come. MyHeritage is available in 42 languages. www.myheritage.com About Aida's Secrets Family secrets, high drama and generations of contemporary history unspool in this international story that begins with World War II and concludes with an emotional 21st-century family reunion. Izak was born inside the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp in 1945 and sent for adoption in Israel. Secret details of his birth mother, an unknown brother in Canada and his father's true identity slowly emerge in this extremely personal investigative film. Timely questions of identity, resilience, compassion and the plight of displaced persons are brought to life as Izak and Shep, the almost 70-year-old brothers, finally meet in Canada, then head to a nursing home in Quebec to introduce Shep to his elderly mother, Aida, for the first time. Aida's Secrets is a family story intertwined inside an historical investigative documentary spanning seven decades. The many question marks surrounding the plot, make it a wild journey through time, to periods when the concepts of love, life and death where shaken and rebuilt. An observation of human nature in the desperate need to survive, rekindle passion, and create a new family in a society reborn after the war. The film is an Israel-German-American coproduction and was supported by Yes Docu, NFCT, ARTE and SWR. The film was produced by Reel Peak Films. For more information, visit the film's Facebook page. About The Filmmakers Brothers and filmmakers Alon Schwarz and Shaul Schwarz have worked on this film for three years. Shaul and Alon have previously worked together on other films, including Narco Cultura which was released in 2013 at Sundance, HotDocs, Belinale, and other leading film festivals. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005534/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Two Michigan Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Michigan's top two youth volunteers of 2016, Dale (Trip) Apley, 16, of Ann Arbor and Aubrey Cohoon, 12, of Spring Lake, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 21st annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Trip and Aubrey - along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country - each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005465/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates Dale (Trip) Apley, 16, of Ann Arbor (center) and Aubrey Cohoon, 12, of Spring Lake (right) on being named Michigan's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Trip and Aubrey were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), named Trip and Aubrey Michigan's top high school and middle level youth volunteers in February. In addition to their cash awards, they each received an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., for four days of recognition events. Trip, a junior at Skyline High School, spearheaded an all-school fundraising drive in October 2015 to provide 18,000 bottles of water to children in Flint after the state first announced the city's water was contaminated with dangerous levels of lead. For more than five years, Trip has been involved in monitoring the water quality of streams and rivers in his area, efforts that have earned him an appointment to the youth council of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. "Water quality monitoring and revitalization of watersheds is my passion," said Trip. That's why he knew he had to do something when he learned that an entire community had water that was unsafe to drink. "To me this was a serious situation," said Trip. "Flint is an economically disadvantaged area, and is the last community that can afford to switch to bottled water." Trip contacted the United Way and the Flint School District to determine the best way to proceed. He then asked his principal for permission to raise money at school. With the support of his school principal, family and friends, he was able to donate over $2,800 to buy bottled water for schoolchildren in Flint. Trip said he recognizes that his donation of water will not cure wha ails the city's water supply, and he intends to work toward a long-term solution. "In the near future, through public and private means, I intend to be part of the solution to revitalize water systems in economically disadvantaged areas like Flint," he said. Aubrey, a sixth-grader at Spring Lake Intermediate School, has helped grant wishes to three sick children and their families over the past two years by raising more than $30,000 for Make-A-Wish Michigan. Aubrey got involved with giving to others after she received so many gifts on her 7th birthday that she felt "overwhelmed." For subsequent birthdays, Aubrey asked for donations to a designated local cause instead of presents she didn't need. A few years later, she began researching the Make-A-Wish Foundation, met with its Michigan chapter, and decided she wanted to raise money exclusively for that organization. Since then, Aubrey's year-round efforts have gained her recognition as a prolific Make-A-Wish fund-raiser. She formed a team for the annual Walk for Wishes, ran in a 5K, bussed tables at a local restaurant in exchange for donations to Make-A-Wish, and sold bracelets at a car show and a neighborhood stand. She also arranged to hold activity nights and special dress-up days at her school to raise money, and recruited local businesses to help as well. "It makes me feel so good to do what I am doing," said Aubrey. "So many people have been impacted, but most importantly, I do it for the wish kids." "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. More than 29,000 middle level and high school students nationwide participated in this year's program. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of Michigan's honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005465/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Two Texas Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Texas' top two youth volunteers of 2016, Ariana Luterman, 16, of Dallas and Courtney Janecka, 12, of Woodway, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 21st annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Ariana and Courtney - along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country - each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005504/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates Ariana Luterman, 16, of Dallas (center) and Courtney Janecka, 12, of Woodway (right) on being named Texas's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Ariana and Courtney were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), named Ariana and Courtney Texas' top high school and middle level youth volunteers in February. In addition to their cash awards, they each received an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., for four days of recognition events. Ariana, a sophomore at Greenhill School, has combined her passion for competitive triathlon racing with her desire to help homeless children through Team Ariana, which has raised more than $90,000 in donations and more than $40,000 in goods to benefit a local childcare center that provides free early development services for homeless children. Ariana said her life changed the first time she saw a homeless child when she was 8 years old. "It awakened my heart to the reality that all kids did not have a home, a bed, or even a special pillow to call their own," she said. She began volunteering at the Vogel Alcove childcare center, reading to children, supervising arts and crafts projects, and requesting that instead of gifts, her birthday guests bring donations to benefit homeless children. At the same time, Ariana said, her triathlon performances were beginning to attract national attention, and she decided to capitalize on the opportunity. So in 2011, she formed Team Ariana. Her idea was to use her name recognition to attract corporate sponsorships and bring awareness to the growing problem of homeless children. She spent months developing strategies and meeting with companies to solicit support. Once she had a clothing sponsor, she designed a line of Team Ariana racewear and created an online store so that other athletes could support her cause with their purchases. She also sold corporate logo pacements on her personal race gear and her clothing line to generate funds for Vogel Alcove. In addition, she began speaking to audiences around the country about the issue of child homelessness. "If I can change the course of one child's life, I have proven I am a real champion," Ariana said. Courtney, a sixth-grader at Midway River Valley Intermediate, makes and sells beaded bracelets to enable her mother to give away the book she wrote on surviving cancer to other cancer patients, churches, hospitals and schools. When Courtney was a toddler, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Although Courtney doesn't remember that trying time, she has seen how her mother's story and book have inspired others. "Her book can help people and I decided that I wanted to help too," said Courtney. "I knew that if I could raise money, we could give her books away to people with cancer." After a friend heard of Courtney's plan and sent her a bracelet, she decided she could make and sell similar ones to raise money. "Courtney's Creations" was born in late 2013. To make her beaded creations, Courtney buys beads and charms at local and online stores; sometimes people who have heard about her project even send her cases of beads they no longer need. While she makes many of the bracelets herself, she also organizes bracelet-making parties with her friends to increase the number she can sell. Over the past two years, Courtney has sold more than 1,100 bracelets online and at some local stores, raising over $10,000 and enabling her mother to give away more than 800 of her books. Courtney accompanies her mother on trips all over Texas to deliver books, and often speaks in front of large crowds at events. "There are lots of people with cancer and I am grateful I can help some of them," said Courtney. "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. More than 29,000 middle level and high school students nationwide participated in this year's program. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org. About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. ### Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of Texas' honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005504/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Workiva Helps JLL Income Property Trust Replace Legacy Software to Streamline Accounting, Finance and Corporate Secretary Processes AMES, Iowa, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Workiva (NYSE: WK), creator of the Wdesk cloud-based productivity platform for enterprises, today announced that JLL Income Property Trust (JLLIPT) and its advisor, LaSalle Investment Management, use Wdesk to significantly improve efficiencies throughout their accounting, finance and legal teams. "As a company, our initiative is to make Wdesk our number-one reporting tool," said Pete Bucher, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Controller at LaSalle Investment Management. "We replaced our old word-processing and spreadsheet software with Wdesk, and it's a night-and-day comparison. Every one of our 150 Wdesk users sees the platform as an efficiency gainer. They all think Wdesk is a slam dunk." JLLIPT uses Wdesk to file reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and to manage internal controls over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Lasalle Investment Management uses Wdesk for a variety of quarterly corporate reports and company-wide fund reporting. "We immediately saw the benefits of Wdesk," said Bucher. "It allows us to control our more than 80 regulatory filings, and it better aligns the accounting and legal departments. Over the past year, our workload has increased significantly, but thanks to Wdesk we have been able to internally manage this increase." He cites the Wdesk mobile app for reviewing and commenting on work as another efficiency bonus. "With SOX and internl controls, we have to work with data that originates across the company," said Mallory Sevcik, Senior Portfolio Accountant at LaSalle Investment Management. "For the work we do every day, nothing could be more efficient than Wdesk linking and tasking." The accounting department collaborates on the same document simultaneously, tracks progress with dashboards, sends reminders to people and creates document blacklines for auditors all through Wdesk. Data aggregation within Wdesk was also a breakthrough for JLLIPT. "Previously our fair-value measurement tables in GAAP footnote disclosures had 15 collaborators who would submit different sets of data in different ways, making aggregation time-consuming," said Sevcik. "With Wdesk data collection templates, we have data all linked in one version, which dramatically saves time." Based on their success, JLLIPT and LaSalle Investment Management are considering Wdesk for more processes and reports, including enterprise risk management, quarterly Controller's book schedules and executive management certifications for their board and auditors. "Wdesk allows me to be more of a strategist as opposed to an organizer," added Bucher. "Wdesk has given us more time to validate the data and put more thought into more valuable places." About Workiva Workiva (NYSE: WK) created Wdesk, a cloud-based productivity platform for enterprises to collect, link, report and analyze business data with control and accountability. Thousands of organizations, including over 65 percent of the Fortune 500, use Wdesk. The platform's proprietary word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications are integrated and built upon a data management engine, offering synchronized data, controlled collaboration, granular permissions and a full audit trail. Wdesk helps mitigate enterprise risk, improve productivity and give users confidence to make decisions with real-time data. Workiva employs more than 1,200 people with offices in 16 cities. The company is headquartered in Ames, Iowa. For more information, visit workiva.com. Claim not confirmed by FORTUNE or Time Inc. FORTUNE 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used under license. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Workiva Inc. Contact: Kevin McCarthy Workiva Inc. (515) 663-4471 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150213/175372LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/workiva-helps-jll-income-property-trust-replace-legacy-software-to-streamline-accounting-finance-and-corporate-secretary-processes-300260555.html SOURCE Workiva Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Teleplan CEO Gotthard Haug to Step Down SCHIPHOL, The Netherlands, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Francois Lacombe to succeed Gotthard Haug as CEO of Teleplan Gotthard Haug, Teleplan's Chief Executive Officer will step down on 15 May 2016. Francois Lacombe will succeed him and take over the responsibilities as CEO of Teleplan from September 2016 onwards. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361684 ) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361685 ) Gotthard Haug has been the CEO of Teleplan since 2009 and prior to this he has worked as the Company's Chief Financial Officer since 2004. In 2004, he successfully managed Teleplan's restructuring and driven by a solid financial performance in the years 2008 to 2010 the capital market acknowledged these achievements and included the Teleplan share in the privileged SDAX segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In the following years Haug made important strategic contributions to the company in relation to supporting technologies, innovations and repositioning Teleplan from a pure repair company to an innovative after-market upply chain solutions company. "After 12 years being with the Company it is time for change. The Company is in good shape and a solid base has been laid for future growth. So from a CEO perspective a good moment to hand Teleplan over to a new CEO," commented Gotthard Haug his step down. Francois Lacombe is an exceptional leader with deep roots in the after-market service industry. Prior to joining Teleplan he worked as Senior Vice President Logistics and Repair at Ingram Micro. Before that Francois was CEO of ANOVO. Previously he held various senior management positions with Accenture, General Electric or Kuehne + Nagel. "As a veteran in the reverse logistics and repair space, I have been watching from a distance the impressive development of Teleplan over the years. I feel honoured to have been chosen to lead such a respected team of professionals, and to serve Teleplan's prestigious list of customers. I am looking forward to writing a new chapter in the history of Teleplan and to continue to deliver supply chain and after-market service excellence to Telelan's customers", commented Francois Lacombe his new role. "I have enjoyed working with Gotthard since our investment in 2011 and would like to thank him for his successful contribution in further developing Teleplan into a full service provider in the technology aftermarket supply-chain industry. Given the company's next phase of growth and international service capabilities we are pleased to have brought Francois Lacombe on board as the new CEO and to work with Teleplan's customers in the coming years", stated Nikolai Pronk, Partner at Gilde Buy Out Partners. Teleplan International N.V. is an industry leader in lifecycle care for after-market service, operating in the areas of Computers, Communications and Consumer Electronics. Focussing on Customer Care, Managed Logistics, Parts Management, Screening & Testing, Repair/Refurbish and Resell/Recycle, Teleplan have over 30 years of proven performance providing value propositions throughout the supply chain from the point of purchase to the end of life. Teleplan innovate to consistently keep up with the advances in interactive connectivity and communication and our Telemade approach tailors to each individual customer's needs. Headquartered in Amsterdam/Schiphol, the Netherlands, Teleplan's service centres have a global reach of over 95 countries and employ over 5000 people. For further information please visit: http://www.teleplan.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Fintech Storm Announces NPCI Alliance; Set to Brainstorm Opportunities for Banking and Payments at Fintech Storm India Summit, May 12 MUMBAI, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fintech Storm is bringing to Mumbai on 12th and 13th May, 2016, the collective insights of Fintech world gleaned from Europe and USA. Fintech Storm, the established brand from UK owned by Genius Incubator Ltd. is set to forge crucial partnerships with thought-leaders in banking and policy-making bodies in India, and is hosting India Financial Forum on 12th May at Hotel St Regis. Shri A.P. Hota, CEO, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), one such crucial alliance of Fintech Storm and speaker at the 12th May summit said, "Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a transformational payment system project which would facilitate immediate 'send' and immediate 'collect' 24x7. Being API based, banks and financial institutions would have enough flexibility to develop products on the UPI platform. Early indication shows great enthusiasm on the part of the Ecommerce players to make use of UPI for the payment leg of transactions." Speaking on the collaboration, Ms. Arifa Khan, MD and CEO of Genius Incubator Ltd. and founder of 'Fintech Storm' and 'Europe-India Conclave' series said her firm would support NPCI in research on relevance of blockchain in Indian payments market. India Financial Forum on 12th May will debate on themes such as digital banking, banking APIs, online lending, Peer-to-Peer funding, instant and seamless payments financial inclusion for the unbanked, blockchain applications in and outside of financial services and other emerging technologies such as Big Data, IOT, artificial intelligence for robo-advisory in the banking industry. USAID will speak on financial inclusion reaching the last person in hinterlands at the summit. "We are delighted to have the support of an independent and objective non-profit organisation such as NPCI whose purpose is to accelerate innovation in payments, which affects the banking and cards industry. Mr. A.P. Hota is a veteran CEO who enjoys the confidence of the entire banking industry in India, and having his buy-in for a collaborative R&D effort is a huge advantage. We are excited about the promise of technologies such as blockchain - having built strong connections with blockchain experts and innovators in Europe and USA. We would now explore its applications in varied industries in India," said Khan. "Our work as adviser on foreign investments and our affiliation with Central and State Govt. bodies further enhances our unique position. For example; we had a positive response from the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Chandra Babu Naidu and his team of Ministers whom we met on thei March visit to London seeking investments from UK. We met Chairmen of Port authorities of A.P and Inland Waterways Authority of India at Maritime Investor Summit, a landmark summit hosted by visionary Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, 14th - 16th April in Mumbai which attracted MOUs for an estimated Rs. 12 lakh crore investments. We are also working with the regulators and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to find ways to bring in foreign funding at ultra competitive costs," stated Khan. Shri Nitin Gadkari has also been invited as Chief Guest to inaugurate the two-day Fintech Storm India Summit on 12th May. "In parallel to infrastructure funding advisory, we will submit proposals to Govt. of Andhra Pradesh to harness the potential of new innovations and technologies in building the brand new capital Amravati. We will continue dialogues with SEBI, RBI and Banking CEO's to explore opportunities," elaborated Andhra-born Arifa Khan on the various promising developments in 2016. "We propose to raise investment for this exciting opportunity and to kick start R&D. We will seek to carry out collaborative research work with technology solution providers (for example IBM, Linux Foundation, Microsoft , Blockchain firms and ISPIRIT, that was behind the development of Aadhar's UID project and UPI in India, for the benefit of the Indian market) and our partners in Europe. My personal interest is to evangelise explosive high growth technologies in India and put India on the pedestal of high tech nations with double digit growth!" Ms. Arifa Khan expressed her unbounded optimism for the latest project. Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) and Niti Ayog are keen to promote entrepreneurship amongst youth and are participants at the Fintech Storm India Summit. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is keen to study various Fintech opportunities from the regulatory risk perspective and especially to explore blockchain's potential. The RBI think-tank has extended an invitation to Ms. Arifa Khan to deliver a talk on blockchain on 5th May. She is looking forward to deliberations with various banks which will culminate in engaging debates at the two-day summit on 12th - 13th May and beyond. Arifa Khan further listed the benefits for startups looking to raise funding, "Startups and SMEs have a lot to look forward to at the summit as India Funding Conclave on 13th May is dedicated to companies in fundraising rounds (from all sectors, not just Fintech) who can mingle with VC's, investors, lenders, NBFC's in a first of its kind attempt to give entrepreneurs plenty of choice - in funding. I thought there was a gap in India to host this kind of 'investor mela' and enabling forums. So taking the lead, the summit has lined up over 20 investors so far such as, Matrix, IDG Ventures, Saif partners, Lok Capital, Aspada etc. This is Fintech Storm's tribute to Mumbai, the star factory which groomed my passion for financial services early in my career, and to Startup-India initiative launched by the Govt. which is a fillip to our young innovators and job creators." Fintech Storm is supported by PR Partner PR Newswire, event research partner Majestic MRSS, Thought leadership partners Gateway House, NPCI, Knowledge Partners IIT Madras, ISPIRIT and outreach partners Nasscom 10000 startups, TIE Mumbai and TIE Delhi, Innov8, SME Joinup, Harvard and Wharton Clubs of India, Pune Open Coffee Meetup, Indian Startups, For Press Release, FintechLabs etc. Review the full program at: http://fintechstormindia.com/agenda List of Speakers, Investors and Participants:http://fintechstormindia.com/speakers For full details visit: http://www.fintechstormindia.com/overview/ Website: http://fintechstormindia.com http://FintechStorm.com/Mumbai-2016 Tickets: http://in.explara.com/in/indiafundingconclave For ticketing support contact [email protected] For sponsorship and exhibitor queries contact [email protected] Past event site for Europe India Conclave Dec 2015:http://FintechStorm.com/europe-india Media Contact: Arifa Khan [email protected] [email protected] +91-9619703635 Mananging Director Genius Incubator Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Political analyst: There is a red line which one must not cross (video) Any political force has the right to demand Serzh Sargsyans resignation, but that demand must be well grounded, political analyst Ruben Mihrabyan said commenting on the statement of Armen Ashotyan, Vice-Chairman of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). The latter said it is not moral to demand the resignation of the Supreme Commander of the Armenian Armed Forces [Serzh Sargsyan] against the backdrop of continued fighting along the Line of Contact. If so, the authorities in Israel would stay in power after 1947, the political analyst said. He is not surprised that the authorities keep speaking about consensus instead of addressing their shortcomings. "With trials still ahead of us, they had better refrain from actions that would simply weaken our state. Fight against the authorities and their defects, even fight for power is completely legitimate and legal but there is a red line there called fight against the state which one cannot and must not cross. [May 02, 2016] Bring Loved Ones Closer With Curated Gift Delivery by India-gift GURGAON, India, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The growing gifting industry is all set to receive a revamp full of emotions as India-gift.in announces its curated gift delivery to India. Reducing the dependance on e-commerce shopping portals that are devoid of emotions, India-gift.in aims to introduce personalisation into the gifting space, revolutising deliveries with emotions. Backed by a huge delivery network of more than 500 cities, India-gift.in is the brainchild of IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus, Mohit Bansal who chose to bring a personal touch to e-gifting in India. The year-old website delivers flowers, cakes, chocolates and all gifts with personalisation across the country. Their USP is not only their personal touch in every gift delivery but also their wide reach. Focussing on gift delivery to small cities, Mohit Bansal said, "Though e-gifting occupies more than a $400 million share in the huge $4 billion e-commerce space, we realised that there is a bigger market to be tapped in smaller cites. Gift delivery to Delhi, Mumbai and the other bigger cities is a very easy thing to do. But no one was catering to those who wanted to send birthday cakes to Deoghar or flowers to Gonda or chocolates to Sitamarhi. That's where we started setting up a stellar network for gift delivery to all the smaller cities of India. And we are very proud to state that we are perhaps the only ones in India that have gift deliveries to tier 4 cities and towns. Having said that, we never compromise on quality. We deliver emotions through our customers' gifts and take pride in doing so each time." Currently the website is gearing up for mothers day 2016. They have put together a collection of mothers day gifts, which comprise of many customised gifts. Mugs, mobile covers, photo frames, personalised tiles and stones, etc. apart from mother's day flowers and cakes can now be sent with emotions anywhere in India. The website is easy to browse through and customers can place orders within minutes. To top it, the options to send birthday and anniversary gifts across India are stellar and unmatched. Now customers can send gifts to loved ones across India at the click of a mouse. About India-gift.in: India-gift.in is a new generation gifting portal founded by IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus Mohit Bansal. He is joined by a team of gifting experts who curate and hand-pick each gift listed on the site. India-gift.in with its vision of 'delivering emotions through gifts' boasts of more than 500 delivery points in the country. For more information, visit https://www.india-gift.in/ Media Contact: Rupal Bansal [email protected] +91-9899997654 Chief Gifting Officer India-gift [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] May's Posture Awareness Month Educates and Combats the Negative Health Complications of Bad Postures ATLANTA, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- May kicks off Posture Awareness Month and brings together thousands of doctors, therapists and trainers across the U.S. in response to the epidemic health consequences of poor posture related to modern technology. Spearheaded by BodyZone founder and posture expert Dr. Steven Weiniger, the month-long awareness effort educates professionals and the public about the negative health consequences of bad posture, particularly related to modern technology, and works to highlight resources and health information to correct these issues. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160430/362036 Posture affects how well a person lives. With 65 million people in the U.S. alone enduring back pain every year, posture related back problems are the third leading reason for all doctors visits. Lower back pain is the most common disability for people under age 45, causing lost productivity, inability to participate in normal activities, and diminished enjoyment of life. Young or old, most people don't realize poor posture is a contributor to health problems, and modern technology has only increased its occurrence. "As smartphone and tablet use increases, so does posture breakdown," says Dr. Weiniger. "Sitting is a bent posture literally folding the torso over the pelvis. Texting locks the hands together, causing shoulders to roll inward. This combination means chronically tight back, neck and chest muscles. Plus, as we get older, gravity combines with muscle imbalances to make people feel and look older than they really are." The U.S. Occupational and Safety Administration (OSHA) notes on its website that people who spend their days working on a computer face their own specific posture challenges. OSHA offers help in addressing the health risks inherent in using computer work stations for prolonged periods in a special section on its website as well as proides checklists and e-tools to promote better workplace posture. PostureMonth.org will distribute free tool kits, host webinar training, and educate about the clinical benefits of functionally strengthening posture to help Americans improve their posture for better health, longevity, pain relief and aging well. The tool kits Dr. Weiniger will distribute expand upon the information offered by OSHA by spelling out specific changes people can make to improve their posture and overall health. "Studies confirm posture has a huge effect on your health, appearance and attitude. As more people develop a permanent slump from sitting in front of a computer, posture is gaining new recognition as a growing health problem," explains Dr. Weiniger. "We promote the ACE model of strong posture: Awareness, Control and Environment. Awareness helps people recognize how strong or weak their posture is currently. Control means taking steps to improve and maintain your posture. Environment is about optimizing your physical environment, and looking at what you do to your posture at work, play, and while sleeping." Expanding on the purpose of Posture Awareness Month, a host of information on promoting good posture with small changes at home, work and play, and specific activities to improve posture and balance will be available year-round from participating professionals and PostureMonth.org. Professionals and the general public are encouraged to view the website to learn more on the subject. About Posture Awareness Month PostureMonth.org promotes posture awareness and its impact on health. Spearheaded by BodyZone founder and posture expert Dr. Steven Weiniger, the global public health effort bands together health professionals to encourage people to take action. Author of the book Stand Taller, Live Longer: An Anti-Aging Strategy, Dr. Weiniger is a globally recognized expert in posture and is dedicated to educating health and fitness professionals as well as the general public on the importance of maintaining good posture. For more information, visit PostureMonth.org. MEDIA CONTACT: Renee North 3000 Old Alabama Road, Suite 119-352 Alpharetta, GA 30022 Phone: 770-922-0700 Email: [email protected] Website: http://posturemonth.org Sources OSHA Checklist for Preventing Bad Working Postures OSHA Computer Workstation Education Posture ACE Infographics, Awareness, Control and Environment This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mays-posture-awareness-month-educates-and-combats-the-negative-health-complications-of-bad-postures-300260530.html SOURCE BodyZone [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Skylogic Research and BZ Media Release First In-depth Research of Drone Sales REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Skylogic Research, LLC together with BZ Media LLC, today released "Drones in the Channel: 2016 Market Report," a research report examining drone sales and distribution channels in North America. The report offers fresh insights on the major brands and the growing role that distribution and reseller businesses play in the sale of consumer and commercial drones. The report is available for purchase here. It provides a comprehensive view of topics like: U.S. market size for all drones and growth projections by segment the major drone distributors (who they are, what they carry, how many, major customers, customers by industry segment) The study also reports data collected from the survey of drone buyers and provides insight on: where they purchase their drones (e.g., online or in a store)? the intended drone usefor hobby or racing or photography purposes, or for their employer? the most popular drone brands b price point? Colin Snow , CEO and Founder of Skylogic Research. "As the drone industry grows and evolves, it's important for all to identify and understand who the major brands are and what opportunities and relationships are in the supply chain," he added. "Drone distribution is in the heady 'Wild West' phase with many channel players donning multiple hats as the market settles into stratified price points and uses for drones. We were excited to work with Skylogic Research on this first extensive study of the drone dealer channel and have Colin Snow present the results earlier this month at the first Drone Dealer Expo in Orlando," said Ted Bahr, President & CEO of BZ Media. Tweet this: New research report from @droneanalyst projects substantial growth opportunities for the drone industry http://bit.ly/1KHacqc ABOUT SKYLOGIC RESEARCH Skylogic Research, LLC is a research, content, and advisory services firm supporting all participants in the commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. We provide research-based insights needed to make critical investment decisions with confidence. ABOUT BZ MEDIA BZ Media LLC is a 15-year-old high-tech media company producing InterDrone, Drone Dealer Expo, and other industry-leading technical conferences and expositions, and SD Times, the leading magazine for the software development industry. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skylogic-research-and-bz-media-release-first-in-depth-research-of-drone-sales-300259770.html SOURCE Skylogic Research, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] BCE to purchase MTS MTS shareholders to receive $40.00 per share, in combination of cash and BCE shares Winnipeg to become headquarters for BCE's 6,900-person Western Operations BCE to invest $1 billion over five years after closing to bring next-generation internet, wireless and television products to Manitoba customers, and provide other meaningful commitments to Manitobans WINNIPEG, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - (TSX: MBT) Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS) today announced it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement pursuant to which BCE Inc. (BCE) (TSX, NYSE: BCE) will purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MTS under terms that contain compelling benefits for our shareholders, our customers, our employees and will support long term growth and prosperity in the Province of Manitoba. The transaction is valued at $3.9 billion. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of each of MTS and BCE and is supported by the management teams of both companies. "This transaction recognizes the intrinsic value of MTS and will deliver immediate and meaningful value to MTS shareholders, while offering strong benefits to MTS customers and employees, and to the Province of Manitoba," said Jay Forbes, President & CEO, MTS. "We are proud of our history and what we have achieved as an independent company. We believe the proposed transaction we are announcing today with BCE will allow MTS to build on our successful past and achieve even more in the future." "BCE looks forward to being part of Manitoba's strong growth prospects, building on the tremendous MTS legacy of technological innovation, customer service and competitive success by delivering the best broadband, wireless, internet and TV services to the people of Manitoba in communities large and small," said George Cope, President & CEO of BCE. "As the headquarters for the Western operations of BCE, Bell MTS will focus on delivering the benefits of new broadband communications infrastructure, ongoing technology development and enhanced community investment to Manitobans everywhere." BCE has offered to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MTS for $40.00 per share, representing a premium of 23.2% based on the volume weighted average closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange of MTS' common shares for the last twenty trading days, and values MTS at approximately 10.1 times 2016 estimated EBITDA (less deferred wireless costs) based on the latest consensus estimates, and 9.5 times including the present value of tax assets. MTS shareholders will be able to elect to receive $40.00 per share in cash or 0.6756 of a BCE common share for each MTS common share, subject to proration, such that the aggregate consideration to be paid to MTS shareholders will be 45% in cash and 55% in BCE common shares. The share consideration is based on BCE's twenty trading day volume weighted average price of $59.21 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In connection with the arrangement, the Board of Directors of MTS will not declare any further dividends on MTS' common shares other than being permitted to declare a second-quarter 2016 dividend in May to be paid in July. Compelling Benefits for Manitoba The transaction is expected to provide significant benefits to MTS customers and employees, and to the Province of Manitoba. These include significant investments, access to innovative consumer and enterprise telecommunications products and support to the local community. BCE intends to invest $1 billion in the five years after the transaction closes to: Make Gigabit Fibe Internet, offering average access speeds up to 20 times faster than what MTS customers receive today, available within 12 months after the transaction closes, Expand the mobile LTE network and make improvements to mobile data speeds that will double our customer's average download speeds, and Provide access to Fibe TV, North America's most innovative TV platform. "This transaction would benefit all Manitoba telecommunications customers," said Forbes. "A successful national operator like Bell has the scale, reach and financial strength to offer better access to advanced services for more Manitoba consumers and businesses, and to compete and invest in the province's infrastructure in the long term." BCE values the talent and skills of MTS people and has committed to making Winnipeg its headquarters for Western Canada, which with the addition of the MTS team will have a total of approximately 6,900 employees. MTS' data centre is expected to join BCE's network of 27 large data centres and gain access to the largest broadband fibre network in Canada. BCE will maintain a strong and important position within the local community, ensuring that naming rights for the home of the Winnipeg Jets and other community sponsorships ae maintained or extended. Additionally, BCE will introduce a new Bell Let's Talk Manitoba fund focused on mental health support for aboriginal communities chaired by Manitoban Clara Hughes, the national spokesperson for Bell Let's Talk. Structure, Timing and Approvals of Proposed Transaction The transaction is structured to proceed by way of a court approved plan of arrangement under The Corporations Act (Manitoba) pursuant to which BCE will purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MTS subject to shareholder approval from two-thirds of the votes cast by MTS shareholders and satisfaction of other required approvals, including receipt of regulatory approvals by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The Board of Directors of MTS unanimously recommends that MTS shareholders vote in favour of the plan of arrangement, which is expected to be subject to a special meeting of shareholders held in late June of 2016. The Board of Directors of MTS has obtained a fairness opinion from each of Barclays Capital Canada Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc. and TD Securities Inc. that, as of May 1, 2016, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications on which such opinions are based, the consideration to be received by MTS shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to such shareholders. The arrangement agreement between MTS and BCE provides for, among other things, a non-solicitation covenant on the part of MTS, subject to customary "fiduciary out" provisions that entitle MTS to consider and accept an acquisition proposal that constitutes or may reasonably be expected to constitute a superior proposal and a right in favour of BCE to match any superior proposal. If the arrangement agreement is terminated in certain circumstances, including if MTS enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a superior proposal, BCE is entitled to a break-fee payment of $120 million. The transaction also includes a reverse break-fee payment of $120 million payable by BCE in certain circumstances. The transaction is currently expected to close in late 2016 or early 2017. Further information regarding the transaction will be included in MTS' management information circular to be mailed to MTS shareholders in advance of the special meeting and in MTS' material change report in respect of the announcement of the transaction, each of which will be filed with the Canadian securities regulators and will be available at www.sedar.com. Further details will be forthcoming in a material change report and a copy of the arrangement agreement will also be posted on www.sedar.com. Advisors and Legal Counsel MTS' financial advisors are Barclays Capital Canada Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc. and TD Securities Inc. Aikins MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP and Stikeman Elliott LLP are serving as legal counsel to MTS. Drysdale Forstner Hamilton Public Affairs is serving as public affairs and communications counsel to MTS. Call with Financial Analysts BCE will host a conference call for financial analysts on Monday, May 2 at 8:30 am eastern time. MTS President & CEO Jay Forbes will provide remarks during the call. To participate, please dial 416-340-2216 or toll-free 1-866-223-7781 before the start of the call. A replay will be available for one week by dialing 905-694-9451 or 1-800-408-3053, passcode 5493892. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the www.bce.ca and www.mts.ca websites. Forward-looking statements disclaimer This news release includes forward-looking statements and information (collectively, the "forward-looking statements") including, but not limited to: forward-looking statements pertaining to the purchase by BCE of all the issued and outstanding common shares of MTS; the expected benefits of the transaction, including the expected benefits to shareholders, customers, employees and other stakeholders as well as future financial and operating results; the anticipated timing for the special meeting of MTS shareholders and closing of the transaction; the consideration to be received by shareholders, which may fluctuate in value due to BCE common shares forming part of the consideration and the consideration not being as elected by MTS shareholders due to proration; the satisfaction of closing conditions including, without limitation (i) the approval of the CRTC, Competition Bureau and ISED; (ii) required MTS shareholder approval; (iii) necessary court approval in connection with the plan of arrangement, (iv) certain termination rights available to the parties under the arrangement agreement; (v) BCE obtaining the necessary approvals from the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, as applicable, for the listing of its common shares in connection with the transaction; and (vi) other closing conditions, including, without limitation, the operation and performance of the MTS business in the ordinary course until closing of the transaction and compliance by MTS with various covenants contained in the arrangement agreement; the anticipated benefits to, and expected investments in, the Province of Manitoba as a result of the transaction, all of which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. As a consequence, actual results in the future may differ materially from any expectation, conclusion, forecast or projection in such forward-looking statements. Therefore, forward-looking statements should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Examples of statements that constitute forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "project", "should", "anticipate", "could", "target", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "outlook", "see", "set", "pending", and other similar terms. All forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but not limited to: the potential risk that the transaction will not be approved by MTS shareholders; failure to, in a timely manner, or at all, obtain the necessary regulatory, stock exchange and court approvals for the transaction or any transaction ancillary thereto; failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to complete the transaction; the possibility that the Board of Directors of MTS could receive an acquisition proposal and approve a superior proposal; the effect of the announcement of the transaction on MTS' and BCE's respective strategic relationships, operating results and business generally; significant transaction costs or unknown liabilities; the risk of litigation or adverse actions or awards that would prevent or hinder the completion of the transaction; failure to realize the expected benefits of the transaction; BCE's financial condition prior to the expected closing date; compliance with all applicable laws and other customary risks associated with transactions of this nature; and general economic conditions. In addition, if the transaction is not completed, and MTS continues as an independent entity, there are serious risks that the announcement of the transaction and the dedication of substantial resources of MTS to the completion of the transaction could have an adverse impact on MTS' business and strategic relationships (including with future and prospective employees, customers, retailers, vendors, suppliers and partners), operating results and businesses generally. As a consequence, actual results in the future may differ materially from any forward-looking statement, forecast or projection, whether expressed or implied. Therefore, forward-looking statements should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Please note that forward-looking statements in this news release reflect Management's expectations as of the date hereof, and thus are subject to change thereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. This news release has been approved by the Board of Directors of MTS. Factors that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, matters referred to above and those matters identified in the Risks and uncertainties section and elsewhere in our 2015 annual MD&A and the material change report filed that will be filed in respect of this transaction, which are, or will be, available on our website at www.mts.ca/aboutus and on SEDAR. About MTS At MTS, we're proud to be Manitoba's leading information and communications technology provider. We're dedicated to delivering a full suite of services for Manitobans Internet, Wireless, TV, Phone Service and Security Systems plus a full suite of Information Solutions, including Unified Cloud and Managed Services. You can count on MTS to make connecting your world easy. We're with you. We live where we work and actively give back to organizations that strengthen our communities. Through MTS Future First, we provide sponsorships, grants and scholarships, value-in-kind support and volunteer commitment in Manitoba. MTS Inc. is wholly owned by Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (TSX: MBT). For more on MTS' products and services, visit mts.ca. For investor information, visit www.mts.ca/aboutus. SOURCE MTS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] 21Vianet: The Most Trusted Partner to Land Your Cloud Services in China LAS VEGAS, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Connect Las Vegas, the top cloud computing event and Interop, the world's largest exhibition in network communications, are taking place concurrently. Being an influentially important network infrastructure and innovative service provider, 21Vianet has been invited to participate in this event and announces its all new "Cloud Landing in China" (CLIC) strategy, presenting its strategic advantages and how it can add value to global cloud computing providers. According to a report published by the research and advisory firm, Gartner, the market size of cloud computing has reached USD 175 billion globally and could possibly hit USD 312 billion by 2019. Many global cloud computing firms have begun to notice the Chinese market as it enters a phase of accelerated growth. However, it is extremely challenging for these international platforms to make landings in China and indeed, it has resulted in a number of first rate cloud computing service providers to stop short of entering the Chinese market. Not only are there necessities for cloud computing companies to acquire a top grade colocation data center, a high quality and interconnected national transmission network and a professionally dedicated team in operations and maintenance, they also require all the legal operation licenses of cloud service in China. Collaborating with local enterprises is the key and the right model to adopt in order to phase in cloud computing and their businesses into the country. Deeply rooted in the field of cloud computing, 21Vianet is a service provider whose level of technology has attained world class standards. 21Vianet's original inception of CLIC is a culmination of years of experience in cloud computing, aimed a providing carrier-neutral cloud computing to world leading global cloud computing firms. Since 2013, 21Vianet has been the most trusted partner to introduce and operate the top international public cloud and enterprise cloud computing platforms in China such as Microsoft Azure, Office 365, IBM Cloud Managed Service, IBM Bluemix, Unisys Edge among others. Taking Microsoft Azure and Office 365 as examples, they are servicing more than 85,000 users since their commercial inception in 2014. The share of Chinese users has also jumped from 75% to 85%. 21Vianet is the largest carrier-neutral, as well as, the Internet infrastructure and service provider for third parties in China. Along with its more than 80 data centers, 23,000 cabinets, 500 network nodes, 15,000 km of backbone network, a delivery band-width of 160G and a plethora of high quality BGP products, 21Vianet aims to provide high speed internet and dedicated line access services that are built on the underpinnings of high stability and high reliability. These are matched by a wealth of experiences in the building and operational management of data centers which 21Vianet has acquired over the past two decades. With exemplary credentials in areas such as ISP, DC and VPN, 21Vianet is poised to accelerate the pace of development for its users especially with its standardization in its operations and management. At the same time, 21Vianet can offer solutions in information security that satisfy the requirements of Chinese laws and regulations. This is made possible with its team of experts steeped in the experience of security compliance. Steve Zhang, the CEO of 21Vianet believes: "To offer first rate compliance consultation services, good operational support systems and service excellence to international cloud platforms, focus must be placed on research and development, as well as, to secure platform advantages; 21Vianet has always adhered to the principles of openness and cooperation based on mutual benefits. With 21Vianet's comprehensive sets of cloud services, our global cloud partners can launch their products speedily into the Chinese market, at a much lower cost. Working hand in hand, we can collaboratively expand the marketspace, and shape a new ecosystem in cloud computing." About 21Vianet 21Vianet is the largest carrier-neutral Internet infrastructure service provider in China that releases new "CLIC" (Cloud Landing In China) strategy for international cloud platform. 21Vianet can provide data center services, nationwide transmission network, CDN service, well-trained local team and all China VAT business licenses to improve partners' abilities of operations, sales and market promotion. For more information, please click http://www.en.21vianet.com/ To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/21vianet-the-most-trusted-partner-to-land-your-cloud-services-in-china-300260486.html SOURCE 21Vianet [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] HexaTier Wins Cybersecurity Excellence Award for Database Security Category TEL AVIV, Israel, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- HexaTier, which offers a comprehensive security and compliance solution for databases and Database as a Service (DBaaS) platforms, today announced that it has been chosen by a panel of its peers as the best Database Security provider in the annual Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. The award recognizes the benefits of HexaTier's technology, which prevents unauthorized user access and ensures security and compliance. "Congratulations to HexaTier for being recognized as the winner in the Database Security category of the 2016 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards," said Holger Schulze, founder of the 300,000 member Information Security Community on LinkedIn. "With over 430 entries, the awards are highly competitive and winners reflect the best in product innovation and excellence in the cybersecurity space." HexaTier's solution secures both cloud-based and on-premises enterprise databases through its unique reverse proxy technology, enabling enterprises to protect and comply with regulations. Including HexaTier in any IT architecture will reduce the attackable surface of the database, as it sits in front of the dtabase, protecting from both internal and external threats. "We are proud to be recognized by our peers as we are selected by Cybersecurity Excellence Awards for the Database Security category. This validates the enterprise need to shift their approach and resources from perimeter defense security to database security. As databases remain the critical target of attackers, our technology provides an agile and quick to deploy solution, mitigating a significant percentage of enterprise risk for organizations adopting the cloud," said Dan Dinnar, CEO of HexaTier. About HexaTier Established in 2009, HexaTier (formerly GreenSQL) sets the industry standard for database security and compliance in the cloud with its unified solution that provides database security, dynamic data masking, database activity monitoring (DAM) and discovery of sensitive data. Utilizing purpose-built, patented Database Reverse Proxy technology, the company protects against both internal and external security threats. Backed by leading investors such as JVP, Magma VC and Rhodium, HexaTier is the first and only company to provide security for cloud-hosted databases and DBaaS platforms through a streamlined and simple solution. Headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in Irvine, CA and Boston, MA. HexaTier secures databases for nearly 200 organizations globally. About The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards honor companies and individuals that demonstrate excellence, innovation and leadership in information security. This independent awards program is produced in cooperation with the Information Security Community on LinkedIn, tapping into the experience of over 300,000+ cybersecurity professionals to recognize the world's best cybersecurity products, individuals and organizations. For more information visit www.cybersecurity-excellence-awards.com Media Contact: Dror Haliva VP Marketing, HexaTier [email protected] +972-54-443-7444 Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325331LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hexatier-wins-cybersecurity-excellence-award-for-database-security-category-300260774.html SOURCE HexaTier [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Russian Electric Motors (REM) Places Order Worth 125 Million Euro with Nidec ASI for the Design of a New Plant in Russia and an Increase in Production in Italy MILAN, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This contract will provide about 250 new large electric motors for Russian oil colossus Transneft, which will modernise the pumping systems of its extensive trunk pipeline network (measuring around 80,000 km) Thanks to this agreement worth 125 million Euro, Nidec ASI will become a partner of Russian Electric Motors (REM, the Transneft-Konar joint-venture) in the engineering and production of 244 electric motors in the Oil&Gas sector. Said production aims to meet the needs of Transneft, the Russian oil distribution colossus, and satisfy the requirement to modernise the fleet of motors installed on the pumping systems of its current pipelines, thus contributing to improve productivity and energy efficiency. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160427/360473 ) The agreement consists of specific engineering solutions, which comply with international and Russian regulations, for the manufacture of motors with a capacity of up to 8 MW and which can work at temperatures as low as -60C, using high efficiency product families. Also included is the design of a plant fo local production in Chelyabinsk, at the foot of the Ural mountain range. Nidec ASI will also take care of the technical training for plant staff. Once completed, the plant will continue to supply the Russian domestic market. Thanks to this agreement, the Italian production line of Nidec ASI in Monfalcone (GO) will increase its production capacity in 2016 and 2017 and hire about 150 staff. The design of highly reliable machines for heavy applications such as Oil&Gas pipelines in environments with extreme climates, such as the Russian winter, is one of the strong points of the Italian multinational. "With this order and partnership, the result of a long and highly qualified technical collaboration with Transneft and Konar, Nidec ASI continues to grow and demonstrate unique design skills: high-tech solutions, custom designs, adaptation to local regulations and under extreme conditions," says Giovanni Barra, Chief Executive Officer of Nidec ASI. " High power electric motors have always been one of the strong points of our technologies for the Group as a whole." Nidec ASI changed its name in 2012 when Nidec acquired the company, Ansaldo Sistemi Industriali (ASI). The company offers customised solutions across the globe for a wide range of industrial applications. Its target markets are petroleum, traditional and renewable energy, steel, marine and industrial automation. The multinational is specialised in heavy applications requiring high power and performance: electric motors and generators with a capacity of up to 65 MW (87,000 horsepower); electronic power inverters and converters; automation and industrial process software; power station and hydro-electric generator retrofitting; integrated systems for the production of electricity from renewable sources and stabilisation of connections to the national grids. In November 2015, Nidec ASI was awarded a large contract for the storage of energy in Germany in order to stabilise the domestic electric grid, as required when transferring from nuclear to renewable sources following the post-Fukushima referendum. Contact details Ketchum +39-0262411911 Rachel Niemoller Massimo Garanzini Patrizia Pia [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Big Data Market Worth 66.79 Billion USD by 2021 PUNE, India, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report, "Big Data Market by Component (Software and Services), Type (Structured, Semi-Structured and Unstructured), Deployment Model, Vertical, and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America & Middle East and Africa) - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from USD 28.65 Billion in 2016 to USD 66.79 Billion by 2021, at a high Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.45%. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 64 market data Tables and 52 Figures spread through 174 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Big Data Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/big-data-market-1068.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. For the purpose of the report, 2015 has been considered as the base year and 2016 as the estimated year for performing market estimation and forecasting. The forecast period is 2016-2021. The Big Data Market is witnessing a rapid growth due to the tremendous increase in organizational data. Enterprises have deployed the big data solutions to analyse and manage the data generated to assist in quick decision making process. Additionally, the increase in number of mobile devices and apps, and the organizations shift from analog to digital technologies are few of the drivers driving this market. "Big Data analytics software is expected to gain prominence in Big Data Market by software segment". The big data analytics software is expected to hold the highest market share in big data software market. Due its capability to analyze big data to extract actionable insights, more and more enterprises are deploying this software solution. Among services, the managed services segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Request Sample Pages - http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsample.asp?id=1068 "APAC is expected to be the fastest-growing region" p>Considering the regional trends of the Big Data Market, North America is projected to hold the largest market size. The market in APAC is in the growth phase and is the fastest-growing regional Big Data Market. This is mainly attributed to the growing manufacturing industry in this region. Moreover, the growing data centres in developing countries such as India and China , the amount of data being generated have increased tremendously. Hence, organizations are looking for big data solutions to perform advanced analytics and management on this data to get real-time access. The Latin America and MEA regions also depict great potentials in terms of adoption of big data solutions and services. There are various companies that are coming up with innovative and efficient big data solutions and services in this market due to the need for advanced analytics solutions globally. The major players offering bid data solutions and services are IBM, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, SAP SE, Amazon Web Services, SAS Institute, Dell Inc., Teradata Corporation, and Splunk. Moreover, there are various key innovators in the market that provide innovative big data solutions and services. The market is segmented on the basis of component into software and services. The software segment includes big data analytics, data discovery and visualization, and data management. Services consist of consulting & system integration, training & support and managed services. Further, the Big Data Market is also segmented based on big data types, deployment models, verticals, and regions. The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the Big Data Market, such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, products and services, key strategies, new product launches, partnerships, collaborations, expansions, and competitive landscape associated with the Big Data Market. Browse Related Reports Big Data-As-A-Service Market by Type of Solutions (Hadoop-As-A-Service, Data-As-A-Service, Data Analytics-As-A-Service), by Deployment Model, by Organization Size, by Vertical, and by Region - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/big-data-as-a-service-market-4129107.html Hadoop & Big Data Analytics Market [Hardware, Software, Services, Hadoop-as-a-Service] - Trends, Geographical Analysis & Worldwide Market Forecasts (2012 - 2017) http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/hadoop-market-766.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India 1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/telecom-it Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Honeywell And NASA Put STEM Education In 'Motion' For Washington Middle Schools MORRIS PLAINS, N.J., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and NASA are proud to support their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education program with the award-winning, hip-hop educational experience FMA Live! Forces in Motion. The program made its return to the West Coast this month with plans to visit six states and perform at 40 public, private and military-connected middle schools. FMA Live! Forces in Motion is making a stop in Washington for the next two weeks with twelve performances in North Bend (Twin Falls Middle School), Bothell (Canyon Park Junior High School), Granite Falls (Granite Falls Middle School), Bremerton (West Hills STEM Academy), Kingston (Kingston Middle School) and Poulsbo (Poulsbo Middle School). The popular show incorporates hip-hop music and dancers with student volunteers and on-stage, interactive science experiments to demonstrate how physics plays a role in everyday life. Since the program's creation in 2004, the FMA Live! cast has performed before 455,000 students in more than 1,150 schools from all 48 contiguous U.S. states, as well as in Mexico and Canada. "It is critically important to get middle school-aged students aware of and excited about STEM topicsespecially physics. We've seen FMA Live! make the introduction easier," said Donald James, NASA's associate administrator for Education. "Thanks to our collaboration with Honeywell, we're inspiring students to set their sights on future careers in the critical STEM field." Each performance focuses on Newton's Universal Law of Gravity and Three Laws of Motion. Named after Newton's Second Law of Motion [Force equals Mass times Acceleration], FMA Live! uses music videos and interactive scientific demonstrations to teach and inspire students to pursue STEM careers. Honeywell and NASA have joined the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to bring FMA Live! Forces in Motion to military-connected schools on the West Coast this spring. On Monday, May 9, the show will make a stop at West Hills STEM Academy in Bremerton, Wash. as part of a continued commitment to provide STEM focused education assistance to students from military families. The physics-focused hip-hop program complements DoDEA's broader goals to infuse STEM curriculum and instructin across all grade levels. "Many of today's engineering challenges will be solved decades into the future by the next generation of engineers and scientists," said Mike Bennett, president, Honeywell Hometown Solutions. "To prepare students to become tomorrow's innovators, Honeywell invests in programs like FMA Live! to ignite that spark of inspiration in fun and relatable ways." The FMA Live! Forces in Motion experience features an online "Teachers' Lounge" that includes National Science Standards-based teaching resources, downloadable streaming videos, music from the show, and a comprehensive educational guide with lesson plans. This digital tool helps keep the post-show spark alive and can be incorporated into classroom learning objectives. To learn more visit FMALive.com . About FMA Live! Using live actors, hip-hop songs, music videos, interactive scientific demonstrations and video interviews with scientists and engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the show teaches Newton's Three Laws of Motion and Universal Law of Gravity. Honeywell and NASA created FMA Live! to inspire middle school students to explore STEM concepts and careers. The program addresses Forces and Motion learning objectives outlined by the Next Generation Science Education Standards for students in grades 5-8. Through Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company has a number of award-winning programs focused on inspiring students at all grade levels to embrace STEM education. The company chose physics for FMA Live! Forces in Motion because studies have shown that the middle school years of education offer the best window of opportunity to get students interested in STEM careers. Supporting Resources Read more about FMA Live! Forces in Motion Visit the FMALive! Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HoneywellAero Follow @HON_Citizenship on Twitter Follow FMA Live! on Instagram Visit Honeywell's Corporate Citizenship page Learn more about NASA's education programs For Educators The FMA Live! Forces in Motion website features a "Teachers' Lounge". About Honeywell Hometown Solutions FMA Live! Forces in Motion is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com/. About Honeywell Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. About Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-aged children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Activities throughout the United States that serve children of military families. For more information, please visit http://www.dodea.edu/ Honeywell and the Honeywell logo are the exclusive properties of Honeywell, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other Honeywell product names, technology names, trademarks, service marks, and logos may be registered or pending registration in the U.S. or in other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright 2016 Honeywell. Media Contact: Cecilia Tejeda (973) 455-3450 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361826 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-and-nasa-put-stem-education-in-motion-for-washington-middle-schools-300260739.html SOURCE Honeywell [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Capitol Hyundai Of San Jose Celebrates First Fuel Cell Customer Delivery In Northern California SAN JOSE, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Capitol Hyundai of San Jose, California, a proud member of the Del Grande Dealer Group, delivered the first zero-emissions Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell hydrogen electric vehicle in the Northern California region today. Capitol Hyundai is the fifth qualified dealer for Hyundai's Tucson Fuel Cell, and the first Hyundai fuel cell dealer in Northern California. Hyundai was the first manufacturer in the U.S. to offer consumers the opportunity to lease a mass-produced fuel cell vehicle, the zero-emissions Tucson Fuel Cell CUV. "Capitol Hyundai is excited to be a qualified dealer for Hyundai's zero-emissions Tucson Fuel Cell hydrogen electric vehicle," said Mr. Shaun Del Grande, Owner, Capitol Hyundai/Del Grande Dealer Group. "Our location in the Bay Area region is Hyundai's first in Northern California, making it more convenient for local residents to conveniently acquire their new Tucson Fuel Cell CUV, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions where they work and live." Since its launch in June 2014, Tucson Fuel Cell drivers have accumulated more than one million zero-emissions miles on the streets of California (Zero-Emissions Cumulative Mileage). This accumulated mileage has helped improve air quality in the region by more than 400 tons of CO 2 emissions when compared with the emissions from a similar internal-combustion-powered CUV. Hyundai has delivered more than 100 Tucson Fuel Cells since its introduction as the irst mass-produced fuel cell vehicle in the U.S. market. "Hyundai is proud to add Capitol Hyundai to its growing collection of approved zero-emissions Tucson Fuel Cell dealers," said Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Capitol Hyundai adds a convenient location in the Bay Area to better serve our newest fuel cell customers in Northern California." Capitol Hyundai joins existing Hyundai Fuel Cell dealers Keyes Hyundai, Tustin Hyundai, Win Hyundai in Carson and Hardin Hyundai in Anaheim, for a total of five qualified fuel cell dealers in both Southern and Northern California. To become a qualified Hyundai Fuel Cell dealer, approved dealers must fulfill significant additional hydrogen fuel cell requirements in both customer service and technical services. TUCSON FUEL CELL ADVANTAGES The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell CUV has a number of advantages over some other alternative fuels. The energy-rich hydrogen fuel provides an estimated driving range of 265 miles between fill-ups, similar to many gasoline vehicles. Further, both fuel cell driving range and vehicle performance are minimally affected by either extreme hot or cold ambient temperatures, giving owners an extra measure of peace of mind as they go about their day. Even more important for consumers transitioning from gasoline vehicles, the Tucson Fuel Cell can be refilled with hydrogen in about the same time as a typical gasoline vehicle of the same size, and many hydrogen refueling stations are co-located with traditional fossil fuel stations. Finally, fuel cell vehicles, due to their compact, relatively lightweight fuel cell stack design, are completely production scalable from very small to very large vehicles, such as urban-focused mini-compact cars all the way to full-size buses and trucks. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling. For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362391 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131002/LA90771LOGO-b To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/capitol-hyundai-of-san-jose-celebrates-first-fuel-cell-customer-delivery-in-northern-california-300260968.html SOURCE Hyundai Motor America [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Two District of Columbia Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony The District of Columbia's top two youth volunteers of 2016, Gavrielle Kamen, 17, and Amelia Myre, 13, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 21st annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Gavrielle and Amelia - along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country - each received $1,000 awards and personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank at an award ceremony and gala dinner reception held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005443/en/ Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank congratulates Gavrielle Kamen, 17, (center) and Amelia Myre, 13, (right) both of Washington, D.C., on being named The District of Columbia's top two youth volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Gavrielle and Amelia were honored at a ceremony on Sunday, May 1 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where they each received a $1,000 award. (Photo: Zach Harrison Photography) The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), named Gavrielle and Amelia the District of Columbia's top high school and middle level youth volunteers in February. In addition to their cash awards, they each received an engraved silver medallion and an invitation to four days of recognition events in Washington, D.C. Gavrielle, a junior at Georgetown Day School, organizes weekly video-conferencing sessions at her school that bring together teens from the United States, Middle East and southern Asia to talk about their experiences and perspectives, in an effort to promote peace and understanding in a troubled part of the world. Growing up with a mother who is a psychologist, Gavrielle says she learned the importance of honest, sincere communication in resolving human conflict. "Understanding and communication are the most primary basis for human change," she said. "The best way to go about creating change is for people to learn how to respect, trust and communicate." Last summer, Gavrielle participated in a conflict-resolution forum with teens from several Middle Eastern countries. She returned home determined to apply what she had learned and continue to build bridges among young people in countries with deep animosities. "I decided that the way I could help the most in my community was to have as many people as possible speak face to face with other humans their age in different regions involved in the Middle East conflict," she said. Using large-screen Skype (News - Alert) technology, she bean hosting weekly forums involving teens from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, as well as students at her school. Her sessions began with over 60 American participants and more than 200 from overseas. "Together, we are learning how to empathize, and what it means to obtain peace and justice," she said. Amelia, an eighth-grader at Alice Deal Middle School, launched an initiative with her sister to support wounded veterans by raising money and focusing attention on their sacrifices. Amelia, who began volunteering at Walter Reed Bethesda National Military Medical Center at age 9, purchased gifts one year for the patients there and handed them out during a Christmas party. At the event, she saw a quadruple amputee receive a specialized "track chair" from a nonprofit organization, and realized she could do more to help America's wounded warriors. Amelia and her sister decided to launch an initiative to help more veterans get track chairs. They invited some of the amputees they had met at Walter Reed to come to their school to share their stories, and persuaded a local television station to cover the visit. Then Amelia hosted a car wash outside of her school that raised $1,000. At first, "I didn't know much about amputees and specially designed chairs for them," she said, "but now I am determined to help in every way I can." "By using their time and talents to better their communities, these young people have achieved great things - and become examples for us all," said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "Congratulations to an exemplary group of honorees." "These students have demonstrated a truly remarkable level of leadership and commitment in the course of their volunteer service, and it's an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Michael Allison, president of NASSP. "We commend each and every one of them for a job well done." Youth volunteers in grades 5-12 were invited to apply for 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. More than 29,000 middle level and high school students nationwide participated in this year's program. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service - and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 21 years, the program has honored more than 115,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year's honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit. About NASSP The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org About Prudential Financial Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com. Editors: For pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW For B-roll of the District of Columbia's honorees at the 2016 national recognition events, contact Prudential's Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005443/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Canadian UAVs And Measure Partner To Deliver Trans-National Drone Services WASHINGTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its effort to deliver cost-effective actionable data to enterprise customers, Measure, one of the leading operators of drones in the United States, has partnered with the leading Canadian drone company, Canadian UAVs. Together, the two companies will use the latest in drone technology to provide real-time data analysis to businesses on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. "Measure can now truly offer cross-border drone services," said Measure CEO Brandon Torres Declet. "As a result of this partnership with Canadian UAVs, we can deliver cost-effective, actionable data to businesses across all 50 states and 10 provinces." The partnership between Measure and Canadian UAVs provides businesses with real-time response capability. With Canadian UAVs use of helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, and drones, Measure can now fly anywhere in Western Canada to acquire data for enterprise customers. Both companies pride themselves on conduting flights that are safe, legal, and insured using only licensed pilots. "Measure has a great depth in expertise regarding the American market, as well unprecedented approvals from the FAA," said Canadian UAVs President and CEO Sean Greenwood. "Teaming up together ensures our customers have clarity and piece of mind when it comes to trans-border operations." About Canadian UAVs: Canadian UAVs is a Calgary-based solutions provider of unmanned aerial vehicles focused on safety-first data acquisition. The company provides a range of innovative UAV solutions for a range of environments where the gathering and analysis of low cost imagery satisfies safety and regulatory requirements. The company uses advanced technology to map, survey, monitor and report on areas and assets to mitigate risk. www.canadianuavs.ca About Measure: Measure is one of the nation's leading Drone as a Service companies with Federal Aviation Administration approval to fly more than 1000 different types of drones for a broad range of commercial applications. We provide turnkey solutions to acquire, process, and deliver cost-effective, actionable aerial data to enterprise customers. We don't make drones. We make drones work. Please visit www.measure.aero. Contact: Nayyera Haq (202) 793-3052 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canadian-uavs-and-measure-partner-to-deliver-trans-national-drone-services-300261056.html SOURCE Measure [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] EMC Announces New Extreme Archiving Platform for Structured and Unstructured Data LAS VEGAS, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EMC WORLD 2016 News Summary: EMC InfoArchive 4.0 architecture enables extreme archiving scenarios with structured and unstructured data, and enhances the ability to secure and leverage critical application data and content. InfoArchive 4.0 architecture enables extreme archiving scenarios with structured and unstructured data, and enhances the ability to secure and leverage critical application data and content. EMC InfoArchive 4.0 enhances user experience and accelerates time to value, while helping enterprises modernize their data centers. EMC InfoArchive 4.0 provides compliant platform with horizontal and vertical solutions. EMC InfoArchive support for SAP HANA, SAP S4HANA and SAP SuccessFactors, enables compliant information management throughout the application lifecycle to reduce the costs of implementing and supporting SAP systems. Connect With Us At EMC World 2016: Full Story: EMC Corporation's (NYSE: EMC) Enterprise Content Division (ECD), a leader in the enterprise content management industry, today announced EMC InfoArchive 4.0, a unified enterprise platform that powers extreme compliant archiving scenarios at petabyte scale. As enterprises modernize their data center and applications, a solution that archives legacy apps to reduce costs while continuing to make data available to the organization is required. With its fast time to value and the small footprint, EMC InfoArchive 4.0 enhances the ability to secure and leverage large amounts of critical application data and content to empower modern-day business success. Redefining Archiving with Extreme Archiving EMC InfoArchive 4.0 includes a completely new, horizontally scalable architecture, also combining flexible reporting and easy accessibility to make vast amounts of data and content available. Designed to provide visibility into both structured and unstructured data sources and dependencies in one architecture, InfoArchive 4.0 is easing complexities and eliminating the siloed infrastructure of the past. "Extreme archiving scenarios at petabyte scale are becoming increasingly important for two reasons," said Jeroen van Rotterdam, CTO of EMC's Enterprise Content Division. "First, managing the amount of structured and unstructured data created and processed today is tremendously challenging. Second, the pressure to maintain compliant data in highly regulated industries, such as Financial Services, has intensified. Customers require the right solution to address both of these challenges, as well as to achieve cost savings and better data insights, which ultimately drive better business decisions." "Many of today's organizations struggle with managing vast amounts of data residing in both production applications and legacy systems," Lura DuBois, Group Vice President for IDC's Enterprise Storage, Server and System Infrastructure Software research. "Solutions like EMC's InfoArchive 4.0 help firms address this challenge, while preserving the value of content in a single, compliant, easily accessible and scalable archive." In-Place Regulatory Compliance EMC InfoArchive 4.0's compliance capabilities address business pressures and changes brought on by factors such as the volume and diversity of information, shifting supervisory expectations, constant regulatory change and complex legislation. These new features enable retention management, legal holds, data masking and PCI compliance without the need to copy or reprocess data after it has been ingested. EMC InfoArchive 4.0 can also meet enterprise-scale compliance scenarios such as Dodd-Frank in the United States, MiFID2/R in the European Union and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OFSI) E-13 in Canada. Out-of-the-Box Compliant Big Data Access While other available products require expensive and custom adds-on to adhere to regulatory mandates, EMC InfoArchive 4.0 is the only solution that can provide out-of-the-box compliant data access for Hadoop. With EMC InfoArchive 4.0, regulated information and records can be made available to big data analytics at a low total cost of ownership (TCO) and without compliance compromises. Support for SAP Active Archiving and Application Retirement EMC InfoArchive now enables customers to manage SAP data throughout the application lifecycle. The EMC platform supports active archiving of SAP production systems into EMC InfoArchive with SAP Archivelink. Not only can users access and retrieve data using SAP-native tools, but they can also manage data in a centralized repository and maintain compliance with both industry regulations and company policies. EMC InfoArchive also supports SAP application retirement and decommissioning, through partnerships with PBS Software GmbH and EPI-USE Labs. With these partner solutions, EMC provides SAP users a smooth transition to new technologies such as SAP HANA, SAP S4HANA and the SAP SuccessFactors cloud solution. EMC InfoArchive manages data across the transition by offloading inactive information from SAP before migration. This helps reduce the timeframe, cost and effort for SAP upgrades and consolidation projects. Pricing and Availability EMC InfoArchive 4.0 will be generally available on June 13, 2016. EMC InfoArchive is volume priced by TB ingested. Partner Quotes: Tim Nelms, Business Unit Manager, Archiving Division, Crawford Technologies: "Enterprises generate over 50 billion pieces of customer communications each year in the in the US alone. In many cases these documents need to be retained for compliance reasons, reference and customer service. EMC InfoArchive 4.0 supplies a unique solution to the challenge of customer communications archiving; it can handle the scale, compliance and multitude of use cases that occur with customer communications, in a small footprint." JD Sillion, Chief Solutions Officer, Flatirons Solutions: "EMC InfoArchive 4.0 allows Flatirons to manage even larger volumes of data and content for our application retirement clients. EMC's robust, straightforward and well-supported technology means we can quickly provide solutions that have modern user experiences on a trusted platform that meets demanding regulatory, governance, audit and reporting mandates. InfoArchive 4.0 helps accelerate our customers' return on investment in application retirement." Dirk Bode, CEO, fme: "With today's explosion in data growth, our clients find that keeping all their information in ECM systems is neither cost effective nor scalable. EMC InfoArchive 4.0 offers the perfect solution for this challenge, empowering clients to distinguish between active content and static data. Our EMC Certified Solution, migration-center, uses the power of EMC InfoArchive to strategically organize, transform and move large volumes of documents, reducing costs for storage, servers, operations, support and DBMS licenses." Douglas Vargo, Vice President, Paragon Solutions, Inc.: "Our clients in the Financial Services, Insurance and Life Science industries encounter a wide variety of compliance requirements, such as retention, data encryption, electronic signature, time stamping and more. The new features in EMC's InfoArchive 4.0 address these challenges, making regulatory compliance and corporate records governance easier to manage." Additional Resources: About EMC InfoArchive EMC InfoArchive is a unified enterprise archiving platform that stores related structured data and unstructured content in a single consolidated repository. It enables corporations to preserve the value of enterprise information in a single, compliant, and easily accessible unified archive. Supported by a robust partner ecosystem, including the InfoArchive Consortium, EMC offers industry and horizontal solutions to address specific organizational requirements, such as Clinical Archiving. About EMC EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset information in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com. EMC and InfoArchive are registered trademarks or trademarks of EMC Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) risks associated with the proposed acquisition of EMC by Denali Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Dell, Inc., including, among others, assumptions related to the ability to close the acquisition, the expected closing date and its anticipated costs and benefits; (ii) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (iii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iv) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (v) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (vi) component and product quality and availability; (vii) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.'s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (viii) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (ix) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (x) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (xi) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xii) fluctuating currency exchange rates; (xiii) threats and other disruptions to our secure data centers or networks; (xiv) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (xv) war or acts of terrorism; and (xvi) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160501/362082 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emc-announces-new-extreme-archiving-platform-for-structured-and-unstructured-data-300260682.html SOURCE EMC Corporation [May 02, 2016] EMC Unveils Suite of Intuitive, Cloud-Native Content Apps to Revolutionize ECM and Transform the Way People Engage with Content LAS VEGAS, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EMC WORLD 2016 News Summary: EMC LEAP suite provides best source for purpose-built enterprise content apps that provide effortless engagement with content and solve digital business challenges. LEAP suite provides best source for purpose-built enterprise content apps that provide effortless engagement with content and solve digital business challenges. EMC LEAP apps are designed to work with any content repository, but are engineered to work "better together" with the Documentum family of products. family of products. EMC is partnering with DocuSign to enable digital enterprise workflows using DocuSign eSignature and DTM technology. to enable digital enterprise workflows using DocuSign eSignature and DTM technology. EMC announces LEAP Together Program including revolutionary, new customer loyalty benefit, providing free access to specific apps for existing Documentum customers. Connect With Us At EMC World 2016: Session Streaming : For video of keynotes, general sessions, backstage sessions, and EMC TV coverage, click here : For video of keynotes, general sessions, backstage sessions, and EMC TV coverage, click here Social: Follow @EMCWorld, @EMCCorp, and @EMC_News, and join conversations with #EMCWORLD, #MMTM16 and like EMC on Facebook Follow @EMCWorld, @EMCCorp, and @EMC_News, and join conversations with #EMCWORLD, #MMTM16 and like EMC on Facebook Photos: Access event photos via Flickr Access event photos via Flickr Live Chat: Click here to join the "Ask Me Anything" CrowdChat with Jeremy Burton , President of Products and Marketing, on Tuesday, May 3 at 12:00 PM PDT Click here to join the "Ask Me Anything" CrowdChat with , President of Products and Marketing, on at News: View additional related news from EMC Pulse Blog or visit the special EMC WORLD News microsite here View additional related news from EMC Pulse Blog or visit the special EMC WORLD News microsite here Blog: "Beyond Boundaries: ECM for the Digital Era" Full Story: EMC Corporation's (NYSE: EMC) Enterprise Content Division (ECD), a leader in enterprise content management (ECM), today announced EMC LEAP, a suite of purpose-built, cloud-native content apps designed to revolutionize the content management industry and transform interactions with business content. Unlike other offerings in the market, EMC LEAP apps deliver enterprise-grade content management capabilities combined with the most intuitive user experience for diverse business use cases. "Our goal with the EMC LEAP family is to humanize the experience of interacting with business content," said Rohit Ghai, President of EMC's Enterprise Content Division. "Beautiful, intuitive, and purpose-built apps drive engagement, which has a ripple effect. Customer engagement drives loyalty; employee engagement improves productivity; and partner and supplier engagement fosters better collaboration across the value chain. This level of engagement enables superior customer service, greater agility and new business opportunities, and is a key marker of a successful digital business." The EMC LEAP family will consist of both EMC and third-party content apps, a modular platform and a premier marketplace, powered by the industry's richest and most-advanced set of content services. EMC LEAP apps are interoperable with existing content repositories, but engineered to work "better together" with the Documentum family of content management products. Repository independence allows content to be managed in place without customers having to migrate their content unlike other solutions in the market. "EMC LEAP is a game changer; it's a few small apps for users, one giant leap for ECM," said Savinay Berry, Vice President of Products for EMC's Enterprise Content Division. "We've taken a fundamentally different approach to ECM, while building on more than 25 years of experience in managing critical content for industry-leading organizations. Now, interacting and engaging with business content is effortless. The EMC LEAP family seamlessly integrates with existing systems and can easily be configured in minutes for different use cases and industry vertical requirements." Today, EMC is introducing five apps focused on a variety of content management use cases, a new partner and customer success program, and a new partnership with DocuSign. LEAP Courier: Content Exchange without the Chaos LEAP Courier offers a new way to power business processes that depend on structured document exchange across organizational boundaries. It provides a consumer-grade user experience for secure and structured document exchange, validation and tracking. It is easily adaptable to different use cases, configurable in minutes without any additional development. LEAP Snap: Enterprise Capture for Everyone LEAP Snap delivers the power of enterprise-grade document capture to all business users by offering a delightful and easy-to-use experience. Its powerful Advanced Recognition automatically captures, categorizes and organizes documents and related document information in real-time, turning unstructured content into actionable digital business information. The solution is simple, enables users to spin up an environment in less than five minutes, and incudes an innovative template design service to start the capture process without the need for any configuration or development. LEAP Concert: Collaborative Document Authoring with Control LEAP Concert enables the creation of a wide variety of documents in a collaborative but controlled environment. Organizations can easily set up or import a working document to begin dividing up tasks on the project. LEAP Concert includes the ability to identify and assign work to be done on the document, and simple review workflows allow sections to be approved and completed, advancing the overall progress of the document. Project owners can protect existing content, only allowing users to modify the individual sections that have been assigned to them. LEAP Express: Anywhere, Anytime Access to Your Content LEAP Express is a lightweight app designed to easily browse, access, search and approve all content, no matter where it lives. Express supports multiple form factors including web, tablet and mobile, leveraging the latest design paradigms and security features such as touch ID. Repository independence enables a unified view of all documents and tasks, eliminating the need to jump across different, custom apps to effectively work with content. LEAP Focus: Optimized Document Viewing Designed for Mobile LEAP Focus dramatically improves the document consumption experience on mobile devices. It allows for fast, yet detailed reading and reviewing of business documents like sales contracts and agreements on the go. It eliminates the frustrating "pinch-to-zoom" experience by automatically reformatting the document based on selected font size for the device, and reduces the requirement to view documents on non-mobile devices. eSignature and Digital Transaction Management As part of its vision to provide customers with premier content apps, EMC is partnering with DocuSign, Inc. (DocuSign). DocuSign is the global leader in eSignature and Digital Transaction Management (DTM), essential technology for enabling digital enterprise workflows. "LEAP is a game-changing set of SaaS-based content applications that advance EMC's vision for next-generation enterprise content solutions," said Mark Register, SVP of Business Development and Channels at DocuSign. "We're thrilled to have EMC join the DocuSign Global Trust Network to bring the power of DocuSign DTM and eSignature to EMC customers to help them solve critical digital challenges." LEAP Together: Customer and Partner Success Programs LEAP Together is a comprehensive program designed to provide customers and partners with additional benefits and ensure faster time to value with their LEAP apps. For existing customers, EMC is offering a revolutionary Loyalty Tier, granting free access to its new LEAP suite of apps. Designed to reward EMC customers for their continuing loyalty to the Documentum family of products, this new program will enable all current, maintenance-paying customers to immediately access and begin using relevant EMC LEAP apps free of charge in the Loyalty Tier. Customers will also enjoy superior customer support with dedicated LEAP Customer Success Managers, who will help deploy and ensure apps are running smoothly in their infrastructure. EMC is also expanding support for its robust and vibrant partner community by launching a new SaaS Solution Provider Track within the ECD Business Partner Program. By establishing a SaaS specialty, ECD is providing approved partners with specific benefits and requirements that are aligned with the SaaS sales motion. In addition, partners will receive compelling financial incentives to drive rapid adoption of the SaaS program and new sales of the LEAP apps. As new apps become generally available, partners will have the opportunity to resell apps and services, with additional program features to be launched later this year. Pricing and Availability LEAP Courier and LEAP Snap are available to a limited number of customers today and will be generally available in June. LEAP Concert, LEAP Express, and LEAP Focus are in active recruitment for beta customers this quarter with general availability in the second half of 2016. All LEAP solutions are available on pay-per-use subscription basis and use value-based pricing. Through the LEAP Together Program and Loyalty Tier, existing customers will get free access to equivalent apps (see above for more information). Customer Quote: Jamaluddin Kokan, Senior Technology Architect, Infosys "I'm impressed with how intuitive the EMC LEAP apps are, and how easily they can be configured in a matter of minutes for different use cases. The EMC offerings have the look and feel of consumer apps, are simple to implement, and will allow all of our clients to easily and quickly engage with content." Analyst Quotes: EMC LEAP [formerly Project Horizon] "embodies the most innovation in terms of content that we've seen from EMC in years," wrote Craig Le Clair and Cheryl McKinnon of Forrester Research.* Melissa Webster, Program Vice President, Content and Digital Media Technologies, IDC: "The nature of work is changing. Businesses need to collaborate digitally with customers, partners, suppliers, and employees in real time, from any device. This requires intuitive, cloud-based apps that let them easily co-create, contribute, and share information and coordinate efforts. Collaboration is also a vital part of business processes, and enterprises can lose critical context when collaboration is disconnected from the business focus. It requires fundamentally reimagining content collaboration. EMC's LEAP suite makes that LEAP." Partner Quotes: Scott Schaftlein, Managing Director, Accenture Interactive: "When we're consulting with organizations on digital transformation, adoption and speed to market are key C-level concerns. We're excited to see EMC LEAP bring a new level of innovation for EMC, as we believe a relentless focus on intuitive, modular solutions will drive faster speed to market and enable better adoption of new, digital capabilities." Michael Woodbridge, ECM Chief Technology Officer, Capgemini UK: "We're a trusted advisor in our customers' digital transformation journey. Frequently, customers struggle with content silos and harvesting knowledge out of their content, which represents the largest amount of data within organizations today. EMC's LEAP family provides organizations with applications that fit into a modern digital workplace backed by rigorous, industrial-grade content management." Mario Duckett, Vice President of Enterprise Content Solutions, MetaSource: "EMC's LEAP suite offers a set of easy-to-use content apps and services in a platform that is solving complex business problems, yet also opens up new opportunities for the SMB space. We've been a successful SaaS and Captiva provider for many years, and we're excited to see how customers will leverage Snap, which packs the power of enterprise-grade capture into a simple app that any casual business worker can use." Erik Raper, Senior Vice President, Paragon Solutions, Inc.: "EMC's new collection of content-centric apps underscores its appreciation of domain-centric solutions. EMC LEAP extends the value of Documentum to enable digital transformation and bring customers high-quality, industry-specific solutions, in a simplified app experience." Additional Resources: Watch the Momentum keynote on Periscope at 1:30pm PT on Monday, May 2 on Learn more about EMC LEAP on EMC.com View the EMC LEAP video Learn more about the Enterprise Content Division leadership team Connect with ECD via SPARK Blog, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Momentum ECM on ECN. About EMC EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset information in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com. *"Brief: Five Reasons The Dell Acquisition Will End Up As A Positive For Documentum Customers," Forrester Research, November 2015. EMC, Documentum and Captiva are registered trademarks or trademarks of EMC Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) risks associated with the proposed acquisition of EMC by Denali Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Dell, Inc., including, among others, assumptions related to the ability to close the acquisition, the expected closing date and its anticipated costs and benefits; (ii) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (iii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iv) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (v) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (vi) component and product quality and availability; (vii) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.'s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (viii) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (ix) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (x) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (xi) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xii) fluctuating currency exchange rates; (xiii) threats and other disruptions to our secure data centers or networks; (xiv) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (xv) war or acts of terrorism; and (xvi) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160501/362083 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160501/362084 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emc-unveils-suite-of-intuitive-cloud-native-content-apps-to-revolutionize-ecm-and-transform-the-way-people-engage-with-content-300260687.html SOURCE EMC Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lawrence County Council adopts increased budget for 2023 The final total for next years budget was adopted at $28,405,574, an increase of 3.5% from the approved budget for 2022. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). More Groovin The Moo punters have slammed the conduct of security guards and even medics working the Canberra leg of the regional touring festival, claiming security workers stood and laughed as a female punter passed out in front of them. GTM Canberra attendee Jamie Guy told The Canberra Times she witnessed some young girls struggling to carry their friend whod collapsed as at least 10 security guards and medics stood around having a laugh and a banter as the girls passed them. A male bystander was forced to help the friends carry the girl to the tent. We were in shock that none of the medics or security guards were helping her they just stood and watched, Ms Guy told the Times. Knowing that they are meant to help people and keep them safe, and seeing that, was like, Are you really carrying out your duty of care? Would you look after me if that was me? I have never seen anything like that. According to Ms Guy, medics only stepped in once the girl had reached the first-aid tent. Meanwhile, fellow GTM Canberra punter Dayle Russell told the Times he witnessed a similar alleged incident during a mosh pit. Ms Russell saw a girl fall to the ground unconscious during a performance before waking crying and screaming for her friends. Everyone was trampling on her, so my friends gathered around and made a circle to let security guards through, she said. They just stood and stared at her and then turned around and walked away. When Ms Russell asked one of the security guards if they could assist in taking the girl to the first-aid tent, he reportedly responded that it wasnt his problem. She could not function, she needed help, and they just left, she said. Even if its not their responsibility, everyone else around was too drunk to know she even needed help, and they didnt do anything about it. I would hate to have known what happened to all of these people who needed help. It really concerned me and my friends. Its not the first time the security at GTM Canberra have been criticised in recent weeks. As Tone Deaf reported, Joana Perkins slammed members the ISEC security company after she was allegedly urinated on by a male punter as she attended the festival with her 15-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter. [include_post id=477756] Ms Perkins claimed that when she asked security guards why the male punter hadnt been thrown out, one of the security guards looked at me extremely aggressively and said if you dont shut up youll be chucked out. We acknowledge several media reports with regards to the welfare of patrons and conduct of security and emergency service providers at both GTM Maitland and Canberra, GTM organisers later wrote in a statement. Groovin the Moo believes all actions taken by service providers were delivered in the best interest of GTM patrons. Groovin The Moo wrapped up over the weekend with events in Bendigo and Townsville. Now pretty much legends on the local punk scene, Fear Like Us have spent the past 12 years evolved their folk punk sound into a powerful genre-crossing melodic punk act that constantly inspires and informs the sound of many of the Australias local up-and-comers. One of the original signees to to the landmark Poison City label, the crew are today unveiling their latest record Succour, out for official release this Friday May 6th. Continuing to explore political injustice, the peaks and pitfalls of the modern Australian pysche, love, loss and longing, Succour is at once uniquely Australian and undeniably world-class. To celebrate the release of this incredible LP, the band have given us a track by track run down of Succour penned by frontman Jamie Hay, check it out below along with an advance stream of the album. To pre-order a copy of the record visit poisoncityrecords.com. The Gaslighting Anthem This song is about Gaslighting, which is a form of mental abuse in which a victim is manipulated into doubting his or her own memory, perception and sanity. Its nothing against The Gaslight Anthem by the way, I just thought it was a cheeky title. Revolution Bummer Revolution Bummer is about how our own egos can get in the way of making change or admitting when were wrong. This song is more of a confession of sorts rather than a criticism on anyone else. I think its a good thing to remember as a songwriter to be ready for criticism and be able to take it on because all of this time is worth nothing if we dont listen and learn. Red Ochre This is about the stolen generation. Red Ochre wrote itself basically, it kind of just happened. Its about a child who was taken from their family and whenever they see the red earth, it reminds them of that time. We talked at length as a band as to whether or not we should we should write about such a topic. We didnt want to be another bunch of white folks telling such a story but I think weve done it tastefully. I hope so anyway. Dire I wrote this song after the coalitions budget announcement last year. The Liberals attack on the poor & underprivileged is relentless and all the while looking after big business and their mates in the coal industry. The Lowest Form Of Love This song is about how the Reclaim Australia group are nothing more than ill-informed racists standing behind a banner of Proud Australians whilst ignoring the monumental irony that the way of life we enjoy is built upon a history of theft, suffering and ongoing dispossession of indigenous people. Who Killed Reza Berati? Reza Barati was an Iranian asylum seeker who was killed in a detention centre on Manus Island. This song however, asks more of a moral question on who killed Reza. Could this event have been prevented? Is there something more that we can do to help people in need? Yes, I believe so. Raze It To The Ground Raze it to the ground is kind of a part 2 to Reza and has a very simple message. Shut down Manus Island & Nauru now! Were half way there with the news of Manus Island detention centre being closed but we need a huge policy overhaul and shift as well. Id like to see more of what we claim to be as a nation. Being that helping hand for those people in hard times. Over The Falls Weve seen it time and time again where Anti Terror laws encroach on our fundamental freedoms. These changes to legislation are usually seen immediately after a terrorist attack where its a perfect time to capture everyones fear and unease. I see it as a slow burner and if we dont stand up and speak out we may one day realise it all a little too late. Dry Riverbed This one about those who would tell us to man up or just get over it when it comes to anxiety & depression rather than offering support and understanding. Ive experienced this many times in my life and sure a lot of people have too. THe Face Of War, Washed Upon The Shore This song is about the 3 year old boy Alan Kurdi was found washed ashore in the Mediterranean Sea. Seeing his body laying on the shore and having a son of roughly the same age broke my heart. I know this song is pretty heavy but I feel like these stories need to be told so we dont soon forget them. Blue Mountains-bred rapper Tuka is the latest Australian musician to go public about his struggles with depression. Taking to Facebook over the weekend, the emcee, whose real name is Brendan Tuckerman, shared an extensive missive detailing his battle against the mental illness. I dont share it that often, but depression has played a huge part of my adult life, he wrote. Ive been living with it for years and years. Its one of those things that linger around and thankfully Ive become very aware of it and over time Ive learnt to catch myself from falling too hard when it starts to take control. Tuckerman goes on to write that he was partly inspired to share his story after seeing the highly idealised excerpts shared by Instagram and social media celebrities, saying he doesnt want to lean on social media to show how good my life is all the time. So sometimes I feel its important to share the painful stuff as well as the achievements, the Thundamentals member continued. To put things in balance. Its all about perspective and about accepting yourself for who you really are. The emcee reminded fans that those we think have perfect lives because of their carefully curated social media accounts are just as insecure as everyone else if not more so, admitting that he too felt pressure to only share the wins Ive had online. Im still untangling the years of conditioning society has put inside my brain, he wrote. Everyday Im still learning that failing is fine as long as you learn from it. Life doesnt get easier in that regard, you just get better at it. That being said I think its unhealthy to use social media as a straight up therapist. If you are going through heavy shit and you need to talk to someone you should look to the real world not the internet. If you find yourself lashing out online about your life it could be a sign that you need to connect with your loved ones or seek a professionals help. There is nothing to be ashamed of when asking for help. Tuckerman goes on to detail the pressures and anxieties hes faced as a contemporary artist, in particular in the lead up to his latest tour, during which he played some of the biggest venues of his career to date. [include_post id=468107] The post has since amassed almost two thousand likes and yielded hundreds of sympathetic comments from fans, prompting Tuckerman to issue a response writing that hes been blown away by the amount of people that connected with yesterdays rant. Its actually so beautiful how open people become once you allow the topic to be spoken about. For anyone concerned about me, please dont be. I was more sharing my experiences with you so I could relate to you, not to vent. The subject had been on my mind lately and I thought some of you may find it interesting I guess Ive been getting a ton of messages that Im gonna try get back when I get a minute. But basically I just want to say I think you guys a fkn rad. Some of the Australian music worlds biggest names often leave doors of opportunity ajar, just waiting for the right kind of professional music fan to come knocking. Our regular Music Jobs column is the place where well help you grab the proverbial handle and walk on through, as we take the pain out of scrolling through endless (and sometimes shady) job listings to provide you a selection of killer career opps in the music world. No free work or internships here, just authentic chances to break into the music industry. So update your CV, brush up your cover letter writing chops, stop dreaming, and start doing what you love for a living. Editor At Tone Deaf Its us, oh hey! Were currently on the hunt for a music and publishing all-rounder to join our Melbourne based team as an Editor. Working closely with the in-house news team the role includes: Feature pitching and writing, news sourcing, proof reading, liaising with publicists and other industry figures, and managing our contributor base just to name a handful of duties. If youre an organised Tone Deaf reader (and Aussie music fanatic) whos able to string a few words together, email Nicholas Jones at [email protected] with your CV and a concise letter covering relevant experience. Administrator At The Push Not-for-profit, Victorian youth music organisation The Push is on the hunt for an Administrator to provide day-to-day office administration, bookkeeping and project administrative support for The Push team. In its 28th year of operation, The Push carries out a number incredibly supportive and exciting annual music programs and provides support to young people in relation to creative industry pathways. For a full position description and to apply pop by the job listing on thepush.com.au. Interviews Coordinator At Triple R For almost 40 years Triple R has shaped and inspired the culture of Melbourne. Since its inception in 1976, Triple R has become Australias most influential independent community radio station with almost 15,000 subscribers and an estimated 440,000 listeners per week. Theyre now looking out for a Music Interviews Coordinator to join the team for 12 months. The role is primarily responsible for the placement of all music interviews on Triple R. The Music Interviews Coordinator works most closely with Music Coordinator and reports to the Program Manager. This role is a fixed term 12 month parental leave contract and is a part-time position of 3 days per week. For further info and to apply pop by the job listing on seek.com.au. Touring & Logistics Coordinator At Ministry Of Sound Iconic dance music collective Ministry Of Sound need a fresh Touring Logistics Coordinator to join the thriving, well-established company. The role includes supporting the Booking Agents as they continue to expand the business representing and touring international and local musical acts. Professional administration management and coordination is critical to the success of the gig. If you enjoy an informal work culture, combined with high professional standards and are the most organised person you know pop by the Pedestrian job listing for more info and application details. Marketing Manager At EMI The crew at EMI have an exciting opportunity available for an Artist Marketing Manager to join the EMI team at their William Street, Sydney offices. As the advocate for your designated labels/artists, you are music-mad, creative and commercial; able to develop artist vision, excite stakeholders, project manage and maximise sales opportunities. if you know the difference between KPIs, D2Fs and A&Rs and you LOVE music visit the Pedestrian job listing for more info and application details. Event Coordinator At Mountain Sounds Festival The Mountain Sounds Festival is a boutique and sustainable event product of music, art and culture located on the Central Coast of New South Wales. After back-to-back, killer SOLD OUT festivals plus a VERY busy year ahead, theyre looking to expand the team again. First up, theyre on the hunt for an Event Coordinator. The role will give you unique hands on experience with event planning, site management, staffing, administration, marketing and stakeholder liaising. Check out the Pedestrian listing for full details. Events Marketing Officer (Copywriter) At City Of Melbourne City of Melbourne are on the lookout for a Events Marketing Officer (Copywriter) to become an integral member of the Marketing Team within Events Melbourne that develops and executes marketing strategies for five premier events including Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, Melbourne Music Week, Moomba Festival, New Years Eve, and Melbourne Celebrations. If youre organised, can write and know how to throw a killer party pop by the job listing at LinkedIn for details. Label Relations Account Manager, Australia & NZ At Spotify The Spotify team are hunting a dynamic, high-caliber individual to manage our label relations efforts across Australia and New Zealand. This position is based in Sydney, reporting to the Senior Director, Label Relations for EU and ANZ. In this role you will manage hundreds of label relationships across the globe with a network of Account Manager in different Spotify territories. The position will serve as primary point of contact for record labels, distributors and aggregators specifically in Australia and New Zealand, but also work with central international teams. If you love communication as much as you love music visit LinkedIn for details. "MU is a major public institution that surely receives federal funding, and yet it permits one of its academic departments, in the name of peace studies, to repeatedly call for what could surely be only the violent overthrow of the lone Jewish state in the world, not to mention the only democracy in the region." Check this fact check taking on the discourse in Columbia, MO that goes beyond calling for a Palestinian state and seeks a more radical solution . . . Money line in a thoughtful take down of an embattled school"Read more: University of Missouri Sponsors Antisemitism TONIGHT OUR TKC BLOG COMMUNITY CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF MANNY LOPEZ WITH EXTRAORDINARY REVELATIONS REGARDING HIS GROUNDBREAKING POLITICAL AND BUSINESS CAREER IN KANSAS CITY!!! The Career Of Manny Lopez Started With Tense Connections To Notorious Big Jesse for Manny Lopez Was A Strident Conservative Republican Who Literally Took A Vicious Beating From Illegal Immigrants An Alternative To La Raza Political Club Was Served Up By Manny Lopez It's important that the passing of a Kansas City icon is reported with a dose of reality and a bit perspective about an extraordinary life which shaped this wicked little town in which we live.To wit . . .With respect to his family and friends, the paltry mainstream media coverage filled with pleasantries but surprisingly few deets simply doesn't do justice to a career that impacted the lives of tens of thousands of Kansas City Latinos to this very day.Manny's start was shrouded in mystery with no real answers about his humble beginnings until now.Nowhere in Manny's obit or so many biz profiles written about this local biz titan is a mention of Big Jesse.Big Jesse was a notorious bar owner, drug kingpin and hardcore Mexican gangster before most Americans knew that this brand of criminal even existed. Big Jesse rose to power in the early years of the American drug epidemic in the 1980s. He owned a few places on the Westside and even ventured into Midtown.Just to be clear: Manny was inconnected with illicit biz of Big Jesse but few people really understand that the drug biz connects directly with legitimate interests in more ways than any of us really want to imagine.And so, Manny workedwith Big Jesse starting out and when there wasn't a single bank in Kansas City that would give Manny a loan to start his biz.Here's where things get interesting . . .Like all gangsters, Big Jesse was living on borrowed time. Finally, bad debts, broken promises or old beefs came due and Big Jesse was found with his throat slit, his tongue pulled through his neck and his testicles cut from his body and shoved in his mouth.Some might call this a Sicilian necktie but this method of execution is also used South of the Border was well and it's also known as a Colombian necktie.With any biz connections and debt from Big Jesse fortuitously removed by forces more sinister, deadly and beyond a hopeful taco and burrito vendor . . . Manny was free to pursue his own ventures and the capital for his restaurant was quickly discovered shortly thereafter. The rest is Kansas City restaurant history as Manny was one of the first Crossroads developers, entrepreneurs and successful businessmen to redevelop this risky but ultimately lucrative location.Navigating the immigration landscape in Kansas City has always been tough. Labor laws have evolved over time along with documentation reporting requirements. Manny Lopez was always eager to help people who wanted to help themselves and early in his career he employed many immigrants who had arrived recently from Mexico.The policy of employing recent immigrants ended quickly at his restaurant after. The robbery was terrifying but its impact was more pronounced as Manny, upon his recovery, was the first Westside biz to discourage the employment of recent arrivals and was stringent in documenting the records of employees thereafter and long before U.S. and state labor laws demanded as much.In his later years, Manny Lopez proudly claimed that he was pro-Union Republican while extolling the virtues of his strict Catholic upbringing.Long, long ago, I heard Manny speak with pride about being a "solider of Christ" when talking to my 8th grade class before Catholic Confirmation. His faith was something that defined the entrepreneur as a person, businessman and local leader.Given this strict socially Conservative stance . . . He was naturally at odds with other Westside political groups like La Raza Political Club . . . In searching for an alternative to socially liberal Democratic Party advocacy, Manny was the founding member of. He lent his support to fiscally Conservative candidates along with simply providing a venue to network and meet people from the community in much then same way that Manny generously offered an initial investment of $5k to help start the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce which now represents hundreds of millions of dollars.And so, these facts might be uncomfortable to some and aren't very well known in Kansas City but this blog hopes this posting helps provide a more complete picture of a man who was defined by hard work, conservative principles and just a bit of good luck amid unfortunate circumstances. Like many in Kansas City, Manny Lopez transcended his surroundings with a single-minded and often stubborn commitment to making his own way. Tourexpi, turizm haberleri, Reiseburos, tourism news, noticias de turismo, Tourismus Nachrichten, , travel tourism news, international tourism news, Urlaub, urlaub in der turkei, , holidays in Turkey, , global tourism news, dunya turizm, dunya turizm haberleri, Seyahat Acentas, This site is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+, at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Saudi Arabia's government has authorised the housing ministry to seek the assistance of Britain, France and China in building hundreds of thousands of homes to ease a shortage of affordable housing in the kingdom. The housing minister and his deputy were given the power to sign memorandums of understanding with those countries, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. It gave no details of what the agreements might contain, but in March the ministry signed memorandums with South Korea and a Saudi-South Korean consortium to develop 100,000 housing units in northern Riyadh over 10 years. The consortium includes Daewoo Engineering & Construction Company and Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corporation. Under a broad economic reform plan announced last week, the Saudi government aims to increase the rate of home ownership among its citizens by five per cent by 2020 from 47 per cent now. The government will provide some funding and regulatory support. - Reuters US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday talks were closer to extending a Syrian truce to Aleppo, the divided northern city where a sharp escalation of violence in recent weeks has torpedoed peace talks. Kerry was in Geneva for talks with other dignitaries to try to revive the first major ceasefire of the five-year Syrian war, which was put in place in February with US and Russian backing but has since all but collapsed. Syria announced temporary local truces in other areas last week but has so far failed to extend them to Aleppo, where government air strikes and rebel shelling have killed hundreds of civilians in the past week, including more than 50 people in a hospital that rebels say was deliberately targeted. The Aleppo fighting threatens to wreck the first peace talks involving the warring parties, which are due to resume at an unspecified date after breaking up in April when the opposition delegation walked out in anger. "We're getting closer to a place of understanding, but we have some work to do, and that's why we're here," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. After meeting Jubeir and UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, Kerry said he hoped for more clarity in the next day or so on restoring the nationwide ceasefire. The United States and Russia had agreed to keep extra staff in Geneva to work on it. "Both sides, the opposition and the regime, have contributed to this chaos, and we are working over the next hours intensely in order to try to restore the cessation of hostilities," Kerry said. De Mistura said he would travel to Moscow for talks. The civil war in Syria has killed hundred of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes, created the world's worst refugee crisis and provided a base for Islamic State militants who have launched attacks elsewhere. The fighting has drawn in global powers and regional states, while all diplomatic efforts to resolve it have foundered over the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, who refuses to accept opposition demands that he leave power. The US and Russia have taken the leading roles in the latest diplomatic initiative, which began after Moscow joined the war last year with an air campaign that tipped the balance of power in favour of Assad, its ally. So far, Syria has announced a "regime of calm" -- a temporary local truce -- in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus and the countryside of northern Latakia province, from Saturday morning. The Latakia truce was for three days and the Ghouta truce, initially for 24 hours, was also extended by another 48. Both are areas where there has been heavy fighting, but Aleppo remains the biggest prize for Assad's forces, who are hoping to take full control of the city, Syria's largest before the war. The nearby countryside includes the last strip of the Syria-Turkish border in the hands of Arab Sunni rebels. A Russian military official, General Sergei Kuralenko, said talks were under way on extending the regime of calm to Aleppo. CIVILIANS KILLED The opposition accuses the government of deliberately targeting civilians in rebel held parts of Aleppo to drive them out, and says the world must do more to force Damascus to halt air strikes. For its part, the government says rebels have been heavily shelling government-held areas, proving that they are receiving more sophisticated weaponry from their foreign supporters, which include Arab states and Turkey. A British-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has reported scores of civilians killed on both sides, although more in rebel-held territory. Syrian state television said on Monday that a missile had hit the surroundings of Aleppo University Medical Hospital, and several civilians were injured by rebel mortar attacks on the residential area of Jamiyat Hay al Zahra in western Aleppo. The rebel-held local council of Aleppo city announced a state of emergency in areas it runs due to the intense bombardment. About 350,000-400,000 people are believed to remain in rebel-held parts of what was once a city of 2 million. Mohammad Muaz Abu Saleh, a senior councillor in the rebel Aleppo governate council, said residents were not abandoning opposition-held areas, despite the intense bombardment. "Those who wanted to leave Aleppo have fled," he said. Those who have stayed behind "have decided to stay under all circumstances of shelling and siege. Aleppo will remain populated with its people not leaving." Amar Al-Absi, a resident of a rebel-held area, said: "There was heavy shelling throughout the night. In my neighbourhood, Salah al-Deen, a missile hit a building that was empty and it was levelled but there were no casualties." In the countryside north of Aleppo, other rebel groups have been fighting against Islamic State fighters, who are not party to any ceasefire. Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said the militants had gained control of the villages of Doudayan, Tel Shaer and Iykda from rival rebels in the northern Aleppo area near the border with Turkey. They said they were able cut the supply routes of other rebels in the area, despite Turkish artillery shelling to aid the rebels against Islamic State. The Observatory said the militants had staged a counterattack to regain ground lost from other rebels in to-and-fro fighting that has seen no major gains for any side. Turkey said it had shelled Islamic State positions across the border and attacked them with drones on Sunday, killing 34 militants in retaliation for cross-border strikes. The death toll could not be confirmed. Turkey, a Nato ally, is part of a US-led coalition launching air strikes against Islamic State, but is also strongly opposed to the main Kurdish militia in Syria, Washington's closest ally on the ground. It is one of the leading opponents of Assad and backers of rebels opposed to him. Another major supporter of the rebels is Saudi Arabia, whose Foreign Minister Jubeir blamed the latest escalation on the government, condemned it as a "violation of all humanitarian laws" and called for Assad to step down. "He can leave through a political process, which we hope he will do, or he will be removed by force," Jubeir said alongside Kerry. - Reuters More than 60 per cent of consumers are aware of several options for removing ad blockers, which signal a serious and growing threat to the digital advertising industry, a new Accenture report says. Ad blockers are technological methods for automatically removing or altering advertising content such as videos, images, and text on a Web page. The blockers enable TV, smartphone, tablet and PC users to load video files more quickly, view more clean-looking Web pages, reduce bandwidth consumption, and increase their privacy by removing tracking and profiling systems of video advertising delivery platforms. The survey of 28,000 consumers across 28 countries also finds that more than four in 10 (42 percent) said they would pay to eliminate ad interruptions. Ad blockers are a relatively new threat to the digital advertising industry, said Gavin Mann, Accentures Global Broadcast Industry lead. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay for blockers because too many ads are poorly targeted. In todays world of personalized content, being forced to watch an ad that has no relevance is a missed opportunity and feels increasingly intrusive on precious screen-time. In fact, simple avoidance of content associated with heavy and repetitive irrelevant advertising will increase as consumer choice and awareness of choice increases. The survey found that young consumers are especially aware of ad blockers compared with older age groups. More than two-thirds (69 percent) of those aged 18-to-24, and almost the same number (66 percent) of those between 25 and 34, said they know about ad-interruption technologies. Awareness of ad-blocking methods is more prevalent among consumers in emerging than in developed markets. For instance, two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents in emerging-market countries said they know about ad-blockers compared with 58 percent in mature-market countries. Awareness of these technologies is especially high in Mexico, at 82 percent, whereas only 55 percent of consumers in the United Kingdom know about ad blockers. Regionally, ad-blocker awareness is especially pervasive in Latin America (78 percent) and the Middle East (69 percent). In addition, consumers in emerging markets are significantly more likely than those in mature markets 47 percent versus 34 percent to say they plan to pay to expunge ad interruptions. Theres no point in following the music industrys failed attempts at thwarting piracy, Mann added. Its futile to focus all efforts on trying to outsmart ever-evolving ad-blocking technologies to force audiences to watch ads. The industry needs to do everything possible to make ads less of an infringement on precious screen time, by building on early successes that deliver targeted, relevant and entertaining ads in a creative style appreciated by the individual. Accenture recommends that digital advertising organizations invest in user experience and user interface transformation, production studios, and post-production support resources and facilities. Equipped with a wealth of operational and analytical technologies that can be applied to solve these business problems, advertising can deliver value-added creative capabilities and more robust customized services to consumers. Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. TradeArabia News Service Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) officially inaugurated its Al Hosn Shah Sour Gas Development Project, the largest of its kind in the world, last week. HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, inaugurated mega project, said a Wam report. Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Al Hosn Shah Sour Gas Development Project is the first ultra sour gas project to produce and safely process more than one billion cubic feet per day of ultra sour gas from a single gas plant. Located in the Shah Field, 210 km south west of Abu Dhabi city, Al Hosn is a joint venture between Adnoc and Occidental Petroleum. Sheikh Mohamed was received at the plant by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Adnoc, Vicki Hollub, president, chief operating officer and incoming CEO of Occidental Petroleum, along with senior management in Adnoc and its group of companies. Speaking during his tour of the project, Sheikh Mohammed praised Adnoc's role in positioning the UAE on the global energy map as a reliable and secure source of natural gas. He expressed his support for Adnoc's plans to ensure a sustainable supply of gas and its commitment to developing the infrastructure and skills necessary to meet the needs of the next generation of energy consumers. During their tour of the Al Hosn Shah Sour Gas Development Project, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the role of the new facility in expanding Adnoc's production of gas, natural gas, and liquefied condensates and liquefied natural gas. Dr Al Jaber said: "The inauguration of Al Hosn Shah Sour Gas Development Project is an important milestone for Adnoc as we maximise the value of Abu Dhabi s gas resources to meet the United Arab Emirates and the world's growing demand. It is a prime example of how Adnoc utilises innovative solutions to deliver on our strategic objectives and maintain our competitive edge." The $10-billion Shah Gas Development Project will produce 504 million cu ft of natural gas, 33,000 barrels of condensates, 4,400 tonnes of natural gas liquids and 9,900 tonnes of sulphur granules. In 2015, the facility produced 2 million tonnes of sulphur and is forecast to produce 3.2 million tonnes in 2016. Adnoc has a 60 per cent majority share in Al Hosn Gas and Occidental Petroleum a 40 per cent share. A three-day strike by oil workers in Kuwait last month over pay reforms shows the government faces considerable opposition as it prepares to push through painful and controversial cuts to longstanding welfare benefits. Oil-exporting states around the Gulf are reducing subsidies for fuel, public utilities and food, and freezing or slowing the growth of public sector wages, as they try to curb big budget deficits caused by low oil prices. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain have all taken such steps in the past six months. But Kuwait has been slower to act; reforms were still being discussed in parliament last week and no timetable has been set. In mid-March, Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh said the cabinet had approved in principle a "repricing" of some commodities and public services, but he gave no details and did not mention a date for the changes. One reason for the delay is that Kuwait has more of a history of industrial action than the rest of the Gulf. In recent years, brief work stoppages over pay and conditions have also hit Kuwait's national airline and the customs administration. In 2012, thousands of Kuwaitis demonstrated repeatedly against a new electoral law which they said disadvantaged the opposition. The result is that Kuwait's government is having a harder time imposing austerity policies than its counterparts, and the extent of those policies is still uncertain. "The oil strike was a showdown between a welfare government and a civil society fearful that the government will solve its problem, resulting from a lack of planning, at its expense," said Shafeeq Ghabra, political science professor at Kuwait University. "This strike shows that the government needs to have a major dialogue with civil society regarding economic as well political reform." Billions of dollars are at stake; finance ministry undersecretary Khalifa Hamada told the Al-Qabas newspaper at the end of last year that "rationalising" subsidies would save the government KD2.6 billion ($8.7 billion) over three years. Savings would be greater if the bloated public payroll could be reformed. The finance ministry projected in January that the government would run a budget deficit of KD12.2 billion in the fiscal year starting on April 1, 2016, after state contributions to the sovereign wealth fund. STRIKE Between 7,000 and 13,000 of around 18,000 Kuwaiti nationals in the oil sector took part in the strike in late April, union members estimated. Union membership is not compulsory and foreign workers are not permitted to strike. Workers were protesting a proposed overhaul of the public sector payroll system that would set uniform standards for salaries, bonuses and benefits. The Oil and Petrochemical Industries Workers Confederation fears the government will use the reform to freeze salaries of higher-paid employees. Ultimately, the union called off the strike "in honour of his highness the Emir", and the government insisted it made no concessions - an apparent victory for authorities. But the union has been talking to the government since the strike ended, so concessions could still be made. Kuwait's oil output fell as low as 1.1 million barrels per day during the strike from the usual output of around 3 million bpd, tarnishing the country's image as a reliable exporter. "The workers have achieved their main objective of getting their message across," said Faisal Abu Sulaib, another political science professor at Kuwait University. Saif Al-Qahtani, chairman of the oil workers' union, said he could not speak for other unions but that some of them also opposed wage system reform. Some other union members and analysts said a string of strikes in Kuwait remained unlikely. An official at the headquarters of the Kuwait Trade Union Federation, which represents 15 unions in the energy and government sectors, said it had not been informed of any other planned walkouts. Nevertheless, in the wake of the oil strike, the government may move even more gradually and cautiously with reforms. While most of the current parliament has been relatively supportive of the idea of reform, legislative elections are due next year, and the government will not want the issue of austerity to cause the election of a more antagonistic parliament. "Negotiations may take time, but my expectation is that the government will ultimately move towards a compromise on some of the union's demands to prevent further economically damaging escalations," said Coline Schep, a Middle East and North Africa associate at consultancy Eurasia Group. "Future strike action in the oil sector, or public sector more broadly, cannot be ruled out as it is a fairly well-established phenomenon in Kuwait...It is in the government's interest to try and avert further stoppages." - Reuters You can opt out of certain types of cookies (e.g. those used in social media sharing) by choosing "I do not accept". The website will still largely function well, but with slightly less functionality in places. To manage your cookie preferences in future, visit the "Cookie Statement" link at the bottom of any page. Kogelman will discuss timeshare resale issues at the American Resort Development Association's national convention. (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - May 2nd, 2016 - Wesley Kogelman, CEO of online timeshare resale company BuyaTimeshare.com, will share his experience from 16 years in the timeshare marketplace at the up-coming national convention of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). Participating on the Online Marketplace Review and Website ROI panel, Kogelman will be discussing the importance of transparency in the secondary market, with specifics regarding sales, processes and the importance of resort and developer involvement in order to meet the growing needs of consumers looking for resale timeshare products. Having started BuyaTimeshare.com in 2000, Kogelman has had a major influence in the online marketing of timeshare resales, with one million annual visitors coming to the website in search of information and deals. We see the buyers and renters every day coming to our site in search of a deal, and we know by the offers made through our platform that sales are taking place, Kogelman said. With over $100million in offers just in the last two years, we have documented consumer demand on our site. Resorts and developers need to take the secondary market seriously by participating with resale outlets to attract new owners. ARDA World 2016 will take place May 1-5, 2016 at The Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida as over 2,000 delegates gather in the largest timeshare industry convention in the world. The Online Marketplace Review and Website ROI session will be held Wednesday, May 4 at 3:15 pm and bring to light what makes a great online marketplace and how do it yourself platforms and membership communities can serve developers, resorts, owners and travelers. We have a very busy schedule of meetings already lined up and I am very excited about seeing colleagues and discussing how resales can benefit the bottom line of every resort, Kogelman added. For more information about ARDA World 2016, please visit www.arda.org/convention and to find out more about BuyaTimeshare.com, please go to www.buyatimeshare.com or phone 800-640-6886. About BuyaTimeshare.com BuyaTimeshare.com is an internet advertising and marketing company for timeshare owners who seek to sell or rent their timeshare. The company has been in business since 2000 and has been ranked twice in Inc. Magazines prestigious Inc. 5000 List as one of the fastest-growing, privately held companies in the country. BuyaTimeshare.com was also listed as one of BusinessNH Magazines Top 10 Companies to Watch. The company is a Trustee Member of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Resort Development Association (CRDA), a member in good standing with the Mexico Resort Development Association AMDETUR, U.K.-based TATOC the Timeshare Association, and is a preferred resale provider for the National Timeshare Owners Association (NTOA). For more information, please visit http://buyatimeshare.com or call 1-800-640-6886. ### Hanoi, Vietnam EVietnamvisa, a reliable and experienced visa service in Hanoi, has launched its new website on 25th April 2016. (TRAVPR.COM) AROUND THE WORLD - May 2nd, 2016 - EVietnamvisa.net is a client-centric site which supports visitors easily exploring information and instantly applying online for their Vietnam visa on arrival. The site is integrated with fast and secure online payment methods, like Paypal, OnePAY, Visa or Mastercard. Only 72 hours after applying for Vietnam visa with EVietnamvisa, you will receive the Approval Letter for you Vietnam Visa. This new website has also been designed to provide the ultimate user-friendly experience with modern navigation and functionality throughout. The site is applied the latest technology so it is compatible with today's browsers and mobile devices. Visit our new website at www.evietnamvisa.net About EVietnamvisa EVietnamvisa was established by VietnamStay a leading tour operators in Vietnam offering private and group tours in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. With more than 13 years working in the tourism industry, we have served thousands of travelers per year visiting Vietnam. As yearning to create the most favorable condition for foreign visitors when applying for Vietnam visa, EVietnamvisa has become our successful portal providing travelers with the easiest and most reliable visa online service. A: 2nd floor, Kim Building, 91B Ly Nam De, Hanoi, Vietnam T: (84 4) 3747 3482 E: visa@evietnamvisa.net W: www.evietnamvisa.net ### 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. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 2 Betting big on the Indian aviation sector, Vistara, a Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines joint venture, is on an expansion spree. It is planning to ramp up routes and frequency of flights by adding new aircraft to its fleet. Currently, the airline has only nine aircraft in its fleet and expects to add four more by the end of this fiscal year. At present, we connect 16 destinations across the country. We are planning to add four more A320 aircraft by the end of this fiscal, taking the total tally to 13, said Sanjiv Kapoor, chief strategy & commercial officer, Vistara. Further, we are operating 60 flights a week currently, which we are planning to ramp up to 90 flights a week by the end of this fiscal. Soon, we would add Kolkata as our new destination. As far as rest of the destinations is concerned, it is too early to say but it will be a mix of Tier-I, Tier-II and Tier-III cities, he said. He added the domestic market is a huge market and there is an opportunity for every player. On 5/20 rule, he said, It is hurting the country as 70% of the traffic from India is being carried by foreign airlines. The present government is optimistic and is of the opinion that such a rule is not in the interest of Indian aviation. So we expect that something positive will come out soon. The airline today launched direct return flights to Chandigarh from Delhi and Hyderabad. Mohali, May 1 A local petroleum dealer, GS Chawla, who was on an indefinite hunger strike, along with other dealers here, was shifted to a private hospital after his condition deteriorated during the protest today. Chawla is in the emergency ward of the hospital and he is not well, said Ashwinder Singh Mongia, an office-bearer of the Mohali Petroleum Dealers Association. Notably, the petroleum dealers of the state are demanding the government intervention to check losses due to the removal of state specific cost (SSC) by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) in Haryana. They are protesting since yesterday. Meanwhile, Charanjit Singh Channi, the leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, met the protestors today and assured them that taxes on petrol and diesel would be brought on par with the adjoining states if voted to power. Notably, VAT on petrol in Punjab is 36.47 per cent against 27 per cent in the adjoining states. This has made petrol expansive by Rs 5.96 per litre in comparison to Haryana in the state. Similarly, though diesel prices were made uniform in July, 2015, in the northern states of the country, VAT in Haryana on diesel is 17.22 per cent as compared to 17.67 per cent in Punjab, creating a difference of around 20 paise per litre. Now, with the SSC or entry tax on crude oil withdrawn by IOCL from March 10, it has made diesel expensive by 60 paise per litre in Punjab. TNS Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 2 While the city is reeling under water crisis, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation says all is well in the city. The MC engineering wing headed by Engineer Mukesh Anand today submitted its report before MC Commissioner B Purushartha. Chandigarh has 1.5 lakh water connections, including domestic and commercial, but the MC teams visited only 585 houses on April 30 and May 1 and claimed that there was no water crisis in the city. On the directions of the MC Commissioner, 13 teams of senior officials of the civic body had visited different parts of the city on two days April 30 and May 1 to check misuse of water and take feedback on low water pressure from city residents. These teams today submitted their report to Anand, who further briefed the MC Commissioner, about the water situation in the city. When contacted, Anand said out of the 585 houses, only 188 complained of low pressure. Moreover, the residents living on the ground and first floors were 100 per cent satisfied with the water supply and only 10-20 per cent living in top floors were having problem of low pressure, and that was because of motors installed by nearby residents, he said. He even claimed that the picture which was given before the MC officials about severe water crisis in the city were found to be absolutely wrong and the MC was providing enough water to the city residents, claimed Anand. Demand and Supply gap At present, the water availability in UT is 87 million gallons daily (MGD). Of it, 67 MGD comes from Kajauli Waterworks Phases I, II, III and IV, and the remaining 20 MGD is generated through 207 tubewells. There was already a gap of 29 MGD between the demand and supply. The city is receiving 87 MGD water against the demand of 116 MGD in peak summers in June. Already demand has touched around 95 MGD. Only 6 mgd tertiary-treated water being used The MC treats 30 MGD waste water and then releases 24 MGD into the drain as the demand for the tertiary-treated water in the city is only 6 MGD. The MC has spent over Rs 15 crore on the project to supply tertiary-treated water to houses measuring one kanal and above in various sectors and green belts. However, the MC has found few takers among residents for new connections. Though there are around 6,000 such houses, owners of only 700 houses have applied for these connections during the past four years. Colonies worst affected Residents of villages and colonies are also facing water crisis. Congress general secretary Shashi Shankar Tiwari said people residing in Ram Darbar, Colony No. 4 and Mauli Jagran, are worst affected. There are even complaints of muddy water supply, he said. MC officials dont know the real picture : residents For the past one week, there is no water in their house. My family members are filling buckets at the ground floor and then using the same. Neeti Atwal, a resident, Sector 32-C }MC officials should hold area-wise public camps on water crisis and then only they will come to know the real picture. There was low water pressure in our sector and our overhead tanks remain empty. We fetch water from the ground floor for our daily use. Rajender Rawat, resident, Sector 45-D }What to talk of the first or top floors, people are getting low pressure water supply on the ground floor. The MC officials should put serious efforts to solve water crisis rather than doing wasteful paper work. Jasmit Kaur, resident, Sector 27-D Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 2 Noted RTI activist Parbodh Chander Bali has served a legal notice to the Secretary of the Local Bodies Department, the Principal Secretary, the Governor of Punjab and the Secretary to the Speaker of Punjab Assembly, over ordering the imposition of penalty for wasting water. Terming the orders illegal, Bali said the Special Secretary had ordered to impose a penalty for wastage of water without quoting any provisions enshrined in the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976. He urged him to withdraw the same with immediate effect. He said though the concern shown by the government for saving water from wastage was very appreciative but at the same time, jumping constitutional powers by the executive was dangerous to the democratic values laid in the Constitution of India and were against the protocol. He said the Special Secretary, Department of Local Bodies, Punjab, had issued a government order 5/50/20515- 5LB4/741830/1 dated 28/4/2016 imposing a penalty ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 for wasting water. He opined that this was not provided in the PMC Act, 1976 or otherwise as per law that the Special Secretary could issue such orders without the approval of the Cabinet and further approval of the Punjab Governor. He said the government should adopt the constitutional protocol to get the orders approved from a competent authority. Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 2 Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said the Punjab Government was committed to the overall growth of farmers. He said water was a big need for the farmers and keeping in view their needs, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had decided to scrap the Satluj-Yamuna Link canal project, which in itself was a historic decision. While distributing tube-well connections to farmers at a function organised at Nath Di Khuhi village yesterday, he accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of backstabbing farmers over his double standards on the SYL issue. He said farming was no more a profitable occupation because the farmers were not paid proper rates for their crops. He reiterated that a special package for farmers should be given and the Swaminathan Commission report submitted in 2006 should be implemented. Majithia said to make the farmers debt free, the Punjab Government would soon take firm steps which includes that no one would be able to take possession of farmers land. He also thanked Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal for allotting 1.25 lakh tube-well connections to farmers and said the government would provide more such facilities to the farmers. He said Punjab was the first state which provided free electricity to farmers for their tube wells. He added that an interest-free loan scheme was started for farmers by the government. Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 1 As testimonies of farmers distress from drought-hit regions of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telengana and Rajasthan were unfolded in the national Capital on Sunday, experts and activists during a national consultation expressed concern over the way the recent prevailing crisis has been handled while calling for a concrete drought-relief policy and political will to tackle such agrarian crisis. To carry and implement the results of the consultation to the worst drought affected areas of the country, Jai Kisan Andolon of Swaraj Abhiyan and farmers organisations and unions led by Yogendra Yadav have decided to undertake a 10-day padyatra in Marathwada and Bundelkhand from May 21. In the coming days, the group plans to form Relief Committees in all tehsils/districts so that local initiative and participation increases in drought management and mitigation. In this, students and youth will be mobilised to visit and help people of drought affected villages. The consultation highlighted that 54 crore farmers and rural people constituting two-fifth of the population of the country living in 13 states are in the grip of drought; many for consecutive years. People are battling for drinking water. Food is frugal and subsistence. Thirsty and hungry domestic cattle have been released and are dying nomadic deaths. Farms are fallow. Life and Livelihood has come to a standstill. Over the last one year, Swaraj Abhiyan-led farmers movement has been highlighting the deplorable conditions of affected people in drought-hit regions and even communicated to governments calling for urgent measures. But, the response from the governments and the Centre has been far than desirable, noted activists. Among various ssession held, national president of Swaraj Abhiyan and leading sociologist Prof Anand Kumar chaired session titled Perspectives on Drought while there were vocal voices and activists who narrated the plight of farmers and cattle in affected regions. The consultations concluded with environmental activist Sunita Narain, farming, food and trade policy expert Devinder Sharma and national convener of Jai Kisan Andolon Yogendra Yadav discussing steps that have to be taken at all levels for mitigating the impact of drought. Innovations and action plans such as traditional and localised water conservation, change of agricultural pattern and switching over to climate resilient traditional cereal, pulse, oilseed, vegetable and horticultural crops were some of the suggestions. Tribune News Service Kurukshetra, May 2 Amit Aggarwal, secretary to Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, paid a surprise visit to Kurukshetra today to take stock of arrangements for tourists. He was accompanied by newly appointed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajnarayan Kaushik, local legislator Subhash Sudha and officials of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB). They inspected Satkar, the only subsidised eatery run by the KDB in the district, and tourist centres. On April 24, The Tribune had highlighted poor upkeep of pilgrimage centres and inadequate civic infrastructure in the city. Aggarwal, also the ex-officio member secretary of the KDB, held a closed-door meeting with district officials and KDB functionaries. He asked for details of development plans and asked them to upgrade tourist facilities in a time-bound manner. The Governors secretary directed the KDB and district administration to ensure maintenance of pilgrim sites and other tourist destinations in the district. Sources, meanwhile, said the KDB was planning to rope in Kurukshetra Universitys Department of Tourism and Hotel Management to start short-term professional courses on tourist guides. The meeting discussed plans to clean Brahma Sarovar and launch a mobile phone application giving information about pilgrim and archaeological sites. Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 2 India and Italy today continued their posturing even as the UN Court in The Hague reportedly ruled that the Italian marine Salvatore Girone should be allowed to travel back home on bail even as the arbitration proceedings go on. Italy was quick to claim that it has succeeded in bringing the marine back home, while sources in the government here said Italy was misrepresenting the tribunal order. Sources say the tribunal order affirms the Supreme Court of Indias authority and that India and Italy have been asked to approach the Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Sources maintain his possible return to Italy is strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to send him back, if needed. Both India and Italy have been embroiled in a diplomatic row since 2012 when Girone and fellow marine Massimiliano Latorre were arrested for killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala. The marines in their defence said they mistook the fishermen for pirates. Italy argued since the incident took place in international waters, India has no jurisdiction over the matter. While Girone has been residing on the Italian Embassy premises in the capital here, Latorre was allowed to travel back to Italy in 2014 for treatment after suffered a stroke. According to the Italian foreign ministry, it will start consultations with India that the conditions to give effect to the decision of the arbitral tribunal are quickly defined and agreed. According to an Italian news agency, the ruling about the same will be made public tomorrow. Affirms SCs authority The UN arbitration tribunal order affirms the Supreme Court of Indias authority. It has reportedly asked India and Italy to approach the apex court for relaxation of the Marines bail conditions Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Iran later this month. Sources indicated the visit might take place at month-end, but the dates were yet to be finalised. With the government looking towards the Middle East to meet Indias increasing energy demands, the Iran visit will be significant. The PMs visit to Iran will follow the back-to-back visits of Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Their visits also helped lay the groundwork for Modis forthcoming visit. One of the highlights of Modis visit is likely to be the Chabahar Agreement that will operationalise the strategic port and give India access to Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Rome/New Delhi, May 2 Italy on Monday said a UN court has ordered that Italian marine Salvatore Girone, detained in India for the alleged 2012 killings of two fishermen, be allowed home on bail while arbitration proceedings in The Hague continue in the case that has soured ties between the two countries. Girone and another marine, Massimiliano Latorre, are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy here. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN Court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. However, the tribunal's order is expected to be made public tomorrow. Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was misrepresenting the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. Information reaching the Indian government said "India and Italy asked to approach Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Possible return to Italy strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required." "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' accused by India of killing two of its fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Meanwhile, Italian news agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi) after the news that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence, as per ANSA. Later, the sources in New Delhi reproduced "relevant extracts" from the order of the Arbitral Tribunal. According to the extracts, (a) The Order neither releases nor frees any Marine. It only recommends further relaxation of bail conditions of one Italian Marine (Girone) to be considered and decided upon by the Indian Supreme Court. It may be noted that Sgt. Girone is already on bail on Orders of the Supreme Court, the sources said. (b) The Arbitral Tribunal's Order clearly recognises that "Girone is under India's authority alone" and that the "Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction" over him. (c) The Order therefore asks India and Italy to approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of the bail conditions of one Marine (Girone) under strict conditions to be laid down by the Indian Supreme Court, they said. (d) The Tribunal has suggested that these may "include the following conditions and guarantees: Italy shall ensure that Sgt. Girone reports to an authority in Italy designated by the Indian Supreme Court in intervals to be determined by the Court; Sgt. Girone shall be required by Italy to surrender his passport and shall be prohibited from leaving Italy unless the Supreme Court of India grants him leave to travel; Italy shall on its own motion, apprise the Supreme Court of India of the situation of Sgt. Girone every three months", the sources said. (e) Italy itself has accepted that if Girone is allowed by the Indian Supreme Court to return to Italy, "he will remain under the jurisdiction of the Courts of India"..."without prejudice to the authority of India's courts". (f) The Order also says that "India must be assured, unequivocally and with legally binding effect, that Sergeant Girone will return to India in case the Arbitral Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the Enrica Lexie incident". Italy has already given multiple undertakings to this effect, they added. (g) The Tribunal affirms that "these undertakings constitute an obligation binding upon Italy under international law". The Tribunal also "confirms that Italy is under an obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India if the Arbitral Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the Enrica Lexie incident", the sources said. The Tribunal is adjudicating only on the limited question of whether India or Italy has the jurisdiction to try the two Marines for the killing of two innocent Indian fishermen. Only after the Tribunal decides which country has jurisdiction, will the criminal trial commence. Pending this final decision of the Tribunal, both Marines are currently on bail on orders of the Supreme Court and will continue to remain under its jurisdiction till the verdict of the Arbitral Tribunal. PTI Washington, May 2 Five years after killing Osama bin Laden, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief John Brennan said taking out the head of the Islamic State group would have great impact. US special forces killed Al-Qaida founder bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011. As the CIA live-tweeted the events as they unfolded five years ago, Brennan warned that Al-Qaida remained a threat and that IS was not just an organisation but a phenomenon. We have destroyed a large part of Al-Qaida. Its not completely eliminated. So we have to stay focused on what it can do, Brennan told NBCs Meet the Press talk show. Now, with the new phenomenon of (IS), this is going to challenge us for years to come, he said. Asked if removing IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from action was as important as bin Laden, Brennan, who does not often do interviews, was direct. He is important, and we will destroy IS; I have no doubt in my mind. We have to remove the leadership that directs the organisation to carry out these horrific attacks, he said. If we got Baghdadi, I think it would have a great impact on the organisation. And it will be felt by them, he said, adding: But this is large. Its not just an organization but a phenomenon. We see it not just in Syria and Iraq, but in Libya, Nigeria, and other countries as well. Were going to remain focused on destroying all elements of the organisation. AFP For Dr Afridis release, US uses carrot & stick policy BEIJING, May 2 Confessions by two more Taiwanese telecoms fraud suspects, from among dozens deported from Kenya to China last month, were aired by Chinese state television on Monday, appearing to back China's contention that such crimes are lightly dealt with in Taiwan. The case, and subsequent deportations of Taiwanese from Malaysia for similar suspected crimes, has infuriated Taiwan and soured ties that were already strained by the election in January of a pro-independence party in Taipei. Taiwan has said China effectively kidnapped its nationals. China says they are criminals wanted for serious crimes in China and that it has every right to try them, accusing Taiwan of turning a blind eye to crime and politicising the issue. The videos are the latest in a recent string of on-camera confessions in China that have prompted international criticism that the admissions could have been made under duress. Chinese state television showed two men it said were from Taiwan and had been deported from Kenya. The men, whose faces were blurred out, were identified by their family names of Lin and Hsu and spoke with Taiwanese accents. It was not possible to verify their origins independently. The report said Lin, 46, set up a Kenyan fraud cell that called people in China to extort money by pretending to be law enforcement officers. Lin had been jailed in Taiwan in 2011 for telecoms fraud, state television said, but was only given a six-month sentence and resumed his crimes upon release. "Of course I want to go back to Taiwan. Because it's closer to home and because the sentence will probably be quite light," Lin said. Hsu, 37, amassed 200,000 yuan ($30,894) from his crimes in Kenya and had also been jailed previously for seven months in Taiwan, the report said. "If I had known earlier that I would be tried in the mainland I wouldn't have done it. In the mainland I could get a life sentence," Hsu said. Calls to the Ministry of Public Security seeking comment went unanswered. State television said the interviews were conducted on Sunday at a Beijing detention facility. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's top China policymaker, called on Beijing to pursue the criminal cases under "the universal value of due process". "Before the suspects are judged to have committed a crime, the principle of presumption of innocence should apply," the council said in a statement to Reuters in response to a question about China's use of media for confessions. China and Taiwan are expected to have more talks on the case soon. Reuters ($1 = 6.4738 Chinese yuan renminbi) Berlin, May 2 A sweeping free trade deal being negotiated between the European Union and the US would lower food safety and environmental standards, Greenpeace said on Monday, citing confidential documents from the talks. But the European Commission said the documents reflected negotiating positions, not any final outcome, and the EUs chief negotiator dismissed some of Greenpeaces points as flatly wrong. Greenpeace opposes the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), arguing with other critics that it would hand too much power to big business at the expense of consumers and national governments. Supporters say the TTIP would deliver more than $100 billion of economic gains on both sides of the Atlantic. Greenpeace Netherlands published 248 pages of consolidated texts for 13 chapters, or about half, of the deal on the website TTIP-leaks.org on Monday. They date from early April, before a round of meetings in New York last week. Weve done this to ignite a debate, Greenpeace trade expert Juergen Knirsch told a news conference in Berlin, adding the documents showed the negotiations should be halted. The best thing the EU Commission can do is to say Sorry, weve made a mistake. The documents show how entrenched differences have become on both sides of the Atlantic, Greenpeace said, though Washington and Brussels said last week they could still reach a deal before US President Barack Obama leaves office in January 2017. Knirsch said the texts showed the US wanted to replace Europes precautionary principle which prevents potentially harmful products from coming to market when their effect is unknown or disputed with a less stringent approach. In Europe, there is widespread opposition to allowing more imports of US agricultural products due to concerns about genetically modified foods. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom played down the significance of the texts. It shouldnt come as a surprise that there are areas where the EU and the US have different views, she wrote in a blog. That does not mean the parties will meet halfway. In areas where we are too far apart in a negotiation, we simply will not agree. In that sense, many of todays alarmist headlines are a storm in a teacup, she said. Reuters ANKARA, May 2 Shelling by Turkish artillery and drones which took off from the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey struck Islamic State targets in Syria on Sunday, killing 34 militants, the Turkish military said on Monday. It said the strikes, in response to Islamic State rocket attacks that hit the southern Turkish province of Kilis, destroyed six vehicles and five Islamic State gun positions. Reuters Seoul, May 2 South Korea warned on Monday that there was a risk of its citizens being abducted by Pyongyang in retaliation for the defection of a dozen North Korean staff at a restaurant in China. Twelve women working at the restaurant in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo defected to the South with their manager last month. Seoul said they came voluntarily while the North insists they were tricked into defecting by South Korean spies who effectively "kidnapped" them. The South's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, said overseas missions had been advised to heighten their vigilance. "We are closely watching out for multiple possibilities, including abduction or terrorism ... by the North," said ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee. "We are trying to ensure the safety of our nationals," he told reporters. Seoul's Hankook Ilbo daily reported Monday that Pyongyang was plotting to abduct South Koreans to trade for the 13 defectors. "They set the target of 120 people including expats, soldiers and officials," the newspaper said, citing an official source familiar with North Korean affairs. Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have, over the decades, fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. But group defections are rare, especially by overseas restaurant staff who are generally handpicked from families that are "loyal" to the regime. Pyongyang has proposed sending the women's parents to Seoul to meet their daughters and has released a video of them tearfully demanding their return. North Korea has a track record when it comes to abductions. In the most high-profile case, late leader Kim Jong-Il had a famed South Korean film director and his actress wife kidnapped in Hong Kong in 1978, in order to make films in the North. The couple escaped in 1986. In 2002, North Korea admitted it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and customs. AFP Baghdad, May 1 Two suicide car bombs claimed by Islamic State killed 32 persons and wounded 75 others in the centre of the southern Iraqi city of Samawa on Sunday, the police and medics said. The first blast was near a local government building and the second one about 60 m away at a bus station, sources in the police said. The death toll was expected to keep rising. Unverified online photographs showed a large plume of smoke rising above the buildings as well as burnt out cars and bodies on the ground at the site of one of the blasts. Policemen and firefighters carried victims on stretchers and in their arms. The IS said it had attacked a gathering of special forces in Samawa, 230 km south of the capital, with a car bomb and then blew up the second when security forces responded to the site. It holds positions mostly in Sunni areas of the countrys north and west, far from the mainly Shiite southern provinces where Samawa is located. Such attacks are relatively rare. The rise of the ultra-hardline Sunni insurgents has exacerbated Iraqs sectarian conflict, mostly between Shiites and Sunnis, which emerged after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The quota-based governing system put in place by the US at the time is being challenged by hundreds of protesters who camped out overnight in Baghdads fortified Green Zone after storming the parliament building. Reuters Suspected IS bomber kills two policemen in Turkey Two policemen were killed and 23 others injured in a suicide car bomb attack on the police headquarters in the south-eastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, the governor and police sources said, in one of two attacks on Sunday There was no immediate claim of responsibility but sources said the police raided the home of a suspected IS militant believed to have carried out the attack and detained his father for DNA tests and questioning The Gaziantep-based suspect is believed to have detonated a bomb-laden vehicle near the gates of police headquarters on a street housing several other provincial government buildings whose windows were smashed Hackers publish US military hit list IS hackers have published a hit list of over 70 US military personnel who have been involved in drone strikes against terror targets in Syria and asked their followers to kill them wherever they are According to The Sunday Times, they have links with Britain and call themselves Islamic State Hacking Division and circulated online the names, home addresses and photographs of more than 70 US staff They urged supporters: Kill them wherever they are, knock on their doors and behead them, stab them, shoot them in the face or bomb them Google-style driverless cars for attacks IS technicians are working to develop a Google-style driverless car that could navigate itself into a crowded area before detonating an explosive device, a NATO security expert has warned The IS research and development department in the terror groups de facto Syrian capital, Raqqa, is believed to be producing the vehicles at the same time as US Internet giant Google attempts to perfect the same technology If successful, the invention could prove to be a headache for security services in Britain, Europe and North America XD's maximum payload is 2,091 pounds and max tow rating is 12,314 pounds, Nissan said. This truck had 850 pounds of bagged gravel and about 600 pounds of people aboard, yet accelerated very well. Photos: Tom Berg Close your eyes momentarily and youd think you were riding in a typical American full-size pickup truck. Open your eyes and glance around the comfortable interior of this Nissan Titan XD and youd still think so, because its spacious, and it looks and feels good. And with the big American V-8 under the hood, it acts like it, as well. Thats how youll probably react if you take the time to test-drive this latest addition to the pickup scene when you spot one at a Nissan dealer. Because, as executives said at a ride-and-drive event last week, the Titan is American all the way through. It was designed in San Diego, engineered in Detroit, and assembled in Canton, Mississippi. Its heart that 5.6-liter (342-cubic-inch) gasoline V-8 is built in Desherd, Tenn., a small city southeast of Nashville. The plant there is about to celebrate its 19th year of engine production, mostly of Nissan auto engines, but also V-6s and V-8s for vans and pickups. The Endurance V-8 has been around a while and has direct fuel injection, but engineers have updated it with, among other things, advanced variable valve event and lift VVEL -- to add power and save fuel. As we reported a few months ago, product specialists have also redesigned the Titan pickup. Introduced in 2004, it ran into a solid wall of loyalty to Americas Big Three brands, so Titan sales have languished. So did Titan development as Nissan seemed preoccupied with its automobiles, which have gained considerable favor in the marketplace. But in recent years truck specialists among the engineering and product people have been working on new Titans variants and are rolling them out at auto shows and events for the press. Most obvious to tire kickers who look past the fresh styling are the deluxe interiors, with five trim levels from pretty nice to posh. And priority was given to long 4-door crew-size accommodations that now account for about two-thirds of sales by all makers of full-size pickups. So Nissans initial production is of Crew Cabs. Later this year therell be shorter 2-door Single and 4-door King Cabs for those who dont need all that passenger space. The trucks we drove last week were Crews that each seated five, with buckets in front and contoured benches in back. Folded up, the rear areas have flat floors for easy storage of tool boxes and other gear. These were examples of the XD Gas, for eXtra Duty gasoline. Late last year, Nissan showed off the XD with the Cummins ISV5.0 diesel V-8, which we press guys drove last December. Both versions use the same chassis, though with about 500 pounds less mass, the Gass front suspension is slightly softer. Both have capabilities between traditional 1/2- and 3/4-ton vehicles, so a Titan XD will haul and tow more than one, but ride better and cost less than the other. Research with pickup owners showed theres a need for this model, said Rich Miller, who headed the program for both the diesel and gasoline XDs. Some competitors make much of their 3/4-ton pickups towing ability, but few of the owners Nissan researchers encountered said they actually pull really heavy trailers. And about 75,000 owners switch between the two categories, so the planners figured, why not offer something they can stay with? Thus the XDs rating of 5/8 ton my term, not theirs. XD has extra nose length to accommodate a diesel or, like this one, a gasoline V-8. The engine and truck perform very well, we found on a jaunt from Nissans headquarters near Music City to the engine plant. Most of the route was on well-paved but twisty back roads, and the return to our hotel in Nashvilles West End district was on freeways. A driving partner and I switched between wheel time to navigating from the shotgun seat. What the routing showed was the XDs smooth ride, first with one carrying 850 pounds of bagged gravel, then with another whose bed was empty. And yes, the V-8s output fulfilled the promise of its numbers: 390 hp and 401 lb-ft. This year the powertrain plant in Decherd, Tenn., will assemble about 1.4-million engines, including this Endurance V-8. Acceleration was brisk, and with go-pedal floored we were pushed back into our seats as revs climbed past 4,000 to the 6,000-rpm limit. The engine made pleasing mechanical sounds but the exhaust was muted, unlike the original 5.6 V-8 of a dozen years ago, which was purposely loud. The new VVEL engine is supposed to be more economical, but with this kind of driving the readout on the instrument panel showed between 13 and 14 mpg. A lighter foot should raise the numbers, though thats something that customers experience will determine. All transmissions are automatics, as theres no call for manuals, planners at all builders have found. The Cummins diesel mates to an Aisin 6-speed automatic, and the 5.6 Gas gets a 7-speed from Jatco, a Nissan subsidiary. The 7-speed was very smooth with shifts barely noticeable in normal driving and still smooth and positive under full power. Its top three ratios are overdrives, so the engine loafs at highway speeds under 2,000 rpm at 70 mph and about 2,200 at 80 per. The transmissions selector lever is on the column and it includes a tow-haul switch that raises shift points when loads are heavy, or lowers them when theyre not. Tow-haul also causes downshifting on downgrades to try to keep road speed to what cruise controls been set to. There were no such hills on our route, but out West in Arizona, the Aisin performed very well as a hill holder, and climber, for that matter, when paired with the Cummins during the diesel demo last December. XD includes handsome but functional instruments and controls. Pro-4X interior is the middle one of five trim levels, yet includes leather-covered seats. Owners of heavier pickups tend to prefer diesels, Nissan executives said, so XD diesel sales are expected to be almost double that of the gasoline versions. More than half of all Titans will be the restyled and revived half-tonners, which are due out this summer. They will get the 5.6 V-8 or a 4-liter V-6. The V-6, by the way, is no slouch. I drove one in a full-size NV van a couple years ago and found that it flew. Then again, the van was empty, but even with a load it should provide decent propulsion and deliver better fuel economy. With revised trucks, handsome interiors and well performing powertrains, executives hope that Titan sales will increase. Their official target for the first year is 100,000 a modest number in this hot segment, but as one exec quipped, Our plan is to exceed the plan. Related: Test Drive: Nissan Titan XD's a Big Leap Forward Image: TNT.com Now that the government of China has unconditionally approved FedEx Corp.s intended acquisition of TNT Express N.V., the massive deal is on track to close by June 30, according to the two firms. It was just over a year ago that FedEx announced its intention to purchase the Holland-based carrier for $4.8 billion. Back on April 6, 2015, the two parcel carriers said they had reached agreement on the 8-euro-per-share offer, which they said represented a premium of 33% over the latest stock closing price of April 2. The acquisition was unanimously recommended by TNT Express Executive Board and Supervisory Board. Since then, the deal has gone through a series of regulatory approvals by various countries, culminating in the sign off on Friday of Chinas Ministry of Commerce. The companies said that the deal will forge a strong global competitor in the transportation and logistics industry that will benefit from the combined strength of TNT Express strong European road platform and Liege hub and FedExs strength in other regions globally, including North America and Asia. Currently, United Parcel Service and Deutsche Post are the two biggest package carriers in Europe, followed by TNT and then FedEx. It has been suggested the deal could enable FedEx to leapfrog to second place on the continent. FedEx was not the first to court TNT. In March, 2012, UPS announced its intention to acquire TNT Express. But that deal fell through the following January, when the European Commission blocked it, citing anti-competition legislation. I want to thank the team members who collaborated with regulatory authorities around the world to help us reach this important acquisition milestone, said David Bronczek, President and CEO, FedEx Express. As we work towards closing the acquisition, we look forward to welcoming TNT Express team members to the FedEx family of companies as we expand our portfolio of solutions and connect even more people and possibilities. With this final regulatory approval, we are one step closer to making the vision of combining the complementary networks of FedEx and TNT Express a reality, said Tex Gunning, Chief Executive Officer, TNT Express. This intended acquisition will bring value for our customers, shareholders and employees. TNT Express traces its roots to Australia, where in 1946 Ken Thomas started Thomas Nationwide Transport with a single truck. TNT starting growing globally in the 1970s and by the 80s, its growth focus was primarily on Europe. In the 90s, the Dutch national post-and-telecom company TPG was looking to expand overseas. It acquired TNT in 1996. Two years later, it divested its postal division and, in 2005, took on the TNT name. TOKYO North Korea is preparing to hold a once-in-a-generation congress of its ruling party that is intended to rally the nation behind leader Kim Jong Un and could provide an important glimpse into Kims plans for the countrys economy and military. The congress, set to begin on Friday, is the first in 36 years and follows a 70-day loyalty drive in which everyone from coal miners to restaurant workers were called upon to put in extra hours to increase productivity as a show of their devotion to Kim and the Workers Party of Korea, which he leads. The congress comes as North Korea is facing international pressure over a nuclear test in January and a series of rocket and missile launches that have led many outside experts to believe Pyongyang is much closer to having a viable nuclear deterrent than previously thought. The North, wary of its leaders security and always loath to release any more information to the outside world than it deems absolutely necessary, has disclosed few details of the congress itinerary. Instead, it has presented the congress as a chance for the ruling party to boast its achievements and unity in the face of the U.S. imperialists. But North Koreas foreign minister told The Associated Press in an April 23 interview that the congress would focus on demonstrating unity behind the countrys leader and on finding ways to build the Norths moribund economy even as global sanctions squeeze it ever tighter. One of the most important things through this party congress is to show to the entire world the union of our people, Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong told the AP while he was in New York for a United Nations conference on climate change. Im sure our country will be even more vibrant after the party congress to build up a more prosperous and powerful, economically sound nation. The event will be an opportunity for Kim Jong Un to assume center stage before a world audience. Throngs of foreign journalists are being invited to cover it. Thats all the more important because the enigmatic young leader, still in his early 30s, has yet to travel abroad or meet any other heads of state. In the last party congress, held in 1980, Kims late father, Kim Jong Il, was awarded a slew of top jobs in a confirmation he was in line to succeed his father, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung died in 1994, so Kim Jong Il who rarely spoke in public and never held a congress after actually assuming power had 14 years to prepare for power. Kim Jong Un, on the other hand, was virtually unknown outside of the Pyongyang inner circle until a few years before his own fathers death in 2011. Still, there are no signs his position as the head of the worlds only socialist dynasty is in question. The congress will give Kim, who seems to be more like his grandfather and less averse to addressing big crowds, a chance to further cement his authority by getting its stamp of approval on officials who are in his favor. He has conducted numerous shake-ups in the regimes top ranks the most prominent being the execution of his powerful uncle in 2013 to make sure he is surrounded by loyal lieutenants. The congress is sure to praise Kims nuclear policy, though it has triggered sanctions that have caused economic pain. Tensions on that front have deepened recently after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch, which led to the U.N. slapping its toughest sanctions on Pyongyang in 20 years and South Korea and the United States upgrading their annual spring military drills into the biggest theyve ever held. Amid vows it will never be cowed by foreign pressure, the North just days ago test launched two midrange missiles both of which appear to have failed and speculation is growing that North Korea could perform a fifth nuclear test ahead of the congress to further burnish Kims image as a strong leader. The DPRK proudly joined the ranks of advanced nuclear and space powers while demonstrating the might of the invincible politico-ideological, military and youth power and is now dashing ahead toward to a socialist economic power and highly civilized nation, the partys official newspaper said in an editorial on Saturday, using the acronym for North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Even so, Ri, the foreign minister, said the economy is still at the top of the congress agenda. The first thing is to advance the pace of economic building for a powerful nation, he said. The second is to improve the peoples living standards and to find the best, optimum ways to improve the peoples living standards under these circumstances. And the third, to strengthen our national defense capabilities. Ri said the convening of the congress is itself of high symbolic importance. The real source of power in our country isnt nuclear weapons or any other military means, but the single-minded unity of the people and the leader, he said. And this power of unity we have is the real source of power that leads our country into victory. The Norths state media has not said how long the congress is scheduled to last. The 1980 congress lasted five days, but this years is expected to be somewhat shorter. Editor's note: Here is an updated version of last week's story reporting Tulsa Public Schools proposal to cut teaching positions. A proposal that would cut 142 Tulsa Public Schools teaching positions and significantly increase class sizes to reduce the districts budget by $8 million next year will be considered at a 6:30 p.m. meeting Monday. The meeting will be held at the Education Service Center, 3027 S. New Haven Drive. This is the moment in which we as a community will determine how we will respond to this whether we will allow this to pull us apart or whether we will decide this is the best we can do in a situation none of us want, Superintendent Deborah Gist said at a special meeting last week. At last week's meeting, Chief Financial Officer Trish Williams said the school-staffing reductions are unavoidable, given that the school district has to reduce its 2017 fiscal year budget by $13.5 million to $20 million. I wish we were able to fill a $13.5 million budget gap in another way, Williams said. The proposed new staffing plan calls for no change in staffing levels for prekindergarten classes. But class sizes will increase in all other grades: In kindergarten through third grade, class sizes would increase from their current level of 22-23 up to a maximum of 26 in 2016-17. In grades 4-6 at elementary schools, class sizes would increase from 24-25 this year to 32 next year. In grade 6 at middle schools, class sizes would increase from 25 to 29. In grades 7-8 at middle schools and junior high schools, class sizes would increase from 26 to 29. In grades 9-12 at high schools, class sizes would increase from 29 to 32. And high schools would need 15 students instead of 10 in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes to qualify for a teacher allocation. Last month, the president of the local teachers union said Tulsa Public Schools is planning to cut only novice teachers on temporary contracts who have had job performance issues and not by implementing reduction in force proceedings. Patti Ferguson-Palmer, president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association, said that in simple terms, that means the school district wont be asking certain teachers to return for a second or third year of teaching, rather than going through a much more involved process of eliminating seasoned teachers. Last Tuesday, the Tulsa school board ended a nearly six-hour special meeting by approving Gists plan to reduce central office workers, as well as the districts force of school bus drivers and campus police and security officers. The board approved the elimination or defunding of 175 positions and the creation of 73 new ones, for a net reduction of 102 positions. Gist said that reorganization will net the district $2.7 million in savings, plus free up another $1 million in federal funds that will be redistributed to schools. Check back at tulsaworld.com for updates. This week Foreign Correspondent airs at the earlier time of 8.40pm, right after ABCs Budget 2016 Special. The report by Samantha Hawley and Suzanne Smith looks at safety for international budget airlines. Thousands of Australians book their holidays on cheap foreign airlines but how safe are they? This Foreign Correspondent special report by Samantha Hawley and Suzanne Smith reveals troubling evidence about the safety of some budget carriers. A dogfight has broken out in the skies to Australias north. As Australians demand cheaper travel and Asias swelling middle classes take to the air, airlines are waging a cut-throat war for market share. But in the quest for bums on seats, is safety being sacrificed? Maybe its not a good idea to fly some of those airlines. Aviations not really forgiving. Asia-based airline captain Foreign Correspondent reveals disturbing issues with poor safety standards and pilot training in some Asian budget carriers including one that shuttles thousands of vacationing Australians to Bali every year. Some airlines that fly to Australia dont meet international standards and they should be banned. independent aviation expert Experts point the finger at one foreign regulator in particular, accusing it of failing to enforce standards and awarding pilot licences to people who should never fly. Almost 300 people are reliant on you. If you cannot crew the plane those 300 will be your victims. instructor to student pilots 8.40pm Tuesday May 3 on ABC. New Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh has outlined some key areas he wants to address, in an interview with the Australian Financial Review. Amongst his shopping list of targets is to improve the troubled IQ3. I think the product wasnt satisfactory when it came to market and its taken time to address it, he admitted. There are people who are frustrated but equally a lot of people see that it is a lot better. July is the date being touted for an iQ3 set top box that Foxtel can proudly market. He also said Netflix has a sexy brand in Australia and Foxtel has to get its halo back. We have to have a product thats available to more of the lower end of the market and we have to have a better understanding and a crisper articulation of the value of the premium product, what makes it different, he said. Both Foxtel and Seven also want more from Presto, which still has technical hitches and sign-up problems. Tonagh says he is happy with the content -but I would argue it doesnt have enough first run or exclusive content. Mr.Robot is the exception. Presto needs more Mr. Robots. Foxtel is also planning a trimmed-down streaming device, likened to Apple TV and rumoured to include Netflix. The lower-priced web-based product is expected within 12 months. There are reports in the UK that the government is considering banning the BBC from scheduling some of its biggest shows in timeslots that compete with commercial broadcaster ITV. It follows ITV complaining that Strictly Come Dancing (the original Dancing with the Stars) was pitted against The X Factor -the latter saw its audience drop. BBCs Call the Midwife ended up broadcasting at the same time as the final episode of ITVs Downton Abbey and Silent Witness was pitted against ITVs Broadchurch. According to reports, culture secretary John Whittingdale is said to be looking at new proposals to prevent the BBC from scheduling shows directly against commercial rivals. A spokesperson said the Government will be setting out its plan on the BBC Charter in a White Paper in May. The Secretary of State has made it clear on a number of occasions that the government cannot and indeed should not, determine either the content or scheduling of programmes, a spokesperson from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. The BBC has since pointed out that an independent report into so-called competitive scheduling commissioned by the government concluded there was little impact in BBC and ITV putting dramas on at the same time. While the proposal seems radical, there will be those watching from afar. Media interests in Australia have previously criticised ABC, particularly in its news output, for supposedly impacting commercial interests. Last week Nine CEO Hugh Marks told a Senate hearing increased competition from public broadcasters was an issue. Their budget is significantly higher than ours, so with the amount of content we produce, the analysis we had said we have a 30 per cent more efficient outcome, he said. Source: Radio Times 8:28 a.m., May 2, 2016--The Assistive Medical Technologies Club at the University of Delaware will host a workshop to modify ride-on cars for children with disabilities from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, May 14, at the Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. The cars provide a way to provide mobility to children with disabilities in the community. Students interested in helping to modify cars are encouraged to attend. To sign up, see this website. 10:23 a.m., May 2, 2016--On Friday, May 6, the First Friday Roundtable series at the University of Delaware will host a presentation titled Everyone Can Get an A -- If They Want It, Work for It, and Earn It. And, Along the Way, Mediate Anxiety, Resist Cheating, and Maximize Engagement. These monthly discussion sessions provide an opportunity for faculty, instructors and graduate students to examine teaching, learning and assessment practices and issues. The roundtable will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. in 208 Gore Hall. Presenters Daniel Sullivan, professor of business administration, and Sharon Watson, associate professor of business administration, will introduce the testing effect and its implications for assessment and test anxiety. They will also cover how to mediate the testing effect and prevent cheating by identifying course elements that maximize student performance and learning. Participants can look forward to a thorough discussion of the elements that lead to test anxiety and poor study habits and how to mitigate these triggers to enhance student performance. The session will give participants specific strategies for rethinking course design and delivery that corresponds to those key elements. Register for this roundtable. The First Friday Roundtable series will return during fall session with new dates and times. For more information about future session topics and dates, visit the Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learnings website. The First Friday roundtables are designed and sponsored through a collaboration of Faculty Commons partners including IT Academic Technology Services, the Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education, the University of Delaware Library and the Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning. Using a soccer ball for Jupiter and a bright pink kickball for the New Horizons spacecraft, UD professor Harry Shipman demonstrated how gravity assist gave New Horizons the boost it needed to get to Pluto within 10 years versus 125 years. This composite of enhanced color images of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, was taken by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft as it passed through the Pluto system. Photo courtesy of NASA More than 200 people turned out to hear the latest discoveries about Pluto from University of Delaware professor Harry Shipman. 12:38 p.m., May 2, 2016--Pluto has been one of the publics favorite planets ever since Venetia Burney, an 11-year-old English schoolgirl, suggested the name after the icy orb was discovered in 1930. Later that year, Walt Disney created a cartoon dog with the same name. That may be why were so in love with Pluto, University of Delaware astronomer Harry Shipman told an audience of more than 200 as he began the Harcourt C. (Ace) Vernon Lecture at UDs Clayton Hall Conference Center on Tuesday, April 26. One thing is for sure: the spectacular photos of Pluto taken last July by NASAs New Horizons spacecraft have heaven watchers of all ages stoked. Shipman, the Annie Jump Cannon Chair of Physics and Astronomy at UD, where he has taught and done research for the past 42 years, presented some of New Horizons latest findings and said he anticipates many more discoveries since only about half the spacecrafts pictures of Pluto have reached Earth so far, arriving here at a rate of about one bit per second. The missions first images instantly transformed that previous best photo of Pluto taken by the Hubble Telescope a fuzzy dot into a world like no other seen before. We thought geologically it would be very old and cooling down, Shipman said. But instead of a planet pocked with lots of craters, an almost smooth icy surface shone forth in one major region, which scientists estimate to be less than 10 million years old and could still be geologically active. This great ice plain, one of Plutos most striking features, is informally named Sputnik Planum and occupies a huge basin the size of Hudson Bay. It is covered in layers of ice, starting at the surface with frozen methane, which floats on frozen water, which floats on frozen nitrogen, which floats on frozen carbon dioxide. Theres an enormous amount of different types of terrain here, Shipman said, presenting a NASA graphic with more than a dozen different colors representing Plutos various topographies. Theres the dark, elongated region along Plutos equator nicknamed The Whale, which scientists speculate gets its dark reddish-brown color from tholins, formed from irradiated methane. Nestled in a mountain range just north of Sputnik Planum, a frozen former lake of liquid nitrogen provides tantalizing evidence that millions to billions of years ago, Pluto had much warmer conditions and a much higher-pressure atmosphere. Another unexpected finding: Pluto still has an atmosphere, albeit a very thin one. Its made of mostly methane and hydrogen, seen in photos as a blue haze. Scientists thought this atmosphere would have frozen and collapsed by now as Pluto, on its elliptical orbit, moves farther away from the sun. Its just another mystery to explore in this bizarre new world. As far as the names of the features on Pluto and its moons go, Shipman said they are unofficial until the International Astronomical Union approves them. Tombaugh Regio, where Plutos heart is found, is named for the late Clyde Tombaugh, the American astronomer who discovered Pluto. Some of Tombaughs ashes are on board the New Horizons spacecraft. And Skywalker Crater on Charon, Plutos giant moon, is named after Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, of course. Pluto also has four smaller moons, but they dont behave like most. While Earths moon does a complete rotation on its axis every 27 days, these moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra are spinning like crazy, Shipman said. At a dinner earlier that evening, Shipman said three people at his table could remember when Russia launched Sputnik, the worlds first artificial satellite, into space in 1957, triggering the Space Race. And here we are now with New Horizons 3 billion miles from Earth amazing, Shipman said. Its the farthest ever flown to an object in our solar system, Shipman said, although the two Voyager space probes, launched in 1977, have logged many, many more miles on their journey into interstellar space and continue to send data back to Earth. As a principal investigator on the Voyager mission, UD professor emeritus Norman Ness designed the magnetometers that enable the spacecraft to measure magnetic fields from planets, moons and now space plasma and dust beyond the solar system. Thanks to a gravity assist from Jupiter, New Horizons got punted like a kickball toward Pluto, which Shipman demonstrated on stage. Thanks to this booster, it took New Horizons only about 10 years to reach Pluto. If the spacecraft had been sent on a standard trajectory, it would have taken 125 years to get there. Whats up next for New Horizons? A formal proposal for the missions next phase was submitted to NASA less than two weeks ago. It includes a close encounter with MU69, a Kuiper Belt object, on Jan. 1, 2019. No New Years party for the Pluto crew, Shipman said, adding that the mission will also look at about 20 of Plutos thousands of icy co-inhabitants of the Kuiper Belt, the doughnut-shaped ring around the sun. The Kuiper Belt is where all the action is. Its probably where all the comets come from. So were going to learn a lot about this stuff thats out there, Shipman said. Shipman then spoke of a visit to the Wright brothers airfield at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where they made the first successful human flight. Humans first escaped Earths gravity in 1903, Shipman said. And here we are going to the edge of the solar system. Its a remarkable human adventure. Article by Tracey Bryant Photos of lecture by Lane McLaughlin Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski calls on the Ukrainian authorities to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into May 2 tragedy in Odesa. This has been stated in his statement. "I call on the Ukrainian authorities to follow the recommendations of the International Advisory Group of the Council of Europe and to conduct an independent and transparent investigation. All those responsible for crimes must be brought to justice," he said. He recalled the victims of the tragedy. "Today is the second anniversary of the tragic events in Odesa that took place on May 2, 2014. More than 40 people were killed and over 200 were injured," the head of the EU Delegation said. ish Heorhiy Tuka, deputy minister for temporarily occupied territories, appealed to internally displaced citizens of Ukraine from the occupied territory of Donbas and Crimea with a request to report on the most acute problems they face. He wrote this on his Facebook page on Monday, the day before the meeting with volunteers. "As long as we have time before the announced meeting with the volunteers, I ask all involved to express briefly their views on priority setting of important issues of displaced people," he wrote. Tuka offers all interested parties to indicate the five most important problems (without details), which required immediate solutions. ish Refugees in Holl Holl camp in Eritrea's neighbour Djibouti UNHCR / M. Testore ASMARA, Eritrea, May 2 (UNHCR) - A group of 37 Somali refugees arrived in Slovakia from Eritrea on April 14 on their way for eventual resettlement in the United States, with the help of UNHCR, the Office of Refugee Affairs (ORA) and the International Organization of Migration (IOM). The group takes the total of Somali refugees relocated this year to 281. They include 132 to Australia, 58 to Slovakia and 54 to Canada. Among them were 52-year-old Shukri Abdi Quasim, his wife and four children, who fled to Eritrea 19 years ago from the town of Luuq, in the Somali province of Gedo, to escape ethnic and clan warfare. They had been living in refugee camps since their arrival. Shukri and his family were among the first Somalis to arrive in Eritrea the 1990s, most of them from southern Somalia. The family belongs to the Marehan sub-clan of the Darod clan. They spent the first three years in a refugee camp in the southern port of Assab and moved to Umkulu Refugee Camp on the outskirts of the coastal city of Massawa in 2000. They spent the next 16 years in Umkulu waiting for possible asylum. "Life wasn't easy as a refugee," Shukri said. "We were receiving the rations and all services from UNHCR and ORA, but we still went through difficult times." Despite this, Shukri said he became a camp leader in Umkulu and worked as a casual labourer in Massawa. Finding permanent solutions for the Somalis in Eritrea has been a priority for UNHCR, as has been improving conditions and promoting self-reliance in Umkulu Camp. Small-scale livelihood schemes have been implemented over the years to help sustain the refugees. Basic services provided are food, primary health care, education, water and sanitation. Livelihood projects have ranged from animal husbandry to small businesses, computer skills training and other small ventures. Shukri was first interviewed as a potential resettlement candidate in 2008. At the time, more than 3,400 refugees were assessed. They had been in the camp for more than 20 years on average.Shukri and his family were among the lucky few chosen for inclusion in the latest group for resettlement. All the families being resettled from Eritrea undergo cultural orientation classes in the camp before arriving in Asmara for departure. There they complete medical screening and emigration procedures. After receiving international travel documents provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Shukri and his family entered Slovakia with six-month visas issued by the Slovak embassy in Nairobi. They are awaiting a final interview with a U.S. consular official and further medical checks, before their destination in the United States is determined. Although their final destination was still uncertain, Shukri remained optimistic. "I am not afraid," he said. "I know that everything will be just fine." By Monica Modici in Asmara, Eritrea A displaced woman stands in a temporary longhouse shelter in Minbya township, Rakhine State, Myanmar. UNHCR/K. Rochanakorn MINBYA TOWNSHIP, Myanmar, May 2 (UNHCR) - Being able to sit once more in a bright and airy room - and in her own home - makes a welcome change for Amina.* She and her family were among 145,000 people displaced during inter-communal violence in Myanmar's western Rakhine state four years ago. Around 20,000 homes were destroyed, Amina's among them. Last year she was among some 25,000 of the internally displaced people, or IDPs, who were able to leave their temporary shelters and rebuild their homes themselves - through a process led by the Myanmar Government. "I'm glad that we're living here now - this is a good house, much better than the temporary shelter," she said, sitting in her home on raised stilts near the sandy banks of one of the many rivers and waterways that weave their way through the coastal state, and flow on to the Bay of Bengal. During their displacement, Amina and her young family lived in a shared longhouse with seven other families. Cramped and often dark, the temporary shelters have a short lifespan and deteriorate over time, worsening conditions for its inhabitants. Most - like Amina, her husband Salim* and their four children - were able to return and rebuild in their places of origin, from where they had fled in 2012. Like other IDPs, the family had been supported with cash assistance to purchase the materials for the house. These returns and smaller number of relocations have taken place in Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw and Rathedaung townships. The number of IDPs in Rakhine, the vast majority of whom self-identify as Rohingya, now stands at approximately 120,000. Noting with approval the tall stilts that elevate their house several feet above the floodplain, Salim explained: "Even during the heavy flooding [last year], we were able to remain in our home. The waters came up quite high, but they did not reach us." Many parts of Rakhine state are prone to flooding. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partner organizations have been monitoring and assessing the ongoing process. The agency has also been advocating with the Myanmar authorities to ensure that returns and any relocations are safe, dignified and voluntary. New sites should be viable and sustainable in terms of access to livelihoods and basic services. A new home housing a formerly displaced family, which they built themselves, in Mrauk-U township, Rakhine State, Myanmar. UNHCR/K. Rochanakorn "We hope that these initial movements will be a first step towards ending displacement and enabling people to rebuild their lives and contribute once more to the social and economic life of their communities," said Giuseppe de Vincentiis, UNHCR's representative in Myanmar. "This would also enable the focus of assistance in these areas to shift towards early recovery, livelihoods and longer-term development support," he added. Aside from the continued displacement of some 120,000 people, there remain considerable challenges in Rakhine, where an estimated one million people are without citizenship. Rakhine is also one of the poorest states in Myanmar, and where poverty and under-development affect all communities. This situation was exacerbated after the violence in 2012, which led to ruptures in inter-communal social and economic links. Among the needs still to be addressed are those relating to lack of citizenship and associated restrictions such as that on freedom of movement, promoting peaceful co-existence and reconciliation between communities, and advancing socio-economic development and livelihood opportunities for all. By Kasita Rochanakorn in Minbya Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar *Names have been changed for protection reasons From left to right: Abdulrahman, aged three, sits on the laps of his father Yasin, 24. They are among 41 survivors of a boat that sank in the Mediterranean in mid-April causing the death of hundreds on board. UNHCR/A. Zavaliis ATHENS, Greece, May 2 (UNHCR) - All Yasin Osman Ibrahim and his three-year-old son Abdulrahman could do was watch in horror as more than 500 migrants and refugees drowned two weeks ago, in one of the Mediterranean's worst shipwrecks in modern history. Clutching Abdulrahman to his chest, Yasin stood on the deck of a wooden boat as the sea swallowed hundreds aboard a sinking, overcrowded larger boat to which people smugglers were trying to transfer them. The screams were deafening. Almost no one could swim. Yasin, a 24-year-old Somali who had been living in a refugee camp in Yemen, searched desperately for his five relatives among the flailing people in the water. "We thought we would die, too," he said. "We thought, 'We are next'." Yasin lost four relatives that day: two female cousins, one male cousin, and a cousin's three-month-old daughter. Another cousin, 28-year-old Molid Osman Adam, managed to swim to Yasin's boat, where men pulled him aboard. Only 41 people survived: 23 Somalis, 11 Ethiopians, six Egyptians and one Sudanese. Yasin's son, Abdulrahman, was the only surviving child, and his cousin, Sowes Mohammed Dereye Mire, was one of three surviving women. For three days they drifted aimlessly with little food or water, praying for rescue. Finally, on April 16, a Philippine cargo ship rescued them off the Libyan coast and took them to the Greek port of Kalamata. They are now staying in an Athens hotel, where they receive legal aid and psychological support from UNHCR and its local partner, the Greek NGO Praksis. Several of the survivors have recounted to UNHCR their fight for survival at sea. Until last year, Yasin never gave much thought to life in Europe. He had already fled home once. He was studying information technology at university in Mogadishu when armed men killed his uncle in 2009. Afraid he would be killed, too, Yasin fled in a smugglers' boat across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. For the next few years he lived in a refugee camp in Kharaz. Yemen itself descended into civil war, hampering aid groups' efforts to supply the camp with food and services. Two months ago, he said goodbye to his wife, Fatima, and three-year-old daughter, Maryam, and sailed with Abdulrahman and 38 other people back across the Gulf of Aden in a smugglers' boat. They crossed Sudan and Libya by car. Then they waited for three weeks in a house run by smugglers near Tobruk in eastern Libya until they were able to cross the Mediterranean Sea. "I came here to save my boy and his future, and the future of my wife and daughter," Yasin said. "I don't want my boy to ask me in 20 years, 'Father, why did you allow me to grow up as a refugee? Why didn't you ever try to take me out of here?' I want him to be like other children, to grow up in peace. I'm trying my best to save his life." Before dawn, Yasin and Abdulrahman crammed into a wooden boat with 200 other people. The smugglers charged each $1,800 in exchange for safe passage to Italy. For a full day all they saw before them was a fuzzy blue line where the sky met the sea. As night fell, they stopped beside the bigger boat. It creaked under the weight of about 300 migrants and refugees. Smugglers tied the two vessels together and made everyone transfer to the bigger boat. The passengers panicked and protested, but the smugglers insisted. One by one, they clung to the ropes, women and children first, each trying not to look down at the water. Muaz, a 25 year old university student from Ethiopia, cries in his room while remembering his wife and child who died during the sinking of an overcrowded boat in the Mediterranean. UNHCR/A. Zavallis Suddenly, the bigger vessel began to tilt. "The captain in that boat, he shouted, 'Balance! Balance! The boat's going down! Balance! Balance!'" said. Muhidin Hussein Muhumed, a shipwreck survivor from Hargeisa, Somalia, who was traveling with his six brothers. Within three seconds, he said, the boat had turned over, plunging its passengers into the sea. Muhidin was still in the smaller boat, waiting to transfer. The captain screamed that the boat was going down and the people would be killed, Muhidin said. "And my brothers are saying, 'Help me!' But I can't do nothing for my brothers." "Why did I survive?" he added. "Why do I have my life? What is this life?" The captain started the engine and sped away while the 41 people aboard the smaller boat tried to save people in the water. Hours later, the captain called for help, but when another vessel arrived, he went aboard and left the 41 survivors to fend for themselves. For the next three days at sea, Muhidin thought of his wife and five children back home, all under age 10, as well as his dozens of nieces and nephews who were now fatherless after the deaths of his brothers. He said they had left Somalia together, because their children had never known a life without conflict. The hoped to build a new life in Europe, then bring their families to join them. Muhidin said he and other survivors stood on the deck, taking turns waving their shirts above their heads to get the attention of other passing ships, but none stopped. Another survivor, 25-year-old Muaz Mahmud from Ethiopia, recalled that the captain had thrown a satellite phone aboard before he abandoned them. On the screen was written a phone number of the Italian coast guard, he said. They called the number, and the coast guard explained how to find the boat's GPS coordinates. Hours later, they were rescued. Although relieved to be alive, the survivors were still reeling from the massive loss of life. "My wife and my baby, they died," says Muaz, who is now alone in Greece. "I couldn't do nothing. I couldn't save them because it was the middle of the ocean." One of the survivors of an overcrowded boat that sank in the Mediterranean, while trying to reach Europe from Libya, talks with family members back home from the lobby of the hotel they temporarily stayed in while in Athens. UNHCR/A. Zavallis Muaz said the family, members of Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group, were seeking safety in Europe after Muaz himself was jailed and threatened by government officials. "If I go back to my country, they will kill me," he said. By Tania Karas, Athens Cate Blanchett meets young Syrian refugees at Mazboud Community Center in Lebanon, in this May 2015 file photograph. UNHCR/J. Matas GENEVA, May 2 (UNHCR) - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today announced the appointment of Academy Award winning actor Cate Blanchett as a global Goodwill Ambassador. The announcement comes as Blanchett returns from a mission to Jordan to witness the ongoing humanitarian operation for people displaced by the conflict in Syria. She met Syrian refugee families to hear first-hand about the perilous journeys they had undertaken and the daily challenges they face. "I am deeply proud to take on this role," Blanchett said in a video interview. "There has never been a more crucial time to stand with refugees and show solidarity. We are living through an unprecedented crisis, and there must be shared responsibility worldwide. It feels like we're at a fork in the road, do we go down the compassionate path or do we go down the path of intolerance?" Blanchett added that, as a mother, she wanted her children to go down the compassionate path: "There's much more opportunity, there's much more optimism and there is a solution down that path." The actor takes on the role at a time when war, conflict and persecution have forced around 60 million people worldwide to run for their lives, the largest number since World War II. Nearly 20 million of these are refugees and more than half are children. The conflict in Syria is the main driver of this global crisis, forcing more than 4.8 million Syrians to become refugees in its neighbouring countries alone, with more seeking safety further afield. Prior to her appointment, Blanchett had been working closely with UNHCR for over a year to raise awareness about the forcibly displaced. In 2015, she travelled to Lebanon to meet Syrian refugees and to hear about the experiences of stateless people as part of her support for UNHCR's #IBelong Campaign. She has also supported World Refugee Day, UNHCR's appeal for the Europe refugee crisis, and attended the Women in the World Conference in New Delhi to represent UNHCR and moderate a high level panel discussion on the global refugee crisis. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said he was "very pleased" that Blanchett had taken on this new role. "Goodwill Ambassadors play a pivotal role in creating better public understanding and support for refugees, and never has there been a greater need to build these bridges," he said. "She has already demonstrated great commitment to the cause and we look forward to seeing her inspire many more people in her new role." BERLIN, Gemany, 2 May 2016 How does a child deal with a dangerous sea crossing as his family flees the Syrian Arabic Republic in search of a safer life in Europe? For seven-year-old Nawwar, it was a group of imaginary friendly polar bears, floating on ice, that protected his family as they travelled in a crowded raft across the sea from Turkey to Greece. We have seen friendly white bears when we were going on the boat, Nawwar says without equivocation. The best part of my journey was the white bears. A perilous journey In the past year, hundreds of children have drowned on that journey, many of them babies and toddlers. Nawwar and his family were among the lucky ones. The most difficult part was sleeping on rocks and climbing up mountains and down mountains up and down, Nawwar says. It was a real hard journey. Its a long story. A school and a friend The short version of the story has Nawwar arriving in Berlin three months ago and enrolling in the Nelson Mandela School, a UNESCO international school that defines itself as a miniature United Nations and embraces a diverse student body. Students come from more than 60 countries, and its bilingual curriculum instructs children in both English and German. I wasnt even going to school in Syria, Nawwar says. His transition back into classes was made easier by another 7-year-old boy, Alec, who acted as Nawwars German translator. The two quickly grew close. English majors have been named as the top two graduates of the Graduating Class of 2016 of Princeton University. After careful deliberations by the Ivy League university's Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing, Cameron Platt of Santa Barbara, California and Esther Kim of Marietta, Georgia have been announced as valedictorian and salutatorian respectively. Platt, who is expected to deliver the valedictory address during the Commencement ceremony, will attend Oxford University in the United Kingdom as a Rhodes Scholar after a summer dedicated to working on a theater production for the New York Fringe Festival. According to her Rhodes profile, she will also earn a certificate in theater and was notable for attending in the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English. According to the university website, during her second year as a Princeton student, she received the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence. As a junior, she shared the George B. Wood Legacy Junior Prize for her excellent performance in her academics and extra-curricular activities. She also earned the English departmental prize for every year she has spent in the New Jersey university. She also served as president of the Princeton University Players, a musical theater company run by students of Princeton. Esther Kim, on the other hand, plans to move back to Korea to teach English in the rural areas as part of her fulfillment of the requirements as a Fulbright Fellow. Once she returns to the United States, she will pursue an MFA in creative writing from Florida State University. She has consistently excelled in language study and is fluent in Latin, Spanish and Swahili. She earned the Ward Mathis Prize for short fiction, Emily Ebert Junior Prize for junior independent work and Shapiro Prize for academic performance. She has also interned for nonprofit organizations in Guatemala and Ecuador, and The Nassau Literary Review. Princeton University's Commencement ceremony will be held on May 31. While "Jason Bourne" movie is just counting down to the release date on July 29, the MIT grads will have the privilege to meet the star, Matt Damon, way before he hits the premiere red carpet. Damon will be among many other Hollywood A-listers to give commencement speech in universities this year. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology invites the actor to send off new graduates on June 3, according to Hollywood Reporter. Damon is not an MIT alumnus but this is a 'return to school' event since he portrayed a smart school Janitor in "Good Will Hunting" back in 1997. The university confirms the news, welcoming the 45-year-old social activist back to MIT. L. Rafael Reif, MIT President, said that he was excited to have the 'son of Cambridge' to address graduation speech. His global stature is not a secret; and it would inspire students with his leadership and passion, especially in art. Despite Matt Damon net worth, the actor is socially active in campaigning humanitarian issues. From finding paths to clean water access in Africa to Bono's ONE Campaign that fights poverty alongside Morgan Freeman and Ben Affleck. Reaching out for comment, Damon expressed his gratitude of being invited in the university as he was part of the neighborhood. He added that it was an honor to give a speech in a campus he could not have gotten into, as per CBS News report. Damon, who admitted difficulty in getting in shape for his latest blockbuster, is said to have put a lot of hard work for this installment. Starting the first Bourne franchise at 29 years old, the multitalented actor confessed the 'hardship' in training sessions just to get fit in fighting scenes. Do you think Damon will likely to give more news on his secret agent role during the commencement speech? A smoked glass office block at 150 St Vincent Street is in line for a dramatic overhaul at the hands of Sheppard Robson and LDA Design to better complement the surrounding conservation area.. 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Caskey Russell Receives Ellbogen Teaching Award Caskey Russell Caskey Russell, University of Wyoming Department of English associate professor and head of the American Indian Studies Program, knows what it means to give back to the state of Wyoming. For more than 10 years, his considerable service to the university and the state has included bridging the gap between the Wind River Indian Reservation, its high schools and UW, playing a significant role in welcoming our own domestically diverse population to UW, says Susan Frye, UW Outreach School dean. For the last two years, Frye and Russell have worked on the reservation with UWs Educational Task Force, which involves monthly meetings with leaders from the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes and members of the UW faculty and administration, to partner on a proposal for a reservation-based bachelors degree. A subcommittee also is adding a program that will go hand in hand with an associate degree program from Central Wyoming College in Riverton. Professor Russell has been a calm, balanced, thoughtful voice in the midst of these talks. If we are able to see this degree on Native American Leadership and Natural Resources through, it will be in large part because of Professor Russell, Frye says. That commitment has made Russell one of three recipients of the John P. Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award. The other recipients are Terry Burant, assistant lecturer in the Department of Educational Studies; and Jennifer Turpen, associate lecturer in the Department of Music. Russells research and teaching include American Indian studies and literature, indigenous sovereignty and critical race theory. Many of the titles of Professor Russells publications reveal just how intellectually engaged he is with the act of teaching at the highest level, and in areas that encounter some of the most topical and difficult material of our times, Frye says. She mentioned titles such as Tolerance and Diversity Cut Many Ways: Conservatism and the American Indian Studies Classroom; The Praxis Project: Reinvigorating the Teaching of the Civil Rights Movement; and Reaching Native American Families to Increase School Involvement. But, as we all know, being intellectually engaged with the act of teaching does not necessarily a great teacher make, she adds. Fortunately, Professor Russell is a superb teacher, and unquestionably one of the very finest at the University of Wyoming. Peter Parolin, UW Department of English chair, says Russell sets himself apart as an excellent teacher because of his commitment to students. The stellar quality of his teaching evaluations never ceases to impress me. He is a cornerstone of our faculty, guiding students to new levels of expertise in American Indian literature and culture, and helping them gain the skills they need to succeed in all their classes, always contributing his extraordinary patience, commitment and belief in students potential, he says. One of his students who is working toward her doctoral degree adds: Professor Russell is so knowledgeable -- so much in command of his field. But he never hammers you with his expertise. Instead, he generously makes his students know that they, too, can learn and talk about what they are learning. They do this together, but he also lets us know we can find truths for ourselves as well as for him and for the class. Russell received his bachelors and masters degrees in English, both from Western Washington University, and his Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon. Throughout his career, he has written a book, has contributed articles and chapter writings, received several honors and awards, and has secured several grants. English Professor McCracken-Flesher Receives UWs Highest Faculty Award Caroline McCracken-Flesher Recognized as one of the worlds leading scholars in 19th century literature and Scottish studies, English Professor Caroline McCracken-Flesher has been selected to receive the University of Wyomings highest faculty honor, the George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award. Named for UWs 13th president, the award recognizes a faculty member who, in addition to acclaim as a teacher, has achieved distinction as a scholar in research or other creative activity, and who has given distinguished service to the university. During a 27-year career at UW, McCracken-Flesher has excelled in all of those areas. Perhaps because it is small, UW needs and encourages faculty to embrace a full academic career of teaching, research and service, McCracken-Flesher says. That keeps us true to our discipline and to our students, for it reminds us how our work matters in and beyond the university. She says UW has always supported her efforts to explore new knowledge and to pass it on. The classroom, in turn, becomes a crucible for student innovation, McCracken-Flesher says. And UW students impress me every day as they learn whats new, then take their own original steps beyond. McCracken-Fleshers teaching is legendary. She has long provided some of the nations most cutting-edge graduate seminars in Scottish literature, on the novel and on the history of medicine, among many other topics which are the equivalent of what one would find at the highest-ranked universities in the United States and abroad, says UW English Professor Susan Frye, also a widely recognized scholar. As a scholar, McCracken-Flesher is prolific: She has published two critical monographs from Oxford; one scholarly edition of a 19th century text; four edited collections; one edited journal and an anthology; as well as 21 refereed journal articles, 10 refereed book chapters and two refereed conference papers. "Whether she is challenging students at all levels to push themselves further, or whether she is publishing high-profile scholarly volumes that shape the state of her academic field, McCracken-Flesher strives to serve the University of Wyoming, the humanities in general, and society, too, through developing our ways of seeing and understanding the world," says UW Department of English Chair Peter Parolin. Her publications establish her as one of the world's foremost authorities on Scottish literature. As her distinguished outside recommenders note, her book on Walter Scott changed the way scholars think about this foundational writer, Parolin says. Such insights are appreciated internationally. Penny Felding, the Herbert Grierson Chair of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, where McCracken-Flesher served as a visiting scholar, praised McCracken-Flesher's efforts in 2011 to organize an International Walter Scott conference at UW. "She has made many friends in our field, all of whom value her intelligence, her intellectual friendship and her company in all sorts of ways, Felding wrote. Frye, dean of UWs Outreach School, described McCracken-Fleshers work as a researcher and a publisher by referring to her 2005 work, Walter Scott and the Story of Tomorrow. It created a media sensation in the United Kingdom, firmly establishing her as one of the most pre-eminent -- if not the pre-eminent -- scholar of 19th century Scottish literature in the United States, and quite possibly in Scotland itself, Frye says. McCracken-Flesher received a Master of Arts degree from Edinburgh University, Scotland, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Brown University. She also spent two years at Oxford University as a graduate student. She has received numerous awards for teaching and research, including UW's highest teaching honor, the John P. Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award. UWyo Magazine May 2016 | Vol. 17, No. 3 UW students examine late 12th and early 13th century carvings at the Ta Prohm Temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, during a recent study abroad trip. Photo Courtesy of Isadora Helfgott Expanding the Discussion Research clusters, including one on human rights, bring global discussions to Wyoming. By Micaela Myers To solve the worlds big problems, you need multiple perspectives. Recognizing this, the University of Wyomings Center for Global Studies, which promotes international research and scholarship, created five research cluster program areas to help bring faculty members from different departments together: Energy, Water, Food and other Transboundary Challenges to Security; Environment and National Resources; Economics, Finance and Sustainable Development; Leadership and Governance in Global Policymaking; and Ethics, Human Rights and Justice. We specifically focus on interdisciplinary work, says Jean Garrison, director of the Center for Global Studies and a professor in global and area studies and political science. The key to solving local-to-global problems is to have multiple eyes on it from different perspectives. If you can do that, I think you have a much better opportunity to understand the nature of the problem and to foster solutions. Thats the purpose of these clusters. The recently formed clusters are already bringing faculty members from across campus together. For example, research within the Ethics, Human Rights and Justice group includes Isadora Helfgott, associate professor in the Department of History, and Nicole Crawford, curator of collections at the UW Art Museum, collaborating to study the role of contemporary artists and cultural institutions such as the Sleuk Rith Institute in promoting reconstruction through commemoration and remembrance of the atrocities committed under the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Noah Novogrodsky and Suzan Pritchett, professors in the College of Law, co-direct the Center for International Human Rights Law and Advocacy, as well as conduct research and oversee graduate student research. Pritchett is also involved with refugee issues within Wyoming in light of the Syrian refugee crisis, including giving a series of talks. Nevin Aiken, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, is working on legacies of the Namibian genocide, and David Messenger, professor and director of the Global and Area Studies Program, is researching museums in Spain and how they tell the history of that nations civil war using a human rights framework. Messenger also oversees two graduate students focusing on the Rwandan genocide. Essentially we are people doing a variety of human rights research, Messenger says of the research group. We used a grant to fund faculty research and to set up a seminar series, which is continuing this year. The seminar series expands the discussion beyond the UW community. UW faculty members and students give public presentations on campus and in Wyoming communities, and outside speakers are also invited to give talks. In addition, the Wyoming Humanities Council in partnership with the Global and Area Studies Program and the Center for Global Studies held a summer institute on human rights in 2015. The institute was open to teachers and others and examined human rights, with a focus on connecting history from the classical era to contemporary issues. It was all about encouraging ways for secondary teachers to incorporate human rights into their curricula, Messenger says, adding that the seminar is an excellent example of the natural outgrowth of expanding conversations. In 201617, the work will continue to grow through a partnership with the U.S. Sen. Malcolm Wallop Fund for Conversations on Democracy, which will help fund student and faculty research and outreach programming on civil society and democratic governance themes. We are extending the focus from human rights to human rights and democracy, Messenger says. Human rights issues affect people across the globe in countless ways. Human rights touch on a lot of different subjects and a lot of different ways of thinking about issues, Messenger saysfor example, its also civil rights. Through the clusters ongoing work, the conversation about human rights at home and abroad will continue at UW and in communities across Wyoming. UWyo Magazine May 2016 | Vol. 17, No. 3 The 2016 Chinese New Year celebration at UW included cultural performances and cuisine. Bringing the World to Wyoming UW provides a global education by welcoming international students, hosting cultural events and much more. By Micaela Myers Less than 5 percent of the worlds population lives in the United States. Understanding other cultures and learning new ways of looking at issues benefit University of Wyoming students during school and as they enter the globally competitive job market. International exposure challenges status-quo thinking and enables the ability to compare and contrast situations, says Cameron Nazminia, a UW graduate and current chair of UWs International Board of Advisors. Nazminias work has spanned the world, with engagements with the World Bank Group, Newmont Mining Corp. and most recently as a policy adviser to Gov. Matt Mead. It is a big world out there, and we come from a small state, so there is a lot to be learned from other parts of the world, he says. On the other side of the coin, we as Wyomingites have a lot to offer as well. While approximately 400 UW students study abroad each year, internationalization efforts at home help all students achieve a broader education. One of the main ways UW brings the world to Wyoming is by welcoming more than 800 international graduate and undergraduate students from nearly 90 different countries. By having international students on campus, it diversifies the classroom experience, says Jill Johnson, admissions associate director, who also oversees the International Students and Scholars (ISS) office. They bring a different world view and perspective to the classes that theyre in. We also host a ton of different events on campus every year, and a lot of our Wyoming students get the opportunity to attend those events. International students share their cultures by welcoming all UW students to participate in events such as the Indian Diwali celebration, Chinese New Year, International Education Week, African Awareness Week and Celebrate Nepal. Those kinds of events and educational opportunities are really important for our Wyoming students, who may not get the opportunity to travel or study abroad, Johnson says. Recognizing the importance of internationalization, Johnson and her team recruit students from all over the world and hope to welcome even more international students to UW in the years to come. SHARE By Gretchen Wenner of the Ventura County Star East county residents have a chance to see the candidates vying to replace state Sen. Fran Pavley in what is becoming a hotly contested primary at a public forum Tuesday night. The League of Women Voters of Ventura County is hosting the free event from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in the Thousand Oaks City Council chambers, located in the Scherr Forum Theatre at 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. The forum will also be broadcast on the city's government television channel. Pavley's 27th Senate District includes Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and surrounding unincorporated areas. In Los Angeles County, it sweeps from Malibu on the coast as far inland as Santa Clarita. Six candidates, five of them Democrats, hope to replace Pavley, a Democrat from Agoura Hills who is termed out. In the June 7 primary, the top two finishers, regardless of party, will go on to compete in November. The race has already drawn significant cash as candidates battle to make it past June. All six have said they will attend Tuesday's forum. Audience members can submit questions on index cards. After giving opening statements, the candidates will answer attendees' questions before ending with two-minute closing statements. The sole Republican hopeful is Steve Fazio of Encino, chief executive of a family dry cleaning business. The Democratic candidates include Moorpark City Council member David Pollock; Pavley adviser Henry Stern, an environmental attorney from Canoga Park; Shawn Bayliss of Woodland Hills, a legislative deputy; Janice Kamenir-Reznik of Encino, a nonprofit director; and George Christopher Thomas, a Van Nuys neighborhood council member. SHARE JC Oberst By Jc Oberst, Special to The Star I am glad there are a number of veterans' organizations in Washington D.C. that provide representation and a voice for veterans. Organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Military Officers of America Association and others provide that support in our nation's capital. It is important for several reasons. George Washington said, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, is directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated." As the percentage of Americans with family members who served in the military and the number of elected representatives with military service declines, it is important for our voices to be heard. Debates in Congress and the Pentagon continue to focus on reducing benefits and passing additional health care costs to military and veterans. I urge veterans and their family members to take time to understand the candidates' positions and vote in this year's elections. It is hard to read the continuous stream of problems the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs struggles with month after month. While veterans' organizations work to hold the VA employees accountable at the federal level, we need to do the same at the local level. As you have likely heard, our local VA Outpatient Clinic is experiencing issues with a new health provider. They provide our local veterans their primary health care. This is a regional issue, and we need the regional VA to fix the problem. You are invited to attend a discussion and forum with the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare leadership on May 9. Details below. The Gold Coast Veterans Foundation maintains a Ventura County events calendar on its website www.goldcoastveteransfoundation.org as a community service. We will be adding Memorial Day ceremonies as the details are released. Upcoming events May 3: 2-4 p.m. "Curator's Corner," Navy Seabee Museum, 1001 Addor St., Port Hueneme. Curator Robyn King will showcase artifacts that are rarely displayed in the museum galleries and will talk about their significance in Seabee history. The museum is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the intersection of Ventura and Sunkist roads in Port Hueneme. For more information, contact Denny Hostetter at 982-6189. May 6: 1-4 p.m. Free Legal Clinic, National University, 1000 Town Center Drive, Suite 502, Oxnard. The clinic serves active duty, National Guard, reserves, veterans and retirees. Consultations with an attorney on issues such as DUI, family law, credit problems, domestic violence, expungements, military discharge, tenant issues, power of attorney, divorce and workers' compensation will be offered. For an appointment, call 983-4850 or email LegalClinic@Military411.org. May 7: 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Wheel to the Sea, a challenge hike for wheelchair users and volunteer pushers. Meets every six months. Website http://www.meetup.com/Wilderness-Adventures. May 9: 1:30-3 p.m. VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic Forum and Discussion, Ventura County Community Foundation Nonprofit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo. Event is hosted by Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village. VA leadership from the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System will discuss their plan to reduce wait times and improve service at the Oxnard clinic. Call Cheri Orgel at 379-1779 for more information. May 10 and 24: 9 a.m. to noon. Employment Development Department Veterans Job and Career Orientation. Gold Coast Veterans Foundation, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo. Representatives from VA Veterans Center, Ventura County Veterans Service Office and EDD Workforce Services Veterans Service Program will attend. Call 568-1282 for more information. May 19: 10-11 a.m. Peace Officers Association of Ventura County's Annual Memorial Ceremony, Ventura County Government Center 800 Victoria Ave., Ventura, at the Peace Officer Memorial. Ceremony will honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. May 20: 4-7 p.m. TGIF Vets-to-Farmers event, Mission Produce, 2901 Camino Del Sol, Oxnard. Learn about the Veteran Farmers of America program that connects veterans to agricultural internships and employment at local farms and agricultural businesses. To RSVP call Julie Sardonia at 797-5539 or email juliesardonia@vetfarm.org. May 21: 10 a.m. Vietnam Veterans recognition event for Camarillo Vietnam Veterans, Constitution Park, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo. Vietnam veterans will receive a special certificate of recognition and commemorative pin to honor their service. Only Vietnam veterans who either lived in Camarillo, Somis, the Heights, the Estates or the Santa Rosa Valley at the time of their enlistment, or live in these areas now, are eligible for the recognition. To receive recognition, contact Kathy Talley at ktalley@cityofcamarillo.org or at 388-5312. The public can attend the event. May 21: 6-10 p.m. Casino Night fundraiser, VCCF Nonprofit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo. Proceeds benefit Gold Coast Veterans Foundation's Veterans Connection program, a one-stop shop for veterans in need that is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $75 or $85 for the Texas Hold 'em Tournament and include buffet dinner and cash bar. Must be over 21 to participate. Purchase online at www.goldcoastveteransfoundation.org or call 482-6550 for reservations. May 30: Memorial Day. Federal holiday to remember our U.S. Armed Forces' men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Please take a moment on May 30 to remember those that gave their lives serving our country and their family members. Services will be held in cities throughout Ventura County. Need assistance navigating veteran services? Give JC Oberst a call at 482-6550. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SIMI VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT SHARE By Staff Reports With Cinco de Mayo celebrations just around the corner, the Simi Valley Police Department is hoping to stop and arrest impaired drivers, officials said. The DUI operation, which will include extra officers and DUI saturation patrols, is scheduled from 9 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday, officials said. Officials remind everyone to make sure they have a designated sober driver or arrange another safe way home. If people choose to drive impaired, they can face jail time, losing their driver's license, higher insurance rates, and other expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs or vehicle towing and repairs. This enforcement effort is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. SHARE RICHARD QUINN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Lucas Nauenburg holds a photo of the Obama family signed by Michelle and Barack Obama. Nauenburg received the photo and other items after writing to Obama and asking about the White House. RICHARD QUINN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR After writing a letter to President Obama, Lucas Nauenburg received a package containing photos of the first family and information about the White House. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO This letter to President Obama from a 7-year-old Ventura boy prompted a reply from the White House. By Alicia Doyle, Special to The Star What does a 7-year-old have to do to get a response from the president of the United States? For Ventura first-grader Lucas Nauenburg, all it took was a handwritten letter and drawings of the White House and Barack Obama, with Lucas standing at the president's side. The letter, dated Feb. 16, didn't ask about policy change, taxes or the state of the nation. It simply wished him well, asked, "how's the house doing" and left a blank space for the president to respond. At the end of the letter, Lucas signed his name with an additional note in the bottom right-hand corner: "Keep me please." Lucas wrote the letter during his free play time at Las Posas Children's Center, an after-school program at Junipero Serra School in Ventura. He'd been peppering the center's counselors with questions about Obama, then decided to write the letter when he was learning about the nation's presidents in school. "I like Obama so I wrote him a letter," Lucas explained. "So I put in a house and the president and me." He never doubted that the president would respond. "I knew he would because I'd like that," Lucas said. The letter from the White House was dated April 6 and arrived in a manila envelope. "The mailman slipped it in our door and I knew exactly what it was," said Mason Nauenburg, Lucas' father. He didn't expect the president to respond to his son, he said, because his entire school wrote letters to the president when he was a child, and only one student got a response. "So when Lucas got his letter I thought it was pretty special," Nauenburg said. "It's nice to know that somebody so powerful still remembers the little people." In Obama's letter to Lucas, he wrote, in part, "Hearing from young people like you inspires me each and every day... in the years ahead, always remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you are willing to dream big and work hard." Obama also sent Lucas four photographs: one of himself; one of him with his wife, Michelle, and two daughters, Malia and Sasha; and one of each of the president's dogs, Sunny and Bo. "Lucas tells me all the time that he wants to be president one day," said the boy's mother, Courtney James, of Ventura. In fact, in January, the 7-year-old watched Obama's final State of the Union address. "Lucas was into it," his dad said. "It was kind of shocking I would have never thought a 7-year-old would be so interested. He really likes Barack Obama, and he says he's going to miss him as president." JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Christine Samusick, of Ventura, takes a selfie with a full size poster of Bernie Sanders during a caucus in Westlake Village on Sunday. SHARE JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Rick Gardner (right), President of the Democratic Club of Camarillo, talks with Jeff Cowan, of Santa Paula, during a caucus held Sunday in Westlake Village. Rick was trying to become one of the district's delegates that would go to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Bernie Sanders volunteer Robin Bogogna (middle) helps Julia Evins (left) and SuSanne Plumb sign in for their voting ballot during caucus on Sunday in Westlake Village. Evins is running to be a delegate for the Democratic National Convention. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Bernie Sanders supporters fill Cisco's restaurant in Westlake Village during the caucus held on Sunday. WENDY LEUNG/THE STAR Shawn Terris, chair of the Ventura County Democratic Party, convenes the delegate caucus for Hillary Clinton on Sunday in Ventura. By Wendy Leung and Cheri Carlson of the Ventura County Star Democrat voters, split into Hillary and Bernie camps, cast their ballots in Ventura and Westlake Village on Sunday, a month before the California primary. They were picking from a field of 84 hopefuls wanting to represent Rep. Julia Brownley's district at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. "Look at this process here," said Eric Bender, a delegate to the convention in 2008 and a prospective delegate for Hillary Clinton in July. "This is the most basic form of democracy." The voting in Ventura County was part of caucuses held in congressional districts up and down the state. Starting 2 p.m. registered Democrat voters made their picks on who they want to represent them at the July convention. This process, known to most political junkies but unknown to most voters, is unique to the Democratic Party. Republican delegate hopefuls apply for the opportunity and are selected by the presidential candidate. In Westlake Village, a line wrapped around Cisco's, a Mexican restaurant, where Bernie Sanders supporters hoping to be delegates handed out pamphlets and buttons. Most waited 20 to 30 minutes to get into a dining room at the back of Cisco's, where they could pick up a ballot and vote right away or stay and listen to candidates' rapid-fire speeches before making a choice. Shortly after 3 p.m. the ballots were tallied and results announced. The 41 delegates running represented cities throughout the district and all ages, from a Vietnam War-era activist to a 17-year-old planning to vote in his first election this November. "This is exciting," said volunteer Lisa-Ann Galati, as she helped people navigate the crowded room. Some ordered food, others drinks. Families and friends sat around tables and many others crowded in the standing-room only space. The Sanders and Clinton caucuses selected the top three male and top three female vote getters as well as an alternate, but whether they get to attend the convention depends on the results of the June primary. A presidential candidate winning at least 15 percent of the vote will be able to send a delegate to the convention. Once chosen, the delegates pay their own way for travel and lodging, which can be $3,000 to $5,000. "It's not cheap," said Mike Osborn, chairman of the Ventura County Republican Party and a 2008 delegate for Mitt Romney. But for a political junkie, Osborn said the convention is akin to a "giant weeklong party." Lately many Republican party events and dinners have been sold out and interest to be a delegate has been high due to speculation of a contested convention. "Everybody wants to be a delegate," Osborn said. Republican delegates apply to their congressional districts and after the June primary, the winning presidential candidate of each district will select the delegates. The presidential candidate with a plurality of the vote also gets to pick at-large delegates and party members. The investment of time and money to be a delegate seemed worth it to Thousand Oaks resident Phyllis Belisle, a Clinton supporter. "I'm passionate about Hillary," said Belisle, who tried out to be a delegate for the first time but came up short. "She's a woman, and I'm not playing the woman card, but she's more qualified than anyone who has run for president in my lifetime." Belisle may not be among the top three vote getters but like other delegate hopefuls, she can apply to be an at-large delegate. Voters can only participate in one caucus, which is why Clinton's event was on the other side of the county at an AFL-CIO office in Ventura. At that hourlong caucus, 239 voters picked their favorites among 43 candidates. Gail McAnulty, 59, was one of the voters. It was the Oxnard resident's first event as a Democrat. McAnulty had been a registered Republican since she was 18 but she switched her registration on the day of the caucuses. "I've been listening to Hillary during the debates," McAnulty said. "I like what she says." The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas welcomed Grammy-nominated performer Kid Rock to the mophie Stage at Boulevard Pool Friday night, June 6 (Photo credit: Brenton Ho). Photo credit: Brenton Ho. Following an opening set by DJ M!keAttack, Kid Rock took over the stage and dove headfirst into a fast-paced set that kicked off with Devil Without a Cause.Before continuing the show with You Never Met A Mother****** Quite Like Me, the Detroit native remarked how excited he was to be in Las Vegas. He reminded the audience mid-song by switching the lyrics from But Im a Michigan boy can you feel that? to But Im in Vegas now can you feel that?. Photo credit: Brenton Ho. Ever the showman, Kid Rock surprised fans throughout the night, playing multiple instruments and working the turntables as his alterego DJ Bobby Shazam. The hard rocker and his competent band delivered an unforgettable performance complete with fan-favorite hits such as Rock N Roll Jesus, Cowboy and Bawitdaba. Kid Rock returns to Boulevard Pool for a second show this evening (Saturday, June 7). Photo credit: Brenton Ho. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas features artists at the forefront of the touring world and emerging artists that will inspire the next musical movements coupled with spectacularly-designed, technology-driven venues. Perched high above The Las Vegas Strip, Boulevard Pool is a multilevel pool experience by day and an intimate outdoor concert venue with unobstructed sightlines of both the stage and The Strip by night. Photo credit: Brenton Ho. Miss Universe contestants celebrated at XS Nightclub, the award-winning venue at Wynn Las Vegas, on Sunday, Dec. 20. Paulina Vega, Miss Colombia 2013 & Miss Universe 2014, Chelsea Hardin, Miss Hawaii USA 2016, and Justine Michioka, Miss Hawaii USA 2004, were spotted among others (Pictured: Justine Michioka and Chelsea Hardin Photo credit: Karl Larson). Photo credit: Karl Larson. In addition, Billy Zane made his first-ever appearance at the nightclub on Friday, Dec. 18. The Titanic actor was there to celebrate the birthday of a friend. Mario Lopez hosted the Saturday night, November 12 After-Fight Party at Vanity Nightclub at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas over the weekend. The host of Extra and Americans Best Dance Crew posed for photos with fans before being joined by longtime girlfriend, Courtney Mazza (Photo credit: Hew Burney). Photo credit: Hew Burney. After taking a few photos together, the couple retreated to the clubs VIP section, where they danced the night away to guest Miami DJ Jessica Who. Photo credit: Hew Burney. Also in attendance at Vanity Nightclub was actor Armie Hammer, who currently stars in the Clint Eastwood film, J. Edgar. Hammer attended the big fight earlier in the night and then made his way to Vanity with a group of male friends who hung out in a separate VIP area. Photo credit: Hew Burney. Model Jordan Carver, in town for her own film about Fight Weekend, also stopped by the after party to dance with fans and say hello to friends Mario and Courtney. Photo credit: Hew Burney. Photo credit: Hew Burney. Hunky Australian actor Liam McIntyre, currently best known as Spartacus on Starz Networks Spartacus: Vengeance, attended the early performance of Mystere by Cirque du Soleil at Treasure Island Las Vegas tonight on Saturday, November 17, 2012 (Photo courtesy of Meskerem Mitiku-Cotton/Cashman Photography). Accompanied by his lovely girlfriend, the couple are avid Cirque du Soleil fans, having seen about a dozen shows between them in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and in the big top around the world. Tonight marked their first visit to Mystere and McIntyre, who recently wrapped filming on Spartacus: Vengeance, said hes in the process of moving to Los Angeles and plans to be back in Vegas in the near future to catch some of the other Cirque du Soleil shows currently on his must-see list. The couple met some of the cast before settling in with waters and popcorn for the start of the show. Architectural rendering of BSC Bel Air Auto Auction's forthcoming Riverside location.The new location is scheduled to open fall 2016. Photo courtesy of BSC Bel Air Auto Auction. Bel Air Auto Auction brought the gavel down on sixty-nine years in the auction business with their anniversary sale this past Thursday, April 21. Dealer, fleet-lease, and institutional vehicles filled the lanes. The late Paige Richardson of Bel Air MD started the first Bel Air Auto Auction in a former livestock auction facility in 1947. After many years in business, it was sold and later acquired to become a part of BSC Americas business group. R. Charles Nichols, president of BSC America, recalls that BSC America originally opened as Nichols Auction Company by his parents, Raymond C. and Elaine G. Nichols. BSC America companies are owned and operated by Raymond C. Nichols, along with son, Charles, and daughter, Michelle. At the same time that their anniversary sale was gearing up, other gears were turning in nearby Riverside, as construction continued on Bel Air Auto Auctions new 175-acre facility. Bel Air Auto Auction's future home at 4805 Philadelphia Road in Belcamp, Maryland will boast a 75,000 square foot, 10-lane auction house accompanied by a 45,000 square foot Mechanical Shop, Body Shop and Recon Center. Raymond C. Nichols, CEO of BSC America companies, adds, Next year we will be celebrating our 70th Anniversary at our new facility. Nichols continued, We like to say The Excitement is Building, because it truly is! We will continue our successful strategy of bringing buyers and sellers together in ways we never imagined when Nichols Auction Company sold its first asset! Beat maker: British DJ and music producer Shifted, aka Guy Brewer, will play at The Observatory on May 6. This will be his debut performance in Asia. - Photo www.leccenews24.it Shifted will play a mixture of progressive techno, electronic, noise and experimental music. His show will be supported by resident DJ Chris Wolter. Shifted was a member of Cambridge-based DJ trio Commix in 2002. Their music featured elements of liquid funk, techno, soul and house. He left the group and began his solo career in 2012. Heart Beats artist Erol will offer visual arts presentation during the show. The performance will start at 9pm at 5 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4. illustration photo Removing the cap will likely benefit the US-based Abbott Laboratories one of the largest diversified healthcare companies in the world. Abbott, which is Domestics (DMC) only foreign strategic partner, currently holds a 45.94 per cent stake in the local company via its subsidiary CFR International SPA. Removing the limit on foreign ownership would also offer a chance for other investors to buy into DMC, which is the second-largest drug exporter among Vietnamese pharma firms. Lifting the foreign ownership ceiling in the pharmaceutical industry would send a positive signal to foreign investors. A clear path to converting partnerships into majority ownership would provide companies with much stronger arguments to convince their global headquarters to invest in Vietnam, Tran Thi Hong Tuoi, analyst at BIDV Securities, told VIR. In addition, DMCs move might prompt other listed pharma firms to remove their foreign ownership ratio ceiling to attract foreign partners, she said, adding that DMC would have to seek permission from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to lift the cap. In addition to lifting the foreign ownership ceiling, DMC shareholders have also agreed to establish two new lines of business a drug warehouse and a herbal medicine factory. Industry insiders believe that DMC would be a good springboard for Abbott to boost its presence in Vietnam. Since entering the market in 1995, Abbott has gained a foothold in all 63 cities and provinces after acquiring local health food distributor 3A Nutrition. According to industry insiders, because large drugstore chains are a growing trend in the pharmaceutical industry, international drug makers are increasingly using mergers and acquisitions (M&As) to develop their distribution chains. Vietnam is a destination of choice for such companies. These foreign enterprises are hoping to capitalise on the nationwide distribution networks and advanced drug production assembly lines of the Vietnamese drug makers, using M&A deals to penetrate the market and expand their operations locally. A picture shows the Adonia cruise ship docked on the Garonne river in Bordeaux on May 7, 2014. (AFP PHOTO/MEHDI FEDOUACH) MIAMI: The first US cruise ship bound for Cuba in 50 years was set to sail from Miami on Sunday and give travelers a taste of local art, music and dance in a festive offshoot of the restoration of diplomatic relations. The Adonia, a vessel from the Carnival cruise's Fathom line, was set to raise its anchors at 3:30 pm (1930 GMT) with some 700 passengers aboard. It is scheduled to sail into the port of Havana on Monday, its first stop on a visit to the communist-run island. The voyage is the first of what Carnival says will become weeklong cruises to Cuba twice a month, with the goal of promoting cultural exchange between the two countries following a warming of ties that began in December 2014 and culminated last year with the restoration of full diplomatic ties. "Fathom offers a truly historic opportunity for travel to Cuba: a chance to help build new bridges to a rich and vibrant culture that, until now, most US travelers have only seen in photographs," the cruise ship web page says. Uncertainty over whether the cruise would take place was cleared up only last week, when the Cuban government of Raul Castro lifted restrictions for seaborne visits of Cubans to and from the United States, opening a door for Cuban-Americans born on the island to board the ships. At first, keeping in mind Cuban restrictions imposed when the island's Communist regime feared a landing of anti-Castro militants, Carnival refused to accept reservations from such people. This quickly resulted in charges of discrimination and a firestorm of criticism. Carnival, the world's leading tour ship operator, eventually relented and began to allow reservations from Cuban-born customers. But its conditions to start the visits were for Cuba to allow its citizens to sail freely. Cuba ultimately relented after intense negotiations as part of the normalization process, which culminated in a visit to Cuba by President Barack Obama in March. But as the restrictions were lifted so recently, few people of Cuban origin were expected to be on the first cruise ship on Sunday. Adonia has scheduled cultural activities in its ports of call in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, such as meetings with artists, musicians and business owners, as well as dance classes and guided tours. This is important because full-scale regular US tourism to Cuba is still banned under the US trade embargo, which remains in force despite the diplomatic thaw. So Americans can travel to communist Cuba only for cultural, academic, sports-related or religious events. Carnival is the first cruise line company to win permission from both governments to offer trips, which ended after the Cuban revolution of 1959. The cost of a ticket on the cruise ranges from US$1,800 to US$7,000 per person. Regular flights from the US to Cuba are expected to begin later this year. Among Gazproms various channels of collaboration in Vietnam is a project to introduce natural gas as a fuel for everyday-use vehicles-Photo: Le Toan Last week, a delegation headed by Alexey Miller, chairman of Gazproms Management Committee was hosted by President Tran Dai Quang, and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Special attention was given to the prospect of broader co-operation between companies on hydrocarbon development in Vietnam and Russia. The parties also discussed the joint implementation of the Natural Gas for Vehicles project a cost-efficient and eco-friendly fuel system which Gazprom is planning to develop both in Russia and abroad. Last year saw the registration of PVGAZPROM, a Russian-Vietnamese company focused on the use of natural gas as a fuel for passenger vehicles. The joint venture consists of Gazprom International (35.5 per cent), Gazprom Gazomotornoye Toplivo (35.5 per cent), and PetroVietnam Gas (29 per cent). The two sides have worked together on the preparation and the implementation of the road map for this project. They also discussed collaboration in the energy sector. At the meeting, both sides emphasised the great potential for bilateral co-operation in this area. Miller attended another working meeting with Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman of Vietnams oil and gas group PetroVietnams Board of Directors, and Nguyen Vu Truong Son, president and CEO of PetroVietnam. This meeting focused on the exploration activities in blocks 112 and 129-132, as well as the joint development of the Moc Tinh and Hai Thach fields in Vietnam. To date, these fields have already seen the construction of 12 production wells, three production platforms, a floating hydrocarbon storage terminal, and a submarine pipeline system. Accumulated production from the Moc Tinh and Hai Thach fields since its launch in 2013 has reached 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas and 1.1 million tonnes of gas condensate. The meeting also reviewed the progress in the joint development of the Nagumanovskoye and Severo-Purovskoye fields in Russia. Vietgazprom, the joint operating company established by Gazprom and PetroVietnam on a parity basis, conducts exploration activities in blocks 112 and 129-132 located on the continental shelf of Vietnam. In 2015, Gazprom and PetroVietnam signed an agreement on the major terms and conditions of developing the Nagumanovskoye (Orenburg Region) and Severo-Purovskoye (Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area) fields. Gazpromviet (Gazprom 51 per cent, PetroVietnam 49 per cent) holds development licences for both fields. How is the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agencys (MIGA) investment guarantee programme different from any other investment guarantees? The value added by MIGA is that first of all were part of the World Bank Group. So were working to support Vietnam in terms of sustainable development. And I think the second part is that were AAA rated, so were able to offer our guarantees in a way that supports banks and equity investors through our strong financial sustainability. The third area is our track record. Weve written over 800 guarantees, and weve only paid eight claims. And the reason for this is because we have a strong relationship with the World Bank Group, and therefore when a problem arises between the private sector guarantee holder and the [host] government, were able to come in and mediate with the goal of putting the project back on track. We dont want to pay an insurance claim, we would much rather the project continue and have the development impact we expected. For example, we cover breach of contract. Lets say, for some reasons, the government doesnt follow the contract. In such a case, well go and assess the situation maybe there is a good reason why the government hasnt paid the contract. We would also need to speak to the private sector party, if they were not doing certain things that they were supposed to do. In other cases, maybe the government is having some problem whereby we need to help the private sector party be more patient or help the government come up with a payment plan. So we try to do this type of mediation through discussion in order to get the project back on track. We support a lot of large infrastructure contracts, and theyre long-term around 15 years so its natural that in that 15-year period some issues will come up. MIGAs strength is that we can help mitigate risks for both sides. What, specifically, is your investment guarantee scheme targeting in the local market? What are the risks associated with the local business environment that investors should be aware of? For the Vietnamese market, we have two products on offer. One is our political risk insurance, we can cover breach of contact, the transfer and inconvertibility risks for moving from a local to a foreign currency, and transferring it out of the country. We can cover war and civil disturbance and expropriation. And this is what wed use for PPP (Public-private Partnership) or bringing private sector investors to Vietnam. The other product that we have used recently in Vietnam is our credit enhancement product, or non-honouring of sovereign obligation. For the Hoi Xuan hydropower project and the BT20 Highway, which weve worked on recently, we actually provide a counter-guarantee to the Ministry of Finances guarantee to the lenders. That allowed the lenders to report lower capital costs, and therefore provide longer-term financing at a more attractive price, so it made the project very cost-effective for the government, and ultimately the people, of Vietnam. Why is it important for both foreign and local investors to have an investment guarantee on their projects in Vietnam and overseas? It helps that MIGA can take care of the political risks, as this leaves private investors to focus on the commercial side of the business, which is often spread out over investment opportunities in several countries. They dont have to worry about the political risks. They dont have to wonder, Will I be able to get my money out if there is some civil disturbance? Does the government have a track record of keeping its contracts? Is there a chance that the government will try to reduce the value of my assets somehow through its regulations? I think that for a private company if you have to think about investing in many different countries you might only choose the least risky countries according to your own perception. With MIGA removing the political risks, private investors can just concern themselves with operating their investments. That makes more investors comfortable with the idea of coming to riskier markets, or quite honestly markets that they dont really know, because there is often an asymmetry of information: the investor may perceive risks, when the risks are actually quite low. In any case, even if the risks are only perceived, they may want to have some political risk insurance to mitigate them. Can MIGAs investment guarantee scheme boost foreign investment here? I definitely think so. As I said, when companies are looking at Vietnam from overseas, they may perceive some risks; but if MIGA comes in as a partner, we can reduce these risks for them. So we can then make it more comfortable for them to come into Vietnam. The other thing that MIGA can do is help Vietnam bring in more private investors for infrastructure projects. For example, if you are requesting bids, you can actually say that MIGA is available, and then these investors would be safe in the knowledge that if they win the bid, they can potentially work with MIGA to reduce the risks. As such, they may be more willing to bid. We hope that over time, as we introduce those investors to Vietnam, they will become more comfortable with the environment and will come to fully understand actual risk levels. As such investors would be with MIGA over the long-term, this would broaden and diversify the investors in Vietnam. The new law will do away with local clinical trials where global data already exists-Photo: Le Toan The removal of the requirement, which is part of the amended Pharmacy Law approved by the National Assembly in early April, is a major achievement for the Vietnamese healthcare system and the patients it serves. This development, as well as the introduction of Patient Assistance Programmes, and the prioritisation of Orphan Drugs will provide patients with faster access to the latest innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs in Vietnam, said Jan Rask Christensen, senior director of EuroChams Pharma Group. According to the Pharma Groups White Book-2016 Edition released in early March, in order to ensure drugs are effective in all human populations, pharmaceutical companies conduct clinical trials globally to meet ethnicity requirements. Most Vietnamese people fall under the Asian ethnicity, meaning that a global clinical trial undertaken with an Asian component is satisfactory from a medical standpoint. Removing the local clinical trial requirement will help make the healthcare system more efficient, reducing administrative burdens for the Drug Administration Department of Vietnam (DAV) by avoiding unnecessary clinical trials. It would align with the standards applied in other ASEAN members and lead to a return of medical tourism expenditure, Christensen stated. Previously, Vietnams requirement for additional clinical trials (or waiting five years after registration in the products country of origin) met with strong complaints from the Pharma Group. The committee represents 22 multi-national pharmaceutical industry members, including Bayer Vietnam Ltd, Novartis Pharma Services AG, Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam, and Zuellig Pharma Vietnam Ltd. The Pharma Group proposed on several occasions that the Vietnamese government remove the requirement, as it lengthened the wait for patients access to new medicines by at least 2.5-5 years. In fact, Vietnam was one of a few countries in the world that required a local drug registration study for long. The lack of new drugs in Vietnam predominantly stemmed from the local clinical trial requirement that the group said in its White Book-2016 Edition. Christensen said that it was of paramount importance that these new legislative initiatives are properly implemented in order to fully benefit from the progressive amendments in the new Pharmacy Law. The changes to the Pharmacy Law outline the governments more open policy on pharmacies and the pharmaceutical industry, management of medicines at healthcare centres, and the management of medicine quality, among other health-related items. It will take effect on January 1, 2017. Nokia must meet certain commitments to qualify for hi-tech status and enjoy the attendant tax incentives This announcement was made after the Ministry of Finance and the Taxation Department of Bac Ninh province where the Nokia Vietnam factory is located requested that relevant government bodies guide the implementation of tax incentives which were initially granted to the company in 2011. It has been two years since Nokia Vietnam started production in June 2013. In order to implement the tax incentives, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has ordered that Nokia Vietnam report on the implementation of its commitments, stated an MPI document last year. Nokia Vietnams case highlights the national policy to encourage foreign multinationals to expand their investments here through incentives. However, in turn, these companies must prove that they are indeed eligible for such incentives. When such companies are qualified to receive favourable conditions, it is a win-win scenario for both Vietnam and foreign investors. The evaluation of Nokias hi-tech status is a normal request, as any firm authorised to receive investment incentives must be thoroughly assessed after a certain period. In 2011, the Vietnamese government granted Nokia Vietnam the optimum corporate income tax (CIT) incentives in recognition of the fact that its mobile-phone manufacturing facility was furthering the hi-tech industry in Vietnam. Specifically, Nokia Vietnam enjoys a 10 per cent corporate income tax rate for 15 years (instead of 22 per cent). During the first four years in operation, the company is exempt from tax, while for the following nine years, tax is calculated with a 50 per cent reduction. In addition, the company receives priority status for customs inspection procedures, and receives import and export tax incentives. Last year, the MPI reminded Nokia Vietnam that it had committed to not implementing transfer pricing in Vietnam, and that the company would increase the localisation rate in its products to at least 30 per cent after three years of production. Moreover, Nokia Vietnam also has to cover all costs for establishing a customs point inside its facility to ensure customs clearance at any time. Microsoft Mobile Vietnam recently paid VND191 billion ($9 million) to the Bac Ninh Department of Taxation, of which CIT arrears made up VND186 billion ($8.7 million), while late payment fines amounted to VND5 billion ($234,000). The fines were incurred in 2013 and 2014 as the local tax department did not receive certification qualifying the company for its CIT tax incentive. The local tax department said it would repay the sum once the company is certified. Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Photo: AFP/Ishara S Kodikara) COLOMBO: Cash-strapped Sri Lanka announced on Sunday (May 1) it was setting up a special panel to chase after nationals likely to figure in the "Panama Papers," a trove of leaked documents on global tax evasion. The government, which came to power in January last year on a promise to clean up corruption, has accused former president Mahinda Rajapakse and his family of siphoning off billions of dollars during his decade in power, a charge he has denied. The new administration has also been weighed down by huge foreign loans taken out by the Rajapakse regime. Colombo last week secured an IMF bailout of US$1.5 billion to head off a balance of payments crisis. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said Colombo would investigate "each and every Sri Lankan" whose names were likely to come up when the Panama Papers became publicly available on May 9. He accused the former government of failing to look into 46 Sri Lankans whose names came up in a 2013 probe known as the Offshore Leaks, by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which is also behind the Panama Papers. "Our panel will look into names that will come up in the Panama Papers as well as those already named in the Offshore Leaks," Karunanayake told reporters in Colombo. The Panama Papers have become a global scandal, sparking investigations and resignations. About 11.5 million leaked documents, from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, revealed the large-scale use of offshore entities to conceal assets from tax authorities. Local taxi firms are restructuring in a bid to claw back customers lost to taxi apps Photo: Le Toan Over the past two years, transport applications on smart phones such as Uber (from the US) and Grab (from Malaysia) have become hugely popular in Vietnam. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, there are currently 4,000 Uber taxis in the city, earning a daily profit of VND1 billion ($44,900). Meanwhile, GrabVietnam has branched out from its main application for taxi hailing (GrabTaxi) with the recent launch of motorbike taxi and express delivery services. The growth of these transport services has dented the profits of traditional taxi brands in Vietnam, most notably the two giants Vinasun and Mai Linh. For the first quarter of 2016, Vinasun only completed 26.5 per cent of its targeted profits. This result was said by the firms representatives to be particularly disappointing as the first quarter of the year tends to be their busiest season. Even Vinasuns anticipated profit for 2016, standing at VND264 billion ($11.8 million), may be 20 per cent lower than last years figure. Uber and GrabTaxi are wreaking havoc on Vinasuns business, so we must prepare to fight back with our best weapons. We wont stand still to let these foreign competitors eat up our market share, stressed Dang Phuoc Thanh, chairman of Vinasun, at the firms annual shareholders meeting last week. Thanh then outlined five key areas that Vinasun can improve upon this year. Firstly, in response to Uber and Grabs diverse range of services, Vinasun will undergo extensive restructuring and offer more services besides taxis. The firm will assess the needs of different regions in Vietnam to come up with the most suitable business option. Secondly, as Uber and Grab have attracted Vietnamese users thanks to their low fares, Vinasun will also reduce their own prices down from $0.7 to $0.6 per kilometre. Thirdly, the firm will invest heavily in its Vinasun App, which directly competes against the foreign transport businesses. Thanks to this smartphone application, Vinasuns customers can get taxis much more quickly and conveniently compared to using traditional call centres. This also allows the firm to access the real-time and detailed business results of each taxi. In addition, Vinasun will add 1,150 new cars to its fleet this year, raising the total number of its vehicles to 6,441. Finally, the company will install non-cash payment machines in all of its taxis to match Uber and Grabs credit card payment option. Meanwhile, the taxi brand Mai Linh will import 100 electric cars from French producer Renault as part of its deal to buy at least 10,000 non-fuel vehicles. According to Ho Huy, chairman of Mai Linh, electric taxis are more appealing to customers as they are environmentally-friendly. In addition to the broad benefits of zero gas emissions, they also cut operating costs. As Mai Linh can pass these savings on to its customers, it may have found a way to create an advantage over Uber and Grab. In order to drive for 100km, traditional cars will spend $5.38 on fuel, while electric cars only require $1.73 in electricity consumption. Moreover, the upkeep costs of electric cars are 35 per cent lower than those using fuel. This will allow us to slash our taxi fares from $0.57 to only $0.38 per km the lowest in the market, Huy explained. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released an update on opportunities for US agriculture in Vietnam arising as a result of slashes in import tariffs under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) (see table). According to the USDA update, Vietnams average tariff on agricultural products is 16 per cent, while the average US tariff is 5 per cent. Under the TPP, signed in February 2016 and expected to take effect in early 2018, Vietnam will reduce and eventually eliminate tariffs across a broad range of food and agricultural products, helping put US exports on a level playing field, and giving the US a leg up on its non-TPP competitors. David Lennarz, vice president of the US Registrar Corp, which assists businesses with US Food and Drug Administration compliance, warned that the TPP could negatively impact Vietnams agricultural products. Amid the prevalence of unsafe products in Vietnam, Vietnamese consumers demand for foreign products including those from the US is rising. This offers bigger opportunities for US firms to do business in Vietnam, Lennarz said. At a recent Meet the USA conference in Hanoi, representatives from many US agriculturally-linked firms such as Cargill, Coca-Cola Southeast Asia, Pacific Basin Partnership, Starbucks Coffee, and Suntory PepsiCo said that the TPP would enable them to expand their businesses in Vietnam thanks to reduced import tariffs. Coca-Cola is reported to be planning to invest another $300 million in Vietnam over the next few years. Between 1994 and 2015, the popular brand invested $700 million into the country. Of this figure, some $300 million was invested during 2013-2015. Le Ba Lich, chairman of the Vietnam Animal Feed Association, said that Vietnams agricultural products would be heavily affected by foreign products due to various free trade agreements and the TPP. For example, the removal of tariffs for corn and soybeans under the TPP has prompted many US firms to expand their production of animal feed in Vietnam, he said. One such example is Cargill, which will begin the operation of its 11th feed mill in the central province of Nghe An in 2016. Recently, Cargill invested $7 million in the expansion of its existing animal feed mill in the southern province of Dong Thap, while announcing that it would extend its investment in Vietnam by another $40 million, bringing the total investment in the country to $180 million. According to the USDA, Vietnam remains one of the fastest-growing markets for US food and agricultural products, with US exports totalling $2.3 billion in 2015 a whopping 357 per cent increase from 2007, when Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization. Vietnam now ranks as the US 11th-largest agricultural export market, with top products including cotton, nuts, soybeans, and dairy. File photo of a general hospital in Samawa. (AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi) BAGHDAD: Two car bombs in the centre of the southern Iraqi city of Samawa on Sunday (May 1) killed at least 33 people and wounded more than 50, security and medical officials said. "The hospitals have received 33 dead," a senior official in the Muthanna health department, which covers Samawa, told AFP. An officer in Muthanna Operations Command confirmed the toll. They said at least 50 people were also wounded in the blasts in Samawa, 230 kilometres (145 miles) south of Baghdad. "Two car bombs went off in town. The first one was at around midday near a bus station in the city centre," a senior police officer in Muthanna province said. "The other exploded about five minutes later, 400 metres from the spot of the first explosion," he said. Samawa is the capital of Muthanna and lies deep in Iraq's Shiite heartland and such attacks there are rare. Muthanna also borders Saudi Arabia and a vast Iraqi desert that connects the troubled province of Anbar with the south. A car bomb just outside Baghdad on Saturday killed at least 23 people, according to security and medical sources. That attack targeted Shiite faithful walking to the northern Baghdad shrine of Imam Musa Kadhim, the seventh of 12 imams revered in Shiite Islam. The Iraqi capital remains on high security alert for a whole week as the faithful walk from all over the country to commemorate Imam Kadhim. The Islamic State jihadist group, which considers Shiites heretics, almost systematically attempts to target pilgrims marching to holy sites during Iraq's many religious commemorations. But there was no immediate indication that the attacks in Samawa specifically targeted Shiite pilgrims. Italian navy personnel and rescued migrants ride in a boat after a resuce operation off the Libyan coast, in the Mediterranean Sea on Jan 27, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Handout) ROME: Fifteen migrants are missing after their boat sank on Friday, the second shipwreck that day in the Mediterranean, bringing the number of lives lost to almost 100, the UN said on Sunday (May 1). A boat carrying around 120 people had sunk early Friday, four hours after leaving Libya for Italy, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokeswoman Carlotta Sami told AFP, adding that "some 15 persons went missing". Among the missing were four Nigerians, two people from the Ivory Coast, three from Guinea, two from Sudan and one from Mali, she said. Survivors were being disembarked in Pozzallo, Sicily, she said, adding that eight people had been taken straight to hospital "due to their serious health conditions," and that two bodies had also been disembarked. The news came a day after the International Organization for Migration said that only 26 people were rescued from an inflatable boat carrying around 110 migrants when it sank off Libya in a separate shipwreck on Friday. Sami said Sunday that 27 people, including four women, were rescued from that boat sinking. Survivors had provided harrowing accounts of the tragedy, both UNHCR and IOM said. "Due to the very bad conditions of the sea, some two hours after the departure the small boat started to take on water," just a few miles off shore, Sami said in an email. BOAT BROKE IN TWO IOM spokesman in Italy, Flavio Di Giacomo, told AFP Saturday that the vessel had been "in a very bad state, was taking on water and many people fell into the water and drowned." The boat in the end broke into two parts throwing all the passengers into the waves, Sami said. Rough seas and waves topping two metres (seven feet) hampered attempts to find any other survivors. Sami said the health conditions of several of the survivors were "reportedly serious." "Survivors say they lost relatives and friends during the shipwreck," she said. The first hint of the tragedy came early Saturday, when Italy's coastguard said an Italian cargo ship had rescued 26 migrants from a flimsy boat sinking off the coast of Libya but voiced fears that dozens more could be missing. The coastguard received a call from a satellite phone late Friday that helped locate the stricken inflatable and called on the merchant ship to make a detour to the area about four miles (seven kilometres) off the Libyan coast near Sabratha. The migrants rescued were transferred to two coastguard vessel and taken to the Italian island of Lampedusa. Images released by the coastguard showed two women wrapped in shawls and blankets stepping off one of their vessels. Giacomo said five unaccompanied minors aged between 16 and 17 were among those rescued. More than 350,000 people fleeing conflict and poverty have reached Italy on boats from Libya since the start of 2014, as Europe struggles to manage its biggest migration crisis since World War II. The Red Cross also voiced alarm at Friday's tragic boat sinkings, warning that more were likely to come. "As warmer weather and calmer seas approach, we can expect more people to attempt this crossing," said Simon Missiri, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies regional director for Europe. "We must work together to focus on providing safe routes for people fleeing their homes and seeking sanctuary," he said in a statement. More than 1,260 people have already died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, according to UNHCR numbers. How do you say no porn in class, please? Weapons and other paraphernalia recovered from the site of a shootout between alleged drug dealers and military police in Phnom Penh show the strong ties drug traffickers hold in Cambodia. On Saturday, a crackdown on drug dealers in Phnom Penh led to a shootout and the deaths of at least one alleged drug dealer. The alleged drug dealers drove cars bearing police number plates. According to Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak, the car in question was sold to the drug dealers by the wife of a police official. The Ministry of Interior is investigating the issue and is still waiting for the report from the police. Sopheak said the Interior Ministry is still investigating if Ros Oussa, who was implicated in the raid, was involved with drug dealing. The vehicle was carrying police plates belonging to the government, belonging to the ministry and registered in the inventory of government and the owner cannot sell it. In a speech last Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen cautioned the countrys youth to avoid drug usage, which he said was a major problem. Drug abuse is a serious issue in our country and it requires a continuous crackdown. It is not an isolated issue in Cambodia. Cambodia doesnt have the ability to produce drugs. But it flows from other countries. Drug arrests have been on the rise in Cambodia since 2015, according to a government report released last year, the Ministry of Interior said in February. A U.S. navy commander has been sentenced to over six years in prison for giving classified information on ship deployments to an Asian defense contractor in return for cash, gifts and prostitutes. Captain-select Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz was the latest military official to receive a sentence in the "bribes-for-business" scandal, which has primarily involved the U.S. Seventh Fleet. Nine other individuals have also been charged in connection with the scheme and several admirals were censured over it, effectively ending their careers. In addition to jail time of 78 months, Misiewicz was fined $100,000 in a San Diego federal court Friday for one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery. His sentence is the longest handed out so far in the scandal. Misiewicz pleaded guilty to providing classified information to a Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), which used the knowledge to beat competitors and overbill the Navy by millions of dollars. In return, Misiewicz admitted that he was given cash, a designer handbag for his wife, luxury travel for his family, and the services of prostitutes. Misiewicz told prosecutors that he and his conspirators took steps to avoid detection by using clandestine e-mail accounts which they periodically deleted. Attorneys for Misiewicz tried to downplay the sensitivity of the classified material that he gave to GDMA and said the navy commander was not aware the contractor was defrauding the Navy. GDMA's work for the U.S. Navy involved tending to and supplying warships when they arrived in various East Asian ports. Prosecutors say that Misiewicz and his conspirators gave the defense contractor detailed information regarding ship deployments so the company would be ready to bid on servicing the U.S. ships upon arrival. Misiewicz is also accused of using his influence to divert ships to Asian ports that were controlled by GDMA, allowing the contractor to inflate prices. The head of GDMA, Leonard Francis, has pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges and is waiting sentencing. The 50-year old, known in military circles as "Fat Leonard" because of his large size, has agreed to forfeit $35 million he made in the scheme. GDMA has serviced U.S. Navy ships in Asia for 25 years. Analysts and rights defenders in Cambodia have reacted strongly against the imprisonment of human rights workers over allegations of bribery. The comments come on the heels of a Phnom Penh Municipal Court summons for analyst Ou Virak, expected to appear before the court on May 12, followed by a defamation complaint filed by ruling Cambodian Peoples Party spokesman Sok Eysan last week demanding $100,000 in compensation. In late April, Virak, the head of local think-tank called the Future Forum, was quoted on local media saying that the CPP had orchestrated the sexual scandal between Khom Chandaraty and opposition leader Kem Sokha. The lawsuit, filed on Monday last week, just hours after Prime Minister Hun Sen posted on his Facebook a threat of legal action against anyone who criticized the CPP. Civil society groups yesterday said the lawsuit was a sign of diminishing freedom of expression in the Kingdom. Am Sam Ath, a technical supervisor at local human rights group Licadho, told VOA Khmer Monday that he saw the political tension in Cambodia leading to increasing pressure on freedom of speech. This complaint is a message saying that all criticism and expression are restricted and need to be rethought. This is a message to threaten all the people, who criticized and expressed their opinion, Sam Ath said, adding that the lawsuit appeared to happen faster than other lawsuits, and the lawsuit against the analyst showed that the government had strayed from the rule of law and democracy. Political analyst and researcher Kem Ley said the lawsuit was a poor interpretation of Cambodian law, because it does not make sense to sue someone for expressing an opinion. I am not a law expert, but this is not making any sense, said Ley. If we do politics or create a political party, we need to be open to criticism. If we do politics, create a political party without accepting any public opinion and criticism, it would be better for us to work on a cassava plantation, where there is no critics. Ley said the ruling party should not use defamation lawsuits to put pressure on freedom of expression. We should give clear definitions of defamation and we should not use defamation lawsuits to suppress freedom of expression and public participation, because it was just an analytical opinion, which could be right or wrong, he said. Virak told VOA Khmer that he would appear in court as ordered on May 12. Its very sad that we spoil the [political] environment instead of debating social issues, including drought, the death of fishes and livestock, which our people are facing now. Those are much more important than my issue, Virak said. CPP spokesman Eysan, who will also appear in court on Friday, said the lawsuit said the lawsuits were an expression of the legal process in Cambodia. No, they cannot accuse us in that way. If he did not violate ethics, violating the principal of freedom of expression, there is no problem. The lawsuit comes amid increased political tension and heightened criticism from international organizations and governments. Prime Minister Hun Sens eldest son, General Hun Manet, has little time left to respond to a lawsuit filed last month by jailed opposition member Meach Sovannara and his family in a US federal court, according to a lawyer for the case. The lawsuit, filed on April 8 at a court in the Central District of California, includes several allegations of torture, false imprisonment, assault, and international terrorism against the Cambodian government. What we want at this point is for them to compensate us for what they have done to abuse my family, mentally and physically, said Jamie Meach, Sovannaras wife. It has affected my husband, who is now in jail, and myself and my kids, who are now shocked and cannot focus on their study for missing their father. What we want is justice for my husband who has been charged with rioting. We want justice for him. Human rights lawyer Morton Sklar said Manet has until May 9 to respond before the case is automatically entered into the system and requires a ruling. On April 9, during a visit to the US, an investigator attempted to deliver a court document to Manet while he was attending a banquet at a restaurant and was allegedly assaulted by Manets bodyguards. Sklar argued that it is appropriate to pursue legal action through the US justice system, as Sovannara and his family are US citizens. He added that there are some specific exceptions in US law for suits that target foreign governments. The exceptions that are included in the congressional statute are the ones were relying upon in this case, he said. Thats why we filed the case that US congress said we could, and those include torture and the abuses against Meach Sovannara for his long term imprisonment. A court official confirmed the complaint was filed in the Central District of California, but said no action has been taken yet. Nothing has really occurred yet other than the filing of the initial documents and a few administrative notices, said Chris Powers, a court press official. Manet said he has not taken a position on the case. I have no knowledge of Meach Sovannaras case, he said after returning from his tour to the US and Canada last month. Ive only heard of it through media and yet I have been accused on many counts, including international terrorism. I have no idea about that. Manet said that the implication that he was involved in international terrorism was proof that the lawsuits were politically motivated. I think that so far the complaint is baseless, he said. Its merely a setup for political gain. There is no real basis. Not true, said Sklar. Ive had no contact, zero contact with any political figure. The reason why I became involved in the case was because Im a human rights lawyer. Im dedicated to preserving human rights and theres been a systematic process of the government of Cambodia to violate human rights standards. Sklar said Sovannara was not the only victim who has suffered abuses. There are others such as opposition lawmakers Nhay Chamroeun and Kong Sophea, who were brutally beaten by pro-government protesters; opposition Senator Hong Sok Hour and lawmaker Um Sam An, who are both in jail on charges of falsifying documents related to the demarcation of Cambodias border with Vietnam; and many unionized garment workers and victims of land-grabbing. Sovannara was sentenced on July 21 last year to 20 years in jail for participating in a protest to demand the opening of Democracy Square, a site in the capital that became synonymous with post-2013 election demonstrations. My youngest sister is in the toughest situation, said Sochiata Meach, Sovannaras eldest daughter. She is only seven years old and cannot focus on study because she always cries and misses daddy before she goes to bed. Since my dad was imprisoned last year, my sister has been stressed and depressed. She has to repeat her first grade this year. Sochiata wrote to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry in the hope that they might intervene, but she has yet to receive a reply. Rights groups consider the case against politically motivated and in turn have called for political solution. Jamie has expressed her disappointment with attempts to negotiate a political solution. If it is a political case and we have to negotiate through a political channel, I want to ask in return whether Hun Sen has ever respected his own words or not? she said. We have seen examples in the past where there were negotiations for politicians to return to Cambodia and they still face arrest. Then, if we find a solution through a political channel, can he uphold the national interest. Despite the doubts, the case has brought hope to some in Cambodia. For Meach Sovannara, if his family or he filed a complaint to the US court, it will better serve his interests, because we see that Cambodian courts are not up to standard like the court over there, said Choung Choungy, a lawyer for Sovannara. The US court is more trustworthy. They have high level of judgment. Sklar said his team was preparing documents to notify the Cambodian government of their reasoning, after which the government has 60 days to respond. May 1st or May Day was observed in many countries Sunday with workers and activists marching in the streets and gathering in city centers to honor laborers all over the world. This year, the day fell on Sunday. But that did not dampen the resolve of those who rallied in support of workers' rights. In the United States, thousands of people rallied at events around the country for immigrant and worker rights. Activists also spoke out against what they see as hateful presidential campaign rhetoric. Police used pepper spray to beat back rowdy May Day protesters in the northwestern city of Seattle. Police arrested nine people and five police officers were hurt in the fracas, officials said. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray blamed the "senseless violence" on a "different crowd" from those who attended a peaceful May Day observation earlier Sunday. In Los Angeles, some May Day demonstrators carried Mexican flags and signs that said "Dump Trump," a reference to Donald Trump, the front-running Republican presidential candidate who wants to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. to stop illegal immigration. Higher wages, better conditions From Moscow to Madrid, workers shouted their demands for higher wages, better conditions and more job security as many countries battle economic uncertainty and high unemployment. French and Turkish police fired tear gas at protesters as tensions erupted in both of those countries. Thick clouds of tear gas hung above the Place de la Nation square in Paris where youths in balaclavas and ski masks hurled cobblestones and bottles at black-clad riot troops shouting: "Everyone hates the police." Police estimated some 17,000 protesters marched throughout the French capital for a rally riding a wave of anger against planned labor reforms set to come before the French parliament Tuesday. Ten people were arrested. Turkish police and protesters clashed in Istanbul as several dozen people tried to reach the city's Taksim Square, where festivities were banned. Workers across Asia called for higher wages and better working conditions in their rallies. In South Korea, tens of thousands of people protested the government's labor reform plans. Labor leaders said a bill being pushed by President Park Geun-hye and her conservative Saenuri Party would make it easier for companies to lay off workers. In Malaysia, trade union president Abdullah Sani criticized the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, saying unions fear its effects on workers. The TPP is a multilateral free trade agreement, led by the United States, and signed by 12 countries in February. It is undergoing a two-year ratification process. In Indonesia, workers called for higher wages to improve the quality of their lives. Indonesia has nearly 111 million workers, but almost half of them are low-skilled laborers. In Taipei, thousands of protesters from different labor groups called for raising the minimum wage and shorter working hours. Garment factory workers rallied in Cambodia. May Day coincided with the Orthodox Easter in Russia this year. A cease-fire was set to begin Sunday in Ukraine, which also celebrated the start of the Orthodox Easter and May Day holidays. A Ukraine official said three people were killed in fighting Sunday in the country's east, including the suburbs of rebel stronghold Donetsk, despite the agreement. And in the United States, thousands of people were expected to rally at events from New York to Los Angeles for immigrant and worker rights. They also planned to speak out against what they see as hateful presidential campaign rhetoric. Thousands of people took to the streets across major cities in Latin America to celebrate May Day and demand social improvements in their countries. In Chile's capital, Santiago, demonstrators held marches days after the country's constitutional court struck down a bill that would give workers more rights to negotiate with employers, one of the key issues of labor reforms that President Michelle Bachelet has been pushing. Some protesters later clashed with riot police, who used tear gas and a water cannon truck to disperse the crowd. In Bolivia, President Evo Morales signed several decrees to benefits workers across the Andean nation. One of them raises minimum wages, a move highly rejected by the country's private sector. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Mexico City to mark Labor Day and demand better working conditions. Union members marched through Paseo de la Reforma, one of the main avenues in the city, carrying banners and flags. In Brazil, embattled President Dilma Rousseff used a Labor Day appearance in Sao Paulo to rally support against efforts to impeach her. The president announced to tens of thousands of backers that she will beef up a flagship social program, reduce the impact of income tax on the middle class and build another 25,000 new low-price homes. A key vote on her impeachment proceedings is scheduled within two weeks in the Brazilian senate. Afghanistan's president is expected to soon sign the execution orders for prisoners who have been convicted on terrorism-related charges. Ashraf Ghani promised to expedite the execution process for insurgents sentenced to death, following the April 19 explosion in Kabul that killed 64 people and wounded an additional 300. The president's vow came one day before the Taliban asked human rights organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene on their behalf with the Afghan government. A spokesman for the president's office told VOA Ashna Dari Radio that Ghani has the list of prisoners sentenced to death and is making the decision about when the executions will take place. The Kabul attack, claimed by the Taliban, sparked strong domestic reactions, with some Afghan politicians calling for the execution of imprisoned Taliban members. Iran's official news agency reports that President Hassan Rouhani is pushing for a Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons. IRNA reported Monday that Rouhani met with visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye and said Iran seeks a world free of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons. Park said she has asked for Iran's help in implementing U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for the nuclear disarmament of the Korean peninsula. The remarks were aimed at North Korea, which has been hit with tough U.N. sanctions over its nuclear weapons program. North Korea has conducted four nuclear bomb tests and tested a long-range rocket earlier this year. Park arrived in Tehran on Sunday for the first visit by a South Korean president to Iran since 1962. Japan's foreign minister has announced a multi-billion dollar initiative to promote development in the Mekong region, which encompasses parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand through which the river flows. In a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Monday, Fumio Kishida affirmed the importance of Southeast Asia's economic prosperity to Japan. He pledged 750 billion yen ($7 billion) in funding during the next three years to support development and growth in the region. Kishida also renewed his call for the establishment of a code of conduct in the South China Sea and that prosperity can only achieved if there is peace and stability in the region. The visit to Thailand is part of his regional tour that includes stops in China, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. A parade of radical Islamist clerics using the mosque at Qatars Education City to propagate religious intolerance - including demonizing Christians and Jews - is drawing mounting criticism from six American universities that maintain satellite branches on the sprawling campus located on the outskirts of the Qatari capital Doha. All six universities Georgetown, Northwestern, Texas A&M, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and Virginia Commonwealth have speech and expression policies on their home campuses in the U.S. which effectively prohibit calls for the annihilation of whole groups of people based on their religious affiliation or ethnicity, something preachers being hosted by the mosque are notorious for urging. The roster of preachers at the mosque in Education City is overseen by the quasi-governmental Qatar Foundation founded by Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser, the second wife of the former emir of Qatar and mother of the current ruler. It includes Mudassir Ahmed, who urged Allah in his March 18 sermon at the mosque to kill the infidels Count them in number and do not spare one. Radical clerics regularly preach An investigation by an American analyst has revealed that in the weeks before U.S. President Barack Obama visited the Gulf in April, other clerics well known for their incitement of religious hatred gave sermons at the Education City mosque. On March 4, the mosque hosted Mohammed al-Arefe, a Saudi Arabian cleric. In the past, he dubbed Shiite Muslims purveyors of treachery and evil, and has said non-believersmust be killed according to Human Rights Watch. Ones devotion to jihad for the sake of Allah and ones will to shed blood, smash skulls, and chop off body parts constitute an honor for the believer, he proclaimed in 2012. And on March 25 the Egyptian fundamentalist Omar Abdelkafi was the guest Friday preacher. He has described the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris as the sequel to the comedy film of 9/11, in which he claims Muslims played no part. Since its inauguration in March 2015, the Education City mosque has attracted increasing notice for hosting controversial militant preachers. At odds with promise to combat radicals "The U.S. schools must speak out," says David Weinberg an analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based foreign policy group. He says he is surprised the mosque continued to host such radical preachers in the run-up to Obama's Gulf visit. He argues the showcased preaching at the mosque violates a public pledge that Qatars government made to combat militant radical Islamist ideology. In 2014, U.S. officials said Qatar has replaced its neighbor Saudi Arabia as the source of the largest private donations to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida affiliates. "Conscientious students, faculty and other community members at these schools should spread the word and speak out in opposition to this dangerous development on campus," says Weinberg. He reports the Qatar Foundations newspaper encourages "community members" to attend services, has free buses to and from the mosque, and has emailed students to inform them the Friday sermons will be translated into English. Northwestern University spokesman Storer H. Rowley told VOA, "Northwestern University does not have any control over the mosque or who may be invited to speak there. Northwestern University does not tell our NU-Q students where they should worship (or if they should at all)." None of the other five universities responded to VOA requests for comment by publication time. Students at the Education City campus are drawn from more than 50 countries, with many coming from other Gulf and Mideast states. Education City founder Sheikha Mozah has been lauded as a progressive force in the tiny and wealthy Persian Gulf emirate. She has campaigned for the poor and women to have access to education. The emirates ruling family has been eager to leverage its oil and natural gas-based wealth into regional and international influence, and to establish Qatar as a modern state and Western ally. But Qatars adherence to Wahhabism has thrown up contradictions, often challenging the ruling family to balance cultural conservatism and change. Many of the 2,000-member Qatari royal family are known to resent Sheikha Mozahs clout and her leadership in trying to transition Qatar into a knowledge based economy, say analysts. The campus presence of the six U.S. universities has prompted questions before. The University of Virginia considered starting a branch at Education City, only to pull out of talks after the schools governing body raised concerns about academic freedom. Critics question whether the financial support the six universities receive from Qatar, which according to a Washington Post report is likely a combined $320 million a year, is blinding them. Such generous, recurring payments give school administrators a powerful incentive to remain silent about the revolving door of hate preachers at the Education City Mosque, argues Weinberg. Last year, Northwestern art historian Stephen Eisenman questioned publicly whether the university should maintain a satellite campus, warning in a 6-page report that the faculty "enjoy limited academic freedom. And he wrote: The ethics of establishing a campus in an authoritarian country are murky, especially when it inhibits free expression, and counts among its allies several oppressive regimes or groups. Asked by VOA whether the radical preaching at the Education City mosque adds to his concern, Eisenman responded. "If it is true that the government of Qatar is supporting anti-semitic or other hateful speech, it deserves to be called out on it. And if a university has entered into a contract with that government, it has a right, a duty in fact, to express its views about that support and reconsider its affiliation. The bodies of renowned U.S. mountaineers Alex Lowe and David Bridges, who were killed in a 1999 avalanche in the Himalayas, have been found by another pair of climbers, according to a charity founded and run by Lowe's widow. Climbers David Goettler of Germany and Ueli Steck of Switzerland were preparing for an attempt to reach the summit of Shishapangma in Tibet, the world's 14th-highest peak, when they discovered two bodies encased in ice on a glacier, the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation said in a statement posted to its website on Friday. The bodies had clothing and backpacks that matched the gear Lowe and Bridges were wearing when they disappeared. NBC News reported the bodies were found last week. Lowe, who was 40 at the time of his death, was regarded as the best American mountaineer of his generation when he and Bridges were swept away by an avalanche during an expedition that included plans to ski down the 26,291-foot (8,013 m) peak. A third climber, Conrad Anker, was injured but survived. "Alex and David vanished, were captured and frozen in time," Lowe's widow, Jenni Lowe-Anker, said in a statement. "Sixteen years of life has been lived and now they are found. We are thankful. Conrad, the boys and I will make our pilgrimage to Shishapangma. It is time to put Alex to rest." Lowe-Anker married Anker in 2001 and the climber adopted her three sons. She serves as president of the Lowe foundation, which provides advice and financial support to humanitarian programs that operate in remote parts of the world. Fellow climbers called Lowe a "mutant" for his accomplishments, which included two climbs to the top of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, as well as several first ascents in Antarctica and dozens of less prominent but highly technical ascents. Lowe rejected the label of world's best climber. "There might be a fastest runner or a highest jumper," he once said in an interview with a specialty climbing publication. "But climbing is different. It's just too subjective. And it's a lifestyle; it's not a sport." A series of brutal killings of liberals, academics, bloggers, foreigners and religious minorities in Bangladesh has spread deep fear in the country and raised worrying questions about whether the secular traditions of a moderate Muslim country are under threat from extremist Islamic groups. April was the deadliest month in the South Asian country: five grisly murders have targeted a Hindu man accused of insulting Prophet Mohammad, two gay rights activists, a university professor and a law student who criticized religious extremism on his Facebook page. The killings, often by machete-wielding assailants, began with the hacking of a blogger in 2013. Affiliates of Islamic State and al-Qaida have claimed responsibility for almost all the attacks, but the government says these groups have no presence in the country and points the finger at homegrown militant groups. Killings unresolved But with most of the killings unsolved, there are no clear pointers to those behind the increasingly bold attacks. Although some low-level militant operatives have been arrested, police have made no headway in identifying those planning the attacks. Families of victims complain of slow and ineffective police investigations. We are in uncertain terrain and we are in a confused state of mind, whom to believe. The government is not giving any credible answer, said Ataur Rahman, the head of Bangladeshs Political Science Association. 'Radicalization' Although most security analysts are skeptical about global jihadi groups making inroads in the Muslim country of 160 million people, they warn that Bangladesh has become a fertile ground for extremist Islamist groups to flourish as its political climate becomes deeply polarized. We see a big attempt in Bangladesh of radicalization. Those Islamist groups try to convince the remote area people in the name of religion, and try to motivate them to pursue the religious lifestyle, said retired army Major General Abdur Rashid, the Executive Director of the Institute of Conflict, Law and Development Studies in Dhaka. He said the attacks by local militant groups are aimed at creating panic. Crackdown on opposition Several analysts link the series of killings to a controversial war crimes tribunal that during the last three years has convicted top leaders of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party for alleged atrocities in the countrys 1971 war of independence. Four senior opposition politicians, including three of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been executed, triggering huge anger in its cadres. Rashid said among the local groups under scrutiny for the killings is the student group of the Jammat-e-Islami party, the Islami Chhatra Shibir. This application of violence was not new to their political philosophy. How much ideological motivation they have, I have my doubt, he said, pointing out that most of the targets have not been high profile, but ordinary people with little protection and easy to pick out. The Jamaat-e-Islami is not the only one marginalized. The countrys main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has also been sidelined since 2014 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held on to power following an opposition boycott of the elections. Many opposition leaders were later arrested. Ataur Rahman urged the government to give political space to the opposition. Otherwise he said, we see very ominous signs now that this militants will occupy the space, fill up the vacuum. There is strong authoritarian rule under democratic facade, and the liberal politics Bangladesh enjoyed for three decades, that is now non-functional. 'Undermining culture of tolerance' Besides crushing the opposition, critics accuse the government of undermining the countrys culture of tolerance by not coming out strongly in defense of the liberal and moderate values of those targeted by the Islamic extremists. While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the killings, she has also said that people should watch what they write and speak, and that they have no right to speak out against religious beliefs. Other officials have blamed blogger victims for writing about religion. Srinath Raghavan at New Delhis Center for Policy Research, who has written a book on Bangladesh, pointed out that such a line was definitely not in sync with the countrys secular constitution. That strikes me as a peculiarly wrong thing to say in this context because it more or less licenses the kind of behavior that we see playing out right now. All of it seems to me to be both muddying the waters and diluting the principles which are at stake, he said. In a country with a healthy tradition of tolerating religious minorities and allowing space for liberal values, some of the killings have led to street protests, but the climate of fear has prompted a few civil society activists to say they will be cautious in the days ahead. Security analysts admit there are growing worries that Bangladesh could emerge as a new battleground for radical international Islamist groups as extremism rises in the country. They point out that Islamic State wrote an article titled Revival of jihad in Bengal in its online publication last year and in 2014, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri gave a call to bring Bangladesh into the Islamist fold. Claims by an Australian computer scientist and businessman that he is the inventor of the digital currency Bitcoin are being met with some skepticism. The BBC reported Craig Wright provided the media outlet with technical proof he possesses the original programming known only to Bitcoin's true creator. The BBC also reported "prominent members" of the Bitcoin community, including the co-founder of the Bitcoin Foundation, have come forward and confirmed his claim. Wright also told The Economist and GQ magazines he is the currency's founder. The Economist said Monday the 45-year-old Australian "could well be Mr. Nakamoto, but that important questions remain." While some in the digital currency world believe Wright's claims are valid, others are expressing doubt. Wright declined requests from The Economist to provide additional proof he is the founder. On its website, The Economist said "nagging questions remain" about his claim. And others in the tech community have expressed skepticism on online forums like Reddit. WATCH: Explainer - What Is Bitcoin? Global currency Bitcoins were introduced in 2009 by a person identifying himself as Satoshi Nakamoto, and quickly became an acceptable form of global currency despite not being backed by a government or central bank. The technology magazine Wired said the total value of all bitcoins has risen to nearly $5 billion. Australian authorities raided Wright's home in December after Wired suggested he was the mysterious Bitcoin creator Nakamoto, and personally holds as much as $450 million worth of bitcoins. Egypt's journalists' syndicate called for the dismissal of the interior minister and an immediate sit-in at its downtown headquarters here on Monday, to protest the police detention of two journalists on its premises the night earlier. After an early-morning emergency meeting, the group called for the open-ended" sit-in to run through a Wednesday general assembly meeting and World Press Freedom day on Tuesday. Later Monday morning, dozens gathered at the steps of the building, chanting "journalists are not terrorists." They plan a larger demonstration Monday afternoon. The syndicate described the police's entry into the building as a "raid by security forces whose blatant barbarism and aggression on the dignity of the press and journalists and their syndicate has surprised the journalistic community and the Egyptian people." Some syndicate members have said the raid was heavy-handed, involving dozens of officers and resulted in a security guard being injured. Police denied they entered the building by force and said only eight officers were involved, acting on an arrest warrant for the two journalists. The two are accused of organizing protests to destabilize the country. Unauthorized demonstrations in Egypt are banned, with demonstrators subject to arrest. "The Ministry of Interior affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two, who turned themselves in as soon as they were told of the arrest warrant," the ministry said in a statement. The two journalists, Amr Badr and Mahmoud el-Sakka, are government critics who work for the website January Gate, also critical of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissis government. It was unclear what size any sit-in at the syndicate could achieve. Police, backed by army troops, on Monday had initially barricaded the entire area and prevented people from approaching the building, but they eventually lifted the blockade. Still, hundreds of uniformed and undercover police were deployed across central Cairo to deter any protests. A day earlier, police prevented hundreds of workers from holding a meeting at the building to commemorate International Workers' Day, prompting independent trade union leaders to urge the government to allow them freedom of assembly. The syndicate has invited the trade union leaders to join the sit-in to denounce the "raid" and protest restrictions on freedom of assembly for labor organizers. It said the move was illegal and violated its charter, which forbids police from entering the building without the presence of a syndicate official. Its urging police to end their siege'' of the building and stop preventing journalists from entering. The journalists' syndicate has been a rallying point for demonstrations in the past, and was blocked in a similar manner ahead of planned anti-government protests last Monday. The building drew particular attention because some 2,000 demonstrators gathered there last month to protest el-Sissi's decision to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Police fired tear gas and arrested dozens to break up the protests, the first significant wave of street demonstrations since the former army chief became president in 2014. A second round of mass demonstrations over the issue planned for last Monday was stifled by a massive security presence, with hundreds of arrests and only small flash mobs managing to assemble, drawing tear gas and birdshot from the riot police. Austria saw a sharp increase last year in incidents involving xenophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, following the arrival of large numbers of mostly Muslim migrants and refugees. Authorities pressed charges in about 1,690 cases related to right-wing extremism in 2015, the most to date in a single year and up from 1,200 in 2014, according to a report released Monday by Austria's domestic intelligence service BVT. The number of far-right "extremist acts" reported in 2015 which range from hurling fireworks at migrant shelters to inciting violence on the internet totaled 1,150 cases, up from 750 in 2014, the report also showed. Austria received around 90,000 asylum requests in 2015, mostly in the last few months of the year, after migrants and refugees many fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan arrived in the staunchly Roman Catholic country of 8.5 million people. The hate crimes seek to create tensions and cause splits in civil society," Martin Weiss, head of the BVT department for information gathering and investigations, told reporters. "The police and judiciary must give more attention to this because this context is a special challenge for the security forces." Weiss added that during 2015, the nature of far-right crimes committed became increasingly physical. After initially welcoming the migrants last autumn, Austria has said it cannot cope with the numbers and has coordinated border restrictions that have shut down the main Balkans migrant route from Greece to western Europe. Afghans are the largest national group seeking asylum in Austria. Vienna also plans new border controls at its Brenner border crossing with Italy, incurring Rome's anger, and has tightened its asylum laws, drawing criticism from the European Union. The migrant crisis has boosted support in Austria for the right-wing Freedom Party (FPO), whose presidential nominee will confront an independent candidate in a run-off vote on May 22. The FPO regularly attracts more than 30 percent in polls. A top French trade official says negotiations between the United States and the European Union on a massive trade deal are likely to grind to a halt over the United States' reluctance to make concessions. Matthias Fekl told reporters Tuesday that the United States' positions so far indicate that failure is the most likely outcome for the talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. On Monday the activist group Greenpeace leaked classified documents Monday from the massive trade deal being negotiated by the United States with the European Union, claiming they show corporate interests would be given preference over environmental and consumer safety concerns. Greenpeace said it published 248 pages of documents online to "shine a light" on the talks that could create the world's largest bilateral trade and investment pact between the world's largest individual economy, the United States, and one that is collectively bigger, the 28-nation European Union. Protecting natural resources The activist group, releasing the documents in Berlin, said they show the United States is trying to weaken standard trade agreement provisions aimed at protecting human, animal and plant health and "exhaustible natural resources." Greenpeace also said the United States is pushing for weaker product regulation and to give corporate lobbyists more influence in decision-making. "This treaty is threatening to have far-reaching implications for the environment and the lives of more than 800 million citizens in the European Union and United States," Greenpeace said. It said the deal, officially called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, "would put corporations at the center of policy making, to the detriment of the environment and public health. We have known that the EU position was bad; now we see that the U.S. position is even worse. A compromise between the two would be unacceptable." EU reaction The United States did not immediately react to the release of the documents, but EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said "many of today's alarmist headlines are a storm in a teacup." She said the details in the leaked documents "reflect each side's negotiating position, nothing else. And it shouldn't come as a surprise there are areas in which the European Union and the United States have different views." Malmstrom added, "It begs to be said, again and again: No EU trade agreement will ever lower our level of protection of consumers, or food safety, or of the environment." Both Washington and Brussels want to complete the pact before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office next January. A week ago, when Obama met in Germany with Chancellor Angela Merkel, they both made a plea for completion of the deal. Opposition to deal But opposition to an accord has emerged on both sides of the Atlantic. U.S. presidential candidates, both Republican and Democratic contenders, have voiced fears that new trade deals with Europe and Pacific Rim countries would hurt U.S. workers. EU chief negotiator with the United States, Ignacio Garcia Bercero, said sharp divisions remain with the United States in trying to reach a deal. "There is a lot, a lot that needs to be done before this negotiation is ripe for conclusion," Garcia Bercero said. Survivors of Indonesia's anti-communist massacres in 1965 submitted a list of what they say are more than 100 mass graves to the government on Monday after the president called for an investigation into the killings. Five survivors in their 70s, who founded the Research Foundation for 1965 Murder Victims, gave the documents to the Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs, which is responsible for the probe. The list is the product of research since 2000. The graves, located on the islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, Flores and Bali, account for nearly 14,000 victims, according to the group. Historians say half a million people died in the months-long killing frenzy that began in October 1965 at the militarys instigation after suspected communists killed six right-wing generals in an attempted coup. Security minister Luhut Pandjaitan was not on hand to receive the documents but his officials said he would meet with the group next week. He was instructed by President Joko Jokowi Widodo to oversee an investigation into the massacres after a conference last month, held by the government and rights groups, broke a half-century taboo on public discussion of the killings. Luhut, a retired general, caused a stir at the event by saying that very few people were killed and vowing that the government never would apologize. He later demanded that rights groups prove the existence of mass graves. Bedjo Untung, who heads the foundation, said it had documented the locations of 122 mass graves with the help of survivors and witnesses. These include people who dug the graves and buried the bodies. We believe this is only 2 percent of the victims,'' he said. Kontras, an advocacy group, has refused to give its information about mass graves to the government out of fear it could be used by investigation opponents to conceal the truth. Gerry Adams, an Irish politician and leader of the Sinn Fein political party, caused an uproar Sunday after he posted multiple racial slurs on his Twitter account. Adams was watching the Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained, which details the struggle of an American slave to gain his freedom, at the time he tweeted the slurs. He used the movie to compare the treatment of slaves to that of Irish nationalists in a Catholic area of Belfast. "Watching Django Unchained -- A Ballymurphy Nigger!" Adams said in the tweet, which has since been deleted. "Django -- an uppity Fenian!" he said in a subsequent tweet, which was also deleted. Ballymurphy is a Catholic neighborhood in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is best known as the site where British soldiers killed Irish civilians in August of 1971 during what is known as the Troubles in Northern Ireland violence that stretched out over more than three decades and took the lives of around 3,500 people. Adams was a leader in the Irish Republican movement, which was feuding with the British government. Despite Adamss attempt to delete the tweet, it had already been seen and shared by many people, and political opponents were quick to condemn him for it. "So this is acceptable is it?" asked Peter O'Brien, a Labour Party councilor in Ireland. Another Labour councilor, Deirdre Kingston, posted a screenshot of Adamss deleted tweet with the caption, The Real Gerry Adams. Following the uproar, Adams said his use of the N-word was meant to be ironic, and that anyone who saw the movie should understand that. He also said he has been opposed to racism for his whole life. Attempts to suggest that I am a racist are without credibility ... The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves, he said in a statement. If anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used. For this reason I deleted the tweets. On Thursday, the Northern Ireland Assembly will hold elections, and opinion polls indicate the Sinn Fein party is expected to win about a quarter of the votes. Islamic State may have lost territory in Syria and Iraq, but the terror group has increased the tempo of its ground operations in both countries in the past three months, pulling off the highest quarterly attack total since it overran the Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014, according to a new battlefield analysis. While the IS attacks have not seen the militants wrest back any substantial chunks of its shrinking self-proclaimed caliphate, the ferocity and pace of the groups attacks are testimony to its continued durability and resourcefulness, highlighting the challenge its various foes face in defeating it. Following territorial losses, we are seeing a steady upward trend in the tempo of Islamic State operations worldwide, but particularly in Syria and Iraq, warns Matthew Henman, head of Janes Terrorism & Insurgency Center, part of the U.S.-based analysis firm IHS. Attacks on rise Attack and fatality numbers have jumped. The group is resorting more and more to mass-casualty violence as it comes under heavy pressure from multiple angles, he added. There were 891 IS attacks during the first quarter of 2016 in Iraq and Syria, more than in any three-month period since mid-2014, when the terror group made sweeping advances across both countries. The 2016 attacks have killed 2,150 people, a 44 percent rise over the previous quarter and the highest three-month death toll in almost a year, according to the IHS analysis. U.S. officials estimate IS has lost about 40 percent of the territory it once held in Iraq and nearly 25 percent in Syria. The serious loss of territory began with the fall of Tikrit last May to Shiite Iraqi militias. In December, Iraqi government forces took back the western Iraqi city of Ramadi. Russian-backed Syrian regime forces recaptured the town of Palmyra from the militants last March. IS recalibrating The accumulating battlefield losses for the terror army were greeted as a serious setback for an organization that once boasted it would remain and expand. Last month IHS concluded in another report the tide had turned decisively against the extremist organization in Syria. IS has failed to pull-off a successful large-scale ground offensive in Syria since May 2015 when it captured Palmyra after a lightning offensive across the desert, but it has learned to recalibrate its battlefield tactics to better evade airstrikes by using highly mobile small-force attacks, say analysts. In Iraq, IS has managed to slow advances on Mosul using snipers, improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers and small-force attacks. When they lose villages, attacking forces have to spend considerable amounts of time sweeping for mines and clearing out booby-trap bombs. And since the successful Russian-backed assault by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Palmyra, the grabbing back of territory from IS has been painfully slow, with the various alliances against it grappling with their own internal problems and disunity or distracted by targeting other foes. Iraqi government forces have been bogged down for weeks on the outskirts of the village of Al-Nasr, 56 kilometers south of Mosul. IS has battered back assaults on the village, which reportedly had been designated for capture more than a month ago. Iraqi Kurdish fighters have publicly complained at the slow pace of movement by Iraqi government forces, which are in the lead. Key ingredient missing According to analysts, one key ingredient in fighting IS is missing as local tribes are not turning en masse against Islamic militants in either Syria or Iraq. U.S. and anti-IS coalition allies have been seeking to replicate the Sunni Awakening of 2006, when a Washington-coaxed tribal uprising was a key element in assisting U.S. troops to drive al-Qaida jihadists from Iraqs westernmost Anbar province. An expected flood of defecting tribesmen has not materialized, Charlie Winter, an analyst at Georgia State Universitys Transcultural Conflict and Violence Initiative, told VOA earlier this year. He said much of the reason for the absence of a tribal uprising lies with IS efforts to keep the tribes in line. IS has been working on tribal relations for a very long time now. The networking infrastructure IS has established, principally in the form of the Diwan al-'Asha'ir (Diwan for Tribal Outreach), enables it to anticipate and carefully respond to the complex tribal dynamics of Iraq and Syria. It has also used brute force to discipline the tribes with massacres and collective punishment for any dissent or defiance. With the high tempo of IS operations, locals who may have been tempted to break with the terror group are deterred from doing so, fearing the consequences. The highly complicated and sectarian politics unleashed by the micro-conflicts in the Syrian war and Iraq battles also pull against a tribal uprising. And the sectarian disputes in Baghdad, which teetered on the edge of political chaos this past weekend when protesters led by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr crowded the streets in front of the countrys parliament, will likely further disrupt the focus on Mosul. U.S. officials fear the loss of political momentum and unity in Baghdad will lead to a loss of military momentum against the Islamic militants. The United States and the West have long targeted Afghan opium and heroin production. Now the industry has a new enemy: Islamic State (IS). Afghan opium farmers in areas under IS control told VOA's Afghan service that IS has started eradicating poppy crops in eastern parts of the country. IS has reportedly destroyed opium plants used for heroin production in Nangarhar's Achin and Dehbala districts and has warned farmers to find another cash crop. IS "eradicated our poppy crop because they say it is illegal," said Nawab, a local farmer who goes by his first name only. "I had a one-hectare well-grown poppy field. I did not grow wheat, and now I lost the poppy as well." Mohammad Naeem, an Achin resident, told VOA that IS militants destroyed poppy fields in the district and arrested a number of local people for growing poppy. "They say this plant is Haram [prohibited in Islam] people had cultivated poppy in a few villages but it has been destroyed," Naeem said. Afghan eradication efforts The Afghan government has not confirmed the reports. However, a spokesperson for the Nangarhar governor said poppy plants have been cultivated for decades in some remote areas once controlled by the Taliban insurgent group, but now under IS rule. Afghanistan is responsible for more that 90 percent of the world's heroin, worth an estimated $3 billion a year, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Analysts say the Taliban netted some 30 percent of its annual revenue from the drug trade. The Afghan government last week kicked off its poppy eradication campaign in Nangarhar. With Western aid and expertise, the Afghan government has been trying to eradicate opium crops and help farmers turn to alternative farming. Poppy fields in Surkhrud and Behsud districts are located within six miles of the provincial capital city of Jalalabad. "We do not have an accurate survey about the size of poppy cultivated this year, but poppy eradication has started in the Surkhrud district," Idress Safi, the head of the poppy eradication campaign in Nangarhar, told VOA. But Nawab said the government will not help growers in areas under IS control. "The government so far has done nothing," said Nawab, who lost this year's opium production income. Japan wants to work with countries in the lower Mekong river basin and will help them improve infrastructure and bolster development with 750 billion yen ($7 billion) in aid over three years, its foreign minister said on Monday. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida made the pledge to help the Southeast Asian economies in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, where on Sunday he began a week-long visit to the region in which Japan competes with China for influence. "Japan would like to work with the countries of the Mekong region to create a framework to support efforts by the Mekong countries in a detailed manner, on a region-by-region basis or on a theme-by-theme basis," Kishida said in a speech. Japan announced the three-year plan last year. China has offered billions of dollars in infrastructure loans and government aid programs to Southeast Asian countries. Kishida did not mention China in his speech. He is also due to visit Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. On Monday, he met Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has led a military government since the army took power in a May 2014 coup. Thailand has drawn closer to China since the coup which many western countries criticized. Kishida and Prayuth discussed Thailand's political process, regional terrorism threats and economic challenges, a Japanese official said. Kishida visited Beijing on the weekend where both China and Japan expressed willingness to improve relations strained over conflicting territorial claims in the East China Sea. In his speech in Bangkok, Kishida addressed maritime security and renewed a call for countries to respect the rule of law. He also backed a Southeast Asian bid to draft a code of conduct for the South China Sea, where China's claim to virtually the entire sea clashes with claims to parts of it by Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. "We must establish a regional order whereby the principle of the rule of law is truly upheld and practiced," he said. "I would like to renew my call for the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea." Japanese Prime Minister Shinto Abe is pursuing a more robust foreign policy but Masato Otaka, deputy press secretary at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters Kishida's visit was not aimed at counteracting China's influence. On Sunday, Kishida reaffirmed Japan's economic ties with Thailand, an important base for many Japanese companies, after Japanese investment in the country nosedived in 2015. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up a hastily planned 20-hour visit to Geneva Monday, saying the United States and its partners are discussing "several proposals" to stop the spiraling violence in Syria. The U.S. diplomat did not say what the proposals are. But his aim has been to restore a partial truce and stop the attacks by Russian-backed Syrian government forces that have killed hundreds in Aleppo over the past 11 days. News agencies quoted U.S. officials who requested anonymity as saying the United States is considering mapping out "safe zones" marked by "hard lines" that would provide refuge for civilians and members of the moderate opposition. No help from Russia Getting Russias support has been key but elusive for Kerry, who has called for Moscows help in getting Assads forces to stop their assault on rebel-held parts of Syrias largest city. "There are several proposals that are now going back to key players to sign off," Kerry said after his meetings Monday with his Saudi counterpart, Adel Al-Jubeir, and the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. "We are hopeful but we are not there yet," Kerry said, adding the U.S. and its partners "are going to work very hard in the next 24 hours, 48 hours to get there." Kerry said an agreement on Aleppo could be announced in the coming days. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not attend the talks, complicating Kerrys efforts in Geneva. Kerry said he would speak by telephone with Lavrov. De Mistura was due to go to Moscow on Tuesday. For the United States, it is important to show it has not given up on resolving the five-year-old conflict, but there are questions on whether a low level of U.S. commitment has resulted in a Russian victory in the region as the Russian-backed Syrian government forces retake large swaths of land. "Were in a kind of phase in the conflict where there are ongoing battles for advantage happening," David Butter, a Middle East analyst at Chatham House in London, told VOA. "Of course, the momentum is very much on the Assad regime." Key battle The battle for Aleppo is key at a time when the conflict has become a test of U.S. commitment in the region. Kerry arranged the trip after it became clear the humanitarian situation in the city was deteriorating rapidly and as proximity talks between the Assad government and the moderate opposition failed. Scenes of escalating violence and atrocities committed against civilians are an opportunity for the United States to demonstrate a leadership role in resolving the conflict, analysts say. As Syrian forces prepared the latest assault on Aleppo two weeks ago, Russia had successfully portrayed the efforts as a counter-terrorist operation to strike at the al-Nusra Front, which the United States and Russia consider a terrorist group. Analysts note that U.S. officials, intentionally or not, were interpreted as being unopposed to the Aleppo operation before it began. U.S. military officials were quoted as saying the al-Nusra front was a major dominant force in the city and "not part" of the cease-fire. The perception changed when an airstrike hit Aleppos al Quds hospital, a facility supported by the group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, killing several children and medical staff, including one of the citys remaining pediatricians. The incident outraged Kerry and analysts say it was an opportunity for the U.S. to step up its efforts to change any perception that it was not taking an active enough role in resolving the Syrian conflict. US needs to show commitment Demonstrating the U.S. administrations commitment to fulfill promises remains a major task for Kerry. "(President) Obama set the tone by talking quite a big game on Syria, but not having any strategic commitments. Because the U.S. hasnt really invested, its got much to lose except as a non-actor," said analyst David Butter. Jasmine Gani, an analyst at the Center for Syrian Studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, told VOA that perceptions of U.S. legitimacy in the region hang in the balance as a result of what she calls a "mismatched rhetoric and policy." She says Washington raised expectations by calling for Assads exit early in the conflict and then failed to provide the support needed to carry out that aim. With Russia now figuring strongly in the equation, Gani said the U.S. "has to be a lot more careful as to what it puts its commitment to. In the past, it was not such a problem, but the shift of dynamics in global power means there is greater scrutiny on the United States to fulfill its promises." It was a brutal killing that became an international incident: An Italian graduate student disappeared from the streets of the Egyptian capital in January, his mutilated body discovered days later dumped by a roadside. Giulio Regenis death quickly poisoned ties between Egypt and Italy, where suspicions were high that Egyptian police who have long been accused of using torture and secret detentions snatched the 28-year-old and killed him. Egyptian officials as high up as President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, in a national address have denied any police role. But in the months since the slayings, the Italian government has hiked the pressure for answers. Then in March came a surprise twist. Egyptian police announced they had killed a gang of five Egyptian men they said specialized in kidnapping and robbing foreigners and, while searching the gang leader's sister's home, came upon Regeni's passport. Government media proclaimed that Regeni's killers had been found. The claim was immediately dismissed by Italian officials, with some Italian media calling it an outright cover-up. Even the editor-in-chief of Egypt's top government newspaper, Al-Ahram, wrote that Egyptian authorities had to get serious about uncovering the truth and that such naive stories about Regeni's death were only hurting the country. Questions arise Now accounts from witnesses and family members interviewed by The Associated Press raise further questions about the official version of the March 24 shooting in a wealthy suburban enclave outside Cairo. The Interior Ministry said security forces hunting for the gang stopped their minibus and the men opened fire on them, prompting a gun battle in which all five were killed. But witnesses say that the men were unarmed and tried to flee as police fired on them, and that afterward police confiscated footage from nearby security cameras. The men's relatives say they were house painters merely heading to a job in the suburb, Tagammu al-Khamis, when they were killed. I am accusing the Interior Ministry of trying to cover up their wrong deeds by killing my family, said Rasha Tareq Saad, whose husband, brother and father were among those killed. I want my family's rights. The AP spoke to six witnesses in Tagammu al-Khamis as well as six relatives and lawyers of the slain men. No video footage from the shooting has emerged, so their accounts could not be independently verified. Other family members have been arrested, and their lawyers say they have not been allowed to see investigators' reports on the shooting. Asked about their accounts, Interior Ministry spokesman Abu Bakr Abdel-Karim said he was not authorized to comment and referred questions to the prosecutor-general investigating the case. Repeated calls to the prosecutor-general's office went unanswered. A series of visits to the forensic agency, security headquarters in Cairo and the Tagammu al-Khamis police station were also unfruitful: Officers and prosecutors refused to speak to the AP. The shooting adds a new layer to the mystery surrounding Regeni's slaying. The Italian Ph.D. student vanished after leaving his apartment January 25, the anniversary of the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak. It was a tense day: Police were out in force to prevent demonstrations commemorating the day, and in the preceding days dozens of activists had been arrested. Regeni had been researching the labor movement, a sensitive subject in Egypt because labor activists are frequently protest organizers, and security agents are known to monitor activities by foreign researchers. The Interior Ministry has denied that police detained Regeni, and authorities have offered various possible scenarios for his death, including a personal dispute or a robbery. The day Regeni's body was found, a top police official said he died in a car accident until investigators reported extensive signs of torture, including cigarette burns, broken bones and bruises from beatings. The announcement about the gang is the closest that authorities have come to an explanation for Regeni's slaying. Backed off claims Since the Italian reaction including Rome withdrawing its ambassador from Cairo Egyptian officials have avoided claiming the culprits have been found. In a speech this month, el-Sissi angrily rejected accusations that police were behind the Italian's death but he made no mention of any gang involvement. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdel-Karim has said that the gang was a new variable'' but that Regeni's death was still under investigation. There has been no explanation of how the men allegedly obtained Regeni's passport if they were not his killers. Two witnesses told the AP the five men were not armed. They said seven police vehicles surrounded the minibus in which they were riding and opened fire on it around 6 a.m. As police sprayed the vehicle with bullets, several men jumped out and ran, only to be gunned down in cold blood,'' one witness said. Afterward, police confiscated footage from security cameras at nearby houses, said the two witnesses as well as four others who saw the aftermath of the shooting. The bodies were left in the street for around 10 hours, the witnesses said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The slain men included three members of a single family: 62-year-old Tareq Saad, his son, Saad, and his son-in-law, Salah Ali. A family friend, Mustafa Bakr, was killed as was the minibus driver, Ibrahim Farouk, 26. Announcing their deaths, the Interior Ministry said the five had criminal records and claimed their gang had been posing as policemen to abduct and rob foreigners. It listed a string of nine robberies in the past months in which they allegedly were involved, though none bore any mention of kidnappings. All except the younger Saad had past offenses but nothing involving theft, their relatives acknowledge. Tareq Saad and Ali were jailed for two years in the mid-2000s for impersonating police officers, after they were arrested at a checkpoint for carrying a police ID card, said Tareq Saad's son, Sameh. Later, he said, the two were jailed for drug possession. Bakr served 15 years in prison for drug offenses, according to his ex-wife's uncle, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Rasha Saad, Ali's wife and Tareq Saad's daughter, said police were well acquainted with the family and often raided their homes in the lower-class Cairo district of Shubra al-Kheima after the men's release from prison. She said her husband was a house painter and got a call from a client to paint a villa in Tagammu al-Khamis, and she showed the AP photos of past jobs he'd done. She said she suspected her husband was secretly having an affair so she asked her father and brother to go with him, along with Bakr, a friend of her father. Sameh Saad, who went to the morgue with his sister to identify the bodies, said he was shocked by the injuries. All five were riddled with bullet wounds and the heads were blown up so much you could see the bones of the skull, he said. Later that day, police searched the house of one of Tareq Saad's sisters and said they found Regeni's passport, his university ID and other items in a bag decorated with the Italian flag. They arrested Tareq Saad's wife, one of his brothers and the sisters, along with her husband and son, on suspicion of hiding stolen goods. Days later, police arrested Bakr's ex-wife and her two sons, witnesses said. Police photos of the bag's contents showed a man's black wallet, a woman's pocketbook with the word love on it, a watch and several pairs of sunglasses. Rasha Saad said the pocketbook belonged to her mother and the watch to her brother, Sameh. The wallet was her husband's and he carried it at all times, she said, causing her to suspect it was planted along with the other possessions. ``They took the wallet from his jeans and put it in the bag,'' she said. The siblings said their father, brother and Ali were in the Nile Delta region of Sharqiya on January 25, the day that Regeni disappeared in Cairo. Choking back tears, Ali's mother, Umm al-Hassan, said, the police killed her son and now they are the ones investigating the case. Everything is in their hands. They control everything. It appeared the driver, 26-year-old Farouk, had little connection to the other men. While the authorities quickly announced the identities of the four men, they initially listed the fifth as unknown,'' until days later when they identified him as a gang member as well. A lawyer for Farouk's family, Abdel-Wahab Youssef, told the AP that he had been refused access to forensic reports or investigation documents in the case. The secrecy of the investigation raises suspicions. They tell me these are instructions from the top prosecutor, he said. Thai journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk was supposed to be in Helsinki now, at the invitation of Finland's government for the World Press Freedom Day celebration. But the kingdom's military junta, which seized power in a bloodless coup two years ago this month, barred the veteran reporter from leaving Thailand to attend the May 3 event, co-hosted by the United Nations' cultural arm, UNESCO. It couldn't be more ironic, said Pravit, a senior staff writer for the online Khaosod English news site. Thai junta officials contend Pravit has not learned his lesson after two sessions in detention for what they call attitude adjustment. Pravit said he was told his trip was being blocked because he still keeps posting what they describe as attacks on the work of the National Council for Peace Order (the junta's formal name in English). Army Colonel Piyapong Klinpan, the chief of the NCPO public relations center, confirmed to VOA Monday that Pravit has been barred from traveling to Finland, but said I do not have the power to tell you why. Pravit explained to VOA that since he was first taken into custody by the military nearly two years ago, he was compelled to sign a memorandum of understanding, which stated in part if I wished to travel outside the kingdom I had to seek their permission first. Finland's ambassador to Thailand, Kristi Westphalen, in a statement said it is very regrettable Pravit, who spent 23 years at The Nation - an English-language daily in Bangkok - was barred from attending the event in her country's capital. Pravit was invited because he is a well-known defender of liberty of expression and press freedom, according to Finnish government officials. EU: 'Ease off' Ambassadors of the European Union member states recently called on the junta to allow Thais to have freedom of movement and expression. EU nations, in a joint statement, expressed hope that Thailand, as a U.N. member and a key international partner, abides by its international obligations. For journalists operating in Thailand, such as Pravit, it is difficult to figure out where is the line not to cross thus they engage in self-censorship to avoid detention. It's blurry. Nobody knows the line. I think it's up to those people running the military regime, Pravit said. Probably you know when you've crossed the line you get detained without charge by the military regime. And that's what happened to me twice. Thailand's military government is somewhat restrained compared to more notorious regimes in how it treats journalists whose reporting offends them. They are rather tactful repressive military regime, as Pravit characterized the situation. I hope that the world doesn't forget that no matter how tactful it is what's happening here in Thailand it's still nonetheless a form of censorship not just on the press but on any citizens who wish to express any critical views of the military regime. Some editors believe the military will control the media for the long haul, unlike what occurred after numerous coups in the past when the generals handed power back to civilians in a relatively quick manner. Whether it's a direct role or not, the fact is the military has traditionally always played a role in Thai political history going back centuries, if not recent decades. That hasn't fundamentally changed, it's just the level, said Pichai Chuensuksawadi, editor-in-chief of the Bangkok Post. I'm not saying that's good. We would rather have a more transparent, open democratic system. Restraints are nothing new Pressure on Thailand's media has also been applied by previous non-military leaders as well, including the civilian government led by Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 coup and now considered a fugitive by the current junta. We've had problems with democratically-elected governments who have tried to pressure us through the commercial side, Pichai told VOA. A prevailing theory as to a major reason why this military government is likely to remain in place for years is another subject taboo for Thai domestic media to discuss. The military and the elite want to ensure stability during the inevitable period of monarchical succession, according to conversations with several prominent figures in Thai society who do not want to be quoted for attribution. Highly revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej is 88 and has been in poor health for years. The heir apparent, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 63, has not attained the exalted level of adoration given to his father. Longstanding draconian laws forbid criticism of the monarchy and what denotes criticism can be broadly interpreted, compelling journalists - Thai and foreigners alike - to choose language carefully when referring to the Chakri dynasty, which has ruled since the late 18th century. It's been used as a political tool. It's too easy to file a lese majeste case. Anybody can do so and abuse it, said Pichai at the Bangkok Post. We believe it should be reformed. This is the position we've taken. This is the position we have written about. This is the position we have reported on. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand is scheduled to host four Thai journalists Tuesday to discuss how they deal with the pressure of working under a military government. The FCCT is one of the few organizations in the country that has attempted to host open discussion of a wide range of domestic and regional issues since the May 2014 coup. The junta, however, has blocked several previous events at the FCCT from proceeding. The FCCT has always tried to be a place of open, constructive and civilized discussion on current affairs and issues that matter, and media freedom is an issue that is of particular interest to us, said FCCT President Nirmal Ghosh, Indochina bureau chief for Singapore's Straits Times newspaper. Ghosh noted that at a time Thailand has slipped in global media freedom rankings, the FCCT thought it is important to mark World Press Freedom Day by gaining a better understand from Thai colleagues about the atmosphere and constraints, if any, that they face. The Kenyan Red Cross has located the father of a baby who was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building Tuesday, more than three days after the building came down. The father, Ralson Saisi Wasike, identified the baby as 6-month-old Dealeryn Saisi Wasike. The Red Cross reported the early morning rescue, saying the baby girl was taken to a Nairobi hospital with dehydration but no sign of physical injuries. Rescuers have said there is little hope of finding anyone else alive in the ruins of the building in the Huruma neighborhood. But the discovery of the baby has given hope to those awaiting word of their missing loved ones. About 135 people have been rescued from the apartment building. Dozens are still missing, five days after the building collapsed following heavy rains. On Monday, authorities arrested Samuel Kamau, the owner of the six-story residential building. He is expected to appear in court this week. The residential building, located in a low-income, highly populated Huruma neighborhood in Nairobi, had been condemned by authorities. There has been no official explanation from government officials as to why the evacuation order went ignored. The building, which was close to a river, collapsed following heavy rains that caused flooding and landslides in many areas of Nairobi. Nearby homes also were declared unsafe. On Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta called for the arrest of the building's owner. Kenyatta had ordered an audit of every building in the country last year after eight buildings collapsed, killing at least 15 people. A report from the Architectural Association of Kenya estimates that half of the structures in Nairobi are not up to code. Kenya's growing middle class has caused an increase in demand for housing in the city, but building materials used in Nairobi's recent construction boom have come into question. Pakistan has reacted angrily after U.S. Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump said that, if elected, he would win freedom in two minutes for the jailed Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA track down Osama bin Laden. In a statement released Monday, Pakistani Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan rejected as highly misplaced and unwarranted comments Trump made in a recent interview to Fox News. Yes, I do. I think I would get him out in two minutes, Trump said when asked if he would help free Dr. Shakil Afridi, who is serving 33 years in a Pakistani prison on treason charges. U.S officials denounced Afridis treatment as unjust and unwarranted and have frequently demanded he be freed. The Pakistani doctor is hailed as a hero in the United States for helping the CIA obtain the Bin Laden familys DNA by staging a fake immunization campaign in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. The move led to the famous May 2011 covert U.S. military raid that killed the al-Qaida leader. Weeks later, media revelations about Afridis role prompted Pakistani authorities to arrest him. He was tried and went to prison in 2012. Interior Minister Khan asserted Pakistani courts and the government will determine the fate of Shakil Afridi, and not Trump even if he becomes the President of the United States. He went on to note that Afridi is a Pakistani citizen and nobody else has the right to dictate to us about his future. Trumps statement only serves to show not only his insensitivity, but also his ignorance about Pakistan," Khan added. Contrary to Mr. Trumps misconception, Pakistan is not a colony of the United States of America. He should learn to treat sovereign countries with respect, lamented the minister. President Barack Obama in 2014 signed a bill that proposed to withhold $33 million from financial assistance to penalize Pakistan over Afridis treatment. The U.S Congress has since been holding the amount from its assistance to Pakistan. Pakistan's English language daily Dawn in a story published Monday quoted U.S. Congressional sources as telling the paper that Republican and Democratic lawmakers are working on a new measure to use substantial aid cuts to add pressure on Islamabad in their bid to secure Afridi's release. Pakistan has received billions of dollars in financial assistance for partnering in the U.S.led war against terrorism. Khan reiterated that Pakistan has made huge sacrifices and its economy has suffered immensely while standing with or supporting U.S. polices over the years. The peanuts that U.S. have given us in return should not be used to threaten or browbeat us into following Mr. Trumps misguided vision of foreign policy, he said. Pakistan maintains that since joining the U.S. led war against terrorism, tens of thousands of Pakistanis, including security forces have died in terrorist attacks in reaction to counterterror operations in the country. It estimates the national economy has also suffered $100-billion in losses during the past 15 years. It's an all too familiar scene broadcast by mainstream media covering desperate refugees at the Macedonian border - clouds of tear gas fill the air in an attempt by border police to get the protests under control. But in the hands of a group of Syrian activists seeking to let refugees speak with their own voice, the spent tear gas canisters now take on an entirely new role. Journalists come here, they do interviews, they take photos of refugees and then they go back home and show what they want to show, said Mustafa Alhamoud, who is among those camped out on the Greek side of the border in Idomeni. At his feet lay the canister, crudely taped to a long stick or, as he and the rest of the Refugees.tv crew prefer to call it, a microphone. What we plan to do is show people what refugees want people to see, and this time we get to decide, not journalists. Making do During the past two weeks, the Refugees.tv crew has roamed around the sprawling expanse of Idomeni camp, gathering stories of those enduring life there. Lacking access to the equipment used by the press pack that wander among the tents that the refugees must now call home, they have had to improvise. The team was formed from a young group of Syrians who formed a committee to try and improve things at the camp. It was early one morning, and there were no journalists around, Basel Yatakan, who comes from Damascus, explained. There was an empty cup on the ground and the idea just came. With the teacup and tear gas cylinder giving the team the two microphones a hand mic and boom that any news crew would have, all they needed was a camera. Yatakan, the groups cameraman, proudly showed VOA his creation an unwieldy lump of wood with an empty plastic bottle attached to the side as a lens. Its heavy, and its a difficult job, he added, not entirely seriously. More real than the real The man in front of the camera for Refugees.tv is Mahmoud Abdulrahim. Abdulrahim was studying law before he fled Syria, but has a background in acting, and puts it to good use with deadpan delivery and questioning. But while the set-up is self-consciously surreal, and often involves turning the questioning on the journalists themselves, the intent behind the comedy is utterly serious. We know these interviews are fake, but we ask serious questions, and when we do we get serious answers, explained Abdulrahim, who explores topics ranging from day-to-day life through to peoples thoughts on U.N. policy and whether they would consider using smugglers. Fighting the bad image Such issues are becoming all the more urgent to those living in Idomeni. Once just a crossing point into Macedonia, since the borders were closed earlier this spring, it has become home to around 12,000 people. Recently, frustration has spilled over into skirmishes, culminating in the firing of tear gas and rubber bullets at refugees by Macedonian border police. The clash involved a tiny minority of the camp but was readily covered by the press, those behind Refugees.tv pointed out, with the everyday reality of the vast majority often neglected. Sometimes the journalists just want to show a bad image of refugees, added Abdulrahim, and we think that though the camera is fake it can give a more real image. Going viral But now, thanks to the donation of a real camera by a sympathetic volunteer inspired by their efforts, Refugees.tv is able to spread its message beyond the camp. In the last few days the team started actually recording their videos and interviews and uploading them to their very own Facebook page, which already has more than 3000 'likes'. Equipped with the real deal, the social-media savvy crew has nonetheless decided to keep their trusty wooden camera. Its about keeping it fun, even if its serious, added Alhamoud, who one day hopes to join his three brothers in Holland. People will keep on watching if its fun. Logistics still a challenge Setting up a media outlet while living in a refugee camp isnt easy. The crew has had no problem gathering footage, whether of tents being blown away in recent severe gales, or a young Syrian girl singing for the Syria she was forced to leave behind. But with fast Internet in short supply, theyve had to wait until the small hours of the morning to upload their content. Meanwhile, the future for all those living at the camp remains deeply uncertain. Greece wants refugees to move One of the stories covered in recent days was the Greek authorities handing out letters encouraging refugees to move to state-built camps. It is a policy being enacted across the country as Greece tries to cope with the reality of 50,000 refugees effectively trapped in the country by the border closure. But even if they end up leaving Idomeni, Yatakan is adamant that Refugees.tv will not just live on, but thrive. Even if were moved to other camps by force, we will not stop doing what were doing, he told VOA. Were going to grow this bigger and bigger, and show the positive side of the people here. The second stage of a joint European-Russian mission to search for signs of life on Mars has been delayed from 2018 to 2020, the European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos said on Monday. The new planned launch date for the second ExoMars mission was July 2020, Interfax news agency cited state-run Roscosmos as saying. It will incorporate a Russian-led surface platform and European-led rover, to be launched from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. The decision to put back the launch was a joint one that took into account delays in European and Russian industrial activities, the European agency said in a statement. A spacecraft left Baikonur in March in the first stage of the program. It carried an atmospheric probe that is to study trace gases such as methane a chemical that on Earth is strongly tied to life - that previous Mars missions have detected in the planet's atmosphere. The craft is due to arrive in October. The second-stage rover is meant to be the first with the ability to both move across Mars' surface and drill into the ground to collect and analyze samples. Roscosmos was not available for comment on Monday, a public holiday in Russia. The solar-powered airplane, Solar Impuse 2, is on the latest leg of its around-the-world flight. Solar Impulse 2 took off Monday from Mountain View, California, just south of San Francisco, and is on a 16 hour flight to Phoenix, Arizona. Swiss pilots Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard landed in Mountain View last week after a three day trip from Hawaii. After departing Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa. Although the trip is incomplete, the technology that relies only on the sun's energy is a success. "We have demonstrated it is feasible to fly many days, many nights, that the technology works," Borschberg said. If the journey to circumnavigate the world is successful, it will likely provide a boost to the renewable energy industry. Solar Impulse 2 has a 236-foot wingspan, longer than that of a Boeing 747. It is equipped with more than 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries, which store energy for night-time flight. The voyage began in March 2015, taking off from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan. But the plane's battery system sustained heat damage during its flight from Japan, forcing a nine-month layover in Hawaii for repairs. South Korea has warned its citizens to take extra precautions due to the threat of abduction by North Korea. The Foreign Ministry issued the alert in response to last month's group defection of 13 North Koreans. Twelve North Korean women were working at a state-owned restaurant in eastern China when they defected with their manager. Pyongyang claims they were abducted and has demanded their return. "We are closely monitoring for various possibilities towards our citizens abroad including abduction and terror attacks," said South Korea Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee. "We are focusing all our efforts on securing the safety of our citizens." Seoul says more than 29,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the end of hostilities in the Korean War. This is the fifth story in a series on road chaos in South Africa. On Dec. 6, 2005, Brenda Caplen was visiting her brother in Abu Dhabi. She was restless, "tossing and turning" in bed. "I knew something was wrong. I had this terrible feeling; I didn't sleep the whole night," she remembers. The next morning, Caplen's brother called her to the phone. The person on the line had news that put the businesswoman on the next flight back to Johannesburg. "I don't remember too much about the day but it was really the worst day of my life," she says. Caplen's son, Stuart, had been partying in 7th Street, Melville. The strip of nightclubs and bars is popular, especially with students taking advantage of offers like "buy one drink, get one free." After the night's fun, Stuart accepted a lift home with a friend. Not far from the Caplens' home, the car screeched around a corner and the driver lost control. "He was inexperienced, went over a bump, the car came off the ground and I think he hit the brakes as he hit the ground. That caused the car to go into a skid. Stuart was in the passenger side of the front and the car spun into a tree and he was killed instantly. He took the whole impact on his head," the mother says. Too late to test driver Brenda Caplen describes the aftermath of the collision, as gleaned from the police, as follows: "The boy who was driving was covered in cuts and the girl who was in the car with them was unconscious. The driver told the police that she had been driving, so they didn't bother to test him for alcohol. [The girl] came around the next day and told everybody she wasn't driving, and then he apologized. But by that stage, it was too late to determine his blood alcohol level at the time of the accident." Stuart, a tall, handsome young man with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, died a month short of his 20th birthday. "Stu was very outgoing, full of fun," Caplen says softly. "All his friends used to say to me that he lived life at a pace of 110 percent. A very warm, loving child. Being my oldest son, I had a particular bond with him." The Justice Project, an NGO that monitors South Africa's traffic sector, says road crashes kill more than 20,000 people every year in the country. According to the government, driving while under the influence of alcohol is a factor in almost 60 percent of road deaths. In South Africa, drinking just two beers puts a person over the legal limit to drive. Caplen says people who were at the party in Melville told her that Stuart's friend had consumed much more alcohol than this on the night of the accident. She adds that when the circumstances of the crash became clear, and the truth about the driver's deception emerged, his friends ostracized him. "I think they just weren't happy with the way he handled it, Caplen says. But then if he had handled it the right way he might have ended up in jail, so " Spiritual imprisonment In contrast with many other victims of drunken drivers, Caplen says she's never desired any punishment for the man who was driving the vehicle in which her son died. She says she feels sorry for him, because he escaped being jailed, but he'll never be free of "spiritual imprisonment." "That boy's life has been really destroyed, in many ways worse than ours. Yes, we have to live with the tragedy, [but] he has to live with the guilt [for the rest of his life]. And I think that's just a horrible thing for anybody," Caplen says. But her son's death still haunts her, and she lives with the consequences. "It created quite a lot of problems for me in the future, like I didn't want to travel because I didn't want to leave my other kids; I had this horrible feeling that if I left them, something [bad] would happen." Caplen says this feeling still "rises" in her at times. She also often thinks of the kind of man her son would have become, if he'd lived. But, like so many other South Africans, Stuart Caplen died in a twisted wreck of metal and broken glass speed and driving under the influence of liquor again proving to be a potent, tragic combination. Voters in the Midwestern U.S. state of Indiana are headed to the polls Tuesday in a crucial Republican presidential primary, where front-runner Donald Trump faces a showdown with his closest rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz. A Trump victory in Indiana would likely put the billionaire real estate mogul on a glide path to clinching the Republican Partys presidential nomination before its July national convention in Cleveland. "If we win Indiana, it's over," Trump told voters in the politically conservative Midwestern state, where vast reaches of farmland intersect with industrial centers. Cruz, a conservative firebrand in the halls of Congress in Washington, has campaigned for a week in Indiana, urging voters to support him in an effort to stop Trump from claiming a first-ballot nomination victory at the national convention. But Cruz has acknowledged that he needs to halt Trump's march to the nomination, saying, "We're at the edge of a cliff and staring down." Indiana = must win Trump has won the last six state nominating contests over Cruz and another Republican contender, Ohio Governor John Kasich. Trump cannot clinch the nomination with an Indiana win, but numerous U.S. political analysts say a victory would hand him a psychological edge among voters in the remaining nine state party nominating contests that run through early June. All but one pre-election survey in Indiana shows Trump leading Cruz, some by large margins, others less so. Trump, a one-time television reality show host who has never held elective office, seemed confident enough of an Indiana victory that he focused attacks at his closing rally on the likely Democratic presidential nominee, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They would face each other in November's national election if both eventually secure their parties' presidential nominations. Trump told supporters he could defeat her in states Republicans do not normally win, even as early election surveys suggest otherwise. He disparaged Clinton's performance as the country's top diplomat from 2009 to 2013, saying she was asleep during part of a 2012 terrorist attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans. Cruz staged a campaign blitz through several Indiana cities in the final hours before the primary. During an encounter with reporters in northern Indiana, he lumped Trump and Clinton together as he made a last-minute appeal for Republican support. Do you want to turn on the television and see a president, Republican or Democrat, who embarrasses you? he asked. Cruz needs Indiana victory Cruz is desperate for a win in Indiana that would make it more difficult for Trump to secure the necessary 1,237 delegate majority before the convention, perhaps setting up a multi-ballot battle for the nomination in Cleveland. Trump's support is keyed to a first ballot convention victory, with many delegates who are required to vote for him on the first ballot because of the outcome of the nominating contests in their states saying they would support Cruz on subsequent ballots. Im not getting to 1,237 delegates and Donald J. Trump is not getting to 1,237 delegates. And the Hoosier (Indiana) state is going to have a powerful voice in making that clear, Cruz told supporters in Indianapolis. He was accompanied by his vice presidential running mate, former technology executive Carly Fiorina, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race after winning little support from the party faithful. Cruz picked Fiorina with the hope of energizing conservative voters before the Indiana vote and she became a featured speaker during his campaign events. There is a lot at stake and, in fact, this is a fight. This is a fight for the soul of our party and the future of our nation, she told cheering supporters at one rally. Tight race Pre-election polls show Clinton locked in a tight Democratic contest in Indiana with her lone challenger, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. But Clinton remains far ahead of him in winning delegates to the party's July national nominating convention in Philadelphia. Clinton, however, has yet to clinch the party nomination as she seeks to become the country's first female president. The winner of the November election will replace President Barack Obama as he leaves office in January after eight years in the White House. U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says the United States cannot "continue to allow China to rape our country," as he pressed his campaign pledging to reset America's relationship with the world. Trump has repeatedly framed the trade deficit between the two countries as China taking advantage of the U.S., saying his skills as a deal-maker will erase the imbalance. "We're going to turn it around," Trump said Sunday during a rally in the Midwestern state of Indiana. "We have a lot of power with China." Tuesday's primary in Indiana is seen as a key contest in the race to become the Republican nominee for the November election. Multiple polls have Trump leading Texas Senator Ted Cruz, including an NBC News/Marist poll released Sunday that had Trump ahead by 15 points. Majority of delegates A Trump victory in Indiana would move him closer to clinching the majority 1,237 delegates he needs, while Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich hope they can deny him enough delegates to force an open contest at the party's convention in July. In the Democratic race, the latest polls give former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a small lead over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton has a big lead in delegates that includes about 500 so-called super delegates who have pledged to support her. Sanders acknowledged Sunday that his path to the nomination is hard, but said he will work to flip those super delegates to his campaign. Clinton said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union that she found Trump's speech on foreign policy last week "disturbing." She said the country faces "real challenges" and that turning its back on its strongest allies and touting a "secret plan" to defeat Islamic State is not a smart way to lead. 'Every move ... was wrong' Trump defended his speech during his own interview Sunday, telling Fox News that during the past 15 years "every move we made in the Middle East was wrong." When asked if he advocated a return to strongmen such as Iraq's Saddam Hussein, Trump said, "Isn't it too bad that we knocked them out in the first place?" Former CIA chief and defense secretary Robert Gates told ABC News that a lot of world leaders are concerned about a potential Trump presidency. "I think based on the speech you'd have somebody who doesn't understand the difference between a business negotiation and a negotiation with sovereign powers," Gates said. He added that he is worried Trump believes he is the "smartest man in the room" and thus does not listen to others. Prime Minister and the delegation expressed the gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh who founded the Communist Party of Vietnam and devoted all his life for the struggle for national liberation. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc offers incense to heros (Source: VGP) On this occasion, the Prime Minister and the delegation offered incense and flowers at Dong Loc T-junction national historical site in Can Loc district, the central province of Ha Tinh; laid wreath and offered incense at the commemorative house for national young volunteers and the complex of tombs of ten young volunteer girls. The Turkish military killed 63 Islamic State soldiers in Syria Sunday after launching artillery and drone strikes from the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey, the Turkish military said in a statement. State-run media in Turkey reported the strikes took out several rocket-launcher and gun positions. According to the report, Turkish artillery killed 34 IS extremists, while drone strikes killed another 29. The Turkish shelling took place after rockets were fired from Syria at the Turkish city of Kilis along the northern Syrian border Sunday. The rocket attack wounded eight people. In a separate incident Sunday, a car bomb was detonated in front of a police station in Gaziantep, another Turkish city near the Syrian border. Two policemen were killed and 22 others were wounded in that attack. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the police station attack, though jihadists are believed to have carried out two similar attacks in Istanbul earlier this year. Two Ukrainian energy companies have asked a U.N. arbitrator to award them compensation for investments they lost when Russia seized control of the Crimean peninsula, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) said Monday. The case, brought in June but only now made public, involves gas stations owned by Ukrnafta and Stabil. It is the lastest instance of investors asking international courts to compensate them for losses they blame on the Russian government. Last year, Igor Kolomoisky, one of Ukraine's richest businessmen, brought a case before the same court seeking some $15 million compensation from Russia for the loss of an airport he owned on the Black Sea peninsula. Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014 after street protests in the Ukrainian capital forced a Moscow-backed president to flee. In both cases, the plaintiffs alleged that the loss of their assets following Crimea's annexation amounted to a violation of a bilateral investment treaty between Russia and Ukraine. Russia has declined to contest either case, saying the court has no jurisdiction over the matter. The court will hold hearings over whether it has jurisdiction in July. In 2014, the PCA awarded a record $50 billion to former shareholders in oil company Yukos. It went bankrupt after controlling shareholder Mikhail Khodorkovsky ran afoul of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the government began demanding payment of huge sums in back taxes. But a Dutch court last month set aside that ruling, saying the PCA had overstepped its jurisdiction. Both parties have pledged to continue the legal battle, in a sign that even a successful claim can be almost impossible to enforce. For the first time in nearly four decades, a U.S. cruise ship has docked in Havana, opening another chapter in revived U.S.-Cuban relations after a half-century of hostility borne of the Cold War. The Carnival Cruise Lines' Adonia and its 700 passengers left the port of Miami Sunday, arriving in Cuba Monday. "To be part of truly making history and preparing for an even more positive future for everyone is one of the greatest honors any company can have," Carnival chief Arnold Donald said. The Adonia will sail to Havana twice a month. It is in marked contrast to the tens of thousands of Cubans who fled their homeland across the same Florida Straits for freedom in the United States in rickety boats and on home-made rafts over the last 50 years, thousands of them drowning on the journey, but even more reaching the U.S. and settling in a new country. The voyage almost did not happen after Cuban authorities initially banned members of the Cuban diaspora from sailing back to their birthplace, fearing they would try to stir up political dissent. The matter was settled during talks between U.S. and Cuban officials. Regular air service between the U.S. and Cuba is expected to resume later this year. The flights and the cruise ship visits by Carnival and other companies planning to start service to the Caribbean island nation could add tens of millions of dollars to the Cuban economy, even as a U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba officially remains in place. The cruise ship visit comes about a year and a half after U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro renewed diplomatic relations between the two countries. Subsequently, the U.S. opened an embassy in Havana and Cuba in Washington. Obama has eased trade with Cuba through executive orders, even as his Republican opponents in Congress refuse to lift the embargo. Obama made a three-day visit to Cuba in March for talks with Castro, a state dinner and an exhibition baseball game between the Cuban national team and a U.S. professional team. Elephants are iconic symbols of Africa, but the poaching crisis across the continent has put their existence in jeopardy. Between 2010 and 2012 100,000 African elephants were killed. But conservationists are somewhat hopeful of changing the trend after the Giants Club Summit in Kenya, where the presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Gabon pledged support for saving the African elephant. Save the Elephants founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton says this high-level commitment is key to stopping the poaching. Ultimately, a lot of decisions in Africa get taken at the presidential level, said Douglas-Hamilton. If the president is not behind the movement, it is just not going to happen. The three-day summit, organized by elephant conservation group Space for Giants, also hosted wildlife officials, diplomats, celebrities and others, to find ways to stop the slaughter of Africas elephants, with the goal of protecting at least 50 percent of these animals and their landscapes by 2020. Donors pledged more than $5 million for elephant protection initiatives in Kenya, Gabon, Uganda and Botswana. Funds will go toward increasing frontline protection, improving technological and legal capabilities, building electrified fences, and setting up an endowment fund for protected areas. Space for Giants legal specialist and trainer John Abwuor said he thinks the summit will resonate beyond Kenya. I believe that this is going to send a message to the rest of Africa, said Abwuor. Especially the places where wildlife are, they are going to see what the president of Gabon, the president of Kenya, the president of Uganda have done. Others, like South African wildlife investigator Rod Potter are hopeful, but hesitant about the events outcomes. Hes pleased with the commitments that were made to support programs already in existence. Yes, I do think something will come out of it, said Potter. Whether it is as big as we would all like to see, probably not. According to Potter, poaching will never be completely eliminated, but the goal is to control it. I think poaching and illegal hunting has been around as long as the elephants and man has been around, said Potter. And I dont think we should worry about that, what I really think we should pay a lot of attention to is being able to control it in a way that brings the poaching levels down to well within sustainable levels. Burning tusks and horns On Saturday, Kenyan authorities burned 105 tons of elephant ivory and one and one-third tons of rhino horn were set afire in the world's largest-ever burning of ivory. Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged his support for a complete ban on ivory trade, vowing to submit such a proposal at the September meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, also known as CITES. According to John Scanlon, CITES secretary-general, countries have two options for dealing with their ivory stockpiles. So at the moment, theres an international ban on commercial trade in raw ivory, said Scanlon. Parties have two options. You can either store or destroy. Each option is legitimate. So if you do one or the other, then youre complying with CITES and were happy with that. Kenya chose to destroy its stockpile. Kenya Wildlife Service Chairman, Richard Leakey, had strong words for countries like South Africa, that do not. There are some countries on this continent, said Leakey, and you know them better than I do, who have suggested that they will put their stocks out of economic reach for now, but they will not destroy them. They are speculators on an evil, illegal commodity. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana sold their stockpiles in 2008 after CITES approved a one-time sale of ivory to China and Japan. WildAid CEO Peter Knights said this move was, and is, dangerous. Well, we have tried this two times, explained Knights. In the 1980s, we were trying to sell ivory legally, under regulated trade. We lost half of Africas elephants. We went from 1.3 million to 600,000 elephants. We stopped the trade in 1989 and the poaching went down. And then again, in 2009, they sold 70 tons to China, and suddenly the poaching went up again ... So, you can not put this back on the market, just like you can not put heroin back on the market. South Africa, and other opponents argue that destroying the ivory makes it a scarcer commodity, resulting in prices being driven up. When ivory is worth more, they say, the poaching gets worse. Leakey disagrees with this premise. That is a very ignorant idea, said Leakey. We did it before and the prices went from $300 down to $5, within three months of that fire. We were helped by CITES ... We will burn our ivory, but we hope that every country on the globe will support Kenya in saying never again should we trade ivory. Key is reducing demand Save the Elephants Douglas-Hamilton says the worlds first ivory burn, which took place in 1989 in Kenya, and a subsequent international ivory ban was largely successful for the next 20 years. There was a recovery in elephant populations in the savannahs of Africa from the poaching destruction of the 1970s and 1980s. The new killing for ivory started up again when people in southeast Asia, especially China, became wealthier and could buy status symbols, said Douglas-Hamilton. But he said there have been some positive signs recently that demand may be receding. China has recognized the importance of limiting the trade, and there was a real breakthrough when President Xi Jinping and President Obama made a joint declaration that they were going to stop the ivory trade in their countries, he said. This sends a signal. The ivory price has dropped by more than half in China, and in Hong Kong, and were beginning to see the effects in Africa itself. The Giants Club was the highest-level event of its kind, due to Kenyattas attendance at the summit, along with Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni and Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba. These leaders, along with Botswana president Ian Khama, publishing magnate Evgeny Lebedev and Space for Giants founded the Giants Club to unite in the protection of the African elephant. The summit and the ivory burn concluded with a unified message to the world: "Ivory has no worth, while living elephants have enormous value". Conservationists say that once they beat poaching, the next biggest threat to elephants is habitat destruction and pressure from growing human populations, which will require creative solutions. 3 American slackliner Heather Larsen crosses a high wire between two towers at the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem's Old City. Wearing a harness attached to the line, Larsen walked across a 35-meter span and then a 20-meter line inside the courtyard of the ancient museum of Jerusalem's Tower of David, named after the Biblical king. A leading Zimbabwean economist has blamed the worsening cash crisis on inconsistent government policies and urged the government to reform to attract investment. The cash crunch has forced banks to drastically reduce withdrawal limits and thousands have been queuing outside banks for hours. A senior advisor to the government and University of Zimbabwe economic lecturer, Dr. Gift Mugano, told VOA Studio 7 that governments choices are limited. We are a dollarized economy. We do not have the option of printing money, so if you do not print money the sources of money under this environment are through exports, remittances from Zimbabweans in the diaspora, foreign direct investment and through aid from institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. But with the economy headed south, Dr. Mugano said Harare is failing to attract external funds. Dr. Mugano urged Harare to reform and earn the support of the international community. He praised President Robert Mugabe for seeking to clarify the indigenization law which he says has rattled foreign investors. Under Zimbabwean law, foreign and white-owned companies with assets of more than $500,000 must cede or sell a 51 percent stake to black nationals or the countrys National Economic Empowerment Board. Head of the International Monetary Funds Staff Monitored Program, Domenica Fanizza, has previously urged Zimbabwe to clarify its indigenization law as a means of unlocking investments in the southern African nation. Fanizza said the move will help allay investor concerns about the security of investments and property rights in Zimbabwe. According to central bank chief John Mangudya, the long queues at the banks were an indication of the rise in demand for the United States dollar as it had substituted all other currencies such as the rand, the pound and the euro, which were in use at the introduction of the multi-currency system in 2009. Parliamentarian Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga says the 32 women and girls who were repatriated back to Harare on Saturday have now been assisted to return to their families following a brief stay at a shelter where they were offered medical and psychological counselling. We handed over the women and girls through the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to the Labour Minister Prisca Mupfumira who took them to a safe place at a shelter. I visited the shelter with Musasa Project staff yesterday (Sunday) by nightfall most of them had gone back to their homes, said Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga. She said the Musasa Project staff will be following up with one-on-one counselling with the women and girls Tuesday, to ensure that the re-integration process is smooth. Some of the women were married and now have to face their husbands who may base their reception on some unfavourable press reports and some left their jobs as teachers and nurses hoping to get greener pastures abroad but now have to find a way to face their communities and families, said Misihairambwi-Mushonga. Reintegration is dependent on individuals. Its not a one fits all scenario because each person has a different need and different support system some of them need counselling, some of them incurred debts before they left, some of them had businesses that they were doing, some of them were teachers and nurses so we have to find organisations that can assist with some of these challenges. Musasa Project were busy profiling each person so that they can do follow-ups tomorrow (Tuesday), she added. Misihairambwi-Mushonga said she will be tabling the issue in parliament on the next sitting to ensure that government takes full responsibility of trafficked citizens in future. I feel so angry with government and I am holding fire until I raise some of these issues in parliament. I think there are many things that government could have done, one to make sure that these women and girls dont go and then helping them once they discovered there was a problem. That somebody an individual had to step in and assist is an indictment on government ... Trust me there is going to be a lot of frank and brutal conversations in the House. Welfare Minister Priscah Mupfumira told Studio7 she will be releasing a report Tuesday which will detail government findings and recommendations. The 32 women are part of 200 that are believed to have been trafficked to Kuwait under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities that turned into nightmares. Some 40 women have also been repatriated under their own efforts and through well-wishers but there remains a sizeable number that is still being allegedly held under duress. Some of the women were allegedly sexually abused with most of them also being forced to perform menial jobs leading to broken dreams and promises. Misihairambwi-Mushonga urged those that need information on the whereabouts of their relatives still in Kuwait to send a WhatsApp message to Zimbabwe Embassy staff in the country at +96 56 596 5310. The AAEDC works with a variety of different businesses in the Alexandria Area. Peter Sutherland, special representative of the General Secretary of the United Nations for international migrations. An Irishman, ex-European Commissioner for Competition, then General Director of the World Trade Organisation (1993-95) ; ex-Director of BP (1997-2009), president of Goldman Sachs International (1995-2015) ; ex-administrator for the Bilderberg Group, president of the European section of the Trilateral Commission, and vice-president of the European Round Table of Industrialists. While Mister Sutherland never misses an occasion to underline the moral duty to help refugees a traditional Catholic, he is an advisor to the IESE Business School (Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la Empresa) of Opus Dei, and, since 2006, consultant for the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See he is above all an eulogist of international migrations. Speaking to the Committee for Internal Affairs of the House of Lords, he declared that all people should enjoy the possibility of studying and working in the country of their choice - which is incompatible with all policies for the restriction of migrations - and that migrations create a crucial dynamic for economic development, whatever the citizens of the host country have to say about it. Consequently, he concluded, the European Union should undermine the homogeneity of its nations [1]. Gerald Knaus, Director-founder of the European Security Initiative (ESI) An Austrian sociologist, Knaus worked from 1993 to 2004 in Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo at the end of Bernard Kouchners mandate first for NGOs, then for the European Union. He continued his research, from 2005 to 2011, at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University, after which he published Can Intervention Work ? He founded the ESI in 1999 in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Institute received its first grant from the US Institute of Peace, the sister organisation of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which is a wing of the Pentagon. Then Knaus went to Washington where he was received by the NED, then by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute. In addition, he was received by James OBrien and James Dobbins at the State Department and by Leon Fuerth at the White House. The ESI was soon to be financed by the German Marshall Fund, the Mott Foundation, the Open Society Institute (run by George Soros), the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation, and by the governments of Holland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. In 2004, he published a report declaring that the accusation that 200,000 Serbians had been expelled from Kosovo was a lie, and Russian propaganda. In 2005, he launched the theory that the Turkish AKP was a formation of Islamic Calvinists who were attempting to create a form of Muslim Democracy. In his book Can Intervention Work ? - which he published with Rory Stewart, the ex-tutor of Princes William and Harry of the United Kingdom, whom he met in Kosovo and who became successively one of the assistants of Paul Bremmer at Meyssan during the occupation of Iraq, then the director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy he praised the US wars and developed a new concept of colonisation. According to Knaus, humanitarian interventionism is legitimate, but can only succeed if it takes local realities into account. He praised Richard Holbrooke, whom he had also known in Kosovo. His book was promoted by Samantha Power, who is known for being an ex-collaborator of Holbrooke, and who had created and directs the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, where he had been a researcher. Diederik Samsom, Dutch representative, president of the Workers Party A nuclear physicist, ex-director of the Greenpeace campaign for Climate and Energy, elected representative (proportional elections) since 2003, he has become the President of his Parliamentary Group, then President of his party. However, he failed to win the Presidency of the Parliament and the function of Prime Minister. He then refused to join the coalition government which he supports, and remains the President of his group at the Assembly. He has an IQ of 136, and has twice won a televised competition of intelligence tests. He claims to be a militant atheist, and is a strict non-smoker and vegetarian. In June 2014, he was invited with Prime Minister Mark Rutte to the Bilderberg Group, where they were able to talk with Peter Sutherland, but not with Rory Stewart, who had been invited only to the 2012 meeting. According to Dutch political observers, he is the main victim of the referendum of support for the European Agreement with Ukraine. He had personally taken position on this theme and against Russia. His defeat, according to certain opinion polls, caused the decline by one half to three quarters of the influence of his party. Triggered by the coordinated publication of the photograph of a young Kurdish child, Aylan Kurdi, drowned on a Turkish beach on the 3rd September 2015, European public opinion mobilised and mounted various demonstrations in favour of the refugees. Immediately, French President Francois Hollande and the chancellor of the German Federation Angela Merkel pronounced themselves favourable to a permanent and obligatory European system of accomodation, while an immense crowd of people of mysterious origin began its progression across the Balkans. Only the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, spoke out against this sudden and massive migration. The ESI proposition Until then, the question of migration had been an economic problem, mainly between Africa and Italy. This was added to a problem internal to the Union - the demand of German heavy industry, expressed by its President Ulrich Grillo, of recruiting to Germany 800,000 East European workers who did not belong to the Schengen Area. Overnight, the problem of the humanitarian refugees fleeing a war zone was added to these two economic factors. The first concrete proposition for responding to the new situation was formulated on the 17th September 2015 by the ESI, a think tank created in Berlin, and then clarified on the 4th October. It concerned the drawing up of an agreement between the EU and Turkey designed to stem the tide of migrants, while organising the transfer of 500,000 Syrian refugees to the Union over the next twelve months. In addition, Turkey would agree to take back the other migrants who continued to enter the Union illegally, while in exchange, it would receive a visa dispensation for all its citizens. It is a recognition that the Syrian crisis is genuinely unique, creating a humanitarian crisis on a scale not seen in Europe since the Second World War, indicated the ESI, specifying that the initiative should come from Germany, in response to the Russian intervention in Syria. And yet, the ESI takes it as read that the Syrian refugees are fleeing repression by Bachars regime supported by Russia. the ESI only takes into account the Syrian refugees, and not the Iraqi refugees, who are also persecuted by Daesh. the ESI specifies that its plan also has the objective of warning against the development of the extreme right in Austria - the director of this think-tank is Austrian ; of preparing a similar operation for 1.1 million Syrian refugees currently based in Lebanon, and who will be sent on to North America and Australia. This concerns the application of Kelly Greenhills theories about the strategic management of migrations as a weapon of war [1], such as that observed by ESI researchers during the start of the war in Kosovo [2]. In addition, by proposing to send back the migrants to Turkey, the ESI seems to ignore that this country is not a stable state for refugees, and that it had refused to sign the Convention of 1951. The Merkel Plan On the 23rd September, the European Council published a communique which, in turn, assimilated the question of the migrants to that of the war in / against Syria [3]. The main points of the ESI plan were resumed on the 7th October by Chancellor Angela Merkel, during an interview with journalist Anne Will on the TV channel ARD. In order to present its project, now named the Merkel Plan, the ESI organised conferences in Berlin, Ankara, Istanbul, Stockholm, Brussels and La Haye. On the 12th November, independent of the emergency provoked by the hordes of migrants gathering in the Balkans, the Union organised a summit in Valetta to try to answer the structural question of economic migrations from Africa. It was agreed to create a special fund of 1.8 billion Euros for long-term projects which could offer a local economic perspective to Africans and help them to create stability at home. On the 29th November, the Union organised another summit of the European Council, this time with Turkey. The Merkel Plan was adopted by both parties. However, an envelope of aid to Turkey was added, to the sum of 3 billion Euros. The Council justified this sudden generosity as aid for the accommodation of the Syrian refugees who, until then, had cost Turkey 8 billion dollars - but there was no plan to pay an equivalent sum to Lebanon and Jordan, who together have hosted more Syrian refugees than Turkey. Yet the Council pretends to ignore that Turkish spending has already been reimbursed by the UNO, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and that Turkey has systematically looted the North of Syria dismantling machine-tools and stealing antique treasures for infinitely greater sums. And finally, the majority of the 2.7 million Syrian refugees in Turkey have been integrated into the local economy, to the extent that less than 240,000 have been placed under the protection of the World Food Programme. In reality, Germany and France, who pushed for the creation of this donation, intend in this way to indirectly finance the continuation of the war against Syria, which will according to them put an end to the suffering of the refugees by overthrowing the Syrian Arab Republic. On the 21st January 2016, the director of the ESI, Gerald Knaus [4], published an op-ed piece in the Suddeutsche Zeitung. He defended the principle of a closer and more direct cooperation between Germany and Turkey, but without involving the EU. He concluded that a failure of the Merkel Plan would lead to reinforcing those who wish to abolish the right to asylum, who are against the refugees, against the Union, against Turkey, against Muslims, and who support Putin. [5]. Gerald Knaus does not explain how the fact of dealing directly between Berlin and Ankara without involving Brussels would help the struggle against Euro-scepticism. Neither does he explain why Russia would want to see Syrian refugees drowning in the Aegean. No-one reacted to these insanities, since the refugee question has not been treated rationally for a long time. The Merkel-Samsom Plan On the 28th January, when the six-month rotating presidency of the European Council fell to Holland, Dutch Prime Minister Mak Rutte and his ally, the President of the Workers Party, Diederik Samsom [6], announced to De Volkskrant that they had prepared concrete measures for the implementation of the Merkel Plan [7]. As a result, one now speaks of the Merkel-Samsom Plan when talking about the project presented by the ESI [8]. In passing, we learn that Diederik Samsom has been consulting with several European Socialist governments since November, and that he has already visited Turkey. On the 18th March, the European Council, presided by Holland, confirmed the implementation of the 29th November agreement [9]. Except that, by some miracle, the 3 billion Euros which were to be paid to Turkey had now become 3 billion annually. And yet in the time between the two European summits, the number of refugees who entered the Union illegally, through Turkey via Greece, is estimated at about 200,000. Observations on a deviation In six and one half months, we have gone from a crisis concerning migrants who were mostly African, and who drowned in the Mediterranean before reaching the coasts of Italy, to a windfall for German heavy industry, which was able to hire 800,000 workers at minimal cost, and then to an operation for financing the war against Syria and the displacement of its population. Indeed, it is recognised that On the 1st July 2015, the special representative of the UN General Secretary charged with international migrations, Peter Sutherland [10], forced the World Food Programme to diminish aid for Syrian refugees, making survival difficult for approximately 240,000 of those living in Turkey. In this way, the Anglo-Saxon pressure group that he represents intended to provoke a crisis which would harm the identity of the European nations. This decision, followed by the declarations of hospitality by the French President and the German Chancellor on the day following the publication of the photo of the corpse of young Aylan, led certain Syrian refugees to try for survival in Europe. Consequently, Peter Sutherland opposed the Merkel-Samsom Plan, because it stabilises the populations, and uses the crisis against Syria alone. The Imprimerie Nationale Francaise, which until 2011 supplied Syrian passports, created a large number which, at the start of the crisis, were distributed to non-Syrian economic migrants - mainly Lebanese thus increasing the pressure of refugees in Europe. The migration networks were organised not to bring Syrian refugees from Turkey to Europe, but to go and take Syrians from their homes in Syria and bring them to Europe. Rumours were spread which spoke of luxurious living conditions for Syrian refugees in Europe - a special airline was opened from Beirut, and a maritime line from Tripoli, to transport Syrians who were not refugees to Izmir. In the space of a few weeks, we saw middle-class citizens from Damascus and Latakia - who have always supported the Syrian Arab Republic sell their businesses and take the road to exile. Finally, and contrary to certain official declarations : The link between the pressure of migrants in Europe and the war in / against Syria is artificial. It has been deliberately created in order to provoke both the acceptance of the migrations and the indirect funding of the war by the Union. Although several hundred thousand Syrians have already been forced to cross the Mediterranean, it is unlikely that millions of others will follow. The mixture of populations that were organised to form the hordes of migrants who crossed the Balkans is particularly explosive. It includes Syrians and Iraqis, Afghans, Albanians and Kosovars etc. The fact that most of these people are Muslims should not obscure the fact that they have cultures and religious interpretations which are widely different sociological origins and motivations which have no connection with one another. Apart from the episode of the second half of 2015, the migratory pressure on Europe remains essentially African. However, over the next few years, it could become Turkish. Indeed, should Ankara deprive 6 million of its citizens of their nationality, as it has announced, these people will do anything to flee their country of origin, if possible, before they become stateless. A transfer which could be facilitated by the abrogation of the visas necessary to Turkish citizens wishing to enter the Schengen Area. The Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Given the relative dullness of the Marvel supervillains, the studio has resorted to making its colorful superheroes fight one another in Captain America: Civil War, a combination jamboree and ethical colloquium. Theres a lot of bloat, but the fanboy in us all will have a hard time not grinning when Spider-Man be-webs Captain Americas shield while Ant-Man scoots around pulling out wires in Iron Mans suit. But theres a lot of bloat. The film pivots on citizens enraged by collateral damage, because it turns out that when superheroes throw supervillains into sides of buildings, many people in those buildings die. That danger hadnt occurred to me, frankly, insofar as superheroes dont really exist so who needs pesky real-world consequences? But 9/11 has sensitized us to the horror of collapsing skyscrapers (Americans were the last to get the news), while modern comics writers (along with directors Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder) have earnestly taken up the ethics of vigilantism. Snyders Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice opens with Bruce Wayne/Batman watching Superman and General Zod pulverize Metropolis and blaming (inexplicably, given his own leanings) the savior rather than the psycho. Our heroes here are similarly pilloried. More than pilloried. The secretary of State (William Hurt!) lectures the chastened Avengers for routinely ignor[ing] sovereign borders and being unconcerned about the hell they leave behind. The United Nations wants them to sign a treaty promising not to fly around smashing invaders willy-nilly. Robert Downey Jr.s Tony Stark/Iron Man thinks this is a good thing and Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) thinks its not. Id guessed the high-tech Stark would be the one to opt for security over accountability, but early on hes schooled by Alfre Woodard* as a mother whose son died in the last Avengers film. Captain A, on the other hand, consoles a guilt-ridden Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) on the inevitable trade-off: This job is trying to save as many people as we can, he says. Not all of them. The script puts us on Caps side: Safety first. It even features a cute drone. The politics do get muddled in the end but whos lining up for the clunky debates? Captain America: Civil War turns on another of those momentous questions: Who would win in a fight Batman or Superman? King Kong or Godzilla? Tyrannosaurus Trump or Robo-Hillary? And so Scarlet Witch, Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and the newly enlisted Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) line up behind Captain A, while War Machine (Don Cheadle), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Vision (Paul Bettany) side with Iron Man. Spider-Man (Tom Holland) pops up, too. Superheroes can take a lot of punishment and the results are predictably inconclusive. But you know: Iron Man zapping Captain America bonking Iron Man getting electro-fogged by Scarlet Witch getting kung fued by Black Widow how cool is that? Its too bad Hulk and Thor were otherwise engaged and Samuel L. Jackson likely cost too much even for a budget this gargantuan. But there are wild cards, among them Caps old pal turned nemesis Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and the African president who moonlights as Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and thinks the Winter Soldier killed his dad. On another front, an enigmatic Daniel Bruhl slays former hydra officials in a quest to locate a bunch more bio-enhanced Winter Soldiers in stasis somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Its a busy, busy movie. But not an especially inventive one. Say what you will about Zack Snyder, he aims for a mythic palette, mixing Expressionistic silent-film imagery with art-museum-worthy religious iconography. Overseen by exsitcom directors Anthony and Joe Russo, Captain America: Civil War is a hodgepodge, with action sequences handled by sundry effects factories working in sundry styles. The most rousing set piece is the very first, a hyperspeed fight between terrorists and a handful of Avengers thats noticeably rotoscoped, the slight flicker making the real bodies and computer-generated mayhem seem all of a piece and brilliantly punctuated by the Captains pinging shield and the elastic gymnastics of Johansson and her stunt double. How many gag writers supplied one-liners? I especially liked the bit in the car where the Winter Soldier asks the cranky Falcon to move up his seat. Holland shows promise as the new, unusually juvenile Spidey, a chatterbox full of hormones and grooving on his power. Martin Freeman has a brief but amusingly creepy part as a CIA liaison whos a little too happy doing his job. Olsen can suffer without being a drip her mask of grief is eloquent. The best way to think of Captain America: Civil War is as a toy box in which the sheer quantity of toys partly makes up for the lack of anything new. But the big takeaway is worrisome. Marvel has created a universe teeming with superheroes who simply dont have enough to do. Theyre all suited up with nowhere to go. *This review originally misidentified the actress Alfre Woodard. We regret the error. This article appears in the May 2, 2016 issue of New York Magazine. Prince attending the performance of M. Butterfly on September 21, 1988, at the Eugene ONeill Theater in New York City. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images When Prince died last week, two of the most extraordinary shows on Broadway immediately paid tribute: Hamilton with an onstage Lets Go Crazy dance party and The Color Purple with a spectacular gospel rendition of Purple Rain led by stars Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Hudson. No doubt Prince himself would have enjoyed both: He was a longtime supporter of Broadway, especially of shows that broke the traditional theater mold. Back in the mid-90s, he was an early Rent fan. I remember him coming to Rent you couldnt miss him, says Jesse L. Martin, the shows original Collins. He was wearing a hot-pink jumpsuit! Prince waited backstage after the show to meet the cast, and we all approached him like royalty. I think I almost bowed, Martin says. He was really tiny and absolutely beautiful. It was like meeting Bambi. Daphne Rubin-Vega, Rents original Mimi, remembers being invited to a Prince album-release party in the Village where the diverse crowd included both Spike Lee and Marilyn Manson. He was very generous with his parties, Rubin-Vega recalls. I remember he wore red, and when I said hello, he reached out his hand, and I went to kiss him on the cheek, and this massive bodyguard blocked me. Prince was like, Hey, its okay. And he spoke very softly. Prince had seen In the Heights and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (in the latter, according to a source close to the show, he was particularly taken with lead Reeve Carneys voice). And just a few days before his death, Prince invited both the Color Purple and Hamilton casts to a party in the Meatpacking District which turned into an impromptu concert. Prince hadnt seen Hamilton yet hed go the following night, without staying after for the traditional selfie with Lin-Manuel Miranda but still arranged for the cast to get emails with the party invite. We were all freaking out backstage I lost my shit, says Jasmine Cephas-Jones (Hamiltons Peggy and Maria Reynolds). At the party, we all kind of let go. Were doing eight shows a week a lot of us dont go out that much. But I was like, standing on a couch with Renee [Elise Goldsberry] and Ari[ana DeBose], just dancing and living. Prince played a special set including When Doves Cry, Nasty Girl, and The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. Then former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, a friend of several Hamilton castmembers, took Cephas-Jones aside. She was like, Theres someone I want you to meet, and it was Prince, Cephas-Jones says. He seemed so grounded and so happy where he was at. He was wearing an orange suit, and his Afro was out. It apparently wasnt unusual for Prince to extend himself to Broadways leading ladies. In 2009, Vulture reported that Prince made a surprise appearance at a Tonys after-party after becoming smitten with West Side Story Tony-winner Karen Olivo. On the night in question, Olivo wasnt looking to stay at the party shed been sick and was losing her voice but when she tried to leave, she was stopped by two different people, both citing Princes imminent arrival as the reason. Somehow during the telecast of the Tonys, he had found out where we were having our party and managed to introduce himself, Olivo says. I was oblivious. When she tracked down Lin-Manuel Miranda (who worked on West Side) and told him Prince was coming, I remember Lin laughing at me and telling me, Theyre talking about my dad because hes in a purple suit. I immediately felt like an idiot and promptly tried to board the elevator to exit. Thats when Prince arrived. He was very focused on me and held my hand a little too long when we met, Olivo recalls. I was married at the time and accompanied by my husband, so out of respect for him I tried to downplay Princes obvious intent. Otherwise, Olivo says he was soft-spoken and asked how he could get tickets to West Side Story (Youre Prince, you can get tickets!). Later, shed learn hed already seen the show a few weeks earlier (West Side dance supervisor Lori Werner was one of his Diamonds and Pearls dancers), and hed return another two times after the Tonys. I also look a great deal like his ex-wife Mayte, Olivo says (its true!), so it did not surprise me when he kept coming back. But Ive never been great with advances of that nature. Now she regrets not staying at the party for a Prince one-on-one. I was younger, and if Id had my head screwed on straight I would have stayed and picked his brain about music. But perhaps the truest proof of Princes theater cred was the attention he gave to offstage talent as well. In the early 90s, playwright David Henry Hwang read in People that Prince had seen his M. Butterfly. A few years later, he received an inquiry: Prince was interested in discussing a collaboration. There was a long period when Prince was maybe gonna call, and then he did, Hwang says. He had an idea first for a song he wanted to include a spoken-word section in the middle of it, and he asked if I was interested in writing that. Of course, I said yes. Hwang was only told the song was about loneliness. He faxed the text to Prince; a couple of days later, Prince FedExd a cassette of the fully produced song to him, with no spoken-word, but with Hwangs text incorporated into the lyrics. I was surprised that it became this sort of ethereal kind of incantation, kind of a ballad with very sparse accompaniment a little different from most Prince songs, Hwang says. A few months later, Prince summoned Hwang again, this time to meet him at the Rihga Royal Hotel in New York (where Prince had a floor to himself). He wanted to create a musical, based on I think a real experience with sort of an obsessed fan, Hwang recalls. There would be a Princelike character with a complicated fantasy sex-love relationship with this fan. Hwang went home to write a draft, but the project never came to fruition in part because, as usual, Prince was conceptually ahead of his time. There was some uncertainty about whether he would play the part and it would become a kind of stadium thing, or someone else would play him which at the time hadnt really been done on Broadway, Hwang says. Now we have all these bio-musicals like Jersey Boys and Beautiful where someone else plays the star, but back in the early 90s, no one had done it. And that cassette? Prince wasnt one to forget a collaborator: About a year later, Hwang got a call from one of Princes lead team members at Paisley Park. She said, That song you guys wrote is going to be the B-side of Princes new single, Hwang recalls. The single was Let It Go, and Hwangs track was Solo. We never had a contract, but the credit was Prince with David Henry Hwang, says Hwang. He remembered I worked on that, and he honored it. Obviously, I was amazed. Somehow, Amy is still asleep in Carson City, Nevada. Its 5 a.m., Amy! Get moving! As we learn in this episode, Selina is having reservations about the reservations. Its one in a fleet of dicey race jokes that Veep has crammed into the first two episodes of this season just minutes later, she suggests that a 6-year-old Asian kid could fix the broken computer in her office, and then her staff debates just how Hispanic Montez is and it all raises the question: Are these jokes meant to show how brutal Selina can be, or a sign that shes wearier than ever about the American people, particularly the demographics that dont support her? Amy, Dan, Richard, and Jonah are on the ground in Nevada, hustling to make the recount work in their favor. Theres an issue with a comma after the word fuck in a write-in ballot that either says Fuck Selina Meyer or Fuck, Selina Meyer, which suggests that someone in the Veep writers room has been listening very closely to the Hamilton soundtrack and wanted a with a comma after dearest moment in here. Also, if you think Im not aiming for at least one Hamilton reference per recap, you are as mistaken as Jonah was about those brand-new crocodile-skin boots. Mike is on the master cleanse (friendly health PSA: All cleanses are bullshit) which Ben rightfully says sounds like Nazi domestic policy. Meanwhile, Chinese hackers have breached White House employee files. Considering Selinas issues with emails and hacks, shouldnt she be more alarmed about this? She is too distracted to care. Bob Bradley is here, and he is a troubling old fellow who refers to Richard as Affirmative Action Jackson and says weird, vulgar-folksy things like, Ive got big balls but neither one of them are crystal and I can lead a horse to water but I cant milk it. What does that mean? No one knows! Bob remembers Ben just well enough to know that his nickname was Buttfucker. Lovely guy, this Bob, but Selina is a fan. Selina was supposed to attend some event to thank volunteers (For what, this Olympic-size swimming pool of shit that Im doing the backstroke in right now?), but she bails, sending her economy czar Tom James in her stead. She bops by his event because she thinks it sounds more interesting and for once, it turns out that her instincts are correct. She meets Charlie Baird (hey, John Slattery!) who is smarmy, charming, and assures Selina that Brooks Brothers sews prenups into all our suits, which honestly is not a bad business idea. Selinas obvious desire to get in those Brooks Brothers pants leads to the best-crafted joke of the night, wherein she and Ben talk about putting Charlie on another task force, wink-wink nudge-nudge. Ben suggests that right now, in the midst of this recount, is not the best time for a task force. I just want to have a quick banking task force, Selina says. The banks will still be raring to go for a task force when youre safely re-elected, he tries, and also, Maam, if you want I can arrange a more discreet banking task force. Kent, bless his heart, has no idea that this is a euphemism. So Charlie finds himself back at the White House, worried that Gary doesnt like him as Selina puts it, Thats like saying a cat doesnt like you, or that table doesnt like you. He even gets a very special tour, which includes stops like, This is the closet where Warren Harding fathered a child with his teenage mistress. And then, a very sexy pickup line, Want to see the residence? At least Selina is getting some. On the other side of the country, Dan and Amy get thiiiis close to a little banking task force of their own before Dan totally botches it by screwing Amys sister, Sophie, whom he mistakenly believes works for CBS. Cannot wait to see how he reacts when he discovers she works at CVS. And a few other things Selina: Maddox is probably going to study the effects of legalized prostitution on his dick. Richards email address is Splet2@splet.net, since Splet1 is his dad. Itll be sad to see him go, but itll be good to get that handle. Jonah: Can Paul McCartney teach Kid Rock how to be a good songwriter? Thats a bad example, because Kid Rock rules. Taking a shit in the Rose Garden used to be called a Jimmy Carter. Insult of the episode: This is a small one, but I loved Amy calling Richard a Paddington Bear-looking fuck. Compliment of the episode: Selina to Charlie: With another person it would be bragging, but with you its something different. Jonah shall henceforth be known as: A seven-foot-seven, goony-looking Lithuanian who is going to drop dead of Marfan syndrome. A+ work, Amy. Brimful of Yara on the 45. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO The Ironborn are assholes. Yes, the social mores of a fantasy feudal society make nearly everyone on Game of Thrones an asshole, but even by the standards of their time and place, the residents of the Iron Islands stand out in Westeros for their moral monstrousness. The Ironborn worship the culture of the old way, a time when they were free to terrorize the western coast of the Seven Kingdoms, and they continue to rape and pillage wherever they can get away with it. Their tradition of taking salt wives is just a polite name for a crude form of sexual slavery, and theyre also the only people in Westeros to practice plain-old slavery, too, in the form of the thralls who live and die mining the ore that gives the islands their name. The Ironborn look down on anyone who does any actual work, or buys anything with money; real men, they say, pay the iron price for what they want which is to say, they take it from someone whos weaker than them. The Ironborn are terrible in almost every way that people can be terrible. And yet, despite all this, theyre also the only people in Westeros with a cultural legacy of democracy: The kingsmoot, which, as the priest of the Drowned God informed Yara Greyjoy Sunday night, is the process by which the Ironborn choose their kings. The practice started thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, when the petty kings of each island would come together in a great council to choose the next High King of the Iron Islands. These gatherings take place after the death of the king of the Iron Islands or when everyone agrees the current king is so terrible they need a new one but they only be called by the drowned priests, the itinerant preachers who spread the good word of that Lovecraftian god throughout the islands. Of course, its worth noting off the bat the kingsmoot isnt true democracy: Only ships captains can take part, which mean no commoners, no thralls, and probably no women. (A few women have served as ships captains throughout Ironborn history, but its unclear whether any of them ever participated in a kingsmoot.) But then again, you could say the same thing about early American democracy, so who are we to judge, really? The kingsmoot was the invention of an ancient priest, Galon Whitestaff, who decreed that Ironborn should not make war on each other, thus unfiying the fractious archipelago into a single kingdom ruled by a single monarch. According to tradition, any captain could put their name forward at a kingsmoot, as long as they were backed by three champions. What followed wasnt entirely dissimilar to an old-timey presidential convention: Aspiring High Kings give a stump speech (often some variation of Lets kill these people and steal their stuff) and then present the crowd with a gift symbolizing their candidacy. A kingsmoot lasts until a majority of captains agree on a candidate, which, as The World of Ice and Fire puts it, meant that these unruly gatherings oft went on for days, and in a few instances, far longer. Not every kingsmoots results have been considered constitutionally valid, however. Besides needing to be called by a priest of the Drowned God, Its generally accepted that a kingsmoot requires every reasonable candidate to be in attendance. This rule has only only invoked once, after the death of King Urragon III Greyiron, whose sons called a kingsmoot while their brother was off being horrible somewhere else. Unfortunately for them, their gambit failed the captains chose a guy called Urrathon Goodbrother instead, and his first act as High King was to immediately put those sons to the death. His second act was to institute a two-year reign of terror. (More like Badbrother, the Ironborn said, and so that became his nickname.) Eventually, though, the missing son Torgon Greyiron came back, and invoked the rule of Hey, Not Fair to challenge the results of the Kingsmoot. Since the people of the Iron Island were getting tired of the king killing everybody, they agreed, and thus Urrathon was violently hacked to pieces and Torgon proclaimed king in his place. In George R.R. Martins novels, this was the beginning of the end of the kingsmoot, though it appears to be a continuous practice in the show. Since Torgon himself had been crowned without a moot, nobody batted an eyelash when he named his own son as heir in his later years and began preparing the lad to rule. Once he reached old age, that son decided that he wanted to name his own heir too, choosing his nephew Urron. The priests of the Drowned God could see what was going on here, and insisted on a kingsmoot. Ill let The World of Ice and Fire tell you what happened next: Hundreds came, amongst them the salt kings and rock kings of the seven major isles, and even the Lonely Light. Yet scarcely had they gathered when Urron Redhand loosed his axemen on them, and Naggas ribs ran red with blood. Thirteen kings died that day, and half a hundred priests and prophets. It was the end of the kingsmoots, and the Redhand ruled as high king for twenty-two years thereafter, and his descendants after him. The wandering holy men never again made and unmade kings as they once had. Sad! And yes, if all the factional discord, backstabbing, and gasbagging didnt tip you off, the kingsmoot can definitely be interpreted as an accidental preview of what might happen if we do in fact get a contested convention in Cleveland this year. But theres bad news for Yara: If our current political landscape is any indication, the Ironborn may be thirsty for a charismatic shape-shifter who will make the Iron Islands great again. Have we seen any of those hanging out on any bridges recently? FXs American Crime Story mini-series, The People v. O.J. Simpson has re-introduced the trial of the century to a new generation, and with it, a whole new couple to ship: co-prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden. As to the question of whether the two lawyers ever tried each other in the bedroom, Clark herself has steadfastly refused to confirm or deny the rumors. Im not going to answer because we both decided we just didnt want to give that subject any traction, she told Vulture. Brought out by the resurgent interest in the case, Darden finally speaks. Ill tell you what, Ill wait until Marcias sitting next to me to talk about it in greater detail, he tells Savannah Guthrie on the Today show. People want that. People want a happy ending to what was otherwise a terrible ending to a terrible story. Darden then points out that it would be a bad move politically to admit to a relationship: If I were to say I had a relationship with Marcia Clark, people would say we lost the case because we were more interested in intimacy than the law and the facts, and that would be an even worse position to be in. What were hearing is: It would have been so bad for our careers to admit it, but yes, we were in a relationship, and yes, my love for Marcia Rachel Clark burns hot like the fire of a million suns! As for whether or not hes glad he worked on the Simpson case, Darden says, The first day I was supposed to appear, I had back spasms, I could not get off the floor. I thought I was having a heart attack. And I should have stayed on the floor. Hmm, why did you throw your back out, we wonder? Photo: Michael Campanella/Getty Images Like Neil Diamond and Eddie Murphy before it, Eurovision is coming to America. The European song contest, which functions like a big talent show that people actually want to attend, will air its grand finale live in the U.S. for the first time this year, on May 14, on Logo. For those not yet indoctrinated in the Eurovision spectacle, contestants from across Europe and Eurasia have been singing for the pride of their countries since 1956. The amateur efforts can veer toward the schlocky, but the likes of ABBA won in 1974, so its no more embarrassing than your average American karaoke-show ripoff. So quiet that national ego, hit the couch, and pick a pretty flag. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures, Getty Images Writing about Keanu, which came out this past weekend, New York film critic David Edelstein said, Id estimate two-thirds of it works, and when its good its sooooo good good enough to make you want to see Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key and director Peter Atencio and co-writer Alex Rubens do it again and go farther out. And arguably no scene is more sooooo good than the movies one spectacular cameo. [Spoilers about this particular scene ahead.] In Keanu, Key and Peele play cousins Clarence and Rell, respectively who get involved with the Blips (a gang of Bloods and Crips rejects), agreeing to help them deal drugs in exchange for a kitten, the titular Keanu, that the gang unknowingly stole from Rells apartment. This leads them to a mansion in the Hollywood Hills. Clarence stays in his minivan with three of the Blips while Rell goes with Blip Hi-C (played by Tiffany Haddish) into the mansion. Once inside, a coked-up blonde maniac (Anna Faris) and her friends greet them. The scene heightens for a while as the blonde continues to act more and more crazed. Then, while Hi-C is showing her a new drug hybrid, Rell quietly tells Fariss character, I loved you in House Bunny. Its one of the biggest laughs in the movie a completely original joke that expertly plays with the vocabulary of a cinematic cameo. Ever since 1928s Show People a Hollywood satire that featured appearances by many popular stars of the day, including Charlie Chaplin there have generally been two ways a cameo works: Either a famous person plays an unimportant or minor character like Richard Pryor as a balloon salesman in The Muppet Movie, or they play themselves, like David Bowie as David Bowie in Zoolander. Keanu subverts this history by revealing Faris is playing herself right about when the audience was sure she was playing a character, making the playing-against-type trope feel fresh. The scene then continues to escalate from there, with Rell having to explain to Hi-C who Faris even is, listing all her movies until Hi-C says she recognizes her from Scary Movie. All of it works, and is not too jarring, because of the precise execution of the unexpected cameo. Thats why it came as no surprise when director Peter Atencio told me that they put more work into that scene than any other in the movie. So much work, in fact, that when the studio asked them to try a more immediate reveal, they flatly said no. Here, Atencio explains how such a simple-seeming joke can require so much effort. What was the genesis of that scene? PETER ATENCIO: There was always a drug-deal scene in the middle of the movie. It was the point in the movie where the stakes needed to get really elevated for Clarence and Rell theyre actually committing a crime. We always liked the idea of it being a famous person who you think is just doing this crazy character and then halfway through you realize that theyre playing themselves. I dont remember who we originally wrote it for, but it was a long process of going out to people and trying to convince them to play themselves where theyre coked out of their mind, buying drugs from gang members, and ultimately getting killed. Everyone was like, Yeah, thank you, but no thank you. I got it: We were coming from doing a basic-cable sketch show. We were very lucky to get Anna. What did you tell Anna in terms of her performance? We wanted it to be very ambiguous. My instructions were like, Dont play a different person, but do play what you would be like if you were insane and doing a bunch of blow. She just dove in and there were even times where it was like, Okay, you can be a little bit more normal because we still want there to be one foot in Anna, whos like the sweetest, most normal, most kind of down-to-earth person in the world. So, the characters kind of flighty and fun and silly and then theres little moments where the crazy kind of bursts out. Was there a debate about which movie to have Jordans character first reference? Oh yeah, we had a few options and we played with the order. We all agreed that House Bunny was the most universally known Anna Faris role that was a little more recent, because we knew we wanted to end with Scary Movie. But pretty much all of her credits at one point were in the dialogue to find the right balance of roles the audience would recognize versus ones where theyd think, I totally didnt know she was in Chipmunks: The Squeakquel which is a hilarious title to drop into the mix. Was it hard to get the studio onboard for something so different? That was actually a big fight with the studio because they felt like, Gosh, maybe people will have a bigger reaction to seeing her play herself. We were like, No, this is such a great reveal and its so much more satisfying to go, Wait, wait. Whoa. So, we were very protective of it, about not just doing it as late as possible in the scene, but also in a very casual way when theres an awkward silence. I love your work, by the way, is totally more organic. After some test audiences, did the studio understand why the reveal is where it was? Did they want a backup plan? We had this moment of them approaching the house, where Jordans character and Tiffanys character are walking up to the house and they walk by this big, long pool. And theyre having this conversation, and hes like Have you ever been here before? That was the place where the studio was like, Lets just ADR him saying, Whose house is this? And she goes, Oh, its Anna Fariss house. They were like, lets try a version where the audience finds out up-front. We were just like, No. Its not even worth talking about; were just not going to do it. Youve got to trust us. And they did. What was your approach to building to the reveal as it appears in the movie? Tension is the mirror image to comedy. They both rely on timing and this building and release of energy. I always like walking that line. So, with the cameo, I wanted to make sure I was servicing her, building up this character, and treating it like a reveal, but then not going all the way into Hey, look, we got Anna Faris. That was probably the part we tweaked the edit more than any other part of the movie. There were countless different versions of that whole sequence. Our brilliant editor, Nick Monsour, would do a cut and we would walk away from it for a week and work on other stuff and come back with fresh eyes. It was definitely the most touched piece of the film, for sure. There was a little push-in when we first see her that makes you think, Oh shit! Its Anna Faris, but then because no one speaks to her right off the bat, you are left wondering especially as she gets crazier, starts pulling out a samurai sword, and doing a couple of lines right in front of them. The hope is the audience is lulled into this idea of, Oh, its just Anna Faris playing this crazy character, kind of like Alfred Molina in Boogie Nights. And then it builds to hit you with it. And then she dies. How conscious were you of the visual vocabulary of a cameo? Very. There is this meta quality to the entire movie where these two guys, who live these normal, boring lives, essentially get pulled into an action comedy. We wanted to play with these established themes. With the cameo, since they are so common, it was intended to lure you into this false sense of security. When you watch a comedy that has a cameo, it feels safe, like, Okay, now theyre with this person and we get some jokes based on their persona. We wanted people to feel like, Oh, nothing bad is gonna happen. And then as it gets crazier and crazier and violent, youre just that much more unprepared. McLennan County commissioners Tuesday will review the first report from the elections commission outlining expectations for future elections after more than 600 voters were given the wrong ballots in the March primary. The commission Monday adopted a report to present to commissioners that states while the buck stops with the Elections Administrator, it appears McLennan County Elections Administrator Kathy Van Wolfe has taken the proper steps to address the issues from the March 1 joint primary election. Given the lack of major issues in previous elections, the Commission does not believe this to be a systemic problem, the report states. Although no one can guarantee that human error will not occur again, appropriate steps must be taken to lessen this likelihood. County Judge Scott Felton, who chairs the commission, said the bipartisan elections commission had serious discussions about the document during several meetings before approving it. The commission called for additional measures before future elections to prevent a similar incident, which resulted in a lawsuit since dismissed the termination of an employee in the elections office and a recount. The commissions report calls for proper testing of all voting software and hardware well in advance of elections, and before ballots are mailed, and then personally verified by Van Wolfe. Had proper testing been done in this instance, it is likely that the issues with the automated system would have been detected earlier in the process when they could be more easily addressed, the report states. The commission also is requesting that ballot style numbers be dissimilar from precinct numbers and that more time be spent training election workers. Officials have said this was the first primary election in the county using vote centers instead of requiring residents to vote within their precincts. Scanners in previous general elections using vote centers automatically selected the ballot for voters by scanning a bar code label connected to the judges booth controller. The elections office was notified in early February that there would be a problem with the scanners. To address the problem, poll workers were told to write the precinct number and political party on each voters label, so the information could be entered manually to get the ballot. In many cases, the ballot style number was written on the voter label instead of the precinct number, resulting in incorrect ballots being issued. Elections Commission Secretary Randy Riggs, the McLennan County tax assessor-collector, asked Van Wolfe if the recommendations were something she felt comfortable implementing, to which she replied that she was. The commission also urged local political parties to work together in nonpartisan unity to recruit volunteers to work during elections and to promote voter education. Commission member Mary Duty, chairwoman of the McLennan County Democratic Party, and commission member Jeb Leutwyler, the outgoing McLennan County Republican Party chairman, said they would work together to seek out other organizations to build a broader base of people to help educate the public on voting. Our party, were on it, Duty said. Wed love to have everybody on board. The commission agreed to monitor the upcoming joint city and school elections Saturday and the general election in November. The commission plans to meet in December to follow up. McLennan County commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Commissioners Courtroom on the first floor of the McLennan County Courthouse, 501 Washington Ave. The city of Hewitt will host a microchipping event and offer discounted microchip rates for Texas residents with pets, Hewitt Police Chief Jim Devlin announced Monday. Hewitt Animal Control will have their Microchip Madness event, and will be offering a $15 microchip rate for each pet. The discounted rate will be available for all Texas residents from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hewitt Public Safety Facility, 100 Patriot Court. The stories were different but their endings remained the same Friday as friends shared tales of Frances Welchs humor and contagious laugh during her retirement party at the Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Waco. After more than 41 years as a blind rehab specialist, Welch worked her last day Friday, between celebrations of her time serving more than 5,000 veterans. Welch said she strategically planned her retirement for the end of April because the swimming pool where she lives opens in May. Im going to swim every day, she said. I love to swim and I did find out old people dont swim much, so its like having a private pool. Doug Young, Waco VA assistant director of resources, said veterans during the years have always responded well to Welch. She has a natural empathy and natural teaching style, Young said. Young said he has never known a more compassionate person. Welch said she has been blessed to have lived two different lives: one sighted and one blind. She was 15 when she lost her eyesight. Part of my job was teaching cooking. I taught living skills. Years and years ago, it was much more difficult because the men, as the majority of veterans are, would say, Cooking is a womans work. Now, its not a womans world anymore. Men have to take care of themselves, she said with a laugh. Ive always felt like, make it fun, rather than just learning. Make it fun for them. Blind Rehab Unit chief Chris Bosley said while completing the exit performance review, Welch asked what the rating was for doing a job well. Bosley replied, fully successful. Welch then asked what rating is above that, to which Bosley said, outstanding. Welch said, Thats what I want, Bosley said. Francis you are outstanding. Barry Francis, another blind rehab specialist, told the crowd at Welchs retirement party he remembered his first conversation with Welch. He had just been hired. He was living in New York at the time and called the office to get some information about his new position. Welch answered the phone. Francis said he was feeling good about being selected for the position and must have sounded as proud as he was feeling. She says, I think maybe you were the only applicant, Francis said, laughter erupting in the room. Shes always kept me very real. Welch said everyone says retirement is the time to travel, but not for her. About a year ago, she adopted a Yorkshire terrier she calls Bugsy and she doesnt plan on leaving him to travel. Hes like our baby, and we treat him like our baby, she said. Blind rehab specialist Sheri Battles said when she came to the Waco office three years ago fresh out of school, she was nervous about working alongside Welch, who had so many years of experience than her. After the first class, Battles said she confessed to Welch that she had been worried about messing up in front of someone so experienced. She recalled Welch laughing, then saying that she, too, had been nervous working with someone fresh out of school and probably joining the staff with a different set of talents. Best laugh Everyone who knows Francis knows she has the best laugh, Battles said. Welch said she will miss everything about the job except the paperwork. She said she loves all the staff, has worked with some good people through the years and has continued to stay in contact with many no longer working there. A lot of people get bored doing the same thing over and over, year after year, but I never get bored because every patient is different, she said. They all have different stories, different learning potential. Their life is different. Every day and every person is different. It just keeps me going. I really think its been a wonderful, wonderful career. However, I wish I was one of those people who really looked forward to retirement. A lot of people count down the days, and I havent been one of those at all. I dont know what the future is going to bring. I may be bored to death and wish I was still out there. Neighbor Harvey Meredith said he has been friends with Welch for a few years and occasionally makes her a Reuben sandwich. Meredith said he has had the opportunity to watch Welch teach other vision impaired veterans how to cook, and she has an amazing talent. Its been a real enlightening experience, he said. Her youth was robbed from her you know. Her whole career, whatever she had planned for herself and her life came to a screeching halt. Think of what that would do to anyone at such an early age. Im sure she had to go through some traumatic experiences and face up to the reality of such a catastrophic event in her life, but shes so upbeat and shes fun and she loves to laugh. You never hear her ever get down in the dumps about herself. I think that we could learn so much from her. To live in total darkness and to be able to be so upbeat is just absolutely remarkable, I think, Meredith said. A Crawford High School senior was arrested Monday on multiple felony charges of possession of child pornography and sexual assault of a child after authorities became aware of sexual abuse allegations in April, Crawford Police Chief Clay Bruton said. Donnie Wayne Howard, 17, was arrested on three charges of possession of child pornography, one count of promotion of child pornography and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to arrest affadvits, Howard allegedly filmed and took photographs of a 6-year-old female and an 8-year-old boy performing sexual acts with him and shared the images on social media instant messaging app Kik. According to court documents, Crawford police received information from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services about an incident involving Howard and the young victims. Forsenic interviews of both children were conducted and detailed the alleged sexual abuse. Both victims alleged that Howard had taken photos of them with his cellphone while the children were naked. Howard allegedly also took video and photographs of the sexual encounters with the male victim. During the forsenic interview, (a victim) described how Howard had threatened to hit him with his fist if he told anyone about what happened, court documents stated. During the investigation, Bruton reported that he met with Howard at Crawford High School for an interview on April 28. After waiving his Miranda rights, Howard admitted to taking photos and sending the photos to other people through a social media app, Burton said. He stated that he sent the pictures to someone he was chatting with on Kik, the arrest affadavit stated. Howard stated that he remembered it was on a Sunday, because he had just returned from church. The alleged abuse happened more than once and at several different locations, the arrest warrant stated. Howard remained in McLennan County Jail on Monday on bonds totaling $1.25 million. We are very proud, because whenever you are about to make an arrest in any investigation, that is the goal, Bruton said. There is more investigation into this, so this is still ongoing. A 19-year-old Waco man was arrested Monday for the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in Bellmead, Bellmead police Sgt. Kory Martin said. Nathanial Maquise Williamson was arrested on the charge after Bellmead police received information in Feburary about a sexual assault between Williamson, who was 18 years old at the time, and a then-15-year-old female, Martin said. According to the victim, she saw a news report about Williamson before she reported the incident to a family member. Martin said the victim reported that the incident occurred in the 1400 block of Old Dallas Road in early May 2015. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Williamson and he was arrested and taken to McLennan County Jail at about 5 a.m. Monday. Williamson remained in custody Monday afternoon on a $10,000 surety bond. PRESS RELEASE Tuskegee Airmen Inc. is set to host its 45th Annual Convention, July 12 17, 2016 at the Westin Indianapolis Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. An exciting treat is the continued year- long commemoration of the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen; the long awaited Grand Celebration of the 75 th Anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen Experience. Pilots, nurses, mechanics, ground crew, air traffic controllers, meteorologists, stenographers, armorers and other support personnel saw the activation of the first black combat aviation unit at Tuskegee Army Air Field and other locations. March 22, 2016 marked the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of the U.S. Army Air Corps 99th Pursuit Squadron on March 22,,1941. Distinguished Honorees Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen will be in attendance. To help celebrate this milestone of 75 years of excellence, we have set a goal to raise $75 Million over ten years for the Tuskegee Airmen Youth Aerospace and STEM Academy as a perpetual memorial to the Tuskegee Airmen, says Brigadier General Leon Johnson, USAFR (Ret.), National President, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The Tuskegee Airmen Youth Aerospace and STEM Academy has the goal to simulate the efforts made beginning in 1941 that resulted in over 16,000 individuals being part of the Tuskegee Experience which proved that blacks could take on any and all aspects related to the field of aviation. About Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI), headquartered in Tuskegee, Alabama with 56 chapters in major cities and military installations across the U.S., was established over 40 years ago to educate the public and keep alive the legacy of those who were part of the Tuskegee Experience during World War II.Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Information about the organization can be found on the website at: www.tuskegeeairmen.org. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. A former federal government adviser has escaped conviction after he pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour and drug possession following a "bizarre" incident at Canberra Airport last year. Stephen John Ellis, 48, a former journalist and senior NBN adviser, resigned from the office of then-communications minister Malcolm Turnbull after his arrest in May last year. The government's former chief NBN adviser, Stephen Ellis, leaves the ACT Magistrates Court in May 2015. Credit:Rohan Thomson He previously pleaded not guilty to six charges including drug possession, offensive behaviour, carrying offensive items and committing an act of indecency in the presence of another. A hearing on those charges, set to start this week, was abandoned after Ellis appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour and possessing a drug similar to LSD. I apologise mightily for the early wrap up but I have a pressing appointment to get to. What happened? it's budget eve ; ; the government is setting the stage for a budget that contains a "national economic plan" ; is setting the stage for a that contains a ; this is likely to include tax cuts for business but the government is adopting a "wait and see" approach; but the is adopting a approach; the opposition is doing its best to paint the budget as unfair by repeatedly asking why companies will get tax cuts but many families will not; and is doing its best to paint the as unfair by repeatedly asking why but many will not; and French Prime Minister Manuel Valls was in Canberra to talk up his country's winning tender for the new fleet of submarines. My thanks to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen for their amazing work and to you for reading and commenting. You can follow me on Facebook. Andrew, Alex and I will be back in the morning and we hope to see you then. Until then - good afternoon. If there were a neighbourhood watch group in this part of the world, Australia would be the neighbour the group had to watch. It is rich and large, rude and loud, and doesn't seem to care that its behaviour brings the region down. Our government has managed to infuriate most nearby countries in some way or other. Some have to deal with the consequences of our peculiar, unjustified obsessions with refugees and dole bludgers. One, the youngest, smallest and poorest nation in Asia, has to cop rampant Australian greed for its mineral wealth. Australia has behaved scandalously towards East Timor. It behaves selfishly towards New Zealand. Highhandedly towards its former colony, Papua New Guinea. It acts towards tiny Nauru as if it is a shameful illegitimate child, to be paid off to do our dirty work, running a refugee gulag hidden from view. The rendition of innocent asylum seekers, guilty of nothing more than choosing the wrong country to ask for help, has erupted during the phoney election campaign only because the PNG opposition leader had the fortitude to sue for their freedom. The High Court will hear a challenge on Monday and Tuesday to Australia's new rules for electing senators. If the case succeeds, it will have the impact of a sledgehammer on the 2016 election. Planning for a July 2 poll would need to be set aside, and the government forced to think again about Senate voting. Under the prior system of electing senators, voters marking their ballot paper above the line were only allowed to indicate their support for one party. That party then controlled how the voter's preferences were distributed. Backroom deals meant that a person could end up electing someone they had never dreamed of supporting. The new system changes this by asking voters to indicate a preference for at least six parties. Preferences are then allocated accordingly, producing a vote that reflects the genuine choices of the voter. Optional preferential voting for individual candidates below the line has also been introduced. Previously, a voter wishing to indicate a preference for candidates, rather than political parties, had to order every single candidate. This could involve numbering more than 100 boxes, and not surprisingly almost no one did this. Now, voters can indicate a preference for candidates by numbering 12 boxes or more. Another South Perth building that will 'entomb' neighbours has been approved, despite policy to stop such developments is merely awaiting a rubber stamp. Recently, South Perth residents have complained about living in 'coffins', as high-rise buildings with zero setbacks wall them in. The side of the building from the north as it is now and the way it will be. Show only the shadowing effect of the podium - not the rest of the nine-storey building that will be built above the podium. Taken aback by the storm of development that resulted from its new town planning scheme, South Perth council said it was an oversight the scheme could not prevent, but a scheme amendment would stop such situations recurring. It passed the amendment last Tuesday and it is now awaiting ministerial approval, but a state development assessment panel on Thursday approved a Charles Street development without regard - despite regulations that state any amendment is automatically relevant and should be given 'due regard'. Redevelopment of the derelict South Fremantle power station, where a man fell to his death on Saturday, is at least 10 years away, according to City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett. On Saturday, a 24-year-old Byford man died after falling 15 metres through a hole just before 6pm while he was in the prohibited area with a woman. The heritage-listed building, decommissioned in 1985, was flagged for residential redevelopment by the state government in 2014. The abandoned building is popular with photographers, urban explorers and squatters but has a number of hazards. An Australian man has been arrested in Tripoli and could face terrorism charges, according to Lebanese media. The man has been named by Voice of Lebanon radio as Mark Eddie Maximus. He was arrested in the Dam wal Farz district on Sunday and detained by army intelligence officers on "suspicion of of belonging to a terrorist group", according to an English translation of the Voice of Lebanon report. The man is believed to be a dual Australian-Syrian national. He was reportedly picked up after a vehicle in which he was travelling was tracked by Lebanese intelligence. Washington: Donald Trump Sunday repeated his claim that Hillary Clinton is using the "woman's card" to win the Democratic nomination for president. The claim has inspired the Democrat to issue an actual 'woman' card. The Republican front-runner said April 26 that the only thing Clinton, a former secretary of state and US senator, had going for her in the race to succeed President Barack Obama was her gender. Trump stood behind his remarks on Sunday. "I'm my own strategist. I like what I said," Trump said on Fox News Sunday. "The only card she has to play is the woman's card," he said. "If she were not a woman, she wouldn't even be in the race." Test scores show historic setbacks for U.S. students after COVID lockdowns By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 02, 2016 | 11:53 AM | PADUCAH, KY Local law enforcement is searching for a missing 17-year-old girl. The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says Chelsea (Brooke) Figley reportedly left a friend's house on Thursday, April 14 and hasn't been seen since. She is believed to be in the western Kentucky or southern Illinois area. Figley was described as 5'-2" tall with shoulder-length black hair, and weighing about 135 pounds. There was no description of what she was wearing. Anyone with information about Figley can call the Sheriff's Department at 270-444-4719. NOTE: Sheriff Jon Hayden told WestKentuckyStar there is no reason for his department to believe the two girls listed in separate missing person investigations are together, they believe the circumstances of their disappearances are coincidental. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By Joe Jackson May. 02, 2016 | 12:30 PM | MAYFIELD, KY A local restaurant has won a prestigious national award. Carr's Steakhouse in Mayfield is one of only four recipients of this year's Restaurant Neighbor Award, awarded annually by the National Restaurant Association to restaurants that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their communities. Since the restaurant's inception six years ago, Carr's employees have worked to help their neighbors and better their community by organizing numerous events. Fundraising efforts, which raised roughly $50,000, have allowed children in Graves County to enroll in youth sports. Their pinnacle event last year was raising funds to keep Princess Theaters alive. They served a free meal to the community in exchange for donations to the movie theater and raised thousands of dollars to keep the establishment in business. Owner Daniel Carr said it's important to give back to the community. Everybody can do it, regardless of whether they have 600 employees or 10 employees, Carr said. They can make a difference in people's lives, whether they are in New York City or Mayfield, KY. For winning, Carr's received $10,000 to support their community efforts and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to receive their award during a gala awards dinner, which was held last month. On the Net: The second stage of the ExoMars (Exobiology on Mars) mission will be rescheduled from 2018 to 2020, the Russian state corporation Roscosmos has said. The management of Roscosmos and the European Space Agency (ESA) have discussed the current situation and, bearing in mind the results of the work done by the Tiger Team, an expert group involving specialists from Roscosmos, ESA, as well as the Russian and European industrial contractors, and recommendations issued by JESB, the Roscosmos-ESA joint managing council for the ExoMars project, have decided to postpone this Mars-bound mission until the next launch window in July 2020, the Russian state corporation said in a report. The sides also instructed their groups of developers to draw up a new baseline work schedule jointly with the industrial contractors. Further, a series of additional measures will also be taken to strictly oversee both sides' course of work over the period up to the launch. Roscosmos also said that members of the Tiger Team had presented their final report detailing engineering study results at a JESB session, which took place in Moscow. "Assessing the possibility of creating conditions for the successful implementation of the project, the JESB council came to a conclusion that, given delays in work implementation by European and Russian industrial contractors and [delays] during mutual deliveries of scientific equipment, the most optimal decision is to conduct this launch in 2020," it said. The second ExoMars mission includes a Russian landing platform and a European Mars rover, which are also expected to be carried by a Proton-M launch vehicle, which will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Roscosmos said. "Russian and European specialists made every effort in order to meet the schedule for the second ExoMars mission, set for launch in 2018. At the end of 2015, a specially formed group of experts, Tiger Team, started to examine possible solutions that would help offset delays and envisage a reserve period within this schedule," it said. It was reported that the first stage of ExoMars, a joint project of Roscosmos and ESA, successfully began on March 14, 2016, when a Proton-M launch vehicle, which blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, lifted the ExoMars-2016 research spacecraft, consisting of two modules - Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module (Schiaparelli) into space. Russian and European experts' success as part of the ExoMars-2016 mission is a result of their lengthy and productive work. The ExoMars-2016 spacecraft is expected to reach Mars in October 2016. The successful implementation of all stages of the ExoMars project will allow the Russian and European sides to jointly test advanced technologies for entering the atmosphere, handling a descent and landing on Mars and operating space equipment on Mars, as well as will help them develop new technical solutions and design service systems that may be used in other projects to study planets of the Solar System and conduct cutting-edge scientific research on Mars. Wexford family to discuss Lamh sign language on Late Late Show It would mean so much to Lori May to have other children communicate with her Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister - Economic Development and Trade Minister Stepan Kubiv has said he sees Russian trace in the trade sanctions imposed by Moldova against Ukrainian goods. "We see that this restriction was made at the request of national producers of Moldova, and we also see the signature, and, respectively, the Russian Federation's aggression on the territory of Ukraine," he said at a Cabinet meeting on Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/05/2016 (2367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Fans of the Eagles of Death Metal werent afraid to discuss the elephant at the Burton Cummings Theatre Sunday night but thats not why they were there. The California-based rock band has a dedicated following after 18 years of releasing albums and touring, but their notoriety went to the moon last November. They were onstage in front of a sold-out crowd of 1,500 at Le Bataclan theatre in Paris when terrorists stormed the venue and killed 89 people. DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Eagles Of Death Metal, led by frontman Jesse Hughes, performs at the Burton Cummings Theatre Sunday. The band survived the attack, but the crew member who ran their merchandise table was killed. It was probably no coincidence the Burt required concertgoers to pass through metal detectors for the first time Sunday. Jason Beck said he was freaking out watching the live coverage of the terrorist attacks on television not only because of the horror of it, but because he was afraid the band hadnt survived. I thought they werent going to make it. Three hours into it, it broke that the band got out alive, he said. Theres no doubt some people were at the show after only hearing about the band following the Paris attacks. In a twisted way, thats one benefit that has come out of it for them, he said. Shawn Fedora, who works at the nearby Pyramid nightclub, agreed. He helped the band set up for a couple of shows at his club over the years, including one last September. Even though the terrorist attacks were far away, the staff and everybody who was at our show felt the ripple effects because the size of the venue in Paris compared to what they had just played in Winnipeg was very similar. You couldnt help but think, What if that was here? It was very real. You could put names and faces and conversations to these folks, he said. They were forced into a situation, and theyve handled it without any fault. They got stuck in a spot, and they rolled with it. They rock and rolled with it and kept going. The Paris attacks were the furthest things from Michelle Moulsons mind when she arrived at the venue until she saw the metal detectors. I didnt realize they wouldnt be letting people in and out of the show. Then I remembered, Oh, right, Paris, she said. But Im here for the music. They put on a great show. Theyre guaranteed to be good. Rob Hester was mainly there to see the headliner, Death From Above, but he said the Eagles of Death Metal are a good band. People who follow alternative music know who they are. There is a large alternative music scene in Winnipeg, there always has been. Were a fringe city, and fringe music is big in this city, he said. geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HALIFAX Nova Scotias minister of health says hes considering public disclosure of nursing home deaths caused by violence between residents, after records obtained by The Canadian Press showed five such fatalities went unreported since 2008. Leo Glavine said Monday potential disclosure will be addressed in the Liberal governments continuing care strategy coming this year. Glavine said hell give every consideration to changing the policy and allowing public notification on the deaths as occurs in Ontario through the chief coroners office but added hes reluctant to tie the deaths to specific nursing homes out of concern for the privacy of families. I absolutely believe in 100 per cent transparency of any death. Yes, they involve dementia in many cases, but are there ongoing assessments to make sure the client is in the right place in the nursing home? We need to have constant vigilance, he said. Both opposition parties have called for public notification after medical examiner records released through freedom of information showed five out of eight deaths usually due to shoving or altercations werent revealed over the past eight years. The records include brief details, such as a witness calling out Hey, hey, hey before observing a 71-year-old man fatally shove an 81-year-old last September at Parkstone Enhanced Care residence in Halifax. Another report from May 2009 at Glen Haven home in New Glasgow says, medical recordsdescribe an altercation at the home during which the deceased was pushed. Three pushing deaths that did become public emerged because the Halifax police issued news releases announcing homicide investigations beginning and then being dropped due to a lack of mental capacity. Other police forces didnt issue news releases. Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie said he frequently visits nursing homes around the province, and has become concerned there are underlying problems such as crowding and a shortage of staff available to work with residents who may have symptoms of aggression due to dementia. We want to know our grandparents are safe when theyre in a nursing home. Even when staff are doing their best, these things happen and they should be reported so that we can make good decisions about how to keep people safe, he said in an interview. Dave Wilson, the NDPs health critic, said public reporting of deaths caused by resident-on-resident violence should occur regularly, just as the public is informed on wait times and ER closures. The government needs to support health care providers to get the additional training so they can minimize the altercations and the aggression currently occurring in the facilities, he said. Annette Fougere, chair of the continuing care council of the Health Association of Nova Scotia, says the nursing home sector is making progress in training staff to deal with aggression. We speak of it quite often and participate with whatever group is doing work on it, whether its the Department of Health or ourselves, said Fougere, who is also a nursing home director. The Health Department has had a challenging behaviour program since 2004, and it has experts to help nursing homes who are housing residents with violent or aggressive behaviours. It also provides a special on-site training program with a curriculum that includes elements of how to decrease aggression. Health Department spokesman Tony Kiritsis said as of last year, about 59 per cent of the 2,418 licensed and registered nurses in the long-term care facilities had received the course. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version had an incorrect percentage figure in the last paragraph. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VICTORIA British Columbias finance minister has yelled cut on film and TV industry tax credits. Mike de Jong said Monday the provinces film tax credit rate will be chopped by five per cent to 28 per cent and could save the province up to $100 million annually. He said the subsidy was forecast to cost the government almost $500 million this year, up from the average of $313 million over the past three years, and the strong American dollar has made the province even more attractive to the industry. The changes are subject to approval of the legislature and are scheduled to be implemented in October when productions of new television episodes usually start. De Jong said the revised tax credit structure was reached after meetings between the industry and government. My guess is the industry would have preferred to not have this conversation at all, but I will say on their behalf they recognized we were heading into territory that was unsustainable from the point of view of fairness to other sectors in the economy, said de Jong. He said the cut will not harm the industry in B.C. There are still extremely good days ahead for the film and television production sector in B.C., said de Jong. In California, where the film industry is worth $17 billion annually, the state offers $330 million in tax credits, said a B.C. Finance Ministry statement. The B.C. tax credit is one of several advantages the province offers to the film industry, de Jong said. Others benefits include a talented and experienced workforce, excellent locations and being in the same time zone as California. Our objective here was to work with the industry to arrive at a reasonable place that recognizes the importance of the film-television production sector to B.C., recognizing the tens of thousands of jobs associated with the sector, but is fair to other sectors of the economy. The Motion Picture Industry Association of BC said in a statement the tax changes are a result of measured revisions that address the needs of the industry and government. B.C.s $2-billion film and television industry is built on three decades of collaboration private-public investment and represents thousands of B.C. jobs, said association chairman Peter Leitch in a statement. Together we have a vested interest in its long-term growth and sustainability. Opposition New Democrat film and TV critic Spencer Chandra Herbert said reducing the tax credit could result in film production companies choosing to work in Ontario, where the film tax structure is more generous. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. had long been rumoured to be a takeover target and BCE Inc. hit that target Monday with the announcement of a friendly deal to buy MTS, valued at $3.9 billion. MTS is one of the few regional independent rivals to Canadas three main national telecommunications companies. The sale of its national enterprise division, Allstream, which closed in January, was generally seen as a pre-requisite for this deal to be done. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jay Forbes, president and CEO for Manitoba Telecom, in his office in the MTS Building at 333 Main Street. The agreement announced Monday would add Manitobas largest phone, Internet and wireless company to BCEs Montreal-based business, which includes the CTV television network, the former Chum and Astral radio chains and Bell Canada. This is a huge deal for MTS as well as the telecom industry in Canada, said MTS CEO Jay Forbes in an interview. This is the highest multiple ever paid for an integrated telecom in North America. Clearly BCE recognizes the value of the franchise we have built here. In a conference call with analysts, Forbes said, Under the terms of this transaction, MTS will achieve much more than it could have as an independent company. BCEs commitment to invest $1 billion over five years into Manitobas telecommunications infrastructure will also contribute greatly to the prosperity of our province and the quality of our customer experience. Some customers, stores going to Telus BCE has also agreed in principle to sell about one-third of Manitoba Telecoms monthly contract wireless customers and one-third of the MTS stores in Manitoba to Vancouver-based Telus Corp. (TSX:T). Clearly, Teluss position in the wireless industry is significantly enhanced in this transaction, as is Bells, BCE president and CEO George Cope said. So youd expect, I think, the market to continue to be as competitive as it has been if not maybe even more as a result of all this. While it may be too early to say how it will all shake out, there seems to be cautious optimism in Winnipeg that the deal will not result in significant job losses. Forbes said while there may be some overlap in services, employees may have the opporunity to do other things in the company especially in light of Bell commitment to substantial capital investment in the next five years. The deal requires approval from the Competition Bureau, the CRTC and the federal department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development formerly called Industry Canada. A spokesman for Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said in an email that the departments priority is ensuring competition for Manitobans while investment in rural service continues. While the government does not comment on individual companies plans, such transactions would be subject to all relevant regulatory approvals, the email said. We will be looking carefully to make sure the concerns of Manitobans are addressed. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The MTS Building at 333 Main Street. A significant precedent Aravinda Galappatthige, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity, said the deal could lead to further consolidation in the wireless industry. If BCE-MBT is approved, we believe this would set a significant precedent, as it would reduce Manitoba to a three-player wireless market from four, Galappatthige said in a note to clients. Bell trails Toronto-based Rogers and Telus in terms of wireless customers, but BCE is by far the largest of the three in terms of overall market value at more than $51 billion, compared with $23.7 billion for Telus and $19.7 billion for Rogers. Rogers had nearly 9.9 million subscribers to its various wireless services as of Dec. 31, compared with 8.45 million at Telus and 8.24 million at Bell. MTS Mobility had 483,000 subscribers. Rogers ties severed Under the deal, Manitoba Telecom (TSX:MBT) would need to sever its commercial ties with Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B), which has been providing it with wholesale access to the national market. The network sharing arrangement with Rogers is underpinned by a complex set of agreements that we plan to work through in the coming months as we work to closing, Forbes said. But neither Forbes nor Cope provided details on what it might cost to unwind the Rogers relationship or what Telus would pay to acquire its share of the MTS wireless subscribers. The acquisition would add 2,700 employees from Manitoba Telecom to BCEs Bell phone business. Bells western operation would nearly double to 6,900 people and operate as Bell MTS, headquartered in Winnipeg. While often allies, BCE and Manitoba Telecom have occasionally had a competitive relationship. At one time, BCE was a large shareholder of Manitoba Telecom and there was widespread speculation that it would buy full ownership of the company. But Manitoba Telecom took a different path to remain independent and decided to buy Allstream, a Toronto-based company that competes directly with BCE nationally for business customers. MTS completed the sale of Allstream to Zayo Group of Boulder, Colo., for $465-million cash in January removing one obstacle to BCE. BCE (TSX:BCE) is offering $40 per share, about 45 per cent in cash and 55 per cent in stock, for MTS shares (TSX:MBT). The deal would also see BCE assume about $800 million in debt. BCE would have the opportunity to match any superior offer that may come forward. Each side has agreed to pay a $120-million break fee under certain circumstances if the deal isnt completed. Iran is interested in shipping oil via the Odesa-Brody oil pipeline, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk said at a government meeting on April 29. "Today at 08:00, at the request of the Iranian ambassador a diplomatic meeting took place... They expressed great interest in shipping Iranian oil via the Odesa-Brody pipeline as they believe it to be the best option in terms of logistics," Nasalyk said. According to the minister, the relevant contract may be signed within the next two months. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CALGARY Freehold Royalties Ltd. is buying a portfolio of oil and gas royalty assets from Husky Energy Inc. for $165 million. The deal will see Freehold gain the equivalent of about 1,700 barrels of oil production and add $11.6 million to annual operating income. The company says it will also increase its total royalty land holdings by 74 per cent to 2.39 million hectares with the addition of properties in southern Saskatchewan and Albertas Deep Basin. Freehold says it will pay for the deal through a $165-million equity financing plus a $20-million private placement. The Freehold announcement comes a week after Husky said it was selling 65 per cent of its midstream assets near Lloydminster, Alta., for $1.7 billion. Oil and gas companies have been looking to sell off assets to strengthen balance sheets as low oil prices hit profits. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Transport Minister Marc Garneau says he did not speak to Air Canada about changing the law to water down the airlines requirement to keep maintenance work in Canada before he introduced the legislation last month. Garneau was grilled by MPs at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on Monday afternoon about why he is changing the Air Canada Public Participation Act to give Air Canada more power to decide what type of maintenance work it must do in Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario. Although lobbying records show Garneau met with Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu three times between Dec. 15 and Feb. 15, the minister told the committee amending the participation act did not come up at those meetings. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The NDP hopes to be able to pressure the government to back down on plans to change the Air Canada Public Participation Act, which gives the airline all control over the kind and amount of maintenance work it keeps in Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario. I did not meet with Air Canada to discuss this matter, Garneau said. He said he meets with Air Canada frequently about a number of issues. Manitoba NDP MP Daniel Blaikie said Garneaus answer defies logic and wisdom. Would it even be responsible to make changes to the act without talking to Air Canada? he asked. If he didnt (meet with them), he should have. Garneau introduced Bill C-10 to amend the act last month after Quebec and Air Canada came to an agreement to see the airline buy up to 75 C-series Bombardier jets and do the maintenance on them in Quebec for 20 years, in exchange for Quebec dropping its lawsuit for violating the legislation. After the Quebec announcement, Manitoba negotiated a deal to see Air Canada create up to 150 jobs in the city next year at an aircraft maintenance centre of excellence. Manitoba was an intervener in the lawsuit but has also agreed not to pursue further litigation as part of the deal. The case, which was awaiting a decision by the Supreme Court on whether it would hear the matter, has been put on hold while the two deals are finalized. Two Quebec courts had agreed the airline was in violation for moving heavy maintenance work out of the country after Aveos Fleet Performance went bankrupt four years ago. The bankruptcy saw 2,600 people lose their jobs, including 400 in Winnipeg. Currently, the act requires the airline to keep operational and overhaul centres in Winnipeg, Montreal and Mississauga. The amended act would require only airline maintenance be kept in those cities without specifying the kind of work.Former workers who lost their jobs and the unions who represent them say that allows Air Canada to ship highly skilled, good paying jobs out of the country. Garneau says he is changing the act to let Air Canada be more competitive in the global airline industry. He said he has sympathy for those who lost their jobs but the arrangements Air Canada has to create jobs in Quebec and Manitoba are positive. I recognize it is not exactly the situation of 2012 but it is an energetic effort on behalf of Air Canada to create jobs in Quebec and Manitoba, he said. Blaikie believes the federal Liberals participated in a deal to help Quebec-based Bombardier, which was behind schedule and over budget on its new C-series jet development, by getting Air Canada to buy some of the planes, with changing the law as an enticement. He said Manitoba was left without much bargaining room once the Quebec deal was announced and Garneau had made clear he was going to amend the act to make it impossible to litigate the issue of keeping heavy maintenance jobs in Winnipeg. Garneau denies there is or was any such deal. He did, however, acknowledge if the deal between Quebec and Air Canada had not been struck and the lawsuit was continuing, the act would not have been amended. The NDP are pushing the committee to hold hearings on the bill in Winnipeg as well as Montreal and Mississauga. Blaikie and others were livid when the government cut off debate at second reading after just two days. Blaikie said he feels the government is rushing the bill through while people are not paying much attention. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. EDMONTON Rachel Notleys New Democrats became the first NDP government in Alberta when they won a majority last May 5 in the provincial election. The victory ended a run of Progressive Conservative governments stretching back to 1971. Tory leader and premier Jim Prentice quit public life altogether in his concession speech. Here are some key events for the NDP government in the year since the election: May 22: Member of the legislature Deborah Drever is suspended from caucus after social media posts surface containing violent sexual imagery and a homophobic slur. Drever is among a cast of students, newbies and young ambitious leaders who won seats for the NDP and who will bring change to the chamber. Within a year, Service Alberta Minister Stephanie McLean is answering questions in the house while carrying her newborn. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is seen in this file photo as she leaves after speaking during a press conference prior to the reading of the Speech from the Throne in Edmonton on March 8, 2016. Notley's New Democrats became the first NDP government in Alberta when they won a majority last May 5 in the provincial election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson May 24: Notley and her government are sworn in on the sun-dappled steps of the legislature to the cheers of thousands. Notley introduces a lean cabinet of 12 ministers. That number will grow to 19 within nine months. The NDP wrongly advertises the swearing in as a party fundraiser, the first of several missteps confusing party events with government ones. June 15: The NDP begins remaking Albertas political and economic landscape in its first legislature sitting by increasing taxes on higher-income earners, raising the corporate tax and banning political donations by corporations and unions. Sept 3: The honeymoon is over for the NDP in Calgary, where it made unprecedented breakthroughs in the general election. A Wildrose party candidate wins a byelection to replace Prentice. About six months later, in another Calgary byelection, another Tory wins to replace Conservative Manmeet Bhullar, who died in a car crash. Oct 27: The NDP brings in its first budget as a prolonged slump in oil prices continues to hammer Albertas bottom line. Finance Minister Joe Ceci says infrastructure spending will be ramped up, despite the slump and a $6.1-billion deficit. The government passes legislation to keep spending within 15 per cent of GDP, but months later removes the ceiling as borrowing grows. Nov 22: Notley and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips introduce a climate-change plan to erase Albertas reputation for dirty oil. They also say it will give the province credibility when asking for new fossil-fuel infrastructure such as pipelines. The plan includes a broad-based carbon tax, caps on oilsands emissions and phase-out of coal-fired electricity. Dec 10: Despite vocal public backlash, the NDP passes a farm safety bill that gives compensation benefits to paid farm workers and puts them under health-and-safety rules. Opponents fear the red tape will destroy the viability of farm operations and kill the family farm. Protest rallies on the legislature steps are accompanied by anger, threats and hate directed toward Notley and others in her caucus. Jan 29, 2016: Notley announces that a royalty rate review has determined that what the government collects from oilsands operations is fair and will remain in place. Its a surprising decision, since the NDP in opposition railed against the PC government for giving away its black gold resources at fire-sale prices. Notley says the industry has changed. March 9: The spring legislature session opens to what the Opposition Wildrose calls a gong show. The NDP caucus pushes past pages to take part in what would have been an illegal vote. Its one example of the NDP and new Speaker Bob Wanner learning the ropes. NDP member Michael Connolly flips the middle finger to the Wildrose in debate, but denies it until caught red-handed. PC interim leader Ric McIver is tossed out of the house after accusing Wanner of prejudging a decision against him. April 14: Finance Minister Joe Ceci announces a 2016-17 budget with a $10.4-billion deficit and forecasts another $10.1 billion deficit the year after. Total debt of almost $58 billion expected by 2019. There is no plan to balance the books before 2024. Notley says later that despite low oil prices, the province needs to move ahead to restructure, diversify and green the economy and get off the oil price roller-coaster. April 24: Notley pitches the need for more pipelines to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet during a federal retreat in Kananaskis, Alta. Pipelines have become Notleys ide fixe. She has spent her first year stumping relentlessly on the need for a line to the coast to get better prices abroad. She says given Albertas critical role in the countrys economy, the province needs Canadas help. Head of the European Union's Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski has called on Kyiv to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the May 2, 2014 tragic events in Odesa and bring those responsible to justice. "Today we recall the tragic events in Odesa on 2 May 2014 that left more than 40 people dead and 200 injured. I urge the government of Ukraine to follow up on the recommendations of the Council of Europe International Advisory Panel and to carry out an independent and transparent investigation. All those responsible for the crimes must be brought to justice," a statement, posted on the Facebook account of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, reads. Large-scale clashes involving supporters of Ukraine's federalization, the Antimaidan movement and far-right activists erupted in Odesa on May 2, 2014. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry put the death toll from those events at around 50, with most of these people killed in a fire at the Trade Unions House, to which participants of the Antimaidan movement fled for cover after the clashes. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg man has been sentenced to five years in prison for breaking into a womans home, waking her up and making sexual demands while armed with a two-by-four and wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts over his face. Richard Raymond Dyck, 27, pleaded guilty to several charges stemming from the August 2013 attack in Grant Park. He lived down the street from the victim, but they had no prior history together. This was extremely serious and extremely disturbing, provincial court Judge Sid Lerner said Monday. The offence was, to some extend, pre-meditated. The 25-year-old victim was asleep in her upstairs bedroom when she discovered the accused standing over her just after 5 a.m. He threatened to smash her with the board he was carrying unless she exposed herself to him. The woman complied, then screamed for help when Dyck got closer and demanded sex. Dyck fled the house, but not before passing the victims 26-year-old roommate who was responding to the commotion. Dyck threatened to kill her as he ran by. Police arrested Dyck a few hours later when he approached police in the neighbourhood, still partially undressed and somewhat disoriented, and confessed to what hed done. Dyck told officers hed been smoking meth and crack, combined with alcohol, and had developed a crush on the victim from seeing her on the street. He admitted to peeping into the windows of the woman and several others before going into her home through a basement window. He removed his boxers while in her home because he didnt want her to recognize him, court was told. It was, to put it mildly, an inept attempt at disguise, Lerner said Monday. Dyck also wrote a full letter of apology to both women. Dyck had only a minor prior criminal record for theft at the time of the incident. He was eventually released on bail, but then fled to the United States for several months. Justice officials had to get him extradited back to Canada, which is why the case has dragged on. He has been deemed a moderate to high-risk to re-offend, due largely to his addiction issues which can be traced back to a childhood filled with his own abuse and neglect, court was told. The Crown was seeking up to eight years in prison, while Dyck asked for just four. Lerner opted for the lower end of that range, saying this doesnt meet the definition of a true home invasion. He also noted that no physical contact occurred between Dyck and the victims. www.mikeoncrime.com Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/05/2016 (2367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A pair of women with strong Manitoba ties could be immortalized on a banknote in 2018. An independent advisory council has selected author Gabrielle Roy and womens activist Nellie McClung among a dozen women up for consideration by the Bank of Canada to appear on the next series of bank notes. The move to include the first women on Canadian legal tender besides Queen Elizabeth II was prompted by Prime Minister Trudeau in March when he said it was long overdue for women to appear on Canadian banknotes. More than 450 women were nominated. Courtesy of the Estate of Gabrielle Roy Gabrielle Roy in 1945. Photo : Annette and Basil Zarov. Library and Archives Canada. Roy, a French Canadian who was born in St. Boniface and grew up in poverty in Manitoba, is considered one of the great contemporary writers on the human condition. She received some of literarys highest honours, including the Governor Generals Award, the Prix Duvernay and the Prix David. She died in 1983 at the age of 74 in Quebec City. McClung was born in Ontario in 1873 but moved to Manitoba in 1880. She ran as a Liberal on the issue of the vote for women in the 1914 and 1915 provincial elections. She helped organize the Womens Political Equality League, which was devoted to womens suffrage. Manitoba became the first province to grant women the right to vote in 1916. She was later elected to the Alberta legislature as a Liberal. She died in 1951. The advisory council said it believed the nominees should have broken or overcome barriers, be inspirational, have made a significant change and have left a lasting legacy. We recognize that Canada is comprised of many different communities. The women who appear on our list should resonate with Canadians and reflect the diversity of Canada. Their achievements must be seen in the context of the time they lived, it said. Canadians will be surveyed about the 12 nominees. The advisory council will use that data, coupled with input from historians, to come up with a short list of three to five finalists. In accordance with the Bank of Canada Act, Finance Minister Bill Morneau will make the final decision. The other 10 are: Pitseolak Ashoona (1904-1983): An Inuit artist recognized for establishing a modern Inuit art form that incorporated traditional knowledge. National Archives of Canada Nellie McClung is shown in an undated photo. The portrait of an iconic Canadian woman is set to appear on a new series of bank notes, and a British Columbia historian says its about time.Merna Forster has been writing letters to politicians and Bank of Canada governors for years saying that it is unacceptable not to have a single bill featuring the image of a female figure from the countrys history. Emily Carr (1871-1945): A artist and writer famous for her landscapes of the Pacific coast. Therese Casgrain (1896-1981): She spearheaded the womens suffrage movement in Quebec and became the first female leader of a political party. Viola Desmond (1914-1965): Often referred to as Canadas Rosa Parks, Desmond took on racial segregation at a movie theatre in Nova Scotia. Lotta Hitschmanova (1909-1990): She co-founded the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada which sent aid to Europe during the Second World War. E. Pauline Johnson (1861-1913): A poet and writer whose work reflected English and Mohawk traditions. Elizabeth (Elsie) MacGill (1905-1980): She became the worlds first female aircraft designer and worked as an aeronautical engineer during the Second World War. Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942): The PEI author made Anne of Green Gables a staple on bookshelves across Canada. Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files A list of influential Canadian women has been submitted for consideration to appear on legal tender. Fanny (Bobbie) Rosenfeld (1905-1969): A gold medalist in the relay and a silver medalist in the 100-metre dash at the 1928 Olympics. Idola Saint-Jean (1880-1945): A Quebec journalist and educator who fought for womens right to vote in Quebec. geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitobas new premier played university basketball, was a champion curler and a renowned fastball pitcher. He knows a bit about successful teams. However, choosing 12 cabinet ministers from a roster of 40 players will be a challenge for Brian Pallister. There will be sure bets, some surprise winners and possibly a couple of sore losers, too. Pallister will reveal his lineup this morning when he and his cabinet are sworn in at a ceremony in the Garden of Contemplation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Premier-designate Brian Pallister at the first full caucus meeting of a new Progressive Conservative government in the Manitoba Legislative Building Wednesday. His cabinet will be one-third smaller than Greg Selingers outgoing group, which numbered 18. Pallister had promised in the first fiscal year, his government would save $5 million by having fewer ministers likely 12 and fewer high-ranking bureaucrats. He will face the same challenges all premiers do in attempting to represent the entire province. Notably, among the 40 Tories elected on April 19, just eight are women. An aide to the premier-designate said Monday Pallister was inspired to hold the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at the national museum after spending quiet moments of reflection there with his wife, Esther, on the day of the televised debate a week before the April 19 election. Our selection of (the museum) as the venue is reflective of our governments recognition of the importance of trust, compassion, common sense, inclusion and teamwork as we take on the challenging task of putting Manitoba back on track, the aide said. The premier and members of cabinet will be sworn in by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon at 10 a.m. Guests will be welcomed with a traditional greeting by an aboriginal elder. The Winnipeg Youth Chorus group, Enharmony, will perform. Veteran MLAs are expected to get most of the cabinet posts initially, but expect a few rookies to make the cut, especially Winnipeggers, since Pallisters returning crew hails mainly from outside Winnipeg. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach), Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo), Reg Helwer (Brandon West) and Cameron Friesen (Morden-Winkler) are among the safest bets to land a prized cabinet post and its $50,930 in additional pay. The basic MLA salary is $93,025. The challenge for Pallister is going be balancing representation among his 40-member caucus, said Kelly Saunders, an associate professor of political science at Brandon University. The rural seats, often seen as the partys bedrock, cannot be ignored, but Pallister will have to consider gender and experience as he makes his choices, Saunders said. He also cant forget the rookies who helped his team reach its majority. So that does mean having women at the table. It also means geographic balance as much as possible making sure he has his rural base represented but he has a lot of new MLAs from Winnipeg and obviously, Winnipeg is a major player, she said. Kelly Bindle (Thompson), the Tories first MLA in the north in decades, has a shot at landing a role in Pallisters inner circle as a rookie, Saunders said. With the PCs coming close in other northern constituencies, such as Kewatinook and The Pas, Saunders thinks propping up Bindle could pay off in the next election. Political scientist and author Chris Adams said he likes the chances of Morris MLA Shannon Martin, a former local director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, landing in cabinet. The only rookie Adams thinks is a strong bet is former Winnipeg city councillor Scott Fielding. Fielding could wind up the minister responsible for municipal government, he said. Of the partys 40-member caucus, 24 are fresh faces, eight are women and two identify as indigenous. Adams said while Pallister has not promised gender parity, Hes going to want a significant number of women in cabinet. JASON HALSTEAD / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The premiers office at the Manitoba legislature awaits its new occupant. The Tories will have been preparing for the transition to power for many months, said Barbara Biggar, a senior adviser to former premier Gary Filmon and his director of cabinet communications from the time he took power in 1988 to 1994. Typically, its many months before, said Biggar, president and CEO of Biggar Ideas public relations firm. The Filmon transition team consisted of two people, Biggar said Monday. Pallister has eight people on his transition team. Im told there have been meetings with dozens of people in the room, she said. Biggar said secrecy is paramount around the unveiling of the cabinet. Every premier-designate is different. Normally, calls are made very near to (the swearing-in day) some may be today (Monday). Prospective ministers know to keep silent, Biggar said. They may have staff in mind, but no one gets told until the minister has been sworn in, she said. Biggar said it wont be a problem that two-thirds of the Conservative caucus will not be in cabinet. Brian Pallister is a competitive sports figure he knows about the team Hell approach this as a team endeavour, getting as many people involved as possible. Biggar said there will be a Speaker (elected in a secret ballot on the first day of a new legislative session) and deputy speaker, government whip, house leader and deputy, caucus chair and deputy, six legislative assistants, and chairs of at least nine standing committees. Pallister has promised to form task forces to cut red tape and find waste and duplication in government spending. MLAs can serve on the boards of Crown corporations, Biggar pointed out. There are a lot of jobs for people its all hands on deck. The new session of the legislature will begin May 16. The first order of business is the election of the Speaker, followed by the throne speech. The Tory caucus said Monday it is endorsing Myrna Driedger (Charleswood) as Speaker. Driedger, who was elected in 1998, is one of the longest-serving MLAs in Manitoba. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipeg police rolled out an anti-gang campaign in three languages Monday in an effort to deter street gang recruitment this summer. Pamphlets in English, Arabic and Portuguese call for an end to gang violence. Theyre part of a campaign that includes posters and a public information evening for parents at the Magnus Elias Recreation Centre, 430 Langside Street, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m Tuesday. We, as a police service, are being proactive. Were engaging them, the parents, and often its a one-parent family, to come out, said Insp. Max Waddell, head of the Winnipeg Police Service Organized Crime unit. We can arm them with the information so they can get connected with the appropriate social service agency for after-school programming into the summer, Waddell said at a press conference Monday. Meanwhile, Crime Stoppers will double its rewards to $2,000 for the month of May as part of the campaign. Tips that lead to criminal convictions of gang members with guns usually pay anonymous informants $1,000. Gangs change their names and members so often that its difficult to keep track of how many operate on city streets, but officers said its safe to say at least 30 to 35 of them have operated over the years. Among them, say police, are gangs that are reconstituted in Canada among immigrant communities. Parents new to Canada may not be aware there are legitimate alternatives to street gangs so getting the information out in different languages is an effort to engage them, reporters were told. Its the idle hands theory, right? If we can keep these kids engaged in sports, get them employment, get them reaching out to other community (agencies) Waddell said. Police have worked at preventing young siblings of gang members from joining up for years but Tuesdays community information night is the first time police and social services agencies have reached out directly to parents. Kids as young as six, seven or eight, they look up to their older siblings, Waddell explained. Often they dont have a lot so thats a lifestyle they lean towards. Thats what were trying to prevent, that recruitment, Waddell said. alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier-designate Brian Pallister has promised to appoint a cabinet of only 12 members, a one-third reduction from the outgoing NDP cabinet. How many ministers are needed to run a province and how does a premier decide on the size of cabinet? One has to go back to the Progressive Conservative governments of premier Duff Roblin during the late 1950s and the 1960s to find cabinets in the 12-member range. Roblin started in 1958 with a minority government of eight ministers, and over three subsequent majority governments cabinet grew to 14 ministers. Of course, government was simpler back then. The budget in 1958 was only $100 million and there were just 4,500 civil servants. Even after a decade of PC rule that saw government expand greatly, the 1969 budget was still under $400-million and there were only close to 9,000 civil servants. Over the ensuing four-and-a-half decades, the scope and complexity of core government operations continued to expand. More agencies, boards and commissions operating at arms length from government were created. Governments were serving a growing and more diverse population. There were more demands for responsiveness and accountability to various organizations and groups of voters. The media became more influential and demanding. In this more complicated, challenging and risky political environment, the cabinet grew in size, and power became centralized in the premiers office. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS / WAYNE GLOWACKI Gary Doer is sworn in as premier with Lt Gov. Peter Liba in 1999. Not surprisingly given their respective philosophies, the PCs have tended to favour slightly smaller cabinets than the NDP. PC premiers Sterling Lyon and Gary Filmon had cabinets in the 17- to 18-minister range. NDP premiers Schreyer, Pawley and Doer had cabinets in the 21- to 20-minister range. In 2015, the provincial budget was just under $13 billion and there 14,000 civil servants. To direct and oversee the 18 departments of government and the various non-departmental bodies, there were 19 ministers serving in the NDP cabinet of premier Greg Selinger. This number was over half the NDP caucus and one-third of the elected 57 MLAs serving in the legislature. Only tiny PEI had a larger percentage of elected representatives serving in cabinet. In deciding on the size of cabinet, the premier makes a political judgment that balances considerations of political representation with considerations of efficiency. In terms of political representation, a larger cabinet allows (depending upon the composition of the governing party caucus) for greater diversity along gender, ethnic, regional and ideological lines. This can promote, but not guarantee, more inclusive cabinet decision-making. Larger cabinets can include a mix of veterans and newcomers who can be mentored by the former to avoid the mistakes that first-time ministers are prone to make. In a larger cabinet, there is greater potential to use cabinet committees that allow a wider range of ministers to participate in certain decisions. With more caucus members in cabinet, there should be less potential for internal dissent, but the leadership revolt against premier Selinger proved, this is not always true. In terms of efficiency, there is both a real and a symbolic benefit from a smaller cabinet. By reducing cabinet to 12 members, Pallister estimated there would be a saving of $5-million because there are fewer ministerial salaries, political staff, cars and other benefits to take care of. In a budget of $13-billion that may appear to be a small amount, but fewer ministers may mean less pressure for new spending. More importantly, the reduction sends a powerful message that the government is serious about controlling spending. A large cabinet can be unwieldy in terms of collective decision-making and this can lead to greater control by the premier as other ministers look to him for leadership. A smaller cabinet allows for the possibility of more collegial decision-making. Appointing ministers on the basis of their social characteristics, rather than background knowledge and skills, can produce larger cabinets that are less informed and effective in their decision-making. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier-designate Brian Pallister at the first full caucus meeting of a new Progressive Conservative government last week. Pallister has said he will reduce cabinet to 12 members, estimating there would be a saving of $5 million. Faced with criticism of his cabinet, Canadas first prime minister John A. Macdonald declared: Give me better wood and I will build you a better cabinet. With 40 MLAs to choose from, premier-designate Pallister has plenty of good wood from which to build a cabinet. Talented veteran and first time MLAs may be left out of cabinet. There are a few other jobs as legislative assistants, as chairs of legislative committees and positions within caucus to bestow on disappointed backbench followers. A promise to increase or shuffle cabinet after a couple of years might be another way to forestall caucus unrest, but rest assured, in all likelihood the Pallister cabinet will grow over time as the demands for political representation and inclusion trump the arguments for efficiency and modest savings gained from shrinking the cabinet back to its size in the 1960s. Paul G. Thomas is a professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. If you knew that virtually the entire medical community was talking about an issue causing risk and harm to patients across the country, wouldnt you want to know what it is and take part in the conversation? What if I told you that almost one-third of medical care in Canada is unnecessary and that over-testing and treatment is on the rise? Doctors across the country are taking note and sounding the alarm on potential risks. My bet is patients want to know if their medical tests and treatments are exposing them to undue harm. They need to be empowered to ask about the risks caused by some tests and treatments, and whether they are really necessary. Remember when patients used to get their tonsils out when they had recurring sore throats? That doesnt happen anymore because we realized it was overkill. The conversation that is sweeping the medical community, both here and abroad, is called Choosing Wisely. Choosing Wisely began in the United States in 2012 and we started it in Canada in 2014. Part of our goal is to empower patients with information that enables them to speak to their doctor about whats right for them and whats not the best choice. Many within the medical community believe we are facing an epidemic of over-diagnosis and overtreatment. Our campaign, Choosing Wisely Canada, is about improving care and doing tests and treatments that help, not harm, patients. It is not about containing cost. While cost of care is important for our overall health system, as doctors, our first and foremost concern is the health of our patients, and we realize things must change in order to ensure the treatments we prescribe are truly having the positive effect on patient health they are intended to have. Heres why both patients and doctors need to change. Patients sometimes ask for tests and treatments that are not necessarily in their best interest. And doctors often struggle with decisions about prescribing tests and procedures as a way of covering all possible bases. Heres an example. The overuse of powerful radiation scans such as CT and X-ray exposes patients to unnecessary radiation and increases cancer risk. People would be surprised to know how many patients ask their doctor for a CT scan because they have a headache or low back pain. Doctors often feel pressured to order the tests their patients request. Another example: some patients are being overprescribed antibiotics. The overuse and/or misuse of antibiotics in Canada needs to be talked about because it has real and potentially serious consequences. This includes more instances of antibiotic resistant superbugs such as C.diff being seen in hospitals across Canada. We need to change doctors practices to align with best practice by getting them to stop using various interventions that are not supported by evidence. We need patients to consider tests and treatments may sometimes not be necessary and may have potential risks and side-effects. Part of this discussion has to include everyones expectations of doctor-patient interactions. Too often both sides feel a prescription or an ordered test should be the end result. But many times, less is more, and no treatment is the best treatment. Our campaign encourages working together to combat a culture of more is better, where the onus is on doctors to do something at each consultation, which has bred unbalanced decision-making. Neither the patient nor the doctor is at fault. Patients often go to Dr. Google to self-diagnose, get scared and rush to their doctor looking for some invasive test. Doctors often want to ensure they have left no stone unturned so they order more tests or procedures than are necessary. We need to change the patient/doctor relationship in order to ensure we eliminate unnecessary medicine. We need to create a health culture, a patient-doctor relationship, in which patients arent afraid to ask their doctors about the risks versus benefits of a test or procedure and where doctors feel more comfortable explaining to patients why they might not be necessary. That sort of relationship will be a healthy one. Dr. Wendy Levinson is Chair of Choosing Wisely Canada (www.choosingwisely.ca) and an expert with EvidenceNetwork.ca. I once started touring town with a crown on my head, going from diner to gas station to 4-H festival to church breakfast, announcing myself as Miss Pennsylvania, perfecting my half-smile and perky wave along the way. I did this because, even though I never participated in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant and, in fact, never had a date in high school, I badly needed some momentum in my love life. I figured that if I acted like Id won a beauty contest, Id eventually meet a nice doctor. Or something. Of course, I didnt actually do this. Even if I had attempted to snatch a crown from the pedestal of history, I wouldnt win. One look at my hair and somewhat-lopsided eyes is a testament to the fact that I am the kind of woman grandmothers used to sit by their sides on Saturday nights to watch Lawrence Welk. The point I am inartfully trying to make is that one does not put the cart before the horse, especially if ones horse is three steps away from the glue factory. Which brings me to Ted Cruz. The GOP candidate who is, by all accounts, trailing Donald Trump in both delegates and the popular vote is not only not throwing in the towel, he is wrapping it around his head like a turban and pretending to be the Amazing Kreskin who will, poof!, extract a convention victory out of Carly Fiorinas mouth. On Wednesday afternoon, Cruz announced that Fiorina was going to be competing in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant. No, scratch that. What he announced was that Fiorina would be his vice president pick in the general election, which he has apparently convinced himself he will be running in against either Hillary Clinton or the person who hires a member of the Salvadoran drug gang MS-18 to kidnap the former secretary of state and keep her incommunicado until November. Because essentially, that is the only way that Hillary make sure you dont forget the Rodham Clinton is going to be AWOL come autumn. She is inevitable. Cruz, on the other hand, is far from inevitable. His numbers, while better than those of John Kasich, are nothing compared to the juggernaut, Trump. And while the political honchos are still weaving scenarios in which there could be a contested convention and Cruz could snatch the nomination from Trump, those of us who are not hitting our heads against the looking glass have sadly come to the realization that it will be a Trump-Clinton contest after the conventions. This is sort of like the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, only with more testosterone. So when I watched the senator from Texas get up to the podium and, after a long preamble, announce his VP choice, I was perplexed. It was just like my fantasy of pretending to have won Miss Pennsylvania, only my fantasy played out in my head while Cruz was exposing his to an audience of hopeful-but-ultimately-puzzled supporters. Dont get me wrong. I think Fiorina is magnificent. During the early debates, she wiped the floor with whoever else was on stage next to her, and she held her own with Trump when he went on one of his misogynistic rants about her face. I, for one, dont understand the insults because I think she is very attractive, but my judgment is suspect. I wore rayon well beyond the 1970s. And yet, that is an irrelevancy, which everyone except Trump seems to understand. The way a woman looks should have no bearing on the way she is perceived by voters, and I say this as a person who is frequently told that she needs a drastic makeover (so you could only imagine what Id get if I ran for public office). Many people have also attacked Fiorinas business record, continually pointing to the massive job losses suffered at Hewlett-Packard on her watch. But the majority of those who have examined her history at both HP and in the business world in general have a strong and positive opinion of her abilities. Furthermore, her intelligence is awesome, and she easily dwarfs 90 percent of the people still running in the election (her new running mate being the possible exception) when it comes to brain power. And yet, it is strange, and premature to be talking about what a great vice president Fiorina would be and I think shed be a great one when the person at the top of her purported ticket has a slim-to-none chance of actually being the presidential nominee in July. This does not mean that I dont want him to be the nominee. Id take anyone over Trump at this point, including the barista at my local Starbucks who finally figured out that my name is spelled with Ch and not a K. The kid clearly has a steep learning curve, but hes learning. I cant say the same for Trump. With Cruz, I know Ill be getting smart, and with Fiorina, I know Ill be getting tough. The two of them together would make a formidable team. But the premature announcement looks like a Hail Mary pass made by a kid in the Pop Warner league to his mother. It looks juvenile, amateur and desperate. Or, it could just be that magical thinking I was talking about, where you steal a crown and start parading yourself around as a winner despite all the evidence to the contrary. And that just makes you look crazy. Which doesnt usually win elections. At least, not up till now. Have you even been intruded upon by somebody elses public porn consumption? A quiet young woman in one of my classes wanted to know if she could ask a question about college etiquette (her term). A sophomore who appeared not to be feeling quite at home on our big campus, I expected her to ask about a roommate squabble or a tricky club membership issue. Instead she surprised me with this: Is it impolite for me to ask the guy who sits in front of me in one of those huge lecture courses to turn off his porn while the teachers speaking? Its, like, really distracting. The tone she used was one shed employ to inquire which fork to begin with at a formal dinner or whether she should fold her napkin between courses. This student watches entire dirty movies on his laptop during a 9 a.m. class and not just clips. She doesnt want to move because shes left-handed and snagged one of the few seats designed for lefties. Naturally the university where I teach has a detailed policy against discrimination and harassment explicitly stating that academic and professional excellence can exist only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect. Sexual harassment may include the public display of pornographic materials so my bet is that the kid watching hard-core movies could be disciplined were he brought up on charges. But my student didnt want to press charges or even tell the professor. I asked if shed permit me to act on her behalf but she declined. She wouldnt name the course. All she wanted, she insisted, was to figure out how to pay attention in class without making the porn-watcher feel uncomfortable or making herself seem like the sex police. But watching porn in class raises other questions as well, such as: Why on earth would anybody do that? Seriously, kid? Do you watch porn in class while youre having your first cup of coffee and then watch the professors lectures at home and take notes by yourself? I also want to know whos paying for this kids education, because somebody is picking up the bill: either his family, the state or the institution is securing him the right to occupy that seat. Porn Boy is here at the expense of someone else: Another applicant was rejected so that Porn Boy could have the privilege of attending class. Yes, pornography has existed since the beginning of time. Folks have created dirty pictures since we first drew in the mud with sticks, but one thing I can tell you is that the final exam will not include a matching quiz based on Virgins from the Planet Pleasure. It isnt just where I teach, either, and it isnt even just college. In a recent issue of Time magazine, Belinda Luscombe describes a 28-year-old named Gabe Deem as growing up in an era when what used to be considered X-rated was becoming mainstream, so that he and his friends watched explicit videos constantly ... even during class on their school-issued laptops. I wanted to help my student understand that the problem was not hers even though she was upset by it. I remembered that Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners, addressed the issue of dealing nicely with smut-watchers at work. As if to illustrate my ignorance, when we searched online for Miss Manners I tripped over a startling number of sites featuring a Miss Manners having nothing do with the distinguished 77-year-old Washington Post columnist. (As my friend Angel once said, Not all searches for blonde ponies get you where you thought youd get.) We did finally locate Judith Martins line. It was in response to a woman asking how she might innocuously make her male co-workers stop showing her degrading material. Martin summed it up wonderfully: Your question is almost like asking for a polite way to let a flasher know that his trousers are open. I suggested that my student needed to embrace some outrage, find some humor and use a loud-girl voice to say, Hey, friend, how about keeping your private tabs closed? Dont do that here. Thanks. Some things transcend etiquette. Watching porn in public is one of them. Rada committee says Ukraine should appoint ambassadors to NATO, number of states as soon as possible The Verkhovna Rada committee on foreign affairs has expressed its concern that with not much time remaining before the NATO summit in Warsaw, Ukraine has no ambassador to NATO. "I am also concerned because there will be the NATO summit in Warsaw in July, and we have no ambassador in our mission to NATO in Brussels and this is a catastrophe," Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian parliament Hanna Hopko said in Kyiv last week. Hopko recalled that a number of states, including Georgia, Belarus, and Ukraine do not have such ambassadors. According to her, she has repeatedly asked both Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and President Petro Poroshenko to make such appointment as quickly as possible, but the problem has not been addressed. "I have talked twice with the president alone about the appointment of the ambassadors [this year], let alone, with Mr. Klimkin. But it seems to me, he [Klimkin] cannot resolve this matter as it is settled at the level of the presidential administration. And this is one of our problems - we have a minister, but the personnel issues are solved in the presidential administration," the MP stressed. Hopko also said that the committee on foreign affairs "has sent three letters addressed to the president" regarding this matter, but in response received only run-around replies from the presidential administration head Borys Lozhkin. Several weeks ago, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith visited the city of Dennison to see first-hand our obsolete lift station and publicly pledged state support to replace it. In the grand scheme of things, we are just a small fish in the pond when it comes to state bonding requests. The bigger cities usually have more influence because they have the money to hire lobbyists or consultants to push for their projects. As a small town, we have to be more creative and resourceful. During this process Ive proven our lift station is a need and not a want. That in order for my community to survive and prosper, we need state help. Im determined to not let my community fall through the cracks or be forgotten by the legislators in St. Paul, and I believe this is a time in our states history for small towns to stand up and say enough is enough. The common practice of dumping more dept on the local taxpayers to finance essential infrastructure projects isnt sustainable or fair. On top of that, how can my town compete with neighboring communities for new businesses and residential development when our property taxes are going through the roof? As mayor of a small town, I believe its my duty to ensure the drinking water is safe and our infrastructure is maintained properly. The Flint, Michigan water crisis is a reminder that our water systems shouldnt be taken for granted. We are all interconnected, whether we like it or not. Thats why Ill keep fighting for my small town and others throughout the state. I appreciate the support from Gov. Dayton and Lt. Gov. Smith for our bonding request. Im not sure how large the final state bonding will be, but the initial amount proposed by the House Republicans is totally unacceptable. The bonding bill and our project shouldnt be a partisan battle. We have way too many infrastructure needs in this state to play the usual political games. In a multi-jurisdictional incident that shut down a stretch of Interstate 39-90-94 in both directions for several hours, two Columbia County Sheriffs deputies on Sunday afternoon shot an armed man on the highway near DeForest. The man was a suspect in a drive-by shooting that critically injured a woman in Sauk County and the fatal shooting of a West Allis man earlier in the day. The man shot by deputies was a 20-year-old man from West Allis. He was taken to UW Hospital by MedFlight helicopter, according to a statement late Sunday by the Dane County Sheriffs Office. His condition was unavailable. The complex chain of incidents began when West Allis Police responded to the fatal shooting of a man at an apartment building in the 2300 block of South 92nd Street. At about 2:55 p.m., the Sauk County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a drive-by shooting on Interstate 90-94 near mile marker 95. The female shooting victim from that incident was taken to St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo and then UW Hospital, where she remained in critical condition Sunday night. Another witness then called 911 to report following the suspect vehicle in the Sauk County drive-by shooting, a Chevrolet SUV, east on Interstate 90-94 in Columbia County, heading toward Dane County. At about 3:20 p.m., the SUV entered Dane County, where road spikes disabled it. The driver was the 20-year-old man from West Allis, who got out of the vehicle armed with a handgun and began to move toward law enforcement, according to the Dane County Sheriffs Office. The suspect was shot by the Columbia County deputies after he ignored verbal commands to stop, according to the statement. Two male passengers inside the SUV, ages 30 and 34, were not injured. One was transported to Meriter Hospital as a precaution, and was treated and released to police. Both passengers were taken to the Dane County Jail in connection with the Sauk County drive-by shooting. The location of the police shooting was on I-39/90/94 at mile marker 125 near DeForest, just south of the Dane County line, according to the Dane County 911 Center. Around the same time as the DeForest and Sauk County shooting incidents, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported all lanes of traffic on I-39/90/94 were shut down in both directions between Highway 51 and Highway 60 so that law enforcement could respond to the shooting near DeForest. The five-hour shutdown caused lengthy traffic backups. Shortly before 8 p.m. on Sunday, the northbound lanes of I-39/90/94 were reopened, the DOT confirmed. The southbound lanes were reopened at 10:54 p.m. DOJ investigators late Sunday night were assisting the West Allis Police Department, the State Patrol, the Dane County Sheriffs Office and the Columbia County Sheriffs Office with the continuing investigation. The DOJ said the public faced no further danger from the suspected perpetrators of the incidents. The victim of a drive-by shooting on the Interstate in Sauk County was apparently targeted at random, authorities said Monday, revealing more details about what led to the police shooting of a 20-year-old man on the highway near DeForest on Sunday. The series of events started in West Allis, where the suspect allegedly shot and killed a 42-year-old man in an apartment building just before 7 a.m., according to the Associated Press. The suspect, a West Allis resident whom police did not name, left the city in a silver 1998 Chevrolet S10 Blazer, which police said was involved later in the drive-by shooting. That incident, which happened at about 2:55 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 90-94 about 3 miles southeast of the Highway 12 exit at Lake Delton, critically injured a 44-year-old Illinois woman. Armed man, suspected in 2 shootings, shot by police on I-39/90/94 near DeForest In a multi-jurisdictional incident that shut down a stretch of Interstate 39-90-94 in both directions for several hours, two Columbia County Sheriffs deputies on Sunday afternoon shot an armed man on the highway near DeForest. The suspect allegedly fired three shots into a BMW sedan occupied by an Illinois family that had been visiting Wisconsin Dells. One of the shots hit the woman riding in the front passenger seat in the neck. Her husband, who was driving, and two children were not hit, Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said. The woman was in very critical condition Monday, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said, declining to reveal any more information. He said, however, that the vehicle appeared to have been targeted randomly. Meister said the husband was passing the Blazer when the driver of the Blazer rolled down his window and fired the three rounds into the BMW. The husband then pulled over and tried to help his wife until emergency responders arrived. The suspect also shot at and hit a Nissan sedan at least once around the same time, authorities said, but the female driver from Florida was not hurt. Anytime you have an individual shooting at vehicles at high speeds, theres always that potential of great danger, Mahoney said. After the suspect shot the Illinois woman, police pursued the Blazer on eastbound I-90-94 starting in Columbia County and ending on I-39-90-94 near DeForest in Dane County, with the police shooting at about 3:20 p.m. Authorities said the chase lasted about 12 minutes. The suspect was shot by two Columbia County detectives after his Blazer was stopped by road spikes and surrounded by officers. He was fired on by the deputies as he exited the vehicle armed with a handgun and moved toward officers, ignoring verbal commands to stop, according to the Dane County Sheriffs Office. The 20-year-old man who was shot and his two male passengers ages 30 and 34 and said to be the 20-year-olds brothers are suspects in the Sauk County drive-by shooting, authorities said. Law enforcement authorities declined to name the suspect who was shot or his brothers. The 20-year-old alone is suspected in the fatal shooting of the West Allis man in an apartment building in the 2300 block of South 92nd Street early Sunday. A 911 caller who witnessed the drive-by shooting in Sauk County told the county 911 center there was one victim in a vehicle at that location. That sent Dells-Delton EMS and law enforcement officers from the State Patrol, Lake Delton police and the Sauk County Sheriffs Office to the scene, where the critically injured woman was found. She was taken to a Baraboo hospital and then to UW Hospital, authorities said. Another witness called 911 to report following the Blazer from the drive-by shooting, traveling east on I-90-94 in Columbia County toward Dane County. That information prompted State Patrol troopers, a DNR warden, a Lodi police officer and sheriffs deputies from Columbia and Dane counties to work together to intercept, or follow, the Blazer, Mahoney said. That provided time for Dane County sheriffs deputies to put down road spikes on I-39-90-94 about 6 miles north of the Highway 19 exit near DeForest, where the Blazer was disabled and the 20-year-old left the vehicle armed with the handgun and was shot, authorities said. The man who was shot was then taken to UW Hospital by MedFlight emergency helicopter. Authorities declined to release his condition at Mondays press conference, held at the State Patrols station in DeForest. The two other men in the SUV were locked up in the Dane County jail after one of them, as a precaution, was taken to Meriter Hospital and treated and released to the custody of deputies, the Sheriffs Office said. Detectives on Monday were processing evidence including a second gun they said was found in the Blazer and following up on interviews with witnesses. Investigators asked anyone who saw the incidents on the Interstate and anyone with information about the Blazer to call the Dane County tip line at 608-284-6900. JUNEAU Dodge County may join a coalition to promote regional economic development. Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium director Genevieve Coady appeared before the Dodge County Executive committee on Monday to promote a collaboration. Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium created a public-private nonprofit organization in an effort to work on community development and tourism. That group has launched the Glacial Heritage Development Partnership 2017-21 strategic initiative We see the benefit of looking beyond the county lines, Coady said. The goal is to retain and seek new businesses. In order to help make an impact, we have to create incentives, Coady said. Coady said they work at finding the companies looking for the work force and other qualities the area offers. The effort would supplement what communities already have in place. The $4.1 million, five-year strategic initiative has three primary goals. Those goals are: To attract, develop and align talent, Growing businesses, jobs and capital investments, Driving communications and tourism. It involves having private and public leaders sitting on the board, Coady said. Coady had three scenarios that would allow Dodge County to join the public-private coalition. Each scenario is intended to provide an initial opportunity for the Dodge County leadership to explore a formal partnership with the work of GHDP for the term of 2017-21, Coady wrote in a memorandum to the county. If the partnership is successful, either during the term or at its close, the partnership could be expanded through a number of areas. The plan would supplement what was already in place in the county, Coady said. Scenario one would cost the county $20,000 annually for five years and would include the southern third of Dodge County to join the GHPD Strategic Initiative. One seat on the GHDP board of directors would be established for a Dodge County representative. The existing Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium staff would cover the area. Scenario two would cost the county $70,000 annually for five years and would cover the southern third and eastern half of Dodge County. Two seats on GHDP board of directors and a potential seat on the GHDP executive committee would be established for a Dodge County representative. The existing Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium staff would cover the area. Dodge County would provide office space for a staff member to support existing businesses in Dodge County. Scenario three would cost $85,000 annually for five years and would cover the entire county. Three seats on the GHDP board of directors and a potential seat n the executive committee would be established for a Dodge County representative. A program manager would be placed in Dodge County as well as the rest of the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium staff working to cover the area. The Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium, including the member communities of Cambridge, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Waterloo, Watertown, and Whitewater, was founded more than a decade ago. Dodge County Chairman Russell Kottke said the county will hold a meeting with town and city leaders to determine what type of support there is for the program. Kent Borden Kent J. Borden, 49, Beaver Dam, passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at his home after a remarkable fight against a cancerous brain tumor. Kent was born Dec. 14, 1966, to Ralph and Marjorie (Havemann) Borden in Beaver Dam. He was a 1985 graduate of Beaver Dam High School and also a graduate of UW-Madison. As a young man Kent worked at Sentry Foods, the Borden family grocery store in Beaver Dam. He later worked in sales and ran his own energy auditing company in Milwaukee. Kent loved the outdoors especially hunting and fishing. He enjoyed music and was considered a foodie who loved cooking and eating. Kent competed in two Wisconsin Iron Man competitions. He was considered a conservationist who was very conscious of caring for the environment. Kent will especially be remembered as a wonderful friend who was always willing to help, share and enjoy lifes wonder. Kent is survived by his brother, Brian Borden; his goddaughter, Avery Smith; nieces, nephews, cousins, many, many special friends, as well as his special companion, his pet dog Dexter. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jeffrey. A memorial gathering will be held Friday, May 6, from 1 p.m. to the time of the memorial service at 3 p.m. at Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with John Leiting as celebrant. Burial was held on his private hunting land. Memorials in Kents name will be directed to the Dodge County Humane Society, Wisconsin Public Radio, or the Friends of Horicon Marsh Education & Visitor Center. Deepest and heartfelt gratitude to the angel that helped and shared Kents difficult journey these last years. Joe Schiavone, youve blessed us all. Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.koepsellfh.com. Manure has been blamed for much of the bacteria and viruses that pollute Wisconsin drinking water, but contamination from human waste is a problem, too. Failing septic systems, leaking public sewer pipes and landspreading of septic waste can introduce dangerous pathogens into both rural and urban water systems. In June 2007, 229 people were sickened by a norovirus in Door County while eating at a restaurant. Seven were hospitalized as a result of a pathogen known for spreading illness on cruise ships. The source: a leaky septic system. In 2012, a microbiologist published research that linked widespread gastrointestinal illnesses in 14 Wisconsin communities to viruses in the public water systems. Further research showed the contaminants were likely coming from leaking municipal sewage lines. That same year, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that top Department of Natural Resources officials went easy on a political supporter of Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, after the donor was caught violating septic waste spreading rules on fields near 40 drinking water wells, potentially exposing residents to nitrate, which can cause blue baby syndrome, and illness-causing pathogens. In 1993, Wisconsin experienced the most deadly waterborne disease outbreak in U.S. history. One hundred people died and 403,000 became sick in Milwaukee when cryptosporidium contaminated the citys drinking water. Lab tests confirmed the parasite had come from human waste. Some experts say the states septic regulations and well standards are not adequate to protect public health in areas of Wisconsin with fractured bedrock, such as Door County. In addition, municipal water systems in Wisconsin are not required to test for or treat water to kill viruses because the Legislature in 2011 rescinded a rule that would have mandated such action. And a study by a retired hydrogeologist has found that the state sometimes fails to enforce regulations that ban spreading untreated septic waste on fields vulnerable to groundwater pollution. Septic systems are the main line of defense in rural areas against water contamination from human waste. The potentially lethal waterborne disease outbreak at a new restaurant in Door County in June 2007 illustrates the weakness of existing regulation, especially in areas with fractured bedrock. In a 2011 paper in the journal Ground Water, a team of Wisconsin scientists investigated the outbreak, which began with four employees who got acute gastroenteritis. The virus that caused the sickness also was detected in the restaurants new water well and septic system. Researchers concluded that the cracked bedrock under the restaurant, which is common in eastern Wisconsin, allowed waste from the broken septic system to move rapidly into the restaurants drinking water well. The scientists noted that Door County and other areas that sit atop such karst geology have long dealt with the vulnerability of their fractured limestone aquifers to such contamination. They cited a Nov. 22, 1955, headline from the Door County Advocate newspaper warning that local geology had been tied to cases of summer flu. Most residents, the researchers wrote, assume that waste from septic systems is biodegraded by soil on the way down to the groundwater and then safely diluted. But that is not always true. Experts: Stricter rules needed The researchers recommended that the state should reconsider allowing conventional septic systems to be built above fractured limestone aquifers, especially those serving facilities such as restaurants that generate a lot of wastewater. John Teichtler, Door Countys sanitarian, said recent surveys show that about one-third of 6,450 septic systems inspected in his county were classified as failing to work. Teichtler said systems are considered to be failing when they do not meet current standards requiring 3 feet of soil to bedrock, are discharging to the surface or allowing waste to back up into buildings. Sampling results in Door County, according to the University of Wisconsin-Extension, show that at any one time in the county, at least one-third of the private wells contain bacteria from animal or human waste. Ken Bradbury, director of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and one of the authors of the Ground Water paper, said he believes the states septic laws must be updated to account for the susceptibility of areas such as Door County. There is still the perception that just because there is a septic system that meets code, everything is fine, Bradbury said. Well, everything is not fine. In its 2015 report to the Legislature, the Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council, a multi-agency panel that advises state government on drinking water issues, also issued a stern call for tougher rules for septic systems and well construction in geology marked by fractured bedrock. Current requirements in these areas, the report said, are inadequate to protect public health and the environment. Despite the dangers of contamination from septic systems, Gov. Scott Walker last year proposed eliminating the Wisconsin Fund, which provides money for low-income families to replace failing systems. The fund provided $2.3 million to 500 low-income property owners in 2014-15. Officials in Shawano County, which opposed Walkers proposal, pegged the cost of replacing a septic system at $6,000 to $7,000 for a traditional system and as much as $14,000 for a mound system that provides more protection in areas of fractured bedrock. In the final budget, the Legislature partially restored the fund but slashed it to $1.6 million this year and $840,000 in 2016-17 a move criticized by John Hausbeck, who oversees Dane Countys septic program. There are homeowners everywhere in the state that do not have the money to replace a septic system, Hausbeck said. So they limp along until they end up with water contamination. Landspreading under fire Enforcement of state laws regulating landspreading of septic waste on farm fields also has come under criticism. In 2015, a citizen watchdog group called the Dunn County Groundwater Guardian Community found 150 sites on which the state DNR allows spreading of septic waste that were below or near the minimum standard for proper soil percolation, or the rate at which water and contaminants move through the soil. Under state law, fields with soil percolation rates greater than 6 inches per hour cannot be used for landspreading. Neil Koch, a retired hydrologist who organized the citizen group and developed the map of percolation rates, found that 150 of the 400 sites used for spreading septic waste in Dunn County had rates of 5 to 20 inches per hour. Koch said the DNR also recently told him the agency had failed to notify him of an additional 90 landspreading sites in the county. In a March letter to Koch, Susan Sylvester, director of the DNRs Water Quality Bureau, acknowledged that the sites he identified did not meet minimal requirements but said reduced application rates were approved because of a low threat to drinking water. Sylvester said lime is added to the waste to kill pathogens, and exposure to sunlight and heat further reduce the risk. Sylvester added, however, that the agency is reevaluating septage and other landspreading sites throughout Wisconsin. And she noted that compliance checks in Wood County have prompted an increase in septage being hauled to wastewater treatment plants an option Koch has identified as an easy solution to the problem. Improper application of septic waste in Dunn County, Koch said, may be the tip of the iceberg. Viruses in water also cause illness Numerous water experts also say the state is failing to protect Wisconsin residents from human and animal viruses in municipal drinking water supplies some of it tied to leaky municipal sewer systems. Neither federal nor state rules require municipalities to disinfect drinking water drawn from groundwater, which supplies about two-thirds of the states potable water, nor are municipalities required to test for viruses. Viruses are a relative newcomer to the list of pathogens known to endanger drinking water. But the science behind their presence and their impact on the health of thousands is already well-documented. Researcher and microbiologist Mark Borchardt discovered viruses in Wisconsin groundwater in a series of studies while working for Marshfield Clinic. In 2004, for example, Borchardt found that 50 percent of water samples collected from four La Crosse municipal wells tested positive for disease-causing viruses, including enteroviruses, rotavirus, hepatitis A and norovirus. During 2006 and 2007, Borchardt looked at 14 Wisconsin communities with populations above 1,300 that did not disinfect their municipal water. Tap water was tested, and 621 households were surveyed to determine if viruses were making families sick. The studies showed that nearly one-quarter of the samples taken from home faucets were swimming with viruses that can cause illness. Among the 1,079 children and 580 adults surveyed, there were 1,843 cases of acute gastrointestinal illness during the study period. Borchardt attributed 6 to 22 percent of the cases to contaminated drinking water. Researchers also found that up to 63 percent of acute gastrointestinal illnesses among children younger than age 5 were likely caused by norovirus in the drinking water. Subsequent studies showed the source of the viruses to be leaking municipal sewer pipes, according to a UW-Extension article by Madeline Gotkowitz, a hydrogeologist with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. Many of these sewers date back to the early 1900s, wrote Gotkowitz, and they are cracked and leaky. Inward leakage to these pipes often causes overflows at sewage treatment plants during large rainstorms. However, these pipes also leak raw sewage outward and are common sources of groundwater pollution in urban areas, towns and villages. The research illustrates the crucial link between maintenance of infrastructure and water quality. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimated in 2013 that it would cost Wisconsin $7.1 billion to adequately maintain and upgrade drinking water systems over the next 20 years. Municipal wastewater treatment updates and repairs alone would cost about $6.4 billion, the group found. Several years ago, the city of Adams in Adams County replaced its entire water and sewer system. When workers dug up sections of sewer line, they discovered the old clay pipes had disintegrated, city administrator Bob Ellisor told the Wisconsin State Journal in 2009. There were some areas where the sewer didnt exist anymore, Ellisor said. The sewage wasn't really making it to the sewage plant. A relatively simple way to ensure the safety of water is to disinfect it, Gotkowitz wrote. Yet, the state does not require such treatment even in the face of Borchardts studies. In 2009, under Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, the Natural Resources Board passed a rule requiring disinfection of municipal water by 2013. But in 2011, the Republican-controlled Legislature blocked it on a largely party-line vote. As of February, 56 communities in Wisconsin serving nearly 65,000 people did not treat their water for viruses, according to a report published by Wisconsin Public Radio citing DNR figures. Among the lawmakers who helped block the rule was then-Rep. Erik Severson, R-Star Prairie, a physician. He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that residents would probably prefer occasional sickness to the cost of upgrading municipal water systems. Todd Ambs, who was the head of the DNRs Water Division until 2010, recalls being shocked by the decision. Ambs now heads the nonprofit Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, which includes more than 100 groups dedicated to restoring the health of the Great Lakes. Said Ambs: That may be, to me, the worst piece of legislation that has gone through the Legislature. Former Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Kvit has been appointed a non-staff advisor to the president of Ukraine. Poroshenko signed relevant decree on April 29, his press office reported. As reported, Kvit headed the Education and Science Ministry in the government of Arseniy Yatseniuk. On April 14, 2016, the Verkhovna Rada backed the resignation of Prime Minister Yatseniuk, and all the government was dismissed automatically. In the new government led by Volodymyr Hroysman, the post of the education and science minister went to the head of the relevant parliamentary committee, Lilia Hrynevych. Student activists pushing to improve the experiences of minorities at UW-Madison say the wind is at their backs. In recent weeks, hundreds of people attended a demonstration for their cause at the heart of the campus, administrators announced plans for new cultural competency training for students and top UW officials, and people affiliated with the movement won a bloc of seats in student government. But now the students face a challenge that has long dogged campus activists: how to keep their energy up as students leave Madison for the summer. There is a lot of energy and a lot of momentum that were looking to build upon, said Kenneth Cole, a UW-Madison undergraduate and a leader of the BlackOut protest group. Friday is the last day of classes for UW-Madisons spring semester; finals will be over about a week later. Just because were going into the summer does not mean that the momentum has to die down, Cole said. One reason protest organizers dont want their energy to dissipate along with the crowds on campus is that they see their work as unfinished. They acknowledge administrators have made some changes over the course of a spring semester marked by racist incidents at UW-Madison, and a school year in which students across the country have drawn attention to the racial climates at predominantly white colleges and universities. But Michael Davis, a graduate student who helped organize the large April 21 protest against the arrest of a student on vandalism charges, said UW-Madisons problems which led minority students to share their experiences with racism under the Twitter hashtag #TheRealUW are far from solved. The progress, if any, has been extremely limited and not directed at structural change, Davis said. Its really been rooted at upholding the universitys image. Changes coming over summer UW officials will spend the summer carrying out a range of new initiatives announced this semester that are aimed at addressing some of the students grievances. Top UW-Madison administrators, including Chancellor Rebecca Blank, will take part in racial awareness training, as will some new students; University Health Services will hire two new mental health counselors, following calls for more resources to help students of color; a committee will review about 100 proposals for improving the racial climate on campus. In April, the UW System announced it will create a task force to study the experiences of minority students across the state and make recommendations for improvements. Still, Davis and Cole say the racial climate that precipitated the high-profile incidents at UW-Madison this year will essentially be the same when students return for the fall semester. None of the tangible changes we want to see ... will be acted upon or completed over the summer, Cole said. Activists look to keep pressure on Though they both grew up outside Wisconsin, Davis and Cole plan to spend the summer organizing with fellow students in Madison, while staying in touch, through social media, with peers who have left town. So that we can hit the ground next semester running, Cole said. They also want to keep pressuring UW administrators during the break. Davis, who works with the campus Black Liberation Action Coalition and the Madison community activism group Freedom Inc., declined to say how those organizations plan to act in coming months. Cole, an organizer of several protests that have interrupted meetings of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, said students plan to attend the boards June meeting in Milwaukee. We want to make sure that we are active over the summer, he said.Cole also plans to use the break to write policy proposals and refine ideas he hopes to advance next school year as a new member of the Associated Students of Madisons Student Council. He and other members of the Blind Side a group of students, many of whom have been involved in recent protests, running on what Cole described as a social justice platform won 16 of the 29 open seats on the council this spring. Members will seek leadership positions in student government, with Cole running for ASM chair, at a council meeting late Sunday. Cole laid out an ambitious, wide-ranging agenda for ASM to pursue in the coming school year, saying he plans to push UW-Madison to start a food program for low-income students, stop purchasing goods from the prison labor company Badger State Industries, address students affordable housing needs and build centers for black and Arab-American students, among other initiatives. The movement has not died, Cole said. The real change is actually going to be occurring when we come back into school next semester. WYOCENA Richard Rychlewski had a very good reason for feeling wary of participating in Saturdays Badger Honor Flight. The 88-year-old Korean War veteran had never been on an airplane. Rychlewski overcame his fear of flying, seizing a chance for something to remember for the rest of your life, he reported Monday. The Columbia Health Care Center resident and Milwaukee native traveled with about 80 other Wisconsin veterans to view war memorials in Washington D.C. an experience that, for Rychlewski, started at takeoff. When youre looking down, youre seeing everything small, and when you get above the clouds, it seems like its nothing but snow up there, Rychlewski said. It confuses you as to where youre at all you see is white. Rychlewskis trip was made possible thanks to CHCC volunteers who raised $500 so that Rychlewskis daughter, Esther Martin of Portage, could attend as his guardian. Badger Honor Flights pay for veterans expenses, but not for guardians. This is to show the respect and appreciation for what they did for us, for their country, said Dianna Lang, director of Activity Therapy at CHCC, located in Wyocena. Lang and a few other volunteers from CHCC attended Rychlewskis welcome-back ceremony at Madison airport. It was so emotional watching that, Lang said. Watching it, all we could say was, I just want to cry, I just want to cry. To watch it all unfold on Saturday was really amazing. In her 30 years at CCHC, Lang noted, the center has held ceremonies for Veterans Day and Memorial Day events that always trigger emotional responses among veterans and remind you how important it is to support them. For them to still be so affected after all these years its heartbreaking, Lang said. When CCHC first learned of the Badger Honor Flight, they had no idea how great it was, Lang said. Since that time, theyve learned everything about the program and its super group of volunteers, who arrange elaborate ceremonies for veterans in both Washington and Madison, mail calls with thank-you letters from children and lawmakers, and transportation to memorials, among other features. The biggest thrill I got out of it was the children, Rychlewski said. They had the children and grown-ups welcoming us like we were like celebrities. Everybodys waving to you. Rychlewski moved to CHCC to be closer to Martin. He is a U.S. Army veteran who ranked as corporal, serving from 1951 to 1955. Im still kind of nervous about the whole thing, he said. Believe me, by time youre to the end of it, it fills you up. I tell you, its just something thats out of the ordinary. You get that special attention, that special respect for everything. Its hard to believe theyre doing this for us, and believe me we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate this very, very much. Would Rychlewski get on an airplane again? Yes, I hopefully could make another trip now that Im used to riding in a jet, Rychlewski said with a laugh. Whatever comes up: if they need me, Ill be ready to serve my country. WASHINGTON, D.C. A soft mist blown by a breeze from the foamy fountains at the WWII Memorial on April 30 landed on more than 80 Wisconsin veterans who had just flown in on the Badger Honor Flight. Among them was 83-year old Paul Anderson of DeForest, a former Army secret intelligence officer during the Korean War, seated in his wheelchair so close to the pool of fountains his guardian, Steve White stood closely by to keep the chair under control. Doctors have told Anderson his diagnosis of myeloproliferative disorder, a group of cancers in which immature blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature or become healthy blood cells, is fatal. Its what put Anderson at the top of the waiting list for the Badger Honor Flight, which flies veterans to Washington four times each year to visit the war memorials. But Anderson was animated as he used his cane as an imaginary bugle that he tooted across the pool of water, and sang a song he wrote himself called Keep Smiling. Other tourists gathered around the pool with their cell phones capturing images of that moment and laughing along with him. Anderson played the role of comedian on the trip, making other veterans around him laugh at his jokes before, during and after the flight. The other people on that flight, if they can just smile and I can stop and help them do that a little bit, thats what we need, Anderson said after the flight. We need to give of ourselves more and help other people because were also helping ourselves. Journey begins The laughter and camaraderie started at 5 a.m. with the send-off from the Dane County Airport in Madison, where the sound of a brass band filled the concourse, a color guard marched and veterans were seated for the kickoff speeches and introductions before boarding the flight. The arrival at Washingtons Ronald Reagan National Airport sent them into the handshakes of strangers people they didnt know and will never see again cheerily thanking each one for their service and wishing them well on their tour of the city and its National Parks Service memorials as they left the plane and boarded the four touring buses. The laughter and friendly conversation was silenced at the first stop at Arlington National Cemetery as the Honor Flight group of about 120 veterans, companions and crew members gathered quietly around the changing-of-the-guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The only sound during that ceremony with about another 500 people in attendance was the hum of a plane at it flew over the cemetery. It was the beginning of a somber, quiet and emotional tour of the war memorials for those veterans, the majority of whom had never visited them, nor had their companions. Iconic image From Arlington, the group moved on to the Marine Corps Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial based on the iconic 1945 photo of six servicemen raising the American Flag. Among those servicemen was U.S. Navy man John Bradley of Antigo. Roman Statz of Baraboo was there in 1954 when he was a 21-year old combat engineer in the Army, the day after the colossal sculpture was dedicated. Statz lived in Anitgo from 1969 to 1974 and knew Bradley. Wearing his Ike Jacket, Statz stood with his son, Paul, and looked up high at the top of the sculpture. Three of those survivors were here for that dedication, Statz said. John Bradley was from Antigo and we got to know him. We went to the same church where I can still see him there as an usher. The 85 veterans grouped together for a photo of all of them in front of the Iwo Jima statue before going on to the WWII, Korean and Vietnam memorials in the park in front of the Lincoln Memorial building. Ron Bruni of Baraboo worked on one of the very first computers used by the military for missile trajectory aboard the USS Mississippi while he was in the Navy during the Korean War. Some of our military folks today are much worse off than I had it, Bruni said. They come back missing arms and legs. I was never in any fighting. I only got shot at once and that was when our ship came through a firing range with another ship. When you look at our vets today and our wounded warriors, its pretty sad. Theyve given a lot. Vietnam-era veteran Stan Theis said he and his companion Jim Ballweg, both of Prairie du Sac, are volunteers of the Operation Eagles Wings fundraising campaign founded by Fritz Wyttenbach to raise $100,000 to fund an entire Badger Honor Flight in the future. The two were invited on the flight so they could experience what veterans experience on the trip. The two men stood a few minutes at the Vietnam Wall. Theis found the name of his old high school friend Alan Royston of Mazomanie, and touched it, feeling the grooves of Roystons name etched into the black granite. Its a shame, Theis said. I always wondered what his life would have been like. Theis said he did not see combat, and paused to contemplate the nearly 60,000 who lost their lives during Vietnam. Vietnam veterans Honor Flight President Brian Ziegler, who served in the Army National Guard for 16 years, said the Honor Flight is beginning to look for applications from more Vietnam veterans. I believe in honoring a fellow vet, Ziegler said. I know it sounds hokey, but not everybody received a welcome home with ticker tapes. Its a small way of saying thank you to everybody that served. For some, its long overdue. Amy Terbilcox is director of the Badger Honor Flight administration. Many of the Korean and Vietnam vets are concerned they didnt serve in-country and feel theyre not deserving of this flight, Terbilcox said. These guys did not write their orders and they werent given a choice as to where they served. Theyre deserving of it just as much as the guys who fought overseas. Id like to see everybody go on the flight who has served our country during those conflicts. I wouldnt have the choices I have today if it werent for them. Scott Anderson, a UW Health orthopedic surgeon who served in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012, was working as an Honor Flight medical volunteer for the first time Saturday. Ive always been a WWII, Korea and Vietnam buff and thats why I went into the service, Anderson said. Now that Im out of the service I dont want to be away from that group. I went to the first training and orientation and went home and told my wife I found my thing. The homecoming Unlike the solemn, quiet that surrounded the veterans visiting the memorials in Washington, the Honor Flight returned home to the Dane County Airport to a raucous, loud, cheering crowd of thousands that gathered 20 people deep stretching from the first gate to the baggage claim on the main concourse. A large brass band played as the veterans come down the escalator or got off the elevator, and were met with handshakes, kisses and a never-ending roar of cheers and applause. What impressed me the most is the reception of people when we got back, Statz said. It was amazing. It was a moment when veteran Paul Anderson was no longer laughing, but had tears of joy and gratitude running down his cheeks. It was the most memorable experience I ever had, Anderson said. If Id been able to talk, I would have said this was the most memorable trip Ive ever had. All these memorials are commemorating the men and women who have died for our county. I am so blessed to be an American. Copper Peak in the UP offers one of the best fall colors views in the Midwest A national bank is lauding Oneida's financial moves and aims to grow investment in Indian Country Wells Fargo is organizing a meeting next month to work on a strategy to boost investment in Indian Country. The spokesperson for former prime minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, Olha Lappo, has refuted the media reports of Yatseniuk's departure to Argentina. "They write that Yatseniuk is in Argentina. Fantasies are running wild... This spoof has been enthusiastically taken up by Russian media. No one has learnt any lesson from the Chechnya story," Lappo wrote on her Facebook page. On April 25, the Ukrainian newspaper Vesti reported that former prime minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatseniuk hadn't spoken to the press after his resignation, and had likely left the country. According to the newspaper, the ex-premier hasn't been spotted in his cottage in the village of Novi Petrivtsi for a week. Ukrainian lawmakers said they last spoke to the leader of the People's Front party on April 14 on the day of his resignation, the Vesti wrote. Independent MP Serhiy Kaplin later told the newspaper that Yatseniuk flew to Argentina. None of Ukrainian military died or was injured in the shelling in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) on Sunday, spokesman for the Ukrainian presidential administration for the ATO matters Andriy Lysenko has said. "In the past day, none of Ukrainian soldier was killed or injured in the fighting and shelling," Lysenko said at a briefing on Monday. Thus, in Luhansk area near the village of Novozvanivka, militants noticed small arms and a grenade launcher, the spokesman said. In Donetsk area, the only violation of the truce was the 15-minute fire with the use of small arms and grenade launchers in the vicinity of Avdiyivka. "Another four provocations occurred in the direction of Mariupol. In particular the militants, who were deployed close to the village of Kominternove fired using anti-aircraft and grenade launchers at the positions of the ATO forces near Vodiane, as well as a grenade launcher at the ATO positions near Talakivka," Lysenko said. Two further provocations were recorded near the town of Hranitne, where a gunman shot from grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns at the positions of the Ukrainian military, he said. All the provocations didn't last long, the ATO spokesman said. William & Mary Law School recently hosted Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Beverley McLachlin for the annual Williamson Fellow lecture. Her talk, 35 Years a Judge: Reflections on the Canadian Constitution, explored the development of Canadian constitutional law against the background of a diverse nation of British, French and aboriginal language and law. The April 14 event was attended by students and faculty. Dean Davison M. Douglas welcomed the chief justice to William & Mary, saying that her visit continued the tradition of William & Marys interest in international law. As the first law school to establish an international summer study program, William & Mary currently hosts visiting scholars, international students and global leaders in law, including South African Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs in 2014. McLachlin, the first woman to hold the position of chief justice in Canadian history, was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2000. Linda Malone, Marshall-Wythe Foundation Professor of Law at William & Mary, first met the chief justice when they worked together on the board of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law. Malone described the chief justices meteoric rise through the Canadian courts and her particular legacy relating to the development of aboriginal rights. Noting that McLachlin is universally admired, respected, and just very well liked, Malone described how she led the judiciary through volatile and innovative moments in Canadian jurisprudence and through contentious developments in the right-to-die and the Quebec succession movement. During her lecture, McLachlin discussed revolution versus evolution in the comparative constitutional voyage in Canadian and U.S. history. Unlike the United States revolutionary foundation, Canadas 1982 constitution was a product of incremental change. She underscored that while each countrys unique history necessarily produces different constitutions with different idiosyncrasies, the two nations can still learn much from each other. You have to tread the path of experience, McLachlin remarked, quoting W&M Law Schools namesake, George Wythe. She depicted Canadas history as one of respectful accommodation. Unlike the "melting pot" of the U.S., McLachlin likened Canada to a mosaic, where these pieces unite to make a unified picture one hopes but a picture in which the identity of all the constituent parts can still be seen if one looks closely ... Canada not only permits but fosters the continuance of distinct cultural differences. This is reflected, she noted, in jurisprudence developed to favor inclusion over exclusion, to accommodate diversity over rejection of the other. McLachlin likened the Canadian Constitution to a living tree. The tree of the constitution stands firm and fixed, rooted in law, but is capable of sprouting a new leaf, growing a new twig, she said. An example of Canadas incremental evolution was notably determined by Edwards v. A.G. of Canada, known as the persons case. A group of five women challenged a Canadian law that denied women the right to hold public office. Under the traditional reading, the term persons was limited to male citizens. The law was eventually struck down after a series of appeals; despite prior precedent, the living tree interpretation of the constitution allowed the recognition and expansion of womens rights. The chief justice challenged the audience to consider how to draw limits on fundamental rights. Unlike the U.S. Constitution, which declares rights as absolute, the Canadian 1982 charter expressly allows limiting rights if the law limiting the right has an important goal, she said. The judiciary must question if the ends are legitimate and compelling, and if the means are rationally and narrowly tailored. The judiciary places great deference on legislative decisions; and in the event a law is questionable, the Supreme Court and the legislature can engage in a dialogue, where the law is returned to the legislature to address any constitutional issues prior to a final ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada. The audience asked questions ranging from the use of cameras in the Supreme Court of Canada, which televises most arguments and rulings, to balancing the scope of rights with the needs of the state. McLachlin was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1969 and to the British Columbia Bar in 1971, practicing law in both Alberta and British Columbia. Prior to serving as a judge, she taught for seven years in the faculty of law at the University of British Columbia as a tenured associate professor. Her judicial career began in April 1981 when she was appointed to the Vancouver County Court. In September 1981, she was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She was elevated to the British Columbia Court of Appeal in December 1985 and was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in September 1988. Seven months later, in April 1989, she was sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. On Jan. 7, 2000, she was appointed chief justice of Canada. In addition to her judicial duties at the Supreme Court, the chief justice chairs the Canadian Judicial Council, the Advisory Council of the Order of Canada and the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute. She is also the author of numerous articles and publications. The Williamson Fellowship was established in honor of William & Mary Law Professor Richard A. Williamson, in recognition of 37 years of service at the law school as professor, college counsel and coordinator of legal affairs. The Williamson Fellow brings in distinguished lawyers and judges of extraordinary caliber to share their experiences with the W&M Law School community. Trade protectionism measures would do no help to tackle global steel overcapacity but hinder global trade orders, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in a statement after the European Union (EU) adopted new prior-surveillance system for steel imports. The prior-surveillance system will bring extra burdens to normal trade and China is concerned about this matter, said the statement. The EU announced on Friday that it had established a prior-surveillance system for imports of steel products into the bloc in order to further protect its own steel industry. Based on the new regulation, imports of steel products into the EU will now need an import license. The EU has long claimed that importing steel products from third countries, such as China, have jeopardized its own labor market. China always advocates anti-trade protectionism and maintains stable, predictable and fair trade environment, said the MOC statement, adding that the EU should abide by the commitments it has made and avoid sending wrong signals. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Encouraging more American students to study Chinese and study abroad in China will ensure Sino-American relationship grows and flourishes in the future, U.S. educators have said. "The goal is to strengthen the overall U.S.-China relationship by ensuring very strong people-to-people ties," said Travis Tanner, vice president of 100,000-Strong Initiative Foundation, a non-profit U.S.organization that leads the Chinese language education initiative called "1 Million Strong." The 1-Million-Strong Initiative, announced by U.S. President Barack Obama last September, is aimed at encouraging one million American students to learn Mandarin Chinese in elementary and high schools by 2020. "The U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century," Josette Sheeran, President and CEO of the Asia Society, said on Thursday. "Now is China's moment in the world to emerge, and the language is key to understand not only China's today, but also China's history, and the way it thinks." She noted that the Asia Society has partnerships with Confucius Institutes in the United States along with a Chinese language learning network in 100 districts and 28 states throughout the country. Tanner, who himself is a fluent Mandarin speaker, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Saturday that the 1-Million-Strong Initiative also includes expanding the number of Americans studying abroad in China. "We envision a future where the next generation of American leaders is very China savvy and can manage the bilateral relationship in a very constructive way," said Tanner. The 100,000-Strong Initiative, mainly for universities, was launched by President Obama in 2009 with an aim to increase to 100,000 the cumulative number of Americans studying in China over a five-year period. The goal was achieved in 2014. Tanner, who also oversaw the 100,000-Strong Initiative, said that Americans who had been exchange students in China always describe experiences in China as "life-transforming." "Perspectives are changed, viewpoints are opened, new friendships are developed, these are all very positive developments that will help ensure that the future generation of Americans can understand China as well as the importance of U.S.-China relationship," he said. Email Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter Sign Up Free | The WPJ Weekly Newsletter Relevant real estate news. Actionable market intelligence. Right to your inbox every week. Go Thank you for your interest! You will now be receiving our Weekly Real Estate Newsletter. Real Estate Listings Showcase Abu Dhabi's largest property developer - Aldar Properties - is reporting this week that work is progressing across all aspects of the development West Yas, Aldar's first villa community on Yas Island, including all precincts, marine, electrical, lighting and telecommunications work. The construction of the Aldar Academies' operated school is nearing completion and it will be operational for the beginning of the 2016 - 2017 academic year.Al Hadeel, Ansam, Al Merief, Nareel Island residential projects, are all on track to be completed according to their respective schedules with steady progress being made on foundational, structural and MEP work.Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Development Officer at Aldar Properties tells World Property Journal, "The demand for high quality residential units and an enriched community living experience is greater than the supply in the market. This informs our strategic approach towards developing best in class residential communities. It is important for us at Aldar that we work closely with our contractors to deliver these projects on time, thus supporting the sustained demand as well as the long-term economic and social development of Abu Dhabi."At Shams Meera, Aldar's first mid-market focused project, the enabling teams are on site and progressing well with the shoring, piling, and excavation of the three level basement. Authority NOCs are in process, along with the tendering for the main contract which is expected to awarded during the quarter.Infrastructure development at Shams Abu Dhabi on Al Reem Island, is progressing well with the South Canal now open. During the last quarter, Aldar awarded contracts for the closed canal, and pre-concept designs were submitted for the central park. The east sandy beach has now been completed along with the Repton School area.Within the Al Raha Beach development, following the completion of the phase one Al Dana infrastructure, substantial works were completed on the second phase, which includes landscaping and road embankment, sewer works, dredging works, storm water networks and district cooling. Testing is currently underway on irrigation networks, while maintenance works have already commenced for the existing landscaped areas in the public spaces.At Al Falah Town Centre, general excavation work is now complete with final finishes being made across storm water works, potable water, irrigation, telecoms, electrical, street lighting and substations. James Fairweather By: Chan Yuan (Scroll down for video) A teenage boy was arrested on a charge of murder after stabbing two strangers for no apparent reason, policed in the United Kingdom said. Now, 15-year-old James Fairweather of Colchester, has been convicted of two counts of murder in connection with the stabbing deaths of James Attfield and Nahid Almanea. Fairweather was sentenced to serve 27 years in prison. The Guildford Crown Court was told that Fairweather chose his victims at random. Fairweather did not know either Attfield or Almanea, the victims did not know each other and the defendant had absolutely no reason to attack them. Attfield was found about 6:00 a.m. in a park in Colchester. He had received more than 100 stab wounds during a savage assault, and died shortly after being found. Almanea was attacked about 10:30 a.m. near the University of Essex, where she was a student. Fairweather claimed voices and hallucinations compelled him to carry out attacks, and he admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denied two charges of murder. Prosecutors presented expert medical evidence that Fairweather attempted to deceive those doctors who examined him. Evidence showed that Fairweather was in control at the time, he knew what he was doing, he prepared for the killings by arming himself with a knife and gloves, and he took steps afterwards to conceal what he had done. License plates (illustration) By: Tanya Malhotra (Scroll down for video) A man who believes that his constitutional rights are being violated by the state of Idaho, filed a lawsuit, seeking $5.6 million in compensation. Peter Jensen of Athol, claims that he should not be forced to put a license plate on his car because God doesnat require it. Jensen follows the laws of the Bible, and there is no commandment about driving a vehicle with a driveras license, registering a car or putting a license plate on a vehicle. Jensen is seeking $5.6 million in compensation from the state because he believes that is how much his life is worth. Over the last few years, Jensen received several fines for driving without a license plate. He refused to pay the fines, and this month, he has received a notice from the Idaho Transportation Department, stating that his driving privileges have been revoked. Jensen wants to be paid in gold and silver coins, as he believes that U.S. dollars have no value. Lovers (illustration) By: Mahesh Sarin A married man was arrested on a charge of murder after allegedly killing his house maid because she did not tell him that she had HIV before they had sex, police in Zimbabwe said. Harare police arrested 30-year-old Phelimon Chigwada, after being accused of shooting Chiedza Rambanepasi. Chigwada also shot his wife, Memory Mahar, but she survived the attack. Chigwada has been charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder. He was booked into jail, and he was denied bail. According to the police investigation, Chigwada has been having sex with the house maid behind his wifeas back. After learning that he had HIV, he confronted the maid and accused her of infecting him with the virus. During the argument, Chigwada pulled his gun and shot the maid. She died at the scene. Chigwada then shot his wife in the jaw. Olaitan Ayobami By: Wayne Morin The wife of a police officer was arrested on a charge of assault after allegedly stabbing her neighbor who laughed in her face during a fight, police in Nigeria said. Lagos police arrested Desola Ochoche, after being accused of stabbing her neighbor, Olaitan Ayobami, who is a teacher at an elementary school. Ochoche was charged with one count of assault. According to the police investigation, a fight broke out between the suspect and the victim on Sunday, after Ochoche challenged Ayobami to a fight for laughing in her face. The two were separated, but they started fighting again the next morning around 6:00 a.m., as Ayobami was preparing to go to school. Ochoche grabbed a piece of broken glass and stabbed the teacher in the head and hand. The deportation of 32 Taiwanese telecom fraud suspects from Malaysia to the Chinese mainland on Saturday complies with the international law and will help better fight crimes, experts have said. A total of 97 suspects implicated in more than 100 major telecom fraud cases across the mainland, were repatriated, including 32 from Taiwan. All the victims of the fraud trap are mainland residents. Wherever the criminals are, the mainland has territorial jurisdiction over these cases as the results of the fraud happened on the mainland, said Li Juqian, deputy head of the International Law School under China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL). "It is in accordance with the international and mainland law that Malaysia deported the suspects to the mainland. The move is unchallengeable in terms of law," Li said. China's law enforcement agencies have cooperated with their counterparts in countries like the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia in cracking down on telecom frauds since 2011, according to Ma Chengyuan, a law professor with the CUPL. Given diplomatic relations and extradition treaties that China established and inked with these countries, as well as criminal justice pacts signed with some of them, China can cooperate with them if crimes are committed there, no matter suspects are from the mainland or Taiwan, Ma said. In late March, Malaysian and Chinese mainland police cooperated in destroying five telecom fraud dens located in Malaysia, and nabbed 117 Chinese suspects, including 65 from the mainland and 52 from Taiwan. Among those from Taiwan, 20 were transferred to Taiwan authorities on April 15. The mainland government requested Malaysia to transfer the rest of the suspects to the mainland. The mainland used to transfer Taiwanese suspects to Taiwan, which was in compliance with the relevant cross-Strait agreement and no more than an internal division of work, Ma said. As stipulated by the mainland's Criminal Law, the mainland enjoys territorial jurisdiction over telecom fraud cases based overseas and targeting mainland legal persons and residents, as the results happen on the mainland. Considering the comparative lighter punishment that telecom swindlers face in Taiwan, experts said, repatriating Taiwanese suspects to the mainland and trying them according to mainland laws will help better fight crimes and protect legitimate rights and interests of people across the Strait. Telecom frauds could face a maximum prison sentence of five years in Taiwan, while the maximum is life sentence on the mainland, said Fan Chongyi, professor from the CUPL's Procedural Law Research Institute. "Telecom fraud has been on the rise and done great harm to the interests of mainland legal persons and residents. Suspects who were sent back to Taiwan were given lenient sentences or even acquitted. Many of them later resumed swindling," Fan said. Malaysia deported the suspects to the mainland "solely for the need to fight crimes," law expert Chen Jingtian said. "It is completely unnecessary to politicize the move." The 97 repatriated suspects are now being held at a detention center in the southern city of Zhuhai, according to Zhang Jun, a senior investigator from the Ministry of Public Security. Sending the suspects back to the mainland will help the police obtain evidence and investigate thoroughly into the case, Zhang said. In a telecom fraud syndicate, roles are clearly divided, with members posing as postal clerks, delivery persons, telecom company employees, police officers or prosecutors. "Some members are tasked with recruiting, maintenance support or acquiring information of victims," Zhang said. It will be very difficult to find out how the syndicate is structured and fraud is committed if interrogation is not conducted at a same place, Zhang noted. Repatriating all the suspects to the mainland will help form a chain of evidence, Zhang said, as the investigation and obtaining of evidence need to take place primarily on the mainland, with the evidence to be crosschecked with statements of the suspects and victims. Moreover, criminals could face harsher penalty on the mainland than in Taiwan and thus be deterred from repeating crimes, Zhang stressed. Taiwan laws impose lighter punishment on telecom fraud, thus making it a lucrative business and encouraging more to participate, according to Zhang. The main reason that a Taiwanese surnamed Hsu, who is one of the telecom fraud suspects deported from Kenya to the Chinese mainland earlier in April, said the main reason that he could not quit telecom swindle is that "money comes easy and punishment is light." "If I could have known I would be deported to mainland this time, I would definitely be too afraid to do this [swindle]," said Hsu, who was sentenced to seven months in prison the first time he was caught by Taiwan authorities. "If Taiwan imposed harsh penalties, telecom fraud would not be so rampant in Taiwan," said another Taiwanese suspect, surnamed Lin, deported from Kenya. The Austrian government has responded to the success of the Freedom Party (FPO) in the first round of the presidential election by embracing its far-right politics and thereby further strengthening it. The Austrian Peoples Party (OVP)/Social Democrat (SPO) coalition rushed a law through parliament on Wednesday which practically abolishes the right to asylum. The government can now declare a state of emergency if public order and the protection of internal security can no longer be guaranteed due to high refugee numbers. In practice, this means this takes effect when the governments self-imposed upper limit of 37,500 refugees per year is reached. Refugees will then no longer be allowed into the country. Asylum applications would be reviewed in a one-hour procedure at the border and only accepted if the applicant can prove they face the threat of torture in their homeland, or if close relatives live in Austria. All others will be immediately turned away. The state of emergency is initially limited to six months, but can be lengthened for a period up to two years. The law also proposes that irrespective of the state of emergency, refugees will only receive protection for three years. At that point, the basis for asylum will once again be reviewed. Family reunification will also be made much more difficult. In addition, the period for processing asylum applications will be increased from six to 15 months. Due to earlier radical right-wing measures to deter refugees, the number of asylum applications in Austria has already declined significantly. While last November a total of 12,000 applications were filed, by February it was just 5,000. As well as hermetically sealing off the eastern border with Hungary, the grand coalition in Vienna is acting similarly at the southern border with Italy. On the Brenner motorway, one of Europes most important arteries, they are building a 370-metre-long, four-metre-high fence and three checkpoints on the highway that runs from Italy. Another checkpoint is being built on the federal highway. Trains crossing from Italy into Austria will also be checked. The police director in Tyrol, Helmut Tomac, declared that border controls on the Brenner could be reintroduced at any time. New Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobodka (OVP) stated that waiting rooms and registration centres were in the process of construction. Austria did not wish to be taken by surprise by an influx of refugees, he said. According to our information, between 200,000 and 1 million potential refugees are ready to set off in the direction of Europe from Libya, said Sobodka, without providing any evidence for these figures. The interior minister made clear that he would continue the ruthless policies of his predecessor, Johanna Mikl-Leitner. He explained the closing of the borders for refugees with the justification, The countrys security interests come first. Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz (OVP) said that after the Balkan route, the southern route had to be secured. If it is clear that the road to Central Europe is no longer open, then there will be fewer people with an interest in coming to Central Europe. Austria applied pressure last year on the states of the former Yugoslavia to shut down the so-called Balkan route to stop the flow of refugees to Austria. The charitable organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned of the danger of the Brenner becoming a new Idomeni in the event of a border closure. The Greek town has become a synonym for the European Unions refugee policy. If we dont create legal and secure routes through which the refugees can reach Europe, unbelievable situations could arise, the organisation warned. In parliament, the SPO and OVP unanimously supported the asylum measures. The right-wing extremist FPO wanted to go even further. It demanded an upper limit of zero for the influx of refugees. Only the Greens opposed the legislation in parliament. But they are not concerned with the right to asylum, but rather the maintenance of the EU, which they consider to be at risk with the sealing off of the national borders. The Italian government protested against the Austrian measures to seal the border. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi stated it was a blatant violation of EU regulations. The president of Italys chamber of deputies, Laura Boldrini, said they were ill conceived, because they imposed divisions. Interior minister Angelino Alfano warned of the closure of the Brenner by stating, Europes future is at stake. By contrast, the Austrian government received support from the far right. State president of Lombardi, Roberto Maroni of the xenophobic Lega Nord, declared, Austria is simply doing what normal countries do: it is controlling its borders. We are the only ones who appear surprised when Austria does what its citizens consider to be worthwhile. With its right-wing policies, the Vienna government is playing directly into the hands of the far right. Even the Greens Alexander Von der Bellen, who is involved in a run-off election on May 22 for the presidency with the FPO candidate Norbert Hofer, did not fundamentally oppose the measures. In a debate broadcast by public broadcaster O1, both were agreed that the concept of home, under which Van der Bellen is conducting his campaign, contained a positive message. Van der Bellen declared he thought borders on the Brenner were superfluous, because Italy was fulfilling all European requirements. At the same time, he notedin agreement with Hoferthat in the face of high unemployment, economic migrants must be firmly rejected. Violence broke out between masked youth and riot police in the French capital city during the traditional May Day rally as thousands of people took to the streets in protest against the proposed reform of labor law. Around 16,000 to 17,000 took part in the march in Paris today, according to the police. But figures released by major French union CGT showed that around 70,000 people joint the demonstration to call for the withdrawal of the labor reform. Protesters started marching from the Bastille Square at around 15:20 local time, holding slogans such as "Remove the law El Khomri" "It is a social decline. Do not negotiate. Let's combat!" They marched through the streets of Lyon, the Daumesnil and the Diderot Boulevard and finally reached the destination of the Place de la Nation. Traditionally, French trade unions and other organizations take Labor Day to organize marches and demonstrations to campaign for workers' rights and other social issues in France. But this May Day is shaping up to be especially tense given all the recent labor law protests and riots that have been escalating around the country, and becoming more violent. The demonstration lasted for more than three hours amid a heightened police presence after several recent protests against labor reforms ended in violence. However, clashes erupted as dozens of masked protesters threw projectiles at police officers crying "everyone hates the police!" Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd and block it to move to the Republic square, which has been occupied by the ongoing youth-led "Nuit Debout" or "Up All Night" movement in the past month. France has seen a series of strikes and protests against the labor reform bill, the so-called El Khomri law which was put forward by Labor Minister Myriam El Khomri. The proposed reform aims to encourage companies to hire by easing labor market regulations. The proposal came at a time when the country reported merely 1.14 percent growth in 2015 with the youth unemployment rate up at 25 percent. Protesters worried that the reforms will threaten workers' rights and deepen job insecurity of young people, many of whom stuck on short-term contracts or internships. Amid the protests, "Up All Night" movement arised. The largely peaceful gathering that began on March 31 as a protest against the proposed labor code reform and have since grown to encompass a range of grievances. The "Up All Night" movement passed off peacefully at first but the sit-in frequently degenerated into clashes with police recently. Last Thursday, police arrested 27 people, placing 24 of them in custody, after hooded youth refused to leave the Republic Square and threw projectiles at police officers. In the early hours of Friday morning, people set two cars on fire and destroyed shopfronts, to which police responded with tear gas. Armand, one of the organizers of the "Up All Night" movement, told Xinhua in an interview that they plan to continue the sit-in for about two months. "We are staying on this place every day and every night to do much more than just talking about the Labor law," he said. "We are here because we think the democratic system in France is not working anymore. And all the people who are here want to have a voice heard," he said. Noting that attendants are the advocates of a broad spectrum of causes, Armand said they have one thing in common: "We need to rethink the democratic system in France." Asked about the violence, he said: "As the movement continues, we will have less and less fights at night because we have forbidden the use of alcohol on the place." "We are here to think, we are not here to party," he stressed, expecting that a negotiation with government will begin in two weeks. "But it is really not up to us," he said. Hundreds of Iraqi demonstrators flooded out of Baghdads fortified Green Zone Sunday, ending dramatic protests that saw crowds storm the central government compound, destroying property, assaulting an Iraqi lawmaker and prompting the imposition of a state of emergency throughout the capital by Iraqs military. The demonstrators, whose storming of the militarized compound on the previous day had, as even the New York Times acknowledged, hinted at revolution, maintained silence and ceased the attacks against government property they had carried out on the previous day as they left the Green Zone, doing so under orders from Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr. In a speech to supporters Saturday, Sadr issued populist denunciations of the countrys political elite, declaring: The main political blocs in this country want a partisan government of sectarian quotas so they can keep their gains and keep stealing. Sadr said that the cessation of protests was only temporary and that another round of demonstrations is scheduled to begin Friday. He vowed that his own sizable parliamentary faction would cease participation in legislative proceedings indefinitely. The Sadrists had earned popular sympathy through their armed struggle against the US occupation forces. In 2004, the Shia movement was drawn into the anti-American insurgency after being outlawed by US proconsul Paul Bremer for delivering aid to residents during the blood-soaked siege of Fallujah by US Marines. The opposition of the Sadrist party to US imperialism is, however, ultimately a tactic aimed at bolstering the movements sectarian interests within Iraq. Sadr, the representative of a powerful Shia clerical and political family, is firmly bound to sections of Iraqs political establishment. Reports indicate that he is engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions with Abadi. The New York Times reported that Sadr hopes to nudge politicians who have opposed Mr. Abadis efforts and is seeking to reinsert himself into Iraqs political mix. This isnt necessarily al-Sadr positioning himself against Abadi, they are both looking for the same sort of process, Baghdad-based investment analyst Stephen Royle told Bloomberg. It works in favor of Abadi to use Moqtada al-Sadr and public support to push through with these reforms, Royle said. Though quickly reined in, the demonstrations are an acute manifestation of the fact that the US-backed government stands completely discredited and hated in the eyes of the Iraqi population. Eleven years after being installed in power through elections held as hundreds of thousands of American soldiers still patrolled Iraqi streets and towns, and under a transitional administrative law authorized by US bureaucrats employed by the Coalition Provisional Authority, Iraqs government stands on the verge of collapse. The crisis of the Iraqi state has only intensified since the official US withdrawal in 2011, as Iranian influence in the country has grown, and sectarian conflict has intensified. In the summer of 2014, large portions of the country, including its second most populous city, have fallen under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an Al Qaeda-linked militia that emerged out of the insurgency against the Syrian government organized by Washington and its Gulf allies. ISIS subsequently consolidated control over portions of northern and western Iraq, including the cities of Mosul, Hit and Ramadi. In the past week, a wave of terror bombings claimed by ISIS rocked cities in southern and central Iraq, killing dozens of civilians. Faced with a steep decline in economic growth, which fell to only 2.4 percent in 2015, down from 12.7 percent on average between 2000 and 2012, Abadis government is seeking to stabilize its rule under conditions in which the fall in world oil prices has placed massive strain on its revenues. In recent weeks, demands by Washington for an escalation of military operations, fought by Iraqi troops accompanied by US advisors, have intensified the diversion of resources away from civilian functions and forced a virtual shutdown of government operations. The deliberate stoking of Sunni-Shia divisions under the US occupation as a divide-and-rule strategy has insured that central areas of Iraq remain contested by the government troops, backed by US advisors, and various militant groups. Armed violence continues to rage throughout Iraq on a daily basis, with at least 800 Iraqi civilians killed last month alone, on top of 1,100 killed in March, according to UN figures. At least 55,047 Iraqi civilians were killed between 2014-2016, the UN found, with 3.2 million displaced during the same period, including more than 1 million school children. In recent weeks, the Pentagon announced new deployments of US ground forces, Apache helicopter gunships, and artillery to combat bases in northern Iraq, where US forces are preparing a brutal assault against Mosul. In a desperate effort to prop up its ailing puppet regime, Washington is preparing to meet any opposition to the American-backed order with, as Defense Secretary Ashton Carter put it in remarks last week, the full might of the US military. Class and geopolitical tensions are mounting throughout the region. The emergence of strike movements among Kuwaiti oil workers, the revival of protests in Egypt and the accelerating buildup of US combat forces on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border underscore the fact that the entire Middle Eastern political order is becoming unstuck, under the impact of a developing revolutionary crisis and wars that are increasingly coalescing into a region-wide conflagration. Two weeks after over 400 migrants drowned when their craft left Egypt and sank in the eastern Mediterranean, 84 people are missing and feared dead after their inflatable craft took on water in heavy seas off the coast of Libya. Though high waves hampered search and rescue operations over the weekend, two bodies have already been recovered. Survivors reported that 110 migrants hailing from West African countries including Nigeria, Senegal, and Gambia had boarded the craft. However, only 26 were rescued after the Italian coast guard received a silent call from a satellite phone in the Mediterranean and asked an Italian merchant ship steaming in Libyan waters, the Valle Bianco, to investigate. The merchant ship then transferred the migrants to two Italian coast guard vessels, which took them to the nearby Italian island of Lampedusa. Pictures released by Italian authorities showed several women huddling in blankets after the rescue, and it was reported that several minors were also rescued from the vessel. According to testimony gathered by IOM in Lampedusa, 84 people went missing, wrote the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM) Rome spokesman, Flavio di Giacomo, on his Twitter feed. In a statement emailed to AFP, Di Giacomo explained that the half-sunk migrant vessel was in a very bad state, was taking on water, and many people fell into the water and drowned. Ten fell very rapidly and several others just minutes later. With women and minors making up a large percentage of those fleeing to Europe, it is feared that dozens of innocent men, women, and children have again drowned, victims of the European Unions sinister and vindictive policy towards refugees. In the tragic sinking first reported on April 18 of this year, officials initially did not send rescue ships after receiving reports of the sinking of a refugee vessel with hundreds of people aboard. They also delayed for nearly a week confirming press reports that hundreds of people had died, allowing the media to bury the issue in the back pages of the newspapers. Over this past weekend, news of the latest sinking and deaths of dozens of people was again treated as a minor news item, as European officials and mediafaced with growing popular sympathy for the plight of masses of people fleeing to Europeagain limited coverage of the tragedy. With survivors still held by Italian authorities on Lampedusa, no media outlets published the accounts they provided of the disaster. The European bourgeoisie confronts the greatest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, with a record-breaking 60 million refugees worldwide fleeing imperialist wars and economic devastation around the globe. Last year, over a million people fled via the Mediterranean to Europe, primarily from Syria and Iraq through Turkey to Greece, and also from Libya to Italy. There were over 182,830 arrivals by sea in Europe between January and April 2016, and 1,261 migrants were reported dead or missing, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In response, the EU is pursuing a politically criminal policy. It seeks to hide from the masses of working people in Europe the disasters caused by its decision to deny millions around the world the right to asylum. This helps it whip up a nationalistic, anti-immigrant atmosphere at home to divide the workers, fuelling the rise of far-right parties like the National Front in France, the Alternative f u r Deutschland (AfD) in Germany, and the UK Independence Party in Britain. European officials have also made clear, however, that they positively welcome mass drownings, hoping they will terrorise potential immigrants in the Middle East and Africa into accepting to stay and face the dangers at home. In 2014, as EU officials moved to begin limiting rescue patrols hunting for migrant ships in the Mediterranean, the Frontex border agency drafted a paper noting that this would lead to a higher number of deaths. This was not a regrettable or unintended by-product of EU policy, but its stated aim, as the paper made clear. It hoped that mass drownings would deter immigrants from coming to Europe, since significantly fewer migrants will attempt to cross the Mediterranean in bad weather and prices for the crossings will rise. The EUs attempt to halt immigration flows by leaving people to die in the open seas turned out to be an utter failure in the face of movements by tens of millions of refugees. It has already claimed thousands of innocent lives, however. Moreover, the sinking and the mass drownings in the Mediterranean are expected to rise. The EU treaty with Turkey to halt further immigration from Turkey and confine refugees to camps in that country, and the closing of EU borders in the Balkans, will block the flow of refugees from the Middle East to Europe via Turkey. As a result, it is expected that many thousands of refugees will begin taking the more dangerous route to Europeinto war-torn Libya, which is still wracked by bloodshed after the 2011 NATO war toppled Colonel Muammar Gaddafis regime, and then across the high seas to Italy. Foreseeing this, NATO officials are working with the various militias that have seized control of regions of Libya since the war to halt the movement of refugees from Libya to Europe. As the NATO powers prepare a renewed military intervention in Libya by cobbling together a so-called national unity government, five years after the initial conflict, there are plans for the construction of massive prison camps to detain refugees and prevent them from traveling on to Europe. Half a million people are waiting to leave, Libyan envoy to the Vatican Ali Mustafa Rugibani warned last month in Rome. For this reason, it will be vital for Libyas premier-designate Fayez al-Sarraj to agree on a migrant plan with Italy and with Europe, Rugibani added, without giving any more details about what such a plan would entail. Details began to emerge last week, however, when German news magazine Der Spiegel obtained EU planning papers on proposed operations in Libya and reported briefly on their contents. The plans reportedly call for temporary detention centers for migrants and refugees, stressing that One has to think about detention facilities in relationship to the migrant question. This prompted Der Spiegel to remark, The ideas are reminiscent of when the EU cooperated with Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to stop the flow of refugees across the Mediterranean. EU proposals for concentration camps in a NATO-occupied Libya are being floated at the highest levels, Der Spiegel reported: The Europeans had already proposed setting up migration centers in Africa before, at the November 2015 Valletta summit, but the Africans would have none of it. In mid-April, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi ventured a new initiative. The idea got more traction after the EU agreement with Turkey, which has significantly reduced the flow of migrants and is already seen as a blueprint for similar agreements with other countries, particularly Libya. The WSWS will be publishing all the speeches to the International May Day Online Rally, beginning today with David Norths introductory report. The 2016 International May Day Online Rally held on Sunday attracted thousands of workers and young people, participating from more than 90 different countries. The rally was centered on the fight to build a global movement of workers, students and youth against imperialist war. The rally was joined by many people listening at physical gatherings in a number of different cities, including Detroit, Michigan; Berlin, Germany and Colombo, Sri Lanka, where a May Day meeting held earlier in the day brought together 200 workers and youth. This was the third international May Day rally organized by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International. It featured presentations from four continents by leading figures in the ICFI, the world Trotskyist movement. The speeches were simultaneously translated from English into German, Sinhala and Tamil. There were more than 700 comments posted on the WSWS message board, including greetings sent from scores of countries, from South Korea and the Philippines, to the United Arab Emirates, Croatia, Turkey and Mexico. There were many participants from the United States, Germany, the UK and Sri Lanka. David North, the chairman of the World Socialist Web Site International Editorial Board and the national chairman of the US Socialist Equality Party, opened the rally, welcoming all those attending. He began by noting that exactly 25 years ago, after the conclusion of the first Gulf War, the ICFI issued a May Day statement in which it warned: The increasing recklessness and bellicosity of American imperialism represents, in the final analysis, an attempt to offset and reverse its economic decay through the use of military powerthe one area in which the United States still exercises unquestioned domination. Since that time, North said, the analysis of the ICFI had been vindicated. Powerful objective forces were driving the United States to ever more reckless adventures. Not only was it seeking to dominate Asia, but the entire Eurasian region landmass. It would be the gravest error, warned North, to think that the political leaders of the major imperialist powers would not risk the devastating consequences of a nuclear war to achieve their aims. North said that the antiwar strategy of the working class could not be based on the conventional calculations of bourgeois politics. We proceed, instead, from an assessment of the balance of power between social classes. The fight against imperialist war depends upon the political mobilization of the working class. It is the responsibility of the socialist movement to educate and raise the political consciousness of the working class so that it can wage war on war. The program on which that fight is based must be anti-capitalist and socialist. War cannot be stopped without ending the economic systemcapitalismthat generates military conflict. Nationalism, in its most virulent and reactionary form, was reemerging all over the world, North warned. In response to this danger, he reiterated the need for the working class to base its strategy on Leon Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution. The purpose of todays rally is to issue a clear call for the development of a mass international movement of workers and youth against war, said North. This urgent task is inseparably linked to the building of the Fourth International as the World Party of Socialist Revolution. The next speaker was Wije Dias, the general secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka). He reviewed recent developments in South Asia, noting that the region was a vital component in the global war plans of US imperialism. He pointed in particular to the role of India, where the ruling classes were offering their services to the US war drive. James Cogan, the national secretary of the Australian SEP, spoke about the US pivot to Asia, which is inflaming tensions throughout the region. There was nothing, however, progressive about the response of the Chinese regime to US provocations, Cogan said. Its promotion of Chinese nationalism divided the working class, playing into the hands of the war instigators. Cheryl Crisp, the assistant national secretary of the SEP (Australia), pointed to the whipping up of chauvinism and the militarist preparations of the Australian and Japanese ruling classes. Racism and xenophobia can only be opposed through the fight for the international unity of the working class, said Crisp. We must unite in a common struggle to overthrow capitalismthe source of war. WSWS writer and SEP (US) National Committee member Bill Van Auken spoke about the growing revolutionary crisis in Central and South America. The United States, which has long regarded Latin America as its backyard, is developing a new, more virulent form of the Monroe Doctrine to counter the influence of China, Van Auken said. In particular, he noted, it planned to capitalize on the growing economic crisis in the region, which has undermined various left governments that had employed minimal social spending to contain the class struggle. The bankruptcy of these regimes, said Van Auken, was a devastating exposure of all those pseudo-left tendencies that promoted bourgeois nationalism as an alternative to building a revolutionary leadership in the working class. Ulrich Rippert, the national secretary of the German Partei fur Soziale Gleichheit (PSG, Socialist Equality Party), noted that May Day 2016 marked 100 years since German revolutionary Karl Liebknecht made his heroic antiwar speech at Berlins Potsdamer Platz in the midst of the carnage of World War I. Today, warned Rippert, all the contradictions that gave rise to that terrible slaughter are returning. In particular, he pointed to the dangerous reemergence of German militarism. The next speaker, Peter Schwarz, the Secretary of the International Committee of the Fourth International, spoke about the crisis in the European Union. While the EU and its predecessors had once been vehicles for providing a certain degree of political stability, the EU was now the driving force for national conflicts and mounting attacks on the working class. The only progressive basis for the solution to the crisis was the unification of the working class based on the program of the United Socialist States of Europe, Schwarz insisted. The remarks of Julie Hyland, the assistant national secretary of the SEP (Britain), centered on the European refugee crisis and the terrible toll it is exacting. She noted that there were more refugees today than at any time in human history due to the criminal wars instigated by US imperialism and the European powers. Chris Marsden, SEP (Britain) national secretary, spoke about the upcoming referendum on British participation in the EU. He explained the SEPs call for an active boycott of the vote. The greatest danger would be to allow the attempt by the pseudo-left groups to channel hostility to the EU in a nationalist direction to go unopposed. The Brexit campaign has underscored the criminal political role of all these groups and their hostility to the working class. The campaign of the SEP, he said, was to provide working people with a socialist policy to oppose nationalism and chauvinism. The presidential candidate of the SEP (US), Jerry White, spoke next. The SEP was contesting the election, he said, to provide a socialist program to oppose war and oppression. After a nomination process in which any significant discussion or debate on the issue of war was largely avoided, the Democrats and Republicans were on the brink of nominating two warmongers as their presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump The growing radicalization of the American working class, reflected in an initial form in support for the socialist Bernie Sanders, will lead to an explosive growth of the class struggle, said White. In the spirit of May Day, the Socialist Equality Party will use this election campaign to politically educate the working class, oppose all forms of national chauvinism and bigotry, and to build a powerful, international movement against war, social inequality and exploitation. In concluding the online rally, SEP (US) National Secretary Joe Kishore thanked all the speakers and those who participated online. The speeches delivered today provide a powerful picture of an extremely explosive world situation. Their combined impact makes clear the immense tasks we confront. We live in an era of perpetual war. He continued, There are immense risks, but there are also enormous possibilities. The old order is breaking apart. The old political institutions are increasingly incapable of containing explosive social tensions. The same contradictions that produce imperialist war are also exacerbating class conflict and creating the objective conditions for social revolution. He appealed to all listeners to become actively involved in the fight for a socialist future for mankind. Build a faction of the SEP in your factory or workplace. Study the program of the SEP and the International Committee of the Fourth International and make the decision to join and build the World Party of Socialist Revolution! The enthusiastic response to the rally was reflected in the comments of those participating. One listener wrote, Thank you for this May Day forum. As a veteran of the USs imperialistic first Persian Gulf War (Bush seniors debacle) I am disgusted by war for oil. Many of the speakers today have mentioned that the same capitalistic powers that started the last two world wars will be the powers that start the Third World War. I would argue that they already have! Another wrote, Incredible to listen how the ruling classes worldwide are spending billions and billions preparing more catastrophic wars and at the same time have nothing more to offer to their population than pure austerity and repression. It is pure lies that there is no more money for social programs, or refugees. Remarking on the experience, Sarah, a young disabled worker from Jackson, Michigan attending the May Day gathering at Wayne State University in Detroit said, The War on Terror has been going on as long as I can remember. My children have had this going on their entire lives. Our funds are being used in the wrong way, how can you justify these things? Who is paying for this? The poor get poorer and the rich get richer. I think we all need to unite together, and this is a beginning. On May 5, the London mayoral elections are being contested between Conservative Party candidate Zac Goldsmith and Labours Sadiq Khan. On all the basic questions confronting the working classthe threat of war, the assault on jobs, wages, health care, privatisation, the housing crisis and increased state repressionKhan and Goldsmith are at one. They are vying solely for the political affections of the super-rich as to which can best impose their dictates. Under Tory Mayor Boris Johnson, London has cemented its position as the playground of a corrupt financial oligarchy and one of the most socially polarised cities on the planet. According to Beauchamp Estates Ultra Prime Barometer survey, London now has around 140 billionaires. Literally a few miles away from their luxury havens, in parts of Londons East End children are stealing bread from shops so they can eat or living on charitable handouts. Goldsmith is one of the wealthiest MPs in Parliament. It is estimated that his father, Sir James Goldsmith, a financier, who died shortly after the 1997 general election with a 1.2 billion fortune, left him 200-300 million. His Wikipedia entry notes: Some tax experts have speculated Goldsmith's income could amount to as much as 5m per month from the trust left to him alone. Like Johnson, Goldsmith is campaigning for an assault on the working class through an exit from the European Union in the upcoming referendum on the UKs membership. He has mounted a filthy campaign based on whipping up anti-Muslim sentiment, accusing Khan, a former human rights lawyer, of sharing platforms with Muslim extremists and representing a real danger to London. According to the Financial Times, Goldsmith sent out leaflets to Hindu and Sikh voters highlighting a Labour policy on taxing heirlooms, posing an apparent threat to the tradition of passing down gold between generations. Khan, as does the majority of the Labour leadership, supports the Remain campaign in the EU referendum. He visited all the main business organisations from the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry to the City of London Corporation and assured them he will represent their interests. The Financial Times said Goldsmith has yet to convince the business communityand the City of Londonthat his election would be in their interests. Khan is a calculating and cynical supporter of imperialism. A Blairite, he voted in 2006 against any inquiry into the Iraq War and voted in 2007 against the principle of an inquiry. He voted in 2011 for a no-fly zone over Libya and for British air strikes in Iraq, under the pretext of fighting Islamic State in 2014. While Khans father was a bus driver and his mother a seamstress, his background does not prevent him from supporting the super-rich. I want to be the most pro-business mayor yet, he repeats ad infinitum. In an interview in the right-wing Conservative Spectator magazine, he enthused, I want Spectator readers to give me a second look. ... I welcome the fact that we have got 140-plus billionaires in London. Thats a good thing. I welcome the fact that there are more than 400,000 millionaires. Thats a good thing. Under him, London will remain a global financial centre, he pledges, by dismantling the barriers to growth that exist, and increasing productivity. Khan considers himself as Johnsons natural heir and has distanced himself from even the mealy-mouthed and insincere reformist policies party leader Jeremy Corbyn claims to uphold. He told the Spectator, Bearing in mind who our leader is its important to reassure the right people that he doesnt represent all Labour thinking. Khans right-wing credentials were reinforced last week, as he became the first leading party figure to demand the suspension of Labours first London Mayor Ken Livingstone, on bogus accusations that he was anti-Semitic. Khan was integral to this campaign, orchestrated by the Blairite John Mann and backed by the Tory Party and various Zionist groups. Johnson is responsible, alongside Labour-controlled borough councils, for socially cleansing 50,000 London families from their homes. They have ridden roughshod over local opposition to property developers building luxury flats. He has overseen the closure and selling off of fire and ambulance stations, and closure of ticket offices at all 265 London Underground stations. To enforce this Johnson championed a huge assault on the right to strike and purchased water cannons to suppress future opposition. The low turnout in 2012 at the last mayoral election expresses growing hostility to both parties of the business and financial elite. The fact that the Labour Party put up Khan speaks volumes about how right-wing the Labour Party is. As the election approaches, Khan is pushing a law and order agenda. On day one he would put London on a war footing with these terrorists. He demands Internet providers and university campuses clampdown on users because, You can be radicalised now in your bedroom. On the wearing of hijabs and niqabs he used inflammatory language stating, People born and raised here who are choosing to wear the jilbab or niqab ... what is going on in those homes? ... In public service we should be able to see each others faces. There are signs of mounting class conflict in London from protests over housing, hospital strikes, bus, rail and Tube strikes and occupations of council services threatened with closure. To stifle this rebellion, the trade unions and the pseudo-left organisations that orbit the Labour Party have lined up behind Khan. According to the London Evening Standard, the rail and London Underground unions donated 100,000 to his campaign. Among the backers of Khans right-wing campaign is the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). The SWP cite Khans fulsome praise of Londons billionaires and millionaires, before concluding, But regardless of Khans views, many workers will see that a defeat for Labour in London would be a shattering blow for Corbyn. ... So Socialist Worker will stand with the Corbyn supporters and call for a vote for Sadiq Khan. Corbyn and his Left Futures/Momentum movement, formed by a section of the Labour Party apparatus, also endorsed Khan as our candidateeven as Khan refuses to campaign alongside Corbyn. The May 5 election poses the necessity of the working class making a political break with Labour and the trade unions and waging a struggle for socialism against the profit system. There is no way forward that does not include seizing the wealth of the billionaires, taking over the banks and major corporations and running them to meet the essential need of the majority, not the super-rich. Such a unified movement of the working class and youth demands a new political leadership is builtthe Socialist Equality Party and its youth movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality. The following speech was delivered by David North, chairman of the WSWS International Editorial Board and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US), to the International May Day Online Rally held on May 1, 2016. Comrades and friends, Permit me to begin by placing this meeting, and, for that matter, the events through which we are passing, in a certain historical context. Twenty-five years ago, the International Committee of the Fourth International published a May Day Manifesto in the immediate aftermath of the First Gulf War of February-March 1991. It stated: The post-World War II equilibrium of imperialism, which provided the political foundation for the massive worldwide expansion of capitalism, has broken down. It cannot be restored peacefully, for the relations between all the component parts that comprised the old equilibrium have been transformed. It is not a matter of the subjective desires of the individual leaders of bourgeois states, but of the objective consequences of economic and social contradictions, which are beyond their control. At the center of the disequilibrium of world imperialism is the crisis of the United States Against the background of the worsening social crisis and its potentially revolutionary consequences, the drive of American imperialism to restore its position of world dominance constitutes the single most explosive element in world politics The increasing recklessness and bellicosity of American imperialism represents, in the final analysis, an attempt to offset and reverse its economic decay through the use of military powerthe one area in which the United States still exercises unquestioned dominance. The analysis of the International Committee of the deeper historical significance of the war contradicted the received wisdom of the time. The media and, of course, the academic specialists in international relations, accepted without reservation the claims of the US government that the invasion of Iraq was no more than a legal and necessary response to the August 1990 annexation of Kuwait, in violation of international law, by Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq. David North speech to 2016 International May Day rally But the objective experiences of the past twenty-five years have vindicated the analysis of the International Committee. The invasion of Iraq marked the beginning of what is now a quarter-century of virtually ceaseless war. In the 1990s, the first war against Iraq was followed by US invasions of Haiti and Somalia. Cruise missiles were deployed against Sudan. On one or another pretext Iraq was subjected to repeated bombing attacks. The decade was brought to an end by the US-led war against Serbia, in which the small Balkan country was subjected to a 78-day bombing campaign. This was justifiedagain with the virtually unanimous assent of an endlessly gullible community of academicsas a humanitarian response to ethnic cleansing. Serbias acceptance, in June 1999, of the terms imposed by NATO, completed the fragmentation of Yugoslavia into seven debt-ridden states dominated by US and European imperialism. As is now all too clear, the military operations of the 1990s were the initial tremors that anticipated the eruption of imperialist violence following the events of September 11, 2001. We are now approaching the fifteenth anniversary of the never-ending War on Terror. What is the political and moral balance sheet of the last 15 years? The United States has waged wars against Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and Yemen. The total number of dead and wounded in these countries is in the millions. The leaders of American imperialism may be justly accused of sociocidethe criminal destruction of entire societies. How, one must wonder, will the countries targeted by US imperialism recover from the devastation they have suffered? The last fifteen years have brought into common usage words and phrases such as rendition, water boarding, drone strikes and targeted assassinations. In the White House, where President Abraham Lincoln composed the Emancipation Proclamation, the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue holds weekly meetings with his advisers to review so-called kill lists. Lincoln affixed his signature to a document that doomed slavery. Barack Obama signs papers every week that doom individuals to extra-judicial executions. Ironically, both Lincoln and Obama were trained as lawyers. But the contrast between these two presidents attitude toward constitutional principles and the value of human life mirrors the historical trajectory of the American state, from its democratic apogee under Lincoln to its imperialist nadir under Obama. The quarter-century of war developed as a series of regional interventions, in the Middle East, the Balkans and Central Asia. The strategists of US imperialism were convinced that the massive military power at their disposal would secure, without too much difficulty, the New World Order proclaimed by the first President Bush in 1991. The dissolution of the Soviet Union had removed, they were convinced, the only significant obstacle to the unchallengeable hegemony of US imperialism. Force works, proclaimed the Wall Street Journal in the immediate aftermath of the first Persian Gulf War. But the path to world domination was, as it turned out, strewn with unanticipated difficulties. The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, despite initial military successes, have sparked growing resistance. In both countries the United States is caught in a quagmire from which it cannot extricate itself. But retreat for American imperialism is impossible. Powerful objective forces and interests drive the United States toward ever more extensiveand recklessmilitary escalation. First and foremost, the economic crisisespecially since the crash of 2008has grown more severe. Moreover, the international geo-political environment has become increasingly unfavorable. The rapid growth of China as an economic and military power is seen by the United States as a major threat to its dominant global position. From the standpoint of Washington strategists, China is not only a direct threat to US dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. They also fear that Chinaas a consequence of its growing economic ties with Americas longstanding but untrustworthy European alliesmay succeed in promoting a global realignment of economic and military forces unfavorable to the United States. The American pivot to Asiaabout which our comrades in Sri Lanka and Australia will speak laterseeks to both restrain the growth of Chinese influence in the Asia- Pacific and, if necessary, deprive China of access to Pacific and Indian Ocean sea-lanes upon which its economy depends. This is the cause of the growing tensions in the South China Sea. However, the Asia-Pacific pivot is insufficient to secure Americas global hegemony. A substantial section of Pentagon and CIA strategists believe that the strategic isolation of China requires not only American control of the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. The United States must also dominate Eurasia, characterised in the textbooks of international geopolitics as the world island. This is the strategic objective that underlies the growing conflict between the United States and Russia. International relations have reached a level of tension that equals, if it has not already surpassed, what existed in the late 1930s on the eve of World War II. All the major imperialist powersincluding Germany and Japanare increasing their military commitments. That a conflict between the United States, China and Russia could involve the use of nuclear weapons is already being acknowledged. It would be the gravest of errors to assume that neither the political and military leaders of the imperialist powers, nor their frightened adversaries in Beijing and Moscow, would ever risk the devastating consequences of nuclear war. As a recent publication of an imperialist think tank warned, human beings cannot be counted on to act rationallyeven by their own standards. The document is entitled Rethinking Armageddon: Scenario Planning in the Second Nuclear Age. Despite the fact that it is well understood that all the major powers possess enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other many times over, the documents authors conclude: [T]he delicate balance of terror preserved by mutual deterrence may be more fragile than is commonly supposed. [1] The danger of war arises from two essential and interconnected elements of the capitalist economic system: first, the private ownership of the means of production by monopolistic corporations and a financial oligarchy striving to maximize profits; and, second, the inescapable conflicts developing out of the objective reality of an interconnected global economy and the persistence of the nation-state system. Exactly 100 years ago, in 1916, in the midst of World War I, Leninthe future leader of the Russian Revolutionwrote his great treatise on Imperialism. In opposition to anti-Marxist reformists like Karl Kautsky, who viewed imperialist war from a subjective standpointthat is, as merely the outcome of incorrect policies on the part of the ruling eliteLenin insisted that imperialism represented an objective stage in the evolution of capitalism. Imperialism, he wrote, is the epoch of finance capital and of monopolies, which introduce everywhere the striving for domination, not for freedom. [2] The drift toward dictatorship, Lenin explained, arose inexorably from the sharpening of imperialist contradictions. The difference between the democratic-republican and the reactionary-monarchist imperialist bourgeoisie is obliterated, he wrote. Political reaction all along the line is a characteristic feature of imperialism. Corruption, bribery on a huge scale and all kinds of fraud. [3] Lenins analysis did not stop at proving that war arose out of the objective contradictions of capitalism. He demonstrated that the same contradictions that gave rise to imperialist war also radicalized the working class and drove it onto the road of socialist revolution. From this scientific insight flows the essential strategy of the struggle against war. The anti-war strategy of the working class proceeds not from the conventional calculations of bourgeois geo-politics, which are based on an assessment of the balance of power between national states. We proceed, instead, from an assessment of the balance of power between social classes. The fight against imperialist war depends upon the political mobilization of the working class. It is therefore the responsibility of the socialist movement to educate and raise the political consciousness of the working class so that it can wage war on war. The program on which that fight is based must be anti-capitalist and socialist. War cannot be stopped without ending the economic systemcapitalismthat generates military conflict. And, finally, the struggle against war must be international, uniting the working class and youth of all countries against capitalist exploitation and imperialist militarism. There are many signs of a growing anti-capitalist political radicalization of the working class and youth throughout the world. Perhaps the most significant is the fact that millions of American workers, in the recent series of primary elections, cast their vote for a candidate who had identified himself as a socialist. Of course, the socialism of Bernie Sanders is little more than warmed over liberalism. But Sanders attracted support not because of his political opportunism, but because he was perceived by workers to be advancing, to use his own words, a political revolution against social inequality. The basic narrative of American political exceptionalismthat the working class will never turn to socialism in the United Stateshas been refuted in practice. A new chapter in the history of the American class struggle is beginning. Socialism, suppressed for so long in the United States, is entering a period of explosive growth. It is precisely at the point when the contradictions that beset globally integrated capitalism attain extraordinary acuteness that the capitalist class, striving to rally the masses in support of imperialist war, does all in its power to whip up a nationalist frenzy. In the United States, Trump proposes to make America great again by building a wall across the borders of the United States and deploying unlimited military force against its enemies, foreign and domestic (especially immigrants). He plans to restore America to economic health with stronger borders and bigger bombs. In reality, Trumps vision of a Fortress America is a dystopian nightmare that can be realized only through dictatorship and war. Trumpism is by no means an isolated, purely American, phenomenon. There are many Trumps to be found all over the world. A common feature of contemporary capitalist politics is a resurgence of nationalism in its most chauvinistic form. The rise of the UKIP party and the Brexit campaign in Britain, the electoral successes of Marine Le Pen in France, the victory of the ultra-chauvinist Freedom Party in the first round of the Austrian presidential election, express a desperate attempt to find a nationalist refuge from the contradictions of globalized capitalism. But no such refuge exists. In no country can nationalism provide a viable alternative to imperialism and capitalist oppression. The experiences of the past quarter century allow one to assess the consequences of nationalism. Let us consider the fate of the nations that emerged from the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The unemployment rate among Macedonian youth is 50 percent. In Slovenia, youth unemployment is 24 percent. In Croatia, 44 percent of youth are without jobs. In Montenegro, youth unemployment stands at 41 percent. In Bosnia, the youth unemployment rate is over 57 percent. In Serbia, 49 percent of youth are unemployed. In Kosovo, youth unemployment is over 60 percent! Aside from the catastrophic results of nationalist projects, the reactionary policies of national separatism have played a key role in providing the United States, Germany, Britain and France with a means of exploiting and inciting national, ethnic and religious separatism as a pretext for imperialist intervention, as has occurred in Syria and Libya. The solution to the crisis of world imperialism can be found only through the political mobilization of the working classon all continents and in all countriesin an internationally unified struggle against imperialism. The persistent scourge of imperialist-sponsored national oppression can be resolved only through the unification of all sections of the working class. The historic task that confronts the working class is not the establishment of new national states, torn out of the rotting carcasses of older national enterprises, but the creation of a unified and integrated world federation of socialist republics. The only viable perspective is that elaborated by Leon Trotsky in his theory of permanent revolution. He wrote in 1928: The completion of the socialist revolution within national limits is unthinkable. One of the basic reasons for the crisis in bourgeois society is the fact that the productive forces created by it can no longer be reconciled with the framework of the national state. From this follows on the one hand, imperialist wars, on the other, the utopia of a bourgeois United States of Europe. The socialist revolution begins on the national arena, it unfolds on the international arena, and is completed on the world arena. Thus, the socialist revolution becomes a permanent revolution in a newer and broader sense of the word; it attains completion, only in the final victory of the new society on our entire planet. [4] In conclusion, the purpose of todays rally is to issue a clear call for the development of a mass international movement of workers and youth against war. This urgent task is inseparably linked to the building of the Fourth International as the World Party of Socialist Revolution. We urge all those who are taking part to listen carefully to the speakers, and, if you agree with the perspective and program they present, to join the section of the International Committee of the Fourth International that is active in your country. If such a party does not yet exist, take up the fight to build a new section of the world Trotskyist movement in your country, and become a conscious participant in the struggle against imperialist war and for socialism, upon which the future of humanity depends. Footnotes: [1] Andrew F. Krepinevich and Jacob Kohn, Rethinking Armageddon: Scenario Planning in the Second Nuclear Age (Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, 2016), pp. 14-15 [2] Lenin Collected Works, Volume 22 (Moscow, 1974), p. 297 [3] Lenin Collected Works, Volume 23 (Moscow, 1974), p. 106 [4] The Permanent Revolution, 1928 Under the Obama administration, more Americans have found themselves consigned to economic ghettos, living in neighborhoods where more than 40 percent subsist below the poverty level. Millions more now live in high poverty districts of 20-40 percent poverty, according to recently released report by the Brookings Institution. All in all, more than half of the nations poor are now concentrated in these high-poverty neighborhoods. This means that on top of the difficult daily struggle to make ends meet, they face a raft of additional crushing barriers because of where they live. The Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program report, Concentrated poverty continues to grow post recession, is authored by Elizabeth Kneebone and Natalie Holmes and scrutinizes this unprecedented shift in the aftermath of the 2008 financial meltdown. The report, based on an analysis of US census tracts, shows that concentrations of poverty have grown under the Obama administration in all geography types: large metropolitan areas, small cities and rural areas. In fact, the number of poor people living in concentrated poverty in suburbs grew nearly twice as fast as in cities, putting paid to the myth of affluence or even stability in Americas suburbs. The growth of social and economic distress within large parts of the US is demonstrated by the statistics. Pockets of high poverty exist in virtually every part of the country, including adjacent to the nations wealthiest neighborhoods. Since 2000, according to the report, the total number of poor people living in high-poverty neighborhoods has doubled to 14 million Americans. This is five million more than prior to the Great Recession. Referring to the double burden facing the poor when they live in high-poverty neighborhoods, Kneebone and Holmes say, Residents of poor neighborhoods face higher crime rates and exhibit poorer physical and mental health outcomes. They tend to go to poor-performing neighborhood schools with higher dropout rates. Their job-seeking networks tend to be weaker and they face higher levels of financial insecurity. These effects are clearly discernible once a neighborhoods poverty rate exceeds 20 percent, the report explains. During the study period, between 2005-09 and 2010-14, the number of such high poverty neighborhoods grew by more than 4,300. Across many demographics: City and suburb, black and white Suburbs accounted for one-third of the newly high-poverty neighborhoods, a higher share than cities, rural or small metro areas. The share of poor black and Hispanic suburban residents climbed by 10 percent while poor white residents climbed by eight percent, almost as much. The palpable effects of the auto industry restructuring, with the Obama administrations stipulation of a 50 percent cut in wages for new autoworkers, is demonstrated in the growth of poverty in the sprawling auto-dominated Detroit region. Out of metro Detroiters living in poverty, 58 percent now reside in suburban districts, according to a survey by Oakland County Lighthouse. A recent and similar demographic study by the Century Foundation states that the six-county region has the highest concentration of poverty among the top 25 metro areas in the US by population. This represents 32 percent of the poor living in concentrated tracts. There has been a staggering growth of poor neighborhoods in and around Detroit, Kneebone told the Detroit Free Press, adding that the number grew almost fivefold between 2000 and 2010-14. Detroit now has an official poverty rate of 39 percent, the highest in the US among cities with more than 300,000 residents. Sadly this report reinforces what we have been seeing year after year in Detroit and across Michigan. Gilda Jacobs, of the Michigan League for Public Policy told the World Socialist Web Site. Poverty is too high, and where peopleespecially kidslive has a direct and significant impact on their economic standing, health and other outcomes. From the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt Detroit, however, is just the most concentrated expression of the national trend. Among the nations largest metro areas, two-thirds (67 percent) saw concentrated poverty grow between 2005-09 and 2010-14, the Brookings study found. The authors note that some of the largest upticks included a number of Sun Belt metro areas hit hard by the collapse of the housing marketlike Fresno, Bakersfield and Stockton in California and Phoenix and Tucson in Arizonaand older industrial areas in the Midwest and northeastlike Indianapolis, Buffalo, and Syracuse. Eight metro areas now show concentrated poverty over 30 percent: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin (30.1 percent); Memphis, Tennessee (31.1 percent); Bakersfield, California (31.7 percent); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan (32 percent); Syracuse, New York (32.4 percent); Toledo, Ohio (34.9 percent); Fresno, California (43.8 percent); and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas (52.3 percent). As the WSWS has previously reported, all job growth over the last decade has been temp or contingency employment, traditionally the lowest wage levels of any job and paying no benefits. This loss of hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs has impacted communities throughout the US. Concentrated poverty in suburbs has jumped 2.4 points in the wake of the recession, to a record high of 7.1 percent. What is the double burden of concentrated poverty? In her remarks to the WSWS, Gilda Jacobs elaborated on the double burden of concentrated poverty: So many detrimental factors come with living in high-poverty neighborhoods. There are no viable jobs, public transportation, childcare, or grocery stores. Crime rates are high, theres blight and abandoned buildings, and the health risks of lead exposure and asthma. Even Detroits public schools are unhealthy and even dangerous. This is what Detroit kids and other low-income children are dealing with every day, and what they have to try to overcome in improving their futures. These living and learning conditions are all connected, and harm kids development and learning, their academic outcomes and their future job prospects. It is called toxic stress when kids are under constant strain. This study reiterates that so many factors affecting poverty are external and environmental, making them nearly impossible to defeat alone, she stressed. A series of studies [including George Galsters The Mechanism(s) of Neighborhood Effects Theory, Evidence, and Policy Implications and others] have documented how poor neighborhoods undermine even the most determined individual efforts to escape poverty. Taken together, these studies demonstrate how the escalating growth of poverty concentration exacts an ever-higher toll on American society, affecting many aspects of life and particularly destroying the potential of the next generation. *Education. High-poverty neighborhoods exert downward pressure on school quality. Data from the Stanford Data Archive has recently shown a staggering effect upon child learning capacities of attending impoverished school districts. Utilizing 215 million state accountability test scores, the study showed that Children in districts with the highest concentrations of poverty score an average of more than four grade levels below children in the richest districts [emphasis added]. *Violence. Exposure to violence has reached epidemic proportions for low-income youth, particularly among minorities. Parental stress over neighborhood violence is a substantial factor motivating families to movewhen they canfrom high-poverty neighborhoods, compounded by fears of negative peer influences upon their children. Youth and adults who have been exposed to violence as witnesses or victims suffer increased stress and documented declines in mental health. *Toxic exposures. Poor areas are chronically associated with higher concentrations of air-, water- and soil-borne pollutants. Lead poisoning is most often associated with older housing stock. Researchers have demonstrated that depression, asthma, diabetes and heart ailments are correlated with living in high-poverty neighborhoods. Additionally, individuals in poor neighborhoods often receive inferior health care and reduced government services. * Other effects of physical decay . The inability to exercise outdoors is a known factor in the rise of obesity, especially among children. High levels of noise pollution produce stress, and prolonged exposure to run-down surroundings can lead to hopelessness. *The poor pay more. Prices in poor neighborhoods are notoriously higher and the goods of poorer quality than those in better-off areas. Food and health-care deserts are common. The costs of home and car insurance are usually substantially higher. *Lack of social cohesion. Disorder and lack of social cohesion are associated with both crime and mental distress. Children who live without a cohesive neighborhood network are more likely to have behavioral problems and have lower verbal skills. Those in areas of concentrated poverty are typically more isolated within their households and have fewer educated or employed friends and neighbors. Low levels of employment in distressed neighborhoods also destroy the informal networks crucial for workers to find good jobs. In her first feature film, director Chloe Zhao tells the story of a young Lakota man torn between the desire to leave his impoverished reservation and the sense of responsibility to his younger sister at home, in the remarkable Songs My Brothers Taught Me. Zhao (who was born in Beijing, but grew up in the UK) spent years living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the South Dakota Badlands gaining the trust of the people and their way of life. Boasting a talented cast of amateur actors, the film is a sincere portrait of despair and beauty, as economic hardship and substance abuse take their toll on one of the most oppressed social groups in America, the aboriginal population who were nearly wiped out by American capitalism and who suffer terrible hardships up to the present. After the death of his absentee father in a house fire, 17-year-old Johnny Winters (John Reddy) is forced to care for his family, in particular his little sister, Jashaun (JaShaun St. John). Their surroundings, the Great Plains, are desolate and austere but the filmmakers have turned them into beautiful vistas. Their mobile homes seem to contain an entire universe of pain and sorrow. Faced with a life of drugs and crime on the reservation, Johnny is grasping at straws when he hopes, as all young people do, that a change of scenery will be the answer to all his problems. The fact that this mother, Lisa (Irene Bedard), also struggles with alcohol problems, further complicates matters and makes it doubtful whether she can take care of young Jashaun. Johnny is forced more or less into bootlegging alcohol and selling it on the reservation to care for his sister. There are also gangs who do not appreciate his business. They often confront him and at one point inflict a terrible beating. Songs My Brothers Taught Me opens with a scene of Johnny on horseback at dusk. He is advised not to ride the animal too hard or risk breaking its spirit completely. Anything that runs wild got something bad in em. You want to leave some of that in there cause they need it to survive out here. One sees that virtually all the hope for life have been beaten out of the older people, especially Johnnys mother, and we watch that process threatening Johnny and Jashaun, who fight to hang on. When a teacher asks Johnny and his classmates at Little Wound High School what they would like to be in life, and encourages them to dream big, most of them reply they want to be bull riders. There is an understandable obsession with the cowboy culture and rodeos, the one bright spot in this dreary part of the world. In a particularly moving scene, Johnny and his friends sit in a bedroom that we learn belonged to a classmate who committed suicide. The boys reminisce about their deceased friend. Seeing the cluttered and dingy room, like so many of the films bleak interiors, one understands why desperate young people would seek a tragic way out. Johnny mutters, I still cant believe he killed himself, but the statement is sadly ironic. Fortunately, Zhao balances the depressing reality with the gorgeous natural world, animals, mountains and fields, and of course, the remarkable people. Shot in minimalist style, Songs My Brothers Taught Me feels more like an interconnected, documentary-style series of scenes than an actual narrative feature. This approach has its strengths and weaknesses. Certain points and conversations could have been expanded and the editing makes the work at times feel a bit overextended and jumpy, but these are relatively small points. Also commendable is the films tone. Never condescending, the filmmakers took their time to humanize their subjects. What Zhao does best is present complex and contradictory characters, human beings who make mistakes despite good intentions and who maneuver as best they can within their bleak reality. Covered in tattoos, Travis (Travis Lone Hill), for example, is a designer of his own brand of gangster-style clothing, a trade he has perfected during his time in and out of prison. His character could have easily been lampooned or demonized by another filmmaker. Instead we learn his passion is interior design! He sells his homemade clothing on the side of the road with Jashaun, the only economy in this town. Nearly every character has a hidden artistic talent. A late-night party, eventually broken up by the police, features a band playing heavy metal, interspersed with hip hop and traditional Lakota songs. The aforementioned rodeos seem to naturally mesh with the traditional Native pow wows. Johnny eventually meets and falls in love with Aurelia (Taysha Fuller), who is planning to study in Los Angeles after graduating from high school. Johnny is determined to follow her. Disapproving of his plans, Aurelias family wants to know how he intends to survive in the big city. Johnny assures them he will be able to make things work there. His naivete will crash against the reality of life in a harsh new environment. No one can question the sincerity or humanity of the filmmakers. Songs My Brothers Taught Me is not explicitly political and to a certain extent its understated quality is part of its charm. However, the lack of historical and social context, a familiar trait of contemporary independent films, and any sense of an alternative to a harsh, poverty-stricken existence are shortcomings. Native American communities have some of the highest rates of alcoholism, domestic abuse and suicide in the US. South Dakota, where the film takes place, was also the site of the infamous 1891 Wounded Knee Massacre in which the US Cavalry slaughtered hundreds of innocent men, women and children. Some of this history of oppression finds an echo in the film, but the viewer is left with the problematic sense that the answers can be found in a turn back to tradition. Nonetheless, all in all, Songs My Brothers Taught Me is a deeply moving film and deserves a wide audience. 25 Years Ago | 50 Years Ago | 75 Years Ago | 100 Years Ago 25 years ago: South Korean workers and students clash with government over murder of union leader On May 6, 1991, the body of South Korean union leader Park Chang-soo was found on the street outside Anyang Hospital. Two days earlier, he was admitted into the hospital with a fractured skull after three months imprisonment. The dictatorship of Roh Tae-Woo imprisoned Park and other trade unionists on April 21 on charges of organizing illegal labor protests. He was held at Anyang Prison, where he had gone on hunger strike over the killing of Kang Kyong-dae, a 20-year-old student at Seouls Miyongji University, who was beaten to death by police during an April 26 demonstration. After suffering suspicious head injuries over the weekend, Park was taken to the nearby hospital. On the morning of May 6, he was apparently thrown from its rooftop. Guards who were maintaining a continuous watch on Park claimed that they did not know how he had gotten to the roof. The regime claimed Park committed suicide, but both the National Council of Labor Unions and the Hanjin Heavy Industries Union immediately denounced this fabrication, calling sit-ins and strikes at 450 companies. On May 7, riot police battled workers and students who were guarding Parks body at a hospital south of Seoul. More than 1,000 riot-equipped police attempted to storm the hospital at 5:00 in the morning in an attempt to seize the murdered union leaders body for a government autopsy designed to bolster the cover-up. Hundreds of workers and youth resisted, holding the facility against repeated charges and a massive tear gas barrage. Finally, after nearly eight hours, the police gained entry to the hospital by cutting through a rear wall and overpowering about 40 workers, including Parks relatives, who were maintaining a vigil over the body. The corpse was rushed to four of the regimes doctors who immediately conducted an autopsy. The following weekend, marches demanding Rohs resignation and the disbanding of the special combat police force used to repress demonstrations were held in Seoul and many provincial cities. In the capital, workers and others spontaneously joined smaller demonstrations until tens of thousands choked the downtown streets, defying riot squads that repeatedly fired tear gas canisters and water cannon into the crowds. [top] 50 years ago: Nasser threatens Saudi Arabia On May 1, 1966, in a speech marking May Day, Egyptian President Gamel Abdel Nasser threatened to invade and occupy parts of Saudi Arabia if the monarchy headed by King Faisal intervened militarily in the ongoing civil war in Yemen. The bourgeois nationalist leader declared that Egyptian armed forces would seize the border towns of Qian and Najran, which were formerly part of the territory of Yemen. The two cities were being used as sanctuaries by Yemeni monarchist forces, supported by the reactionary Saudi regime, in a long civil war which had been raging in the former British colony at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The Saudi monarchy signed a $400 million arms agreement with the US and Britain during the winter, following its announced plans, with the backing of Britain, to construct an airfield five miles from the border, placing it directly opposite Egyptian military forces stationed in Yemen. On several occasions in the previous year, the Egyptian Air Force had bombed monarchist training camps inside Saudi Arabia, bringing sharp warnings from US imperialism that it would defend the territorial integrity of the monarchy. The threats of military intervention by Egypt followed the collapse of a peace agreement between Nasser and King Faisal brokered by the United States in August 1965. Simultaneously, the Egyptian government demanded increased economic aid from Washington from the current level of $55 million to $150 million. But Washington announced it would put on hold all discussion of new economic aid. After his invasion threats, Nasser held a six-day meeting with Josef Tito, the Stalinist leader of Yugoslavia, in an effort to use the support of the Stalinist and nonaligned countries to increase his bargaining power with US imperialism. [top] 75 years ago: Iraq rebels against British occupation On May 2, 1941 Iraqi military forces launched an artillery assault on the British Royal Air Force at the Habbania air base, situated on the Euphrates River just west of Baghdad. The clash was a byproduct of the conflict between German and British imperialism in the Second World War, then ending its second year. The Nazi regime sought to undermine British colonial rule in Iraq and Palestine and to exploit the seething hatred against French domination in Syria. Oil-starved Germany sought to make use of a section of the Arab bourgeois nationalists to cut off the flow of oil by pipeline to the British fleet in the Mediterranean from the petroleum-rich regions of Mosul and Kirkuk in northern Iraq, and ultimately to secure this region for itself. In April, Iraqi Prime Minister Rashid Ali, sympathetic to Germany, conspired with three Iraqi officers against the pro-British regent, Emir Abdul Ilia, who fled the country. Britain responded by landing forces near Basra, initially with the acquiescence of Rashid Ali, to guard the oil refinery at Abadan and take control of the lower Euphrates and Tigris river valleys. When the British advised Iraq that it would land additional forces at Basra, Rashid Ali refused permission. The British defied his orders, leading Iraq to attack the RAF base at Habbania. Initially, the Iraqi artillery bombardment inflicted damage to the British, destroying a quarter of the RAFs planes. But gradually the RAF knocked out Iraqi gun emplacement and forced Iraqs troops to retreat. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered his military staff to get a friendly government set up in Baghdad, and to beat down Rashid Alis forces with the utmost vigor. In effect, he was demanding that the formal independence of Iraq, established in 1932, should be suppressed, and direct British colonial rule reimposed. [top] 100 years ago: Leaders of Easter Uprising in Ireland executed Beginning on May 3, 1916, and continuing until May 12, British authorities carried out the execution by firing squad of 15 leaders of the failed Easter Uprising for Irish independence, including the socialist James Connolly. On April 24, the first day of the uprising, the British government had declared martial law in both the city and county of Dublin. General John Maxwell was sent to Dublin as head of the British armys Irish Command, with dictatorial powers under martial law. At the same time the British government, simultaneously embroiled in World War I, took measures for persons to be court martialed under the Defence of the Realm Act. In the aftermath of the uprising, British forces arrested around 3,500 people who were either directly involved in the rebellion or who were thought to be sympathizers. Maxwell ordered that 183 of them be tried in a May 2, 1916, court martial held in secret without jury or defense counsel. Ninety were sentenced to death. Of those, 15 had their sentences confirmed by Maxwell and were shot by firing squad over the following 10 days. The secrecy surrounding the trials and the swift execution of those found guilty led to anger within the Irish working class. Worried about the reaction to the executions, bourgeois Irish parliamentarians warned the British government of the dangers of the increasing unrest throughout the country. John Dillon, a leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, said in the House of Commons, Would not any sensible statesman think he had enough to do in Dublin and the other centres where disturbance broke out without doing everything possible to raise disturbance and spread disaffection over the whole country? By May 8, British Prime Minister Asquith was insisting that the executions stop. Maxwell, however, insisted on carrying out two further executions, including that of the mortally wounded Connolly, a revolutionary socialist leader of the Irish working class injured in the fighting. Connolly was carried to the site of execution on a stretcher and then propped up in a chair to face the firing squad on May 12. He was the last Irish leader executed for the uprising. Following Connollys execution, Maxwell bowed to pressure and the other death sentences were commuted to penal servitude. Almost 2,000 men were imprisoned at internment camps and prisons throughout England and Wales. [top] On Friday, April 29, after spending his entire adult life at the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola for a crime he did not commit, Gary Tyler, now 57 years old, walked out a free man. Tylers case is among the most brazen and brutal frame-ups in modern American history. His victimization exemplifies the violent and repressive character of class relations in the United States and the antidemocratic nature of the US justice system. The Workers League and the Young Socialists, the forerunners of the Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, played the leading role in the campaign for Gary Tylers freedom. Our movement carried out a determined national and international struggle to mobilize the working class in his defense, insisting that his frame-up was fundamentally a class question and represented an attack on the working class as a whole. In 1974, Tyler, then a 16-year-old student at Destrehan High School on the outskirts of New Orleans, was railroaded to prison for the October 7 shooting death of a 13-year-old white student, Timothy Weber. The killing occurred in a racially charged atmosphere whipped up by elements such as David Duke, then emerging as a leading figure in the Louisiana and national Ku Klux Klannow a supporter of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trumpin response to court-ordered busing to desegregate Destrehan and other high schools. Tyler was among the group of African-American Destrehan students being sent home early that day due to tensions at the school. Weber was standing in a crowd of white students and adults shouting insults as the school bus pulled out, when a shot rang out, fatally wounding him. Tyler was arbitrarily singled out by sheriffs deputies and taken to the local jail, where he was savagely beaten. He was held in jail for a year, until he turned 17, so he could be tried as an adult. He was charged with first-degree murder, a charge that carried a mandatory sentence of death in the electric chair. His nine-day trial was a travesty. The alleged murder weaponnot found during initial searchesturned out to be a pistol that had disappeared from a police firing range. The gun later went missing. The trial judge, Ruche Marino, was reportedly a member of the White Citizens Council. The only evidence against Tyler was testimony from students, black and white, who subsequently recanted their statements at trial, in some cases charging that they had been terrorized and threatened by police to make them falsely incriminate Tyler. Convicted by an all-white jury, Tyler was initially sentenced to be executed on May 1, 1976, almost exactly 40 years prior to the date of his eventual release. He spent two years on death row at Angola prison, becoming at the time the youngest death row inmate in the US. The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole only after the US Supreme Court ruled, in 1977, that the Louisiana death penalty statute was unconstitutional. The authorities vindictively kept the young man in solitary confinement for eight years. They refused to release Tyler or grant him a new trial despite a 1980 ruling by the Fifth Circuit of the US Court of Appeals that his trial was unconstitutional and fundamentally unfair. Instead, the attorneys general of Louisiana, Texas and Florida petitioned the Fifth Circuit Court to change its decision. They feared that giving Gary a new trial would derail scores of similar frame-ups throughout the south. In 1981, the appeals court overturned its own ruling on a legal technicality. Tylers attorneys appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court, which refused to hear the case. Both big-business parties are complicit in the frame-up and decades-long imprisonment of Tyler. The teenager was railroaded to prison under Republican President Gerald Ford and the state administration of Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, a Democrat. He was kept in jail by Democratic Governor Charles Buddy Roemer despite three separate recommendations from the Louisiana state parole board that his sentence be reduced, which would have allowed him to go free many years ago. In 1994, Amnesty International declared Gary Tyler to be a political prisoner. In 2008, Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco left office without acting on new calls for Tylers release from prominent journalists and cultural figures. The state of Louisiana finally allowed Tyler to go free only after a series of rulings by the US Supreme Court left it with no alternative. In 2013, Tylers lawyer filed a motion on the basis of the 2012 decision in Miller v. Alabama in which the court said mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders violated the US Constitution. Earlier this year, in Montgomery v. Louisiana, the high court held that its decision in Miller had to be applied retroactively. Even so, the state authorities insisted that in return for his freedom, Tyler, who had always maintained his innocence, accept a plea deal in which he pled guilty to manslaughter. Last Friday, a state judge accepted Tylers plea and sentenced him to the maximum 21-year term for manslaughter, far less time than he had already served. Tyler, having lost both parents and a number of siblings while in prison, was able to leave prison for the first time since he was arrested at the age of 16. The arrest, frame-up and conviction of Tyler took place in the context of a mounting economic and political crisis of American capitalism. The shooting at Destrehan High School occurred only weeks after the resignation of Richard Nixon as a result of the Watergate revelations, the first ever resignation of a sitting US president. On the international front, the US was heading for an ignominious defeat in Vietnam. Political hatred for Nixon was accompanied by militant struggles by coal miners, autoworkers, teachers, public employees and other sections of workers against the initial attempts of the American ruling class to impose the cost of its economic decline on the working class. Under Nixons successor, Gerald Ford, the US entered into the deepest recession to that point since the end of World War II, which continued under the Democratic Carter administration. The stage was set for the ruling class, under Ronald Reagan, to launch a counteroffensive against the working class, targeting all of its past social gains and its democratic rightsa class-war policy that has continued unabated ever since. The trade unions enabled this offensive to proceed by betraying every struggle of the working class against mass layoffs, plant closures, wage cuts and union-busting, beginning with their de facto alliance with the Reagan administration against the PATCO air traffic controllers in 1981. When the Workers League and Young Socialists learned of Tylers frame-up and looming execution in 1976, our movement organized a powerful and sustained campaign to mobilize support in the working class for his freedom. We recognized that this was part of an attack on the entire working class, and that Tylers freedom could be won only by mobilizing workers independently of and in opposition to the capitalist two-party system. The Young Socialists issued a pamphlet titled The Frameup of Gary Tyler that sold tens of thousands of copies and went through three editions. The pamphlet outlined the basic facts in the case, explained that this was an attack on the working class as a whole, and called for the unity of black and white workers to fight for Tylers freedom. The pamphlet stated in its introduction that the freedom of Tyler and other political prisoners could not be secured through protests and appeals to the government and its courts. It continued: These are the forces that carried out these frame-ups as part of their preparations for the most savage attacks on the basic rights of all workers and youth. Defending Gary Tyler means fighting to rouse the strength of the working class against Jimmy Carter and the capitalist system which is responsible for these attacks. Within the space of a few months, 40,000 signatures were collected on petitions and the support of union bodies representing hundreds of thousands of workers was secured in the fight for Garys defense. Our movement carried out this struggle internationally, and the appeal for Tylers freedom began to draw widespread attention, with songs written and performed by Gil Scott Heron and UB 40, among others. On December 4, 1976, the Young Socialists organized a powerful march and rally in Harlem, New York that was joined by hundreds of young people and workers, including autoworkers, transit workers, teachers and striking newspaper pressmen, to demand Tylers freedom and review the political implications of his frame-up. Tyler sent a message to the demonstrators from prison, which read, in part: While here in a state of incarceration, I have decided to write this statement. I really appreciate the things you all are doing to help me to obtain justice that the government says truly exists within this country. But, how could justice exist when Democracy only applies for the rich and not for the working class and especially not for the poor?... Democracy for an insignificant minority, democracy for the richthat is the democracy of capitalist society. In 1977, Tom Henehan, a leading member of the Workers League, was killed in a political assassination at a Young Socialists social held in Brooklyn to raise funds for the defense of Tyler. In 1985, we published a pamphlet featuring an interview with Tyler obtained by Young Socialists National Secretary DArtagnan Collier, who visited the 27-year-old prisoner at Angola state penitentiary. The Socialist Equality Party, the IYSSE and the World Socialist Web Site continued to bring Tylers case to the attention of a national and international audience, despite a virtual blackout in the media. In 2012, SEP members held a meeting in New Orleans as part of the presidential campaign of Jerry White in that years national elections and raised the demand for Tylers freedom. They met with Tylers mother, Juanita Tyler, shortly before her death at the age of 80. Gary Tylers conviction and the time he spent in prison expose the brutal class character of the American judicial system and its vast prison complex. Since his frame-up, the assault on the living standards and democratic rights of the working class has intensified. It has been stepped up under the cover of the fraudulent war on terror and especially since the Wall Street crash of 2008. Under the Obama administration, it has reached new heights, with the expansion of war, a record growth of social inequality, and an escalation of government surveillance and the militarization of the police. Today, the issues raised by our movement in the fight for Gary Tylers freedomthe inseparable connection between the defense of democratic rights and the fight for socialismretain their full urgency. Telecom giant Verizon stepped up its strikebreaking efforts against 39,000 workers after issuing a last, best and final offer, that includes job cuts and sweeping health care and pension concessions. On Sunday, the company announced it would terminate medical insurance for over 110,000 active and retired workers. Verizon also announced it would be shifting an additional 1,000 managers and contractors to special assignment to ratchet up pressure on strikers. The company previously announced that it had trained as many as 10,000 strikebreakers in the month prior to the walkout. Verizons ultimatum includes an insulting 7.5 percent wage increase over three years. In exchange the company would have the power to force workers to commute over 60 miles for up to 120 days per year without accommodations. In addition, the proposed contract would see the closure of up to 11 call centers across the Mid-Atlantic region, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs. Other parts of the contract would allow for increased hiring of outside contract workers. The concessions demands come as Verizon continues to post immense profits. Last month, Verizon published first quarter operating income (profits before tax and interest payments) of $7.9 billion and profits of $1.06 per share, exceeding Wall Street expectations. The companys highly profitable wireless division saw revenue growth of 5.6 percent to $22.6 billion, while its wire division saw a 4.5 percent revenue growth to $4 billion, with the bulk of revenue coming from its FiOS fiber optic service. In an ominous move, the company claimed Wednesday that it had documented 57 acts of vandalism against its wire infrastructure since the strike began April 13. The companys allegations of sabotage during the previous strike of 2011 were followed by the involvement of the state and federal government in strikebreaking operations against the workers, including attacks on their democratic right to assemble. In the face of this coordinated provocation, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have restricted workers to toothless stunts such as urging customers to boycott companys wireless stores and holding rallies with bureaucrats from other unions and Democratic Party politicians. The isolation of the strike has been enforced by the AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions, which do not want the struggle to develop into a broader mobilization of the working class against the Obama administration and the Democrats, with whom they are allied. In a teleconference Sunday night, CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney sought to sow complacency among workers, claiming Verizon would improve its offer if the strike continued as is, while making it clear the union was open to making further concessions. Asked if negotiations had arrived at an impasse, Mooney said, the union has plenty of room for movement, its the company that has been refusing to give up on its proposals. He added that the CWA and IBEW had already offered to save the company hundreds of millions of dollars. The two unions have been responsible for consecutive sellout contracts. In 2003, the unions oversaw the creation of a two-tier benefits system, in which new hires lost all job protections and pensions. During the Sunday night call, Mooney told younger workers to remain in solidarity with the older workers and to learn their history, even if they worked under a different retirement structure from the older generation. Mooney did not explain that younger workers receiving lesser retirement benefits than the older generation was the result of conditions the union imposed. Picketing workers spoke to the WSWS Verizon Strike Newsletter about the latest contract proposal by the company. Sherry, a worker from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with 25 years, explained, Were fighting for our retiree benefits, and our benefits. I have 25 years. I want to retire. They want to close a lot of shops and move people further away than the 35-mile limit. Kim, another Verizon worker, explained, Everything were giving up were not going to get back. Karen explained, Were out here for everybody who works for a greedy company. Its not just us its everybody around the country. John, a call center worker, explained, They just came back with their last and final offer, which sucks. Its nothing special. They want to be able to relocate people up to 120 days. If you're an installer or something like that, they can send you elsewhere, away from your home, away from your family. Its ridiculous. When a WSWS reporter suggested that Verizon wants to do this to force older workers out, John agreed. I think thats definitely what theyre trying to do. I dont see any other point behind it. Instead of hiring more people they are subcontracting the work out to people who work for less money. Premier Li Keqiang urged Japan to stick to peaceful development and maintain positive policies toward China as a means of improving relations during his meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida over the weekend. Healthy and stable ties between China and Japan are in the interest of both countries and people, and they contribute to regional and global stability and prosperity, Li told Kishida on Saturday. Despite some setbacks in the past few years, Sino-Japanese relations are improving, though they are still fragile, the premier said. China is willing to increase the political trust with the neighbor and promote their bilateral relations back to a normal track of development, he said. "China hopes Japan will maintain peaceful development and make real steps toward fulfilling its agreement to take up opportunities created by Chinas peaceful development," Li said. He also said Japan should appropriately manage sensitive elements that can substantially affect bilateral relations, and create a positive atmosphere to resume bilateral dialogues and the trilateral leaders meeting of China, South Korea and Japan. Kishida said Japan is willing to show mutual respect, strengthen political trust and manage disputes. He said Japan will expand cooperation with China in various fields to accumulate positive factors that could boost relations. Kishida is making his first official visit to China, from Friday to Sunday, since becoming foreign minister more than three years ago. He is the first Japanese foreign minister to visit China since Shinzo Abe was re-elected as Japanese prime minister in 2012. Earlier on Saturday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Kishida, before the visitor met with State Councilor Yang Jiechi and the premier in the afternoon. Gao Hong, director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Japans actions are the key to improving bilateral relations, as the country has created issues that hamper Chinas fundamental interests and has broken its promises for cooperation instead of confrontation, especially in maritime rights. Last week the Center for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed a death earlier this year as the first fatal, American case of Zika fever. A man in his 70s living in Puerto Ricos capital of San Juan, fell ill with Zika in late February. A few days after recovering from the normal rash and fever, he died from internal bleeding from a resulting autoimmune disorder. His death was only recently reported after the CDC was able to confirm that it was caused by the Zika virus and not any other complications. There are currently 700 confirmed cases of Zika in Puerto Rico, including 89 pregnant women, and CDC officials predict 700,000 cases by the end of the year as the epidemic spreads across the island. Puerto Rico is currently the only part of the United States where local transmission by mosquito is occurring. In the face of this health crisis, the US Congress entered into a week-long recess this week without approving any funding to combat the Zika virus. The CDC is currently using $589 million in funding redirected from the efforts to contain the 2014 Ebola outbreak. To carry out sufficient preparations to combat Zika the CDC has requested $2 billion. The money would be used to control the mosquito populations that spread the disease and ensure the profits of pharmaceutical companies developing tests and vaccines. Without a significant boost to Puerto Ricos health care system, the Zika outbreak could become a social catastrophe. Although the disease is normally asymptomatic in adults, it has caused a sharp spike in rare autoimmune and neurological disorders. The Puerto Rican death was caused by immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) where the bodys immune system begins targeting the platelets responsible for blood clotting. With low platelet counts, victims of ITP may begin bleeding from the gums, bruising easily, and in severe cases, bleeding internally. In the current Zika outbreak, there have been three fatal cases of ITP in Colombia. Current CDC testing suggests that 1.3 percent of Zika cases show a subsequent decline in platelet levels. There are no reported cases yet in Brazil, but the symptoms of ITP are easily misdiagnosed as the much more common dengue hemorrhagic which is spread by the same mosquitoes as Zika. ITP shares similarities with the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome that is also caused by Zika. In both cases, the Zika virus causes the bodys immune system to attack other cells; platelets in the case of ITP and nerves in Guillain-Barre. So far, 17 people have been hospitalized in Puerto Rico with Guillain-Barre syndrome, which usually entails temporary weakness that can transform into potentially fatal paralysis. The majority of adults that are infected show no symptoms and most of those that do only suffer a fever and rash. This makes the Zika virus much harder to detect outbreaks in poverty stricken areas with poor health care systems. The current outbreak, which is centered in Brazil where over a million are believed to have been infected, was only noticed from the diseases impact on fetal development. Women infected with the disease while pregnant pass it on to their children in the womb, resulting in a sharp spike in children born with abnormally small heads, microcephaly. The Brazilian health ministry counts 4,908 suspected and confirmed cases of Zika-related microcephaly. The epidemic began in April 2014, a year when Brazil had only 150 cases of microcephaly, the normal rate. Seven other countries have reported Zika-related microcephaly cases in the single digits, including two in the US. Like most epidemics, Zika is a disease of poverty. Basic infrastructure like garbage collection and piped water minimize the mosquito populations that spread the disease. Well-maintained housing keeps mosquitoes out during the night, and 50 cents a year in netting is all it takes to protect an adult where other measures are not possible. Regular access to health care and family planning would also eliminate the majority of sexual transmission of the disease. It is no coincidence that in the United States, the territory that is experiencing a widespread outbreak of Zika is also one of the poorest. In Puerto Rico 45 percent of the population is below the poverty line, and the health care system is in crisis. The US territory is facing a $72 billion bankruptcy crisis and failed to deliver a $250 million payment to its hospitals last year. When the US Congress began their weeklong recess Friday, they not only failed to allocate money to combat the Zika outbreak, they also tabled any resolution to Puerto Ricos debt crisis, forcing the US territory to default on a $422 million debt payment on May 1. Since 2009, the island has laid off tens of thousands of public employees, while the official unemployment rate sits at 11.8 percent. Since 2014, the administration of Governor Alejandro Padilla has closed 10 percent of the schools. Efforts by the government to pay the bankers through cuts to social services will only exacerbate the conditions that have allowed the Zika virus to spread on the island. WATKINSVILLE, Ga. -- A survivor of the crash that killed four University of Georgia students fought through tears to explain what happened to a 911 dispatcher. The Oconee County Sheriff's Office released a recording of the call Saturday. State troopers say a Toyota Camry carrying the Georgia students went into the opposite lane of traffic Wednesday night. The patrol said it was struck by a Chevy Cobalt driven by 27-year-old Abby Short, who spoke with the dispatcher while trapped in her vehicle. In the call, Short tells the dispatcher that she was stuck in a field and was in pain. Short said she was unable to get out the vehicle after hurting her ankle. Partway through the call, a dispatcher realized that she knew Short, who is an EMT. WASHINGTON (AP) A House committee has approved an amendment to the annual defense policy bill that requires women to register for the military draft. The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday approved Congressman Duncan Hunters measure by a 32-30 vote. In a twist, Hunter voted against his own amendment. The California Republican and former Marine says he doesnt support drafting women to potentially fight on the front lines. Hunter says he offered the measure to provoke a discussion about how the Pentagons decision to open all combat jobs to women failed to consider whether the exclusion on drafting women should be rescinded. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, voted for Hunters amendment. She says if women want equality, there should be universal conscription. Other lawmakers say its time to end draft registration. VALDOSTA, GA (WTXL) - Police in Valdosta are looking for information after two people were sent to the hospital with gunshot wounds. According to the Valdosta Police Department, officers responded to the 600 block of East Hill Avenue just after 2 a.m. Monday to reports of a shooting. When they arrived, officers found one victim with a gunshot wound to the lower left leg. He was taken to South Georgia Medical Center in stable condition. Police then found that a second victim had gone to a hospital in Adel, Georgia, where they said he was also listed in stable condition. Police said they believe the shooting was a result of a dispute at a local club. They also believe both suspects aren't being fully cooperative. Both victims are from Sparks, Georgia. The Valdosta Police Department Persons Crime Unit is currently investigating this incident. If anyone has any information regarding the shooting, they are asked to contact the Investigative Unit at 229-293-3145, or leave an anonymous tip at 229-293-3091. Taiwan has dispatched two patrol ships to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating near a Japanese atoll after Japan's seizure of one such boat last month. The patrol boats from Taiwan's coast guard and fishery authorities, set off at 11 a.m. on Sunday from Kaohsiung Port in southern Taiwan, for a one-month mission. They will reach the targeted international waters in three to five days. A Taiwanese fishing boat was chased and seized by a Japanese vessel on April 25 as it was sailing at 138.38 degrees east longitude and 19.47 degrees north latitude. Japan released the boat and crew after its owner paid a deposit of about 6 million Japanese yen (54,400 U.S. dollars) as demanded by Japan. Taiwan protested the incident, saying that Japan has no right to claim a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou vowed to safeguard fishermen's rights. Hundreds of Taiwanese fishing boats operate near the atoll, according to fishery authorities in the Chinese region. TALLAHASSE, Fla. (WTXL) - Governor Rick Scott is headed to the wild west for a three day crusade for jobs. Rick Scott left today for California where he's set to meet with thirteen companies throughout Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco. This is his latest visit by the Republican governor to state's run by Democrats. Ahead of his trip, Florida's Economic Agency paid for radio ads criticizing Californians decision to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Democrats say it's an inappropriate use of taxpayer money. Scott is expected back in the sunshine state by midweek. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - A Valdosta State University student accused of bringing a gun on campus due back in court on Monday. Eric Sheppard was indicted back in October on a charge of carrying weapons within certain school areas. Prior to his arrest he gained national attention for walking on an american flag at VSU that sparked protests. Court documents show that he has a court appearance set for Monday morning at 9:30. If convicted, Sheppard faces up to eight years behind bars and a $10,000 fine. A baby panda is seen in the Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 21, 2015.(Photo: Xinhua/Li Qiaoqiao) What's the happiest job in the world? Well, the answer may be a giant panda keeper! Imagine, these cute and fluffy creatures hug you and eat from your hand, would your heart be melting now? Baby pandas are seen in Ya'an Giant Panda Protection and Research Center. (Photo: Xinhua/Li Qiaoqiao) For many, it'd be hard to turn down such a job offer from the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), particularly if one likes the Chinese "national treasure." Over 60% of the captive-bred pandas on earth are raised here in the largest organization of giant panda protection worldwide. Surrounded by a beautiful bamboo forest in Ya' an of southwest China's Sichuan Province, more than 200 giant pandas are taken care by their keepers. Duan Dongqiong, a caretaker with 17-year working experiences, said the job is both an excitement and hard work. Giant Panda Lulu and Xixi. (Photo from CCRCGP website) Find voter resources and full coverage of the Nov. 8 election at the YHR Election Center. Is it OK to call in sick if you're depressed or anxious? You are the owner of this article. Scenes of the march for workers' rights and immigration reform on Sunday, May 1, 2016. About 100 people with a small caravan of vehicles depar WENATCHEE A judges ruling bars a Wenatchee man from displaying swastikas or other hate symbols on one wall of his barn after he posted the The traditional Passover seder meal ends with a promise, Next year in Jerusalem. But at least this year, many American Jews chose to stay away. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter There were far, far fewer tourists this year, Mark Feldman, the CEO of Ziontours in Jerusalem, told The Media Line. Many people were scared to come. They felt that the Old City of Jerusalem was off limits completely and that Jerusalem itself was not safe. Feldman said hotel occupancy, especially in Jerusalem, was down by 20 or 30 percent over last year. American and British tourists plan their travel way in advance, Feldman said. They had to decide in November or December, when the situation here was very unstable. While the situation has calmed down, a bombing on a Jerusalem bus last month that killed the attacker and wounded 21, further sparked anxiety. Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Jerusalem Israels Ministry of Tourism says it doesnt have exact figures for tourism yet, but the situation was not bad, according to Pini Shani, the Deputy Director of the Marketing Administration of the Ministry of Tourism. He said looking at monthly statistics can be complicated, because it depends on other issues such as whether Passover and Easter fall in the same month or in different months. He said that estimates are that about three million tourists will visit Israel this year, similar to 2015. Tourism during Passover tends to be primarily internal tourism by Israelis, say tourism experts. In March, hotels were 58 percent full, said Pnina Shalev, the spokesperson for the Israel Hotels Association, while in 2015, it was 55 percent. The summer 2014 fighting between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in Gaza, affected tourism, which usually sees hotels 60-70 percent full in March. Be Center Hotel, Eilat Passover was great with 80-90 percent occupancy in most places, Shalev told The Media Line. Eilat was full of Israelis, as was the Dead Sea, Tiberias, and kibbutzim. Israel is also turning eastward, hoping to tap into the burgeoning Chinese market. Shani of the Tourism Ministry said that tourism from India and China is increasing quickly, he said, and Hainan Airlines, the largest private carrier in China, last week launched its first direct flight to Israel. Tourism officials say they hope to see 100,000 tourists from China visiting Israel each year. Israel has also seen a sharp decline in visitors from Russia, which is Israels second largest market after the US, due to the sharp financial crisis there. Overall Israel, with an average of 3 to 3.5 million tourists annually remains far behind other Mediterranean countries like Greece, which has 25 million visitors a year despite the financial crisis there, or Turkey, with close to 40 million tourists. Many of those who work in tourism are concerned that the downturn in tourism could become permanent. In the summer of 2014 with the operation in Gaza, I had a lot of cancellations and Ive had very little work since then, Suzanne Pomeranz, a long-time tour guide originally from North Carolina told The Media Line. Yesterday I was talking to a high school friend and he said, Why dont you come home? Theres a war in Israel, and I said there is no war here but thats the way it looks to everyone. Article written by Linda Gradstein The Ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day will open on Wednesday at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, during which six Holocaust survivors will light six torches, representing the six million murdered by the Nazis during World War 2. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The central theme for this year's ceremony is "Everything is Forbidden to Us, and Yet We do Everything": The Struggle to Maintain the Human Spirit during the Holocaust. Herewith follows the stories of the six survivors chosen as this year's honored torchlighters. First torch - Sara Kain: Sara Kain was born in 1919 in Kassa (Kosice), Czechoslovakia, to a religiously traditional family of eight. In April 1944, a month after the Germans occupied Hungary, the Jews of Kassa and the neighboring towns were concentrated into a ghetto. In May, they were transferred to a brick factory. Sara, her sister Ethel and her parents were deported to Auschwitz in early June 1944. First torchlighter - Sara Kain (Photo: Yisrael Hadari) On arrival at Auschwitz, Saras parents were led to the gas chambers. The girls were processed as inmates at the camp. On discovering their fate, Sara wept bitterly: "In an instant, I realized that I had no one but my sister." Sara suffered from numerous sicknesses in the camp. At one roll call, Ethel was selected for the gas chambers. With help from acquaintances, Sara managed to get Ethel back. In April 1945, the camp was liberated by the US Army. After a period of recuperation, she and Ethel decided to make their way to Eretz Israel, where their brother and sister lived. In June 1946, Sara, Ethel and Miriam took the boat HaChayal HaIvri to Israel which was detained by the British. After being detained at Atlit they made their way to Gan Shmuel. Sara married Abraham whom she had met as a girl in Kassa. The couple has three children, ten grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Second torch - Robert Tomashof Robert Tomashof was born in 1916 in Dolny Kubin, Czechoslovakia, to a religious family of eight. In 1933, one of Roberts brothers immigrated to Eretz Israel. His father passed away that same year. Second torchlighter - Robert Tomashof (Photo: Yisrael Hadari) In March 1939, when the fascist regime rose to power, Robert was forced into the Slovak army, building labor camps for Jews, constructing airfields and expanding the channel of the Danube to prevent flooding. In 1942, Roberts mother and brothers, William and Julius, were deported to Auschwitz and murdered. Robert fled to his sisters home in Zilina. He acquired false papers under a Christian name, but had to run again when an acquaintance recognized him. Using a new set of false papers in early 1944, Robert moved to Budapest, where he tried to arrange immigration papers to Eretz Israel. He received new forged ID cards, but he did not stamp them properly and was arrested after the Germans invaded Hungary in April 1944. Robert was imprisoned in Budapest while awaiting deportation to Auschwitz. At the jail, he volunteered to help fill out multilingual forms. In one of the offices drawers, he found stamped laissez-passer documents and took one. After the clerks left their workplace, he waited for the shift change, took a stack of forms, and told the building guard that he had to bring them to be inspected outside the jail. The guard told him to wait until he finished locking up; when he disappeared from sight, Robert rushed to the gate, showed the guards the laissez-passer, and fled. Acquaintances in Budapest organized a new set of forged papers for Robert, as well as work at a local factory. When suspicions regarding his identity were aroused, he fled by train and on foot to the city of Arad, Romania. In August 1944, following a false rumor of ships sailing to Eretz Israel, Robert came to the pre-departure rally point; he was arrested and put on a transport to Hungary. However, the train stopped at the Hungarian border, and the guards left. The train turned back to Arad, and Robert was transferred to a labor camp in the city of Targu Jiu. The Red Army liberated the city at the end of August 1944. Back in Bucharest, Robert helped establish an aid center for Czechoslovakian refugees and provided them with papers that granted them freedom of movement. Later he moved to Prague, where he served as secretary of the local Zionist organization, aiding immigrants to Eretz Israel and procuring armaments for the yishuv. In 1946, he married Miriam, an Auschwitz survivor, and they immigrated to Israel in 1948. Robert and Miriam have a son, a daughter, and two granddaughters. Third torch - Jehosua Hesel Fried Jehosua Hesel Fried was born in 1930 in Velke Kapusany, Czechoslovakia, to a family of nine. His father was the communitys rabbi, the scion of a Hassidic rabbinical family. Third torchlighter - Jehosua Hesel Fried (Photo: Itzik Harari) In 1938, the region where Jehosua lived was annexed to Hungary. In April 1944, Hungarian police and Gestapo officers deported the Jews of the town to the Ungvar ghetto. In May, the ghettos Jews were deported to Auschwitz. Jehosuas hair and sidecurls were shaved off, and he was put to work cleaning train cars, gathering victims possessions, and cleaning the ditches by the ramp. Jehosua and his friends found valuables in these ditches and sold them to Polish inmates for food. One day, Jehosua saw his sister Rachel, who lived in the shack near his side of the fence, and tossed her some food. As the son of the community rabbi and cantor, Jehosua tried to sing traditional melodies to his friends and raise their spirits at every opportunity. In December 1944, Jehosua and his friends were taken to the Sachsenhausen camp, and from there to Lieberhausen. As the Red Army drew nearer, they were sent on a death march. At night, they slept in the snow. They were eventually transported to Mauthausen, where they had to eat snails and frogs to survive. All through their travails, the group helped and encouraged each other at every opportunity. After they were transferred to Gunskirchen, Jehosua contracted typhus. In May 1945, while they were saying the Sabbath eve prayers, the US Army liberated the camp. After recovering in Linz, Jehosua returned to Velke Kapusany, where he found his sisters: Rachel had survived Auschwitz, and Sosana and Ester had lived out the war in Budapest under false identities. Sadly, his mother, brother and sister had been murdered in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. Jehosua studied at a yeshiva in Kosice. When it relocated to the US, he decided to immigrate to Eretz Israel, where his sister Zipora lived. Jehosua, Rachel and Sosana traveled to Italy via Germany, and in March 1947, boarded theMoledet, bound for Israel. The British detained the ship and transferred its passengers to detention camps in Cyprus, where Jehosua studied Hebrew. In February 1948, Jehosua finally arrived in Israel. In 1952, Jehosua married Rivka, whose uncle had been with him in the camps. Jehosua and Rivka have three children, 14 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren. Fourth Torch Joseph Labi Joseph Labi was born in 1928 in Benghazi, Libya, to a family of 19. He was the grandson of Rabbi Eliyahu Labi, a rabbi and religious court judge in Benghazi. Joseph was a member of the Maccabi Zionist movement. Fourth torchlighter - Joseph Labi (Photo: Yisrael Hadari) In 1938, when the Italian racial laws were extended to Libya, Joseph and his fellow Jewish students were transferred to a separate school bearing a Star of David. After Joseph's parents passed away in 1940, Josephs married brothers took him and his younger brothers under their wing. In 1942, Josephs entire family was deported to the Giado concentration camp in Libya. The Libyan Jews were then deported to Italy, where they were interned at Castelnovo ne' Monti. In February 1944, the Germans sent them to Bergen-Belsen. At first, Joseph refused to eat because the food at the camp was not kosher, but after a week of hunger, he relented. One of the camps prisoners, a religious Jew, proposed that Joseph have a bar mitzvah ceremony. "I put on tefillin," said Joseph. "He asked me to share food with those present, but I only had a small potato. Fortunately, a woman secured some perfume. I poured some on everyones hand and that was my bar mitzvah." Joseph was transferred to France in a prisoner exchange deal in March 1945, and from there he made his way to Spain and Portugal. "When we reached Lisbon, we realized that that hell was over for us." On returning to Benghazi, Joseph met soldiers from the British Armys Jewish Brigade who suggested that he come to Eretz Israel. "I went to the train station. Somebody gave me a hat and dressed me in a Jewish Brigade uniform and put a bunch of forms in my pocket," said Joseph. "I boarded the train dressed as a soldier and we went to Alexandria. After being smuggled into Israel, Joseph lived on several kibbutzim, volunteered for the Palmach, and fought in Israels War of Independence. He and his wife Yvonne have a son and daughter, seven grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. He still has the tallit that he received at his bar mitzvah ceremony at Bergen-Belsen. Fifth Torch Chaim Grosbein Chaim Grosbein was born in 1937 in Dohinow, Poland (today Dauhinava, Belarus), to a religious family of four. His father owned a butcher shop and leased land. Fifth torchlighter - Chaim Grosbein (Photo: Itzik Harari) In July 1941, the Germans occupied Dohinow. In April 1942, the town's Jews were interned in a ghetto. When Chaims father and cousin left the ghetto with one of the forced labor groups, the Germans murdered them both. During an Aktion later that month, Chaim and his family hid in a pit under a stove. When the refuge was discovered, most of them were forced out and then shot or beaten to death. Chaim and his cousin Rishka were hiding in the corners of the pit, and went undetected. A few days later, a relative came to persuade Chaim and Rishka to run away with him, but they refused. He was later shot to death. One night, Chaim and Rishka left the pit and went to Rishkas home in search of her mother, Lea. They found their aunt Dvosia, who took them to their neighbor, Gabriel Rubin. His home was on the edge of the ghetto, and during the next Aktion, they all escaped and headed for the woods, where they joined a group of Jews who had fled the nearby towns. The partisans in the woods decided to send a group of Jews, including Chaim, behind enemy lines. During the long march, they were ambushed by the Germans and Chaim was shot in the leg. Dvosia carried him on her back, but ultimately she was forced to leave him behind. Russian partisans found Chaim and sent him to their infirmary, where a Jewish doctor operated on him without anesthesia. When the partisans abandoned the area, Chaim was left on his own. He slept in ditches in the ground, made a wooden spear for defense, learned to make fire, and hunted for food and water in the woods and nearby villages. When the opportunity arose, he took work herding cattle and performing other physical labor. Two years later, Chaim reached a partisan camp and was sent to a Belarussian orphanage. He studied carpentry at a vocational boarding school and joined the Red Army. On furlough, he returned to Dohinow, where he discovered that two of his aunts, including Dvosia, had survived. In the early 1960s, Chaim immigrated to Israel. In 1965, he married Aliza; they have two children and five grandchildren. Sixth Torch Lonia Rozenhoch Lonia Rozenhoch (nee Wudka) was born in 1920 in Radom, Poland, to a family of five. Her father was a shoemaker and a member of the Bund, a socialist Jewish party. Sixth torchlighter - Lonia Rozenhch (Photo: Itzik Harari) At the age of just 17, Lonia began to study at the University of Warsaw. When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, she returned to her parents home. In April 1941, all the Jews of Radom were interned in the city's ghetto. One of Lonias friends proposed that she join him and flee to Soviet-occupied territory, but Lonia refused to leave her family. "That was a formative moment in my life," recalled Lonia. "That was when I decided that staying together was my motto." Lonia married her sweetheart, Moniek Rakocz, but the couple was forced to part ways when she was sent to a labor camp in a weapons factory, together with her two sisters, Bella and Malka. There, too, she declined an offer by a Ukrainian laborer to escape the camp and live in a village under a false Christian identity. In two Aktionen in August 1942, the Jews in the Radom ghetto were deported to Treblinka. Lonias mother, her husband Moniek and his family were all murdered there. Her father was probably murdered en route to the deportation trains. In July 1944, with the advance of the Red Army, Lonia and her sisters were sent on a death march across Poland. On 3 August, they were deported to Auschwitz. At Auschwitz, the sisters managed to stay together, both where they slept and where they worked. At roll call, Lonia concealed her sister Bellas bad back, so that she would not be selected for murder. In December 1944, Lonia and her sisters were transferred to Ravensbruck and its sub-camp, Malchow. They were forced to work in a munitions plant. Lonia's leg had been injured by SS beatings at Auschwitz, but her sisters helped her until she was reassigned to work in the kitchen. In April 1945, the sisters were released in a prisoner exchange deal. They went to Sweden, where Lonia began working as a teacher of child Holocaust survivors on behalf of Youth Aliyah. In March 1948, Lonia boarded a ship bound for Haifa. She moved to Kibbutz Afikim, where she married Jacob and worked as a teacher of young immigrants. Lonia and Jacob have three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The FBI arrested a man who planned a terror attack at a synagogue in South Florida, local media reported Sunday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The suspect, a man who converted to Islam in the past, planned to throw a bomb at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in Miami last Friday during Passover, a time when the center was sure to be crowded. Attack on Florida synagogue foiled X Local residents showed great concern in light of the arrest. One of them, Stephanie Levine said, "I think about, before we had a baby, that we used to go there for services, and God forbid, it could have been us," said Stephanie Levine. "Thank God they stopped him, but had they not, it would have been such a horrible thing to happen to this neighborhood." Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in Miami According to reports the center actually was not in danger as the suspect was arrested before he could make a move. "Of course it surprised me," said area resident Richard Levinson. "Everybody says, 'I live in a small town. It doesn't happen here,' but the sad part is, it happens everywhere." Resident Kim Tepper said she's horrified by the turn of events, "It's a very scary world, and you know what? I don't think that anybody is safe anywhere," she said. 'We'd always thought, living in this area, that we could be targeted, so now you're kind of confirming that for me. Not happy." The FBI did not respond to the publication of the information. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Monday pushed for a Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons, the official IRNA news agency reported. Rouhani met with visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye and said Iran seeks a world free of weapons of mass destruction, "especially nuclear" weapons. "Our demand is a world free of weapons of mass destruction, especially freeing the Korean peninsula and the Middle East from destructive weapons," he said. Temperatures in April were significantly higher than average, with last month going down as the hottest April since measurements had begun in many areas of Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Dr. Amos Porat, the head of the Climate Department in Israel's Meteorological Service, said temperatures measured during the day in the mountains and the valleys in northern Israel were higher than average (measured between the years 1995-2009) by 4-5 degrees Celsius. In the coastal plain and southern Israel, temperatures during the day surpassed the average by 3.5-4 degrees Celsius. At night time, temperatures were higher than average in most areas of Israel by 1.5-3 degrees Celsius, while the central Israel mountains saw temperatures 3-4 degrees Celsius higher. Tel Aviv beach (Photo: Motti Kimchi) In the coastal plain, the shfela region, the Jezreel Valley and the Negev, last month marked the hottest April since measurements began 50-70 years ago (measurements began at the Beit Jimal station as early as 1921). In other areas of the country, it was the second hottest month of April, following only April of 1989. Tents at the Sea of Galilee over the Passover holiday (Photo: Avihu Shapira) Despite the high temperatures, some areas of Israel did see some rain on April 9-13. The Galilee, the Golan Heights and the Hula Valley had 30-50 millimeters of rain. The northern Negev and the northern part of the Dead Sea experienced 20-40 mm of rain, but there were some areas that registered less than 10 mm, like Hadera, Zikhron Ya'akov, the northern coastal plain (north of Nahariya), the southern coastal plain and the Jezreel Valley. Rain in Tel Aviv in April (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The rainfall was close to the monthly average in northern Israel, lower than the average in the central Israel mountains and parts of the coastal plain, and significantly higher than the average in southern Israel. However, the precipitation did not significantly change the annual trend - overall, there was less rainfall in northern Israel than the annual average, while in central Israel the overall amount of precipitation was close to the average, and in southern Israel there was a higher level of rainfall than the average. Mohammad Ouida, a 30-year-old resident of East Jerusalem suspected of having assisted the terrorist Bashar Masalha, has been arrested today. Masalha, a 22 year old from Qalqilya, carried out the terrorist attack on the Jaffa promenade two months ago, killing the American tourist Taylor Force Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Jerusalem District police arrested Ouida on suspicion of manslaughter, conspiracy to commit a crime, and transporting illegal residents after having aided Masalha travel to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Magistrates Court extended his detention on Sunday to eight days. Ouidas name initially cropped up during the investigation of the terrorist attack, but the police waited until they attained stronger evidence of his actions recently to arrest him. Ouida has a criminal past which includes a suspended prison sentence for transporting illegal residents. Scene of the attack. Inset: Taylor Force (Photo: AFP) In her ruling extending the detention, Judge Joya Skappa-Shapiro noted that the evidence that she had received in recent days substantially strengthened the case against Ouida. She added that there is cause to suspect that he transported illegal residents, but the evidence regarding manslaughter is not very strong. This is in light of the nature of the evidence regarding the suspects (knowledge) of the intentions of his passenger, who ultimately carried out the attack. Rami Ottoman, Ouidas lawyer, claimed that his client denies the allegations against him and the very fact that he had not been arrested before now speaks for itself: If the suspect is as dangerous as the police allege, why didnt they arrest him at the beginning of March? Ottoman was referencing the date of the Jaffa terrorist attack, which took place on March 7. In addition to murdering Force, Masalha wounded a further 11 passersby as he ran along the promenade, stabbing at random, until he was shot dead by police. ROME- A UN court has ruled that India must allow an Italian marine detained in Delhi for more than four years to go home, Italy's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. India acknowledged the ruling but said Salvatore Girone would remain under the authority of its Supreme Court which might impose various conditions on his release. Girone is one of two Italian marines were arrested in India in 2012 on suspicion of killing two fishermen while on an anti-piracy mission on an Italian oil tanker. One returned to Italy with health problems, but India has refused to let Girone go. He is living in the Italian embassy in Delhi. Israel plans to reopen a second border point for commercial traffic into the Gaza Strip, an official said on Monday, a step in gradually easing the blockade imposed on the enclave since 2007. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The decision to allow trucks through the Erez terminal on Gaza's northeastern tip was taken in recognition that a truce that ended the 2014 war against Hamas is holding, the official said. Israel says its blockade prevents the movement of militants and stops construction materials that could be used by Hamas to make bunkers and tunnels. Trucks on route 232 carrying goods into Gaza, and carrying goods exported from Gaza to Israel (Photo: Roee Idan) Israel halted commercial traffic through Erez in 2000 after the second Palestinian intifada erupted, and only passengers in transit have been allowed to go through. The official said details of the reopening were still being worked out, and gave no implementation date: "It won't be today or tomorrow." Regional powers Egypt and Turkey also have a close interest in what happens in Gaza. Egypt, on Gaza's southern border, has helped Israel maintain the blockade deeming Hamas a threat. Turkey has said improving relations with Israel is dependent on the blockade ending. The official said the decision was mainly aimed at reducing pressure on the sole crossing point currently handling commercial traffic, Kerem Shalom in southeastern Gaza, as well as reducing truck traffic on Israeli roads leading to it. Mortar lands at Erez Crossing (Photo: Yoav Zeitun) But the official added that Israel "has an interest in Gazans living in dignity - both on a humanitarian level, and because it helps preserve the quiet, in parallel to the security deterrence that exists. It is good for both Gazans and for us." Erez will eventually handle at least half of the around 600 trucks that go through Kerem Shalon daily, the official said. Asked whether the new measure could herald an overall increase in exports to Gaza, the official said, "No problem, to the degree that it depends on us," meaning that the border could be closed again in the event of Palestinian attacks. Gaza is home to 1.95 million Palestinians, 80 percent of whom are dependent on aid, according to the United Nations. Economists say the current levels of imports have been enough to maintain basic living standards but not to generate recovery, and unemployment has spiralled from 28 percent to 43 percent since the 2014 war. "Gaza needs cement, all kinds and sizes of lumber, raw chemicals, iron for metalworks, all of which have ceased completely," said Mahed Al-Tabbaa, a Palestinian economist. "What counts is whether Israel will allow the banned goods to enter Gaza, not an increase the number of trucks carrying the already permitted list of goods." A Jewish man was stabbed in his upper back outside the Lions' Gate at the entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem on Monday night. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The man is a 60 year old ultra- Orthodox yeshiva student. Paramedics gave the man first aid. He was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, where he is conscious and stablized in moderate condition. After a three-hour search, the terrorist was found hiding in one of the Old City's alleyways. He is an 18-year-old from the West Bank. In a preliminary interrogation he admitted carrying out the attack. According to the man, he was stabbed in an alley not far from the Old Cite gate, and ran to find security forces to help him. Injured man outside of Lions' Gate . Paramedics are on the scene (Photo: Magen David Adom Jerusalem) This attack comes at the heels of a similar stabbing attack on route 443. The two female terrorists in that incident were arrested. The day before, a brother and sister pair attempted to carry out a stabbing attack at Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem, but were shot to death by private security. WASHINGTON- The United States has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of US F-16 fighter jets itself after members of the US Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them. The US government said in February it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, as well as radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million. However, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any US funds for the deal to send a message to Pakistan that it needed to do more in the war against militants. PRISTINA- A Turkish Airlines jet carrying 143 passengers and eight crew from Istanbul skidded off the runway on Monday when landing at Kosovo's sole airport, officials said. "Turkish Airlines flight TK1018 from Istanbul has had a minor incident and fortunately no one was injured," airport spokeswoman Valentina Gara said. "The airport will remain closed for few hours until some initial technical investigations are finished." The latest CoreLogic RP Data April Home Value Index shows the combined capital city median dwelling price increased 1.7% to $575,000 during April. In the three months to April, the combined capital city median dwelling price increased 2.4%, while it is 7.3% higher than it was in April 2015. During month of April, Sydney and Brisbane were the best performers, recording price growth of 2.4% and 2.2% respectively. All other capital cities, besides Hobart (-2%) and Darwin (-1.7%), saw prices rise over the month. In the three months to April there was a surprise strongest performer, with Adelaide recording growth of 4.5%, followed by Sydney at 3.9%. Hobart was the worst performer over the quarter, with its median dwelling price falling 0.3%. In the year to April, Melbourne and Sydney were the strongest markets, recording annual growth of 10.1% and 8.9% respectively. Unsurprisingly, Darwin (-3.7%) and Perth (-2.1%) were the worst performers. Source: CoreLogic RP Data CoreLogic research head Tim Lawless said while the figures show while there has been a slowdown in price growth, the market does seem to be rebounding somewhat after its weak end to 2015. The results show value growth moved at a faster pace compared with the final three months of 2015 when capital city dwelling values slid 1.4% lower off the back of weaker market conditions in Sydney and Melbourne, Lawless said. While weve seen capital gains moderate substantially after peaking last year in Sydney and Melbourne, dwelling values continue to trend higher, just not as fast. The annual rate of growth in Sydney peaked at 18.4% in July last year and has since moderated back to slightly less than half the peak rate of growth, at 8.9% over the most recent twelve month period, he said. For Darwin and Perth, this set of figures may seem like the latest in a constant run of bad news, but Lawless said some light me be starting to appear at the end of the tunnel. With recent month-on-month increases in home values in these two cities, the declining trend rate is now levelling, he said. This may be an early sign that these markets are beginning to find their cyclical trough after more than a year of annual declines. While the Perth and Darwin may be showing some small signs of life, the resource slowdown is still impacting regional markets. While house values across the non-capital city markets have generally underperformed compared with the capital city regions, regional house values moved 2.4% higher over the first quarter of the year, Lawless said. The regional results are far from uniform across the states, with houses across both regional Western Australia and South Australia clearly showing values have moved lower over the past twelve months, down 1.2% and 6.1% respectively. Mining and resource-related areas continue to be a drag on regional housing market averages, however regional coastal and lifestyle markets, as well as major regional service centres which are sheltered from the mining downturn, are recording much healthier housing market conditions. The continued relative strength of the market is likely why investor activity has remained constant despite rental yields performing poorly. The low yield profile across Australias two largest cities, which are also the cities that attract the largest investment demand, suggests that most recent investors, despite the low mortgage rate settings, are likely to be utilising a negative gearing strategy to offset their cash flow losses against their taxable income. Buyer demand continues to be supported by mortgage rates that are close to historic lows, as well as high levels of investment demand. Even though investor demand has eased since May last year, investors still comprise approximately 46 per cent of all new mortgage commitments. According to CoreLogic, gross rental yields for capital city dwellings pushed to a new record low of 3.4% in April, while Melbournes gross yield profile is even lower, averaging 3% As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More My sole motivation behind letting myself into that abominable prison house called school was the little white stick that my mother allowed me to grab and lick after the classes were over. I used to look with wishful eyes the attractive white box of ice cream walla who also had other varieties-the red tangy one that came in twenty five paisa, the slightly yellow one that came in fifty paisa and the expensive white creamy one that came in full one rupee. My mother had warned me against eating the orange one as she said it contained worms that came out if you sprinkled salt on it! So my childhood remained deprived of that one single taste that so often contented the appetite of my not-so-affluent friends.

When I went to college I read about globalisation, about the invasion of markets by foreign goods and of absolute wiping out of the local economy by organized production houses. But I could not understand these things till one day while crossing from near my school my eyes failed to spot that old ice cream walla whose presence had become such an inseparable part of the entire set up. It came as a rude shock to me that his place was now taken by three four colourful wheeled vans endorsing attractive logos and pictures of branded ice cream.

That changes are always for better or worse is like putting an emotion into plain black and white. I may have in my own personal way some attachment with the white stick ice cream or with the more expensive soapy, frothy softie of my school days but the accessibility, taste and variety that the present day ice cream industry is offering is no doubt incomparable.

Who would have thought barely a decade ago of eating ice creams made of real fresh fruits- a la Gelato Vittorio or a cool creamy liquid fried in hot boiling oil or what is called today the fried ice cream.

In India the ice cream industry took sometimes to catch the global cue because the country has an indigenous rich and well developed dessert market. What ice cream would stand in competition against Indian sweets? But no you cant say so just because you are born in the land of Kulfi. You will have the authority only when you taste Baked Alaska (an ice-cream sponge cake dish topped with meringue), Arctic roll (British dessert made of vanilla and flour), Adzuki (Japanese red bean ice cream) and Dondruma( a Turkish ice made of salep and mastic resin).

We Indians who generally go gaga over a handful of varieties that Baskin Robbins offers are unaware of the fact that the company actually makes 1000 flavours! What we get in India generally as branded ice cream is nothing but milk and corn flour seasoned with a few chemicals and packed in attractive cones, cups and cornettos. Our knowledge of Ice cream is so poor that we do not even know what cornetto is! Most of us think it is the name of an ice cream that Kwality offers. Update your dictionary- it is actually the registered name of an improved variety of waffle cone that does not become soggy and that was invented and patented by an Italian firm called Spica in 1960!

The world offers so much in shape of that delicate, cool, tender delight called ice cream that I being a lover of it feel choked with emotion at my own minisculeness and misfortune of not having tasted even a fraction of that tremendous, rich and inexhaustible treasure. What is thy life O mortal, my heart cries out, if thou hast not known the glories of the Australian Giant Sandwich Monster, the Manoco Bar, the Irish Scottish Sliders, the Argentine Helado, the Greek Kimaki and the Japanese Macha!

Sometimes I wonder whether there is an intricate connection between the survival of a race and its appetite for ice cream! Otherwise why would the Greeks, the Romans, the Chinese and the Persians survive the ravages of time and the Glorious Harappan civilization fade into oblivion? And let us be pragmatic and not blame some harmless ecology or innocent river for their decline. The reason I am sure was hidden in their food habits-they having failed to secure the divine blessings of the Gods. Yes, thats precisely what the ancient Greeks called ice cream! Imagine what foodies they must have been that nearly 4000 years ago they got for themselves ice houses constructed at the banks of Euphrates and as early as 5th century BC they began its marketing by selling ice cones mixed with fruit and honey. A honey flavoured cornetto.!

Roman emperor Nero (62 AD) was fond of fruit ice cream and hence sent his servants to fetch ice from mountains! The Falooda that we eat today is actually a Persian dish Faloodeh made from starch and has its origin around 400BC. The Chinese who claim to be the pioneers in almost everything -be it the first currency notes, the first stint with silk or the first to flood the markets of neighbours with cheap plastic goods-were not far behind in making ice cream too. They are credited to have invented a device that made quick ice using salt peter (no, it was not imported from Bihar, China had enough of it).

The unfortunate Charles I whom the world knows as an autocrat, a despot, a tyrant, an enemy of democracy and parliament was also a lover of ice cream! It is said that he made his chef keep the formula a secret so that it remained a royal prerogative.

Our great Mughals, we should not forget were the die hard lovers of food and all that is rich and luxurious in the modern Indian cuisine has a Mughal origin. So they too loved ice cream and they too enjoyed it in royal feasts and ceremonies. When they could get choicest fruits from Farghana and Samarquand and the best wines from Persia, why couldnt they send relays of horsemen to bring ice from Hindukush for their aromatic fruit sherbets?

But were sending horsemen to run and fetch ice or storing ice in underground icehouses near rivers, the only way of making ice creams in those days? Sadly, yes. And thats why the common man remained deprived of and unknown to its delectable taste. But lets thank Nancy Johnson of Philadelphia who first got the patent for a small hand run ice cream freezer. Gradually with the coming of electricity there also came a revolution in ice cream making. Thereafter Giant corporates like Howard Johnson, Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, Gelato Vittorio, Ben and Jerrys, Haagen Dazs and Carvel changed the concept of ice cream in the world. Soft serves, Sundaes and super premiums began to be offered by shops next door.

Thanks to globalisation, the world has really become a small place to live in. Today I can access any ice cream from the world over in my local confectionary shop. but among the confused tastes of multitudinous flavours I some how always try to find that one singular taste of the white stick ice-cream which trickled through my fingers and ran into my nursery uniformspoiling it but leaving an imprint on my memory which has failed to faint in all these years. Patna: A youth on Monday was arrested after he allegedly created ruckus and threw a slipper at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public interaction programme here. The accused, who accidently shares his name with Nitish Kumar, had come to meet the Bihar CM and handed over his request at Janata ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri programme. Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj, who was present at the place of the incident, told the reporters that as the youth bent down to take off his slipper, when he was spotted by posse of security men and was arrested. The youth has been arrested and has been taken to Sachivalaya police station for detailed questioning, the SSP said. Chief Minister Nitish too confirmed the incident and told PTI that the slipper hit him at his chest. According to reports, the youth had created ugly scenes earlier too at the Janata Darbar programme of senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi recently. The grievance of the youth has not been clear yet but officials believed that he was apparently angry over the state governments recent advisory against use of fire for cooking and hawan etc between 9 am to 6 pm to curb fire incidents. (According to PTI inputs) Patna: Days after NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced his support for Nitish Kumar as the most credible fact of anti-BJP alliance, the latter broke his silence on Monday and said that he no ambitions to become a Prime Minister. "I have no PM ambitions. I just want a united alliance which I feel is the need of the hour," the Bihar Chief Minister told ANI. Earlier today, former Press Council of India Chairman and Supreme Court of India judge Markandey Katju, endorsed Nitish as the next PM of India while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as the deputy Prime Minister. The former judge shared his views on his official Facebook page, that read, "I have been critical of our politicians, but as long as the system lasts in India we have to seek the best. In my opinion the next Prime Minister of India should be Nitish Kumar, with Arvind Kejriwal as his Deputy Prime Minister. I say so because I have not heard anything against the personal integrity of these two, even though I have sometimes been critical of them." New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday told the AAP government and the three municipal corporations here that they are responsible for paying salaries to the employees of civic bodies and cannot say they do not have the funds. "You (government and civic bodies) cannot say we do not have the funds so we cannot release the salaries. You have a responsibility and if you will not comply with the directions then we will pass appropriate order," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said. The bench said this after it was informed that salaries for March were not paid to all the employees of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, who appeared for EDMC, claimed they have paid salaries for March to all the employees. "As far as the EDMC is concerned, we have paid all the salaries till March 2016," she said. However, the employees union alleged that 50 per cent employees of EDMC have not been paid the salary of March. The counsel appearing for the Delhi government informed the bench that funds have been released for paying salaries to the employees of EDMC. The bench has fixed the matter for hearing on May 10 and has asked the employee unions to file affidavit if salaries are not paid to them till "7th of every month". On April 19, the bench had directed the three civic bodies to ensure that the wages for the month of March be paid to all the sanitation workers "within a week without fail". It had directed the civic bodies to pay regular salaries to the safai karamcharis "on or before 7th of every month" for smooth functioning of corporations, whose employees frequently go on strike due to non-payment of salaries. Lucknow: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will on Monday visit Uttar Pradesh to attend a family function of his party colleague Sanjay Singh. The Aam Aadmi Party chief will arrive here by a commercial flight this evening. He would then go straight to Sultanpur and attend the function at Singh's house. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, many other ministers, legislators and senior party leaders will accompany Kejriwal. Party workers have planned a grand welcome for Kejriwal en route to Sultanpur, as they will welcome him at Jagdishpur, Musafirkhana and many other places. He will spend the night at the Sultanpur circuit house and adequate security arrangements have been made for the Delhi Chief Minister, an official informed IANS. The Chief Minister will return to Delhi on May 03. It would be after a very long time that Kejriwal will visit Lucknow. The last time he did was soon after the formation of AAP when he had launched an agitation against Congress leader and the then union external affairs minister Salman Khursheed's NGO. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court's ban on plying of diesel driven taxis in Delhi took effect on Sunday, cab drivers on Monday blocked traffic in Delhi's border areas. The protesting drivers took to the roads at many places in the capital, causing hardships for school-going children and office-goers. The condition was worse on the Delhi-Gurgaon and Delhi-Noida borders and near west Delhi's Rajokri area. Earlier this morning, the taxi drivers blocked traffic near Rajokri area obstructing traffic in both the carraigeways from Dhaula Kuan to Gurgaon. Dhaula Kuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli were some of the areas where traffic crawled for hours and a long tailback stretching over a kilometer was witnessed near the Rajokri flyover around 9 am, a traffic official said. The second blockade directly hit traffic in areas including Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram, near PGDAV College in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Moolchand stretching up to AIIMS. With people taking alternative routes, several stretches including Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Defense Colony and Mathura Road also got clogged within an hour, officials said. The chaotic situation stretched beyond 11 am and traffic personnel had to be pressed into service in the area, the official added. Several commuters had a harrowing time as they rushed to reach their offices as the drivers also blocked traffic on the Noida side of the Delhi Noida Direct (DND) flyway leading to a massive congestion. "Private commercial vehicle drivers obstructed the traffic just after the Delhi-Noida expressway leading to heavy traffic," a DND official told IANS. "Now the obstruction has been cleared," he added. The apex court on Saturday had refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG) and banned the diesel-based taxis to run in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from May 1. The deadline for the change was extended twice. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: The Delhi government will consult people on the Odd-Even scheme and take into account the experiences of the first two phases before announcing the next round of the traffic rationing measure, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday. He said the city government has undertaken a series of measures to curb pollution, both from vehicles and dust, which include marking of dedicated bus lanes and vacuum cleaning of roads under the Delhi government. The Minister said they have also sent a proposal to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 on those who violate the bus lanes. He said Jung has raised some objections on this, which will be addressed. Jain also lashed out at those who claimed that pollution had increased during Odd-Even scheme period. "If the diesel and pollution consumption has gone down by 30 per cent, how can the pollution rise?...To fail Odd-Even, some people say that pollution has increased due to it. This is wrong. Our government is new and we don't have any baggage. We can even fail and we are ready to take failures. Many big people are not ready to take failure. We are starters, so we don't have any issues in learning. And if we have to do it again then we will ask you, learn from past experiences and we will do it only then," Jain said. He was speaking at a conference organised by United Residents Joint Action of Delhi (URJA), where a 'Delhi Clean Air Forum' campaign was launched. The minister said that the government has been successful in bringing the issue of pollution to the "centre-stage". Jain said there are roads measuring 1,260 kms under the Delhi government and it has started the initiative of using vacuum cleaners to clean them in order to avoid pollution due to dust. But it will take two more months for the project to start on full scale, he said. He added that the PWD is also planning to cover the soil around these roads with grass in order to curb pollution from dust particles. "...Because 50 percent of pollution is because of dust and the rest 50 percent by vehicular pollution. We will be vacuum cleaning the dust," he said. The Minister said encroachments are proving to be a hindrance in marking dedicated bus lanes. "The width of Delhi roads is not less, but they have been encroached upon. People talk about hawkers occupying roads, but they don't see those who have encroached on land worth crores of rupees." "These are big people with big networks. But we will do it (clear the hindrance). If buses start plying in left lanes ...Pollution will decrease substantially," Jain said, adding that vehicular traffic was one of the reasons for ailments like stress and hyper-tension, both leading to diabetes. Jain, who is also the Power Minister said, the government has also taken steps to curb pollution coming from power companies. "The Rajghat (coal based) power plant has already been shut. Of the five units of the Badarapur power plant, three have been shut. We have also written to Uttar Pradesh government about Dadri power plant," the minister said. Allahabad: Acting on a tip-off, police on Sunday conducted its biggest raid ever in Allahabad's Meerganj - a red-light area. Police has rescued 120 women with arrest of 10 men and 5 women managers who were operating the entire sex trade, according to a report in Jagran's i-next live. In the 5-hour long search operation, police rescued 20 children too. Huge police force deployed during the raid to face any untoward incident. All the rescued women have been kept in a Khuldabad's women shelter. FIRs have been registered against 10 men and 5 women for sex trade. Reportedly, thousands of onlookers gathered at the spot to see the raid by police. New Delhi: Opposition Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doctoring his birth details and educational qualifications while threatening to reveal the facts on Tuesday. Party leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that the party would be addressing a press conference on Tuesday on the matter where they will reveal facts before the media. Earlier on Sunday, vice-chancellor of Gujarat University MN Patel said that Prime Minister Modi had completed his post-graduation in political science in 1983 and had scored 62.3% as an external student of the varsity. Patel's revelation came days after Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the Central Information Commission (CIC) of covering up the Prime Ministers educational qualifications. Congress had on Sunday alleged discrepancies in Modis date of birth. In students register of MN College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Narendra Modis date of birth is mentioned as August 29, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950, Gohil had said in Ahmedabad. Gohil had also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modi's Masters degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. (With PTI inputs) Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar could return to his home-state Goa later this year, as per a media report. According to Goa News, reports of Parrikars return to state politics have been making the rounds over the last few weeks. The speculation became rife when Parrikar himself on Sunday hinted at his return. Yes, I will be back in three-four months, Parrikar told the website in Bicholim. The report also said that the present Defence Minister would probably take over the reins of the state as the chief minister once again. It added that Parrikar expects a Union Cabinet reshuffle any time in next four months. As per reports, the ongoing bickering between RSS and the ruling BJP in Goa over the issue of medium of instruction (MoI) in schools may have led to the above situation. RSS, which has been demanding education in schools in regional languages, has opposed the state government's stand on providing grants to English medium schools. The Bharatiya Bhasha Surkasha Manch (BBSM) has been holding agitations demanding grants only for those schools who have regional languages as MoI. Then, there have also been allegations of non-performance by CM Laxmikant Parsekar's government. Speaking to Indianexpress.com on the issue, Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said that the state unit would welcome Parrikars return. If Centre permits his return, we welcome it, Tendulkar was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai questioned the role of the BJPs high command in Parrikars return. A leader that gets them an absolute majority is shunted to the Centre Its now clear that Parrikar did not become Defence Minister out of his own choice but out of compulsion, Sardesai was quoted as saying. He also said that the BJP leadership will owe an explanation for Parrikars exit, if it happens, in just about 15 months. The term of Goa Assembly ends in March next year. Parrikar had resigned as the Goa CM on 8th November 2014 and was inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet. Later, he had contested for Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. He had swept the Goa Assembly elections in 2012. Delhi: Indian government said on Monday that the UN tribunal had left it to the Supreme Court to fix the precise conditions of Italian marine Salvatore Girone's bail. Government also noted that while the marine may return to Italy during the present arbitration, he would remain under the authority of India's apex court. Following is the statement by official spokesperson of MEA on the order by the Arbitral Tribunal in the Enrica Lexie incident: As you are all aware, the Arbitral Tribunal in the arbitration concerning the Enrica Lexie incident gave its order today. This case, which began in 2012, has been contested in various courts. The two Italian Marines involved have been given bail since 2012 by the Supreme Court of India while proceedings were on. Sergeant Latorre remains on bail in Italy while Sergeant Girone also does so in New Delhi. In 2015, Italy sought international arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arbitral Tribunal that was established was requested by Italy to prescribe provisional measures for the duration of the arbitration which is expected to conclude in 2018. In its order today, the Arbitral Tribunal unanimously prescribed that India and Italy would approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of bail conditions of Sergeant Girone. While remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, he may return to Italy for the duration of the present arbitration. The Tribunal confirmed Italys obligation to return him to India in case it was found that India had jurisdiction over him in respect of the incident. The Tribunal left it to the Supreme Court of India to fix the precise conditions of Sergeant Girones bail. This could include him reporting to an authority in Italy designated by our Supreme Court, surrendering his passport to Italian authorities and not leaving Italy without the permission of our Supreme Court. Italy shall apprise our Supreme Court of his situation every three months. Let me also emphasise that the Tribunal placed on record undertakings given by Italy in regard to Sergeant Girones return to India. It noted that these undertakings constitute an obligation binding upon Italy under international law. It has also confirmed that Italy is under an obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India if the Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him. The Tribunal considers that provisional measures should not alter the situation where the Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction over Sergeant Girone. It has also noted that while Sergeant Girone may return to Italy during the present arbitration, during all this period, he would remain under the authority of the Supreme Court of India. Government is studying the order which was received today. It would, in due course, approach the Honble Supreme Court for its directions on this matter. We believe that Governments consistent positions and key arguments in this particular case have been recognised by the Tribunal. The authority of the Supreme Court has been upheld. We remain confident that the issue of jurisdiction will be determined in our favour. We believe our key arguments in Enrica Lexie case have been recognised by the Tribunal & the authority of SC upheld https://t.co/D79od9j6oc Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) May 2, 2016 India's reaction was to a UN arbitration tribunal that has ruled in favour of Italian marine, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at the Hague. Two Italian marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Girone on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - are facing charges of murdering two Indian fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy here. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. However, the tribunal's order is expected to be made public tomorrow. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. (With Agency inputs) Malda: In a severe post poll violence in West Bengal's Malda, at least four Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers were killed and three others were hospitalised after a clash between TMC and Congress workers. According to allegations levelled by TMC workers, Congress leaders had attacked them with bombs which eventually led to death of 4 TMC leaders and left 3 others injured. However, Congress has rejected the allegations raised by TMC workers. Earlier, on Saturday, a voter turnout of 78.25 per cent marked the fifth and penultimate phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal. By the end of polling on Saturday, 186 people were arrested in incidents of electoral malpractice and sporadic violence that left at least 15 injured. Results of West Bengal Assembly elections will be out on May 19. Dehradun: In the latest development in Uttarakhand forest fires incident, the satellite imageries of the state have reported on Sunday that the forest fire has gone out in over 70 percent of the affected areas here. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also confirmed that of the 427 locations, fire in 70 percent of the areas were out. The development comes hours after the Army, Air Force, 3 teams of NDRF and 6,000 firefighters worked round the clock to save the forest covers. "It is expected that these figures (110-115 locations) will be brought down to 50-60 in the next few days by the combined forces fighting to douse the jungle fire," PTI quoted NDRF Director General OP Singh as saying. A squad of over 135 personnel of the special force of NDRF are deployed in Uttarakhand as part of multiple firefighting teams to combat the raging fire in the jungles of Uttarakhand that have destroyed about 3,000 hectares of jungles in several districts and claimed at least seven lives till now. The teams have spread out in 13 affected areas of three districts of Pauri Garhwal, Almora and Chamoli with fire fighting equipment to tackle the massive blaze. Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry sent a four-member expert team to Uttarakhand to look into the forest fires in the state and submit its report within a week after taking stock of the situation. The team comprises Santosh Kumar, executive director of the National Institute of Disaster Management; SP Vashist, deputy inspector general of forests under the ministry of environment and forests; KC Wadhwa, special director at the Centre for Fire Explosives and Environment Safety; and GC Mishra, director of Fire Services, Delhi. "The team will submit its report to the home ministry within one week after taking stock of situation," a ministry statement said. Assuring that the situation was under control, the statement said: "About 6,000 people from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), state police, forest staff and volunteers are deployed there. "Three Air Force helicopters including an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and two MI-17 helicopters with Bambi bucket have also been deployed to assist the local administration," the statement said. It said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul regarding incidents of forest fires that began 88 days ago and have so far destroyed nearly 3,000 acres of forest cover. "The Centre is providing all necessary assistance to Uttarakhand to control the forest fires and help in containing the damage," the statement said. "The government is taking the forest fires of Uttarakhand very seriously. We have granted Rs 5 crore to the state yesterday," said Union minister Prakash Javadekar. The fires in Uttarakhand have been burning for nearly 3 months, destroying close to 3,000 acres of forest cover so far. In the last one month alone, around 1,200 fires have broken out in the state. In the neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, satellite pictures had captured images of active fires. Till Saturday, over 1,300 fires were raging across the hilly regions of north India. The government is soon going to start a satellite picture-based fire alarm system that will send out text messages to the authorities every time a fresh fire is detected. New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday accepted that the Supreme Court's order on common all-India medical entrance test has created "practical problems". Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Naidu said the government will take a final call on the matter after a comprehensive study. "There is a problem with states having examinations in their regional language as NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is in Hindi and English only. So there are practical problems as the pre-medical examination has been converted by the court order," said Naidu while responding to the members' concerns over the court verdict. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Congress member Rajiv Satav held the union government responsible for the situation, saying that the court order has affected 80 percent students of Maharashtra, mostly from the rural areas. Responding to the charge, Naidu said: "It's not proper to hold the government responsible for it." He said he will discuss the issue with the Health Minister. "Keeping all the things in mind, the government will have a comprehensive study of the concerned matter and take a final call after discussing it with the law officer," Naidu said. The members had also opposed holding of the first phase of the test on May 01, saying it gives little time to students for preparation. The development in Parliament comes as the Supreme Court is to hear on Tuesday a batch of applications seeking that NEET may not be thrust on the states and they be allowed to conduct their own entrance examinations. Various states, besides the associations of private medical colleges, are aggrieved by the apex court's Friday order reiterating that admission to undergraduate medical courses will be only through NEET to be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). On Thursday, the Supreme Court had said students aspiring for admission to under-graduate medical courses will have to appear in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), and declined the pleas for exemption by Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A bench of Justice Anil R Dave, Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice AK Goel gave its nod to the two-phase conduct of NEET by the CBSE on May 1 and July 24, with the declaration of results on August 17, and counselling and admissions later. (With IANS inputs) Jammu: J&K's Jammu is all set get an Indian Institute of Technology! Clearing the decks, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Delhi for setting up of IIT in Jammu. The MoU was signed in presence of Jammu and Kashmir deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh. Location About 625 acres of land has been approved at Jagti in Nagrota for establishment of IIT Jammu. Regular classes will commence from the current session in the temporary campus. Human Resource Development is providing all support and requisite expertise, resulting in timely completion of necessary formalities required for establishment of the institute in Jammu. New Delhi: Opposition on Monday attacked the government in Rajya Sabha, alleging "selective leaks" of sensitive documents related to the controversial AugustaWestland helicopter deal and sought a probe into the matter. It alleged that the government was "misleading" through "selective leaks" and expressed concern over the credibility of the sensitive agencies -- Defency Ministry, Airforce Headquarter, CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED). "...The government must answer: A subject which has been bullentined for discussion on (May) 4th, individuals, various TV channels, journalists have been given sensitive documents of the CBI, ED and Defence Ministry...Who gave the documents? There should be an inquiry...," Deputy Leader of Congress Anand Sharma said in the Upper House. "The government is selectively leaking," Sharma said, adding, "If the government is not. Then who else is leaking? We demand the governmnent to do an inquiry." This is happening despite there being an Official Secrets Act, the Congress leader said. Alleging that this is "dirty tricks" of the departments which are "coordinated centrallly" in this government, Sharma charged that the government misused the office as he questioned the credibility of the agencies. "It is a question of how they are misleading through selective leaks of sensitive information. Which government, if it is not complacent at the highest level, will have this scenario where every docuement is given," he said. Supporting a notice for breach of privilege motion given by Congress MP Shantaram Naik, Sharma said, "Ministers in this government are making statements on the PIB website and not coming to the House but the selective leaks." "When the House was in session, what prevented the Defence Minister to come in the House and give the statement here? Sir, what is happening?" he asked. Before initiating debate on a bill to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, Naik raised a point of order on ministers making statement in the PIB on AugustaWestland deal when Parliament is in session. "I have given a breach of privilege notice. I pray that the notice be admitted and refer to the Privileges Committee (of Parliament) and action be taken as per the report," he said. Imphal: Families of victims as well as social activists are not happy over the police department's failure to solve six murders in Manipur in the last 10 days. The families said many of them have lost their homes, shops and other valuables, but the government has not extended any help to them. Many people have been organising road blockades and agitations at several places, and the families were also not claiming the bodies for the last rites as the government has not conceded to their demands. A. Ngarungshung and M.K. Lungrio, two tribal loggers from Ukhrul district, were shot dead by suspected militants in Chandel district on April 28. A few days earlier, a driver in the same district was killed, and the assailants are still untraced. "We are not claiming the body until the government fulfills our demands. The killers should be brought to book and the bereaved family given some financial solatium," activist Somi Shimray told reporters. Deputy Speaker of state assembly Presto Shimray said: "The government is doing everything possible to book the killers. We seek cooperation of the people. Police are also doing their best. The government are doing their best to concede the demands of the people in connection with the two killings." The Imphal-Lilong sector of the national highway has been blocked by people protesting the death of a boy named Sagolshem Prasanta, whose body was found hanging from a tree at Lilong, a Muslim majority village. Activists said the government refused to make available the post-mortem examination report, and they will continue the blockade. They suspect that the boy was bludgeoned to death and then the body was hanged up to make it appear like a case of suicide. Following the lynching of two people who allegedly stole a two-wheeler, there were clashes on April 11 in which 11 houses and shops were torched at Mayang Imphal. Over 60 people were injured in the clashes. As the destroyed shops and roadside stalls have not been repaired, the victims said they were unable to earn anything. "We are facing problems of food and shelter and now our village is being battered by thunderstorms and hailstorms for the past several nights," a young woman said. The government had agreed to pay compensation of Rs.5 lakh each to the families of the two lynched youths, but the payment is yet to be made to the next of kin. Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh): Two people were killed and 10 were injured on Monday when police fired at agitators who were demanding immediate release of anti-dam activist Lama Lobsang Gyatso at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Simmering tension continued in the Tawang district, as the administration imposed curfew and the Indian Army was called in to assist police in controlling the situation. Residents said a large number of people, including Buddhist monks, gathered in Tawang town on Monday where Gyatso was supposed to be presented in a court. Although the agitators were protesting peacefully, the situation turned hostile when the court rejected Gyatso`s bail plea. The agitators then laid siege to the Tawang police station and demanded immediate release of the anti-dam activist, who heads the `Save Mon Region Federation` (SMRF) -- an organisation opposing the hydroelectric power projects in Mon-Tawang region. "Police had to fire at the agitators who turned violent and tried to set the police station on fire. In the firing, two people were killed and about 10 were injured," a police official said. Unofficial sources, however, said five people were killed in the police firing and over a dozen others were injured. After the violence, police again presented Gyatso in court which granted him bail. The National Green Tribunal last month suspended the environmental clearance to the 780 MW Nyamjang Chhu project in response to an appeal filed by the Save Mon Region Federation. Gyatso and the SMRF activists as also villagers are recording their objections against other proposed hydropower projects. Gyatso was also arrested last week for leading a group of people from Gongkhar village where the Mukto Shakangchu 6 MW project is coming up. Gyatso was arrested after an FIR was filed by the security officer of legislator and former minister Pema Khandu. He was, however, granted bail the same day. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul termed the incident as most unfortunate and said that the loss of lives and injuries to the others was indeed a sad moment in the history of the state. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. New Delhi: Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi (retd), was on Monday being questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with its probe into the alleged corruption in the AgustaWestland choppers deal. The CBI had on Friday issued summons to Tyagi. Apart from Tyagi, his three cousins have also been summoned by the agency for questioning. The former IAF chief arrived at the CBI headquarters this morning to appear before the investigation team probing the case. The ex-IAF chief is accused of modifying the requirements in order to seal the deal with AgustaWestland. The CBI had on Saturday questioned former IAF deputy chief, Air Marshal JS Gujral (retd) in connection with the VVIP AgustaWestland helicopter deal. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is scheduled to speak on the AgustaWestland issue in Parliament on Wednesday, and give a detailed chronology of the events. The CBI had named 13 individuals in the FIR which it registered on March 13, 2013, including Tyagi and European middlemen Carlo Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschke, in connection with the alleged bribery. It managed to get the complete tranche of records, received from Italy, translated into English. Sources also said that the records were being analysed by sleuths who would decide on the charges to be pressed against the accused named in the FIR, including former IAF chief, Tyagi, and his three cousins. Italian agencies had arrested the then CEO of AgustaWestland, Giuseppe Orsi, for alleged bribes given to Indian middlemen to clinch the deal. The supply of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland had come under scanner after Italian authorities alleged that bribes were paid by the company to clinch the Rs 3,600 crore deal. It was subsequently cancelled. The Italian prosecutor, who carried out the preliminary inquiry, alleged that the CEO of Finmeccanica, the parent company of the Britain-based AgustaWestland, had used services of middlemen to bribe Indian officials. The probe agency has alleged that during his tenure as IAF chief, Tyagi and, "with his approval", the IAF "conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: Amid strained relations between India and Pakistan, the daughter of a Kargil War martyr has uploaded a Facebook video giving a strong message to policymakers of both the South Asian countries. Gurmehar Kaur's father Captain Mandeep Singh was killed during the Kargil war in 1999. In the over 4-minute video, Jalandhar-based 19-year old Gurmehar has, without uttering a single word, has conveyed a message of peace between India and Pakistan. With the help of a series of 30 placards written in English and somber background music, Gurmehar stated: "I have more memories of how it feels to not have a father." "I also remember how much I used to hate Pakistan and Pakistanis because they killed my dad." Gurmehar also shared in the video that when she was six-year-old, she tried to stab a lady in a burqa because of some strange reason I thought she was responsible for my fathers death. There are people who often say that Pakistanis and Muslims are responsible for killing several Indian soldiers. And since Pakistanis are mostly Muslims, they often, without thinking, call Muslims the enemy of our country but I want peace because if there was no war between us, my father would have been here, she said in the video. The aim of the video is to urge governments of both countries to stop pretending and solve the problem. "We cannot dream of becoming a first world country with third world leadership," the teenager said. There's "enough state-sponsored terrorism, enough state sponsored spies, enough state sponsored hatred. Enough is enough". Watch it here: Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he was "thankful" that the Centre had "accepted its mistake" of calling off talks with Pakistan over invite to Hurriyat by Islamabad last year. "We have been saying this since the first day, when they (Centre) called off talks with Pakistan over Hurriyat invite, that it was a mistake to call off talks. Thankfully, they (central government) have accepted the mistake now," Omar told reporters here. He was reacting to Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh's statement that government has no objection to Hurriyat talking to Pakistan High Commisioner. "At that time (of cancellation of talks) also we called this a gross over-reaction and said this should not be used as a pretext to derail talks between New Delhi and Islamabad," he said. "When nothing is legally and constitutionally wrong in Hurriyat leaders meeting Pakistani diplomats, why was this used as a ruse to derail the talks earlier? Who is responsible for the adverse implications this had in Kashmir? These questions need to be answered," Omar said. Perceptions are very important in places like Kashmir and the continued instability in Indo-Pak ties has harmed the State internally. Because of the uncertainty in Indo-Pak dialogue, there has been a sense of political anxiety and apprehension in Kashmir which has affected the state adversely," he said. He said there has been an "increase" in local youth resorting to armed militancy and a stark "decrease" in the state's tourism inflow which has adversely affected its economy. He also took a dig at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government in the state, saying it was "vision-less and directionless". "Only two words can be used for this government ? vision-less and directionless. You cannot see this government on the ground as it does not exist there," Omar said. Omar said the Centre should clarify why the previous PDP-BJP government detained Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar last year in order to prevent them from travelling to New Delhi to meet the visiting Pakistani delegation. "The onus also lies on the Government to explain why the previous PDP-BJP Government prevented the meeting between Hurriyat leaders and the Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi when, as clearly stated by Singh, Hurriyat leaders have every right to meet citizens of other countries in India," Omar said while addressing party workers at a function in Kani Kadal here. He said Hurriyat leaders should not be prevented from meeting visiting Pakistani delegations and this was not an issue that should result in any confrontation between the two countries. New Delhi: The Modi government's decision to hike wages of MNREGA workers in Jharkhand by Rs 5 has not gone down well with the intended beneficiaries. To register their protest over the meager hike, hundreds of workers from Latehar have sent envelopes containing five-rupee notes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The workers also enclosed a message for Modi in the envelopes. The workers wrote that they were feeling very lucky because the wage hike in some other states was even less that what they have been offered. A report in The Telegraph quotes from the letter. "It seems that MGNREGS workers in Odisha are now considered well-off because their wages have not been increased at all. Actually, we are very concerned. The government must be really short of money as it is unable to raise MGNREGS wages, that too when one-third of the rural population are affected by drought." "We feel that you need the extra five rupees more than we do since your government has so many expenses. To implement the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, you will have to spend an additional Rs 1 lakh crore at least on salaries and pensions of government employees. Defence expenditure is about Rs 2.5 lakh crore. You must also be spending a lot of money in terms of tax concessions given to big companies, apart from giving them cheap land and other resources." "Considering all this, we MGNREGS workers have made a collective decision to give up our extra wages for a day and return the extra five rupees to you. We hope that this will help you keep your corporate friends and government employees happy." Bengaluru: BJP Karnataka unit President BS Yeddyurappa on Monday became teary-eyed in a CBI court here as he faced a barrage of questions relating to an alleged illegal mining scam case during his chief ministership. Yeddyurappa was summoned by the court in connection?with the Rs 20 crore donation allegedly received by Prerana Trust, administered by his family. As many as 475 questions were asked by the judge during the deposition lasting two-and-a-half hours. The tear-shedding moment came when the judge asked Yeddyurappa if he had something to say on the issue, to which an emotional former chief minister replied, "I have not done? anything wrong and whatever I have done, it is done within the?parameters of law." Nor had his acts caused any losses to the state exchequer, he said. Prior to this question also, Yeddyurappa's voice became? choked while answering a query whether he was a victim of political conspiracy. Replying to this, Yeddyurappa, who was recently brought back as the BJP chief, became emotional and his voice turned heavier. Yeddyurappa, who led the BJP to its first ever government in the south in 2008 elections, had to relinquish the chief minister's post following his indictment by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted on July, 2011 by the then anti-corruption ombudsman Santosh Hegde. The report had cited receipt of a Rs 10 crore donation from South West Mining Company to the Prerana Trust owned and managed by Yeddyurpapa's family and another Rs 20 crore paid for purchase of 1.02 acres in Rachenahalli by the mining firm. Hegde in his report had observed that these payments were made to Prerana Trust in anticipation of getting some favours by the mining company, a charge Yeddyurappa had rejected. CBI had registered an FIR against Yeddyurappa and others, and raided their residential and other premises as part of the probe ordered by the Supreme Court on recommendations of the Central Empowered?Committee set up by it to look into illegal mining. Bengaluru: In a shocking incident, a 25-year-old woman was abducted by an unidentified man while she was on a phone call in front of her hostel. The entire episode was captured by a CCTV. The incident took place at Katriguppe in south Bengaluru at 10 pm on April 23 night. The abductor, who literally lifted the woman, took her to an isolated place at an under-construction building nearby and tried to force himself upon her. Talking to CNN News18, the woman revealed that she raised the alarm after which passer-by rushed to her help. The victim, who is employed at a beauty clinic in the city, revealed that she was dropped off by a friend outside her hostel and was on a phone call when the abductor came from behind and kidnapped her. She also claimed that after she managed to escape from the abductor and reached back at her accommodation, her hostel owner asked her to not file any police complaint in this regard. A complaint has been registered on the matter however, police are yet to identify the kidnappers. Here's the CCTV footage of the shocking incident. Bengaluru: One person was arrested today in connection with alleged kidnapping of a northeastern girl in Bengaluru. The accused is 24-year-old and has been identified as Akshay and is a cab driver by profession. On the night of April 23, a 25-year-old woman was dragged and kidnapped in public view in Bengaluru. The girl was on a phone call outside her paying guest accommodation when the attacker approached her from behind and clutched her before taking her to an under-constructed building nearby. According to the woman, the abductor attempted to rape her but she somehow managed to escape from the attacker. Surprisingly, the incident took place in a public view and none of the passer-by came for help while the woman kept on screaming. "Bystanders watch while I cried for help. None of them tried to rescue me from the abductor," she told ANI. "I started shouting and he tried to shut my mouth. I bit him to save myself. I fell unconscious after he repeatedly punched me," she told reporters. "My friend did not hear me screaming as they were watching TV," she said on being asked why none of her PG friends reacted when the incident took place. Manjula Manasa, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, assured all assistance to the victim. "Senior police officials should and will have to take action," she said. The woman said she felt the man's intentions were to sexually assault her, as he did not try to steal any of her belongings. "I feel this because I had a bag, purse and mobile with me and he did not target it. I think his intention was to sexually assault me," she said. Asked about police response, she said police asked her to file a case, but the owners of her paying guest suggested against it, saying it may cause problems for her. "I think they did that fearing bad name for their PG," she said. In the visuals captured, two people on a 2-wheeler are seen passing by at the time in the footage. But they continued on their way without any halt. The woman, who is believed to be from Manipur and works at a beauty clinic in Bengaluru's Kalyan Nagar area called for an action on the matter and said that she can identify the attacker if he is produced before her. "I will identify him if I see him. I want the person to be arrested as soon as possible," the victim of Bengaluru kidnapping case told CNN News 18. The girl has called for a justice on the matter. "I want the justice as soon as possible," she said. The woman has also alleged that the police took no action against the accused and even refused to register a complaint in her case. The cops eventually registered a case after the woman was forced to produce the CCTV footage. DCP (South) Lokesh Kumar said he only got to know about the incident after it was reported in a TV channel, adding that investigation was now underway. The woman had left her PG room the next day and the owner was under the impression she would have filed the complaint. He came forward to file one after getting know that none had been made so far, the DCP said. Thiruvananthapuram: A total of 1,203 candidates were left in the fray and will now fight for the 140 Kerala assembly seats on May 16, officials said on Monday, the last day for withdrawal of nominations. The principal fight is between the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front and the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front. The BJP-led NDA is also in the fray. The maximum number of 145 candidates is in Malappuram district, which also has the maximum number of constituencies (16). The hilly district of Wayanad with just three assembly constituencies has the least number of candidates (29). Of the 1,203 candidates, 109 are women. Thiruvananthapuram: The body of 25-year-old Kerala nurse, who was murdered in Oman last month, will arrive in Kochi on Monday morning. Chikku Robert's husband, however, will not be able to accompany the body. Robert was five months pregnant when she was found by her husband with multiple stab injuries at their flat in Salalah city. She was working as a nurse in a hospital in Oman. The couple worked at the same hospital. According to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, police in Oman have cracked the case and "the details are awaited". Police have so far taken statements from several of Robert's friends, colleagues and her husband, as part of the investigation. A Pakistani national was also questioned by police and let off. Chandy suggested that Robert's husband was not being allowed to accompany the body was not because he was a suspect in the case. "We have been told that her husband is totally innocent, but the rules there are like that. I even gave a letter to the officials there that the state government will ensure that soon after the funeral is over, her husband will be sent back," he said. "We are told that he is also unwell and the authorities have said that he will be given all the necessary attention," added the Chief Minister. Kochi: A 30-year-old Dalit woman, who was said to be studying law, was allegedly raped and brutally murdered at her residence in Perumbavoor near here, as per media reports. Jisha was found dead in a pool of blood at 8 PM on April 28 by her mother when she reached her wayside home in Kuruppampadi police limit. In a chilling reminder of the Delhi gang-rape case, the victims' intestines were found hanging out, reports said. She also had 30 wounds on her body and is believed to have been brutalised with a sharp instrument. "It was a brutal murder. There were stab injuries on her body. We suspect she was subjected to smothering and strangulation," Ernakulam Range IG Mahipal Yadav told PTI. He, however, refused to share details about the investigation. Police said whether the woman was subjected to sexual assault before or after the murder would be clear only from the post-mortem report. Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that a 'scientific' probe was being conducted into the incident and asserted that the culprits would be brought to book. (With Agency inputs) Mumbai: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has termed the decision to award Nobel Peace Prize to Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai as political. He also said that he would never accept the award. He was in Latur on Saturday to review the drought situation in Marathwada when he made the statement. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Sri Sri said, "I was in the past offered the Nobel Peace Prize, but I had rejected it as I only believe in working and not in being honoured for my work. We should always honour only to those who deserve it and I am totally against honouring Malala Yousafzai with the prize and it is of no use." In Latur, his Art of Living organisation is working towards restoring rivers. He also told the Daily - "The government has to work towards a sustainable model and should take appropriate steps towards the rising farmer suicides in the state. I also appeal to farmers of the state to not commit suicide as that is not the ultimate solution for all the problems arising out of drought. Yousafzai was announced as the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Kailash Satyarthi, in 2014. Aged 17 at the time, Yousafzai had became the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for espousing the cause of a separate state of Vidarbha. Fadnavis had voted in a 2013 referendum favour of separating Vidarbha from Maharashtra, and hence, "has lost the moral right to continue to as chief minister of the state", Thackeray said, displaying pictures of the referendum. "Vidarbha is just the beginning; later, they will demand a separate Marathwada, and so on to break up the state into pieces. Their final intention is to sever Mumbai from the state," Thackeray alleged. Speaking to media persons, he said persons like former state advocate-general Srihari Aney, who quit in a cloud following his demands for Vidarbha state, and former RSS former spokesperson M. G. Vaidya "are propped up by the BJP-RSS lobby in Nagpur" to divide and break up the state. "For the first time, the Hutatma (Martyrs) Chowk memorial in south Mumbai was not decorated on the occasion of Maharashtra Day yesterday (on Sunday). This was insult to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. But the ruling ally, Shiv Sena, did not even raise a protest," Thackeray said. Asking the government "to tender an apology" for this insult, he challenged the Shiv Sena to display guts and walk out of the government, as it was playing "a dual role of both opposition and ruling party ally". Thackeray also accused the BJP of bandying out "lies" and misleading the people of the state on various counts. Citing examples, he said the government had claimed to have dug 33,000 wells for farmers in the state, but letters and RTI queries revealed nothing. "Most of the proposals are only on paper. All the funds have been gobbled up by the contractors. So what`s the difference between BJP and Congress?" he said. He claimed fudging of figures of investment proposals received during the the recent `Make In India` conclave in Mumbai mid-February this year. "I can provide evidence on all this. Let Fadnavis reply to the issues I have raised," Thackeray demanded. Mumbai: The Beed administration on Monday suspended local administrators who were accused of selling water tankers meant for people of drought-hit Marathwada region to rich businessmen. The move came after a sting by India Today showed that Beed Panchayat officials were selling 12,000-litre water tankers for Rs 2,000 each. Two officers of Beed Panchayat Samiti Lakshmikant and Ghyasuddin Zuberi were suspended, as per the report. The report also said that the Beed District Collector had summoned Beed Zila Panchayat CEO and had ordered a departmental enquiry into the matter. As per an investigation by India Today, water tankers meant for the people were being sold to businessmen for profit. Reporters, posing as businessmen wanting to set up an industry in the area, had met Gopal Gurkhade, the Sabhapati of Beed municipal council. Gurkhade was told that they would need 2-3 tankers of water everyday. The reply they got was - "No issues, our work will continue throughout the year. If the rainfall is good, you won't need any tankers." When told that the "condition will be like this for two more months", Gurkhade had said, "Don't worry, we will provide you 'full' water, as much as you want. See, you the situation here. It's a bit 'tight'. You'll get a tanker for Rs 2,000... 12,000-litre tanker..." Gurkhade had added, "Use it wherever you want, we will provide you the tanker within 10km of Beed, wherever you need it." And so the media house's reporters had struck the following deal - Rs 6,000 for 36,000 litres water every day. On top of it, Gurkhade had also offered protection from police and uninterrupted power supply for the factory. Then the investigating team had met officers of Beed's Panchayat Samiti. Lakshmikant, the Panchayat officer and Ghyasuddin Zuberi (the man who handles all the accounts of the tankers) had met the team at their hotel. When said that 2-3 tankers of 12,000 litre capacity would be needed daily, Zuberi had said, "You be assured. Will give you more, not less," and Lakshmikant added, "Tankers will operate at night. Though these tankers are being operated by the administration, there will be no identification plate on them. Tankers will come, unload water at your site and leave." Next day the two had met the reporters again to discuss money which was decided at Rs 2,000 per tanker or Rs 4,000 per day. Lakshmikant had told them, "You can pay us once every eight days." Mumbai: Even as Marathwada is witnessing one of the worst droughts and places like Latur and Beed are said to be badly hit, probe by a media house has revealed some shocking details. As per an investigation by India Today, water tankers meant for the people are being sold to businessmen for profit and has been authorised by local administrative officers. The report said that reporters, posing as businessmen wanting to set up an industry in the area, met Gopal Gurkhade, the Sabhapati of Beed municipal council. Gurkhade was told that they would need 2-3 tankers of water everyday. The reply they got was - "No issues, our work will continue throughout the year. If the rainfall is good, you won't need any tankers." When told that the "condition will be like this for two more months", Gurkhade said, "Don't worry, we will provide you 'full' water, as much as you want. See, you the situation here. It's a bit 'tight'. You'll get a tanker for Rs 2,000... 12,000-litre tanker..." Gurkhade added, "Use it wherever you want, we will provide you the tanker within 10km of Beed, wherever you need it." And so the media house's reporters struck the following deal - Rs 6,000 for 36,000 litres water every day. On top of it, Gurkhade also offered protection from police and uninterrupted power supply for the factory. Then the investigating team met officers of Beed's Panchayat Samiti which manages the flow of water tankers to the region's villages. Lakshmikant, the Panchayat officer and Ghyasuddin Zuberi, the man who handles all the accounts of the tankers met the team at their hotel. When said that 2-3 tankers of 12,000 litre capacity would be needed daily, Zuberi said, "You be assured. Will give you more, not less," and Lakshmikant added, "Tankers will operate at night. Though these tankers are being operated by the administration, there will be no identification plate on them. Tankers will come, unload water at your site and leave." Next day the two met the reporters again to discuss money which was decided at Rs 2,000 per tanker or Rs 4,000 per day. Lakshmikant told them, "You can pay us once every eight days." Thus, sadly, water meant for Beed's parched villagers was sold (apparently) to construct a factory. Washington: The US space agency NASA has released a new, yet high quality video of a solar flare, an event that is normally outside the visible range for humans, to the public. The spectacular video, which can be seen in this movie as a bright flash of light, was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on April 17, 2016 when an active region on the suns right side released a mid-level solar flare. Video credit: NASA Goddard/YouTube Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however -- when intense enough -- they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel, wrote NASA officials in a video description. The SDO spacecraft, which observes the sun constantly to help scientists understand what causes eruptions like these, recorded video of the event in several wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light. (Source: NASA) New Delhi: Posters have emerged in Uttar Pradesh showing Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as 'singham' ahead of Assembly Elections in the state in 2017. A few days ago, posters and hoardings of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati in the form of Hindu goddess Kali and holding the chopped off head of union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani had surfaced in Hathras, leading to a political furore. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh BJPs newly-appointed state president Keshav Prasad Maurya was depicted as Lord Krishna and his rivals, including Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, as Kauravas in posters hoardings in Varanasi. In the fresh posters released by Congress workers in Gorakhpur, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is seen donning police uniform. Here's the poster: Struggling to arrest its falling fortunes in electorally important Uttar Pradesh, Congress may carry out a massive rejig of its state leadership next fortnight and announce its Chief Ministerial candidate who in all likelihood will be a "Brahmin". There are also views within a section of the party that a turnaround in Uttar Pradesh is possible only if either of the Gandhis--Priyanka or Rahul--takes the lead in the state polls. However, there has been no indication from the party so far that it is inclined to field any of the two Gandhis in the Assembly polls in the state where Congress is considered to be on a weak wicket. Poll strategist Prashant Kishor is learnt to be in favour of either of the Gandhis taking the lead in the state election and, if they do not agree, a well-known Brahmin face should be projected as the chief ministerial candidate. New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha on Monday that the situation arising out of forest fires in Uttarakhand is under control. Assuring that there is no need to get panicky, Singh said: "The state administration is on the job. I reviewed the situation last night and authorities have told me that things are normal and under control." The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congress), Jagdambika Pal (BJP) and several other members. Rajnath said that shortly after the matter came to his knowledge, a team of his ministry and fire department rushed to the site. He said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and choppers have been deployed and the fire has been brought under control. "Three teams of NDRF and three IAF MI-17 helicopters were also engaged to control the situation," he said. He denied reports of deaths due to the fire, saying: "As far as reported deaths are concerned, local administration has not yet confirmed," he said. The fires began 89 days ago and have so far destroyed nearly 3,000 acres of forest cover. Uttarakhand has been under President's Rule since March 27 after the dismissal of the Harish Rawat ministry. Earlier, Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy gave notice of an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha demanding a discussion on the current political situation in Uttarakhand, which was rejected by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Later during Zero Hour, Roy said there was no popular government in Uttarakhand now and blamed both the BJP and the Congress for this situation. Media reports claimed that the forest fires in Uttarakhand caused loss of lives and injured 15 people. Reports also said hundreds of hectares of forests have been destroyed with Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Almora districts bearing the brunt. Several sorties by MI-17 choppers trying to douse the forest fires in Uttarakhand were aborted at many places on Sunday owing to "poor visibility and thick smoke". The state government was pinning its hopes on the rain gods. For now, other than trying "every method at hand, we can just pray that rains lash the state as soon as possible", said a senior government official. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: As forest fires continue to rage and intensify across Uttarakhand, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Saugata Roy has given an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha demanding discussion on the present situation in the hill state. It is reported that over 2000 hectares of land have been affected by the forest fire, even as the NDRF has deployed over 130 personnel to tackle the massive blaze.Three Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) yesterday dumped loads of water on the blaze in Nainital and Pauri districts.At least seven people have died and 15 others injured in the fires so far. About 2,269 hectares of forested land have been destroyed with Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Almora districts bearing most of the brunt. The authorities claimed the situation was gradually getting better, and the latest satellite imagery of forest fires shows the blaze has been extinguished in over 75 percent of the affected area in the hill state.Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar yesterday said that the Centre was taking the matter "very seriously" and "have deployed 6,000 people", including from the NDRF, for firefighting "with a grant of Rs 5 crores to the state" for more manpower. "Testing of pre-fire alert systems has also been started from today," he added.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also offered all assistance to the hill state.He reviewed the situation yesterday and held discussions with the Chief Secretary and other officials of the Uttarakhand Government. He also discussed the crisis during a telephonic conversation with Uttarakhand Governor K.K. Paul.The BJP-led NDA Government has, however, come under sharp criticism from the opposition with regard to this crisis. The Congress Party has not only blamed the Centre for fuelling a political crisis in a peaceful state but also said it has miserably failed to tackle a major environmental tragedy. Dehradun: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said that four people have been arrested in connection with the Uttarkahnd forest fire case. A squad of over 135 personnel of the special force of NDRF are deployed in Uttarakhand as part of multiple firefighting teams to combat the raging fire in the jungles of Uttarakhand that have destroyed about 3,000 hectares of jungles in several districts and claimed at least seven lives till now. The teams have spread out in 13 affected areas of three districts of Pauri Garhwal, Almora and Chamoli with fire fighting equipment to tackle the massive blaze. The fires in Uttarakhand have been burning for nearly 3 months, destroying close to 3,000 acres of forest cover so far. In the last one month alone, around 1,200 fires have broken out in the state. In the neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, satellite pictures had captured images of active fires. Till Saturday, over 1,300 fires were raging across the hilly regions of north India. The government is soon going to start a satellite picture-based fire alarm system that will send out text messages to the authorities every time a fresh fire is detected. Dehradun: Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal on Monday rejected BJP's petition seeking disqualification of its MLA Bhim Lal Arya from Ghansali for defying party whip. Kunjwal said the evidence produced by the party against Arya was insufficient, a Vidhan Sabha official said. Arya has made no bones about his preference for Congress and was suspended by BJP for anti-party activities. The rebel MLA absented himself from the Assembly on March 18 despite a whip asking all members to be present in the House as the party wanted a division of votes on the Appropriation bill. BJP chief whip in the Assembly Madan Kaushik had petitioned the Speaker seeking Arya's disqualification. The saffron party meanwhile reacted sharply to the Speaker's rejection of the petition saying he was once again working in a "partisan manner" despite holding a constitutional post. "The Speaker showed great hurry in disqualifying Congress MLAs under anti-defection law who went against Harish Rawat but he does not find the evidence against Arya adequate. He has acted once again like Harish Rawat's agent despite occupying a high constitutional office," Pradesh BJP spokesman Vinay Goel said in a statement. The state Assembly has been under suspended animation ever since the state was brought under President's Rule on March 27, just a day before CM Harish Rawat was to go for a floor test in the House. District of Columbia: The White House on Monday said it is still weighing a possible first presidential visit to Hiroshima, one of two Japanese cities bombed by a US nuclear weapon. "We`re obviously hard at work planning that trip," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of a potential visit that could prove controversial. "The president has been to Japan three or four times as president, and each time the president has traveled there, this question has come up and we`ve considered it each time." Obama will visit central Japan in late May for a Group of Seven summit. Last month, Secretary of State John Kerry became the highest ranking US political figure to visit Hiroshima. He said he was "deeply moved" by the experience and a "gut-wrenching display that tugs at all your sensibilities as a human being." "Everyone should visit Hiroshima, and everyone means everyone," he added, fueling speculation that Obama would go. Japan has long urged world leaders to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to see the horrors of the atomic bombings and join efforts to eradicate nuclear arms. But a presidential visit could rile Obama`s opponents and some in the military whose predecessors carried out presidential orders to drop the bombs. The visit would come at a particularly sensitive time. This December marks the 75th anniversary of Japan`s attack on Pearl Harbor, in Obama`s home state of Hawaii. On August 6, 1945, the US dropped the world`s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing around 140,000 people, including those who survived the explosion itself but died soon after from severe radiation exposure. Three days later, the US military dropped a plutonium bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, killing some 74,000 people. The bombings are controversial in the United States, where opinion remains divided over whether their use in the closing days of World War II was justified. Earnest said Obama did not believe the United States owes Japan an apology for that military action. Islamabad: Five employees of a transport company and the owner of a bus terminal were booked under blasphemy law for desecrating a Sikh passenger's turban in Pakistan's Punjab province, the media reported on Monday. The complainant, Mahinder Paal Singh (29), a resident of Multan, told Dawn online that he was travelling from Faisalabad to Multan by a bus owned by Kohistan-Faisal Movers company that broke down near Dijkot. He said though the driver somehow started the bus again but its speed was very slow (around 30km per hour). He said that he and some of his fellow passengers complained to the transport companys staff about the slow speed of the bus and demanded an alternative vehicle for the onward journey. The two sides exchanged words, ensuing a free-for-all, during which the six accused manhandled the passengers, including Singh. He alleged that during the fight a bus terminal hawker, Rashid Gujjar, threw his turban on the ground. Singh said the turban was considered sacred in the Sikh religious code and throwing it on the ground was tantamount to desecration. According to some affected passengers, Singh told police, that reached the bus terminal following the brawl, that it was a case of desecration and since he was a Pakistani national the attackers should be booked under blasphemy law. A senior police official said five of the attackers -- terminal manager Baqir Ali, Rashid Gujar, Faiz Alam, Shakeel and Snawal had been booked . Police were conducting raids to arrest terminal owner Haji Riyasat. Sao Paulo: Irate Brazilians found themselves without the popular WhatsApp smartphone messaging application for the second time in six months Monday, after a court blocked the service for 72 hours. A flurry of angry commentary immediately broke out online after a small-town judge blocked WhatsApp nationwide because Facebook, its owner, failed to hand over information requested in a drug-trafficking investigation. The court order from Judge Marcel Montalvao in the northeastern town of Lagarto, in Sergipe state, shut down WhatsApp from 2:00 pm (1700 GMT). According to Brazilian media reports, drug traffickers targeted in the investigation had been using WhatsApp to discuss their business. It is the latest standoff between the Brazilian authorities and Facebook, which has said it has no technical means for cooperating with such requests. Facebook`s vice president for Latin America, Diego Dzodan, was arrested in March over the same case. Police said they were holding the Argentine national responsible for "repeated non-compliance with court orders." Another judge in Sergipe state ordered his release the following day, ruling the arrest amounted to "unlawful coercion." WhatsApp was previously suspended in Brazil in December over another case. Shocked, cranky Brazilians woke up on December 17 to find their WhatsApp service had been shut down overnight, leaving many without a key means of communication. WhatsApp is widely used in Brazil, where cell phone fees for texting and calls are among the highest in the world. The free app is installed on nine in 10 smartphones in the country. The December blackout ended after about 12 hours, when a higher court in Sao Paulo state threw out the two-day suspension. On that occasion, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg called it "a sad day for Brazil," noting the country`s history of support for an open Internet. The companies deny obstructing justice and say they have done whatever they can to help.Monday`s shutdown drew disbelieving, sometimes obscenity-laced reactions online. Like many Brazilians who rely on the service, Twitter user Acaua Tavares reacted with the Portuguese acronym "PQP," roughly equivalent to "WTF?" in English. "WhatsApp blocked again, PQP! That`s Brazil," he wrote. Many commenters reacted with a single question: "Again?" Brazil`s five cell phone providers all complied with the court order. Media reports said they would have faced fines of $140,000 a day for failing to do so. During the last shutdown, the providers appealed the court order, arguing it affected millions of people unconnected to the case. A Facebook spokesman in Brazil declined to comment. Google has also found itself in the firing line in Brazil. Three years ago, the search engine giant`s top Brazil executive was accused of breaking election laws when he refused to remove videos on YouTube that were critical of a mayoral candidate in Mato Grosso do Sul state. The cases echo Apple`s showdown with the US government over its refusal to cooperate with the FBI in unlocking an iPhone used by one of the shooters in a mass killing by a couple in San Bernardino, California, last year. The FBI said national security was at stake, while Apple said it was taking a stand against government intrusion into privacy. Ultimately, the government managed to hack the phone without Apple`s help. nr/jhb/rlp/oh Islamabad: Five years after his fake vaccination programme helped the CIA track and kill Osama bin Laden, Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi languishes in jail, abandoned by the US, say supporters, in its bid to smooth troubled relations with Islamabad. Afridi, believed to be in his mid-50s, has no access to a lawyer, and his appeal against a 23-year prison sentence has stalled. "I have no hope of meeting him, no expectation for justice," his elder brother Jamil told AFP. The former senior surgeon lives in solitary confinement in a small room, according to his lawyer, able to see his immediate family no more than six times a year. Afridi`s role in one of the most famous assassinations of recent decades is murky. Details of how he was sought out by the Central Intelligence Agency are unclear -- Pakistani reports suggest officials at Save the Children acted as go-betweens, though the charity denies involvement. What is known is that Afridi`s job was to run a fake Hepatitis C vaccination program with the aim of obtaining genetic samples from Abbottabad, a garrison city and home to the Pakistan Military Academy, the country`s answer to Westpoint. It was there that Al-Qaeda chief bin Laden and his family had set up home in the mid-2000s, under the noses -- and some say protection -- of senior Pakistani military officers.In the darkness of May 2, 2011, two helicopters full of elite Navy Seals touched down inside the compound. In a dramatic raid just one kilometre (half a mile) from the military academy, they fought their way in and surprised the terror mastermind. They shot him in the head and fled with his body, abandoning a damaged Black Hawk helicopter. The killing was a huge success for US President Barack Obama, whose country was profoundly scarred by the attacks on New York and Washington of September 2001. It decapitated al Qaeda, badly hampering the organisation`s ability to carry out further atrocities. But it drove a wedge between Islamabad and Washington, with lingering suspicions that the Pakistanis had for years been covering up the whereabouts of one the world`s most wanted men. Weeks after the raid, Afridi was arrested and thrown in jail, accused of having ties to militants, a charge he has always denied. Commentators believe Pakistan opted to punish Afridi in this way, rather than try him for treason -- aiding a foreign power -- because that would have entailed a public trial that would thrown a spotlight on Islamabad`s role in harbouring bin Laden. A furious US senate committee voted to cut aid to Islamabad by $33 million -- $1 million for each year of his original sentence. The sentence was later cut by 10 years. But since then, US pressure for Afridi`s release has tapered off, and analysts say Washington has dropped the issue, preferring to concentrate on what its sees as more pressing matters -- such as negotiating with Islamist extremists in Afghanistan. "The Taliban talks have taken priority over everything. The Americans don`t want to muddy the water by raising other issues that are contentious," says Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani author and security expert.Qamar Nadeem, Afridi`s lawyer who has been denied access to him for the past two years, believes his client`s best hope for early release is US pressure, "But so far they have not shown their support," he says. He is allowed to see his wife and children every two months or so, according to Nadeem. But an appeal against his sentence that began in 2014 is bogged down in adjournments and an uncooperative government. Though elder brother Jamil and his siblings won a Peshawar High Court decision granting them visiting rights, that verdict has not been implemented, and he has been told by his lawyer that pursuing the matter could result in harm to the doctor. "They are not admitting the High Court decision. What can I say? I am pessimistic," he said. Author Rashid says justice for Afridi has gone by the wayside for the US, which would rather Pakistan use its influence with the Afghan Taliban to encourage them to restart peace talks with Kabul. "The Americans have ceased to criticise Pakistan on many fronts," he said. But Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington said all hope is not lost for Afridi. He said, rather than having abandoned him, the Americans may have decided that shouting about it is not going to work. "In Washington the issue has likely moved off the front burner because it`s clear that Pakistan isn`t willing to play ball and negotiate an arrangement that could set him free," he said. "(But) the Afridi issue has never really gone away, and my sense is that US officials quietly press Pakistan about it from time to time." Baghdad: French and US warplanes launched two separate strikes to destroy "an important logistic site" of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, the French defence ministry said. The strikes were conducted on April 29-30, and targeted a site used by the terrorist group to build large quantities of bombs and vehicles for suicide attacks, the ministry said on Sunday. "The site that was destroyed is situated in Al Qaim at the Iraqi-Syrian border, and it required two separate strikes because of its size," Xinhua news agency reported citing the ministry as saying. France was the first European country to join the US-led coalition in September 2014 to strike IS militants at the request of the Iraqi government. In a previous interview with a French radio, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that an international coalition is fighting IS insurgents, trying to take back by the end of the year Mosul in Iraq and Rekka in Syria, the group's main strongholds in the region. London: Indian-origin Islamic State terrorist from Britain Siddhartha Dhar, dubbed as the "New Jihadi John", is a senior commander of the dreaded outfit, according to a media report. Nihad Barakat, a Yazidi teenager held as a sex slave by the group, was quoted as saying by the Independent that she was kidnapped and trafficked by Siddhartha, who is now based in Mosul, the group's Iraqi stronghold. Siddhartha, a British Hindu who converted to Islam and now goes by the name Abu Rumaysah, had skipped police bail in the UK to travel to Syria with his wife and young children in 2014. In an interview for a new documentary series for UK-based British Muslim TV about life on the frontline in Iraq, Barakat said Siddhartha was among the foreign fighters who enslaved her. "When I was captured near Kirkuk, they took me to another leader from Mosul. His name was Abu Dhar. He also took Yazidi girls for himself. Every day he would tell me that I had to marry another man," she said. The newspaper admits that while it is difficult to verify whether "Abu Dhar" is the same man as the most-wanted British terror suspect, the documentary's presenter said he was "very confident"?Barakat?was referring to Siddhartha. "From the information I have, Siddhartha is deemed a leader in Mosul now, and she was very insistent on that name. When we showed her pictures of Siddhartha she recognised them but went very cold. She didn't want to go further and got very agitated," said presenter Joseph Hayat. Londoner Siddhartha is believed to have replaced Mohammed Emwazi, known as 'Jihadi John' before he was killed in a drone strike, as the masked apparent executioner of western hostages?in?ISIS propaganda videos. His sister, Konika?Dhar, had appeared before a House of Commons Home Affairs Committee hearing earlier this year which was trying to establish the possibility of Siddhartha being the masked man who appeared in an ISIS propaganda video showing "British spies" being executed. "I'm still holding to the firm belief that what I'm seeing is not him ? and I haven't had verification otherwise. It's sort of the realisation that 'is he really my brother that has done this? and I can't accept that he would ever do that. I can't accept it," the London-based law student had said. Siddhartha had six previous arrests while in the UK and was free on bail when he was able to escape from the UK via Paris. British police reportedly wrote to Siddhartha UK address to remind him of the need to surrender his passport, by which point he was already in Syria. "What a shoddy security system Britain must have to allow me to breeze through Europe to (ISIS)," he tweeted on his arrival in ISIS territories. Kabul: At least nine Taliban militants were killed and eight others injured after stepping on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted their fellow fighters in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province. According a security official, the incident took place late on Saturday night in Walik village of Arghistan district, reports Khaama Press. A senior Taliban leader identified as the group's shadow district governor was among those killed said an official serving with the 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan National Army. He added that the senior Taliban leader was identified as Najib Khan and was appointed as shadow district governor for Arghistan by Taliban. Meanwhile, the insurgent group has not yet commented regarding the incident. To celebrate his official coronation as leader, North Korea dictator Kim Jong-Un has reportedly cancelled all weddings and funerals this week in the communist nation. Kim Jong-Un will formally cement his status as North Korea's supreme leader this week at a ruling party congress, the MailOnline reported on Monday. The gathering, first of its kind in nearly 40 years, will recognise the 33-year-old leader as the legitimate inheritor of the dynastic dictatorship, the Mail said. Kim Jong-Un succeeded his late father Kim Jong-Il as the leader of North Korea after his demise in December 2011. This congress means everything for Kim Jong-Un. 'It is the most public, historic setting in which he can demonstrate that he is fully in charge, and that everyone follows his orders, the report quoted John Delury, a North Korea expert at Yonsei University in Seoul, as saying. The last such congress was held in 1980 to crown his father as the leader of North Korea and Kim was not even born then. District of Columbia: The CIA has marked the anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden by live-tweeting -- with a five-year delay -- the raid by US special forces on the al Qaeda founder`s compound in Pakistan. Using the hashtag #UBLRaid, the CIA blasted out updates of the May 2011 strike as if it was unfolding in real time -- in a highly unusual move for the secretive spy agency. "To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. #UBLRaid," @CIA said in announcing its social media blitz. Tweets included the now famous picture of President Barack Obama and other high-ranking US officials watching matters unfold from the White House`s Situation Room. "1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan #UBLRaid," read one tweet. "3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury #UBLRaid," read another. That was followed just minutes later by: "3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed #UBLRaid." The CIA`s Twitter move got quite a bit of attention, with not everyone enthused. "@CIA Are we tweeting Hiroshima on August 6th too? Or is THAT in bad taste?" tweeted one user, Kris Knight. Another who identifies as Amber V tweeted: "Don`t you have better things to do, like catch living and breathing bad guys, or secretly invade our privacy, or something? @CIA#UBLRaid" But others reacted positively. "Watching the @CIA relive on Twitter the #UBLRaid today reminds me of how proud I am of the men and women who do what they do. Thank you," tweeted Toby Knapp.With 1.33 million Twitter followers, the Central Intelligence Agency has sent 1,662 tweets since it joined the social media service in February 2014. "We are the Nation`s first line of defense. We accomplish what others cannot accomplish and go where others cannot go," reads the Twitter bio. Previous @CIA tweets in recent days have featured a video about the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine and a counterfeit Nazi stamp. Amid the tweetstorm, CIA chief John Brennan said Sunday that taking out the head of the Islamic State group would have a "great impact." He also warned that al Qaeda remained a threat, and that IS was not just an organization but a phenomenon. "We have destroyed a large part of Al-Qaeda. It`s not completely eliminated. So we have to stay focused on what it can do," Brennan told NBC`s "Meet the Press" talk show. "Now, with the new phenomenon of (IS), this is going to challenge us for years to come," he added. Asked if removing IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from action was as important as the Bin Laden get, Brennan, who does not often do interviews, was direct. "If we got Baghdadi, I think it would have a great impact on the organization. And it will be felt by them," he said. Seoul: South Korea said on Monday it was on guard for the possibility North Korea may try to snatch its citizens abroad or conduct terrorist acts after the North accused it of abducting North Korean workers from a restaurant in China. "All measures of precaution" were in place for the safety of South Koreans abroad including an order to beef up security at diplomatic missions, said the South`s Unification Ministry, which handles issues related to the North. "We are on alert for the possibility that the North may try to abduct our citizens or conduct terrorist acts abroad," ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee told a briefing. The two Korea`s have been fierce rivals since the 1950-53 Korean War and tension on the peninsula has been high since January when North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test. It followed that with a string of missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. South Korea said in April 13 North Korean workers at a restaurant run by the North in China had defected. North Korea accused the South of a "hideous abduction". North Korea proposed sending family members of the 13 to South Korea for face-to-face meetings but the South rejected the suggestion. About 29,000 people have left North Korea and arrived in the South since the Korean war, including 1,276 last year, with numbers declining since a 2009 peak. In the first quarter of this year, 342 North Koreans arrived in the South. District of Columbia: Admiral John Richardson, the US Navy`s top officer, said Monday he hopes for a "normalization" of relations with Moscow in the Baltic Sea, where Russian jets have buzzed US planes and ships. The latest incident came Friday, when a Russian SU-27 intercepted a US RC-135 reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. It was the second such incident in recent weeks and the Pentagon called the encounter "unsafe and unprofessional." In April, the US Navy released video of Russian aircraft flying very close to the USS Donald Cook, including in a "simulated attack profile." "It just increases the chance for some kind of a tactical miscalculation," Richardson told Pentagon reporters. "It just sort of raises the overall tension in the region, so we look for sort of normalization there." He called on Moscow to abide by a maritime agreement, signed by US and Soviet powers in 1972, to avoid naval mishaps and prevent any such event from escalating. "We continue to advocate for that," Richardson said. Still, he downplayed the idea of there being any aggressive intent during the recent incidents. "I don`t think the Russians are trying to provoke an incident," he said. "I think they are trying to send a signal." Moscow has expressed its displeasure about the proximity of US ships and planes to its borders. Russia`s annexation of Crimea and its support of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have sent tensions soaring between Russia and the United States. In a bid to ease fears of Russian aggression against Eastern Europe, NATO has deployed thousands of additional troops in the region and increased patrols and exercises. District of Columbia: Republicans Donald Trump and Ted Cruz made last-minute appeals to Indiana voters Monday, as the billionaire looks to crush his rival for the White House nomination and pivot towards presumptive Democratic standard-bearer Hillary Clinton. The "stop Trump" movement faces a moment of truth in the Midwestern state on Tuesday, as Cruz`s campaign struggles to win over voters ahead of its potentially decisive primary. "If we win Indiana, it`s over," Trump told a rally in The Hoosier State, where a new NBC poll showed him 15 percentage points ahead. Cruz was counting on Indiana acting as a Trump firewall, blocking him from receiving the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the nomination at the Republican convention in Cleveland in July. Mathematically eliminated from winning outright, Cruz has openly stated his goal is to snatch victory on a second ballot, when most delegates become free to vote for whomever they choose -- but which will only be held if Trump falls short of a majority. Trump has so far amassed 1,002 delegates, according to CNN`s tally. He needs just under half of the 502 in play in the remaining 10 contests to lock in the nomination. The map currently favors the billionaire, who is polling well ahead in the largest states yet to vote, California and New Jersey. With momentum favoring Trump -- he has won the last six contests -- Cruz put on a brave face, telling reporters "the stakes are enormously high" and that he would stay in the race regardless of the Indiana outcome. "I am in for the distance," Cruz said. "As long as we have a viable path to victory, I am competing to the end." The underdog endured an awkward encounter in Marion, Indiana when he engaged Trump supporters who called on him to drop out. "You are the problem," said a man holding a Trump sign, just inches from Cruz. "Indiana don`t want you." "Are you Canadian?" one of them challenged, referring to his birth in Calgary -- a frequent line of attack for Trump. Should the conservative senator fall short in Indiana, even his supporters see an extremely steep road ahead. Indiana`s primary awards 30 delegates to the state`s winner. The remaining 27 are awarded three each to the winner of the state`s nine congressional districts. If Trump sweeps the state "it could be over," former Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler acknowledged on MSNBC. But if Cruz pulls off an upset, he would be strongly positioned in California, Tyler noted, citing Cruz`s formidable ground game and superior organization in The Golden State, which votes June 7 on the final day of the Republican race.Clinton, with her commanding lead over Bernie Sanders, needs only 21 percent of remaining Democratic delegates to win her party`s nomination. But Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist senator representing Vermont, wasn`t throwing in the towel. At a Washington news conference Sanders insisted the Democratic race would come down to a "contested" convention, and appealed to hundreds of so-called superdelegates in a bid to grab the nomination. These number around 700 and, in contrast to pledged delegates, they can vote for any candidate at the party convention in Philadelphia in July. Either candidate needs 2,383 delegates for victory. Currently Clinton has 2,176 including 510 superdelegates, while Sanders has 1,400 including 41 superdelegates, according to CNN`s tally. Even with a Sanders nomination a near impossibility, he insisted Monday that his focus on reducing economic inequality and the influence of "special interests and the billionaire class" in politics was resonating with voters. Meanwhile Trump was already looking beyond Tuesday`s contest to a general election matchup with Clinton. "And then we can focus on crooked Hillary," he said. "Please, let`s focus on Hillary." The two have clashed repeatedly on gender issues, with Trump accusing Clinton of playing "the woman card" and saying that if she were a man she`d have no chance of winning. Trump`s brutal campaign trail insults have appalled many in the Republican Party. But with Cruz disliked by many of his colleagues in Congress, and his campaign failing to rebound, there were increasing signs that the establishment has accepted backing Trump. Former US senator Alfonse D`Amato of New York said that more and more of his fellow Republicans were "recognizing the inevitability" of Trump. "The facts show Trump is on the way to victory," he told Fox News. mlm/ec YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community of Uruguay held a protest on the occasion of the 101th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in capital Montevideo on April 22, Armenpress reports citing prensaarmenia.com.ar website. During the rally calls were voiced on Nagorno Karabakh issue. "Our struggle is the struggle against the denial and the current lie. They are not things of the past. We have to stop perceiving the Armenian Genocide as something distant, as a fact that only remember tearfully. That way only leads to oblivion. If the stories are not counted, they die. Silence is the triumph of genocide", Armenian youth from Uruguay stated in their speech. After the rally hundreds of Armenian youth went along the main avenue of the city, from Independence Square to the esplanade of the Municipality of Montevideo. The protestors of the rally raised the issue of Azerbaijani recent aggression against the Nagorno Karabakh. Armenians of Uruguay condemned Azerbaijani actions and expressed their solidarity to Nagorno Karabakh people who strives to reach the peaceful resolution of the conflict based on the right to self-determination. At the same time, we condemn the shameful support that the current Turkish government Erdogan gives to Azerbaijan, in what we consider the continuation of what the Ottoman Empire began 101 years ago, the protest participants stated. On April 25 similar protests will be held in the Argentine cities of Cordoba and Buenos Aires. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenpress news agency present upcoming news for 02.05.2016. The situation remains tense in the Karabakh-Azerbaijani line of contact, whereas the Armenian political and social circles continue discussions on Karabakh issue and its new possible developments. Today on May 2 National Assembly MP Gagik Minasyan, head of Modus Vivendi Center Ara Papyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Arman Navasardyan will speak about the situation in the line of contact between Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces and its possible impact on the regional affairs. A draft law will be presented to the National Assembly according to which males will not be given deferment for military service during their studies. MPs Tevan Poghosyan and Shirak Torosyan will speak about the importance, the positive and negatives sides of the draft law. Head of the Population Census and Demography Unit of the NSS of Armenia Karine Kuyumjyan will present how many children were born in the first quarter of 2016, the mortality rate, what kind of indicators there are in marriages and divorce, and which names of girls and boys are more widespread. Last year, the common names for girls were Nare, Mari, Maria, whereas among boys the names were David, Narek, Tigran. Member of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia, lawyer, public defender Ashot Nurijanyan, Deputy Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions Boris Kharatyan, Head of Labor and Employment Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia Tadevos Avetisyan, Vice-president of the Republican Union of Employers Shushanik Barseghyan will speak about the most frequently violations of work rights, how a citizen can restore his rights in such cases and whether the activity of Trade Unions is effective. On May 3 the exhibition entitled Fifteen outlooks by Swiss artist Felice Varini will be hold in the Armenian Art art center. It is organized by the Swiss Embassy to Armenia and Dialogue of Cultures organization. Ambassador of Switzerland to Armenia Lukas Gasser, member of Dialogue of Cultures organization council Sona Andreasyan, Swiss artist Felice Varini will speak about the details of the exhibition and the joint projects during the meeting with journalists. FIDEC Armenia Foundation and the Embassy of Argentine in Armenia jointly organize an admission devoted to the 12th International Congress of Armenian Doctors which will be held in Buenos Aires in 2017. Follow us on TWITTER and FACEBOOK. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. The NKR Defense Ministry informs that the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire agreement with artillery weapons on the night of May 1, the Press Service of NKR Defense Ministry told Armenpress. The NKR Defense Ministry's statement reads. On May 1 and throughout the morning of May 2 the Azerbaijani side violated ceasefire agreement with artillery weapons in the line of contact between Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces. The Armenian Armed Forces showed restraint and took countermeasures only in case of strict necessity. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia informs that the Azerbaijani side fired irregular shots in the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border, the Press Service of the Armenian Defense Ministry told Armenpress. The Armenian Defense Ministrys statement reads. On May 1 and throughout the morning of May 2 the Azerbaijani side fired irregular shots from various caliber weapons and sniper rifles at Armenian positions in the northeastern part of the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border. The Armenian Armed forces exercised restraint and conducted response actions only in case of strict necessity and confidently maintain control of the situation. According to the information provided by the NKR Defense Army on May 1 and throughout the morning of May 2 the Azerbaijani side violated ceasefire agreement with artillery weapons in the line of contact between Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces. The Armenian Armed Forces showed restraint and took countermeasures only in case of strict necessity. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Embassy of Armenia to Georgia is fully aware of the dispute between Armenian and Georgian youth, as well as the subsequent actions of the local police which took place on the night of April 23 and the morning of Aril 24 in Akhaltsikhe. The Embassy has already contacted with the relevant authorities of Georgia to have complete information about the incident. As Armenpress was informed by the Embassys Facebook page, the Embassy also contacted with the local authorities and the appropriate steps were conducted to solve the issue. There are no detainees at this moment. Armenian Ambassador Yuri Vardanyan is planning to visit Javakheti where he will hold meetings with the representatives of the Armenian community, as well as the local authorities. STEPANAKERT, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Defense Army serviceman Sargis A. Gasparyan (born in 1996) who has been wounded by the shot on April 29, died in Stepanakert Central Military Hospital on May 2, the Press Service of NKR Defense Ministry told this to Armenpress. NKR Defense Ministry shares the grief of the loss and expresses its support to the family members, relatives and friends of the killed servicemen. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. On May 2 the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian who is on a working visit to Helsinki, met the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of Finland Timo Soini, the Press Service of Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress. The interlocutors agreed to intensify the high-level mutual visits, consultations between Foreign Ministries of two states and make closer the cooperation within the framework of international organizations. Ministers thoroughly talked about wide range issues of bilateral relations. They stressed the importance to promote contact between the Parliaments. Ministers exchanged views on issues related to the development of cooperation in economic, cultural, educational and other sectors. They highlighted the necessity to expand the legal framework. They discussed the relations between Armenia and the European Union, the negotiations over Armenia-EU new legal framework. Armenian Foreign Minister stated that Armenia stresses the importance of strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU. Nalbandian presented to his Finland counterpart the aggressive military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh on early of April and the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to overcome the consequences of Azerbaijani actions. Edward Nalbandian highlighted that despite the calls by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the international community to respect the 1994 and 1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, Azerbaijan continues to violate ceasefire bringing heavy military equipment and soldiers in the line of contact, strengthening its militant rhetoric and carrying out provocative propaganda in the international platforms. Armenian Minister said Azerbaijan with such measures tries to blame the Armenian side in what it does now and conducts new military attacks which can have unpredictable negative impact on the whole region. Its time for the international community to take concrete steps to stop Azerbaijan, Edward Nalbandian stated. Minister Nalbandian stated that Armenia is committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict, and there is a need to apply the suggestion by the Co-Chairs which is to install investigative mechanisms and to guarantee the unconditional implementation of 1994 and 1995 trilateral termless ceasefire agreements to restore the negotiations which have no alternative. Timo Soini stated that Finland completely supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries and their initiatives towards the provision of respective environment for negotiations. He added that Karabakh conflict can be resolved only with peaceful means, with negotiations. Foreign Minister of Armenia and Finland discussed urgent regional and international issues such as the implementation of the agreements on the Iranian nuclear program, the situation in the Middle East, migration crisis, fight against terrorism. Edward Nalbandian invited Timo Soini to Armenia. At the end of the meeting the Ministers held joint press conference. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia on April 29 received a request from Gazprom Armenia CJSC to review the gas tariffs, the Press Secretary of PSRC Mariam Stepanyan informed about this to Armenpress. She stated that the Commission can review the application and make a decision within 80 working days. The Commission is interested to examine the issue in a short period of time and make a decision on the tariff, Mariam Stepanyan said. On April 27 Spokesperson of Gazprom Armenia Shushan Sardaryan informed Armenpress that the company is going to appeal to the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) for the reduction of gas tariffs.Gazprom Armenia requested the gas tariffs to be reduced to 146,000 AMD for 1000 cubic meters from the current 156,000 AMD. On May 2 PSRC informed that the Commission with its own initiative will start a process of reviewing electricity tariffs. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister in his speech at Helsinki University said despite the calls by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the international community to respect the 1994 and 1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, Azerbaijan continues to violate ceasefire, the Press Service of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia informed Armenpress. Armenpress present the complete speech by Armenian Foreign Minister: Professor Kivinen, Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank Aleksanteri Institute and the University of Helsinki for hosting me here and providing an opportunity to discuss the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The bottom-line of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the realization of peoples right to self-determination, one of the core principles of international law. For decades that right has been obstructed by annexation, ethnic-cleansing, massacres and military aggression. Nevertheless, as history has proven on several occasions, it is impossible to ignore the choice of a people for self-determination. Being unable to solve the issue by military means Azerbaijan had to sign, with Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, in May 1994 ceasefire agreement, in July 1994 agreement on the reinforcement of ceasefire, and in February 1995 agreement on the consolidation of ceasefire, which have no time limitations. During the following years negotiations were held by the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. By the way, one of the first Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group was Finland (in this process were involved such prominent Finnish diplomats as Heikki Talvitie and Rene Nyberg). In this framework numerous rounds of negotiations were held on the levels of Presidents, Foreign Ministers which however, have not yielded results due to the continuous rejection of the Co-Chairs proposals by Azerbaijan. The essence of the negotiations has been, on the one hand, the necessity of finding a political settlement of the issue, on the other hand, consolidation of the ceasefire regime on the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of April Azerbaijan has unleashed large scale aggressive military operation along the entire Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh, which targeted also civilian infrastructures and settlements and which left several hundreds of killed and wounded. In more than 20 years of fragile ceasefire regime this became an unprecedented destabilization with the use of heavy weaponry, tanks, rockets, artillery, aviation. The continuous acquisition of offensive armaments, the feeding of its society with bellicose warmongering and the spread of hate-speech against Armenians by Baku sooner or later could not but result in such a situation. This is something that we had warned all our international partners during the past several years. Azerbaijan has been blaming the Armenians as well as the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, represented by the USA, Russia and France, for lack of progress in the negotiations. To such baseless accusations one could ask some rhetorical counter-arguments. Who is rejecting to accept the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs as a basis for negotiations? Who is opposing all confidence building measures - starting with preparing societies for peaceful solution to the creation of ceasefire violations investigation mechanism? Who is blaming the Co-Chair countries, including by calling them provocateurs and accusing them in Islamophobia? Who is permanently attempting to shift the negotiations of Nagorno-Karabakh issue to other formats, to structures which do not have any international mandate to deal with the resolution of the conflict and which have never resolved any conflict previously? There is one answer to these questions Azerbaijan. Thus, Azerbaijan is doing everything possible to fail any progress in the negotiation process, simultaneous to purchasing unprecedented amounts of offensive weaponry and then declaring that it has a right to use force as it does not see any perspectives in the negotiations. To put it simply, Azerbaijan has failed in the negotiations and is trying to find success via military option, where it has failed as well. Use or threat of use of force has been time and again condemned by the international community. Our neighbor has gone further, pursuing extremely dangerous policy of forcing its own will through the adoption of mass terror. During the four day war we witnessed also the exceptional brutality of Azerbaijani armed forces against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Using Grad multiple rocket launchers Azerbaijan shelled schools in Nagorno-Karabakh which caused death and injuries amongst the schoolchildren. In one of the villages in Karabakh three elderly persons, including a 92 year old woman, were brutally tortured, mutilated, their ears were cut and then they were killed. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded by Azerbaijani armed forces in ISIL style, which were subsequently demonstrated in the towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Moreover, when as a result of the mediation of the Red Cross, the bodies of Armenian soldiers were returned, it was undeniable that all of them had been mutilated after being killed. The shelling of Nagorno-Karabakh civilian areas is continuing to this day. These are gross violations of the international humanitarian law. For years Armenophobia has gotten wider dissemination in Azerbaijan on the state level. This is not a secret to anyone. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its report on Azerbaijan alerted with deep concern about the constant and negative official and media discourse concerning the Republic of Armenia and recommended the Azerbaijani authorities to adopt an appropriate response to all cases of discrimination and hate speech against Armenians. The cultivation of hatred towards Armenians in Azerbaijan leads to the most horrible crimes, including crimes against humanity. The Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as other parts of Azerbaijan more than two decades ago already experienced forced deportation and massacres. Almost a decade ago the Azerbaijani armed forces used all their capacity to attack one of the fewest remaining Armenian monuments in Azerbaijan - the Medieval cemetery in Jugha. Several thousands of medieval cross-stones, dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries, were bulldozed under the Azerbaijani governments watchful eyes and this area was turned into a military ground in a government sanctioned operation. The 16th International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly resolution regretfully stated with regard to this vandalism: this heritage that once enjoyed its worthy place among the treasures of the worlds heritage can no longer be transmitted today to future generations. Our numerous calls for sending international fact-finding missions to Nakhijevan, as well as attempts by a number of international organizations and countries have been rejected by the Azerbaijani side. Dear friends, In parallel to launching large-scale military operations, Azerbaijan pursues another goal as well. An attempt has been made to declare that the 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements have ceased their effect. These trilateral ceasefire agreements signed by Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia have no time limitations. Moreover the July 1994 agreement on the reinforcement of ceasefire requires the sides to maintain the ceasefire regime until signing of the big political agreement. These agreements have been continuously supported by appropriate decisions and statements of OSCE. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have already expressed their position to Azerbaijan, underlining again and again that the 1994 and 1995 agreements, whose terms do not expire, as before, make up the foundation of the cessation of hostilities in the conflict zone. The Co-Chairs called on to strictly adhere to the above-mentioned agreements and not to permit their violation. The adventurism of Azerbaijan has immensely harmed the negotiations and has been seriously impeding the peace process. Today our efforts, together with the Co-Chairs, are aimed at overcoming of the consequences created due to the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan. Without tangible consolidation of ceasefire regime the negotiation process will become hostage to Azerbaijani blackmailing. In that context the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, as well as the OSCE Chairmanship have emphasized that it is necessary to have the mechanism of investigation of ceasefire violations. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have always welcomed these proposals. Azerbaijan not only rejects its implementation, but on the highest level publicly assesses the ceasefire consolidation measures as a strange and ridiculous proposal. In fact there are leaders in the 21st century who can consider measures aimed at preventing the loss of human lives as something strange and ridiculous. This displays the genuine attitude of the authorities in Baku towards human lives, including their own citizens. The other proposal of which is being continuously undermined is about enhancing the capacities and the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, which Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have supported, but about which, again, Baku not only does not want to hear at all, but is doing everything to reduce their capacities having in mind to ban their activities, as it was done with the OSCE office in Baku. Moreover, Baku started to block the OSCE monitors from conducting of observation missions on the Line of Contact between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. The essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, about which I started my talk, was and remains the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to freely and securely determine their future. Nagorno-Karabakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan, it was annexed to the Soviet Azerbaijan by Stalin. Moreover, Azerbaijan has for decades carried out a policy of ethnic cleansing towards Nagorno-Karabakh, menacing the physical security of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, then unleashing an open aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh using mercenaries closely linked to the international terrorist organizations. Despite the numerous appeals of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community to fully respect the trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994 and 1995, Azerbaijan has continued their violations, concentrating heavy weaponry and military forces along the entire Line of Contact, further increasing its warmongering and launching a provocative propaganda campaign on international arena trying to accuse the Armenian side in exactly what it is itself doing, thus preparing ground for new military attacks which can have far-reaching negative consequences for the whole region. It is high time for the international community to take concrete steps in order to bring Azerbaijan to order. In these conditions, the right to self-determination is not just what the people of Nagorno-Karabakh rightly aspire, but it is the only key to a just solution of this conflict. Ladies and gentlemen, The large-scale military offensive this April has been a serious blow to the negotiation process and to more than two decades-long efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Now immense efforts are needed to restore the negotiation environment. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have proven their commitment to an exclusively peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Unfortunately Azerbaijan has acted against such a solution. In order to avoid a new war in the region all of the efforts of the international community should be directed to enforce an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. STEPANAKERT, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan met with head of the General Staff of the Republic of Armenia's Armed forces, colonel-general Yuri Khachaturov on May 2. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of Artsakh Presidents Office, issues related to the large-scale combat operations launched recently by Azerbaijan against the Artsakh Republic and cooperation between the two Armenian states in the sphere of army-building were addressed during the meeting. NKR Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan attended in the meeting. STEPANAKERT, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Human Right Defender of Nagorno Karabakh Republic has published a documented legal assessment of Azerbaijans indiscriminate use of forbidden weapons against NKR civilians, as well as deployment of military facilities of Azerbaijan in civilian settlements. Armenpress was informed about this from the press service of NKR Ombudsmans office. The legal assessment documents in detail that Azerbaijan continues to grossly violate the basic human rights. Particularly, based on in-depth examination of international documents, it is evidenced that the actions taken by the Azerbaijani armed forces are in direct contradiction with human rights, as well as the internationally accepted fundamental norms of the international humanitarian law. In addition, it is evidenced that Azerbaijan uses its own civilian settlements as a target and by that does not fulfill its positive duty of protecting the right to life of its own people. The results of the analyses will be submitted to the UN and CoE Commissioners for Human Rights, the OSCE, as well as to other human rights organizations and international institutions of ombudsmen. The legal assessment is written in English NKR Human Rights Defender Shushi city, May 2, 2016. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. : Any political problem must be solved through peaceful negotiations, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Argentine Republic to the Republic of Armenia Gonzalo Urriolabeitia told the reporters on May 2, referring to the developments on Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line. Any political problem must be solved through peaceful negotiations. We are familiar with similar situations as we have an international issue as well, Armenpress reports the Ambassador mentioning. To the question of a journalist that one of Argentine MPs has proposed to recognize Nagorno Karabakh Republic and is there a possibility that Argentina will do that, the Ambassador answered, I am not informed on what the MP has said. The position of Argentine government is that any conflict must be solved through peaceful means. ECB Stimulus, Brexit, and 12 Europe-Focused Mutual Funds (Continued from Prior Part) Europe-focused mutual funds In this series, weve reviewed 12 Europe-focused mutual funds in terms of their sectoral changes over the past year. Weve also looked at the reasons for their performances in 1Q16. We looked at the sector and stock picks for each fund and pointed out which picks worked and which ones didnt. We also compared the performances of these funds with two ETFs: the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU). Portfolio positioning In our reviews, we saw that most of these funds favored financials as their top sectoral choice. Although stocks from the sector are still the largest holdings for five of these funds, exposure to the sector by no means is as large or as widespread as it was. There are several funds that have started leaning toward industrials (BIAHX) (IEOAX) (VEUAX). In Part 24 of the series, we also saw that the Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund Class A (VGEAX) is leaning toward consumer staples stocks. We assessed two passive mutual funds in this review. The Europe 30 ProFund Investor Class (UEPIX) is benchmarked to an index created by the fund in-house. The Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares (VEURX) is representative of the European stock market across market caps. Observations Drawing from what we covered in the first part of this series, the ECB (European Central Bank) fired its biggest shot in terms of recent stimulus measures in March. Theres disagreement in Europe regarding the impact of those measures. One thing is for certain, though. Monetary stimulus alone cant keep powering equities ahead. Then theres concern about a possible BrexitBritain exiting the European Union. Some think Europe cant get through a year without at least one member being on the verge of exiting the European Union. Earlier, it was a Grexit when Greece was very close to having its membership annulled. Now Britain is threatening to leave. It feels that trade rules dont favor the nation and are holding it back. Story continues If a Brexit does occur, it would most likely have a cascading effect on other European Union members. They may want the European Union to come to the table to negotiate aspects that member nations dont find favorable for them. That could threaten the entire structure of the European Union. For now, chances of a Brexit are low. But it still points to one thing. European markets (FEZ) (IEV) have one more thing to worry about until at least the middle of this year. This will keep European stocks volatile, forcing investors to hang on tightly until the end of this bumpy ride. Youll have to decide if youll be going along for the ride or if youll take another patheither passive or activeto invest in the region. You might be interested in reading a similar analysis on US equity mutual funds. For more analysis on mutual funds, you can also visit Market Realists Mutual Funds page. Browse this series on Market Realist: Greenpeace have presented classified papers from ongoing US-EU trade talks on May 2, 2016 at a conference in Berlin A massive US-EU trade deal would harm the environment and consumer safety, Greenpeace said Monday citing secret documents it leaked, as Brussels dismissed the release as a "storm in a teacup". The campaign group published 248 pages online to "shine a light" on the closed-door talks to forge a so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which would be the world's largest ever bilateral trade pact. Greenpeace said the deal would place corporate interests above the environment and consumer safety, and inflict a dangerous lack of standards on US and European consumers. "This treaty is threatening to have far reaching implications for the environment and the lives of more than 800 million citizens in the EU and US," said Greenpeace as it presented the documents in Berlin. Washington and Brussels have been negotiating the mega-deal since 2013 and want it completed this year before US President Barack Obama leaves office, but it has faced mounting opposition on both sides of the Atlantic. The European Commission, which negotiates trade deals on behalf of the 28 EU member states, said Greenpeace was "flatly wrong" in its interpretation of the documents. "I am simply not in the business of lowering standards," said Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem in a blog. "Many of today's alarmist headlines are a storm in a teacup," she said, adding that the papers "reflect each side's negotiating position, nothing else." In Washington, the US Trade Representative said: "The interpretations being given to these texts appear to be misleading at best and flat out wrong at worst." - 'Dark forebodings' - In Europe there is deep suspicion that TTIP will erode ecological and health regulations to the advantage of big business with officials in France and Germany also increasingly voicing doubts about the deal. Greenpeace said the papers show, for example, that the US wants to be able to scrap existing EU rules in areas such as food labelling or approval of dangerous chemicals if it they spell barriers to free trade. Story continues "TTIP is about a huge transfer of power from people to big business," the group said. The leak, a snapshot from ongoing talks, represents two-thirds of the TTIP draft text as of the latest round of talks in April, and covers a range of sectors from telecoms to autos to agriculture. Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily said the documents "show that the opponents' fears are not unfounded ... They show that the reality of the negotiations is worse than these dark forebodings." One of the many controversial demands is a refusal by the US to stop production of 17 American wines that use names protected in Europe, including Sherry, Chianti and Champagne. Another controversial TTIP proposal is the goal to set up private investor courts that would allow multinational companies to sue governments if they deem public policy to hinder the terms of the deal. - 21st century deal - TTIP is billed as a free-trade deal for the 21st century, focused on harmonising regulations, lowering barriers on investment, opening access to government contracts and addressing new areas like data trade. Last week, Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a joint pitch for TTIP, saying it would spur much-needed economic growth. Following the latest negotiations last month, US and EU said they had made progress but "substantial work" remained to agree a deal in 2016. They said that while 97 percent of tariff issues had been covered, three percent -- the most challenging, including for farm products -- remained. French newspaper Le Monde, which also had access to the leaked documents early, said they showed that "the Europeans (are) more involved and more interested in negotiations" than the Americans, whose stance it described as "reluctant". But the EU's chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero said he found it "difficult to understand" how anyone "came to the conclusion that the differences are irreconcilable based on the documents." Greenpeace meanwhile decried the lack of mention at all in the proposed text of global goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "These leaked documents confirm what we have been saying for a long time," said Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss. "TTIP would put corporations at the centre of policy-making, to the detriment of environment and public health." By Euan Rocha and Arathy S Nair (Reuters) - BCE Inc's C$3.1 billion ($2.5 billion) friendly bid for Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) , the latest in a string of major Canadian telecom deals, is expected to test regulatory bounds and may need further concessions to win approval. Canada's largest telecom and media player, BCE, said on Monday the C$40 a share cash and stock deal would significantly expand its western Canadian footprint. While a move on MTS was widely expected after the company sold its Allstream unit to U.S.-based Zayo Group last year for C$465 million, winning approval will be no cinch, according to industry insiders. "We do not believe regulatory approval will be automatic," said Desjardins analyst Maher Yaghi in a note, adding he expects scrutiny to be as high as that on BCE's takeover of media rival Astral. That deal was originally blocked by regulators before getting the nod after BCE agreed to sell some assets. Despite regulatory concerns, the 22 percent premium offered by BCE was cheered by MTS investors, and shares in the company rose 15.4 percent to C$37.90 in afternoon trading, while those in BCE slid 30 Canadian cents to C$58.54. Yaghi noted that the deal would reduce wireless competition in the province of Manitoba and give BCE close to a 30 percent national share of Internet and television subscribers. Despite this, BCE and MTS said they were confident that a deal will be approved, but warned the review process is likely to take 9 to 12 months to complete. BCE, which operates as Bell, said it would divest one-third of MTS's post-paid wireless subscribers to Telus after the close of the initial deal to allay regulatory concerns and trim its cash outlay. "Bell have certainly set-up a plausible premise for regulators to consider," MTS Chief Executive Jay Forbes said in an interview. Still, at least one Canadian competition lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity to safeguard client relationships, said this move alone may not be enough. "I do think that BCE, in addition to giving up subscribers, may be required to sell some of its spectrum in the province in order for this to be approved," said the lawyer, who sees an approval potentially opening the doors to some much larger deals in the sector including a tie up between Bell-Telus; or Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications . The combined company's Manitoba operations will be known as Bell MTS and Winnipeg, Manitoba will become BCE's Western Canada headquarters. (Editing by Maju Samuel, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Shounak Dasgupta) By Osamu Tsukimori KITAKYUSHU, Japan (Reuters) - Energy ministers of the leading Western economies are discussing ways to create opportunities from the oil slump that include a push for more electric vehicles, Canadian Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr told Reuters on Monday. Members of the G7 include major auto-producing countries such as Japan and Germany, which benefit from cheaper oil but have been hit by fuel consumption and emissions scandals. In a push to regain the initiative, Germany last week announced the launch of a 4,000-euro-per-electric-vehicle subsidy. For G7 member Canada, a major oil and natural gas producer, an oil price fall of some 70 percent since mid-2014 means economic pain, but the Canadian energy minister said that the slump also opened up an opportunity. "Prices are low. Investment is down but we see this also as an opportunity to prepare for a transition phase in the energy economy, and we were discussing that over these last two days at the G7 ministerial meeting," he said on the sidelines of the G7 energy ministers' meeting in Kitakyushu, southwestern Japan. "In the case of Canada, we have tabled a budget in the House of Commons that will invest significantly in this transition through electric vehicles, green technologies, green infrastructure." Canada still plans to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) despite low energy prices, a current abundance and the delay and cancellation of some projects. "Our policy objective is that Canada should be an exporter of LNG both on the east coast and the west, and the geography is favorable to a Canadian-Japanese relationship," he said. "We also have some hope that there will be an LNG industry that develops on the east coast of Canada for export to Europe." Canada has said it wants to sell oil to Asian economies but has faced difficulty getting crude pipelines built to the Pacific coast. Carr said that the government is trying to turn that around. "The regulatory process and the way in which the previous government went about trying to get approvals for pipelines didn't work," he said. "So we're going to learn from that experience. We're trying another way... There are several pipeline applications that are currently before regulators. You will know before the end of 2016 whether or not there would be any new pipelines given approval in Canada." (Additional reporting by Henning Gloystein in Singapore; editing by Jason Neely) By Emma Thomasson BERLIN (Reuters) - Rocket Internet said on Monday two supervisory board members from long-standing investor Kinnevik would step down at its annual shareholder meeting on June 9. The move follows differences between the two companies over the valuation of joint investments, with Kinnevik putting a lower price on most of them and Rocket shares falling sharply last week as analysts questioned some of its valuations. Rocket said in a statement Kinnevik CEO Lorenzo Grabau and Erik Mitteregger would resign from the supervisory board and be replaced by two members independent of its shareholders. A Rocket spokesman said the departure was agreed by mutual consent. But company sources have told Reuters Grabau and Rocket CEO Oliver Samwer have disagreed for a while over strategy. A Kinnevik spokesman said its two board members were stepping down to avoid any potential conflicts of interest over future investments. "This has nothing to do with any disagreement. We continue to work together. We just believe it is more prudent not to sit on the board," he said. Grabau was replaced as chairman of Rocket's supervisory board in December by former ProSieben digital media manager Marcus Englert. In February, Grabau told Reuters this was because Rocket had moved from being a pure internet incubator to being more like an investment firm in online companies with a model very similar to Kinnevik's, making it important to have an independent chairman. Analysts predict Kinnevik will eventually seek to part ways with Rocket as Kinnevik shifts its investments into education, financial technology and healthcare. Founded in Berlin by brothers Oliver, Alexander and Marc Samwer in 2007, Rocket has set up dozens of ecommerce sites, aiming to replicate the success of Amazon and Alibaba in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Russia. But some investors are concerned over the scale of losses at its start-ups ranging from online fashion to food delivery, as well as delays to planned listings due to volatile markets. Rocket's shares tumbled last week after a new fundraising with Kinnevik for its Global Fashion Group (GFG) slashed the start-up's valuation by two thirds. The stock was down another 3.1 percent at 1220 GMT. Kinnevik was one of the first investors in Rocket and still has a 13 percent holding - as well as stakes in several of its major start-ups - making it the firm's second-biggest shareholder after the Samwer brothers' 38 percent stake. Rocket said the two Kinnevik board members would be replaced by former Deutsche Bank finance chief Stefan Krause and French telecoms group Orange's deputy chief executive Pierre Louette. Kinnevik is still represented on the supervisory board of online fashion firm Zalando - its most successful joint investment so far with Rocket. Kinnevik Chairman Cristina Stenbeck has been chairwoman of Zalando's supervisory board since 2014 and Grabau has been vice chairman since 2013. (Additional reporting by Nadine Schimroszik in Berlin and Mia Shanley in Stockholm; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Mark Potter) Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has publicly apologised for using the N-word in a tweet posted just days before an election in Northern Ireland. He used the controversial term in a message about the film Django Unchained, where he compared the fight against slavery in the US to the plight of Irish nationalists. The Hollywood movie, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is centred on slavery in Americas Deep South in the late 1850s. Mr Adams' post compared a former slave's struggle in the film with the treatment of Irish nationalists in Ballymurphy, a republican area of Belfast. The offending tweet: "Watching Django Unchained - A Ballymurphy N*****!", as well as a second that read "Django - an uppity Fenian!", were both deleted shortly after being posted. But by then they had already been widely shared and criticised. On social media, one Twitter user called the tweet "disgraceful", while Labour Party councillor in Ireland Peter O'Brien asked: "So this is acceptable is it?". Speaking to reporters in west Belfast, Mr Adams admitted his use of the N-word was "inappropriate" and "I apologise for that". But he said he stood by the "context and substance of the point I was making". He spoke of the parallels "between the plight of people here in Ireland and the struggle of people from African American extraction". Mr Adams added: "There is ample evidence historically of those parallels from the penal laws, the partition of the island, and in our own time, like African Americans, people here were denied the vote, were discriminated against, were denied jobs, and so on." In an earlier statement, the republican defended using the N-word and said attempts to suggest he was a racist were "without credibility". He said the tweets about the Oscar-winning film, starring Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz, and the use of the N-word were ironic and not intended to cause any offence whatsoever. Story continues And he claimed he had either been misunderstood by those who had taken offence at his use of the term, or they were misrepresenting the post. He also suggested nationalists in Northern Ireland, including those from Ballymurphy, "were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves". Eleven civilians were killed by British soldiers in Ballymurphy in 1971 during the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, three decades of largely sectarian violence in which more than 3,500 people died. Opinion polls indicate Sinn Fein is likely to win about a quarter of the votes in Thursday's election for the Northern Ireland Assembly. Since 2007, the republican party has been in a power-sharing agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party. By Edmund Blair MOUNT KENYA, Kenya (Reuters) - The future of Africa's elephants and rhinos depends on the ability of the continent's nations to battle together against poaching, Kenya's president and conservationists said on Friday as they met at an East African summit. Signalling its commitment, Kenya will burn 105 tonnes of seized ivory on Saturday, seeking to send a message that the real value of tusks when they are on the live animals that draw tourists to Africa's savannas and forests, where herds have been decimated. From 1.2 million in the 1970s, the number of elephants roaming Africa has plunged to around 400,000. Poaching exceeded 30,000 a year between 2010 to 2012, threatening to wipe them out in some African regions. The future for Rhinos, now numbering less than 30,000, is even more bleak if poaching is not checked. "The poachers do not care about national borders, nor do the criminal gangs who smuggle illegal wildlife parts out of the continent. There is no solution to this struggle that can be implemented by one country alone," Kenyatta said in a statement before the Giants Club summit which he is due to address. This is a continental issue," Ian Craig, director of Kenya's Northern Rangelands Trust, told the gathering, saying Africans needed to build on successes made since a 2012 poaching peak. "As Africa, we need to coordinate our efforts." In Kenya, 93 elephants were killed in 2015, down from 384 in 2012. But conservations say the East African nation remains a transit point for poached wildlife parts from other countries. Leaders from Uganda and Gabon also joined the summit to outline their efforts to curb illegal hunting by poachers, who in some regions have in the past used belt-fed machine guns to mow down dozens of animals at a time. Botwana's president had been due to attend. It was not immediately clear why he did not turn up. While supporting the battle against poaching, Botswana has opposed burning ivory. Conservationists have called for action ranging from improved prosecution of poachers to slashing demand for ivory and rhino horn abroad, most of it coming from Asia. "Political will, that is the key ingredient," Max Graham, the founder and chief executive officer of charity Space for Giants, speaking before the summit. His group seeks to share techniques to combat poaching and protect habitats for elephants and rhinos. Ol Pejeta Conservancy has been at the forefront of those initiatives, protecting and slowly starting to rebuild Kenya's rhino numbers. Airborne rapid reaction rangers, a helicopter with night vision and better intelligence in the local community helped. But it seems too late for the northern white rhino. Just three individuals of the species remain, guarded 24 hours at the Ol Pejeta site. Scientists are racing against time to work out ways on reproductive techniques for the aging animals. There have also been gains made in stemming international trade in ivory and rhino horn. China and the United States, two of the biggest ivory markets, announced plans last year to enact almost complete bans on imports and exports. The ivory price in Hong Kong, a major trade route to China which also announced plans for a sales ban, has fallen to about $380 per kg from $1,500 per kg in 2014, Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid which campaigns to end the trade, told Reuters. "It is never fast enough, but it is definitely heading in the right direction," he said. (Writing by Edmund Blair) Five years ago today, elite U.S. special forces soldiers raided a walled compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and ended history's most intense manhunt. The death of Osama bin Laden was a significant symbolic blow to al-Qaeda, the violent jihadist organization that he co-founded in the late 1980s. But it was hardly the end of the group, which has lived on under the leadership of the bespectacled Egyptian doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri. - Osama bin Laden wanted much of his fortune used 'on jihad' "Al-Qaeda is maybe stronger today than it was even at the time of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001," says Scott Stewart, vice-president of tactical analysis at the intelligence firm Stratfor. "It's absolutely been diminished in some ways, but despite all the effort to stamp it out, al-Qaeda has managed to create an 'arc of jihad' that stretches from West Africa all the way to Southeast Asia." The organization now claims a presence in 60 countries worldwide, with recent inroads in India and Bangladesh. It's a situation that bin Laden always envisioned. Al-Qaeda was intended to be the vanguard of a larger movement, a core of hardened jihadis who would provide resources and support to cells fighting apostate governments around the world. "Always be skeptical of claims that al-Qaeda is on the verge of defeat, or that they're irrelevant. Terrorist organizations wax and wane, but al-Qaeda has proven to be truly resilient," says Jeremy Littlewood, assistant professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa. Fighting the 'long war' After 9/11, Al-Qaeda became synonymous with terror. That has started to change in recent years, however, with the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its campaign of incredible violence. The two groups are now locked in a fierce battle for both practical gains, like fighters and territory, but also for the "hearts and minds" of jihadis, Littlewood says. It is a fight for the very soul of the broader jihadist movement. Story continues Very different philosophies about how to wage war against their perceived enemies amplify this conflict. Al-Qaeda has always taken a "long war approach," a doctrine that bin Laden himself championed, according to Stewart. It is absolutely essential, the reasoning goes, to defeat distant enemies namely the United States and its allies that prop up apostate regimes in the Middle East with money and arms. An enduring caliphate cannot be established until that happens. It could take 100 years, or it could take 1,000 years. No matter. "Many more experienced jihadis have remained loyal to the idea at the centre of al-Qaeda that they should target Western states and meticulously lay the groundwork at the local level before a caliphate," says Littlewood. "[ISIS] upended that and instead focuses on holding territory and achieving their goals through brute force, which seems to be appealing more to a younger generation of fighters." AQ vs. ISIS ISIS does have a branch dedicated to so-called external operations and has inspired attacks like those in Paris and Brussels. Its propagandists have also encouraged violence by believers outside of its self-proclaimed caliphate. But stamping out enemies within and surrounding the caliphate is its main focus. "That's maybe the biggest difference between al-Qaeda and ISIS. The Islamic State is hyper-sectarian, and is really fighting a war on, well, everything," says Stewart. Al-Qaeda has been openly critical of ISIS's willingness to indiscriminately slaughter both Sunni and Shia Muslims. The tension dates all the way back to the Iraqi insurgency, when a group of extremist militants fighting the American military struck an allegiance with al-Qaeda and renamed itself Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). Its commander was a seasoned and notoriously brutal Jordanian jihadist named Abu Masab al-Zarqawi. In defiance of orders from bin Laden and his top lieutenants, Zarqawi targeted Iraqi Shias and even Sunnis who he thought were submitting to the U.S. occupation. Al-Qaeda leadership warned the tactics would draw too much attention from the American-led occupation and turn potential local supporters against them. They were right. Al-Zarqawi was killed by a drone strike in 2005, and many of AQI's remaining fighters were killed or imprisoned during the troop surge of 2007. Some of those who survived the war went on to form the core leadership of ISIS after the coalition withdrew from Iraq. A more pragmatic approach Despite ISIS's battlefield successes, there's growing consensus that al-Qaeda poses a greater long-term threat to both stability in the Middle East and to security of Western nations. This sentiment was backed up in a January report published by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, D.C.-based think-tank, that concluded the current U.S. strategy has put too much emphasis on defeating ISIS while al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria has flourished. Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front, as it is alternatively known, has had a presence in Syria since the early days of the civil war. Perhaps more than any other satellite, Jabhat al-Nusra illustrates how al-Qaeda plans to remain a potent force for years to come. "It's taken a very pragmatic approach, ingratiating itself with local populations and working, when necessary, with other more moderate rebel groups to achieve what it wants, namely the defeat of the Syrian regime," says Stewart. "Instead of killing those that oppose them, al-Nusra has made allies of many of them." An idea that lives on Charles Lister, a leading terrorism scholar and author of The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency, was among the first observers to point out that Jabhat al-Nusra's strategy will likely make it more difficult to defeat in Syria, in the long run, than ISIS. "[ISIS] is all about imposing its will on people, whereas al-Nusra has for the last five years been embedding itself in popular movements, sharing power in villages and cities, and giving to people rather than forcing them to do things. That has lent it a power [ISIS] just doesn't have," he told the German newspaper Der Spiegel in a recent interview. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the group's affiliate in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, has taken a similar approach, with fighters marrying into prominent families and allying with influential tribal leaders. Once al-Qaeda becomes the dominant force in an increasing number of regions, it will be able to turn its attention back to its quintessential enemy: the U.S. and its allies. "It is fighting a long, long war, and its willing to fight that war for as long it takes, generation after generation. Al-Qaeda, more than anything, is an idea," says Stewart. "As long as that idea lives on, al-Qaeda is very, very dangerous." A helicopter which crashed in Norway, killing 13 people, showed signs of technical problems three days before the tragedy. The crew of the Super Puma EC225 was forced to land after an indication light signalled a possible technical issue. According to CHC, the company which operated the Super Puma, it was 16 minutes into a flight from Bergen to the Oseberg East platform on Tuesday when the light came on in the cockpit. In accordance with standard procedure, the crew brought the helicopter into land. Technicians changed a component on the aircraft but, when they conducted a test flight the following day, on Wednesday, the indication light was triggered once again. A second component change took place and, following that, a test flight was conducted and the helicopter was given the all-clear to resume commercial flights. On Thursday, the day before the crash, the helicopter was used in six commercial flights. A spokesman for CHC said the components changed were "nothing to do" with the rotor blades or gearbox. The British man who died in the crash has been named as Iain Stuart. The 41-year-old, from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, worked for oilfield services company Halliburton. In a statement released by Police Scotland, Mr Stuart's family described him as a "loving husband and devoted father". "We as a family are devastated at the loss of Iain in Friday's tragic helicopter crash in Norway," the statement said. "Iain was a loving husband and devoted father to his two children and as a family we are heartbroken. He was a caring son, brother, uncle and friend to many. "We are appreciative of all the messages of support and kind thoughts." The Super Puma was carrying two crew and 11 passengers from the North Sea Gullfaks B oil field when it crashed off the Norwegian coast while flying to Flesland Airport in Bergen on Friday. In tributes posted on social media, Mr Stuart was described as "always a gent" and "a top bloke". Story continues Field operators Statoil said the pilots of the helicopter - a Norwegian and an Italian - were CHC Helicopter staff. All UK commercial passenger flights using the Airbus EC225LP - or Super Puma - model have been grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) following the accident. The aircraft shattered into pieces when it smashed into the rocky shoreline of Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, Norway's second-largest city. Norwegian television showed footage of what appeared to be a helicopter rotor blade spiralling down minutes before the helicopter crashed. A team from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is assisting with the investigation. By Ingrid Melander and Gerard Bon PARIS (Reuters) - French far-right veteran Jean-Marie Le Pen on Sunday said his daughter Marine was doomed to lose in presidential elections next year, throwing the spotlight on their family feud at the National Front's May 1st celebrations. Marine Le Pen forced her father, the FN's founder, out of the party last year over comments playing down the Nazi Holocaust. The feud burst into the open after she had sought to soften the anti-immigration party's image to help her quest for power. "I say it with gravity and sadness but since there have been no efforts (on her part) for reconciliation, the FN president will lose in the second round and maybe even in the first," Jean-Marie Le Pen told reporters at a Paris ceremony before a statue of Joan of Arc. For the first time, Le Pen father and daughter paid homage separately to the 15th century martyr, who is regularly invoked by the FN as a nationalist symbol, after the 87-year-old gate-crashed a May Day event last year for his daughter, making an unscripted and unwelcome appearance on stage. Jean-Marie Le Pen was party chief until he passed the helm to his daughter in 2011 but they later fell out over political strategy. Unlike her maverick father, Marine is not content with attracting protest votes and targets power. Following a strategy of "de-demonization", she has sought to make the FN a mainstream party and more politically respectable - something her father regards as a mistake. Marine's growing popularity has not suffered from her father's expulsion. But while polls see her topping the first round of the presidential elections in April next year, she is seen losing the run-off to former prime minister Alain Juppe from the center-right Les Republicains party. Socialist President Francois Hollande would not qualify for the run-off, polls show. Though it is improving its scores election after election, the FN is struggling to transform this into victories. The latest upset came in regional elections in December where it won no constituency despite leading in the first round. After being uncharacteristically quiet since the December upset, Marine told a crowd of 2,000 at an indoors rally on Sunday that she wanted to do politics differently. "I want to be away from the Paris political swamp as much as possible," she said, adding that she would focus on debating with voters and using social media. "With you, with your strength, your energy, we will make the impossible possible", she told voters, who applauded cheering "Marine, President". (Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Richard Balmforth) POTSDAM, Germany (Reuters) - Migrants should no longer be able to get to Germany and Europe via the Balkan route, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday, adding he was concerned refugee numbers would rise with people now coming to Italy by sea from Libya. "It's clear that the Balkan route is a thing of the past and no longer will or should be a place again from where people will be waved through to Germany and Austria and to the center of Europe," he said at a joint news conference with Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka in Potsdam near Berlin. "Now the issue is alternative routes ... we are of course concerned that we'll get rising refugee numbers again as they come via Libya and Italy," he added. De Maiziere said he agreed with Austria that the situation at Italy's northern border should not replicate the situation on the Balkan route last year. Austria has said it might reintroduce border controls at the Alpine Brenner pass to keep migrants from coming from Italy and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said Austria's plans to build a fence there were "shamelessly against European rules". Sobotka said the measure was necessary to prevent the route from turning into a major corridor for migrants seeking to reach northern Europe after they arrive to Italy through the Mediterranean from Libya and other north Africa nations. "What we have demonstrated is that the rule of law, the essential measure for us is that we want to register people who come to Austria, that our borders are not overrun," Sobotka said. He added: "This border management that has been in place since February is effective and we have applied this on the border with Hungary ... and we are preparing for this on the border with Italy." De Maiziere and Sobotka both piled pressure on Italy to take responsibility. "What is happening at the Brenner border crossing lies first and foremost in the hands of Italy," de Maiziere, said, adding that on the issue of border controls, states were working together but still needed a few more days to reach a European solution. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Michelle Martin and Joseph Nasr; Editing by Balazs Koranyi) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, said on Sunday it carried out a suicide bombing in the northwestern Turkish city of Bursa last week. In a statement on its website, TAK said one of its female members carried out the attack, which wounded eight people. It said she had detonated the explosives before reaching her intended target. The woman blew herself up near the main mosque in Bursa, Turkey's fourth-largest city and an industrial hub directly south of Istanbul across the Marmara Sea. It was the fifth suicide bombing in a major urban center this year. TAK claimed responsibility for two of the other suicide bombings this year, both of them in the capital Ankara. The first, a car bombing that targeted soldiers, killed 29 people in February. The second, at a transport hub in the city, killed 37. TAK says it split from the PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state to push for Kurdish autonomy in the largely Kurdish southeast, but experts who study the militant groups say they retain close links. A senior PKK commander described the first Ankara attack as payback, saying Turkey could see "thousands" of such bombings in response to military operations against the PKK in the southeast, where a ceasefire collapsed last July. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Nick Tattersall) Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al Abadi has ordered the arrest of protesters who stormed parliament buildings in Baghdad. Hundreds of supporters of Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada al Sadr broke through barricades of the heavily-fortified Green Zone in protest at the government's failure to stamp out corruption. Police near the US embassy fired tear gas as protesters were seen attacking at least one MP and throwing objects at fleeing motorcades. Mr Abadi said those who assaulted politicians and security forces and "vandalised state properties" should "receive their just punishment". However, police were not taking action against protesters still inside the Green Zone on Sunday, perhaps in fear of repercussions from the powerful cleric's followers. Many of Mr Sadr's supporters were content to take photographs of themselves in parliament, with some sitting in seats usually occupied by MPs. "This is the first time I've been here since I came with my school under Saddam (Hussein)," said 32-year-old Yusef al Assadi, who took a selfie in front of the unknown soldier's monument. "It's one of the most beautiful places to be in Baghdad. It should be for everyone, yet the people were not allowed here." He said it was noticeable "how rich this place is. Here, there is air conditioning and electricity everywhere, but the people of Iraq suffer from power cuts all the time." The protesters broke in on Saturday afternoon after MPs again failed to approve new ministers to replace the current party-affiliated cabinet. Both Mr Abadi and Mr Sadr have called for the change, but powerful political parties that rely on control of ministries for funds have opposed the move. "Even the most sectarian of Iraqis are seeing the failure of their leaders and their system," said Patrick Skinner, a former CIA case officer now working for The Soufan Group consultancy. "The question might not be 'why now' as it relates to the anger, but 'why it took so long'. Their system is not working." Story continues A state of emergency was declared in Baghdad after the protests. The United Nations mission to Iraq said it was "gravely concerned" by the breach. Mr Sadr's fighters once controlled large parts of Baghdad and helped defend the capital from Islamic State in 2014. By Allison Lampert MONTREAL (Reuters) - The leader of the separatist party in Canada's French-speaking province of Quebec stepped down on Monday less than a year after being elected, saying he needed to choose family over work. The abrupt resignation of Parti Quebecois leader Pierre Karl Peladeau, 54, a former chief executive of Quebec's largest media company, Quebecor Inc, led to speculation he may return to the business world. He became the party's leader in May 2015 promising to take Quebec out of Canada and make it a country but he struggled to make gains against the ruling provincial Liberals. "I had to make a choice between my family and our political project," Peladeau said during a surprise news conference. "I chose my family." Speculation about Peladeau's political future had increased after his marriage last year to talk-show host and producer Julie Snyder foundered. The two announced a separation in January. At the time, Peladeau said he would stay on as leader. During its previous times in government, the Parti Quebecois unsuccessfully held two referendums on the province seceding from Canada, but recent polls showed the cause had faded as a priority with voters. The task of rebuilding after the party's worst defeat in 40 years in the April 2014 election proved an uphill battle against the Quebec Liberals, a federalist party, as separatist forces split between the PQ and rival Quebec Solidaire. The abrupt departure of Peladeau, known as PKP, had little initial market impact, with the next provincial election likely years away. The PQ has traditionally trod a careful line between keeping the dream of independence alive and scaring off voters who want to stay in Canada or have simply had enough of the debate over secession. "The sovereigntist movement is in a period of turmoil but that preceded Peladeau and I think it will be there after him," said Christian Bourque, a pollster for Quebec-based Leger Marketing. Peladeau's resignation surprised Quebec's political class. Former Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, who recruited Peladeau to the party, told Radio Canada: "I am profoundly saddened because I believe this is a very talented man of great value who brought a lot to the Parti Quebecois." Members of the party's parliamentary caucus will choose an interim party leader by week's end, said Bruno-Pierre Cyr, a spokesman for Peladeau. The party had 30 seats in the 125-seat legislature before the resignation of Peladeau, who also resigned his parliamentary seat. (Additional reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Writing by Andrea Hopkins; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and James Dalgleish) English Estonian Today, on 2nd May 2016, the transaction is finalized as a result of which a subsidiary of AS LHV Group, AS LHV Varahaldus shall purchase 100% of the shares of Danske Capital AS from Danske Bank A/S. The share purchase agreement was signed on January 29, 2016. In order to finance the transaction, AS LHV Varahaldus increased its share capital in February by EUR 8.243 million, issuing new shares for its parent company, AS LHV Group. Additionally, AS LHV Group purchased subordinated bonds of AS LHV Varahaldus in the amount of EUR 0.6 million. The preliminary price for the 100% shareholding in Danske Capital AS has been set at EUR 11.0 million with the price consisting of a fixed amount of EUR 6.6 million and the size of the equity capital as at the end of March. The final price shall be determined within 45 business days following the transaction after the balance sheet of Danske Capital AS as at 30 April has been audited. Following the transaction, the merger of the two asset management companies - Danske Capital AS and AS LHV Varahaldus shall be initiated. Of the merging companies, the receiving company shall be AS LHV Varahaldus and the transferring company, Danske Capital AS. A notarised merger agreement shall be entered into and published on May 3, 2016. The merger shall become effective after an authorisation for the merger has been granted by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (Finantsinspektsioon). Following the merger, Danske Capital AS shall be deemed to be dissolved, and the receiving company shall continue its activities under the name of Aktsiaselts LHV Varahaldus. There shall be no material change in the activities, technical setup or structure of AS LHV Varahaldus following the merger, compared to those prior to the merger. After the merger of the companies, expectedly becoming effective in Q3, LHV Varahaldus plans to begin the process of merging the pension funds of similar investment strategy. Considering the plan to merge the companies and later on the pension funds of similar strategy, the operations, structure and technical setup of Danske Capital AS shall be matched to those of AS LHV Varahaldus already prior to the merger. Inter alia, the managers of AS LHV Varahaldus shall be appointed to the same positions in Danske Capital AS (Erkki Raasuke, Andres Viisemann, Erki Kilu on the supervisory board, and Mihkel Oja, Joel Kukemelk on the management board). The existing members of both the supervisory and management board of Danske Capital AS shall be removed. The supervisory board of Danske Capital shall decide on outsourcing the internal audit function to AS LHV Varahaldus and its internal auditors Relika Mell and Karin Kuusk. After todays transaction, the number of clients saving in the LHV II pillar pension funds shall be increased by 30% and the volume of LHV pension funds shall be increased by 40%. The merger of the asset management companies contributes to our goal of providing the best long-term investment service to the clients of the II pillar pension funds, said Mihkel Oja, the chairman of the management board of LHV Varahaldus. Danske Capital AS manages three mandatory and two voluntary pension funds. As at the moment of the transaction, Danske Capital manages pension assets in the amount of 250 million euros with 39 thousand active clients belonging to Danske mandatory pension funds. LHV Varahaldus manages five mandatory pension funds, one voluntary pension fund, one UCITS and provides investment management services for a UCITS established in Luxembourg. There are over 130 thousand active clients in LHV pension funds with the AUM of the management company currently being EUR 610 million. AS LHV Varahaldus and AS LHV Group have received an authorisation for the acquisition of a qualifying holding from the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority and AS LHV Varahaldus and Danske Capital AS have received an authorisation for concentration from the Competition Authority, both of which were conditions precedent for the finalization of the transaction. Lithuanian English Vilnius, Lithuania, 2016-05-02 08:08 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On 29 April 2016 General Shareholders Meeting of Invalda INVL has approved Invalda INVL Employee Stock Option Policy (hereinafter, the Policy) and authorized the Board of Invalda INVL to ensure the proper implementation of the Policy. In the Policy it is foreseen to offer Employees options contracts during the year 2016, on the basis of which according to the procedures and terms established in options contracts during the year 2019 Employees will be able to exercise the right to acquire 52,906 ordinary shares of Invalda INVL which nominal value is EUR 0.29, by paying for every acquired share 1 (one) euro. In order to the Policy provisions Invalda INVL signed options contracts with Employees for 52,906 ordinary registered shares of Invalda INVL. Swedish English Stockholm, May 2, 2016 PRESS RELEASE - NAXS Nordic Access Buyout Fund AB (publ) N.B. The English text is an in-house translation. In the event of any discrepancies between the text in this document and the Swedish document, the latter shall prevail. NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN NAXS NORDIC ACCESS BUYOUT FUND AB (publ) The shareholders of NAXS Nordic Access Buyout Fund AB (publ) (the Company or NAXS) are hereby invited to the annual general meeting (the Meeting) on Wednesday 1 June 2016 at 10.00 a.m. (CET) at the offices of Advokatfirman Vinge, Smalandsgatan 20, Stockholm, Sweden. RIGHT TO ATTEND THE MEETING Shareholders that wish to attend the Meeting, shall be registered in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB by Thursday 26 May 2016; and shall have notified the Company of their intention to attend the Meeting and of any representative/proxy/advisor who will represent/accompany the shareholder to the Meeting by Thursday 26 May 2016. Notification shall be sent in writing to NAXS Nordic Access Buyout Fund AB (publ), Attn: Lennart Svantesson, Grev Turegatan 10, 1st floor, SE-114 46 Stockholm, Sweden or by e-mail (info@naxs.se). Notification shall include the shareholder's name, personal identification number/corporate registration number (or similar), address and daytime telephone number, as well as, if applicable, details of representatives, proxies and advisors. A maximum of two advisors may attend. To facilitate registration at the Meeting, the notification, if applicable, should include a signed power of attorney, registration certificate and other documents proving identity. PROXY Shareholders represented by proxy must submit a dated power of attorney. If the power of attorney is executed by a legal person, a certified copy of the certificate of registration or equivalent must be attached. The power of attorney is valid for a period of one year from its issuance; however the power of attorney may be valid for up to five years from its issuance if explicitly stated. The original power of attorney and certificate of registration should be submitted to the Company by post at the address above in due time prior to the Meeting. A proxy form is available on the Companys website (www.naxs.com) and will be sent to shareholders who request the form. NOMINEE-REGISTERED SHARES To be entitled to participate in the Meeting, shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee must temporarily re-register their shares in their own names in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB. Such registration must be duly effected in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday 26 May 2016, and the shareholders must therefore advise their nominees well in advance of this date. RIGHT TO REQUEST INFORMATION The shareholders are reminded of their right to request information in accordance with Chapter 7 Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act (Sw. aktiebolagslagen). NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTES As of the date of this notice there are in total 15,000,000 shares and votes in the Company. The Company holds 130,448 own shares as of the date of this notice. AGENDA Opening of the Meeting Preparation and approval of the voting list Election of the chairman of the Meeting Presentation and approval of the agenda Election of two persons to verify the minutes together with the chairman of the Meeting Determination as to whether the Meeting has been duly convened Presentation by the CEO, submission of the annual accounts and the auditors report, as well as consolidated accounts and auditors report on consolidated accounts Resolution on the adoption of the profit and loss statement and balance sheet, as well as the consolidated profit and loss statement and the consolidated balance sheet; appropriation of the Companys result according to the adopted balance sheet; and discharge of the members of the board and the CEO from liability Determination of the number of members of the board Determination of fees to be paid to the members of the board and auditor Election of members of the board and chairman of the board Election of auditor The nomination committees proposal regarding principles for appointment of a nomination committee for the annual general meeting 2017 The proposal from the board of NAXS for remuneration guidelines for the senior management The proposal from the board of NAXS to authorise the board to acquire the Companys own shares The proposal from the board of NAXS to change the Companys name Closing of the Meeting Proposals of the nomination committee Items 3, 9-12: Election of chairman of the Meeting, determination of the number of members of the board, determination of the fees to be paid to the members of the board and auditor, election of members of the board and chairman of the board and election of auditor The nomination committee of the Company proposes that the Meeting resolves in accordance with the following; Jesper Schonbeck, member of the Swedish Bar Association, is proposed to chair the Meeting. It is proposed that, for the period until the end of the next annual general meeting, the board shall consist of three (3) members without any deputy members of the board. For the forthcoming period of office, it is proposed that the members of the board shall be paid a total amount of SEK 525,000, of which SEK 225,000 shall be paid to the chairman of the board and SEK 150,000 shall be paid to each other member of the board elected by the Meeting and who is not employed by the Company. It is proposed that auditor fees shall be paid in accordance with an approved invoice. The registered auditing company Ernst & Young AB is proposed to be re-elected as auditor. Tony Gardner-Hillman, Andrew Wignall and John Chapman are proposed for re-election as members of the board. It is also proposed that John Chapman is re-elected as chairman of the board. Item 13: Proposal regarding principles for appointment of a nomination committee for the annual general meeting 2017 The nomination committee proposes that the annual general meeting shall resolve to adopt the following principles for the appointment of a nomination committee for the annual general meeting 2017. The nomination committee shall have three members. The chairman of the board shall contact the two largest shareholders, with respect to voting power as per the end of the third quarter of the year. These two shareholders are offered to appoint one member each to the nomination committee, in which a member of the board also shall be a member. If any such shareholder chooses not to exercise its right to appoint a member, the right shall pass on to the shareholder who, after the aforementioned shareholder, has the largest shareholding. The chairman of the nomination committee shall be elected by and from the members of the nomination committee. However, a member of the board of the Company may not be chairman of the nomination committee. If a shareholder, who has appointed a member of the nomination committee, sells a not insignificant part of its shareholding during the tenure of the nomination committee and thereby ceases to be a shareholder with rights to appoint a member of the nomination committee, the member appointed by such shareholder should resign from the nomination committee. Such member shall then be replaced by a member appointed by the shareholder who, based on voting power following the sale, is one of the two largest shareholders in the Company. If such shareholder does not exercise its right to appoint a member of the nomination committee, the procedure above shall be applicable. In the event a member no longer represents the shareholder who appointed him or her, or in any other way is dismissed from the nomination committee prior to the completion of the nomination committees work, such shareholder shall be allowed to appoint a new member of the nomination committee. No fees shall be paid to the members of the nomination committee. The nomination committee shall pursue the tasks that, according to the Swedish Code of Corporate Governance, are of the responsibility of a nomination committee. Proposals of the board Item 8b: Appropriation of the Company's results The funds at the Meetings disposal consists of the result of the year, SEK 161,756,393, the share premium reserve, SEK 577,705,947, and the Companys accumulated results, SEK -6,199,488, in total SEK 733,262,852. The board proposes that the funds at the annual general meetings disposal, SEK 733,262,852 shall be allocated as dividends to the shareholders of SEK 2,50 per share, in total SEK 37,173,880 and that the remaining unrestricted equity, SEK 696,088,972, is carried forward. Friday 3 June 2016 is suggested as record day for dividends. If the annual general meeting adopts a resolution in accordance with the proposal the dividend is estimated to be paid through Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday 9 June 2016. Item 14: Proposal for remuneration guidelines for the senior management The board proposes that the Meeting resolves that the following guidelines shall apply for remuneration to the Company's senior management for the time until the end of the next annual general meeting. Remuneration to the Company's senior management shall be market based and competitive in order to enable the Company to attract and keep competent senior management. Remuneration shall be appropriate in such way as to justify a long-term value creation for the Company. Remuneration may consist of four parts: fixed salary and fees, variable remuneration, which includes share and share price related incentive programs, pensions, as well as other economic benefits. The board decides which structure the remuneration shall consist of in order to efficiently fulfil its purpose. If variable remuneration shall be paid, this remuneration shall be linked to predetermined and measurable criteria, as well as be designed with the purpose to promote the Company's long term value creation. Variable remuneration may amount to a maximum of 50 per cent of the fixed annual salary. Share and share price related incentive programs, if any, shall be designed to align the interest of the owners of the Company and the senior management. The board shall be entitled to deviate from the guidelines above if the board, in certain cases, deems that there are special reasons to motivate such deviation. Item 15: Proposal to authorise the board to acquire the Companys own shares The board proposes that the Meeting resolves to authorise the board to decide on the acquisition of the Companys own shares where, principally, the following shall apply; Acquisition of own shares shall take place on Nasdaq Stockholm. The authorisation may be utilised on one or several occasions, however not longer than until the 2017 annual general meeting. Shares may be acquired to the extent that the Companys holding of its own shares, on any occasion, does not exceed ten (10) per cent of the Companys total shares. Acquisition of shares may only take place at a price within the price interval, on any occasion, recorded on Nasdaq Stockholm, which refers to the interval between the highest buying price and the lowest selling price. The purpose of the proposed authorisation is to provide flexibility in relation to the Companys possibilities to return capital to its shareholders, to improve the capital efficiency in the Company, and to prevent an excessively wide NAV/share price discount in relation to the Companys shares, which altogether is deemed to be susceptible to have a positive impact on the Companys share price and thereby contribute to an increased shareholder value. A resolution in accordance with the boards proposal shall only be valid where supported by not less than two-thirds of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the Meeting. Item 16: Proposal to change the Companys name The board proposes that the Meeting resolves to adopt new articles of association whereby the Companys name is changed from NAXS Nordic Access Buyout Fund AB to NAXS AB. The board further proposes that the CEO shall be authorised to make minor adjustments to the proposed new name to enable registration of the new name. A resolution in accordance with the boards proposal shall only be valid where supported by not less than two-thirds of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the Meeting. The annual report and the auditor's report, as well as the proposals from the board according to item 14-15 and the boards proposal for new articles of association according to item 16, the auditors statement under Chapter 8 Section 54 of the Swedish Companies Act and the boards statement under Chapter 19 Section 22 of the Swedish Companies Act will be held available at the Company's office on Grev Turegatan 10, 1st floor, Stockholm, Sweden as from Wednesday, 11 May 2016, and will be sent to the shareholders who so request and who inform the Company of their postal address. The documents, together with the nomination committees proposals, will also be held available on the Company's website www.naxs.se. All documents above will also be presented at the Meeting. _________________________ Stockholm, April 2016 The board of NAXS Nordic Access Buyout Fund AB (publ) NAXS 2015 Annual Report for is available from today on the Companys website, www.naxs.se. The Annual Report is also attached to this notice. Contact information Lennart Svantesson, CEO Telephone: +46 733-110 011 NAXS Nordic Access Buyout Fund AB discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The report was submitted for publication at 08.30 CET on May 2, 2016. This notice and further information is available on the Companys website: www.naxs.se NAXS Nordic Access Buyout Fund AB (publ), Reg. No. 556712-2972 Grev Turegatan 10, 114 46 Stockholm Telephone: + 46 (0)8-611 33 25, E-mail: info@naxs.se www.naxs.se NAXS is an investment company listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm exchange and focusing on investments in Nordic buyout funds. The objective is to make the Nordic private equity market accessible for a broader public while offering liquidity through the Company's market-introduced shares. LANCASTER, Ohio, May 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of EveryWare Global announced today the appointment of Patrick Lockwood-Taylor as the Companys chief executive officer. Mr. Lockwood-Taylor is a highly experienced executive with an extensive track record of growing brands, driving profit and working with some of the worlds largest retailers, both in North America and internationally. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e45e5a8-f760-4da2-bc91-0799bd004b62 We are very pleased to have attracted an executive of Patricks caliber to EveryWare Global, said David N. Weinstein, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "Patrick understands what it takes to build brands, businesses and organizations through outstanding leadership, innovation and excellence in execution to deliver on the expectations of customers and consumers. He has a passion for innovation that will help us leverage the strength of Anchor Hocking and Oneida portfolios in North America and around the world, and has demonstrated his ability to transform companies into high-performance, revenue-maximizing operations. The Board believes this is the perfect combination of talent and experience to lead EveryWare in its ongoing transformation to achieve high performance, customer satisfaction and success. Prior to accepting the appointment as CEO for EveryWare Global, Mr. Lockwood-Taylor was Vice President of Personal Health Care North America and Global Digestive Wellness at Proctor & Gamble. In this role, he drove significant strategic interventions to address a rapidly evolving market and increasing competitive pressure to position the category for accelerated growth. His leadership resulted in outstanding business performance and significant growth in both sales and profit for the division over a five-year period. Patrick started his career in P&Gs foodservice division in the UK, marketing to foodservice chain end-user businesses and going to market via wholesalers and distributors, before moving into P&Gs more classic consumer businesses. Patrick quickly rose in the ranks through multiple categories, geographies and functions of P&G, including operations management, sales, marketing, country management and then general management. He has spent over 15 years in global leadership roles with assignments in the United Kingdom, Africa, multiple assignments in the USA, in Switzerland, Malaysia and Singapore. Patrick holds a First Class Joint Honors Degree in Economics and Management Studies from Leeds University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He is the current Chair of the Consumer Health Products Association and has been involved in numerous business and industry organizations during his career, while receiving multiple awards for marketing, innovation, advertising, customer service and retail partnerships. I am very excited to be joining a company that has such rich heritage and brands that are household names in their categories, said Lockwood-Taylor. As we invest in our brands, operations and organization with our Boards support, I am confident that we will restore the Companys growth to industry-leading levels and ensure that Anchor Hocking and Oneida brands are the ones most preferred by our consumers and customers. In making the announcement, the Board also thanked Interim CEO Sean Gumbs and confirmed that he will return to his position as senior managing director at FTI Consulting following a brief period of transition working with the new CEO. Sean has done an outstanding job of leading EveryWare Global through a period of transition. On behalf of all members of the Board, I want to express our gratitude for the commitment, dedication and focus he brought to the role of Interim CEO, added Weinstein. About EveryWare Global: EveryWare is a leading global marketer of tabletop and food preparation products for the consumer, business to business, and foodservice markets, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Asia. Its global platform allows it to market and distribute internationally its total portfolio of products, including bakeware, beverageware, serveware, storageware, flatware, dinnerware, crystal, buffetware and hollowware; premium spirit bottles; cookware; gadgets; candle and floral glass containers; and other kitchen products, all under a broad collection of widely-recognized brands. Driven by devotion to design, EveryWare is recognized for providing quality tabletop and kitchen solutions through its consumer, foodservice, and specialty channels. EveryWare was formed through the merger of Anchor Hocking, LLC and Oneida Ltd. in March of 2012. Additional information can be found at www.everywareglobal.com, www.oneida.com, and www.foodservice.oneida.com. Forward-looking statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact regarding industry outlook and the Company's results of operations or financial position and liquidity may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Investors are warned that actual results may differ from management's expectations. Additionally, various economic and competitive factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Anakhanum Hidayatova - Trend: The situation on the line of contact between the Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces is very complicated, and this is a great human tragedy, Arye Gut, Israeli expert on international relations and specialist on the South Caucasus, told Trend May 2. Gut, who is also a doctoral candidate at the Haifa University, visited the frontline area to review the consequences of the damage caused to civilian population as a result of the intensive shelling of settlements by the Armenian armed forces. The expert stressed that the people living in the frontline area are virtually deprived of a normal life. "The residents of the frontline villages can not live a normal life and bring up their children," the expert said. "These people are constantly subjected to rocket and artillery attacks." "As an Israeli, I understand these people," he added. "We experience this situation every day and know firsthand about rocket and artillery shelling. Of course, the situation should be changed." The expert stressed that the Azerbaijani side is right when it says that the status quo can not be kept. "Today, Azerbaijan has a high geopolitical heft in the region, as well as one of the most powerful armies in the South Caucasus," said the expert. "I think if a peaceful solution is not achieved, Azerbaijan will be fully entitled to resolve the issue on its own according to the rules of international law." The expert regretted that the international community demonstrates a policy of double standards towards Azerbaijan. "When the matter rests in Ukraine, the international community immediately begins talking about respect for human rights and the territorial integrity of the country," he added. "When the matter rests in Azerbaijan, everybody is trying to keep quiet about it, these are double standards." Gut also said that Azerbaijan, having a powerful army and more technological support from Israel, must act in the direction of resolving the conflict. "If the Armenian side is not ready to resolve the conflict peacefully, Azerbaijan has all the opportunities, as well as geopolitical, military and economic means, to force Armenia to make peace," he added. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend: The visit paid by Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to the frontline zone proved once again that the president is always ready to support each citizen of the country, Fazail Aghamali, the Azerbaijani MP, told Trend May 2. Earlier, President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Tartar, Barda and Aghdam districts, which are located on the line of contact between the Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces. Aghamali said President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva met with the families affected by the Armenian vandalism, whose homes were destroyed, and visited the civilians wounded in the Armenian provocation. He added that the president's visit to the frontline helped to increase the morale of the Azerbaijani army, which is courageously opposing Armenia's armed forces. "President Ilham Aliyev met with the residents of frontline villages, personally received information from them about the extent of the damage, and saw what is happening there," noted Aghamali, adding this is an important factor that contributes to boosting optimism within the population, courage and confidence in the country's leadership. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: Army building is the priority of Azerbaijan's policy and it is natural, as the country is in a state of war, the war hasn't ended yet, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said. He made the remarks during the meeting with the personnel of a military unit in Azerbaijan's Terter district. "The ceasefire regime was established in 1994. Nevertheless, Armenia constantly grossly violates the ceasefire," said the president. President Aliyev noted that when the international pressure on Armenia over the conflict increases, it even more violates the ceasefire and stages armed provocations. "The international community has already been fully informed about the conflict," Azerbaijan's president added. "Over these years, we managed to prove to the whole world that we are the aggrieved party." "Armenia - the aggressor, has committed genocide against the Azerbaijani people, occupied our lands and continues this occupation," said President Aliyev. "The [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairs, who are engaged in this issue, have repeatedly said in recent times that the status quo is unacceptable and should be changed." It means that the occupation should be ended, said President Aliyev. "It is a signal directly addressed to Armenia," said the president. "Therefore, when Armenians see that Azerbaijan gains more support worldwide, they periodically stage armed provocations in order to disrupt the negotiations and continue the policy of occupation. We witnessed this in the recent past. They attacked our positions in the summer of 2014. Our army gave an adequate response that time as well." In November of the same year when there emerged certain hope in the negotiations, Armenia, as it said, held large-scale exercises in Aghdam district with participation of the personnel consisting of 47,000 people, said the president. It was a purely provocative move, he added. "The Azerbaijani side showed high restraint for several days. But afterwards, two military helicopters of Armenia attacked our positions," said Ilham Aliyev. "Azerbaijani army destroyed one of them. Taking the advantage of this, Armenia accused us and the negotiation process came to the deadlock again." Using this as a reason, they began to accuse Azerbaijan of violating the ceasefire, said Ilham Aliyev, adding that the goal was clear: to disrupt the talks again and to continue the occupation policy. President Aliyev noted that since early 2016, some progress has been observed in the negotiation process. "A lot of pressure is exerted on Armenia on the part of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs, according to the information we have," Azerbaijani president said. "However, they don't openly say it. They always try to maintain a balanced position. But the reality is that nowadays Armenia is the side that prevents peaceful resolution of the conflict." President Aliyev further said that considering the current situation, the Armenian armed forces decided to resort to regular provocations, and this happened in early April. "They again committed an armed provocation and attacked our positions," he said. "Azerbaijani army with great skill and professionalism held a counter-attack, stopped the enemy, and our positions on the contact line were strengthened even more. At the request of the Armenian side, we agreed the ceasefire to be restored April 5. We don't want war." Azerbaijan wants the problem to be resolved peacefully, but it should be settled, President Aliyev said. "Holding negotiations just for the sake of negotiations makes no sense," he said. "Thus, on April 5, it was agreed to restore ceasefire. We adhered to the ceasefire, and continue to do so today as well. But, unfortunately, Armenia once again shows an insincere approach," Aliyev said, adding that not a single day has passed without the ceasefire violations by Armenia since April 5. In the first days after the April 5 ceasefire agreement, Armenia tried to attack Azerbaijan's positions and take back the lost territories, the president said. He went on to add that after the Armenian troops realized it wasn't working, and Azerbaijani soldier stands his ground, they started armed provocations against civilian population. "Our villages were shelled, civilians got wounded and killed, over 500 of our houses were damaged, over 100 houses were either completely destroyed or burned down," said Ilham Aliyev. "This is the ugly face of Armenian fascism. They did the same during the first Karabakh war, they committed the Khodjaly genocide. And today, realizing lack of forces on the battlefield, they target civilian population." President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani army have never been at war with civilian population. "We just destroy the enemy's firing positions when we are shot at," Azerbaijani president said. "But, at the same time, the Azerbaijani army must protect, protects and will protect its citizens. The settlement of the conflict will allow the Armenian government to build an independent state. I still hope that their aggressive policy will come to an end, because there is no other way." "The people of Azerbaijan will never reconcile with such a situation, and the recent events have once again shown it," he said. "The armed provocation committed against us wasn't left unanswered, and everyone knows it. The sooner Armenian leadership understands that it can develop only in conditions of peace with Azerbaijan, the faster the conflict will end." He stressed that the settlement of the conflict should be based on the norms and principles of international law. "All the international organizations - the UN, the OSCE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Council of Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement and other organizations - protect the fair position of Azerbaijan," the president said. "No international organization supports aggressive policy of Armenia. No country in the world puts the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan under question. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored. The occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and other lands are our historical lands. Azerbaijani citizens must live and will live on these lands." "Once again I'd like to say that we will seek to put Armenia on the right path through negotiations," he said. "We will strengthen diplomatic, political, economic pressure and intensify positions of the contact line of troops. If another Armenian armed provocation is committed against us, the necessary answer will be given again, and the result will be the same, because today the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies on a global scale." "Material and technical basis of our army has been considerably strengthened and expanded," the president said. "The most modern weapons, equipment is purchased, and nowadays the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies in terms of financial security. Discipline in the army is at the highest level, just as the combat capability is, and the fighting in April showed it. The army is in high spirits. The morale state of our army, soldiers, and officers is very positive." "The sense of patriotism is very high not only in the army but the whole society," the president said. "The whole society is united for the sake of a single idea. There is no issue more important for us than the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This is the primary issue. We must resolve this problem and we will." The president noted that he always treated servicemen with great respect. "Everything necessary will be done for the construction of the army," he said. "That's what we are doing now. The biggest spending is military spending. This has gone on for many years. Sometimes pro-Armenian politicians from different countries accuse me. Why does Azerbaijan increase the military budget? That takes place because we have been subjected to aggression." "If there was not such aggression, then, of course, this wouldn't be necessary," he said. "However, life showed how right we were. If we didn't have strong combat capabilities, today the situation on the contact line would be different. Our greatest achievement is the increase of combat capability, material and technical equipment, purchase of weapons and equipment, patriotic spirit, professionalism, the skill of soldiers, valor and heroism demonstrated in the fighting in April." "You now carry the service face to face with the enemy," the president told the servicemen. "You defend our land, our people. This is a great and honorable mission. I cordially congratulate you all and I wish you success. Always be loyal to your Motherland, love your Home land, protect it and the citizens. Long live Azerbaijani army!" On behalf of the whole personnel, Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov expressed deep gratitude to Azerbaijan's president, commander-in-chief, for his care od the armed forces. He noted that thanks to the commander-in-chief's attention and care, today, the armed forces have been fully provided with weaponry and equipment at a high level and the social issues have been resolved. "In order to justify care, trust, the personnel constantly improves and enhances the combat training level," said Hasanov. "Mr. President, I would like to assure you that the personnel of the armed forces are ready and able to fulfill all your orders in a short time." President Aliyev noted that a new situation has emerged on the line of contact after the Armenian armed provocations. "This situation differs from the previous one. It once again shows that we have full advantage on the line of contact," said the president. "Certainly, from now on, we will even more strengthen our positions on the line of contact," he said, adding that necessary measures are taken in order to achieve that. "I believe that the opposing side has already understood that there are no grounds for ensuring any interests by military means," said President Aliyev. "All the efforts are in vein. In order to restore peace in the region, it is simply necessary to put an end to the aggression. I believe that it will be so," he added. Then, the commander-in-chief handed the awards to the fighters for bravery they showed when suppressing the Armenian provocations. Details added (first version posted on 16:34) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: Army building is the priority of Azerbaijan's policy and it is natural, as the country is in a state of war, the war hasn't ended yet, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said. He made the remarks during the meeting with the personnel of a military unit in Azerbaijan's Terter district. "The ceasefire regime was established in 1994. Nevertheless, Armenia constantly grossly violates the ceasefire," said the president. President Aliyev noted that when the international pressure on Armenia over the conflict increases, it even more violates the ceasefire and stages armed provocations. "The international community has already been fully informed about the conflict," Azerbaijan's president added. "Over these years, we managed to prove to the whole world that we are the aggrieved party." "Armenia - the aggressor, has committed genocide against the Azerbaijani people, occupied our lands and continues this occupation," said President Aliyev. "The [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairs, who are engaged in this issue, have repeatedly said in recent times that the status quo is unacceptable and should be changed." It means that the occupation should be ended, said President Aliyev. "It is a signal directly addressed to Armenia," said the president. "Therefore, and also when Armenians see that Azerbaijan gains more support worldwide, they periodically stage armed provocations in order to disrupt the negotiations and continue the policy of occupation. We witnessed this in the recent past. They attacked our positions in the summer of 2014. Our army gave an adequate response that time as well." In November of the same year, after certain hopes emerged in the negotiations, Armenia, as it said, held large-scale exercises in Aghdam district with participation of the personnel consisting of 47,000 people, said the president, adding that it was a purely provocative move. "The Azerbaijani side showed high restraint for several days. But afterwards, two military helicopters of Armenia attacked our positions," said Ilham Aliyev. "Azerbaijani army destroyed one of them. Taking the advantage of this, Armenia accused us and the negotiation process came to the deadlock again." Using this as a reason, they began to accuse Azerbaijan of violating the ceasefire, said Ilham Aliyev, adding that the goal was clear: to disrupt the talks again and to continue the occupation policy. Greetings, update readers. First, from the news, there is a great deal of online grumping about Larry Wilmore's caustic White House Correspondents speech, and particularly the finale, which started as a sincere tribute to President Obama for both being black and reaching the pinnacle of American achievement: "So Mr. President, I'm gonna keep it 100. Yo, Barry, you did it, my nigga." Many people of various skin tones have opined, including the very pale Piers Morgan, here. The consensus seems to be it was out of order, but plenty of people disagreed. Here's my take: I don't have one. I don't have one for the same reason that I would never use the n-word, but have absolutely no problem with hearing black people use it. And that's because it's theirs. They understand the subtleties of use way better than I could ever understand it. This does not seem a paradox to me, or a hypocrisy. Wilmore ended with a chest thump, and Obama returned one, laughing. That's all I need to know. (In general, I thought Wilmore was off-tone in a few places, more mean than funny, particularly his salvos against Don Lemon and Wolf Blitzer. He basically just wanted to say that they suck as journalists, and he did, and there was no mirth behind it.) -- On to this controversial clip from a graduation address given by Michael Bloomberg at the University of Michigan. You can hear from the reaction that the audience of students was pretty divided. Some applause, some boos. This is the key part: "[Cooperation and teamwork] are the most important skills in the working world, and it's why colleges have always exposed students to challenging and uncomfortable ideas. The fact that some university boards and administrations now bow to pressure groups, and shield students from these ideas through safe spaces, code words, and trigger warnings, is in my view a terrible mistake. The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations, not to run away from them. A microaggression is exactly that, micro." I think Bloomberg is largely right, and I think this needed to be said, but I also think he screwed up a bit by conflating unequal things. I don't oppose "trigger warnings." I sometimes roll my eyes at them; I am of an earlier time, and my instant reaction is cynical -- gimme a break. But by and large we are moving into a kinder and more sensitive place (I hope), and it is not up to me to decide that, say, a rape victim shouldn't be warned that she is about to read something that might provoke anxiety. If a trigger warning helps people -- and I am presuming it does -- I'm for it. It does no harm. But safe spaces do harm, for a bunch of reasons, including giving give aid and comfort to the enemy. And by the enemy, I mean the bad guys, the American right wing. I'll get to that by and by. Bloomberg correctly points out two of the evils of the collegiate safe space: One, they are part of a larger issue of what seems like intellectual tyranny, where the school is essentially pressured by students to exclude certain views that are deemed "wrong." Creating "safe spaces" reinforces this, because the school is unambiguously labeling some ideas as hurtful and dangerous. Bloomberg's second point is philosophical, and also correct: that college is not a place where we should be protected from disturbing ideas or things that challenge our own orthodoxies. This is actually doing a disservice to people about to enter a very different real world. I would go three steps further: "Safe spaces" infantilize young adults and reinforce that unhealthy attitude that we are all victims of something, in need of cosseting. The absurd histrionics attendant to this discussion on campuses would be amusing if it were not so unappealing. Second, Bloomberg referenced "code words," which was a bit confusing. He was referring, I think, to "language codes" adopted at some colleges, allegedly to combat unintended micro-aggressions that result in hurt feelings. Sometimes, these have been taken to preposterous proportions. And finally, the point that bothers me most: We have become a deeply politically polarized society. This is not an ideal situation -- living with grey areas and operating through compromise and such is preferable -- but that is not where we are. We are in a land where there are two fiercely competing and totally disparate world views -- and in mine, there is a clear right side and a clear wrong side. The right is wrong. And dangerously wrong, and the stakes are high. Probably the greatest examples of this was a Republican-dominated Supreme Court that gave us the George W. Bush presidency, and then Citizens United, which has soiled the body politic immensely, turning our elections into a sick playing field for billionaires to buy their candidates. Consider the damage already inflicted by the right's sullen denial of global warming. Very. High. Stakes. How do we keep the conservatives from running things? By being inarguably correct on the issues in a way that most people can see, and feel. And that has been slowly happening. Obamacare is here to stay, and is being embraced by more and more people. Gay people are now considered fully human, and we have not all gone to hell! Hillary Clinton is going to wipe the floor with Donald Trump. The reason progressivism is correct is that progressivism is for, uh, progress. The right knows this, and they try to stop it, and their main tool is culture war. Whenever they have to energize their base, historically, they create red-meat, phony issues involving alleged threats to mom n' apple pie. I have lived a long time and seen them again and again: An constitutional amendment to illegalize flag-burning! Stop gay marriage ! The War on Christianity! And then there is the great bathroom debate, which is actually as old as the 1970s attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which simply stated that women are fully human, too. A persuasive, dishonest undercurrent to the opposition stance is that the ERA would have forced men and women to use the same public bathrooms. The ERA never happened. And now we're back in the toilet again, with the totally phony issue of where transgender people can pee. Red meat! Rape will abound! No female child will be safe! Okay, so what does this have to do with "safe spaces"? The left needs to win the war of ideas on everything. We don't want the battle lines fuzzy anywhere because anything that gives credibility to the right gives them more credibility in other areas. It's the way two-party politics tend to work: subtle ebbs and flows in the public's benefit-of-the-doubt reflex. If the right is inarguably correct about one issue, it lifts their plausibility on other issues. The intellectual political bullying on campuses, and the cosseting of young adults, are the only social issue I can think of where I find myself mostly in agreement with the right. I recently watched O'Reilly on this subject and found myself nodding in agreement. With O'Reilly!! Are liberal-arts colleges cauldrons of political correctness? Yeah, maybe. Are students becoming sissified drama kings and queens? Kinda looks that way. Plus, there is video. Some of these things are so comical, even wildly liberal writers are agreeing with the right. Not a good situation. Okay, I'm done. --- One more thing. A Instapoll on an issue of humor. Here's an item from The New York Times' Ethicist column. Okay, the Instapoll. Was the joke at the end well done? Okay, make sure you take the instapoll before reading on, because I am now going to reveal the correct answer. ... ... ... Here it comes. It's very strained. Hodgman makes two mistakes, I think. The first is tactical: The only way that last line works is by incorporating it into his already stretchy buildup comparing the Yatzee controversy to the presidential contest. That's not a good fit. He never nails it. If he was determined to do it, though, he should have stayed with the small hands and cut out the "racism" bit. Making fun of "small hands" when you are talking about a child is cute. But "racism" goes into uncomfortably absurd territory. Plus, it's politically arguable. Is Trump a "racist"? I think so, but others would contest that he's more of a xenophobe vulgarian than actual racist. So it just hangs there, ugly and weird. If I had answered that question, by the way, I would have talked about the 1960 Yankees, who lost a 7-game World Series to the Pirates, even though they had outscored the Pirates 55-27, and still lost. Because that's how it works. Congrats on your new home! And great question. The trick is to assess the scale, weight and color of all the pieces in concert with the architecture of your space. If you've got a lot of large wood pieces in one spot, it may look like someone raided the attic. If too many upholstered pieces are clumped together, it can feel heavy. Pay lot of attention to heights of the shapes from the ceiling and from the floor. Paint can help. For instance, a giant black wardrobe can be made to be elegant if you paint the wall behind in a dark color that absorbs it, making it almost disappear. I think the Brits have the art of mixing old and new down pat. Their versions of Home and Garden, Elle Decor or World of Interiors are excellent go-tos. Hope that helps and have fun with your adventure! Container Ship Chosen for First Transit of Expanded Panama Canal A 985-foot container ship, China COSCO Shipping's Andronikos, won an April 29 drawing and will be the first vessel to travel through the expanded Panama Canal when it opens on Sunday, June 26. A 985-foot container ship, China COSCO Shipping's Andronikos, won an April 29 drawing and will be the first vessel to travel through the expanded Panama Canal when it opens on Sunday, June 26. The ship has a maximum capacity of 9,400 TEUs, according to the Panama Canal Authority, which reported more than 100 Neopanamax ships have made reservations for commercial transit through the new locks starting June 27. The Norwegian/Swedish shipping line Wallenius Wilhemsen Lines and the Chinese shipping line China COSCO Shipping participated in the drawing. "It is a great honor to have one of our top customers celebrate this historical moment with us," said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano. "We are excited and prepared to continue providing the same reliable and efficient service within the Expanded Panama Canal that our customers have come to expect through the years." The winner will incur in all costs associated with the transit, including booking fees and other marine services. The first commercial transit reservation was granted to the liquefied petroleum gas tanker LINDEN PRIDE of Nippon Yusen Kaisha, wihchl has a length of 754.59 feet and a beam of 120.08 feet. Texas Senator Files Bill to Speed Study of Texas Coastal Protection The Texas Tribune and ProPublica reported a companion bill will be filed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Randy Weber, R.-Texas, soon. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced a bill last week to accelerate a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of a federally funded coastal protection project on the Texas Gulf Coast and to speed its construction, once the study is completed. Cornyn's Corps' Obligation to Assist in Safeguarding Texas (COAST) Act is designed to streamlines congressional authorization for the project once the Corps completes the feasibility study. "Texans along our coast live under the constant threat of weather-related devastation to their homes, their livelihoods, and their communities," Cornyn said. "By reducing inefficiency and eliminating duplication, we can speed up the Army Corps' process to ultimately help bring families, businesses, and communities along the coast the peace of mind they deserve." The bill would require the Corps of Engineers to take into consideration studies already developed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District while completing its Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Study; according to Cornyn's news release, the same provision was included in the Water Resources Development Act passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week. The release says the bill would allow the final recommended project to proceed to the building phase without additional authorization. The Texas Tribune and ProPublica reported that U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, a Republican representing a district in Friendswood, a Houston suburb, said he expects to introduce a companion bill in the U.S. House within a few weeks. Irate Brazilians found themselves without the popular WhatsApp smartphone messaging application for the second time in six months Monday, after a court blocked the service for 72 hours. A flurry of angry commentary immediately broke out online after a small-town judge blocked WhatsApp nationwide because Facebook, its owner, failed to hand over information requested in a drug-trafficking investigation. The court order from Judge Marcel Montalvao in the northeastern town of Lagarto, in Sergipe state, shut down WhatsApp from 2:00 pm (1700 GMT). According to Brazilian media reports, drug traffickers targeted in the investigation had been using WhatsApp to discuss their business. It is the latest standoff between the Brazilian authorities and Facebook, which has said it has no technical means for cooperating with such requests. Facebook's vice president for Latin America, Diego Dzodan, was arrested in March over the same case. Police said they were holding the Argentine national responsible for "repeated non-compliance with court orders." Another judge in Sergipe state ordered his release the following day, ruling the arrest amounted to "unlawful coercion." WhatsApp was previously suspended in Brazil in December over another case. Shocked, cranky Brazilians woke up on December 17 to find their WhatsApp service had been shut down overnight, leaving many without a key means of communication. WhatsApp is widely used in Brazil, where cell phone fees for texting and calls are among the highest in the world. The free app is installed on nine in 10 smartphones in the country. The December blackout ended after about 12 hours, when a higher court in Sao Paulo state threw out the two-day suspension. On that occasion, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg called it "a sad day for Brazil," noting the country's history of support for an open Internet. The companies deny obstructing justice and say they have done whatever they can to help. - 'Again?' - Monday's shutdown drew disbelieving, sometimes obscenity-laced reactions online. Like many Brazilians who rely on the service, Twitter user Acaua Tavares reacted with the Portuguese acronym "PQP," roughly equivalent to "WTF?" in English. "WhatsApp blocked again, PQP! That's Brazil," he wrote. Many commenters reacted with a single question: "Again?" Brazil's five cell phone providers all complied with the court order. Media reports said they would have faced fines of $140,000 a day for failing to do so. During the last shutdown, the providers appealed the court order, arguing it affected millions of people unconnected to the case. A Facebook spokesman in Brazil declined to comment. Google has also found itself in the firing line in Brazil. Three years ago, the search engine giant's top Brazil executive was accused of breaking election laws when he refused to remove videos on YouTube that were critical of a mayoral candidate in Mato Grosso do Sul state. The cases echo Apple's showdown with the US government over its refusal to cooperate with the FBI in unlocking an iPhone used by one of the shooters in a mass killing by a couple in San Bernardino, California, last year. The FBI said national security was at stake, while Apple said it was taking a stand against government intrusion into privacy. Ultimately, the government managed to hack the phone without Apple's help. AFP News Ukraine on Sunday denounced as dangerous lies suggestions from Russia that it was preparing to use a "dirty bomb". Its western allies also dismissed the allegations from Moscow, just hours after Russia went public with the claims. In conversations with his British, French and Turkish counterparts, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu conveyed "concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a 'dirty bomb'", Moscow said. Russia did not mention the alleged "dirty bomb" allegation in its statement following Shoigu's call with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin. "If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on social media. "I believe that now the world should react as harshly as possible." Earlier Sunday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced Moscow's claims as "absurd" and "dangerous". "Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves," he added. A British defence ministry statement said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had "refuted these claims and cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation". And in Washington, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson dismissed Moscow's "transparently false" claim. "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation," she added. - 'Vile strikes' - Russia also announced Sunday that it had destroyed a depot in central Ukraine storing over 100,000 tonnes of aviation fuel. Kyiv's energy operator meanwhile said scheduled power cuts had been introduced in the Ukrainian capital due to Russia's repeated strikes on the nation's power network. The blackouts started from 11:13 am (0813 GMT) with consumers in Kyiv divided into three groups "disconnected for a certain period of time", energy company DTEK said. DTEK reiterated calls for residents to use electricity "sparingly" and for businesses to limit their use of external lighting. More than one million Ukrainian households have lost electricity following recent Russian strikes, according to the Ukrainian presidency, at least a third of the country's power stations having been destroyed ahead of winter. Zelensky condemned the "vile strikes" in comments late Saturday, after Russian attacks caused power cuts across the country. - 'Save your strength' - In the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rig, deputy mayor Sergiy Miliutin was dealing with emergencies and power outages from his underground bunker, used as a venue for a children's martial arts competition. "I've reached a point where I just survive on my drive. You have to stay level-headed and save your strength. No one knows how long this will all last," he told AFP. The intensification of Russian strikes on Ukraine, particularly energy facilities, came after the bridge linking the annexed Crimea peninsula to mainland Russia was partially destroyed by an explosion earlier this month. It was another major setback for Moscow's forces, battling to contain a Ukrainian counter-offensive in the south and east of the country. French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that it was for Ukrainians to decide when "peace is possible", in comments made in Rome at the start of a peace summit. Ukraine reported three deaths in an overnight Russian artillery strike in the Toretsk area, a governor of the eastern Donetsk region said. Inside Russia, two lines of defence have been built in the border region of Kursk to deal with any possible attack, a local governor said on Sunday. On Saturday Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor in the neighbouring Russian border region of Belgorod, said the construction of defence structures had begun. Gladkov said two civilians had been killed in strikes there Saturday, and that 15,000 people had been left without electricity. - Kherson evacuations - Meanwhile Ukraine's SBU intelligence service said it had detained two officials of Ukrainian aircraft engine maker Motor Sich on suspicion of working with Russia. The SBU said management at the company's plant in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region -- partly controlled by Russian forces -- had colluded with Russian state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec. The suspects had supplied Russia with Ukrainian aircraft engines that were used to make and repair attack helicopters, the SBU said. In the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, which Russia claims to have annexed, pro-Moscow officials on Saturday urged residents to leave "immediately" amid a "tense situation" at the front. Kherson, the region's main city, was the first to fall to Moscow's troops and retaking it would be a major prize in Ukraine's counter-offensive. A Moscow-installed official in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, told Russian news agency Interfax on Saturday that around 25,000 people had left Kherson city to the left bank of the Dnipro River. Ukraine has denounced the removal of residents from Kherson, describing them as "deportations". bur-imm/raz/jj/lcm Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: The information that there are bodies of Armenian servicemen in Azerbaijan is false, the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People told Trend May 2. Taking into account the numerous appeals received from a number of news agencies operating in Azerbaijan, the State Commission said that there are no Armenian dead servicemen in Azerbaijan. The State Commission added that Azerbaijan always respects the norms of international humanitarian law and stands for a fast repatriation of the bodies of the servicemen killed as a result of the ceasefire violation. 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. Professional Development Infosys NSF DonorsChoose Partner on Computer Science Professional Development Initiative Infosys Foundation USA has partnered with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and DonorsChoose.org to launch the Computer Science [CS] for All Community Giving program, which will provide as many as 2,000 teachers with professional development in computer science education. Through the program, grade 6-12 public school teachers can create project requests to attend computer science professional development programs. Local communities can sponsor those requests, and Infosys Foundation USA will match the community-funded donations. When teachers create the project requests, they can select one of the professional development programs associated with the initiative. Some of the evidence-based frameworks that teachers will have the opportunity to access through this program include Exploring Computer Science (ECS), CS Principles and Bootstrap, all of which were developed with support from the NSF. Together, Infosys Foundation USA and the NSF have committed $6 million to define an end-to-end approach to computer science education, develop new evidence-based curricula and develop sustainable funding mechanisms to ensure teachers are trained effectively in computer science instruction, according to a news release. According to information from Infosys Foundation USA, this program has the potential to affect up to 60,000 students in the first academic year and will "especially benefit teachers and students in districts with significant funding challenges and limited or no access to computer science education," stated a news release. "This CS for All community giving model pioneers a sustainable funding approach that puts the power back in the hands of the stakeholders teachers, students, citizens and especially parents," said Vandana Sikka, chairperson of Infosys Foundation USA, in a prepared statement. "Skills learned through CS education are essential for success in tomorrow's workforce. Investing in CS professional development and training the teachers creates a multiplier effect that expands the learning opportunities for our students especially in under-served communities. The crowd-funding dimension of this initiative has the potential to be transformational. It accelerates the impact of this public-private funding and enables us to solve the CS teacher shortage in a unique new way." Further information about the Computer Science [CS] for All Community Giving program can be found on the DonorsChoose.org site. Student Competitions Missouri District Designated as CyberPatriot Center of Excellence Just days after becoming a CyberPatriot Center of Excellence, two student teams from Lee's Summit R-7 School District in Missouri also claimed top awards at a CyberPatriot national competition. The CyberPatriot is the name of a cyber education program developed and run by the Air Force Association (AFA). Its goal is to woo students into STEM education and careers. Lee's Summit participation in the program started in 2012, when the district began competing in cyber competitions, which initially take place online on specific weekends throughout the school year. During those contests students find and fix vulnerabilities on a virtual machine image, such as putting strong passwords in place, doing network packet tracing and other cyber security-related activities. At the national level teams meet in person and are placed in a scenario where they have to secure their network, keep critical services up and running and address administrative or policy changes to the network. That competition also offers challenges specific to Cisco, Leidos and Facebook. All team expenses to the national contest are paid by the CyberPatriot national program and the Northrop Grumman Foundation. The centers of excellence designation is given to districts, colleges and cities that put a consistent effort into emphasizing cybersecurity and developing workforce initiatives. Other K-12-specific recipients of this title include the Los Angeles Unified School District, Spokane Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools and Huntsville City Schools. The Lee's Summit program is led by Lisa Oyler, a teacher at Summit Technology Academy, one of the district's high schools. Oyler's school is a primary collaborator with the University of Central Missouri and the Metropolitan Community College to run the Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC) program, which allows STEM-focused students to earn college credit while they finish high school. Soon that program will add a cybersecurity degree program that includes summer internships with local companies in the Kansas City area. CyberPatriot is a formal club within the district; middle schools and high schools can start and run their own CyberPatriot teams. At the middle school level, the district has signed on for an AFA CyberCamp to recruit incoming students. During the recent CyberPatriot National Competition, a six-student team from Summit Tech captured first place in an open division contest with 1638 teams. A team from Pleasant Lea Middle School, also in the district, took second place in the middle-school division, competing against 460 teams. This was Summit Technology Academy's fourth straight year to qualify for the national CyberPatriot finals and the first year for the school district's middle school teams to compete. - The British government has deployed troops to Somalia help the United Nations in its peacekeeping duties, in the war torn Somalia - The British soldiers will help in fighting terrorism and extremism as well as offer logistical and medical support to African Union forces British soldiers have entered Somalia under the United Nations, in an effort to fight terrorism in the horn of Africa country. The soldiers are the first from the United Kingdom to be deployed to Somalia, a second group of 70 are set to be sent there this year, as part of the UN peacekeeping mission to counter extremists. Some of the soldiers will offer medical, logistical and engineering support to the African Union forces in Somalia. READ ALSO: 20 al-Shabaab fighters killed after an attack on a military base Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, has said the move reinforces the UK's commitment to targeting terrorism around the world. READ ALSO: Photo: Meet the cruel British man behind ISIS in East Africa Britain's entry into Somalia comes at a time when the Islamic State or ISIS as it is known, launched their first attack in East Africa. ISIS had claimed its first ever attack by blowing up an African Union car, just outside the capital Mogadishu on Monday, April 25. ISIS, according to reports is being headed by a British citizen named Abdul Qadir Mumin, who holds a British passport. British Prime Minister, David Cameron in September 2015, had announced that the UK would send troops to Somalia and South Sudan, as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. READ ALSO: Security risk as Kenyas confidential website hacked Photo: Reuters Source: TUKO.co.ke baghdad Protesters stormed Iraq's heavily fortified Green Zone over the weekend, for the first time since its concrete barriers were erected more than 13 years ago to separate US security forces and Iraqi elites from the rest of Baghdad. The unprecedented breach has created an "accelerated meltdown" that "could be both a local catastrophe and a signature blot on Obama's foreign policy record," David Rothkopf, the CEO of the Foreign Policy publishing group, said on Monday. Ever since ISIS overran the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014, much of President Barack Obama's dealings with Baghdad have revolved around formulating a cohesive strategy to halt the jihadists' momentum in Iraq and Syria. It has been a battle that, as The Washington Post's Greg Jaffe pointed out, "is predicated on having a credible and effective Iraqi ally on the ground in Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi." As many analysts have noted since the political chaos erupted on Saturday, the Obama administration's narrow focus on consolidating a partnership with Abadi has resulted in a one-dimensional policy that focuses too heavily on one manifestation of Iraq's political instability ISIS rather than its root cause, which is widespread incompetence and corruption. "The message to the Iraqis has been to focus on the short-term problem that this president would like solved by January," Doug Ollivant, a former military planner in Baghdad and senior fellow at the New America Foundation, told The Washington Post. "The focus is on the symptom and not the root cause of the problem." baghdad Story continues In Politico, Emma Sky, a senior political adviser to US Gen. Ray Odierno in Iraq from 2007 to 2009, suggested that for many ordinary Iraqis the Green Zone symbolizes Baghdad's "broken politics, catastrophic corruption, and mismanagement." "Under the right circumstances, Iraqi forces, with US support, can smash the Islamic State," Sky wrote. "But Washington should not kid itself: If the root causes that created the conditions for the rise of the Islamic State are not addressed, then some son-of-ISIS might emerge in the future and the cycle will continue." 'We need a radical new formula' Protesters loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr staged a 24-hour sit-in from Saturday into Sunday. They demanded reform that would replace a political class selected according to their sect and ethnicity a "quota system" implemented by the US-led coalition after the invasion with technocrats chosen solely for their professional qualifications. Analysts seem to disagree, however, on whether the reality of Iraq's ethnic diversity should be considered when reforming its political system. Ali Khedery, a former special assistant to five US ambassadors in Baghdad from 2003 to 2009, told The Washington Post that building partnerships with individual Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish leaders might be the US's best hope in creating the kind of stability needed to bring ISIS to its knees. "Abadi is generally speaking a good ally of the United States, but there isn't much under his control," Khedery said. "What you have is a society that is deeply polarized between communities and even polarized within those communities. We need a radical new formula." baghdad Michael Pregent, an embedded adviser with a Peshmerga battalion operating in Mosul between 2005 and 2006 and a former US Defense Department adviser to the Iraqi security forces from 2006 to 2011, largely agreed that Abadi lacks control over Baghdad's political elite. But he said he believes that the Shiite politician's loyalty to Iran has always precluded him from being a reliable US ally. "Abadi was and is a weak compromise candidate heavily influenced by Iran and its proxies," Pregent told Business Insider on Monday. That is largely because of the financial support Abadi's Dawa Party continues to receive from Tehran, Pregent said, despite some of its policy differences with the Islamic Republic. "The US has no leverage in Baghdad, which has long since been ceded to Tehran," Pregent said. Obama 'dropped the mic' Whether Sunnis, Iran-backed Shiites, or Kurds, however, it is clear that each group might have something to gain from a dismantling of the Green Zone's elitist and exclusionary politics. Rumors have circulated that the Kurdish Regional Government's president, Masoud Barzani, will announce a referendum for an independent Kurdistan in the coming days. Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric, traveled to Iran on Monday seeking Tehran's help in negotiating an end to Baghdad's political standoff. Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr In any case, analysts seem to agree that much of Iraq's political chaos has stemmed from Washington's longtime prioritization of short-term goals over longer-term stability. They also say that a political foundation establishing who will govern ISIS territory once the jihadists are driven out is essential to any plan that aims to decisively destroy them. "Obama 'dropped the mic' after The Surge by leaving [Iraq] and then tilted to Iran to secure the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]," Pregent said. He was referring to Washington's deployment of 20,000 extra troops to Iraq in 2007 to foment political stability after the war, and the Iran nuclear deal that has become a cornerstone of Obama's foreign-policy legacy. "The US should move its effort to the KRG to build a majority Sunni force to clear and hold ISIS territory," Pregent said, referring to the Kurdistan Regional Government. "Ultimately, the fight against ISIS is too important to leave to a dysfunctional Baghdad." More From Business Insider Details added (first version posted on 16:34) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: Army building is the priority of Azerbaijan's policy and it is natural, as the country is in a state of war, the war hasn't ended yet, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said. He made the remarks during the meeting with the personnel of a military unit in Azerbaijan's Terter district. "The ceasefire regime was established in 1994. Nevertheless, Armenia constantly grossly violates the ceasefire," said the president. President Aliyev noted that when the international pressure on Armenia over the conflict increases, it even more violates the ceasefire and stages armed provocations. "The international community has already been fully informed about the conflict," Azerbaijan's president added. "Over these years, we managed to prove to the whole world that we are the aggrieved party." "Armenia - the aggressor, has committed genocide against the Azerbaijani people, occupied our lands and continues this occupation," said President Aliyev. "The [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairs, who are engaged in this issue, have repeatedly said in recent times that the status quo is unacceptable and should be changed." It means that the occupation should be ended, said President Aliyev. "It is a signal directly addressed to Armenia," said the president. "Therefore, and also when Armenians see that Azerbaijan gains more support worldwide, they periodically stage armed provocations in order to disrupt the negotiations and continue the policy of occupation. We witnessed this in the recent past. They attacked our positions in the summer of 2014. Our army gave an adequate response that time as well." In November of the same year, after certain hopes emerged in the negotiations, Armenia, as it said, held large-scale exercises in Aghdam district with participation of the personnel consisting of 47,000 people, said the president, adding that it was a purely provocative move. "The Azerbaijani side showed high restraint for several days. But afterwards, two military helicopters of Armenia attacked our positions," said Ilham Aliyev. "Azerbaijani army destroyed one of them. Taking the advantage of this, Armenia accused us and the negotiation process came to the deadlock again." Using this as a reason, they began to accuse Azerbaijan of violating the ceasefire, said Ilham Aliyev, adding that the goal was clear: to disrupt the talks again and to continue the occupation policy. President Aliyev noted that since early 2016, some progress has been observed in the negotiation process. "A lot of pressure is exerted on Armenia on the part of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs, according to the information we have," Azerbaijani president said. "However, they don't openly say it. They always try to maintain a balanced position. But the reality is that nowadays Armenia is the side that prevents peaceful resolution of the conflict." President Aliyev further said that considering the current situation, the Armenian armed forces decided to resort to regular provocations, and this happened in early April. "They again committed an armed provocation and attacked our positions," he said. "Azerbaijani army with great skill and professionalism held a counter-attack, stopped the enemy, and our positions on the contact line were strengthened even more. At the request of the Armenian side, we agreed so that the ceasefire be restored April 5. We don't want a war." Azerbaijan wants the issue to be resolved peacefully, but it should be settled, President Aliyev said. "Holding negotiations just for the sake of negotiations, makes no sense," he said. "Thus, on April 5, it was agreed that a ceasefire be restored. We adhered to the ceasefire, and continue to do so today as well. But, unfortunately, Armenia once again shows an insincere approach," Aliyev said, adding that not a single day has passed without the ceasefire violations by Armenia since April 5. In the first days after the April 5 ceasefire agreement, Armenia tried to attack Azerbaijan's positions and take back the lost territories, the president said. He went on to add that after the Armenian troops realized it wasn't working, that Azerbaijani soldier stands his ground, they started armed provocations against civilian population. "Our villages were fired at, civilians got wounded and killed, over 500 of our houses got damaged, over 100 houses were either completely destroyed or burned down," said Ilham Aliyev. "This is the ugly face of Armenian fascism. They did the same during the first Karabakh war, they committed the Khodjaly genocide. And today, realizing lack of forces on the battlefield, they target civilian population." By John Davison BEIRUT (Reuters) - Nearly 30 air strikes hit rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Saturday as a temporary "calm" declared by Syrias military took effect around Damascus and in the northwest. It was the ninth day of deadly bombardments in Aleppo, which has borne the brunt of increased fighting that has all but destroyed a February ceasefire and killed nearly 250 people in the northern city since April 22, a monitoring group said. It also contributed to the break up of peace talks in Geneva, which the main opposition walked out of last week. The Syrian army announced a "regime of calm," or lull in fighting, late on Friday, which Damascus said was designed to salvage the wider ceasefire. A number of rebel groups appeared to reject the "regime of calm," however. "We won't accept any kind of... regional ceasefires," a statement from a number of groups including Jaysh al-Islam, which controls areas east of Damascus, said. It said the main armed opposition as a whole reserved the right to respond to attacks on rebel factions in any part of the country, and criticised the United States for not doing enough to stop government bombardments. The lull in fighting around the capital and parts of northwest coastal province Latakia, announced by the army, appeared to hold through most of Saturday but the bombing continued in Aleppo which was excluded from the plan. Anas Al Abde, president of the Turkey-based opposition Syrian National Coalition, accused the government of violating the February truce "daily." The opposition was ready to reinstate the wider truce, but reserved the right to respond with force to attacks, he said. All sides have accused each other of truce violations. The United States said it was working on "specific initiatives" to reduce the violence in Syria and sees stopping the bloodshed in Aleppo as a top priority, a U.S. State Department spokesman said on Saturday. In a statement detailing calls U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has made over the past two days with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and with Riad Hijab, chief coordinator of the main opposition HNC bloc, State Department spokesman John Kirby said Kerry had made clear the United States wanted Russia to apply pressure to the Assad government to get it to stop "indiscriminate aerial attacks" in Aleppo. Kerry is travelling to Geneva on May 1-2 to discuss the Syrian conflict with his Jordanian and Saudi counterparts as well as de Mistura, the State Department said on Saturday. The Syrian army did not explain in any detail what military or non-military action the "regime of calm" would entail. It said it would last for 24 hours in the capital Damascus and its suburb Eastern Ghouta and for 72 hours in rural areas around the northern city of Latakia. At least five people were killed in Aleppo early on Saturday in air strikes believed to have been carried out by Syrian government warplanes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, has been divided for years between rebel and government-held zones. Full control would be a huge prize for President Bashar al-Assad. Of the 250 casualties since April 22, 140 were killed in bombardments by government-aligned forces and 96 by rebel shelling. Forty children were among the dead, according to the Observatory's tally. "A BIT QUIETER" Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said government-held areas of Aleppo were "a bit quieter today," but that rebels were still firing shells intermittently. State news agency SANA said at least one person had been killed by rebel shelling on government-held neighbourhoods. Latakia and Ghouta were quiet with only some lower-level violence between rival rebel groups outside Damascus, Abdulrahman said. A resident of Western Ghouta, which is under government siege, said shellings appeared to have ceased around the capital in the hours after the start of the lull at 1 a.m. (2200 GMT on Friday). "There has been no military activity and no sound of bombardments in nearby areas, no sound of shelling or of warplanes," Maher Abu Jaafar told Reuters via the internet. "It's the opposite of last night, when there was a lot of bombing and the sounds of rockets and shells." Syrian helicopters later in the day dropped barrel bombs southwest of Damascus but outside the area where the lull in fighting was meant to take place, the Observatory said. Abu Jaafar said he heard several explosions. The United Nations has called on Moscow and Washington to help restore the ceasefire to prevent the complete collapse of talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict in which more than 250,000 people have been killed and millions displaced. Agencies have continued to deliver aid in the west of the country, but say that access is not regular enough and that many Syrians in need still cannot be reached. The International Committee for the Red Cross said aid had begun to enter the towns of Zabadani and Madaya, where there were reports of starvation earlier this year due to a siege by government forces and their allies. Trucks simultaneously entered al-Foua and Kefraya in the northwest province of Idlib, which are surrounded by insurgents. (Additional reporting by Omar Fahmy in Cairo and Tim Ahmann in Washington; Editing by Robin Pomeroy, Marguerita Choy and Bernard Orr) Details added (first version posted on 16:34) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: Army building is the priority of Azerbaijan's policy and it is natural, as the country is in a state of war, the war hasn't ended yet, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said. He made the remarks during the meeting with the personnel of a military unit in Azerbaijan's Terter district. "The ceasefire regime was established in 1994. Nevertheless, Armenia constantly grossly violates the ceasefire," said the president. President Aliyev noted that when the international pressure on Armenia over the conflict increases, it even more violates the ceasefire and stages armed provocations. "The international community has already been fully informed about the conflict," Azerbaijan's president added. "Over these years, we managed to prove to the whole world that we are the aggrieved party." "Armenia - the aggressor, has committed genocide against the Azerbaijani people, occupied our lands and continues this occupation," said President Aliyev. "The [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairs, who are engaged in this issue, have repeatedly said in recent times that the status quo is unacceptable and should be changed." It means that the occupation should be ended, said President Aliyev. "It is a signal directly addressed to Armenia," said the president. "Therefore, and also when Armenians see that Azerbaijan gains more support worldwide, they periodically stage armed provocations in order to disrupt the negotiations and continue the policy of occupation. We witnessed this in the recent past. They attacked our positions in the summer of 2014. Our army gave an adequate response that time as well." In November of the same year, after certain hopes emerged in the negotiations, Armenia, as it said, held large-scale exercises in Aghdam district with participation of the personnel consisting of 47,000 people, said the president, adding that it was a purely provocative move. "The Azerbaijani side showed high restraint for several days. But afterwards, two military helicopters of Armenia attacked our positions," said Ilham Aliyev. "Azerbaijani army destroyed one of them. Taking the advantage of this, Armenia accused us and the negotiation process came to the deadlock again." Using this as a reason, they began to accuse Azerbaijan of violating the ceasefire, said Ilham Aliyev, adding that the goal was clear: to disrupt the talks again and to continue the occupation policy. President Aliyev noted that since early 2016, some progress has been observed in the negotiation process. "A lot of pressure is exerted on Armenia on the part of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs, according to the information we have," Azerbaijani president said. "However, they don't openly say it. They always try to maintain a balanced position. But the reality is that nowadays Armenia is the side that prevents peaceful resolution of the conflict." President Aliyev further said that considering the current situation, the Armenian armed forces decided to resort to regular provocations, and this happened in early April. "They again committed an armed provocation and attacked our positions," he said. "Azerbaijani army with great skill and professionalism responded with a counter-attack, stopped the enemy, and our positions on the contact line were strengthened even more. At the request of the Armenian side, we agreed so that the ceasefire be restored April 5. We don't want a war." Azerbaijan wants the issue to be resolved peacefully, but it should be settled, President Aliyev said. "Holding negotiations just for the sake of negotiations, makes no sense," he said. "Thus, on April 5, it was agreed that a ceasefire be restored. We adhered to the ceasefire, and continue to do so today as well. But, unfortunately, Armenia once again shows an insincere approach." President Aliyev said that not a single day has passed without the ceasefire violations by Armenia since April 5. In the first days after the April 5 ceasefire agreement, Armenia tried to attack Azerbaijan's positions and take back the lost territories, the president said. He went on to add that after the Armenian troops realized it wasn't working, that Azerbaijani soldier stands his ground, they started armed provocations against civilian population. "Our villages were fired at, civilians got wounded and killed, over 500 of our houses got damaged, over 100 houses were either completely destroyed or burned down," said Ilham Aliyev. "This is the ugly face of Armenian fascism. They did the same during the first Karabakh war, they committed the Khodjaly genocide. And today, realizing lack of forces on the battlefield, they target civilian population." President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani army have never been at war with civilian population. "We just destroy the enemy's firing positions when we are shot at," Azerbaijani president said. "But, at the same time, the Azerbaijani army must protect, protects and will protect its citizens. The settlement of the conflict will allow the Armenian government to build an independent state. I still hope that their aggressive policy will come to an end, because there is no other way." "The people of Azerbaijan will never reconcile with such a situation, and the recent events have once again shown it," he said. "The armed provocation committed against us wasn't left unanswered, and everyone knows it. The sooner Armenian leadership understands that it can develop only in conditions of peace with Azerbaijan, the faster the conflict will end." ALMATY (Reuters) - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, facing a growing wave of protests against planned changes to land ownership, evoked the image of war-torn Ukraine on Sunday as he called for national unity. Speaking at an event in Almaty to mark the annual May 1 Unity Day celebrations, Nazarbayev highlighted Ukraine, where street protests in 2013-2014 toppled the government of Viktor Yanukovich, as an example of what could happen in the absence of unity. "Ukraine, the second-biggest ex-Soviet state, today has an economy which is half the size of Kazakhstan's," the president said. "Because there is no unity, no sense of purpose, no tasks are being solved, (people) are busy with other things: fighting, killing, brawling." Though relatively small, the rallies are a challenge to Nazarbayev, 75, who has run the oil-rich Central Asian nation since 1989 with little tolerance for dissent since 1989. The collapse in global oil prices has hurt the economy and the government's fiscal position, prompting Fitch Ratings to cut the country's long-term sovereign debt ratings on April 29. The protests which are entering their second week, were sparked by fears that land reforms will allow foreigners to take over farmland, although some analysts say many Kazakhs have attended the demonstrations to express their general discontent. A legal overhaul due to take effect on July 1 will allow the government to sell farmland to joint ventures, provided they are controlled by Kazakh residents, and lease it to foreigners for up to 25 years. Previously they were only allowed leases for up to 10 years. Opponents of the new law, who staged their first protest in the city of Atyrau last Sunday, see the change as a threat to national security, especially after the government announced several agreements with neighbouring China for agricultural projects. Rallies have taken place in several cities during the week, despite warnings from Nazarbayev and the prosecutor general's office that the organizers would be punished. On Sunday, political activists said dozens of people took to the streets of provincial capital Kyzylorda in southern Kazakhstan. One video posted online showed protesters scuffling with police in full riot gear at a square where official celebrations of the Unity Day holiday were taking place. In another video police were seen marching in formation at a group of protesters and then chasing them down the street as they tried to scatter. A spokesman for the local police said by telephone that several people had been charged with misdemeanours over the protest which was illegal because it had not been agreed in advance with the authorities. In the town of Zhanaozen, the site of a deadly clash between striking oil workers and police in 2011, dozens of protesters took to the streets and sang the national anthem in the city's main square, according to videos posted on the Internet by activists. Zhanaozen police could not be reached for comment. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov and Shamil Zhumatov; Editing by Nerys Avery) By Tina Bellon STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - German left-wing demonstrators clashed with police on Saturday as they tried to break up the first full conference of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany where Chancellor Angela Merkel's policies came under attack. Police counted up to 2,000 left-wing protesters, some of whom burnt tyres and hurled stones and fireworks to try to stop the AfD's congress going ahead in Stuttgart. Some 500 were detained, police said. Two policemen were slightly injured, but there were no reports of injured among the protesters, police spokesman Lambert Maute said. Buoyed by the migrant crisis, which saw the arrival of more than one million migrants in Germany last year, the AfD has upended German party politics. After the congress started late, more than 2,000 AfD members listened to their party leaders' call for an end to Merkel's refugee-friendly politics and a return to Christian values. "We always wondered when the brave child will finally appear to voice the thoughts of the silent majority and declare that the 'Chancellor of no alternatives' is nothing but naked," said party leader Frauke Petry, 40, in her opening speech. "And I think, this brave child is us," Petry added. The violence began around dawn and clashes continued for several hours. Police used pepper spray and threatened to use water cannons to stop protesters, some of whom were masked, from getting onto the grounds of the conference. Some demonstrators still managed to assault several party members, they said. The AfD has mainly run on an anti-migrant and Islam-critical agenda, but now struggles to unite its various fractions under one party programme that could put it on a broader footing. It currently has representatives in half of Germany's sixteen federal state parliaments and the party has its eyes set on next year's federal elections. Opinion polls see the party coming in at between 10 and 14 percent, a serious challenge to established party politics, though these have ruled out forming any coalition with the AfD. The AfD however considers itself in good company on a European level, following election gains by far-right parties across the continent. Petry used her oratorical skills to denounce what she termed the hypocrisy of the ruling elite whose policies, she said, were directed against the interest of ordinary German citizens. (Reporting by Tina Bellon in Stuttgart and Michael Nienaber in Berlin; Editing by Richard Balmforth) OSLO (Reuters) - Norway will send some 60 troops, including special forces soldiers, to train, advise and give operational support to Syrian fighters battling Islamic State militants, the country's prime minister said on Monday. The troops will be based in Jordan. The Norwegian Parliament will need to be consulted if the troops are to operate within Syria, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said. Norway had previously sent 120 soldiers to Iraq to help to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State in northern Iraq. Those troops are still in Iraq. Norway's decision comes a week after the United States announced its biggest expansion of U.S. ground troops in Syria since its civil war began. The U.S. military has led an air campaign against Islamic State since 2014 in Iraq and Syria, but its effectiveness in Syria has been limited by a lack of allies on the ground, in a country where a multi-sided civil war has raged for five years. (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Larry King) Details added (first version posted on 16:34) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: Army building is the priority of Azerbaijan's policy and it is natural, as the country is in a state of war, the war hasn't ended yet, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said. He made the remarks during the meeting with the personnel of a military unit in Azerbaijan's Terter district. "The ceasefire regime was established in 1994. Nevertheless, Armenia constantly grossly violates the ceasefire," said the president. President Aliyev noted that when the international pressure on Armenia over the conflict increases, it even more violates the ceasefire and stages armed provocations. "The international community has already been fully informed about the conflict," Azerbaijan's president added. "Over these years, we managed to prove to the whole world that we are the aggrieved party." "Armenia - the aggressor, has committed genocide against the Azerbaijani people, occupied our lands and continues this occupation," said President Aliyev. "The [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairs, who are engaged in this issue, have repeatedly said in recent times that the status quo is unacceptable and should be changed." It means that the occupation should be ended, said President Aliyev. "It is a signal directly addressed to Armenia," said the president. "Therefore, when Armenians see that Azerbaijan gains more support worldwide, they periodically stage armed provocations in order to disrupt the negotiations and continue the policy of occupation. We witnessed this in the recent past. They attacked our positions in the summer of 2014. Our army gave an adequate response that time as well." In November of the same year when there emerged certain hope in the negotiations, Armenia, as it said, held large-scale exercises in Aghdam district with participation of the personnel consisting of 47,000 people, said the president. It was a purely provocative move, he added. "The Azerbaijani side showed high restraint for several days. But afterwards, two military helicopters of Armenia attacked our positions," said Ilham Aliyev. "Azerbaijani army destroyed one of them. Taking the advantage of this, Armenia accused us and the negotiation process came to the deadlock again." Using this as a reason, they began to accuse Azerbaijan of violating the ceasefire, said Ilham Aliyev, adding that the goal was clear: to disrupt the talks again and to continue the occupation policy. President Aliyev noted that since early 2016, some progress has been observed in the negotiation process. "A lot of pressure is exerted on Armenia on the part of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs, according to the information we have," Azerbaijani president said. "However, they don't openly say it. They always try to maintain a balanced position. But the reality is that nowadays Armenia is the side that prevents peaceful resolution of the conflict." President Aliyev further said that considering the current situation, the Armenian armed forces decided to resort to regular provocations, and this happened in early April. "They again committed an armed provocation and attacked our positions," he said. "Azerbaijani army with great skill and professionalism held a counter-attack, stopped the enemy, and our positions on the contact line were strengthened even more. At the request of the Armenian side, we agreed the ceasefire to be restored April 5. We don't want war." Azerbaijan wants the problem to be resolved peacefully, but it should be settled, President Aliyev said. "Holding negotiations just for the sake of negotiations makes no sense," he said. "Thus, on April 5, it was agreed to restore ceasefire. We adhered to the ceasefire, and continue to do so today as well. But, unfortunately, Armenia once again shows an insincere approach," Aliyev said, adding that not a single day has passed without the ceasefire violations by Armenia since April 5. In the first days after the April 5 ceasefire agreement, Armenia tried to attack Azerbaijan's positions and take back the lost territories, the president said. He went on to add that after the Armenian troops realized it wasn't working, and Azerbaijani soldier stands his ground, they started armed provocations against civilian population. "Our villages were shelled, civilians got wounded and killed, over 500 of our houses were damaged, over 100 houses were either completely destroyed or burned down," said Ilham Aliyev. "This is the ugly face of Armenian fascism. They did the same during the first Karabakh war, they committed the Khodjaly genocide. And today, realizing lack of forces on the battlefield, they target civilian population." President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani army have never been at war with civilian population. "We just destroy the enemy's firing positions when we are shot at," Azerbaijani president said. "But, at the same time, the Azerbaijani army must protect, protects and will protect its citizens. The settlement of the conflict will allow the Armenian government to build an independent state. I still hope that their aggressive policy will come to an end, because there is no other way." "The people of Azerbaijan will never reconcile with such a situation, and the recent events have once again shown it," he said. "The armed provocation committed against us wasn't left unanswered, and everyone knows it. The sooner Armenian leadership understands that it can develop only in conditions of peace with Azerbaijan, the faster the conflict will end." He stressed that the settlement of the conflict should be based on the norms and principles of international law. "All the international organizations - the UN, the OSCE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Council of Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement and other organizations - protect the fair position of Azerbaijan," the president said. "No international organization supports aggressive policy of Armenia. No country in the world puts the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan under question. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored. The occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and other lands are our historical lands. Azerbaijani citizens must live and will live on these lands." "Once again I'd like to say that we will seek to put Armenia on the right path through negotiations," he said. "We will strengthen diplomatic, political, economic pressure and intensify positions of the contact line of troops. If another Armenian armed provocation is committed against us, the necessary answer will be given again, and the result will be the same, because today the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies on a global scale." "Material and technical basis of our army has been considerably strengthened and expanded," the president said. "The most modern weapons, equipment is purchased, and nowadays the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies in terms of financial security. Discipline in the army is at the highest level, just as the combat capability is, and the fighting in April showed it. The army is in high spirits. The morale state of our army, soldiers, and officers is very positive." "The sense of patriotism is very high not only in the army but the whole society," the president said. "The whole society is united for the sake of a single idea. There is no issue more important for us than the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This is the primary issue. We must resolve this problem and we will." The president noted that he always treated servicemen with great respect. "Everything necessary will be done for the construction of the army," he said. "That's what we are doing now. The biggest spending is military spending. This has gone on for many years. Sometimes pro-Armenian politicians from different countries accuse me. Why does Azerbaijan increase the military budget? That takes place because we have been subjected to aggression." "If there was not such aggression, then, of course, this wouldn't be necessary," he said. "However, life showed how right we were. If we didn't have strong combat capabilities, today the situation on the contact line would be different. Our greatest achievement is the increase of combat capability, material and technical equipment, purchase of weapons and equipment, patriotic spirit, professionalism, the skill of soldiers, valor and heroism demonstrated in the fighting in April." "You now carry the service face to face with the enemy," the president told the servicemen. "You defend our land, our people. This is a great and honorable mission. I cordially congratulate you all and I wish you success. Always be loyal to your Motherland, love your Home land, protect it and the citizens. Long live Azerbaijani army!" On behalf of the whole personnel, Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov expressed deep gratitude to Azerbaijan's president, commander-in-chief, for his care od the armed forces. He noted that thanks to the commander-in-chief's attention and care, today, the armed forces have been fully provided with weaponry and equipment at a high level and the social issues have been resolved. "In order to justify care, trust, the personnel constantly improves and enhances the combat training level," said Hasanov. "Mr. President, I would like to assure you that the personnel of the armed forces are ready and able to fulfill all your orders in a short time." President Aliyev noted that a new situation has emerged on the line of contact after the Armenian armed provocations. "This situation differs from the previous one. It once again shows that we have full advantage on the line of contact," said the president. "Certainly, from now on, we will even more strengthen our positions on the line of contact," he said, adding that necessary measures are taken in order to achieve that. "I believe that the opposing side has already understood that there are no grounds for ensuring any interests by military means," said President Aliyev. "All the efforts are in vein. In order to restore peace in the region, it is simply necessary to put an end to the aggression. I believe that it will be so," he added. Then, the commander-in-chief handed the awards to the fighters for bravery they showed when suppressing the Armenian provocations. MADRID (Reuters) - A new election due to be held in Spain on June 26 is unlikely to break the political stalemate to form a government after a previous vote in December produced the most fragmented result in decades, a poll showed on Sunday. According to the monthly Metroscopia poll published by El Pais newspaper, the conservative People's Party (PP) of acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy would still win the election with 29 percent of the votes, from 28.7 percent in December. The Socialists (PSOE) would come second with 20.3 percent, down from 22 percent, while anti-austerity Podemos would come third with 18.1 percent, also down from 20.7 percent, and newcomer liberal Ciudadanos would remain fourth with 16.9 percent, up from 13.9 percent. The survey does not provide an estimate of how many seats each party would obtain in Spain's 350-strong parliament but the tiny variations in percentages from December are unlikely to translate into major changes on the assembly's benches, with at least three parties likely to be needed to obtain a majority. It is unclear how this unprecedented situation in Spain's modern history could be resolved if this second election is inconclusive. But despite the wrangling, the uncertainty has so far not had an impact on the economic recovery, with the output expanding at a faster-than-expected pace in the first quarter. About two third of the 1,200 Spaniards people polled between April 26 and 28, after it became clear a new election would be called, said they still favoured a political system where several parties have to reach consensus instead of two big parties alternating in power with stable majorities as was the case since the country returned to democracy in the 1970s. Four months of political bickering and failure to form a government are, however, likely to boost abstention rates and marginally help the two traditionally dominant PP and PSOE against Podemos and Ciudadanos who are still seen lacking a strong structure to mobilise voters in many rural areas, the survey showed. About 30 percent of voters would abstain if the election was held today, versus 26.8 percent in December. The other main change from the last election could come from Podemos if it decided to run on a joint platform with other leftist party Izquierda Unida as a combination of the two would capture 22.3 percent of the vote, thus overtaking the Socialists as Spain's main left-wing party. The two parties last week said they were exploring such a tie-up, which could put the Socialists in the uneasy position of having to choose between being the junior coalition partner in a left-wing government or instead back a grand coalition led by the PP. (Reporting by Julien Toyer; Editing by Alison Williams) By Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria called local truces near Damascus and in a northern province on Friday but no halt to combat on the main battlefield in Aleppo, after a surge in fighting the United Nations said showed "monstrous disregard" for civilian lives. A new "regime of calm" would begin from 1:00 a.m. on Saturday and last one day in the capital's eastern Ghouta suburb and three days in the northern countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, the army said in a statement. But by excluding the city of Aleppo, scene of the worst recent violence, the narrow truces were unlikely to resurrect a ceasefire and peace talks that have collapsed this week. In the worst recent attack, an air strike destroyed a hospital in a rebel-held area overnight on Wednesday-Thursday. The French charity Medecins sans Frontieres, which supported the hospital, said on Friday the death toll had risen to at least 50, including six medics. A Syrian military source said Aleppo was excluded from the newly announced truces "because in Aleppo there are terrorists who have not stopped hitting the city and its residents ... There are a large number of martyrs in Aleppo, which is why the situation is different there". Russia's Interfax news agency quoted the officer in charge of a Russian ceasefire monitoring centre as saying the truces meant all military action would cease in the covered areas. Damascus described the truces as an attempt to salvage a wider "cessation of hostilities" agreement in place since February. That ceasefire, sponsored by Washington and Moscow, allowed peace talks to start but has all but completely collapsed in recent days along with the Geneva negotiations. Violence was "soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities," said United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein. "There are deeply disturbing reports of military build-ups indicating preparations for a lethal escalation," Zeid said in a statement that described a "monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties to the conflict". "I DREAD MORE HORROR" The United Nations has called on Moscow and Washington to help restore the ceasefire to prevent the collapse of peace talks, which broke up this week in Geneva with virtually no progress after the opposition walked out. "The cessation of hostilities and the Geneva talks were the only game in town, and if they are abandoned now, I dread to think how much more horror we will see in Syria," Zeid said. The United States said on Friday that it was in discussions with Russia to renew the cessation of hostilities and was seeking a halt to fighting in Latakia and eastern Ghouta as a test case before trying to extend ceasefires throughout the country. "We are in touch with the opposition and it is our expectation they will comply," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said of the Latakia and Ghouta ceasefires. Asked why the United States did not try to get a halt to the violence in Aleppo, Toner said, In part it is a recognition that Aleppo is very complex and the fighting around there is indeed alarming. We need to start somewhere and were going to start with Latakia and east Ghouta. Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, has been divided for years between rebel and government zones. Full control would be the most important prize for President Bashar al-Assad, who has been fighting to keep hold of his country throughout a five-year civil war. U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura has said that up to 400,000 people have been killed. Since Russia joined the war last year with air strikes against Assad's enemies, battlefield momentum has shifted in the government's favour. Hundreds of thousands of people still live in rebel zones of Aleppo, and the countryside to the north includes the only stretch of the Turkish-Syrian border still in the hands of Assad's main opponents, Arab Sunni Muslim rebel groups. Opposition groups have accused the government of deliberately targeting civilians so they would abandon the area. "The aim of what is happening in Aleppo now is to put pressure on us to accept the smallest demands and conditions proposed by Bashar al-Assad," chief opposition negotiator Asaad al-Zoubi said in an interview with Al Jazeera television. "The truce which they are talking about today is so the regime can prepare its forces again, especially because it failed to take control of Aleppo." The leader of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, Riyad Hijab, wrote to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accusing the government of "horrifying daily massacres" and "the besiegement and starvation of cities, towns and villages". He demanded the U.N. Security Council force Assad to stop. Rebels have targeted government areas with aggressive shelling, which Damascus has said is proof that they are receiving weapons from abroad. AIR STRIKES, SHELLING Commenting on the hospital air strike, International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Ewan Watson told Reuters in Geneva, It is unacceptable ... But it is up to an investigator and it is for a court to take that decision on whether it is a war crime or not. Late on Friday, the organisation issued a statement calling for an immediate halt in the attacks, saying another four medical facilities on both sides of the frontlines in Aleppo had been damaged extensively. It said dozens of people had died and were injured in "another day of relentless fighting in Aleppo today." It said the four healthcare facilities that had been hit were Al Marjah polyclinic, the Bustan Al Qassar polyclinic and Shawki Hill Dialysis Centre and the Ibn Rashid Cardiac Hospital. There can be no justification for these appalling acts of violence deliberately targeting hospitals and clinics, which are prohibited under International Humanitarian Law," Marianne Gasser, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria, said in the statement. "People keep dying in these attacks. There is no safe place anymore in Aleppo. Even in hospitals. For the sake of people in Aleppo, we call for all to stop this indiscriminate violence. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said air strikes and government shelling had killed at least 142 civilians including 21 children in rebel areas in the past eight days, while rebel shelling of government areas had killed 84 civilians including 14 children. The Observatory said at least 11 civilians were killed on Friday in rebel areas and 13 in government areas. In the rebel-held zones, more were trapped under fallen buildings destroyed in helicopter strikes. Bebars Mishal, a civil defence chief working in rebel-held areas of Aleppo, told Reuters there were a number of air attacks in the morning, many of them around mosques in rebel-held areas. Mishal said one hit a clinic in Aleppo's Al-Marja district. Syrian state media said a number of people had been killed and wounded and fires started during shelling of government-held quarters in Aleppo, which included a hit on a mosque as people were leaving Friday prayers. (Additional reporting by Omar Fahmy and Lesley Wroughton; Writing by Peter Graff and Andrew Hay, Editing by Peter Millership, Toni Reinhold) YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Vice-President of the Armenian National Autonomy of Hungary Alex Avanesyan said Armenians in Hungary are involved in countrys leading sectors during an interview with Armenpress. He informed that Armenians have been living in Hungary for a long time, nearly thousand years. From time to time, when there was a state of war in different countries, Armenians migrated to Europe and stayed there, including Hungary. In 1993 the founding nations of the Hungarian law, which lived there for over 100 years, Greeks, Bulgarians, Slovaks, Armenians and others had the right to form an autonomous body which still operates. As for the number of Armenians in Hungary, nearly 2100 Armenians were registered during the 2014 elections. Those Armenians had the right to vote, but overall 3000 Armenians live in Hungary, Alex Avanesyan said. He stated that Armenians in Hungary are presented in diverse fields such as in health care system, economy, culture and others. Armenians are involved in every filed, for instance we have famous Armenian doctors, Armenians that established research centers and others, Alex Avanesyan said. The Armenian Community of Hungary has the necessary conditions. It has been for many years that one of the local radios broadcasts in Armenian, there is also a kindergarten, it is planned to open Faculty of Armenian studies in several universities of the country. Our major goal is to spread the Armenian culture, history in foreign language. If we do not do that, no one will do it instead of us. There are numerous people who have very little information about Armenia. Thats why we spend a large amount of our budget on spreading the Armenian culture, he added. He informed that the Armenian Faculty will be opened in the Catholic University of Hungary. It is also planned to open the same Faculty in the Central University of Hungary. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Israeli researcher, Executive Director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem Israel Charny had his significant contribution in the development of genocide studies throughout the world. Professor Charny gave an interview to Armenpress on the issues of the Armenian Genocide and the denialism over it. -Professor Charny, you have long been a staunch advocate for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. What is your assessment of that process at the moment? -The process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide has proceeded brilliantly with outstanding though still incompleteresults around the world. I think our efforts should continue, especially towards the two stubbornly disturbing countries of the USA and Israel. But I also agree with Harut Sassounian (Editor-in-Chief of California Courier journal) that the times has come when there is a basis for Armenians suing through legal channels for reparations and not only seeking recognition. -Do you think that the recognition of this genocide by the international community might force Turkey to face its history? -It certainly wont hurt. The image and status of Turkey internationally is falling progressively, in my opinion. However, who knows what the next developments in Turkey will be. To maintain his fascist controls. Erdogan has persecuted so many people on charges of revolting that one can pray he himself will yet bring about popular resistance. -As a genocide scholar how would you explain the phenomenon of denialism on the Turkish side? -For me it is a mixture of motivesbeginning with continuation of the very dark motives (such as claims of ethnic superiority) that made the genocide to begin with that have not passed, continuing with a desperate collective psychology of guarding against being shamed as a nation and culture, and add to those the dynamics in many an organization in this world that fight against change of any entrenched idea. Ultimately, the denial makes the Turks look like fools and fascists. -What role could the recognition play in the prevention of future genocide, while we witness genocides and mass atrocities in Syria today? -The more human civilization establishes codes of honest history and clear recognition of acts of destruction, the better life could be on our planetwhich tragically still acts like a psychiatric hospital that has spun out of control. -You have also advocated for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel, though it never came true yet. How would you explain this? What are the main reasons for Israel to refrain from the recognition? -Oh, dear God. Our shame as a country indeed continues and even deepens despite the fact that we have demonstrated overwhelming support for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Knesset, also by our fine President Rivlin, and by the people at large. For example, todays Haaretz again publishes a prominent article calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and I have been informed by the electronic newspaper Times of Israel that they will be publishing a piece by me protesting the sale of Israeli arms to an enemy of Armenia. The culprit in our system is the government including the Foreign Ministry. And they remind me so clearly of the US State Departments deep resistance to helping Jews in Europe during the Holocaust. (My bad luck is that these are the two countries in which I hold citizenship.) The realpolitik considerations of the Israeli government are of course the benefits of relationships with Turkey and Azerbaijan both of which in my opinion are untrustworthy, let alone that in a matter of genocide I am convinced that moral principle should prevail over any realpolitik interests. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Within the project Change Through Education sponsored by US Embassy Armenia and Implemented by Enterprise Incubator Foundation, on May 2 certificates awarding ceremony was held in several communities (Azatan village, Maralik town) of Shirak district and Gyumri city. The representative of the US Embassy Armenia attended the above-mentioned ceremony in Pyunik Center Maralik branch. 90 children and young people with disabilities and fewer opportunities received certificates of completion on the following subjects: Adobe Photoshop, Corel DRAW, Social Inclusion and participation. YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of Social Democratic Faction (SPD) at the German Bundestag Thomas Oppermann announced that Bundestag will recognize the mass massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and the homeland deportation in 1915 as genocide. As Armenpress reports, SPD Chairman said this during an interview with German Der Tagesspiegel journal stating that Bundestag will discuss the draft resolution on the Armenian Genocide in June 2 session. German Greens and Left-wing parties also called the 1915 events as genocide. The resolution of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide was brought to Bundestag daily agenda also last year the adoption of which was hindered by Turkey with its continuous blackmailing to the German Government. German President Joachim Gauck and President of the Parliament Norbert Lammert in their recognized the Armenian Genocide during their speeches devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. Dr. Deborah Cochell Brenda Bailey Dr. Brad LeaMaster Dr. Jean Hall Event: Annual meeting, March 4-6, Corvallis Awards: Veterinary Service Award: Dr. Deborah Cochell, Canby. A 1998 graduate of the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Cochell co-owns Woodburn Veterinary Clinic in Woodburn and Sequoia Veterinary Clinic in Canby. She serves on the board of directors of Project Pooch, a rehabilitation program that pairs inmates incarcerated at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, with shelter dogs. Dr. Cochell was honored for her work with the program. Practice Manager of the Year: Brenda Bailey, Sherwood. Practice manager of Cascade Summit Animal Hospital in West Linn, Bailey co-manages the clinics financial plan, administers the practices use of technology to enhance efficiency, and has created a wellness program for the clinic. Presidents Award: Dr. Brad LeaMaster, Dallas. A 1982 graduate of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. LeaMaster is Oregon state veterinarian. Earlier, he worked for the Department of Agriculture for several years. Business: Discussions were held on the licensure of veterinary practice facilities, including nonprofit facilities that treat privately owned animals; the status of relief veterinarians as independent contractors versus employees; and the Food and Drug Administrations guidance document on veterinary compounding and the Drug Enforcement Administrations restrictions on the compounding of controlled substances for non-patientspecific purposes. Also discussed were the transport of controlled substances and the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act; antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals and the Veterinary Feed Directive; and concerns and issues surrounding cannabis, including toxicosis in patients and clients treating their animals with marijuana. Officials: Drs. Jean Hall, Corvallis, president; Robert Franklin, Portland, president-elect; Amelia Simpson, Portland, vice president; Jay Fineman, Newport, treasurer; and Charles Meyer, Grants Pass, immediate past president Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: BHOS and SOCAR Polymer LLC came to agreement on mutual cooperation. Chief executive of SOCAR Polymer Farid Jafarov, representatives of SOCAR Polymer, BHOS management, professors, lecturers and students took part at the event. BHOS rector Elmar Gasimov opened the meeting with the welcome speech. He mainly emphasized that he was proud of the fact that young Azerbaijani specialists were realizing the huge construction project referred to SOCAR Polymer. Gasimov assessed the mentioned project as the characteristics of development of economics, non-oil sector, industry and in total the future of our country. While mentioning the perspective growth of need in engineering specialists resulting from the construction of SOCAR Polymer plant, BHOS rector stressed it would entail the broad job opportunities for BHOS students. To conclude Gasimov said that cooperation existing between BHOS and SOCAR Polymer would be incentive for training highly qualified specialists on chemical engineering and dissemination of knowledge as part of lifelong learning conception. Jafarov said he was pleased to be at the higher educational institution involved in education and training English speaking highly qualified specialists. He also added that this very fact would ensure bright future of Azerbaijani industry. Jafarov stressed that the cooperation between BHOS and SOCAR Polymer would enable training and education highly qualified specialists in the field of chemical engineering at BHOS based on the contemporary academic programs, creation of education and research centers on chemical engineering and carrying out joint works in other directions. Jafarov made detailed presentation related to SOCAR Polymer construction project. After presentations made by SOCAR Polymer specialists who worked at various sites of the former BHOS students had opportunity to join questions and answers session. Then cooperation agreement between BHOS and SOCAR Polymer was signed. According to the agreement, leading specialists of SOCAR Polymer will be engaged in teaching activity at BHOS as part of training specialists at BHOS, organization of trips to the sites of SOCAR Polymer for BHOS students and offering internship opportunities at the SOCAR Polymer sites for BHOS students, joint organization of workshops and conferences on the development of chemical technologies. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 2 By Demir Azizov- Trend: A meeting of the intergovernmental Uzbek-Kazakh demarcation commission was held in the administrative center of Uzbekistan's Syrdarya region - Gulistan, said a message posted on the Uzbek foreign ministry's website. "The meeting was held as part of the two sides' planned work for the preparation of final documents on the demarcation of the Uzbek-Kazakh state border," the message said. According to the ministry, the talks were traditionally held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere. It was previously reported that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have no disputed border areas and virtually completed the process of demarcating the border with a total length of about 2,300 kilometers. Modified On Jun 28, 2016 03:33 PM By Aman Buying a used car is totally different from buying a brand new car. On one hand, all you have to do is go for a basic level of research on the segment that you are looking at, visit the car manufacturer showroom, try to get a good deal and go ahead with your purchase with a complete peace of mind. On the other hand, buying a trouble free used car is a little lengthy process if you are really looking to get a good deal at an affordable price. One important factor here is the initial step, Research. If you have done a fair bit of research before arriving at your final choice, chances are that you will end up with a car that is an overall winner. Now, before we share different ways of doing an optimum research, do go through below considerations which can help you get a good start on your research: Have a budget in mind: Used car market is like a sea in-itself. While you may find only limited options in a particular segment when going for a brand new car for a restricted budget, used cars give you the liberty to even go for a higher segment which may fit your budget as well. So its always healthy to keep a budget in mind so you dont get swayed away with more and more pricier options. Know your usage: Its very important to first understand your own basic usage when going for a used car research. Get these questions answered first! How much kilometers will I be driving daily? How many people will be travelling daily in my car? Do I want a car for my family or will it just be for my own use? How many outstation or highway trips will I make in a month? And lastly, how many years do I intend to keep a used car? By answering these basic questions you can further decide on which type of car do you really want and then continue with your research. For example, people driving for less than 50-60 km a day should ideally go for a petrol car instead of a diesel. Because going for a diesel car, you will easily be spending close to Rs. 1-1.50 lacs more than a petrol purchase. Now, if you spend that amount of money on fuel instead, by doing the math, you can get 2460 litres of petrol (considering Delhi petrol prices Rs 61 for a litre) which can cover around 34,426 km easily (considering average mileage 14 km/l). Now, even if you drive 50 km a day, you can drive the car for closed to two years every single day in this amount by opting for a petrol car! If your daily running is more, say close to 80-100 km a day, then it makes sense as it will bring down your average fuel cost because diesel is cheaper and it offers more mileage to a litre. If you are looking to drive it yourself with occasional family drives, a hatchback can work better for you than a sedan, especially if you commute on congested roads. If you go on a lot of outstation trips or drive on hilly terrains as well, an SUV can be a good idea or if you want to spend less, you can even go for a compact SUV as they are less expensive. If mileage is not really your concern, you can even go for a performance oriented sedan or a hatchback, to get the best of driving experience from your purchase. Start early: People who are not in a hurry can really grab a good deal by spending some time in the research. For the same, say if you are looking to buy a used car anytime soon, its always great to start your research at least a month in advance so you get enough time to go through various options. This will help you go through different type of deals and come across multiple cars without being pressed for time to finalize a deal under pressure. Be patient: One thing that separates a normal used car buyer and a smart used car buyer is patience. You need not jump to conclusions the moment you find a potential buy. There are lot of other factors that needs to be checked and researched before you arrive at your final decision. This involves a thorough inspection of the used car. Here is how you can do an in-depth inspection of a used car before purchase. Keep your options open: In the used car market, you wont really come across similar condition cars that just fits perfectly to your needs. If you keep your options open, it can help you narrow down final set of cars and then go ahead in finalizing one. As prices of used cars are quite less than a brand new car, you have an advantage of comparing across multiple segment of cars which can even include a higher segment car in your budget. Now, once you have done this basic homework, you are ready to go ahead with your used car research with a clear direction. There are a lot of mediums that you can explore when searching for a used car. In the course of this article, we will simplify each medium for you along with its benefits and disadvantages as well, so you dont have to sweat much for your research. When going ahead with your research, below are the 5 major touch points that one can look at: Friends, family and network Newspaper classified Car manufacturer / OEM used car dealerships Local used car dealerships Online auto portals 1. Friends, family and network This can be your first and basic step to spread the word around your social circle speaking to friends, relatives and other people within your network. There is no harm in exploring options within people that are known to you, but then again it can work both ways. Here are some Pros and Cons listed below when opting for this approach: Advantage Disadvantage You can always bargain as the owner is someone you know. They might offer a reasonable price keeping your situation in mind. You can bargain but you cant stress and go beyond a limit. One also has to keep in mind the relation with that known person as too much of negotiating can create personal issues It is easier to verify the credentials of the car as you will most likely have an idea about the car in question here with little knowledge of when it was bought and what kind of driver the owner is. Getting too much to know about the car can also lead to an obligation of purchase. One should not get so involved that you are left with no other option but to consider the car out of obligation. They are trustworthy, which is half the battle. Unless you have a poor taste in friends, in which case, dont blame us. Saying No, can be really tough at times. When dealing with someone like a dealer or any other third party, one can easily say No to a car. But when you are dealing with a family member or a close person, saying No on the face can be a little problematic. Keep it and test drive it for long. If someone is really close, you can even ask the owner to lend you the car for a couple of days, so you can drive it as per your will and then decide if you want to go for it or not. If you come across any issue with the car post purchase, you cant really do much of complaining with the owner. We are sure you would not want to jeopardize your personal relationship over a car, or will you? 2. Newspaper classified This again is an easy approach as most of you must have gone through newspapers classified section which has a lot of listings that include cars, property etc. It is an option but its not something that can offer a lot of details. Listed below are points that you should consider before going ahead with Newspaper research: Advantage Disadvantage Daily and weekly ads can help you locate nearby dealers as well as direct sellers A lot of ads are not genuine as its a bait strategy from dealers to lure in buyers You can compare between similar segment cars listed and their price as well You dont get the detailed information of a car through a small section of ad If you are not technologically equipped, newspapers can be a good old school option to scout used cars Navigating and keeping track of newspapers classifieds can be a little cumbersome especially when there are better options available 3. Car manufacturer / OEM used car dealerships This method is still a reliable option which you can explore. By visiting authentic car manufacturer/ OEM dealerships which deal exclusively in used cars can be a great choice. Some common examples can be Maruti Suzuki True Value, Honda AutoTerrace, Toyota U Trust and Mahindra First Choice. They not only keep their own brand of cars, but they also list other brands as well. But then again, there are some factors that you need to consider. Let compare them below: Advantage Disadvantage They are more reliable when compared to the private dealerships in your neighborhood as they take ownership of the purchase. Cars sold here are expensive than your regular used cars available within your network or through a private dealer. Cars offered are meticulously inspected through a multi-point inspection mechanism. Being an OEM-based dealership, the salesperson will obviously be biased towards its own brand. You might not be able to get an honest opinion about the various options you can go for. They also offer used car warranty on your purchase. Price point offered will not be very attractive as there are too many middlemen between the buyer and seller. They also take care of the complete paper-work including ownership transfer as well as insurance and other details. Few multi-brand options. As the number of such dealerships are limited they also cater to quite a few number of cars from other rival brands. Thus your choices are quite few when looking into multiple brand cars within a single dealership. 4. Local used car dealerships This can be a convenient way of researching especially when you have just begun with your research. Paying a quick visit to a nearby used car dealer can give you a lot of options and you may find a suitable car as well. Advantage Disadvantage Nearby location makes it convenient to access. Issue with authenticity. Chances of getting duped are quite high as majority of cars on sale are not certified You get a range of options as it is not a dedicated car manufacturer dealership. Being a part of unstructured market leads to unstructured pricing on cars. Rates may fluctuate depending on supply and demand Deal with an unbiased salesman, who will not vouch for one particular brand. 5. Online auto portals Considering modern day technology and the advancement that internet space has gone through, going online for a used car research can be the most easy and convenient way to start the process. There are a lot of positives and some negatives as well which you should consider before starting your research. Advantage Disadvantage They save you a lot of legwork. You can research all about the vehicles right from your living room or even from you smart phone easily. Location based used car listings can help you find a car nearby. There are chances that people might get scammed due to fake posts. Not every website is genuine or lists down actual details of the used car giving any certification. Checking out online auto forums can also be a good source of information. You can find lots of car owners posting details about their cars, which can be of your interest. This can give you a direct connect without any other party involved in between. You dont get a face to connect. No matter how easy online research on auto portals can be, when you do not have a face to talk to or that physical connect, people tend to lose interest Now you can even search for certified used cars through auto portals. Some portals also have a team of experts who inspect the car and certify it for you. Like CarDekho offers a Trustmark Certificate to cars which pass multi-point inspections and are trouble free. You can do all of that by a click of a button and even search for your nearest car dealer that sells CarDekho certified used cars. No touch and feel of the car. This being an online medium, many old school people might feel disconnected as you dont get to physically see the car during research The financial aspects of the purchase, like the loans, insurance, on road price, can be worked out easily in parallel to your search. You will also find detailed guides about paper-work involved such as transfer of certificates and other formalities to be completed online easily. If possible, the portals might also offer to do it for you. Our View: Out of all the mediums explored above with their advantages and disadvantages, it is quite clear that when it comes to convenience and comfort of research, nothing can really beat online auto portals. However, we are not saying that you should not go for any other medium when doing a research. In fact, a good research will be a combination of the mediums used above. But the edge that online auto portals offer with their swift response time, detailed comparisons, used car certifications as well as location based listings, your used car research is quite simplified. Modified On May 02, 2016 07:37 PM By CarDekho It was back in 2012 when the automobile manufacturing fraternity of India came together to form a voluntary code on vehicle recalls, in the absence of a government recall policy. Proving to be a windfall for the customers, the code has led to more than 17 lakh units (two-wheelers included) being recalled in the country since July that year. The countrys Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises recently revealed the recall numbers in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State GM Siddeshwara revealed that a total of 16,68,416 four-wheelers and 1,01,014 two-wheelers have been recalled in India since the code came into being. From this data, we have compiled a list of the most recalled cars (manufacturer-wise) in the country. While some names were expected to make it to this rather scandalous list, the others are likely to make your jaw drop. 5. Maruti Suzuki Total recalled units: 2,05,964 Most recalled cars: Swift, Dzire When you are Indias largest car manufacturer, the share of your problems is expected to be proportionately large. Out of the four major recalls since 2012, Maruti had the hardest time in April 14 with a fuel leakage problem that affected the Swift hatchback the most. Other major recalls include the wire harness and battery concern in September later that year, and the door latch assembly issue that affected more than 33,000 Altos in March 2015. 4. General Motors Total recalled units: 2,56,597 Most recalled car: Beat The American manufacturers Chevrolet brand saw two major recalls in the year 2015, which were enough to land it on this list. First, in July 2015, the keyless entry remote issue landed it in the eye of a storm. Later in December, the brittle clutch pedal lever further spoiled the party for General Motors. The Chevrolet Beat was involved in both the recalls, with close to 1.5 lakh units being summoned back thanks to defects. 3. Ford Total recalled units: 3,20,877 Most recalled cars: Figo, Fiesta Ford earned a notorious reputation almost immediately after the recall code was put in place in 2012. The Ford Figo hatchback and the Ford Fiesta sedan were recalled beginning from July 2012 and the process continued till as late as end-2013. The former was troubled by a minor crack in the Rear Twist Beam (RTB) while a minor leakage problem affected mass recalls of the latter. Separate issues in 2013 and 2014 also saw the EcoSport and the Titanium being recalled for repairs respectively. Not to forget the recent mass recall due to the airbag issue. 2. Volkswagen Total recalled units: 3,31,664 Most recalled car: All cars with the EA189 engine (read dieselgate) The German carmaker was caught with its pants down late last year and led to arguably one of the biggest scams in the automobile industry. The cheat devise installed in the vehicles that were fitted with EA189 engine affected India too. Nearly 3.23 lakh units -- of cars like Polo, Vento, Jetta and Passat -- were called back by Volkswagen; making 2015 the year that saw the highest number of recalls. However, Volkswagen India asserted that the recall was only to update the engines and not connected to the scandal in any way. 1. Honda Total recalled units: 4,56,092 Most recalled car: City If Honda leading this chart has left you surprised, be prepared for more. The Japanese manufacturers executive sedan and one of Indias most popular cars, the City is also the most recalled car in India. A total of 2,54,133 units of the executive sedan were recalled in the course of three years. September 2015 saw the biggest recall for the Honda City, with 1,40,508 units being pulled back to fix 'rupturing of inflator body due to excessive internal pressure at the time of airbag deployment.' With nearly 60 per cent of the total recalls since the voluntary code was adopted, the year 2015 was the busiest year for the industry in terms of recalls as mentioned earlier. If your car was one of the vehicles that were recalled or if you are surprised with the names on the list, let us know in the comments below. Also Read: 4 Amazing Audi Cars of Captain America: Civil War Stars Baku, Azerbaijan, May. 2 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Georgia's accession to the Energy Community will affect activities of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) in Georgia, the country's Deputy Energy Minister Mariam Valishvili told Trend. Valishvili said that Georgia is currently holds talks regarding accession to the Energy Community, and in case of success the country must fulfill a number of requirements adopted within the framework of this organization. In particular, according to the rules of the Energy Community, gas suppliers cannot be majority shareholders of gas distribution facilities. The Energy Community is an international organization dealing with energy policy. The organization was established by an international treaty in October 2005 in Athens, Greece. The Treaty entered into force in July 2006. The Treaty establishing the Energy Community brings together the European Union, on one hand, and countries from the South East Europe and Black Sea region. Georgia is a candidate country to join the community. The deputy minister reminded that nowadays SOCAR is the main gas supplier on the Georgian market and at the same time is a distributor of gas. Therefore, in case of Georgia's joining the Energy Community, a restructuring will be needed for SOCAR subsidiaries engaged in gas distribution in Georgia, which has already begun, Valishvili said. Also, Georgia's accession to the Energy Community will mean that SOCAR won't be able to claim a controlling stake in the new gas storage facility planned to be built in this country, Valishvili said. Earlier, a source in SOCAR told Trend that the company clearly intended to buy a stake in the gas storage, because the company considers it a strategic asset. The beginning of construction of underground gas storage is planned for 2016. It will be possible to store 230-250 million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas, accounting for 15 percent of the annual gas consumption in Georgia, after the completion of construction of the underground gas storage facility. Valishvili went on to add that restrictions within the framework of the Energy Community suggest that a company, which is the monopoly supplier on the market, cannot have absolute control over the gas storage facility. At the same time, SOCAR can be a minority owner of the facility without any restrictions, she said. Valishvili added that the question regarding the management format of the gas storage facility hasn't been resolved yet. She said that an option, which suggests that the gas storage facility will be a part of the infrastructure that provides transportation of natural gas on the territory of Georgia, is being considered. In this case, the gas storage facility will be controlled by the state. Other option under consideration suggests that the gas storage facility will be a separate entity under the control of an independent corporation. In both cases, SOCAR can become a minority shareholder of the facility. The gas storage facility is a monopolist on the market, because at the moment, there are no other gas storage facilities in Georgia, Valishvili said. The deputy minister went on to add that Georgia hopes that the issue of the country's accession to the Energy Community by October will be submitted for consideration of the council of ministers of this organization, and in case of success, ratification of the protocols will start. Valishvili also said that Georgia expects to get certain preferences and exemptions in general when joining the organization, as the country is not the EU member, has no borders with any of the EU countries and its market is isolated. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Modified On Feb 24, 2017 05:48 PM By Arun for Datsun redi-GO 2016-2020 Datsun wants to have a crack at the entry-level segment again, this time with the redi-GO. The hatchback will go on sale in the first week of June, with prices starting at Rs. 2.5 lakh. Pre-launch bookings have already commenced for a token amount of Rs. 5,000. The carmaker is targeting 5 per cent market share by 2020, and will be banking on its smallest offering in India for the same. Japanese auto giant, Nissan resurrected the Datsun brand for emerging markets, such as ours. The manufacturer launched the Go hatchback and the Go+ seven-seater MPV a couple of years back, kick-starting their innings in India. However, both cars have received a lukewarm response, with buyers sticking to their tried and tested rivals such as the Alto 800 and the Hyundai Eon. The redi-GO is underpinned by the CMF-A (Common Module Family) platform, just like the Renault Kwid. Also, the Datsun redi GO specifications will be comprising of the same 800cc motor, developing 54PS of power and 72Nm of torque. Amongst the most fuel-efficient petrol engines in the country, it returns 25.17km/l under the Kwid's skin. We expect mileage figures of the redi-GO to be similar, if not more. We had a good look at the redi-GO when it made its global debut last month. The top-spec avatar is expected to get features such as an integrated music system and optional daytime running lamps. We love the funky tallboy design, which is a clear departure from the Kwid's SUV-inspired looks. What remains to be seen is if the baby Datsun can replicate Renault's success in the segment. Click here to know what to expect from redi-GO! Recommended Read: Datsun redi-GO: Can it Achieve the Kwid's Feat? Datsun redi-GO Launched At Rs 2.39 Lakh European stocks finished slightly lower on Monday, as weak performance in the Italian banking sector and a decline in oil prices capped gains in the region. The pan-European STOXX 600 ended down 0.1 percent provisionally, with a mixed end to the day for a lot of sectors. In France, the CAC 40 closed up 0.3 percent, while Germany's DAX pushed higher, ending up 0.8 percent, following an upbeat manufacturing survey report. London's FTSE 100 was closed due to a public holiday. Thin trade on the ground European markets Trading was expected to be thinner than usual on Monday, as a handful of European markets were closed due to public holidays, including those in the U.K., Ireland, Greece and Russia. Overseas, U.S. markets posted gains after the release of key manufacturing data, while in Asia, most markets ended in negative territory. Japan's Nikkei tumbled over 3 percent, in the wake of a stronger yen, while several markets were closed for a public holiday, including those in China, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. In commodity markets, oil came under sharp pressure on Monday, on news that crude production by OPEC members had increased to 32.64 million barrels a day in April, according to Reuters. Brent saw prices decline over 2 percent by Europe's close, trading at $46.39, while U.S. crude was off over 1.5 percent, around $45.19 a barrel. A slew of European manufacturing PMI data came out on Monday, with the latest euro zone figure revealing that factories in the region saw a slight tick-up in performance during April. Markit's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the euro zone increased to 51.7 in April, beating flash estimates of 51.5 and up from March's 51.6. For Germany, April manufacturing PMI came in at 51.8, up from March's 50.7 figure, as new orders increased at a faster pace, with demand growing both domestically and abroad. This gave a boost to Germany's DAX, and to some of its automakers, including BMW and Daimler . Another boost for auto stocks included the latest French new car registrations, which rose 7.1 percent year-on-year in April. This pushed the likes of Valeo higher, which closed up almost 1.5 percent, while Italian-listed Fiat Chrysler led the sector, ending over 2 percent up. Shares in Ferrari initially popped as much as 3 percent, after the luxury carmaker posted a strong set of results for its first quarter. The Italian firm also increased its guidance for 2016, and announced that chairman Sergio Marchionne would become the firm's CEO, after Amedeo Felisa retires. Shares ended in the red, off 0.8 percent. Italian banks under pressure Italian banks took a hammering after the cash call by Banca Popolare di Vicenza ended up being a flop. The bank was looking to raise 1.5 billion euros by issuing shares but only but said on the weekend that investors only placed orders for 7.7 percent of the shares, underlying the negative sentiment towards the Italian banking sector. Italy's new fund Atlante, which is supposed to act as a backstop for the banks, has stepped in to buy the remaining shares. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena fell 5.5 percent, while Banca Popolare di Milano slipped 6 percent and Unicredit was off over 3.5 percent as a result. This weighed on Italy's FTSE MIB , which closed 1 percent down. Fellow Italian lender, Intesa Sanpaolo said on Monday it has agreed to sell its Setefi and Intesa Sanpaolo Card payments unit to a consortium of buyers for around 1.04 billion ($1.2 billion), but shares closed down 2 percent. More and more credit unions are getting into the credit card arena. Jumping into a new program can be scary, or at least overwhelming, with all the requirements of getting it set-up, initial fees, etc. However its becoming a resource many members want; some even demand when choosing a new financial resource to manage their money. After all credit cards are no longer the scary gamble popular opinion once branded them. They are a fantastic tool for responsible members to keep more money on deposit and build their credit rating. Even members who never use cards like having them at their disposal in case of emergencies. If the car breaks down or the washing machine goes silent, better to take advantage of traditionally lower rates on a credit union credit card than put the family budget in constraints. Not to mention many cards offer attractive rewards programs. Fortunately for credit unions, getting into a credit card program doesnt need to be overwhelming, or frightening. There are programs that mitigate many of the risks, and some that remove them from the equation completely. A credit union just has to make sure they look at certain key aspects before committing. For instance, a major issue can be start-up fees and the operational headache of getting a new credit card program off the ground. There are referral programs specifically designed for credit unions that cost nothing and require no implementation effort of the CUs part. They simply set you up with a website to enter interested members applications, and they will take over the process, from underwriting to printing and delivering the plastic and managing the accounts. That means they also assume the associated risks that might have kept your credit union from offering a card in the past. The best of these will even provide your credit unions with free marketing materials for your branch and banners for your website to let you members know to come to you for any credit card needs. Such programs provide all necessary documentation and disclosures, right down to the necessary disclaimers to make sure your credit union is never at risk of non-compliance. While compliance and low-risk are major priorities for credit unions when looking at credit card programs, lets face it, the question we all ask is how does this benefit my members and my credit union? Weve already talked a little about the benefits credit cards provide to members, so lets look at whats in it for you. Put simply, free money. If you pick the right program, that is. The EZ Launch program offered by LSC is a prime example of a risk-free credit card referral program for credit unions. Aside from charging no set-up fees and providing free marketing materials, EZ Launch pays credit unions. Thats incremental income to you for a simple referral. These are the programs your credit union needs to look for if youre serious about providing a credit card option to your members. The time is definitely now. Over 60% of credit unions across the country offer a credit card. Its what your members want, and can truly be a great tool for them. Find the right program that meets their needs and increases your credit unions bottom line. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 2 By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend: President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited companies and financial institutions of Saudi Arabia to take part in the construction project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline, the Turkmen government said in a message May 2. The proposal was made during the Turkmen president's meeting with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in Riyadh, where the Turkmen leader is on an official visit May 1-3. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during the meeting with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said the TAPI project is intended to become a bridge of friendship between the countries of the region. He said that this "energy main line will bring the hearth to homes of the fraternal peoples of the neighboring countries, provide ample opportunities for further development of their economies, contribute to enhancing the welfare of the population, creation of new jobs." The president of Turkmenistan also invited Qatar to participate in the TAPI project during a recent meeting in Ashgabat with President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. The main document for the TAPI, called the Ashgabat Interstate Agreement, was signed in 2010. The groundbreaking ceremony for TAPI's Turkmen section was held in mid-December of 2015. The pipeline's length can reach 1,814 kilometers, including 214 kilometers running through Turkmenistan, 774 kilometers - Afghanistan and 826 kilometers - Pakistan. The State Concern 'Turkmengaz', which is the leader of the consortium TAPI Pipeline Company Limited, as well as Afghan gas Enterprise (Afghanistan), Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited (Pakistan) and Gail Limited (India), which entered this consortium in December 2015 as shareholders, achieved their first investment agreement worth $200 million Apr. 7. It is expected that the first payments will be spent on development work. All this will allow carrying out studies to assess the location of the future route, environmental risks and help to identify the final amount of funds needed for the project. WOOSTER, Ohio The proposed closure and sale of Ohios 10 prison farms will affect some ongoing construction projects including a $9 million project to build new dairy and beef facilities at two farms. The state was in the final stages of constructing new cattle facilities at the London and Marion prison farms and was about to begin installing the milking parlor equipment, when the intent to close and sell was announced, April 12. Grant Doepel, deputy communications chief for the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, told Farm and Dairy the department is reassessing the new buildings at London and Marion, to see how they can be repurposed for the prison. He said some other prison farms were also undergoing some routine renovations, and those projects will be re-assessed, as well. He said the DRC will need the Ohio General Assemblys approval to sell the property. Mostly done Rick Savors, media relations manager for the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, said selling the farms will affect the buildings being built but not as much as some might expect. Two of those barns have already been completed and we are looking at ways of making the third structure a general purpose building, he told Farm and Dairy. Savors said its his understanding that the London the dairy parlor had already been completed, and that the Marion farm project was substantially complete, including a new manure storage system. On hold Savors said the state has halted the purchase of ag-specific items for the buildings, such as cow stalls, which account for about $350,000 of the $9 million. The state-owned prison system includes 12,500 acres of farmland, 2,300 head of beef cattle and 1,000 dairy cows. The farms had been used as rehabilitation for inmates, and the food they produced was used to feed other prisoners. Doepel said if the plan is approved, the department plans to continue farm operations this year, and begin selling the cattle in the summer. Doepel said the department is in the process of assessing the land, and how to go about the sale. He said the DRC is also reviewing potential deed restrictions on some of the land. He said the Ohio legislature will determine how the money is allocated, once the assets are sold. The DRC announced it will close and sell the farms because they have become outdated, and the money from the farms and livestock would be better spent on other forms of rehabilitation. Prisons officials pointed to the low number of people who work on the farms about 220 compared to the total number being released from Ohio prisons, or about 20,000 a year. The phasing out of outmoded prison farming operations will improve safety and provide more meaningful career opportunities for prisoners returning to society, according to a statement by the DRC. Request for funds A little more than a year earlier, when it requested $8.9 million to construct the new facilities, the DRC noted the benefits of prison farms. The agricultural program is one of several vocational programs operated by Ohio Penal Industries, and is designed to provide offenders with valuable skills that can be used in the community upon their release, according to the DRCs January 2015 request for funds from the Ohio Controlling Board. According to the request, improvements were to include updates to the dairy parlor at the London facility, to support a new, 6,400-gallon milk tank, a free-stall barn capable of supporting 324 stalls, and a 975-head mono slope barn. The Marion farm was to receive a 200-cow free-stall barn, and a manure storage and reclaiming facility. The selling of prison farms could also impact a long-standing relationship the DRC has with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to supply produce. The partnership had previously provided about 800,000 pounds of produce grown at the prison farms to the foodbanks. Following the announcement, staff met with foodbank leaders, to assure them a plan would be made to continue supplying produce through the current year. Doepel said the department is willing to look at options beyond this year, that could potentially continue the supply of food to the foodbanks. Were looking at all opportuitines, he said. We dont have anything set in stone yet. Related: Location Details: First Congregational Church of Berkeley 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley Jeremy Scahill, author of "Blackwater" and "Dirty Wars," and one of the three founders of "The Intercept" - great online invest-igative magazine - will discuss "The Assassination Complex: Inside the Government's Secret Drone Warfare Program" He will also discuss The Intercept, where he works with Laura Poitras, Glenn Greenwald and other ace reporters. KPFA's host for this event will be Brian Edwards-Tiekert. -- Monday, May 9, 7:30 PM First Congregational Church , 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley Advance tickets: $12 : brownpapertickets.com :: T: 800-838-3006 or Books, Inc, Pegasus (3 sites), Moes, Walden Pond Bookstore, Diesel a Bookstore, Mrs. Dalloways S.F. Modern Times. $15 door The Assassination Complex reveals stunning details of the governments secretive and horrific drone warfare program, based on documents supplied by a confidential source in the intelligence community. Drones are a tool, not a policy. The policy is assassination. Proponents of drone warfare, however, prefer the term targeted killings. But drone strikes Frequently kill people who are not the intended target. Unless it can be proven otherwise, the government refers to these unintended victims as enemies killed in action. These deaths all too often of women and children dwarf the number of actual combatants who have been murdered by drones. They have generated among foreign populations intense anger toward the U.S., and they have become a recruiting tool for jihadists. Jeremy Scahill and his colleagues on The Intercept obtained a cache of classified slides from a source within the intelligence community that provides a startling window onto the Inner workings of the U.S. militarys drone operations. These documents make it possible to begin the necessary, long-overdue debate about this 14-year campaign of targeted killing that has been deliberately hidden from the public, and exactly why it is conducted so ruinously in so many places. Jeremy Scahill, one of the three founding editors of The Intercept, is an investigative reporter, war correspondent, author of the internationally bestselling books Dirty Wars and Blackwater, and twice a recipient of the George Pol Award. He will also discuss The Intercept, the investigative web magazine founded by Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill, a publication of First Look Media. Brian Edwards-Tiekert, host of this one-time event, is the daily host of UpFront, KPFAs popular hour-long news magazine with a strong focus on state and local issues. KPFA benefit Protests against Donald Trump are heating up in California as the June 7 presidential primary approaches. Before a city council meeting in Anaheim, Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters used tasers and pepper spray on each other. Outside of a Trump rally in Costa Mesa, traffic was blocked, police cars vandalized, and 17 people were arrested.On April 29, it was the Bay Area's turn. Trump was scheduled to speak on the opening day of the California Republican Convention in Burlingame, just south of San Francisco. Protesters came out in force, blocked streets with lockboxes, and pushed through police barricades to rush the Hyatt hotel at which the convention was being held. Trump's motorcade was unable to drive directly to the hotel, so Trump and his entourage were forced to walk from Highway 101 through concrete barriers to reach the convention via a back entrance. ILWU Local 10 initiated a May Day rally and march against police terror and for working people. Actor and Activist Danny Glover was one of the speakers. The ILWU members stopped work on May Day and no cargo was worked on May Day. Trade unionists unionists, workers, musicians, activists and families of members killed by police rallied and marched along the embarcadero to the Harry Bridges Plaza at the Ferry Building. Also there were statements of solidarity from unions around the world.May Day Message From Working People's Party Of Puerto Rico (Partido del Publo Trabajador-PTT) To ILWU Local 10 Initiated 2016 May Day Rally In San FranciscoMessage from Puerto RicoDear Brothers and Sisters:It is with great pleasure that I send this message of solidarity on behalf of the Working Peoples Party of Puerto Rico (Partido del Pueblo Trabajador-PPT), to all those congregated and marching in solidarity with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10 at the ports of the San Francisco bay area. Although we are separated by thousands of miles, land and sea, our struggles are the same. We applaud your courageous efforts in closing the ports of your city, calling attention to the situation of workers in San Francisco and all over the United States. Your call is our call: for $15 an hour minimum wage, an end to racist policing, the expansion of voters rights and quality education for all, as a human right. Since 2010, the PPT has established itself as an electoral party of social movements, dedicated to defending the rights and interests of Puerto Ricos working class, the decolonisation of our island-nation, and the fight against neoliberal austerity. This year, our battle is two-fold. First, our electoral campaign is dedicated to challenging the two-party system that for nearly 50 years has kept our people chained to economic dependency, under schemes of unsustainable development and corrupt politics. Secondly, we reject the prescriptions that the Republican- controlled Congress has been preparing in order to solve the infamous debt crisis which beleaguers Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), currently in draft, proposes that a Washington-appointed governing board (Junta) take control over all the islands public financial and fiscal affairs in order, to pay for an unsustainable and unjust debt that has not even been audited. It proposes that minimum wage should be reduced to below the federal standard, to $4.25 per hour for people under 25 years of age; deregulation of environmental standards; privatization of public lands and beaches and our Electric Power Authority. With not a single elected official having word on the proposed board, we denounce the plan as anti-democratic and catastrophic for the people of Puerto Rico. Today, in San Juan, we join all of our countrys trade unions, together with social movements, poor communities and environmental organizations, marching in front of Puerto Ricos Capitol building to protest PROMESA and all austerity policies. We salute also the people of Puerto Rico who are found among your ranks, and all immigrants who were forced to leave their country in search of better job opportunities. We hope that in the labour movement of the United States, their call for social justice is heard. Finally, we appeal to the working people of the United States to join us in demanding that President Barack Obama release our political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera, who has served 34 years behind bars without ever being properly accused and tried, and whos only crime was to support the independence of his country. To this end, we wish you a very happy yet combatant International Workers Day with hopes that the future will see the strengthening of ties and solidarity among our labour organisations.Abrazo solidario, Rafael Bernabe Gubernatorial Candidate for the Working Peoples Party, 2016San Juan, Puerto Rico_____________________Rescata la esperanza!Unete al Partido del Pueblo Trabajador!"El arte de escribir no es reducir? La verba mata sin duda la elocuencia. Hay tanto que decir, que ha de decirse en el menor numero de palabras posible. Eso si, que cada palabra lleve ala y color." -- Jose MartiStop the deadly destruction of job security and the road to warby strikes in every workplace!Lets get together In May Day 2016 all over the world!We, Doro-Chiba are sending a wholehearted solidarity message across the ocean to brothers and sisters of ILWU Local 10 and working class people in the San Francisco Bay Area who have resolved to shut down all San Francisco Bay Area Ports in the coming May Day.The May Day 2008 shutdown of all 29 West Coast by ILWU to protest against wars in Iraq and Afghanistan set brilliantly and vividly a clear objective as to what for labor unions to do.In the May Day 2015, you boldly shut down Bay Area Ports to protest racist police brutality and killings.And in the May Day today, once again you are ready to shut down the Ports to protest the massacre at Emanuel AME Church last year and racist policing and to demand $15/hr minimum wage, universal health-care system and due education.An unprecedented crisis of war is impending now in the Korean Peninsula. US and South Korean troops consisting of more than 300 thousands soldiers gear up for a war, taking advantage of an adventurous and anti-working class nuclear manipulation of North Korea government. On March 29 Japanese Abe administration enforced the comprehensive legislative law of war to admit exercise of the right of collective self-defense and gets heated to step in and hold a leading position in encountering this crisis in Asia.The time has come for the true value of the slogan The War At Home & War Abroad, which you pushed forth during the labor bargaining years of 02 and 03, to be put to the test. This attack is calculated to completely weaken the forces against war invasion by totally dismantling labor legislation (the central attack being an all-out initiation of limited term employment laws and destruction of work hours regulation) through the destruction of union solidarity.Against these attacks, in Korea KCTU (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions), and in Japan Doro-chiba (National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba)/Doro-Sorengo (National Federation of JNR Motive Power Unions) will stand in its way undaunted, and confront them through strikes in the workplace, point of production.The 8 hour labor law is the gem that has been protected by the unbroken worker's struggles since the Hay Market struggle of 1886 and its destruction is unforgivable. We must never fail to allow the capitalists to lay off workers at their selfish will through limited term employment laws.Let us fight through the 2016 May Day together with International Solidarity!May 1st, 2016National Railway Motive Power Union of ChibaPresidentYasuhiro Tanaka Five myths about tax havens by Nicholas Shaxson Mon, May 2, 2016 6:22AM When tax havens assist kleptocratic elites in hiding their cash with impunity, they dont guard against corruption and despotism they help perpetuate them. Tax havens provide an escape route from laws that is available only to a rich minority that can afford to use it, thus removing from the equation the constituency with the greatest power to push for reform. The headline being pushed is "Clinton email probe may go past election", in order to influence primary races as the threat of indictment is far in the future -- that's not true. It's the more complex Clinton FOUNDATION component of the investigation that will go beyond the election, not the "summary finding as to her violation of the national records act, her taking of the documents". Issa implies that those findings will come out earlier, presumably before the election. Do a search on Clinton Cash to understand the ridiculously corrupt Clinton Foundation. Issa: Clinton email probe may go past electionMay 01, 2016, 09:03 pmBy Cyra MasterThe scale of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while secretary of State could force the probe past the presidential election, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday."I believe they are going to have to make a summary finding as to her violation of the national records act, her taking of the documents, and of course a classified portion," Issa said, according to the Washington Examiner (Issa: Clinton investigation likely to extend beyond election http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/issa-clinton-investigation-likely-to-extend-beyond-election/article/2590075 But when it comes to investigating "coordinating her activities and President [Bill] Clinton's activities and Chelsea's activities in the Clinton Foundation, they're probably going to have to leave that until after the election."Earlier this year, the probe into Clintons email practices expanded to possibly investigate if operations at the State Department may have been improperly coordinated with the nonprofit Clinton Foundation.Issa is the former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which conducted a congressional probe into the Democratic presidential front-runners use of the private server.------Issa: Clinton investigation likely to extend beyond electionBy RUDY TAKALA (@RUDYTAKALA) 5/1/16 6:35 PMWashington ExaminerAn FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton's conduct could extend well past the election, a former chairman of the House Oversight Committee said Sunday.Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., argued the scale of potentially wrongful activity Clinton engaged in while leading the State Department is slowing down investigators."What's happening in the investigation is, I think, the FBI is running into a problem that is too much to investigate," Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo."I believe they are going to have to make a summary finding as to her violation of the national records act, her taking of the documents, and of course a classified portion," said Issa who wielded subpoena power and oversaw an investigative staff while he chaired the Oversight Committee."They're going to have to leave the ... coordinating her activities and President Clinton's activities and Chelsea's activities in the Clinton Foundation, they're probably going to have to leave that until after the election," Issa said.The FBI has been investigating the charge that Clinton mishandled classified information for nearly a year. In January, that probe reportedly expanded to look at how operations at State may have been improperly coordinated with activity at the nonprofit Clinton Foundation, and at whether the foundation benefited from the arrangement.The prospect that Clinton or her associates could face public corruption charges related to the foundation has been largely overshadowed by the issue of whether Clinton mishandled classified information. But Issa said the focus could shift once the FBI finishes the first part of its investigation."The foundation business is [a] complex series of events in which foreign governments have given large amounts of money simultaneously or nearly simultaneously," Issa said. "It's complex, it's the kind of thing that can take the FBI a long time."Issa argued that it was going to be a hurdle for Clinton to get beyond the server issue, even if the FBI does not recommend an indictment. Clinton says nothing she emailed was classified at the time. Federal officials later designated some of the material classified or secret.But Issa said the former secretary and the former president were familiar enough with the classification process to know better."President Clinton understands that when you and your staff are communicating things, you are creating secret documents," Issa said. "When they spoke essentially in classified terms in writing, they were creating unlawful activity."She's going to have answer at least for, the question not of if she's indicted or not, but has she disqualified herself from this high office where you must play by the rules or people die," Issa added.Earlier Sunday, former Secretary of Defense Bill Gates, who served under Republican presidents and President Obama defended Clinton's handling of her email."If you don't have any markings on a piece of paper, it is tough sometimes to tell whether it's classified or not," Gates said. $40 Billion in Military Aid to Israel Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) by Ted Rudow III, MA Obama Administration Proposes Up to $40 Billion in Military Aid to Israel The Obama administration has proposed an unprecedented military funding package to Israel that could top $40 billion over 10 years. It is the largest military funding package the U.S. has ever offered to any nation. Israeli officials are reportedly demanding even more funding. The U.S. currently gives Israel $3 billion a year in military funding under a deal slated to expire in 2018. If the U.S. didn't send them 3 billion dollars every year to literally support'm, Israel would have been gone long ago. If the U.S. didn't defend them give them arms to defend themselves against the Arabs, Israel would have been gone long ago. The Jews are not saving themselves!--The U.S. is! It would be difficult to imagine a more openly illegal position than that of the Israeli government in Jerusalem. Everything about it is contrary to international law. Soon after the occupation began, the UN Security Council adopted the famous Resolution 242, whose opening clause confirmed the basic principle that the acquisition of territory by war is inadmissible. As regards Jerusalem, the Security Council ruled unanimously (Resolution 267) that any attempt by the Israeli government to alter the status of Jerusalem would be invalid. In other words, the prolonged occupation of East Jerusalem and its annexation, together with all the changes the Israelis imposed on the city, including especially the settlements they built and the colonies of Jewish settlers they planted on Arab land--all these constitute defiance of specific rulings by the body that expresses at the highest level the will of the international community. The president of the United States has the power to break this impasse. In 1956, Israel, in collusion with France and Britain, invaded Egypt and seized Sinai. When Israel refused to withdraw at wars end, President Dwight Eisenhower ordered Israel to vacate Sinai or face the cut-off of all U.S. aid and an end to the tax-deductible status of contributions to Israel. Israel vacated Sinai. Israel has received $100 billion in aid from the U.S. since 1948. Ted Rudow III, MA Stuff reports: In a crackdown over unsafe and, at times, inhumane labour practices, all foreign fishing boats must now be reflagged with the New Zealand flag. The substantial law-change came into effect on Sunday, after a four-year transition period, and means all vessels operating in New Zealand waters must follow New Zealand law. Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said the change would ensure fair standards for all fishing crews in New Zealand. This is a very very good thing. The conditions on some of the foreign flagged vessels were akin to slavery. The conditions were what youd expect in North Korea, not vessels operating in NZ, catching NZ quota. Reflagging gives us full jurisdiction over areas like employment, health and safety conditions on vessels fishing in New Zealands Exclusive Economic Zone. The reflagging is carried out by Maritime New Zealand and requires operators to ensure fishing vessels fully comply with our maritime rules and the Health and Safety at Work Act. It also requires the crew to have appropriate New Zealand-equivalent qualifications, Guy said. Nine vessels so far had been reflagged, three were in the process of reflagging and could not fish in New Zealand waters until they had. About nine had decided not to fish in New Zealand waters, Guy said. So 12 have or will reflag and nine will fish elsewhere. The industry as a whole catches fish worth more than $650 million a year, the majority of it filling Maori iwi fishing quotas. The export industry is worth more than $1.5 billion a year. It is somewhat ironic that rather than use the quotas to create jobs for local Maori fishers, instead it was used to hire foreign vessels to do the fishing. Now that is their right to use the cheapest source of labour, so they get the best return on capital. But a useful reminder about how assumptions are not always correct about perceived benefits. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Stuff reports: Wellington Airport has submitted resource consent applications to extend its runway, which could allow long haul flights to land in the capital. Planners sent the application, which is more than 5000 pages long, to the Wellington City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council on Thursday afternoon. The councils will now check the application to see whether additional information is required. According to the airport, the application could be publicly notified by June. The airport wants the application to be heard by the Environment Court as soon as possible. That could potentially clear the way for construction starting in 2018. Wellington Airport is 66 per cent owned by NZX-listed infrastructure company Infratil, with the balance owned by the Wellington City Council. 2016 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands Thoughts & Theories by Kari Ward & Sigi Mendoza: Here are again, at the pinnacle of horse racing with the 2016 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont right around the corner. It seems like yesterday, when we were all standing around cheering, laughing and crying when American Pharoah won last years triple crown series. In the process, he accomplished a feat no horse had done in 37 years. As horse racing fans, we couldnt have asked for a better way to draw more interest to this wonderful sport. The 2016 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (Grade 1) Run for the Roses is this Saturday, May 7th and they will be shelling out $2,000,000 for 3 year-olds running 1 miles on the dirt. We have seven graded stakes races on a full card of thirteen. Hopefully, we have a full field of 20 horses lined up to start. The first race is set to start at 10:30 a.m., EST. The first of the graded stakes get rolling with Race #6, the GIII Pat Day Mile Stakes, followed by the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes, the GI Humana Distaff, GII American Turf Stakes, GII Churchill Downs Stakes, G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and the Coup De Gras, the GI Kentucky Derby, which is the 11th race of the day with a start time of 6:24 EST. This year, Sigi Mendoza and I have decided to take a crack at who has a true shot to win this race and/or hit the top four spots for exactas, trifectas and superfectas. Without post positions drawn or odds, its harder to make a wager up ahead of time to play, so we will be skipping that part. However, you can check either of our Twitter feed Saturday for posts on plays. You can follow Sigi @sigiman or myself @horseflynawall. Personally, I only have three that I like to actually win this race. Destin, Nyquist & Mor Spirit. There are a few I can envision hitting the board and under I will be using Outwork, Whitmore & Toms Ready in my trifecta. My top pick for this year is the lightly raced colt from the Todd Pletcher Barn, Destin. The son of Giants Causeway/Dream of Summer recently blew out seven rivals in the GII Tampa Bay Derby setting a track and stakes record for 1 1/16 in 1:42.82. He beat stablemate Outwork & Brodys Cause, whom both won their derby preps next out, which legitimizes the race. His time in the Sam F. Davis was 1:43.67, at the same distance, so we do see improvement. The cons are his possible affinity for the Tampa Bay surface, with the two wins there, hes never ran past 1 1/16 (which I have no problem with) and the 80 day layoff. Can Destin fire fresh? Pletcher is sneaky sometimes and breeds confidence coming into Triple Crown races. Nyquist, the multiple Grade I winner from the sire Uncle Mo, comes in undefeated and looking like he deserves to be the favorite, as well as the one to beat. He seems to have the best tactical speed of the field and will definitely be using that to his advantage. Trainer Doug ONeill has been sending him on longer works and training sessions, which hell need, as hes coming in of a sprint and one route race. Not much else to say about this gritty champion. I am going to use him defensively and also hope to beat him. His only cons that I can even come up with are will he relish the distance and odds. Bob Baffert sends in the son of Eskendereya this year, Mor Spirit, who enters this race with seven runs on his resume, never finishing worse than second. If he can get into high gear sooner and show more kick at the quarter-pole, he has a very good chance to win this race. Gary Stevens gets the call on this hard-nosed grinder and hell know exactly where to place him at the right time. The distance is right up his alley, the pace-scenario sets up well for him and he should have decent odds. My con on him is that Sigi is on him and I have to take a stand somewhere. (Kidding) Not much con on this one either for me, just needs to get involved in the race sooner to pick up the win. Yes, I like Whitmore to run into one of the top spots and NOT because of Espinoza riding. This son of Pleasantly Perfect/Melodys Spirit/Scat Daddy (surprised?) has that explosive turn of foot in the stretch he has shown in his last three races and that is all you need to hit the board turning for home in the Kentucky Derby. In the Arkansas Derby he had to check early and drop back after a bad start. Hell also need to be up closer early and should get first run on the closers if he can show more tactical speed this time around. His connections, which include a great trainer in Ron Moquett, plan for a more aggressive ride on the first Saturday in May, Im not leaving him off a ticket. My cons on him are his propensity for trouble and running for second. He should hit the board though if he gets a decent ride and decent post. The other son of Uncle Mo I like coming into this race, is Outwork. The Pletcher barn didnt fare to well last year in the Kentucky Derby and I think hell run in the top 3 with both Destin and Outwork this year. They both came out of the Tampa Bay Derby in first and second, so why not here? Outworks recent work was very nice, where he reportedly rated and passed his workmates. If Danzing Candy defects, it will be interesting to see if he is the controlling speed. Im using. Cons are hes also very lightly raced and who did he beat in the Wood Memorial? Toms Ready had a nice second place finish in the Louisiana Derby and he has had several good races at Churchill Downs. Trainer Dallas Stewart knows how to get horses geared up for these races, maybe not to win, but to at least hit the board. Not playing the Dallas Stewart longshot plodder may find you with ticket confetti in your hair. Im not leaving him out of my trifecta. If anyone wants to beat Nyquist, they need to be within three lengths of him at the top of the stretch. I dont envision a late closer catching him, and there are a lot in here. Strictly based on competition alone, Nyquist and Destin stand out to me. Combined, they have beaten the winners of the Bluegrass, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby and the Fountain of Youth. My hopeful scenario is for Destin, who has shown some nice versatility, to be in the hunt at the top of the stretch. I envision Danzing Candy with the lead turning for home with 3 horses primed to make their stretch drive, Nyquist, Mor Spirit and Destin. If the latter two wear Nyquist down, game over and hopefully Destin gets his nose on the wire first. With Outwork sitting of the pace, I hope, the pace should be modest. The screws will be tightened on Destin and he will be fresh and ready to fire a big shot in the derby. My hope is he wins one for his brother Creative Cause, who was 5th in the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Will he be sporting the roses on May 7th? I guess well all just have to watch and wager. Okay Sigi my man, take it away. Nyquist: Uncle Mo Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry Although his pedigree suggest he would suffer at 1 mile, Nyquist is a win machine. He only knows to win and win and looks like he can overcome his pedigree. The speed figures believers are not confident with him, but when a horse has a heart of a champion, always find a way to win. Nyquist has tactical speed, an excellent weapon in this kind of races. Surely we will see him fighting in the Churchill Downs stretch and would be the deserving favorite. Mor Spirit: Eskendereya Im a Dixie Girl by Dixie Union Ive been following this horse for a while and his running style suits perfect to win a Derby. Mor Spirit is a grinder, and looks like he wants to go long. Im drawing a line to his Santa Anita Derby performance, because it seems he did not like that sloppy track. Mor Spirit is by Eskendereya, a horse who was the favorite to win the race for the roses, but got injured a before the race. Eskendereya was sold to Japan in 2015, as usually happens, when a Stallion is sold overseas, he inmmediately produce a very nice horse. For example, Victory Gallop, Tiz Wonderful, Lion Heart, etc. Gun Runner: Candy Ride Quiet Giant by Giants Causeway Another horse with slow speed figures and dream trips, especially in the Louisiana Derby. It is true that the Louisiana Derby has not produced a Derby winner in years (The last one was Grindstone in 1996) but Gun Runner is a horse who always avoid troubles and thats a huge advantage in a 20 horse field. Looks like the 10 furlongs would not be a problem for this horse. Suddenbreakingnews: Mineshaft Uchitel by Afleet Alex Probably the real 10 furlongs horse of the race, he would appreciate a hot pace in this 142nd Kentucky Derby edition. As a closer, he might find traffic, but if the pace collapses, his chances would increase exponentially. Suddenbreakingnews has run in full field races, certainly a good experience to face the Derby. Exaggerator: Curlin Dawn Raid, by Vindication Exaggerator was impressive in the Santa Anita Derby, winning by 6 lengths. Now the question is: The horse peaked at the right moment, or he just took advantage of a muddy track? Im in favor of the second option. However, is always good to include a muddy lover in your plays because If rains, Exaggerator would very tough to beat. Best of luck to everyone in the post position draw this week and to all the runners on the card on Saturday, May 7th. See you at the track! Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 2 By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend: During the presidency in the International Energy Charter in 2017, Turkmenistan will focus on working out targeted mechanisms on the global energy strategy issues, Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said in an interview with the Saudi 'Al Riyadh' newspaper. Berdimuhamedov is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia. "Turkmenistan is always ready for close cooperation will all the interested partners, including Saudi Arabia, in working out targeted mechanisms on all issues of the global energy strategy," said the president. Turkmenistan and the Energy Charter Secretariat are holding talks for working out an international legal document regulating the rights and obligations of producers, transit countries and consumers of energy resources. Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat Urban Rusnak said in December of 2015 in Ashgabat that his organization supports the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project and stressed the importance of developing the Galkynysh field's reserves in Turkmenistan. It is a promising project in terms of creating an export route from Turkmenistan to the West, to Europe and the EU countries are interested in it, Rusnak told Turkmenistan's 'Nebit Gaz' newspaper. Turkmenistan ranks fourth in the world in terms of the volume of natural gas reserve. The country's recoverable reserves are estimated at 17.5 trillion cubic meters of gas, or 9 percent of the total world reserve, according to BP. Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive. To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research. Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process. - Tompolo sends a message to President Buhari denying his involvement in pipeline vandalism - He claims he is also not a member of the Niger Delta Avengers group that has promised to vandalise more pipelines - He claimed APC members are behind recent atrocities Chief Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari denying his involvement in the vandalism of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta region. The former militant is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and has been arraigned by the anti-graft agency in absentia. Shortly after he was declared wanted, a group, Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility of the bombing of pipelines and vowed to continue their operation until the lives of the people in the region improved. The vandals have been fingered as Tompolos boys who have been accused of committing the atrocities because their boss was wanted by the EFCC. READ ALSO: Niger Delta Avengers vows to continue to vandalise pipelines Leadership reports that Tompolo, in an open letter personally signed and titled Am not part of the Niger Delta Avengers Group, alleged that the oil pipeline repair servicing companies sabotage the pipelines in order to secure surveillance and repair contracts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) due to deficiency in handling the jobs. He also claimed that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta and Bayelsa states were unhappy with the president over delay in political appointment and were could have commited atrocities in the region due to Buharis disappointment. It is very important to let Mr President and the security agencies in the country know that some members of the ruling party, particularly from Bayelsa and Delta states, are not happy with him President Buhari because they have not gotten anything from him after almost a year since he assumed office by way of appointments and contracts, therefore some of them are involved in nefarious activities in the oil and gas sector in order to be engaged in pipeline surveillance. I am aware of how such persons are chasing the Minister of Petroleum for State, Dr Ibe Kachikwu around. It is my humble advice to the federal government to thoroughly investigate some of the servicing companies engaged in repairing damaged pipelines as sabotage on their own part is not ruled out. Some of them may not even have the capacity to carry out such repairs but must have worked their way in to get the contract in connivance with some people at the corridors of power and turn around to tender the security situation in the Niger Delta as an excuse because they are being paid down time payment. READ ALSO: New Niger Delta militants emerge, threaten President Buhari I have said on many occasions that I will not resort to violence because of my case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or wage war against the federal government as my legal team is working towards the resolution of the issue. Tompolo said that although he took part in the establishment of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the membership and operations of the new group is not known to him. My attention has been drawn to security reports linking me to a new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, who claimed responsibility for the damaged Forcados 48-Inch Export Pipeline some time ago, it is imperative to state unequivocally that I do not have a link with this new militant group. I am not part of the group. Meanwhile, thee Nigerian army sent a strong message to militants in the Niger Delta region to desist from pipeline vandalism or be treated like criminals. The call was made following vows made by the Niger Delta Avengers to continue to bomb pipelines in the Niger Delta region. Source: Legit.ng Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: There are no financial obstacles to developing the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project, Vagif Aliyev, head of the investments department at the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), told the Natural Gas Europe website. "Despite the low oil price and the need for foreign loans, the development of TANAP continues to follow the projected schedule," he said. The Board of Directors of the World Bank will approve the allocation of $1 billion loan to Turkey on July 7, 2016 for financing the TANAP project. It is expected that additional $1.12 billion will be allocated by the European Investment Bank (EIB). TANAP project envisages transportation of gas of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field from Georgian-Turkish border to the western borders of Turkey. Turkey will get gas in 2018 and after completing the construction of Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), it will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. The total cost of the project is estimated at $9.8 billion. The shareholders of TANAP are: the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) - 58 percent, Botas - 30 percent and BP - 12 percent. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: The center-right European Peoples' Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, has taken a strong position against Rissia's Nord Stream-2 project, said the article published in EurActiv. The project aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year to Europe across the Baltic Sea. In September 2015 Russia's Gazprom, E.On, Shell, OMV, BASF and Engie signed a shareholders agreement on the project. Manfred Weber, president of the EPP group in the European Parliament, has sent a letter to Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete and to German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy Sigmar Gabriel, condemning the project as incompatible with core EU principles and objectives, EurActiv reported. In his letter he said that Nord Stream 2 contradicts the EU's foreign policy, security and goals of the Eastern Partnership, the format of relations between the EU and its eastern European neighbours. "The EU risks creating detrimental consequences for the gas supply in Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, in particular against the background of Gazprom's announcement to stop gas deliveries to Ukraine once Nord Stream-2 is finalised," the letter adds. Weber writes that the EPP believes that Nord Stream-2 should not only be excluded from EU financial support, but that the Third Energy package must fully apply to the project. Earlier Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stated that the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline fully complies with European legislation. "There were no questions relating to the ecological impact on the environment, there were no question by anti-monopoly services, and there were no questions of any discrepancy to the energy legislation of the European Union," Novak told Russia-24 television. He added that the decision on construction of the pipeline was more likely to be "made in the nearest future." Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Oil prices will remain lower rather than higher amid the strong incentives for over-producing, Robert Cutler is a senior researcher at Carleton University and international energy consultant believes. "Complete re-balancing of the world oil market by the end of this year is hard to foresee," Cutler told Trend. "Prices may fluctuate and rise, as they have done even since Doha, but the incentives for over-producing are just too high," he said. The US shale oil production will also play its role, expert believes. "U.S. shale oil industry, which has replaced Saudi Arabia as the "swing" producer, continues to improve technologies and cost-effectiveness, such that more production can come on-line at lower world prices than was the case even a year ago," Cutler said. "This will tend to keeps prices lower, rather than higher, even if movement towards re-balancing occurs," he added. Oil prices softened Monday with global crude benchmark Brent and its U.S. counterpart West Texas Intermediate down on the back of bearish production data from OPEC, the Wall Street Journal reported. Brent was down 1.25 percent at $46.78 for July cargoes while WTI dipped 0.89 percent on the New York Mercantile Exchange at $45.49 a barrel for June deliveries. The OPEC data obtained by news agency Reuters suggest that April production from the producer group was up 170,000 barrels a day month-on-month at 32.64 million barrels per day. The official quota for the OPEC oil output is 30 million barrels per day. The last meeting of oil producers in Doha ended without reaching any agreement. The talks on oil output freeze collapsed after Saudi Arabia surprised the group by reasserting a demand that Iran also agrees to cap its oil production. The next OPEC meeting, where the oil output freeze will be again discussed, is scheduled for June. Cutler believes that an oil output freeze agreement is unlikely in the near future. "Iranian oil and gas is under strong influence of the Revolutionary Guards, who essentially control the country's military-energy-industrial complex. They need revenue to maintain their political hegemony in the country, including for their foreign adventures, on which that domestic political dominance is partly based," Cutler said. Consequently, it is unlikely that the Iranian state will join the agreement next time, as they declined to this also at Doha, explicitly invoking their dependence on energy industry for revenues, he added. Spencer Welch, oil markets analyst, director of Downstream Consulting at IHS Energy, believes that a freeze will unlikely to happen before the market naturally comes back into supply and demand balance. "Iran will still be trying to increase production and so won't agree to a freeze and so Saudi Arabia unlikely to take part in freeze and therefore freeze unlikely to happen," Welch told Trend. According to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) expectations, the oil market to come back into balance from oversupply by next year. Loading credit into your Electronic energy prepayment meter is simple. The Electronic prepayment meter provides you with a number of options. The most popular option is to load credit into your Electronic energy prepayment meter using your customer smart card provided with the meter. Another option is to load energy credit using a 12-digit pin code. Its infrared port provides a third option. RECHARGING ELECTRONIC METER WITH SMARTCARD Electronic prepayment energy metering system provides energy consumers with a smart card. This smart card is used to purchase, load, retrieve or sell power credit. Before you can use your smart card, you must first take it to the power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN) for configuration. Once configured, your smartcard or recharge card can be used to recharge your Electronic energy prepayment unit. Loading credit into your Electronic energy prepayment unit is simple. First, take your energy smartcard to power company (PHCN) or her agent and pay for the required credit you want to buy. Purchased energy credit and control information are loaded into your smart card with a power vending machine. When you get home, open the card door of your monitor unit. Insert smart card in the proper direction indicated on card. The monitor units LCD screen displays -. This symbol informs you that your meter and card are communicating (credit loading is incomplete). The updated credit level of your meter will be displayed on the LCD once credit loading is complete. Do not remove your smart card while loading is incomplete. This can damage your smartcard, meter, or both. RECHARGING YOUR ELECTRONIC METER WITH PIN CODE You can also load credit into your Electronic energy prepayment meter using PIN codes. Loading credit using this option involves paying for credit at the Power Company (PHCN) office, bank or any authorized sales outlet in Nigeria. The PIN code may be available in scratch cards or may be sent to you via SMS. You may even buy electronically. Once you have your PIN code, the next step is to load it into your Electronic energy prepayment unit. Open the card door of your monitor unit and insert your meter smart card. Enter the PIN code using the keypad on your monitor unit. After entering PIN code hit enter button. You can edit the PIN code if you make any mistakes using the delete and navigation keys. RECHARGING YOUR ELECTRONIC METER WITH INFRARED PORT At the point of this write up it is unclear how the Electronic energy prepayment meter will be recharged using the infrared port. This recharge option is currently redundant in Nigeria. However, we believe it will involve going to the power company (PHCN) and purchasing energy credit. The energy credit will be loaded into an Infrared enabled device like a mobile phone. You will then transfer the purchased credit from your mobile phone to your metering unit. Prepayment Meter Articles Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 Trend: Azerbaijani Women's ICT Club FEMMES DIGITALES celebrated traditional International Girls in ICT Day established by International Telecommunication Union. The conference called "DigiGirls of Azerbaijan: A Bright Future in ICTs. Opportunities for a new generation of women" conducted by "FEMMES DIGITALES" in co-operation with Microsoft was supported by Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and High Technologies, ADA University - SITE (School of Information Technologies and Engineering), and other companies including Azercell Telecom. Before the conference the participants got great opportunity to get personally acquainted with women succeeding in ICT in Azerbaijan and receive answers to various questions. Khavar Babazada, Head of Technologies Department at Azercell Telecom, and co-founder of the club, gave an account of her career history in ICT and explained the specific nature of working in this industry. The event mainly discussed the importance of increasing awareness in information and communication technologies among Azerbaijani girls and women and encouraging professional engagement, facilitating educational and career opportunities in ICT companies and educational institutions for women and other related topics. Ramin Orujov, Head of Information Services Unit of IT Department at Azercell, also took the floor at the event speaking about the role of women in ICT sector and women who have successfully managed to achieve professional development and deal with family obligations in their daily life at the same time. The FEMMES DIGITALES is the first professional structure in the country, bringing together over 100 women engaged in information and communication technologies. The club is aimed to encourage Azerbaijani women and girls to study and build careers in this exciting and rapidly developing area by various meetings and hands-on workshops. Azercell, one of the leading Azerbaijani companies in ICT industry, continues to support the youngsters in this field. For more information, please contact [email protected] Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996 and since the first years sustains a leading position in the market. Azercell introduced number of technological innovations in Azerbaijan: GSM technology, advance payment mobile services, M2M,MobilBank, GPRS/EDGE (mobile internet), 24/7 Customer Care, full-time operating Azercell Express offices, mobile e-service "ASAN imza" (ASAN signature) and others. With 48.2 percent share of Azerbaijan's mobile market Azercell's network covers 99.8 percent of the country's population. In 2015, the number of Azercell's subscribers reached 4.5 million people. In 2011 Azercell deployed 3G and in 2012 the fourth generation network - LTE in Azerbaijan. The company is the leader of Azerbaijan's mobile communication industry and the biggest investor in the non-oil sector. Azercell is a part of Telia Company Group of Companies serving 186 million subscribers in 17 countries worldwide with 27,000 employees. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (May 2, 2016) President Barack Obama has appointed National Credit Union Administration Board Vice Chairman Rick Metsger to be the ninth Chairman of the NCUA Board. Metsger succeeds Board Chairman Debbie Matz, whose tenure ended April 30. I deeply appreciate the trust President Obama has placed in me, Metsger said, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead as the agency strives to protect credit union members and provide a modern regulatory framework for credit unions to innovate and grow safely and soundly. NCUA has a hard-working staff dedicated to the agencys mission, and I am proud to serve with them. Metsger joined the NCUA Board in August 2013, and the Board unanimously elected him as Vice Chairman in September 2014. Congratulations to Rick on his appointment by President Obama as Chair of the NCUA, Board Member J. Mark McWatters said. I look forward to working with Rick to bring true regulatory relief to the credit union community while protecting the safety and soundness of the Share Insurance Fund. During his tenure as Vice Chairman, Metsger has focused on modernizing regulations and the federal credit union charter in order to provide credit unions with greater flexibility to innovate and grow as well as regulatory relief. Metsger led the agencys efforts to update its regulations concerning fixed assets and credit unions fields-of-membership regulation. Metsger has worked in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining NCUAs Board, Metsger served in the Oregon State Senate from 1999 until 2011. He was elected Senate President Pro Tempore in 2009. During his Senate service, he was chief sponsor of legislation the state enacted to expand fields of membership for state-chartered credit unions. Metsger also served on the Oregon State Treasury Deficit Policy Advisory Commission and as a director of Financial Beginnings, a non-profit organization providing financial education to children and young adults. A former teacher and broadcast journalist, Metsger also was a member of the board of the Portland Teachers Credit Union for eight years, rising to the office of vice chairman. Metsger holds a bachelors degree in communications and a masters degree in teaching from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Benson Elliot has acquired Centro Commerciale La Meridian, a shopping centre in Bologna, through the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Raptor Srl, the owning SPV. Meridiana was purchased from TMW Immobilien Weltfonds, an open-end global real estate fund controlled by CACEIS Bank Deutschland GmbH (depository bank). [] Buwog Group has signed the purchase agreement for an approximately 42,700 sqm land site in Hamburg-Bergedorf. This not only consolidates the Property Development division, which is responsible for the planning and construction of new residential units, but expands it to include the location of Hamburg in addition to Vienna and [] CBRE today released their latest research their May 2016 bi-monthly report - focusing on trends and transactions in each sector of the Irish commercial property market. The property consultants say that the Irish commercial property market has remained active in recent months with encouraging volumes of transactional activity continuing [] Gramercy Property Europe acquired a mixed commercial portfolio in the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. The portfolio comprises a total of twelve single-tenant buildings of which six are located in the Netherlands, four in Germany and two in Poland. The total rental area of the logistic, storage and office buildings is [] Javascript Error Javascript is deactivated in your browser. To use all functions on this portal, for example the login, Javascript must be activated. Please activate Javascript in your browser settings. First showcased in Brazil last year, new BMW G 310 R has been spied on test for the first time in India. Spy video was captured by the folks at Motorcykle.in. Testing without any camouflage, test mule of BMW G 310 R is seen wearing Strato Blue Metallic paint. Other two colour schemes on offer are Pearl White Metallic and Cosmic Black (displayed at Auto Expo 2016). A global motorcycle from BMW, the G 310 R will be manufactured in India by TVS Motor Company as part of a JV signed 3 years ago. India-made BMW G 310 R will not only cater to the domestic demand, but also of that in Europe and South East Asia. Power to the BMW G 310 R comes from a newly developed 313 cc single cylinder liquid cooled engine. It delivers a peak power of 34 hp and max torque of 28 Nm via a six-speed transmission. Weighing just 158.5 kgs (kerb weight), mileage claimed is 36.05 kmpl while top speed is 144 kmph. Highlights include ABS standard, upside down front forks, mono-shock rear suspension, 300 mm front disc brake, 240 mm rear disc brake, 110/70 R 17 front tyre, 150/60 R 17 rear tyre, digital instrument console, etc. Expected to be priced in the range of INR 3 lakh, BMW G 310 R will compete with the likes of KTM Duke 390 and Mahindra Mojo. Based on the G 310 R, TVS will launch a fully faired motorcycle which was showcased as Akula 310 concept earlier this year. Our source tells us that it will be called Apache RTR 300 upon launch, and will be look like the render above. Launch of adventure variant based on the G 310 R (rumoured F310GS) is also confirmed. Since launch, Renault Kwid bookings have reached 120,000 lakh orders mark. Kwid sales since the start of the year have surpassed 23,000 units. For April 2016, Renault India reports 211 percent monthly domestic sales growth. Sales stood at 12,426 units, up from 4,001 units sold in April 2015. Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations thanks customers for their confidence and trust in Renault, which has been reflected in continued monthly sales increase. At present, Renault India is one of the fastest growing auto brands here. Demand for Renault Kwid has poured in from metros, and smaller cities and towns. Renault India is confident of maintaining sales momentum while expanding sales and service network here. Outside Europe, Renault has reported 4.7 percent sales increase in sales for Q1 2016 despite sales slowdown in Russia and Brazil. Africa, Middle East, and India Region reported strong sales. In fact, Africa, Middle East, and India Region reported sales growth by up to 36.1 percent. The increase in sales also helped Renault report an improved market share, gaining 1.5 points to 4.6 percent. No surprise then that the Kwids success sees Nissan Indias Datsun brand gear up for its Redi-Go launch, which is scheduled for the ongoing quarter. This will be yet another global launch under the Renault-Nissan Alliance in India. Based on Kwid, Redi-Go is being manufactured at the Renault-Nissan alliance plant in southern India. Datsun Redi-Go production is underway, and bookings have begun with 150 units recorded in the order books. This is the third Datsun car launch in India and produced at the Chennai plant. Last week, Ambassador of Japan to India, Kenji Hiramatsu visited the Renault-Nissan Alliance plant at Oragadam, Chennai along with his wife, Patricia Clara Aguado Hiramatsu, Japanese embassy officials, Colin MacDonald, CEO & Managing Director of Renault-Nissan Alliance India Private Ltd (RNAIPL), and Consulate-General of Japan in Chennai. (Image above) Kenji Hiramatsu said the plant is an impressive state-of-the-art facility with quality assurance mechanisms deployed. He also highlighted the plants contribution to creating local employment and building a strong vendor network that has created additional jobs. The Chennai manufacturing plant is the largest Alliance production facility that came into operation in March 2010 at an initial investment of Rs 45 billion initial investment. Since then, an additional INR 16 billion has been pumped in. Production includes 32 Renault, Nissan and Datsun models and derivatives catering to domestic and international markets with upward of 650,000 units shipped to 106 countries until now. The manufacturing plant and R&D facility are responsible for about 12,000 direct jobs in Tamil Nadu, and about 40,000 in the Indian supplier chain. Tata Motors now only has 5 cars on sale, as their remaining 5 cars have been discontinued In March 2020, Tata Motors commanded the fifth position among automakers in India at a total sales figure of 5,676 units. Tata Motors was no exception to the difficult situation faced by almost every business in the country due to COVID-19 lockdown measures. The Indian automakers March 2020 sales figures dipped by 68% to 5,676 units; down from 17,810 units sold in March 2019. In terms of overall sales (PV + CV), Tata Motors registered an 84% sales decline in the same month. Automotive plants were shut down and production is at a complete standstill in view of the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the world. However, certain plants have started functioning with limited resources. Among Tata Motors lineup, Nexon subcompact SUV commanded the highest sales in March 2020. Tata Nexon competes against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Honda WR-V and Ford EcoSport. It hit a total sales of 2,646 units in March 2020, which is down by 53% compared to 5,616 units sold in March 2019. Tata Car Sales March 2020 No Tata Mar-20 Mar-19 Diff % 1 Nexon 2,646 5,616 -2,970 -52.88 2 Altroz 1,147 0 1,147 3 Tiago 1,127 6,884 -5,757 -83.63 4 Harrier 632 2,492 -1,860 -74.64 5 Tigor 124 1,236 -1,112 -89.97 6 Bolt 0 30 -30 -100.00 7 Zest 0 645 -645 -100.00 8 Sumo 0 96 -96 -100.00 9 Safari 0 445 -445 -100.00 10 Hexa 0 366 -366 -100.00 Total 5,676 17,810 -12,134 -68.13 Recently, Tata Nexon XZ+ (S) with sunroof was launched in India at Rs 10.10 lakh ex-showroom for the petrol variant. Prices go up to Rs 11.60 lakh for the highest diesel trim. Tata Tiago sales dipped by 84% to 1,127 units last month from 6,884 units sold in March 2019. Tiago hatchback has been upgraded to BS6 standards alongside several updates in terms of safety, equipment and features. It is powered by one of the most powerful engines in its segment 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine offering around 84bhp and 113Nm torque. The engine is available mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. In the past month, Tata Motors did not note much response for its Tigor compact sedan. Sales dipped by 90% to 124 units while in March 2019, 1,236 Tata Tigor units were sold. Likewise, Tata Harrier sales also suffered a massive drop, reaching fourth on the company lineup with only 632 units sold in March 2020. This is down by 75% as against 2,492 units sold in March 2019. No sales were noted for Tata Motors Bolt, Zest, Safari Storme and Hexa models. These products may not make a comeback in BS6 format. Tata Motors is apparently working on a new compact sedan, internally codenamed Goshaq. Set for launch sometime in 2022, the product will be based on the brands ALFA platform and could replace Tata Motors Tigor. Reports state that it will borrow its design from Hornbill, Sierra and Altroz to be a strong rival to Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Hyundai Aura and Honda Amaze. Toyota Kirloskar Motor sold a total of 9,507 units in April 2016. This includes 8,529 units sold in the domestic market and 978 Etios units exported. Sales are down from 12,325 units sold in the domestic market in April 2015 at 30.79 percent. Exports at the time stood at 1,334 units of the Etios series. N. Raja, Director and Sr. Vice President, Sales and Marketing Toyota Kirloskar Motor is hopeful that the High Court hearing of 9th May 2016 will lift the ban on registration of diesel vehicles above 2000cc in the National Capital Region (NCR). The ongoing diesel vehicle sales ban up north has particularly affected Toyota sales in India as the company dominates the 2000cc+ diesel car market. Toyota Camry registered sales growth for April 2016 over April 2015. Camry Hybrid sales point to the markets willingness to accept alternative fuel technology like hybrids to conserve fuel and benefit the environment. The all new Innova Crysta was launched today at a price of Rs New Innova Crysta priced competitively in the price range of Rs. 13,83,677 and Rs. 20, 77,930 (Ex-showroom Mumbai). Bookings for new Innova Crysta begin today. Variants on offer are as follows: Zx (7 Seater) in AT/MT, Vx (7/8 Seater) in MT, Gx (7/8 Seater) in AT/MT, and G (7/8 Seater) in MT. Toyota Innova Crysta is powered by an all-new 2.8 L diesel engine mated to a new 6 speed Automatic Transmission and a new 2.4 L Diesel engine mated to a new 5 speed Manual Transmission. Through April 2016, TKM strategically planned production volumes for its Innova with the company set to launch Innova Crysta in the Indian auto market today. Toyota India is hopeful that introduction of Innova Crysta will yield growth in overall company sales. Also Read Toyota Innova Crysta Review Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 2 By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman of Saudi Arabia and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held official talks in Riyadh on May 1, the Turkmen government said in a message May 2. The talks took place within the framework of the Turkmen president's visit to Saudi Arabia May 1-3, according to the message. They also attended the signing of nine agreements and memorandums of cooperation between the two countries. King Salman welcomed the Turkmen leader and said that the president's visit comes as a sign of enhancing relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly commerce and investment; tourism; oil, gas and energy; agriculture and livestock, and combating terrorism and extremism. Salman expressed confidence that cooperation between the Kingdom and Turkmenistan would enhance in all fields, forging a durable partnership to best serve the interests of the two peoples. For his part, the Turkmen president thanked the Saudi monarch for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and the delegation accompanying him. He confirmed the firmness of bilateral relations between the two countries characterized by fruitful cooperation in all fields, including commerce and economy. The two sides discussed various aspects of cooperation and reviewed the latest developments in regional and international arenas. The two leaders later witnessed the signing of nine agreements, memorandums of understanding and cooperation programs between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. An agreement on cooperation in the security field, a memorandum of understanding in the field of sports, an agreement on avoiding dual taxation, a memorandum on financing of projects in Turkmenistan between the government of Turkmenistan and the Saudi Development Fund (SDF) were signed. A memorandum in the field of commerce and industry, a memorandum on political consultations, a memorandum of cooperation in scientific and educational fields, an agreement on air services, as well as cooperation program between Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Relations Institute under Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry were signed as well. The facelifted Yamaha Xabre has been spied testing in Indonesia. It is slated to come in with some design updates and new mechanics while a price hike is also on the cards. 2019 Yamaha Xabre was seen with a dragon line headlamp cluster and LED mail beam. It also sports LED pilot lamps above the headlight, redesigned tank shrouds, a new tail segment and new engine cowl. Feature updates also include a single piece saddle as against a split seat seen in its earlier counterpart, dual tone finish on exhausts with brushed aluminum tips and clear covers for tail lamp and blinkers. 2019 Yamaha Xabre is a naked roadster. It weighs a total of 135 kgs and has a 10.2 liter fuel tank. Its seat height is at 805mm while ground clearance is at 164mm. It receives 37mm upside down forks in the front and adjustable monoshock at the rear while disc brakes measure 267mm front and 220 mm rear with radially mounted calipers. The new Xabre sits on 17 lightweight 10 spoke alloy wheels and gets 110 section front and 130 section rear tubeless tyres. Engine specifications on the 2019 Yamaha Xabre includes a 149cc, liquid cooled, single cylinder engine offering 16 bhp power at 8,500 rpm and 14.3 Nm torque at 7,500 rpm mated to a 6 speed transmission. The 2019 Yamaha M-Slaz will get a 155cc engine from the Yamaha R15 V3.0 with slipper clutch and Variable Valve Actuation. While the current Yamaha Xabre is priced at IDR 30.70 million (Rs 1,47,542) in Indonesia, it remains to be seen how the 2019 model will be priced. It is not clear if this new and updated naked bike from Yamaha will be launched in India or not. If launched here, it could launch the 2019 Suzuki Gixxer which is due for launch next year. The new Gixxer is expected to come with a huge improvement in design as well as engine. A study of 18,000 UK residents has found that people who have just moved house are significantly less likely to travel to work by car, opting for a greener mode of transport instead. By identifying this change in behaviour, the researchers, from Cardiff University, believe there is a "window of opportunity" for policy makers to promote pro-environmental behaviours among the general population. The change in behaviour was observed during the first six months of a person living in a new house, after which residents were shown to lapse back into old habits and were more likely to start using a car to commute again. Writing in the journal PLoS One, the team believe that this initial change in attitude is partly down to the large upheaval associated with moving house, forcing residents to re-consider their existing habits. Dr Gregory Thomas, from the University's School of Architecture, said: "Moving home is often a large change in people's lives where habits and old routines are broken. We've shown that during this time, a large proportion of residents in the UK will re-consider the way in which they travel to work." The researchers arrived at their findings by analysing the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) 'Understanding Society' dataset -- a longitudinal study of 40,000 households in the UK measuring attitudes and behaviour over time. The survey is the largest of its kind in the world and provides a broad understanding of how 21st century life in the UK is changing. The results showed that environmental attitudes also played a big part in an individual's decision to seek alternative methods to travel to work once they had moved house. "People with greener attitudes who hadn't lived at their current home for long were far less likely to commute by car than those with weaker environmental attitudes," continued Dr Thomas. "But even though greener attitudes predicted lower car use immediately after moving, as time spent living in the same location increased we find that people's green attitudes became less and less predictive of their travel mode choice." Professor Wouter Poortinga, also from the University's School of Architecture, added: "Natural breaks in behaviour, such as moving home, offer an excellent opportunity where people may be more receptive to new information or support, which could encourage them to maintain healthy and sustainable travel mode choices. Policy makers could use this break to deliver key information at a time when people are ready to engage with a new behaviour." Living in a high-deprivation neighbourhood may lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a unique study looking at the health of refugee immigrants in Sweden, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The study followed the long-term health of over 60000 refugee immigrants who arrived in Sweden in 1987-1991 and were dispersed in housing throughout the country -- allowing for a natural experiment studying the effect of neighbourhood deprivation on health. Although previous studies have shown an association between deprivation and health, these findings suggest a more direct link, especially in vulnerable populations such as refugees. "We found that living in a high-deprivation neighbourhood led to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, compared to living in the least deprived areas. Although the increased risk was small, we found that the effect accumulated over time," said study author Dr Justin White from the University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. "The increased risk didn't develop immediately, which is consistent with the way neighbourhoods are thought to affect health, and chronic diseases in particular. There are likely to be a number of factors explaining the link, such as increased exposure to chronic stress from living in a high-crime or segregated area, the limited income and employment opportunities that affect a person's ability to afford healthy food, the lack of availability of healthy food in the neighbourhood or its low levels of walkability."[1] Studies have consistently shown that living in a high-deprivation neighbourhood is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, because of the lack of randomised trials, most studies have been unable to show more than a statistical association and were unable to account for limitations such as selection bias (e.g. that less healthy individuals might move to more disadvantaged neighbourhoods). The only randomised trial that has looked at neighbourhood effects was in the USA in the 1990s, where 4600 low-income families were randomly assigned to receive a housing voucher to move out of high-deprivation neighbourhoods. In this new study, researchers analysed data from 61386 refugee immigrants aged 25 to 50 who arrived in Sweden between 1987 and 1991. This period saw a large influx of refugees to Sweden, largely from the Middle East and North Africa, and policy at the time aimed to actively distribute refugees across Sweden to improve integration and to avoid a large influx of recently arrived, unemployed people arriving in major cities, putting strain on local job markets. Refugees were placed into housing by local municipal officials who had limited information about their backgrounds, meaning that location assignment was as good as random. Because of Sweden's extensive data registers, the researchers were able to follow refugees for decades, including their housing, medical records and diagnoses. The researchers analysed the proportion of people who had developed type 2 diabetes between January 2002 and December 2010. They excluded people with type 1 diabetes and people who had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes within 5 years of arriving in Sweden to avoid including people with pre-existing disease. Overall, 7.4% (4553/61386) had developed diabetes; by comparison, national diabetes prevalence in Sweden was estimated to be 4-6% during the same time period. Of the 28785 refugees assigned to high-deprivation neighbourhoods, 7.9% (2278) developed type 2 diabetes, compared to 7.2% in moderate-deprivation neighbourhoods (1994/27786) and 5.8% (281/4815) in low-deprivation neighbourhoods. When the researchers took into account information such as age, sex, educational attainment, marital status, region of initial placement, family size, region of origin, year of arrival, and assigned municipality, they found that the initial percentage point difference between high and low deprivation neighbourhoods was reduced from 1.7% to 0.8%. Although small, the author say the finding is still important and corresponds to a 15% increase in the risk of diabetes for refugees initially assigned to a high-deprivation versus low-deprivation. The study also found that diabetes risk is cumulative, with the risk of diabetes increasing year by year. The authors add that half of the initial sample of people moved away from their initial assigned location in the 10 years following their arrival in Sweden. However, even in the presence of high relocation rates, in a country renowned for its strong social support, the findings show a long-term effect of initial neighbourhood assignment on refugee health, suggesting that, if anything, this study likely underestimates the true effects of neighborhoods. Dr White adds: "Our study has direct relevance to the ongoing period of immigration to Europe. Because of the historically high numbers of incoming refugees, combined with already high unemployment rates, the new entrants are encountering less hospitable political and social environments. Our data suggest that decisions affecting the settlement and integration of immigrants can have long-term consequences for the health of the new arrivals, and that these societies may end up paying the price decades later if refugees do not receive adequate support up front. Refugees are among the most vulnerable populations in any society, and as such deserve special attention from governments in creating policies that protect and promote their health. Future studies should also consider the effects of dispersal policies and neighbourhood deprivation on other factors such as mental health or child health." Writing in a linked Comment, Dr Nigel Urwin, Chronic Disease Research Centre, the University of the West Indies, Barbados, and the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, says: "The findings from this study suggest that where people live affects their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and that by extension this affects the development of related chronic diseases. These results are consistent with those from the Move to Opportunity4 study done in the USA, which included people from a different population using a different welfare system. These two studies were both done in adults; the long-term effects of neighbourhood deprivation in children might be even greater.8 Although White and colleagues' study clarifies little about the mechanisms of the increased risk associated with moving to a deprived area, it emphasises the need to understand them to inform preventive interventions. The findings also support the notion that the most effective approaches to prevention will entail addressing both neighbourhood and individual level factors." When the University of Delaware's Chris Williams traveled to Southampton Island in Canada's north Hudson Bay in the summer of 2015 to study the nesting sites of the Atlantic brant goose, the last thing he and his research group expected to run into was a fellow Mid-Atlantic resident. But as he scoured the scenery one day, he found someone else who made the trip in the form of a red knot. Red knots are shorebirds that come north through the Delaware Bay on their trip from South America to the Arctic, eating horseshoe crabs to refuel on their trip. Williams said he was pleased to get a photograph of the bird, which had a leg flag markings J7V that was last re-sighted in 2010 and 2011 around Cape May, New Jersey. "It was fantastic to run into this little bird that had made the long trip north just like us," said Williams, associate professor of wildlife ecology who oversees a Waterfowl and Upland Gamebird research program in UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Brant in decline The focus of the research team, which includes UD graduate student Clark Nissley, was on the Atlantic brant goose, a bird whose population has been fluctuating and on a moderate decline for many years, to learn if limitations during the summer breeding season have accelerated that trend. advertisement The brant has a number of factors working against it, beginning with its size. Because the brant is smaller than the other two birds that nest in the area -- snow geese and cackling geese -- it is at a disadvantage when competing for habitat and food. Also due to its size disadvantage, the brant arrives at its breeding grounds later than the other geese, which can build up larger fat reserves prior to make the trip north, enabling them to make fewer stops to the Arctic nesting grounds. The smaller brant, on the other hand, must stop more along the way in order to feed and rebuild its fat stores. Because of these delays, the brant arrive about 1-2 weeks after lesser snow geese and cackling geese causing them to miss out on prime nesting real estate. This prime real estate can help shield the nests from predators, specifically the Arctic fox, and this year the researchers decided to focus extra effort on the foxes to see how much of an impact they have on the nest success. Arctic fox predation Arctic foxes are the biggest predators of the goose eggs, though there are a number of other animals that will eat them -- such as parasitic jeagers, herring gulls, and polar bears -- but the one thing the researchers noticed last year was that the foxes would sometimes be unable to reach a nest if it was located on a small island, just a handful of square meters, that was surrounded by deeper water. advertisement "What we were seeing anecdotally last year was the cackling geese were nesting on islands with deep water around them but when the brant came in late, they couldn't choose those areas and so they were left nesting on islands that were not as well protected by deeper water. The Arctic foxes could just annihilate them," said Williams. This year, the researchers spent more time focusing on foxes to identify the number. They marked them and identified them on nest cameras to get a better idea of the impact of fox predation. They also measured the water depths around all the nests and found that this year, once the water was deeper than 20 centimeters, fox depredation of nests dropped off substantially. Williams said that this was an interesting year for the researchers as weather conditions caused a late thaw, which made it harder for the birds that arrived earlier -- the snow geese and the cackling geese -- to nest effectively. "It was a wickedly cold year up there this year, one of the coldest they've seen in a long time, and so it was ice covered. The snow geese arrived first and, in theory, they are trying to time their landing just right in the Arctic when the icy tundra starts to melt. But this year nothing melted, so the snow geese hung around for a little bit but, ultimately, had almost a complete nesting failure," said Williams. The cackling geese came in right as the ice was starting to melt but the number of nesting sites was reduced by 38 percent from last year due to the ice coverage. "For migratory geese, when it comes to migrations, they are most driven by light cycles. Their internal clock is saying, 'It's time to leave and get up to the Arctic.' They are hoping to time their migration just right to take advantage of recently thawed land for nesting and feeding, get through the nesting cycle, and then leave for the south before the weather turns again in the arctic. It is a relatively small window. However, if you arrive too early in the Arctic it can be devastating for physiological health and nesting success. Big geese with extra fat can take this chance. However, I think brant take the exact opposite evolutionary strategy and say, 'Well, we're small and it takes us a while to get up there, but we can guarantee that when we do get up there, everything will have melted and there are plants growing, so I'll have things to eat when I land,'" said Williams. It's basically a bet-hedging strategy and Williams said that could explain why the brant numbers show a lot of fluctuation over the last 70 or 80 years. "I think what is happening is that there are good years and bad years based on weather and now competition is adding an additional complexity to brant success. The cackling goose population has exponentially increased and has inserted itself into the equation -- something that was not there 30 years ago when brant populations were much more robust," said Williams. Unlucky goose This year seemed like a perfect opportunity for the brant population to thrive but the only problem was that this fortuitous weather cycle also coincided with a dramatic drop in the lemming population which cycles every 3-4 years and which are the other main food source of the Arctic fox. "On one hand I would suggest this was going to be a growth year for brant because they came into an environment where there was almost no competition for nest sites and food and so nest production could theoretically be high. However, since there were almost no lemmings for foxes to eat, they had to rely primarily on bird eggs. While geese were hit hard, shorebirds nests were almost completely decimated across the study area," said Williams. While the brant did have more nesting success this year than last, Williams said that it was still not likely enough to rebound the low population. "They initiated almost twice as many nests as last year but their nest success was still a paltry 17 percent this year compared to 6 percent last year. However, given the numerous odds stacked against the brant, it is scary what is in store for their future," said Williams. Raindrops attenuate propagation of electromagnetic waves. This physical phenomenon is now made use of by meteorologists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT): Using a specially developed software, they derive information on rainfalls from radiation fluctuations along radio links of mobile radio networks. This technique complements conventional measurements and might be applied for water management in countries with a few weather stations only. Usually, meteorologists determine the amount of rain within a certain period of time with the help of automatic rain gauges or by a rain radar. Using the new technique, radiation fluctuations between transmission masts of mobile radio network operators are evaluated to find out where how much rain falls. Scientists of the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU) of KIT in Garmisch-Partenkirchen have been studying this technique in Germany since 2010. The advantage is that it supplies information on local rainfalls with a minimum delay only. In addition, the closely meshed network of mobile masts ensures high regional coverage with measurements. "Raindrops are about as large as the wavelength of microwave radiation of radio links operated at a frequency of 15 or 40 gigahertz. For this reason, they strongly attenuate radiation in this frequency range," Professor Harald Kunstmann of IMK-IFU explains. The stronger rainfall is, the more does the power decrease between two antennas. Mobile phone users hardly notice this effect on the radio signal. Only in case of extremely strong rain may radiation be attenuated to such an extent that communication between mobile transmission masts and, hence, telephone connection is interrupted. For the researchers, these fluctuations are sufficient to determine from the attenuation rates where how much rain falls. Sensitivity of the measurement method is as high as when using the classical method of rain gauges. "The detection limit is rain rate of one millimeter per hour, data are available with a delay of one minute only," Dr. Christian Chwala, member of Kunstmann's research team, adds. Due to the special structure of snow, however, this method cannot be used for this type of precipitation. The technique was tested using the attenuation rates of 450 radio links in southern Bavaria. The data are transmitted directly from the computing center of the cooperation partner Ericsson Deutschland to the climate researchers on KIT's Campus Alpine. There, the data are processed and searched for conspicuous power fluctuations. The researchers only need the transmission and reception powers of the radio links. Sensitive information, such as details of the communication transmitted, is not collected. The corresponding studies were funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with a total of EUR 600,000 for two years under the project "Integrating Microwave Link Data for Analysis of Precipitation in Complex Terrain: Theoretical Aspects and Hydrometeorological Applications" (IMAP). The project is part of a trilateral cooperation with institutions in Israel and Palestine. An extension of the project for another three years has been applied for, the objective being to extend the number of evaluated radio links, to improve the quality of automatic data evaluation, and to use the information for flood prognosis. Work is also supported by the Stiftung Energieforschung Baden-Wurttemberg (Baden-Wurttemberg Energy Research Foundation). "In Germany, there are about 1000 measurement points for precipitation, but roughly 100,000 radio links that might theoretically be used for measurement," Dr. Felix Keis, also a member of the research team, explains. Use of the new measurement technique might allow for quicker flood warnings in mountain regions. "But above all, the method is of high potential for countries, where there are a few or no weather stations or rain radars, but a dense mobile radio network," Harald Kunstmann says. In regions like West Africa, the measurement method might contribute to obtaining more precipitation information to improve the prognosis models urgently required for water resources management. Under the direction of KIT, international researchers are presently establishing contacts to West African scientists and radio network operators, among others in Ghana and Burkina Faso, to promote this innovative method. High-school students may improve their science grades by learning about the personal struggles and failed experiments of great scientists such as Albert Einstein and Marie Curie, according to a new study led by Professor Xiaodong Lin-Siegler at Teachers College, Columbia University. The study was published online by the American Psychological Association (APA), and as part of a special issue of the Journal of Educational Psychology which was guest-edited by Lin-Siegler. The study, which was supported by a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, found that students who learned about successful scientists' intellectual or personal struggles significantly improved their science class grades, with the grades of low-achieving students posting the biggest gains. Test grades declined for students who only learned about the scientists' achievements. "When kids just think Einstein is a genius, then they believe they can never measure up to him," Lin-Siegler said. "Many kids don't know that all successes require a long journey with many failures along the way." Published first online by the APA, the paper, "Even Einstein Struggled: Effects of Learning About Great Scientists' Struggles on High School Students' Motivation to Learn Science," is part of a special issue of the Journal of Educational Psychology on academic motivation edited by Lin-Siegler, C. Dweck and G. Cohen that will be published this spring. The special issue, "Instructional Interventions that Motivate Classroom Learning" will include six articles exploring motivation as an important factor that influences students' academic performance. Steve Graham, editor of the Journal of Education Psychology and Warner Professor in the Division of Leadership and Innovation in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University in Phoenix, said, "I hope this special issue will motivate researchers to move toward more classroom-based motivational intervention research and measurable behavioral changes." In the Teachers College study, 402 ninth and tenth grade students from four New York City high schools in low-income areas of the Bronx and Harlem were divided into three groups. The control group read an 800-word essay with typical science textbook descriptions about the great accomplishments of Einstein, Curie and Michael Faraday, an English scientist who made important discoveries about electromagnetism. Another group read about those scientists' personal struggles, including Einstein's flight from Nazi Germany to avoid persecution as a Jew. The third group of students read about the scientists' intellectual struggles, such as Curie's persistence despite a string of failed experiments. advertisement At the end of a six-week grading period, students who read about the scientists' intellectual or personal struggles were more likely to say the famous scientists were people, like themselves, who had to overcome obstacles and failure to succeed. Students who did not read about scientists' struggles more often believed that the great scientists had innate talent and a special aptitude for science that separated them from everyone else. Janet N. Ahn, a post-doctoral researcher at Teachers College and co-author of the paper, said the study challenges a tendency in American education for teachers to focus on their students' successes and not their failures. That approach can leave children with the impression that successful scientists are "geniuses," she said, and if the children don't think they are geniuses, then they will never succeed as scientists. Additional authors of the paper are Teachers College graduate students Myra Luna-Lucero and Fu-Fen Anny Fang , and Jondou Chen, a TC alumnus at the University of Washington. The study is also innovative because it used stories about famous scientists' struggles to motivate students and experimentally tested this approach in a real classroom, said Ahn, who earned a PhD in Social Psychology at New York University. "A lot of social psychology is based on lab experiments," she said. "This is really my first time to go into the schools, to see what works there, and to apply it. You might find what works in a controlled lab setting might not work in a classroom, where you have kids who are busy learning and socializing, teachers who are busy teaching, and so many levels of distraction and uncontrolled factors." The results suggest that, in addition to including rich content, science textbooks should highlight the struggles of great scientists rather than just describe their success and list their achievements. Teachers also could use story-based examples in their lessons to motivate students to learn about science, particularly when teaching challenging science topics. Teachers sharing their own struggles in learning science with the students may also motivate them, Lin-Siegler said. "Many kids don't see science as part of their everyday lives. We teach them content, which is super important, but we never bring it to life," she said. "Our science curriculum is dehumanized, and kids don't relate to it because it's just a string of facts rather than knowledge about how the content was created at first place and how these people met the challenges in their lives." The study included a diverse sample of students: 37 percent Latino, 31 percent black, 11 percent biracial, 8 percent Asian, 7 percent white and 5 percent other. Almost one in five students was born outside the United States, and a third spoke English only half the time or less at home. Almost three quarters of the students came from low-income families. In the future, the researchers plan to compare the effectiveness of their approach to various intervention approaches that have been tested in the field on diverse student populations (refer to this paper for more details) They also plan to develop a library or catalog of stories about people (including women, men of different ethnicities and of various fields and areas of expertise) who struggled through their discoveries. Quantum computers have the potential to break common cryptography techniques, search huge datasets and simulate quantum systems in a fraction of the time it would take today's computers. But before this can happen, engineers need to be able to harness the properties of quantum bits or qubits. Currently, one of the leading methods for creating qubits in materials involves exploiting the structural atomic defects in diamond. But several researchers at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory believe that if an analogue defect could be engineered into a less expensive material, the cost of manufacturing quantum technologies could be significantly reduced. Using supercomputers at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), which is located at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), these researchers have identified a possible candidate in aluminum nitride. Their findings were published in Nature's Scientific Reports. "Silicon semiconductors are reaching their physical limits -- it'll probably happen within the next five to 10 years -- but if we can implement qubits into semiconductors, we will be able to move beyond silicon," says Hosung Seo, University of Chicago Postdoctoral Researcher and a first author of the paper. "Our community has been looking at diamond for some time, but it is interesting to study a less expensive material; our motivation is to find a practical and affordable replacement for silicon in semiconductors. Aluminum nitride is a perfect candidate because it is much cheaper than diamond and there are a number of technologies that can be developed starting from aluminum nitride wafers," says Marco Govoni, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. He is also a co-author of the paper. In addition to Seo and Govoni, Giulia Galli is also a co-author on the paper. Galli is Liew Family Professor in Electronic Structure and Simulations at the University of Chicago's Institute for Molecular Engineering. The Strange World of Quantum Bits Quantum mechanics describes the laws of nature on the scale of individual atoms, nuclei and electrons. At the quantum scale, physics gets strange. Take for example quantum entanglement: this occurs when pairs or groups of particles interact in such a way that the state of each particle cannot be described individually, instead the state must be described for the system as a whole. In other words, entangled particles act as a unit. advertisement Another peculiar phenomenon of quantum mechanics is superposition, which occurs when two quantum states are added together to make another valid quantum state. So whereas a conventional computer bit encodes information as either zero or one, a qubit can be zero, one, or superposition of states (both zero and one at the same time). And, if these qubits could be linked or entangled in a quantum computer, problems that cannot be solved today with conventional computers could be tackled. Today, one of the most promising solid-state qubits is created when a nitrogen atom occupies a place near a vacant site in a diamond's carbon lattice; this defect is called a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond. The presence of nitrogen is actually what gives the diamond its yellowish tint. Using NERSC's Edison supercomputer, the researchers found that by applying strain to aluminum nitride, one could create structural defects that may be harnessed as qubits similar to the one seen in diamond. Their calculations were performed using different levels of theory and the WEST code developed at the University of Chicago by Govoni, Galli and other researchers in Galli group. "The WEST code allowed us to accurately predict the position of the defect levels in the band-gap of semiconductors," says Seo. "Ideally, we want to have defect levels in the middle of the band-gap of materials because this means that that the defect's electronic structure is well isolated from that of the host material. This is important for the qubit's stability, to avoid de-coherence" "We couldn't have done this work without NERSC resources. In order to simulate these quantum defects you also need to accurately simulate the surrounding environment -- this requires a lot of computational power," says Govoni. "Basically you have a lot of atoms and a lot of electrons, and then in the middle of your simulation there is a defect which is the one you want to focus on, but it interacts with all the rest." The next step for Seo, Govoni and Galli is to work with experimentalists to see if their theoretical predictions can be confirmed in a laboratory. This research was supported by the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Chicago, which receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and by Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science. Smartphones and tablets come from Asia and the USA, German and European industry is far behind. The causes are dealt with by a study of KIT published in the journal Telecommunications Policy. According to this study, risk aversion made the companies offer own data services at a high price instead of using the open internet. Competitive pressure by Europe-wide granting of mobile telephone licenses or the deregulation of the radio spectrum might improve the situation. Computers protected against the manipulation of data also open up market chances. "While US companies, such as Apple and Google, dominate the consumer market, European companies in the information and communication technologies sector, such as Nokia or Siemens Communications, are irrelevant today," co-author Arnd Weber of KIT's Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) says. According to the study, this loss of relevance was caused by repeated attempts of European suppliers to oligopolistically market communication capacities in closed environments instead of using the open internet, as it is done by US companies. In the mid-1980s, for instance, manufacturers and network operators tried to push the closed system "Bildschirmtext" (videotex) with a payment per page. US modems, by means of which any server could be accessed, were excluded from the market. This strategy was continued in the late 90s: Already when the mobile internet emerged, did European companies try to sell expensive services, such as SMS, MMS, and applications of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Furthermore, the authors of the study criticize the establishment of a competition-reduced market in Europe. It exclusively relied on the GSM mobile radio standard developed by European companies and ignored cheaper technologies, such as the PHS standard applied in Japan and China at that time. "A monopolistic tradition regularly blocked innovations in Europe, with expensive technologies being marketed instead. This strategy did not only go at the expense of the customers, but ended up in the decline of European information and communication technologies (ICT) suppliers in the long term. Willingness to search for new, cheaper or more flexible technologies was lacking," Weber summarizes. Another reason for the decline is the fact that Europe is lacking the capacity to search for new ICT markets and to commercialize large series of new products. This does not only apply to smartphones. PCs with graphic user interfaces might have been a European product already. First devices of this type were manufactured in Switzerland in 1980, four years before Apple's Macintosh. But the banks were afraid of investing in production. "European investors did not only sleep through new developments, as is pointed out in particular by UK and US media. It is even worse. For more than 20 years, they have known novel, attractive products, but did not take the risk of investing in their manufacture. Instead of offering the open internet and high-performance computers, they supported the attempt to sell individual, more or less attractive data services and relatively simple end devices at high costs," Weber says. The result: Contrary to automotive industry, where strong competitors have established and flexibly react to the Japanese market leader Toyota with high investments, European manufacturers of computers and mobile phones are now irrelevant. More Competition, More Innovation In the opinion of the authors of the study, recovery of European manufacturers would require investors and managers with a feeling for successful innovations. As in other branches, competitors are needed which surprise each other. "There are still many competences in the ICT sector in Europe, and also much capital," co-author Daniel Scuka, mobile communications expert of the Japanese consulting company Mobikyo, says. "Competition might be enhanced by granting Europe-wide licenses to mobile operators. In this way, internationally competitive companies would be given more power than manufacturers of mobile devices. This power could then be used to market new services, such as cost-free communication over large distances through improved WiFi, or to launch something completely new and not even thought of now," Scuka says. Another market opportunity lies in eavesdropping-proof and complete communication between computers and smartphones. If there were legal regulations and standards for highly secure computers without any loopholes similar to safety regulations for airplane construction or in medicine, this might be advantageous for Europe. "Security made in Germany" might then be in demand worldwide. "In the past years, media reported a lot about the hacking of company servers," Arnd Weber explains. "Here, countermeasures may be taken and profitable markets might be created for ICT companies. The USA have already started doing this by using unhackable computers for military purposes." An analysis of more than 40 climate-adaptation plans from across the U.S. shows that local communities are good at developing strategies to combat the harmful effects of climate change but often fail to prioritize their goals or to provide implementation details. In the past decade, several dozen U.S. communities have created stand-alone climate-adaptation plans that describe how climate change is projected to impact their communities and what actions should be taken now to prepare. Expected impacts vary from place to place across the United States but can include longer and hotter summers, heavier downpours, rising sea levels in coastal communities, more frequent flooding and an increased frequency of wildfires. Now researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina have evaluated 44 local climate-adaptation plans, examining how their content and quality varies across communities. They found that communities applied wide-ranging strategies, such as improving infrastructure design, protecting ecosystems and public education. On average, the adaptation plans included 93 unique strategies for addressing climate challenges. However, most communities failed to prioritize their climate-adaptation efforts or offer details on how their strategies would be implemented. Only a third of communities included detailed timelines or assigned responsibility for plan implementation. advertisement "This raises concerns about whether adaptation plans, which often involve years of development, will translate into on-the-ground projects that help communities prepare for climate change," said Sierra Woodruff, lead author of a paper published online May 2, 2016 in the journal Nature Climate Change. Woodruff is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina. Her co-author on the paper is Missy Stults, a doctoral candidate in U-M's Urban and Regional Planning Program and School of Natural Resources and Environment. "Local communities are already feeling the impacts of climate change, and those impacts are projected to become more severe and intense in the future," Stults said. "We hope that our findings lead to higher-quality adaptation plans and to more resilient communities." Woodruff and Stults found that the plans varied greatly in the sophistication with which they project future climate conditions. For example, New York City's climate-adaptation plan used 24 global climate models and two future emissions scenarios to generate locally downscaled climate projections. Smaller cities such as Marquette, Mich., relied on historic trends to identify climate change signals that may continue into the future; those signals were used as the basis for adaptation planning. Most of the plans failed to address uncertainty associated with climate-change impacts and how it may cause adaptation plans to be ineffective or maladaptive. Few of the plans specified the metrics that would be used to measure progress toward adaptation goals, which may limit the ability of communities to learn and adjust over time. Woodruff and Stults also found the planning efforts that originated in municipal planning departments and that engaged elected officials were of higher quality than those created by other government agencies or by outside consultants that may be less familiar with community issues and vulnerabilities. In the future, greater attention should be paid to timelines, responsibility for implementation, and funding to help ensure that climate-adaptation plans translate into actions, they concluded. An elephant called Nosey is one of the saddest elephants in America. Taken from her mother in the wild at just 2 years old, Nosey has been used by people for profit ever since. Since being shipped from Africa to the U.S. in the early 1980s, Nosey's spent most of her life performing in circuses, despite suffering from degenerative joint disease and other painful ailments. Her owner, Hugo Tommy Liebel of the Liebel Family Circus (which has racked up many animal welfare violations over the years), still forces Nosey to perform, renting her out when she's not performing in his shows. While the remaining 11 touring elephants of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus have just performed their last show ever, there's still work to be done to help entertaining elephants like Nosey get the lives they deserve. Here are some things you can do right now to help elephants who aren't lucky enough to retire. Dodo Shows Cat Crazy Fluffy Cat Wants To Sit On His Dad At All Times Pledge to never buy a ticket to an elephant show. Nosey isn't the only elephant still performing. Anna Louise, now known as "America's Dancing Elephant," was taken from her family in Zimbabwe in the early 1980s as a baby. She was then brought to the U.S. to be trained. After being moved from one zoo to another, the now 35-year-old elephant was purchased by Carson and Barnes and leased to the Kelly Miller Circus. Carson and Barnes and the Kelly Miller Circus are just a few of a slew of circuses determined to keep captive elephants, even after Ringling's announcement - and this is bad news for elephants like Anna Louise. Anna Louise's plight goes to show that there are more elephant shows out there than the ones at Ringling Bros. Carson and Barnes, the Kelly Miller Circus and Universoul Circus all use performing elephants in their shows. Since each tours the country widely every year, an elephant in need is probably closer than you think. Know what the bullhook is - and why it should be banned. Nosey and Anna Louise have been hit countless times with an instrument called a "bullhook," a sharp instrument that trainers sometimes benignly call a "guide" and that is used to strike elephants to get them to behave. Bullhooks have been banned recently by many major cities, such as Austin and Los Angeles, that don't want circuses who resort to such cruelty in their city limits. Sam Haddock/PETA Even if other circuses are slow to retire their elephants, banning bullhooks sends a clear message that people want captive elephants to be treated better. And until they are, these shows just aren't welcome. Sign a petition urging the USDA to ban the use of bullhooks in circuses and zoos across the country. Never ride an elephant overseas. It might seem like elephants overseas have it better than Nosey and Anna Louise, but it's important to keep a skeptical eye on tourist attractions using elephants. Shutterstock Two rescued elephants who are forming a strong friendship at Elephant Nature Park in Thailand | Elephant Nature Park Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 2 By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend: Saudi businessmen are interested in expanding their presence in the Turkmen market, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah said at a meeting with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, according to the Turkmen government's message May 2. Al Rabiah is co-chairman of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Saudi commission on trade-economic cooperation. The minister noted the high interest of the Saudi business circles to expand their presence in the promising Turkmen market, which is due to a favorable investment climate created in the country. The two countries mentioned fuel and energy sector, construction industry, chemical industry, transport and communications sector, financial sector among the priority areas of cooperation. The Turkmen president also met with the head of the petrochemicals manufacturer company SABIC, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud. The sides discussed issues of cooperation in fuel and energy sector, which is strategic for economies of the both countries with significant hydrocarbon potential. The concept of modernization of the national fuel and energy sector, building up mining and processing facilities of the industry through further development of infrastructure, introduction of innovative technologies in this field, as well as diversification principle of export supply routes of Turkmen energy resources to world markets implemented by Turkmenistan create favorable prospects for establishing business contacts Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud said that Turkmenistan, which plays a key role in the Central Asia, is perceived throughout the world as exceptionally promising and reliable partner. Earlier it was reported that the possibility of joint investment projects were being discussed also with representatives of Saudi companies.

Facebook/The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

"Kenya is making a statement that, for us, ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants." The above declaration was made by Uhuru Kenyatta, the president of Kenya, just before he set afire the first of several piles of elephant ivory and rhino horn, totaling more than 105 tons, on Saturday. Dodo Shows Cat Crazy Fluffy Cat Wants To Sit On His Dad At All Times Kenya's Nairobi National Park was home to this display, the biggest ivory burning in history, where several towers of smoldering ivory and horn products represented about 6,500 elephants and 450 rhinos who lost their lives to poachers. This weekend's ivory burn in Kenya followed shortly after a demonstration made by the country of Cameroon, where 2,000 elephant tusks and other ivory products were also burned. While this historic burning was met with some controversy, the overall message of the act remains crystal clear: We have to continue to fight for elephant and rhino lives before they're driven to extinction. "We shouldn't have to burn 105 tons of ivory and 1.5 tons of rhino horn," Richard Leakey, one of Kenya's leading conservationists, told the New York Times. "It is a disgraceful shame this continues," he said. When Justin Bieber isn't abandoning his former pet monkey in Germany, he's apparently petting Bengal tigers on leashes. Such was the case on Saturday in Toronto, where Bieber was attending his father's engagement party. The 22-year-old musician shared a photo on Instagram of himself stroking the tiger, which was quickly met with backlash on social media. Dodo Shows Soulmates Growling Little Kitten Becomes Her Mom's Best Friend Hackenberger is best known around the Hollywood circuit as an animal trainer who has provided animals to productions that include Seth Rogen's "The Interview" and Ang Lee's "Life of Pi." This event, which follows the jarring news of a leashed tiger cub named Nahla found wandering the streets of Texas, paints an inaccurate picture that suggests wild animals on leashes, and in close contact with humans, is a natural occurrence. The truth is that captive exotic animals like tigers are taken away from their homes in the wild or their mothers at a young age - then, they're forced to lead unnatural lives, often at the expense of their comfort. "Show business is no business for wild animals - it's disappointing to see another celebrity posing for a wild animal selfie," a statement from World Animal Protection noted. "Tigers are also highly unpredictable, with people around the world having been mauled or attacked when posing or interacting with these animals." A photos of Li Hongxia is propped against the refrigerated coffin that has held her body since February 25th. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) Two months after Li Hongxia was murdered, her body is not in the ground. She lies swathed in a pink duvet in a refrigerated coffin, in the house she shared with her husband. Hes accused of killing her. His family, who lived with them, fled town. Lis parents do not believe there can be justice for victims of domestic violence. Theyve seen the system fail those without connections; they know a conviction can require clout. Refusing to bury their daughter, who was strangled to death, is a bid to make local officials take notice, to make someone anyone care. In China, as elsewhere, domestic violence is a hidden epidemic a public health crisis dismissed as private scandal, a crime discounted or covered up. The state estimates that 1 in 4 Chinese women are beaten; experts think the figure is higher and note that statistics often exclude other forms of abuse. Tens of millions are at risk. Chinese feminists fought for decades to get the government to take notice, an effort galvanized in recent years by a string of brutal cases. In 2009, a young woman named Dong Shanshan was beaten to death by her husband after going to the police eight times. In 2011, Kim Lee, the American wife of a Chinese celebrity, went public with pictures of her battered face and her failed efforts to seek help from police. That a relatively wealthy, foreign woman was turned away reinforced a message Chinese women have heard for years: This is your problem. Go home and work it out. Since coming to power in 2012, the government led by President Xi Jinping has tried to make the issue of domestic violence a cornerstone of its social policy. The country last year passed a first-of-its-kind bill that targets domestic violence. On March 1, just days after Li was killed, it became law. The bill was hailed as a step in the right direction. Though it does not cover sexual abuse and ignores same-sex partnerships, it includes measures such as restraining orders that if requested and enforced might have helped Li. [Chinas fight for gay marriage is just beginning] But Lis short life and gruesome death show vividly the limits of using the courts alone to keep women safe. The government-linked body tasked with protecting women often works against them by promoting marriage at almost any cost, providing tips on how to win back partners and trusting perpetrators to change their violent ways. In the last year of her life, Li knew she needed help but was told repeatedly to go back to her husband. As she struggled, mostly alone, she faced a system utterly ill-equipped to save her and a society that, for the most part, did not think she needed help. Li, just 24, knew her husband might kill her. The question for China: Didnt anybody else? Yan Jiongjiong cries looking at pictures of her dead sister on the wall of the couples former residence. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) Nobody fights here Li was born and raised in Yan Guan, a cluster of homes set among the wheat fields of the Chinese heartland, south of where the Yellow River cuts the northern plain. The second daughter of the Yan family, she spent her first eight years living with a family friend, Li Jinzhong, while her parents raised a son. As a child, Li Hongxia was fun-loving and cheerful but not much of a student, her sister said. She finished middle school and joined the millions of Chinese migrants living between farms and the factory cities of the south. In 2013, an acquaintance one village over played matchmaker, introducing her to the shy young man she would marry, Zhang Yazhou. After their wedding, Li moved into his familys home in Zhang village, a 10-minute stroll from Yan Guan. In 2014, they had a daughter. Despite what later happened, neighbors remember the sight of them walking, elbows linked, down rutted, dusty roads. Interviews with more than a dozen villagers suggest the community saw domestic violence as something that happened often, but to other people. In this village, everyone has the same surname, so nobody fights here, said the matchmaker, Su Juan. Zhang Tuanjie, a young neighbor and friend of Zhang Yazhou, rides his bike near the area where the couple lived. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) In May last year, Li complained about pain in her lower back, the result, it later emerged, of an attack that sent her to a hospital for X-rays. When people asked about the injury, she said her husband had hurt her, accidentally, while walking on her back. When Li told her mother about the beating, she was advised to work things out at home. Her mother, Duan Liuzhi, said she discouraged her daughter from getting a divorce because ending a marriage might bring a bad reputation in town. [Video shows bystanders doing nothing as Chinese woman is attacked in hotel] For survivors of domestic violence in China, thats a common theme. Though divorce rates are on the rise, women face enormous pressure to get married and stay married. And that message is backed by the All-China Womens Federation, the group thats supposed to promote womens rights. The director of the federations Luyi County office, Guo Yanfang, said the organization has been spreading the word about the new anti-domestic-violence law and encouraging survivors to seek help. She said Li never came to them. As a female comrade with a family, you must first behave yourself and do well in your role as a wife, and second, if your husband makes trouble for you, you have to say it, Guo said. Citing a Chinese expression Demolishing 10 temples is better than destroying a marriage Guo said the federation encourages mediation in most cases of domestic violence. If he corrects his mistakes, things will be fine. Li Hongxia and her husband, Zhang Yazhou, are pictured together in 2013. Zhang is accused of murdering Li. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) But things were not fine and Li began to say so. In July, she posted online about the beating that led to her back injury, explaining that she initially stayed quiet out of shame. In December, she wrote about her fear of being choked to death a post that was viewed about 100 times. In comments, friends expressed support one mentioned the new law but many told her she ought to reconcile with her husband. Dont get divorced easily, think more about what will happen to your child, wrote one. Think positively and youll get through it, another said. Qi Lianfeng, the lawyer who represented Lee, the American woman battered by her Chinese husband, said Chinese survivors, like women elsewhere, are often told to stay when their life depends on leaving. Domestic violence often recurs, he said, and is very hard to change. [In China, a rare criminal case in which evidence made a difference] During the Lunar New Year festival, Zhang and Li welcomed guests to their home for food and drink. When Li said something Zhang did not like, he smashed the back of her head with a stool, Li told her family, an account later confirmed by Zhang Tuanjie, a neighbor who witnessed the assault. Li Hongxia in a hospital with a head wound in February. (Courtesy of the Yan family) Li was recovering in a hospital when she was allegedly strangled to death by her husband. (Courtesy of the Yan family) The Zhang family took Li to Luyi County Hospital, where she underwent tests. When her family arrived, the two clans fought in the corridors. Her husband was allowed to visit her room another legal and moral failure, according to Qi, the lawyer. After 12 days, Li, who was two months pregnant, was transferred to another, smaller hospital, Luyi Women and Childrens Healthcare, for an abortion. On Feb. 25, she texted her husband to say she was hungry. At 5:25 pm, he arrived, according to hospital footage obtained by The Washington Post. At 5:47 p.m., several nurses walked over to the door, tried the handle, then walked away, even though there was a second, unlocked entrance in an adjoining room, as well as a hall-facing window. The next day, the hospital offered her shocked parents about $6,000 for her death in its care. They took the cash. In the halls of the womens and childrens hospital, medical staff responded to questions about the case with shrugs, claiming that every person working the day of the killing was at lunch. Nobody saw him strangle her, said Li Ping, the head of pediatrics. A corridor at a womens and childrens hospital in Luyi, where Li Hongxia was strangled. (Giulia Marchi/For The Washington Post) Nobody came to help Shortly after the killing, Zhangs family left the village, fearing for their lives. Lis family broke into their home and laid Li to rest in the living room, surrounded by wedding pictures and piles of winter clothes. Her parents and siblings say that they have been left to shoulder Lis funeral and burial expenses and that theyve received little support, and considerable harassment, from local officials and police. Who will help us tend to this? asked Lis mother, Duan. Nobody came to help. In late April, nearly two months after the killing, Zhangs parents returned to the village to negotiate with the Yans. They have yet to reach an agreement or bury the body. Zhang is in police custody and was not available for comment. In a recent interview with Henan Television, a party-controlled station, he admitted to the May and February beatings but said Lis death was an impulsive mistake. We were fighting and I accidentally killed her, he said on camera. At the Luyi County police station, the lead investigator declined to comment, referring The Post to county-level propaganda officials, who in turn said to contact the provincial propaganda department. Reached by phone, provincial officials said they did not have jurisdiction. Asked how Li might have been protected, her life spared, Guo, the head of the local branch of the Womens Federation, said she was not sure. How could she have been protected? How should I know? Gu Jinglu reported from Luyi County. Read more: Horrors of one-child policy leave deep scars in Chinese society Despite real progress, Chinese women may be losing ground Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world It was an unorthodox tribute to an unorthodox composer. This past weekend, the Library of Congress and the Phillips Collection teamed up to honor the 78th birthday of Frederic Rzewski, the maverick pianist and composer, with three concerts and three world premieres. The first two were at the Library of Congress (Saturdays was reviewed by Patrick Rucker); the third, at the Phillips Collection on Sunday afternoon, was an utter delight. It feted Rzewski as performer, as colleague and as composer of some pretty wonderful pieces, including the longest-ever non-repetitive work for solo piano, The Road, an 8-hour opus, heard here in a more manageable excerpt. Rzewski responded with the new work, a warm, vivid piece for violin and piano called, deceptively, Notasonata. Call it what you will: This one is a keeper. There wasnt a weak link in the afternoon, a highlight of the Phillips Collections 75th anniversary season. Rzewski opened the proceedings with the Road excerpt, a section titled The same old story, based on a novel by Ivan Goncharov, which appears as Mile 52 of the 64-mile journey. Its a set of explorations, carried out in short bursts on the keyboard: now with formidable power, now with lyricism, and often with accompanying external noise: tongue-clicks, foot-stamps, a half-whistle, all communicating something human and probing and unfinished while Rzewski, a gifted pianist, drew huge masses of sound from the keys. Then the pianist Ursula Oppens who gave the world premiere of The People United . . . in 1976 at the Kennedy Center and the violinist Jennifer Koh, an assured contemporary-music virtuoso, lit into Notasonata, which opens with rich, singing lines from the violin, channeling the spirit of Shostakovich that Rzewski evoked in his program notes. Belying its title, the piece offered a spectrum of sonata-like gestures and movements: that singing theme from the violin; a wispy brief engaging scherzo, gentle treads from the piano, like clouds of mud rising beneath the violinists forward motion. But the music kept interrupting itself to examine, question and sometimes play with whatever it was doing at a particular moment. Its a piece to sink your teeth into, or your ears, and I look forward to hearing it again. [Pianist Benjamin Hochman explores variations during Kennedy Center debut] Other composers, on the concerts second half, made a perfect pendant to the first. Rzewski and Oppens sat side by side to perform Morton Feldmans Piano Four Hands, a Calder mobile of a piece that hangs individual notes, shivering and trembling, to circle through the air, sometimes colliding with each other. Lou Harrison was another American maverick increasingly appreciated these days as a pioneer as the PostClassical Ensemble recently reminded us with a Harrison tribute in March. It isnt often that you get to hear a major piece by him twice in the matter of a few weeks, but his Grand Duo, performed here by Oppens and Koh, was just done by Tim Fain and Michael Boriskin at the PostClassical concert. It shares many features of Rzewskis Notasonata: Both are significant works on a significant scale that take on musical traditions with stylistic independence, and that allow the instruments to sing. Koh was beautifully incisive; Oppens, firm and gentle. They brought the piece into sharp relief and communicated their own delight in it, particularly in the fifth and last movement, a zany, increasingly tangled Polka. Ive seldom left a concert hall humming Lou Harrison. Give me another chance to hear that new Rzewski piece and I may come out humming it, instead. [PostClassical Ensemble shows a new side of Lou Harrison] Nehal Joshi, foreground and, from left in background, Joe Isenberg, Felicia Curry and Ivy Vahanian, in Disgraced. (C. Stanley Photography) Range. Its such a crucial quality for an actor to possess, and as it happens, a fine example of it is on display in Arena Stages crackling production of Disgraced, Ayad Akhtars deeply engrossing, Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a Muslim American lawyer divided against himself. The particularly impressive conveyor of this trait on the stage of the Kreeger Theater is Nehal Joshi, who portrays Amir, a successful corporate lawyer who is forced, through a case involving an imam suspected of raising money for terrorists, to come to terms with his unresolved feelings about his own identity. Joshi, Arena audiences will recall, appeared as Ali Hakim, the wily Persian peddler in the companys smash-hit revival of Oklahoma! in 2010 and again in 2011. The impishness of that lighthearted, musical-comedy turn is nowhere to be discerned in Joshis proud, intensely watchable alpha-male Amir. And the transformation confirms an impression of Joshi as an actor to be reckoned with. The part has been written by Akhtar with both passion and a profound grasp of the contradictions America poses for a man of achievement who might be pulled out of airport security lines simply because of the color of his skin. In Joshi, Disgraced has found its ideal Amir, as the actor manages the plays most difficult demand: sensitizing us to the characters pain, even as were made aware of the damage he seems driven to inflict. Around Joshi, director Timothy Douglas deploys a cast so assured that to my mind the production surpasses the distinguished Broadway incarnation that ran for 149 performances during 2014-2015. Over the course of 90 minutes, the five actors illuminate from five sharply differentiated perspectives why the overlays of class, geopolitics, culture and religious belief have so blurred with emotion any rational discussion of what it means to be Muslim in America. The linchpin here is Akhtars story of misperception, regarding an unofficial appearance by Amir an American-born Muslim of South Asian descent at a court hearing for the accused imam. Akhtar builds into his plot a matrix of events that reveals how easily we all fall prey to our flawed assumptions; this pertains as much to the work of Amirs white wife, Emily (the exceptional Ivy Vahanian), a painter inspired by Islamic art, as it does to the interracial couple (Felicia Curry and Joe Isenberg) who show up for a dinner party marked by more heat being generated in Amir and Emilys gorgeous Manhattan living room than in their kitchen. The central irony of Disgraced is that it is out of love for Emily and her conviction that a Muslim religious leader could not get justice in this country that Amir goes to the court and suffers as a result. Misidentified by a newspaper covering the hearing as a member of the imams legal team, Amir is suddenly all but a pariah at work, where the Jewish senior lawyers had been considering making him a name partner. The ensuing investigation of him turns up a discrepancy in his employee application that in less charged circumstances would have been shrugged off, but now raises suspicions about darker motives and where Amirs allegiance really lies. Disgraced deals deftly with how prejudice waylays Amir. It skillfully outlines the permutations of betrayal he experiences, and not only as they concern Amirs ill-advised statement to a reporter at the hearing. Isenbergs Isaac, a curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art whos interested in Emilys paintings and is married to Currys Jory, another hot shot at the law firm, are implicated in undermining Amir in different aspects of his personal and professional lives. That Akhtar makes Isaac Jewish and Jory African American adds tantalizingly to the pot of accusation and resentment that boils over, as Amir senses both his livelihood and his marriage collapsing. Isenberg gives a subtle account of the patronizing Isaac, whos not quite the coolheaded intellectual he attempts to project, and Curry, a fixture of musical theater in these parts, is here rewarded with a juicy role that takes splendid advantage of her formidable dramatic gifts. Again, in her case, range proves to be an actors best friend. The fifth cast member, Samip Raval, does admirable work as Abe, a young, previously assimilated relative of Amir who is gravitating to Islamist extremism. Douglas wraps the tension of Disgraced in an elegant design: Tony Ciseks handsome apartment set reflects the arriviste appurtenances of a Manhattan corporate lawyers life, down to the abstract stone and metal sculptures on pedestals and walls, and Toni-Leslie Jamess costumes capture the arty Emilys casual stylishness and Jorys more aggressively tailored fashion sense. The polish of Michael Gilliams lighting design, meanwhile, is just what is needed to draw a spectators eye back to Emilys buoyant geometric painting over the fireplace, a work that seems to betoken her love of Amir. The last fading funnel of light, though, is reserved for Joshi, and rightly so. Amir pays a steep price for sticking his neck out, in a nation whose interest in trying to understand him seems to be dimming. And now, one wonders, how as a society we will ever manage to turn the light back up again. Disgraced, by Ayad Akhtar. Directed by Timothy Douglas. Set, Tony Cisek; costumes, Toni-Leslie James; lighting, Michael Gilliam; original music and sound, Fitz Patton; fight direction, Cliff Williams III. About 90 minutes. Tickets, $40-$90. Through May 29 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Visit arenastage.org or call 202-488-3300. One in a collection of essays celebrating the cooking of our mothers. Dominican Rice With Chicken. (Goran Kosanovic/For The Washington Post) On road trips throughout the Dominican Republic, my mother likes to point out her favorite houses. Theyre never mansions. Theyre the tiny wooden ones, painted the hues of a highlighter, with aluminum roofs she says make a soothing sound when it rains. Ive never understood it. I grew up in Santo Domingo, the countrys capital city of 3 million, roaring with reckless motorcyclists and banged-up cars booming reggaeton. It wasnt my mothers childhood, and the differences dont end there. [Make the recipe: Dominican Rice With Chicken] She spent her early years shuffling from one sugarcane field to another as her father worked his way up in a sugar company. She has nine siblings. I have one. By night, her childhood home was ablaze with gas lanterns; I hated it when the occasional blackout interrupted my marathons of The Sims. She had ducks, chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, pigs, goats and horses in her backyard. I had a goldfish once. When my mom was a kid, my grandmother would kill a backyard chicken and make locrio de pollo, a Dominican paella-like dish. When she was about 33 years old, my mom started making her own version arroz con pollo, or rice with chicken. Locrio and arroz con pollo look like twins but are prepared in different ways: For locrio, the chicken and rice are cooked at the same time, a togetherness that can result in dried-out meat or soupy rice. Arroz con pollo fixes that. The chicken is stewed with red onion, peppers, cilantro and tomato paste then removed from the pot and set aside. The rice cooks in the same pot, to which my mother wisely adds a splash of Presidente beer. The author and her mother, Oneida Moscoso. (Family photo) The two parts, rice and chicken, reunite when its time to eat. Lots of countries Spain, Peru, Puerto Rico, just to name a few lay claim to their own versions of the dish. But as far as I know, Dominicans are the only ones who have a savvy way to avoid pale stewed meat. When making the dish, my mother doesnt brown her chicken in oil alone. Instead, she builds a caramel base with sugar and oil. Once the caramel turns dark amber, she adds the meat and tosses it around until each piece is tinted deep gold. Even after stewing, the chicken emerges from the pot looking perfectly tan. Its the dish I make when my friends ask for a Dominican meal. Otherwise, Id probably serve slow-roasted salmon or something pretty by Ottolenghi. I dont cook the same recipes as my mother, but she was the one who taught me that food can provide both nourishment and joy. My mother makes her arroz con pollo whenever my brother and I return to Santo Domingo with our American spouses in tow, which inevitably leads my father to make his favorite joke: How come you only cook like this when they come to town? (In reality, everything she makes is fantastic.) Occasionally, she skips the conventional supermarket bird and orders a chicken, hard-boned and flavorful, straight from the Dominican countryside. Its a reminder of what life was like when she was a kid just like the framed photo of the tiny wooden house, colored white and bright blue, that for years has hung in my parents bedroom in Santo Domingo. More Mothers Day essays: My mom doesnt cook fancy, but she inspires me to do just that In the kitchen, my mother followed the rules straight from her sister My mother and I battled over food, until she made one special thing It didnt matter that we lived in Denver. In our house, soul food reigned Mom didnt teach me to cook. She taught me confidence, in and out the kitchen A mothers lesson in cooking for a crowd: Rely on the tried, true and remembered My mother had no chops in the kitchen, but she pulled off one thing beautifully Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 2 By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend: Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov discussed the issues of regional and the world policy with the Saudi Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud during his official visit to Saudi Arabia, said Turkmen government May 2. The president noted that Turkmenistan aims to efficiently use the existing potential to develop the mutually beneficial cooperation both bilaterally and within such international organizations as the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Saudi minister, in turn, expressing support for the policy of peace and good neighborliness conducted by Turkmenistan, emphasized that the constructive approach of Ashgabat to solving global problems of humanity finds acceptance and understanding in the wide global circles. THE Region Heavy rain, hailstones hit Washington area High water blocked roads and intersections Monday night in Montgomery and Fairfax counties, as heavy rain pelted the Washington region, causing sudden floods. Trees toppled, electric wires came down and hailstones as big as golf balls were reported, not just in one or two areas, but in many parts of the region. More than an inch of rain fell in an hour in some spots. Many occupants were extricated from cars stalled by rising water along major roads in Montgomery, including Falls Road in the Potomac area, Parklawn Drive in the Rockville area and Newport Mill Road in the Wheaton area. In Fairfax County, authorities were trying Monday night to help occupants of a car stalled in the Great Falls area, at Walker Mill Road and Manning Street, to name only one spot. More than 9,000 homes and businesses in the District and the Maryland suburbs had lost electricity at one point, according to Pepco data. The figure in Northern Virginia was about 2,000. Trees fell in the District in the Foggy Bottom area at 21st and F streets, and at Loughboro and Chain Bridge roads in the citys northwestern corner. One tree fell on several cars in the 5500 block of 13th Street NW. Martin Weil MARYLAND Police nd man shot fatally in Brandywine Prince Georges County police are investigating the shooting death of a man found on a road near a residential neighborhood in Brandywine, a department spokesman said Monday. Officers were called about 1:50 p.m. to the 15100 block of General Lafayette Boulevard for the report of a shooting, said Cpl. Harry Bond, a police spokesman. Bond said authorities found the man, who was not identified by police. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Bond said. Victoria St. Martin VIRGINIA Fatal wrong-way crash on Beltway inner loop Virginia State Police said the driver of a sport-utility vehicle died Monday after he drove the wrong way on the Capital Beltways inner loop near Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria. The early morning crash involved several vehicles and caused traffic delays. The drivers name was not released, pending the notification of his relatives, authorities said. He is from New York and was the only occupant in the vehicle. The crash happened about 1:30 a.m. when a Honda CR-V heading east in the westbound lanes on the Beltway hit a Chevrolet Tahoe head-on. The driver of the Tahoe and a passenger were treated for injuries that werent considered life-threatening. Gift Article Share Montgomery County police are investigating a collision that killed a pedestrian in Rockville late Saturday. Police said a man in a wheelchair was hit at about 11:30 p.m. while trying to cross the 600 block of East Gude Drive from south to north. He was hit by a 2011 Toyota Scion xB. The victim whom police have not yet identified, pending notification of his family died of his injuries at the hospital early Sunday. This guy did not have any anchor or roots, Montgomery County police spokesman Paul Starks told The Washington Post in a phone interview on Monday, explaining why it had been difficult to contact the pedestrians family. The driver of the Toyota was identified as David Alan Campbell, 29, of Rockville. Police said the circumstances of the accident including whether the victim was in or near the crosswalk, and what the traffic light signal was showing at the time are under investigation by the departments Collision Reconstruction Unit. No charges have been filed as of this time. Anyone with information regarding the accident is asked to contact detectives at (240) 773-6620. GiftOutline Gift Article Thierry K. Nkusu, left, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing of Maria Mbunga, right, in Takoma Park, Md. (Courtesy of Takoma Park Police and Monique Gomillion.) The Maryland man arrested in the recent killing of a pregnant woman in Takoma Park stabbed her seven times in the neck, chest and abdomen, according to a new police affidavit filed in Montgomery Count District Court on Monday. Thierry K. Nkusu, 33, was ordered held without bond after a brief court hearing Monday, the result of an elevated charge of first-degree premeditated murder lodged against him. He was jailed on a second-degree murder charge. Friends of the victim, meanwhile, continued to mourn her and are baffled that anyone could viciously attack someone such as Maria Mbunga, 36, an outgoing school bus driver originally from Angola. As far as being an extrovert, she was off the scales, said Monique Gomillion, her boss at the West Farm Bus Depot in Silver Spring. She was a beautiful person. Mbunga had driven school bus routes in Montgomery since 2007, Gomillion said. She most recently was serving four schools, starting her day picking up high school students and moving on to a middle school and two elementary schools. She worked a different part-time job during the middle of the day and picked up the students again at the end of the day. Maria Mbunga drove a school bus and was recalled by a friends as a beautiful person. (Courtesy of Monique Gomillion) Maria had a passion for her job and for the kids she drove, Gomillion said. She also made a wide circle of friends among other drivers and employees at the bus depot. When some fell on hard times, she took them in, Gomillion said, including a single mother with an infant. She helped people get back on their feet, Gomillion said. And she was ecstatic about her first pregnancy, beaming with excitement. She just had that glow, Gomillion said. Mbungas unborn child did not survive the attack Wednesday. When the case broke last week, detectives at the Takoma Park Police Department locked in early on Nkusu, whom they described as Mbungas fiance. In court papers, detectives said that Nkusu had indicated to friends that he did not want to care for the baby. In their most recent affidavit, detectives said they spoke with a neighbor of Mbungas who heard yelling and crying from the apartment on Houston Avenue, just north of the D.C. border. Maria Mbunga was stabbed seven times inside her apartment. (Courtesy of Monique Gomillion) Leave me alone! a female voice yelled from inside Mbungas apartment, the affidavit says. The neighbor told detectives that a man also could be heard yelling, and a woman could be heard crying. Both voices seemed to have African accents, the witness told police. Nkusa has told police he is from Congo. The upgraded murder charges appear to be the result of autopsy results. Mbunga was found with seven stabbing and three cutting wounds including cuts on the back of her hands, an indication that she was trying to ward off an attack. One stab to Mbungas neck cut her jugular vein. Others injured her lungs and small intestine. At the crime scene, Takoma Park police officers found blood throughout the apartment, according to the new affidavit. Nkusu has told detectives that he and Mbunga had a good relationship and that he had often texted her to check on the progress of her pregnancy, according to court records. He stated they are both Christians and that they solve their problems with words, detectives wrote last week. Nkusu also said that he was attacked in the apartment by an unknown masked man. That story, according to police, fell apart. Earlier: Police describe how they say that Nkusus story crumbled At the bus depot, Gomillion recalled how Mbunga kept her students in line. She was no-nonsense, Gomillion said. She could handle 55 students behind her while driving a school bus. Gomillion said she had seen Mbunga in action dealing with an unruly student. You need to come up front with me, she would say, where I can talk with you. Eventually, whether it was that day, or days later, the student would get to go back to the seats with the others. Students and parents at all four schools Mbunga served were told of her death. The amount of details shared, according to a school spokesman, varied with the ages of the students. A lot of them were crying, Gomillion said. How do you explain something like this to kids, when you cant explain it to each other? The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to intervene in a former lawyers request to release records of a woman who ran a high-priced escort service in Washington that he claimed could be relevant to the 2016 presidential election. Without comment, the court denied a stay sought by Montgomery Blair Sibley, who had asked to be released from a lower court restraining order that barred him from sharing the records of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, known as the D.C. Madam. Sibley represented Palfrey, who committed suicide in 2008 after being found guilty of racketeering and money laundering in connection with the service. Restraining orders stemming from Palfreys federal case bar Sibley from releasing records he says he has kept, including names, Social Security numbers and addresses of 815 of Palfreys former clients and phone records of 40 other escort services operating in the Washington area. In February, Richard W. Roberts, who was chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District, denied Sibley permission to file a request to lift the court order. Rogers noted that Sibley was terminated from Palfreys civil case and has been suspended from practicing before the federal court in Washington since May 2008. Montgomery Blair Sibley. (Michael S. Williamson/THE WASHINGTON POST) [Former D.C. Madam lawyer says names in her records could be relevant to election] Why Sibley would have possession of subpoenaed records in a case from which he has been terminated and why he would not instead have turned all copies of them over to the defendants continuing counsel of record is not set forth in the motion, Roberts wrote. Then-senator David Vitter (R-La.) apologized in July 2007 after his telephone number appeared in the phone records released by Palfrey, prompting the court order. Sibley in a recent court filing identified 174 entities but not individuals whose phone lines he said were used to call Palfreys service, Pamela Martin & Associates, between 2000 and 2006, including those belonging to numerous federal agencies, foreign embassies and major companies. Sibley did not return messages for comment about his reaction to Mondays Supreme Court decision or his plans for the records. The mansion Riversdale was built in the early 19th century by a family that fled Antwerp to escape Napoleon's troops. It brought its collection of Old Master paintings with it, displaying them in 1816. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) Heres my pitch. I see this film as a heist picture. Its The Thomas Crown Affair meets Oceans 11. In breeches. The year is 1816, and a gang of dapper, wise-cracking art thieves is planning to steal the greatest collection of paintings ever assembled in the Western Hemisphere. An amazing array of Old Masters by the likes of Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jan Brueghel and Rembrandt van Rijn is just waiting to be plucked. And where are these works? On a plantation in Prince Georges County, Md. Whod a thunk it? Historian Susan Pearl, with the help of a curator at the National Gallery of Art, started tracking down the paintings that once were kept in Riversdale, a historic mansion in Prince Georges County, Md. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) Its totally incongruous, said Arthur Wheelock, curator of northern baroque paintings at the National Gallery of Art. How did such famous works come to find themselves just outside Bladensburg, Md., far from the courts and ateliers of Europe? The story is being told at Riversdale, the historic house owned by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The mansion was built between 1801 and 1807 by Henri Joseph Stier, a wealthy Flemish financier who had spirited his family out of Antwerp as Napoleon started to carve up the Continent. Stier was concerned not just about his familys safety, but with the art collection his wifes father had assembled. These were exactly the type of paintings that were being grabbed by the French, Arthur said. Stier was absolutely right to try to prevent that and get them in safe territory. Thats his whole reason for coming to America. Stier and his family and 63 valuable paintings came to the United States in 1794. They first settled in Philadelphia, before moving to Maryland and building Riversdale. (It was Victorian developers who removed the s when creating the town we now know as Riverdale.) Stier and his wife, Marie Louise Peeters, returned to Europe in 1803, leaving their adult daughter Rosalie. She had married George Calvert, a descendant of the fifth Lord Baltimore. Some of the precious paintings were hung at Riversdale, but most remained safely in their packing crates, inspected regularly by Rosalie. In one letter to her father, she wrote, Last year we opened one case, it smelled like paint. I wiped the surface with a silk handkerchief, thus removing white spots that looked like mold. Though historians were vaguely aware of the collection, details were scarce. Then, in the mid-1980s, historian Susan Pearl started working on a history of Riversdale for the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She found a genealogist in Brussels who had access to a treasure trove of information about the Stier-Peeters family. He sent her boxes and boxes of document copies. Among them were packing slips for the paintings. Susan realized that she had the means to track the paintings. What did they depict? Had anyone seen them while they were in America? Where had they ended up? She contacted Arthur, the National Gallerys Old Master master. I thought he was going to hang up on me, Susan said. Instead, he said, Bring these papers and meet me at the gallery for lunch at your earliest convenience. With his help, Susan started tracking the paintings. Shes been doing it for 20 years. There were portraits by Van Dyck. There was a delightful scene of animals entering Noahs Ark, painted by Brueghel and now in the Getty in Los Angeles. There was Cimon and Pero (Roman Charity), painted around 1630 by Rubens and now in Amsterdams Rijksmuseum. (It might startle todays viewers, depicting as it does a woman secretly breastfeeding her father, who has been sentenced to death.) Said Arthur: These are the kind of names that the artists in America would go to Europe to study. Now they could go to Riversdale, and some did, including Gilbert Stuart and Rembrandt Peale. It was Peale who helped persuade Rosalie to open her house to visitors before she sent the paintings back to her father after Europe had settled down. And now Riversdale has been hung with reproductions of 16 of the paintings. They were bowled over, Susan said of visitors to what in April 1816 was the young countrys greatest art museum. Im sure it was buzzing. Said Arthur: I can just imagine the word-of-mouth rippling between Washington and Philadelphia. I can just envision how it builds: a little slowly, then people hear about it and a few more carriages go. Does one carriage contain thieves holding a forged letter of introduction, a powerful sleeping draught and special tools to razor the priceless canvases from their frames? In my movie it does. Some of the Finest Paintings Ever in America is the name of the exhibit, and it runs through Oct. 23 at Riversdale, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. Walk-in tours are offered Friday and Sunday between noon and 3:30 p.m. or on other days by calling the Riversdale Visitor Center: 301-864-0420. Admission is $5, $4 for seniors, $2 for students. For more information, visit history.pgparks.com and click on calendar of events. Twitter: @johnkelly For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. RICHMOND Democrat Justin Fairfax, a former federal prosecutor and 2013 attorney general candidate, is running for lieutenant governor. He is the first Democrat to officially jump into the statewide contest, while Republicans already have a crowded field including Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania), Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier) and Del. Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach). The candidacy of Fairfax, 37, an African American, would inject diversity and an energetic style into a Democratic ticket that includes the comparatively low-key Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring. I am passionate about creating and protecting economic security and opportunity for all Virginians, Fairfax said in a statement. As a former federal prosecutor, I know just how fragile security and stability for hard-working families can be. Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) and longtime federal prosecutor Gene Rossi have each said they are considering running for lieutenant governor as Democrats. Fairfax, over the weekend, filed the paperwork to run, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Virginia Republicans jumped on Fairfaxs announcement as proof state Democrats have moved further to the left than the electorate. The 2017 Democrat primary is going to feature views on policy more consistent with the City of San Francisco than with the Commonwealth of Virginia, state GOP chairman John Whitbeck said in a statement. When Justin Fairfax ran for Attorney General he was defeated by the most extreme left politician in Virginias history. We expect him to run a Bernie Sanders-like campaign even further to the left to ensure he doesnt lose this time. In Virginia, the job is technically a part-time post with responsibility for overseeing the state Senate and breaking tie votes a task that can help some officeholders build a statewide profile and name recognition. [Ken Cuccinelli will not run for Virginia governor in 2017, he says] As co-owner of a dental practice with his dentist wife in Fairfax County and a father of two, Fairfax said he would work to strengthen the state economy. As lieutenant governor, I will fight for Virginias families and make sure every child across the commonwealth has the same opportunities I had to succeed, he said. Fairfax was co-chair of U.S. Sen. Mark Warners 2014 reelection and is part of an effort to increase diversity on the bench in Northern Virginia. He graduated from Duke University and Columbia Law School. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe made a decision to allow convicted felons to vote in November. Heres how the executive order works and why it has lead to a legal fight. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe made a decision to allow convicted felons to vote in November. Heres how the executive order works and why it has lead to a legal fight. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) Virginia Republicans have hired a high-powered Washington lawyer to challenge Gov. Terry McAuliffes authority to give more than 200,000 ex-convicts the right to vote in the fall presidential election and beyond. GOP legislative leaders announced Monday that they have retained Charles J. Cooper, who ran the Office of Legal Counsel under President Ronald Reagan. Republicans said they are paying Cooper with private and political funds, not taxpayer money. [From the archives: Attorney Charles J. Cooper in the Reagan years] Governor McAuliffes flagrant disregard for the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law must not go unchecked, Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City) said in a written statement. We have retained Mr. Cooper to examine the legal options to remedy this Washington-style overreach by the executive branch. Brian Coy, a spokesman for McAuliffe (D), said the governor was acting under the authority of the Virginias Constitution. It gives the governor power to grant various forms of executive clemency, including removal of political disabilities consequent upon conviction. The Governor is disappointed that Republicans would go to such lengths to continue locking people who have served their time out of their democracy, Coy said in an email. While Republicans may have found a Washington lawyer for their political lawsuit, they still have yet to articulate any specific constitutional objections to the Governor exercising a power that Article V Section 12 [of the state constitution] clearly grants him. These Virginians are qualified to vote and they deserve a voice, not more partisan schemes to disenfranchise them. Late last month, McAuliffe issued an executive order restoring voting rights to all felons who have completed their sentences and been released from supervised probation or parole. The order also restores their right to serve on juries and run for public office. It applies to all ex-felons, including those guilty of violent offenses such as murder and rape a point that has particularly incensed Republicans. [Virginia Republicans want a say on restoring voting rights to 200,000 felons] McAuliffe has said that the move will advance civil rights and help reintegrate former convicts. Once you have served your time and youve finished up your supervised parole . . . I want you back as a full citizen of the commonwealth, McAuliffe said when announcing his order. I want you to have a job. I want you paying taxes, and you cant be a second-class citizen. Republican critics have called it a political favor to one of McAuliffes closest friends and allies, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, who could benefit from higher numbers of minority voters. One in four African Americans in the swing state had been banned from voting because of laws restricting the rights of those with convictions. Governor McAuliffe adopted an unprecedented view of executive authority and exceeded the powers granted to him by the Constitution of Virginia when he issued the order restoring the rights of more than 200,000 convicted felons, House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) said in a written statement. It is the obligation of the legislative and judicial branches to serve as a check on overreaches of executive power. To that end, we are prepared to uphold the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law by challenging Governor McAuliffes order in court. Virginia is one of 11 states that bar ex-offenders from voting unless they receive individual exemptions, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School. McAuliffes predecessor, Robert F. McDonnell (R), made sweeping changes to simplify and speed the application process for nonviolent offenders but stopped short of a blanket restoration. McDonnells predecessor, Democrat Timothy M. Kaine, who left office in early 2010 and now serves as a U.S. senator, considered a broader action but opted against it on the advice of his senior counsel, Mark Rubin. [Convicted felons in Virginia will now have the right to vote in November] A blanket order restoring the voting rights of everyone would be a rewrite of the law rather than a contemplated use of the executive clemency powers, Rubin wrote in 2010. And, the notion that the Constitution of the Commonwealth could be rewritten via executive order is troubling. Norment appeared to refer to that analysis in his statement announcing Coopers hiring. His predecessors and previous attorneys general examined this issue and consistently concluded Virginias governor does not have the power to issue blanket restorations, Norment said. By doing so now with the acknowledged goal of affecting the November election, he has overstepped the bounds of his authority and the constitutional limits on executive powers. Cooper is chairman of Washington-based Cooper & Kirk. He was a law clerk to then-Supreme Court Justice (and later Chief Justice) William H. Rehnquist. In 1985, Reagan appointed him assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel. Coopers work for the Reagan administration put him in the middle of hot-button legal issues of the day. In one of his more public and controversial legal opinions back then, Cooper argued that employers may fire people with AIDS because of fear that the disease may be contagious, even if that fear is irrational. He also was part of a small team that helped Rehnquist through highly contentious Senate hearings ahead of his elevation to chief justice. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Khalid Kazimov - Trend: Society of Iranian Petroleum Industry Equipment Manufacturers (SIPIEM) seeks to join efforts with international companies. Reza Khayamian, the head of the SIPIEM, said that a German delegation is expected in Iran to study opportunities for cooperation, Fars news agency reported. During the visit, SIPIEM will discuss inking a deal for cooperation with German companies. Khayamian further said that according to the Iran's sixth development plan, the country's oil industry needs an investment of $200 billion of which 60 percent will be spend on purchasing necessary equipment. Society of Iranian Petroleum Industry Equipment Manufacturers (SIPIEM) is a private association in the oil industry supplying a part of the petroleum equipment in the country. CONNECTICUT Governor wins award for refugee stance Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy received the 2016 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Sunday for his public support of resettling Syrian refugees in the United States. Kennedys grandson Jack Schlossberg presented the award to Malloy at a ceremony at the JFK Library in Boston. Malloy was selected to win the award from about 4,000 nominees. Malloy, a Democrat, was named this years recipient for his vocal support of refugee resettlement. Schlossberg credits Malloy with taking a stand against hateful, xenophobic rhetoric at a time when some governors and presidential candidates sought a ban on Syrian refugees. Fortunately for our country and for the refugees fleeing violence and terror at home, some Americans stood up for our values. Governor Malloy was one such American, Schlossberg said. Malloy announced three days after the Paris attacks that Connecticut would continue to accept refugees from Syria. Malloy personally greeted a refugee family from Syria that arrived in Connecticut in November after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, told them they were not welcome in his state. The family a mother, a father and their young son attended the ceremony. I decided to raise my voice and to make it clear that not all Americans believe that people should be barred at our door because of their religion or because of the geography from which they come, a choked-up Malloy said during a brief speech. Associated Press Florida First cruise ship sets sail for Havana After half a century of waiting, passengers have set sail from Miami on a historic cruise to Havana. Carnivals 704-passenger Adonia left port about 4:24 p.m. Sunday. The cruise comes after Cuba loosened its policy banning Cuban-born people from arriving in the country by sea. Cuban-born passengers were aboard. Carnival said the Adonia will cruise every other week from Miami to Cuba. Passenger Rick Schneider, 73, told the Sun-Sentinel that he waited 60 years for the chance to make the journey. He bought a Cuban flag for the occasion, which he waved at protesters who opposed the cruises. The Cuban government said the shift in policy removes prohibitions enacted when Cuban exiles were launching attacks by sea after the first Cuban revolution. Associated Press Four children, two adults die in Fla. crash: Six people, including four children, have died in a weekend crash on a South Florida interstate, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The crash involved a minivan and an SUV on Interstate 95 in Jupiter about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Wysocky said Heidi Solis-Perez of Stuart, Fla., lost control of her Mercury Villager and hit a median wall. The vehicle then bounced off the wall and into the path of a Kia Sorento, Wysocky said. Six passengers, including four children in Solis-Perezs minivan, died in the crash. They were identified as: Reynaldo Diaz, 31; Andres Perez, 18; Sandy Julian-Solis, 17; Macareo Julian-Solos, 14; Alexander Julian-Solis, 7; and Marillany Julian-Solis, 5. Heidi Solis-Perez and another passenger, Daisy Julian-Solis, 11, were listed in serious condition. The driver of the Sorento, Sharwen Pierre Louis, 21, of Fort Pierce, suffered minor injuries. Hiker found dead in Alaska: A hiker has been found dead in Alaskas Denali National Park and Preserve, and authorities think he fell and suffered a fatal head injury. The National Park Service said that a ground team found the body of Michael Purdy, 24, of Portland, Ore., on Sunday near the north end of the Savage River Loop Trail. The agency said in a release that clues indicate Purdy diverted from the riverside trail to explore higher terrain and fell, hitting his head. Authorities think the accident happened Tuesday based on Purdys cellphone activity and sightings of his vehicle. The Park Service said Purdys remains will be recovered by the park helicopter, then transferred to the state medical examiner. Two reservation hospital agree to changes: Two government-run hospitals on Native American reservations in South Dakota have agreed to undertake significant quality-of-care changes. This means the facilities on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indian Reservations will keep receiving crucial federal funding. The Indian Health Service, which administers the hospitals, announced Sunday that it met the deadline to reach last-chance remediation agreements for each facility with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The agreed-upon changes include the appointment of a monitor who will provide periodic progress reports, as well as the previously proposed privatization of the facilities emergency rooms. From news services FLORIDA FBI said to thwart plot to bomb Jewish center A mans planned explosive attack on a Jewish center in South Florida was thwarted by the FBI through an undercover operation involving a dummy bomb, authorities said Monday. James Medina, 40, made his initial appearance in federal court Monday following his arrest last week in the alleged plot against the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, which includes a synagogue, a school and meeting halls. Medina is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a potential life prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton said the FBI learned in March that Medina a Muslim convert who said in court he also goes by James Muhammad planned to bomb the center by placing a device under a car or throwing it over a wall. An FBI undercover operative was used to provide Medina with a fake bomb, and he was arrested after accepting it Friday near the Jewish center, Anton said. A 17-page FBI affidavit unsealed Monday includes numerous comments allegedly made by Medina about his plan, which initially envisioned use of AK-47-style weapons to shoot up the Jewish center. Associated Press TENNESSEE New law allows gunsfor college employees A bill allowing staff and faculty at Tennessees public colleges and universities to be armed on campus has become law without the signature of Gov. Bill Haslam (R). Haslam said in a statement Monday that he disagreed with the bill for not allowing campus leaders to make their own decision about allowing guns. But the governor acknowledged that the final version of the measure had addressed concerns raised by college administrators, with provisions protecting colleges from liability in lawsuits and a requirement to notify law enforcement about who is armed on campus. The National Rifle Association had argued against allowing individual institutions to opt out of the guns-on-campus bill. The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Andy H. Holt (R-Dresden) and state Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville). Associated Press KENTUCKY Judge restrains city from removing statue A judge on Monday temporarily barred the city of Louisville from removing a 70-foot-tall Confederate monument near the University of Louisville campus. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Judith McDonald-Burkman signed a restraining order forbidding the city from moving the 121-year-old obelisk honoring Kentuckians who died fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Mayor Greg Fischer (D) and James Ramsey, the universitys president, had announced Friday that they would remove the monument, marking the latest government effort to reconsider displaying Confederate symbols following the massacre of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina last summer. The city said the stone and bronze structure, for years a source of tension, would be disassembled and moved to storage until a decision is made on where it should be properly displayed. The Sons of Confederate Veterans and Everett Corley, a Republican running for Congress, filed for the restraining order on Monday. They contend that the mayor lacks the authority to remove the monument and did not follow proper protocol. The judge scheduled a hearing for Thursday morning. Associated Press GEORGIA Trial moved for man who left tot in hot car The trial of a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler son in a hot SUV to die will be moved, the judge said Monday, granting a defense request to hold it elsewhere because pretrial publicity has caused potential jurors to form strong opinions about the case. Justin Ross Harris, 35, faces charges including murder in the June 18, 2014, death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper. Police have said the boy died after spending about seven hours in the SUV on a day when Atlanta-area temperatures reached at least into the high 80s. This courtroom has not been a place of mild opinions, Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley said, describing three weeks of questioning of potential jurors. She noted the emotionality of potential jurors comments, with one of them saying Harris should rot in hell, another calling him a pervert and one saying he deserves the death penalty, which prosecutors arent even seeking. There was no immediate indication to where the trial will be moved. Staley said she, the court administrator and attorneys will work together on that decision. Associated Press 120 children were given too much laughing gas, college says: More than 120 children may have received too much laughing gas during recent procedures at a University of Iowa clinic, the school said Monday. Patients who received treatment at the schools pediatric dentistry clinic in Iowa City between March 1 and April 20 have an extremely small risk of suffering any long-term health effects, the school said. The university said the patients were given higher-than-intended amounts of nitrous oxide, which is known as laughing gas and is commonly used in dentistry as an anesthetic. During a recent remodeling of the clinic, a contract worker installing the nitrous oxide system accidentally switched the tubes carrying nitrous oxide and oxygen, the university said. A supervisor who inspected the installation did not catch the error. Planned Parenthood clinic reopens after fatal attack: A Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic has reopened five months after an attack by a gunman left three people dead and nine more injured. The Colorado Springs Gazette reported that workers at the clinic have repaired damage from the Nov. 27 shootings and celebrated a full reopening Sunday. The emotional event was attended by employees, state officials and peaceful protesters. Robert Lewis Dear Jr. has admitted to opening fire at the clinic, and psychologists have testified that he has a delusional disorder. A judge has not yet made a decision about whether he is competent to stand trial. From news services Countries usually dont knowingly commit economic suicide, but in Britain, millions seem ready to give it a try. On June 23, the United Kingdom will vote to decide whether to quit the European Union, the 28-nation economic bloc with a population of 508 million and a gross domestic product of almost $17 trillion. Lets not be coy: Leaving the E.U. would be an act of national insanity. It would weaken the U.K. economy, one of Europes strongest. The E.U. absorbs 44 percent of Britains exports; these might suffer because trade barriers, now virtually nonexistent between the U.K. and other E.U. members, would probably rise. Meanwhile, Britain would become less attractive as a production platform for the rest of Europe, so that new foreign direct investment in the U.K. now $1.5 trillion would fall. Also threatened would be Londons status as Europes major financial center, home (for example) to 78 percent of E.U. foreign exchange trading. With the U.K. out of the E.U., some banking activities might move to Frankfurt or other cities. This would be a big blow. Losses could be considerable. A study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), after making assumptions about U.K. trade and investment, concluded that Brexit shorthand for Britains exit from the E.U. could shave off $3,200 from average British household income by 2020. No one really knows, but other studies reach similar conclusions. Indeed, the adverse effects may be undercounted, argues OECD SecretaryGeneral Angel Gurria. Noting that U.K. economic growth in the first quarter of 2016 was the slowest since 2012, he says that uncertainty over Britains future is already causing businesses to delay hiring and investment decisions. What would Britain get from all this? Good question. There are three main complaints against the E.U., says Nile Gardiner, who was an aide to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and now works at the conservative Heritage Foundation. First, the outpouring of regulations from Brussels the seat of the E.U. has compromised Britains sovereignty. On some issues, the European Court of Justice can overrule British courts. Second, the E.U.s liberal migration rules may expose Britain to terrorists or overburden its welfare system. (Once people become E.U. citizens, they are allowed to live or work anywhere in the bloc.) Finally, the E.U. imposes costs on Britain an annual contribution to the E.U. budget plus the costs of regulations. The E.U. certainly isnt immune to criticism. It is often an elitist institution that has centralized too much power in Brussels for a continent characterized by huge differences of national history and culture. It has also committed massive errors, the adoption of the euro probably being the largest. (One currency didnt work well for all countries. Britain wisely decided not to join.) Still, most complaints seem exaggerated. The U.K.s net annual contribution to the E.U. budget is about 0.5 percent of Britains GDP. Thats hardly crushing. Some E.U. regulations may be overkill, but Britains labor and product markets are among the least regulated of advanced countries. As for immigrants, studies show that these workers pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits, says Frances Burwell of the Atlantic Council. Theyve come to work. What this debate is really about is Britains place in the world and its self-identity. Britain has long been of Europe but also apart from it. The British Empire was once the worlds largest. To be simply another member of a continental confederation, albeit an important member, offends this heritage. The nostalgic yearning is understandable, but it is not a policy. Ironically, leaving the E.U. would confirm the U.K.s reduced status. The U.K. would have to renegotiate its trading agreements with the E.U. and dozens of other countries. A deal with the E.U. is essential. For the U.K., the best outcome would be to retain much of its preferential access, which as a practical matter would mean continuing contributions to the E.U. budget and abiding by most E.U. regulations. The status quo would survive, except that the U.K. would have no influence over E.U. policies. Anything less than this would have the E.U. putting its own members at a competitive disadvantage. Viewed this way, Brexit is an absurdity. But it is a potentially destructive absurdity. It creates more uncertainty in a world awash in uncertainty. This would weaken an already sputtering global economy by giving firms and consumers another reason to pull back on spending. It would be better for the U.K. to stay in the E.U. It would also be better for the E.U., because Britain provides political and intellectual balance. Finally, it would be better for the United States, which doesnt need a major ally Britain to go delusional. Read more from Robert Samuelsons archive. IN CHINAs drive to modernize over the past few decades a period in which it became an economic superpower civil society groups took root, helping fight poverty and environmental damage, offering legal services, aiding migrants, and improving health care and education, among many other worthy pursuits. These groups, often supported from abroad, filled an important niche and attempted to remedy what the Chinese state neglected in an era of rapid change. The groups were loosely tolerated in a kind of gray zone . On Thursday, China took a major step toward ending that ambiguity and approved a law that could severely restrict the work of thousands of nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, that receive help from overseas. After a months-long delay, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress approved the third draft of a bill that would put foreign NGOs under the thumb of the Ministry of Public Security, rather than the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which had overseen them. In effect, China will place the NGO sector under the police, effective Jan. 1, 2017. The implementation of law in China is always uncertain, but the message is unmistakable. Most of these civil society groups lend a hand to the powerless, and not infrequently they come up against the bureaucracy and the state. If an NGO becomes too aggressive or demanding, or simply displeases the authorities, it may quickly face sanction by the Ministry of Public Security, which exists to protect the ruling Communist Party. The new law will give the ministry intrusive powers to register all such groups, examine their finances and interrogate workers. Those NGOs that are not approved will be forced to close. It appears the most draconian aspects of earlier drafts remain, despite protests from NGOs and foreign governments. China has been at the forefront of a war on NGOs that is being waged by authoritarian regimes around the world fearful of popular uprisings and suspicious that NGOs are planting seeds of revolt. In recent years, dozens of nations have imposed onerous rules, drying up international funding, limiting freedom of association and branding groups as foreign agents or spies. Even before adopting the law, China did not hesitate to quash those groups it suspected of supporting democracy, free speech and human rights. But now President Xi Jinping is going further than his predecessors in the post-Mao era. He is systematically attempting to strengthen the machinery of the Chinese state and impose top-down controls on civil society. Not every NGO will be policed under the measure, but just the threat of it will raise doubts among those wanting to help the dispossessed and distressed in China. The new law reflects Mr. Xis fear of his own people. It may make him feel more secure, at least for a time, but it will bring tangible suffering to the Chinese population. Humphrey Bogart as Fred C. Dobbs (left) and Tim Holt as Bob Curtin in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. ( 1942 Turner Entertainment) Roxanne Roberts wrote in the April 29 Style article about the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner that Donald Trumps possible narcissistic wound at that event may or may not have tipped the balance for his making a serious White House bid. It is said that Ronald Reagan was so narcissistically wounded by not getting the role he wanted in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre that it propelled him to seek the governorship of California. The protagonist in Edgar Allan Poes The Cask of Amontillado seemed so narcissistically wounded by his tormentor that he killed him by imprisonment in a wine cellar. Behavioral scientists have long known that a narcissistic wound, if deep enough, can be life-changing. Boyd Lee Burris, Rockville EVERYONE COMPLAINS about the high cost of prescription drugs, but not many people try to do anything about it. An admirable exception is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which recently proposed a pilot program to change the way Medicare reimburses doctors for medications they administer directly to patients, as opposed to those distributed through pharmacies or hospitals. At present, the doctor gets the average price of a drug plus 6 percent, a clear incentive to use higher priced drugs instead of lower priced equivalents. HHS wants to make the reimbursement 2.5 percent plus a flat fee. The idea is to curb Medicare spending on physician-dispensed drugs which grew from $9.5 billion in 2005 to $22 billion in 2015 without harming quality of care. Alas, there is now an uproar against the proposal on Capitol Hill, where the two interest groups most affected, the pharmaceutical industry and certain medical specialties such as oncology, have immense clout. All 14 Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee are demanding the Obama administration withdraw the proposal and all 12 Democrats on the committee have signed a letter raising their concerns. Similar moves are afoot among both parties in the House. Lawmakers, echoing the lobbies talking points almost verbatim, claim the HHS plan will inflict economic damage on small, independent practitioners who tend to pay higher prices for drugs because they lack hospitals bargaining power, thus encouraging industry concentration and limiting patient choices. The obvious goal is to pressure HHS to weaken its plan before it becomes final in a couple of months. Yet a new analysis by the Evidence-Driven Drug Pricing Project at New Yorks Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center shows that the HHS proposal addresses a real problem and that the opponents complaints are probably overblown. Medicare rules do, indeed, encourage physicians to use more expensive drugs instead of cheaper equivalents, and the incentive is strongest with a relative handful of highly expensive cancer drugs. In effect, the status quo allows drug companies to raise prices in periodic increments and split the proceeds with the doctors who administer them, the study found. Meanwhile, when all sources of physician reimbursement, not just Medicare, are factored in, the HHS proposal would only modestly decrease the average oncology practices overall profit margin from 16.1 percent to 15.5 percent. Thats not a deal-breaker, but if anyone thinks it is, HHS could fix it by raising the proposed flat fee a few dollars. What we have here is another case study in why its so hard to reform health care: Almost any change, no matter how reasonable, creates winners and losers and the latter can always find a way to recast their narrow interests as a noble stand on behalf of seniors, or small business, or some other sympathetic stakeholder. Those interests have the ear of Congress, including, disappointingly, members of President Obamas own party who youd think would be defending his HHS officials instead of carping or remaining silent. The executive branch is on the side of consumers and taxpayers this time. We hope it doesnt back down. George F. Will painted a seriously distorted picture in his April 28 op-ed, Contain Puerto Ricos crisis. Mistakes have been made in Puerto Rico over many years and under both parties. Mr. Will neglected to note, however, that, over 10 years beginning in 1996, Congress phased out a manufacturing tax incentive that had benefited Puerto Rico since the 1970s. That move resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and plunged the island into a recession from which it has yet to emerge. Mr. Will also neglected to note the many steps taken in recent years to reduce public employment rolls, reform pensions, cut spending and increase revenue. The islands debt, unfortunately, is too large to service and maintain basic services. Neither the governor nor Puerto Ricos Senate president oppose a federal oversight board for the island. Eduardo Bhatia, the Senate president, said, I dont have a problem with a board that advises, that supervises, one with which we can have a discussion. Gov. Alejandro Garcia-Padilla said the legislation was a step in the right direction. Purchasers of Puerto Rican bonds should have known that Congress could extend restructuring authority to Puerto Rico. They purchased those bonds subject to that risk. Puerto Rico cannot emerge from the crisis without the temporary authority to restructure all of its debt; the consequences of cascading defaults will be far worse for all parties than the grant of this necessary authority now. Juan E. Hernandez, Washington The writer is the Puerto Rican governors Washington representative and director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran's non-oil exports to Italy witnessed a huge increase of 493.7 percent in the first Iranian calendar month (March 20 - Apr. 20), according to the Iranian Customs Administration's latest report published May 2. Iran exported 119,608 tons of non-oil goods, worth $71.81 million to Italy during that period. Tehran's non-oil exports to the European country were 2562.4 percent more in terms of volume as compared to the same period of last year. China was the main importer of the Iranian goods during the one-month period. Beijing's imports accounted for 26.5 percent of Iran's total non-oil exports in terms of value and 32.5 percent in terms of volume. Iran exported 2.65 million tons of non-oil goods, worth $797 million to China during the first Iranian calendar month. Iran's non-oil exports to China witnessed a rise of 11.78 percent in terms of value, while the volume of the Islamic Republic's non-oil exports to China rose by 73.9 percent, according to the Iranian Customs Administration. The UAE (with $443 million), Iraq ($398.8 million), South Korea ($278.2 million) and India ($262.8 million) were the other four biggest importers of the Iranian goods after China. The UAE's imports from Iran indicate a fall by 26.9 percent. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic's exports to South Korea and India rose by 487 percent and 69.6 percent, respectively. Iran's exports to Iraq registered a fall of 8.3 percent during the period, as compared to the same month of the preceding year. Tehran's total non-oil exports surpassed $3 billion during the last Iranian calendar month, indicating a rise of 7.9 percent year-on-year. Philip M. Breedlove is NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of the U.S. European Command. When I became Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and commander of the U.S. European Command in May 2013, there was discussion in certain circles about the utility of NATO. I felt those discussions were completely without merit and that there was no need to engage. In my mind, and in the minds of the people who work in, around or with NATO, the utility of the alliance is self-evident. This was tantamount to having a discussion about the utility of the sun. The NATO alliance is arguably the most critical linchpin supporting stability on the continent that is home to the worlds largest integrated economy and, incidentally, on the continent that has in the past century or so spawned the worlds most destructive conflicts. As I wrap up my time as SACEUR, a tenure marked by the invasion of a neighboring state by Russian Federation forces, it seems utterly implausible that there are still those out there, some of them influential figures, who doubt the utility of NATO. So I feel the need to explain to my fellow countrymen why the United States absolutely needs NATO a NATO that is strong, resilient and united. In the century before I became SACEUR, approximately 100 million people died as a result of World Wars I and II[. Additionally, Europe was caught in a vicious cycle of violence where, from the Franco-Prussian wars to WWI and then WWII, the results of one war fed directly into the casus belli for the next. Thankfully, after WWII, we broke the pattern. In fact, since the inception of NATO, the European continent has enjoyed its longest period without a major power conflict in centuries. Though NATO cannot take all the credit for this prolonged period of relative peace, it is no mere coincidence that Europes stability and prosperity have developed alongside the worlds most capable and effective political-military alliance. Speaking of prosperity, the peace that NATO has facilitated has allowed our European allies to focus resources toward rebuilding the continent from the ravages of WWII. Europe rose from the ashes of destruction to now boast the highest gross domestic product of any continent. In terms of direct benefit to the United States, the European Union is our largest trading partner, comprising more than $698 billion in annual trade. Without NATO, those member nations would likely have maintained large and expensive standing armies not simply to protect against a potential threat from the east but also to protect against the threats that had consumed Europe from within for centuries. An additional key contribution is NATOs role in facilitating the peaceful transition of former Warsaw Pact countries from autocracies to thriving democracies. On the map of Europe today, recently democratic nations have far greater stability and prosperity if they are NATO members. The expense in assisting these allies to develop vibrant democracies and civil societies pales in comparison with the costs of turmoil and civil war. Looking at NATOs recent history, it is also important to note that an Article V, or collective defense, declaration has been made only once in the 67-year history of the alliance: in support of the United States after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Since our allies 2003 deployment to Afghanistan, they and our partners have fought beside us, for our defense. This is an alliance that has proved its worth, in the blood of its sons and daughters. Finally, if the naysayers still are not convinced of the criticality of this alliance, just look at the headlines. There is an arc of instability and aggression threatening our interests and our allies stretching from the Arctic, through Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and across North Africa. Only the most diehard isolationist could claim that this is not a direct threat to the United States and our interests. Our allies are on the front lines challenging Russian aggression, ungoverned and undergoverned spaces, and the worlds largest migrant crisis since WWII. Russias revanchist ambitions and illegal annexation of Crimea have led to the first attempt to change internationally recognized borders by force in Europe since the end of that conflict. Our allies are reacting and engaging. They have been essential in maintaining effective sanctions against the Russians and in ramping up exercises and assurance measures. In the past two years, we have seen a reversal in the trend of declining defense budgets among our allies. Though not all are achieving NATOs target level of defense spending at 2 percent of GDP, recent budget developments in many of the allied nations show defense spending increases. Additionally, and most significantly, allies are taking the lead. One of our newest adaptation measures in NATO is the creation of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. This brigade-size task force, with all necessary enablers, is ready for deployment anywhere in Europe on a moments notice. It is anchored around brigades provided by non-U.S. members of the alliance. NATO has been and will continue to be the centerpiece to peace and stability in Europe. It is an institution indispensable in todays dangerous world. We Americans cannot stand alone. Our greatest strength is vested in our partners and allies who share our dreams, our values and, yes, shoulder-to-shoulder share our burdens. The photo accompanying the April 29 news article Biden makes first Iraq trip in 5 years showed Vice President Biden leaving an Air Force plane in Iraq. The lettering over the door read The Spirit of Strom Thurmond. Does the Air Force really endorse the former senator and one-time segregationist? The spirit of the United States is tarnished by this airplane. John Reynolds, Crozet, Va. Barack Obama is president of the United States. Over the past six years, Americas businesses have created more than 14 million new jobs. To keep this progress going, we need to pursue every avenue of economic growth. Today, some of our greatest economic opportunities abroad are in the Asia-Pacific region, which is on its way to becoming the most populous and lucrative market on the planet. Increasing trade in this area of the world would be a boon to American businesses and American workers, and it would give us a leg up on our economic competitors, including one we hear a lot about on the campaign trail these days: China. Of course, Chinas greatest economic opportunities also lie in its own neighborhood, which is why China is not wasting any time. As we speak, China is negotiating a trade deal that would carve up some of the fastest-growing markets in the world at our expense, putting American jobs, businesses and goods at risk. This past week, China and 15 other nations met in Australia with a goal of getting their deal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, done before the end of this year. That trade deal wont prevent unfair competition among government-subsidized, state-owned enterprises. It wont protect a free and open Internet. Nor will it respect intellectual property rights in a way that ensures Americas creators, artists, filmmakers and entrepreneurs get their due. And it certainly wont enforce high standards for our workers and our environment. Fortunately, America has a plan of our own that meets each of these goals. As a Pacific power, the United States has pushed to develop a high-standard Trans- Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that puts American workers first and makes sure we write the rules of the road for trade in the 21st century. This agreement strengthens Americas economy. The TPP brings together 12 countries representing nearly 40 percent of the global economy to make sure that private firms have a fair shot at competing against state-owned enterprises. It keeps the Internet open and free. It strengthens the intellectual property protections our innovators need to take risks and create. And it levels the playing field by setting the highest enforceable standards and by removing barriers to selling our goods overseas including the elimination of more than 18,000 taxes that other countries put on products made in America. Simply put, once the TPP is in place, American businesses will export more of what they make. And that means supporting more higher-paying jobs. This agreement also strengthens Americas national security. When fewer people suffer in poverty, when our trading partners flourish and when we bind our economy closer to others in a strategically important region, America is both stronger and safer. But none of this will happen if the TPP doesnt become a reality. Thats because the Asia-Pacific region will continue its economic integration, with or without the United States. We can lead that process, or we can sit on the sidelines and watch prosperity pass us by. If we dont get the TPP done, American goods will continue to face high tariffs and other trade barriers in the region. American businesses will lose competitive access to Asian markets, which would mean fewer of the cars our autoworkers manufacture would make it to growing markets, more of our farmers and ranchers products would run into barriers abroad, and small-business owners hoping to sell their goods abroad would still find themselves ensnared in red tape. If we dont get the TPP done, employers across America will lose the chance to compete with other countries companies on a level playing field. And when American workers and businesses compete on a level playing field, no one can beat us. I understand the skepticism people have about trade agreements, particularly in communities where the effects of automation and globalization have hit workers and families the hardest. But building walls to isolate ourselves from the global economy would only isolate us from the incredible opportunities it provides. Instead, America should write the rules. America should call the shots. Other countries should play by the rules that America and our partners set, and not the other way around. Thats what the TPP gives us the power to do. Thats why my administration is working closely with leaders in Congress to secure bipartisan approval for our trade agreement, mindful that the longer we wait, the harder it will be to pass the TPP. The world has changed. The rules are changing with it. The United States, not countries like China, should write them. Lets seize this opportunity, pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership and make sure America isnt holding the bag, but holding the pen. Carly, we hardly knew ye. A week ago, Carly Fiorina was in a good position to enjoy the sheen of respectability she had acquired. The former Hewlett-Packard chief had run a solid presidential campaign and established herself as an adroit debater who could cut Donald Trump down to size. Then, on Wednesday, she became Ted Cruzs vice-presidential nominee accepting a nomination Cruz had no authority to bestow. In a case of exceptionally bad timing, Fiorina hitched herself to Cruz at precisely the moment his candidacy began to implode, as polls showed him fading in must-win Indiana before Tuesdays vote. Fiorinas previous criticism of Cruz and her checkered record at HP were again in the news. And now, alas, so is her singing: I know two girls that I just adore Im so happy I can see them more Because we travel on the bus all day We get to play, we get to play Fiorina sang these words to Cruzs two daughters in her acceptance speech. The eerie crooning, of the type heard in horror movies before something bad happens, made Fiorina a late-night sensation. Its like Disney gave the wicked stepmother her own song, Stephen Colbert observed. Musical sleuths identified the melody as Irving Berlins show tune Youre Just in Love: Put your head on my shoulder You need someone whos older A rubdown with a velvet glove 1 of 9 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Moments when Ted Cruz was more surprising than Donald Trump View Photos Although Trump has voiced myriad eyebrow-raising positions, Ted Cruz has at times taken more surprising stances. Caption Although Trump has voiced myriad eyebrow-raising positions, Ted Cruz has at times taken more surprising stances. Cruz and Trump Ted Cruz, left, and Donald Trump. Left: Cassi Alexandra for The Washington Post. Right: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. There is nothing you can take To relieve that pleasant ache Youre not sick Youre just in love This selection by Fiorina she delivered the unsettling news that she has four verses to her song puts the old in Grand Old Party. Its from the 1950 musical Call Me Madam, in which the Ethel Merman character, an heiress and ambassador, comforts her young aid, a diplomat in love with a princess. Fiorina, 61, is the one taking orders from Cruz, 45, but their relationship is no less peculiar. Its not Fiorinas fault that news broke just after her nomination was announced that former House speaker John Boehner, still a popular figure in nearby Ohio, had called Cruz Lucifer in the flesh and a miserable son of a bitch. Nor was it Fiorinas fault that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Friday gave Cruz such a tepid endorsement he said that he will be voting for Ted Cruz but that I particularly want to commend Donald Trump that Pence attempted a do-over in the form of an op-ed in the Indianapolis Star. But if Fiorina picked investments the way she picked her candidate, you can see why HP stopped requiring her services. She bought Cruz at the peak, when polls showed him close in Indiana. But an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll Sunday found Trump up 15 points. And now Cruz and Fiorina have to explain all those things she used to say about him: that Cruz is just like any other politician; that theres no honor in charging a hill that you know you cant take, only casualties, although Ted Cruz maybe got name recognition and money; and that it was odd that Senator Ted Cruz did not renounce his dual Canadian citizenship until 2014. Cruz now also has to defend Fiorinas record at HP, where she let go thousands and sent jobs to India and China. Will the Cruz-Fiorina team do the same thing to Indiana that she did to Hewlett-Packard? Fox Newss Chris Wallace asked Cruz on Sunday. The treatment didnt improve for Cruz when he took questions from reporters Monday morning in Indiana: How can he possibly beat Trump in California? Is there a path to victory if he doesnt win in Indiana? Would he drop out of the race before the convention in July? I am competing to the end, said Cruz, reminding all of his endorsement from Pence and his running mate. I am so proud this week to be standing shoulder to shoulder with my vice-presidential nominee, Carly Fiorina. But Fiorina was not standing at his shoulder later Monday, when he waded bravely into a group of Trump supporters outside his event. Cruz bravely tried to engage them in calm discussion. Donald Trump is deceiving you. He is playing you for a chump, Cruz said. The Trump supporters taunted Cruz: Do the math. . . . Time to drop out. . . . You are the problem, politician. . . . Wheres your Goldman Sachs jacket? . . . Lyin like you always do. . . . Are you Canadian? America, one said, would be a better country without you. If Cruz hadnt established himself as a singularly unlikable candidate, one could almost have felt sorry for him in that moment. He needed urgently for Fiorina to sing more Ethel Merman: They think that were through, but baby, Youll be swell! Youll be great! Gonna have the whole world on the plate! Starting here, starting now, Honey, everythings coming up roses! Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Before his big foreign policy speech, Donald Trump let us know that it wont be the Trump Doctrine because in life you have to be flexible. You have to have flexibility. You have to change. You may say one thing, and then the following year you want to change it because circumstances are different. So we had the Monroe Doctrine, the Truman Doctrine, the Reagan Doctrine and the Bush Doctrine. But the Trump Doctrine is that doctrines are for losers. On the center right, there are plenty of philosophies realism, conservative internationalism and isolationism to choose from. So which does Trump subscribe to? None and all, depending on the day he is speaking. For example, Trump has announced some of the most ambitious goals in the Middle East of any presidential candidate in modern history. In his speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Trump promised that we will totally dismantle Irans global terror network, which he said had seeded terror groups all over the world and perpetrated terror attacks in 25 different countries on five continents. And Trump declared in no uncertain terms last week that the Islamic State will be gone if Im elected president. And theyll be gone quickly. They will be gone very, very quickly. Even the most enthusiastic advocates of the Bush Doctrine would never suggest that the Islamic State could be eliminated very, very quickly President George W. Bush described the battle against terrorism as a generational struggle. And the complete dismantlement of Irans terrorist infrastructure on five continents? Wow. Even the most ambitious neoconservatives have never gone that far. Yet at the same time, Trump has also repeatedly said he plans to pull out of the Middle East so that he can save money and focus on nation-building here at home. We are spending trillions of dollars in the Middle East, and the infrastructure of our country is disintegrating, Trump has said, adding elsewhere that We have to build our own country and thats what we have to focus on. That sounds a lot more like President Obama, who declared that over the last decade, we have spent a trillion dollars on war, at a time of rising debt and hard economic times. . . . It is time to focus on nation-building here at home. So which is it? Trump cant dismantle Irans terror network and destroy the Islamic State while at the same time withdrawing from the Middle East so that he can spend the money on bridges and infrastructure. Trump also contradicts himself when it comes to the ideological struggle with Islamist radicalism. In his speech last week, Trump correctly declared: Containing the spread of radical Islam must be a major foreign policy goal of the United States and indeed the world. Events may require the use of military force, but its also a philosophical struggle, like our long struggle in the Cold War. That sounds a lot like the Bush Doctrine. The war we fight today is more than a military conflict, Bush told the American Legion in 2006. It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. But Trump also declared in the same speech that our troubles in the Middle East began with the dangerous idea that we could make Western democracies out of countries that had no experience or interest in becoming a Western democracy. He has said that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is someone with whom he could work (Ive been watching Assad, he told Foxs Bill OReilly, and Ive been pretty good at this stuff over the years, because deals are people. And Im looking at Assad and saying, Maybe hes better than the kind of people that were supposed to be backing ). Trump has also said that the world would be 100 percent better with Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gaddafi in power, and that in Egypt We should have backed [Hosni] Mubarak instead of dropping him like a dog. So Trump believes that (a) the war on terror is, like the Cold War, an ideological struggle between tyranny and freedom; and (b) that the way to win that ideological struggle is to support Middle Eastern tyrants as the alternative to Islamist radicalism? This isnt realism; it is incoherent. To complicate things further, Trump gave a name to his foreign policy non-doctrine: America First, he declared last week, will be the major and overriding theme of my administration. In the prepared text released by his campaign, the phrase America First was even capitalized. But America First has been the rallying cry of American isolationists for 75 years, ever since Charles Lindbergh and the America First Committee lobbied against U.S. involvement in World War II in the 1940s. On Fox News Sunday this weekend, Trump embraced his inner Lindbergh. Were defending Germany, were defending Japan, South Korea, were defending Saudi Arabia, Trump declared. Were the policeman to the world. And this country cant afford to do it. In other words, Trump has managed to embrace isolationism, realism and internationalism all at the same time. Give him this much: Thats pretty flexible. Read more from Marc Thiessens archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. The encouraging news from Latin America is that the leftist populists who for 15 years undermined the regions democratic institutions and wrecked its economies are being pushed out not by coups and juntas, but by democratic and constitutional means. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina is already gone, vanquished in a presidential election, and Brazils Dilma Rousseff is likely to be impeached in the coming days. The tipping point is the place where the movement began in the late 1990s: Venezuela, a country of 30 million that despite holding the worlds largest oil reserves has descended into a dystopia where food, medicine, water and electric power are critically scarce. Riots and looting broke out in several blacked-out cities last week, forcing the deployment of troops. A nation that 35 years ago was the richest in Latin America is now appealing to its neighbors for humanitarian deliveries to prevent epidemics and hunger. The regime that fostered this nightmare, headed by Hugo Chavez until his death in 2013, is on the way out: It cannot survive the economic crisis and mass discontent it has created. The question is whether the change will come relatively peacefully or through an upheaval that could turn Venezuela into a failed state and destabilize much of the region around it. A democratic outcome seemed possible in December, when a coalition of opposition parties won two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly. Rather than concede or negotiate, however, the Chavista government, now headed by President Nicolas Maduro, dug in. At its direction, a constitutional tribunal stacked with party hacks has issued annulments of every act by the new assembly, including an amnesty for scores of political prisoners. Gangs of regime thugs now roam the streets on motorcycles and attack opposition gatherings. Meanwhile, the government is essentially shutting itself down: Last week Maduro ordered that state employees, who make up more than 30 percent of the workforce, would henceforth labor only two days a week, supposedly in order to save energy. Remarkably, most of the Western hemisphere is studiously ignoring this meltdown. The Obama administration and Washingtons Latin America watchers are obsessed with the presidents pet project, the opening to Cuba. As it happens, the Castros turned Venezuela into a satellite state, seeding its security forces and intelligence services with agents. Yet now that it is decreasingly able to supply discounted oil to its revolutionary mentor, Venezuela appears to have become an afterthought even in Havana. Last week a delegation of senior Venezuelan lawmakers traveled to Washington to make one more effort to call attention to their crisis. They had a simple message: Venezuela will end with a political change, because there is no other possibility, said Luis Florido, president of the National Assemblys foreign affairs commission. But the government will decide how this change happens. At the moment, the slim remaining hopes for a democratic solution rest on a constitutional provision allowing for a referendum to remove Maduro. The obstacles to its success are almost comically steep: The opposition must first persuade some 200,000 people to appear at a government office (now open two days a week) to vouch for their signatures on a petition, then collect the signatures of 20 percent of the electorate, or about 4 million people. If the referendum is held, the vote to remove Maduro would have to be higher than the total reported number of votes he received in his 2013 election. All this has to happen in the next nine months if a new presidential election is to be triggered. Yet just extracting the necessary forms for the first petition from the regime-controlled electoral commission cost the opposition six weeks. On Wednesday, Venezuelans massively departed from their perpetual lines in front of grocery stores to sign the petitions the opposition claimed it collected more than 1 million signatures in a day. But, said Carlos Vecchio, an exiled leader of the Voluntad Popular party, The crisis is moving at 2,000 kilometers an hour, but the potential solution is going at 2 kilometers an hour. The Venezuelan lawmakers had some practical and specific requests for the Obama administration, starting with the public release of the names and alleged offenses of top Venezuelan officials included on a confidential U.S. sanctions list. Theyd also like help finding the $300 billion to $400 billion they estimate has been stashed in foreign bank accounts by the Chavista elite; the money is desperately needed to import food and stave off a foreign debt default. Most of all, however, Venezuelans hope for U.S. leadership in pushing Maduro to accept an election. Said Vecchio: The moment has arrived when you can no longer ignore this. Because what happens in Venezuela is going to affect the whole region. Read more from Jackson Diehls archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Regarding the April 27 editorial Nutty farm subsidies: Haiti has among the highest rates of chronic poverty in the world. Almost one-third of all childhood deaths are due to undernutrition, and Haiti is suffering from a crop-withering drought. For years, the United States has supported Haitians by helping to create jobs, boost incomes, reduce extreme poverty and ensure greater food security, especially for Haitis children. With the support of the Agriculture Departments McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, the USDA has partnered with the U.N. World Food Program to provide daily hot meals to more than 175,000 children at 610 schools in Haitis most severely drought-stricken areas. The meals, which incorporate donated U.S. bulgur wheat, green peas and vegetable oil, will be supplemented by a morning snack of roasted peanuts thanks to the recent U.S. donation. I recently visited one of the schools and saw firsthand the daily struggle many Haitian families face. To ensure this aid complements ongoing development assistance, the USDA is funding research by the World Food Program into the use of locally procured peanuts in emergency rations and in school food programs in Haiti. The USDA is also funding a new vocational agricultural school to train a new generation of Haitian agricultural professionals. Haiti remains in crisis, and the nations children need our help now. Thanks to U.S. farmers and agricultural innovation, they have it. Alexis Taylor, Washington The writer is deputy undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services at the U.S. Agriculture Department. Hillary Clinton is seen aboard the campaign bus in Cleveland on the third day of a bus tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio. July 31, 2016 Hillary Clinton is seen aboard the campaign bus in Cleveland on the third day of a bus tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio. Melina Mara/The Washington Post The former secretary of state, senator and first lady is the Democratic nominee for president. The former secretary of state visits key states in her quest to become the Democratic nominee for president. The former secretary of state visits key states in her quest to become the Democratic nominee for president. With Democratic front-runner Hillary Clintons campaign turning fully toward the general election, the candidate is speaking in increasingly strong terms about immediately tackling one of her partys most challenging domestic policy goals: gun control. Clinton says just as forcefully that immigration reform would be her top priority upon entering the White House. Without a dramatic Democratic sweep of Congress, few Democrats or Republicans believe that either of these giant promises has a chance in January. That puts Clinton in the somewhat tricky position of making promises that many doubt she could fulfill. But the Clinton campaign believes that public opinion has shifted on these two nationally divisive issues, making them winners for her to talk about in the general election. There is even hope among some Democrats that if Donald Trump is the Republican nominee, they could win enough seats in the House and Senate to put gun and immigration legislation back on the table. Privately, Clinton aides and allies are more circumspect, prioritizing what is actually possible at the outset of a Clinton presidency and which promises she would put on hold. The campaign says that there is no trade-off between immigration and gun control and that she has not overpromised on either. There is plenty of time to decide what comes when, campaign chairman John Podesta said. Thats what the transition is for, Podesta said, referring to the period between the election and the inauguration. Clinton is campaigning as the candidate of continuity preserving what Democrats generally see as President Obamas gains and making changes on his domestic agenda only at the margins. She is also promising to fix and finish what he has left undone, suggesting to different audiences that she could do so immediately. An overhaul of immigration laws, though anathema in the Republican presidential primary race, is still a better legislative bet than gun control, said Republicans and Democrats. Many Democrats think that would be doubly true if Republicans lose a large number of seats in November. The only way that the kind of gun control that shes talking about is going to happen is if theres a major sea change in Congress, said Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.). You know, Nancy Pelosi speaker again. Its not going to happen if theres a Republican House. Its just not. Independent analysts such as the Cook Political Report predict large gains for Democrats in the House. But even the projected range of 15 to 20 seats would leave the party short of the 30 needed to reclaim the House. As a result, Clinton and her allies in and out of Congress are gradually building a legislative agenda that would focus on immigration issues in Congress while mostly relying on the executive power of the presidency to further gun restrictions that would have little chance of becoming law. Clintons language on the campaign trail is more expansive. At a recent appearance in Hartford, Conn., she pledged that gun control would be at the top of her to-do list, no matter the strength of the opposition. We need a national movement to demand action in Congress and at the state level, Clinton said at a community meeting at a YMCA. The gun lobby is the most powerful lobby in Washington, she said. They have figured out how to really intimidate elected officials, at all levels, who basically stop thinking about this problem because they are too scared of the NRA, she continued, referring to the National Rifle Association. She has been more specific about an overhaul of the immigration system at the outset of a Clinton presidency, promising to advance comprehensive measures that would offer a path to full citizenship for illegal immigrants within her first 100 days. If Congress wont act, Ill defend President Obamas executive actions, and Ill go even further to keep families together, Clinton promised in January. Ill end family detention, close private immigrant detention centers and help more eligible people become naturalized. Clinton also has been mildly critical of Obamas deportation program, promising to stop deportations of almost everyone, aside from violent criminals or terrorists. Clintons policy agenda is the most detailed of any candidates on either side of the race. But without a single issue on par with Obamas health-care priority, her promises demand an evaluation of how to rank her priorities. In addition to gun control and immigration, she has promised to tackle college costs while simultaneously creating jobs, lowering prescription drug prices, fixing crumbling roads and bridges, and getting big money out of politics. And then theres curbing Wall Street excesses and promoting clean energy sources, among other things. Immigration and gun control are the issues she points to most frequently, and often with emotional stories and examples. At the YMCA discussion on guns, Clinton was introduced by Erica Smegielski, daughter of the Newtown, Conn., elementary school principal who was shot to death three years ago along with 20 students and five other staff members. Gun control has been a central topic for Clinton in her primary contest with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has a mixed record on the issue. (The two will face off in their latest primary Tuesday, in Indiana.) But she has continued to mention the issue as she has turned her attention to the general election, frequently citing polling showing overwhelming public support for universal background checks. [Sanders makes public plea for Democratic superdelegates to switch to him] Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), herself a victim of gun violence, said Clinton is saying what many people want to hear about guns, even if Congress isnt listening. Speaking just outside the House chamber, she jabbed a finger back toward it and said of Republicans, They are totally tone-deaf to whats going on in the rest of the country. Gun control and immigration met with interlocking fates early in Obamas second term, when he and Vice President Biden made a pitch for legislation strengthening background checks on gun purchases and when the bipartisan Gang of Eight senators began work on a sweeping rewrite of immigration and border-security laws. After the outcry from the mass shooting in Newtown, Democratic leaders decided to move the gun measure first, in part because public polling showed that about 90 percent of Americans supported action. But the NRA, with help from moderate Republicans and some centrist Democrats, dug in for a fight. Democrats ditched the gun legislation and pivoted to immigration. Two months later, the Senate approved the immigration overhaul on a bipartisan vote of 68 to 32. The legislation included a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants. It never went anywhere in the House. Thats the history Clinton would inherit including the presumption that these big lifts can only be done one at a time, Democrats said. Clinton would go further than Obama to broaden requirements for background checks and narrow loopholes that allow largely unrestricted trafficking of guns online. Building on the steps pursued by President Obama, Secretary Clinton will take administrative action to require that any person attempting to sell a significant number of guns be deemed in the business of selling firearms, campaign press secretary Brian Fallon said. This would ensure that high-volume gun sellers are covered by the same common-sense rules that apply to gun stores including requiring background checks on gun sales, he said. She will also lead the charge on legislation to repeal the gun industrys unique immunity protection. It wont happen coming out of this election, said former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele. Theres not a legislative mood to make a change, even though the country is crying for that change, he said. It would take members losing their seats on that issue to get those who were fortunate enough to survive to begin to act. And Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), whose district includes the site of the Newtown massacre, said changing gun laws is a long game at best. It will not change, I can assure you, unless we have a president insisting that it has to change, she said. How long that will take, I cannot tell you. Speier waved off any political consequences for Clinton if she werent able to deliver much on guns. Why would we say that about her versus Trump, who says things every day that he cant deliver on? Speier said. It shows that she has a backbone. We need a president who has a backbone, someone whos not going to, out of fear of blowback, say what needs to be said. The moms of America are going to embrace it; they want their kids to be able to play in a park without being shot. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said that Clinton is promising the moon to Democratic voters now, but he predicted she would back off in a general-election race. It may be a great talking point in a Democratic primary, Buck said. I think its going to be a liability when she runs for president. Clintons allies agree that immigration is more ripe for change, particularly if Republicans lose seats. But opposition remains fierce among the Houses more-conservative Republicans. Hopes for approving some version of that legislation in the House cratered two years ago when the sitting majority leader, Eric Cantor (R-Va.), lost his primary contest to an underfunded, little-known professor whose main issue was Cantors support of legalizing undocumented children who were brought into the country illegally by their parents or relatives. Ever since then, conservatives have vowed to thwart any effort by Clinton to move a far-reaching immigration bill through a Republican-controlled House next year. The American people would have an absolute cow, said Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), who defeated Cantor, openly laughing at the idea. In most Republican districts, he said, immigration is a 70 to 80 percent issue toward opposing any leniency. I mean, its not even in the ballpark. Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Irans imports from Russia registered a huge rise by 433.66 percent in terms of value during the first month of current Iranian fiscal year (March 20-Apr. 20), according to the Iranian Customs Administrations latest report published May 2. Russia exported 69,700 tons of products, worth $132.1 million to Iran in the one-month period. Despite the sharp rise in value of exported goods, Russias export to the Islamic was only 17.7 percent more in terms of volume during the period year-on-year. The Islamic Republic purchased 78.76 percent of its total imported goods in the one-month period from 10 countries China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia, Germany, India, South Korea, Switzerland, Netherlands and Italy. China was the main exporter of goods to Iran in the mentioned period. Beijings exports accounted for 19.37 percent of Irans total imports in terms of value and 10.76 percent in terms of volume. Tehrans imports from China decreased by 15.62 and 12.83 percent in terms of value and volume respectively year-on-year. Iran imported 207,134 tons of goods, worth $383.4 million, from China during the first Iranian calendar month. Iran also imported 368,692 tons of goods, worth $367.7 million, from the UAE, which marks 18.6 percent of Irans total imports value. Irans imports from the UAE witnessed 8.2 percent fall in terms of value and 12.38 percent increase in terms of volume respectively and as compared to the same period of preceding year. Turkey, Germany and South Korea exported $155.96 million, $112.89 million and $107.63 million worth of goods respectively to Iran. Iran imported 1.92 million tons of goods, worth $1.97 billion during the first Iranian calendar month, almost no changed compared to the same period of preceding year. With Holy Fire, fireworks and solemn Masses, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter on Sunday, commemorating the day followers think that Jesus was resurrected more than 2,000 years ago. Roman Catholics and Protestants marked Easter in March, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrated Easter this week, using the older, Julian calendar. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attended a midnight Mass in Moscows Christ the Savior Cathedral. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the worlds largest Orthodox Church, officiated. In Greece, the faithful attended Easter Mass holding candles lighted with Holy Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Holy Fire, coming from the Edicule, the chamber marking the site of Jesuss tomb, is held to light candles as a message to believers from heaven. The fire was transferred to Greece by plane and, as custom dictates, welcomed at Athens International Airport with the honors due a foreign head of state, before being taken across the country to reach the outermost parishes before midnight Sunday. The Holy Fire was also taken to Russia and other Orthodox nations. Fireworks are an essential part of the festivities, despite official disapproval from the Greek Orthodox Church. On the eastern Greek Aegean island of Chios, two parishes in the village of Vrontados stage a spectacular mock war with a hail of fireworks, drawing visitors from across the country. Perhaps surprisingly, no one was injured in the barrage of fireworks aimed at each churchs towers in Chios, but a man was seriously injured in Crete after falling from a high pole while helping set up another tradition, the burning of a Judas effigy. But not all was unified in the Orthodox world. In Ukraine, the second-largest Orthodox country, a recently agreed armistice between the government and Russian-backed separatists in the east was violated just as it was going into effect. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and several troops wounded, a government spokesman said, adding that separatists had shelled its positions overnight at several locations. And in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity, Christians are a minority with often-difficult relations with the Muslim majority. Elsewhere in the region, the Islamic State militant group has targeted Christians, as well as Muslims unwilling to follow its extreme interpretation of Islam, for prosecution. We lift up in prayer the members of the Orthodox community who have been persecuted for their faith and subjected to unspeakable acts of violence, and we seek the release of those who have been kidnapped, President Obama said in a statement. We remember those who have been driven from their homelands . . . [and we] pledge to continue our work to ensure that all people are able to live in peace, justice, and freedom. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, left, and the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, after talks in Geneva on May 2. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/AP) The United States and Russia are studying possible ways to separate rival forces in Syria, delineating potential safe zones for opposition fighters amid renewed violence that has threatened to fully collapse a two-month-old cease-fire attempt. Secretary of State John F. Kerry in Geneva on Monday for emergency meetings on the crisis said that the next 24 to 48 hours will be crucial in determining whether the plan will work. I dont want to make any promises that cant be kept, he said. [U.N. envoy fears catastrophic spiral in Aleppo] Kerry emphasized that the truce initially succeeded and continues in some parts of the country. But violence escalated recently, particularly in Aleppo, where at least 250 civilians have been killed over the past week, including staff and patients at a main hospital, largely by Syrian government airstrikes. There are only two air forces flying in that particular area, Kerry said, referring to the government and Russia, its primary backer. The Russians have been clear they are not flying. Russia and the United States play important, but opposing, roles in Syria. Moscow last year sent in warplanes to help the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Washington and its regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, support some rebel factions seeking Assads ouster. [Gallery: Mourning and misery in Aleppo] Kerry spoke after meetings with the top U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. State Department officials said Kerry spoke to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, by phone. He planned to return to Washington on Monday evening. We are trying in the next hours to see if it is possible to reach an agreement that can . . . create a path forward for the cessation to hold so that there isnt one day of silence or two days of silence, but an ongoing process that relieves the people of Syria from this devastation, from this day-to-day killing machine that is being unleashed by the Assad regime, he said. Just as the United States and its allies must keep our part of the bargain by ensuring the oppositions compliance, Kerry said, it is incumbent on Russia and Iran . . . to make sure that the regime is living up to its part of this agreement. De Mistura, who spoke at Kerrys side after their meeting, said: We are preparing the mechanism, but the mechanism needs a political will. Otherwise, we will have only a mechanism. But that actually [is] being started today, preparing for a much better mechanism for monitoring and controlling a new cease-fire, but we need political will. De Mistura plans to visit Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the new plans. He has said that nascent political talks between the opposition and the Syrian government to end the more than five-year-old conflict cannot continue unless the violence stops. Kerry was vague on how the new plan would work or be enforced, saying only that Washington and Moscow had agreed to significantly increase the number of personnel monitoring the cease-fire that took effect Feb. 27. He said they were working intensely to ensure that the task force does a better job, with a better ability to enforce the cease-fire. The safe zones under discussion, however, are not near the Turkish and Jordanian borders, which had been previously proposed by some regional leaders as possible no-fly zones. The Obama administration has consistently rejected using U.S. aircraft to protect such zones. [Two sides of Aleppo: Destruction and dining out] Instead, the plan would begin with areas in and around Aleppo and later expand to other regions to seek to divide opposition forces and the Syrian military. That plan, its proponents hope, would also attempt to isolate militias loyal to Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaedas Syrian affiliate, which is not covered by the cease-fire. The Syrian government and Russia have used the overlap of Jabhat al-Nusra and rebel forces in some areas to justify the renewed bombing. The United States and its allies have rejected those claims, noting that much of the bombing has been against civilian areas with minimal rebel presence, as well as places universally recognized as out of bounds, such as hospitals. Kerry acknowledged that the opposition also stepped up fighting and has been responsible for some of the recent carnage. But he insisted that the United States has upheld its end of the deal by urging U.S.-backed rebel factions to honor the truce. We want to make sure that Russia is doing the same with Assad, he said. One party is blatantly violating the agreement. Jubeir, whose government has supported some suspected Islamist groups and others in Syria, expressed strong doubt that Assad would comply with any plan that would stop airstrikes. [A grim tour inside Syrias chaos] The regime will not accept safe zones, Jubeir said. He accused Assad of conducting ethnic cleansing in areas currently outside government control, including Aleppo. The cease-fire was designed to provide space for the opposition and the Syrian government to hold political talks leading to a U.N.-backed transitional government, a new constitution and elections within 18 months. De Mistura said last week that there has been some progress in the talks, although they have so far been held only in proximity, with representatives from the government and the opposition sitting in separate rooms while he and his staff shuttle between them. Early last week, as the Aleppo attacks intensified, the opposition suspended its participation. There is no point in setting a date for resumption, de Mistura said, until the violence ends. In his more negative view of a truce, Jubeir said Saudi Arabia continues to favor supplying the rebels with heavier arms, including ground-to-air-missiles an escalation in weaponry that the United States has long rejected. We have said from Day One that the rebels should get all the weapons they need, he said, specifically noting shoulder-launched missiles. Asked separately about recent indications of strains in U.S.-Saudi relations, Jubeir described the ties as excellent, very strong. We may have differences on tactical issues over Syria and other regional matters, but our objectives are completely aligned. . . . The American commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia is unshakable. Jubeir repeated his governments call for the release of 28 pages of classified documents from the FBIs investigation into the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers, 15 of whom were Saudi citizens. While some members of Congress have said that the pages may prove official Saudi complicity in the attacks, both the administration and the Saudi government have rejected such claims and pointed to final investigative reports that labeled them without substance. So many years have gone by, and everybody knows whats in the 28 pages, despite a lot of innuendo and insinuations, Jubeir said. So, yes, release the 28 pages. And it would be nice if, when you release the 28 pages, you release the rebuttal. The Australian government is blatantly flouting last weeks ruling by Papua New Guineas Supreme Court to end the illegal detention of more than 900 refugees in an Australian-controlled prison camp on PNGs remote Manus Island. At Australias insistence, the detainees remain incarcerated inside the Manus facility, despite PNGs highest court ordering both the Australian and PNG governments to immediately stop violating the PNG constitutions ban on the unlawful deprivation of personal liberty. Despite Australia being directly responsible for the incarceration of the detainees since 2012, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls Liberal-National Coalition government has flatly refused to allow any of the detainees to enter Australia, or even be resettled in New Zealand. The governments defiance of the unanimous court ruling underscores the readiness of Australias political establishment to abrogate fundamental democratic and legal rights, by incarcerating innocent and desperate people indefinitely. With an extraordinary double dissolution election of all members of both houses of Australias parliament set to be called for July 2, the governments belligerent response also signals yet another drive to scapegoat refugees as a diversion from the worsening economic and social conditions being imposed on the working class in Australia. The opposition Labor Party leader, Bill Shorten, demonstrated the underlying bipartisan character of this policy, describing Labor as being on a unity ticket with the Coalition on ensuring the detainees were not brought to Australia. As part of his governments increasing efforts to drum up nationalism and jingoism, Turnbull adopted the slogan: A strong Australia is a secure Australia. He insinuated that the refugees represented a threat to Australias strong borders, declaring last Friday: We cant afford to let the empathy that we feel for the desperate circumstances that many people find themselves in to cloud our judgment. Our national security has to come first. The reality is that the vast majority of the asylum seekers, like the hundreds of thousands trying to enter Europe, are fleeing the devastating wars launched by the US and its allies, notably Australia, across the Middle East since 2001 in pursuit of domination over the strategic regions oil and other resources. Over the past two weeks, in the lead-up to the election, Turnbull has reinforced his governments commitment to US-led militarism, unveiling multi-billion dollar contracts to build new warship and submarines in Australia. Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claimed: The supreme court in PNG didnt order for the regional processing centre to be closed. That is a straight lie. The judges ordered: Both the Australian and PNG governments shall forthwith take all necessary steps to cease and prevent the continued unconstitutional and illegal detention of the asylum seekers or transferees at the relocation centre on Manus Island. That court order is being directly violated. Not only have the external gates of the Manus detention centre, located inside a PNG naval base, stayed shut. Detainees inside the Manus facility told journalists that internal gates between different sections of the facility were locked again last Friday, after being temporarily opened the previous night. They were also again banned from using mobile phones to contact the outside world. The Turnbull government is using the threat of withdrawing aid from the impoverished former Australian colony as a means of compelling the PNG government to disobey or thwart the courts directive. According to the Australian, aid worth $300 million promised to PNG in return for hosting the detention camp will loom large as Australian officials head to PNG this week to insist that the detainees must stay in PNG. More than half the detainees already have been classified as refugees under international law, meaning that they have fled persecution for fear of their lives. But the Australian government is demanding that they either remain stranded in PNG or return to the countries they escaped. This demand clearly violates the international Refugees Convention, which prohibits refoulement or removal, back to face persecution. The handful of UN-recognised refugees who have been permitted to leave the detention centre to settle in PNG are living in such poverty that most have tried to return to the facility. The only alternative offered by the Australian government is resettlement in Cambodia, where conditions are even worse. Turnbull rejected an offer from New Zealand to take 150 refugees a year from Manus or Australias other offshore detention camp on Nauru, claiming that would give people smugglers a marketing opportunity. This only underscores the governments intent to block people from seeking asylum. People smugglersoften Indonesian fishermenhave been involved in refugee voyages only because of the measures taken by successive Australian governments, Coalition and Labor, to prevent any safe passage, including the use of naval vessels to repel boats. Turnbull made it clear that the Coalition will try to constantly whip up anti-refugee sentiment during the election campaign. You cannot trust them, he said of Labor, accusing it, and the Greens, of not being safe on borders. The truth is that Labor and the Greens are equally committed to the reactionary border protection framework. The previous minority Labor government, which was kept in office by the Greens, reopened the notorious Nauru and Manus camps in 2012. It did so amid rising unemployment and deepening austerity measures as the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis began to strike Australia. Labor reversed its 2007 election pledge to close the sites, whose brutality and abuses became a significant factor in the landslide defeat of the Howard Coalition government that originally established the camps in 2001. Labor prevailed upon Nauru and PNG to reopen the facilities, for the explicit purpose of punishing asylum seekers in order to deter others from trying to reach Australia. Labor imposed a no advantage testrefugees would be detained for the same length of time that other asylum seekers were forced to wait in refugee camps in Africa or the Middle East. That effectively meant indefinite detention. In February this year, Australias High Court dismissed a challenge to the constitutional validity of this offshore detention, and upheld legislation pushed through parliament last year, with Labors support, to retrospectively legalise the incarceration camps. The ruling demonstrated the lack of protection of even the most basic democratic rights under the Australian Constitution, including the right not to be detained without trial. The suspension of former London Mayor Ken Livingstone from the Labour Party in Britain on the spurious grounds of anti-Semitism is an outrageous violation of democratic rights and yet another shameless capitulation by the Jeremy Corbyn leadership to reactionary political forces. The Socialist Equality Party in Britain has longstanding and fundamental political differences with Livingstone. But it rejects the accusation that he is an anti-Semite as a politically motivated lie. Livingstone has been active in left-wing and radical causes for more than 40 years. To accuse him of anti-Semitism is not only a personal slander. The unjustified misuse of the termreducing anti-Semitism to the level of an epithethas the effect of trivialising a politically sinister and dangerous form of racism. Such misuse of the charge of anti-Semitism has become the stock-in-trade of Zionists and other right-wing forces seeking to discredit all political opposition to Israels oppression of the Palestinian people. The political forces behind the attack on Livingstone involve an unholy alliance of the Conservative Party, Zionist groups and right-wing sections of the Labour Party itself. The support lent to it by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is yet another demonstration of his political cowardice and lack of principles. The suspension arises out of statements Livingstone made last week while opposing a similar action carried out against another Labour Party MP, Naz Shah. After defending Shah against charges of anti-Semitism, Livingstone went on to say, Lets remember, when Hitler won his election in 1932 [sic] his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism. [He then] went mad and ended up killing 6 million Jews. Within hours, dozens of reactionary Labour Party MPsincluding all three of the individuals Corbyn defeated in the party leadership contest last Septemberdemanded action against Livingstone. Corbyn suspended him that same day, declaring that his comments were unacceptable and that he would have to face an investigation. We are not tolerating anti-Semitism in any form whatsoever in our party, Corbyn said. As to the substance of the controversy, the worst that can be said about Livingstones comments is that he spoke with insufficient care. The statement that Hitler supported Zionism, without further qualification, is imprecise and challengeable on factual grounds. Hitler was a virulent anti-Semite, and whatever support he and his regime gave to Zionism was steeped in the most cynical political calculations and always subordinate to the Nazi leaders unwavering and pathological hatred of Jews. However, it is a matter of historical record that after Hitler came to power in 1933, significant sections of the Zionist movement in Germany sought an accommodation with the regime. Dealing with this subject in his book Nazi Germany and the Jews, the respected historian Saul Friedlander has written: Not only did the [Nazi] regime encourage Zionist activities on the territory of the Reich, but concrete economic measures were taken to ease the departure of Jews for Palestine. The so-called Haavarah (Hebrew: Transfer) Agreement, concluded on August 27, 1933, between the German Ministry of the Economy and Zionist representatives from Germany and Palestine, allowed Jewish emigrants indirect transfer of part of their assets and facilitated exports of goods from Nazi Germany to Palestine. Friedlander also cites a memorandum from leaders of the Zionist Federation of Germany sent on June 22, 1933, which, according to historian Francis Nicosia (author of Zionism and Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany), seemed to profess a degree of sympathy for the volkish principles of the Hitler regime and argued that Zionism was compatible with these principles. The memorandum states: Zionism believes that the rebirth of the national life of a people, which is now occurring in Germany through the emphasis on its Christian and national character, must also come about among the Jewish people. For the Jewish people, too, national origin, religion, common destiny and a sense of its uniqueness must be of decisive importance to its existence. This demands the elimination of the egotistical individualism of the liberal era, and its replacement with a sense of community and collective responsibility. While the topic of Zionist relations with the Nazi regime is subject to varying interpretations, Livingstones statements have a factual foundation. That he has been suspended from the Labour Party for expressing his views on the matter is a violation of the most elementary democratic norms. An article that appeared in the Observer on Sunday, written by Nick Cohen, exposes the underlying political motivation of the campaign against Livingstone. Denouncing Livingstone and Corbyn in equal measure, Cohen libels Marxism as the political source of the Labour lefts supposed hostility to Jews. The Labour Party is led, according to Cohen, by dirty old men, with roots in the contaminated soil of Marxist totalitarianism. If it is to change, its leaders will either have to change their minds or be thrown out of office. [Emphasis in original] Cohen is a right-wing hack and venal warmonger, who defends the actions of an Israeli state run by political gangsters and war criminals. His lies are part of a concerted attempt to silence dissent and shift British politics sharply to the right. The provocation against Livingstone occurred just days before elections to the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies, to some English local authorities and for mayor of London. It was timed to inflict maximum damage on Jeremy Corbyn in the first national elections contested under his leadership. Rather than forthrightly defending Livingstone, Corbyn immediately prostrated himself before the right wing. His response to the anti-Livingstone campaign is that of a political coward. It demonstrates once again that Corbyns political role is to stifle and suppress the oppositional sentiment of the hundreds of thousands of workers and youth who elected him to the leadership of the Labour Party. Indeed, his tenure as the partys leader has not changed Labours policy one iotaso much so that today the partys right wing feels able to plan his ouster. Corbyns behavior exemplifies the lack of political principle characteristic of the entire Labour Party and its leadership. His main ally in the party, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, is already positioning himself as a possible replacement in the event of a leadership challenge. After committing any future Labour government to continued austerity measures, McDonnell attacked Corbyn for taking too long to suspend Livingstone. From Country Living Where he's been all these years remains a mystery, but Charlie the German shorthaired pointer is back with his human after going missing in 2006. The 12-year-old dog had been hanging out on the steps of a church in Brewton, Alabama, for three days when a good samaritan alerted animal welfare organization Souls On Board Rescue Ride. Rescue director Renee Jones took the sick and starving canine to a local veterinary clinic, where technicians detected his microchip. "To find out that he not only had a chip, but that the information was correct...it was a goosebump kind of moment," Jones told the Associated Press. Charlie's owner, Tracey Dove, had kept the contact information linked to the chip up to date. Veterinary officials said the Birmingham woman was speechless upon hearing that her beloved pooch was alive. Ten years ago, Charlie's pen was broken into; Dove believes he was stolen and had presumed him dead after so many year missing. "I was shocked, overwhelmed. I cried," Dove said. "It's amazing." "I would like to get inside his head to figure out where he's been," she added. Charlie's health is deteriorating-his fur has grayed and he's suffering from a cancerous mass on his chest-but Dove is determined to bring him home and "make his last days the best." Follow Country Living on Pinterest. When the nation tunes in to watch Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly interview GOP frontrunner Donald Trump on May 17, it will be the apotheosis of the presidential campaign as Reality TV. Two shellacked frenemies will overreact to a real slight for the benefit of the cameras a plot line perfected years ago by television producers. Whether Trump and Kellys attempt to patch things up turns into a grudge match, political theater or substantive debate over serious policy issues, those in the news media are already calling Must See TV. This weekend at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Variety asked journalists what Kelly should ask Trump. Some, like CNNs Jake Tapper, wouldnt share their closely-guarded questions, while others, like the Boston Globes Michael Rezendes, was happy give Kelly some ideas. n 1. One word: why? Charlie Rose, host of Charlie Rose and co-anchor of CBS This Morning. 2. I think she must ask him directly, how he could be so demeaning in his statements about women, and particularly about her. There are lots of different ways you can ask that question. She has a personal stake in it because I think his remarks about her were just kind of unforgivable. But he still hasnt gotten the hint. He still doesnt understand what the appropriate boundaries are for public discourse on any number of issues. Walter Robinson, investigative reporter for Boston Globes Spotlight division 3. Would he order a military strike on North Koreas nuclear program? Is he prepared to accept major losses in Seoul because the North Koreans would then rain hell down on Seoul. Jim Sciutto, chief national security correspondent for CNN 4. Im hoping to interview Donald Trump myself, so I dont want to give away any of my best questions. Im just looking forward a good conversation. Shes a serious journalist. Hes a presidential frontrunner. Im just looking forward to the interview. Wolf Blitzer, host of CNNs The Situation Room Story continues 5. I just want her to ask tough questions. It is great ratings. Were all going to be tuning in so I want her to be tough. Ill be the first one to be DVR-ing and watching live. I cant wait for it. Candace Cameron Bure, co-host of ABCs The View 6. Id just get right to it: Given everything youve said about me, given everything youve said about Hillary Clinton, do you have a problem with women in professional positions and positions of power? She should also ask him if he thinks some of the mayhem at his campaign rallies can be attributed to his rhetoric. Michael Rezendes, investigative reporter for Boston Globes Spotlight division 7. I would never be so presumptuous to tell Megyn what to ask. Jake Tapper, host of CNNs The Lead 8. Are your attacks against me calculated or are they spontaneous? When you are watching my show and you get angry, do you ever stop and put the keyboard down and think before you tweet? What advice has your wife Melania given you about the ways you describe me and belittle me? Brian Stelter, host of CNNs Reliable Sources 9. She should ask him why does he brag about getting 4-4.5 hours sleep and what effect does he think his sleep deprivation has on his decision making, his mood and his health? Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, author of The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time. 10. Im not giving Megyn Kelly advice. She knows exactly what to do. Anytime you get an interview with Donald, its unpredictable, but now we are getting down to the nitty and the gritty. Thats going to be must-see TV. Gayle King, co-anchor, CBS This Morning 11. I have a whole bunch of questions. Ill leave it to her. Obviously, the moment itself is going to be just a television moment when they get together and do that. Shes a real pro, and I think it will be fascinating to watch. Im going to get the popcorn. Bret Baier, host of Fox News Special Report 12. Truthfully, and this is going to be boring, but I would like to hear him talk about some of his policies beyond the personality clash. He just gave a big foreign policy speech. There is a ton of stuff to mine there. As somebody who covered the George W. Bush administration, their policy was to create democracy abroad. And he has completely turned that around and said it is not our job, and now a lot of Republicans really believe that. To explore that arc in the Republican Party with him would be really interesting. Dana Bash, chief political correspondent at CNN 13. How can you convince voters that your volatility isnt dangerous to them? Ashleigh Banfield, host of CNNs Legal View Related stories Omarosa Says Donald Trump Has a 'Big Heart' Inside the WHCA Dinner: Standing Ovations for President Obama's Final Comic Gig Watch Larry Wilmore's Full Speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka in a meeting on Monday discussed cooperation on nuclear safety, Irna reported. During the meeting, Salehi said that the nuclear agreement between Iran and P5+1 showed that negotiation based on good will is the only way for resolution of problems and reaching win-win results. He added that execution of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action has prepared the ground for closer ties between Tehran and the world. Turning to the developments in Syria, Salehi said that dialogue between Syrian government and real opposition groups and formation of a national government is the only way to resolve the Syria crisis. Sobotka for his part welcomed the nuclear agreement between Iran and P5+1 and said that Chez Republic is ready to cooperate with Iran on nuclear safety. There are good grounds for cooperation between Iran and Chez Republic in fields of energy, mining, transportation and commerce, the official added. He note that Prague is in contact with Damascus in fighting against terrorist groups including Daesh (IS). From ELLE DECOR Well, this is one way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Manila Social Club's Executive Chef and co-owner Bjorn DelaCruz made headlines in January when he created the Golden Ube Cristal Donut, a $100 dessert which is filled with an ube mousse and champagne jelly, covered in icing made with Cristal champagne, and ultimately dusted with 24-karat gold, because why not? According to the New York Daily News, it takes 90 minutes to make a single one of these confections, and each donut is made with 1/4 cup of bubbly. DelaCruz is upping the ante in honor of Cinco de Mayo with the Patron Platinum Donut, a pastry made with platinum and Patron Platinum Tequila. And, since platinum is more valuable than gold, the sweets are going for $150 a pop, and all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Inspired by Patron's Margarita of the Year cocktail, DelaCruz's rose petal donut is filled with cream and a spicy ginger-jalapeno margarita jelly, covered in a sweet tequila frosting, and then topped off with sheets of edible silver and platinum. The donuts are only available at the restaurant's Brooklyn location during the week of Cinco de Mayo by special order. Considering that Town & Country reports customers have traveled from across the country to pick up golden donuts for weddings and special events, we're willing to bet foodies will be flocking to Brooklyn to try DelaCruz's latest creation. As for the rest of us? How about that Margarita of the Year? Donald Trump has made a big deal out of barring Muslims from entering the United States on the basis that some might be terrorists sneaking in to stage attacks. But the real front line in protecting Americans' safety may be much closer to home. America's own playpens. According to the Washington Post, our nation's nurseries are housing more than just unbearable levels of cuteness: Twenty-three people have been shot by toddlers in the U.S. since the start of 2016 exactly 23 more than have been shot by Muslim terrorists over the same period. Source: Mic/Washington Post Scary: Yet the threat posed by America's gun-toting 3 and unders hasn't drawn nearly the same backlash as that against Muslims begging the question of why our leaders are ignoring what, from a statistical standpoint, has proven the much bigger danger to our survival this year. So far, no one has called for a "temporary ban" on babies leaving the hospitals in which they were born. No pundit or law enforcement official has advocated a more aggressive vetting process for toddlers passing through America's airports, or OK'ed a multimillion-dollar police surveillance campaign to monitor places toddlers are known to frequent. Source: Darron Cummings/AP This is clearly to our detriment as a nation: Eleven of the toddler shooting cases in 2016 have been fatal, nine of which involved the toddler getting hold of a handgun and shooting him or herself, according to the report. But it's unclear what environmental factors are responsible for these tragedies, making it difficult to identify a concrete solution. The Post reports that Georgia and Missouri where the largest number of toddler shootings have occurred since 2015 have pretty lax laws governing how guns are stored to keep them away from kids. Sad that this is even a thing. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/05/01/toddlers-have-shot-at-least-23-people-this-year/ ...pic.twitter.com/OOlfMos8tx https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChYZonNVEAAxb3K.jpg:large On the other hand, New York state has no such laws at all, and has far fewer shootings of this sort. Story continues Mic recently suggested that more "gun-friendly" states including Missouri, Georgia, Florida and Texas saw higher rates of toddler-related gun violence because guns are more readily available there. This is far from a definitive answer, but regardless, the threat appears to be growing: Over the same four-month period last year, only 18 people were shot by toddlers in the U.S. A baby born in New York City. Then there's the other problem: Muslims in America haven't been afforded nearly the same benefit of the doubt as their diaper-wearing counterparts. Since 9/11, a spike in hate crimes against Muslims and Sikhs who are often mistaken for Muslims has accompanied a series of administrative and law enforcement practices that criminalize them. This includes the NYPD's disgraced Demographics Unit, which dedicated years of resources to surveilling Muslim neighborhoods in the tr-state area only to fail at uncovering a single piece of actionable intelligence. Despite Muslim terrorists having killed nobody in the U.S. in 2016, Muslims across the country are routinely made to suffer due to Islamophobic perceptions. There are now at least six documented incidents of Muslims being removed from commercial airline flights since November because their fellow passengers felt threatened by them including an Iraqi refugee who got kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight in April because a woman heard him speaking Arabic on the phone and got scared. If anything good should come of this, it's the lesson we can learn from how we've responded to the toddler shooting crisis compared to how we've treated Muslims: Don't criminalize an entire demographic based on the actions of a small few. But also, keep an eye on your damn kids. Key and Peele return with their R-rated take on action movies with the cat kidnapping escapades of "Keanu." Find out what it's all about with our quick preview. -- What's it about? -- Respectable family man Clarence is tasked with tracking down missing cat Keanu, and best bud Rell tags along to help out. He'll need help, as the cuddly kitty has become the prize pet of a violent underworld gang network. -- Who's in it? -- After five seasons of the 11-time Emmy-nominated, Peabody-award -winning sketch comedy series "Key & Peele," Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele reunite for their first co-headlining feature film. Key becomes Clarence, with Peele as Bell. Also part of the film's beefy cast are Method Man as crime boss Chedda and, in a coup resulting from similarities between "Keanu" and the straight-up action film "John Wick," Keanu Reeves himself, voicing the cat in a specially-filmed additional sequence. Also involved are Luiz Guzman ("Narcos"), Will Forte ("The Last Man on Earth"), Jason Mitchell ("Straight Outta Compton"), Nia Long ("Third Watch"), Darrell Britt-Gibson ("The Wire"), Tiffany Haddish ("The Carmichael Show") and Rob Huebel ("Childrens Hospital"). It's a good cast. -- Who's behind it? -- Peele wrote "Keanu" with Alex Rubens, who was also on board for "Key & Peele" as well as the well-loved "Community" and "Rick and Morty." Directing is Peter Atencio, another graduate of "Key & Peele," with 54 episodes' worth behind him. -- Is it any good? -- On its US debut, the R-rated "Keanu" is likely the best new wide release of the week. Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator whose main measure of quality is a simple good-or-bad division, has the comedy on an 81% approval rating from a sizable pool of 52 pro-grade reviews; 74% of the 8,000+ folks that have seen it liked it. Story continues Metacritic's average score is a bit less effervescent at 61%, while IMDB's users notched it at 6.7/10. -- When's it out? -- April 29 sees Keanu debut in the US and Canada, after an early release in Australia the week before, and a premiere screening at SXSW in March. -- Where's the trailer? -- Go wild with the YouTube playlist featuring the official trailer, a handful of TV spots, and the alternative trailer, "Kitten, Please," featuring cats only: youtu.be/K9zy27apgI8?list=PLVfin74Qx3tX9JI0RhPqrc3Z12vfg6cq3 Then Gangstify Your Pet on the movie's website. Most high school seniors aren't ready for college coursework in math and reading, according to data released last week from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, an ongoing assessment administered by the federal government. The data show 37 percent of seniors are ready for college-level math and reading, a slight decline from when the exams were last given in 2013. [Get do's and don'ts for parents to help teens build math interest and success.] Parents of high school freshmen and sophomores who are concerned their child isn't on the path to undergrad success should watch out for the following warning signs. -- Your teen consistently struggles on key academic skills. Students may be performing well in their courses overall, but could be struggling in specific academic areas that are crucial for success in college, like essay-writing, analyzing literature or on particular math skills, like problem-solving and basic algebra, says Brandi Cooper, a school counselor at Granville High School in Ohio. Parents should always review their child's report card, but can dig deeper into their child's marks on particular assignments if they have concerns, she says. Grades are typically calculated by a combination of assignments, including homework, projects and tests. Even if a student is doing well on one type of task, they could be struggling on another, she says. Additionally, students should plan to take the PSAT or PreACT preliminary college entrance exams; students can use their results to see if they are on the path to college success. Families can use this information to focus in on the academic areas where students are struggling to become college-ready. -- Your teen is lacking nonacademic skills that are critical for undergrad success. There are many factors that play into whether a student is ready for college, Cooper says, and academic readiness is just one factor. Students need to develop traits like independence, responsibility, learn how to seek out help when needed and develop the ability to advocate for themselves when they are on their own at college, says Cooper, who is also president of the Ohio School Counselor Association. Story continues Parents can model these skills for teens. For example, a parent might set up a meeting with a teacher to discuss their student's academic issues, but the student should attend so he or she can learn to take the lead on his or her academics. Together, families and teachers can set goals and agree on a plan to help the student be more successful. Twitter users chimed in with similar warning signs. @alipannoni @usnews Ask- is your child self directed? Does your child have good study skills? Critical thinking? good reader/comprehension -- Susan Siemer (@SFSiemer) April 28, 2016 Study habits are probably 1 vital thing to look at, but that's a big Q! RT @alipannoni on college courses Q #sccrowd #scchat #educhat #edu -- ScholarBound (@ScholarBound) April 29, 2016 @alipannoni @USNewsEducation @usnews lacking executive functioning skills -- Madeline Lundberg (@madelineyvette) April 29, 2016 @alipannoni ability to organize materials, plan specific steps needed to complete a task, initiate these steps to the complete task -- Madeline Lundberg (@madelineyvette) April 29, 2016 @alipannoni Also to make changes within the plan to make sure the task gets completed. Prioritizing also is part of executive functioning -- Madeline Lundberg (@madelineyvette) April 29, 2016 -- Your teen isn't reading enough. "Every night, a student should be reading something," says Brian Curtin, an English teacher at Schaumburg High School in Illinois. If a student comes home from school with nothing to read, that should be a cause for concern, and parents could contact their child's teachers to see what students are reading in class, he says. Students will be reading and writing a ton in college, whether they are a literature or biology major, says Curtin, the 2013 Illinois Teacher of the Year. The majority of reading college students do is nonfiction. Parents should encourage their teen to read different types of material, he says. And if a student is struggling in writing, that could be a sign that a student is not reading well, he says, since research shows that the ability to write is often a direct indication of reading skills. [Find out how parents and teachers can encourage teens to read for fun.] If parents are concerned their child isn't on the path to college success, they should reach out to their child's teacher to talk about it and see if there's anything the parent can do, Curtin says. "Communication solves all problems," he says. Have something of interest to share? Send your news to us at highschoolnotes@usnews.com. Alexandra Pannoni is an education Web producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at apannoni@usnews.com. Thirty-three lions boarded a record-breaking flight to a South African sanctuary after they were reportedly rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia. Read: Ringling Bros. Circus Elephants Take to the Ring For Last Time in Final Act On Sunday As the plane touched down in Johannesburg, the lions could be heard "bellowing out a huge roar that echoed through the aircraft," as if in celebration of their new-found freedom, according to Animal Defenders International. The 1st day of the rest of their lives. Pictured: Easy, one of the #33lions taking #SpiritOfFreedomFlight to Africa pic.twitter.com/HWumzRzAWM ADI (@AnimalDefenders) May 2, 2016 This was the first time so many lions had been transported by air, according to ADI. The founder of the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Johannesburg even called the lions' journey to Africa their "birth-right." Iron, one of the nine Colombian lions on the flight, was the first to step into the sanctuary and immediately rubbed against a tree. "These animals had never felt grass beneath their feet, or the sun over their heads," ADI President Jan Creamer said. Iron is the first to be released! He's enjoying a satisfying rub against a tree! #33lions https://t.co/saoaOdVjMh pic.twitter.com/nd0gAVkskv ADI (@AnimalDefenders) May 1, 2016 During an 18-month mission, the animals were rescued from inhumane circus conditions in Peru and Colombia after new regulations on circuses and performing acts were passed, according to ADI. Story continues When the lions were rescued, many had been declawed and had broken teeth, while others had been bred in captivity, ADI said. They were deemed unfit to return to be released into the wild so they were instead transported to their forever home at the sanctuary. Among the animals, 24 lions were rescued from Peru and nine from Colombia. According to ADI, each animal cost about $10,000 to rescue, which was funded by donations. The donated chartered flight brought the Colombian lions from Bogota to Lima, where the remaining 24 lions were then loaded onto the flight. After some minor delays, the group then left on a 15-hour journey to Johannesburg. Read: Mountain Lion Who Has Been Imprisoned for 20 Years by Circus Finally Go Free Several representatives from ADI, including a veterinarian, were on the flight to monitor the lions, who traveled in individual crates. In the coming months, the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary will ease them into living in their new home with bonding activities, which includes re-introducing them to their families. Watch: American Tourist Mauled by Lion May Have Been Safe if She Followed The Rules Related Articles: Warning: This recap for the Drive" episode of Quantico contains spoilers. In which we find out the identity of The Voice for real, this time. We think. Here, 18 things we learned in the Drive episode of Quantico: 1. Wills not dead! Hes in the ICU, though, suffering from the effects of having cobbled together a nuke in the catacombs of the church where Alex and Shelby found him. Simon remains MIA. 2. Ryan and Nimah are hot on Alexs trail, and they burst into her apartment only to find Caleb, on her couch, eating cereal and watching home renovation TV. He tells Ryan that Alex hasnt been at her apartment in a day, and Miranda orders Ryan to bring Caleb into the office. Shell make him talk, she warns 3. Alex is on the run, meanwhile, but in touch with Shelby via phone. Shelby is using her laptop to search all the hospitals in the city for any patient description that might be Simon damn, that McGregor-Wyatt software can do anything! She locates a patient at St. Lukes that sounds almost exactly like Simon, and she and Alex agree to meet there to see if it might be their friend. 4. Dude at St. Lukes is not Simon hes Drew! Whuuuut? Yes, after Drew left Quantico on his huffy bike, he got a gig at a private security firm in New York. Shortly after, he received a call from The Voice, ordering him to rent a van and park it on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Drew refused, until The Voice threatened his sister and her children. He rented the van, and then The Voice kept making more and more demands, he tells Alex and Shelby, like asking him to scope out train schedules and security cameras around NYC. After the first attack, he saw Alex on TV, he says, and started to make some connections, but didnt know who he could talk to, because he suspected it was an inside job at the FBI. Then he drops a big bombshell: he knows whos behind the attacks. Its Ryan! Of course, Shelby, and especially Alex, are skeptical, but Drew says they should get access to Ryans computer, phone, car maybe theyll even find evidence of some voice modification software, he suggests. He also tells them to look in his pocket for a flash drive he stole from his office, which has software that can help them decode Ryans computer passwords. What an incredibly informative and fruitful meeting Alex and Shelby are having with Deus Ex Machina Perales, er, Drew Perales. 5. In the Quantico timeline, with just two weeks until graduation, the NATS are getting close quarters combat training. They spar with each other inside The Box, a cage-like enclosure where Ryan kicks Alexs butt using a cool backflip off The Box walls (which he later tells her saved his life in Afghanistan). Instead of being angry about her defeat, Alex tells Ryan he just got lucky, and that even Ronda Rousey loses sometimes. Shes also super flirty with Ryan, prompting a snarky comment from Iris about how Drew has only been gone for, like, 20 minutes. Exes Ryan and Alex are so flirty that they even make dinner plans for two weeks ahead, post-graduation during which she plans to find out everything there is to know about him (the truth this time). Story continues 6. Caleb is also back for Quantico training, which ticks off Iris and Shelby, who thought he would be gone. When Iris confronts Caleb who got his own butt-kicking from Liam in the sparring session he tells her he needs her help with Shelby. Shelbys parents were just trying to use her for a final cash infusion, he says. Iris tells him Shelby has decided to change her field office assignment choice to Buffalo, so she can sneak over the border into Canada to meet up with her parents. Caleb tells Iris they have to stop that, to prevent Shelby from finding out the truth about her sneaky ma and pa. 7. The twins have decided to get aggressive and demand they not be assigned to any low-stakes terrorist cell infiltration projects, so they tell their new handler Susan Coombs theyre ready to go after the terrorists who attacked Quantico. Coombs says shell talk to her supervisors about it, but warns them, I dont need to tell you what happens if youre not ready. She does not, but if she could tell us some trick for keeping track of which twin is which, thatd be swell. 8. The NATS assignment for their penultimate week at Quantico is to visit FBI field offices, in groups, so they can be evaluated and so they can see how operations are run. Alex, Shelby, the twins, Caleb, Iris, and Fletcher go off with Ryan to Richmond, where theyre given minor tasks they find insultingly easy. The agent in charge of the office, Jordan Kent, assigns Alex, Iris, and Fletcher to work on the case of a local post office that was burgled, but with nothing missing at the end of the incident. That means they have to cold call people in the area 2,700 of them, Kent says to canvas for info. Alex finds a lead duh and she and Kent leave the office to investigate it. In the car, she asks Kent about Ryan, who he worked with in Chicago; Kent tells her to be careful around Mr. Booth. He says Ryan left his post an hour before the planned terrorist attack in Chicago the one that led to the death of Drews girlfriend and he doesnt buy that it was a coincidence. Related: Read All of Yahoo TVs Quantico Recaps 9. Nimah and Rainas handler tells them her supervisors are going to give them a chance to prove they can handle serious undercover work, and heres the test: when they go off to the Richmond office, one agent there will know they are twins. Using clues and cues they pick up on while there, they have to figure out who that agent is. If they can, theyre golden. If they blow the challenge somehow, I wont even be able to send you to Poughkeepsie, Coombs tells them, from which we infer that the FBI does not consider Poughkeepsie to be a hotbed of suspicious activity. But maybe they dont know thats where Jersey Shores Snooki is from? 10. Present day NYC: Ryan, Nimah, and Miranda are interrogating Caleb at the FBI office, when Caleb points out that, behind them, a computer seems to be on fire. Right he is: Shelby, once again using that magic McGregor-Wyatt software installed on the FBIs computer system, hacked her way in, turned off all the fans inside the computers, and launched all of the software on each one, making them overheat and spark a smoky mess. And while the office is being evacuated, Alex sneaks in and makes her way to Ryans computer. Yes, yes, Alex is wanted by the FBI, and yes, yes, that probably means Shelby should have been the one to sneak inside the FBI offices, but its not like Alex wasnt careful about walking into the building full of people trying to hunt her down she pulled her hoodie hat over her head. 11. In the Richmond office, Alex nearly blows an undercover case when she figures out a local man and former post office worker the one she and Kent went to investigate is under investigation for being involved with a child pornography ring. The FBI busts him in the end, but not before the baddie knocks Fletcher out and tries to kill Kent, whos saved by his rival. Ryan confronts Kent about why he told Alex about Chicago, and Kent says it was because he doesnt believe what Ryan did, leaving his post, was a mistake or coincidence. He thinks he left on purpose, because he wanted the militia to carry out the plan that would have killed hundreds of people if they hadnt been raided first. 12. Ryan, as part of his promise to tell Alex the truth about himself, decides to tell her the truth about what happened in Chicago, something he hasnt told anyone else. He says the night of the planned attack in Chicago, Liam called him and told him he should take off early, because Liam knew Ryan was upset about problems in his marriage to Hannah. Liam said he would cover for Ryan, but he got drunk in some bar and never showed up. When Ryan was investigated for the incident, he covered for Liam and never told anyone Liam was drunk and had committed to covering for Ryan. He tells Alex that Liams career was already hanging by a thread, and if the FBI found out what really happened, Liam would have been done. Alex asks him if he ever regretted hurting his own career advancement to save Liam. He did, he says until he met her. 13. Back in the present NYC timeline, just as Alex finds Ryans computer in his office and inserts Drews flash drive into it, Ryan comes in, gun drawn and pointed at her. They begin to argue, and when he tries to take her gun, they begin a repeat of their Quantico close quarters training exercise, complete with Alex now using Ryans backflip trick off his office wall. Their fight gets vicious, as they punch each other and throw each other across the room. Finally, she gets Ryan on the floor, and as he asks her to stop, she kicks him in the face and knocks him out. 14. In Richmond, the twins think they have the agent contact figured out: its agent Paul Garnett, whos been flirting with them all day. But they learn it was actually another agent in the office, and when they realize how wrong they were, and how theyve potentially ended their career when Paul threatens to tell their handler how badly they messed up, Nimah offers to take Paul up on the dinner invitation he had extended earlier. Later that night, she returns to the Quantico dorms, just as an envelope arrives with the twins assignment: theyre being sent to Queens to deal with a major Islamic terrorist cell. Rainas thrilled, but Nimah is acting very strange and withdrawn did she actually sleep with Paul to prevent him from squealing to Coombs about how the twins initially thought he was their Richmond contact? 15. Also at the Quantico dorms, Iris enters her room to find Shelby packing. She says shes dropping out of the program, which she has realized shes not fully committed to, so she can move to Europe and be with her parents. Knowing the truth about Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt, Iris shares it with Shelby, telling her how Caleb paid the Wyatts off so theyd leave Shelby alone, and wrote their letters to her so she wouldnt be sad. Shelby confronts Caleb, telling him she deserves a man who is strong enough to tell her the truth, and who trusts her enough to know she can deal with it. That aint him, she adds, and then goes back to her room to call Calebs dad, Clayton. She tells him the truth about her parents, and adds that she wants to help him find them and punish them for their crimes. 16. Ryan visits Liam in his office at Quantico and tells him he doesnt want to get stuck there, so he thinks hes going to be leaving. He also doesnt want to have to continue lying about what happened in Chicago, and Liam tells him he wont have to. Clayton just offered Liam a job in Washington, D.C., Liam says, and he told Clayton he wants Ryan to work with him there. Clayton agreed, saying Ryan has paid long enough for Chicago, and Ryan tells Liam hell consider the job offer. 17. Miranda and Nimah find Ryan knocked out in his office, and Miranda quickly puts the building on lockdown since she knows Alex is still inside. Alex, meanwhile, is trying to escape, when she gets a call from Drew 18. who tells her his flash drive, the one he told her to use to get Ryans passwords, actually planted a manifesto on Ryans computer that makes him look like a terrorist. Drews The Voice! Drew is the big baddie! And he tells Alex shes not done yet. He tells her to go downstairs into the parking garage and then directs her to a truck Ryans! He tells her to open the passenger door, where she finds the nuke. He instructs her to get into the truck and says if she doesnt follow his directions to the letter, he will kill Simon and detonate the nuke. All you have to do is drive, he tells her. And as Ryan, Miranda, and Nimah come running into the garage and spot Alex driving quickly away in Ryans truck, she speeds up and drives right towards a wall. Quantico airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on ABC. From Cosmopolitan Four University of Georgia students were killed Wednesday night after a car accident and a fifth student is in critical condition, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. The students have been identified as Kayla Canedo, 19, Brittany Feldman, 20, Christina Semeria, 19, and Halle Scott, 19. The driver, Agnes Kim, 21, is in critical condition. The five students, all members of UGA sororities, were driving down a two-lane highway just before 9 p.m. Wednesday when their car crossed into the center lane and was struck by a car coming in the opposite direction. The second car was driven by a 27-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital but has been released. The Georgia State Patrol, which is investigating the wreck, says alcohol didn't seem to play a role, according to the outlet. Yesterday, an emotional vigil was held on campus and students posted remembrances of the women on social media, with the hashtag #PrayForUGA used by those offering condolences. Follow Kate on Twitter. From Seventeen According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, up to 85 percent of women deal with at least one symptom of premenstrual syndrome, a.k.a. that general hot-garbage feeling you get in the days before your period arrives. And since it's so common, you might assume you just have to deal with the combo platter of cramps, bloating, headaches, or mood swings. But your period's going to stick around for awhile - like, decades - so don't just resign yourself to feeling crummy every month. Here's how to tell if your PMS is out of control and how to get it in check. 1. Your cramps are seriously painful. Cramps are a normal part of your cycle, but they shouldn't leave you doubled over in agony. Quick health-class recap: Right before your period starts, your body produces prostaglandins, which help your uterus contract to shed its lining. "Prostaglandins are evil," says Judith Simms-Cendan, a board-certified gynecologist at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando and an associate professor at the University of Central Florida. "They're what cause that hot, flushed, crampy feeling." The good news? Ibuprofen can block your body from producing them, so if you take a dose at the first hint of cramping, you may be able to stave them off. If ibuprofen doesn't help, ask your gyno about oral contraceptives - they can thin the uterine lining, which can help lessen cramps. And if that doesn't work, your doctor may want to check for an underlying issue like endometriosis or irritable bowel syndrome, both of which can cause pelvic pain. 2. Your mood swings are causing problems. It's normal to feel a little crabby right before your period starts, but if you're stirring up Bachelor-worthy levels of drama every month, you may be dealing with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS that can cause emotional symptoms like depression, anxiety, anger, and difficulty concentrating. "For patients with PMDD, it's significantly affecting their lives," says M. Susan Scanlon, MD, gynecologist at Midwest Center for Women's Healthcare, and author of The Gyne's Guide for College Women. "They're crying at times they shouldn't be; they're yelling at their roommates or their mom or their boyfriend. They think to themselves, 'I'm not even mad, why am I yelling at this person?'" If this sounds familiar, talk to your doctor - there are ways to manage PMDD symptoms so they're not ruining your relationships. Story continues 3. You're getting killer headaches. As if PMS weren't annoying enough, the hormonal changes can trigger migraines - severe, throbbing headaches that can stick around for up to three days. "It's an estrogen and progesterone withdrawal headache," Dr. Simms-Cendan says. If you're getting headaches on the regular, your doctor can recommend over-the-counter migraine meds or prescribe something stronger if needed. Keeping your hormones in check can also help, so birth control pills - which regulate your hormones - can work wonders for some women. Your gyno can recommend the best pill for the job, plus she can help explain the potential health benefits to your parents if they're a little skeptical. 4. You can't shake your bad mood. If your cramps subside, but your gloomy mood lingers, it may be more than just PMS. "A lot of people will attribute adolescent moodiness to PMS, when actually what they have is depression or anxiety," Dr. Simms-Cendan says. "Sometimes it feels more socially acceptable to say it's PMS, because then it's 'just hormones.'" Fluctuating hormones can make underlying depression or anxiety worse, so if you're feeling kind of blah the rest of the month too, talk to your doctor. The American Psychological Association estimates that 17 million Americans are treated for depression each year, so you're definitely not alone - ask for help if you need it! 5. You're missing school. You may assume that couch-bound misery just comes with the monthly territory, but if your attendance record is suffering, talk to a doctor. "If you're unable to make it to class and complete your assignments on time, then you should probably get some help," Dr. Scanlon says. PMS symptoms are annoying, but they shouldn't be so bad that you literally can't even drag yourself to the bus stop. Don't just "suck it up" - there are ways to soothe your symptoms so you're not always dreading that time of the month. Follow @Seventeen on Instagram. Tehran, Iran, May. 2 By Mehdi Sepahvand, Emil Ilgar - Trend: Iran and Korea to sign 44 memoranda of understandings (MoU), Iran's Foreign Ministry's spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said at a press conference in Tehran, Trend's correspondent reported. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has arrived in Tehran on May 2. Ansari said that South Korean president will visit Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well. Park Geun-hye is the first South Korean president who visits Iran. The South Korean president is heading a large business delegation of over 230 executives during the three-day visit. The two countries are expected to sign contracts worth $13 to $17 billion for cooperation in various fields including the construction of hospitals, dams, railways and power plants as well as petrochemical, crude oil, infrastructure and industrial projects. Iran-South Korea trade turnover stood at $6.1 billion in 2015. The figure was $17.4 in 2011, Before Western countries imposed sanctions against Iran. South Korea is among the largest importers of Iranian oil. Many baby boomers plan to work either full time or part time during retirement. It makes sense, because there are many benefits to keeping a hand in the workforce after you retire: creating structure in your day, providing mental stimulation and supplementing your retirement income. [See: How Working an Extra Year Improves Your Retirement Finances.] Retirement does not have to be an all or nothing proposition, especially since many of us have been forced out of full-time employment by a layoff or health problem. So maybe we can take Social Security early, or perhaps we're eligible for a reduced pension. But we still have to scramble to put together a living income. Some may collect interest, dividends or rent money. Others may have a working spouse. But most of us can't afford to sit around and do nothing, so we supplement our income by doing something we enjoy. Here are some ideas: 1. Go part time. If you're tired of your job, maybe working 15 to 20 hours a week, instead of 35 or 40, would reinvigorate your enthusiasm. I know a lawyer, age 68, who goes to the office three days a week, and is on call from home the other two days. He makes less money, but his kids have graduated from college, so he doesn't need as much money. Similarly, a librarian, 63, cut back from 35 hours to 17 hours a week. She lost her benefits, but doesn't need them because she's on her husband's plan. Now she's got something more precious than money: time to pursue her own interests. Plus, she is done with the stress of workplace politics. 2. Become a consultant. If you have a skill or field of expertise, you may have the opportunity to leave work and ply your trade on your own behalf. One friend, now 72, left his old company and set up an office at home. He has a contract with his former employer to work 20 hours a month, and meanwhile has picked up a few other clients from old contacts. But he also doesn't have to work as hard, and he no longer has to suffer the indignities of the dreaded "performance appraisal." Again, he earns less money, but when he puts it together with 401(k) withdrawals and his somewhat reduced Social Security benefit (because he started at age 64) he has enough to support himself and his wife. Story continues [See: 10 Jobs Hiring Older Workers.] 3. Start a new career. Some people want to retire early and start off in a new direction. A financial executive, age 52, went back to school, got his nursing degree and began a new career in health care. He now works part time on his own schedule and feels much more socially useful. One mid-50s executive took an early retirement package and entered a mid-career program that trains high school science teachers. A 60-year-old primary school teacher did the opposite. She got burned out on kids, so she retired and went to work at a food cooperative where there are no staff meetings, no parent phone calls and no troublesome kids. She has no regrets. 4. Take a lower paid job. Sometimes the problem is not the work, but the relentlessness of the grind and the constant stress of a high-pressured job. For some people it makes sense to step off the treadmill and find a lower paying, but also less demanding job. A man in his early 60s owned a local power equipment business and sold out to a larger company. That gave him a decent nest egg, but not enough to live on. So he took a job at a hardware store. He knows the inventory, likes to chat up customers and now has time to pursue his musical interest singing with an a cappella group. 5. Earn extra money. There are other ways in our gig economy to bring in income. Some retirees sign up to drive with Uber or Lyft. Others rent out their homes through HomeAway or VRBO. I know one couple who retired to Florida, even though they couldn't really afford it. They put their house on Airbnb. They rent out two rooms during the winter, make enough money to pay their mortgage and taxes and have the house to themselves nine months a year. [See: 10 Ways to Make Extra Money in Retirement.] Working your way into retirement can provide the best of both worlds. You're free from the daily obligations you've been shouldering for years, but you're still making money. You have some structure in your life. You're meeting new people. And you're doing something useful that's making a difference in the world. Tom Sightings is the author of "You Only Retire Once" and blogs at Sightings at 60. From ELLE DECOR Golden hour is a designer's favorite time of day in Southern California. It's when the setting sun's rays brilliantly bounce off ornate Spanish tiles and gently rocking palms in the small towns hugging the coastline. The sea's azure blue relaxes into an inky midnight navy, while the vast sky grows sleepy with soft apricot and pinks. It is the collection of colors, textures, and patterns that headline the Santa Barbara-inspired Hollywood Chic design style, according to designer and blogger Will Taylor in his new book "Dream Decor." When "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his lawyer husband, Justin Mikita, moved into their Hollywood Hills home, they knew they wanted maintain its Spanish colonial features, including the intricate tile floors. Taylor helped them to do just that, while threading inspiration from Soho House creative clubs into the design. The fusion resulted in a strikingly elegant space that is glamorous, yet still characteristically California welcoming. Read on to see Taylor's eight ingredients for designing a home that's equally Hollywood chic. Ingredient 1: Wood Paneling The wood panel ceiling of the couple's living room marks the space with a warm, inviting aesthetic. A large horse sculpture made of old car parts gives the arched window commanding grandeur, while the oversized mirror above the fireplace creates a similar dramatic effect. The room is marked with personality-driven vintage pieces, such as trinket boxes, and a central hanging pendant. Ingredient 2: Marble "A focus on quietly luxurious materials lends a gently indulgent feel," says Taylor. In the kitchen, crisp white marble runs along the perimeter of the space, which is made light, spacious, and airy by the solid white cabinetry. The far wall is textured with wood-effect wallpaper and industrial metal pendants highlight the generous length of the central wooden table. Story continues Ingredient 3: Studded, Glamorous Wallpaper Borrowing from the glamour of Hollywood, the formal dining room's midnight-blue wallpaper broods in style. Brass studs adorn the wallpaper covering all four walls. A vintage lamp and mirrored console unit dressed in silverware supplement the lavish style, and the dark hardwood floors and wooden paneled ceilings draw the intimate space inwards. Ingredient 4: Statement Glass Lighting Hollywood Chic style embodies dramatic decor, and the ideal place for drama is the formal dining room. "As this is a space used less frequently than say, a bedroom or a living room, you can afford to have fewer parameters around your approach to the decor," says Taylor. In Jesse and Justin's dining space, a statement pendant made of grouped glass bells gives presence and pomp to the below table. Meanwhile, vintage-style brass wall lights contrast dramatically with the dark navy wallpaper. Long and luxurious window curtains cushion the windows, shouldered by symmetrical mirrored consoles and side lamps. Ingredient 5: Spanish Tiles Intricately detailed Spanish tiles are a hallmark of Southern California style. In the home's library, the rich pink-red floor tiling complements a tightly buttoned ochre leather sofa and brass floor lamp, channeling an indulgent Spanish Colonial style. Ingredient 6: Intense Turquois and Midnight Blue To maximize their outdoor space, Jesse and Justin took inspiration from the surrounding nature: The azure blue color of the pool's waters and the sunny sky is mirrored in the Spanish pool tiling. Throughout the rest of the outdoor space, window frames and doors are also splashed with azure blue, and succulents dress the area in lush green. Ingredients 7 & 8: Brass Touches and Club Chairs In the library room, a pair of brown leather armchairs face a tufted tan leather sofa in the reading area. A brass bar cart lends a touch of luxury, echoing the two reading lamps. Adapted from "Dream Decor" by Will Taylor. Every year, New York Citys Met Gala debuts Hollywoods elite showcasing various beauty looks that tend to range from downright shocking to absolutely stunning. A lot of work goes into each look, and thanks to social media, many celebrities have chosen to give their fans a glimpse into the daylong prep process. After browsing their latest snapshots, its safe to say that tonights tech-themed gala will be jam-packed with a few surprising style choices. Read on for our favorite celebrity beauty-prep photos! Doutzen Kroes Image courtesy of Instagram/Doutzen Kroes In probably one of the more dramatic beauty changes, Doutzen Kroes decided to dye her hair for the Met Gala, and considering that the choppy highlights cover her entire head, we cant wait to see what they look like. Karolina Kurkova Image courtesy of Instagram/Karolina Kurkova Celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury will be responsible for Karolinas look tonight. With hair in rollers and slicked-back bangs, were thinking her look will be more dramatic than this behind-the-scenes snap lets on. Kate Upton Image courtesy of Instagram/Bryce Scarlett Drinking lots of water is great for the skin, but sometimes celebrities cant wait for those benefits to kick in. So Kate Upton decided to skip the drinking part and instead have fluids infused with a cocktail of complexion-boosting nutrients pumped directly into her body for a pre-gala skin boost. Mindy Kaling (Image courtesy of Instagram/Mindy Kaling) Not only did Mindy Kaling give us a sneak peek at her red-colored mani in this pre-Met Gala snapshot, but she also gave us an inside look at her style choice for the big nighta long, white dress. Olivia Culpo Image courtesy of Instagram/Anita Patrickson Culpo looks undeniably stunning in this sleek, modern updo. The ends of the bun have such a hardened, sharp look that they almost dont look real! Adriana Lima Image courtesy of Instagram/Adriana Lima In true Adriana Lima fashion, the Victorias Secret model headed to the gym for a last-minute workout in preparation for tonights Met Gala. Story continues Allison Williams Image courtesy of Instagram/Allison Williams Allison Williams is taking tonights theme very seriously, choosing these tech-inspired nails to go with her outfit. Karlie Kloss Image courtesy of Instagram/Sir John Looking absolutely radiant, Karlie Kloss kept her look simple with red lips and glowing skin, courtesy of celebrity makeup artist Sir John. Jourdan Dunn Image courtesy of Instagram/Allure Sharing an exclusive image with Allure magazine, Dunn, in mid-makeup, shows off smoky eyes and a blunt bob. Read This Next: The Tragic Life of Americas First Supermodel Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. (Adds stock price, background) By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Caroline Humer BOSTON/NEW YORK, May 2 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman on Monday mounted a vigorous defense of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, ruling out any sale of the drug company's "crown jewel" assets but saying price cuts and even a new name may be in its future. Ackman, whose Pershing Square Capital Management owns 9 percent of Valeant, predicted the company would turn around with the help of its new chief executive officer and by selling greater volumes of products instead of just raising the price of its drugs. He also took aim at Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, who criticized Valeant at Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting over the weekend. "The company is not a sewer," Ackman said on CNBC television's "Halftime Report," echoing the words Munger used to describe Valeant. "It is not fair to indict an entire company based on the actions of a few," Ackman said. Valeant has become Ackman's biggest headache in the last year as the stock price tumbled some 85 percent. One year ago he touted the Canadian company as one of his best ideas at the Sohn Investment conference. This year he will not be speaking at the conference, where he has been a regular for years. Ackman told CNBC, he is sticking with Valeant because he feels he can "fix" the company. "The time to invest is pretty much when everyone thinks this is a bad idea," Ackman said, calling Valeant "the cheapest large company I've seen in my career." In the roughly six weeks that Ackman and his firm's Vice Chairman Steve Fraidin have been directors on Valeant's board, the board has hired Joseph Papa to replace Michael Pearson as chief executive and ensured that the company released its long delayed annual report on Friday. On Monday, Ackman said that Valeant does not have to sell any assets to meet obligations and added that it will have a "an investment grade balance sheet sometime within the next two to three years without selling one asset." Story continues At some point the Valeant name may be jettisoned, Ackman said, acknowledging that company employees are now embarrassed to say they work for the company. Valeant's aggressive accounting tactics and practice of pushing up prices on newly acquired drugs has hurt the company, putting it into the crosshairs of other prominent investors, including Munger and Buffett at Berkshire, who called Valeant's business model "enormously flawed." Munger acknowledged Ackman's investing acumen in an interview with Fox Business, saying "he's certainly made a brilliant investment in General Growth Properties and he's totally right about Herbalife " where Ackman has a $1 billion short position. Ackman said Valeant's management and the board understand the anger shown toward the company by lawmakers and investors. As Ackman spoke, Valeant's stock cut its losses by nearly half to trade at $32.52 per share. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Caroline Humer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Cynthia Osterman) Image via Live Nation Image via Live Nation Aesop Rock has just released his newest album, The Impossible Kid, and hell be setting on a tour later this week in support of it. North Carolina recently introduced the controversial HB2 law, which discriminates against LGBT individuals (read more about the bill here), and Aesop has announced how he plans to support North Carolinas LGBT community. A number of musicians, in particular Bruce Springsteen, have reacted by canceling their shows in the state, but Aesop Rock has decided to take a different approach. Instead of canceling his Charlotte and Carrboro shows, Aesop Rock has announced that all proceeds from the shows will be donated directly to Equality NC, a non-profit organization committed to securing equal rights for LGBT North Carolinians. Writing on Facebook, Aesop said, The discriminatory HB2 law is shameful. We felt that canceling the show outright would not represent our fanbase who also stand against such injustices, and hope that by contributing to the fight locally we can do our small part in a much larger mission. Read Aesops full statement below via Facebook. All proceeds from the Carrboro and Charlotte, North Carolina stops of The Impossible Kid Tour will be donated to Equality NC a statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to securing equal rights and justice for LGBT North Carolinians. The discriminatory HB2 law is shameful. We felt that canceling the show outright would not represent our fanbase who also stand against such injustices, and hope that by contributing to the fight locally we can do our small part in a much larger mission. Please consider visiting http://equalitync.org, and donating to the cause. Thank you. The post Aesop Rock is Donating North Carolina Show Proceeds to LGBT Organization Equality NC appeared first on Pigeons & Planes. More from Pigeons & Planes By Sudarshan Varadhan (Reuters) - American International Group Inc (AIG.N), under fire from investors to improve its performance, reported a lower-than-expected profit for the third straight quarter as poor returns from hedge funds hurt its investment income. Shares of the biggest U.S. commercial insurer by premiums fell 3.3 percent in extended trading on Monday. AIG has been scaling back investments in hedge funds, which have borne the brunt of excessive market volatility in the past year. Big-name hedge funds favored by pension funds and the ultra-wealthy for their track record of stellar returns took a battering in the first quarter of 2016, with some posting their worst ever start to a year on record. AIG's weak results come at a time when the company is facing the possibility of having to set aside more capital as regulators worry about financial firms deemed "too big to fail". The insurer's near collapse in 2008 and its $182 billion bailout by the U.S. government led to its inclusion in the Federal Reserve's list of "systemically important financial institutions" (SIFIs). Chief Executive Peter Hancock said in March that a judge's ruling that MetLife Inc (MET.N) was not "too big to fail" opened up an opportunity for AIG to seek an exemption from the designation. Investors will look for an update on AIG's position when the company holds its post-earnings call on Tuesday. AIG has been under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn to split into three independent companies. In February, the insurer agreed to add two members nominated by Icahn to its board. Billionaire investor John Paulson and Samuel Merksamer, a managing director at Icahn Capital LP, are expected to join AIG's board next week. The operating profit attributable to AIG fell 54 percent to $773 million in the first quarter, partly due to restructuring costs of $122 million. On a per-share basis, AIG earned 65 cents, far short of the average analyst estimate of $1.00, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Story continues Pre-tax income in AIG's commercial property and casualty insurance business, its biggest, fell 38.5 percent to $720 million. The unit's net investment income fell about 44 percent to $577 million. Shares of AIG, which traces its roots to a two-room office in Shanghai in 1919, were trading at $54.75 after the bell. Up to Monday's close, the stock had fallen nearly 9 percent this year. (Reporting By Sudarshan Varadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Ted Kerr and Kirti Pandey) By Stine Jacobsen and Tim Hepher OSLO/PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus Helicopters is no longer recommending a blanket ban on commercial flights of its H225 Super Puma helicopter, saying initial evidence suggested there was no link between Friday's crash in Norway and two North Sea accidents in 2012. Airbus (AIR.PA), which had initially urged a halt to all public flights, said on Monday commercial operations could resume outside UK and Norway where regulators have imposed bans. Safety experts cautioned it was too early to say what caused the helicopter's rotor blades to detach, sending the aircraft plunging onto a rocky coastline off Bergen. In 2012, Super Pumas were grounded after two ditchings in the UK North Sea later blamed on gearbox cracks. A workhorse for the oil industry, the Super Puma has been in operation since the 1970s. There are 800 in operation worldwide. Some operators including CHC Helicopter, the owner of the crashed helicopter, said they were keeping Super Pumas grounded. Search-and-rescue operations were not affected. CHC said there had been no emergency calls from pilots before the crash and confirmed reports that the same helicopter had returned to base twice last week due to a warning light. After two parts were changed on successive days, the warning disappeared and the aircraft did six commercial flights on the eve of the crash without incident, CHC said, adding neither part was connected to the gearbox or rotor. Norway said cockpit voice and data recordings had been successfully downloaded and sent for analysis. Amateur video showed all five rotor blades, still apparently connected to their rotor head, spinning towards the ground after parting from the helicopter. Such accidents are extremely rare. The last such disaster involved an earlier version of Super Puma off Aberdeen in 2009, in which 16 people died. Oil companies and helicopter firms moved to rejig operations using Sikorsky (UTX.N) helicopters. But disruption has been tempered by a recent drop in activity driven by low oil prices. Story continues According to Norways's oil safety regulator, offshore helicopter traffic fell 11.9 percent between 2014 and 2015. "We must always do everything we can so that people can feel safe going to work," Statoil (STL.OL) Chief Executive Eldar Saetre said after visiting Gullfaks B oil platform, where the 11 workers who died had boarded the helicopter. The version of Super Puma which crashed, the H225, has been in use since 2004. There are 179 in service, including 40 in the North Sea. Bristow Group (BRS.N) said it was grounding 20 Super Pumas in Europe and Australia, sending its shares lower in New York. (Additional reporting by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Greg Mahlich and David Evans) (Adds Statoil comment, North Sea operations, context of crash) By Stine Jacobsen and Tim Hepher OSLO/PARIS, May 2 (Reuters) - Airbus Helicopters is no longer recommending a blanket ban on commercial flights of its H225 Super Puma helicopter, saying initial evidence suggested there was no link between Friday's crash in Norway and two North Sea accidents in 2012. Airbus, which had initially urged a halt to all public flights, said on Monday commercial operations could resume outside UK and Norway where regulators have imposed bans. Safety experts cautioned it was too early to say what caused the helicopter's rotor blades to detach, sending the aircraft plunging onto a rocky coastline off Bergen. In 2012, Super Pumas were grounded after two ditchings in the UK North Sea later blamed on gearbox cracks. A workhorse for the oil industry, the Super Puma has been in operation since the 1970s. There are 800 in operation worldwide. Some operators including CHC Helicopter, the owner of the crashed helicopter, said they were keeping Super Pumas grounded. Search-and-rescue operations were not affected. CHC said there had been no emergency calls from pilots before the crash and confirmed reports that the same helicopter had returned to base twice last week due to a warning light. After two parts were changed on successive days, the warning disappeared and the aircraft did six commercial flights on the eve of the crash without incident, CHC said, adding neither part was connected to the gearbox or rotor. Norway said cockpit voice and data recordings had been successfully downloaded and sent for analysis. Amateur video showed all five rotor blades, still apparently connected to their rotor head, spinning towards the ground after parting from the helicopter. Such accidents are extremely rare. The last such disaster involved an earlier version of Super Puma off Aberdeen in 2009, in which 16 people died. Oil companies and helicopter firms moved to rejig operations using Sikorsky helicopters. But disruption has been tempered by a recent drop in activity driven by low oil prices. Story continues According to Norways's oil safety regulator, offshore helicopter traffic fell 11.9 percent between 2014 and 2015. "We must always do everything we can so that people can feel safe going to work," Statoil Chief Executive Eldar Saetre said after visiting Gullfaks B oil platform, where the 11 workers who died had boarded the helicopter. The version of Super Puma which crashed, the H225, has been in use since 2004. There are 179 in service, including 40 in the North Sea. Bristow Group said it was grounding 20 Super Pumas in Europe and Australia, sending its shares lower in New York. (Additional reporting by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Greg Mahlich and David Evans) Tehran, Iran, May. 2 By Mehdi Sepahvand, Emil Ilgar - Trend: Despite many disagreements on regional developments, Iran' s strategy is to approach Turkey with as much positive outlook as possible, Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari at a press conference in Tehran, Trend's correspondent reported. Ansari said on May 2 that Iran hopes the two countries manage disagreements, come up with the most beneficial arrangements for both sides and help resolve regional conflicts. Iran and Turkey have political disagreements in the region, especially over the Bashar Asad regime in Syria, supported by Tehran. Ansari also said that Iran and Canada held their first round of diplomatic talks to improve relations. Canada stopped diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012, calling Tehran "the biggest threat to the global security". Ansari also said that Iran will adopt a positive approach to re-establishing ties with Ireland if Dublin makes a formal request for reopening embassy. Ireland closed its embassy in Tehran in 2012 due to what called the "financial problems and economizing in expenditures". Ansari also said that Turkmenistan's President and some ministers are expected to visit Iran on May 7. He didn't give further information about the scheduled negotiations with Turkmen delegation. The Allstate Corporation ALL is set to report first-quarter 2016 earnings results on May 4. Last quarter, it posted a positive earnings surprise of 20.3%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors Affecting the Past Quarter Allstate estimates first-quarter catastrophe loss, stemming from hailstorms, at around $538 million. This should affect the underwriting income and combined ratio in the to-be-reported quarter. Though strategic actions undertaken should improve auto insurance profitability, one of the largest hailstorm to ever impact Allstate should weigh on the same. However, Esurance and Allstate Benefits are likely to show improvement in the first quarter. Initiatives to lower expenses should aid results. Share buybacks are likely to boost the bottom line. A strong foothold in the personal lines business should add to the top line. Also, pricing discipline, strong claim management and strategic acquisitions are likely to drive results in the Property-Liability segment. With respect to the surprise trend, Allstate surpassed expectations in three of the last four quarters, resulting in an average positive surprise of 1.88%. The companys share price has been fluctuating over the last few days. We wait to see how the stock reacts to the quarters results. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Allstate is likely to beat earnings this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of #1, 2 or 3 for this to happen. That is not the case here as you will see below. Zacks ESP: Allstate has an ESP of -3.49%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate stands at 83 cents and the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 86 cents per share. Zacks Rank: Allstate has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Though this increases the predictive power of ESP, the companys negative ESP makes surprise prediction difficult. Stocks to Consider Here are three stocks from the finance sector that have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: Prudential Financial, Inc PRU has an Earnings ESP of +0.42% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company is scheduled to release first-quarter earnings results on May 4. Lincoln National Corporation LNC has an Earnings ESP of +0.67% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is scheduled to release first-quarter earnings results on May 4. Physicians Realty Trust DOC has an Earnings ESP of +4.35% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings results on May 5. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report LINCOLN NATL-IN (LNC): Free Stock Analysis Report PRUDENTIAL FINL (PRU): Free Stock Analysis Report ALLSTATE CORP (ALL): Free Stock Analysis Report PHYSICIANS RLTY (DOC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research For Immediate Release Chicago, IL May 02, 2016 Zacks Equity Research highlights AMC Networks (AMCX) as the Bull of the Day and JD.com (JD) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on InBev (BUD), SABMiller (SBMRY) and Molson Coors Brewing (TAP). Here is a synopsis of all five stocks: Bull of the Day: AMC Networks (AMCX) owns and operates various cable television stations and engaged in producing programming and movie content. Its programming network channels include AMC, IFC, Sundance, WE, and BBC America. The company is best known for its shows Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul and Hell on Wheels. The company is the Bull of the Day after it recently became a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). AMC has a market cap of $4.75 Billion with a Forward PE of 11. The stock should be viewed as a value play with its low multiple, a factor giving it a Zacks Style Score of B in Value. The company has an expected 3-5 year growth rate just above 10%. The stock was recently upgraded by Macquarie with an $82 price target. The firm highlights AMCs efforts to build its ownership of premium programming and its valuation as reasons to like the stock. Macquarie notes the success of the international networks and that AMC can extend its content onto skinny bundles offering subscription video on demand. Relative Weakness AMCX has pulled back from its 2015 high of $83.97 to the $65 area. In February the stock hit a low of $60.67 and has since grinded its way higher. However, it hasnt seen much love during this recent rally as investors dont seem to be buying its valuation yet. There are concerns that the mega-hit programs have hit their peaks and room for growth is limited. Being that this is priced in the stock, any surprise in growth in the earnings numbers will send the stock higher. The company reports May 5th. Bear of the Day : JD.com (JD) operates as an online direct sales company in China that offers a selection of authentic products. after the company reported earnings late last week. The companies offers a wide variety of products including appliances, phones, furniture, jewelry, toys, books, tickets, and even alcohol. The Beijing based company is now a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) after a Q4 EPS miss and a large debt offering. Story continues The company has a market cap of $35 Billion and has negative EPS. The stock has Zacks Style Scores of D in Value and F in Growth, along with a D VGM score. The company falls in an industry ranked 180 out of 265 (Bottom 32%) of the Zacks Industry Rank. Estimates and Earnings Q4 earnings in early March came in at $-0.07 verse the $-0.02 expected. While revenue was a beat and enough to pop the stock to $30 a share, the stock has come all the way back and is looking weak after some falling estimate revisions and a debt offering. Revisions for the current year have been to the downside. Over the last 60 days, estimates have come 22% lower for fiscal year 2016. Additional content: AB InBev (BUD) Offers to Sell More SABMiller Assets for EU Approval Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) announced Friday that it had offered to sell the Central and Eastern European operations of SABMiller (SBMRY), which could be worth an estimated $8 billion, as it seeks European regulatory approval for companys $100 billion-plus takeover of its closest rival. The SABMiller-Anheuser-Busch combination would create an enormous company in the beer industry accounting for about 30% of global beer sales. Anheuser-Busch has entered into a number of agreements to sell a variety of assets from the combined company in order to appease skepticism and regularity concerns about the merger. Earlier this month, for example, AB InBev accepted an offer by Asahi Group Holdings of Japan to buy the beer brands Grolsch, Meantime, and Peroni, as well as some of SABMillers European operations, for 2.55 billion, or about $2.9 billion. Anheuser-Busch hopes to close the deal for SABMiller in the second half of this year. SABMillers Central and Eastern European businesses have been a core part of our growth story since we first embarked on our international expansion strategy over 20 years ago, Alan Clark, SABMillers chief executive, said in a news release. Mr. Clark added, We are very proud of these businesses, their brands and the people that have made them the successes they are today, and we will continue to grow and support them throughout this process. In November, Anheuser-Busch agreed to sell SABMillers 59% stake in MillerCoors in the United States to SABMillers partner in a joint venture, Molson Coors Brewing (TAP), for about $12 billion. That deal includes the global rights to the Miller brand and would make Molson Coors the second-largest brewer in the United States, behind Anheuser-Busch. According to a report via Reuters, the European Commission, the European Union's antitrust regulator, is set to deliver its verdict on the SABMiller takeover by May 24. If the Commission chose to open an in-depth investigation into the SAB deal, it would not receive clearance for up to 90 working days, a delay AB InBev may be keen to avoid. Anheuser-Busch InBev has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Get todays Zacks #1 Stock of the Day with your free subscription to Profit from the Pros newsletter: About the Bull and Bear of the Day Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months. About the Analyst Blog Updated throughout every trading day, the Analyst Blog provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous analyst coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Click here to subscribe to this free newsletter today. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AMC NETWORKS- A (AMCX): Free Stock Analysis Report JD.COM INC-ADR (JD): Free Stock Analysis Report ANHEUSER-BU ADR (BUD): Free Stock Analysis Report SABMILLER PLC (SBMRY): Free Stock Analysis Report MOLSON COORS-B (TAP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Sam Hunt had themselves a night on Sunday. The three country artists enjoyed big wins during Foxs American Country Countdown Awards, which are based on album sales and radio airplay. The two-hour live broadcast from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. actually had more performances (14) than awards (12), but these nights are always about the winners and those you can find in their entirety by scrolling down. A few highlights first: Bryan and Hunt were the multi-awards winners last evening, taking home two statues apiece. Bryan won the biggie Artist of the Year as well as Male Vocalist of the year. Hunt won for Breakthrough Male and best Digital Album. Underwood was tapped as top Female Vocalist, while Florida Georgia Line won Group/Duo of the Year. Also Read: 'Nashville': 9 Crazy Twists That No One Saw Coming (Photos) Here is the complete list of trophy-takers: ARTIST OF THE YEAR Luke Bryan MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Luke Bryan FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Carrie Underwood GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR Florida Georgia Line Also Read: Justin Bieber's 'Sorry' Gets Beatbox Makeover By 25 Country Artists (Video) BREAKTHROUGH MALE OF THE YEAR Sam Hunt BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE OF THE YEAR Kelsea Ballerini BREAKTHROUGH GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR Old Dominion SONG OF THE YEAR Die A Happy Man Thomas Rhett Also Read: Merle Haggard Once Saved Willie Nelson From a Pot-Free Bus ALBUM OF THE YEAR Traveller Chris Stapleton DIGITAL SONG OF THE YEAR Girl Crush Little Big Town DIGITAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR Montevallo Sam Hunt TOURING ARTIST OF THE YEAR Garth Brooks Also Read: Merle Haggard, Country Music Legend, Dies at 79 The American Country Countdown Awards are based on country musics longest-running radio countdown show, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks. The show is produced by Dick Clark Productions, with Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Mark Bracco, Richard Godfrey and Tom Forrest serving as executive producers. Story continues Related stories from TheWrap: Sturgill Simpson Sings Gorgeous, Haunting Nirvana 'In Bloom' Country Cover (Video) Country Singer Craig Strickland Died of Hypothermia, Medical Examiner Rules Joey Feek, Country Singer, Dies at 40 From Esquire Amy Schumer is a vocal advocate for gun control. Last July, two women were killed and nine others wounded during a screening of Schumer's movie, Trainwreck. After the shooting, Schumer joined her cousin, New York senator Chuck Schumer, to speak out against gun violence. She also appeared in a brilliant SNL sketch on the topic, parodying America's fascination with guns and its dismissal of common sense gun control. This Inside Amy Schumer skit echoes that sentiment. In the clip, Schumer is a Home Shopping Network host, peddling the perfect gift for convicted felons, suspected terrorists, and young children alike: a gun! Just dial the number on the screen and join the thousands purchasing firearms online and at gun shows with absolutely no background checks. (The number on the screen will actually direct you to a message from Everytown for Gun Safety.) Next up: Purchase the influence of senators and congressmen for much cheaper than you'd think! What to Expect from Becton, Dickinson and Company's Fiscal 2Q16 Analysts recommendations Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is set to release its 2Q16 earnings results on May 5, 2016. In a Bloomberg survey of 20 brokerage companies recorded on April 29, 2016, about 55% of analysts rated BDX as a buy, and 45% rated it as a hold. No analysts rated BDX as a sell. The table above lists the 14 brokerage companies that have provided target prices for BDX over the next 12 months. The consensus 12-month target price for BDX is $165.13, amounting to ~2% return potential. This compares to BDXs price of $161.93 on April 28, 2016. As of April 29, RBC Capital Markets gave BDX a one-year target price of $153, the companys lowest target price. This target implies a -5.5% return over the next 12 months. Among the large investment banks, UBS gave BDX the highest one-year target price of $182, implying ~12.4% return potential over the next 12 months. Peers Baxter (BAX), Medtronic (MDT), and Boston Scientific (BSX) have average broker target prices of $47.56, $86.37, and $23.96, respectively. These figures imply returns of 7.6%, 9.1%, and 9.3%, respectively, in the next 12 months. ETFs with exposure to Becton, Dickinson and Company Investors can get exposure to BDX by investing in the PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV), which has 1.1% of its total holdings in BDX. One of the dividend ETFs, the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG), tracks a market capweighted index of the US companies that have been paying increasing dividends to their shareholders for at least 10 years. BDX accounts for about 1.6% of VIGs total holdings. Investors can also gain exposure to BDX through the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), which has 0.19% of its total holdings in BDX. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Why BHP Billiton's Fiscal 3Q16 Results Were a Mixed Bag (Continued from Prior Part) Analysts recommendations Among the analysts that track BHP Billiton (BHP) (BBL), 45% have given the company a buy recommendation, and 10% have given it a sell recommendation. For Rio Tinto (RIO), 41% of analysts are recommending a buy while 19% are recommending a buy for Vale (VALE). In comparison, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Alcoa (AA) have 11% and 41% buy recommendations, respectively. Freeport-McMoRan forms 3.6% of the SPDR S&P Metals and Mining ETF (XME). Changes in analyst ratings Now lets discuss some recent target prices and recommendations with respect to BHP. Bank of America upgraded BHP Billiton from neutral to buy on April 18, 2016. Jefferies reiterated its hold recommendation on BHP stock on April 18, 2016. It has a target price of 800 pounds for the stock. Morgan Stanley has set a target price of 950 pounds for BHPs stock. It has an overweight rating on the stock. JP Morgan (JPM) retained its underweight recommendation for BHP while raising the target price from 665 pounds to 780 pounds. JPMorgan analyst Lyndon Fagan said that BHPs 24-month rail maintenance program is likely to restrict volume growth. He added, As with the Rio quarterly, the implication is a tighter iron ore balance in 2017, which is positive for prices. We expect this will trigger consensus iron ore price and earnings upgrades over the coming months. Browse this series on Market Realist: Photo: Getty Images What is it with South America and beauty pageant mix-ups? First there was Colombia, where Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Ariadna Gutierrez, Miss Colombia, to have won Miss Universe, only to decrown her moments later with the correction that Miss Philippines had actually won a very humiliating moment for first runner-up Gutierrez. Related: Miss Philippines Crowned Miss Universe After Steve Harvey Wrongly Named Colombia Winner Then, last week, it was Brazils turn to have confusion reign at Miss Rondonia Mundo, a regional contest that sends its winner on to the national Miss Brazil event. The last two contestants standing, Leticia Cappatto and Karliany Barbosa, held hands onstage as they awaited the results in front of a packed crowd in Porto Velho. And the next 50 seconds were sheer torture. Leticia Cappatto, who had her crown snatched off in front of a crowd. (Photo: Facebook) First, Cappatto was crowned the winner sloppily, with the crown instantly clanging to the floor. A handler quickly retrieved it and placed it back on Cappattos head, where it remained for just a nanosecond before a woman burst out onstage and snatched it, moving it back and forth between the two womens heads in a comically awkward and prolonged moment that ended only when the crown was finally put on a stunned Barbosas head. Related: Why Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach Doesnt Have Time for Drama Meanwhile, yet another stage assistant (there was a whole crew of them fluttering about) was busy trying to get the runner-up sash onto Cappatto, who tried to push him away, presumably to protest her embarrassing treatment, and who maintained a glorious death stare during the entire rest of the painful scene, even when the assistant hugged her. And then Cappatto was led away. Karliany Barbosa, who wound up the winner. (Photo: Facebook) How hard is it, people? I didnt know what to do when it happened, she reportedly said afterward. It felt like I was taking part in a scene from a film. I just wanted to leave that place; I felt humiliated. Barbosa, meanwhile, responding to charges of fraud, declared, If I won, it was on merit. I plan to start preparing myself shortly for the national competition. Ill do so with great pride, respect, and professionalism because the contest didnt just reward beauty; it also rewarded culture, ethics, and knowledge about the state of Rondonia. On Facebook, supporters have come out in sympathy for Cappattos tease. All this embarrassment has only served to show how much you are a winner!!! wrote one fan To me you are and will always be a champion. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran and South Korea eye to increase bilateral trade from current level of $6 billon per year to $18 billion, the Islamic Republic president Hassan Rouhani said. Rouhani made the remarks during a press conference with his visiting South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye in Tehran May 2, Iran's state-run IRINN TV reported. Iran and South Korea will upgrade the mutual trade ties to strategic economic relations, he said. In this regard South Korean firms will invest in Iran and their activities in the Islamic Republic will be accompanied with transfer of technology into the country. Referring to signed cooperation documents between the two sides, Rouhani said that South Korean entrepreneurs will work in Iran's energy, mining and infrastructure sectors. He further said that developing banking relations and resuming correspondent banking ties is vital for expanding ties, adding the sides decided to take necessary measures in this field. Rouhani noted that Seoul and Tehran agreed to boost cooperation in tourism and cultural fields, adding South Korean firms will invest in Iran's tourism infrastructure, in particular construction of hotels. The Iranian president also said that the Islamic Republic wants peace and stability in Korea peninsula. Security in the peninsula as well as Middle East is important for mutual ties between Seoul and Tehran, he added. Iran is against production of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, especially in Middle East and Korean peninsula, Rouhani underlined. President Rouhani also said that he has negotiated regional issues including crisis in Yemen and Syria with his South Korean counterpart. The South Korean president is heading a large business delegation of over 230 executives during the three-day visit to Iran. Iran-South Korea trade turnover stood at $6.1 billion in 2015. The figure was $17.4 in 2011, Before Western countries imposed sanctions against Iran. Iranian and South Korean officials signed 19 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on the sidelines of a meeting between President Rouhani and his South Korean counterpart May 2. ANZ Bank's interim net profit slumped 22 percent Tuesday on the back of impairment and restructuring charges, but the result was welcomed by the market as the lender repositions for a challenging future. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's result for the six months to March 31 came in at Aus$2.73 billion (US$2.0 billion), while cash profit, which strips out one-off and other items, was Aus$2.78 billion. The drop was largely down to Aus$717 million in one-off net charges, including an accounting change to its software capitalisation policy, a write-down related to the value of its investment in Malaysia's AmBank, and restructuring. In a surprise move, ANZ slashed its interim dividend seven percent to 80 cents. Despite this, its share price rocketed after initially plunging, ending 5.56 percent higher at Aus$25.05. "Overall, while the result was a slight miss, it is pleasing to see ANZ taking the right actions to address the market's concerns," said Watermark Funds Management analyst Omar Joshi in explaining the share price reaction. IG Markets chief strategist Chris Weston added: "The cash earnings are well below consensus, but this seems a function of a sizeable restructuring charge and therefore they are not as bad as feared." With banks juggling new rules that demand they hold more reserves as a buffer against mortgages, and fears over rising bad loans, ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott said the one-off charges better positioned the bank for future profit growth. "This result reflects a challenging period for banking and we have taken the opportunity to move decisively and adapt to the changing environment by building a simpler, better capitalised and more balanced bank," he said. "We have strong underlying drivers in our Australia and New Zealand consumer and small business franchise and we have seen good early progress in transforming Institutional Banking. "This has been supported by prudent capital management and tight control of costs with total expenses, excluding the impact of specified items, being lower for the first time in seven halves." Story continues Elliott added that banking was experiencing rapid shifts in technology and regulation against a backdrop of low economic growth, volatile financial markets and rising credit costs. "Our priority is to take bold action to ensure ANZ is fit and ready for this future," he said. The soft numbers follow Westpac posting a three percent rise in interim net profit to Aus$3.70 billion on Monday, disappointing investors who savaged the share price. National Australia Bank reports its half-yearly results on Thursday. The Commonwealth Bank, the country's biggest lender, follows a different cycle. In February it posted a modest two percent rise in first-half net profit to Aus$4.62 billion. Tor Myhren Last December, Apple announced that it hired Tor Myhren from Grey Worldwide to be its VP of marketing communications. It's a senior role, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook, and over the weekend, Apple added Myhren as a notable vice president on the senior leadership page on its website. Myhren is generally in charge of Apple's visuals and brand. He signs off on advertising like billboards, TV ad campaigns, web design, packaging, retail store displays, and other marketing communications. He replaced Hiroki Asai, an 18-year Apple veteran who retired last year and was known as one of the executives with the most knowledge of what former CEO Steve Jobs liked and disliked. From the press release announcing Myhren's hire: Tor will be responsible for Apples advertising efforts and will lead an award-winning team that spans a broad range of creative disciplines from video, motion graphics and interactive web design to packaging and retail store displays. At Grey, Myhren tripled the size of its flagship New York office to 1,000 staff members and was the creative mastermind behind the E*Trade talking baby. Apple is in the process of moving some of its advertising out of longtime partner Media Arts Lab into an internal "marcom" division. Recently, Apple produced a hit ad starring Taylor Swift in-house, for example. Myhren looks sharp in his headshot wearing a subtle camouflage sweater over a shirt and tie. He's the only executive on Apple's senior leadership page who is wearing a tie in his official PR bio headshot. Here's Apple's official bio: Tor Myhren is Apples vice president of Marketing Communications, reporting to CEO Tim Cook. Tor joined Apple in 2016 from Grey, where he was president and worldwide chief creative officer. As head of the Marketing Communications group, Tor leads a talented and creative team focused on Apples advertising, internet presence, package design and other consumer-facing marketing. A two-time TED speaker, Tor has been named to Fast Companys Most Creative People in Business, Fortunes 40 Under 40, AdAge's Creativity 50 honoring the world's 50 most influential creative minds, and was inducted into the Advertising Federation of America's Hall of Achievement. Tor is a former journalist and award-winning documentary filmmaker. He holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Occidental College. Story continues Tor Myhren NOW WATCH: Uber is making customers pay for having drivers wait More From Business Insider From Esquire An employee found dead at Apple's Cupertino, California, headquarters on Wednesday had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, authorities say. CNN Money reports that Santa Clara sheriff's deputies were called to the facility at One Infinite Loop in the early morning and found a 25-year-old man in a conference room. They declared him dead on-site, and the medical examiner ruled it a suicide on Thursday. "After further investigation it appeared there was no foul play and no other individuals were involved," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Apple did not immediately respond to CNN's requests for comment after the medical examiner's report was released, but a spokeswoman did react Wednesday to the initial news of a death on campus. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends, including the many people he worked with here at Apple," she said. "We are working to support them however we can in this difficult time." She added the company was "heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented coworker." [H/T: CNN Money] By Noel Randewich SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) on Friday ended its worst week on the stock market since 2013 as worries festered about a slowdown in iPhone sales and after influential shareholder Carl Icahn revealed he sold his entire stake. Shares of Apple, a mainstay of many Wall Street portfolios and the largest component of the Standard & Poor's 500 index, have dropped 11 percent in the past five sessions. That shrank the technology behemoth's market capitalization by $65 billion (44.4 billion pounds), about equivalent to Cambodia's net wealth. Confidence in the Cupertino, California company has been shaken since posting its first-ever quarterly decline in iPhone sales and first revenue drop in 13 years on Tuesday, although Apple investors pointed to the stock's relatively low valuation as a key reason to hold onto the stock. "If you're going to buy Apple, you have to buy it for the long term, because the next year or two are going to be very tough," said Michael Yoshikami, chief executive of Destination Wealth Management, which owns Apple shares. Faced with lackluster sales of smartphones in the United States, Apple has bet on China as a major new growth engine, but progress there has been a let-down. Revenue from China slumped 26 percent during the March quarter and its iBooks Stores and iTunes Movie service in China were shut down last week after the introduction of new regulations on online publishing. Pointing to concerns that Beijing could make it difficult for Apple to conduct business in China, long-time Apple investor Carl Icahn told CNBC on Thursday that he had sold his stake in the company he previously described as a "no brainer" and undervalued. The selloff has left Apple trading at about 11 times its expected 12-month earnings, cheap compared to its average of 17.5 over the past 10 years. S&P 500 stocks on average are trading at 17 times expected earnings. "The tide is going out a bit, but it will probably improve in the fall with the launch of the next iPhone," said Pat Becker Jr, principal of Becker Capital Management, which also owns Apple stock. "This is an opportunity." Story continues Wall Street remains positive as 36 analysts tracked by Thomson Reuters recommend buying Apple's shares, while nine have neutral ratings and none recommend selling. The median of the analysts' price targets is $120, down from $130 at the end of March. The stock ended Friday at $93.75, down 1.14 percent. (Reporting by Noel Randewich; Editing by Bernard Orr) BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - An Argentine court has asked a judge to look into accusations of illicit enrichment against leftist former President Cristina Fernandez, state press agency Telam reported on Monday. Fernandez, who left office in December after eight years and was replaced by center-right Mauricio Macri, has already been accused of money laundering and overseeing irregularities at the central bank while she served. The cases have sparked massive demonstrations by her supporters, who say she is being persecuted by a new government bent on revenge. Fernandez is a divisive figure, revered by many for generous welfare programs and reviled by others for her economic policies. The latest accusation, issued by a public prosecutor, was initiated by an opposition politician. Fernandez and her son have been accused of illicit enrichment and the falsification of public documents relating to a company called Los Sauces, Telam said, citing legal sources. It said that Los Sauces in 2009 had over 9 million Argentine pesos ($635,000 at current exchange rates) in property investment. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the investigating judge had issued a secrecy order on the case. Under Argentine law, the judge will decide whether to accept the charge and open an investigation. ($1 = 14.1660 Argentine pesos) (Reporting by Maximiliano Rizzi, Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Dan Grebler) palmyra soldiers New documents obtained by Sky News revealed that the Syrian government's recapture of the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State militants was apparently part of a pre-arranged deal that allowed ISIS to remove its heavy weaponry from the city before withdrawing. Sky News reported that the documents came from a Free Syrian Army group comprised of ISIS defectors originally from Raqqa, ISIS' de facto capital in Syria. "Withdraw all heavy artillery and anti-aircraft machine guns from in and around Palmyra to Raqqa province," read one document that was dated just before the Syrian Arab Army recaptured Palmyra at the end of March. Stuart Ramsay, Sky News' chief correspondent, said he asked one of the defectors if ISIS was coordinating its movements directly with forces loyal to Assad and even with Russia, which backed the assault on Palmyra with heavy airstrikes. "Of course," the ISIS defector told Ramsay. The documents obtained by Sky News provide more evidence that the Assad regime has been colluding with the jihadists, who have captured more than half of Syria's territory since 2012. The Wall Street Journal reported last month on files uncovered during a raid on the home of Abu Sayyaf, the Islamic State "oil minister" who was killed by US Special Forces at his compound in Syria's Deir Ezzour province last May. The files revealed deals the Assad regime supposedly made with Sayyaf that, at one point, contributed up to 72% of ISIS' profits from natural resources. Abu Sayyaf's division had successfully negotiated agreements with the Assad regime to allow Islamic State trucks and pipelines to move from regime-controlled fields through territory controlled by the group, which is also known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh. The division helped the jihadists bring in roughly $40 million a month in oil sales alone, according to documents seen by The Journal. Story continues The natural-gas fields surrounding Palmyra were a particularly important source of revenue for the jihadists. They turned the gas into fuel which they then sold to Assad, according to Matthew Reed, the vice president of Foreign Reports Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm focused on oil and politics in the Middle East. The documents smuggled out of Raqqa to Sky News appeared to provide corroboration. "One document requests safe passage for a driver through IS checkpoints 'until he reaches the border with the Syrian regime to exchange oil for fertilizer,'" Ramsay wrote. He added: "The defectors claim that this is a trade agreement between the two sides that has been going on for years." NOW WATCH: Scientists have linked the deaths of three US presidents to the same surprising cause More From Business Insider As a federal prisoner, Clarence Aaron worked at every level of a prison-run manufacturing facility in Alabama. But when his life sentence was commuted by President Obama in 2014, he found those skills couldnt get him a job. Standing before a wooden podium in the U.S. Attorneys office for the Southern District of Alabama, Aaron had praise for the Bureau of Prisons program that trained him and allowed him to save $1,000 a year, but deep frustration with the workplaces who werent interested in hiring former felons. BOP gives you a whole lot of training, Aaron said. But once youre released into society its all null and void. Among the small audience assembled in the bland conference room was Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who recently finished her first year on the job with a tour of the mens federal prison where Aaron used to live, a briefing at the U.S. Attorneys office and even a short a one-on-one meeting with Aaron. Read More: Attorney General Loretta Lynch Gets a Glimpse of Life on the Inside In a wide-ranging conversation with TIME on the flight back to Washington, Lynch reflected on what Aaron said. He did everything that we tell inmates to do, he got an education, he advanced up the career ladder, and then theres no way to translate that into an effective employment base outside, she said. What we need to focus on is making sure that businesses recognize the value of the work hes done. Lynch had just wrapped a week of events that highlighted the Justice systems efforts to prepare inmates for return to society. Several announcements from the administration had come as a result; a call for governors to make it easier for returning citizens to get ID cards, efforts to increase health coverage for former inmates, and a proposal to ban the box for federal employees. The transcript below has been edited and condensed for clarity. Story continues Youre about a year into office, is this the issue you expected to be taking on? Is this where you wanted to be a year in, especially since going in you were dealing with Baltimore and issues involving police reform? It is. This issue is something that I looked at in the 90s. When I was the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn under [Attorney General Janet] Reno, she was talking about reentry, she was talking about diversion and drug courts at that time, but we didnt have this national conversation on it. But we knew that if, for example, people who were incarcerated got a degree the recidivism rate goes down by a significant amount the higher amount of education they get. We knew that if they had jobs, the recidivism rate goes down. I saw that then and always thought if were going to talk about making a whole system more fair, we have to talk about reentry also. We will always have a strong law enforcement component to everything we do. We protect the American people, that is our core mission. But were also the Department of Justice and justice means fairness and equality in how we deal with everybody who comes through the system as well. Today you were able to hear from inmates and Mr. Clarence Aaron, a former inmate. His remarks seemed to send a signal that there is a lot of work ahead, despite the announcements the administration made this week. What did you take from his comments? How will his stories and the others you heard today help shape policy back home in Washingtonparticularly as it relates to bridging the gap, as Mr Aaron put it? I thought that he hit the nail on the head with that as being an important issue. We pinpointed it in our Roadmap to Reentry that Ive done about the Bureau of Prisons as something thats important because we were concerned about that, but to hear it in his words, particularly an individual who did so well with all the programs in prison. He did everything that we tell inmates to do, you know, he got an education, he advanced up the job ladder, the career ladder. And then theres no way to translate that into an effective employment base on the outside. Thats always the challenge. Hearing that what we need to focus on is making sure that businesses recognize the value of the work hes done is something that were going to have to work on. Were going to have to really focus on ways to characterize the work that the guys do and the women do in the prisons as transferable skills. Thats really going to be the key, I think. If youre an employer you can look at what Clarence Aaron did and your question is going to be, OK, how does that transfer to my place of employment? As almost anyone who is changing careers can tell you, that is a hurdle that you have to jump. So as we go back and look at policy and focus on what were going to for people who are just getting out, in halfway houses and we need to give them the continuity that were talking about this is going to be an important issue for us. How does ban the box speak to that? And what will it take to expand those programs across the country? The federal government, we hope, will be an example to the private sector and the value of banning the box to show that if you get through the system to the point where you were considering their background along with everything about themwere not saying ignore it, were not saying ignore what anyone has done, were saying consider it along with everything about the person. Give them a fair chance. Were hoping to be a leader in that. The federal government is a huge employer. A number of companies have that taken the pledge, the one that I mentioned that came into the White House earlier this month, we hope will also be business leaders in recognizing the value of welcoming returning citizens back. As with every every industry, when we talk with them were cognizant of their own security needs, were cognizant of the issues that they have to balance and we want to work with them to make sure they can strike that right balance so that they can ban the box. If they have to consider an issue maybe it affects where they place an employee, maybe it affects the kind of training they give that employee, maybe that employee wont be right for them, but at least theyre making that decision based on everything about the employee. Are there programs that can be that bridge? There are a lot of different programs out there one of the things that were trying to do is get a handle on whats out there so that when inmates leave they can in fact have a handbook of the next step to go to. One of the things that Ive heard from other formerly incarcerated individuals when Ive had roundtables in different cities is the need for a support system for the first weeks or months after release. We take that very seriously. Ive seen programs in various citiesI was in Boston where people can get an apprentice license for a trade while theyre incarcerated and will be able to go directly into a job. Those jobs work with them a lot on other skills. That direct placement model is one thing that works fairly well. That isnt going to work in every community or every profession, but thats an example of things that were looking at. You toured a prison today in Talladega, Alabama. There was an interesting moment at the inmate roundtable you sat in on at FCI Talladega where an inmate, named Tony Moses threw out the idea that maybe you would release him. Do you have any thoughts on that? What were you thinking when he said that? I think that it certainly, i think every inmate probably has the hope of an early release and if there are programs that he could enter into that would give him that opportunity i hope he would take advantage of them. Some of the programs give inmates the opportunity to hve some time shaved from their sentence, all the inmates I met today seem very committed to working, not just on their job skills and on their interpersonal skills and on themselves. Thats the real benefit of these programs. Its my hope that if there are programs like that he would take advantage of them. Anything surprise you? Anything stand out from the tour? I knew that FCI Talladega had terrific programs, and I certainly had heard that they were doing well in so many areas. I will say the Residential Drug Treatment Program was tremendous. I think that it really showed that people can make the kind of change that isnt just about getting a degree or learning a trade, that is internal to them. I think that it takes a lot of courage to sit in a room full of people that you think are going to judge you and admit that you have weaknesses and admit that you dont have all the answers and take constructive criticism from other people and then to stand up and try to provide that for other people. I thought that it was a very, very powerful program. I found it very, very moving. The Obama administration has clearly made this issue a priorityhow confident are you that the momentum that currently exists to implement criminal justice reforms will continue in say a Trump administration? As a Cabinet member, I dont comment on candidates. I dont have a comment on anyones potential administration. Theyll work that out for themselves, whoever is in the White House. I do think that the goal is to have these issues be recognized and certainly for this administration, it is to seize this moment when theres bipartisan support but theres also uniformity of thought. Theres a human cost and a financial cost, its a cost to us as a society in terms of how we treat people. Theres really been a connection on that. Many states have been leaders in that, states that have different demographics, different political backgrounds and leanings, theyve all come together. Texas has been a leader in this, actually, in terms of prison reform. In terms of working with the federal government to get grants for Second Chance Acts, for reentry courts and the like. My home state of North Carolina has also done similar things. And those states have seen the crime rate go down as they invest in returning citizens. It is certainly me hope that the practicality and the success of these programs will live on long after this administration. Criminal justice reform has proven to be a bipartisan issue, but there are other issues that the administration has taken up that are exposing some divisions. For instance, LGBT rights. How is Justice working with departments to consider pulling federal money from North Carolina as a response to their transgender bathroom law? North Carolina legislature came back this week considering a lot of options about the bill so were obviously looking to see what that bill will look like in the end, will that bill exist in the end so right now were monitoring that situation. Do you take it as a symbol of questions that we still have to work out as a country when it comes to what justice means? I think its a symbol of the fact that a lot of people do find change difficult. They find new ideas and change hard and they will often have a reaction to it that isnt the one that we hope that they would have that isnt the choice of fairness and inclusion. Its one based on misunderstanding. That happens in human history. Its my hope that we can move beyond that and that we can look at, as we protect the most vulnerable members of our society, the elderly, children, human trafficking victims that we focus on the fact that transgender individuals are often victimized. Theyre often discriminated against. If were going to move as a society towards a fair and more inclusive country, we have to protect their rights as well. Read More: Attorney General Says Bathroom Bills Show Change Is Difficult The Supreme Court arguments in a case involving the corruption conviction of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell indicated a lot of skepticism over the way Justice has interpreted federal corruption laws. How damaging would it be for the cause of prosecuting public corruption if the court were to rule against the government in this case, and raise the standard for bringing public corruption cases? We dont have a decision yet so Im not going to speculate as to what it may be. We will obviously wait with anticipation for that decision, look at it closely, and follow to law. Its been about 10 months since the Charleston shooter was arrested, but the department has not yet announced whether or not it will pursue the death penalty in that case. Is the administration reconsidering the death penalty in the wake of Charleston? No, I would say that the case is being considered like any other case. Were getting recommendations from the U.S. Attorneys Office, from the U.S. Attorney. It all comes to me for the final review and recommendation and were moving through that process. The DEA, a part of DOJ, is currently reviewing possibly downgrading marijuana from its current Schedule 1 status. Do you think marijuana deserves to be classified as a drug that is as dangerous as heroin or LSD? I will wait for their review. I think the issue in terms of how you schedule any drug is dependent upon what alternate uses there are for the drug. Im going to wait for their review and see what their conclusions are before I comment. * PayPal looking to roll out Xoom into Australia soon * WorldRemit expanding in Australia, New Zealand * Australia's traditional remitters shutting shop * Regulators identify remittances as a high-risk sector * Online remitters can track money flow easily- ABA By Swati Pandey and Nathan Lynch SYDNEY, May 3 (Reuters) - Digital money transfer companies including PayPal Holdings are rushing to grab a share of Australia's $35 billion remittance market, hoping to plug a vacuum left by the major domestic banks' exit from the space last year. U.S.-listed PayPal intends to roll out its online remitting platform Xoom into Australia soon, senior executives told Reuters, while U.K.-based WorldRemit in April said it had chosen Australia as its Asia-Pacific base. Australia is a fast-growing market for foreign money transfer operators thanks to a large migrant population with financial links to China, India, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Pacific Islands. One in four Australians has migrated from overseas, government data shows. "This industry is belatedly moving online. Regulation and technology are driving this change," said Ismail Ahmed, founder of WorldRemit, which is also expanding in New Zealand. The entry of global digital payments players comes amid growing concern in Australia that the industry was drifting underground, after the major banks closed the accounts of money transfer businesses due to compliance risks. Accounting for about 80 percent of Australia's banking activity, the country's four major lenders felt particularly exposed to what regulators have identified as a high-risk sector for criminal activity like money laundering and terrorist financing, including transfers to militant groups like Islamic State. But the international scale and reputation of major digital players means they are better placed to manage the regulatory and law enforcement scrutiny than smaller agents who previously dominated the sector, industry players say. Story continues LOOKING FOR GROWTH Ahmed said he was scouting for acquisitions of niche players to further expand in Australia, already WorldRemit's second-biggest market for outbound remittances. New Zealand, with a similar migrant population to Australia's, is World Remit's fastest-growing country for outbound transfers. PayPal began making significant inroads into Australia after receiving a licence to hold funds on behalf of customers, although it cannot perform traditional banking services. It can also send money to under-developed countries with poor banking and mobile penetration. "In some markets home delivery is important and in those markets we do offer home delivery, where a courier will show up, ring your doorbell and give you an envelope with cash," said John Kunze, vice president of PayPal-owned Xoom. While customers can use their bank accounts to transfer money overseas, it can be expensive and time-consuming. Australian banks charge up to A$30 ($22.94) per transfer, compared with A$5-A$8 charged by remitters. The banks' mobile applications are clunky compared with the simple interfaces offered by remittance newcomers like InstaRem or WorldRemit. Xoom's Kunze said that while scale was a big advantage for PayPal, it came with a "mandate to run compliance, consumer protection and a safe business". "So we have to keep moving the ball forward on this as we grow," he said. Global digital players are well aware that any breach of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules could undermine their significant investment in the sector. "Online money transfer businesses have the benefit of being able to track where money has come from and where it is going to," Australian Bankers' Association Chief Executive Steven Munchenberg said. "It is still important, however, that they operate within an appropriate regulatory framework." ($1 = 1.3079 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Swati Pandey in SYDNEY and Nathan Lynch of Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence; Additional reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in WELLINGTON; Editing by Stephen Coates) The Daily Beast Beresford Hodge - PA ImagesLONDONRishi Sunak is to become Britains third prime minister of the year after winning a hastily arranged leadership contest on Monday in the wake of Liz Truss lightning downfall. After losing out to Truss in the summer, Sunak is on his way to Downing Street after his leadership race rival, Penny Mordaunt, withdrew from the contest at the last minute. While Truss became Britains leader after being voted in by Conservative Party membersless than one percent of the As Ted Cruz heads into the vital Indiana primary tomorrow, his presidential campaign is, by most accounts, losing momentum at a time it can least afford it. Over the weekend, he got bad news: Cruzs poll numbers are down. A New York Times story revealed that his support is weakening among Republican delegates who Cruz believed were a lock. The governor of the key state of Indiana, which votes tomorrow, again showed himself unable to muster a ringing endorsement for the Texas senator. Related: Ted Cruz Thinks Everyone Is Out to Get Him Cruzs chief rival, frontrunner Donald Trump, has amassed a large lead in pledged delegates, and stands a good chance of locking up the nomination before the Republican Partys national convention in July. Preventing Trump from doing that is now the only strategy remaining to Cruz. He is mathematically unable to win enough delegates in the remaining states to clinch the nomination himself, but he could still shoot for a contested convention by denying Trump the 1,237 majority. Part of what that means is that Cruz needs to deny Trump delegates at every turn, particularly in states like Indiana, which will award 27 of its 57 delegates to the candidate who wins statewide and 27 more to the winners of nine separate Congressional Districts. Unfortunately for Cruz, a poll released over the weekend by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal showed Trump with a dominant 15-point lead in that state. The current Real Clear Politics polling average for the state shows Trump with an average 4.1 percent lead. However, that includes one poll that appears to be a serious outlier, showing Cruz ahead by 16 points. Without it, Trumps average lead would be 7.5 percent. Cruz succeeded in earning the endorsement of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Friday, but the governors announcement on a radio program struck many as oddly backhanded. He spoke of his admiration for Trump, but said he had decided to vote for Cruz -- and he did it without really explaining why he preferred Cruz and, crucially, without urging voters to follow his lead. Story continues Related: Indianas Governor Just Endorsed Ted Cruz. And Donald Trump On Sunday afternoon, Pence published an op-ed in the Indianapolis Star that went a little further in explaining some of his thinking behind voting for Cruz, including his small government and social conservative positions. My vote goes to Ted Cruz because he is a principled conservative who will work to protect our constitutional liberties, bring back better-paying jobs, and serve all Americans with the character and judgment needed to revive our national strength. However, Pence once again stopped short of encouraging others to vote for Cruz as well, saying, I encourage every Hoosier to evaluate each of the candidates and exercise your right to vote in the May 3 Primary. Also on Sunday, The New York Times reported that Cruzs support among the committed Republicans who will serve as delegates at the convention in Cleveland is weakening. According to the story by Jeremy W. Peters, the Texan is having an increasingly difficult time securing delegates in states where they have not yet been chosen, and in states where the process is complete, some delegates who originally supported him are starting to waver. Related: Is Sanders About to Play the Email Card Against Clinton? This is significant because at this point, Cruzs only practical hope for the nomination is to deny Trump a first-ballot victory at the convention, and then count on many delegates who were pledged to Trump for one or two votes to flip to him on subsequent ballots. That shifting sentiment appears to be reflected in the Gallup tracking poll, which recently found that Cruz now has a net negative approval rating among Republicans, and that the ratio of approval to disapproval is getting worse. Its never over until the votes are counted, of course, but now, things are not looking good for the junior senator from Texas. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Khalid Kazimov - Trend: Over the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20) 64 business delegations from 28 countries visited the Islamic Republic. The Iranian deputy industry Minister, Valiollah Afkhami-Rad, has said that the number of foreign business delegations visiting Iran over the last year increased three times year-on-year, Mehr news agency reported. According to the official, 19 trade delegations from 16 countries arrived in Iran in 2014. The official further added that the delegations have discussed a range of field for cooperation including tourism, joint ventures as well as trade and engineering services. The number of foreign delegations arriving in Iran increased after clinching a deal last year between the Islamic Republic and the world powers to curb Tehran's controversial nuclear program. Nuclear related sanctions on the Islamic Republic were removed following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on January 16. (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) reached a $190 million settlement with a federal home loan bank over four mortgage-related complaints, according to a securities filing on Monday. The bank had accrued "substantially all" of the settlement amount previously, Bank of America said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The settlement was dated on April 25. The litigation was started by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, which later merged into the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. A spokeswoman for the merged entity referred Reuters to another securities filing showing it had reached a settlement with an unnamed bank on April 25, but declined to say whether it was with Bank of America. (Reporting by Dan Freed; Editing by Sandra Maler) By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) - As a debate raged across the internet Monday over whether the mysterious founder of the bitcoin digital currency had finally been identified, executives at a major bitcoin conference in New York had a simple message: we've moved on. That's because bitcoin, the digital currency, has largely been supplanted by blockchain, the technology that underlies it, as the main interest of investors, technology companies and financial institutions. "If there is a 100 percent opportunity in the blockchain, bitcoin, or the currency, is only 1 percent of it," said Jerry Cuomo, vice president, Blockchain Technologies at International Business Machines Corp (IBM.N). "So there is a whole 99 percent that has broad applications across the broad industries." Over the past year numerous Wall Street firms, led by Goldman Sachs (GS.N), have declared their commitment to pursuing blockchain as a potential revolutionary technology for tracking and clearing financial transactions. The blockchain technology works by creating permanent, public "ledgers" of all transactions that could potentially replace complicated clearing and settlement systems with one simple ledger. Still, bitcoin is by far the largest implementation of blockchain technology and there is considerable debate as to whether one can truly develop without the other. "Bitcoin is still the only blockchain-enabled, cross-border large scale, provable application that's actually in production," said Joseph Guastella, a principal at Deloitte Consulting in New York. "Bitcoin as a currency may not be as relevant as it was in many ways, but it actually is relevant as a proof case for the blockchain technology." Bitcoins are created through a "mining" process, in which specialised computers solve complex math problems in exchange for bitcoins. One bitcoin (BTC=BTSP) is equivalent to $444.75 late on Monday and trade on various exchanges around the world. Story continues But bitcoin transaction volume has been in decline over the past six months amid a bitter split over technical changes in the protocol that are needed to increase the capacity of the system that produces them. Because the cryptocurrency has no formal governance, it relies on a core group of developers for direction - and they are sharply divided over the changes. But that debate was of relatively little concern to the Blockchain enthusiasts gathered in New York. Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright identified himself on Monday as the creator of controversial digital currency bitcoin. "It's irrelevant because his announcement doesn't solve a problem or resolve a conflict," said Bharat Solanki, managing director at Cambrian Consulting in New York. "It probably helps to determine the origins of bitcoin but only for recognition," Solanki said. For Naoki Taniguchi, a global innovation expert at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd in San Francisco, he does not really care about who created bitcoin. "It's all about the blockchain," he said. (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Jonathan Weber, Bernard Orr) May 1 (Reuters) Bayern Munich will put the disappointment of failing to secure the Bundesliga title behind them to focus on Tuesday's Champions League semi-final game against Atletico Madrid, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on Sunday. The German side host Atletico in the second leg on Tuesday having lost the first game 1-0 and they were held to a 1-1 draw by Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. Of course we would have liked to win the Bundesliga," Rummenigge told the club's website. "I'd be lying if I told you otherwise. We can't do anything about it now," he added. "We're still five points clear and have a good goal difference. We now turn our full focus to Tuesday and we'll giveit everything." Bayern needed to beat Gladbach to guarantee theirthird consecutive domestic title and they took the lead when Thomas Muller struck in the sixth minute. They were forced to settle for a point, however, when Andre Hahn equalised 18 minutes from time. "We had hoped to clinch the title," Bayern defender Philipp Lahm said. "But against a tough side we didn't manage it. We'll just have to wait until next Saturday (away at mid-table Ingolstadt) to become champions again." Bayern are five points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund with two matches to play. (Reporting by Ed Dove, editing by Ed Osmond) From ELLE This article originally appeared in the May 2016 issue of ELLE. Stranded on an island and lacking wind to propel his ship, The Odyssey's godsforsaken King Menelaus captures the sea deity Proteus and forces the prophetic shapeshifter to reveal not only how the king angered the gods in the first place, but also how to appease them and find his way home. Adam Haslett's chronicle of a family plagued by depression, Imagine Me Gone (Little, Brown), is preoccupied with the same intrinsically human hope: that seeking out clues from one's past might heal the present and safeguard the future. In fact, hints of the myth underpin the entire book, not least in Haslett's own protean ability to embody the varied viewpoints of Margaret; her depressive husband, John; and their children, Michael, Celia, and Alec. Spanning the decades from 1960s England to present-day Maine, the story centers around a heartbreaking decision by John that leaves Margaret to care for the children alone. And while Celia and Alec go on to build lives in San Francisco and New York, music junkie Michael matures from a precocious 12-year-old ("We can't listen to any more baroque music. It enervates the mind," he tells his mother) into an obsessive adult, haunted by a childhood vision he fervently wishes he'd acted upon and completely dependent on his family to keep him afloat. There are some books, and this is one, that grab you in the first paragraphs and don't let go, even when the last page has been read. Haslett is certainly not the first novelist to broach the topic of depression (and it's thematic in both his 2002 short-story collection You Are Not a Stranger Here and his award-winning 2010 novel Union Atlantic). But he's done so with such a fresh voice and playfulness of form-Michael's sections dance from imagined, parodic notes to his therapist, aunt, and creditors, to claustrophobic catalogs of star-crossed crushes and music history-that the resulting novel begs a reevaluation of how we view and cope with tragedy. It's the epitome of that oft-misappropriated axiom, comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. "That's the only real life, the only thing that makes you know you're alive-the backward ache," Michael tells his brother. "That's what music is. That's what you hear, when it's good: The worlds people lost, the ones they want back." Imagine Me Gone is very good music. Shares of Bemis Company, Inc. BMS lost roughly 0.02% on Friday, a day after the company reported its first-quarter 2016 results. Its adjusted earnings per share dropped 1.6% year over year to 60 cents per share. The net impact of currency translation reduced earnings per share in the reported quarter by approximately 3 cents, as compared to the first quarter of 2015. Earnings also lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents. Including acquisition-related costs of 1 cent per share each, earnings came in at 59 cents per share compared with 58 cents in the prior-year quarter. The year-ago quarter included restructuring charges of 3 cents. Operational Update Net sales declined 7% year over year to $967.9 million, also falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $985.2 million. Cost of products sold decreased 7.7% year over year to $759 million in the quarter. Gross profit declined 4% to $208.8 million from $217.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin expanded 70 basis points (bps) to 21.6% in the quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $99.4 million from $106.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating income dropped 2% year over year to $100 million. Adjusted operating margin increased 60 bps to 10.4% in the quarter. Segment Performance Net sales at the U.S. Packaging segment declined 6.6% year over year to $660.5 million. The decrease in net sales was due to the contractual pass-through of lower raw material costs as well as the mix of products sold. Segment operating profit increased to $101.7 million from $95.4 million in the prior-year quarter. Net sales at the Global Packaging segment went down 7.7% year over year to $307.4 million. Currency translation reduced net sales by 20.3%, primarily due to currencies in Latin America. The Dec 2015 Emplal acquisition drove net sales by 4%. Excluding the impact of currency translation and the acquisition, net sales increased by 8.6%. Adjusted segment operating profit plunged 44% to $16.3 million from $29.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Financial Update Bemis had cash and cash equivalents of $50.1 million at the end of first-quarter 2016 compared with $59.2 million at 2015 end. The company recorded cash flow from operations of $52.6 million in the reported quarter compared with $85.2 million in the prior-year period. Total debt increased to $1.44 billion as of Mar 31, 2016, from $1.38 billion as of Dec 31, 2015. As of Mar 31, 2016, total company net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 2.4 times. During the first quarter, Bemis repurchased 1 million shares for $44.3 million. As of Mar 31, 2016, approximately 22.4 million shares were available for repurchase. Adjusted return on invested capital (ROIC) increased to 10.5% as of Mar 31, 2016, from 9.9% as of Mar 31, 2015. On Feb 4, 2016, Bemis increased the authorization for share repurchases by 20 million additional shares, supplementing the previous remaining authorization. On Apr 20, 2016, Bemis announced its agreement to acquire the medical device packaging operations and related value-added services of SteriPack Group. Guidance Bemis expects full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.68$2.78, compared to $2.68$2.83 expected earlier. It lowered the upper end of the full-year EPS guidance range due to the impact of operational inefficiencies on the companys Latin American business and the North American healthcare business. The company reaffirmed its outlook for cash from operations in the range of $450$500 million. It also retained its 2016 capital expenditures guidance of approximately $200 million to support productivity and efficiency projects as well as growth projects, driven by increased customer demand for value-added products. Bemis Global Packaging business was dampened by operational challenges in the Latin American business as well as the inefficient ramp-up of newly hired workforce at its expanded healthcare packaging facility in Wisconsin. The company is working to rectify these issues and expects that operating performance should be stabilized by the third quarter. Neenah, WI-based Bemis Company is a global manufacturer of flexible packaging products and pressure sensitive materials sold primarily to the food industry. The company also sells its products to other customers in the chemical, agri-business, medical, pharmaceutical, personal care, electronics, automotive, construction and graphic industries. Zacks Rank Currently, Bemis has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the industrial products sector include Graphic Packaging Holding Company GPK, Packaging Corporation of America PKG and Sonoco Products Co. SON. All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SONOCO PRODUCTS (SON): Free Stock Analysis Report BEMIS (BMS): Free Stock Analysis Report PACKAGING CORP (PKG): Free Stock Analysis Report GRAPHIC PKG HLD (GPK): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. This year, Yahoo Finance live-streamed Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK-A, BRK-B) annual shareholder meeting for the first time, allowing famed investors Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger to appear in the living rooms and on the mobile devices of people all around the world. But that didn't stop thousands of shareholders from lining up outside Omaha's CenturyLink Center as early as four o'clock in the morning to snag a good seat in the arena where Buffett and Munger would answer questions. With no assigned seating and some 40,000 shareholders in town for the meeting, you can understand why. Yahoo Finance spoke with early-morning Buffett fans from all around the world, including China, Australia, and Sweden. Many of the shareholders said they had been loyally attending the meeting for over a decade. They said they embraced the "carnival atmosphere" and the ability to meet new friends, but most importantly, the chance to learn from Buffett and Munger about investing and life in general. Their enthusiasm continued throughout the entire meeting, with the arena frequently erupting in laughter and applause. Those watching the live stream missed the rain but were able to listen to Buffett's and Munger's words of wisdom. In his annual shareholder letter earlier this year, Buffett explained why they decided to live stream the event. Charlie and I have finally decided to enter the 21st century, wrote Buffet. He also referenced his age. "Charlie is 92, and I am 85. If we were partners with you in a small business and were charged with running the place, you would want to look in occasionally to make sure we hadnt drifted off into la-la land. Shareholders, in contrast, should not need to come to Omaha to monitor how we look and sound. (In making your evaluation, be kind: Allow for the fact that we didnt look that impressive when we were at our best.)" Click here to view a full replay of the 2016 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting, which Yahoo Finance live-streamed exclusively. At this page you can also find our extensive coverage of the event. bernie sanders Sen. Bernie Sanders is planning on taking his presidential bid all the way to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this summer. And it looks like his rhetorical shots at Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton will go with him. Leading up to Indiana's primary on Tuesday, Sanders has proved more than willing to continue drawing contrasts with Clinton on major issues. During a Monday campaign rally in Indiana, Sanders reiterated his usual attacks on Clinton's campaign-finance structure, pausing for boos and cracking jokes about Clinton's private speeches to Goldman Sachs. "We said, 'Hell no' to super PACs. We don't represent Wall Street or the billionaire class," Sanders said. He added: "Secretary Clinton has chosen another approach to raise her money. She has not one but several super PACs. In the last reporting period, her major super PAC reported raising $25 million from special interests, including $15 million from Wall Street." For a moment late last month, it appeared that Sanders might dial back his attacks against his rival, as Clinton's lead in the Democratic race expanded with big victories in primaries in New York and up and down the East Coast. Speaking to The New York Times last week, senior campaign strategist Tad Devine said that the Sanders campaign would "reassess" its strategy after a string of recent losses. Some political observers noted that the campaign made no mention of Clinton in a statement following Sanders' losses, indicating that he might have been preparing to shift from his rhetorical focus on the frontrunner. But people close to the campaign have maintained that Sanders is serious about his pledge to participate in a "contested convention." He also reiterated the vow during a Sunday press conference. Meanwhile, Sanders has continued to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Democratic presidential-selection process. On Monday, Sanders used Clinton's massive lead among Democratic superdelegates elected officials and party officials who represent a small portion of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination to illustrate how a "rigged system" was built to stymie insurgent candidacies. He again reminded superdelegates that he polls better in hypothetical general-election matchups with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Story continues Speaking to supporters on Monday, Sanders reflected on the opposition that his campaign faced in the past year from many Democrats. "We were taking on the entire Democratic Party establishment," Sanders said, as the audience cheered. "Looks like you're not intimidated by the establishment." The Clinton campaign has not been pleased by Sanders' persistent attacks on his Democratic presidential rival, which some allies fear could help burnish Republican attacks on Clinton in the general election should she capture the nomination. On Monday, the Sanders campaign and the Republican National Committee blasted out to reporters a Politico story within four minutes of each other. The story said that the Clinton campaign has benefited massively from the money it has raised for Democratic state parties, which have received comparatively little in return. "Secretary Clinton has exploited the rules in ways that let her high-dollar donors like Alice Walton of Walmart fame and the actor George Clooney and his super-rich Hollywood friends skirt legal limits on campaign contributions," Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said. He added an apparent reference to a line from the Politico story that quoted state-party fundraisers as worrying that they were "essentially acting as money laundering conduits" for Clinton and the Democratic National Committee. "If Secretary Clinton can't raise the funds needed to run in a competitive primary without resorting to laundering, how will she compete against Donald Trump in a general election?" he said. Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives to speak at the California GOP convention in Burlingame, California, U.S., April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam And for his part, Trump has begun incorporating Sanders into his stump speech, repeatedly asserting that he'll attempt to build on Sanders' characterizations of Clinton. "Bernie Sanders has a message that's interesting," Trump told "Morning Joe" last month. "I'm going to be taking a lot of the things that Bernie said and using them." He continued: "I can reread some of his speeches and I can get some very good material." On Sunday, Sanders brushed off Trump's comments. "The Republican Party and Trump have the resources to do all the opposition research they want on Secretary Clinton. They don't need Bernie Sanders' critiques of the secretary," Sanders said. But he may not have a choice over how Trump uses his words. Trump frequently cites Sanders' assertion that "something is clearly lacking" in Clinton's judgment. "Now, he's saying bad things about Hillary. And he's really correct. He says she doesn't have the judgment to be president," Trump said at a campaign rally in New York last month, referring to Sanders. hillary clinton The Vermont senator is publicly attempting to walk a fine line, maintaining attacks on Clinton while acknowledging that the former secretary of state would be a better choice than Trump. During an event at the National Press Club on Sunday, Sanders defended his decision to continue drawing contrasts with Clinton, while also acknowledging Trump's overt attempts to co-opt Sanders rhetoric to woo his supporters. "Secretary Clinton and I have different points of view on a number of different issues. And I have tried my hardest to run an issue-oriented campaign explaining to the American people the differences that we have," Sanders said. But he quickly added: Trump is trying in a number of ways to tap into a number of my support. If I lose the nomination, he will not get that support. If I lose the nomination, and we're here to do everything we can to win it, I will fight as hard as I can to make certain that Donald Trump does not become president of the United States. Clinton has not so subtly attempted several times to transition to the general election over the last several months by praising Sanders and extending an olive branch to his supporters. "I applaud Sen. Sanders and his millions of supporters for wanting to get unaccountable money out of our politics and giving greater emphasis to closing the gap of inequality," Clinton said during her primary-night victory speech last week. "And I know together we will get that done," she added. "Because whether you support Sen. Sanders or support me, there's much more that unites us than divides us." NOW WATCH: Watch Bernie Sanders rant on why Hillary Clinton isnt qualified to be president More From Business Insider Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Emil Ilgar - Trend: Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi has started his visit to the Czech Republic. "Salehi will visit Slovakia as well. He will negotiate with officials and visit the nuclear facilities in those countries," Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, told ISNA news agency May 2. Earlier, the official website of the Czech Republic's Foreign Ministry reported that the Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek will hold talks with Salehi, who will be visiting the country on May 2-3. "His visit will take place within the framework of the conclusion of nuclear agreement with Iran (JCPOA or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), subsequent easing of international sanctions and shared interest in boosting the Czech-Iranian relations," the report added. The report said Salehi will also meet with the Czech Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Mladek and will be received by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. He will also hold talks with the Head of the State Office for Nuclear Safety Dana Drabova. "The meetings will focus on enhancing cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, as closer collaboration within this area may contribute to broader international control of Iranian nuclear program and to strengthening the bilateral relations and mutual trust," read the foreign ministry's message. The message said the current developments in the Middle East are another major topic to be discussed during the meetings. By Jonathan Stempel OMAHA, May 2 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, is known for his keen eye for a bargain. And there were plenty on offer for shareholders attending Berkshire's annual meeting over the weekend, where goods from some 50 Berkshire businesses were on show, often at big discounts. Shareholder Shelli Clausen thought a $5 kitchen spatula from Berkshire's Pampered Chef business fit the bill. "It's a good buy, and it's fun to get the good deals," she said while waiting in a line a couple of hundred deep in downtown Omaha's CenturyLink Center, where Buffett had addressed shareholders and taken questions. When not listening to the Oracle of Omaha and his partner Charlie Munger, shareholders had two days to browse and buy Berkshire's products. These included See's Candies peanut brittle that Buffett and Munger chomped during the meeting. Courtney Cohen, a sales director at See's Candies, estimated that 19,000 of the 22,956 pounds of candy that the company brought to the meeting were sold. Dairy Queen events manager Dean Peters said those shareholders needing an ice cream fix consumed about 28,000 of its Dilly, Vanilla Orange and Fudge bars and its Mini Oreo Blizzards. Those with more to spend could buy a $9,277 pair of white gold diamond stud earrings from Borsheim's jewelry. Some vendors said numbers seemed down on in 2015, when Buffett celebrated his 50th anniversary running Berkshire. Official attendance was not immediately known, but this year's meeting was the first to be streamed online. This was widely cited as a reason Omaha may have attracted fewer people to the weekend of events that Buffett calls "Woodstock for Capitalists." Buffett said on CNBC on Monday that he thought attendance was down by 10 percent. Among the other Berkshire businesses on show were Kirby vacuum cleaners sold through in-home demonstrations and Fruit of the Loom clothing brand, which was among the more popular items. Story continues Fruit of the Loom had to put up a barrier at one stage to stop shareholders from overwhelming staff selling its $8 neon green "Berky Boxer" shorts, or the bright yellow 2015 edition for just $3. "It's packed, incredibly packed," first-time attendee Steve Peters, from nearby Papillion, Nebraska, said. He and his wife Marlene had just bought a bed from Nebraska Furniture Mart and jackets from Fechheimer Brothers. "There are good deals," Marlene Peters said. Just what Buffett would want his shareholders to say. (Reporting By Jonathan Stempel in Omaha, Nebraska. Editing by Jane Merriman) for bob It can be hard for people on Wall Street to agree on anything. Whether they're on different sides of a trade or simply in competition for business, it's rare that they see eye to eye. One issue, however, is uniting some of the largest names in finance for one cause: fiscal stimulus. With big names including JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and hedge fund billionaire Carl Icahn, it seems there is a growing chorus among the major players in finance that the government needs to spend more money. Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, in an interview with Bloomberg Go last Wednesday said spending to build up infrastructure was a huge positive for the US economy. "You are creating jobs, creating a better and more efficient grid, better and more efficient roads, ports, airports," Fink said. "So you can get a mileage out of it. So I believe that is what we need in this country." Fink also said he thought such spending would have a meaningful impact on US gross domestic product. Dimon, for his part, wrote that part of the solution to the "serious issues" facing the US was to increase federal investments. "I won't go into a lot of detail but will list only some key concerns: the long-term fiscal and tax issues (driven mostly by healthcare and Social Security costs, as well as complex and poorly designed corporate and individual taxes), immigration, education (especially in inner city schools) and the need for good, longterm infrastructure plans," he wrote in his annual letter to shareholders. In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Icahn said there would be a "day of reckoning" in the market if fiscal stimulus did not occur, adding that there "could certainly be more spending." Why fiscal stimulus? These financial heavyweights are suggesting such a strategy for two reasons a short-term benefit and a long-term benefit. Story continues On the one hand, there is the short-term need to increase growth. GDP has been lackluster during the recovery from the financial crisis, and it seems that the Federal Reserve has done all it can from the supply side to help stimulate spending. The thinking is that the effectiveness of money-supply stimulus is wearing off and government efforts should focus on demand. Fiscal stimulus jump-starts the economy by creating jobs. Those people with new jobs are more likely to spend more, thus supporting other industries. Basically, government spending would induce more consumer spending and strengthen household finances to move the wheels of the economy and kick-start growth. highway construction The second argument for fiscal stimulus is the long-term impact, which is what Dimon is really driving at. The idea here is that by investing now, the government could strength the US's position as a global leader and head off some of the under-the-surface problems that could bubble up later. For instance, one big way the government can spend is investments in highways and bridges. Much of the US's infrastructure system is struggling. Spending now will help maintain the transportation network before the system falls into disrepair. This spending has benefits that go beyond maintaining physical infrastructure. Highways and bridges facilitate movement that is vital to the economy. Without it, growth will slow, potentially setting up a negative spiral. Slow growth makes it harder to bring in government receipts while also leaving fewer people with enough savings for retirement. As Dimon noted, this could end up with a generation of people unable to retire and a government unable to support them. "The problem is not that the US economy won't be able to take care of its citizens it is that taking away benefits, creating intergenerational warfare and scapegoating will make for very difficult and bad politics," Dimon wrote. "This is a tragedy that we can see coming. Early action would be relatively painless." So taking action now kick starts the economy. There's just one problem The issue, as it stands now, is that executing this sort of government stimulus requires, well, the government. Many elected officials are worried about the $19 trillion in debt that the US government holds (whether that's actually an issue is another question), so attempting to convince Congress that adding more debt is the solution is a tough sell. As Icahn noted in his interview with CNBC, it is unlikely that much will happen on the spending front anytime soon. Icahn said Congress was "grid-locked obsessed" and "obsessed with this deficit to a point that I think it's almost pathological." Additionally, with the election season underway it is unlikely, in the absence of a serious crisis, that the federal government would enact any large-scale spending program. The likes of Jamie Dimon, Carl Icahn, and Larry Fink are used to getting what they want. On this occasion though, it looks as if they will be left disappointed. NOW WATCH: FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: The single largest threat to the global economy More From Business Insider Bill Ackman Finance Insider is Business Insider's midday summary of the top stories of the past 24 hours. To sign up, scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Get updates in your inbox," or click here. Activist investor Bill Ackman says "of course" he regrets investing in Valeant. "There's been a lot of brain damage in the last five weeks working with the board," he said in an interview with CNBC. Atlantic City just averted a massive disaster, and three banks just lost close to $100 million from the collapse of another megadeal. Goldman Sachs is going down-market, and everyone is looking at Goldman's fixed income business when they should be looking at the equities unit. Morgan Stanley questioned the dominance of Bloomberg, and the response shows just how entrenched it is. Business Insider is reporting from the Milken Institute conference. Economist Mohammed El-Erian painted a pretty depressing picture of the global economy on one panel early Monday. The same panel agreed that there's a word for people who don't know how to invest in emerging markets: "tourists." Check back here for more coverage through the rest of the day. Lastly, Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting took place over the weekend. Here's what you missed, and here is Myles Udland on what the meeting is really about. Here are the top Wall Street headlines at midday: Craig Wright claims he created Bitcoin - The Australian IT executive who late last year was engulfed by rumors that he invented Bitcoin has claimed he really is behind the digital currency. Forget millennials these 2 groups are the real future of America's consumers - Everyone keeps talking about millennials and their shopping habits. The biggest names in finance all want the government to do one thing, but it's not going to happen - It can be hard for people on Wall Street to agree on anything. Tesla put a Model X in a giant plastic bubble to test Bioweapon Defense Mode - Tesla's Bioweapon Defense Mode is one of the company's most talked about, but least understood features. Story continues China is carrying $1 trillion in bad debt - The amount of debt being carried in the Chinese economy mostly by state-owned "zombie" companies is now so high that it could lead to a financial crisis. Meet the billionaires of 740 Park Avenue, one of New York's historic 'Towers of Power' - On a quiet, tree-lined block on the Upper East Side, 740 Park Avenue rises up: a legendary address, at one time considered (and, perhaps, still) the most important residential building in New York City. More From Business Insider Warning: getimagesize(): php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Temporary failure in name resolution in /home/sites/www.businessinsider.com/releases/20160428201955/models/Post.php on line 1606 Warning: getimagesize(http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57270233910584716f8bfe88/craig%20wright.png): failed to open stream: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Temporary failure in name resolution in /home/sites/www.businessinsider.com/releases/20160428201955/models/Post.php on line 1606 Warning: Division by zero in /home/sites/www.businessinsider.com/releases/20160428201955/models/Post.php on line 1610 satoshi nakamoto The world, particularly the geek world, can't stand a mystery. That's why there's been so much attention paid to trying to find out who invented Bitcoin, a form of money that lives only on the internet and is created through a complicated set of cryptography security rules. Bitcoin's creator is known as "Satoshi Nakamoto" only no one knows for sure who Satoshi Nakamoto is. On Monday morning, the controversy erupted again when Australian businessman Craig Wright wrote a blog post claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto. Wright has been labeled the Bitcoin creator before, in a widely read expose by Wired in 2015. Wired later admitted it might have fallen for "an elaborate, long-planned hoax." The problem is, that the proof Wright offered in his blog post on Monday, as well as the proof in earlier investigative reports on Wright, has been largely discredited. 'Intentional scammery' On some levels, the proof isn't that complicated to show. Satoshi Nakamoto owns a unique key. Coded, encrypted messages sent to Satoshi Nakamoto's known public address can only be opened with this key. Although Wright's blog post talked a lot about cryptography and keys, experts who looked at the post said it was at best inconclusive. At worst, they believed it was a charlatan's trick to fool someone without the technical sophistication to understand it. Story continues Craig Wright Or, as cryptography expert Drew Blas wrote: "Wright's post is flimflam and hokum which stands up to a few minutes of cursory scrutiny, and demonstrates a competent sysadmin's level of familiarity with cryptographic tools, but ultimately demonstrates no non-public information about Satoshi." Another crypto expert, Dan Kaminsky, examined the proof, and labeled it "intentional scammery." And based on this stuff, anybody who's anyone would likely dismiss Wright's claims but for one thing: One of the most respected public figures in the Bitcoin world, Bitcoin Foundation chief scientist, Gavin Andresen, believes Wright. Andresen published his own blog post on Monday where he said Craig Wright is indeed Satoshi Nakamoto and that Wright proved it to him. Andresen didn't share the technical proof. Banning the top guy People don't understand why Andresen believes Wright when there's evidence that directly contradicts Wright's claims. People then started wondering if Andresen's blog and accounts were hacked. Gavin Andresen And then the Bitcoin community took the shocking move of banning Andresen from directly contributing code to the Bitcoin project, at least for now. They blocked his Github account from being able to add new code to the Bitcoin project. Then Andresen said in a public talk on Monday that, no, his accounts were not hacked. He really believes Wright is the father of Bitcoin. And the stalemate continues. One of the smartest guys involved in Bitcoin thinks Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto while most of the other smart people involved do not. As Dan Kaminsky wrote in his post about it all: "UPDATE: *facepalm*" Andresen has not yet responded to a request for comment. NOW WATCH: ASSAULT RIFLES AND BATH SALTS John McAfee tells the inside story behind his outrageous viral video More From Business Insider Michael Bloomberg was skewered by President Obama at the White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington on Saturday night but that was nothing compared to the reception he got in Michigan a few hours before. During his commencement address at the University of Michigan on Saturday morning, the former New York City mayor was booed loudly over his criticism of so-called safe spaces on college campuses. The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations not run away from them, Bloomberg told the schools graduating class. One of the most dangerous places on a college campus is a safe space because it creates the false impression that we can insulate ourselves from those who hold different views. Earlier this year, a student center for gay, bisexual and transgender students at Michigan created a relaxing, positive space ahead of a debate titled Does Feminism Have a Free Speech Problem? The event, the center said, included speakers whose rhetoric is incredibly harmful to many members of our campus community. Bloomberg who once banned the sale of large sugar-sweetened drinks in New York City in an effort to combat obesity blasted school officials for bowing to public pressure to shield students from uncomfortable ideas. We cant do this, and we shouldnt try not in politics or in the workplace, the billionaire said. In the global economy, and in a democratic society, an open mind is the most valuable asset you can possess. Bloomberg, who briefly considered a third-party bid for president earlier this year, also denounced the demagoguery he says is on display in the 2016 race. In this years presidential election, weve seen more demagoguery from both parties than I can remember in my lifetime, he said. Our country is facing serious and difficult challenges. But rather than offering realistic solutions, candidates in both parties are blaming our problems on easy targets who breed resentment. For Republicans, its Mexicans here illegally and Muslims. And for Democrats, its the wealthy and Wall Street. The truth is: We cannot solve the problems we face by blaming anyone. Story continues At the White House Correspondents dinner, Obama spotted Bloomberg and called him out. I see Mike Bloomberg, the president said. Mike, a combative, controversial New York billionaire is leading the GOP primary, and it is not you. That has to sting a little bit. Obama used Bloombergs appearance to pivot to a joke targeting Donald Trump. Its not an entirely fair comparison between you and the Donald, he said. After all, Mike was a big-city mayor. He knows policy in depth. And hes actually worth the amount of money that he says he is. Obama, its worth noting, has voiced similar criticism of safe spaces. Ive heard of some college campuses where they dont want to have a guest speaker who is too conservative, he said during a town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, last year. Or they dont want to read a book if it has language that is offensive to African-Americans or somehow sends a demeaning signal towards women. "Ive got to tell you, I dont agree with that, either, he continued. I dont agree that you, when you become students at colleges, have to be coddled and protected from different points of views. By Scott Malone BOSTON (Reuters) - The bodies of renowned U.S. mountaineers Alex Lowe and David Bridges, who died in a 1999 avalanche in the Himalayas, have been found by another pair of climbers, according to a charity founded and run by Lowe's widow. Climbers David Goettler of Germany and Ueli Steck of Switzerland were preparing for an attempt to reach the summit of Shishapangma in Tibet, the world's 14th-highest peak, when they discovered two bodies encased in ice on a glacier, the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation said on its website on Friday. The bodies had clothing and backpacks that matched the gear Lowe and Bridges were wearing when they disappeared. NBC News reported the bodies were found last week. Lowe, who was 40 at the time of his death, was regarded as the best American mountaineer of his generation when he and Bridges were swept away during an expedition that aimed to ski down the 26,291-foot (8,013 m) peak. A third climber, Conrad Anker, was injured but survived. "Alex and David vanished, were captured and frozen in time," Lowe's widow, Jenni Lowe-Anker, said in a statement. "Now they are found. We are thankful. Conrad, the boys and I will make our pilgrimage to Shishapangma. It is time to put Alex to rest." Lowe-Anker married Anker in 2001 and the climber adopted her three sons. She serves as president of the Lowe foundation, which provides advice and financial support to humanitarian programs that operate in remote parts of the world. Lowe's accomplishments included two climbs to the top of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, several first ascents in Antarctica and dozens of less prominent but highly technical ascents. Glaciers in the Himalayas have been shrinking in the past few decades, according to a landmark 2013 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. But it is unclear whether the emergence of Lowe's and Bridges' bodies was related to glacial retreat. Story continues "It all depends on the conditions," said Cameron Wake, a glacier expert at the University of New Hampshire's Climate Change Project, who has worked on Shishapangma. "Glaciers are constantly in a state of flux." Lowe and Bridges are not the first mountaineers whose remains attracted attention when they emerged from ice years after their deaths. A pioneering 1980 paper in the Journal of Glaciology on the speed of glacial movement hinged on the discovery of equipment from a 1959 expedition led by Briton Keith Warburton to Pakistan's Batura Muztagh mountains, which was likely swept away by an avalanche. Shoes, a hammer and a camera used by the group turned up in 1975 and again later in 1978, leading the paper's author to conclude the glacier in question traveled about 1,300 meters a year. (Reporting by Scott Malone in Boston; Editing by Bill Trott) Boston Scientific Reports 1Q16 Earnings: What Was the Reaction? (Continued from Prior Part) Analyst recommendations Lets look at analysts recommendations and target prices for Boston Scientifics (BSX) stock over the next year. Based on recommendations of 27 broker firms in a Bloomberg survey, 81.5% gave Boston Scientific a rating of buy. The company was rated hold by 18% of the analysts. None of the brokerage firms rated the company a sell. The table above lists the 22 brokerage firms that provided a target price for Boston Scientific for the next 12 months. The consensus 12-month target price is $23.88, amounting to a 9.4% return potential against the stock price of $21.83 on April 28, 2016. As of April 28, 2016, Jefferies and BTIG gave Boston Scientific a one-year target price of $21, the lowest target price of all. This target implies a -4% return over the next 12 months. Among the large investment banks, Morgan Stanley gave Boston Scientific a one-year target price of $25, which implies a ~14.5% return potential over the next 12 months. Peers Baxter International (BAX), Edwards Lifesciences (EW), and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) have average broker target prices of $47.56, $117, and $162.90, respectively. These figures imply returns of 7.2%, 9.6%, and 13.9%, respectively, in the next 12 months. ETFs with exposure to Boston Scientific Investors can get exposure to Boston Scientific by investing in the Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP), which has 0.22% of its total holdings in Boston Scientific. The Guggenheim S&P 500 Pure Growth ETF (RPG) tracks an index that contains the highest-growth stocks of the S&P 500. Boston Scientific accounts for about 0.89% of RPGs total holdings. Browse this series on Market Realist: Sao Paulo (AFP) - Irate Brazilians found themselves without the popular WhatsApp smartphone messaging application for the second time in six months Monday, after a court blocked the service for 72 hours. A flurry of angry commentary immediately broke out online after a small-town judge blocked WhatsApp nationwide because Facebook, its owner, failed to hand over information requested in a drug-trafficking investigation. The court order from Judge Marcel Montalvao in the northeastern town of Lagarto, in Sergipe state, shut down WhatsApp from 2:00 pm (1700 GMT). According to Brazilian media reports, drug traffickers targeted in the investigation had been using WhatsApp to discuss their business. It is the latest standoff between the Brazilian authorities and Facebook, which has said it has no technical means for cooperating with such requests. Facebook's vice president for Latin America, Diego Dzodan, was arrested in March over the same case. Police said they were holding the Argentine national responsible for "repeated non-compliance with court orders." Another judge in Sergipe state ordered his release the following day, ruling the arrest amounted to "unlawful coercion." WhatsApp was previously suspended in Brazil in December over another case. Shocked, cranky Brazilians woke up on December 17 to find their WhatsApp service had been shut down overnight, leaving many without a key means of communication. WhatsApp is widely used in Brazil, where cell phone fees for texting and calls are among the highest in the world. The free app is installed on nine in 10 smartphones in the country. The December blackout ended after about 12 hours, when a higher court in Sao Paulo state threw out the two-day suspension. On that occasion, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg called it "a sad day for Brazil," noting the country's history of support for an open Internet. The companies deny obstructing justice and say they have done whatever they can to help. Story continues - 'Again?' - Monday's shutdown drew disbelieving, sometimes obscenity-laced reactions online. Like many Brazilians who rely on the service, Twitter user Acaua Tavares reacted with the Portuguese acronym "PQP," roughly equivalent to "WTF?" in English. "WhatsApp blocked again, PQP! That's Brazil," he wrote. Many commenters reacted with a single question: "Again?" Brazil's five cell phone providers all complied with the court order. Media reports said they would have faced fines of $140,000 a day for failing to do so. During the last shutdown, the providers appealed the court order, arguing it affected millions of people unconnected to the case. A Facebook spokesman in Brazil declined to comment. Google has also found itself in the firing line in Brazil. Three years ago, the search engine giant's top Brazil executive was accused of breaking election laws when he refused to remove videos on YouTube that were critical of a mayoral candidate in Mato Grosso do Sul state. The cases echo Apple's showdown with the US government over its refusal to cooperate with the FBI in unlocking an iPhone used by one of the shooters in a mass killing by a couple in San Bernardino, California, last year. The FBI said national security was at stake, while Apple said it was taking a stand against government intrusion into privacy. Ultimately, the government managed to hack the phone without Apple's help. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Prominent Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada Al-Sadr has left the Iraqi city of Najaf for Tehran, Iran amid the increasing political tensions in his country. Al-Sadr left Iraq on a plane belonging to Iran's flag carrier, Iran Air, the Fars news agency reported May 2. Iraqi sources described the visit as "unexpected." Hundreds of people loyal to Al-Sadr stormed Iraq's parliament in Baghdad last week in protest against the continuing deadlock in approving a new cabinet. Supporters of the Shia cleric broke through barricades of the fortified Green Zone for the first time after the MPs failed to convene for a vote. Al-Sadr wants the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to commit to the plan of replacing the ministers with non-partisan technocrats. Powerful parties in the parliament have refused to approve the change for several weeks. SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A Brazilian judge ordered wireless phone carriers to block access to Facebook Inc's (FB.O) WhatsApp for 72 hours throughout Latin America's largest country on Monday, the second such move against the popular messaging application in five months. The decision by the judge in the northeastern state of Sergipe applies to the five main wireless operators in Brazil and affects WhatsApp's more than 100 million users in the country. The reason for the order is not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case in the Sergipe state court. In a statement, WhatsApp said the company is "disappointed at the decision" after doing the utmost to cooperate with Brazilian tribunals. The decision "punishes more than 100 million users who depend upon us to communicate themselves, run their business and more, just to force us hand over information that we don't have," the statement said, without elaborating. It was the second time since mid-December that the text message and internet voice telephone service for smartphones has been the target of a blocking order. A Sao Paulo state judge ordered the service be shut down for 48 hours on Dec. 15, after Facebook failed to comply with an order, although another court interrupted that suspension shortly afterward. Judge Marcel Maia Montalvao of Sergipe state is the same judge who in March ordered the imprisonment of a Brazil-based Facebook executive for failing to comply with an attempted block on WhatsApp. He was jailed and subsequently freed. Executives at the five carriers - Telefonica Brasil SA, America Movil SAB's Claro, TIM Participacoes SA, Oi SA and Nextel Participacoes SA - did not have an immediate comment. (Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr and Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Editing by Mary Milliken and Dan Grebler) (Adds WhatsApp comments throughout) SAO PAULO, May 2 (Reuters) - A Brazilian judge ordered wireless phone carriers to block access to Facebook Inc's WhatsApp for 72 hours throughout Latin America's largest country on Monday, the second such move against the popular messaging application in five months. The decision by the judge in the northeastern state of Sergipe applies to the five main wireless operators in Brazil and affects WhatsApp's more than 100 million users in the country. The reason for the order is not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case in the Sergipe state court. In a statement, WhatsApp said the company is "disappointed at the decision" after doing the utmost to cooperate with Brazilian tribunals. The decision "punishes more than 100 million users who depend upon us to communicate themselves, run their business and more, just to force us hand over information that we don't have," the statement said, without elaborating. It was the second time since mid-December that the text message and internet voice telephone service for smartphones has been the target of a blocking order. A Sao Paulo state judge ordered the service be shut down for 48 hours on Dec. 15, after Facebook failed to comply with an order, although another court interrupted that suspension shortly afterward. Judge Marcel Maia Montalvao of Sergipe state is the same judge who in March ordered the imprisonment of a Brazil-based Facebook executive for failing to comply with an attempted block on WhatsApp. He was jailed and subsequently freed. Executives at the five carriers - Telefonica Brasil SA, America Movil SAB's Claro, TIM Participacoes SA, Oi SA and Nextel Participacoes SA - did not have an immediate comment. (Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr and Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Editing by Mary Milliken and Dan Grebler) (Recasts to add results details throughout) SAO PAULO, May 2 (Reuters) - Cielo SA beat first-quarter profit estimates on Monday, reflecting efforts to curb costs and boost receivables prepayment income even as the harshest recession in decades dragged down volumes for Brazil's No. 1 card payment processor. Net income at Barueri, Brazil-based Cielo totaled 1.038 billion reais ($297 million) last quarter, up 15.5 percent from the previous three months. The figure was way above the average consensus estimate of 915 million reais compiled by Thomson Reuters. A decline in card usage during the quarter was offset by rising merchant discount fees and the rising cost of borrowing at which Cielo pegs the purchase of receivables from clients. Lower maintenance and marketing expenses helped boost earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization - a gauge of profit known as EBITDA - to a quarterly record. Volume growth for credit, debit and agriculture-related card transactions slowed last quarter. Costs slumped 6.8 percent from the prior three months, helping Chief Executive Officer Romulo Dias in his bid to keep growth of the indicator between 4 percent and 6 percent this year. The numbers underscore the threat that the longest recession in decades poses to financial companies which, like Cielo, process transactions for consumers and companies alike. Still, Dias has put profitability at the forefront in recent quarters as a way to defend the company from the impact of Brazil's downturn and mounting competition. Management will discuss first-quarter results with investors on a conference call early on Tuesday. Gross income from prepayment of receivables came in 18 percent above estimates, totaling 653.8 million reais last quarter. To reduce Cielo's increasing dependence on receivables discounting, which remained at a near record 63 percent of profit last quarter, Dias is focusing on growth at processing joint venture Cateno and grabbing market share form rivals. Net revenue rose 4.8 percent to 3.047 billion reais, below average consensus at 3.267 billion reais. EBITDA hit 1.407 billion reais, below average consensus at 1.667 billion reais. ($1 = 3.4978 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Editing by Bernard Orr and Andrew Hay) (Adds details on rise in social spending) SAO PAULO, May 1 (Reuters) - Brazil's beleaguered President Dilma Rousseff on Sunday vowed to raise spending on her party's signature anti-poverty program in an appeal to her political base, warning that her opponents would slash social expenditure if she is stripped of office. Left-leaning Rousseff, speaking at a Labor Day rally in the industrial heartland of Sao Paulo, said her ouster by the Senate next month would open room for a dismantling of labor rules that protect millions of workers in Latin America's largest economy. A Senate committee is discussing whether to accept a request by the lower house to put Rousseff on trial for allegedly breaking budgetary rules. If a majority of the 81-seat Senate votes to do so, as expected, Rousseff could be suspended from office as soon as May 11 and her vice president will take over. Recent polls show that a clear majority of senators favor putting Rousseff on trial for using state banks to fund government programs - an offense that violates Brazil's fiscal responsibility law. With close aides admitting her suspension looks likely, Rousseff has launched a wave of announcements that appeal to voters of her Workers Party. On Sunday, she announced an average 9 percent increase in the Bolsa Family cash transfer program and promised a new wave of public housing. The moves follows data last week that showed tumbling tax revenues led to a widening of the budget deficit in March. "They are saying this government is finished. They are trying to paralyze us, but the government is doing its part," Rousseff said. She repeated her allegations that there was no legal basis for her dismissal. "This is not only a coup against a democratically elected government, but also a coup against the hard-won rights of the workers of this country." Brazil's Supreme Court has rejected government injunctions against the impeachment process. Rousseff said her opponents, in addition to loosening labor legislation, planned to weaken social programs that have helped keep the Workers Party in power since 2003. Story continues Senior figures in Vice President Michel Temer's PMDB party have said that if he takes office next month his government would maintain Bolsa Familia and other welfare programs. Businesses have for decades complained about Brazil's labor code for excessively raising the cost of hiring and stimulating unnecessary litigation between employers and workers. Newspapers have reported that Temer would be willing to revise some aspects of the legislation to resuscitate an economy braced for a second straight year of contraction. Temer told SBT channel on Thursday that, if Rousseff were impeached, his administration would make job creation a priority. (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal and Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Alan Crosby and Andrew Hay) Sculptures and carvings dating back more than 1,700 years have been discovered in the remains of a shrine and its courtyard in the ancient city of Bazira. The sculptures illustrate the religious life of the city, telling tales from Buddhism and other ancient religions. Also called Vajirasthana, Bazira is located the in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. It was first constructed as a small town, during the second century B.C., and eventually developed into a city located within the Kushan Empire. At its peak, this empire ruled territory extending from modern-day India to central Asia. The Kushan Empire declined during the third century A.D., at the same time that a series of earthquakes ravaged Bazira. The damage caused by the earthquakes and the financial problems brought about by the decline of the Kushan Empire meant that Bazira gradually fell into ruin, with the city abandoned by the end of the third century. Today, the ruins of Bazira are located near the modern-day village of Barikot. The Italian Archaeological Mission has been excavating Bazira since 1978, gradually unearthing remains of the ancient city. [See Photos of the Ancient City Ruins and Sculptures] The great departure One of the sculptures, carved in green schist, depicts a prince named Siddhartha leaving a palace on a horse named Kanthaka. The sculpture likely form part of the shrine's decoration, the archaeologists said. According to ancient Buddhist stories, Siddhartha was a wealthy prince who lived in a palace in Kapilavastu, which is in modern-day Nepal. He lived a cloistered life, but one day he ventured outside his palace and encountered the suffering faced by common people. After this experience, he decided to leave his palace to live as a poor man in order to seek enlightenment. He later became the Gautama Buddha. [In Photos: An Ancient Buddhist Monastery] In the carved scene, two spirits known as yakshas support Kanthaka's hooves, wrote archaeologist Luca Olivieri, who directs excavations at Bazira, in the Journal of Inner Asian Art and Archaeology. Meanwhile, the town goddess of Kapilavastu, who is shown wearing a crown, holds her hands together in a sign of veneration. Story continues An unknown man maybe a deity, Olivieri said stands behind Kanthaka, with his left hand to his mouth and his right hand waving a scarf-like garment called an uttariya. Goat's head and wine In the courtyard, archaeologists found another carving, this one dating to a time after an earthquake had damaged the shrine. The shrine had been rebuilt using perishable materials, likely wooden posts, the archaeologists said. Also at around this time, the courtyard was converted into a kitchen area that serviced nearby homes. The carving "pictures an unknown deity, an aged male figure sitting on a throne, with long, curled hair, holding a wine goblet and a severed goat head in his hands," Olivieri told Live Science, adding that the figure looks a bit like images of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. Wine was widely produced in the Swat Valley, and some people in the area, even monastic Buddhists, had issues with drinking alcohol, Olivieri said. "We found dozens of ancient winepresses and vats in the countryside," Olivieri said. From "texts, it seems that Buddhist schools tried their best to curb the habit of consuming wine and other 'intoxicating drinks' even amongst the monastic community," he added. The goat's head in the carving also symbolizes a local passion, Olivieri said. "The goat is an animal associated to the mountains in the cultures of Hindu Kush, the local region," Olivieri said, adding that it was used as an icon in ancient rock art. Stupa with lions Another beautiful carving that once decorated the shrine depicts a stupa, a structure shaped like a mound that is used for meditation. Near the top of the stupa is a platform known as a harmika, which is decorated with a rosette design. Above the harmika, there are three parasol-like structures called chattrasthat face up toward the sky. Two columns, with lions on top, are carved next to the stupa. The lions peer down at the stupa (which is at the same height as the columns), as if they are watching over it. This scene could be based off of a real, ancient stupa that existed in the Swat Valley, Olivieri said. "Real stupas with four columns topped by crouching lions' statuesat the corners of the lower podium have been documented in Swat," Olivieri told Live Science. One stupa like this was excavated in the 1960s and 1970s. Archaeologists found that it was used between the first and fourth centuries A.D., the same time that Bazira flourished. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Buenos Aires judge Roberto Gallardo issued a ban this past Friday (April 29) ordering all dance clubs and music venues in the city to shut down in light of the five drug-related deaths at Time Warp music festival on April 16. According to Reuters, the city's tango milongas and dance-related cultural center events were the only venues allowed to operate under the ban, which otherwise called for a suspension of "all commercial activity involving dancing with live or recorded music." "It's like shutting the vegetable store because you found food poisoning at the butcher shop," said Jorge Becco, head of the Buenos Aires chamber of discotheque owners. "How do you obey a totally unconstitutional order like this one?" Becco added that all of the chamber's businesses are in compliance with all security measures. The ban was soon overturned after Buenos Aires Chief of Government Horacio Rodriguez Larreta called for its removal, however. The debate rages on as politicians and judges try to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring. 5 Die After Time Warp Electronic Music Festival in Argentina Larreta, who backed a temporary ban on music festival permits, criticized the hard-line approach and the curtailing of the city's vibrant nightlife. The drug problem, Larreta argued, does not exist solely on nightclub grounds. "What do we do? Do we close down night clubs?" Larreta said. "We know that the teens are drinking alcohol in pre-parties. Do we suspend pre-parties? So then they're going to go out and drink on the street Do we prohibit the use of the streets?" Larreta believes a possible solution to this would be an open discussion regarding drugs. "We have to work on this from their time in school," he said. "The state can better educate people. There is a lot of hypocrisy about this topic and it is difficult for parents to discuss. There are many who don't want to have this discussion with their kids." Adolf Hitler Nazis While hiding in a fortified two level 3,000-square-foot underground bunker, one of history's most brutal tyrants promised the world that his empire would reign for 1,000 years. Hitler's Third Reich lasted 12 years, and officially ended on April 30, 1945, when the Fuhrer committed suicide in his bunker with his new wife after learning Allied Forces had surrounded Berlin. Hitler's last hours eva braun hitler The day before his death, 56-year-old Hitler married his long-term mistress, 33-year-old Eva Braun. After his brief wedding ceremony Hitler began preparing his last will and political statement with his secretary Traudl Junge at approximately 4:00 PM. "What I possess belongs - in so far as it has any value, to the Party. Should this no longer exist, to the State; should the State also be destroyed, no further decision of mine is necessary," Hitler's will stated. "I myself and my wife, in order to escape the disgrace of deposition or capitulation, choose death. It is our wish to be burnt immediately on the spot where I have carried out the greatest part of my daily work in the course of a twelve years' service to my people." Later on that day Hitler learned his Italian counterpart Benito Mussolini was executed by a mob of anti-fascist partisans. Here's a summary of Hitler's last day as reported by MentalFloss: Screen Shot 2015 04 30 at 10.58.38 AM Hitler's body hitler sofa Sitting on a sofa next to each other in the living room of the Fuhrerbunker, Hitler and his new bride Braun poisoned themselves with cyanide pills and then for good measure, the Nazi leader reportedly shot himself in the head. While various historians dispute the scenario of Hitler actually ending his life with a gunshot, the Russian government claimed they had a portion of Hitler's alleged skull complete with a bullet hole, The Guardian reports. Story continues The fractured skull, which was reportedly taken from the bunker went on public display in Moscow in 2000. Paired with the skull was what Russian intelligence said is Hitler's jawbone. hitler's teeth Almost a decade later, American researchers claimed by way of DNA testing that the cranial fragment actually belonged to a woman approximately 40 years old, The Guardian reports. The orders to be "burnt immediately" were reportedly followed when SS officers wrapped the bodies of the Fuhrer and Braun in blankets and then placed them on a small pyre where SS officer Otto Gunsche set the remains ablaze. NOW WATCH: We went inside a secret basement under Grand Central that was one of the biggest World War II targets More From Business Insider Tehran, Iran, May 2 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: The Iranian parliament has passed a law to grant citizenship to the families of non-Iranians killed fighting for the Islamic Republic. The law notes citizenship should be given to the families of non-Iranians "killed in the Iran-Iraq war or later," IRINN news agency reported May 2. The condition laid by the law is that the troopers should have been sent on mission "by authorized bodies." The law comes as in recent years reports have been received about people from Afghanistan or other Iranian neighbors being killed in Syria while fighting for the IRGC or more recently the Iranian Army. The bodies of a number of the non-Iranians so killed have already been buried in Iran with official processions. Called "defendants of the shrine" in Iran, the officers comprise Iran's military advisory forces sent to Syria to help the Bashar Assad government fight terrorists. Tehran maintains the forces do not engage in direct combat, but only offer consultation to Syrian forces. WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - The Canadian government said on Monday it would compensate the country's dairy farmers for increased European imports allowed under a pending free trade deal. The government will meet with the dairy industry within the next 30 days to discuss compensation, said Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland in a joint statement. Talks will include help for farmers and processors, they said. The previous Conservative government, which the Liberals defeated in October, had promised before the last election to compensate dairy, poultry and egg farmers a total of C$4.3 billion (US$3.43 billion) over 15 years for losses under the European Union trade deal as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The Liberal promise of compensation does not include TPP, however, because it is less certain the deal will be completed. Under Canada's free trade deal with the European Union, which the affected countries have not yet ratified, European dairies would receive tariff-free access for an additional 17,700 tonnes of cheese, representing about 2 percent of Canadian cheese consumption and more than doubling their current allotment, according to Dairy Farmers of Canada. The trade deal could take effect in 2017. Canada's dairy industry operates under a system of supply, price and import controls, sheltering farmers from drops in global prices. Canada's dairy industry has long enjoyed outsized influence with politicians of all stripes, because of vigorous lobbying and its concentration in the three most populous provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. ($1 = 1.2539 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) By Leah Schnurr and David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - The top Canadian official probing a request by planemaker Bombardier Inc for aid to support its new CSeries passenger jet on Monday indicated for the first time that Ottawa actively wanted to help the company, highlighting the number of jobs it provides. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains until now has said merely that the Liberal government would closely examine Bombardier's request for $1 billion in aid and outlined some of the concessions he wants in return. But on Monday he went notably further, detailing how much help Ottawa had given the company over the last 40 years and stressing the number of aerospace jobs across Canada that depended on Bombardier continuing to operate. "We've been there with the company in the past, we've continued to remain engaged with the company and we want to be part of a solution going forward," he told reporters. The CSeries is years late and billions of dollars over budget. The government has previously said it wants assurances on jobs, investment in research and the location of Bombardier's headquarters, which are in the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec. Noting that Bombardier has 950 suppliers across Canada, Bains added: "This is not simply a Quebec issue. This is a Canadian issue. This is a strong Canadian brand. We believe in it." Bains later told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp that Ottawa had provided C$1.3 billion ($1.0 billion) in loans and contributions to the firm over the past four decades. This sum infuriates critics who complain Ottawa is engaging in corporate welfare to support a badly run company. Sources say Ottawa is pressing Bombardier over its dual-class share structure, which is disliked by investors and analysts alike on the grounds it gives the company's founding families too much control. Executives said last week they had no intention of changing the structure. Asked about those comments, Bains told the CBC that the share structure was just one of many issues that needed to be addressed, but gave no further details. Last week the CSeries received a major boost when Delta Air Lines Inc ordered 75 of the jets with an option for another 50. (Writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Leslie Adler) * Canadian dollar at C$1.2531, or 79.80 U.S. cents * Bond prices lower across the maturity curve TORONTO, May 2 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened slightly against a broadly weaker U.S. counterpart on Monday, edging toward a nearly 10-month high reached last week. The loonie, as Canada's dollar is commonly known, has rallied 17 percent from a 12-year low in January of C$1.4689, helped by rebounding oil prices, fiscal stimulus and stronger-than-expected domestic economic activity. Growth picked up in the Canadian manufacturing sector in April for the second month in a row as businesses increased their production volumes in response to stronger demand. The greenback fell against a basket of major currencies as solid German manufacturing data helped push the euro higher. Oil prices edged back from 2016 highs on Monday as rising production in the Middle East outweighed a decline in U.S. output and a sliding dollar. U.S. crude was down 1.39 percent at $45.28 a barrel. At 9:45 a.m. EDT (1345 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading at C$1.2531 to the greenback, or 79.80 U.S. cents, slightly stronger than Friday's close of C$1.2548, or 79.69 U.S. cents. The currency's strongest level of the session was C$1.2514, while its weakest was C$1.2559. On Friday, the loonie touched C$1.2497, its strongest since July 1. Speculators have increased bullish bets on the loonie, Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday. Net long Canadian dollar positions rose to 11,999 contracts in the week ended on Tuesday from 7,308 in the prior week. Canadian government bond prices were lower across the maturity curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. The two-year price fell 3 Canadian cents to yield 0.708 percent, its highest since June 23, while the benchmark 10-year fell 11 Canadian cents to yield 1.526 percent. Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz will participate on Tuesday in a panel entitled "Monetary Policy: Out of Ammunition?" at the Milken Institute in Los Angeles. Canada's trade report for March is awaited on Wednesday, while the nation's April employment report is due on Friday. (Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) * Canadian dollar at C$1.2536 or 79.77 U.S. cents * Bond prices mixed across the maturity curve (Adds updated prices, quotes, details) TORONTO/OTTAWA, May 2 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar rose modestly against the greenback on Monday as the benefit from a broadly weaker U.S. dollar was offset by a drop in oil prices, which have been a major driver for the commodity-sensitive loonie. Investors were also consolidating positions after a Canadian dollar rally of 17 percent from a 12-year low in January of C$1.4689, helped by rebounding oil prices, fiscal stimulus and stronger-than-expected domestic economic activity. The loonie also faces technical resistance rising past the C$1.25 level, which it broke through on Friday but could not sustain. After such a strong rally, the Canadian dollar is likely to be rangebound for now around current levels, without major catalysts to push it significantly lower or higher, said Don Mikolich, executive director of foreign exchange sales at CIBC Capital Markets. "A bit of the panic from earlier in the year has disappeared," said Mikolich. "Similarly, it's hard to justify seeing the Canadian dollar a whole lot stronger, given that we are still only at $45 oil and we're not looking to hike rates until perhaps sometime in the second half of next year." The Canadian dollar ended the North American trading session at C$1.2536 to the greenback, or 79.77 U.S. cents, slightly stronger than Friday's close of C$1.2548, or 79.69 U.S. cents. Oil prices tumbled as production in the Middle East neared all-time peaks. U.S. crude ended down $1.14 at $44.78 a barrel. The greenback fell against a basket of major currencies as solid German manufacturing data helped push the euro higher. The domestic economic calendar was light, with the main report showing growth picked up in the Canadian manufacturing sector in April for the second month in a row as businesses increased their production volumes in response to stronger demand. Story continues Speculators have increased their bullish bets on the loonie, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday. Net long Canadian dollar positions rose to 11,999 contracts in the week ended on Tuesday from 7,308 in the prior week. Canadian government bond prices were mixed across the maturity curve, with the two-year price up half a Canadian cent to yield 0.691 percent, while the benchmark 10-year fell 15 Canadian cents to yield 1.530 percent. (Reporting by Fergal Smith and Leah Schnurr; Editing by Peter Cooney) Ted Cruz went head to head with a Trump supporter outside a restaurant in Marion, Indiana, confronting the man over the front-runners violence while seeking his support. If I were Donald Trump, I wouldnt have come over and talk to you, I wouldnt have shown you that respect in fact, you know what I would have done, I would have told the folks over there go over and punch those guys in the face. Thats what Donald does to protestersIn fact he says Ill pay your legal fees if you punch him in the face Youre lying like you always do, said the Trump supporter. Cruz continued to explain why he felt Trump was an incompetent candidate before the supporter interrupted Indiana doesnt want you. Cruz responded: a question that everyone here should ask do you want your kids repeating the words of Donald Trump? Would you be proud if your kids came home cursing and yelling and insulting? Related Articles VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / Canadian International Minerals Inc. ("Canadian International" or "CIN") (CIN.V) and Noram Ventures Inc. ("Noram") (NRM.V) are pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (the "LOI") to cooperatively advance the Alberta Lithium Brine Project (the "Project") in west-central Alberta, Canada. The LOI outlines the general terms and conditions of a definitive agreement, pursuant to which Noram may earn a 50% interest in the Project. The Project is host to the multi-element Sturgeon Lake Brine Deposit, which has a National Instrument 43-101 Inferred Resource estimate of 2,049,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent ("LCE"). This Inferred Resource estimate was announced by Canadian International in a news release dated January 25, 2016 (see the associated technical report, prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. ("APEX"), under Canadian International's profile on SEDAR.com or on the CIN website). Project Introduction The Alberta Lithium Brine Project is located in west-central Alberta, directly south and west of the town of Valleyview, and approximately 270 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. The Project consists of 15 contiguous Metallic and Industrial Minerals Permits (the "MAIM Permits"), encompassing an area of over 328,000 acres (over 132,000 hectares). The MAIM Permits grant the holder the exclusive right to explore for metallic and industrial minerals. Previous exploration and development in the vicinity of the Project area is traditionally petroleum-related, with numerous oilfields known to underlie the Project and nearby area. The Project is strategically positioned over the Sturgeon Lake oilfield, which was discovered in 1952 and continues to produce hydrocarbons to this day. Thus, the Project area has over 60 years' worth of infrastructure upgrades and investments, including major and secondary highways, rail, and power lines associated with the development of the energy resource sector and the town of Valleyview. The Sturgeon Lake oilfield is a mature petroleum field. At present most of the wells produce excessive amounts of formation water (brine) in comparison to petroleum products. Currently, the extracted brine is essentially waste material that is treated to separate and remove petroleum products prior to being injected back into subsurface formations. Genesis of the Project The first comprehensive overview of the mineral potential of formation waters (brines) in Alberta was developed by the Alberta Geological Survey in the mid-1990s. Hitchon et al. (1995) compiled nearly 130,000 analyses of formation waters from across the province, and identified three geographic areas in west-central Alberta with potential for economic lithium extraction, one of which being the area encompassed by the Alberta Lithium Brine Project. The highest lithium value from historical well sample analyses in this area was 140 mg/L (equivalent to 140 ppm); the highest lithium concentration result in the Hitchon et al. (1995) study. During 2009-2012, the previous operators of the Project commissioned APEX to undertake a formation water sampling program from the active oil and gas wells in the area. A total of 47 Leduc Formation (Woodbend Group) brine samples were collected from hydrocarbon production wells within the Sturgeon Lake oilfield yielding lithium values of up to 84 mg/L (84 ppm). Using these assay data, and after undertaking further hydrogeological studies to characterize the Leduc aquifer, APEX prepared a National Instrument 43-101 Inferred Resource estimate for the Project in 2012. In 2015, Canadian International commissioned APEX, who concluded that the mineral resource estimate is still relevant and reliable, to refresh the technical report to reflect the Project's change of ownership. The report was announced on January 22, 2016, and is summarized as follows: - At an average grade of 67.5 mg/L and assuming 5.7 billion cubic metres of water the inferred resource estimate for lithium is 385,000 tonnes (2,049,000 tonnes of Li2CO3); - At an average grade of 4,641.3 mg/L and assuming 5.7 billion cubic metres of water the inferred resource estimate for potassium is 26,455,000 tonnes (31,868,000 tonnes of K2O); - At an average grade of 114.0 mg/L and assuming 5.7 billion cubic metres of water the inferred resource estimate for boron is 650,000 tonnes (2,093,000 tonnes of B2O3); and - At an average grade of 394.3 mg/L and assuming 5.7 billion cubic metres of water the inferred resource estimate for bromine is 2,248,000 tonnes (2,248,000 tonnes Br2). Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environment, permitting, legal, title, taxes, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. In addition, the quality and grade of reported inferred resource in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred resources as an indicated or measured mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an indicated or measured resource category. Exploration and Development Plans Canadian International and Noram have assembled a technical team to facilitate the exploration and development of the Leduc Lithium Brine project. Mr. Roy Eccles, P.Geol, through APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta has been retained to manage the geological and hydrogeological aspects of the Project. Mr. Eccles is widely recognized as an authoritative source on Alberta mineral-enriched brines, having worked extensively on various projects across the province, both as a private consultant with APEX, and during his previous tenure as Scientific Authority with the Alberta Geological Survey. Dr. John Burba and Mr. Marc Privitera have been retained to manage the chemical, engineering, and mineral extraction aspects of the Project. Dr. John Burba is a physical chemist and a world-renowned pioneer in lithium and other mineral extraction technologies. Dr. Burba's 35-year career includes lengthy periods at Dow Chemical Co., FMC Corp., and Great Lakes Chemical Corp. (now Chemtura Corp.), where he worked on a number of lithium brine projects in North and South America. Most recently, Dr. Burba served as CEO of Simbol Materials, a company focused on the recovery of lithium from geothermal brines in southern California. Under his leadership, Simbol successfully developed a proprietary process capable of producing low-cost, high-purity lithium products from brines that were previously believed to be too high in contaminants to be economically processed. Mr. Marc Privitera is a chemical engineer with over 30 years' experience in chemical process design and engineering. He is a proven leader with a long track record of success in developing technologies and advancing projects for both large corporations and venture capital funded startups. Mr. Privitera is the Principal Engineer and Co-Founder of PreProcess Inc., a California- based process development, engineering, and automation firm. Recent achievements within the lithium production field include the development, engineering, and pilot operations for a $400 million lithium hydroxide plant for Simbol Materials, and consulting for various spodumene projects around the world. Phase 1 development plans are currently being finalized, and are expected to include bulk formation water (brine) sampling and bench-scale testing for the extraction of lithium and other elements of interest from these brines. CIN and Noram will provide an update on these plans within the coming weeks. In addition, a technical presentation is being planned for late May in Vancouver, British Columbia. If you would like to attend, please sign-up at the following link: http://www.cin-v.com/technical-presentation-signup.html Terms of the Agreement Noram may earn a 50% interest in the Project under the following terms: - Cash payment of $20,000 on signing of the LOI (paid), - Cash payment of $20,000 and issuance of 5,000,000 common shares on acceptance of the definitive agreement by the TSX Venture Exchange (subject to escrow), - Exploration expenditures of $1,000,000 by December 2017, including a $150,000 work deposit by June 1, 2016, - Issuance of 5,000,000 common shares on completion of the earn-in, and - CIN will serve as operator of the Project. Mark Ireton, President of Noram, said, "We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with CIN, which is another significant step in establishing Noram's role in the Green Energy Revolution through the development of lithium and graphite projects. The exploration and management team that has been assembled is world class and we are looking forward to establishing the 2016-17 work programs on our lithium and graphite properties." Michael Schuss, President of Canadian International, said, "We are excited to be working with the team at Noram. The Alberta Lithium Brine project is the most advanced lithium brine project in Canada, and we look forward to moving it ahead with the technical team." Qualified Person The scientific and technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed by Roy Eccles, P. Geol., a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. For further information, please contact: Canadian International Minerals Inc. Michael E. Schuss President and CEO Phone: 604-241-2254 Website: www.cin-v.com Noram Ventures Inc. Mark Ireton President and CEO Phone: 604-761-9994 Website: www.noramventures.com Forward-looking Information This news release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements; the uncertainty of future profitability; and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressed qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Noram Ventures Inc. Http%3a%2f%2fi.blueprint.mashable.com%2ffsk0akqtq20qvsowjytcyzc566k%3d%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f76599%2fcarp It has been a big day in Australia: Carp, carp and some more carp. Yea, no one here really knows what is going on either. Let's break it down. On Sunday, the Australian government announced a A$15 million project to release the herpes virus into a river to kill off a huge amount of a type of fish that is considered a massive pest. This fish is carp. It looks like this: Carp. Image: Getty Images/StockFood They are going to kill thousands of tonnes of European carp in the Murray-Darling River. Some people are warning that this is going to end in a big pile of dead, smelly fish. Other people, such as the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, are just getting used to saying the word. CARP. CARP. CARP. The infamous Johnny Depp politician will not stop carping on about carp. But give Barnaby a break, he has had a very tough weekend. Press conferences are becoming increasingly difficult. Senator Nick Xenophon just wants to "congratulate Christopher Pyne on his plan to give herpes to carp." Everyone is standing together in the face of carp. While some geniuses are already making ringtones. Carp became the most popular fish in Australia on Monday afternoon. For all the wrong reasons. Please... no... more... carp... Carp. Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that Iran-South Korea relations should steer clear of the US-led sanctions and sabotage, Irna reported. The Supreme Leader made the remarks in a meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran-South Korean ties should be independent of sanctions and influence and sabotage of the US, rather should proceed strongly and sincerely with sustainability. The Supreme Leader said contracts and agreements between the two sides should be concluded in a way that foreign harmful factors and sanctions would not leave negative impacts on them because it is not acceptable that relations between Iran and South Korea be affected by the US and its ill-will. The Ayatollah said cooperation and exchange of experience between the two countries in various scientific, technological, political, social and security domains will benefit the two sides. 'We in foreign policy are highly willing to develop ties with the Asian nations due to the cultural and historical affinities. So, I believe that there is more possibility for mutual understanding, agreement and cooperation with the countries, including South Korea, which is a developed Asian state.' Ayatollah Khamenei drew attention to manaces of terrorism and said that unless a real and proper approach is adopted to deal with the manaces of terrorism and insecurity, its eradication would be more difficult in future and no country will be immune to such a threat. The Supreme Leader criticized the US approach of dividing terrorism to good and bad and said that the US chants the slogan of campaign against terrorism but in practice it is not sincere, while terrorism in any form is bad and dangerous to nations and security of countries because in absence of security there will be no favorable progress. On Iran-South Korea cooperation and agreements and on priorities for bilateral cooperation, the Supreme Leader said there is possibility for fruitful cooperation between Iran and South Korea but Iran's priorities to cooperation are not restricted to trade but the sort of contracts should be inked that would be needed for Iran in the infrastructures and general economy sectors. The Supreme Leader said the agreements between the two sides should not be affected by foreign factors and it is an essential exigency for mutual cooperation. The Paramount Leader then referred to ups and downs in Iran-South Korea relations and said fortunately, now the South Korean government is a collaborative government and Iran enjoys abundant capacity like young, talented and educated work force necessary for growing sustainable cooperation. Park for her part said her visit to Tehran is a valuable opportunity for expansion of bilateral ties and growing mutual confidence. 'During sanctions, we tried to continue presence in Iran as much as possible. Iran enjoys efficient and effective workforce and exceptional geographic situation. We hope bilateral relations will expand in the economic sector in particular. I am confident that emphasis of Your Excellency on Iran's economic growth and development will bring very bright prospects for your country and we are ready to upgrade cooperation in various sectors like environment protection, science and technology and economy.' CF Industries CF will release its first-quarter 2016 results after the bell on May 4. In the last quarter, the fertilizer maker had delivered a negative earnings surprise of 11.63%. Profits tumbled roughly 89% in the quarter, hurt by lower fertilizer prices. Sales fell year over year, but managed to beat expectations. Lower pricing across most segments weighed on the top line in the quarter. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider CF Industries, in its last earnings call, said that it expects overall nitrogen fertilizer demand in North America to remain steady on a year over year basis in 2016 as an expected increase in corn acres will be offset by a projected decline in wheat acres. CF Industries continues to see pricing pressure in its nitrogen business. Urea prices have been under pressure due to higher supply from Chinese producers. Global capacity expansion continues to exert pressure on urea and other nitrogen fertilizer prices, mainly urea ammonium nitrate (UAN). Elevated supply in the global nitrogen market is pressurizing prices, causing farmers to delay buying activities. Moreover, the devaluation of the Chinese currency and reduced coal prices have contributed to a decline in urea prices. Lower prices for nitrogen fertilizer weighed on CF Industries bottom line in the last reported quarter and are expected to remain a headwind in the March quarter. Abundant global supply contributed to lower pricing across the companys ammonia, granular urea and UAN units in fourth-quarter 2015, leading to double digit declines in sales in these businesses. Revenue weakness across these businesses may continue to put pressure on the company's top line in the first quarter, thereby affecting its profits. Nevertheless, CF Industries remains on track with its capacity expansion projects in Louisiana and Iowa. Both projects will expand the companys production capacity by 1.7 million tons or 25%. CF Industries plans to spend roughly $1.2 billion in 2016 on capacity expansion projects. The company, in Mar 2016, announced the start-up of its new UAN plant at its Nitrogen Complex in Donaldsonville, LA. The plant, which became operational in early March, has achieved consistent, stable operation and produced more than 80,000 tons of UAN since start-up. The start-up of the UAN plant is part of the companys major capacity expansion projects in North America. It is the second new plant to be commissioned and also the biggest operating single-train UAN plant globally. The proposed acquisition of the specific assets of Netherlands-based fertilizers producer OCI N.V. also represents a significant move by CF Industries. The merger will create a global nitrogen behemoth and is expected to boost CF Industries production capacity by 65%. It will also extend the companys portfolio into the rapidly growing methanol market. CF Industries expects to achieve around $500 million (post-tax) in annual run-rate synergies from the transaction (expected to close in mid-2016) through optimization of operations, capital and corporate structure. The company also expects to achieve meaningful cost reduction and operational efficiencies by leveraging the most extensive distribution network in North America. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that CF Industries is likely to beat estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1, 2 or 3 for this to happen. This is not the case here, as you will see below: Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP for CF Industries is -11.77%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate is 45 cents, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 51 cents. Zacks Rank: CF Industries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we need to have a positive ESP to be confident about an earnings surprise. We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are some companies in the basic materials sector you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company SMG has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Orion Engineered Carbons SA OEC has an Earnings ESP of +13.79% and a Zacks Rank #3. Albemarle Corporation ALB has an Earnings ESP of +1.18% and a Zacks Rank #3. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ALBEMARLE CORP (ALB): Free Stock Analysis Report ORION ENGINRD (OEC): Free Stock Analysis Report CF INDUS HLDGS (CF): Free Stock Analysis Report SCOTTS MIRCL-GR (SMG): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Chanel, the world's second largest luxury brand, said on Monday its efforts to curb the grey market have been successful and are helping boost revenue in China despite weaker overall demand for luxury goods. The company narrowed its price gaps between the United States, Europe and Asia last year to prevent smugglers buying goods in one region to re-sell to another in the grey market. "We reduced quite a lot the parallel market, mainly in Asia, and we have double-digit growth in our boutiques in mainland China," Bruno Pavlovsky, Chanel's president of fashion, said in an interview in Havana. Chanel will unveil its latest Cruise collection in Havana on Tuesday, in Cuba's first major fashion show since the 1959 revolution and another sign of warming relations between the Communist-ruled island and the West. The United States and Cuba formally agreed to restore diplomatic relations last July. Despite the success in curbing grey market sales, the privately owned company expects slower sales growth this year, Pavlovsky told Reuters in Havana's landmark Teatro Marti. He declined to disclose figures. He noted that Chanel has an entire team, including external lawyers, that monitors the secondary market. The luxury goods industry been plagued in the last few months as a drop in global tourist traffic due to recent terrorist attacks, slower economic growth in China, and record low oil prices have dented the purchasing power of important luxury buyers from Russia and the Middle East. In April, industry leader LVMH (LVMH.PA) said its fashion and leather goods sales were flat while Hermes (HRMS.PA) said revenue growth slowed in the first quarter. Pavlovsky said fewer Russians were travelling due to the weak rouble, and Brazil's recession has curbed demand there. But Chanel was seeing solid growth in the United States, some parts of Europe such as Britain, Russia, China, Japan and Korea, he said. Chinese and Russians not travelling abroad as much were buying more at home. Story continues "There is a slowdown but not such a big slowdown," he said. Pavlovsky said Chanel was presenting its latest inter-seasonal Cruise line in Cuba because the country had inspired Karl Lagerfeld, the company's chief designer and creative director. Chanel, which began as a millinery store in 1909 in Paris, was also returning to its roots, he added. Founder Coco Chanel designed early collections for wealthy and glamorous Americans holidaying on yachts and cruises in the Caribbean. Cruises to Cuba had been forbidden during the country's standoff with the United States. Earlier on Monday, the first U.S. cruise ship to sail to the island in more than 50 years docked in Havana. Chanel, which has fewer than 200 boutiques worldwide, will not be setting up shop in Cuba any time soon, Pavlovsky said. "Why not, one day," he said. "But not in the coming years." (Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Richard Chang) For Ben Rattray, the founder of Change.org, the moment his life changed was when his younger brother came out as gay. For Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker from Pakistan, it was when she was a young girl and drove through a poor neighborhood on the way to school in the morning. If you speak the truth, I will stand with you, and so will the world, Obaid-Chinoy said her father told her years later about writing about what she saw. TIME brought together Obaid-Chinoy and Rattray, both former TIME 100 honorees, as part of a new video series that sparks conversation between pioneers in different fields. Watch More: Arianna Huffington and a NBA Star on Why Sleep Is Crucial to Success Their discussion ranged from how they both got their start to the best way to inspire others to take action for a cause, and even to Obaid-Chinoys footwear at this years Academy Awards, where she won for Documentary (Short Subject). I went onstage to accept my Academy Award wearing flip-flops, she said. My mother, shes like, who wears flip-flops to accept their Academy Award? By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - A Georgia judge granted a change of venue Monday in the murder trial of a man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler son in a hot car for seven hours while he exchanged nude photos with women online. Citing intensive media coverage and negative opinions expressed by potential jurors, Georgia Superior Court Judge Mary Staley halted jury selection after agreeing that Justin Ross Harris, 35, could not get a fair trial in the same suburban Atlanta community where 22-month-old Cooper died on a sweltering hot day in June 2014. "I hate to use vulgarity, but one juror said 'rot in hell,'" Staley said from the bench. "To say that some of the jurors' questionnaires showed a negative opinion to the defendant is an understatement." The judge has not announced a new location or time frame for the selection process to start over. Jury selection began three weeks ago with 500 people summoned for the high-profile case, more than 250 screened with a 17-page questionnaire and 41 potential jurors qualifying to be in the final jury of 12. They were to decide if Harris simply forgot that Cooper was in the SUV and drove on to work rather than dropping him off at daycare or, as the prosecution contends, he wanted an expedient way out of being a parent in order to carry on affairs with other women and have a child-free lifestyle. The prosecution is not seeking the death penalty, but with malice murder, child cruelty and other charges, including sending lewd pictures to underage girls, Harris could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted. The pervasive opinion against Harris has whipped up public emotion so much that "the public is foregoing issues of guilt or innocence" and instead was talking about bringing back "old sparky" the electric chair once used in Georgia, defense attorney T. Bryan Lumpkin said in arguing to move the trial. Prosecutors said they were disappointed but will respect the judge's decision. "Whenever and wherever this case is set for trial, the state will be ready," Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds said in a statement. (Reporting by Karen Brooks; Editing by Andrew Hay) (Adds report of CEO being summoned by Internet regulator, share price reaction) BEIJING, May 2 (Reuters) - China's Internet regulator said on Monday it will send a team to investigate Baidu Inc over the death of a university student who used the Chinese search engine to look for treatment for his cancer. Wei Zexi, 21, died last month of a rare form of cancer. He had look online via Baidu for the best place for treatment, finding a department under the Second Hospital of Beijing Armed Police Corps which offered an experimental form of treatment that ultimately failed, according to state media. Before dying, Wei accused Baidu online of promoting false medical information, as well as the hospital for misleading advertising in claiming a high success rate for the treatment, state radio said. "Wei's family says they trusted the treatment because it was promoted by one of the military hospitals which are considered credible, and the attending doctor had appeared on many mainstream media platforms," state radio said. The regulator said in a short statement that Wei's case had attracted widespread attention on the Internet. It, the health ministry and State Administration for Industry and Commerce would investigate Baidu and "handle it in accordance with the law" and publicise its findings, it said. Baidu said in a statement it deeply regretted Wei's death and sent its condolences to his family. "Baidu strives to provide a safe and trustworthy search experience for our users, and have launched an immediate investigation of the matter," it said. The company added it welcomed the investigation and would fully cooperate. Baidu shares dropped six percent in early New York trading. Chinese Internet portal Sina, citing unidentified sources within Baidu, said the regulator had also asked to speak to Baidu CEO, Robin Li, although it was not clear what the subject might be. A Baidu spokeswoman said the company had no additional comment. Reuters was not able to reach the hospital for comment. Story continues Baidu has been in trouble before on medical related issues. This year, it was criticised for selling management rights for an online forum related to haemophilia to an unlicensed private hospital, which then used the platform for self-promotion and which also deleted comments that challenged its credentials, the official Xinhua news agency said. In 2010, China's state-run television accused Baidu of promoting counterfeit drugs through its search engine. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Louise Ireland) BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Internet regulator said on Monday it will send a team to investigate Baidu Inc over the death of a university student who used the Chinese search engine to look for treatment for his cancer. Wei Zexi, 21, died last month of a rare form of cancer. He had searched Baidu for the best place for treatment, finding a department under the Second Hospital of Beijing Armed Police Corps which offered an experimental treatment that ultimately failed, according to state media. Before dying, Wei accused Baidu online of promoting false medical information, as well as the hospital for misleading advertising in claiming a high success rate for the treatment, state radio said. "Wei's family says they trusted the treatment because it was promoted by one of the military hospitals which are considered credible, and the attending doctor had appeared on many mainstream media platforms," state radio said. The regulator said in a short statement that Wei's case had attracted widespread attention on the Internet. It said it would investigate Baidu, the health ministry and State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and "handle it in accordance with the law." The regulator said it would make its findings public. Baidu said in a statement it deeply regretted Wei's death and sent condolences to his family. The company added it welcomed the investigation and would fully cooperate. "Baidu strives to provide a safe and trustworthy search experience for our users, and have launched an immediate investigation of the matter," the company said. Baidu shares hit a session low of $176.50, before trading down 7.9 percent at $179.95 on heavy volume at mid-morning. Chinese Internet portal Sina, citing unidentified sources within Baidu, said the regulator had also asked to speak to Baidu's chief executive, Robin Li, although it was not clear what the subject might be. A Baidu spokeswoman said the company had no additional comment. The hospital could not be reached for comment. Story continues Earlier this year, Baidu was criticized for selling management rights for a hemophilia online forum to an unlicensed private hospital, which used the platform for self-promotion and deleted comments that challenged its credentials, the official Xinhua news agency said. In 2010, China's state-run television accused Baidu of promoting counterfeit drugs through its search engine. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Louise Ireland and Richard Chang) Tens of thousands of shareholders flocked to Omaha, Neb., this weekend for Berkshire Hathaways (BRK-A, BRK-B) annual conference to hear CEO Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger give an update on the $360 billion conglomerate and watch them drink Coke. And notably among the faithful this year was a growing number of Buffett fans from China around 3,000. For me, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger are the gods of investing. We feel lucky that we can come here and they can share their luck with us, says Xiang Wang, 38, president of Invesmart, a Shenzhen-based fund manager. A true follower, Wang said he has attended the meeting every year since becoming a Berkshire shareholder in 2011. Last year he organized a trip for 30 of his friends. This year he came with his wife and an employee and his family. And a highlight every year is a visit to Buffetts home. We go to the outside of his house because normal people like us want to feel closer to Warren Buffett, he says. At the shareholder meeting last year Wang actually got the opportunity to meet the Oracle of Omaha himself. There is a rumor that circulates among Chinese circles that if you spend more than $250,000 on Berkshire products at the conference, you can meet Buffett, says Jing Li, the founder and president of JingLi U.S., a marketing firm that helps organize U.S. tours for Chinese investors. (Wang planned his own trip to Omaha.) Theres no official rule but Wang decided to test out the theory anyway. The annual meeting is held at Omahas CenturyLink Center and several of Berkshires 62 subsidiaries are showcased in the exhibit hall every year. He bought about $200,000 worth of jewelry from Borsheims, a Berkshire-owned company, despite being told repeatedly that Buffett was too busy, particularly because it was the 50th annual meeting. However, once Wang began accumulating items, he says he saw shiny coins and dollar signs from the salesmans eyes. Those dollar signs led to Borsheims setting up a meet and greet for Wang and Buffett after the Invest in Yourself 5K race that Berkshire organizes every year. Story continues Source: Xiang Wang Wang made the most of his 15 minutes by asking Buffett two questions one about the Chinese economy and one about why he doesnt invest in Chinese companies. Buffetts response to the latter: Because I have an American heart. Li hears at least one story like Wangs at every annual meeting. Buffett knows how important the Chinese are among his investors, Li says. This year she partnered with three tour groups to organize a 10-day trip for 45 people from China, which included a weekend in Omaha, a trip to Stanford University, Google and Facebook headquarters, and a day trip to Las Vegas. In total, the trip, including all travel and lodging, came to about $13,600 per person. She calls the annual meeting the biggest annual party of high-quality, wealthy Chinese investors. The key thing for them is to network with other investors. Thats why Chinese internet behemoth Tencent (TCEHY) and media company Sina (SINA) organized meetings at Omahas Hilton for Chinese investors to network and mingle. This is not just an event to listen to Warren Buffett. Its a social networking event among the Chinese investors, Li says. They actually go to talk about other investment opportunities with each other. Li says for Chinese financiers, attending the annual meeting is a rite of passage. Most of them dont speak English well and need translators. But they come to experience the whole event because many of them have so much money. They dont care about how much they need to spend if it means theres a chance they can meet Buffett. And investors like Wang say theyd do it again in a heartbeat. Click here to view a full replay of the 2016 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting, which Yahoo Finance live-streamed exclusively. At this page you can also find our extensive coverage of the event. ROME (Reuters) - Chinese police are joining Italian officers on the streets of Rome and Milan in an experiment aimed at helping tourists from China feel safe, Italy's interior ministry said on Monday. The experiment is the first of its kind in Europe, China's ambassador to Italy, Li Ruiyu, said at a meeting to announce the project, according to a statement from the ministry. The four Chinese officers, who were trained by Italians in Beijing, will wear the same uniforms they wear at home so their compatriots can recognize them easily. More than 3 million Chinese tourists come to Italy every year, according to Liao Jinrong, the director general of the Chinese International Cooperation Bureau. "This service was planned with Chinese tourists in mind, and if it works well we may consider other forms of collaboration, given the presence of the Chinese community in our country," said Interior Minister Angelino Alfano. The officers will share information with Italian police and help Chinese tourists if they need to contact local authorities and diplomats from Monday until May 13, the ministry said. Liao, the head of the Chinese International Cooperation Bureau, said the officers' assignment was a "historic moment", recalling that the route between China and Italy had been mapped out 700 years ago by Venetian merchant traveler Marco Polo. (Reporting by Isla Binnie) Spokesman of Foreign Ministry Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Monday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is keen on closer cooperation with the Turkish government to help resolve the regional crises, according to Irna. Expressing view points by different experts, figures and professors has no problem, he said, adding that the Foreign Ministry is to expand bilateral ties between Iran and Turkey. The two countries have longstanding relations and like many other countries there were some differences in interpretation of regional developments, he said. He said that Iran's strategic choice is to continue cooperation with the Turkish government and limit differences and manage the case and try to focus on common interests. Continuation of current crises is not to the interest of the regional nations and governments, Jaberi Ansari added. May 2 (Reuters) - Chipmaker Marvell Technology Group Ltd has appointed Richard Hill its chairman, as part of an agreement it reached with activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP last week. Marvell had reached an agreement with Starboard to add to its board three independent directors nominated by the hedge fund. Hill, whose appointment came into effect on Sunday, is also among the four independent directors that Yahoo Inc agreed to add to its board last week under pressure from Starboard. He is also on the board of software maker Autodesk Inc . Starboard, which has been agitating for changes at Marvell since early this year, has a 6.5 percent stake in the chipmaker. Peter Feld and Oleg Khaykin are the other two directors that Marvell added to its board. (Reporting by Kshitiz Goliya in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey) The CIA marked the fifth anniversary of the daring raid that killed Osama bin Laden by revealing some little-known details about the operation in real-time on Twitter. Over a series of tweets posted to its verified Twitter feed on Sunday, the agency gave its 1.3 million Twitter followers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the mission unfolded. The timing of the posts more or less matched the CIAs official timeline of the assault on the al-Qaida leaders compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. To mark the 5th anniversary, the CIA explained, we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. Features High walls/barbed wire Double entry gates No internet/phone connection Trash burned not collected#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/KyPIFPxA4d CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Assault team trained on an exact life-size replica of compound w movable walls to prep for any internal layout they might encounter#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Join us beginning at 1:25 p.m. EDT today as we tweet the #UBLRaid as if it were happening today. pic.twitter.com/x8EBpW571f CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm 4:10 pm EDT Team retrieves large quantity of materials from compound for intel analysis#UBLRaidhttps://t.co/yl1FjRA0qk CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:53 pm EDT - @POTUS receives tentative confirmation of positive identification of Usama Bin Ladin#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 4:05 pm EDT - First helicopter leaves the area to go back to Afghanistan#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 4:08 pm EDT - Assault Team destroys crashed helicopter#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 4:10 pm EDT Backup helicopter picks up remaining team members & materials & leaves Abbottabad#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 5:53 pm EDT - Helicopters return to Afghanistan where Admiral McRaven greets team#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 7:01 pm EDT - @POTUS receives confirmation of high probability of positive identification of Usama Bin Ladin#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Daring #UBLRaid was an IC team effort & in close collaboration with our military partners.https://t.co/rklCIRLlgF pic.twitter.com/xZObdGeqPR CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Hillary Clinton, who was then secretary of state, says she believes the Pakistanis knew bin Laden was hiding in their country, but that the United States was unable to prove the suspicion. Story continues There was never any evidence that we could uncover that led directly to the top of the Pakistani military and intelligence service, Clinton told CNN in a primetime special on the raid set to air on Monday. I believe Pakistanis knew. I believe Pakistanis either in service or retired or both knew. Meanwhile, the network also tracked down Sohaib Athar, the Pakistani software engineer who unwittingly broke the news that the raid on the bin Laden compound was underway. Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event). Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) May 1, 2011 Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event), Athar tweeted before hearing an explosion. A huge window shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope its not the start of something nasty :-S Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) May 1, 2011 I thought finally the terrorists had made themselves known in Abbottabad, Athar, who still works as an IT consultant in Pakistan, told CNN in January. Since taliban (probably) don't have helicpoters, and since they're saying it was not "ours", so must be a complicated situation #abbottabad Sohaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) May 1, 2011 He soon found out along with the rest of the world what he was, in fact, tweeting about. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / CIBT Education Group Inc. (TSX: MBA, OTCQX International: MBAIF) ("CIBT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a binding letter agreement (the "Agreement") with an English as a Second Language school (the "School") headquartered in Vancouver, Canada for the purchase of all of the assets of the School. Formal closing of this transaction is expected to occur before the end of June 2016, subject to the negotiation and execution of a comprehensive agreement and the satisfaction or waiver of several other conditions. Acquisition details will be disclosed after closing. The School enjoys an excellent reputation in the international student community with a strong presence in the Japanese and Latin American markets. Since inception 16 years ago, the School has educated over twenty thousand students. Over the years, the School has grown steadily, and developed many long-standing relationships with education partners outside of North America. This new acquisition will be integrated with our education assets in Canada and to bundle international education with accommodation and excursion services. "We are pleased with the results from our due diligence and can clearly see that the School has been operated by a dedicated management team, loyal long-term staffs and reputable business partners from around the world", commented Toby Chu, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman of CIBT. "With our GEC branded student housing portfolio growing at a steady pace of $30 million on average over the last 6 quarters and reaching over $155 million in total, we are well positioned to service the housing needs of the students that will now be a part of the CIBT Education Group family." CIBT also reports that it has suspended its current Normal Course Issuer Bid (share buy-back) activities until further notice. About CIBT Education Group: CIBT Education Group Inc. is an education management company focused on the global education market since 1994. Listed in Canada on the Toronto Stock Exchange and in the U.S. on the OTCQX International, CIBT owns and operates a network of business, technical and language colleges in North America and Asia. CIBT offers cooperative joint programs in 12 countries with campuses, recruitment offices and training centers enrolling over 7,000 students annually. Its education business is operated through Sprott Shaw College (established in 1903), Acsenda School of Management, CIBT School of Business China, and Global Education Alliance Recruitment Centers in China and other overseas countries. Through these subsidiaries, CIBT offers recognized and approved business and management degrees, programs in college preparation, healthcare, hotel management and tourism, English language training, English Teacher Certifications, junior and high school preparation programs for overseas study, and other career/vocational training. CIBT also owns Irix Design Group, a leading design and advertising company based in Vancouver, Canada, Global Education Alliance ("GEA") and Global Education City Holdings Inc. ("GEC"). GEA recruits international students for many elite kindergarten, primary, secondary schools and universities in North America. GEC is an investment holding and management company with a special focus on education related real estate projects in Canada. Visit us online at www.cibt.net and watch our corporate video at http://cibt.net/about/. Story continues Toby Chu Vice-Chairman, President & CEO CIBT Education Group Inc. Investor Relations Contact: 1-604-871-9909 extension 318 or Email: info@cibt.net SOURCE: CIBT Education Group Inc. Polk City (United States) (AFP) - When Mysore performed in the Ringling Brothers' traveling circus, she waltzed, she hooked her trunk onto another elephant's tail, and she stood on her hind legs in a line for a trick known as the long mount. Now at the age of about 70 -- and one of the oldest Asian elephants in the world -- Mysore is retired at the circus's refuge in central Florida, where she gets weekly pedicures, daily baths, naps on a giant dirt pile, eats ground-up hay and more than six loaves of wheat bread a day. "Boy, she loves the bread," says Janice Aria, the director of animal stewardship at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, where Mysore arrived in 2006. This week, the remaining 11 elephants that traveled in the Ringling Brothers circus will join Mysore and 27 other pachyderms in retirement, ending a 145-year tradition of elephants performing in the circus. "It is sad. You feel it is the end of an era," says long-time trainer Trudy Williams. The circus has faced torrents of criticism from animal rights groups, including widely circulated videos from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that show a male handler hitting elephants with a pointed-stick, known as an ankus, before a performance. Ringling Brothers was also embroiled in a 14-year lawsuit in which animal rights groups alleged the circus was mistreating its herd. The case was eventually thrown out after a lead witness was found to have been paid for his testimony by animal rights groups. By 2014, the plaintiffs, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society, had been ordered to pay the circus $25 million to reimburse its legal fees. - 'Outlawed' tool - What finally ended the shows for traveling elephants were the actions of a handful of local municipalities in California, Massachusetts and Virginia that banned circus trainers from using the ankus, a stick about two feet long (0.6 meters) with metal hooks on the end. Story continues Handlers employed by Ringling Brothers maintain that the tool is not used to harm to elephants -- which typically weigh 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms) -- but merely to signal them and give them tactile directions. "You just don't stand around one of these animals without one of these tools," says Aria. The logistics of being able to perform with elephants in some cities but not others became too much, Aria says, and the circus announced it would end elephant participation in its shows in 2016, two years earlier than planned. - Retirement life - The Ringling Brothers herd is the largest in the western hemisphere for Asian elephants, listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which says 40,000-50,000 exist in the world in highly fragmented populations. The Polk City conservation facility rests on 200 acres (80 hectares) of land in central Florida where orange groves are a common crop. It opened in 1995 as a place to keep the herd, to breed and raise young ones -- 26 babies were born here -- and to shelter those who simply "never took a shine to circus life," says Aria. Female elephants are usually paired up and kept in fields that are fenced in with thin electrical wire. Because of her age, Mysore stays in her own pen. The males, which like to fight and spar with others, are kept alone behind sturdier bars. Their sperm is collected for breeding purposes, and sometimes a female is put into their enclosure for breeding, or they are sent out to other facilities to mate. Here, the elephants are fed 2.5 tons of hay daily, and up to 800 pounds of fruit, veggies and greens. They are led into a barn in the afternoon, and chained for the night. Aria says the elephants are so used to these tethers that they won't relax or eat without them. But the facility has its critics, and many in the community of people who deal with elephants -- from zoos to sanctuaries to researchers of elephants in the wild -- are divided about what it means to treat elephants well. "Their environment needs to stimulate them. That particular piece of property is not an environment that would stimulate an elephant," says Carol Buckley, who was part of a team that inspected the Polk City facility several years ago for the lawsuit. "It is like a stockyard. It is flat, square, boring," says Buckley, who advocates for female-only elephant sanctuaries in which the animals are not dominated by humans and contact with people is kept to a minimum. But Ringling Brothers trainer Erik Montgomery says people need to know how to live with elephants. "The truth of the matter is elephants - especially Asian elephants -- are not going to be around in the future without people's help, without being in responsible, man-managed facilities," he says. "As long as we can enrich their lives and have a relationship with them -- and enrich our own lives in the process -- I think that is the way to go." Mysore -- who was born in India and named after a city there before being shipped to the United States in 1947 -- is a prime example of an elephant living a long and healthy life in the care of humans, Montgomery says. "Without that human intervention, she wouldn't be here today," he adds. By Amanda Becker and Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON/CARMEL, Ind. (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton met with coal and steel workers in the Appalachian region on Monday in an effort to win over blue-collar voters in a part of the country with strong support for Republican Donald Trump. The real estate mogul made his own pitch on Monday to voters in areas struggling from the loss of industry, telling a crowd in Indiana he would create "clean coal" jobs. Clinton has increasingly turned her attention beyond the Democratic Party nomination fight with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and is making early moves to try to siphon support from Trump ahead of a possible match-up in the Nov. 8 election. On Monday, she met union leaders and some of the 600 workers who were laid off last year when AK Steel Holding Corp announced it would idle a furnace in eastern Kentucky. She said jobs losses in manufacturing and the coal industry in the area had been a heavy blow. "Talk about a ripple effect. It's just devastating communities," Clinton told workers around a table at an Italian restaurant in the town of Ashland. While the Republican presidential candidates focus on Tuesday's primary contest in Indiana, Clinton launched a trip to Appalachia this week that will include events in Ohio and West Virginia. She has a large lead over Sanders for the Democratic nomination. Unions typically back Democratic candidates, and union leaders have endorsed both Clinton and Sanders in the 2016 presidential race. But Trump's pro-coal, anti-trade message and outsider status has resonated with some blue collar union members frustrated with Washington politicians. He and other Republicans also accuse President Barack Obama's administration of waging a "war on coal" by imposing strict environmental regulations. "I'm a free-market guy, but not when you're getting killed," Trump said at a rally in Carmel, Indiana. "Look at steel, it's being wiped out. Your coal industry is wiped out, and China is taking our coal." The New York businessman won the Republican nominating contest in Kentucky in March, sweeping most of the counties in the economically struggling east of the state. Parts of Appalachia, a region that spans multiple states across the eastern United States, have struggled with poverty and job losses. West Virginia's unemployment rate of 6.5 percent in March was well above the national rate of 5 percent, according to Labor Department data. Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, while the figure in Kentucky was 5.6 percent. It will be an uphill struggle for Clinton there if she wins the nomination. She has pledged more than $30 billion to help regions that depend on coal, but her promise was overshadowed when she said in March that the country would "put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business." And her husband, former President Bill Clinton, campaigned on Sunday in West Virginia, encountering protests from Trump supporters. West Virginia last voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1996, when Bill Clinton was running for his second four-year term. He is the only Democrat who has won Kentucky since 1980. TRUMP IN INDIANA Trump will take a leap toward winning the Republican nomination if he comes out ahead in Tuesday's Indiana primary. His success in the race for the White House may well ride on the support of Republican evangelicals. Top rival Ted Cruz planned stops to greet voters across the state on Monday, running into a group of Trump supporters in Marion, Indiana who berated him. He deployed his wife, Heidi, and Carly Fiorina, the ex-candidate who Cruz has chosen as his running mate if he gets the Republican nomination, to a coffee shop and art gallery in Carmel, Indiana. Cruz, who lags Trump in delegates to the Republican National Convention in July, told reporters on Monday he would stay in the race "as long as we have a viable path to victory." Republicans plan to tie Clinton to what they say is an anemic economy under President Barack Obama. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Monday cited data released last week that showed economic growth slipped in the first quarter to its slowest pace in two years. "Struggling Americans will never get ahead under Hillary Clinton. They are going to keep getting taken to the cleaners," Priebus said in an opinion piece for RealClearPolitics. (Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Doina Chiacu in Washington, and Alana Wise in Indiana; Writing by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Caren Bohan and Alistair Bell) As they look ahead to the general election, some commentators envision a campaign in which Donald Trump attacks viciously and Hillary Clinton makes a virtue of her refusal to stoop to his level. I think Trumps method will be to turn on the insult comedy against Hillary Clinton, declared GOP consultant Mike Murphy earlier this week. Her big judo move is playing the victim. Voxs Ezra Klein speculated earlier this year that Trump sets up Clinton for a much softer and unifying message than shed be able to get away with against a candidate like [Marco] Rubio. I doubt it will play out that way. Rope-a-dope isnt Clintons style. When facing political threats, her pattern has been to strike firstand with great force. In Carl Bernsteins biography, A Woman in Charge, he notes that when Clinton was four, a bigger girl bullied her. Declaring, Theres no room in this house for cowards, Dorothy Howell Rodham told her daughter to punch the girl, which Hillary did. Thats pretty much been Hillarys instinct since she and Bill entered politics. In his first campaign, a bid to unseat Republican Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt in 1974, Bill Clinton vowed to eschew negative attacks and just stick to the issues. But in their biography, Her Way, Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr. claim that Hillary urged attacking Hammerschmidts morals and his judgment. Recommended: The Obama Doctrine In 1980, when it became clear that Bill might lose his bid for reelection as Arkansass governor, Hillary called in Dick Morris. According to Gerth and Van Natta, one campaign staffer objected: This guy is poison. To which Hillary responded, If you want to be in this kind of business, this is the kind of person you have to deal with. In her book, For Love of Politics, Sally Bedell Smith quotes Hillary saying, We need to learn how the bad boys do it. Story continues Morris would later tell Bernstein: She believes always in taking the fight to the other side. In every campaign strategy meeting Ive ever been in with her, she always wants to run negative ads. She always wants to go on the attack. Stanley Greenberg, whom the Clintons brought in to help run Bills gubernatorial reelection bid in 1990, observed the same thing. He arrived to find the Clintons debating how aggressive to go in attacking the opponent and when to do it. And I can tell you she came down on the side of aggressive. Hillary, Greenberg noted, thought: Democrats were soft in campaigns. They didnt fight And I think that Hillary was of that point of view that you were not going to have peoples confidence unless you could show that youre strong and tough against your opponents. Your opponents need to know that youre not going to be passive, youre not going to be a punching bag. In 1992, when Gennifer Flowerss affair allegations threatened to derail Bills bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary urged attacking both her veracity and her motives, according to campaign aide Dee Dee Myers. Bernstein claims Hillary also urged the campaign to peddle stories about George H.W. Bushs alleged affairs. In the words of one aide, Shes happiest when shes fighting, when she has identified the enemy and goes into attack mode Thats what she thrives on more than anythingthe battle. Recommended: Why the U.S. Congress Gets Paid to Do Nothing Trump calls himself a counterpuncher. But Hillary Clinton likes to strike first. In the first Democratic debate last October, many pundits assumed Bernie Sanders, as the insurgent, would go on the attack. Instead, Clinton did. First she mocked Sanderss suggestion that America should resemble Denmark. Then she attacked his votes against gun control. Its likely Clinton will try to do the same against Trump. The New York Times has already reported that, rather than staying above the fray, the Clinton campaign plans sustained and brutal attacks on Mr. Trump for his temperament, his business dealings, and his remarks about women. The conventional wisdom is that Trumps penchant for gutter politics makes him difficult for Clinton to handle. I suspect thats wrong. Clintons instinct is to use hardball tactics in pursuit of what she sees as the greater good. Barack Obama and Sanders, by running as high-minded idealists, made that harder. Every time she attacked them, she risked playing into their depiction of her as ruthless and unprincipled. Trump, by contrast, because hes so odious, liberates her to wage total war. Which is exactly what she likes to do. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. (Repeats with no changes) By Allison Martell NEW YORK, April 29 (Reuters) - Canada's biggest railway struggled to keep some heavily used track in adequate repair even after a string of derailments last year showed the danger of moving oil on poorly maintained track, documents obtained by Reuters show. Three trains derailed along one 296 mile (476 km) section of Canadian National Railway Co track in northern Ontario in February and March last year. The third train spilled crude oil in and around a river near the town of Gogama, igniting a fire that burned for days. More than 100 pages of correspondence and inspection reports obtained by Reuters under Canada's freedom of information law show that a March inspection by Transport Canada, the ministry responsible for rail safety, found a number of problems with the track. But the documents also show that during a July inspection, months after normal operations resumed, inspectors found new track problems, including rail that had been secured with too few bolts, and defective ties. CN brought its trains back up to normal speeds in late May. (Graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/1reqKif) CN Rail told Reuters the July inspection ultimately uncovered 57 defects, including 10 that required temporary speed reductions. Seven of those 10 were on the main line. CN said the defects found in July were repaired by Sept. 3. Transport Canada lifted its March safety notice on Dec. 15, 2015, signaling that it believed safety problems in the area had been resolved. But the regulator has not conducted a track inspection since July. Evidence that problems persisted after the first inspection has one residents' group wondering how definitive the ministry's all-clear is. "Wow. It wasn't taken care of," said Natalie Sear-Beland, spokeswoman for the Gogama Citizens' Committee, a group formed last year, after learning about the July inspection results. Sear-Beland said the town has been "completely in the dark" about track conditions, and she fears there could be another accident. Story continues "We have heard nothing from Transport Canada," she said. "If Transport Canada were more hands on, more often, I think they wouldn't have as many problems." CN says it took "decisive action" after the derailments, adopting new procedures, audits and checklists to prevent maintenance errors, increasing inspections, raising some internal track repair standards, and increasing engineering supervision in the region. "We believe the citizens of Gogama should be reassured by Transport Canada's satisfaction with the current condition of the Ruel Subdivision," the railway said in a statement. The railway's overall accident rate improved in 2015, coming in below the industry average, CN said. "CN is investing heavily in people, process, capital and technology to minimize risk and continually reduce accidents and injuries," said Sam Berrada, vice-president for safety and sustainability, in an e-mailed statement. RAILS AND HUMAN FACTORS Transport Canada, made aware of the Gogama resident group's concerns said: "Canada maintains one of the safest rail transportation systems in the world as a result of shared efforts between numerous partners including governments, railway companies and communities." Investigations into last year's cluster of derailments are still ongoing, but CN said it believed they were "likely caused by a combination of track conditions, inadequate process controls and human factors." The documents show Transport Canada sent CN a safety notice on March 12, 2015, days after the Gogama derailment, saying that defective rail conditions may have played a role. "As such, there is risk that another derailment may occur before the root cause is found," it warned. Inspectors monitored CN's track repairs and the railway's work to determine causes in the months after the derailments. Last year, a Reuters analysis found that CN's safety record had deteriorated in 2014, as accidents in Canada linked to poor track conditions spiked. There was no similar pattern at the competing Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. CN blamed the trend on bad weather and heavy traffic, and later promised to spend C$500 million upgrading track in Western Canada. (http://reut.rs/1rnzkv5) The railway has not suffered a severe derailment since the Gogama accident, but the inspection reports describe defects that could have increased the risk of accidents along a line that carries oil trains from Western Canada to refineries on the east coast. Ian Naish, a former director of rail and pipeline investigations at the Transportation Safety Board, reviewed the inspection reports, and said they showed CN did not meet minimum track safety standards designed to prevent derailments. "There are lots of places where they weren't in compliance," he said. On the seven defects serious enough to require speed restrictions on the main line, Naish said: "It seems to me there shouldn't be any, if they are doing regular inspections." Of the 10 defects that required speed restrictions, CN said eight involved track geometry, and two involved ties. Frances Gelinas, the member of provincial parliament who represents the area, said Gogama, which depends on tourism revenue, is still feeling the effects of the derailment. "It is life before the derailment, and life after the derailment. Nothing is the same," she said. "Recruiting tourists to come and hunt and fish in Gogama is really tough." Some local residents have retained a civil litigator, James Wallbridge, but Wallbridge said they have not yet decided how to proceed. "We are going to review the cleanup efforts and we should be in a position to make some decisions by the end of May," he said. CN declined to comment on how the cause of the derailments might affect its liability, or whether any damages could be material. (Reporting by Allison Martell; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkish artillery is shelling the positions of the "Islamic State" (IS, aka ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group in Syria, said Turkey's General Staff May 2. As many as 34 militants have been liquidated as the result of shelling, according to the staff. Strongholds of terrorists in Syria have also been destroyed. Last week, Turkish artillery shelled positions of the IS militants in northern Syria. It is reported that these operations started after a systematic shelling by IS militants of two southern provinces of Turkey - Kilis and Hatay. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu While appearing on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, Republican presidential candidate and confirmed human Sen. Ted Cruz defended his position on transgender women using men's bathrooms. Cruz attempted to derail the conversation by saying that people like he or Tapper should not be in women's restrooms that's when Tapper reminded Cruz that neither he nor Cruz identifies as female. Source: Mic/YouTube "You and I don't identify as female. You and I aren't transgender. We this law wouldn't be about you and me going into a women's room." Tapper said. Tapper began the conversation by showing footage of transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner using the women's restroom at Trump Tower and calling Cruz out for his transphobic remarks. As Jenner steps out of the restroom, she says, "And by the way, Ted [Cruz], nobody got molested." Cruz, after watching the video, doubled down on his recent comments at an Indiana rally about "adult men" in bathrooms "with little girls" and called transgender women grown men again. He then added, "This is the height of political correctness. And frankly, the concern is not the Caitlyn Jenners of the world." CNN's Jake Tapper Schooled Ted Cruz on Transgender Bathrooms Right to His Inhuman Face Cruz probably doesn't realize that, by embracing these views on transgender people, he's actually hurting this already-marginalized population. Since North Carolina passed HB2, which requires people to use the bathroom that matches their gender assigned at birth rather than their gender identity, calls to a trans-focused North Carolina crisis hotline doubled. In April, event staff at a Cruz event kicked a transgender teen out of the event for no reason. However, while Cruz supports HB2, companies like Target and PayPal, celebrities like Bruce Springsteen and several activists from inside and outside the transgender community have spoken out against it and some have even taken selfies against it. The Obama administration has given CNNs Peter Bergen unprecedented access to the White House for a special commemorating the fifth anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden. Bergen wasnt a random choice; hes one of the only Western journalists to have met the al Qaeda leader when he was alive. We did not seek this out. [The White House] sought us out. They wanted to give the interview to me, Bergen told TheWrap. Bergen is CNNs national security analyst who interviewed bin Laden back in 1997, one of only two interviews the terrorist mastermind ever granted to Western TV news organizations. We Got Him, the special that Obama hand-picked Bergen to host, airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 PT. Also Read: Why CNN's Clarissa Ward May Be the Biggest Badass in Cable News When Bergen met the al Qaeda leader nearly 20 years ago, he didnt know what to expect. I wasnt very clear what he was going to look like. He was very tall. He spoke relatively quietly. I thought he might be a table-thumping revolutionary, but he carried himself like a cleric, Bergen said. He seemed very well informed and intelligent. The people around him hung on his every word. Bergen was blindfolded and brought to Afghanistan via Pakistan, driving through remote mountains and stripped of all equipment. Al Qaeda actually provided the camera that was used to film the interview and Bergens crew wasnt allowed to bring anything along except the clothes they showed up wearing. He declared war on the United States during this interview, the first time he had done so to a Western audience, Bergen said before explaining that he never thought the terrorist would be capable of a 9/11-type attack. Also Read: CNN Takes Viewers Back to 1986 With VR, Studio Re-Creation of Challenger Explosion Its one thing to understand that they had a desire to attack the United States, but another thing to imagine what happened on 9/11, Bergen said. While meeting with bin Laden is obviously extremely rare, Bergens interview with President Obama was fairly unique itself. Bergen visited the White House last Thursday to tape tonights special. Story continues We sat down with President Obama in the situation room, which is highly unusual, to do an interview there, he explained. President Obama walked Bergen through the process by which he decided to authorize the raid, which ultimately led to bin Ladens death. The president explained that multiple risks were involved, from SEALs getting captured to bin Laden not even being at the compound. Also Read: White House Correspondents' Dinner: Obama's 11 Best Jokes About Trump, Clinton and More It was obviously a risky decision that worked out well, Bergen said. After Obama chatted with Bergen in the main Situation Room, the two moved to its smaller version, where the infamous photo was taken of the president and his cabinet as they watched the raid unfold. Apparently, technical difficulties forced them to switch rooms on the night of the raid and Obama mimicked the situation, moving Bergens interview to the backup Situation Room. Its a room thats not larger than two or three closets, Bergen said. They crammed in there because in the main situation room they couldnt see [live footage] of the raid. They were able to get a video feed in the smaller room. When they heard word bin Laden was killed in action, President Obama simply said, We got him. Despite having met bin Laden in person, Bergen treated the raid as a typical news event. Also Read: Sorry, Mainstream Media - President Obama Grants Interview to College Newspaper Its not like I had a warm and fuzzy relationship with him, he says. Bergen probably feels a little warmer and fuzzier when it comes to Obama, calling the opportunity to produce this special gratifying and amazing. Related stories from TheWrap: CNN, Fox News Enjoy April Ratings Bumps Thanks to Political Coverage Even Syrians Are Obsessed With Donald Trump, CNN's Clarissa Ward Says Why CNN's Clarissa Ward May Be the Biggest Badass in Cable News From Esquire Is this the best local news clip that ever happened? It's a tough call, but it deserves consideration. First, there's the story itself: Chris Gaither is an 11-year-old from Talladega, Alabama. Chris was home alone on Wednesday morning when a burglar broke into his house. Chris's response to this home invasion was to grab a nine-millimeter handgun, fire (and miss) 11 shots at the burglar as he ran for the hills, and finally hit him with a "full metal jacket" bullet as he tried to climb a fence at the edge of the property. Then there's how it all was reported. There's the one-on-one interview with an 11-year-old in front of some car. There's the hokey local news narrating, complete with the pronunciation of bullets (boo-letts) and the clarification that although this burglar had robbed the family before, they don't know the guy. Also, they really captured the basset hound sign well: Then there was Chris's description of the decisive moment: "It went straight through the back of him, in his leg. And he started crying like a little baby." "A baby....that learned his lesson," the reporter quipped. To top it all off, Chris addressed the camera and offered a chilling message: "I hope you learned your lesson for comin' to this house trying to steal stuff." [H/T: Mandatory, WVTM] By David Bailey (Reuters) - Colorado's Supreme Court on Monday struck down voter-approved bans on fracking and the storage of fracking waste within the cities of Fort Collins and Longmont, ruling they conflicted with state law. Voters in Longmont approved a ban in 2012, while voters about 30 miles north in Fort Collins approved a five-year moratorium in November 2013, drawing legal challenges from the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, an industry trade group. Lower courts subsequently sided with the association, invalidating the Fort Collins moratorium and the Longmont ban. The Colorado Supreme Court affirmed the rulings in separate decisions. Justice Richard Gabriel said the Longmont ban could result in uneven and potentially wasteful oil and gas production and affect the rights of the owners of those interests. The decisions in Colorado are the latest rulings on attempts to curb the hotly contested oil and gas extraction process known as fracking through popular votes. In Denton, Texas, for example, voters approved a hydraulic fracturing ban in 2014 that prompted lawsuits by a Texas industry trade group and bills in the Texas legislature that eventually led to a state law that prohibited cities from interfering. The Colorado Supreme Court found the Longmont ban and Fort Collins moratorium operationally conflict with the application of the state's Oil and Gas Conservation Act. If left in place, the Longmont ban "could ultimately lead to a patchwork of regulation that would inhibit the efficient development of oil and gas resources," Gabriel wrote. As was the case with the Longmont case, Gabriel said, the Fort Collins moratorium would render the state's statutes and regulatory scheme superfluous for at least a lengthy period, materially impeding Colorado's interests in efficient development of oil and gas resources. Gabriel noted that proponents of fracking tout the economic advantages of extracting previously inaccessible oil and gas and opponents warn of health risks and environmental damage, but he said the cases did not hinge on deciding if either side was correct. Story continues Dan Haley, chief executive of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, said the rulings send a strong message. "Bans and moratoriums on oil and gas are not a reasonable or responsible way to address local concerns," he said. The Sierra Club, which intervened in the Longmont case, called the decisions deeply unsettling. (Reporting by David Bailey in Minneapolis; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) For Ted Cruz, it all comes down to Indiana. Tuesdays primary is a crossroads for the GOP race: Will the party look to continue the battle to stop Donald Trumps nomination with a contested convention, or is it ready to start rallying behind him? Cruz, who trails by as much as 15 points in recent surveys is betting it all on the state, amid a fundraising crunch and an exhausting schedule. His hail Mary selection of a running-mate before the primary, combined with the backing of the states governor, Mike Pence, could help narrow the gap in the final daysor, like most traditional endorsements, fall by the wayside in the year of Trump. Trump, meanwhile, is growing confident about his chances, predicting a swift end to the fighting. If Trump pulls off another win, hell be on a clear path to winning 1,237 delegates before the convention. Meanwhile, Cruzs efforts to woo delegates for a potential contested convention continues to show signs of success and indications that his success might not hold should he continue losing states. In Arizona and Virginia this weekend, Cruzs team secured slots for their loyalists over Trumps, boosting their second-ballot odds. Additionally, in New Hampshire, anti-Trump forces locked down slots on the influential convention committees, which will govern the gathering in Cleveland. But it may all be for nothing, as some delegates who are backing Cruz are softening their opposition to Trump as he moves closer to the nomination. Bernie Sanders vaunted fundraising operation slowed down in April, raising $20 million less than the prior month and putting him at parity with Hillary Clinton for the first time in months. Both raised about $26 million for their campaigns, with Clinton raising a further $10 million for the Democratic Party. In a Sunday press conference, Sanders tried to argue that he has a narrow path to victory, calling on super-delegates from states that backed him to switch their allegiance. Short of that, Sanders stands to be mathematically eliminated from the nomination as soon as this week, and top aides are already contemplating how to bring about a rapprochement with the Clinton campaign. Story continues President Obama made his final appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Attorney General Loretta Lynch visits a prison. And why Marco Rubio isnt backing Cruz. Here are your must-reads: Must Reads Ted Cruz Doubles Down on Indiana as Campaign Struggles TIMEs Philip Elliott on the embattled candidates turnaround promise A Confident Trump Seeks Knockout of Cruz in Indiana Ahead in polls, Trump eyes victory [Associated Press] Attorney General Loretta Lynch Gets a Glimpse of Life on the Inside TIMEs Maya Rhodan follows the nations top law enforcement official to prison Ted Cruzs Support Softens Among the Delegates He Courted Throwing convention strategy into doubt [New York Times] Trump Rallies Leave Some Cities With a Security Bill A week of violent protests spotlights funding challenges [Wall Street Journal] Sound Off We cant continue to allow China to rape our country. And thats what theyre doing. Donald Trump at an Indiana rally Sunday Youve got to admit it, though, Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a little bit like your relative just signed up for Facebook. Dear America, did you get my poke?' President Obama at his final White House Correspondents Dinner Bits and Bites Ted Cruz Refuses to Say He Wont Support Donald Trump [NBC] Attorney General Says Bathroom Bills Show Change Is Difficult [TIME] Watch President Obamas Full Routine at the White House Correspondents Dinner [TIME] Michael Bloomberg Blasts Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders in Commencement Speech [TIME] Bob Knight Explains Why He Endorsed Donald Trump [TIME] Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Endorses Ted Cruz [TIME] Why Rubio Hasnt Endorsed Cruz [Politico] Sanders Renews Push for Superdelegates [Wall Street Journal] By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It's a U.S. taxpayer's dream: make the Internal Revenue Service go away, and the largest conservative group in Congress is endorsing just that. The Republican Study Committee, which counts over two-thirds of House of Representatives Republicans as its members, called recently for "the complete elimination of the IRS." The committee's support for this idea, once confined to the fringes of conservative ideology, suggests it is more widely accepted on Capitol Hill than ever. But many in Washington, including some Republicans, have trouble taking it seriously. Calls to abolish the IRS have not been well thought through, Republican Representative Charles Boustany said in an interview. Before we start making blanket statements about abolishing the IRS, I think its important to focus on what the tax code for the 21st century should look like," said Boustany, who does not belong to the 172-member study committee. In an election year of dramatic rhetoric that is often short on details, the committee's proposal, released April 22 and echoing language from a March budget plan, is brief. As part of a wider appeal for federal tax reform, the committee says simply: "This proposal takes the bold step of calling for the complete elimination of the IRS. Tax collection and enforcement activities would be moved to a new, smaller and more accountable department at the Treasury." No further specifics were offered for how to replace an agency that is already part of the Treasury, collected $3.3 trillion in revenue in 2015 and processed 240 million tax returns. Texas Representative Bill Flores, chairman of the study committee, was not available for comment. His spokeswoman Caitlin Carroll said the IRS closure proposal should be seen as part of a larger push for comprehensive tax reform. Matthew Gardner, head of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a tax research group, said most tax reform plans would still need a tax collector with enforcement powers. "It's hard to imagine a situation in which we wouldn't need a sophisticated tax collection and enforcement capacity," he said. "We are in an election year, and bashing the IRS is particularly attractive in an election year," said Steven Rosenthal, senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center think-tank. From a global perspective, the IRS does a good job, he said, noting that U.S. income tax compliance is about 82 percent, one of the highest levels in the world. Still, in the United States, antipathy for the IRS is widespread and long-standing. One of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz's biggest applause lines on the campaign trail is, "Imagine abolishing the IRS!" 'SOUNDS TRUMPISH' Asked recently about Cruz's line and calls to close the agency, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said: "If you want to call it something other than the IRS and that makes you feel better, that's OK with me. But ultimately you got to have somebody somewhere who collects the information, audits it and makes sure its accurate and valid and collects the funding." Cruz's tax plan, unveiled in November, would create a flat 10 percent individual income tax and junk the present tax brackets. High-income households would benefit the most under his plan, according to the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution. Some Democrats scoff at the IRS closure proposal. "If there are problems at the IRS ... we can straighten it out," said Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings. He added that Republicans should be wary of advocating an idea that "sounds Trumpish." Donald Trump, the anti-establishment front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has not called for abolition of the IRS. Congress has cut the IRS' budget 17 percent in real terms since 2010. In mid-April, the House approved several IRS-bashing bills, including one to prevent it from making new hires until the Treasury certifies no agency employees are seriously delinquent on taxes themselves. That bill and another one that would prevent the IRS from spending user fees it collects without congressional approval have been placed on the Senate calendar by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. This means they can be brought up for debate and a vote, although no action has been set on either proposal. The IRS has long been a congressional punching bag. But Republicans have been hitting it harder since the IRS several years ago applied extra scrutiny to conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status between 2010 and 2012. Republican Representative Rob Woodall of Georgia has introduced a bill every year since he entered Congress in 2011 to eliminate income taxes and abolish the IRS. Support for Woodall's bill has grown to 73 co-sponsors, including the heads of the House tax and budget committees, but it has never advanced. Nor has a similar bill in the Senate. It was unclear how House Speaker Paul Ryan would treat the study committee's proposal in drafting a party policy agenda ahead of the Republican convention in Cleveland in July. "The speaker welcomes input from the RSC and all members of our conference," said Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong. Ryan has sidestepped calls for abolishing the IRS in the past, while frequently criticizing the agency. (Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh, David Gregorio and Dan Grebler) A projectile, reportedly fired from Syria, has killed one person in Turkey's southeastern border province of Kilis, Anadolu agency reported citing local sources. According to sources speaking anonymously, one rocket landed Monday evening in Peace Street in the Kazim Karabekir neighborhood. Eighteen-year-old Syrian national Nur Dervis was killed. Fellow Syrian Emine Asseni, 36, and Turkish national Mustafa Mutluer, 31, were wounded and taken to Kilis State Hospital. According to military sources, Turkish artillery fired on Daesh positions in Suran, Arshak, Ikdakh and Ihtimalat regions on the Syrian side of the border in retaliation, killing 50 Daesh terrorists. This latest death follows similar attacks Sunday, when eight people were injured after four rockets landed in the same area, prompting a return of fire across the border by the Turkish military. Kilis lies six kilometers (four miles) from the Syrian border. Turkey has been under indiscriminate rocket attack from inside Syria since mid-January. In Kilis province alone, a total of 20 people have been killed and 60 others have been wounded as a result. Copa Holdings SA CPA is scheduled to release first-quarter 2016 results on May 5, after market close. In the last quarter, the company posted a positive 10.61% earnings surprise. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Why a Likely Positive Surprise? Our proven model shows that Copa Holdings is likely to beat earnings because it has the right combination of two key ingredients. Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP for the company stand at +8.7% because the Most Accurate estimate is $1.50 while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is lower at $1.38. This serves as a meaningful and leading indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise. Zacks Rank: Copa Holdings currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Note that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1, 2 or 3 have a significantly higher chance of beating earnings.Conversely, the Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 and 5) should never be considered going into an earnings announcement. The combination of Copa Holdings Zacks Rank #3 and +8.7% ESP makes us reasonably confident of an earnings beat. What's Driving the Better-than-Expected Earnings? Despite the softness in the Brazilian economy and the weakening of real against the strong U.S. dollar, the carrier is set to gain from the increase in air travel demand. Moreover, Rio Olympic Games, scheduled to start this August, is likely to boost pre-bookings of tickets for the carrier. Copa Holdings recently reported a healthy increase in traffic for March. Load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) declined in the month as capacity contracted while traffic imcreased. The carrier also reported an increase in February traffic. We expect the trend to continue when the carrier reports its first-quarter results Other Stocks to Consider Here are some other companies you may want to consider as our model shows these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter. ACI Worldwide, Inc. ACIW, with an earnings ESP of 12.5% and a Zacks Rank #3. Story continues Time Warner Inc. TWX, with an Earnings ESP of +1.55% and a Zacks Rank #3. Cinemark Holdings, Inc. CNK, with an Earnings ESP of +2.13% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report COPA HLDGS SA-A (CPA): Free Stock Analysis Report TIME WARNER INC (TWX): Free Stock Analysis Report ACI WORLDWIDE (ACIW): Free Stock Analysis Report CINEMARK HLDGS (CNK): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research BEDMINSTER, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / CorMedix Inc. (NYSE MKT: CRMD), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory disease, announced today the appointment of Myron Kaplan, to serve on CorMedix's Board of Directors. Mr. Kaplan brings to the Board extensive legal and business experience from his decades of work representing hedge funds and public and private businesses in a wide array of industries as outside general counsel and special counsel, and service as a director for a number of public and private companies and nonprofit organizations. Randy Milby, CorMedix CEO, said, "Myron's extensive and deep well of knowledge will be an asset to CorMedix, where we are executing on multiple initiatives that are expected to add value for the Company. We are looking forward to continuing the current U.S. Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Neutrolin in hemodialysis patients, receiving results and to finalizing the pathway for FDA approval. We are also learning a great deal about how Neutrolin performs in a real world setting based on our commercial experience in Europe. Finally, the encouraging data we are generating for taurolidine as a potent antimicrobial component of medical materials and devices is expected to lead to development partnerships. Myron's wide range of expertise can help guide CorMedix to success in our current and future endeavors." Myron Kaplan, stated, "I am excited to be joining CorMedix as it continues to develop and commercialize its novel solutions for the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. I look forward to working with the other members of the Board and management in creating value for stockholders." Myron Kaplan is a founding partner of Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen, P.C., where he has practiced corporate and securities law for more than forty years. Among other responsibilities at the firm, Mr. Kaplan represents hedge funds and other companies in a broad spectrum of industries and works on financings, mergers and acquisitions, governance and compensation issues, distribution and license agreements and joint ventures. In 2012, Mr. Kaplan became a trustee of the Lehman Brothers Plan Holding Trust. He has served as a Director of a number of public companies and nonprofit organizations. Previously, he served as a member of the board of directors of SAirGroup Finance (USA) Inc., a subsidiary of SAirGroup that had publicly issued debt securities, Trans World Airlines, Inc. and Kitty Hawk, Inc. Mr. Kaplan graduated from Columbia College and holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. The appointment was made upon the request of Manchester Securities Corp., or Manchester, which partially exercised its right to appoint up to two members to our Board of Directors. Manchester holds the Board appointment rights pursuant to a letter agreement, dated March 3, 2015, between us and Manchester, which letter agreement was entered into as part of the backstop financing made available to us by Manchester in March 2015. About CorMedix Inc. CorMedix Inc. is an emerging commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that initiated a Phase 3 clinical study of a novel anti-infective solution, Neutrolin in hemodialysis patients in the United States in December 2015. The Company seeks to in-license, develop and commercialize therapeutic products for the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. CorMedix's first commercial product in Europe is Neutrolin, a catheter lock solution for the prevention of catheter related bloodstream infections and maintenance of catheter patency in tunneled, cuffed, central venous catheters used for vascular access in hemodialysis patients, in addition to oncology patients, critical care patients, and patients receiving total parenteral nutrition, IV hydration, and/or IV medications. The FDA has granted Fast Track status to Neutrolin Catheter Lock Solution and also has designated Neutrolin as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product for oncology, hemodialysis, and critical care/intensive care patients, where catheter-related blood stream infections and clotting can be life-threatening. The initial and planned indications aim to address significant needs in catheter-based treatments in the U.S. and the rest of the world. For more information visit: www.cormedix.com. For Investors & Media: CorMedix Maureen McEnroe, CFA: Maureen@machealthcare.com; (914) 588-1873 Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Joshua Drumm, Ph.D.: jdrumm@tiberend.com; (212) 375-2664 Janine McCargo: jmccargo@tiberend.com; (646) 604-5150 Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or CorMedix's prospects, future financial position, financing plans, future revenues and projected costs should be considered forward-looking. Readers are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from projections or estimates due to a variety of important factors, including: the results of studies regarding Neutrolin conducted by us and others; the cost, timing and results of the planned Phase 3 trials for Neutrolin in the U.S.; obtaining regulatory approvals to conduct clinical trials and to commercialize CorMedix's product candidates, including marketing of Neutrolin in countries other than Europe; obtaining additional financing to support CorMedix's research and development and clinical activities and operations; the risks associated with the launch of Neutrolin in new markets; CorMedix's ability to enter into, execute upon and maintain collaborations with third parties for its development and marketing programs; CorMedix's ability to maintain its listing on the NYSE MKT; the risks and uncertainties associated with CorMedix's ability to manage its limited cash resources; the outcome of clinical trials of CorMedix's product candidates and whether they demonstrate these candidates' safety and effectiveness; CorMedix's ability to identify and enter into strategic transactions; CorMedix's dependence on its collaborations and its license relationships; achieving milestones under CorMedix's collaborations; CorMedix's dependence on preclinical and clinical investigators, preclinical and clinical research organizations, manufacturers, sales and marketing organizations, and consultants; and protecting the intellectual property developed by or licensed to CorMedix. These and other risks are described in greater detail in CorMedix's filings with the SEC, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from CorMedix. CorMedix may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. CorMedix assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. SOURCE: CorMedix Inc. Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil's chief prosecutor asked the Supreme Court Monday to authorize a corruption investigation of opposition leader Aecio Neves, one of embattled President Dilma Rousseff's top rivals. Chief prosecutor Rodrigo Janot wants to investigate Neves over allegations he took bribes from a corruption scheme at a state electric company, a case linked to a wider scandal centered on state oil giant Petrobras that is also hurting Rousseff's political future, an adviser to the prosecutor told AFP. The case stems from accusations by Senator Delcidio do Amaral, who agreed to cooperate with investigators after being arrested in the Petrobras probe. He said Neves received bribes from a corruption scheme at electric company Furnas that allegedly worked in much the same way as the Petrobras operation. In that case, investigators say construction firms bribed corrupt Petrobras executives and politicians to let them divvy up contracts with the company and overbill it by billions of dollars. Neves's office said the senator had done nothing wrong. "References to Senator Aecio's name are all based on hearsay, there is no proof or evidence of any irregularity," an adviser told journalists. "These are old questions that have already been the subject of previous investigations, which were thrown out, or questions that have no relation to the senator." Neves, the head of the center-right PSDB party, narrowly lost to Rousseff in the 2014 presidential election. The case comes as speculation swirls over who could be Brazil's next president, with Rousseff facing likely impeachment before the senate. The leftist president is accused in the impeachment case of illegally doctoring the government's accounts. But she is also under fire over a deep recession and the explosive, far-reaching Petrobras scandal -- even though she has not been implicated in that personally. A recent poll put Neves in second place if early elections were to be held to resolve the political crisis, as 62 percent of Brazilians want. Environmentalist Marina Silva was in first place with 39 percent, seven points ahead of Neves. In less unique election years, little to no national attention is given to statewide party conventions, where state party leaders and activists meet to discuss various issues, put forth a platform, and conduct other official state party business. Earlier this month however, the Colorado GOP state convention made national headlines after Ted Cruz swept the delegate allocation that was determined at the convention without a popular election. More recently, some attention has shifted to the upcoming Republican state convention in Texas, which will take place May 12th-14th. While the allocation of delegates from Texas to the GOP national convention was determined in the states March 1st primary, the emerging controversy surrounding the convention is about a debate over a pro-Texas secession plank to the party platform. Earlier this year, 270 county conventions took place across Texas, and at least 10 counties passed resolutions to adopt a pro-secession platform. Texas GOP party officials fear that this support and momentum will force them to hold an official vote at the state convention on whether to include a pro-secession plank in the state GOP platform. While one-in-three Texans think that the state has the right to secede, a vast majority of those polled would chose to stay in the United States if they were voting on the issue. Activists submitted to the White House a petition for Texas secession with over 100,000 signatures in 2012, and they have recently tried other political means to advance their movement. Pro-secession activists are inspired in part by Texas history and are aggrieved by what they see as misconduct by the federal government. Before 1836, Texas was a Mexican province, but seceded for various reasons, including a slavery ban in Mexico and geographical proximity to and important trade relations with the United States. After existing as the independent Republic of Texas for 9 years, Texas was ultimately admitted as a state in 1845, which precipitated the Mexican-American War. Story continues Today, pro-secession activists lament various actions by the federal government that meddle with the lives, liberty, and property of the people of Texas. While secession is scoffed at by mainstream Texas politicians and by the GOP party establishment, Texas current suit against the Obama administrations executive actions on immigration makes similar complaints about putative burdens that the federal government is foisting upon the state. Of course, the debate over whether states can secede from the United States was officially put to an end by the Civil War. During his first Inaugural Address, President Abraham Lincoln declared that no state, upon its own mere notion, can lawfully get out of the Unionin view of the Constitution and the laws, the Union is unbroken. After the war, the Supreme Court endorsed Lincolns view on the constitutionality of secession. In 1868 Texas was a party to a case before the Court, Texas v. White, where the Court ruled that when Texas became one of the United States, she entered into an indissoluble relation. The Court put to rest any 10th amendment claims that states retain the right to leave the Union as they please, as Chief Justice Salmon Chase wrote that the Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union. Despite this, pro-secession activists point to the Texas state constitution as a legal justification for secession, deny the legitimacy of the 1868 Supreme Court ruling, and draw inspiration from the Declaration of Independence. Back in 2012, the National Constitution Centers constitutional literacy adviser Lyle Denniston wrote for us about the Texas secession debate, and the possibility that Texas could leave the United States if it had permission from the other 49 states. Dennistion said Texas v. White made voluntary secession with permission impractical without a constitutional amendment granting the government the power to let Texas go. In order to overrule Texas v. White by constitutional amendment, a secession proposal would have to modify the very Preamble of the Constitution, in which the nations people created a more perfect Union, and would have to wipe out the guarantee in Article IV of a republican form of government in each state, he said. Historical Stories on Constitution Daily Forgotten facts about George Washingtons private life The most underrated Founding Father: Oliver Ellsworth? 50 interesting facts about Abraham Lincolns life 10 surprising birthday facts about President James Monroe That tight ponytail can cause hair loss. (Photo: Getty Images) If youre addicted to ponytails, braids, or weaves, you might want to let your hair loose for a while. According to a new study review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, researchers found strong ties between tightly wound styles and hair loss. Johns Hopkins University researchers were interested in figuring out whether certain types of hairstyles contributed to the development of traction alopecia (TA), a diagnosis of exclusion common among African-Americans. As many as one-third of African-American women may suffer from the condition, which is characterized by gradual hair loss when the follicle is repeatedly damaged or the root is continually stressed. The researchers reviewed 19 studies on hair loss and found a strong association between certain hair-stressing dos and TA. They identified a variety of common styles that may lead to the condition, breaking them up into high-risk, moderate-risk, and low-risk styles. Related: Why Bouncy Blowout Hair Is Over Tight ponytails, tight buns, braids, dreadlocks, weaves, extensions, and chemical straightening were among the high-risk group. Moderate-risk hairstyles included thermal straightening, permanent weaving, and wigs with clips and hairline adhesives. Low-risk styles were loose updos and natural hairstyles. According to Gary Goldenberg, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, different styles can damage hair in a number of ways. Long-term use of certain techniques and chemicals can damage the root of the hair, causing hair loss, he tells Yahoo Beauty. Hairstyles can also damage the hair over time when they pull the hair too tight. This can damage the hair itself, and also damage the root over time. The most recent review focused primarily on African-American women and their hairstyles, since TA is most common among this group of women. However, Goldenberg says styling the hair in the stressful manners listed can be detrimental for women of any race and ultimately lead to hair loss. Story continues Related: Hair Talk: Ken Paves and Larry Sims You dont have to give up your favorite tight hairstyle forever, though, says Goldenberg. Just be smart about maintaining the health of your mane. Varying your hairstyle is important, he explains. I also recommend patients prolong the period of time between chemical treatments, or stop them completely. So if its a ballerina bun on Monday, let your hair go loose and natural on Tuesday. The less you stress your strands, the better. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. If someone wants to find out who you are online, it's not a question of if they can. It's just a question of when. For years, the press dizzied itself looking for the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of bitcoin. Now, he's sick of hiding. Australian computer scientist Craig Wright declared Monday he is Nakamoto, providing evidence by signing a block of text with the cryptographic key allegedly used by Nakamoto in early bitcoin transactions. "There are lots of stories out there that have been made up and I don't like it hurting those people I care about," Wright told the BBC. "I don't want any of them to be impacted by this." Many suspect Nakamoto has amassed about 1 million bitcoins, which is worth about $450 million. So when Wright was outed last year by W Australian tax authorities began investigating him. Outing himself could be a precautionary measure to protect him from a widespread fraud investigation. Unmasked, maybe? Bitcoin aficionados and the cryptography community have strong doubts about Wright's claim that he's Nakamoto. Even the verification Wright provided so far isn't enough for the bitcoin community, since Wright isn't providing a robust body of new evidence. Bitcoin developer Peter Todd told Fortune the new proof Wright provided is "like photocopying someone else's signature on a publicly available document and claiming it's proof you are them." I'll believe Craig Wright when he signs a message with Satoshi's key in public, not at a secret meeting with the BBC @rowhoop Signing "Craig Wright, Satoshi" would be enough. Until that is done, he is not Satoshi. Craig Wright is NOT #SatoshiNakamoto. He just reused a publicly available signature with block 9 key. Sign "CW is Satoshi" if you can! In that case, the real Nakamoto is, incredibly, still out there anonymously, sitting on half a billion dollars and shaking his damn head at us. The 1970s rule as far as the Directors Guild of America is concerned. In a poll of DGA members (published last week) taken to identify the 80 best-directed films made in the 80 years since the guild's founding in 1936, 18 of the chosen movies were released during the decade of the so-called New Hollywood, a period when a significant number of the guild's current membership were in their formative years or ramping up their careers. Francis Ford Coppola, who on Friday planted his hand-and-footprints in the cement in the forecourt of the hallowed Chinese Theater, dominated that decade and the list itself by placing three films in the top 10: The Godfather, which is No. 1; The Godfather Part II, at No. 6; and Apocalypse Now right behind in seventh place. Another of the so-called Movie Brats, Steven Spielberg, tied Stanley Kubrick for most titles on the list with five apiece. The most startling bit of information in the DGA's announcement is that only 13.7 percent of the membership voted in the poll, or 2,189 people. Why so shy or lazy? I've got to think that a much higher percentage votes for the annual guild awards. Putting together lists like this can be fun, so I wish more of this knowledgeable group had participated and thereby given the results a bit more weight. But tallies like this always strike sparks in different ways and can be interesting to break them down. The mid-century decades dominated, with the 1950s rating 14 titles and the 1960s notching 13. By contrast, the venerated 1930s slipped in just two films, and from 1939 at that, the inevitable Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, both directed by Victor Fleming. The 1940s did a bit better, with nine classics in the mix, led by Citizen Kane at No. 2, Casablanca at No. 5 and It's A Wonderful Life at No. 15. On the other end of the spectrum, the membership has been reluctant to quickly anoint films made in this century as all-time classics. Only four films released since 2000 made the list, and they're all in the lower realms of the ranking: Avatar, The Hurt Locker, There Will Be Blood and Birdman. Story continues The DGA has been parsimonious, to say the least, in its consideration of foreign-language films, including only two Kurosawa classics - Rashomon and Seven Samurai - and four Italian features - 8 , The Conformist, The Bicycle Thief and Cinema Paradiso. No French or Swedish films, nothing from Germany, Spain or anywhere else. No Bergman, Bunuel, Renoir, Truffaut, Godard, Visconti, Antonioni and so many others. By largely ignoring the 1930s and opening the door just a bit more on the 1940s, the guild also snubbed quite a few of the great Hollywood masters, including Hawks, Lubitsch, Sturges, Cukor, Minnelli, Preminger and multiple Oscar winners such as McCarey, Stevens and Zinnemann. Also left out entirely were some of the most successful and/or acclaimed filmmakers of the late 1960s and 1970s, such as Penn, Altman, Frankenheimer (no The Manchurian Candidate?), Friedkin and Bogdanovich. And then there are some of the top directors of the past 20 years or so who went similarly unmentioned: David Fincher, Terrence Malick, David Lynch, Oliver Stone, Michael Mann, Steven Soderbergh, Wes Anderson and Ang Lee. And there are no genuine film noirs, which I thought might have crept onto such a list by this time. Combing through the rundown a third and fourth time, I was surprised by the durability of certain Oscar-garlanded titles that I thought no one cared much about anymore, such as Doctor Zhivago, The Sting, Gandhi, Cinema Paradiso and Forrest Gump. I was stunned that, if two Sergio Leone films were going to make the list, one of them would be cumbersome and little-seen-in-its-day Once Upon a Time in America. It's beyond my imagination that The Shawshank Redemption is rated by the rank-and-file as the 17th best-directed film of the past 80 years. And what is it about Birdman that made it the only film released over the past seven years to rate a mention? Now if only the remaining 86.3 percent of the guild would name its favorites, we might have something to go on. Turkish security forces have foiled almost 50 would-be suicide attacks in the country since January, a senior government minister has said, according to Anadolu agency. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Monday that out of a total of 85 foiled attacks, 49 were suicide plots. Speaking to the media following a cabinet meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in capital Ankara, Kurtulmus the efforts to foil such attacks were seen as a "highly important measure in terms of fighting terrorism in Turkey". Speaking separately on Monday, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said forensic evidence had revealed the identity of a female suicide bomber who blew herself up in a Turkish city last week. Ala said 24-year-old Eser Cali had been a member of the terrorist PKK group. Turkey has been scene of a series of suicide bomb attacks from both Daesh and PKK terrorist organizations this year. Turkey takes part in an international coalition against the Daesh group and has also been fighting the PKK which resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state last July. Last week's attack in Bursa targeted the entrance of a historic bazaar in the northwestern city, killing the bomber and injuring 20 people. In mid-March, a car bomb targeted a major transport hub in the capital which includes Ankara's busiest metro station and dozens of bus stops. The blast left 37 people dead and dozens of others injured. Rather than getting a ticket, this young fire department paramedic walked away from a traffic stop with an engagement ring. Sarah Stewart, 22, was driving through Rapid City, South Dakota on April 27 when she was pulled over by a police officer on a residential street. Read: Bride and Groom Say 'I Do' in The Kmart Toy Aisle, Where They First Met Police dash cam footage shows Rapid City Senior Officer Dan Anderson walking up to her minivan and asking her to step outside. Then she realized he wasn't alone. Her boyfriend, 23-year-old Officer Nick Allender, got out of the cruiser and took a ring box from Anderson before dropping to his knee. "Sarah, you make me so happy and I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you please marry me?" he asked her, the dash cam footage shows. She said yes. The police department shared footage of the proposal on Facebook. Brendyn Medina, a spokesperson for the Rapid City Police Department, told InsideEdition.com that only a few officers knew what Officer Allender, who's been with the department since 2014, had planned. But now that word has spread, they couldn't be happier. Read: This Guy Made His Girlfriend Climb Up 100ft Mast for an Over the Top Proposal The Rapid City Police Department is bursting with excitement about the proposal," he said. "As soon as we learned the proposal had been captured on the in-car video, we knew we had to share it. This sort of nation-wide attention goes a long way to help the public recognize the human side of the public servants that protect our communities every day. "Our agency, along with the Rapid City Fire Department, couldnt be happier for Nick and Sarah. Medina added that Senior Officer Anderson proposed to his wife in a similar way a few years ago "so it was fitting that Anderson helps Officer Allender do the same." Watch: Koala Helps Man's Wild Proposal Story continues Related Articles: From Esquire Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology's controversial leader David Miscavige, spoke out against the church and his son on ABC's 20/20 Friday night. The most interesting moments were when former Scientologists talked about living in (and escaping) the prison-like Gold Base where some members live and work in service of the church. The Miscavige family joined the Church of Scientology when David Miscavige was young. Though Ron was the one initially interested in the religion, David took to the church immediately, claiming the Scientology practice of auditing cured him of asthma that afflicted him as a child. The founder of the church, L. Ron Hubbard, took David under his wing and David quickly became distanced from his family. The family, however, remained members of the church and even moved to Gold Base, a Scientology compound with a prison-like atmosphere and long, grueling work hours. "[Gold Base is] a compoundwhere your mail going out is read before its seal and sent out, where before you get your mail, it's opened and read before you get it," Ron told 20/20. "Phone calls, you're on the phone, somebody else is listening on an extension." Though the church claims Gold Base residents can leave at any time, former Gold Base security guard Gary Morehead told a different story: "I used to have to keep a statistic which is a printed out graph of security threats, and that was the people who wanted to leave or the people who had left that we brought back and were undergoing handling." One morning, Ron and his wife Becky left the compound under the guise of going to a music studio and never returned. Former Scientologist Leah Remini offered to let David Miscavige's family live with her until they were able to find a home of their own. But they had not escaped the church entirely. David Miscavige hired private investigators to follow Ron Miscavige's every move for years after his escape. A representative for Scientology claimed the investigators were hired by church lawyers and not David. Ron Miscavige's memoir about his son and time in the church, Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me, will be released on May 3. Malia Obama may be going to Harvard, but the brainy 17-year-old is in no rush. Shes taking a gap year before enrolling with the freshman class of 2017, the White House announced Sunday. Theres a certain stigma around taking a year off before college in the U.S. images of slipper-clad teens binge-watching Netflix come to mind but there are plenty of higher education leaders who would love to see more American students follow in Malias footsteps. Proponents like the American Gap Association, a nonprofit that accredits some gap year programs in the U.S., argue that gap years help better prepare students for college and can even help them graduate faster. It takes most college students six years to complete a four-year degree, a trend often blamed on switching majors or transferring schools. When students have time to try their hand at different professions or areas of study before they choose a major, they may avoid the kind of costly academic changes that can delay graduation. A gap year is structured and intentional time, says Andrea Wien, author of Gap to Great: The Parents Guide to a Gap Year. Theyre planning this out, setting goals and thinking about what types of activities theyre interested in when theyre not bound by obligations. Many colleges today allow students to defer their acceptance for up to one year, with certain requirements. For example, at Harvard, students arent allowed to earn any academic credit from another institution during their time off. Other schools, like Boston University and the University of Maryland, require students to make a nonrefundable deposit usually several hundred dollars to reserve their spot. (The AGA keeps a running list of school requirements on its website). One important point parents and students should know before planning a gap year is that it isnt a vacation. A gap year is really time where you can explore potential career opportunities, maybe travel and have some experiences outside of the bubble of the classroom, Wien says. Story continues Students can spend a gap year simply working a full-time job, but traditional gap years involve a mix of paid and volunteer work in a field that interests the student. Harvard University graduate Liza MacEachern, 24, broke her gap year into several chapters. She volunteered at a mix of nonprofits (Teach for America, Dress for Success), an orphanage, and spent several months working on a farm in Italy through a foundation called Spannocchia. Throughout her gap year, she earned extra cash by babysitting. Liza spent part of her gap year in Italy, working on an organic farm, before enrolling at Harvard University. I sort of reached this point where I wasnt looking forward to going to school, she told Yahoo Finance. I knew college was an important time so I reached a point where I decided I needed to take a year off. MacEachern started planning her gap year with her end goal a spring internship at an organic farm in Tuscany, Italy. See reached out to her network of family and friends to find enough volunteer work to flesh out the rest of the year. At volunteer gigs in Houston and Boston, she stayed with family to cover her housing. Her parents paid her way to Italy, and she earned money for food and housing by working 8-hour days on the farm. I just felt as a female that I was able to gain a lot of confidence in who I was and a more direct idea of what I wanted to do, she said. I had more responsibility for myself. Gap years can get expensive, costing families anywhere from $500 to as much as $50,000. The bills can especially skyrocket when students set their sights overseas. Parents may have saved for four years of school and an extra year is not really in their budget, Wien says. To help ease sticker shock, some schools, such as Florida State University, and gap year programs offer scholarship dollars. Theres a list of other gap year scholarships on Americangap.org. Another way organizations help reduce cost is by organizing home stays, group lodging with other volunteers, or arrangements where volunteers work for lodging and food. AmeriCorps takes volunteers ages 18 to 24 and provides a monthly living stipend. Like MacEachern, students can find internships or volunteer work close to home to save on housing and travel expenses. For parents, the hardest part about agreeing to a gap year is allowing their kid to break out of the traditional four-year school mold. A gap year is a good way to give a student some independence and build up their resilience, Wien says. If theyre faced with home sickness or failure, theyre going to have already had that experience when they start college. And theyve had to get through it on their own. After her gap year, McEachern went on to study human evolutionary biology, a branch of anthropology, and now works as an analyst for a Boston-based financial firm. Theres plenty of support for students and families planning a gap year online. Wien has launched her own Facebook community for so-called gappers and the AGA has a wealth of resources online. Check with your schools career services department for information as well. Mandi Woodruff is a reporter for Yahoo Finance and host of Brown Ambition, a weekly podcast about career, life and money. Read more: 9 little-known Amazon Prime perks Inside the secret world of womens tackle football See the laundry detergent ad that has everyone talking about gender roles COPENHAGEN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Denmark extended temporary controls at its border with Germany on Monday, imposed to help control an influx of migrants, as the European Commission confirmed it would shortly authorize more such extensions within the passport-free Schengen zone. Seven members of the Schengen zone, including Germany and Denmark, have introduced temporary border controls after more than one million migrants entered the European Union last year, mostly via Greece. The European Commission, struggling to prevent the collapse of the Schengen accord, is expected this month to allow EU member states to retain the emergency border checks, which are due to expire in May, for a while longer. Denmark, which first introduced border checks on Jan. 4 in response to similar steps by its northern neighbor Sweden, said it had prolonged them by a further 30 days to June 2, citing concerns about illegal immigration. In Brussels, Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said: "By May 12 at the latest (the Commission) should have a decision ready which would allow (us) to prolong internal border controls under the Schengen Borders Code." "We have a decision on this ready for next Wednesday," she told a daily news briefing. Countries that first resorted to internal border checks blamed Greece - Europe's main point of entry for the refugees and migrants fleeing wars and poverty in the Middle East and Africa - for not controlling its part of Schengen's external border well enough. The Commission launched a procedure against Greece on that basis, which allows it to approve a further extension of the temporary border checks other countries have introduced. Brussels can authorize border checks inside Schengen to be in place for a maximum of two years in total. A European Commission source told Reuters it was leaning toward allowing their extension until November. The move will be welcomed by Germany, which had asked Brussels for the extension. Even though Greece has improved its record considerably since first being criticized by Brussels, there are still "some deficiencies" in its border management, Andreeva said. (Reporting by Ole Mikkelsen and Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Gareth Jones) (Reuters) - Detroit Public Schools closed nearly all of its 97 schools on Monday as hundreds of teachers called in sick to protest the cash-strapped city's revelation that it will soon run out of money to pay employees. The shutdown due to "teacher sickouts" was announced on the website for Michigan's largest public school system with 45,786 students, which has been under state control since 2009. Detroit Federation of Teachers Interim President Ivy Bailey said in a statement on Sunday that the district was "effectively locking our members out of the classrooms" by failing to guarantee that teachers will be paid once the fiscal year wraps up on June 30. "There's a basic agreement in America: When you put in a day's work, you'll receive a day's pay," Bailey said in a statement. The Michigan legislature approved $48.7 million in supplemental funding but that will allow the district to meet payroll only through the end of June, said Steven Rhodes, a former federal bankruptcy judge who is the schools' emergency manager. He urged state lawmakers to approve a $715 million rescue plan that would create a new Detroit Education Commission, with broad authority to control new school openings for the next five years. Without that extra money, teachers on an annual 26-paycheck cycle will go unpaid and there will be no funds available for Summer School or year-round special education services, Rhodes said. "Working without pay is the straw that breaks the camels back," Bailey said. "Teachers have mortgage payments, utility bills, grocery bills. Being paid for their work isnt a luxury, its a necessity," Bailey said. (Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York) Detroit's got a major problem on its hands this Teacher Appreciation Day. Most of its teachers are fed up so fed up, in fact, that they're staging a district-wide teacher sickout that's forced 94 of the city's 97 public schools to close on Monday. The protests come after Detroit Public Schools' emergency manager Steven Rhodes announced in an email to teachers Friday that the city's finances were so bad that it wouldn't be able to make payroll after more than $48 million in state emergency aid runs out on June 30. "The $48.7 million in supplemental funding recently passed by the Michigan Legislature will provide enough funding for DPS to pay all employees through the end of the fiscal year, on June 30, 2016," Rhodes wrote in the email to teachers. "However, without the passage of the more comprehensive $715 million education reform package that is now being considered by the Michigan House of Representatives, there will be no funds available to pay any of our employees." Shut it down #DPS #shutitdown #supportdpsteacherspic.twitter.com/ZlT6Hd6ctO https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Chdd5GDU4AAbBnM.jpg:large The protests highlight rising tensions between public workers in the city and its Republican-led state government, which workers have argued wields outsized power in the economically distressed city. "This is about getting local control back of our schools," Mayowa Reynolds, a dance and performing arts teacher at Detroit's Cass Technical High School, said in a phone interview with Mic. "Legislators don't want to do that and they're using teachers and students as pawns in their political fight." Privatizing public education. That fight has become increasingly pitched in Detroit, whose schools the state seized control of in 1999. In March 2009, Robert Bobb, the first of five emergency managers officials who are appointed by governor Rob Snyder without any public input was appointed to manage the district's finances. (Michigan's emergency manager law was expanded in 2011 and has been widely blamed for Flint's water crisis). Currently, the state's legislature is considering a bill that would create the Detroit Education Commission, made up of three public school and three charter school representatives, to determine which of the district's schools could be closed. The bill would also split the Detroit Public School district in two and introduce controversial A-F grades for schools, moves that many of the school's current teachers see as concessions to charter school operators. Story continues For teachers like Reynolds, Rhodes' claim that the district is broke also reads as a concession that the state's reliance on emergency managers is a mistake. "The state has been running the schools since 1999, so the debt that's been created has been created under their watch," Reynolds said. Detroit's K-12 schools have changed drastically in recent years. In the six years between 2009 and 2015, the district's enrollment has fallen 50%, from 95,000 students to 48,900. More than 90 schools have been closed, and there are calls to close 24 others. While public schools have shuttered, charter school enrollment has steadily risen. Between 2010 and 2013, charter schools grew by 42%, with 32 new schools opening. That rapid growth has made Detroit the third-largest market for charter schools in the country, behind New Orleans and Washington, D.C. "It's just a privatization orgy," Elena Herrada, a current member of the Detroit Board of Education, said in a phone interview about what's led up to Monday's sickout. "It's not complicated, [but] what is complicated is the various things [emergency managers] do to justify [the takeover]." Herrada pointed out that Rhodes, who's now the emergency manager overseeing the city's schools, is a retired judge who previously presided over the city's bankruptcy proceedings. "They want to remove any public oversight of the schools, which is me and 10 other school board members." The fight continues. Monday's sickout is the second such protest waged by Detroit's teachers in 2016. The first happened in January, when 85 closed for the day as teachers took to the streets to protest deplorable conditions of their school buildings. They also tweeted photos of stained ceilings, do-it-yourself paint jobs and disgusting-looking student lunches. Toilets that leaks into a pre-school classroom. DPS @ktwomeyMEdpic.twitter.com/2lH8VKyTMZ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYnMY56UMAM9aoh.jpg:large In case the legislature has forgotten. This is the current situation. Time to try democracy. #supportDPSteacherspic.twitter.com/iBf9aASQTu https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CboQHy8VAAMdUYx.jpg:large This is the lunch for HS students. Is this a healthy/filling lunch? This is it until home. #supportDPSteacherspic.twitter.com/8r9zVKzGgI https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbGSqQJUAAA3NsJ.jpg:large With Friday's news that $48.7 million has come and gone, teachers and students are left wondering: Where did all that money go? The city's remaining 2,600 teachers are now calling for an audit of the school district's finances to find out. "Most teachers in Detroit that work here, we teach because we live here, we love here, we're here for the children," Reynolds said. "We can't work for free." Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) disclosed that it hired Kelly Youngblood as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective May 3. According to the company, Youngblood would succeed Gary Krenek as he was set to retire after 33 years of service to the Company and its predecessors. Diamond Offshore Drilling President and CEO Marc Edwards commented, "We are very pleased to have someone with Kelly's industry knowledge, finance and accounting expertise and existing relationships throughout the investment community assume the role of Chief Financial Officer. Gary has made significant contributions to Diamond Offshore over his long career, which includes 18 years as Chief Financial Officer. As the longest serving CFO in the offshore drilling industry, he will be missed, and we wish him well in his retirement." The company stated Youngblood held a variety of managerial positions with Halliburton Company joining it in 1988 as a Staff Accountant. He also served in numerous financial management positions for Halliburton and its subsidiaries. That included Senior Director, Finance - Western Hemisphere and Director, External Reporting and Accounting Research. The stock shed 0.12 percent on Friday. See more from Benzinga 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Suspected phone scammers are taken into custody in Beijing in 2012. (Photo : Reuters) Mobile phone scammers have almost victimized Lei Jun, the billionaire chairman and CEO of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, who complained about receiving a phishing text message on his Sina Weibo account on Wednesday, April 26, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Advertisement According to Lei, the scammers sent the message using the number 95555, the official hotline of China Merchants Bank. The first message read: "China Merchants Bank notice: your account has been locked, please log onto m.cmbghna.com to register under your real name, or your bank card will be cancelled." The second message said: "China Merchants Bank urgent notice: your mobile bank account will expire today, please log onto m.cmbghna.com to register again and if no re-registration is conducted, your bank card will be cancelled." Lei also posted screenshots of the phishing messages he received over the past month, the report said. "Text message scams are so rampant. I just received another one. Everybody be careful!" Lei added. "Dear customer, your mobile banking service will expire tomorrow. Please log on to [the site] for verification," a message sent to Lei on Tuesday, April 26, said. Lei's previous posts were mostly on Xiaomi and other tech news, but with his recent posts about the scam, thousands of social media users reacted. "I have a friend who was cheated out of 200,000 yuan ($30,800)," one Weibo user wrote. Another user asked Lei what he would do to stop the fraudulent messages. "Mr. Lei, can you make a smartphone that can detect all these scams?" microblogger "C Luoxuan" asked. Some peers in the industry took time to make fun of Lei's experience and promote their brands. "When it comes to detecting phishing messages, 360 is the expert. Mr. Lei should communicate with us more often," Zhou Hongyi, chairman of Qihoo 360, wrote. "I suggest you switch to Huawei smartphones, and these scams won't bother you anymore," said product manager Li Xiaolong from Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi's rival phone maker. According to the report, mobile phone users in China lose thousands of yuan from phishing text messages and phone scams every year. Recently, authorities nabbed 62 persons suspected to be involved in a 117-million-yuan scam in Guizhou Province believed to be the biggest telecom fraud case in the country. What Drove Eli Lilly's 1Q16 Revenue Growth? (Continued from Prior Part) Endocrinology franchise As discussed earlier, Eli Lillys (LLY) human pharmaceuticals segment reported an increase of ~5.5% at ~$4,110 million for 1Q16, as compared to ~$3,895 million for 1Q15. This segment deals with different therapeutic areas including endocrinology, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular, and others. The endocrinology franchise contributed ~36.1% of total revenues for Eli Lilly. Some of the franchises blockbuster drugs are Humalog, Humulin, and Forteo. Humalog The Humalog portfolio consists of different meal-time insulin products used to lower the blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. The sales for Humalog products decreased by ~11.4% to $606 million during 1Q16, as compared to $684 million for 1Q15. US sales fell ~14% in the US and 7% internationally. The decrease was due to a fall in the drugs realized prices following the changes in rebate estimates and discounts. This decrease is a temporary effect, and the revenues will recover growth in coming quarters. Humalog competes with Novolog from Novo Nordisk (NVO) while Sanofi (SNY) is developing a biosimilar for Humalog. Humulin The Humulin portfolio consists of concentrated insulin products used to lower the blood sugar levels in patients with type-one and type-two diabetes mellitus. These are used in cases where patients require a higher dosage of insulin. The sales of Humulin products increased by ~12.9% to $356 million in 1Q16, as compared to ~$316 million in 1Q15. This includes an increase of ~34% in the US sales and a decrease of 15% in international sales. The increase was due to higher realized prices following changes in government rebates and partially due to the increased sales. Forteo Forteo, another blockbuster drug from Eli Lilly, is used in the treatment of osteoporosis. Forteo sales rose by ~8.7% to $318.6 million in 1Q16, as compared to ~$293 million in 1Q15. This includes an increase of ~21% in US sales and flat international sales. The increase was due to higher realized prices following changes in government rebates in the US markets, partially offset by lower realized prices due to price revision in Japan and the negative impact of foreign exchange in international markets. Story continues Some other drugs for osteoporosis include Allergans (ACT) Actonel and Roches (RHHBY) subsidiary Genentechs Boniva. Investors can consider ETFs like the Market Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF (PPH), which invests 4.6% of its portfolio in Eli Lilly or the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), which holds ~0.5% of its total assets in Eli Lilly. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Exxon Mobils 1Q16 Earnings: Downstream, Chemicals Save the Day Exxon Mobils 1Q16 performance Exxon Mobil (XOM) posted its 1Q16 results on April 29, 2016. Before we proceed with an earnings review, lets quickly examine XOMs 1Q16 performance compared to the estimates. In 1Q16, XOMs revenues surpassed Wall Street estimates by 10%. The companys 1Q16 EPS (earnings per share) stood at $0.43, about 49% higher than the estimated EPS of $0.29. However, this was 63% lower than the 1Q15 adjusted EPS of $1.20. Exxon Mobils 1Q16 earnings Exxon Mobil (XOM) saw a decline in earnings from $4.9 billion in 1Q15 to $1.8 billion in 1Q16. This was due to a loss in its upstream segment. Its downstream segment saw a decline in earnings. This was partly offset by a rise in XOMs chemical segment earnings. Earnings from the upstream segment declined from $2.9 billion in 1Q15 to -$76 million in 1Q16 due to the steep fall in oil prices. WTI (West Texas Intermediate) average prices fell from $49 per barrel in 1Q15 to $33 per barrel in 1Q16. XOMs downstream segment saw its earnings fall from $1.7 billion in 1Q15 to $0.91 billion in 1Q16 due to lower margins. Well take a detailed look at XOMs quarterly segment-wise performance in the next part. Exxon Mobils peers BP (BP) and Total (TOT) have also witnessed a decline in their 1Q16 adjusted earnings compared to 1Q15 due to a fall in their upstream earnings. According to Wall Street estimates, Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) is expected to post lower EPS in 1Q16 compared to 1Q15. The PowerShares Dynamic Large Cap Value ETF (PWV) has ~11% exposure to energy sector stocks. Next, lets look at Exxon Mobils segments in 1Q16. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: What Can Investors Expect from Hain Celestial's 3Q16 Results? (Continued from Prior Part) Hain Celestials performance in 2Q16 Hain Celestial Groups (HAIN) fiscal 2Q16 had the strongest revenue performance in its history. The net sales for 2Q16 were $752.6 milliona rise of 8.1% YoY (year-over-year). The company showed strong sales growth in constant currency terms in some of its major brands including Plainville Farms, Tilda, Ellas Kitchen, Sun-Pat, The Greek Gods, Alba Botanica, and Avalon Organics. The Empire, Kosher Valley, Joya, and Live Clean brands acquired after fiscal 2Q15 also contributed to the revenue growth. However, foreign exchange had an impact of $18.3 million on the revenue. Earnings rose The company has been on an overall positive earnings growth trend since fiscal 1Q11. The 2Q16 EPS (earnings per share) also increased 6% to $0.57compared to $0.54 in 2Q15. However, there was a slight impact of $0.01 per diluted share from foreign currencies. The company also beat analysts estimates by 5.6% for fiscal 2Q16. The fiscal 2Q16 EPS were a little ahead of the guidance provided by the company. Gross margin fell Various factors were responsible for the decrease in the gross margin for 2Q16. The factors included the composition of the companys US segment sales mix, increased investment in trade spending in the US to drive current and future consumption, the impact of Project Castle, and the cost of US dollar purchases in the companys Canadian business. Peers performance Hain Celestials competitors in the industry include Cal-Maine Foods (CALM), Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (MJN), and Pinnacle Foods (PF). They recorded revenue of $450 million, $967 million, and $722 million, respectively, for their last reported quarters. The PowerShares DWA Consumer Staples Momentum Portfolio (PSL) invests 1.3% of its holdings in Pinnacle Foods. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: What Do National Oilwell Varco's Fiscal 1Q16 Earnings Tell Investors? (Continued from Prior Part) National Oilwell Varcos share price National Oilwell Varco released its financial results for fiscal 1Q16 on April 28, 2016. Its share price reacted positively. It rose ~4.4% to $33.10 from the previous days close. Since the beginning of this year, its share price is down ~4%. Schlumberger (SLB) released its financial information for fiscal 1Q16 on April 21. It saw an ~2% decrease in its share price on the day of the earnings release. National Oilwell Varcos share price returns compared to the industry In the past year, National Oilwell Varcos stock has returned -33% (net of dividends) until April 28. It underperformed the Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH). OIH returned -19%. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE), the broader energy industry ETF, had a -16% return. National Oilwell Varco underperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). SPY produced ~1% returns during the same period. National Oilwell Varco outperformed the US rig count. It returned -54% in the past year. Does National Oilwell Varco see a deterioration in the order backlog? National Oilwell Varcos Completion & Production Solutions beat the Rig Systems segment in terms of new order additions in fiscal 1Q16. Its fiscal 1Q16 order additions in the Rig Systems segment fell 59% to $97 millioncompared to $236 million in fiscal 1Q15. National Oilwell Varco derived $770 million in revenue out of the segment backlog during the latest quarterdown 66% from fiscal 1Q15. Its Completion & Production Solutions segment order addition was $328 million in fiscal 1Q16nearly unchanged from a year ago. National Oilwell Varco derived $330 million in revenue out of the segment backlogdown 41% from fiscal 1Q15. However, a potential bankruptcy of SETE, National Oilwell Varcos customer in Brazil, could provide a blow to its backlog. This could reduce National Oilwell Varcos returns going forward. Read What Challenges Does National Oilwell Varco Face before Recovery? to learn about National Oilwell Varco in more detail. Story continues Next, well discuss Wall Street analysts targets for National Oilwell Varco. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: (Thinkstock) If you prefer staying in on a Saturday night to catch up on some reading rather than having a movie date with your closest friends, you might be better off. New research published in the British Journal of Psychology says smart people are happier when they spend less time with their friends. Researchers studied the living patterns, relationships and IQ of 15,000 people between the ages of 18 and 28. Their findings have been labeled paleo-happiness. ALSO SEE: How to tell if your products are actually green According to the theory, also known as the savanna theory of happiness, people are more content when they live like our ancestors did - in less populated areas and frequently interacting with their peers. Lead authors of the study, Satoshi Kanazawa of the London School of Economics and Norman Li from the Singapore Management University, theorize that people who live in more densely populated areas are less satisfied with their life. The evolutionary psychologists also discovered that individuals are happier when they spend more time with their close friends. However, the findings differed for those with a higher IQ. The authors write, more intelligent individuals were actually less satisfied with life if they socialized with their friends more frequently. According to Kanazawa and Li this is because brighter people are better at adapting to busier cities, like Manhattan, and dont need constant companionship. A happiness researcher from the Brookings Institute, Carol Graham, notes that intelligent people may be preoccupied with other tasks that require more seclusion - like writing a book. ALSO SEE: Breast cancer charity uses clever trick to get past social media nudity censorship The findings in here suggest (and it is no surprise) that those with more intelligence and capacity to use it are less likely to spend so much time socializing because they are focused on some other longer term objective, she tells The Washington Post. While these are some interesting ideas to consider, keep in mind that paleo-happiness is just a theory - so even if you do prefer spending your time alone, try and see your friends every once in a while! What do you think of the findings from this new study? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA. Dolly Partons Coat of Many Colors, the NBC film based on Partons classic song about her mothers love, hits DVD on May 3, just in time for Mothers Day. When the film aired last December, it was a hit with critics and audiences alike. Related: Dolly Partons Coat of Many Colors Is A Sentimental Beauty Through the years, people loved the song, but they really loved the movie. I was just so proud that it touched peoples lives in the way that it did, Parton tells Yahoo TV in the video interview above. You never know if somethings gonna be hit or not, and something so personal to you you dont know if its too personal. The film, which became the top-rated TV movie on a broadcast network in more than six years, dives deep into a family tragedy that shook but ultimately strengthened both the Partons faith and the relationship between young Dolly (Alyvia Alyn Lind) and her mother (Jennifer Nettles). Related: Why the Coat in Dolly Partons 'Coat of Many Colors TV Movie Doesnt Look Like the Real One It has brought families together, and its made peoples faith a little stronger. Its like, Oh great, Im glad you talked about God. Im glad you talked about your faith. I think that it really was meaningful to a lot of people, Parton says. I miss that type of stuff on TV myself, like The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie and those sorts of things. I wondered if there was a market for it, and evidently there still is. In fact, if producers can assemble the same cast, including Rick Schroder as Dollys dad Parton would love to do another movie, perhaps with a Christmas theme, or maybe even a series. (For the record, wed watch a movie centered on an older Dolly and the creation of Dollywood.) In the meantime, Parton will be back in her beloved Tennessee on May 6 for Dollys Homecoming Parade, Pigeon Forges 31st annual salute to its hometown star. For the first time, the parade which Dolly will lead from atop a float themed for her new theater in town, Dolly Partons Lumberjack Adventure Dinner & Show, will be streamed live on her Facebook page. Story continues In June, shell hit the road for her largest North American tour in over two decades in support of her forthcoming album Pure & Simple with Dollys Biggest Hits. That gave us an excuse to ask Parton a very important question: Does she name her wigs? Her answer below. And finally, on September 9, Rhino will release The Complete Trio Collection, a remastered three-CD set of the two albums Parton recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris Trio (1987) and Trio II (1999). The third CD features 20 songs, including alternate takes of album tracks and 11 previously unreleased recordings from the trio spanning both album sessions. Dolly Partons Coat of Many Colors hits DVD May 3. Politician Donald Trump, now leading in the Republican primaries, is strongly anti-immigrant. But Businessman Trump wants more high-skill visas and hires foreign workers in his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort. Which one is right? Here is Politician Trumps position on immigration on his website: The influx of foreign workers holds down salaries, keeps unemployment high, and makes it difficult for poor and working class Americans including immigrants themselves and their children to earn a middle class wage. Related: Heres the Problem With Trumps Plan to Pay for the Border Wall And here is Businessman Trumps position in the March 3 Republican debate on Fox News, Theyll go to Harvard, theyll go to Stanford, theyll go to Wharton, as soon as theyre finished theyll get shoved out. They want to stay in this country. They want to stay here desperately; theyre not able to stay here. For that purpose, we absolutely have to be able to keep the brain power in this country. Will the real Donald please stand up? And lets hope that its not Politician Trump. Economic growth and employment in the United States could be improved by bringing in workers from abroad because employment is not a zero-sum game. Neither the economy nor jobs are a fixed pie to be divided, with more for some resulting in less for others. Rather, employment is a dynamic cycle always poised for growth. Greater immigration would allow the U.S. economy to operate more efficiently, creating more jobs for native-born Americans. In 2014, immigrants represented 29 percent of all new entrepreneurs, according to the Kauffman Foundations 2015 Index of Startup Activity. According to the Index, Immigrants continue to be almost twice as likely as the native-born to become entrepreneurs, with the Rate of New Entrepreneurs being 0.52 percent for immigrants, as opposed to 0.27 percent for the native-born. Related: Outrageous! $1 Billion to Post One Form on Immigration Site New Entrepreneurs by Nativity Immigrants tend to have different skills from the native-born population that complement the skills of the U.S. labor force and have only a small effect on wages, concludes University of California at Davis professor Giovanni Peri. Immigrants make the economy more efficient by reducing bottlenecks caused by labor shortages, both in high-skill and low-skill areas. Story continues Those skills and job preferences complement rather than substitute for native-born workers, too, making U.S. workers more productive and attracting capital that takes advantage of new opportunities for growth. Although immigrants will be substitutes for some primarily low-skilled workers, many of whom are also immigrants, the negative effect on such workers is much smaller than the positive effect for everyone else. The economy as a whole gains, with substantially more winners than losers, even in the short term. In our society, this makes it possible for the winners to compensate those who lose from immigration and still come out ahead. Related: Trump Out of Step With Americans Over Immigration Policy In 2014, 42 percent of students who got PhDs in physics and 37 percent who got PhDs in chemistry were foreign non-resident visa holders, according to National Science Foundation data. The United States would be better off if these students could stay here and add to the wealth of the country, as Businessman Trump has pointed out, rather than being sent home. Previous research by Tel Aviv University professor Neil Gandal, University of Michigan professor Gordon Hanson, and Dartmouth University professor Matthew Slaughter has noted that the influx of Russian immigration to Israel did not lower wages. Nor did University of California (Berkeley) professor David Card find that the Mariel boatlift affected wages in Miami. As Businessman Trump knows, Americas goal should be an immigration policy that fosters economic growth. We should be giving visas to those skilled and unskilled workers who can contribute to the U.S. economy. Politician Trump, its already time to retire. This commentary was originally published on Economics 21, a website of the Manhattan Institute. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Image via Instagram Image via Instagram During a recent conversation with Zane Lowe, Drake said he has some other songs in the stash, that hes gonna have an arsenal of songs that have nothing to do with Views. It turns out this may not have been just an off-the-cuff comment, and that he really might be ready to release another project very soon. During a performance in Toronto this weekend, Drake addressed the crowd and said, Just because Views came out, it doesnt mean theres not new music on the way, so Ill see you soon. Given Drakes recent level of productivity, a new release from him this quickly isnt out of the question: Views is his third major project since February 2015, following his mixtapes If Youre Reading This Its Too Late and What a Time to Be Alive. Watch Drake deliver the news himself below. The post Drake Has New Music On The Way appeared first on Pigeons & Planes. More from Pigeons & Planes 10s of journalists start a 2-day sit-in at the union's HQ after security stormed building to arrest 2 wanted colleagues; union board calls for sacking of interior minister; police deny breaking law in raid Egypt's Press Syndicate has called for the immediate sacking of the interior minister and a general assembly on Wednesday in protest of the storming of its headquarters Sunday evening, in what it said was a first since its founding 75 years ago. The union condemned what it described as a "barbaric attack" and a "flagrant assault" on journalists and the press after security forces stormed the downtown Cairo building and arrested two journalists. In the early hours of Monday morning, shortly after the incident, tens of journalists, lawyers and human rights activists started a sit-at at the syndicate to protest the storming and the arrest of journalists Amr Badr and Mahmoud El-Sakka. In an urgent meeting convened by the syndicate's board and attended by hundreds of journalists, the union called for the "immediate dismissal" of the interior minister. "The syndicate's board affirms that the 'calamity' of the aggression against the syndicate's headquarters--in violation of the law, the constitution and all political, national and international norms--can't be erased without the dismissal of the interior minister." The syndicate has called on members to continue a round-the-clock sit-in at the HQ until Wednesday's general assembly which was set for 1pm Wednesday. The board also invited all editors-in-chief of all major public and private newspapers and all former members of the board to a meeting on 12pm that day. On Monday afternoon, tens of journalists and supporters sat inside the lobby of the union's HQ to escape blistering sun on the building's steps. The members of the board convened a round-the-clock session on the premises, and popped out of their meeting room every now and then to update members and answer queries. Later in the afternoon, as the heat subsided, tens of journalists came out of the lobby carrying their cameras and pens to chant against what they described as police thuggery. Amr Badr, editor-in-chief and founder of Yanair (January) news portal, and journalist Mahmoud El-Sakka, who works for the same website, were staging a sit-in in the syndicate to protest against their arrest warrants as well as the storming of their homes by security forces last month. Badr and El-Sakka are veterans of both the 2011 revolution that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and the Tamarod movement that spearheaded the movement to oust Mubarak's successor, Islamist Mohamed Morsi, in 2013. Ministry and union differ on story The interior ministry said in a statement Monday morning that it followed all legal procedures while carrying out the arrests and had secured the approval of the prosecution prior to entering the union. The ministry said it had sent a force comprised of eight officers who apprehended the two journalists "without any use of force." The two journalists are accused of "inciting violation of the protest law, disrupting security and attempting to destabilise the country," the ministry added, saying both journalists sought to use the syndicate building to avoid arrest. Egyptian press law mandates that the police must obtain the approval of the general prosecution before entering the premises of the union, and can only do so in the presence of the head of the union. The ministry stressed in its the statement that it "appreciates journalists and the patriotic role they play," while stressing its "respect for freedom of opinion and expression." The ministry added that the two journalists have been referred to prosecutors for questioning. Syndicate head Yehia Qallash and other journalists said the ministry's move was a clear violation of Egyptian press law. "Security forces should have informed the syndicate beforehand ... what happened is unprecedented in the history of the syndicate [which was founded in 1941]," Qallash said in TV comments Sunday Qallash told CBC TV that around 50 security personnel broke into the syndicate to execute the arrest warrants against Badr and El-Sakka. Professional unions support Sameh Ashour, head of the Lawyers' Syndicate, denounced the ministry's storming of the "sister" journalists' union and declared solidarity with journalists, stressing that lawyers have a stake in defending freedom of expression and the press. A dozen members of the lawyers syndicate are currently facing charges of breaking the protest law. Several other professional syndicates have condemned Sunday's storming of the Press Syndicate. The engineering syndicate denounced on Monday morning the interior ministry's actions as a "disgraceful aggression," and called for an immediate probe into the circumstances surrounding the journalists' arrests. The syndicate added that it will provide "full support" to the press syndicate during any legal proceedings against the interior ministry. The Doctor's Syndicate also issued a statement on declaring solidarity with the journalists, and stressed its readiness to back any legal actions the Press Syndicate plans to take against this unprecedented attack on professional unions. A small coalition of independent MPs known as 25-30 block also condemned the police attack and the arrests, calling it an "unjustifiable escalation against opinion makers." The MPs called on Prime Minister Sherif Ismail to issue an official apology to the union and demanded the release of all those arrested since the first anti-island protest of 15 April. Police arrested scores of journalists during the events but later released them after syndicate intervention with the ministry of interior. Search Keywords: Short link: Stocks (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC, ^RUT) are up modestly at midday after a disappointing close to the month of April. Financials (XLF) and Consumer Discretionary (XLY) are leading, while energy (XLE) is lagging, mirroring the downturn in crude oil. Keith Bliss of Cuttone & Co. joins us live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for more on the markets. Joining Alexis Christoforous to discuss some of the other big stories of the day are Yahoo Finance's Nicole Sinclair and Melody Hahm. ECB publishes evidence that key U.S. data is leaked This morning, the ECB published a report that used statistical data to show that it's very likely that information is being leaked and traded on ahead of big U.S. reports. This brings to focus the allegations of leaks by the Federal Reserve. Nigeria, Angola downgraded by Moody's on oil concerns It wouldn't be a day in the markets without another big oil story. Crude has rallied nearly 80% off its February lows, which has had ripple effects across the globe. Moody's downgraded the credit ratings of four African nations, including the two largest oil producers on the continent, Nigeria and Angola. Chinese investor pays $200k for Buffett face time In case you missed it, Yahoo Finance live streamed the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting on Saturday. Of course, Warren Buffett was his usual charming, folksy self. It's no surprise that the event drew 40,000 attendees, as people just can't get close enough to the Oracle of Omaha. One person recently paid 200,000 dollars for some Buffett face time. Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian authorities on Monday ordered the detention of two journalists for 15 days after their arrest on allegations of incitement to protest, a judicial source said. The decision comes a day after police stormed the headquarters of the journalists' association in central Cairo and arrested Amr Badr and Mahmud el-Sakka. A judicial source on Sunday said the pair had been wanted for alleged incitement to protest in violation of the law. On Monday, the prosecutor of the Shubra al-Khaimah district of Cairo said the pair would be held for 15 days as part of an investigation which also includes allegations they had called for a "coup". Badr heads the website Babawet Yanayer which is opposed to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sakka works for the same organisation whose Arabic name means January Gate in a nod to the January 2011 uprising. Sakka had announced on Facebook plans to join April protests against a decision by the government to hand over to Saudi Arabia two Red Sea islands. Authorities arrested more than 1,200 people after the protests, with dozens still in detention, according to a group of lawyers who defend activists. In July 2013, Sisi, then the army chief, overthrew Egypt's Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and began a deadly crackdown on his supporters. Authorities have since banned all but police-approved rallies and overseen a crackdown that has left hundreds of Morsi supporters dead and thousands imprisoned. Several secular and leftist activists who spearheaded the 2011 uprising against longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak have also been jailed. Meanwhile the journalists' association has denounced the police raid targeting its headquarters and called for the resignation of the interior minister. CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian police raided the press syndicate in Cairo late on Sunday and arrested two journalists critical of the government, a syndicate official and reporters said in what the labor union called an unprecedented crackdown on the media. Labor union officials said this was the first time that police had raided its building -- a traditional spot in downtown Cairo for staging protests -- as authorities seek to quell rising dissent against President Abdel Fattah Sisi. The interior ministry denied officers had stormed the press labor union building but confirmed it had arrested journalists Mahmoud El Sakka and Amr Badr who work for the opposition website Bawabet Yanayer inside the syndicate. Hundreds of officers have been deployed in central Cairo since protests erupted on April 15 against Sisi's decision to hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia, with thousands calling for the government to fall, a slogan from the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. Police dispersed smaller protests two weeks later. The protests signal that the former general, who is also under fire because of the struggling economy, no longer enjoys the broad public support that allowed him to round up thousands of opponents after he seized power in 2013. On Sunday, journalists held a sit-in inside the union when officers arrested the two reporters, syndicate officials said. "The press syndicate calls for the resignation of the interior minister and an open sit-in," the union said in a statement. Mahmoud Kamel, a member of the syndicate board, said over 40 policemen raided the building but the interior ministry said its force consisted of only eight officers. "The ministry affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two journalists who handed themselves in as soon as they were told there was an arrest warrant," the interior ministry said in a statement. A security guard was wounded in the eye when police raided the union, Kamel said. CRITICISM The state prosecutor said it had ordered the arrest of the two reporters as they were being investigated for "spreading news based on lies" and possessing fire arms and Molotov cocktails, state news agency MENA said. "This is unprecedented, no president or prime minister or interior minister has ever dared to do something like this," Kamel said. Under the law only a prosecutor is allowed to search the union in the presence of its chairman or deputy, he added. Dozens of journalists later held a new sit-in at the syndicate to protest against the arrest but police closed off streets to the building on Monday. Sisi faces criticism for putting the uninhabited Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi waters though there are no signs that his rule is under threat. However, even local media, which once suggested he could do no wrong, have been saying the government has mishandled a series of crises, from a probe into the killing of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, 28, in Cairo, to a bomb that brought down a Russian airliner in the Sinai Peninsula last October. Torture marks on Regeni's body prompted rights groups to conclude he died at the hands of security forces, which Egypt denies. That revived complaints of police brutality, one of the issues that led Egyptians to challenge the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak toppled in 2011. (Reporting by Cairo newsroom; Editing by Andrew Hay and Richard Balmforth) CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian police raided the press syndicate in Cairo late on Sunday and arrested two journalists critical of the government, a syndicate official and reporters said in what the labour union called an unprecedented crackdown on the media. Labour union officials said this was the first time that police had raided its building -- a traditional spot in downtown Cairo for staging protests -- as authorities seek to quell rising dissent against President Abdel Fattah Sisi. The interior ministry denied officers had stormed the press labour union building but confirmed it had arrested journalists Mahmoud El Sakka and Amr Badr who work for the opposition website Bawabet Yanayer inside the syndicate. Hundreds of officers have been deployed in central Cairo since protests erupted on April 15 against Sisi's decision to hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia, with thousands calling for the government to fall, a slogan from the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. Police dispersed smaller protests two weeks later. The protests signal that the former general, who is also under fire because of the struggling economy, no longer enjoys the broad public support that allowed him to round up thousands of opponents after he seized power in 2013. On Sunday, journalists held a sit-in inside the union when officers arrested the two reporters, syndicate officials said. "The press syndicate calls for the resignation of the interior minister and an open sit-in," the union said in a statement. Mahmoud Kamel, a member of the syndicate board, said over 40 policemen raided the building but the interior ministry said its force consisted of only eight officers. "The ministry affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two journalists who handed themselves in as soon as they were told there was an arrest warrant," the interior ministry said in a statement. A security guard was wounded in the eye when police raided the union, Kamel said. CRITICISM The state prosecutor said it had ordered the arrest of the two reporters as they were being investigated for "spreading news based on lies" and possessing fire arms and Molotov cocktails, state news agency MENA said. "This is unprecedented, no president or prime minister or interior minister has ever dared to do something like this," Kamel said. Under the law only a prosecutor is allowed to search the union in the presence of its chairman or deputy, he added. Dozens of journalists later held a new sit-in at the syndicate to protest against the arrest but police closed off streets to the building on Monday. Sisi faces criticism for putting the uninhabited Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi waters though there are no signs that his rule is under threat. However, even local media, which once suggested he could do no wrong, have been saying the government has mishandled a series of crises, from a probe into the killing of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, 28, in Cairo, to a bomb that brought down a Russian airliner in the Sinai Peninsula last October. Torture marks on Regeni's body prompted rights groups to conclude he died at the hands of security forces, which Egypt denies. That revived complaints of police brutality, one of the issues that led Egyptians to challenge the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak toppled in 2011. (Reporting by Cairo newsroom; Editing by Andrew Hay and Richard Balmforth) Endocyte, Inc. ECYT is slated to report first-quarter 2016 results on May 4. Endocyte has a mixed track record. The company has beaten estimates in three of the last four quarters, with a positive average earnings surprise of 8.57%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors Influencing This Quarter Being a development-stage biotech company, Endocyte does not have any approved product in its portfolio. In this scenario, investors are expected to keep an eye on pipeline development at the company. Endocytes pipeline includes vintafolide (non-small cell lung cancer/NSCLC), EC1456 (advanced solid tumors) and EC1169 (recurrent prostate cancer). A phase I dose-escalation study on EC1456 is currently underway. The company is considering two schedules for the candidate. With the determination of the maximum-tolerated dose, the company will evaluate these schedules in up to 40 second-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients selected by EC20 imaging with all FR-positive disease. It expects single-agent efficacy data in NSCLC by 2016-end. Once the optimal schedule is determined, cohorts with new indications and combinations with other drugs may be initiated in preparation for randomized trials for triple-negative breast and ovarian cancers among others. Meanwhile, after determining the maximum tolerated dose of EC1169 (currently in a dose-escalation trial with a once weekly schedule), the candidate will be evaluated as a single-agent therapy in advanced prostate cancer patients previously treated with hormone therapy. Endocyte expects single-agent efficacy data in prostate cancer in late 2016 or 2017. Patient enrolment is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2016. The expansion phase of the trials will initially focus on EC1456 in NSCLC patients followed by EC1169 for prostate cancer. Consequently, the company expects spending to be higher in the second half of 2016 as the trials for EC1456 and EC1169 are expanded once their maximum-tolerated doses have been determined. We expect Endocyte to shed some light on its progress on these studies during its first-quarter call. Story continues What Our Model Indicates Our proven model does not conclusively show that Endocyte is likely to beat estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) to beat estimates. That is not the case here, as you will see below. Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is 0.00%, since the Most Accurate estimate is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 26 cents. Zacks Rank: Endocytes Zacks Rank #2 increases the predictive power of ESP. However, the companys 0.00% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult. We caution against stocks with Zacks Ranks #4 or #5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing a negative estimate revision momentum. Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are some health care stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter. Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc JAZZ has an Earnings ESP of +4.58% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to release first-quarter results on May 10. Impax Laboratories Inc. IPXL has an Earnings ESP of +8.89% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to release first-quarter results on May 10. Intrexon Corporation XON has an Earnings ESP of +17.39% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to release first-quarter results on May 10. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JAZZ PHARMACEUT (JAZZ): Free Stock Analysis Report IMPAX LABORATRS (IPXL): Free Stock Analysis Report ENDOCYTE INC (ECYT): Free Stock Analysis Report INTREXON CORP (XON): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union executive will propose on Wednesday relaxing visa requirements for Turks, two sources said, after Ankara threatened to walk away from a migration agreement unless the EU eased travel rules for Turkish citizens. The 28-nation EU depends on Ankara's cooperation to maintain a March agreement that has helped stem the flow of refugees and migrants arriving from Turkey, which saw more than a million people reached Greece and Italy last year. Liberalising visa rules for Turkey, a Muslim country of 79 million people, is a contentious issue among EU states. But Brussels is pressing ahead so it can keep the migration accord in place, as Europe struggles with its worst migration crisis since World War Two. An EU official and a source close to the negotiations between Brussels and Ankara said a meeting of the EU's executive European Commission on Wednesday will propose easing the visa requirements. The second source said a preparatory meeting on Monday backed the move before the EU Commission discusses the matter on Wednesday. Turkey is supposed to fulfill 72 requirements to win visa liberalization, and an EU official said on April 21 that Ankara has satisfied fewer than half of them. However, the second source said on Monday that Turkey has since met many more, though it was clear it would not tick all 72 by Wednesday. An EU diplomat said separately on Monday that Turkey was now meeting 65 of the benchmarks. The diplomat said it was wrong to only adopt a "quantitative approach" to progress on them. It was not clear whether the 65 had been met completely or only partly, but the swift change shows Brussels is striving to provide more lenient travel rules, which would still not allow Turks to work or stay in the EU longer than three months. European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva earlier on Monday highlighted progress on the Turkish side: "Turkey has made a lot of efforts over the past weeks and days to meet the criteria, including for example ... on access to the labor market for non-Syrian refugees." Among the biggest obstacles are Ankara's refusal to recognize EU member Cyprus and its patchy record on civil and minority rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law. (Reporting by Paul Taylor, Francesco Guarascio and Gabriela Baczynska, editing by Larry King) By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Europe's Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom pleaded with Britons not to leave the European Union and she promised to take a tough line on China's steel exports on Monday. Malmstrom told an audience of students and trade lawyers in Geneva that she really hoped "Brits will choose to stay" in the European Union when they vote in the Brexit referendum next month. "We want them, we love them, we need them. And we hope that they need love and want us as well," she said. Asked if she shared U.S. President Barack Obama's view that a newly independent Britain would be at "the back of the queue" for new trade talks, Malmstrom told reporters that it all depended on the model chosen by the Brexit camp. "Im not going to give those scenarios beforehand because its up to them to vote. Do they want a free trade agreement, do they want to be like Norway, do they want to join EFTA, do they want something totally different?" She declined to say that Britain would not be a priority in trade talks but suggested that the EU already had its hands full with other negotiations. "We are now negotiating around 20 agreements so we have things to do." The EU is planning trade talks with Mexico, Chile, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Mercosur countries in Latin America. It also plans to modernise and broaden a limited customs union with Turkey to include industry, agriculture, investment, procurement and services, Malmstrom said. One impending question for Malmstrom is the decision about whether or not to designate China as a market economy. China says it was promised such a designation by the end of this year when it joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. But the move would make it harder for the EU to challenge Chinese dumping of cheap goods on the European market. Malmstrom said even if China was officially designated as a market economy, the EU would make sure it had "robust" instruments to ensure Beijing traded fairly. Story continues "Right now we have problems with a lot of products coming from China," she said, citing steel, aluminium and ceramics. The Commission was also talking to EU member states about reviving a proposal to update its trade defences, a plan that has been stuck in the European Council since about 2012, Malmstrom said. (Editing by Louise Ireland) Blink-182 is back! The SoCal pop-punkers are back in action this year with a new single, a new album in the works, and an upcoming tour, their first in North America since 2013. According to bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, the band hasn't missed a beat. "It's been a year and a half of speculation and 'What's it gonna sound like?' and 'Is this gonna sound like Blink?' and 'What's Blink really about?'" Hoppus told ET of the band's upcoming seventh studio album, California. "I think this record really, really shows people that we are Blink-182." WATCH: Tyler Posey Wants to Take Tom DeLonge's Place in Blink-182 The band, which formed in the suburbs of San Diego in 1992 and ruled the pop and rock charts with irreverent anthems throughout the late '90s and early aughts, sat down with ET's Katie Krause to talk about their "fresh start," and moving on without founding member Tom DeLonge, who departed the band last year. "I consider it more of a rebirth than an evolution," Hoppus explained at the Blind Dragon in Los Angeles on Thursday. "I feel like this album really takes us back to what Blink is all about." "It's a rebirth in that it feels like old Blink, but in a new presentation," he added. Alkaline Trio guitarist and vocalist Matt Skiba joined Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker after DeLonge departed the band last year, and made his mark on the band right away, penning the second verse to California's first single, "Bored to Death," which, true to Hoppus' word, sounds very much like the Blink hits that fans love and remember. "From my point of view, it was sort of a response to Mark's call in the first verse of us traversing a relationship and kind of navigating through when things get real murky," Skiba explained of his verse. "It's easier to say you're bored, or to be angry, than it is to be sad. To me, that's what that verse and that song represents." Story continues "That's what it's about," Hoppus agreed. "It just felt very natural, and the song fell into place." RELATED: Travis Barker Gets Shockingly Candid About Drug Abuse and Being 'Borderline Suicidal' on Blink-182 Tour While Skiba has been friends with Hoppus and Barker for many years, the Alkaline Trio frontman admits that officially joining the Blink-182 lineup was something else entirely. "Making music with someone is like asking another man to dance," he said with a laugh. "Just getting comfortable in a studio setting and being able to express your ideas...you know, these guys are the best." "It's a dream in many ways," he added. "Being in this band and working with these guys, it's amazing." Getty Images EXCLUSIVE: Panic! At The Disco's Brendon Urie on Spencer Smith's Addiction and Possible Band Reunion As for the new music, Barker said that California is "kind of like [1999's] Enema of the State meets the untitled album [2003's blink-182]," though the band admits that there is a "really sentimental ballad" on the record. "It's called 'Home Is Such a Lonely Place,' which I think is probably the bleakest line on the whole record," Hoppus explained. "[It's] one of my favorite lyrics on the record as well, but it just brings a very lonely feeling." However, fans need not worry that a few years and fatherhood have softened the rockers. The new album will still have plenty of, as Hoppus put it, "We're-gonna-go-and break-things" songs. "One of the last songs we wrote, called 'Teenage Satellites,' it was one of the last days of recording, and it was another song that came together really fast," he recalled. "I got to the studio early and I was literally just hitting one chord on the guitar over and over again. John [Feldmann, the album's producer] walked in, and he's like 'What's that?' and I said, 'I don't know, it's just something I made up.'" "Then Travis came in, and he had an idea... and that was another song that was built in a day," he continued. "It's a good, like, teen anthem." Blink-182's new album, California, will be released July 1. The band's upcoming tour kicks off in Southaven, Mississippi on June 16. WATCH: 7 Things You Didn't Know About Blink-182's 'All The Small Things' Related Articles Exelixis, Inc. EXEL is scheduled to report first-quarter 2016 results on May 4 after the market closes. Exelixis has a mixed track record so far. The company surpassed expectations in two of the last four quarters with an average positive earnings surprise of 5.16%. Let's see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors Influencing this Quarter Exelixis lead drug, Cometriq (cabozantinib), is approved for the treatment of progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). The company received a significant boost in Apr 2016, when the FDA approved Cabometyx (cabozantinib) tablets for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy. We note that the company was evaluating a tablet formulation of cabozantinib, distinct from the capsule form, for advanced RCC. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for Cabometyx for the same indication. Meanwhile, Exelixis entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Ipsen for the commercialization and further development of Cabometyx. Per the terms, Ipsen will enjoy exclusive commercialization rights for current and potential future indications of the drug outside the U.S., Canada and Japan. Exelixis, on the other hand, will retain rights to commercialize the drug in the U.S. and Canada, and is entitled to milestone payments of $260 million in 2016. The company is in the process of building incremental infrastructure necessary for a potential launch of the Cabometyx in the U.S. Another product in Exelixis portfolio is Cotellic (cobimetinib), which gained approval, in combination with Roche Holdings RHHBY Zelboraf, in the U.S. in Nov 2015 for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Consequently, the company plans to support Roche for the launch of the drug in the U.S. As a result of these activities, the company expects operating expenses of around $240 million to $270 million. Story continues What Our Model Indicates Our proven model does not conclusively show that Exelixis is likely to beat estimates this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. But that is not the case here, as you will see below. Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -8.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate currently stands at 27 cents while the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at a loss of 25 cents. Zacks Rank: Though the companys Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP, its negative ESP makes surprise prediction difficult. We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks That Warrant a Look Here are a couple of companies you may want to consider as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc JAZZ has an Earnings ESP of +4.58% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to release first-quarter results on May 10. Impax Laboratories Inc. IPXL has an Earnings ESP of +8.89% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is expected to release first-quarter results on May 10. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ROCHE HLDG LTD (RHHBY): Free Stock Analysis Report EXELIXIS INC (EXEL): Free Stock Analysis Report JAZZ PHARMACEUT (JAZZ): Free Stock Analysis Report IMPAX LABORATRS (IPXL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research For Immediate Release Chicago, IL May 02, 2016 Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This weeks list includes Exxon (XOM), Chevron (CVX),Alphabet (GOOGL) and Apple ( AAPL). To see more earnings analysis, visit https://at.zacks.com/?id=3207. Every day, Zacks.com makes their Bull Stock of the Day available, free of charge. To see it, click here . Why Are More Companies Beating Q1 Earnings Estimates? We are past the halfway mark in the Q1 reporting cycle, with results from 62% of the S&P 500 members already out. With results from another 130 index members on the docket this week (more than 1100 companies in total), the Q1 earnings season will have ended for more than 88% of the indexs total membership by the end of this week. The trends we have seen already this earnings season are not expected to change in any notable way with the still-to-come reports. These trends include widespread growth challenges, more numerous positive surprises and fewer negative revisions to current-quarter estimates. It is perhaps not surprising to see a bigger proportion of companies beat estimates given how low estimates had fallen ahead of the start of this reporting cycle. The recent pullback in the exchange value of the U.S. dollar is likely helping on the margin side as well. But for the most part, the more widespread positive surprises are a function of low estimates. The more notable development on the earnings front is the deceleration in negative estimate revisions to current-period estimates (estimates for 2016 Q2). Please note that estimates for the current period (2016 Q2) are still coming down and the trend will likely accelerate in the coming days as more companies report Q1 results and provide guidance about Q2. As negative as this revisions trend looks, it is nevertheless an improvement over what we had seen in the comparable period in the preceding earnings cycle. A continuation of this decelerating negative revisions trend through the coming days will represent a notable improvement in the overall corporate earnings picture. The improved commodity-price backdrop and the reduced dollar drag are some of the more plausible explanations for this development. But it is also likely that Q2 estimates had already fallen enough at the time when Q1 estimates were coming down and there is simply not that much need for further downward adjustments. Q1 Earnings Scorecard (As of Friday, April 29th) We now have Q1 results from 310 S&P 500 members that combined account for 72.8% of the indexs total market capitalization. Total earnings for these index members are down -7.2% from the same period last year on -2.4% lower revenues, with 71.9% beating EPS estimates and 57.1% beating revenue estimates. The percentage of companies that are able to beat both EPS and revenue estimates is tracking 47.7% at this stage. As referred to earlier, the two key takeaways from the results thus far are: First , the growth challenge is not only very obvious, but also widespread. The Energy sector is no doubt dragging the reported growth pace quite a bit, following year-over-year comparisons we saw in the Exxon (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) reports. But the growth comparison still remains unfavorable even if we exclude the reported Energy sector reports from the sample of reported results. Second , positive surprises are more numerous, particularly on the revenues side. The big driver of this is the low levels to which estimates had fallen ahead of the start of this earnings season. But as indicated earlier, the improving dollar is helping matters to some extent as well. This incidence of more numerous positive surprises is visible in the blended beats comparisons as well; blended beats refer to companies that beat both revenues as well EPS estimates. At present, 47.7% of the 310 S&P 500 members that have reported results are beating both EPS and revenue estimates, which is better than what we saw from the same group of companies in the preceding quarter as well as the 4-quarter and 12-quarter averages. Even the beleaguered Basic Materials and Industrial Products sectors have beat EPS and revenue estimates more often this time around compared to other recent periods. The proportion of Basic Material sector companies that have beat both EPS and revenue estimates in Q1 is 42.9%, which compares to 4-quarter and 12-quarter averages of 8.9% and 23.8%, respectively. The highest blended beat % are for the Construction and Medical sectors while the lowest is for Finance. Tech Sector Results Market participants found the Tech sectors Q1 earnings performance to be disappointing, with a number of the bellwethers like Googles parentAlphabet (GOOGL), Apple ( AAPL) and others coming up short of estimates in their results and/or guidance. Including all of the Tech sector reports that have come out already, we have Q1 results from 85.3% of the sectors total market capitalization in the S&P 500 index. Total earnings for these Tech companies are down -5.9% on +0.7% higher revenues, with 65.8% beating EPS estimates and 50% beating revenue estimates. Excluding the Apple drag, total earnings for the rest of the sector would be up +0.8%. This is weak performance from these Tech companies relative to what we have seen from the same group of companies in other recent periods. What this shows is that not only growth remains challenged, but fewer are able to beat expectations. In fact, positive revenue surprises are tracking 10 percentage points below the 4-quarter average and 13 percentage points below the 12-quarter average. Q1 Estimates As a Whole Combining the actual results from the 310 S&P 500 members that have reported results with estimates for the still-to-come 190 members, total Q1 earnings are currently expected to be down -7.3% from the same period last year on -1.1% lower revenues. This will be the 4th quarter in a row of earnings declines for the index. Energy is the big drag in Q1, as it has been in other recent periods, with total earnings for the sector expected to be down -111.8% from the same period last year on -31.8% lower revenues. Excluding the Energy sector, earnings growth for the remainder of the index would still be in the negative down -1.8%. In total, 9 of the 16 Zacks sectors are on track for negative earnings growth in Q1, including Finance and Technology, the two biggest sectors in the index. Current quarterly earnings growth expectations for the index in 2016 Q1 and the following four quarters contrasted with actual declines in the preceding three quarters. Growth is expected to be negative in 2016 Q2 and barely in positive territory in the following quarter. Story continues Q1 is on track to be the 4th quarter in a row of earnings declines for the index. This trend of earnings declines is expected to continue into the second quarter and most likely into the following one as well. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. Find out What is happening in the stock market today on zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report EXXON MOBIL CRP (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report ALPHABET INC-A (GOOGL): Free Stock Analysis Report APPLE INC (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Never forgotten. Sheryl Sandberg remembered her late husband, Dave Goldberg, one year after his tragic death with a touching post on Sunday, May 1. My deepest thanks to my family and friends who have shared their memories of Dave and carried me and my children through this past year, the Facebook CEO, 46, wrote. I will always miss you, Dave. There is no end to love. PHOTOS: Celebrity CEOs: Stars Who Run Their Own Business Empires Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg commented on the sweet pic, writing, We love you, Sheryl. Goldberg died unexpectedly at the age of 47 on May 1, 2015. The SurveyMonkey CEO fell off a treadmill at a gym while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with his family. The cause of death was later revealed to be head trauma and blood loss. PHOTOS: Stars Gone Too Soon Sandberg, who was married to Goldberg for 11 years and shared two children with him, is now reportedly dating gaming mogul Bobby Kotick. Everyone is happy for her, because she deserves to be happy, and Bobby is great, a source told Page Six in March. As I look to the new year, and my children and I have worked so hard to rebuild our lives and find happiness and joy and gratitude again, I think the support of strangers and our friends made a huge difference, the Lean In author said in an interview on the Today show in December. PHOTOS: Celebrity Deaths in 2016: Stars We've Lost She added, I always loved Facebooks mission, but now I feel even closer to it in, I think, a much deeper and more profound way. NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, which may soon win parliamentary approval, would significantly strengthen the hand of banks in resolving a $100 billion bad loan headache. Experts caution, however, that it would take years to train up a new class of insolvency professionals and compile debt records to make the British-style regime effective. Here are some of the highlights of the bankruptcy code: UNIFIED BANKRUPTCY CODE The government plans to repeal an ineffectual, century-old insolvency law and amend 11 laws currently dealing with defaulters. Once fully implemented, the code would seek to speed up debt recoveries and restructurings by setting a deadline of 180 days to decide the fate of a company that defaults. APPLICATION The code will apply to companies, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, individuals and any other body specified by the government. INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION For individuals the process could be initiated either by the debtor or the creditors. For companies, the resolution process will have to be completed within 180 days, with an extension of up to 90 days if 75 percent of creditors agree. The process will involve negotiations between the debtor and creditors to draft a resolution plan. If they agree, the plan could be submitted to the authority. If no agreement is reached, the company would automatically go into liquidation. The process will be managed by a licenced insolvency professional who will also control the assets of the debtor during the process. The code plans to set up information utilities to collect, collate and disseminate information to facilitate insolvency proceedings. INSOLVENCY REGULATOR The insolvency regulator would have representatives from government and the central bank, and oversee and regulate insolvency agencies. TRIBUNALS The National Company Law Tribunal would under the code address grievances relating to insolvency, bankruptcy and liquidation of companies. Debt Recovery Tribunals would deal with individual cases. Story continues Their decisions could be challenged in appellate tribunals and before the Supreme Court. PENALTIES A debtor could be jailed for up to five years for concealing property or defrauding creditors. (Writing by Manoj Kumar; Editing by Kim Coghill) Aix-en-Provence (France) (AFP) - A French appeals court on Monday upheld a four-year prison sentence for the founder of PIP, the manufacturer of defective breast implants that caused a health scare across Europe and South America. The court in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence confirmed the fraud convictions against Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) founder Jean-Claude Mas, 76. The court also upheld the 2013 trial's order that Mas pay 75,000 euros ($86,000) and be banned for life from working in medical services or running a company. Mas also faces two other pending legal cases, one for involuntary manslaughter -- the implants were suspected in several deaths from systemic toxicity -- and another linked to the financial implications of the scandal. The court also upheld guilty verdicts against four other PIP executives. One, the firm's former finance director Claude Couty, will serve a one-year prison sentence. The scandal first emerged in 2010 after doctors noticed abnormally high rupture rates in women with PIP implants. It gathered steam worldwide in 2011, with some 300,000 women in 65 countries believed to have received the faulty implants. In France alone, 18,000 women had PIP implants removed because of a risk of rupture or because they had become highly uncomfortable. In the appeal, which was held at a congress centre to accommodate all the plaintiffs, Mas denied that the implants made by his company from industrial-grade silicon gel carried any health risk and insisted that they had been subjected to comprehensive tests. - Seven times cheaper - The prosecution said Mas "was not a scientist at all -- his only concern was financial". The gel that PIP produced was seven times cheaper than a substance that it could have bought. "The PIP gel was the best," Mas insisted. When the chief judge Eric Cibiel asked whether it was also the cheapest, Mas said: "Well yes, and all the better for it." Mas denied that he had committed fraud, telling the court: "I fail to see who has been defrauded." Story continues Yet tests showed that PIP implants ruptured more easily than other implants. One victim told the appeal that PIP had ruined thousands of lives. Around 7,000 women have sued for damages. "They made laboratory rats of 7,000 of us," one woman said. The faulty implants had caused a "health time bomb". PIP employees testified that Mas ruled the company with an iron fist and refused to accept any criticism, especially of "his" gel. He claimed he had been ruined by the scandal and had to survive on his monthly pension of 1,850 euros ($2,125). The scandal had ramifications around the world. It is thought that around 47,000 British women received PIP implants, with the vast majority fitted by private clinics, mostly for breast reconstruction after cancer treatment. More than half of PIP implants were exported to South America. A congressional delegation arrived in Cairo Monday for a multi-day visit which will feature a number of meetings with Egyptian officials on US-Egyptian ties and counterterrorism efforts, the US embassy in Cairo has said. The delegation is headed by Congressman Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, which is in charge of protecting the US against terrorist attacks. The delegation plans to meet with senior Egyptian officials to "discuss counterterrorism efforts, the US-Egyptian partnership, and shared interests in regional security and stability," the embassy said in a statement. Ahram Arabic news website, quoting security sources, said the delegation is comprised of 24 members. Last Month, a congressional delegation headed by speaker of the US House of Representative, Paul Ryan held talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al on security issues and bilateral cooperation. The United States provides Egypt with $1.3 billion in military aid every year, with the 2016 package including $150 million in economic assistance. Search Keywords: Short link: On Friday night, FBI authorities arrested a man allegedly attempting to carry out a deadly terrorist attack on Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, a synagogue in Miami. James Medina, 40, allegedly intended to use a "weapon of mass destruction," according to the Miami Herald, to execute a bombing during the synagogue's crowded Friday services. Officials suspect Medina's plot was motivated by anti-Semitism. Read more: People Are Leaving Severed Pigs Heads in Mosques The center's rabbi, Jonathan Berkun, and executive director, Elliot Karp, explained in a Facebook post that the FBI agents arrested Medina on "well-founded" terrorism suspicions. "They assured us that the synagogue and school were never at risk at any time during the investigation and arrest, and that there are no credible threats directed against us at the present time," they wrote. Berkun and Karp emphasized that they are working with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of their community members. The Herald reported authorities held Medina at Miami's Federal Detention Center over the weekend and that he will appear in court on Monday to face charges. By Lindsay Dunsmuir AMELIA ISLAND, Fla (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve may need more powers to provide emergency funding to securities firms in times of extreme stress in order to deal with a liquidity crunch, New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said on Sunday. "Providing these firms with access to the discount window might be worth exploring," Dudley said in prepared remarks at a financial markets conference in Amelia Island, Florida organized by the Atlanta Fed. The discount window is a credit facility through which banks borrow directly from the U.S. central bank in order to cope with liquidity shortages. The Fed currently has limited ability to provide funding to securities firms in such situations, with the discount window only available to depository institutions. But the transformation of securities firms since the financial crisis, Dudley said, with the major ones now part of bank holding companies and subject to capital and liquidity stress tests, meant the environment has now changed. "To me, this is a more reasonable proposition now than it was prior to the crisis when the major dealers weren't subject to those safeguards," he said. Dudley did not mention monetary policy or the U.S. economic outlook in his remarks. Other "significant gaps" remain in the lender-of-last-resort function, Dudley added. On this, he cited work being done on a global level by the Bank of International Settlements, known as the central banks' central bank, which is studying deficiencies with respect to systemically important firms that operate across countries. Dudley called for greater attention in order to determine which country would be the lender-of-last-resort for such companies during another crisis. "Expectations about who will be the lender-of-last-resort need to be well understood in both the home and host countries," he said. (Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Editing by Diane Craft) By Richard and Martin MADRID (Reuters) - Former world number one Roger Federer has pulled out of this week's Madrid Open with a back injury. The Swiss great traveled to the Spanish capital for the tournament but was unable to practice on Monday and announced his withdrawal. Federer, however, said he would be back for the Rome Masters next week. "I don't want to take more chances as I know I'm not going to be fully ready for Wednesday," he added, referring to his opening match. "I would rather play it safe and rest up now and get ready for Rome. I'm sorry to the tournament for coming and leaving without playing. "I arrived and I was okay and then I practiced on Saturday and hurt my back a little bit and stopped early. I'm very disappointed to say the least," said Federer. "I changed my schedule around and practiced well in Switzerland before coming here." Federer said he was not worried about his preparations for the French Open that starts on May 22. "I've been doing a lot of practice on clay," the world number three explained. "I don't always need a lot of matches to feel 100 percent ready. "With my experience and the way I feel about big tournaments, if I have matches, great. If I don't, I trust in my game, in my mind that I'll be fine regardless of the preparations." (Editing by Tony Jimenez) (credit: Kate Wellington) (credit: Kate Wellington) On April 22, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe ordered the restoration of voting rights for more than 200,000 citizens with past criminal convictions, drawing attention to a growing national issue. The governors executive order, announced on the steps of the Virginia state capitol, applies to all violent and nonviolent offenders who had served their full prison sentence and completed parole or probation prior to the order. Although previous governors have restored voting rights to particular individuals, McAuliffe is the first to do so for an entire class of people. In a post on Medium, McAuliffe acknowledged Virginias history of racismpowerfully epitomized and enforced by a 1902 Jim Crow constitution that included poll taxes, literacy tests, and greater restrictions on felon voting rightsand cast his order as a moment of redemption and progress. If we are going to build a stronger Virginia, we must open doors to participation in civic life for people who return to society seeking a second chance, he writes. I believe it is time to cast off Virginias troubling history of injustice and embrace an honest, clean process for restoring the rights of these men and women. In another sign of the nations polarized politics, Republicans in the state expressed sympathy for the goal of reintegrating prisoners into society but criticized the move as motivated by close ties to the Clinton family. The singular purpose of Terry McAuliffes governorship is to elect Hillary Clinton president of the United States, said William Howell, Virginia Speaker of the House. Ed Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said he believes in redemption and reconciliation but that McAuliffes order was a reckless abuse of executive power. Regardless of intentions, McAuliffe believes he stands on solid constitutional ground. Article V, Section 12 of the Virginia state constitution states that the governors clemency power includes the ability to grant reprieves and pardons after conviction and to remove political disabilities consequent upon conviction. A.E. Dick Howard, professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and past speaker at the National Constitution Center, said there is simply no question about the governors authority to restore voting rights to a large group. Still, legal challenges may be forthcoming. Story continues According to the Sentencing Project, more than 5.8 million U.S. citizens with past criminal convictions are unable to vote, including more than 2.2 million African Americans. Only two statesVermont and Mainehave no restrictions on voting rights; after the April 22 order, Kentucky, Florida, and Iowa are now the only states with permanent felon disenfranchisement. Most are somewhere in between. Although the right to vote is not explicitly enumerated in the text of the U.S. Constitution, it appears in five separate places: the 14th Amendment, the 15th Amendment, the 19th Amendment, the 24th Amendment and the 26th Amendment. According to Roger Pilon of the Cato Institute, its so implicit as to be all but explicit. Nevertheless, constitutional challenges to restrictions on voting rights for convicted felons have been unsuccessful. In Richardson v. Ramirez (1974), felons argued that such restrictions violate equal protection rights, but the U.S. Supreme Court held that Section 2 of the 14th Amendment gives affirmative sanction to those rules. In Hunter v. Underwood (1985), the Court did strike down restrictions that are the result of purposeful racial discrimination, but most limits on felon voting rights have withstood scrutiny. Its not likely that courts will settle the debate over felon voting rights anytime soon. But the recent news out of Virginia may prove to be a turning point in the ongoing political fight. Nicandro Iannacci is a web content strategist at the National Constitution Center. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Podcast: Bob McDonnell, public corruption, and the Supreme Court Supreme Court rules on political speech and the First Amendment Video: Randy Barnett on our Republican Constitution By Heather Somerville and Tim McLaughlin (Reuters) - Valuations of apartment-sharing startup Airbnb Inc and other promising pre-IPO companies rose in March, according to the latest monthly estimates released by Fidelity Investments. Through mutual funds that include the $100 billion-plus Contrafund (FCNTX.O), Boston-based Fidelity has become one of the largest investors in companies before they go public. Fidelity fund holdings include richly valued technology companies such as Pinterest, Snapchat and Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL]. Based mainly on financial results, the monthly reports offer a rare glimpse into the performance of private tech companies, whose valuations would otherwise remain unknown until they went public. Initial public offerings in the sector have come to a near standstill, forcing startups to stay private far longer, which many can do because of their successful fundraising. The value of Contrafund's Series E stake in Pinterest was unchanged at $414.5 million in March. But that is still bigger than portfolio manager Will Danoff's stake in Marriott International Inc ($352 million) or Bank of America Corp ($283 million), fund disclosures show. As of March 31, Fidelity valued Contrafund's stake in Airbnb at $69.2 million, up 9 percent from February, according to a holdings report released on Saturday. The estimated value of storage tech startup Nutanix in the fund rose 19 percent to $40.3 million in March. The value of big data software company Cloudera in Contrafund was estimated at $32.4 million, up 20 percent. Fidelity's estimated valuations tend to fluctuate, with companies marked down one month only to rise in value the next. Once Fidelity invests, it holds regular meetings with companies to see if they can make accurate quarterly projections and handle tough questions from portfolio managers. "That's the way it works as a public company - sometimes you go up; sometimes you go down," said CloudFlare Chief Executive Officer Matthew Prince. "I actually think it's really healthy. It helps you walk before you run." Story continues Contrafund's stake in the cyber security company rose slightly in March to $20.2 million, Fidelity's report said. Prince said he spends time explaining the valuation fluctuations to his staff members, who are sometimes rattled by reports of markdowns. Fidelity led the $110 million round CloudFlare raised in September, and Prince said he knew at the time the deal meant regular public disclosures. (Reporting by Heather Somerville in San Francisco and Tim McLaughlin in Boston; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Taking a leaf from 84, Charing Cross Road, Xue Xiaolus Book of Love centers on a Macau casino hostess and L.A. realtor who fall in love on paper rather than in the flesh. For a romantic comedy, theres almost no spark or intimacy; instead, it boasts more gambling and swindling than Wong Jings From Vegas to Macau trilogy. But the emotional journeys of two opportunists losing their bearings in cities overrun by mainland big-spenders prove more engaging. Piggybacking on Xues sophomore hit Finding Mr. Right, the film, which reunites co-stars Tang Wei and Wu Xiubo, has secured releases in the U.S., U.K. and Australia, though its appeal may not translate to non-Chinese viewers. Xues last film was a sleeper that grossed $79 million, cementing the romantic comedy as a most lucrative genre in Chinas burgeoning commercial market. She set a trend by referencing Sleepless in Seattle in a way that acknowledges how China devours American mainstream culture. Here, she invokes the chaste, slow-burning affinity between New York writer Helene Hanff and English antiquarian bookseller Frank Doel, chronicled in Hanffs 1970 book 84, Charing Cross Road. Its an interesting cross-cultural premise to be sure, although with the Chinese population buried headlong in the phone app We Chat, a story of two people bonding over handwritten missives gushing with classical literary quotations is too quaint to hold water. The screenplay, co-written by Mia Jiao, who penned Cao Baopings excellent coming-of-age drama Einstein & Einstein, addresses such intergenerational problems as the isolation of elderly immigrants or the antisocial behavior of parachute kids, reflecting the sensitivity Xue demonstrated both in her directorial debut Ocean Heaven and her screenplay for Chen Kaiges Together (both father-son melodramas). In an introductory voiceover, Jiao Jiao (Tang), who works as a casino publicist, asserts that Macaus gaming revenue exceeds Vegas by sevenfold. Sadly the citys prosperity eludes her. Not only does her gambling addiction always land her in debt, but shes shortchanged by every man she meets, as when she takes out a loan to help a math prodigy classmate (Lu Yi). Story continues Over in L.A., real estate agent Daniel (Wu) is enjoying the windfall of mainlanders flocking to buy homes in upscale neighborhoods so their kids could get into elite schools and colleges. He comes across a lovely century-old house and at once sees lucrative redevelopment potential. He befriends the octogenarian owners, Mr. Lin (Paul Chin Pei) and his wife (Wu Yanshu), acting like a surrogate son. Jiao has remarked that Chinese peoples favorite pursuits are gambling and property speculation, and to that end, Xue throws in lots of casino and realty know-how and jargon to mildly amusing effect. She also evokes the unnaturally heightened thrill of conspicuous consumption, which breeds a sense of smug entitlement. As Jiao and Daniel both try to make a living on the margins of that privileged segment in mainland society, its not surprising that they buy into the mood of excess and wish this ostentatious wealth would rub off on them. One empathizes with their social complexes since neither could bring themselves to be ruthless. In spite of his initially mercenary motives, Daniels growing attachment to the Lins ends up as the films most solid emotional backbone. Likewise, Jiaos dalliance with a client (Wang Zhiwen) poignantly underlines her insecurity. Still, when it comes to plotting their epistolary meet-cute, the details are muddled and the passage to intimacy forced and insipid. A corny stunt has them hold conversations with one anothers imagined personas an insufferably tweedy professor and a waif-like schoolgirl where the hideous visual effects alone reduce the scenes to farce. Midway through the film, serendipity brings them both to Las Vegas, but what ought to be the climax of their date is instead overshadowed by other developments. Even when the denouement springs a supposedly clever surprise, the mechanics of the plot device remain iffy. Just as there was little chemistry in their previous partnerships, they evince even lower intensity in their long-distance courtship. With dissimilar performance styles, the expressive Tang and the muted Wu seem better off moving in their own narrative spheres. Its up to the diverse supporting cast to provide a fuller emotional fabric, and Chin is especially delightful as the cranky old codger with a mushy heart. Other Hong Kong veterans, such as Kara Hui and Sam Lee as Jiaos stepmother and debt-collector respectively, also have more screen presence than the toneless Wu. Like Finding Mr. Right, the production employs an ace Hong Kong crew but cannot dress up the storys inherent tackiness. Shooting in Chongqing, Macau, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and London, Chan Chi-yings cinematography suggests stylistic disarray, while Cheung Ka-fais editing lets the plot meander. Although the story has nothing to do with Xues previous hit, it strains for some connection by the Chinese title, which translates as From Beijing to Seattle: The Not-Dumb Love Letter. Related stories China Box Office: 'Book of Love' Wins May Day Weekend Ann Hui Named As Best By Hong Kong Directors' Guild Tang Wei's B.O. Power Trimmed by Chinese Censors' Strong Hand Egypt's speaker of parliament Ali Abdel-Al arrived in the South African capital of Johannesburg Monday for a multi-day visit to attend meetings of the current session of the Pan-African Parliament. The top Egyptian parliamentarian, who left Cairo late Sunday, is due to deliver a speech during the inaugural meeting of the chamber's second ordinary session, which runs from 3 May until 13 May. Abdel- Al, accompanied by Egyptian parliamentary delegates, will attend the parliament's meetings until 6 May, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported. During his stay, Abdel-Al is planned to hold talks with South African President Jacob Zuma to discuss "bilateral as well as and regional and international issues of mutual interest," MENA added. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is the legislative organ of the African Union, a union of 54 member countries throughout the African continent. Egypt's participation in the May session marks the resumption of its activities in the PAP after a three-year lapse. Egypt has been without a parliament since 2012, effectively barring it from participation in the PAP. A new lower house was elected in January. As with other member states, Egypt is represented in the PAP by five parliamentarians. Cairo was suspended from all African Union activities in mid-2013 following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, but was reinstated as a member a year later. Search Keywords: Short link: From Road & Track In 1903, at 2:30 in the afternoon of May 16, bicycle racer George A. Wyman left Lotta's Fountain in San Francisco atop a California Motor Company motor-bicycle. Nearly two months later, he arrived in New York City, the first man to ever cross America with a motorized vehicle. After 51 days, Wyman became a lesser Charles Lindbergh, achieving a crossing never before attempted. But soon after the trip, his motorcycle disappeared: somewhere in San Francisco, maybe hanging from a bar, maybe lost in the 1906 earthquake. Wyman himself didn't know. Now, the George A. Wyman Memorial Project may have found it. Wyman kept a diary throughout the journey, and it can be found here. It reads like a Steinbeckian retelling of The Iliad, a trial by fire across the North American continent. Wyman traveled light, carrying a Kodak camera, a small set of clothes, and a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver. Decades before asphalt crisscrossed the country, he spent most of his time riding atop railroad tracks. (Imagine the butt-numbing bumpiness.) He faced snow in the Sierra Nevadas. He raised the ire of shepherds, whose sheep scattered at the sound of his motorcycle. He got 120 miles per gallon, but he still had to find oil and gasoline. An excellent mechanic, he improvised repairs nearly the entire way across. In Wyoming, a rancher pulled him out of the mud with a team of horses. The crankshaft broke outside Aurora, Illinois, and he pedaled to Chicago and spent five days in the city's seedy underbelly waiting for a replacement to arrive by train. In Albany, his engine finally gave up the ghost; he pedaled the remaining 150 miles to New York City. After the trip, he and the bike returned to San Francisco. This time, by train. Twenty days later, Horatio Nelson Jackson, Sewall Crocker, and a pitbull named Bud crossed the country in a Winton automobile, and blew Wyman's achievement into the weeds. In the Seventies, Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler purchased what he thought was the 1902 machine, as convinced by its owner. For decades, the only proof that it was Wyman's was Chandler's word. He restored it from its terrible shape, and put it on display in his museum in Oxnard, now the Mullin Automotive Museum. When he passed away in 2006, a new owner reached out to the Wyman Memorial Project. One can imagine how eager both parties are to have the machine authenticated. Wyman made many modifications to the Regular Model, and underneath the restoration, if there's any evidence to such, then it could all be real. So who knows? It could be Wyman's bike, it could not-but it's the finest 1902 California Regular Model in existence. That alone is worth some merit, and money. And if it is the first motorized vehicle to cross from sea to shining sea, says the Wyman Project, it would be "a national treasure of the first order." Atlas Obscura has the full story, as well as the Wyman Project's website. Images via the Wyman Memorial Project, go-faster.com Companies are Profitable CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / FlexFridge Inc. (FLXR), The world's first foldable mini-fridge company is in discussions to acquire two manufacturing companies in order to produce our commercial version of the mini-fridge. The commercial version of FlexFridge is a more durable and more feature rich product designed for hotels and businesses. The commercial version will provide a service plan in the revenue sharing agreement which allows for the hotels to send the mini-fridge in for repairs and servicing. If we are able to come to an agreement with the manufacturing companies, it will provide immediate income which we will invest into upgrading the manufacturing facilities. FlexFridge will offer a series of flexible, mini-fridges that utilize wheels and a handle for transportation and mobility. Businesses, hotels, and individual consumers can make use of this portable mini-fridge for a variety of purposes, including: hotel guest rental, outdoor parties, and dorm rooms. The FlexFridge is the first device of its kind. Its built-in rechargeable battery allows for up to eight hours of mobile refrigeration, and its gyroscopic compressor means it can be stored in any position and still function perfectly. Those interested can see the FlexFridge for themselves at www.flexfridge.com and opt into the newsletter to stay up to date with the progress of the world's first foldable compact fridge. About FlexFridge, Inc. FlexFridge is a four-cubic-foot, foldable portable mini-fridge. It was designed to allow students, campers, hotels, and businesses easy access to spacious fridge-space. Customers can utilize the compact fridge in their dorm rooms, RVs, hotel rooms, or offices. FlexFridge has all the convenience of a cooler with all the power of a fridge. SAFE HARBOR A "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of terms such as "may," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "continue" (or the negative thereof), or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. FlexFridge assumes no obligation, does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties not paid for by FlexFridge. Investors are encouraged to review FlexFridge's public filings on SEC.gov, including its unaudited and audited financial statements and its Registration Statement, Form 10-Ks, and Form 10-Qs that contain general business information about the company's operations, results of operations, and risks associated with the company and its operations. Please review all of our filings. Story continues For more information, please contact: Sales: investors@flexfridge.com (312) 614-1222 www.flexfridge.com SOURCE: FlexFridge, Inc. Washington (AFP) - A Florida man has been arrested and charged with trying to blow up a synagogue with a fake bomb following an FBI sting operation. James Gonzalo Medina, 40, was accused of intending to use a "weapon of mass destruction" at a synagogue in the city of Aventura near Miami, the US Justice Department said Monday. The FBI had earlier placed him under surveillance after he expressed anti-Semitic sentiments to an undercover informant. The criminal complaint says Medina claimed to have converted to Islam about four years ago and planned to claim that the so-called Islamic State group had planned the attack. After Medina studied the synagogue, he was given an inert device he believed to be a bomb. He was arrested Friday while en route to the synagogue. In an April 1 conversation, Medina told the undercover officer that Yom Kippur, one of the most important Jewish holidays, would be "a good day to go and bomb them," according to the criminal complaint. He also recorded farewell videos in which he made threats and said goodbye to his family. "I am a Muslim and I don't like what is going on in this world. I'm going to handle business here in America. Aventura, watch your back. ISIS is in the house," the complaint said he declared in one video. Rabbi Jonathan Berkun and other officials from the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center said on Twitter that the synagogue and its affiliated school were open and "operating as usual" on Monday. "The synagogue was never at risk nor are there any credible threats directed against the congregation at the present time," they added. Medina, who was charged Saturday, could face life in prison. He has not yet been indicted. The FBI employs a network of informants that is estimated to number at least 15,000. Often well-compensated, they take part in investigations into a wide range of activities from pedophilia and drugs to Islamic extremism. Critics accuse them of sometimes pressuring vulnerable people to commit crimes. The Q1 earnings season has so far been better than expected with many companies reporting positive earnings as well as sales surprises. According to an earnings preview report, total earnings for the 310 S&P 500 members that have reported results are down 7.2% from the year-ago period due to 2.4% lower revenues. Nonetheless, 71.9% of the companies that have released their Q1 results have beaten earnings estimates and 57.1% have surpassed top-line expectations. Last week was more or less a good one for the food companies. Among the food behemoths that reported last week, global snacking powerhouse Mondelez International, Inc. MDLZ beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for both earnings and revenues despite rising currency headwinds and other global pressures. The Hershey Company HSY also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings but missed the same for revenues. Soft global retail and consumer demand amid increasing consumer inclination toward healthier and simpler food limited top-line growth for the companies. Moreover, weakening international currencies and economic slowdown in many emerging countries hurt international sales and profits. Smaller companies like B&G Foods, Inc. BGS and Pinnacle Foods, Inc. PF also reported their results last week. While B&G Foods beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for both earnings and revenues, Pinnacle Foods delivered in-line earnings with sales falling short of estimates. A couple of recent acquisitions resulted in positive year over sales growth at both the companies. Supply chain productivity gains and lower overhead costs boosted profits at most of these food companies. Three food companies, Kellogg Company K, The Kraft Heinz Company KHC, and Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ADM are set to report their quarterly results this week. Will these food companies put up a decent performance as well? Lets have a look at what might be in store for them. The Kraft Heinz Company The Pittsburgh, PA-based consumer packaged food and beverage company will report Q1 results on May 4, after the market closes. Last quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 6.90%. Despite lackluster sales figures, the packaged food company delivered positive earnings surprises in three of the past four quarters with an average surprise of 1.08%. Story continues For Q1, the company has an Earnings ESP of 1.64% and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at 61 cents. Despite Kraft Heinz relatively soft sales, cost savings have led to better margins, mainly in the developed markets of the U.S. and Europe. We expect the trend to continue in Q1.(Read more: Kraft Heinz Likely to Top Q1 Earnings: Will Stock Gain?) Kellogg Company The Battle Creek, MI-based company is set to report Q1 results on May 5, before the market opens. Last quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 5.33%. Notably, the cereal and snacks company delivered positive earnings surprises in each of the past four quarters with an average surprise of 3.84%. The company has an Earnings ESP of -2.15% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at 93 cents per share. After struggling for two years, Kellogg witnessed better-than-expected sales trends in 2015, especially in the U.S. cereal businesses. Moreover, improved organic sales growth and strong Project K cost savings boosted margins despite higher investments in food and brand building. We expect these positive trends to continue in Q1. However, the U.S. snacks business will remain a drag which, coupled with currency headwinds, will limit revenue growth to some extent. (Read more: Will Q1 Earnings Hold a Surprise for Kellogg Stock?) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Archer Daniels is slated to report Q1 results on May 3, before the opening bell. In the last quarter, the agricultural company posted a negative earnings surprise of 6.15%. In fact, Archer Daniels missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 5.22% over the past four quarters. For Q1, the company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at 43 cents. Archer Daniels has been reporting weak sales figures over the past many quarters due to adverse market conditions and ongoing currency headwinds. Soft sales and weak margins have been hurting earnings as well. We do not expect any significant improvement in Q1. (Read more: Will Archer Daniels Q1 Earnings Weigh on the Stock?) Dont miss out on our full earnings release articles for these stocks, as the actual results might hold some surprises! Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HERSHEY CO/THE (HSY): Free Stock Analysis Report B&G FOODS CL-A (BGS): Free Stock Analysis Report KELLOGG CO (K): Free Stock Analysis Report ARCHER DANIELS (ADM): Free Stock Analysis Report MONDELEZ INTL (MDLZ): Free Stock Analysis Report PINNACLE FOODS (PF): Free Stock Analysis Report KRAFT HEINZ CO (KHC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From Esquire In Lenin's Tomb, his lucid account of the end of Soviet Russia, David Remnick uses as an epigraph a famous quote from Czech author Milan Kundera. "The struggle of man against power," Kundera wrote, "is the struggle of memory against forgetting." The philosophy was central to Remnick's contention throughout the book that one of the critical weaknesses of the Soviet state, and of all of its satellite governments in Eastern Europe, including Kundera's Czechoslovakia, was that it required its citizens to fight against their own memory, to unknow what they clearly knew. Sooner or later, the effort to forget and to unknow becomes too much of a burden for too many people and they force the collapse of the system. Humans are driven to remember. Humans can crack from the effort it takes to deny and to forget. The consequences can be therapeutic or they can be catastrophic, for people and for the political societies into which they organize themselves. This is as true of liberal democracies as it is true of authoritarian states. In fact, the effects of forgetting can be worse in the former, because citizens of authoritarian states see the effects of forgetting and unknowing in every transaction in their daily lives. In liberal democracies, and especially in this one, there are so many distractions and so many options and so much media that the corrosive effects of the loss of the power of memory can elude anyone's notice until something important comes apart all at once. Language and memory must work together not only to preserve the past but to illuminate the present and to build a future. The 2016 presidential campaign-and the success of Donald Trump on the Republican side-has been a triumph of how easily memory can lose the struggle against forgetting and, therefore, how easily society can lose the struggle against power. There is so much that we have forgotten in this country. We've forgotten, over and over again, how easily we can be stampeded into action that is contrary to the national interest and to our own individual self-interest. We have forgotten McCarthy and Nixon. We have forgotten how easily we can be lied to. We have forgotten the U-2 incident and the Bay of Pigs and the sale of missiles to the mullahs. And along comes someone like Trump, and he tells us that forgetting is our actual power and that memory is the enemy. Story continues The first decade of the twenty-first century gave us a great deal to forget. It began with an extended mess of a presidential election that ended with the unprecedented interference of a politicized Supreme Court. It was marked early on by an unthinkable attack on the American mainland. At this point, we forgot everything we already knew. We knew from our long involvement in the Middle East where the sources of the rage were. We forgot. We knew from Vietnam the perils of involving the country in a land war in Asia. We forgot. We knew from Nuremberg and from Tokyo what were war crimes and what were not. We forgot that we had virtually invented the concept of a war crime. We forgot. In all cases, we forgot because we chose to forget. We chose to believe that forgetting gave us real power and that memory made us weak. We even forgot how well we knew that was a lie. Twenty-odd years ago, at the urging of a great editor, I wrote a long piece at another magazine about my family's experience with Alzheimer's disease, which eventually took my father and all of his siblings. It is a terrifying disease for a writer because it attacks those aspects of the individual that are so crucial to the act of writing-namely memory and language. Without memory, there can be no connection with the world, nothing salvaged or brought forward. Without language, memory is orphaned. Without both of them, history is mute. That story, and the experience of writing it, has bled into parts of my work in a hundred different ways, but the main points remain the same. Language and memory must work together not only to preserve the past but to illuminate the present and to build a future. The disease robbed my father of both language and memory, and thus it robbed him of his past, his present, and his future. He spent his last years as a kind of vagabond, a stranger to himself, a permanent refugee in an unmoored life. I watch the presidential campaign this year, and I watch how the country has abandoned self-government and the idea of a political commonwealth, and I see a country that is voluntarily taking upon itself my father's disease. A vagabond country, making itself a stranger to itself, a permanent refugee country, unmoored from its history. A country that remembers, a country with an empowered memory that acts as a check on the dangerous excesses of power itself, does not produce a Donald Trump. It was the very first Republican president who said the most memorable thing about memory, and its mystic chords, and how he hoped, one day, those chords once again would be touched by the better angels of our nature. That was Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address. By the time he came to deliver his second, in which he appealed to the country to remember how it had torn itself apart, six hundred thousand Americans had slaughtered one another in a war that was only then beginning to come to an end: Fondly do we hope-fervently do we pray-that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether." Remember, this passage said to the people of a tattered and bleeding nation. Bind up the wounds. Take care of him who has borne the battle, and his widow and orphan, too. Achieve a just and lasting peace between yourselves and all nations. But first, remember how this misery came to pass. Remember what we are capable of doing to one another if we lose faith in every institution of self-government, especially those into which we are supposed to channel our passions to constructive purpose. Remember, Lincoln said in this speech, which was his last warning to the nation he'd preserved. Remember that we can be killers. Remember that, and you can be strong and powerful enough to not allow it to happen again. The late historian Michael Kammen likened even the newest Americans to Fortinbras in Hamlet, who declares that he has "some rights of memory in this kingdom." Even the immigrants most lately arrived can, Kammen argued, "have an imaginative and meaningful relationship to the determinative aspects of American history." In the campaign now ongoing, we see successful candidates running against the very notion of what Kammen was talking about. When Trump chants his mantra-"Make America Great Again"-the rest of the slogan is unsaid but obvious. The implied conclusion is "Before All of Them Wrecked It." And that is what has been selling, all year long, because while the struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting, there is no guarantee that either struggle will end in triumph. Originally published in the May 2016 issue. Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page. Former Los Angeles County prosecutor Christopher Darden was recently thrust back into the spotlight thanks to the popular FX series about the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, but for the most part, he remained quiet - until now. On Monday, Darden appeared on the Today show as part of its new series "Where Are They Now: Case Closed." First and foremost, Darden said he does not regret having Simpson try on the bloody gloves found during the investigation into the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. "I think the trial was lost way before then," Darden said "I think the whole glove thing was just the most brilliant move in any criminal courtroom in the history of American jurisprudence. Let me go on the record and say I can't regret it. It's the past." The glove debacle was a turning point in the case, experts contend, and was a high-drama moment in FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Darden said he was doing all he could to win the case, which included taking "unorthodox approaches," meaning the glove demonstration. "Desperate times call for desperate measures," he said. Darden said he did not pay much attention to the 10-part FX series, which ran from Feb. 2 to April 5. "I think that's the healthiest thing for me to do," he added. Tensions between Darden and the late Johnnie Cochran, Simpson's lead attorney, were as high as depicted on the show, but Darden said the two men made amends after the case. "I miss him," Darden said. "I wish he were here so we could argue about [the case] some more." Darden was also asked about the possible romantic relationship between himself and co-prosecutor Marcia Clark, which was depicted in the FX series. He sidestepped by saying he would wait to comment until Clark was sitting next to him. "If I were to say I had a relationship with Marcia Clark, people would say we lost the case because we were more interested in intimacy than in the law and the facts," Darden said. "That would be an even worse position to be in." Read More: 'The People v. O.J. Simpson': How Accurate Was the Final Episode? From Popular Mechanics There's a little piece of our neighborhood way, way out where it doesn't belong, at the end of the solar system. Astronomers just discovered this space object unlike any other. It's an ancient chunk of rock and ice, long ago flung into the Oort cloud. What makes this hunk of rock special is that it's the first piece of matter from Earth's inner solar system neighborhood discovered returning from the Oort cloud. This frosty fringe of our solar system is where most comets call home. Even more intriguingly, "we think it might be fresh Earth-forming material that has been preserved for billions of years," says Karen Meech, the team's leader at the Institute for Astronomy in the University of Hawaii. That would make C/2014 S3 a tantalizing historical fragment without comparison. "It's possible it will never be observed again." The strange object-glimpsed during the Pan-STARS astronomical survey and named C/2014 S3-was announced today in the journal Science Advances. Meech and her colleagues uncovered the origins and composition of this strange rock by analyzing the light coming off it-its dusty fingerprint, if you will-as it ripped past the Sun in 2014. That was their one chance at this, as C/2014 S3 is zooming headlong back to the Oort cloud and can no longer be seen. With a 860-year orbit, "it's possible it will never be observed again," she says. That fingerprint showed that C/2014 S3 was surprisingly very similar to a common type of asteroid that hails from our solar neighborhood, called an S-type asteroid. Yet one thing about this space traveler was unlike any S-type asteroid you can find today. It still had fragments of ice clinging to it, remnants of the object's creation. For all other S-type asteroids, that ancient ice has long since evaporated, leaving behind a trace of minerals as the only proof it was ever there. Meech considers C/2014 S3 an important discovery for two main reasons. First, its mere existence will help astrophysicists refine their competing theories that explain the evolution of our solar system. Many such models models suggest that early on, the giant gas planets like Jupiter and Saturn migrated to their current orbits, flinging material in their path into the fringes of our solar system. That's how Meech and colleagues believe that C/2014 S3 ended up in the Oort cloud. However, given the origin and age of the material, C/2014 S3 "is potentially from the very place where Earth was getting its material to grow during its formation," she says. If that's true-and if other objects like C/2014 S3 are found and studied more quickly-scientists might be able to use such objects to answer questions as far reaching as the origin of Earth's organic compounds, and where we got all this water. "But whats really quite exciting is that there are still new, never-before-seen things in our solar system like this that we're able to discover," Meech says. Egyptian prosecutors had issued a statement earlier Monday saying the 2 journalists arrested from the press syndicate Sunday evening are currently being questioned on accusations of spreading false news and incitement Egyptian prosecutors ordered the detention of journalists Amr Badr and Mahmoud El-Sakka for 15 days pending further investigations on various charges including spreading false news and plotting to suspend the constitution. Egypt's prosecution had questioned Monday afternoon Badr and El-Sakka - two journalists arrested during the ministry of interior's storming of the press syndicate on Sunday evening - on accusations of spreading false news, inciting the public, and plotting to overthrow the regime. According to judicial sources, police have accused Badr and El-Sakka of "joining organisations that aim to suspend the constitution and overthrow the country's republican system." The prosecution is also questioning the two journalists on accusations of obstructing government administration, harming national unity and social peace, preparing to print material to achieve their aims, and spreading false news to disturb public security. In an official statement released on Monday afternoon, prosecutors explained that they had issued on 19 April an arrest warrant for the two journalists and seven others based on police claims that the nine "possessed firearms and Molotov cocktails with the aim of carrying out attacks on police, army forces, and vital facilities." According to the prosecution's Monday statement, police investigations showed that the suspects were spreading "false news and rumours to incite the public through social media outlets (Facebook) in the lead up to Sinai Liberation Day celebration on 25 April." The prosecution concluded by calling on the public to rely only on its official statements on the ongoing investigations. Amr Badr, editor-in-chief and founder of Yanair (January) website, and journalist Mahmoud El-Sakka, who works for the same website, were staging a sit-in in the syndicate to protest against their arrest warrants as well as the storming of their homes by security forces last month. Badr and El-Sakka are veterans of both the 2011 revolution that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and the Tamarod movement that spearheaded the movement to oust Mubarak's successor, Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, in 2013. The union charged that during the Sunday evening raid in which the journalists were arrested, police broke press law that mandates that the police must obtain the approval of the general prosecution before entering the premises of the union, and can only do so in the presence of the head of the union. The union condemned what it described as a "barbaric attack" and a "flagrant assault" on journalists and the press after security forces stormed the building and arrested the two journalists. The interior ministry has denied in a statement the storming after a wave of criticism and condemnations by the journalists and other professional unions, stressing that it followed all legal procedures while carrying out the arrests and had secured the approval of the prosecution prior to entering the union. Shorty after the storming and subsequent arrests, the union's board called for the immediate sacking of the interior minister. In an emergency meeting in the early hours of Monday morning, the board also called on all union members to attend a general assembly on Wednesday, urging members that started a spontaneous sit-in at the HQ following the arrests to continue their action round the clock until the 4 May general assembly. Heads of the lawyers', engineers, and doctors' syndicates have all condemned the storming of the press syndicate, vowing to support the journalists in their fight for "the dignity of their profession". According to the political prisoners advocacy group Freedom for the Brave, in the last three weeks hundreds of activists and demonstrators were arrested in an around protests against Egypt's decision to acknowledge Saudi Arabia's sovereignty over two Red Sea islands. Many of those arrested were subsequently released, but last week tens were referred to misdemeanor court on various charges including taking part in unauthorised protests. During the wave of arrests, police stopped scores of journalists, but later released them after syndicate intervention with the ministry of interior. On 25 April, security forces shut down all roads leading to the journalists syndicate in Downtown Cairo to prevent a planned protest against the islands deal, allowing only few supporters of the agreement to express their backing of the government's decision at the steps of the under-lockdown syndicate headquarters. Search Keywords: Short link: brightwheel shark tank There's never an easy time to leave a comfortable job to start a business, but it's especially risky when your daughter is six months old and your wife is on unpaid maternity leave. That's the gamble San Francisco-based entrepreneur Dave Vasen took in June 2014 when he left an executive position at AltSchool to found KidCasa, a preschool management service that later became Brightwheel. It's paid off. After a year of development and the branding relaunch, Vasen raised a $2.2 million seed round led by Eniac Ventures and RRE Ventures in June 2015. Just a few weeks later, Vasen saw "Shark Tank" was having tryouts down the street from his office and, because he had the idea of applying in the back of his head for some time, decided to improvise an audition. He was called back for filming in September, and his appearance was finally broadcast Friday in the latest episode of the show's seventh season. It revealed that he raised another $600,000 from investors Mark Cuban and guest Shark Chris Sacca, the billionaire investor best known for his lucrative early deals with Twitter, Uber, and Instagram. "I'll never forget hugging them after the deal," Vasen told Business Insider. "I have such admiration for them." Vasen entered the Tank seeking $400,000 for a 4% stake in Brightwheel, giving his company a $10 million valuation. He was hopped up on two Red Bulls he chugged while waiting in the trailer the producers gave him. Vasen explained to the Sharks that as the father of a toddler and as someone who's spent the majority of his career in the education space, he's seen firsthand that the operators of a preschool are placed in a uniquely challenging situation. "They're not just managing a classroom, but managing a business, too," he said. Brightwheel is a service that allows preschool owners and employees to monitor both their paperwork and their students, with updates linked to a smartphone app for parents. Story continues Here's the app in action: Vasen launched the pilot program in the fall of 2014 with 10 preschools, and as he stood in the Tank he had recruited 2,500 schools across all 50 states. Brightwheel is free to download, but a premium account is available in packages ranging from $40 to $200 per month, depending on how many accounts will be linked together for a school. Vasen told the investors his projected revenue was $1 million for 2015, $6 million for 2016, and $20 million for 2017. In the edited version of the pitch that aired, it appears that Vasen captured the attention of a few of the Sharks immediately, but he told Business Insider that the full experience which lasted over an hour was much more stressful. "It got pretty negative pretty quickly," he said. Daymond John and Mark Cuban have explained repeatedly that they're always on the lookout for "gold diggers" entrepreneurs with no intention of making a deal who use their "Shark Tank" appearance as a free commercial. Vasen realized that he was putting the entire reputation of his company on the line, and that if he bungled his pitch, he would be embarrassing himself, his family, and his other investors. He explained to the Sharks that he was turning to them to get an adviser on his side who would put in much more work than the typical investor, and that even though he had accomplished a level of success with a small team, he needed the help to scale. That was satisfactory for Kevin O'Leary, who opened up negotiations by offering $400,000 for 10% equity, cutting the company's valuation down from $10 million to $4 million. By this point, Cuban was sufficiently convinced Vasen was the real deal and began considering an offer because he realized "my kid's preschool desperately needed this exact type of software," he told us. Sacca jumped in, dismissing O'Leary's sharp devaluation, but saying he needed to invest on the same terms as the seed round, where the company was valued at $8.2 million. That meant his $400,000 would get him 4.85% equity. Vasen quickly told Sacca the deal sounded good to him, but that he wanted to see if anyone else wanted to split it. Sacca mocked the other Sharks, saying that they would be helpful to Brightwheel if Vasen was looking to make some T-shirts or get something into Bed Bath & Beyond. "What do you think you need from the rest of the line here?" he asked. Cuban was offended. "Are you serious? Are you really that clueless?" He jabbed back, saying that when Sacca affiliated himself with a company, "it adds a lot of street cred to his little part of the world. Once you get outside of that little bubble called Silicon Valley, it doesn't mean sh--." "Uber, Twitter, Instagram operate in their own little world," Sacca said sarcastically. "I've never been outside of San Francisco. Sorry." Vasen said he was thinking "this is surreal" as the two investors he had set his eyes on, Cuban and Sacca, spent minutes yelling at each other from opposite ends of the panel. mark cuban chris sacca shark tank Vasen kept his focus and after some more back-and-forth, offered Sacca and Cuban a joint deal: $600,000 for 6%, split evenly, at the originally proposed $10 million valuation. Sacca said he'd compromise by doing that at a $9 million valuation, meaning he and Cuban would each get a 3.34% stake for $300,000. Cuban said that worked for him, and Vasen took the deal. And though Sacca kicked off a spat with Cuban that genuinely got both riled up, he told Business Insider that he and Cuban are old friends and that when Sacca took Cuban's offer last year to appear on a few episodes of "Shark Tank," "I agreed to go on the show so I wouldn't miss the opportunity to bust his balls in front of millions of Americans. There is no doubt he adds an incredible amount of value to his companies. But I'm there to make sure he doesn't get a free ride anymore." As for why he invested in Brightwheel, Sacca said, "My best entrepreneurs always have one thing in common: They radiate a sense of the inevitability of their success. Dave didn't need to sell us. Instead you can tell he just knows that Brightwheel is going to win the space. That's simply irresistible. "Plus, in the same way that Uber solves a problem for both drivers and riders, I love how Brightwheel dramatically improves the lives of hardworking teachers, thrills parents, and empowers school administrators," he added. "You nail a solution for those three groups and you've got a huge business on your hands." NOW WATCH: At Sam Adams, its OK to tell your boss f--- you More From Business Insider Four people were killed when the crude bombs they were making exploded in India's West Bengal, where bitterly fought state elections are underway, a senior police official said Monday. Another six people were injured in the explosion on Sunday night in a village about 360 kilometres (220 miles) north of Kolkata, close to the eastern state's border with Bangladesh. "Four people were killed and six others injured when the bombs they were making exploded in a house at Baisnabnagar village," Anuj Sharma, West Bengal additional director general of police, told AFP. "The explosion rocked the area and damaged the house." Police were investigating the reasons for the bombmaking but no arrests have been made so far, Sharma said. West Bengal is set to hold the final phase of staggered state elections on Thursday. Homemade bombs are sometimes planted by workers from rival political parties to intimidate voters ahead of polling day. India has sent extra security forces to West Bengal for the election. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is battling left-wing rivals and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which rules at national level. Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party has also been hit by bitter infighting among its rival factions. Two people were killed in March when their homemade bombs accidently exploded, also in West Bengal, while police in February recovered 80 crude bombs from the house of a local leader of the Trinamool Congress party, according to local media. Even the White House Correspondents' Dinner wasn't safe from a little drama. A scuffle ensued between Fox News correspondent Jesse Watters (The O'Reilly Factor) and Huffington Post Washington bureau chief Ryan Grim at the MSNBC afterparty Saturday night at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Grim told The Hollywood Reporter he filmed Watters on his cellphone, asking him to apologize for an earlier incident that dates back to 2009 with one of his colleagues, when Watters snatched his phone. A fight started when Grim tried to retrieve it back. Grim said the evening escalated to Watters throwing punches at him. Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel tweeted a photo of the incident with the caption, "Brawl between @ryangrim and @jessebwatters at MSNBC party." The two journalists were eventually separated by RNC executive director Sean Spicer. Brawl between @ryangrim and @jessebwatters at MSNBC party. pic.twitter.com/Fy7VKFBdmh - daveweigel (@daveweigel) May 1, 2016 Who won the fight @jessebwatters @ryangrim? #nerdprom pic.twitter.com/aMTIGJKjvZ - Cassandra Fairbanks (@CassandraRules) May 1, 2016 Read More: President Obama Takes Aim at CNN, Trump, Hillary Clinton in White House Correspondents' Dinner Remarks Grim told THR he asked Watters to apologize on camera at the party for his confrontation in 2009 with Amanda Terkel, who is now a colleague of Grim's at Huffington Post. Terkel wrote for Think Progress that she was once stalked and later ambushed on the street by Watters, who forced her to recant her statements about Bill O'Reilly into a camera. She titled her story, "I Was Followed, Harassed, and Ambushed by Bill O'Reilly's Producer." "Jesse should retire from the ambush business if he can't deal with it on the other end," Grim told THR. A Fox News spokesperson told THR that Watters will address the issue tomorrow night on The O'Reilly Factor. Read More: CNN's Don Lemon Gives Larry Wilmore the Finger at White House Correspondents' Dinner By Matthias Blamont and Jean-Baptiste Vey PARIS, May 2 (Reuters) - France will press its G7 partners this month to launch an "irreversible" process to control the prices of new medicines, part of a global drive to make life-saving drugs more affordable, three sources told Reuters. President Francois Hollande said in March he would push for the international regulation of drugs prices when he meets other G7 leaders in Ise-Shima, Japan on May 26-27. The sources said the issue was now on the summit agenda and health ministers will continue work on it in Kobe in September when other parties, such as the pharmaceutical companies themselves, could potentially be involved. "We need to initiate this process with firmness, and the president wants it to be irreversible," said a source close to Hollande. The rising cost of ground-breaking medicines has been criticised around the world, with campaigners in developing countries demanding reform of the patent system to make vital treatments more affordable. G7 nations are home to most of the leading drug makers and while governments are keen to tackle rising health costs they may be reluctant to pitch themselves against their own pharmaceutical industries. Any regulation would have to balance the need to keep costs down with the need for pharmaceutical companies like U.S group Pfizer, France's Sanofi or Britain's GlaxoSmithKline to retain financial incentives for innovation. G7 delegations have begun initial talks on the issue but no one expects a breakthrough in the near future, one of the sources said. A United Nations panel is discussing ways to improve access to medicines and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has promised to rein in prices in the United States. In the latest move by the pharmaceuticals industry to address criticism on prices, GlaxoSmithKline said in March it would adopt a graduated approach to patenting its medicines depending on the wealth of different countries. (Additionnal reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Richard Lough and Robin Pomeroy) By Matthias Blamont and Jean-Baptiste Vey PARIS (Reuters) - France will press its G7 partners this month to launch an "irreversible" process to control the prices of new medicines, part of a global drive to make life-saving drugs more affordable, three sources told Reuters. President Francois Hollande said in March he would push for the international regulation of drugs prices when he meets other G7 leaders in Ise-Shima, Japan on May 26-27. The sources said the issue was now on the summit agenda and health ministers will continue work on it in Kobe in September when other parties, such as the pharmaceutical companies themselves, could potentially be involved. "We need to initiate this process with firmness, and the president wants it to be irreversible," said a source close to Hollande. The rising cost of ground-breaking medicines has been criticized around the world, with campaigners in developing countries demanding reform of the patent system to make vital treatments more affordable. G7 nations are home to most of the leading drug makers and while governments are keen to tackle rising health costs they may be reluctant to pitch themselves against their own pharmaceutical industries. Any regulation would have to balance the need to keep costs down with the need for pharmaceutical companies like U.S group Pfizer, France's Sanofi or Britain's GlaxoSmithKline to retain financial incentives for innovation. G7 delegations have begun initial talks on the issue but no one expects a breakthrough in the near future, one of the sources said. A United Nations panel is discussing ways to improve access to medicines and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has promised to rein in prices in the United States. In the latest move by the pharmaceuticals industry to address criticism on prices, GlaxoSmithKline said in March it would adopt a graduated approach to patenting its medicines depending on the wealth of different countries. (Additionnal reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Richard Lough and Robin Pomeroy) Jet ski racing champion Franky Zapata has set a new hoverboard world record, reports The Verge. Zapata set the record on Saturday for the farthest flight by a hoverboard with the Flyboard Air. It is the latest creation from Zapatas extreme watersports brand Zapata Racing, and follows the previously-released Flyboard and Hoverboard by ZR. The jet-powered Flyboard Air took off on the coast of Sausset-les-Pins, near Marseille, France, flying for 7,388 feet (2,252 meters) to set the new record. Its distance far surpassed that set by Canadian inventor Catalin Alexandru Duru back in 2015. Although Zapatas other inventions require various attachments in order to work, the new Flyboard Air can fly independently, with the company saying the device can reach an impressive 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) in the air, with a maximum speed of 93 miles (149.6 kilometers) per hour. Freeport-McMoRans 1Q16 Earnings Call: Mostly About Asset Sales (Continued from Prior Part) Freeport-McMoRans 1Q16 call During its 4Q15 earnings conference call, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) mentioned an asset sales program to raise $5 billion$10 billion to shore up its balance sheet. The asset sales issue dominated management discussions and analysts questions during Freeport-McMoRans 1Q16 call. And thats not without a reason. Asset sales have been the key driver of Freeports price action this year. You can find out more about this in How Morenci Deal Changed Freeport-McMoRans Future. Other commodity (DJP) producers, including Rio Tinto (RIO), BHP Billiton (BHP), and Glencore (GLNCY), are looking at various ways to strengthen their balance sheets. Updates from 1Q16 call So far, Freeport has announced asset sales transactions totaling $1.4 billion, as you can see in the above graph. According to Richard Adkerson, Freeports CEO (chief executive officer), the company is advancing discussions on additional transactions. He also said that the scarcity of quality assets in the copper business is attracting significant interest from potential purchasers. Although Freeport had earlier listed several alternatives to generate cash, the tone of its 1Q16 call suggests that management is primarily looking to sell stakes in some of its copper assets. However, Freeport might not consider selling its oil and gas assets since they might not fetch the expected price in the current markets. Instead, Freeport hinted at further cost reduction in the energy business and preserving the asset. Equity transaction? Last year, Freeport-McMoRan raised $2 billion by selling shares. But according to Freeport, the company might not immediately consider another equity transaction. However, the company didnt totally rule out raising fresh equity as an alternative, should the asset sales transactions not materialize. Nonetheless, copper, which has always been Freeports strength, might just bail out the company from the debt trap its in from the failed energy adventure. Story continues Stay tuned to Market Realists Copper page for the upcoming earnings in this industry. Browse this series on Market Realist: Geneva (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry launched a desperate push Monday to salvage a ceasefire in Syria, as the country's second city of Aleppo reeled from a week of fighting that killed hundreds of civilians. With the two-month old truce brokered by the United States and Russia under severe threat, Kerry said Washington and Moscow had made progress in trying to contain the bloodshed, but warned it was premature to promise success. The top US diplomat gave some of his most downbeat comments yet after meeting the United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva, saying the conflict was "in many ways out of control and deeply disturbing to everybody in the world, I hope." The US and Russia have agreed to bolster the number of Geneva-based ceasefire monitors, Kerry told reporters, pledging to work "in the next hours" to rein in violence on the ground. In and around Aleppo, a week of fighting has killed more than 250 people. Kerry accused President Bashar al-Assad's regime of deliberately targeting three clinics and a major hospital last week. "The attack on this hospital is unconscionable," he said. "And it has to stop." There was a relative lull in the unrest later Monday, allowing some residents to venture out into the streets, AFP's correspondents in Aleppo said, with some even opening up shops. Greengrocer Abu Nazem said he had not worked all of last week out of fear of air raids. "I decided to come back to work today but despite the calm I am still afraid. Sometimes I hear motorbikes going past and I dive for cover because I think it's a military plane," he told AFP. - Diplomatic push - Kerry said a bolstered group of ceasefire monitors will track violations "24 hours a day, seven days a week." A senior US diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US, Russia and the UN have moved forward on a new ceasefire mechanism for Aleppo, but a deal was not complete. Story continues Kerry stressed that the goal was to reinforce a broad truce capable of withstanding further tests. "We're trying to press this as fast as possible but I don't want to make any promises that can't be kept," he told reporters after meeting de Mistura and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir -- whose government has influence with key rebel groups. Before leaving Geneva en route to Washington, Kerry called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss safeguarding the flagging truce. The pair "agreed on new measures to be taken by Moscow and Washington", a Russian foreign ministry statement said, without providing details. De Mistura was due to fly to Moscow for talks with Lavrov on Tuesday. - Aleppo violence - While agreeing in theory to support a ceasefire, Russia has done little to rein in Assad's forces around Aleppo, which were in action again early Monday. Several neighbourhoods, including the heavily-populated Bustan al-Qasr district, were hit, according to AFP's correspondent in the northern city. Kerry said Washington would press moderate rebels to separate themselves from the Al-Nusra Front's jihadists in Aleppo. Russia and Assad's regime have used the presence of Al-Nusra, which was not party to a February 27 ceasefire deal, as an excuse to press their offensive. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor says at least 253 civilians -- including 49 children -- have been killed on both sides of divided Aleppo since April 22. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for the ceasefire to be extended to include Aleppo as a matter of urgency. The city was initially left out of a deal to "reinforce" the February truce agreement. The freeze in fighting, announced on Friday, applied to battlefronts in the coastal province of Latakia and Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus. State television reported a Syrian army announcement on Monday that the freeze has been extended for another 48 hours in Eastern Ghouta, until 1:00 am Wednesday (2200 GMT Tuesday). The same "freeze" is set to hold until 1:00 am Tuesday in Latakia, a regime stronghold. Syria's conflict erupted in 2011 after the brutal repression of anti-government protests and has since escalated into a complex, multi-faceted war, which has killed more than 270,000 people. The renewed bloodshed has dampened hopes that the ceasefire could finally lay the groundwork for an end to the conflict. Last month's peace talks in Geneva failed to make headway, although de Mistura has voiced hope they can resume next month. There was a mini-Friends reunion last night and were not quite sure how to deal with it, with Matt LeBlanc showcasing his undying support for former co-star Matthew Perry as he made the time to watch his West End play End Of Longing. Well, he probably owes him with the amount of plays Chandler Bing had to watch Joey Tribbiani in throughout the ten series of Friends, eh? Copyright: Getty The pair had us coming over all nostalgic as Matt shared a photo of their reunion on his Twitter account alongside the caption: Went to support my pal last night @MatthewPerry in The End of Longing. "Great performances by the whole cast. But the best was from Matthew, right Matt? Its good to see the two together again as Matthews commitment to the London production meant that he missed the huge Friends reunion earlier this year, when the cast got together to pay tribute to director James Burrows. Unfortunately the actor was forced to miss attending the do in person, but he was sure to record an introduction for his former castmates, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, and Matt LeBlanc. Matt is currently in London thanks to his new role presenting the reboot of Top Gear alongside Chris Evans, and with Matthews show continuing on stage for a little while yet were going to hold out for plenty more Joey and Chandler reunions while theyre in the same city. Cant quite recall what happened in the previous episode? Read our recap here. Please just click READ MORE, because weve got a lot to talk about, and I dont want to spoil passers-by. GUYS. Jon Snow is alive. This is not a drill. This is not grainy paparazzi photos of Kit Harington. This is not the length of his hair. This is not the cast cagily saying Jon Snow is dead, because he WAS but hes NOT and lets just get to the recap of Home, OK? RELATEDGame of Thrones Kit Harington to Fans: Sorry for Lying to Everyone! HOUSE STARK: WHATCHOO TALKIN BOUT, HODOR? EDITION | The Three-Eyed Raven and Bran are both warged out or looking like it, at least but when we flip to a new scene we realize theyre standing in the background of a Winterfell-set scene, where Ned and Benjen Stark as boys are sparring. Lyanna rides in like the mythical creature shell eventually become, and we get a glimpse of a non-addled Hodor as a boy (whose real name is Willis!) before the Raven announces, Its time to go. Bran comes to and wonders why the older man dragged him from the memory. The Raven implies that its not good to spend too much time in the past that way. Hodor is there, too; he carries Bran outside to see Meera, whos ventured outside the cave. The Three-Eyed Raven says theres a war coming, he warns her. And were going to fight it in there? she says dispassionately. After he leaves, one of the Ravens creepy tree kids tells Meera that Bran will need her greatly in time to come. RELATEDExclusive: Offed Game of Thrones Star Reflects on [Spoiler]s Surprise Death A Lot of People Are Going to Be Very Happy HOUSE LANNISTER | Some drunken idiot in Kings Landing tells a ribald story about how Cersei enthusiastically responded to his lascivious overtures during her walk of shame. Later, when that man steps into the alley to pee, The Mountain simply and disgustingly pulverizes his skull. Story continues The Mountain returns to Cerseis side just in time to see Tommens army deny her passage to Myrcellas funeral. Over at the sept, Jaime wonders why the king has been so distant with his mother. Everything she endured, she did it for you, he reminds the boy, who angrily says he cant go see her but its because hes feeling crushing guilt over Cerseis walk of atonement and Margaerys imprisonment. Go and see your mother, Tommen, Jaime advises his son/nephew just after the High Sparrow arrives. That gives the two men a little alone time to talk (Side note: During the chat, we learn those corpse-eye stones are supposed to remind us not to fear death. Neat!) Jaime threatens the holy man with violence and is surprised when hes not intimidated perhaps its because a ton of his armed followers have suddenly filed into the chamber? The High Sparrow leaves, and Jaime seems very unsettled by his decree that a large number of poor, powerless people working together can overthrow an empire. Tommen does as the Kingslayer asks and visits Cersei, to whom he apologizes. She forgives him, but he doesnt take the absolution. You raised me to be strong. I wasnt, but I want to be. Help me, he pleads. Always, she whispers, hugging him to her. RELATEDGame of Thrones Star John Bradley Says Jon Snows Death Would Destroy Sam Game of Thrones Jon Snow Alive HOUSE LANNISTER: QUIT DRAGON YOUR HEELS EDITION | If I lost my cock, Id drink all the time. Thats how Tyrion opens the meeting of Daenerys small council. Members in attendance: Varys, Grey Worm, Missandei and Lannister himself. First order of business: The masters of Astapor and Yunkai have retaken the cities, meaning Mereen is the only city Daenerys freed. Second order of business: Tyrions brief history of dragons (they love to be wild, they eventually wither and die off in captivity) before taking a torch and Varys to visit Daenerys babies, who are still chained up in the crypt, refusing to eat. Though they initially growl fire his way, Tyrion sweet talks the scaly beasts into recognizing him as a friend, so they dont flambe him as he pets their necks and removes their chains. Is it weird that after he frees them, I think for a moment the dragons are going to hug? Probably. Anyway, the dragons crawl back into the darkness and Tyrion and Varys skedaddle before one or both of them becomes a shish kabob. THE MEN OF THE WALL | The time has run out for Ser Davos and the men protecting Jon Snows body. Alliser knocks on the door, still promising peace, but the way his men have their weapons drawn sends a completely different message. So does his decision to hack the door down with an ax. Just as he breaks through, a loud sound from just outside the gates stops everyone cold: Its a giant, and he busts into Castle Black with the Wildlings and Dolorous Edd, effectively ending the hostilities (but no one tells Olly, who tries to Ygritte Torumund out of existence. Nice try, little jerk. Stay in your lane.) Davos later goes to see a melancholy Melisandre, whos staring into the fireplace in her room. He wants to talk about Jon Snow, the former Lord Commander, as she notes. Does he have to be? the knight asks. She tiredly replies that some have the power to return the dead to life, but shes not the man for the job. He lists her applicable skills (drinking poison and living, giving birth to a demonic smoke demon of demony badness), then bucks her up: Im not asking the Lord of Light for help. Im asking the woman who showed me miracles exist. She looks like shes about to cry as she says she never had the gift of reanimation. Well, he wonders, Have you ever tried? Game of Thrones Jon Snow Alive So the Red Priestess washes him, clips some of his hair, does some chanting, stroking and burning, then lays her hands on his chest and chants some more. When it doesnt work, she whispers, Please but nothing happens and everyone leaves except for Davos and Ghost. Finally, even Davos exits the room then Ghost gets up. And Jon takes a breath. And another. Yep, hes alive! RELATEDGame of Thrones Maisie Williams Says Blind Arya Is Very Much the Underdog HOUSE STARK: THE STREETS AINT FOR NO ONE EDITION | The Waif comes around and delivers Aryas daily beating, which goes a little better than the last one we saw. Then Jaqen shows up and tempts Arya with the promise of shelter, food and her returned eyesight if shell just say shes Arya Stark. A girl has no name, she replies each time, which is the right answer, and he leads her away. HOUSE BOLTON: FAREWELL FATHER EDITION | With Sansa still gone, Ramsay suggests that the Bolton army storm The Wall, where shes surely headed. Roose is not on board with that plan at all mainly because its a terrible one but the men are interrupted by the news that Walda has just given birth to a baby boy. Which means that Roose now has a legitimate heir. Which means that Ramsay is of no real use to him anymore. So after a congratulatory hug from the bastard and a few words of consolation from his dad (Youll always be my firstborn), Ramsay stabs his dad in the gut a couple times and kills him. Send word throughout the north, Ramsay then tells the shocked maester, whos seen the whole thing: Roose is dead, poisoned by his enemies. As if that werent enough horror from the Bolton clan for one episode, Ramsay then leads an unsuspecting (and oblivious to the death) Walda into the kennels and unlocks some of the violent dogs cages. Where is Lord Bolton? she asks, hysteria growing. I am Lord Bolton, he replies calmly. Please, Ramsay, he is your brother! she pleads. I prefer being an only child, he says, whistling (oh god no) for the dogs (oh god hes going to do it) who fall upon the woman and her newborn as we hear their screams. RELATEDGame of Thrones Maisie Williams Praises Her Stunt Double, Previews Aryas Fight: Oh My Gosh, Girl, Get Up! HOUSE STARK: THEON, OUT! EDITION | Brienne fills Sansa in on seeing Arya with The Hound. I should have gone with you when I had the chance, Lady Stark tells her new protector, who consoles her by saying, It was a difficult choice, milady. Weve all had to make difficult choices. Speaking of which, Theon has made his own tough decision: Hes not coming with them to The Wall. I would have died to get you there, he says, crying after saying that he doesnt want to be forgiven for the awful acts he committed against the Starks. She hugs him, and he asks for a horse: Hes going home. HOUSE GREYJOY: WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVERMIND EDITION | Yara briefs her father on the Ironborn loss at Deepwood Motte. We can defeat anyone at sea, but their holdings on land are much more tenuous, she explains. He doesnt want to hear it, and storms out, running into his brother whos been presumed dead and/or crazy for some time. I am the first storm, and the last, and youre in my way, Yaras uncle tells Balon, then pitches him over the side of a swaying rope bridge in the middle of a storm. At Balons funeral, Yara swears to find the murderer and feed him alive to the sharks. She assumes shell take over as ruler of the Ironborn, but an elder informs her that shell have to fight for it like everyone else. What did you think of this weeks insane episode? Did you truly think Jon was gone for good? Let us hear about it in the comments! Launch Gallery: Game of Thrones Season 6 Photos Related stories Grey's Anatomy's McDreamy Is Alive!... in Thrones-Inspired Promo Parody Oprah Winfrey to Star in HBO Movie Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Game of Thrones' Kit Harington to Fans: 'Sorry for Lying to Everyone!' May 2 (Reuters) - Gannett Co Inc plans to urge Tribune Publishing Co's shareholders to withhold their votes on election of board nominees as it looks to engage the publisher of Chicago Tribune in takeover talks. Tribune's shareholders are scheduled to vote on the election of eight nominees to the company's board at its annual meeting on June 2. Gannett, the publisher of USA Today, said last week it offered $12.25 per share in cash for Tribune. Gannett Chief Executive Robert Dickey said in a statement on Monday that Tribune stockholders, by withholding their votes, could send a "clear message" to Tribune's board that it should engage in talks with the company. Tribune's shares were down about 2 percent at $11.11 in noon trading on Monday. (Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey) Stockholm (AFP) - US television channel Logo, geared toward the LGBT community, will broadcast the May 14 Eurovision Song Contest final live in the United States, organisers announced on Monday. The European Broadcasting Union said it had signed a deal with the channel, part of the Viacom group, making it the first US broadcaster of the event, to be held this year in Stockholm. "The Eurovision Song Contest is now a truly global phenomenon and we are extremely happy that US viewers now get to join those all over Europe, Australia and Asia," the contest's executive supervisor Jon Ola Sand said in a statement. Last year, 197 million people watched Sweden's Mans Zelmerlow take home the grand final. Logo, aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, is available in "nearly 50 million homes", according to the EBU. Eurovision has for decades been a hugely popular event in gay culture circles, to the extent that the only flags authorised in the venue during the broadcast are those of the UN member states, the European Union and the rainbow flag. One star-studded 21st birthday party wasn't enough for Gigi Hadid! After celebrating at the Hollywood hot spot The Nice Guy on Friday, Hadid traveled to Las Vegas for blowout at Wynn Las Vegas' brand new nightclub, Intrigue. The Victoria's Secret model, who turned 21 on April 23, flaunted her flawless figure in a very low-cut, form-fitting dress with a super-high hemline that she paired with tan, knee-high suede boots. Getty Images WATCH: Gigi Hadid Has Star-Studded 21st Birthday Bash in Hollywood! Hadid was joined by her mom, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Hadid, as well as two dozen other friends and relatives, though boyfriend Zayn Malik wasn't in attendance. An eyewitness told ET that Hadid appeared to be having tons of fun with her formidable squad, drinking cocktails and even dancing and singing together when Beyonce's hit "Formation" came on in the club. WATCH: Gigi Hadid Celebrates Her 21st Birthday With Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris on a Plane During Coachella To celebrate the milestone birthday, Intrigue went all out for the stunning supermodel. They presented her with customized bottles of alcohol, dazzling sparklers and even an ornate, booze-themed birthday cake. Getty Images WATCH: Gigi Hadid Flaunts Underboob in Sexy 'Sports Illustrated' Photoshoot The multi-level confection was topped with a giant faux martini glass -- complete with giant, fake cocktail olives -- and adorned with the number "21" written in gold letters. Her guests all circled around to cheer her on as she accepted the delicious gift. ETONLINE WATCH: Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio Spotted Hanging Out at Intrigue Nightclub Grand Opening Plenty of other A-listers were hanging out at the brand-new hot spot on Saturday. An eyewitness saw Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane, Creed star Michael B. Jordan and music producer David Guetta all kicking back at the club, separate from each other and Hadid's party, though Leonardo DiCaprio did make an appearance at the fete. Story continues DiCaprio and Rihanna reunited at Intrigue the night before for the club's grand opening, but their paths apparently didn't cross when both returned to the hot spot on Saturday. For more on the Oscar winner and the pop star's party-filled Friday night, check out the video below. Related Articles GLAAD released its fourth annual Studio Responsibility Index this morning, finding that the racial diversity of LGBT characters drastically decreased since last years report and that there remains a lack of substantial LGBT characters in mainstream films. No studios were given a Good rating for their 2015 films while Paramount, Disney and Warner Bros received Failing grades from the media advocacy watchdog for their portrayals of LGBT people. GLAADs index maps the quantity, quality, and diversity of images of LGBT people in films released by the seven largest studios during the calendar year. The group found that of the 126 releases from the major studios in 2015, 22 (17.5%) included characters identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender. That reps no change from the 17.5% of films found to be inclusive in the previous report. The group says the majority of LGBT characters in 2015 were minor roles. Hollywoods films lag far behind any other form of media when it comes to portrayals of LGBT characters, said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. Too often, the few LGBT characters that make it to the big screen are the target of a punchline or token characters. The film industry must embrace new and inclusive stories if it wants to remain competitive and relevant. GLAAD said both Paramount and Disney completely excluded LGBT characters in their 2015 film slates. It added that transgender representation is shockingly low, with only one character in the mainstream releases of 2015 Warners Hot Pursuit whose brief appearance served as a punchline. While Warner received a Good rating for 2014, GLAAD this year handed out no such stamps of approval. Of the other majors, Fox, Lionsgate, Sony and Universal all received ratings of Adequate. But, GLAAD said, Adequate is no longer adequate and beginning next year, the SRI will use a five-star scale, from one star (Failing) to five stars (Excellent). Story continues Particularly upsetting is the dismal racial diversity of LGBT characters across all media platforms. But, says GLAAD, film sadly took a step back this year with a near seven-percentage point drop in LGBT characters of color There is not just one LGBT experience and there are plenty of diverse and groundbreaking stories about the LGBT community yet to be told. Creators must tell the stories of our large and diverse community through the eyes of more than one character, thereby creating opportunities for compelling storylines. There was better news on the specialty side. GLAAD examined the releases of four smaller affiliated studios (Focus, Fox Searchlight, Roadside Attractions and Sony Classics) to draw a comparison. Of the 46 films released under those studios imprints in 2015, GLAAD found 10 (22%) to be LGBT-inclusive an increase from the 10.6% from the same divisions in 2014. GLAAD noted that films which relied on gay panic and defamatory stereotypes for cheap laughs included Kevin Hart-starring films Get Hard (WB) and The Wedding Ringer (Sony), which contain more blatant and incessant gay panic humor than we have seen in a Hollywood film in years. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (Par) also received a mention. GLAAD said it would like to see a greater number of mainstream films pass whats known as the Vito Russo Test. Inspired by the Bechdel Test (and named for Vito Russo, author of the groundbreaking 1981 study of gay Hollywood The Celluloid Closet), its a set of criteria which analyzes how LGBT characters are represented in a fictional work. After improvements in the past few years, only eight of the 22 major studio films that featured an LGBT character passed the test for 2015, the lowest percentage in the studys history. Related stories 'The Nice Guys' Extremely Accurate 70s Retro Trailer: Like A Hug From A Pet Rock Viacom CEO Says Talks To Sell Paramount Stake "On Track" To Wrap In June Viacom Tops Fiscal Q2 Revenue Expectations But Ad Sales Stay Soft The Turkish military has reportedly hit Islamic State (IS) group positions in Syria with artillery and drone attacks, killing 63 militants. The state-owned Anadolu Agency said Monday the strikes took out multiple rocket launchers and gun positions. Four drones deployed from the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey took part in the operation and killed 29 militants. The remaining 34 IS fighters were "neutralized" by rockets and shelling from Turkey, according to the agency. The AP was unable to immediately verify the report. The offensive started on Sunday when four rockets fired from Syria hit the Turkish border town of Kilis and wounded eight people. The wider province of Kilis borders territory contested by IS group militants, anti-government Syrian rebels and Kurdish factions. The Turkish army typically responds to fire from Syria in line with its rules of engagement. In the past year, Turkey has also witnessed suicide bombings linked to the IS as well as attacks linked to Kurdish militants. The latest came Sunday, when a car bomb detonated outside a police station in the southern city of Gaziantep, near Syria. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for that attack but anti-terrorism units raided 20 Gaziantep addresses overnight in search for suspects. Search Keywords: Short link: By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS - Google (GOOGL.O) is likely to face its first European Union antitrust sanction this year, with little prospect of it settling a test case with the bloc's regulator over its shopping service, people familiar with the matter said. There are few incentives left for either party to reach a deal in a six-year dispute that could set a precedent for Google searches for hotels, flights and other services and tests regulators' ability to ensure diversity on the Web. Alphabet Inc's Google, which was hit by a second EU antitrust charge this month for using its dominant Android mobile operating system to squeeze out rivals, shows little sign of backing down after years of wrangling with European authorities. Several people familiar with the matter said they believe that after three failed compromise attempts since 2010, Google has no plan to try to settle allegations that its Web search results favour its own shopping service, unless the EU watchdog changes its stance. Such a change of heart appears unlikely, with European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager -- a Dane whose team is leading the Google investigation -- showing little interest in reaching a settlement where there is no finding of wrongdoing or a fine against the company, other people said. Underpinning Vestager's tough approach, and the Commission's case, are scores of complaints from companies, big and small, on both sides of the Atlantic. Alphabet shares were flat at 1824 GMT. MICROSOFT'S SHADOW For Google, which has denied any wrongdoing, the stakes are high. Some rivals are convinced that any fine is effectively a cost of doing business and it has more to gain in profit from its existing business model than conceding to complaints. The European Commission declined to comment. "From a pure profitability perspective, it is better off dragging out the competition case, continuing its practices for as long as possible, and ultimately paying a fine that will be smaller than the profits it generates by continuing the conduct," Thomas Vinje, a lawyer who advises several of Google's competitors, told Reuters. Story continues However, some sources said they see last week's low-key pact with arch-rival Microsoft to withdraw all regulatory complaints against each other as a signal that Google might in time choose to strike a deal with Brussels. By doing so it would avoid a repeat of Microsoft's damaging fight with the European Commission and by settling at least its dispute with the EU over Internet shopping might also head off possible actions by other regulators. One source said it was too early for Google to rule anything out or in regarding the EU case. To date, Google has a mixed record in taking on regulators globally, winning some battles and losing others. However, Microsoft offers a salutary lesson to those who want to take on the Commission, Ioannis Kokkoris, a law professor at Queen Mary University of London, said. Microsoft ended up with fines of more than 2.2 billion euros (1.7 billion pounds) after a decade-long battle with the Commission. "You are entering a long battle, an expensive battle. And if you go to court, the outcome would not necessarily be better," Kokkoris said. Michelin-stared British TV chef Gordon Ramsey will be taking to the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage alongside Iron Chef' Masaharu Morimoto at this year's event The BottleRock Napa Valley festival celebrates the best in food, drink and in music from the region. This year's show will include over 100 culinary stars as well as a host of special appearances from musicians, athletes and actors showing off their kitchen skills. From May 27-29 alongside chefs like Ramsey, Michael Mina, Ken Frank and Mourad Lahlou; Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters will also be swapping musical instruments for cooking appliances. The musical bill for the event, confirmed on Monday, promises performances from Stevie Wonder, Florence + The Machine as well as the aforementioned Red Hot Chili Peppers. For more information visit the festival's website. A popular YouTube vlogger made his grandfathers birthday wish come true by surprising him with his dream car. Read: Man Teaches Homeless Woman to Read During His Lunch Breaks British YouTube personality Tom Cassell, also known as Tom Syndicate, went to a Jaguar dealership in England to purchase the luxury car for his grandfather. I promised I would buy him a Jaguar when I was younger," Cassell said in a video posted on YouTube. "He said, If you ever make money, Tommy, you better buy me a Jaguar. Because of you guys giving me this opportunity, I have been able to make my granddads dream come true. In an email to InsideEdition.com, Cassell explained that he first had the idea to treat his grandfather to the car when he was just 11 years old. "I was playing video games at his house and in the game I was driving a Jaguar," he recalled. "He jokingly implied to me that when I had enough money when I was older that I'd buy him the car. "Obviously being the young I CAN DO ANYTHING kid I was, I said YES!" As the video shows, Cassell hid in the truck of the car and waited for his grandfather, Harry Spencer, to arrive at the dealership with his dad. The 22-year-old's dad began filming the moment as his son popped out of the trunk to say: Happy Birthday, pop! Spencer thought his grandson was in America and was shocked to see him. The folks at the dealership even brought out a special cake to celebrate the occasion. Tom and his grandfather went for a ride and when they arrived back home, the birthday boy was like a kid in a candy store, filled with excitement examining his new car. Spencer opened all the doors, seats and windows in the car and managed to lock himself in the backseat thanks to its child safety locks. But now he's getting used to it, Cassell said. "He loves the car and drives it like a true gentleman," he told IE.com. Story continues Read: Personal Trainer Leaves Infant Daughter In Unlocked Car During Work Out With Client Before the incredible gift, Spencer had driven a Toyota Rav-4, which he used to drive his wife around before she passed away from motor neuron disease (ALS). Cassell continues to raise money towards finding a cure through a JustGiving page. Cassell was very proud he was able to do this for his grandfather and posted about the experience on Instagram: Watch: The Craziest Car Chases Caught on Camera Related Articles: By Caroline Copley BERLIN (Reuters) - A sweeping free trade deal being negotiated between the European Union and the United States would lower food safety and environmental standards, Greenpeace said on Monday, citing confidential documents from the talks. But the European Commission said the documents reflected negotiating positions, not any final outcome, and the EU's chief negotiator dismissed some of Greenpeace's points as "flatly wrong." The U.S. Trade Representative's office also rejected them. While it would not comment on the "validity of alleged leaks," a spokesman said "the interpretations being given to these texts appear to be misleading at best and flat-out wrong at worst." Greenpeace opposes the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), arguing with other critics that it would hand too much power to big business at the expense of consumers and national governments. Supporters say the TTIP would deliver more than $100 billion of economic gains on both sides of the Atlantic. Greenpeace Netherlands published 248 pages of "consolidated texts" for 13 chapters, or about half, of the deal on the website TTIP-leaks.org on Monday. They date from early April, before a round of meetings in New York last week. "We've done this to ignite a debate," Greenpeace trade expert Juergen Knirsch told a news conference in Berlin, adding that the documents showed the negotiations should be halted. "The best thing the EU Commission can do is to say 'Sorry, we've made a mistake'." European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom called the leak a "storm in a teacup" and told an audience in Geneva the EU would not compromise its principles just to get a deal before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in January 2017. "If it is not good enough we just have to say 'Sorry but we have to put this on ice' and wait for the next administration. Obviously we lose time and momentum but we cannot agree to TTIP-lite or something thats not good enough," she said. The White House had no comment on the veracity of the documents but said the leak was unlikely to derail negotiations. "There is the potential, and we certainly are aiming, to complete these talks by the end of the year, and I don't think there's anything about this leak that is going to have a material impact on our ability to do that," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Monday. Greenpeace said the documents showed differences had become entrenched between the two sides of the Atlantic. Malmstrom said it was "not very dramatic" to say there were disagreements and the EU was being as open as possible about the negotiations. Knirsch said the texts showed the United States wanted to replace Europe's "precautionary principle" - which prevents potentially harmful products from coming to market when their effect is unknown or disputed - with a less stringent approach. Malmstrom said the precautionary principle was part of the "acquis" - the laws binding the EU together - and Greenpeace's assertion was not true. Malmstrom called on EU governments to do more to explain TTIP's merits to their populations. NO CHANGES ON GMOS In Europe, there is widespread opposition to allowing more imports of U.S. agricultural products due to concerns about genetically modified foods. In Brussels, EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero dismissed Greenpeace's comments on the precautionary principle, adding: "We have made crystal clear that we would not agree on anything that implies changes of our regulatory regime on GMOs (genetically modified organisms)." The negotiators aim to have "consolidated texts" by July, when a 14th round of talks is due to be held. They would then try to settle the thornier issues in the second half of 2016. A survey published last month by the Bertelsmann Foundation showed waning support for a TTIP deal in both Germany and the United States after three years of negotiations. A spokesman for the German government said it was still working to complete a deal. An Economy Ministry spokeswoman said Germany would not accept lower food safety standards. (Additional reporting by Phil Blenkinsop in Brussels, Tom Miles in Geneva, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Susan Heavey abd Roberta Rampton in Washington; Editing by Andrew Roche and Andrea Ricci) Mexican pay-TV and broadcasting behemoth Grupo Televisa S.A. TV reported weak financial results in the first quarter of 2016. Both the top and the bottom line lagged the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. Net income in the reported quarter came in at approximately $56.8 million, down a substantial 45.6% year over year. Quarterly earnings per Global Depository Shares (GDS) were 1 cent, significantly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 6 cents. Consolidated net revenue of around $1,258 million in the reported quarter improved 9.5% over the prior-year quarter but failed to meet the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,282 million. Gross margin came in at 44.1% compared with 43.9% in the year-ago quarter. Consolidated operating income was $191.4 million, plunging 31.2% from the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.2% compared with 24.2% in the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditure, during the reported quarter, was approximately $330.7 million. At the end of 2015, Televisa had approximately $3,435 million in cash and marketable securities and $6,632.5 million of outstanding debt compared with $3,174.2 million of cash and marketable securities and $6,472.5 million of outstanding debt at the end of 2015. At the end of the reported quarter, the debt-to-capitalization ratio was around 0.54 against 0.52 at the end of 2015. Content Segment Content Segment revenues came in at $435.3 million, up 7.2% year over year. Operating profit was $153.6 million, up 1.8% year over year, while operating margin was 35.3% compared with 37.2% in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly royalty from Univision was $70.7 million, up 7.7% year over year. Within this segment, Advertising revenues totaled $259 million, down 3.1% year over year. Network Subscription revenues were $62.3 million, indicating an increase of 31.2% year over year. Licensing and Syndication revenues were $113.9 million, up 25% year over year. Sky Segment Sky segment revenues came in at $309.4 million, up 15.7% year over year. Operating profit was $139.4 million, up 12.1% year over year. Quarterly operating margin was 45% compared with 46.5% in the year-ago quarter. Story continues Cable Segment Cable segment revenues of $440.8 million increased 13.5% year over year. Operating profit was $182.3 million, up 18.6% year over year. Operating margin came in at 41.4% compared with 39.6% in the year-ago quarter. Other Businesses Segment Other Business revenues were $102.7 million, down 7.5% year over year. Operating income was $8.2 million, down a substantial 36.1% year over year. Operating margin was 8% down from 11.6% in the year-ago quarter. Subscriber Statistics As of Mar 31, 2016, Televisa had 4,153,300 Video subscribers; 3,147,286 Broadband Internet subscribers; and 1,968,590 Telephony subscribers, which together constituted 9,269,176 revenue generating units (RGU) in the Telecommunications segment. The company also had 7,682,379 net active Satellite TV subscribers, up 13.7% year over year. In the reported quarter, the Sky segment added 398,217 net active subscribers. Zacks Rank and Stock to Consider Televisa currently holds a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked stocks in the same industry include Cumulus Media Inc. CMLS, Gray Television Inc. GTN and AMC Networks Inc. AMCX. While Cumulus and Gray aport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), AMC Networks carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GRUPO TELEVISA (TV): Free Stock Analysis Report CUMULUS MEDIA (CMLS): Free Stock Analysis Report GRAY TELEVSN (GTN): Free Stock Analysis Report AMC NETWORKS- A (AMCX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Guatemala City (AFP) - Security forces on Monday launched raids on one of the biggest gangs in Guatemala, arresting 72 suspected members of a cell specializing in extortion, officials said. More than 120 raids were carried out by nearly 300 law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the south, center and northeast of the country. "The operation is focused on fighting the scourge of extortion," the chief state prosecutor, Thelma Aldana, told a news conference. The raids targeted members of the notorious Barrio 18 gang who formed an ring known as "Solo para Locos" ("Only for Crazies") that strongarmed public transport companies plying routes between the capital and southern coastal areas, according to the public ministry. Aldana said the extortion cell earned nearly $400,000 a year from its illegal activities and was linked to 30 murders. Travel on buses in Guatemala has become increasingly risky in recent years because of the rampant extortion. A spokeswoman for the public ministry said the raids on Monday turned up weapons and ammunition, grenades and other explosives, cellphones, and cash. She said the criminals involved usually intimidated or launched armed attacks against bus companies. The investigation leading to the arrests started a year ago. Those arrested were charged and put in jail pending trial. The raids took place in the central province of Guatemala, in the southern provinces of Retalhuleu, Escuintla and Santa Rosa and in Izabal, northeast of the capital. Guatemala forms Central America's infamous "Northern Triangle" along with neighboring Honduras and El Salvador. The three countries are prey to vicious gangs that murder, extort and deal in drugs. Some 6,000 people die in Guatemala every year in violence attributed to the gangs. By Lisa Maria Garza DALLAS (Reuters) - A gun owner was fatally shot in a Dallas-area drugstore parking lot on Monday after intervening in a domestic dispute in which a woman was wounded, police said. The unidentified man who was killed was shopping with his wife at a Walgreens in Arlington, west of Dallas, when they saw a female employee who had been shot in the leg near the store entrance, an Arlington police spokesman told reporters at the scene. The man went to his vehicle, retrieved his weapon and confronted the man who had shot the woman, Lieutenant Christopher Cook said. "The suspect was trying to leave in the car. Thats when the good Samaritan pointed his firearm, trying to get the car to stop," Cook said. The suspect left his vehicle, shot the man in the head and fled the scene, police said. He later surrendered to police 60 miles from the scene of the shooting. The suspect has been identified as Ricci Bradden, 22, and is thought to be the husband or boyfriend of the woman who was shot. He is in custody on a homicide charge, police said. The wounded woman was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (Reporting by Lisa Maria Garza; Editing by Jon Herskovitz and Peter Cooney) By Crispian Balmer ROME (Reuters) - A U.N. court has ruled that India must allow an Italian marine detained in Delhi for more than four years to go home, Italy's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. India acknowledged the ruling but said Salvatore Girone would remain under the authority of its Supreme Court which might impose various conditions on his release. Girone is one of two Italian marines were arrested in India in 2012 on suspicion of killing two fishermen while on an anti-piracy mission on an Italian oil tanker. One returned to Italy with health problems, but India has refused to let Girone go. He is living in the Italian embassy in Delhi. "This really is a significant step forward which we have worked on with great dedication," Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told reporters. "I'll take advantage of this moment to send a message of friendship to the great people of India." The case has soured relations between India and Italy, and also overshadowed Delhi's efforts to improve its ties with the European Union as other EU countries backed Rome in the row. Looking to overcome the legal impasse, the two countries agreed last year to move their dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decision. The Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in an initial ruling, the court had decided that Girone should be allowed home while it continued its deliberations, which might take many months. The court itself declined to comment. Responding hours later, India said Girone should be free to return home for the duration of the U.N. investigation, but stressed that he would remain on bail and would have to return to India if the Hague court ruled that India could try the case. The Ministry of External Affairs said the Supreme Court might demand that he surrender his passport to the Italian authorities and not leave Italy without Indian permission. The U.N. court will continue to review the merits of the case and no date has been set for a definitive ruling. "The government underlines that today's court decision ... will not influence the progress of the arbitration procedures, which should decide if Italy or India has jurisdiction in the case," Italy's Foreign Ministry said. Italy has argued that the case should not be heard in India because it said the incident had occurred in international waters. India said it remained confident that the issue of jurisdiction would be decided in its favor. Marines are viewed by Italy as state officials immune to foreign prosecution. Italy has paid $190,000 in compensation to each victim's family. (Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine in Delhi and Thomas Escritt in Amsterdam; Editing by Louise Ireland) By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When little kids have the stomach flu and need to drink fluids, half-strength apple juice and whatever fluid the child prefers - can be as effective as expensive electrolyte solutions, researchers say. The treatment of stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, usually focuses on replacing fluids lost through diarrhea or vomiting, but the electrolyte solutions are relatively expensive and kids often don't like the way they taste. In many high-income countries, the use of dilute apple juice and preferred fluids may be an appropriate alternative to electrolyte maintenance solution use in children with mild gastroenteritis and minimal dehydration, Dr. Steven D. Freedman from University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada told Reuters Health by email. Freedmans team studied 647 children ages six months to five years old who came to the emergency department with mild dehydration from stomach flu. Half the children were given half-strength apple juice followed by their favorite drink, and half received an apple-flavored electrolyte solution, the researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Twenty-five percent of the kids who drank the electrolyte solution still needed intravenous (IV) fluids or other additional treatment, compared to only about 17 percent of the kids who drank apple juice and their favorite drink. Two-year-olds and older children responded best to apple juice, but even the younger group fared slightly better with apple juice than with the electrolyte solution. In addition, children treated with apple juice required fewer IV fluids and had lower hospitalization rates than children treated with the electrolyte solution. "These results challenge the recommendation to routinely administer electrolyte maintenance solution when diarrhea begins," the researchers say. But apple juice is not always the best treatment. Our study specifically excluded high-risk children, and such children should continue to receive electrolyte maintenance solution, Freedman said. This would include children younger than six months of age, those with moderate to severe dehydration, children receiving care in a region where severe disease and dehydration are common, and those at risk for electrolyte abnormalities. He also favors electrolyte solutions for children with other significant medical conditions. Dr. Francois Angoulvant from Hopital Necker-Enfants Malades in Villejuif, France, who has studied this topic, told Reuters Health by email, If a child more than two years of age with mild dehydration refuses to drink electrolyte maintenance solution, the use of half-strength apple juice/preferred fluids therapy is legitimate. He would not use half-strength apple juice in younger children, however. Dr. Ivan D. Florez from Universidad de Antioguia, Medellin, Colombia told Reuters Health by email that more information is needed before switching from electrolyte solution to apple juice. "(People) should think of apple juice as a promising intervention that needs further studies," he said, adding that "these results are not applicable in low- and middle-income settings." SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1SV1GGi Journal of the American Medical Association, online April 30, 2016. One Turkish soldier was killed and 20 others were wounded when a car bomb blamed on Kurdish militants exploded in the Kurdish-majority southeast, the army said on Monday. In a statement, the army said a total of 23 people were wounded in the blast which took place late on Sunday, 20 of them soldiers and three of them civilian family members. The car bomb detonated near a military command complex in the Dicle district of the Kurdish majority province of Diyarbakir, a security source told AFP, blaming the attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The command post and an adjacent housing area for families was seriously damaged in the attack, the Dogan news agency reported. Police stopped a suspicious car after the attack but the suspects inside opened fire, injuring a judge and three police officers before they fled, the agency said. Turkey has been waging a major military offensive against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and much of the international community, after a two-year fragile ceasefire collapsed last summer. Since then, hundreds of members of the Turkish security forces have been killed. The renewed conflict has also struck at the heart of the country, with two attacks that killed dozens of people in the capital Ankara claimed by a PKK splinter group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK). The same group on Sunday claimed last week's suicide bombing in Bursa, Turkey's former Ottoman capital, which only killed the female bomber. Over 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK took up arms in 1984 demanding a homeland for Turkey's biggest minority. Since then, the group has pared back its demands to focus on cultural rights and a measure of autonomy. On Sunday, two police were killed and 22 other people were wounded in another car bomb attack in the southern city of Gaziantep, a major refugee hub, with initial suspicion for that attack falling on militants. Search Keywords: Short link: Here are some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today. Baker Hughes (BHI) shares were lower in early trading. The oil producer plans to buy back $1.5 billion in stock after a merger was called off with Halliburton (HAL). Halliburton has till Wednesday to pay for a breakup deal that's worth over $3 billion, which is how Baker Hughes will finance the buyback. The $28 billion merger is off after opposition from U.S. and European antitrust regulators. Apollo Education (APOL) soared in early trading following news that a group of investors, including private equity firm Apollo Global Management, have raised their offer to buy the University of Phoenix owner for $1.14 billion, or $10 a share. That's up from $9.50 a share. This is in an effort to win over reluctant shareholders. Apple (AAPL) shares remain in focus this morning. The stock fell 11% last week after the company reported its first revenue decline in 13 years. Groupon (GRPN) shares fell in morning trading after RBC Capital downgraded the stock to under-perform from sector perform and cut its price target on the stock by a buck, to $3 a share. New York (AFP) - US oilfield services giants Halliburton and Baker Hughes were picking up the pieces of their broken merger deal Monday after antitrust regulators' opposition proved too great to overcome. Halliburton and Baker Hughes announced late Sunday they had called off their $28.6 billion merger that would have combined the world's number two and number three oilfield services company to create a powerful rival to global leader Schlumberger. The deal was intended to strengthen the competitive position of both companies as the US oil industry grapples with a dive in crude prices that began almost two years ago and has led to production cutbacks, layoffs and bankruptcies. Under the terms of the deal, initially valued at $34.6 billion when it was announced in November 2014, Halliburton would have swallowed Baker Hughes. "Challenges in obtaining remaining regulatory approvals and general industry conditions that severely damaged deal economics led to the conclusion that termination is the best course of action," Halliburton's chairman and chief executive, Dave Lesar, said in a statement. Now that the deal is scuppered, Halliburton must pay Baker Hughes a $3.5 billion breakup fee. Baker Hughes moved swiftly Monday to lay out its path as a stand-alone company, announcing a series of actions to reduce costs and streamline its business. It said it would use the $3.5 billion merger breakup fee to buy back $1.5 billion of shares and $1 billion of debt. Baker Hughes said it was now free to take measures to slash costs that had been retained in compliance with the merger deal. The initial phase of the cost cutting is expected to result in $500 million of annualized savings by the end of 2016, the company said. "The company will approach these actions thoughtfully, decisively and swiftly to position the company for success and to maximize shareholder value," said Martin Craighead, Baker Hughes chairman and CEO, in a statement. Story continues Shares in Baker Hughes were up 0.3 percent in pre-market trade, while Halliburton gained 1.0 percent. Evercore ISI analysts said the termination of the deal was expected and favorable for Baker Hughes. "The company has maintained a pristine balance sheet through the downturn, and the $3.5 billion fee from Halliburton will only improve its cash position," they said in a client note. "A crucial next step for Baker Hughes will be to put the managerial pieces in place to position the company to capture maximum value in the impending industry upturn." - US antitrust muscle - The collapse of the deal came less than a month after the US Justice Department filed suit to block the proposed merger, saying it would eliminate competition, raise prices and reduce innovation in the oil services business. The Justice Department said the transaction would eliminate head-to-head competition in markets for 23 products or services, creating a virtual duopoly for key oil services such as offshore well completions and onshore and offshore cementing. It said the merger would remove the incentives for two industry leaders to improve technology and that low oil prices did not justify a bad deal for consumers. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch welcomed the deal's demise. "The companies' decision to abandon this transaction -- which would have left many oilfield service markets in the hands of a duopoly -- is a victory for the US economy and for all Americans," Lynch said in a statement. "This case serves as a stark reminder that no merger is too big or too complex to be challenged." The Justice Department said that before it filed suit, Halliburton had offered to divest certain assets in an effort to address its concerns, but that the proposal fell short of satisfying competition issues. Across the Atlantic, the European Commission in January had opened a probe into the proposed merger, citing concern it would increase oil and gas exploration costs resulting in higher energy prices in Europe. In 2015, Halliburton had revenues of $23.6 billion, while Baker Hughes had revenues of $15.7 billion. Schlumberger's revenues were $35.5 billion. By Lawrence Delevingne LOS ANGELES, May 2 (Reuters) - Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, has defended his firm's unconventional management style - based on employees openly challenging each other and giving themselves continuous performance feedback - saying it created a focus on "independent thinking." "It is a culture, but it's the opposite of a cult," Dalio said at a rare public speaking appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles on Monday. The world's largest hedge fund, with about $150 billion in assets under management, is known for what it calls a system of "radical transparency," envisioned as a meritocracy of ideas where open challenge between employees is encouraged. But Bridgewater is also known for relatively high turnover among its roughly 1,500-person Westport, Connecticut-based staff. An estimated 25 percent departs during the first 18 months of employment. "It's painful in the moment sometimes," Dalio said in reference to employees giving each other near-constant feedback on personal strengths and weaknesses. "People are not used to those things." The hour-long, on-stage appearance came after Bridgewater received some negative attention in February over a reported schism between Dalio and a top deputy, Greg Jensen, over succession planning. Bridgewater at the time called the report an exaggeration of what occurred. Dalio did not address the topic on Monday. Dalio, interviewed by Robert Kegan of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, noted how employees use iPads with proprietary "dot collector" software. Employees use the application to rate co-workers on 60 personal attributes, such as creativity and reliability. Employees also have a "believability" rating based on their expertise in a particular area. Bridgewater records most of what happens internally, and workers are required to watch 15 minutes of video a day on what is going on inside the firm. "By bringing it all to the surface, particularly disagreements to the surface, it's very powerful," Dalio said. He said everyone at the firm participated in the feedback system, including him. "I need that challenge," Dalio said. "I get literally thousands of negative dots all the time - and I reward people for that." Dalio, 66, said Bridgewater's system was broadly applicable outside the firm. "I do believe that the greatest problem of mankind is the inability to get inside their heads... and work in a more effective way." (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Bill Rigby) CARMEL, Ind. Heidi Cruz knows that her husband, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is not the Zodiac Killer, no matter what people online say. Heidi spent Monday morning traveling across Indiana in support of her husbands presidential campaign. At a cafe in Carmel, Yahoo News asked for her reaction to a series of jokes that Comedy Central host Larry Wilmore made at the White House Correspondents dinner on Saturday night, where he repeatedly called her husband the Zodiac Killer. Well, Ive been married to him for 15 years, and I know pretty well who he is, so it doesnt bother me at all. Theres a lot of garbage out there, Heidi said. There is a popular Internet meme where people have asked whether Ted Cruz is the infamous Zodiac Killer, who was responsible for a string of unsolved murders and taunting letters to law enforcement in California during the late 1960s and early 70s. This meme has spread widely, even though Cruz was born in 1970, two years after the first killings took place and is most definitely not the Zodiac Killer. Wilmore made a string of references to the meme during his appearance at the dinner in front of an audience that included President Obama and the White House press corps. There is a joke going around the Internet that Ted Cruz is actually the Zodiac Killer, Wilmore said, later adding, Recently, Ted Cruz got a string of wins and endorsements. Then everybody remembered who Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer. Ted Cruz hugs his wife, Heidi, during a campaign event in Milwaukee on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. (AP/Paul Sancya) Wilmore made several other comments about the meme at the event. Yahoo News asked Heidi about his remarks after a pair of supporters she met with marveled at her ability to deal with the smearing and the scorched-earth stuff going on during this heated GOP primary. Well, its amazing how a lot of people are swayed by it, Heidi said. Part of it is, the news media is 24/7, and they dont let up. Indiana has become a crucial battleground in the Republican primary as frontrunner Donald Trump is approaching the number of delegates he needs to secure the nomination on the first ballot at the partys convention. Polls currently show Trump ahead in Indiana. However, Cruz is hoping to come from behind and begin a series of victories that will keep Trump under the delegate threshold and lead to a contested convention. From Cosmopolitan A crowd of protesters swarmed Donald Trump's Thursday night rally in Costa Mesa, California, unleashing what CBS This Morning calls "some of the worst political violence of the presidential campaign." Police on horseback and riot gear were called in to disperse a crowd that gathered in the streets in front of the OC Fair & Event Center, where Trump was speaking. CNN reports that several protesters smashed police cars and at least one Donald Trump supporter was punched among the chaos. Many demonstrators held up Mexican flags to protest Trump's immigration policy, which includes the deportation of 11 million undocumented immigrants and building a wall at the Mexican border. According to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff's Department last night, about 20 people were arrested and the crowd was dispersed by 11 p.m., three hours after Trump's rally ended: This is hardly the first Trump event to draw violence. Last month, a Trump rally in Chicago was canceled amid concerns of violence. Protesters, supporters, and even reporters have been assaulted on numerous occasions - as Slate's list of incidences of violence at Trump events recounts, in February, a photographer was slammed to the ground by Secret Service; in November, a black protester in Alabama was punched and choked at a rally; and in October, a man assaulted a Latino protester, among many other altercations in the past several months. Trump, a polarizing figure who has openly insulted women and immigrants, has encouraged violence at his rallies in previous statements and in March said he would pay the legal fees of any supporter who'd "knock the crap out" of agitated protesters. Follow Prachi on Twitter. "Geronimo ... Geronimo. E.K.I.A. Enemy Killed in Action." The time in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was approximately 1 a.m. local time (3:51 p.m. EST) when Navy Adm. William McRaven, then the commander of SEAL Team 6, relayed word that Osama bin Laden had been killed. At 4:06 p.m. on May 1, 2011 (12:36 a.m., May 2, in Pakistan), the White House's official photographer, Pete Souza, took the following iconic photograph of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and the national-security team monitoring Operation Neptune Spear in real time. "I need to watch this," Obama is said to have remarked, hunkering down in a spare chair in one of the White House's smaller conference rooms. Obama entered the room as one of the two SEAL helicopters crash-landed at the bin Laden compound. "I was thinking that this is not an ideal start," Obama would later tell CNN's Peter Bergen. He described the call to strike the compound as "emblematic of presidential decision-making." "You're always working with probabilities," he said, "and you make a decision, not based on 100% certainty, but with the best information that you've got." All 23 SEALs were unharmed, and the terrorist leader behind the September 11 attacks on the US, Osama bin Laden, was killed. situation room obama biden clinton osama raid [Seated in this picture from left to right: Vice President Biden, the President, Brig. Gen. Webb, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing, from left, are: Admiral Mike Mullen, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Blinken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.] NOW WATCH: The US is showing its strength against Russia by sending its most advanced warplanes to the Black Sea More From Business Insider Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., April 28, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Via Dave Lutz at JonesTrading, here's a super-quick guide to what traders are talking about right now: Good Morning! US Futures are climbing small, led by a 30bp pop in the Russell - Trading overseas quite quiet with many exchanges including London closed for Holiday, having most exchanges in Europe seeing turnover 25-40% below the average trend. The DAX is climbing almost 1% tho, with exporters like Autos and Financials jumping in Frankfurt. Italys Banking sector was a Sell the news after Italys government-orchestrated bailout fund undertook its first rescue mission tho, hitting their market for almost 40bp. Over in Asia, Japan reopened and was hit for 3.1% as the Yen ripped higher - Japanese markets are closed from Tuesday through Thursday for Golden Week - Aussie lost 20bp as Westpac results weighed while Markets in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia were closed for public holidays. Treasuries are holding Fridays bid as Bund Yields drop to 25bp from Fridays 31bp peak, knocking the US10YY to 1.81%. The Yen is retreating slightly from a 18month high as Abe begins his roadshow across Europe but the Euro is popping early, and nearing 1.15. With the DXY rapidly approaching the lows of August 2015, we have a tailwind for commodities, led by Gold popping 75bp and trying for air above $1300. The Oil complex is shrugging offFridays OPEC headers and rapidly approaching unchanged, with WTI nearing $46 early as Gasoline breaks into the green. Natty gas tho is getting hit for 2% as (hopefully) warmer May weather comes into focus. We do have a day chock full of Central Bank Speakers, starting with Fed's Lockhart (Non-voter, Neutral), at 8:50. We get Markit US Manufacturing PMI, right when the ECB Publishes Weekly, Monthly QE Holdings. Draghi Speaks at ADB Meeting in Frankfurt at 10am, just as US ISM Manufacturing and Construction Spending hits. After the close, Fed's Williams (Non-voter, Neutral) Speaks in Los Angeles at 5:30. Down in Washington, the House and Senate are not in session, but headline focus will be on Puerto Rico not making a $420mln debt payment today. Story continues NOW WATCH: FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: The single largest threat to the global economy More From Business Insider Photo credit: AP From Town & Country Update 1/25/17: Malia Obama is getting an early start on her entry into the film business. The former first daughter was spotted at the Sundance Film Festival yesterday, where she took in a screening of Beach Rats at the Yarrow Theater in Park City, according to the New York Post and the Wrap. The indie-film, set on Coney Island, has been described as a "gritty tale of young people adrift." Photo credit: AP Obama, 18, is going to intern with the Weinstein Company this year before she starts college at Harvard in the fall, but the Post reported that her Sundance attendance was not connected to that plan. Update 1/20/17: Malia Obama, the eldest First Daughter, has landed an internship with Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The 18-year-old Obama, who is currently taking a gap year between high school and college, will work out of the Weinstein Company's New York City office in February following her family's vacation in Palm Springs, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She's done previous work in the industry. Obama interned on the set of HBO's Girls in 2015, and also worked as a production assistant on the set of Halle Berry's CBS show, Extant. Democratic fundraiser Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob run the Weinstein Company, which has produced Oscar-winning films like The King's Speech and Shakespeare in Love. (Lion and The Founder are a couple of its current buzzy releases.) It was also reported earlier this week that Obama took a secret, five-day trip to Bolivia and Peru late last year. The educational trek, which Obama underwent with a group of teenagers, was organized by the tour company Where There Be Dragons. Because of America's strained political relationship with Bolivia, the trip reportedly involved a phone call from President Obama to Bolivia's President Evo Morales requesting "his government's cooperation in ensuring discretion and security for his daughter's trip." Story continues [contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="What%20Obama%20Is%20Doing%20After%20He%20Leaves%20the%20Presidency" customimages="" content="article.9262"] Original 5/1/16: The presidential daughter is joining the Crimson. Malia Obama, the president's eldest daughter, will head to Harvard University after she finishes her senior year at Sidwell Friends School this spring and takes a gap year, the White House announced this morning. The announcement came after months of speculation over where the first daughter would complete her higher education. As of last October, Malia had toured six of the eight Ivy League colleges (Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale) along with Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley. She'd also visited Barnard, New York University, Tufts, and Wesleyan, according to the Times. She sported a Stanford t-shirt on a 2014 bike ride with her father on Martha's Vineyard (below), sending internet commenters into a frenzy of conjecture that she'd already chosen to attend the same school as former first daughter Chelsea Clinton. (Her dad has expressed his fondness for the university, telling a group at a Palo Alto cybersecurity summer in early 2015, "Let's face it, I like Stanford grads ... I've got to admit, like, I kind of want to go here.") Photo credit: Getty Last September, the president told a group of students in Des Moines, Iowa that he'd encouraged Malia "not to stress too much about having to get into one particular college." "There are a lot of good colleges and universities out there, and it's important, I think, for everybody here to understand you can find a college or university that gives you a great education," Obama said. "Just because it's not some name-brand, famous, fancy school doesn't mean that you're not going to get a great education there. So one is, lower the stress levels in terms of just having to get into one particular school." He also said he hoped she would "be open to new experiences" and not "make your decision based on, well, where are all my friends going so that I can do the exact same things with the exact same friends that I did in high school." It was sound advice for the students in the audience as well as his daughter herself. Earlier this year he talked about what it's been like to watch Malia get ready to depart for college. "It's hard," he said on Ellen. "As Michelle reminds me, our job is to prepare them not to need us and both of my daughters are wonderful people. And Malia is more than ready to leave, but I'm not ready for her to leave. I was asked if I would speak at her graduation and I said, absolutely not because I'm gonna be sitting there with dark glasses sobbing. Yeah she's one of my best friends. It's gonna be hard for me not to have her around all the time. But she's ready to go. You can tell. She's just a really smart, capable person. She's ready to make her own way." Earlier, the president said to a crowd in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that he couldn't talk about Malia's leaving home because just the thought of it made him cry. We can only imaging how emotional the former president might become when he moves Malia into Harvard yard in the fall of 2017. Follow Sam on Twitter. You Might Also Like A car bomb targeting Shia pilgrims killed at least 14 people in southern Baghdad on Monday, security and medical sources said. An Iraqi security command said a suicide bomber detonated the explosives-rigged vehicle, while other officials said it was a car bomb. At least 14 people were killed and at least 41 others wounded, security and medical officials said. They said several women and children were among the victims. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, but such attacks are usually carried out by the Islamic State (IS) militant group. IS perpetrated a similar attack against pilgrims on the outskirts of Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least 23 people. Many of the main thoroughfares in the city are closed in the days leading up to the annual commemoration of Imam Musa Kadhim's death, an important date in the Shia Muslim calendar. Kadhim, the seventh of 12 imams revered in Shia Islam, died in 799 AD. The pilgrimage to his shrine in northern Baghdad has in recent years turned into a huge event that brings the capital to a standstill for days. The main commemoration at the shrine in Baghdad's Kadhimiya neighbourhood will take place on Tuesday. Search Keywords: Short link: At 15 years old, Natalia Nodiff ended up in isolation at a Massachusetts psychiatric ward the mental health equivalent of solitary confinement for consoling another patient. Nodiff, who is half Indian, was admitted after experiencing psychosis. When she extended a sympathetic hand to another patient a young white woman the woman complained to hospital staff. Though Nodiff had no record of aggressive behavior and had shown no signs of aggression in the hospital, staff deemed her a threat. They secluded Nodiff in an isolation room at the center of the U-shaped medical unit behind the nurse's station. Nodiff sat in the room alone, highly medicated. Thirteen years later, Nodiff considers this her first experience of trauma. "To me, mental illness is not a scientific disease it's just suffering," said Nodiff, an activist with the , a support network for people who "experience the world in ways that are often diagnosed as mental illness." Source: Flickr Every year since 1949, nonprofit organization Mental Health Awareness has sponsored Mental Health Awareness Month, jostling for attention with one of more than 25 causes in May. The campaign seeks to decrease the stigma around mental health and encourage treatment. But the spotlight advocates shine on the issue exposes cracks in the mental health care system, which victimizes minorities as often as it helps them. Mental Health Awareness Month should be as much about fixing the system as it is about shepherding people into it. Nodiff said her early encounter with the mental health system showed her how ill equipped it is to serve marginalized communities. S For many minorities, the mental health system, the criminal justice system and foster care system Minorities' experiences with these institutions stops them from getting treatment in the first place. While it's hard to say with precision how many people of color go untreated for mental illness, people of color are not receiving the care they need. Because of a history of mistrust and misdiagnoses, only 20% of black adults seek mental health care. Latinos seek treatment at half that rate. Asians are the least likely racial group to access services only 5% of Asian men and 4% of Asian women seek the help the need. Story continues People of color's reluctance to seek treatment may stem from lack of awareness, but minorities are rightfully distrustful of accessing care. Agustina Vidal, programs coordinator at Icarus Project, said awareness campaigns that only encourage people to enter the medical system often put people of color in harm's way. "[These campaigns] say, 'I'm depressed and I got help and you can get help too.' We need to be careful because if I'm saying that to a black woman I'm putting her at potential risk," Vidal said to Mic in a phone interview. While people of color of all backgrounds face negative consequences when interacting with the mental health care system, consequences in America for black people are often the most severe. Racial bias and stereotyping lead health care providers to perceive black people as "aggressive" and misdiagnose them as schizophrenic. A recent study found black patients were 2 to be diagnosed with the mental illness than white patients. People of color who express frustration with racial discrimination to their therapist's face being pathologized with diagnoses such as: panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders. For many, diagnosis is the first step to getting treatment, but a black person diagnosed with mental illness in America is more likely to face punitive consequences once in the system. Source: Flickr Required by law to report child abuse, mental health professionals disproportionately report people of color for child abuse. A 2002 study found that, in Illinois, black parents are reported to child protective services at three times the rate of white parents. For black women, racist assumptions become racist realities. They become "unfit mothers" and are separated from their children, who enter foster care. According to a 2012 study in Child Abuse & Neglect, black children and children of mothers with mental illness are both at higher risk for entering the foster care system, a system that can itself cause trauma. Though they only make up 14% of children, black children make up 24% of children in foster care. While black women face run-ins with the foster care system, black men diagnosed with mental illness are more likely to be ushered into the criminal justice system, according to the American Psychological Association. Rather than getting treatment, black men get incarcerated. A 2014 report from the National Research Council reported 64% of people in local jails and 56% of people in prisons exhibited symptoms of mental illness. "A lot of people are really struggling with societal not individual problems." People of color who do see a mental health professional are very likely to meet someone who has no idea what it is like to face racism on a daily basis. "A lot of people are really struggling with societal not individual problems," said Ann Marie Yamada, a professor of social work at the University of Southern California. "Mental health traditionally has not been set up to look beyond mental capacity." Nodiff said talking to therapists about racial discrimination has been the hardest challenge for her as someone living with a mental illness. "It's difficult not just because it's uncomfortable to talk about it, but because they don't seem to know how to respond to it," she said. "That's something ongoing that continues to come up. There are cultural differences that white, the kind of white training and therapeutic training doesn't necessarily address." Studies have long shown that structural racism pollutes mental health in communities of color a phenomenon Yamada has witnessed firsthand. "We're not paying enough attention to the stresses and traumas that people face on a day-to-day basis," Yamada said. "It's a mental warzone for [people of color] and it requires the same time and attention that we give to veterans." Source: Flickr But whereas soldiers are deployed to war zones and some return, the warzone for people of color is all around them. Because the mental health issues that people of color face are structural, "What about people who live in communities that are unsafe or threatening? That their friends are getting killed? That they have children that they fear for them when they go out and not know if they're going to come back? How is that not going to create mental health problems in people?" Vidal said. "It's a mental warzone for people of color and it requires the same time and attention that we give to veterans." Nodiff now lives on her own and is attending college something psychiatrists told her she would never be able to do with her diagnoses. Nodiff proclaims those diagnoses were made without social context and were, thus, false. "I think that, for me, a lot of my issues do boil down to social issues," she said. "And they are not just in my brain." Like Nodiff, not all of people of color's mental health issues can be reduced to brain chemistry. Because social realities cannot be divorced from mental ones, mental health awareness actually means awareness of inequalities economic, racial and social. A call for mental health awareness is really a call for action on behalf of marginalized communities. "We need to heal the community to heal ourselves," Vidal said. "We change ourselves through changing the world around us. Social justice and mental wellness cannot be separated." Less than 24 hours after President Barack Obama finished cracking his last jokes for journalists at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, Hillary Clinton spoke to African-American leaders about how she'll protect the legacy of the nation's first black commander-in-chief. Given the tone and terms in which she spoke, it's clear the Democratic presidential frontrunner is as confident as ever about her sense of kinship and support in the black community. "We've been blessed to have this strong, thoughtful leader sitting in the Oval Office and an exceptional first lady by his side," Clinton told thousands in a largely black audience at the NAACP's First for Freedom Fund Dinner in Detroit on Sunday. "They have made us proud." Read more: 7 Times Larry Wilmore Made White People Uncomfortable At the WHCD "They have represented America to the world with style and grace, and it is up to us to make sure that when they leave the White House, the concerns and priorities they've championed, the hopes and dreams that Americans have entrusted to them, don't also leave." Source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Clinton painted her likely Republican opponent in the general election as the biggest threat to Obama's accomplishments, which include the expansion of health care for low-income Americans, funding for historically black colleges and universities and federal drug sentencing reforms. "We cannot let Barack Obama's legacy fall into Donald Trump's hands," Clinton said in her keynote speech at the dinner. The black community doesn't need to look any further than Trump's record of disrespect toward Obama, Clinton said, reminding the audience that the billionaire real estate mogul "led the insidious birther movement to discredit the president's citizenship." She also mentioned former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke, as a refresher on Trump's slow disavowal of his and other white supremacists' campaign endorsements. Story continues Sunday's speech was hardly the first time that Clinton has emphasized Obama's race and legacy before largely African-American audiences. Ahead of the presidential primaries in South Carolina and Alabama, where blacks make up a significant bloc of Democratic voters, Clinton met with national civil rights leaders to discuss how she'd protect historic civil rights victories that were won generations ago. She and Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders took meetings with Black Lives Matter activists and made criminal justice and policing reforms central in their pitches to African-Americans. But Sanders has persistently trailed Clinton among black voters. Clinton's support among blacks remained high in spite of recent criticism that she, as first lady, championed a national policing expansion in the 1990s that led to mass incarceration of black men. During a debate in Brooklyn, New York, Clinton apologized to black voters for the "unintended" consequences of the 1994 crime bill. But in Sunday evening's dinner, Clinton seemed to pivot to speaking more broadly about black Americans' contributions to the nation. "We have to look at our great country," she said. "Look at this amazing gathering. People from every background. Every race. Every religion. Coming together as one people, one nation." h/t BuzzFeed Think 2016 might finally be the year to tackle that big home renovation project youve been putting off? Welcome to the club. Fueled largely by the rebounding housing market, home improvement spending is projected to reach $155 billion this year, surpassing the peak set in 2006, according to Harvards Joint Center for Housing Studies. At the same time, the construction industry is in the throes of a massive labor shortage, having shed more than 2 million jobs since 2007. You dont need a degree in Keynesian economics to spot the problem: Demand for home renovation work is swiftly outpacing the supply of qualified professionals. Its gotten to the point that Ive had to tell clients that it might be a few months before I can take them on, says LuAnn Fabian, a general contractor based in Hermosa Beach, Calif. So if you want to be in your dream kitchen by the holidays, you could be clutching your tile samples a lot longer than anticipated. Though the number of remodeling pros has declined, there are still less experiencedand less scrupulousones out there, according to a recent survey of 300 general contractors from around the country conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Among the shady industry practices general contractors reported are contractors using unskilled laborers to carry out their work, and winning jobs with lowball bids and then jacking up the cost later with unforeseen problems. Our home renovation survey asked the crucial questions you might not know to ask, such as: How much wiggle room is there in the estimate? (Hint: more than you may think.) What are the biggest homeowner mistakes? How long do projects really take? The answers, along with insights from other design and remodeling professionals, inform this, our home renovation survival guide. Follow our advice and you could save thousands of dollars on your renovation without compromising qualityor losing your cool. More on Home Renovation Can You Find a Good Contractor Online? Assembling the Right Home Remodeling Team Pros and Cons of Taking a Contractor Loan Know What Type of Remodeling Contract You're Signing Story continues The Planning Phase Proper planning is the best predictor of satisfaction and will also minimize the number of costly changes you make once the work is underway. So before you even think of looking for a contractor, youll need to spend time gathering ideas and taking a hard look at your own budget. A 2015 report from Houzz, a home-design website, found that half of homeowners who renovated their kitchen gathered ideas for six months or longer. You can organize inspirational photos by using Houzzs ideabook feature or starting a Pinterest page; an old-fashioned scrapbook with pictures from your favorite magazines will also work. As excited as you might be to get started, avoid the temptation to rush: Chances are youll be living with the results of the home renovation project for a long time, so youll want to get it right. Consider factoring major life changes into your plan, which could include an accessible walk-in shower or an open-plan family room big enough to accommodate your future teenage kids and their friends. Remember to consider the impact on the resale value of your home, too, even if you have no plans to move. For example, you might not have any use for the second bathroom with a full tub, but youll probably regret converting it into a home office or workout room if you ever do decide to sell, because additional bathrooms are always a big selling point. Once you have a clear idea of what youd like to do and how much you can realistically spend, its time to bring in the pros. For major home renovation projectssay, a gut kitchen renovation or family room additionyou should gather your entire team as early as possible. Its always best to have the architect and the general contractor working together right from the start, says Dawn Zuber, an architect based in Canton, Mich. If youre not knocking down walls or making other structural changes, an interior designer or a certified kitchen and bath designer can probably draw up the plans; most charge fees between 4 and 7 percent of the total budgetcompared with the 10 to 20 percent most architects charge. Whether you opt for an architect or a designer, insist on 3D drawings: Theyll help you visualize the remodeled space better than flat elevations will. Cutting-edge design pros are beginning to use virtual reality software to create immersive spaces that clients can experience by wearing a special headset. The technology isnt widely available but could soon significantly reduce remodelers remorse. Establish a system of checks and balances between your design team and your contractor from the start. Its those big decisions made in the first 10 to 15 percent of the design process that have the most impact on cost, says Marc Truant, president of a Boston-based design-build firmthe term for remodeling businesses that provide both the design and construction work. An experienced general contractor will help you head off things you cant afford before you pay for finished drawings. Though word-of-mouth referrals from friends and neighbors are the best way to find remodeling pros, real estate agents can also provide leads to reputable general contractors. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers a state-by-state directory of certified contractors on its website, nari.org (its members must go through extensive screening and testing and adhere to a strict code of ethics), and online home services, such as Angies List, HomeAdvisor, and Porch, can also help you find pros. Remember these rules as you go through the vetting process: Check credentials. Even if they come with a glowing review from your sister-in-law, you still need to check the bona fides of every professional on your short list. In our survey, almost a fifth of general contractors lacked either a state license or the proper insurance, and 9 percent lacked both. Though proper credentials arent a guarantee of quality, theyre a good sign that the general contractor runs a reputable business. Whats more, our survey found that fully accredited general contractors are better at holding down costs when unexpected problems arise. The Contractors License Reference Site (at contractors-license.org) has information on licensing requirements in your state and a list of licensed contractors. Listen to your gut. Trust and a good rapport between you and your contractor are essential. Any negative feelings you have during the initial interview (Too bossy? Condescending? Rushed?) will only intensify as the home renovation project heats up. Its also important to understand how a general contractor communicates during a project and to be comfortable with that method. Ask whether youll be dealing with him directly, or whether hell be delegating the job to one of his project managers (if the latter, make sure to vet the manager, too). Beyond face time, some general contractors rely on email or handwritten notes, and others use construction management software, which lets a homeowner track scheduling, payments, shipments, and more. Remember that budgets are a moving target. The number you start out with during the planning phase is likely to change when you begin to see what materials actually cost. general contractors have to make similar calculations, factoring what they think the job will cost against their own profit margins and unforeseen expenses. Always negotiate. Only 4 percent of the general contractors in our survey said they are never willing to negotiate the price of a job (66 percent are somewhat willing, and 30 percent are very willing). Getting bids from at least three general contractors will give you a sense of the market rate and also provide bargaining power. Remember, the lowest bid may not be the best, says Katherine Hutt, national spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau. Conventional wisdom holds that you should throw out the highest bid, but if you think that the general contractor offering it is the best person for the job, its worth trying to negotiate a lower price. Keeping the business of a repeat customer was the biggest reason to haggle, cited by 75 percent of general contractors, who reported offering a median discount of 10 percent. So if theres more work coming down the line, be sure to mention that during negotiations. Combining projects could also save you in the long run: Two-thirds of general contractors said they offer discounts on jobs involving more than one room (10 percent was the median discount offered on multiroom projects in our survey). Be prepared for surprises. When we asked general contractors about job-related (as opposed to people-related) problems that lead to delays or cost overruns, they said that many of the culprits are hidden behind wallsstructural damage, for example, or electrical wiring that isnt up to code. Even though most contractors plan for those contingencies, we recommend adding at least a 10 percent cushion into your budget to cover such surprises. On major home renovation projects, its worth paying a few hundred dollars for a pre-inspection by a certified home inspector. Even a good general contractor might only look as far as the kitchen or bathroom; we see the house as a system, says Frank Lesh, executive director of the American Society of Home Inspectors. Lets say youre putting in an extra bathroom. Well come in with sewer scopes to make sure the plumbing system can handle the extra stress. Larger contracting companies might offer a pre-inspection as part of their overall service. We have a building performance engineer on our team who specializes in exploratory work, says John Kraemer, a general contractor based in Edina, Minn. Using an infrared camera, he might find missing floor joists or walls that dont have any insulation. Youll still have to deal with the problems, but not in the last-minute manner that can quickly blow the budget. Get everything in writing. No matter how much faith you have in your general contractor, a written contract is an essential protection for both of you. It should specify the full scope of the work, including a detailed breakdown of labor and material costs for each part of the project. For example, the electrical costs shouldnt be a single dollar amount. The contract should list the number of outlets, switches, and light fixtures, including all model numbers. It should also state a start and completion date (ask for a penalty fee of, say, $50 to $100 for every day past the deadline) and include a payment schedule, such as a 5 percent initial deposit with the remainder paid at defined milestones, for example, demolition, rough framing, and installation of finish materials. Be sure the contract also spells out exclusions, or whats not included. Want to save money by handling the debris removal or finish painting on your own? That must be stipulated. For major home renovation projects, its also worth including an arbitration clause. Should a major dispute arise between you and your general contractor that cant be settled in good faith, the clause provides language for resolution outside the court system, often with a state-appointed mediator. As for the fine print, watch out for allowances, which give the contractor a lot of leeway in the prices of products and materials, and can end up busting the budget very quickly. Cover your assets. Nine out of 10 general contractors in our survey say they provide a written guarantee for their work, so insist on one in the contract. The median time period was 15 months, with 14 percent of respondents promising more than three years of coverage. Even if your contract doesnt include a guarantee, youll enjoy some protection if the contractor is licensed. For example, the California State License Board will rule on complaints involving patent defects (such as a cabinet thats coming off the wall) for up to four years and on latent structural defects (like a buckling foundation) for up to 10 years. The Work Phase No matter how well you plan, remodeling is full of uncertainty. I always tell my clients to bump up their estimates of time and money by 20 percent, says Bruce Irving, a renovation consultant based in Cambridge, Mass. According to our survey, kitchen projects require a median of three weeks to complete, but a third of them take four weeks or longer. The work is messy, too. If theres any way for you to move in with relatives or into a hotel, at least during the dusty demo phase, youll minimize stressalong with possible exposure to hazardous materials. If your home was built before 1978, your general contractor will need to follow the Environmental Protection Agencys Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which includes containing lead dust with plastic sheeting and disposing of contaminated debris in heavy-duty bags. Store valuable or treasured items far from the work site or at a storage facility. If you have to stay in the house, a good contractor will help you find ways to keep disruptions to a minimum, by setting up a temporary food-prep space and relocating the refrigerator, for instance, during a kitchen renovation. These other tips will save you trouble once the work begins: Stay involved. You cant just write the contractor a checkthen check out. Homeowner involvement throughout the project is critical, Truant says. Even if youve moved out of the house, plan on a couple of in-person meetings every week and more frequent meetings at crucial points, such as during the demolition phase or before tile is installed (changing the layout or grout color can be difficult and costly once work has started). Stick to the plan. Changing your mind after the work is underway is the biggest mistake homeowners make, and it can be the costliest too, according to our survey. So-called change orders, or work that arises after the contract has been signed, inflate the budget by an average of 10 percent. It might be as simple as adding another couple of light fixtures in the hall, but that means the general contractor has to get the electrician back in, and probably the painter, too. The domino effect quickly adds up, and the homeowner foots the bill. Make the general contractor your point person. Engaging the subcontractors directly often creates conflict. If you have a question about their workor their behaviortell the general contractor and let him or her handle it. Though you shouldnt engage the subcontractors, you do need to be sure theyre being paid. If theyre not, you could be held liable. Stipulate in the contract that the general contractor will provide you with lien releases (basically proofs of payment) signed by the general contractor and subcontractor throughout the project. Dont demolish your relationships along the way. Client-contractor relations arent the only ones that get tested on a remodel. Couples often feel the strain as well. Consider a January 2016 survey from Houzz, which found that 41 percent of people who remodeled with their partner found the experience frustrating; 7 percent felt they needed couples counseling during the process, and 5 percent even considered a breakup. A home remodel is a blank canvas upon which any unresolved issues in your relationship will be painted, Irving says. He recommends that, whenever possible, couples should try their hand at a small project before tackling a potential relationship wrecker. Have the bathroom retiled and see how that goes before you do a master suite addition, he suggests. The Post-Project Phase Theres no such thing as perfection on a remodeling job. That said, dont make the final payment until youre 100 percent satisfied with the project. Making sure the electrical plates are dead-square on the walls is worth being picky about, says Irving. Otherwise they will haunt you. Share your experience. Word-of-mouth still rules, but the power of online reviews on sites such as HomeAdvisor and Porch is getting stronger. Whether you had a great experience or a terrible one, youll be providing a valuable service to other homeowners (and threatening to share a negative experience might also bring a wayward contractor back in line). If you follow our guidelines, though, chances are your remodel will turn out just the way you wanted. Then its time to start dreaming about your next project. Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the June 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. More from Consumer Reports: The best matching washers and dryers Generator Buying Guide 8 ways to boost your home value Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. Santosh Nair Honda in Malaysia has launched a new teaser website called Ride The Dream for the new Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo. Honda is banking on generating awareness with its upcoming C-segment sporty saloon. The website hosts a few pages that reveal details about this vehicle. Viewers get to glimpse the new Civic 1.5 Turbos LED headlamps and DRLs. These headlamps will be an upgrade from the units that are functional on the current Civic in Malaysia. Power will be generated by the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that uses a CVT gearbox. While 173bhp will be available on tap, theres 220Nm of torque too. Sources say that this will be the first Japanese C-segment saloon to come with a downsized turbocharged powertrain in Malaysia. The regular versions of the Civic come with a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre engine that makes 141bhp. Buyers can expect to get features like an eight-way adjustable power seat, six airbags and electronic stability control. Theres also an electric parking brake, auto brake hold, and an auto lock feature which automatically locks the car when you move away from it. Owners will also benefit from a remote engine start feature which helps if you need to start the car and air-con to keep everything cool when youre ready to drive. Honda India has no plans yet to bring the Civic back to Indian shores. For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com. Check On-Road Prices | Find New Cars | Upcoming Cars | Compare Cars | Dealer Locator By Humphrey Malalo NAIROBI (Reuters) - Aid workers said hopes were fading of finding more survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building in Kenya's capital on Monday, as the death toll reached 21. Police said they were questioning the owner of the six-storey residential block that collapsed late on Friday after days of heavy rain and floods, but no one had been charged. Residents and rescue workers have been sifting through piles of broken concrete at the site in the eastern Huruma suburb ever since, rescuing 135 people, according to the latest police figures. But conditions were getting more challenging, Kenya Red Cross told Reuters. "In conditions of no air, dirt, no food, no water, it's very difficult for that person to stay alive," Red Cross official Anthony Mwangi said. Authorities had condemned the 198-room building and there has been no official explanation of why it remained occupied. Government critics say corruption is rampant and real estate developers often violate construction codes to minimise costs, with little or no penalties from authorities. (Editing by Elias Biryabarema and Andrew Heavens) Housing prices in the Seattle area rose 11 percent last year, marking a surge of nearly twice the national average. Speaking to Fox Business, PwC Real Estate Trends' Mitch Roschelle said the sustainability of the growth seen in the Seattle market is a "concern," as the city is a "one-industry town" and not comparable to a more diversified city like San Francisco. Roschelle said there is a lot of demand for housing in Seattle, particularly among graduating college students. On the other hand, while supply of new housing is increasing in the area, it is expensive and "really not affordable for the kids." Related Link: How Is Housing Shaping Up For 2016? Roschelle added that the median price of a house across the United States is around $231,000. Meanwhile, the average housing price in Seattle is in the $400,000-range. As such, it is a "challenge" for first time home buyers to find housing in the surging market. On the other hand, the average housing price in New York city region is $1.2 million although much of the pricing comes from high-end properties in Manhattan. "The high end supply of the market is over-developed," Roschelle said. "The low end supply is not available." Finally, Roschelle suggested that in an era of rising home prices, it is "never a good idea" for first time buyers to wait, as they risk waiting too long and missing out on appreciating prices. However, he did acknowledge that even as a real estate expert, it may difficult to time the market. See more from Benzinga 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. With Brexit a Consideration, What's Next for Gold? HSBC on the dollar HSBC sees the possibility of $1,300 per ounce for gold if the United Kingdom chooses to opt out of the European Union. The banks foreign-exchange team looks for the euro to rise against the US dollar by the current years end. Thus, the weakness in the US dollar will further help dollar-denominated assets. The US dollar and gold prices are often inversely related. Though there may be short-term variations, in the long run, this relationship will likely hold strong. Golds potential Analysts at HSBC support the view that that the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan have initiated a truce in the global currency war. According to the bank, the possible Brexit move by the United Kingdom and the weakness in the US dollar are both supportive of a rise in golds price. The bank also mentioned that gold may be driven by potential hedging prior the Brexit referendum. The Swiss franc could also be a useful instrument for hedging purposes. The oil markets recovery could also add some stimulus to the rise in gold prices. Precious metals funds and miners Precious metal gains are often quickly reflected in funds such as the iShares Gold Trust ETF (IAU) and the iShares Silver Trust ETF (SLV). These two funds closely followed gold and silver and rose 2.1% and 14.9%, respectively, on a trailing-30-day basis. The mining shares that remained the biggest gainers in the past month were Yamana Gold (AUY), First Majestic Silver (AG), and IAMGOLD (IAG). Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: France called Monday on the International Syria Support Group to hold urgent ministerial-level talks to restore the country's tattered ceasefire, condemning deadly air strikes by the Damascus regime. Paris urged the 17-nation ISSG to "restore the ceasefire, reaffirm the need to protect civilian populations... and give a chance to negotiations towards a political settlement," said foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal. "France forcefully condemns the (Damascus) regime's attacks that have caused many casualties (and) calls on the supporters of the regime (Russia and Iran)... to use their influence on Damascus to silence the weapons," he said in a statement. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, speaking during a trip to Mali, added that France was "totally mobilised" pressing for the peace process to resume "as quickly as possible. "For that the strikes on Aleppo must stop," he said. "We have told our US partners that we want the greatest pressure put on Russia to intervene with the Damascus regime" which Moscow supports, to stop the bombing of Aleppo. The ISSG is co-chaired by the United States and Russia, which brokered the February 27 "cessation of hostilities" deal. But the truce has been shattered in the past week, especially in Aleppo, where more than 250 civilians including some 50 children have been killed since April 22, most in air raids carried out by the Syrian regime. US Secretary of State John Kerry, currently in Geneva in efforts to salvage the truce, said Syria's civil war was "in many ways out of control". UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura, who has been leading negotiations between Damascus and the opposition since the start of the year, is expected to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday. Search Keywords: Short link: Hulk Hogan isn't resting on the laurels of his $140 million trial victory against Gawker over the publishing of a sex tape. On Monday, the former professional wrestler (real name: Terry Bollea) brought a new lawsuit against Gawker and others over more disclosures in recent months. On the verge of Hogan's first trial against Gawker, The National Enquirer and Radar Online reported he used the N-word and made racist comments about his daughter Brooke's boyfriend in an extended transcript of the sex-tape footage. That revelation prompted Hogan to begin an investigation of the leak. Today's complaint filed in Pinellas County, Florida appears to be the culmination of these efforts. According to Hogan's lawsuit, he went to law enforcement in 2012 to find out more about who was responsible for obtaining and disseminating the 2007 tape of his sexual encounter with the then wife of his former best friend, shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge. Both the U.S. government and state of Florida declined to prosecute. Hogan alleges that in 2012, the sex tape wound up in the hands of employees at Cox Radio, specifically Michael Calta aka "Cowhead" and Matthew Christian Loyd aka "Spice Boy," who, according to the complaint, "communicated repeatedly regarding the formulation and execution of a plan to release the surreptitious recordings of [Hogan], including their strategy for releasing portions of same to media outlets for the purposing of causing substantial economic harm to Plaintiff, among others; while also furthering their own radio broadcasting careers." Calta and Loyd were allegedly assisted by Tony Burton, a talent agent at Buchwald & Associates, who is said to have communicated with Gawker's then editor A.J. Daulerio. Within days, says Hogan in his lawsuit, Calta, Loyd, Burton or Keith Davidson (a suspended lawyer retained by them) sent Gawker a DVD of a more than 30-minute Hulk Hogan sex tape. Story continues As Gawker published a short excerpt - which led to Hogan's privacy lawsuit where he got a $140 million verdict - Hogan says he received a $1 million demand from these Cox employees. "Davidson, representing and acting on behalf of and in concert with the Extortionists, also told Plaintiff's counsel that the Extortionists... arranged for the 30 Minute Video to be sent to Gawker as a 'shot across the bow' as part of the scheme to extort money from Plaintiff," states the complaint. Hogan went to law enforcement, who he says advised him about the limited statute of limitations. But after the FBI was contacted, a sting operation occurred at a Clearwater Beach hotel. As the FBI recorded the encounter, Hogan's lawyer handed over a $150,000 check with a commitment for another $150,000 in return for the salacious materials. Last year, the results of FBI's investigation came up in the battle between Hogan and Gawker. With just weeks to go before a trial originally scheduled for last July, Gawker filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the FBI in hopes of obtaining the results of its Hogan investigation. "It became clear that Gawker misrepresented the reason why it was seeking discovery of the FBI extortion investigation and operation," states the new Hogan lawsuit. "Gawker, having become aware through discovery in the Prior Action that other surreptitious recordings seized during the FBI sting operation purportedly contained racially insensitive statements by Plaintiff, used the Gawker-FBI Action to try to gain access to video and/or audio footage of Plaintiff making such statements, so Gawker could use such statements against Plaintiff to destroy him publicly and as leverage to try to force Plaintiff to settle or drop his claims heading into a jury trial in the Prior Action." According to Hogan, Gawker repeatedly threatened him that it would go public about his racially insensitive comments. Gawker has presented it differently, saying that the racist comments reveal Hogan's true motivation for filing a lawsuit and his alleged lack of harm. Regardless of the truth, until an appeals court intervened, Hogan was able to get the judge to confer confidentiality on the FBI materials. This meant that Gawker couldn't disclose what it had learned about the FBI investigation nor present these materials at trial. "Gawker found just the solution," continues the complaint. "Dylan Howard, a senior editor at The National Enquirer and its sister publication RadarOnline.com, who was a personal friend of Daulerio at the time, gave notice to Plaintiff's counsel on July 23, 2015 that the Enquirer intended to publish excerpts from the very court-protected, confidential, 'sealed' transcript that Gawker had been threatening to release publicly for months." Hogan points to a July 24, 2015 blog post by Gawker founder Nick Denton that Hogan's "real secret" would come out as well as tweets from Daulerio. He's alleging Gawker "participated in, facilitated and/or contributed to the use and public dissemination of the content of court-protected confidential transcript to the Enquirer," which he says harmed his brand and caused the termination of his endorsement contracts and relationship with the WWE. Hogan adds that Gawker's strategy was to "deliberately and repeatedly" file materials with Hogan's offensive language with knowledge that the media would seek to unseal such materials. "Gawker's plan succeeded," he says. Hogan is now suing Buchwald, the Cox employees and Davidson for invasion of privacy while targeting Gawker for intentional interference with contractual relations and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Hulu is developing a new streaming service that would act like an over-the-top cable bundle, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The service is said to be similar to that of Dish's SlingTV, which offers live streams of a number of broadcast and cable networks. WSJ, citing sources familiar with Hulu's plans, reported Sunday that the streamer is eyeing an early 2017 launch for the service and is nearing agreements with owners Disney and 21st Century Fox to license their channels. A Hulu spokeswoman declined to comment. Representatives for Disney and Fox did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hulu, which also counts NBCUniversal as a silent owner, currently offers a three-tiered subscription streaming service that gives its subscribers access to shows like The Bachelor and Saturday Night Live the day after they air on TV. It also streams full seasons of older shows like Seinfeld and has a growing slate of originals. Last year, Hulu also began offering its subscribers slightly discounted subscriptions to Showtime's OTT service. But with this new platform, the streamer would be going after customers who are looking for ways to catch their favorite shows in real-time without subscribing to an expensive cable package. Apple tried to strike deals for a similar service last year but it did not come together. Meanwhile, Dish launched SlingTV last year with a $20 a month price point and access to a small bundle of channels, plus add-ons like HBO. PlayStation also operates a similar service, Vue, that starts at $40 a month. Hulu is said to be considering a $40 price tag, according to the report. Read More: Elisabeth Moss to Star in Hulu Straight-to-Series Drama 'Handmaid's Tale' (Exclusive) Hundreds of protesters gathered Monday outside the headquarters of a Hong Kong newspaper where a respected editor was recently sacked after publishing a front-page story linked to the Panama Papers leak. Around 300 reporters, activists and members of the public rallied over the firing of Keung Kwok-yuen, saying it was further evidence of deteriorating press freedoms in the semi-autonomous city as Beijing tightens its grip. Keung was sacked overnight last month from investigative newspaper Ming Pao, whose former chief editor was stabbed by masked attackers in the street two years ago. His sacking coincided with the paper publishing a front-page story linking top Hong Kong businessmen and politicians to new revelations from the Panama Papers. The trove of documents, released in April by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, has exposed how Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca helped China's rich and powerful funnel their wealth into tax havens. "The public is very concerned over press freedoms in Hong Kong. We have been doing a good job... covering a lot of news including sensitive political issues such as human rights in China," said Phyllis Tsang, head of the newspaper's staff association. "We demand a clear explanation (from the management) on the real reasons for the firing of Mr. Keung. Was there any relation to this kind of reporting?" Protesters sat on the ground outside Ming Pao's offices Monday afternoon. One banner read: "They can't fire us all." Some also held up pieces of ginger -- which sounds "Keung", the editor's surname, in Cantonese. "Hong Kong is a unique place in China where there is freedom of the press... Such freedoms could deteriorate if the bosses bow to pressure," said reader Stanley Ng, 55, an urban planner, who had joined the protest. Lawmaker Emily Lau of the Democratic Party warned Beijing was "exerting a lot of pressure on media and many news organisations are willing to comply". Story continues "Hong Kong people have to stick together to defend editorial independence," she said. Reporters have said the decision to sack Keung was taken by Malaysian chief editor Chong Tien Siong, who is seen as pro-Beijing. Chong was brought in two years ago to replace veteran investigative journalist Kevin Lau as chief editor, triggering protests by newspaper staff. Soon after, Lau was stabbed in broad daylight leaving him severely wounded, sparking major concerns over reporting freedoms. By Sophie Sassard and Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) - London Stock Exchange Group and Deutsche Boerse may have to delay a vote on their proposed merger until after Britain's EU referendum, handing more time to Intercontinental Exchange to decide whether to make a counter-bid for the British bourse. LSEG had been expected to hold a special shareholder meeting to approve the merger with Deutsche Boerse before Britain votes on June 23 on whether to quit the EU. ICE would have to file any counterbid seven days before that meeting - with Britain's future in the European Union still very much in doubt. For American ICE, the London Stock Exchange would be a more attractive target within the European Union. Deutsche Boerse still needs to file a full set of merger documents with its German regulators, a convoluted process that probably cannot be done now before the referendum date. Sources familiar with the matter say LSEG may delay its shareholder meeting until this process is completed to ensure regulators are happy, though no decision has been taken and LSEG may still move early. The London bourse could also risk a backlash among its investors by asking them to vote on the Deutsche Boerse deal before a possible Brexit, even though the two European exchanges have presented their proposed deal as "Brexit" proof given their combination would straddle the EU and Britain, should it leave. If the pair wait until after the referendum to try to seal their all share "merger of equals", uncertainty over Britain's future will have been removed. ICE will have more time to come up with a rival bid and win the backing of its shareholders. Departure from the bloc would create upheaval for London, Europe's biggest financial center where trillions of pounds of day-to-day business runs on EU rules. One person familiar with ICE said any counter bid would likely be a straightforward takeover in the form of shares and some cash, and at a premium that is "reasonably higher than Deutsche Boerse's". This would put pressure on Deutsche Boerse to sweeten its deal - which currently offers LSEG shareholders 0.4421 shares in the combined group per LSEG share they own - by including a cash element or extra dividend. LSEG, ICE and Deutsche Boerse did not comment for this article. LEVERAGE QUESTION A takeover by ICE would create the world's biggest trading-to-clearing exchange group, crossing the Atlantic and trading and clearing stocks, derivatives, energy and commodities. ICE is a known quantity to UK regulators. It bought the International Petroleum Exchange in 2001 and later became owner of London-based LIFFE derivatives exchange, rival of Deutsche Boerse's Eurex platform, as part of ICE's takeover of New York Stock Exchange-Euronext in 2013. ICE, however, faces some thorny questions: could a combined business still be regionally attractive under a Brexit, can it afford a knock-out offer, and would EU competition regulators approve a deal? Supporters of Deutsche Boerse's all-share deal say ICE is too indebted to make a killer bid after paying $5.2 billion in December for data firm IDC, a view those close to ICE dismiss. ICE had a consolidated debt of $7.3 billion at the end of 2015, according to its annual report. But leaking news that ICE has lined up a group of banks to help finance a possible deal was a handy trial balloon to test the reaction of ICE shareholders, analysts said. It had no major negative impact on ICE's shares. "They are very conscious of their own stock price, that they are a growth company. If they had not done the IDC deal, you would see this move a little quicker," said Richard Daniels, senior analyst of TABB Group in New York. In any case, ICE would have a year or so to reduce its debt to core earnings ratio before it had to write a check for LSEG, ICE's supporters say. A banker not advising ICE said the company has the capacity to fund a takeover while repaying debt thanks to its high margins and proven record of creating value through acquisitions. ICE, however, is seen as having less scope than Deutsche Boerse to trumpet a big headline figure for synergies. "Most Deutsche Boerse synergies would come from cuts in high tech jobs in Frankfurt. Half of the synergies will come from IT. ICE is leaner," a person familiar with ICE said. BREXIT PROOF? A combined ICE-LSEG group would have operations in continental Europe and London to ease the impact of a Brexit. LSEG owns Borsa Italiana in Milan and LCH.Clearnet, a clearing house based in Paris and London. However, to get round possible competition concerns and sweeten France, ICE could offload Borsa Italiana and the French Clearnet half of LCH.Clearnet to Paris-based exchange Euronext, TABB's Daniels said. Proceeds from such sales would also help ICE pay down debt while still leaving a combined LSEG-ICE Group with ICE's existing euro zone trading and clearing operation in the Netherlands. Others are more skeptical that this would be enough. "ICE faces the same antitrust concerns as Deutsche Boerse, which I feel are insurmountable when it comes to clearing in European derivatives," said Patrick Young, publisher of industry daily Exchange Invest. Under a Brexit, the European Central Bank would be expected to put pressure on market participants to shift euro-denominated trading and clearing, currently a major chunk of London's business, to the single currency area. ICE's euro zone based operations are seen as too small and specialist for now to handle such large volumes in a short period. Deutsche Boerse has said its deal is Brexit-proof, though some analysts doubt any deal can be and question whether the German exchange's shareholders would fall in line if Britain left the EU. "If Brexit happened, that would likely prove a major issue and most likely a deal-breaker for both deals," a banker close to exchanges said. (Additional reporting by John McCrank in New York and Anjuli Davies in London; editing by Janet McBride) On April 22, CNNs Christiane Amanpour asked Iceland President Olafur Grimsson: Do you have any offshore accounts? Does your wife have any offshore accounts? Is there anything thats going to be discovered about you and your family? No, no, no, no, no, Grimsson replied. Thats not going to be the case. But secret records obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and other media partners show that Grimssons spouse, First Lady Dorrit Moussaieff, has had extensive links to the offshore world. While Grimsson himself doesn't have an offshore account in the records, First Lady Moussaieff was listed as a beneficiary of five companies and trusts that have held Swiss banks accounts, according to documents obtained from whistleblowers by Le Monde, Suddeutsche Zeitung and ICIJ in the Swiss Leaks and Panama Papers investigations. Her family, including her two sisters, had accounts that together held as much as $80 million in HSBCs Swiss Private Bank in 2006 and 2007. Dorrit Moussaieff herself appears not to have played a role in most of the holdings. The documents dont show any wrongdoing by Dorrit Moussaieff, and it is not necessarily illegal to have offshore companies or Swiss bank accounts. But the documents raise questions about whether Icelands first lady benefited from the offshore tax strategies of her parents and whether her interests have been fully disclosed. Earlier revelations about the offshore holdings of Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson had forced the prime ministers resignation. Grimsson explained his about-face on running for his sixth term as president by saying he wanted to bring some stability to a country that suffered a financial collapse in 2008 and is now going through a political crisis. Later in the CNN interview, Grimsson called the Panama Papers a great public service and a wakeup call about problems in the global economy that need to be addressed. In a statement to ICIJ, a spokesman for Grimsson said: President Grimsson does not have, nor has he at any time had, any information about the financial affairs of his wife or other members of the Moussaieff family. He and his wife lead independent lives. Story continues In a statement to The Guardian, another ICIJ media partner, Grimsson noted that he has always been very critical of tax-driven offshore structures and for decades advocated a fair and balanced tax system. In a letter to ICIJ, the first ladys law firm wrote: Ms. Moussaieff and her husband have always and continue to conduct their financial affairs entirely separately from each other and neither has knowledge of the others financial circumstances. Ms. Moussaieffs private financial affairs are conducted in compliance with all relevant tax and legal regimes. Any insinuation to the contrary would be defamatory. There is no public interest in the disclosure of private financial information, the letter said. This story is part of The Panama Papers. Click here to read more stories in this series. Don't miss another Accountability investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Moussaieff, the daughter of a wealthy Israeli who made his fortune in jewelry, married Icelandic President Olafur Grimsson in 2003. She moved her legal residence to London in 2012 to help run the family business. That came months after news reports that Moussaieff didnt pay wealth taxes in Iceland because her assets were abroad. Several of the structures set up through HSBC and Mossack Fonseca by members of her family are trusts. For instance, HSBC listed the first lady as the both the settlor and beneficiary, along with her two sisters, of Jaywick Properties Inc. and the Moussaieff Sharon Trust. The first lady was also a secondary beneficiary of Elyakeen Limited, the Moussaieff Life Interest Trust and Easton Investments Inc. Elyakeen Limited was registered with Mossack Fonseca in the British Virgin Islands in 1995. Its stock was in bearer shares, certificates that allow whoever holds the paper to anonymously transfer or claim their value. Today they are banned in many countries because of their usefulness in aiding money laundering and tax evasion. A settlor is the person who transfers control of assets to a trustee, who manages them on behalf of the beneficiaries, which, in some trusts, may include the settlor. Trusts can make it easier to transfer assets after death, eliminate probate costs and reduce estate taxes. Both of Dorrit Moussaieffs sisters but not the first lady had large trusts in their names at HSBCs Swiss bank. The Tamara Moussaieff Trust held $29.5 million at one point in 2006 and 2007, while one owned by Sharon Levontin, called Levontin 2002 Discret Sett, held $27.6 million in the same period. HSBC documents also include the Mrs S Levontin Trust, which at one point in 2006 and 2007 held $2 million in six accounts at the bank. The Elyakeen bearer shares were held for the Moussaieffs by a Zurich trust management company. In 1999, the directors opened bank accounts in Elyakeens name at Deutsche Bank and at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Elyakeen was dissolved in 2003. Elyakeens HSBC profile was created in 1997. It is unclear how much money was in Elyakeens accounts, but one Mossack Fonseca document dated April 4, 2002, shows significant sums. The Directors had been approached by the trustees to consider waiving the loan of ($18.8 million) repayable by them, following tax advice from KPMG, according to the minutes of the board meeting. Elyakeen also paid out a $1.6 million dividend at that meeting. Reykjavik Grapevine reported on April 25 that the Moussaieff family had another company registered with Mossack Fonseca in the British Virgin Islands. That company, Lasca Finance Limited, was disclosed in public filings of Moussaieff Jewellers Limited, the family firm. Neither the President nor his wife, Dorrit Moussaieff, has any knowledge of this company or had heard about it before, Grimssons spokesman said in a statement. Dorrit's father is no longer alive, and her mother, who is 86, has no recollection of this company. Alisa and Tamara Moussaieff and Sharon Levontin did not respond to requests for comment. This story is part of The Panama Papers. Click here to read more stories in this series. Related stories Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. An international tribunal has ruled that an Italian marine accused of killing two fishermen in India should be allowed to return home pending trial, Italy's foreign ministry said Monday. Salvatore Girone and fellow marine Massimiliano Latorre are accused of shooting the fishermen while protecting an Italian oil tanker as part of an anti-piracy mission off India's southern Kerala coast in 2012. While Latorre was allowed to travel back to Italy in 2014 for treatment after suffering a stroke, Girone has been barred from leaving India pending the resolution of a dispute between New Delhi and Rome over which country has jurisdiction in the case. He is currently living in Italy's embassy in New Delhi. Italy initiated international arbitration proceedings in the case last year, referring the row to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague and asking it to rule on where the men should be tried. In an interim ruling cited by Italy's foreign ministry to be officially announced on Tuesday, the PCA -- which helps resolve disputes among states -- found Girone should be allowed to return home until the arbitration process is complete. "The decisions regarding his return will be arranged by Italy and India," the foreign ministry said in a note, adding it expected "a constructive attitude from India". The detention of the marines, the murder charges and the long wait for the case to be resolved are sore subjects in Italy, with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi regularly flayed by opposition leaders for failing to get both men home. "Happy for Salvatore Girone's return, I confirm our friendship with and desire to collaborate with India," Renzi wrote on Twitter. Italy insists the oil tanker, the MV Enrica Lexie, was in international waters at the time of the incident. India argues the case is not a maritime dispute but "a double murder at sea", in which one fisherman was shot in the head and the other in the stomach. Italy's foreign ministry said the tribunal's decision was "good news for the two marines, for their families and... the government", which would immediately begin consultations with India so Girone could be returned "shortly". Girone's wife, Vania Ardito, told Italian media she wanted to "thank everyone who has been involved in this case". His father, Michele, said: "If it's true, I'm overjoyed. It's wonderful news". By Sankalp Phartiyal and Devidutta Tripathy NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Rajya Sabha on Monday approved an amendment to the mining law, allowing the transfer of mines from sellers to buyers in a victory for the State Bank of India (SBI) that had lobbied for the change. Under pressure to cut corporate bad debts of more than $120 billion, lenders including SBI have been trying to forge tie-ups between distressed cement, steel and power companies and those that are in better shape. The amendment to the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, requested by SBI some three months ago, has now cleared both houses of parliament and should soon become law. Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar told Reuters the changes were mainly aimed at helping companies sell limestone mining licences along with their cement plants. It could also facilitate a merger of the Indian assets of France's Lafarge and Switzerland's Holcim after a global merger between the two companies last year created Lafargeholcim. SBI chair Arundhati Bhattacharya welcomed the move. "This will enable banks to sell assets to relieve stress in group accounts," she told Reuters. "Without (the) amendment selling was becoming untenable as assets were losing value in the absence of mines." The deal will help UltraTech Cement Ltd's efforts to complete a deal to buy heavily indebted Jaiprakash Associates Ltd's cement plants for 159 billion rupees ($2.39 billion) along with its limestone mines. UltraTech's finance head Atul Daga told Reuters before the parliament vote that the amendment would clear the way for the deal without leaving "any ambiguity on the value of the mines". He predicted more deals in the sector but did not elaborate. Dalmia Bharat Ltd, which had also bid for the Jaiprakash cement plants, said the changes would help it look for deals in the longer run given its ambition to grow from being the No.3 player in the country. "It will allow for consolidation, it will allow for efficiency, it will allow for scale of operations," Sundeep Kumar, Dalmia Bharat's corporate affairs head, said ahead of the upper house vote. ($1 = 66.4425 Indian rupees) (Writing and additional reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Douglas Busvine and David Evans) By James Oliphant INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Donald Trump's success in the race for the White House may well depend on the support of Republican evangelicals suspicious of the front-runner's more liberal side as he discloses his social views. A New York businessman who has never held public office, Trump has had some success with evangelicals in states such as South Carolina. But there are signs of slippage on the eve of Tuesday's nominating contest in Indiana, a conservative Midwestern U.S. state that has voted Republican in nine of the last 10 presidential elections. Trump, 69, has taken stances on Planned Parenthood family clinics and gay and transgender rights that raise Christian conservative concerns, including in such states as Indiana where they make up a high proportion of voters. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist opinion poll shows Trump with a wide lead in Indiana, 49 percent, to 34 percent for his nearest rival, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and 13 percent for Ohio Governor John Kasich. Most previous Indiana opinion polls showed a tighter race with Trump leading Cruz by only a few points. A Trump win in the state could be crucial to his chances of securing the nomination but may also offer a gauge of whether he can rally evangelicals. Cruz, 45, emphasizes his Christian faith on the campaign trail. Focused on Indiana, he says Trump is not an authentic Republican. A new Cruz advertisement brands Trump and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton as two sides of the same coin. "Both support the Obamacare individual mandate. Both support taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. Both support letting transgender men go in little girls bathrooms," it says. Trump has praised Planned Parenthood family clinics as having helped millions of women even if he opposes funding its abortion component. He backs letting transgender people use the bathroom "they feel is appropriate." If evangelicals are unenthusiastic, they could sit out the Nov. 8 general election, potentially handing the White House to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, or her rival, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. The fear is a lot of them are going to stay home, said Bob Vander Plaats, a leading evangelical activist in Iowa. You cant win without our base. TRANSGENDER LAW Trump rankled some social conservatives by criticizing North Carolinas controversial law that requires transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender of their birth. "The restroom thing is big with a lot of people, said Shan Rutherford, a pastor in Greenwood, Indiana. Rutherford said he was initially drawn to Trumps message, but was put off by his stance on social issues and his insulting demeanor on the campaign trail. Rutherford, who backs Cruz, said if the White House race came down to Trump versus Clinton, he might not vote. The Pew Research Center says 45 percent of registered Republican voters nationwide identify themselves as born-again or evangelical. Pew also found that only 44 percent of Republicans view Trump as a religious person. By contrast, 76 percent viewed Cruz that way. Cruz has assailed Trump for his stance on the North Carolina bathroom law. Trump has said there have been few problems with transgender people using bathrooms. He also has said the question should be left to states to decide. Cruz charges allowing grown men in bathrooms with little girls is opening the door for predators. On Friday, Cruz was endorsed by Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a social conservative who last year signed a bill that critics said could be used by business owners to deny services to same-sex couples. Trump has said he supports prohibiting companies from firing employees based on sexual orientation, although he has criticized last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. Cruz has deployed his father, Rafael Cruz, an evangelical minister, as a surrogate in churches in Indiana. VOTER TURNOUT KEY A Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll showed 19 percent of respondents would not vote in a White House race between Trump and Clinton. But when filtered to those who attend church nearly every week, the number jumped to 28 percent. The party cannot afford a low turnout in November. Demographic trends in recent years have favored Democrats, with the pool of Republican voters, overwhelmingly white and older, steadily shrinking. Eric Houseman, a paramedic from Indianapolis who attended a Cruz rally in Franklin, Indiana, predicted Trump would lose support through such missteps as inaccurately referring in January to a book of the Bible as "Two Corinthians rather than Second Corinthians or Corinthians II. People are beginning to see hes a lot of talk, Houseman said. Upstate, Ron Johnson, pastor at the Living Stones Church in Crown Point, votes Republican but was adamant that he would not vote for Trump. Trump does not share his Christian values, Johnson said. I am not going to be part of the demise of this country, he said. But Mark Burns, a South Carolina pastor who has become a leading Trump surrogate in the media, said Trumps appeal to evangelicals does not stem from the strength of his religious views. Were not voting for the next pastor. Were voting for the next commander-in-chief, Burns said. (Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Caren Bohan and Howard Goller) * Government has succeeded in reducing power outages * Next phase of coal reforms likely to be harder * Coal unions say will resist reforms causing major job losses * Plans include sale of 10 percent of mining giant By Krishna N. Das NEW DELHI, May 3 (Reuters) - Plans by India's coal monopoly to buy billions of dollars of new machinery and outsource work are facing resistance from powerful unions worried about job losses, in a potential blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise to bring electricity to all. State-run Coal India Ltd, the world's biggest coal miner, has already doubled output growth since Modi came to power two years ago, owing to the removal of hurdles to production like environmental clearances and land acquisition. The increase turned coal shortages at India's power plants to oversupply, making it one of the administration's biggest successes. The next phase of restructuring the notoriously inefficient behemoth is likely to be harder, however, and is crucial to the government's ambition to sell 10 percent of the $27 billion company to raise funds for further growth and investment. New Delhi also wants to double annual output to 1 billion tonnes by 2019/20 to meet future demand, and to do that it must radically increase productivity. Coal India's output-per-man shift is estimated at one-eighth of Peabody Energy Corp, the world's largest private coal producer that recently filed for bankruptcy protection. Already, labour unions, with a history of hostility towards management, are pushing back on Coal India's plans, fearing modernization and outsourcing will hit jobs, said leaders of two unions that cover a majority of the company's 371,000 employees. Strikes, sometimes every few months, have disrupted output, although under Modi the unions have been more cooperative. "High-tech mining will mean fewer job opportunities for labourers and no job guarantee for existing employees," said Baij Nath Rai, president of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which says it represents 100,000 Coal India employees and contractors. Story continues "We strongly protest this, and have already taken up the issue with the government. They will not dare do anything if there is a strong protest." The BMS's view is likely to carry extra weight, as it is loosely affiliated with the Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is the ideological parent of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). COAL INDIA UNIT SAYS OUTSOURCING WORKS Rai said Piyush Goyal, minister for power, coal and renewable energy, had been trying to convince unions to play along with the reforms. Early last year, the unions planned a strike to protest against moves to open up the coal sector to private firms and sell a 10 percent stake. But they called off a five-day stoppage on its second day after Goyal formed a committee to look into their concerns so that they "do not have to go on strike again". Coal India officials also say they constantly talk to workers on various issues, but union leaders, including BMS's Rai, said they would resist any move deemed "anti-labourer". "The government is doing this slowly, so that there is not much protest all of a sudden," said D.D. Ramanandan of the All India Coal Workers Federation, which says it represents more than 100,000 Coal India employees and contractors. "We have consistently opposed this policy and will sit together with all the unions to decide the future course of action," Ramanandan said. Federal Coal Secretary Anil Swarup and several senior Coal India officials said the company planned to push ahead. It wants to spend billions of dollars over the next few years, including around $1.3 billion this year, to buy equipment and expand mines, where workers often use shovels and picks to dig for coal underground, one of the officials said. The company also plans to stop filling most vacancies arising from retirements over the next three years, and outsource more mining to private companies, the officials added. "Outsourcing helps in more ways than one," Swarup told Reuters. "If they bring in efficient technology, because they are paid for that, it will make the people in Coal India understand they too can become more efficient." The government's production and productivity plans have drawn support from the London-based World Coal Association, a trade group of coal producers and mining equipment makers. Coal India's equipment orders, some already placed, are a bright spot for machinery makers such as U.S. firm Caterpillar , Japan's Komatsu and India's Larsen & Toubro , at a time when most miners are scaling back production amid a global supply glut. Coal India unit Mahanadi Coalfields pioneered outsourcing of mining work a few years ago and is now the company's biggest producer and fastest growing unit. Deepak Srivastava, Mahanadi's chief vigilance officer, said around 90 percent of the unit's mining work is done by contractors who have performed better than in-house miners. The ratio is much lower for other Coal India units but will increase, he added. Swarup, who has overseen an overhaul of Coal India's anti-theft and monitoring systems this year, said he hoped the push for efficiency and extensive use of machines would help attract investors if the government were to sell a stake. "We keep doing our job in terms of increasing production and productivity and improving quality," Swarup said. "Our assumption is that once you do that shareholders would be interested." (Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Mike Collett-White) Finnish broadcaster YLE says it won't provide documents related to the Panama Papers to the country's tax authority, which has demanded access to them in an apparent move to trace tax dodgers with offshore accounts. YLE lawyer Kirsi-Marja Okkonen says they won't comply with the request from the Finnish Tax Authority, which set an April 29 deadline for receiving the information. She said Monday that tax officials had also threatened to call on police to help them obtain the documents. Okkonen said Monday that YLE will appeal to the Helsinki Administrative Court. It has until mid-July to do so. The tax office move has been widely criticized in the Nordic country, which hosts World Press Freedom day this week with more than 1,000 media professionals expected to attend. Search Keywords: Short link: Ten Indonesian sailors arrived in Jakarta late on Sunday night, hours after they were released from captivity by the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the southern Philippines. Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed the mens release. Alhamdulilah [praise be to God], 10 Indonesian citizens who were held captive are free. They will return home. Thank you, the Philippine government and others who helped, Jokowi, as the President is popularly known, tweeted on Sunday evening. We will work hard to release the remaining four Indonesian citizens, Jokowi further tweeted. We will intensify patrols so no kidnapping will happen again. The seamen were kidnapped in late March. Four more Indonesian sailors were abducted by Abu Sayyaf militants in mid-April and they are still captive, along with other hostages from other countries. Abu Sayyaf, whose leader has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS), abducts journalists and tourists and demands ransoms in exchange of their release. Last Monday, a Canadian hostage was beheaded in southern Philippines after the deadline for ransom lapsed. Initial media reports said the company employing the kidnapped Indonesian men, PT Patria Maritime Lines, paid the $1 million ransom demanded by Abu Sayyaf. But Indonesian negotiator Kivlan Zen, a retired army general who was on a peacekeeping duty in southern Philippines in 199596, said the release was purely due to negotiations and didnt involve paying any ransom although the company did prepare the money. Just in case if they changed their mind, Kivlan said, according to news website Tempo.com. Chief Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan refused to say anything about the ransom. I dont want to speculate, he told journalists on Monday. Jakarta will host a meeting of Foreign Ministers and military chiefs from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on Thursday to discuss maritime security and joint patrol in the waters where Abu Sayyaf has been wreaking havoc. Courtesy of Polka Pants Ask anyone to paint a picture of what a professional kitchen might look like and the same impression will crop up. Shouty chefs, clattering pans, sweaty foreheads - every Hell's Kitchen stereotype rolled into one, with added expletives. But how often would there be a woman in the picture? According to the Guardian, fewer than one in five professional chefs are female. Unlike most traditionally male-dominated industries, the numbers are actually dropping. Hospitality recruiter The Change Group recently reported that over the past three years only one in eight applications for chef jobs were female. Yet the food industry is more ubiquitous than ever. Switch on the television and you'll see another group of amateurs battle it out over fondant potatoes and red wine reductions, or take a glance at a bestselling books list and be met with Nigella and Gizzi. Food blogs are flourishing and street food stalls and novel food pop ups smatter the pages of Time Out London each week. So why are there so few female chefs controlling our country's kitchens? Workplace gender equality has taken positive steps in the right direction the gender pay gap is now at it's lowest percentage in history and the number of workplace sex discrimination cases have been dropping - but the chef industry seems to have been left behind. Anna Tobias is Head Chef at Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch and previously worked at Michelin starred restaurant River Cafe. Heading up a busy kitchen, she understands the drawbacks women consider when thinking about a cooking career. Rochelle Canteen Courtesy of Arnold & Henderson "The stereotypical concerns that put women off are the fact that it's portrayed as a bit of a boy's club," says Anna. "Plus, it's quite a physical job, so if purely on genetics we are weaker that is seen as a hurdle." These concerns are part in blame to the media, which Anna thinks portrays kitchens inaccurately. "It's done the kitchen industry a massive disservice. Beyond glorifying macho and aggressive behaviour it's also implying that's how every kitchen runs and also slightly implying that it's the only way to run a kitchen, which is completely not the case." Story continues Whether the case or not, popular culture isn't helping. Last year Bradley Cooper starred in Burnt, as a macho chef recovering from drug abuse while simultaneously pursuing his dreams of Michelin stars and the perfect tomato consomme. Executively produced by Gordon Ramsay and with "special dishes" by Marcus Wareing, the film was an alpha-male love-in doing the industry absolutely no favours when it came to correcting its reputation for gender imbalance. Elizabeth Allen Photo by Steele Haigh Providing a perfect antidote to Cooper's portrayal is Elizabeth Allen, Head Chef at Pidgin in Hackney and previous Masterchef contestant. After training as an architect, Elizabeth switched to cooking and hasn't looked back since. "Nothing really put me off in the start because I just wanted to get involved and be around food," says Elizabeth. "The hours were daunting though, especially if you're young. You don't get any weekends ever again." Head chefs can expect to work upwards of 65 hours a week with double shifts, early prep starts and late service finishes the norm. However, unsociable hours aside, chefs like Elizabeth are so passionate about their skill, they'll work relentlessly for it. But is the male-heavy environment a welcoming one for women? "When you're the only female in the kitchen, it's obvious to see that discrimination. There have been a couple of occasions where it got a bit too much" says Elizabeth, in reference to sexist comments she received at a previous job. "I raised it with my manager and they were like 'just get on with it'. If a guy was being harassed by a girl would they say the same? Not that that would ever be the instance." After that, Elizabeth "just moved on". If the kitchen industry offers one luxury, it's the ability to "just move on". Until recently, skilled chefs were listed on the Home Office's Shortage Occupations. Ask any chef and they're quick to tell you the difficulty surrounding hiring (and keeping) staff. For women, this is sometimes a bonus. An abundance of jobs means that picking your kitchens wisely is easy, and switching when things aren't right is far simpler than in other industries. However everyone knows that cheffing isn't a glamorous job and this is something former fashion-designer-turned-chef Maxine Thompson has tackled in her own way. Believing in an alternative to unflattering chef's trousers, Maxine created her own, Polka Pants. Specifically designed for women, they're equipped with a high waist and a handy belt-loop-cum-tea-towel-holder. "I started speaking with female chefs and discovered that the majority of them experienced the same problem as me," says Maxine. "We were limited to chain store trousers or cooking in jeans." Courtesy of Polka Pants Alongside Polka Pants, Maxine is a chef herself and has also been at the tail end of 'boys club' kitchen behaviour. "A chef de partie once threw a plate at me, so I caught it and threw it back at him. Needless to say he never tried anything like that again." Her resilient attitude is indicative of the modern generation of female chefs that has come to the forefront. Disciplined and passionate, they're determined to use their gender as an advantage, either to shatter stereotypes or fill a previous gender gap in the industry. It's encouraging a culture of female support. A newly launched monthly night, Women of Restaurants, offers a chance to meet other industry girls and discuss topics from juggling family life to working nights. Founded by Grace Welch, senior manager at Spring restaurant (who proudly sport an all-female kitchen team), the night is hosted in various dining rooms across London, and in Grace's words, "Is a great opportunity to share experiences with sympathetic ears." It's just one of many positive developments in the industry that's reflected by the number of women who are interested in pursuing a food career; despite the crushingly low percentage of female chefs, surprisingly more women are studying cooking than men in catering schools. Jenny Stringer is principle of Leith's School of Cooking and says 60% of her diploma students are female, however she blames the lack of women pursuing a cooking career in traditional kitchens on the new opportunities the industry offers. "People now know a bit more about the fact there are different jobs" says Jenny. "So a lot of our students will go onto have a mixed freelance life. They'll do some cooking, a farmer's market, a pop-up, food writing, styling and just have different projects." Jenny's point is an important one. The lack of female chefs can't be blamed solely on the proportion of men in the industry. The issue runs far deeper and ultimately comes down to the fact that more flexible, enticing food jobs now exist and offer women the opportunity to work, whilst being able to bring up a family and be home before bedtime. Courtesy of Polka Pants For those like Anna and Elizabeth, whose hearts lie in the drama of a professional kitchen, the long hours and daunting prospect of having children alongside their demanding careers is just one they have to accept and challenge to become fairer. More flexible kitchen rotas are needed, says Anna: "The rotas are done on a weekly basis, you don't know next week what you will be working. There's a lack of stability and structure." It's not always the men themselves that reinforce sexism in the industry, but a wider attitude. Anna and Elizabeth are quick to defend the industry's men, who largely have provided them only with support. "All of the men I work with currently are amazing," comments Anna. The current picture is that of promise yes, things need to change, but no workplace is perfect. Female chefs are no longer resigned solely to pastry, nor are they seen as any less capable because of their sex. This in itself is progress, and a sign of changing times. But more changes are needed. "If women aren't entering into the industry there's going to be a shortfall," says Elizabeth. Kitchens need women desperately, more than ever, and there really is no better time to join than now. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? 20 GIFs That Are Generally OK To Send To Your Colleagues The Problem With Your Debit Card This Is The Secret To Getting Ahead At Work New York (AFP) - A historic Serbian church in the heart of midtown Manhattan has been reduced to smoldering ruins, following a massive fire late Sunday. Parts of the charred exterior walls are all that remain of the Saint Sava Cathedral, an Orthodox church near New York's famed Flatiron building. Authorities have yet to determine what led to the fire, which sent thick plumes of smoke billowing through the heart of the city as massive flames lit up the neighborhood. "No cause yet," a fire department spokesman told AFP. "We won't know for a while." The spectacular blaze occurred just hours after Sunday celebrations at Saint Sava in honor of Orthodox Easter, one of the holiest days of the calendar in the Serbian community. "We had service on Sunday. There were around 700 people. It finished around 1 pm. Nobody was in the church and then this came," said Father Djokan Majstorovic, who said the church was "very lucky" that the building was empty when disaster struck. About 170 firefighters spent several hours battling the inferno, which was finally extinguished early on Monday. Ingram Micro Inc. IM reported first-quarter 2016 non-GAAP earnings (excluding amortization of intangible assets, reorganization charges and other one-time items) of 35 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents. Also, earnings decreased from 43 cents reported in the year-ago quarter. Ingram Micro Inc. (IM) Street EPS & Surprise Percent - Last 5 Quarters | FindTheCompany Quarter Details Ingram Micros first-quarter revenues of $9.337 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.828 billion and decreased 12.3% from the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to the negative impact of foreign currency translation. Geographically, revenues from North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific came in at $3.88 billion, $2.66 billion, $599.8 million and $2.19 billion, respectively. Ingram Micros gross margin came in at 6.8% compared with 5.8% in the year-ago quarter. The companys non-GAAP operating expenses increased 9.9% year over year to $549.7 million. Also, as a percentage of revenues, expenses were up 119 basis points (bps), primarily due to higher selling, general and administrative expenses. The company recorded a 19.2% decrease in non-GAAP operating income, which came in at $101.3 million, primarily due to significant foreign currency headwinds and higher operating expenses. Operating margin also decreased 10 bps year over year to 1.1%. Ingram Micro reported non-GAAP net income of $52.6 million or 35 cents per share. Non-GAAP net income excludes the effect of intangible assets, reorganization charges and other one-time items. Ingram Micro exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.12 billion compared with $935.3 million in the previous quarter. Accounts receivable were $4.69 billion. Total debt (including current portion) was $1.22 billion compared with $1.23 billion in the last quarter. The company generated cash flow of approximately $274.6 million from operational activities during the quarter. Conclusion Ingram Micro reported lower-than-expected first-quarter 2016 results, with both the top and the bottom lines missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Moreover, both revenues and earnings decreased on a year-over-year basis primarily due to foreign exchange fluctuations. Nonetheless, the companys focus on the high-margin market and strategic acquisitions to increase market share are encouraging. Ingram Micro has been striking distribution deals with a number of original equipment manufacturers, thereby expanding its product portfolio. Additionally, Ingram Micros exposure in cloud computing products is expected to drive growth. Going forward, we remain fairly optimistic about Ingram Micros strategic relationship with network giants such as Juniper Networks Inc. JNPR and International Business Machines IBM. The companys growing exposure in the small and medium business (SMB) and improving profitability are encouraging. However, its significant European exposure and debt burden remain concerns. Currently, Ingram Micro has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Investors may consider a better-ranked technology stock, Facebook, Inc. FB, carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report INTL BUS MACH (IBM): Free Stock Analysis Report JUNIPER NETWRKS (JNPR): Free Stock Analysis Report INGRAM MICRO (IM): Free Stock Analysis Report FACEBOOK INC-A (FB): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Baxter's 1Q16 Earnings Beat Estimates, Post Improved Margins (Continued from Prior Part) 1Q16 performance Baxter International (BAX) reported ~$2.4 billion in total revenues in 1Q16. Of that, ~$1.5 billion was contributed by the companys Hospital Products business. The segment accounted for about 62% of Baxters total revenues. These sales figures represent an ~4% YoY (year-over-year) increase in 1Q16 on an operational basis. However, the sales were negatively impacted by the continued foreign exchange impact. Additionally, in 1Q16, Baxter did not register any impact of competition surrounding US cyclophosphamide on the IPS (integrated pharmacy solutions) segment sales, as substantiated by the US cyclophosphamide sales of around $60 million in the equivalent quarter to that generated in the previous quarter. The Fluid Systems franchise witnessed strong YoY operational sales growth of approximately 11%. This compares to the IPS franchise YoY sales growth of ~3% and the decline of ~2% in the Surgical Care franchise revenues. Key growth drivers Baxter International (BAX) is a leading medical devices manufacturer with wide geographical presence and a broad portfolio of hospital products, leading the companys growth primarily through innovation. The recently relaunched SIGMA SPECTRUM infusion pump and demand for IV (intravenous) solutions in the United States were the primary contributors to the fluid systems franchise sales. In the IPS (integrated pharmacy solutions) franchise, 1Q16 sales mainly grew due to the broadening of the product portfolio through the launch of NUMETA G13 and Vancomycin saline. Vancomycin saline is a premixed drug used in the Baxters Galaxy flexible container, which is a drug delivery system. NUMETA G13 is a nutrition product for the preterm infants (born before 37 weeks of gestation) that the company plans to launch in 20 countries in 2016. Although the Surgical Care segment sales declined in 1Q16 due to lower biosurgery sales, innovation is expected to drive segment growth in the near future. Story continues Some of Baxters major competitors include Becton Dickinson (BDX), Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO), and CR Bard (BCR). Investors seeking exposure to Baxter International can invest in the iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility ETF (USMV). BAX accounts for approximately 0.53% of USMVs total holdings. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Tehran (AFP) - Iran has passed a law allowing the government to grant citizenship to the families of foreigners killed while fighting for the Islamic republic, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday. "Members of the parliament authorised the government to grant Iranian citizenship to the wife, children and parents of foreign martyrs who died on a mission... during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) and afterwards," it said. Citizenship must be awarded "within a maximum period of one year after the request", IRNA added. Iran's outgoing conservative-dominated parliament will serve until late May. No figures are available on the number of foreign fighters killed during the Iran-Iraq war, but Afghans, and even a group of Iraqis, fought alongside Iranian forces against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The law could apply to "volunteers" from Afghanistan and Pakistan who are fighting in Syria and Iraq against jihadists including the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front. Shiite Iran is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and provides financial and military support to his regime. Tehran says its Fatemiyoun Brigade, comprised of Afghan recruits, are volunteers defending sacred Shiite sites in Syria and Iraq against Sunni extremists like those of IS. The Islamic republic denies having any boots on the ground and insists its commanders and generals act as "military advisers" in Syria and Iraq. Iranian media regularly report on the death of Afghan and Pakistani volunteers in Syria and Iraq, whose bodies are buried in Iran. More than three million Afghans live in Iran, one million as legal migrants. An Iranian woman casts her ballot in Tehran. Irans new parliament will have more women than clerics for the first time since before the 1979 Islamic revolution when it is sworn in later this month. Although the female members only number 17 out of the 290 members of parliamentwho approve cabinet appointments and new legislationonly 16 clerics were elected, the BBC reports. The number of clerical members of parliament has been falling steadily from the the 164 elected following the 1979 revolution, AFP reports. Run-off elections held on Friday (April 29) saw moderates and reformists allied with President Hassan Rouhani win a working majority in parliament for the first time in over a decade, according to the BBC. Hardliners, meanwhile, won fewer than a third of seats. It indicates the power, activism and persistence of Iranian women against all odds, Professor Arshin Adib-Moghaddam from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and author of On the Arab Revolts and the Iranian Revolution told Quartz. The newly elected appointments are likely to be rather more supportive of the cautiously transformative policies of the Rouhani administration, Professor Adib-Moghaddam said. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: The first known death from the Zika virus on U.S. territory was reported Friday as lawmakers left Washington for a weeklong recess. Neither house of Congress has approved funding to combat Zika, despite increasingly dire warnings from U.S. health officials. It was the death of an elderly man in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, that marked an ominous milestone for the Zika virus in the United States. A Zika infection usually is not life threatening, but it may spread from a pregnant woman to her child and cause microcephaly and other severe conditions. "This is a public health emergency. That is what our public health experts have told us," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest late last week. The White House has requested nearly $2 billion in emergency funding to target the mosquito that carries Zika and promote the development of a vaccine. The Republican-led Congress has yet to act, saying more information is needed. "We should at least have a plan from the administration for how the money is going to be spent," said Republican Senator John Cornyn. "There is no plan; it is a blank check." Democrats note Congress approved larger sums with relative speed to fight Ebola and the H1N1 flu. "If they will not give the experts the resources they need to combat Zika, what do they propose?" asked Democratic Senator Harry Reid. "We could ask the Zika mosquitos -- the Zika-carrying mosquitos, we could ask them: 'Do not breed this year.'" Baghdad (AFP) - Iraqi forces advancing from two opposite directions in Anbar have joined up, reducing the isolation of the city of Haditha, military sources said on Monday. A statement from Iraq's joint operations command coordinating the fight against the Islamic State group said forces retook several villages from the jihadists along the Euphrates River. The Iraqi army's 7th division had been moving down the river from Al-Baghdadi and eventually joined up with forces from the counter-terrorism service moving up from the town of Heet. "The road is therefore open between Heet and Haditha, via Al-Baghdadi, after an 18-month siege by the terrorists of Daesh," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "The siege of Haditha and Al-Baghdadi was broken after liberating the strategic highway between Baghdadi and Heet," Major General Ali Ibrahim Daboun, the army commander responsible for the area, told AFP. However, a commander of Haditha's tribal fighters said the area of Al-Dulab, which lies in a loop of the Euphrates just east of Al-Baghdadi, was still in IS hands. "The people are hopeful but for now nobody will take the risk of travelling on this road so long as Al-Dulab has not been retaken," Sheikh Abdullah al-Jughaifi told AFP by phone from Haditha. Haditha, 210 kilometres (130 miles) northwest of the capital Baghdad, is the third city in the vast province of Anbar and lies near the country's second largest dam. It has come under repeated attack since the jihadists launched their massive offensive in Iraq in June 2014, but the dominant tribes there were opposed to IS and able to hold them off. For months, the city's main lifeline was the nearby military base of Al-Asad, which was only accessible by air. "The engineering corps of the army continues to remove explosive devices to reopen the road for goods, oil products and food," Daboun said. Iraqi forces, with backing from the US-led coalition that carries out daily air strikes against IS, has retaken significant ground from the jihadists in recent months. IS still controls Fallujah city only 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, but it is almost completely besieged by pro-government forces. The jihadists also hold large areas deeper in the province, including along the border with Syria. Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - An Israeli military court ordered a Palestinian journalist to be detained for four months without trial or any charges Monday, on the eve of World Press Freedom Day. Omar Nazzal was arrested on April 23 at the border between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, where he had been due to fly to a European Federation of Journalists gathering in Bosnia. The military court met on Sunday before announcing its decision to put him in administrative detention for four months, said Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency. An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed Nazzal would be held in administrative detention until August 22 "over his participation in a terrorist organisation" and not "because of his activity as a journalist". Under its administrative detention law, Israel can hold suspects for indefinite periods without charging or putting them on trial. Israel's Shin Bet security service said Nazzal, a member of the general secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), was detained because of "his involvement in terror group activities". It said the journalist, 54, was recently appointed to a top position at Falestine al-Youm television which Israel's army forcibly closed in Ramallah on accusations of incitement to violence. Nazzal left the position several months ago. Monday's court announcement comes on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, the lead-up to which Palestinians have been using to condemn Israel. Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian political leader, on Monday urged immediate intervention "to ensure Israel is accountable for the blatant and planned escalation against Palestinian media". The journalists' union says that Israel is also holding in detention another 19 Palestinian journalists and students of journalism, one of them for more than 20 years. Israel has also forced the closure of several Palestinian television and radio stations since the outbreak of a wave of attacks that has killed more than 200 Palestinians and about 30 Israelis since October. By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel plans to reopen a second border point for commercial traffic into the Gaza Strip, an official said on Monday, a step in gradually easing the blockade imposed on the Palestinian enclave since 2007. The decision to allow trucks through the Erez terminal, on Gaza's northeastern tip, was taken in recognition that a truce that ended the 2014 war against Hamas is holding, the official said. Israel says its blockade prevents the movement of militants and stops construction materials that could be used by Hamas to make bunkers and tunnels. Palestinians there say they are under siege and are unable to rebuild homes destroyed by Israeli bombing. Israel halted commercial traffic through Erez in 2000, after a Palestinian revolt erupted, and only passengers transit has been allowed since. The official said details of its reopening were still being worked out, and gave no implementation date: "It won't be today or tomorrow." Changing Gaza policy is politically sensitive in Israel, as Hamas, while holding fire, remains openly hostile toward it, so the announcement was kept low-key. Regional powers Egypt and Turkey also have a close interest in what happens in Gaza. Egypt, which has the only other border with Gaza, has helped Israel maintain the blockade, deeming Hamas a threat. Turkey has said improving relations with Israel is dependent on the blockade ending. The official said the decision was mainly aimed at reducing pressure on the sole crossing point currently handling commercial traffic, Kerem Shalom in southeastern Gaza, as well as reducing truck traffic on Israeli roads leading to it. But the official added that Israel "has an interest in Gazans living in dignity - both on a humanitarian level, and because it helps preserve the quiet, in parallel to the security deterrence that exists. It is good for both Gazans and for us." Erez will eventually handle at least half of the around 600 trucks that go through Kerem Shalon daily, the official said. Asked whether the new measure could herald an overall increase in exports to Gaza, the official said, "No problem, to the degree that it depends on us," meaning that the border could be closed again in the event of Palestinian attacks. Gaza is home to 1.95 million Palestinians, 80 percent of whom are dependent on aid, according to the United Nations. Economists say the current levels of imports have been enough to maintain basic living standards but not to generate recovery, and unemployment has spiraled from 28 percent to 43 percent since the 2014 war. "Gaza needs cement, all kinds and sizes of lumber, raw chemicals, iron for metalworks, all of which have ceased completely," said Mahed Al-Tabbaa, a Palestinian economist. "What counts is whether Israel will allow the banned goods to enter Gaza, not an increase the number of trucks carrying the already permitted list of goods." (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon on Monday announced the reopening of one of the main crossing points into the Palestinian Gaza Strip, which has been closed for at least eight years. However he did not give a date for the reopening of the Erez crossing in the north of the territory, saying only that this "will not happen tomorrow or the day after". "It is in our interests that a significant amount of truckloads of food continues to go to Gaza," a spokesman for Yaalon said in a statement. "It is our interest that Gazans live in dignity. Both from a humanitarian point of view and because this is a way to protect the peace, in addition to existing security deterrents." Yaalon also spoke of the necessity to ease congestion at the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south, currently the only conduit for goods between Israel and the Gaza Strip. He said that "at least half of what currently goes via Kerem Shalom" will be redirected to Erez. Israel imposed a tight air, sea and land blockade on Gaza in 2006, designed to prevent the Islamist Hamas movement that controls the territory from rearming. Bordered to the north and east by Israel and with the Mediterranean Sea to its west, the enclave is also subjected to an Egyptian blockade to the south. Israel controls all but one of the crossing points with Gaza -- the Rafah crossing into Egypt, The Erez crossing was closed to the passage of goods in 2008. TEL AVIV, May 2 (Reuters) - Israeli mobile chip designer Ceva Inc slightly exceeded expectations with a more than doubling of its quarterly profit, boosted by higher licensing and royalty revenue for chips used in smartphones, autos and cameras. Ceva said on Monday it earned 17 cents a share excluding one-time items in the first quarter, up from 8 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue rose 19 percent to a record $16.5 million. The company was forecast to earn 16 cents a share ex-items on revenue of $16.3 million, according to Thomson One I/B/E/S. During the quarter, Ceva signed 11 license agreements, including three with first-time customers. "The licensing environment continued to be favourable, particularly for our vision products with three new vision deals signed," said Ceva Chief Executive Gideon Wertheizer. Chief Financial Officer Yaniv Arieli said Ceva's market share in the LTE cellphone market continued, with a record 35 million units shipped in the quarter, resulting in 31 percent year-over-year royalty revenue growth. (Reporting by Tova Cohen) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of two sailors under investigation over the killing of two Indian fishermen during an anti-piracy mission in 2012, can return home, the Indian foreign ministry said on Monday. A U.N. arbitration court hearing the case ruled earlier that India should release Girone, who has been detained in Delhi for more than four years. "While remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, he may return to Italy for the duration of the present arbitration," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. "The Tribunal confirmed Italy's obligation to return him to India in case it was found that India had jurisdiction over him in respect of the incident." (Reporting by Douglas Busvine; editing by Andrew Roche) ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast will break up its long-standing electricity and water monopolies and introduce competition to reduce prices amid growing public concern over price increases, President Alassane Ouattara said. The government decided in June last year to increase electricity prices by 16 percent over three years to keep pace with production costs. Under the arrangement electricity prices were scheduled to increase by 5 percent in January. But some customers saw rates rise by as much as 40 percent, according to a government investigation, prompting Ouattara to cancel the January increases and call for a more competitive industry. "This situation reminds us of the need to open up the water and electricity sectors to competition," Ouattara, a former senior International Monetary Fund official, said in a Labour Day speech on national television on Sunday. "It is competition that will lower the price of electricity. I appeal to all those who wish to invest in that sector," he said. The West African nation has emerged from a decade of political turmoil and civil war as one of the continent's rising stars economically, with growth averaging around 9 percent for the past four years. However, critics of the government complain that most Ivorians have not benefited from the new-found prosperity. During his re-election campaign last year Ouattara promised to make economic growth more inclusive. The Companie Ivoirienne d'Electricite (CIE), majority owned by Africa-focused public utilities manager Eranove Group, has supplied electricity to the Ivory Coast since 1990 under an agreement with the government. The deal, which puts CIE in charge of the distribution of power to homes and businesses, is not due to expire until 2020. It is unclear how the utility markets will be liberalised or if it can be done before the agreement between CIE and the government ends in 2020. But it is likely to be a major issue in French-speaking West Africa's biggest economy where power producers are struggling to keep pace with growing consumption. Demand for electricity is rising by some 10 percent a year, and the energy minister said last year that $20 billion of investment is needed in the industry over the next 15 years. (Reporting by Ange Aboa; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Joe Bavier, Greg Mahlich) Remus Lupin harry potter warner bros "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling kept her tradition of apologizing and explaining one death on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts on Monday. The bloody battle saw Voldemort's forces descend on Harry Potter, his teachers, his classmates, and the secret society of wizards against Voldemort, The Order of the Phoenix. This year, Rowling chose to explain why Remus Lupin "had to die." Professor Lupin was a friend of Harry Potter's parents while they attended Hogwarts, and became one of Harry's substitute parents. He was also a werewolf, having been bitten by the werewolf Greyback at a young age. He died during the Battle of Hogwarts. His death hit fans especially hard, because his wife Tonks also died, leaving their young son an orphan. Once again, it's the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts so, as promised, I shall apologise for a death. This year: Remus Lupin. J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016 Rowling said Lupin's fate was attached to another character, Arthur Weasley. Arthur was Harry Potter's best friend Ron's father. In the interests of total honesty I'd also like to confess that I didn't decide to kill Lupin until I wrote Order if the Phoenix. J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016 Arthur lived, so Lupin had to die. I'm sorry. I didn't enjoy doing it. The only time my editor ever saw me cry was over the fate of Teddy. J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016 Last year, on this day, Rowling apologized for killing Fred Weasley during the Battle, which she said was the "worst [death] for me, so I started with him. NOW WATCH: This early audition proves that Daniel Radcliffe was born to play Harry Potter More From Business Insider Guy Pearce you know him from Memento and Iron Man 3 has had an alternate-continent career as Jack Irish, a crime-solver in the Australian TV series of the same name. A new, six-part Jack Irish adventure begins streaming on Acorn TV on Monday, and its a good, intriguing mystery. Irish is a former lawyer and private detective who these days is a stubble-chinned, debt-collector-for-hire. I have no idea how Irish managed to attract his girlfriend, journalist Linda Hillier, played by the exceedingly charming Marta Dusseldorp, whose praises I recently sang in a review of her own two series, Janet King and A Place To Call Home. At the start of the new Jack Irish TV-movie titled Blind Faith, Jack and Linda are frosty with each other, and shes headed off to Manila to write some stories and see if she and Irish care enough about each other to reunite. Meanwhile, Jacks back at home in Australia, where hes hired to find the brother of a wealthy client who its no spoiler to reveal is not the missing fellows brother at all, but rather someone involved in some sort of vindictive religious cult. The plot developments are a bit foggy in the first hour, but what keeps things interesting is Pearce and his character, a kind of Aussie variation on the brooding crime-solver that pops up over here occasionally Im thinking particularly of Tom Sellecks excellent series of Jesse Stone TV-movies. Like Stone, Irish is an aging loner whose independent-guy routine is becoming more threadbare the deeper into middle-age he gets. It gives Pearce an opportunity to play rueful weariness, which he does very well indeed. And like another well-known TV detective, James Garners Jim Rockford, Jack Irish is frequently clueless about the true nature of the mystery hes solving until hes taken a few punches to the gut and been lied to by, well, almost anyone, ranging from clients to suspects. Like many a hardboiled private investigator, Irish has a wary relationship with the local police. The Irish TV-movies are based on Peter Temples crime novels, and the dialogue as provided by writers Andrew Knight and Matt Cameron has a pleasing tartness. If youre looking for mysteries tougher than the procedurals on CBS, this is a fine option. Jack Irish: Blind Faith is streaming now on Acorn TV. A Taiwan-born American citizen has admitted selling nuclear information to China while he was a senior manager at the U.S. government's Tennessee Valley Authority, federal officials say. Court records unsealed Friday show that Ching Ning Guey admitted traveling to China and receiving payments in return for handing over restricted information about U.S. nuclear technology. Federal officials who discussed the case indicated China is suspected of running a spy program to evade U.S. security precautions and collect high-tech information. An indictment filed more than a year ago but kept secret charged Guey with one count of conspiracy to illegally participate in the development of nuclear material outside of the United States and one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government. Prosecutors say he had been specifically warned not to share restricted nuclear information in advance of his trip to China. (photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images) One of the 2016 New Orleans Jazz Festivals most anticipated lineups of heavy-hitting headliners was knocked out of commission in its second weekend, when severe rain, lightning, and winds hit on Saturday.A majority of the fans waiting to see Stevie Wonder, Beck, Snoop Dogg, Buddy Guy, Arturo Sandoval, and others stayed put through the downpour that started around 4 p.m.; when the rain finally let up over an hour later, power had been knocked out and stage gear damaged (including Wonders grand piano for Stevie Wonder). The mammoth Fair Grounds Race Course where Jazz Fest is held wasnt just waterlogged flash flooding had changed its topography into a land of small lakes and new Mississippi River tributaries that were more than knee-deep in some areas. Complaints from those who had come to see their favorite acts, now canceled, were inevitable, and concertgoers had a legitimate gripe after toughing it out through the mini-monsoon. But there were dozens hundreds, actually of options to still make for a great second weekend of music and mud at Jazz Fest. Here are but 10 of many 1. Stevie Wonder & Prince-ly Purple With a full week to work out arrangements after Princes untimely passing, tributes to the Prince-ly one were abundant on the second weekend of Jazz Fest. But the best homage was possibly the unrehearsed (and probably least heard) nod by Stevie Wonder. Ninety minutes after Saturdays Fest-finishing storm started, and a few minutes after it was officially shut down, Stevie Wonder was led out onto the Acura Stage, where the sound system was completely dead. Through a megaphone Wonder led sopping members of the remaining crowd who were within shouting distance in a short sing-along of Purple Rain. There had been numerous celebrations Princes of music and life through the city, and one could almost expect that someone would seed the unremitting rainclouds so that they would pour purple. Topping off a set of soaring jams at Fest, My Morning Jacket was joined by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for Sign O the Times and Purple Rain. And New Orleans bounce queen Big Freedia offered his own Purple Rain before Saturdays deluge. Story continues 2. Tribute to Allen Toussaint Last year at this point, we were talking about the longevity of Allen Toussaints influential career. This year, after Mr. New Orleanss heart attack last November, a parade of music heavyweights gathered to celebrate Toussaints never-ending musical importance. Thank you for coming to our house, Toussaints son Clarence told the soaked Gentilly crowd, because thats what Jazz Fest was to [my father]. Art Neville, Bonnie Raitt, Cyrille Neville, ELS, and Keith Claiborne sang their respects while Jon Batiste (on loan from David Letterman), Dr. John, Davell Crawford, and Joe Krown sat at Toussaints piano to dig into a nuggets from the songmasters extensive songbook. Together with a band that included many of Allens longtime band members, they underscored the slip-and-slide groove that was key in a roll call of Toussaint songs including Working in a Coal Mine, Get Out of My Life Woman, Lady Marmalade, and Southern Nights as well as Dr. Johns poignant salute to his old friend, Life. 3. Elvis Costello Backed by an all-star big band and sporting an Allen Toussaint button on his Prince-purple beret, Elvis Costello, demonstrating why hes one of our generations greatest songwriters, delivered a set peppered with slashes of his punk-era hits as well as samplings of his collaborations one of New Orleanss great song men, Mr. Toussaint. Costello performed songs from their collaborations, including the lofty "Ascension Day (from 2006s River in Reverse) and "Whos Gonna Help Brother Get Further, backed by the Crescent City Horns, mixed in with scissor-sharp and energized versions of his own Radio Radio, I Dont Want To Go To Chelsea, and Every Day I Write the Book. Costello also covered Toussaints I Cried My Last Tear and told stories of their tours together before closing out Thursday with a fierce Pump It Up. 4. Dr. John & the Night Trippers Nothing says New Orleans better than a set of classic swamp-funk from the Doctor, even if it was shortened by the storms that would knock out the rest of Saturdays lineup. For 35 minutes, players from the Dirty Dozen brass joined members of Dr. Johns regular Night Trippers to slither through his gris-gris collection of tunes including that ranged from Iko Iko to the menacing I Walk on Gilded Splinters. The set also included Right Place, Wrong Time, Earl Kings Make a Better World, and a guest shot on melodica by Jon Batiste on Big Shot (from Locked Down album, produced by Dan Auerbach) before Good Night, Irene unexpectedly but appropriately finished off the day. 5. Neil Young Neil Youngs moody, whammy-bar set of guitar fireworks with nephew Lukas (son of Willie) Nelson and Promise of the Real was huge. At times, the sonic boom of their long, massive jamsresonated like ocean liners grinding against one another, creating a reverberating bang-and-clang that seemingly boomed in protest to the stormy skies. The bigger protest, though, was happening onstage, where Young had staged an anti-GMO plant harvest to reinforce the title track of his recent album, The Monsanto Years. As Young and band reeled out faves like Rockin the Free World, Country Home, and Powderfinger, songs extended into jams that seemed like theyd never wind down. The next song is exactly like the last one, Young said at one point, only not as long. 6. Paul Simon Speaking of songwriters, this critic is the first to admit that he sometimes forgets that Paul Simon is pretty great at penning catchy tunes, too. By including some Clifton Chenier zydeco flavorings, Simon showed that the gulf between accordion-flavored Graceland and bayou tunes really isnt that wide. A few minutes after a set of classic singalongs (including 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al) and encores that were highlighted by the swaying lilt of a definitive The Boxer, Simon ambled back onstage to offer a solo lullaby of Sound of Silence. 7. Mavis Staples In the Blues Tent, the rhythm & rock gospel of Mavis Staples was again an inspiration. Belting out songs from her stirring Living on the Edge CD, with songs by Ben Harper, Neko Case, Nick Cave, and Jon Batiste, Mavis proclaimed, I wont turn around, Ive come too far, yall. The set peaked when Mavis led the march up Freedom Highway, an upbeat protest song written in the 1960s by her late dad Pops to honor the civil rights trek from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. I was there, and Im still here fighting for hope love and peace, she declared before launching into Levon Helmss The Weight" 8. Irma Thomas Even at 75 years of age, Irma Thomass reign as Soul Queen of New Orleans shows no signs of ending any time soon. Animatedly roaming the Acura Stage on Friday, Irma who also performed a special Gospel Soul of Irma Thomas spotlight set Sunday in the Gospel Tent invigorated the audience with Ruler of My Heart, Its Raining, and other tracks from her early-1960s collaborations with Allen Toussaint. Before a moving rendition of Forever Young, she took time to reclaim" Time Is on My Side from the Rolling Stones, who had a hit with the song after hearing Irmas version. I look a hell of a lot better than he does at 75, she smirked. 9. Snarky Puppy The last time Snarky Puppy played Jazz Fest, they rode a wave of frenetic overload ready to burst at the seams. This time, maturity and depth ruled the day, mirroring the incredible sense for adventure and crafty arrangements on the jazz-fusion collectives brand-new album, Culcha Vulcha. Horns ricocheted off the bass-and-drums beat while syncopated keys and guitar percolations up the melodic ante. In other sections their nuanced textures sounded like a heady big-band reincarnation of Band X. Later, they played a surprise show at Republic joined by special guest Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap (aka Harry Shearer) for a rousing rendition of Taps bootlylicious classic, Big Bottom. 10. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue When Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews was given the chance a few years back to take over the duties of closing Jazz Fest from the Neville Brothers, some questioned his ability to do so. He himself was not one of those people. And now in 2016 we all look to Trombone Shorty to take Jazz Fest out on the highest of notes, this year ignoring the persistent rain. With Ivan Neville on keys and the ever-young energy of his Orleans Avenue band to fuel the grand finale, Andrews was electric, a whirlwind of energy who dove into the mud-stained crowd with his horn to lead a second line parade of one. We aint afraid of no rain, he declared while directing the band, all wearing Prince-worthy purple, from Do to Me" through "Hurricane Season. For an encore, Andrews mashed When the Saints Go Marching In" with Everybody Needs Somebody, a bright finish that almost let us forget what a sloggy wet mess Jazz Fest had been and bright enough that well be back next year for another hopefully sunny helping. Jessica Alba Jessica Albas $1.7 billion startup, The Honest Co., has delivered a scathing response to its critics, particularly the group that filed a lawsuit in April regarding its baby formula. The statement blasts advocacy groups for using Honest and Jessica Albas high profile to air their grievances with organic labeling in general. This lawsuit should be taking up their disagreement over existing organic standards with the U.S. government, not with Honest, the company writes. Honest, which sells eco-friendly household products like premium diapers and toothpaste, has had to fend off multiple recent lawsuits and reports that allege its products use synthetic ingredients and are deceptively labeled. But the accusations that its baby formula contains synthetic and toxic ingredients seem to have hit particularly close to home. The company writes that cofounder Chris Gavigan spent years developing Honests Organic Infant Formula, with his own family in mind, after being told by a doctor that his newborn son was experiencing "failure to thrive. Here are the points Honest gives about the April lawsuit and its formula. It says Honest's Organic Infant Formula is: Fully compliant and meets all safety and nutritional standards. Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and labeled with the USDA Organic Seal; the seal certifies Honest Organic Premium Infant Formula as USDA Organic in strict accordance with the National Organic Program. Manufactured according to FDA standards in an ISO 9001:2008-certified, infant formula-manufacturing facility located within the United States. Dairy ingredients are sourced from leading dairy markets, including the United States, Canada and New Zealand. The FDA-inspected facility has been producing infant formulas for more than 30 years in strict compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMP). The facilitys manufacturing team is led by top scientists, nutritionists, engineers, regulatory experts and quality assurance specialists in the industry. Certified organic and contains at least 95% organic ingredients as required by USDA. Any ingredients, including the 11 ingredients alleged in the suit as non-organic, are ingredients that occur naturally in breast milk, are important for infant growth and development, and are all either permitted or required by the FDA to be present in infant formula. Story continues Honest, which raised $100 million last year at a $1.7 billion valuation, is seeking to go public, and is working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on the deal, according to Bloomberg's Lizette Chapman and Alex Barinka. NOW WATCH: How to find out your Uber passenger rating More From Business Insider A judge has agreed to move the trial of Justin Ross Harris, the man accused of murdering his 22-month-old son by allegedly intentionally leaving him in a hot car, on the grounds that the pretrial publicity has made it impossible to find an impartial jury. Jury selection began three weeks ago, when 550 potential jurors arrived at the Cobb County Courthouse in Marietta, Georgia. In 15 days, the prosecution and defense qualified approximately 40 panelists for potential service on the jury. But on Monday, that work was undone when judge Mary Staley ruled that the high-profile trial would be moved to a new location in Georgia. Now, the prosecution and defense will have to agree upon a new venue for the trial. The ruling was a victory for defense attorney Maddox Kilgore, who has argued that his client would not get a fair trial in the Atlanta area. In a statement, Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds reacted to the ruling: "While weare certainly disappointed, we understand and respect the court's ruling. Whenever and wherever this case is set for trial, the state will be ready." On the June 14, 2014 day Harris allegedly left his son, Cooper, in the family's SUV to go to his web developer job at Home Depot, the outside temperatures were nearly 90 degrees. An autopsy found that Cooper died of hyperthermia. In a pretrial hearing, a detective told the court that Harris had exchanged sexual text messages with six different females while his son was dying in the car. One of the females he allegedly sexted was just 16 years old. (Harris tried to have the alleged racy text messages declared inadmissible at trial.) Judge Agrees To Move the Trial of Justin Ross Harris, Accused in 'Hot Car Death' of Toddler son| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime, Justin Ross Harris In a 2014 probable cause hearing, detective Phil Stoddard outlined Harris's alleged strange behavior, both before and after Cooper's death. According to Stoddard, Harris had researched hot car deaths online. He also searched "how to survive in prison." Surveillance video had shown Harris returning to the car during lunchtime and placing two boxes of light bulbs inside. He didn't look at Cooper's car seat. Stoddard also testified that Harris grew belligerent with responding officers after discovering Cooper's lifeless body. When he was arrested, Harris allegedly said, "But there was no malicious intent." Harris grew belligerent with responding officers after discovering Cooper's lifeless body. When he was arrested, Harris allegedly said, "But there was no malicious intent." Kilgore contends that Harris merely forgot about Cooper because he was distracted and that he never intended to harm his son. Prosecutors charged Harris with eight felony counts, including malice murder, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony. He faces life in prison if he's found guilty. mothers day 1 Julia Roberts may not have a lot of screen time in the new comedy Mothers Day, which opened in theaters over the weekend, but she certainly got paid like she was the star. The actress, who only worked on the film for four days, was paid $3 million for her supporting role, according to Variety. When Roberts was one of the biggest stars on the planet, in romantic comedies like Notting Hill and Runaway Bride, she became the first woman to get paid $20 million for a movie when she played the lead in Erin Brockovich, for which she won an Oscar. Though she cant command that kind of price anymore, what she got for Mothers Day proves she can still take in a big paycheck for a relatively minor amount of work. It doesn't look like her star wattage helped the movie any, though. "Mother's Day," which also featured Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson, debuted to a soft $8.30 million. That's the lowest opening of any of the Garry Marshall-directed holiday comedies ("Valentine's Day," "New Year's Eve") before it. Adding further insult, Julia Roberts' terrible wig became a recurring punchline for critics of the movie, who made it already one of the worst-reviewed of the year. This has been a recurring theme for Roberts of late. Last years The Secret in their Eyes only earned $32.1 million worldwide, and though she received a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for 2013s August Osage County, the film only had a worldwide gross of $74.1 million. Roberts hopes to rebound on May 13 when she stars opposite George Clooney in the thriller Money Monster, directed by Jodie Foster. NOW WATCH: Back in 2014, dancer Misty Copeland told us a story about working with Prince More From Business Insider Katrina Kaif has been busy shooting for a magazine cover in the lovely locales of island Cebu in Philippines. Katrina, who was seen sporting a Sundry - Je T'aime Crop Sweatshirt, is clicked here at the Mactan International Airport. Check out Katrina getting all set to take off, with her team. The lovely actress who was last seen in the movieFitoor, will next be seen in Baar Baar Dekho opposite Sidharth Malhotra. She will also be seen in Jagga Jasoos along with ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. Do you dig this look of Katrina? From Cosmopolitan At last night's White House Correspondents Dinner - aka "nerd prom" -President Obama got serious about roasting pretty much everyone and anyone. Included in his jokey wrath? Kendall Jenner! Addressing the room, President Obama said of Kendall, "We had a chance to meet her backstage and she seems like a very nice young woman. I'm not exactly sure what she does but I am told that my Twitter mentions are about to go through the roof." Truth! As for what it was like for Kendall to meet President Obama, she told People that it was her first time being legit ~starstruck~. He also asked her to pass on a message to two of her famous relatives. "He was like, 'Say hi to Kim and Kanye,'" she said. "I was like 'Okay.'" And although President Obama didn't ask about her, Kris Jenner was equally excited about her daughter's opportunity to meet POTUS. "She's already Instagrammed it," she said. "I know she's proud. She's all over it." And Instagram it, she did! And seriously, one last look at that dress because it's ridiculously gorgeous: Here's Obama's best jokes from the dinner, including the one about Kendall! It's a delightful romp and man, I sure will miss this guy when he's retired. Follow Laura on Twitter. President Barack and Obama and his wife Michelle's elder daughter will take a year off after graduating from high school and attend the prestigious Harvard University in 2017. "The President and Mrs. Obama announced today that their daughter Malia will attend Harvard University in the fall of 2017 as a member of the Class of 2021. Malia will take a gap year before beginning school," a White House statement said Sunday. Kenneth Bae spoke out Monday morning in a rare interview since his release from North Korea, describing his long days of hard labor during his imprisonment in the isolated country. I worked from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at night, working on the field, carrying rock, shoveling coal, Bae told CNN of his captivity from 2012 to November 2014. Bae had been sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for carrying out hostile acts against the country, and was the U.S. citizen detained for the longest in North Korea since the Korean War. Bae had worked for a tour company that took people into North Korea, and was arrested in 2012 during one of those trips. Bae also said Monday that his captors caused him anguish by repeatedly telling him, No one remembers you. You have been forgotten by people, your government. Youre not going home anytime soon. [CNN] By Steve Bittenbender LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) - A state judge in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday temporarily blocked a move by the city and a local university to take down a longstanding monument to Confederate soldiers. Jefferson Circuit Judge Judith McDonald-Burkman issued the temporary injunction after the Sons of Confederate Veterans and others announced their intent to legally block the move by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and University of Louisville President Dr. James Ramsey. A hearing on whether to permanently grant the injunction has been scheduled for 1030 am local time on Thursday, according to Ed Springston, one of the men who sought the injunction with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Fischer's spokesman Chris Poynter said in a text that the mayor stood by his decision to move the statue to a more appropriate location. On Friday, local leaders announced plans to dismantle the 70-foot monument, clean it and place it in storage until another site could be found. University spokesman John Karman said in a Monday email that the school would support the city's efforts to move the statue as the case moves through the courts. Located near the university's main campus, the 121-year-old monument has been a source of controversy at the school. In a Friday statement, Ramsey said the memorial, given to the city by the Kentucky Woman's Monument Association to commemorate Kentuckians who died for the Confederacy, needed a more appropriate location than near a modern campus that celebrates its diversity. A diversity committee at the university was the latest group to target the monument, joining a national push to remove what they consider emblems of slavery that have become a rallying symbol for racism and xenophobia in the United States. Public symbols of the Confederacy including the Confederate flag have been the center of controversy across the U.S. South after a white gunman allegedly shot dead nine black worshipers at a historic church in Charleston, South Carolina in July 2015. Story continues Supporters say they are symbols of the South's history and culture, as well a memorial to the roughly 480,000 Confederate casualties during the Civil War. Opposition to the removal of the Kentucky statue quickly gathered momentum. Thomas McAdam, the Louisville lawyer representing the organization and other plaintiffs, could not be reached to comment on Monday, but in a Facebook post last week called the city's plan "historical revisionism." The destruction of public monuments is a desecration of our honored dead, and an example of liberal fascism in its ugliest form, he said in the post. (Reporting by Steve Bittenbender, Editing by Ben Klayman and Andrew Hay) Nairobi (AFP) - The death toll in the collapse of a six-storey building in Nairobi rose to 21 on Monday after four more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the residential structure that gave way during weekend storms. "As of today we have 21 people dead so far after four bodies were retrieved in the night and another died in hospital," the head of the National Disaster Management Unit, Pius Masai, told reporters, revising a previous count of 16 dead. Authorities had previously put the number of deaths in Friday's collapse of the building in the low-income district of Huruma at 16. But the Kenya Red Cross said 60 people were still missing, meaning the final toll could be much higher, although it was unclear whether those sought were at home when the building buckled. The building, which was home to more than 150 families, many of them living crammed into a single room, had been earmarked for demolition after being declared structurally unsound. But an order by building authorities for the evacuation of the bloc, built only two years ago near a river, went ignored. On Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta called for the building's owner to be arrested, A day later, the owner turned himself over to police. Several buildings have collapsed in recent years in Nairobi and other Kenyan cities, where a property boom has seen buildings shoot up at speed, often with scant regard for building regulations. The deaths in Huruma bring to at least 28 the number of people who died in Nairobi since the weekend in accidents linked to floods caused by torrential rains. On Saturday, Kenya, led by President Uluru Kenyatta, torched 105 metric tons (or over 230,000 pounds) of recovered ivory tusks in a huge bonfire. The ivory burned was worth $150 million, or up to 8,000 elephants and 343 rhinos, according to Associated Press. The 11 burning pyres the largest single burning of ivory ever were a statement to demonstrate Kenya's seriousness about ending the illegal poaching and trading of ivory by showing how ivory is "worthless unless it is on our elephants," Kenyatta said, according to Slate. "No one, and I repeat, no one, has any business in trading in ivory, for this trade means death the death of our elephants and the death of our natural heritage," Kenyatta said, according to the New York Times. Usually, elephants are killed by poachers and their tusks are sent to Asia, where they are made into items like combs or eyeglass frames, via the black market. Poaching for ivory is one of the dominant factors in elephants' declining population, despite the sale of ivory being banned in 1989, Slate reported. Source: Ben Curtis/AP In 1989, Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey similarly burned a large bonfire of ivory. "My feeling is that many people who are buying this ivory in China and elsewhere simply don't know what it is doing to elephants," Leakey said of Saturday's burning, according to Scientific America. "It will help open their eyes to what is actually happening." Not everyone believes the politically charged burning was necessary, arguing that the money should have been used to protect the nation's wildlife rather than just burned away. But Kenyan politicians argued the point that the ivory should not have value to begin with. In the 1970s, just four decades ago, Africa had over 1.3 million elephants roaming the continent. Now that number has dwindled to just 500,000, the Associated Press reported. By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Lesley Wroughton AMMAN/GENEVA (Reuters) - Washington and Moscow said on Monday they were working hard to extend a truce in Syria to Aleppo, the divided northern city where a sharp escalation of violence in recent weeks has left a ceasefire in tatters and torpedoed peace talks. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was in Geneva for meetings with other dignitaries to try to revive the two-month-old U.S. and Russia-sponsored cessation of hostilities, which quieted guns for the first time during the five-year Syrian war but which has unraveled in recent days. Syria announced temporary local truces in two areas last week. But those agreements have not been extended to Aleppo, where government air strikes and rebel shelling have killed hundreds of civilians in the past week, including more than 50 people in a hospital rebels say was deliberately targeted by the army. The Aleppo fighting threatens to wreck the first peace talks involving the warring parties, which are due to resume at an unspecified date after breaking up in April when the opposition delegation walked out citing government ceasefire violations. "We're getting closer to a place of understanding, but we have some work to do, and that's why we're here," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. Kerry said he hoped for more clarity in the next day or so on restoring the nationwide ceasefire. The United States and Russia had agreed to keep extra staff in Geneva to work on it. "Both sides, the opposition and the regime, have contributed to this chaos, and we are working over the next hours intensely in order to try to restore the cessation of hostilities," Kerry said. He later spoke by telephone to Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry said they both called on all sides to observe the ceasefire. A Russian military official, General Sergei Kuralenko, said talks were under way on extending the local truces to Aleppo. ALEPPO KEY TO PEACE The United States and Russia have taken the leading roles in diplomacy since Moscow joined the war last year with an air campaign that tipped the balance of power in favor of President Bashar al-Assad, its ally. Washington is among Western and regional powers that say Assad must leave office. The White House said on Monday Assad's government needed to live up to its ceasefire commitments. The civil war in Syria has killed hundred of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes, created the world's worst refugee crisis and provided a base for Islamic State militants who have launched attacks elsewhere. All diplomatic efforts to resolve it have foundered over the fate of Assad, who refuses to accept opposition demands that he leave power. The local truces, known as a "regime of calm", were launched in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus and the countryside of northern Latakia province from Saturday morning in a bid to revive the overall ceasefire. The Latakia truce was for three days and the Ghouta truce, initially for 24 hours, was also extended by another 48. Both cover areas where there has been heavy fighting. But without a similar truce in Aleppo, divided for years between government and rebel zones, there appears to be little hope of restoring the overall ceasefire so talks can resume. De Mistura, due to travel to Moscow for talks with Lavrov, said in a statement there could be no progress in political talks without the ceasefire and other steps to bring "tangible benefits on the ground for the Syrian people". Aleppo remains the biggest prize for Assad's forces hoping to take full control of the city, Syria's largest before the war. The nearby countryside includes the last strip of the Syria-Turkish border in the hands of Arab Sunni rebels. CIVILIANS KILLED The opposition accuses the government of deliberately targeting civilians in rebel held parts of Aleppo to drive them out. For its part, the government says rebels have been heavily shelling government-held areas, proving they are receiving sophisticated weapons from foreign sponsors. A British-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has reported scores of civilians killed on both sides in recent days, although more in rebel-held territory. Syrian state television said on Monday that a missile had hit the surroundings of Aleppo University Medical Hospital, and several civilians were injured by rebel mortar attacks on the residential area of Jamiyat Hay al Zahra in western Aleppo. The rebel-held local council of Aleppo city announced a state of emergency in areas it runs due to the intense bombardment. About 350,000-400,000 people are believed to remain in rebel-held parts of what was once a city of 2 million. Mohammad Muaz Abu Saleh, a senior councillor in the rebel Aleppo governate council, said residents were nonetheless not abandoning opposition-held areas. "Those who wanted to leave Aleppo have fled," he said. Those who have stayed behind "have decided to stay under all circumstances of shelling and siege. Aleppo will remain populated with its people not leaving." Amar al-Absi, a resident of a rebel-held area, said: "There was heavy shelling throughout the night. In my neighborhood, Salah al-Deen, a missile hit a building that was empty and it was leveled but there were no casualties." In Hama, a western city, government troops surrounded a prison and fired teargas to put down a revolt by inmates, who seized several guards in protest against their planned transfer to a military prison, the Observatory reported. In countryside north of Aleppo, other rebel groups have battled Islamic State fighters who are not party to any ceasefire. Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said the militants had gained control of three villages near the border with Turkey, cutting supply routes of other rebels, despite Turkish shelling. The Observatory said the militants had staged a counterattack to regain ground lost from other rebels in to-and-fro fighting that has seen no major gains for any side. Two rockets hit the Turkish town of Kilis near Islamic State positions in Syria on Monday, killing one person and wounding others, a security source told Reuters. The source said the Turkish military returned fire hitting IS targets. Ankara said it had killed 34 militants on Sunday. Turkey, a NATO ally and backer of anti-Assad rebels, is part of a U.S.-led coalition launching air strikes against Islamic State but is also strongly opposed to the main Kurdish militia in Syria, Washington's closest ally on the ground. Another major supporter of the rebels is Saudi Arabia, whose Foreign Minister Jubeir blamed the latest escalation on the government and called for Assad to step down. "He can leave through a political process, which we hope he will do, or he will be removed by force," Jubeir said alongside Kerry. (The online version of this story corrects the spelling of John Kerry in paragraph two.) (additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in GENEVA, John Davison in BEIRUT and Orhan Coskun in ANKARA, writing by Peter Graff; editing by Robin Pomeroy and Philippa Fletcher) GENEVA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday he hoped for greater clarity over the next day or so on restoring a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and had agreed with Russia on strengthened monitoring once it was in place. "Both sides, the opposition and the regime, have contributed to this chaos, and we are working over the next hours intensely in order to try to restore the cessation of hostilities," Kerry told reporters in Geneva after talks with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura. "...Russia and the United States have agreed that there will be additional personnel who will work from here, in Geneva, on a daily basis ... in order to make sure there is a better ability to be able to enforce (it)." (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Stephanie Nebenay; editing by John Stonestreet) Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson has reached a settlement with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation regarding a drug test that showed nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, and an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ration in his system. The TDLR oversees regulation of the state's combat sports. The drug test in question stems from Kimbo's fight with Dada 5000 (real name Dhafir Harris) at Bellator 149, which took place on Feb. 19 in Houston. Though Kimbo initially was silent on the matter, following Bellator booking him for the main event of Bellator 158 on July 16 in London, his camp negotiated a settlement with the TDLR, according to an initial report by MMAJunkie.com. There was no explanation as to why the TDLR lessened Kimbo's punishment. HOT TOPIC > Conor McGregor Blasts Nate Diaz, UFC 200, and Brock Lesnar Kimbo reportedly waived the right to a hearing, instead agreeing to a $2,500 fine and the revocation of his license to fight in Texas. According to TDLR records, Kimbo's license was originally slated to expire on March 4, 2017. His fight with Dada 5000, initially a victory, was also changed to a no contest. The settlement was a lessening of the original 90-day suspension, license revocation, and $4,000 fine. Despite the license revocation, Bellator is moving ahead with Kimbo headlining the promotion's first event in London. He squares off with James Thompson in a rematch of their EliteXC fight from May of 2008, which Kimbo won. There is no mixed martial arts regulatory body in England, so Bellator will instead use the International Sport Karate Association to oversee the event. Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram PRISTINA (Reuters) - A Turkish Airlines jet carrying 143 passengers and eight crew from Istanbul skidded off the runway on Monday when landing at Kosovo's sole airport, officials said. "Turkish Airlines flight TK1018 from Istanbul has had a minor incident and fortunately no one was injured, airport spokeswoman Valentina Gara said. The airport will remain closed for few hours until some initial technical investigations are finished. A flight from Brussels was diverted to Tirana, Albania. Local media showed images of the Turkish Airlines jet standing in a grassy area next to the runway. "Thanks God we (were) saved from a tragedy," one passenger wrote in a facebook posting with photos of the aircraft. Authorities are investigating what caused the incident. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; editing by Andrew Roche) * Kuwait slower than rest of Gulf to push austerity * Three-day strike over pay hit oil output * Thousands of workers unhappy with spending reforms * Kuwait has history of labour disputes * Rambunctious parliament must be handled carefully By Sylvia Westall and Ahmed Hagagy KUWAIT, May 2 (Reuters) - A three-day strike by oil workers in Kuwait last month over pay reforms shows the government faces considerable opposition as it prepares to push through painful and controversial cuts to longstanding welfare benefits. Oil-exporting states around the Gulf are reducing subsidies for fuel, public utilities and food, and freezing or slowing the growth of public sector wages, as they try to curb big budget deficits caused by low oil prices. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain have all taken such steps in the past six months. But Kuwait has been slower to act; reforms were still being discussed in parliament last week and no timetable has been set. In mid-March, Finance Minister Anas al-Saleh said the cabinet had approved in principle a "repricing" of some commodities and public services, but he gave no details and did not mention a date for the changes. One reason for the delay is that Kuwait has more of a history of industrial action than the rest of the Gulf, where unions are banned or tightly controlled. In recent years, brief work stoppages over pay and conditions have also hit Kuwait's national airline and the customs administration. More broadly, Kuwait's political environment is freer - in contrast to the other wealthy Gulf states, members of its rambunctious parliament routinely criticise government policy, and citizens are not shy about complaining on social media. In 2012, thousands of Kuwaitis demonstrated repeatedly against a new electoral law which they said disadvantaged the opposition. Such protests are almost unheard of in the other Gulf states. The result is that Kuwait's government is having a harder time imposing austerity policies than its counterparts, and the extent of those policies is still uncertain. Story continues "The oil strike was a showdown between a welfare government and a civil society fearful that the government will solve its problem, resulting from a lack of planning, at its expense," said Shafeeq Ghabra, political science professor at Kuwait University. "This strike shows that the government needs to have a major dialogue with civil society regarding economic as well political reform." Billions of dollars are at stake; finance ministry undersecretary Khalifa Hamada told the al-Qabas newspaper at the end of last year that "rationalising" subsidies would save the government 2.6 billion dinars ($8.7 billion) over three years. Savings would be greater if the bloated public payroll could be reformed. The finance ministry projected in January that the government would run a budget deficit of 12.2 billion dinars in the fiscal year starting on April 1, 2016, after state contributions to the sovereign wealth fund. STRIKE Between 7,000 and 13,000 of around 18,000 Kuwaiti nationals in the oil sector took part in the strike in late April, union members estimated. Union membership is not compulsory and foreign workers are not permitted to strike. Workers were protesting a proposed overhaul of the public sector payroll system that would set uniform standards for salaries, bonuses and benefits. The Oil and Petrochemical Industries Workers Confederation fears the government will use the reform to freeze salaries of higher-paid employees. Ultimately, the union called off the strike "in honour of his highness the Emir", and the government insisted it made no concessions - an apparent victory for authorities. But the union has been talking to the government since the strike ended, so concessions could still be made. Kuwait's oil output fell as low as 1.1 million barrels per day during the strike from the usual output of around 3 million bpd, tarnishing the country's image as a reliable exporter. "The workers have achieved their main objective of getting their message across," said Faisal Abu Sulaib, another political science professor at Kuwait University. Saif al-Qahtani, chairman of the oil workers' union, said he could not speak for other unions but that some of them also opposed wage system reform. Some other union members and analysts said a string of strikes in Kuwait remained unlikely. An official at the headquarters of the Kuwait Trade Union Federation, which represents 15 unions in the energy and government sectors, said it had not been informed of any other planned walkouts. Nevertheless, in the wake of the oil strike, the government may move even more gradually and cautiously with reforms. While most of the current parliament has been relatively supportive of the idea of reform, legislative elections are due next year, and the government will not want the issue of austerity to cause the election of a more antagonistic parliament. "Negotiations may take time, but my expectation is that the government will ultimately move towards a compromise on some of the union's demands to prevent further economically damaging escalations," said Coline Schep, a Middle East and North Africa associate at consultancy Eurasia Group. "Future strike action in the oil sector, or public sector more broadly, cannot be ruled out as it is a fairly well-established phenomenon in Kuwait...It is in the government's interest to try and avert further stoppages." (Editing by Andrew Torchia, Janet McBride) A ballistic missile whose launch from a submarine on April 23 North Korea described as an "enormous success" in fact blew up in mid-air, a military officer here said Sunday. The missile flew about 30 km but exploded and split into several pieces, he said. The official [North] Korea's Central News Agency said the following day the launch was aimed at increasing the reliability of separation and accuracy of the warhead's detonation device. But the first and second boosters never separated, apparently due to a technical problem, and the accuracy of the detonation device is moot. Some civilian missile experts speculated that the missile was only fueled for 30 km, but the military here said an observation ship was spotted scores of kilometers from the point of explosion, suggesting the regime had hoped it would fly much farther. That brings the North's failed ballistic missile launches in recent days to three after land-launched Musudan missiles also exploded on April 15 and 28. Kylie Jenner just got ANOTHER mysterious red tattoo Kylie Jenner just got ANOTHER mysterious red tattoo If ever a pinky finger was to dominate headlines, it could only be one belonging to King Kylie, aka the inimitable Kylie Jenner. A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Apr 27, 2016 at 7:09pm PDT On Saturday evening, the 18-year-old phenomenon took to Snapchat to document what looks like a brand new inking on her right pinky finger. Though she posted a series of video snaps (with brother-in-law Kanye Wests Life of Pablo album playing in the background), the actual tattoo remains a mystery, for now. A video posted by Kylie Jenner Snapchats (@kylizzlesnapchats) on May 1, 2016 at 5:18am PDT However, Jenner visited the famous Jon Boys Tattoos in NYC with her BFFs Jordyn Woods and Justine Skye, so perhaps some friendship tats are possibilities? Or a shoutout to her uber-successful Lip Kit line? Or a nod to her beloved puppies, Italian greyhounds Norman and Bambi? But lets remember its Kylie; the girl with the ever-revolving hair color is impossible to predict. This mysterious pinky tattoo is the fourth for the youngest daughter of Kris and Caitlyn Jenner. Theres a tiny red heart on the back of her left arm, Sanity inked in red on her hip, and her Grandmothers name Mary Jo written in her Grandfathers handwriting on her other arm. Jenner got this one touched up while in the shop and we cant help but wonder if this was Grandmas request. And like any powerful king, Ms. Jenner didnt leave the shop without marking her territory. She inked a red crown beside a K in one of the only empty spaces remaining on the shop owners left forearm. He insisted she do it herself, and Kylie was happy to comply with the request. A video posted by Kylie Jenner Snapchats (@kylizzlesnapchats) on May 1, 2016 at 5:18am PDT King Kylie reigns on! The post Kylie Jenner just got ANOTHER mysterious red tattoo appeared first on HelloGiggles. From Road & Track Just last week, we marked the anniversary of Chrysler purchasing Lamborghini. It was a strange, short affair that wrangled a long-forgotten Lamborghini concept car out of it, and a cab-forward legacy for Chrysler that its marketing department today all but forgets. If the Portofino was a "what-if" question (what if there was a four-door Lamborghini? What if Chrysler played off its design for the better part of a decade?) then the Pregunta was an open-ended one: a question in Spanish, a question to Lamborghini's future, and a question shouted defiantly: what if our cars looked like fighter jets? The Bertone-designed Pregunta debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October of 1998, a month after Audi AG acquired the company. Lamborghini had been controlled by Indonesian holding company Megatech, a billionaire's adventure game registered in Bermuda, whose former executive was convicted of hiring an assassin to kill an Indonesian judge. The constantly shifting endeavour had barely been able to scrape by when the 1997 Asian financial crisis hit. It was the final straw. In Germany, however, things were booming quite nicely. The same year that Indonesia melted down, Volkswagen introduced a twelve-cylinder supercar of its own and CEO Ferdinand Piech went on a shopping spree, snapping up Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini. Under Audi's fold, Lamborghini was about to do great things. But there was still something from the Diablo generation to show off. No car can wear its aviation-wannabe credentials as a Lamborghini. Case in point: the Pregunta featured carbon-fiber bodywork built by Heuliez, overlaid with the same matte-grey paint used on the Dassault Rafale fighter jet. The lights were fiber optics. The curvy, colorful, painfully-Nineties cockpit-complete with gated shifter!-mimicked fighter-jet glass screens and featured rear-view cameras instead of mirrors and nascent GPS navigation. The seats looked like they could eject. The doors opened skyward, naturally, taking with them huge and swoopy air intakes. Story continues Specs included the Diablo's chassis and running gear, modified to rear-drive only, and pumping out 530 horsepower from its V-12. It could hit the standing kilometer in just 20 seconds. Nearly every press photo saw it parked in front of a Rafale, including the period promotional video above, where the two tried to race. With a rumored 206mph top speed the Pregunta held up pretty well, at least until the pesky airborne business. But it still looked like it could take right off. And as recently as 2013, French dealer Autodrome put it up for auction, at a little over two million dollars. Lamborghini has built many crazy, outlandish, and long-forgotten concept cars-it's what it does best. Long before the F-22-inspired Reventon, long before the Megatron-inspired Veneno, the Pregunta posed a question that's been answered, repeatedly, ever since. Scuffles broke out between legislators from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) during a meeting over the potential lifting of legal immunity for parliamentarians on Monday, May 2. The meeting of the constitutional commission at the Turkish National Assembly reportedly took place after a previous session on April 28 was postponed when it descended into a fistfight. The HDP believes the bill is aimed at suppressing dissent against the AKP government. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the prosecution of several HDP members, accusing them of support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The footage, shot by a journalist sitting in on the session, shows lawmakers throwing punches at each other amidst the heated pdebate. Turkish media reports said that AKP Deputy Mustafa Sentop called for a short break to end the scuffles prior to resuming the parliamentary session. Credit: Hayri Demir A look at what's happening all around the majors today: --- FLIPPY Jose Bautista and the Toronto Blue Jays welcome Texas to town for the first time since their raucous Game 5 of the AL Division Series. That decisive matchup at Rogers Centre last October included Bautista's high-flying bat flip, a couple of angry confrontations and fans throwing debris. FAMILIAR FACE Giants newcomer Johnny Cueto returns to Great American Ball Park to face the Reds. The All-Star made the first 213 starts of his career for Cincinnati before being traded last July to Kansas City in a package that included pitcher Brandon Finnegan. Cueto signed with San Francisco in the offseason and has done well so far, going 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA. He'll face Finnegan (1-1, 3.86) in this matchup. BACK AGAIN Jason Hammel (3-0, 0.75) carries the NL's best ERA into Pittsburgh when the Cubs visit PNC Park for the first time since last year's wild-card game. Jake Arrieta outpitched Gerrit Cole to win that matchup 4-0 in October. Cole will start this game against Hammel. A HOME RUN AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel starts the series opener vs. Minnesota at Minute Maid Park. The Astros lefty is 2-3 with a 4.41 ERA overall this season, but has won 17 straight decisions at home dating to 2014. WANTS ONE At 0-4, James Shields starts for the Padres at home against Colorado. He is 13-11 with a 3.86 ERA in 38 starts with San Diego since signing a $75 million, four-year contract as a free agent before the 2015 season. Did Edwards Lifesciences 1Q16 Earnings Beat Expectations? (Continued from Prior Part) Overview Edwards Lifesciences (EW) is the leader in the transcatheter heart valve market and has a strong portfolio of TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) products under the brand name Sapien. These valves are used to treat patients suffering from advanced cardiovascular disease. Medtronics (MDT) CoreValve is a major competitor of EWs Sapien products in the TAVR market. St. Jude Medical (STJ) and Boston Scientific (BSX) also manufacture TAVR products and present significant competition to Edwards Lifesciences. Investors seeking exposure to Edwards Lifesciences and its peers can invest in the First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (FXH). EW accounts for approximately 2.6% of FXHs holdings. 1Q16 performance Edwards Lifesciences (EW) reported ~$697 million in total revenue in 1Q16. Of that, ~$366 million was contributed by the companys THV (Transcatheter Heart Valve) Therapy segment. The segment accounted for about 53% of Edwards Lifesciences total revenues. This sales figure represents a ~38% YoY (year-over-year) increase in 1Q16 as compared to the YoY sales growth of ~32% in the previous quarter. In the Unites States, THV sales grew by approximately 64%, whereas the international sales registered a growth of ~13% on a YoY basis. The strong THV sales growth, however, is expected to be weighed down by the increasing competition in the segment, and the company will likely experience market share erosion in the near future. However, the total THV market size is also expected to grow at a fast pace driven by the continued adoption of TAVR therapies worldwide. To learn more about opportunities in this segment, read Rising THV Demand Could Drive Edwards Lifesciences Growth. Key growth drivers The strong procedure growth in the United States and in international markets is driving THV sales growth on a YoY basis. This therapy has enormous growth potential going forward. The launch of Sapien 3 valves in the United States in July 2015 also fueled this segments growth. Also, the positive clinical results for the use of Sapien valves in intermediate-risk patients are expected to broaden the market size in the near future. The company has also initiated clinical trials for the use of Sapien TAVR technology in low-risk patients, which will further expand its customer base and strengthen the long-term growth potential of the product segment. Story continues In the next part of this series, well look at Edward Lifesciences gross margin. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: London (AFP) - Leicester's players celebrated their remarkable Premier League title triumph with a party at star striker Jamie Vardy's house on Monday. Claudio Ranieri's side were crowned England champions for the first time in their 132-year history after second placed Tottenham were held to a 2-2 draw at Chelsea. Tottenham had taken a two-goal lead by half-time but, with several Foxes players watching nervously at Vardy's house, Gary Cahill got one back for Chelsea and an 83rd minute equaliser from Eden Hazard completed Leicester's fairytale success. Having been photographed arriving for the gathering at Vardy's house to watch the match on television, Leicester's newly crowned champions were able to celebrate together once the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge. Christian Fuchs, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan and Shinji Okazaki were all seen driving to Vardy's Melton Mowbray home, while a number of supporters also gathered outside the gates of the house. Fuchs posted a video clip on Twitter that perfectly captured the emotion of the moment when Leicester's title was confirmed. Shouting joyously and hugging each other, the players were seen jumping around in front of a television. The footage quickly became a social media sensation and US network NBC carried an extended version of it as Leicester's against-the-odds success was enjoyed around the world. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri's whereabouts were unknown however. The Italian said he was going to his homeland to fulfil a lunch date with his 96-year-old mother and would not be back until after full-time, but reports suggested he instead chose to fly home earlier. From LennyLetter In 2004, journalist and filmmaker Laura Poitras traveled to Iraq to document the lives of the country's citizens under U.S. occupation. Poitras focused on Dr. Riyadh al-Adhadh, a Sunni politician. The resulting documentary, My Country, My Country, was the first in a trilogy of films - including Citizenfour, the Oscar-winning documentary about NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden - Poitras has made about the ramifications of the American surveillance state after 9/11. In November of 2004, Poitras filmed eight minutes and 16 seconds of footage from a roof in Baghdad following the raid of a mosque. The last room of Poitras's exhibition at the Whitney Museum of Art, "Astro Noise," which closes May 1, features her voice on a loop narrating her now-12-year ordeal with the Department of Homeland Security. "These eight minutes changed my life, but I didn't know it at the time. After returning to the United States, I was placed on a government watch list and detained and searched every time I crossed the U.S. border." The footage from the documentary plays alongside. ("Astro Noise" refers to the name of the encrypted file Snowden sent to Poitras in 2011.) She moved to Berlin for several years as a result of being on that watch list, and has only recently moved back to the U.S. Looking at the installations in "Astro Noise" meant facing the intricate design of war. There were reproductions of classified drone-strike orders that stood under dimmed lights as if they were ancient artifacts, not contemporary communications. In addition to running a film studio, Praxis Films, Poitras is also one of the founding editors, with Glenn Greenwald, of The Intercept, a website dedicated "to publishing fearless, adversarial journalism." This March, Poitras co-launched Field of Vision, a digital lab for alternative filmmaking. "We just premiered a short called Concerned Student 1950 at the True/False festival," says Poitras. "It's about the students organizing at Mizzou. With this project [Field of Vision], we're commissioning other people to make films. Students who were at the university who have the access. It's an example of how to build trust where press is normally shut out." Concerned Student 1950 can be viewed here. Story continues I met with Poitras in her New York studio to talk about "Astro Noise," the art of surveillance, and the global and domestic repercussions of the war on terror. Doreen St. Felix: You're first and foremost a filmmaker, a documentarian. Have you found that there are certain truths you've been able to convey with this new exhibition that you hadn't been able to via film? Laura Poitras: I think that working in the museum context allows me to do different things from long-form filmmaking. For instance, the first piece you see, [O'Say Can You See,] is video of people gathering at Ground Zero, and then on the other side [of the projection] you see grainy footage of interrogations from Afghanistan. That [footage] is about 15 minutes long. In a feature-length film, a 15-minute view is pretty hard to do. It creates this certain kind of limitation in terms of how you can really fully express things. Working within this context, where I let the viewer decide how much time they want to spend watching. DSF: "Astro Noise" is an immersive experience, confrontational. Have you watched viewers negotiating their role in the space? LP: Not that much, actually. The first days I tried to stay out because I didn't want to be disruptive. I actually want to go back now and spend some time there, because, in a way, the work isn't finished until it's viewed, and until people relate to it. I feel that that's the same with cinema that you show in a theater. But usually, with cinema, you get to sit in the room and see how it plays. You feel how it is when there are bodies in the room. One of the things I'm really happy about is that people are stopping and spending time. They're taking it slowly. I think that's one of the things I wanted to get through [with] this work. DSF: To the extent that the viewer is integral to the completion of the piece, did you have a particular kind of viewer in mind? What does it mean for an American, maybe even a New Yorker, to look at classified documents detailing military operations, as opposed to someone from a different country? Maybe even somebody from one of those countries under siege by America's war on terror? LP: I feel that because I'm making work about America and the repercussions of American policy, that this is an audience I want to speak to directly. I want to speak to them about things that people are not thinking about as much as I think we should. Things like the occupation of Iraq, and Guantanamo, torture, drone wars. These are things that are being done in our names. I am interested in how to humanize the war on terror for everyone, so that we understand it. So that, hopefully, you could just imagine what it would be like if your town was occupied, or if there were drones flying overhead and killing people. I think that if you could imagine another country was flying drones over Texas and killing people, people would be angry. They would be upset. Somehow there is this hierarchy of viewing other people's lives in the world. That's pretty tragic. Trying to shift those hierarchies is how to make it more level. That human life, loss of human life is tragic. It is life. The repercussions of the war on terror have been horrible for lots of places in the world. We can look at Iraq for instance. The country has been destroyed from the ground up. So many people have died. The intellectual class has been killed. You have a power vacuum, which you now see ISIS stepping into. This is a country that's going to take generations to rebuild. Most Americans don't have a clue of the repercussions. DSF: The immersion "Astro Noise" invites is limited, though. For instance, the installation "Bed Down Location" features video projections of Yemeni and Somali skies studded with drone strikes. Viewers can lie down on a carpeted platform and look up. The immersion only extends to this specific art, [in an] American-centric context. LP: Right. The idea was to ask people to imagine that. To ask people to imagine what it's like to be in places where we're flying drones and killing people. Most people who will enter the museum are not going to be the targets of these strikes. There are other works that do try to address that. We've worked with several organizations that do a lot of work with drone victims. One being Reprieve, which is a UK organization that represents victims and brings legal cases. We worked with them and the families to get footage. A museum space is a place of privilege by definition, right? There is always a risk of making something that can only reach a certain audience. It's potentially a risk. I've tried to make the work reach people, not a certain class of people. DSF: Surveillance theory, or sociological theory about the relationship between state surveillance and state punishment, is beginning to gain mainstream currency. Schools are developing programs around it; the NSA leaks vastly increased awareness of the issue. Do you have any thoughts on the relationship between the surveillance state and art? LP: That's a question of, how do you represent the surveillance, because it's by definition hard to see. There are a lot of people who've done incredible work around that, [like] Trevor Paglen, whose work I greatly admire. It's not like the surveillance state grew overnight. You just have to look back at the FBI files of Martin Luther King Jr., for instance. The surveillance state has been around for a long time, and it's oftentimes linked to systems of power and control. The risk that Snowden took to reveal information made people who were maybe not thinking about these things before think about them. If you are an activist or somebody who is dissenting in some way, then you're aware the state might be interested in monitoring you. If you're not in that category, then you're not thinking about it. If you look at a country like East Germany, with pervasive surveillance, people understand it's a dark thing. It's dangerous, and it's corrosive, disruptive to many different activities, human relationships, creativity, social dissent. The debate that's going on between Apple [and the FBI] shows you have, now, whole industries weighing in, talking about the need for privacy, and creating limits around what law enforcement can and can't do. How to represent surveillance in an art context ... I'm not sure. I guess I always think of art as something driven by what an artist wants to express about the world. If surveillance is something that is urgent for an artist to talk about, then it's relevant. I don't think artists sit and look at a list of potential themes and say, "Oh, I'll choose this one." For me, surveillance is a piece of [the] puzzle of looking at post-9/11 America. We can do a lot of occupying of countries like Afghanistan or Iraq. If you look inside the United States, you see surveillance - not just electronic surveillance, but informants - the FBI going into Muslim-American communities. DSF: Like the NYU Muslim students who have been surveilled by the NYPD. Before you go, I want to return to MLK. The FBI sent him correspondence basically encouraging him to kill himself while he was under their watch. As much as new surveillance theory is couched in the post-9/11 narrative, documents show that a lot of the programs in use were actually perfected years ago on black and brown activists. LP: Anyone who is potentially a threat to the state, or a threat to the status quo, gets targeted by surveillance programs. You're right, it's not just post-9/11 America. You see it with the kind of surveillance around Occupy Wall Street. And now Black Lives Matter. DSF: You wound up becoming the subject of your own work when the government began surveilling you in 2006. Does it feel like you're being watched? Are you paranoid? LP: I get asked that a lot, about being paranoid. I want to clarify, because I actually have been watched. Usually paranoid refers to the fear of being watched. I don't live my life worried about [it]. It actually validates more than makes me more paranoid. It's like, "Oh, I was right to, for instance, go to Berlin to edit. It wouldn't have been a good idea to stay here, given the level of investigation that was going on." I'm really careful. If a source reaches out to me, then I'll get paranoid and will become protective of that communication. I feel that the obligation I have as a journalist to protect the source is important. Knowing that I myself am targeted means there are more risks for anyone who contacts me. For my day-to-day life? I figure if they want to watch ... they're just wasting their time. This interview has been condensed and edited. Doreen St. Felix is a writer for MTV News. After more than five decades of diplomatic relations, the leaders of Korea and Iran will finally meet for their first summit. The aim is to expand cooperation in a multitude of fields after international sanctions were lifted on Tehran. Presidents Park Geun-hye and Hassan Rouhani will discuss ways to boost bilateral trade, both in volume and variety. The two leaders are expected to seal deals worth billions of dollars, giving Korean companies an opportunity to expand their participation in massive infrastructure projects aimed at rebuilding the Iranian economy. Park will also sit down with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. New Delhi (AFP) - Beleaguered Indian liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya on Monday resigned as a lawmaker, even as a committee was preparing to expel him from parliament over an unpaid billion dollar bank loan. The 60-year-old, a part-owner of the Force India Formula 1 team who used to run a liquor empire and Kingfisher Airlines, left India on March 2 despite calls for his arrest and is believed to be in Britain. "He has resigned from Rajya Sabha (upper house) of the Indian parliament," Mallya's spokesman told AFP. Last week the ethics committee from parliament's upper house asked the embattled businessman to explain his conduct, after it unanimously decided to expel him over huge bank debts. He reportedly travelled to Britain on a diplomatic passport while a group of public banks chased him for $1.43 billion in unpaid loans. A two-time independent MP, Mallya has an arrest warrant against him over money laundering charges. Once dubbed the "King of Good Times" for his lavish lifestyle, he represented his home state of Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha in 2002 and became a politician again in 2010, a term expiring in June 2016. An active Twitter user, his profile continues to introduce him as a member of parliament. Last month the Indian government revoked Mallya's passport, after he repeatedly failed to appear before investigators looking into financial irregularities at Kingfisher Airlines, which shut down in 2012 after several loss-making years. India has requested British authorities to deport him to face investigations in his home country. His massive debt has become a symbol of Indian banks' vast volume of bad loans -- meaning in default or close to it -- seen as a threat to financial stability in Asia's third-largest economy. He has denied absconding and has criticised the media for what he has called a "witch hunt". From Esquire Waves of protests and violence are following Donald Trump through California. This afternoon, hundreds of people gathered outside a a hotel in Burlingame, near San Francisco, where Trump is scheduled to speak at a GOP convention. Several live streams of the protests popped up on Facebook, including this one from BuzzFeed, showing a relatively festive atmosphere. In fact, the protests had a nice beat, thanks to the Brass Liberation Orchestra, which played during the fracas, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. But the protests also had a wilder edge. At one point, authorities stopped protesters from storming the building. A Trump protester was reportedly punched in the back of the head. And the BuzzFeed stream showed what appeared to be teenagers selling eggs to hurl at Trump. The protesters certainly caught Trump's attention. "That was not the easiest entrance I ever made," he said during his speech, according to the Chronicle. "It was like crossing the border." Friday's protests follow an evening of clashes resulting in what CBS News called "some of the worst political violence of the presidential campaign." Police in riot gear dispersed a crowd in Costa Mesa, California that gathered outside a convention center where Trump was speaking. Follow me on twitter @johnblank100 This week kick-starts the merry month of May. The Sell in May short crowd must keep crowing that old traders mantra. It helps their bearish team on to victory. In the Global Week ahead, I wouldnt bet on macro data out on the U.S. (or abroad for that matter) to support the short view. Full share valuations on U.S. share indices help shorts -- not looming U.S. macro forecasts. A looming bull report is the U.S. nonfarm payroll report, out on Friday. The Federal government says +200K should print as April job additions. ADP private data out Wednesday forecasts virtually the same at +195K. U.S. unemployment claims out on Thursday appear rock bottom at 260K. The U.S. horizon looks clear, once again. As an economist, please help me. I dont understand where to find the worry about the U.S. economy. This type of U.S. jobs data looks solid. +200K a month ties to modest and stable expansion in U.S. GDP growth. Also this week, global traders get comprehensive readings on manufacturing PMIs and services PMIs. Only Brazil looks to remain a threat to longs. Europe composite PMIs forecast ongoing manufacturing expansion and services expansion. Greece is the sole country exempted from Europes expansion, and it is old news. China manufacturing PMIs -- both official and the private Caixin -- comes out on Tuesday. China got an advance PMI reading out last weekend. This showed a stable print, albeit barely in expansion. Tepid expansion says Chinas manufacturing circumstance is not strong enough to raise markets consensus, but not weak enough to scare investors, either. Its a wait-and-see game with China. Mexico and U.S. PMIs should move little. Each shows stable expansion. Brazil looks terrible again. A looming 39 print on Brazilian services looks appalling. 50 marks the line into expansion. It is well past time: shift leaders and policies, Brazil! Just do it in an orderly fashion. We got bullish additions to the Zacks VGM (Value-Growth-Momentum) A ranks with Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) ratings over the weekend. Two stocks showed up from inside the U.S. commercial real estate business. One is a commercial real estate service provider. The other is a metal building manufacturer. Fresh high marks speak to the turn up in commercial real estate market in the USA generally. (1) HFF Inc. (HF) went to a Zacks VGM of A. This is a $1.2 billion market cap real estate operations company. The stock also holds a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) rating. HFF Inc. operates out of eighteen offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital market services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry. (2) Gibraltar Industries (ROCK) went to a Zacks VGM of A. This is an $800 million market cap building and construction maintenance company. The stock also holds a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) rating. Gibraltar Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer, processor and distributor of metals and other engineered materials for the building products, vehicular and other industrial markets. Over in Europe, a large-cap stock name I have seen periodically on Zacks top stock lists re-appeared again. (3) UPM-Kymmene (UPMKY) is a $10.3 billion market cap ADR stock in the paper and related products industry. The Zacks Industry Rank for Paper is high at 56 out of 265 (top 21%). The stock also holds a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) rating. UPM-Kymmene Corporation is a global paper and forest products company. The Company is engaged in the production of paper, with an emphasis on the manufacture and sale of printing and writing papers. One major driver of the manufacturing upturn in Europe is straightforward. Producer price indexes there are falling -4.6% y/y. European PPI data showing this better cost competiveness is out on Tuesday. Here are key Global-Macro fundamentals out this week On Monday, Europe saw a spate of new manufacturing PMIs and slight overall improvement The overall Eurozone composite went to 51.7 from 51.5 -- Expansion in train. Story continues The Swiss PMI was 54.7 vs. 53.2 prior The Italy PMI was 53.9 vs. 53.5 prior The German PMI was 51.8 vs. 51.9 prior The France PMI was 48.0 vs. 48.3 prior In Latin America, it is a tale of two very different countries. The Markit manufacturing PMI for Brazil should be 47 vs. a prior 46. Both are weak. The Markit manufacturing PMI for Mexico should be 53 vs. a prior 53.2. Expansion. This is strong. In the U.S./U.K., there is a stable, low growth environment for manufacturers. The US ISM for manufacturing looks to get to 51.4 vs. a prior 51.8. The CIPS/Markit manufacturing PMI for the UK should be 51.2 vs. a prior 51. Australias NAB Business Confidence index moved to 5 from a prior 4. Japans vehicle sales rose +7.2% y/y, reversing a -3.2% y/y decline. Mario Draghi speaks in Frankfurt, Germany. On Tuesday, Chinas official manufacturing PMI should be 49.8 vs. a prior 50.2. The Caixin manufacturing PMI was 49.9 vs. a prior 49.7. The Eurozone PPI should be down -0.1% m/m from a prior -0.7% m/m mark. That puts the overall PPI at -4.6% y/y. This falling producer cost index is why Europes manufacturing is expanding. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) overnight rate should remain at 2.0%. U.S. vehicle sales should remain strong at 17.3 million units. The Bank of Canadas Poloz speaks in Los Angeles. The Feds Lockhart speaks in Florida. On Wednesday, Europe will report its Services PMIs. A strong expansion is in the cards. The Eurozone services PMI composite should remain at 53. Thats solid expansion. Spains services PMI should be 55 vs. a prior 55.3 Germanys services PMI should be 54.6 vs. a prior 54.6 Frances services PMI should be 50.8 vs. a prior 50.8 Greece should be 49 The Eurozone retail trade number should rise to +2.7% y/y vs. a prior +2.4% y/y number. U.S. ADP payrolls should be 195K versus a prior 200K. The U.S. expansion marches on. The U.S. ISM non-manufacturing index should get to 54.7 from a prior 54.5. Brazils composite PMI should be 40.8, with a face plant 39 recession forecast for services. Ouch! The Feds Kashkari speaks in Rochester, MN. On Thursday, the China Caixin services PMI should be 52.2. The U.K.s Halifax house price index should be +9.6% y/y, down from +10.1% y/y, but still too strong. U.S. initial claims should be rock bottom at 260K. The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) holds its monetary policy meeting. No change at 3.75% is expected. On Friday, U.S. nonfarm payrolls should see another +200K. Thats been the approximate monthly U.S. job additions number for some time. The U.S. unemployment rate looks to be unchanged at 5.0% from a prior 5.0%. The coming U.S. jobs data for April 2016 says all is fine. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HFF INC-A (HF): Free Stock Analysis Report GIBRALTAR INDUS (ROCK): Free Stock Analysis Report UPM-KYMMENE ADR (UPMKY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Sprouts' 1Q16 Earnings: Management, Wall Street Are Optimistic Sprouts Farmers Markets 1Q16 results preview Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) is slated to release its financial results for 1Q16 on Thursday, May 5, 2016. The company topped analyst revenue and earnings estimates in the final quarter of 2015. Revenue for 4Q15 stood at $930 million, around $20 million, or 2.4%, higher than the consensus revenue estimate. The company reported EPS (earnings per share) of $0.18, ~15% more than the average analyst EPS estimate of $0.16. Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) is expected to have a solid start to fiscal 2016. Wall Street is expecting SFMs 1Q16 EPS to register a massive 14.4% YoY (year-over-year) increase to $0.30. Sales are predicted to touch the $1 billion mark in 1Q16, registering an 18% YoY growth. On average, the 22 analysts that cover the company rate the stock a 2.2 on a scale of one (buy) to five (sell). About Sprouts Farmers Market Established in 2002, Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) operates as a value-oriented healthy grocery store that offers fresh natural and organic food. The company operates 217 stores in 13 US states, as of December 31, 2015. It follows a small-box format with an average store size of 28,00030,000 square feet, which is about half the size of Whole Foods Markets (WFM) stores and one-third the size of Krogers (KR) combination stores. SFM has delivered strong financial performance, even as increasing competition has started to weigh on the results of its competitors Whole Foods Market (WFM) and The Fresh Market (TFM). Investors looking for diversified exposure to Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) can invest in the Guggenheim S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth ETF (RFG). SFM has a weight of ~1.8% in RFG. Whats in this series? This series is an earnings preview of Sprouts Farmers Markets (SFM) 1Q16 results. Well look at the companys financial performance and its key drivers, take a look at the management guidance, evaluate the companys stock performance, and look at its current valuation compared to its peers. Story continues The companys peer set in this series will include Kroger (KR), Whole Foods Market (WFM), The Fresh Market (TFM), and SuperValu (SVU). Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Contract drilling services provider Helmerich & Payne Inc. HP reported net operating loss per share for the second fiscal quarter of 2016 (three months ended Dec 31, 2015) excluding special items of 24 cents, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate for a loss of 22 cents and deteriorating considerably from last years profits. The underperformance came amid sharply lower drilling activity. Revenues of $438.2 million was down more than 50% from the second fiscal quarter of 2015 but came above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $393.7 million on greater operational efficiency. Segment Performance U.S. Land Operations: During the quarter, operating revenues totaled $349.3 million (80% of total revenue), down 51% year over year. While average rig revenue per operating day was $34,218 - 10% above the year-ago period, average rig margin per day was up 14% to $20,079. However, utilization levels plunged to 31% (from 68% in the second fiscal quarter of 2015), pushing down the segment operating income by 72% from the year-earlier quarter to $62.5 million. Offshore Operations: Helmerich & Paynes offshore revenues were down 45% year over year to $34.3 million. Daily average rig revenue fell 44% to $28,004 and average rig margin per day tumbled 61% to $7,346. This led to the steep decline in the segment operating income, which dived 83% from the previous year period to $3.3 million. Meanwhile, rig utilization came down from the year-ago level of 98% to 84%. International Land Operations: Helmerich & Paynes international land operations recorded revenues of $51.4 million, down from $101.0 million in the previous-year quarter. Average daily rig revenue was $36,774, down 29% from the corresponding period last year, while rig margin per day was $10,487, lower than the $14, 293 a year ago. The negative sentiment was further aggravated by declining activity levels, which plunged to 38% from 49% a year ago. As a result, the segment posted a quarterly loss of $2.3 million, as against income of $10.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Story continues Capital Expenditure & Balance Sheet During the quarter, Helmerich & Payne spent approximately $66 million on capital programs. As of Mar 31, 2016, the company had approximately $898 million in cash, while long-term debt stood at $492.9 million (debt-to-capitalization ratio of 9.3%). Guidance The Tulsa, OK-based company expects activity in the U.S. land segment to fall by 25-28% sequentially during the third fiscal quarter of 2016. While the average rig revenue per day is likely to be around $25,000, daily average rig cost is expected to go down to roughly $13,800 during next quarter. As for the offshore segment, Helmerich & Payne sees the average rig margin per day to be around $8,000 during the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and revenue days to fall by 8% sequentially. Lastly, the international land segment will likely experience a decline in revenue days by 3% in the next quarter, while average rig margin per day is expected to average roughly $11,000. Zacks Rank Helmerich & Payne whose peers include the likes of Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. PTEN, Nabors Industries Ltd. NBR and Transocean Ltd. RIG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PATTERSON-UTI (PTEN): Free Stock Analysis Report TRANSOCEAN LTD (RIG): Free Stock Analysis Report HELMERICH&PAYNE (HP): Free Stock Analysis Report NABORS IND (NBR): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research From Town & Country Yale University announced yesterday that it will build two new residential colleges but retain the name of one of the existing 12 colleges, Calhoun, which had sparked controversy over its namesake, John C. Calhoun, a Confederate leader who graduated from New Haven in the 1800s. Yale President Peter Salovey said that the two new colleges, which will open in 2017, will be named for Benjamin Franklin and Pauli Murray, a Yale Law alumna and civil rights activist who is both the first African-American and the first woman to be honored with a residential college name. The university will also change the title of "master," which is used to refer to a faculty member who lives with his or her family in a college and acts as its leader, to "head of college." "Ours is a nation that often refuses to face its own history of slavery and racism. Yale is part of that history," Salovey said in a statement. "We cannot erase American history but we can confront it, teach it, and learn from it. The decision to retain Calhoun College's name reflects the importance of this vital educational imperative." "To ensure a deeper, more consistent, and more explicit understanding of Yale's institutional history," the announcement said, the university will also start "a historical study, beginning with an examination of the legacy of John C. Calhoun." In addition to the choice to retain the Calhoun name, which the Black Student Alliance called "a regression," some students were surprised by Franklin's selection since the founding father did not attend Yale-although he did receive an honorary M.A. from the university in 1753. According to the New York Times, Salovey justified the decision by explaining that Franklin was a "personal hero and role model" of Charles. B. Johnson, the billionaire Yale alum whose $250 million donation is being used to pay for the new buildings. The "master" title change echoes a move by Harvard, which earlier this year announced it was replacing the "house master" moniker with "faculty dean." Princeton beat them both though; it changed the residential college "master" title to "head of college" last fall. From Cosmopolitan Our eldest First Daughter is all grown up and I'm not crying, you are! The Washington Post reports that the 17-year-old daughter of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be attending Harvard University. I've never heard of it, but it must be good if Malia is going there. The nation (OK, some newspapers) has long been speculating where the Sidwell Friends senior would matriculate. "The one thing I've been telling my daughters is that I don't want them to choose a name," Michelle Obama told Seventeen in April. "I don't want them to think, 'Oh I should go to these top schools.' We live in a country where there are thousands of amazing universities. So, the question is: What's going to work for you?" Although part of me wishes the answer to that question was just, "I'm running off to join the circus! Later, losers!" I guess it's more realistic to think that one of the most famous teens in the country would choose an Ivy League. However, she won't be starting at Harvard in the fall. In a statement released by the White House on Sunday, it was announced that Malia will "will take a gap year before beginning school." She'll start Harvard in the fall of 2017 as a member of the class of 2021. (Side note: I AM SO OLD.) Good for her! I hope she gets to go to Paris and eat a million baguettes while petting tiny French dogs in berets along the Siene. Malia, if you need a chaperone/eating companion, please let me know ASAP. I will stock up on stretchy pants and meet you in Amsterdam! Follow Laura on Twitter. The average annual tuition fees at Korean universities stand at W6.68 million a year (US$1=W1,142). Most universities have either cut or frozen tuition fees this year at the urging of the government, but the average still rose 0.2 percent from last year. The Education Ministry blames an increase in the number of science and engineering students, who pay more than in other departments. The ministry on Friday posted the fees of the countrys 180 accredited universities on the Internet, and only two raised their fees. Yonsei University is the most expensive at W8.74 million, followed by Eulji University (W8.5 million), Ewha Womans University (W8.47 million), Chugye University for the Arts and Korea Aerospace University (W8.47 million). Hanyang (W8.4 million), and Sungkyunkwan (W8.35 million) are also expensive. Seoul National University (W5.96 million) is the costliest public university. The average per-capita tuition at public universities is W4.12 million and at private universities W7.36 million. A man with a concealed-carry permit accidentally discharged his gun, which was in his back pocket at the time, during a children's swimming lesson at the University of Charleston in West Virginia on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, 41-year-old Lloyd Simms turned himself into the local police department, claiming responsibility for the incident. Jackie Kay, the mother of the 17-year-old woman who was teaching the children's class, explained her daughter's account of the incident: "This man was sitting not two feet away and his gun went off," Kay said, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. "She said he had a huge hole in his pocket." "Everyone was upset it could have been a terrible tragedy for many people," Kay added. "Firearms are not allowed on our campus," Dave Traube, Director of Communications at UC, told WSAZ. "It's a very serious situation, just the fact that it was there." According to Traube, Simms is the guardian of one of the children who was partaking in the swimming lesson. However, Simms is now banned from the campus. MILAN (Reuters) - Ferrari (RACE.MI) Chairman Sergio Marchionne will also become the luxury carmaker's chief executive after Amedeo Felisa's decision to retire, the company said in a statement on Monday. Felisa's departure was expected for months after sources told Reuters last August that the executive born in 1946 was getting ready to retire. Felisa, who previously headed product development at Alfa Romeo, joined Ferrari in 1990 and became its CEO in 2008. Marchionne will assume the CEO responsibilities at the Italian luxury group while retaining his current role as chairman. Felisa will continue to serve on the board of directors as technical advisor to the company. (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; editing by Francesca Landini) (Repeats to wider audience) By Paul Kilby NEW YORK, April 29 (IFR) - Several billion dollars worth of Argentina bond supply is expected to hit the market in coming weeks as the country's provincial borrowers prepare to take advantage of the positive glow left over by the sovereign's blowout US$16.5bn multi-tranche transaction earlier this month. The Argentine Province of Neuquen will start fixed-income investor meetings ahead of a possible US dollar 144A/RegS transaction through Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan. The borrower will visit accounts in Boston on Monday, in New York on Tuesday and in London on Wednesday. The offering of bonds, which will be backed by gas royalties, is being done in conjunction with an exchange for its outstanding 2021s. Argentina's Province of Chubut is also preparing to sell an up to US$83m New York law bond due in 2023, according to Moody's, which assigned a B3 rating to the issue. The fixed-rate bond, backed by contributions from Pan American Energy, will have a grace period of seven quarters before amortizing in 20 installments, the rating agency said. The Provinces of Mendoza and Cordoba, as well as the City of Buenos Aires, are also expected to issue debt in coming weeks, government officials said last week. (Reporting by Paul Kilby) It's been 12 year since Friends ended, but Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc are still best buds. The two actors reunited in London on Saturday backstage at The Playhouse Theatre, where LeBlanc supported Perry after a performance of The End of Longing. The dark comedy is 46-year-old Perry's playwriting debut, which he also stars in. Getty Images WATCH: 'Friends' Cast Reunites for James Burrows Special: Could They Be Any More Adorable? "Went to see The End Of Longing last night and ran into this dude," LeBlanc, 48, joked on Instagram. "He and the cast were great. Way to go bro." Perry plays an alcoholic photographer in the play, who shares a night with three other characters at a downtown Los Angeles bar and their lives later become entwined. The End of Longing is set to continue performances through May 14. Earlier this year, almost the entire Friends cast -- minus Perry -- reunited to honor legendary TV director and producer James Burrows. "In the beginning it was not a hard thing," Jennifer Aniston said of filming the beloved show at the event. "We just wanted to hang out with each other We really just fell in love and adored each other instantly and would hang out at each other's houses and watch the show together." WATCH: The 'Friends' Cast Gets Asked If They Signed Contracts Not to Sleep With Each Other "It was just lovely to all be in the same room," Schwimmer told ET at the premiere of FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story in Los Angeles in January. "He is a prolific director and he really, really helped forge the cast as an ensemble. He really clarified all those relationships from the get go." Watch below: Related Articles Ever wanted to own an article of clothing from the Fashion Police queen herself? Now you can! PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that Melissa Rivers is donating her late mother Joan's iconic, one-of-a-kind rainbow coat to the Family Equality Council to be included in their upcoming auction. Melissa Rivers to Donate Late Mother Joan's Iconic Rainbow Coat for Auction to Promote LGBT Awareness| Gays & Lesbians in Entertainment, People Picks, StyleWatch, TV News, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers "My mother loved, respected and celebrated families of all kinds," Melissa, 48, said in a press release for the auction, which will take place May 9 at the Night at the Pier gala in at Pier 60 in New York City. "She would be thrilled to know that her coat, which celebrates diversity, is being sold to benefit loving families," added Melissa. "Joan Rivers was a celebrity pioneer in her unbridled support of the LGBT community," said Ian Patrick, Deputy Director of Events at Family Equality Council. "We are honored to offer this precious piece of her legacy to support our work to secure a rightful place for LGBTQ-headed families in America." The coat, which Joan originally wore at the Las Vegas Pride Parade in 2012, is a glittery gold gown adorned with a ruffled-neckline, and opens up to reveal a sparkly rainbow lining. It was designed by Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long at Joan's request and will be available for bidding at the auction itself as well as online ahead of time. The coat was part of the legendary comedian collection of unique clothing, jewelry and art, much of which will be sold at an upcoming Christie's auction in New York City on June 22. The auction house is putting up more than 200 of Rivers' prized possessions from her Manhattan penthouse, with items ranging from $500 to $200,000, and including everything from a Tiffany water bowl engraved with Spike to an Edouard Vuillard painting with an estimated value of $120,000a$180,000. Bids on Rivers' coat can be submitted now. 5b86fa82a2f1469a962b92357a8ae8bf Just call her Apple Wintour. It's the first Monday in May, which means celebrities and fashionistas alike will flock to the Metropolitan Museum for Anna Wintour's resplendent gala, which boasts a high-tech theme this year alongside its high-fashion. SEE ALSO: 'Humans of New York' photographer captures intimate Met Gala moments The gala's theme, "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology," celebrates the individuality of haute couture with the forward-thinking nature of ready-to-wear pieces. Fittingly, the gala is sponsored by Apple, with Apple's Chief Design Officer Johnny Ive and Taylor Swift as co-chairs. See what all the celebrities wore on fashion's biggest night. Demi Lovato Image: FilmMagic Jessica Hart Image: Getty Images Diplo Image: Getty Images Rami Malek Image: Getty Images Lily-Rose Melody Depp Image: FilmMagic Kendall Jenner (L) and Cindy Crawford Image: Getty Images Adriana Lima Image: FilmMagic Hailey Rhode Image: FilmMagic Kylie Jenner Image: Getty Images will.i.am Image: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Dakota Fanning Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Paul Rudd Image: Getty Images Ellie Bamber Image: Getty Images Kate Bosworth Image: Getty Images Sarah Jessica Parker Image: WireImage Kate Upton Image: Getty Images Hailee Steinfeld Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Misty Copeland Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Selena Gomez Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Carmelo Anthony and La La Anthony Image: FilmMagic Uma Thurman Image: Getty Images Rita Ora Image: FilmMagic Saoirse Ronan Image: Getty Images Rose Byrne Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Chloe Grace Moretz Image: Getty Images Taylor Swift Wiz Khalifa Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Jimmy Iovine and Liberty Ross Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Tavi Gevinson Image: Getty Images Catt Sadler Image: Getty Images Alicia Vikander Image: Getty Images Story continues Poppy Delevingne Image: Getty Images Jack Huston Image: Getty Images Aja King Image: Getty Images Herizen F. Guardiola Image: Getty Images Juno Temple Image: Getty Images Omar Mahmood Former New York City Mayor Bloomberg gave an impassioned graduation speech at the University of Michigan on Saturday, where he railed against colleges that cave to pressure for "safe spaces" because of "microaggressions." At one point, he turned his attention to graduating senior Omar Mahmood to commend him for not caving to political correctness. "I know that one of today's graduates, Omar Mahmood, has faced threats and intimidation because he dared to write political satire about being left-handed in the Michigan Daily and he refused to apologize for it," Bloomberg said during the speech. "Omar, wherever you are out there, I'm glad you stood your ground," he continued. Ironically, Mahmood and his friends showed up at graduation with oversized sodas in hand to mock the former mayor. "A couple friends and I were sipping 7-Eleven Big Gulps during the mayor's address in a cheeky protest against his ban on large sodas," Mahmood said. He had no idea that Bloomberg's speech would praise the senior for a 2014 piece of political satire called "Do the Left Thing," written for The Michigan Review. The piece centers on Mahmood, who identifies as "deeply culturally Muslim," taking an imaginary fall on the steps of the library and a "cis-gendered hetero upper-class man" offers to help him up. But Mahmood "waved his hand aside and got up of my own accord." Mahmood wrote: He shouted after me, "I was just trying to do the right thing!" The right thing... The right thing... I became so aware at that moment of the left hand that I had thrust out before falling, and suddenly my humanity was reduced to my handydnyss. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks to reporters after his meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, in this file photo taken February 27, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Files Mahmood, who wrote the piece in 20 minutes, says that he was guided by a desire to push back at extreme political correctness. "I had been frustrated by the culture of stifling debate on campus through the guise of political correctness, of oversensitivity," he said. "I sought to make fun of it in a light-hearted way." Story continues He still characterizes his words as tame, but many students on campus were outraged. To start, the door to Mahmood's room was vandalized with hate messages. And Mahmood says that writing the piece also cost him his job at The Michigan Daily, the University of Michigan's student-run paper, where Mahmood also worked, in addition to the The Michigan Review, an independent paper where he published the story. The Daily did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "I've always stood for open dialogue, always questioning our assumptions and thinking critically about everything, and always pursuing the truth no matter how it makes us feel," said Mahmood, who holds conservative and liberal opinions. Being singled out in front of thousands of classmates may have been intimidating for some students, especially since Mahmood had no forewarning that the former mayor had written him into his speech. But he took the commendation in stride. "I was very humbled and moved by his words to me," he said. "He spoke about bridging gaps. He spoke about how we need to open doors, not build walls. He called out Trump. He called out Bernie. He called out demagoguery." NOW WATCH: This college student was kicked off a flight and interrogated by the FBI for speaking Arabic More From Business Insider Jakarta (AFP) - An Indonesian sailor told Monday how Philippine Islamic militants threatened to slit his throat during a terrifying kidnap ordeal, a day after he and nine other crew members were released. The sailors were freed Sunday in the strife-torn southern Philippines after more than a month in the hands of Abu Sayyaf militants, and flew back to Jakarta. The Indonesians were among about 20 foreigners abducted in a recent Abu Sayyaf kidnapping spree, and their release came just days after the militants beheaded a Canadian hostage. The sailors, who were taken hostage in late March from a tugboat transporting a coal barge, were reunited with their families Monday after doctors confirmed they were in good health. Crew member Julian Philip described how they were taken hostage by eight militants disguised in Philippine police uniforms, who boarded the tug from speedboats and tied up the sailors. The barge was then abandoned, and the Indonesians were taken to an island and divided into two groups. They were moved every few days to avoid the military, which has launched an assault against Abu Sayyaf. "We were all stressed out because they frequently threatened to slit our throats," he told reporters after the 10 were reunited with their families at the foreign ministry. However, Philip added the militants did not harm them and he thought that in reality "they did not want any of us to die as they would not get any money". - Questions over ransom - He said he did not know whether a ransom was paid for their release. "We were just put in a car and sent on our way and told to look for the governor's house," he said. The sailors turned up at the house of a local governor on Jolo, a mountainous and jungle-clad island in the far south of the Philippines that is an Abu Sayyaf stronghold. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Monday the release had been a "long process as the situation on the ground was very volatile, with a high degree of complexity". Story continues But she dodged questions about whether a ransom had been paid. The Abu Sayyaf does not normally free hostages unless ransom demands are met. The militants had demanded $21 million for the release of Canadian John Ridsdel, whose severed head was found on a street in Jolo. There were emotional scenes at the ministry as the sailors were reunited with their families, with Youla Lasut, one of the men's wives, giving tearful thanks. "On behalf of my family I would like to thank the foreign minister and the company for their help in releasing my husbands and his friends," she said. Authorities say the Abu Sayyaf is still holding at least 11 foreign hostages -- four sailors from Indonesia and four others from Malaysia, a Canadian tourist, a Norwegian resort owner and a Dutch birdwatcher. Abu Sayyaf is a radical offshoot of a Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines. Its leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, but analysts say they are more focused on kidnappings for ransom than setting up a caliphate. By David Bailey MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Lawyers charged with untangling the multimillion-dollar estate of music superstar Prince said on Monday they still have not located a will that could avert a years-long dispute over his fortune but have not stopped looking. Six siblings or half-siblings of Prince, who was found dead at age 57 at his home in suburban Minneapolis on April 21, were listed as heirs in court documents filed in Carver County District Court in Chaska, Minnesota, where a brief hearing was held before Judge Kevin Eide. The exact value of Prince's estate has not yet been disclosed but his music catalog alone has been estimated at more than $500 million. Bremer Trust, National Association, a bank where Prince conducted business for years, could play a key role as a special administrator to safeguard his fortune. The bank was appointed at the request of Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, and Eide reconfirmed that appointment during the hearing. Natasha Robertson, an attorney for Bremer Trust, said the search for a will continues. Eide said the court would not find at this time that there is no will - only that one has not been found. Creditors and inheritors can file claims against the estate. Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was married and divorced twice. He had no living children. Under Minnesota law, his assets are likely to be split evenly among the siblings, tax attorney Steve Hopkins said. Hopkins said the bigger the estate, the greater the likelihood there will be a dispute by claimants that could take years to settle. Prince's affairs seems destined for tax court, much like superstar Michael Jackson's estate, which is in a high priced skirmish with the Internal Revenue Service over the value of Jackson's name and image, Forbes reported. Prince, whose hits included "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," owned royalties from his more than 30 albums and had regained ownership of his master recordings. He was said to have a cache of unheard recordings, including an album cut with late jazz trumpet great Miles Davis. It could be weeks before results are released from an autopsy on Prince, whose body was found in an elevator at his home-studio complex called Paisley Park in a Minneapolis suburb. The cause of death remains undetermined. Prescription opioid medication was found on him, media reported, citing law enforcement sources. Police have said they found no signs of suicide or obvious trauma in Prince's death. (Reporting by Ben Klayman; Editing by Bill Trott) An American mom and daughter who went missing in the New Zealand wilderness for five days have been saved after rescuers spotted "HELP" written in fern fronds on the ground. Rachel Lloyd, a 22-year-old exchange student at Massey University in Palmerston North, and her mother, 47-year-old Carolyn Lloyd, who was visiting from North Carolina, packed water and a few snacks before setting off for a day hike in Tararua Forest Park last Tuesday. Read: TV Crew Saves Castaway After Spotting Him On Deserted Island: 'He Was Ready to Die' But during their walk, the experienced hikers became confused over the trail markings. They lost sight of the trail's orange markers and instead started following blue signs, which were actually in place for pest tracking. "It got very steep, very jungly," Rachel told the Associated Press from hospital on Monday. "The markers completely stopped after about 20 minutes but it was so steep it was physically impossible to climb back up." They did not have equipment to keep them warm so they lay on top of each other instead and tried to sleep. On the second day, Rachel slipped and knocked her head on a rock, leaving her struggling to walk and disorientated. "That's when I started going downhill," she said. "I could never get dry and couldn't get warm the rest of the trip... I was trying to stay positive, and constantly praying, asking God to be with us." They were carrying cell phones but were unable to get service. Eventually, the cell phones ran out of battery. As the days stretched on, Rachel said she feared she would die and began telling her mom her dying wishes, such as who should get souvenirs she had purchased in New Zealand, the Associated Press reported. "I was terrified as a mother," Carolyn said. "I was doing everything I could to keep her alive." On the fourth day, Carolyn started making six-feet-high "HELP" signs using dead fern fronds and sticks. She crafted one sign on a creek bed and another in a clearing. Story continues Searches were already underway for the missing mom and daughter. The alarm was raised when Carolyn did not check out of her hotel or return her rental car, and authorities found the vehicle near the trail. Family back in the U.S. had become concerned after they were unable to contact the pair. Amalgamated Helicopters helped the search and spotted the mom and daughter's "HELP" sign on Saturday. '"HELP" is a message that needs no explanation," the company wrote on Facebook as they shared photos of the signs. "This is exactly what pilots JD and Jamie saw when on a search for the two missing American women on Saturday." The pilots "located the pair with arms waving in desperation," the company wrote. "Landing nearby they were met with gratitude and a sense of relief." Read: Castaways Rescued After Spelling 'Help' in Palm Fronds on Remote Island Beach The women were taken to a hospital to recover. In a message shared by the helicopter company, the Lloyd family thanked the police and search crews for bringing the duo to safety. "We would like to express our eternal gratitude for your incredible effort and response in searching for and finding our family members," it said. "The coordinated effort put forth was exemplary. We applaud the leadership involved and the swift actions taken upon learning they were missing. "We are half a world away, and needed to put our faith in the efforts of strangers to find our lost loved ones, but the good people of New Zealand came through for us in the most amazing way!" Rachel said she plans on finishing the semester in New Zealand before returning to North Carolina. "I'm feeling so, so much better," she told the AP from the hospital. "On both sides of the equator, everyone's support and love has been so overwhelming." Watch: Teen Alone on Kayak Gets Rescued After Drifting Away From Family Related Articles: Last month, 41-year-old blogger Sara Lindberg crushed social stigmas surrounding parenting and mental health when she wrote a viral letter about anxiety, addressed to her 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. "Anxiety has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember," Lindberg wrote. "It's been my constant companion through adulthood; it was even with me when I was your age." The letter sparked an outpouring of personal stories from parents across the country struggling with the same issues. Since May is Mental Health Month, Lindberg replied to the initial response to her viral letter with another personal post about parenting and anxiety. "Mental health is not something to be ashamed of and the more we own our stories, the better chance we have at living a life filled with happiness," Source: Facebook In a phone interview, Lindberg said her posts have clearly struck a chord with parents and teens alike. A school counselor in Bremerton, Washington, Lindberg said that several students have come forward after reading her blog posts to seek help with their anxiety and panic attacks for the first time. Parents have also come forward to ask her for advice on how to talk to kids about their own anxiety and depression. It Took Me 30 Years to Get Help for My Anxietyhttp://www.babble.com/body-mind/it-took-me-30-years-to-get-help-for-my-anxiety/ ... Statistically speaking, young women are more likely to struggle with anxiety than their male classmates, and that gendered experience of mental health continues into adulthood. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, women are twice more likely to have an anxiety disorder than men. T here's still a social stigma. A lot of women feel isolated and don't talk to each other about it." Story continues Lindberg believes there should be more resources for parents should walk a fine line to establish healthy communication patterns. "I think parents who overshare [about mental health issues] can be really detrimental," Lindberg warned. "But I want to be the one who explains to them why I might act in a certain way ... I tell my daughter if you talk about it, it doesn't have control over you." Lindberg also emphasized how important it is for parents to find fellow adults they feel comfortable and safe talking to about mental health. "So many kids sit in my office and say they're too scared to tell anyone," Lindberg said. "It's important for kids to see we struggle and there are ways to deal with our struggle ... to see solutions." h/t Self MoneyGram International Inc. MGI reported first-quarter earnings of 17 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 11 cents by 54.6%. The bottom line also increased 54.6% from 11 cents in the prior-year quarter. MoneyGrams total revenue for the reported quarter was $358 million, up 10% on a constant currency basis and 8% on a reported basis. Fees and other revenues increased 8.3% to $354.7 million, while investment revenues surged 27.6% to $3.7 million. The top line also narrowly surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $353 million by 1.4%. The companys adjusted EBITDA came in at $69.8 million, up 28% on a reported basis and 29% on constant currency basis. Total operating expenses inched up 1.9% year over year to $335.3 million. Segment Details In the Global Funds Transfer segment, money transfer transactions grew 7% year on year. Money transfer revenues increased 10% on a reported currency basis and 12% on a constant currency basis to $316.2 million. Non-U.S. revenues surged 16% on the back of solid performance in Africa and Europe. The U.S. Outbound revenues increased 11% driven by sends to Latin America and Africa. Revenues from U.S. Outbound and Non-U.S. sends, which account for 87% of total money transfer revenues, grew 15% year over year on a constant currency basis. Digital money transfer transactions, which increased 23% year on year, represented 15% of the total money transfer transactions. Digital money transfer revenues, which grew 31% year on year, accounted for 12% of the total money transfer revenues. The results were driven by higher customer adoption of MoneyGrams kiosks and moneygram.com, mobile solutions and account deposit services. The Financial Paper Products segment reported total revenue of $18.1 million, down 1% year over year, due to a 3% decline in money order revenues. Nonetheless, the downside was partially offset by an increase in official check revenues. Adjusted operating margin deteriorated to 24.9% from 29.5% in the year-ago quarter. Liquidity As of Mar 31,2016 MoneyGram had cash and cash equivalents of $141.5 million, down 14% from $164.5 million at year-end 2015 and total assets of $4.3 billion, down 4.4% from $4.5 billion. The company exited the first quarter with $940.8 million of outstanding debt, down 0.2% from $942.6 million at year-end 2015. Adjusted free cash flow was $31.6 million in the quarter, comparing favorably with cash outflow of $34.3 million. Full-year 2016 Outlook MoneyGram reiterated its 2016 outlook for constant currency revenue growth between 8% and 10%. It increased its full-year constant currency adjusted EBITDA growth projection to 911% based on the robust first-quarter performance. Zacks Rank and Performance of Other Players in the Sector Currently, MoneyGram carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The bottom line at American Express Co. AXP, MasterCard MA and Visa Inc V beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter ending as of Mar 31, 2016. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MONEYGRAM INTL (MGI): Free Stock Analysis Report AMER EXPRESS CO (AXP): Free Stock Analysis Report MASTERCARD INC (MA): Free Stock Analysis Report VISA INC-A (V): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Mongrel International has boarded sales, excluding Canada and the U.S., on Tribeca title The Fixer. The deal was brokered by CAA, which has North America. The drama will make its market debut in Cannes next week. Directed by Ian Olds, who co-wrote with Paul Felten, it stars Melissa Leo, James Franco, Rachel Brosnahan, Thomas Jay Ryan, and newcomer Dominic Rains. Rains scooped the Best Actor prize at Tribeca last month. Inspired by Olds documentary about an Afghani guide to Western journalists, The Fixer follows Osman (Rains) who is granted asylum in the U.S. He lands in a small bohemian town in Northern California where he befriends a couple of locals, recruiting them to help penetrate the towns peculiar subculture. When one mysteriously goes missing, Osman gets drawn into the towns dark underbelly in order to find him. Producers are Caroline von Kuhns ACE Productions, in association with Night & Day Pictures, Rabbit Bandini Productions, Gigi Films, Amphora Films, Green Street Film Company, Heart-Headed Productions, RAA Ventures and Relic Pictures. hana's suitcase Seville International will introduce Canadian-German co-production Hanas Suitcase to buyers in Cannes. The eOne company has boarded international rights to the film from director and screenwriter Ken Scott (Starbuck). An adaptation of Karen Levines non-fiction book of the same name, the story is set during and after World War II. It follows the journey of three characters whose lives are interwoven into a tale of great resilience: 11-year-old Hana who is separated from her family and sent to the Theresienstadt Ghetto; Fumiko, a passionate educator, who in 2000 risks her career to put together an exhibit about the Holocaust; and George, a rich entrepreneur who has suppressed his traumatizing past as an Auschwitz survivor and is also Hanas brother. Christian Larouche of Christal Films is producing with Scott under his Cinemascott Productions banner, and Henning Molfenter of Babelsberg Film. Ascot Elite reps the film in German-speaking Europe. Related stories Kevin Macdonald To Helm Whitney Houston Doc From 'Searching For Sugarman' Producer - Cannes Jeff Baena's 'The Little Hours' Acquired By Concourse; Alison Brie, Dave Franco Star - Cannes Mark Padilla Joins Double Dutch International A SVP Sales & Acquisitions The World Health Organization has declared the rapid spread of the Zika viruswhich has been linked to serious birth defects and is transmitted mainly by mosquitoesan international public health emergency. In response to this growing threat, Consumer Reports is releasing free to the public its exclusive test results and Ratings of mosquito repellentsincluding those that will protect you best against Aedes mosquitoes, the type that carry Zika. The Zika virus can make anyone sick for up to a week with fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, and other symptoms. But it's especially dangerous for women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy because it increases the risk of babies born with microcephaly, a condition marked by an abnormally small head and incomplete brain development. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease or drug to treat it, making it essential that people avoid mosquito bites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC emphasizes that avoiding mosquito bites requires multiple strategies, such as wearing long-sleeved pants and shirts when outdoors. But it says that mosquito repellents are essential, too. Using an insect repellent is one of the best ways you can protect yourself from Zika and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes," says Harry Savage, chief of ecology and entomology activity at the CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases. And Consumer Reports' tests showed that some repellents worked much better than others at protecting against the type of mosquitoes that transmit Zika. The CDC has urged pregnant women against travel to countries where Zika has been reported, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While no cases have yet been traced to mosquito bites received on the U.S. mainland, experts predict some spread of the disease in the U.S. as the weather warms up, particularly in Florida, Texas, and other Southern states where the Aedes mosquitoes that carry the disease are most prevalent. Story continues The Most Effective Insect Repellents To find the most effective mosquito repellents, we tested products containing a variety of ingredients, including deet, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, chemicals called IR3535 and 2-undecanone, as well as a variety of plant oils, such as cedar, citronella, geraniol, lemongrass, and rosemary. The most effective products against Aedes mosquitoes were Sawyer Picaridin and Natrapel 8 Hour, which each contain 20 percent picaridin, and Off! Deepwoods VIII, which contains 25 percent deet. They kept the mosquitoes from biting for about 8 hours. (The Sawyer product was our top insect repellent overall. It was the only one that also kept Culex mosquitoes, which can spread West Nile disease, and deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease, away for at least 8 hours.) Ben's 30% DEET Tick & Insect Wilderness Formula kept Aedes mosquitoes away for 7.5 hours and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, containing 30 percent lemon eucalyptus, stopped them for 7 hours. The IR3535 products didnt make our list of recommended sprays. Neither did repellents with 2-Undecananone or those that contained 7 percent deet or less than 20 percent picaridin. We advise skipping most products made with natural plant oils, such as California Baby Natural Bug Blend (a blend of citronella, lemongrass oil, cedar oil, and other ingredients) and EcoSmart Organic, (which includes geraniol, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, and lemongrass oil). They did not last for more than 1 hour against Aedes mosquitoes, and some failed almost immediately. In addition, those products are not registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates skin-applied repellents and evaluates them for safety and effectiveness. Most plant-oil products are exempt from scrutiny by the EPA because the agency considers them to be a minimum risk to human health. Instead, the CDC recommends using EPA-registered insect repellents. To see if a mosquito repellent is registered by the EPA, look for its registration number ("EPA Reg.") on the back of the label. The Best Way to Use Mosquito Repellent Insect repellents that use deet come in varying concentrations, ranging from 4 percent to 100 percent. Our previous tests show that concentrations of 30 percent provide the same protection against mosquitoes as higher percentages for up to 8 hours. But higher concentrations of deet have been linked to rashes, disorientation, and seizures. Thats why Consumer Reports says you should avoid mosquito repellents with more than 30 percent deet and not use it at all on infants younger than 2 months. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding can safely use deet, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535, according to the EPA, if they are applied properly. Here are tips from the EPA on how to use insect repellent: Apply repellents only to exposed skin or clothingnever put it on under clothing. Use just enough to cover and only for as long as needed; heavy doses dont work better. Dont apply mosquito repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin or immediately after shaving. When applying to your face, spray first on your hands, then rub in, avoiding your eyes and mouth, and using sparingly around ears. Dont let young children apply. Instead, put it on your own hands, then rub it on. Limit use on childrens hands, because they often put their hands in their eyes and mouths. Dont use near food, and wash hands after application and before eating or drinking. At the end of the day, wash treated skin with soap and water, and wash treated clothing in a separate wash before wearing again. Check our mosquito repellent Ratings. More from Consumer Reports: How to raise your good cholesterol Do the new blood pressure guidelines affect me? 8 Ways to Save on a Gym Membership Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. An outbreak of mumps at Harvard University continues to grow, and experts say the close living spaces in college dorms may make people particularly susceptible to the virus, even if they've been vaccinated. This week, the Cambridge Public Health Department confirmed that more than 40 people at the university have been sickened with the mumps virus. The outbreak began in late February, when two students contracted the disease. Mumps infections are fairly uncommon in the United States, with usually a couple hundred to a couple thousand cases occurring each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Outbreaks typically don't happen in the general population, but instead are more likely to occur among people who live in close quarters, such as college dorms, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious-disease specialist and a senior associate at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Center for Health Security. [9 Ways Going to College Affects Your Health] That's because people in college dorms often share living spaces with dozens of people, giving them more opportunities to be exposed to the virus, either on surfaces or through contact with other people, Adalja said. Although being vaccinated against mumps can prevent a person from getting sick if he or she has been exposed to lower levels of the virus, for people living in dorms, vaccination may not be enough to ward off an infection, he said. "The exposure that they have to mumps is so high in these situations that it overcomes the ability of the vaccine to protect them," Adalja told Live Science. "It may be that, in these special situations, a much higher level of antibodies [against mumps] is needed to keep the virus at bay," Adalja said. People typically receive two doses of the mumps vaccine (which is part of the measles, mumps and rubella shot) in childhood, and the vaccine is up to 88 percent effective at preventing the disease. Adalja noted that in some past mumps outbreaks, colleges have given students an extra, third dose of the mumps vaccine, which was enough to quell these outbreaks. Story continues According to The Boston Globe, all of the infected students at Harvard were vaccinated against mumps. (The University has not suggested that people receive a third dose of the vaccine.) Mumps causes swelling of the salivary glands, leading to puffy cheeks. It can also cause fever, headache, fatigue and loss of appetite, according to the CDC. Most people completely recover from the virus in a few weeks. The virus is spread through saliva, and people can be contagious for up to two days before they show symptoms. The Cambridge Public Health Department is advising students with mumps to refrain from public activities for five days after they become ill. Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Charlie Munger, the outspoken and iconoclastic 92-year-old vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) says that Donald Trump is A true believer. He truly believes in himself. Munger went on to call that behavior a form of sickness. Asked if Trump would be harmful to America if elected, Munger responded that Hed be far from ideal. As for the chances of Trump getting elected, Munger characterized them as far above zero. Related: Warren Buffett isnt worried about President Trump I sat down with Munger for an interview in Omaha the day after Berkshire Hathaways annual meeting which you can watch here. Munger addressed a number of Berkshire related issues in a wide-ranging discussion, including the companys exposure to the insurance business, which Munger said had been dramatically reduced. Insurance has always been a tough business and parts of it are getting even tougher, Munger said. Too much new capital and too much stupidity. Its going to have a bad outcome. Munger elaborated on his comment that the ratings agencies were wrong not to award Berkshire a triple A credit rating. Only Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) and Microsoft (MSFT) have a triple A rating, Munger pointed out. [But] if I had to loan money for thirty years to one of those companies or Berkshire, Id chose Berkshire in a minute. I think were a better credit than they rate us, but what do we care. Munger defended Berkshires investment in Coke (KO). People have to take in this immense amount of water every day or they will die. One of the things you can do to add to daily pleasure is flavor the water and get a tiny touch of stimulation from it. That basically does more good than harm in my opinion. The pleasure and slightly increased acuity that comes from drinking Coca-Cola isif the average life on the planet is one week shorter because everybody is drinking soft drinks, I think thats a choice people ought to be allowed to make. Munger said that while some individuals abuse it and get in trouble by weighing 400 pounds, there are blessings and advantages. Story continues Related: Warren Buffett will not apologize for his junk food addiction Munger continued, what could be more asinine than making a judgment about something without taking into account both the advantages and disadvantages? What kind of a nut would just look at one side and not the other? More from Yahoo Finance 13 key moments from Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting Buffett: Choosing between two very rich guys? Pick the older one Here's the cool Berkshire Hathaway stuff you can buy at the annual meeting Murali Pillai, PAPs candidate for the Bukit Batok by-election, accompanied by ex-Hong Kah GRC MP Ang Mong Seng and Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng, talking to a family during his walkabout in the constituency. Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Singapore. Murali Pillai, the Peoples Action Party candidate for the 7 May Bukit Batok by-election, unveiled more details about his healthcare plans for the residents in the constituency on Monday (2 May). Speaking to reporters after a morning walkabout that ended in front of St Lukes Community Hospital at Bukit Batok Street 11, Murali said that there are plans to partner the Good Life Co-operative to help residents meet their healthcare needs and make medical costs affordable. The lawyer, who is known as Ah Mu to many residents, said that he has been working with the co-operative since he was serving in the Paya Lebar ward and started the Wellness Bus Programme in July 2015. Murali, who is running against Chee Soon Juan, the chief of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), said that his plans were conceived after numerous discussions with residents. Residents are concerned with medical costs, especially the elderly and those with long-term medical needs. The idea is to address the issue of cost, particularly for the sandwich class that do not receive (the same level of) benefits as compared to the needy families, he said. Plans to raise medical literacy Murali said that there is also a need to raise medical literacy and he wants to reach out to as many residents in Bukit Batok as possible to do so. For him to implement his ideas, Murali said that he wants the support from the residents and promised to do what is necessary to ensure that the needs of the community are met. Accompanying Murali were former Member of Parliament (MP) Ang Mong Seng and current MPs Rahayu Mahzam and Ang Wei Neng, and the PAP members mingled with residents near the wet market at Block 154, Bukit Batok Street 11. Working with community leaders for the community The chairman of Good Life, Dr Carol Tan, was on hand to explain about the co-operative. Story continues Murali Pillai introducing Dr Carol Tan (third from left), Chairman of the Good Life Co-operative. Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Singapore Tan said that the co-operative has been working with community leaders in reaching out to the residents. She said that there is currently a pool of volunteer doctors and nurses who have been working with Murali since last year. When it comes to helping the community we engage community leaders and there is no need for us to consider the race, religion or political affiliation of a person, she added. As a co-operative, she said that Good Life is able to buy medical supplies at a discounted rate, which in turn means selling them to residents at lower prices. Not riding on coattails of PAP heavyweights Meanwhile, Murali reiterated that he is his own man as he stands against SDPs Chee. SDP has said that Murali needed PAPs heavyweight ministers, such as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, to garner support from the residents for him. But Murali disagreed, pointing out that he is the one who will take care of Bukit Batok residents. Im the candidate and Im here to persuade the residents of my plans. I appreciate their presence (during the walkabouts) but I will have to do what is necessary for the needs of Bukit Batok residents, said Murali. How a Nas song defined my fight for higher education How a Nas song defined my fight for higher education Welcome to Formative Jukebox, a column exploring the personal relationships people have with music. Every week, a writer will tackle a song, album, show, or musical artist and their influence on our lives. Tune in every week for a brand new essay. I was the kid in college who took full of advantage of the pop culture classes I could take to meet course requirements. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to take a class on rap and hip-hop. It was a historical and sociological approach, a series of conversations about the impact of hip-hop artists, songs, and albums on music history and cultural identity. Settling into my usual seat in the lecture hall, I expected this class session to go like any other: We would listen to a few songs, hear historical facts from our professor, and maybe start a discussion. I didnt expect to hear a song from my childhood. As the crisp beat started, accompanied by the piano notes of Beethovens Fur Elise, I recognized the song as I Can by Nas. Suddenly, I didnt feel like I was sitting in a lecture hall at the University of Southern California anymore. Flashback: I was sitting in another classroom, this one from my childhood, listening as my teacher played this same song for us. I was back in elementary school a bushy-haired, bespectacled kid who cried when she sucked at kickball; I excelled at writing and participated in poetry recitals. In an instant, I was right back at the beginning of my journey of attaining higher education and achieving my academic goals. First released in 2003, I Can appeared as a second single on Nass album Gods Son. I knew little about the background of the song (I later learned it also sampled The Honey Drippers Impeach the President), but its emotional impact was huge on me. I grew up in South Los Angeles, a low-income area where (according to the Los Angeles Times) only 5.3% of the population 25 and older has a four-year degree. With the help of my teachers and family, I became the first person in my family to go straight from high school to a university. My elementary school teacher constantly gloated about me to my parents and pushed me to keep getting good grades. My mom insisted I go to a middle school in Marina Del Rey and later a private high school in Culver City to get a better education. She made the high school payments each month while raising me as a single parent. Every day, my older brother woke up early enough to drop me off at my high school before going to work. Story continues I know the work ethic and determination they instilled in me helped me become the first person in my immediate and extended family to get a masters degree. When I heard I Can again at USC, a wave of emotion hit me hard, and my heart started beating quickly. My professor began her usual routine, breaking down the song and its implications. The first lines of it are sung by a child and repeated by a crowd of other kids: I know I can / be what I wanna be / if I work hard at it / Ill be where I wanna be. As I started to tune back into the lecture, I heard my professor say: I dont understand though, why Nas would choose Fur Elise as one of the components of the song? Why not expose youth to some great African American music or poets instead? I raised my hand and tried to keep my voice from shaking as I explained why I thought the choice made sense. I Can was the first time I ever even heard Fur Elise, and I can say with confidence that that was also true for most of my elementary school classmates. Despite my journey to reaching my educational goals, I always felt out of place in the schools I attended later in life. High school was a huge culture shock, as the student body was mostly Caucasian and Asian (my neighborhood and previous schools were composed primarily of Hispanic/Latino and African-American/Black communities). In my high school years, I visited Trader Joes for the first time and learned what a musical was. At the University of Southern California, I was close to home, but the environment inside was a different world. I spent time with students who spent amounts of money I could only dream of, and felt uncomfortable with the little luxuries the school provided: The student center with its fireplace and footstools, the free laptops you could borrow from the computer lab, the expansive gym with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. I always felt a little out of place, a little inferior. Both my high school and college were breeding grounds for fierce competition. Not only did you have to be intelligent, you needed to be an all-around amazing person. What could someone who grew up in south Los Angeles and struggled to even understand simple cultural references possibly do to compete with all that? In later verses, I Can goes on to explain the history of African-American culture and the temptations that kids must avoid on the streets. Although I am not part of this specific community, the songs lyrics still hit home: If the truth is told, the youth can grow / they learn to survive until they gain control / nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes / read more learn more change the globe. I always kept my nose down, focusing on getting a good GPA and improving my writing. Even in the moments when I felt so out of place it hurt, I told myself to stay focused on success. I read books voraciously, sometimes getting in trouble for trying to read under the table during dinner. I recognized, even at a young age, that education would get me to a better place. It seems like a cheesy song, an over-the-top call for youth to avoid the evils of the streets and find a good career. But I Can will forever summarize my journey to get where I am today and the sacrifices and efforts of those that cheered me on. The post How a Nas song defined my fight for higher education appeared first on HelloGiggles. The Washington Nationals' first three games in Missouri proved fruitful, but the next three come against a team that's been a little more difficult to beat at home. That might not matter if Gio Gonzalez can keep limiting teams the way he has so far this season Monday night against the Kansas City Royals. Washington (17-7) canceled out three home losses to Philadelphia with a three-game sweep in St. Louis over the weekend for a fine start to a difficult 10-game road trip that ends with four against the MLB-leading Chicago Cubs. "For us to be able to come in here and take three games from them, that's huge, especially on this road trip," Sunday starter Max Scherzer told MLB's official website. "This road trip is going to tell us where we're at. We started off well." It came with Bryce Harper striking out in all four of his at-bats, and the reigning NL MVP is 1 for 17 in his last five games. It's often been Harper and Daniel Murphy pacing the offense, but they'll eventually need Anthony Rendon (.240), Ryan Zimmerman (.219), Jayson Werth (.213), Michael A. Taylor (.190) and Danny Espinosa (.188) to get going. Clint Robinson stepped up with a two-run homer for just his second hit in 23 at-bats this season. "It's a long season, and it's going to have to come from somewhere other than the same guys every day," Robinson said. "It's got to come from different sources. So today, that was an example of that." The Washington staff combined to allow two runs in the last two games against the Cardinals, and Gonzalez is one of a few good options to continue the impressive pitching. Gonzalez (1-1, 1.42 ERA) gave up two runs - one earned - and five hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 3-0 home loss to the Phillies on Wednesday and has allowed four total earned runs over his four starts with a .196 opponent batting average. The left-hander has only faced the Royals once since 2011 but is 3-3 with a 7.49 ERA in eight career starts against them. Salvador Perez (5 for 6) and Eric Hosmer (4 for 6 with two home runs and three walks) have hit him best. Story continues The Washington-Montreal franchise is 9-3 against the Royals and has won two of three in both of its past visits to Kansas City. Even so, the Royals (13-11) will be happy to return home after a 1-5 road trip on which they avoided going winless only with Sunday's 4-1 win in Seattle. Prior to taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning, they'd gone 27 innings without scoring. Alcides Escobar was 3 for 5 after going 2 for 24 in his previous six games, while Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain each had two hits. "We knew we were going to have to find ways to scratch runs across the board, and we did a good job of that," Hosmer, who's 7 for 16 with two home runs in his last four. "We had some things going on the bases today, we had some big hits." The Royals are 8-3 at home and haven't lost a series of any real consequence in Kansas City since Minnesota took two of three from July 2-4. They went 4-8 with three series losses from Sept. 4 through the end of the regular season last year but entered that span with a 13-game lead in the AL Central. Kansas City looks to Edinson Volquez to bounce back after allowing a career high in hits the last time out. Volquez (3-1, 3.34) gave up eight runs and 12 hits in five innings of Tuesday's 9-4 loss at the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander's ERA jumped more than threefold from 1.09. Murphy is 6 for 15 against Volquez, but Harper is 0 for 6. STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - The NATO alliance is weighing rotating four battalions of troops through Eastern member states, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Monday, in the latest proposal by allies to guard against aggressive behavior by Russia. The Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - which joined NATO in 2004, have requested greater presence of the alliance, fearing a threat from Russia after it annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Carter acknowledged NATO deliberations included the deployment of the four battalions to the Baltic states and Poland. The Wall Street Journal said this would likely total about 4,000 troops split between the United States and its allies. "That's one of the options that's being discussed," Carter told reporters traveling with him at the start of a three-day trip to Germany, declining to enter into details about the deliberations by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. "We're obviously involved in those discussions. I just dont want to get out in front of where that goes." U.S. officials say the goal in Europe is to move increasingly from efforts to reassure allies to broader activity to deter any aggressive moves by Russia. The United States has already budgeted to sharply boost military training and exercises and last month announced it would deploy continuous rotations of U.S.-based armored brigade combat teams to Europe. Carter's trip to Germany will include meetings with Army General Curtis Scaparrotti as he takes over as the next NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, succeeding U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove. Scaparrotti told a Senate hearing last month that a resurgent Russia was displaying "increasingly aggressive behavior that challenges the international norms, often in violation of international law." (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Matthew Lewis) We dare you not to smile! Bhutan's royal palace has released an adorable new photo of Prince Jigme Namgyel ahead of the three-month anniversary of his birth. The sweet picture has been posted on both his parents' Facebook pages as well as the national website. With his sweet face, gorgeous eyes and one amazing head of hair the heir to the Bhutan throne is making hearts melt all over the world. Is the Newborn Dragon Prince the World's Most Handsome Royal Baby?| The Royals And since his royal parents are affectionately known as the "William and Kate of the Himalayas," then little Jigme could easily be the "Prince George of the Himalayas." The Dragon Prince is expected to succeed to the throne of the remote Asian kingdom, which is set in the mountains between China and India and was recently visited by Prince William and Princess Kate during their tour of India. Is the Newborn Dragon Prince the World's Most Handsome Royal Baby?| The Royals Will and Kate were in Bhutan last month to increase links between the two countries. The royal couples spent the day together, touring the gorgeous grounds of the Bhutanese palace. They enjoyed a private dinner later in the evening. Need a little inspiration? Click here to subscribe to the Daily Smile Newsletter for uplifting, feel-good stories that brighten up your inbox. The Dragon Prince's arrival on February 5 was greeted with celebrations throughout Bhutan, which until 1999 banned both television and the Internet. Social-driven media player BuzzFeed now has 7 billion monthly views of its content up 2.5 times a year ago and CEO Jonah Peretti says thats driven by a deep understanding of what its audience wants to see and share. Peretti, at the companys Digital Content NewFronts presentation Monday in New York, claimed that unlike old-fashioned media, BuzzFeed creates content rooted in an empathy with viewers to deliver what they really like. And the company wants to bring more advertisers into the picture, announcing a new program with investor NBCUniversal to co-produce branded video content for brands. The purpose of a lot of this content is to connect with an audience, and understand that audience and help that audience connect with other people by sharing that content, Peretti told the crowd of ad and media execs. The majority of BuzzFeeds views are now video. Of course, how many of those billions of views BuzzFeed actually makes money on is a different question. About 75% of those 7 billion views (up from 2.8 billion monthly content views a year ago) are on other platforms. BuzzFeed revealed that 27% of its monthly views come from Facebook native video, followed by 23% on its own properties and apps, which execs said have about 200 million unique monthly viewers. Another 21% are via Snapchat, and 14% are on YouTube. We dont care where we publish that content as long as BuzzFeed closes the feedback loop with data on how the viewers are engaging with the content, he said. NBCUniversal, which invested $200 million in BuzzFeed last summer, is cooperatively working with the company to bring talent from both organizations into pitches with brand advertisers, said Frank Cooper, BuzzFeeds CMO and chief creative officer. The partnership is still in early stages, but we believe its a powerful addition to the spectrum of sponsorship, creation and integrating, he said. A big chunk of BuzzFeeds surge in views has come from Tasty, its food and recipes video network that launched in August 2015. In March, Tasty generated 2.2 billion video views, according to research firm Tubular Labs. Story continues Tasty was not in business a year ago and its now the largest food network in the world, BuzzFeed president Greg Coleman said. Since launching, the network now includes Tasty Junior, with kid-friendly recipes; Tasty Happy Hour with drink recipes; and Mom vs. Chef, which in which kids vote on who whips up a secret ingredient best mom or chef. The company has a core competency in generating viral views, Peretti maintained. He cited BuzzFeeds video of a watermelon that was exploded using rubber bands broadcast on Facebook Live in April, which pulled in over 800,000 concurrent viewers and has generated more than 10 million views overall. Its the first time weve had a number thats comparable to TV, he claimed. But as observers have pointed out, TV ratings are reported differently (on the basis of average audience per minute) so the audience for the bursting melon was not really in the same league as television. At the event, BuzzFeeds popular comedy quartet the Try Guys (pictured above) Ned Fulmer, Keith Habersberger, Zach Kornfeld and Eugene Lee Yang came onstage to unveil their latest project: The Try Kids, which will feature adorable tots in various settings trying things for the first time. The Try Guys, who have accumulated north of 500 million video views on YouTube and Facebook, arrived and exited to the strains of Celine Dions My Heart Will Go On. They test short things and build them out, and that kind of culture permeates the entire organization, said Ze Frank, president of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, the companys video division. The Try Guys, he noted, not only star in their segments but also write and produce them: We do our best to foster multihypenates to get the job done, said Frank. Other new projects from BuzzFeed Motion Pictures include Broke, a 12-episode sitcom created by and starring Quinta Brunson, based on her experience with her friends moving from Philadelphia to L.A. without much money in the bank. We were broke but happy and Id never seen that in the media, said Brunson, who also is leading development of an upcoming stand-up special for BuzzFeed with up-and-coming comedians. BuzzFeeds Ashly Perez announced plans to develop second and third seasons of You Do You, a comedic soap opera for millennial femmes, which debuted at No. 1 in the iTunes TV store last fall. Women in media are not allowed to tell stories for themselves, said Perez, who described herself as a Cuban-Korean-Filipino first-generation American. In You Do You, Perez said, the focus is on female characters traditionally relegated to side roles. The coolest part was it was the result of us engaging with the audience it was because for two years, we were engaging with 2.6 million women who wanted to see themselves represented, she said. Both Broke and You Do You are projects that germinated on BuzzFeed Violet video team, which focuses on short, relatable videos that are the good kind of awkward. We want to bring things out that brands will want to buy immediately in the (ad-supported VOD) space, said Matthew Henick, head of development, BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. We are a content production studio but we also have huge promotional and marketing capabilities as well. Last month, BuzzFeed adopted a new talent-relationship program, under which creators will receive a revenue share for all of the programming they produce for BuzzFeed, in exchange for remaining exclusively affiliated with the company. That came after Matt Bellassai, star of BuzzFeeds Whine About It comedic video series, left the company to strike out on his own and signed a deal with CAA. Weve cracked something that allows us to move between branded content, TV and movies (with talent), Henick said. Its not Hollywood economics. No matter what the project with us, its predictable about where the money is going in a very transparent way. He added, Were building basically individual production companies around each talent. BuzzFeed held the presentation billed as a feast, in a nod to the fast-growing Tasty network at Skylight at Moynihan Station in midtown Manhattan, serving up veggie sliders, pad thai, barbacoa beef tacos and other eats. Related stories NBCUniversal in Talks to Join Hulu Channel Bundle (EXCLUSIVE) NBC Brings Olympics Coverage to Snapchat, With A Little Help From BuzzFeed NBCUniversal Cable Networks Promotes Three Programming Execs 26961eca020d443785ca7bfbfecb24a4 Scientists have discovered three new planets that may be the most likely location for alien life yet discovered. The newfound planets circle a star just 40 light-years away from Earth. The findings were presented Monday in a new study in the journal Nature Geoscience The three worlds all circle the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, and all are just about the size of Earth. Its even possible that the planets could be orbiting in the habitable zone of the host star orbits that would allow liquid water to be sustained on the planet's surface. These worlds, however, are no Earth twins, according to the study. They are the first planets found in orbit around an ultracool dwarf star, a type of long-lived stellar object far cooler and dimmer than the sun. SEE ALSO: A planet may be forming in the habitable zone of an alien sun In fact, if you were to stand on the surface of TRAPPIST-1d, which is considered the most potentially habitable of the three planets, you would probably see a huge, red star in the sky. According to astronomer Michael Gillon, a researcher at the University of Liege in Beligum and co-author of the new study, you would be able to look directly at the star without sunglasses. You can see, close to the star, the two other planets. They are big enough for you to see some detail of their surface or of their atmosphere. Now let's look where you stand, Gillon told Mashable via email. The landscape is reddish, as the star does not emit bluer light. You are on a ground made of rocks, or of ice. Or you are on a huge reddish ocean. Maybe there [are] big volcanoes in eruption in the background," he said. "Maybe there is some creature coming closer and closer to you. We can't say. Not yet. Earth-sized exoplanets The question of alien life notwithstanding, Gillon and his colleagues do know a few important things about the new exoplanets. Story continues For one thing, it's clear that the three planets orbit quite close to their star. Two make a full circuit of their star once every 1.5 days and 2.4 days, respectively, while the orbit of the third planet isnt well defined yet. Although it sounds like the planets would fry by being located so close to the star, theyre actually pretty comfortable. Image: ESO Because the star is so dim, its habitable nearer to it than it is for brighter stars, such as the sun. On the outer planet, the temperature should be somewhere between 200 Kelvin [minus-100 degrees Fahrenheit] and 300 Kelvin [80 degrees Fahrenheit]," Gillon said. "Pretty cold, or perfect for a barbecue. On the two inner planets, the dayside is hot, above 350 Kelvin [170 degrees Fahrenheit]." But a part of the night side could be close to 300 Kelvin, fine for spending some holidays there. Allowing alien civilizations to grow Stars like TRAPPIST-1 can be very long-lived. Unlike more massive stars, ultracool dwarf stars are able to remain in a stable state for billions upon billions of years without running out of fuel to burn. That long-lived system could be just what life needs to thrive. The stability of this star is important, since civilizations of intelligent life likely take a long time to grow up. Image: ESO/M. Kornmesser "They could potentially be very nice places to be for a civilization for a long time," NASA's Steve Howell, project scientist for the K2 mission, an exoplanet hunting telescope, told Mashable in an interview. Howell was not involved in the new study. "You would get civilizations that could last for a long time, or evolution of life could take a long, long time but it would have all that time before the star does something crazy," Howell said. Ultracool dwarfs arent perfect, however. These types of stars can shoot off extreme flares that send radiation off into their systems, possibly impacting planets the way the most severe solar storms do when they slam into Earths magnetic field. Hunting for life One day, maybe in the not too distant future, scientists might actually be able to say whether there are creatures likely to be living on those worlds. Scientists have found multiple exoplanets that could potentially be habitable, but these three worlds around TRAPPIST-1 are particularly tantalizing because of their proximity to Earth. Image: ESO/M. Kornmesser/N. Risinger (s But, unlike all previously found Earth-like exoplanets, e.g. Kepler-186f, these new planets are well-suited for detailed study, so we will be able to learn a lot about them in the near-future, Gillon said. And researchers are already expecting plenty of follow-up observations. "At 40 light-years away, my guess is that this particular planet system will now be the most studied planet system until the next cool one comes along," Howell said. Howell expects that the Hubble Space Telescope will take a look at the three newfound planets, and the K2 mission which is responsible for finding multiple exoplanets itself will be able to take a look at the planetary system within the next year as part of an observing campaign. The Hubble should even be able to tell if theres a significant amount of water in the atmospheres of the planets. NASAs James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), expected to launch in 2018, will also have the ability to check out the TRAPPIST-1 system in great detail. With JWST, we will really probe the atmosphere in detail, Gillon said. The study of these fascinating planets is just beginning! Comedian Nick Offerman will preside over the 20th Annual Webby Awards, it was announced Monday. The event, which awards the best of the internet, has tapped the Parks and Recreation alum as host because he "perfectly captures the creativity and ingenuity that the Webby Awards love to recognize," according to executive director David-Michel Davies. He added: "And, also, the man carved wooden emojis, which is really all that matters." Offerman, whose acting credits also include TV's Fargo and the film 21 Jump Street, among others, will open the awards show, but perhaps his most important job that evening will be to ensure that Webby winners abide by the five-word acceptance speech rule. This is Offerman's first time hosting the ceremony, which last year tapped Hannibal Buress as its emcee. Past hosts of the Webbys, which are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, include Rob Corddry, Lisa Kudrow and Patton Oswalt. The Hollywood Reporter is among the winners of a Webby Award this year. Other winners, announced April 26, include Michelle Obama, Tracy Morgan and SNL 40. The Webbys are set to take place May 16 at Cipriani Wall Street. A stream of the show will be available the following day on WebbyAwards.com. From Esquire Just based on the organization's name, it's easy for people to draw conclusions about the Satanic Temple. It wouldn't be wrong to assume that members worship Satan and participate in unsavory rituals. But this isn't the case. The Satanic Temple is actually an atheistic religion that uses the term "Satanic" as an example of any individual's right as an American citizen to worship however he or she wishes. It's more an exercise in free speech than an actual religion in any conventional meaning of the word. That's why members have no problem being associated the fallen angel, the ruler of the demons and bringer of evil. In fact, they will politely debate it with you. Please, though, do not associate the Satanists with Ted Cruz. This week, during a talk at Stanford University, former Speaker of the House John Boehner told students that Ted Cruz is "Lucifer in the flesh." And yesterday, a blogger for Patheos reached out to Satanic Temple founder Lucien Greaves (a.k.a. Doug Mesner) for his thoughts on the comparison: Boehner's comment is illustrative of how well past time it is to adjust our mythologies to reflect our realities. Cruz's failures of reason, compassion, decency, and humanity are products of his Christian pandering, if not an actual Christian faith. It grows tedious when pedophile priests and loathsome politicians are conveniently dismissed as Satanic, even as they spew biblical verse and prostrate themselves before the cross, recruiting the Christian faithful. Satanists will have nothing to do with any of them. A wildly rational organization, the Satanic Temple has always been good about handling its often-negative media attention admirably. Mesner regularly mounts articulate and level-headed defenses against antagonistic Fox News anchors. And in the wake of the Paris attacks, the organization made national news when it sincerely offered to protect any Muslims who felt unsafe during a period of despicable Islamophobia. In many ways, the Satanic Temple actually makes far more sense than Ted Cruz, so you can imagine why they wouldn't want to be associated with him. But if Cruz's own political party, his own family, his college classmates, and now the Satanic Temple would rather have nothing to do with him, where will he go? The Illuminati? The Juggalos? [h/t: Uproxx] By Andrew Chung NEW YORK (Reuters) - Graphics chip maker Nvidia Corp announced a settlement of a patent dispute with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Monday, hours before a U.S. trade agency was due to rule on a complaint that could have blocked importation of some of Nvidia's products. The settlement puts an immediate end to the tit-for-tat battle between the companies, each of which had claimed the other used its processor technology without permission. The U.S. International Trade Commission case will be dismissed as a result of the deal as well as all litigation between the companies in federal court and at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Nvidia said in a statement. The sprawling litigation illustrated how important graphics processing units are becoming in mobile devices as consumers demand more sophisticated games and video-playing functions. Both companies will license a small number of patents to each other but there will be no broad cross-licensing of patents or other compensation, Nvidia said in a statement. Spokesman Hector Marinez declined further comment. Samsung said in a statement posted to its website, "We are happy to resolve this dispute through a fair settlement." The trade commission, which has the power to block the import of products it finds infringe a U.S. patent, had been set to issue its final decision in its review of a ruling by a commission judge that Nvidia infringed three Samsung's graphics-related patents. Samsung filed its trade complaint against Nvidia in November 2014, alleging infringement by Nvidia's chips and Shield tablet computer. The South Korean electronics company also filed suit in Virginia federal court. Nvidia won one trial in that case, while another was scheduled for this month. Samsung's legal actions came after Nvidia, which is based in Santa Clara, California, but manufactures chips abroad, filed complaints of its own against Samsung. The case is In re Certain Graphics Processing Chips, in the U.S. International Trade Commission, No. 337-941. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Trott) Paris (AFP) - New Zealand's former prime minister Helen Clark was in Paris on Monday at the start of a tour of key world capitals in her campaign to head the United Nations. Although Clark would become the first woman to hold the top job at the world body, she told AFP she had "never asked for supporters because I'm a woman." But the former three-term prime minister added: "Of course I am a woman, and I bring that perspective to a job." "It holds generally true that women carry a broad range of family responsibilities" and give priority to health and education, said Clark, 66. As such, women are a vector for peace and stability, she said, stressing: "Peace really matters to women." Clark has headed the largest UN agency, the UN Development Programme, which implements the body's worldwide economic development operations, since 2009. Clark plans to push her bid in each of the capitals of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- France, Britain, the United States, Russia and China -- the main gatekeepers in the process. She and three other women are among the nine candidates so far in the running to succeed Ban Ki-moon of South Korea. Bulgaria's Irina Bokova, head of the UN cultural agency UNESCO, is considered a strong contender and would be the first UN chief from eastern Europe, the only region that has yet to be represented in the top job. Given an unwritten rule of regional rotation to fill the post, Clark may be at a disadvantage being from the same Asia-Pacific region as Ban. But she said "this time the member states are looking more at the scale of what is needed" in a secretary-general, adding that she offered "pragmatic and effective" leadership. The UN Security Council is expected to begin a round of straw polls in July to nominate a candidate. The General Assembly is expected to endorse the choice in October, and the successful candidate will begin work on January 1, 2017. The White House on Monday said it is still weighing a possible first presidential visit to Hiroshima, one of two Japanese cities bombed by a US nuclear weapon. "We're obviously hard at work planning that trip," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of a potential visit that could prove controversial. "The president has been to Japan three or four times as president, and each time the president has traveled there, this question has come up and we've considered it each time." Obama will visit central Japan in late May for a Group of Seven summit. Last month, Secretary of State John Kerry became the highest ranking US political figure to visit Hiroshima. He said he was "deeply moved" by the experience and a "gut-wrenching display that tugs at all your sensibilities as a human being." "Everyone should visit Hiroshima, and everyone means everyone," he added, fueling speculation that Obama would go. Japan has long urged world leaders to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to see the horrors of the atomic bombings and join efforts to eradicate nuclear arms. But a presidential visit could rile Obama's opponents and some in the military whose predecessors carried out presidential orders to drop the bombs. The visit would come at a particularly sensitive time. This December marks the 75th anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, in Obama's home state of Hawaii. On August 6, 1945, the US dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing around 140,000 people, including those who survived the explosion itself but died soon after from severe radiation exposure. Three days later, the US military dropped a plutonium bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, killing some 74,000 people. The bombings are controversial in the United States, where opinion remains divided over whether their use in the closing days of World War II was justified. Earnest said Obama did not believe the United States owes Japan an apology for that military action. By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday took the political battle over his pick for a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court to the home states of seven Republican senators up for re-election in November. Obama conducted interviews with local television anchors where he argued that Republican senators should hold confirmation hearings and vote on his nomination of appellate Judge Merrick Garland to the top court. "What my argument is: Let the American people see Judge Garland, let him answer questions, let them hear his responses," the Democratic president told WDAF-TV FOX 4 in Kansas City, Missouri, a market that straddles states where Senators Roy Blunt of Missouri and Jerry Moran of Kansas are up for re-election. Republican leaders have been resolute that Obama's successor, who will be elected on Nov. 8 and take office on Jan. 20, should fill the vacancy left by February's death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. Republicans are hoping their party's candidate wins the presidency and can make the appointment. The court is now split 4-4 between conservatives and liberals, meaning Scalia's successor could influence its ideological direction for years to come. Obama has argued the Senate has a responsibility to formally consider Garland's nomination, telling ABC affiliate WMUR in Manchester, New Hampshire, that the judge was "maybe the most qualified nominee that weve seen before the Senate for a Supreme Court seat." New Hampshire's Kelly Ayotte is viewed as one of the most vulnerable Senate Republican incumbents. She met with Garland but wants the Senate to wait until after the election to act on the nomination. "I know that folks like Senator Ayotte met with him and the fact that they're not calling a hearing or vote means they're not doing their job," Obama said in the interview. In a separate interview with WMUR, Ayotte defended her position. "In my view waiting for the election, we are in the midst of a presidential nomination process, to have the people weigh in the election in November is important considering we have a 4-4 court," she said. Obama also talked with a television anchor from Iowa, home to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who has helped lead efforts to block Garland. The president spoke as well with anchors from Ohio, where Senator Rob Portman faces a competitive re-election race; Wisconsin, where Senator Ron Johnson is running again; and Phoenix, home to Senator John McCain of Arizona. (Additional reporting by Mohammad Zargham, Eric Walsh, David Alexander and Tim Ahmann; Editing by Peter Cooney,) President Obama will visit Hiroshima when he travels to Japan this month for a summit of key industrialized nations, the White House announced Tuesday. It will be the first visit to the city by a sitting president since World War II, but the Obama administration said he will not apologize for the decision to destroy that city with an atomic bomb. He will not revisit the decision to use the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. Instead, he will offer a forward-looking vision focused on our shared future, explained Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser. The question arose because John Kerry recently became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Hiroshimas Peace Memorial Park. Declaring the experience gut-wrenching, Kerry said he would urge Obama to make the trip. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center left, puts his arm around Japans foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, after they and fellow G-7 foreign ministers laid wreaths at the cenotaph at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima, Japan. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) It tugs at all of your sensibilities as a human being. It reminds everybody of the extraordinary complexity of choices in war and of what war does to people, to communities, to countries, to the world, Kerry said after his April 11 visit. Obama has said since at least November 2009 that he would like to visit Hiroshima and also Nagasaki, the target of the second American nuclear bomb dropped in wartime. I certainly would be honored; it would be meaningful for me to visit those two cities in the future, he said at a press conference with Japans then prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama. Rhodes wrote Tuesday that Obama will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on May 27. This post was originally published on May 2. It was updated Tuesday after the White House announced Obamas plans. (Cover tile photo: Kimimasa Mayama/Reuters) Every year, celebrities and models alike slip into their most daring dresses and expertly tailored suits and glide down the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. To them, it is Fashion Prom. t is the Costume Institute Gala. To most, it is the Met Gala. Taylor's done it. Beyonce's done it. Rihanna's certainly done it. Anyone who's anyone has done it. With the gala starting in 1948, it has been fashion's most head-turning annual fundraiser, pairing together fashion industry elite (including Calvin Klein and Tom Ford) with celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Kendall Jenner, all in the name of art or, rather, the Costume Institute's latest exhibit. The annual event's purpose is to raise money (and attention) for the Institute's latest exhibition, which comes with a theme. V The exhibition itself can be a retrospective of just one designer or a celebration of innovation, like it is with this year's theme of "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology." When Rihanna walked the red carpet wrapped in what looked like a very beautiful egg and cheese omelet, it was for the 2015 exhibition "China: Through the Looking Glass." And when Kim Kardashian attended in that loud floral, body-hugging dress that made her look more like an ottoman than a human, it was for the 2013 exhibition "PUNK: Chaos to Couture." Rihanna in 2015 and Kim Kardashian in 2013 In its earliest stages, the gala was simply seen as a fundraiser and dinner, and it's largely still that, with seats at tables inside (for non-celebrities) going for a whopping $30,000. But now, it's turned into somewhat of a spectacle. This year, that is never so apparent as, for the first time ever, Giuliana Rancic and E! News will be on the red carpet, looking for dresses that attempt to capture this year's theme. As it stands now, it's one of the only events where the red carpet is covered, but the actual ceremony is not. Story continues I Though many dressed beautifully (see: Princess Diana), the Mat Gala really wasn't as much of a fashion event (see: Kirsten Princess Diana with firned Liz Tilberis (L) and Christy Turlington with designer Calvin Klein (R) at the Gala for Christian Dior in 1996 Alicia Keys (L) and Jake Gyllenhaal with Kirsten Dunst (R) at the Gala in 2003 for the exhibition Goddess: The Classical Mode In 2006, the New York Times' Cathy Horyn compared the event to the Academy Awards' Vanity Fair after party. "Both parties are outlets for the ego, though it's unlikely that the Met ball will supplant the Hollywood party in star power," she wrote. "Even designers have an implacable sense of priority." But as the years ticked on, and the tabloid age took hold, it became a prime time for celebrities to have their "red carpet moment." With more photographers and outlets covering the gala, more celebrities came with a motive: to be seen. Gisele Bundchen with rapper and designer Sean Combs (L) and the rapper Eve with designer Tom Ford at the 2003 Met Gala This is the time and place many a star has attempted to make a name for themselves via just one red carpet look. Like Scarlett Johansson and Renee Zellweger who both showed up the 2004 Gala for the exhibition "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century," ready to stun. Scarlett Johansson and Renee Zellweger at the 2004 Met Gala Over just the past few years, the Gala transformed from just another red carpet event to a stage on which the stars can pull out a look they'd wear absolutely nowhere else. Because of that, we've witnessed celebrities take giant sartorial risks. Take Sarah Jessica Parker, for instance, who joyously takes each year's theme to a new level and causes a bit of a press firestorm while doing so. Sarah Jessica Parker in 2006, 2013 and 2015 On Monday night, with a technology-driven theme, we could see some stars taking the opportunity to look like a robot, or wear a gown that 3D prints itself or otherwise exhibits this sort of innovative technology the exhibition holds so dear. At this point, there's only one thing you can be sure of at this very expensive dinner: It'll be interesting. From Popular Mechanics Jerry Miculek loves Captain America. Before testing out his homemade titanium Captain America shield, Miculek gives a rundown of all the things he loves about the leader of Marvel's Avengers: "he's not just a patriotic solider that stands for what America is, but instead stands for what America should strive to be." He's giving this monologue while wearing a Captain America costume, right before he shoots a Colt .45 at his shield. This is all well and good, but now Miculek, who on his YouTube page claims to be the "arguably the fastest & most renown shooter to ever live," has decided that defensive measures are not enough. He wants to see how his shield will perform as an offensive weapon. The answer is extremely well. Miculek's shield is made of solid titanium, and he chucks at it what he calls "an exact duplicate of the human body, has all the organs, consistency." He jokes the dummy is a bad dude, "with a rap sheet as long as my leg," and proceeds to take the dummy's head clean off. "Head shot!," he exclaims, and is then taken back by the power of his weapon. Ribs get cracked, there's internal bleeding, and again, there's no head left. When the Civil War comes, it looks like Miculek's picked a winning side. Oprah Winfrey is set to star in HBO Films' upcoming adaptation of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, PEOPLE confirms. Winfrey, 62, has long been involved with the project, adapted from Rebecca Skloot's 2010 book of the same name. The media mogul signed on as an executive producer when the book's film rights were first acquired in 2010, and the network announced on Monday that she will star in the biopic as well as co-executive producing it with Skloot and True Blood creator Alan Ball. The movie, set to begin filming this summer, centers on the true story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cervical cancer cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line, HeLa, in 1951. The story is told from the perspective of Winfrey's character, protagonist Deborah Lacks, who explores how the unlicensed harvesting of her mother's cancerous cells led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs. Winfrey made her big-screen debut in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple, which earned her an Oscar nomination in 1986. In recent years, she has starred as a supporting actress in Selma and Lee Daniels' The Butler. RELATED VIDEO: Oprah Winfrey Honors Her Late Friend Maya Angelou Winfrey also has a recurring role on the upcoming drama Greenleaf. Henrietta Lacks' sons Zakariyya Rahman and David Lacks, Jr., as well as granddaughter Jeri Lacksare will serve as consultants on the HBO project. A premiere date for the movie has not yet been announced, but in the meantime, Winfrey fans can get their hands on their very own piece of the iconic Oprah Winfrey Show beginning Thursday at 3 p.m., a select number of studio audience chairs will be available for auction via ScreenBid, with net proceeds going to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. As with the commander of an army, or the leader of any enterprise, so is it with the mistress of a house, Isabella Beeton wrote in 1861 as she set out to arm British housewives with the stirring, chopping and hostessing skills they would need to do battle for Victorian respectability. But make no mistake: Mrs. Beeton was no mere housewife. She was a hardworking journalist who helped whip up British cookery for better or worse and give rise to the Real Simple approach to life management. Born Isabella Mary Mayson in 1836, the future Mrs. Beeton was the eldest of 21 children; her father died when she was young, and her mother remarried the socially aspiring Henry Dorling. Helping manage the melded household was valuable training for Isabellas later career skills that were further honed at finishing school in Heidelberg, Germany, where she learned German and French. But her upwardly mobile parents were less than thrilled by her choice of a husband: The handsome and ambitious publisher Samuel Beeton was a bit of a Jack the lad, says Cambridge University history professor Lucy Delap. Disappointed that Isabella didnt marry up, Delap says, Dorling refused to attend the wedding. The best-selling writer and journalist helped Victorian women break through social barriers, and she remains very much a part of British culture today. In 1857, the Beetons welcomed a son, who died at 3 months. Isabella suffered a series of miscarriages and the birth of another son, who died at age 3 a pattern that suggests that [Isabella] was of the thousands of unfortunate young Victorian brides who were infected with syphilis on their honeymoon, writes Kathryn Hughes in The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs. Beeton. Domestic bliss wasnt coming easily, so Isabella applied herself to the family business, translating German and French stories for Samuels publication The Englishwomans Domestic Magazine. Within a couple of years, she was writing her own articles on cooking, housekeeping and fashion, and as her readership grew, she and Samuel organized a compendium: Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management. Story continues Gettyimages 173337136 Game dishes from Mrs. Beetons recipe book. Source: Getty The book covered every imaginable aspect of domesticity, from child-rearing to cleaning rugs and pickling onions. Among the 2,751 entries, there are step-by-step recipes (a novelty at the time), instructions for folding napkins, seasonal information, and guidance on how to manage servants and which item of Victorian kitchen equipment to use for what cooking task. One passage about moldy cheese warns that decomposing bodies are not wholesome eating, and new moms are advised not to breast-feed after attending the theater, because your breast milk will be overexcited, Delap explains, laughing. In effect, the quirky guide served as a manual for those eager to climb the social ladder. You may not know the etiquette about how to do this or that, but Im going to explain it to you, Delap says of Beetons tone. If Beetons notion to offer a practical guide for keeping house was strikingly original, her recipes were decidedly secondhand. She liberally lifted ideas from others and, even worse, many recipes did not work. The recipes were not tried and tested, so theyre famous for having problems in them, Delap says. Its even been suggested that Britains domestic goddess didnt know how to cook. She mightve just dabbled, says Delap, noting that Beetons social status probably meant servants did most of the cooking. But that doesnt mean Beeton is to blame for Britains reputation for bland cooking. Beeton may have been sparing with the spices, but her recipes were really quite experimental, Delap argues. And she didnt need garlic or olive oil to stir up excitement. Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management sold 60,000 copies its first year and nearly 2 million by 1868 by which time, Isabella had been dead for three years. At age 28, she succumbed to puerperal fever following the birth of her second surviving son a fact her husband chose to gloss over in a bid to keep the brand alive and selling. While Isabella was reasonably well known during her lifetime, she became famous in death. Thanks to the repeated use of her name to sell further versions, her reputation was growing across the 19th century, says Delap, noting that several revised editions of the guide were released, along with new manuals on everything from cold desserts and embroidery to microwave cookery all carrying Beetons name. If Isabella and her brand seemed inseparable, in truth, the original guide was never really her, Delap says, since she reproduced others ideas. She was kind of a magpie figure, as Delap puts it, more than a powerhouse in her own right, but still, the approach worked. Not only did Beetons brand thrive, but it also gave rise to the straightforward, organized, Im on your level approach we see in modern cookbooks the world over. Beetons domesticity may irk some feminists, but if you think of her life as a whole, Delap says, she was actually quite a promising model for feminists. Indeed, the best-selling writer and journalist helped Victorian women break through social barriers, and she remains very much a part of British culture today. Beeton represented the place we go to be loved and fed, Hughes writes, and thus became part of the fabric of who we feel ourselves to be. Tourists Map Berlin There's a word for investors who don't know what they are doing in emerging markets, according to a panel at the Milken Conference in Los Angeles on Monday. It's "tourists." You may have heard this word before. Economist and hedge fund manager Mark Dow famously coined the term "Macro Tourists" to describe investors who left the asset classes they knew to opine on macroeconomics topics. There's more to it, though and the panelists speaking at a talk entitled 'Global Capital Markets: Deflation or Stabilization?' did a great job of explaining exactly what it means, and why tourists make the global economy more volatile. "Emerging markets have the problem of the tourist," said panelist Mohamed El-Erian. "There aren't enough dedicated investors," and that leads to liquidity issues. He described this kind of investor as someone who sees an exotic locale in a magazine and decides they want to go there on vacation. The problem is that at one sign of instability they scarper. Say there's a riot in another part of the country that somehow interrupts this person's nice cocktail by the pool, well, then it's time to head to the airport. El-Erian sees Argentina's recent $16 billion bond auction as a perfect example of this. You'll recall that the country has been a pariah of international markets since 2001, when the country defaulted on its debt. It just recently reentered the global economy after a new pro-market government agreed to pay creditors who had taken the country to court for years. "Argentina did not deserve $16 billion of new capital at the rate they [investors] put it in," said El-Erian. The country was able to attract crossover investors tourists. "But my prediction is that the minute something goes on in Argentine politics" liquidity will dry up, he said. This speaks to the way tourists look at things it's very short term. One feature of this short termism is that instead of looking at emerging market economies in isolation, they simply compare one to the other. For example, Brazil has had a rough year, so Argentina is looking good in comparison. Story continues But that doesn't necessarily mean Argentina is good. Part of this is a function of some investors needing to diversify their portfolios across regions and asset classes. And some of this is just tourists being tourists. NOW WATCH: How one simple mistake cost 'Real Housewives' superstar Bethenny Frankel millions More From Business Insider Incredible to meet two of the Little Rock Ninepioneers of the civil rights movement and inspiration for Blackbird. pic.twitter.com/QrnOQnqrFX Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) May 1, 2016 Saturday nights show in Little Rock, Arkansas, was extra special for Paul McCartney because Sir Paul got to meet two of the women who inspired one of the Beatles most poignant songs, Blackbird. Backstage at the Verizon Arena, McCartney spent some time with Thelma Mothershed Wair and Elizabeth Eckford, two members of the Little Rock Nine. The group of nine black students enrolled at the previously all-white Little Rock Central High School in 1957 after the Supreme Courts Brown v. Board of Education ruling declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The nine were initially prevented from entering the school when Arkansas governor, Orval Faubus, called out the National Guard to block them before President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to ensure they could attend classes. The nine were credited with introducing a young McCartney to the civil rights struggle and inspiring the lyrics to Blackbird, which appeared on 1968s White Album. Take these broken wings and learn to fly/ All your life/ You were only waiting for this moment to arise, McCartney sings on the track. Colombian authorities deported Gerson Galvez, who is nicknamed Caracol and described as Perus most wanted man, to Peru on May 1 after he was captured in a shopping center in Medellin, Colombia. Galvez is wanted in connection with running a feared crime gang, Barrio King, which is believed to be involved in illegal drug trafficking and several killings, including the murder of a rival Peruvian drug lord. Credit: Periscope/Colombia Police Justin Bieber has landed in hot water with the animal rights group PETA after posing with a chained tiger over the weekend during a VIP engagement party in Toronto for his father, Jeremy Bieber. PETA on Monday said the tiger comes from the Bowmanville Zoo, where the owner, Michael Hackenberger, a tiger trainer for Hollywood movies, now faces five animal cruelty charges after being allegedly caught on video whipping a Siberian tiger in his care. "Justin Bieber is lucky not to have had his throat torn out by this stressed captive tiger," PETA svp communications Lisa Lange said in a statement. A PETA spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter the tiger is owned and trained by Hackenberger. "The tiger who appeared at the Bieber party is identical to Robbie, a Bowmanville Zoo tiger we know is used for encounters with the public and was used in The Interview," the animal rights group said in a statement. "Each tiger's stripes are unique, and Robbie even has several additional unique characteristics that match up with the Bieber tiger: pigmentation on the nose, a tear-drop shape above one of his eyes, and identical bald patches on the nose," the statement continues. Read More: Hollywood Animal Trainer Faces Cruelty Charges PETA also sent a letter to Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, to tell the pop star the big cat came from the local zoo. "We know he (Bieber) is drawn to animals, but this is the very worst way to recognize this interest because exotic animals are usually torn away from their mothers prematurely, beaten into submission by trainers, are often doped up to be docile, and are deprived of everything that's natural and important to them," the letter stated. Another animal rights group, World Animal Protection, also criticized Bieber for posing for a "selfie" with a wild animal. "To people with huge influence like Justin Bieber, our message is simple: tigers are wild animals, not entertainers ... People posing with wildlife don't realize that a 'once in a lifetime' photo for them means a lifetime of misery for the animal," the group said in a statement. Story continues The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last month brought formal charges against Hackenberger. His zoo is located roughly an hour outside of Toronto. Hackenberger has supplied animals for a number of TV and film productions including Seth Rogen's The Interview as well as, most famously, Jonas, a Bengal tiger who featured prominently in Ang Lee's Life of Pi (although the 2012 film also used computer-generated visual effects to portray the tiger). A Hollywood Reporter investigation revealed in 2013 that another tiger on the set of Life of Pi allegedly nearly drowned during filming, according to an email from an American Humane Association monitor. Hackenberger has denied claims by PETA that he struck the Siberian tiger with a whip 19 times. The Ontario SPCA began probing the alleged animal abuse by Hackenberger after PETA posted video of his behavior. Read More: 'Life of Pi' Tiger Trainer Allegedly Caught on Video Whipping Animal May 2, 11:30 a.m. Updated with statement from World Animal Protection. Bieber posted the below photo to Instagram of the chained tiger he spent time with over the weekend. A photo posted by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Apr 30, 2016 at 4:05pm PDT With Brexit a Consideration, What's Next for Gold? (Continued from Prior Part) Haven bids for gold Gold prices have been steadily rising in the past couple of months. At first, there was global unrest combined with routing equities. Then, there was the oil market slump, followed the Federal Reserves fear, followed by the weakening US dollar. Whats next? Gold is a traditionally preferred store-of-value asset. It offers no coupons like Treasuries and no dividends like stocks. However, investors flock to gold during times of economic uncertainty, buoying the precious metal. Silver and other precious metals such as platinum and palladium often follow the same route as gold. Industry analysts predict that the golds price could explode and touch the $1,300 mark if Great Britain decides to leave the European Union (or EU). The referendum on the countrys EU membership on June 23, 2016, could result in excess volatility in the core currencies involved, including the euro and the British pound. It could also send shock waves to the US dollar, impacting gold. Most of golds rise in the current year has been driven by haven bids. With the possibility of Brexit in June, its possible that haven bids for gold and silver will rise further. Gold takes miners along for the ride Gold has surged a whopping 20.2% on a year-to-date basis and has given its best quarterly performance of the past decade. The gains in gold and silver are often extended to funds such as the Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) and the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX). These two funds rose 3.2% and 4.6%, respectively, on April 28, 2016, due to the impressive gains in all four precious metals. The mining companies that remained the best performers on April 28 included Kinross Gold (KGC), Harmony Gold (HMY), and Gold Fields (GFI). These three companies rose by 10%, 8%, and 7.6%, respectively, on April 28. Together, these three stocks make up approximately 8% of the fluctuations in GDX. Story continues Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: President Barack Obama took the stage for his last (and "perhaps the last," he joked) White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday (April 30), taking shots at everything from Hillary Clinton to Prince George to the GOP. "I am excited," he began. "If this material works well, I'm going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year. Earn me some serious Tubmans. "Next year at this time, someone else will be standing here at this very spot," Obama said, saying he was getting sentimental. "And it's anyone's guess who she will be," he added, alluding to frontrunner Hillary Clinton. He later added that Clinton trying to appeal to young people was "a little like a relative trying to use Facebook." "Dear America, did you get my poke? Is it appearing on your wall? I'm not sure I'm using this right. Love, Aunt Hillary," Obama said, mimicking Clinton's voice. Clinton later responded to the joke by calling herself "Aunt Hillary" in a tweet. @potus Nice job last night. Aunt Hillary approves. #WHCD -H - Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 1, 2016 The President also addressed how eight years ago he was "a young man full of idealism, "but look at me now," he joked, "just counting down the days until my death panel." Obama also spoke about soon becoming a lame duck, which will be odd for him because Republicans won't listem to him anymore and "won't take my calls," he said sarcastically. He also called out GOP chairman Reince Priebus, telling him that the current Republican race to the White House "is just going great." He even compared the current crop of GOP candidates to the dinner attendees "choosing steak or fish, but writing in Paul Ryan." Leaders have been "anticipating my departure," said Obama. "Last week, Prince George showed up to meet me in his bathrobe. That was a slap in the face." Story continues Lamenting the many reporters who have left the White House recently as they ready for his departure, the POTUS added his sadness that Jake Tapper "left journalism to join CNN." Obama also took a moment to thank Joe Biden for his years of work, friendship and "for not shooting anybody in the face," he quipped in a nod to Dick Cheney. Turning to "fantasy film" Spotlight, he even thanked the investigative journalists who "hold the powerful accountable" - Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Liev Schreiber. Obama also had a Socialist "comrade" joke for Bernie Sanders after introducing the Democratic candidate. "We've got the bright new face of the Democratic party here tonight, Mr. Bernie Sanders," he said to loud applause. "Bernie, you look like a million bucks. Or to put it in terms you'll understand, you look like 37,000 donations of $20 each." The President almost finished his speech before interrupting himself: "Nah, I'm just kidding. You know I've got to talk about Trump! We weren't just going to stop there. Come on!" Saying that he's hurt that Donald Trump didn't show up because "we had so much fun the last time," he asked, "Is this dinner too tacky for the Donald? What could he possibly be doing instead? At home, eating a Trump steak? Tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel? "I don't want to spend too much time on the Donald, following your lead," Obama said to the journalists in the audience. "I want to show some restraint. Because I think we can all agree that from the start, he's gotten the appropriate amount of coverage befitting the seriousness of his candidacy. I hope you're happy." Introducing Larry Wilmore, he called the host "one of the two black guys who's not Jon Stewart. You're the South African, right?" Last year, Obama made headlines for performing his remarks with Key and Peele's Keegan-Michael Key as his "anger translator," when the duo took on CNN and The Walking Dead. Watch his full speech below. This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter May 2 - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Times * Only way is up for oil price (http://bit.ly/1raDJB3) The oil price may have reached its floor after touching decade-low levels this year because of fears about a supply glut and a stand-off between the big producing nations, according to the world's leading energy official. * Blackstone races to top of private equity mountain (http://bit.ly/26IFQwK">http://bit.ly/26IFQwK)(http://bit.ly/26IFQwK">http://bit.ly/26IFQwK) Blackstone Group has raised a bumper $60 billion from private equity investors over the past five years, claiming the title of the world's biggest private equity group and leaving its rivals far behind. The Guardian * Leaked TTIP documents cast doubt on EU-US trade deal (http://bit.ly/23gYuYe) Talks for a free trade deal between Europe and the U.S. face a serious impasse with "irreconcilable" differences in some areas, according to leaked negotiating texts. * Europe's liberal illusions shatter as Greek tragedy plays on (http://bit.ly/26IGpXy) Greece is running out of money. The government in Athens is raiding the budgets of the health service and public utilities to pay salaries and pensions. Without fresh financial support it will struggle to make a debt payment due in July. The Telegraph * Lord Grabiner to be quizzed by MPs over BHS collapse (http://bit.ly/1SWIP0y) Lord Grabiner, the chairman of Arcadia, is due to be called to help MPs to understand why BHS was sold for 1 pound ($1.46) to Retail Acquisitions 13 months before its dramatic collapse. * BT to let rival use its ducts and poles in bid to boost competition (http://bit.ly/23hrfnD) BT Group is in talks to open up its infrastructure to a rival in a landmark test of Ofcom's plan to introduce more competition for its much criticised Openreach network monopoly. Sky News * Butterkist owner to pass on the popcorn Story continues (http://bit.ly/23esjsm) The private equity group which owns stakes in corporate giants such as Hilton Worldwide and Versace is to take advantage of soaring UK consumer demand for popcorn by putting the Butterkist brand up for sale. ($1 = 0.6851 pounds) (Compiled by Shivam Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Diane Craft) prince Prince was one of the last truly enigmatic music superstars, and one myth stood above all others for his fans: the vault. The late musician was known for his prolific creative output (he had a recording studio in his massive Minnesota complex), and much of it never saw the light of day, instead getting stashed away in a vault. Now that vault has been drilled open by Bremer Trust, the financial institution given temporary control over Prince's estate, since he did not have a will, according to ABC News. Apparently only Prince himself had the code to the vault, which was locked shut with a large spinning wheel. Susan Rogers, Prince's former recording engineer, told "Good Morning America" that shelves filled up quickly in the giant room. "We could put out more work in a month than most people could do in a year or more," she said. There's reportedly so much unheard material in the vault, we could be listening to a new Prince album every year for the next century. That would make Prince by far the most active posthumous artist ever and it could reshape his entire legacy. "One day, someone will release them," Prince previously said of the treasure trove of music on "The View" back in 2012. "I don't know that I'll get to release them. There's just so many." It's anyone's guess how the music will eventually come out, as command of Prince's estate will likely transfer from Bremer to Prince's sister Tyka Nelson and his half-siblings. But you can rest assured it'll come out, one way or another no one would let that stay hidden away. NOW WATCH: 'Saturday Night Live' took on Sanders and Clinton's feisty exchange in Brooklyn More From Business Insider Happy birthday, Princess Charlotte! Prince William and Kate Middleton's adorable daughter turned one on Monday, and naturally, everyone helped celebrate the big milestone. Kensington Palace revealed just some of the gifts Charlotte has received from world leaders, including two from President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. During the Obamas' visit to the UK last week -- when they enjoyed a cozy private dinner with Will, Kate, and Prince Harry -- the couple gave Princess Charlotte a jigsaw puzzle and a "Bo" teddy bear, paying tribute to their beloved Portuguese Water Dog, Bo. The stuffed animal matches the one they previously gave to her older brother, Prince George. WATCH: Princess Charlotte and Prince George Are as Cute as Ever in New Royal Family Photo Other thoughtful gifts include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's presents of a snowsuit, a book, and a $100,000 donation to Immunize Canada, a coalition promoting the understanding and use of recommended vaccines. Will and Kate were also given gifts for Charlotte during official state visits throughout the year, including a silver rattle from the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, and his wife, Senora Angelica Rivera, last March. During Chinese president Xi Jinping's visit last October, Charlotte was given a set of silk figurines, depicting the traditional Chinese novel, Dream of the Red Chamber. Prince Harry was also given gifts to pass along to his niece during his own official visits, such as a New Zealand Rugby sleepsuit and Wellington Rugby snowsuit during his tour of the country last May. In addition, the Prime Minister of New Zealand gave a selection of teddy bears, baby blankets and bootees, all made from Stansborough wool. Gifts and letters for Charlotte have been received from 64 countries around the world, from Armenia to Zambia, Kensington Palace revealed on Monday. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for all the letters, gifts and good wishes they have been fortunate to receive in the year since Princess Charlotte was born," the statement reads. Story continues NEWS: Prince William Says Charlotte Is an 'Easy' Baby, but He's Preparing for 'Drama' On Sunday, the palace shared four new adorable photos of Charlotte that Kate actually took herself. The Vogue cover girl took the sweet snapshots earlier this month at Amnar Hall, the family's country home in Norfolk, England. We hope that everyone enjoys these lovely photos as much as we do. pic.twitter.com/PqZnnQyX9h Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 1, 2016 Watch the video below for more super cute pics of Charlotte! Related Articles BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government troops surrounded Hama prison in the west of the country on Monday and fired tear gas after inmates revolted, seizing several guards, a monitoring group reported. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said inmates were protesting against a planned transfer of prisoners from Hama to Sednaya military prison north of Damascus. Those held in the Hama jail include political and Islamist prisoners, it said. An insurgent group operating near Hama, located 210 km (130 miles) from Damascus, said it was ready to shell government militias in towns nearby in response to mistreatment of the inmates, who it said were demanding "basic rights" including trial, the British-based Observatory reported. The Ajnad al-Sham group said prisoners had urged the armed opposition to "break the siege" by government forces. Insurgents later shelled Maharda, one of the towns Ajnad al-Sham threatened to attack, the Observatory reported. It was not immediately clear if the shelling was linked. An interior ministry official denied "reports from some media about Hama central prison", state news agency SANA said, without elaborating. In August last year hundreds of inmates at the prison rioted in protest against conditions and harsh sentences. International rights groups say thousands of detainees are held in Syrian government prisons without charge and many of them are subjected to torture, a claim denied by the authorities. The Syrian conflict began in 2011 with popular protests against President Bashar al-Assad and spiralled into civil war after a crackdown by security forces. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Andrew Roche) Screen Shot 2016 05 02 at 2.50.47 PM Ted Cruz on Monday found himself locked in a heated exchange with ardent Donald Trump supporters lasting more than six minutes. Surrounded by a swath of media at a campaign stop in Indiana, Cruz stood his ground as a Trump supporter repeatedly called him "Lyin' Ted," Trump's preferred moniker for his presidential rival. "Career politicians have killed America," one Trump supporter shouted at him. "You are the problem." Cruz engaged in a back and forth with the Trump supporters, insisting that the real-estate mogul's plans to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, along with other policy promises, are a scam on voters. It came a day before the Indiana primary, in which Cruz is making something of a last-ditch effort to blunt Trump's momentum. "With all respect, Donald Trump is deceiving you," Cruz said. "He is playing you for a chump." "Where's your Goldman Sachs jacket at?" one of the men shot back after praising Trump for being "self-funded." "We know your wife worked there." The supporters also asked Cruz, a strong supporter of looser gun regulations, what he'd do to protect the Second Amendment. "I have defended the Second Amendment in front of the Supreme Court," the Texas senator said. "Donald Trump is a New York liberal who will take away your Second Amendment rights." "Look, sir, I appreciate you being out here speaking," Cruz continued. "But if I were Donald Trump, I wouldn't have come over and talked to you. I wouldn't have shown you that respect. As a matter of fact, you know what I would've done? I would've told the folks over there to go over and punch you guys in the face." The Trump supporters then hit the senator with chants of "Ted's truth" and "Lyin' Ted." "What word did I say was a lie?" Cruz shot back. "About Donald telling people to punch people," the man standing directly in front of him answered. Cruz asked the men to Google Trump's comments from earlier in the year when he said that he'd like to "punch" a protester "in the face." Story continues "Look, this was on national television," Cruz said. At this point, the Trump supporters began to cut off Cruz's answers. "America is a better country," Cruz began. "Without you," the supporters interjected. Cruz, who is trailing Trump by more than nine points in the latest RealClearPolitics average of several polls, went to point out that he had "been respectful the entire time." "A question that everyone here should ask," he continued, before the Trump supporters cut him off again. "Are you Canadian?" they asked. Watch the full interaction below: NOW WATCH: Its surreal to watch this 2011 video of Obama and Seth Meyers taunting Trump about a presidential run More From Business Insider On Sunday, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced Puerto Rico's Government Development Bank would default on roughly $389 million in payments to bondholders. According to CNBC, the missed payment represents the largest of those since its first-ever default in August, when the island only paid $628,000 of a $58 million payment just a fraction of Puerto Rico's over $70 billion total debt. Combined with an unemployment rate of nearly 12%, more than double that of mainland United States, Puerto Rico's ongoing economic crisis has its residents migrating at an unprecedented rate. CNN reported that 84,000 people left the island for the U.S. in 2014 alone, amounting to about 230 people a day. After a decade-long recession, more Puerto Ricans now live in the U.S. than in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican capitol According to the Washington Post, Puerto Rico's next payment deadline is July 1, at which time the bank owes another $2 billion to its creditors. Currently, the U.S. House of Representatives has a bill to reduce the island's debt, though the perception of the legislation qualifying as a "bailout" though it wouldn't allocate any government funding to Puerto Rico has resulted in some push back. Last month, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda penned an op-ed in the New York Times, urging the U.S. Congress to save Puerto Rico from buckling under its debt. "Please let us not get bogged down in Puerto Rico's status," wrote Miranda. "If a ship is sinking, you don't ask, 'Well, what type of ship is it and what type of ship should it be?' You rescue the people aboard." By Nick Brown and Daniel Bases SAN JUAN/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Puerto Rico's Government Development Bank, the main funding source for the U.S. commonwealth's public agencies, said it reached a tentative restructuring deal with some major creditors hours after declaring it would skip a $422 million debt payment. The agreed framework is "a vital first step" that needs both restructuring legislation from the U.S. federal government and participation from all of the GDBs creditors in order to work, the bank said in the statement issued late on Sunday. Puerto Rico overall faces $70 billion in debt, a staggering 45-percent poverty rate and a shrinking population as it enters the most dire stretch of its fiscal crisis. It owes another $1.9 billion on July 1 that Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla says it cannot pay. Both the government and the creditors, who call themselves the Ad Hoc Group and hold roughly $935 million of the GDB's nearly $4 billion in bonds, said they would continue negotiations for another 30 days. These creditors said in a statement on Monday they would not pursue legal action during that time, although that does not preclude smaller investors from filing lawsuits. As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico cannot file for bankruptcy protection. It has been pleading for Washington to offer it a lifeline. The GDB default is the most significant yet in Puerto Rico, because the bank acts as the main depositary and liquidity source for public agencies like the islands highway and infrastructure authorities. The indicative terms of the deal reached with the Ad Hoc group is a two-step debt exchange where they would likely recoup about 47 percent of what they are owed. Puerto Rico has reached forbearance or restructuring deals with firms holding about $153 million of the debt due on Monday, and has said it will pay another $22 million in interest. That leaves some $247 million that will be defaulted upon, mostly held by smaller investors without the organization or deep pockets of the ad hoc group. Story continues One major investor, who requested anonymity while talks are under way, said there is discussion over reducing the need for 100 percent of creditors to agree to the terms. "If we can get that down to 95 percent participation or so, we think we can get there, without any federal legislation," the investor said. Sources involved in the talks told Reuters the Ad Hoc Group holds about $120 million of the debt due Monday. A second investor whose firm manages more than $10 billion but is not involved in the talks, said they were holding their bonds to see how any deal would work and hoped rules overseeing bond agreements are not changed after the fact. "I'm unlikely to buy again if they are not transparent and change the rules governing their debt after the fact," said the second investor, who requested anonymity because of the ongoing talks. Multiple market sources said the GDB's 2011 Series B senior notes that are going unpaid are being quoted in the market at around 20 cents on the dollar. 'PAINFUL' DECISION In a televised speech on Sunday evening, Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla imposed a moratorium on the debt payment, a "painful" decision he blamed on the absence of U.S. Congressional action to solve Puerto Rico's debt crisis. Puerto Rico owes another $1.9 billion on July 1 that Garcia Padilla has said it cannot pay. Congress is debating a bill that would put the islands finances under federal oversight and allow it to restructure debt in a bankruptcy-like process, but the bill has faced criticism from conservative and liberal wings of both parties. Pedro Pierluisi, the island's representative in Congress, spread the blame. "Puerto Rico is in this situation for two reasons: profound inequality at the federal level and profound mismanagement at the local level," he said in a statement on Monday. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday he hoped developments would push Congress to act and give the island needed restructuring authority. The Ad Hoc Group includes hedge funds Avenue Capital Management, Brigade Capital Management, Claren Road Asset Management, Fir Tree Partners, Fore Research & Management and Solus Alternative Asset Management. (Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski) (Updates with more details from government, adds video link) By Nick Brown and Daniel Bases SAN JUAN/NEW YORK, May 2 (Reuters) - Puerto Rico's Government Development Bank, the main funding source for the U.S. commonwealth's public agencies, said it reached a tentative restructuring deal with some major creditors hours after declaring it would skip a $422 million debt payment. The agreed framework is "a vital first step" that needs both restructuring legislation from the U.S. federal government and participation from all of the GDB's creditors in order to work, the bank said in the statement issued late on Sunday. Puerto Rico overall faces $70 billion in debt, a staggering 45-percent poverty rate and a shrinking population as it enters the most dire stretch of its fiscal crisis. It owes another $1.9 billion on July 1 that Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla says it cannot pay. Both the government and the creditors, who call themselves the Ad Hoc Group and hold roughly $935 million of the GDB's nearly $4 billion in bonds, said they would continue negotiations for another 30 days. These creditors said in a statement on Monday they would not pursue legal action during that time, although that does not preclude smaller investors from filing lawsuits. As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico cannot file for bankruptcy protection. It has been pleading for Washington to offer it a lifeline. The GDB default is the most significant yet in Puerto Rico, because the bank acts as the main depositary and liquidity source for public agencies like the island's highway and infrastructure authorities. The indicative terms of the deal reached with the Ad Hoc group is a two-step debt exchange where they would likely recoup about 47 percent of what they are owed. Puerto Rico has reached forbearance or restructuring deals with firms holding about $153 million of the debt due on Monday, and has said it will pay another $22 million in interest. That leaves some $247 million that will be defaulted upon, mostly held by smaller investors without the organization or deep pockets of the ad hoc group. Story continues One major investor, who requested anonymity while talks are under way, said there is discussion over reducing the need for 100 percent of creditors to agree to the terms. "If we can get that down to 95 percent participation or so, we think we can get there, without any federal legislation," the investor said. Sources involved in the talks told Reuters the Ad Hoc Group holds about $120 million of the debt due Monday. A second investor whose firm manages more than $10 billion but is not involved in the talks, said they were holding their bonds to see how any deal would work and hoped rules overseeing bond agreements are not changed after the fact. "I'm unlikely to buy again if they are not transparent and change the rules governing their debt after the fact," said the second investor, who requested anonymity because of the ongoing talks. Multiple market sources said the GDB's 2011 Series B senior notes that are going unpaid are being quoted in the market at around 20 cents on the dollar. 'PAINFUL' DECISION In a televised speech on Sunday evening, Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla imposed a moratorium on the debt payment, a "painful" decision he blamed on the absence of U.S. Congressional action to solve Puerto Rico's debt crisis. Puerto Rico owes another $1.9 billion on July 1 that Garcia Padilla has said it cannot pay. Congress is debating a bill that would put the island's finances under federal oversight and allow it to restructure debt in a bankruptcy-like process, but the bill has faced criticism from conservative and liberal wings of both parties. Pedro Pierluisi, the island's representative in Congress, spread the blame. "Puerto Rico is in this situation for two reasons: profound inequality at the federal level and profound mismanagement at the local level," he said in a statement on Monday. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday he hoped developments would push Congress to act and give the island needed restructuring authority. The Ad Hoc Group includes hedge funds Avenue Capital Management, Brigade Capital Management, Claren Road Asset Management, Fir Tree Partners, Fore Research & Management and Solus Alternative Asset Management. (Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington; Editing by Nick Zieminski) Qualcomm's Fiscal 2Q16 Earnings: A Mixed Bag (Continued from Prior Part) Qualcomm eyes adjacent markets In the previous part of this series, we saw that Qualcomms (QCOM) chipset and licensing business is being impacted by a slowdown in the smartphone market, especially premium phones. Hence, the company is looking to expand in other high-growth markets where its connectivity and ARM chips can serve well. The company has identified four markets: automotive, networking, mobile computing, and IoT (Internet of Things). Adjacent markets revenue contribution in fiscal 2016 In the automotive space, Qualcomms Snapdragon 820A module has been launched. In the networking space, Qualcomm offers more than 240 router, home gateway, and set-top box designs. In the IoT space, Qualcomm chips power more than 100 wearable devices, of which 80% were Googles (GOOG) Android smartwatch designs. In terms of unit shipments, more than 1 billion IoT devices powered by Qualcomm technology have been shipped. Qualcomm expects these adjacent markets to contribute ~$2.5 billion toward QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) revenue in fiscal 2016. Data center Qualcomm (QCOM) is looking to gain some share in the data center market with its ARM architecture server chips. Several chip makers such as Cavium, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and AppliedMicro offer ARM chips that have been adopted by several server systems like Hewlett-Packard Enterprises (HPE) Moonshot servers. The use of ARM servers is confined to a few cloud and web service customers and has been unable to compete with Intels (INTC) x86 servers. Until now, Qualcomm has been growing slowly in this market. However, with the slowdown in the smartphone market, a new growth area is what it needs. It has partnered with Guizhou Province to design and build data center chips for China (FXI), which is expected to become the second-largest server market after the US. According to a Bloomberg report, Google is in talks with Qualcomm to use the latters chips in its data centers. Story continues During the company fiscal 2Q16 earnings call, Qualcomms president, Derek Aberle, hinted that the company may start shipping its server chips in fiscal 2H17. Responding to an analysts question, he noted, Our assumption is that we will be shipping samples toward the end of the year, and revenue would be something that would flow through mid to late next year. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Montreal (AFP) - Media tycoon Pierre Karl Peladeau announced Monday he is quitting politics, less than one year after taking up the cause of splitting Quebec province from the rest of Canada. Peladeau told a press conference that he was quitting as head of the Parti Quebecois (PQ) -- the standardbearer of the Quebec separatist movement -- in order to focus on mending family problems. "I'm faced with choosing between my family and my political project," the 54-year-old said, adding that he chose to resign "for the good of my children." Three months ago, Peladeau separated with his wife, popular local television host Julie Snyder. They had married in August 2015 after 14 years together. The couple, who are currently in counseling, have a son aged 10 and a seven-year-old daughter. Peladeau is heir to the powerful Quebecor Media group, which owns newspapers and broadcasting assets in the province. The billionaire took Canada by surprise when he announced in April 2014 his support for Quebec independence, with a fist pump at a televised event. The same month, he was elected to the Quebec legislature as a member of the opposition PQ, and in May 2015, he was elected leader of the PQ. London (AFP) - Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri called his Chelsea counterpart Guus Hiddink on Monday to thank him for the draw with Tottenham Hotspur that gave his team the Premier League title. Spurs' 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge brought Leicester the first top-flight title in their 132-year history and Ranieri, who was sacked by Chelsea in 2004, was quickly on the phone to express his gratitude. "Just after the final whistle, I got a call from Ranieri," Hiddink, Chelsea's interim manager, told his post-match press conference. "He called us and thanked us for what we did, especially in the second half. I congratulated him for being champion. "I think they deserve it. It might be not a surprise anymore, but maybe a shock for the established clubs that they did so well. "They didn't implode. There was no tension when they started smelling the title. That's why I think they deserve the title." Asked if Ranieri, who cried on the pitch following Leicester's recent 2-0 win at Sunderland, had sounded emotional, Hiddink replied: "Yeah. I didn't see any tears because it was not a Facetime conversation. "But his voice was trembling a bit. Five times, (he said) thanks. Because the emotion is going up." Ranieri, 64, was reported to have returned to England earlier on Monday after making a quick trip to Italy in order to have lunch with his 96-year-old mother, Renata. The genial Italian will get his hands on the first league title of his 30-year managerial career on Saturday after Leicester's final home game against Everton. - Pochettino defends players - Spurs looked to have done enough to keep the title race alive after goals from Harry Kane -- his 25th of the campaign -- and Son Heung-Min put them 2-0 up, but Gary Cahill reduced the arrears before substitute Eden Hazard curled in a stunning and decisive 83rd-minute equaliser. Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino backed his players to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the title. Story continues "I want to congratulate Leicester and Claudio Ranieri and all the players," the Argentine said. "It's a fantastic season for them. But we feel very disappointed because were were 2-0 up and in the second half had opportunities to score. "But it's not a moment to analyse the game. The players are very disappointed and sad, but this is a good feeling. "For the future, we are the youngest squad of the Premier League and I think we're in a fantastic position. "We're disappointed for the title, but now we need to refocus and try to keep our place. Our objective is to finish second." Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele is likely to face retrospective disciplinary action after appearing to gouge Diego Costa's eye, while there were mass touchline melees shortly before half-time and after the final whistle. But Pochettino, who said he "didn't see" the Dembele incident, claimed his side's feistiness was purely a sign of their desire to win. "In football this sometimes happens, with the emotion," he said. "We need to learn, but I can say I feel very proud of our players and our supporters and the future will be brilliant." Sagar Bhanushali Renault India has been spotted testing their Kwid small car with the AMT gearbox. Caught on test somewhere in Chennai, the Kwid AMT is due for launch this festive season besides bringing in a more powerful 1-litre version. The Kwid AMT wears the same look as its manual equivalent. The only differentiating bit over the skin is the Easy-R badge which signifies that its the automated-manual version. Inside, the car will feature a rotary knob as the gear selector which will be mounted on to the dashboard. The Renault Kwid has truly been a game changer for Renault India. Competing in the highly crucial entry-level small car segment, the Kwid has amassed a lot of interest among buyers and as a result, has contributed to a massive 160 per cent increase in Renaults overall sales for March 2016, compared to the same period last year. Source: Anythingonwheels For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com. Check On-Road Prices | Find New Cars | Upcoming Cars | Compare Cars | Dealer Locator By Emma Thomasson BERLIN (Reuters) - Rocket Internet said on Monday two supervisory board members from long-standing investor Kinnevik would step down at its annual shareholder meeting on June 9. The move follows differences between the two companies over the valuation of joint investments, with Kinnevik putting a lower price on most of them and Rocket shares falling sharply last week as analysts questioned some of its valuations. Rocket said in a statement Kinnevik CEO Lorenzo Grabau and Erik Mitteregger would resign from the supervisory board and be replaced by two members independent of its shareholders. A Rocket spokesman said the departure was agreed by mutual consent. But company sources have told Reuters Grabau and Rocket CEO Oliver Samwer have disagreed for a while over strategy. A Kinnevik spokesman said its two board members were stepping down to avoid any potential conflicts of interest over future investments. "This has nothing to do with any disagreement. We continue to work together. We just believe it is more prudent not to sit on the board," he said. Grabau was replaced as chairman of Rocket's supervisory board in December by former ProSieben digital media manager Marcus Englert. In February, Grabau told Reuters this was because Rocket had moved from being a pure internet incubator to being more like an investment firm in online companies with a model very similar to Kinnevik's, making it important to have an independent chairman. Analysts predict Kinnevik will eventually seek to part ways with Rocket as Kinnevik shifts its investments into education, financial technology and healthcare. Founded in Berlin by brothers Oliver, Alexander and Marc Samwer in 2007, Rocket has set up dozens of ecommerce sites, aiming to replicate the success of Amazon and Alibaba in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Russia. But some investors are concerned over the scale of losses at its start-ups ranging from online fashion to food delivery, as well as delays to planned listings due to volatile markets. Story continues Rocket's shares tumbled last week after a new fundraising with Kinnevik for its Global Fashion Group (GFG) slashed the start-up's valuation by two thirds. The stock was down another 3.1 percent at 1220 GMT. Kinnevik was one of the first investors in Rocket and still has a 13 percent holding - as well as stakes in several of its major start-ups - making it the firm's second-biggest shareholder after the Samwer brothers' 38 percent stake. Rocket said the two Kinnevik board members would be replaced by former Deutsche Bank finance chief Stefan Krause and French telecoms group Orange's deputy chief executive Pierre Louette. Kinnevik is still represented on the supervisory board of online fashion firm Zalando - its most successful joint investment so far with Rocket. Kinnevik Chairman Cristina Stenbeck has been chairwoman of Zalando's supervisory board since 2014 and Grabau has been vice chairman since 2013. (Additional reporting by Nadine Schimroszik in Berlin and Mia Shanley in Stockholm; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Mark Potter) Announcement to the Toronto Stock Exchange and Australian Stock Exchange SUBIACO, WA / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / The Board of RTG Mining Inc. ("RTG," "the Company") (TSX Code: RTG, ASX Code: RTG) announces that it has today filed a technical report ("the Report") for the Mabilo Copper-Gold-Iron Project in the Philippines, pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Report provides detail on the disclosure contained in the Company's news release issued on March 18, 2016, announcing the results of the Feasibility Study for the Mabilo Project. The Company confirms that there are no material differences between the results announced on March 18, 2016 and the results contained in the Report. The Report can be found on the RTG Mining website (www.rtgmining.com) and under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. ABOUT RTG MINING INC RTG Mining Inc. is a mining and exploration company listed on the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange and Australian Securities Exchange Limited. RTG is focused on developing the high grade copper/gold/magnetite Mabilo Project and advancing exploration on the highly prospective Bunawan Project, both in the Philippines, while also identifying major new projects which will allow the Company to move quickly and safely to production. RTG has an experienced management team (previously responsible for the development of the Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Limited), and has B2Gold as one of its major shareholders in the Company. B2Gold is a member of both the S&P/TSX Global Gold and Global Mining Indices. ENQUIRIES Australian Contact President & CEO - Justine Magee Tel: +61 8 6489 2900 Fax: +61 8 6489 2920 Email: jmagee@rtgmining.com North America Contact Investor Relations - Jaime Wells Tel: +1 (970) 640 0611 Email: jwells@rtgmining.com CAUTIONARY NOTE STATEMENT Certain statements contained in this announcement constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, among others, statements made or implied relating to the Company's objectives, strategies to achieve those objectives, the Company's beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "objective," "may," "will," "expect," "likely," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "plans" or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and reflect the Company's current beliefs based on information currently available to management. Such statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors inherent in the business of the Company and the risk factors discussed in the Annual Information Form and other materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities from time to time which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the mining industry (including operational risks; risks in exploration, and development; the uncertainties involved in the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits, resources or reserves; and the uncertainty of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates); the risk of gold, copper and other commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the ability of the Company to fund the capital and operating expenses necessary to achieve the business objectives of the Company; the uncertainty associated with commercial negotiations and negotiating with foreign governments; the risks associated with international business activities; risks related to operating in Nigeria and the Philippines; environmental risk; the dependence on key personnel; and the ability to access capital markets. Story continues Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made and readers are advised to consider such forward looking statements in light of the risks set forth above. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances. SOURCE: RTG Mining Inc. Moscow (AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to host UN envoy Staffan de Mistura for talks on Syria in Moscow on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said. "Talks between Mistura and Sergei Lavrov followed by a press conference will take place" in Moscow, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP on Monday. The talks will be held amid accusations by the United States and other supporters of the Syrian opposition that Russia has violated international agreements to back peace in the war-torn country. Washington and Moscow are the joint sponsors of the Syrian peace process, and de Mistura had made it clear that he sees little hope of progress without their agreement. But the United States charges that Russia, while agreeing to support a ceasefire, has done little to rein in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces around Aleppo. The head of Moscow's coordination centre in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, said on Sunday that talks to include Aleppo province in a so-called "regime of silence" -- or freeze in fighting -- had begun. Kuralenko told reporters on Monday that those talks were still continuing. Russia says it will not ask the Syrian regime to halt air raids on Aleppo as it believes they are helping to combat jihadist groups there. More than 270,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests demanding Assad's ouster. From Cosmopolitan On Thursday, Ryan Reynolds posted a moving tribute on Facebook to his friend and Deadpool superfan Connor McGrath, who lost his battle to leukemia earlier in the week. McGrath was 13 years old. "For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer... Not sure how... Maybe the cancer cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago," Reynolds wrote. Reynolds and Connor met through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, when he traveled up to Edmonton, Alberta to show him a rough cut of Deadpool. He wrote that Connor had that comedic quality that you see in great performers, a "running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with." "I'm grateful I got to orbit Connor's world for a brief time," Reynolds continued. Grateful for the pages and pages of hilarious texts between us... Grateful to his parents for allowing Connor to spend time with a foul-mouthed child in the body of a 39 year old." See his post in full below: Follow Diana on Twitter. BUYERS: Aidy Bryant and Conner OMalley LOCATION: New York City, NY PRICE: $995,000 SIZE: (approx.) 850 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Veteran celebrity real estate informant Polly Wannacracker sent word via covert communique and property records do indeed confirm that professionally upwardly mobile comedy couple Aidy Bryant and Conner OMalley shelled out $995,000 for a modestly sized if hardly inexpensive co-operative apartment at the London Terrace complex in New York Citys bustling, art gallery-filled Chelsea neighborhood. Bryant and OMalley were improv standouts in Chicago before she secured a coveted spot on Saturday Night Live in 2012. He currently toils as a writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and shes recently popped up on the HBO hit series Girls and the IFC mockumentary spoof Documentary Now! along with the Louis C.K.-written web series Horace and Pete and last year the couple teamed up for an outlandish and hilariously ribald scene on the critically acclaimed sitcom Broad City. At around 850-square-feet, the one-bedroom and one-bathroom apartment isnt going to win any size contests but, according to online marketing materials, it does benefit from nine-foot beamed ceilings, refurbished oak floorboards stained the color of black coffee, and a renovated bathroom that retains London Terraces signature black and white mosaic tile flooring and white subway tiled walls. The stripped steel front door opens less than ideally although not all that unusually for smaller apartments in New York City directly into an inarguably compact kitchen that incorporates just enough black granite topped counter space to unpack Chinese take-out plus a convenient two-stool snack bar. The main living space comfortably accommodates separate living and dining spaces and has two large north-facing windows that provide an over-the-townhouse-rooftops view of the Empire State Building. The listing was handled by Douglas Elliman broker Bruce Wayne Solomon. Our research indicates the jokester couple didnt have far to schlep their belongings as they previously paid somewhere around $4,200/month to rent a one-bedroom and one-bathroom apartment with two decorative fireplaces and a private terrace in a landmarked, 19th-century Greek Revival-style townhouse thats just a few blocks south of their new digs. Residents of the titanic London Terrace complex, who once-upon-a-time included this property gossip, are provided with round-the-clock doorman and concierge services, a half-sized Olympic swimming pool with lockers and steam rooms, a ground-level courtyard and planted roof terrace with wrap-around city views, and, for additional monthly fees, a full-service fitness facility and an on-site parking garage. In addition to several other former Saturday Night Live who include but are not limited to Chris Kattan and Bill Hader, the multi-building complex has been home a hefty number of high-profile residents including Debbie Harry, Katherine Helmond, and Susan Sontag whose former penthouse is now owned by The Sopranos writer/producer David Chase who acquired it in 2013 for $9.65 million. Exterior image: Christopher Bride for Property Shark Listing photos and floor plan: Douglas Elliman Related stories Louis C.K. to Release More 'Horace & Pete' Saturday, Drops Prices Vimeo Launches Slate of 3 Originals, Including Drag Queen Bianca Del Rio Standup Special 'SNL': How Will NBC, Lorne Michaels Fix the Cast Conundrum? In the end, actually, were all dead. Living in a dystopia hurts peoples feelings. I spent nine months reading smutty fan fiction, and my teachers believe its academic. So go the witty summaries of students submitting their theses on lolmythesis.com. Its the ultimate in intellectual humble-brag-slash-self-deprecation: I went to a fancy school and all I got was this completely obvious statement about the world! Right about now, undergrad and grad students are probably turning in amply footnoted, double-spaced, 100-page opuses that might be read by a few bespectacled eyes and then shoved onto a shelf or maybe into a journal. They will experience the momentary zoom of satisfaction, sleep for hours, graduate and never talk about those years of work in full color again. Many people might cite this as the ultimate example of the uselessness of the humanities: Theyre irrelevant, and theyre privileged. As Marco Rubio quipped back when he was still a thing, We need more welders, less philosophers. (A humanities education might have reminded him that its fewer, not less, but oh, well.) Were in a transitional period, says David Schaberg, dean of humanities at UCLA a large public university where humanities classes offer a smaller respite from mega-lecture halls. What if, though, these fat forgotten papers hold the key to saving the humanities at a time when they sure as hell need saving: The National Endowment for the Humanities, which provides research grants and support, reported last October that appropriations were slashed 20 percent between 2010 and 2015. Heres the twist: When students file those papers, capstones or final projects which were arguing all students should do, in some form they must include an element of relevancy: a talk, a service-learning initiative, a magazine article, a public installation, a conference, a door-to-door sales pitch, anything that gets that work out of the library and into the world. Employers could attend fairs to hire those with projects that apply to their field. Story continues Theres much one could try. Public-facing philosopher Alain de Botton makes a good example; he wrote a literary biography of Proust called How Proust Can Change Your Life, which tricks us into learning about this whiny flowery Frenchman by offering self-help lessons. The sciences need this too if youre studying black-hole physics, I think you owe all of us who had shitty science educations a child-friendly, elegant explanation of your field. Or take Victoria Williamson, an alumna of the University of Dallas now working at an IT firm in Texas who studied in a philosophically infused psychology department. Her thesis might boil down to this: Telling someone they have a mental disorder matters. It affects how they view the world and themselves. She talked to clinicians who diagnosed patients with mental illnesses and examined the psychological and existential effects. A relevancy requirement might have been a good thing for me, she says; she would have ditched some of the Heideggerian musings on existentialism and we might have gotten more sensitive shrinks. Schabeg agrees students should think about relevancy, but he suggests starting that process not just at graduation but at matriculation. The idea of tacking it on at the end sounds distasteful to him, like an exit exam. Plus: It depends on how you define relevancy, he says. You might end up implying that universities are vocational. And were not asking people to prepare for a first job were asking them to prepare for a lifetime of thinking. Related Articles From Seventeen Hayley Lack and Jenna Waite, seniors at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, California, are nominated for prom royalty. Even though they were voted for by the student body and approved by ASB (a class that handles student body issues), the school administration has banned the couple from running for their prom court. In the past, Foothill students voted for prom court in pairs - for example, if Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik attended Foothill, you'd vote for Gigi and Zayn together rather than voting for Gigi for prom queen and Zayn as prom king. But now that a lesbian couple is running, Foothill is changing its policy. The principal now says students must vote for individuals rather than for couples, because having a same-sex couple win would be unfair to the gender not represented, the Redding Record Searchlight reports. The Foothill student body is overwhelmingly in favor of letting Hayley and Jenna run together against the other two straight couples nominated. When Hayley vented about the issue on Facebook, her community responded positively with messages of support. Hayley appeared on her friend Austin Witherspoon's YouTube show "The Journal of a Wayward Adventurer" for an interview about the controversy. "They're saying it has to be a king as a boy and a queen as a girl because it says royalty king and queen," Hayley told Austin. "Whenever Jenna talked to the head principal, he said, well, in England, they have kings and queens, so we should just keep it the same." But Hayley says if she and Jenna win prom royalty, they'd be happy to be called "prom king" and "prom queen." The administration's decision is not popular among the student body. "It's kind of hard to even want to be a part of the nominations and even want to go to dances or anything... feeling like I can't be myself without being discriminated against," junior Sabrina Vallejo told the Redding Record Searchlight. "Every girl wants to have that moment where they feel like a princess, you know? And it's like I can't really express that or have that moment like any other girl would because I found happiness with someone who isn't a boy." From Cosmopolitan After students nominated Hayley Lack, 16, and her girlfriend as this year's prom king and queen at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, California, the school principal says a couple made up of two girls can't win, because "it's not fair to the boy gender." In an email with Cosmopolitan.com, Lack said she and her classmates disagree with the administration's decision to disallow two women to win the traditional titles. "The students and myself believe that there was equal opportunity for both males and females because every senior had the ability to be nominated," she said. "We are asking for anyone, regardless of gender, to be able to win king or queen. With that, they would have equal opportunity." Students at Foothill High and two other high schools in the same district are fighting back with a "Petition for Equality for Same Sex Couples at Foothill High School," started by Lack and her girlfriend, that Lack estimates has been signed by more than one hundred people at this point. Megan Cowee, a 17-year-old junior at Shasta High School, another school in Foothill's district, started passing the petition around to her classmates and said she's seen nothing but support for the couple. "Even though Foothill is one of our rival schools, we can all come together to support what the students believe is right," Cowee said. "In this case, it's the right for the students to be able to vote for whoever they want their prom king and queen to be no matter the gender. Even though we're young, it doesn't mean we don't know what we're doing." Lack added that this isn't the first time her school has treated LGBT students in a way she sees as unfair and discriminatory. "[Students] are infuriated because this has happened before with another lesbian couple during homecoming," she said. Foothill Principal Jim Bartow told Mic that the reason the school won't allow Lack and her girlfriend to be prom king and queen is because students are meant to elect individuals - not couples at a joint item. "They [the girls] are both able to run separately, but we don't nominate as couples," he told Mic. "It's not fair to the boy gender." He clarified that he's not against their "lesbian relationship," he just sees the students' wishes as being unfair to anyone who wants to be king or queen but isn't in a relationship. Story continues But Lack said that her classmates don't feel that way, they don't see having two girls as prom king and queen as being "not fair" to boys at all. "The students and myself believe that there was equal opportunity for both males and females because every senior was had the ability to be nominated," she said. "Even now, if they allowed my girlfriend and I to be nominated for prom king and queen, they would still have an opportunity. There would still be two guys on the ballot for king. It is by popular vote of the student body, if they vote to have two girls for king and queen, then how is that not equal? The boys had an equal opportunity to win." At the end of the fight, Lack just hopes that raising her voice against the administration, with the assistance of her classmates, makes it so that both boys and girls can be nominated for queen in the future. "We want this to be available for all the students after we go off to college," she said. You can watch a video of Lack speaking out against her school's decision below. Follow Hannah on Twitter. TORONTO, May 2 (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia will book a second-quarter restructuring charge of about C$275 million ($219.33 million) as part of its effort to improve productivity and drive "digital transformation", Canada's third-biggest lender said on Monday. The bank, which operates under the Scotiabank banner, said in October it was cutting an undisclosed number of jobs as part of a cost-reduction strategy. It cited technology changes as one reason. The lender, which is expected to report its fiscal second-quarter results on May 31, said the charge will equate to about 22 Canadian cents a share. In a research note, CIBC analyst Robert Sedran suggested there could be more such charges to come. "Given the underlying trends and the need to deal with legacy systems and processes that will preoccupy bank management for the next several years, this type of charge has a run-rate feel to it," he said. Bank of Nova Scotia shares were down 0.7 percent at C$65.31 in early trading in Toronto. Other major Canadian bank shares were also lower on Monday. Banks have been looking to cut costs and drive technology changes as customers increasingly move away from brick-and-mortar branches to online transactions. ($1 = 1.2538 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by John Tilak; Editing by James Dalgleish) After releasing his final album, No Way Out 2, Sean 'Diddy' Combs will focus on acting, according to a new interview with the rapper. "I'm going to put out my last album and devote 100 percent of my time to doing films I want to stop at a great place," he tells Cigar Aficionado magazine (quote via People). "And a final album is a great place to stop. I want to take a victory lap, to do a world tour and really enjoy it once last time." Diddy's Son Christian Combs Signs With Bad Boy Records Diddy -- who is on the cover of the magazine's June issue (hitting newsstands May 3) -- added: "When I'm gone, only the songs will survive. I know I'm making music that will live on. I don't go into the studio just to be hot or to hear myself on the radio. Michael Jackson, Tupac, Biggie -- part of them lives on in their music, even though they're not here anymore. That's really deep, man. The only thing like that is religion." He previously mentioned that No Way Out 2 would be his last album in late 2015. At publication time, the album's release date is unknown, though it is expected to drop some time in 2016. MOSCOW (Reuters) - The second stage of a joint European-Russian mission to search for signs of life on Mars has been delayed from 2018 to 2020, the European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos said on Monday. The new planned launch date for the second ExoMars mission was July 2020, Interfax news agency cited state-run Roscosmos as saying. It will incorporate a Russian-led surface platform and European-led rover, to be launched from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. The decision to put back the launch was a joint one that took into account delays in European and Russian industrial activities, the European agency said in a statement. A spacecraft left Baikonur in March in the first stage of the program. It carried an atmospheric probe that is to study trace gases such as methane -- a chemical that on Earth is strongly tied to life - that previous Mars missions have detected in the planet's atmosphere. The craft is due to arrive in October. The second-stage rover is meant to be the first with the ability to both move across Mars' surface and drill into the ground to collect and analyze samples. Roscosmos was not available for comment on Monday, a public holiday in Russia. (Reporting by Alexander Winning and Scot Stevenson; Editing by Alison Williams and John Stonestreet) * Abe won plaudits for new corporate governance rules * Scandals at Mitsubishi Motors, Toshiba show more action needed * Whistle-blower protection, stiffer penalties sought By Linda Sieg TOKYO, May 3 (Reuters) - A spate of high-profile scandals at leading Japanese companies show reforms and rhetoric aimed at improving the country's corporate governance do not go far enough to unwind the culture of secrecy and hierarchy that plagues Japan Inc. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won applause for introducing new corporate governance rules over the past two years in bid to attract foreign investment and shake-up Japan's too-cozy corporate culture. But scandals including Mitsubishi Motor Corp's admission that it used non-compliant fuel economy testing methods for decades and last year's admission by laptop-to-nuclear conglomerate Toshiba Corp that it had inflated profits suggest much more remains to be done. Nearly five years after Michael Woodford was fired for exposing a cover-up at Olympus Corp, the British ex-CEO of the Japanese medical imaging gear maker says he's still treated like a pariah in Japan, a view not uncommon in a corporate culture where whistleblowers are more often disdained than admired. "It is evident to me that 80 percent or more of senior business leaders (in Japan) consider me as someone who betrayed my company," Woodford, who now runs a business consultancy and lives in London, told Reuters in a telephone interview. "I'm seen to be a leper in Japan." Better protection for whistleblowers, training for board directors and stiffer penalties are among the measures experts prescribe to change an inward-looking corporate culture that values unquestioning loyalty to top bosses. "Japanese corporations still have significant problems with the secrecy of their corporate dealings and lack of transparency in their finances and operations," said Thomas Clarke, director of the Key University Research Centre for Corporate Governance at the University of Technology in Sydney. Story continues Abe's policy team introduced a new corporate governance code in 2015, setting rules on disclosure, shareholders' rights and independent directors. While not legally binding, the Tokyo bourse requires listed firms to "comply or explain" why not, and a "stewardship code" introduced the year before was supposed to encourage disgruntled investors to speak out. Experts laud the changes and say they may even be partly responsible for recent scandals coming to light. "Bad things happen at big companies. The question is, how are they dealt with," said Jesper Koll, CEO of fund manager WisdomTree Japan. "Sweeping them under the carpet is no longer an option." GAPS AND GLIMMERS Experts also warn against wholesale adoption of a U.S. model tying executive compensation to short-term investor returns. Some caution against at pointing the finger just at Japan, given scandals around the world, including Volkswagen's cheating on emissions. "If you start looking around the world, Japan has its problems, but are they really any worse than anywhere else?" said Andrew DeWit, a professor of policy studies at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. Still, big gaps remain to be filled in Japan. "At the level of policy, it is dramatic, but the content is underwhelming," Jamie Allen, secretary general of the Hong-Kong based Asian Corporate Governance Association, told Reuters. Requiring two outside directors - Toshiba had four on its 16-member board even as the scandal brewed - is insufficient if they lack they lack the authority or independence to challenge the CEO and other inside directors. "Most outside directors won't feel they ought to be questioning the corporate culture. They were invited to the board and they feel they ought to be polite," said Nicholas Benes, representative director of the Board Director Training Institute of Japan. Better protection for whistleblowers like Woodford would help. The government has a hotline for anonymous complaints but provides little protection or incentive for employees to speak out. Bolstering such protection would tell companies they have no alternative than to run a clean ship, Benes said. Glimmers of change have emerged. Retail group Seven & i named an executive backed by U.S. activist investor Daniel Loeb as president of its parent company earlier this month, prompting its 83-year-old patriarch Toshifumi Suzuki to resign. [nL3N17M2PO} Battered Sharp Corp's recent choice of Taiwan's Foxconn as its successful takeover suitor may also reflect the drive for better corporate governance. Still, broader and deeper change will take time, bolder reforms and education at all corporate levels, as well as among institutional investors often wary of challenging management. "It is a cultural issue - they have to give up hierarchical obedience," said University of Technology's Clarke. "They have to do this because if they cannot be more alert and agile as companies, they will not succeed in the modern world." (Additional reporting by Stanley White and Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Lincoln Feast) On Monday evening, the biggest names in fashion will gather in New York City for the annual Met Gala. With the documentary The First Monday in May having recently shed light on the galas behind-the-scenes elements, the world is sure to be paying as much attention as ever to the looks that come down the red carpet. And the celebrity invitees are sure to take their own stabs at interpreting this years themefashion in an age of technologywith futuristic looks. But, even as designers look to the future, its worth remembering that todays fashions are never truly divorced from those of the past. With that in mind, take a look back at the fashions of the 1950s, as shown on the cover of LIFE Magazine. Throughout the decade, the magazine traced the evolution of fashion from demure tailored shirts and classic beach looks to casual college trends and elegant evening wear. (And, of course, canasta pajamas.) For those whose preferred looks are less sci-fi and more retro, the photographs can be a trove of inspiration. Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk. Bike thieves are a big problem across the United States, especially in Southern California. Read: Many Restaurants With Kobe Beef on Their Menus Are Not Actually Serving Kobe Beef So INSIDE EDITION wanted to see how long it would take for a thief to snatch a pricey bike. To do so, Helens Cycles, a popular bike shop in Southern California, loaned us a $2,500 Trek mountain bike. Then, security expert Jason Cecchettini planted hidden GPS and radio tracking devices on the bike. IEs Lisa Guerrero locked the bike to a signpost in North Hollywood and soon enough, a man used a wire cutter to break the lock and take off with the bike. A wild chase ensued through the streets of North Hollywood. Using the tracking devices, we followed the thief to an underground Los Angeles Metro station and found him sitting on the train platform with the bike resting next to him. Why did you steal my bike? Guerrero asked. I wanted to get high. I'm an addict, he admitted. She replied: That gives you the right to take someone else's property? No. It doesn't, he said. The thief then took off on a train. Guerrero also locked the bike up on the Venice Beach boardwalk and once the sun went down, the bike attracted lots of interest. One man walked past the bike five times before pulling out a tool and cutting through the cable lock. There he goes. He just took our bike! Guerrero said as the thief pedaled away. Read: How Easy Is It to Buy An Armored Truck? Again, using GPS, we followed him for two-and-a-half miles to neighboring Marina Del Rey. You just stole my bike! Guerrero said. But he responded: I didn't steal this bike. I just saw it here. But his story changed when we showed him the video. This is the first time you've stolen a bike? Guerrero asked. Yes, the thief responded. Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived at the scene and arrested the thief. Story continues One of the officers thanked Inside Edition: This is great that you guys actually did this, he said. You probably got someone off the street that's been doing it for a while. Watch: Undercover Investigation Gets the 'Kingpin' of Bicycle Thieves Arrested Related Articles: Dakar (AFP) - Senegal and the United States on Monday signed a defence accord allowing "the permanent presence" of American soldiers in the west African country, especially to help fight against the terrorist threat. A key point of the accord will give US troops access to areas in Senegal, such as airports and military installations, in order to respond to security or health needs, according to officials, who did not talk about US bases in the country. The accord allows for "the permanent presence of American soldiers in Senegal" and aims to "face up to the common difficulties in security" in the region, said Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye at the signing alongside the US ambassador to Dakar, James Zumwalt. After Ebola, which caused more than 11,000 deaths since late 2013 in West Africa, the US diplomat noted that the next crisis could be another epidemic, or a natural disaster calling for a humanitarian response "or a terrorist threat". The accord sets out the rules for cooperation between the US and Senegalese forces and the conditions for access and for using installations while US soldiers are in Senegal, Zumwalt added. It also allows for training to enable US and Senegalese forces "to be better prepared to respond together to the risks which threaten our common interests," he said. Senegal has up to now been spared the deadly jihadist attacks that have hit neighbouring countries, killing 30 people in Burkina Faso's capital in January and causing 19 deaths at an Ivory Coast beach resort in March. Dakar has beefed up security in many public places including hotels and administration buildings. On Friday night, Seth MacFarlane performed the first of two 90-minute shows of emotive American standards and Swing-era hidden gems at Wynn Las Vegas' Encore Theater, backed by the orchestra from Steve Wynn's ShowStoppers, plus a few musicians he brought in from Los Angeles. With just a stool and a decanter of what was presumably Jack Daniels, Frank Sinatra's favorite spirit, MacFarlane returned to the stage where he hosted "Sinatra 100 - An All-Star Grammy Concert" in December. MacFarlane delivered with one-liners that brilliantly intercut the classic vibe in the room. "I hope the Wynn don't kick me out like the Oscars did," he sang, "Steve, there's still time to fire me." He also modified the song "I Love Las Vegas" to his own comedic specifications, "I love Vegas like Mark Wahlberg loves his Teddy," he sang. And he, of course, offered the obligatory Trump joke: "New York in autumn the leaves get crisp, the air changes and Donald Trump turns even brighter orange." MacFarlane closed the night with an encore of the quintessential "Luck Be a Lady." After the show, it was all about the Wynn's new club Intrigue, as the stars hit the cream-colored club, the epicenter of which is an outdoor cascading multi-tiered waterfall and three water/fire fountains. More than two-dozen projectors with graphics from Vello Virkhaus' V Squared Labs enliven the space. Formerly Tryst nightclub, Intrigue ushers in a new era in Las Vegas nightlife, where electronic dance music DJs no longer will be the focus, according to Wynn COO and nightlife luminary Sean Christie. Instead of concert-style performances, he wants to shift the focus to the crowd, the service and the experience. Creed star Michael B. Jordan was fully feeling the social interaction vibe. "It's all about getting together and having a good time," he said. "There are many people coming from all over the country to support this club - I am lucky to be part of that crew." Read More: How to Celebrate Sinatra's 100th Birthday in Style in Las Vegas In contrast, Christie pointed out one of Intrigue's unique features, an amenity that most guests will never see: the Private Club. "If you're not known to us, then you're probably not going to get in," he said. "We want to cultivate an audience inside the Private Club for [VIPs] or people wanting a discreet experience." With a capacity of around 50 people, the enclave has a vinyl-only DJ booth with a wall of LPs on hand and bottle lockers inspired by Louis Vuitton steamer trunks: Each one is numbered and will be assigned to guests for spirit storage, should they need to hold a bottle for a return visit. There also is a small walk-up bar and mixology program for those mingling and not seated at one of a handful of tables. The most important feature of the PC is that it's a social media-free zone - those who take pictures will be warned and then asked to leave if they break the rule. "This is as private as you're going to get," said Christie. "A lot of celebrities don't like coming to Las Vegas nightclubs, because the next day a press release goes out. Here, we control the crowd maybe then they have a few drinks and say, 'Hey, you know what, I'm ready to go to that next level,' and all they have to do is open the door. We have back hallways that allow people to come into the experience without having to go through the public." Kate Hudson compared the experience to her Halloween Party, which also is a social media-less event. "I like it because I think we all need to be connecting more," she said. "I love social media, but it's nice to just put it away and people have more fun when the cameras are down and you are actually looking in each other's eyes. I'm not usually up in the club, but Intrigue is a wonderful excuse to have some fun." In contrast to what goes on in the Private Club, outside on the patio surrounding the waterfall, there are "selfie" stations with chandeliers providing the perfect lighting. The cinematic quality of Intrigue is paramount to Christie, who undoubtedly will shop it as a location as part of an initiative he has been working on to bring film and television projects to the resort, including 2015's Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, this year's Frank & Lola and coming in 2017, The House with Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler. As the party wound down, Rihanna popped in around 3 a.m., wearing a black silk jumpsuit, gold necklace and low bun. She had performed earlier in the night at Mandalay Bay. Social media rumors swirled that Leonardo DiCaprio also was in the house. On Saturday night, Intrigue's big moment will continue as it hosts Gigi Hadid's 21st birthday. Read More: All the Ways Gigi Hadid Celebrated Her Birthday Week Apparently The Interview the Seth Rogen-James Franco North Korea comedy that caused a political firestorm and led to the Sony hack was considered so legitimately dangerous that the studio hired security guards to protect Rogen and other key members of the creative team. Well, at least for a little while. Related: 8 Reasons the Sony Hack Was Even Crazier Than You Thought The studio provided the filmmakers with security, in case someone from North Korea was going to kill us, I guess, Rogen said during a recent episode of the U.K.s The Graham Norton Show. And then literally one day, they were just gone. I called everyone else. I was like, Is your guy still there? They were like, No, my guys gone. Rogens security guard didnt disappear because Kim Jong-un had him taken out; the star of Neighbors 2 said that Sony just didnt want to pay for him anymore. I was like, I guess Im safe now, he joked. Related: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron Battle Sorority Girls in Neighbors 2 NSFW New Trailer Rogen didnt explain whether the security guards were put in place pre- or post-Sony hack (post-, probably) nor how long they protected and served Rogen and his colleagues. But during his time sitting next to fellow guest Paul Rudd and chatting with Norton, he did tell a fascinating story about working with a live tiger while filming The Interview. Because apparently everything associated with that movie required people to put their lives in jeopardy. The Interview: Watch the teaser trailer: NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP: To: All Persons or Entities who purchased TiVo Inc. (TIVO) stock prior to April 29, 2016. You are hereby notified that Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into the fairness of the sale of TiVo Inc. to Rovi Corporation (ROVI) for $10.70 per share, comprised of $2.75 per share in cash and $7.95 in shares of the new holding company. To learn more about the action and your rights, go to: http://zlk.9nl.com/tivo or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you. Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph Levi, Esq. Eduard Korsinsky, Esq. 30 Broad Street - 24th Floor New York, NY 10004 Tel: (212) 363-7500 Toll Free: (877) 363-5972 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Highlights of EMC Corporation's 1Q16 Results (Continued from Prior Part) Cloud infrastructure spending expected to rise YoY According to market research firm IDC, spending on cloud infrastructure gear is expected to have a CAGR of 12.5% between 20152020. While public cloud spending is expected to grow by 13.8%, private cloud spending is expected to rise by a CAGR of 10.2%. IDC expects 30.2% and 15.8% of its server, storage, and switch spending to go toward public and private cloud, respectively, by 2020. A substantial amount of cloud spending will go to white-box manufacturers such as Quanta, Compal, and Wistron. These firms revenues have increased significantly after selling services to heavyweights such as Amazon (AMZN), Facebook (FB), and Google (GOOG). Facebook accounts for 3.9% of the First Trust ISE Cloud Computing Index ETF (SKYY). IDC also projects cloud infrastructure will account for 46% of all spending on IT infrastructure by 2020. It stated that this growth will come at the expense of traditional data center infrastructure gear whose spending is expected to fall from 69.8% in 2015 to 54% in 2020. How will it impact companies in this sector? The fall in enterprise data center spending is likely to impact firms such as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE), EMC, and NetApp (NTAP). HPE received 51% of its fiscal 2015 revenues from the Enterprise group, which provides IT hardware and related services. EMC Corp. (EMC) received almost 66% of its 2015 revenues from its Information Storage business and 27% from VMware (VMW). VMwares server virtualization software sales are under pressure, driven by the migration of workloads that ran on VMwares public clouds. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: The overwhelming majority of Detroit Public Schools will be closed Monday after the teachers union in the city called for a sickout over concerns about the finances of Michigans largest school district. The following schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, May 2 due to teacher sickouts https://t.co/XKdR6SEpEy DetroitPublicSchools (@Detroitk12) May 2, 2016 In all, 94 out of 97 schools will be closed Monday, according to The Detroit News, which adds: Union leaders reacted harshly over the weekend after DPS Emergency Manager Steven Rhodes informed them the district wont be able to make payroll after $48.7 million in emergency state aid runs out on June 30. Rhodes acknowledged in an email to The Detroit News the school district will run out of money then. The Detroit Federation of Teachers, which represents most of the teachers taking part in Mondays sickout, said in a series of tweets that its members will rally at 10 a.m. outside the school districts central administration offices. The News adds: Public school teacher strikes are illegal in Michigan, and a spate of coordinated sickouts in DPS this winter has caused lawmakers to consider tightening the definition of what constitutes a strike. More from the newspaper: New questions about districts management under Rhodes predecessors came to light recently when the school district disclosed to state officials that up to $30 million in federal aid earmarked for employee pensions was never sent to the state pension fund. The Detroit News reported April 26 that the matter is being investigated in an audit. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Siemens AG will pay Israel 160 million shekels ($43 million) to settle a decade-old corruption case in which the German group was accused of bribing executives at a state-owned utility to win contracts, Israeli authorities said on Monday. The settlement was announced by Israel's Justice Ministry, which has been investigating whether Siemens paid millions of dollars in bribes to officials at Israel Electric Corp (IEC) to win contracts from 1999 to 2005. "We are pleased that the Israeli State Authorities chose to have an arrangement that does not include an indictment against Siemens AG recognising....that Siemens fully cooperated in the course of the investigation," Siemens said in an e-mailed statement. It said it planned to continue its business in Israel on a significant scale, including purchasing Israeli products and services and investing in Israeli companies. ($1 = 3.7450 shekels) (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem and Joern Poltz in Munich; Editing by David Evans and Keith Weir) May 2 (Reuters) - A Silicon Valley executive agreed to pay $534,303 to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges he conducted insider trading in a semiconductor equipment company that was hoping to solicit a competing bid before being sold, the regulator said on Monday. Peter Nunan, 58, of Monte Sereno, California, was accused of buying 105,000 shares of FSI International Inc while it was in talks to be acquired by Tokyo Electron Ltd, based on confidential tips from an FSI director eager for a counteroffer from Japan's Screen Holdings Co. The SEC said Nunan, then a senior engineering fellow at a Screen Holdings unit, acted as a conduit in passing the director's tips to a Screen Holdings executive who evaluated potential mergers. Nunan bought his FSI shares in the six months before the Chaska, Minnesota-based company agreed to be acquired by Tokyo Electron on Aug. 13, 2012, news that caused FSI's stock price to rise 52 percent, the SEC said. He sold most of his shares a day later, it added. Under the settlement, Nunan will give up $254,858 of ill-gotten profit, pay a civil fine in the same amount, and pay $24,587 of interest. He did not admit or deny wrongdoing. A lawyer for Nunan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Alan Crosby) Two years ago, Silicon Valley nearly broke the internet with its elaborate dick joke. Now in its third season, the HBO series is poised to do it again - this time with a horse dick. On Sunday, the Mike Judge-created comedy served up a jaw-dropping scene featuring two thoroughbreds having sex (see below). The horse-humping takes place in the background as tech genius Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch) attempts to have a serious conversation with newcomer Jack Barker (Stephen Tobolowsky) about the future of his startup. But Richard, understandably, becomes distracted by the explicit act, which involves a very large, erect horse penis, lots of thrusting and, yes, even fluids. The graphic scene begs the question: Was it real? "Yes, they are really having sex," Judge, who directed the episode, tells The Hollywood Reporter. "There is no CG - we captured that moment." Given the unconventional nature of the shoot and HBO's less-than-perfect track record with horses (see: David Milch's short-lived drama Luck), THR caught up with Judge to discuss how YouTube videos inspired the scene, the FBI raid that delayed filming and why they had to repeat the footage in the editing room ("The horses actually go very quickly," he says with a laugh). So, the horses were really going at it? Yep, it's real horse porn. How did the idea originate? Originally we had them at a vintage racetrack, but we just weren't finding anything funny about it. I think it was Dick Costello, the ex-Twitter CEO who was in the writers room part-time this season, who told us about a guy who had just blown a ton of money on racehorses. So we started talking about racehorses and looked on YouTube. That's where we saw these videos of them having sex and it was just making us laugh. That's how it started. And then what did the next steps look like? Well, we had to do a lot of horse research. We kind of had our hopes dashed at one point because someone was saying, "Oh no, it's all done artificially. They would never do that." But then we looked into it further and found out that most species of thoroughbreds will only inseminate naturally. So we just looked for a place where it was actually going to happen. Story continues Are places like that fairly easy to find? Well actually the first place we went to shoot it, if our camera crew had gotten there about 15 minutes later, they would have gotten arrested. The whole place was some kind of front for selling pot down in Temecula somewhere. The FBI raided it and there were all these cop cars there saying, "Turn around!" So we had to reschedule it for a couple weeks later. Wow, so where did you actually end up filming? Up in one of the canyons between Westlake and Malibu. We just had to look for places where this was going to happen already and just shoot it since it's all real. How long did it take to get the money shot? Oh, less than a minute. That's the only thing that's fake is, well, the horses actually go very quickly. So we had to repeat the footage some - not too much, but if you cut it all together, the horse just finishes really fast. It would not go on as long as that conversation Richard and Jack are having in the scene. Do the horses need any sort of encouraging? Nope, the minute the male sees the mare in heat, no coaxing has to be done. (Laughs.) I mean, they go crazy. There's a bunch of videos on YouTube Did you have to do multiple takes? No, just that one shot. We had lined up some other opportunities in case that other one didn't work. But after the first one, we were good. We just set up those cameras and they went at it. Read More: Bros, Bongs and Bay Area Satire: On Set With HBO's 'Silicon Valley' Did you shoot the scene with the actors in front of the action or did you work some magic in post? We did a little bit of combining. We shot the horses getting it on, got that out of the way and then did the dialogue. It wasn't happening entirely when they were talking - that would have been very difficult to coordinate, but they were definitely at the horse place. How did everyone on set react? There was lots of laughing and lots of, "Oh my god, this is crazy. I can't believe we're doing this." It was funny, you would see one person after another just [lose it]. I think their reaction was basically similar to what Thomas' character is doing in the show. And you didn't have to cycle through multiple horses or anything? No, just those two onscreen. They're hard to find, but we got very lucky that it all worked. I mean, I would have kept trying if we hadn't gotten those two. Like I said, the only thing that threw us off was the FBI raid, which is just insane. What about the people onscreen who are holding the horses? Those are the wranglers. Their job is to breed the horses. They're there because you have to be careful - the studs get so excited that they sometimes injure the mare. So they are there specifically to keep the horses from getting hurt during the process because the horses are obviously really valuable as is their sperm. (Laughs.) I didn't really know much at all about horses before this, so we had to get some horse experts involved. I'm assuming the American Humane Association was also there to monitor things, yes? Yeah, we had the American Humane Society reps who oversee things any time there's an animal. HBO is really good about that. One thing I learned about this is that in the artificial insemination process - which is not the method we used but is the more standard way to do it - there are these male horses who start having sex with the female horses but are then pulled off before they ejaculate. So basically, this horse's entire life is having sex not to completion and being blue balled. I think the Humane Society ought to get involved in that one because that's really cruel. (Laughs.) Is that why you chose to go the natural route? It's just more clear what's going on. And the artificial way just doesn't look as fun. (Laughs.) If you look closely on camera, you can see that the horse definitely finished. Read More: 'Silicon Valley' Boss on Season 3, Mark Zuckerberg and Ex-Twitter CEO Dick Costolo What notes did HBO have? It's funny, I actually have an email from [senior vp of comedy programming] Amy Gravitt where she said, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but can we have more screen time with the horses having sex?" She actually asked for more sex. (Laughs.) She was right though, so we put it behind some more shots than we originally had. You might as well go all the way, right? Given that HBO has a questionable history of working with horses on Luck, what was their reaction when you pitched them a horse sex scene? They were just very sensitive and wanted to make sure that we did everything right. They're very good about that. Obviously, none of us wanted any damage to be done to the horses. But this is something they do all the time since, well, the evolution of horses so there was never any risk. Are you happy with how the scene turned out? I have to say, I was a little worried about it, but I've seen it in front of an audience and it got huge laughs. It came off better than I had hoped. It's funny, in the writers room, we were like, "Has anybody done this before? It seems like someone would have done this before." But I guess no one has had the poor taste. See More: Emmys: Inside HBO's Bro-Centric Comedy 'Silicon Valley' ROME, May 2 (Reuters) - Talks on concluding Greece's bailout review to unlock new funds and debt relief are progressing only slowly and no deal is likely at a special meeting of euro zone finance ministers on May 9, two sources close to the talks said on Monday. The sources said it would take longer to reach a deal on reforms needed to complete the review of Greece's third international financial rescue and agree on contingency steps that Athens must ready in case it misses its fiscal targets. "We're making slow progress," one of the sources said. "I wouldn't expect a final agreement at the May 9 meeting. That's too soon. There are some weeks to go after that." The biggest remaining obstacle is the form and content of the contingency measures, which Greece is resisting, he said. The source said it would be preferable to wrap up an accord before Britain's June 23 referendum on whether to stay in the European Union to avoid any atmosphere of crisis at that time. However, he said Greece did not need the next tranche of euro zone funds until mid-July, so there was no sense of overwhelming urgency. The second source said more time was also needed to bridge the gaps between the International Monetary Fund and European lenders on a debt restructuring for Greece, with Germany - the biggest European creditor - arguing publicly that Athens does not need debt relief. The chairman of euro zone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, last week called an extraordinary meeting of the Eurogroup for May 9 amid reports that an agreement was close. European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told reporters then: "We are 99 percent of the way there, we have converged on almost all aspects", referring to the basic reform package. But he added that more work was needed on the contingency steps. (Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Jan Strupczewski and Gareth Jones) Shares of Sonic Automotive Inc. SAH increased 15.3% to $19.04 on Apr 26, after the company reported first-quarter 2016 results. Sonic Automotive recorded adjusted earnings per share of 39 cents in the first quarter of 2016 that increased 5.4% from 37 cents earned in the year-ago quarter. However, earnings per share fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 40 cents. Adjusted net income was $18.2 million compared with $18.8 million in the first quarter of 2015. On a reported basis, Sonic Automotives earnings from continuing operations came in at $14.5 million or 31 cents per share, up from $14.4 million or 28 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. Total revenue in the quarter was $2.23 billion, almost in line with the year-ago quarter. However, the figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.33 billion. Revenues from new vehicles decreased 3.1% to $1.2 billion, while the same from used vehicles improved 0.8% to $598.4 million in the quarter. Wholesale vehicle revenues rose 6.5% to $44.4 million. Revenues from parts, service and collision repair increased 7.1% to $346.1 million, while finance, insurance and other revenues grew 8.9% to $81.3 million. Gross profit improved 3% to $345.2 million in the reported quarter from $335 million a year ago. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $284.4 million from $270.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The company recorded operating loss of $18.5 million compared to $16.4 million in the first quarter of 2015. Dividend Update The board of directors of Sonic Automotive announced a quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on Jul 15, to shareholders on record as of Jun 15, 2016. Share Repurchases In the first quarter of 2016, Sonic Automotive repurchased 4.1 million shares for $74.4 million. The companys board of directors increased its share repurchase authorization by $100 million during the quarter. As of Mar 31, 2016, the company had around $70.6 million remaining under its share repurchases authorization. From Mar 31, through Apr 26, 2016, the company repurchased 363,000 shares for $6.4 million. Business Update Sonic Automotive expects that the EchoPark stores will continue to grow and mature. The company is focused on expansion in Denver. It will open two new stores in the Denver market in the second quarter of 2016 and another store by the end of this year. Sonic Automotive will also introduce the EchoPark brand in the Texas and Carolinas markets by 2017. 2016 Outlook Sonic Automotive reaffirmed its earnings per share guidance in the range of $2.07$2.17. In 2016, the company will invest around $250 million for acquiring land and setting up facilities. Charlotte, NC-based Sonic Automotive is a Fortune 500 company and one of the prominent automotive retailers in the U.S. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked automobile stocks include Lear Corp. LEA, Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation FDML and Superior Industries International, Inc. SUP. All three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SONIC AUTOMOTVE (SAH): Free Stock Analysis Report SUPERIOR INDS (SUP): Free Stock Analysis Report LEAR CORPORATN (LEA): Free Stock Analysis Report FEDERAL MOGUL-A (FDML): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Harro Ten Wolde FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German online music start-up SoundCloud said on Tuesday it has expanded its new subscription service SoundCloud Go to the United Kingdom and Ireland, weeks after launching in the United States as it chases competitors such as Apple and Spotify. SoundCloud, which enables people to record, upload, promote, and share their own music and other audio files, said it would offer its content free of advertising in the UK for a monthly subscription fee of 9.99 pounds ($14.64) and in Ireland for 9.99 euros ($11.50). Last year consumers spent $5 billion on music streaming subscriptions, a rise of 70 percent from the previous year. "Streaming is at a very early stage," Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud's Chief Technology Officer and co-founder told Reuters. "SoundCloud is not a profitable business yet. And that is very intentional. We are investing heavily in growth and that is what we will continue to do. We are in this for the long haul." SoundCloud currently has 175 million users but Wahlforss said he could not give an indication of its number of paying subscribers as most of them were still in their free trial period. Spotify had 30 million subscribers at the end of March, while Apple Music had a tally of more than 10 million subscribers early this year. SoundCloud's Wahlforss said the company would rapidly introduce SoundCloud Go to other countries around the world. "We are planning to roll out to multiple territories this year. We are looking at a couple of years to really take this to the whole world," he said, declining to give further details about the next countries it intends to roll out. Financing the roll-out is not a problem, Wahlforss said. SoundCloud earlier this year raised around $35 million in debt financing and has an option to secure another $70 million through a convertible bond. "The business is well funded and we can continue executing according to plan," Wahlforss said. (Additional reporting by Eric Auchard; Editing by Greg Mahlich) South Korea warned on Monday there is a risk of its citizens being abducted by Pyongyang in retaliation for the defection of a dozen North Korean staff at a restaurant in China. Twelve women working at the restaurant in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo defected to the South with their manager last month. Seoul said they came voluntarily while the North insists they were tricked into defecting by South Korean spies who effectively "kidnapped" them. The South's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, said overseas missions had been advised to heighten their vigilance. "We are closely watching out for multiple possibilities, including abduction or terrorism ... by the North," said ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee. "We are trying to ensure the safety of our nationals," he told reporters. Seoul's Hankook Ilbo daily reported Monday that Pyongyang was plotting to abduct South Koreans to trade for the 13 defectors. "They set the target of 120 people including expats, soldiers and officials," the newspaper said, citing an official source familiar with North Korean affairs. Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have, over the decades, fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. But group defections are rare, especially by overseas restaurant staff who are generally hand-picked from families that are "loyal" to the regime. Pyongyang has proposed sending the women's parents to Seoul to meet their daughters and has released a video of them tearfully demanding their return. North Korea has a track record when it comes to abductions. In the most high-profile case, late leader Kim Jong-Il had a famed South Korean film director and his actress wife kidnapped in Hong Kong in 1978, in order to make films in the North. The couple escaped in 1986. In 2002, North Korea admitted it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and customs. gentrification, up-and-coming, 'it' neighborhood First come the shabby chic bars with cleverly updated snacks (masala Chex Mix, anyone?). Then theres the influx of bearded, skinny-jeans-wearing hipsters. Then a cute cafe pops up on one corner, a farm-to-table eatery helmed by a chef with a pedigree on another. Suddenly, the neighborhood is hot, hot, hotwith the housing prices to prove it. Welcome to gentrification, both the scourge and the savior of low-income areas throughout the nations most desirable cities. So how can buyers without crystal balls figure out exactly which neighborhoods are about to popthe ones that are great deals now and will be wildly popular (and unaffordable) in just a few years? Think of it as real estate roulette. Its an exciting game with a huge payout, but steeper-than-ever odds. More and more buyers are searching for the next Williamsburg or Austin or even Oakland. Buts its challenging these days to truly get ahead of the market and find gentrifying neighborhoods, according to a Washington Post analysis of Black Knight Financial Services data. Timing and prescience are everything in this game. Its too late, for example, for buyers trying to score an amazing deal in Brooklyns long-downtrodden Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, a historic area that is now poised for a major renaissance. A ZIP code in Bed-Stuy topped the list of hoods with the highest price appreciation of single-family homes, rising a whopping 194%, according to the Post analysis of data from 2004 through 2015. For comparison, a typical single-family homes value went up just under 14% during the same time period. The median listing price for homes in newly chic Bed-Stuyan area once best known as a late-night punch line in standup routines about street crimewas $1,374,500, according to realtor.com. The neighborhood, filled with fabulous brownstones, borders uber-uber-pricey/trendy Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Buyers on the prowl for these kinds of opportunities should note that gentrification typically happens only in the most in-demand areas and cities where theres a shortage of prime housing, says Daniel Shoag, a public policy professor at Harvard University. But experts say there may be signs that an area is destined for hotness, providing home buyers with the best return on their investments. Story continues They should focus on neighborhoods next to richer ones where there is likely to be spillover, he says. One way to plot out potential purchases is to pull out a map of the city and look at the outlying neighborhoods, says Eric Benaim, CEO of Modern Spaces, a real estate brokerage in several of New York Citys once up-and-coming neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn. They should then evaluate the areas school systems, proximity to public transportation, and parking spot prices over the past few years. If the price to park a car is heading up, its a sign that more residents of means are moving in. Buyers should also look into industrial swaths of cities that have recently been rezoned. Those blocks of abandoned warehouses could be turned into lofts or knocked down to make way for high-rise towers, Benaim says. And dont forget the artists. They make a not-so-cool neighborhood cool. Developers usually follow, [as do] the coffee shops, bookstores, and galleries, he says. Then the prices go up and, unfortunately for the artists, they get priced out and have to move to the next neighborhood. Other signs of gentrification include an increase in homes with updated exteriors and expansion by local employers such as corporations and hospitals, says Rob Silverman, an urban planning professor at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Those types of investments are signs that an area might be turning around, Silverman says. Walkable neighborhoods with architecturally interesting homes are also more likely to come up. But buyers should be prepared to hurry up to score the best dealand then wait for home prices to appreciate. In some places, it might take 10 or 15 years for a neighborhood to completely turn around, Silverman says. In other places, where the level of investment is higher, gentrification might take half that time. Here are some of the biggest price rises due to gentrification: Brooklyn, NY (11216) at 194%, to a median $1,374,500 Austin, TX (78702) at 172%, to a median $398,450 Portland, OR (97227) at 108%, to a median $537,500 Nashville, TN (37206) at 108%, to a median $389,450 New Orleans (70119) at 108%, to a median $289,900 Source: ZIP codes and percentages are from the Washington Post analysis of Black Knight Financial Services data from 2004 through 2015. Median prices are from realtor.com. The post How to Spot the Next Neighborhood Thats Ready to Gentrify appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com. Related Articles Starbucks We've all experienced the annoyance of buying an ice coffee only to be left with nothing but a cup of ice after a few long sips. One woman, however, is trying to turn that moment of annoyance into a class-action lawsuit. Starbucks is facing a $5 million lawsuit over the amount of ice the chain uses in its drinks, NBC News reports. The lawsuit was filed in Northern Illinois Federal Court last week by Stacy Pincus. NBC reports that the suit claims the coffee chain is tricking customers by adding too much ice to its beverages in an attempt to increase the drinks' profitability. For example, while a Venti drink is advertised as containing 24 fluid ounces, customers ordering a Venti will typically receive about 14 fluid ounces of the Starbucks cold drink, whether it be ice coffee, ice tea, Refreshers or Fizzio handcrafted sodas. Ice chunks fill up the rest of the cup, something the lawsuit argues is misleading and false advertising. The proposed class-action case seeks to represent the "millions" of customers who have purchased a cold drink from Starbucks in the past 10 years. Starbucks representative Jaime Riley said in a statement to Business Insider that the lawsuit was "without merit," as "customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any 'iced' beverage." The lawsuit comes on the heels of another case in which customers claim Starbucks is purposefully ripping off customers. A class-action lawsuit filed in March accuses the chain of underfilling lattes by roughly 25%. NOW WATCH: How to make a 'flat white' the Australian coffee drink that has Americans all confused More From Business Insider Real estate investment trust (REIT) Rayonier Inc. RYN is expected to report first-quarter 2016 results on May 4, 2016, after the market closes. The company reported a positive earnings surprise of 28.57% in the preceding quarter, and an average beat of 20.78% for the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus estimate for first-quarter earnings is currently pegged at 8 cents. Lets see how things have shaped up prior to this announcement. Factors to Consider Rayonier owns or leases a 2.7 million acres of timberland in some of the most productive timber-growing regions of the U.S. and New Zealand. Importantly, the timberlands are strategically located near the pulpwood consuming mills which manufacture products for the growing end-markets. In addition, a rising demand from pellet manufacturers, mainly in Texas and Georgia, is aiding the REIT. All these should have positive impact on first-quarter 2016 results. Also, the company enjoys favorable demand-supply dynamics and is, therefore, able to enjoy better pricing power. Further, the company aims at enhancing its timberland base through disciplined acquisition. However, similar to other timberland REITs, Rayoniers business is governed by rules of the federal and state forestry commissions. In other words, Rayonier has to comply with stricter regulatory requirements compared with other industries. Further, higher degree of volatility in timber prices and seasonality associated with forest products industry continue to pose headwinds before the company. Moreover, Rayonier faces cut-throat competition from national and local players regarding a number of factors, including quality and price. Also, wood products, in general, are encountering increasing rivalry from a variety of substitutes like non-wood and engineered wood products. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Rayonier will beat earnings this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here as you will see below. Zacks ESP: Both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate currently stand at 8 cents, which translates into an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. Zacks Rank: Rayoniers Zacks Rank #3, when combined with a 0.00% Earnings ESP, makes surprise prediction difficult. Note that we caution against stocks with Zacks Rank #4 or #5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider Here are a few stocks in the REIT sector you may want to consider instead, as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post a positive surprise this quarter: Douglas Emmett Inc DEI has an Earnings ESP of +2.38% and a Zacks Rank #2. The company will report on May 3. Gramercy Property Trust Inc. GPT has an Earnings ESP of +5.88% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company will release results on May 4. Federal Realty Investment Trust FRT has an Earnings ESP of +1.46% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company will report first-quarter 2016 results on May 4. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report RAYONIER INC (RYN): Free Stock Analysis Report FED RLTY INV (FRT): Free Stock Analysis Report DOUGLAS EMMETT (DEI): Free Stock Analysis Report GRAMERCY PPT TR (GPT): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research In the days of yore, summer times were reserved for visits to grandparents homes or maybe a swimming or an art/hobby class but largely a whole lot of time just doing nothing. Times are changing and now, it is not uncommon to find parents planning study vacations abroad to enable their kids to learn a new skill which could be either related to academics or be just to better their personalities or further a sport. Kids have never been busier; perhaps more so during the holidays and surely, nobody wants to waste a single minute whiling away doing sweet nothings. Summer courses in institutions of repute especially are a great way to familiarise oneself with the challenges of living abroad, adapting to different cultures and experiencing new learning environments. The exposure offered is tremendous and it is a great way to build confidence, learn a new skill, make new friends .. all this while having loads of fun. The courses vary from one week to even three months and most of the top universities offer them in a range of subjects from law, economics, humanities, arts, painting, medicine and health, management, computer science, ..the list is endless. All this of course, for a price. We list here some options: http://pages.jh.edu/summer/precollege/summer/miniterms John Hopkins University has courses in molecular biology, medicine, nutrition, counselling, CAD and many others. http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/summerSchools/summerSchool/courses If one wants to experience a slice of London School of Economics, courses galore in areas of social sciences, arts ,design and architecture, environmental studies, journalism and media and the likes. https://summer.stanford Stanford too has summer courses in many fields like engineering & technology, natural sciences & mathematics, hospitality, leisure & sports, agriculture & forestry, computer science and a host of other fantastic ones. http://oxfordsummercourses.com Story continues If Oxford is on your wish list for higher studies, what better way to experience life at Oxford than testing with short summer courses. From philosophy to classical civilisation, physics, chemistry, English, theology, philosophy, the choice is vast and aplenty. http://summer.berkeley.edu If Berkeley is your dream destination, you can select from film and media, engineering, ethnic studies, energy, environmental design, landscape architecture, gender and womens studies and whole lot of the unusual stuff can be explored here. http://wharton.braingainmag.com Who wouldnt want a slice of Wharton? At US$5000, you can enrol in their KWHS Global Young Leaders Academy which is a two-week intensive, summer leadership program designed for the 15 - 18 age group. It combines business studies and hands-on workshops, with organized field trips and socio-cultural activities. The program draws its content from more than 400 lesson plans on the Knowledge@Wharton High School portal with focus on economics, finance, entrepreneurship, leadership and social studies. If the aim is to enrich your childs life in more ways than one, volunteering abroad too is an incredible way to partake in community service initiatives. http://www.goeco.org/tags/teenage-volunteeringTeenage Goeco.org offers fantastic programs all over the world which help one give back to the society while enriching lives. One can choose from projects in Asiua, Australasia, Africa, Europe, Israel, South & Central Americas and South Africa. If you are passionate about wild life and want to make a difference, then you could volunteer at the African Wildlife Ranch by helping their staff with conservation efforts and experience close encounters with a range of fascinating creatures! One could also travel to South Africa and volunteer in the Great White Shark capital of the world. Cage dive with Great Whites and contribute to marine conservation and eco-tourism efforts in the stunning Gansbaai area! The site offers plenty of opportunities in various categories like medical, humanities, education, wildlife et al. Worth a dekko if your idea of education is not limited to classroom studies and if you are a passionate giver. https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com This site offers options in 21 countries with 122 options! You could volunteer in childcare - social welfare project work in childcare centers, orphanages, safe houses for women and children or in a home for physically and mentally challenged in Cape Town or join the Medical internship Program and work at the local government and private Nepalese hospitals and medical clinics in Nepal or volunteer at an Elephant Camp near Chiang Mai. The Elephant Camp is surrounded by lush green mountains from all sides. Volunteers assist and work alongside elephant trainers and other Camp staff to bathe and feed elephants and help with safety procedures with day tourists upon their arrival. They also learn how to be elephant trainers. Alternately, there are women empowerment programs in Rabat - Morocco, to improve the lives of women in Morocco as still lot of women are abused and live in abject poverty. One can also spend time in teaching them skills such as sewing, painting, cooking, computer and other skills which can help them in their daily lives. These volunteering projects help not just make a difference to the society but also enrich the participants lives by teaching them more than classrooms ever can. Images Courtesy : Ananya R. After weeks of will-he-or-wont-he legal wrangling and posturing, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge today ruled that Sumner Redstone will give testimony in the looming trial over who controls the moguls health care and ultimately perhaps who pulls the strings on his approximately $40 billion in corporate assets. As the only concern of this case is Redstones welfare, his appearance is of the utmost significance, Judge David Cowan said in a tentative ruling Monday. However, testimony from the 92-year old media mogul will not take place in a downtown courtroom. The ruling stipulates that Pierce ODonnell or another lawyer for Redstones ex-companion Manuela Herzer can take 15 minutes of testimony at Redstones Beverly Hills home. A lawyer for Redstone can then have 15 minutes to question the mogul. While Herzer and Redstone family members are not allowed to be present, speech therapist Anne Lefton will be in the room to assist if the moguls speech impediment becomes an issue. Although no date for the testimony has been set, it is expected to take place in the next couple of days as Redstone is the first witness being called by the plaintiff on Friday. Video of the questioning will be taken and shown in a closed courtroom and wont be made public; a transcript will made public after Cowan sees the footage. With four days to go until the trial over the ex-Viacom and CBS boss heath care and competency begins, Cowans ruling Monday that the ailing 92-year Redstone does have make an appearance of sorts is just the latest twist in the more than five-month-old matter and the already embarrassing and potentially corporately divisive proceedings. Once promising settlement talks with Herzer remain scuttled. Allowing Redstone to testify at home is consistent with accommodations to which a person with disabilities would be rightfully entitled, said Cowans tentative today. As a cautionary measure, Redstones counsel shall also have the unilateral right to terminate the deposition should he or she believe there is at that time any risk to Redstones health going forward. The Court expects that the experienced lead counsel for Herzer shall take the deposition in a non-adversarial way so as not to cause undue stress to Redstone. Story continues Earlier Monday, Herzers Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinge lawyers filled an opposition to the attempt by Redstones attorneys to keep the mogul out of the trial directly. This very motion to quash is still another attempt on the part of Counsel to sequester Redstone in Beverly Park and prevent the Court from seeing for itself his tragically debilitated mental condition, stated the redacted 17-page filing (read it here). This latest sparring over the media moguls presence in the case be it in the courtroom or another location started last week when Herzers legal team filed to have Redstone as a witness. Having promised in an April 14 hearing that they would not call their client as a witness, Redstones Loeb & Loeb attorneys pushed to keep him out of the matter, citing his speech impediment and other maladies. At one point lat month, Redstones lawyers floated the notion of having the mogul offer written testimony, but Cowan quickly put an end to that idea. Philippe Dauman Shari Redstone Set to start on May 6 in L.A. Superior Court, the non-jury trial stemming out of Herzers initial late-November filing will also see appearances by Herzer; a plethora of medical professionals and household employees; plus Sheri Redstone; her fathers other ex-companion Sydney Holland; and Viacom CEO and chairman Philippe Dauman. The Viacom chief, who is also Redstones current health care agent, will likely appear in video snippets from his April 26 NYC deposition. With a final status conference scheduled for May 5, the trial will run until May 16 with short opening arguments by both sides Friday morning. In other moves in the matter, Herzers side has filed paperwork (read it here) requesting the court to divide the trial. In a tactical move of having your cake and eating it too, the legal team want the competency issue dealt with first and the undue influence topic only addressed if Cowan doesnt decide initially that the media mogul is incompetent. Cowan deferred any decision on the bifurcation until the May 5 status conference. That competency has been at the heart of the matter since Herzer first turned to the courts late last fall after being kicked out of Redstones Beverly Hills home, dropped from a $70 million payout of cash and real estate in his will, and replaced by Dauman as the person who is enabled to make medical decisions for the mogul if he cant for himself. Calling Redstone a living ghost, Herzer alleges that he didnt want the changes made and may not have even independently signed the required documents. RelatedSumner Redstone Wont Have To Give Deposition In Health Care Lawsuit Adding fuel to Herers fire, it now looks like that Redstones condition has been in question by his own people for over a year. A recently revealed April 9, 2015 email from an estate-planning lawyer advising Herzer and then fellow Redstone companion Holland on behalf of the moguls reps expressed concerns about his state serious concerns. In reference to a then-upcoming Vanity Fair interview, Adam Streisand warned Herzer and Holland that if Redstone shamed his daughter Sheri, she might seek a conservatorship over him that could mean, his current condition will become public, and Viacom will have to remove Sumner as an officer/director and stop paying him compensation. U.S. Markets Hope To Recover After Major Losses Last Week With Redstone still controlling 80% of the voting shares at Viacom and CBS, such corporate moves could have big-money implications. To that end, Wall Street is paying a lot of attention even though Redstone is now more removed from the immediacy of corporate diligence. After submitting to a court-ordered medical examination by a doctor of Herzers in late January, the National Amusements Inc. owner resigned from his position as executive chairman at CBS on February 3, with Les Moonves replacing him soon afterward in a clear attempt to avoid further corporate controversy. The next day, Redstone dropped being executive chairman of Viacom with Dauman voted in to the job by the board over the clear objections of Sheri Redstone. The younger Redstone was set to take over from Dauman as her fathers health care agent in the deal that was being formatted in settlement talks last month. That all came crashing down when things hit an impasse, in the words of Herzers lead lawyer ODonnell, and fell apart in mid-April. At that time, sources told Deadline that Sheri Redstone was a big proponent of a deal with Herzer. Now the younger Redstone and Herzer will both have the opportunity to give their opinion on the state of Sumner in the trial both ultimately probably wanted to avoid so will, it seems, Sumner Redstone himself. Related stories Watch: Tony Awards Nominations Live Stream 'Star Trek': CBS Series To Begin Filming This Fall In Toronto TV Upfronts 2016 Schedule: NBC, ESPN & Fox Consolidate Events; CBS At The Plaza VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / Sunridge Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Sunridge") (TSX.V: SGC / OTCQX: SGCNF) reports that an estimated total amount of $88.7 million will be distributed in two distributions as a return of capital to its shareholders of record on May 18, 2016 (the "Record Date"), the date the Board of Directors has determined as the record date. Sunridge will apply to the TSX Venture Exchange to have both its shares and share purchase warrants de-listed from trading effective at the close of trading on May 13, 2016 (the "De-Listing Date") to allow the trades to settle in advance of the Record Date. As part of the Company's reorganization for the next 6 months until dissolution Craig Angus, Neil O'Brien and Steve Gatley will resign from the Board of Directors of Sunridge on the De-Listing Date to leave four directors on the board. All remaining directors and management continuing with the Company until dissolution offer their gratitude and thanks the outgoing director's oversight, contribution and dedication over the years that they have served Sunridge. In addition, with effect on April 30, 2016, employment will be terminated for Scott Ansell (VP Project Development), David Daoud (VP Exploration and Geology) and Greg Davis (VP Business Development). Sunridge management and directors takes this opportunity to thank them for all of their hard work and contributions to the success of the Asmara project. As announced on April 26, 2016, the Company was paid a total of US$68.6 million net of taxes paid to the government of Eritrea on closing the sale of Sunridge's 60% interest in the Asmara Mining Share Company ("AMSC") to Sichuan Road & Bridge Mining Investment Development Corp. Ltd. ("SRBM"). The second and final instalment of US$7.33 million from SRBM, which is secured by a bank guarantee, is required to be paid to Sunridge by October 26, 2016. On January 22, 2016, the shareholders of Sunridge approved the distribution of the net proceeds of the sale of AMSC as a return on capital to the shareholders in two tranches (the "Distributions") and after having satisfied all the liabilities of the Company to be followed by the voluntary dissolution of Sunridge. The Board of Directors is withholding certain funds from the first Distribution to meet the obligations of the Company and its continued operation for the next 6 months until dissolution and have determined that, assuming a US dollars/Canadian dollars exchange rate of 1.25 on the date the funds are converted to Canadian dollars prior to the distribution that the estimated first Distribution will total $77.5 million or $0.35 per share. It has been assumed in this calculation that all stock options and share purchase warrants that have an exercise price of under $0.35 per share will have been exercised before the Record Date. This first Distribution will therefore be adjusted by the actual proceeds from exercise of outstanding stock options and share purchase warrants and the actual amount of the previously announced $0.02 payment made to warrant holders of record on the Record Date for the cancellation of listed share purchase warrants that have not been exercised before the Record Date. As it is not yet known what the bank buy rate of US dollars will be on the payment date of the first Distribution or how many stock options and/or share purchase warrants will be exercised before the Record Date it is not possible to state with certainty the exact amount of the first Distribution. The Company will announce the actual adjusted amount on May 16, 2016. This first Distribution will be paid to shareholders of record on the Record Date by the Company's transfer agent approximately three business days from the Record Date. On that same day, the Company's transfer agent will pay the warrant holders of record on the Record Date a cancellation fee of $0.02. The second Distribution is expected to be paid to the same shareholders of record on the Record Date on or about November 4, 2016. The amount to be distributed will include the final principal and interest of the Deferred Payment, combined with any remaining cash after all remaining obligations of the Company have been settled and is currently expected to be a further $0.04 to $0.05 a share. The Company will then voluntarily dissolve after the second Distribution has been paid and all obligations of the Company have been settled. For additional information on the Company visit our website at www.sunridgegold.com or call Greg Davis at the number listed below. SUNRIDGE GOLD CORP. "Michael Hopley" Michael Hopley, President and Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: Greg Davis, VP Business Development Email: greg@sunridgegold.com Tel: 604-688-1263 (direct) Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain statements or disclosures that may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that management or the directors of the Company, anticipate or expect may, or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements presented in such statements or disclosures may, among other things, relate to: the currency exchange rates, the amounts to be paid and the provisions to be made to settle the Company's obligations, the timing and amounts of any cash distributions to be made by the Company, and the planned dissolution of the Company. Risks and uncertainties relating to such matters include Chinese regulatory approvals and other risks and uncertainties of completing complex international transactions. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or disclosures. SOURCE: Sunridge Gold Corp. By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined a request from shareholders seeking to revive their class action lawsuit against BP claiming the British oil company misrepresented its safety procedures prior to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The court left in place a September 2015 ruling by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that refused to certify the lawsuit filed by investors who bought shares in the 2-1/2 years before the spill. BP's share price plummeted after the disaster, which has cost the company more than $55 billion. BP said in court papers the lawsuit should not be allowed to proceed because the plaintiffs were improperly seeking damages for the entire decline in stock price as a result of the spill. The appeals court said some of the investors might have bought the stock even knowing the risk, and these investors may still sue BP individually. In the same ruling, the appeals court allowed claims by investors who bought shares after the spill to move forward. Those claims were not at issue in the appeal. "BP has long argued that all the plaintiffs securities claims are meritless and will continue to defend vigorously against them," BP spokesman Geoff Morrell said. Lawyers for the investors did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and Macondo oil well rupture killed 11 workers and caused the largest offshore environmental disaster in U.S. history, polluting large parts of the Gulf, killing marine wildlife and harming businesses. It took 87 days to plug the leak on the ocean floor. In total, BP has incurred about $55 billion in losses as a result of the spill, including $18.7 billion to settle federal, state and local claims. The case is Ludlow v. BP, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 15-952. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Will Dunham) By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a challenge by business groups to Seattle's law raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour, a move echoed by other locales, in a case focusing on how the ordinance affected local franchises like McDonald's. The Seattle law's supporters hailed the court's action, which left intact a lower court ruling backing the measure, as a defeat for "the big business lobby" that has taken aim at minimum wage hikes. The International Franchise Association and the businesses that challenged the measure did not target the actual wage hike. Instead, they argued that it was unfair for Seattle to exclude local franchises of big companies like McDonald's and Burger King from the small companies that the law gives three extra years to pay employees at least $15 per hour. Seattle was the first major U.S. city to commit to such a high basic wage amid pressure from unions and workers' rights groups. The move has since been followed to varying degrees by cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles as well as by state lawmakers in California and New York. Seattle's law, which took effect in April 2015, requires businesses with more than 500 employees nationwide to raise their minimum wage to $15 by 2018. Smaller companies have until 2021 to do so. The high court's move means that cities and states that pass similar wage laws must treat franchises as offshoots of brand parents rather than independent small businesses. The franchise association said its 2014 lawsuit sought "to level the playing field" for the 600 franchise businesses that employ 19,000 people in Seattle, and it was disappointed with the court's action. "Seattle's ordinance is blatantly discriminatory and affirmatively harms hard-working franchise small business owners every day since it has gone into effect," said the group's president, Robert Cresanti. Story continues A federal judge in Seattle in March 2015 sided with the city, and the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year agreed. Working Washington, a coalition of labor and nonprofit groups that spearheaded the campaign to pass Seattle's wage law, called the Supreme Court's move not to hear the case a victory for workers. "The big business lobby has thrown everything they got at Seattle workers," the group said, "but they keep on losing, and the economy continues to boom." Seattle officials and the Service Employees International Union, which backed the city in the case, said franchises are not typical small businesses because franchising offers inherent advantages such as access to loans, brand recognition and bulk purchasing. But the franchise association countered that those perks come at a cost, namely royalties, fees and rent. house offer price All home sellers hope their place will fetch a big, fat price. And while you cant control everything that determines a houses market ratelike, say, the state of the stock market or the quality of your local school districtthere are plenty of things within your power that can nudge that number higher. A lot higher, in fact. Granted, manipulating your homes selling price will take some work, and usually some money. But time and again, these proven strategies make a big difference in final sales prices. Try a few, then prepare to do a victory dance on the big day you get your offer(s). Tactic 1: Bite the bullet and make smart upgrades Yes, overall renovations to your home will nudge up the price, although not always as much as you might hope: According to Remodeling magazines 2016 Cost vs. Value Report, youll get back an average of 64% on whatever upgrades you paid for. But that ROI varies widely based on what type of improvement you do. The most profitable upgrade isdrum rollinsulating your attic. It may not be all that sexy, but youll recoup 116.9% of your costs. Its the only home reno in the report that redeems more money than you spend! Tactic 2: Boost your curb appeal You Realtor has probably already told you: One surefire way to jack up your sale price is to knock em dead before they even reach your front door. So spend some time and do it for real. Improving your homes curb appeal can increase your sale price by up to 17%, a Texas Tech University study found. Basic landscaping such as trimming hedges, pulling weeds, and pruning trees is a must. You can add pops of color by planting flowers in the front yard and placing potted plants on each side of the front door, says Kimberly Sands, a broker at Coldwell Banker Advantage in Apex, NC. Consider installing white panel lighting along railings, fences, or doorsteps to make your homes exterior visually appealing for evening showings. Other low-cost projects to improve your homes appearance include putting a fresh coat of paint on the front door, updating the house numbers, and adding porch furniture. Story continues Tactic 3: Create the illusion of more space It goes without saying that a higher square footage fetches a higher sum, but you cant do anything about that, right? Not so fast: Your homes actual specs dont matter as much as how spacious rooms look when youre standing in them. So be sure to create an open, inviting space. That entails removing large pieces of furniture such as the oversize coffee table (it might look nice, but it could be blocking foot traffic). Not enough room in the garage to stow everything? Look into renting a storage unit, says Jennifer Baxter, associate broker at Coldwell Banker RMR in Suwanee, GA. If your home has beautiful hardwood floors, show them off by removing large rugs, and clear off your kitchens counter space by putting away blenders, coffee makers, toaster ovens, and other small appliances, she advises. Buyers are particularly attuned to closet space, so move off-season clothes into storage. You want to give the illusion that your closet is so large that you cant fill it, she says. Tactic 4: Hire a professional home stager Have eclectic design tastes? Your personal aesthetic might put off some buyers, so move all your knickknacks into storage and hire a home stager. Its true that these professionalswho tweak your space to make it more appealing to buyersarent cheap, but they can be well worth it. On average, staged homes sell for a whopping 20% more money than nonstaged ones. Staging may be particularly important if youre in the process of moving, and some rooms are vacant. Make sure your living room and kitchen are fully furnished, since theyre the most important rooms to buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors 2015 Profile of Home Staging survey. Tactic 5: Pick a neutral color palette Maybe you painted your daughters room pink, or thought lime green was perfect for the master bedroom. (We all make mistakes!) However, boldly colored walls can turn off buyers, says Katie Wethman, a Washington, DCbased Realtor and founder of the Wethman Group. So consider hiring a professional to repaint the house throughout in a neutral color such as off-white or beige. Or if you have the time, you can cut costs by painting it yourself. The post Surefire Tactics to Getting More Money for Your Home appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com. Related Articles The Trip Takes Guests into the Ocean Where They Get To Snorkel alongside the Gentle Giants of the Sea PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / Absolute Adventure Mexico is pleased to announce their summer adventure activity, swimming with whale sharks. Whale sharks are the oceans biggest fish. They are plankton feeders that spend their time grazing near the surface, swimming slowly as they take in as much as 50 pounds of tiny marine life each day. Swimming alongside a whale shark is an awe inspiring experience, but because they are grazers, they are absolutely harmless to humans. In fact, many of the sharks have grown accustomed to humans swimming beside them as they glide gently along the water. These massive fish can weigh as much as 47,000 pounds, and grow to be 41 feet long. The trip begins at Playa del Carmen or in the Riviera Maya and heads to Cancun where the boat awaits. The vessel can hold as many as 10 people, and everything is provided including wetsuits, snorkeling equipment, and various sizes of life preservers. After a few hours looking for whale sharks, pairs of participants are invited to jump into the water with their professional guide and swim alongside these gentle giants of the sea. "Imagine for a moment, you are on a boat in beautiful turquoise-colored water on a picture perfect day off the sunny coast of Mexico when suddenlyyou spot itnot only the largest fish in the entire world, but the biggest shark in the sea! Your pulse quickens, your heart begins to pound," says the website. Guests are encouraged to take as many turns as they'd like, and once everyone is ready to head back to land, the boat will motor to Isla Mujeres, where guests can "go for a swim in the gorgeous clear blue waters or take a walk on the beautiful beaches," says the website. Meanwhile, the captain prepares lunch which includes fresh guacamole and ceviche, as well as fresh fruit and sandwiches. After everyone is done eating and swimming, the group heads back to Cancun to wrap up the day. Story continues Snorkeling with whale sharks is suited for guests who have some snorkeling experience because the water in the ocean can be rough. Absolute Adventure Mexico offers other activities as well, such as snorkeling in cenotes, these beautiful and mysterious water caverns. To learn more about Absolute Adventure Mexico and their whale shark tour, please visit: https://absolute-adventure-mexico.com. About Absolute Adventure Mexico: Absolute Adventure is a private tour agency that operates out of Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. They host all included services including sightseeing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Their summer tour called "swimming with whale sharks" is about to start as of mid-May and will be available till mid-September. Contact: Chris Peller Contact@absolute-adventure-mexico.com 0052 1 9842180309 SOURCE: Absolute Adventure Mexico BERN (Reuters) - Swiss authorities were monitoring the social media activity of about 400 possible jihadists who might pose a security threat, the NDB federal intelligence service said on Monday. Switzerland is not a primary target for Islamist attacks because it is not part of the military campaign against groups such as Islamic State, but the security threat level has been elevated nonetheless, the NDB's annual report said. The report showed a photo of a Swiss passport next to an explosive belt posted online by a suspected Swiss jihadist who had traveled to the Middle East, and an Islamic State video showing the Swiss flag among the 60 countries seen as targets. "Attacks in Switzerland are more to be expected from lone wolves or small groups that would be conducted with simple means, little preparation and minimal logistical effort," the report said. Authorities have been closely tracking suspected jihadists who return to Switzerland from countries, Syria in particular, where they are believed to get training in carrying out attacks. A Swiss court last month sentenced three Iraqis for terrorism offences, a verdict that the senior prosecutor said should send a message to jihadists not to see the country as an easy target. The three main defendants, who had denied wrongdoing, were arrested in early 2014 on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks and helping Islamic State militants enter the country. The Swiss attorney general's office has more than 60 open cases linked to jihadist militancy, it said on Monday. (Reporting by Ruben Sprich and John Miller; Writing by Michael Shields; Editing by Louise Ireland) As more film, TV and game projects flee the U.S. to avoid union music obligations, the construction of a new scoring stage in Europe is news on both sides of the Atlantic. Synchron Stage Vienna has quietly opened in the Austrian city that was once home to Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Strauss. Scores already recorded there include Hans Zimmers music for Inferno, third in the film series of Dan Brown films with Tom Hanks slated for a fall release; and Rupert Gregson-Williams music for the upcoming Peter Morgan-created Netflix series The Crown. Herb Tucmandl, founder and CEO of the Vienna Symphonic Library one of the most popular sample libraries used by composers acquired the building, which was built in 1939-40 and was for many years a top recording stage for both films and classical recordings. World-class conductors from Herbert von Karajan to Mstislav Rostropovich recorded there, but by the 1970s and 80s the stage had fallen into disuse. In the 1990s it was used primarily as a rehearsal hall for opera productions. Its the perfect room to record music, especially for film, says Tucmandl. The design and acoustics, originally from the 40s, are more or less intact, he adds, partly because the building is considered a Viennese landmark and we had to take care not to destroy anything which is historically important. Tucmandl spent 10 million Euros ($11.4 million) upgrading the equipment, rewiring, fixing the heating and air conditioning, installing new consoles and buying new instruments. (Three high-end pianos and an entire battery of percussion are available, stored in the climate-controlled basement.) It has a very natural resonance. Its like recording in a concert hall, says composer-orchestrator Conrad Pope, who was among the first to record there last October, inaugurating the space with a re-recording of Anton Profes romantic music from the 1950s Sissi biopics of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth. If you have a huge orchestra, its the place to be, adds Pope. The 5,800-square-foot Stage A can accommodate as many as 130 musicians. There is a smaller room, the 860-square-foot Stage B, with space for up to 30 musicians. Story continues One of the unusual aspects of the main room is its room-in-room design, with a 10-foot gap between walls, ensuring no sound leakage from outside. Its already, arguably, one of the best rooms in Europe, says recording engineer Dennis Sands, who consulted on the sound, recommended the microphone setup, and recorded Popes sessions. Sonically, its a world-class facility. It has a beautiful quality. The goal, says Tucmandl, is to offer a higher quality of music-making and music recording than that of current low-cost scoring destinations Budapest, Prague and Bratislava. Our goal is to deliver the same quality as London, which is widely considered the best on that side of the Atlantic. Pope and Sands describe the recording and mixing equipment as state of the art, and the musicians, says, Pope, are young, eager and ready to play. Already classically trained, they are now being trained in the film-specific arena of playing to click tracks and recording in stems (a section of the orchestra at a time). Then, of course, adds Tucmandl, we are a software company, so we are also developing tools which will give more flexibility and creativity in producing music. We will bring together the real world and the virtual world in this building. Hybrid scores can be produced very comfortably here. Londons main stages, Abbey Road and AIR Studios, are constantly overbooked, composers say. London is the benchmark, says Sands, but at some point, people will be just as comfortable going to Vienna. Geneva (AFP) - Syria's civil war is "in many ways out of control" US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Monday, vowing to work hard in the "coming hours" to salvage a tattered truce. Speaking after talks with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, Kerry said he would call his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov later Monday to press for the ceasefire to be restored. But, in some of his most downbeat comments yet on the effort to end the deadly five-year-old conflict, Kerry warned that he did not want to promise success. Standing by de Mistura, he thanked him for supporting a political process in the midst of "a conflict that is in may ways out of control and deeply disturbing to everybody in the world, I hope." Kerry said a ceasefire mediated by Russia and the United States in February was still holding in parts of the country, but he singled out the situation in Aleppo. There, he said, Bashar al-Assad's regime had deliberately targeted three clinics and a major hospital, killing doctors and patients and threatening the truce. "The attack on this hospital is unconscionable," he said. "And it has to stop." Mario Lopez, Larry King, Kevin Frazier, Nancy ODell and other stars and creators of daytime television packed the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites for the 43rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. The room was full of applause as CBSs The Talk won its first Daytime Emmy in six years, beating the prevailing champion, Ellen DeGeneres, and others in the daytime yak pack. Cast members of The Talk told Variety that they were shocked when the winner was announced. I dont know if it was something that happened this season that made it a standout, but weve been on for six seasons now and it was our time, said Julie Chen, co-host of The Talk. In daytime TV, viewing habits shift and it takes a while to become a household name and I think we have accomplished that. CBS was a big winner last night, nabbing the outstanding morning program award for CBS This Morning and the outstanding game show prize for The Price Is Right. ABC also thrived, taking home the outstanding drama series honor for General Hospital and outstanding informative talk show for The Chew. Both networks racked up six awards each. I am so thrilled for all of them, said Angelica McDaniel, head of daytime programming at CBS. For everyones hard work and efforts, this is just the culmination and its a great night to celebrate. McDaniel said the network continuously pushes itself to keep its iconic brands such as The Price Is Right and The Young and the Restless current while paying respect to where the shows come from. She said the biggest challenge is staying relevant. We just launched an online series utilizing all of our talent from all of our shows called Not Safe for Daytime that consists of parodies, spoofs and viral videos, McDaniel said. Its more in the comedic space because our viewers are online and we want to be where they are. The excitement spilled over into the CBS after-party, held at Alexandria Ballrooms in downtown Los Angeles. The exclusive invitation-only event, which had an invite list of more than 1,000 people, celebrates the various teams at CBS that work to bring their programming to life. Story continues The after-party had rolling carts with an array of dim sum, cakes and signature cocktails, including the Brash and Sassy (a reference to Young and the Restless) and the Plinko Drinko (a fun nod to The Price Is Right). Guests took home gift bags valued at over $2,000. Related stories 'Young and the Restless,' 'Mind of a Chef' Lead Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Winners CBS Renews Entire Daytime Slate Including Soaps, 'The Talk' & 'Let's Make A Deal' Daytime Emmys Preview: Soaps Keep Audiences With Long-Term Characters From stylish bank robber Bonnie Parker to hard-hitting TV programmer Diana Christensen, Faye Dunaway has played numerous complex, memorable characters over the years. "These characters mean everything to me. They are living creatures - it's like they used to come and sit on my windowsill," the actress explained to the crowd at the Ricardo Montalban theater in Hollywood, where she sat down to discuss her decades-spanning career as a part of the TCM Classic Film Festival. In the discussion, Dunaway went movie by movie, talking about her experiences on each project and making sure to pay compliments to each of her leading men - including Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, and Kirk Douglas, among others. Beginning with her first breakout role in Bonnie and Clyde - a part Jane Fonda also auditioned for. The performance garnered her the first of three Oscar nominations, and Dunaway praised co-star Warren Beatty for his tenacity as an actor and producer. "He fought to the death for this film," explained Dunaway of the 1967 movie, which was criticized at the time for its onscreen violence. "[Beatty and director Arthur Penn] were determined to show it as it was. You have to hit people in the face with the violence because that was the way it was." A few years later, the actress played opposite Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair. On set, McQueen approached Dunaway and wanted to discuss the length of her fingernails, which he thought were too long for the role ("I was influenced by Barbra Streisand," she explained). McQueen eyed the script that sat open on Dunaway's lap and noticed the intense amount of annotations and footnotes that decorated the pages and decided against giving her any direction about her character. Later, while Dunaway was filming on location in Spain, Nicholson called her to discuss a part in a project called Chinatown, a role that she later accepted. In filming the neo-noir, there was a scene where Nicholson had to slap Dunaway, but the actress decided that the staged slaps were not selling it. "I finally said, Jack, you are just gonna have to hit me," said Dunaway, adding that eventually "he really did." Story continues The actress, now 75, filled the two hour discussion with little snippets about her experiences with the men that dotted her award-winning career. On Network director Sidney Lumet: "He worked like he was on roller skates. He was a true New York director." On Barfly co-star Mickey Rourke: "Nuts but a great guy. He was a lot like [Marlon] Brando." On first meeting Three Days of the Condor lead actor Redford: "I was starstruck but you can't really be afraid of Robert Redford." But despite working with many of the most famous directors and actors of the past several decades, Dunaway says the people she remembers best are the ones she spent months cultivating in her own mind - people like Bonnie Parker and Diana Christensen, the role for which she won an Oscar. "You always carry them around with you," she said. Read more: Critic's Notebook: What the DGA 'Best Films' List Got Wrong Video of Ted Cruz attempting to talk to supporters for Donald Trump is making its way around social media as the Texas senator seemingly made no headway in the impromptu discussion. Cruz was stumping in Marion, Ind., on the eve of that state's primary when he decided to talk to protesters who were in support of Trump, the current GOP presidential frontrunner. "We don't want you," said the main protester addressing Cruz. When Cruz attempted to push the man on specifics concerning what he liked about Trump, the man responded, "Everything," and then "the wall." Trump has promised to build an enormous wall along the border and make Mexico pay for its installation. The chat went on for about seven minutes in much the same fashion as it started. Afterward, the main protester said he was "surprised" Cruz came over to talk. He also refused to give media his name to be quoted. Read More: Carly Fiorina Falls Off Stage at Ted Cruz's Indiana Event On Wednesday, Tesla Motors will release Q1 2016 earnings. This will be the first earnings announcement since the blockbuster launch of the electric car makers Model 3 , which has already generated over 400,000 pre-orders. Join David Bartosiak of Zacks Investment Research for a live preview of Telsas earnings along with real-time trade ideas. Prior to the release of their earnings results, Tesla announced they had delivered 14,820 cars and were on track to meet their full year guidance of 80,000 to 90,000 new vehicles. To watch, become a fan of Zacks Investment Research on Facebook and tune in at 2:00 pm CST. David will be discussing what has been going on with Tesla, earnings expectations, and what is going on in the options market. David Bartosiak is the editor of the Momentum Trader and Home Run Investor service. He has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry. He has traded forex, futures, stocks, and options. Mr. Bartosiak is a frequent guest on popular business news TV channels such as Bloomberg TV. Hes also the host of a light-hearted, Millennial-minded series of videos called Trending Stocks. Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TESLA MOTORS (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research On Monday, Tesla Motors (TSLA) released the results of its tests of the Model X's air-filtering system, which demonstrated its efficacy. Tesla placed a Model X inside a bubble filled with "extreme levels of pollution" at 1,000 g/m3 of PM2.5, which the Environmental Protection Agency describes as the kind of pollution that "pose[s] the greatest health risks." For comparison, PM2.5 levels in Beijing can hit 300 g/m3. Read More Tesla knows the one feature that will make it a success in China In less than two minutes, the HEPA filtration system was able to reduce the level of contamination from "extremely dangerous" to "undetectable." Source: Tesla Motors Tesla added that after the filtration system cleaned the air inside of the vehicle, it began to filter the air outside of the car. Read More China's hottest race: Creating the 'next Tesla' In its statement, Tesla said that while the test was conducted with a Model X, the electric automaker expects similar results from the Model S currently in production. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Monday that he credits Alphabet (GOOGL) CEO Larry Page with informing him about the health benefits of air filtration systems. Read the full report on Tesla's blog. AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas man who moonlighted as a Santa Claus during the holiday season and was arrested on Christmas Eve pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to charges including distribution of child pornography, U.S. prosecutors in Texas said. Reynaldo Ramirez, 38, a Santa Claus-for-hire in south Texas for about 15 years, faces between five to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 10, they said. He was arrested after federal investigators traced child pornography to an internet address associated with him, prosecutors said. Ramirez, of Corpus Christi, admitted to downloading more than 1,000 images of child pornography and the sexual assault of a 4-year-old child, they said. He has been in custody since his arrest on Dec. 24, 2015. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Dan Grebler) Investors may be salivating for a piece of Saudi Aramco when the kingdom of Saudi Arabia sells a small chunk of its gigantic state-owned oil company, probably in 2017. But potential buyers ought to beware. I think theyre hedging the uncertainty that their oil is going to be worth less, Matthew Weatherly-White, founder of the Caprock Group, tells me in the video above. Even more dramatically, there might be stranded carbon assets they own, and by that I mean assets that are simply worth nothing. Oil producers have already endured an enormous shock during the last two years, with the benchmark price for Brent crude plunging from $115 a barrel in 2014 to about $30 earlier this year, and now rising back to around $45. The oil bust has caused severe stress for oil producers such as Russia and Venezuela, and caused Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest oil producer, to rethink its priorities. The Saudis plan to offer about 5% of the shares in Aramco to the public as a way to raise cash they can invest in other things, to diversify their oil-dependent economy. That gives Aramco an implied value of $2 trillion or so, which would be six times the market value of Exxon Mobil (XOM) and make Aramco the worlds largest oil company, by far. But oil may face challenges a lot worse than the weak demand, oversupply and plunging prices of the last two years. A historic agreement made last December among 196 different countries, known as COP21, could bring strict new rules on the use of oil and other fossil fuels in many nations, essentially making it more expensive and encouraging other forms of energy use. At the same time, carbon alternatives such as solar and wind power and electric vehicles are getting cheaper and more widespread. The two trends combined could spell a gradual end for oil and a long-term decline in the Saudis most valuable asset. I think what the Saudis are doing is looking at the uncertainty in the future of oil and saying, weve got this $2 trillion asset were sitting on. Its possible it might be worth less in the future because of the stroke of a regulators pen, or because the market deems it to be less than it is right now, Weatherley-White says. Story continues There have been many extreme predictions relating to oil, from the peak oil theory that goes back decades to the bottomless oil some analysts now think producers can churn out indefinitely, on account of fracking and other new technology. If there's one constant, it's that forecasters tend to be terrible at predicting what will happen to the price and suppy of oil. So it might be shrewder to consider a range of scenarios that could explain the Saudis willingness to sell a stake in Aramco. Weatherley-White sees three: The Saudis might simply be making a modest effort to diversify and become less dependent on oil, which would be smart. Or they could be sitting on considerably less oil than the public thinks, and looking to sell while the rest of the world thinks the emperor is still wearing clothes. Or, finally, the Saudis may be running short of cash due to expensive wars with bordering states and the costly lifestyles of its royals, and looking to bolster its reserves, without explictly saying so. If the Saudis are basically betting against the future of oil, it would probably be shrewd for ordinary investors to follow the lead and assess the vulnerability of their own portfolios. Look at the businesses that might have some climate risk embedded in them, Weatherley-White advises. That includes more than just energy firms. Insurers, for instance, might be exposed to rising claims caused by higher sea levels and more violent weather caused by climate change. Transportation companies might have to alter routes and incur extra costs to avoid low-lying or stormy areas. And agriculture may shift further north, as once-frigid areas warm, becoming more suitable for crops. Who knows, even the Saudis might get into farming. Rick Newmans latest book is Liberty for All: A Manifesto for Reclaiming Financial and Political Freedom. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / Theralase Technologies Inc. ("Theralase" or the "Company") (TLT.V) (OTC: TLTFF), a leading biotech company focused on commercializing medical devices to eliminate pain and developing Photo Dynamic Compounds ("PDCs") to destroy cancer, announced today that it has increased its revenues by 40% year over year in its latest audited 2015 financial statements. Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased 40% from $1,380,604 to $1,945,246 from the same period in 2014. In Canada, revenue increased 97% to $1,691,086 from $857,723, while US revenue decreased 24% from $283,784 to $214,744 and international revenue decreased 84% from $239,097 to $39,415. The significant increase in Canadian revenue in 2015 and the corresponding decrease in US and international revenue is directly attributable to the Company's mandate of building its sales and marketing teams from scratch commencing with the Canadian market. The next generation TLC-2000 therapeutic medical laser system received Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") 510(k) clearance and Health Canada medical device license approval in December 2015, allowing the newly minted Canadian team to commence sales of this next generation technology. Now that the TLC-2000 is able to be sold in Canada and the United States, the focus of the Company will be to commence recruitment of a high performing US sales and marketing team to increase sales of the TLC-2000 technology in the US in 2016. Once the Canadian and US markets have been established and running independently, Theralase will then focus its attention on growing its international revenues through exclusive international distribution agreements commencing in 2017. The cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $629,899 resulting in a gross margin of $1,315,347 (68% of revenue), compared to a cost of sales of $459,323 in 2014, resulting in a gross margin of $921,281 (67% of revenue). Story continues Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $1,091,277 (56% of revenue), compared with $598,178 (43% of revenue) in 2014. The increase represents direct investment in the new sales and marketing teams, for launch of the next generation TLC-2000 therapeutic laser system, which will significantly increase sales in 2016 and 2017. Administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $2,455,985 (170% increase) from $1,448,781 in 2014. Increases in administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were attributable to the following: - General and administrative expenses increased 172% due to increased spending on investor relations and research scientist activities - Professional fees increased by 208% due to increased legal fees for additional trademark and international intellectual property patents to protect the Company's latest technological advances in both its therapeutic laser and anti-cancer divisions. - Stock based compensation increased by 279% as a result of granting and vesting of stock options to certain employees, directors and officers of the Company in 2015. Research and development expenses totaled $3,038,326 for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $1,455,301 in 2014 (205% increase). Research and development expenses represented 46% of the Company's operating expenses for the period and represent direct investment into commercialization efforts of the TLC-2000 therapeutic medical laser technology and development expenses of the TLC-3000 anti-cancer technology. The net loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $5,225,975, which included $666,181 of net non-cash expenses (amortization, stock-based compensation expense, foreign exchange gain/loss and lease inducements). This compared to a net loss in 2014 of $2,587,542, which included $291,534 of net non-cash expenses. The Photo Dynamic Therapy ("PDT") division represented $3,676,181 of this loss (70%). The increase in net loss is primarily due to increased investment in research and development, sales and marketing personnel and administrative personnel all related to the launch of the TLC-2000 and the commencement of a Phase Ib clinical study for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") expected in late 2Q2016. Roger Dumoulin-White, President and CEO, Theralase stated that, "Theralase achieved a majority of its strategic initiatives for 2015"; specifically: - FDA 510(k) clearance and Health Canada medical device license approval of the TLC-2000, allowing distribution of this cutting edge technology in both Canada and the United States - Health Canada Clinical Trial Application ("CTA") of its lead PDC, TLD-1433 - University Health Network Research Ethics Board ("UHNREB") approval of the clinical trial - Six (6) month accelerated stability testing of TLD-1433 The Company is currently completing the sterilization and mechanical testing of its TLD-3400 medical laser probes used to activate TLD-1433 in the bladder of patients inflicted with NMIBC. The testing is expected to be completed by the end of May allowing re-submission of an Investigational Testing Authorization ("ITA") to Health Canada at the beginning of June with an expected approval date in mid-June 2016. Pending ITA approval, Theralase and University Health Network will immediately commence enrolling patients in a Phase Ib NMIBC clinical study with primary outcome measures of safety and tolerability, secondary outcomes of pharmacokinetics (where the PDC accumulates in the body and how it exits the body) and an exploratory outcome measure of efficacy. Mr. Dumoulin-White concluded that, "The Company has successfully executed on the majority of its strategic initiatives in 2015 and is anticipating ITA approval in mid-June 2016 to allow an immediate commencement of a Phase Ib clinical study for NMIBC, which will allow the Company to dramatically increase shareholder value in 2016 by demonstrating the safety, tolerability and as an exploratory outcome measure efficacy of next generation anti-cancer technology." About Theralase Technologies Inc. Theralase Technologies Inc. ("Theralase" or the "Company") (TSXV: TLT) (OTC: TLTFF) in its Therapeutic Laser Technology (TLT) Division designs, manufactures, markets and distributes patented super-pulsed laser technology indicated for the: elimination of pain, reduction of inflammation and dramatic acceleration of tissue healing for numerous nerve, muscle and joint conditions. Theralase's Photo Dynamic Therapy ("PDT") Division researches and develops specially designed molecules called Photo Dynamic Compounds ("PDCs"), which are able to localize to cancer cells and then when laser light activated, effectively destroy them. Additional information is available at www.theralase.com and www.sedar.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchanges) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For More Information: Roger Dumoulin-White President & CEO 1.866.THE.LASE (843-5273) ext. 225 416.699.LASE (5273) ext. 225 rwhite@theralase.com www.theralase.com SOURCE: Theralase Technologies Inc. (NICKERSON, Neb.)Half-ton pickup trucks crowd the curb outside the One Horse Saloon, a neon Coors Light sign in the window and rib-eye steaks on the menu, but otherwise Nickerson, Nebraska, is nearly silent on a spring evening, with only rumbling freight trains interrupting bird songs. Regional economic development officials thought it was the perfect spot for a chicken processing plant that would liven up the 400-person town with 1,100 jobs, more than it had ever seen. When plans leaked out, though, there was no celebration, only furious opposition that culminated in residents packing the fire hall to complain the roads couldnt handle the truck traffic, the stench from the plant would be unbearable and immigrants and out-of-towners would flood the area, overwhelming schools and changing the towns character. Everyone was against it, said Jackie Ladd, who has lived there for more than 30 years. How many jobs would it mean for people here? Not many. The village board unanimously voted against the proposed $300 million plant, and two weeks later, the company said theyd take their plant and money elsewhere. Deep-rooted, rural agricultural communities around the U.S. are seeking economic investments to keep from shedding residents, but those very places face trade-offs that increasing numbers of those who oppose meat processing plants say threaten to burden their way of life and bring in outsiders. Maybe its just an issue of the times in which we live in which so many people want certain things but they dont want the inconveniences that go with them, said Chris Young, executive director of the American Association of Meat Processors. Nickerson fought against Georgia-based Lincoln Premium Poultry, which wanted to process 1.6 million chickens a week for warehouse chain Costco. It was a similar story in Turlock, California, which turned down a hog-processing plant last fall, and Port Arthur, Texas, where residents last week stopped a meat processing plant. There also were complaints this month about a huge hog processing plant planned in Mason City, Iowa, but the project has moved ahead. Story continues The Nickerson plant would have helped area farmers, who mostly grow corn and soybeans, start up poultry operations and buy locally grown grain for feed, said Willow Holliback, who lives 40 miles away and heads an agriculture group that backed the proposal. When farmers are doing well, the towns are doing well, she said. The question of who would work the tough jobs was at the forefront of the debate, though many were adamant they arent anti-immigrant. Opposition leader Randy Ruppert even announced: This is not about race. This is not about religion. But at a time when immigration issues, including calls to deport millions in the country illegally, have been a focus of attention in the U.S. presidential campaign, questions about both race and religion were raised at the raucous April 4 meeting where the local board rejected the plant. One speaker said hed toured a chicken processing plant elsewhere and felt nervous because most of the workers were minorities. More overtly, John Wiegert, from nearby Fremont where two meat processors employ many immigrants, questioned whether Nickersons plant would attract legal immigrants from Somalia more than 1,000 of whom have moved to other Nebraska cities for similar jobs, along with people from Mexico, Central America and Southeast Asia. Being a Christian, I dont want Somalis in here, Wiegert, who has led efforts to deny rental housing to immigrants in the country illegally, told the crowd. Theyre of Muslim descent. Im worried about the type of people this is going to attract. Others pointed out that, given Nebraskas unemployment rate is among the nations lowest near 3 percent, few local residents would accept the entry-level jobs. While the projected wage of $13 to $17 an hour was above the regions current median wage for production workers, opponents argued meat processors generally have high turnover. We arent against jobs, farmer John Schauer said. We want clean, stable jobs. The land is flat and rich around Nickerson, which is a half-mile off a narrow state highway about 30 miles from Omaha. The towns tidy but often faded single-story homes sit on large, grassy lots. Theres a small cluster of commercial buildings, most of them long shuttered, and a grain elevator. Its school was demolished more than a decade ago, leaving only the old playground, but residents take pride in the regional school district. Superintendent Jeremy Klein told the village board he worried new students would overwhelm local schools and that tax breaks would limit any extra money to hire more teachers. Its impossible to know what the size of that impact will be, Klein said days later. People seem to be more willing than in earlier eras to fight developments they think could harm the environment or change an areas character, University of Nebraska-Lincoln economics professor Eric Thompson said, even if the development offers an economic boost. Mason City official Brent Trout said he heard all the arguments against the $240 million plant planned some 200 miles northeast of Nickerson: Whats the environmental impact of an operation that will process up to 22,000 hogs daily? How will 2,000 new jobs affect the isolated city of 27,500? Its already hard to attract employers to Mason City, which has lost about 10 percent of its population over the last 30 years, he said. But, like Nickerson, Mason Citys best selling point is its focus on agriculture: This is what Iowa is. This is what Iowa does, Trout said. We raise pigs and we process pigs. Although Nickerson residents have succeeded in pushing away the industrial-scale operation, opponents said theyre getting better organized to help the town thats targeted next. Ive lived in exotic places, but Ive never wanted to live anywhere but here, said Chuck Folsom, an 88-year-old former Marine and farmer. Weve got to protect the land. Were not making any more of it. By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Baltimore cop's conspiracy conviction involving an auto repair shop extortion operation in a ruling that could boost the power of federal prosecutors to pursue charges against public officials. The court ruled 5-3 against Samuel Ocasio, one of several police officers who referred motorists involved in car accidents to get their vehicles fixed at Majestic Auto Repair Shop in Rosedale, a Baltimore suburb. In return, the shop owners, brothers Hernan Moreno and Edwin Mejia, paid the officers between $150 and $300 per referral. Ocasio was convicted in 2012 of four charges, three of extortion and one of conspiracy, and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The two brothers pleaded guilty and testified at Ocasio's trial. The court rejected the argument by Ocasio's lawyers that the legal definition of the conspiracy charge did not cover payments or exchanges of property among co-conspirators. Ocasio received payments from the shop owners, who were part of the enterprise, not from members of the public. Writing on behalf of the court, Justice Samuel Alito said prosecutors did not have to show that each member of a conspiracy agreed to commit each individual element of the extortion plan. "In other words, each conspirator must have specifically intended that some conspirator commit each element of the substantive offense. That is exactly what happened here," Alito said. The court was not split on ideological lines, with Alito's fellow conservatives Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting along with liberal Sonia Sotomayor. Thomas wrote in his dissent that the court had broadened the reach of the federal extortion law "to enable federal prosecutors to punish for conspiracy all participants in a public-official bribery scheme." Prosecutors will have more leverage to convince defendants to plead guilty because they can charge them with conspiracy in addition to other counts, Thomas said. Story continues Just last week, the court appeared headed in the opposite direction regarding the reach of federal prosecutors when it heard former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's appeal of his corruption convictions. That case focuses on a different legal issue, concerning the definition of an "official act" for which an official can be prosecuted if they receive payment in return. Several justices in that case questioned the power prosecutors have to pursue charges against public officials, indicating they would rule in favor of McDonnell. Monday's ruling suggested the justices are more comfortable with a broad interpretation of conspiracy than of an "official act," said Timothy O'Toole, a white collar criminal defense lawyer in Washington. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan's highest court has allowed a leading newspaper to resume publishing, nearly five months after the authorities banned it from printing, the newspaper's editor said on Monday. Sudan's powerful National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) had suspended the independent Al-Tayar newspaper in December after it published a series of editorials criticising the government over subsidy cuts on fuel and electricity. The newspaper challenged the NISS in the country's Constitutional Court, which ordered that the ban on the daily be lifted. "We will resume publishing in the coming days as we have the court's order," Al-Tayar's editor-in-chief Osman Merghani told AFP. The newspaper's lawyer Nabil Adeeb confirmed the order. Court officials were not immediately available to comment on the decision. Al-Tayar was banned along with another newspaper, Al-Jarida, in May 2015 over reports that it had published articles about child abuse. The publications were later allowed to resume printing, but Al-Tayar was banned again in December. Security agents of NISS frequently seize the entire print runs of newspapers over articles they deem inappropriate. Journalists in Sudan complain of harassment, and the country regularly ranks near the bottom of world press freedom indexes. Ninad Ambre Toyota has launched the Innova Crysta in India, today, at Rs 13.84 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). The much awaited Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) boasts of a slew of mechanical and design changes, while being built on a new ladder-frame chassis redesigned for better overall safety. This new generation model gets many changes to the exterior making it look better than the previous one. It measures 4,735mm in length, 1,830mm in width and 1,795mm in height, making it longer, wider and taller than the old model. Toyota has kept the wheelbase length the same at 2,750mm. However, when you get to whats inside, you will be amazed to see a host of new features apart from the interior with top-notch quality. On the safety front, you get ABS, EBD and three airbags (dual front and knee airbag) as standard. The new Innova is being offered in a total of eight trims starting from the entry-level G, mid variant V and top-end Z. There is a choice of all-new GD powertrains on offer including a 2.4-litre GD, VNT Intercooler and a 2.8-litre GD. The former churns out 146.9bhp of power and 343Nm of torque and comes mated to a five-speed manual gearbox only. The more powerful 2.8-litre unit has an output of 174.5bhp and 360Nm and comes paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Toyota has made the new GD diesel engines 10 per cent more fuel-efficient than the old diesel powertrain. The ARAI fuel efficiency figure for the 2.4-litre manual is 15.10kmpl and 14.29kmpl for the 2.8-litre automatic. The global launch of the 2016 Toyota Innova was held on November 23 at the Gaikindo Auto Show in Indonesia. Finally, Toyota Kirloskar Motors has launched the MPV for the Indian market with prices starting from Rs 13.84 lakh to Rs 20.78 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com. Check On-Road Prices | Find New Cars | Upcoming Cars | Compare Cars | Dealer Locator Omaha is not quite like anywhere I have ever been. I arrived late Thursday from Seattle. The art in my hotel room had Warren Buffetts name on it. Another picture on the wall featured Omaha Steaks. I was clearly not home in the Emerald City. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz would have liked it here. The next day, I travelled quite early in the day to the Value Investor Conference held at Mammel Hall at the University of Nebraska Omaha. It is a beautiful building made possible by a couple who were early investors in Berkshire Hathaway. Their investment gains resulted in their ability to donate $30 million toward the construction of the school. The conference attendees were from every continent except Antarctica. The Mammels invested in the original partnership and a story was relayed by one speaker about how they once said had about as much information to go on when in vesting with Berkshire as the Madoff investors did. They just trusted Warren Buffett. The city is about as unpretentious a place as I have ever visited. Omaha seems to still reflect something approaching a Norman Rockwell America. Or at least more so than other places. I attended a dinner event at the Hilton hotel where my book on Charlie Munger was given as a gift to every guest. I signed a lot of books and talked to many people there. Everyone in attendance was a business school graduate and they said nice things about the book if they had read it. I did not tell anyone that I really wrote the book imagining that Charlie was talking to an ordinary investor who might own a small grocery store. The speakers at the event were the usual suspects talking their book and trying to increase their assets under management. Im really glad I dont need to do that since I have a day job unrelated to money management. All my royalties from the book will be given to charity. I havent received a cent so far anyway even though it is their bestselling book this year (thats publishing). Story continues The Berkshire meeting itself was less of a citywide event than I had imagined. Omaha is big enough that attendees did not dominate even the downtown area. Certainly the meeting dominated the Hilton across the street from the event center, and it made hotel rooms hard to get. But Omaha is the nation's 42nd largest city with a population of about 427,000. Security was similar to a TSA screening. Snipers and policemen in patrol cars on hot standby are the new normal. Listening to people in the crowd was interesting. I expect that many people were there because Warren is a phenomenon. It did not seem from conversations around me that anyone around me actually understood value investing or something like how checklists are used in an acquisition at a big company. Some people seemed bored. Some were listening with rapt attention. Most people there seemed like excellent candidates for a low-cost diversified portfolio of index funds. The crowd at the Berkshire meeting cheered when something like eliminating committees and bureaucracy was mentioned. The people attending were younger than I expected. My sense was that the average attendee was about 45 years old. It was definitely not a Silver Tsunami. Lots of twenty-something business school students travelling in packs were there as well as thirty-something mutual fund managers and sell-side analysts. The average attendee seemed like they worked running a pool supply company or a few dry cleaners. Warren is 85 and Charlie is 93. Their stamina and sharpness was amazing to see up close. Clear thinking and speaking were consistently delivered. Consistency in fact was evident in all things. My favorite Mungerisms at the meeting were: "Now that I'm 92 I have a lot of ignorance left to work on"The ideal business takes no capital and yet grows. Increasing capital acts as an anchor on returns." "If you see the world accurately, it's bound to be humorous because it's ridiculous." The rating agencies are wrong Munger on why Berkshire doesnt have an AAA rating A "Microeconomics is what we do and macroeconomics is what we put up with." "We try to avoid what is always the worst anchoring effect...which is our previous conclusions." Microeconomics and business are the same thing; one and the same. "Valeant, of course was a sewer." "I have all the enemies can afford at the moment." "We don't think we can predict commodity prices." The two best quotes from Buffett: "We are not going to try to out-Bezos Bezos, by a long shot." "The nature of capitalism is that someone is always trying to take your business away from you." Tren Griffin is author of Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor. He works for Microsoft. He was previously a partner at the private equity firm Eagle River. Recently, astronomers in Chile observed the faintest twinkle of a tiny red star and it turned out to be a huge deal. The star, known as TRAPPIST-1, is a kind of dwarf star that can only be seen with the help of powerful telescopes. After further investigation, astronomers determined TRAPPIST-1 was an "ultra cool" dwarf that had three Earth-like planets revolving around it. Previously, the brightness of certain stars has made it difficult for scientists to examine the characteristics of the planets orbiting them, but according to the Verge, TRAPPIST-1 is just dim enough and just close enough to Earth about 40 light-years away to study. While two of the planets orbit closer to the star than Earth does to its sun, making liquid water unlikely, their dark sides may be the perfect temperature to sustain water. And if nothing else, scientists say the third, farther, planet holds the most promise for sustaining life. "It's possible the outer one is in the habitable zone," the study's lead author Michael Gillon told the Verge. Scientists first found an Earth-like planet back in 2014 using the Kepler space telescope. But while it was roughly the size of Earth and in the "Goldilocks zone," allowing for water to flow on its surface, the planet was a whopping 490 light-years away. At the time, the historic finding gave astronomers the knowledge that there were planets like this out there, even if they were beyond our solar system. But despite the dozens of similar discoveries since, a new model of the universe suggests Earth still may be completely unique. Indeed, astronomers are taking this recently discovered trio of Earth-like planets with a grain of salt. Stanford University professor Bruce Macintosh told the Verge, "It's a really nice result but it doesn't necessarily mean that these are going to be habitable planets." Donald Trumps sons addressed President Obamas jabs at their father during Saturdays White House Correspondents' Dinner. Read: Larry Wilmore Under Fire For Using 'N' Word During Correspondents' Dinner Speech Donald Trump Jr. told IE after the event: It's all in good fun. We can take it just as well as we can dish it out. The GOP front-runner did not attend the annual event but his sons Donald Jr. and Eric were there with their wives. "You got a room full of reporters, celebrities, cameras, and he says no. Is this dinner too tacky for 'The Donald?'" Obama asked on stage. "Is he at home eating as Trump steak? Tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel?" Eric Trump told IE: We are going to be there next year you know the saying, He who laughs last laughs the longest. We will get back at him at some point. At one point in his 30-minute speech, the president said some critics argue that Donald Trump lacks foreign policy experience. "But to be fair he has spent years meeting with foreign dignitaries around the world. Miss Sweden. Miss Argentina. Miss Azerbaijan," he quipped. Trump Jr. was impressed with Obamas speech, saying: He missed his calling going into politics. He should have been a stand-up comedian. But Trumps eldest son said that their father would do a phenomenal job at the Correspondents' Dinner too. Eric echoed the sentiments. My father is an incredibly funny guy," he said. Read: Malia Obama to Take Gap Year Before Attending Harvard in 2017 The real estate mogul commented on Obamas jabs and told CNNs "New Day" on Monday that the president was having fun and joking. In 2011, Both Obama and host Seth Meyers went after Trump in their speeches. Many suspected that was the catalyst for the tycoon to stage a campaign. Story continues Trump told "New Day" that even though he was the butt of many jokes five years ago, he had a great time. Watch: Was Trump Motivated to Run For President After Obama Ridiculed Him at 2011 Dinner? Related Articles: Can Dundar, the editor of Turkey's oldest and progressive newspaper Cumhuriyet, was in court Monday morning after he incited official opprobrium for helping make a documentary on corruption in the Turkish government. Dundar also faces espionage charges along with Cumhuriyet's Ankara bureau chief, Erdem Gul, because they published a video appearin to show Turkey's intelligence agency providing Islamists in Syria with weapons under the guise of providing humanitarian aid. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is cracking down on free speech as he becomes increasingly autocratic. Source: Stringer/Getty Images Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, known locally as the AKP, was seemingly innocuous when they first came to power in 2002. Erdogan started off as congenial and ostensibly egalitarian for example, he attempted to smooth relations with the Kurds, who posed a threat to modern-day Turkey's sovereignty in their fight for an independent nation. He also did wonders for the economy, which was contracting when he came to power. However, over the course of his 14-year rule, he's became more and more . Impeding free speech and cracking down on the press is just one example of this. Now Erdogan has taken his megalomania to the next level by trying to censor media internationally. Source: Adam Berry/Getty Images On local television, German comedian Jan Boehmermann read a satirical poem about Erdogan on March 31. By April 12, the Turkish president had filed a formal request for the comedian to be charged under a technicality in German law, which would allow Boehmermann to be jailed for insulting a head of state (Germany plans on repealing the law in 2018). To the shock of many, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the requisite permission for prosecutors to be able to consider pursuing charges. Jan Boehmermann The whole affair involved layers of posturing from every party involved: Erdogan was attempting to expand his authoritarian reach; Merkel needed to maintain good relations with Turkey in order to preserve their tenuous refugee agreement; Boehmermann was making a point about the limits of free speech. Story continues Turkey's issues go way beyond media censorship they involve the Syrian civil war and the Islamic State group, too. Once known for its secularism, instilled by the founding father of modern-Turkey, Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, the country has become More crucially, the AKP originally found an ally in ISIS after it became apparent they shared enemies: Both Turkey and ISIS want to quash the Kurds and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Pro-Assad rebels celebrate after regaining control of al-Qaryatayn from ISIS. "The AKP and the Turkish government under the AKP was the midwife of ISIS," David L. Phillips, director of Columbia University's Program on Peace-Building and Rights and a regional specialist, told Mic in October. "It may have buyer's remorse, but it plays a huge responsibility for supporting jihadis and radicalizing the battlefield in Syria," Phillips added. This is all to say the scapegoating of Dundar is but the tip of the iceberg for Turkey's problems problems which appear to be increasingly unsustainable. By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The more protectionist trade policy being pushed by U.S. presidential candidates could deal a heavy blow to the global economy, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Monday. While not naming candidates by name, Guajardo referred to a proposal by Republican front runner Donald Trump to levy a 35 percent tariff on many Mexican goods, which Guajardo said would violate global trade deals and spark "chaos" if enacted. "[It] will mean that you are willing to depart and break with the world trading system," Guajardo told Reuters in an interview. "If that is the case then the world is in trouble," added Guajardo, who was in Washington for meetings with U.S. and Canadian trade officials. The United States is the world's largest economy and its trade partners are concerned by an anti-trade rhetoric that is "more intense" than normally seen in U.S. presidential campaigns, Guajardo said. Trump and Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton both oppose a major trade deal with the Asia-Pacific region recently negotiated by the Obama administration. Guajardo said it was unclear whether any of the candidates would follow through on their proposals if elected because trade wars would heavily damage U.S. exporters, including agriculture and auto parts companies which would lobby against a protectionist stance. "Eventually they would start to speak," he said. (Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Diane Craft and Sandra Maler) By Osamu Tsukimori KITAKYUSHU, Japan (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said he expects global oil supply and demand to rebalance in about a year's time. Benchmark crude oil prices, which hit almost 13-year lows earlier in 2016, surged nearly 20 percent in April on a softer dollar and lower U.S. production. However, market participants remain skeptical about the sustainability of the rally given a persistent global supply overhang. "The recent rise in prices is not something I think that the companies are willing to reverse their investment trends on," Moniz told reporters on Monday after the G7 energy ministers' meeting in Kitakyushu, southwestern Japan. "Rig counts in the United States are quite low ... a rebalancing of global supply and demand looks to be quite credible, roughly speaking on a one-year time scale. "That may change the dynamic but structurally we clearly continue to have a very very large inventory of oil," he added. "We are still unbalanced." U.S. oil output is expected to drop by 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year from a year ago as producers respond to low crude prices, Moniz said, citing U.S. Department of Energy projections. In the LNG market, Moniz said exports had started as the United States had authorized the shipment of more than 120 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. "First six, maybe now seven, since we've been traveling, LNG cargoes have left the Gulf of Mexico actually for three continents, including Japan," he said. Amid the background of growing LNG production elsewhere such as in Australia, "we expect LNG markets to be quite well supplied". (Editing by Himani Sarkar) DAKAR (Reuters) - The United States and Senegal signed a cooperation agreement on Monday to ease the deployment of American troops to the West African nation to counter humanitarian crises, natural disasters or terrorist attacks. "Terrorism knows no border and it's very important for everyone to cooperate," James Zumwalt, U.S. ambassador to Senegal, said during a joint news conference in Dakar with Senegal's Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye. "We believe that this agreement will help the U.S. military and the Senegalese military reinforce our cooperation together to deal with threats to our common interests." Around 40 U.S. Department of Defense personnel are currently stationed in Senegal, according to the U.S. Africa Command. The U.S. embassy in Dakar said that number would not increase under the deal. "This agreement is about access, is about coming when there is an urgent desire and when both sides agree," Zumwalt said. It sets out the rights and responsibilities of future U.S. access to Senegalese facilities for joint training and possible troop deployments. Foreign Minister Ndiaye said the pact was the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa and would bolster Senegal's ability to respond to growing challenges. "Crises are not always predictable, that's why this agreement is a long-term agreement," he said. Senegal faces a growing threat from jihadist groups following a string of deadly attacks on neighboring countries claimed by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The group has made clear Senegal is in its sights due to its close ties to France, which has some 3,500 soldiers fighting with regional armies against Islamist militants in West Africa. The U.S. military used Senegal as a staging post from 2014 to transport troops, health workers and supplies to West Africa to combat an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. (Reporting by Marine Pennetier; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Joe Bavier and Andrew Roche) By Tom Hals and Terry Wade (Reuters) - Magnum Hunter Resources Corp and its founder Gary Evans are emblematic for the U.S. shale revolution: it started small, borrowed heavily to snap up land and rivals and then crumbled under the weight of debt when prices crashed. Now, the oil and gas company is among the first casualties of the energy slump to exit bankruptcy and Evans has a message for its peers: even once you are debt-free you cannot take survival for granted if energy prices do not recover soon. With little chance of seeing hundreds of millions of dollars in debt repaid, creditors including Goldman Sachs, Highbridge Capital Management, CVC Capital Partners and Third Point agreed to convert all of it into shares in a revamped Magnum Hunter. Bankruptcy lawyers say that by eliminating its entire $1 billion (684.74 million pounds) debt load, cutting costs by renegotiating contracts with suppliers and moving quickly, Magnum Hunter has already provided a template for other cash-strapped drillers. Swift Energy, which filed a few weeks after Magnum Hunter, followed a similar route and has already emerged from bankruptcy. Companies that have lingered in bankruptcy, such as Quicksilver Resources Inc, have ended up in piecemeal asset sales at bargain basement prices. Now Evans and the new board face a fateful decision. One option is to hunker down and minimize spending and borrowing while waiting for markets to eventually recover. Another is to ramp up drilling to get the company growing again, widening losses until oil and gas prices rise. Evans told Reuters in an interview that even debt-free Magnum Hunter, primarily a gas producer, would need gas prices to rise to $2.50 - $3.00 per million cubic feet equivalent from about $2 now to get the 15 percent return on new wells it normally uses as a target when making spending decisions. Magnums new owners appear set to opt for the low-risk, low-cost scenario - the company has told the court it expects to keep posting net losses through 2018 and its oil and gas reserves to shrink about 11 percent over that period. Story continues Without drilling new wells, however, the company risks forfeiting some leases and its cash-flow could begin to dwindle as existing wells run dry, crimping its long-term prospects. "Everybody is having this issue. It's a dilemma," Evans told Reuters in an interview. "Do you hold 'em or fold 'em?" Shale oil producers are in the same boat. Wells Fargo Securities, concluded in an analysis early this year that even after debt restructuring most would need oil to fetch between $50 and $55 a barrel to secure their future. But oil is stuck near $44 a barrel today. RISK AVERSION AND BOLD MOVES Whether Evans, 58, stays on after the company exits bankruptcy in the coming days and how Magnum Hunter's second act unfolds will be a test of how risk-averse new owners can work in a shale industry with its big personalities and a penchant for bold moves. The new shareholders declined to comment for this article and Evans would not discuss his plans. Yet the former bank executive, with his 6'4" frame, cowboy boots, and an office decorated with taxidermied heads of buffalo, deer and other trophies, has that kind of aura that suggests being timid has never been much of an option. His career, just like those of Continental Resources (CLR.N) boss Harold Hamm or the late Chesapeake Energy (CHK.N) co-founder Aubrey McClendon, has been punctuated by wild market swings and big gambles. Evans is quick to point out that he has raised up to $6 billion in capital since he started his first oil and gas company in 1985 for $1,000 when he charged into a down market. He later sold it for $2.2 billion. This business gets in your blood, he said. Evans founded Magnum Hunter Resources in 2009 and drove its breakneck expansion via acquisitions, debt and new shares during the shale drilling boom, with its market value peaking at about $1.5 billion. At first Magnum Hunter focussed on oil fields in Texas and North Dakota, and then switched to bet big on the Utica and Marcellus gas fields in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. But gas prices just like crude later went into a tailspin and by early 2015 Magnum Hunter halted virtually all drilling and fracking to preserve cash. Evans has reassured investors a solution to its cash woes was in sight, with the planned sale of its 45 percent stake in a pipeline company that carried Magnum Hunter's gas. Evans' frequent media appearances and unwavering optimism attracted many retail investors, but the deal never materialized as the energy rout worsened and spread to pipeline companies. Court records showed that many bought Magnum Hunter shares shortly after Evans told analysts on Aug. 7 the pipeline deal was just a week or so away, sending its shares 70 percent higher. Many of those shareholders wrote letters to the bankruptcy judge and used social media to vent their anger. I thought it would be a good shot, said Axel Pantin, a 49-year-old former banker from Delray Beach, Florida. You are taking the word of the CEO." He said he invested around $200,000 in Magnum Hunter stock, most of it around early August. What irked many was a 55-page presentation the company posted in October - just weeks before its Dec. 15 bankruptcy filing - that valued Magnum Hunter's assets at between $8.77 and $13.77 a share when the stock was trading for less than a $1. In a court statement, Evans said potential pipeline buyers grew increasingly skittish and offered prices too low to solve the company's liquidity woes. Evans said he never thought he would wind up in bankruptcy and worked day and night with lawyers to finish it quickly. "Look, if it makes anybody feel any better, I lost $48 million in equity in this," he said. "The management and the board lost everything too." (Reporting By Tom Hals and Terry Wade; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets itself after members of the U.S. Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them. The U.S. government said in February it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, as well as radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million. However, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any U.S. funds for the deal to send a message to Pakistan that it needed to do more in the war against militants. Corker's stance reflected deep unhappiness among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress about what they see as Islamabads policy of supporting militant groups that target Afghans and Americans, and Pakistan's failure to support the reconciliation process for Afghanistan. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said congressional opposition meant funds from the U.S. government's Foreign Military Financing allocation could not be used to purchase the aircraft. "Given congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose," he told a regular news briefing. Kirby said the State Department opposed putting conditions on the use of such funds and believed that effective engagement with Pakistan, including by supporting its counter-terrorism effort, was "critical" to promoting democracy and economic stability in the country. Earlier, in Islamabad, Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant on foreign affairs to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, did not refer directly to the F-16 issue, but complained that there was a "lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan's whole-hearted efforts it was undertaking jointly with the U.S. administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism." Fatemi made the remarks in a meeting with visiting professional staffers from the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said in March it was using its own funds to pay suppliers and stave off closure of its F-16 fighter jet production line as it waited to finalize orders from Pakistan and other countries. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali Washington and Asad Hashim in Islamabad; Editing by Dan Grebler) WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - The United States has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets itself after members of the U.S. Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them. The U.S. government said in February it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, as well as radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million. However, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any U.S. funds for the deal to send a message to Pakistan that it needed to do more in the war against militants. Corker's stance reflected deep unhappiness among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress about what they see as Islamabad's policy of supporting militant groups that target Afghans and Americans, and Pakistan's failure to support the reconciliation process for Afghanistan. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said congressional opposition meant funds from the U.S. government's Foreign Military Financing allocation could not be used to purchase the aircraft. "Given congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose," he told a regular news briefing. Kirby said the State Department opposed putting conditions on the use of such funds and believed that effective engagement with Pakistan, including by supporting its counter-terrorism effort, was "critical" to promoting democracy and economic stability in the country. Earlier, in Islamabad, Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant on foreign affairs to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, did not refer directly to the F-16 issue, but complained that there was a "lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan's whole-hearted efforts it was undertaking jointly with the U.S. administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism." Story continues Fatemi made the remarks in a meeting with visiting professional staffers from the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said in March it was using its own funds to pay suppliers and stave off closure of its F-16 fighter jet production line as it waited to finalize orders from Pakistan and other countries. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali Washington and Asad Hashim in Islamabad; Editing by Dan Grebler) By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Businesses better have good evidence to back up claims of health benefits from their products, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Monday after the Supreme Court rejected POM Wonderful's challenge to FTC findings that the juice maker's advertising was misleading. The Supreme Court left in place a lower-court ruling that largely upheld the regulatory agency's determination about the pomegranate juice maker's advertising claims that its products fight ailments such as heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. "The outcome of this case makes clear that companies like POM making serious health claims about food and nutritional supplement products must have rigorous scientific evidence to back them up," FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a statement. The FTC said POM could state that its juice treated or prevented disease only if the claim was backed by at least one randomized, controlled clinical trial using human subjects. Other claims of health benefits must be backed by "competent and reliable scientific evidence," the FTC added. POM spokesman Steven Clark said that "we continue to stand behind our efforts to publicly convey valuable information about the health benefits of POM." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled last year that POM Wonderful could not advertise that its pomegranate drinks treat or prevent heart disease or other medical conditions unless it has proof, upholding the FTC's 2010 order. The advertisements that the FTC challenged appeared in Parade, Fitness and Prevention magazines, as well as online and on product tags, the FTC said. "Many of those ads mischaracterized the scientific evidence concerning the health benefits of POM's products with regard to those diseases. The FTC Act proscribes - and the First Amendment does not protect - deceptive and misleading advertisements," the appeals court said in its ruling, referring to the U.S. Constitution's protection of free speech. The advertisements that most concerned the FTC were discontinued in 2005 and others were halted in 2007, POM's lawyers said. The case is POM Wonderful v. FTC, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 15-525. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Will Dunham) atlassian cofounders In April 2016, the New York Times reported that Uber has ditched Slack, Silicon Valley's favorite work chat app, because it couldn't keep pace with "thousands" of employees collaborating everywhere. Instead, Uber switched to Atlassian HipChat, Slack's main rival, for collaboration company-wide, Business Insider has learned. It's not a great sign for Slack's ability to attract lucrative larger customers to the service and justify its $3.7 billion valuation. Slack's focus on helping companies cut down on e-mail has led the company to massive success in just over two years, with even Microsoft tempted to make a takeover bid. But Slack's weakness has always been that it's better-suited for smaller teams, lacking certain security and identity controls necessary at global companies like Uber. Fundamentally, HipChat, first released in 2009, offers a similar sales pitch to Slack. But HipChat is owned by publicly-traded $5 billion Australian software company Atlassian, which focuses on winning business customers. It means that HipChat already has a bunch of those vital big-business controls in place, and it's quietly found success in that space. Slack promises that a paid "Enterprise" edition of the service is coming in 2016, with a new set of features to help bridge the gap. And Slack has a ton of positive buzz and lots of paying customers we use Slack at Business Insider, even. But it's great proof that good word-of-mouth and lots of Silicon Valley buzz doesn't mean that it's easy to overcome the established players in the market. And it's probably a big jolt of confidence to Atlassian, which has largely been overshadowed by Slack's hype for the last few years. Atlassian will announce its quarterly results this upcoming Thursday, May 5th. Wall Street is expecting earnings of $0.06 per share on revenue of $114.25 million. Uber declined to comment for this story. Slack did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. Story continues NOW WATCH: Uber drivers reveal 5 ways to get a better passenger rating More From Business Insider New York (AFP) - Pressing for better pay and work conditions, Uber drivers in New York have formed a labor group to lobby for their interests, since they cannot easily unionize. The Amalgamated Local of Livery Employees in Solidarity, known by its acronym ALLES, has had some 1,000 of the 50,000 Uber drivers in New York sign up to work on shared concerns. Legally, Uber refuses to recognize its drivers as employees, and says they are contractors. That makes forming a real union tough -- so far done only in Seattle. ALLES does not set fares but could emerge as a major bargaining force. "We want at least a minimum wage. Today, if I am dropping a person from one place to another, I am maybe getting a fiver or $6. We cannot live in New York City," said Armughan Asar, an Uber driver who is one of the new group's leaders. The move follows a 15 percent drop in Uber's New York fares in New York. Uber also recently proposed $100 million settlement with contractors in California and Massachusetts seeking to change the status of drivers and thus obtain reimbursement of certain expenses. "We are here today to rally Uber drivers who are working exhausting hours without receiving enough compensation to survive NYC's high cost of living," said Kevin Lynch, an ALLES co-chair, adding it was time for the city and state to toughen their regulation of Uber. Business has boomed for Uber since it launched in San Francisco in 2011. But the smartphone app has faced stiff resistance from traditional taxi drivers the world over, as well as bans in some places over safety concerns and questions over legal issues, including taxes. Licensed taxi drivers, who must undergo hundreds of hours of training in some countries, often complain that Uber drivers do not pay for permits or taxes. Uber says it is not a transport company like taxi firms, and that it simply connects drivers with passengers. NEW YORK, May 2 (Reuters) - Oil and natural gas producer Ultra Petroleum Corp, a major victim of depressed oil and gas prices, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday in Houston. The Texas-based company, which has operations in Wyoming, Utah and Pennsylvania, listed assets in the range of $1 billion to $10 billion, and liabilities of $1 billion to $10 billion, according to a court filing. (http://1.usa.gov/1VGFeEi) The company's bankruptcy shows the stress the oil and gas industry is under as oil prices stay below $50 per barrel, down from above $100 almost two years ago. Ultra's total debt stood at about $3.9 billion as of March 31, according to its quarterly filing. The company had 167 employees as of Dec. 31. Ultra may have to seek protection from its creditors in bankruptcy, the company said in its quarterly report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company entered into a waiver period extending until April 30 over $100 million in payments that were due March 1. Ultra also deferred making a $26 million interest payment due April 1, beginning a 30 day-grace period. Up to a third of all oil producers may end up in bankruptcy this year if commodity prices remain depressed, according to consulting firm Deloitte. The case is in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas (Houston), Case No: 16-32202. (Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York and Parikshit Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair) Geneva (AFP) - The UN said Monday it had enlisted Oscar winning Australian actress Cate Blanchett to help raise awareness about the plight of refugees, amid a massive global displacement crisis. The United Nations refugee agency said it had appointed Blanchett as its newest Goodwill Ambassador, a role long famously held by US film star Angelina Jolie. "I am deeply proud to take on this role," Blanchett said in a statement, stressing that "there has never been a more crucial time to stand with refugees and show solidarity." "We are living through an unprecedented crisis, and there must be shared responsibility worldwide," she added. Last year, a record 60 million people worldwide were displaced from their homes, and more than one third of them were living as refugees, according to the UNHCR. But solidarity has recently appeared to be in short supply in Europe for instance, which is facing surging xenophobia as it reels from its worst migration crisis since World War II. "It feels like we're at a fork in the road, do we go down the compassionate path or do we go down the path of intolerance?" Blanchett said. "As a mother, I want my children to go down the compassionate path," she added. Ahead of the announcement, Blanchett had gone to Jordan to see for herself the massive operation there to help people displaced by Syria's brutal five-year conflict and to meet refugee families first hand and hear their stories, UNHCR said. Before that, she had been working closely with the agency for over a year to raise awareness around the forcibly displaced, including a trip to Lebanon last year to meet stateless people. UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi hailed Blanchett's appointment saying it would help "create better public understanding and support for refugees." "She has already demonstrated great commitment to the cause and we look forward to seeing her inspire many more people in her new role," he said, stressing: "never has there been a greater need to build these bridges." Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz at an event in Evansville, Ind., on April 24. (Photo: Denny Simmons/Evansville Courier & Press via AP) Unconventional is Yahoo News complete guide to what could be the craziest presidential convention or conventions in decades. Heres what you need to know today. 1. Maybe Indiana cant save Cruz after all Youve probably heard the hype: The most important GOP contest left on the calendar is tomorrows Indiana primary. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has said as much. Make no mistake, Indiana is absolutely pivotal, Cruz told supporters in a fundraising email. If [Donald] Trump wins all the delegates in Indiana, his nomination could be all but determined. Trump himself seems to agree. If we win Indiana, its over, he said Sunday in Terre Haute. Even Unconventional has gotten in on the act. So Super Acela Tuesday wasnt exactly a nail-biter, we wrote last week. Dont worry, though: Next Tuesday should more than make up for it. Given Donald Trumps recent streak of landslide victories, the implication is clear. The only way Cruz will still have a shot at the nomination is if he wins Indiana. Indiana matters! But what if we were wrong? What if Indiana cant save Cruz? To be sure, a Cruz comeback in the Hoosier State would provide him with some momentum heading into the final stretch of mostly Western primaries, including make-or-break California. But momentum and media narratives aside, three recent delegate developments developments that have yet to receive a ton of attention in the press suggest that a Cruz win in Indiana would not pack as strong a punch as the hype would have you believe. The first of these developments is that Trump seems to have emerged from last Tuesdays Pennsylvania primary with more delegates than anyone expected. Trump, of course, won the Keystone States 17 pledged delegates, which always go to the statewide winner. But Pennsylvania holds whats known as a loophole primary: The states other 54 delegates three from each congressional district are unbound, meaning they can vote for whomever they want at the convention. In the other GOP loophole states, Illinois and West Virginia, unbound delegate candidates are listed on the ballot alongside their preferred candidate, so at least voters have some idea which presidential wannabe theyre helping with their votes. Thats not the case in Pennsylvania. The delegate ballot is just a list of names, many of them unrecognizable. Story continues Before, the thinking was that Trump would win only a handful of unbound delegates in Pennsylvanias weird luck-of-draw system. But he wound up winning at least 41 of them, according to the New York Times Jeremy Peters. As a result, Trump may no longer need a win in Indiana to hit the magic 1,237 mark before Cleveland. Heres Nate Cohn of the Upshot explaining how Pennsylvanias unbound delegates have changed Trumps math: My [previous] analysis and that of others included only pledged delegates; the 54 unpledged delegates were held out of Mr. Trumps path to 1,237. If he has indeed moved many of those delegates off the sideline and into his territory, it obviates the necessity for him to win Indiana, which is worth 57 delegates (30 delegates to the statewide winner and three delegates to the winner of each of nine congressional districts). He would still need a comfortable victory in California enough to win about 130 of the states 172 delegates in the event of a loss in Indiana. He could bring that figure as low as 115 with good outcomes in West Virginia, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico, or with a few additional districts in Indiana. The 130-delegate target in California is achievable. The state awards its delegates on a winner-take-all basis statewide and by congressional district, so Mr. Trump would need an overall victory (13 delegates) and wins in about 40 of the states 53 congressional districts to pull it off. Even a modest popular vote victory could do the trick. In 2008, John McCain won 48 of Californias 53 congressional districts with a 7.5-point margin of victory in the popular vote. The second development that could blunt the impact of a Cruz win in Indiana involves the states new delegate slate. Assume Cruz finishes first in Indiana. Assume Trump fails to clinch the nomination on the first ballot in Cleveland as a result. Even then, Cruz isnt guaranteed to retain the support of Indianas delegation on subsequent ballots (when everyone is free to vote his or her conscience). Why? Because unlike other states where Cruzs master delegate team has successfully gotten its pro-Cruz sleeper delegates elected like Arizona and Virginia over the weekend Indianas system is top-down rather than bottom-up; party leaders basically pick the delegates themselves. Ted Cruz at the Pie Pan in Evansville, Ind., April 29. The event was one of Cruzs retail stops. (Photo: Jason Clark/Evansville Courier & Press via AP) And guess who most of these Indiana insiders support? (Hint: Its not Ted Cruz.) Indianas 57 delegates appear to lean heavily in the direction of John Kasich, the governor of neighboring Ohio, reports Matthew Tully of the Indianapolis Star. Kasich may not win the Indiana primary, but his more middle-of-the-road manner has apparently won the hearts (or at least the minds) of a majority of Indianas Republican delegates. The third development worth noting here is that even Cruzs sleeper delegates the ones who are supposed to switch to Cruz on a second or third ballot in Cleveland, thereby boosting him to victory arent feeling particularly loyal to the senator from Texas these days. Heres the Times Jeremy Peters again: In North Dakota, where the Cruz campaign declared victory after the state Republican convention on April 3 and declared that it had won a vast majority of the states 28 unbound delegates, Mr. Cruzs support appears to be weakening. In interviews, delegates said he really had only about a dozen firm commitments to begin with, and some of them appear to be wavering as he falls farther behind Mr. Trump. And in states across the South, which was supposed to be Mr. Cruzs bulwark, some delegates are now echoing a growing sentiment inside the Republican Party: a sense of resignation to the idea that Mr. Trump will be their standard-bearer. It turns out, as Peters puts it, that delegates like ordinary voters are susceptible to shifts in public opinion. Every time Trump wins another landslide, Cruzs support among the partys 2,472 convention delegates softens, threatening his hopes of overtaking Trump in a floor fight. Add it all up, and Cruzs chances of saving himself with a win Tuesday start to look pretty slim. Even if the Texan takes Indiana and even if his victory triggers multiple ballots in Cleveland by preventing Trump from hitting 1,237 Indianas delegates wouldnt necessarily cling to Cruz in subsequent rounds of voting; they could flip to Kasich instead. Cruzs sleeper delegates are also signaling that they might jump ship if Trump continues to dominate. And worst of all, Trump can now probably afford to lose Indiana without closing off his path to 1,237. The outcome in Indiana is still a mystery at this point. One recent poll shows Trump with a 15-point lead; another shows Cruz ahead by 16. Most are somewhere in between, with Trump maintaining a modest edge on average. But the outcome of the GOP nominating contest as a whole is looking increasingly clear no matter what happens Tuesday in the Hoosier State. _____ 2. A California cliffhanger? A Trump supporter wears a button at the California Republican convention on April 29. (Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP) By Holly Bailey After Tuesday nights Indiana Republican presidential primary, the focus will shift to the next big prize in the GOP race: California, where 172 delegates are up for grabs on June 7. Even if Donald Trump triumphs in Indiana, the real estate mogul will still need to win in California, the final contest of the primary season, if he is to capture the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination and avoid a contested party convention in Cleveland in July. That means Californias GOP primary will actually matter, and thats big news for the states 4.7 million registered Republicans the most in any other state besides Texas. But California is a complicated battlefield, where 159 delegates are awarded to candidates who win the majority of votes in each of states 53 congressional districts. The top vote-getter in each district will get three delegates no matter if it is in Californias 48th Congressional District, home to Republican-rich Orange County, or House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis heavily Democratic district encompassing San Francisco. And that means Trump and his remaining rivals, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, will have to have a ground game everywhere, even in places where there are few Republicans. But adding to Californias complexity is the fact that 80 percent of Republicans vote by absentee ballot, a process that begins May 8. And according to former state Sen. Jim Brulte, chairman of the California Republican Party, that could potentially delay the process of figuring out which candidate emerges with the most delegates because absentee ballots merely need to be postmarked by June 7 to count. Under California law, election officials continue to count absentee ballots for at least a week beyond primary day, which could prove pivotal if the race does come down to every last vote, as some believe it might. I think we will know the winner on June 7, Brulte told Yahoo News during a break at the California GOP convention, held in Burlingame, near San Francisco, last weekend. But theres a chance we might not. Its all a little complicated. _____ 3. Trump protesters converge on California GOP convention A little over a month before Californias Republican presidential primary, Donald Trump began his official wooing of party delegates Friday, headlining a kickoff lunch at the states annual GOP convention. But Trumps appearance was nearly derailed by massive protests outside the Hyatt Regency hotel, where the convention was being held. More than a thousand protesters blocked surrounding streets and, at one point, knocked down police barricades as they attempted to storm the building before Trumps speech. Yahoos Jen Rogers interviewed Yahoo News political consultant Brian Goldsmith about the developments. _____ 4. What Sanders is really saying when he claims it will be a contested convention Bernie Sanders at a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. (Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters) Bernie Sanders spoke to reporters in Washington, D.C., yesterday about his plans going forward. Yahoo News Senior Editor Dylan Stableford reports: Bernie Sanders held a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Sunday to mark one year since launching his presidential bid, vowing to take his fight for the Democratic nomination to the superdelegates currently supporting frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Its a tough road to climb, Sanders told reporters at the National Press Club, but not an impossible one. The Vermont senator said that those superdelegates supporting the former secretary of state ought to rethink their pledge particularly in states where he won handily. I would ask the superdelegates to respect the wishes of the people of those states, Sanders said. Overall, Clinton has the support of 520 superdelegates, while Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist, has all of 39 despite winning 17 primaries and caucuses in every part of the country. Sanders pointed out that although he won Washington states Democratic caucuses by 46 points (73 percent to 27 percent) and 25 of the states 36 pledged delegates, Clinton has the support of 10 of Washingtons Democratic unpledged superdelegates. We have zero, he said. Obviously, we are taking on the entire Democratic establishment. Clintons lead over Sanders in pledged delegates is 1,645 to 1,318. Lets be clear, Sanders said. It is virtually impossible for Secretary Clinton to reach the majority of convention delegates by June 14 the end of the primary season with pledged delegates alone. She will need superdelegates to take her over the top at the convention in Philadelphia. In other words, it will be a contested convention. Which is why the Sanders campaign is prepared to take its case and its message through the presidential primaries in California and Washington, D.C., in June and to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July. And while Sanders reiterated to reporters that he would do everything in his power to stop Trump from becoming president if he ultimately loses the Democratic nomination, he was in no mood to talk about his campaigns legacy. I hope my legacy will be that I was a very good president, Sanders said. Does Sanders actually think he will be the next U.S. president? Our best guess: No, he does not. The senator from Vermont is a smart man. He knows that Clinton is exceeding her delegate targets and that she is well on her way to winning a majority of pledged delegates before the convention in Philadelphia. He knows that Clinton leads him by 3,167,708 popular votes and that asking party elites to overturn that result is plainly incompatible with his passionate message about a grassroots political revolution. He knows that Clinton didnt push for a contested convention in 2008 even though she won that years popular vote and was closer to Barack Obama in the delegate count than Sanders is to Clinton now. He knows that his fundraising haul plummeted by 40 percent from March to April and that he just laid off hundreds of staffers. He knows that a comeback would be unprecedented. But Sanders also knows that he is one of the strongest runners-up in modern primary history. He has 8,967,401 votes and 1,357 delegates. He has raised $182 million. And he could still win several of the upcoming primary and caucus states, including the last and the largest, California. He wants something in return. Sanders knows that his campaign is worth more than a silver medal. Does he know that its not worth a presidential nomination? Probably. But maybe it is worth the strongest progressive agenda that any political party has ever seen. As Sanders himself put it after losing four out of five Eastern primaries last Tuesday, The people in every state in this country should have the right to determine who they want as president and what the agenda of the Democratic Party should be. Thats why we are in this race until the last vote is cast. That is why this campaign is going to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia with as many delegates as possible to fight for a progressive party platform. (Emphasis added.) Sanders knows that he can push for the strongest progressive platform at the convention in Philadelphia only if he has leverage. And he knows that his only leverage is his devoted base of supporters threatening to go Bernie or bust unless Clinton adopts as many of his ideas as possible. Bernie Sanders isnt delusional. Hes negotiating. Do you agree? Or do you think Sanders still has a shot at the nomination? Drop us a line on Twitter (@andrewromano) and let us know. _____ 5. The best of the rest At least Cruz has all those convention delegates, right? Well From @jwpetersNYT: https://t.co/jJOIJyWvVi Matt Flegenheimer (@mattfleg) May 1, 2016 Trump VP: Kasich, Haley, Rubio, more dont want it; Newt, Christie, Carson are open, @AshleyRParker & I found https://t.co/iGZy9aZhYk. Patrick Healy (@patrickhealynyt) April 30, 2016 A candidates VP pick is more important than we realize: https://t.co/tBCsoqewTj by @paulwaldman1 pic.twitter.com/yFvDasCwqz American Prospect (@theprospect) April 30, 2016 https://twitter.com/bykowicz/status/726852145329393664 He may not need it, but Trump has a Plan B for convention: whip up public fury. My story on how groups factor in: https://t.co/CQLux6E0Wd Julie Bykowicz (@bykowicz) May 1, 2016 _____ History Lesson Sen. Robert Kennedy and his wife, Ethel, at the Ambassador Hotel after his California primary victory and just prior to his assassination on June 5, 1968. (Photo: Bill Eppridge/The Life Picture Collection/Getty Images) Theres been a lot of chatter about how this years California primary could decide the GOP presidential contest once and for all something that hasnt happened in a really long time. But how long has it actually been since a California primary actually mattered? Not that long. In 2008, California rescheduled its traditional June primary for Super Tuesday, Feb. 5. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton secured a timely victory that helped to keep her afloat for a few more months; on the Republican side, John McCain all but clinched his partys nomination. Still, 2008 didnt really affect the outcome of either race: Clinton wound up losing to Barack Obama in the end, and McCain probably would have won the GOP nod regardless. Plus this years primary is in June, not February. The last contested June California primary was in 1984. When the time came for California to vote, Democratic Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado trailed former Vice President Walter Mondale. But a sweep of the final primaries California, New Jersey, South Dakota, New Mexico and West Virginia would have put Hart back in the running at an open convention. Alas, Hart insulted New Jersey shortly before the primary and wound up losing there by 15 percentage points. Even though he won California, it wasnt enough. In 1968, California essentially decided the Democratic nominating contest. Robert F. Kennedy defeated Eugene McCarthy there on June 4, putting him on track to challenge Hubert Humphrey at the convention in Chicago. But that night Kennedy was shot by Palestinian militant Sirhan Sirhan; he died 26 hours later. Humphrey went on to win the nomination by a comfortable margin. _____ Countdown For the latest data, make sure to check the Yahoo News delegate scorecard and primary calendar. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's IG Metall warned Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) on Monday that it could face protests from workers if it sought to delay talks about wage rises for 120,000 staff who work for the carmaker in western Germany. Volkswagen (VW), Europe's largest carmaker, did not make a firm pay offer in a second round of talks on Monday. It said both sides first need to agree the scope of structural reforms such as changes to early retirement rules before VW is able to make a proposal on specific pay percentages. IG Metall, which is Germany's biggest trade union, is calling for a 5 percent pay hike for workers at VW as well as for about 3.8 million engineering and metalworking staff across German industry. It is seeking a one-year wage deal. VW has emphasised the need for a "measured settlement" as the group struggles with the costs of its diesel emissions scandal. VW suffered its biggest operating loss last year after setting aside 16.2 billion euros (12.67 billion pound) in provisions to help pay for the scandal. Employers in Germany's metal and engineering industry have offered only 2.1 percent more basic pay and a 0.3 percent one-off payment for two years. The offer last week sparked a wave of warning strikes involving thousands of workers at companies including carmakers Daimler (DAIGn.DE), BMW (BMWG.DE) and industrial group ThyssenKrupp (TKAG.DE). "Whoever is trying to hide behind the industry talks must expect the anger of (VW) workers," said Hartmut Meine, the union's chief pay negotiator, adding VW was provoking its staff by ignoring the union's pay claim. "The workers know how to defend themselves," Meine said after the talks in the German city of Hanover. VW said it was facing massive upfront investments in electric cars and new digital features to help preserve jobs in Germany as it is faced with growing competition from technology firms such as Google (GOOGL.O). "The wage round is taking place under still difficult circumstances," said VW brand human resources chief Martin Rosik. Both sides will resume negotiations on May 19. If no agreement is reached by May 31 when current wage contracts at VW expire, IG Metall could call for short-term strikes. (Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Keith Weir) By Ingrid Melander PARIS (Reuters) - "Je ne t'aime plus, mon amour" -- "I don't love you any more, my love" -- was the wistful song of a love gone cold which greeted devotees of President Francois Hollande as they arrived at a rally for him last week. An odd choice to fire up a political gathering, the track nonetheless captured the deeply unloved quality of Hollande's presidency just as he and his closet backers start to explore whether he has any real chance of a new term in 2017. Just before he was elected in 2012, Hollande tweeted of the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, by then facing broad disenchantment: "Can you imagine five more years with the same?" Now the same question applies to him. Since coming to power, Hollande has watched his ratings crumble to historic lows over a failure to restore the economy, doubts over his leadership and policy U-turns on security and other policy. A poll published April 20 by the Viavoice agency found only one percent of voters think Hollande would make a "very good" president if given a second term next year; barely 10 percent judged that he could be "quite good". A steep fall in membership of his Socialist party shows the disillusionment even among allies: the number of members has halved from 173,000 in the year he was elected to just 86,000. While last week's gathering in a Paris university building was largely attended by grey-haired supporters, France's youth have little time for Hollande. Thousands have joined sometimes violent protests against a labor reform he says will encourage hiring but which they fear will make it easier to be sacked. Polls show many left-wingers who backed him in 2012 won't this time: Without wooing them back he has no chance. To that end, he has promised more subsidies to students and a pay rise for teachers. Yet many on the left see the labor reform as a betrayal, the last straw after his 2014 pro-business switch and an attempted security crackdown that was ultimately shelved. "We've lost our credibility," said Benjamin Lucas, the head of the Socialist Party's MJS youth wing told Reuters. As things stand, 12 months before the normally two-round presidential vote, several opinion polls over the past few weeks have shown he would not even secure enough support in the first round to make it to the run-off, whoever his opponents are. But if his chances of success are slim, Hollande's backers have not given up hope just yet because of small but plausible signs that the euro zone's second largest economy is finally starting to pick up. "Things are going better," Hollande said last month, a phrase widely picked up and analyzed by local French media. Sure enough data last week showed the economy grew 0.5 percent in the first quarter, more than expected thanks to the strongest increase in consumer spending since 2004 and a pick-up in business investment. And France saw in March the steepest drop in the number of jobless since economic boom days of 2000. The problem is that the French are not convinced. Household confidence stagnated in April at an eight-month low and expectations for standard of living over the next 12 months declined for the fourth month in a row. And despite the drop last month, the number of people out of job is still over 600,000 higher than when Hollande -- who has promised not to stand again unless he can reverse the jobless trend -- was elected. "Hollande can go on TV and say things are going better but people simply don't believe him," said Emmanuel Riviere of TNS Sofres pollsters. CHALLENGE FROM INSIDE? The government's response to the scepticism: "The President will repeat, repeat and repeat that message until it gets through," a close aide to Hollande said. To do so, Hollande is making more visits throughout France and especially to firms that are signing contracts and hiring, such as state-owned naval contractor DCNS, which on Tuesday beat Japan and Germany to win a $40 billion submarines deal. A strong communicator in private, he is also hosting even more of his regular evening meetings at the Elysee Palace with small groups of lawmakers, business leaders and others. As incumbent, Hollande by French tradition has a right of first refusal on whether he will take his party's ticket into the May 2017 election. He is still not officially candidate and has said he will decide by the end of the year. That gives him little time to convince Socialist voters and other left-wing parties he is still the best candidate for the Left, with just a couple of months before the summer lull of July and August and then a hectic second half of the year in which rival conservatives will also choose their candidate. Together with the fact that opinion polls a year ahead of a French presidential election have often been wrong, Hollande's best hope may in fact lie with the center-right's own internal divisions and the French public's mistrust of the far-right. Were he to make it to the second round, Hollande would most likely face far-right party leader Marine Le Pen and polls show a majority of French do not want her in power, no matter how increasingly popular she is with some French. Aides suggest Hollande will wait for the right-wing's late November primaries to be over before announcing whether he will run - front-runner Alain Juppe, a former prime minister, is much more of a danger to him than ex-president Sarkozy, still a polarizing figure for many French. A bigger challenge could yet come from the inside. Unless Hollande starts turning things round soon, more popular politicians in his camp, including rising-star Economy Minister Macron, might well throw their hat in the ring. (Editing by Mark John) The creator of Bitcoin revealed himself this week as Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright, ending a hunt to unmask the inventor nearly as old the digital currency itself. The creator of Bitcoin went by the name Satoshi Nakamoto from the time the currency was invented in 2009, but technology experts believed that the name was only a pseudonym and speculated about the founders actual identity. Multiple investigations since then have come to different conclusions about who might actually have started the currency. A 2011 story in the New Yorker identified Finnish economist Vili Lehdonvirta and cryptography graduate student Michael Clear as two possibilities, but both denied it. That same year, Fast Company suggested Neal King, Vladimir Oksman and Charles Bry as possible creators as they were listed on related patent applications. Those three also denied it. In 2013, the rumor mill picked up with Shinichi Mochizuki, a mathematician, Ross Ulbricht, infamous creator of the Silk Road site, and Gavin Andresen, a Bitcoin expert, all earning mentions as possibilities, according to a BBC report. A 2014 story in Newsweek identified Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto as the founder, but the 64-year-old engineer said he had not even heard of the currency until told about it by his son. Finally, Wired and Gizmodo both got the name Craig Wright correct in December of last year after being shown some of his documents. Now, five months later, Wright has acknowledged it. From Seventeen Urban Outfitters has removed Anatomicals' Peachy Head Peach Shampoo for Suicidal Hair from its shelves after customers blasted the company for being "distasteful," reports Mashable. After seeing the product in shelves across the UK, customers took to social media to express their concern with the way the shampoo name seems to poke fun at suicide. That's because Peachy Head is a pun on Beachy Head, which is a known suicide spot with white cliffs in the UK. The shampoo's description reads: "I never knew my once beautiful hair would actually commit suicide by tossing itself off dramatic white cliffs to the rocks below." In a statement to Mashable, a rep for Urban Outfitters stated: "Although the product's name is a humorous attempt to market a shampoo for hard-to-manage hair, we reevaluated and felt it was not appropriate and it was pulled from the Urban Outfitters website." But Urban Outfitters didn't actually create the shampoo - they just stocked it. So, what's up Anatomicals? The brand spoke to the Huffington Post UK and said it never meant to offend anyone, but it is supposed to be a joke. "This product is so obviously a tongue in cheek reference to hair and refers only to hair," said co-founder Paul Marshall. "Every day of every year, millions of people have a 'bad hair' day. They may feel like putting on a hat or even in extreme cases, chopping it off and going for a sleek bob. Never do they feel like killing themselves...That's not to say we fail to recognize that suicide, and particularly teenage suicide, is a growing problem and we would never wish to be seen as making light of it." While the shampoo will not be available at Urban Outfitters anymore, it's still in stock at online retailers including Amazon. Follow @Seventeen on Instagram. DailyFX.com - Talking Points: Markets focus to return to Fed rate bets as post-BOJ volatility recedes US Dollar may be more responsive to upbeat vs. soft April ISM figures NZ Dollar extends gains on neutral RBNZ posture, Yen corrects lower A relatively quiet economic calendar in European trading hours puts the spotlight Aprils Manufacturing ISM print out of the US. Expectations point to a slight slowdown in the pace of factory-sector growth. US news-flow has increasingly softened relative to consensus forecasts in recent weeks, opening the door for a downside surprise. Last weeks FOMC policy announcement pointedly de-emphasized external risks and appeared to push investors back toward a focus on domestic developments as the key to policy bets. With that in mind, a soft ISM print may undermine near-term rate hike speculation and weigh on the US Dollar. It may likewise boost risk appetite, offering support to sentiment-sensitive currencies such as the Australian Dollar. With that in mind, it is important to consider that priced-in tightening expectations implied in Fed funds futures have broadly firmed even as US data outcomes soured over the past three weeks. Indeed, the greenbacks sharp losses late last week seemed to owe more to knock-on effects from a BOJ-inspired USD/JPY drop rather than anything explicitly US-related. This may imply that the markets may shrug off a soft ISM print absent a truly abysmal outcome. Alternatively, an upside surprise the clashes with recent trends may trigger a scramble to readjust portfolios and inspire outsized volatility. Needless to say, the US unit is likely to trade higher against most of its top counterparts in this scenario. A quiet start to the trading week saw the major currencies trading little-changed overnight. The New Zealand Dollar narrowly outperformed as 3-month borrowing costs edged higher, hinting the move reflected follow-on from last weeks RBNZ rate decision. The Japanese Yen corrected slightly lower having enjoyed the strongest rally in a month last week. Story continues Are FXCM traders buying or selling the US Dollar? Find out here! Asia Session GMT CCY EVENT ACT EXP PREV 23:21 AUD CoreLogic RP Data House Px (MoM) (APR) 1.7% - 0.2% 23:30 AUD AiG Perf of Mfg Index (APR) 53.4 - 58.1 01:00 AUD Melbourne Institute Inflation (MoM) (APR) 0.1% - 0.0% 01:00 AUD Melbourne Institute Inflation (YoY) (APR) 1.5% - 1.7% 01:30 AUD NAB Business Conditions (APR) 9 - 12 01:30 AUD NAB Business Confidence (APR) 5 - 6 02:00 JPY Nikkei Japan PMI Mfg (APR F) 48.2 - 48.0 05:00 JPY Vehicle Sales (YoY) (APR) 7.2% - -3.2% 06:30 AUD Commodity Index AUD (APR) 87.0 - 86.4 06:30 AUD Commodity Index (YoY) (APR) -9.4% - -15.6% European Session GMT CCY EVENT EXP PREV IMPACT 07:00 CHF Total Sight Deposits (APR 29) - 490.9b Low 07:00 CHF Domestic Sight Deposits (APR 29) - 425.1b Low 07:15 CHF Retail Sales Real (YoY) (MAR) - -0.2% Low 07:30 CHF PMI Manufacturing (APR) 52.9 53.2 Medium 07:55 EUR Markit/BME Germany Mfg PMI (APR F) 51.9 51.9 Medium 08:00 EUR Markit Eurozone Mfg PMI (APR F) 51.5 51.5 Medium 13:45 EUR ECB Publishes Weekly, Monthly QE Holdings - - Medium 14:00 EUR ECB President Draghi Speaks in Frankfurt - - Medium Critical Levels CCY Supp 3 Supp 2 Supp 1 Pivot Point Res 1 Res 2 Res 3 EUR/USD 1.1197 1.1308 1.1380 1.1419 1.1491 1.1530 1.1641 GBP/USD 1.4434 1.4527 1.4569 1.4620 1.4662 1.4713 1.4806 --- Written by Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist for DailyFX.com To receive Ilya's analysis directly via email, please SIGN UP HERE Contact and follow Ilya on Twitter: @IlyaSpivak original source DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets. Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from FXCM. Washington (AFP) - Admiral John Richardson, the US Navy's top officer, said Monday he hopes for a "normalization" of relations with Moscow in the Baltic Sea, where Russian jets have buzzed US planes and ships. The latest incident came Friday, when a Russian SU-27 intercepted a US RC-135 reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. It was the second such incident in recent weeks and the Pentagon called the encounter "unsafe and unprofessional." In April, the US Navy released video of Russian aircraft flying very close to the USS Donald Cook, including in a "simulated attack profile." "It just increases the chance for some kind of a tactical miscalculation," Richardson told Pentagon reporters. "It just sort of raises the overall tension in the region, so we look for sort of normalization there." He called on Moscow to abide by a maritime agreement, signed by US and Soviet powers in 1972, to avoid naval mishaps and prevent any such event from escalating. "We continue to advocate for that," Richardson said. Still, he downplayed the idea of there being any aggressive intent during the recent incidents. "I don't think the Russians are trying to provoke an incident," he said. "I think they are trying to send a signal." Moscow has expressed its displeasure about the proximity of US ships and planes to its borders. Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have sent tensions soaring between Russia and the United States. In a bid to ease fears of Russian aggression against Eastern Europe, NATO has deployed thousands of additional troops in the region and increased patrols and exercises. Washington (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew pressed lawmakers Monday to work fast to enable Puerto Rico to restructure its massive debt, as the US island defaulted on a $422 million payment. Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Sunday that San Juan can't pay creditors when it needs to fund public sector salaries, health and education budgets, which, if neglected, could unleash a "humanitarian crisis." "Congress must work quickly to resolve the few outstanding issues on the proposed legislation to help Puerto Rico," Lew wrote in a letter to House Majority Leader Paul Ryan, a Republican. "For example, the legislation must provide a functional and seamless debt restructuring process that initially allows for voluntary negotiations while ensuring a timely and fair resolution." Puerto Rico has been locked in recession for a decade, and already defaulted on some debt payments at the beginning of the year. Despite sweeping spending cuts and some policy reforms, it has not been able to stop the deterioration of its budget deficit. Garcia Padilla says he does not want a bailout but simply legal ability to restructure existing debt. But in order to do so, the US territory of 3.5 million in the Caribbean needs the Congress in Washington to act, and it has not for partisan political reasons, the governor said. Lew agreed, warning that "further inaction only gives those seeking to deter Congress from passing a bill more time to continue making inaccurate and misleading claims about the legislation." "Absent enactment of a workable framework for restructuring Puerto Rico's debts, bondholders will experience a lengthy, disorderly, and chaotic unwinding, with non-payment for many a real possibility (and) the people of Puerto Rico will be forced to endure additional suffering," Lew said. The $422 million in bond obligations is owed by the Government Development Bank (BGF). Story continues Prior defaults by the island were smaller in nature. This one includes debt held by Wall Street bondholders and hedge funds. With a debt of about $70 billion, the island is basically bankrupt. The BGF only has $562 million in assets. Residents of this former Spanish colony won by the US in 1898 eventually were given a type of US local government with a legislature and governor. Island natives have American citizenship but cannot vote in US presidential elections if they are Puerto Rico residents. Puerto Rico's relationship with the US federal government is largely handled by the US Interior Department. Washington (AFP) - A Chicago woman is suing Starbucks for more than $5 million, claiming the coffee giant is underfilling its popular hand-blended iced coffee, tea and other drinks, making customers overpay for beverages. In a lawsuit seeking a jury trial and class action status, alleging false advertising and consumer fraud, Stacy Pincus accuses the world's biggest coffee retailer of serving its customers "much less than advertised -- often nearly half as many fluid ounces." "As a result of this practice, Starbucks's cold drinks contain significantly less product than advertised, by design and corporate practice and procedure," the suit filed last week says. Starbucks baristas typically fill cold-drink plastic cups to the top black line printed on the cups and the rest with ice. Pincus says that since April 2006, she and millions of other Starbucks customers have been defrauded because Venti cup customers get only 14 ounces (0.4 liters) of beverage -- the amount of liquid obtained when filling cups to the top line -- even though menus state a 24-ounce total. "Starbucks includes these three black lines on its cold drink cups to ensure that its employees fill these cups with less fluid ounces than are advertised on Starbucks's menu for a given cold drink," the lawsuit says. "In fact, Starbucks instructs its employees to provide its customers with fewer fluid ounces than advertised." Pincus is also challenging Starbucks's pricing, saying it charges more for cold drinks than hot ones. An average Grande Iced Coffee, advertised as a 16-ounce drink, costs $2.65, while a hot Grande Freshly Brewed Coffee costs $2.10. "Essentially, Starbucks is not only underfilling its cold drinks compared to how they are advertised, but it is charging a premium price for them as well," the filing reads. "Starbucks's cold drinks are underfilled to make more money and higher profits, to the detriment of consumers who are misled by Starbucks's intentionally misleading advertising practices." Story continues Starbucks dismissed the lawsuit as "frivolous and without merit." "Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any 'iced' beverage," the coffee giant said in a statement. "If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it." Starbucks, which boasts more than 23,000 stores worldwide, reported $19.2 billion in net revenue during fiscal 2015, a 16.5 percent increase from the previous year. Beverages accounted for 73 percent of sales in the company's stores last year. Republican legislators in Virginia lawsuit to prevent more than 200,000 people from voting in state and federal elections this November on the basis of their criminal convictions, the Associated Press reported . Just weeks ago, Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order restoring voting rights to more than 200,000 ex-felons in the state who have completed their prison sentences and paroles. According to the New York Times, the move was intended to remove Virginia from the company of Kentucky, Florida and Iowa, the other three states that permanently bar some convicted felons from voting for the rest of their lives. McAuliffe prepared the executive order quietly, and "few people outside his immediate staff knew of his plan," the Times reported. Virginia's anti-felon voting law was introduced in 1902 alongside such other now-unconstitutional measures as a poll tax and literacy tests, the Washington Post reported. Laws preventing felons from voting disproportionately impact minorities in Virginia, more than 20% of the black population could not legally vote, even though the state is just 13% black. The vast majority of the 200,000 ex-felons likely to actually vote are Democrats, thus making McAuliffe's decision an implicitly political one. Source: AFP/Getty Images The order has infuriated the state's Republican Party, which passed a hotly debated voter ID law in 2013. In a statement provided to the AP, Senate Republican Leader Thomas Norment said "Gov. McAuliffe's flagrant disregard for the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law must not go unchecked." The AP also reported the party has hired Charles J. Cooper, the lawyer who unsuccessfully defended California's same-sex marriage ban in 2013. University of Virginia School of Law professor A. E. Dick Howard told the Times McAuliffe has "ample authority" to restore the felons' voting rights under his executive clemency power. Nationally, millions lack the right to vote due to their criminal histories. In 2012, advocacy group The Sentencing Project estimated 5.85 million Americans would be prevented from voting in that year's presidential election, the Guardian reported. Their disenfranchisement has real consequences. "First, studies suggest that rights restoration decreases recidivism rates, by allowing returning citizens to fully participate in society," Sean McElwee, a research analyst for think tank Demos, previously told Mic. "Second, because numerous studies show that turnout is correlated with government transfers and responsiveness, voting rights restoration would force politicians to respond to returning citizens. In the status quo, disenfranchisement encourages politicians to reduce spending on poor communities and communities of color." By Bernie Woodall DETROIT (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG and United Auto Workers union officials will meet later this month in an effort to overcome a labor dispute at the VW plant in Tennessee. Gary Casteel, secretary-treasurer of the UAW and Karlheinz Blessing, human resources representative on the VW Board of Management, will meet in Germany in a bid to come to terms over the dispute, a UAW spokesman said on Monday. Late last year, a majority of the maintenance, or skilled trades, workers at VW's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted to be represented by the union. The vote marked a rare victory for the UAW in the U.S. South, where it has fought many unsuccessful battles to organize nonunionized auto plants. But the full plant, which has 1,500 hourly workers, rejected UAW representation in a vote the union narrowly lost in February 2014 and the automaker has resisted demands that it begin bargaining with the UAW over wages and benefits for the skilled trades workers. The U.S. National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against VW for not bargaining with the skilled trades workers. The automaker has until May 10 to respond to the complaint, but has already said it plans to take the issue to U.S. courts once the NLRB process is exhausted. Though Volkswagen's stance appears to be aimed at blocking the UAW, it has said that it only wants all its hourly employees to decide on whether to accept union representation before resolving the dispute. VW said last week it "will continue our effort to allow everyone to vote as one group on the matter of union representation." Casteel, in a statement, noted that VW has divided workforce representation within the same plants in Italy, Russia and Spain. "Volkswagens own policy for engaging employees in Chattanooga encourages the development of multiple representation groups," Casteel said. The disagreement comes as VW, which works closely with unions in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, is grappling with a global crisis over its diesel emissions cheating scandal. The May meeting of UAW and VW officials was reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal. (Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Tom Brown) Warren Buffett This past weekend, Berkshire Hathaway held the 51st edition of its annual meeting. Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett and vice chairman Charlie Munger held court for six hours, fielding questions from journalists, analysts, and Berkshire shareholders. What did they say? Lots of things. Or, in the eyes of some prominent commentators, nothing, as usual. And while the Berkshire meeting has the corny name of "Woodstock for Capitalists," this overwrought metaphor makes unserious what is, in fact, a great experience for investors who know that the way to learn isn't just by wholesale absorbing one person's way of thinking, but also by grabbing bits and pieces along the way. Berkshire's annual meeting is, if nothing else, a piece. The biggest headline to come out of this year's meeting was Buffett's basic refusal to answer Andrew Ross Sorkin's question about whether Berkshire shareholders should be proud to own shares of Coca-Cola. (Disclosure: I own a few Berkshire shares.) It was a classic "gotcha" question that piggybacked off comments from hedge fund manager Bill Ackman made last year. Of course, Ackman wasn't just broadsiding Buffett and Berkshire for no reason: Munger had called the pharmaceutical company Valeant, a major Ackman investment, "deeply immoral." Munger also called Valeant a "sewer" on Saturday; Buffett said the business was "enormously flawed." This dispute, it seems, will continue. But getting back to the Coke issue raised Saturday, Buffett simply eluded Sorkin's question. Instead Buffett talked about choice, about how much Coke he chose to consume four or five cans a day and about how no one forces anybody to drink Coke products. Munger, a lawyer by trade, argued that asking only about the negative impacts of Coke ignored the product's advantages. Which are basically that it tastes good. Which makes some sense: It's just liquid candy. Screen Shot 2016 04 30 at 10.33.02 AM Story continues But as he has in the past and will in the future, Buffett argued that he drank Coke simply because he likes it, adding that if you do what you want, you'll live longer. Which is the perfect kind of unprovable life lesson that looks great on a poster. None of this, however, changes the fact that Coca-Cola is very, very bad for you and that Buffett is very, very unconcerned with this. You will be less healthy if you drink lots of Coke, and Buffett's habits are, like his investing successes, yet another reason you will not be the next Warren Buffett. He really is one of a kind. And this unapologetic attitude toward choice is, in short, the entirety of the applicable lessons one can glean from listening to Buffett talk about whatever it is he wants to talk about during the annual meeting: Make your own decisions. I wrote Saturday that Buffett was an American and media fascination: He is from Omaha and still lives there, is fabulously rich, and at 85 has enough energy to sit onstage for hours and answer questions while most of his audience has started dozing off. At one point, it looked as if Munger were losing the thread, too. At various points during the meeting, however, when Buffett was asked specific questions about the morality of Coca-Cola or the process he used to determine what stocks to buy, he demurred, time and again. The specifics, to Buffett, are not your business to judge, and the results are his alone to live with. In this much Buffett is clear: He does not care what anyone else, even other Berkshire shareholders, think about his choices. Buffett's daily routine of sitting in his office and quietly reading annual reports all day is the stuff of legend. But this also reveals the entirety of how much you'll know about his investment process other than tracking the actual investments he makes. He'll never be at an investment conference pitching an idea or on TV talking about why a company's multiple looks attractive. All you know is he reads a lot. Buffett buys some things and doesn't buy others; you, the Buffett-watcher, can figure out why on your own. The Berkshire meeting, then, isn't about listening to what Buffett actually says but about absorbing what he stands for. Buffett sits there and preaches, giving the audience a window into his worldview, one that says everybody has to make his or her own choices and the government ought be there to help. You're free to agree or disagree. But he'll never tell you what to do. NOW WATCH: FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: The single largest threat to the global economy More From Business Insider DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / If your website is mobile ready, you could rank better. If not, start tying the loose ends right now before Mobile May update hits your non mobile optimized website. Google has been actively reminding publishers and business owners that mobile is the next big thing. With the handheld devices more in the hands of the people, desktops search share getting smaller, optimizing website and your internet marketing activities for mobile searches has become inevitable. Those who are still not listening are heading towards extinction. For small business owners, the wake up call is far from over because a few days from now, Google plans its Mobile May update. From there on, mobile friendly websites, those that are optimized for mobile searches will be getting more prominent positioning on the SERPs. "Getting good, relevant answers when you search shouldn't depend on what device you're using. You should get the best answer possible, whether you're on a phone, desktop or tablet. Last year, we started using mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal on mobile searches. Today we're announcing that beginning in May, we'll start rolling out an update to mobile search results that increases the effect of the ranking signal to help our users find even more pages that are relevant and mobile-friendly." | webmasters.googleblog.com "Webmaster's Mobile Guide or the Principles of Site Design on Web Fundamentals from Google can be very helpful guides if you want to start redoing your website design and making it mobile friendly." | Google Really, we don't have much choice. Majority of your target audience use Google Search and if you don't want to be left behind by your competitors, then you should start optimizing your website for mobile right now. Eric Seal wrote a convincing article about this at Business2Community.com: Still Not Mobile-Friendly? Big Google Update in May Should Change Your Mind "In a perfect world, all sites would be mobile-friendly, just like we've been saying. Story continues But the sad truth is that all sites aren't mobile-friendly. Or else why would this upcoming Google update get announced? The "Mobile May" Google update, announced last week, will boost the effects of Google's mobile-friendly algorithm. If you've already optimized your site for mobile, this update won't have any effect. And if you haven't gone mobile, you should expect to see a nice increase from Google's algorithms once you do. A complete, global mobile-friendly movement would make users so happy - and it would certainly make Google happy. If you've somehow managed to avoid making the change, this is a pretty good incentive to finally get mobile optimization for your site." http://www.business2community.com/mobile-apps/still-not-mobile-friendly-big-google-update-may-change-mind-01490414#LmSsgwMwk000aTPb.99 Prepare your Websites for Mobile searches Making a mobile friendly website and optimizing it for mobile searches remains an important part of doing business online. Without a responsive mobile friendly website, it would be difficult for you to gain visibility in mobile searches. You should always keep in mind that nowadays more and more people are searching for "nearby" places, from where they could buy "On the Go". People have adapted to the "On the Go" searches. They are adapting to conversational searches as they get the ease of completing their queries even if their hands are tied doing something else. These days, Google is playing the good cop and has warned publishers and website owners about the coming update. Google warns site owners their site is not mobile-friendly in mobile search results "Google is now issuing a new type of warning to site owners if their site is not mobile-friendly. The new warnings show directly in the mobile search results, but only to the site owner, when Google knows that the searcher is the owner of the site. Jennifer Slegg has an old site that is not mobile-friendly, and she reported that when she views the site in the mobile search results, it says to her in the snippet, "Your page is not mobile-friendly." That message is a hyperlink to a Google help page about mobile-friendly." http://searchengineland.com/google-warns-site-owner-site-not-mobile-friendly-mobile-search-results-246849 Businesses that already have a mobile friendly website do not need to worry about the upcoming mobile update because it is unlikely to affect their ranking and online presence. However, part of this update includes the process wherein Google bots have to access your website page by page. This can slow down the roll-out which could take time for the results to show up on the search engine results pages. Redesigning or upgrading to mobile friendly website design can be quicker if you already have a website up and running. This saves your business from the wrath of the Mobile May update which is likely to hit soon. A web page is eligible for the "mobile-friendly" label if it meets the following criteria, as detected in real time by Googlebot: - Avoids software that is not common on mobile devices, like Flash - Uses text that is readable without zooming - Sizes content to the screen so users don't have to scroll horizontally or zoom - Places links far enough apart so that the correct one can be easily tapped Source | venturebeat.com Heather Fletcher tells us more about the much awaited update in her article published on Target Marketing Mag: Google 'Mobile May' Update Looms "Beginning in May," writes Klemen Kloboves, a software engineer, "we'll start rolling out an update to mobile search results that increases the effect of the ranking signal to help our users find even more pages that are relevant and mobile-friendly." This notice Kloboves gave marketers on March 16 in his post on the Google Webmaster Central Blog comes after Googler Andrey Lipattsev told top SEO's in March that Google was starting to different queries coming into the search engine. Searchers are using voice recognition on their mobile devices to ask questions in regular speech patterns, rather than using the stilted, robotic language common among consumers who are typing queries into the search engine while they're on desktop computers. Because desktop queries are going away and more people are using their mobile devices for search, Google is more and more prioritizing the results those users find relevant, Lipattsev says." http://www.targetmarketingmag.com/article/google-mobile-may-update-looms/ To learn more and to get ready for the Mobile May update, do seek guidance from Qamar Zaman, the Dallas based Internet marketing expert at KISSPR.com - 972-737-1371 SOURCE: KISSPR via Submit Press Release 123 Independent oil & gas exploration and production firm, Cimarex Energy Company XEC is expected to release first-quarter 2016 results on Wednesday, May 4. Last quarter, the company delivered a negative surprise of 8.70% owing to the challenges from a steep drop in oil price. Also, the company failed to meet the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the past four quarters. However, the company managed an average beat of 38.82%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider Almost throughout first-quarter 2016, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded significantly below the $40-per-barrel level. Most importantly, WTI crude fell to the 12-year low mark of below $27 per barrel during mid February. The low levels were owing to plentiful supplies and lackluster demand. Predictably, Cimarex Energy was able to extract less value for its products. This is sure to put pressure on the companys first-quarter profit margins. With weakness in oil prices, the top energy companies cut spending (in particular on the costly drilling projects) to make up for lower profit margins. This, in turn, meant less work for the beleaguered drillers as exploration for new oil and gas projects almost came to a standstill in the quarter to be reported. However, to some extent, Cimarex Energys successful cost reduction initiatives are likely to ease the negative impact on its first-quarter results. Overall activities of Cimarex Energy were inadequate to win analysts confidence. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the first quarter widened to a loss of 39 cents from a loss of 35 cents per share over the last 60 days. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Cimarex Energy is likely to beat estimates this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1, 2 or 3 for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below. Zacks ESP: Cimarex Energy has an Earnings ESP is -2.56%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate stands at a loss of 40 cents and the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at a loss of 39 cents. Zacks Rank: Cimarex carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, a negative ESP complicates our surprise prediction. We caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) going into the announcement of the results, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stocks to Consider Some stocks from the energy space which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter are: Enable Midstream Partners, LP ENBL with an Earnings ESP of +21.05% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Bill Barrett Corp. BBG with an Earnings ESP of + 9.09% and a Zacks Rank #3. Spectra Energy Partners LP SEP has an Earnings ESP of + 2.27% and a Zacks Rank #3. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SPECTRA EGY PTR (SEP): Free Stock Analysis Report ENABLE MIDSTRM (ENBL): Free Stock Analysis Report BILL BARRETT CP (BBG): Free Stock Analysis Report CIMAREX ENERGY (XEC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government needs to live up to its commitments to a cessation of hostilities, the White House said on Monday, adding that "safe zones" are not a practical alternative now. "The Assad regime needs to live up to the commitments that they've made, and we would like to see the Russians use the influence that they have with the Assad regime to get them to do it," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton, Doina Chiacu and Megan Cassella; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by James Dalgleish) Maybe it's Trump. The normally chummy journalist-politician-celebrity hobnobbing that characterizes the swirl of parties before and after the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was marred by violence on few occasions over the weekend. Sure, Donald Trump's son Eric exchanged cordial greetings Saturday with top Clinton campaign officials. But the Republican presidential frontrunner, who has offered to pay legal fees of supporters who attack protestors and brags about how hard he "hits back" at critics, seemed to send a truculent vibe down the Acela line from New York, where he stayed while Washington partied. In one incident, actor Michael Kelly, who plays murderous White House Chief of Staff Doug Stamper on Netflix's House of Cards, got perhaps too deeply into character as he exited the Google, HBO and Smithsonian party at the Renwick Gallery, across the street from the White House, just before midnight on Friday. Read More: Fox News, Huffington Post Reporters Break Into Fight After White House Correspondents' Dinner Kelly and the man with him got into a small scuffle outside the event due to an aggressive effort by three passing autograph seekers. One of the three men tried to approach the actor and a small group as they headed toward a waiting SUV. According to the man, who spoke later with The Hollywood Reporter but declined to identify himself, a man with Kelly grabbed him and pushed him away from the actor. Angered, all three men confronted Kelly's acquaintance. The actor stepped toward the men, and appeared to receive a shove from one of the angered autograph seekers. "I don't care if you're famous," the man said. "Don't touch me." Kelly and his group got in their car and drove away. The scrape evoked an incident detailed by comedian Amy Schumer on her Instagram account on Saturday. Schumer described a run-in in South Carolina with a man she said "scared the shit out of me" when he refused her request not to take a picture with her. Story continues "I will not take picture[s] with people anymore and it's because of this dude in Greenville," Schumer wrote. She later relented: "I'll still take pictures with nice people." Kelly's punch-free scuffle Friday was surpassed Saturday night at a post-WHCD party hosted by MSNBC, where reporters for the ideologically opposed HuffPost and Fox News had an honest-to-goodness fistfight. The scuffle took place in the U.S. Institute of Peace, which hosted the party. In a city where fights occur via Twitter, or maybe in Senate filibusters, the throwdown was a shock. Read More: Amy Schumer Harassed by Fan for Photo: "It's America and We Paid for You" It occurred when HuffPost's Washington bureau chief, Ryan Grim - still irked by an ambush interview Jesse Watters, a producer for Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, conducted against Grim's colleague Amanda Terkel in 2009 - approached Watters while filming him with his phone. Not amused, Watters grabbed the phone and pocketed it. Grim's effort to retrieve it resulted in the two men wrestling, and throwing punches, witnesses reported. Sean Spicer, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, happened to help break up the fracas. Spicer told the Washington Post he was honoring the venue. "Just trying to keep the peace," he said. Grim, however, kept jabbing Sunday. "I assume Jesse is retiring from the ambush business since he's shown he doesn't like it," Grim said via email. He said no legal repercussions resulted, as of Sunday afternoon. "I got my phone back," he added. Watters meanwhile refused to comment. But a Fox spokeswoman used the attention to work in some promotion. "Jesse will address the issue tomorrow night on The O'Reilly Factor," she said. If anything can unite Washington and Hollywood in a warm nonpartisan glow, it is that kind of seamless plug. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday it hopes a deal between Puerto Rico and its creditors to discuss restructuring the U.S. territory's debts will press Congress to act to give the island badly needed restructuring authority. "I sure hope it creates a new sense of urgency for Congress to address this situation," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a briefing. "This situation requires an urgent response and Republicans in Congress have been dragging their feet for too long," he added. Puerto Rico's Government Development Bank had announced plans to skip the bulk of a $422 million debt payment ahead of the agreement with creditors to continue to negotiate the restructuring. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Nick Zieminski) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday it was not particularly concerned about reported leaks on the details of a U.S.-European Union trade deal currently being negotiated between the two sides. The European Commission has said the documents, published by Greenpeace Netherlands, reflected negotiating positions and not final outcomes of the talks, which have been going on for nearly three years. The U.S. Trade Representative's office said the interpretations given to the text were "misleading at best and flat-out wrong at worst." White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a briefing the administration was not particularly concerned about the leaks. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Bernadette Baum) From Popular Mechanics We all carry supercomputers in our pockets these days, but sometimes it's old tech that's really getting the job done. Take, for example, the ancient Commodore Amiga that runs the heat and AC for 19 different schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Or the 20-year-old Compaq Compaq LTE 5280 which plays a vital role in maintaining multi-million dollar McLaren F1s. Jalopnik took a tour to McLaren's Special Operations workshop where Compaqs still slave away at their work just like they did in the 90s, when the superlative McLaren F1 was still in production. Some 100 of the original 106-car run still exist, and considering that each has a value of at least $5 million dollars or so on the low side, detail-oriented maintenance is a top priority. But while most of the McLaren F1's mechanical elements have aged quite well, the actual electronics used to control the operation of all those components are still sort of stuck in the 90s. As such, it takes an old hand like the Compaq LTE 5280-complete with 8 or 16MB of RAM-to talk to them. As one of the workers at the special operations workshop explained to Jalopnik: "The reason we need those specific Compaq laptops is that they run a bespoke CA card which is installed into them. The CA card is an interface between the laptop software (which is DOS based) and the car.""We are currently working on an new interface which will be compatible with modern laptops as the old Compaqs are getting less and less reliable and harder to find." It's not the most in-depth explanation, but the general shape of the problem is one you can find all over the place if you're looking for it. Some tech moves forward while other tech is stuck behind, and the bridge that connects them becomes ever more strained. For instance, the U.S. Navy is paying millions of dollars to Microsoft in order to stay on Windows XP because so much of their other software was specifically designed for it and would be a nightmare to upgrade. Britain's doomsday nuke subs suffer from much the same problem. Story continues The problem is all the worse when bespoke hardware is involved. You can mostly accommodate old software, but the very nature of microchip production-which requires all sorts of expensive, purpose-designed machinery-makes it completely implausible to continue producing any given kind of chip once it's obsolete and no longer in high demand. You can't just make old chips. So much like McLaren F1s, there is a finite number of old Compaq LTE 5280s. They just don't make 'em like they used to. Source: Jalopnik Value investing is always a very popular strategy, and for good reason. After all, who doesnt want to find stocks that have low PEs, solid outlooks, and decent dividends? Fortunately for investors looking for this combination, we have identified a strong candidate which may be an impressive value; Deutsche Bank AG DB. Deutsche Bank in Focus DB may be an interesting play thanks to its forward PE of 6.12, its P/S ratio of 0.57, and its decent dividend yield of 4.25%. These factors suggest that Deutsche Bank is a pretty good value pick, as investors have to pay a relatively low level for each dollar of earnings, and that DB has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings. But before you think that Deutsche Bank is just a pure value play, it is important to note that it has been seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate front as well. For current year earnings, the consensus has gone up by 4.73% in the past 30 days, thanks to 1 upward revisions in the past one/two months compared to none lower. This estimate strength is actually enough to push DB to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting it is poised to outperform. So really, Deutsche Bank is looking great from a number of angles thanks to its PE below 20, a P/S ratio below one, and a strong Zacks Rank, meaning that this company could be a great choice for value investors at this time. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DEUTSCHE BK AG (DB): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Is the Sky Falling? Carl Icahn Exited His Investment in Apple (Continued from Prior Part) What Carl Icahn thinks about Apple Carl Icahn has been a huge fan of Apple (AAPL). He repeatedly called the investment a no brainer. He thinks that Apple is a great company with great management. In his interview with CNBC, where Icahn disclosed he exited Apple. He also that Tim Cook did a great job. I called him this morning to tell him that, and he was a little sorry, obviously. But I told him its a great company. In 2013, it was Carl Icahn who advised Tim Cook to return more to his shareholders from the companys cash pile. Since then, we saw Apple as one of the forerunners of the buyback spree in the US. The company also raised dividends. Since then, we saw the companys stock lead the stock market performance on several occasions. Icahn is concerned about Apples relationship with China Icahn, who has already made profits from his investment in the technology (XLK) (QQQ) giant, perceives risk in holding the stock any longer. He made about $2 billion off his Apple trade. However, Icahn is concerned about Apples (AAPL) relationship with China (FXI) (YINN). This made him exit the company. Chinas weakness started impacting Apples stock price. According to the companys latest earnings release, Apples revenue from China fell 26% in 1Q16 over the previous year. Interdependence between China and Apple Theres a lot of interdependence between Apple (AAPL) and China (FXI). While Apple provides vast employment opportunities in China, China accounts for a 25% share of the companys top line. Apple sells more in China alone than it does in all of Europe (FEZ). Once China is steady, Icahn would probably go back to holding stake in Apple. He never doubted the strength of the company. He appreciates its management. However, with Chinas unsteady state impacting Apples stakeholders returns, Icahn would prefer to keep some distance. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: From Cosmopolitan While you'd think that brains would provide some kind of immunity for anyone smart enough to get into Harvard, students there are catching mumps left and right in a concerning outbreak that could pose "a serious interruption to Commencement for students," according to Paul Barreira, MD, director of Harvard University Health Services, who spoke to the Harvard Crimson. The latest counts suggest the outbreak, which began in March, has now affected 41 students. Besides triggering symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, and swollen glands, which can last for a couple of weeks, mumps also has a not-so-cool side effect of a swollen jaw and puffy cheeks - which don't exactly make for a great look under a mortarboard. That said, "Harvard wouldn't cancel graduation," clarifies Lindsey Baker, communications officer for Harvard University Health Services. That threatening statement made by Dr. Barreira, which spurned rumors that the university is calling off Commencement, altogether? That was taken out of context, Baker adds. In fact, he was referring to individual students who might have to personally miss commencement activities if they become ill. (Duh. But still sucks.) Baker says there is no protocol for canceling commencement in the case of a disease outbreak, even though mumps, in particular, which is spread through saliva or mucus by kissing, coughing, sneezing, talking, sharing cups or makeup, and touching infected surfaces, according to the CDC - is so contagious that Harvard students who experience symptoms have to be isolated for five days, per the school's policy, and a ceremony that gathers potentially students and their families in close quarters would risk aggravating the situation. But empty seats at graduation are the least of Harvard's problems: Because symptoms can take up to 25 days to crop up after infection, students can spread the virus before they even know they're sick. Story continues Despite the fact that college students live on top of each other, major campus outbreaks are considered relatively rare mostly because there's a vaccination for mumps (which also covers measles and rubella), and students are typically required to get it before first semester freshman year. But the vaccine doesn't prevent all cases of mumps, according to a statement issued by Cambridge Public Health Department in response to the outbreak. And so the plague has also fallen on three other schools in the Boston area (Boston University, the University of Massachusetts, and Tufts University), as well as University of Dayton, Miami University, and Indiana University, according to the Crimson's report, which could have something to do with students co-mingling over spring break. Once mumps comes to campus, it's up to students there to stop it from spreading - a strategy that's not exactly working at Harvard. "Students are not acting in a responsible way, knowingly exposing other students to the virus," Dr. Barreira told the Crimson - probably because "acting responsibly" means students without symptoms should avoid all modes of transmission, including methods like kissing. And no one wants to spend their last days on campus turning down potential hookups or sitting out of other spit-swapping fun, like flip cup and beer pong. If you go to a school where mumps is an issue, and you're all like, "Memories last forever, but mumps goes away!" you should probably know about the virus's complications, which can include inflammation in the testicles, ovaries, breasts, brain, and spinal cord, and even deafness, according to the CDC. Which should be enough trade your s for s. Or at least follow any precautions set forth by school administrators until diplomas are rendered. Follow Elizabeth on Twitter and Instagram. Its become a common refrain in recent months: Allowing transgender people to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity will end up letting male sexual predators into womens bathrooms. From North Carolina to South Dakota, supporters of controversial bills seeking to limit transgender peoples use of public restrooms have repeatedly made that argument. There is little hard evidence to back up this assertion, but LGBT advocates and other opponents of the bills have had to develop a number of counter-arguments to refute it. Heres a breakdown of their arguments. Several states and major cities have supported transgender peoples bathroom access for years. There are more than a dozen states and several cities that have non-discrimination laws that protect gender identity in public accommodations, which is a legalistic way of saying transgender people can use whatever bathrooms they want in public. This is the kind of affirmation that started the whole controversy in North Carolina. Charlotte passed such protections earlier this year, state lawmakers said there would be terrible effects and passed a countermeasure, HB2, that eliminated Charlottes protections and banned other cities from passing anything similar. Fears about male predators have not been borne out in those places. New York City has banned discrimination based on gender identity for more than a decade. California has affirmed the rights of K-12 students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity for years. Advocates say that while there are some past examples of heterosexual men dressing up like women to gain access to womens spaces, theres no record of that behavior increasing when theres an LGBT non-discrimination law on the books. We have so many places that do prohibit discrimination where this has never come up, says the Equality Federations Rebecca Isaacs. This is a red herring. Story continues Police and school officials say they havent seen it either. Media Matters, a liberal media watchdog, has asked state leaders, law enforcement and school officials in places with these protections whether theyve seen any increase in sexual assault or rape after passing these laws, and they have repeatedly said that they have not. We have not seen that, a Des Moines police department spokesman told the outlet in 2014. I doubt thats gonna encourage the behavior. If the behaviors there, [sexual predators are] gonna behave as theyre gonna behave no matter what the laws are. The nations leading organizations dedicated to stopping violence against women signed a letter saying that this argument is a myth. These initiatives utilize and perpetuate the myth that protecting transgender peoples access to restrooms and locker rooms endangers the safety or privacy of others, the letter states. As rape crisis centers, shelters, and other service providers who work each and every day to meet the needs of all survivors and reduce sexual assault and domestic violence throughout society, we speak from experience and expertise when we state that these claims are false. LGBT rights advocates emphasize that the signatories are not only the experts on what endangers women but that groups like the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence would be first out of the gate to oppose any law that did seem to endanger women. All those arguments, to me, crash and burn, says the Equality Federations Isaacs, because this is everybody working on male predators. Sexual assault remains a crime no matter why someone claims they entered a womens space. The predator argument is based on an assumption that men who prey on women will be inspired to dress as women and enter womens spaces because they could falsely claim to be transgender and therefore allowed to stay. But, advocates emphasize, if a female alleges she was sexually assaulted, the gender identity of the perpetrator has no bearing on the criminality of the act. If you are a man who dresses as a woman and goes into a bathroom and commits a crime, says the Human Rights Campaign attorney Cathryn Oakley, whether you have a non-discrimination protection on the basis of gender identity or not, that behavior is illegal and criminal and you could be arrested and go to jail. If male predators were waiting for alleged loopholes like this to pop up, they could be using the womens bathrooms already. The North Carolina law mandates that people must use bathrooms based on their biological sex, defined as the sex on their birth certificate. Transgender men, who are likely to have a birth certificate with an F on it, are often indistinguishable from cisgender men, notes the Center for American Progress Sarah McBride. So a male predator could skip the trouble of dressing up and go into the womens room in North Carolina today, pretending to be a transgender man. We know thats not going to happen, she says, but the notion that the lack of a law protecting transgender people is all thats stopping male predators from acting is preposterous. Some of the arguments about bathrooms are just a cloak for prejudice. McBride, who is a transgender woman, recently went down to North Carolina and took a selfie in the womens restroom that went viral. She says among her many critics, about half believed she was really a man and opposed her presence in the womens room, telling her to kill herself, as well as threatening to gang rape or murder her. The other half were people that said Im sure youre a good person, but you need to know this isnt about you, this is about people who would pretend to be transgender, she says. For many people in the former camp, advocates say, emphasizing concern for womens safety is simply a cloak for a less politically palatable positionone some people have openly expressed. I dont want men who think they are women in my bathrooms and locker rooms, a Marylander testified in a debate over this issue. I dont want to be part of their make-believe delusion. Males are always males. They cannot change. Im here to stand up for women, children and their safety. Similar predator arguments have been used and debunked in the past. We are not the first people who have been called predators for political gain, says Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality and a transgender woman. Look most recently at Donald Trump saying Mexican immigrants were rapists. Theres a long, really horrifying history of demagogues and fundraisers saying, Hey, those people over there, we have to hate them because we have to keep our women and children safe. Advocates have circulated old propaganda like videos saying the homosexual lurks in the bathroom waiting to prey on young boys. Arguments about bathrooms were used to justify segregation and helped doom the Equal Rights Amendment. These arguments have been effective, advocates argue, because people tend to feel vulnerable in the bathroom, and women and children do have legitimate reason to fear assault in general. And theyre particularly effective against transgender people, they say, because for decades media portrayed transgender people as deceivers or deviants (think Silence of the Lambs or Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) and many people dont have a personal relationship with someone who is transgender. A report from the Public Religion Research Institute found that while 65% of Americans say they have a close friend or family member who is gay, just 9% say the same thing about having a personal relationship with someone who is transgender. Studies show transgender people are more likely to be victims. What is really unacceptable, says HRCs Oakley, is were pinning [these fears] on people who are, in fact, themselves incredibly vulnerable in bathrooms. In a study from UCLAs Williams Institute, nearly 70% of transgender people said they had experienced verbal harassment in a situation involving gender-segregated bathrooms, while nearly 10% reported physical assault. And, advocates argue, laws that force transgender people to use restrooms where they can look out of place makes them more likely targets. While opponents have circulated photos that suggest transgender people are unmistakable, many transgender people can go about their day without anyone being aware of their gender status. When you are aware that trans people exist but you dont understand trans people that does create this opportunity for fear-mongering to slip in, says Oakley. Youve probably been using bathrooms next to trans people for a long time. Valencia's regional government declared the auction for the Ciudad de la Luz studio complex on Spain's Mediterranean coast "deserted" this week, forcing the venerable complex to be liquidated. Ciudad de la Luz, or "City of Light," located near the Spanish port city of Alicante, was the crown jewel in the regional government's public spending, worth an estimated &euro500 million ($570 million) investment. When running, it featured state-of-the-art technology, huge soundstages, an enormous lighted backlot and a natural horizon water tank where Juan Antonio Bayona's tsunami drama The Impossible was shot. Ridley Scott once called the studio and its setup "the best facilities in the world." So, what went wrong? For one, critics say that Alicante is hundreds of miles from the Spanish film industry's big centers, Madrid and Barcelona. Even so, the ultra-modern facility, boasting 365 days a year of sunny weather for filming, managed to snag top European shoots like the $100 million Asterix and Obelix at the Olympic Games. But handsome subsidies from the regional government landed the studio in hot water when European authorities ruled them unfair competition. The second round of bidding produced only one bid that came in below the minimum price requirement of $53.5 million, half of the $107 million property value set by an appraiser. That left the bid's deposit below the $5.3 million required under the auction guidelines to get an offer studied. The sole bid came from Cine Space N - a company that was linked in the Spanish media to Francis Ford Coppola - who presented a 44-page document to "start film production activity immediately and get the studio working with new technological capabilities." Four years ago, Coppola was reportedly involved in Cine Space N via shareholder Juan Antonio Iniesta, who is no longer associated with the company. Even so, Coppola collaborator Fred Fuchs is reportedly still involved in the project and representing Coppola, local media reports said. Story continues The Hollywood Reporter was unable to confirm Coppola's role or involvement. Read More: Pinewood Exploring Strategic Alternatives, Including Sale The first auction, held in 2015, presented the same situation in that a sole bid was presented - by the same company - well below the asking price. The first round did not contemplate any bids under the $107 million asking price. The second round differed in that the minimum bid was cut in half to $53.5 million. According to reports in the Spanish media, Cine Space N offered only approximately $23 million. The bid also included a proposal to include an international university and research facility, backed by the University of Arkansas. Justifying the company's low-ball bid as more accurately reflecting what the minimum should be, Cine Space N shareholder Francisco Pastor told Spanish daily El Pais: "We have presented a serious industrial project that requires an important technological investment, but it guarantees the Ciudad de la Luz will remain dedicated to its original purpose." Ciudad de la Luz CEO Miguel Mazon said instead of selling the studio way below its property value, he would start the liquidation process, based on the steps outlined by the regional government for the "best possible solution for the complex." "If they thought they would win this with one euro, I will fight to my death so that it is not so," Mazon told the Spanish media. "It's clear we will have to liquidate the company." In 2014, the European Union labeled the regional government's subsidies of $312 million to the complex unfair competition and forced the sale of the property so as to return the funds. Read More: Spain Box Office Rises 8.6 Percent in 2015, Led by Local Hit Emerging Markets Fall, US Indexes Rise on Manufacturing PMIs (Continued from Prior Part) European indexes mostly positive despite the tumble in Asian markets Critical European indexes (DBEU) were mostly on a positive bias on May 2, 2016. Negative vibes from the Asian markets didnt seem to have a market impact on the European indexes. The European market (HEDJ) rise was majorly attributed to the strong manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) release. The SPDR Euro STOXX 50 ETF (FEZ) was trading nearly flat as of 7:00 AM EST on May 2. The German DAX and the French CAC 40 led the Markets today, rising a significant 0.84% and 0.45%, respectively. Non-Eurozone markets were slightly negative. Swedens (EWD) OMX Stockholm 30 fell 0.04% at 7:00 AM EST on May 2. The United Kingdoms (FKU) FTSE 100 was closed due to a holiday. The losses in European markets were led by the Italian (EWI) markets. The Italian index FTSE MIB fell by a significant 0.43% during early trade. The fall was primarily attributed to the fall in the Italian banking sector after the Banca Popolare di Vicenzas attempt to raise cash proved to be a disappointment with investors buying about 8% of the offer on Friday, April 29. Over the weekend, it was announced that the recently set up Italian Bank rescue fund will be owning the unsubscribed shares. Eurozone manufacturing PMI remains lackluster Markit published the final manufacturing PMI in the Eurozone for April at 51.7. That was slightly above the forecast of 51.5. The major economies of Germany and France recorded below-forecast growth and were among the lowest ranks in terms of PMI release. The German PMI came out at 51.8 against forecasts of 51.9. The French PMI was at a 12-month low of 48.0 against forecasts of 48.3. The overall rise in the Eurozone was primarily attributed to the strong PMI releases from Italy and Spain, which were 53.9 and 53.5, respectively. Impact on ADRs Looking at the performance of European ADRs (American depositary receipts) in the banking sector, Deutsche Bank (DB) fell 2.5% on May 2 at 2:30 PM EST. French ADR Orange SA (ORAN) rose 3.3%. Finnish company Nokia (NOK) and Belgian company Anheuser-Busch Inbev (BUD) rose 1.0% and 1.3%, respectively. CRH (CRH), an Irish construction company, was trading higher by 0.25%. Browse this series on Market Realist: Why this woman is feuding with an airline over her $20 million carry-on Why this woman is feuding with an airline over her $20 million carry-on Traveling can be kind of stressful when you have delicate items, and no one knows that more than Chicago musician Rachel Barton Pine. She was recently heading to New Mexico for a performance, and tried to bring her violin as carry-on luggage, because its very fragile. Also, were not talking about a regular instrument here; this is a 1972 Joseph Guarneri del Gesu violin, insured for a whopping $20 million (!). Checking the bag would undoubtedly mean that her prized possession would get broken, and then Rachel would be in a whole lot of trouble. But American Airlines didnt make things easy. They told Rachel that her violin was too big (even though it is normal violin size), and point-blank refused to let her bring it on the flight as carry-on luggage. They suggested she just check her violin, like she would a normal bag. Rachel was livid, and pointed out that the FAA usually allows instruments as long as they fit in the overhead bins. They still wouldnt change their mind, and understandably Rachel decided not to board the plane at all. Later on, ticket agents found Rachel another flight and on the next flight, her violin wasnt a problem. American Airlines apologized for the inconvenience. As for Rachel, this wasnt the first time she had a bad experience with one of her violins. There was a serious incident back in 1995 in which her violin got trapped in a Metro train door, and it was strapped to Rachel, so she got dragged with the train and tragically lost her left leg (but miraculously survived). That wasnt all her right foot was also crushed in the horrific accident. The bottom line is that we hope that Rachels future travels are perfectly peaceful, because she deserves a serious, serious break. The post Why this woman is feuding with an airline over her $20 million carry-on appeared first on HelloGiggles. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / Wi2Wi Corporation ("Wi2Wi" or the "Company") (YTY.V) is pleased to announce its audited consolidated financial results for the year ending December 31, 2015. 2015 Highlights The significant sales increase for the year ending December 31, 2015, over the comparative period of 2014, was due to a combination of revenue improvements in wireless connectivity solutions, together with sales enhancements resulting from an expanded product range, directly associated with the acquisition in 2014 of Precision Devices. The Company now has a growing premium customer base in IoT, M2M, avionics, medical, space and defense. During 2015, Wi2Wi converted certain liabilities, amounting to $3.7 million to equity, further strengthening the Company's balance sheet. The transaction resulted in a gain on conversion of debt of $1.3 million based on the fair value of shares issued on October 28, 2015, compared to the book value of the debt converted. The net income per share has been calculated based on 102,988,896, 86,021,719 and 80,621,453 weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the years ending December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. "We have continued to strengthen Wi2WI's balance sheet. For the first time in the company's history we no longer have a going concern issue. We still continue to monitor our expenses, and have commenced investment in new products, and started our Hyderabad, India office, which will greatly assist our plans to grow the Company in the coming years," said Mr. Zachariah Mathews, President & CEO of the Company. Annual General Meeting The Company's Annual General Meeting will be held at 11:00am EDT on Thursday June 30, 2016 at the offices of Miller Thomson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West, Suite 3100, Toronto ON. About Wi2Wi Corporation Wi2Wi is a vertically-integrated technology company which designs, manufactures and markets high performance, low power wireless connectivity solutions, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) modules, and frequency control devices. The Company's products and services address numerous applications in the markets of Internet of Things (IoT), Machine to Machine (M2M), Avionics, Space, and Government Sponsored Projects. Wi2Wi's products and value-added services provide highly integrated, rugged, robust, and reliable multiprotocol wireless actuators with embedded software, along with customized timing and frequency control devices for customers, worldwide. The Company was founded in 2005 and is strategically headquartered in San Jose, California with satellite offices in Middleton, Wisconsin and Hyderabad, India. Wi2Wi's manufacturing operations, its laboratory for reliability and quality control, together with design and engineering for timing and frequency control devices are located in Middleton, WI. The branch office, located in Hyderabad, India, focuses on the development of wireless connectivity; both hardware and software. Wi2Wi's strategic objective is to service the unique needs of each customer by providing end to end wireless integration solutions and highly customizable timing and frequency control devices. Wi2Wi distinguishes itself from commodity grade products, with best in the market performance, highly reliable, low power wireless connectivity products with integrated software that supports broader temperature ranges and a longer product life cycle. Furthermore, Wi2Wi's end to end product solutions helps the customer substantially reduce their end product expense, certification cost, and overall R&D investment, in addition to substantially reducing the time to market. Wi2Wi has partnered with best in class global leaders in technology, manufacturing, and sales. The Company uses a wide network of manufacturer's representatives, worldwide, to promote its products and services, and has partnered with world class distributors for the fulfillment of orders along with direct sales. Story continues For further information, please contact: Zachariah Mathews President and Chief Executive Officer 408 416 4202 zach@wi2wi.com Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, and the timing thereof, that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to access sufficient capital, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and overseas, industry conditions, stock market volatility. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that the Company will derive there from. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements and if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Wi2Wi Corporation The mother of Mothers Day was Anna Jarvis, whose own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, helped organize Mothers Day Work Clubs in the 19th century. The clubs taught mothers how to properly take care of their kids and sought to reduce infant mortality. Anna Jarvis came up with the idea of Mothers Day in the early 1900s after her mothers death. She thought the day should be about honoring the sacrifices that a mother makes for her child. In May 1908, Jarvis organized the first official Mothers Day celebration in West Virginia. Related: The 11 Best Countries to be a Mother In order to establish a nationwide holiday, Jarvis organized a huge letter-writing campaign to newspapers and politicians asking them for support. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law a measure that established the second Sunday in May as Mothers Day. Unfortunately for Jarvis, her vision was almost immediately ruined at least in her eyes. Florists, card companies and other vendors jumped on the holidays popularity to turn a profit. By 1920, Jarvis was denouncing how commercialized the holiday had become. After a lifetime of suing groups that used the name Mothers Day and speaking out against businesses that profited from the holiday, Jarvis passed away in 1948. By the time she died, Jarvis had disowned the holiday and asked the government to remove it as an official holiday. Click here for more bizarre and fascinating Mothers Day facts. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: From Good Housekeeping Bad news for the ginger-haired out there: according to science, you may look older than your blonde and brunette peers. According to a new study reported in Current Biology, the gene that often causes people to have red hair can affect how young people look. The study, performed by scientists with the Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and Unilever, found that folks with the MC1R gene - which protects skin against UV rays and affects its pigmentation - often looked two years older than they actually were. Here's how these results were found: photos of 2,693 makeup-free Dutch European subjects were judged based on how young they look in comparison to how old they are. The scientists then examined each subject's DNA to see which mutations or differences they had in common, in the event one gene could be contributing to the older-looking subjects' appearances. The results: people with certain forms of MC1R that often cause red hair tend to look two years older than folks whose DNA possesses different variants of the gene. "The exciting part is we actually found the gene, and that we did find the first means we will be able to find more," Professor Manfred Kayser, a genetic biologist at Erasmus, explained to the BBC. "This is a well known phenomenon that so far cannot be explained - why do some people look so much younger?" While scientists have yet to determine why this gene could potentially make you look older, it's exciting to know we're one step further to figuring out how we can all keep our skin supple and line-free for as long as possible. For now, just keep slathering on that SPF! [Note: This story was updated for factual corrections.] Follow Good Housekeeping on Instagram and Pinterest. Maybe you recently heard that your doctor was sued for medical malpractice. Or maybe you were searching his or her name online and came across that information. Should you be concerned? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, say patient-safety and medical malpractice experts we consulted. Heres how to know when to worry, where to go for the information, and what you should do if you think youve been harmed by a physician. Whats the Connection Between Malpractice Settlements and Bad Doctoring? Medical malpractice lawsuits are an inexact indication of substandard care, for several reasons. For one, cases often settle before trial without an admission of guilt, says Michelle Mello, J.D., Ph.D., professor of law and of health research and policy at Stanford University, who recently wrote about lawsuits and physicians in the New England Journal of Medicine. In other cases, a lawsuit might have focused on the physician when it was really the fault of his or her hospital. Or, Mello says, it could be that it was simply less expensive for the insurer to settle the case than to fight it. In addition, doctors who practice on sicker patients may tend to have worse outcomes, and thus be prone to more lawsuits, says Orly Avitzur, M.D., Consumer Reports' medical adviser. Moreover, even good doctors can have judgments go against them on occasion. One malpractice claim means essentially nothing, says Matthew Wynia, M.D., the director of the center for bioethics and humanities at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, in Aurora. Even if it's pretty egregious, the idea that we should never ever make a mistake, that's just unrealistic, Wynia says. So When Should You Worry? You should be concerned if your doctor has a pattern of medical malpractice payouts. Three malpractice cases, five malpractice cases, eight malpractice cases, at some point, you start to wonder, Wynia says. Relatively few physicians have had multiple malpractices payouts, according to an analysis of the National Practitioner Data Bank conducted for Consumer Reports by Robert E. Oshel. Before he retired in 2008, Oshel was the associate director for research and disputes at the federal repository, which collects information on medical malpractice and disciplinary actions on physicians and other licensed healthcare practitioners. He found that about 15 percent of the nearly 1.25 million physicians practicing since 1990 have had at least one medical malpractice payout, but less than 2 percent have had two or more payouts. Story continues How Can You Find If Your Doctor Has a Pattern of Malpractice Payouts? Unfortunately, not from the National Practitioner Data Bank. Information about specific physicians and their malpractice history in that database is only available to hospitals, physicians, insurance companies, law enforcement, and a few other select groups. Patients cant access that data. Instead, you need to go to your state medical board. Thats the quasi-governmental agency responsible for licensing and disciplining physicians, and that often has information about lawsuits, too. But finding information about lawsuits, or physician disciplinary actions, on those websites isnt easy. A recent Consumer Reports analysis of state medical board websites found that many were difficult to navigate. And the information they contain can be incomplete. For example, in California certain kinds of medical malpractice judgments or arbitration agreements are supposed to be reported to the state board only if they are for more than $30,000. And doctors and their lawyers sometimes try to settle so they stay below those cut offs. Oshel says that during his time at the NPDB, almost 10 percent of all the payments in California were for exactly $29,999. Do Doctors With Malpractice Payouts Always Get Disciplined By State Medical Boards? No, not even all of the doctors with the largest payouts against them, according to Oshels analysis. He found that fewer than 2 percent of doctors are responsible for half of all medical malpractice dollars paid. Yet only about 13 percent of those doctors have ever been disciplined by a state board. That worries Oshel, and suggests to him that state boards may not be as vigilant in protecting patients as they should be. When you have a very large payout or have two, three, four or more payouts, its highly suspicious, he says. And if a large percentage of those doctors arent being sanctioned, it certainly raises questions as to whether the licensing system is doing what they should be doing to protect the public. What Should You Do If You Think Youve Been Harmed By a Doctor? Wynia encourages open and honest communication between patients and physicians so that patients can better understand why an error occurred and what is being done to fix it and prevent it from happening again. If you dont feel your doctor is being honest with you, and you have been harmed, gather your medical records and get a second opinion. If you still have questions or concerns after speaking with a physician, consider consulting with a malpractice attorney and filing a complaint with your state medical board. Read more about when and how to file a complaint against your doctor. More from Consumer Reports: 8 Ways to Boost Your Home Value Why your cable TV bill is going up Get the Best Cell Phone Plan for Your Familyand Save up to $1,000 a Year Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. By Will Boggs MD (Reuters Health) Yoga seems to provide small improvements in symptoms and quality of life in people with asthma, according to a new review. The practice of yoga includes breathing exercises, postures (called asanas), and meditation. Yoga has been proposed as a treatment for a variety of medical conditions, including asthma, but scientific studies have shown inconsistent results. Dr. Jin-Ling Tang from The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Prince of Wales Hospital looked at the evidence from 15 studies involving more than 1,000 asthma patients to see whether yoga provided significant benefits. One third of these studies included only yoga breathing exercises, and the rest included breathing, postures, and meditation. The yoga practice lasted anywhere from two weeks to four and a half years, though it was less than six months in most studies. Overall, yoga slightly improved symptoms and quality of life and reduced the need for medications. The quality of the evidence, though, was moderate at best, and the effects of yoga on lung function were far from consistent. None of the studies reported any serious ill effects from yoga, but more research would be needed to make reliable conclusions about unwanted side effects. "We found that yoga probably improves quality of life and asthma symptoms to some extent," the researchers conclude. "However, our confidence in the results is low as most of the studies were flawed in various ways." "High-quality studies involving large numbers of participants are required for us to be able to draw a firm conclusion about the effects of yoga for asthma," they add. Dr. Holger Cramer from University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany completed a similar review in 2014. He told Reuters Health by email, "Giving yoga, specifically yogic breathing, a try can be worthwhile in asthma patients. As the evidence is not really strong, no wonders should be expected but yoga is likely to do more good than harm. Breathing techniques are an essential part of yoga when targeting asthma, Cramer said. While posture-based yoga interventions and mere meditation might not be this effective; complex yoga forms (incorporating yoga postures, breathing, and meditation) and yoga forms that only include breathing techniques are more or less equally effective. More research is needed before we can conclusively judge the effectiveness of yoga in patients with asthma, he agreed. The complete review of these studies appears in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Tang did not respond to a request for comments. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL May 02, 2016 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Amgen Inc. (AMGN), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Pfizer Inc. (PFE), Mylan N.V. (MYL) and Mallinckrodt plc ( MNK). Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Fridays Analyst Blog: 3 Drug Stocks Reporting Earnings Next Week As the first-quarter 2016 earnings season is well under way, results have not been as disappointing as widely apprehended. Are Low Expectations Helping Q1 Earnings Picture ? With several pharma and major biotech companies having already reported their earnings results, the spotlight shifts to the Medical sector, which is anticipated to be one of the seven sectors to record earnings growth. Earnings in the Medical sector are expected to grow 2.3% on revenue growth of 9.1% from the year-ago period, per our Earnings Trends report. Beats and Misses So Far Several biotech stocks including Amgen Inc. (AMGN) and pharma stocks like Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Abbott Laboratories, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company have not only managed to beat earnings estimates, but some among these have also raised their outlook for the year. There were misses as well. Though label expansion and cost-cutting initiatives were catalysts to growth, unfavorable currency movements and macroeconomic factors held back performances. Eli Lilly and Company raised its outlook for the year despite an earnings miss while Glaxo expects core earnings growth of 1012% at constant exchange rate in 2016. Meanwhile, a number of pharma and biotech companies are yet to report first-quarter results. Lets see what awaits these three major drug stocks when they report on May 3, before the opening bell. Investors interested in the Medical sector will be keenly watching for beats and misses. Story continues What to Expect from These Drug Stocks? New York-based Pfizer Inc. (PFE) was recently in the news when it terminated its $160 billion deal to combine with Botox maker Allergan plc. Focus will now be on the companys cash utilization plans. Meanwhile, the company continues to face headwinds in the form of genericization, unfavorable currency movement including the impact of the Venezuelan financial crisis and the expiration of a few co-promotion agreements. However, its share buyback program should boost the bottom line. However, its share buyback program should boost the bottom line. Pfizer has been seen to consistently beat earnings expectations. Will this pharma giant be able to beat estimates this time around as well? This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% for the first quarter thereby making it difficult to predict a beat (read more: Pfizer to Report Q1 Earnings: Will the Stock Surprise? ). Generic drug maker, Mylan N.V.s (MYL) Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of the ESP, but it also has an ESP of -2.67%, making a surprise prediction difficult. Mylans track record has however been decent with the company surpassing expectations in two of the last four quarters. Though the companys Generics and Specialty segments should perform well in the first quarter, pricing dynamics that existed throughout 2015 would also continue in 2016. Mylan anticipates first-quarter earnings to be relatively flat with the year-ago period. Considering that Mylan is set to acquire a leading international specialty pharmaceutical company, Meda, focus will be on the deal (read more: Mylan Q1 Earnings: What's in the Cards for the Stock? ). Specialty pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products manufacturer, Mallinckrodt plcs ( MNK) track record has been pretty good with the company consistently beating earnings estimates. However, Mallinckrodts Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) which when combined with an ESP of -1.74% makes it difficult to predict an earnings beat when it reports its second-quarter fiscal 2016 results. Though the company will benefit from the Sep 2015 Therakos acquisition (this is the first full quarter in which Therakos will contribute to results), seasonality is expected to continue in fiscal 2016, which will hurt gross profit (read more: Mallinckrodt Q1 Earnings: Stock Likely to Disappoint ). Stay tuned! Check later on our full write-up on earnings releases of these stocks. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. Find out What is happening in the stock market today on zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AMGEN INC (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report JOHNSON & JOHNS (JNJ): Free Stock Analysis Report PFIZER INC (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report MYLAN NV (MYL): Free Stock Analysis Report MALLINCKRODT PL (MNK): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL May 02, 2016 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Apple Inc. (AAPL), Twitter, Inc. (TWTR), Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) and Harris Corporation ( HRS). Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Fridays Analyst Blog: 2 Tech Stocks to Watch on Q1 Earnings Next Week We have crossed the halfway mark in the Q1 earnings season, with results from 209 members on the S&P 500 index, accounting for 52.4% of the benchmark indexs total market capitalization. Soft macroeconomic conditions have driven projections of an earnings decline for 10 of the 16 Zacks sectors. Tech sector earnings are expected to be down 6% in the first quarter, despite modest sales growth projection of 2.3% year-over-year. However, the bar seems to have been set exceptionally low this time around, with first quarter of 2016 having seen record negative estimate revisions. Consequently, out of the 209 S&P 500 members that have released their quarterly results, about 75.6% have posted positive earnings surprises. (Data from the Zacks Earnings Trends report dated Apr 27, 2016) Coming to the Technology sector, we have seen sub-standard reports from a number of sector bellwethers in the past few days, including Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Twitter, Inc. ( TWTR). Overall, we now have Q1 results from 71.8% of the sectors market capitalization in the S&P 500 index. Total earnings for these Tech companies are down 8.1% on 0.4% lower revenues year over year, with 73.1% beating EPS estimates and 50% beating revenue expectations. Lets have a look at how two tech players that are slated to report early next week are poised ahead of the scheduled announcements. Story continues Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) is one of the largest providers of mail processing equipment and integrated mail solutions across the world. Pitney Bowes has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at 41 cents. Pitney Bowes has had a choppy earnings history in recent times, with earnings beating estimates twice and missing twice in the trailing four quarters with an average negative surprise of 2.2%. Last quarter, it missed estimates by 11.1%. Weakness in its production mail and software business, adverse currency translations and higher operating expenses are expected to hurt the companys results. However, its recent acquisitions will likely boost the companys top line. (Read more: Will Pitney Bowes Q1 Earnings Be a Disappointment? ) Harris Corporation (HRS) provides communications equipment for voice, data and video applications. Harris has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at $1.40. The company has had an impeccable surprise history in recent times, and has surpassed estimates in each of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 7.1%. It delivered a 9.6% positive surprise last quarter. The companys recent acquisition of Exelis will likely be accretive to the top line. Also, its recent streak of winning contracts will boost the quarterly results. However, we expect Harris Corporations earnings to remain under pressure due to foreign currency headwinds. (Read more: Harris Corp Q3 Earnings: Can the Stock Surprise? ) Keep an eye on our full earnings articles to see how these S&P 500 members finally fared. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. Find out What is happening in the stock market today on zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report APPLE INC (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TWITTER INC (TWTR): Free Stock Analysis Report PITNEY BOWES IN (PBI): Free Stock Analysis Report HARRIS CORP (HRS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / In an era of smartphone Apps that can track our sleep cycles, scan the night sky for constellations, and help us to communicate globally in times of crisis, the next step for App technology is the incorporation of artificial intelligence. According to the market research firm IDC, by 2018, machine learning (AI) will have been incorporated into almost half of all Apps developed, and by 2020 savings fueled by AI are anticipated to total about $60 billion for U.S. companies. In order to be on the forefront of this new wave of technological advancement, developers are looking to ways in which AI and App technology can be used to not only save money but to save human lives. "What's so exciting completely different problems like helping astronomers find new planetsor diagnosing diseases," states Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, in a recent speech, establishing the possibilities that come with advances in artificial intelligence. "In a lot of ways," Zuckerberg goes on to say, "advances in AI can help save people's lives." Citing an App as an example of the way in which commonly accessible technological advances may be used for life-saving purposes in regards to medical care, Zuckerberg states that he has seen "an AI system that can now tell from a photo whether a lesion on your skin is skin cancer with the same accuracy as the best doctors in the world." This ability of AI and App technology to supplement and advance medical care is what DermaCompare takes to the next level. According to DermaCompare's website, the medical App "empowers people to take care of their own health," requiring little more than a smartphone camera for "Total Body Photography" in order to track changes in a user's skin and detect potential melanoma development. Developed by Israeli-based company Emerald Medical Applications, the DermaCompare App is both FDA approved and HIPPA-compliant, allowing doctors to use the simple technology of a smartphone camera accompanied by DermaCompare's patented comparing algorithms to identify suspicious melanoma moles. According to CEO of Emerald Medical, Lior Wayn, the App can be downloaded with any device that has a digital camera, making it a highly accessible medical tool. "The problem is time and moneyaccuracy and availability," says Wayn, all problems that DermaCompare's simple and effective application addresses. Just as the accessibility and scope of DermaCompare is game changing, the technology used by Emerald Medical is on the cutting edge. The AI utilized in DermaComapre is based off of cloud-based Israeli Defense Department photo comparing technology, which allows a more efficient way to track the growth of melanoma beyond manual comparison by eye. Though the technology is advanced, the steps necessary for use are simple and outlined once you have downloaded the App. According to Wayn, once a user takes the requisite Total Body photos and uploads them to their DermaCompare cloud for storage, the App 1) compares the images to any preexisting images in the file as well as to any relevant images of the 50 million provided on the company's database for comparison to known moles; 2) the App creates a summary regarding any urgent data about the images along with alerts to any suspicious elements in those images; and 3) the App notifies the user's physician to retrieve and review the images. DermaCompare's model of simplicity, accuracy, and accessibility in diagnosing skin cancer is already receiving international recognition. In April of this year, the inaugural Innovation Competition of International Talents in Shenzhen, China, awarded third prize to DermaCompare out of twenty-five other competing companies selected from 1500 entries compiled from preliminary competitions in the United States, Japan, Israel, Germany, and Australia. Along with the App's success in China, DermaCompare was distinguished by the Israel-Brazil Chamber of Commerce as "most likely to succeed in Brazil." According to a 2015 study, "melanoma constitutes less than 5% of skin cancers but is responsible for around 95% of skin cancer deaths." In Brazil, the study goes on to say, "it is estimated that 6000 new cases [of melanoma] occur each year, resulting in 1300 deaths." It is in this country that DermaCompare is expected to change the way people interact with live-saving medicine. In response to international success, Wayn says, "I believe this is because our DermaCompare technology is uniquely suited to succeed in large markets where the sheer size of the country and vast population can make it difficult to secure a visit with a dermatologist and achieve early diagnosis for melanoma." For countries like China and Brazil, Wayn says, "early detection can mean the difference between life and death." As the landscape of App technology continues to shift and become increasingly competitive, DermaCompare's model of simplicity, accessibility, and accuracy for new ways to prevent life-threatening disease has allowed Emerald Medical to carve itself a space in the forefront of AI utilization in our everyday lives. SOURCE: Emerald Medical Applications Corp. (MRLA) By David Ingram NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Russian man who spent about three years behind bars in the United States for creating the computer malware known as Gozi was ordered on Monday to pay $6.9 million to cover losses to bank customers but spared further U.S. prison time. Nikita Kuzmin, 28, could have received more prison time but was sentenced to time served at a hearing in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors said in a statement. He was jailed in August 2011 and held for 37 months before authorities released him, for reasons that remain unclear. A probation office had recommended a sentence of 84 months, although it said it was not taking into account any assistance Kuzmin provided to investigators, prosecutors said. An explanation of how much assistance he has provided remains under a court seal, along with many other papers in the case. Kuzmin's attorney, Alan Futerfas, confirmed the sentence and said Kuzmin was glad to put the episode behind him and move on to the next stage of his life. He declined to say what Kuzmin's plans were. Prosecutors described Kuzmin as an innovator in online crime, saying he not only created Gozi but rented it out to criminals who used it to steal tens of millions of dollars from bank accounts. The malware was disguised as a .pdf file, and security experts identified it around 2007, prosecutors said. Kuzmin was arrested in 2010 after he traveled to a conference in the United States. He pleaded guilty in May 2011 in a cooperation agreement with U.S. prosecutors. In January, a Latvian man who admitted to having written some of the computer code was also sentenced to time served. He served 21 months in prison. (Reporting by David Ingram; Editing by Peter Cooney) The force has definitely now been awakened, and the world can't wait to see what happens next. Unfortunately, we still have a long wait ahead of us before Disney's first followup to Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 15th, 2017. But the good news is that pretty much every single news agency on the internet is doing everything it can to get details surrounding the still untitled Star Wars: Episode VIII movie, and now we've been treated to some great aerial set photos as production of the new film carries on in England. DON'T MISS: Time to cut the cord: $95 gets you a Fire TV and free network TV in HD for life The most famous space ship in the entire Star Wars universe has officially landed in London. In fact, the Millennium Falcon may very well be the most famous fictitious space ship ever, though it's certainly a close race between that and Star Trek's USS Enterprise. But forget Star Trek for now Episode VIII production began in February and Daily Mail has managed to secure some incredible aerial photos of one of the first sets being used to film Episode VIII at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. The snaps show an incredibly large and incredibly intricate Millennium Falcon grounded in a setting that, for obvious reasons, closely resembles the characters' surroundings in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Several of the photos are embedded below and you'll find many more in Daily Mail's article. 33AFACB100000578-3567340-image-a-35_1462037485718 33AFABD900000578-0-image-a-6_1462036073702 33AFB5C700000578-3567340-image-a-32_1462037148079 33AFBD3800000578-0-image-a-4_1462035838102 33AFAC0900000578-3567340-image-a-36_1462037491866 Related stories Everything wrong with the 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' plot It looks like an actor from 'Star Wars: Rogue One' just gave away a huge spoiler The hilarious Star Wars: The Force Awakens 'outtakes' we've been waiting for More from BGR: Time to cut the cord: $95 gets you a Fire TV and free network TV in HD for life This article was originally published on BGR.com By Jack Kim and Jonathan Saul SEOUL/LONDON (Reuters) - South Korea has revived a project to build a backup ship navigation system that would be difficult to hack after a recent wave of GPS signal jamming attacks it blamed on North Korea disrupted fishing vessel operations, officials say. Global Positioning System (GPS) and other electronic navigation aids are vulnerable to signal loss from solar weather effects, radio and satellite interference and deliberate jamming. South Korea, which says it has faced repeated attempts by the rival North to interfere with satellite signals, will award a 15 billion won ($13 million) contract this month to secure technology required to build an alternative land-based radio system called eLoran, which it hopes will provide reliable alternative position and timing signals for navigation. "The need for us is especially high, because of the deliberate signal interference by North Korea," a South Korean government official involved in the initiative told Reuters, requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. The latest jamming campaign from the North began on March 31, lasting nearly a week and affecting signal reception of more than 1,000 aircraft and 700 ships, originating from five locations along the border, South Korean officials said. Aircraft traffic was not affected because the GPS system is normally used as a backup, not a primary navigation tool, one of the officials involved in telecommunications policy said. The jamming prompted warnings by South Korea's military to North Korea to stop what it called "provocation" and a protest at the United Nations. North Korea has denied involvement. South Korea has been on high alert against possible cyber attacks from the North following the North's nuclear and missile tests and threats of war in response to new sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council and the South. The reclusive North and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, rather than a treaty. The North routinely threatens to destroy South Korea and its major ally, the United States. "THE REALLY SCARY PART" No major disasters anywhere have been blamed on loss of GPS, although the risks are growing as sea lanes become more crowded. Part of the problem is that it's not easy to detect a GPS outage caused by jamming. "When GPS/GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) fail, transportation is impacted immediately. It slows down, becomes more dangerous, and every mode can carry less capacity," said Dana Goward, president of the non-profit Resilient Navigation & Timing Foundation. "As short-term backup clocks start to desynchronize with each other ... cell phone towers start to fail, IT networks slow down or fail, financial systems are impacted, management of the electrical grid becomes problematic. That is the really scary part," said Goward. GPS vulnerability poses security and commercial risks, especially for ships whose crews are not familiar with traditional navigation techniques or using paper charts. The General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland, which tried to pioneer an eLoran system in Europe, conducted simulated communications attacks on ships at sea and said the results "demonstrated the devastating effects of jamming on the ships' electronic bridge systems". Many vessels, such as fishing boats, lack backup electronic navigation systems. The United States, Russia and India are all looking into deploying versions of eLoran, which sends a much stronger signal and is harder to jam, as backup. Installing an eLoran receiver and antenna on a ship would cost thousands of dollars, although cheaper options could include incorporating eLoran systems into satnav devices, according to technical specialists. DISRUPTIONS AT SEA Last month, hundreds of South Korean fishing boats returned to port after GPS jamming that also created problems in locating nets at sea, South Korean officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard said in January that "multiple outbound vessels from a non-U.S. port suddenly lost GPS signal reception", although the vessels were able to navigate using compasses and other aids. In 2013, the U.S. Navy reported almost certain, intentional jamming of the GPS system of one of its vessels sailing near Iranian territorial waters. South Korea's eLoran initiative dates to 2011, after a series of incidents also blamed on the North, but was stalled in part by a cancellation of contracts due to a conflict over payment schedules with a U.S. supplier. Its new plan envisions setting up coastal transmitters by the end of 2019, said Seo Ji-won, a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, who is on a government advisory panel. A British-led initiative to create an eLoran system was suspended after failing to keep other European countries interested. A private group called Taviga is in talks with European governments to resume support for eLoran, the company said. "The situation for this country is different, because there have been real cases of deliberate interference," the South Korean government official said. "We need this." (Editing by Tony Munroe and Nick Macfie) BOSTON (Reuters) - The website of Vanguard Group is showing "inflated client account balances" on some mobile devices, a spokeswoman for the index fund manager said via e-mail on Monday. The issue "does not impact actual account balances or transactions," said the spokeswoman, Katie Henderson Hirt, and is "relegated to Apple devices only." Vanguard expects to have the issue fixed on Monday evening, she added. Asked how many devices were affected, Hirt said the impact was a "modest number overall." On average just 16 percent of logons to vanguard.com come from an Apple device, she said, and of those about 11 percent visit the personal performance page where they would have seen the inflated balance. (Reporting by Ross Kerber; Editing by Bernard Orr) From Popular Mechanics Buddhism is increasingly trying to connect with the modern world. Monks across China have taken his word to heart, and their latest effort is Xian'er, an adorable robot that lives in a monastery answering questions and chanting mantras. Xian'er first came to life as a cartoon character drawn by Master Xianfan of the Longquan Temple on the outskirts of Beijing. The temple is over five hundred years old but a decade ago, Longquan was in disrepair. Xianfan wrote for Chinese websites before becoming a monk, and found that Buddhism enhanced his natural creativity. The Xian'er character gave life to the Temple, which eventually added an animation studio. The Xian'er robot, built in conjunction with is the Temple's furthest extension of its brand yet. The two-foot tall little monk can move around on command and answer 20 preset questions about life at Longquan and Buddhism. It can play also play children's songs and could be quite marketable if the Temple had any interest in mass production, which it says it does not. It has social media accounts and appeared at robotics conventions, but mostly lives on Xianfan's shelf. The robot's existence seems geared towards more making a statement than creating a deep impact, a proof of concept that Buddhism and technology can merge. "He looks really cute," a tourist told Reuters. "He'll help spread Buddhism to more people since they'll think he's interesting." Source: Mic President Barack Obama literally dropped the mic during his final White House Correspondents' Dinner speech. POTUS brought the house down in front of almost 3,000 guests at the Washington Hilton ballroom in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, including celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Kerry Washington, and Emma Watson. Getty Images WATCH: President Obama Dreams of Being on Mount Rushmore Politicians at the event included Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, Secretary of State John Kerry and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. After a blooper reel showed some of Obama's past errors -- including calling Kanye West a "jackass" when he didn't realize a mic was still on -- Obama took to the stage in a sharp blac-and-white tux to gives his final WHCD opening remarks. "8 years ago, I said it was time to change the tone of our politics. In hindsight, I clearly should have been more specific," he said. "It is an honor to be here at my lastand perhaps the lastWhite House Correspondents Dinner." @POTUS at the #WHCD: https://t.co/bLXImCaPI2 White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) May 1, 2016 NEWS: Kendall Jenner Stuns in Elegant Black Gown at White House Correspondents' Dinner No one was safe from the President's jokes, including little Prince George, whom he met at Kensington Palace on April 22, where the little royal shook hands with Obama while wearing an awe-inducing robe. "Even some foreign leaders have been giving me grief," Obama said. "Last week, Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe. That was a slap in the face. A clear breach of protocol." "Even some foreign leaders have been giving me grief. Last week, Prince George showed up to our meeting in his bathrobe." @POTUS #WHCD White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) May 1, 2016 NEWS: Stephen Curry and President Obama Team Up For a PSA and It's Adorable He continued to joke about his trip over the pond, admitting, "Although, while in Englandm I did have lunch with Her Majesty the Queen. Took in a performance of Shakespeare. Hit the links with David Cameron. Just in case anybody is still debating whether I'm black enough I think that settles the debate." Story continues Obama even took on the current presidential race, poking fun at Bernie Sanders' "Feel the Bern" slogan and joking that Hillary Clinton's attempts to connect with young voters make her look like an old aunt joining Facebook. An illustration of Clinton's logo pushing a giant rock uphill came on screen with a new motto, "Trudge up the Hill," with Obama noting, "Hillary's slogan has not had the same effect." WATCH: See Barack and Michelle Obama Go on Their Romantic First Date in Southside With You He also questioned where Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump was this year while explaining that the businessman does have foreign policy experience. "He has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan," Obama said. And even Kendall Jenner got a shout-out from the President. "We had a chance to meet backstage. She seems like a very nice young woman," Obama told the audience. "I'm not exactly sure what she does, but I am told my Twitter mentions are about to go through the roof." The dinner was hosted by The Nightly Show host Larry Wilmore, who made plenty of his own cracks at POTUS, including taking digs at Obama's age. "President Obama's hair is so white it's started saying 'All Lives Matter,'" he said. "He's breaking stereotypes. Black does crack." Then again, Obama, 54, was a pretty good sport about his gray hairs as well. "Michelle has not aged a day. The only way you can date her in photos is by looking at me," he cracked. WATCH: President Barack Obama Mourns Prince's Death "Michelle has not aged a day. The only way you can date her in photos is by looking at me." @POTUS sharing photos: pic.twitter.com/hloflknfMZ White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) May 1, 2016 Well played! Obama also announced that the First Family would be sticking around Washington, D.C., even after his second term wraps up, in part so "Michelle can stay closer to her plot of carrots." "We've decided to stay in DC" "Youngest daughter can finish up HS" "Michelle can stay closer to her plot of carrots" pic.twitter.com/jAmW1ZdkzE White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) May 1, 2016 "Presidents don't stick around after they're done. It's something I've been thinking about a lot." @POTUS at #WHCD: https://t.co/p1xFpHrSmP White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) May 1, 2016 But let's be honest, it was Obama's final, endearingly funny move -- and Seacrest-like slogan -- that totally won the WHCD. "With that, I have just two more words to say: Obama Out." @POTUS #WHCD pic.twitter.com/RQSDh92YsU White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) May 1, 2016 Not a bad way to close out an 8-year presidency! Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth really did their own mic drop on the Obamas during a hilarious Twitter trash talking session. Watch the hilarious interaction go down in the video below. Related Articles In a special sitting held to consider the petition filed by the vice-chancellors, the high court asked whether the VC appointments were prima facie illegal. #Korean Air-Cebu incident Korean Air flight overruns Cebu runway, no injuries reported Korean Air Co. said Monday its flight KE631 with 173 people on board overran the runway while landing at Cebu International Airport in the Philippines a day earlier but no injuries... #Yoon Suk-yeol Yoon calls for war against drug crimes President Yoon Suk-yeol called Monday for special measures to address drug crimes, saying they must be stopped before they become a national-level threat. Yoon gave the instruct... Yes, that headline is factually correct. The leader of Sinn Fein, who's known for his somewhat off-kilter Twitter persona, tweeted out a particularly bizarre message last night just after 1AM. The message, which deleted after being retweeted and screencapped several hundred times, read as the following: "Watching Django Unchained - A Ballymurphy N****r!" Pretty soon, almost immediately, people started calling up him on the fact and the hugely negative connotations surrounding the word. Before the tweet was deleted, close to 300 people had retweeted him and a wave of angry comments were left underneath it. A little later, Sinn Fein released a full statement on the matter. "My tweets about the film Django have triggered a lot of interest. Anyone who has seen the film, as I did last evening, and who is familiar with the plight of nationalists in the north until recently, would know that my tweets about the film and the use of the N-word were ironic and not intended to cause any offence whatsoever." Attempts to suggest that I am a racist are without credibility. I am opposed to racism and have been all my life." The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves. If anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used. For this reason I deleted the tweets. Of course, this isn't the first time that political leaders in Ireland have used hugely racist language. In 2002, Enda Kenny used the N-word in front of journalists when describing Patrice Lumumba, the first President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. As for Adams' tweet, the news travelled fast with outlets in the US picking up on it almost immediately. The story was carried by the Washington Post and others for a few hours on their frontpage. No statements so far have been released by other political parties in Ireland. Via Twitter In the first quarter of 2016, the European Union grew at its fastest pace in five years, driven by unexpected growth rates in France and Spain. Having taken eight years to recover, the continent is now at a better shape than at its peak before the financial crisis. The unlikely results were achieved despite the possibility that the United Kingdom might leave the EU as the Eurozone growth doubled compared to the previous quarter, outperforming even the most optimistic expectations on household consumption and rebound in investments. However, despite these promising results, in April, the Eurozone slipped back into deflation. Despite the positive news, some analysts warn that this might be just a blip, as Europe is weighted down by high debt coupled with high unemployment, weak bank profits and substantial excess capacity in its economy. Nevertheless, the Eurozone growth soared by 0.6 percent between January and March, higher than the expectations of 0.4 percent and ahead of Britains 0.4 percent. At the same time, the US economy grew 0.5 percent on an annualized basis in the first quarter. Eurozones annual growth was steady at 1.6 percent, which is more than three times the US rate in the same period. In general, the figures defied expectations for a slowdown as they reflected plunging energy costs, a continuous fall in joblessness as well as a rising spending. The first months of the year were tumultuous with large stock market declines, growth concerns in the US, China and many emerging markets and plummeting confidence among businesses and consumers, ING economist Bert Colijn commented. He added that domestic strength in the Eurozone economy is key to current economic growth, which is mostly thanks to the improvements in the job market. exoplanet An international team of astronomers has discovered three Earth-sized exoplanets, all orbiting the same star just 40 light-years from us, the 16-nation intergovernmental research organization ESO reported on Monday. The scientists have deemed all three planets potentially habitable, an exciting turn in the hunt for "exoplanets," a term for planets that orbit a star other than our sun. And it could bring us closer to finding extraterrestrial life. Star systems like this are promising places to detect alien life, Michael Gillon, lead author of the paper presenting the discovery, said in an ESO press release. If we want to find life elsewhere in the Universe, this is where we should start to look," he said. The hunt for aliens The host star is an ultracool dwarf star a type of cool, red star. Most of the time these stars are too small and faint to be detected by optical telescopes, and this star is no exception. "Why are we trying to detect Earth-like planets around the smallest and coolest stars in the solar neighborhood? The reason is simple: systems around these tiny stars are the only places where we can detect life on an Earth-sized exoplanet with our current technology, Gillon said. The astronomers discovered the planets using a telescope in Chile called TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST). The telescope is designed to focus on nearby dwarf stars and search for planets orbiting them. Because light from the star is dimming at regular intervals, it suggests that several planets are orbiting it. The star is about an eighth the size of the sun, half the temperature, and almost 2,000 times fainter. This is the first time astronomers have ever found any planets orbiting a star this small and dim. Sweet spots The scientists determined that the third planet, located farthest from its star, might be within the star's habitable zone. Story continues Because of their closeness to the star, the other two planets are likely tidally locked, with one side always facing the star and the other always facing away. Although the sides facing the star would be too hot to host any lifeforms and the sides facing away would be too cold and dark, the planets might contain "sweet spots." If the planets have atmospheres or even possibly oceans, heat from the star might be more evenly distributed, creating regions that just might be suitable for life. "The kind of planets we've found are very exciting from the perspective of searching for life in the universe beyond Earth," Adam Burgasser, a professor of physics at the University of California San Diego's Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, said in a press release. Scientists will need to further study the planets to determine if they are actually capable of harboring life. One way they'll do this is by looking at the effect that the atmosphere of the planets has on the light reaching Earth. Because of the star's size and dimness, it won't drown out these planetary signals, allowing scientists to get a better look. Scientists should eventually be able to study their composition and atmosphere more deeply as they look for signals of life. "These planets are so close, and their star so small, we can study their atmosphere and composition, and further down the road, which is within our generation, assess if they are actually inhabited," coauthor Julien de Wit, a postdoc in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, said in an MIT press release. These findings open the door for future studies of other ultracool dwarf stars, which are long-lived and common in the Milky Way. Around three fourths of all stars and 15% of the stars near to the Sun are ultracool dwarf stars. With the help of several giant telescopes that are under construction, de Wit says, scientists will soon be able to study the atmospheric composition of these planets to explore them for water and traces of biological activity. The full results were published Monday, May 2, in the journal Nature. More From Business Insider PASADENA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2016 / Brazil Minerals, Inc. (BMIX) (the "Company" or "BMIX") announced that on April 29, 2016 it obtained approval of a report regarding BMIX's Apui/Borba Project for gold from the local mining department. With the completion of this necessary step, the BMIX's title to this mineral right is confirmed and the Company can now work towards obtaining an initial commercial mining permit. BMIX's Apui/Borba Project titled right covers 24,708 acres, a surface area that is 15% larger than the island of Manhattan in New York. The project has potential mineralization of 4.3 million ounces of gold (this preliminary estimate is not derived from the U.S. standard guidelines referred to as Industry Guide 7 and does not represent a proven or probable mineral reserve). As part of a future application for a mining concession, the Company will undertake a feasibility analysis of the project. BMIX's Apui/Borba Project is located in the state of Amazonas in the northern part of Brazil, between the cities of Apui and Borba, and part of a region referred to by geologists as the gold belt of the Amazon. Elsewhere in Brazil, BMIX has producing properties for diamonds, gold and sand, and owns the largest processing plant for diamondiferous gravel in Latin America. In particular, BMIX owns 29 other mineral rights, including 10 mining concessions for diamonds and gold; a concession is the highest level of mining title in Brazil. All of these other BMIX's mineral rights are located in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, some 1,300 miles away. Brazil has a larger surface area than the continental United States and its entire territory presents attractive natural resources. The Apui/Borba Projects area has had a history of a small number of illegal settlers extracting gold. Their presence in such specific locale within the enormity of the Amazon is considered by some experts to indicate the presence of gold deposits that are of relatively easy extraction. It is known that gold is extractable there in both alluvial and conglomerate form. BMIX has reported such illegal extraction to all of the necessary Brazilian authorities and is following up closely. To dissuade further settler activity, the Company has been conservative in the information it shares. Access to the area by geologists and others is via a small airplane landing strip located within the project or by riverboat from Manaus, the state capital. Story continues The Company believes that the combination of producing diamonds and gold in its properties in Minas Gerais and overseeing a large gold project in Amazonas bodes well for its future. BMIX is in the early stages of conversations regarding potential partnerships for co-development or other situations regarding its Apui/Borba Project. In particular, it recently began discussions with a private Chinese gold mining company regarding a potential investment and technology transfer for the project. About Brazil Minerals, Inc. Brazil Minerals, Inc. (OTC: BMIX) is a producer of diamonds, gold, sand, and industrialized mortar. We own 30 mineral rights, including 10 mining concessions for diamonds and gold, the highest level of right to mine in Brazil. More information on BMIX can be found at www.brazil-minerals.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are based upon the current plans, estimates and projections of Brazil Minerals, Inc.'s management and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning market and industry segment growth and demand and acceptance of new and existing products; any projections of production, reserves, sales, earnings, revenue, margins or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; uncertainties related to conducting business in Brazil, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: business conditions in Brazil, general economic conditions, geopolitical events and regulatory changes, availability of capital, BMIX's ability to maintain its competitive position and dependence on key management. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Cautionary note regarding estimates of Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources of Diamonds and Gold as found in MDBs NI 43-101 Technical Reports. We advise U.S. investors that while these terms and amounts are recognized by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves as defined by the U.S.s Industry Guide 7. Cautionary note regarding estimates of Mineral Reserves of Diamonds and Gold as found in MDBs Bankable Feasibility Study. We advise U.S. investors that while these terms and amounts are recognized by Brazilian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in this category will ever be converted into mineral reserves as defined by the U.S.s Industry Guide 7. Cautionary note regarding estimates of Volume and Weight of Sand as found in MDBs studies filed with the local Brazilian regulatory agencies. We advise U.S. investors that while sand volume and weight terms and amounts as filed in Brazil are recognized by Brazilian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of such are not considered mineral reserves as defined by the U.S.s Industry Guide 7. Cautionary note regarding preliminary estimates of potential mineralization for gold of the Apui/Borba Project with the local Brazilian regulatory agencies. We advise U.S. investors that preliminary estimates of potential mineralization for gold of the Apui/Borba Project with Brazilian regulators is not recognized by the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of such potential mineralization is or will ever become mineral reserves as defined by the U.S.s Industry Guide 7. Contact: Marc Fogassa CEO, Brazil Minerals, Inc. (213) 590-2500 info@brazil-minerals.com www.brazil-minerals.com SOURCE: Brazil Minerals, Inc. BEIJING (Reuters) - China has rolled out a value-added tax (VAT) system across all industries that previously had a business tax, in the most ambitious overhaul of its tax regime in three decades. The world's second-largest economy is stumbling through its slowest growth in a quarter century but is continuing with tough reforms in its transition to a services-oriented economy from one powered by manufacturing. The government first began experimenting with a VAT in 1979 and started applying the tax to specific sectors in 2012. The final four sectors to adopt a VAT on Sunday are construction, property, finance and life services - which includes food and beverage, healthcare and tourism industries. Premier Li Keqiang had said the reforms would be adopted by May 1 in his work report at the annual parliament in March. A business tax directly taxes businesses, whereas a VAT - sometimes known as a goods and services tax - is borne by the end consumer, reducing the burden on companies which are facing rising costs and a slowing economy. Consumers will pay varying levels of VAT, depending on the industry, China's Vice Minister Shi Yaobin told a news conference in April. Most of the services sector was previously subject to a business tax rate of either 3 or 5 percent. The government hopes the reforms will cut firms' tax burdens by more than 500 billion yuan (53 billion pounds) this year, part of a broader push for "supply-side reforms" aimed at cutting red tape and scaling back the role of government in business to allow market forces greater room to flourish. China's 2016 government deficit is set to rise to 3 percent, up from 2.3 percent in 2015, primarily due to the discrepancies created by tax cuts for business, Premier Li had said. Local governments are set to be worse off under the new tax scheme, as they were previously highly reliant on revenue from the business tax. Revenues from the VAT will be shared between China's central and local governments, with each receiving 50 percent, the Ministry of Finance said on its website on Saturday. China's services sector accounts for more than 50 percent of the economy. (Reporting by Sue-Lin Wong and Jenny Su; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) ted cruz Sen. Ted Cruz wouldn't answer whether he would support Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump if Trump captures the party's nomination even when the question was posed to him nine times in a row on Sunday. During a "Meet The Press" interview, moderator Chuck Todd pressed Cruz repeatedly to answer whether he would support Trump should the real-estate mogul become the Republican presidential nominee. "I'm going to beat him," Cruz said after Todd pressed him to answer. Trump's sizable delegate lead has made it mathematically impossible for Cruz and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio to capture the number of delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination during the first rounding of voting at the Republican National Convention in July. Still, both campaigns are fighting to deny Trump the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination. When the Texas senator asserted that members of the media wanted him to "surrender to Donald Trump," Todd pushed back. "It's not about the media," Todd said. "Senator, it's about the numbers. Republican voters are the ones rejecting you. It's not a media conspiracy." "Well, actually, with all due respect, the media has given 2 billion [dollars] in free advertising to Donald," Cruz shot back, an apparent reference to a New York Times report that delved into Trump's free media exposure. Throughout the interview, the Texas senator maintained that Todd's line of questioning was an irrelevant media conspiracy perpetuated by "partisan Democrats" in the media. Still, Todd relentlessly pressed Cruz to answer. "Why won't you answer this question straightforward, black and white?" Todd said. "I am going to beat Donald Trump, and we are going to a contested convention," Cruz said. "All right, so let the record show, you have not taken a position on whether you can support Donald Trump if he's the nominee," Todd said. "And let the record show you tried very very hard to get me to commit to supporting Trump," Cruz said. Story continues NOW WATCH: Its surreal to watch this 2011 video of Obama and Seth Meyers taunting Trump about a presidential run More From Business Insider EZ Buy is Florida East Coast Railway's online price quote and booking system for customers to 'buy' door-to-door intermodal transactional freight between Southeast U.S. markets and South Florida markets. Users receive access to dynamic price quotes, while having the ability to book an order in one quick easy transaction, and unique to this tool users can negotiate their price.Click here for high-resolution version JACKSONVILLE, FL--(Marketwired - May 02, 2016) - Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) has delivered the first intermodal shipment purchased through its new tool EZ Buy, an online price quote and booking system for customers to 'buy' door-to-door intermodal transactional freight connecting the Southeast U.S. to South Florida markets. Addison Transportation utilized EZ Buy and its price negotiation functionality to purchase and book their shipment. The shipment was delivered safely and on time from Murfreesboro, TN, to Stuart, FL, the week of April 12th. EZ Buy is easy for customers as it allows users to receive access to dynamic price quotes, while having the ability to negotiate that price, and book an order in one quick easy transaction. "EZ Buy is very simple to use and allowed us to negotiate a fair price to have our freight quickly delivered from Tennessee to Florida," said Step Perfilev, Director Brokerage Development Addison Transportation. "We are very pleased with FECR's on-time, safe delivery of our shipment and will employ EZ Buy in the near future." EZ Buy offers the purchase of various service options and lanes between the Southeast U.S. markets of Atlanta, Charlotte and Jacksonville, and the South Florida markets of Fort Pierce, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, by simply entering a pick-up and delivery zip code or city within these serviceable areas. All freight purchases made through EZ Buy move reliably and efficiently across FECR's premier door-to-door intermodal network utilizing FEC Highway Services (FECHS), the drayage and trucking arm of FECR. Seamless overnight service is provided between North and South Florida, and two-day service connects South Florida markets and the Southeast U.S. markets of Atlanta and Charlotte. "We are pleased to offer this unique system to shippers and are thrilled to have had Addison Transportation as our first official customer to purchase through the online tool," said Jim Hertwig, President and CEO Florida East Coast Railway. "FECR will continue to implement innovative technology like EZ Buy to enrich our customers experience." Story continues For more information on EZ Buy, visit our website here. About Florida East Coast Railway The Florida East Coast Railway ("FECR") is a 351-mile freight rail system located along the east coast of Florida. It is the exclusive rail provider for PortMiami, Port Everglades, and Port of Palm Beach. FECR connects to the national railway system in Jacksonville, Florida, to move cargo originating or terminating there. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, FECR provides end-to-end intermodal and carload solutions to customers who demand cost-effective and premium quality. For more information, visit www.fecrwy.com. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/4/29/11G095847/Images/EZ-Buy-Logo-(web)-cacc13d3fdcdbb7fbd40b2ab4dcb3e76.jpg Crude Oil Prices Rose in April: Will the Bullish Momentum Continue? (Continued from Prior Part) Iraqs crude oil production OPECs (Organization for Petroleum exporting Countries) second-largest producer is Iraq. Iraqs crude oil production increased by 160,000 bpd (barrels per day) to 4.31 MMbpd (million barrels per day) in April compared to the previous month, according to Bloomberg surveys. Iraqs crude oil production wasnt impacted despite the protest in Baghdad on May 1, 2016. As a result, Iraq declared a state of emergency in Baghdad. Iraqs crude oil exports Iraqs oil ministry reported that the country exported 3.36 MMbpd of crude oil in Aprilcompared to 3.29 MMbpd in March 2016. Its close to the record export of 3.37 MMbpd in November 2015. Iraq exported crude oil worth $3.34 billion in Aprilcompared to $2.9 billion in March 2016. Iraqs oil ministry reported that the revenue for crude oil accounts for 95% of Iraqs budget. Read How Are Oil Prices Squeezing OPEC Members Budgets? to learn more. OPECs crude oil production OPECs crude oil production increased by 484,000 bpd to 33.22 MMbpd in April 2016compared to the previous month. The rise in OPECs crude oil production will add to the glut in the commodity. Impact on crude oil producers The rise in crude oil production from Iraq and OPEC will have a negative impact on crude oil prices in the oversupplied market. Low crude oil prices impact major Middle East oil producers like Iraq National Oil Company, Saudi Aramco, National Iranian Oil Company, and Oman Oil Company. They also impact US oil and gas exploration and production companies like Warren Resources (WRES), Halcon Resources (HK), and Bonanza Creek Energy (BCEI). The rise and fall in oil prices impact ETFs and ETNs like the VelocityShares 3X Inverse Crude Oil ETN (DWTI), the Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE), First Trust Energy AlphaDEX (FXN), and the Direxion Daily Energy Bear 3x (ERY). Read more about the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commissions Commitment of Traders report in the next part of the series. Story continues Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Raphael Halet (left) and Antoine Deltour were whistleblowers in the "LuxLeaks" tax scandal (AFP Photo/JOHN THYS) Luxembourg (AFP) - Three Frenchmen went on trial in Luxembourg accused of an "incredible" document leak that exposed huge tax breaks for major global companies, in an issue brought sharply into focus by the Panama Papers scandal. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet, two former employees at services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and French journalist Edouard Perrin face charges over the theft of thousands of confidential files in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. The opening of the trial brought an unusual intervention by France in fellow EU-member Luxembourg's legal affairs, with Finance Minister Michel Sapin saying that he "would like to offer (Deltour) all our solidarity". Around 50 supporters shouted "Thank you, Antoine, thank you Antoine!" as the defendants arrived at the courtroom in Luxembourg for the start of the trial, which is expected to last until May 4. If found guilty, they face jail terms of up to 10 years. The eruption of the LuxLeaks affair in November 2014 exposed "sweetheart" deals that saved firms including Apple, IKEA and Pepsi billions of dollars in taxes while European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was Luxembourg's prime minister. A series of global news outlets examined 28,000 pages of documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), revealing the full scale of the tax breaks won by 340 companies. LuxLeaks was the biggest expose of its kind until this month's publication of the Panama Papers, which revealed links between a number of international leaders and offshore shell companies that can be used to hide or launder wealth. - 'I acted in public interest' - Former auditor Deltour, 31, told the court on Tuesday he "recognises the substance" of the facts of the case while Halet, 40, and Perrin, 45, both dispute the charges. "I feel very calm, I acted in the public interest," Halet told AFP as he arrived for the trial. Story continues Deltour is accused of stealing documents from the database of the accounting firm before he left in 2010, revealing business secrets, violation of professional secrets and money laundering. The documents later became the basis of a 2012 story by Perrin on state-owned France 2 television but it stayed under the international radar until the LuxLeaks document dump. Perrin is charged with being an accomplice in all the offences, while Halet -- who is accused of being behind a separate leak -- faces the same charges as Deltour. The first witness, PwC internal auditor Anita Bouvy, told the court that investigators narrowed the leak down to Deltour, finding that he had accessed 2,669 documents in 29 minutes on the eve of his departure from the firm. "Ninety-two documents per minute, it's just incredible," she told the court. "Only one person, Mr Antoine Deltour, had access to these documents without being able to justify the access to this data by his position." In his PwC personnel file, Deltour had mentioned his "frustration" because of the large amount of work he had, and had criticised working practices at PwC, Bouvy said. Ahead of the trial Deltour insisted he had no regrets. "At first I was just an anonymous source, and then I found myself at the front of the stage," Deltour told AFP on the eve of the trial. Christophe Deloire, of the organisation Reporters Without Borders, said the trial "should never have taken place". "The information revealed through LuxLeaks is of high importance and clearly in the public interest," he said. - Campaigners slam 'farce' - The LuxLeaks and Panama Papers scandals have together forced the EU to take tougher action against tax-avoiding companies, with ministers agreeing at the weekend on a fresh series of measures to fight such deals. Juncker faced huge pressure in his first weeks as Commission head over the huge tax breaks granted to companies on his watch as premier of the small European duchy. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who has launched tax inquiries into a number of firms including Amazon, has been invited to testify at the trial in Luxembourg. Aid group Oxfam, which has campaigned for a crackdown on tax avoidance, said the LuxLeaks defendants should be "celebrated and not prosecuted". VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 2, 2016) - Nevada Exploration Inc. ("NGE" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:NGE)(NVDEF) is pleased to announce that it has added 76 new claims covering 550 hectares (1,360 acres) to its land position in Nevada's prolific Kelly Creek Basin to secure the growing target defined by NGE`s updated 3D geologic model. The Kelly Creek Basin is located along the Battle Mountain - Eureka Gold Trend, and is bounded by multi-million-ounce gold deposits to the north (Twin Creeks, Getchell, Turquoise Ridge, and Pinson) and south (Lone Tree, Marigold, Trenton Canyon, Converse, Buffalo Valley, Copper Basin, and Phoenix) - together representing more than 70 million ounces of gold along the periphery of the Basin. Despite its close proximity to world-class mineralization, the interior of the Kelly Creek Basin has seen limited systematic exploration activity to date because its bedrock is largely covered by syn- to post-mineral volcanic units and post-mineral alluvium. Recognizing the potential to find significant gold mineralization within the Kelly Creek Basin, dozens of major and junior explorers have spent tens of millions of dollars to follow the prospective geology seen in and proximal to the exposed bedrock in the surrounding mountain ranges beneath the sands and gravels covering the Basin. Within the areas controlled by NGE, this activity has included: Santa Fe Pacific completing wide-spaced bedrock mapping drilling in the 1990s; BHP completing an extensive soil auger geochemistry program through the late 1990s; and Placer Dome completing a reconnaissance-scale reverse circulation program in the early 2000s. Other companies that either now hold or have held claims in the immediate area include Newmont, Barrick, AngloGold, Hemlo, Homestake, and Kennecott. The efforts of each company have added valuable information about the geology of the Basin; however, without a cost effective tool to conduct basin-scale exploration beneath the valley cover, the exploration programs to date in the Kelly Creek Basin have predominantly consisted of unsystematic and uncoordinated efforts focused on relatively small areas. Story continues NGE has developed its groundwater chemistry exploration technology specifically to complete large-scale exploration for gold in Nevada`s covered basins. NGE is now using this technology to map the elevated concentrations of gold in groundwater along the major structural corridor beneath the Kelly Creek Basin that connects the multi-million-ounce gold deposits to the north and to the south. Since establishing its initial holdings in the Kelly Creek Basin, NGE and its exploration partners have completed major work programs, building a comprehensive exploration dataset to understand the geology beneath the Basin. This exploration dataset now includes: - 1,000 km2 (390 mi2) regional magnetic geophysical survey data; - 670 km2 (260 mi2) detailed air magnetic geophysical survey data; - 1,000 km2 (390 mi2) regional gravity geophysical survey data; - 100 km2 (40 mi2) detailed gravity geophysical survey data; - 33 line-km (21 line-mi) of CSAMT geophysical survey data; - 49 line-km (30 line-mi) 3D reflection seismic survey lines; and - Drilling database containing 31 drill holes from NGE and its exploration partners, plus 114 historic drill holes, representing more than 29,000 metres (95,000 feet) of drilling, including assay results for more than 5,000 drill intervals representing more than 10,000 metres (32,000 feet) of drill assay data. With this unparalleled exploration dataset for the Kelly Creek Basin, NGE is applying the latest in 3D modelling software to build a comprehensive geologic model focused on the central portion of the Basin where NGE has demonstrated the presence of high levels of gold in the groundwater associated with the structural trend connecting the major gold mineralization to the north and south. NGE is now using this updated 3D geologic model to target additional acquisitions along this important trend. With the addition of NGE's new claims, NGE now controls more than 3,100 hectares (7,680 acres) within the Kelly Creek Basin. About Nevada Exploration Inc. NGE is an exploration company focused on gold in Nevada. NGE is led by an experienced management team that has been involved with the discovery of more than 30 million ounces of gold in Nevada. NGE is aggressively applying the latest technology in covered deposit exploration to identify, acquire, and advance new exploration properties in Nevada's highly prospective yet underexplored covered basins. NGE has developed proprietary hydrogeochemistry (groundwater chemistry) exploration technology to explore for gold in Nevada's covered basins where traditional exploration techniques are challenged. Using its industry-leading exploration technology, NGE has assembled a large portfolio of new gold projects, and has established itself as a major player in this world-class jurisdiction. NGE's business model is to leverage its properties and technology to create shareholder value through generative exploration and development. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Wade A. Hodges, CEO & Director, Nevada Exploration Inc., is the Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, and has prepared the technical and scientific information contained in this News Release. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans, and objectives regarding projects, potential transactions, and ventures discussed in this release. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things, the assumption the Company will continue as a going concern and will continue to be able to access the capital required to advance its projects and continue operations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are the risks inherent in mineral exploration, the need to obtain additional financing, environmental permits, the availability of needed personnel and equipment for exploration and development, fluctuations in the price of minerals, and general economic conditions. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. There are deep divisions between European creditors led by Germany, and the IMF, which believes that the Europeans' expectations of Greece's economic performance are too ambitious (AFP Photo/Aris MESSINIS) (AFP/File) Athens (AFP) - The next meeting of eurozone finance ministers to discuss Greece's massive bailout will be held in Brussels on May 9, Athens said Thursday. "Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem has informed Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos that the meeting will take place on May 9," the government said in a statement. It added that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke by telephone Thursday with European Commission chairman Jean-Claude Juncker and US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. Dijsselbloem's spokesman confirmed the date of the Eurogroup talks on Twitter. The meeting was initially scheduled for Thursday but was cancelled earlier this week amid disagreements between Athens and the International Monetary Fund, which has demanded more reforms from Greece. The cancellation of the meeting prompted fury from Athens, with Tsipras calling EU President Donald Tusk on Wednesday to demand a summit of eurozone countries if things didn't progress on a ministerial level. The talks have already suffered months of delays and Greece wants to wrap them up as quickly as possible so that it can unlock the next tranche of its 86-billion-euro ($95 billion) bailout, ahead of a huge European Central Bank payment due in July. To resolve the row, eurozone ministers agreed last Friday in principle to a package of "contingency measures" that would be imposed if Greece misses its spending targets in 2018. Tsipras is furious over the fresh demands, but Athens desperately needs to complete the so-called first review of its bailout so that it can meet the ECB payment and start talks on debt relief. Tsipras, who swept to power in January 2015 vowing an end to austerity, went on to sign Greece up for its third bailout in five years in exchange for more tough reforms, including a painful pensions shake-up. The EU's top economic official warned earlier Thursday that the talks need to wrap up quickly to avoid heaping further harm on Greece's debt-wracked economy. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Norway's $870-billion sovereign wealth fund is focusing on executive pay, targeting high salaries at companies around the world as it seeks to exert more influence on this issue, the FT.com reported on Sunday. The world's largest wealth fund is looking for a first company to target, with its focus on pay in the coming months. "We have so far looked at this in a way that has focussed on pay structures rather than pay levels," Yngve Slyngstad, Chief Executive of the fund, told the Financial Times. "We think, due to the way the issue of executive remuneration has developed, that we will have to look at what an appropriate level of executive remuneration is as well." The move comes as executive pay faces increased scrutiny from shareholders, the FT said. Norway's fund has been pushing to be more active in corporate governance matters such as the election of directors and board composition. But it has previously refrained from taking a view on executive pay given concerns that its actions would be perceived as being influenced by Scandinavian pay conditions, the report said. Executives in the Scandinavian region are paid much less than their counterparts in Britain or U.S. and the gap between the highest and lowest paid in companies is narrower, according to the FT. The fund believes executive compensation has become a global issue and is looking for an example of bad pay for it to launch what it calls a position paper, laying out its principles for what it expects on a subject, the report said. "We are looking at to how approach this issue in the public space," Slyngstad said. "We will choose the right instance for the right case of voting." (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Diane Craft) DUBAI, May 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's government has authorised the housing ministry to seek the assistance of Britain, France and China in building hundreds of thousands of homes to ease a shortage of affordable housing in the kingdom. The housing minister and his deputy were given the power to sign memorandums of understanding with those countries, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. It gave no details of what the agreements might contain, but in March the ministry signed memorandums with South Korea and a Saudi-South Korean consortium to develop 100,000 housing units in northern Riyadh over 10 years. The consortium includes Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co and Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. Under a broad economic reform plan announced last week, the Saudi government aims to increase the rate of home ownership among its citizens by 5 percentage points by 2020 from 47 percent now. The government will provide some funding and regulatory support. (Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Greg Mahlich) US oil and gas drilling surged 9.3 percent in December 2016, but was still 10.5 percent below the year-ago level (AFP Photo/SPENCER PLATT) (GETTY/AFP/File) Dakar (AFP) - While petro-states reel from plunging oil prices and gas producers brace for American exports to hit the market, two west African nations are forging ahead with potentially massive extraction projects others might fear to touch. Energy firms say Senegal and Mauritania's current oil and gas ventures will transform them into net exporters by 2020, betting on long-term demand and the eventual recovery of the slumped market, as well as their proximity to Europe. Located off Africa's western extremity, three oil wells drilled by Scottish firm Cairn Energy have yielded a "significant resource base" in Senegalese waters, its chief executive Simon Thomson said in early April, confirming that work would begin on a fourth. Meanwhile Texas-based Kosmos Energy has confirmed a single, very large pool of "high-quality gas" straddling the Senegalese-Mauritanian maritime border, and now plans to prospect for oil in the same area, the firm told AFP. "We have excellent working relationships with both governments," said Kosmos spokesman Thomas Golembeski, describing four years of work that have yielded a predicted 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The discovery of that "threshold" amount -- considered the minimum for viable production -- after digging just four wells was an encouraging sign in a business where dozens can be drilled and all found completely dry, Golembeski said. - 'Why rush?' - The Senegalese government has stressed it will take "every measure" to ensure the projects are carried out in the "best interests of all current and future generations," President Macky Sall said in a recent speech. Other nations such as Kenya and Tanzania are waiting for a better economic climate to exploit similar resources, said Nadine Kone of Oxfam International, a strategy she urged Senegal and Mauritania to heed. "I don't see a clear vision for the use of this resource," Kone told AFP. Furthermore, "why rush with oil given where prices are now?" Story continues World Bank country manager for Mauritania Gaston Sorgho told the Financial Times last month the project was potentially risky if not properly handled, with the Chinguetti oil field discovered 15 years ago in Mauritanian waters producing a fraction of what was hoped. However, it offered a "huge opportunity" if the two governments were able to work together, Sorgho said. Much remains to be done before the outcome is set: Cairn and Kosmos are negotiating with production firms to get the product out of the ground and onto the market, and attracting finance for such billion-dollar projects is "the real hard part", according to Wood Mackenzie analyst David Thomson. "These projects are massive and they're very capital intensive," Thomson said, adding that although it could take time in the current circumstances, he believed both firms would nonetheless secure the funding required. There was enough gas alone found so far to last for three decades, he added. - 'Clear advantages' - Kosmos' Golembeski said the firm believed demand will have risen by the time the gas site commences delivery, with ease of shipping to Europe a clear advantage on the export side. "Demand for oil and gas will continue to increase over time as more and more people around the world move from rural areas into the cities and want the conveniences of modern life," he told AFP. The states' 10 percent stakes in each of the projects will be more than welcome: both battle youth unemployment and persistent poverty, and are a long way from ensuring all their citizens have clean water, housing and access to education and health services. Mauritanian economist Isselmou Ould Mohamed said his country had in 2005 signed up to the anti-corruption Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. "That considerably reduces the chances of large-scale corruption. (Mauritania) is required to reveal all the payments received from these companies, which in turn must report all payments made to the state," he told AFP. Nonetheless, Oxfam's Kone believes the five-to-10 year window from exploration to sale is not enough to guarantee a legal framework to ensure the proceeds will be used correctly. The two countries could look to the regional example of Ghana, she said, which has a dedicated fund from the proceeds of oil and gas directed to priority areas such as agriculture and education. Kosmos also struck oil offshore there in 2007, and the west African countries are of a comparable size. "The Ghanaian example is quite progressive because they were able to learn from several years of gold mining and the negative examples of Nigeria and other oil-producing countries," Kone said. Protesters from the Communist-affiliated trade union PAME take part in a demonstration against unemployment in front of the parliament building in Athens, Greece April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis ROME (Reuters) - Talks on concluding Greece's bailout review to unlock new funds and debt relief are progressing only slowly and no deal is likely at a special meeting of euro zone finance ministers on May 9, two sources close to the talks said on Monday. The sources said it would take longer to reach a deal on reforms needed to complete the review of Greece's third international financial rescue and agree on contingency steps that Athens must ready in case it misses its fiscal targets. "We're making slow progress," one of the sources said. "I wouldn't expect a final agreement at the May 9 meeting. That's too soon. There are some weeks to go after that." The biggest remaining obstacle is the form and content of the contingency measures, which Greece is resisting, he said. The source said it would be preferable to wrap up an accord before Britain's June 23 referendum on whether to stay in the European Union to avoid any atmosphere of crisis at that time. However, he said Greece did not need the next tranche of euro zone funds until mid-July, so there was no sense of overwhelming urgency. The second source said more time was also needed to bridge the gaps between the International Monetary Fund and European lenders on a debt restructuring for Greece, with Germany - the biggest European creditor - arguing publicly that Athens does not need debt relief. The chairman of euro zone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, last week called an extraordinary meeting of the Eurogroup for May 9 amid reports that an agreement was close. European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told reporters then: "We are 99 percent of the way there, we have converged on almost all aspects", referring to the basic reform package. But he added that more work was needed on the contingency steps. (Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Jan Strupczewski and Gareth Jones) As he moves closer to winning the Republican presidential nomination, frontrunner Donald Trump continues to tout private equity honcho Henry Kravis as his possible treasury secretary, the Fox Business network has learned. As he moves closer to winning the Republican presidential nomination, frontrunner Donald Trump continues to tout private equity honcho Henry Kravis as his possible treasury secretary, the FOX Business Network has learned. Kravis, meanwhile, continues to say he isnt interested. That was the buzz in Washington D.C. Saturday night at the White House Correspondents Dinner and the well attended after parties where political insiders mingle for a night of laughter and to discuss gossip. Several political insiders in attendance told FOX Business that they recently had conversations in which Trump suggested that Kravis has indicated he might be receptive to the offer. But in a statement to FOX Business, Kravis said that is not his intention. While Im honored to be mentioned, I love my job and cant imagine leaving it, he stated. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not return telephone calls and emails for comment. This isnt the first time Trump has mentioned Kravis as a potential treasury secretary. Last year, Trump mentioned him among several candidates for the position--one in which corporate executives consider among the most important cabinet positions given its role in developing economic policy. Other names that have been discussed by Trump for the job include former General Electric (NYSE:GE) CEO Jack Welch and billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn. At the time, Kravis described the idea of serving as Trump's treasury secretary as "scary," while Welch is supporting Cruz and Icahn has said he is not interested, though he has endorsed Trump's candidacy. Trump, meanwhile, could all but wrap up the GOP nomination this Tuesday if he wins the Indiana Primary. Polls have him ahead of Cruz in the contest but last week Cruz received a key endorsement from Indiana Governor Mike Pence; Cruz also announced that if he wins the nomination, his V.P. running mate would be former Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HP) CEO Carly Fiorina. Story continues Last night at the White House Correspondents Dinner, GOP insiders say Trump once again has been floating Kravis' name to build inroads with Republican Party insiders. Like Trump, Kravis is a billionaire, with a long and public career in business, running private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (NYSE:KKR) which he co-founded. While Trump is new to the Republican Party (he has supported Democrats in the past), Kravis is a long time Republican fundraiser with deep ties to the Wall Street donor establishment. He may be best known for his role in the takeover of RJR Nabisco in 1988, a corporate battle described in the best selling book Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco. Trump has so far self-financed his campaign to win the GOP nomination, but he may need outside contributors to raise the billions of dollars that many experts say is necessary to wage a successful presidential campaign against likely Democratic nominee in the 2016 contest this fall, Hillary Clinton. Clinton is expected to easily raise an estimated $1 billion. While Trump says hes worth $10 billion, it is unclear if he has enough cash readily available for the race or whether he will tap outside sources for the funds. That's why it's important for him to make inroads with the likes of Kravis and other well-heeled donors he has been speaking with in recent weeks, GOP insiders tell FOX Business. In addition to Treasury Secretary, Trump has also been weighing potential candidates for his vice president. And it has been equally difficult for him to come up with solid choices. Many Republican heavy weights such as South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez have already said they are not interested in the No.2 spot showing that Trumps insurgent campaign, where hes made controversial remarks on immigration, may cost him some establishment GOP support, if and when he wins the nomination. The business community has been particularly wary of outwardly endorsing Trump as well, given some of his controversial remarks. Trump has also said he wants to raise taxes on hedge fund executives and private equity officials- something that might not endear him to the likes of Kravis. Clinton once had close ties to the business community and Wall Street, but she has moved to the left on issues such as regulations and taxes amid a strong challenge for the nomination by socialist candidate Bernie Sanders. With that, many Republican donors at the White House Correspondents Dinner say they are reluctantly moving to support Trump. I will do whatever it takes to defeat Hillary Clinton, including giving money to Donald Trump, said one GOP moneyman at last night's dinner. Related Articles Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko gives a speech in front of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus on April 26, 2016 (AFP Photo/Genya Savilov) Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine's government on Friday agreed a new truce with pro-Russian insurgents to take effect on Orthodox Easter this weekend, reinforcing a deal signed more than a year ago. The announcement comes a day after the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) warned that bloodshed in eastern Ukraine had reached levels not seen for months in the predominantly Russian-speaking war zone. A peace deal co-signed by France and Germany in February 2015 in the Belarussian capital Minsk was meant to end the fighting by providing rebel-held regions limited autonomy within a unified Ukraine. But the two-year war has now killed more than 9,300 people as the sides trade blame for violating the truce and not taking the political steps required to resolving one of Europe's deadliest crises since the 1990s Balkans wars. A spokeswoman for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's envoy to the OSCE-mediated talks held in Minsk said the new truce would go into effect at midnight Friday (2100 GMT) and cover the two separatist provinces of Lugansk and Donetsk. "It was agreed that instructions for full compliance with the ceasefire will be delivered to all the responsible officials on the ground," said a copy of the joint statement posted by Ukrainian spokesman Darka Olifer on Facebook. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Friday's agreement provided a chance "to prevent a further escalation of violence." "The situation must not spiral out of control again and result in even more people dying," he said in a statement. The Donetsk rebellion leaders' official news site said the OSCE had promised to monitor the pact's implementation and report any violations. "However, today's agreement is far from the first of its kind," the separatists' news agency wrote. "Since the autumn of 2014, when the sides of this conflict first began their negotiations in Minsk, there have been at least seven of them." Story continues Friday's deal comes ahead of Orthodox Easter Sunday and covers holidays that include international workers' day on May 1 and the ex-Soviet Union's May 9 commemoration of victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. - Major hurdles - Moscow adamantly denies charges of either stoking or backing the revolt in eastern Ukraine in reprisal for the February 2014 ouster of Ukraine's Russian-backed president and the country's subsequent decision to deepen ties with the West. But Kiev believes the main commanders answer to Moscow and step up their attacks whenever Russia wants to put the leadership in Kiev -- already hampered by financial woes and constant political infighting -- under renewed pressure. Both sides said Friday's meeting ended without an agreement on a prisoner swap that was being planned in time for Easter. The Ukrainian spokeswoman also reported no progress on the fate of possible local elections in rebel-run regions that the foreign minister of France had said should take place by the end of June. "We cannot address political issues, including the one concerning elections in eastern regions not under Ukraine's control, without first agreeing on a way to deal with the violence," Olifer wrote on Facebook. Rome (AFP) - Italy and Austria were set for showdown talks Thursday as Italian politicians and media reacted furiously to Vienna's new anti-migrant measures that could close the border between the two countries. Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka, who has vigorously defended the controversial package which was driven by a surge of the far right, was due in Rome to explain his government's plans to Italian counterpart Angelo Alfano. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has warned that closing the famous Brenner Pass in the Alps would be a "flagrant breach of European rules" and is pushing the European Commission to force Austria to hold off on a move that many fear could come to symbolise the death of Europe's Schengen system of open borders. But the Vienna government is under intense domestic pressure to stem the volume of asylum seekers and other migrants arriving on its soil with the far-right surging in polls. UN chief Ban Ki-moon hit out Thursday at what he called "increasingly restrictive" refugee policies in Europe, saying he was "alarmed by the growing xenophobia here" and elsewhere in Europe, in a speech to the Austrian parliament. Wedged between the Italian and Balkan routes to northern Europe, Austria received 90,000 asylum requests last year, the second highest in per capita terms of any EU country. - 'Whole world's burden' - Legislation approved Wednesday by the Austrian parliament enables the government to respond to spikes in migrant arrivals by declaring a state of emergency which provides for asylum seekers to be turned away at border points. "We cannot shoulder the whole world's burden," Sobotka said Wednesday in defence of a law denounced by rights groups as a betrayal of Austria's history as a place of refuge, most notably for dissidents fleeing the old Soviet bloc. Some 250 police have been deployed at the Brenner Pass and preparations are under way for the construction of a 370-metre (yard) barrier which would be up to four metres (13 foot) high in places, that is due for completion by the end of May. Story continues "Brenner: Vienna's slap in the face," was the headline in La Stampa daily, in a reflection of the outraged tone of virtually all the coverage. The pass is a major transport link between southern and northern Europe with an average of 2,500 lorries and 15,000 cars using it every day. Austria is preparing for a potential closure of the pass as fears grow that migrant arrivals in Italy could spike this summer as a result of the effective closure of the Balkan route into Europe. Italy insists there is no evidence of that happening and that it is taking steps to prevent it if it does. Rome also maintains that the numbers of migrants refused asylum in Austria and returning to Italy is rising. According to the interior ministry, 2,051 people -- mainly from Pakistan and Afghanistan -- returned to Italy in the first four months of this year, compared with 3,143 for the whole of 2015. Rome this week unveiled plans to fingerprint migrants crossing the Mediterranean as soon as they are picked up by rescue boats. - Fears of arrival spike - There have long been tensions with other EU countries over migrants arriving in Italy and travelling north without being registered. If they are not registered, countries like Austria and France and popular destination states like Germany and Sweden do not have the option of sending them back to Italy. Under the EU's much-criticised Dublin Treaty, asylum claims must be processed by the first country in which refugees arrive. Italy was warned last year by the European Commission that it must make its registration procedures more efficient. But Italian officials say the country cannot cope alone with the migrant influx. More than 350,000 people from all over the world have reached Italy on boats from Libya since the start of 2014, as Europe battles its biggest migration crisis since World War II. Fears of a spike in arrivals have given added urgency to attempts to find a lasting solution to the crisis and Italy is pushing a plan to introduce NATO naval patrols off Libya in time for the summer -- peak season for people smuggling. Modelled on an existing NATO operation in waters between Turkey and Greece, the plan has been backed by US President Barack Obama and is expected to be approved by alliance leaders at a summit in Warsaw in July. Italy has also proposed an EU-funded scheme to offer African countries cash to cooperate with the fast-track repatriation of migrants deemed to have no claim to asylum in Europe. How Much Notice to Cancel Homeowner's Insurance? Many homeowners change insurance policies on the property. You may change your own insurance policy at any time. Insurance companies may also choose to no longer cover your property. The rules regarding cancellation and nonrenewal of policies are governed by state law. Some require as little as 30 days notice; others might have a longer notification period. Allowing your insurance to lapse places your home and pocketbook at risk. Homeowner's Decision You are not locked into insurance providers even if you pay through an escrow account. You may change your homeowners insurance at any time. All you need to do is purchase new insurance, then cancel your old insurance policy. You will have to pay the new premium yourself, even if you have an escrow account. Provide the insurance information to your mortgage company to ensure the next payment is paid to the correct insurance company. Nonrenewal On occasion, your insurance company might choose to not renew your existing policy. As a private company, this is within the company's discretion. Your insurance agent must provide you a notice that the policy will be canceled within a specified period as defined in your state's law. Contact your state insurance agency to find out the exact time frame. Typically, it is 30 days prior to nonrenewal of your policy. Cancellation Your state also sets the laws regarding cancellation of policies. States such as California do not allow an insurance company to cancel a policy during its term except in cases of nonpayment of premiums, substantial changes to the property, a violation of your policy or fraud. Check with your state law to find the notice period for insurance cancellations. The minimum period is 30 days except for non-payment. In instances of non-payment, the insurer could cancel as early as 10 days after notification unless you pay the policy by the date listed in the cancellation letter. 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Taipei, May 2 (CNA) The government has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to send an invitation for Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA) soon and was told that the invitation is still "in the works," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Monday. A 37-year-old man from Bellevue lead law enforcement officials from Iowa and Nebraska on a vehicle pursuit April 29 that finally ended in the middle of Bay Road west of Highway 75. Glenwood Police Department (GPD), Mills County Sheriff Department (MCSD) deputies and Iowa State Patrol (IOP) officers pursued the white 2005 Dodge Durango with Iowa plates after authorities initiated a minor traffic violation on the vehicle. The vehicle traveled west towards the Plattsmouth Missouri River Bridge into Nebraska. According to a press release from Cass County Sheriffs Office, deputies intercepted the vehicle, driven by 37-year-old David Forbes, as the vehicle crossed the river and arrived in Nebraska. Forbes then swerved the Durango towards deputies marked patrol car as he approached. Cass County deputies attempted to stop the vehicle as it continued through Plattsmouth, then into Cass County and back into Plattsmouth before going back into the county, the release states. Forbes called 911 and told Cass County Sheriffs dispatchers to back off. He said he had to say goodbye to his children first and that he wanted to harm himself. Forbes finally stopped the vehicle in the middle of Bay Road west of Highway 75 but refused to exit the vehicle. Multiple units with the sheriffs office, Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and Plattsmouth Police Department (PPD) responded to the scene and surrounded the vehicle. Forbes, while being ordered to leave his vehicle, began to yell, Shoot me. Id rather be dead. Deputies were able to take Forbes into custody without further incident at the scene. Cass County deputies along with NSP officers located a replica handgun and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Durango. NSP officers requested bomb technicians from Lincoln to secure the IED. Forbes was booked into Cass County Jail on multiple charges and Iowa was notified for potential extradition. An Oklahoma man was arrested for exposing himself to a Fremont resident twice over the course of three days, Fremont Police reported. Officers were dispatched at 11:15 p.m. Saturday to the 100 block of North Main Street in reference to a public indecency report. A resident informed police that she heard a knock at her door, and when she answered she encountered a man exposing himself. The man fled but his description was given to law enforcement. On Sunday, Officers returned to the same location in reference to the same male suspect exposing himself once more. Again, he fled before officers arrived but a description of his vehicle was obtained. With the two descriptions and help of several neighbors, Francisco Perez-Cortez, 40, of Guymon, Okla., was arrested for disturbing the peace, public indecency and driving without a valid operators license. The next meeting of the Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel will be May 11 at St. James Episcopal Church, 301 E. Fifth St. A lunch will be served for $7. All retired school personnel are invited to attend. Reservations must be made by calling Sue at 402-721-7590. Roger Kaczmarick, a pharmacist from Miller Drug, will be the guest speaker. Members are asked to bring peanut butter for Low Income Ministry and volunteer hours totals. Today U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberrys office open, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 641 N. Broad St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Lewis-Clark Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, 10:30 a.m., east parking lot at Keene Memorial Library, Fremont. The group will then travel to Tekamah for lunch and visit a local museum. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Supportive Singles, 12:30 p.m., Macs Cafe, Fremont. For more information, call 402-721-9019 or 402-459-0692. Nebraska Department of Roads information open house, 4-6 p.m., North Bend City Auditorium, 741 Main St. The open house will present information about improvements for U.S. Highway 30 from Rogers to Fremont. Personnel from the Department of Roads will be available to answer questions, receive comments and discuss any aspect of the proposed highway improvement projects. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. TOPS 58, 6-7 p.m., St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Fremont. Weigh-ins are from 5:30-6 p.m. For more information, contact Nancy Wit at 402-727-6745. Narcotics Anonymous open meeting, 6:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 540 W. Eighth St., Wahoo. Narcotics Anonymous It Works Group, 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Education Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door. Al-Anon meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club front room, Fremont. This support group is for families and friends of alcoholics. Narcotics Anonymous open meeting, 8 p.m., United Faith Church, 218 W. Gardiner St., Valley. Wednesday Fremont Newcomers Coffee, 9:30 a.m., Nye Square Wellness Center. Visitors are welcome. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Pork tenderloin dinner, 5:30-7 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club. The public is welcome. Fresh Hope Support Group, 7 p.m., Trinity Lutheran School, 16th Street and Luther Road, Fremont. The support group offers faith-based help for those with mood disorders and for loved ones trying to understand. For more information, call David and Wray Lynn Trost at 402-480-1777. Narcotics Anonymous Library Group, 7 p.m., Keene Memorial Library East Building, Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. The page may have moved, you may have mistyped the address, or followed a bad link. Visit our homepage, or search for whatever you were looking for Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin is the current European Union special representative in Afghanistan. The Danish diplomat wants to help Kabul by launching a campaign against illegal mining, which he says helps insurgents, enriches warlords, and threatens anarchy by depriving Afghans of precious resources. RFE/RL: What is the EUs motive behind launching a campaign against illegal mining in Afghanistan? Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin: Illegal mining is a long-term threat to the Afghan state. It deprives the people of resources they own, and it will affect security if not dealt with in due time. RFE/RL: The EU says illegal mining is the second-biggest source of revenue for the Taliban after narcotics. How would you back such an assertion? Mellbin: We tried to look into the figures of the value of direct mining resources. Of course, a lot of focus is on high-value mining that is available, but the fact is that there are a lot of other mining assets which are important -- and not just gemstones. If you count all that together, you will [see] that, unfortunately, the value of mining in Afghanistan is very high. We are talking of hundreds of millions of dollars here, and when the insurgents have half of the illegal mining industry, that rapidly becomes quite a lot of money. RFE/RL: The EU says only 8 percent of mining is legal in Afghanistan. Who is thats exploiting the country's mineral riches? Mellbin: The broad range of stakeholders going from insurgents over warlords, local strongmen to government officials, security forces -- a very large group of peoples interests are involved. This is also a signal of the danger that if this is not countered now, it can become a serious threat. This is, of course, very sad, because these are the resources of the Afghan people. These people are plundering the resources from the Afghan people. RFE/RL: According to your information, what minerals are illegally being extracted, and what is their estimated worth? Mellbin: I dont have specific information, so I cant sort out the exact figures. We will present that on May 5 [in Kabul] during our anti-corruption conference. We will also provide some overviews showing the kinds of minerals and where these mines are, and smuggling techniques that are used to deprive Afghan people of their rightful resources. Let me mention some of [the resources that] are not spoken of very often such as talc, which is quite important, and are mined in several places illegally. Of course, there is also a wide variety of gemstones. And lapis lazuli, whose mining is ongoing and which also has industrial scales. And the geographical distribution is also very wide. And we find that the people who are stealing these resources are not just in a certain place but this is happening across the whole country. RFE/RL: What steps or initiatives have so far been taken by the EU to help stop illegal mining and smuggling in Afghanistan? Mellbin: The first thing that we are going to do is investigate, and it is the results of our investigation that we will present on May 5. So this is an opportunity to put the public spotlight on this because this is really about defending the interests of the Afghan people and securing not only the resources so the people can actually enjoy them but also that people understand [that] there is a need to tackle the question of illegal mining because it can tear the country apart. We have seen other countries that suffer on what is internationally called the resource curse. And what we want to do now is to present our findings so that the general public, ordinary Afghans, the media, politicians, [and] the anti-corruption bodies are aware that this needs more focus. And that particular and smaller interests of individuals and groups should not be allowed to overshadow the interests of the Afghan people. I think highlighting this is the best thing we can do because each and every Afghan is a stakeholder. Every time these resources leave the country, ordinary Afghans lose out. RFE/RL: What pressures can the international community put on the government of Afghanistan to tackle the issue? Mellbin: The first pressure point is to make sure there is an Afghan pressure point. We need to mobilize ordinary Afghans and the responsible part of Afghan society to be aware and try to change this themselves. On the international side, what we can do is to bring the issue to the table, and we will do that on May 5. We can make sure that other internationals are not complicit so we should monitor that international money interests are not part of this plundering of the Afghan peoples resources. We can also step in and try to support those who are willing to work with this issue and clean up the mining sector so that it becomes better regulated, and finally we can support those entities and government bodies who are willing to tackle the issue of legal mining, by their capacity to do that. And by making sure that they also get the political support which will be needed because there is not just the problem [of] criminal gangs [and] insurgents but it is unfortunately something that goes across society. RFE/RL: Are you satisfied with Afghan government's performance in this regard so far? Mellbin: There is a widespread feeling that the Afghan government should do more to tackle corruption. We are encouraged to see positive steps. I feel that the government has understood that this is a key issue for the international community. Also to make sure that the international community is willing to continue to support the Afghan government people. One thing is the promises we have heard, which are good and encouraging, but what we want to see this year is that the government could start to deliver. MASON CITY | Opponents of the proposed Prestage hog processing plant in Mason City have scheduled a press conference before Tuesdays City Council meeting. The event will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Mason City Public Library. Organized by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, the anti-plant press conference will feature speakers talking about the negative impacts of a slaughterhouse and calling on the council to vote against the development agreement with Prestage Farms. Council members are expected to cast their final vote for the proposed $240 million slaughterhouse on Tuesday night. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. A limited number of seats are available in the council meeting room. The main gallery in the council meeting room at the library reached peak capacity less than 15 minutes after police opened the doors at the April 21 meeting. Overflow seating was available in another portion of the library. Tuesday's Mason City Council meeting will be streamed live at globegazette.com. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding more than $8.4 million to Iowa agencies through the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program to support homelessness assistance services. Two North Iowa cities will receive funds for their projects. Mason City Housing Authority will receive $104,210 for the MCHA SNAPS 2015 Renewal Application. Family Alliance for Veterans of America in Forest City will receive $227,223 for Passport to Independence. The CoC Program is administered by HUD to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. The program provides funding for non-profits, state and local governments to rehouse homeless individuals and families. HUD estimates that 564,708 people experienced homelessness on a single night in 2015. The Iowa Council on Homelessness reports that 13,030 Iowans were served by a shelter in 2015, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. CLEAR LAKE Cassie Peterson of Clear Lake will celebrate her 26th birthday watching herself on the "MasterChef" premiere June 1 on FOX television. She auditioned for "MasterChef" season seven in August. I auditioned in Minneapolis, Peterson said. I guess Ive always been such a fan of the show. Peterson and her family decided to make the trip and see a Twins game as well. I made chicken wings, like an elevated chicken wing because thats kind of food I make. I take simple food and make it gourmet, Peterson said. There was well over a thousand people there to try out and I made it. Peterson found out she made it onto the show and traveled to Los Angeles in January. To be on the show, she had to put her business on hold. She operated The Cupcake Store for over a year and a half before moving it into Hy-Vee. Now, Peterson works with her partner, Davin McLeod, for Nameless Gourmet as a private chef. I have a lot of things in the works that I cant wait to talk about coming up, Peterson said. The reason I tried out was because people know me as the cupcake lady and they really dont know that Im a better cook than I am a baker. Peterson wanted to transition into cooking and saw a cooking show as an opportunity to break in. She never dreamed that she would get on a show after her first audition. I thought for sure that it would take me a few tries, Peterson said. And there I was in front of Gordon Ramsay, the "MasterChef" host and chef known for his brash criticism of contestants who fall short of his standards. Cooking in front of him I wasnt intimidated, Peterson said. But when he talked to me, I think I just left my body and blurted stuff out. I definitely said some stupid things to him. Cooking in front of famous chefs and testing her cooking chops against others was exhilarating, Peterson said. It was a step out of her comfort zone. Gordon follows me on Twitter so I have to say my Twitter account is now one of my most prized possessions, Peterson said. Peterson has a two-year-old daughter, Mila, who also loves to cook and impersonate Ramsays facial expressions. Shes so funny. She has her little play grill she loves to cook everything on, Peterson said. In addition to Ramsay, Peterson faced chef Christina Tosi, founder and owner of Milk Bar in New York City. I was actually more intimidated by Christina that I was Gordon, Peterson said. She is 'the girl in the pastry world and she was really intimidating because shes young, shes super successful, shes beautiful. Shes like a cupcake Barbie and shes really cool. Peterson said she was impressed with the ingredient selection and the amount of culinary tools that were available to contestants. It was overwhelming. I was like a kid in a candy store, Peterson said. I came back with a lot more food knowledge. The show helped Peterson form bonds with other contestants. I thought that there was no way we could all get along. We became some of the best friends, Peterson said. It was hard having to banter and compete with these people because theyre so awesome. One of the more fun aspects of the show was sharing her Iowa pride. They got my city wrong, which is the story of my life, Peterson said. My big thing was telling people that Iowa is a state. It is not Ohio, it is not Idaho, it is not Illinois. Peterson said she talks about her home state a lot on the show. Still, there were those who didnt quite understand her Midwestern tastes. People made fun of me for putting ranch on salad. They think that its dip in LA, Peterson said. Peterson is also working on a food-based YouTube channel to talk about great food in Iowa. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. It is approaching noon at Coleman Elementary School and the hallways are buzzing with anticipation in several directions. Outside the front entrance, a limousine pulls up to take a bunch of students to a pizza lunch, their reward for collecting the most money in a school fundraiser. In the hallway inside, children are lined up to go to the lunchroom. As they stand, one behind the other, it is hard for any of them to be still because theirs is a world of wonderment and wiggles. They come from different backgrounds, with skin colors of white and brown and olive. Some speak fluid English. For others, their most effective language is a smile, a frown or a look in their eye that is telling. Together, they are a mosaic of what is happening throughout the St. Joseph school system and they represent the single biggest challenge the city of St. Joseph faced when a Triumph Foods hog-processing plant opened 10 years ago. Triumph has been held out as a model for what a proposed Prestage hog-processing plant might be like if built in Mason City. Pork plant protest in Mason City MASON CITY About 100 protesters walk in downtown Mason City Sunday in opposition to the pr Hundreds of new students were thrust into the St. Joe school system, many of whom did not speak English. Making the challenge even more daunting was what they did speak: more than 20 languages and dialects. They all have one basic need from us. They are in school so they can learn and it is our job to teach them, said Joey Austin, director of public information for the school district. Different cultures In 2005 there were 90 students in the districts ELL (English language learning) program. In 2006, after the Triumph plant opened, there were 243. Today there are 652. The task of meeting that challenge was and is the responsibility of Gena Villegas, coordinator for the school district's English Speakers of Other Languages program. They come in with different cultures. We have to help them understand our culture, to learn simple things like how to act in school, what homework is, how to interact, said Villegas. This year we have 28 languages spoken in the high school alone." Austin said the constant challenges are keeping up with staff needs, student needs and parents needs. It was a learning curve to begin with and it still is, she said. Villegas said foreign language teachers and tutors were enlisted to help get the program started while other teachers were being trained as ELL-certified teachers. The state of Missouri helped pay for some of the training. Austin said the local School Board has been supportive and the program has developed partnerships with businesses throughout the city. Social agencies have also helped out, she said. The University of Missouri Extension Center helped put together a coalition of agencies whose members meet once a month to coordinate services for immigrant families. Villegas said it is important to try to get students integrated into school programs. Our goal is to start them in summer school so they can become familiar with the school theyre going to be in and hopefully relieve some of the anxiety before the school year starts, she said. The school district also provides support services for teachers and staff who are working with students from so many different countries, speaking so many different languages. We follow the example of the students, said Austin. It can either be an opportunity or a stumbling block. Growing staff The ELL staff that started with tutors and a few foreign language teachers 10 years ago now has a staff of 27 12 teachers, seven tutors, three paraprofessionals, two migrant advocates, one assessor and one translator/interpreter, as well as Villegas, the director. The district has three high schools, four middle schools and 16 elementary schools serving a student enrollment of 11,436. Villegas said the best resource to get a program like this started is a team of administrators and professionals to help with organization and planning. You have to consider zoning where are we going to put the students; establishment of a newcomer center a hub where all records are kept as well as information on bilingual services; and a unified registration process, she said. You have to make sure the registration forms include state-approved questions to identify English learners. The program coordinator must be knowledgeable about state guidelines for ELL programs and testing; and you must hire ELL-certified teachers or provide incentives for teachers to get certified, said Villegas. ST. ANSGAR Born in India, joining the Navy to see more of the world appealed to Bondita Schubert. After high school, the military will provide security and the chance to explore and the opportunity to afford college. With plans to join the service in July, eventually she plans to go to college for civil engineering. I just wanted to have a foundation for myself and have a career that will be there for me, said Schubert, 19, a St. Ansgar senior who will be honored during the Globe Gazettes Star Class event Sunday. You have a job, you have clothes on your back, you have food, you get paid, she said, Youre not just doing stuff for yourself; you are doing stuff for other people. In the military, she is signed up to become an operations specialist on a submarine. She would be partly responsible for surveillance and tracking of other ships. Most people go to college and it takes them awhile for them to find a job that they went to college for, she said. With an interest in math, civil engineering would be a challenging and practical career choice, she said. Ive always been fascinated by older buildings, she said. Civil engineering applies many of the same concepts, but with roads and bridges. After being adopted in Minnesota at age 7, and living in foster care in Colorado for two years, she moved to Iowa around 2008. She said her faith in God has helped her through an initially difficult transition in the U.S. It has helped me heal and forgive and move on from my past, she said. But for now, she is open to her future: to re-enlist or rejoin civilian life as a college student. It was kind of interesting (to become) part of a military family, she said. After the four years I serve I dont know what I will do after that. MASON CITY Ackhasenh Cavan was the victim of the fatal fire at a Mason City house early Sunday. Cavan, 24, the occupant of the house at 957 15th Place N.E., died as the result of a cooking fire, according to a press release from Jamey Medlin, fire marshal with the Mason City Fire Department. The fire was accidental, Medlin stated. Firefighters responded to the blaze at 4:48 a.m. When they arrived, Cavan was outside of the house and medical aid was being provided prior to his being transported to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, according to the Fire Department. Light smoke was showing from front door when firefighters arrived. Fire damage was contained to the kitchen and living room, with smoke damage throughout the house. The cause of the fire was unattended cooking on the stove, according to the Fire Department. Firefighters remained on scene until 6:56 a.m. WATERLOO The suicidal deer sign north of St. Ansgar had its moment in the spotlight shortly after it went up in Mitchell County in March. Immediately, reactions were mixed. Some found it funny, others offensive, and soon enough the puns and opinions poured out on social media. But like most viral content, it was news one day and gone the next. Even as many people including two-thirds of Mitchell Countys supervisors moved on, there have been hundreds who signed a petition started by Waterloo activist Christy Kessens to replace the sign on Iowa 105. To me, its not just about a sign, its about changing the way that our society views mental illness, Kessens said. I do get it, that its a sign; I see why people think its humorous or eye-catching, but there mental disabilities and other illnesses that we would never think of making fun of. Kessens, an Osage native, started the change.org petition three weeks ago. So far, it has 320 supporters from all over who want to see the sign replaced with a more general warning. Many supporters, like Kessens, have struggled with mental illness or had friends and family who have died by suicide or both. Suicide is a serious subject. What was wrong with the old sign just warning that deer are in the area, read one comment. Others simply left the name of a lost loved one. Kessens, who is active with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention but did not launch the campaign on its behalf, said she sees the sign as making light of mental illness. Its such a serious topic, and as an advocate you work so hard to change the way people see something, and then to have it be kind of made fun of is discouraging, Kessens said. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, and the ninth in Iowa, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It is the second leading cause of death in Iowa among people age 15 to 34. Kessens contacted the Mitchell County Board of Supervisors about her concerns before launching the petition, but the responses showed the same divisions theyd aired at public meetings. Mitchell County Supervisor Shannon Paulus made a motion in late March to remove the sign, but it died for lack of a second from her fellow Supervisors Joel Voaklander and Stan Walk. Walk sees the petition and other outcry about the sign as political correctness run amok. What you have is some individuals that have too much time on their hands, and they got solutions looking for a problem, and basically to try to relate a traffic sign that talks about deer to a personal tragedy, to me, is a stretch, Walk said. He added very few, if any, of the petition signers will visit Mitchell County and see the sign. You know in Black Hawk County, I am sure you have the same issues that we do in north Iowa, the heroin thing is an epidemic; theres people there that need all kinds of help, Walk said. If these people signing this petition really want to do something, work on a problem that they can solve. This isnt going to solve anything. He added his grandfather had died by suicide before he was born but he isnt pissing, moaning and groaning about it. Yeah, we dont like it, so on and so forth, but youve got to move on, Walk said. Walk said local reaction to the sign is very positive and hes directed the auditor not to put discussion about the sign on the agenda again. Voaklander agreed there hasnt been a local effort mounted against the sign. To tell you the truth, I havent really heard a whole lot of anything about it, Voaklander said. I think its pretty well died around here. I think everybodys either, they either look the other way, or else they drive by and laugh. Paulus, however, said she has received dozens of emails, outside of the petition, and estimates three-fourths of them oppose the sign. She has objected to the sign since it first went up in the county, particularly because of her training as a social worker. The deer arent making a conscious decision, theyre animals, so to use the adjective suicidal is not appropriate. That is a human term, and theres a lot of people that deal with losing someone every day that dont need to be reminded of it, Paulus said. Its just not appropriate. She added its becoming a public safety hazard as people stop to take pictures of the sign. Mitchell County purchased a total of eight signs, costing $80 apiece. Walk said he would put up more if a new warning sign is needed, but Paulus doesnt anticipate they will be used. Its at a standstill right now, Paulus said. But Kessens is undeterred. Knowing so many people are supporting this cause keeps me motivated, Kessens said. Advocacy work is hard. I feel like were a team, working together to change the way our society views mental illness. Imagine if I toured wearing a crown, going from every diner to gas station announcing myself as Miss Pennsylvania even though I never participated in the pageant or won anything. The point I inartfully am trying to make is that one does not put the cart before the horse, especially if ones horse is three steps away from the glue factory. Which brings me to Ted Cruz. The Republican presidential candidate, who is trailing Donald Trump in delegates and the popular vote, is not only not throwing in the towel, he is wrapping it around his head like a turban and pretending to be a magician who will poof! extract a convention victory out of Carly Fiorinas mouth. On Wednesday, Cruz announced that Fiorina would be his vice presidential running mate in the general election, which he has apparently convinced himself he will compete in against either Hillary Clinton or the person who hires a member of the Salvadoran drug gang mS-18 to kidnap the former secretary of state and keep her incommunicado until November. Because, essentially, that is the only way Hillary Make Sure You Dont Forget the Rodham Clinton will be AWOL come autumn. She is inevitable. Cruz, on the other hand, is far from inevitable. His numbers, while better than Ohio Gov. John Kasichs, are nothing compared with Trumps juggernaut. And while the political honchos are still weaving scenarios in which there could be a contested convention and Cruz could snatch the nomination from Trump, those of us who are not hitting our heads against the Looking Glass have sadly come to realize it will be a Trump-Clinton contest. This is sort of like the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, only with more testosterone. When I watched the senator from Texas announce his VP choice, I was perplexed. Dont get me wrong. I think Fiorina is magnificent. During the early debates, she wiped the floor with whoever else was on stage with her, and she held her own with Trump when he went on one of his misogynistic rants about her face. And yet, that is an irrelevancy, which everyone except Trump seems to understand. The way a woman looks should have no bearing on the way she is perceived by voters, and I say this as a person frequently told she needs a drastic makeover (so you could only imagine what Id get if I ran for public office). Many people have also attacked Fiorinas business record, continually pointing to the massive job losses suffered at Hewlett-Packard on her watch. But most of those who have examined her history both at H-P and in the business world in general have a strong and positive opinion of her abilities. Furthermore, her intelligence is awesome, and she easily dwarfs 90 percent of the people still in the election (her new running mate being the possible exception) when it comes to brain power. And yet, it is strange and premature to be talking about what a great vice president Fiorina would be and I think shed be a great one when the person at the top of her purported ticket has little to no chance of becoming the presidential nominee in July. This does not mean that I dont want him to be the nominee. Id take anyone over Trump, at this point, including the barista at my local Starbucks who finally figured out my name is spelled with a Ch and not a K. The kid clearly has a steep learning curve, but hes learning. I cant say the same for Trump. With Cruz, I know Ill be getting smart, and, with Fiorina, I know Ill be getting tough. They would make a formidable team. But the premature announcement looks like a Hail Mary pass made by a kid in the Pop Warner league to his mother. It looks juvenile, amateur and desperate. Or, it could just be that magical thinking I was talking about, where you steal a crown and start parading around as the winner despite all the evidence to the contrary. And that just makes you look crazy. Which doesnt usually win elections. At least, not up till now. Oh, puhleeze, no! The Trumpster is going to run a totally chauvinistic campaign against Hillary Clinton. Its going to be, She wouldnt be here if she werent a woman, and, She just wants to be the first woman president. After the voters of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut voted for Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, he said, I think the only card she has is the womans card. Ever gallant, Trump continued, She has got nothing else going. Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I dont think she would get 5 percent of the vote. Clinton then responded. Well, she said, If fighting for womens health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in. ... We want America to be in the future business. Not content with past gratuitous insults against Clinton, Trump added: And the beautiful thing is women dont like her, OK? Oh, and do they like him? Seven out of 10 women say they have an unfavorable opinion of Trump. We knew Trump adviser Paul Manaforts wink-wink-nod-nod assurance that Trump would soon switch to presidential mode would not happen. Indeed, Trump quickly assured the world that he had no intention of toning it down. Clearly, Trump and Clinton already have each other in their sights for the fall campaign. Its going to be as painful as we feared. With Clintons latest post having been secretary of state, weve been waiting to see how Trump will attack her on that front. We found out the day after Tuesdays primaries. Outlining his foreign policy, Trump displayed a panoply of contradictions and vacuousness. He promised his foreign policy would be popular with all Americans, simple and focused on one factor America, first above all else. Then he said the United States has not put Israels interests first and foremost. He said, The power of weaponry is the single biggest problem we have in the world. He wants to modernize Americas nuclear weapons stockpile and promote its edge in cyberwarfare. Oh, yes, and 3-D printing. He doesnt want to defend other countries unless they appreciate what we do, pay for their defense and not tie us up in alliances that restrict Americas ability to make its own decisions. But he wants us to stand by the agreements we have made. He will deal with the national debt by not wasting one dollar. He wants to beef up the military but doesnt say how he will pay for it, since Congress has been steadily cutting the defense budget. He wants to end the theft of American jobs. He does not say how. While Trump says he is the only one who knows how to fix Americas problems, he offers no details. He pledges to get rid of the Islamic State quickly, but wont tell us how, in order to avoid tipping them off. He vows to get rid of the Iran deal signed with six countries to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons but says Iran absolutely must not be permitted to get nuclear weapons. How? We dont know. We have to stop China from becoming the new economic powerhouse, he warns, but also says we have to sign deals with China that benefit us more than China. If not, we simply walk away from the table. Ditto Russia. Ah, now were in territory Clinton knows well. But that debate is complicated and will show Trump up as a know-nothing on how the world works. So much easier to swipe at Clinton as being a woman unqualified to be president. Says Trump, Watching her on television ... she just gives me a headache. Trump has been successful in knocking out his rivals by exaggerating a personal trait and demeaning them for it. John Kasich has disgusting eating habits. Ted Cruz is a liar. Jeb Bush had no energy. It was Little Marco. He didnt like Carly Fiorinas face. A bully, he dissed everyone in the race. Now hes going after Clinton. For being just a woman in pantsuits. For a man who insists the United States must be less predictable in foreign policy, Trump is oh, so, predictable. Iowas fight to end the scourge of bullying within its borders took a step backward this year. After three consecutive sessions of discussion and near-passage of a bill to strengthen state anti-bullying law during the last session, the Legislature this year virtually ignored the issue. Iowas children deserve better. Last year, momentum was building for action on bullying. Gov. Terry Branstad supported the anti-bullying bill during the legislative session, then later in the year issued an executive order through which he created the Governors Office for Bullying Prevention at the University of Northern Iowa. The state Senate passed the anti-bullying bill, 43-7. Anti-bullying leaders in education supported the bill. Iowans overwhelmingly supported the effort. In a February 2015 Des Moines Register poll, 73 percent of Iowans answered favor to the following question: Do you favor or oppose authorizing school personnel to react to bullying by notifying parents and disciplining students even when the incident takes place away from school, including through social media? Only the state House stood in the way of significant additional protection for victims of bullying. Creation by Branstad of the Governors Office for Bullying Prevention struck us as a valuable contribution to this dialogue, but we believe strengthening state law remains the most effective way to protect Iowa children from bullying. We supported last years anti-bullying bill, largely because we believed it would address the pervasive problem of cyberbullying tormenting, threatening, harassing or embarrassing someone using the Internet or other technologies, like cell phones in effective fashion. We were hopeful this year would be the year in which anti-bullying legislation reached the finish line. Its unclear to us why, exactly, the issue fell from the Legislatures radar screen. In what would be an ironic twist, perhaps creation of the Governors Office for Bullying Prevention, in effect, suppressed legislative action because lawmakers felt the office solved the problem. Through the office, Branstad sought to meet some provisions of failed anti-bullying legislation. However, Branstad didnt direct funds to the office in his budget recommendation for the next fiscal year and the Legislature appropriated no money for the office. In other words, this year produced no bill and no money to combat bullying. The result? An important issue was, it appears, simply forgotten. Thats disappointing. And unacceptable. We will continue our support for stronger anti-bullying laws in Iowa. We will do so until this state properly meets its responsibility to stamp out an ugly problem no student should have to experience. By the Sioux City Journal, like the Globe Gazette a Lee Enterprises newspaper. The European Directories Group hereby announces the following board changes. European Directories Midco S.a r.l. Marcus Englert has been appointed to the board of European Directories Midco S.a r.l., registered with the Luxembourg RCS under number B-155418, the parent of European Directories BondCo S.C.A., registered with the Luxembourg RCS under number B-181401, and the sole owner of European Directories GP S.a r.l., registered with the Luxembourg RCS under number B-181385, after David Anderson stepping down from the board. As per 2 May 2016, the board of European Directories Midco S.a r.l. consists of the following members: Marcus Englert, Hannu Syrjanen, Bjorn Osterloff, Peder Prahl, Marco Sodi, Fabrice Rota and Sebastien Rimlinger. The changes will be registered to the Luxembourg RCS as soon as possible. ________________________________________________________________________________ _ ____ For further information, please contact: Group CFO Neil Robson Tel 31 20 487 36 88 E-mail: ir@europeandirectories.com European Directories Group is an online partner for SMEs offering local search and lead generation with a scalable business model. The European Directories Group operates through three main brands: Fonecta in Finland, HEROLD in Austria and DTG in the Netherlands. More information about the European Directories Group can be found at www.europeandirectories.com . The information in this announcement is required to be disclosed by European Directories BondCo S.C.A. under the Swedish Securities Markets Act (Sw. lagen om vardepappersmarknaden) and article 1 point 9(b) of the Luxembourg law of 11 January 2008 relating to transparency requirements for issuers of securities and article 2 of the Grand-Ducal regulation of 11 January 2008 relating to transparency requirements for issuers of securities. This information was released for publication at 10:00 CET on 2 May 2016. DALLAS, May 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE:AHC) today reported first quarter operating income from continuing operations excluding certain items (adjusted operating income) of $1.8 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 204 percent, over the first quarter of 2015. In the first quarter of 2016, on a GAAP basis, the net loss attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation (the Company) was $ (0.6) million, or $ (0.03) per share. For the same period in 2015, the Company reported net income attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation of $0.4 million, or $0.02 per fully diluted share. Jim Moroney, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, While core print revenues continue to decline, we were highly encouraged that the strong 2015 operating results we experienced continued through the first quarter of 2016. Our performance this quarter highlights our ongoing efforts to diversify our revenue sources, manage-out product lines that cant sustain profitability and closely scrutinize spending." First Quarter Results from Continuing Operations Total revenue was $62.5 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $3.0 million, or 4.5 percent, when compared to the prior year period. Revenue from advertising and marketing services, including print and digital revenues, was $35.2 million in the first quarter of 2016, down 4.3 percent from the $36.8 million reported in the first quarter of 2015, resulting from the decrease in print advertising revenue mostly offset by the increase in digital and marketing services revenue. Total digital and marketing services revenue increased 23.5 percent to $11.5 million primarily due to organic growth in marketing services revenue associated with Speakeasy and DMV Digital Holdings, Inc. (DMV Holdings), which was acquired on January 2, 2015. For the first quarter of 2016, total digital and marketing services revenue was 32.7 percent of total advertising and marketing services revenue, reflecting a 730 basis point increase when compared to the 25.4 percent reported in the first quarter of 2015. Total digital advertising and marketing services revenue is approximately 18.5 percent of total revenue, reflecting a 420 basis point increase when compared to the 14.3 percent reported in the first quarter of 2015. Circulation revenue was $20.4 million, a decrease of $0.7 million or 3.3 percent, primarily due to lower home delivery and single copy volumes partially offset by an increase in home delivery subscription rates. Printing, distribution and other revenue decreased 8.9 percent to $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2016, primarily due to a decrease of $0.2 million in commercial printing revenue and a decrease of $0.4 million resulting from the timing of Savor, Dallas four-day celebration of food, wine and spirits, which, in 2015, occurred in the first quarter. In 2016, the festival occurred in April. Total consolidated operating expense in the first quarter was $64.3 million, a decrease of $6.3 million or 8.9 percent compared to the prior year period, primarily due to a decrease in newsprint, ink and other supplies of $2.1 million, a decrease in operating expenses related to the 2015 DMV Holdings acquisition of $0.7 million and a decrease in employee compensation and benefits of $0.5 million. The Companys newsprint expense in the first quarter was $3.2 million, a decrease of 28.3 percent compared to the prior year period. Newsprint consumption declined 15.0 percent to approximately 6,589 metric tons. Compared to the same period in 2015, newsprint cost per metric ton decreased 13.6 percent and the average purchase price per metric ton for newsprint decreased 10.3 percent. Non-GAAP Financial Measures A reconciliation of income from continuing operations to adjusted income from continuing operations are included as exhibits to this release. Financial Results Conference Call A. H. Belo Corporation will conduct a conference call on Monday, May 2, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. CDT to discuss financial results. The conference call will be available via webcast by accessing the Companys website (www.ahbelo.com/invest) or by dialing 1-800-230-1074 (USA) or 612-234-9960 (International). A replay line will be available at 1-800-475-6701 (USA) or 320-365-3844 (International) from 11:00 a.m. CDT on May 2, 2016, until 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 9, 2016. The access code for the replay is 391207. About A. H. Belo Corporation A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE:AHC) is a leading local news and information publishing company with commercial printing, distribution and direct mail capabilities, as well as expertise in emerging media and digital marketing. With a continued focus on extending the Companys media platform, A. H. Belo Corporation is able to deliver news and information in innovative ways to a broad spectrum of audiences with diverse interests and lifestyles. For additional information, visit ahbelo.com or email invest@ahbelo.com. Statements in this communication concerning A. H. Belo Corporations (the Companys) business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends, capital expenditures, investments, dispositions, impairments, business initiatives, acquisitions, pension plan contributions and obligations, real estate sales, working capital, future financings and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties are, in most instances, beyond our control, and include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers tastes; newsprint prices; program costs; labor relations; technology obsolescence; as well as other risks described in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Companys other public disclosures and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, are not updated to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement. A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations Three Months Ended March 31, In thousands, except share and per share amounts (unaudited) 2016 2015 Net Operating Revenue Advertising and marketing services $ 35,237 $ 36,831 Circulation 20,352 21,038 Printing, distribution and other 6,894 7,567 Total net operating revenue 62,483 65,436 Operating Costs and Expense Employee compensation and benefits 27,017 27,503 Other production, distribution and operating costs 28,331 31,460 Newsprint, ink and other supplies 6,058 8,166 Depreciation 2,632 3,040 Amortization 226 373 Total operating costs and expense 64,264 70,542 Operating loss (1,781 ) (5,106 ) Other Income (Expense), Net Loss on equity method investments, net (414 ) Other income, net 79 109 Total other income (expense), net 79 (305 ) Loss from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (1,702 ) (5,411 ) Income tax benefit (1,109 ) (5,730 ) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations (593 ) 319 Loss related to the divestiture of discontinued operations, net (12 ) Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net (12 ) Net Income (Loss) (593 ) 307 Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 39 (56 ) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation $ (632 ) $ 363 Per Share Basis Net income (loss) attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation Basic and diluted $ (0.03 ) $ 0.02 Weighted average shares outstanding Basic 21,514,133 21,770,698 Diluted 21,514,133 21,845,197 A. H. Belo Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, December 31, In thousands (unaudited) 2016 2015 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 74,656 $ 78,380 Accounts receivable, net 26,355 31,502 Other current assets 17,069 13,467 Total current assets 118,080 123,349 Property, plant and equipment, net 50,822 51,358 Intangible assets, net 5,552 5,778 Goodwill 36,883 36,883 Other assets 4,129 4,133 Total assets $ 215,466 $ 221,501 Liabilities and Shareholders Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 9,950 $ 12,736 Accrued compensation and other current liabilities 9,733 11,812 Advance subscription payments 15,564 14,424 Total current liabilities 35,247 38,972 Long-term pension liabilities 56,574 57,446 Other liabilities 5,579 4,812 Total liabilities 97,400 101,230 Noncontrolling interest - redeemable 1,335 1,421 Total shareholders equity attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation 115,801 117,781 Noncontrolling interests 930 1,069 Total shareholders' equity 116,731 118,850 Total liabilities and shareholders equity $ 215,466 $ 221,501 A. H. Belo Corporation - Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) Three Months Ended March 31, In thousands (unaudited) 2016 2015 Total Net Operating Revenue $ 62,483 $ 65,436 Total Operating Costs and Expense 64,264 70,542 Operating Loss (1,781 ) (5,106 ) Addback: Depreciation 2,632 3,040 Amortization 226 373 Severance expense 742 (55 ) Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) $ 1,819 $ (1,748 ) The Company evaluates adjusted operating income (loss) from continuing operations, calculated by adjusting operating loss for depreciation, amortization, severance expense and pension plan settlement (Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)). The Company believes that such expenses and charges are not indicative of normal, ongoing operations and their inclusion in the results makes for more difficult comparisons between years and with peer group companies. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management uses Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) and similar measures in internal analyses as supplemental measures of the Companys financial performance, and for performance comparisons against its peer group of companies. Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure for the purposes of evaluating consolidated company performance. The Company therefore believes that the non-GAAP measure presented provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view the Companys business through the eyes of management and the Board of Directors, facilitating comparison of results across historical periods and providing a focus on the underlying ongoing operating performance of its business. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income from continuing operations, cash flows provided by operating activities or other comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, this non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. Lithuanian English Vilnius, Lithuania, 2016-05-02 15:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the 12rd of May 2016 the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AB SEB bankas will take place. The General Meeting is initiated and convened by the Management Board of the bank. 100 % of shares of the bank are owned by Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB. Issues on the agenda: Re garding the withdrawal of members to the Supervisory Council of AB SEB bankas; R egarding the election of a member to the Supervisory Council of AB SEB bankas. The Management Board of bank endorsed the following draft resolutions of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank: to withdrwaw the following persons from the Supervisory Council of AB SEB bankas: 1.1. David Bamforth Tear, SEB group Chief Risk Officer; 1.2. Mark Barry Payne, Chief Financial Officer of SEB Pension in Denmark. to elect the following person to the Supervisory Council of AB SEB bankas: 2.1. Riho Unt, Head of Baltic Division of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB. To stipulate that the withdrawn members shall cease to hold the positions and the newly elected member of Supervisory Council shall commence his activity since the adoption of the decision at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AB SEB bankas and the newly elected member shall hold this position no longer than the end of tenure of the current Supervisory Council - 29th October, 2017. To authorize the President of AB SEB bankas to perform all the necessary actions related to the implementation of this decision, including but not limited to registration of decision within the Company Register, allowing him to reauthorize other persons to perform the above mentioned actions. This notification is non-confidential. Jonas Irzikevicius, Vice President of AB SEB bankas, Head of Business Support Division and Chief Financial Officer. 2 May 2016, Vilnius Finnish English Valoe Corporation 2 May 2016 at 20.30 Finnish time Notice to the General Meeting of Valoe Corporation Notice is given to the shareholders of Valoe Corporation to the Annual General Meeting to be held on 24 May 2016 at 11:00 (Finnish time) at the companys headquarters at Insinoorinkatu 5, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting and the distribution of voting tickets will commence at 10:30 (Finnish time). A. Matters on the agenda of the General Meeting At the General Meeting, the following matters will be considered: 1. Opening of the meeting 2. Calling the meeting to order 3. Election of persons to scrutinize the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes 4. Recording the legality of the meeting 5. Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes 6. Presentation of financial statements, group financial statements, the report of the Board of Directors and the auditors report for the year 2015 and the review by the CEO 7. Adoption of the financial statements and group financial statements 8. Resolution on the use of the profit shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend The Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting that the loss for the financial year ended on 31 December 2015 is entered in retained earnings and that no dividend will be distributed. 9. Resolution on the discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability 10. Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors 11. Resolution on the remuneration and principles for travelling cost payments of the members of the Board of Directors 12. Election of members of the Board of Directors 13. Resolution on the remuneration of the auditor The Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting that the auditor is paid auditor's fee and compensation of the costs against a reasonable invoice accepted by Valoe Corporation. 14. Election of auditor The Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting that the firm of independent accountants KPMG Oy Ab be re-elected as the company's auditor for a period ending in the first Annual General Meeting following the Annual General Meeting, in which it was elected. KMPG Oy Ab has informed that the principal auditor would be Petri Rekonen, Authorised Public Accountant. 15. Authorization of the Board of Directors to decide on a share issue as well as other option rights and other special rights entitling to shares in the company The Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting, that the General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to decide on a share issue with and/or without payment, either in one or in several occasions, including right to resolve on option rights and other rights entitling to shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act so that the number of new shares issued based on the authorization or number of shares issued based on option rights and other special rights entitling to the shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish companies Act, would equal to the total maximum amount of 1,000,000,000 shares which equals to approximately 36.2 percent, at the most, of all shares in the company including shares issued based on the authorization and/or shares to be issued based on option rights and other special rights entitling to shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. The authorization does not exclude the Boards right to decide also on directed issue of shares or option rights and other special rights pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. It is proposed that the authorization may be used for important arrangements from the companys point of view e.g. to strengthen the capital structure, to finance investments, for acquisitions and business transactions or other business arrangements, or to expand ownership structure, or for incentive plans, or for other purposes resolved by the Board involving a weighty financial reason for issuing shares or option rights or special rights entitling to shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. The share issue may be executed by deviating from the shareholders' pre-emptive subscription right provided the company has a weighty financial reason for that. It is proposed that the authorization is in force until 30 June 2017. 16. Closing of the meeting B. Documents of the General Meeting The above mentioned proposals for the decisions on the matters on the agenda of the General Meeting as well as this Notice to the General Meeting are available on Valoe Corporations website at www.valoe.com. The latest financial statements, the latest group financial statements, the latest report of the Board of Directors and the auditors report of Valoe Corporation are available on the above-mentioned website. The proposals for decisions and the other above-mentioned documents are also available at the General Meeting. Copies of these documents and of this Notice to the General Meeting will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website as from 7 June 2016. C. Instructions for the participants in the General Meeting 1. Shareholder registered in the shareholders register Each shareholder, who is registered on 12 May 2016 in the shareholders register of the company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd., has the right to participate in the General Meeting. A shareholder, whose shares are registered on his/her personal Finnish book-entry account, is registered in the shareholders register of the company. A shareholder, who is registered in the shareholders register of the company and who wants to participate in the General Meeting, shall register for the meeting no later than 19 May 2016 by 4:00 p.m. (Finnish time) by giving a prior notice of participation which shall be received by the company no later than on the above-mentioned date. Such notice can be given: a) by e-mail to the email address minna.wilkman@valoe.com b) by telephone to the number +358 (0) 20 7747 701 (Minna Wilkman) from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Finnish time); c) by telefax to the number + 358 (0)20 7747 770; or d) by regular mail to the address Valoe Corporation, Minna Wilkman, Insinoorinkatu 8, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland. In connection with the registration, a shareholder shall notify his/her name, personal identification number, address, telephone number and the name of a possible assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number of a proxy representative. The personal data given to Valoe Corporation is used only in connection with the general meeting and with the processing of related registrations. The shareholder, his/her authorized representative or proxy representative shall, where necessary, be able to prove her/her identity and/or right of representation. 2. Holder of a nominee registered share A holder of nominee registered shares has the right to participate in the General Meeting by virtue of such shares, based on which he/she would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders register of the company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd on 12 May 2016. The right to participate in the general meeting requires, in addition, that the shareholder on the basis of such shares has been registered into the temporary shareholders register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd. at the latest by 19 May 2016 by 10:00 a.m. As regards nominee registered shares this constitutes due registration for the General Meeting. A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request without delay necessary instructions regarding the registration in the temporary shareholders register of the company, the issuing of proxy documents and registration for the General Meeting from his/her custodian bank. The account management organization of the custodian bank has to register a holder of nominee registered shares, who wants to participate in the General Meeting, into the temporary shareholders register of the company at the latest by the time stated above. 3. Proxy representative and powers of attorney A shareholder may participate in the General Meeting and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder at the General Meeting. When a shareholder participates in the General Meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares at different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the General Meeting. Possible proxy documents should be delivered to the address Valoe Corporation, Minna Wilkman, Insinoorinkatu 8, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland or by email minna.wilkman@valoe.com, before the last date and time for registration. 4. Other instructions/information Pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the General Meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the meeting. On the date of this Notice to the General Meeting, 2 May 2016, the total number of shares in Valoe Corporation and votes represented by such shares is 862.472.136 shares and votes. In Mikkeli, on May 2, 2016 Valoe Corporation Board of Directors WILMINGTON, Del., May 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rigrodsky & Long, P.A.: Do you, or did you, own shares of Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:SC) ? (NYSE:SC) Did you purchase your shares between February 3, 2015 and March 15, 2016, inclusive? Did you lose money in your investment? Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. reminds shareholders of Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. (Santander or the Company) (NYSE:SC) of an upcoming deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company. A complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased the common stock of Santander between February 3, 2015 and March 15, 2016, inclusive (the Class Period), alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the Complaint). The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements, and omitted materially adverse facts, about the Companys business, operations and prospects. As a result of defendants alleged false and misleading statements, the Companys stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 17, 2016. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Any member of the proposed class may move the court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. If you purchased shares of Santander during the Class Period, or purchased shares prior to the Class Period and still hold Santander, and wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact Timothy J. MacFall, Esquire or Peter Allocco of Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 2 Righter Parkway, Suite 120, Wilmington, DE 19803 at (888) 969-4242; by e-mail to info@rl-legal.com; or at: http://rigrodskylong.com/investigations/santander-consumer-usa-holdings-inc-sc. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. orange Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932. spear points with longitudinal grooves have been found were first discovered discovered spear points of longitudinal grooves have been found have been first discovered spear points of longitudinal grooves have been found Spear points with longitudinal grooves discovered were found spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves have been found have been first discovered 1. ...spear points with/of/whose faces have longitudinal grooves ( Idioms ) 2. have been found / were found ( Verb Tense ) 3. were discovered / discovered / have been discovered ( Verb Tense/Meaning ) Let's start with #1 on our list: with/of/whose faces have. noun + WITH + detail CORRECT (The boy with the red hat... / Flowers with purple leaves... / Songs with banjos...) noun + OF + detail WRONG (The word "of" used in this way becomes a possessive, like when we say "The students of the theatre." This means the students belong to the theatre, which is not what we're trying to do here.) spear points with spear points of spear points of Spear points with spear points whose faces have We can eliminate options B & C Let's move on to #2 on our list: have been found vs. were found. have been found were found have been found were found have been found We can eliminate option D Now that we've got it narrowed down to only 2 options, let's focus on some of those "big ticket" issues we discussed earlier. CORRECT While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America INCORRECT There you have it - option A is the correct choice! Hello Everyone!This is a great example of a question that has the entire sentence underlined. These can seem tricky, but if we apply the same method we use for other types of questions, we can still narrow down our options quickly and get to the correct choice! To begin, here is the original question with all the major differences between the options highlighted in(A) Even though Clovis points,chipped onto their faces,all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where theyin 1932.(B) Although named for the New Mexico site where firstin 1932, Clovis points arechipped onto their faces andall over North America.(C) Named for the New Mexico site where theyin 1932, Clovis points,chipped onto the faces,all over North America.(D)that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where firstin 1932, butall over North America.(E) While Clovis points arechipped into them, theyall over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where theyin 1932.While there are many more things we could focus on, here are just a few simple ones that jump out:Whenever we see an entire sentence underlined, we can also focus our attention to "big ticket" grammar problems, such as modifiers, parallelism, and intended meaning. However, we're going to start with the basic differences we found while scanning over the options quickly.When describing something, we have some idiom rules we need to follow:-->-->So, let's see how each of our options breaks down:(A) Even though Clovis points,longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.(B) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points arelongitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found all over North America.(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points,longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.(D)longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America.(E) While Clovis points arelongitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932.because they say "spears of," which changes the meaning to "the spears belong to longitudinal grooves," which doesn't make any sense.While they are both grammatically correct to use in this sentence, they do mean two completely different things:= Clovis points were found all over North America in the past, and they're still found there today= Clovis points were found all over North America in the past, but no one has found any todayIt makes more sense to say that Clovis points were found all over North America and still are today, so let's stick with the options that reflect that:(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces,all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, butall over North America.(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, theyall over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932.because it uses the incorrect "were found," which changes the intended meaning.Check to make sure modifiers are in the right places, everything is parallel, and the meaning isn't distorted or illogical:(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.This is! The phrase "even though" sets up a contrast between the fact that Clovis points are named after where they were discovered, but they're actually found all over North America. It also uses the right verb tenses, idiom structures, and a clear, logical meaning.(E), and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932.This is. By starting the sentence with a clause beginning with the word "while," we expect the phrase after it to be the other side of the contrast. If you read the red part by itself, it doesn't really work, does it? What does finding them in North America have to do with the grooves in them? Nothing. The contrast should be between the fact that they can be found all over North America, but they were named for a specific site in New Mexico.Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it._________________ ankurq7 wrote: Do you have an academic background / prior work ex related to clean tech, sustainability or environment? Not really-- I volunteer at a non-profit that does conservation work in an attempt to gain some experience. I am also enrolled to do an online class on sustainability to try and learn a little more about issues / topics / sound like I have an understanding so I can engage others in conversation.Honestly, I don't understand sustainability consulting.. it seems impractical. Green building/ energy efficient building consulting is done by LEED certified contractors. Development of green tech is done by engineers. Environmental impact studies are done by ecologist or biologist..What exactly is a sustainability consultant with an MBA even doing? That is why I decided the better approach is work for a company that can / has a mission to make a positive environmental impact in a classical business role. A city corrections officer was arrested in the early morning hours Sunday after she brandished a loaded gun during an argument over a parking space. Robin Mervin, 29, was taken into custody just after midnight and charged with criminal possession of a loaded firearm and menacing, according to police. The Post reports that Mervin had been fighting with a 30-year-old man, who claimed she had blocked a parking spot he was attempting to use near the intersection of 8th Avenue and 131st Street in Harlem. The off-duty corrections officer allegedly pulled her gun from its holster and pointed it at the man, who then dialed 911. The Daily News reports that the weapon Mervin brandished was her city-issued 9mm pistol, however when asked, a police spokesperson could not confirm that We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today It's a new month, and that means there are a trove of new ways to satiate yourself across the five boroughs. Hopefully your rent is all paid up and you've got a little cash left over in your pocket, because here are a handful of food events you definitely can't afford to miss. If the massive lines have kept you away from the Queens International Night Market, you can still have an epic food evening off the 7 train thanks to Tuesday night's Queens Taste 2016. Over 50 restaurants will be offering up their goods, with plenty of emphasis on Asian and Latin American culinary styles. Plus, there'll be loads of drinks and more than a few industry big-wigs in the room, which means whether you're looking to network or just nosh, it'll have everything you need. Purchase your tickets here. Blend beer and good eats and you'll have a Beer-y Good Meal, which will takeover Brooklyn Brewery Wednesday night. Featuring a family-style three-course menu of cheeses, seafood cioppino, salads, and black chocolate stout sundaes (yes please!), the meal is being headed up by Chew Andrew Gerson and will come with plenty of American Ale and East IPA, courtesy of the hosts. Also on Tuesday night, Manhattan dairy stalwarts Murrays Cheese are hosting Cheese 101, a night dedicated to education and enjoyment of all things cheese. You'll learn about the seven families of cheese and taste samples of epoisses, manchego, and parmesan from all over the world. What's more, there'll be sparkling and red wines on hand to pair with your selections. Learning has never tasted so good. Mayan drumming, modern dance beats, high-flying aerial shows, and sweet cocoa syrup will be waiting for you Thursday night inside House of Yes during CocoDios, a Cinco de Mayo celebration that promises pseudo-sacrificial ritual fun. You'll get to know chocolate in an entirely new waythe Mesoamericans considered it the food of the godsand promoters are promising a show that's erotic and high energy. Police are searching for a man who burned a Brooklyn deli customer with scalding hot coffee during an argument earlier this month. According to police, the incident occurred at about 11 a.m. on April 19th, at the Jabran Deli and Grocery at 994 Bedford Avenue in Clinton Hill. Investigators say the man "threw hot coffee on the 32-year-old victim's chest after a dispute. The victim suffered burns to his chest." Police say the coffee tosser has blond hair and was wearing sunglasses, a black t-shirt, black shorts, black sneakers and a black backpack. Investigators released images and video of the suspect; the video shows him filling his cup, tossing it and later cleaning his arm: Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. Over 30,000 cyclists braved the chilly rain yesterday for the Five Boro Bike Tour, the annual mass bike ride through precious car-free streets, highways, bridges of NYC. Stretching 40 miles, the route brings bikers up the length of Manhattan, with a dip through the Bronx, followed by another jaunt back down through Manhattan to Queens, then Brooklyn, and finally crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the finish line in Staten Island. It started raining soon after the ride started, and photographer Tod Seelie reports losing feeling in his fingers about three-quarters of the way through. As usual, parts of the ride were crowded and slow, but there were places where the crowds thinned and participants were able to bike at their own pace with plenty of elbow room. "I'm cold. I'm freezing," one exhausted cyclist told the Staten Island Advance after finishing the ride in Staten Island. Asked if it was worth it, he replied, "I don't know, I haven't decided that yet. I'm cold. It was a good ride, but the weather was just horrible, that's the only thing." Ultimately, Seelie tells us that "everyone seemed in very good spirits, despite the difficult weather." Click through on the photos to see for yourself. The NYPD is searching for the man who allegedly used two broken beer bottles to slash another man in the neck Saturday night in Crown Heights. The attack took place in front of a deli at the corner of Schenectady Avenue and Sterling Place at roughly 11 p.m. According to the police, the two men had been caught up in a verbal dispute before the attacker lashed out with the glass bottles. A police source told CBS that the two men hadn't previously known each other. The victim, a 40-year-old man, was taken to Kings County Hospital where he received 20 stitches. His assailant is described as a 5'9" 160 lb Hispanic man, 20 to 25 years old, wearing a black jacket, black sweater, and light-colored pants. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. Baby goats. (Julie Larsen Maher/WCS) There used to be sheep in Central Park and cows roaming underneath Manhattan, but this kind of bucolic livestock is largely missing from contemporary NYC. Soon, however, Prospect Park (where there were also sheep in the early 1900s) will introduce goats to their landscape. The eight goats will be coming in temporarily "to assist with woodland restoration after damage caused by Hurricane Sandy and other recent storms," according to the Prospect Park Alliance. This is costing about $15,000, and funding is coming from the National Parks Service, administered through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. They will stay in a protected, fenced-in area throughout their time in the Park. The Alliance explains that the storms "damaged over 500 trees in the Park, leaving the woodlands vulnerable to invasive plants and weeds." These include English ivy, goutweed and poison ivy, according to the NY Times, the latter of which they love. Farmer Larry Cihanek told them, "They will eat their favorite foods first, and one of their top foods is poison ivy. They love it. Mmmm poison ivy pizza. Once the goatswho arrive on May 16thdo their job, the Alliance says they will "enhance the woodlands with new native plants and trees." And while the goats are on the clock, they're planning some "goats-centric fun," which you can check out below: An Evening on the Farm: Goats, Wine and Cheese Thursday, May 19, 6-8 pm Lefferts Historic House, $25 per person, cash only Advance reservations are required Join the Prospect Park Alliance at the Lefferts Historic House for a discussion with Larry and Ann Cihanek, the owners and shepherds of Green Goats, and Alliance Chief Landscape Architect Christian Zimmerman. Enjoy wine and goat cheese generously provided by Castello di Borghese and Stinky BKLYN and learn about the ecological role that goats will be playing in the Alliances restoration of Prospect Parks woodlands, followed by a chance to meet a kid goat. This event is open to adults 21 and over. Advance reservations are required. Fun on the Farm Sunday, May 22, 1-4 pm Lefferts Historic House, Free, RSVP Celebrate the arrival of goats to the Park as part of the Prospect Park Alliances woodland restoration! Learn how to make yarn using wool and make goats milk ice cream. Enjoy special tours to visit the goats, and join us on a parade to the Prospect Park Zoo to see sheep-shearing demonstrations and collect fleece to bring back to Lefferts and make felt balls. And a few more: Milo Ventimiglia's had a busy year. Not only will he be reprising his role as nihilistic heartthrob Jess Mariano on Netflix's much-anticipated Gilmore Girls reboot, but he's been working with James Frey (yep, the A Million Little Pieces dude) on Relationship Status, a new show streaming on Verizon's free go90 app. The twelve-episode series, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, follows a few dozen 20-and-30-somethings in New York and Los Angeles as they try to navigate dating in a world full of apps and social media. We sat down with Ventimiglia, who produces and stars in the series, to talk a little about dating and television-watching in the digital age, as well as to dish on Jess's return. So you are in, and I believe youre also producing, Relationship Status? Yeah, Ive actually been a producer longer than Ive been an actor on it. My partner Russ Cundiff and I were lucky enough to get a chance to work on it with Full Fathom Five, which is James Freys company, and Todd Cohen and Laura Terry over there. Weve been on it with development for almost two years before he found a praetorship with StyleHaul, and they helped us get to the finish line and cross the finish line, and get it out in a way that, hopefully, a lot of audience is going to be aware of it and streaming it on Go90. And how did you get involved? I had the script slipped to me, and my partner and I read it and we just loved it. We thought it was very relevant to the current trend of a million different dating apps today. Bumble and Riot and Happn, Tinder, and Grindr, and all these ways that people are meeting up nowadays and trying to find love, and even friendship, or even just something physical. It was a great story in the center of all that. And we thought it was relevant to a broader audience, so we jumped onboard and then we found a set of partners in StyleHaul. Once that happened, we moved pretty quick into production, wrangled up 30 actors in about 20 days, and shot a show. You shot in L.A. and New York? No, we shot in Los Angeles. We were a pretty low-budget shoot, so we had an opportunity to go to New York but we wouldve sacrificed something else creatively had we chosen to go there. I think if we were to do the show again, wed probably split between New York and Los Angeles. New York is such a great character in and of itself. Its always such a blast to shoot in New York. It seems pretty appropriate that the show's streaming on a mobile app, since it's all about how the internet has changed dating. It seems its changed television as well. Why did you go with Verizon, and not Netflix or Hulu or any of those streaming sites? That was a partnership that StyleHaul had introduced us to, and their enthusiasm and their want for a story like Relationship Status just stood out, above and beyond anybody else. There are a lot of companies now that are producing content and platforming content, and Verizon Go 90, they really, really had a want and a desire, with this project specifically. Can you tell me a little bit about your character on the show? I play Jack, who is a gay bartender from New York. Hes pretty fiery and hes kind of there to help people along in life. Hes a guy who puts his friends ahead of himself. His enjoyment of life has already peaked, so I think if he can open the door a little bit further and bring his friends along, for him thats the most fun. Hes a bright, energetic, fun, filthy guy. Filthy in the best possible way. I feel like its opened the dating pool to not just your immediate physical spaceyou know, who you can see in front of youbut to who you can actually connect to. I think at the same time though, its a slippery slope. I think just as quick as you can swipe left or right, people are quick to say oh this person isnt right or oh this person is the one when really, it takes time to get to know someone. It takes time to get to know someone and know that its not going to work or it is going to work. So I think that even though its opened up the amount of people were able to interact with in any given five minutes of free time, its also making that interpersonal connection a little more difficult and a little rushed. Ive got friends that are on multiple sites.and theyre just bouncing back and forth looking for a good time. Ive also got friends that are looking for a legitimate relationship, like you would be if you signed up for an e-Harmony account. It definitely runs the gamut. I have to veer away from Relationship Status. If I dont ask about this, Ill get fired. The Gilmore Girls reunion on Netflixyou're a part of that. I am. How many episodes are you in? I will say its more than two, less than four. And how did you get involved with the reboot? [Showrunners] Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino. I stayed close to them for the years after I left the show. And they called me up and said, "Hey this is happening," and I said, "I will be there." They are the most talented writers, but they're also the most incredible people. And for me it was just another opportunity to spend some time on set with them, my good friends, and revisit a character I know a lot of people enjoyed. Is there anything new or exciting we can expect from Jess that you're allowed to disclose? I mean, there's not much I can say, other than it's 100 percent Jess. It's new situations and new scenarios, but with the same guy you love and hate, and hate to love, and love to hate. Which of Rory's "men" do you think she should end up with? Aw man, for years I never pondered that. I stay away from it. And I';m a bit jaded because I know Jared [Padalecki] and Matt [Czuchry], and I think they're the greatest guys on the planet. And I would get dissuaded thinking about them, thinking of them as human beings, like real people, real guys, and then their characters. I was always Team Jess. I was very anti-Logan. I think everyone was just a little hard on Logan. There's a company now that makes a "Team Jess" pin, it's a company called Adorn the Hunter. My friend sent the link to me, and I was like, "Oh my god, I am now an enamel pin." So I bought like, ten, and gave them to my mom and to some friends. That's so exciting! I have to get one. Put that on your jean jacket and wear it with pride. Rory and Jess on Gilmore Girls. My editor is very anti-Luke, and she would like to know if Jess hates Luke or if Luke is a terrible character. I don't think Jess has hate in his heart, I think he has very strong disdain, but I don't think that applies at all to Luke. I think when Jess was first introduced to Stars Hollow life, he didn't want to be there, he didn't want authority, he didn't want anyone who had a wider perspective on life than him to tell him what he could be doing or he should be doing, or shouldn't be doing. I don't think he had any hate for Luke. I think it was one of those things where it took time for the two of them to recognize their differences and be able to function in the same space. When it comes down to it, Luke is a man that took Jess in and gave him good principles and values and a kind of perspective on life, even though I think he definitely drove him nuts. It helped Jess a lot. It helped create, I think, a better version of Jess, being with Luke. Have you started shooting yet? Oh,I already finished the shoot. I'm done. I think they have a couple more weeks left, but I wrapped last week, so I am all done. And how was it being back on set with everybody? It was amazing, super fun. We were all pretty spread out but when it came down to it, it was like visiting your old elementary school again, or your high school. You know, seeing how small the desks are and getting nostalgic about old memories. I loved being on the Warner Brother's lot. It was fun to revisit. May 02, 2016 1:00 AM Author: Elizabeth Renda The first Monday in May every year is known as Melanoma Monday a day to spread awareness of the deadliest form of skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that one person dies from melanoma every hour. Utah ranks number one in the nation for incidences of the deadly disease. The conditions in Utah act as a perfect storm of skin cancer risks, explains John Zone, MD, the Chairman of the Department of Dermatology for University of Utah Health. Utah has a high population of northern European descendants, a high elevation that decreases UV protection and a population that values time outdoors. Over time, individuals of northern European heritage have become the majority population in Utah. With fair skin, blond or red hair, and blue eyes individuals are more prone to sun damage. Salt Lake City is actually as far south as Rome, Italy, says Glen Bowen, MD, clinical director of the Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute. People in a Mediterranean climate traditionally have more olive skin tone and are therefore more genetically prone to withstanding sun damage. Living in a climate not conducive to the overall nationality means an increased risk. Dr. Bowen continued, explaining that the decreased UV protection also makes Utahans more vulnerable than many other sunny states. For every 1000 ft. elevation, the amount of UV radiation increases by 7 percent and Salt Lake City residents live 4,226 feet above sea level. That means residents burn 30 percent faster than those that live in Los Angeles. Melanoma is 97 percent curable when detected in its early stages. However, if it has spread to other portions of the body the five-year survival rate can drop as low a 15 percent. The most important thing to keep in mind about melanoma is that early detection is the key, Bowen explains. Check your skin, take note of all the spots from moles to freckles to age spots. Skin checks should be scheduled annually. If you see any kind of change on one of your spots you should have a dermatologist examine it as soon as possible. Use the ABCDE warning signs of skin cancer to conduct self-skin exams in addition to an annual skin check. Cascade County representatives met with their Lewis and Clark County counterparts in hopes of enlisting support for the creation of a National Heritage Area that would include both counties, as well as Choteau County. Creating a National Heritage Area is seen by advocates as a way to increase tourism and spur local economic development -- efforts that challenge small communities within the three counties. We think the time is probably right to be working on this, said Ellen Sievert, the Great Falls/Cascade County historic preservation officer. Jane Weber, a Cascade County commissioner and chairwoman of the Upper Missouri River Heritage Area Planning Corp., said the goal of a recent meeting hosted by the Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council was to pique the interest of Lewis and Clark County officials. And, Weber added, no decision was expected by the Lewis and Clark County commission at the end of the meeting, although Commissioner Andy Hunthausen expressed his support. Partnerships will be important in the creation of a National Heritage Area, she said before speaking to concerns that private property owners may have regarding their rights. It has no impact on private property rights, Weber said. It is managed regionally. It is not managed by a federal agency, she said before adding its not a land grab. The exact boundaries for the proposed National Heritage Area are tentative, Weber said, noting that they currently span from the White Cliffs of the Missouri River south to Gates of the Mountains. This is all very tentative, Weber added. Gates of the Mountains, which is in Lewis and Clark County and a landmark where the river carves a path through mountainous country for nearly six miles, is one of the few places named by the Lewis and Clark expedition that retains the same identity. While much remains to be finalized, organizers of the effort say they want to raise $50,000 by December to fund a feasibility study, one of six goals seen as helping to make the plans a reality. This money would also help pay for other immediate operational needs, Weber said. Public engagement is also a part of that strategy, as is establishing a sustainable source of funding by 2018 in anticipation of winning Congressional approval of a National Heritage Area designation. Federal legislation would be needed for the creation of a National Heritage Area, Weber wrote in the organizations newsletter, and Congress would have to be convinced of the national significance of the Upper Missouri Rivers landscape, its culture and history. A funding source would be able to provide the money needed to match federal funds for National Heritage Areas, Weber said. The organization was ready to seek a federal tax-exempt status as part of its organizational planning. While there are 49 National Heritage Areas nationwide, this would be the first one for Montana, according to a newsletter by the fledgling organization, which has become more focused on the concept since its first meeting in late January 2015. Among possible themes noted for the National Heritage Area were those that looked at the areas Ice Age history and that of the American Indians. Exploration and settlement are possible themes, as is transportation and the role of the military in the area, a history that spans from the 1800s through the missile silos of the Cold War. From Gates of the Mountains, the boundary extends downstream past points of interest along the river such as Cascade, where famed Western artist Charlie Russell lived briefly, and the Great Falls Portage for the Lewis and Clark expedition thats now a national historic landmark. The First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, which also shares that national designation outside of Ulm, is embraced by the possible boundary, as are two other such sites: the Fort Benton Historic District and the CM Russell House and Studio in Great Falls. The historic significance of the area extends far beyond the Missouri River that runs through the area, and Weber noted the importance of the Sun River and Monarch areas. Distant communities from the Missouri River that include Simms and Fort Shaw, Geraldine and Square Butte as well as Big Sandy are also slated for inclusion. Several historic sites and places in Choteau and Cascade counties have already been identified, Weber said, explaining weve got a great story to tell. WASHINGTON -- Countries usually don't knowingly commit economic suicide, but in Britain millions seem ready to give it a try. On June 23, the United Kingdom will vote to decide whether to quit the European Union, the 28-nation economic bloc with a population of 508 million and a gross domestic product of almost $17 trillion. Let's not be coy: Leaving the EU would be an act of national insanity. It would weaken the UK economy, one of Europe's strongest. The EU absorbs 44 percent of Britain's exports; these might suffer because trade barriers, now virtually nonexistent between the UK and other EU members, would probably rise. Meanwhile, Britain would become less attractive as a production platform for the rest of Europe, so that new foreign direct investment in the UK -- now $1.5 trillion -- would fall. Also threatened would be London's status as Europe's major financial center, home (for example) to 78 percent of EU foreign exchange trading. With the UK out of the EU, some banking activities might move to Frankfurt or other cities. This would be a big blow. Losses could be considerable. A study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, after making assumptions about UK trade and investment, concluded that "Brexit" -- shorthand for Britain's "exit" from the EU -- could "shave off" $3,200 from average British household income by 2020. No one really knows, but other studies reach similar conclusions. Indeed, the adverse effects may be undercounted, argues OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria. Noting that UK economic growth in the first quarter of 2016 was the slowest since 2012, he says that uncertainty over Britain's future is already causing businesses to delay hiring and investment decisions. What would Britain get from all this? Good question. There are three main complaints against the EU, says Nile Gardiner, who was once an aide to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and now works at the conservative Heritage Foundation. First, the outpouring of regulations from Brussels -- the seat of the EU -- has compromised Britain's sovereignty. On some issues, the European Court of Justice can overrule British courts. Second, the EU's liberal migration rules may expose Britain to terrorists or overburden its welfare system. (Once people become EU citizens, they are allowed to live or work anywhere in the bloc.) Finally, the EU imposes costs on Britain -- an annual contribution to the EU budget plus the costs of regulations. The EU certainly isn't immune to criticism. It is often an elitist institution that has centralized too much power in Brussels for a continent characterized by huge differences of national history and culture. It has also committed massive errors, the adoption of the euro probably being the largest. (One currency didn't work well for all countries. Britain wisely decided not to join.) Still, most complaints seem exaggerated. The UK's net annual contribution to the EU budget is about 0.5 percent of Britain's GDP. That's hardly crushing. Some EU regulations may be overkill, but Britain's labor and product markets are among the least regulated of advanced counties, according to studies. As for immigrants, studies "show that these workers pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits," says Frances Burwell of the Atlantic Council. "They've come to work." What this debate is really about is Britain's place in the world and its self-identity. Britain has long been of Europe but also apart from it. The British Empire was once the world's largest. To be simply another member of a continental confederation, albeit an important member, offends this heritage. The nostalgic yearning is understandable, but it is not a policy. Ironically, leaving the EU would confirm the UK's reduced status. The UK would have to renegotiate its trading agreements with the EU and dozens of other countries. A deal with the EU is essential. For the UK, the best outcome would be to retain much of its preferential access, which -- as a practical matter -- would mean continuing contributions to the EU budget and abiding by most EU regulations. The status quo would survive, except that the UK would have no influence over EU policies. Anything less than this would have the EU putting its own members at a competitive disadvantage. Viewed this way, Brexit is an absurdity. But it is a potentially destructive absurdity. It creates more uncertainty in a world awash in uncertainty. This would weaken an already sputtering global economy by giving firms and consumers another reason to pull back on spending. It would be better for the UK to stay in the EU. It would also be better for the EU, because Britain provides political and intellectual balance. Finally, it would be better for the United States, which doesn't need a major ally -- Britain -- to go delusional. In a recent piece, a representative of a local union claimed that right-to-work legislation is a policy of entitlement. I disagree -- liberty is not an entitlement. We are born free and give limited powers to government to protect our right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. One of the responsibilities of government, as delineated in the First Amendment, is to protect our freedom of association. Right-to-work laws simply acknowledge this freedom of association -- or freedom from association -- as it relates to a worker and a labor union. The union op-ed claims that right-to-work entitles individuals to reap the benefits of union representation without contributing to the cost of that representation. This is a transparent red herring because the Supreme Court has previously ruled that the National Labor Relations Act allows unions to negotiate contracts covering only dues-paying members. If unions wish to avoid representing non-members, they are free to do so. If an employee wishes to represent themselves, they should be free to do so too! No union should be forced to represent free riders, and no worker should have to be a forced rider of union collective bargaining. I dont have the space here to debunk fully his responses to my claim that right-to-work states have more dynamic workforces and are more able to respond and recover quickly to changes in the economy, but the data bears this out. My case has never been that right-to-work states have better labor markets because they have less unionization. It is that right-to-work states were less negatively impacted by the economic downturn, and enjoy greater job growth, population and income growth than non-right-to-work states. And, importantly, adjusted for cost of living, workers in right-to-work states earn just as much as workers in non-right-to-work states. To compare states without adjusting for cost of living is simply comparing apples to oranges. Indiana provides an interesting case study. The year after the Hoosier States right-to-work law went into effect, Indiana led the nation with 50,000 new union jobs. Obviously, people left their unions with their newfound freedoms. But at the same time, the states economy grew, thousands of new jobs were created, and unions became more valuable to workers because they were forced to be accountable for the first time. The National Labor Relations Act protects the right of workers in right-to-work states to unionize; why shouldnt workers have the same rights to choose against supporting an organization they dont want to be a part of? The union representative claims workers have a choice already because they can simply go work in a non-union shop instead. But workers who are qualified and interested in working a certain job should not have to abandon it simply because they do not want to join a union. This debate is important not only for Montanas economic competitiveness, but also because it cuts right to the heart of what it means to be free. Right-to-work is not just about how we can achieve better economic outcomes; it is about the freedom of the individual. This is not a policy of entitlement, it is a policy of rugged individualism and Montana values put to practice. David Herbst is the Montana state director for Americans for Prosperity. If you recognize that coal is a dying part of the world economy, that climate change is real, and that these immense forces present problems that Montanans must help solve, read on. Initiative 180 (I-180) addresses the problems of displaced fossil fuel workers, the diminishing value of coal-fired electricity generators and the reduced coal severance tax revenues that are inevitable as the world moves toward clean and healthful energy production. Simultaneously, I-180 addresses the reduction of CO2 and other pollutants, has a balanced plan to cap monopoly electricity price increases, aid Montanans who want to purchase or lease renewable energy systems and assist in selling renewable energy to states that will not buy fossil fuel-generated electricity. Sound good? Please don't take my word for it. If you want a clean energy future that doesn't leave the workers busted and gives the corporations a gentle glide path, go to www.MTcares.org and sign the petition. With enough signatures, I-180 will be on the November general election ballot; with enough votes, it will become law. Instead of legislators ignoring the inevitable, or arguing bills that invite state against state court battles, or pushing bills that put tax money into dying corporations, citizens can make good law. Sign the I-180 petition on the website. Make democracy work. Bob Filipovich Helena WASHINGTON (AP) The Obama administration wants federal agencies to stop asking early questions about some job applicants' criminal history, part of an effort to help ex-convicts enter the job market and decrease the number of those who end up back in prison. A rule proposed Friday by the Office of Personnel Management would bar agencies from asking applicants about their criminal and credit history until a conditional offer of employment has been made. The rule, which would piggyback on similar efforts in states and in the private sector, would apply to hiring for the roughly 100,000 competitive service positions the government fills annually. It would not apply to many law enforcement, national security and intelligence posts, officials said. White House officials said inquiries about criminal history can unnecessarily narrow the pool of qualified candidates and make it that much harder for those with criminal histories to support themselves and their families. Applicants can be removed from consideration even before agencies learn about the nature of a conviction or check to see whether an arrest led to a conviction. Officials said agencies could request an exemption. "We're focusing on how we can ensure that when the 600,000 people who are annually released from our nation's prisons are released they're able to thrive as productive law-abiding citizens," White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett told reporters as the White House announced the proposal. The announcement was part of a broader campaign to highlight the importance of easing "re-entry," the transition from prison to society that experts say is riddled with unnecessary hurdles that can keep people from finding secure housing or work. Under the umbrella of "National Re-entry Week," the Department of Housing and Urban Development released guidance on how public house authorities can use criminal records in housing decisions. The White House has created a federal re-entry council to look for ways to reduce hurdles for people leaving prison. DECATUR A tour Friday of Decatur businesses provided high school guidance counselors with a look at career possibilities for students related to supply chain management. Companies providing the tours including Caterpillar Inc., Parke Warehouses, Norfolk Southern Corp. and Archer Daniels Midland Co. want to get students headed in the right direction by knowing what opportunities exist. This is a first step toward letting them know what the jobs are, said Paxon Edge, a training consultant with Caterpillar. They can understand the path they want to be on as the high school counselors have an understanding of the career fields. Opportunities exist for entry level positions such as material clerks to advanced work including supply chain management analysts, Edge said. For the entry level positions, Edge said soft skills such as showing up for work on time need to be stressed. Employees can often work their way into higher level positions, Edge said. We want to give them a good understanding of what is out there, said Dave Matalonis, vice president of operations for Parke Warehouses. The more they understand, the better off they will be. Parke has various jobs available from forklift supervisors to industrial engineers and customer service representatives, Matalonis said. In many cases, Matalonis said the company simply looks for potential employees to be motivated to do a good job. The information from the tours will be useful in conversations with students about their career paths, said Cyndi Kraemer, a school guidance counselor at MacArthur High School. The Education Coalition of Macon County organized the tours as it attempts to provide a connection between businesses and schools, said Dani Craft, EdCo executive director. Students can be prepared for jobs they're interested in by understanding what businesses are expecting from them, Craft said. More job opportunities related to supply chain management will be created in Decatur as plans for the Midwest Inland Port are further developed, said Larry Altenbaumer, executive director of the Midwest Inland Port. The needs of businesses are changing, Altenbaumer said. Not everybody knows what the opportunities are, Altenbaumer said. We want to create more awareness. Western Illinois University is partnering with Richland Community College to provide training for interested students, said Bart Jennings, a professor of supply chain management at Western Illinois. Jennings sees unlimited opportunity for supply chain management jobs with numerous openings for each graduate of the program as companies need their products to efficiently reach consumers. DECATUR The subject of residency requirements for city workers will return to the Decatur City Council tonight. A study session was scheduled to allow council members to receive more information they had requested during an April 4 study session, City Manager Tim Gleason said Friday. Several council members have expressed a desire to require or encourage city employees to live within city limits. The issue is complicated because residency requirements are defined in union contracts for police, fire and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees workers. Gleason said he did not have recommendations for the council tonight, but would look for council members' direction on the issue. Every city employee really is an ambassador for this community, and it would be nice to have more city employees living in the city, he said. But I would also say, every municipality feels that way. In other business, the council will consider selling a vacant lot at 1022 W. Macon St. to Decatur Pilot, a nonprofit arm of the Decatur Housing Authority. The sale would help facilitate a new development planned for later this year. The housing authority plans to use money from a national foreclosure settlement to build eight new homes in the Oakwood area. The intention is to sell the homes to moderate-income residents who qualify for mortgages, then reinvest proceeds into the program. The council will also consider two rezoning measures. 1310 N. Summit Ave. would be rezoned from a neighborhood shopping district to a single-family residence district. Petitioners Michael and Wendy Stokowski intend to use the property to house four adults with developmental disabilities, according to council documents. 2882 N. Dinneen St. would be rezoned from a heavy industrial district to an intense commercial/light industrial district. Petitioner David Binder requested the change to allow for a banquet facility and cocktail lounge. DECATUR First Busey Corporation is honored to be among the 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois. The survey and awards program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in Illinois benefiting the states economy, workforce and businesses. The Best Places to Work in Illinois is presented in partnership by The Daily Herald Business Ledger, the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, MRA-The Management Association, the Small Business Advocacy Council, the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Busey is among 18 companies recognized in the large employer category (500 or more U.S. employees). To determine the Best Places to Work in Illinois, companies were nominated in a two-part process. First, organizations were evaluated on their workplace policies, practices and demographics representing 25 percent of their total score. The second part, worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation, consisted of an employee survey to measure their experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Busey will be recognized and honored at the Best Places to Work in Illinois awards ceremony coordinated by The Daily Herald Business Ledger on May 26 and will be profiled in a special publication on June 27. For more on Busey Bank and the services it offers, go to busey.com. The Artsakh Defense Ministry reports that Azerbaijan has started to amass weapons and troops along sectors of the frontline. The ministry says it is following such deployments and is ready to take preventive measures if needed. The ministry says that there are currently no violations of the cessation of hostilities declaration. The Cap Times has profiled each of this year's six winners. You can find the collected Q&As here. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close This report was produced as part of journalism classes participating in The Confluence, a collaborative project involving the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The nonprofit Center (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Editorial: Take the time to do a south side MATC right A Chicago trucker is being held on a $5,000 cash bond after law enforcement responded to a domestic situation on Interstate 90 outside Caledonia on Thursday. Abdalghani Noubani, 26, was charged Thursday afternoon with felony strangulation and suffocation as domestic abuse and misdemeanor domestic battery at his preliminary hearing in Columbia County Circuit Court. Noubani was arrested early that morning when a Columbia County sheriffs deputy and Wisconsin State Trooper were dispatched around midnight to a situation where a woman was being treated by an ambulance crew near a commercial trucking rig pulled to the side of the interstate. Officers met Noubani as he was getting out of his truck, according to court documents, immediately telling the officers: I plead the fifth. The woman told officers that she and Noubani had been in a relationship for seven months, living in Summit, Illinois, 20 miles southwest of Chicago. The two were on their way back to Chicago when they began to argue. This led to Noubani pulling the truck to the side of the road and telling the woman to get out. She told officers that she refused because she didnt have anywhere to go. Noubani then got up, according to the woman, punched her in the face and wrestled her toward the door, opening it and trying to shove her out. Afraid of falling straight out of the truck, she said that she held onto the door frame and Noubanis shirt, at which point he grabbed onto her throat and began to squeeze. Once she was free, she said that she ran into traffic, trying to get someone to stop and help her. Noubani has no prior record of any criminal cases in Wisconsin according to the states online court database, which apparently is not reflective of Noubanis history overall. This is a defendant who has a lengthy criminal history, said Assistant District Attorney Clifford Burdon, citing cases involving home invasion and various weapons violations. More recently, he told the court that Noubani has been violent with her four times in the past couple weeks, then going on to request Judge Todd Hepler impose a $10,000 cash bond. The requested bond would be tremendously beyond his capacity, said defense attorney Ronald Benavides. Not trying to be frivolous, but there is no way to tell these are serious injuries. Without offering specifics, the criminal complaint noted that officers reported the woman having visible injuries. Burdon countered that despite any lack of clarity regarding details of the incident, that the bare mentioning of strangulation makes the situation very serious, given the proven correlation between choking or suffocation and later fatal domestic abuse. Hepler noted the seriousness of the situation, ordering a $5,000 cash bond and offering no exception to allow Noubani to leave the state to return home, barring a special request approved by the court. Noubani is scheduled to next appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 5. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison for the felony abuse charge. JUNEAU A Milwaukee man is being held on a $100,000 cash bond after being charged Thursday with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Charges against Kirk Lupton, 56, followed a raid that was conducted in the early morning hours of April 27 in which 35 firearms were seized. During his initial appearance in court, Judge Steven Bauer set a $100,000 cash bond with the conditions that he have no contact with the residents of N3315 Highway J in the town of Lowell as well as his victims. He also may not leave the state of Wisconsin. The Dodge County Sheriffs Office began investigating Lupton early this year, believing he may have been in possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. According to the criminal complaint, Lupton was convicted of theft by fraud and false statement in application in Milwaukee County in 1995 under the name Kirk Bintzler. He changed his last name from Bintzler to Lupton in 2009. A confidential informant told officers that he had purchased five or six firearms from Lupton over the last two to three years. Officers had the confidential informant purchase a .410 shotgun, a 9mm handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun from Lupton on separate occasions. Officers made contact with two escorts who identified Lupton as a client and said they saw Lupton in possession of a firearm while meeting with him as a client. One of the escorts told officers that Lutpon threatened her with an assault riffle and accused her of setting up a robbery in Milwaukee. The escort said she feared for her life. On March 18, officers interviewed a man who said he observed Lupton provide crystal meth to a woman. The man said he found a sim card that contained a video in which Lupton forced the woman onto her bed, tied her to it and sexually assault her. With the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, surveillance equipment was deployed on the property at N3315 Highway J in the town of Lowell where Lupton resided. The surveillance video shows Lupton holding a pistol. Officers executed a no-knock search warrant April 25 at Luptons home. He was taken into custody for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He refused to speak to officers and requested a lawyer. Another man was also arrested during the April 25 raid. Richard Nutter, 34, was taken into custody on a probation violation. Online court records show Nutter has a lengthy criminal history including several felony convictions. Lupton will appear in court again on May 5 at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing. Growlers of beer can be bought at area brewpubs and a few grocery stores, but Chris and Colleen Welch have upped the ante when it comes to buying hard-to-get, unique brews that dont come in a bottle or a can. The Welches, who have owned Trixies Liquor, 2929 E. Washington Ave., for the past five years, have opened Growlers to Go-Go in an 1,800-square-foot space adjacent to the liquor store but with its own entrance. When the doors opened April 16, a line eventually formed out the door, with 15 kegs depleted by the end of the day. Some came for the five-day-old Scream IIPA from New Glarus Brewing Co. while others clamored for a bourbon barrel stout from Goose Island Beer or a vanilla chai version of barrel-aged Dragons Milk from New Holland Brewing. While we act like a tavern, were not a tavern. We close at 9 p.m. and were very small, Chris Welch said. I dont think this concept would work by itself. We get a natural carryover from the liquor store. Customers can bring in their own growler jug to be filled, or buy a 64-ounce jug or 32-ounce howler. The Welches also have bought a Crowler machine to package draft beer in 32-ounce cans, but the machine has not yet gone online. But the business is more than just taps, glass jugs and high-octane beer. Growlers to Go-Go, with a bar that can seat 12, has integrated digital technology and social media into the analog world of ales, stouts and sours. Flat-screen monitors above the 18 tap lines not only list what is on tap and the cost but also other information that is common nomenclature for beer geeks, such as the type of hops in a beer, its strength as measured in alcohol by volume (ABV) and its bitterness as measured by international bittering units (IBUs). An icon on the right side of each listing shows how much of the beer remains in the cooler thanks to a program that is tied into the point-of-sale system. In addition, the information is updated every few minutes on the companys Facebook page, and those following certain breweries on Twitter receive notifications when a beer from that brewery is tapped. We would get 500 phone calls a day if we didnt do this, Colleen Welch said. Were happy that were known for having all of this information but I think one of our main priorities of getting this was to have a more efficient way to communicate with the customers and to let them know whats happening. The business is another addition to the rapidly expanding beer scene in the Madison area, and it reflects the national trend of double-digit growth in the craft beer segment. According to the Colorado-based Brewers Association, craft beer production grew by 12.8 percent in 2015 to more than 24 million barrels. Sales of $22.3 billion grew 16 percent over 2014. Nationally, craft beer represented 12.2 percent of the overall beer market in the U.S. Last year Wisconsin was home to 121 breweries and brewpubs that fit the Brewers Association definition of craft, and they produced just over 1 million barrels of beer with an economic impact of $1.7 billion. And more growth is expected in 2016. Rockhound Brewing Co. opened in early April on South Park Street, Luckys 1313 Brew Pub is under construction on Regent Street, and Lone Girl Brewing Co. is scheduled to open in downtown Waunakee in late May. Growler sales have added a new dynamic to the craft beer scene after the city of Madison in 2014 changed its ordinance to conform with state law that allows grocery stores and taverns to sell growlers. Previously, only beer brewed on premise could be sold in growlers. Some Hy-Vee stores fill growlers in their restaurants, while the Festival Foods store that opened April 8 on East Washington Avenue has 14 tap lines that can fill growlers. In addition, Regent Market Co-op, in the midst of a $1 million renovation and expansion project, has plans for eight tap lines with which to fill growlers. The Welches predict that 40 percent of their sales will be in 32-ounce howlers, which make higher-priced beer more accessible to those with a limited budget. For example, the 2014 Sticky McDoogle scotch ale from Ale Asylum in Madison and the Blackout Stout from Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland, Ohio, were both on tap last week and cost $18 for a 64-ounce growler. A 32-ounce howler was $10. It makes it a little more affordable, Colleen Welch said. You can still have these crazy barrel-aged beers that are hefty in price. The Welches, who have been married for nine years, own the growler business along with Colleens mother, Nancy Koberle, who also owns the building that houses the growler bar and Trixies. The beer cooler that holds kegs for the growler bar had sat unused for years, while the Welches did most of the interior work themselves, including building the bar that is covered with 5,827 bottle caps, each one individually glued to the surface and covered with an epoxy. Growlers to Go-Go, which also serves beer by the glass, will not only be a destination for beer lovers but serve as an outlet for breweries who want to show off experimental batches of beer brewed on small, pilot systems. Oftentimes, bars dont have extra tap lines to devote to limited-edition brews, Chris Welch said. As (the breweries) kick-out these one-offs, were trying to pick them up, he said. Its a win-win. More funding for startups: Woody Tasch, founder of the Colorado-based Slow Money Institute, will be the featured speaker on Friday at the Slow Money Wisconsin Showcase at the East Side Club, 3735 Monona Drive. Tasch launched the institute in 2010 and is an expert on patient capital, mission-related investing and community development venture capital. He is former chairman and CEO of Investors Circle, one of the oldest angel networks in the country, and was founding chairman of the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance and treasurer of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation during the 1990s, a role in which he spearheaded the integration of asset management and grant making. It included a substantial investment in Stonyfield Farm, now the worlds largest organic yogurt producer. What were trying to do in the longer term is that we want to create an investment fund that people can invest in like a mutual fund, but the focus is on good food and community-based businesses, said Bartlett Durand, who owns Conscious Carnivore in Shorewood Hills and had Black Earth Meats before it closed. Beyond advocacy, were really trying to create systems. That includes training for investors and business owners in how to capitalize and in how to bring the two groups together, Durand said. Ultimately, Durand said, he would like to see a mutual fund for Slow Money Wisconsin valued at $20 million to $40 million that could invest in small businesses. The first showcase by Wisconsin Slow Money was held in 2013. This years event will include presentations from nine Wisconsin companies that use Slow Money principal. They include Alt Brew, Baraboo Woodworks, One One Thousand, Sector67, Square Harvest and Quigistics, all of Madison. For more information or to register for the event, go to www.slowmoneywisconsin.org. Botham release helps conservation: The sale of Driftless, a new white wine to be released by Botham Vineyards & Winery at its annual spring party and Mothers Day celebration next weekend, will benefit the Driftless Area Land Conservancy. The winery will donate $1 from every bottle sold at the vineyard tasting room, with funds supporting the Conservancys work in preserving and maintaining the Driftless area. The label graphic includes a photo of a purple cone flower prairie that is a nod to one of the areas most common and colorful native plants. Botham is located at 8180 Langberry Road, west of Highway K and south of Barneveld. With nearly a decade of service under his belt, Madisons longest-tenured police horse is ready to drift back out of the public eye. Beau, a 16-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter gelding, was officially retired from duty Sunday during the Madison Police Department mounted horse patrol units annual open house at The Horse First Farm south of Oregon. He was joined by fellow equine officers Doctor B, Bubba, Scarlett, Luna and Torres for a day of meet-and-greets and demonstrations, but Beau remained the center of attention, receiving a plaque from Police Chief Mike Koval to go along with a bountiful supply of nose scratches from the events few hundred attendees. Beau was a founding member of the mounted unit when it was reinstated in 2007. The city owned no horses then, so Beau was brought in by his handler, Officer Sarah McLaughlin. Despite limited city funding, the unit has grown to include six horses and six riders with the help of the nonprofit Friends of Madison Mounted Horse Patrol, which raises money to either purchase or take in donated horses. Its success has made Beaus retirement possible, ending the era of officer-owned horses working for the police department. But for the nonprofit that has worked for us, theres no way with the current fiscal realities of city government that I could have asked for more money for this, Koval said. Im so blessed that we have a support group like this that literally stepped up and provided that funding base. McLaughlin said the transition to city-owned horses assures the department wont lose horses if officers leave or retire, and it allows officers without horses to transition into the unit. Beau could easily stay on. He doesnt need to retire but its a good place for the department to be in, where they have city-owned horses, McLaughlin. Were hoping we can get up to eight (riders and horses) at some point. That would be ideal because we could get into the neighborhoods more often and attend as many special events as possible. In his stint as a police horse, Beau helped locate several missing people, aided in apprehending a person with a gun outside a Downtown bar and worked every Freakfest since 2007. But his personality made him fit for the job that is as much public relations as anything. He kind of thinks hes a human at times, or a dog, so his personality was really good for the job, McLaughlin said. He was friendly, he was curious, he was brave, but training helped build his confidence. Beau will spend his retirement at McLaughlins home in Lone Rock and hell accompany her on trail rides and camping trips and compete in obstacle course competitions. Hes just an all-around good friend, McLauglin said. He might enjoy an occasional brewski once in a while. Hes a Wisconsin horse, after all. The body of a 37-year-old man was found Sunday morning inside a house destroyed by a fire near Blanchardville, authorities reported. The fire was reported at about 4 a.m. at N8517 Badger Road in the town of York, the Green County Sheriff's Office said. The New Glarus Fire Department was dispatched to the fire and found the house fully engulfed in flames with the roof collapsed. The Blanchardville and Mount Horeb Fire Departments assisted at the scene. The State Fire Marshal and Green County Coroner were also dispatched to the scene. The fire remains under investigation. The victim's identity has been withheld pending notification of family. The man who found a box of human blood Sunday afternoon on an East Side street fortunately wasn't a vampire. Since the man didn't need the box of blood, he flagged down a Madison police officer, who connected the drops and found out the box was supposed to be at the Red Cross. The ghoulish discovery happened at about 2:20 p.m. Sunday on Zeier Road, near East Towne Mall, when the 68-year-old Stoughton man driving along saw the large cardboard box right in the middle of the street. "It was blocking his path so he got out to inspect it," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "It was clearly marked 'HUMAN BLOOD.'" The man put the box into his car. Seconds later, he spotted a squad car stopped at the East Washington Avenue and Zeier Road intersection traffic lights. "He lowered his window and motioned for the officer to do likewise," DeSpain said. "The man yelled out he just found a big box of blood, human blood." The officer and box holder pulled into a parking lot so the officer could take a look. "The box had many labels on it but it was clear that it belonged to the American Red Cross," DeSpain said. A couple of phone calls later, the officer was delivering the box to the Red Cross Southwest Chapter headquarters on Sheboygan Avenue. "A lab technician said they just got a delivery of blood from a satellite location, but only got five of the six boxes," DeSpain said. "The tech speculated a volunteer loaded five boxes into his car and inadvertently left one on the car." The Red Cross has a blood donation center at 2109 Zeier Road. The box most likely fell off the car when the volunteer pulled away, ending up in the middle of Zeier Road, unopened, undamaged and good to go for blood work. "The officer called the driver who found the box after delivering the box to the Red Cross, to let him know his potentially lifesaving find had arrived safely," DeSpain said. A Beloit man who allegedly fired off multiple gunshots early Sunday morning surrendered peacefully when police arrived at his house. The gunfire was reported at about 2:15 a.m. in the 1700 block of Wisconsin Avenue, Beloit police said. After the suspect allegedly fired his gun, he went back into his house. The tactical unit and negotiating team of the police department arrived on scene, while officers maintained a perimeter around the suspect's residence. "Shortly after 2:40 a.m. the subject came out of his house and peacefully surrendered to officers," the report said. The unidentified man was taken into custody; the case remains under investigation and charges are pending. 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. Professors at UW-Madison declared Monday that they have no confidence in the leaders of the University of Wisconsin System to uphold their cherished outreach mission in the wake of budget cuts and changes to tenure policies that weakened faculty protections. The UW-Madison Faculty Senate approved the no-confidence resolution, which lays out a litany of problems that professors have with the work of UW System President Ray Cross and the Systems Board of Regents over the past year, after more than an hour and a half of debate. The resolution primarily focuses on new tenure policies the Regents approved this spring, arguing those changes threaten professors ability to pursue risky or controversial research that could benefit students and the state as a whole. It ends by stating professors have no confidence in Cross and the Regents to defend the UW Systems mission of benefiting the public, known as the Wisconsin Idea, and calling on them to recommit to strengthening public universities with adequate state funding. The significant, if only symbolic, rebuke of administrators comes as faculty at other UW System institutions consider similar votes. Professors at Mondays meeting said they needed to send the strongest message possible in the wake of state funding cuts and changes to tenure protections. Its time for all supporters of the university to stop thinking meek acquiescence is a winning strategy, said professor Bill Tracy, one of the resolutions supporters. In a statement released after the vote, Regent President Regina Millner defended Cross, saying the board has total confidence in him. Millner also criticized the faculty members response to the new tenure policies. Most Regents will be disappointed by this overreaction to the boards decision to put in place very reasonable and fair tenure and layoff policies, Millner said. The new policy brings an enhanced degree of accountability, something that is long overdue, and codifies a new level of fiscal responsibility. Disagreement over no co nfide nce Several members of the Faculty Senate the 220-person governance body for just over 2,000 UW-Madison professors said they agreed with the resolutions complaints about Cross and the Regents, but questioned its conclusion. The real issue here is the words no confidence, said Brian Mayhew, a business professor who proposed an amendment stripping that provision from the resolution. Mayhews concern spoke to the heart of the debate Monday: That many faculty members doubted a vote of no confidence in UW System leaders would help change the political situation that led to the budget cuts and new tenure policies. Critics instead argued the resolution could prompt a backlash from legislators or the public, who could see it as faculty complaining about changes to their tenure protections. Chancellor Rebecca Blank made a similar warning when she publicly opposed the no-confidence vote last week, saying she believed Cross has forged good relationships with the lawmakers who will soon consider the UW Systems funding again. Supporters of the resolution responded that removing the provision would in effect say faculty members support the weakening of tenure and shared governance, and a political climate that has seen legislators slash hundreds of millions of dollars from the Systems funding in recent budgets. After everything weve been through this year what would it take to get you to vote no confidence in their actions? sociology professor Chad Alan Goldberg, the resolutions author, asked its opponents. Mayhews proposal to remove the no-confidence provision failed by a nearly two-to-one margin. The resolution ultimately passed the Senate on a voice vote. Cross defends work with legislators Though many faculty members have accused Cross and the Regents of being too closely aligned with Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans in the Legislature, Cross said his work advocating for the UW System and Madison campus is critically important. My role also requires me to work in partnership with an array of stakeholders, including faculty and the state Legislature, he said. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, who last week said taking up a no-confidence vote showed faculty members arrogance, said Monday that the vote was disappointing. It seems counterproductive to issue a vote of no confidence in leaders who have shown that they are willing to work together to address areas of concern, Steineke said. Blank did not join the debate over the resolution Monday. After the meeting, Blank said that while she does not personally embrace language in the resolution, We can all agree on the need for support for the universitys mission, continuing to make this a place worthy of our energy and passion. Wisconsins Democratic congressional delegation urged the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday to consider a legal challenge to the states voter ID law or joining ongoing litigation against it. The letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch cites reports of long lines at polling places in Wisconsins April 5 primary the first high-turnout statewide election in which the states voter ID requirement was in place. It also points to reports of troubling statements by individuals closely connected to the state Legislatures consideration of the law indicating that its passage may have been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to reduce youth and minority participation in elections. The latter may be a reference to two recent public statements the first coming from Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman, who said the Republican presidential nominee has a chance to win Wisconsin this year because photo ID is going to make a little bit of a difference. The other came from former state Senate GOP staffer Todd Allbaugh, who recounted sitting in on closed-door meetings of Republican lawmakers during the voter ID debate in 2011 in which he said a handful of GOP senators were giddy about the ramifications and literally singled out the prospects of suppressing minority and college voters. At least one Republican lawmaker who participated in those meetings, Sen. Van Wanggaard, denied any recollection of hearing such comments. The letter to Lynch was signed by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Madison and U.S. Reps. Ron Kind of La Crosse, Gwen Moore of Milwaukee and Mark Pocan of Black Earth. Until this year, Wisconsins voter ID law largely has been on hold due to court challenges filed shortly after its adoption in 2011. A pair of challenges to the requirement still are working their way through the courts, with at least one of them expected to be back before a judge later this month. The other will be back in court soon after a federal appeals court recently sided with groups arguing Wisconsinites who face daunting obstacles to meet the states voter ID requirement should be able to vote without an ID. OSHKOSH U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, speaking to supporters Monday to kick off his re-election campaign, painted a dire picture of the nations woes but said he wants a second term to put the country back on course. In a possible sign of the campaign to come, Johnson and his conservative allies sought to put Democratic opponent Russ Feingold on the defensive Monday with withering attacks. Johnson railed against Feingold as an undistinguished career politician. And a super PAC funded by billionaire conservative Charles Koch debuted a $2 million advertising campaign featuring VA whistleblower Ryan Honl. Using footage of a tearful Honl, it savages Feingold for his alleged mishandling of the scandal involving mistreatment of veterans at the Tomah VA Medical Center. About 200 Johnson supporters attended the event at Pacur, the plastic fabrication business he co-founded. It teed up a campaign tour that will take Johnson across the state in coming days. The first-term senator first took elected office after he defeated Feingold, D-Middleton, in 2010 riding a message of fiscal restraint and backlash to President Barack Obamas then-new health care law. Johnson told supporters Monday that the situation in Washington has gotten worse since he took office. Why would I do this again? Why dont I just come home to Oshkosh and just say: Its such a mess; its so frustrating; Im angry too; Im just going to give up? Because I cant quit on America, Johnson told supporters. Johnson also blasted Feingolds record during his 18 years in the U.S. Senate, from 1993 to 2011. Whatd he ever accomplish other than campaign finance reform, which was a miserable failure? Johnson said of his opponent. Feingold co-authored a sweeping campaign finance overhaul bill with Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain that became law in 2002. Portions of it were struck down by the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2010. Willing to take the tough votes In an interview after the event with the Wisconsin State Journal, Johnson continued to go after Feingold, casting his opponent as a grasping, lifelong politician desperate to regain power and himself as a reluctant public servant. I would rather go home, Johnson said. But I realize somebody like me is pretty rare somebody willing to take the tough votes to solve the problems. Feingold campaign spokesman Michael Tyler responded to Johnson with a statement saying Feingold is the only candidate whos listening to Wisconsinites. Senator Johnson has spent the last six years as a partisan shill who thinks our economy should only work for billionaires and CEOs like himself, Tyler said. Russ is fighting for an economy that works for middle-class and working Wisconsin families. The ad criticizing Feingold on the VA scandal begins airing Wednesday in TV and digital formats. It comes from Freedom Partners Action Fund, a super PAC whose donors include Koch and Wisconsin businesswoman Diane Hendricks. The ad features Honl, a former Tomah VA employee who filed complaints about wrongdoing at the Tomah facility. The center has been dogged by reports of over-prescription of opiate drugs to veterans, and a federal investigation found deficiencies in care at Tomah contributed to the 2014 death of a U.S. Marine from Stevens Point, Jason Simcakoski. In the ad, Honl says Feingold ignored veterans concerns while veterans were dying at the facility. He cites a memo warning of problems at Tomah, which was marked as having been hand-delivered to Feingolds U.S. Senate office in 2009. Feingold has denied his office received the memo, and its author has reversed her prior claims that a colleague delivered it to Feingolds office, saying she no longer believes that occurred. Politicized a tragedy Feingolds campaign hit back hard on the Freedom Partners ad Monday, saying Johnson knows for a fact that this attack is false. Thats why hes shamefully hiding behind the Koch brothers while they lob up smears on his behalf, Tyler said. Senator Johnson failed to protect our veterans, so instead of accepting responsibility, he and his allies have blamed his own staff and actively politicized a tragedy to the tune of over $2 million in dark money attack ads. A progressive group has charged Johnson with fumbling his opportunity to act on signs of trouble at Tomah, citing reports that his office failed to relay a complaint to the Democratic chairwoman of a Senate panel that couldve acted on them. Polls consistently have shown Feingold leading Johnson in the U.S. Senate race. The Marquette Law School Poll has shown Feingold leading, at various points in the past year, by margins between 3 and 16 percentage points. With a little more than six months left in the campaign, Johnsons statewide tour signals a heightened focus on his political future. Johnson is expected to focus his campaign tour on economic issues particularly jobs in the manufacturing and timber industries at the initial stops in northeastern Wisconsin, according to his campaign. Also Monday, Johnson declined, when asked by the State Journal, to say who he voted for in last months presidential primary. The Republican candidates in the Wisconsin primary were businessman Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Trump, the national front-runner, finished a distant second in Wisconsin and remains a distrusted figure by many in the states Republican establishment and its conservative movement. Thats a secret ballot, Johnson said of the primary vote. I am responsible for what Ive been doing my actions and my words, and thats pretty much what this campaigns going to be. Feingold also has declined to reveal who he voted for in the primary. Poetry would go from chalk to concrete in the new sidewalks on Jenifer Street this June and in the official policy of the city under a resolution to be presented Tuesday that sets a formal process for setting words into concrete. The resolution, which the City Council is expected to refer to the city Arts Commission, sets rules for choosing poems that can be embedded in city sidewalks as part of the citys public art framework. The poems, the policy says, can only come from a city poet laureate and cannot contain religious content or commercial, political, hate or public issue speech. They cannot be obscene or contain profanity. No images allowed. And they may be no longer than about 250 characters, including titles, spaces and punctuation, or less than two tweets worth. The Jenifer Street reconstruction project, scheduled to begin in May, will have seven embedded poems, said Jack Kear, co-chairman of the Marquette Neighborhood Associations arts committee. The neighborhood group is getting a city grant of about $5,000 to pay for the imprinting. The Jenifer Street project continues a 2011 project that imprinted four poems onto the sidewalks of Williamson Street. That was before the city had a policy for content, author and length. The city has received inquiries from other neighborhoods about putting poetry to concrete, said urban planner Linda Horvath. The citys Planning Division expects to see one or two sidewalk poetry projects per year at a cost of $5,000 per project. Weve been working on our plans for it for quite a long time, Kear said. We have been working with the imprinter for the mold, and went through the city to apply for a grant to cover the expenses. There was a delay when the city attorneys office said guidelines for the entire city were needed, Kear said. An earlier resolution to the City Council was withdrawn while that issue was resolved. The Jenifer Street poems, selected by residents, will come from three city poet laureates, Sarah Busse and Wendy Vardaman, and current laureate, Oscar Mireles, Kear said. The new policy requires a public meeting and includes restrictions on poem placement. A poem cant be placed on a sidewalk adjacent to a property if the owner objects, for example, and the city can remove any sidewalk poetry panel at any time and for any reason. Scrapbook welcomes news of academic honors other than deans or honors lists, scholarships, class reunions, service club officers, honors to volunteers, military promotions and decorations and other special recognitions. Please type or write clearly, and include a phone number. Submissions must be received at least one full week prior to publication. All items received may not necessarily be used. Please send contributions to Scrapbook, Wisconsin State Journal, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708; or by email to ageiger@madison.com. FOND DU LAC Two years ago, the Fond du Lac School District unveiled new guidelines requiring administrative review and approval before the publication of any student media. The reaction by students was swift, democratic and effective. Within days, they had publicized the change online, presented their case at a school board meeting, appeared on local media, and gathered several thousand signatures on a petition calling for student publications to be returned to the students. Over the next several months, they highlighted the districts use of these guidelines to block the publication of particular photos and information. These efforts succeeded. The district agreed to convene a group of student journalists and educators to craft a new policy. By the next school year, the restrictive guidelines were gone. The passion for the free flow of information and constitutional rights displayed by these students stands as a prime example of the power of a journalism education based on student responsibility and ownership. But efforts to stifle student speech remain. Recently, a principal in Chicago censored a story about the schools new starting time, at one point threatening to kill the publication entirely. Student journalists in Missouri were told they must submit a story about their superintendents resignation to the principal for editing. A student journalist in West Bend reports being barred from writing about certain topics. And in many schools, the looming possibility of administrative overreach leads students to censor themselves, back down when challenged, or abandon student publications entirely. This should not be happening. While schools must maintain an effective learning atmosphere, they do not have the right to suppress information they simply do not like. Court cases have made clear that students maintain their First Amendment rights of free speech at school. Unfortunately, a 1988 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier) established that schools could review and possibly restrain speech if related to legitimate educational purposes. Many school districts have over-applied this highly subjective standard. Once a principal is allowed to pre-approve student journalism, it is inevitable he or she will find things to change to make the expression more positive or more aligned with what the principal wants to say. This does not teach journalism or citizenship. It teaches that authority figures government officials, in the case of public schools decide which ideas can be discussed. Since Hazelwood, eight states have passed laws clearly establishing that student publications belong to students, who are responsible for deciding what to publish. North Dakota passed one such law unanimously last year, and more than 20 other states are looking to join them. These bills, termed New Voices laws, do nothing to limit a schools ability to prohibit illegal or harmful speech. But they do let students perfect the power of their own voices and explore the benefits of the free flow of information in a democracy. Students in Wisconsin deserve a New Voices law of their own. The effort to do so here, known as Supporting New Voices of Wisconsin, has been getting media attention and editorial support. In the next legislative session, we hope state lawmakers will help ensure the rights of student journalists are clear and schools are using student publications for student learning, rather than to promote the agenda of government officials. More than 17,000 adults who live on or around Madisons South Side and Beltline could benefit from a comprehensive college campus opening there. Those 17,000 people, according to a study of the area, are older than 24 years of age. They graduated from high school but have less than an associates degree. Thats a big pool of potential applicants to MATC, should its board approve an expansion of the colleges Village on Park facility on South Park Street, with the intent of finding an even larger site within a few years. We need to show the commitment to the South Side, which has historically been under-served, MATC President Jack E. Daniels told the State Journal editorial board last week. Hes right. And the MATC Board should approve his request to shift resources and attention from the colleges Downtown Education Center to the South Side. Critics note that enrollment has been falling at the Village on Park facility. So a big expansion doesnt make sense there, they say. But Daniels makes a convincing case for MATC attracting far more students to the South Side if it offers more degree credits and services, including counseling. That isnt happening now. Many South Side residents are the working poor who need additional skills to land better jobs in the local and modern economy. A comprehensive South Side campus also could pull students from the West Side, Daniels said, to satisfy requirements toward nursing degrees. The more controversial piece of Daniels proposal is to pull MATC classes out of its Downtown Education Center just off the Square. Only a third of the MATC students who use the Downtown facility are doing so for credit, Daniels noted. And very few at the Downtown center earn credits to transfer to nearby UW-Madison. Most of the transfer students come from MATCs Truax campus on the citys North Side. That diminishes the importance of keeping a Downtown location. More bus routes roll through Downtown than the South Side. Nonetheless, the Village on Park facility is next to one of the citys major bus transfer points. So access to the South campus would be easier than critics contend especially for the many prospective students who live on the South Side and around the Beltline. MATC officials in the past have said the college plans to stay Downtown. But the realities of the past are not the realities of today. Downtown is booming with activity and construction. Daniels hopes to tap that vibrancy for the good of his much larger MATC district, which has nine campuses across the region. He is proposing the school lease its Downtown site, saving money on operations and renovations. That could lead to a major private redevelopment project Downtown. Leasing the Downtown property could create a revenue stream to help fund the South Side expansion and buffer MATC against state budget cuts. Critics, who also met with our editorial board, question if any developers will want such a lease. They also note the citys lengthy process for approving big projects. But we dont see the harm in Daniels testing the market for opportunities. The South Side expansion would take years to accomplish, anyway. Nostalgia for the Downtown site shouldnt drive this decision. A commitment to educating more adult students especially on the South Side should be the priority. CHICAGO - The Sun-Times Watchdogs has a scathing report Monday on how Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has benefited by getting property taxes on Chicago's Trump Tower lowered through the influence of Alderman Ed Burke's powerful law firm. Not only does Ed Burke head a powerful property tax appeal law firm, the Sun-Times piece fails to connect that he's a longtime Chicago alderman that vets Cook County Democrats' judicial candidates, and he is married to Illinois Supreme Court justice Ann Burke. In other words, Burke is as powerful as Mike Madigan - who is chairman of the Illinois Democrat Party, longtime Speaker of the Illinois House and father of Illinois' attorney general Lisa Madigan - among those that make lucrative deals concerning property tax appeals in Chicago. The Sun-Times found that Burke's law firm is working for Donald Trump again - which is likely to result in average, low-clout property owners making up the difference: Everyone knows that Illinois is in miserable financial distress. But did you know that there's billions untouched in the "State's Portfolio?" That's the topic of an informative piece by Mike Glennon in Wirepoints today: What sense is there letting $11.5 to $14 billion of state money sit around indefinitely, unused, invested mostly short term and earning little? The Illinois Treasurers holdings are an important part of the states overall situation, so the question should have an obvious answer. It doesnt. In fact, digging into the question exposes a subject so nontransparent that the general public, and probably most legislators, cant be expected to assess it. Heres what we know: As of the end of last month, the Treasurer held $12.2 billion of state money, called the State Portfolio. Its invested in bank accounts and securities earning on average a little over one-half of one percent per year. Thats aside from other monies held or administered by the Treasurer, including the college savings program and funds owned by municipalities invested on their behalf by the Treasurer. (Including those, the Treasurers office manages about $25 billion.) State Portfolio holdings that large are not temporary or seasonal. Data on the Treasurers site go back to January 2014. The balance then was about $12.3 billion, and it has ranged from $11.5 to $14 billion since then. Why? Read the rest HERE. The future is almost upon us. Will Smith had one in I, Robot. Arnold Schwarzenegger rode one in Total Recall. Tom Cruise had a sports model in Minority Report. But what are we talking about? Driverless cars, that's what. By India Today Web Desk: With the way Google, Mercedes Benz, Nissan among 30 other companies (Terror group ISIS also has similar plans!) are going at it, driverless cars are bound to become a reality in as little as a decade or even before that if Google and other auto makers who are working on driverless cars have their way. advertisement Just think: you get into a car, plonk yourself in the backseat and just say, "Khan Market". The car comes to life, the seat belts move of their own accord and wrap themselves around you like a lover's arms and you sit back and relax. Cue music to match your mood. You sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery as it whizzes past even as the car manoeuvres around the traffic and ensures that you reach your destination safe and sound. Now, since you aren't driving, your hands are free, what are you going to do with them and all that time on your hands(literally)? So, like the driverless cars, we thought we'll think of all those things for you and let you know. So here are five things that you will be able to do when the driverless cars finally become a reality. 1. Sleep: Ah, that most luxurious of all pastimes. Won't it be nice to feel like a little baby who nods off in a moving vehicle as soon as it gets moving? Think of all the beautiful dreams you'll be able to catch up on. 2. Reply to emails: Yup, your grandmother learned how to email you and sent you a lovely note telling you how big a woman or a man you've become from that small little brat who used to create mayhem in the house. But you've not written back to her since you've been busy with your work. With the driverless car, you will be able to catch up with your grandmom or anybody else you've not kept in touch with since you were either driving to work or back and in office you were busy replying to your bosses' nasty emails or preparing all those PowerPoint slides. 3. Catch up with your favourite serials: Missed the newest episode of Game of Thrones? Fret not. The computer is driving, so you can easily lean back, relax and catch up with the latest episode of your favourite serials which you were invariably missing while driving and being stuck in traffic. Oh, that's another thing, since computers will be driving cars, there will be little or no traffic jams. advertisement 4. Catch up on your reading: You were a voracious reader before you got into the rat race. Now, even if your life is at stake, you wouldn't be able to remember the name of the last book you read. And no, magazines aren't books! Wouldn't you like to read another thriller, or another adventure novel or maybe catch up on the latest writings by your favourite author? Yup, the car's driving and you are reading. Add a tall drink (preferably non-alcoholic) with it and you've got bliss, no? 5. Have car sex: Well, that's but obvious isn't it? The car's driving itself and you are with your special other and you get in the mood to get down and dirty so you do since you won't have to worry about getting into a crash since you won't be driving. Imagine telling your kid a few years later, "We named you Googlecar since you were conceived in a Google driverless car." --- ENDS --- Clean Motion aims to provide last-mile connectivity in India's congested urban areas and is talking to mall developers in Bengaluru and Mumbai as well as SEZ operators in Hyderabad. As a start-up, the company has already seeded USD 1 million in the project. By India Today Web Desk: Sweden-based electric vehicle maker Clean Motion plans to invest USD 10 million (about Rs 66 crore) in India over the next three years to expand operations including setting up of an assembly unit for its Zbee three- wheelers in the country. The company, which runs its electric three-wheeler Zbee in Gurgaon's DLF Cyber City, aims to provide last-mile connectivity in India's congested urban areas and is talking to mall developers in Bengaluru and Mumbai as well as SEZ operators in Hyderabad. advertisement ALSO READ: Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi enters the Electric Vehicles Industry Besides, it is also targeting tourist spots like Taj Mahal to operate its fleet of electric three-wheelers, which are positioned as a premium product unlike e-rickshaws. "We plan to invest USD 10 million over the next three years. At the end of the third year, we expect to have a fleet of around 2,000 vehicles cumulatively," Clean Motion Country Head Anil Arora told PTI. As a start-up, the company has already seeded USD 1 million in the project, he added. ALSO READ: Electric Vehicles deal worth 12 billion dollar signed in China "Our product is powered by lithium ion batteries with design and looks targeting at the premium segment. Not only through fares, we are also looking at advertising on Zbee as a second revenue stream," he said. Elaborating on the company's expansion plans in India, he said: "We aim to be present in all the places where there is requirement for last mile connectivity. Whether its malls, metros or tourist places we are going to be there." To meet its targets, Arora said Clean Motion is ramping up assembly of Zbee in India. "Currently, we manufacture two units a day and aim to increase it to four units a day by the end of this year at Faridabad," he said. ALSO READ: Aston Martin, Letv partner for developing electric vehicles It imports most of the Zbee components from Sweden and is now looking at locally manufacturing of critical parts. "We are looking at locally producing main mechanical parts except for the body in India. The body shell is imported from Malaysia which is not a problem," Arora said. The company operates on a franchise model and has entered into an agreement with DLF group to operate Zbees for providing last mile connectivity from DLF CyberHub to nearby offices and metro stations. Under the franchise model, the company rents out vehicles and even looks after the hiring of drivers for three seater Zbee, which can attain a top speed of 45 km per hour and run for 50 km on a single charge. advertisement ALSO READ: China to build 12,000 charging stations by 2020 He added the company is also in the process of developing a cargo version of the vehicle, which would mainly cater to the e-commerce firms in the country to be used in product deliveries. --- ENDS --- Mercedes will introduce some more unique consumer engagement initiatives and in the form of 'pop-up stores this year. The other six stores will come up in Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Goa. By India Today Web Desk: Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is adopting a kiosk approach at high footfall areas in key cities for promoting the brand through greater 'consumer engagement' as it aims at double-digit growth this year through a line-up of new launches. ALSO READ: Mercedes Benz GLC SUV set to launch in June "The first such store has already come up at the upmarket Blue Frog restaurant in central Mumbai and we will have six more this year," Mercedes-Benz India managing director and chief executive Roland Folger told PTI. advertisement The other six stores will come up in Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Goa. He said these stores are aimed at engaging consumers on a personal level and will come up at hip and happening places lounges, pubs, restaurants and cafes in key metros, the locations for which will be decided on the basis of consumer mapping and behavioural patterns. Folger said network expansion remains key to the growth strategy and market expansion. "Our network expansion strategy is completely independent of this activity. We've plans to inaugurate 10 new outlets across markets in 2016, and have already opened two -- in Bhubaneswar and Pune -- in the first quarter taking total dealers to 83 in 40 cities." ALSO READ: Maruti, Mahindra, Toyota, Mercedes meet to find way out of SC ban He said the initial response to the first pop-up store was overwhelming with very high footfalls and enquiries. On sales outlook, he said last year they made history, despite market disruptions, by selling over 13,500 units. "We see a strong growth in the short to mid-term. But this can only be achieved with stable policies and growth environment. The fact that luxury car market is just 1.3 per cent is a silver lining. "However, I think 2016 will be a mixed year with opportunities and challenges both," Folger said. "We'll be aiming at a sustained double-digit growth in 2016 and our strong line-up of new launches (12 offerings) will help us achieve the goal," he said but did not quantify. ALSO READ: 2017 Mercedes Benz C-Class facelift spotted with no camouflage On the Supreme Court banning sale of high-end diesel cars in Delhi-NCR, he said this is a serious concern and but expressed confidence that a rational and balanced decision that not only takes care of the growing environmental issues but also creates a long-term roadmap for the industry would come up. He also called for early introduction of BS VI norms and said his company is ready for new norms even now. advertisement On sales impact of the SC ban, he said other centres more than enough compensated for the Delhi setback in the first quarter this year. In Delhi a very strong petrol portfolio has also helped. ALSO READ: Mercedes Benz posts record sales at 13,558 units in India Also other dealers supported our Delhi NCR dealers to help meet the higher demand for petrol models. --- ENDS --- The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) is expected to declare the results of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) on May 3 on the official website, www.nbsenagaland.com By India Today Web Desk: The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) is expected to declare the results of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) on Tuesday, May 3 on the official website, www.nbsenagaland.com According to an official notification, the results will be out by Tuesday afternoon. However, last year the board declared the results on April 30. advertisement In the examination, around 38,000 candidate appeared for the Class 10, while around 40,000 students appeared in the Class 12 examination this year. The Class 10th board examination was held between February 10 to 23 at various test centres across the state. Meanwhile, the board examination for Class 12 was conducted between February 9 to 27 in the state. How to check the results: All the candidates need to visit these websites, www.examresults.net and www.nagaland.gov.in Click on the relevant link Enter all the required details in the respected fields After the results will get displayed, candidates can take print out of the same. About the board: The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), which conducted board examination for Class 10 and 12 has got the responsibility of developing secondary education in Nagaland. The NBSE was established on November 15, 1973 by an Act of the Nagaland Assembly legislative Assembly but started functioning from October 1, 1974. READ: University of Allahabad releases exam dates for PGAT 2016 Get latest updates on exam notifications and scholarships across India and abroad here. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Frankfurt, May 2 (PTI) Asian Development Bank and China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) today signed an agreement to co-finance an infrastructure project in Pakistan. The MoU to cofinance about USD 300-million road project in Pakistan between AIIB and Asian Development Bank (ADB) was signed here on the opening day of the 49th annual meeting here amidst perceived closeness of China and Pakistan. ADB President Takehiko Nakao, however, downplayed any such consideration while approving the cofinancing of the Pakistan road project. "We have been working together to identify projects ... by chance Pakistan road project was more mature so it is not related to relationship between China and Pakistan," he said. The first of these projects would be Pakistans M4 highway project, a 64-kilometer stretch of motorway in Punjab Province, he said, adding ADB and AIIB would be sharing the same amount. The Beijing-based USD 100 billion multi-lateral lender AIIB was set up last year to boost lending for infrastructure projects. China is the largest shareholder with 26.06 per cent voting shares. India is the second largest shareholder with 7.5 per cent followed by Russia 5.93 per cent and Germany with 4.5 per cent. Asked if similar kind of cofinancing arrangement is being looked at with New Development Bank set up by BRICS countries including India, China, he said that he had talks with its president KV Kamath on the issue. "We had agreed that if there is opportunity for cofinancing we will look at it," Nakao said, adding that at the moment there was nothing in the pipeline. On raising of the resources, he said, "We may consider raising capital in the coming years if there is further requirement." With unanimous support of donors, it has been agreed to substantially strengthen financing capacity with the merger of Asian Development Fund lending operation and Ordinary Capital Resources starting next year, he said. "As a result, we will be able to expand our annual loan and grant approval by 50 per cent, from USD 13 billion in 2014 to more than USD 20 billion by 2020," he said. The leveraging capacity of ADB will also increase from the next year, he added. (MORE) PTI DP MR --- ENDS --- advertisement Sri Sri made these remarks in Latur over the weekend while he was on visit to the drought-hit areas of Maharashtra. His Art of Living Foundation is working to help farmers in the area with irrigation projects. By India Today Web Desk: Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was all over social media on Monday after telling a newspaper that he had rejected the Nobel prize in the past and that he was against honouring Malala Yousafzai. The spiritual guru, who was in the news recently for claiming to have offered peace talks to ISIS, told Deccan Chronicle: "I was in the past offered the Nobel Peace Prize, but I had rejected it as I only believe in working and not in being honoured for my work. We should always honour only to those who deserve it and I am totally against honouring Malala Yousafzai with the prize and it is of no use," he said. advertisement In January this year, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan by the Modi government. Sri Sri made these remarks in Latur over the weekend while he was on visit to the drought-hit areas of Maharashtra. His Art of Living Foundation is working to help farmers in the area with irrigation projects. Last month, the spiritual leader claimed that he tried to open a dialogue with terrorist organisation ISIS, but the outfit rejected it by sending him a photograph of a beheaded man. "I tried to initiate peace talks with the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) recently but they sent me a photograph of a beheaded body of a man. Thus, my effort for a peace dialogue with the ISIS ended," Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said. --- ENDS --- While TMC had been silent in the first, TMC went into hyperdrive on Monday demanding an immediate response from the treasury benches. Members protest in the well of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on Monday. PTI Photo The Trinamool Congress swung a surprise in Rajya Sabha on Monday when its MPs Derek O' Brien and Sukhendu Shekhar Ray led the charge against Congress on the Agusta Westland Issue instead of the usual suspects - BJP or Subaramanium Swamy. While the party had been silent in the first, TMC went into hyperdrive on Monday demanding an immediate response from the treasury benches. advertisement Though the treasury benches were silent, their delight at the discomfiture of the Congress was clearly visible. Sukhendu Shekhar Ray demanded instant response from Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to all the allegations being levelled. The animosity between the Congress and the Trinamool was quite evident in Ray's discussion. He had also been given a notice in the House about a discussion. Despite that he continued his verbal assault, prompting the Rajya Sabha chairman to ask him to leave the House under rule 255. This breaking of ranks with the opposition by TMC had the treasury benches smiling even though they were also under the fire from Mamata's party. But the real target was the Congress. Interestingly, while the Congress was keen to raise the issue of the Gujarat State Petrochemical Corporation, the TMC was not on board. According to senior Congress leaders, the heat and dust of West Bengal elections is finding its way into the Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi praising the Left apart, sharing the stage with former Chief Minister Budhadeb Bhattacharya and Congress fielding fiery neta Deepa Dasmunshi against Mamata Banerjee has not gone down too well with the TMC. The Congress feels that post Sharada and Narada scams, there has been some sort of match fixing between the BJP and Trinamool Congress. Congress had been proud of cobbling up a unified opposition in the Upper House. With the numbers it had successfully managed to veto important legislations of the BJP. But now, with this latest assault by TMC, the opposition unity looks under serious threat. Also read: --- ENDS --- By PTI: Ballia, May 2 (PTI) Union minister Kalraj Misra blamed the ruling Samajwadi Party and Opposition Bahujan Samaj Party for the "bad shape of affairs" in Uttar Pradesh, as he said BJP is only alternative to bring development in the state. "SP and BSP are responsible for the bad shape of affairs in Uttar Pradesh...BJP is the only alternative for bringing good governance, rule of law, and development," the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister said last night here. advertisement "It is necessary that BJP comes to power in UP for giving momentum to development and taking the state to new heights of progress," Misra said. The BJP leader termed as "unnecessary" the debate around Bihar Chief Minister Nitesh Kumar being prime ministerial candidate in 2019 general elections. "Narendra Modi is the prime minister as of now and will remain the prime minister in future too," he said. Attacking Congress and its leaders, he said they have had a "culture" of taking commissions and after the probe into the AgustaWestland deal it (Congress) will once again be "exposed like at the time of Bofors scandal". The MSME Minister said small industries will be set up in large numbers to overcome the backwardness of eastern UP and creating more job opportunities. On Ram temple issue, he said this alongwith Article 370 are "national issues". PTI COR SAB TIR DV TIR --- ENDS --- Chichawatni city police have booked five employees of a transport company and owner of a bus terminal under blasphemy law for desecrating turban of a Sikh passenger during a scuffle for complaining about inconvenience during the travel. By Indo-Asian News Service: Five employees of a transport company and the owner of a bus terminal were booked under blasphemy law for desecrating a Sikh passenger's turban in Pakistan's Punjab province, the media reported on Monday. The complainant, Mahinder Paal Singh (29), a resident of Multan, told Dawn online that he was travelling from Faisalabad to Multan by a bus owned by Kohistan-Faisal Movers company that broke down near Dijkot. advertisement He said though the driver somehow started the bus again but its speed was very slow (around 30km per hour). He said that he and some of his fellow passengers complained to the transport company's staff about the slow speed of the bus and demanded an alternative vehicle for the onward journey. The two sides exchanged words, ensuing a free-for-all, during which the six accused manhandled the passengers, including Singh. He alleged that during the fight a bus terminal hawker, Rashid Gujjar, threw his turban on the ground. Singh said the turban was considered sacred in the Sikh religious code and throwing it on the ground was tantamount to desecration. According to some affected passengers, Singh told police, that reached the bus terminal following the brawl, that it was a case of desecration and since he was a Pakistani national the attackers should be booked under blasphemy law. A senior police official said five of the attackers -- terminal manager Baqir Ali, Rashid Gujar, Faiz Alam, Shakeel and Snawal had been booked . Police were conducting raids to arrest terminal owner Haji Riyasat. --- ENDS --- Home Minister Rajnath Singh had lauded the force before for effectively bringing down the menace on the India-Bangladesh border. By Abhishek Bhalla : A group of men hurriedly crossing the India-Bangladesh border in the middle of the night with loaded containers and sacks as Border Security Force (BSF) men guarding the frontier turn a blind eye - this sequence caught on camera exposes the nexus between security officials and syndicates involved in smuggling and illegal migration. These brazen and unlawful crossovers take place as the smuggling mafia finds it easy to grease the palms of officials manning the frontier. But what the human eye chooses to ignore is captured clearly on cameras used by the BSF itself for effective surveillance in border areas. advertisement The hand-held thermal imagers installed to assist the force have ironically nailed some officials who were helping groups of people involved in illegal trade and migration at a border outpost on India-Bangladesh border. Thermal grab showing smuggling at India-Bangladesh border. The pictures were taken by a BSF insider who passed them on to his senior officer. Mail Today has accessed the images which have been submitted by a force insider to his senior to expose the dirty nexus between criminals and officials. "One officer made a complaint and a DIG-rank officer has been asked to conduct an inquiry. We are quick to probe such complaints and swift action is taken if there is credible evidence," said Sandeep Salunkhe, Inspector General, BSF, South Bengal Frontier. "Some complaints are anonymous. Even in such cases, as a matter of precaution, we do a discreet check and initiate action if there is strong evidence," he added. It is learnt that an official posted at the Gojadanga border outpost was monitoring real-time pictures captured by hand-held thermal imagers. He saw these images that could blow the lid off the smuggling racket and passed it on to a senior officer who, in turn, made an official complaint. An inquiry has now been ordered. The complaint mentions that items being smuggled include fish, cotton, gas cylinders, cycles, cloth etc. It's not just smuggling of goods and illegal migration but also fake Indian currency notes originating in Pakistan that are pushed in through the Bangldesh border. Fake currency of Rs 9 crore was seized in West Bengal in 2015, giving jitters to the security establishment. The BSF claims there is no organised nexus between the force and smugglers and after investigating allegations of connivance, individuals were found to be involved. "Quick action against those found guilty is the biggest deterrent. The entire force should not get a bad name because of a few black sheep," a BSF officer said. Duties The BSF guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders and is also entrusted with other internal security duties like combating armed Maoist insurgency. South Bengal is notorious for illegal crossovers and smuggling, but officials say this is an area that is extremely tough to guard with dense population on either side. "Most of the border here is unfenced. Only 9 km border out of the 250 km is fenced," said a BSF officer posted in south Bengal India shares 4096.7 km of its land border with Bangladesh. advertisement West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are the states which share border with Bangladesh. The BSF cracked down on cattle smuggling that was rampant in these areas and in the last few years it has come down by 70-80 per cent, according to a BSF officer. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also lauded the force for effectively bringing down the menace on the India-Bangladesh border. Illegal migration in the area can also be attributed to the fact that this is one of the densest borders in the world making it impossible to monitor every activity. "There are a large number of touts working to ensure cross-overs," said a BSF officer. Also read: BJP battles for Assam by promising to seal Indo-Bangladesh border --- ENDS --- By PTI: Kathmandu, May 2 (PTI) A Canadian national, who backed the Madhes movement, was today arrested by Nepal Police for allegedly posting provocative and anti-national comments on social media and visa violations. Robert Penner was arrested from Lalitpur on a request from the Department of Immigration (DoI), Nepalease media reported. DoI Director-General Kedar Neupane said Penner was arrested to probe his posts on social media which are "liable to incite" social disharmony in the nation. advertisement Penner had obtained working visa for a sprout technology company, which was already dissolved in 2012, but worked for Cloud Factory, a foreign outsourcing company, according to the DoI. Penner is also accused of holding multiple visas and overstaying. "He obtained visa for working at an IT company but he was found engaged in making provocative statements that may jeopardise national integrity," said Neupane, adding, "foreigners are not allowed to engage in such activities." The report said immigration laws bar any foreign national from expressing public comments on internal politics of the host nation. A source at the DoI told MyRepublica that they received complaints that Penner had been engaging in activities that could harm Nepals national integrity. "We had to arrest him due to his suspicious activities and for misusing his visa," said the source. Penner has previously tweeted in favour of the Madhes movement. He had also written controversial tweets about the arrest of journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, MyRepublica reported. Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding that Nepals Constitution be amended to include their concerns over inadequate political representation and redrawing of federal boundaries. They had enforced months-long blockade of Nepals all trading points with India, creating huge shortage of essential commodities in the country. PTI AKJ ABH --- ENDS --- The video shows the man walking up to the unsuspecting woman, grabbing her from behind and carrying her to a secluded spot, where she was allegedly molested by the accused. By India Today Web Desk: A CCTV camera has caught the brazen abduction of a woman by an unidentified man while she was standing outside her PG accommodation in Bengaluru. The video shows the man walking up to the unsuspecting woman, grabbing her from behind and carrying her to a secluded spot, where she was allegedly molested by the accused. The woman was talking on the phone when the horrific incident took place. advertisement The 25-year-old woman works at a beauty clinic in Bengaluru's Kalyan Nagar area. The woman, who hails from Manipur, has alleged that the police took no action against the accused and even refused to register a complaint in her case. The cops eventually registered a case after the woman was forced to produce the CCTV footage. The CCTV footage clearly shows people walking the same street from where the woman was abducted but nobody came forward to help her. --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) CBI today termed as "baseless and malicious" the reported allegations that its probe into the coal scam was compromised as some officials were bribed by the concerned parties. However, the agency spokesperson Devpreet Singh parried questions of reporters about the reported anonymous letter purported to have been written by an investigation officer containing the allegations. Asked specifically whether the agency has received the reported anonymous letter, she said "I cannot comment." She told reporters here that the news report "founded on an anonymous complaint are baseless, malicious and an attempt to discredit the agency and to create a misleading impression regarding a sensitive court-monitored investigation". advertisement She said that it lacks any "specific, credible and verfiable" basis and it is an attempt to unjustly sensationalise an important investigation and is hence strongly denied. "It is reiterated that the investigations into the coal scam are being carried out fairly and impartially with the highest degree of diligence and professionalism under the monitoring of the Supreme Court of India," she said. The CBI spokesperson said the relevant facts are being placed before the Supreme Court on the next date of hearing. "It is also clarified that the inquiries and cases indicated in the news item were finalised before December 2014, thereafter scrutinised by the Central Vigilance Commission and intimated to the Supreme Court of India," the spokesperson said. She said the assertions that "huge money exchanged hands" are "vague" and without an iota of foundation. "It is emphatically denied that money has exchanged hands in the name of the Director CBI and a few selected officers are beneficiaries. All the investigating and supervisory officers are conducting investigation into the coal scam in a professional manner without any fear or pressure," she said. PTI ABS VSC PAL --- ENDS --- By PTI: From K J M Varma Beijing, May 2 (PTI) Chinese officials have defended the mass forced deportations of Taiwanese from different countries to China for alleged telecom frauds, saying the action complies with international law and will help fight crimes better. A total of 174 suspects, including 77 Taiwanese, implicated in more than 100 major telecom fraud cases abroad were repatriated to China on grounds that all the victims of the fraud trap are mainland residents. advertisement Taiwansaid Chinas actions amounted to an "uncivilised act of extra-judicial abduction" which represents a "gross violation of basic human rights". Wherever the criminals are, the mainland has territorial jurisdiction over these cases as the impact of the fraud was on the mainland, said Li Juqian, deputy head of the International Law School under China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL). "It is in accordance with the international and mainland law that Malaysia deported the suspects to the mainland. The move is unchallengeable in terms of law," Li was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency. Yesterday 97, including 32 Taiwanese, were deported to China by Malaysia. Earlier, Kenyan police also deported 77 suspected telecom scammers, including 45 Taiwanese, in another two fraud syndicates to the Chinese mainland last month. Chinas law enforcement agencies have cooperated with their counterparts in countries like the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia in cracking down on telecom frauds since 2011, according to Ma Chengyuan, a law professor with the CUPL. Given diplomatic relations and extradition treaties that China established and inked with these countries as well as criminal justice pacts signed with some of them, China can cooperate with them if crimes are committed there and it does not matter whether suspects are from the mainland or Taiwan, Ma said. In late March, Malaysian and Chinese mainland police cooperated in destroying five telecom fraud dens located in Malaysia and nabbed 117 Chinese suspects, including 65 from the mainland and 52 from Taiwan. Among those from Taiwan, 20 were transferred to Taiwan authorities on April 15. The mainland government requested Malaysia to transfer the rest of the suspects to the mainland. The mainland used to transfer Taiwanese suspects to Taiwan, which was in compliance with the relevant cross-strait agreement and no more than an internal division of work, Ma said. As stipulated by the mainlands criminal law, the mainland enjoys territorial jurisdiction over telecom fraud cases based overseas and targeting mainland legal persons and residents, the report said. MORE PTI KJV ASK ASK --- ENDS --- advertisement Less than a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from a visit to China last year-marking the highest point in the oft strained bilateral ties in several years, with President Xi Jinping even breaking protocol to receive Modi in his home province-Indian diplomats approached China and 14 other members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) with an application. Pakistani terrorist Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi had been released from jail in Rawalpindi, contravening UNSC sanctions, after payment of a hefty bond to secure his release. India's request before the UNSC 1267 sanctions committee, which facilitates listing of terrorists and groups with links to al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and now ISIS, was to investigate how the sanctions were violated and to ask Pakistan who paid for his release. India's earlier attempts to list Pakistan-based terrorists-entailing arms embargoes, travel bans and, most importantly, the freezing of financial assets-had run into a Chinese wall. According to the UNSC committee's arcane rules, any of its 15 members can place a 'technical hold' if they find anything amiss with an application. Not only can this be done without informing countries outside the UNSC which country placed the hold, but members can also choose not to explain why they did so. But that was in the past. Surely, India's diplomats believed, things would be different in the afterglow of Xi's extraordinary reception of Modi. It wasn't to be. Only this time there was an explanation for China blocking the application: they required more information. So when Beijing on March 31, 2016 placed another technical hold on listing Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, it caused widespread outrage. Indian diplomats were hardly surprised. What was different, though, was their response. In the space of three days, Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval all raised the Azhar issue with their Chinese counterparts in meetings in Moscow and Beijing. The message, especially the one Doval conveyed to China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi at the 19th round of border talks in Beijing on April 20, was unequivocal: Beijing had to stop differentiating between "good terrorists and bad terrorists". Perhaps to prove its point, India for the first time issued an electronic visa to exiled Uighur leader Dolkun Isa, to enable him to attend the first-ever meeting of leading Chinese dissidents and activists in Dharamsala on April 28. He fled China's Xinjiang region and became a German citizen in 2006. While Beijing says he is a "terrorist" responsible for bombings in the 1990s, he denies the charges. The visa was cancelled on April 25, the home ministry citing the Interpol red corner notice placed on Isa at China's behest. While the government was accused of bowing to Chinese pressure, officials said they had little choice as India could not ignore the red corner notice-doing so could encourage other countries to do the same to India's most-wanted. Officials won't publicly confirm if the visa was issued to Isa as a warning shot to Beijing, but some former diplomats saw the very fact that India was for the first time allowing Chinese dissidents and exiles to gather as a strong signal. Iron brothers While India hopes it can force a rethink in Beijing's policy, that likelihood remains remote, according to current and former Chinese officials and strategic experts in Beijing. For one, the biggest driver of China's moves at the UN has been its close ties with Pakistan-a country Chinese strategic experts today increasingly describe as its only real ally, given recent troubles with North Korea. Sino-Pak ties have deepened under Xi, who has unveiled a $46 billion economic corridor from Xinjiang, through PoK, to Pakistan. The prevailing view in Beijing is that Pakistan needs to be at the centre of China's plans in dealing with the rising Islamist threat it is grappling with in its western Xinjiang region. Cooperation between both countries has worked well and satisfied Beijing, says South Asia scholar Han Hua of Peking University. So far, Beijing's approach has been twofold: in the short-term, it has leaned on Pakistan's army and Inter-Services Intelligence to crack down on Uighur terror camps along the Pak-Afghan border, and in the longer term, it plans to put in tens of billions of dollars to build an economic corridor it hopes will open up Xinjiang and bring jobs to disaffected young Uighurs. As much as Pakistan has dragged its feet in dealing with terror groups that target India, the Chinese believe its army has moved rapidly and effectively to bring to heel anti-China groups and to disrupt camps of the banned East Turkestan Islamic Movement. Zhang Chunxiang, a former Chinese ambassador in Pakistan posted there shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks, reflects much of the thinking in Beijing when he bristles at the suggestion of differences between two countries he describes as "iron brothers". Zhang says Pakistan is "the only country we have a solid relationship with". At a media interaction in Beijing late last year, he became visibly angry when asked about terror links between Uighur groups and Pakistani organisations and whether Pakistani agencies were doing enough to crack down on terror. "Has the US eradicated terrorism? Has India? It's not possible. So why do you people only ask about Pakistan?" Echoing Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif's recent comments accusing Indian intelligence agencies of trying to disrupt Chinese investments in Pakistan, Zhang alleged the attack during his time at the Gwadar port that China is helping build, was carried out not by Pakistani terrorists but by a "foreign country" he wouldn't name but "one everybody knows". My terrorist vs yours For China, this cooperation includes shielding its ally from international criticism. Up until 2008, Beijing blocked at least three attempts by India to list the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, reversing its decision only after global outrage on the Mumbai attacks. That same year Beijing also prevented Washington from listing four ISI officers. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stresses the technical hold on Azhar followed "facts" and the "rules and procedures" of the UNSC sanctions committee, which, she points out, "encourage communication between countries that ask for the listing and countries where individuals or entities covered in the listing come from or live in". In other words, China's message is that it wants India to resolve the issue bilaterally with Pakistan, rather than bring it to the UNSC. A former senior Chinese diplomat echoes this view more frankly, telling a group of visiting former Indian officials in Beijing that it was India that was "wrong" to bring "international pressure" on Pakistan, and that China would do what it took to protect its "all-weather" ally from that pressure. He suggests UNSC sanctions had little real impact on cracking down on groups on the ground, and in Beijing's view, this was all about scoring political points. A Chinese wall This argument holds little water, say Indian officials, pointing to past instances where international sanctions have pressured reluctant states to act. The freezing of assets, they add, also constrains the movements and capabilities of terror groups. Yet as far as Pakistan's groups are concerned, the fact is the listings have done little to curb their jehadist enthusiasm: despite being listed, the LeT and JeM have functioned relatively unimpeded. While India continues to press Pakistan in bilateral talks to crack down on terror, the UNSC does provide a useful avenue to ramp up international pressure. "It doesn't necessarily mean it will happen, but the hope for India is that the pressure of international public opinion will force Pakistan to act, and that effort has to be made," says former veteran diplomat T.C.A. Rangachari, an ambassador to France and Germany who has served in Islamabad and Beijing. India, he says, needs a dual track approach of continuing to engage with and push China on the issue, but to also "build leverage and get them to recognise that if others start playing their game of who is a terrorist and who isn't, and everyone acts according to their interests, the whole global system of fighting terror together will unravel". India's best bet, however, according to some diplomats, is to try and push stalled reforms of the UNSC's arcane rules that allow countries to hide behind anonymous vetoes and place technical holds at will. This was a point India's Permanent Representative at the UN Syed Akbaruddin made on April 15, who said in a UNSC open debate that "the procedures of unanimity and anonymity of al-Qaeda, Taliban and ISIS Sanctions Committees need to be revisited". But until that happens, officials acknowledge, Azhar is far from likely to be the last terrorist remaining out of reach beyond a Chinese wall. Follow the writer on Twitter @ananthkrishnan By PTI: Kolkata, May 2 (PTI) Coal India dispatched 30.99 million tonnes of coal to power utilities in April this year, a fall of 6.8 per cent over that in the same month of 2015 which suggest a slowdown in demand for the dry fuel from the power sector. Company sources told PTI that dispatch of coal and coal products to "power utilities" came down by 2.28 million tonnes (mt) or 6.8 per cent compared to 33.27 mt in the same period of 2015-16. advertisement The dispatch figure for March, however, was marginally lower by 1.8 per cent at 36.1 mt compared with 36.8 mt during the same month a year ago. Coal India officials said coal-fired power utilities across the country were comfortably sitting over around 36 mt of coal in April 2016 against 29 mt last year. "Power sector constitutes to around 78 per cent of CILs overall coal off-take. Brimming over with coal has also led to coal stock piling up at pit-heads - a situation that CIL wants to avoid," officials said. CIL supplied 407.9 mt of fuel to the power sector in 2015-16, up by 5.8 per cent compared to the previous years dispatch of 385.4 mt of the fossil fuel in 2014-15. Total coal dispatch by the miner was 42.46 mt for April, 2016 to its consumers, which is lower by 1.06 mt compared to 43.52 mt in the corresponding month of 2015-16. Coal production by Coal India was at 40.09 mt for the month under review, a decline of 3.4 per cent over its target, the company informed the bourses. The companys production grew at 8.5 per cent to 536 mt in 2015-16 but missed the target of 550 mt. Currently stock lifting is inadequate and CILs current challenge is to liquidate its stock and the company is pushing the coal through e-auction and proactive marketing measures, CIL officials said. CIL began the current fiscal with around 57.67 mt coal stock and managed to reduce it to 55.31 mt at end April 2016. Company officials say ramping up of the production will not be constraint if demand picks up. PTI BSM KK MR --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu today accused the Congress of trying to divert the attention of people from AgustaWestland scam by raising "unnecessary" issues in the House after the opposition party demanded a discussion on a CAG report on KG basin project. "Congress party wants to divert the attention of the people from Agusta chopper scam. So they are raising unnecessary and unconcerned issues in Parliament," Naidu said outside Parliament while referring to disruptions in Rajya Sabha. advertisement Congress today sought a discussion on the latest report of CAG listing alleged irregularities in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporations KG basin gas project and forced three adjournments in Rajya Sabha in the pre-noon session demanding a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Naidu said it was a state matter and the Congress was raising the issue "at a wrong place and for the wrong reason". "Today in the Rajya Sabha they did not allow the House to function and Rajya Sabha was adjourned repeatedly for this. There was no reason for it," Naidu said. He pointed out that Gujarat state petroleum corporation issue is a state subject. "CAG has given some reports on it so according to the Constitution, report will go to the Governor. Then Governor will ask for it to be tabled in the House so it will go to the PAC. It is the law and everyone knows the rule." Quoting the Constitution, Naidu said, "Under Article 151, the reports of CAG relating to the accounts of Centre shall be submitted to the President, then it will be laid before each House of Parliament. The rule is clear. Congress is also aware of it." "I hope they understand this is Parliament and not state legislature. So they are making an issue at a wrong place and for a wrong reason." Targeting the Congress for announcing gherao of Parliament, Naidu claimed the opposition party has many things to hide so it was trying to divert the issue. "They just want to divert the burning issue because they have many skeletons in the cupboard," he said. Questioning the Congress intention, Naidu said, "We would like to know why they are hesitating on a discussion on Agusta scam. "They are bent upon disturbing Parliament. They have given notice for gherao of Parliament. Opposition should insist on discussion in Parliament but they want to gherao Parliament. "People elect us to come to Parliament they want to gherao Parliament. It is a political gimmick. This is part of their misinformation campaign but the country should know the facts." advertisement He also said there is no link between GST and AgustaWestland issue and GST is not in the cold storage. "We want GST (Bill) to to be passed." PTI ARU RT --- ENDS --- The body of the law student had several deep stab wounds, and she was also believed to have been brutally kicked in the stomach as her intestines were out. A Dalit student was allegedly raped and murdered in Perumbavoor of Ernakulam district in Kerala on April 28. The body of the law student had several deep stab wounds, and she was also believed to have been brutally kicked in the stomach as her intestines were out. According to the police, the incident took place in broad daylight but none of the neighbours staying nearby intervened. It has been five days since the incident took place, but the police are yet to arrest anyone, and relatives allege that no political leaders or activists have come forward to offer help. Friends of the victim, who was staying with her mentally challenged mother in a single room house, came to know about her death two days later from a local newspaper. They feel the perpetrator could have been inside the house for a long time considering the number of wounds and the manner in which the victim was assaulted. advertisement The assault and murder is reminiscent to the December 16, 2012 gangrape of Nirbhaya, a physiotherapy intern, who was assaulted by six men on a private bus in Delhi. Indian Premier League debutante Sam Billings has said that Delhi Daredevils want to keep winning momentum going when they face Gujarat Lions at Rajkot on Tuesday. By India Today Web Desk: Indian Premier League debutante Sam Billings has said that Delhi Daredevils want to keep winning momentum going when they face Gujarat Lions at Rajkot on Tuesday. Daredevils are third on the points table with eight points from six games while Gujarat are on top of the table with 12 points in eight matches. Delhi beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in their last game in which Billings made 54 runs in the teams total of 186/8 and then restricted KKR on 159 in 18.3 overs. advertisement "We had won our last game against KKR and we want to keep winning momentum going when we play against Guajrat Lions tomorrow," Billings said in pre-match press conference at the SCA stadium, Khandheri. Both teams will meet for the second time in the tournament on Tuesday. Gujarat had defeated the Daredevils by one-run in their previous encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Gujarat Lions posted 172 for 6 and reduced Daredevlis for 57 for four in 11 overs. However, it was Delhi all-rounder Chris Moris who stole the show hammering eight sixes and four fours in his 32 balls unbeaten 82. "Morris had put Daredevils almost on victory position. we worked hard and now we are ready for tomorrow's game," he said. When asked about playing in Indian condition with mentor like Rahul Dravid, billings said: "It's a great learning opportunity to spend time with Rahul, who always asked bastmen to use footwork properly. "Your footwork has to be so good while playing against spinners in Indian condition and overseas young players can learn from Rahul how to use footwork while playing against spinners, and it's a great opportunity to learn from him." He termed his experience playing in IPL as a pleasant moment and great opportunity. "It's a pleasent to be part of IPL and a great experience playing at different venues on different pitches against quality players". He described Daredevils squad as "strong" and said "players in the squad have healthy competition," he said. "You can not play with a same eleven every time, In different games we used different combinations, sometime I have to sit out, sometime other players have to sit out. we have a strong squad and have healthy competition among us," Billings added. --- ENDS --- On April 9, retired IPS officer D.G. Vanzara, 60, returned to a hero's welcome in Gandhinagar, nine years after he had been arrested in the alleged fake encounter killings of Ishrat Jahan in 2004 and of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in 2005. All through his stint in jail, he had blamed "dirty politicians" for his plight, saying they are "the real anti-nationals" and alleging that he and his colleagues were pawns in their games. Yet it's politics, he hinted, that will be his ultimate refuge. That perhaps explains his presence at the RSS meet in Ahmedabad on April 11, where Sangh volunteers apparently jostled with each other to shake hands with him, with one volunteer even touching his feet. He was greeted with a similar response three days later, when on the occasion of B.R. Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary, Dalit leaders, and even a few Congressmen, swarmed around him near the Ambedkar statue in old Ahmedabad where everyone had gathered to pay their respects to the Dalit icon. He ended up visiting nearly a dozen tents of different Dalit organisations that had set up camp there. advertisement Vanzara's imminent arrival on the political scene, on the eve of the 2017 Vidhan Sabha polls, at a time when the BJP seems to be losing its hold on the state, is significant. Though he has dropped enough hints about joining politics, he is still enigmatic about details. "Let's see where destiny takes me," he said, when asked if he would join a political party. One would think he burnt his bridges with the BJP when in his September 1, 2013, resignation letter from Sabarmati jail, he said there was "no reason to trust this government and its ace strategist Shri Amitbhai Shah, who convincingly proved himself to be completely self-centred". But when Gujarat BJP chief Vijay Rupani was asked if Vanzara would join the BJP, he first said there was no such move yet, and then hastened to add, "But who can tell the future?" Chief of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Vanzara was arrested on April 24, 2007, as a key accused in the Sohrabuddin case. He was in Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad till 2012, when the trial was shifted to Mumbai and he was sent to Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai. In 2013, he was arrested for the Ishrat Jahan case and brought back to Sabarmati jail. The Bombay High Court granted him bail in 2014, and the next year he was released on bail in the Ishrat Jahan case too, but not allowed to return to his home state. This April, the CBI court relaxed this restriction too, enabling Vanzara to return to his Gandhinagar home after nine long years. "Now my second innings has begun," Vanzara said on his return. "I fielded in the first inning, but in the second innings, I will bat and those who were after me will field. I mean the anti-nationals, traitors and political conspirators who acted against me." Vanzara at an RSS camp in Ahmedabad. Photo: Shailesh Raval Vanzara at an RSS camp in Ahmedabad. Photo: Shailesh Raval Popular support for Vanzara is palpable in Gujarat. The day he landed at the airport, in a red tee and white trousers, a crowd of ex-colleagues, family and members of his community, BJP, RSS and VHP activists and ordinary folk gathered to greet him, some wearing t-shirts emblazoned with his photograph and wearing saffron caps. They showered rose petals on him, waved the tricolour, even chanted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. He was then taken to the Town Hall in Gandhinagar, where Gujarat DGP P.P. Pandey, who is also an accused in the Ishrat Jahan case, said it was Ram Navami but it felt more like Vijaya Dashmi, and conferred on him the title of Rajarshi for "the penance he [Vanzara] has done in jail and his exploits against anti-nationals earlier". advertisement His supporters see Vanzara as someone who has made sacrifices for a bigger cause. He could easily have come out of jail, they say, had he deposed against Modi under Congress pressure by just saying that it was the Gujarat chief minister who had ordered him to bump off Ishrat and Sohrabuddin. His statement would have carried weight as Modi held charge of the home portfolio at the time while Shah was minister of state for home. "Few can deny Vanzara's popularity," says political analyst Vidyut Thakar, "not just in Gujarat but in many other parts of India. He is seen as a victim of the machinations of anti-national forces under the cloak of politics." advertisement RSS worker and businessman Haresh Thakkar concurs: "Apart from being a victim of UPA's political conspiracy, hatched by enticing some Gujarat police officials, Vanzara was also a victim of a conspiracy hatched by pro-radical Muslims or anti-national elements." He also insinuates that the CBI investigation into the Sohrabuddin case was hurriedly ordered as a quid pro quo deal with the then UPA government. Human rights activists and members of the minority community are not so convinced. "Vanzara's entry into politics will be a low in Indian politics. A villain will turn into a political hero," says Gautam Thakar, a civil rights activist. Adds veteran journalist Prakash Shah, "My worst fears about deteriorating standards in our public life stand confirmed." Vanzara remains an accused in the Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabuddin Sheikh cases. He is among the 28 accused in the Sohrabuddin case and around a dozen in the Ishrat Jahan case. Vanzara claims that under section 197 of the CrPC, the CBI should be asked not to prosecute him and all other police officers as they had acted in the "national interest". "The UPA government had denied CBI permission to prosecute four Intelligence Bureau officers in the Ishrat Jahan case in 2013. The same should be done in our case. The entire world knows that we were victims of a political conspiracy. So it needs a political but legally sound response," he told India Today. advertisement While in jail, Vanzara apparently lectured inmates on Hindu philosophy. He also authored three books in Gujarati: Vijay Path (Victory March), Sinhgarjana (Roar of a Lion) and Rann Tankar (Battle Cry), the last one a collection of poems released in 2012 by Gujarat DGP Shabbir Hussain Khandwawala. His current resolve is to dedicate himself to public life. It's what he said the day he landed in Gandhinagar: "I am in public life from today itself. When in [police] service, I served the nation by targeting anti-nationals and terrorists. Scarcely any terror attack took place in Gujarat till I and my police colleagues went to jail. Now I will serve the people by being in public service." It will all depend, of course, on whether his past will let go of him. Follow the writer on Twitter @UdayMahurkar --- ENDS --- The cab owners began their protest a day after the Supreme Court ban on diesel taxis in the national capital came into effect. The cab drivers blocked traffic on NH-8 at the Rajokri border between Delhi and Gurgaon. By India Today Web Desk: Early on Monday morning, commuters on NH-8 had a harrowing time due to a massive traffic jam caused by protesting taxi owners. The cab owners began their protest a day after the Supreme Court ban on diesel taxis in the national capital came into effect. The cab drivers blocked traffic on NH-8 at the Rajokri border between Delhi and Gurgaon. advertisement The resulting jam spread to places as far away as Ring Road and Dhaula Kuan with both carriageways on the national highway being jammed by the striking cab owners. Early in the morning, with peak traffic heading towards Gurgaon, the blockage led to a nearly 2-km-long jam. As part of an advisory, the Delhi traffic police tweeted, "Obstruction in traffic in both carriageways from Dhaula Kuan towards Gurgaon due to demonstration by taxi drivers near Rajokari Border." The commuters are having a harrowing time as they are stuck in the massive traffic jam. The apex court on Saturday had refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to CNG and banned the diesel-based taxis to run in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from May 1. Also Read Petrol and diesel taxis cannot ply in Delhi, NCR: Supreme Court --- ENDS --- Close to 800 water tankers are supplying water everyday to people in drought-hit Beed. But is that water reaching those who really need it? By Arun Singh: Marathwada is witnessing one of the worst droughts that the region has seen in the past century. Places like Latur and Beed are the worst hit. As wells and taps go dry, the government has swung into action to ensure that the locals don't go thirsty.The situation is so bad that the government had to rush a 50-wagon water train to the parched region. But water tankers arranged by the government for thirsty villages in the Marathwada region are being diverted and sold for Rs 2,000 each by local administrators to rich businessmen. advertisement People in Beed, located 137 km from Latur, are also reeling under a severe water shortage. The people of the district are largely dependent on water tankers arranged by the administration. Close to 800 water tankers are supplying water everyday to villages across this central Maharashtra region. But is that water reaching those who really need it? India Today's special investigation team visited Beed for a reality check. And the probe has revealed shocking details. Merchants of drought Water tankers meant for the thirsty population of the region are being sold to businessmen for profit. The dirty business has been authorised by local administrative officers. Our reporters posed as businessmen wanting to set up an industry in the area and met Gopal Gurkhade, the Sabhapati of Beed municipal council. Reporters told Gurkhade that they will need 2-3 tankers of water everyday. Here's the conversation that followed: Gopal Gurkhade, Sabhapati Municipal Council, Beed Reporter: How many tankers are operating? Gurkhade: Two... in the rural areas. How many tankers you need? Reporter: We will be needing at least two tankers daily. Source: I had asked him for five tankers. Reporter: No, initially we will need two tankers daily... those with 12,000-litre capacity. But we will need more water when construction of the factory roof starts. Gurkhade: No issues... our work will continue throughout the year. If the rainfall is good...you won't need any tankers. Reporter: But the condition will be like this for two more months... Gurkhade: Don't worry, we will provide you 'full' water... as much as you want. Despite the severe water shortage, the Sabhapati of the Beed Municipal council had no problem promising 36,000 litres of water a day. The villagers may be queuing up for water for hours, but that was not Gopal Gurkhade's concern. His only concern was money. Gurkhade: See, the situation here is a bit 'tight'. You'll get a tanker for Rs 2,000. Reporter: One tanker for Rs 2,000? Gurkhade: Yes, 12,000-litre tanker... Reporter: We will get water tanker for Rs 2,000...? Gurkhade: Yes, yes...you will. Use it wherever you want...we will provide you the tanker within 10km of Beed...wherever you need it. Reporter: Three tankers daily...that makes it Rs 6,000 for a day. Rs 2 lakh a month total... Gurkhade: Yes, it will be done. advertisement The deal was struck - Rs 6,000 for 36,000 litres water every day. And this was not all, Gurkhade even offered protection from police and uninterrupted power supply for the factory. Gurkhade: Now that you've come here...we will deal with every issue. Electricity, police...we will take care of them all. Reporter: Okay... Gurkhade: Police station, extortion ... we will ensure that you get all the permissions you need. Reporter: I see. Gurkhade: We will ensure that you get to meet whoever you want to. If you want to meet the collector... just call us and we will arrange it for you. India Today investigation team then met officers of Beed's Panchayat Samiti. It is the Samiti which manages the flow of water tankers to the region's thirsty villages. Our reporters got in touch with Lakshmikant, the Panchayat officer and Ghyasuddin Zuberi, the man who handles all the accounts of the tankers. Both agreed to meet us at our hotel. Here's how the deal was struck: Panchayat officer Lakshmikant. Reporter: As you know, construction work requires consistent flow of water. We will need 2-3 tankers daily. Zuberi: Of 12,000 litre capacity? Reporter: Yes Lakshmikant: 12x3= 36,000 litres water... Zuberi: Thoda kam jyada ho... Reporter: That's okay... we are not going to measure every litre. Zuberi: You be assured. Will give you more, not less. Reporter: Great! We are counting on you then... Lakshmikant: He (source) told me you are a big industrialist. This is risky ...you know Panchayat accountant Ghyasuddin Zuberi. advertisement The two admitted that sending tankers for private use was a big risk, but had a simple plan to ensure that tankers reach the 'factory site' without any hitch. The tankers would deliver water at night, without any government identification on them. Reporter: But how will the tankers reach the site? We won't be caught right? Lakshmikant: No, no. Tankers will operate at night. Though these tankers are being operated by the administration, there will be no identification plate on them. Tankers will come, unload water at your site and leave. Reporter: Alright. I will direct the labourers to be present at the construction site after 7 or 8 pm. Next day the two met India Today reporters again to discuss money and finalise the deal. Reporter: Rs 2,000 per tanker... which means it will be Rs 4,000 per day. What will be the payment schedule like? Daily or monthly. Lakshmikant: Why don't we do it weekly? You can pay us once every eight days. Reporter: Okay. We have no issues. Payment will be made every Saturday. If we will get... suppose three tankers daily then 8x6= 48. We will pay you Rs 48,000 per week. Zuberi, Lakshmikant: That's right. okay. advertisement So, for Rs 48,000 a week, water meant for Beed's parched villagers was sold to construct a factory. There was no limit to the amount of water we could ask for, as long as we had the money. In the course of the probe, India Today's special investigation team also met Beed's Nayab Tehsildar Kama Kute. She's the one who is supposed to have first hand idea of the terrible situation in her district. But when we told her that we needed water tankers to set up a factory, she was more than willing to help. Reporter: What we are saying is... nearly 50 tankers are being sent to villages. Can we not get two tankers from those... Kute: Well, I can do that. We will send one tanker in the village and another one to your construction site. Reporter: Yes, that's great India Today reporters asked Kamal Kute, if she can divert a tanker meant for one of the villages to our construction site and she agreed. All she needed was permission from her boss. We met Ashok Nandlangaonkar, Tehsildar, Beed, next. Reporter: Sir, our construction work will start from the 15th. We need your help and permission to go ahead. We need 2-3 tankers daily till the rains arrive. We are also planning to contruct company's guest house here. Tehsildar: Ok, will give my approval Reporter: What we only want is regular water supply for construction...that's it. Tehsildar: ok, ok. You are welcome Reporter: Thank you sir... and what will be the amount? Tehsildar: You give it to him (to a office person)... After a brief introduction, in the first meeting itself, the Tehsildar of Beed was also on board. He, however, did not talk about or take money. The reason was revealed to us by his junior, Kamal Kute, later. Nandlangaonkar did not want to be caught on CCTV camera taking any money. So, he send the Kute to meet us outside office to work out the deal. The Nayab Tehsildat met us with her husband at our hotel. Next day, Kute met India Today reporters and the deal was finalised. Rs 2,000 for one tanker. But before leaving, India Today's special investigation team met with Beed Tehsildar Ashok Nandlangaonkar once again. This time we asked him if we could install a borewell at our plot. Boring beyond 200 feet is illegal in the state and a person can be jailed for defying the law. But even this illegality was not an issue with the Tehsildar That Marathwada is facing nature's fury is a fact. But unfortunately, water scarcity has more to do with the local administration's callous attitude than to nature. Also Read: Latur: The great thirst India Today special report: Sugarcane, not IPL, responsible for Maharashtra's drought Train with 5 lakh litres of water reaches drought-hit Latur in Maharashtra --- ENDS --- The boats were conventional boats and after removing the diesel engines, eco-friendly chargeable batteries have been fixed with other modifications. By Rajat Rai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday distributed 'e boats' in his constituency Varanasi. According to Modi, the scheme is an attempt at reducing pollution and the environment friendly solar powered 'e boats' will also help keep the Ganga clean. Handing over 11 'e boats' to the local boatmen at the Assi Ghat, Modi said, "This will be a surprise for tourists as they will be keen to come to Varanasi and take a ride on e-boats. This will not only boost tourism but will also benefit the boatmen as they will be able to save Rs 500/day on diesel". advertisement The boats were conventional boats and after removing the diesel engines, eco-friendly chargeable batteries have been fixed with other modifications. Urging the boatmen, Modi said "Whatever money you save, use it for the the well being for your children - their food and education". Addressing a gathering on Assi Ghat, Modi said, "Our approach is in stark contrast with the governments of the past which cared only for vote banks and devised poverty alleviation schemes which never aimed at eradicating poverty as such but only garnering votes of the poor during elections. After the launch of seven satellites recently, we felt a desire to name these after Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Shayma Prasad Mukerjee. But ultimately we heeded the call of our conscience and called these satellites Navik which means boatman. In this way we have aimed at imparting dignity to the boatmen who have rendered invaluable service towards making the ancient city of Kashi famous around the world," he said. Modi also appealed to the people of Varanasi to keep the city clean and green. "It is not my Kashi or your Kashi - it is our Kashi. Let us take a pledge to keep our Kashi and Ganga green and clean," he said. Modi also distributed 1,001 erickshaws at the DLW grounds. Distributed in assistance with the Bharat Micro Credit (BMC), soon an App will also be made available to book e rickshaws online. Also read: India launches new e-trading platform for farmers --- ENDS --- The second episode of season 6, titled Home, is a build up of some major wars to come. And fans finally get an answer on the fate of Jon Snow. By Samonway Duttagupta: Let us warn you right here: there are major spoilers ahead! As expected, Home, the second episode of this season opens inside the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven. Bran gets visions of the past--a happier Winterfell, wherein his father is still a young boy taking sword fighting lessons with his younger brother Benjen Stark. Lyanna Stark and young Hodor are also seen in the sequence. Bran's visions give us hints of some big revelations from the past, including the speculation on Jon Snow's birth--the formula R + L = J. Enough said. Castle Black is safe, well for Jon's corpse and his friends and Ser Davos, we mean. Remember his friend Edd--the one who went to get the wildlings' help? So, the Night's Watch is technically under the wildlings. Seven Hells! Ever imagined the wildlings at Castle Black? One starts wondering, Ser Alliser Thorne was not entirely wrong. Yes, we know that he has been a traitor as well to have plotted the murder of his Lord Commander. advertisement However, things are in favour of Jon Snow, or let's say his corpse. Until, the Red Woman comes to good use--just as fans had speculated. Well, we are going to close this chapter right here. Winterfell is nothing more than a cold place, in every way possible, and we have known that since the Boltons captured it. But the place got even darker in this episode. Or should we say, Ramsay made sure it did. Be ready to see a few brutal (read: shocking) deaths here. Brienne, Sansa, Theon and Podrick have set up a safe camp on the way to Castle Black. There's some serious conversation happening between the two ladies. Theon is sorry for what he did to the Starks, and he wants to go home. We see the Iron Islands and its resident Greyjoys once again. Yara still wants to rescue her brother Theon. A major character dies here and a new ruler emerges. And we would save it for you to find out. Down south in King's Landing, Tommen shows the first signs of his power. True, we almost forgot that he is King Tommen. Nothing major happens here, but expect some bloodbath in the upcoming episodes, as a civilian war against the High Sparrow and his army is brewing. We get clear signs of that. King Tommen is just about to give the orders. He is missing his wife, after all! Tyrion, as always, does something really interesting in Meereen. He shows some major guts as he faces the dragons. You will have to watch the episode to find out what happen next. But we can assure you that the Imp shows some promise, just as he did when was once the Hand of the King. You will once again see a strategic side of him. He is doing something good for himself and most likely for Dany's future. The second episode of Game of Thrones was more of a build-up of the wars that are likely to come. On the other hand, Jon Snow's big reveal indicates a major change in the plot. Brace yourself, it's the calm before the big storm in the Seven Kingdoms! (The writer tweets at @SamonwayDg) By PTI: New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) Google today honoured renowned Indian cartoonist Mario de Miranda with a doodle on his 90th birth anniversary. The Padmashri and Padma Vibhushan awardee cartoonist was known for his trademark stylish strokes which told detailed colourful stories with shades of humour, largely based on life in Mumbai and Goa. The commemorative doodle was created by another comic artist Aaron Renier known for portraying large crowds. advertisement It shows a rainstorm scene in a crowded Mumbai, with the hazy hint of a prominent landmark building and people of various communities that spice up Mumbai in their traditional attire, running around. "I approached Marios work by pretending I was drawing with him. I chose his most popular style, very flat with criss-crossing interactions. In this homage to Miranda, we see a rich litany of people, each unique in their perspective," Renier was quoted as saying in an official statement. "That is what I liked most about his work, trying to pick out who knows who, whos watching who, whos annoyed by who, whos enamoured by who. Hopefully people will see something of (Mirandas) spirit in it," he added. The doodle depicts people struggling with their umbrellas, newspapers, a spontaneous lovers hug, the typical dog chasing a stray cat and dragging his master on the leash. On a ground floor is someone quietly observing the goings -on outside, on the first floor a woman absently empties the bucket of water onto the roads after cleaning her home, while on the left side appears an image resembling Miranda himself struggling with his next creation on the canvas. Miranda died of natural causes at his home in Loutolim in Goa in 2011. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and was conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2012. PTI GJS SUA RT SUA --- ENDS --- Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, who shared screen space in the 2014 hit film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, might soon reunite for the sequel to the film. By India Today Web Desk: In the last few days, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan have often been clicked outside Karan Johar's office. And these frequent visits led to rumours that KJo's most-ambitious project Shuddhi might still see the light of the day. But it seems that isn't the case. The trio has reunited for another film, which is said to be a sequel to the 2014 hit film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. advertisement ALSO READ: Has Karan Johar's Shuddhi been put off? ALSO READ: Don't know what bad omen Shuddhi is going through, says Karan Johar Alia and Varun, who were seen together in the romantic drama, teased their fans with a new poster. Varun, who essayed the role of a brash Delhi boy in the film, took to Twitter to share a still from Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and wrote, "I hear the 1st ever love franchise is in the air! (sic)" I hear the 1st ever love franchise is in the air! @dharmamovies @karanjohar @aliaa08 is that for real?? pic.twitter.com/5UvSLDe7hM Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) May 2, 2016 Even Alia, who played his ladylove in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, shared the same poster but refused to divulge details. I hear the 1st ever love franchise is in the air! @dharmamovies @karanjohar @aliaa08 is that for real?? pic.twitter.com/5UvSLDe7hM Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) May 2, 2016 And the cryptic messages between the two left the fans all the more confused. If reports are to be believed, the trio has joined hands for Badrinath Ki Dulhania, a sequel to Johar's Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. In fact, in a recent interview to PTI, Varun confirmed the news that Shuddhi isn't happening any time soon and the three have moved on to a new project. "Shuddhi is not happening now but I am doing another project with Dharma (productions), which will be announced soon," he told the reporters. But it seems the fans would have to wait a day more to know what exactly is cooking among the trio. KJo has decided to spill the beans tomorrow (May 3) at 4 PM. Hey guys!! All Qs to be answered tomorrow at 4PM! Humpty still has his Dulhania BUT... @aliaa08 @varun_dvn @dharmamovies Karan Johar (@karanjohar) May 2, 2016 If this turns out to be true, Alia and Varun fans are in for a treat as they would get to see their favourite jodi once again on the silver screen. advertisement On the work front, Alia is currently busy shooting for Gauri Shinde's next with Shah Rukh Khan, while Varun will next be seen in brother Rohit Dhawan's action drama Dishoom. --- ENDS --- India Today sting showed Beed Panchayat officials selling 12,000-litre water tankers for as low as Rs 2,000 each. By India Today Web Desk: Hours after India Today sting exposed the dirty business of water tankers meant for people of drought-hit Marathwada region being diverted and sold to rich businessmen, the Beed administration suspended the accused local administrators. India Today sting showed Beed Panchayat officials selling 12,000-litre water tankers for as low as Rs 2,000 each. Two officers of Beed Panchayat Samiti Lakshmikant and Ghyasuddin Zuberi were suspended after India Today sting showed them taking money to sell water tankers meant for villagers of the parched region to reporters posing as businessmen. advertisement Beed District Collector has also summoned Beed Zila Panchayat CEO and ordered a departmental enquiry into the case. The collector has also asked concerned officials to report to him whether they have come across more such cases of government arranged water tankers being diverted to local industries. People in Beed, located 137 km from Latur, are reeling under a severe water shortage. The people of the district are largely dependent on water tankers arranged by the administration. Close to 800 water tankers are supplying water everyday to villages across this central Maharashtra region. But local administrators are diverting these water tankers to whoever can pay them in the parched region. Also Read: Exposed: Water tankers meant for thirsty being sold to rich businessmen in parched Marathwada India Today special report: Sugarcane, not IPL, responsible for Maharashtra's drought --- ENDS --- Rising Pune Supergiants have called in Australia batsman George Bailey as the replacement for injured Faf du Plessis in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League. By India Today Web Desk: Rising Pune Supergiants have called in Australia batsman George Bailey as the replacement for injured Faf du Plessis. Pune have been marred by injuries this season losing their key players one after the other. Out-of-favour England batsman Kevin Pietersen was the first Supergiants player to be ruled out after he suffered a calf injury in a home game against Kolkata Knight Riders. Faf du Plessis and Mitchell Marsh tailed Pietersen to add to Pune's woes. (Full Coverage|Points Table) advertisement On Sunday, MS Dhoni's team was dealt a huge blow as their in-form Australia batsman was sidelined with a wrist injury. "It is a challenging time. Before we could settle down we lost the core group of players around whom you build a team around," Raghu Iyer, Supergiants' chief executive was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. Iyer believes Bailey's experience will help Pune Supergiants, who are reeling at the sixth spot with only two wins from eight matches, make a comeback in this season. "We lost four crucial players, but we are looking ahead. Bailey has tremendous experience and had a very successful season before last. He can contribute to the leadership group ." Bailey led Kings XI Punjab in the last season of the IPL. Also, he had played under Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings during the third and the fourth seasons of the league. Bailey has 579 IPL runs at 25.17, with a strike rate 129.82. Pune have already named Usman Khawaja as Pietersen's replacement and Iyer assured they would rope in a player to replace all-rounder Marsh in the next two days. --- ENDS --- According to The Sunday Times, the hackers have links with Britain and call themselves 'Islamic State Hacking Division' and circulated online the names, home addresses and photographs of more than 70 US staff. By Press Trust of India: ISIS hackers have published a "hit list" of over 70 US military personnel who have been involved in drone strikes against terror targets in Syria and asked their followers to "kill them wherever they are". According to 'The Sunday Times', the hackers have links with Britain and call themselves 'Islamic State Hacking Division' and circulated online the names, home addresses and photographs of more than 70 US staff, including women and urged supporters: "Kill them wherever they are, knock on their doors and behead them, stab them, shoot them in the face or bomb them." advertisement The group also claimed that it might have a mole in the UK's Ministry of Defence and threatened to publish "secret intelligence" in the future that could identify Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) drone operators. The new hit list features the ISIS flag above the heading: 'Target - United States Military' and the document, circulated via Twitter and posted on the JustPaste website, states: "You crusaders that can only attack the soldiers of the Islamic State with joysticks and consoles, die in your rage! "Your military has no courage, neither has your president as he still refuses to send troops. So instead you press buttons thousands of miles away in your feeble attempt to fight us. "A nation of cowards that holds no bravery as you resort to sending your remote-controlled unmanned Reaper and Predator drones to attack us from the skies. So this is for you, America. "These 75 crusaders are posted as targets for our brothers and sisters in America and worldwide to hunt down and kill." The group also warned: "In our next leak we may even disclose secret intelligence the Islamic State has just received from a source the brothers in the UK have spent some time acquiring from the Ministry of Defence in London as we slowly and secretly infiltrate England and the USA online and off." At the bottom of the ISIS document is an image of the Statue of Liberty with its head cut off. The ISIS hacking division was previously led by Junaid Hussain, a former British Muslim computer hacker from Birmingham who was killed in a US drone strike in Syria last August. His wife, Sally Jones, a Muslim convert from Kent in the UK, is still believed to be involved in the organisation, which in the past has urged "lone wolf" attacks against RAF bases in the UK. Inquiries made by 'The Sunday Times' found that the names on the American hit list are genuine. However, the information published by ISIS does not appear to be the result of a leak or genuine hack. Instead, the group seems to have painstakingly gleaned the names of Reaper and Predator drone operators from news articles and military newsletters, before matching them to addresses, photos and other personal details from publicly available sources on the internet. advertisement Also read: Cash-strapped ISIS killing injured fighters to sell organs ISIS-destroyed Palmyra Arch in Syria recreated in London --- ENDS --- Nihad Barakat said the man who was widely suspected to be the "new Jihadi John" from IS videos was now one of the most senior commanders among foreign fighters in Mosul, the group's Iraqi stronghold. By Indo-Asian News Service: A Yazidi teenager who was allegedly held as a sex slave by Islamic State has said she was kidnapped and trafficked by an Indian origin British jihadist and likely masked executioner Siddhartha Dhar. Nihad Barakat said the man who was widely suspected to be the "new Jihadi John" from IS videos was now one of the most senior commanders among foreign fighters in Mosul, the group's Iraqi stronghold. advertisement The Independent reported that Dhar, a former British Hindu who preferred to go by the nickname Abu Rumaysah after his conversion to Islam, skipped police bail to travel to Syria with his wife and young children in 2014. He has since taken a number of Yazidi sex slaves for himself, and played a key role in the capture and trafficking, according to Barakat. Barakat was just 16 when she and 27 members of her family were kidnapped by IS militants after the fall of Sinjar province in Iraq two years ago. Barakat says the first man she was forced to marry was the notorious Australian extremist Abdul Salam Mahmoud -- one and a half months before he was killed in Syria, a fact which made headlines around the world. Describing her initial capture to presenter Joseph Hayat, she said: "The ISIS leaders told us we had to convert to Islam or we will be killed." "They separated us into three groups, men, married women and single women, then took the single women and girls to Mosul." "Sometimes they would come and take girls for their pleasure. They did everything to the girls." It was difficult to verify that the "Abu Dhar" who kidnapped Barakat was the same man as the most-wanted British jihadi. As well as Dhar's legal name and his "kunya" -- or nickname -- Abu Rumaysah, he has also gone by the name Saiful Islam since his conversion in his late teens. He was thought to have replaced Mohammed Emwazi -- known as "Jihadi John" before he was killed in a drone strike -- as the masked apparent executioner of hostages in IS videos. --- ENDS --- Former South Africa player Jonty Rhodes was spotted offering prayer for his daughter India at the Pejawar Mutt in Mumbai. By India Today Web Desk: Former South Africa player Jonty Rhodes is managing his time between the training drills with the Mumbai Indians camp and being on pilgrimage trips in India. The fielding sensation was spotted draped in traditional attire at the Pejawar Mutt in Mumbai. Rhodes had performed prayers with his family at the temple. Jonty didn't miss out on any ritual during the puja performed for the well-being of his daughter, India Jeanne Rhodes. Performing Puja for baby India A photo posted by @jontyrhodes8 on May 1, 2016 at 5:54am PDT advertisement Rhodes and his family were at the Annamalaiyar Temple in Tamil Nadu recently. Jonty was accompanied by his wife and his three sons as well. Blessed to be in India; Annamalaiya Temple in Tamil Nadu #landofherbirth A photo posted by @jontyrhodes8 on Apr 24, 2016 at 11:33pm PDT The Proteas player had revealed last year that the rich cultural and the geographical diversity of India inspired him to name his daughter after the country. --- ENDS --- Ever since Justice TS Thakur took over as CJI in December 2015, he has been preparing his staff and colleagues for the tasks ahead and hoping to get cooperation from other stakeholders: the central and state governments as well as the lawyers. It was sad to see the Chief Justice of India (CJI) make an emotional appeal to the prime minister at a joint conference of chief ministers and high court chief justices in Delhi on April 25. The CJI broke down, bemoaning the lack of sufficient number of judges to handle the avalanche of litigation. One can understand his predicament. Ever since Justice TS Thakur took over as CJI in December 2015, he has been preparing his staff and colleagues for the tasks ahead and hoping to get cooperation from other stakeholders: the central and state governments as well as the lawyers. advertisement Prof NR Madhava Menon Unfortunately, the central government is yet to recover from the stinging rejection of the NJAC Act by the judiciary, restoring the much-maligned collegium system of appointing judges. It is not easy to get the revised memorandum of procedures approved by both sides and the process is likely to generate hiccups in the future as well. The CJI mentioned two more factors behind the delay: lawyers' refusal to give up their vacations to speed up cases, and the reluctance of states, under whom the subordinate judiciary functions, to do anything to increase the number of courts and judges, as desired by the Supreme Court in its 2005 judgement. For many of them, the judiciary is not a revenue-generating department and, hence, a low priority for investment. In a recent meeting of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms of the Government of India, it was revealed that there was a steady decrease in capital expenditure by many states in the last 3-4 years on court administration. At the same time, some of the states collected, by way of court fee and fines, double the amount of their capex investment. One state had invested just Rs 4 crore in one year, but collected, through administration of justice, Rs 203 crore. If the information is revealed to the litigant public, they will take the fight against their respective state governments and spare the CJI from the sordid task of convincing politicians again and again. While an increase in the number of courts and judges is a desirable solution, the systems and sub-systems in judiciary contribute to avoidable delay and have not received the attention they deserve, either from the executive or the judiciary. Delay is inherent in the adversarial model of litigation, as structured by the Civil Procedure Court, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act. Many countries thus have opted for non-adversarial systems of dispute resolution and diverted cases for negotiated settlements without trial. Though India amended its laws to divert civil cases for mediated settlements and criminal cases for plea bargained disposals about 10 years ago, no headway has been made to reduce cases listed for regular trials. Judges and lawyers alone are responsible for this. Clearly, we operate a 21st century system with 20th century structures and a 19th century mindset. Consider the family courts, the juvenile justice boards and the gram nyayalayas-specialised courts supposed to resolve disputes expeditiously, through non-adversarial adjudication and minus procedure and evidence technicalities. Parliament has gone to the extent of excluding appearance by lawyers. Yet most are buried under unresolved cases, forcing the poor to litigate in regular courts. When resources are limited, work is organised according to priorities and on principles of management. But with the judiciary, old cases are allowed to become older while newly filed cases are taken up. Judges trained in one jurisdiction are transferred to jurisdictions they are poorly-equipped in. They are burdened with administrative responsibility, sacrificing judicial time and court work. advertisement Intelligent management of courts and cases requires credible, updated data on status of docket and stage of proceeding, almost on a daily basis. This task can hardly be addressed without modern technology. While some courts are moving in that direction, many others continue without technological support in management of systems. One major issue causing delay, which politicians and judges avoid talking about, is the reform of the Bar. Organised like a pyramid, 'superstar' lawyers monopolise all well-paid litigation at the top and refuse to cooperate with courts, as their presence is required in multiple courts at the same time. They seek adjournments, by means fair and foul, and cause delay. Even when they can manage through written advocacy, they avoid doing so-possibly to please clients and justify the huge fees they charge. The Bar Councils, which can discipline lawyers, are either indifferent to the malaise or participate in the loot themselves. And the government has taken no steps to amend the Advocates Act, to ensure competence and professionalism. advertisement The CJI is right: it's not just the judges. The government and lawyers are no less responsible for our crumbling edifice of justice. The author is founder VC, NLSIU, Bangalore, and NUJS, Kolkata Also read: CJI Thakur makes emotional appeal to PM Modi, calls for increasing judge strength --- ENDS --- Rumour has it that Aditya Pancholi's wife Zarina Wahab has moved out of her home along with daughter Sana because of Aditya's comments on the Adhyayan Suman-Kangana Ranaut mess. By India Today Web Desk: Adhyayan Suman's shocking interview about his ex-girlfriend Kangana Ranaut last Thursday (April 28) ruffled numerous feathers in the Hindi film industry. The interview came at a time when Kangana and Hrithik Roshan are at loggerheads with each other, what with numerous legal suits and accusations from both sides. ALSO READ: Kangana's ex-boyfriend Adhyayan Suman says she did black magic on him ALSO READ: Welcome to the circus, my friend, Aditya Pancholi warned Adhyayan Suman about Kangana ALSO READ: Kangana's obsession with Hrithik started during Kites, says ex-boyfriend Adhyayan Suman In his interview to DNA, Adhyayan Suman had said how Aditya Pancholi, who was in a relationship with Kangana before Suman, had warned him about Ranaut. Adhyayan had said, "Haal-E-Dil was releasing and Kangana had come for the premiere. I remember Aditya Pancholi was standing at the exit and Kangana was just walking out. He stopped me, looked into my eyes and said, 'Welcome to the circus my friend and all the best!' I didn't understand at that time. Kangana clarified, saying that Aditya did that to intimidate people with her." advertisement Soon after the interview was published, the nearly-forgotten Adhyayan-Kangana saga made its way to the lip-tips of many people. At a special screening of Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor's Baaghi that evening, the media sprung the question at Aditya Pancholi, who was present at the event. When he was asked whether or not he had actually warned Adhyayan about getting into a relationship with Kangana, Pancholi apparently said, "Kaun hai woh? Kiski baat kar rahe ho? Usko leke aa re tu!" a DNA report said. Aditya Pancholi flanked by daughter Sana and son Sooraj Later, the tabloid went on to quote Pancholi as saying that his comments were apparently misinterpreted. "My comments were misinterpreted. When the camera lights were flashing on my face and someone asked me out of the blue on Adhyayan, I didn't know who the camera guy and journalist asking me the questions were. When I said 'Kaun hai woh? Usko leke aa re tu!' I meant the guy who was flashing a bright light in my face when I was trying to talk. That comment was not about Adhyayan." Here is the video which shows Aditya Pancholi answering the question on Adhyayan Suman: However, it seems whoever his comments were meant for, none of it went down all too well with Pancholi's wife Zarina Wahab. According to reports in the media, Zarina has supposedly moved out of her Mumbai residence, along with daughter Sana, and flown to Hyderabad till things between her and Aditya are sorted. Reports claim that Zarina had apparently asked her husband right after his answer to the question on Adhyayan, "Who asked you to roll down your windows and talk?" For the uninitiated, Aditya Pancholi was in a relationship with Kangana for more than five years. After that, Kangana went on to dating Adhyayan Suman. By PTI: Colombo, May 2 (PTI) Sri Lanka has set up a special panel to probe its nationals named in the "Panama Papers", the finance minister said today while promising to investigate "each and every" Sri Lankan tax evader who may figure in the leaked documents. Sri Lankans are said to figure in the leaked documents and the government of President Maithripala Sirisena, which came to power in January on a promise to clean up corruption, said it would probe "each and every Sri Lankan" whose names were likely to figure in the documents to be made public on May 9. advertisement The Sirisena government has accused former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of large-scale corruption and siphoning off billions of dollars during his decade-long tenure. Rajapaksa has denied the charges. The Finance Ministry has set up a special panel to probe individuals named in the 11.5 million documents on global tax evasion leaked from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. "Any names there we will write to them and compel them to respond, we will also use the diplomatic channels to gather information," Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. He told reporters the panel will consist of officials from the finance ministry, exchange control department and inland revenue department. "The panel will look into the names that will come up in the Panama Papers, as well as those already named in Offshore Leaks." Karunanayake also accused the Rajapaksa regime of failing to probe 46 Sri Lankans whose names figured in 2013 in the Offshore Leaks by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). One such official holding a high government position resigned recently allowing an investigation. PTI CORR ABH AKJ ABH --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) Malaysia today said the 16 countries, including India, need to "work harder" to seal the RCEP deal by the year-end amid persisting differences over various issues such as tariff cuts and market access. Malaysian Minister for Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed, who is currently on a visit to India, said countries involved in the negotiations need to "work harder" to achieve the year-end deadline for conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). advertisement Elaborating on hurdles being faced in the negotiations, he said there were issues related to scheduling of market access and a "higher level of ambition" in terms of some countries wanting steeper tariff cuts. "It (RCEP) is going to be a historic agreement when it is completed hopefully by the end of 2016," Mohamed said while addressing business leaders at a meeting organised by Ficci. Besides, the Minister told reporters he had a "good meeting" with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman where the two discussed issues including review of the free trade agreement between India and Malaysia. The Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA), which came into force in 2011, was slated to be reviewed after five years. Besides, Mohamed said he expects bilateral trade to touch USD 15 billion by 2017. Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia stood at USD 13.84 billion in 2014, but came down to USD 12 billion in 2015. Mohamed attributed the decline in bilateral trade to the sharp depreciation in Malaysias currency Ringgit witnessed in 2015. "We hope this year there will be some recovery in bilateral trade," he said. RCEP is being negotiated amongst the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) trading bloc - Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, Bangkok and Philippines with six of its partner countries - China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. The mega trade deal aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights. The pact has assumed greater significance post the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) accord led by the US. Indian industry is apprehensive that the TPP will adversely impact Indias exports. India has offered to open its market the most for ASEAN countries -- with which it has an FTA in place -- and has proposed to eliminate duties or tariffs on 80 per cent of items for the 10 nation bloc. Besides, the Minister invited Indian businesses to invest in Malaysia, describing Malaysia as the gateway to the ASEAN market. advertisement He said that Indian investments in Malaysia amount to only USD 1.3 billion, which is far less than the USD 4.1 worth of Malaysian investments into India. PTI RSN MKJ --- ENDS --- Within a month of its launch, the startup portal has received over 200 registration. Now, to move the startup movement forward, particularly in smaller cities, the Centre is in the process of joining hands with states to set up start up hub. By Kumar Vikram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship scheme 'Start Up India' meant to boost digital entrepreneurship at the grassroots level has received huge response from budding entrepreneurs. Within a month of its launch, the startup portal has received over 200 registration. Now, to move the startup movement forward, particularly in smaller cities, the Centre is in the process of joining hands with states to set up start up hub. advertisement PM Modi kicked off the ambitious Start Up India movement in January. Thereafter, the DIPP launched the startup web portal and mobile app to provide a single point contact for the entire startup ecosystem in April. The portal is meant to enable startups to avail tax benefits announced in the startup action plan. Shailendra Singh, Joint Secretary, DIPP said that the startup portal has received huge response within one month and over 200 people have come up for registration of their start ups. "The board meeting will be held in May to decide about the certificates. The start-up with innovative ideas will be given certificates," said the officer. DIPP has also set up an Inter-ministerial board to verify the eligibility of start-ups opting to avail tax and IPRrelated benefits. The officer said that the department is engaging with state governments in building incubation capacities for young entrepreneurs. "This is the basic requirement for any startup to take off. States partnership is necessary. The department will provide full handholding. The department has written to the states on this," added Singh. Modi government has already declared the fund for startups in the Budget and accordingly Rs 2,500 crore each year would be released over next four years to SIDBI. All the tax benefits will be extended to budding entrepreneurs after the passage of the Finance Bill. Speaking about the web platform for startups, Himanshu Gupta, a budding entrepreneur who has come up with a web based rental solution, said that it has become very helpful for the people like him to register as a startup without making rounds of offices. "I have already started my website kirayewala.in. I have gone though the startup portal and very soon I will register with it. This is very helpful as it gives real-time verification certificate," said Gupta. Himanshu said the PM's scheme has inspired him to quit his job and to start his own venture. He said that portal Kirayewala.in was started very recently and it is getting thousands of clicks per day. "We are working on innovate ideas to provide all kinds of rental solution. Government's scheme will be very helpful for us in availing various benefits as a startup," he added. The startup portal provides with a realtime recognition certificate. Moreover, start-ups can also find information regarding various notifications issued by government ministries and information about incubators and funding agencies. advertisement Also, the site features the Startup India Hub, established within Invest India, which is a single point of contact for the ecosystem enabling exchange of knowledge. This works like a hub and spoke model with governments, VCs, angel funds, incubators, mentors. It also assists start-ups through their lifecycle, on all aspects, such as providing mentorship, incubator facilities, IPR support and funding. Government incentives include a tax holiday and 'inspector raj'-free regime for three years, capital gains tax exemption and funding of startups. To reduce the regulatory burden on startups, a self-certification scheme in respect of nine labour and environment laws has also been initiated by various government departments. Also read: Startup India: 19 key points of PM Modi's action plan --- ENDS --- The Moto G4 is coming to India on May 17. By India Today Web Desk: Motorola had launched the Moto G3 last year in July. This year, the company is starting a little early and is planning to unveil the Moto G4 soon. Yet, again the new Moto is going to be one of the most important phones for the company because it is expected to offer the similar delectable mix of performance and price that has made earlier Moto G phones such big hits. While we will know more about the Moto G4 in the coming days, but already we have a lot of information about it. In fact, Motorola has started teasing about it. The autofocus ruined Stacy's 18th birthday picture. Stop #missing on milestones with a better camera. Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/gXxhGwTI50 Moto India (@Moto_IND) May 2, 2016 advertisement Launch date in India: May 17 (this is confirmed). Also read: Motorola Moto G4 to launch on May 17 Variants: Expect two variants similar to how Apple offers it for the iPhone 6S. This means there will be one Moto G4 with regular screen size (likely to be around 5 inches) and there will be one with the screen size of 5.5 inches. Both will have FullHD screen. Price: The new Moto G4 is likely to be pricier compared to the earlier Moto G phones. Reason? Lenovo, which own Motorola, now wants to position the Moto phones as somewhat more premium devices. It is expected that the price of the Moto G4 in India could be as high as Rs 18,000. Processor: It is confirmed that the Moto G4 is coming with an octa-core processor. We suspect that it is going to be Qualcomm Snapdragon 615. This should give a healthy speed boost to the phone compared to the Moto G3, which uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 410. Also Read: Moto G4 leaked, shows fingerprint sensor below screen Camera: Expect a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera. One special feature of the phone is likely to be fast dual autofocus system. Storage: Expect minimum 16GB internal storage and at least 3GB RAM. Battery: It is going to have 3,000 mAh battery with turbo charging. Other features: Fingerprint is confirmed. And so is the dual-SIM feature. Software: Like other Moto phones, the Moto G4 will run an almost unmodified version of Android Marshmallow aka Android 6. Design: The Moto G4 will have a body made of plastic. However, it is likely to be water-proof and the will have extremely thin bezels around the screen. Update: The Moto India Twitter handle is now going all out promoting its upcoming device. According to the teasers dropped by the Moto India, it seems that we will two versions of the Moto G4 on May 17. Also, more RAM, a faster camera and faster core hardware compared to the G3 has been hinted at, confirming that the specifications we talked about are real. Also read: Moto G Turbo Virat Kohli Edition launched in India for Rs 16,999 The incident occurred when the youth, who incidentally also goes by the name of Nitish Kumar, came to meet the CM and hand over his request at the Janata ka Darbar. By Press Trust of India: A youth allegedly tried to fling his slipper at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public interaction programme here but was arrested by the police. The incident occurred when the youth, who incidentally also goes by the name of Nitish Kumar, came to meet the CM and hand over his request at the Janata ka Darbar. advertisement As the accused, a resident of Arwal district bent down to take off his chappal, he was immediately caught by a posse of security men. Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told reporters the youth has been arrested and taken to Sachivalaya police station for detailed questioning, the SSP said. At the Janata ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri programme at the Chief Minister's residence people present their grievances and the CM directs officials to initiate action. It emerged that the youth had created some ugly scenes earlier too at the Janata Darbar programme of senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi recently. The grievance of the youth was not very clear but officials said he was apparently angry over the state government's recent advisory against use of fire for cooking and hawan, etc between 9 AM to 6 PM to curb increasing incidents of fire. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Patna, May 2 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said there was no proposal to appoint Bollywood stars like Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of the state. The Chief Minister also said every citizen is a brand ambassador. "I read such things (considering Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai) in news papers only as brand ambassador of Bihar. But, there is no such proposal before the government," Kumar told reporters during his "Janata ke Darbar me Mukhya Mantri" programme. advertisement "For me every Bihari going out of the state is a brand ambassador of the state to tell the turn around story of the state to the people," the CM said. "The citizens who are themselves witness to the progress taking place in the state are the best brand ambassador. We do not need others for this," he added. Media reports had suggested chances of appointing actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha as brand ambassador of Bihar on the lines mega star Amitabh Bachchan was appointed to promote Gujarat. News items had also hinted chances of Bollywood actress Rekha and even star Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of Bihar. Shatrughan Sinha, second term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, and Manoj Bajpai, born in Bihar, had said though there was no official word to them about proposal for appointment as brand ambassador of Bihar, if asked, they would love to serve their mother state. PTI SNS CR DBS --- ENDS --- By PTI: Patna, May 2 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said there was no proposal to appoint Bollywood stars like Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of the state. The Chief Minister also said every citizen is a brand ambassador. "I read such things (considering Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai) in news papers only as brand ambassador of Bihar. But, there is no such proposal before the government," Kumar told reporters during his "Janata ke Darbar me Mukhya Mantri" programme. advertisement "For me every Bihari going out of the state is a brand ambassador of the state to tell the turn around story of the state to the people," the CM said. "The citizens who are themselves witness to the progress taking place in the state are the best brand ambassador. We do not need others for this," he added. Media reports had suggested chances of appointing actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha as brand ambassador of Bihar on the lines mega star Amitabh Bachchan was appointed to promote Gujarat. News items had also hinted chances of Bollywood actress Rekha and even star Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of Bihar. Shatrughan Sinha, second term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, and Manoj Bajpai, born in Bihar, had said though there was no official word to them about proposal for appointment as brand ambassador of Bihar, if asked, they would love to serve their mother state. PTI SNS CR DBS PS --- ENDS --- By PTI: From K J M Varma Beijing, May 2 (PTI) Outspoken Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang has been slapped with one-year imprisonment for criticising President Xi Jinpings comments that the countrys official media should show absolute loyalty to ruling Communist Party. The Communist Party committee in Beijings Xicheng district said in a notice today that Ren, who has been called "China?s Donald Trumph", had been placed on probation for a year for seriously violating the partys political discipline, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. advertisement Ren, 65, was the former head of real estate firm Hua Yuan Property. In Chinese legal terminology probation meant short term incarceration. Ren, also known as Cannon Ren for his outspoken comments, had on several occasions made improper remarks through online platforms such as popular Chinese microblogging site Weibo, the notice said. It, however, did not specify which of Rens remarks were improper, the Post reported. The notice said Ren had repeatedly posted such comments online that violated the partys "four basic principles" as well as its policy and direction. Ren who had 37 million followers in his Chinese social media account Weibo, which is akin to Twitter in China, said in his microblog account in February that the news outfits were funded by taxpayers money, and so should serve the public, rather than the leadership. His comments were directed at the remarks by Xi during his visit to official media outlets in February that all news media run by the party must speak for the party?s will and protect its authority and unity. In his comment on the social media, Ren said, "when does the peoples government turn into the partys government? (Are the media) funded by party membership dues? Dont waste taxpayers money on things that do not provide them with services." Rens Weibo account was subsequently shut down by China internet watchdog. An editorial on a news website affiliated with the Beijing municipal party committee accused him of spreading "anti-Communist Party" thoughts. Rens violation of party discipline could amount to challenging the one-party rule as the "four basic principle" stipulates that party members must adhere to the country?s socialist path, dictatorship of the proletariat, the party?s leadership and the political thoughts of Marxism and Maoism, the Post said. The penalty is the second most severe that can be dealt out to a party member for such an offence. Rens punishment came despite Xis remarks on April 29 calling for greater tolerance of "well-intentioned" criticisms on the online by the intellectuals. PTI KJV ZH --- ENDS --- advertisement By PTI: New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) Expressing concerns over the large amount of dues that need to be recovered by all coal PSUs, including CILs Rs 11,032 crore, a Parliamentary Panel has asked the government as well as the state-owned firms in the sector to take steps for the recovery. "The Committee are concerned to note that large amount of outstanding dues of all coal PSUs viz CIL, SCCL and NLC standing at Rs 11,032.20 crore, Rs 2,441.32 crore and Rs 272.04 crore (including disputed dues of Rs 129.09 crore) respectively as on 31.3.2015 remain unrealised from concerned ministries/parties," Standing Committee on Coal and Steel said in its latest report. According to the government, it said, a slew of steps are being taken for regular follow up to realise outstanding dues with concerned ministries. The steps include review of party-wise outstandings by general manager/CMDS and Chairman, Coal India (CIL) with the Chairman of defaulting power houses which are then taken upto the level of Chief Secretary of concerned States, it said. The Committee also noted that in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), to encourage early realisation, a special scheme called Graded Rebate Scheme has been put in place. The Scheme provides for graded rebate from a maximum of 2 per cent for payment on date of billing to 0 per cent on the 60th day of billing has been put in place alongwith a one time waiver of 50 per cent of settlement incorporating a payment priority clause, it said. The Committee said it hoped that these initiatives would result in tangible recoveries of these outstanding dues. The Committee further emphasised that the government and "Coal PSUs should take elaborate steps for recovery of these outstanding dues lest these insurmountable dues adversely affect the financial positions of the Coal companies," it said. PTI SID SA --- ENDS --- advertisement By India Today Web Desk: Chhattisgarh is one state that is yet to become popular among the tourists. But with its forests, wildlife, mountains, rivers and other natural richness, the place has plenty of potential. And there are enough travellers who have realised that as well. Air India is just about to make it easier to travel to that part of the country. According to a report by The Times of India, Air India will soon launch a new flight service from Chhattisgarh's state capital Raipur, connecting Bhopal and Pune. advertisement Although the exact route, timings and the date of launch is yet to be revealed, the report suggests that Air India would be operating a 72 seater aircraft for three days initially. The decision was taken in a meeting between Chief Minister Raman Singh and CMD of Air India Ashwani Lohani. Besides this new flight, Air India is also likely to open an information and booking office in Raipur, so that the tourists and regular passengers alike can get access to enquiries and reservations without going all the way to the airport. Apart from this, the report also revealed that Air India will soon launch direct flights between Raipur and Delhi. This morning flight is likely to have onward connections from Delhi to other cities, in and outside the country, told a Air India official to the English daily. --- ENDS --- If Vijaykanth is the King, his wife seems to be the kingmaker. And I realised how tough it was to get to the power centre of the DMDK - Premalatha. Two weeks of relentless pursuit, of which, one week to get to her assistant. And finally, she gave me 24 hours to travel 370 kms from Chennai to Dindigul to catch her in between her campaign. One night's drive with no sleep... and 2 hours of wait at Dindigul... I was paranoid, she might postpone the interview... Finally at 2pm, I saw her. A hint of disappointment washed over me to realise Vijaykanth was not with her. As if reading my mind, she came up to me and said, "Vijaykanth is in Virudhunagar. And I was in Erode. I am driving through the lengths and breadths of TN for the campaign. Sorry for the delay." Loud voice, confident stride, dominant attitude and bold persona - that is Premalatha for you. advertisement Mention Vijaykanth and she didn't waste a minute to say he is the king. Though, he decided to do so after much deliberation and later seeking an answer from his followers in Kancheepuram. "Whatever decision he makes, usually he will ask in the rally," she said. And she justified the decision by saying, "DMDK came as an alternative to DMK and the AIADMK." However, DMDK did join hands with AIADMK in 2011. And Premalatha said that was one of the biggest mistakes. She said Vijaykanth was furious Jaya was straying away from her election promises. Even now, Premalatha said that Jaya has shown no development in the state. She said, "I travel all over TN. I see trees, but no industries. There is no development. And no basic needs." Premalatha is against both the "ruling party as well as the ruled party". She is sure that Stalin's makeover will have zero connect with the voters. Whether he sips tea or sings a song, she said, "all that is drama. People can see through it. Why did he not meet the people when he was deputy CM?" She is also convinced that captain's white dhoti and shirt retains the TN culture, which will make him click, as opposed to the trousers that Stalin and Anbumani Ramadoss sport. "Those two dress like they are going for a film shoot," she said. Vijaykanth may have hailed from the film industry before he stepped into the political world. For Premalatha, Vijaykanth is a man meant for the people. Jaya has always said, "makkalikaaga naan, makkalaal naan (meaning I am for the people and I am because of the people)". Premalatha said, "Vijaykanth can act in cinema. But he can't act before his people." Also said that if Jaya meant what she said, 'amma' wouldn't be sitting in an AC enclosure letting her 'children' die in the hot sun. While Amma is known for her whatsapp calls, Vijaykanth is known for his whatsapp jokes. "It used to upset me," Premalatha said, "But I have realised that there are no negative things about captain. No corruption. No criminal cases. They will criticise him only like this. It's all planned by the AIADMK and the DMK." Jokes apart, Vijaykanth was one of the 'most-wanted' man when the election was announced. DMK used many proverbs to suggest that the alliance between DMK and DMDK was almost through. Premalatha said, "It was all spread by Kalaignar. Is there any place where DMK and DMDK officially met? Captain never announced anywhere. Did he?" However, there was an official meeting held between the BJP and the DMDK. Premalatha blamed it on the communists who were part of the alliance that forced them to say no to the BJP. After all, Modi seems to have no magic in an amma-nadu. "It was in 2014 only during the MP elections. Not now. I don't think so," Premalatha said. As we wrapped up, Premalatha was gearing up for her campaign and was telling me that TN is 100 per cent ready for change... She smiled and waltzed away. Being an ardent follower of Tamil cinema, I remembered a dialogue from Vijaykanth's famous movies Ramana. "Change - TN ku pudicha orrey vaarthey. (meaning change is the only word that TN likes)". By PTI: From Sumir Kaul New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee today returned home after wrapping up his six-day official tour of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand where he met top leaders of the two countries and inked a few important deals as part of Indias Act East policy. Concluding the three-day visit to New Zealand as part of the second leg of his two-nation tour, Mukherjee talked about cooperation in agriculture, dairy, food processing, education and skill development as well as high technology between the two countries. advertisement During the course of the visit, India and New Zealand also signed a deal that opens the door for direct flights between the two countries with an aim to boost tourism and trade sectors. Mukherjees trip was the first high-level visit from India to New Zealand since Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis tour to the island nation in 1986. Prominent among whom he met included New Zealand Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Prime Minister John Key. Earlier, as part of his two-day maiden state visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG), the President had sought freedom of navigation saying sea lanes of communications should be devoid of tension and rivalry. The two nations, as part of measures to strengthen bilateral ties and ensuring energy security, signed a few agreements even as India offered a USD 100 million line of credit for development of infrastructure in PNG and agreed to jointly develop new avenues of cooperation to explore and develop the Pacific nations vast oil and gas resources. India also offered the country its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich countrys abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures. The President also met his PNG counterpart Sir Michael Ogio. PTI SKL KUN --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Sumir Kaul Auckland, May 2 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee today left for home from here, wrapping up his six-day official visit to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand where he met top leaders of the two countries and inked a few important deals and as part of Indias Act East policy. Concluding the three-day visit to New Zealand as part of the second leg of his two-nation tour, Mukherjee talked about cooperation in agriculture, dairy, food processing, education and skill development as well as high technology between the two countries. advertisement During the course of the visit, India and New Zealand also signed a deal that opens the door for direct flights between the two countries with an aim to boost tourism and trade sectors. Mukherjees trip is the first high-level visit from India in 20 years after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis visit to the island nation. Prominent amongst whom he met here include New Zealand Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Prime Minister John Key. Earlier, as part of his two-day maiden state visit to PNG, the President had sought for freedom of navigation saying sea lanes of communications should be devoid of tension and rivalry. The two nations, as part of measures to strengthen bilateral ties and ensuring energy security, signed a few agreements even as India offered a USD 100 million line of credit for development of infrastructure in PNG and agreed to jointly develop new avenues of cooperation to explore and develop the Pacific nations vast oil and gas resources. India also offered the country, during the visit, its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich countrys abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures. The President, while in PNG, met his counterpart Sir Michael Ogio. PTI SKL KIS --- ENDS --- By PTI: Coimbatore, May 2 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has advised coconut growers to take a suitable decision on selling the nuts as price of good quality coconut would stabilise at around Rs 8 to Rs 9 and that of copra around Rs 52 to Rs 54 per kg this June. Production of coconut in Tamil Nadu and Kerala was above normal whereas it was low in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh due to water scarcity. Arrivals of copra from other states were lower compared to last year and arrivals from Mysore may commence from June onwards, it said. advertisement Demand from North India would also stabilise the prices of coconut in near future. Considering this, The Price Forecasting Scheme of Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies in TNAU analysed coconut and copra prices for the last 14 years in Avalpoonthurai Regulated market of Erode district to give necessary advisory to coconut growers. Tamil Nadu stands first in production, contributing about 50 per cent to the total coconut production of the country, followed by Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Coimbatore stands first among coconut producing districts in Tamil Nadu with a production of 8,598 lakh nuts followed by Tirupur, Thanjavur, Dindigul and Kanyakumari. PTI NVM APR ABK --- ENDS --- Going by the indications, diesel cab operators may continue with their protest on Tuesday as well. The national capital groaned under traffic woes today as hundreds of cab drivers blocked National Highway 8 and Ring Road, protesting against action by enforcement agencies following the Supreme Court's order to ban diesel taxis in the National Capital Region (NCR). While the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government termed it a "motivated protest", Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said the government will ask the Supreme Court to reconsider a ban on diesel cabs, that has pulled nearly 30,000 taxis off the roads. advertisement In the early hours today, a group of protesters blocked both carriageways near the Rajokri toll booth on NH-8, which led to a long tailback stretching over a kilometer in the area. The situation turned worse at around 11.30 am when protesters blocked both carriageways on the Ring Road stretch at Maharani Bagh, close to Ashram Chowk. Within moments, cars started piling up near Dhaulakuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli. The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, linked by NH-8. Subsequently, the traffic helpline was bombarded with calls from distressed commuters. The second blockade directly hit traffic in areas like Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram, Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Moolchand stretching up to AIIMS. The protesters included diesel cab drivers with All India Tourist Permits (AITP), who are exempted from the ban provided they operate outside NCR. Diesel cab operators expressed unhappiness with the enforcement department of the Delhi government and traffic police action after the apex court order. According to the Delhi transport department, around 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital, of which 27,000 run on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG in the last two months. As per diesel cab operators, in several states, there are no arrangements of CNG supply. Secondly, converting petrol vehicle into CNG is easy, but this is not the case with heavy diesel vehicles. As per operators, only 1400CC diesel vehicle can be converted into CNG, therefore this advice to go CNG is not a practical advice. Meanwhile, political blame game also erupted with Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai indicating that the protests are motivated, and the BJP alleging that the Delhi government has not presented their case despite getting enough time. Satish Upadhaya alleged that enough time was given by the Supreme Court and the Delhi government should have taken step to phase them out after due consultation with operators. Going by the indications, diesel cab operators may continue with their protest on Tuesday as well. --- ENDS --- Rajini fever has yet again gripped his fans and in less than 24 hours, the teaser of Kabali has already received 5.7 million views on YouTube. By India Today Web Desk: Only a few days ago, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma was bewildered by this entire Rajini mania down South. And it seems that the filmmaker has got a befitting reply from Rajini fans when the teaser of Thalaiva's upcoming film Kabali was unveiled on social media. Within an hour of its release, the teaser crossed 1 million views on YouTube, making it the highest for a South Indian film. advertisement ALSO READ: Here's the most-awaited teaser of superstar Rajinikanth's Kabali ALSO READ: Rajinikanth is looking like 'Baahubali ka Baap' in Kabali, says Ram Gopal Varma And there seems to be no stopping for Rajinikanth. The actor is back as a suave gangster in Pa Ranjith's Kabali. And just 10 hours after the teaser made it to social media, it garnered 4 million views on YouTube or at least the film's official account on Twitter claims so. #Kabali Teaser has crossed 4 Million views in less than 10 hours! A new record for an Indian movie! #KabaliTeaser pic.twitter.com/3ntNXpCSOb Kabali (@KabaliMovie) May 1, 2016 Rajini fever has yet again gripped his fans and in less than 24 hours, the teaser of Kabali has already received 5.7 million views. The 67-second teaser introduces viewers to Rajinikanth's character Kabali, and he goes on to say he's no stereotypical gangster, in a whistle-worthy dialogue. Sporting John Lennon glasses and three-piece suit, the 65 year old is referred to as Fire. Towards the end of teaser, there's a shot of Rajinikanth from the 1970s, where he's seen walking out of a restaurant, flipping his hair back in the most inimitable fashion. The film is based on the real-life story of Chennai don Kabaleeswaran. Also starring Bollywood actor Radhika Apte, Dhanshikaa and Attakathi Dinesh in key roles, Kabali has music by Santhosh Narayanan. The film is set to release this month, but the makers are yet to lock a release date for the film. --- ENDS --- While Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the fires in Uttarakhand were now under control, the blazes had destroyed nearly 3,000 acres of forest cover in Uttarakhand. A rare oak forest was gutted in fire in Shimla. (PTI photo) By India Today Web Desk: After wreaking havoc in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, incidents of forest fire were reported from areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district today. While Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the fires in Uttarakhand were now under control, the blazes had destroyed nearly 3,000 acres of forest cover in Uttarakhand. Another 50 hectares of green cover was lost in Himachal Pradesh. Two Indian Air Force Mi-17 choppers on Sunday flew several sorties in Nainital district, sprinkling water lifted from a lake to douse the raging fires. advertisement Home Minister Rajnath Singh had on Sunday reviewed the situation in Uttarakhand and held discussions with chief secretary and other officials of the state government. Earlier, the government has decided to press in two Mi-17 helicopters into service while NDRF, SDRF and even Army personnel struggled to douse the flames. In Himachal, raging fires burnt both sides of the UNESCO world heritage track near Dharampur. Trains were halted for some time as burning wood and stones fell on the track. The worst hit areas in Himachal include popular tourist attractions like Solan, Sirmour, Shimla and Mandi. A rare oak forest was gutted in fire in Shimla. The NDRF on Sunday said that fires in 70 per cent of the areas have been doused, as the Army, the Air Force, 3 teams of NDRF and 6,000 firefighters were working round the clock to save the forests. Here are the latest developments: After Uttarakhand and Himachal, forest fires reported from Bathuni and Gambhir in Rajouri, J&K. Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed Uttarakhand situation, offered Central aid. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that Centre taking the fires very seriously and making all efforts to control it. Uttarakhand fires burning for nearly 3 months. Have destroyed close to 3,000 acres of forest cover so far. In the last one month alone, around 1,200 fires have broken out in the state, Javadekar said. Two IAF Mi-17 helicopters carrying water from Bhimtal lake and help douse the flames. Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag and Tehri are among the worst-hit districts. Forest officials suspect the fires could be a man-made. Several arrests made. The Congress has attacked the Centre, accusing the government of reacting too late. In Himachal, both sides of the UNESCO world heritage track near Dharampur gutted. Worst hit areas in HP include popular tourist attractions like Solan, Sirmour, Shimla and Mandi. A rare oak forest was gutted in fire in Shimla. --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) The revision in LNG agreement with Qatar has helped bring down cost of importing natural gas to less than USD 5 per mmBtu from USD 12, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today. In late-December last year, India got Qatar to agree to slashing gas price by half to match a slump in global energy rates, helping the nation save billions of dollars, as well as get waiver from Rs 12,000 crore liability for short-lifting of gas. advertisement India, which got USD 15 billion of benefits during first 11 years of the term-contract with Qatar beginning 2003 by way of enjoying low gas prices when world energy rates were rising, is currently paying less than USD 5 per million British thermal unit for 7.5 million tonnes a year of LNG it buys from RasGas of Qatar. "Earlier the prices during 2015 were in excess of USD 12 per mmBtu. The current price applicable under the contract works out to less than USD 5 per mmBtu based on prevailing crude prices," he said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. This revision, applicable from January 1, has led to making LNG cheaper for the end consumers, he said. The revised formula will base the price on a three-month average figure of Brent crude oil, replacing a five-year average of a basket of crude imported by Japan, with a rider that PLL buys an additional 1 million tonnes of LNG annually. Further, Petronet LNG Ltd - the firm that imported LNG from RasGas of Qatar - has executed agreement for additional supply of 1 million tonnes per annum of LNG for about 12 years with effect from January 1, 2016 at the prevailing market prices, he said. Pradhan said Qatar will also not seek Rs 12,000 crore from PLL for under-lifting LNG from RasGas by 38 per cent. "RasGas and Petronet LNG Ltd agreed to rescheduled the LNG quantity not taken by Petronet LNG Ltd during 2015 to a future period and RasGas has agreed to waive the take or pay liability under the contract for the year 2015," he said. Petronet, a joint venture of state-owned Indian Oil Corp, GAIL India Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL), had started importing LNG - natural gas supercooled to liquid state for ease of transportation in ships - from 2004. PTI ANZ MKJ --- ENDS --- The Narendra Modi-led BJP dispensation and organisations under the Right-wing umbrella are on a drive to change the public discourse of India not just in the political realm, but also otherwise. By Siddhartha Rai: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its Parivar on Sunday denounced the International Workers' Day saying the tradition is alien to Indian culture and the ideology of cultural nationalism. The RSS also claimed that the day smacks of Marxist-Leftist inclination towards creating societal discord. The Narendra Modi-led BJP dispensation and organisations under the Right-wing umbrella are on a drive to change the public discourse of India not just in the political realm, but also otherwise. While Modi spoke on the occasion on Sunday at a rally in Ballia, he talked about a new mantra. Against the leftist slogan of "Workers of the World Unite", Modi posited "Labourers, Unite the World". "The situation has changed. The biggest cementing factor is the sweat of the workers who can unite the world," Modi said. Modi chided the Left as he went on to note that those who used to raise slogans of uniting the workers have been losing ground the world over. advertisement In an exclusive interview with Mail Today, general secretary of RSS-affiliated workers' body Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Vrijesh Upadhyay said the concept of May Day was alien to the India ethos and dubbed the Left-dominated trade unionism as the biggest enemy of labourers and workers. This "maverick Spartanstyle of mobilization" of workers needed to be rooted out of India, he added. "The BMS does not recognise May Day and thus we don't celebrate it. It does not send a good message among workers. On the contrary, we celebrate Indian workers' day on Vishwakarma Jayanti on September 17. Otherwise May Day is celebrated across the world and we hope well for it," said Upadhyay. Meanwhile, Congress-supported trade union, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) declined to comment on the issue. "It is their personal belief and they are welcome to believe in what they do," said Amit Yadav of INTUC. The BMS leader pointed that while a certain section across the world celebrated the day under the ideological influence of Marxism, the country in which it originated does not commemorate it. "The day is celebrated to commemorate the Haymarket Affair which happened in Chicago in May 1886, US itself does not celebrate it," Upadhyay added. The organisation believes that one of the reasons for not celebrating the day was the "bloodbath and violence" that occurred on the occasion in 1886. "We do not remember such painful occurrences. Such things are valourised by such ideologies as Maoism, Marxism and Anarchism that want to realise revolution through violent means and Lal Salaam. This is not a constructive approach; it incites hatred among workers," he added. Also read: RSS plans to hold moral science classes for kids at 5,000 centres --- ENDS --- Hrithik Roshan and ex-wife Sussanne Khan were apparently spotted together for the first time after their divorce. The two reunited for their younger son Hridhaan's birthday. By India Today Web Desk: Hrithik Roshan and ex-wife Sussanne Khan were apparently spotted together for the first time after their divorce. After being separated for almost a year, on November 1, 2014, Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan's divorce was finalised at a family court in Mumbai. The two recently reunited for their younger son Hridhaan's birthday. Their son turned 8 yesterday (May 1). After the pictures of Hrithik and Sussanne went viral, rumours of them reconciling with each other started doing the rounds. Sussanne took to Twitter to clear the air. She wrote, "I request people to stop speculating. There will never be a reconciliation with @iHrithik. But we will always be good parents. #no1priority (sic)." I request people to stop speculating. There will never be a reconciliation with @iHrithik. But we will always be good parents. #no1priority Sussanne Khan (@sussannekroshan) May 2, 2016 advertisement Recently, Sussanne Khan had come out in support of ex-husband Hrithik Roshan in his legal batter with Kangana Ranaut. Hrithik and Kangana's picture from a party was leaked and it had gone viral. But Sussane took to Twitter to write, "pictures are photoshopped and untrue stories carry 2 much weight.another pic for d rec. I support @iHrithik in this.(sic)" pictures are photoshopped and untrue stories carry 2 much weight.another pic for d rec. I support @iHrithik in this. pic.twitter.com/TGKTc40h0J Sussanne Khan (@sussannekroshan) April 27, 2016 The couple, who have been separated since 2014, have always maintained that their children are their first priority. (Picture Courtesy: Viral Bhayani) By PTI: From Gurdip Singh Singapore, May 2 (PTI) Singapores tech-heavyweights, with products designed for markets in India, China and the United States, is aiming to raise funds from The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) at a convention to be held in Silicon Valley this week. An 11-company delegation, led by state-owned trade promoter International Enterprise Singapore, will explore market specific product development opportunities and funding from some 4,600 delegates expected at The Indus Entrepreneurs convention (TIEcon) to be held on May 6-7, said Puneet Pushkarna, chairman of TiE Singapore chapter. The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is partnering the delegates in venturing into its global community of over 4,000 entrepreneurs, mostly Indians who led tech-startups in the 1990s and are now investors placing USD 1 billion a year in new tech startups with focus on the Indian, Chinese and American markets, he said. advertisement "Singapores strong tech start-up base is ever growing and is focused on India, China and the United States," Pushkarna added. "The Singaporean participation, a first in TiEcon, will help channel investment into technologies and solutions for the worlds three largest markets," he pointed out. Founded in 1992, TiE has a combined value creation of over USD 300 billion worldwide and now seeks greater participation in technologies for expanding economies where India is top of the list. The convention has a special session on Destination India on May 7, which will be addressed byleaders on the growing potential of the Indian market. A high-power tech-delegation from India will be at the convention, joining global start-ups and presenting latest in the technologies to tech-investors. "Our focus will be on the hottest areas of innovation, and discussions will be on markets, technologies and investments," said Pushkarna, who sees Singapore as the second big technology hub after Silicon Valley. PTI GS KJ AKJ KJ By PTI: Washington, May 1 (PTI) Schools that provide each student with a laptop computer, as well as appropriate support for both students and teachers, see significant improvement in academic achievement, a new US study has found. Researchers analysed years of studies on "one-to-one" laptop programme, and found that such programmes that take a comprehensive approach were linked to higher test scores in English, math, science and writing, along with other benefits. advertisement "In the past couple decades, one-to-one laptop programmes have spread widely, but so has debate about whether they are cost-effective and beneficial to educational outcomes," said Binbin Zheng from Michigan State University in the US. "I believe this technology, if implemented correctly, is worth the cost and effort because it lifts student achievement, enhances engagement and enthusiasm among students, improves teacher-student relationships and promotes 21st century skills such as technological proficiency and problem solving," said Zheng. One-to-one laptop programmes, in which each student in a class, grade level, school or district gets a computer, can improve educational outcomes when there is teacher buy-in, suitable technical support and professional development for teachers, and appropriate implementation with the curriculum, researchers said. In addition to improved scores on standardised tests, the benefits of successful laptop programmes include an improved writing process, they said. "Students received more feedback on their writing, edited and revised their papers more often, drew on a wider range of resources to write and published or shared their work with others more often," said Zheng. Researchers reviewed nearly 100 academic studies on one-to-one laptop programmes dating back to 2001, although only 10 of the studies were scientifically rigorous enough to use in a statistical "meta-analysis." Knowing the general impact of these programmes can help school districts better shape their technology policies, said researchers. The findings were published in the journal Review of Educational Research. PTI SAN SAR SAR --- ENDS --- By PTI: Srinagar, May 2 (PTI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he was "thankful" that the Centre had "accepted its mistake" of calling off talks with Pakistan over invite to Hurriyat by Islamabad last year. "We have been saying this since the first day, when they (Centre) called off talks with Pakistan over Hurriyat invite, that it was a mistake to call off talks. Thankfully, they (central government) have accepted the mistake now," Omar told reporters here. advertisement He was reacting to Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singhs statement that government has no objection to Hurriyat talking to Pakistan High Commisioner. "At that time (of cancellation of talks) also we called this a gross over-reaction and said this should not be used as a pretext to derail talks between New Delhi and Islamabad," he said. "When nothing is legally and constitutionally wrong in Hurriyat leaders meeting Pakistani diplomats, why was this used as a ruse to derail the talks earlier? Who is responsible for the adverse implications this had in Kashmir? These questions need to be answered," Omar said. Perceptions are very important in places like Kashmir and the continued instability in Indo-Pak ties has harmed the State internally. Because of the uncertainty in Indo-Pak dialogue, there has been a sense of political anxiety and apprehension in Kashmir which has affected the state adversely," he said. He said there has been an "increase" in local youth resorting to armed militancy and a stark "decrease" in the states tourism inflow which has adversely affected its economy. He also took a dig at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government in the state, saying it was "vision-less and directionless". "Only two words can be used for this government ? vision-less and directionless. You cannot see this government on the ground as it does not exist there," Omar said. Omar said the Centre should clarify why the previous PDP-BJP government detained Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar last year in order to prevent them from travelling to New Delhi to meet the visiting Pakistani delegation. "The onus also lies on the Government to explain why the previous PDP-BJP Government prevented the meeting between Hurriyat leaders and the Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi when, as clearly stated by Singh, Hurriyat leaders have every right to meet citizens of other countries in India," Omar said while addressing party workers at a function in Kani Kadal here. He said Hurriyat leaders should not be prevented from meeting visiting Pakistani delegations and this was not an issue that should result in any confrontation between the two countries. PTI SSB TA BSA RG BSA --- ENDS --- advertisement The trio took part in a mentally and physically demanding 2,700km Rickshaw Run to raise funds for 50 orphaned children in Shillong. By India Today Web Desk: Last month, Ernie Bergen, Daniel Kunzle and Bram Schuurmann embarked on a epic 2,700-3,500 km journey through some of the least visited regions of India. Traveling at 250-300 km per day in a three wheeled tin box they covered the distance between Jaisalmer to Shillong in just 12 days. When the three men met at the Sziget Music Festival in Budapest, they decided to take on a journey to India with the main goal to help underprivileged children. The trio took part in a mentally and physically demanding 2,700km Rickshaw Run through the north of India and named their team the Kohinoor Khiladis. advertisement Ernie 'El Che' Bergen set up a blog where he kept readers updated about every step of the adventure. "I have to admit, when we first came up with the crazy idea of driving across one of the most dangerous countries in the world to drive and that in a 9 horsepower tin box it was all about the adventure. When we found out there was a charity aspect to this endeavor our focus shifted completely to that and by the time we left Europe the visit to the Children's Village in Shillong was our goal and what drove us to never give up." Bergen wrote in his blog. Kohinoor Khiladis finished their journey on April 15 and stayed for another day in Shillong to spend time with the children. They achieved the goal of raising 18,000 dollars for the SOS Children's Village in Shillong. The amount would cover housing, education, nutrition, medical services and most importantly community and family for 50 orphaned. They have also set up a crowd-funding platform to raise another 50,000 dollars before the end of June. Ernie 'El Che' Bergen also sent out a powerful message in his blog which resonates with all of us, "So often we get stuck preoccupied by our own modern "problems", stress, need for more money, more stuff, better this, bigger that. We've lost touch with the most basic joys. Shack your heads and see how lucky, probably too lucky, we are and think about those that have to struggle for their next meal, next place to sleep, a jacket for the upcoming winter, etc. "We have too much and wanting more is striping us everything! The joy of doing something for others out of the kindness of your heart is something so profound it stays with you for your entire life." Yesterday, over a hundred diesel-run cabs, including many with AITP, ended up getting impounded after they were found plying within the city limits, following which the drivers alleged harassment by enforcement agencies. Heavy traffic jam at ITO in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: PTI By India Today Web Desk: The ban on diesel taxis in Delhi by the Supreme Court led to traffic chaos today, as hundreds of cab drivers took to the streets and blocked National Highway 8 and ring road in protest against action by enforcement agencies. In the early hours, a group of protesters blocked both carriageways near the Rajokri toll booth on National Highway 8, which led to a long tailback stretching over a kilometer in the area, traffic officials said. advertisement The situation turned worse at around 11.30 AM when the protesters blocked both carriageways on the Ring Road stretch at Maharani Bagh, close to Ashram Chowk. In no time, traffic was thrown out-of-gear in Dhaulakuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli, and the chaos continued for hours. The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, linked by NH-8, and the traffic helpline was bombarded with calls from distressed commuters, officials said. The second blockade directly hit traffic in areas including Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram, near PGDAV College in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Moolchand stretching up to AIIMS. With people taking alternative routes, several stretches including Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Defense Colony and Mathura Road also got clogged within an hour, officials said. The protesters included the diesel cab drivers with All India tourist permits (AITP), who are exempted from the ban provided they operate outside NCR. Yesterday, over a hundred diesel-run cabs, including many with AITP, ended up getting impounded after they were found plying within the city limits, following which the drivers alleged harassment by enforcement agencies. "We will continue our protest until the authorities forbid police and transport department officials from penalising us as we have an All India permit which is exempted from the ban. We are only asking for exemption which we have already been given," said Sanjay Samrat, President of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association. After extending the deadline twice, the Supreme Court had on Saturday refused to give more time to cab operators to convert to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1. The court exempted taxis with all-India tourist permit (AITP) from switching to CNG if they operate outside NCR. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital of which 27,000 run on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months. Also Read: Petrol and diesel taxis cannot ply in Delhi, NCR: Supreme Court --- ENDS --- It seems Deepika Padukone and Salman Khan fans have to wait a little longer to see their favourite jodi on screen. Buzz has it that Deepika won't be a part of Kabir Khan's next any more. By India Today Web Desk: It seems Deepika Padukone and Salman Khan fans have to wait a little longer to see their favourite jodi on screen. Buzz has it that Deepika won't be a part of Kabir Khan's next anymore. It has been reported that the Bajirao Mastani actor wasn't too thrilled with her part in the film and therefore decided to opt out of it. advertisement ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone to star opposite Salman Khan in Kabir Khan's next According to a report in BollywoodLife.com, the film is a period drama set across the Indo-China border and the makers are now keen to rope in an actor of Chinese origin for the part. Moreover, Deepika didn't find the role quite meaty and Kabir wasn't too interested in adding a new dimension to the character. A source was quoted as telling the website, "Deepika has realised that she doesn't have much scope in this film. Her condition was that they increase her role when she comes on board, but Kabir is very strict with his writing and doesn't plan to do any such thing. Hence the makers will go as planned with a girl of Chinese origin." Salman Khan is currently busy shooting for Ali Abbas Zafar's film Sultan. Interestingly, Deepika was the front runner to play the leading lady in the film but the Tamasha actor apparently rejected the action drama as it didn't have much for her to do. Meanwhile, Deepika is shooting for her Hollywood debut XXX The Return Of Xander Cage, along with Vin Diesel. Directed by DJ Caruso, the film is slated to release on January 20, 2017. --- ENDS --- Girone and fellow Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre on board oil tanker Enrica Lexie allegedly shot dead two fishermen off the Kerala coast during an anti-piracy mission in February 2012, reportedly mistaking them for pirates. While Latorre is already back home on health grounds, Italy has been seeking the return of Girone also. By Indo-Asian News Service: Italy today said a UN court has ordered that Italian marine Salvatore Girone, detained in India for the alleged 2012 killings of two fishermen, be allowed home on bail while arbitration proceedings in The Hague continue in the case that has soured ties between the two countries. But Indian government sources rejected the Italian foreign ministry's claim, alleging that Rome was misinterpreting the ruling that "neither releases nor frees any marine (but) only recommends further relaxation of his bail conditions". advertisement According to the foreign ministry in Rome, the tribunal decided Girone be allowed to go "back to Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings" which will decide on the Italian government's plea that it is their jurisdiction and not that of India to proceed against the accused. "The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the ministry said. Girone and fellow Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre on board oil tanker Enrica Lexie allegedly shot dead two fishermen off the Kerala coast during an anti-piracy mission in February 2012, reportedly mistaking them for pirates. While Latorre is already back home on health grounds, Italy has been seeking the return of Girone also. But India has refused to let Girone, who is housed in the Italian embassy premises in New Delhi, to leave the country. The case has triggered a diplomatic row between India and Italy even as the two countries last year agreed to move to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decisions. Italy argues that the marines should have immunity as they were servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial waters. The Italian foreign ministry said the ruling, which is expected to be officially announced on Tuesday in The Hague, comes after "a constructive attitude of India". The court, according to the ministry, has asked both Italian and Indian governments to agree on the date and modalities of Girone's return home. But official sources in New Delhi said Girone was already out on bail. Citing the court order, they said the arbitral tribunal clearly recognised that "Girone is under India's authority alone" and that "the Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction" over him. "(The) tribunal order, therefore, asks India and Italy to approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of the bail conditions (of Girone) under strict conditions to be laid down by the Indian Supreme Court," a government source said. The sources said the tribunal has suggested that the UN court has allowed further relaxations of bail for Girone with riders, which include that he "reports to an authority in Italy designated by the Supreme Court of India". advertisement "Girone shall be required by Italy to surrender his passport and shall be prohibited from leaving Italy unless the Supreme Court of India grants him leave to travel," the source said, quoting the tribunal order. Italy took the case to the international tribunal after repeated delays in the handling of the case in India. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy for treatment after he had a stroke in 2014. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Lalit K Jha Washington, May 2 (PTI) A US Congress-formed federal body on international religious freedom today appelaed to the Obama administration to designate Pakistan among nations listed as worst violators of religious freedom due to the current state of minorities in the ciuntry. "In 2015, the Pakistani government continued to perpetrate and tolerate systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations," US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in its annual report. advertisement As such USCIRF again recommended the State Department to designated Pakistan a "country of particular concern,? or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), as it has recommended since 2002. Its recommendations are non-binding and Pakistan has not been designated as a CPC country by the State Department. In addition to Pakistan USCIRF has recommended to the State Department to designate seven other countries as CPC: Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Tajikistan and Vietnam. The State Department designated CPC countries are Myanmar, China, Eriteria, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. "Religiously-discriminatory constitutional provisions and legislation, such as the country?s blasphemy law and anti-Ahmadiyya laws, intrinsically violate international standards of freedom of religion or belief and result in prosecutions and imprisonments," the report said. The actions of non-state actors, including US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban), continue to threaten all Pakistanis and the country?s overall security, it said. Religious minority communities, including Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslims, Christians, and Hindus, experience chronic sectarian and religious violence from both terrorist organizations and individuals within society, it added. The governments failure to provide adequate protection for likely targets of such violence or prosecute perpetrators has created a deep rooted climate of impunity, it said, noting that discriminatory content against minorities in provincial textbooks remains a significant concern, as are reports of forced conversions and marriages of Christian and Hindu girls and women. "While the Pakistani government has taken some steps over the last two years to address egregious religious freedom violations, it has failed to implement systemic changes," the report noted. "For years, the Pakistani government has failed to protect citizens, minority and majority alike, from sectarian and religiously-motivated violence," USCIRF said. USCIRF in its report expressed its disappointment over US policy towards Pakistan. "Human rights and religious freedom have not been among the highest priorities in the bilateral relationship," it said. PTI LKJ KUN --- ENDS --- advertisement The Army, the Air Force, three teams of the NDRF and 6,000 firefighters have been working round the clock to douse massive forest fires in Uttarakhand. Seven persons have been killed due to the forest fires, which have spread to sparsely populated remote hill areas. (PTI photo) By India Today Web Desk: The government today said forest fires in Uttarakhand were completely under control and no death was reported so far. "The situation in Uttarakhand is completely under control. I can assure you that there is nothing to worry," Home Minister Rajnath Singh informed Lok Sabha. Rajnath was responding after the matter was raised by Trinamool Congress member Saugat Ray during Zero Hour. Meanwhile, there are reports of fire in Thanpal forest area in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir and Kelti village in Shimla. Earlier, Envionment Minister Prakash Javadekar hinted that forest fire at some places in Uttarakhand could have been man made. Four people have been arrested in connection with Uttarakhand forest fires even as Indian Air Force choppers continue theoperation to douse the raging flames. advertisement "With combined efforts from various organisations we have managed to control the extent of forest fire. I had followed with the Governor on the issue. Four people have been arrested from Paudi who were trying to set forest on fire," Javadekar said. Despite the fire being contained in several parts of the hill state, the blaze is now spreading outside Uttarakhand and entering Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The NDRF on Sunday said that fires in 70 per cent of the areas have been doused, as the Army, the Air Force, 3 teams of NDRF and 6,000 firefighters are working round the clock to save the forest covers. Here are the latest developments "It is expected that these figures (110-115 locations) will be brought down to 50-60 in the next few days by the combined forces fighting to douse the jungle fire," NDRF Director General OP Singh said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation in Uttarakhand. He held discussions with chief secretary and other officials of the Uttarakhand government on the situation arising due to the forest fire and offered all assistance from the Centre. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the Centre was taking the forest fires very seriously and making all efforts to control it. The fires in Uttarakhand have been burning for nearly 3 months, destroying close to 3,000 acres of forest cover so far. In the last one month alone, around 1,200 fires have broken out in the state, Javadekar has said. Mi-17 helicopters of the Air Force are deployed in the state to carry water from the Bhimtal lake and help douse the flames. Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag and Tehri are among the worst-hit districts. Forest officials suspect the unprecedented fire could be a man-made disaster. Several people have been arrested so far. The Congress has attacked the Centre over the forest fires, accused the government of reacting too late. The raging fire in the jungles of Uttarakhand have destroyed about 3,000 hectares of jungles in several districts The fire, which started in the first week of February, has killed seven people. Also Read Uttarakhand forest fires: IAF's chopper Mi-17 to spray water over burning forests Uttarakhand forest fires continue to rage, govt puts 6,000 personnel on the ground Uttarakhand forest fire: 7 dead, 2269 hectares of green cover destroyed; Rajnath reviews situation Vijay Mallya has said he is in a "forced exile" and has disclosed no immediate plans to return to India where things are flying at him "fast and furious". By India Today Web Desk: Vijay Mallya, wanted for money laundering and other crimes and declared a fugitive by the Indian law, today resigned from the Rajya Sabha. In an exclusive interview with India Today, the beleaguered liquor baron said he has written to Rajya Sabha chairman and its ethic committee announcing his decision to quit the Upper House.The ethics panel is in the process of deciding whether Mallya should be removed as a Member of Parliament. advertisement Last week, the government wrote to Britain, seeking the deportation of the 60-year-old liquor baron against whom a non-bailable warrant has been issued in the money-laundering investigation. In reply, the embattled tycoon said he remains an Indian patriot, who is "proud to fly the Indian flag", but as the outcry around him continues, he is more than happy to stay safe in the UK and has no plans to leave that country. Mallya said he is in a "forced exile" and disclosed no immediate plans to return to India where things are flying at him "fast and furious". The businessman, whose passport was revoked this month, said he wants a "reasonable" settlement with creditor banks for his defunct airline, but they "are not getting any money" by taking his passport or arresting him. "I definitely would like to return to India. Right now, things are flying at me fast and furious. My passport has been revoked. I don't know what the government is going to do next," he told the Financial Times. "It is important to understand the environment in India today. The electronic media is playing a huge role not just in moulding public opinion, but in inflaming the government to a very large extent," he said in what the FT termed as a four-hour interview in Mayfair, Central London. Mallya flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 as a group of state-owned banks knocked on the door of the Supreme Court to recover about Rs 9,000 crore owed by his now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines. --- ENDS --- Trump has repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive on the global market. By Indo-Asian News Service: Republican front-runner Donald Trump compared the US's trade deficit with China, which he regularly laments and vows to tackle as president, to rape. "We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing," Trump said during his second rally on Sunday in Fort Wayne, Indiana, referring to China's high number of exports relative to the US. Trump has repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive on the global market and has claimed that China is "killing" the US on trade, CNN reported. Sunday marks the first time this campaign that Trump has used the term "rape" to refer to what he views as China's dominance in trade with the US. "We're going to turn it around. And we have the cards, don't forget it. We're like the piggy bank that's being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China," Trump said before referring to China's relationship with the US as rape. advertisement Trump added that he is not "angry at China", but with US leaders whom he accused of being "grossly incompetent". Trump previously claimed in 2011 that "China is raping this country" as he toured a defense manufacturer in New Hampshire. Trump's use of the analogy comes as the business mogul is currently under fire for remarks he made about Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton that critics are calling sexist. There is a good news for Yeh Hai Mohabbatein fans. Raman and Ishita will finally come together in a couple of episodes as Divyanka Tripathi and Karan Patel have already shot for their reunion promo. By India Today Web Desk: The much-awaited reunion of the lead pair--Raman and Ishita of popular telly series Yeh Hai Mohabbatein might be few episodes away. The actors who are portraying the characters--Divyanka Tripathi and Karan Patel have already shot for the promo. However, it is yet to be know how this track will unfold in the coming episodes. We all know how the much-in-love couple got separated before the seven year leap due to certain misunderstandings between them. Post leap, Raman is staying with his daughter from Ishita who has grown up to look exactly like Ruhi. Ishita is staying with her childhood friend Mani, after he had saved her from drowning. advertisement Also read: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actress Mihika Verma ties the knot! In the last few episodes, there have been occasions when IshRa almost came face-to-face. The couple bumped into each other at a coffee shop, but their daughter Ruhi stopped them from coming together as she has still not forgiven Ishita for handing her over to Nidhi before the leap. On another occasion, IsRa were in the same flight when the plane got hijacked. The couple however could not see each other despite being in the same flight. Also read: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actress Mihika Verma ties the knot! In the last episode, Raman's son Aditya came face to face with Ishita; and now he is planning to reunite the lovers. Produced by Ekta Kapoor, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein stars Divyanka Tripathi, Karan Patel, Anita Hassanandani, Ruhanika Dhawan, Aditi Bhatia and Abhishek Verma in important roles. --- ENDS --- It is possible that the service may become accessible on laptops and computers natively. By India Today Web Desk: WhatsApp, which steadfastly remains a mobile-only service, is possibly working on native apps for Windows and the Mac computers. If the reports, based on a few screenshots shared by Twitter account WABetaInfo are true then it is possible that the service may become accessible on laptops and computers natively. Currently, it is possible to use WhatsApp on Windows or Mac but it has to be done through a web browser, and it requires pairing your phone with the open WhatsApp tab using a QR code. At the same time, it is also necessary that your phone should have a working internet connection. Or you won't be able to use the service on the computer. This limits the utility of the WhatsApp Web. But the native app for Windows and Mac, if it materialise will offer functionality that is probably similar to what user get with the Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger or any other such chat service. These chat services, once a user has logged in, offer full functionality. Also Read: WhatsApp is now probably illegal in India advertisement While simplicity has been a major selling point of WhatsApp, at times the service can feel frustratingly barebones. Probably this is the reason why as it grows -- there are over a billion users of WhatsApp -- it is adding new features. In the last several months, WhatsApp has added a number of new features, including ability to share some files. Now there are rumours that the app will next add support for ZIP files. This would effectively mean that it will support almost all types of files because users would be able to ZIP any file and then share it with friends on the chat app. WhatsApp also recently added support for strong peer-to-peer encryption, raising the fears that it may run afoul of norms in India and the government may ban it. Australia Recognizes Crimes Committed By ISIS Against Assyrians As Genocide Pictures attributed to the Islamic State (ISIS) show the 4th century Assyrian St. Behnam monastery being blown up. In a historic and unprecedented move at the request of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, the Australian House of Representatives today recognized without objection that crimes committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against Assyrians are 'genocide'. The lengthy and comprehensive motion recognizes the "Assyrian people" as "an original and Indigenous people of Iraq and Syria". Therefore, this is the first instance internationally of a legislative body unequivocally recognizing that the crime of 'genocide' has been committed against Assyrians as the indigenous people of Iraq and Syria. The motion goes on to note that the crimes against humanity committed against Assyrians are on "religious, cultural and ethnic grounds" and urges "the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide to make recommendations through the Secretary-General to the Security Council to recognise, prevent and halt crimes committed by ISIL". MR BOWEN: To move--That this House: (1) recognises that the Assyrian people, who are Christian by religion, are an original and Indigenous people of Iraq and Syria; (2) is concerned by the ethnic, religious and cultural cleansing of the Assyrian people by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the systematic killings of Assyrian people and destruction of ancient Assyrian cities, churches and artefacts; (3) Acknowledges the targeted killings and kidnappings of Assyrian clergy and ISIL's destruction of a recorded 45 Assyrian churches between June and July 2014; (4) acknowledges the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Assyrians since the invasion by ISIL in Iraq and Syria, notably in Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in Iraq and the Khabour region in Syria (Hassaka province); (5) declares that ISIL's treatment of the Assyrian people is a gross violation of human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; (6) notes that on 24 March 2015, the Iraqi Council of Ministers, under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister, Haider Al-Abadi, issued a unanimous declaration condemning the crimes committed by ISIL (Daash) against civilians, Kurds, Christians, Yazidis and Shabak as crimes of genocide; (7) further notes that the United States State Department and the European Parliament has recently recognised ISIL atrocities as genocide; (8) associates with the recent remarks of United States Secretary of State John Kerry, describing ISIL as 'genocidal by self-proclamation, by ideology, and by actions'; (9) urges the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide to make recommendations through the Secretary-General to the Security Council to recognise, prevent and halt crimes committed by ISIL; (10) recognises and condemns the: (a) ongoing genocidal conduct of ISIL against Indigenous minorities in Iraq, including the Assyrian peoples on religious, cultural and ethnic grounds; (b) forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Assyrians and other minority communities following the ISIL takeover of north-western Iraq; (c) systematic killing, taking of hostages and human trafficking of minorities; and (d) destruction of ancient Assyrian cities and holy places; (11) reaffirms the rights of Christian and other minorities of Iraq to live in peace and freedom and calls for all steps to be taken to ensure that members of the affected communities can live in freedom in Iraq; (12) notes the aspirations of the Assyrian people for the establishment of an autonomous region in the Nineveh Plains and welcomes the in principle agreement of the Iraqi Government to this; and (13) calls for the rights of Assyrian Christians to be respected in the post ISIL makeup of Iraq and Syria. The Assyrian Universal Alliance expresses its thanks to The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Treasurer for his commitment to the Assyrian people and courage in moving this important motion in the Australian House of Representatives. The Assyrian Universal Alliance also thanks all members of Parliament who supported Mr Bowen including The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. The formal text of the motion is as follows:The presentation can be viewed here According to the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat, the leader of the Future parliamentary bloc blamed the Hezbollah militia for hurting Lebanons interests, and bidding the Iranian regimes welfare instead. Mr. Siniora claimed that Hezbollah transformed the country into a body without a head, and told the newspaper that the ongoing vacuum in the presidency has created a huge void that allowed Iranian ties with Hezbollah to tarnish Beiruts relations with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia. As a way to remedy this void, Mr. Siniora called on Tehran to distance itself from interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries. Irans systematic intervention in Lebanon through its favorite militia significantly weakened existing institutions, the former premier insisted, which created a major political setback that naturally affected the countrys established ties with leading Arab countries. According to IRNA state news agency, on April 24, Brigadier General Seyyed Kamal Payambari, Deputy for Training of army ground forces, said: In adherence with the design and command of the Commander in Chief, the army will also participate in advisory missions along with the revolutionary guards. He made these statements at a gathering of directors and staff of the Ministry of Defense. The National Council of Resistance of Iran had previously declared that, following the impasse of revolutionary guards and foreign mercenaries, in order to protect Bashar Assads rule, the mullahs would dispatch army forces to Syria, including the 65th Nohed Brigade. So far, at least forty Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps generals have been killed in the mullahs deployments to Syria. [May 02, 2016] Frost & Sullivan Applauds ifm's Contributions to the Vision Sensors Industry, with its Revolutionary Industrial Automation Innovations MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the vision sensors industry, Frost & Sullivan recognizes ifm efector, inc., (ifm) with the 2015 Global Frost & Sullivan Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award. Supported by its in-house customer service facility, operational excellence, and highly efficient sales and engineering team, ifm has successfully rolled out superior vision sensor products and accompanying services that strongly underscore its entrepreneurial excellence in the global vision sensors market. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160427/360596 ifm's futuristic technology sensors have found wide application across diverse industry verticals, including automotive, machinery building, and food and beverage, cementing its position in the vision sensors industry. Its extensive range of vision sensors, comprising efector dualis inspection sensors or contour sensors, efector dualis pixel counters, and 3D image sensors, showcases its unmatched capabilities in error-proofing and inspection applications in manufacturing. "ifm has developed vision sensors that not only feature complementary metal-oxide-based semiconductors, but are also pre-loaded with best-in-class algorithms. These algorithms aid the flawless functioning of frequently used error-proofing applications, without requiring their integration with expensive vision systems," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Dr. Rajender Thusu. "Consequently, the contour sensors promptly detect the predefined shape of an object, compare it with similar shapes, and enable perfect replication." While contour sensors and pixel counters can inspect the size, shape, and area occupancy of an object from a 2D standpoint, there is intensifying demand for 3D dimensioning systems for 100 percent dimensional accuracy, without any color and light interferences. This has prompted ifm to introduce the O3D Smart Sensors in its line of visual sensors. These smart sensors are standalone devices in the 3D sensors market, as they have the flexibility to configure as per the case sizes, have a set-up time of less than two minutes, offer automatic switching between recipes, and ensure availability of both digital and Ethernet outputs. ifm focuses on simplifying the high-end technologies incorporated in its products to facilitate greater ease of use, as well as ease of integration or replacement of these sensors. To simplify the installation process of its sensors, the company launched an 'On-site Application Support' initiative, wherein its sales engineers visit customer locations for the seamless installaton of its sensors. Furthermore, owing to a widening customer base (currently 115,000 customers), the company has expanded its local support network to more than 70 nations globally. Significantly, ifm functions as a one-stop shop for customers with its proprietary industrial network products (controllers, gateways, modules, wiring accessories), carrier and product identification systems (transponders, radio frequency identification (RFID) read/write head, multicode readers for 1D and 2D codes), and machine health monitoring systems for real-time maintenance. "ifm's 2D and 3D vision sensors boast high-quality hardware, robust performance, and unmatched accuracy in error-proofing and product inspection, at highly competitive prices," noted Dr. Thusu. "While competing solutions cause customers to incur additional expenditure to ensure seamless interoperability of the sensors with their applications, ifm achieves this by offering its high-performance products at fixed prices." Additionally, ifm's products meet the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 quality certification standard, which confirms that its sensors are devoid of any material or structural defects. For its overall leadership in the vision sensors industry, Frost & Sullivan is pleased to present ifm with the 2015 Global Frost & Sullivan Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in devising a strong growth strategy and robustly implementing it. The recipient has shown strength in terms of innovation in products and technologies, leadership in customer value, as well as speed in response to market needs. In short, the award looks at the emerging market players in the industry and recognizes their best practices that are positioned for future growth excellence. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About ifm efector, inc. (ifm) ifm efector USA is a premier manufacturer of industrial sensors and controls. Products include proximity switches, photoelectric sensors, vision sensors, machine condition monitors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, level sensors, valve position sensors, mobile control solutions, RFID systems, AS-i networking and Safety at Work products. With a rich history in innovative product design, outstanding customer support, and high performance logistics, ifm provides reliable product solutions and services to their customers. ifm's dedication to customer satisfaction has made the company a global leader in sensors and controls. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure. The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact Us: Start the discussion Join Us: Join our community Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing" Register: Gain access to visionary innovation ifm Media Contact: Laura Shemonsky P: 610-524-2852 E: [email protected] Frost & Sullivan Contact: Chiara Carella P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314 F: 210.348.1003 E: [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160428/8521602740 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Midmarket CIOs to Come Together at Midsize Enterprise Summit East 2016 WESTBOROUGH, Mass., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Channel Company will bring together the largest-ever independent gathering of midmarket CIOs and senior executives at this year's 2016 Midsize Enterprise Summit (MES) East, on May 1-3 in Indianapolis. This year's theme, "The Big Shift," will focus on how CIOs and senior executives can position themselves as the ultimate business innovators driving competitive advantage through new technology solutions and strategies. The three-day event will be packed with content jointly curated by The Channel Company and Gartner, aimed at educating executives about the latest midmarket developments, opportunities and business strategies. The event will feature boardroom discussions of the latest trends and solutions influencing today's midsize IT organizations, with participants from leading and emerging vendors alike, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, Scale Computing and SimpliVity. Attendees also will have the opportunity to engage Gartner analysts in one-on-one meetings and get their perspective on key topics affecting the midmarket community. Topics covered by high-profile Gartner analysts include State of the Midmarke; the One-Page Midmarket Cloud Strategy; the 2030 CIO Algorithm; Cybersecurity 2020: Phase 2 Guardian for Big Change; and Vendor Management Best Practices for Midsize Enterprises. "We are excited to welcome 200-plus CIOs and senior executives to MES East in Indianapolis," says Lisa MacKenzie, senior vice president and partner, The Channel Company. "At MES, CIOs and senior executives will discover new, cutting-edge strategies and master the skills necessary to survive 'The Big Shift' happening in the IT industry at the levels of organizational structure, technology and program management. This event will expose IT leaders to keen, topical insights from industry researchers, top vendors and peers, equipping them with the tools and information they need to make informed and strategic decisions about the future of their IT business." The 2016 MES East agenda is packed with focused content and networking activities across a range of formats, including theater-style vendor keynotes and symposiums, hands-on demonstrations and engaging interactions at the Solutions Pavilion, as well as a CIO professional development workshop. In addition, board appointments will be held throughout the event in which small groups of IT leaders can meet with vendors to discuss their challengesattendees view these meetings as one of the best aspects of MES. Midmarket CIOs and IT leaders can learn more and register for MES East 2016 at www.thechannelco.com/events/mese16/about Connect with MES on Twitter and LinkedIn to get real-time updates and engage with midmarket IT peers. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Contact Suzanne Lam The Channel Company 508.416.1182 [email protected] Logo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361994LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/midmarket-cios-to-come-together-at-midsize-enterprise-summit-east-2016-300260475.html SOURCE The Channel Company [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2016] Fujitsu Drives Digital Transformation across the Industrial Internet of Things SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand into every aspect of work and life, Fujitsu is highlighting its cutting-edge contributions to the advancement of next-generation, connected solutions that are helping industrial businesses enhance safety and streamline productivity. Fujitsu will be discussing and sharing many of these connected solutions and services in Orlando, Florida at the US stop of Fujitsu World Tour on May 5, 2016. IoT-enabled devices in factories and businesses currently represent a significant part of the market, and by 2025, 37 percent ($2.3 trillion) of the $6.2-trillion IoT market is expected to consist of devices used in manufacturing applications1. Fujitsu plays a key role in the development of this hyper-connected world, working with customers to increase efficiency through the development of sophisticated devices and systems for industries such as farming and manufacturing as well as placing a focus on workplace safety. "The Internet of Things is changing the way we work in every way and in every industry," shared Alex Attal, executive vice president of Business Application Services at Fujitsu America, Inc. "Fujitsu is utilizing IoT to help manufacturers specializing in everything from food and agriculture to tools and warehouses to streamline people and processes, further bettering the bottom line and productivity. To achieve the digital transformation that is fundamental to the business growth of every organization requires enterprises to be digitally enabled from end to end. Mobility plays a central role from workplace solutions, wearable technologies and sensors, to cloud computing. That's why technology needs to be where the people are not the other way round to support and empower people, naturally and unobtrusively." Transforming the manufacturing industry through IoT Thirty-five percent of US manufacturers are currently collecting and using data generated by smart sensors to enhance manufacturing/operating processes2. One of the biggest challenges manufacturers face is implementing up-to-date technology within older machines. Machinery for any manufacturer is a costly and lengthy investment, taking years before a piece of equipment is retired or replaced, but with IoT solutions from GlobeRanger3, a Fujitsu-owned RFID software and solutions company, older equipment can be easily outfitted to become a connected device. The company's GR-AWARE platform, for instance, easily incorporates asset management information into business operations and legacy systems, allowing the creation of business processing rules, management of exceptions, triggering of alerts and notifications, as well as production of a variety of real-time reports. IoT solutions are enabling more transparency in the supply chain. By implementing IoT solutions, manufacturers are able to receive real-time data helping to manage a warehouse or supply chain more effectively and efficiently. For example, the perishable products industry has witnessed an alarming amount of contamination and spoilage in recent years. By implementing connected devices into the process, manufacturers are able to track production end-to-end, ensuring quality products and helping to protect their reputation. One of the U.S.' largest sour cream manufacturers was one of the initial companies to participate in an RFID-compliance initiative sponsored by a leading global big-box retailer. Through use of an iMotion Edgeware platform from GlobeRanger, the company was able to deploy a sophisticated tracking system that allowed information to be sent to drivers regarding where to deliver loads, recording transactions, loT information ND expiration date keeping tabs on the entire process of finished goods to shipping. Precise agriculture with precise IoT application One of the newest trends in agriculture is for farmers to utilize predictive analytics on real-time data aout weather, soil and air quality, crop maturity, equipment and labor costs for making smarter decisions. This is a market that is expected to grow to $3.7 billion by 20184. Fujitsu is working to support this new industrial enterprise approach that brings improvements to agriculture and food markets through the use of connected devices, like RFID tags and wearables. Addressing this emerging trend, Fujitsu released an innovative and critically acclaimed offering known as GYUHO SaaS5 better known to many as "The Connected Cow." This demonstrates Agricultural IoT at its finest. By utilizing IoT technology, ranchers were able to determine that cows increased their activity/steps when they were in season (known as the estrus cycle) and ready to mate. As a result of the information collected - via a pedometer that relays step count data via the internet, analyzed in the cloud, and generates an email alert when there are signs of increased stepping - ranchers are then able to artificially inseminate the cows at the optimal time, increasing chances of breeding more cows than bulls. This increases the production of milk and thus allows ranchers to manage their dairy demands efficiently, thanks to the data collected through the wearable device. This system has been rolled out successfully in Japan, as well as farms in South Korea. Additionally, test trials of GYUHO SaaS are currently underway in Poland, Turkey and Romania. Poland's National Research Institute of Animal Production chose GYUHO SaaS after determining that the estrus detection rate was higher than the other solutions evaluated. Health and safety becomes human-centric In 2014, there were three million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers6. To this end, Fujitsu is working to develop UBIQUITOUSWARE7 devices, which utilize IoT technology like location badges and tags (indoor/outdoor) and vital-sign sensing bands, including the user's heat stress based on their location, acceleration, temperature, and humidity, all while connecting to a remote monitoring station. UBIQUITOUSWARE is ideal for monitoring workers' vitals in remote locations or labor intensive scenarios. For instance, those working remotely on a wind turbine can be monitored using a band that not only collects their vitals, but can also monitor rapid changes in barometric pressure and motions that would signal a fall by the wearer. Additionally, UBIQUITOUSWARE can be beneficial for those working in labor-intensive warehouses or factories. The band can estimate the physical load on a body based on changes in the wearer's pulse, and can trigger alerts when the wearer is overloaded, helping to eliminate on-the-job injuries. Robert Ryan, Chief Innovation Officer, BAS, Fujitsu Americas, says: "We're witnessing the evolution of a hyper-connected world, with emerging technologies fueling connections between people, processes, things and information. Fujitsu is proud to be a leader in advancing a more human-centric workforce by melding together IoT, equipment and people for the betterment of enterprises, their employees and of course, the consumer." Online resources Read the Fujitsu blog: http://blog.ts.fujitsu.com Follow Fujitsu on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FujitsuAmerica Follow us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/fujitsu-america Find Fujitsu on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Fujitsu Fujitsu pictures and media server: http://mediaportal.ts.fujitsu.com/pages/portal.php For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: http://ts.fujitsu.com/ps2/nr/index.aspx Editors' Notes 1 Intel 2 pwc 3 GlobeRanger 4 Aditi 5 GYUHO: The Japanese word "GYUHO" is comprised of two characters the first being 'cow', the second being 'step' or 'walk'. Click here to read the press release announcing GYUHO SaaS. 6 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 7 Fujitsu UBIQUITOUSWARE Media contacts Fujitsu America, Inc. Bryan Hollar 408-746-6412 [email protected] Finn Partners Andrew Corcione 212-593-5844 [email protected] About Fujitsu Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 156,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com. About Fujitsu Americas Fujitsu America, Inc. is the parent and/or management company of a group of Fujitsu-owned companies operating in North, Central and South America and Caribbean, dedicated to delivering the full range of Fujitsu products, solutions and services in ICT to our customers in the Western Hemisphere. These companies are collectively referred to as Fujitsu Americas. Fujitsu enables clients to meet their business objectives through integrated offerings and solutions, including consulting, systems integration, managed services, outsourcing and cloud services for infrastructure, platforms and applications; data center and field services; and server, storage, software and mobile/tablet technologies. For more information, please visit: http://solutions.us.fujitsu.com/ and http://twitter.com/fujitsuamerica Fujitsu, the Fujitsu logo and "shaping tomorrow with you" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140618/119400 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fujitsu-drives-digital-transformation-across-the-industrial-internet-of-things-300260640.html SOURCE Fujitsu America, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] anterior FACCMA. Se llevara a cabo el evento deportivo IAJAD, en el marco del Encuentro de Iom Haatzmaut SPRINGFIELD -- When it comes to state income taxes, Illinois is something of an outlier. Of the 43 states that tax personal income, Illinois is one of only eight that charge residents the same rate regardless of how much they earn. As the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner continue to labor over passing a budget for the current year and addressing the states long-term deficits, theres a renewed push to overhaul the tax structure. Doing away with the flat income tax could go a long way toward helping the state ease its chronic fiscal woes, tax policy experts say, but they have some concerns about the graduated income tax proposal currently under consideration at the Capitol. Before lawmakers can introduce a system that taxes wealthier residents at a higher rate, theyll have to approve a proposed amendment to the state constitution by three-fifths majorities in the House and Senate and win voter approval at the ballot box in November. The deadline for lawmakers to approve amendments is this week. Contingent on approval of the amendment, Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, has proposed a new structure that would lower taxes for more than 99 percent of taxpayers while raising the rate on individual income of more than $1 million from 3.75 percent to 9.75 percent. The plan would bring in an additional $1.9 billion in annual revenue, supporters estimate. Don Fullerton, a tax policy expert and the associate director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, said the states flat tax is a little bit of an anachronism. Its normal to have some kind of graduated rate, said Fullerton, who worked in the U.S. Treasury Department under President Ronald Regan. In general, its a good idea to consider when the state is short on revenue, he said, adding that a graduated system eases the burden on lower-income taxpayers while drawing in more revenue from those who have more disposable income. That said, Fullerton believes the upper end of Langs proposal may be asking too much. Kim Rueben, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center in Washington, agrees on both counts. Having a graduated income tax makes sense, but I would think that you dont necessarily want to immediately go to one of the most graduated income taxes that we see in the country, Rueben said. Langs proposal would lower the rate from 3.75 percent to 3.5 percent for individuals earning less than $100,000 a year and families earning less than $200,000. The rates would be 3.75 percent on individual income between $100,000 and $500,000 and family income between $200,000 and $750,000, 8.75 percent on individual income between $500,000 and $1 million and family income between $750,000 and $1.5 million, and 9.75 percent on income above those ranges. Rueben said it might make more sense to have a smaller increase at the top of the scale and also raise rates on individuals earning between $100,000 and $500,000. Youre leaving a fair amount of money that should probably be taxed, she said. Critics of Langs plan, most notably the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, argue that rates would hurt the many small businesses that pay taxes at the personal rather than the corporate rate. The Tax Foundation, a conservative-leaning group based in Washington, held a news conference at the Capitol last week to announce that the proposal would drop Illinois from 23rd to 48th on its state business tax climate index. Lang was quick to respond that nearly three-quarters of Illinois businesses pay at the personal rate and that more than 90 percent of them earn $200,000 a year or less, meaning theyd see a tax cut under his plan. Matt Gardner, executive director of the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said adopting a graduated income tax would go right to the heart of the states budget woes. Theres a chronic revenue need, and anything that raises substantial revenues is going to make it easier for the states budget process going forward, Gardner said. CASEY -- Members of Westboro Baptist Church, a congregation of people notorious for their anti-gay and anti-veteran rhetoric, took a pit stop on their way back home Sunday in the city to protest, only to be met by an overwhelming majority of counter-protestors. A collection of approximately 20 people from the local area and even some from as far as Southern Illinois University in Carbondale followed the small group of protestors from the state of Kansas to the various local sites they planned to protest. They picketed for about 30 minutes at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Casey First Baptist Church and Casey United Methodist Church, holding signs saying anti-gay phrases like F*** Doom Nation. They cut their trip short at their last site, Casey United Methodist, reportedly from feeling unsafe or threatened by the counter-protesting group, said Mark Jenkins, Casey chief of police. I think it goes to show that they're a group thrives on attention and once attention is taken off them, they don't see a reason to stick around, said David Bell, a counter-protester. They couldn't do anything besides walk around and hope maybe the cameras caught them in between the groups of people standing against them. Westboro Baptist Church members' signs were only a few among a flurry of positive signs largely preaching Love One Another. Jenkins said the counter-protestors did a good job of drowning out the opposing message. Jenkins said in a conversation with one of the Westboro Baptist Church members, the person criticized the police for not separating the two groups from one another. They can say what they want, but I feel they were discouraged here, Jenkins said. Basically, you couldn't really see them. Jenkins said the church picketers came down to Casey because it was on their way as they traveled on Interstate 70 back to Topeka, Kan., the home of the congregation. Along with protesting military funerals, the church picketers have often criticized other denominations such as Catholicism for various reasons. The counter-protestors had a different goal in mind which was to combat the churchs rhetoric with more positive messaging. People from PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Eastern Illinois University, SIU-C, Olney Central College and others massed to counter the church's messaging. Bell, from Casey, said he and his fraternity chapter, Alpha Sigma Phi at SIU-C, thought this would be a worthwhile opportunity to stand up against the kind of messaging the church perpetuates and to take attention away from it. Bell said it was also great to be out counter-protesting with other college students as well. We joked about it a couple of times that it is nice to finally see two of the state universities work together for something other than the budget, Bell said. Jenkins said he was thankful the protest remained peaceful. Rich Claussen has been selected as the new ambassador of innovation and entrepreneurship for Prosper Lincoln. In his role, Claussen will focus on increasing cross-sector initiatives to advocate and grow entrepreneurship and innovation. Claussen brings with him an extensive record of local community leadership with numerous business, civic and charitable organizations. He spent the past 30 years as an executive officer at Bailey Lauerman. Claussen completes the leadership group guiding the Prosper Lincoln community agenda, supporting the three priority areas of early childhood education, employment skills and innovation. We both had the honor of serving on separate task forces created by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Community Foundation; focused on setting a community agenda for developing Lincoln as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, said Jay Wilkinson, CEO of Firespring, and Dan Duncan, executive director of Nebraska Innovation Campus, co-chairs of the Prosper Lincoln Innovation Committee. Rich Claussen is the perfect person to help establish our city as a world-class example of innovation. Since the Prosper Lincoln community agenda was launched in February, Bryan Seck and Mike Milbourn were selected to develop the strategies for employment skills. Seck previously was a homeless outreach specialist for Lincoln Public Schools. Milbourn is a learning and development manager at Lincoln Industries, who will loan him to work with Seck one day a week. Michelle Suarez begins her work on early childhood education upon her retirement in June from Lincoln Public Schools, where she has served as a school principal. The backgrounds of each Prosper Lincoln leader will serve them well to achieve the community agenda priorities over the next four years; to nurture every child on the path to success; to provide opportunities for people to realize career aspirations; and to create a vibrant culture of innovation. www.ProsperLincoln.org The Barnes Group is pleased to announce that Angie Swartz has joined our team as director of talent & creative development. In her new role, Swartz will lead our recruitment efforts in support of the companys growth. Swartz comes to The Barnes Group with more than 15 years of experience, having served most recently as the admissions leader for the College of Hair Design in Lincoln, Neb. She brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership experience and expertise to the team Nebraska will receive nearly $1.5 million as part of a settlement with Wyeth and Pfizer over the failure to report drug rebates to hospitals, Attorney General Doug Peterson announced Monday. The Justice Department announced last week that Pfizer had agreed to pay $785 million to settle claims that Wyeth gave thousands of hospitals deep discounts on two versions of the heartburn and acid reflux prescription drug Protonix between 2001 and 2006, but failed to report those prices to the government as required by law so Medicaid can receive the same discounts. Pfizer bought Wyeth in 2009. The settlement arose from two whistleblower lawsuits filed in federal court in Massachusetts. The federal governments and 35 states, including Nebraska, intervened in the case. As part of the settlement, the federal government will get more than $413 million while state Medicaid programs will share more than $371 million. Nebraska's share is a little more than $1.48 million. A man who was teaching dance in Lincoln and Crete has been charged with sexually assaulting two 14-year-old girls in Crete. Police arrested 27-year-old Vinson Jenkins Thursday at Dynamic Dance Co., 1318 Main Ave., which he co-owns with his wife, according to court documents. Both of the girls Jenkins is accused of sexually assaulting are students at Crete Middle School and at least one of them a student at the Dynamic Dance Co. studio. One of the girls told police Jenkins sexually assaulted her in the basement of his home at 2025 Fairway Drive on the evening of April 25, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Crete Police Officer Dawn Jonas. The other girl said Jenkins repeatedly sexually assaulted her from August through December 2015 at the dance studio, the affidavit says. He also contacted the second girl on social media including SnapChat and Instagram, court documents say. Jenkins also worked at Pure Movement Dance in Lincoln teaching a small group of students once a week for the past couple of years. A representative of the Lincoln studio said in an email that the families of the students he worked with have been informed of the charges and that none of the Lincoln students has come forward with a claim against Jenkins. A spokeswoman said Pure Movement Dance did a criminal history and arrest background check before hiring Jenkins and was shocked by the allegations. He has been fired from the Lincoln dance company, she said. Jenkins was charged Monday in Saline County Court with two felony counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of felony enticement by electronic communication device. A message left at Dynamic Dance Studio seeking comment was not returned. Jenkins remained in the Saline County jail in Wilber Monday. Some rural landowners who want to share their utopias with others for a price are facing legal uncertainty that could force them to change the way they do business. The owners of Avalon Event Paradise northeast of Crete and Hillside Events west of Denton are struggling with zoning ordinances that dont fully address their business models. As a result, theyre facing the possibility of having to suspend operations while county officials rewrite zoning ordinances. Both rent out space for special weddings, receptions, parties, etc. I think both of them are simply trying to share what they have in the way of facilities with people who need to have a place to celebrate things like weddings, said Mark Hunzeker, an attorney representing the two businesses. There is a need for these kinds of facilities. At Avalon, customers have access to a boathouse and an island in a 12-acre lake. They can also set up tents. At Hillside, customers can use a converted barn that can accommodate 200 people indoors and an additional 100 on a patio. At an April 19 hearing before the Lancaster County Board, Hillside owners Tyler and Melissa Smith talked about their place but didn't address zoning issues. At that hearing, the County Board approved two special designated licenses for Meiers Cork N Bottle and Kens Liquor to sell alcohol on May 7 and May 21 at Hillside. Terry Kathe, building and safety manager for Lincoln, said the Smiths have not submitted plans for their site, despite already having completed many improvements to the barn. As a result, the city is concerned it may be operating in violation of building and safety codes. Deputy County Attorney Dave Derbin warned commissioners April 19 that approving the special designated licenses despite suspecting Hillside is not complying with building and safety codes could make commissioners liable should someone be injured there. Tyler Smith said at the hearing that he wasnt aware he needed to have inspections done when he renovated the barn. He said he planned to submit plans for it and comply with all requirements set by building and safety officials. On Tuesday, the County Board approved a special designated license for Daves Wine and Liquor to sell alcohol at Avalon on May 14. The owners are complying and acting in good faith, said Commissioner Todd Wiltgen. Tom Cajka, Lancaster County planner, said Avalon and Hillside are both on land zoned for agriculture, and that doesnt allow event centers. County planning staff have worked to help the businesses apply for special permits that would allow them to continue operating as home businesses. The city-county Planning Commission plans to consider the special permits for Avalon and Hillside on May 11. But guidelines related to home businesses, known in the zoning rules as home occupations, restrict the number of employees they can have to two, and that has posed problems for operations that require several employees to be present during, say, a party or a wedding, Cajka said. The whole intent of home occupation is its really not supposed to disturb the residential area and keep it residential in character, he said. Residential is still to be the main use of the property. He said the County Board could direct the city-county planning department to draft new guidelines for home occupation special permits. We havent been given any direction as of yet, he said. Wiltgen said he and Commissioner Roma Amundson plan to meet with planning staff soon to explore possible changes to zoning ordinances. I think the County Board will take action, he said. County officials typically become aware of these businesses only when other businesses, typically alcohol distributors, request special designated licenses, Wiltgen said. There are probably more of these properties out there that we dont know about, he said. He said he doesnt want to over-regulate event sites, which he described as valuable economic engines for rural areas. However, he said, it is important to ensure zoning regulations address building, safety and sanitation concerns. Now, the primary means county officials have of regulating the sites is to deny the special designated licenses they need to host events at which alcohol is sold. Wiltgen said hes more concerned about unregulated events at which alcohol is provided for free, like keg parties. Its free, he said. There tends to be more consumption. Businesses like Avalon and Hillside Events represent respectable businesses trying to operate under ambiguous county zoning ordinances, he said. I would much rather have someone thats in the business of providing alcohol responsibly involved, he said. Hunzeker said owners of Avalon and Hillside are still considering what they plan to ask for in their applications for special permits. And he said they're likely to raise questions about how local zoning ordinances define employees. He said the owners of both businesses want to be good neighbors and not do anything that harms nearby landowners. Theres a regulatory function that is legitimate and everybody understands that, he said. Its a question of trying to balance the need to keep it under control, so to speak, and the need to actually allow these facilities to function. Donald Trump has given up on winning historically literate voters. Consider the theme of his major foreign policy speech Wednesday: "America first." This slogan is most associated with aviator Charles Lindbergh, who spent a great deal of time in the late 1930s gushing at how wonderful the Third Reich was. Before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Lindbergh helped form "America First" committees that campaigned to keep the U.S. from fighting the Axis powers. Lindbergh rose to become a demagogue and accused President Franklin Roosevelt of colluding with a Jewish lobby and Britain to drag America into World War II. For years this phrase was toxic. Pat Buchanan has used it from time to time, but "America first" and the idea it represented -- American neutrality toward the Nazis -- has been largely banished from respectable discourse. Now Trump is bringing the phrase back to the mainstream. He deploys it at his campaign rallies. And in his major foreign policy speech Wednesday, there it was right at the top. The real-estate magnate promised to "always put the interests of the American people first." He said: "That will be the foundation of every single decision I will make. 'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of our administration." In fairness to Trump, the world is very different than it was when Nazis ruled Berlin. Historian Ron Radosh told me that Trump was channeling the memory of the isolationists of that era, but he also allowed that Trump "differentiates himself because clearly unlike Lindbergh, he is not an enemy of Jews or the Jewish state." (Though on the substance, Radosh added that he did not think it was "good for Israel to have a president who is so isolationist.") Nonetheless, Trump's Lindbergh-like instincts were apparent in his speech Wednesday. He said he intended to hold NATO allies more accountable to pay a fair share for their defense. If they don't, he said, "the U.S. must be prepared to let them defend themselves." You don't need a history textbook to know what that means. It's been in the headlines since 2008: Russian forces invaded Georgia that year. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. To this day Russia occupies large swaths of both countries. These developments have rightly frightened many U.S. NATO allies, particularly the vulnerable Baltic States that joined the alliance after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Trump also said he hoped to repair relations with Russia because both countries share a common enemy in radical Islam. In this respect, Trump sounds like George W. Bush after 9/11, when he looked into the Russian president's soul, or Sen. Barack Obama on the trail in 2008, when he too promised to reset relations with Russia in the aftermath of its invasion of Georgia. The fact that Trump now promises another reset eight years later is instructive about the chances for success. Who knows whether Trump means any of what he said, or whether any of the ideas in his speech would be the basis of his foreign policy as president. As Trump himself said Tuesday evening when asked about a Trump doctrine, "you have to be flexible." But the front-runner ought to be careful. If his political opponents were to attack him in kind, they might point to Trump's long history of business dealings with Moscow -- as my colleague Josh Rogin has reported. Perhaps they would ask whether Trump's soft stand on Russia was influenced by his new campaign adviser, Paul Manafort, who also sought real-estate deals with a Moscow-connected billionaire in Ukraine. When you put it like that, America doesn't seem to be first for Trump's foreign policy at all. CHICAGO -- Though we like to think of a college degree as an unqualified good, it isn't always. Maybe even especially not so for those who are seen to be the greatest beneficiaries of a socioeconomic-boosting credential: low-income young people. Researchers from the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences analyzed a 13-year national study that contained clinical health data from more than 11,000 participants. They found that though young adults who come from adverse backgrounds use resilience to achieve a higher social status, they are more likely to be unhealthy later in life than those not motivated to change their circumstances. Like previous studies that have shown that stress can cause negative health effects, particularly in people coming from low-income backgrounds, the researchers found that "future-oriented" adolescents who strove to change their life trajectory suffered from stress that increased their risk of developing cardio-metabolic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. This will come as no surprise to people who have either been the first in their family to attend and graduate from college or have mentored a first-generation college student. The risks that low-income students take in order to better their future prospects through the attainment of a college degree only start with financial considerations. They also include emotional considerations like dealing with leaving family behind, adjusting to new surroundings and challenging coursework, having to create a new identity for oneself and even figuring out the unwritten rules of interviewing for jobs and navigating white-collar office politics. "As young adults work to break the cycle of poverty or strive toward being the first in their family to go to college, they experience a disproportionate burden of stress -- and were not resilient in terms of their future health due to the combined burden of lived adversity and striving to change it. This stress is then likely to cause irreversible weathering in their body systems," said a news release announcing "The Health Impact of Upward Mobility," which was recently published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence. It's almost as though these "future-oriented" strivers are damned if they do and damned if they don't. By one calculation, it is well-known that increased education boosts social mobility and that higher incomes are associated with long-term health benefits. But the climb to get into the middle class through higher education is ever-so-tough for low-income students. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, famous for its international rankings of educational attainment, only 5 percent of American children with parents who have not finished high school will graduate from college. There are, however, ways to combat the phenomenon of low-income strivers suffering from the fruits of their labors. Almost all of them involve providing the underpinnings that students from families with college-going cultures enjoy, starting with ensuring excellent K-12 education so that students will arrive on college campuses ready for university-level work. Then there are other supports, such as making the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) easier for students and parents to complete, providing special campus orientation programs for students and families new to the college experience and providing mentors for students who are the first in their families to attend a university. As someone who mentors a "first gen" college student -- and had to traverse my "first" university experience by myself -- I can attest to the power of just being there. It takes very little time and effort to answer questions, give encouragement and highlight opportunities for someone who is experiencing college and the job-application process for the first time. Everyone wants low-income, first-time college students to succeed. Policymakers and university administrators can help them by recognizing that these students need extra reinforcements in order for their educational experience to pay off for a lifetime. Imagine one out of every 10 trees in the state dying over a seven- to 10-year period. Thats whats likely to happen in Nebraska, based on what has happened in other states as the larvae of the emerald ash borer have munched their way across the country, chewing away unseen under the bark of ash trees. City and state officials are working on plans to cope with the problem. Homeowners should do the same. It wont be easy. Budget hawks are already grumbling. The price tag for the damage caused by ash borer is astounding. It will cost an estimated $960 million to cut down all the ash trees that will be affected in Nebraska and plant replacements, state Forester Scott Josiah said. Lincoln city officials are bracing for a price tag of about $29 million, which they hope to spread over a 15-year period. Those who pride themselves as being tight with a tax dollar should be advised that it will cost less and be less ruinous on long-term budgeting to be proactive. The beetle has not yet been detected in Nebraska, but it has been found 20 miles away in Iowa and probably is already here, Josiah said. Once the bug arrives in a community, 70 percent of all ash trees will die within seven to nine years. Lincoln alone has about 70,000 ash trees, and 14,000 of them are on city-owned parks or along streets. Lincoln has a 15-year plan for dealing with the pending infestation that includes cutting down some of the ash trees that already in poor or marginal condition before the borers arrive, according to Lynn Johnson, Parks and Recreation Department director. City officials also plan to try to prolong survival for some of Lincolns ash trees with chemical treatments. Officials in Kansas City say it costs about $80 to treat a mature tree every two or three years. Cutting down a mature ash tree costs hundreds of dollars. Treatment will stretch out the death curve so City Hall can spread its costs over a longer period. Mayor Chris Beutler tried to tack $2 million onto the proposed stormwater bond issue to address the pending ash borer problem, but the City Council turned him down. Theres no dodging the issue, however. City Hall will have to remove the dead ash trees on its property because of the danger and liability in lawsuits. The emerald ash borer already has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in 25 states. Nebraskas estimated 43 million ash trees are next on the menu. Preparation will make it easier to cope. It is nice to see someone with the educational experience of Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte seeking a position on the Nebraska State Board of Education. Stephanie is a conservative who is a former public school classroom teacher, counselor and principal. She has also served as a local school board member in Grand Island. This experience would give her great perspective in handling matters that come before the state board of education. Her knowledge of educational research, curriculum, statewide assessment and accountability measures remind me of another excellent school board member I had the privilege of working with during my tenure as an administrator in the Beatrice and Fairbury school districts. Much like that that current state board of education member, Stephanie Bohlke-Schulte is one who will always put children first while making decisions that positively impact the future of education in our great state. If you are a teacher, principal, administrative personnel or work in a job dealing with education, or if you are a parent, grandparent or know a child in school, then remember this name: Patsy Koch Johns ("For Legislature, State Ed Board," April 25). She is an outstanding, top-notch candidate running for the State Board Of Education. There is no one who will work harder to give all children the best education and learning environment possible. I have known Patsy for over 40 years and watched her growth as a parent, teacher and incredibly active civic volunteer in various cities. Her involvement in a number of boards and organizations in Lincoln is long and impressive. She has extensive experiences in education including the honor of being named the 2006 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. One of Koch Johns strengths is her ability to work with parents. She has a proven track record of consensus building with diverse groups working toward a common goal. Patsy is a compassionate and knowledgeable individual. She takes on all challenges and works hard for resolutions. A cause she is presently backing is poverty in schools. Patsy has personal experience with poverty and understands how it invades a childs life. She recently directed the award-winning film, Poverty, Not a Choice. The actors told how poverty profoundly shaped their lives and influenced their school experiences. This outstanding work recently won the new filmmakers award at a Los Angeles film festival. Do yourself and the students of Nebraska a big favor and vote for Patsy Koch Johns for State Board of Education. She will work for every childs best educational experience. Lana Imes, retired Lincoln Public Schools teacher, Lincoln Eyes on Omaha's Republican House race. In an election year in which there is no Senate contest and a single truly competitive House struggle, the only May 10 congressional primary battle is in metropolitan Omaha's 2nd District. Retired Brig. Gen. Don Bacon of Papillion, a former commander of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, is matched against Chip Maxwell of Omaha, a former state senator, county commissioner and radio talk show host with ties to Tea Party elements. Their contest has been enlivened by a $430,000 media advertising purchase by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that promotes Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford, but appears carefully designed to steer staunchly conservative Republican voters to support Maxwell over Bacon in the GOP primary. It's a campaign technique described as choosing your opponent. The TV ad describes Bacon as the "handpicked candidate of the Washington political establishment" and Maxwell as a candidate with "a consistent Tea Party record." Bacon has garnered endorsements from leading Republican figures including Gov. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Deb Fischer, former Gov. Kay Orr, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The winner of the Bacon-Maxwell contest will face Ashford in the general election. The 2nd District is composed of Douglas County (Omaha) and a swath of Sarpy County that is heavily Republican. Ashford is the only Democrat in Nebraska's five-member congressional delegation and he has carefully steered a path of independent moderation. While supporting President Barack Obama's efforts to negotiate wide-ranging free trade agreements -- a stance that has denied him labor union support -- he opposed the nuclear arms agreement with Iran negotiated by the Obama administration. Ashford's political independence is nothing new: He served 16 years in the nonpartisan Legislature and has been registered at times as a Democrat, a Republican and a nonpartisan. In 2014, Ashford unseated eight-term Republican Rep. Lee Terry of Omaha, handing Democrats their first House victory in Nebraska in 22 years. While Democrats have been competitive in the 2nd District, they haven't scored a win in eastern Nebraska's 1st District (which includes Lincoln) in 52 years and in western and central Nebraska's 3rd District in 58 years. Democrats aren't even fielding a candidate this year in the overwhelmingly Republican 3rd District, which now also includes both the northeastern and southeastern corners of the state. Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering is headed unopposed toward election to his sixth term in November. In the 1st District, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln has a Democratic opponent waiting in the wings as he seeks his seventh term. Daniel Wik, a Norfolk physician who also practices medicine in Columbus, is the sole Democratic primary candidate. Wik, a pain management doctor, says he intends to propose solutions to pending national issues like veterans medical care and immigration reform during his campaign. Three Libertarian Party members have entered the 2nd District primary contest, bringing the total number of candidates in the metropolitan Omaha district to six. They are Jeffrey Stein, Andy Shambaugh and Steven Laird, all of Omaha. Apparent misuse of taxpayer dollars by the Nebraska Tourism Commission is "appalling," Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday, reacting to a scathing state audit of the agency released last week. If the governor had control over the commission the way he does with other agencies, "people would be held accountable," Ricketts told the Journal Star. His comments came in response to a 79-page report published late Friday by the state auditor's office, which questioned a wide range of commission expenses from last year. Those included reimbursing a contractor for alcohol and cigarettes, spending $18,511 to help move an employee from Sidney to Kearney, and paying the commission director's daughter to appear in a tourism marketing campaign. "They're not being good stewards of the taxpayer dollars," Ricketts said. "There's more accountability if you put it under the governor's purview." The commission has operated independently since it was spun off from the state Department of Economic Development in 2012, a legislative decision that met virtually no opposition at the time. On Monday, Ricketts said the audit "demonstrates the problem when the Legislature moves an agency out from underneath the control of the governor's office." Tourism and its executive director are now overseen by a nine-member board, whose members are appointed by the governor. All nine commissioners were in place before Ricketts took office. "I can appoint the commission board members, but I can't unappoint them," the governor said. Kathy McKillip, the commission's executive director, has defended some of the spending but acknowledged holes in its policies and accounting practices, including the lack of an internal manual. "This audit did exactly what state audits are suppose to do, find areas of weakness so that we can improve upon them," McKillip said in an email Sunday. There's no manual for forming a new state agency as was done with the Tourism Commission in 2012, she said. As a result of the audit, the commission will begin to craft internal rules and will partner with the state's Administrative Services Department for help with purchases and accounting in the future, she said. "We consider this a great opportunity (and) something we have wanted since becoming a state agency." Commissioners are expected to discuss the audit and other issues Tuesday during a quarterly meeting at the Omaha zoo. Five of the members' four-year terms are up July 1. Even then, Ricketts said, "I have limited options on who I can select." State law requires six of the nine board seats to be held by a representative of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, representatives of two regional tourism groups and three industry associations. Another commissioner must represent an attraction that has at least 2,000 out-of-state visitors each year. And the remaining two commissioners must come from businesses that derive a majority of their revenues from out-of-state visitors. One commissioner, North Platte hotel operator Jeff Boeka, has defended McKillip following the audit; other commissioners have been silent. McKillip, who earns upwards of $86,000 a year, might also receive some limited protection under state law. When lawmakers created the separate commission four years ago, they staffed it with people who previously worked in the tourism division at Economic Development, including McKillip. The Legislature allowed those workers to at least temporarily retain their state personnel and bargaining rights including the ability to contest a firing. The law says those protections remain "for purposes of transition," but doesn't list an endpoint. Homestead Rehabilitation Center invites the community to celebrate National Nursing Home Week kicking off with a Mothers Day Tea on May 8, and continuing with the highlight, Elvis in the Building on May 12. All events celebrate the theme Its a Small World with Big Heart and are located on the Homestead Rehabilitation campus at 54th and LaSalle Streets in the Lancaster Dining Club, unless noted. To attend or volunteer at one or more of the following events, contact Rebecca at (402) 488-0977. The schedule: Sunday, 2 p.m.: Mothers Day Tea Monday, 10 a.m.: Birdhouse Painting, (Made possible in part by Thrivents Living Generously Action Team) Monday, 1:30-3 p.m.: Ice Cream Social and Model T Car Show, east parking lot (weather permitting) Thursday, 2:30 p.m: Bill Chrastil performs as Elvis, Lancaster Dining, snacks provided National Nursing Home Week is a week-long observance established in 1967 by the American Health Care Association. It is held annually in May and begins on Mother's Day, the second Sunday of May. Lancaster Rehabilitation Center didnt become the states largest skilled-nursing facility by providing substandard care and hiring employees whose focus is more on the paycheck than the patient. The facility on the southeast corner of Tenth and South streets is known for its excellence of care, compassionate employees, and successful outcomes that allow many patients to return home to their independent lifestyle. The 37 nurses at Lancaster Rehab will be recognized for what they do during an observance of National Nurses Week May 6-12. LRC will also celebrate its level of excellence of all staff members with a number of activities May 9-13 in conjunction with National Nursing Home Week. National Nurses Week is really a celebration of the residents we serve, the community, and the level of care provided by our nursing staff, said LRC Administrator Amy Fish. From acute cardiac patients and traditional long-term care to helping patients with behavioral and dementia disorders, the size of our facility enables our nurses to specialize in their preferred area of expertise, said Fish. That contributes to the level of job satisfaction we see among the many members of our nursing staff. The nursing administrative team at LRC is led by Director of Nursing Sandra Hovis. She leads a nine-member team of nursing leaders under her direction. Rehab Reunion A highlight of National Nursing Home Week at Lancaster Rehab will be LRCs Rehab Reunion to which 400 former patients will be invited back to LRC to celebrate their improved health and the return to the comfort of their own home. Other observances during National Nursing Home Week will be Big Heart Monday; Fortunate Tuesday, offering fortune cookies to all staff members; Italian Day, May 12, complete with Italian Trivia Day and prizes; and Back in the USA Day May 13, with all staff members invited to wear their special National Nursing Home Week T-shirts and jeans, and partake in a cookout with All-American burgers and brats. The culinary highlight of National Nursing Home Week will be an All-Shift/All-Staff Potluck on May 11, offering a cornucopia of cuisine from around the world, and prizes for best-themed food and decor. RACINE A week after snaring a $470,800 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help transform the riverfront near Machinery Row, city staff members are hoping to get approval from aldermen to apply for another DNR grant from the same program. The state Joint Committee on Finance signed off on the $470,800 grant on April 19. The money, which comes from the DNRs Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program, is designed to help governments return privately held lands to public use. On Tuesday, the City Council will be asked to give city staff permission to apply for another Knowles-Nelson grant for the project; this one for $400,000. The previous grant paid for the purchase of the riverfront land. If awarded, money from the new grant would pay for the design and construction of a promenade. The grant requires a $400,000 local match, but city staff has said that money should be available in the tax increment finance district set up for the area, or the citys intergovernmental revenue sharing fund. Machinery Row is a redevelopment plan for 20 riverfront acres east of Marquette Street and north of Water Street. It takes the name of the area designated as Machinery Row in the RootWorks redevelopment plan for Root Rivers urban corridor. The area includes two three-story former Case Company buildings and the former Azarian Marina. Iowa-based Financial District Properties plans to redevelop the larger of the two buildings into about 100 market-rate loft apartments, space for commercial tenants and likely some indoor tenant parking. RACINE A Racine man was sentenced on Monday to a decade behind bars for his role in an alleged carjacking and armed robbery in 2014. Damian I. Delao, 21, of Racine, ordered two men to hand over their possessions during the alleged Aug. 17, 2014, carjacking in the 1700 block of Albert Street in Racine. Quentin T. Patterson, 24, of Racine, who was with Delao at the time, allegedly pulled a gun on the men before hitting the car owner in the face with the gun, resulting in two lower teeth being knocked out, according to his criminal complaint. During Delao's sentencing on Monday, Racine County Circuit Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz also sentenced Delao to five years on extended supervision after his prison stint, and banned Delao from having any contact with members of a specific street gang. Gasiorkiewicz ordered Delao not to have any contact with the occupants of the car and told Delao he cannot consume alcohol or illegal drugs during the next 15 years. Delao pleaded guilty on Feb. 15 to being a party to the crime of armed robbery, which is a felony. Delao called the car's owner between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. that day in 2014 and asked for a ride to Milwaukee, according to the complaint. The car's owner and another man reportedly gave Delao and Patterson the ride, dropping them off at a home in Milwaukee. While driving Delao and Patterson back to Racine later that night, Delao told one of the car occupants to drop them off in the 1700 block of Albert Street, the complaint states. When the driver pulled the car over to let them out, Patterson allegedly struck the car's owner in the face with a gun, and Delao ordered him to empty his pockets while Patterson held the two car occupants at gunpoint, the complaint states. The car owner said he didn't have anything of value on him, then Delao and Patterson reportedly drove away in the car. Patterson is scheduled to go on trial on May 18. MADISON The legality of a $250 administrative fee charged to a Racine woman after her burglary conviction in 2014 will be considered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The court last week voted to accept 12 new cases, said Tom Sheehan, the courts information officer. One of the cases, State v. Scruggs, originated in Racine County, Sheehan said. The case will examine the constitutionality of retroactive application of a mandatory $250 surcharge for taking and processing DNA samples for all felony convictions. According to a summary of the case provided by Sheehan: Tabitha A. Scruggs, then 17, was charged with burglary as a party to a crime in December 2013. She was charged after a 22-year-old Racine man was spotted stealing a television and video game system from a home in the 3500 block of Victory Avenue while Scruggs waited in a car in the driveway, according to Journal Times archives. In April 2014, Scruggs pleaded no contest and was sentenced to a year and half in prison and three years probation. She also was ordered to provide a DNA sample and pay a $250 DNA analysis surcharge. Scruggs filed a post-conviction motion seeking to vacate the DNA surcharge. At the time she committed the crime, the DNA surcharge was discretionary. By the time she was convicted and sentenced, the state Legislature had made the surcharge mandatory in all felony convictions. Scruggs argued that since the action making the surcharge mandatory did not take effect until Jan. 1, 2014 two days after she committed the crime the change could not be assessed against her. A Racine County Circuit Court judge denied the motion, concluding it was required to impose the $250 DNA surcharge under the new statute. The court ruled since the amendment to the statute was enacted on June 30, 2013, and published July 1, 2013, it was in effect when Scruggs committed the crime, even though the enabling legislation made it effective Jan. 1, 2014. The state Court of Appeals affirmed the denial, but conceded the Circuit Court erred when it decided the amendment to the statute was in effect when Scruggs committed the crime. Scruggs also argued the DNA surcharge is punitive, completely unrelated to the costs of DNA analysis, and is collected in every conviction in every case, regardless of whether DNA is collected or analyzed. RACINE When Jennifer was sexually assaulted in her Racine neighborhood almost 30 years ago, she felt scared, ashamed and angry. But mostly she felt alone. When I went through it, a lot of the services we have today werent there for me, said Jennifer, who wanted only her first name used. Today, Racine has amazing programs for survivors. People who are affected by this need to know that help is out there. A lot of help is needed. In Wisconsin, more than 5,400 sexual assaults were reported in 2006, according to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and 4,857 in 2010, the latest year of comprehensive statistics. In Racine County, there were 126 assaults, including 32 forcible rapes, in 2010. Jennifer herself is providing some that help. For the past three years, she has worked as a volunteer advocate for Sexual Assault Services of Racine County, the countys primary provider of sexual assault support services. The organization, which is 100 percent funded by grants, provides free counseling, offers support groups, legal advocacy and other help as needed to assault survivors. The group has a professional staff of five and several volunteer advocates such as Jennifer. At least once a month, for 24 hours, the staff and advocates take turns carrying the crisis cellphone used by hospitals and other organizations to contact Sexual Assault Services. They respond to the hospital and assist assault survivors any way they can talking to them, holding them. Sometimes all they want is for you to be in same room with them, said Samantha Sustachek, program director at Sexual Assault Services. All survivors react and respond differently. Some are tearful, some are agitated, some are numb. Some even use nervous laughter as a coping mechanism. There is no right or wrong. In 2015, Sexual Assault Services helped 715 people somehow affected by sexual assault, either victims or their family and friends, Sustachek said. That number has remained fairly steady for the past four or five years, she said. In a global society where anything and everything seems to be discussed and dissected via television, radio and social media, sexual assault remains a murky, even mute, subject for many. Even as the 15th annual national Sexual Assault Awareness Month was marked in April, some people still simply dont want to talk about it, Sustachek said. Sadly, it has been a taboo subject, Sustachek said. We dont want to think it happens. People want to think we all live in a nice place. We tell ourselves this kind of thing doesnt happen here. And when it does, its not always reported. The number of reported assaults is probably only one-third of the actual number of attacks and assaults, Sustachek said. The reasons survivors have for not reporting an assault have remained the same, she said: Potential disbelief, embarrassment, shame, family concerns. With increased awareness of the support resources available, the crime has become more acceptable to talk about, and easier for victims to ask for help, Sustachek said. Jennifer stridently agreed. We need to talk about it. We need to keep this out in the open and stay in forefront, she said. We need survivors to know their stories matter and that we should step forward. And when they do, they will find advocates like Jennifer and Sustachek waiting to help at Sexual Assault Services of Racine County, 1220 Mound Ave., in Racine. Their 24-hour crisis lines are 262-637-7233 and 800-656-4673, and the office number is 262-619-1634. I see and hear about the horrible things people can do to each other, Sustachek said. But Im trying to make a really bad situation a little better. Late on a winter night in 2004 in Kewaunee County, six-month-old Samantha Treml was rushed to an emergency room, violently ill from bathing in water poisoned by manure spread on a nearby frozen field that seeped into the homes private well. The rest of her family got sick, too. In 2014, seven people visiting Door County were sickened after manure from a large farm made its way into a homes private water well. In 2015, Kewaunee County Board member Chuck Wagner discovered that the new $10,000 well he was forced to install two years earlier was again contaminated with viruses and cow manure. Wagner and his wife now use a reverse osmosis system to filter the water before drinking or cooking while they contemplate whether to dig a second new well. And this year, the Algoma School District is offering free water to residents whose wells are contaminated, although that source has been shut down a few times after vandals damaged the dispenser. In early March, a group of local residents asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide emergency water for Kewaunee County residents with contaminated drinking water. Its astonishing, the number of people who cant use their drinking water, said Algoma School District Superintendent Nick Cochart, whose own well is polluted. Between 2007 and 2010, an estimated 18 percent of 3,868 private wells in Wisconsin tested positive for coliform bacteria an indicator of disease-causing bacteria, viruses or parasites according to a 2013 study by researchers with the state Department of Health Services. That translates into as many as 169,200 of the 940,000 Wisconsin households served by private wells exposed to disease-causing pathogens. The problem also plagues municipal water systems where coliform bacteria accounts for most of the violations of health standards recorded each year. The 2014 Department of Natural Resources drinking water report on the states public water systems found 3.7 percent, or 420 of the 11,420 systems, had detectable levels of coliform. The report said those 420 systems serve about 92,290 people. Most of the violations, 351, were in small public water systems serving motels, restaurants, churches and campgrounds. Contamination by pathogens is of special concern because unlike pollution by metals or chemicals, pathogens can sicken people after just a single exposure. The gastrointestinal illnesses that result can be life-threatening for people with weakened immune systems such as the sick, elderly and infants. Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites are the most frequent causes of illnesses in private water systems, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whether it was manure spread irresponsibly on a frozen field, a septic system compromised by pollution-prone geology or untreated municipal drinking water, incidents of pathogens in drinking water in Wisconsin have revealed weaknesses in government oversight of this most basic and necessary resource, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism found. Committees formed as a result of contamination in Kewaunee County recently proposed steps to be taken by the DNR, state lawmakers and others to better protect Wisconsins drinking water from agricultural pollution. These work groups, composed of farmers and residents and federal, state and local officials, were formed after Kewaunee County residents petitioned the EPA in 2014 for help with the countys water problems. The recommendations included $300,000 to provide reparations, including emergency safe water supplies, treatment systems and new wells for households whose drinking water has been contaminated by livestock manure. Other proposals included voluntary restrictions on spreading manure on sensitive lands, additional staff, heightened oversight and more timely response and enforcement to complaints by the DNR. George Althoff, DNR spokesman, said the agency is actively working on formulating short-term and long-term plans to address water quality issues in Kewaunee County. He added that this has been and is a priority for the agency. I think were making progress, agreed Russ Rasmussen, a DNR natural resource manager who is coordinating the Kewaunee County effort. But some residents and others remain skeptical that the DNR will take meaningful action, and they criticize the agency for taking too long to address what some are calling a crisis. In March, Midwest Environmental Advocates, the public interest law firm that petitioned the EPA on behalf of Kewaunee County residents, shot off another letter to the agency slamming the lack of progress, saying there still has been no direct action to provide local residents with clean, reliable drinking water. The delayed response to the regions drinking water problems also has attracted the attention of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Baldwin in March sent a letter to the heads of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EPA requesting immediate attention to this urgent public health issue and your assistance in making safe drinking water options available as soon as possible. One-third of wells unsafe Recent testing funded by the DNR and carried out by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh showed the extent of the problem in Kewaunee County, with more than one-third of the 320 wells tested found unsafe to use. Those 110 wells had unsafe levels of coliform, E. coli or nitrate. Any amount of coliform is considered unsafe. Of the wells found to be unsafe by the DNR testing, 27 percent had coliform; and five wells, or 2 percent, were contaminated by E. coli, which can come from human or animal waste. The second phase of the study will show the exact source of the pollutants. Wagner discovered in the most recent round of testing that his new well which he built in 2013 to replace an old contaminated well is now tainted by four bovine viruses as well as nitrate. Wagner, who served for 10 years on the states Land and Water Conservation Board, said he is convinced clean water and agriculture can exist side by side, but he and other residents are tired of what they say is inaction by the DNR. Were getting mad, Wagner said. As for the Tremls, the family eventually was awarded an $80,000 settlement from the insurance company for Stahl Farms, which spread the manure that sent Samantha, now 12, to the hospital. Judy Treml said her family moved to Green Bay over concerns that the water in heavily farmed Kewaunee County is unsafe. The farm also paid a $50,000 fine to the state for violating its DNR permit. Treml said she believes her familys move away from Kewaunee County was the right decision. This past summer several families had wells that were contaminated because of malfunctions at a farm manure lagoon, she said. In Kewaunee County, the problems have gotten even more horrific. In 10 years, it hasnt improved at all. Big farms, big waste Kewaunee County is home to 20,574 people and 76,000 cows, according to county data. It has one of Wisconsins highest concentrations of large dairy farms, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs. Such farms, which have up to 8,000 head of cattle, can produce as much feces as a city, and most of it ends up on nearby farm fields. Kewaunee Countys 16 CAFOs contribute the bulk of the more than 555 million gallons of liquid manure that are spread on the countys fields each year, county figures show. The likelihood that manure from such large farms will contain one or more pathogens is very high, according to the EPA, because of the sheer number of animals housed in such operations. Manure is a veritable stew of more than 150 pathogens that can make people sick, according to a report from the National Association of Local Boards of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These pathogens include E. coli, Salmonella, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. All can cause severe diarrhea and can be deadly for those with weakened immune systems. Infants and young children, pregnant women, the elderly, people who are HIV-positive and those who have undergone chemotherapy about 20 percent of the U.S. population are most at risk. Proposals aim to improve water Legislation aimed at bolstering protections against manure pollution in areas with fractured bedrock, such as Kewaunee County, was introduced by Democratic lawmakers in January. We are dealing with a public health crisis, said state Rep. Eric Genrich, D-Green Bay, who co-authored the bill with state Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay. We have communities in northeast Wisconsin where half of the wells that are tested are contaminated and the water is undrinkable, where residents no longer have access to safe, clean drinking water. That is not acceptable. The bill did not advance in the Republican-controlled Legislature. State Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, called it a political stunt. He said it was not a serious effort because Hansen and Genrich did not consult him or other Republicans. In the meantime, Kitchens has introduced a bill of his own that would raise the maximum household income from $60,000 to $90,000 under the Well Compensation Grant Program, which helps owners pay for replacement of wells contaminated by livestock feces. But he acknowledged the change is not a solution to the pollution problems. Three counties Brown, Manitowoc and Kewaunee have acted on their own, passing ordinances that prohibit winter manure spreading or restrict spreading on land with porous bedrock. One of the Kewaunee County work groups formed after residents petitioned the EPA for help has proposed a number of restrictions on spreading manure, including a ban on spreading where bedrock is covered by less than 24 inches of soil. Kewaunee Countys ordinance passed in the face of strong opposition from the Dairy Business Association, the Midwest Food Producers Association and other agriculture groups. They contend the county does not have the authority to pass such limits, which they say are unnecessary because the state DNR already regulates groundwater. But a study of the new county regulations, published in 2015 in the journal Resources, concluded the rules have caused statistically significant reductions in well contamination compared to other counties with fractured bedrock that only offered voluntary education on best practices to farmers and manure spreaders. The study showed no improvement in those counties. Tim Trotter, executive director of the DBA, the states most powerful dairy lobby, said dairy farmers are serious about ensuring clean and safe water. But owners of some large-scale farms insist more research is needed. They say any new state regulations also must take into account the impact on agriculture. I think with any new rules there should be a balance between safety and being practical, said John Pagel, who owns a large dairy farm and serves on the Kewaunee County Board, chairing the Land and Water Conservation Committee. We need to keep working together to make sure farming practices are done the right way and at the same time set goals that are achievable. Lee Luft, a Kewaunee County Board member who is part of the DNR work groups, said residents will be watching the agencys actions closely. If these recommendations are not implemented, he said, my sense is that whatever remaining confidence the residents have in the DNR will evaporate. Dangerously high contamination Many users of private wells may be ingesting pathogens unknowingly because, according to the state health department, only about 16 percent of owners statewide have them tested. The Tremls tested their private water well after Samantha and other members of the family got sick. The astronomically high levels of contamination caused the county to advise the family to shut off the water and get the children out of the house. The E. coli count in the Treml well was 2,800 parts per milliliter and the coliform count was 9,800. The EPA considers any amount of E. coli to be dangerous. The Tremls later discovered the DNR had allowed a neighboring farmer to spread liquid manure on frozen land next to their home after the farmer ran out of storage space. Manure spread on frozen ground can run off into surface water and get into the drinking water supply. Judy Treml had hoped their ordeal would spur the DNR to action. That did not happen. It does make me angry, Treml said. I thought they would use our case to learn how to avoid these issues altogether. Groups charge DNR regulation lax The DNRs seeming reluctance to address concerns about pollution from the big farms is not new, according to an April 2015 investigation by a group called the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, based in the state of Oregon. The groups Rap Sheets report documented a lack of DNR enforcement on large-scale farms in Kewaunee County going back to the mid-1980s. Using the DNRs own records, the group uncovered dozens of instances in which large dairy farms violated anti-pollution laws. It found cases including overapplication of manure, failure to report spills, failure to maintain adequate storage, and spreading manure too close to homes and waterways incidents in which DNR records do not show follow-up to ensure problems were corrected. The agency disputed the report saying it was enforcing the law to its fullest authority but allegations of lax regulation continued to surface. In October, Midwest Environmental Advocates filed another petition, this time on behalf of 16 residents from across Wisconsin, asking the EPA to rescind the states authority to enforce discharge permits under the Clean Water Act if changes are not forthcoming. And in December, 45 former DNR employees, many with decades of experience, supported that petition in a letter to the EPA. Among the concerns they cited was lax enforcement against polluters, including CAFOs. Cochart, Algomas school superintendent, said he is fed up with delays by DNR in getting help to county residents. All they do is drag their feet, he said. Somebody needs to provide clean water. The DNR certainly isnt, Cochart added. To me, its a basic human right to have clean drinking water. But there are a lot of people here who are spending a lot of money to have clean water. Luft, the Kewaunee County Board member, said the high levels of lead in drinking water that plagued Flint, Michigan, are reminiscent of problems in his county. It brought home the fact to me that we have a very substantial number of people living without access to safe water, Luft said. They live a second-class lifestyle because of it. This report was produced as part of journalism classes participating in The Confluence, a collaborative project involving the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The nonprofit Center (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates. Attorney General Brad Schimel is preparing to ask lawmakers for millions in new funding to hire a slew of prosecutors across the state. The request, to precede deliberations on the 2017-19 state budget, will come despite a reduction in the number of cases brought to local District Attorney offices in recent years and an increase in the number of lawyers that prosecute them. Schimel and other law enforcement officials, in interviews with the Wisconsin State Journal, said the increase is needed because cases in the last three decades have become more complex and more time-consuming, with the advent of the Internet and new ways like DNA analysis to solve crimes. They argue that full-time staffing in DAs offices has not kept pace with the workload. Cases get delayed. Victims wait a long time, Schimel said of the effects of staffing levels among state prosecutors. If (law enforcement agencies) speak honestly, they will express frustration that they send things over and then theres a black hole where you dont hear anything for months and months. Schimel said he is reviewing how much money he will seek from the Legislature to increase staffing levels. The number of new hires will depend on the money available. Two studies in the last 10 years show the state doesnt have enough prosecutors, Schimels office said. Using a weighted formula to determine how many staff a DAs office needs, a 2007 Legislative Audit Bureau study showed 63 of the states 72 counties were understaffed by about 119 positions and eight counties were slightly overstaffed by about two positions. Since then, the states audit bureau has used this formula to determine DA staffing needs. The most recent audit available of 2014 data showed the state was in need of 130 more prosecutors, including six in Dane County to join the 28 already working for District Attorney Ismael Ozanne. While the number of cases brought to prosecutors statewide has dropped slightly over the last 15 years, cases have risen in Dane County by 25 percent in the last three decades. At the same time, the number of lawyers paid to prosecute them has gone virtually unchanged from 1985 to 2013, according to Dane County data. Schimel called DA staffing shortages a huge problem and said that in addition to requesting more money he plans to seek a statutorily created council of prosecutors, independent of the Department of Administration, that will help provide a voice for state district attorneys to increase staffing levels. DOJ spokesman Johnny Koremenos said the council will be similar to the states public defenders council that makes decisions about their budget, advocates for policy, and interacts with other agencies. Right now (the statewide DA association) is a volunteer association with people that have full-time jobs running DA offices, said Koremenos. This (proposal) creates a formal body that will have better advocacy and work more collaboratively across government. Schimel said the statewide association of district attorneys doesnt offer a dedicated voice in the Legislature. But longtime Senate Judiciary Committee member Fred Risser, D-Madison, said Schimel is wrong about the lack of a single voice among prosecutors. Risser said a representative from the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association has met with the committee on staffing issues. I think, quite frankly, that the Attorney General should be promoting the judicial system rather than trying to find excuses, said Risser. When in doubt, you always create a committee. Thats a thing that politicians often do. Schimel said without a unified voice requesting funding increases from the Legislature, individual DAs are left to lobby their own lawmakers, who then tend to push off decisions to another budget cycle. In the end, what you saw was, You guys dont know what you need you cant even join together. This is from Legislatures on both sides of the aisle that have seen this happen budget after budget, he said. Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre, president-elect of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, backs Schimels plan to create a prosecutors council. Consequences Schimel and law enforcement officials say DA offices dont have enough time to thoroughly review cases and effectively prosecute crimes. Its not just the victims who see their cases delayed. So do criminal defendants, and thats not right, said Schimel. Because the longer a case (takes) to get prosecuted, the more difficult it becomes for the defendant to piece back together what would be their defense. LaBre said the workload has forced prosecutors to devote most of their time to the most serious crimes like homicide, sexual assaults and child abuse. What happens is when we have an increase in workload and not an increase in prosecutors to handle it, there does come a point where we have to prioritize, said LaBre. The Manitowoc County office is in need of about two more attorneys, the DOJ analysis shows. LaBre, who worked as an assistant district attorney in Racine County for 15 years before becoming the Manitowoc County District Attorney in 2013, said the workload also has forced some cases to be sent to municipal court rather than be handled in state court. When you have a finite number of cases, you have to make decisions about what can be realistically done, she said. Law enforcement recommendations Schimel, a former Waukesha County District Attorney, said with more cases coming to the DAs office without more people to review them, prosecutors are less likely to thoroughly review the case leaving charging decisions largely to what law enforcement agencies recommend. In some cases, smaller crimes may not be addressed at all. When I was in the DAs office, we dealt with the backlog by making sure the big cases the homicides, the sexual assaults of a child (were) those we would focus our priority, he said. There are an awful lot of other offenses that fell by the wayside. His office didnt always have time to address minor drug possession, Schimel said, leading to some young criminals caught with drugs who arent punished to move on to more serious offenses. When we dont get to things early and intervene as early in the development of a problem as we can, it gets worse, he said. A statewide summary of criminal caseloads shows the total number of cases filed has decreased from 129,932 in 1998 to 112,014 in 2015. LaBre said while cases might have decreased in that time, they have also become more complicated and time-consuming, as cases involving Internet-based child pornography, DNA evidence, identity theft or cellphones grow. A lot of times (those cases) are easier to prove, but complicated to understand the information and apply it appropriately, she said. Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said minor drug offenses, burglaries and other property crimes that his officers forward to the Dane County district attorneys office take a back seat to crimes with human victims. They have such a deluge of (cases) coming in, said Koval. They are literally compelled to treat it like a hospital and (be) triaging (cases). Ozanne, the Dane County DA, did not respond to requests for comment. In 1985, the Dane County DAs office stood at 26 assistant DAs. In 2013, it had 27, according to Dane County data. To cope, Koval said he reappropriated funds associated with the countys drug task force program to add another attorney in the district attorneys office in order to be able to handle the caseload. Joint Finance Committee co-chairwoman Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, JFC co-chairman Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, and Senate and Assembly public safety and judiciary committee chairmen Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, and Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc, did not respond to requests for comment. JFC member Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, also a member of the Senate public safety and judiciary committee, declined an interview. Charter schools are public schools in that they are funded by taxpayer money, cannot charge tuition, and must be open to all students, through a lottery system if needed. In Wisconsin, they must participate in the state assessment system, and their teachers must be state-licensed. They are intended to foster innovation and parental choice and are free from many regulations that apply to traditional public schools. There are two types of charter schools: independent ones, and ones that are part of a school district. Madison has three in-district charter schools, meaning the School Board approved them and maintains ultimate control over them. These are Wright Middle School, the bilingual Nuestro Mundo Community School and Badger Rock Middle School. Independent charter schools operate outside of the local school boards authority. They receive taxpayer funding but are led by nonprofit organizations or, in some cases, for-profit companies. These are the kind of charter schools that Gary Bennett, as head of the new Office of Educational Opportunity at the University of Wisconsin System, will have the authority to authorize in Madison and Milwaukee. Milwaukee already has more than two dozen independent charter schools. Madison has none. Under current state law, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is required to reduce a school districts funding by the same amount that is paid per student to an independent charter school, currently about $8,100. The home district still may count the student for revenue limit purposes to the extent permitted by law. This can allow the district to tax its property owners for the balance that is not lost to the charter school, although this not necessarily true in all cases. The state Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday it will target low-income areas with $11.8 million in new grants to replace aging pipes made of lead that supply water to homes. The dangers of lead in drinking water have been highlighted by the crisis in Flint, Michigan, where corrosion from a new water source sent unsafe levels of lead into homes, doubling the rate of lead poisoning among children. Lead exposure has been linked to irreversible brain damage in children, miscarriages and other health problems. The DNR said it will make money available to water utilities to subsidize or pay for replacement of homeowners portions of the lead service lines that run from the curb to the house. Replacement of those segments will cost about $3,000 per home, the DNR said. At least 176,000 homes and businesses in Wisconsin receive water from lead service lines, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism reported in February. Milwaukee has about 70,000 lead service lines, which the Milwaukee Water Works has estimated would cost half a billion dollars to replace. Madison is thought to be the first city in the nation to replace all of its lead service lines. In a statement, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp said the agency recognizes that the cost of replacement is a big barrier to utilities and private property owners alike. This program offers an effective way to fill the financial gap, she said. Details of the program still are being worked out, but the agency proposes that communities with 50,000 people or less could receive up to $300,000; medium-sized communities would get up to $500,000 and Milwaukee could qualify for up to $750,000. The program is scheduled to begin July 1 and will be renewed in 2017 if it is successful, Stepp said. The size of the grants will be determined by factors including median household income and unemployment rates. Stepp said the program was made possible by a recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow states to use federal funds for lead service line replacements on private property. The Centers Failure at the Faucet series found that the current federal regulations intended to safeguard drinking water from lead contamination fail to protect public health. The Center found that methods for sampling often do not detect the highest level of lead in a consumers home, too few homes are sampled, and those that are may not be in the neighborhoods most at risk. The investigation also found that requiring utilities to replace lead service lines can cause dangerous spikes in lead unless the homeowners portion is replaced as well. Recognizing the dangers posed by partial pipe replacement, the DNR said the funds will be used for full replacement projects. A Madison consultant who works with water utilities to solve lead problems in drinking water said she was pleased to see the DNR make such a bold move. Abigail Cantor, a chemical engineer with Process Research Solutions, said cost is not the only barrier to full lead pipe replacement. There are also questions about property ownership to be resolved. With DNRs announcement, it looks promising that Wisconsin government agencies will overcome many obstacles to make complete lead service line replacement a reality in our state, she said. Acting Chief Justice Karki recommended as chief justice The Constitutional Council on Monday recommended acting chief justice of the Supreme Court Sushila Karki to the post of chief justice. Arna population up in Koshi Tappu Reserve The number of wild water buffaloes (Bubalus arnee), locally known as Arna, has increased in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR). Alisha Sijapati is an arts and culture reporter at The Kathmandu Post, primarily covering human interest stories. She is intrigued by history, culture and films. Before joining the Post in 2015, she worked as a journalist for The Himalayan Times and ECS Media. Canadian held for 'fuelling social discord' A Canadian man has been arrested for his alleged provocative posts on twitter against social harmony. A team of Nepal police arrested Canadian Robert Penner from Lalitpur on the request of Immigration Department. Craig Wright revealed as Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright has publicly identified himself as Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Dahal calls on workers to press for industrial revival UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged workers to pile pressure on the concerned authorities to revive the industries that have remained shut across the country. Drop in yield makes Bajhang food-insecure A food shortage looms in the hills and mountainous regions of Bajhang district as a result of the prolonged drought. Fire destroys six houses As many as six houses were destroyed by fire at Majhaura-3 in Siraha district on Monday morning. Free-visa, free-ticket Govt didnt consider all formal and informal institutions active in the migration process while formulating the policy Health Profession Education Act final draft ready The Health Profession Education Commission (HPEC) has finalised the draft of an Act to guide its overarching framework to regulate medical education without any major changes. Ireland urged to relax travel restrictions Nepal has urged Ireland to relax travel restrictions on the country, a year after it was hit by a devastating earthquake. Journo Dixit presented before SC Journalist and Chairman of Sajha Yatayat Kanak Mani Dixit, arrested by CIAA on suspicion of amassing property disproportionate to his known source of income, has been presented before the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday. Leaders eye middle path on House rules Top leaders of major parties Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) on Sunday agreed to seek a middle path to end the ongoing dispute over the parliamentary regulation. Locals fundraise to buy transformer, NEA delays installation Residents of Hanuman Chok in Dhangadhimai municipality-7 are in a serious trouble as Nepal Electricity Authority, Lahan, doesn't not care to install electricity transformer in their locality. More than what meets the eye When it comes to ayurvedic products, Laavanya has created a niche for itself in the Nepali market in the short time it has been here. Nepal marks May Day amid improved labour relations The country marked the 127th International Workers Day, or May Day, on Sunday as the new Labour Act awaits the Parliaments approval. NRA urges NRNA to complete Laprak reconstruction project in two years The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has urged the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) to work out the reconstruction projects at Laprak village within two years. NSU to hold its conclave in June After a nine-year hiatus, Nepali Congress sister organisation Nepal Student Union has decided to hold its general convention in the third week of June. Paintings featuring post-earthquake landscapes on display Paasapi, a group of artists, is currently hosting an art exhibition at Basantapur Durbar Square. The exhibition features dozens of paintings drawn live at various earthquake affected regions since the day the earthquake struck country in April last year. Political will, diplomatic proficiency key to profitable relations with China There is a lot of talk about the new strategic dimension in the Nepal-China relationship after Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis visit to China last month. Rebuilding yet to get on ministries agenda With budget for the next fiscal to be presented less than a month from now, government agencies have yet to discuss post-earthquake reconstruction amid projections of the annual rebuilding fund for the next year to be capped at Rs150 billion Reshuffling the deck PM Oli and top leaders of three major parties need to join the boundary panel Saarc countries set to script new action plan on migration The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), whose member countries remain major sources of origin of migrant workers, is scheduled to develop a new Plan of Action on migration in the first week of May. SC orders immediate release of Journo Dixit The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered the release of Journalist and Chairman of Sajha Yatayat Kanak Mani Dixit, who in the custody of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in connection with disproportionate assets case. South Asian conference on refugees starts A South Asian conference on refugees has commenced here today with the objective of deliberating on the problems faced by the refugees in South Asia and ways of addressing them. Tea exports down as production up Tea exports dropped 1.13 percent in the last fiscal year despite a significant growth in the plantation area and volume of production. Thapa offers to step down as dialogue panel chief Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa has offered to step down as the coordinator of the Political Committee mandated to resolve the dispute over the federal boundaries by talking to the agitating Madhesi parties if the panel remains dysfunctional. Three boys go missing from eastern Chitwan Three teenage boys have gone missing from the eastern Chitwan for the past four days. Top NC leaders call for alternative to Oli govt Top Nepali Congress leaders have called for an alternative to the incumbent KP Oli government, claiming that time has come to replace it. Trump accuses China of 'raping' US with unfair trade policy Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has accused China of "raping" the US, in renewed criticism of China's trade policy. UN Deputy-Secy-Gen pledges int'l support to Nepal for reconstruction Visiting United Nations (UN) Deputy-Secretary-General Jan Kenneth Eliasson has pledged the support of international community to Nepal for the reconstruction of quake-damaged infrastructure. Vietnam protest over mystery fish deaths Hundreds of people have held a rare protest in Vietnam against the unexplained mass death of fish on the country's central coast. Wildfires in Dolpa rage for days Fires continue to sweep through most of the forestland in drought-hit Dolpa for the past few days. A thick haze caused by the wildfires blankets parts of the district. Killeen, TX (76540) Today Showers this morning then scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 82F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Mainly clear skies after midnight along with gusty winds. Low 53F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible. 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 Ugandans love for beer in the last decade has been tremendous, evenly internationally recognised; Ugandans ranked amongst the best beer drinkers in the world. However Ugandans ingenuity and investment into this sector is still no much for counterparts the Russians. A Russian man has installed a personal beer pipeline that runs from a beer store to a tap in his kitchen, giving him unlimited access to the foamy drink! Andrey Eremeev, a mechanic from Chelyabinsk, had long been dreaming of having a beer tap installed in his home. The idea started off as a joke, but when a beer store opened on the ground floor of his apartment building, he started giving it some serious thought and working on ideas on how best to make it a reality. When he finally built up the courage to pitch his seemingly ludicrous idea to the owners of the store and convince them to provide him with his very own personal beer pipeline, they had a good laugh at first, but later agreed to his proposal. Andrey had to get a few official approvals, but all in all, things went much smoother than he had anticipated. He discovered that being the only person in the country to ever request a personal beer pipeline, there were no legal standards in place. So the housing committee had to formulate a new plan for him. It took a while, but once the paperwork was completed, he could finally start work on the pipeline that now runs from the beer store to his kitchen sink. An idea struck me why dont I get fresh beer straight to my apartment? he said, speaking to 74TV. It only takes a 10m pipe. Then I wrote a letter to the CEO of the chain retailer and got a positive answer. Now the beer is here and everything is fine. Im very glad that Ive lived out my dream! Eremeev now has two taps over his kitchen sink one for hot and cold water, and the other a constant supply of chilled beer. The beer tap is connected to a series of pipes connected to a large keg in the stores refrigerator section, which only Andrey uses. We have recently opened a new brew house and there is plenty of equipment left out, the brewery manager said. We connected the keg with flexible hose pipes and conjoined them with the wall. Inside the wall we have previously laid a ducting with a stainless steel pipeline inside. It also has a special cooling system. And via this pipe the beer is brought to the client. Although Eremeev has refused to reveal the cost of his beer pipeline, he insists that it was worth every penny. And his friends wholeheartedly agree! South Korea celebrates the art world of French artists to mark the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, museums and art galleries here said Monday. At the Art Wall Gallery inside the Shinsege Department Store in downtown Seoul, a photo exhibition of Maia Flore is on display. The exhibit, which runs until June 27, shows 33 photos taken in 25 historic places by the popular photographer who is known for her work to describe French heritage through those dreamy eyes of hers. "Maia Flore throws a curious eye on things around her and captures dramatic moments from ordinary life," the gallery said. "The photo will take visitors on a tour to France." The Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art features Gilles Barbier, an artist based in Marseille, France. The solo exhibition that runs until July 31 shows some 100 works of art including "selective painting, drawing, sculpture, installation and more with the artist's unique artistic rule and peculiar sense of humor, constructed over several years of repetitive transformations," the museum said. At the Atelier Hermes, "Quoi? -- L'Eternite" by post-conceptual French artist Saadane Afif will be shown from May 10 to July 10. Famous for defying genre and focusing on the accumulation of various artistic factors, Afif participated in Documenta 12 in Kasse, Germany, which is considered one of the most important exhibitions of contemporary art. Through the exhibition, he shows art works summarized as "artistic collaboration." At the Seoul Museum of Art, "Urban Legends" and "The Family of the Invisibles" are also being shown to celebrate the anniversary. "Urban Legends," organized by the SeMA and Palalis de Tokyo, is an artistic attempt to cross the boundaries of nationality and gender to express imagination arising from the urban experiences in Seoul and Paris. At "The Family of the Invisible," on display are some 210 contemporary photographs taken after the 1950s, selected from the collections of the Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP) and Fonds regional d'art contemporain Aquitaine (Frac Aquitaine), two institutions globally recognized for their creative visual arts. (Yonhap) Voters who have not yet cast their ballots in the Indiana primary election may do so Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. In DeKalb County races, Republicans will pick their nominees for DeKalb Circuit Court Judge, DeKalb County Council and DeKalb County Commissioner. Attorneys Kurt Grimm and Kevin Likes are seeking the nomination for judge. In the race for DeKalb County Council at-large, voters will pick three candidates from a ballot containing the names of Janet L. Ordway-Surber, David Yarde, Robert E. Krafft, and Martha Marty Grimm. Jacqueline Jackie Rowan and David Powers are seeking the Republican nomination for DeKalb County Commissioner Northeast District. Other contested Republican races include: President: Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, John R. Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Donald J. Trump. U.S. Senator: Marlin A. Stutzman, Todd Young. U.S. Representative District 3: Jim Banks, Mark Willard Baringer, Elizabeth Liz Brown, Pam Galloway, Kevin Howell, Kip Tom. Contested races on the Democratic election ballot include: President: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders. U.S. Representative District 3: Todd Nightenhelser, John Forrest Roberson,Tommy A. Schrader. DeKalb County polling sites are: Butler 1: Heritage Community Church, 5874 C.R. 427, Auburn. Butler 2: Heritage Community Church, 5874 C.R. 427, Auburn. Concord: St. Joe Town Hall, 102 3rd St., St. Joe. Fairfield: Fairfield Community Center, 1131 C.R. 12, Corunna. Franklin: Hamilton School, 903 Wayne St., Hamilton. Grant 1, 2 and 3: Waterloo Elementary School, 300 E. Douglas St., Waterloo. Jackson North: Lakewood Park Christian School, 5555 C.R. 29, Auburn. Jackson South: Jackson Township Fire Station, 3390 C.R. 60, Auburn. Keyser 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6: Judy A. Morrill Recreation Center, 1200 E. Houston St., Garrett. Newville: Coburn Corners Church Of Christ, 6813 C.R. 64, St. Joe. Richland: Corunna Firehouse, 1111 U.S. 6, Corunna. Smithfield East and South: Waterloo Elementary School, 300 E. Douglas St., Waterloo. Smithfield West: Ashley Community Building, 500 S. Gonser St., Ashley. Spencer: Spencerville Community Building, 5629 C.R. 68, Spencerville. Stafford: Butler Elementary School, 1025 S, Broadway St., Butler. Troy: Butler Elementary School, 1025 S. Broadway St., Butler. Union 1 and 4: DeKalb County Office Building, 215 E. 9th St., Auburn. Union 2: DeKalb County Courthouse (west door), 100 S. Main St., Auburn. Union 3: DeKalb County Courthouse (north door), 100 S. Main St., Auburn. Union 5 and 10: 4-H Exhibit Hall, 710 S. Union St., Auburn. Union 6 and 8: Youth For Christ gym, 1600 S. Grandstaff Dr., Auburn. Union 7: DeKalb County Courthouse (east door), 100 S. Main St., Auburn. Union 9: Heimach Center, 1800 E. 7th St., Auburn. Union 11: DeKalb Health (former Dayspring Church), 1700 E. 7th St., Auburn. Wilmington 1, 2, 3 and 4: Butler Elementary School, 1025 S. Broadway St., Butler. Recipients of the Purple Heart were recognized at the 12th annual Military Ball, hosted by friends of the American Legion, on April 23 at the Fest Building in Spring Grove. The guest speaker was Jeffrey L. Olson of Greenville, AZ. A native of the Spring Grove/Mabel area, he served three years in the Army and has worked for 22 years for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, as Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner, both positions appointments by the governor. Five years ago, Olson was appointed by Arizonas governor to serve on the Arizona Veterans Service Advisory Commission. Over the years, Olson has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work for veterans on all levels. There has been lots in the news about the Veterans Administration, but not much is good news, Olson said. Some say, Shut them down. Thats an easy answer, but not necessarily a good one. The 2014 Commission on Care was assigned to look at the VA system. When the report was due, they wanted a six-month extension Nobody on the commission are veterans or members of veterans organizations. They are all insurance personnel. It looks like the decision is already made. For some time, Olson and others have been traveling to visit VA hospitals, medical centers and cemeteries and having town hall meetings, visits with veterans at vet centers, and homeless programs. We get a mix of thoughts from people at the meetings, he noted. There are some negative consistencies we see in our VA, Olson continued. At hospitals, 30 percent of employee slots available are vacant, and there is inconsistency in doctors and nurses pay. The biggest complaint from veterans is lack of accountability with the employees. There have been 400 complaints in a year. Military veterans understand accountability, but do not understand why it does not apply to the VA. Many VA Medical Centers still throw drugs at veterans and ignore alternative treatments. They should be encouraged to find other ways instead of giving out the drugs. Olson posed the question, So, are there any good things happening? Is this system worth saving? His answer, A resounding yes. We need to step forward. This system is worth saving and lets look at that instead. Over 40 percent of employees in the VA are veterans. If they are released, then what would these veterans do? We must save this system. We have to hire and retain people. Its as simple as removing some of the rules/barriers and getting rid of the bad apples. How do we improve accountability? Make it easier for VA to hire and retain employees; change the merit retention system to make it easier to discipline; when contracting outside, award the good performers and get rid of the marginal; improve performance measures, develop quantifiable standards; and allow Medicare receipt. And, Olson pointed out, A VA hospital is cheaper and easier to run than Medicare. More than 60 percent of vets are happy with their health care provider and dont want to go out of the system. They are opposed to privatization. With the Choice program, veterans get the card, but cant find a provider. And the government is so slow to pay, that providers dont want to deal with it, Olson said. Theres got to be accountability, Olson again stressed. They need to recognize good providers, reward them, and pay them on time. The VA continues to be a national leader in research: development of prosthetics, traumatic brain injury treatments, spinal cord injury treatments, research in the brain sciences, possible cure for Alzheimers, and more. The VA has the largest teaching facility for medical doctors. Hundreds of new doctors receive training at VA Medical Centers throughout the nation. Commissioners want to dismantle the VA system, but why would you dismantle a system that is already in place? he said. In closing, Olson urged, We can exercise our right of free speech to our lawmakers. Help save VA for now, and the future. Special recognition The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military. Gordon Klankowski, 78, of Caledonia received a flag in a case as the oldest Purple Heart recipient in attendance at the ball. He served in the Army during the Vietnam era and was awarded one Purple Heart. Other recipients in attendance and recognized were: Erik Nykannen of Waukon, Iowa, who served in the Marines during the Vietnam era and was awarded two Purple Hearts; Duane Hodge of Stewartville, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era and is the recipient of two Purple Hearts; Duane Lambrecht of New Ulm, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era and has two Purple Hearts; and Michael Diehn of Mabel, who served in the Army in Iraq and has one Purple Heart. Steven Hughes, 23 of Rushford, was the youngest veteran in attendance and was presented a flag case by the ball committee. Hughes has currently served five years and three months in the Marine Corps. Family with 100 years of military service The Elmo Wojahn family of Houston was recognized as a family of living veterans with a total of 100 years of military service for the father and three sons. Elmo served 30 years in the Navy, and sons Steven, seven years in the Marines, Gary, 27 years in the Navy, and Allen, 36 years in the Army. In the sixth year of his administration, the president enjoyed unprecedented popularity among the nations youth. Two years prior, 18- to 29-year-olds had overwhelmingly supported his re-election, and a recent poll showed young people approved of his performance in office by a staggering 79 percent to 20 percent. The White House had been working for more than a year on outreach to ensure young voters showed up at the polls for the coming midterm election. But when Election Day came, the president could only watch grimly as youth turnout dropped an astounding 20 percent and his party lost control of the U.S. Senate. Frustrated, Ronald Reagan went to bed on Nov. 4, 1986, believing he had failed in creating a conservative dynasty a new generation of lifelong GOP voters. If he could have foreseen the future, Reagan need not have been so pessimistic. While young voters did not turn out in large numbers in 1986, a majority of them grew up to become committed Republicans. Three of the biggest names in the Republican Party today Scott Walker (48), Paul Ryan (46) and Reince Priebus (44) - form the backbone of Reagans generational dynasty. They are among those who came of age during the Reagan administration, a cohort that is the most consistently conservative in the Wisconsin electorate. The steady conservatism of the Reagan generation is not uncommon in American political history. As the Pew Research Center has identified, each generation carries its own distinct political identity that is formed by the success or failure of the first politicians young voters encounter. In this example, the youth of the 1980s formed their political paradigms based on the malaise of Jimmy Carter and the triumphs of Reagan. Interestingly, the politics of 1980s young people is mirrored almost exactly by the preferences of the Millennial Generation those born between 1980 and 2000. Reaching maturity during the Bush administration, todays young people were repelled from the GOP by the Iraq War and Great Recession. Starting with John Kerry in 2004 and through the Obama presidency, Millennials have voted overwhelmingly Democratic since entering the electorate. Even though the Millennial Generation is larger in numbers than any cohort since the Baby Boomers, they have yet to fully exercise their clout at the ballot box. The tendency for young people to vote in presidential elections but skip midterm contests goes a long way toward explaining Wisconsins shift from blue to red every two years. However, like the Reaganites before them, political experts anticipate Millennial voter turnout to steadily increase as they age. The political battle lines are now being drawn over Generation Z those born after the year 2000. More than a million strong in Wisconsin alone, Generation Z isnt yet old enough to vote but will be casting their first ballots in waves beginning in 2018. Presidential candidates from both parties, particularly Sens. Sanders and Cruz, have made youth outreach a key focus of their campaigns because they understand whats at stake: the next president, for better or worse, will most likely shape the voting preferences of a generation for the next 60 years or more. A new report labeling the former Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse as the most profitable hospital in the country needs an asterisk before it goes into the record books because statistics dont always tell the whole story. The study of 3,000 hospitals in the United States in 2013, when Lutheran still was part of the name of what now is Gundersen Health System, chronicled the hospitals profit as $302.5 million an eye-popping $4,241 a patient. But a state hospital association official and a Gundersen representative questioned the findings Monday, saying the calculations dont factor in the full gamut of Gundersens expenses. The research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md., and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., was released Monday, as reported in the May issue of the journal Health Affairs. The report posed questions without answering them, as well as providing a head-scratcher for Brian Potter, senior vice president of finance for the Wisconsin Hospital Association. I dont quite understand the calculations in the study, Potter said during a phone interview Monday. The numbers for Gundersen look kinda crazy. The figures appear to be a mash-up of statistics from the hospitals, clinics and other services the La Crosse-based Gundersen system provides in the 19 counties where it operates in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, then applied only to the systems main campus in La Crosse. Im pretty skeptical of the figures, Potter said. I know that, in 2013, the (profit) margin for Gundersen was about 5 percent. The WHA does hospital finance analyses that differentiate between how figures are computed for multi-facility systems as opposed to single-hospital entities, he said. The calculations in the research study dont take into account systemwide administrative expenses and other costs such as home health services, which skews the tallies, Potter said. A lot of expenses for a hospital might go through the system, while income would appear on the hospitals ledger, making it look like it is making a lot more money than it is, he said. The report casts aspersions not only on Gundersen but also the six other nonprofits in the studys top 10, Potter said. A small subset of nonprofit hospitals are earning substantial profits, said study leader Gerard Anderson, a professor in the Health Policy and Management Department at the Bloomberg School. Either theyre doing something right or they are taking advantage of a flawed payment system, Anderson said in the press release. Perhaps the most important question is what are they doing with all of that money? Gundersen Chief Financial Officer Dara Bartels can answer that, saying that, in part, the money goes to provide other services not only in La Crosse but also throughout the Gundersen network. This article does not reflect our costs as an integrated health system for the care we provide in a multi-state, largely rural region with a high Medicare patient mix, and does not analyze data on quality of care, Bartels said. The authors analyzed finances of about 3,000 acute-care hospitals, of which 59 percent were nonprofit, 25 percent were for-profit and 16 percent were public. Overall, their research found that more than half of all hospitals incurred small losses from patient care services, with a median loss of $82 a patient. The findings show that, while the majority of U.S. hospitals lost money caring for patients, a small percentage earned large profits, according to a press release on the study. The results raise questions about whether peculiarities in the payment systems or some other factors are creating these outsized winners, the release said. While the study acknowledges that hospitals that are part of a hospital system are more profitable, it suggested the reason as being that they use their weight to negotiate higher prices from insurers rather than noting the income-vs.-expense gap. Study co-author Ge Bai, an assistant accounting professor at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., said, All hospitals should make a little profit, but some hospitals are obtaining outrageous profits. Bartels disputed the insinuation, saying, The portion of the cost report the authors used excludes administrative and shared costs per Medicare rules, with results varying between organizations. We would rank much differently if these costs were considered. Bartels likened the studys methodology to analyzing a familys income based only on the breadwinners salary without factoring in the broader scope of the familys expenses, such as the mortgage, utilities, college costs and other bills. The overall income appears larger when the full bill doesnt include such expenses, she said. Bartels cited Gundersens multi-year pattern of keeping annual rate increases as low as possible, in the 3 percent to 4 percent range for the past several years. The devil is in the details, Bartels indicated, saying, Analyzing Medicare cost reports of a single care center may have been relevant 20 years ago, but using the same methodology now for an integrated health system network isnt constructive. That echoed a similar assessment from Potter, representing a neutral perspective. Bartels also referred to a Dartmouth Atlas analysis tabbing Gundersen as the market leader in a region that has the lowest cost of care per Medicare beneficiary in the nation. Manure has been blamed for much of the bacteria and viruses that pollute Wisconsin drinking water, but contamination from human waste is a problem, too. Failing septic systems, leaking public sewer pipes and landspreading of septic waste can introduce dangerous pathogens into both rural and urban water systems. In June 2007, 229 people were sickened by a norovirus in Door County while eating at a restaurant. Seven were hospitalized as a result of the pathogen, which is known for spreading illness on cruise ships. The source: a leaky septic system. In 2012, a microbiologist published research that linked widespread gastrointestinal illnesses in 14 Wisconsin communities to viruses in the public water systems. Further research showed the contaminants were likely coming from leaking municipal sewage lines. That same year, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that top Department of Natural Resources officials went easy on a political supporter of Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, after the donor was caught violating septic waste spreading rules on fields near 40 drinking water wells, potentially exposing residents to nitrate, which can cause blue baby syndrome, and illness-causing pathogens. In 1993, Wisconsin experienced the most deadly waterborne disease outbreak in U.S. history. One hundred people died and 403,000 became sick in Milwaukee when cryptosporidium contaminated the citys drinking water. Lab tests confirmed the parasite had come from human waste. Some experts say the states septic regulations and well standards are not adequate to protect public health in areas of Wisconsin with fractured bedrock, such as Door County. In addition, municipal water systems in Wisconsin are not required to test for or treat water to kill viruses because the Legislature in 2011 rescinded a rule that would have mandated such action. And a study by a retired hydrogeologist has found that the state sometimes fails to enforce regulations that ban spreading untreated septic waste on fields vulnerable to groundwater pollution. Septic systems are the main line of defense against water contamination from human waste in rural areas. The potentially lethal waterborne disease outbreak at a new restaurant in Door County in June 2007 illustrates the weakness of existing regulation, especially in areas with fractured bedrock. In a 2011 paper in the journal Ground Water, a team of Wisconsin scientists concluded that the cracked bedrock under the restaurant, which is common in eastern Wisconsin, allowed waste from a broken septic system to move rapidly into the restaurants drinking water well. Most residents, the researchers wrote, assume that waste from septic systems is biodegraded by soil on the way down to the groundwater and then safely diluted. But that is not always true. Experts: Stricter rules needed The researchers recommended that the state should reconsider allowing conventional septic systems to be built above fractured limestone aquifers, especially those serving facilities such as restaurants that generate a lot of wastewater. John Teichtler, Door Countys sanitarian, said recent surveys show that about one-third of 6,450 septic systems inspected in his county were classified as failing to work. Sampling results in Door County, according to the University of Wisconsin-Extension, show that at least one-third of the private wells contain bacteria from animal or human waste. Ken Bradbury, director of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and one of the authors of the Ground Water paper, said he believes the states septic laws must be updated to account for the susceptibility of areas such as Door County. There is still the perception that just because there is a septic system that meets code, everything is fine, Bradbury said. Well, everything is not fine. In its 2015 report to the Legislature, the Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council, a multi-agency panel that advises state government on drinking water issues, also issued a stern call for tougher rules for septic systems and well construction in geology marked by fractured bedrock. Current requirements in these areas, the report said, are inadequate to protect public health and the environment. Despite the dangers of contamination from septic systems, Gov. Scott Walker last year proposed eliminating the Wisconsin Fund, which provides money for low-income families to replace failing systems. The fund provided $2.2 million to 500 low-income property owners in 2014-15. In the final budget, the Legislature partially restored the fund but slashed it to $1.6 million this year and $840,000 in 2016-17 a move criticized by John Hausbeck, who oversees Dane Countys septic program. There are homeowners everywhere in the state that do not have the money to replace a septic system, Hausbeck said. So they limp along until they end up with water contamination. Landspreading under fire Enforcement of state laws regulating landspreading of septic waste on farm fields also has come under criticism. In 2015, a citizen watchdog group called the Dunn County Groundwater Guardian Community found 150 sites on which the state DNR allows spreading of septic waste that were below or near the minimum standard for proper soil percolation, or the rate at which water and contaminants move through the soil. Under state law, fields with soil percolation rates greater than 6 inches per hour cannot be used for landspreading. Neil Koch, a retired hydrologist who organized the citizen group and developed the map of percolation rates, found that 150 of the 400 sites used for spreading septic waste in Dunn County had rates of 5 to 20 inches per hour. In a March letter to Koch, Susan Sylvester, director of the DNRs Water Quality Bureau, acknowledged that the sites he identified did not meet minimal requirements but said reduced application rates were approved because of a low threat to drinking water. Sylvester said the addition of lime and exposure to sunlight and heat further cut the risk. Sylvester added, however, that the agency is reevaluating septage and other landspreading sites throughout Wisconsin. Viruses in water also cause illness Numerous water experts also say the state is failing to protect Wisconsin residents from human and animal viruses in municipal drinking water supplies some of it tied to leaky municipal sewer systems. Neither federal nor state rules require municipalities to disinfect drinking water drawn from groundwater, which supplies about two-thirds of the states potable water, nor are municipalities required to test for viruses. Viruses are a relative newcomer to the list of pathogens known to endanger drinking water. But the science behind their presence and their impact on the health of thousands is already well-documented. Researcher and microbiologist Mark Borchardt found in 2004 that 50 percent of water samples collected from four La Crosse municipal wells tested positive for disease-causing viruses. During 2006 and 2007, Borchardt looked at 14 Wisconsin communities that did not disinfect their municipal water. Tests of tap water found nearly one-quarter of the samples had illness-causing viruses. A survey of 621 households found 1,843 cases of acute gastrointestinal illness during the study period. Borchardt, who was working for Marshfield Clinic at the time, attributed 6 to 22 percent of the cases to contaminated drinking water; up to 63 percent of the acute gastrointestinal illnesses among children ages 5 or below were attributed to the tainted water. Subsequent studies showed the source to be cracked and leaky municipal sewer pipes. That research illustrated the crucial link between maintenance of infrastructure and water quality. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimated in 2013 that it would cost Wisconsin $7.1 billion to adequately maintain and upgrade drinking water systems over the next 20 years, most of it $6.4 billion for wastewater upgrades. One way to ensure the safety of water is to disinfect it. But in 2011, the Republican-controlled Legislature blocked an effort to require disinfection on a largely party-line vote. As of February, 56 communities in Wisconsin serving nearly 65,000 people did not treat their water for viruses, according to a report published by Wisconsin Public Radio citing DNR figures. Todd Ambs, former head of the DNRs Water Division who now runs a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the health of the Great Lakes, called it the worst piece of legislation that has gone through the Legislature. MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota voters are somewhat pessimistic about what lies ahead in the near future for the country, according to a new poll. The Star Tribune's Minnesota Poll (http://strib.mn/1W2Vosf ) shows that 65 percent of Minnesotans polled believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction and only 21 percent of them feel the next four years will be better. The negative outlooks are shared by voters across income levels, generations and urban or rural locations. The poll found that Minnesota's youngest voters were more upbeat, with 58 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds saying the country is on the wrong track, compared with 70 percent of those over 65. Voters living in outstate and suburban areas are the most disheartened, with 69 percent believing the nation is on the wrong track. Minnesota residents who earn less than $50,000 annually are the most pessimistic, with 75 percent downcast over the country's direction. The poll shows that the state's voters have significant doubts about the abilities and truthfulness of the presidential front-runners, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Less than half of the voters polled feel confident about Clinton and Trump's integrity. More than half of those polled in Minnesota consider jobs, terrorism and national security to be their top concerns heading into the election this fall. Voters in Hennepin and Ramsey counties were more concerned about jobs, while those in outstate Minnesota are most worried about terrorism, government spending and the national debt. The state's Democrats were more optimistic than its Republicans, with 35 percent of those identifying as DFL saying they believed the country will improve, and only 13 percent of those identifying as Republicans thinking the same. The Star Tribune poll of 800 registered voters sampled last week has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. National Hospital Week is May 8-14. It is the perfect time to celebrate the heroes who care for and provide support to their communities. Every day, hospital heroes deliver our babies, mend broken bones and save lives. They get us home faster through innovative care. They even keep us healthier through preventive care services that ensure we get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. They deserve a thank you, today and every day. Yet Congress has cut federal funding for hospitals by $158.1 billion since 2010. If they continue to slash this funding year after year, heroic caregivers could be laid off, ER wait times could increase, and patients could have a harder time accessing the latest medical technology. So this National Hospital Week, Ill be thanking our caregivers and hospital staff. I hope our members of Congress will stand up for our hospitals, too. The greatest threat to American security is something most Americans never think of. President Barack Obama touched on it in his speech to the European people last week in Germany. Im not referring to the Islamic State, although Obama called the terrorist group the most urgent threat to our nations in his remarks. Im talking about a more existential threat to Europe (and America): a diminishing faith in democracy as a political system. On the continent, this is manifested by the widening cracks in the European Union and the rise of radical right-wing parties. If a unified, peaceful, liberal, pluralistic, free-market Europe begins to doubt itself, begins to question the progress thats been made over the last several decades, Obama said, this will have a negative impact worldwide. We will be empowering those who argue that democracy cant work, that intolerance and tribalism and organizing ourselves along ethnic lines, and authoritarianism and restrictions on the press that those are things that the challenges of today demand. What happens on this continent has consequences for people around the globe, the president continued. Too true. The presidents tone was a stark reflection of how much the world has changed since candidate Obama gave his famous speech in front of tens of thousands of cheering Berliners in 2008. Back then, he proclaimed this is our moment to remake the world again in partnership with Russia, with a new dawn in the Mideast, in pursuit of an end to terrorism and a world without nuclear weapons. That was then. Yet irrespective of Obamas policies, the global shifts since 2008 were bound to stress Europes democratic institutions and undermine European unity. Globalization, the demise of manufacturing economies, and the 2008 crash (which Europeans blame on the George W. Bush administration) all contributed to a faltering European economy that has yet to recover. The EUs Brussels bureaucracy and institutions often seem incapable of coping with current realities. The U.S. invasion of Iraq, combined with the failure of the Arab Spring and the incompetence of Mideast leaders, plus an enormous Arab youth bulge, created a flow of desperate young immigrants headed for Europe. This fueled the rise of the Islamic State. As Obama noted, German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed to Europes best instincts and values when she welcomed the flood of refugees seeking asylum from the violence in Syria and Afghanistan. But her humanitarian instincts born of a postwar German sensitivity to the issue of refugees backfired. Her generosity crashed into a growing public fear of terrorists posing as asylum seekers. The refugees also provided a convenient scapegoat for European angst. Right-wing populist parties in several countries some funded by Russia used the immigration issue as a club to oppose Merkel, the European Union, and NATO. Their efforts were enhanced by a widening European memory gap. Three generations of Western Europeans have come of age since World War II, and only the aged can recall the earlier years of the 20th century, when European disunity produced wars and vicious totalitarian regimes. As for much of Eastern Europe, the two and a half decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall havent fully erased the deep hold that authoritarian communist rule exercised over instincts and institutions. So the value of European unity may seem far less apparent to many Europeans today than it did to previous generations. Add all this up, and you have a deeply uncertain Europe, many of its citizens skeptical about unity, dissatisfied with democracy, and too often turning inward toward ethnic separation and intolerance of others. In his speech, Obama tried to be upbeat. He reminded his audience that European unity is vital for economic growth, and for intelligence-sharing in the battle against the Islamic State. He stressed the need to share the defense burden while, yet again, reminding reluctant NATO members that they should pay their fair share. I am confident, he said, that the forces that bind Europe together are ultimately much stronger than those trying to pull you apart. But the president admitted he might be relying on blind hope, and there was a plaintive note to his entreaties. Any U.S. plea for European unity and democracy is undercut by an American election campaign in which the presumptive GOP candidate, Donald Trump, promotes intolerance at home and calls Merkel insane. Trump suggests NATO is unnecessary and lauds Russias Vladimir Putin. Recall that Putin is touting his version of authoritarian democracy as superior to the Western brand with himself as the leader of the new movement. His claim has been warmly received by some of Europes populist parties. Indeed, the results of the U.S. election may well play into the struggle for the future of Europe. In Germany, Obama was pleading for Europe to stay united and democratic, but his warning is equally applicable to the United States. The two Democratic lawmakers on the board of the state's jobs agency are asking the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to explain what it's doing to recover state funds from companies that have outsourced jobs. Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point, and Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, sent a letter to WEDC Secretary and CEO Mark Hogan on Monday requesting a report on the agency's "clawback" efforts for incentives given to companies that later outsourced positions or violated otherwise violated their agreements. The legislators asked WEDC staff to detail those efforts in a report at the agency's July board meeting. "As you are well aware, the public perception that taxpayer dollars are going to companies which are not creating jobs, or which are actually reducing their employment in Wisconsin, is one of the significant challenges WEDC faces in rebuilding public confidence," Lassa and Barca wrote. Discussing clawback efforts at the July meeting would give the board a chance to understand and offer input, they wrote. In an emailed response, Hogan said the board will add an update from its October 2015 discussion on the issue to its July meeting. The WEDC board discussed stages of its award process in the October meeting, including specific examples of outsourcing that have drawn public interest. Their letter comes after a report from WKOW-TV last week that Grainger Industrial Supply had outsourced six jobs to Panama from its Janesville facility after receiving $50,000 in WEDC tax credits. Grainger is the third company reported to have shipped jobs from Wisconsin after receiving state funds from WEDC. The state hasn't yet recovered any of those funds, although Gov. Scott Walker has called for clawbacks. In his letter to Barca and Lassa, Hogan said WEDC has revoked the $50,000 in credits from Grainger and "they will be paid back." Hundreds of people demonstrated in Vietnam on Sunday against a company they accuse of killing large numbers of fish along the countrys central coast. Some demonstrators criticized Vietnams government for reacting slowly to a major environmental disaster. An official investigation has found no links between the fish kill and a steel plant operating along the coast. The factory belongs to a Taiwanese company, Formosa Plastics. Public anger against the company was evident at the recent demonstration in Hanoi. Protesters carried signs reading, Formosa destroying the environment is a crime and Who poisoned the central regions waters? Others signs said, Formosa out of Vietnam! and criticized Vietnamese officials for failing to take action. Demonstrations are rare in Vietnam. Police are usually quick to suppress them. Last weekend, police officers cleared traffic to let demonstrators march near a big lake in the center of Hanoi. Huge numbers of dead fish have appeared at fish farms and along the central coast since April 6. The dead fish include rare species that live in deep water, far from land. The fish kill has affected 200 kilometers of coastland in four provinces, with no known cause. At first, the environmental disaster was thought to have resulted from industrial waste. Some Vietnamese and environmental activists believe it came from the huge steel plant. Last week, Vietnamese officials said they failed to find evidence linking the fish kill to the factory. Tran Hong Ha, the top environmental official, apologized for the governments reaction to the large fish kill. He demanded that the Taiwanese company dig up a waste pipe at the steel project so the government can study the waste. At first, the government said the cause of the fish kill could be a red tide. Red tides happen naturally when algae become so numerous that they discolor coastal waters. The organisms remove oxygen from the water. They can also release toxic substances that may sicken animals and human beings. The government also said that the fish kill could have resulted from chemicals released by humans. A comment by a Formosa official helped to fuel public anger in Vietnam. The official reportedly said that the country had to choose between catching fish and shrimp, and building a modern steel industry. Reports on Facebook say several hundred protesters marched in Ho Chi Minh City. However, state-controlled media have yet to report on any of the demonstrations. Social media and witnesses said protests also took place in central Vietnam last Friday. They said fishermen threw fish on a road after failing to sell their catch. The Reuters news service could not confirm the incident. On Saturday, the government ordered the trade and agriculture ministries to help buy seafood caught during deep-sea fishing. Im Jonathan Evans. The Reuter news service reported on this story. George Grow adapted this report for 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. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story species n. a particular group of things that belong together or have some shared quality toxin n. a poisonous substance and especially one that is produced by a living thing red tide n. a discoloration of seawater caused by a bloom of toxic red organisms algae n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water Dinosaursthose big prehistoric creatures may have already been decreasing in population long before an asteroid crashed into the Earth, and killed them. Until now, it was thought that an asteroid, or meteorite, that hit the Earth 66 million years ago was the main reason the reptiles became extinct. But a new study finds that they may have already been decreasing in numbers millions of years before that. Dr. Manabu Sakamoto is a dinosaur expert a paleontologist at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He led the research in the new study. We were not expecting this result, Sakamoto said. The effect of the asteroid hitting the Earth is still considered the main reason for the dinosaurs final disappearance, Sakamoto said. But, he added, it is clear that they were already past their prime in an evolutionary sense. In other words, Sakamoto means that dinosaurs were already starting to disappear from the land before the asteroid struck the Earth. The researchers studied the fossil record. Fossils are remains of plants or animals that lived in ancient times that one can now see in some rocks. The new study says that 50 million years before the asteroid struck Earth, there was a decline of all types of dinosaurs. The long-necked sauropods were decreasing more quickly than other kinds of dinosaurs. The population of dinosaurs like the fierce Tyrannosaurus rex was decreasing at a slower rate than other dinosaurs. Sakamoto called the results of the study groundbreaking. Once again, it will change our understanding of the fate of these mighty creatures, Sakamoto said. He also said that while the asteroid may have been what finally led to their extinction, something else had already been preventing dinosaurs from evolving new species as fast as old species were dying out. Sakamoto said this suggests that for tens of millions of years before they finally died out from the asteroid effects, dinosaurs were beginning to lose their position as the leading animals on Earth. Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for about 150 million years. Mike Benton was the co-author of the new study. He is a paleontology professor at the University of Bristol. He said that dinosaurs had lost their ability to evolve or change quickly enough to deal with environmental changes on the planet. Some of these changes came from volcanic activity and the breaking up of continental landmasses. When the asteroid hit the Earth, its force was so strong it blew rocks and dust and particles into the atmosphere, covering the Earth. That stopped the sunlight from reaching the ground, so plants could not grow. With their food supply gone, the dinosaurs died off too. Some scientists believe the asteroid hit the Earth in an area that is now part of Mexico. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Im Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story from VOA News sources for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story extinct adj. no longer exist, or alive paleontologist n. a person who studies the fossils of animals and plants that lived a long time ago, including dinosaurs prime adj. time when they are at their best evolutionary - adj. changes and development over time groundbreaking adj. introducing new ideas or methods fate n. a power that is believed to control what happens in the future U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wants Russias help to stop the violence in Syria. Government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have attacked the rebel-held city of Aleppo for more than a week. Over 250 people have been killed. At a meeting in Geneva with other diplomats, Kerry said he is, in his words, getting closer to a place of understanding on restarting a cease-fire in Syria that includes the city of Aleppo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not attend the meeting. But Kerry said, We are talking directly to the Russians, even now. He wanted Russia to use its influence over the Syrian government to stop the violence. Earlier, the U.S. secretary of state urged Russia to help restore calm during a visit to Jordan. These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation, and we obviously look for the [Syrian] regime to listen to Russia. The Syrian military said last week that it would impose a temporary regime of calm in the areas around the capital, Damascus, and in Latakia province. However, Aleppo is not among these areas. Kerry has said ending the violence in Aleppo is of top importance. Most of the victims are civilians. Hospitals and medical centers also have been targets of the fighting. A deadly bombing of a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders last week caused an international outcry, but the air strikes have continued. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was among those Kerry spoke with on Monday. He condemned the airstrike on the hospital and called on Syrian president Assad to step down. On Sunday, Pope Francis also urged parties in the conflict to return to peace talks. Im Mario Ritter. Zlatica Hoke and Luis Ramirez reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you have an opinion on the violence in Syria? Please leave a comment below and post on our Facebook page, thank you. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story critical adj. extremely important regime n. a form of government Kangana Ranauts lawyer has said his client will not succumb to pressure despite some common people trying to scare the actress away in her legal battle with Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan. Kangana, 29, gave her statement to police on Sunday in connection with an FIR filed by Hrithik that an online imposter had been sending e-mails under his guise to his fans and the actress. My client Kangana Ranaut shall never succumb to any pressure. Some common people who had intervened had a fixed agenda of only scaring my client and hiding the truth, which could not happen, Kanganas lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee said in a statement. The world including people from the film industry need to learn that in todays changing time no woman is scared of anything if she is fiercely determined, and has the truth by her side, he added. My client knows and is fully convinced that there is no imposter as had there really been one, then Hrithik himself would have immediately acted on my clients sister complaint which he received on his correct email id on the 25th of May 2014. His own acts of commissions and omissions after receipt of the said emails from my clients sister, coupled with his blatant lies from time to time, speak volumes of his conduct. The lawyer accused the Bang Bang! star of slut shaming Kangana to strengthen his case. To have an edge over my client he has tried everything within his means including slut-shaming, changing his public relations team, obtaining private cyber report which was paid for by him and also by changing his lawyer. However nothing is going to help as Hrithik Roshan cannot change the facts of the matter. Meanwhile, Hrithiks lawyers said they are happy the 29-year-old actress has finally recorded the statement with the police, something they believe she should have done earlier. We welcome the move. It has taken so long for them to take this basic first step. Recording of statement is the first step in any investigative process. A lot of delay and drama has happened before this first step, they said. Its not for them to say if police are happy with them or not, let that come from the investigative agencies. Lets not try and confuse the matter further with various statements. Let the investigation speak for itself. The two actors have been at loggerheads since the Queen star called Hrithik her silly ex. Their feud turned nasty after they slapped legal notices on each other. Hrithik, who was the first to send the legal notice, has demanded that she apologise in a press conference and clear the air about their alleged affair which he firmly refutes. Kangana said she was not a dim-witted teenager and refused to apologise. She instead shot off a counter-notice to Hrithik demanding that he take back his notice or face a criminal case. The recent news of actor Salman Khans efforts to free Sarabjit Singh (an Indian national tried and sentenced to death by Pakistan for his alleged role in a series of bomb blasts in Lahore and Faisalabad in 1990), being left out from an upcoming film once again highlights how tricky the biopic genre can be. While in most cases, biopics tend to distort truth in order to heighten the heroism of protagonists, in the case of Sarbjit (2016), a film that centers on the efforts and struggles of Sarabjits sister, Dalbir Kaur, to free her brother, the decision to airbrush Salman Khan might have to do with the real history that the star shared with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (who plays Dalbir on screen). Dalbir Kaur and Sarabjits daughter had met Khan on the sets of Dabangg 2 and keeping in mind the enormous fan base he enjoyed in Pakistan, requested him to help intensify the efforts to free Sarabjit. The actor responded by tweeting and launching an online signature campaign to free the falsely accused Indian. However, the fact that both Khan and Rai-Bachchan arent on talking terms might have prompted the makers of the film to omit this chapter. Although the reason for Salmans absence from the narrative is purely speculative, the films spokesperson articulated that it wasnt possible to show every incident in the course of Dalbir Kaurs 23-year struggle. But isnt it ironic that a film about a womans fight to free her innocent brother sentenced to death chooses to exclude the very incident that tried giving the ultimate fillip to the efforts? While in the case of Sarabjit it seems that the off-screen past of two actors is responsible for airbrushing a part of history, biopics, more often than not, end up falling short due to creative calls no matter what the intention. Popular cinema tries to change heroes into superheroes and such liberty in the name of creative license comes at the cost of the truth. In the recent past two successful Hindi biopics, Airlift (2016) and Neerja (2016), struck a chord with the viewers and while they both were largely praised for being authentic enough their authenticity was still questioned. Airlift chronicled the unsung heroes behind the evacuation of more than one lakh Indians stranded in Kuwait following Saddam Hussains 1990 invasion that led to the first Gulf War and while the narrative of the film follows the heroics of a certain Ranjit Katyal (Akshay Kumar), a businessman who becomes an unofficial leader of the Indian community, the truth is that the character doesnt exist. Katyal is an amalgamation of two gentlemen Sunny Mathews and Harbhajan Vedi who rose to the occasion and didnt leave any stone unturned to safely bring back almost 1,70,000 people in over 488 flights across 59 days. In order to heighten the drama, and perhaps even to capitalise on Akshay Kumars box-office pull, a hybrid character was formed but wouldnt the presence of two real life characters have added yet another layer to the narrative? Following the release of Neerja, that celebrates the bravery of flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, her former college Nupur Abrol publicly claimed that the film had unfairly propagated a version of reality to such an extent that even Bhanots soul would cringe at the undeserved adulation". For this writer, the fact that Bhanot was the one who took the bullet to save innocent lives on board the hijacked Pam-Am 73 and was awarded the Ashok Chakra, Indias most prestigious gallantry award for bravery during peace-time, ought to be enough to settle any argument. Distortion of facts is a common tool employed by biopics to convey the tale with more poignancy and an example of this can be seen in most war biopics. Take JP Duttas Border (1997), where real life heroes who survived the epic Battle of Longewala, on which the film was based, were bumped off in the screenplay simply to amplify the heroics. Or even David Leans classic The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) where writers Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson remodeled the entire character of Col Nicholson (Alec Guinness) with a slight nimbleness of fingers. One of the most celebrated war films ever, The Bridge on the River Kwai has been called an insult to the memory of Lt Col Philip Toosey on whom Guinness character was based by experts because it showed him trying to please the Japanese to spare his men by building a bridge whereas in reality Toosey was not as obsessed with the bridge as he was in keeping his men alive. In fact, selective focus and subsequent interpretation end up making great cinema greater and exceptional characters extraordinary but this transformation claims reality as collateral. The recent Cold War spy thriller Bridge of Spies gets much of its gravitas from Tom Hanks everyman insurance lawyer, James Donovan, assigned by the US government to facilitate the exchange of an US Air Force pilot for a Russian spy in Berlin. But what the film doesnt mention is that Donovans past included a stint in Naval intelligence during WW II as well as being a counsel to America's wartime spy service. Seen in that light, Donovan suddenly doesnt seem convincing as the canny insurance lawyer who is hesitant to take up the job. The trouble with biopics isnt the so-called cinematic liberty. The manic need to enhance the narrative by looking for elements within real characters for a compelling tale is now almost like a pre-requisite and even the audience doesnt bother beyond a point if done right. The trouble begins when filmmakers cherry-pick things to focus on. This minuscule shift in what and how to look at events transforms history. In Titanic (1997) James Cameron showed the first officer William Murdoch as an unstable evil man, who kills two people and also takes a bribe from a rich passenger (Billy Zane) in exchange for a spot on a lifeboat but in reality, he was a hero who went down with the ship after helping hundreds of passengers on the ill-fated ocean liner. Similarly, Oliver Stones JFK (1991) went beyond the realm of believability and practically pronounced an innocent man, David Ferrie (Joe Pesci), guilty of conspiring to assassinate the US President solely because he happened to be connected with Lee Harvey Oswald and along with a bunch of people was pissed off at the way President Kennedy handled the Communist uprising in Cuba and, therefore, plotted the assassination. Omung Kumar's Sarbjit might not reshape history or reconstruct certain verities to an extent that it might not be recognisable but does bring to light the irony of the whole exercise. How else could you describe the situation the filmmaker being drawn to the subject due to the sentimentality attached to it and then decking it with up with imagined scenarios and situations to do justice to the emotional quotient of the material and yet choosing to do away with a real sequence that ideally, any writer would have traded their right arm to come up with to increase the drama? Its not like one can undermine the impact of soft powers like cinema and stars such as Salman especially in the light of his own previous film Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) that inspired the real-life return of Geeta, the deaf and mute Indian woman who had strayed across the border into Pakistan 12 years back. Gautam Chintamani is the author of the best-selling Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna (HarperCollins, 2014). He tweets @GChintamani The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) seems to be more convinced about the need for P2P (peer to peer) crowd sourcing borrowings model unlike market regulator, Sebi, which seems to have reservations about the model. At least, thats the impression one gets going by the clarity with which, the RBI, has spoken on the issue in its recent discussion paper. The 2014 Sebi discussion paper on crowd sourcing of equity discusses the pros and cons of the model, between the need for an additional source of finance and the possible misuse of this platform by money launderers. The Sebis reservations on the equity part of crowd funding is understandable. The country, has before it, the examples of two yoga guru Baba Ramdev and spiritual leader, Sri Sri Ravishanker. As Somasekar Sundaresan puts it in this Business Standard edit piece these Gurus first won the mind share of their followers before winning market share. Indeed if you win the confidence of your followers, the rest-including the crowd sourcing of your fund requirementsbecomes easy. But the catch lies precisely here. Are the beholden if not benighted followers aware whether the financial contributions made by them to Patanjali and Sri Sri Ayurved are debts or equity? The Sebi paper highlights a problem in this regard---there is a limit of 200 subscribers to private placements. One wonders if the two ayurved chains would breach this limit in case what they have sourced is equity. The point is while angel investors, private equity and venture finance are all well regulated, crowd sourcing remains in the realm of the unknown as far as India is concerned. There is an additional danger in this Indian context----the trust and confidence commanded by spiritual leaders can be misused by others. For example, there is an apprehension that the Sumeru group controlled by Sri Sri Ravishankers nephew is making the maximum by riding piggyback on the gurus popularity by just about supplying everything ranging from products to software for Sri Sri Ayurved in what could be viewed as a case of conflict of interest. The market share seems to be a good idea but it could also amount to browbeating the followers into financing willy-nilly. And apart from this, the danger of money laundering also lurks given the fact that a shark may become a part of the crowd and escape scrutiny. This danger is there for both debt (RBI) and equity (SEBI) forms of crowd. The P2P model contemplated by the RBI sets store by the marketplace template, the one the Industries and Commerce Ministry endorsed a month ago for e-commerce. Portals bringing lenders and borrowers together are currently estimated to be between 20 and 30. RBI wants these and other wannbe facilitators to have a minimum net worth of Rs 2 crore besides meeting the fit and proper person criteria. Since the facilitators are not permitting to accept deposits and lend but only act as online brokers for fees, they have been spared of the burden of provisioning, capital adequacy etc, and rightly so. Yet, warning bells are sounding which can be ignored only at our own peril. Ezubao, a Chinese portal became insolvent running what turned out to be a Ponzi scheme in an unregulated environment. The point is crowd sourcing is not what the doctor has ordered for a financial system that is entirely mainstream but considerably interwoven with black money seeking laundering. Both the RBI (lending) and the SEBI (equity in the anvil) will have to contend with this danger. While China and South Korea might pay a price for turning a blind eye, Israel and Japan have sternly put their foot down to crowd funding (mis)adventure. Probably, the interest of the lenders weighed with these two countries more. In India, apart from the money laundering concerns, the other concern is will our online lenders who simply have to go by the intermediary role of the facilitators portal in terms of appraisal of the borrower, his credit worthiness and collection be hurt? The RBI must join the SEBI in putting off crowd funding till India is ready for the model. The RBI seems to feel the country is ready and in fact badly needs a P2P lending model because the banking, NBFC and microfinance sectors all put together are unable to meet the gargantuan (in aggregate) financial requirements of the SME sector. In other words, according to it, there is a void which P2P online aggregators can fulfill. But it seems to have ignored the two concerns highlighted in this article. Meanwhile those who have mobilized equity through crowd sourcing must be asked to keep the funds as unsecured loans unless they are donations. Private placement norms must be strictly asked to be adhered to; else money returned. London: Indian-origin businessman Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty House group has confirmed that it will be submitting its bid for Tata Steel's loss-making UK businesses by tomorrow, according to a media report. The commodities trading firm, which emerged as an early front-runner for Wales-based Port Talbot steelworks, had said last week that its team was evaluating the bid. "We can confirm that Liberty will submit a letter of intent to Tata Steel on Tuesday and has put in place a strong internal transaction team and panel of leading external advisers to take the bid forward," a Liberty House spokesperson was quoted as saying by 'The Financial Times'. Gupta is being advised by several former Tata Steel executives including Jon Bolton, who until last year was the head of Tata's Long Products business in Europe, the report said. Bolton joined Liberty House last month to run its steel business in Scotland, also bought over from Tata. Liberty House is reportedly working with Macquarie Capital, which is prepared to support the bid with funding, and the State Bank of India. Deloitte and Grant Thornton are among other firms involved which, among other issues, will advise Liberty House on dealing with the nearly 500 million pound funding deficit in Tata's pensions scheme, considered the biggest stumbling block in clinching the sale. Gupta, a Punjab-born graduate in economics and management from Cambridge University, has in the last week completed the acquisition of Tata's Scottish plants in a back to back transaction, which saw the Scottish government acquire the two plants of Dalzell and Clydebridge in Lanarkshire and immediately sell them to Liberty House. "Our team are continuing to evaluate the opportunity to make a bid for other Tata UK assets," Gupta had said. Other bidders for the remaining Tata Steel UK assets include Albion Steel, a UK start-up business with industry veteran Tony Pedder on the board. It is believed to be eyeing Tata's speciality steels unit based in Sheffield, northern England. A Tata management team buyout is seen as the other serious contender at this stage. The Tata Group had acquired its UK steel operations as part of a 6.7 billion pounds acquisition from Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2009. The firm has blamed structural disadvantages in the UK, such as extremely high energy costs, as the reason for the crisis in the steel industry. "If we were at the same electricity costs as Germany, then (Tata Steel UK) would be 40 million pounds better off -- we would not be having negative numbers. We would not be selling the business if we were not losing money," Tata Steel UK CEO Bimlendra Jha told the House of Commons Business Select Committee last week. He had also indicated that the firm wants to ideally sell all its UK assets together, rather than splitting them up. "We would not deal with somebody saying leave alone Port Talbot and give us the rest. That is not a solution that's acceptable," Jha had said. The UK government has indicated that it is willing to take a stake of no more than 25 per cent to help secure a deal. Embattled liquor baron, Vijay Mallya, resigned from his capacity as a Member of Parliament on Monday, a week after the Rajya Sabha ethics panel recommended his termination. The committee had given Mallya a week to respond. Mallyas MP status was supposed to expire in June 2016. The former Kingfisher chief, facing charges of Rs 9,000 crore loan default to a clutch of 17-banks and financial irregularities, moved to the UK on 2 March. The panel recommended Mallyas exclusion from Parliament after taking into account all these charges, including his wilful defaulter status. Mallya, in his resignation letter, said he was disappointed with his Rajya Sabha colleagues and repeated the argument that governments action of revoking his passport was unreasonable, TV channels reported. In April, the government had revoked Mallya's passport on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the agency found evidence of fund diversion by Mallya with respect to the Rs 900 crore IDBI Bank loan default case. Mallya is also facing non-bailable arrest warrants (NBW) against him on charges related to cheque bouncing. Banks are chasing Mallya since he had furnished personal guarantees against the loan facilities extended to his now-defunct airline, Kingfisher, grounded in 2012. The loan became a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) in 2012. Two lendersSBI and PNBhad tagged Mallya as wilful defaulter. Mallya has been arguing that banks have no right to seek his foreign asset details, but the Supreme Court, late last month, passed the details of his assets to the banks. Earlier, the liquor-baron had blamed the haste of Indian government in revoking his passport, thus creating impediments in the whole process and endeavor. Though Mallya had offered to pay Rs 4,000 crore to banks, the lenders rejected the offer citing lack of clarity in the offer. Mallya has been an MP twice--first in 2002 and in 2010. Going by the data (on his second term that started in mid-2010 and ending mid-2016) on the website of PRS Legislative shows that Mallya has an attendance of 30 percent. The number of debates he participated is nil. The Rs 9000 core loan to Kingfisher turned bad back in 2012. Even though banks attempted two auctions to recover at least a fraction of the money by selling Kingfisher House, the airlines Mumbai-based property and other assets, the auctions failed as they were no takers. In a recent interview given to UK-based Financial Times, Mallya had warned that revoking his passport and arresting him wouldnt help lenders get back money. By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money, Mallya told the paper in his first interview after leaving the country on March 2, with seven bags and an unidentified woman to UK and shortly after receiving a Rs 500 crore severance pay from Diageo, after stepping down as the chairman of United Spirits, Mallya said in the interview. For the Indian government, Mallyas deportation from UK wouldnt be an easy task given the strong human rights laws and the nature of the legal system of that country, where it is highly difficult for a foreign country to convince the local authorities on extradition requests. Mallya would fight the case with the backing of his legal team to prove his point that he is facing an unfair treatment from the Indian government. Mallya has clearly said that he wouldnt return to the country for now given the environment against him here. As far as the deportation plans go, it wouldnt be easy for the Modi-government to win this herculean task, unless it puts it foot down and requests the UK-authorities keep their promise on bilateral cooperation in dealing with offenders. But, for that the government will need solid proof of financial irregularities by Mallya in the Kingfisher case. Charges of loan default can be easily contested by the millionaire in the UK courts as something caused by business failure, which is part true in the Kingfisher case. SAO PAULO A Brazilian judge ordered wireless phone carriers to block access to Facebook Inc's WhatsApp for 72 hours throughout Latin America's largest country starting Monday afternoon, the second such incident against the popular messaging application in five months. The decision by the judge in the northeastern state of Sergipe applies to the five main wireless operators in Brazil. The reason for the order is not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case in the Sergipe state court. Representatives at Facebook in Sao Paulo could not immediately be reached for comment, nor could executives at the five carriers - Telefonica Brasil SA, America Movil SAB's Claro, TIM Participacoes SA, Oi SA and Nextel Participacoes SA. Judge Marcel Maia Montalvao is the same judge who in March ordered the imprisonment of a Facebook executive based in Brazil for failing to comply with an attempted block on WhatsApp. He was jailed and subsequently freed. This is the second time since mid-December that the ubiquitous text message and Internet voice telephone service for smartphones has been target of a blocking order. A judge in the state of Sao Paulo ordered that the service be shut down for 48 hours after Facebook failed to comply with an order, although another court shortly after interrupted that suspension. (Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr and Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Editing by Mary Milliken) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Gujarat Governments announcement of 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections among the upper castes may have been forced by the nine-month-old Patidar agitation, but it quietly dovetails into Prime Minister Narendra Modis politics, which centres largely around the urban middle class, merges suitably with the thought process of the parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and spawns accurately from the political laboratory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The decision, whenever it sees light of the day or doesnt at all, makes a statement, by Modi and his BJP, to Indias burgeoning middle class anger in the belief that its loaf has been sliced away by the Mandal brand of politics. Something the RSS leadership, palpably dominated by the higher castes, strongly believes and so wants as its chief Mohan Bhagwat says a review of the reservation system aimed at making it based on the economic backwardness instead of caste backwardness. There cannot be a better place than Gujarat to begin with this experiment just like the successfully tested Hindutva attempt that began from the 1992 Ram Jamnabhoomi yatra from Somnath and continued right through the 2002 post-Godhra conflagration. This caught the imagination of Gujarats huge and ever-burgeoning urban middle class. The evidence is not far to seek: Of the 72 State Assembly seats in the urban middle class regions in Gujarat, 69 are with the BJP, and three are with the Congress. All the eight city municipal corporations in the State, barring the tiny Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, are controlled by the BJP. The situation is not post-Modi but has continued to be so ever since the BJP formed its first government in Gujarat in 1995, two-and-a-half years after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Tracing this further back to the anti-reservation agitation of 1981 and 1985, led by the upper caste-dominated urbane BJP against the then Congress Government, there is a connect. The agitation was successfully converted into a protracted Hindu-Muslim confrontation that dismantled the lethal KHAM combination created by the Congress with Kshatriyas of the OBC denomination, Harijans, Adivasis and Muslims. The spearhead here was the affluent Patel community. The BJPs growth story in Gujarat thus began here. The 14 percent Patels, who formed the solid foundation for the BJP, have now come back to ask for their share of the spoils. Appeasing them would be rubbing the other sizeable upper urban middle castes the wrong way and not appeasing them would cost the BJP its Gujarat power, as was shown in the November-December elections to the local self-government bodies. This explains the 10 percent reservation to economically weaker sections among all the upper castes, whose annual income is Rs 6 lakh or less (Rs 50,000 per month). A large portion of this would obviously be the urban middle class. Those earning Rs 50,000 a month have their own family house and a car at the minimum. Reservations for this urban middle class would therefore strengthen the BJPs Hindutva vote, points out Gujarats veteran human rights lawyer Girish Patel. This also sits well with the high-caste dominated RSS leadership, which wants Indias reservation system to be completely overhauled to one that is based on economic criterion, he says. That this undermines the very purpose of reservations as envisaged by BR Ambedkar to counter caste exploitation of a huge population of the country is another matter. The real essence of reservations was never to be a vehicle for job mobilisation and fight against poverty, Patel points out. It is still another matter that even this has not been served with the creation of a strong creamy layer among the quota beneficiaries. The ideal place, says political scientist and former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Ghanshyam Shah, to experiment with creation of the new reservation prototype is from the BJPs time-tested political factory of Gujarat. For Narendra Modi, the implementation of the quota system on economic criterion, if it at all becomes possible, is best tried in Gujarat since it rhymes perfectly with the Hindutva rhetoric. It also blends equally with Modis definition of development that has mainly to do with economic growth, he says. Having learnt it the hard way, the Congress in Gujarat quite understands the success potential of this experiment and has sought a 20 percent quota for the economically weaker sections though this is merely to grab its own two-minutes in the television sound bite space. The BJP is trying to establish among the upper castes that the Congress has usurped them of their quota from the development pie to woo the Dalits and the Adivasis for political gains, says Manish Doshi, the Congress spokesperson for Gujarat. He argues: From Gujarat, the Sangh Pariwar wants to implement its dangerous game plan to set off a country-wide debate in favour of quotas on economic basis, and thus create an opinion to put an end to the reservation system that had originally sought to end the hegemony of the upper castes over the society. (The writer is Editor, Development News Network, Gujarat) We have shown private schools in Delhi their place this, in short, is the message from the AAP government to the world at large. The full-page advertisements in newspapers on Sunday where it highlights how it tamed several private players in the school sector make it unequivocal. Come as they in the newspaper format with headlines in bold, boxes and bullet points the emphasis is hard to miss. Heres how the headlines go: Four schools roll back fees in 15 days Governments tough stand emboldens parents against private schools Govt prepares to take over two branches of Maxfort School Special cell for complaint against private schools The text below the headlines follows the same theme with small variations: the Arvind Kejriwal government has taken a tough position on private schools and the obstinate lot has yielded under pressure; and its a joint effort involving the parents of students and the government. While the first part is consistent with the governments position on private schools, which it believes to be exploitative and extortionist in character, the second part has a thinly-veiled populist undertone. The government says in the ad that it has set up a complaint cell wherein parents can complain about such schools [the ones involved in charging excessive fees]. The response to it has been overwhelming. The cell has received as many as 800 complaints within four days of becoming functional, the advertisement says. The governments intention is obvious. It wants to be seen responsive to the problems of the citizens, particularly the middle class in this case. Its a voting segment that has been getting disenchanted with the Kejriwal government gradually. While the decisions on water and electricity fronts have helped the AAP retain its loyalty among the lower income segments, the middle class required some convincing visible action to be impressed. Rising school fees is a common problem for this class. No wonder the government has gone full steam about taking this up. Punitive action against private schools, however, is no solution to the real problem in the school education sector. These have flourished in the yawning gap between gap the demand and supply of quality education. Government schools have declined to the point where they are not even considered a decent option for education of children. Starting from infrastructure to the nature of education provided to the quality of teachers there are just too many issues that have contributed to this sorry state of affairs. It has led to a situation of scarcity which some private players are exploiting to the hilt. Painting them as villains and giving them a bad name wont take the government too far. Its rather unfair since they are providing a critical service to people too. If they put a high price tag on the service, this could be due to other reasons than greed. Ensuring quality also requires money and if they dont appear exploitative not many parents would complain. The real challenge is to make mass availability of quality education possible. Unless government schools come on a par with private schools in terms of quality and respectability nothing is going to change. This is a massive gap to cover because decades of negligence and indifference have gone into it. Its appreciable that the AAP government has made high budgetary allocation for the purpose and is thinking seriously about training teachers to ensure quality, but speed is important. It has to come with the proposed model schools besides the planned upgradation of regular schools to model ones fast. The advertisement may have been intended to reassure parents that the government is on their side but it comes across as a self-serving one. Showing private schools their place is fine but it would be better if the government informed us at regular intervals where its own schools stand. Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said there was no proposal to appoint Bollywood stars like Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of the state. The Chief Minister also said every citizen is a brand ambassador. "I read such things (considering Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai) in news papers only as brand ambassador of Bihar. But, there is no such proposal before the government," Kumar told reporters during his "Janata ke Darbar me Mukhya Mantri" programme. "For me every Bihari going out of the state is a brand ambassador of the state to tell the turn around story of the state to the people," the CM said. "The citizens who are themselves witness to the progress taking place in the state are the best brand ambassador. We do not need others for this," he added. Media reports had suggested chances of appointing actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha as brand ambassador of Bihar on the lines mega star Amitabh Bachchan was appointed to promote Gujarat. News items had also hinted chances of Bollywood actress Rekha and even star Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of Bihar. Shatrughan Sinha, second term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, and Manoj Bajpai, born in Bihar, had said though there was no official word to them about proposal for appointment as brand ambassador of Bihar, if asked, they would love to serve their mother state. New Delhi: The government is working on a plan to offer benefits such as insurance and pension to over 40 crore unorganised workers in India using Aadhaar, Jan Dhan accounts, and the existing platform without going for smart cards. "In view of the near-universal coverage of Aadhaar, the government is now working on a policy on delivery of various public services using Aadhaar, Jan Dhan Yojana accounts (JDY) and the existing platform without the issuance of new 'Unorganised Workers Identification Number' (U-WIN Card)," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said, in a written reply to Lok Sabha today. According to the UIDAI portal, Aadhaar has been issued to over 100 crore residents, with over 93 percent adults having the 12-digit unique number and over 25 crore bank accounts linked with it. A senior official said that using Aadhaar can save resources and time for implementing the government's various programmes for informal sector workers, including social security schemes. The minister also informed the House that the government has proposed a unified IT-based platform for delivery of the services available under various social security schemes. The proposal is being reviewed on the basis of remarks/comments received from various stakeholders. Earlier, the government had planned to launch a smart card scheme for over 40 crore unorganised workers in the country to provide them with various social security benefits such as insurance and pension. It wanted to provide social security to all those people who are not covered either by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) or Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) through this smart card. As per the proposal, the U-WIN card would have been a chip-based instrument to provide benefits to these workers and their families, under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Atal Pension Yojana, Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY), Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. The government wanted to complete the entire task of issuing smart cards to over 40 crore informal sector workers in two years. On non-distribution of the cards so far, the minister added that the registration, identification and issuance of the smart card to unorganised workers come under the purview of respective states/UTs as per the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. Rome/New Delhi: A UN arbitration tribunal has ruled in favour of an Italian marine, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at the Hague. Two Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy here. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN Court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. However, the tribunal's order is expected to be made public on Tuesday. Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was "misrepresenting" the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. Information reaching the Indian government said "India and Italy asked to approach Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Possible return to Italy strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required." "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on 26 June, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Meanwhile, Italian new agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi)" after the news that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence, as per ANSA. New Delhi: The indefinite hunger strike at JNU against punishment to students by the university in connection with the controversial 9 February event, entered the fifth day on Monday and witnessed an altercation between ABVP and Left-affiliated groups on the campus. ABVP member and president of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) Satender Awana visited the campus on Monday and an heated argument broke out between him and protesting members from the other group. While the Left groups alleged Awana abused and passed indecent remarks, he claimed that he had gone to express solidarity with the protesting group of ABVP and Left groups abused them. Awana had kicked up a controversy in February for his remarks at a Jantar Mantar protest where he had said "if no action was taken against those who had raised anti-India slogans I will enter the campus and shoot the traitors." Fasting Saurabh Kumar Sharma of ABVP, who was complainant of the Afzal Guru event, claimed that his glucose level dipped today following which he was referred to Safdarjung Hospital by the university health centre. He, was however, back on campus by evening and continued with his fast. Two groups of students are sitting on indefinite hunger strike since Thursday in protest against the punishment announced by the university against various students in connection with the controversial event on campus during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, were arrested in a sedition case in connection with the event. They are out on bail now. While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000 on grounds of "indiscipline and misconduct", Umar, Anirban and Kashmiri student Mujeeb Gatoo have been rusticated for varying durations. Financial penalty has been imposed on 14 students. Hostel facilities of two students have been withdrawn and the university has declared the campus out of bounds for two former students. Saurabh Sharma has also been slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000 for blocking traffic. While Kanhaiya is travelling to Patna and Kerala and continuing with his fast, members of JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) will be joining the strike for one day tomorrow in solidarity with the agitating students. A 29-year-old law student from Kerala's Ernakulam district was brutally raped and murdered on 28 April as she was brutally stabbed and kicked in the stomach. Her body was found in a mutilated condition inside her home, as per this report by India Today. The report quotes the police as saying that the incident took place four days back and the Dalit student's severely-stabbed body was found by her mother when she returned from work. According to this report by NDTV, the woman was brutalized with a sharp instrument and also had a head injury. The police suspect that the incident took place between 1 p.m and 5 p.m, states the report. In an indication of the severity of the assault, the woman's intestines were hanging out when her body was found. According to India Today, the mother of the woman is mentally challenged and had no good relation with any of the neighbours. The friends of the victim found out about her death from a local newspaper. However, the police said that the investigation in still in process and no arrests have been made so far. Chennai: The Madras High Court has dismissed a review petition against its June, 2015 order making wearing of helmet compulsory for two-wheeler riders in Tamil Nadu. Justice N Kirubakaran also came down heavily on the petitioner, an advocate, for making unnecessary contemptuous and uncharitable remarks against the court and said there was no "unwanted judicial activism" in the order even if the direction amounted to judicial legislation. "It is only to save the lives of the two-wheeler riders...," he said adding the court cannot wait for any person to come and knock its doors seeking a direction to the authorities. The court had issued the order making helmet compulsory while hearing an appeal for higher compensation claim by the family of a man who died in a road accident. The Judge noted that the insurance company had opposed the claim on the ground the victim died due to non-wearing of helmet. He also referred to statistics that 41,330 people died in accidents because of non-wearing of helmet in the state in the last ten years. "Whenever an appropriate and relevant case, in which one of the problems of the society is the subject matter, comes up before the court, it is the best occasion for the court to give suitable remedial directions to address the menace/problem and it cannot be termed as unwanted judicial activism," he said. Referring to the petitioner's contention that the court has only become a "cats paw of the crocodile tears shedding by helmet lobbyists group consisting of helmet manufacturers", he observed that the petitioner, being an advocate, cannot stoop to the level of making such allegations against the court. The Judge said the petitioner, R. Muthukrishnan, being a lawyer, was supposed to know the law. By seeking to review the order, he was indirectly seeking a direction to violate section 129 of Motor Vehicles Act. If the order of the court is reviewed, it would amount to a direction to violate the statue." Justice Kirubakaran said even though very high cost was required to be slapped on the petitioner, the court was sparing him considering that he is a senior citizen and having sufficient standing in the bar. Latehar (Jharkhand): As a mark of protest, MGNREGA workers in Manika block of Latehar have in separate envelopes returned their Rs 5 "meagre" wage hike to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May Day. Enclosing the money with a letter, the workers affiliated to the Gram Swaraj Mazdoor Sangh "expressed concern" at the "meagre" hike as they felt that the central government was facing "paucity of funds", otherwise the wages would have definitely increased in tune with Jharkhand's minimum daily wage which is Rs 212. The minimum wage under centrally-sponsored MGNREGA in Jharkhand is Rs 162 and after the hike it stands at Rs 167. "...but we are fortunate that increase in 17 other states was less than five rupees. It appears that the labourers in Odisha have become prosperous as their wages have not been increased," the letter said. Further, the affected workers, including women, said in the letter that they felt the Centre's monetary need was more than theirs as the central government's expenditure was more. "Pondering over all these factors, we, the MGNREGA workers, in unison, have decided to return to you the five-rupee hike with the hope that you may make happy companies, friends and employees," the letter concluded signing off "labourer" as the sender. The MGNREGA workers took out a protest rally under the banner of "Gram Swaraj Mazdoor Sangh" and held a meeting to mark the day, a press release by the protesters said on Sunday. New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Tamil Nadu government for allegedly making people attend political rallies in searing heat without provision for basic facilities. The Commission has taken cognizance of a complaint sent to it that several people were forced to sit for political rallies, in open fields under the scorching sun, for four to five hours without drinking water and other basic facilities, leading to injuries and loss of lives. This allegedly happened despite the District Collectors' advising that the public should not venture out from 11 a.m to 4 p.m due to scorching heat, said an NHRC statement. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, government of Tamil Nadu calling for detailed reports, within two weeks even as it directed them to take necessary measures to prevent recurrence of all such incidents in the future. "The allegations are serious and the incidents, if true, are indeed unfortunate. While the political parties, especially during the election period, have every right to organise public meetings, it is also the duty of the state/district administration, while granting permissions for such meetings, to take all necessary steps considering the safety and security issues in mind," observed the Commission while issuing the notices. "The incidents, one after the other, point towards failure on part of the authorities," it said. For three public rallies on 11, 15 and 20 April in Cuddalore, Virudhunagar and Salem districts respectively, people were allegedly forced to assemble as early as 11 a.m in the scorching heat, although, the meetings were to start after 3 p.m. They were "neither allowed to attend to nature's call nor provided with basic amenities" like drinking water, thereby subjecting them to hardship, the statement said. Many people fainted at Virudhuchalam rally in Cuddalore district, creating unrest and panic, which in turn, led to a stampede. 17 persons were admitted to hospitals following the incident. Two persons lost lives as first aid was not provided promptly. Another person was seriously hurt in the stampede at Aruppukkottai in Virudhunagar district and eventually died while two others died in Magudanchavadi in Salem district due to heat and overcrowding. People were allegedly "paid Rs 300" over and above the wages under the MNREGA to participate in the meetings, the statement said. Kochi: Days after the Chief Justice of India made an impassioned plea to the government to help address the shortage of judges, Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda, on Monday, said there was no procedural delay from the government's side in appointing judges and it was "exclusively" in the hands of the judiciary. "Appointment of judges is exclusively in the hands of the judiciary. Now their appointments are through collegium. The High Court collegium is there for the High Court. (They) refer the matter to the Supreme Court, which is then referred to the Ministry of Law and Justice only for processing, he said. Gowda was responding to a question on Chief Justice of India T S Thakur turning emotional on the issue recently, and lamenting the government's "inaction" in raising the number of judges from 21,000 to 40,000 to handle mounting cases. "In my office, I have not kept files (on appointment of judges) for more than 15 days," the law minister told a Meet-the-Press programme organised by Ernakulam Press Club. "I don't want to make any comment or anything about the judiciary and all that. Central government so far has not delayed even a single file in processing. And we are taking care of the judiciary," he said. "Nothing moves", Thakur had said, recalling a 1987 Law Commission recommendation to increase the number of judges per 10 lakh people from 10 to 50. "Then comes inaction by the government as the increase (in strength of judges) does not take place," he had said while addressing the inaugural session of the joint conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts. Gowda noted that the Parliament had unanimously passed the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill (NJAC Bill), but it was rejected by the Supreme Court. "100 percent members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, supported the bill. But that bill has been struck down by the Supreme Court," the Minister said. In October last year, the Supreme Court had rejected the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment, which sought to give politicians and civil society a final say in the appointment of judges to the highest courts. Gowda said as far as the remaining cases are concerned, how they should be disposed and in which manner they should be disposed, it is within the domain of the judiciary. "The executive cannot encroach upon the judiciary. That is the rule laid down in the Constitution," he said. Gowda also elaborated on the steps his Ministry had taken to step up the appointment of judges after the Supreme Court struck down the NJAC Act, saying he himself had met CJI and said there were more than 100 names which were listed earlier to the apex court. The Minister said he told the CJI to go ahead with the present memorandum of procedure for appointment of judges as the government felt that formulating a new memorandum as directed by the court would delay the whole process. "I thought it would delay the whole process. Already about 400 HC judges' vacancy was there. So I said to the Chief Justice, no sir... now you go ahead with the present Memorandum of Procedure (a document to guide appointment of judges to the apex court and the high courts.. "I myself went, I wrote a letter to the Chief Justice. I have got the process started (for appointing judges)," he said. The Minister said he informed the CJI that the new memorandum of procedure once drafted could be placed before the apex court and till then the present procedure could be used. New Delhi: The Centre on Monday said the situation in Uttarakhand, where wild fires have engulfed large swathes of forested land, is under control now. "As per the latest information, fire has been contained. Situation is under control now," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters. The Minister said a team of experts has already reached Uttarakhand to ascertain the cause of fire and extent of damage. Rijiju said that if required, the central government will send more forces to the hill state to assist the state government in dousing the fires. More than 6,100 personnel and three IAF choppers fitted with Bambi bucket to carry water have been deployed in Uttarakhand to extinguish multiple forest fires. A four-member Central team of experts, including Special Director Centre for Fire Explosives K C Wadha and director of Delhi Fire Services G C Misra have reached Uttarakhand to assess the situation and suggest possible remedies. Those fighting fire in forest covers of Uttarakhand are quite amused by visuals of helicopters carrying water buckets to douse the flames. Though this innovative methodology of containing fire in forest may appear quite attractive in terms of visual appeal on TV screens, its efficacy is highly doubtful. In fact, for the past three days since the government decided to rope in the airforce to check the spread of fire, the efficacy of choppers in such operation was discussed threadbare. At the end of it, officials of the forest department and environmentalists resisted the idea of using choppers as it was expected to fan the fire. The use of water to douse the flame in forest is hardly effective. This looks good visually but the real battle is at the ground where smoldering woods and dried grass stoke the fire in neigbouring regions said an officer involved in the fire-fighting. Apparently the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) resorted to traditional methodology of beating the fire and digging trenches to prevent its spread. Since the NDRF is neither trained and nor equipped to deal with such a situation, the fire is apparently contained by volunteers, forest officials and local fire officials who have better understanding of the hilly topography and its wildlife. Officials of the home ministry, who monitored the situation along with the state administration of Uttrakhand, however, admitted that the fire in this region has always been an annual feature. This is the first time it caught medias attention and also exposed our inadequacies he pointed out. With reference to use of choppers to douse the flame, he pointed out that such a methodology was resorted to use chemical to contain fire. Given Uttrakhands ecology and wildlife, it is difficult for us to use chemicals he said. But what seems to have caught attention of the government and environmentalists is the fact that the forest fire often reduce the space for wildlife and accentuate the man-animal conflict in the region where villages are also located. In Pauri, Garhwal and Chamoli where reserve forest is immensely rich in wildlife, including tigers and elephants, there are reports of consistent human encroachment in the forest area. Environmentalists suspect that much of the fire in the woods is deliberately stoked to shrink the forest cover and expand the human habitation. In large areas comprising Himalyan foothills known as Terai, farmers are known for encroaching into forest areas and expanding their possession of land. Thousands of farmhouses owing large tract of land often running into hundreds of acres have come up of late adjacent to buffer zones of the forest. There are umpteen number of cases in which tigers, elphants or leopards are coming in direct conflict with the human. In Haridwar and adjoining herds of elephants are often seen blocking the highway as their habitant has shrunken due to encroachment by the human. Environmentalists and forest officials do not rule out the possibility that frequent fires in forest covers of Uttrakhand would be linked to human greed of expanding its domain at the expense of forest cover. Officials of the home ministry say that in view of the concerns expressed by local stakeholders on destruction of forest cover, a comprehensive strategy needs to be chalked out to deal with this kind of situation. Already the NDRF chief OP Singh has written for Firstpost detailing the tough situation against which the NDRF worked in tandem to contain the fire despite all inadequacies. Want to help him manage the pressure? Energise him! The packaging for Kellogg's oats has landed the company in a social media row after Purnima Menon, a senior researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute took the brand to task for its sexist advertising. The packaging in question highlights the benefits of oats for mens health and exhorts women to feed their husbands the product as it will help them have happy husbands (A healthy heart is a happy heart, the message on the package concludes). Menon tweeted a photo of the package with the caption: Heart health is as important for women. Shame on you @KelloggCompany & your advertising agency for #sexist promo! Heart health is as important for women. Shame on you @KelloggCompany & your advertising agency for #sexist promo! pic.twitter.com/1XhUrY8ATA Purnima Menon (@PMenonIFPRI) May 2, 2016 And now the front of the package! Is she really spoon-feeding him the @KelloggCompany oats?! Wow. https://t.co/cULJGlTamI Purnima Menon (@PMenonIFPRI) May 2, 2016 Menons tweet got quite the appreciative reaction on Twitter. Kellogg's packaging goof-up seems like a throwback to the days when sexist adverts were the norm for products of every kind beer, coffee, ties, stockings and even kitchen appliances. So while a Heinz soup ad in the 1950s commiserated with women whose husbands yawned at the dinner table (and then said that if it was your cooking and not your conversation that is at fault, then it can be easily fixed) another, for Van Heusens ties had a man reclining on a bed while his wife served him a meal on a tray, on bended knees, with the catch-phrase Show her its a mans world. A blender by Kenwood called Chef had this winning line: The Chef does everything but cook. Thats what wives are for while Chase & Sanborn coffee had a man spanking his wife as a helpful reminder of what might happen if your husband found out you arent store-testing for fresh coffee. Kelloggs advert is nowhere close to those in the level of sexism it portrays, but as Purnima Menon pointed out, Media and advertising need to help shape perspectives. Ads like this don't help. Almost 25 years separate the AgustaWestland scam from that of the Bofors. Both were defence deals. In 1986, the Indian government went for 400 Howitzer guns manufactured by the Swedish company AB Bofors. It was a $1.4 billion deal (Rs 10,000 crore at current prices). In 2010, India signed an agreement with the UK-based AgustaWestland (its parent company based in Italy) for 12 high-altitude-flying helicopters. It was a $530 million (Rs 3,600 crore) deal. Both Bofors and AgustaWestland had signed no-middleman contract with India; no commission was supposed to be paid by the manufacturing company to any defence agent to secure the deal. But as it turned out, in both cases, the middlemen had received commissions. The Swedish government investigated the Bofors case and the Italian government the VIP choppers case. What was more damaging was the suspicion that the trail of the commission money led to Indian politicians. In the Bofors case, Rs 64 crore (at the then prevalent prices) supposedly exchanged hands. In the AgustaWestland case, the bribe money is supposed to be more than Rs 200 crore. Although middlemen who received money in both the cases were identified and legal evidence against them was established, no clear case could be made out against the political beneficiaries in both the cases. The political battles, therefore, were fought on the basis of conjecture and speculation. Incidentally, both the deals were signed during the Congress regimes and the main political targets in both the cases were members of the Nehru-Gandhi family, the political dynasts lording over the party since Independence: Rajiv Gandhi in the gun deal and Sonia Gandhi in the chopper deal. Rajiv had a more direct role in the Bofors deal: he was the prime minister and also the defence minister when the Bofors agreement was signed; Sonia has never been in government; but as the Congress president, she was the driving force behind the Congress-led government in 2010 when the helicopter deal was inked. But there is a crucial difference between the way Rajiv-led Congress handled the Bofors case and Sonia-led Congress dealt with the AgustaWestland case when the scam broke out. On 16 April, 1987, barely a year after the gun deal was signed, Swedish National Radio reported that Bofors had paid bribes to secure the Howitzer contract. The Howitzer deal was swung by the AE Services of Ottavio Quattrocchi, an Italian defence dealer. Sten Lindstrom, the then head of the Swedish police and the main whistleblower in the case (he secretly supplied information and documents to Chitra Subramanyam and N Ram of The Hindu), said that although there was no proof that Rajiv received any pay-off, there was enough evidence that he was responsible for the cover-up to protect Quattrocchi. It was common knowledge that Quattrocchi and his wife had unfettered access to the prime ministers house (thanks to the Italian connection with Sonia Gandhi nee Maino). It was easy to surmise that Quattrocchi used his proximity to the Gandhi family to swing the deal. Swedish investigations revealed that his AE Services entered an agreement with the AB Bofors on 15 November, 1985 to clinch the Howitzer deal, with the stipulation that AES was entitled to an attractive commission if the contract was signed before 31 March, 1986. Quattrocchis Sonia connection paid off; the deal was signed on 24 March, 1986, within four months of the agreement between the AES and Bofors. Evidently, it was done at supersonic speed, going by the average time taken to conclude defence deals. The AgustaWestland affair, on the other hand, does not suggest any nexus between Sonia and the middlemen in the deal. In fact, neither Guido Haschke nor Christian Michel, the two middlemen named by the Italian court, hadn't met Sonia or Rahul (by their own admission and by the Italian prosecution evidence) even once. AK Antony, the then defence minister, who was notorious for going slow on defence deals to avoid any whiff of corruption, went ahead with the helicopter deal in 2010 after years of deliberations, with a strong belief that no kickback was involved. But that belief turned out to be false when the Italian authorities revealed that $30 million was paid to the commission agents a part of which found its way to the Indian officials. Although no politicians name was mentioned in the chargesheet, the Italian court conclusively held that SP Tyagi, then Air Force Chief, had met the middlemen several times and his cousins received the bribe on his behalf. The reaction of the Indian government to this revelation was swift. The defence minister told the Parliament that it was possible that bribes were paid to some people. In order to put all speculation to rest, he declared the chopper deal off for breach of contract by the AgustaWestland management that paid commission to the agents. Indian government moved the Italian court to recover the money paid to the company and got back the entire Rs 2,000 crore that had been paid in the first instalment to procure the helicopters. India was able to recover the full sum (but the three helicopters supplied to India have not been taken back; that is a bonus). It was a swift move; many international commentators pilloried India for taking such a drastic step on the basis of mere accusations (the accusations surfaced in 2012, the helicopter deal was cancelled in 2013; the Italian lower court gave AgustaWestland a clean chit in 2015 and said that no bribe was paid; but the higher court reversed the verdict in 2016 and found evidence of the kickback). Contrast this with the Bofors scenario. When the Bofors scam was unveiled, Rajiv was the prime minister who also held the defence portfolio. The minister of state for defence, Arun Singh, strongly pitched for the cancellation of the Bofors deal. Even the then chief of the army, General K Sundarji, pleaded for the cancellation of the deal to restore the honour of the country and the army. But Rajiv emphatically said that the Bofors deal was there to stay and that India could not be influenced by the foreign countries with regard to its defence procurement. Arun Singh showed the courage of conviction to resign and retire from politics. Bofors became the metaphor for corruption at high places. Rajiv's government went out of its way to do the cover-up. Even the Narasimha Rao government continued the cover-up operation. In 1992, Madhav Sinh Solanki, the then foreign minister, met the Swiss foreign minister, and requested him to ensure that the Swiss authorities did not cooperate with the Indian investigators (regarding information on the Swiss bank accounts of Quattrocchi). When this news became public, Solanki had to resign. The accusing finger clearly pointed at Sonia-Rajiv for the Bofors cover-up, but, as per the evidence available today, no case can be made out against Sonia in the VIP chopper deal (either in its execution or its aftermath). The courts in India dropped the Bofors case after 25 years and after the CBI and legal officials had incurred Rs 250 crore worth of expenses by repeatedly travelling to foreign shores for investigation. We will have to wait to see how long it will take for the Indian courts to abandon the pursuit of the AgustaWestland case. PS: In the Bofors case, Subramanian Swamy was a staunch defender of Rajiv. He had poured scorn on VP Singh and Arun Singh for turning against the prime minister, instead of standing by him, in the Bofors case. He had then accused the BJP of politicising a critical defence deal and, in the process, compromising Indias security. In the AgustaWestland case, Swamy is spearheading the BJP campaign against Sonia Gandhi. PPS: The chameleon knows when to change its colours. Former IAF chief SP Tyagi was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 2 May in connection with the probe it is conducting into the alleged corruption in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland case. He arrived at the CBI headquarters at 10 am. On Friday, the CBI had issued summons to Tyagi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Ex-IAF chief Tyagi is accused of having received cash from Guido Ralph Haschke and Carlo Gerosa in relation to the AgustaWestland chopper deal. Haschke and Gerosa are accused of being the middlemen in the deal. Tyagi and the middlemen are among the 13 individuals named as accused in the CBI's FIR, which was later used by the ED for filing their separate case under criminal charges of money laundering. Tyagi was accused in the AgustaWestland scam as he is said to have allowed helicopters to be purchased which did not meet the altitude requirement. A CBI report said that the IAF had vehemently opposed the change in altitude requirement, but had conceded once Tyagi was in the picture. He is said to have passed on this information via middlemen to help AgustaWestland clinch the deal to supply twelve VVIP choppers to the IAF. The deal was scrapped in January 2013 and CBI began investigating the matter. CBI has alleged that the reduction of the service ceiling maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally allowed the UK-based firm to get into the fray as otherwise its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. The CBI, which has received a copy of the Milan court order, has now prepared a fresh set of questionnaire to put to Tyagi. "They have blamed me for corrupt practices in which I changed the height to assist AgustaWestland, although this decision was not against the public interest. But I was nevertheless being (called) corrupt," the former IAF chief said earlier. The Supreme Court is to hear the AgustaWestland plea on 6 May. With inputs from agencies Patna: Amid reports that chances of merger of JD(U) and RLD of Ajit Singh are almost over, JD(U) president Nitish Kumar said the initiative to this effect had come from RLD and so this should be answered by them. "Initiative to this (merger) had come from Rashtriya Lok Dal itself. They should answer this (if chances of merger are over)," Kumar, also Bihar Chief Minister, told reporters. Kumar, whose slogan of "Sangh-mukt" country has triggered a national debate and also a talk over his chances of becoming Prime Minister after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, said he has already made it clear that he has no claim for the PM post. "At the JD(U) National Council meeting (that ratified Kumar's appointment as party President in place of Sharad Yadav) recently I had said categorically there is no claim from my side for PM post," he said. When it was mentioned that NCP president Sharad Pawar has described him as PM material from the grouping of anti-BJP parties, Kumar said he was indebted to Pawar who is among "the seniormost leaders of the country". To another question about the state Congress' view that Rahul Gandhi alone is the PM candidate, Kumar did not give any specific reply. Congress minister Madan Jha was present at the press conference. Kumar said, "He (Jha) is sitting here as the revenue minister in my government. This is not a meeting of the Grand Secular Alliance." On invitation from Nepal to attend Buddha Purnima programme on 21 May, Kumar said the invitation has been sent to External Affairs ministry and he was waiting for their comment on the trip. About media reports that PM Narendra Modi wants Kumar to travel with him to Lumbini, which is being seen as his closeness with him post-Bihar poll, Kumar said he has no knowledge of this. Kumar said he will attend anti-liquor programmes at Dhanbad in Jharkhand and in Lucknow and Varanasi in UP. "Wherever I am called for creating awareness against liquor I will try to attend it," said Kumar whose government announced complete ban on sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar on 5 April. Rae Bareli: BJP workers on Sunday burnt the effigy of Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her Lok Sabha constituency protesting against her alleged role in the AgustaWestland chopper scam. Addressing the gathering at supermarket area here, BJP leader Ajay Agarwal challenged Gandhi to prove her innocence in the chopper deal. The Congress leadership has come under a scathing attack by the Centre after an Italian court convicted AgustaWestland chief Giuseppe Orsi. Hitting out at the Congress chief, Agarwal said, "Sonia Gandhi has a feudal state of mind. She has ditched the innocent voters of her constituency by making false promises. She doesn't want them to progress economically or educationally." Bengaluru: Congress on Sunday made a scathing attack on the Centre "for not inquiring" various transactions of money paid to Vijay Mallya by Diageo Plc, including the USD 40 million Sweetheart deal. "Why is the Modi government not enquiring into the transactions between Diageo Plc and Mallya, wherein he received USD 40 million in a foreign offshore account in lieu of stake sale in India," Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters in Bengaluru. Giving accounts of alleged Mallya-Diageo Plc money transactions, Surjewala alleged that besides giving USD 40 million, another USD 58 million dollar was paid by Diageo Plc to Mallya in lieu of sale of South African Breweries. "We have also been given to understand that Diageo Plc has paid another sum of USD 141 million to Standard Chartered Bank on account of a default made by UB group company - Watson Limited, an amount that should have been rightfully paid by Sri Vijay Mallya," he said. Surjewala alleged that Diageo Plc paid another USD 42 million for a previous guarantee given to the Standard Chartered Bank on a loan taken by UB Overseas Limited. "All these money transactions were take place under the very nose of Modi government and Diagepo Plc acquires the stake of Mallya company in India, but Government of India keeps completely mum," he said. Surjewala said these are some important issues that the Centre must answer. Surjewala said "the government could have detained him when he was summoned by CBI for questioning after India's premier investigation agency had registered a case in the matter on July 29." He also blamed the banks for being "hand-in-glove" to allow Mallya to leave the country by moving the Debt Recovery Tribunal in Bengaluru on 29 February instead of the day before, in which case the tribunal could have intervened to impound the liquor baron's passport and eventually his arrest, he said. "The Modi government should take action against CBI and bank officials as also Enforcement Directorate officials for their inaction, and creating a situation which became easy for Mallya to leave the country," he said. New Delhi: Training guns on Sonia Gandhi over VVIP chopper scam, BJP on Sunday ridiculed her remarks that she was "not afraid of anyone cornering her" and reminded her of "lok lajja". "Congress does not fear anybody because it does not maintain dignity of public life (lok lajja). The Congress President said she does not fear anybody. But that is the reason why so many scams happened during the Congress-led UPA government. "She does not fear and the result was coal scam worth Rs 1 lakh 86 thousand crore, 2G scam worth Rs 1 lakh 76 thousand crore, CWG scam, AIRCEL Maxis scam, National Herald and now VVIP Chopper scam," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said. Gandhi had rejected as "baseless" allegations linking her and party leaders to bribes in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, calling them an attempt at character assassination. "I am not afraid of anyone cornering me as there is no basis to that. All the accusations they are throwing at us are false," Gandhi had said a few days back as the BJP sought to target her on the deal. "Where are the proofs. They are lying," Gandhi had said. Hitting back Sharma said,"it was your government at the Centre when the VVIP chopper scam happened. So it is your responsibility to name all those, who have got the kickback." Asking the Congress to "stop politicising corruption", Sharma said that the Congress President should "not try to intimidate the Constitution and Law" of the country. Noting that corruption has been a big hindrance in the development of the country, Sharma said, "corruption flourished under design under Congress rule, which had a plan to loot the country." "When the movement against black money was going on during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi did not submit affidavits to Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman stating that they have no foreign bank accounts. BJP MPs have done it," the BJP leader said. Dismissing the reaction of Congress leaders to the BJP's allegations on the chopper deal, Sharma said,"the way they are reacting indicates they have done something wrong. All statements from the Congress on this issue just aim at spreading confusion." He said that Modi government is committed to root out corruption and there is "no allegation of corruption of even a paisa during its two-years-rule. Has Mamata Banerjee conceded defeat? Is the Trinamool Congress headed for the exit door after just one bite at the power cherry? Predicting election outcomes is always fraught with danger, even more so in such a tight contest. But telltale signs and Trinamool Congress chief's own behaviour in the last few days suggest that West Bengal may be in for the mother of all surprises on 19 May (the day of the results). Mamata's bitter rant against police force For a doughty, firebrand leader, it made for strange viewing when the chief minister on Sunday launched an explosive tirade against her own police force which is temporarily under the command of EC. She claimed that police has unleashed "a reign of terror" in the state and will face "consequences" if she returns to power. And in what is being seen as a barely concealed attack against new top cop Soumen Mitra, the chief minister said officers enjoying power for 15 days should not take it for granted. "If someone is given a responsibility for just 15 days and starts thinking their life's dream of wearing a gold crown will be fulfilled, that is the biggest mistake," Mamata thundered during an election rally in Chandipur, around 110km from Kolkata. "I am gentle to those who are good, but if anybody shows red eyes to me, then he will have to face the consequences." Incidentally, the chief minister had reinstated some officers whom the EC had removed after the 2014 General Elections was done. The TMC supremo also accused the police of being "cowards" and said they were working at the behest of a 'grand coalition' of CPM, Congress and the BJP. "I am the chief minister of the state, even I could not sleep for two-three nights due to police tandav (mayhem). The paramilitary forces are being egged on by some coward police personnel. These coward policemen have worked at the behest of Congress, CPI(M) and BJP. She also threatened retribution. "I have kept a record of everything, what each has done, whether good or bad. I will give appropriate answer for all the atrocities if I am alive," Mamata said at the rally in east Midnapore on Sunday. Those responsible will have to face the consequences. Election Commissions duty is to ensure free and fair poll, but they have unleashed terror with the help of a section of police officers," she warned. What prompted the rant? It is common knowledge that Mamata wasn't amused when Election Commission, in an unprecedented move, replaced incumbent Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar with Mitra bang in the middle of Assembly elections. She made that clear on several occasions since EC took the step on 12 April. Kumar, handpicked by Mamata in January this year, was at the receiving end of a torrent of allegations from the opposition. Since taking charge, Mitra has delivered a stellar performance. In the last two phases (fourth and fifth), the police bared its teeth and showed what it is capable of when it doesn't have to obey political masters. In a spectacular show of planning and execution, cops (aided ably by the Central paramilitary forces) ensured a virtually trouble-free election. That is no mean a feat in Bengal where elections are synonymous with bloodshed. The police has been particularly tough with the goons and activists of the ruling party. It is important to understand that though EC has at its disposal a huge number of paramilitary forces, this punitive arm is heavily dependent on local intelligence which only the state police force can provide to preempt and prevent trouble. Since coming to power, Mitra has ensured that cops ensure a multi-pronged strategy. Before every phase, it made a list of known trouble makers and history sheeters and either took them in custody or kept them under strict vigilance. During voting in and around Kolkata, cops targeted the local clubs. The ruling party had turned these youth associations in every mohalla into their strongholds by doling out cash. Police, in an unprecedented move, shut them down the day before the polls fearing that these may be used for mobilisation of 'quick action gangs'. On Friday, for instance, cops had shut down several clubs in south Kolkata after crude bombs were found nearby or on the premises of a few. Fourteen bombs were found in a club in Chetla, the heart of the city. As a final measure, cops liberally imposed Section 144, chased down and wielded its baton if even two or three people assembled within 200 metres of a polling booth. It employed quick response teams, mobile units and even drones in sensitive zones. Ministers, too, were not spared. Firhad Hakim had to dismantle the red beacon before his car was allowed to pass. It became hard to believe that during last year's civic elections, one police constable was shot at by goons allegedly affiliated to the ruling party. "Please let us be cops for one day, today I am a policeman. I will neither listen to anyone except my seniors nor do I know anyone who breaks the law," a detective department officer was quoted, as saying in Times of India. Even if it doesn't last, the change is dramatic and severe. Heavy voting and other telltale signs Heavy turnout is usually associated with anti-incumbency. On this count, Trinamool Congress has reasons to worry. Rural hinterlands in Bengal have a tradition of high voting percentage. This time, even Kolkatans followed suit. The cops ripped out the poison teeth of goonda raj and city dwellers came out to vote in droves. In 2011, when Bengal decided to vote for 'poriborton' (change) after 34 years of Left rule, the voting percentage in several city constituencies was abnormally high. In the four seats in south Kolkata, for instance, it was 65.87 percent, a steep surge by city standards. This figure looks in danger of being surpassed. Till 5pm on Saturday, it stands at 63.05 percent and when EC finally releases last-hour voting data, it may erase 2011 record. The rumour mill is also working overtime. Since exit polls are banned, fake exit polls via social media are doing the rounds about a possible upset, rightly dismissed by TMC leaders. A Business Line report mentions police sources as saying that: "Nothing short of a miracle can save the Trinamool from defeat." A comment which the report claims was corroborated by three other officers. Fracturing of minority votes As chief minister, Mamata Banerjee has assiduously courted the minority votes which amount to around 27 percent of the electorate in Bengal and even 50 percent in some districts. The chief minister had frequently been criticised by the opposition for her crude and blatant tactics. Soon after coming to power in 2011, she offered honorarium of Rs 2,500 for imams and Rs 1,500 for muezzins through the state Waqf Board (later stopped by Calcutta High Court). Not a small sum in a state where per capita monthly income is around Rs 4,500. She allotted free land to "homeless, landless imams" and even made Urdu the second official language in areas where 10 per cent of the population is Muslim. Syed Noor-ul-Rehman Barkati, the shahi imam of the Tipu Sultan mosque, bragged in 2013 that he stopped writer Salman Rushdie from entering Kolkata by a mere phone call to the CM. The same year saw Kolkata police reportedly stalling indefinitely a TV serial, Dusahobas, scripted by Taslima Nasreen after Muslims groups complained that it would hurt religious sentiments. Huge cutouts of Mamata Banerjee, face covered with hijab and offering namaaz, are a common sight in Bengal. This votebank, however, is at the danger of getting fractured faced with an alliance of CPIM and Congress both parties who enjoy equal popularity with the Muslims. Given the free and fair election, therefore, the result will depend on performance, not gimmicks. Mumbai: The Bombay High Court, while ordering demolition of the multi-storeyed Adarsh Housing Society, has squarely blamed its members for conspiring with politicians and bureaucrats to grab a plot "which was not in existence" in the development plan as a residential area. It was "carved out" by eating into a road, it said. Members of the Society happened to be close relatives of highly-placed bureaucrats and or related to politicians or ministers, said a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Rajesh Ketkar in the 223 page-judgement which became available on Monday. On 29 April, delivering the operating part, the HC had sought criminal proceedings against politicians and bureaucrats for "misuse" of powers, holding that the Society, originally meant for Kargil war heroes and war widows, was constructed illegally. "We are more than satisfied that the allotment was not made in a transparent manner and it clearly smacks of favouritism and/or nepotism," the judgement said. "It cannot be disputed that bureaucrats and ministers are the custodians of government property....People repose confidence in them that the government property is safe in the hands of bureaucrats and ministers. "Prima facie, they have dishonestly disposed of the property in violation of law," the bench observed. "...the bureaucrats and the ministers are guilty of various offences in acquiring the plot as also misuse and/or abuse of powers. We hereby direct the state government to consider initiating appropriate civil/criminal proceedings against the concerned bureaucrats, ministers and politicians," the judges further said. The lower courts will, however, decide the cases as per the merit and evidence, uninfluenced by HC's observations, it added. The judges also directed the state government and the Centre to consider departmental inquiry against the officials. It also directed the Ministry of Defence to hold an in-depth inquiry to find out the lapses or reasons on the part of its officers for not filing a writ petition in the matter at the earliest. The court asked the Defence Ministry to hold an inquiry to find out whether the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) between 1999 and 13 July, 2010, namely, Maj General A R Kumar, Maj General V S Yadav, Maj General T K Kaul, Maj General Tejinder Singh and Maj General R K Hooda compromised the security of CMS (Colaba Military Station) in return for allotment of flats in Adarsh. The bench drew on the report of Justice J A Patil Commission, appointed by the state government to probe the role of senior bureaucrats and politicians including former Chief Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan, in the judgement. On whether clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) was required, the HC said that considering the object of Environment Protection Act and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications of 12.11.1997, the clearance of MoEF or authorities at state level was needed. "On 10 April, 2002, the state government reduced the width of Captain Prakash Pethe Marg from 60.97 metres to 18.40 metres. The area so deleted was included partly in residential among others (for Adarsh Society)," the judgement said. "Without obtaining prior approval of Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), the state government could not have changed the reservation from road to residential." The High Court refused to accept the Society's contention that a letter sent by MoEF to the state Urban Development Department (UDD) on 11 March, 2003, can be held as a clearance for construction from the union ministry. The letter dated 15 March, 2003, written by P V Deshmukh, then Deputy Secretary of state UDD, to Adarsh Society stating that MoEF had given clearance for construction was "totally uncalled for" and this letter was issued a few days before Deshmukh himself applied for membership in the society, the court noted. The adjoining BEST plot and the land on which the Adarsh building was constructed were two separate plots, hence the Society cannot use the FSI from the BEST plot, the HC said. "Petitioners have not obtained environmental clearance either from MoEF or from state-level agency and we have held that the recommendations of MCZMA are mandatory and environmental clearance is also necessary," HC said. "We have come across cases where people by using money or muscle power as also political influence try to secure allotment of land. This case goes one step further," the court observed. Regarding reduction of the width of Prakash Pethe Marg, the bench referred to Patil Commission's finding that it was not at all in public interest and was meant only to serve the interests of the private Society (Adarsh). Considerations of traffic congestion and security operations of Army during emergency were totally ignored, the HC said citing the report. "Ultimately, the Commission findings said that the reduction of the proposed width and change of reservation from road to residential in respect of Capt Prakash Pethe Marg was not in accordance with the provisions of MRTP Act (Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act) and it was illegal and mala fide," the judges said. "...no notice was given (as per the Act) to the Minister of Defence which is an affected party by the said modification (in Development Plan) pertaining to reduction in the width," the HC noted. New Delhi: Seeking strong action by the government to rein in rising air ticket prices, Opposition in Lok Sabha on Monday charged the airlines with "looting" passengers as airfares remained high despite decline in jet fuel costs. Initiating the discussion on Demands for Grants for the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Congress leader K C Venugopal said airlines have not passed on the benefits of fall in fuel prices to passengers and added that private carriers were "looting" them. He said the price of ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) has come down resulting in huge benefits to airlines but still airfares have been going up and claimed that Air India has benefitted by over Rs 1,000 crore from fall in ATF prices. Maintaining that airlines have not passed on the benefits to passengers, the Congress leader said, private carriers are "looting". He said that air ticket prices were high in international air routes too, giving the example of Air India Express, the low cost carrier which operates a significant number of flights mainly connecting the Gulf and Kerala. "What action is being taken for justice to the people," Venugopal asked and urged the government to take "strong action" to deal with exorbitant airfares. "There is no justification for high air ticket prices... There is a need for an intervention from the (Civil Aviation) Ministry... There is need for strong action," he noted. TMC leader Saugata Roy also urged the government to rein in the rising airfares. "I feel that the government should have a role in having some regulations" when air ticket prices go up and cited that during the recent Jat agitation, airfares rose for flights to and from Chandigarh. During holidays and festivals too, air fares goes through the roof, he noted. In the recent times, concerns have been expressed in various quarters about rising airfares despite fall in fuel prices, which account for over 40 per cent of a carrier's total operating costs. Venugopal said the Ministry has taken a stance not to intervene citing pricing regulations, but airfares have been rocketing. As he wondered whether such a stance was "a right thing", Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, in a lighter vein, was heard saying "wrong". Criticising the government for reducing budgetary allocation to Air India, Venugopal said it would put the carrier in trouble and asked the government to earmark the maximum possible amount. Venugopal asked the Centre to expedite Kerala government's proposal to launch the carrier Air Kerala that would mainly cater to people from the state living in Gulf countries. The state government wants to invest in the airline and was awaiting consensus from the Centre. A cabinet note in this regard was even circulated during the previous UPA rule but could not go forward as elections were announced by that time, Venugopal, who hails from Kerala, said. He also cited various incidents like those involving cabin crew and one pilot and said such things would not help Air India and action needs to be taken, Venugopal said even as he appreciated the efforts made by the carrier's current CMD. He also requested the government to shift the headquarters of Air India Express to Kochi in Kerala. One Tourism Ministry, Venugopal expressed disappointment saying many ongoing projects were stopped by the government while new ones are not taking off. He noted that with the government cutting down funding for the initiative PIDDC (Project/Infrastructure Development for Destination and Circuits), many initiatives have been hit. PIDDC was started during the UPA regime. "Government is a continuation... why this discrimination," he wondered. Regarding Kerala, Venugopal said certain announcements made have not been fulfilled. "How can you punish a state that has huge tourism potential?," he noted. BJP's Dushyant Singh sought to put the onus on the previous UPA governments for the financial problems faced by Air India. Countering criticism that allocation to the national carrier has been reduced, Singh said Air India placed orders for new aircraft during the previous regime despite fall in market share. The Empowered Group of Ministers, under then Union Minister P Chidambaram, had approved placing orders for new aircraft, he said. Singh took a dig at the previous government for the merger of Indian Airlines and Air India. Now, the situation is improving and Air India has started "making monthly operational profits", he claimed. The government is working on various plans for the aviation sector, including for boosting regional connectivity. With regard to tourism sector, Singh claimed that change of government at the Centre has helped. He asked the government to further promote the country's tourism sector including in overseas markets. Initiatives such as Indian food festivals should be looked at apart from developing destinations like "Ayodhya," he added. While speaking about Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Nagpur, Singh mentioned, "my leader comes from Nagpur", eliciting reactions from some members present. TMC leader Saugata Roy sought to know which leader Singh was talking about, while BJP member Anurag Thakur wondered whether something happens to the Opposition when the word Nagpur is mentioned. Roy said the government was struggling to formulate the new aviation policy and demanded expediting the process. He said the government should not privatise the airports as public owned companies can run and make profits. "We need not give airports to fly-by-night operators... they should not get airports for free," he said adding although Air India has registered operational profit, there are some problem in their Dreamliner fleet. "The minister should do something...no effort should be made to privatise Kolkata airport," Roy said. The TMC leader emphasised that India needs more domestic carriers and the government should encourage more players for domestic carriers. Speaking on the tourism sector, he said though states like Kerala have done a lot to promote the sector but states like Uttar Pradesh need to do a lot. Citing the example of Agra, he said there was a need for "tourist police" to protect foreign and domestic tourists from touts and hawkers who sell spurious products. He also sought more focus on developing strong infrastructure for the sector. Roy also claimed that no development has taken place in Varanasi, which is the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 12:43 (ist) Manohar Parrikar explains AgustaWestland deal: "AgustaWestland chopper was 100 cCore. We had to test the helicopters in Indian conditions. The other two vendors didn't agree to do so and conducted the test outside the country. this was against the clause in the country. Out of the 6 vendors who were given tenders, AgustaWestland Italy was also one of the vendors. But AgustaWestland UK took over the tender. Only AgustaWestland got the concessions. They created a single vendor situation. In 2008, the price oh AW101 was 15 million Euros and oin 2010, it was listed as 27 million. Benchmark cost given by CNC(Contract negotiations committee) was 6 times higher than that of AoN (Acceptance of Necessity) There was no explanation for this.In 2012 February, then the government had written to the embassy through the MEA. The government even went to the investigating agency but nobody wrote to the company. This deal should have stopped in 2012. But yet, 3 helicopters were delivered in December 2012 and we accepted it. In January 2013, Chief exec of Finmenccancia was arrested, Within hours our defence minister wrote to CBI immediately. If he wasn't arrested, they would not have taken this up. After the CBI took it up, in Feb 2013, there was a notice issued to stop the deal. Legal action forced the termination of the deal, it was not a proactive step, it was forced. Bank guarantee needed to be revoked and that was done. When the Milan Court argued, they said that 166 Euros could be returned and the money for the 3 helicopters will not be returned. I am not making allegations, but it is our Endeavour that we will take action. Defence Ministry initiating procedure to blacklist AgustaWestland. If that is our job, why is the Congress worried? " The advice that Rahul Gandhi should first become chief minister, if he has to take up the Prime Ministerial mantle at some point in future, had first come years ago from Nitish Kumar. That counsel, however, had come ahead of the last UP Assembly elections in 2012, when the JD(U) leader was still with BJP. Back then, it was perceived as total sarcasm. During those times, a section of Congress leaders spread across all ranks urged Rahul to take up the leadership role at the Centre. Years down the line, Nitish's sarcastic remark has now been taken up seriously by his poll strategist and adviser Prashant Kishor. Nitish has lent Kishor's services to the Congress party in order to help it revive its fortunes in various state Assembly polls, including UP. In close-door meetings with Congress leaders, Kishor has proposed that either Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should be projected as the chief ministerial nominee of the party in UP, if the party is looking for a turnaround in the most critical Hindi-heartland state. Interestingly, what was ridiculed by the Congress over half a decade ago is now being considered seriously, at least by some leaders. After the JD (U)-RJD-Congress grand coalition scored a thumping victory in the Bihar elections, nobody takes Kishor or his words lightly, least of all in the Congress for he is one among chosen few who has direct access to Rahul Gandhi's eyes and ears. So far, it was taken that opting for a chief ministerial position would be a "demotion" for the Gandhi scion, for nobody in Congress's first family has ever accepted anything less than Prime Minister's post, with the exception of Indira Gandhi, who served as Minister of Information and Broadcasting in Lal Bahadur Shastri's government. As news broke that Kishor had advised Rahul to be the chief ministerial candidate in UP, some Congress leaders expressed their uneasiness asking, "Will that not be a demotion? How can that happen?" Ahead of the 2014 Parliamentary Election, when the BJP projected Narendra Modi as the prime ministeria candidate, a number of Congress leaders would say, "Modi is just a chief minister, whereas Rahulji is a national leader. There couldn't be a comparison between a state leader and a national leader of the Congress vice-president's stature." If the Congress accepts Kishor's proposal to project Rahul of Priyanka for the leadership position in the state, then it would mark a tectonic shift in the Grand Old Party's thought process, something which will have untold bearings on the Gandhi-Nehru family's aura. If Rahul and Priyanka let either of them be projected as chief ministerial candidate in UP and if they win, then they would, without doubt, be the foremost and most formidable challenger to Modi in 2019, much ahead of likes of Nitish Kumar and Arvind Kejriwal. But if they lose, then the implications could simply be harrowing for the party and for the family. "It's either 20 or 200," Kishor is learnt to have told top Congressmen in UP during his deliberations with them over the past few days. Quoting sources, a DNA report said, "he is of the firm view that if neither of the Gandhi family scions throw their proverbial hat in the ring, the party will continue to remain in the 20s bracket. But if it does take the decisive step, the party could form the government in UP with 200-plus seats". Kishor is said to have played an instrumental role in building the Mahagathbandhan between RJD-JD (U)-Congress in Bihar and in due course, has earned the trust and confidence of the Congress vice-president. He had earlier suggested to Rahul that if Congress is to perform well in UP, it needs to aggressively woo the Brahmins. That idea too had come as a surprise to many. In the last 12 years, Rahul Gandhi had consciously wooed Dalits travelling to Dalit bastis and occasionally staying with an underprivileged overnight albeit with zero effect. Suddenly the Congress was being asked to shift gears. True once upon a time the Brahmins, Muslims and Dalits used to be the main social constituency of the Congress, but gradually they all have moved away from Congress. The three most prominent Brahmin leaders of Congress in UP Captain Satish Sharma, Pramod Tiwari and Rita Bahuguna Joshi are all past their prime and appeal. The Congress, however, is said to be working on this idea. The question agitating the minds of some in the political circles is that why is Kishor, who is well aware of negligible Congress support base and limited reach of Rahul or Priyanka, proved in successive state and parliamentary elections, pushing hard for one of the two Gandhi-Nehru scions to be projected for leadership position in state politics? Does it have something to do with the prime ministerial ambitions of the JD (U) leader, whom he primarily serves at the moment? Some see a pattern in what Kishor has suggested to Rahul Gandhi about UP. It would be pertinent to note that last month, Nitish Kumar had taken up the post of JD (U) president. Nitish had agreed to become party chief after consciously avoiding to take up any organisational post, not even in the two parties he created Samata Party and Janata Dal. The only organisational post he had held was in the late 1980s, when he had become Bihar unit president of the Yuva Lok Dal. His decision to remove Sharad Yadav and become national president of JD (U) was a strategic move, aimed at 2019, JD(U) sources had told Firstpost. Nitish had tried to stitch up a secular alliance in Assam between Congress, AIDUF, JD(U), RJD, BPF and others. He had sent Prashant Kishor there. The latter had spoken to Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, AIDUF chief Badruddin Azmal and Rahul Gandhi, but the proposed alliance failed to take off. The negotiations, as conducted by Kishor, were made public by Azmal in a series of tweets on the eve of the second and last phase of elections in the state. Azmal had blamed Congress for the failure to build a secular alliance to take on the emerging challenge from BJP. Moreover, performance in UP holds key to the future ambitions of Nitish Kumar. The party leaders don't shy away from spelling it out in their private conversations. The Bihar chief minister is to land in UP in the next few days to make a soft launch of his poll campaign. An alliance between Congress and JD (U) (which is to become Jan Vikas Party after the proposed merger with Ajit Singh's RLD and Babulal Marandi's JVM) in UP was also being talked about. Does Prashant Kishor want to limit Rahul Gandhi to UP politics till 2019, and keep the field open for Nitish Kumar to be the main challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi? No answers yet, because the situation in Congress and prospective Jan Vikas Party is too fluid at the moment. But the Bihar chief minster's outsourced poll strategist to Congress has surely unleashed a public debate of manifold implications. A refusal of Kishor's proposal by Rahul and Priyanka will also spark off a political debate. Will that put a smile on the face of Nitish Kumar? In what can be considered as a path-breaking decision in the history of the Congress party, and more specifically the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi could well be made the chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, something which could possibly be a sort of demotion for Rahul who was once the prospective prime ministerial candidate. The Amethi MP was quick to react on the developments. "Mujhe kya pata, aap hi log chalaate ho, aap hi log jaano (How do I know? you people run these stories, so you people might be knowing)," ANI quoted him as saying when asked if he or Priyanka Gandhi would be UP CM candidate. According to a report in the DNA, the idea has been pitched by Congress' election strategist Prashant Kishor, who believes that only bringing Rahul or his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra can help the party improve its seat tally, which has been reeling in the 20s in recent polls. Prashant Kishor's election campaigns have generally been around personalities and he believes that projecting a face could help galvanise the party workers, says another report in DNA. If the Gandhi scion refuses to be the candidate, then sister Priyanka may be made the face of the party. However, if both back out, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit may well be made the chief ministerial candidate, reported India Today. The same report also said that Rahul has seen the proposal and has asked for a few days time to think over the offer. Meanwhile, many state Congress leaders are skeptical about projecting a face in the upcoming elections. Prashant Kishor was one of the key men who helped Prime Minister Narendra Modi win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He was instrumental in organising the "Chai Pe Charcha" campaigns across India and utilised social media to promote the former Gujarat CM. This might be in line with the party's attempts to reinvent itself, something which may help the Congress ride back to power in 2019. New Delhi: Seeking to corner Congress in the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Congress on Monday raked up the issue of AgustaWestland helicopter scam and insisted on identifying of the 'Gandhi' and 'AP' mentioned in the alleged bribery case, inviting punitive action. Trinamool member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who raised the issue and persisted with the matter despite rejection of his notice for adjournment, was asked by Chairman Hamid Ansari to withdraw from the House for the day. His party colleagues then staged a walkout to protest against the Chair's decision. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Roy wanted to know who has taken bribe in the Rs 3600 crore deal to buy 12 VVIP helicopters. "Defence Minister has to give a statement. Why is the government silent," he asked. "Who is this AP (named as alleged bribe taker in the deal)? Who is Gandhi? Who is Shashikant." He wanted the Defence Minister to make a statement on the issue after suspending regular business and matter discussed. "Government has to disclose the identity (of bribe takers)," he said. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there is no rule for suspension of business during Zero Hour and disallowed his notice. Roy again raised the issue during Question Hour, demanding that government come out with a statement on who were the bribe-takers in the chopper deal. Chairman Ansari asked him not to speak "unauthorisedly" as nothing was going on record. However, the Trinamool member did not stop. Angry over this, Ansari invoked a Rule under which a member is asked to withdraw from the House for the entire day. "You are speaking without authorisation. It is unbecomming of a member. This is not the intervention of a member. Sit down...I will have to invoke Rule 255. This is unauthorised. It is not going on record. You will not make this kind of statement," he said, adding "Shall I invoke Rule 255? I will give you the choice." As Roy kept speaking, Ansari said, "I invoke Rule 255. Will you please leave the Chamber." Even this did not deter Roy, who kept on speaking on the issue asking, "Who has taken bribe in AgustaWestland deal. Who is this Gandhi? Who is AP?" As Roy kept on speaking, Ansari told him to leave, saying, "Will you leave the Chamber? Please leave the Chamber. Rule 255 has been invoked." Rule 255 of Rajya Sabha on withdrawal of member says, "the Chairman may direct any member whose conduct is in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the Council and any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day's meeting." Roy left the House raising slogans "Yeh ghooskhor Gandhi kaun hai? (Who is this Gandhi involved in bribery?) Soon TMC members rose, with Vivek Gupta saying all TMC members are walking out in protest. After Roy and other TMC members left, Congress members were on their feet raising the issue of Gujarat Petroleum Corporation and wanted a discussion on it. "We are prepared to discuss the matter listed (AgustaWestland), but GSPL issue should also be listed," said Anand Sharma (Cong) amid uproar by Congress members. They also started raising slogans like "Modi Sarkar Bhrashtachar, bhrashtachar (Modi government is corrupt). Amid the uproar, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari rose to say that since the Chairman has sent one member out of the House invoking Rule 255, why was he not invoking the same Rule with regard to other members who are creating pandemonium in the House. To this, the Chairman said the Rule applies to one member and if the government wanted it can bring a motion against Congress members. Amid continued uproar by Congress members, Ansari adjourned the House till 2 PM New Delhi: At least 15 crorepatis are in the fray for the sixth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections to be held on Thursday, while 33 have declared criminal cases against themselves, a study said on Monday. "Out of the 169 candidates analysed, 15 are crorepatis. The average of assets per candidate contesting in phase 6 of the West Bengal assembly elections is Rs 57.24 lakh," said a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Among party wise crorepati candidates, 8 out of 24 are fielded by Trinamool Congress, 1 out of 25 candidates fromBJP, 1 out of 4 candidates from Congress, 1 out of 4 candidates by AIFB, 1 out of 8 candidates of CPI(M) and 2 out of 24 independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore, it said. Out of the 169 candidates analysed, 33 have declared criminal cases against themselves, the report noted. "Among party wise candidates with criminal cases, 6 out of 25 candidates from BJP, 9 out of 24 candidates from AITC, 3 out of 8 candidates from CPI(M), 2 out of 4 candidates of AIFB, 1 out of 4 candidates fielded by INC, and 2 out of 24 independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits," it added. Two constituencies -- Panskura Paschim and Panskura Purba -- in phase 6 of West Bengal assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases. A total of 32 out of the 169 candidates analysed have not declared their PAN details and 93 have not declared income tax details. On the education details of candidates, 71 have declared their education qualification to be between 5th pass and 12th pass, while 58 have declared having a qualification of graduate or graduate professional. As many as 34 candidates have declared themselves to be postgraduates, while 2 have declared they are doctorates and 2 are just literate. Also, 84 candidates have declared their age to be between 25 and 50 years, while 80 are aged to be between 51 and 70 years. Five candidates have declared they are more than 70 years old. In the sixth phase of the West Bengal assembly election this year, 18 women candidates are contesting, the report said which has analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 169 candidates out of 170 who are contesting in phase 6 of the West Bengal assembly elections to be held on May 5, 2016. Across six phases, a total of 1,960 candidates have been analysed. Of 1,960 candidates, 244 are crorepatis, while 354 have declared criminal cases so far. Paris: A French journalist infiltrated a cell of would-be jihadists, filming them with a hidden camera as they plotted an attack in the name of the Islamic State group, before they were arrested, he told AFP. The journalist, a Muslim using the pseudonym Said Ramzi, carried out the investigation for a documentary entitled "Allah's Soldiers" which gives an insight into the minds of young jihadists, and will be shown in France on Monday night. Ramzi describes himself as a Muslim "of the same generation as the killers" who carried out the 13 November terror attacks which left 130 people dead in Paris. "My goal was to understand what was going on inside their heads," he told AFP. "One of the main lessons was that I never saw any Islam in this affair. No will to improve the world. Only lost, frustrated, suicidal, easily manipulated youths. "They had the misfortune of being born in the era that the Islamic State exists. It is very sad. They are youngsters who are looking for something and that is what they found." To make contact with the group, Ramzi said the first steps were easy, following and interacting with those preaching jihad on Facebook. Then, he had to meet the person presented as the "emir" of the group of about a dozen youths, some of them born into Muslim families, and the others converts. This took place in Chateauroux, a town in the centre-west of France, at an outdoor activities centre that was deserted in winter. 'Women waiting in paradise' The "emir" was a young French-Turkish citizen named Oussama, and on their first meeting he tries to convince the journalist he knows as Abu Hamza, that paradise awaits him if he carries out a suicide mission. "Towards paradise, that is the path," Oussama says, a chilling smile on his face. "Come, brother, let's go to paradise, our women are waiting for us there, with angels as servants. "You will have a palace, a winged horse of gold and rubies." During another meeting in front of a mosque in the Paris suburb of Stains, a member of the group points to an airplane approaching the nearby Bourget airport. "With a little rocket-launcher, you can easily get one of them... you do something like that in the name of Dawla (Islamic State), and France will be traumatised for a century." Some of the gang, like Oussama, try and reach the Islamic State group in Syria. He was arrested by Turkish police and handed back to France where he spent five months in jail before being released. While he had to show his face at the local police station once a day under his release conditions, he stayed in touch with the group via encrypted messaging application Telegram to organise meetings at which plans to launch an attack took form. "We must hit a military base," says Oussama. "When they are eating, they are all lined up ... ta-ta-ta-ta-ta," he added, mimicking the sound of automatic gunfire. "Or journalists, BFM, iTele, they are at war against Islam," he says of the prominent French television stations. "Like they did to Charlie. You must strike them at the heart. Take them by surprise. What do you want them to do? They aren't well protected. The French must die by the thousands." In January 2015 two brothers attacked the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people. Things accelerate when a certain Abu Suleiman returns from Raqqa, the Islamic State group's capital in Syria and tells the journalist to meet him at a train station. Once there, it is not Suleiman -- who the journalist never meets -- but a woman in a full-faced niqab veil who shows up and hands Ramzi a letter. The message lays out a plan of attack: target a night club, shoot "until death", wait for security forces and set off an explosives vest. However the security noose tightens around the group at this point, and several members of the group are arrested. One of them who avoided arrest sends a message to the journalist saying: "You're done for man". "That is where my infiltration ended," said Ramzi. Islamabad: Five employees of a transport company and the owner of a bus terminal were booked under blasphemy law for desecrating a Sikh passenger's turban in Pakistan's Punjab province, the media reported. The complainant, Mahinder Paal Singh (29), a resident of Multan, told Dawn online that he was travelling from Faisalabad to Multan by a bus owned by Kohistan-Faisal Movers company that broke down near Dijkot. He said though the driver somehow started the bus again but its speed was very slow (around 30km per hour). He said that he and some of his fellow passengers complained to the transport companys staff about the slow speed of the bus and demanded an alternative vehicle for the onward journey. The two sides exchanged words, ensuing a free-for-all, during which the six accused manhandled the passengers, including Singh. He alleged that during the fight a bus terminal hawker, Rashid Gujjar, threw his turban on the ground. Singh said the turban was considered sacred in the Sikh religious code and throwing it on the ground was tantamount to desecration. According to some affected passengers, Singh told police, that reached the bus terminal following the brawl, that it was a case of desecration and since he was a Pakistani national the attackers should be booked under blasphemy law. A senior police official said five of the attackers -- terminal manager Baqir Ali, Rashid Gujar, Faiz Alam, Shakeel and Snawal had been booked . Police were conducting raids to arrest terminal owner Haji Riyasat. News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Baghdad: An explosives-laden car detonated on Monday in the Iraqi capital, killing at least 14 Shiite pilgrims who were commemorating the anniversary of the death of a revered imam, officials said. Shortly after the explosion, the Sunni extremist Islamic State group, which sees Shiite Muslims as apostates, claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement. It said the assault was carried out by a suicide bomber, but Iraqi officials denied that. Islamic State militants frequently target commercial areas and public spaces in mainly Shiite towns and neighborhoods. According to an Iraqi police officer, the car was parked in Baghdad's southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood and blew up shortly after midday. The explosion killed at least 13 and wounded 28 people, the officer said. A medical official confirmed the causality figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to the media. Tens of thousands of Shiite faithful have been making their way this week to the northern Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhimiyah, where the 8th century Imam Moussa al-Kadhim is buried. Security forces have blocked major roads in Baghdad in anticipation of attacks against pilgrims who traditionally travel on foot from different parts of Iraq. Monday's attack came a day after two car bombs in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah killed at least 31 people and wounded 52, an attack that was also claimed by the Islamic State. The annual Shiite pilgrimage prompted anti-government protesters on Sunday to disband their demonstration at least temporarily in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone that they had stormed a day earlier. While Islmaic State has suffered a number of territorial defeats in the past year, the group still controls significant stretches of territory in Iraq's north and west, including the country's second largest city of Mosul, estimated to still be home to more than 1 million civilians. Militants have recently increased attacks inside Baghdad in what officials say is an attempt to distract from their recent battlefield defeats. According to the United Nations, at least 741 Iraqis were killed in April due to ongoing violence, a sharp decline from the previous month. In its monthly report issued on Sunday, the U.N. mission to Iraq put the number of civilians killed at 410, while the rest were members of the security forces. A total of 1,374 Iraqis were wounded that month, it added. In March, at least 1,119 people were killed and 1,561 wounded. The capital, Baghdad, remains the worst-hit area, with 232 civilians killed and 642 wounded in April, followed by the northern province of Ninevah, which is almost entirely controlled by the Islamic State group, with 72 killed and 30 wounded. Beijing: Outspoken Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang has been slapped with one-year imprisonment for criticising President Xi Jinping's comments that the country's official media should show absolute loyalty to ruling Communist Party. The Communist Party committee in Beijing's Xicheng district said in a notice today that Ren, who has been called "Chinas Donald Trump", had been placed on probation for a year for seriously violating the party's political discipline, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Ren, 65, was the former head of real estate firm Hua Yuan Property. In Chinese legal terminology, probation meant short term incarceration. Ren, also known as 'Cannon Ren' for his outspoken comments, had on several occasions made improper remarks through online platforms such as popular Chinese microblogging site Weibo, the notice said. It, however, did not specify which of Ren's remarks were improper, the Post reported. The notice said Ren had repeatedly posted such comments online that violated the party's "four basic principles" as well as its policy and direction. Ren who had 37 million followers in his Chinese social media account Weibo, which is akin to Twitter in China, said in his microblog account in February that the news outfits were funded by taxpayers' money, and so should serve the public, rather than the leadership. His comments were directed at the remarks by Xi during his visit to official media outlets in February that all news media run by the party must speak for the partys will and protect its authority and unity. In his comment on the social media, Ren said, "when does the people's government turn into the party's government? (Are the media) funded by party membership dues? Don't waste taxpayers' money on things that do not provide them with services." Ren's Weibo account was subsequently shut down by China internet watchdog. An editorial on a news website affiliated with the Beijing municipal party committee accused him of spreading "anti-Communist Party" thoughts. Ren's violation of party discipline could amount to challenging the one-party rule as the "four basic principle" stipulates that party members must adhere to the countrys socialist path, dictatorship of the proletariat, the partys leadership and the political thoughts of Marxism and Maoism, the Post said. The penalty is the second most severe that can be dealt out to a party member for such an offence. Ren's punishment came despite Xi's remarks on 29 April calling for greater tolerance of "well-intentioned" criticisms on the online by the intellectuals. CAIRO Egyptian police raided the press syndicate in Cairo late on Sunday and arrested two journalists critical of the government, a syndicate official and reporters said in what the labour union called an unprecedented crackdown on the media. Labour union officials said this was the first time that police had raided its building -- a traditional spot in downtown Cairo for staging protests -- as authorities seek to quell rising dissent against President Abdel Fattah Sisi. The interior ministry denied officers had stormed the press labour union building but confirmed it had arrested journalists Mahmoud El Sakka and Amr Badr who work for the opposition website Bawabet Yanayer inside the syndicate. Hundreds of officers have been deployed in central Cairo since protests erupted on April 15 against Sisi's decision to hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia, with thousands calling for the government to fall, a slogan from the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. Police dispersed smaller protests two weeks later. The protests signal that the former general, who is also under fire because of the struggling economy, no longer enjoys the broad public support that allowed him to round up thousands of opponents after he seized power in 2013. On Sunday, journalists held a sit-in inside the union when officers arrested the two reporters, syndicate officials said. "The press syndicate calls for the resignation of the interior minister and an open sit-in," the union said in a statement. Mahmoud Kamel, a member of the syndicate board, said over 40 policemen raided the building but the interior ministry said its force consisted of only eight officers. "The ministry affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two journalists who handed themselves in as soon as they were told there was an arrest warrant," the interior ministry said in a statement. A security guard was wounded in the eye when police raided the union, Kamel said. CRITICISM The state prosecutor said it had ordered the arrest of the two reporters as they were being investigated for "spreading news based on lies" and possessing fire arms and Molotov cocktails, state news agency MENA said. "This is unprecedented, no president or prime minister or interior minister has ever dared to do something like this," Kamel said. Under the law only a prosecutor is allowed to search the union in the presence of its chairman or deputy, he added. Dozens of journalists later held a new sit-in at the syndicate to protest against the arrest but police closed off streets to the building on Monday. Sisi faces criticism for putting the uninhabited Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi waters though there are no signs that his rule is under threat. However, even local media, which once suggested he could do no wrong, have been saying the government has mishandled a series of crises, from a probe into the killing of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, 28, in Cairo, to a bomb that brought down a Russian airliner in the Sinai Peninsula last October. Torture marks on Regeni's body prompted rights groups to conclude he died at the hands of security forces, which Egypt denies. That revived complaints of police brutality, one of the issues that led Egyptians to challenge the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak toppled in 2011. (Reporting by Cairo newsroom; Editing by Andrew Hay and Richard Balmforth) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The CIA has marked the anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden by live-tweeting with a five-year delay the raid by US special forces on the Al Qaeda founder's compound in Pakistan. Using the hashtag #UBLRaid, the CIA blasted out updates of the May 2011 strike as if it was unfolding in real time in a highly unusual move for the secretive spy agency. "To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. #UBLRaid," @CIA said in announcing its social media blitz. Tweets included the now famous picture of President Barack Obama and other high-ranking US officials watching matters unfold from the White House's Situation Room. 1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 That was followed just minutes later by: 3:30 pm EDT - @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The CIA's Twitter move got quite a bit of attention, with not everyone enthused. @CIA Are we tweeting Hiroshima on August 6th too? Or is THAT in bad taste? #Badidea #UBLRaid #useyourbrain Kris Knight (@claymad122) May 2, 2016 Another who identies as Amber V tweeted: Don't you have better things to do, like catch living and breathing bad guys, or secretly invade our privacy, or something? @CIA #UBLRaid amber v (@yazeuax) May 2, 2016 But others reacted positively. Toby Knapp tweeted: Watching the @CIA relive on Twitter the #UBLRaid today reminds me of how proud I am of the men and women who do what they do. Thank you. toby knapp (@tkradio) May 2, 2016 CIA focus on al-Baghdadi With 1.33 million Twitter followers, the Central Intelligence Agency has sent 1,662 tweets since it joined the social media service in February 2014. "We are the Nation's first line of defense. We accomplish what others cannot accomplish and go where others cannot go," reads the Twitter bio. Previous @CIA tweets in recent days have featured a video about the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine and a counterfeit Nazi stamp. Amid the tweetstorm, CIA chief John Brennan said Sunday that taking out the head of the Islamic State group would have a "great impact." He also warned that Al Qaeda remained a threat, and that IS was not just an organization but a phenomenon. "We have destroyed a large part of Al Qaeda. It's not completely eliminated. So we have to stay focused on what it can do," Brennan told NBC's "Meet the Press" talk show. "Now, with the new phenomenon of (IS), this is going to challenge us for years to come," he added. Asked if removing IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from action was as important as the Bin Laden get, Brennan, who does not often do interviews, was direct. "If we got Baghdadi, I think it would have a great impact on the organization. And it will be felt by them," he said. Baghdad: French and US warplanes launched two separate strikes to destroy "an important logistic site" of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, the French defence ministry said. The strikes were conducted on 29-30 April, and targeted a site used by the terrorist group to build large quantities of bombs and vehicles for suicide attacks, the ministry said on Sunday. "The site that was destroyed is situated in Al Qaim at the Iraqi-Syrian border, and it required two separate strikes because of its size," Xinhua news agency reported citing the ministry as saying. France was the first European country to join the US-led coalition in September 2014 to strike IS militants at the request of the Iraqi government. In a previous interview with a French radio, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that an international coalition is fighting IS insurgents, trying to take back by the end of the year Mosul in Iraq and Rekka in Syria, the group's main strongholds in the region. Hurriyat leaders are Indian citizens and it is okay for foreign representative to meet with them. However, if Pakistani representatives do meet with them, Indian government can oppose on the grounds that such meetings interfere with their internal affairs, said minister of state for external affairs, VK Singh. A softening of stand or much ado about nothing? Let's find out. Repeated efforts by Pakistani representatives who want to meet the Hurriyat leaders have been a major roadblock in New Delhi's relationship with Islamabad ever since August 2014. India had cancelled the then foreign secretary Sujatha Singh's visit to Islamabad after Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit met with Hurriyat leader Shabbir Shah days before her planned trip. Barring Hurriyat leaders from holding talks with Pakistan was one of the firmest points in India's policy towards Pakistan. However, Singh told the Parliament last week, "Since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so-called Kashmiri 'leaders' are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India. He continued to clarify that no third party can participate in the India-Pakistan dialogue process, saying, "India has consistently maintained that there is no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan as per the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. India's displeasure at Pakistan's attempts to interfere in India's internal affairs has been repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan." So, let's recap: Hurriyat leaders, as Indian citizens, are free to speak to foreign representatives. However, there is no role for a third party rightly, it can be argued in India-Pakistan talks. So in essence, the 'so-called Kashmiri leaders' to whom Singh alluded, are free to speak to anyone they choose, but they may not be part of bilateral talks. A swipe at separatists, certainly, but this seems like a bigger swipe at Pakistan. Here's why: India-Pakistan talks derailed time and again Sujatha Singh's trip was cancelled, proceeding which the NDA goverment argued that Pakistan's claim that the Hurriyat is an important stakeholder in bilateral talks, holds no ground. In 2014, During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif was told by the Indian side that holding talks with Hurriyat leaders in not appropriate. While, Sharif reluctantly agreed, he avoided meeting Kashmiri separatist leaders, which invoked suspicion in Islamabad. In 2015, after S Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan as part of the 'Saarc Yatra', New Delhi was expected to go easy on Hurriyat leaders trying to hold dialogues with Pakistan. However, the Pakistan high commissioner's invitation to Hurriyat leaders for a Pakistan Day reception did not go in his favour after the Hurriyat did not turn up in full strength. Meanwhile, the Hurriyat too seems to have adjusted its own policy: Hurriyat welcoming India-Pakistan talks The Hurriyat has reiterated its concerns over holding talks between the two countries. On Tuesday, moderate members of the Hurriyat Conference welcomed the foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' conference in New Delhi saying both the countries should attempt to create a conducive atmosphere to carry forward the dialogue process. "The Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks on the sidelines of Heart of Asia conference is a good sign and it is hoped that both the countries will shun the confrontational attitude and adopt meaningful dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir," Hurriyat headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a statement. "It is hoped that a conducive atmosphere will be created to carry forward the dialogue process," the statement added. With inputs from PTI SAN SALVADOR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Rape at the hands of relatives and a lack of sex education are driving pregnancies among girls in El Salvador, which is struggling to stem one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Latin America, according to a top health official. More than a third of all pregnancies in the Central American nation are among girls aged 10 to 19, and girls as young as 9 have become pregnant, said Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Espinoza. Rape and incest at the hands of grandfathers, fathers and other relatives is often the cause of pregnancies in girls aged 10 to 14, although there are no official figures, Espinoza told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview. "With adolescent pregnancies there's always a component of violence through either incest, or violence in the family, or domestic violence," he said. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death among teenage girls worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Latin America, the risk of maternal death is four times higher among girls under 16 compared to women in their early twenties, WHO says. While non-governmental organizations and the ministry of education train some teachers about sex education, El Salvador has no formal curriculum on sex education, and schools are not required to provide it. "Boys and girls come to have their first sexual relationship without having had any professional information. Generally the information they have comes from other children who are just as much as misinformed as they are," Espinoza said. Initiatives to develop a nationwide curriculum on sex education have been opposed by the Roman Catholic Church and some evangelical groups. In 2008, the church blocked a manual for teachers, created by the education ministry, from being used to teach sexual health in schools. Opponents say sex education encourages children to engage in sex. Sexual health experts, however, say a key way to curb teen pregnancies is to provide girls and boys with access to family planning information and services, including emergency contraception. A 2015 World Bank study found that Salvadoran teenagers "were not educated enough" about sexual and reproductive health and had limited use of and access to contraceptives. Espinoza said stepped-up efforts to stem teen pregnancies need to be taken by the ministry of education. "We don't deal with teenage pregnancies until a teenager becomes pregnant," Espinoza said. "But the issue is before teenagers get pregnant and that's to do with school." He defended the government's record, however, saying access to health services has been expanded nationwide since 2009, including free contraception. El Salvador's waves of emigration also has played a role, the minister said. Around three million Salvadorans live abroad, mainly in the United States, many of whom fled the country's 1980-92 civil war and more recently gang violence. This has left broken families and untended children, Espinoza said. "Fathers migrate, leaving mothers to be the sole breadwinner. Mothers find work in the garment factories and work all day so children are free, left alone," he said. "They are completely vulnerable." (Reporting by Anastasia Moloney, editing by Ros Russell. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit news.trust.org) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Seattle: Seattle police used pepper spray on Sunday evening to disperse black-clad anti-capitalist protesters authorities say threw rocks, flares, bricks and Molotov cocktails at officers during a rowdy May Day gathering. At least four people were arrested. Authorities said two officers were hurt - one treated at the scene for a head laceration. Details about the other officer's injury weren't immediately available. The clashes in Seattle followed a peaceful march in the city earlier in the day by advocates for workers and immigrants, just one of several events in cities nationwide Sunday to call for better wages for workers, an end to deportations and support for an Obama administration plan to give work permits to immigrants in the country illegally whose children are American citizens. Hundreds of May Day marchers chanting slogans and carrying signs and at least one Donald Trump pinata took to the streets of Los Angeles. "We want them to hear our voices, to know that we are here and that we want a better life, with jobs," said Norberto Guiterrez, a 46-year-old immigrant from Mexico who joined families, union members and students who marched through downtown. Demonstrators repeatedly called out Donald Trump for his remarks about immigrants, workers and women. The leading Republican presidential contender has called for a wall on the border with Mexico and chided Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton for playing the so-called "woman card." "In addition to fighting for workers' rights, we are fighting for our dignity this time around, our self-respect," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "We can certainly encourage folks to look at what they're watching, what they're hearing and have them represent themselves and their families whether they can vote or not and say, 'We are not the rapists. We are not the criminals you are talking about. And we are quite good for this country,'" Cabrera said. Trump says he is not racist or anti-immigrant; he simply wants the US to stop illegal immigration and control its borders. Around the world, union members have traditionally marched on 1 May for workers' rights. In the United States, the annual events have become a rallying point for immigrants and their supporters since massive demonstrations in 2006 against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. In recent years, the marches have waned in size in US cities, but the tradition has continued. In Seattle, dozens of people dressed in black had gathered at a downtown park following the earlier, peaceful march. The anti-capitalist demonstrators, who didn't have a permit from city officials, then started marching through the streets. They carried signs including one that said, "We Are Ungovernable." Some downtown businesses had earlier boarded up storefronts, anticipating violence. Police said there was some property damage, including broken window at a residential building. "This is no longer a peaceful march," Steve Wilske, Seattle Police assistant chief, said in a statement on Twitter and police ordered protesters to disperse. Bicycle police in riot gear helped push the groups south of downtown, where it began to disperse. Seattle traditionally sees large, disruptive May Day gatherings. Last year police arrested 16 people during demonstrations and in 2014, 10 people were arrested. In 2013, police arrested 18 people from a crowd that pelted them with rocks and bottles. Storefronts in downtown Seattle have also been smashed in previous protests. In San Francisco, hundreds of marchers rallied at Fisherman's Wharf for immigrant and workers' rights and to demand justice for several men fatally shot by city police. Across the bay in Oakland, close to 1,000 people marched in the Fruitvale district to raise awareness for workers, housing and immigrant rights and denounce Trump. Meanwhile, social justice advocates in Durham, New Hampshire, made the rejection of racism, xenophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment the themes of their annual rally. Rabat: A recently busted Islamic State (IS) linked cell in Morocco planned terrorist attacks in Brussels, local media reported on Sunday. Three IS suspects arrested on Friday in the northeastern city of Nador were planning to attack sensitive sites not only in northern Morocco, but also in Brussels, Xinhua cited Le360 news website as saying. According to an intelligence services source, the suspects coordinated with an IS fighter, who received training in Iraq, to carry out the attack in Brussels. The Moroccan Interior Ministry announced on Friday the arrest of the three IS suspects in the northeastern city of Nador. The suspects have received instructions from IS leaders to establish an emirate north of the kingdom and planned to carry out attacks against state institutions, the ministry said in a statement. They also planned to target "a sensitive site" in the city of Nador as part of their terrorist project, it added. Dismantling the cell is part of Morocco's proactive efforts to face terrorist threats, the ministry added. Morocco has seen a growing threat from the IS. The ministry said it has dismantled 31 terrorist cells since 2013 and foiled "numerous terrorist plans" targeting vital national, Arab and Western interests. Chicago: Donald Trump has accused China of "raping" the US, the sharpest criticism of the Communist giant's trade policies by the controversial Republican presidential front-runner. Trump, a billionaire businessman, compared the US's balooning trade deficit with China, which he regularly laments and vows to tackle as president, to rape. "We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing," Trump said during his second rally on Sunday in Fort Wayne, Indiana, referring to China's growing exports to the US. Trump, 69, has repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive on the global market and has claimed that China is "killing" the US on trade. Sunday marks the first time in this campaign that Trump has used the term "rape" to refer to what he views as China's dominance in trade with the US, CNN reported. "We're going to turn it around. And we have the cards, don't forget it. We're like the piggy bank that's being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China," Trump said before referring to China's relationship with the US as rape. Trump added that he is not "angry at China," but with US leaders whom he accused of being "grossly incompetent." Latest figures from the US government show the trade deficit with China reached an all-time high of USD 365.7 billion last year. By February this year, it had already reached USD 57 billion. Trump previously claimed in 2011 that "China is raping this country". Trump's use of the analogy come as Trump is under fire for remarks he made about Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton that critics are calling sexist and for touting the endorsement of boxer Mike Tyson, who was convicted of rape in Indiana. Trump has claimed that Clinton -- a former secretary of state, senator and first lady -- is using "the woman card" to get elected and that she would not have a shot at the presidency if she were not a woman. Auckland: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday left for home from Auckland, wrapping up his six-day official visit to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand where he met top leaders of the two countries and inked a few important deals as part of India's 'Act East' policy. Concluding the three-day visit to New Zealand as part of the second leg of his two-nation tour, Mukherjee talked about cooperation in agriculture, dairy, food processing, education and skill development as well as high technology between the two countries. During the course of the visit, India and New Zealand also signed a deal that opens the door for direct flights between the two countries with an aim to boost tourism and trade sectors. Mukherjee's trip is the first high-level visit from India in 20 years after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to the island nation. Prominent amongst whom he met here include New Zealand Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Prime Minister John Key. Earlier, as part of his two-day maiden state visit to PNG, the President had sought for freedom of navigation saying sea lanes of communications should be devoid of tension and rivalry. The two nations, as part of measures to strengthen bilateral ties and ensuring energy security, signed a few agreements even as India offered a USD 100 million line of credit for development of infrastructure in PNG and agreed to jointly develop new avenues of cooperation to explore and develop the Pacific nation's vast oil and gas resources. India also offered the country, during the visit, its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich country's abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures. The President, while in PNG, met his counterpart Sir Michael Ogio. Colombo: As Sri Lanka on Monday withdrew the army from the security detail of Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son accused the government of carrying out a political witch-hunt against the former president and his family. Sri Lankan government had announced in April to withdraw the army from the security detail of Rajapaksa. The decision came into force on Monday. "We have been facing this kind of harassment for a long time now. This is nothing surprising," Namal Rajapaksa, an MP, and the elder son of the former strongman told reporters. "The government fears us more so after yesterday's big crowd that was seen at our May Day rally." He said that 50 of the 102 security detail, which included five Army Majors and 45 Commandos, would be replaced with four Sub-Inspectors and 46 Police Constables from the police ministerial security division which provides VIP protection. Rajapaksa demands the Army Commando security in the light of his actions to end the decades-old separatist campaign led by the LTTE. The former President and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, then head of the defence ministry played key roles in plotting the military defeat of the LTTE. Since his defeat to President Maithripala Sirisena in January 2015, the Rajapaksa family have faced allegations of corruption and wrongdoings during Mahinda Rajapaksa's decade rule. The former president's younger brother Basil Rajapaksa, then powerful economic development minister, and his second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa were both jailed for misdemeanour. GENEVA Saudi Arabia has warned the United States that a proposed U.S. law that could hold the kingdom responsible for any role in the Sept 11, 2001, attacks would erode global investor confidence in America, its foreign minister said on Monday. The minister, Adel al-Jubeir, speaking to reporters in Geneva after talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, which mainly focused on Syria, denied that Saudi Arabia had "threatened" to withdraw investment from its close ally. The New York Times reported last month that the Riyadh government had threatened to sell up to $750 billion worth of American assets should the U.S. Congress pass a bill that would take away immunity from foreign governments in cases arising from a "terrorist attack that kills an American on American soil". "We say a law like this would cause an erosion of investor confidence. But then to kind of say, 'My God the Saudis are threatening us' - ridiculous," Jubeir said. "We don't use monetary policy and we don't use energy policy and we don't use economic policy for political purposes. When we invest, we invest as investors. When we sell oil, we sell oil as traders." Jubeir, pressed on whether the Saudia Arabia had suggested the law could affect its investment policies, said: "I say you can warn. What has happened is that people are saying we threatened. We said that a law like this is going to cause investor confidence to shrink. And so not just for Saudi Arabia, but for everybody." The New York Times, citing administration officials and congressional aides, said that the Obama administration had lobbied Congress to block passage of the bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year. "In fact what they are doing is stripping the principle of sovereign immunities which would turn the world for international law into the law of the jungle," Jubeir said. "That's why the administration is opposed to it, and that's why every country in the world is opposed to it. "And then people say 'Saudi Arabia is threatening the U.S. by pulling our investments'. Nonsense." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Richard Balmforth) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Colombo: Sri Lanka has set up a special panel to probe its nationals named in the "Panama Papers", the finance minister said on Monday while promising to investigate "each and every" Sri Lankan tax evader who may figure in the leaked documents. Sri Lankans are said to figure in the leaked documents and the government of President Maithripala Sirisena, which came to power in January on a promise to clean up corruption, said it would probe "each and every Sri Lankan" whose names were likely to figure in the documents to be made public on 9 May. The Sirisena government has accused former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of large-scale corruption and siphoning off billions of dollars during his decade-long tenure. Rajapaksa has denied the charges. The Finance Ministry has set up a special panel to probe individuals named in the 11.5 million documents on global tax evasion leaked from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. "Any names there we will write to them and compel them to respond, we will also use the diplomatic channels to gather information," Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. He told reporters the panel will consist of officials from the finance ministry, exchange control department and inland revenue department. "The panel will look into the names that will come up in the Panama Papers, as well as those already named in Offshore Leaks." Karunanayake also accused the Rajapaksa regime of failing to probe 46 Sri Lankans whose names figured in 2013 in the Offshore Leaks by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). One such official holding a high government position resigned recently allowing an investigation. WASHINGTON The United States has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets itself after members of the U.S. Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them. The U.S. government said in February it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, as well as radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million. However, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any U.S. funds for the deal to send a message to Pakistan that it needed to do more in the war against militants. Corker's stance reflected deep unhappiness among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress about what they see as Islamabads policy of supporting militant groups that target Afghans and Americans, and Pakistan's failure to support the reconciliation process for Afghanistan. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said congressional opposition meant funds from the U.S. government's Foreign Military Financing allocation could not be used to purchase the aircraft. "Given congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose," he told a regular news briefing. Kirby said the State Department opposed putting conditions on the use of such funds and believed that effective engagement with Pakistan, including by supporting its counter-terrorism effort, was "critical" to promoting democracy and economic stability in the country. Earlier, in Islamabad, Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant on foreign affairs to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, did not refer directly to the F-16 issue, but complained that there was a "lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan's whole-hearted efforts it was undertaking jointly with the U.S. administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism." Fatemi made the remarks in a meeting with visiting professional staffers from the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said in March it was using its own funds to pay suppliers and stave off closure of its F-16 fighter jet production line as it waited to finalise orders from Pakistan and other countries. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali Washington and Asad Hashim in Islamabad; Editing by Dan Grebler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Edge, lead guitarist with the Irish band U2, has become the first rock star to play in the Sistine Chapel, a venue he described as "the most beautiful parish hall in the world". The performer, whose real name is David Evans, sang four songs on Saturday night for about 200 doctors, researchers and philanthropists who attended a conference at the Vatican on regenerative medicine called Cellular Horizons. Backed by a choir of seven Irish teenagers, and wearing his trademark black beanie cap, he played acoustic guitar and sang a cover of Leonard Cohen's "If it be your will", and versions of U2 songs "Yahweh", "Ordinary love" and "Walk on". The Edge, whose father died last month from cancer and whose daughter overcame leukaemia, is on the board of foundations working for cancer prevention. He joked with his audience, telling them he was stunned when asked to play in the chapel which was painted by Renaissance master Michelangelo in the 16th century. "When they asked me if I wanted to become the first contemporary artist to play in the Sistine Chapel, I didn't know what to say because usually there's this other guy who sings," the musician said, referring to U2 front man Bono. "Being Irish you learn very early that if you want to be asked to come back it's very important to thank the local parish priest for the loan of the hall," he said. He then thanked Pope Francis and other Vatican officials "for allowing us to use the most beautiful parish hall in the world". The Edge dedicated his performance of "Walk on", written in 2000 for Myanmar democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi when she was under house arrest, to Pope Francis, who he described as "the people's pope". "He's doing an amazing job and long may he continue," he added. The rock star sprinkled his address with technical terms such as bio markers and angiogenesis. "I can tell this is a really cool audience because normally when I say angiogenesis eyes glaze over," he said. Angiogenesis is the process through which new blood vessels, which tumours need to grow, are formed. Scientists are seeking ways to block tumour angiogenesis. The Vatican conference, which was addressed by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday, was organised by the US-based Stem for Life Foundation to share ideas and treatments on the use of adult stem cells to cure rare diseases. Watch The Edge's performance here: https://youtu.be/XQ-1zJ9cnxQ Rome: Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen, will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, Italian Foreign Ministry said on May 2, citing an order of the UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. However, the ruling about the same will be made public on May 3, according to Italian news agency ANSA. "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was "misrepresenting" the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. Information reaching the Indian government said "India and Italy asked to approach Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Possible return to Italy strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required." "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Italy in March had asked the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen during an anti-piracy mission in 2012 off the Kerala coast after mistaking them for pirates. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. The other marine, Massimiliano Latorre, is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014. The Italian government has taken the marines case to international arbitration after repeated delays in the trial in India. According to Italian Foreign Ministry, the government will immediately start consultations with India that the conditions to give effect to the decision of the arbitral tribunal are quickly defined and agreed. Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to host UN envoy Staffan de Mistura for talks on Syria in Moscow on Monday, the foreign ministry said. "Talks between Mistura and Sergei Lavrov followed by a press conference will take place" in Moscow, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP. The talks will be held amid accusations by the United States and other supporters of the Syrian opposition that Russia has violated international agreements to back peace in the war-torn country. Washington and Moscow are the joint sponsors of the Syrian peace process, and de Mistura had made it clear that he sees little hope of progress without their agreement. But the United States charges that Russia, while agreeing to support a ceasefire, has done little to rein in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces around Aleppo. The head of Moscow's coordination centre in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, said on Sunday that talks to include Aleppo province in a so-called "regime of silence" or freeze in fighting had begun. Kuralenko told reporters that those talks were still continuing. Russia says it will not ask the Syrian regime to halt air raids on Aleppo as it believes they are helping to combat jihadist groups there. More than 270,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests demanding Assad's ouster. Her toy box already contains gifts from a king, two queens, four presidents and three prime ministers, so if the past year is anything to go by, Princess Charlotte will need an extra bedroom for all of her presents when she celebrates her first birthday on Tuesday. While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want nothing more than a low-key family party, the rest of the world is determined to make a fuss of the royal toddler. A list of gifts released by Kensington Palace shows that among the more extravagant presents she has received over the past 12 months is a silver rattle given to her by the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, and his wife, Senora Angelica Rivera, during their State visit to the UK last year. Even more lavish was an 18k white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires made by the Natural Sapphire Company and valued at $57,500, but the battle of the rattles is likely to have been won by a simple willow one woven by Co Galway basketmaker Ciaran Hogan, which was given to the Prince of Wales for his granddaughter. "I'm very happy with the outcome; maybe it might show everyone else that they can stand up do the right thing and get these so called people off the street," Mr Boughton said. Victim Mark Boughton outside court. Credit:Nick Moir "Hopefully, everyone can get on, move on, have a life," he said. "Justice is served - he got what he wanted or what he needed, preying on kids. It's not on - hopefully the world knows that now." During the sentencing hearing, Judge Peter Zahra spoke of how Farrell groomed many of his victims and exploited his position as a priest. "The offender admitted he had a great deal of influence over the altar boys and he abused that position," Judge Zahra said. Judge Zahra said the offender, "disregarded and took advantage of the vulnerability of the child victims". "In relation to the altar boy victims, the offender knew there would be continuing opportunity because of the relationships he had developed with the victims and their parents. "The offender created situations where he was confident he would not be detected even where his sexual abuse was, at times brazen in the extreme." During the trial, Crown prosecutor Bryan Rowe outlined a series of incidents in which Farrell groped, molested, raped or forced oral sex on the altar boys. One altar boy who was indecently assaulted in a Moree swimming pool and later raped in the presbytery said, "It was the worst memory of [my] life." The victim went to report the sexual abuse to police in 2012 after viewing a Four Corners program. He said he felt "embarrassed" and "ashamed" and said he hadn't come forward earlier because "back in 1982 no one would have believed my words against a priest". Another victim had told the court that he was forced to perform oral sex on Farrell in a cellar when he was aged 10 or 11. He said he told one of the brothers that he had been "hurt". Someone told him "they would sort it out" so the victim felt safe when he went back to church the following day. But Farrell pulled his pants down at the altar and raped him. "It felt like hours," the victim said. He said Farrell had threatened to kill him and his family if he told anyone about what had happened. The former priest also molested three young girls. On one occasion he fondled the vagina of a little girl while she was at the dinner table with her family. "The offender continued this conduct throughout the course of the meal during which he was engaging in conversation with other members of the family at the table," Judge Zahra said. Another victim, who was aged between nine and 11, was in Farrell's bedroom at the presbytery when he was sexually assaulted with a toothbrush. "I just want you to tell me if this hurts" or "how does this feel", Farrell said at the time. The victim cried and screamed out in pain. Farrell was not suspended from public ministry until 1992. Lawyer Katie Richards was making $150,000 as legal counsel for the mining arm of multinational General Electric. Her days were hectic, her responsibilities huge. "I was working around the clock in an unhappy working environment chained to a desk and really unhappy," she says. "I was responsible for the mining contracts negotiating them, dealing with legal issues and conducting international risk committee meetings." Once burn-out set in, Richards knew it was time to act on that niggling idea to go her own way. She took a few weeks off to refresh before taking a practice management course so she could run her own law firm. JEFFERSON CITY Although Missouri is already ranked as a Top 10 state for gun owners, lawmakers are moving closer to further loosening the states firearms laws. As the legislative session enters its final two weeks, the House and Senate are considering making it legal for people to carry concealed weapons without a permit anywhere they now can carry guns openly. And, the Republican-led majorities also are considering an expansion of Missouris self-defense laws by allowing a person to use deadly force in public places if they believe a reasonable threat exists. The two proposals are the front-runners among a handful of gun bills to make it across the finish line before the Legislature adjourns on May 13. Other firearms legislation appears mostly stalled, including initiatives to allow firearms on college campuses and public transportation. It is not clear where Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon stands on the proposals. Earlier in the session, Nixon said he was opposed to a bill that would allow guns on college campuses, saying, Gunfights on the quadrangle will not solve problems. His office said Friday that the governor was not going to comment on the two bills. A gun-friendly state In July, Guns and Ammo magazine ranked Missouri as No. 9 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of laws friendly to firearms owners. Tops in the nation was Arizona, which has permitless and permitted carry and strong self-defense laws, the magazine noted. In contrast, President Barack Obama singled out Missouri this year when he cited a 2014 study that found Missouris gun homicide rate increased by 14 percent after lawmakers in 2007 removed a requirement that all handgun buyers obtain a license verifying they had passed a background check. In a sometimes testy debate on the Senate floor last week, Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, questioned whether the state should enact a stand your ground law. The proposal would expand Missouris castle doctrine, which allows a person to use deadly force to defend themselves at home or on their property. House guests, such as a baby sitter, also would be covered if an intruder entered a home. Holsman said there are other options besides using a gun when feeling threatened. Theres negotiations. Theres diplomacy, he told the sponsor of the change, Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia. Diplomacy with somebody thats pointing a gun at you or your kids in a dark alley as you walk to your car? You want to rely on diplomacy? asked Schaefer, who is a candidate for attorney general. Becky Morgan, leader of the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action, said the proposal, which was adopted as part of an amendment to a larger crime package, would turn conflicts into deadly encounters. Do not be misled: Stand Your Ground laws do not deter crime, they make everyday situations more dangerous by allowing people to shoot first and ask questions later, Morgan said in a statement. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, meanwhile, contends his plan to make Missouri a so-called open carry state will help people who dont have enough money or time to go through the standard permitting process. Simply to say that you cannot defend yourself unless you pay expensive fees and take a course is not in my opinion appropriate, Burlison said. He said the move, if adopted, will not make Missouri less safe. I think we do it in a responsible way. We arent letting citizens carry in a place where they cant carry today, Burlison said. The first-time application fee for a concealed carry permit is $100. Training classes, which are required, typically cost between $60 and $130. Illinois considering different path The Missouri bills run counter to measures being considered in the Illinois Legislature, where lawmakers may strengthen the states ability to keep guns out of the hands of people who are mentally ill or pose a danger. Some of the Democrat-sponsored plans would remove a persons right to hold a Firearm Owners Identification card, which is necessary to buy a gun in Illinois, if the individual has an order of protection against him or her or if a family member successfully petitions a court. Another plan would require better reporting of cases in which a judge has deemed someone mentally disabled. Each measure tightens a loophole in existing law, which some lawmakers said could prevent more gun deaths and keep potentially dangerous people from possessing firearms. But some gun rights advocates say a couple of the plans are too severe and that stricter gun laws disregard the rights of responsible gun owners. In Missouri, the president of the states Fraternal Order of Police said the organization is strongly opposed to both measures pending in Jefferson City. In particular, St. Louis Police Department Sgt. Kevin Ahlbrand said the permitless carry proposal was irresponsible. People need to have training. Allowing anybody to carry is ludicrous, Ahlbrand said. He added that the police group also is hopeful the stand your ground legislation is quashed. I think it would hurt us, especially in urban areas, Ahlbrand said. The Missouri legislation is Senate Bill 663 and House Bill 1468. The Associated Press contributed to this report from Springfield, Ill. A car bomb has killed at least 13 Shi'ite pilgrims in Baghdad on the anniversary of the death of a revered 8th century religious leader. Police and medical sources say at least 28 others, including women and children, were wounded. A parked car containing explosives detonated Monday in the southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood, as Shi'ite Muslims conducted an annual pilgrimage to Imam Moussa al-Kadhim's shrine in northern Baghdad. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but such attacks have been carried out in the past by Islamic State. IS executed a similar attack that killed 23 pilgrims on Saturday on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital. Tens of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims have been traveling for days to northern Baghdad, where the imam is buried. In recent years, the pilgrimage has drawn more visitors to Baghdad, bringing the capital to a standstill for days. The main event at the shrine will take place on Tuesday. Security forces have blocked major roads in Baghdad in anticipation of attacks. Hispanic culture permeates everything in Miamis Little Havana area: elderly men playing dominoes as they discuss politics, cigar rollers deep at work, or Cuban exiles talking with presidential candidates at a Cuban coffee window. With the recent rapprochement between Cuba and United States, one can only expect stronger ties between South Florida and Cuba. There was hope the appointment of a new regional mediator for Burundi, former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, would jumpstart the peace process; but, talks that were scheduled to start Monday in Arusha have been delayed until later this month. Meantime, arrests, grenade attacks and assassinations continue, and dialogue grows more complicated by the day. Political mediation for Burundi, scheduled to start Monday, has been postponed. Officials cited the need to consult more with the government and its opponents. A previous mediation effort led by Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni failed to make progress. In March, the East African Community (EAC) bloc appointed former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa to lead the talks and help find a solution to the countrys yearlong political crisis. According to officials familiar with the talks, the government is reluctant to meet with opposition groups who they say are behind attacks on government and security officials. Government spokesman Willy Nyamitwe said the talks should expand to include opposition groups in exile. Political talks are going on in the country because we have a commission that is dealing with inter-Burundian dialogue, but we are willing to continue this dialogue from inside to outside, so we have to go outside and meet other Burundians who cannot make their trip to Burundi, he said. The opposition group CNARED, whose members are mostly in exile, have accused the government of blocking them from taking part in the political dialogue. Amnesty International deputy regional director Sarah Jackson said the delays affect the country's stability. We have seen talks delayed time and time again. As it is delayed, it is ordinary Burundians who are suffering, suffering from the economic situation, from increasing polarization and from these high profile assassinations, she said. Jackson said violence and human rights abuses are on the rise. The last year has been marked by killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and what we have seen in the last couple of weeks is an increase in targeted assassinations or attacks on high-level people from all sides. Last week, gunmen killed a top brigadier general along with his wife and bodyguard, an act condemned by President Pierre Nkurunziza. The head of the CORENABU political movement, Dieudonne Birahinduka, says Burundi needs a change in leadership. We do not believe that these are the best people to lead the country. They do not have clean hands. Some of them have got blood in their hands. We believe the country should be in the hands of a new generation of politicians with the help of the International community, said Birahinduka. The crisis began last year when President Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term, a move his critics said was unconstitutional. Nkurunziza won re-election in July, but only after a coup attempt and violent protests. The United Nations says more than 400 people have been killed and more than 250,000 have fled the country since the crisis began. China laid out firm conditions over the weekend for improved ties with Japan, telling Tokyos visiting foreign minister that there could be no ambiguity or vacillation in meeting Beijings demands over historical interpretation, relations with Taiwan and other key matters. Beijing portrayed the visit by Fumio Kishida as an act of outreach to an angry China, as the two sides try to repair relations bedeviled by disputes over territory, history and competition for influence in East Asia. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Kishida that the ties must be based on respect for history, adherence to commitment, and on cooperation rather than confrontation. Relations have gone through twists and turns in recent years due to reasons best known by Japan, Wang said, adding that China desires healthy and stable relations with its neighbor and key economic partner. Japan needs to turn its words into deeds, Wang said. In an elaboration on Wangs comments, the Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying that Japan must adhere to commitments laid down in previous agreements, face up to and reflect upon the history and follow the one-China policy to the letter, the last part a reference to Beijings insistence that self-governing Taiwan is Chinese territory. No ambiguity or vacillation is allowed when it comes to this important political foundation of the bilateral ties, the ministry quoted Wang as saying. As part of what the ministry termed a four-point requirement on improving bilateral ties, Wang also demanded that Japan have a more positive and healthy attitude toward the growth of China, and stop spreading or echoing all kinds of China threat or China economic recession theories. Kishida was making the first formal visit to China by a Japanese foreign minister in more than four years, part of an effort to revive a relationship that for years has been economically vital but politically dormant. He also met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and senior foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi. Kishidas spokesman Masato Otaka described the discussions as frank and candid, and said the atmosphere throughout the visit was forthcoming. Otaka said he believed ties were on the uptick, partly as a result of increased contacts between leaders of the two sides at multinational gatherings. Basically, the two countries are trying to find ways to improve the relationship, Otaka said. High-level ties between the two countries have been largely frozen since Japan nationalized a string of uninhabited East China Sea islands claimed by China in 2012, sparking deep anger among Chinese. Kishidas visit was the first formal one to China by a Japanese foreign minister in more than four years. Despite their crucial economic relationship, many Chinese harbor deep animosity toward Japan dating from its brutal invasion and occupation of much of China during the 1930s and 1940s. Meanwhile, distrust toward Beijing runs deep among the Japanese public, who see their countrys economic and political influence being overshadowed by a rising China. China is also deeply critical of Japans alliance with the U.S. and has warned Tokyo to keep out of a festering dispute over Chinas moves to cement its claim over virtually the entire South China Sea. Beijing has also lambasted moves by Japanese conservatives seen as whitewashing Japans militaristic past and minimizing World War II atrocities committed in China and elsewhere. Christopher Bodeen, Beijing, AP Fewer people than in previous years took part in the traditional May 1 marches that mark the International Workers Day. Some of the issues the demonstrators called the governments attention to included the extension of the governments annual handout, securing the local labor market, fostering employees development, and the introduction of longer maternity leave and paid paternity leave. According to data provided by the police after the marches ended, around 580 people participated in the march which begun at the Iao Hon market and concluded at the governments headquarters, where representatives of various associations and unions handed in a petition letter to the government. The Federation of Trade Unions held a gathering at Tap Seac Square, calling on the government to improve workers employment rights, create a well-established labor law, and improve the legal system and employer-employee relations. The union claimed that around 1,200 residents joined the demonstration, however the police estimated there were around 550 people. In addition to demanding the resolution of such concerns, a spokesperson for Forefront of Macau Gaming reported that the government should strive for more stability in the gaming sector, stating that there are still unresolved issues from 2015. Since the gaming income has dropped, the situation has changed. However, there are still important issues from last year such as the casino smoking ban, the matter of overlapping holidays and the quitting mechanism, said the spokesperson, according to a report by TDM. To call for the protection of Coloane Island, Macau Youth Dynamics members wore lung-shaped masks and represented real estate interests by carrying a model of Coloane on a gurney being threatened by a dinosaur. About 100 distressed taxi drivers also joined the demonstration in the morning to protest against unfair profiling of the industry, which came after the new set of proposals to regulate the sector, including the use of undercover police officers and sound recording, which would be permissible in court. The group calls for the government to review its stance on the proposals, accusing authorities of unjustly profiling the sector based on offences committed by only 40 of the regions approximately 1,000 taxi drivers. We find it unfair that taxi owners will be affected by the violations of a few other drivers. The proposal to resort to undercover police officers, for example, targets this industry alone. That is a way of profiling, complained Au Iat Sun, spokesperson for the Professional Taxi Driver Federation. Staff reporter Trade unions and other groups are staging rallies around the world to mark International Workers Day. A look at some May Day events: TAIWAN In Taipei, Taiwans capital, labor unions took to the streets with a march to call on the government to reduce working hours and increase wages. Many among the Taiwanese public have been concerned that outgoing President Ma Ying-jeous push for closer economic ties with China has benefited just a few. Young Taiwanese have seen wages stagnate and good full-time jobs harder to find as the export-led economy has slowed. Chen Li-jen, a protester with the Taiwan Petroleum Workers Union, said that while companies were seeing their earnings per share grow every year, workers salaries were not rising in tandem. Hardworking laborers are being exploited by consortiums, Chen said. For the past decade, our basic salary has not made any progress, he said. Laborers rights have always been neglected. This is why I hope to take advantage of the May 1 Labor Day protest and tell the government that we are determined to fight for our rights. PHILIPPINES In Manila, about 2,000 left-wing protesters scuffled with riot policemen, who used shields and a water cannon to try to prevent the flag-waving demonstrators from getting near the U.S. Embassy. Labor leaders said 20 protesters were injured. Some of the protesters managed to break through the police cordon. TV video showed some of them punching a retreating police officer and using wooden poles to hit a fire truck. Police made no arrests and the protesters dispersed after about two hours. May Day rallies were held across the Philippines, with campaigning entering the final week ahead of the May 9 presidential election. Some of the candidates pledged to address labor complaints. Well see the real color and what will become to the sweet promises when one of them sits as president, left-wing labor leader Elmer Labog said. TURKEY Thousands of Turkish demonstrators rallied for May Day in an authorized area of Istanbul while police cracked down on other protests. Police used tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators trying to reach Taksim Square. One man died after being hit by a water cannon vehicle. Taksim has symbolic meaning as the center of protests in which 34 people were killed on May Day in 1977. The office of the governor of Istanbul said 24,500 security officers reported for duty Sunday, and that 207 people were detained. Tensions are running high in Turkey after a string of deadly suicide bombings linked to either Kurdish or Islamic State group militants. In the capital, Ankara, police rounded up four suspected IS members who were allegedly planning to attack May Day demonstrators. May Day marches were held elsewhere in Turkey without incident but were cancelled in the southern city of Gaziantep after a deadly car bombing on a police station. In the coastal city of Izmir, some demonstrators stripped down in protest over police body searches at a square where people were allowed to gather, according to local media. RUSSIA Tens of thousands of people marched across Moscows Red Square on a sunny Sunday morning in a pro-Kremlin workers rally. The protesters were carrying the Russian tricolor and balloons. As is typical for rallies organized by the ruling United Russia party, the May Day rally steered clear of criticizing President Vladimir Putin or his government for falling living standards. The slogans focused on wages and jobs for young professionals. Left-wing Russian groups held their own rallies. This year the May Day coincided with the Orthodox Easter in Russia. Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov told Russian news agencies ahead of the rally that he celebrates Easter despite the Communist partys history of oppressing the Russian Church. When a supporter greeted him with Christ has risen! Zyuganov echoed He is risen indeed! in a traditional Orthodox greeting. FRANCE Fearing Frances worker protections are under threat, hundreds of angry youths on the sidelines of a May Day labor rally hurled stones and wood at police in Paris, receiving repeated bursts of tear gas in response. Trade unions, teenagers, pensioners and families held nearly 300 largely peaceful marches Sunday in Paris and cities around the country. The traditional May Day rallies took on greater weight this year as parliament is debating a bill that would allow longer working hours and let companies lay workers off more easily. The bill has prompted the most violent labor-related protests in a decade, with marches and sit- ins frequently degenerating into clashes with police. Riot police encircled a few hundred suspected troublemakers on the sidelines of the Paris march Sunday, and frustrated youth threw projectiles. Later, protesters set fires at a subway entrance and around the Republique plaza that has become a rallying point. Nationwide two people were injured and 18 arrested, according to the Interior Ministry. Marchers held banners calling President Francois Hollande a traitor. The Socialist government hopes the relatively modest labor reform will reduce chronically high unemployment and make France more globally competitive, by allowing companies more flexibility. Opponents say it erodes hard- fought worker protections and call it a gift to corporate interests. BRITAIN Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn joined thousands of people at a May Day rally in central London, using the occasion to condemn the progress of far-right groups throughout Europe. Standing atop a red London bus, Corbyn said the party is united against the far-right and against racism. We stand in solidarity now against the growth of the far right in Europe, said Corbyn, whose faltering opposition party has been accused of anti-Semitism in recent days. Corbyn, who represents Labours left wing, was the first Labour leader to address a May Day crowd in decades. BRAZIL Embattled Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff used a May Day appearance in Sao Paulo to rally support against efforts to impeach her. The president announced to tens of thousands of backers that she will beef up a flagship social program, reduce the impact of income tax on the middle class and build another 25,000 new low-price homes. A key vote on her impeachment proceedings is scheduled within two weeks in the Senate. Meanwhile, at an anti-Rousseff rally, union leader Paulinho da Forca called the presidents announcements desperate measures. UNITED STATES In the U.S., hundreds of marchers in Los Angeles chanted slogans and carried signs on May Day, with at least one person carrying a pinata replica of controversial Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The marchers took to the streets calling for immigrant and worker rights and decrying what they see as hateful presidential campaign rhetoric. Its one of several events in cities nationwide to call for better wages for workers, an end to deportations and support for an Obama administration plan to give work permits to immigrants in the country illegally whose children are American citizens. We want them to hear our voices, to know that we are here and that we want a better life, with jobs, said Norberto Guiterrez, a 46-year-old immigrant from Mexico who joined families, union members and students who marched through downtown. Demonstrators repeatedly called out Trump for his remarks about immigrants, workers and women. The leading Republican presidential contender has called for a wall on the border with Mexico and chided Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton for playing the so-called woman card. AP A crowd of pre-sale buyers of the troubled Pearl Horizon residential complex continued to protest on Labor Day. The demonstrators, together with a small number of children, assembled at the Border Gate, while Chinese funeral music echoed around the square. Kou Meng Pok, president of the Pearl Horizon Proprietors Association, claimed that buyers are now acting more consistently because they have been assembling every Sunday. Flags written with sentences like government grabs land, profiteer grabs money could be seen by pedestrians walking to and from Zhuhai. According to Kou, the real estate developer, Polytec Assets, has already promised to give a three-month payment (up to a maximum of MOP30,000 per month) to buyers who meet certain criteria. Approximately 200 people applied for it. The payment is useless; it is just tinkering. [] Made to maintain social stability, commented Kou, adding that the demonstrators do not intend to create chaos, according to a TDM report. On Friday, the group of demonstrators published a statement in Macao Daily News accusing the government of not having warned them about the risks when making those purchases. The government replied immediately stating that such cautions were issued by related officials many times. Since Macau conducts a free market economy, the government has no right to stop the developer from making transactions and also has no right to stop anyone from making purchases, explained the government, as reported by TDM. Staff reporter Residents have exposed a situation involving two houses, suspected to be located in the public housing complex Edificio Do Lago, being advertised on the Airbnb website, according to a recent report by Macao Daily News (Ou Mun Yat Po). Airbnb is an international home-sharing website based in San Francisco that provides a platform for people to offer their homes for temporary rent. Both houses comprise two bedrooms and one living room, and are priced at between HKD745 and HKD496 per night. The places hold records of previous successful transactions, but have now disappeared from the website after being uncovered by Macao Daily News. The newspaper published screen shots of the advertisements on its front page. Residents living in the buildings reported frequently seeing strangers carrying luggage into the apartments. Moreover, the residents expressed doubt that only two house owners were practicing this kind of business. The Housing Bureau (IHM), which is responsible for housing management, promised to closely follow the situation. The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has claimed that it has not received any information whatsoever about the location of the suspected houses. According to IHM, five cases relating to illegal accommodation in economical housings have been reported since the implementation of the Economical Housings Law. On Airbnb, more than 140 local apartments are registered, including those available for daily and monthly rent. In comparison, only about 10 apartments were available two years ago, according to a previous Times report. The prices range from 70 patacas to thousands of patacas per day. Customer reviews indicate that foreign and mainland guests visiting Macau have stayed in these houses. As the Times reported, the sub-renting activities provided by the home-sharing website Airbnb may exist in a gray area in the law. Lawyer Sergio Almeida Correia told the Times in 2014 that theres nothing illegal about subletting a private room or an entire apartment in Macau, according to the civil code. This means that subletting is an option for tenants as long as the landlord doesnt disallow it in the contract. It depends on what the two parties have agreed. If Im a tenant and the contract I signed with my landlord specifically states that the whole apartment is for me to use, the landlord [or I] will not be entitled to sign a rental agreement for one of the rooms in my apartment [with a third party], he said. Staff reporter British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser apologized yesterday for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured hundreds of people, five years after the government ordered the company to remove the products from shelves for health risks. Ataur Safdar, head of the companys Korean division, said the company accepted responsibility and wanted to make amends. He spoke at a news conference, where he was interrupted by angry and tearful victims and family members who cursed and hit him. A teenager with a big, green oxygen tank, and four other people who were apparently victims or their families, walked to the stage to confront Safdar. Can you save the child? What are you going to do? said a woman, in a scene broadcast live on television. Why did it take so long? a man said. Safdar said the company will come up with a plan to compensate victims. It will also provide 10 billion won ($8.8 million) to a humanitarian fund for them, including 5 billion won it pledged two years earlier. He called the day an important milestone in achieving progress for victims. But the victims and families rejected the apology, appealing to the South Korean public to punish Reckitt Benckiser with a boycott. In a press conference outside the prosecutors office, victims and campaigners lined up the products made by Reckitt Benckiser and asked the public not to buy them. The apology came as South Korean prosecutors were investigating Reckitt Benckiser and about a dozen other companies for selling or manufacturing unsafe disinfectants. Earlier the company had refused to take responsibility. In a separate statement after the press conference, civic groups representing the victims said they planned to file a complaint against Rakesh Kapoor, the British companys chief executive officer, and the companys seven other board members for failing to conduct safety tests before the disinfectants launch in 2001 and until sales were discontinued in 2011. The victims have already filed a complaint against 10 disinfectant manufacturers and 19 companies that sold the products. The health risks from the disinfectants came to attention in 2011 with mysterious lung ailments that killed pregnant women. Later that year, authorities said the chemicals PHMG and PGH in the disinfectants that many South Korean households used to cleanse humidifiers were to blame. AP Rodrigo Duterte, the tough-talking Davao City mayor who is leading Philippine presidential polls, said he will hold bilateral talks with China to resolve a territorial dispute in the South China Sea if the current multilateral discussions dont bear fruit within two years. Duterte told supporters Sunday night on Liwasang Bonifacio square in Manila City that he will defend Philippine claims in the contested waters while remaining open to the possibility of joint exploration for energy assets with China. He may also ask China to help build key railway projects connecting Manila to provinces and for assistance with a long-standing plan for a train system in Mindanao, his home region. If negotiations will be in still waters in 1 or 2 years, I will talk to the Chinese, Duterte, 71, told a crowd of about a thousand people. Bilateral talks would mark a departure from the policy of outgoing President Benigno Aquino, who has brought China before an international arbitration panel to try to resolve the dispute, leading to a deterioration in bilateral ties. China has been more aggressively asserting its claims to more than 80 percent of the waterway in recent years, reclaiming more than 3,000 acres of land to build out artificial islands that will better allow it to project force in waters that are a rich fishing ground for the Philippines. Duterte has said he will tout the Philippines alliance with Western powers such as the U.S. to get China to accept the Philippine position. He also said he would ride a jet ski to a disputed island occupied by China and personally stake the Philippines claims. China has failed to recognize the legitimacy of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague to deal with the dispute and said it will only engage in bilateral talks with claimant states over the water, which hosts about USD5 trillion in shipping a year. Chinas claims to most of the South China Sea overlaps with those of the Philippines and four other states. Duterte, was leading the field of five candidates for the May 9 election with 33 percent support, with Senator Grace Poe in second place with 22 percent, according to the latest opinion poll by Pulse Asia Research Inc. released by ABS-CBN on April 29. Duterte, who ruled Davao for 22 years and is credited with improving security and the economy of the southern city, also told supporters during his May 1 speech that he wont live in the presidential residence; has no plans to hold a big inaugural event; and will shun banquets with foreign envoys. He also pledged to appoint a non-politician to head the transportation department, pursue a fair peace deal with all Muslim rebels and work for genuine land reform that will improve the lot of farmers. His administration will pour 1 billion pesos ($21 million) per region to boost small and mid-sized businesses. The mayor, accused of not declaring tens of millions of dollars in assets, questioned how Senator Antonio Trillanes got access to information on his bank accounts when Philippine laws guarantee deposit secrecy. Trillanes and Dutertes lawyer met yesterday at the Julia Vargas branch of the Bank of the Philippine Islands to discuss the mayors alleged undisclosed accounts. Andreo Calonzo & Clarissa Batino, Bloomberg PHILIPPINES Allegations that the presidential election frontrunner had millions of dollars in an undeclared bank account have not been resolved after the accuser confronted the mayors lawyer at the bank. Mayor Rodrigo Dutertes lawyer said he had asked that the account be opened to prove the allegations are false but that bank officials told him yesterday it would take a week to study the request. The election is scheduled for next Monday. INDIA Massive wildfires that have killed at least seven people in recent weeks were burning through pine forests in the mountains of northern India yesterday, including parts of two tiger reserves. NEW ZEALAND An American exchange student lost for five days in the New Zealand wilderness with her mother recounts her ordeal to The Associated Press. AUSTRALIA An Australian man long thought to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin has publicly identified himself as its creator. BBC News said yesterday that Craig Wright [pictured] told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The computer scientist, inventor and academic says he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. His identity had been shrouded in uncertainty until now. IRAQ A car bombing has killed at least 13 Shiite pilgrims commemorating the death anniversary of a revered Imam in Baghdad. A police officer says the parked explosives-laden car detonated shortly after midday in Baghdads southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood. He added that 28 other people were wounded. GERMANY and some other EU countries are planning to ask the EU Commission for an extension of border controls within the Schengen passport-free travel zone for another six months because they fear a new wave of migrants. Interior Minister Thomas de Maizeres spokesman says a letter was sent yesterday asking for an extension of the controls on the German-Austrian border. KOREAS Seoul has instructed its foreign embassies to take extra precautions against possible North Korean attempts to kidnap or attack South Koreans abroad, officials said yesterday. The instruction was issued in response to North Koreas threat to retaliate for last months group defection by 13 North Koreans, who Pyongyang says were kidnapped by South Korean spies while working at a North Korea-owned restaurant in China. HIMALAYAS The bodies of a renowned mountain climber and expedition cameraman who were buried in a Himalayan avalanche 16 years ago have been found. The widow of Alex Lowe said in a statement this weeked that two climbers attempting to ascend the 26,291-foot Shishapangma in Tibet discovered the remains of two people partially melting out of a glacier. Anker concluded that the two were Bridges and Lowe, the statement said. The meat industry contributes more to greenhouse gas emissions than the combined exhaust from every form of transportation on Earth a whopping fifth of the total. Beef is the biggest culprit, and it requires almost 30 times as much land and 11 times as much water to produce as pork or chicken. Denmarks Council of Ethics, a government think tank, said that in light of these facts, Danes are ethically obligated to change their eating habits and that a sliding-scale tax should be imposed on foods that are proportional to their climate impact. The proposal now goes before lawmakers. Under the plan, a tax would first be imposed on beef, then would be expanded to all red meat, and possibly further food sources based on the sliding-scale model. Denmark is a small country, and the effect of a tax on climate-change mitigation would be negligible, but the nations size allows for greener living to be built into peoples lifestyles more easily. More than a third of the residents in Copenhagen, Denmarks capital, bike to work, and only 29 percent own a car. The government has a comprehensive plan to make the country independent from fossil fuels by 2050. Mickey Gjerris, a spokesman for the Council of Ethics, emphasized that part of the goal of the tax was to raise awareness, if not reduce emissions. An effective response to climate-damaging foods that will also contribute to raising awareness of climate change must be united, which requires that society sends a clear signal through regulation, Gjerris said in a news release. The British think tank Chatham House recommended in November that the United Kingdom do the same, but the proposal in Denmark is more serious if only because a government-sponsored group made the push. Americans eat about 200 pounds of meat per capita annually, which is more than double the global average, although overall meat consumption is increasing across the board worldwide, especially in the developing world. Knowing which habits eating meat, driving cars, living in a suburb contribute most to climate change is empirically difficult, and making personal decisions is inherently fraught. In a Washington Post column, Tamar Haspel, a food and science writer, laid out the conundrum in stark terms: Even if climate impact is your top priority, its important to look at the food data in the context of other lifestyle factors. Eating beans is definitely better than eating beef. Driving a Prius is better than driving a Hummer. But one decision trumps every other potentially by orders of magnitude and thats how many children you have. No amount of bean-eating or Prius-driving will compensate for reproducing, and its the childless, not the vegetarians, who are more likely to save the planet. Which doesnt mean that we should ignore the benefits of beans and Prii or that we shouldnt have kids it just means that we should acknowledge that human survival takes a climatic toll. {p style=color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Geneva; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;} An effective response to climate-damaging foods that will also contribute to raising awareness of climate change must be united, which requires that society sends a clear signal through regulation. Mickey Gjerris, spokesman for Denmarks Council of Ethics MURTAUGH Most growers plant seeds in order to harvest a crop. But Shane Stastny plants a crop in order to harvest seeds. Stastny raises certified carrot seed hybrid seed that will produce an edible carrot crop in 2017 for Bayer Vegetable Seeds of Parma. Carrots are biennials that takes two years to go completely through their reproductive cycle. The first year, the seed germinates and an edible root and foliage grow; the second year the plant flowers and produces seeds. Its a labor-intensive process, Dennis West, with Bayer Vegetable Seed, said Thursday as he watched dark clouds drift overhead. Spring showers had kept the soil too wet to plant, putting the crop about a week behind schedule. The seed carrots Stastny planted were grown last summer in Imperial Valley, Calif., then harvested in the fall. The carrots were stored over the winter in a Bayer warehouse in Parma until the ground was ready. A large crew of contract laborers from Caldwell travel with the seed carrots. Carrots are piled into a large bin on the planter, then pulled through the field by a tractor. Workers follow behind the planter, tossing carrots out of the bin and onto the ground. The next workers arrange the carrots, laying them in furrows cut by the planter. More workers follow behind, sticking the carrots upright eight inches apart. It takes 36,000 seed carrots to populate one acre, West said. A 16-acre field takes at least two days to finish, weather permitting. It doesnt look very efficient, he said, but we dont have equipment to do this yet. Four rows of male carrots are planted between every eight-row swath of females, he said. The male rows will look very different from the females as they begin to flower. Stastny will rent honey bees to pollinate the crop in the summer and will harvest the tiny carrot seeds in September. It doesnt look very efficient, but we dont have equipment to do this yet. Dennis West, Bayer Vegetable Seeds CALDWELL (AP) A former speech therapist at a Caldwell elementary school has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor injury to a child. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that Lisa Carriere said in court Friday that she slapped a 6-year-old autistic student after the child raised his hand at her during a lesson. Carriere told the judge that she hit the boy during speech therapy class. She could tell the boy was tired, but she continued with the lesson. She says the child acted aggressively and she feared for her life, Carriere said. Carriere resigned from the school soon after the incident occurred in January. I overreacted, your honor, she said. It is the worst mistake of my life. Judge Thomas Sullivan sentenced Carriere to 180 days in jail with 175 days suspended. He also ordered her to serve 50 hours of community service, and $500 in fines and court costs. She was also ordered to serve two years of unsupervised probation. Theres something about that mark on the boys face that seems to be more than impulsively acting out in fear, Sullivan said after seeing a photo of the boys face shortly after it was slapped. Theres a little anger in that mark. However, the judge added that he had received 21 letters in support of Carrieres professionalism and character. Sullivan gave Carriere a withheld judgment, meaning her case will be dismissed once the probation period is finished. The boys parents, Joyce Rodriguez and Victor Rodriguez, gave a statement to the judge. Tears still fall and they will always fall thinking of the hand print left on his face, Joyce Rodriguez said, crying as she spoke to Sullivan. Her son was found pressing his face against the school bathroom floor to ease the sting of the slap, Rodriguez said. TWIN FALLS The race for Twin Falls County Sheriff began in earnest well over a year ago when Cliff Katona announced in January that he would challenge Tom Carter. Katona announced his candidacy before any of the presidential hopefuls and a full two years before he would be sworn in, if he were elected. Im starting early because I know I have a lot of work to do, Katona said last March. But Carter made it clear from the beginning he didnt plan to roll over: Im going to stay here until they chase me out. True to their promises, both men are now running in what could end up being one of the most hotly contested races in the Magic Valley, which pits a two-term incumbent against a challenger who says its time for a change. Carter started out as a Twin Falls Police officer, has been with the sheriffs office as a deputy since 1992, was elected sheriff in 2008, was re-elected four years later and is now seeking a third term. Katona has never been a sheriffs deputy but worked seven years as an officer with the Pocatello Police Department before moving to the Idaho State Police, where he was a trooper for three years and a detective for 19. Since the first day he announced his candidacy, hes preached the importance of being a visible sheriff. To that end, moving his office to the first floor of the old county courthouse would be Katonas first priority, he said during a meeting with the Times-News editorial board in April. Where it belongs, Katona said. I believe the sheriff should be very visible and very approachable everyone should have the opportunity, at any time, to come in and visit with the sheriff one-on-one. In community appearances, Katona often touts his plan to start a youth program within the sheriffs department. Katona said its fair to assess his campaign as being critical of Carter for not being visible enough. Carter believes hes as visible as he needs to be and isnt worried about the location of his office. His focus, he said, is on improving the programs hes already built and established. I got a list of No. 1 (priorities), Carter said during his meeting with the editorial board. Were improving our drone program, were enhancing our narcotics program, and I suppose the best one I got is the records management system, which is new. Because thats one thing Ive been harping on since Ive been in office, is the ability for the city and the county well, all agencies really to converse It makes it safer for the officers on the street. The record system makes it easier for patrol officers to access background checks and criminal records to ensure they know who theyre dealing with in the field, Carter said. Katona said hell have no issue finding the balance between being a visible sheriff and doing the administrative work necessary for the job. Sheriff has to have a solid senior staff, and a solid chief deputy, Katona said. The chief deputy runs the day-in and day-out operations. The sheriff has to have a staff that he can trust The sheriff oversees. But having a solid senior staff and trusting his lieutenants, captains and sergeants is something Carter does already, the sheriff said. And just as Katona critiqued Carter for not being visible enough, Carter offered his own critique about Katonas relative lack of leadership and training. Training is the backbone of any agency, as far as Im concerned, Carter said. My opponent says stripes dont mean nothing, and certifications are just a piece of paper. Thats because he has neither; in 25 years in the business, he never achieved either one. I wholeheartedly disagree with that. Ive got my executive certification and Ive got about 2,000 hours of training As far as Im concerned, you cannot have enough training and education. The sheriff said that extends to his command staff, who are all obligated to get advanced supervisory and management certificates as their careers advance. Katona said if he were elected, he wouldnt come in and clean house right away, calling that the worst thing he could do. But he does believe the office has become stagnated, that everyone should change positions at least once every five years, that Carter has become too comfortable and that morale is low among the employees hes talked to. The challenger also says he wants to create a respectful workplace inside the sheriffs office and points out several sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful injury suits filed against Carter and the sheriffs office during his tenure. Lawsuits go with the territory, Carter said. The jail is the biggest liability. He said he couldnt comment on the open cases, but referenced an excessive-force lawsuit the county was forced to pay out when one of the video cameras inside the jail malfunctioned and couldnt help prove what really happened during the incident. There is just absolutely nothing I can do about people filing lawsuits, Carter said. Other issues Carter and Katona disagree on include the size of the office, creating substations around the county and combining the Twin Falls Police and Twin Falls County Sheriffs SWAT teams into one team. Katona says there needs to be about double the amount of deputies on duty, and he wants to create sheriffs substations in Murtaugh and Castleford. His plan to pay for the expansion isnt fully developed. Katona also opposes combining the city and county SWAT teams because of differences in styles. Carter said the office wasnt fully staffed when he took over, but hes built it up to where it needs to be by working with county commissioners, who oversee the sheriffs department budget. He said the call volume in a place like Castleford doesnt support putting a substation there and that he wont put a tax-burden on the county by creating substations that arent needed. He supports combining the city and county SWAT teams to increase efficiency of training and provide better availability. GOODING | Both Gooding County prosecutor candidates say theyd make children and helping to prevent them from entering the court system a priority, but differ on their stances on prosecuting other crimes. Incumbent Luverne Shull faces challenger Matt Pember a private practice attorney whos also Camas County prosecutor during the May 17 election. One main difference between the candidates: Pember wants to be prosecutor in two counties Gooding and Camas County. Schull would be prosecutor just in Gooding County. Pember, 42, has held the contract as Camas County prosecutor since 2012. If it came to a point where he had to choose between the two counties, he said, hed keep Gooding County. Shull, 60, has nearly 20 years of legal experience in the Magic Valley. He started working in the Gooding County Prosecutors Office in 2005 and was elected prosecutor in 2012. He said implementing restorative justice practices is one of his greatest accomplishments as prosecutor, calling it revolutionary and groundbreaking. He said hes proud of his work with children, lowering the incarceration rate and overuse of the court system. The goal of the restorative justice initiative is to increase school attendance, increase graduation rates and decrease incarceration rates. There are several committees: the steering group, court, meaningful work, diversion board, family unity and education. Theres a board of community volunteers which has been in place for at least 20 years that works with children, such as to have them serve community service or write an apology letter. If theyre successful, we dont file charges or a conviction, Shull said, and keep their record clean. Shull said he rejuvenated the community volunteer board when he became prosecutor. If reelected, Shull said his number one focus would be on children preventing them from entering the system as criminals. Pember said hes hearing Gooding is light on crime and I dont disagree with that. The prosecutor's office isnt pushing for long enough sentences for the crimes involved, he said. He said hes a fan of the juvenile justice program, but everything has gone that route. Theres sort of a gap in the justice system over there. Having the right punishment for the right crime would send a message to discourage crime from coming to Gooding County, Pember said, adding they can convince people that Gooding and the Magic Valley arent a place for their drug habit. The punishment for a crime depends on individual circumstances, Pember said, whether someone should undergo counseling, or serve time in jail or prison. But the jail and prison system is overburdened, he said. If elected, Pember said hed like to keep the same staff at the prosecutors office. He said hed hope theyd get a pay rise and the training theyd need to stay. Pember said he believes the incumbent Shull isnt putting in the time and effort he needs into the job, and that the heavy lifting falls on his staff. The candidates both said drugs in Gooding County are a problem. I think heroin is going to be here soon, Schull said, noting methamphetamine and OxyContin are already an issue. Shull said a trend he has seen as prosecutor is shorter sentences for drug possession. People dont want to invest in long-term lockups, he said, want people who have addictions to go the rehabilitation route instead. But law enforcement agencies are showing some resistance to softening their stances on drug crimes, he said. Drug abuse and the crimes that follow is the most significant criminal problem in the county, Pember said. And it leads to other crimes everything under the sun, he said. As a prosecutor, Pember said his priority would be children. If problems can be caught early, cycles such as of crime, drugs and abuse can be stopped, he said. We need to do something to break the cycle. During a meeting with the Times-News editorial board, Pember talked about Camas Countys community policing, such as allowing underage children who are found in possession of alcohol to do community service as punishment. He also brought up that the Wendell School District wants a full-time school resource officer, instead of sharing with Gooding. Pember said his goal as prosecutor would be to be more cooperative and open with the public. He said hed want to work with community leaders, school officials and law enforcement to help prevent crime and recidivism. Pember worked for six years from 2004 to 2010 as deputy prosecutor in the Twin Falls County Prosecutors Office under Grant Loebs. He handled primarily civil cases, but also had a misdemeanor schedule and handled felony cases from time-to-time. He also handled two-thirds of the child protection cases, he said. Thats something thats near and dear to my heart. As prosecutor, Shull his primary duty is to pursue the truth. And he said its his responsibility to dismiss a case if theres not enough evidence to convict someone beyond a reasonable doubt. We have to rise above our urge to win to be under the rule of law on some occasions, he said. With the public defender system, I think weve made some great improvements over here, Shull said, adding he encouraged the switch about a year ago from contracting with an attorney to hiring a full-time public defender. JEROME County Commissioner Roger Morley, 64, is running for his third term in District 3. His challenger is lifelong resident, rancher and past Commissioner Roy Prescott, 68. Both candidates are from Jerome. Im very happy with Jerome County and the Commission, Morley said. Its an honor to be a commissioner in the county I grew up in and a way I can pay back. Prescott would like to return to the Commission after a 15-year break and said he would first focus on the budget. The county financials have not been reviewed for several years and it needs to be examined for inconsistencies and possible cronyism, he said. Prescott strongly feels public resources should be equally available to all residents, and that a county government that encourages economic growth will improve the quality of life for all. Jerome County can have the same success as Twin Falls, but Jerome needs to be more aggressive, he said. It takes too much time to get anything approved in Jerome. While Morley doesnt disagree with Prescott about economic growth, he does have different priorities. As a commissioner, my No. 1 responsibility is to support agriculture, he said. We are Ag. His second focus is on water. We have to make sure our ag people have a sustainable water supply for the future, Morley said. Without water we go back to desert. His third focus is on creating jobs. Jerome County has five freeway exits. We need to utilize those exits assets to increase business especially to Eden and Hazelton, Morley said. Weve rezoned for Hazelton so we can put those businesses on track. Both candidates share concern over the perceived divide between the west and east ends of Jerome County. The county commission needs to do a better job building a relationship with the smaller towns, Prescott said. BURLEY | Mini-Cassias only domestic violence shelter and safe house will not receive a grant that would have paid for the majority of its budget and for needed renovations. The Mini-Cassia Shelter Advocates against Violence asked for a $200,000 grant from the Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance after the agency lost funding last year when it was out of compliance with the state grant after a former director resigned. The shelter asked for extra funding this year to help with the renovations and to purchase a vehicle that could transport clients. The council denied the grant request because the shelters policies, procedures and some financial documents were not readily produced during a site visit, a letter from the council said. The letter said the shelter was unorganized and unfamiliar with the current standards for funding. It also said noncompliance findings from 2015 had not been fully addressed. The director of Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance declined to take calls from the Times-News, but Region V Board Member Dan Bristol said shelter was not given the grant because they did not meet the standards. They are not compliant and dont meet the standards, Bristol said. Bristol said the Idaho Council held a board meeting Friday and approved the 2016-2017 grant funds. In Region V, $900,000 was awarded. The Advocates received $285,000, CARES Magic Valley RMC got $120,000, Crisis Center of Magic Valley was awarded $445,000 and the Fifth Judicial Juvenile Status Offender Services-Twin Falls County received $50,000. Across the state, nearly $7.5 million was allocated. Shelter Director Lynda Brennen said the shelter was unorganized because they were in the middle of a remodeling project and the center had fully addressed all the issues from 2015. Shelter staff and board members want to continue raising funds to keep the doors open, which helps on average 12 victims of domestic violence a month. During the site visit, council staff requested to view copies of several policies and procedures, Brennen said. Because of the chaos I couldnt get my hands on a couple of the policies they wanted, Brennen said. The financial documents in question were at the accountants office, she said. One of the missing documents was the federal labor and wage law poster that was taken down to paint the office. They knew we were painting because we still had paint out all over the place, Brennen said. After Brennen received the letter she sent a packet containing most of the documents the council cited as reasons for the denial. It was a matter of principal, Brennen said. The board decided not to include the financial documents in question in the packet because the shelter was not receiving the grant, Brennen said. Demands were made on Lynda that day and she didnt have the time to get it all together, said Audrey Neiwerth, a shelter board member. Neiwerth had been updating policies and procedures since the shelter lost its funding last year. So I know the shelter met the requirements and the documents exist, she said. Neiwerth, a former Rupert mayor, has been an advocate for the shelter since its inception. The shelters modular safe home was purchased in 2005 after community members spent a couple of years raising the $50,000 needed to purchase it at cost from a local home dealer. The shelters business office is located on the old Pershing Elementary School site. A Mini-Cassia shelter is badly needed, staff said. Its really hard for women to go to Twin Falls when they may have jobs or children in school or day care here, Brennen said. Brennen said the office will lay off one part-time employee at the end of the month, but the remainder of the staff and board of directors are adamant about keeping the doors of the shelter open. Hopefully the council will reconsider us next year for the grant, Brennen said. In the meantime, several fundraisers have been organized and Brennen plans to visit civic groups, hospitals, schools and churches to raise awareness of domestic violence in the community. We need to make Mini-Cassia aware of the domestic violence that happens here, Brennen said. The shelter offers emergency housing, food, clothing and household items and case management to make sure the victim is receiving all available services like counseling and medical help. The shelter also helps people secure low-income housing and offers group sessions on various topics. Its important for women to get their life back together and be self sufficient without the abuse, Neiwerth said. Employees at the shelter often put their own financial resources into it, Brennen said. We are here for the Mini-Cassia area," she said. "Our heart, minds and skills are open to assisting victims and their families." Seniors Wellness The Twin Falls Senior Center will hold a presentation for senior citizens at 12:15 p.m. Monday at 530 Shoshone St. W. Representatives from BridgeView Estates will discuss the importance of hydration. Free; 208-734-5084. Hepatitis C Support Hepatitis C Support Group, 6 p.m. Monday at Magic Valley Fellowship Hall, 801 Second Ave. N., Twin Falls. The meeting offers support for those who have been diagnosed with the Hepatitis C virus. A medical professional will speak about HCV and options for treatment. Information: Cathy Shaddy, 208-410-2768. Bariatric Support Magic Valley Bariatric Support Group, 7 p.m. Monday in the Oak Rooms on the lower level of St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. Meetings are held the first Monday of each month. Information: 208-381-3641 Childbirth Childbirth refresher course, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, in the Oak Rooms on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. Topic: Review of childbirth preparation and medical center procedures, and a tour of the maternal and child unit. Bring a labor support person, if possible. Cost is $15; pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402. Alzheimers Support Alzheimers Association, Greater Idaho Chapters Caregiver Support Group meeting, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at DeSano Place Village, 1015 E. Ave. K, Jerome. The group meets on the first and fourth Wednesdays every month. Information: Becci Bowler, 208-749-1621. Grief Support Griefshare meetings, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Lighthouse, 960 Eastland Drive, Twin Falls. Each session is a stand-alone class, and the series continues through May 26. Everyone is welcome to attend. Enter through the east doors at the rear of the building. Information: 208-737-4667. Childbirth St. Lukes Magic Valley prepared childbirth bootcamp, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in the Oak Room at St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. This session is for those unable to attend the five-week prepared childbirth classes. Topics: wellness of the mother; labor process with relaxation and breathing techniques; videos of deliveries and labor positions; and care of the postpartum mother and newborn. Bring a labor support person if possible. Cost is $25 and pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402. Wellness Seminar Overeaters Anonymous is hosting A Day in OA, 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at Shilo Inn, 1586 Blue Lakes Blvd., Twin Falls. The event features speakers, raffles, friendship, and information about the support group. Free admission. Information: Susan, 208-539-1737; Lynn, 208-423-4531, or oa.magicvalley@yahoo.com. Breastfeeding Free Breastfeeding 101 class, 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 9, in the Oak Room on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. Topic: Breastfeeding basics for new and expectant mothers. Babies are welcome. Free; pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402. C-sections Caesarean childbirth class, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, in the Oak Rooms on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. Topics: Caesarean deliveries, pain management, non-conforming labors and hospital procedures. Free; pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402. Joint Replacement Free class on total joint replacement, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, at BridgeView Estates, 1828 Bridgeview Blvd., Twin Falls. Meet in the lobby. Topics: Preparing for joint-replacement surgery, amount of pain, recovery time, insurance coverage, care after surgery, discharge planning and long-term rehabilitation. Tours of the BridgeView rehabilitation facility are available. Pre-registration is required, Amy at 208-280-0047 or Sarah at 208-280-0045. CPR, First Aid St. Lukes Magic Valley Education Department is offering a Heartsaver CPR, First Aid and AED class, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. May 14, in Oak Rooms 5-6 on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. The course provides training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid and using an automated external defibrillator. Cost is $50 and pre-registration is required, 208-814-9050. As in any U.S. national election without an incumbent president, the candidates are painting a not very pretty picture: The country is going to hell, bluntly asserts the Republican front-runner Donald Trump. The Democratic challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders, isnt much kinder and even Hillary Clinton is starting to focus more on challenges than successes. To many voters the message is: The economy is terrible, the social fabric is disintegrating and America is losing respect around the world. Certainly, problems abound. The recovery from the 2008-09 recession has been uneven and is characterized by widening income inequality; wages for the average working family have stagnated for decades; racial tensions in some places have worsened, suicide rates are up, terrorism is on the rise, Russia and China are threatening and the political system is dysfunctional. But that is hardly the whole or even the dominant story. Politics aside, there is more good news than bad. For all the inequities, no Western economy has recovered from the recession as well as the U.S. The unemployment rate has been cut in half, with 14 million jobs added over the past six years. Most other indices are encouraging: Consumer confidence has risen and the housing market has basically recovered. Budget deficits have plummeted, theres less reliance on foreign oil than any time in almost three decades, and the health care overhaul has had more positive consequences than negative ones. Still, wages are only starting to creep up. While the federal government is frozen, more than one-third of states have boosted their minimum wage. Wages should be a focus of the presidential campaign, and vows such as breaking up the banks or slapping big tariffs on Chinese imports are distractions. There is progress on the cultural and social fronts, too. Bitter divides remain, but Americans have become more tolerant. Although some politicians still pander to racial prejudices, young people are more open. The same is true of sexual orientation. Ten years ago, same-sex marriage, even some basic gay rights, was an explosive issue; today, there is wide and growing acceptance. There are encouraging developments on issues emphasized by conservatives. There are only about half as many abortions as 30 years ago. Teenage pregnancies have plummeted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week that the birthrate among American teenagers has fallen to a historic low. This continues a quarter-century of improvement; especially important to experts is that the sharpest drops have been among Hispanic and black teenagers. And there is good news on crime. Both the murder rate and overall violent crime rate have been cut almost in half since the 1980s. Theres bipartisan consensus to try to do something about the outrageously high incarceration levels, particularly for blacks. There is a chance that even this do-nothing Congress might pass measures. The world is a dangerous place, but its not as threatening to the U.S. as it was 10 years ago when two wars raged. There is slow progress in the fight against the Islamic state, though future terrorist acts are inevitable and the danger will remain for years. Critics claim that President Vladimir Putin of Russia has consistently outmaneuvered President Barack Obama. Yet Russia is more isolated today and subject to economic sanctions. And Putins Syrian involvement could become a quagmire. China is more important and has been more aggressive in Asia, but its internal political and economic problems dwarf those of the U.S. To be sure, many of the problems articulated in the campaign are real. The next president faces a host of economic, national security and social challenges. But pessimists still should answer two questions: If the goal is to make America great again, what era should we aspire to return to? And is there any country whose hand you would rather have? King Mohammed VI held talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, shortly after arriving in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Talks focused on the brotherly relations and cooperation ties between the two countries, as well as on current regional and international developments. The two sides reviewed ways to strengthen the two countries fraternal relations in political, economic and developmental fields in a way that will serve their common interests and the aspirations of their peoples, reported WAM news agency. The two sides hailed the strong ties binding the UAE and Morocco and the two countries shared keenness to enhance these relations further on the basis of cooperation and solidarity, deeming that such relations should stand as an example of bilateral ties among Arab countries to overcome challenges through cooperation, coordination, consultation and brotherly dialogue that takes into consideration joint interests, progress, security and stability. King Mohammed VI and his interlocutor also welcomed the outcome of the first Morocco-GCC summit, which was held in Riyadh recently and which sealed the strategic partnership between the North African country and the Gulf grouping. This partnership was built up, as underlined by King Mohammed VI during the Riyadh Summit, thanks to the partners shared determination and their belief in their common destiny. The Moroccan-Gulf partnership is not the result of transient interests or calculations. Rather, it derives its strength from a firm belief that ours is a common destiny and that we hold the same views on issues of common concern, had said the Moroccan King in his speech before the summit. As an illustration of these strong bonds, the GCC member states renewed their support to Moroccos territorial unity and reaffirmed their total rejection of any act that may affect Moroccan supreme interests, on top of which the Moroccan Sahara issue. They also renewed backing to the Moroccan autonomy plan as the basis for any settlement of this regional artificial dispute. The meeting Between King Mohammed VI and Sheikh Mohamed also discussed a number of issues of mutual interest and latest regional and international developments. In this vein, they emphasized the importance to coordinate stances and to consolidate efforts within the Arab framework to confront challenges and to counter terrorism and violence that undermine the regions security and stability, and to perpetuate the values of peace, tolerance and peaceful co-existence. The visit of King Mohammed VI in the UAE is the fourth leg of a tour in the Arab Gulf countries. The tour started on April 20 in Saudi Arabia, where the King attended the Riyadh summit. The king later on visited Bahrain and then Qatar, where he conferred with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Yemeni government has suspended its participation in the ongoing talks with the Houthi Movement in Kuwait because of the continued violations by rebels and their takeover of Al-Amaliqa base. Foreign Minister and head of the delegation to the negotiation, Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi, who twitted the announcement, added that the decision will be maintained until guarantees for compliance were provided. The taking over of the military base took place on Saturday; the same day that the government and rebel forces held their first direct talks. The talks are being held under the auspices of the UN to end the Yemeni war and special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said we understand the reasons that lead to this decision before reminding the parties that Yemenis are counting on them for peace. Mikhlafis spokesman Mane al-Matari said they want guarantees that the Houthis will respect the ceasefire and withdraw from the base. Special Envoy Ismail is hoping that all difficult issues will be discussed transparently in order to reach a comprehensive agreement to put an end to such incidents as he stressed that we are not underestimating the importance of what happened or what is happening. Both sides have accused each other of committing thousands of ceasefire violations over the past weeks but according to sources, the attack on the 600-strong brigade at the Al-Amaliqa military base that has chosen to remain neutral in the war since 2014 is a setback to the talks. Mikhlafi said the attack torpedoes the peace consultations while the government has called on the UN envoy, Kuwait and other Gulf States and countries to pressure the Houthis to comply with peace requirements. Ismail said direct talks held before the suspension were productive and the warring parties have agreed to resolve outstanding issues without convening joint sessions. Analysts think that even if an agreement is reached, chaos could continue because the Islamic State has gained a foothold on the ground while al-Qaeda has increased its influence. Protesters who stormed the Iraqi parliament over the weekend have begun to leave the heavily fortified Green Zone where the Parliament is located after making numerous demands. They called for a parliamentary vote approving the technocratic non-partisan government proposed by Prime Minister Abadi, the resignation of the President, Prime Minister and MPs, and for new elections to be held. The protesters warned that they would be back if their demands are not met and a spokeswoman in a televised speech vowed that they will use all legitimate means including civil disobedience. Most of the protesters are believed to be supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Powerful political parties in the parliament are unwilling to approve the cabinet proposed by Abadi arguing that the Cabinet should be made up of members of political parties. Several weeks of delay and lack of quorums during sessions to avoid a vote had led to the protests. Prime Minister Abadi had a high-level meeting with the President, Parliament Speaker and political bloc leaders after the end of the protest and sit-in was announced. They termed the storming of the parliament as a dangerous infringement of the states prestige and a blatant constitutional violation that must be prosecuted. An earlier arrest order was made by Abadi but there were no indications of arrests. The high-level meetings would continue in the next days to ensure radical reforms of the political process. The political process in still fragile in Iraq and significant political differences coupled with the sectarianism and corruption has affected efforts to unify the government and the fight against the Islamic State. The UN Security Council on Friday underlined that the implementation of a political solution to the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara and enhanced cooperation between member countries of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region. In its Resolution 2285 extending the MINURSO mandate for one year until April 30, 2017, the UN executive body emphasizes that the achievement of a political solution to this long-standing dispute and enhanced cooperation between AMU member countries would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region. This is the fourth time that the UN Security Council has highlighted the relationship between the settlement of this artificial conflict and the crisis in the Sahel region. The mutation of the terrorist threat in North Africa since 2001 has actually given a very special dimension to the Sahara conflict which is concentrated in the midst of an area of instability, turning it into a major security challenge. The situation has led many think tanks and pundits to warn of the danger that the Sahara conflict weighs on the stability of the whole region. For this reason, several countries have supported the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco to the UN on April 11, 2007, to settle the dispute which has lasted for much too long. Most recently, the member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council renewed their support to the autonomy proposition during the Morocco-GCC held on April 20 in Riyadh, and the European Union-Morocco friendship group at the European Parliament on Friday called for the implementation of the autonomy plan without delay. The creation of no mans land in the Sahara will pave the way for the installation of a terrorism breeding ground that will negatively impact Africa and Europe and the world will bear responsibility, the EU lawmakers said in a statement. In the Friday resolution, the Security Council took note again of the Moroccan proposition and of the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco seeking to make headway with the process of finding a solution to the conflict. The Security Council also stressed the importance of a commitment of the parties to continue the process of negotiations within the framework of the talks under the auspices of the United Nations. In this vein, it called upon the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations. Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma, with extension of the tumour beyond the lymph node. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia The largest-ever study to sequence the whole genomes of breast cancers has uncovered five new genes associated with the disease and 13 new mutational signatures that influence tumour development. The results of two papers published in Nature and Nature Communications also reveal what genetic variations exist in breast cancers and where they occur in the genome. Dr Serena Nik-Zainal of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute led analysis of 560 breast cancer genomes; 556 from women and four from men. This international collaboration included breast cancer patients from around the world, including the USA, Europe and Asia. The results reveal more about the causes of breast tumours and provide evidence that breast cancer genomes are highly individual. Each person's cancer genome is a complete historical account of the genetic changes that they have acquired throughout life. As a person develops from a fertilised egg into adulthood, the DNA in their cells gather genetic changes along the way. This is because human DNA is constantly being damaged by things in the environment or simply from wear and tear in the cell. These mutations form patterns, or mutational signatures, that we can detect and they give us clues about the causes of cancer. Dr Nik-Zainal's team hunted for mutations that encourage cancers to grow and looked for mutational signatures in each patient's tumour. They found that women who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, and so have increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, had whole cancer genome profiles that were highly distinctive from each other and were also very different to other breast cancers. This discovery could be used to classify patients more accurately for treatment. Dr Nik-Zainal said: "In the future, we'd like to be able to profile individual cancer genomes so that we can identify the treatment most likely to be successful for a woman or man diagnosed with breast cancer. It is a step closer to personalised healthcare for cancer." Exactly where mutations occur in breast cancer genomes is important too. Collaborator Dr Ewan Birney, from the European Bioinformatics Institute, used computational techniques to analyse the sequence of genetic information held in each of the sample genomes. He said: "We know genetic changes and their position in the cancer genome influence how a person responds to a cancer therapy. For years we have been trying to figure out if parts of DNA that don't code for anything specific have a role in driving cancer development. This study both gave us the first large scale view of the rest of the genome, uncovering some new reasons why breast cancer arises, and gave us an unexpected way to characterize the types of mutations that happen in certain breast cancers." Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: "All cancers are due to mutations that occur in all of us in the DNA of our cells during the course of our lifetimes. Finding these mutations is crucial to understanding the causes of cancer and to developing improved therapies. This huge study, examining in great detail the many thousands of mutations present in each of the genomes of 560 cases brings us much closer to a complete description of the changes in DNA in breast cancer and thus to a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the disease and the opportunities for new treatments." Explore further Researchers discover genetic imprints and signatures left by DNA-damaging processes that lead to cancer More information: Nik-Zainal S et al. Landscape of somatic mutations in 560 breast cancer whole genome sequencesis published in Nature 2016 published on 2 May Nik-Zainal S et al. Landscape of somatic mutations in 560 breast cancer whole genome sequencesis published in2016 published on 2 May DOI: 10.1038/nature17676 Morganella S et al. The topography of mutational processes in breast cancer genomes is published in Nature Communications 2016 on 2 May DOI: 10.1038/10.1038/NCOMMS11383 Journal information: Nature , Nature Communications Human heart. Credit: copyright American Heart Association A widely recommended risk calculator for predicting a person's chance of experiencing a cardiovascular disease eventsuch as heart attack, ischemic stroke or dying from coronary artery diseasehas been found to substantially overestimate the actual five-year risk in adults overall and across all sociodemographic subgroups. The study by Kaiser Permanente was published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, also known as atherosclerosis, is a silent disease that starts early in life and can have serious consequences, including heart attack, stroke or even death if untreated. It progresses through a build-up of cholesterol plaque and other substances in the walls of arteries, causing obstruction of blood flow. Evidence-based use of statins to reduce cholesterol has been a cornerstone for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events in those patients who are at high enough risk to benefit. Publication of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Pooled Cohort risk equation for estimating the likelihood of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events in 2013 was considered an important step forward. However, the equation was developed from several groups of enrolled volunteers primarily conducted in the 1990s with limited ethnic diversity and age range, so its accuracy may vary in current community-based populations. "Our study provides critical evidence to support recalibration of the risk equation in 'real world' populations, especially given the individual and public health implications of the widespread application of this risk calculator," said senior author Alan S. Go, MD, chief of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions Research at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. The actual incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events over five years was substantially lower than the predicted risk in each category of the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort equation: For predicted risk less than 2.5 percent, actual incidence was 0.2 percent For predicted risk between 2.5 and 3.74 percent, actual incidence was 0.65 percent For predicted risk between 3.75 and 4.99 percent, actual incidence was 0.9 percent For predicted risk equal to or greater than 5 percent, actual incidence was 1.85 percent "From a relative standpoint, the overestimation is approximately five- to six-fold," explained Dr. Go. "Translating this, it would mean that we would be over-treating a good many people based on the risk calculator." The study followed a population of 307,591 men and women aged 40 to 75 years old, including non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, Asian, Pacific Islanders and Hispanics, from 2008 through 2013 and had complete five-year follow-up. The study population did not include patients with diabetes, prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or prior use of lipid-lowering therapy such as statins. To determine whether the risk equation might be improved by being recalibrated in "real world" clinical care, Kaiser Permanente researchers examined a large, multi-ethnic, community-based population of the health plan's members in Northern California whose cholesterol levels and other clinical measures could theoretically trigger a discussion about whether to consider starting cholesterol-lowering therapy based on estimated risk using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort tool. Among both men and women, there was consistent overestimation of observed five-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease incidence in each predicted risk category, with similarly poor calibration in both genders. Researchers also found consistent overestimation of actual atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in each of the major ethnic subgroups. Results were also similar across measures of socioeconomic status. On the other hand, researchers found that observed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk was substantially closer to that predicted by the ACC/AHA tool among adults with diabetes who were not treated with statin therapy for primary prevention. "Statin therapy is a mainstay treatment for millions of Americans," said lead author Jamal S. Rana, MD, PhD, cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and adjunct investigator with the Division of Research. "Our study highlights the importance of ongoing research and dialogue in this area to provide more rigorous evidence to guide treatment for the patients most likely to benefit from this approach." Explore further Analysis supports use of risk equations to guide statin therapy Credit: magicinfoto/Shutterstock How long you live depends in part on the genes you inherit. For example, those suffering from Werner's syndrome have inherited two defective copies of a gene coding for an enzyme that is involved in DNA replication and repair. A lack of this enzyme produces premature cell senescence the build up of dysfunctional cells as we age which causes damage to tissue and elevated levels of inflammatory proteins. The end result is the early development of many conditions seen in older people, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, grey hair, wrinkled skin and shrinkage of the thymus. Werner's syndrome is perhaps the nearest thing we will ever see to true accelerated ageing. At the other end of the scale are individuals who carry rare variants of the Foxo3a gene who show high physical and cognitive function late in life, as well as lower incidences of some age-related diseases and better self-reported health. Those fortunate enough to carry two copies of one of these rare variants have roughly three times the average chance of living into their late nineties. In essence, Foxo3a and wrn variants determine the biological age of those who carry them. Genes and perceived age In contrast, a new study published in Current Biology reports the first genetic variants to influence how old those who carry them are perceived to be by others. Groups of four observers estimated the facial age and percentage of facial skin covered by wrinkles in more than 2,600 mainly white Dutch participants in their mid-60s (an average of about 1.3% of skin was wrinkly). Reassuringly, the real age of the subjects correlated strongly with how old the investigators thought they looked and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the more wrinkled the face the older the observers guessed the person was. Genes can help explain why some of us age better than others. Credit: Leszek Glasner/Shutterstock A study entitled "scientists discover that wrinkled people look quite old" would hardly have made headlines. However, after investigating the genomes of the participants, the researchers discovered that changes in a gene known as MC1R were strongly associated with perceptions of facial age. People unfortunate enough to inherit two defective MC1R variants (including those which cause red hair and pale skin) were rated by the observers as being about two years older than people whose MC1R genes were working properly. Those who inherited one "good" variant and one "bad" one looked about a year older. So the gene could successfully explain why some guesses were off. This is the latest discovery of a gene involved in ageing. For example, a study published earlier this year showed that the gene IRF4 is involved in the greying of hair by helping to regulate the production and storage of melanin. It is clear that some of these "ageing genes" have major effects on health while others' influence is a little more aesthetic which makes them far from unimportant. Evolutionary importance So just what is MC1R doing? It could just be cosmetic, but this gene carries the information for a receptor which plays a key role in the synthesis of melanin (which blocks UV light) and prevents inflammation a major driver of ageing. Defective forms of this can in fact predispose someone to skin cancer. Why could this matter? Genes have to be passed from one generation to the next. Over a billion years ago there was selection for any genetic variation which allowed early organisms to reproduce more successfully than their competitors even if these genes led to decreased survival later on. This Faustian bargain, known as "antagonistic pleiotrophy", is all that ageing is. However, in more evolved species, the situation is complicated by sex. Mates have to be selected, attracted and sometimes kept which results in competition both between members of the same sex and between sexes. This process influences ageing because, depending on the species, the process of either competing for a mate or being the object of competition can shorten lifespan. For example, female fruit flies that mate regularly have shortened lifespans due to the damaging effects of chemicals that male flies secrete to destroy the sperm of previous mates. It is now recognised that humans also (albeit subconsciously) follow evolutionary drivers in mate selection and retention. Human males typically desire youth in partners more strongly than females do (because female fertility declines much more sharply with age). Given this context, carrying a gene variant that accidentally makes you look even older than you really are (or worse which truthfully advertises your above average propensity to skin cancer) is hardly an advantage, especially if you are a woman. On the plus side, across 37 different cultures one of the top three most strongly desired traits in a long term partner for both sexes is kindness. There are probably genes for that as well, but it is at least independent of wrinkles. Richard Faragher, Professor of Biogerontology, University of Brighton This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Explore further How old do you look? Study finds an answer in our genes This story is published courtesy of The Conversation (under Creative Commons-Attribution/No derivatives). People living with mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. It is estimated that 1 million people with mental illnesses are arrested and booked in the U.S. each year. As such, interventions to help this population, such as mental health courts, are becoming popular in communities across the country. New research from the University of Missouri finds that for mental health courts to be successful, every professional engaged in the process should be aware of the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and participant engagement within the system and connect participants with comprehensive treatment and services as early as possible. Mental health courts seek to address underlying problems that contribute to criminal behavior by linking criminal offenders who have mental illnesses to needed services and treatment. Mental health courts provide a voluntary option for criminal offenders that incorporates mental health assessments, treatment plans and ongoing monitoring to address the health needs of offenders in an effort to keep them out of jail, while also ensuring public safety. "We know that mental health courts are able to provide tools to decrease criminal recidivism, however, little is really known about the factors that facilitate or impede participant success in such programs," said Kelli Canada, assistant professor in the School of Social Work. "With mental illness, people tend to think of the primary disorder at the exclusion of other symptoms that have yet to reach a diagnosable level. Those additional psychiatric symptoms can have a significant impact on a participant's success within mental health courts. For example, a participant with schizophrenia may have mild depressive symptoms that are not accounted for in the treatment plan. The depressive symptoms, not the psychosis, could cause them to sleep through a meeting with a probation officer." Canada analyzed the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and mental health court engagement by looking at treatment adherence, substance use, days spent in jail, probation violations and retention during a six month follow up period. She found that symptoms of depression, anxiety and guilt were more severe for those participants incarcerated during their follow up period. The results speak to the importance of providing quality mental health and substance use treatment that addresses all of the participant's health needs. "We found that for mental health courts to be the most successful, they must find a way to account for mental illness variation and incorporate this variation into treatment planning and decision making regarding the use of sanctions in order to support program engagement," Canada said. "We know that for people dealing with substance abuse, slip-ups can occur. The same holds true for mental illness recovery. Recovery set-backs and psychiatric symptom exacerbation can impact a participant's engagement within the program; if that is not accounted for, it could and often does impact success." Explore further Study concludes that mental health courts significantly reduce repeat offenses, jail time More information: Kelli E. Canada et al, Psychiatric symptoms and mental health court engagement, Psychology, Crime & Law (2016). Kelli E. Canada et al, Psychiatric symptoms and mental health court engagement,(2016). DOI: 10.1080/1068316X.2016.1168422 Geneva, 2 May 2016. More women in Mexico than previously thought are dying of indirect causes of maternal mortality - such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension - conditions that often predate their pregnancies, according to a study published today. The study, by authors in Mexico and the United States of America, appears in a special issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Fewer women in low and middle-income countries die due to conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth than 10 years ago (1). The study highlights the risk that noncommunicable diseases could undermine recent progress in improving maternal survival. "We are winning the battle against the traditional causes of maternal death - such as post-partum haemmorhage, but not against the indirect causes of maternal death," said co-author Dr Rafael Lozano, from the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico. Lozano and his colleagues' findings add to mounting evidence on the causes of deaths during pregnancy in Mexico and are consistent with the latest global analyses that more than a quarter of maternal deaths worldwide are due to indirect causes (2). Maternal death - when a woman dies during pregnancy, childbirth or in the 42 days after she gives birth - is an important measure of a country's level of development and of how well its health system is performing. Direct maternal deaths result from obstetric complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Indirect maternal deaths result from an often pre-existing disease made worse by pregnancy and include noncommunicable conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, as well as infectious and parasitic diseases such as HIV infection, tuberculosis, hepatitis, influenza or malaria. The authors identified and re-classified 1214 deaths as maternal deaths, revealing that such deaths in Mexico had been underestimated by about 13%. As a result, Mexico's maternal mortality figures for the study period were corrected from 7829 to 9043. The additional maternal deaths were identified using a new method of intentional search and review of maternal deaths and their reclassification, called Busqueda Intencionada y Reclasificacion de Muertes Maternas or BIRMM (5). Applying the new method to data from the eight-year study period, the authors found that maternal deaths from direct obstetric causes declined from 46.4 to 32.1 per 100?000 live births during the study period and that maternal deaths from indirect causes had remained steady with 12.2 deaths per 100?000 live births in 2006 compared with 13.3 deaths per 100?000 live births in 2013. "The direct maternal deaths concern women living in the poorest municipalities, but the women who died of indirect causes had fewer pregnancies, were better educated and tended to live in wealthier municipalities," Lozano said. Like many middle-income countries Mexico has seen a rapid increase in high levels of cholesterol and obesity in recent years. This puts women of reproductive age at higher risk for pre-existing hypertensive disorders and type 2 diabetes (2). Seven out 10 Mexicans are overweight, while three of those seven are obese (3). A person with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more is considered overweight, and with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. In addition, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in adult Mexicans increased from 10.2% to 10.7% between 2010 and 2014, according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global status report on NCDs. In 2014, Mexico had the highest prevalence of diabetes among the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's 34 countries. The study adds to increasing evidence of the "obstetric transition", a term recently coined to describe the shift in the causes of maternal deaths from direct to indirect. "Maternal health programmes tend to focus on making skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care available, and on what happens at the time of the delivery," said Dr Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General for Family, Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization (WHO). "There has been a huge improvement in the provision of these interventions in low and middle-income countries and this has reduced maternal mortality globally. But the vast majority of maternal deaths from indirect deaths cannot be averted through these delivery-focused interventions," Bustreo said. "In the absence of the intense review process by the study authors these deaths would not have been counted and the true magnitude of maternal mortality in Mexico would have been underestimated," Bustreo said. She said it was vital that governments and the international community continue to invest in civil registration systems to ensure that every maternal death is counted and that the correct cause of death is registered in each case. Specialized systems, such as maternal death surveillance and response and confidential enquiries, can provide critical information on the events that led up to a maternal death and identify the improvements that urgently need to be made to prevent future deaths. The new Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-2030) proposes key actions governments can take to end all kinds of preventable maternal mortality, Bustreo said. These include: strengthening the health workforce and scaling up efforts to ensure universal coverage of essential health services, including pre-pregnancy detection and management of noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors (e.g. obesity). The study by Lozano and his colleagues is one of a special collection of articles published in the May issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization that is devoted to new evidence and key lessons from efforts over the past 15 years to reduce maternal, child and adolescent deaths. The collection of articles is timely because many countries are just starting to implement the global strategy, which aims to prevent deaths and improve overall health and well-being. The Mexican study highlights the need for maternal, newborn and child health services to be designed to meet new challenges, such as the emerging threat of noncommunicable diseases to maternal health. "To reduce indirect maternal deaths, obstetricians and other health-care personnel attending to women during pregnancy and the postpartum period need to be trained to care for women's health holistically and not just her pregnancy," Bustreo said. "This special issue presents important new findings on actions that countries can take to ensure that women, children and adolescents not only survive, but thrive," she said. Explore further Maternal mortality cut by almost half in 25 years: UN Provided by World Health Organization 1. WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group, United Nations Population Division. Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2015. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015. 2. Say L, Chou D, Gemmill A, Tuncalp O, Moller AB, Daniels J, Gulmezoglu AM, Temmerman M, Alkema L Global causes of maternal death: a WHO systematic analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2014 Jun;2(6):e323-33. 3. Barquera S, Campos-Nonato I, Hernandez-Barrera L, Pedroza A, Rivera-Dommarco JA. Prevalence of obesity in Mexican adults 2000-2012. Salud Publica Mex. 2013;55 Suppl 2:S151-60. Spanish. PMID:24626691 4. Stevens G, Dias RH, Thomas KJ, Rivera JA, Carvalho N, Barquera S, et al. Characterizing the epidemiological transition in Mexico: national and subnational burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. PLoS Med. 2008 Jun 17;5(6):e125. dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050125 PMID:18563960 5. Torres LM, Rhenals AL, Jimenez A, Ramirez-Villalobos D, Uriostegui R, Pina M, et al. [Intentional searc @MichaelAuslen Carlos Beruff has a big goal for his first three months as a candidate: Visit all 67 counties in Florida. He's on his way -- with 39 counties done, according to a tracker on his website called "Road to 67," and just less than a month to hit the remaining 28. He's already hit up the state's major population centers, leaving mostly smaller counties still to go, including Hernando and Monroe. The largest county he hasn't visited is Brevard. Beruff is hardly the only candidate making stops across the state. All five Republican contenders have been showing up at Republican clubs and other events around the state. Beruff, a Bradenton homebuilder, is running against U.S. Reps. Ron DeSantis of Ponte Vedra Beach and David Jolly of Indian Shores, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera of Miami and Orlando defense contractor Todd Wilcox in the Aug. 30 Senate primary to replace Marco Rubio. Gov. Rick Scott was in California looking for jobs Monday, and criticizing the Golden State for its high taxes and labor costs. Here's the flier Scott was handing out at a conference in Beverly Hills. His west coast counterpart, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, fired back with equal measure, ridiculing Scott for "silly political stunts" and urging him to get serious about climate change. Here's Brown's letter to Scott. The full story is here. Give Local is a 24-hour online giving event. All day May 3, log onto givelocalmissoula.org and donate to one of or all of your favorite local nonprofits. With more than 130 nonprofits involved, anyone can be a philanthropist by donating $10 or more. Donate by visiting givelocalmissoula.org any time on May 3. Or stop into one of many Donor Lounges around town to make your donation with a Give Local community volunteer. *** Preschool and kindergarten round-up at Valley Christian School is Thursday, May 12, at 2 p.m. for children entering preschool or kindergarten in the fall 2016. Parents and students are encouraged to attend. Classroom activities and kindergarten readiness activities will be available for the children while the parents learn more about Christian education. Valley Christian School focuses on the whole childs education for 4-year-old preschool students through high-school graduation. RSVP at admissions@valleychristian.org or 549-0482, ext. 231. *** Lolo National Forest and the Watershed Education Network are teaming up to offer a Youth Conservation Corps Summer Monitoring Program and are now recruiting high-school-age youth who are interested in working outdoors to become part of a eight-member crew this summer, June 20-July 22. The program is for high-school-aged youth (15-19 years of age by June 20 who have interest in and ability to work outside during the day walking, hiking, following directions, completing data sheets accurately and working cooperatively as part of a team). Monitoring projects will run weekdays, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. LNF requires the participation of eight new high-school students; students who have participated in WENs YCC or CSC crews are ineligible. YCC crew members will be paid $8.05 per hour; schedule may be subject to change as work projects dictate and may include camping overnight. Transportation to and from field sites and all monitoring supplies will be provided by WEN and LNF; crew members will meet daily at the WEN office in Missoula; no housing is provided.; student crew members must be able and available to work at remote monitoring projects throughout the session timeline. To apply, fill out application form at montanawatershed.org/summer-ycc/ and write a 1-2 paragraph essay on why you would like to join a WEN team working outdoors this summer. You can send your completed application and essay to water@montanawatershed.org! Put YCC Application in the subject line. Applications are due by Friday, May 13. Applications that are received after May 13 may be considered, but will miss out on the first round of consideration. *** Grizzly Peak Retirement Community, 3600 American Way, will host a four-hour Smart Driver Class (formerly "55 Alive") on Wednesday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. While this safe driving strategies class is designed for drivers age 50 and over, all drivers are welcome. The class fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. There are no written exams or driving tests, and Montana mandates insurance discounts for qualified graduates. Pre-registration is advised. To sign up, contact Lena Jordan at 721-2292. For further information, call Amanda Hodges, AARP instructor, at 644-3446. People need to know why a vote for Donald Trump is a vote against the Bible and why he could destroy America. He does not believe the Bible, because he said there is no cure for the sin Ben Carson did. He is too proud to ask forgiveness and he does not forgive others. "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud" (Proverbs 15:25). He divides people and "a house divided will fall." The Bible tells us to elect leaders we can trust, and he has one of the worst records and Ted Cruz has one of the best. We can trust Cruz to stop the deal that lets Iran have the bomb and billions of dollars Iran can use for terror and to destroy America. Trump always changes but Cruz has always been the same. Trump has supported every liberal cause and now said he is conservative. He slanders his GOP opponents and praises Vladimir Putin, who would restore communism and take Ukraine. Trump could be the best con man we will see. He even has Carson supporting him after calling him a liar. Many Christians support him but he is the opposite of a Christian. Many women support him but he insults almost all women. Many people believe he will control immigration but he hired illegal immigrants who take jobs. Stanley Severson, Murfreesboro, Tennessee BILLINGS A recently produced map showing 18.6 million acres of land in Montana possibly being used by hunting outfitters more than twice what has previously been reported has drawn criticism from all quarters. Its not even close to accurate, said Joe Perry, a Conrad farmer and member of the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council who circulated a copy of the map via email. Who knows how many acres weve got? Steve Gallus, executive officer for the Montana Board of Outfitters, said he provided the information to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to create the map knowing that it would be imperfect. The map was produced with the caveat that we think these numbers are inflated and the numbers reported next winter will be more accurate, Gallus said. Every time I emailed the map to anyone it included that caveat. Software challenges Gallus, a former Butte legislator and fishing guide, took over as executive director of the Montana Board of Outfitters in April 2014. He said that in his first meeting with Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials they requested an updated copy of the map. But FWPs Alan Charles told the Billings Gazette that the agency was out of the map business and that Gallus had come to him asking the agency to produce the document. We were reluctant to do it initially, Charles said, but FWP director Jeff Hagener agreed to let his GIS staff produce the map, but is billing the Department of Labor and Industry for their time. The department houses the Board of Outfitters. Previous maps had been produced in 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2013. In 2005 the map showed, within a 7 percent margin of error, that 5.6 million acres were being used by licensed hunting outfitters. In 2011 that had jumped to 7.79 million acres of private lands that may have been used by licensed outfitters, but didnt report property under 40 acres. The most recently produced map put the figure at 18.6 million acres. On the map FWP included a disclaimer saying: FWP assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the outfitter data Questions related to outfitter data depicted on this map should be directed to the (Montana Board of Outfitters). I dont know what the hell it is. I dont know if its accurate or not, Charles said. Outfitters' response Publication of the map has angered the outfitting industrys Montana representative, who has already penned a letter to Gov. Steve Bullock expressing his concerns. I think the data are flawed, said Mac Minard, executive director of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. In conversations with some of the states more than 280 hunting outfitters and based on the downturn in the economy and the surplus of out-of-state hunting licenses, Minard said he couldnt reconcile the map with what has been reported in the past. Its probably grossly overinflated, he said. There are elements of the sportsmen community who are going to grab this and say things are out of control, Minard said. It will cause an unwarranted and unnecessary response to the landowner community. Governors request Perry said hes not sure who to blame for the maps inaccuracy, but said he distrusts the Board of Outfitters. The Board of Outfitters said we fulfilled our obligation, he said. FWP said we did the best with what weve got. Last year (the Board of Outfitters) promised me a state of the art map. PL/PW needs that information and sportsmen want that information. The information is considered so important that Gov. Bullock amended House Bill 274 during the 2013 Legislature to ensure that reporting of outfitted lands in Montana continued. HB274 was written to reduce the amount of paperwork outfitters have to do and would have made annual reporting of leased acreage for outfitting discretionary. Bullock called that directive unacceptable. FWPs Charles said MOGA fought tooth and nail to get the reporting requirement stripped from the bill. But the governor cited the data as vital to the management of wildlife, the setting of hunting seasons and critical for the activities of the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council, which has been working on land access issues. I have not felt there has been any real commitment on the part of the Board of Outfitters or Steve Gallus to meet the statutory requirement, Charles said. I have not seen a real commitment from the Board of Outfitters to give the public accessible information. Charles comments harken back to 2000 when the Board of Outfitters was criticized in a Legislative Audit Committee report that said the board was so poorly organized that it cannot properly regulate the outfitting industry or determine whether growth in the industry has reduced public access to land for hunting, the Associated Press reported. Ronja Abel, deputy communications director for the governor, wrote in an email that, Governor Bullock continues to believe it is in the public interest to understand where licensed outfitters are authorized to conduct their business. He has directed the agencies involved to resolve the data issue behind the current map. Outdated system Despite the governors declaration about the importance of the information, no map has been produced since 2013 even though numerous requests were made to the Board of Outfitters to provide the figures. Gallus said thats because the immense amount of data is contained in an outdated database that cant communicate with the Department of Labor and Industrys newly updated software, a system that has undergone some pretty heavy systemic changes. Theyve been talking about converting to a new database for several years now, Charles said. I dont know that theyve made any progress on that. Gallus said a more accurate map could be produced by February 2017 once the departments system is upgraded to use digital information provided by outfitters that is required to be reported by Nov. 1. Based on his conversations with Gallus, Minard said, The contents (of the map) are technically flawed, and its use is ill advised. He questioned why the map was even created given that the information could not be properly sorted to portray an accurate representation of outfitted lands in Montana. The expectation that I have is that were going to have technically sound and valid results provided to the public, Minard said. If the maps purpose is to help inform the hunting public about lands status then why was it so damn important to crank this out in April? Gallus said he had been directed to get a map produced and build a new system to gather data. Thats where my focus is. I honestly dont know if they have the capacity to do it right, which means we should send it out to a contractor, Minard said. A 12th-grade male student, age 17, is in need of jeans. Because of sizing, we are looking for a gift card for this young man. If you can help, you can donate $100 to My Student in Need and we will purchase a gift card so the teacher can take the child shopping. Seeley-Swan No. 1610. An 11th-grade female student, age 17, is in need of a bike so she has transportation back and forth to school. Her previous bike was stolen and she is struggling to get to and from school, which leads to chronic tardiness and absences. If you can help with this need you can donate a used and working bike or you can make a donation of $100 to My Student in Need and we will purchase a gift card so the teacher can take the student shopping for one. Big Sky No. 1611. Nonresident travelers mean big bucks for Montana. The final 2015 nonresident visitor numbers were released Wednesday, April 27, by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana. Researchers found the 2015 economic contribution of 11.7 million nonresident travelers to Montana was $3.7 billion. These visitors directly supported more than $3.1 billion of economic activity and 46,000 Montana jobs, and indirectly supported an additional $2 billion of economic activity and over 16,000 more jobs. Visitation was up 7 percent in 2015, with 11.7 million travelers visiting the state during the year, said Kara Grau, ITRR assistant director of economic analysis. Forty-four percent, or 5.2 million, of those visitors were in the state during the third quarter of July through September. Forty-eight percent of spending by travelers during 2015 occurred during the third quarter, totaling over $1.7 billion, with travel groups spending an average of $153.51 per day during those summer months. During the first and second quarters of 2015, traveler groups spent an average of $156.29 and $130.55 per day respectively, and totaled $377 million and $800 million. Fourth-quarter group spending averaged $156.04 per day, totaling nearly $744 million. Though total spending by nonresident travelers was down 6 percent from 2014, much of that reduction is due to significantly lower fuel prices during 2015. A full 32 percent of travelers expenditures during 2014 went toward fuel. Much less of nonresidents daily travel budget went toward fuel purchases during 2015 just 20 percent, in fact. Spending on fuel is generally the largest expense for nonresidents traveling in Montana, ITRR Director Norma Nickerson said. That was still the case in 2015, but not to the extent that weve seen in the past. Traveling through our expansive state cost our visitors much less last year, meaning they were able to put that money toward other things and other experiences while they were here. For more information about the 2015 nonresident visitation and spending estimates, visit scholarworks.umt.edu/itrr_pubs/333/. All information and reports published by ITRR are available online at itrr.umt.edu. *** Three UM students from the School of Business Administration became finalists in an online international business simulation after battling nearly 850 students and demonstrating world-class managerial expertise. Yibo Fan, Ji Qiu and Yutong Tian won second place in the Capsim Spring 2016 Foundation Challenge, scoring 642 out of 1,000 possible points and 81 points above the third-place winner. The team had 11 days to complete eight qualifying rounds and two days for the eight final rounds of the online simulation, competing with participants from 18 countries around the globe. Qui and Tian are majoring in finance, and Fan is double majoring in accounting and finance with a minor in math. All three plan to graduate this spring. The team used Foundation business simulation in a class taught by management information systems Professor Shawn Clouse, and decided to put their skills to work in the Capsim Challenge. I learned many things as I played, Tian said. When I made mistakes, I read the reports to solve it. I believe I will meet the same challenges in my work in the future. Capsim Managing Director Reda Chafai said the challenge gives finalists a tangible, milestone achievement to add to their resume, showing their career readiness and business skills. These competencies are what the National Association of Colleges and employers seek. No. 1 is critical thinking and problem-solving, Chafai said, or how students use knowledge, facts and data to analyze issues, make decisions and overcome problems. This is the essence of the business simulation experience. Other participating countries in the Capsim Spring Challenge included Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Russia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. This marks the fifth time UM students have placed in the top of the competition. Past winners include Curtis Wallette, who won first place in the spring 2013 competition; Christopher Chew, who won second place in fall 2013; Donna Weathers, who finished second in spring 2014; and Don Helliwell, who won fourth place in fall 2014. The biannual Capsim Challenge is free and open to all students who have used the business simulations Capstone, Foundation or GlobalDNA in their school curriculum. Thousands of participants compete in running a multi-million-dollar simulated company. More than 600 business schools and corporations from around the country and abroad have participated in Capisms simulations. To learn more about Capsim, visit capsim.com/. *** One of the University of Montana spectrUM Discovery Areas popular traveling exhibits, Motion, will visit Florence this week, from Monday through Wednesday, May 2-4. Featuring hands-on exhibits and activities exploring the wonders of physics and engineering, Motion will transform the Florence-Carlton High School Gymnasium into an interactive science museum. Highlights of the exhibition include a larger-than-life spinning turntable, a gravity well and spectrUMs ever-popular flight simulator. The Florence tour stop is powered by the Jane S. Heman Foundation. Families and friends are also invited to attend a free Family Science Night from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, at the Florence-Carlton High School Gymnasium, where students can share spectrUMs Motion exhibition and activities with family, friends and community members. The spectrUM Discovery Area travels the state with a mobile science center featuring interactive exhibits. According to spectrUM Director Holly Truitt, the goal of spectrUMs mobile outreach is to help inspire Montanas next generation of scientists, health care providers, engineers and visionaries. Committed to inspiring a culture of learning and discovery for all, UMs spectrUM Discovery Area is an interactive science center located in the heart of downtown Missoula. Annually, spectrUM serves more than 50,000 Montanans through in-museum and mobile programs. Since 2006, spectrUM has traveled exhibits and educators to 73 schools and four public libraries in 30 Montana counties, including all seven American Indian reservations in Montana. In total, spectrUMs mobile science program has served over 52,000 people, of whom 30 percent are Native American and over 75 percent live in rural communities. SpectrUMs sponsors and partners include the UM Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience, Community Medical Center, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the Jane S. Heman Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Program, NISE Network, the Noyce Foundation, the O.P. and W.E. Edwards Foundation, SciGirls, the Simons Foundation and the Western Montana Area Health Education Center. Its Science for All Scholarship Fund has given the gift of science to more than 12,000 Montana children. The public can visit spectrUM at 218 E. Front St. in Missoula. Public hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission costs $3.50 per person. For more information or to book a school visit, call spectrUM STEM Education Program Manager Jessie Herbert at 243-4828 or visit spectrum.umt.edu. This Florida reef is as important to our country as the sequoias of California, and we are losing it faster than we can figure out why, said Rachel Silverstein, the executive director of Miami Waterkeeper, a nonprofit environmental organization that has sued the Army Corps of Engineers over coral damage. There are a lot of stressors that are impacting and killing coral reefs, but this is a hyper-local example of something we could easily have prevented. The agencys analysis, obtained by The New York Times, contradicts a December report by the corps, which primarily blamed white plague for the coral damage on reef sections near the dredge. In the corpss report, scientists said that white plague was responsible for 85 percent of the coral deaths in the upper and middle parts of the reef and in the control site, and for 18.3 percent of the deaths of coral closer to shore. The report failed to highlight that 93 percent of the corals closer to the dredge had partially died because of sediment, compared with 7 percent at sites farther away, Ms. Silverstein said. Scientists for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration disagreed with the corpss emphasis on white plague disease. Rather, they concluded that the majority of the reef, stretching beyond 3,000 feet, showed conclusive damage to corals by dredging sediment. The agencys survey of the extensive damage comes at a time when Fort Lauderdale is seeking final congressional approval for the dredging of its own port, Port Everglades, one of the largest in the country. The dredging project to deepen the port cleared a crucial Senate committee last week as part of a larger water bill and is headed for the Senate floor. Coral reefs are critical to South Florida because they help lessen the damage from hurricanes, are important to marine biodiversity and lure tourists. Environmentalists have warned Congress and the state that the corpss plan to lessen the damage to corals in that area is flawed because it does not take into account new information, much of it bolstered by state and county scientists, about the extent of the coral damage from the port of Miamis dredge. Expansion of Port Everglades is expected to begin next year. DHAKA, Bangladesh The police detained three men early Sunday in connection with the killing of a Hindu tailor, the latest in a series of hacking deaths in the country. Islamist militants are believed to be responsible for most of the killings. The police in the Tangail district, where the tailor was killed around noon on Saturday, also recovered a bloodstained shirt that they believe one of the killers removed as he fled, Mohammad Aslam Khan, a senior police official in the district, said in a telephone interview. The police in Tangail, in central Bangladesh, have no idea who committed the attack, Mr. Khan said. The tailor, Nikhil Chandra Joarder, 52, died after three people attacked him with sharp objects outside his shop in Gopalpur, an area in Tangail, the police said. Mr. Khan said the detained men were Rafiqul Islam Badsha, 50, the secretary of the local affiliate of Jamaat-e-Islami, an opposition party and the countrys largest Islamist party; Jhontu Mia, a local activist with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, another opposition party, which has held power in the past; and Moulana Aminul Islam, the principal of the local madrasa. Butte residents have a new option when it comes to assisted-living facilities in the Mining City. Janelle Hildreth and Aaron Hildreth, a Butte native, recently acquired Beyond Homes at 2930 Elm St. In May 2015 the husband and wife duo reopened the facility as a BeeHive Homes, a nation-wide assisted-living franchise. The couple say theyve done a lot to spruce up the Elm Street property, which now boasts 33 beds, 24 staff members, one memory-care unit and two assisted-living houses. Their renovations include new paint inside and out, the addition of granite kitchen countertops, redesigned front porches, updates to the carpeting, an overhaul of the common shower rooms and new interior design and landscaping. We tried to make the houses feel more like a home, said Janelle, who added shes received positive reviews from residents and their families regarding their new digs. Redesigning the facility's three houses, however, is not all the couple is doing to create a home-like atmosphere for residents. The Hildreths said theyve tried to give their facility a residential feel. The biggest difference is that we are much smaller (than other facilities) said Janelle. Janelle said having a smaller facility allows her and her staff to focus on residents sense of independence and pay more attention to details, such as preparing meals that are both up to snuff nutritionally and pleasing to residents tastes. We can adjust our meals very easily, she said, pointing out that running a smaller facility offers her flexibility when it comes to planning meals. If someone doesnt like corn, we dont put corn in their food; if they dont like oatmeal and oatmeals on the menu that day, then the managers will make them pancakes and eggs instead. BeeHive residents also have the opportunity to eat local delicacies like pasties. We have pasty-making days, said Janelle. The residents get to help make their pasties, and they all want us to try their original recipes. However, Janelle added that the proper way to make a pasty is often an item of contention among residents, each of whom has his or her own version of what the Butte delicacy ought to taste like. In addition to pasty night, the couple said BeeHive offers activities to keep residents active, such as baking classes, weekly exercise, picnics, crafts, games and outings, among others. BeeHive also has its own nurse on staff, said Janelle, who is also the nurse in addition to the faciltys co-owner and administrator. But perhaps whats most surprising about BeeHive is not whats in the pasties on any particular night its the age of the facilitys owners. Janelle is 27-year-old with a nursing degree. Aaron, meanwhile, is 31 and has a degree in business. And while most young professionals might be found elsewhere perhaps hatching dreams of big-city living or catching up on the bar scene for the Hildreths, running an assisted-living facility makes sense. The couple said they always wanted to run a business together that corresponded to their backgrounds and interests. Before coming to Butte, Janelle worked in pediatric home healthcare and in a nursing home in Bozeman while Aaron was a banker. But when Aaron was offered a job as an operations manager for an environmental company, the couple moved to North Dakota where Janelle worked in the intensive care unit of a hospital. There, Janelle said, she learned to think on her feet. You had to use critical thinking and problem-solving because the doctors werent there all the time, said Janelle, describing how a patients status could change at a moments notice. At the hospital Janelle said she also had the opportunity to serve as an ambassador between doctors and patients. As a nurse you get to be the one who helps educate the patient on whats going on, said Janelle. You get to get closer to the patient than the doctors do. Youre right there by their side holding their hand while theyre struggling with things. Aaron, on the other hand, said running BeeHive Homes gives him the opportunity to utilize his experience in business. As an operations manager, Araon said he could get calls at any time of day because something went wrong with the environmental work his company was doing. Wed get phone calls at two in the morning saying the crew still hasnt arrived, said Aaron describing how he was often called upon to keep things running smoothly. Aaron added that he thought this work as an operations manager prepared him well for running an assisted-living facility, where he has 24-hour staffing and needs to be prepared for challenges as they arise. Eventually, the couple said, they moved to Butte because a BeeHive franchiser offered them the opportunity to turn Beyond Homes into one of the companys franchises. Its good to be back in Butte, said Aaron when asked what its like to be back in his home town. Thats an understatement he loves being back in Butte, said Janelle He desperately missed Montana when we were in North Dakota. Hes a Montana boy. As for Janelle, she said the best part of her job is getting to know Butte people. Ive learned a lot from the residents, said Janelle. Its been really fun to learn their ways and how they grew up and their history and the history of Butte. Its been worth it, she added. Its definitely been worth it. You fall in love with them. Its like having 33 grandmas and grandpas. Butte police reports SHOPLIFTING Jessica Ann Coombs, 35, of Butte was arrested for shoplifting dog grooming accessories and a package of condoms, valued at $99, from Walmart on Friday. She was arrested in the parking lot of Happy Endings Casino, 3878 Paxson Ave. She also was wanted on a warrant issued in Bozeman city court. ASSAULT John Suraco, 45, of Butte faces misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and partner or family member assault after his girlfriend, 39, alleged he struck her face at their residence of the 1800 block of Phillips Avenue about 8 p.m. Friday. Police say he grabbed an officers wrist and pulled away when an attempt was made to arrest him. WOMAN WIELDS KNIFE The right index finger of a 57-year-old Butte man was cut by a Butte woman, 45, after she allegedly resisted his efforts to grab a knife in a vehicle on the 1100 block of West Quartz Street on Friday. Police say the two had been drinking and were heading to buy more beer when they got into an argument about people carrying knives. The woman was not located. WINE THEFT Police are seeking an arrest warrant for a Butte woman, 23, who was caught on video surveillance about 10 a.m. Saturday at Safeway, 2500 Massachusetts Ave., taking a box of Franzia wine and deli food valued at $6. DIGGING OUT Russell Perry, 46, of Rocker was arrested for felony DUI, a fourth offense, and misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass to property and driving with a suspended or revoked license on the walking trail behind Montana Tech on Saturday. He was trying to dig out his truck, knew the trail was off limits to vehicles, and told police he had to drive because his wife was drunk. He was taken to St. James Healthcare for a blood draw after he failed sobriety tests. DISORDERLY CONDUCT Austin Brisbo, 41, of Butte is facing a disorderly conduct charge for allegedly attempting to kick in the door to his sisters residence on the 700 block of West Granite Street about 3 a.m. Monday. Police say he was yelling profanities and intoxicated. A 21-year-old Butte man tased early Sunday by police admitted acting unruly and resisting arrest and received a six-month misdemeanor probation in Butte city court Monday. Andrew Strumpfer pleaded guilty before Judge Glen Granger to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was ordered to pay a fine of $570. Butte-Silver Bow police responded to the 600 row of Silver Bow Homes for a disturbance about 1 a.m. Strumpfer was found in front of his residence yelling and screaming. A police report states the suspect refused to comply and advanced on the responding officer, who was cornered against a property fence. Undersheriff George Skuletich said the officer warned Strumpfer to stand down, which he refused and was then tased in the chest. The suspect fell to the ground and was subsequently placed in handcuffs. At the detention center, the undersheriff said Strumpfer continued to yell and scream and refused to listen. He was then placed in a restraint chair. Authorities say a Butte man and woman in police custody in connection with forged checks at businesses in Butte may be linked to other forgeries in southwest and eastern Montana. According to Butte-Silver Bow police reports, Boris Argo Barry, 26, and Amanda Brooke Davis, 31, were arrested at the Motel 6 in Rocker on Wednesday after Murdochs Ranch and Home Supply, 3939 Harrison Ave., received a call inquiring why a gift card was declined. A store representative contacted police indicating possible fraud and that the query was made by a caller at the motel on Nissler Road, Undersheriff George Skuletich said Monday. Davis opened the motel room door Wednesday morning for police, who found Barry sitting on a bed. He was wanted on a warrant for revocation of sentence. Skuletich said after obtaining search warrants officers found large amounts of paperwork including blank checks, ledgers, stolen credit cards and checks issued to other people. The suspects allegedly obtained routing numbers from bank accounts and made checks. Two of the businesses involved include Murdochs and the Butte Copper Company, 2125 Harrison Ave., court documents state. A K-9 unit located 6.5 grams of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $1,000, along with an assortment of drug paraphernalia such as scales and glass pipes. About 4 grams was in one baggie and 2.5 grams were divided among six baggies. Some of the merchandise purchased with the stolen credit cards ranging from hunting and camping equipment and tools was recovered by police, the undersheriff said, adding that some of the items may have been destined for pawn shops. Barry and Davis have been under police investigation for several months. Skuletich said the two have traveled around different communities in Montana. Investigators also are looking into other possible forgeries in the Miles City area. At their initial appearances in Butte justice court last week, Davis and Barry were each charged with felony forgery, misdemeanor theft of identity, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, felony use of property subject to criminal forfeiture and misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Barry told the judge he was homeless. Davis inquired about a bail reduction due to her children. Barry is being held on $130,000 bond at the county jail. His Thursday appearance in Butte district court on the states petition to revoke a suspended sentence was continued to June 2. Davis is being held on $100,000 bond. Both suspects are due back in court May 26. In 1877, Butte had barely begun its rebound from the low point in 1874 when perhaps 60 or 100 people were still skulking around the old gold camp, scrabbling for leftover riches. With the first silver mines in 1875, Butte's resurgence began. In July 1877, western Montana was under a terror alert as Chief Joseph (also known as White Bird) and the Nez Perce went "on the warpath." The Missoulian put out an extra on July 25, screaming "Help! Help! White Bird Defiant. Come Running," dispatched by messenger to surrounding towns. The word reached Deer Lodge by July 28, where William A. Clark was visiting. He reportedly mounted a horse at 11 in the morning and rode the 42 miles to Butte in three hours. The fire bell summoned residents to Loeber's Hall & Brewery at the southeast corner of Main and Broadway. The first military company was mustered almost immediately, with Clark elected captain of 53 privates and 10 officers, but in short order, three additional companies were formed, and Clark was promoted to major of the Butte battalion. A total of 153 men and 35 officers were ready to ride to the defense of Missoula, but there were nowhere near enough horses or guns, for that matter for all of them. Most of the miners were in fact not experienced horsemen, and many of the horses the battalion commandeered were unbroken, resulting in "laughable scenes" of horsemanship, but the rag-tag group eventually set out for Deer Lodge in buggies, hay wagons, and any other conveyance they could find. They made it as far as Garrison when word came from "the front" Missoula that the Nez Perce had left the Lolo area and headed south. The Clark command returned to Deer Lodge and encamped at Warm Springs. There, Montana's Adjutant General James Mills sent orders for the Butte men to proceed to the Big Hole, the expected destination of Chief Joseph. They had barely set out on July 30 when countermanding orders came from Territorial Governor Benjamin F. Potts. Potts recalled the sortie because the locals in the Bitterroot Valley were not cooperating with the military for the simple reason that Chief Joseph had promised their safety if they allowed him to pass and he paid for supplies with gold. Furthermore, the U.S. army was leisurely at best in the pursuit of the Nez Perce, so Potts advised Clark to abandon his unsupported attack. The governor was reportedly humiliated by the lack of federal support, and it wasn't until October that Joseph surrendered in the Bear Paw Mountains. The Butte contingent had one more role to play after being sent home July 30. General John Gibbon's regular army forces attacked the Nez Perce encampment on the Big Hole on August 9-10. Thirty-one of his 206 men were killed and 38 wounded, and he sent a plea to Butte for relief and ambulance support. Clark led 25 teams and 105 men to the scene to evacuate the wounded to Deer Lodge. Nobody has filed for the District 6 commissioner seat in Butte-Silver Bow County, but there is still time to get in as a write-in candidate. And if nobody files as one of those by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for the June 7 primary election, folks can still join the general election race by filing as write-ins by Oct. 4 if they pay the $32.99 filing fee. But just getting a few friends and relatives to write in your name on Election Day wont get you the seat. State law requires write-ins to get at least 5 percent of the votes that the winning candidate got in the last general election. District 6 Commissioner Jim Fisher, who is among six people running for Butte-Silver Bow chief executive this year, got 727 votes in November 2012. He defeated incumbent Wally Frasz, who got 506 votes. To win as a write-in for the post this year, a candidate will need to get at least 37 votes which is 5 percent of Fishers total in 2012. If someone files as a write-in candidate for the primary and meets the threshold, that persons name will be placed on the ballot in the general election, according to the Montana Secretary of States office. Fisher said Monday he is focused on the chief executives race. If hes unsuccessful in the primary or general election and a write-in doesnt meet the threshold, he said he might ask commissioners to appoint him to another term. But first things first. Only the top two vote-getters in the June 7 primary for chief executive will advance and have their names on the general election ballot in November, and Fisher hopes to be one of them. Chief Executive Matt Vincent is seeking a second, four-year term. Others running are Commissioners Dave Palmer and Cindy Perdue-Dolan; Butte architect Mark Reavis; and Public Works laborer RonSarge Rowling. All six have been invited to speak at the Butte-Silver Bow Democrats Burros Club luncheon at noon Wednesday at the Butte Country Club. The Montana Standard is hosting a debate with them at 7 p.m. May 12 at the Mining City Center in Butte. If two or more people file as write-in candidates for the general election and they are the only ones running, each must still get 5 percent of the winners total last time. If they meet that threshold, the one with the most votes wins, said Butte-Silver Bow Clerk and Recorder Sally Hollis. Six of 12 council seats are on the ballot this year, but only District 6 will be nameless on June 7. Write-ins usually face long odds if they are going against actual names on the ballot, but one such candidate came close to becoming sheriff in Montanas Powell County in 2014. Gavin Roselles mounted a late write-in campaign against longtime Sheriff Scott Howard, whose name was the only one on the ballot. Howard got 994 votes to 904 that were counted for Roselles, who had lost his job in the sheriffs office that year because of cutbacks. Election judges, following directives from the state, rejected 238 other write-in votes, many because they only included Roselles last name. A guest letter from the retiring administrator of the Montana State Hospital (MSH) describes the good intentions of state officials in moving patients with disabilities to a former youth prison at Galen. The letter describes "selling points" that one might pitch if one were trying to sell, for example, a new prison. The reality at Galen (and by "reality," I refer to the actual living conditions of the newly imprisoned patients) is very different from the officials' stated intentions. Disability Rights Montana knows that reality because we don't rely on newspaper stories or politicians for our information; instead, we rely on professional staff who actually go into the facilities for several hours at a time on a near-weekly basis, to physically observe the facilities, the patients and staff, and to personally talk with the people who live and work in the facilities. The reality is that since the move to Galen, patients have not been allowed to go outside for fresh air because there is only I very high razor-wire fence; a second fence is being constructed inside the already small yard and patients are confined indoors until that second fence is finished. In addition, Galen has imposed new prison-like restrictions that were not in place at the Hospital. These include greatly diminished phone time, and only 1 phone in the entire facility for nearly 50 patients. DRM was told in February that phones were to be installed. As of this date, there is still only I wall phone so patients take turns passing around a cell phone with very poor reception. The executive branch of our state government never discussed the Galen facility or creating a new mental health prison with the 2015 legislature. As a result, many legislators, including those on the oversight committee for DPHHS, were surprised and disappointed when the move was announced only after the 19-years lease for the facility had already been signed. The unnecessary institutionalization of people with mental illness is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead v. L. C., which is a landmark civil rights case prohibiting the segregation of people with mental illness in congregate institutions, apart from the rest of society. Just like confining racial minorities to segregated facilities (schools, bathrooms, restaurants, parks, theaters) is wrong, confining people with mental illness to segregated facilities or institutions is also wrong. Olmstead is the federal law of the land -a national public policy that states are not free to ignore. Mr. Gluckert's letter concludes with a good observation, but a false premise: the good of patients, staff, and communities does matter; but the institutionalization of more and more people is not the way to achieve that common "good." Montana needs to adopt 21st century "best practices" in community mental health care and align its mental health services system with the federal public policy (Olmstead) that requires it. -- Bridgitt Erickson is an attorney with Disability Rights Montana POPLAR Six shiny balloons that would have looked at home at a 1-year-old's birthday party one pink and in the shape of a heart flanked the small white coffin. The body of Kenzley Olson, who just had her first birthday, lay in that coffin at the Poplar Cultural Center for a little over 24 hours while the community came to mourn, first at her wake and then at a funeral attended by more than 300 people. Kenzley was killed April 19 and her body thrown in a dumpster. Janelle Red Dog pleaded not guilty to the crime on the day of the wake. Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure has said methamphetamine played a role in the crime as well as the abduction of a 4-year-old girl in Wolf Point several weeks earlier. "Our society has come to the point where drugs mean more than a child's life, more than a family, more than keeping a roof over your head," Azure said. "All we are hurting is ourselves." On the night of Kenzley's wake, 23 miles to the east in Fort Kipp, the meth abuse awareness coordinator for the tribes held a meeting on meth awareness. Another is scheduled next week in Brockton, where tribal health educator Carolyn Brugh lives. She hopes it will be well attended but said she's seen this cycle before where there's a lot of buzz and awareness of problems after something horrible happens, but then the energy to do something fades. "It's too bad we had to have a tragedy to open our eyes," Brugh said. "There's an immediate response, but then the need to do something falls by the wayside." Meth has "been here," she said. "This is not something new to us." Those in Poplar, a town of about 800 along Highway 2 in the northeastern corner of the state, find blame on and off the Fort Peck Reservation for what locals call a "meth epidemic." Azure said the federal government doesn't provide enough money to pay for social services, but he also, like many others here, casts responsibility for what's happening on the community. "Taking care of our own is a huge part of Native culture that we just don't practice anymore," he said. A meth epidemic Meth is everywhere. "Drugs are rampant in our community," Frank Hapa told those who gathered for the wake. "There are many sleepless nights for mommas and daddies, parents and grandparents. The next morning people are asking, 'Did you know this happened just down the street, just down the block?'" The 100-mile long, 70-mile wide swath of land is home to about 7,000 members of the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. The reservation is extremely poor and geographically isolated. The unemployment rate was 28.3 percent in 2008, according to a health profile compiled for the state. The median household income was $18,500. That's compared to a 4.3 percent unemployment rate for the state of Montana this past March and a median income of $40,627 in 2008. Forty-five percent of people live below the federal poverty level compared to 13 percent statewide in 2008. The drug has "infiltrated our whole society," Azure said. Sometimes it seems only the too young and very old aren't using meth. "Nothing you can say will stop them," said Raymond Ogle, who has lived in Poplar his whole life. "It used to be young people, now it's getting into older people. It's all ages. Before it was teens, now it's people in their 30s and 40s with kids. A lot of users are grandparents now. Grandkids think, 'It must be OK because my grandpa is doing it.'" Marty Reum, who lives in nearby Wolf Point and works at Fort Peck Community College in Poplar, is a recovering addict who started using meth in 2004. He went on his last "runner" from 2010-2013. Back then you could find meth almost anywhere in town, he said, and it's probably still the same today. Most people tie the drug's presence in the area to the nearby Bakken oilfields. Williston, North Dakota, the epicenter of the now-busting boom, is just 70 miles east on Highway 2. Though Poplar doesn't have oil wells or man camps, folks passed through, and there was some spillover of both the people who work in the oilfields and the drugs they use. The stuff that has come into town is made elsewhere, Reum said, and is very pure. Reum has been clean for three years, and he said he's going to stay that way. He has relapsed several times, including once just two weeks after he left a treatment center in Black Hills, South Dakota. Spotted Bull Recovery Resource Center in Poplar is the only place on the reservation to get treatment for methamphetamine abuse. It takes a referral, typically from the court system, to get on the growing list of those waiting to be admitted to the outpatient program. "We can clean them up, get their head where they are thinking about family, about being in the work force, in the community, providing. But if tomorrow we throw them back to the wolves again, what's your success?" Reum asked. Some people are sent to programs in Sheridan, Wyoming, or Browning if they can afford to pay for it. It costs $60,000 to $90,000 to send someone off the reservation for treatment, Azure said, and "we send people multiple times." Those who get treatment often come home to the same environment they left friends that aren't supportive of getting clean and situations that are a hotbed of enticements and triggers for users. The tribe has talked about an inpatient treatment center, but it is still in the discussion phase, Brugh said. Indian Health Services is operating at "life and limb" status right now and doesn't pay for addiction treatment. Life and limb, Brugh explained, means that unless someone is going to lose an arm or leg or die, they aren't going to get treatment. The lack of proper health care, especially preventive care, is one of the reasons people turn to meth, Azure believes. "IHS gives people pills to tide them over, then they become addicted to the pain pills. They they cut them off so what do they do? IHS gives to them until they're addicts, and then they turn to meth. Or they sell the pain pills," he said. 'I have no answer' It rained, seemingly without a break, on the days of Kenzley's wake and funeral. It was cold, but the doors to the Cultural Center, the main community gathering place, stayed open. The gym was in constant motion during the wake. People filtered in and out, women carrying trays upon trays of food and men shaking hands. Teens walked in groups, carrying coffee to seated elders. Preschool-age kids ran between family and friends, some too young to understand what was going on. Toddlers orbited around the drum circles, and swaddled babies slept soundly through it all. What happens to this younger generation was a theme Hapa carried through his message to the mourners. "We've had a lot of sleepless nights with our sons and daughters out there," he said. "We don't know if they're dead in a ditch or in jail. We have moms peering out of the window, dads driving around at night looking for their sons. Our No. 1 concern is drugs along with alcohol." Hapa predicted "we will see a lot worse in our community. Things we never expected to see happen." Chairman Azure is a leader casting around for a solution he can't name. The problems are too big and the resources to address them too limited. "I have no answer," he said. There are only 13 tribal law enforcement officers to police the entire reservation. There are four elected judges and 99 beds that are always full at the newly built jail, he said. "The courts could go 24/7 if we had enough judges," Azure said. "It all comes down to funding. From Day 1 we have never been given enough to succeed, only to fight among each other." He said the tribes need more from the federal government. "They are supposed to provide for us because we gave up millions and millions of acres of land." The tribes have taken over several programs from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, including the Law and Justice Department and the courts. The funding for the courts has increased, but not much, since the tribes took over in 1984. But he also looks inward when talking about how it got to this point. It's something Brugh echoed. It's common for generations to always think it was better "before," calling back to some time in the past when all the problems of now didn't exist. Kids had curfews they were held to. Parents and family kept a closer eye on the younger generation, who feared strict punishment. Poplar is no different in its nostalgia, though the feeling seems as strong in the 80-year-old set as it does from those in their 30s, 40s and 50s. "When I was growing up, if you did things, you knew you were going to be in trouble," Brugh said. "There isn't that fear anymore." Her tribal health office has always held events around the reservation Halloween carnivals, Easter egg hunts events where families gather, make crafts. Brugh offers a meal, door prizes and other incentives to get people to attend. "When we started, we had a lot of participation from mom, dad, grandparents," she said. "But in the past year, the past two years, there's been a decline in that. We don't get the participation we used to get. And that has to do with the meth problem. They don't want to go because you know they're doing meth and they're ashamed to be out." Azure ties the decline to boarding schools, which children were sent away to as recently as his grandpa's generation. He says the children lost connections with their mothers and fathers, who in turn loosened the rules for children home on summer breaks. "Once you lose that, you're never going to get that back," Azure said. "The parents try to overcompensate. The parents allow the children to do things they normally would not, they overcompensate for love." Symptom of a larger problem Some use meth as a way to escape the realities of living in a poor, rural community that doesn't seem to have a lot of options to better yourself. Jobs are scarce. The tribes employ about 450 people and do drug testing on employees and some applicants. If you can't pass, you aren't hired. Private jobs are hard to come by, and economic development is stagnant. The tribal executive board is 15 people elected in what amounts to a "popularity contest," Azure said. And they've made many bad economic decisions in the past. A pipeline to convert dryland farming fields to irrigated fell through because of politics. "If a project like that doesn't come from the right person on the council, they will vote it down because it came from the wrong person. This is because of the politics we put up with," Azure said. "We got shafted numerous times because of the council's decisions." He can list the companies that came in and took money without any payoff, bad decisions he said the council made even though he advised against them. A solar panel company came in, got money to set up operations, painted the floor of an abandoned industrial building, and then left. "I can't get things done the way I want to," he said, explaining that the tribes can't spend money unless there's a resolution passed by the council. The community is so poverty stricken, Azure said, that "the only way to make money is to sell drugs because the job opportunity is not here." And yes, meth will help someone escape a feeling of helplessness, Reum said. But only temporarily. "Meth does that, it will suck that stuff away for a while. But you can't get high enough to numb the life away." Reum is tired of hearing excuses. "Sure, we've lost people, people who are gone," he said. "But we need to start getting something back. We need to start young, instill our values, raise our kids in a respectful way, and hope they learn enough lessons from how we show them to be." Brugh has a 7-year-old granddaughter who lives in Poplar. She said she's aware of "all the negative things" that have happened. "I worry for her, for all the little ones," she said. "But I'm not afraid to live here. It's home to a lot of people, people who have lived here their whole lives. It's not any different than living someplace else. "You can see people get frustrated. What can we do? Keep moving ahead, and along the way there will be stumbling blocks. I hate to say it, but the buzz will probably die down." It isn't one of those outside studies of Butte, and despite its title the "West Park Street Corridor Plan" it's not a plan. "If you have our report I would ask a favor of you: Take out a pen and scratch out the word 'plan,'" John Lavey, a project manager for New Mobility West, told Butte-Silver Bow commissioners at their last meeting. "Plans have the weight of policy behind them." That was probably a sound opening statement, since some commissioners and many people here don't take kindly to "plans" that are put in front of them with little notice or input. Missteps like that can dog and weigh down even the best of ideas in Butte. And whether justified or not, commissioners here have grown weary of studies, saying they are costly and usually end up on courthouse bookshelves collecting dust with all their predecessors. But backers of the recent efforts and report by New Mobility West a group that helps communities capitalize on transportation options and opportunities in Montana, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming are making a case for their findings. What sets this report apart, they say, is that it's really a reflection of what people in Butte want especially those who live near, drive on or do business on West Park Street between Uptown Butte and Montana Tech. Yes, there are recommendations on how to make it happen. But the "it" is really the wishes of Butte residents and businesses. Their big-picture vision as reflected in the report is to make the mile-long stretch more aesthetically pleasing, cleaner, safer, and more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly. They like the mixed use of residential houses, small businesses and eateries and want more of that. They want to preserve the historical character of the area but would like to see additional commercial uses such as a drug store, small grocery market, and maybe some doctors or dentist offices. And they love the idea of a trolley to whisk people between Tech and Uptown. Yes, there's a big bus that makes the route now, but it's not the same. But the key to all this, proponents say, is where this vision came from. "I think this was a unique report in that it was all grassroots level," said Pam Haxby-Cote, executive director of the Butte Local Development Corp. "This was a very public process where hundreds of people were involved. "This was a very purposeful exercise to go through that was participated in by hundreds of individuals asked what they would like to see," she said. "It's not some expert from out of town saying, 'Here is what you should do.'" New Mobility West is a partnership between the Sonoran Institute, Community Builders, Project for Public Spaces, Idaho Smart Growth, and Bike Walk Montana. It selected Butte and three other locations Central City, Colorado; Hailey, Idaho; and the Quad Cities of Idaho (Ponderay, Kootenai, Sandpoint and Dover) for free technical assistance last fall. The BLDC applied for the assistance, and county staff put time into the project, but the research and recommendations were covered. So, they say, it was not a costly study to taxpayers. Members of the project team visited Butte last November to conduct 16 focus groups and interviews with Park Street stakeholders, including residents, Tech students and businesses. A widely publicized public meeting was held to gather more input and suggestions. They also conducted an online survey. Nearly 360 people responded, about half of them faculty or students at Tech. More than 40 percent live near the corridor and access businesses along West Park Street. Besides attributes already mentioned, folks want better sidewalks, increased landscaping, more places to eat, and opportunities to sit and dine along West Park buffered from the street. Lavey said if the project team had come to Butte and mostly heard that West Park is "just fine the way it is, that is what we would have said" in the report. "We don't come in and say, 'This is what you are going to build,'" he said. "We say, 'What do you want?'" There's another distinction to this project and report. It was meant to align with and capitalize on state-led-and-funded improvements for West Park Street and Excelsior Avenue. Butte-Silver Bow planners want to piggy back on major street improvements the Montana Department of Transportation already plans to make in the next few years. Local officials have pitched a proposal for reducing traffic lanes from four to two along West Park with a tree-filled median down the middle and a few left-turn lanes. Bike lanes would be added, and space could be carved out for patio dining and drinking for businesses that wanted them. That has drawn mixed reviews from the public and commissioners since the proposal was detailed earlier this year. Critics especially have questioned whether a boulevard with a median down the middle would make it difficult to plow and remove snow. New Mobility West did not really focus on street designs or improvements but rather what could be done to the sides. But it's the boulevard idea floated by local officials that has drawn arrows. Lori Casey, the county's assistant planning director, said details of the street project are still fluid. They wouldn't begin in earnest until next year plenty of time to figure out snow removal and other details. "I think our Public Works folks are pretty confident we can handle that," she said. As with many initiatives in Butte, however, the first test is selling the big picture. And in this effort, backers say, it's not really a sales job. It's what most folks from Butte who weighed in want. MUSCATINE, Iowa They show up at your front door, get to you through email and social media accounts, send you letters and call you on the phone. They are scammers, and they are hitting with special force at this time of year. Chief Deputy Ardyth D. Slight of the Muscatine County Sheriffs Office brought that message home on Monday at the weekly meeting of the Muscatine Rotary Club. You need to be on the alert all the time, she told the noon gathering. Spring is an especially busy time of year for scam artists and their offers of home repairs, especially after incidents of storm damage. We do our very best to track down who these people are, she said. They will be very intimidating. A common tactic for scammers is to demand a check upfront while work is still being done. The check is quickly cashed. If you get taken and write a big check, its more than likely that your check has already been cashed, Slight said. And once its cashed, its really difficult for us to do anything. Another scam thats very much alive in the community is the so-called Grandparent Scam, in which a phone call is made, purportedly from a grandchild in jail in a far-off location, asking grandparents to wire money for bail. Just last week, Slight said, a Muscatine grandparent had gone as far as obtaining a cash card for a grandson who said he was in jail, then decided to call her grandson, who confirmed he was not in any trouble. Slight said anybody approached by a scammer should report it to authorities and pass the word among their acquaintances. Scammers are getting more sophisticated all the time in the techniques they use, and do their research. A lot of them we cant do a lot about, she said, noting the number of internationally-based scams. Theyre all very pushy, she said. Just hang up the phone. Another scam that is going around involves a call by someone purporting to be from the Internal Revenue Service. You can tell it is a scam when the person purporting to be from the IRS calls you a customer. The IRS will not call you a customer, she said, and noted the agency sends its notices by regular mail, not via phone. One Rotarian noted that he had received the IRS scam call three different times in one day. Slight suggested that if you suspect your identity has been stolen, contact the Iowa Identity Theft Passport Program. For detailed information on how to avoid ID theft, go to www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov. MUSCATINE, Iowa The former owner of a Muscatine care center has reached a settlement with the Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators over allegations of unethical conduct. Jerry Rhoads, the former owner and operator of All American Restorative Care of Muscatine, and Washington, Iowa, was fined approximately $70,000 between 2011 and 2015. According to a hearing notice, in a report dated July 8, 2013, the Muscatine facility was issued a citation and fined $500 for failure to notify the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals of two suspected incidents of abuse. The Muscatine location was issued a citation and fined $8,000 for the inaccurate assessment and untimely intervention of a resident who was having adverse symptoms, according to a report dated June 23, 2015. The board found probable cause to call for a disciplinary hearing on Oct. 22, 2015. A hearing was scheduled for April 21. Rhoads was licensed in the state of Iowa on Sept. 1, 2009. His license expired on Dec. 31, 2015. While the case against him was pending, his license and the time for renewal also expired. According to the settlement agreement, Rhoads denies the allegations and that any discipline should be imposed, but in order to amicably resolve the matter, he agreed to not renew his Iowa nursing home administrator license. He waived his right to a hearing. According to a settlement agreement, by agreeing to not renew his license, Rhoads agrees to not represent himself as an Iowa nursing home administrator, not seek employment in the state of Iowa as a nursing home administrator and not act as or perform the duties of a nursing home administrator in the state of Iowa. The agreement was signed by Rhoads on April 6 and by the chairperson of the Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators on April 21. Rhoads has moved out of the state, and both care facilities have been sold. DES MOINES The future of Iowas first-in-the-nation Democratic caucuses will be discussed when a statewide panel of party leaders begins its work with a meeting next weekend in Des Moines. Convened by state party chairwoman Andy McGuire and led by former congressman and party chairman Dave Nagle, the review panel will review the 2016 caucuses and discuss any potential changes needed before making recommendations to the state partys leadership committee. The committee will meet periodically, also hosting listening sessions across the state to gather input from grassroots Democrats. Those events are still to be scheduled. As we have always done, we want to improve upon the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses to make them more inclusive and a better experience for all involved, McGuire said in an emailed statement to the Quad-City Times Des Moines bureau. No suggestions are off the table. We always want the Iowa caucuses to be inclusive, accessible and help us build a stronger party. Roughly 171,000 Democrats caucused on Feb. 1; it was the partys second-largest turnout ever. The Democratic caucuses also were historically close this year: Hillary Clinton edged Bernie Sanders by a mere quarter of a percent. The high turnout led to long lines in some precincts, and the razor-thin margin placed a heightened focus on the results, some of which were called into question by the Sanders campaign. A post-caucus review yielded only miniscule changes. Those issues and others, such as how to make the caucuses easier to attend and run more smoothly, will be discussed when the committee meets over the coming months. Some Democrats in the immediate wake of the caucuses called for dramatic changes to the partys caucus system, in which people express support for a presidential candidate by grouping together in a room. Some said they think the Democratic caucuses should become more like a straw poll vote. Nagle said the review committee will consider any suggestions, but he cautioned against making dramatic alterations. Its very important when we look at what to do about it, that we dont allow one presidential election this one to override the success weve had over the years, said Nagle, who now practices law in Waterloo. Theres a strong tradition here, and we have to make sure we preserve the basic character of the caucus in any changes we make. Theres been suggestions, for example, that we abolish the Iowa caucus and move to a June primary. The closer we move to a primary, the more we destroy the character of our state. Im not into straw polls. Chris Hall, a review committee member and state legislator from Sioux City, said he comes to the process with an open mind and willingness to consider changes that improve the process. Hall noted the Democrats system of caucusing for presidential candidates was designed in the 1970s for neighborhood-sized gatherings and has grown to where hundreds are now caucusing in some precincts. Some precinct venues across the state proved insufficient for unexpectedly large crowds on caucus night. Hall said he would like the committee to find a way to sustain the unique qualities of the caucuses while not cramming hundreds of people into a small space. There has to be a happy medium, he said. Evan Burger, a review committee member from Ames, agreed. This system was really not designed for this number of people, Burger said. Any stress we can take off the system is going to make it run a little bit better. Burger said he is the only review committee member who supported Bernie Sanders for president before the caucuses, and he hopes the committee will consider ways to make the caucuses more inclusive to people new to the political process. For example, he thinks the party should consider holding caucuses on a weekend or allowing Democrats to caucus via absentee ballot, something the party has resisted in the past because it would be too much like casting a traditional vote. Its a great opportunity to make the caucuses a lot more accessible to a lot more people in a number of ways, Burger said. I think as great as the caucuses were this year, they showed a lot of room for improvement, a need for review and taking a look at how we can make them more accessible. MUSCATINE, Iowa Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren told the Board of Supervisors Monday that SF 2316, which was passed in the Iowa legislature last week, will allow the county, and other counties around Iowa, to improve their debt collection. Ostergren said the measure will allow the county to have a larger role in debt collection and will give it more enforcement options. "It establishes a county attorney collection program, and we can collect our delinquent court debt immediately. The definition of delinquency is essentially if they miss the payment by 30 days ... and we will no longer be in competition with a private debt collector," Ostergren said. Ostergren said a positive aspect of the bill is that data will be provided by the judicial branch which will allow him to implement automation and improve efficiency. He also said that although the county will receive a smaller percent of the debt collected than it does currently, the dollar amount should remain about the same. Because we will get the debt on day 31, and because we will get the data that will regenerate collection efforts, we will at minimum see the same amount of revenue or more, he said. He also said that unlike private debt collectors, which increase debt after delinquency, the county will be able to create payment plans and collect the debt more fairly. There are some real equity and fairness issues with telling somebody that were going to increase your court debt by 25 percent when youre already delinquent. Now Im not saying I feel sorry for people who dont pay their court obligations, but the surest way to not collect court debt is to treat people like garbage. The way you collect it is youre consistent, fair, firm, but you also give them a path they can see that they can get it payed off, Ostergren said. Also on Monday, a public hearing was held regarding a construction permit application for a confinement feeding operation which Planning and Zoning Director Eric Furnas said would be a small expansion of 240 animal units, and he saw no reason for concern. There were no comments from the public, and the Chair was authorized to sign a letter to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources regarding the permit application. The board also approved a new centralized Muscatine County Enforcement Ordinance, as well an amendment to the Digital Submission Standards Ordinance. The enforcement ordinance updates would include instituting a civil infraction for violations, which Furnas said would be a more efficient way to gain compliance with county ordinances. For those few, few cases where we dont get compliance we hope this will be a more efficient way to get compliance. We dont look at this as our first option we didnt even set it up to even recoup any revenue from it. I didnt envision it as a revenue source, just an enforcement tool, Furnas said. Ostergren agreed that the consolidation would be more understandable for the public, and would not increase enforcement power, but rather clarify the rules. Theres plenty of enforcement mechanisms already in there. I think it is to the advantage of anybody who would look at the ordinance and say, where are my obligations for whatever, that theyre all consolidated and made more clear by this I think it helps people who may not know where to look right away that its all in one spot, he said. Mark Warren, MAGIC GIS manager for Muscatine County, explained proposed amendments to the Digital Submission Standards Ordinance, on which a public hearing was held, and the amendment to the ordinance was approved on the first of three readings. The reason for this amendment is that since the original ordinance was put in place, the state of Iowa began a new surveying system, and its one that is a low-distortion surveying system, so the county engineers office has been using it for over a year now and they like it. So what were doing is just adding that to the original language, that thats a second type of system that surveyors can use to submit their data, Warren said. Muscatine County Engineer Keith White said that there was little change from the update he provided last week. However, the weather has been affecting some projects. Weve continued to do some spot rocking, but because of the weather well probably end up starting contract rocking in the middle of May, which is about the normal time, White said. In other business: A public hearing has been set for 7 p.m., Monday, May 23, regarding proposed fiscal year 2015-16 budget amendments. Resolution #05-02-16-01 suspending the collection of taxes was approved. The board accepted Paul Wedels resignation from the Muscatine County Veterans Affairs Commission effective May 18, and thanked him for his support on the committee and wished him and his family well. The board directed county staff to pay the 2010 general obligation county purpose note. The Chair was authorized to sign a letter of support for an Iowa Department of Transportation grant application to the Federal Transit Administration for replacement of public transit vehicles. The board held a closed session pursuant to Chapter 21.5 c, code of Iowa, to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent. MUSCATINE, Iowa A Muscatine business is honoring local heroes who make sacrifices to serve others in the community. Hy-Vee, 2400 Second Ave., has posted a special sign designating a spot in the parking lot for "Super Hero" parking. Steve Graham, manager of perishables, said the idea came from a Hy-Vee in Peoria, Illinois. "That email got sent around and my store director (Jim Simmons) said 'Hey, what do you think of this?' I said that thing is awesome and can we go ahead and get one ordered?" Graham said. Within a week, the sign was at the store. "It was a no-brainer. That's an awesome idea to support the community and the personnel who help out. We felt it tied in very well," Graham said. "It's meant for the heroes of the community, active and retired or inactive military members, firefighters, police, any of those people. That's who it's for." The reserved space operates on the honor system. "It has been used quite a bit. I can tell you it's our most active Facebook post ever. There are lots of comments and lots of positive feelings in the community." Graham said customers have also thanked them for putting it up. "It's really a thank you to those who have done good deeds for community and our country." MUSCATINE, Iowa The annual meeting of the members of the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra Association will be 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 16, in the conference room at Strahan Hall at Muscatine Community College, 152 Colorado St. 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 [] Someone should sue the President for ... Five years after Osama bin Laden's death, the CIA live-tweeted the raid on Sunday as though it were happening. Osama bin Laden was killed May 1, 2011 CIA live-tweeted the raid Sunday Bin Laden, the world's most-wanted terror leader, was killed in a covert operation May 1, 2011, at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan (north of Islamabad). According to the CIA's timeline of the raid, President Barack Obama and other high-level security officials approved execution of the operation at 1:25 p.m. EDT. Obama addressed the nation from the White House at 11:35 p.m. Timeline of the Raid (provided by the CIA) May 1 (all times in EDT) 1:25 p.m. President Obama, DCIA Panetta, and JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of the operation. 1:51 p.m. Helicopters depart from Afghanistan. 3:30 p.m. Two helicopters descend on the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan (north of Islamabad). One crashes, but the assault continues without delay or injury. 3:32 p.m. President Obama, in the Situation Room, receives up to the minute reports on the situation on the ground in Abbottabad. 3:39 p.m. Usama Bin Ladin is found on third floor and killed. 3:53 p.m. President Obama receives tentative confirmation of positive identification of Bin Ladin. 3:55 p.m. Bin Ladin's body is moved to the first floor and placed in a body bag. 3:39 p.m. 4:10 p.m. Assault Team retrieves a large quantity of materials from the compound for intelligence analysis. 4:05 p.m. First helicopter leaves the area. 4:08 p.m. EDT Assault Team destroys the crashed helicopter. 4:10 p.m. EDT Backup helicopter picks up remaining team members and materials and leaves Abbottabad. 5:53 p.m. EDT Helicopters return to Afghanistan where Admiral McRaven greets the team. 7:01 p.m. EDT President Obama receives confirmations of high probability of positive identification of Bin Ladin. 11:35 p.m. EDT President Obama speaks to the nation from the East Room. May 2 12:59 a.m. Bin Ladin's body is buried at sea from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the north Arabian Sea. A historic church in New York City was destroyed in a raging fire just hours after its Orthodox worshippers celebrated Easter. Church was built in the early 1850s Building was designated a New York City landmark in 1968 The fire that started at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in Manhattan sent plumes of smoke billowing into the city's skyline. The fire was largely extinguished three hours later, but firefighters had to beat back small pockets of flames. Authorities didn't disclose the cause of the fire, which completely destroyed the church's roof. Fire officials said the church's caretaker ran inside the Gothic Revival style building to try to put out the blaze but suffered minor smoke inhalation and had to be rescued. The fire broke out on the same day Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter. The church website listed services that morning and an Easter luncheon at 1 p.m. "I was just inside that building three hours ago," a heartbroken Dex Pipovic, told PIX11 News. He said he had been going to the church for seven years. Alex Velic, 31, the caretaker's stepson, told the Daily News he lives next door. He said he smelled smoke and came outside and saw the church on fire. "Once the fire caught the wood there was flames coming out of the top of the church. That's when people were going crazy," Velic said. "I'm in shock. I don't know what to say. It's sad." Father Djokan Majstorovic, the church's priest, struggled to get to the fire scene blocked off by firefighters. "I feel like I'm in a nightmare right now," he said. City Council Member Corey Johnson called for a full investigation into the cause of the fire. "This is a huge loss for the community," he said. "In addition to being a place of worship, this historic building was a New York City landmark, treasured by the people" living in the neighborhood. The church was designed by architect Richard M. Upjohn and was built in the early 1850s. One of its earlier congregants was novelist Edith Wharton, who wrote "The Age of Innocence." She was married in the church in 1885. The Serbian Orthodox Church purchased the building from the Episcopal Diocese in New York in 1943. The building was designated a city landmark in 1968. I had spent Easter weekend in Salzburg, Austria, where the charming old part of town inhabited by tourists had functioned as if there were no holiday. The train station displayed a holiday spirit, however there were young men in lederhosen everywhere. I wanted to ride the train from Salzburg to Graz for a quick stop on my way to Vienna. Traveling by myself, I had decided to visit this southern Austrian city in Styria near Croatia. As I waited on the platform, holding my luggage, I managed to get my shoulder bag caught on something. Two burly local fellows offered to help, then asked in fractured English where I was from. I responded California, and they burst into huge smiles, proudly reminding me that Arnold Schwarzenegger is from Styria. The train arrived and I settled into the cozy first-class car for the four-hour ride to Graz. Only one other traveler occupied the car, a slim, dark-haired fellow who was immersed in his laptop. I brought back a salad from the food car and munched away as gorgeous scenery passed by: snow-capped mountains, forested hills, villages, a river. I even spotted a castle at the top of a peak. What fun it is to ride the rails! Two hours into the trip, a conductor passed through and explained that, due to an obstruction on the tracks ahead, we would disembark at the Trieven station at 2:40. A bus would take us around the obstruction to another station, where a different train would take us to Graz. Just follow me when we get to the station, he said. I started gathering my things a few minutes in advance, as moving my suitcase down the aisle took time. At 2:40 the train came to a stop, and my fellow passenger joined me at the exit. Just to be sure, I asked him, This is where we get the bus? Yes, he answered with a smile and lifted my bag down onto the platform. I didnt see the conductor. The next thing I knew, the train was pulling away. We had debarked too soon. The two of us were at an empty station in a tiny town. Another man arrived, and my companion launched into a German conversation, while I looked at the schedule on the wall. We would have to wait two hours for the next train. I cant do that, the Austrian said. I cant believe I made this mistake. I must get back to Graz. He was embarrassed that he had misled me. Returning from a visit with his mother in Salzburg, he had many things to do at home before returning to work the next day. He introduced himself as Gerhard. Gerhard called for a taxi, which we could take to the station to reboard the train. I offered to share the cost. Gerhard announced that the taxi would arrive in 20 minutes. I couldnt imagine how we could possibly catch the train, but Gerhard insisted that wed make other connections and would still arrive in Graz earlier than if we stayed put. I didnt want to spend two hours sitting alone in the station, so when the taxi arrived after a half-hour, I jumped in. As we pulled away, a queasy sensation in my stomach told me I was taking a risk. Gerhard was tall and wiry, clean-shaven, an attractive man in his late 40s. I made a comment about following strange men off trains, and Gerhard quipped back, not so strange. The taxi ride took 20 minutes, and the fare was about $75 U.S. I didnt have the right change to pay my half, but Gerhard told me to forget it for the moment. A train arrived and we got on. I announced, Im not letting you out of my sight! For the next couple of hours, we changed trains numerous times, with Gerhard carrying my bag on and off trains, and up and down stairs. I was thankful that my Eurail pass allowed me to take as many trains as I wanted. He had a book of tickets. On the longest segment, we sat in a compartment with a British fellow and chatted about world affairs. Gerhard is a business manager who has lived in Australia and Paris and visits the U.S. occasionally. We talked about American politics, French business attitudes, and demanding jobs that dont leave time for having a life. Gerhard enjoyed my stories about my years as a school principal. He said, You know its all right that weve had this problem with the train, because this is fun! Gerhard suggested I climb the hill to the castle in Graz for a grand view of the city. He told me that a few weeks earlier construction workers had found a World War I bomb buried at the railroad station. They had exploded it, breaking windows around town and closing the station for the day. We arrived in Graz at 5:30. Gerhard apologized for not having time to show me around. I gave him the 15 euros I had toward the cab fare and he was happy with that. We exchanged business cards and he put me in a taxi, giving directions in German to the driver to get me safely to my hotel. I spent the evening walking around the deserted city, dining on my feet at a hot dog stand, the only thing open. I skipped the stairs built into the cliff by prisoners of war during World War I and took an elevator up to the top of the Schlossberg for great views of the city. I walked by the closed kunsthaus, the art museum that looks like a spaceship. In the morning, I had time to walk to Glockenspielplatz to see the charming wooden figures dance. When it was time to check out of the hotel, I asked for a taxi. But when I told the driver I wanted to go to the train station, he started babbling in German. I redirected this to the desk clerk who explained that there was another bomb scare at the station. Gerhards story kept me from panicking. I waited in the lobby until the station reopened, then continued my journey, with fond memories of my little adventure and my new Austrian friend. AMERICAN CANYON Sunday morning brought to American Canyon a sight unseen for years an array of fresh fruits and vegetables, and even nuts and seafood, on full display. The revival of the citys farmers market drew about a dozen fresh food vendors, and hundreds of shoppers who packed the open-air emporium within minutes of its 10 a.m. opening. On the first day of the markets six-month season, the chance to stock up on healthy foods was welcomed by many especially with no drive to Vallejo or Napa required. Im excited about this farmers market. Now I can walk! said Cecilia Wyant, a 17-year resident who filled her shopping bag with salad greens, strawberries, nuts, duck eggs and even a bar of handmade soap. Freshest produce in town, and I live right across the street, so its really convenient, said Jacob Roush, who arrived in search of apricots, tomatoes and onions. The American Canyon Farmers Market debuted with about a dozen vendors drawn from Petaluma to as far as Manteca, with a selection showing a firm focus on fresh foods, with plentiful supplies often organic of carrots, peas, potatoes, citrus fruit, berries, nuts and eggs. The mostly farm-fresh look at most stands appeared to answer a common complaint about American Canyons previous attempt at a farmers market, which was part of the Canyon Plaza shopping centers Friday Nights at the Plaza event. Locals and officials said the old market leaned too heavily on prepared foods, with not enough produce vendors, before city budget cuts put an end to the program. I wanted to bring lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and bring a good variety, the more the merrier, said Hope Rodriguez, who manages the event for the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association. I really want the main focus to be on fresh foods. A $78,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed American Canyon to bring back its farmers market this time under the management of the nonprofit market association, which operates about 60 such produce fairs in Northern California. The funding should cover promotion, supplies, seating and other expenses for two years to allow the new market to establish itself financially, said Ben Palazzolo, the groups director of direct marketing. City and market organizers have pitched American Canyons food fair as an accessible alternative to the Napa market, which begins its own season Tuesday outside the Century Napa Valley movie theater. The outdoor market accepts electronic benefit transfer cards used by families on food stamps, and some customers noted lower prices than elsewhere on opening day. The price of organics here is cheaper than the store by far, Shenay Bennett said as she and her mother Mary scanned the numerous bins of vegetables. The kale we eat five days a week, sometimes seven days a week its almost half price. Though American Canyons produce fair is starting off smaller than others, one shopper saw potential for a brighter future. Eggs, cabbage, cucumbers, everything is around here, said Arvind Nischal, a 20-year town resident whose shopping bag was starting to fill up not 15 minutes into the four-hour schedule. They should keep improving this like the one in Vallejo; they should keep trying to (draw) more people here, because then more vendors will show up. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy YOUNTVILLE Firefighters from all over the state came together over the weekend to train with what they called live fire. Napa County Fire, Napa City Fire, Cal Fire, Benicia, Marinwood, Alameda County and others worked together to practice putting out a structure fire, dealing with the heat, forcible entry and search and rescue at the fire training center in Yountville on Saturday. The live fire training was conducted in a burn trailer a trailer that is made for fire training and whose temperature is controlled by an operator. Flames spew out from several places within the trailer to simulate what it might be like in an actual structure fire. But it isnt exactly the same. Although the burn trailer can reach 300 degrees at knee-level and 1,200 degrees toward the ceiling, it doesnt have the same materials or obstacles that a regular structure would. It was a unique experience that is a little bit different than being inside of an actual structure, said firefighter Tony Gianni of Napa City Fire. Theres no drywall in there to pull down, theres no objects to really move, he said, but its still good training. This is one of the best types of trainings you can get, said Harry Jackson, Cal Fire engineer. Jackson attended the event to assist with training. The burn trailer is great because it allows firefighters to get the experience of being in a fire without facing real danger, he said. It allows them to try out new techniques and have things pointed out to them by instructors. On a real structure fire you dont have time to sit and observe you just have to spring right into action, Jackson said. Here you have time to sit and observe. This training opportunity is also a good way to improve crew communication. There will be many mistakes made when communicating, he said, but those mistakes can be resolved in this non-life-threatening situation. Its a good chance to get together and work together as a crew, he said. This is the third time this training has been put on, but the first time Napa County Fire has hosted, said Jason Robitaille, fire chief at Calaveras Consolidated Fire. Its paid for by the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, which is used by the California State Firefighters Association to address staffing and recruitment needs in the state. Its used to pay for firefighter physicals, gear, training scholarships and these live fire drills. The intent is that they can take all their training, what theyve learned, put it into a practical use out here with live fire, Robitaille said. It helps the firefighters, especially ones who are just entering the field, get acclimated to being inside a burning building, he said. It also is a great way to bring the different departments together, he added. An older shopping in southwest Napa has undergone a makeover, adding an artisan cafe, new paint and signage and a new name to match. The former J&P shopping center, located at the 2700 block of Old Sonoma Road, has been renamed Carneros Center. A new sign marks the spot where for many years a J&P sign and, most recently, a Lolas Market sign stood. We wanted something with a little more zing, said Dan Rapp, one of the property owners. The facelift makes the smaller center look like its a little more modern. Its a place you look at and want to check out whats happening, he said. The strip mall on Old Sonoma Road was previously owned by Napa brothers John and Paul Hutchinson for dozens of years. In 2014, the center and its surrounding acreage was sold to the Rapp family for $3 million. Tenants include Lolas Market, a self-service laundry, a Latino natural supplements business, a hair salon, an e-cigarette retailer and Smoke catering. A former furniture and auto upholsterer that operated in an old garage space at 2770 Old Sonoma Road will become a cafe called Southside. Southside business owners Irma and Morgan Robinson were already familiar with the center. Their open-fire catering business, Smoke, is located at the west end of the mall, inside the former and much-lauded Foothill Cafe. Wed always thought that was a wonderful building and had great potential, said Irma Robinson about the garage. However, until the remodel, We never thought it was a good idea to open anything in this center because it wasnt very attractive. But with the renovation and whats happening in Napa now, Robinson said there is a good opportunity to create something genuine and soulful. The Smoke space will serve as the commissary kitchen for Southside and a warming oven and other equipment will be used inside Southside to finish food items. The cafe menu includes Wrecking Ball coffee from San Francisco, wine and beer, house-made granola, salads, sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, chilaquiles and pozole. Prices for meals range from $6 to $11. A patio will feature shade sails, market lights and seating. Hardwood floors have been installed. An original wooden wall has been preserved. A large community-style table has been made out of old fermentation tanks. We want it to be comfortable, inviting but classy. They hope to open Southside by May 12, she said. Robinson, who was born in the Bay Area to Mexican immigrants, calls the food our take on real California, with Latino influences. When asked if she thought that this side of town was somewhat isolated, Robinson said, I dont see it that way. We see it as an opportunity. There arent a lot of options for dining or grabbing to-go items in the area, she noted. She said she is confident people will find the restaurant. Theres not that much retail service on that side of Napa, and were hoping Southside can attract more people, said Rapp. The center attracted national attention for the much lauded Foothill Cafe, but since then, its been filled with working-class businesses, many with a Hispanic clientele. One of the things we like about this space is that its not generic, said Robinson. Its authentic. Its part of the existing community. Its real. If their cafe sparks interest in other artisan-themed businesses, such as a flower shop perhaps, shed welcome that as well. I see this as an opportunity for evolution, said Robinson. I think that the working-class businesses are doing a great job serving the community, said Rapp, but were trying to help them do better to increase traffic and business levels. Rapp demurred when asked if rents will rise due to the rebranding of the mall. We cant charge more than what the market will pay, he said. The Carneros Center makeover isnt done yet, Rapp said. Streetfront improvements such as new sidewalks and new planters will also be installed. The family also plans to build 10 new homes in the empty lot behind the center. A spokesperson for Lolas Market could not be reached for a comment. The Napa Valley Unified Measure H $269 million school bond tax on the June 7 ballot is perplexing because it will be a fifth school bond to our taxes here in Napa, Yountville and American Canyon. While this community has proven its local support of our schools by giving them and the college four school bonds in the past 20 years, the schools have not paid off one of these bonds but now they ask for more, the largest school tax yet. Great schools are important to our community yet we have the realistic concern of runaway numbers of school bonds on our taxes and questionable use of the funds we give to the schools. How, in a conflict between our hearts and our checkbooks, do we resolve our dilemma? Do we say no because we have already given them four taxes, some of which will not be paid off until 2039? Do we say no because of their questionable use of toxic Capital Appreciation bonds; or their use of Lease-lease back construction of American Canyon High school, which obviated their promised citizen oversight; or their spending of millions on schools, then closing the same schools? Should we say no because they received a $15 million increase in state funding this year? Or, do we acquiesce, give them the money and accept the inevitable incompetence, mismanagement and waste of our tax dollars? Is there an intellectual answer to these questions instead or just a gut level response? Researching school bond taxes, I find no reasonable intellectual way to support another school bond on our taxes. There are substantial reference materials regarding school bonds and they are all cautionary about the growing mountain of 40-year debt created in our communities and the questionable use of the funds by the school districts. The most informative text is that of Kevin Dayton of the California Policy Center titled "For the Kids." Remarkably honest and well written, it neutralizes the propaganda utilized by school districts in school bond election campaigns and tells a sad story of the proliferation of school bonds and their mismanagement and the trouble viewed ahead. Visit CaliforniaPolicyCenter.org. A second resource is the California League of Bond Oversight Committees, whose approach is to disclose the impotence of bond oversight committees. They have a trove of newsletters: calboc.org. Even the California Assembly Education Committee has recently approved AB2116 to limit the ability of school districts to take on debt through new bonds because "Borrowing for school construction has exploded in the last decade." After checking out these reference materials I think you will agree that a fifth school bond tax is a mistake. Leon Brauning Napa So many Upvalley customers were driving south to Napas Computer Engineering Group for phone and computer repair service that the business owner, Jorge Zetina, decided it was time to expand northward. Computer Engineering (CE) Group will mark the companys 11-year anniversary on Friday, May 6, with a grand-opening celebration from noon to 2 p.m. at the new St. Helena outlet at 1080C Main St. The expansion is part of a growth pattern that accelerated over the past year, as the company doubled from seven employees to 14 and added several new services. Our customers are happy with us, said Zetina, a resident of Napa, where he and his wife, Angelica, raise their family. Zetina said the celebration, open to the public, will feature a free barbecue, a 50 percent discount on all in-house repairs at the St. Helena location, and a business card raffle for a chance to win tickets to see the San Francisco Giants. There will also be a live broadcast by Napa Valleys FM radio station, KVYN, the Vine. The new stores assistant manager, John Shedlock, said opening the St. Helena store is going to reduce customers travel time. We have a lot of clients from St. Helena who need our service but dont need to be in our Napa shop for two hours, Shedlock said. Shedlock came to Northern California four years ago to run a cellphone repair business with his brother-in-law. He opened new stores in Santa Rosa, West Covina, San Jose and Fairfield. A year later, he met Zetina, who hired him as a mobile device technician. Ive never seen a clientele base so eager to spread the word about our business, said Shedlock. There are few communities as close-knit as Napa and St. Helena, where word gets around, which is why we have been so successful in growing the business. Jordan Madison, a Napa native and a 2007 graduate of Vintage High School, will be the St. Helena stores lead technician for computer repairs. He worked at Office Depot for nine years before he came to work for Zetina last year. CE Group has a huge clientele of busy St. Helena residents, said Madison. Arranging computer and phone repairs can be inconvenient and time-consuming. But now theres a good place where they know its going to be done right, and they dont have to drive all the way to Napa. The crew at CE Group works to repair and restore all types of residential and commercial computers and phone, tablet and mobile devices, offering services including computer and mobile device repair and IT consulting. Coming from more than 20 years of retail experience, I can honestly say that Computer Engineering Group is hands-down the greatest place for both internal employees and external customers, said Ron Bello, CE Groups regional manager for the Napa and St. Helena offices. This companys first priority is giving each employee the tools they need to ensure that every customer is completely satisfied. When customers and employees are both happy, it makes for an exceptional experience, said Bello, a former Office Depot manager. Zetina said the new stores main focus will be customer service for residents of St. Helena. Following the devastating Lake County fires of 2015, CE Group was called upon to restore files and data from computers burned in the inferno. Customers dropped off their damaged hard drives to CE Group experts, who restored about 75 percent of the data, Zetina said. The company specializes in IT service for businesses large and small, acting as the internal outsourced IT department for businesses that are too small to afford a full-time IT staff but have full-time needs. CE Group also makes house calls for residents who are Apple and PC users. The company services and repairs Apple and Windows computers, hardware, software, desktops, laptops, cellphones, tablets, iPods, iPads and Samsung devices. CE Group experts also back up data, install new operating systems, monitor networks, manage web hosting and email, and provide security and anti-virus protection for personal and business users. Zetina warned of a new CryptoLocker bug, which requires computer owners to pay to regain control of their devices. We can prevent this devastating bug from installing, Zetina said. CE Groups corporate Napa office can be reached at ce-group.com or 257-9701. The St. Helena office is at 968-5101. Streaming Country Movies Related Posts While accepting her American Country Countdown Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, Carrie Underwood thanked her fans and dedicated the award to one young fan in particular. Underwood choked up before dedicating the award to Isley Thibodeaux. Isley Thibodeaux, this is for you, Carrie declared, raising her trophy. The 10-year-old was tragically killed last weekend after her car was struck by a drunk driver on the way home from Underwoods concert in Lafayette, Louisiana. Our thoughts and prayers are with Isleys family during this difficult time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2B2VxvLghw Armenia official: Defense sector expenses will increase the most, state budget allocations will increase by 160bln drams Dollar drops, euro goes up in Armenia Fly Arna planning to conduct 2 weekly flights between Yerevan and Beirut Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan doubles gas and oil exports to Europe via Georgia Two quakes hit near Tbilisi Aliyev: Azerbaijan-Armenia agreement signing will be guarantee of peace in entire South Caucasus Over 1.5 million light bulbs lit simultaneously in India: New Guinness World Record Garibashvili: Georgia is ready to support peaceful neighborhood initiative in South Caucasus Azerbaijan to export 157 GW of electric energy via Georgia 3, including one foreigner, arrested after illegal weapons, ammunition found in Armenia town house Milliyet: Turkey has tightened control over the Bosphorus Strait due to mines in the Black Sea Northern France hit by tornado Armenia FM to head for Vatican on official visit NYT: Israel gives Ukraine intelligence data to fight UAVs Police detains opposition activists in Azerbaijan Armenia, Azerbaijan deputy PMs to meet in Brussels in first week of November Azerbaijani Defense Minister goes on working visit to Turkey Artsakh ombudsman shows Azerbaijan destruction of Armenian cultural heritage Azerbaijan president visits Georgia Macron: Ukrainian conflict should not make us forget about Armenia, Syria, Iraq and other wars Charles Michel: Ukraine itself must decide when to resume talks with Russia Man, 38, dies after being hit by car in Armenia Partial solar eclipse set on October 25 Foreign cyclist, 38, dies in Armenia road accident Marukyan: Why are you so nervous about expected international presence in Armenia if you aren't planning new aggression? Driver dies in hospital 25 days after Armenia road accident Gold weakly appreciates Komsomolskaya Pravda: PM Pashinyan is handing over Karabakh in order to take Armenia to the West Vedomosti daily: Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia leaders to hold face-to-face talks Russia to evade G7 plan to cap oil prices, export 90% of its oil? Russia military forces announce reason for fighter jet crash in Yeysk OSCE fact-finding mission visits Armenias Syunik Province (PHOTOS) US dollar may be closer to peak than markets think Syunik governor in Frances Vienne, sister city of Armenias Goris, discusses implemented projects, future cooperation Climate protesters throw mashed potatoes at Monet painting in Germany museum There is chance for peace in Ukraine, Macron says US, Russia defense chiefs discuss Ukraine situation for 2nd time in last few days Turkey plans to set up 2 more military bases in northern Syria Germany wants to use Israel UAVs to protect its key infrastructures UK defense secretary holds phone talk with Russia counterpart US to attempt set Russia oil price cap above $60 per barrel? Russia, Turkey defense ministers confer about Ukraine situation Armenia official: Terms for buying, building houses for those displaced from Artsakh have improved Saudi Arabia forum set to draw American business leaders despite existing tensions Iran plans to increase natural gas exports to Turkey Iran army ground forces holding exercise in West Azarbaijan Province Sovereignty renunciation to be punished in Armenia with 12-15 years of imprisonment, as per justice ministry draft 2 pilots killed in Russia fighter jet crash Russia, France defense ministers discuss Ukraine Fighter jet crashes into house in Russias Irkutsk 150 residents of 3 Karabakh settlements handed over to Azerbaijan get compensation certificates Rishi Sunak confirms UK premier bid Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson hold talks Biden slammed for 'scary' long pause during interview Elite US troops conducting exercises on Ukraine border Iran MP: Military exercises on Azerbaijan border are decisive response to Israel Xi Jinping elected Communist Party of China Central Committee general secretary Armenia envoy presents credentials to Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency chair Hungary to approve by years end Sweden, Finland petitions to join NATO US researchers debunk main theory for origin of life Iranian MP: Iran will conduct military exercises wherever it deems necessary Finnish delegation to visit Ankara to discuss NATO membership Social media giants are likely to oppose Turkey's new law Pastor steals $900,000 to buy stocks and car in U.S. Lithuanian President Nauseda is named most popular politician in country Charles III will embark on longest tour of world in history of royal family Deputy Director of Institute of Oriental Studies of RAS: Baku's goal is that Karabakh has no Armenian population Hurricane Roslyn in Pacific Ocean intensifies to third category Italy's new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, begins forming government U.S. Treasury Department records budget deficit of over $429 billion in September Why does Baku need aggravation on border with Armenia? Skakov assesses likelihood of new aggression Iranian Foreign Minister: I had important meeting with Pashinyan in Armenia Johnson spotted in economy class on flight from Dominican Republic to Britain Armenian PM and European Parliament Resident Rapporteur for Armenia discuss Karabakh situation Authorities in Kherson urge residents to immediately leave city Russian expert: Baku's attempts to open corridor by force will cause negative response not only from IRI or Russian Telegraph: Britain to send about 60 old tanks to NATO base in Germany for exercises Artak Beglaryan: You will see me in new position Netanyahu: Iran nuclear deal could bring Russia 'hundreds of billions' Russia and Turkey begin to develop gas hub project YEREVAN. The Azerbaijani side continued shooting toward the northeastern sectori.e. Tavush Province of Armeniaof the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, from late Sunday night to early Monday morning. During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces mostly fired irregular shots at the Armenian position-holders, and by way of rifle and sniper weaponry. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the vanguard units of the Armenian armed forces, however, exercised restraint and took actions in response solely when absolutely necessary, and they confidently control the situation along the border. May 1 demonstrations in the US had a political nature: hundreds of people went to the streets of Los Angeles protesting against pre-election rhetoric of the Republican candidate Donald Trump and demanding to respect the rights of immigrants and workers, reported RIA Novosti . The main action of May 1 took place in California, where people who oppose Trumps position held protests and demonstrations before his arrival for his campaign. According to Reuters , several hundred people attended the march in the center of Los Angeles on Sunday. The demonstrators , many of whom were Latinos , and immigrants from Mexico, carried posters reading " Dump Trump " ( pun Dump Trump) and calling for immigration reform and denial of deportations. The main tool of peaceful protesters was a huge inflatable effigy of Trump clutching a white hood in his hand an accessory of the suit of Ku Klux Klan, an ultra-right organization. According to the city police , the demonstration was peaceful , and no one was arrested. Three of those who died in the tragic road accident, which occurred in Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, were husband and wife and their ten-month-old daughter. Norakert village prefect Gerasim Sargsyan, who is the fellow villager of the wife, told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am. And the other daughter was taken to hospital, he added. The other vehicles driver and two passengers, who also died in the accident, were from Vardenis town. Those who died in the tragic crash are Mercedes driver A. Nalbandyan and passengers Hayk Martirosyan, 30, and Mher Khachatryan, 32, and Kias driver S. Grigoryan and his wife Margarita Avetisyan, 29, and daughter Narine Grigoryan, reported Shamshyan.com. As reported earlier, a road accident occurred on Sunday at 10:42pm on the Vardenis-Karchaghbyur motorway, near Tsovak village in Gegharkunik Province. It was found out that a Mercedes C220 and a Kia Sorento had crashed on the Martuni-Vardenis sector of the M11 Highway. Six people died, and one small child was hospitalized. The circumstances behind the incident are being ascertained. YEREVAN. The 37-year-old pregnant woman, who was injured in the recent bus explosion in Armenias capital city of Yerevan, will be discharged from the Republican Institute of Reproductive Health, Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology on Monday. The Ministry of Health informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that according to Razmik Abrahamyan, the Ministry Chief Obstetrician and Gynecologist, the woman and the fetus are in good health condition. The specialized consultations will continue at home. The two teens, who also were injured in the bus blast and are in the intensive care unit at Sourb Astvatsamayr (Holy Mother of God) Medical Center, are in stable condition and progress is recorded. As per Intensive Care Unit Head Anna Chobanyan, multi-disciplinary treatment of these teens continues. The possibility of moving these two boys to the patients ward will be considered in the latter half of the week. The treatment of three others who were injured in the explosion is still in progress at Armenia Medical Center. Doctors say they are in satisfactory condition. Two of them, who had sustained eardrum injuries, will undergo surgery in the coming days. The blast had occurred on April 25 at around 9:45pm in a public transport bus. There were two casualties and eight injured. Manfred Weber , the chairman of the center-right European People's Party, the largest in the European Parliament, criticized the construction of the Nord Stream - 2 for deliveries of the Russian gas to Germany, writes Gazeta with a reference to the Financial Times. According to the politician, that project is not in the interest of the European foreign policy and security, since it will increase dependence of Europe on Gazprom. He also said that Europe should not finance the construction of the pipeline and expressed a concern that the Nord Stream - 2 will deprive Ukraine from receiving 2 billion per year for the gas transit through its territory. The politician called on the European Commission not to rely on the Russian gas and seek to increase supplies through Turkey from the producers of the Caspian region, as well as from Iran and Iraq, the newspaper Gazeta. As the FT notes, Weber's statement is important because it plays a significant role in the internal policy of Germany, which is considered to be a major supporter of the Nord Stream - 2 in Europe. STEPANAKERT. Even though the agreement to cease fire along the Line of Contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces was mostly kept from late Sunday night to early Monday morning, an accumulation and active movements by the adversarys armed forces is noticed in various directions of the frontline. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army (NKR/Artsakh DA) informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the Defense Army vanguard units, however, are following the steps being taken by the Azerbaijani armed forces, and they stand ready to take appropriate measures if necessary. The situation is completely under the watchful supervision of the [NKR] DA vanguard units, the respective statement reads, in particular. YEREVAN. It is high time for the international community to take clear steps to call Azerbaijan to order. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in Finland on an official visit, noted the aforementioned at his talk Monday with Timo Soini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of this country. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the Armenian FM presented his Finnish colleague Azerbaijans hostilities unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh in early April, and the efforts by Armenia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs to address their consequences. Nalbandian stressed that despite the numerous appeals of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community to fully respect the trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994 and 1995, Azerbaijan has continued their violations, concentrating heavy weaponry and military forces along the entire Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh, further increasing its warmongering and launching a provocative propaganda campaign on international arena trying to accuse the Armenian sides in exactly what it is itself doing, thus preparing grounds for new military attacks, which can have far-reaching consequences for the whole region. The FM also noted that Armenia is committed to solely a pacific resolution of this conflict. He added that to create conditions for the resumption of negotiations, it is imperative to implement the proposal of the three Co-Chairs, to create a mechanism of investigation of the ceasefire violations, and to guarantee the unconditional implementation of the trilateral and termless ceasefire agreements of 1994 and 1995. In this connection, Soini stressed that Finland completely supports the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries efforts and their initiatives toward ensuring an appropriate climate for these talks. The Finnish FM added that the Karabakh conflict can be settled only by peaceful means and through negotiations. YEREVAN. Armenia is interested in further strengthening mutually beneficial partnership with the European Union (EU). Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is in Finland on an official visit, stated the above-said at his talk Monday with Timo Soini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of this country. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the interlocutors agreed to intensify high-level visits and consultations between the two ministries, enhance interaction within international organizations, and encourage parliamentarians to boost their contacts. They also exchanged views on the avenues for the development of cooperation in several domains, and the need to expand the legal framework. In addition, the two FM reflected on Armenia-EU relations, and the talks regarding a new legal basis for these relations. Nalbandian and Soini discussed also a number of urgent regional and international topics, including situation in the Middle East, migration crisis, and fight against terrorism. Furthermore, Edward Nalbandian extended an invitation to Timo Soini to visit Armenia. At the end of the talk, the two FMs held a joint news conference. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in Finland on an official visit, said the abovementioned during his address Monday at Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki. For decades that right has been obstructed by annexation, ethnic-cleansing, massacres and military aggression. Nevertheless, as history has proven on several occasions, it is impossible to ignore the choice of a people for self-determination, Nalbandian said. Being unable to solve the issue by military means Azerbaijan had to sign, with Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, in May 1994 ceasefire agreement, in July 1994 agreement on the reinforcement of ceasefire, and in February 1995 agreement on the consolidation of ceasefire, which have no time limitations. During the following years negotiations were held by the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. By the way, one of the first Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group was Finland (in this process were involved such prominent Finnish diplomats as Heikki Talvitie and Rene Nyberg). In this framework numerous rounds of negotiations were held on the levels of Presidents, Foreign Ministers which however, have not yielded results due to the continuous rejection of the Co-Chairs proposals by Azerbaijan. The essence of the negotiations has been, on the one hand, the necessity of finding a political settlement of the issue, on the other hand, consolidation of the ceasefire regime on the Line of Contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of April Azerbaijan has unleashed large scale aggressive military operation along the entire Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh, which targeted also civilian infrastructures and settlements and which left several hundreds of killed and wounded. In more than 20 years of fragile ceasefire regime this became an unprecedented destabilization with the use of heavy weaponry, tanks, rockets, artillery, aviation. The continuous acquisition of offensive armaments, the feeding of its society with bellicose warmongering and the spread of hate-speech against Armenians by Baku sooner or later could not but result in such a situation. This is something that we had warned all our international partners during the past several years. Azerbaijan is doing everything possible to fail any progress in the negotiation process. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in Finland on an official visit, stated the aforesaid during his address Monday at Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki. Azerbaijan has been blaming the Armenians as well as the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, represented by the USA, Russia and France, for lack of progress in the negotiations, Nalbandian said. To such baseless accusations one could ask some rhetorical counter-arguments. Who is rejecting to accept the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs as a basis for negotiations? Who is opposing all confidence building measures - starting with preparing societies for peaceful solution to the creation of ceasefire violations investigation mechanism? Who is blaming the Co-Chair countries, including by calling them provocateurs and accusing them in Islamophobia? Who is permanently attempting to shift the negotiations of Nagorno-Karabakh issue to other formats, to structures which do not have any international mandate to deal with the resolution of the conflict and which have never resolved any conflict previously? There is one answer to these questions Azerbaijan. Thus, Azerbaijan is doing everything possible to fail any progress in the negotiation process, simultaneous to purchasing unprecedented amounts of offensive weaponry and then declaring that it has a right to use force as it does not see any perspectives in the negotiations. To put it simply, Azerbaijan has failed in the negotiations and is trying to find success via military option, where it has failed as well. Use or threat of use of force has been time and again condemned by the international community. Our neighbor has gone further, pursuing extremely dangerous policy of forcing its own will through the adoption of mass terror. During the four day war we witnessed also the exceptional brutality of Azerbaijani armed forces against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Using Grad multiple rocket launchers Azerbaijan shelled schools in Nagorno-Karabakh which caused death and injuries amongst the schoolchildren. In one of the villages in Karabakh three elderly persons, including a 92 year old woman, were brutally tortured, mutilated, their ears were cut and then they were killed. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded by Azerbaijani armed forces in ISIL style, which were subsequently demonstrated in the towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Moreover, when as a result of the mediation of the Red Cross, the bodies of Armenian soldiers were returned, it was undeniable that all of them had been mutilated after being killed. The shelling of Nagorno-Karabakh civilian areas is continuing to this day. These are gross violations of the international humanitarian law. For years Armenophobia has gotten wider dissemination in Azerbaijan on the state level. This is not a secret to anyone. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its report on Azerbaijan alerted with deep concern about the constant and negative official and media discourse concerning the Republic of Armenia and recommended the Azerbaijani authorities to adopt an appropriate response to all cases of discrimination and hate speech against Armenians. In parallel to launching large-scale military operations, Azerbaijan pursues another goal as well. An attempt has been made to declare that the 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements have ceased their effect. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in Finland on an official visit, noted the aforementioned during his address Monday at Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki. These trilateral ceasefire agreements signed by Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia have no time limitations, Nalbandian continued. Moreover the July 1994 agreement on the reinforcement of ceasefire requires the sides to maintain the ceasefire regime until signing of the big political agreement. These agreements have been continuously supported by appropriate decisions and statements of OSCE. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have already expressed their position to Azerbaijan, underlining again and again that the 1994 and 1995 agreements, whose terms do not expire, as before, make up the foundation of the cessation of hostilities in the conflict zone. The Co-Chairs called on to strictly adhere to the above-mentioned agreements and not to permit their violation. The adventurism of Azerbaijan has immensely harmed the negotiations and has been seriously impeding the peace process. Today our efforts, together with the Co-Chairs, are aimed at overcoming of the consequences created due to the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan. Without tangible consolidation of ceasefire regime the negotiation process will become hostage to Azerbaijani blackmailing. In that context the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, as well as the OSCE Chairmanship have emphasized that it is necessary to have the mechanism of investigation of ceasefire violations. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have always welcomed these proposals. Azerbaijan not only rejects its implementation, but on the highest level publicly assesses the ceasefire consolidation measures as a strange and ridiculous proposal. In fact there are leaders in the 21st century who can consider measures aimed at preventing the loss of human lives as something strange and ridiculous. This displays the genuine attitude of the authorities in Baku towards human lives, including their own citizens. The other proposal of which is being continuously undermined is about enhancing the capacities and the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, which Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have supported, but about which, again, Baku not only does not want to hear at all, but is doing everything to reduce their capacities having in mind to ban their activities, as it was done with the OSCE office in Baku. Moreover, Baku started to block the OSCE monitors from conducting of observation missions on the Line of Contact between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. The essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, about which I started my talk, was and remains the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to freely and securely determine their future. Nagorno-Karabakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan, it was annexed to the Soviet Azerbaijan by Joseph Stalin. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in Finland on an official visit, stated the above-said during his address Monday at Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki. Moreover, Azerbaijan has for decades carried out a policy of ethnic cleansing towards Nagorno-Karabakh, menacing the physical security of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, then unleashing an open aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh using mercenaries closely linked to the international terrorist organizations, Nalbandian continued. Despite the numerous appeals of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community to fully respect the trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994 and 1995, Azerbaijan has continued their violations, concentrating heavy weaponry and military forces along the entire Line of Contact, further increasing its warmongering and launching a provocative propaganda campaign on international arena trying to accuse the Armenian side in exactly what it is itself doing, thus preparing ground for new military attacks which can have far-reaching negative consequences for the whole region. It is high time for the international community to take concrete steps in order to bring Azerbaijan to order. In these conditions, the right to self-determination is not just what the people of Nagorno-Karabakh rightly aspire, but it is the only key to a just solution of this conflict. The large-scale military offensive this April has been a serious blow to the negotiation process and to more than two decades-long efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Now immense efforts are needed to restore the negotiation environment. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have proven their commitment to an exclusively peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Unfortunately Azerbaijan has acted against such a solution. In order to avoid a new war in the region all of the efforts of the international community should be directed to enforce an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. STEPANAKERT. As a result of Azerbaijani aggression, we faced some problems in the economy, including in agriculture, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) PM Arayik Haroutyunyan on Sunday noted at his talk with the farmers in NKR Hadrut Region. They discussed agricultural matters under the present-day situation. The NKR Government informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that, due to Azerbaijani aggression in recent times, the PM underscored the effective organization of logistics activities, which directly impact the combat-readiness of Artsakhs defense army. He urged those in attendance to carry out respective coordinated work by using the full potential of the communities. Thanks to our army, we very quickly managed to stabilize the military situation, Haroutyunyan added. But now, we need to strengthen the rear and organize normal economic activities, alike. The large-scale military offensive this April has been a serious blow to the negotiation process. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is in Finland on an official visit, stated the above-said during his address Monday at Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki. In his speech, Nalbandian referred to the conseuences of the aggreeive actions unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh in early April, as well as the joint efforts of Armenia and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs toward their elimination. Touching on the ways to Karabakh conflict settlement, the FM said: The bottom-line of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the realization of peoples right to self-determination, one of the core principles of international law. For decades that right has been obstructed by annexation, ethnic-cleansing, massacres and military aggression. Nevertheless, as history has proven on several occasions, it is impossible to ignore the choice of a people for self-determination. Nagorno-Karabakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan, it was annexed to the Soviet Azerbaijan by Stalin. Moreover, Azerbaijan has for decades carried out a policy of ethnic cleansing towards Nagorno-Karabakh, menacing the physical security of the Nagorno-Karabakh people, then unleashing an open aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh using mercenaries closely linked to the international terrorist organizations. Referring to the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan in the beginning of April, Nalbandian said: Being unable to solve the issue by military means Azerbaijan had to sign, with Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, in May 1994 ceasefire agreement, in July 1994 agreement on the reinforcement of ceasefire, and in February 1995 agreement on the consolidation of ceasefire, which have no time limitations. During the following years negotiations were held by the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. By the way, one of the first Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group was Finland. In this process were involved such prominent Finnish diplomats as Heikki Talvitie and Rene Nyberg. In this framework numerous rounds of negotiations were held on the levels of Presidents, Foreign Ministers which however, have not yielded results due to the continuous rejection of the Co-Chairs proposals by Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of April, Azerbaijan has unleashed large scale aggressive military operation along the entire Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh, which targeted also civilian infrastructures and settlements and which left several hundreds of killed and wounded. In more than 20 years of fragile ceasefire regime this became an unprecedented destabilization with the use of heavy weaponry, tanks, rockets, artillery, aviation. The continuous acquisition of offensive armaments, the feeding of its society with bellicose warmongering and the spread of hate-speech against Armenians by Baku sooner or later could not but result in such a situation. This is something that we had warned all our international partners during the past several years. Azerbaijan has been blaming the Armenians as well as the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, represented by the USA, Russia and France, for lack of progress in the negotiations. To such baseless accusations one could ask some rhetorical counter-arguments. Who is rejecting to accept the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs as a basis for negotiations? Who is opposing all confidence building measures - starting with preparing societies for peaceful solution to the creation of ceasefire violations investigation mechanism? Who is blaming the Co-Chair countries, including by calling them provocateurs and accusing them in Islamophobia? Who is permanently attempting to shift the negotiations of Nagorno-Karabakh issue to other formats, to structures which do not have any international mandate to deal with the resolution of the conflict and which have never resolved any conflict previously? There is one answer to these questions Azerbaijan. Edward Nalbandian also mentioned the crimes committed by Azerbaijan against the civil population of Artsakh: During the four day war we witnessed also the exceptional brutality of Azerbaijani armed forces against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Using Grad multiple rocket launchers Azerbaijan shelled schools in Nagorno-Karabakh which caused death and injuries amongst the schoolchildren. In one of the villages in Karabakh three elderly persons, including a 92 year old woman, were brutally tortured, mutilated, their ears were cut and then they were killed. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded by Azerbaijani armed forces in ISIL style, which were subsequently demonstrated in the towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Moreover, when as a result of the mediation of the Red Cross, the bodies of Armenian soldiers were returned, it was undeniable that all of them had been mutilated after being killed. The shelling of Nagorno-Karabakh civilian areas is continuing to this day. These are gross violations of the international humanitarian law. For years Armenophobia has gotten wider dissemination in Azerbaijan on the state level. This is not a secret to anyone. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its report on Azerbaijan alerted with deep concern about the constant and negative official and media discourse concerning the Republic of Armenia and recommended the Azerbaijani authorities to adopt an appropriate response to all cases of discrimination and hate speech against Armenians. "The cultivation of hatred towards Armenians in Azerbaijan leads to the most horrible crimes, including crimes against humanity. The Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as other parts of Azerbaijan more than two decades ago already experienced forced deportation and massacres. Almost a decade ago the Azerbaijani armed forces used all their capacity to attack one of the fewest remaining Armenian monuments in Azerbaijan - the Medieval cemetery in Jugha. Several thousands of medieval cross-stones, dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries, were bulldozed under the Azerbaijani governments watchful eyes and this area was turned into a military ground in a government sanctioned operation. The 16th International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly resolution regretfully stated with regard to this vandalism: this heritage that once enjoyed its worthy place among the treasures of the worlds heritage can no longer be transmitted today to future generations. Our numerous calls for sending international fact-finding missions to Nakhijevan, as well as attempts by a number of international organizations and countries have been rejected by the Azerbaijani side. The adventurism of Azerbaijan has immensely harmed the negotiations and has been seriously impeding the peace process. Today our efforts, together with the Co-Chairs, are aimed at overcoming of the consequences created due to the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan. Without tangible consolidation of ceasefire regime the negotiation process will become hostage to Azerbaijani blackmailing. In that context the international community, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, as well as the OSCE Chairmanship have emphasized that it is necessary to have the mechanism of investigation of ceasefire violations. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have always welcomed these proposals. "Azerbaijan not only rejects its implementation, but on the highest level publicly assesses the ceasefire consolidation measures as a strange and ridiculous proposal. In fact there are leaders in the 21st century who can consider measures aimed at preventing the loss of human lives as something strange and ridiculous. This displays the genuine attitude of the authorities in Baku towards human lives, including their own citizens. The other proposal which is being continuously undermined is about enhancing the capacities and the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, which Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have supported, but about which, again, Baku not only does not want to hear at all, but is doing everything to reduce their capacities having in mind to ban their activities, as it was done with the OSCE office in Baku. Moreover, Baku started to block the OSCE monitors from conducting of observation missions on the Line of Contact between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. The essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, about which I started my talk, was and remains the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to freely and securely determine their future. Despite the numerous appeals of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the international community to fully respect the trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994 and 1995, Azerbaijan has continued their violations, concentrating heavy weaponry and military forces along the entire Line of Contact, further increasing its warmongering and launching a provocative propaganda campaign on international arena trying to accuse the Armenian side in exactly what it is itself doing, thus preparing ground for new military attacks which can have far-reaching negative consequences for the whole region. It is high time for the international community to take concrete steps in order to bring Azerbaijan to order. In these conditions, the right to self-determination is not just what the people of Nagorno-Karabakh rightly aspire, but it is the only key to a just solution of this conflict. The large-scale military offensive this April has been a serious blow to the negotiation process and to more than two decades-long efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Now immense efforts are needed to restore the negotiation environment. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have proven their commitment to an exclusively peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Unfortunately Azerbaijan has acted against such a solution. In order to avoid a new war in the region all of the efforts of the international community should be directed to enforce Azerbaijan an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Following the speech, FM Nalbandian responded to the numerous questions of those present. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry upon the latter's initiative Monday. The officials urged the conflicting sides to Syrian conflict to strictly observe the ceasefire, the Russian MFA press-service reports. The two officials discussed the prospects for the political settlement in Syria and urged the conflicting sides to strictly observe the ceasefire regime, set up with the assistance of Russia and the United States, excluding efforts to fight terrorist groups. They also coordinated Moscow and Washington's further steps as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), including the preparations for its next regular meeting. While considering the Ukraine issue, Mr Lavrov recalled the necessity to seek the investigation of the tragedy in Odessa on May 2, 2014. It was also emphasised that the Minsk Package of Measures must be fulfilled and there are no alternatives, the statement reads. "Javakhk Compatriotic Benevolent Public Organziation has disseminated an announcement concerning the incident in Akhaltsikhe, city in Georgia. Following the traditional torchlight procession on April 23, the youth of Tzkhaltpila, Abatkhev and Tzinouban Armenian villages of Akhaltsike headed for a local Armenian sanctuary to light fire and thereby honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Reaching the sanctuary, they met a group of Georgians from Vale town, who were having a party and were drunk. Not understanding what the Armenian youth wanted, those people began fighting with them, but understood each other soon. Despite this, at midnight the police visited the houses of various Armenian young men and took them to the police station. Besides, they beat and humiliated the Armenians, even saying offensive words regarding the Armenian Genocide. The Javakhk Armenians are strongly concerned about the incident. We find unacceptable such a conduct against the local Armenians by the representatives of a friendly countrys authorities. We hope that those guilty of the incident will be punished by the fullest extent of the law, this soothing this nasty incident. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia has published a video of a detention related to the mass murder of ex-chief of police Andrey Gosht and his family in Syzran city of Samara Oblast (district). The alleged killers are three Azeris. The law enforcement authorities found two of them in their apartments, while the third one was detained in the street. According to the information, one of the suspects managed to flee to his homeland, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports. The detainees will soon be moved to Moscow for the continuation of the investigation. The incident took place in the night of April 24 in the farm house of Andrey Goshts parents in Ivashevka village not far from Syzran city. In the morning the policemans brother found his relatives in beds drenched in blood. The investigation concluded that the attack took place when everyone was asleep. The victims died of head injuries. The only survivor is small Sofia, niece of the colonel. Now she is in critical condition: she had fallen into coma because of various traumas. The Azerbaijani authorities have awarded another gang of killers and executioners as a sign of encouragement. The President of that country, Ilham Aliyev, personally handed awards to the Azerbaijani serviceman, who beheaded the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Defense Army Soldier, Yezidi Kyaram Sloyan. Through this step, Azerbaijan continues the terrible policy of encouraging killers and executioners, Ramil Safarov having become their prominent example. The latter beheaded the Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan, being later handed by the authorities of Hungary to Azerbaijan. In his homeland, Safarov was welcomed with honors and awards. During the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan on April 2, the Azerbaijani military servicemen demonstrated criminal skills, cutting off the ears of the killed old men, torturing the captives and mistreating their bodies. The 2011 Superbloom started in parts of the Indian River Lagoon closest to Kennedy Space Center. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida The public has until 5 p.m. May 2, 2016 to submit comments about how future operations at Kennedy Space Center may impact the local environment, including impacts to the Indian River Lagoon. Public comments can be emailed to: [email protected] All Three Major Algae Blooms Erupted Around Kennedy Space Center (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In 2011, an algae superbloom erupted in the northernmost portion of the Banana River that is bordered by Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. According to the St. Johns River Water Management Districts investigation that followed, the superbloom then spread westward through the Barge Canal into the northern portion of the Indian River Lagoon near Cocoa. Eventually, this superbloom expanded northward through Haulover Canal and into southern Mosquito Lagoon to cover 132,500 acres. In August 2012, a brown tide bloom began in the Mosquito Lagoon on the northern side of Kennedy Space Center and moved into the northern Indian River Lagoon near Titusville. The same brown tide reappeared in 2013. In January 2016, a brown tide bloom reappeared in the northernmost portion of the Banana River that is bordered by Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In March 2016, the biggest fish kill in the Indian River Lagoons history was first detected in the Banana River north of State Road 528 near KSCs southeastern boundary. Few People Live Where The Algal Blooms Started The geographic locations of the algal blooms appear to contradict the most-often cited hypothesis that sewage, grass clippings, pet waste, and fertilizer from the surrounding civilian residents were the cause of the recent algae blooms. Thats because the restricted federal lands of the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Canaveral National Seashore, and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge make up most of those areas surrounding landmass. The inhabitants consist mostly of wildlife with feral hogs being an invasive species. Before NASA took control of the property that is now KSC, the area was home to many people who had livestock and/or citrus groves. As the people relocated to surrounding towns, their domestic hogs (Sus scrofa) were occasionally left behind, the KSC Environment Impact study notes. The mild central Florida winters and abundance of food resources made it possible for feral hog populations to explode. There are no efforts currently underway to remove the feral hog population from KSC. Waste from domestic hogs has been determined as the cause of algal blooms in other parts of the U.S. Additionally, a manatee population remains in the waters surrounding KSC on a year-round basis because the warm water discharge by the nearby Florida Power & Light power plant has disrupted their natural winter migration pattern. The power plant was built during the Apollo Era at that location to provide power for KSCs operations and the neighborhoods nearby where the space workers lived. The manatee population has since exploded in the years leading up to the recent algae blooms, leading many to believe that the sea cows heavy seagrass consumption and resulting excrement contributed to the algae blooms. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimates that manatees contribute 25 to 109 tons (1.7% to 6.7% of the total) nitrogen and 2 to 7 tons (0.7% to 3.0% of the total) phosphorous entering the Indian River Lagoon system. The Impact Of KSC Pollution On The Indian River Lagoon Pollution from launch operations at Kennedy Space Center and neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station has been occurring since the late 1950s. According to NASAs 2016 draft environmental impact study for Kennedy Space Center, the ecologically, recreationally, and commercially important Indian River Lagoon adjacent to KSC has been impaired by the cumulative impacts of all point and non-point sources of pollutant loadings that have grown enormously in magnitude over the last half century. To hear Naomi Maisel tell it, shes just a laid-back California girl who wants to surf and hike. But to the faculty, staff and classmates who know her best, shes the energetic and driven student who built an organization that saves about 1,000 pounds of potentially wasted food every month, then converts it into healthy meals for those in need. They also noticed Maisel remained a top student while finding time to serve as a research assistant on a food insecurity project at the CDC, work with Volunteer Emory on various efforts, and serve as an orientation leader for new students. So while she remains in awe of the peers she says embody the live hard, play hard mantra she claims to lack, Maisel is this year's winner of the Lucius Lamar McMullan Award. The McMullan Award, made possible by a generous gift from Emory alumnus William Matheson 47G, honors not just Maisel's exceptional leadership so far. It also telegraphs to the world that the Emory community expects great things from her in the future. The award also comes with $25,000 no strings attached. I didnt come to Emory thinking Id get involved in Atlanta, the San Diego native says. My parents raised me to do good for others. And at Emory, you could see the wealth, and I found it was juxtaposed with the poverty right down the street. If that was the divide, Maisel knew that food could bridge the gap. Her interest in food began when she started making her own dinners after becoming a vegetarian when she started high school. Some of her warmest family memories are talking about her day over dinner with her mother, stepfather and four siblings. I believe food is a human right that is denied to many because of inequality, Maisel says. I want people to understand that it is most often injustice that acts as a barrier between food and people. Creating Campus Kitchens Maisel saw those barriers firsthand working with Volunteer Emory at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. When she later began donating her time at the Intown Collaborative Ministries food pantry a smaller operation that fed her desire to connect with people by allowing her to take applications and talk with those in need she saw a simple act that drove home her convictions. One client removed a jar of high-protein peanut butter from his own bag and gave it to a small family, saying their need was greater. At about the same time, she watched in horror at Dobbs Market as piles of untouched food landed in the garbage from busy students. We were throwing away so much food and were right down the street from people willing to give what little they have to someone else, Maisel says. The experience prompted an idea she presented to Dave Furhman, head of Emory Campus Dining. Could the campus somehow donate unused food, rather than throw it away? Furhman, who had been at Emory just a few weeks when he met Maisel in 2013, steered her to a program he knew from his previous job at Johns Hopkins University: Campus Kitchens Project. Campus Kitchens helps students recover food from university dining venues that otherwise would be wasted and then prepare and deliver meals to community organizations fighting hunger. Maisel was starting from scratch. She would need to launch a chapter, secure funding for a freezer and other equipment, somehow convince other students to take the time to cook and help on the project, and also get certified to handle the food. Anyone who is excited and motivated to do good would be bored by all that administrative stuff, Furhman says. But Naomi is so wonderfully impatient. It took maybe three months and we started a pilot program the next semester. Encouraging peers to lead Campus Kitchens Emory has now grown in detail and scope. Dozens of student volunteers collect unused food from the DUC, Cox Dining Hall and Earth Fare, then decide on the recipes that will make healthy and nutritious meals to deliver, frozen, at four Atlanta-area pantries. Maisel credits the teamwork among a growing number of dedicated students and assistance from staff and faculty for the projects success. Fellow senior Rebecca Lichtenstein, a history major, helped get the organization on its feet and face everyday challenges, Maisel says. Those challenges are as simple as what a days haul might be. One day recently, it was hot dogs, couscous and zucchini. The prepared meal the student volunteers decided on was a healthy salad, with some bite-sized protein. Maisel remains involved in the group but cultivated a full board nine students hailing from Hong Kong to Atlanta, with majors from psychology to biology who will keep the mission going after she graduates. Several mentors pointed to her decision to step down as president as a sign of her ability to not just motivate but empower and support others. Naomi has learned that leadership is not just about having a good idea or advocating well, says Peggy Barlett, Goodrich C. White Professor of Anthropology, who taught Maisel in several courses. I think where she really stands out is realizing that leadership is linking arms with others and nurturing their passions. "Everything she does, it's with the thought for others" Maisels own passions have remained centered around food, even as she wavered between a health and anthropology degree. Both programs examine her driving issue food insecurity and nutrition from very different viewpoints. But even though she will graduate with an anthropology degree, Maisel continued to take many human health courses and has left an imprint in the sciences, says Jill Welkley, an associate professor of human health who has taught her. It was in Welkleys human health class that Maisel first made an impression on her professor. Part of the assignment was to interview researchers and then communicate their work for a broader audience. That researcher later wrote Welkley, praising the student who was so professional and yet managed to make the work personal. Maisel, Welkley said, had managed to take the academic engagement from its traditional classroom setting to another level to her peers and community all on her own. Everything she does, its with the thought for others, says Welkley, who gathered more than a dozen nominations for the McMullan Award from across campus for Maisel. Thats just a thread that runs through her and it shows in everything she does. Maisels next steps are, for the first time in years, a little unclear. She plans to earn a masters of public health but wants to take a year off to decide her focus. She may work in a hunger nonprofit or with a group promoting farmworker justice. She also expects to continue her CDC research into the link between food insecurity and diabetes. Working up close on hunger issues has made her more determined to change the system for the better, much has she has on Emorys campus. The McMullan winnings, she said, will be on hold to pay for the degree she thinks best helps her accomplish that. I truly believe there are so many other students on campus who could earn this award, she says. So I want to honor the award and them as best I can. If people have this kind of faith in me, I realize I better really do something. I am kind of overwhelmed by the opportunity, which is a great place to be. When Ami Fields-Meyer stepped onto Emorys campus four years ago, his sights were set on Washington, D.C. I was going to have a career in politics, the Los Angeles native says, noting that he planned to major in political science. Then he took a history class focused on the history of inequality in the United States. Fields-Meyer discovered life as a self-described news junkie took on greater depth when he understood the historical context of current events. The tangible power of the ideas has already shaped Fields-Meyer, who decided to major in history and minor in African-American studies. He will share his perspective May 9 as the class orator at the Emory College diploma ceremony, which follows the main university-wide Commencement on the Emory Quadrangle. His topic: How the impact his fellow graduates hope to make on the world will be rooted in the currency of ideas learned at Emory. Weve worked really hard to learn new ideas, to understand contrary ideas and to communicate our ideas with persuasion, Fields-Meyer says. But we dont study history just because its interesting, any more than we study computer science because its interesting. We study so we have the ideas to make the world more just, equitable and healthy. A selection committee of students, faculty and administrators chose Fields-Meyer to be the sole speaker at the Emory College diploma ceremony after a highly selective process. All applicants had to submit a resume and written speech. Five finalists from that pool were selected to audition by giving their speech and answering interview questions, says Jason Ciejka, assistant dean of the Office for Undergraduate Education. TableTalk co-founder leaves 'lasting impression' Fields-Meyers speech will include projects his classmates have already undertaken, using the power of ideas. Modestly, the Deans Achievement Scholar wont be including his own example as co-founder of TableTalk, a series of pre-arranged conversations between two social or cultural groups on campus that would not otherwise interact. Fields-Meyer and co-founder Adam Goldstein, also a senior, have surrendered the leadership reins in TableTalk, now in its third year and expanded to four other universities. But its mere formation as a way to expand curiosity from the classroom into the social sphere reflects Fields-Meyer's personality, his professors say. Ami leaves me with a very strong and positive impression, yet he is a rather quiet person, says Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Hank Klibanoff, who taught Fields-Meyer in the Georgia Civil Rights Cold Cases course. In so many ways, its his ideas that leave a lasting impression, adds Klibanoff, James M. Cox, Jr. Professor of Journalism. He gets excited by ideas and some he works out by himself and some he needs engagement to understand. And so it should be with life. Brett Gadsden, associate professor of history and African American studies, co-teaches the cold cases class and also served as a mentor to Fields-Meyer. Fields-Meyer recalls hours spent talking over ideas and submitting written drafts to Gadsden, only to see his work heavily edited, with lots of remarks in red ink. Gadsden remembers it differently. He calls Fields-Meyer a delight for being both interested and interesting in the topics at hand. The challenge I saw for Ami was trying to match his skills as a writer with his great intellectual ambitions, Gadsden says. One thing Ive really admired is his efforts to bridge the past and the present, to really think about the gap between the two, and understand the echoes of history. Thats testimony to me of a dynamic mind. Fields-Meyer describes many of his classmates that way, saying he hopes his speech will capture the voice of his class and what students have wrestled with and accomplished. People talk about the Emory Bubble, he says of the ivory tower image. But I really believe what we did here is real and matters and ought to inform the rest of our lives. 13:51 The Standing Committee of Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday pulled up the Centre for the January 2 Pathankot terror attack, saying had the Centre been serious and the intelligence agencies had functioned properly, then the picture would have been entirely different. Pradip Bhattacharya, the Chairman of the Standing Committee said security agencies were ill-prepared to anticipate the threats in time and to counter them swiftly. "Something is seriously wrong with the country's counter-terror security establishment," the Parliamentary Standing Committee said on the Pathankot terror attack. "The committee is unable to understand how terrorists managed to reach the Pathankot airbase in spite of terror alerts being sounded well in advance. The security agencies were ill-prepared to anticipate the threats in time and counter them swiftly," Bhattacharya claimed. "We had a long interaction with officers at the Pathankot airbase. They said they had no information that their airbase would be attacked. He got information early in the morning, that too not from Punjab, but from the Delhi Air Force. How did it happen? Who gave this information to Delhi Air Force? These are remarkable things to search out," he added. He also said that during the visit to the Pathankot airbase, the committee found that the airbase security was not robust. "We urge upon the Government of India to take this report seriously and take appropriate steps. Even today, there are very unsafe conditions at the Pathankot airbase," he said. The Pathankot air base was attacked by heavily armed terrorists reportedly having allegiance to the Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist organisation based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in which four terrorists and three security forces personnel were killed. A five-member Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP), a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), two Lt. Colonels and one inspector, from Pakistan had visited India between March 27-31 to collect, review and document physical evidences and to interview key witnesses and victims through the NIA in connection with the Pathankot attack. Just a few days after the Pakistani JIT probing the Pathankot attack admitted that the four terrorists who attacked the Pathankot Indian Air Force base were from Pakistan, the JIT had said that the attack had been staged by India, according to a Pakistani media report. The JIT "says the attack was a drama staged to malign Pakistan," according to a report in Pakistan Today. It further said that the JIT report, which was submitted to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the next few days, had even concluded that Indian authorities had prior information about the terrorists. Meanwhile, on April 28, the Centre had told told the Rajya Sabha that Pakistan had been clearly told that it should allow an Indian probe team to visit that country in connection with Pathankot terror attack as reciprocity was the principle on which Pakistan's JIT was allowed to visit here. At the time of writing, India and Pakistan maintain their differences on the sequence of events related to the attack. NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has launched a mobile app for international travellers to inform them about customs and baggage rules, parliament was told on Friday. "'Indian Customs- Guide to Travellers' mobile app has been developed by Bengaluru Customs to inform international travelers - who may be traders, exporters or importers - about the customs baggage rules," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. The app is available on Android Play store, Apple Store and Windows Store. "The app serves as a useful tool for quick information on the baggage rules and entitlements and thus serves to clarify doubts and concern of international passengers," he said. Read Also: Learning New Language May Boost Brains Agility: Study Develop Early Warning System To Detect Frauds: Par Panel To MCA Sunita Williams, Team To Ensure Safe Cargo Flights To International Space Station BENGALURU: Google announces Find a Time feature to its Calendar to make it easier for organizations to schedule meetings, reports tech2 news staff. The update is currently available on Google Play Store and will soon hit the iOS market as well. To use the new feature, a user has to first select the team members he/she wants to have a meeting with. The user can then click the find a time feature and that will show the availability of the selected memberswho all will likely be able to attend the meeting. The app also displays alternative times with a note if some members are unavailable. The feature checks the calendar entries of each member and identifies the time slots where all members can attend the meeting. Google Calendars new feature simplifies scheduling meetings according to the convenience of every participant. It removes the hassles of dialing a conference call and checking the calendar of every person to find a suitable time for meeting even if they are located in different time zones. In case there is no suitable time, then the app also suggests the rescheduling of conflicting meetings. As such, Google Calendar allows users to spend less time in planning by simply integrating with Gmail, contacts, drive and hangouts to feed in the events with their dates respectively. Further, the calendar can be shared among co-workers to schedule events and meetings with complete visibility over their events and busy hours. Find a time makes suggestions, but you're still in control. You can tap to see everyone's schedule at a glanceperfect for making sure the timing works for all. And if you manage someone else's calendar, you can use the feature to schedule meetings on their behalf as well, says Stella Schieffer, Product Manager, Google. Read Also: CBEC Launches Mobile App For Baggage Rules Information Learning New Language May Boost Brains Agility: Study LONDON: Learning a new language for even a short period of time may aid mental agility and have linguistic, cognitive and social benefits, a new study has claimed. Tests carried out on students of all ages suggests that acquiring a new language improves a person's attention, after only a week of study, according to researchers from University of Edinburgh in the UK. They also found that these benefits could be maintained with regular practice. Researchers assessed different aspects of mental alertness in a group of 33 students aged 18 to 78 years who had taken part in a one-week Scottish Gaelic course. They tracked people's attention levels with a series of listening tests including the ability to concentrate on certain sounds and switch the attention to filter relevant information. Researchers compared the results with those of people who had completed a one week course - but not involving learning a new language - and with a group who had not completed any course. After one week, improvements in attention were found in both groups participating in intensive courses, but only those learning a second language were significantly better than those not involved in any courses, researchers said. This improvement was found for all ages, from 18 to 78 years, which demonstrates the benefits of language learning also in later life, they said. Nine months after the initial course all those who had practised five hours or more per week improved from their baseline performance, researchers said. This shows the mental skills gained from language learning can be maintained if speakers practise continuously, they said. "I think there are three important messages from our study - firstly, it is never too late to start a novel mental activity such as learning a new language," said Thomas Bak from University of Edinburgh. "Secondly, even a short intensive course can show beneficial effects on some cognitive functions. Thirdly, this effect can be maintained through practice," said Bak. A short course language study has a threefold benefit - linguistic, cognitive and social, according to Boyd Robertson from University of Edinburgh. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE. Read Also: ISIS Developing Google-Style Driverless Cars For Attack Biodegradable Clothing, Shoes Made From Tea Byproduct Prisons boss concerned over contraband find The Prison Commissioner said that although the prison has conducted several searches, the amount of contraband recovered during these exercises was alarming. Every time we conduct these exercises we find a high number of contraband. That is always a reason for concern. Regardless of what means were taken to get them into the prisons, the fact is, it is not supposed to be there. We will always have to conduct searches. Part of our function and duty as prison officers is to ensure the safety of the prisoners, the prison officers and visitors to the prisons, and conducting searches is one of the ways in which this is done. Newsday was told that contraband seized during the exercise included improvised weapons, narcotics, and cell phones. From as early as 9 am on Saturday, officers removed prisoners from their cells and searched them. Stewart said prisoners were put back in their cells as soon as they were searched. Prisoners protested, and some attempted to have physical confrontations but were eventually subdued. Newsday understands that the officers are now conducting regular duties, but there are still officers on standby to conduct searches at a moments notice. Stewart commended his officers on their professionalism and sacrifice. We know it is a difficult job, to be working in such a volatile and dangerous environment, with high risk individuals but the prison officers do it to the best of their ability, without fear or favour. I would just like to thank them for their continued effort Stewart said. Man shot by cop faces charges According to police reports, the man, who up to yesterday, was nursing a gunshot wound to the left side of his abdomen, was warned by police when he was observed behaving in a disorderly manner, making threats to would someone, and was brandishing a knife. The officers of the Fyzabad Police Station went to the mans home along the Guapo Main Road, in Fyzabad, and despite their warnings to him, he continued brandishing the knife and ignoring them. Officers said when the man began to advance in their direction, they became fearful and one of the officers fired a shot which struck the man in his abdomen. The suspect was rushed to the Siparia District Health Facility and was later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where he remains warded under police guard. Once he is discharged from hospital, the suspect is expected to be charged and taken to the Magistrates Court. Supt James of the Siparia Police Station is spearheading investigations Convictions overturned by Court of Appeal Kwesi Alexis, who was convicted of rape in October 2014, will face a fresh trial while Paul Vincent Seerattan had his October 2012 convictions of assault with intent to rob and indecent assault quashed. Seerattan, who is also challenging a separate murder conviction, will not face a retrial for the assault charges. Quashing the convictions were Justices of Appeal Paula Mae Weekes, Alice Yorke-Soo Hon and Mark Mohammed. Alexis had been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for a rape which allegedly took place on January 22, 2006, while Seerattan was convicted for crimes which allegedly occurred in April of 2005. In Seerattans appeal, the court upheld one of the two grounds of appeal advanced by attorneys Daniel Khan and Ula-Nathai Lutchman that a miscarriage of justice occurred when the judge failed to adequately direct the jury as to the consequences that would follow if they found the identification evidence advanced at the trial, to be unfair and that appellant was convicted on the identification evidence, resulting from an unfair identification parade, which should not have been admitted. In their ruling, the appellate judges held that while the trial judge did go through in great detail the evidence of the identification parade, it was not sufficient as explicit directions were required when directing laymen jurors on legal issues. The jury needed to be directed further, Justice Weekes said, adding that the jury was not adquately assisted on information pertinent to the identification parade. It is the duty of the trial judge to direct the jury carefully and pointedly, she advised. In considering whether a fresh trial should be ordered, the appellate judges used the ten year milestone as a guide and were of the opinion that a retrial should not be ordered for Seerattan, whose murder appeal will be heard in the new law term in September. His attorney in the appeal, Jagdeo Singh was allowed to file grounds of appeal based on the courts ruling in the case as it related to the identification parade since the issue was raised at his murder trial. In Seerattans appeal, the court found that he was not given a good character direction at trial. Justice Weekes, who again delivered the courts ruling, said while the issue of good character was not raised at trial, there was no danger in a judge inquiry, in the absence of the jury, as to any character evidence. Judges have an overall duty, she said. Appearing for the State were Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul and Angelica Teelucksingh New lawyers urged to put clients needs first Do not do this because you want to earn more money but because of the satisfaction you will get from being of service and having it appreciated, she said as she welcomed a group of attorneys who attained their law degrees in the United Kingdom and completed their six month tutelage for admittance to the local Bar. In her address to the new lawyers at a special ceremony at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, on Friday, Justice Kangaloo urged them to serve the publics interest and make it an important part of their professional career. Your duty to the publics interest requires that you do not assist a client to commit a fraud or a crime nor should you knowingly mislead a court or another party. You have to improve the law and the profession, she said. She further entreated them to demonstrate dedication to clients over themselves; dedication to serving the publics interest while also improving the profession; devotion to honesty, integrity and good character. You must value honesty and integrity. Make these the hallmarks of your reputation. Expect to be trusted and trust your peers. Your word must be your bond. you must embody, stand for and expect from your peers no less than honesty, dependability, courage and loyalty. These attributes should all work together to improve your practice of law, she told them. You must adhere to professional ethics and insist on self regulation, all good lawyers do so. Be careful of the temptation to deviate from the professional ideas. This likely risk you will face will misplaced priorities and loss of moral compass, she said. Attorneys the world over are criticised for their desire for money. This is sometimes makes you to lose sight of your duty to your clients, to the publics interest and to the administration of justice. That however should not by your main objective or purpose. That is why I sincerely hope that none of you who have worked towards this day with the goal in mind to make as much money as easily and quickly as possible and with a lot of media coverage, she told the new attorneys. What you need to know about the Octagon Art Festival on Sunday in Ames news Bee-keeping survivalist gets candid about prepping: Most people would be dead between 30 and 90 days Jake Cassar lives in Australia and has been preparing for the end of the world since he was a teen. He takes disaffected youth to the bush and shows them edible wild plants, encourages the intake of clean food and the medicinal use of native crops and more. ABC news describes what Jake Cassar told the wide-eyed teens at a recent wilderness outing: At one of his weekend camps near Gosford, Jake Cassar is telling some of the boys a story about the time he was homeless in Kings Cross and saw someone slashed up with a razor. That afternoon, he teaches them how to make rope, a fire, find water in the bush, skin a rabbit, and build a shelter, just for starters. Blended in with the lessons is information about survivalism and apocalyptic scenarios. World war three an airborne disease which started wiping out people left right and center I might sound a bit eccentric talking about this kind of thing, but it could happen, [Jake] tells them Jakes friend, Steve is helping out and has a van full of prepper gear, including bee pollen, about five different methods for starting fire, and and a head-to-toe skintight camouflage suit. Why bee pollen? Steve tells me its nutritious as well as being light and easy to carry in a crisis In a serious survival situation would we have to kill animals? [Jake] asks, and then gives the answer: Yes.' Cannibalism is a historic fact. Cassar says the vegans would go first Jake Cassar is not afraid to describe even more dire situations, which are documented by history. Millions died of starvation in the Ukraine in the 1930s and millions more in China in the 1950s. Starvation led to cannibalism in these horrific times. Cassar is aware of these potentials, as ABC news reports: Some people disagree but as I say, vegans and vegetarians would end up being cannibalised by other people in the first months. He added, I hope it never happens, I hope I never have to utilise my survival techniques that Ive been learning over a lifetime, but I do have a feeling that there will be a time. I think in in our society today the shit is hitting the fan. You might call Jake Cassar a celebrity apocalyptic prepper. Jake Cassar is also a social activist, a naturalist and a park ranger who is not only wide awake to the potential of societal breakdown, hes also a man who has sung professionally for over a decade. He specializes in folk songs and the didjeridoo. His bio reports that Jake recently made the top 50 in the television show X Factor where his voice was described as being unique and sounding like caramel by international recording artist, Ronan Keating. Not all Aussies believe were facing the end of civilization with the same intensity. Ecologist and futurist Dr. Steve Cork is one, according to ABC.net: Dr Cork, now based at the Australian National University, spent 25 years working at the CSIRO, researching interactions between humans and the natural environment. He says the collapse of society could come in a few different forms, including climate change, civil unrest because of refugee crises, food shortages, or a pandemic. He thinks if humans last another few decades, artificial intelligence might ultimately do us in. By about 2045 [we expect to have] computers that have got more capacity than all human brains put together, he says. So will man do us in, or the robots man creates? Seems like a little spiritual preparation is in order, too. Sources: ABC.net.au Science.NaturalNews.com JakeCassar.net Submit a correction >> Cannabis oil cures terminal cancer in 3-year-old A 3 year old boy named Landon Riddle was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and was told he had a mere 8 to 10 percent chance of surviving for more than a couple days at one point. Fortunately, Landon is alive and well. His mother attributes his speedy recovery, not so much to the chemotherapy, but to an alternative cannabis oil treatment. His whole chest was full of leukemia tumors, which is why he couldnt breathe. They started him on chemo, but told us that he probably wasnt going to make it, said Landons mother, Sierra Riddle. Following two months of treatment, Landon became sick and refrained from eating. His mother reported that Landon was vomiting up to 50 times per day. Doctors eventually lost hope, seeing no course to take other than chemotherapy. It was at this point in which Landons grandmother suggested Sierra give cannabis oil treatment a try. We discussed all of our concerns with his medical team in Utah and watched Landon continue to suffer and wither away as the piled on drug after drug, Sierra said. Then my mother came across cannabis oil online, she added. Boy shows signs of improvement just days after cannabis treatment The family decided to leave the state of Utah for Colorado, where cannabis is legal. Our hearts were filled with joy that cannabis brought back the smile to Landons face. Landon started getting better and better! It was as if a miracle had happened! He was smiling again and started to eat again! Sierra noted in her blog during Andrews cannabis oil treatment. It is atrocious that anyone on the planet would be charged for choosing cannabis over pharmaceuticals. My heart goes out to Adam Koessler and Rumor Rose, along with uncountable other families that are affected by cannabis prohibition. Get ready for the fight of your life. Having a sick child is a battle in itself, but making this choice is a whole new world. Youre going to need thick skin, intuition, and a solid team. Dont waste time making sure every other pharmaceutical does more harm than good. If it feels wrong in your gut, its probably wrong, she added. Just days following the cannabis oil treatment, Landon showed signs of improvement. He ate more food and was vomiting less. Within months, Landons cancer went into remission. While children with ALL have a 90 percent survival rate, Londons mother believes the cannabis oil didnt just curb the side-effects of chemotherapy; it actually helped fight against Landons cancer cells. Igniting a legal battle Although Landons cancer went into remission, the family still has hurdles to overcome. In particular, Sierra was told that if she discontinued Landons chemo treatment, then her son would be taken away from her. A lawyer was willing to take on the case, arguing Landons mother was simply trying to look out for the best interests of her child. In order to keep her child, Sierra agreed to continue Landons chemo treatment once a month alongside the cannabis oil treatment. Although the medical industry is finally starting to acknowledge the cancer-fighting benefits of cannabis oil, most doctors say it should only be used in conjunction with traditional chemo treatments. Sierra is still looking for an oncologist that will allow cannabis oil to substitute Landons chemotherapy altogether. Despite Landons story, the American Cancer Society claims, there is no available scientific evidence from controlled studies in humans that cannabinoids can cure or treat cancer. This is in stark contrast to the insights of Dr. Julie Holland, editor of The Pot Book, who says, It turns out, it actually fights the cancer itself. Numerous studies have shown that cannabis compounds can help kill cancer cells in both mice and humans. To learn how you to treat and even prevent cancer through healthy eating and lifestyle habits, be sure to check out this years Natural Cancer Prevention summit. You can sign up for this FREE online event by clicking here. Sources include: NaturalNews BlackListedNews FirstToKnow CNN Cancer.org Science.NaturalNews.com Submit a correction >> The story of the now cancer-free Amish girl that had to flee the United States to escape forced chemotherapy It is a story that is at once sad and joyous at the same time sad, for the bastion of medical authoritarianism the United States has become, but joyous at the outcome. As we reported recently, some may be tempted to call this story a miracle, but holistic and naturopathic medical professionals know why a young Amish girl, who was 12 at the time, is no longer plagued with cancer after her doctors testified in court that she would have been dead by last fall, when we reported the story initially, if her family were allowed to refuse her chemotherapy as they wanted. As reported by the Medina Gazette, of Medina County, Ohio, Maurice Thompson, head of the libertarian non-profit group 1852 Center for Constitutional Law, said young Sarah Hershberger now shows no signs of being stricken with cancer at all and appears to be healthy. She had MRIs and blood work, and the judge over the last year helped facilitate at least one trip to the Cleveland Clinic. The MRIs did not show any cancer, Thompson told the Gazette in October, adding that her family was continuing her treatment with less invasive alternative medicine. Once you have it, youre never 100 percent out of the woods, whether or not you get chemotherapy, he said. I know how she looks isnt really an indication of whether she has cancer, but shes looking very healthy. Whats more, the cancer that she once had no longer showed up in any subsequent blood tests. One of the most disturbing parts of this story is the lack of regard for parental rights, something that is becoming more and more prevalent in the land of the free. When Sarah was first diagnosed with cancer in 2013 her parents, Andy and Anna, initially agreed to chemotherapy. But they chose to end the treatments after their daughters condition worsened, fearing that eventually the chemo would lead to her ultimate demise, as it so often does. (Dont miss the FREE online NATURAL CANCER PREVENTION Summit sign up now!) Thats when officials at Akron (Ohio) Childrens Hospital took action, responding to the parental decision with a legal bid to strip them of their rights to choose Sarahs treatment option. Hospital officials sought court permission to obtain limited guardianship over her, which would have given them the power over her medical decisions, not mom and dad. And doctors testified to the court that Sarah would not live six months without chemo. At first, since-retired Probate Judge John L. Lohn ruled that Andy and Anna were competent enough to make medical decisions for their daughter; but, eventually, an appeals court ordered him to find her a guardian, one who would succumb to the medical industry. The Hershbergers decided instead to flee the United States so they could seek alternative treatments in Canada and Mexico. Some months later, deciding the point was moot, the hospital finally relinquished its guardianship. The family responded by fleeing the country, choosing instead to seek alternative medical treatment in Mexico and Canada. Months thereafter, the hospital decided to relinquish guardianship, seeing no point in pursuing the matter further. According to the Gazette: Thompson said Probate Judge Kevin Dunn who replaced Lohn when he retired in 2014 formally terminated Sarahs guardianship on September 24. Thompson said the judge acknowledged that Sarah, who will turn 13 in November, showed no symptoms of cancer and that she appeared to be healthy. While many mainstream health providers will tell you that Sarahs case is an infinitesimal percentage of all cancer cases like hers, youd be surprised to find out thats not true. Just sign up now FREE for the NATURAL CANCER PREVENTION Summit and discover so much you didnt know about how to treat cancer naturally things youre never going to hear from the corporate medical industry. Submit a correction >> Share Tweet A recent TechZine article by Gary Holland, ION Verticals Marketing, Nokia (News - Alert), Cloud interconnect - where network and cloud meet, explains the importance of cloud data center interconnect, sometimes simply referred to as cloud interconnect. He details how and why data center cloud interconnect (DCI) is used to connect data centers in a cost-effective, fast, low-latency, reliable, scalable, and secure way. Multi-site and multi-technology capabilities help to share data, distribute applications and balance workloads, he says. Most importantly, it provides agile, dynamic provisioning with support for orchestration of network resources quickly and easily, particularly across multiple clouds and administrative domains. Data center interconnect has traditionally focused on bandwidth and latency to keep networks up and running, and enable them to recover quickly when there are problems. But the move to agile networks and cloud architectures requires dynamic provisioning that involves the orchestration of resources and services across locations and providers; flexible bandwidth to address a variety of applications and device types; and solutions that can work across multiple clouds, sites, and technologies, Holland notes. The benefits of that for communication service providers, he adds, include the ability to offer carrier-neutral providers, enterprises, and ICPs cost-effective, flexible, and scalable solutions to connect data centers, co-location, and exchange facilities; to provide metro and long-haul solutions like dark fiber; co-locate in CNP sites to create more customers and peer with other CSPs; and connect different central offices and data centers to create broader and more diverse pools of resources with which to create services. CNPs can benefit, he adds, by creating larger co-location facilities and having the ability to connect multiple buildings or campuses within a metro. Meanwhile, Internet content and cloud providers can build their own metro and long-haul solutions to connect their hyper-scale data centers, extend their footprints by co-locating in CNP sites, have more local presences, bring content closer to consumers, research more organizations with business solutions. This is also beneficial to enterprises and public sector organizations, he adds; as it can allow them to build private clouds, connect with CNP and CSP (News - Alert) facilities to create virtual private clouds, and more. Edited by Peter Bernstein A data-sharing agreement between Google-owned artificial intelligence company DeepMind and the Royal Free NHS Trust gives the clearest picture yet of what the company is doing and what sensitive data it now has access to. The agreement gives DeepMind access to a wide range of healthcare data on the 1.6 million patients who pass through three London hospitals run by the Royal Free NHS Trust Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free each year. This will include information about people who are HIV-positive, for instance, as well as details of drug overdoses and abortions. The agreement also includes access to patient data from the last five years. DeepMind announced in February that it was working with the NHS, saying it was building an app called Streams to help hospital staff monitor patients with kidney disease. But the agreement suggests that it has plans for a lot more. This is the first weve heard of DeepMind getting access to historical medical records, says Sam Smith, who runs health data privacy group MedConfidential. This is not just about kidney function. Theyre getting the full data. The agreement clearly states that Google cannot use the data in any other part of its business. The data itself will be stored in the UK by a third party contracted by Google, not in DeepMinds offices. DeepMind is also obliged to delete its copy of the data when the agreement expires at the end of September 2017. Google says that since there is no separate dataset for people with kidney conditions, it needs access to all of the data in order to run Streams effectively. In a statement, the Royal Free NHS Trust says that it provides DeepMind with NHS patient data in accordance with strict information governance rules and for the purpose of direct clinical care only. Still, some are likely to be concerned by the amount of information being made available to Google. It includes logs of day-to-day hospital activity, such as records of the location and status of patients as well as who visits them and when. The hospitals will also share the results of certain pathology and radiology tests. As well as receiving this continuous stream of new data, DeepMind has access to the historical data that the Royal Free trust submits to the Secondary User Service (SUS) database the NHSs centralized record of all hospital treatments in the UK. This includes data from critical care and accident and emergency departments. The document also reveals that DeepMind is developing a platform called Patient Rescue, which will provide data analytics services to NHS hospital trusts. It states that Patient Rescue will use data streams from hospitals to build other tools, in addition to Streams, that could carry out real-time analysis of clinical data and support diagnostic decisions. One aim, the agreement says, is for these tools to help medical staff adhere to the UKs National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. DeepMind is not planning to automate clinical decisions such as what treatments to give patients but says it wants to support doctors by making predictions based on data that is too broad in scope for an individual to take in Comparing a new patients information with millions of other cases, Patient Rescue might be able to predict that they are in the early stages of a disease that has not yet become symptomatic, for example. Doctors could then run tests to see if the prediction is correct. SOURCE New Scientist Age is no barrier to prolonging the operation of nuclear power plants thanks to technological advances that could not have been predicted by reactor designers working decades ago. That was the conclusion of nuclear industry leaders at a conference hosted recently by EDF Energy and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) in London. Commonly referred to as life extension the practice of upgrading existing units to add years to their productivity is therefore better described as recovering safety margin, said Duncan Hawthorne, president and CEO of Bruce Power. Hawthorne, who has led the Canadian nuclear power plant operator since its formation in 2001, said: Every one of us that works in this industry today is kind of standing on the shoulders of giants. The people who designed the Generation II reactors did so without the benefit of very much operational experience; less than 100 years of reactor opex was available for these plants. So I never talk about life extension, but rather about recovery of safety margin. Those stalwarts of our industry were working without computers, animation and 3-D stress analysis, he said. Not surprisingly, they chose to apply conservatisms to their designs to acknowledge what they didnt know and to recognise that some of the material properties were covered by assumptions. Today, the industry has more than 12,000 reactor years of experience to reply upon, along with a massive quantum of analysis, he said. Intergranular stress corrosion cracking wasnt even talked about when these plants were built and yet every one of us has to deal with it now in some form or other. As an industry weve learned how important it is to do good preventative maintenance programs, to have an asset-led management plan and to think of all those components. Nuclear plant operators today can also inspect reactors using multiple phased array ultrasonic detectors. We can use so many more data calculations to come up with proper analysis of what really is the life-limiting factor, said Hawthorne, who served as chair of WANOs Atlanta Centre and, until recently, was president of WANOs governing board. On 1 May, he will become CEO of Horizon Nuclear Power, the wholly owned UK subsidiary of Japans Hitachi. There is no component in a Candu (Canadian nuclear reactor design) reactor that cannot be replaced. Where graphite is a limiter on an AGR, for Candu reactors it would be fuel channel integrity, either because of hydrogen uptake or because of elongation, he said. We can go in there and scrape those channels, take samples, we can do hydrogen uptake calculations and on the basis of that we can go from what the original design assumption was, of 175,000 full-power operating hours, and to what we are talking about now, which is 300,000. Hawthorne said this massive difference to the operating potential of Candu reactors is achieved by much more in-depth examination. We recover some of the safety margin by adding additional operating life. The original design of the Candu reactor expected an operating life for the fuel channels of 25 years, but that was based on 175,000 full-power hours. We will run these plants for 40 years before we change the fuel channels, he said. Ive just signed a deal with the government of Ontario to allow us to refurbish our Candu fleet that will see them operating through to 2060. Thats almost 50 years more. These reactors will go for almost 80 years in operation. Of course, in order to do that well replace the fuel channels and the steam generators, but the important thing is good inspection techniques, much better capability to analyse the group data and statistically to evaluate it. A much larger population of operating experience shared by the industry gives us the ability to recover safety margin. 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. King Mohammed VI and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, stressed at talks they held Saturday in Abu Dhabi the need to coordinate Arab stances to counter the terrorism and violence that undermine the regions security and stability. During the talks, King Mohammed VI, who had arrived in Abu Dhabi earlier Saturday, part of a tour of several Gulf countries, and Sheikh Mohamed, who is also Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, discussed several issues of mutual concern and the latest regional and international developments. They emphasized the importance to coordinate stances and to consolidate efforts at the Arab world level to confront challenges and to counter the terrorism and violence undermining the regions security and stability, reported WAM news agency. They also underlined the importance to perpetuate the values of peace, tolerance and peaceful co-existence. The Moroccan King and the UAE Crown Prince praised the strong ties binding the two countries and discussed means to boost their brotherly relations in the political and economic realms to serve their common interests and the aspirations of their peoples. The two sides hailed their shared keenness to steadily upgrade these relations on the basis of cooperation and solidarity. Sheikh Mohamed noted in this regard that Moroccan-UAE exemplary ties should be followed by other Arab countries to overcome challenges through cooperation, coordination, consultation and brotherly dialogue taking into consideration joint interests, progress, security and stability, added WAM. King Mohammed VI and Sheikh Mohamed, who had both attended the first Morocco-GCC summit, held in Riyadh on April 20, welcomed the outcome of this summit as a consecration of the strategic partnership binding the North African country and the member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Summit, described as historic, had stressed that the Kingdom of Morocco and the GCC countries constitute a strategic unified bloc, as what affects the security of any one of them affects the security of the others. In the joint final statement of the Morocco-GCC Summit, they expressed their rejection of any attempt aimed at undermining security and stability, and the dissemination of separatism to redraw the map of nations or splitting them, which threatens regional and international security and peace. They also expressed their rejection of any prejudice to the higher interests of Morocco and their commitment to collective defense of the security and the stability of their countries, and respect for countries sovereignty, territorial integrity and national constants. The GCC member states reaffirmed in this regard their position supporting the Sahara as Moroccan and their support for Moroccos autonomy plan as the basis for any solution to this artificial regional dispute. Before his visit to the UAE, King Mohammed VI visited Bahrain and Qatar. The oil tanker flying Indian flag accused by the United Nations and the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC) of carrying illegal oil on behalf of the Libyan rival government based in the East has finally returned the shipment to the unity government, Head of the NOC said on Sunday. Thanks to the intervention of the international community, Distya Ameya, flying Indian flag which tried to illegally ship Libyan oil, has returned its shipment to Libya, said Moustafa Sanallah, Head of the NOC based in Tripoli. The Distya Ameya carrying 650,000 barrels crude on Monday ended its journey in Zewia under the control of the UN-backed unity government led by Faiez Serraj after heading towards Malta. Reports say the shipment was meant for United Arab Emirates. On Thursday, the UN Security Council upon the demand of the Tripoli-based NOC blacklisted the ship indicating that the oil it carried was illegal and violated the embargo on Libyan oil which has been placed under the tutelage of Libyan unity government. Unity governments rival based in Beida and led by al-Thinni is said to be behind the illegal shipping. NOC, known as the countrys official oil company and which has sided itself with the unity government, pointed out that the return of the oil should be a clear warning to other tankers and companies using other channels other than the national company to ship Libyan oil. Sanallah also warned that attempt to sell Libyan crude oil by other companies or institutions risk to divide the country. I believe in the unity of Libya. As one nation we need to agree that our oil should not be divided at this stage of our political evolution, because this will lead to the country itself being divided, he said. Photo: D Dipasupil/WireImage As the competitive phase of the Democratic presidential primary has wound down, the action now moves to the nebulous contest to define the terms of Hillary Clintons victory and what, if anything, she owes to Bernie Sanders. It is a little strange, as Ed Kilgore points out, that the coverage of this question treats Sanders as the victor and Clinton as the vanquished. The discussion hinges on the premise that Sanders, even while losing the fight for delegates, has won the war of ideas within the party. The premise is shared by such disparate figures as economically moderate Matthew Yglesias (Sanderss basic vision of a party with a more sharply ideological message on economic issues is very likely to dominate in the future) and ecstatic radical Corey Robin, who sees in Sanderss success the rise of socialism that will sweep liberalism into the dustbin of history. But this assumes that Sanderss appeal was mostly or even entirely ideological. That is probably wrong. It is certainly true that Sanders pushed the debate leftward, by bringing previously marginal left-wing ideas into the Democratic discussion. It is also true that his disproportionately young supporters lie farther to the left than Clintons, and that his ideas account for at least some of his enthusiastic support. But to understand the Sanders campaign as primarily a demand for more radical economic policies misses a crucial source of his appeal: as a candidate of good government. American liberalism contains a long-standing tradition, dating back to the Progressive Era, of disdain for the grubby, transactional elements of politics. Good-government liberals prefer candidates who make high-minded appeals to the greater good, rather than transactional appeals to self-interest. The progressive style of politics was associated with the middle-class reformers and opposition to urban machines, and was especially fixated with rooting out corruption in politics. Candidates who have fashioned themselves in this earnest style have included Adlai Stevenson, Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Gary Hart, Jerry Brown, Howard Dean, and Barack Obama. These candidates often have distinct and powerful issue positions, but their appeal rests in large part on the promise of a better, cleaner, more honest practice of politics and government. Sanders has tapped effectively into this tradition. His disdain for corporate donations, disheveled appearance, frequent disavowals of personal attacks (People are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails!), and pleas to conduct the campaign as an elevated issues seminar have lent him a rare authenticity. This has been aided by the fact that Clinton is unusually vulnerable to a good-government candidate. Through a combination of her husbands scandals, her own missteps, and a hostile news media, Clinton has labored under the buildup of years of toxic coverage. Obama effectively attacked her on these themes eight years ago, and in 2015 her campaign began under the clouds of new scandals around her buckraking and misuse of a private email server. Polls of Democratic voters showed Sanders crushing her on perceptions of being honest and trustworthy. The Wisconsin primary is indicative. Fifty-four percent of Democrats said they wanted a candidate who would continue President Obamas policies, while only 31 percent of voters preferred more liberal policies. (This measure is itself imprecise, since Obama would also prefer more liberal policies, except the Republican Congress is blocking them.) But almost 90 percent of Democrats called Sanders honest and trustworthy, versus 57 percent who said the same about Clinton. Sanders won Wisconsin by 13 points. Sanders has certainly benefited from and encouraged the spread of radical policies on the left. But the media attention to these ideas has magnified their real-world constituency. A faction is not close to taking majority control of a party before it is able to win at least a sizable minority share of the partys elected officeholders. When Barry Goldwater led an insurgency to win the Republican nomination in 1964, the conservatives who supported him represented an important faction within the party, with representatives in both houses of Congress. Within the Democratic Party, on the other hand, socialists depending on how you define it are limited to Sanders himself. Sandersism may one day become the Democratic mainstream creed, but that day is probably a long way off. Now Watch: 4 Times Bernie Sanders Was Ahead of the Pack on Key Issues Effigies on parade. Photo: Mark Ralston Good morning and welcome to Fresh Intelligence, our roundup of the stories, ideas, and memes youll be talking about today. In this edition, May Day protests in Seattle turn violent, Donald Trump still cant get over Hillary Clintons gender, and the countrys little girl is going to college. Heres the rundown for Monday, May 2. WEATHER After a weekend of lethal flooding with at least six people killed in Texas it looks like heavy rains will continue today across the South, with flash-flood warnings in effect in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It will also be rainy in New York City with temperatures in the low 60s. [Weather.com] FRONT PAGE May-Day Marches Turn Violent Large-scale marches took place across the country in honor of May Day, the global holiday on May 1 intended to bring attention to labor and workers rights. This year, the protests took on a different (and more desperate) tone thanks in large part to the divisiveness and radical rhetoric that has become commonplace in the current presidential campaign Donald Trump was a new but pervasive target of protesters. The most violent protests took place in Seattle where demonstrators broke windows and threw Molotov cocktails, injuring five police officers and leading to at least nine arrests. [AP] EARLY AND OFTEN Card-Carrying Woman Ignores Bloviating Man Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have turned their attention away from the candidates in their own parties and toward each other. On Fox News Sunday, Trump suggested, yet again, that Clinton is only popular because shes a woman because historically women have a much easier time of it than white-male billionaires and Clinton responded on CNN by saying she prefers to ignore Trump when he gets like this and has spent her whole career ignoring men like the Donald, Who sometimes get off the reservation in the way they behave. Wait, can she say that? [NYT] Ted Cruz Can Add Indiana to List of Places Where He Is Unpopular All eyes are on Indiana ahead of Tuesdays primary where a Trump victory could effectively seal his claim for the nomination and a poor showing for Ted Cruz would only encourage the growing clamor for him to drop out of the race. All the more reason that Cruz must be very upset with the latest polling data, which shows him losing to Trump by 15 points and even losing to John Kasich. [NYT] Bernie Begins to Realize Why Hillary Made All Those Wall Street Speeches Bernie Sanderss rough patch continues. First, he had to let go of more than 200 staffers, and now, it has emerged that in April, Sanders only raised $25.8 million, which doesnt sound so bad, but actually represents a drop of more than 40 percent from the month before. Seeing as his individual donations usually only amount to around $25, the dip in fundraising also represents a significant decrease in total donors. [NYT] Malia Obama Will Enjoy a Gap Year Before Heading to Harvard The only political question it was actually pleasant to consider last week has been answered: Malia Obama is following in both of her parents footsteps and going to Harvard Barack and Michelle attended Harvard Law. She wont be starting until 2017 because shell take a gap year something we didnt really realize Americans did, but hope catches on here. THE STREET, THE VALLEY Warren Buffett: Dont Worry, Presidents Dont Really Matter The 51st annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway took place over the weekend where shareholders celebrated an 8.2 percent increase in net income and did whatever the opposite of celebrating is over a 12 percent decrease in operating profits. Warren Buffett also dropped some real talk, saying that no matter who won the presidency in November, it wouldnt really have any effect on the company. [Reuters] Halliburton Calls Off $28 Billion Merger American and European anti-trust regulators have put an end to what was going to be a massive $28 billion merger between Halliburton and one of its competitors, Baker Hughes. The move would have combined the second- and third-largest oil-service companies and taught Americans a new word: duopoly. [Reuters] What Good Are Air Bags Anyway? Following in the tire tracks of several other car companies of late, Nissan announced a massive recall yesterday. The company is recalling 4 million vehicles. More than 3 million have faulty sensors in the passenger seats, which may keep air bags from deploying in a crash, and more than 600,000 have an issue with seat belts. [Bloomberg] The Bronx Will Now Know the Joy of Delivery Toilet Paper When Its Raining Amazon has announced it will bring its rapid-delivery service to the Bronx. The Bronx had been the only New York borough not to enjoy same-day delivery, which contributed to accusations that the company unfairly excluded minority communities from some of its services. [Bloomberg] MEDIA BUBBLE Radiohead? Whats a Radiohead? Proving definitively that reverse psychology is a thing, Radiohead generated a huge amount of buzz today by thoroughly scrubbing their existence from the internet, including taking down their web page, social-media presence, and the band members social-media presences. Now, if they just stopped releasing music, they could be the biggest band in the world. Hulu to Launch Streaming-TV Service. What Year Is This? Hulu has announced that its developing a new subscription service that would stream popular television channels in real time. Hulu is owned by Disney and Fox, so their channels ESPN, ABC, the Disney Channel, Fox, etc. will be available on the service. Subscriptions will run about $40 a month, and we have a feeling cable companies are not thrilled. [WSJ] Now You Can Use Snapchat to Shop at Target. Again, What Year Is This? Snapchat launched its first interactive e-commerce advertisements yesterday. Now, if Snapchat users see something they like on one of the services ads for Target or Lancome, they can just swipe up and buy it instantly. Were not sure why this disturbs us so much. [Ad Week] PHOTO OP World Notices Elephant in the Room A historic and emotional evening in Providence last night: The very last show of the famous Ringling Bros. elephants, who are being retired under pressure from animal-rights groups, took place. Raw emotions flood arena for final performance of @RinglingBros iconic elephants. https://t.co/AJmVWuXogn pic.twitter.com/Xbycmw3npC Katharine Lackey (@katharinelackey) May 2, 2016 MORNING MEME How did we not see this before? Now we cant un-see it. Repent! OKAY WE GET IT, THE HIGH SPARROW IS BERNIE pic.twitter.com/aWkF0sbDeh Dan Amira (@DanAmira) May 2, 2016 OTHER LOCAL NEWS No Need for a Llama Police are still looking for the owners of an escaped alpaca caught running down a local road in Shirley, Massachusetts. Police called in animal-control professionals who lured the beast with a bag of Dunkin Donuts before throwing a lasso around its fluffy neck and wrangling it whatever that means. [UPI] Lompoc Couple Pulls Off Easiest Caper in History A couple of con artists in Lompoc, California, decided to skip a whole bunch of steps and just ask two women for their money with surprisingly lucrative results. The grifters, posing as psychics, told the women their cash was possessed by evil spirits and offered to take it home and perform a cash exorcism. The scam worked really, really well; in the end they made off with more than $240,000. [Cal Coast News] HAPPENING TODAY More Than 20 Detroit Schools Remain Closed Today Sick outs when large groups of faculty call out sick planned by the Detroit Federation of Teachers will close 21 schools in the struggling city tomorrow. Detroit only has enough money to fund its employees through June 30, after which point teachers will no longer receive paychecks. The sick outs are meant to pressure the government into fully funding its schools. [Fox] An unlikely early fan of the idea of uniting behind Donald Trump. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images Donald Trump has been given a variety of ideological labels ranging from radical to fascist to plain old-fashioned unprincipled. But even though hes drawn a decent number of self-identified moderate votes in Republican primaries, moderate is not a word that would seem to fit him, which could certainly be a problem in a general election. So along comes hypermoderate Republican Jon Huntsman with the beginnings of a makeover. Huntsman, you may recall, is the former GOP governor of Utah who transitioned from being Barack Obamas ambassador to China to a clumsy and unsuccessful 2012 presidential candidate who imagined there was ample turf to seize to Mitt Romneys left. He subsequently surfaced as a co-chair (along with former Democrat Evan Bayh and former whatever Joe Lieberman) for the No Labels organization, the centrist group that aims at coming up with a policy agenda that a critical mass of Republican and Democratic office-holders can theoretically embrace. Whatever you think of No Labels be it brave transpartisans, elite austerians, or naive magical thinkers its hard to imagine Donald Trump fitting into their plans. Yet heres Huntsman: Weve had enough intraparty fighting. Nows the time to stitch together a winning coalition, said Jon Huntsman, the former governor of Utah. And its been clear almost from the beginning that Donald Trump has the ability to assemble a nontraditional bloc of supporters. The ability to cut across traditional party boundaries like 80, 92 and 2008 will be key, and Trump is much better positioned to achieve that. Hmmm. A nontraditional bloc of supporters. Is Huntsman telling us Trump is a bipartisan sorta guy who doesnt need to move to the center because hes already there? Wonder what Huntsmans 2012 chief strategist John Weaver, now in a similar role with John Kasich, would have to say about that. For that matter, what would Huntsmans fellow China hands think? Probably nothing positive. Photo: Getty Images I actually compare our economic performance to how, historically, countries that have wrenching financial crises perform, President Obama told Andrew Ross Sorkin in a recent interview. By that measure, we probably managed this better than any large economy on Earth in modern history. The basis for Obamas claim is a 2008 paper by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, which found that economies that endure financial crises tend to suffer more prolonged damage than those emerging from a normal recession. Indeed, measured against other economies that have gone through financial crises that is, other historical examples, or contemporary examples of other countries that faced the same 2007-2008 financial crisis the U.S. economy has performed quite well. National Reviews Kevin Williamson mocks Obamas argument: President Obama insists straight-facedly that in the context of a wrenching fiscal crisis, the United States under his leadership performed better than any major economy in modern history. That isnt even close to being true, of course. Obamas presidency will coincide with a remarkably weak recovery, with GDP essentially treading water. His presidency will be the first in modern times to fail to coincide with at least one year of 3 percent economic growth. Heres what is telling about Williamsons argument (Ive omitted nothing of relevance): Williamson does not acknowledge the source of Obamas claim. To be sure, the Reinhart-Rogoff finding is not gospel, but Williamson does not provide any argument against it or even provide any indication he has heard of it. Nor does Williamson provide any evidence to contradict Obamas conclusion. Refuting the claim that the U.S. has outperformed other economies that have emerged from a financial crisis would mean naming one or more economies that have undergone a financial crisis and then enjoyed faster growth than the U.S. has since 2008. Williamson does not do so. Instead, he compares Obamas recovery to previous recoveries from nonfinancial recessions. (And the metric he picks whether or not the economic exceeded 3 percent growth in a single year is ludicrously cherry-picked, as if a recovery is measured by the growth rate in its best single year, to count George W. Bushs historically anemic economy as a success.) This follows Williamsons assertion that Obamas claim is false of course apparently it is so obvious he neednt bother providing even a single piece of relevant evidence against it. Update: I didnt even notice this on my first pass, but Williamson uses the term fiscal crisis when he means financial crisis. A fiscal crisis is related to a countrys government budget. A financial crisis is related to a countrys financial system. These are completely different things. Keep in mind, Williamson used to write a blog dedicated to the topic of public debt! And he doesnt know the difference. Still reaching. Photo: Joe Raedle/2016 Getty Images Despite losing five of the last six Democratic primaries including a crucial loss to Hillary Clinton in New York Bernie Sanders isnt ready to call it quits. In fact, at a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Sanders told reporters he expected the Democratic National Convention in July to be a contested contest. It is virtually impossible for Secretary Clinton to reach the majority of convention delegates by June 14 with pledged delegates alone, he said. She will need superdelegates to take her over the top. He therefore urged superdelegates to switch allegiances if their vote doesnt coincide with the outcome of their states primary. In states where either candidate has won a landslide victory, those superdelegates ought to seriously reflect on whether they should cast their vote in line with the wishes of the people in their states, he said. If I win a state with 70 percent of the votes, you know what? I think Im entitled to those superdelegates. He also asked superdelegates to consider whether he or Clinton would be a better candidate to beat the Republican nominee. It is incumbent upon every superdelegate to take an objective look at which candidate stands the better chance of defeating Donald Trump and other Republican candidates, he said. And I think the objective evidence is I am that candidate. According to Sanders, he needs to win 65 percent of the remaining delegates in upcoming primaries to win the majority of pledged delegates. He acknowledges that its a steep climb but insists its not an impossible road to climb. He told reporters that he has an excellent chance to win the majority of delegates in upcoming contests, including in California. Democratic candidates need 2,383 pledged delegates to win the nomination. Clinton currently has 1,645 and 520 superdelegates, while Sanders has 1,318 and 39. Malia Obama. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images You have likely heard by now that Malia Obama will be attending Harvard that is, she will be attending Harvard in 2017, after she takes a year off from school entirely. Gap years, as Daily Intel noted this morning, are not so common for American students as compared to their peers in, say, Europe, but theyre not nonexistent. Though the data is hard to come by, statistics from Harvard, for example, indicate that between four and six percent of undergraduates in recent years take at least some time off before beginning their freshman year. But what do we really know about what happens to these students when they pick their studies back up after some time away? As it turns out, very few good studies have attempted to examine this, though recent years have seen the publication of a few papers investigating the academic outcome of the students who take gap years. The gist, so far, seems to be this: Its fine? So far, the evidence doesnt overwhelmingly find that these students perform any better than their peers who go straight from high school to college, but, then again, they also dont perform any worse. One paper published last year in the journal Developmental Psychology followed more than 2,500 students from Finland and Australia, and whats perhaps most remarkable about their study is the differences it failed to find. The study authors write: This morning, Australian computer scientist Craig Wright came forward to claim the mantle of Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious pseudonymous inventor of the decentralized cryptocurrency Bitcoin. If you recognize Wrights name, its because he was outed last December as (maybe, probably) Nakamoto in simultaneous investigations published by Wired and Gizmodo and then quickly dismissed when holes in the story immediately started to emerge. The main method of verifying Wrights identity as Nakamoto who wrote the white paper on Bitcoins underlying system but stopped working on the project in 2011 is through the use of cryptographic keys. Each Bitcoin transaction generates corresponding keys, so for the earliest Bitcoin transactions Wright should hold the keys. In a blog post published earlier today (agonizingly titled Jean-Paul Sartre, Signing and Significance) Wright went through a step-by-step process by which he outlined the process of key verification. The Economist, which, along with the BBC and GQ, was given advance notice of Wrights coming-out, wrote of the key verification: Such demonstrations can be stage-managed; and information that allows us to go through the verification process independently was provided too late for us to do so fully. Still, as far as we can tell he indeed seems to be in possession of the keys, at least for block 9. Block 9 is one of the earliest bitcoin transactions, tracked in a public ledger called the blockchain. The Economist is careful to note that while Wrights evidence is convincing, its not quite enough for the magazine to say definitively that Wright is Nakamoto: We are not so sure, the editors write, bluntly. Among other reasons to doubt Wright: Some experts dont think hes, well, smart enough to be Nakamoto. When Mr Wright was outed, experts called his published writings unremarkable, The Economist writes. They later put it somewhat more delicately: When interviewed in person, Mr Wright was often hard to follow, but he clearly seemed to know what he was talking about. But Wright is smart enough to have convinced other major Bitcoin players of his legitimacy including Gavin Andresen, heir to Nakamotos position as lead developer of Bitcoin. In a short blog post, Andresen wrote: I was flown to London to meet Dr. Wright a couple of weeks ago, after an initial email conversation convinced me that there was a very good chance he was the same person Id communicated with in 2010 and early 2011. After spending time with him I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt: Craig Wright is Satoshi. (Andresen also claims Wrights demeanor seemed to match up with the personality of Satoshi, which, well, sure; well have to take his word for it.) Of course, Andresens support can create skepticism as much as settle it. Andresen is a core dev on the Bitcoin system, and therefore immensely powerful within the Bitcoin community. As much as Bitcoin users want to believe in the libertarian, decentralized currency, its still, at the end of the day, a computer program. Only a handful of people have the commit privileges necessary to alter the systems code, meaning that Bitcoins future is still in the hands of a small circle of developers. To that end, for roughly a year, the Bitcoin community at large has been embroiled in a controversy over the size of blocks, transaction data generated by the program and verified by miners, who get a reward for the verification. As of now, block size is currently limited to one megabyte, per Nakamotos original specifications, which caps the number of transactions at around seven per second. As The New Yorker describes it, some Bitcoin developers believe that Bitcoin transaction volumes will blow past the seven-per-second limit by 2017, at the latest, creating backlogs, settlement delays, and perhaps even mass outages. In the absence of the creator of Bitcoin, whose opinion might be considered definitive, the community has split into two camps: those who believe the block size should remain one megabyte, and those, like Andresen, who want to increase it. Were Nakamoto to weigh in definitively on one side or the other, it could sway many people from one side to the other. Wright has already said hed increase the block size, and because of this, his outing could be construed as an attempt to seize power as a chief authority over Bitcoin and swing Bitcoin toward the increase-the-size camp. Again, from The Economist: It pays, too, to bear in mind that Mr Wrights outing will most likely be of benefit to those in the current bitcoin civil war who want to expand the block size quickly, whose number include Mr Matonis and Mr Andresen. Mr Wright says that if he could reinvent bitcoin, he would program in a steady increase of the block size. He also intends to publish mathematical proof that there is no trade-off between the mass adoption of the cryptocurrency and its remaining decentralised. Simulations on his supercomputer show, he says, that blocks could theoretically be as large as 340 gigabytes in a specialised bitcoin network shared by banks and large companies. Over on the Bitcoin subreddit, users are already trying to poke holes in Wrights story, claiming discoveries of code-breaking spelling mistakes and sly-joke key signatures. At the same time, Peter Todd, another Bitcoin developer, claims that Andresen has had his commit access revoked over fears that he has been hacked. FYI, @gavinandresen's commit access just got removed - Core team members are concerned that he may have been hacked. https://t.co/7re7z16TeR Peter Todd (@peterktodd) May 2, 2016 All of this is to say that Wrights role in the creation of Bitcoin will always be under scrutiny especially to the extent that he weighs in on the block-size question. Bitcoins most avid users, wary of centralized authority and libertarian-leaning in general, are practiced skeptics. As one popular recent Redditor wrote in a DJ Khaled-esque cadence, Remember: they cannot break bitcoin the tech. They can only try to break bitcoin the community. Photo-Illustration: The Cut/Glow Images/Getty Images This week, the Cut presents stories about the complex bonds of parenthood. Yesterday, I walked by a mirror and I stopped and looked into it and thought, or maybe said out loud, as Im prone to talking to myself, being one of those writers who spends far too much time alone, I am not my mother, repeatedly. Then I walked away. For a long time I thought my mother and I didnt get along because we were so alike, because that was the story my mother would tell me, again and again. In my 20s, my mother-in-law said to me, But youre more like your father. And that stunned me. When I spoke to myself in the mirror yesterday, I wasnt thinking that. I was thinking, Im just my own person, completely. Which is a story I need right now, as we need stories to understand things, even if we know they are not the whole truth. When I think of my mother, I think about her in the stories she told about herself, especially those she told most repeatedly. As all daughters do, I found my mothers repetition annoying. Now, Im not annoyed, but rather ashamed and sad that I ever bothered to be annoyed with her. Shes dying of dementia, and Im middle-aged, and all the petty things that young women and girls dislike or hate or are repulsed by in their mothers have faded for me. Completely. In a recent NPR interview, Toni Morrison said, I regret everything. Im with Toni on that one, in particular with regard to my mother, my children, and my husband. * My mothers stories were these: She was born Hildegard Stalzer in Graz, Austria, in 1943, and raised in Leobon, a small town with a brewery. Her father was a tailor and beat her brother. Her own mother died of lupus when my mother was 6. I am named after her mother, and in my mothers stories, this is another reason why we didnt get along. That story makes zero sense to me, but she wouldnt stop repeating it. She believed it. In her stories, her mothers death formed her, which I do believe. Loss shapes us and it shaped her, although Im not sure exactly how. I think it ruins us, for the most part, but if we werent ruined, we wouldnt be human. After her mother died, she was raised at first by her older sister, who was kind, and later by her stepmother, who beat her. She was often hungry. She shared a room with her sister and her brother. They shared underwear, the three of them. They were poor. As a teenager my mother proved to be very smart in school. And yet, despite book smarts, she went to a state-run boarding school where she was taught to make patterns, sew, set tables, and cook. It was a finishing school. In my mothers stories, her teachers begged her parents to let her go to a university and the story is her parents said, no, shes a girl, shes going to get married, and her parents instead sent her not-so-smart brother to university, where he failed out. My mother then became an au pair in Paris. There, she took a night class at the Sorbonne. Now I must tell the story from my fathers point of view, in that he sat next to her because she was the most beautiful girl in the class. Six months later, my American father married her in a Catholic Church in Leobon and promptly took her back to the United States, to Wisconsin. She was pregnant and 20 years old. How do my own stories about my mother go? Like this: We had 12 good years together. Which isnt nothing. Those years were the years after my sons were born, and not only did we have something so beautiful in common we were both mothers but she stopped focusing on me, and focused on her grandchildren. They were able to amaze her instead of threaten her, as I once did. Prior to those 12 years, I was the daughter who destabilized her marriage, who she thought was too close to her husband, who was trouble. And I was trouble. Smoking and drinking and doing drugs by the age of 12, asking for a diaphragm at the age of 15, attempting suicide at 16, spending a couple of days in a coma, no one knowing whether Id make it. I was a bad daughter. I cursed like a sailor. I was disrespectful to her. I was mean. My father worried about me, my mother was enraged. Until my sons were born, she also treated me like the competition. In boarding school, I acted in plays. When I came home, she made me come watch her act in a play at Notre Dame, where shed gotten her masters in psychology. When I lived in Spain for a year, to learn a language she didnt know she spoke German, English, Italian, and French she got a Cuban woman to live in my former room and teach her Spanish. When I started graduate school for writing, she sent me her newly written memoir. Add to this the fact that I was also her scapegoat. The first time I called home from boarding school a place I went to because I wanted to get away from my mother she said, When something goes wrong, we still blame you. I used to hold against my mother the fact that she married well. I thought it made her calculating. Later, I realized she was madly in love with my father, totally loyal and caring to him. They were the lucky ones. They had true love. She was insanely beautiful and righteously smart. I thought, again, that she used her beauty in a premeditated way. Later, I understood that those two things, when combined, are the things the world hates most in women. She also was wildly affectionate, even with me, as a small girl in particular. She liked to help people. Sometimes, she acted tougher than she was, but dont we all? I miss her. Recently, while taking notes for an essay on Peter Handkes book about his mothers nervous breakdown, I wrote in the margins, The death before death. My mother, too, has suffered a sort of death before death, a death of memory. If we dont remember our lives, our days, who are we? She has no more stories to tell. At the onset of her dementia ten years ago, she was angry, ashamed, and confused, which was worse than the near-coma-like state she is in now. She took that anger out on me, and to be fair, others as well. She regressed to viewing me as a threat. And once again I felt like the teenager Id been, one who often anguished that her mother didnt love her. Now, her eyes often show the confusion of a small child. At other times her eyes show the blankness of a small baby. Sometimes I try to convince myself that it is not all bad. That this way, when she does die, she wont really know she is dying. * Not long ago, I called out for her, yelling, I want my mother. I was in bed at the time, and so lonely I felt like I was dying. And she is whom I wanted in that moment. I craved the comfort she gave me as a small child, before we got complicated. When I write it now, this is a story that shocks me wanting my mother at the age of 47. It unnerves me, the possibility that we never stop wanting our mothers. Im visiting her in a few weeks. To my children, she has been the best grandmother Ive ever known. She sits in a diaper in a memory-care unit why dont they call it a no-memory, little-care hellhole? Why lie? sometimes babbling, sometimes smiling, still eating well enough to keep her body alive. She doesnt know who she is or who I am or anything, really, but I worry that somewhere, in there, shes suffering. Ill never know for sure. I am not her, but she is a big reason Im me, the good and bad in me, both. Im glad we had those 12 good years and its a story I cherish. I always loved her, even when I hated her. I always will love her. I dedicated my last book to her. She doesnt know that, because she doesnt know anything anymore. In that last book I also quoted the painter Lisa Yuskavage in my epigraph: I dont think theres an uninteresting person alive. Ive learned that through my mother. Photo: Getty Images New Yorks Sex Diaries series asks anonymous city dwellers to record a week in their sex lives with comic, tragic, often sexy, and always revealing results. This week, a college grad trying to become a copywriter and hooking up with middle-aged men in the meantime: 23, gay, Greenwich, Connecticut. DAY ONE 9:00 a.m. Wake up to the sounds of activity downstairs. For the past two or so months, there have been no alarms, no early commutes to the city. How is it that I still feel just as tired? 10:30 a.m. After watching two episodes of 30 Rock, I make love to the most recent boudoir shot from my latest long-distance Scruff flame. His name is Claus, and hes a Danish graphic designer in his early 50s. Weve been talking for two weeks now. Im going to make an educated guess and say that were never going to meet IRL, but I keep the conversation going in hopes that he will continue to shower me with dick pics. 2:00 p.m. I consider applying to some jobs. 2:05 p.m. Yeah, no. 4:30 p.m. Im doing some errands, i.e., getting stoned at the park by my house. Its an easy enough excuse for my helicopter parents. Did I mention that they are home virtually all the time? 10:00 p.m. Ive been talking to Ben, 38, for a few weeks now, and our schedules have finally permitted an evening together. He lives in Greenwich too. Were having a really nice time chatting over a drink at his house, and Im trying not to lose myself in his Newman-esque baby blues. We make out on the couch for a solid 15, shed a few layers, and then move to his bedroom where I blow him, then he blows me. Hes demanding that I come on his face. But those eyes! 11:30 p.m. Home. I fall asleep to Antiques Roadshow. DAY TWO 9:45 a.m. Im still in bed, scouring the interwebs for jobs. Sigh. The internindustrial complex has inflated everyones expectations for junior positions. Even though I worked my ass off all throughout college smiling through unpaid work, manically calculating my GPA to ensure that I graduated with honors I still find great difficulty in meeting qualifications. Whenever in history has an entry level role required three years of professional experience? 12:00 p.m. I keep getting whiffs of Bens cologne from last night. He wore too much, but it somehow worked. 3:00 p.m. I go for a hike with Liz, a friend that Ive known since kindergarten. In a town made for child athletes and skinny moms, its reassuring to know that I am not alone in dying to get the hell out. Its like nothings ever changed: stories of crashed luxury SUVs, field-trip drunkenness, and antics of former classmates are still hilarious after all these years. It isnt every day that a well-to-do high school gets banned from Times Square. 10:15 p.m. Im texting with Sean, 48, another local, and he wants to meet up. We were introduced a few years back by his husband, Garret. Our sexual history has been something of a complicated triangle but, after our earth-shattering first time alone, Sean has been the one whos gotten the lions share of my attention. They are now in the process of separating, still living together but no longer sleeping together. I park on their road to avoid waking Garret and quietly walk around to Seans bedroom at the back of the house. Youre going to be sore tomorrow, Sean warns as he offers me poppers. His new four-post bed promises something to hold on to during the bumpy ride. 11:45 p.m. Done. Zzz. DAY THREE: 1:00 p.m. My mom is having her girlfriends over for tea, so I kindly get lost for three hours. I end up hanging out with Dan, 50. Hes divorced, smokes a mind-erasing amount of weed, and drinks teeth-tinting volumes of wine. Hes always been nice to spend time with, and I quite enjoy his company, but I cant help but notice the dusty mirror thats become an increasingly prominent fixture in his day-to-day. For him, cocaine was first a weekend thing, then an evening thing, and now a Wednesday afternoon thing. Im offered some, but I dont really feel like indulging him. He gets a little touchy and suggests we fool around hes usually a very eager bottom but in this instance, I cant help but feel determinedly platonic. 6:00 p.m. I celebrate sunset with a blueberry blunt at the park. 9:00 p.m. Partner-wise, my preference has always skewed older. Ive always thrived on independence. Middle-aged men are low-maintenance, experienced, and usually hesitant to wife up younger. In this rather frustrating transitional period of my life, my commitment to non-commitment has worked swimmingly with people like Michael, 47, who I am seeing for the first time in about a month. Since October, hes been a weekly habit and is the only person to ever have me in shackles. With him, I can feel real passion. Tonight, hes feeling rather submissive, and the sex is amazing. 11:30 p.m. PTFO. DAY FOUR 11:00 a.m. Its all quiet on the job front. Though Ive gotten pretty good at distracting myself, my career anxiety is constant. Ive been told that I should feel proud of my accomplishments, but I still feel like I have a lot to prove. 4:00 p.m. Im going to go for a run. In the 11 months Ive been home, my body has become increasingly jiggly. I long for the figure I had in college, when pretzels were dinner and Adderall was dessert. 4:25 p.m. Im done with three-mile walk/run and somehow manage to trot up the hill to my car. 7:00 p.m. Im currently rocking a tie-dye T-shirt from freshman year of high school, so I think its been decided that I will not be going out this evening. 11:45 p.m. Bed DAY FIVE 11:00 a.m. Wake up late, agita brewing. 2:00 p.m. I need to excuse myself for a cigarette in the park. As I sit there, I wonder how many more days in the suburbs I have before actually becoming Betty Draper. Since graduating from college in May, I have been living at home with my parents. Until my unexpected lay-off I was commuting into the city for my first big-boy job. On and off the dole, I have been a Metro-North maven and champion couch surfer for the past 11 months. I exist in Connecticut, but live in New York. 7:30 p.m. Im just getting comfortable at my college friends apartment in Harlem. Were adulting tonight, which means getting wine drunk over a home-cooked meal of roasted chicken. Its the first warm evening in a while, and after dinner we move to the roof to enjoy the summery air. 11:00 p.m. Hop in a Village-bound Uber to meet up with friends from home. Given the home crews straightish makeup, my nightlife is considerably non-scene. Dont get me wrong: Ive been removed from Industry for suspicious bathroom etiquette, and I will forever feel the nausea of ever having set foot in Boxers. So yeah, maybe I could try my hand outside Hells Kitchen, but I cant contour a square enough jawline for Chelsea! DAY SIX: 1:00 a.m. The sheer number of tag-alongs has made it impossible to get in anywhere. Some leave out of frustration or defeat, and we are finally agile enough to make it into TAO. I just want a drink. 2:00 a.m. Were finally settled in. Our table has just been outfitted with Grey Goose and Champagne, and someones boyfriend is offering key bumps. Whether it was molly, coke, or a fun little mix of both, we may never know. Regardless, were all feeling something. 4:10 a.m. Were still here. Leaving for my friends apartment soon, I think. 6:00 a.m. Sleep, my beautiful friend. 12:00 p.m. Oy. 1:00 p.m. Im pulling it together, one bottle of green juice at a time. Im not too far from Patricks apartment, and text him to see if hes around to get coffee. He is a 50-something magazine editor and probably one of the most considerate people Ive ever met. Its been six months since Ive last seen him. In that time, he was trying his hand at monogamy and kept saying he couldnt trust himself around me. Newly single, Patrick wants to get in some quality time with me before tackling his other weekend obligations. We just talk and hold each other. I think the ability to communicate is one of things that attract me to men like Patrick. When we talk, there is always a genuine exchange he soothes my anxieties, I keep him on his toes. While I might not be a realistic boyfriend candidate, it is really only with men like Patrick that I can get such openness and honesty when needed. 3:00 p.m. I am back in the Village apartment. Everyone is in various states of disarray. One friend who spent the better part of the night with a trash can on his head is understandably limp; others are gunning for a little hair of the dog. We walk around the Village for a little bit before going to Central Park. 7:00 p.m. To slow the hemorrhaging of my bank account, I decide that I must head back home to where the meals are free and the temptations are limited to bourgeois ice cream and coffee. The train ride back to Connecticut is always the worst. I try to center myself: It wont be that much longer before things fall back into place, before I can consider legitimately dating, and train visits back to the burbs are reserved for summer weekends. Until then, I will have to make the best of things. DAY SEVEN 10:00 a.m. Wake up. 1:00 p.m. Ive been thinking about John, 36, a lot lately. Weve hung out a few times, mostly solo, but sometimes his husband will join in. Its been a few months since we last saw each other. John might be the closest Ive come to finding my ideal type. At six-foot-five, he is a tree of a man, but a gentle giant: Hes sweet, well spoken, and has Prince Charming hair. He wants me to come over later, and I am so there. 5:00 p.m. I am plugging away on a couple of job applications, but am mostly passing the time before getting to see John. 7:00 p.m. When I arrive, John greets me with a kiss. His husband is in the middle of a work thing and presumably wont be joining. We unwind a bit with the bong in his basement, and were feeling a little touchy, a little giggly. True possession is out of the question, but for the time being, I can enjoy having John to myself. 9:00 p.m. Weve moved up to the couch and are cuddling upstairs. One thing leads to another, and Ive got John down to the sexiest pair of briefs. He is a sight to behold. 9:30 p.m. Johns husband emerges from his office and appears at the doorway with his dick out. Hes starts awkwardly jerking himself off and looks like he wants to join, but. It is moments like these in which Im hoping Im not stepping on toes, even if they are in an open marriage. I think that such an arrangement is ultimately what I want, because Ive always felt that monogamy makes sex the most important component of a relationship. However, figuring out just how open is too open or not open enough seems like a slippery slope. I smile and hope that he goes away so I can get back to the task at hand. 10:30 p.m. Weve done everything but fuck, and now were just talking. Hell be free again tomorrow night, and we both agree that weve got some lost time to make up for. Want to submit a sex diary? Email sexdiaries@nymag.com and tell us a little about yourself. The centerpiece of the Costume Institutes new exhibit Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology is a Chanel couture wedding gown with a seemingly endless embroidered and rhinestone-flecked train. Its housed in a white domed structure almost like a cathedral, right at the entrance, and there was a fittingly reverent hush as the first visitors entered at this mornings preview. Even up close, its hard to fathom the 450 hours of work that went into this kind of stupefying piece. More surprising: Its actually the work of both hand and machine; Karl Lagerfeld hand-drew the design, which was then transferred to a computer. Manus x Machina has been incorrectly reported on in some quarters as an exploration of technology versus handcraft, but in fact, the shows curator, Andrew Bolton, sees it more as a spectrum, or a continuum. Many of the items in the show combine both processes, like a 3-D-printed version of the classic Chanel suit that also features hand-stitched crystals and Lesage hand embroideries. And by isolating key motifs like plumasserie the application of feathers or pleating, Bolton shows us how theyve been used across decades and sometimes centuries, and the combination of handwork and machine-made elements that have gone into them. Its striking to see Dior gowns from the 1940s right next to an Alexander McQueen dress that only dates as far back as the Sarah Burton era and realize how similar the craftsmanship looks. Or to see how much Fortunys pleated designs informed the later ones of Mary McFadden, who was on hand at the preview. Standing in front of a dissection of one of Charles Jamess designs, one non-fashion person told me hed never thought so much about the mechanics of producing clothes as he had over the last 45 minutes. Bolton said he was inspired to create the exhibit by a close look at Yves Saint Laurents Mondrian dress, an iconic couture piece. We discovered that it was almost entirely made by machine, except for the zipper and the hem, he said, a fact that surprised him because the Chambre Syndicale [coutures governing body] specifies handwork requirements in its regulations. As couture and ready-to-wear become more indistinguishable think of the athleisure couture that dominated recent seasons those lines have blurred even further. The show eschews the kitschier, wearable-tech aspects of this theme, thankfully despite the Apple sponsorship and the presence of Jony Ive, there was not a gadget in sight, other than small, subtly placed projectors showing video footage of runway shows. Instead, it focuses on the continuation of craftsmanship, providing context for pieces like Iris van Herpens 3-D-printed couture as an extension of Madame Gress own experiments. Or the wonderful flights of fancy expressed in 3-D pieces by young Israeli designer Noa Raviv. The fashion Establishment can be a bit leery of tech-y design (and were collectively pretty burned out on wearables) but as Met director Thomas Campbell pointed out in his remarks this morning, even the needle was once considered a piece of bleeding-edge technology. Manus x Machina left me feeling that, in fashion, there is nothing new under the sun, just different ways to create. I mean that in the best possible way. Oh my god. PLEASE BE TRUE. I have quickly gotten bored with them and need some drama. Reply Thread Link i need them to turn up the volume on their obnoxiousness Reply Parent Thread Link if i didn't know better, i would've thought that whole last picture was something straight out of 2002 Reply Thread Link ngl i loved the name necklace trend. Reply Parent Thread Link I love them too but I avoid them b/c I don't like dudes who approach me knowing my name. I lie all the time. I prefer the zodiac sign necklace. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I've always loved name necklaces. Bleh I used to have earrings with my name when I was little.. Reply Parent Thread Link I thought it was some weird emily browning / lindsay lohan hybrid Reply Parent Thread Link Why not? I mean, if I had millions and a hot boyfriend, I'd take 5 months off to tour with him. Who cares? They're young and rich, let them be stupid in love. They'll learn soon enough. Reply Thread Link I mean, if 5 months off are enough to kill her career, she wasn't shit to begin with. Anyway, she is a model, she can follow him on tour, take three days off the tour, do a photoshoot and come back. There, work done, boyfriend shagged, everything is fine. Maybe if it's only three days, he won't even cheat on her. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Idk, in this day and age you have to constantly be doing something to stay in the public consciousness, and if she isn't out there modeling she will start to fade. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link what is her face doing Reply Thread Link She has a beautiful face Reply Parent Thread Link its still doing something weird af here Reply Parent Thread Link Wish I could be a fly on the wall at Capital FM's Summer Time Ball, just to see how it goes down with him, Perrie and also Gigi if this is true. Reply Thread Link Lmao did she really post that pic on her ig? Also I do not see that Zayn necklace in the second picture? And I mean, I guess at least if she tours with him he will possibly be less likely to cheat on her... Edit: I see it on the right but not on her. Edited at 2016-05-02 12:26 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link there's two chokers and then a more dangly silver necklace-- under the dangly sliver you can see a gold necklace peeking out on her right collar bone Reply Parent Thread Link Oh yeah now that you pointed it out I can barely see it! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lol tbh Reply Thread Link Oh man I always wanted a name necklace for myself lmao. I'd probably settle for an initial necklace choker now smh lol ;P Reply Thread Link Same. Like, that is too legit lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Same. specifically gold too lol Reply Parent Thread Link growing up that was like....a necessity almost. name plate ring and necklace and the jewelry shops always had deals if you got them both. I still have my name plate bamboo earrings Reply Parent Thread Expand Link he's going on tour? Reply Thread Link I swear to god if you give him tour money.... Reply Parent Thread Link i would nevah Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she cheated on joe with Zayn right? So, why is she worried? Cheating is normal for young hollywood. Reply Thread Link Because he is not discreet. So the problem isn't the cheating but that everybody will know. He is the messiest. Reply Parent Thread Link I guess a necklace is a better than an ass tattoo or something Reply Thread Link thanks bb~ Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Lmaooo Reply Parent Thread Link lmaooo Reply Parent Thread Link past history of cheating on tour. it's not like his gf going on tour with him stopped him from cheating in the past I doubt it will stop him now. Reply Thread Link these make me sad. i've said them to myself in relationships past. being in a relationship that is trustworthy and valuable is hard Reply Parent Thread Link I still don't believe this relationship is legit Reply Thread Link After making a surprise appearance at Ryerson Universitys orientation concert last September, Drake showed up once again for the 6 Cent concert, which was also organized by RU's student union. The concert was only $5 for entry and had been mentioning a "mystery guest" all week. There was still a decent turn-out for the concert despite the absolute shit weather Toronto's experiencing at the moment. Drake followed DJ Esco, the concerts opener, and performed some oldies and obviously songs from Views. Also debuted his first performance of Pop Style. And then he peaced out and went to the Raptors game! There will be so much petty drama. Can't fucking wait. Reply Thread Link They're doing arenas in the US and Brazil? Edit: I decided to use google and found that they're doing arenas in South America and US dates haven't been announced. Do you think they'll do arenas in the US? Edited at 2016-05-02 12:52 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link i would be surprised if they do arenas Reply Parent Thread Link I guess it depends on the success of the second single Reply Parent Thread Link they probably will, artists like to book arena's so it looks like they are a lot bigger than they are. and whoever is sponsoring the tour will pay for the rent of the arena so it won't hurt them even if it is only like 50% full Reply Parent Thread Expand Link they are sticking to local clubs & bars in the US Reply Parent Thread Link The only arena is Movistar in Chile which holds 16k I think, but it turns out they are only selling half of it. And then the rest are like concert halls or amphitheaters I can't make edits anymore, so I'm replying here, but I looked into the venues more ( #ontddon 'tread) and wait they actually aren't doing arenas in South America.The only arena is Movistar in Chile which holds 16k I think, but it turns out they are only selling half of it.And then the rest are like concert halls or amphitheaters Reply Parent Thread Link they place they are performing at here is the same demi performed at when i saw her two years ago which can be moved/changed depending on the show, demi had like 18k people i think but it can be made smaller since the stage/seats can be moved around Reply Parent Thread Link i'm waiting to hear 7/27 then i'll decide if i wanna go tbh Reply Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link this kills me every. time. Reply Parent Thread Link same. she was either playing or just horrified her album was being given away for free99. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she looks so genuinely worried lol Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO Reply Parent Thread Link stawp Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO Reply Parent Thread Link Biggest Girl Group Tour Of The Decade? Reply Thread Link ^plus i just wanted to use a SG gif :x Reply Parent Thread Link Fifth Harmony don't even need to tour to slay internationally Reply Parent Thread Expand Link done Reply Parent Thread Link why are all these acts booking arenas when they know they can't sell out? just do theaters, there's nothing wrong with that. Reply Thread Link they don't care bc the sponsor pays for it Reply Parent Thread Link They already did theaters last year and it sold out They are doing arenas this year and it sold out again Reply Parent Thread Link Educate ha! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lol they have ONE cute song, but k. Reply Thread Link I feel SO DISGUSTED doing this, but IA Reply Parent Thread Link LMAOOOOOOO Reply Parent Thread Link omg lmao Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO Reply Parent Thread Link My people are so passionate about stanning for nobodies, bless our loving hearts. <3 Reply Thread Link LOL Reply Parent Thread Link LOL. They're not going to sell out any area in the US. Reply Thread Link their last tour flopped so bad tho Reply Thread Link What? It sold out, how was it a flop? Reply Parent Thread Link if it's the tour i'm thinking of (where they did clubs) it flopped at least here. they couldn't even sell out the club here and it only had a capacity of 1000 Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I thought they were pretty big in South America or at least Brazil though, so I think arenas are possible there. And didn't Little Mix have high prices like $60 per ticket when most acts have like at least a $25-45 option lol. Reply Parent Thread Link everyone is big in brazil though Reply Parent Thread Link There is no way they can sell out arenas. Reply Thread Link Biggest Girl Group Tour Of The Decade? Reply Thread Link gorgeous gif Reply Parent Thread Link I love GA but still haven't watched the Ten Tour. Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I just pretend that the reunion era doesn't exist tbh. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It's shit. Tangled Up Tour >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>> Reply Parent Thread Link I don't know them Reply Parent Thread Link Ship tracking data from Bloomberg shows that 83 supertankers carrying around 166 million barrels of oil are headed to China, which has stockpiled an impressive 787,000 barrels a day in the first quarter of 2016the highest stockpiling rate since 2014. While the world was speculating about oil prices plunging to $20 and $10 per barrel, China was busy stockpiling its reserves. The chart below shows an increase in imports as crude prices collapsed. Since the beginning of this year, China has imported a record quantity of oil. (Click to enlarge) Back in January 2015, Reuters had reported that China planned to increase its strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) from 30 days to 90 days. In January 2016, it was revealed that China was building underground storage to complement its above-ground storage tanks. Related: Big Oil Surprises Analysts, Is The Worst Behind Us? The Chinese urgency points to two things. China believes that crude oil prices will not remain at the current levels for long, and that a disruption is possible due to geopolitical reasons, which can propel oil prices higher. As a net importer of crude, it is protecting itself against a black swan event and using the current low prices to fill its tanks. The filled up tanks will ensure a steady supply of crude for at least three months in case of a disruption. Does the record buying spree by the Chinese indicate a bottom in crude oil prices? That is difficult to conclude, but it does put a floor beneath the current lows, because in all likelihood, China will resume its record buying and top up its SPR if prices tank. Related: $500 Billion In Lost Oil Revenues Forces Gulf Nations To Turn To Debt Markets The total Chinese imports in March via the very large crude carriers was 7.7 million barrels a day. Other than the supertankers, China also imports oil through pipelines and small tankers. The Chinese demand doesnt show a huge uptick corresponding to the rise in imports. JP Morgan estimates that in March, the total demand for oil in China was 10.3 million b/d, down 2.5 percent over the previous year and down 2.3 percent month on month, whereas the chart shows that imports are higher compared to the same period last year. Crude oil prices have been on an upswing this month. The import data coming out of China for April will give a clue as to whether the Chinese demand remains intact at higher crude prices or the imports drop when prices rise. Related: Has the Oil Price Rally Gone Too Far? If the demand drops following a rise in prices, we can assume that China doesnt believe that the price rally will be sustained. At lower levels, Chinese buying might become a factor in deciding the bottom, as their increased imports will reduce the glut. Similar to Saudi Arabia, which is a swing producer, China is acting like a swing consumer. However, as China doesnt report its storage data, it is difficult to estimate how long this trend will continue. Though other factors were involved in encouraging the bulls to buy at lower levels, the increased demand from China also helped in lapping up the excess production. If their imports drop, the world will return to the supply glut and oil prices will retrace back to the lower $30 s/b. By Rakesh Upadhyay for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Mohammad Reza Kamali, Director of the Center for Exploration and Production in Irans Oil Ministry, announced a new shale oil discovery in the Lorestan Province on April 25, compounding Irans shale discoveries of last year in the southeast Kerman and northern Semnan provinces. What is the significance of this discovery for Iran? Should Saudi Arabia worry about its arch rival after this new find? Will it affect the U.S. shale oil industry and worsen the existing supply glut in the world? Yes, and no. Significance for Iran Iran has 158 billion barrels of proven conventional oil reservesthe fourth largest in the worldand 34 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, which is the largest in the world. Though the new announcement adds to their existing reserves, it is unlikely that Iran will extract shale oil in the near future due to its high production cost. Related: Lets Stop Pretending Nuclear Power Is Commercially Viable The production cost of conventional oil in Iran is under $10 per barrel, whereas the production cost of shale oil is anywhere between $40 and $80/b. Hence, developing shale oil is a nonviable option at the current prices. Nevertheless, if crude oil prices rise above $70/b, Iran might consider producing shale oil. In its continuing conflict with Saudi Arabia, the new discovery is a morale booster for Iranand in geopolitics, this is significant even if not immediately tangible. Should Saudi Arabia worry about Irans new discovery? The second largest known oil reserves of 266 billion barrels are in Saudi Arabia. It is the largest producer in the world with a spare capacity of 2 million b/d, which can be used in an emergency. Though the U.S. shale oil industry has challenged the Saudi supremacy in the world, Iranian shale will not create any trouble for Saudi Arabia in the short-term. Related: Why Canadas Oil Industry May Never Be the Same Nonetheless, Iran and Saudis tussle for regional dominance will continue, and the latest Iranian find should be considered as an open-ended threat to the Saudis. It lets the Saudis know that their current status is not necessarily secure. Does Irans announcement affect the U.S. shale oil industry? Irans shale oil discovery does not represent any real or immediate competition to the U.S. because the U.S. shale oil industry is challenging the conventional oil producers. They are performing way better than the experts expectations and have decreased their cost of production from $80/b initially to $20-$30/b currently, with technological advances. If at all, Iran will have to turn to the U.S. shale oil producers and equipment manufacturers to learn from them how to reduce the cost of shale oil production. The Saudis should really be worried about potential U.S.-Iranian shale producer cooperation here. Will it increase the global supply glut? Though Iran wants to increase its oil production to pre-sanction levels, it is taking a measured approach. Tehran isnt interested in adding to the supply glut and bringing down prices further if not necessary. And the country is also dealing with certain administrative issues that complicate matters. Related: How Microgrids May Transform The Future Of Energy As such, it is unlikely that Iran will produce any of this shale oil any time soon, and the discovery will therefore not add to the current supply glut. However, the discovery will ensure a few more years of crude supply to future generations. More than anything, the announcement of this discovery is a message and a hidden warning to Saudi Arabia that Iran will continue to challenge the Saudis leadership position in OPEC. By Rakesh Upadhyay for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russian state-owned oil and gas giant Gazprom is currently working out the matter of creating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution hub in Bahrain. The hub will be meant to intake LNG from various sources, including Russia. The news was announced by Saint Petersburgs Regional Governor, Georgiy Poltavchenko, following a visit of the regions delegation to Bahrain. Russia is currently negotiating the possibilities of LNG deliveries to the island nation in the Persian Gulf, with possible financing provided by Russias Vnesheconombank (VEB). The possibility of Russian independent natural gas producers has also been taken into consideration. Various instrument and equipment manufacturers from the Saint Petersburg region could also partake in the project. The exact volume of LNG deliveries is hard to evaluate at the moment; according to preliminary estimates, it could amount to several billion cubic meters annually. Related: Should Exxon Mobil Shareholders Be Worried About a Ratings Cut? Bahrains own natural gas stock is limited and the country is dependent on deliveries from the outside. However, talks with neighboring gas-exporting countries Qatar and Iran, have met with difficulties due to political differences. Back in February 2011, it was reported that Russia will begin exporting its LNG to Bahrain, but anti-government movements in the Middle Eastern nation got in the way of the projects further development. In 2014, during its visit to Bahrain, the Russian business delegation held negotiations regarding possible deliveries of Russian LNG, however, no binding agreements were signed at that time. Nonetheless, Bahrain isnt letting the issue go, and in February 2016 it became known that they had offered Russia to use the LNG reception terminal for purposes of exporting gas to Gulf countries. The terminal is in its construction phase and is planned to be commissioned in the first half of 2018, with construction costs amounting to $600 million. Eastern Front At the same time, Gazprom is actively involved in negotiations with China, hoping to secure a contract for natural gas deliveries through the so-called Western route. The route refers to the yet to be constructed gas pipeline, The Power of Siberia-2, which will begin in Russias natural gas rich Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region and move from North to South to the Altai Republic, where the pipeline will enter China across a narrow Russia-China border between Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Related: Lets Stop Pretending Nuclear Power Is Commercially Viable Both sides are certain that the new agreement will be signed in 2016. Meanwhile, Wang Dongjin vice-president at the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), stated that his company is discussing a number of issues with Gazprom, however, the financial aspect of the deal hasnt been discussed yet. CNPC is reconfirming technical parameters of would be natural gas deliveries before moving onto the price issue. The Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, which will ensure deliveries of natural gas into China via the Western route, is projected to be capable of transporting over 1 tcf annually with the possibility of extending the capacity to 3.5 tcf. If Gazprom succeeds in exporting its natural gas to Chinas western regions, it will become a serious competitor to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The two countries are already actively involved with deliveries being made via the Central Asia-China pipeline. Domestic Threats Gazprom has become the victim of multiple attempts to undermine its monopoly on natural gas exports by Russian independent companies, such as Rosneft and Novatek. Related: Horizontal Land Rig Count Summary 29th April 2016 Rosneft pleaded with president Putin to help the company obtain a permit, which would allow it to transport its natural gas using Gazproms pipelines. Having such a permit will allow Rosneft to export its gas to both Europe and Asia in larger volumes than the company currently exports using tankers. Gazprom has retaliated against any such encroachments, stating that allowing other companies into its export channels will serve against Russias interests by pitting Russian companies against each other in the already highly competitive market. Gazprom also added that it regularly acquires natural gas from independent companies, including Rosneft, with certain volumes being exported. Therefore, Rosneft is, technically, already in Gazproms export channel. By Donald Levit via Economiccalendar.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: 2016 is proving to be another difficult year for North Sea Oil. In March, former chairman of energy services company Wood Group, Sir Ian Wood, said the oil and gas companies located in the UKs North Sea region could let go of a further 45,000 employees in 2016. 65,000 jobs have already been lost in the sector since the oil price collapsed from a high of $115 in 2014 to $30 a barrel. Against falling prices, oil production continues to rise globally, led in part by Russian, Saudi, and U.S. producers. However, while all producers face the question of sustainability, producers in the UK face a great many other challenges as well. Crude oil output in the UK has fallen 25 percent in the past 5 years and more than 60 percent since 2000, with North Sea producers seeing some of the biggest declines, losing nearly 70 percent of output in the last 15 years and 40 percent in the last five. Related: Russia And Saudi Arabia Locked In Relentless Fight Over China's Oil Market A decline in oil processing has led to a decrease in profits for oil and gas companies, which have in turn tried to slash their costs through job cuts. With layoffs at their most rampant since 2004 the UK and Scottish governments have been drawn in to pouring more than 500m of extra investment into Aberdeen to help it cope with the economic impact of the collapse in global oil prices. Ministers from both Scottish and UK governments signed a city deal in January promising 250m from the UK government to be spent on energy research, infrastructure and upgrading the citys harbour, with a further 254m from the Scottish government to improve rail links, roads, housing and broadband services in the Aberdeen area. Related: Venezuelas Electricity Blackout Could Cut Off Oil Production Aberdeen is synonymous with the North Sea Oil industry, and it is here in Scotlands Dallas of the North that the impact of the oil price fallout is being felt the most. Hundreds of workers in the oil industry are being laid off every week by producers, drillers and service companies which in turn is hurting local businesses, from estate agents, to hoteliers and taxi drivers. Redundancies are made worse by the fact that the cost of living in Aberdeen is still high. It is a city where wages have often been higher than the UK average, a place that boasts the highest concentration of millionaires in the UK, and before the crash, an unemployment rate of just 2 percent. Spiralling inequality in the years preceding the fall in oil price has laid bare the cliff edge that Aberdeen has been balancing on for so long. In December the number of people claiming out of work benefits in the north-east of Scotland increased by 72 percent. Dependence on food bank services in the city has also seen a sharp rise in stark contrast to the way things were just a few short months before. Related: Can Oil Continue To Rally Like This? As the industry continues to falter, a large majority of UK oil and gas workers are now considering looking for work abroad. A survey by recruitment group Oil and Gas People found that more than 70 percent of North Sea workers would consider moving overseas, where they believe they will find better job security and conditions, with higher wages also stated as a main reason for looking abroad. A move that doesnt come without new risks and could be costly in itself without first acquiring the proper safety qualifications and insurance cover. Despite the inevitable decline in North Sea production, the future for the UK oil and gas supply chain remains vibrant due to a number of strengths. As recently as last week Scottish energy services company Wood Group announced a $150 million deal to help support key operations in the North Sea. The deal, an extension of a contract with Nexen, a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp, means that 190 jobs will be retained in the region. This lifeline is hopefully the beginning of the recovery for the North Sea oil industry with companies still willing to invest despite crude oil prices still about 60 percent below peak levels two years ago. By Chris Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: At a time where many oil companies need to shed assets and spin off businesses to keep themselves alive, there are certain companies that are perfectly positioned for the current market. Oil prices have plummeted 70 percent from highs in June 2014 and not many upstream oil and gas operations are making money. Companies losing the least cash and maintaining the cleanest balance sheet can take advantage of the current market. The value of a large oil and gas company is partly in its ability to become the lowest cost producer and partly in its asset management ability. Some companies have diversified operations with upstream, midstream, and downstream operations and other large oil and gas producers have diversified basins with various types and qualities of oil, extraction methods, decline rates, days to production, access to global markets, and political risks. The way in which large oil and gas companies manage these assets can catapult a $1 billion company to a $100 billion company. Timing is Everything While 2014s high oil price environment provided large oil and gas companies with the opportunity to spin off marginally profitable projects, the current low price environment serves an opposite purpose: acquisition. Why spend scarce capital on exploring oil and gas prospects when a company can acquire a rival producers production and proven reserves at relatively low values? If oil-rich countries are in a game of market share to countries like China and India, why arent independent oil companies in a game of market share within the regions of their segmented basins? If countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE can survive low prices, what independent producers can survive equally as long? Become the Next Exxon Mobil It is in our current market that giants like Exxon, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell are formed. Another large oil and gas producer finds itself on the cusp of joining the ranks of oil and gas super-majors: Occidental Petroleum (OXY). Occidental Petroleum is a U.S.-based oil and gas company producing over 650,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). The company is unique; it has a dominant domestic position in the Permian Basin and holds other large producing assets in the Middle East and Latin America. In 2015, 67 percent of the companys revenue came from oil and gas production and 33 percent came from its chemicals and midstream and marketing businesses. The company owns a large network of midstream gathering and transportation pipelines in the heart of the Permian Basin through its subsidiary Centurion Pipeline. (Click to enlarge) Additionally, OXY owns a 24.5 percent stake in Dolphin Energy, which processes gas and condensates from the worlds largest gas deposit offshore Qatar: the North Dome/South Pars deposit. The processing plant, in Ras Laffan, processes 2.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas and liquids per day (bcf/d) and transports gas to the UAE and Oman through a 3.2 bcf/d pipeline. This gives OXY a stake rarely given in the largest natural gas deposit in the world. The field holds 1,235 trillion cubic feet of gas or 15 times the size of the largest gas field in the U.S.: the Marcellus. Occidentals Opportunity What puts OXY in the drivers seat as it relates to potential acquisition is the fact that the $50 billion company has $3 billion in net debt. The company holds one of the cleanest balance sheets of major oil and gas producers. (Click to enlarge) Unlike EOG Resources (EOG), Pioneer Natural (PXD), and Continental Resources (CLR), Occidental is not a pure shale play in the U.S. OXY has to continually manage a diversified set of assets and still manage to protect its downside by investing in its steadily cash producing chemicals and midstream businesses. Of its assets, Occidental prides its Columbia, Qatar, Oman, Permian EOR, and chemicals business as a resilient business that will generate free cash flow in the lowest of price environments. The Permian shale gives OXY quick production growth when prices improve and the company would like to continue the balance of long-lasting free cash flowing operations and U.S. shale exposure. Occidental acknowledges its positioned as a potential acquirer of companies, but the acquisition criteria for OXY is quite particular: 1. Remain, primarily, an upstream oil and gas company 2. Look for long-life free cash flow reserves diversified from U.S. shale 3. Focus on the Permian Basin, including Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Occidental Petroleums Strategy into the Oil Collapse of 2014/2015 The finest execution of asset management in the oil and gas business has come at the hands of Occidental. As the price of oil fell to $75 in November 2014, OXY was already in the midst of shedding itself of unwanted assets. On 6 November, 2014 the company generated $1.15 billion from the sale of its 50 percent interest in the BridgeTex Pipeline to Plains All America. The pipeline is a 300,000 barrels per day crude oil pipeline from the Permian to the Gulf Coast. On 13 November, 2014 Occidental spun off its California assets into a separate company called California Resources (CRC). OXY spun off 80 percent of its position in CRC for $2.3 billion. Since then OXY sold its remaining stake in California Resources. California Resources now trades at a market value of $150 million, proving once again, OXYs forward thinking and asset management expertise. Prior to these sales and spin offs, in early 2014, when prices were up over $100 per barrel, activist investors had pushed Occidental to sell their Middle Eastern assets. Those assets were estimated to fetch $8 billion upon acquisition by a consortium of state owned Qatar, Abu Dhabi (UAE), and Omani oil and gas entities. That consortium disintegrated during the disagreement between GCC countries regarding the Muslim Brotherhoods role in Egypts democratic transition process in 2014. The UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia recalled ambassadors from Qatar because of Qatars support for the Muslim Brotherhood. In turn, in April 2014, Qatar dropped out of the consortium with Abu Dhabi and Oman to purchase Occidentals Middle East and North Africa oil and gas assets. Related: Can Oil Continue To Rally Like This? Like any good asset manager, OXY has split their Middle East businesses into those that make money and those that do not. Operations in Qatar, the UAE, and Oman add to the companys free cash flow and thus are deemed core operations. Iraq, Libya, and Yemen drain free cash flow and as a result, OXY will sell Iraqi acreage back to the INOC (Iraqi National Oil Company) while letting their concessions expire in Libya and Yemen. Occidental Shopping Around the World Occidental has the ability and the incentive to catapult its production profile to those of super-majors. Scouring the major oil and gas producers with U.S. shale and global operations we can narrow down Occidentals options. First, OXY will likely chose a company with a similar production profile in terms of liquids production. Second, OXY has not built a pristine balance sheet to go out and acquire a company with a heavy debt load. Third, OXY wants a balanced portfolio with a mix of higher growth U.S. shale and lower declining conventional production outside U.S. shale formations. Occidental does not want to overexpose its production profile to the higher decline rates of U.S. shale. This leaves Occidental with one option - to dramatically increase its production and maintain the asset base and cash flows they desire to acquire. Based on the global companies and companies who have significant exposure to the Permian Basin, Apache Corporation (APA) stands out as the primary acquisition target. Of the Permian Basin players, Apache has a sizable reserve base when compared to its peers. November 2015 Anadarko Bids for Apache Apache has been approached by an acquirer before; in November 2015, it was disclosed that Anadarko Petroleum (APC) was in preliminary talks to acquire Apache. As APA shares rose 35 percent to $50 per share, the offer was rejected and Anadarko withdrew its bid, claiming APA was now fairly valued. The rise in share price did not come from the takeover rumor. In reality, the results from Apaches tier one offshore play in the North Sea were what pushed the share price. It wasnt that Apache was fairly valued but Anadarko could no longer afford to pay such a high premium with their own stock. The North Sea results are a game changer for the company and show the long-term sustainability and growth potential of Apaches core offshore asset. The predatory takeover from Anadarko was in fact to keep predators away from their own stock. It was rumored that Chevron (CVX) and China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (SNP) were looking at Anadarko as a takeover target. If Anadarko had managed to pull off the Apache takeover, they would have made themselves less attractive to a takeover. With over 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent production and operating in 12 countries, Anadarko would be too large and difficult to integrate into the super majors operations. As the Anadarko-Apache attempted acquisition was made public, business media and analysts tried to narrow down who could potentially acquire Apache. In a frenzy to come up with quick answers, analysts would simply look at the financials and put two companies together. Some assumed Exxon would target Apache simply because Exxons cash position; however, Exxon (XOM) had plenty of Permian Basin acreage and drilling inventory. Exxon was also still in the process of integrating its XTO Energy purchase of $40 billion in 2010. EOG Resources (EOG) was assumed to be a potential acquirer of Apache. I had contacted EOG regarding acquisitions in this market and they had indicated they were perfectly fine with their acreage and inventory. EOG mentioned if any acquisition were to arise it would be a land acquisition near existing operations and not a company acquisition. Finally, probably the only other credible suitor for Apache aside from Occidental, Chevron (CVX), was looked at as a potential acquirer of Apache. Taking a look at where Chevron operates it makes sense that the company would look at Apache. Chevron has North Sea assets and a 2 million acre position in the Permian Basin. In the North Sea Chevron is producing 32,000 barrels of oil and 88 million cubic feet of gas per day from 3 fields. In total, Chevron has an interest in 9 offshore fields in the UK North Sea. Additionally Chevron has the largest acreage position in the Permian Basin and produces 120,000 boe/d ranking it as the 6th largest producer in the basin. Although the companies have some geographic overlap in terms of operations, Chevron still has sizable positions with a vast inventory and organic growth potential in the North Sea and Permian Basin. Minimum Buyout Price of Apache Corp. (APA): $62 per share or $23.5 Billion Market Cap Based on a Long-term WTI Price of $65 The minimum price of $62 is not to say that OXY will purchase Apache for $62, but that $62 will be the minimum bid that would lead to a merger. This would be an all-stock deal where Apache shareholders are given to opportunity to participate in the acquisitions upside by owning the larger companys stock: OXY. The acquisition would put Occidental and Apache shareholders in a league of their own and bring the company closer to super-major status. Occidental is not a struggling Anadarko looking to stave off an acquisition, but an efficiently run company looking to build up its reserves, production, operational leverage, and sizable position with a very clean balance sheet. Together Apache and Occidental can build a new era of super-majors built from U.S. shale and expanded worldwide. They will dominate energy supply in Oman, Egypt, the UK, and Texas and continue to be leaders in their respective basins through innovation, experimentation, and exploration. Apache Corp. (APA) Meeting Occidental Petroleums Criteria Apache is the ultimate low-cost producer. The company has international operations that can break even at a $35 oil price and North American operations that can break even at a $45 oil price. The company has focused on spending the bare minimum to remain free cash flow neutral in 2016 under the current oil price environment. 1. Remain, primarily, and upstream oil and gas company Apache had been a stagnant stock for years. While oil prices remained at an average price of $97 per barrel from October 2011 to June 2014 the companys stock price remained flat. The company was operating in too many areas and had accumulated over $11 billion in debt. The focus for Apache was to sell its assets and pay down debt. Apache made most of its sales in the height of the oil market and was accelerated into the end of 2014 by activist fund pressure from Jana Partners. Apache sold assets in Argentina, Egypt, Canada, Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Mid-Continent, and Australia. These assets sold for a total of $12.8 billion and were used to pay down debt to $7 billion and narrow the companys operations down to 4 main geographic locations focused on upstream operations. (Click to enlarge) 2. Look for long-life free cash flow reserves diversified from U.S. shale Much like Occidental, Apache had been under pressure by activists to sell its remaining Middle East assets and reduce the companys political risk in 2014. Apache knew the dominant position it had in Egypt as the largest oil producer with over 20 percent of Egypts oil production and the only company, at the time, with the right to independently market its oil in the global market. Apache fought back against Jana and it turned out to be the right move. Like Occidentals non-North American operations, Apache generates most of its free cash flow from Egypt and the UK. The majority of these operations are conventional and have stable cash flows with little upfront spending on infrastructure and avoid declining production from their fields, unlike U.S. shale plays. Most importantly, Apaches international operations in Egypt and the North Sea remain profitable at $35 oil prices. Cost savings and reduced infrastructure spending drop Apaches North Sea capex program to $600 million. In Egypt, Apache has a profit and cost sharing program with Egypts state-owned EGPC where the government shares in the costs of developing reserves. That cost sharing program saves Apache from bearing the full brunt of low oil prices in Egypt. Due to these cost cutting initiatives, Apache will be able to lower their overall international capex program, while still keeping production at current levels. This is a true testament to the intellectual prowess of the APA management team. The well results below demonstrate why Apache is determined to keep spending money on international projects. Wells with IP rates of 16,000 boe/d are precisely what types of wells are required to move the production needle for large cap E&Ps and super majors. 3. Focus in on the Permian Basin, including Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Occidental put all their eggs into the Permian Basin basket and they are now the largest producer within the basin. This has paid off tremendously as Permian operations have just begun to reach shale efficiencies of the more mature Eagle Ford and Bakken shale formations. Although the Permian is the largest producing formation of all U.S. formations, it still has some room to improve. Over the past 5 years, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques have improved dramatically and have led to the development of multi-stack formations. Below is a snapshot of the Permians layered formations. Importantly, one must think of acreage as 3-dimensional, not just surface area. Each sub layer represents oil and gas that can be unlocked and horizontal drilling and fracturing are what allow this to happen. (Click to enlarge) Related: Why Saudi Arabia Will Not Win The Oil Price War Occidentals potential acquisition of Apache would give the new company ultimate control over the entire Permian Basin in terms of being the largest producer and the company with the most acreage. The Occidental-Apache entity would hold over 3 million acres and produce 21 percent of all Permian production. Occidentals major concern of overexposure to U.S. shale production is the 60-70 percent annual decline rates in horizontal shale drilling and fracturing. However, Apache is only 54 percent exposed to those decline rates from its total Permian shale production of 170,000 boe/d. The remaining 46 percent of its Permian production comes from Apaches Central Basin/NW Shelf operations with decline rates of 14 percent due to enhanced oil recovery water flooding and CO2 flooding. In both flooding methods the water and/or CO2 are sent into the formation through an injecting well. This re-pressurizes the formation and forces CO2 and water to mix with oil, which expands and moves up and out of a producing well. The lower decline rates help Apache manage their capital costs in bad times as they have the option of spending less than those higher declining shale wells in the deeper part of Midland and Delaware Basin. In an acquisition by OXY, the lower decline rates help limit Occidentals U.S. shale decline exposure to the targeted 20-25 percent. Apaches mix of EOR and unconventional shale operations keep its onshore U.S. production in the cheapest range possible. All North American onshore production can be sustained at a $45 oil price. Apache will spend the bear minimum onshore North America because of its ability to bring these wells on in a short period of time when prices improve. Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and Apache Corp. (APA) Combined Asset Summary Controlling Stakes in Major Basins and Countries 1. Occidental Petroleum is already the largest independent oil producer in Oman with 75,000 bbls/d and 43 MMcf/d of net production. 2. Apache is the second largest oil producer in the UK North Sea. The company has spent $2.6 billion in the North Sea to establish infrastructure. Now, Apache is in the process of leveraging that spending in a low price environment where UK operations break even at $35 oil. 3. Apache produces 20 percent of the oil in Egypt and holds exclusive rights to privately market its oil to the global market. The company has minimal infrastructure spending and Apache has taken on the role of innovator in Egypt. The companys Western Desert assets hold similar layered formations to those in the Permian Basin. Apache has leveraged its knowledge to horizontally drill and fracture layers in Egypt that have tested at rates 10 times the amount of its Permian wells. Apache has now begun partnering with Shell to explore horizontal drilling on Shells concessions in Egypt. Related: Russia And Saudi Arabia Locked In Relentless Fight Over China's Oil Market 4. Together Apache and Occidental will own 21 percent of the production of the Permian Basin: the largest basin in the U.S. Apaches low decline and enhanced oil recovery techniques in the Central Basin compliment Occidentals position providing some cost saving and technology sharing and provides Occidental with a U.S. shale asset that can better whether a low oil price environment. Apaches EOR operations in the Central Basin have wells that can payback its initial investment in less than one year at $45 oil prices. 5. Occidentals potential acquisition of Apache would bring the entitys total production up to 1.2 MMboe/d. This would categorize the company in another league of independent oil and gas producers. Occidental would now directly be compared to the likes of oil and gas majors: ConocoPhillips, Eni SPA, and CNOOC. The OXY-APA entity would have a high margin liquids content with the least amount of debt relative to its reserves. (Click to enlarge) Occidental stands atop their peer group in their ability to flex their balance sheet and share price during the downtrend and capitalize on the arising opportunities. The new Apache-Occidental (APA-OXY) company would be very unique with profitable low cost operations in the Middle East, the North Sea, Latin America, and EOR operation onshore U.S. The company will also have the growth upside of a 3 million acre position in the US shale formation of the Permian Basin that can bring on production when prices increase above $45 per barrel. The company will generate 78 percent of its revenue from oil and gas operations and 22 percent from OXYs chemicals and midstream projects. It is tough to pull the M&A trigger in market conditions like these, but I believe Occidental is best suited to capitalize on the opportunity at hand, setting themselves up as the next super major. By Omar Mawji via Geopoliticalmonitor.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Milwaukee Turners will celebrate urban visionary Jane Jacobs Tuesday, May 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Turner Hall Ballroom in conjunction with the first Milwaukee iteration of Janes Walk. Janes Walk is a movement of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by urbanist and writer Jane Jacobs. As an organization that overturned the mid-century move to flatten their historic site for the expansion of Milwaukee parking, Milwaukee Turners are pleased to celebrate the 100th birthday of Jane Jacobs the revolutionary author of "Death and Life of Great American Cities" with a Janes Walk. This celebration will include a classic Turner fish fry and discussion about her relevance to the important urban planning issues of today. The Turner Hall event will feature the dinner in Turner Restaurant, followed by discussion with former Milwaukee Mayor and Congress for the New Urbanism CEO John Norquist in Turner Ballroom. Schedule Jane's Walk: 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., free A walking tour to examine the principles espoused by Jacobs' writing will take place at 4:15 by the Plankinton Building at The Shops of Grand Avenue, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., and end at Turner Hall. The wheelchair accessible walk will be led by Chris Socha of The Kubala Washatko Architects. Dinner: 5:30 to 7 p.m., $14.95 Enjoy a traditional fish fry buffet from Turner Hall Restaurant for $14.95. Menu includes coleslaw, applesauce, baked beans, vegetable medley, breaded cod, tartar sauce, bratwursts, french fries, potato pancake rolls and warm chocolate chip cookies. RSVP by May 6 if interested by: For print publications, radio, television: milwaukeeturners.org For weblinks, email and social media: bit.ly/1NTGuff Discussion and talkback: 7 to 8:30 p.m., suggested donation $10 to support the Milwaukee Turners; students are free The main event will include a presentation by John Norquist, former mayor of Milwaukee and retired president of Congress of the New Urbanism. Following the presentation will be a brief panel discussion with audience questions. Norquist will talk about the legacy of Jane Jacobs and her seminal work, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities." Norquist will examine the effect she has had on the development, planning and revitalization of cities in Milwaukee and around the world. Panel participants architect Chris Socha, developer Juli Kaufmann, UWM professor Matt Jarosz and John Norquist. Moderator: Jeramey Jannene. Co-Hosts Turner Ballroom Preservation Trust, Urban Milwaukee, TKWA UrbanLab, Downtown BID 21, Congress for the New Urbanism-Wisconsin and Historic Milwaukee Incorporated. Janes Walks are free, locally organized walking tours in which people get together to explore, talk about and celebrate their neighborhoods. Where more traditional tours are a bit like walking lectures, a Janes Walk is more of a walking conversation. Leaders share their knowledge but also encourage discussion and participation among the walkers. A Janes Walk can focus on almost any aspect of a neighborhood and on almost any topic you can think of. Walks can be serious or funny, informative or exploratory; they can look at the history of a place or at whats happening there right now. Anyone can lead a walk because everyone is an expert on the place where they live! Some examples: A walk in Colchester, England was led by two brothers, aged 6 and 4, who showed walkers around their favorite park and shared interesting historical facts about the local castle. In Ljubljana, Slovenia, a city counselor came on a walk to discuss the history and potential future of the area around a stalled construction site. In the heart of Toronto, Canada, a Queer Newcomer Youth walk was led by a group of young people who had all arrived in the city recently but had found a welcoming community there. In Calcutta, India, a group set out to explore the wetlands at the citys edge. Good City Brewing, Milwaukees first East Side microbrewery and taproom, is preparing for a June opening in its space at 2108 N. Farwell Ave. In preparation for the opening, the brewery has announced numerous new additions to its team, including a brewery chef, taproom manager and assistant brewer. Chef Guy Davies, former executive chef of Bartolotta's Rumpus Room, will join the team as brewery chef. He will head up the creation of the taproom food menu, and take the helm of beer dinners, which the brewery plans to offer in its private event space. "We are setting out to create the kind of taproom experience weve fallen in love with across the country, where great food is always a compliment to excellent beer," explains co- founder Dan Katt. "We wanted to bring someone on who understands our vision and could implement a concise and well-executed menu that supports our beer. Guy is the perfect fit. He has a great reputation locally, in his native Australia and elsewhere around the world." The role of taproom manager will be filled by Jeff Gray, an industry professional most recently employed as manager of the Malt Shoppe in Wauwatosa. Meanwhile, former architect and professional brewer, Ray Sachs, has been hired as Head Brewer to assist Good City co-founder and brewmaster Andy Jones, a UC Davis Master Brewers Program graduate and former plant manager of Lakefront Brewery. When Good City opens in June, the tap room is expected to offer up to nine tap beers, featuring a range of styles including Porter, Pilsner, IPA, Double IPA, Imperial Stout, and American Session Ale. After growing rumors over the past few days and general speculation over the last decade IKEA officially announced its first Wisconsin location, moving into Oak Creek with an estimated opening date of summer 2018. The announcement was made this morning at a press conference in the Oak Creek Civil Center by IKEA representatives, along with Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi. "Now with 41 stores in the U.S. mostly in the east and in the west we are focused on filling in the middle," said IKEA expansion public affairs manager Joseph Roth. "So to complement our stores in the neighboring states of Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois, we're expanding our Midwestern presence by bringing a little bit of Sweden to key metropolitan areas, such as Southeast Wisconsin." "IKEA does not open stores just anywhere, nor very often," Roth added later, "but when we do, we make a commitment for the longterm." Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi speaks at this morning's IKEA press conference. (PHOTO: Carolynn Buser) The proposed new Oak Creek IKEA, located at the northwest corner of I-94 and Drexel Avenue, would be a single-level, 295,000-square foot store with about 1,200 parking spots. The blue-and-yellow location will feature a showroom with 50 fully decorated room-settings, three model home interiors, a self-serve furniture area, a 300-seat, cafeteria-style restaurant, a Swedish food market, a bistro, family features including a "Children's IKEA" area and baby care rooms, and nearly 10,000 exclusive home furnishing items. The new IKEA is expected to bring approximately 250 jobs, as well as an estimated 500 jobs during construction of the new store. "We are extremely proud to announce today that we're going to be the site of that future IKEA location," Scaffidi said. "I think it's going to be a tremendous addition to our city and to the county and to the state." A display at the IKEA announcement in Oak Creek. (PHOTO: Carolynn Buser) As rumors of the Oak Creek IKEA location began earlier this week, some wondered if the speculated spot was too close to the Schaumburg, Ill., location, as the two stores are just a little over 70 miles apart. According to Roth and IKEA real estate manager Liz Gabor, however, the Oak Creek land had what they look for in a viable store location. "In general, we look for sites that are accessible and visible from a major interstate or highway, and that's exactly what we found here," Roth said. "The greater Milwaukee area is definitely a separate trade area from Chicago, so we view them separately, and we just thought this site is accessible for folks from throughout Southeast Wisconsin." According to Gabor, IKEA is currently filling out applications with the city of Oak Creek this week, and the company aims to have government approval in the fall, start construction in spring 2017 and open in 2018. Reprinted from Dispatches From The Edge "Aggressive," "revanchist," "swaggering": These are just some of the adjectives the mainstream press and leading U.S. and European political figures are routinely inserting before the words "Russia," or "Vladimir Putin." It is a vocabulary most Americans have not seen or heard since the height of the Cold War. The question is, why? Is Russia really a military threat to the United States and its neighbors? Is it seriously trying to "revenge" itself for the 1989 collapse of the Soviet Union? Is it actively trying to rebuild the old Soviet empire? The answers to these questions are critical, because, for the first time since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, several nuclear-armed powers are on the edge of a military conflict with fewer safeguards than existed 50 years ago. Consider the following events: NATO member Turkey shoots down a Russian warplane. Russian fighter-bombers come within 30 feet of a U.S. guided missile destroyer, and a Russian fighter does a barrel roll over a U.S. surveillance plane. Several U.S. Senators call for a military response to such encounters in the future. NATO and the U.S. begin deploying three combat brigades -- about 14,000 troops and their equipment -- in several countries that border Russia, and Washington has more than quadrupled its military spending in the region. S. State Department officials accuse Russia of "dismantling" arms control agreements, while Moscow charges that Washington is pursuing several destabilizing weapons programs. Both NATO and the Russians have carried out large war games on one another's borders and plan more in the future, in spite of the fact that the highly respected European Leadership Network (ELN) warns that the maneuvers are creating "mistrust." In the scary aftermath of the Cuban missile crisis, the major nuclear powers established some ground rules to avoid the possibility of nuclear war, including the so-called "hot line" between Washington and Moscow. But, as the threat of a nuclear holocaust faded, many of those safeguards have been allowed to lapse, creating what the ELN calls a "dangerous situation." According to a recent report by the ELN, since March of last year there have been over 60 incidents that had "the potential to trigger a major crisis between a nuclear armed state and a nuclear armed alliance." The report warns that, "There is today no agreement between NATO and Russia on how to manage close military encounters." The Empire of Chaos promotes its full spectrum dominance for its own sake, as Pepe Escobar makes clear.[1] There is no credible objective for this globalized militarism that benefits any but the 1%, their global megacorporations and banking cartels, and the self-perpetuating military-academic-industrial-security complex itself. The Empire exists to serve this Global Dracula, which draws the life out of the open veins of Mother Earth. Even decent people in global corporations siphon the life-blood of Mother Earth rather than lose their lucrative jobs. Corporate power is the power of domination and exploitation for its own sake, carried forward by its own colossal momentum, regardless of consequences for people or the ecosystem of our planet. Terrorism is a consequence of this globalized Empire of Chaos: the more chaos the more terrorism. Here we have a self-evident correlation that should make us suspicious. Are these drone executions really trying to stop terrorism? Or do they need the perpetual threat of terrorism to justify and protect the Global Dracula? World peace researcher Johan Galtung: "Hyper-capitalism sucks the Periphery dry with humans in misery and nature depleted-polluted. Interventionist militarism engenders resistance, the higher the overkill". Force engenders counter-force. Social processes are dialectic, not linear."[2] Consider the current US bombing of Mosul. The pattern is to destroy the civilian infrastructure. This is a key modus operandi of the US military. They claim that the bad guys "hide" within civilian populations but they instinctively know that the civilian populations hate us, just as people everywhere hate invasion, domination and tyranny. In effect, the entire civilian population becomes the enemy and must be targeted. Do we believe the Global Dracula and the Empire of Chaos do not know about this dialectic? The militarized "full spectrum dominance" requires chaos, the more chaos the more it is justified. Hyper-capitalism requires human misery in at least three senses: (1) the more impoverished and desperate people become, the greater the capacity for exploitation (think Bangla-desh or Indonesia), (2) the more global misery, the more the "free-market system" is justified under the impossible ideal that only a "truly free market" can address the need: "we need more free market not less." This insane logic is addressed in detail by Naomi Klein's book The Shock Doctrine and the Rise of Disaster Capitalism,[4] (3) all destruction of civilian infrastructure is a lucrative opportunity for the disaster capitalists to reap tremendous profits for reconstruc-tion. The destruction of Mosul, like the destruction of Fallujah, becomes a low-risk investment for future reconstructionist private contractors and hosts of venture capitalists. The operations of the military are truly globalized, involving every country on Earth in one form or another.[5] Global stock market forces and currency exchanges make our entire planet economically interdependent. When the US banks crashed the sub-prime mortgage bubble in 2008, nearly every country in the world was affected. Today's oil war, in the attempt by the global hegemon to bankrupt Russia, Brazil, and Venezuela through reducing oil prices so that their economies crumble, affects everyone on Earth, for better or for worse.[6] The Empire of Chaos and the Global Dracula have created hyper-national systems of "global governance" that now put their fingers into every pie: NATO, IMF, the World Bank, the Bank for International Settlements, WTO, GATT, NAFTA, TPP, etc. USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy seek to subvert democratic processes in every country that interfere with the Global Dracula. The 1% are not by any means "global citizens" (implying responsibility to humanity and our planet) but they are "globalists": unrepentant non-patriots loyal to nothing but mammon and sucking the lifeblood from the Earth and its people. If anyone had doubts about these facts, these doubts should have been dispelled by the Panama Papers.[7] Articles about the Panama Papers point out that the offshore shell-company and tax-evasion industry is not limited to Panama. It includes dozens of locations throughout the world: a globalized system beyond the territorial boundaries of sovereign nation-states. In the universal corruption encouraged by this globalized system (in which all values such as democracy, justice, truth, or compassion appear foolish and childish), both the Empire and the Global Dracula work together as one. World systems scholar James Petras writes about the "legacy" of President Obama: "At this stage, Obama's supreme goal is to leave an enduring legacy, where he will have: (1) surrounded and weakened Russia and China; (2) re-converted Latin America into an authoritarian free-trade backyard for US plunder; (3) turned the Middle East and North Africa into a bloody playpen for Arab and Jewish dictators bent on brutalizing whole nations and turning millions into refugees to flood Europe and elsewhere."[8] Both Empire and Dracula desire it all, not just 50% of the world's wealth, but it all. They therefore have turned their attention to Europe and North America where ordinary people have too much of everything: housing, social security, food, leisure time, and democracy. Former economic hit man John Perkins describes how the same techniques that he used to insnare third world governments into debt-bondage are now directed at the US and Europe.[9] It is happening in a major way in Greece and Spain. And they are threatening this in France.[10] Michael Moore's new film "Who To Invade Next?" pretends to invade primarily European countries with the idea that we should take back from them social practices so much more advanced than anything in the US: drug policy from Portugal, education from Finland, jailing corrupt bankers from Iceland, the food provided for school children from France. But Moore ignores the Troika, the attempts to destroy the social systems in Spain and Greece, and the current attempt to neo-liberalize the social democratic system in France. Like so many progressives who can't really bring themselves to become authentically "global citizens," his orientation, despite the "invasion" theme, remains a nation-state perspective. The movie "The Big Short," directed and co-written by Adam McKay, attempts to make clear the banking collapse of 2008 and the consequences. Leading characters declare of the bankers: "they are either really stupid or really corrupt." However, in the end it reveals that they were not stupid because they knew that the US taxpayers would bail them out, and hence they could gamble with millions of people's lives, homes and pensions without risk to themselves. They are not just partly corrupt, but totally corrupt: absolute greed without conscience, without a shred of morality. Then watch the film about the prostitution of US democracy called "Free for All: One Dude's Quest to Save Democracy," produced by Holly Mosher. The politicians, and those who control voting processes, are just as crooked as the bankers. On a brighter note, the very fact that we can understand and be aware of these things means that we can change them. The global mess is a consequence of global corruption. To combat corruption you have to change the system. So the people of France are fighting back, and some in the US are fighting back in the form of "Democracy Awakening" and "Democracy Spring" protests that I was recently part of in Washington, DC. More than 1300 people were arrested for refusing to move from the steps of the Capitol building within a two week period.[11] When I was in Venezuela last month, we marched in Caracas with perhaps a thousand women in vocal support of the Bolivarian revolution that Venezuela is struggling to preserve in the face of US-sponsored subversion. James Petras, in the above-cited article, argues that the subversion of Argentina and Brazil by US sponsored forces has been relatively easy because the left-orientated governments of these countries failed to engage their people in a genuine "class struggle" with the oligarchs. The people of Greece, Spain, and France want to defend their countries against the global economic forces dominating them. The people of the US in "Democracy Spring" want to take back Congress from the politicians who are controlled by big money: a big money that has global interests and global scope. Civil liberties lawyer John Whitehead wants citizens to struggle against the pervasive presence of the US police state.[12] These, of course, are all good things: all struggle raises consciousness and generates the possibility of lives that are liberating and transformed. But this article should have made clear by now that the "enemy" is global, not local. The enemy is a system, a globalized 1% and their transnational corporations, private security armies, and collaboration with the military-academic-industrial-banking complex within the imperial center. Social thinker Sheldon Wolin writes of the US system: "Its genius lies in wielding total power without appearing to, without establishing concentration camps, or enforcing ideological uniformity, or forcibly suppressing dissident elements so long as they remain ineffectual."[13] Like a Hydra head, reform of the system in one country will only allow it to pop up in another, for the Empire of Chaos and Global Dracula encompass the planet, independently of any particular nation-state. The system can never be overcome at the nation-state level. If we want to protect freedom, democracy, and a decent future for people everywhere, we need to begin thinking globally and acting globally. Democracy movements in France, the US, or Venezuela can easily be marginalized and controlled. Even if successful, as Venezuela was under President Chavez, the global empire can easily destabilize and subvert such temporary successes. Even if successful, the "people" only temporarily gain control of some little territory in a world of some 193 countries. The progressive left is still thinking in 19th century sovereign nation-state terms, while the 1% are thinking and acting in 21st century globalized terms. There will be no future for democracy or our planetary environment until the PEOPLE OF EARTH decide that the planet belongs to the 99%, not the 1%. There will be no viable future for human civilization unless we make the conscious decision to transcend our "patriotic" nonsense (which the dominators did long ago) and become loyal to the Earth and its citizens. If we are authentically world citizens, then we see the need for political and economic institutions that are democratically sovereign under the authority of the people of Earth, to end the Empire of Chaos and drive a stake through the heart of the Global Dracula. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from To The Point Analyses Part I -- Provisional Heroes It seems as though some of the heroes of the United States are losing their bright reputations. It's just as well, for they are really bad examples for us all. Of course, you might ask, if that is the case, why were they heroes in the first place? Part of the reason might be that the negative nature of their attitudes and actions was simply not widely known, owing to both the primitive state of communication and the prevailing racist ideologies of their times. Because conditions and outlooks change, the status of many heroes is provisional -- admired in a specific place and a relatively limited time. The American heroes I am thinking of may well have seemed exemplary for their day. However, by today's standards those times were marked by open bigotry and imperial/colonial ambitions. Let's hope that we are outgrowing such attitudes. Consider past luminaries associated with political office and the exercise of power. Despite their celebrated actions, their social attitudes are anathema by modern standards. Thus, while some may still see them as heroes, others certainly have come to see them as scoundrels. That is not the sort of balance that promotes a permanently heroic reputation. Standards change and so does the balance of perceptions. Against this background let's take up the recent challenges to the hero status of two past U.S. presidents: Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson. Part II -- Andrew Jackson (aka Old Hickory) Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was the 7th U.S. president, serving from 1829 to 1837. His fame is based on misleading legends and the fact that his face has been on the $20 bill since 1928 (which is ironic, because Jackson always opposed the issuance of paper money). There two deceptive beliefs about Jackson that have fostered his "great man" image. One is that he was the "common man's" president, a notion that grew up largely because he was the first president to come from west of the Appalachian mountains -- an area that was then thought of as the "frontier." Actually, while born poor and orphaned during the Revolutionary War, Jackson became a wealthy man by the age of 30, lived in a rural mansion on his Tennessee cotton plantation and owned hundreds of slaves, from whose labor his wealth derived. This made him the sort of "self-made man" Americans love to admire. The second deceptive belief is that he was a great soldier. This is based on his bloody victory at the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812, and his brutal campaign against the Indian tribes along the Florida border. Actually, Jackson's victory at New Orleans had much more to do with his opponent's misjudgments and fatally out-of-date tactics than his own military skills. The British marched their men straight toward the American defenses in an open fashion developed for the Napoleonic Wars. They allowed themselves to become overly exposed and this led to the disproportionate number of British casualties when compared to those of Jackson's forces. Jackson's subsequent behavior as the officer leading the campaign against Seminole and other Indian tribes was characterized by genocidal brutality and insubordination. He consistently disobeyed the orders of his superiors. Nonetheless, all of this helped earn him the presidency in 1829 and, a hundred years later, a place on the $20 bill. However, the real Andrew Jackson was a racist and the 19th century equivalent of a "thug in a suit." He saw himself above the law, which is always particularly dangerous for a democratic leader. This was most clearly seen in his very public disregard of the Supreme Court's decision favoring the right of the Cherokee Indians to remain on their land in the state of Georgia. Jackson ignored the decision despite its having the force of law, and used the U.S. Army to forcefully remove the Cherokees -- not the last time a president would make himself a criminal to much popular acclaim. There are still some today who protest against any public airing of these accusations, calling them "libels against Old Hickory." However, that has not prevented a re-examination of Jackson's hero status, and as a result, the man's true nature and actions are being met with the condemnation they deserve. By 2020, Jackson's face will no longer appear on the front of the $20 bill. He will be demoted to the bill's reverse side. Part III -- Woodrow Wilson (aka The Schoolmaster) Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was also president of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910 and governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913. His fame is based on the flawed notion that he was a great champion of democratic government. After all, he led the United States into World War I to "make the world safe for democracy." There was only one very big problem with Wilson's conception of democracy -- it was a deeply racist one. As it turns out Wilson was a southerner transplanted to the U.S. north. He was born in Virginia and spent a good part of his formative years in Georgia and South Carolina. Not all white southerners of his time and class were racists, but Wilson certainly was. There is plenty of evidence for Wilson's racist state of mind. Here are some examples: as president of Princeton, he refused to allow the admittance of African American applicants; as president he refused demands to desegregate the U.S. military (desegregation was finally achieved under Harry Truman in 1948); also, while attending the Paris Peace Conference he restricted his famous World War I pledge to support national independence and democratic government for all the peoples of the defeated Central Powers (the German and Ottoman empires) to the white populations of eastern Europe. He thus abandoned the peoples of the Middle East to the imperial rule of Britain and France. Abby Martin, former investigative reporter for RT's Breaking The Set, and now with her own sites at: TeleSURTV, and EmpireFiles is strongly supported by the likes of Glen Greenwald, Chris Hedges, Cenk Uygar and others. Listen to Abby Martin describe exactly where all the funding to the Clinton Foundation goes, but even more important, who is donating TO the Clinton Foundation. Since Bernie Sanders began his campaign a year ago, it was his mission to run a "clean" campaign, focusing solely on the issues that he believes (we all believe) are destroying democracy for the 99%. We've all heard him recite those issues so there is no need to restate them here. What does need to be questioned here, however, is whether the Sanders approach to a true pathway of reforming the DNC is by running a clean campaign? For Sanders to keep silent and leave it up to the GOP to slander Clinton, and there's no question that that's exactly what they are waiting for, may end up looking like Sanders was afraid to take on Clinton, even if it meant enlightening not only his supporters, but hers as well. By NOT focusing on the DNC'S part in causing as much deterioration of the American dream for the 99% as the GOP, but rather by encouraging the people to get involved in their party and nobly, perhaps, reform it from the inside, we are still lambs being led to the slaughter because of a lack of valuable information - information which, if the people had it earlier, may have changed the outcome of this primary season. To be denied valuable information from the corporate media is one thing. We expect that from them. But denying valuable information from our one most trusted candidate is quite another thing. I think if it was up to this wife, this information would be forthcoming. For the past century, the Democratic Party was the party of the people. In the past 40 years that image has deteriorated greatly, and the big question is why? When did progressives like Al Franken or John Conyers or John Lewis start supporting a hawk like Hillary Clinton and why? How much do we really know about Hillary Clinton? No bad deeds seem to stick to her, yet even though they are known to be many, she manages to glide through with support from people who would never back her candidacy in light of all the dirty laundry she has stacked up over the years. Spencer Thayer, a Bernie Sanders supporter #feelthebern @spencerthayer spent hours gathering a list of all the information on the names and phone numbers of all the Clinton superdelegates and called it The Superdelegate Hit List. It was later renamed the Superdelegate List for obvious reasons. That list was discussed in great detail at an NPR radio show and has been produced on line. That list resulted in a lot of very unhappy Clinton superdelegates. Listen or read: click here. The full list reads like a who's who in a grab for money and power, yet most if not all these supporters would prefer to call themselves "progressives." See the full list at www.superdelegatelist.com. Reprinted from The Nation Platform fights have always mattered. Bernie Sanders (Image by marcn) Details DMCA As he continues to campaign for Democratic primary votes from Indiana to Oregon, Bernie Sanders has begun to detail a vision for where the movement that has developed to support his candidacy might move the Democratic Party. After winning only the Rhode Island primary on a Tuesday that saw front-runner Hillary Clinton win Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Connecticut -- and, with those wins, a substantial boost in her delegate-race advantage -- the Vermont senator released a primary-night statement that anticipated a way forward even if he does not win the party's nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Sanders made it clear that his campaign -- which has won 18 contests and 1,355 delegates and has the potential to win more primaries and delegates -- would go on. "The people in every state in this country should have the right to determine who they want as president and what the agenda of the Democratic Party should be. That's why we are in this race until the last vote is cast," said the senator. Then he offered a framework for how that campaign might influence the direction not just of the party but of politics in the years to come. "[This] campaign," said Sanders, "is going to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia with as many delegates as possible to fight for a progressive party platform that calls for a $15 an hour minimum wage, an end to our disastrous trade policies, a Medicare-for-all health care system, breaking up Wall Street financial institutions, ending fracking in our country, making public colleges and universities tuition free and passing a carbon tax so we can effectively address the planetary crisis of climate change." Sanders has expanded on these themes on the campaign trail in recent days, in appearances in the key primary states of Indiana (which votes on May 3) and Oregon (which votes on May 17). On Wednesday, Sanders drew a cheering crowd of 2,200 people to a town-hall meeting on the campus of Purdue University, where he added new material to the stump speech he has delivered from the start of a presidential run that has challenged Clinton and the Democratic Party to move left on a host of issues. Click Here to Read Whole Article March of the Immortal Regiment On occasion one comes across a written passage so stunning yet simple it catches the eye. In this instance it was something author Gilbert Doctorow wrote [1] that sets apart Russians and Americans. Regarding Russia he wrote, "every family in the country lost members to the WWII effort. Every one." "This extraordinary sense of loss from war is something that sets Russian consciousness apart from American consciousness". Think about it. In WWII the Soviet Union lost 27 million military and civilians to the war. The US suffered 420, 000 mostly military casualties and none on its soil. There is no comparison in the sense of loss suffered by the Russians. This in no way is meant to diminish the sense of loss felt by family members in the US who did lose loved ones during the war. As Doctorow points out during this year's Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 7, there'll be "The so-called 'March of the Immortal Regiment' on which ordinary citizens carry photographs of their own family heroes from WWII: fathers, grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers who fought on the front or worked at defense positions behind the lines". In stark contrast here in the US we have Memorial Day when Americans head for the beach or have a backyard barbecue. Oh there's the obligatory speeches by politicos but no collective outpouring of the American people recognizing the "extraordinary sense of loss from war". If there is any recollection of that long ago war it's "we won it". And just to show "official" Washington's disconnect, last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin invited President Obama and other world leaders in Europe to attend the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in WWII he was snubbed-though China, India among 30 other countries did attend. Essentially here in the US there is little recognition of Russia (USSR) being an ally during WWII, much less contributing to the defeat of Nazi Germany. Yet truth be told without the Russian's beating back and eventually crushing Hitler's vaunted German Wehrmacht (army)on its soil the war could have been lost. Of course this is not the history we're taught in America's schools-at least not the public schools this writer attended. Here we pretty much won the war alone with Russia (USSR) given little more than an asterisk as an ally. So in America there is no "extraordinary sense of loss from war", particularly now with less than 1% of the population actually volunteering to fight in America's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Of the 5,000 casualties suffered most were from the inner city or rural small towns. As for the "global war on terror", Americans may have been made fearful of terrorists and terrorism but certainly there is no "extraordinary sense of loss from war". No...most Americans have been spared that "extraordinary sense of loss from war". That may be why we tolerate and accept so much war. Reprinted from Truthdig SEATTLE: The disintegration of the ruling political parties, along with the discrediting of the established political and economic elites, presage radical change. This change may come from the right. It may result in a frightening proto-fascism. If it is to come from the left it must be pushed forward by dogged activists and citizens who are willing to accept that stepping outside the system will mean surrendering all hope of power for perhaps a decade. To continue to engage in establishment politics, especially attempting to work within the Democratic Party, will further empower corporate capitalism and extinguish what remains of our democracy. Willingly entering the political wilderness requires a vision that is worth sacrificing and fighting to achieve. It means that some of those who begin the revolution against corporate capitalism will not live to see its culmination. It will mean marginalization, harassment, persecution, prison and, if the movement becomes effective, state violence. History has taught us that. But given the alternative -- the planet's ecosystem destroyed by the fossil fuel and the animal agriculture industries, greater pillaging by corporate oligarchs and the rise of a global security and surveillance system that takes from us all pretense of liberty -- the battle is worth it. Kshama Sawant, the Socialist city council member in Seattle, and her Socialist Alternative Party have begun to create change where it will first be most effective -- locally. She has created a petition calling on Bernie Sanders to run as an independent presidential candidate through November on a third-party ticket. "With the rise of [Donald] Trump and the bigotry, racism and Islamophobia of the right-wing, there is a temptation among people who are dejected about the low level of activism over the last few decades to feel that America is turning right-wing," she said when we met in Seattle. "The earth-shattering momentum of the Sanders campaign belies that idea." "Yes, there are right-wing elements," she went on. "We have a long way to go to address racism, sexism, equal pay for equal work, but mass consciousness in America is dominated by a yearning for a left-wing challenge. There is a desire to challenge the big corporations. There is latent anger against the unfairness, against climate change, against the low standards of living young people endure. These are passions that can begin a process of real social change. This is being expressed in the support for Sanders." "American is left wing," she insisted. "America is angry at the corporate domination of politics. America is disgusted with the U.S. Congress and the two-party establishment. America wants social change that will have a transformative impact on people's lives and the environment." She points to the Sanders and Trump insurgencies as evidence that the managed political system is escaping the control of the elites. This, she said, has provided the left with an opening. "Hillary Clinton, the establishment candidate, expected a coronation," she said. "She did not get that. Sanders upended every calculation the ruling class made. This is happening on the other side with Trump. The Republican Party is in disarray and chaos. This is the public discrediting of the two parties." And yet, she pointed out, our managed political system means that, at least among the Democrats, the political insurgency of the left has been momentarily thwarted. "The Democratic Party establishment, along with the media, have made war on Sanders," she said. "They have made war against the temerity of working people who challenge establishment politics. It is a grim but important lesson. The Democratic Party is hostile to genuine social change." "Sanders' fundamental mistake was to run as a Democrat," she said. "Even before he declared his campaign you and I were with him in Manhattan on the eve of the People's Climate march. We urged him to run as an independent." "I have been unambiguous in this call," she went on. "Did anyone in the Sanders campaign think that because the campaign was genuine, because it connected with tens of millions of people, the Democratic Party establishment would embrace it? This has been proven wrong. It is what we said from the beginning. We had no doubt that a truly left-wing campaign, with an open socialist, calling for the taxing of Wall Street, single-payer health care and an end to corporate politics, would resonate with tens of millions of people. The only question was whether the Democratic Party could be a collective vehicle to carry out such a campaign." "When Sanders speaks about making public universities free, taxing Wall Street or single-payer health care he talks about changes that are antagonistic to the interests of the billionaire class that controls the Democratic and Republican Party establishments," she said."The only realistic chance to make change in America is to break out of the two-party stranglehold." "If Sanders had decided to run as an independent he would have been marginalized by the media establishment," she conceded. "There is no question about that. This is the conundrum we face. But we have to realize that we cannot build an effective movement with one presidential campaign. As long as we remain married to the false idea that social change can come through one presidential campaign, we stymie ourselves. By that logic lesser evilism continues ad nauseam." "I am not making the absurd claim that if Sanders had run as an independent he would have won the presidency," she said. "Far from it. But what would have happened is that given that consciousness is so far ahead of what it was five years ago, given that people are looking for a fighting option to challenge the establishment, he would have reached millions of people." Reprinted from RT With the campaign to succeed him in full swing, President Obama sat down with Goldberg to discuss US foreign policy during the Obama years. The word "legacy" appears only once in the article in a Goldberg reference to the president's deal with Iran to prevent its development of nuclear weapons. However, in all honesty, the article is extremely difficult to read due to its bombastic editorializing on events that did not happen and willful blindness to events that did. For example, the article, seemingly with Obama in agreement, intones that Syria's government used sarin gas against civilians. Apparently contradicting this, United Nations investigator Carla del Ponte said in an interview that the UN has no indication at all that the Syrian government used chemical weapons; she went on to say witness testimony seemed to indicate it was the opponents of the government who used chemical weapons. A recent Obama interview, conducted by noted American-Israeli journalist Jeffrey Goldberg entitled, "The Obama Doctrine: The US President Talks Through His Hardest Decisions About America's Role in the World," caused me to think about the president's legacy, something I'm sure he is now also contemplating. Given what has happened to the Arab World with US attention, the rest of Asia must shudder at the prospect of what could happen to it with President Obama's new doctrine: "Pivot to Asia." It is this kind of dissembling that characterizes the Obama Administration. Giving good speeches is not the same as making good public policy. Making a good speech and then doing the opposite, or using the speech to lead people to believe one thing that is in actuality quite another has been honed to a science in the current Administration. It leads one to ask whether Obama and the journalists that report on speeches are referring to the real world or the virtual world that exists only in the Washington, D.C. "bubble." What is The Obama Doctrine? Well, it depends on whom you ask, and when you ask it. In the early days of the Obama Administration, The Obama Doctrine might have been his admonition, "Don't Do Stupid Sh*t." This is reportedly the precise language the president used when talking to journalists! If only he had stuck to his own advice, perhaps we all would be lamenting the president's departure from the White House. Instead, Obama immediately went on to put the first notch in the Obama coup belt in Honduras. Perhaps that's why The Obama Doctrine changed to its next incarnation: "Leading From Behind." In June 2009, President Obama gave a speech in Cairo entitled "A New Beginning." He said: "I have come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning ... one based on mutual interest and mutual respect ... and common ground." Less than a year later, Egypt was in turmoil and while the Administration was talking "smooth transition," the Egyptian people had had enough and were demanding US-supported dictator Hosni Mubarak's ouster. The president sent the son of a CIA agent, Frank Wisner, to deliver the "it's time for you to go" message to Mubarak. Even as Mubarak had one foot out the door, Vice President Joe Biden refused to refer to Mubarak as a dictator. All the while, the US was busy directly funding groups (not only in Egypt) that were training young student "leaders" to follow in the footsteps of OTPOR!, the US-funded group that helped its agenda by destabilizing Serbia with protests and increased civil strife, thereby easing the ouster of Serbia's President Slobodan Milosovic. Occupy Movement activists were chagrined to learn that Srdja Popovic, who they had met, was actually working for Stratfor, an intelligence company that fancies itself the "Shadow CIA." In research for my dissertation, I even found an OTPOR! manual for the destabilization of Venezuela. Popovic, the OTPOR! leader, says, "Somebody lied to you about successful and spontaneous non-violent revolution, that thing doesn't exist in the world." Wave of air strikes in Syria (Image by YouTube, Channel: Al Jazeera English) Details DMCA Today, almost seven years after the Cairo speech, President Obama has destroyed Libya, oversaw the division of Sudan, is seeking to dismember Syria, continues to bomb Yemen and Somalia, and is still sending fresh US boots on the ground to Iraq. Libya is now destroyed and its residents consider themselves the victims of a holocaust. And I agree with them. On a recent trip, I witnessed two Sudanese women, one from Khartoum, the other from the new state of South Sudan, crying over what had happened to their country in 2011 on President Obama's watch. I have written extensively about my personal knowledge of the machinations surrounding the sorry treatment of Africa in general and Sudan in particular by the Clinton Administration in my book, Ain't Nothing Like Freedom. The situation is even worse under President Obama, something I didn't think could ever happen. Finally, while the president used the term Palestine in his speech, the fact is that the rest of the Arab world is now as much under duress and on fire as is Palestine; and the White House has admitted publicly that there will be no peace in Palestine during the remaining months of Obama's leadership at the White House. Perhaps, leading from behind actually meant no leadership at all. The final iteration of The Obama Doctrine focuses on the so-called "Pivot to Asia." While the Arab world struggles to put itself back together on the eve of the post-Obama world, the US has turned its attention to both China and Russia. The US is doing all it can to thwart China's economic initiatives, such as The New Silk Road and the Asian Investment and Infrastructure Bank. At the same time it has encircled Russia with US military bases, and eggs on hostile or at least unfriendly neighbors. It is now also prowling the South China Sea in a bid to contain Chinese ambitions in those strategic waters. What is more, the US is using asymmetric warfare to attack BRICS, the new signature multilateral organization consisting of the "up-and-coming" economies of Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa. BRICS was founded to help guide the world away from unipolarity (featuring the US as the world's sole superpower), to multipolarity. Given what has happened to the Arab World with US attention, Asia must be extremely fearful of what could happen to it with President Obama's "Pivot to Asia." Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Website According to President Obama, the world's only superpower, the unipower, the exceptional country is threatened by small Venezuela in South America! In an executive order last year, renewed this year, President Obama declared Venezuela to be an "unusual and extraordrinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States" and declared a "national emergency" to counter the "Venezuelan threat." This manufactured "extraordinary threat" serves as the Obama regime's excuse for overthrowing President Maduro in Venezuela. It is a Washington tradition to overthrow elected Latin American governments that try to represent the interest of the people, and not the interest of US corporations and banks. I wrote about Washington's attack on Latin American reformers on April 11, and on April 22. Decades ago US Marine General Smedley Butler confessed that he was "a gangster for capitalism," imposing the will of New York Banks and the United Fruit Company on Latin American countries by force of arms. In his book, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins reports the 1981 assassinations of Panama President Omar Torrijos and Ecuador President Jaime Roldos, both of whom got in the way of US corporate interests. After being duly demonized by the US media, in 2009 Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, who thought that Honduras should be for Hondurans and not for the United Fruit Company, was overthrown in a military coup greenlighted by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The president chosen by the people was replaced with Roberto Micheletti, a tool of US corporations, chosen by Washington. Washington has been conducting economic warfare against Venezuela in order to undermine President Maduro's public support. The media is controlled by the elite and blames Maduro for the economic problems caused by Washington. Washington has succeeded in having its agents among the elite regain control of Venezuela's National Assembly. A recall attempt is underway against Maduro. It is possible that confused Venezuelans will cut their own throats by returning to power the elite that has traditionally oppressed them. Washington tried to destabilize Iran with the Washington-funded "Green Revolution," but it did not work. Both Russia and China open themselves to destabilization by hosting Washington-funded Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), participating in Western economic institutions, and permitting foreign investment. Washington has had success in entangling Russia and China in Western economic institutions and economic ways of thinking that put the two countries' independence at risk. Considering the control freak character of Washington, Russian President Putin should be on his guard against assassination. In the neoconservative drive for US world hegemony, no means are impermissible. What's the major cause? THE usual answers to this question are because allegedly we Filipinos, according to other Western-based foreigners, are stupid, idiots, indolent, thieves, corrupt, undisciplined, crab-minded, divided, and more. Although some of these allegations are true which I must not deny, but let us have the real answers. Nation's Horrendous And Endless Debts At Increasing PHP6-7 Trillion in 2016-2017-2018?: The major reason is because a largest portion of our annual national budget, by mandatory national and foreign policies, goes to paying our gargantuan and huge and endless foreign and domestic debts under the present financial-economic debt-based mechanisms, instead of prioritizing people's development such as organic farming and or conventional farming, and using it to build more roads, highways, bridges, schools, hospitals, housing units, railroads, irrigation, cable lines, and other public works; to raise the salaries and benefits of our public school teachers, policemen, soldiers, and government employees; and to fund more development programs such as agricultural sectors, and poverty-alleviation and sustainable economic programs in the impoverished Philippine villages, in the countryside. For every peso being collected as tax that the Filipino taxpayer pays to the government, the biggest part of it (about a third) only goes, as a major priority by presidential decree, to our foreign and international creditors that impose us so many conditions detrimental to Filipino people. One drastic condition, is MANDATORY POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM in the euphemism of Reproductive Health which is the code-word for abortion -- which is now, unfortunately -- a law, finally decided by the Philippine Supreme Court in 2015. The debate on funding population control continues with opposing political parties. I understand that Government is also looking for solutions to Filipino populations in poverty, there might be right solution in terms of economy, but wrong methods while there are also wrong solutions at the same time on apparently right methods. Just like the national budget in 1986 on the records, and other national budgets in the past successive years 2013-2015 under different administrations, when the P250 billion was allocated for interest payments alone, and 70 per cent of that went to our creditors-IMF and WB and in 2011, 70% of the budget is allocated for servicing the debts, and while the more than 70 million Filipinos then had to fight for the remaining 30 per cent and when graft, corruptions and scams are also very high. And with imposed austerity measures upon the Government and the Filipino people with the losing value of money and the increasing prices of basic needs, commodities and services and with the imposition of 12% to 15% Expanded Value Added Tax or E-VAT 2015-2030 to raise more funds to pay the debts and the privatization and selling off of national assets to pay the debts. Now, we have ballooning debt of PHP6-7 Trillion as of 2016-2017-2018. More and more Filipinos are deprived of social basic services particularly in times of calamities whether man-made or God's doing or nature's doing, and absolutely there is no any form of financial-economic security as we can see the cases of rampant hunger, starvation and poverty of poor families and native indigenous Filipinos in the countryside, and the pressures of Filipino exodus particularly the plight of the Filipino women and mothers to go overseas as domestic helpers now more than 10,000 Filipino women are going outside the country, where the records of abuses and maltreatment are seriously common everyday according to the reports. Summing up, it is all because a large portion of our national budget is eaten by our huge domestic and foreign debts under criminally debt-based economic system and policies, and is just enjoyed by our rapacious and conscienceless private, foreign and international creditors. This is indeed very unjust and unthinkable. Even if the alleged US$2.4 billion to $3 Billion annual public graft and corruption in the Philippine Government is not stolen, this money will not still be enough to fight poverty. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). By John A. Charles, Jr. Governor Kate Brown opposes a plan by the Coquille Indian Tribe to build a casino in Medford. In her public statement, the Governor said, even a single additional casino is likely to lead to significant efforts to expand gaming across Oregon to the detriment of the public welfare. What she actually means is shes opposed to more gambling if its not run by state government. During the current two-year budget cycle, Oregon expects to earn $1.2 billion from the state Lottery. In January, Powerball mania resulted in record sales of $36 million in one week. A Lottery spokesman said, Any time sales go up, thats a good thing for our beneficiaries. The hypocrisy of Oregon politicians about gambling and other so-called sinful activities is tiresome. We are constantly lectured to avoid smoking, drinking, and gambling because those activities are bad for us; but as soon as legislators get a cut of the action, its full steam ahead. Now that recreational marijuana is legal and taxed, politicians are suddenly enjoying a new profit stream. Can marijuana advertising be far behind? As soon as our governor starts reining in the state Lottery, I might take her concerns about tribal casinos seriously. Until then, she should stop pretending to be a voice of morality. John A. Charles, Jr. is President and CEO of Cascade Policy Institute, Oregons free market public policy research organization. ARS scientists developed imaging technologies to detect decay in bagged cut lettuce. Credit: Keith Weller We all hate buying bagged salad only to find brown edges on the lettuce. Fresh-cut lettuce sold in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a desirable but highly perishable product. Tissue decay can start a few days after processing and may be difficult to detect by quick visual observation. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant geneticist Ivan Simko and his collaborators have developed nondestructive imaging technologiesbased on hyperspectral imaging and chlorophyll fluorescence imagingthat can detect decay in bagged cut lettuce. Simko is with the Crop Improvement and Protection Research Laboratory in Salinas, California, and his collaborators are with CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) in Canberra, Australia. Their research was published in Postharvest Biology and Technology in April 2015. The team developed a system for early detection of decay and evaluation of its progress, which is important both for the lettuce-processing industry and breeders to assess the quality of new cultivars and breeding lines. The scientists developed two lettuce-decay indices that will assist in selecting breeding lines that will yield longer lasting cut lettuce. The data will also allow researchers to differentiate between blemishes on leaf tissues caused by decay and those caused by certain pathogens. One index was created using hyperspectral imaging and the other using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. "We were able to determine three wavelengths which, in combination, allow detection of decay on lettuce tissue," says Simko. "The cameras used in these technologies mimic human visual inspection but avoid subjective errors. In turn, we can test breeding lines for longer shelf life, a trait that can be bred into current lettuce cultivars used in bagged lettuce products." "A hyperspectral sensor identifies decay by measuring light waves that bounce off plant tissues," says Simko. "Unlike the human eye, which sees only visible light, hyperspectral imaging can detect a much broader electromagnetic spectrum, including the ultraviolet, near-infrared, and infrared regions." Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging measures biological activity of leaf tissue and uses light re-emitted by chlorophyll to find decay. "In addition to detection of lettuce decay, the indices were able to identify tissue damaged by freezing temperatures," Simko says. "Both indices had about 97 percent accuracy in classifying tissue as being fresh or decayed directly in unopened plastic MAP bags. The nondestructive nature of these evaluation methods allows rapid rating of the same samples over a period of time and presents the opportunity for development of a commercial high-throughput scanner for bagged, fresh-cut lettuce quality." Explore further 16 new lettuce breeding lines from ARS Large-scale tree mortality in northern Sonoma County, California. Credit: David Rizzo New research shows the sudden oak death epidemic in California cannot now be stopped, but that its tremendous ecological and economic impacts could have been greatly reduced if control had been started earlier. The research also identifies new strategies to enhance control of future epidemics, including identifying where and how to fell trees, as "there will be a next time". Sudden oak death - caused by Phytophthora ramorum, a fungus-like pathogen related to potato blight - has killed millions of trees over hundreds of square kilometres of forest in California. First detected near San Francisco in 1995, it spread north through coastal California, devastating the region's iconic oak and tanoak forests. In 2002 a strain of the pathogen appeared in the south west of England, affecting shrubs but not oaks, since English species of oak are not susceptible. In 2009 the UK strain started killing larch - an important tree crop - and has since spread widely across the UK. In a study published today in PNAS, researchers from the University of Cambridge have used mathematical modelling to show that stopping or even slowing the spread of Phytophthora ramorum in California is now not possible, and indeed has been impossible for a number of years. Treating trees with chemicals is not practical or cost-effective on the scales that would be necessary for an established forest epidemic. Currently the only option for controlling the disease is to cut down infected trees, together with neighbouring trees that are likely to be infected but may not yet show symptoms. "By comparing the performance of a large number of potential strategies, modelling can tell us where and how to start chopping down trees to manage the disease over very large areas," explains Nik Cunniffe, lead author from Cambridge's Department of Plant Sciences. The authors say that preventing the disease from spreading to large parts of California could have been possible if management had been started in 2002. Before 2002 not enough was known about the pathogen to begin managing the disease. Their modelling also offers new strategies for more effectively controlling inevitable future epidemics. Models developed in Cambridge are already an integral part of the management programme for the Phytophthora ramorum epidemic in the UK. The models are used to predict where the disease is likely to spread, how it can be effectively detected and how control strategies can be optimised, in close liaison with colleagues from DEFRA and the Forestry Commission. Sudden oak death is known to affect over one hundred species of tree and shrub, presenting a significant risk to the biodiversity of many ecosystems. The death of large numbers of trees also exacerbates the fire risk in California when fallen trees are left to dry out. There is now concern that the disease may spread to the Appalachian Mountains, putting an even larger area of trees at risk. Map shows risk of infection in 2030 under no control on left; control on and ahead of wave-front on right. Credit: Nik Cunniffe "Our study is the first major retrospective analysis of how the sudden oak death epidemic in California could have been managed, and also the first to show how to deal with a forest epidemic of this magnitude," explains Cunniffe. "Even if huge amounts of money were to be invested to stop the epidemic starting today, the results of our model show this cannot lead to successful control for any plausible management budget. We therefore wanted to know whether it could have been contained if a carefully-optimised strategy had been introduced sooner. Our model showed that, with a very high level of investment starting in 2002, the disease could not have been eradicated, but its spread could have been slowed and the area affected greatly reduced." The model also indicates how policymakers might better plan and deploy control when future epidemics emerge. "It is a tool by which we can make a better job next time, because it is inevitable that there will be a next time," says Chris Gilligan, senior author also from the Department of Plant Sciences. "With this sort of epidemic there will always be more sites to treat than can be afforded. Our model shows when and where control is most effective at different stages throughout a developing epidemic so that resources can be better targeted." "It can be tempting for authorities to start cutting down trees at the core of the infected area, but for this epidemic our research shows that this could be the worst thing to do, because susceptible vegetation will simply grow back and become infected again," explains Cunniffe. Cunniffe, Gilligan and colleagues found that instead treating the 'wave-front' - on and ahead of the epidemic in the direction that disease is spreading - is a more effective method of control. They also found that 'front-loading' the budget to treat very heavily early on in the epidemic would greatly improve the likelihood of success. "Unlike other epidemic models, ours takes account of the uncertainty in how ecological systems will respond and how the available budget may change, allowing us to investigate the likelihood of success and risks of failure of different strategies at different points after an epidemic emerges," says Gilligan. "Whenever a new epidemic emerges, controlling it becomes a question of how long it takes for us to have enough information to recognise that there is a problem and then to make decisions about how to deal with it. In the past we have been starting from scratch with each new pathogen, but the insight generated by this modelling puts us in a better position for dealing with future epidemics," he adds. The researchers say that the next step in dealing with well-established epidemics such as sudden oak death is to investigate how to protect particularly valuable areas within an epidemic that - as they have demonstrated - is already too big to be stopped. The methodology is already being applied to create related models for diseases that threaten food security in Africa, such as pathogens that attack wheat and cassava. Explore further Uninfected or asymptomatic? Diagnostic tests key to forecasting major epidemics More information: Modeling when, where, and how to manage a forest epidemic, motivated by sudden oak death in California, PNAS, www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1602153113 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Modeling when, where, and how to manage a forest epidemic, motivated by sudden oak death in California, Three ~31,000 years old skulls from Dolni Vestonice in the Czech Republic. For the next five thousand years, all samples analyzed in this studywhether from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria, or Italyare closely related, reflecting a population expansion associated with the Gravettian archaeological culture. Credit: Martin Frouz and Jiri Svoboda Analyses of ancient DNA from prehistoric humans paint a picture of dramatic population change in Europe from 45,000 to 7,000 years ago, according to a new study led by Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator David Reich at Harvard Medical School. The new genetic data, published May 2, 2016 in Nature, reveal two big changes in prehistoric human populations that are closely linked to the end of the last Ice Age around 19,000 years ago. As the ice sheet retreated, Europe was repopulated by prehistoric humans from southwest Europe (e.g., Spain). Then, in a second event about 14,000 years ago, populations from the southeast (e.g., Turkey, Greece) spread into Europe, displacing the first group of humans. Archeological studies have shown that modern humans swept into Europe about 45,000 years ago and caused the demise of the Neanderthals, indicated by the disappearance of Neanderthal tools in the archaeological record, explained Reich. The researchers also knew that during the Ice Agea long period of time that ended about 12,000 years ago, with its peak intensity between 25,000 and 19,000 years agoglaciers covered Scandinavia and northern Europe all the way to northern France. As the ice sheets retreated beginning 19,000 years ago, prehistoric humans spread back into northern Europe. Lower jaw of the ~19,000 year old "Red Lady of El Miron Cave", from northern Spain. An early branch of the European founder population was displaced across much of Europe for around fifteen thousand years before becoming widespread again. This is the first individual in the study to show the resurgence of ancestry. Credit: Lawrence G. Straus But prior to this study, there were only four samples of prehistoric European modern humans 45,000 to 7,000 years old for which genomic data were available, which made it all but impossible to understand how human populations migrated or evolved during this period. "Trying to represent this vast period of European history with just four samples is like trying to summarize a movie with four still images. With 51 samples, everything changes; we can follow the narrative arc; we get a vivid sense of the dynamic changes over time," said Reich. "And what we see is a population history that is no less complicated than that in the last 7,000 years, with multiple episodes of population replacement and immigration on a vast and dramatic scale, at a time when the climate was changing dramatically." The genetic data show that, beginning 37,000 years ago, all Europeans come from a single founding population that persisted through the Ice Age, said Reich. The founding population has some deep branches in different parts of Europe, one of which is represented by a specimen from Belgium. This branch seems to have been displaced in most parts of Europe 33,000 years ago, but around 19,000 years ago, a population related to it re-expanded across Europe, Reich explained. Based on the earliest sample in which this ancestry is observed, it is plausible that this population expanded from the southwest, present-day Spain, after the Ice Age peaked. The second event that the researchers detected happened 14,000 years ago. "We see a new population turnover in Europe, and this time it seems to be from the east, not the west," said Reich. "We see very different genetics spreading across Europe that displaces the people from the southwest who were there before. These people persisted for many thousands of years until the arrival of farming." Impression of one of the Ice Age modern humans analyzed in this study, drawn by Stefano Ricci who is both a professional graphic artist and an author. Credit: Stefano Ricci The researchers also detected some mixture with Neanderthals, around 45,000 years ago, as modern humans spread across Europe. The prehistoric human populations contained three to six percent of Neanderthal DNA, but today most humans only have about two percent. "Neanderthal DNA is slightly toxic to modern humans," explained Reich, and this study provides evidence that natural selection is removing Neanderthal ancestry. Explore further Genetic analysis of 40,000-year-old jawbone reveals early modern humans interbred with Neandertals More information: Qiaomei Fu et al. The genetic history of Ice Age Europe, Nature (2016). Journal information: Nature Qiaomei Fu et al. The genetic history of Ice Age Europe,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature17993 Today's food is stamped with inaccurate "best before" dates, which mean that both retailers and consumers throw away perfectly edible food. Credit: GeirMogen/SINTEF Bioplastic packaging that extends the shelf life of food and tells us when it is no longer fit to eat will result in less waste. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN estimates that a third of all food produced on the planet is wasted. This isn't simply just an economic or ethical problem, but also causes major environmental damage due to greenhouse gas emissions. In industrial countries, most waste is generated in retail outlets and households. One reason for this is that food is stamped with inaccurate "best before" dates, which mean that both retailers and consumers throw away perfectly edible food. However, four years ago an EU project was launched with the aim of developing plant-based bioplastic packaging that not only extends the shelf life of foods, but also contains a sensor that notifies retailers and consumers of when the food inside is really no longer fit to eat. Today, Age Larsen at SINTEF is ready to present the first demonstration packaging made of PLA (polyactic acid) and bio-PET (polyethylene terephthalate). 'Green' plastic "The packaging is made of biopolymers to which we have added nanoparticle components", says Larsen. "This provides the packaging with new and improved food preservation properties. It is designed mainly to protect the contents from their surroundings and thus extend shelf life. We achieve this by means of improved oxygen barriers. Standard plastic packaging allows the entry of air which places restrictions on shelf life. Moreover, the new approach considerably reduces the carbon footprint", he says. Larsen says that the use of plant-based polymers is an expanding field. For example, biodegradable PLA is manufactured by cultivating carbohydrates via bacteria, while bio-PET are macromolecules derived from plant residues. Four prototypes The Portuguese-based company Logoplaste, in collaboration with SINTEF and other research partners, has developed a blow-moulded bottle, while the Greek project partner Argo has developed a pot designed to hold seafood such as crabs and prawns. Both types of container are covered with an oxygen-proof exterior coating developed by SINTEF. In addition, a three-layer coating has been developed consisting of a cellulose-based film sandwiched by two biodegradable biopolymer layers that serve as oxygen barriers. This can be utilised in the same way as the rigid plastic currently used as food bowls. The fourth prototype produced as part of this project is a blow-moulded film. This is essentially plastic foil similar to that used to make plastic bags and as oxygen-protective coverings for plates containing food. Sensors The researchers have also developed sensors that can detect, for example, whether the temperature of the food has become too high or if a product has soured. One type of sensor consists of nanocapsules containing signal substances. If the temperature becomes too high or the pH value anomalous, the capsule shells decompose and release the signal substances. "The sensors are sensitive to small changes and the packaging will change colour when the substances are released", says Larsen. "It might be embarrassing for a food retailer to be faced with rows of red flashing lights, so we envisage developing substances that are not necessarily visible to customers when they are released. Manufacturers, on the other hand, will be able to use direct-reading instruments", he says. Larsen tells that there will always be an issue regarding how the sensors are incorporated into the product. This must be a decision of the manufacturer. Sensors installed on the inside of the packaging and in contact with the food, such as in bottle caps or corks, will have to be approved by the food hygiene authorities. Explore further Novel new packaging products for a circular economy Social network diagram. Credit: Daniel Tenerife/Wikipedia (Phys.org)A trio of researchers affiliated with the University of Oxford in England and Aalto University School of Science in Finland has conducted a study of human behavior and has found evidence backing up a prior theory that suggests humans have different layers that make up their social circle with different numbers of people in them. In their paper uploaded to the preprint server, arXiv, they describe their study which involved analyzing cell phone records to count calls, what they found and that they believe it means for us a group. One of the researchers, Robin Dunbar, was part of a team that back in the 1990's studied the correlation between brain size in primates and the number of individuals in their social groups. They found that the bigger the brain, the more members of their groups. More recently, he and colleagues have conducted some experiments that suggest that humans have layers or groups of contacts, with the closet layers having fewer people, and the farthest, more. He and his team have suggested that there are actually four layers, which cumulatively contain 5, 15, 50 and 150 people respectively, with the final layer representing the 150 total that was theorized back in the nineties. To give more credence to this theory, the researchers conducted a study of phone records of people living in an undisclosed European country during 2007 (prior to Facebook and smartphones). They narrowed the initial 6 billion calls down to those that involved people who on average called approximately 130 other people, making approximately 10 calls per day. The idea was that people call those that are closer to them more often, thus counting the calls between individuals would reveal how many people were in each of their layers. The team also screened out business and casual calls and also those calls from people that clearly did not use their phone as a means of social contact. In the end, the team did find clustering that appeared to correlate with their layer theory, with people having on average, 4.1, 11, 29.8, and 128.9 people in their layers, which was small but close to the numbers they had derived for their theoryclose enough to fit in with natural variation, they claim. They did find some exceptions to the rule, such as for those people who were clearly extroverts or introverts, which the teams suggests, may mean such people may have an extra layer. More information: Calling Dunbar's Numbers, arXiv:1604.02400 [physics.soc-ph] Calling Dunbar's Numbers, arXiv:1604.02400 [physics.soc-ph] arxiv.org/abs/1604.02400 Abstract The social brain hypothesis predicts that humans have an average of about 150 relationships at any given time. Within this 150, there are layers of friends of an ego, where the number of friends in a layer increases as the emotional closeness decreases. Here we analyse a mobile phone dataset, firstly, to ascertain whether layers of friends can be identified based on call frequency. We then apply different clustering algorithms to break the call frequency of egos into clusters and compare the number of alters in each cluster with the layer size predicted by the social brain hypothesis. In this dataset we find strong evidence for the existence of a layered structure. The clustering yields results that match well with previous studies for the innermost and outermost layers, but for layers in between we observe large variability. Journal information: arXiv 2016 Phys.org Rain that fell from April 25 to May 2, 2016 is shown here. The locations of some of the tornadoes that hit this area over the past seven days are shown overlaid in white on this IMERG rainfall analysis. Very high rainfall totals (light purple) were found by this analysis in the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Mississippi. Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina were also the recipients of heavy rainfall. Credit: NASA/JAXA/SSAI, Hal Pierce Severe spring thunderstorms frequently spawned tornadoes from the Gulf Coast north and eastward during the past seven days. NASA's IMERG data were used to estimate the amount of rain that fell from April 25 to May 2, 2016. During that period there were over 67 tornadoes in the United States reported to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Many of these tornadoes were located in an area that includes the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. This area of the Great Plains has been labeled Tornado Alley due to the many tornadoes that occur there this time of year. Gulf moisture clashing with frontal systems moving over the United States provided much of the fuel for intense showers and severe thunderstorms. Flash flooding was often the result of the sudden onset of extremely heavy rainfall. Six fatalities were blamed on flooding that hit Palestine, Texas over the weekend of April 30 and May 1. Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international satellite mission to provide next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide every three hours. GPM is a joint missions between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. The data they provide is used to unify precipitation measurements made by an international network of partner satellites to quantify when, where, and how much it rains or snows around the world. That data goes into IMERG. Rain that fell from April 25 to May 2, 2016 is shown here. The locations of some of the tornadoes that hit this area over the past seven days are shown overlaid in white on this IMERG rainfall analysis. Very high rainfall totals (light purple) were found by this analysis in the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Mississippi. Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina were also the recipients of heavy rainfall. Credit: NASA/JAXA/SSAI, Hal Pierce NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data were used to estimate the amount of rain that fell from April 25 to May 2, 2016. The locations of some of the tornadoes that hit this area over the past seven days were overlaid in white on an IMERG rainfall analysis made at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Rainfall totals greater than 305 mm (12 inches) were analyzed in several areas over the United States from Kansas to the East Coast. Over 305 mm (12 inches) of rain was reported in southern Mississippi in only a few hours on the morning of April 28, 2016. Very high rainfall totals were found by this analysis in the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Mississippi. Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina were also the recipients of heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland noted on May 2, "Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes will continue over the central and lower Mississippi Valley. Heavy rain with localized flash flooding remains possible over the central Appalachians and lower Mississippi Valley. Heavy snow and cold temperatures continue from the central Plains to the northern Rockies." Explore further NASA's GPM looks at Texas heavy rainfall Future POS is an award-winning restaurant point of sale company with over 20 years of experience developing software for the hospitality industry. Decades of industry experience has placed them in the top five hospitality POS companies in two separate surveys. Their rock-solid software and unrivaled connectivity provide the backbone for numerous high volume independent restaurants and chain restaurants alike. Despite concerns from the international community, there have been more than 380 executions in Pakistan since 2014. The country resumed the use of capital punishment under its new anti-terror policy, but rights groups say only 30 percent of those executed were convicted terrorists. Asia Callings Naeem Sahoutara traveled to Faisalabad to meet the family of a paralyzed death row inmate, whose life hangs in the balance. Mussarat Basit doesnt know what to tell her two sons if they are called for the last meeting with their father, Abdul, before he is executed. I have never taken my children to the jail to meet their father, she said. It was only when my husband became severely ill and was moved to the hospital for treatment that I would sometimes take my children along to meet him. Mussarats 43-year-old husband is being treated for tubercular meningitis at a nearby hospital in Faisalabad, but in police custody. Abdul was sentenced to death for murder in 2009, but during detention he contracted a disease that paralyzed the lower left side of his body. He is now in a wheelchair. But his mother Nusrat Parveen says Abdul was completely fit before he was jailed. He contracted all these diseases because he had no treatment in jail. For three days he was lying in a cell and officials had to take him out. Then he went into a coma. Thats when various diseases were detected. His legs are paralyzed, his chest and back are numb. And his illness has reduced him to mere a skeleton, Parveen commented. After an inquiry into his health was ordered, Abduls execution has twice been postponed. But the last stay granted by president Mamnoon Hussain expired this week, on April 25. His mother has begged the president to have his sentence commuted. Such punishment should not be given to a disabled person. This punishment is for the terrorists. Allah has already punished him, he is half dead already, Parveen appealed. Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted a seven-year moratorium on capital punishment in 2014, after the Taliban massacred 132 school children in the northwestern city of Peshawar. As well as bombing Taliban hideouts in the mountainous region bordering Afghanistan, executions were also ramped up to deter terrorism. Due to growing pressure from the international community the government promised that only terrorists would be hanged. Under the National Action Plan, known as NAP, special military courts have been established to conduct speedy trials for terrorism suspects. But rights activists like Maryam Haq, from the Justice Project Pakistan, say the government is not fulfilling its commitment. The issue is more with the kind of executions under the criminal procedure courts. And the reason for that is if you look at the number of executions that have happened so far since December 2014, it is those executions under the regular criminal courts that are of the highest number. That executions that are coming out of the military courts are very, very little compared to that, Haq stated. According to Amnesty International, Pakistan has the highest rates of execution worldwide after China and Iran. Currently, there are more than 7,000 prisoners on death row in Pakistan. More than 380 prisoners on death row have been executed since 2014, and 110 were those convicted for terrorism. Zohra Yousuf, the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, says the government should focus more on tackling terrorism rather than hanging the terrorists. You know, the thing is that most of the terrorist incidents are carried out by the suicide bombers, even the one in Gulshan Iqbal Park. So they are not bothered giving up their life. So, execution or the fear of getting the death penalty and being executed, it doesnt bother them because they are willing to give up their life anyway. It really is not a deterrent. Yousuf continued, We believe, as I have said that the number of terrorism incidents have come down because of the army operation, not because of the executions. No way it has proved that it has acted as a deterrent. But for Sarah Belal, the chairperson of the Justice Project Pakistan, the death penalty is flawed to start with. Especially when big questions remain about the countrys legal system. In our criminal justice system no one, including people from the legal fraternity and judiciary, can claim that our criminal justice system is free from errors, in a system in which police torture is a regular method of investigation, Belal commented. As for Abdul Basit, as his second stay expired this week, his life now hangs in the balance. In January this year, Indonesias education minister said that LGBT groups should be banned from university campuses because they pose a moral threat to the nation. And it spiraled from there public vitriol was unleashed on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The national psychiatric association labeled homosexuality a mental disorder, the vice president rejected UN funding for LGBT projects, and one local mayor even warned that instant noodles could turn your children gay. While the media storm has subsided, many LGBT groups continue to face the fall out, reports Nicole Curby. More than 100 incidents of hate speech, sexual violence and gay bashings targeting the LGBT community have been recorded in the last 3 months, in just eight of Indonesias 34 provinces. Thats according to initial research from the LGBT rights organization Arus Pelangi. They understand first-hand the risks faced by LGBT people across Indonesia. When the organisation ran a training for LGBT advocates from around the country earlier this year, they were threatened by the vigilante group, the Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI. The FPI reported our trainings and then asked the police to ban these trainings, Ryan Korbarri, from Arus Pelangi, explained. The police push the hotel management to say this training has to end. We decided to evacuate all the participants. Because there are 20 police in the hotel and the participants are really frightened. Its really crazy. We have to move. Since then, Arus Pelangi have tightened their own security measures. The office and its address is hidden, and visitors are no longer accepted. Instead I spoke with them outside the office, where Chairperson Yulita Rustinawati explained her concerns for LGBT people across Indonesia. She told me about one gay couple in West Sumatra, who were recently, forcefully evicted from their home. Despite living in their neighborhood, or kampung, for many years, the community suddenly turned against the couple, extorting money from them, and then reporting them to police. Because the community thought they make the kampung dirty, they make the area where they are living dirty because they are a gay couple. The have to pay to clean the kampung quote unquote - to clean the kampung because they are gay they make the kampung dirty. And then after that, they, the gay couple, are not allowed to live in that area, reported Yulita Rustinawata. Even in the capital Jakarta, a bustling, modern, mega-city, some in the LGBT community told me they are too afraid to go out to the handful of the citys gay bars anymore in fear they might be raided by police, or attacked by hardliners. Across Indonesia, the impacts of the LGBT backlash have reverberated around the country. In Yogyakarta, the Al Fatah Islamic Boarding School for transgender women remains closed, after a fundamentalist group threatened to attack the school in February. Claiming they couldnt offer protection, police forced the school to close its doors. Leader of the school, Sinta Ratri remains adamant it will reopen in the same location, despite threats of further attacks. While Sinta and many others say they feel safe in their immediate communities, intimidation and threats of violence from religious thug groups has made them vulnerable. Even more so, the relative impunity with which such groups operate. In March, for example, the feminist event LadyFast, also in Yogyajakarta was attacked by a group of religious hardliners. When the police arrived they shut it down, arrested three of the LadyFast organizers but no one from the vigilante group. Yulita Rustinawata from Arus Pelangi maintains that the mandate of the police is to protect citizens, regardless of religion, or sexual orientation. The police have a mandate to protect citizens including us, but why they dont do it? she asked. In many ways Indonesia is an open, tolerant society, but there are strong currents of religious conservatism. And in a country where more than 90 percent of the population subscribes to Islam, the more visible and open the LGBT movement becomes, the more tension that creates with conservatives, and fringe vigilantes, says Yulita. The reason why it is happening now is because we start to talk about our rights, because we start to speak out. And then on the other side there are increasing intolerance groups, the vigilante groups, rising at the same time. While hysteria has vanished from the headlines, the attacks, the hate speech, and the growing intolerance continues to be felt on the ground. The feeling in the LGBT community here is that this is unlikely to be the end of it. GLENS FALLS A Hudson Falls man who has seven prior felony convictions was arrested early Friday after a traffic stop led to the seizure of a large quantity of crack cocaine, authorities said. Richard J. Guy Felito Bright, 32, of Elizabeth Street, was stopped for a traffic violation while on Hudson Avenue at about 2:30 a.m. Friday, according to Glens Falls Police. Bright was found to be driving drunk, and when searched while in custody for driving while intoxicated, he was found to have 12 packets of crack cocaine, Glens Falls Police Detective Lt. Peter Casertino said. The quantity was large enough for police to file a charge accusing Bright of possessing drugs with intent to distribute. He faces two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, police records show. He said it was for personal use, Casertino said. Bright was arrested locally in March 2015, when he was found to be wanted on a federal parole violation warrant when picked up by Glens Falls Police during a traffic stop. Police said he threatened to assault officers during that arrest and gave a fake name. That federal parole stemmed from a 2008 federal conviction related to threats to an unspecified person, for which he was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. He was jailed from March 20, 2015, to June 15, 2015, for that violation. Police said he was believed to have been part of a heroin distribution operation in Hudson Falls last March when the home where he had been staying was raided days after his warrant arrest in Glens Falls and officers seized 900 bags of heroin and arrested a New York City man. Bright was charged Friday with two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor DWI, police records show. He was arraigned and sent to Warren County Jail without bail. In addition to the federal conviction, he also has served state prison terms for attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon convictions in New York City, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision website showed. Glens Falls Police Sgt. Shawn Lovelace and officers Justin Macura and Jeff Daigle handled the case. KEENE About 40 people attended a meet-and-greet event for U.S. congressional candidate Mike Derrick at his sisters home here Sunday afternoon. With the High Peaks hidden behind rain clouds, a half-dozen dogs lounging and attendees treating themselves to food while sitting on couches and on the stairs, Derrick fielded about 10 questions over 35 minutes, highlighting that his campaign has been targeted by national Democrats as a race the party can win. With a Bernie Sanders sticker present by the food spread, the Democratic candidate compared his small-donor fundraising capabilities to those of the longtime independent Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate. When asked who he was supporting in the presidential race, Derrick said the writing is on the wall that Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton will get the nomination, but he commended Sanders and said his campaign has been in discussion recently with Sanders supporters in the North Country about Derricks campaign. Sanders won a higher percentage of the Democratic primary vote in the North Countrys 21st Congressional District than any of the states 26 other districts. A lot of the things that Bernie stands for, I will also stand for, Derrick said. You may not get your first choice in terms of nominating a presidential candidate, but Im still here. We do the Bernie approach, he also said during the event. People contribute small amounts of money and encourage others to contribute small amounts of money, and it continues to snowball. The retired U.S. Army colonel began by informing the group that his campaign earned one of 37 spots nationally on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Emerging Races program, which provides support to top campaigns around the country that the DCCC deems has the potential to unseat Republican incumbents. This race has taken off in the last three weeks, Derrick said. We were noticed as one of the races in this country that can be won by the Democratic Party. That puts us in the top tier of winnable races, and that makes a huge difference because the eyes of the nation are now on this race. They see they have a strong candidate and a great grassroots effort that is ready to go, he added. Thats changed the dynamic, and for me when I go to call people to ask them to donate or contribute, all of a sudden they pay attention. Because when I wasnt on that list and they were outside the district, they really werent interested, and now they are interested. I couldnt be more pleased, because frankly I didnt expect this to happen this early in the race, and now it gives us a bigger runway as we look toward November. Derrick, who grew up and lives in Peru, in Clinton County, is looking to unseat first-term Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, who grew up near Albany but whose parents have a house in Willsboro. Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello of Hudson Falls is also campaigning for the seat after a strong third-place showing in 2014. After Sundays event, Derrick said he raised $150,000 from January through March and his campaign has $250,000 at the moment. He highlighted that he had double the amount of small donations of $200 or less than Stefanik, and he claimed that overall, he had more contributors from within the North Countrys district. Derrick actually has raised less in small-dollar contributions than Stefanik, but his ratio of small-dollar contributions was double the congresswomans in the first quarter, the most recent report available. Derrick received $19,745 in un-itemized contributions of less than $200 from each donor in the first quarter, which is 13.5 percent of his total contributions of $145,400 in the quarter. Stefanik received $25,069 in un-itemized contributions in the first quarter, 7.5 percent of her total contributions of $332,021. Funiciello, the Green Party candidate, did not file a first-quarter report because he had not yet reached the $5,000 threshold of contributions that required filing a report. According to the Federal Election Commissions website, Stefanik had about $1.125 million in cash on hand as of April 1 and raised $332,921 in receipts from Jan. 1 to March 31. When asked how he differs from Stefanik, Derrick highlighted the environment and said there was a stark and apparent contrast on that topic between him and Stefanik, who he said has voted in line with energy companies who have helped fund her campaigns. He also touched on more careful military spending, said hed definitely target serving on the House Armed Services Committee, said the tax code is a significant part of income inequality and mentioned that improved cooperation between Republicans and Democrats is crucial in Washington. The ideological positions tend to harden on both sides because you dont know the other party as a human being, Derrick said. Although there are fewer veterans in Congress since World War I, there is still a significant number, and I will make it a project on my part to reach out to vets on the other side. And there are far more on the Republican side. Post-Star reporter Maury Thompson contributed information to this story. GLENS FALLS The Glens Falls Verizon call center would be closed under the companys last best final offer to union employees, according to details of a proposed contract made public last week. Verizon said the Glens Falls operation, with about 50 on staff, would be consolidated with an Albany Verizon office, though Glens Falls employees would be offered the opportunity to voluntarily leave the business with a special incentive offer. Employees who are transferred would receive $2,000 to help them with the commute, although employees who qualify for home relocation benefits would get an extra $5,000 in the consolidation, according to the Verizon proposal. Because of the way our job security language is written, (closing the Glens Falls office) is not an option for them, and thats one of the sticking points in this whole negotiation, said Rick Bachand, a union steward for Communication Workers of America Local 1104. The company and the CWA have been at odds since June, when negotiations began for a new labor agreement. In mid-April, thousands of Verizon employees, including some in Glens Falls, went on strike, picketing Verizon offices. A group was picketing in the rain in front of the Glen Street office Monday, but they said they were not authorized to speak to a reporter. Three other call centers are also targeted for consolidation in the proposed contract, including a site in Dunkirk, south of Buffalo, that employs 21; a site in Oneonta and one in Rome. The latter two offices employ three people each, according to the company document. The Oneonta office would also be consolidated with the Albany facility, according to the proposal. The Glens Falls office has been losing employees in recent years, as computer automation has lessened the need for call center assistance, Bachand said. When I started in 1996, we only did calls in New York state, and there were 145 people working in this office, he said. With the advent of automated systems, we are down to 50 to 55 people now, and were doing calls for the entire footprint (all of the U.S.). Call center employees provide directory assistance, help with connecting long-distance calls and help callers reach the various Verizon departments appropriate to each callers needs, Bachand said. Its necessary work, Bachand said. It doesnt generate a ton of profit, but its so our customers can use our services. Verizon spokesman Rich Young said consolidation of call centers has been a part of the contract negotiations since June, when the first offer was presented to the unions. In addition to Local 1104, CWA Local 1118 is covered under the contract in question. This (call center work) has been a declining business for more than a decade, as more and more Americans simply no longer use the operator, Young said. The Internet has largely changed the way consumers look for information, and this business is reflecting the change in society. The document made public by Verizon last week providing some details of the proposed labor agreement included a plan to increase Verizon employees wages by 7.5 percent over three years. Bachand said the wage increase is being used to distract employees from the issue of reduced job security. Verizons insistence in focusing on wage increases is just to distract from the fact that theyre taking jobs out of the area, he said. Its the company just trying to take money out of our communities and hand it over to Wall Street. Its not as if theyre losing money and need to save. Young said eliminating call centers is a common-sense move. This is union malarkey, he said. Were in the business of finding the best ways to serve our customers. This is not about Wall Street. Its about running an effective business efficiently and successfully. Young said talks were being held Monday in New York and Philadelphia between Verizon officials and union leaders to try to work out an agreement. On Friday, Verizon said it was deploying thousands of additional employees and contractors to handle work previously done by striking employees. While wed rather have our seasoned veterans in these positions, each day, more and more customers are giving us high marks in that their inquiries and issues are being successfully resolved in our call centers and in the field, said Bob Mudge, president of Verizons wireline network operations, in a prepared statement. We are taking additional steps to ensure our services are available as our customers deserve and expect. Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether Read more He said in view of the policy, the sector had seen an average growth rate of 4.3 percent over the last six years, with the exception of the fisheries sub-sector. In relation to expenditure, Mr. Terkper said the total government expenditure to the sector has consistently increased since 2007, and government is committed to providing support to unleash the sectors full potential. The minister said this in a speech read for him at the Third Annual Ghana Agribusiness Summit in Accra, held on Tuesday to brainstorm innovative means of financing agribusinesses in Ghana. He therefore reiterated governments firm commitment to protecting the investments that come into the country by implementing the fiscal reform agenda aimed at making Ghana open, transparent and business-friendly in the sub-region. The Summit, under the theme Expanding the Frontiers of Agricultural Finance in Ghana was organised by the USAID Financing Ghanaian Agriculture Project (USAID-FinGAP), in collaboration with the Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Finance. USAID-FinGAP is a five- year project spanning 2013 to 2018 with the goal of facilitating finance and investment in the maize, rice and soy supply value chains in the north of Ghana. It also aims at improving ancillary services so that agribusiness can operate at full capacity and expand levels of food security in the country. USAID-FinGAP works with three key actors -- Financial Institutions, Business Advisory Service Providers and Agribusiness Small-Medium and Large Enterprises -- in the maize, rice and soy value chains to facilitate financing. Bitcoin currency is a computer-generated, digital alternative to other currencies, it can be traded for other currencies or real world goods. Unlike traditional currency, bitcoins are not distributed by a central bank or backed by physical assets like gold, but are "mined" by users who use computers to calculate increasingly complex algorithmic formulas, Reuters reports. International media reports Wright had also told the The Economist and GQ he was behind the currency's invention, but The Economist could not get enough proof to be convinced entirely. However, it has been reported prominent members of the bitcoin community confirmed Wright's claim. The Miss Africa Continent pageant was created by South African film producer Neo Mashishi, who said it aimed to empower young African women. "This is about Africa, we are selling Africa to the world, and we are proud to be Africa". Asamoah said she wanted to see young people help uplift the continent. There are a lot of things to be fixed in Africa water, education, environmental issues, she told AFP. Runner-up was Michelo Malambo of Zambia, while South Africa's Jemimah Kandimiri was placed third. The swimsuit contest went against the beauty contest norm, with contestants wearing black t-shirts and tight shorts while dancing barefoot to music such as "Africa" by Mali's legendary afro-pop musician Salif Keita. "The way everything was done was African, we didn't emulate anything from Miss Universe, or Miss World," Mashishi said. Irrigation authority development officials lament that the recent increases in electricity tariffs have worsen the situation. The project allows farmers to pump water from the Volta river to water their crops. According to managers of the project, they used to pay about GHC11 thousand per month to the Electricity Company of Ghana but with the recent adjustment in electricity tariffs, each farmer now pays GHC10 thousand per hector of land for each cropping season. Ernest Yaka, Secretary of the farmers cooperative, told Accra based Joy FM that the situation is making it difficult for farmers to break even. The former project manager Joshua Tahi warns the project is near collapse. He reveals that they owe about GHC83 thousand, adding that "three, four months back we were paying the bill at GHC8 thousand." "This is threatening the project," he adds. He further adds that if not for some benevolent investors they could not have settled their bills. But after eight years, the question is, what has John Mahama and the NDC done for the people of the North? What we have witnessed is the unprecedented stealing in the name of Northerners and Northern development through SADA and unbearable hardships. The failure to pay attention to agriculture and irrigation, etc. have all adversely affected the north. What this shows is that just saying you are a northerner is not enough, he added. According to him, social intervention programmes that the NPP began under its tenure have all virtually collapsed under the NDC. Under the NPP, we created social intervention schemes like the NHIS, Free Maternal Care programme, School feeding etc. But today what do we see? Despite having ten times more money than any government has had, these programmes, which millions of Northerners and Ghanaians in general were benefitting from, have virtually collapsed. The Teacher Trainee and Nursing Trainee Allowances which allowed poor students to become Teachers and Nurses, have also today been cancelled and nowhere is the effect of this cancellation felt more, than the North," Dr. Bawumia added. "Another major issue that I want to bring to the attention of the people is that; if we look at the flagstaff house today, it does not reflect the people of Ghana in terms of religion."We are in this country living peacefully and nicely; Christians and Muslims. So we believe in the NPP that Christians and Muslims should work together and that is why whenever we pick a flagbearer as a Christian, we pick a Muslim as a vice."And when we come and pick a Muslim as a flagbearer, we will pick a Christian as a vice. So if, Insha Allah, Nana Akufo-Addo becomes president, he will swear with the Bible and enter the Flagstaff and I will swear with the Quran and enter the flagstaff House," Dr. Bawumia had said. He said Ghanaians should take back their country from the hands of the "incompetent administration" which is only interested in creating, looting and sharing state resources with their associates. Baah said widespread corruption coupled with incompetence, mismanagement and lack of vision, has brought the country on its knees leading to increasing unemployment, economic hardship, collapse of local businesses. He said government appointees are insincere, and do not have the nation at heart but rather engaging in acts that can best be described as an abuse of office and financial misappropriation. He told Rainbow Radio that Ghanaians should access their current condition of living and decide who deserves their vote in the upcoming general elections. Hitting back at the political scientist's comments, a deputy general secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Lawson accused Baah as being politically bias, meaning he does not qualify to be a political science lecturer."Dont take that Dr. serious. He is not correct. He is a politician and not a political scientist- and I dont even know where he got his political scientist [credentials] from. If you are a political scientist and you are called; you are supposed to give an expert advice and not to wear a political lens," George Lawson said in a subsequent interview with Rainbow Radio. According to him, any serious minded Ghanaian should be looking for an alternative party to replace the non-performing Mahama administration in the coming general elections. After submitting his nomination forms in Kumasi on Wednesday (April 27) for his re-election, Mathew Opoku Prempeh told the mediaIt is only an uneducated mind that will continue to vote for the NDC government, a government bereft of ideas, a government bereft of policy and a government bereft of credibility. We need a government that will prosper Ghana and prosper Ghanaians. This power situation we find ourselves in today is avoidable. We need not be in this situation but for a bad government, this situation has been uncalled for but for a visionless government. "We need a government that will think about all Ghanaians and not just NDC." This means their first daughter, Isabelle, 2, is about to become a big sister and the family is super excited over the good news. Washington put her baby bump on full display while attending the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. "Kerry finally couldnt hide the exciting news any longer," a source said. Kerry and Nnamdis happy news comes as the proud parents continue to raise Isabelle away from the public eye. But while theyve kept their daughters life on the hush hush, the Hollywood couple has been vocal about parenthood and how it has changed them for the better. "I will say I feel really, really blessed, Kerry gushed to the Los Angeles Times in one of her first interviews after welcoming her baby. I just feel really blessed that Im kind of living extraordinary dreams come true in my work life and in my personal life." The second child of Kate Middleton and Prince William turned one on May 2 and pulse.ng is looking at the five reasons we love the royal tot. 1. She royal She's a possible heir to the British royal crown. In fact, Charlotte is the fourth in line to the throne. Well, should in case something happens to her grandfather, Prince Charles, her dad Prince Williams or brother Prince George, then she will become the British Queen! 2. She's loved If we didnt love Charlotte, we wont write this. Charlotte is also so loved by her countrymen that pupils from Newcastle under-Lyme Junior School wrote a poem to commemorate her birth and her future as the fourth in line to the throne. 3. She's super stylish Charlotte is expected to take after her fashionable mother Duchess of Cambridge! The young tot is so stylish she inspired a new baby clothing line from designer . "I'm sure Princess Charlotte will grow up to become a fashion icon, just like her mother," Cecile Reinaud says. 4. She's very active Charlotte has done quite a lot in the last 12 months. From showing up very happy on her first ever royal family portrait on June 6 to her first ski trip with the fam, the now one-year-old is more busy than other babies of her age. 5. She's has the coolest babysitter The lynching on social media was brutal. Memes came out at frightening speed and before you could say If I Start To Talk the words edible catering started trending on Twitter. Oh Tee Billz had it bad and he is still having it bad. If he comes out of this one he would need the best PR team money can buy, a little bit of luck and God on his side. Does Tee Billz deserve the bashing he is getting now? Yes he does at least for some of Tiwa Savages accusations. We will need to hear from him obviously to know more. The borderline verdict is that Tee Billz deserves what he is going through right now which is 100% correct. Somehow Tee Billzs bashing has spilled into something bigger and that is the bashing of Nigerian men. The narrative of the Tiwa Savage interview went from Tee Billz is a bad man to Nigerian men are evil. Predictably, I expected it to go so. Yes the femi-nazis (not to be mistaken feminists who actually work for the betterment of the not only the girl child, women but the society also) have ran with this narrative to continue their bashing of Nigerian men. The question here is- are Tee Billzs sins or shortcomings a reflection of Nigerian men? My answer is no. Dear femi-nazis (a group of women who hide under the umbrella of feminism to further their selfish agenda) you can roll your eyes all you want but here is my reason. Tee Billz is not the snapshot of Nigerian men but of the Nigerian society. The society we live in is ruled by customs, religion and traditional gender roles. Tiwa Savages marriage was deeply affected by the fact that Tee Billz no longer had money which made him feel less manly. This is the Nigerian society for you. We stress so much about money that people who havent been blessed so financially feel like they are invalids. Lets bring finance and wealth into the relationships and marriages. From early on in life it is implanted in us that the man is the provider, he is the breadwinner. It is because of this one way of thinking that when a man doesnt have money to give his family he feels he is useless and begins to lash out. I am not saying it is the right thing to do, I am just stating the reason here. This line of thinking is wrong. Anyone can be the breadwinner in a home. Unfortunately the Nigerian society doesnt believe so. The man must do this or he is useless, this is what the Nigerian society believes in. Therefore with this backward system of belief, the Nigerian society has created men who believe that if they dont have money they are useless and powerless. It has also created women who believe in this also. There are so many Nigerian women (femi-nazis included) who believe a man must provide for them. Dating in Nigeria is more or less about transactional relationships- you give me money and I give you my attention and body. This is the order of the day in this country. Not too long ago I was in a bus and I overheard a lady talking to her friend. She said my boyfriend hasnt given me money for my hair. He must give me or we will fight. I gasped. This was a lady going to work which means she has a salary, asking her boyfriend money for her hair. If as a woman you believe a man or husband must always provide you with money, sorry dear you belong in the Flintstones era. If you believe that a man must always pay for dates, you are part of the problem. If as a married woman you believe that your husband must always be the one to queue for fuel, you are part of the problem. Men, women, we are part of the problem. Tee Billz is not a snapshot of Nigerian men. There are millions of good Nigerian men out there, just as there are women who dont believe in transactional relationships. The narrative henceforth should not be Nigerian men this or Nigerian men that but how can we make our society better. Until egotistical men and femi-nazis help to bring this new narrative into fruition we will still be stuck in the dark ages. 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! They are annoying as people who cant keep quiet in cinema halls. I dont like them and their know-it-all views on marriage. I find their numbered tweets irritating and their nuggets on marriage borderline stupid. ALSO READ: Charly Boy advises Tee Billz, Tiwa Savage Last weekend the marriage counsellors came out in droves on Twitter thanks to the ugly drama in Tiwa Savage. It was a nightmare for me. My timeline was drowning in the most foolish marriage lessons and 'words of wisdom' from people who are barely married. Some of them are not even married. To make matters even worse some of them are not in serious relationships. Unfortunately because of retweets and likes they believe they have the right to speak on a subject they know little or nothing about. Well thats Nigeria for you in a nutshell- the people who talk the most are not experts really. I am not married which makes me ineligible to speak about someones marital problems. Why should I talk about something that I do not know? This is common sense but you know what they say about common sense dont you? Social media is a drug and a lot of people are addicted to it. These so called counsellors of the Twitter elite are nothing but ignorant people addicted to likes. They snort likes and retweets like Tony Montana snorted cocaine in ''. What have they gone through in life for them to comment on other peoples lives? Most of them live shallow lives. Sorry not sorry but I cant take marriage advice from anyone who has not been married for a decade or more. Anyone spilling marriage advice that does not meet this criteria is still yarning crap in my book. ALSO READ: Charles Novia comments on Tiwa Savage's marriage The same goes for celebs like Freeze. For all I know the veteran on-air-personality is cool (no pun intended) but why should he speak on something he knows nothing of? He criticized Tiwa Savage for her pitch perfect interview, with a flawless visual background and superb audio quality and said her interview would make Tee Billz more suicidal. Hold up! If my memory serves me right wasn't Freeze the same guy who called the mother of his children an adulteress on Instagram and wrote more nasty things about her? Yes Freeze later apologized after talking to Tiwa but his initial thoughts underlines what I am saying here. People are just jumping on peoples misfortunes to appear hip, cool and knowledgeable. Thank God for the mute button on Twitter. I am on a mission to make my timeline clean of all these Twitter counsellors who dont know anything about the realities of celebrity marriages. I suggest you get rid of them on your timelines too. They are from hell. Addullahi was arrested in Agege, Lagos, where he admitted to the offence. He stated that he got the Nigeria Air Force uniform from a friend for the sum of N5,000. The suspect has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Lagos on a charge of impersonation and fraud. According to Abdullahi, he used the uniform to escort traders carrying goods around Lagos, stating that he received N3,000 for each trip. He was arrested after making three trips of the illegitimate business. Narrating how he got into the business, Abdullahi said, I got the uniform from one of my friends, Ali. He is a soldier with the rank of lance corporal." "He is serving in Lagos, but I dont know the division he is attached to. We met at Agege. He told me that he got the uniform from a friend in the Nigerian Air Force and gave me to keep it." He said he wanted to give his brother, who is an Air Force officer. He gave me the uniform on January 17. Later, he said he wanted to sell it and told me to pay N5,000." "I have not paid him the money yet. I used the uniform to escort truck carrying goods to Berger, Mile 12 and Ile-Epo markets so that the security agents would not stop the drivers." "I did it three times before I was arrestedy. I normally collected between N2,500 and N3,000 per trip. Abdullahi, 32, who hails from Manufashi Local Government, Katsina State, is a graduate of Computer Engineering at a polytechnic in Katsina State. He stated that he was a commercial driver before he ventured into the illegitimate business. I was a commercial driver. I shuttled between Lagos and Abuja. But the owner of the bus, my elder brother, collected it from me in December and sold it when he wanted to travel abroad." I have a National Diploma in Computer Science. I have applied for the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force three times, but I did not succeed." "I engaged in this act to feed my family. I have three children and my wife is pregnant. I regret my action. The victim identified as Eze Patrick Okechukwu, had reportedly been attacked a few days after he returned from Jigawa State, where he had carried out his one year mandatory national service. The reports reveal that over 20 people had died in the gruesome attack, leaving a number of their victims, including Okechukwu, bedridden from gunshot and machete wounds. Sunday Sun reports that Okechukwu who is a graduate of Geology and Mining from the Enugu State University (ESUT) had ben in his fathers house when the assailants had walked into their home with machetes and guns. The victim had reportedly dashed into a nearby bush but had been followed by the attackers who went on to attack him with swords, cutting his hands, head, and legs, leaving him for dead. Following a visit by Sunday Sun correspondents at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, where Okechukwu had been referred for treatment, he had been seen lying in pains, with bandages wrapped all over his body while looking frail and helpless. Speaking during the interview with Sunday Sun, Okechukwu said: It was a horrible experience. I saw the face of death. They cut me like wood and left when they thought I had died. Efforts to engage him in further conversation had been futile as talking was visibly painful for him, but his mother and other relatives had gone on to recount the experience. Speaking to the correspondents, Okechukwu's mother said: They almost killed my son. Only God saved him. He was chased into the bush where they overpowered him and descended on him with machetes on his head, hands, legs and back. It was at the same spot that they killed three persons, including a 70-year-old man. They thought my son was dead and left him. Later, my son was rescued and put in a wheelbarrow from the bush to the main road. He was rushed to Nsukka in a pool of blood. The reports further reveal that the herdsmen had spared women and children during the attack, as one of the women who had come face to face with the herdsmen revealed to the Sunday Sun that the attackers had ordered her back to her house with the assurance that they would not hurt women and children. She added that the assailants had been about 15 in number, explaining that about five of them had been herdsmen, while others had looked robust. A reliable source also reveals that the herdsmen had gone into the premises of St Marys Catholic Church, but upon the discovery that the people found in the church at the time had been mostly women, they had vandalized the windows and other items, leaving the women unharmed. The reports reveal that a former councilor of Nimbo Ward 2 and his father had been the first victims, and had according to reports been stabbed repeatedly with swords. The gender inequality in this part of the world has made it such that women are usually the ones attributed to kitchen and house chores, while men are tasked with other responsibilities. Should this be so? Whose responsibility is it to handle the house and kitchen chores? Check out what people had to say on the subject in the video. Courtesy of the Purple 50/50 organizers, Pulse team visited Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Enugu, asking people the same question: "Is it OK for women to earn higher than their husbands?" Shittu was reported to have committed the offence on March 7, 2016, at the Osun State Secondary School for Persons with Special Needs, Osogbo, around 10 PM. According to Mr. Mereti Wilson, a police persecutor, the suspect is guilty of an offence under Sections 358 and 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, vol. II, Law of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003. Some section of the charge against Shittu reads, charge sheet read in part, That you, Kamoru Shittu, aged 40, on March 7, 2016, at about 10pm, at the State of Osun Secondary School for Persons with Special Needs, Osogbo, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of one female, ( name withheld) aged 21, a deaf and dumb student of the school. That you, Kamoru Shittu, on the same date and place did unlawfully and indecently assault the victim, The suspect however pleaded not guilty to the charge. His counsel, Bola Ige, subsequently requested for his bail, stating that until implicated, the constitution currently finds him innocent. Mrs. A. A. Olowolagba, the court magistrate granted Shittu bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like-sum. Make the move; join an elite class of leaders that have benefited from UKEAS in Nigeria and across the world. UKEAS (UK Education Advisory Service) has been a trusted International Education Partner to discerning high achievers around the world- providing them with top class international study application processing, career advisory counselling and study visa guidance. Since we commenced operations in Nigeria, we have assisted an immense number of young Nigerians assume leadership roles in career and in life by getting access to quality International Education. And now, thanks to our partnerships with leading pathway providers, we offer you a wide range of study destinations in the USA, Canada, Dubai, Australia and more. Even more exciting is the fact that several of these study destinations will offer you the chance to work while you study! 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For fast track entry into the exhibition, visit www.ukeas.com.ng/registration to register now. The chairman of the Lagos state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Idowu Adelakun, told newsmen that he felt bad because the Governor was not at the workers day celebrations. Adelakun said This government promised us a government of inclusiveness, but for the governor not to be here today, I dont think its inclusive. So its unfortunate and its unexpected of a person of Akinwunmi Ambode. The Lagos NLC chairman also said The relationship (between the governor and the workers) has been very cordial. As you are aware, the governor too had been a worker, hes the former Accountant General of Lagos State. So we have been working together. Hes not a new man to us. For him not to come here today, he did that for the best reason known to him, which is not the best for him. The workers also commended the Lagos state Governor for consistently paying their salaries. Governor Ambode was represented at the celebrations, by the Lagos State Head of Service, Olabowale Ademola. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. Read it below: 1. In the spirit of keeping you informed on the activities of troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, I wish to address you today given that you are valued stakeholders in the quest for peace and stability in the North East of Nigeria. Since our last meeting, troops have continued on the path of success in the fight against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs). It is my intention to mention some of the operations and the resulting exploits. Before that however, I wish to inform you that troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE are conducting operations in the heart of SAMBISA Forest. Troops are deep into the forest to smoke out BHTs. We shall bring you the details subsequently. Meanwhile, the outcomes of major operations in other areas are as follows: a. Following a tip-off, troops intercepted 4 female suicide bombers approaching from SAMBISA in the general area of JIMINI-BOLARI village. Two unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices on the suicide bombers were safely detonated by own EOD team. During the incident, 2 women and a baby from NGAWAFETE village were arrested after the blast as they were seen approaching MADIYARI village. b. Also, a suspected BHT training camp at MUDALLAH village in DIKWA LGA was raided by troops on 1 April 16. Consequently, troops made contact and killed a suspected BHT Amir and 6 others while capturing 5 of them. During the raid, 5 BHT vehicles and several BHTs flags were destroyed. Also, over 1,000 civilians held captive were rescued. c. Similarly, on 3 April 16, Operation LAFIYA DOLE troops conducted fighting patrol to BOBOSHE, GARNA, KYARE, GINBA and AJIRI villages. The patrol team recovered 8 industrial gas cylinders and 5 regular gas cylinders at a primary school being used for bomb making. Also, 3 BHTs were captured while 4 motor cycles, 3 bicycles, a solar panel and 2 containers of liquid herbicides were destroyed. d. On 28 April 16, troops embarked on fighting patrols in the general area of BOGORO, DUGUNO 1, 2 and 3. On reaching MBARAKA, they encountered and cleared some BHT elements. The troops proceeded to JADDA village where they engaged and killed 4 BHTs. The patrol team also discovered a big pit where the BHTs used for dumping their victims to die and rot. The patrol team later freed some hostages and recovered an AK-47 rifle, 30 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 12 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 14 Dane guns, a motorcycle, 2 solar panels, 120 litres of AGO, some packets of panadol and a food storage facility. During the operation, one of our troops suffered gunshot wound and was evacuated for medical treatment. I am glad to state that he is in stable condition and responding to treatment. e. Similarly, on 29 Apr 16, our troops busted a BHT logistics Base at Yerwa where rustled cattle are held. The troops also raided Kaluketu and the self styled town of Abuja which is a BHT logistics exchange points. At the end of the operation 4 x BHT were killed, 2 x AK 47 rifles with 29 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one dane gun, bow and arrows among others were captured. In the same operation 2 x laptops computers and 6 mobile phones were also recovered, including a truck and 5 x motorcycles. f. On 30 Apr 16, a major BHT IED making factory was uncovered in Ngala town. Items discovered include 20 x gas cylinders of various sizes already bored for explosive insertion, primers, bolt and nuts to make the IED lethal, gun powder, electrical wires and tape recorders. However, no arrest was made. g. Also on 30 April 16, another fighting patrol was carried out by troops around WUMBI in KALA BALGE LGA. Own troops encountered BHTs at TATAKURA village, 20km south-west of WUMBI. Consequently, 9 BHT were killed in action while 2 motor cycles, 3 AK 47 rifles, 1 FN rifle, 1 GPMG, 1 RPG 7 bomb and 60mm mortar bombs were captured. Sadly, 5 own troops were wounded in action and are currently in stable condition receiving medical attention. h. Air Operation. The Air Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has conducted several missions with series of sorties in support of the general operation within the Theatre. Such include air interdiction missions and armed reconnaissance resulting in destruction of several BHTs hideouts and suspected logistic storage depots. 2. While thanking the general public and members of the press for their untiring support to the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, I wish to request you to reflect on the direction of your support. Insecurity and terrorism know no boundaries. Do you report to support terrorism and insecurity? Is your reportage intended to disparage the noble men and women working to ensure that peace and stability are totally restored to our land? Do you intend to contribute positively or work to destabilize the morale of the courageous troops? These reflections have become necessary in the light of the context of a few misguided ones, working to dampen the spirit of the good work done by the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Some have even, regrettably, reduced the serious issues of national security to comic circles and hang outs. It is necessary for us to lay more emphasis on solution rather than who to blame. Seek to know and understand in order to proffer solutions. Do not seek to know in order to destroy. Given that there is time and season, the current season is value addition. Be a part of it. 3. The range of successes being recorded is not without challenges. We however see those challenges as opportunities. Our leverage on those opportunities has resulted in more successes. I therefore enjoin you to be a part of the progress by contributing positively. In Operation LAFIYA DOLE, we understand the level of trust and confidence reposed in us by good Nigerians. That trust, under God, will not be betrayed. We are closer to where we are going than where we started from. Your continued support and encouragement will get us there faster. 4. Meanwhile, to the misguided BHT elements, I wish to reiterate my earlier admonishment that you give up your ignoble adventure. Once again, you are advised to surrender to the security forces. Let me re-assure you that you would be humanely treated in line with international best practices and in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law. 5. Once again, let me commend the invaluable support and contributions of all stakeholders in this fight against insurgency in the North East. I wish to re-assure you that the Nigerian Military is more than ever determined to secure our great country. The support of President C-in-C, President Muhammadu Buhari is outstanding. We in Operation LAFIYA DOLE are encouraged and remain grateful to His Excellency. The direction given by the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen TY Buratai in this operation is unique, accounting for the gains we have made and reflects the support of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Air Staff as well as the Chief of the Naval Staff. We remain absolutely loyal and committed to the cause for which we are assigned to Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Thank you. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Treasurer of the NLC, Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel, also frowned at the fact that the issue of the N56,000 minimum wage was not addressed, due to Buharis absence. Khaleel said That is one of the bad feelings we have as workers representatives on May Day. We believe that it was as a result of the absence of Mr. President. There is no way the President of the country would grace an occasion and salient issues like that would be raised, without Mr. President at least responding to them. He also said We cannot say sincerely or talk about the reasons behind the government side not to say anything about it. But we believe that nothing, absolutely nothing, comes to the working class in the history of struggle free of charge, so we are determined and we are ready to pursue our agenda because we believe in our cause. The President was represented at the workers day rally by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. I make no excuses as this government of the APC is determined to tackle, headlong, all socio economic ills that have troubled our nation and we shall evolve solutions to emerging threats to our well-being and the realization of sustainable development as well as growth anchored on equity and social justice, he said. Development must be sustainable for it to benefit society in general. It is, therefore, the responsibility of those in the citadels of power to align themselves with the working class who make development possible by generating and sustaining the momentum of positive change. That is why the present administration has sought and will continue to seek the hands of Labour so that together we can attain the enviable heights of progress in our beloved country. It is for this very reason that I aspired to become President which the Nigerian people have now made a reality. This administration shall effect positive change in the lives of average Nigerians, to ensure that the downtrodden are elevated and most importantly to fight the intense pain of corruption which has enriched the very few to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians who groan under the overwhelming weight of poverty and all the super structural and infrastructural maladies resulting from corruption. In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the public service in particular, requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the government. I have listened to the speeches made by both the Presidents of the TUC and NLC. By the speeches, you have without any equivocation affirmed your faith in the greatness of Nigeria as a nation. The challenges facing Nigeria have been highlighted and I assure you that they shall be accorded due consideration. It is worthy to note that solution to some of those issues and requests are already being considered and would be made public in the near future. The times may be tough, but we Nigerians are by nature resilient and strong and it is that nature that propels us to overcome adversities and still thrive as a nation. Let us use this National May Day to celebrate the workers and Nigeria as a nation. There will always be challenges in the life of a man and what defines greatness is the way and manner such challenges are tackled and overcome. I assure you, great Nigerian workers that this administration is able and willing to constructively handle the challenges. In so doing, I request your cooperation and understanding, as partners in progress, he added. Ngige had earlier said that the Buhari government would begin to fulfill its promises to Nigerians once the 2016 budget had been passed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The comment was made by NLC leader, Ayuba Wabba on May 1, 2016, during a May Day rally in Abuja, Vanguard reports. At the beginning of the year, we had cause to assert that on the security front, our armed forces within the year, redeemed their reputation as a resilient fighting force and fought the Boko Haram insurgents, inflicting heavy defeats on them in the North Eastern part of the country, he said. We said that our conviction was that though the war was still on-going, Nigerians now believed that it was only a matter of time before these evil forces are defeated. As workers, who have been direct victims of the violence in the North East, we want to use this May Day to restate our call for Mr. President to combine the military success with a marshal plan for the reconstruction of the devastated infrastructure of the geo-political zone. The ruling APC government in its manifesto, promised to create three million jobs annually. We have waited one year for the government to bring out its blueprints on how it intends to go about achieving this. Congress will seek audience with Mr President to get more information on this important matter, he added. Meanwhile, Buhari, in a speech read by Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, assured Nigerians that the government is aware of their struggles and is working on a remedy. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Sultan, who is also the President-General of the Jamaatul Nasir Islam, also called on security agencies to bring those involved in the attacks to book. The monarch said Jamaatu Nasril Islam received with great shock and deep concern the news of incessant killings and maiming of innocent lives and the destruction of public and private properties. Of particular concern is the brutal murder of people in Agatu, Benue State, Nnibo, Enugu State and some parts of Nasarawa State. It is indeed alarming that within few weeks, deadly attacks were reportedly unleashed while the perpetrators go un-arrested. The Sultan also said We therefore call for a thorough investigation by appropriate agencies in order to fish out the evil perpetrators, bring them to justice and forestall recurrence. It is indeed absurd and most unfortunate that certain groups or people ascribed the incidence to ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria. We must thus be cautious of packaging crimes on religious and ethnic garments. 30 Fulani herdsmen were murdered by the Boko Haram sect, during a raid on Alau village in Borno State. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. Addressing newsmen on Sunday after a meeting of the South East governors and stakeholders in Enugu, Ekweremadu said that there was no bill on the creation of grazing reserves before the National Assembly. He, therefore, said that the purported bill for the creation of grazing reserves was a ``hoax, adding that the press should strive to stop such rumours. "There is no such proposal or bill on the creation of grazing reserves either in the Senate or House of Representatives. "Nobody is considering it; not even at the executive level. I do not think they are considering it but we will not support it even if it has been considered, he said. Ekweremadu said that the meeting was convened in reaction to the attack on the people of Uzo Uwani by suspected herdsmen. He said that the meeting reviewed all that happened since then and thanked all stakeholders who had shown sympathy to victims of the attack. On the absence of Imo and Anambra governors, Ekweremadu said: "The South East governors proposed to meet today to review these matters but regrettably, the message did not get to Imo and Anambra governors. "So you can see mainly the PDP governors are here. So, they had to review the matter and more importantly, ensure that every governor will be in attendance in the next meeting. "The meeting is rescheduled within the week where all the governors are expected to be in attendance, he said. "We are looking at a concrete and more coordinated approach on how to protect our people from this carnage, he said. Also speaking, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi said that there was no disunity among governors in the South East zone. Umahi said that the governors would take a cursory look at the federal budget, when signed into law, so as to ensure that the zone got what was due to it. He said that the governors would ensure the rehabilitation of federal roads in the zone if such arrangements were captured in the budget. I am sure the Federal Governments budget is not yet signed. So when it is signed, it will be the duty of all zones to start agitating for attention, Umahi said. Ayade made the announcement in commemoration of the Workers Day celebration. Workers were said to have begun celebrating when they began to receive bank alerts while attending May Day activities at the U.J. Esuene Stadium. They were said to have begun singing the governors praises and named him the Best Labour Friendly Governor in Nigeria. No infrastructure is more important than labour that is why in all my programs, I focus on people Anybody who pulls down labour does not understand the philosophy of existentialism, hence the need for labour to come before infrastructure and skyscrapers, the governor said according to ThisDay. Ayade is said to have earlier formed the practice of paying workers between the 13th and 20th of each month. The governors move comes at a time when 15 states in the country are finding it difficult to pay their workers despite receiving a Federal Government bailout. --------------------------------------------------- Speaking exclusively to Pulse at the Workers Day celebration held at Rangers Bees Stadium Kaduna on May 1, 2016, Kaduna State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress Comrade Shehu Mohd said no worker received his or her salary. Some workers had told Pulse that apart from the non-payment of April salaries by the state government, many of its members have not received salaries since the government commenced its verification exercise over six months ago. What happened is unfortunate. Government came out to say they have paid April salaries. The workers are here. Ask anyone if he or she received their salaries. The story is the same. The government did not pay salary for April. None of the workers here received their salaries, he said. According to the TUC Chairman, since the commencement of the verification exercise embarked by government, many of its workers have not find it easy as they have encountered one needless problem or the other leading to non-payment of their salaries. Even though the verification exercise appears to be a good idea, the agony being faced by Kaduna workers is unfortunate. We have workers that have spent over six months without salaries. How do you want them to take care of their needs and that of their families? The TUC Chairman asked. Comrade Shehu Mohd said the government would have said it approved the payment of workers in the month of April rather than saying it has paid workers. The victim was on her way from her farm in Sawonjo in Yewa South local government area of the state when she was whisked away by armed men alongside her security aide. According to Premium Times, the abductors had demanded N200 million ransom. However, in a statement issued on Monday, May 2, by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, the Command made the cash reward offer to accelerate Mrs. Anisulowos rescue. The Ogun State Police Command has offered N5m (Five million naira only) reward to any informant(s) who has useful information for the police on the kidnapping of the former senator and minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, who was kidnapped recently at Sawonjo/Iganokoto area of Ogun State, the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, made the declaration after a security meeting with officers of the command, and other security chiefs in the state. Those at the meeting included the Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta, S. Danwalis, and the Director of Department of State Security Ogun State, Kabir Sanni. The Commissioner of Police Ogun State therefore appeals to the general public to support the police and give useful information that can assist in the rescue operation of the kidnapped victim, the statement said. The command also gave out dedicated phone numbers for the public to reach the police, with the assurance that informants would enjoy adequate security as their information would be made confidential. The numbers are: 09020911911, 08081774631 and 08081766937. For today, May 2 2016: THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER May Day: FG ignores N56, 000 minimum wage proposalThe Federal Government on Sunday kept mum over the recent demand by the organised labour for a new minimum wage of N56,000. READ MORE $15bn arms scandal: Presidential panel uncovers massive fraud in ArmyThe presidential panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari through the Office of the National Security Adviser to probe arms procurement between 2007 and 2015 has allegedly uncovered massive fraud in the Nigerian Army, The PUNCH has learnt. READ MORE______________________________ NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPER ARMY SAYS SHIITE MEMBERS CORPSES INTACT IN GRAVEThe Nigerian Army yesterday, denied allegations that it was planning to steal corpses of Shiite members from mass grave to distort evidence. In a statement through the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Abdul Usman, the Army said that was unnecessary as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, had already, last Wednesday, visited the site of the mass grave in Kaduna, and obtained its report last Wednesday. READ MORE EDO WORKERS TO GET N25,000 MINIMUM WAGEOSHIOMHOLEGovernor Adams Os-hiomhole has taken the lead on increased minimum wage as he has announced increase in the wages of his state workers despite the financial crisis that has depleted the na-tions economy. Oshiomhole yesterday announced the cherry news that workers minimum wage in the state has been increased from N18,000 to N25,00 monthly. READ MORE______________________________ THE NATION NEWSPAPER Enugu, Agatu, Nasarawa killings criminal, says SultanSultan of Sokoto and President-General, Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI) Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, has described the killings during attacks on communities of Agatu in Benue state, Nnibo in Enugu State and some parts of Nasarawa state as a crime and urged the government to bring perpetrators to justice. READ MORE Gunmen kill 20 persons, 83 cows in NasarawaGunmen at the weekend killed 83 cows at Adayi in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. READ MORE______________________________ THE SUN NEWSPAPER May Day: Buhari keeps workers waitingWorkers may have to tarry awhile for a new minimum wage package from President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigerian workers had hoped that the president would seize the May Day rally to announce a new wage package for them, having submitted a propsal, two weeks ago, of a N56,000 as the new minimum wage, through orgainsed Labour. READ MORE Assassination attempt: Weve identified 3 suspects Edo deputy governor Amb. Michele Sison, a U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN, made the declaration in New York at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Peace Consolidation in West Africa with the theme Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea in the Gulf of Guinea. The diplomat said illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing also generate a sizeable income loss running into hundreds of millions of dollars a year, for many countries and communities that depend on this sector to survive. She revealed that earlier last month on April 11 at 7.56 p.m., pirates attacked a cargo vessel off the coast of Nigeria. The captain and crew sounded the alarm and hid in a protected space on the ship only to discover when they emerged the following day that two of their crew were missing. A second officer from the Philippines and an electrician from Egypt; both are still missing. This was neither the first pirate attack of the year, nor even the first attack that day. Earlier on April 11, the very same day, pirates had attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria, kidnapping six of the crew, including the vessels captain. Those men are also still missing. Piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea are increasing at an alarming rate, with some industry experts recording at least 32 attacks off the coast of Nigeria alone in 2016, affecting many Member States, including the U.S. The economic consequences for the people of the region are devastating. According to a Chatham House report, as much as 400,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen each day in the Gulf of Guinea, she said. Orji made the declaration to his supporters and delegates at Urban Primary School venue of Ward 1 Congress for the Ward Congress of the Party, which held across the country last weekend. While commending the party members for the manner the Congress was held, he urged them to ignore all the antics of the All Progressives Congress (APC). "When I came into this venue everywhere was peaceful; we are not here to fight or quarrel but to exercise our rights as party members," he said. We have decided to remain in this party, we are not leaving our party that we have built, if you go to another party definitely you become a tenant, but here in PDP, you will remain a Landlord. The Senator charged the newly inaugurated Ward1 17 member executive not to betray the trust of fellow party members. You are not the best amongst the other party men and women, this is a big trust which you must not betray this trust, Orji said. Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the NCC, made this statement at a Consultative Forum on the Draft Regulatory Framework for the provision of Value Added Services, in the country, said also that the NCC did not intend to cripple the businesses of the VAS providers even though the Commission was concerned about subscribers complaints over unsolicited text messages from the operators. According to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Danbatta said that the decision to regulate VAS providers hinges on the need to consolidate the gains of the telecoms sector, adding that the VAS segment is overdue for regulation as envisaged in the eight-point agenda of the Commission, particularly on the need to promote ICT innovation and investment opportunities. Except we determined to develop and encourage quality local contents in Nigeria by rewarding content developers who as the major players in the VAS segment of the industry, our vision will be obstructed," he said. The NCC boss pointed out that the task of regulating the industry remained a collective one, which is a moral duty of stakeholders stressing that value addition in the sector is essentially on the shoulders of the small and medium scales enterprises, SMEs. The interior ministry denied officers had stormed the press labour union building, a traditional spot in downtown Cairo to stage protests, but confirmed some of its members had arrested the journalists inside the syndicate. Security forces have sought to quell dissent since thousands took to the streets on April 15 to protest a decision by President Abdel Fattah Sisi to hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia. Police dispersed smaller protests two weeks later. On Sunday, journalists held a sit-in inside the union when officers arrested two of them working for the opposition website Bawabet Yanayer including its editor, syndicate officials said. "The incident is true and at the very least the interior minister has to be fired and there needs to be an apology," Khalid al-Balshy, a syndicate board member told Reuters. Mahmoud Kamel, a member of the syndicate board, said over 40 policemen raided the building but the interior ministry said its force consisted of only eight officers. "The ministry affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two journalists who handed themselves in as soon as they were told there was an arrest warrant," the interior ministry said in a statement. A security guard was wounded in the eye when police raided the union, Kamel said. "There was an arrest warrant for the two journalists issued a week ago but the syndicate was negotiating with the interior ministry over the matter," he said. The syndicate council called for an indefinite strike among Egyptian journalists until the interior minister resigns and urged newspapers to black out their front pages. "This is unprecedented, no president or prime minister or interior minister has ever dared to do something like this," Kamel said. Under the law only a prosecutor is allowed to search the union in the presence of its chairman or deputy, he added. Dozens of journalists later held a new sit-in at the syndicate to protest against the arrest, a reporter said. The final destination for the animals, which were flown in on a chartered cargo flight, will be the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, a 5,000 hectare reserve on a private estate in South Africa's northern Limpopo province. Cleared by a state vet, the cats grunted and roared as the crates containing them were loaded onto trucks for the last leg of their journey by road several hours north of Johannesburg. "Everyone travelled pretty well. They only had airline food and they are looking forward to a good meal now," said Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International (ADI), which organised the rescues and the airlift operation. ADI said 24 of the cats had been taken from circuses in Peru, part of a menagerie of over 100 animals rescued with the help of Peruvian officials cracking down on illegal wildlife trafficking. Bears, monkeys and other wildlife scooped up in the operations in Peru have been transferred to sanctuaries in the South American country and a tiger has been flown to Florida. The nine lions from Columbia were voluntarily surrendered from a circus. ADI said both countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses. The lions would not survive in the African wild as many have been declawed or have had teeth smashed or removed, one is almost blind and another is missing an eye. "At their new home at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, the lions will enjoy large natural enclosures situated in pristine African bush, complete with drinking pools, platforms and toys," ADI said in a statement. Protesters gather every year on May 1 to focus attention on labor and immigration issues, but demonstrators in cities across the United States also used the occasion to rally against police violence. It was "deeply regrettable that in a city that goes to incredible lengths to respect First Amendment rights, there are some who disregard our values and engage in senseless acts of violence and property destruction," he said later, referring to free speech protected by the U.S. Constitution. In posts on social media website Twitter, the Seattle police department said one officer had suffered a cut to the head as protesters hurled Molotov cocktails, another was hit by a rock, and a third officer was bitten, apparently by a protester. Injuries suffered by two more officers were not detailed. "Nobody has been seriously injured," police chief Kathleen O'Toole said after the unrest subsided, adding, "Once assaults started and property damage started, we took action. It's that simple." Police said they made arrests in several places and restrained one group in a parking lot, before allowing some groups to disperse, but would maintain a presence in the area. They charged three people with assault, one with destruction of property and five with obstruction of justice. Eight men ranging in age from about 20 to 32 were charged, along with a teen-aged girl. Police used "blast balls" to disperse a crowd throwing rocks and bottles and breaking windows in a downtown neighborhood, the Seattle Times newspaper reported, after they used pepper spray several times to break up throngs of demonstrators. The unrest mirrored violence at a Seattle May Day march last year, when crowds threw bottles and wrenches at police, who responded with pepper spray and flash grenades. Robert C. Fick, CEO of the Mel Foster Co., Davenport, has been dropped from a lawsuit that was refiled on behalf of a group of Florida investors who claim they were fraudulently induced into an investment scheme involving the failed Valley Bank. In a complaint refiled Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the investors, known as the Fernandez Group, refined their allegations against River Valley Bancorp, the holding company of Valley Bank, and its president, Larry C. Henson. But Fick, who was a director of Valley Bank, and another former director who lives in Florida, were not named in the amended complaint. The complaint was amended after the original suit was dismissed in April as being too vague. Regarding the directors no longer named, Jorge Guerra, a Coral Gables, Fla., attorney representing the Fernandez Group, said "there is a heightened requirement now in pleading complaints in federal court ... and we don't think we'd be able to satisfy the court's requirements (regarding the two directors) at this time." "If we come across evidence as the case moves forward, we can revisit it later," he said. The original suit claimed Fick and the other director were involved in a civil conspiracy with Henson to defraud the Fernandez Group. Neither Fick nor his attorney returned phone calls seeking comment. Henson could not be reached for comment. The suit states the Group ultimately lost $1.85 million in the scheme, and they ask for compensatory damages, as well as court costs and interest. Valley Bank, headquartered in Moline, had offices in numerous Iowa and Illinois locations, as well as in Florida. It was closed in June 2014 by financial regulators as financially insolvent. The Fernandez Group claimed in their suit originally filed in May 2014 one month before the bank was closed that in late 2012, Henson approached them with a fraudulent scheme to raise $2.5 million. At the time, both Valley Bank Moline and Valley Bank Florida were struggling financially and operating under "cease and desist" orders from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that required them to raise their capital ratios, among other things. "As 2013 rolled in, River Valley Bancorp and Henson found themselves desperate to sell the Florida bank and needed to improve its appearance to potential suitors and regulators, i.e., to 'window dress' Valley Florida," according to the amended complaint, filed Thursday. Henson told the investors that Valley Florida's capital problem would be solved if it received a $4 million equity infusion, the suit states. That amount would clear the way with regulators, allowing for a merger with another bank and that would, in turn, earn the investors a healthy return. Henson asked the investors for $2.5 million to purchase stock in River Valley Bancorp and River Valley "would, in turn, invest ('downstream') the subscription proceeds into Valley Florida," the suit states. When the merger went through, the investors could exchange their River Valley stock for Florida bank stock. In a meeting between Henson and Nelson Fernandez in Fernandez' Florida office on Jan. 30, 2013, Fernandez said he didn't have the cash. Fernandez is an owner of ANF Group, a South Florida-based construction management firm, according to the company's website. He also had been recruited by Henson to be a Valley Bank Florida director when the bank expanded into the state in 2004. Less than two weeks after that meeting, Henson told Fernandez and two other investors, also meeting in Fernandez office, that he would loan them the money to buy shares in River Valley and that the loan would be recorded as a mortgage on 3.9 acres of property in Broward County, Fla., that they otherwise owned free and clear of liens. The investors "expressed their reservations about the contorted structure of the transaction," the suit states, but ultimately agreed on March 28, 2013. The Group never received its loan money it was wired directly to RVBC and then "streamed down" to Valley Florida, according to the suit. But the mortgage was recorded, so when the FDIC took over as receiver, "the Fernandez Group was forced to pay the FDIC $1.85 million." The Group claims Henson and River Valley Bancorp violated the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 by using instruments of interstate commerce (mail, email, wire transfer, etc.) for a fraudulent transaction. The Group also claims violation of state securities laws. The suit states fraud occurred when, as part of the deal, Henson prepared or caused to be prepared a memo about the financial condition of River Valley Bancorp that contained "materially false and misleading information." The memo states, for example, that the offering price of River Valley Bancorp shares was $140 when Henson knew that "the actual value was necessarily materially less" "almost one-half" that, according to the suit. In addition, "having been involved in the banking industry for over 35 years, Henson knew, or reasonably should have known, that financial institutions are prohibited from lending funds for the purposes of financing capital investments in themselves ... (and) that the transaction he structured did not qualify as Tier 1 capital for Valley Florida." (Tier 1 capital is a certain mix of capital that a bank is required to keep under FDIC regulations.) The Group also claims Henson was looking out for himself. "Henson had invested in and exhausted all of his resources in River Valley stock. His personal finances were dependent upon River Valley's continued survival and fortune and he stood to lose a significant portion of his net worth if the regulators were to step in and take over Valley Florida, Valley Illinois or both," the suit states. "Henson therefore had every interest and motivation to find a way to raise capital for the River Valley Bancorp enterprise, wherever and however he could," the suit adds. Throughout their dealings with Henson, the Group "believed they were dealing with someone of integrity," the suit states. "Unbeknownst to them, however, Henson had a criminal conviction and a troubled career history." SPRINGFIELD Democratic lawmakers say they're hoping for bipartisan support for a proposal that would do away with the Illinois Constitution's flat tax requirement. That's one of several proposed changes to the Constitution both chambers of the General Assembly must approve by week's end in order for voters to have their say this fall. Other proposals still under consideration include a provision that would prohibit the state from using dedicated transportation funds for other purposes and changes to the way the boundaries of legislative districts are drawn. Meanwhile, a proposal from House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to impose an additional 3 percent tax on income of more than $1 million to fund education was defeated in the House, and a proposal from Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, to eliminate the lieutenant governor's office was voted down in the Senate. The House, however, passed its own version of the lieutenant governor amendment. Although they wouldn't name any names, Democratic Reps. Lou Lang of Skokie and Christian Mitchell of Chicago said at a Statehouse news conference Monday that they think some Republicans will support their plan to introduce a graduated state income tax. "This is an issue whose time has come," said Mitchell, who is sponsoring the amendment. "I believe that this is going to pass with bipartisan support." Emily Miller of Voices for Illinois Children, an advocacy group that's backing the amendment and a companion bill from Lang that would cut taxes for more than 99 percent of taxpayers while raising rates on the wealthiest Illinoisans, said she expects the House to vote Tuesday to approve the amendment. "This does have some very promising bipartisan support," she said, adding that the group has been working with members of both parties. Opponents, including Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, say the measure would drive small businesses out of the state. "I really don't support a graduated income tax," Rauner said earlier Monday, despite expressing support for new revenue as part of a "grand compromise" on budgets for this year and next. "I think that could well be the straw that breaks the camel's back for Illinois' economic competitiveness." Less controversial is a proposal from Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, to create a "lockbox" to protect transportation funds from being used for other purposes. The state has periodically swept money from transportation funds, including more than $400 million last year, to plug holes in the budget. One source for that funding is the state's motor fuel tax. "When people go to the pump, they're going to know without a shadow of the doubt that their money is going exactly where it's supposed to go: into our infrastructure improvements," Phelps said. The measure cleared the House last month on a 98-4 vote, well above the three-fifths majority needed in each chamber for a constitutional amendment. It is scheduled for a Senate committee hearing Tuesday. Also scheduled for a hearing Tuesday is the House's lieutenant governor amendment. Despite voting against the previous version, Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, is sponsoring the House version. Brady said he plans to propose changing the line of succession the amendment would establish, having a vacancy in the governor's office filled by the highest-ranking official of the same party rather than by the attorney general, who might be of the opposite party. That would address a major concern for Republicans who voted against the Senate version, he said, but it would mean the amendment won't make it to the November ballot. The Senate already has approved a proposal, sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, to change the way legislative districts are drawn. His proposal, which would leave the process largely in the hands of the General Assembly, faces dim prospects in the House. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said leadership there is focused on a proposal from Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, that would turn over the redistricting process to an independent commission. Brown said the future also is uncertain for an amendment Madigan has proposed that would declare education a "fundamental right" and one that should be primarily the state's obligation to fund. The proposal is under review in light of "Republicans backing the 1 percenters" with their vote against Madigan's proposed millionaire tax, he said. WAUSAU, Wis. Jennifer J. Barnes Stanger, 41, of Wausau, formerly of Clinton, died Monday April 25, 2016, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday May 4, at the Pape Funeral Home, 2308 Pershing Blvd., Clinton. Jenny Jean Barnes was born on Nov. 11, 1974, in Clinton, the daughter of Gary and Marilyn (Mickey) Frederick Barnes. She attended the Clinton schools, graduating from Clinton High School in 1993. Jenny married Shane Stanger in 2005 and moved to Wisconsin to manage a resort on Pickerel Lake for six years. After her divorce, she moved to Wausau and began her brave, long battle with leukemia. Through her health struggles, she was always upbeat and smiling. She truly enjoyed living in her little house with her two pet huskies. Jenny had a keen wit, was an avid reader and loved sitting outside by the fire pit visiting with her great neighbors and family. Those left to cherish her memory include her parents; her brother, Chad and his wife Rhoni Jo; her niece, Gabriella; her nephew, Grant; maternal grandmother, Ramona Frederick; paternal, grandmother LaVonne Barnes; aunts, uncles and several cousins and her special pets, Mischief and Chaos. She was preceded in death by both her grandfathers, Harry E. Barnes and John A. Frederick. Jen was so thankful to all those that expressed such concern and care for her during her difficult health journey especially her brother, Chad, for being her stem cell donor. In lieu of flowers, in appreciation the family will use compassionate discretion with any cards and monetary gifts. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com. A good Tuesday to all. Continued sunny skies and warmer temps are on tap for the Quad-Cities and no rain at least for the next few days. Her South Dakota Society for Technology in Education (SDSTE) installed new officers for the 2016-17 year at the April 12 annual meeting in Sioux Falls. Aileen Brunner, technology coordinator at Newell School, completed her term as president and will serve one more year on the state board as past-president. During Brunners term this year, she started a highly-popular series of web-based trainings for professional development for the members. She has served on the SDSTE executive board since the organization was formed in 2004 and has held various offices, including president in 2007-08. SDSTE represents the K12 Technology Coordinators across the state. Their mission statement is Dedicated to the advancement of technology in education. SDSTE promotes the use of information technology to improve the quality of education and promotes the sharing of information and communication between professionals using information technologies in all areas and levels of education. DEADWOOD | A personal finance website has run the numbers and found that South Dakota trails only Nevada when it comes to gambling addiction rates, and that the Rushmore State leads all others in how much gamblers spend on lottery. But the ranking released recently by WalletHub has its critics in Deadwood, the Northern Hills community where legalized gaming contributed to a modern-day renaissance, created nearly 2,000 jobs and spurred more than $300 million in public and private investment in historic preservation projects. WalletHubs study found South Dakota ranked first in the number of casinos per capita and lottery sales per capita, and second in the number of gaming machines per capita, according to analyst Jill Gonzalez. South Dakota has among the highest number of casinos at roughly eight per capita, Gonzalez said. The number of gaming machines is even higher, at 24 for every 1,000 adult residents, ranking second and preceded only by Nevada." However, South Dakota's residents spend more money on the lottery than any other state, at an average of $1,025 annually. In terms of gambling addiction and crimes related to gaming, South Dakota did rather well, Gonzalez noted. In terms of actual gambling disorders, the state fares better with the 7th lowest percentage of residents with a gambling disorder at 1.7 percent, she said. It's also important to note that the state has little to no gambling-related arrests." The study found that South Dakota tied for 44th with Kentucky for the lowest percentage of adults with gambling disorders; that the state was actually in a five-way tie for first place in lottery sales per capita, with Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and West Virginia. The data also showed that in terms of gambling-related arrests per capita, South Dakota tied for 40th with Oregon and Utah, the latter of which is one of only two states (with Hawaii) in which gambling is illegal. WalletHub used a variety of sources to create its rankings, including data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Gaming Association, RubinBrown, National Council on Problem Gambling, The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, TVG, Public Broadcasting Service and Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Dr. Jay S. Albanese. Mike Rodman, executive director of the Deadwood Gaming Association, said the study did not reflect South Dakotas conservative approach to commercial gaming. He noted legalized gaming was limited to Deadwoods city limits, that the town had a maximum bet limit of $1,000, that casinos were limited to 30 gaming devices per building, and that internet gaming was banned in South Dakota. Rodman also said the studys methodologies did not explain how WalletHub arrived at its determination of most addicted states. Nevada ranked No. 1 and South Dakota No. 2 on `most addicted, when both Nevada and Deadwood are gaming destinations, albeit on different levels, that rely heavily on out-of-state visitors for the success of their gaming operations, he said. Their formula of triple weight casinos per 100,000 population and double weight gaming devices per 1,000 population put us at the top. South Dakotas low ranking of those suffering from gambling addiction was a product of employee training and dedicating adequate resources to treatment programs in the state, Rodman said. Of the $30,000 annual funding for problem gaming treatment that Deadwood provides, only $13,000 was used in the last fiscal year, he said. South Dakota Video Lottery had similar results with their available funding. Rodman said the DGA had adopted the American Gaming Associations code of conduct for responsible gaming, provided training materials to Deadwood gaming operators, did paycheck stuffers to increase awareness of resources available to problem gamblers, and supported the problem gaming help line at 1-888-781-4351. Congratulations to the class of 2016. To all high school, college and technical school students now approaching graduation in South Dakota, I commend you for reaching this milestone. After years of studying, taking tests and writing essays, youve finally made it. Congratulations on all you have achieved. Most of you probably already have a good idea of what youll be doing next what additional education youll seek or what career youll pursue. Whether youve decided to stay in South Dakota or pursue a career or education elsewhere, I hope youll ultimately consider a future here in our state. There are a number of reasons to consider living and working here. First, we have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2.5 percent, compared to the national rate of 5 percent. Job opportunities are better here than in most places. Secondly, the tax burden in South Dakota is low. We are among only a few states without an income tax, meaning you can keep more of the money you earn. Money that can repay student debt, buy a house someday or replace that car you drove into the ground in school. Third, not only do people keep more of the money they earn in South Dakota, but that money will buy more here than in other places. According to a U.S. Department of Commerce report, South Dakotans experience a very low cost of living in the United States. We dont spend as much money on housing, insurance, food and the other everyday needs. In fact, we have some of the lowest costs in the nation. In New York, California, Washington, D.C., or many other places, you will find costs that are 12 percent, 15 percent, even 18 percent higher than the national average. In South Dakota our costs are only 88 percent of the national average. Now some people will say, South Dakota may have a low tax burden and low cost of living, but I wont get paid as much if I live there. Actually when it comes to per capita personal income, we fare pretty well. Nationally, we rank in the top half. And, if you adjust the per capita personal income to add cost of living and taxes, we rank fifth in the nation. After I graduated from USD, I hitchhiked my way to Chicago to attend law school at Northwestern. Id lived in South Dakota my whole life, and I was ready for something bigger, something more exciting. I wanted to experience life in the bright lights of a big city. I finished school and decided to stay in Illinois for a few years to practice law. Still, over time, I came to miss seeing the stars at night, enjoying the wide-open spaces and having the company of friendly, down-to-earth people. I was glad to have experienced something new and different, but I was ready to come home to something better. My hope is not that you will never venture outside of our state, but rather that you would consider a more permanent future in South Dakota. Most of all, I hope you will come to realize, as I did, that your dreams can come true right here at home. Montanas 2015 campaign finance disclosure law is a shining example among the 50 states. Thats a conclusion of the Helena-based National Institute for Money in State Politics. The institute (followthemoney.org) compiled a report card of Essential Disclosure Requirements for Contributions to State Campaigns, 2016. Montana was one of 10 states earning an A. The biggest factor in this grade is electronic filing and online posting of contribution and spending reports from candidates, committees and others who are required to report spending to influence Montana elections. Electronic reporting is now the law in Montana, thanks the bipartisan Disclose Act. The report rated Maine highest with a perfect score of 100 points, and Mississippi lowest with 37 points and no electronic filing. With the bipartisan 2015 Disclose Act now in force, Montana scored 92.5 points, far better than its neighbors: North Dakotas score of 85 was a B; Utahs score of 77 was a C; Wyoming scored 67.5 for a D; South Dakota scored 52.5 for an F; Idaho 42.5 for an F. The institute report made clear that it evaluated state laws, not the agencies collecting these filings: Many reforms needed go beyond the agencies reach and require legislative and executive action. Additionally, many agencies operate with limited resources and depend on the Legislature to appropriate funding necessary to achieve a higher score. Montanas commissioner of political practices office is no exception. The 2015 Legislature attempted to reduce the offices already small budget, and some lawmakers tried to prevent confirmation of Commissioner Jonathan Motl. With just eight employees, including Motl, the office still manages to handle a workload that will include more reports this year than in the past. The report gave the most points for electronic filing requirements and completeness of electronic data because this expedites access to all contributors in a user-friendly format as an elections approach. Electronic data permits the public to ask essential questions about campaign contributions. A voter then can find out, for example, how many candidates received money from a particular donor. Montana received a perfect score in this area, along with Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon and Wisconsin. Lawmakers who dont want to adequately fund an office that will watchdog their campaigns fail to understand the true value of transparency: It builds trust in government. At a time when Montana elections are awash in cash much of it from outside the state transparency is the best guarantee of free and fair elections. Montanans must know where the money came from to promote or disparage candidates so they can make well-informed decisions in the June primary and November general elections. After sliding down to the $6 per bushel range, local cash prices for old crop durum have crept back up to the $6.15-$6.25 range in some markets.Jim Peterson, marketing director for the North Dakota Wheat Commission, credited the small increase in prices to decent export demand and a slow down in producer sales.Weve seen more of an uptick in prices as the market tries to pull out supplies from producers, Peterson said. Some quality issues have cropped up lately and weve seen more support for top end prices to try and bring in some of that top end durum.One factor that may have a great impact in the coming weeks is the weather in the northern durum region where planting is just getting underway. As of April 17, North Dakota farmers had just three percent of their durum crop planted which is behind the five-year average even though much of the region had been dry up until the recent rains in mid April.Weve had a dry period up until these recent rains but we continued to see temperatures drop down low at night, so soil temps were a hindrance for more aggressive planting, he said. Fields were definitely not too wet and maybe even too dry in some areas.In Montana, 9 percent of the durum crop had been planted, which is ahead of the five-year average.Another factor to monitor is the planting intentions report from Canada which Stats Canada released on April 21.The early speculation on acres was that they could be up or down 1-2 percent, Peterson said on April 19. The report showed a potential 5 percent gain to 6.1 million acres.This was more than expected but it may be trumped by the fact that parts of Canada are quite dry, he continued. They didnt get as much rain as we did in mid April so well just have to wait and see. The weather has been conducive to early planting there but theyll need some timely rains.In the United States the market is waiting to see if we have any significant planting delays. USDAs planting intentions report indicated an increase in durum acreage, and thats still the case, according to Peterson.Some thought acreage could be even higher, but with the recent strength in the overall wheat market it could tip support back to spring wheat, he said. Well have to wait and see how it plays out.Looking at the world durum situation, Peterson pointed out that Morocco has purchased some durum for delivery prior to May 31.Thats stronger confirmation that this years production has been hurt by dry conditions, he said. They did get some recent rains to stabilize things, but the crop is too far along to reverse the damage.Elsewhere in North Africa, Algeria and Tunisia are doing better with average to good durum crops.The big nemesis is the European durum crop, according to Peterson. The planted area there is up from a year ago and weather has been conducive for at least an average or a bit better yield. So until problems develop with the European crop it makes any problems with the North African crop a moot point.On the demand side, as of mid April U.S. durum exports stood at 26 million bushels. That compares to 25 million a year ago at this time.The U.S. is still pretty dependent on three markets for the majority of its sales Italy, Algeria and Nigeria. USDAs goal for durum exports is 35 million bushels so there is still some ground to make up to reach that goal.Last year we attained 37 million bushels in exports by the end of May, and our current sales are at least equal with last years pace, he said.In Canada durum exports are behind last years pace with 106 million bushels in sales reported compared to 116 million a year ago. Italy, Algeria and Morocco are their three big customers, although their base is more spread out and they also have some smaller markets to sell into.With planting just getting going in the region that will be much of the market discussion in next month or two, Peterson said. But right now the market has seen some strength in a few areas which is good to see going into planting. Sandee Skelton HAMILTON On April 27, 2016, Sandee Skelton found peace after a long struggle from the effects of a stroke. She was born in Ventura, California, Aug. 23, 1942. While attending school at Camarillo High she met Ron Skelton and they married. Moving to Pueblo, Colorado they had their first son Randy Skelton, and later moving to Hamilton in the late 1960s. There second son Jeff was born. Sandee worked as a secretary for Peterson Insurance Agency, then became an agent for McLaren, Sen & Peterson Insurance Agency. After Ron and Sandee went in separate directions she met her partner Eric Metcalf. Eric and Sandee spent their summers living on the East Fork of the Bitterroot and Wintered in Florida. Eventually she missed being with her boys and grandchildren and chose to remain in Hamilton permanently. Sandee enjoyed investigating her family history, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. Her first granddaughter Lesley named her Sassy, a 3-year-olds version of Sandee and it stuck. Sandee became Grandma Sassy. Sassys house was nearly a second home for Randee, Sydnee, Scott and Aubree, more of her special grandchildren. She liked to visit. She and her brother Bob would spend several hours on the phone or sit up into the wee hours at the lake house cabin solving the problems of the world. She was preceded in death by her father and step-mother, Earl and Fay Strong; her mother and step-father, Dorothy and Jack Meyerhofer. Sandee is survived by her sons, Randy Skelton and wife Christi and Jeff Skelton and wife Lori; her brothers, Bob Meyerhofer and wife Jeani and Mel and Donna Strong; her grandchildren, Lesley, Timothy, Randee, Sydnee, Scott, Aubree; and her great-grandchildren from Lesley, Mallachi and Jessamay. Her relatives are extensive and all enjoyed and loved her. The family would like to say thank you to Pat Herring, Discovery Care Centre, and the Marcus Daly Hospital staff. You gave her support, care, love and made her final years special. Again, thank you. Private family services will be held. Sandee held a special place in her heart for our veterans. Her father was a World War II veteran. Jack Meyerhofer was a civilian trainer for World War II pilots. Her brother Bob was a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam and she also lost a close cousin in Vietnam. In lieu of flowers or to do something in memory of Sandee, please go to www.woundedwarriorsproject.org and make a donation in her name to those that have protected all of us. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com. 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. Expert: Nuclear safety increased after Chernobyl After the Chernobyl disaster, a number of conclusions were drawn on the safety of nuclear power plants. Today there is no other industry with such a high safety level - Prof. Ludwik Dobrzynski from the National Centre for Nuclear Research said in an interview with PAP. The disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant - the largest in the history of nuclear power, and one of the largest industrial disasters of the twentieth century - occurred during the test intended to improve security. Tuesday marked 30 years since those events. One of the biggest challenges during this time was to increase the safety of nuclear power plants. "After the Chernobyl disaster, designers of nuclear reactors faced widespread fear of nuclear reactors as such. They had to exert all their intellect in one direction: the improvement of safety systems" - noted Prof. Ludwik Dobrzynski from the National Centre for Nuclear Research. The example of Fukushima shows that even old reactors were safe. "During strong earthquake, all the reactors - even though they were built in the 1960s - obediently shut down. It was tsunami that ultimately caused the failure" - he said. In the last three decades there were several important changes in reactor operation technology. For example, designers increased the number of so-called passive components that provide safety through the use of simple physical phenomena - such as gravity or convection. As a result, solution have been created that even in the case of the worst possible failure can engage without human intervention. "Some reactors today have such a high level of safety that the largest theoretically possible failure - which occurs when the reactor core is not cooled - should not happen more than once in a millions of years of operation! - emphasised the professor. - There is no other industry with such a high safety level. It\'s a tribute to people\'s enormous fear of radiation, fuelled by the Chernobyl explosion". The events of 30 years ago also made it clear that even in the event of the greatest possible nuclear disaster, the health consequences for the local population are incomparably smaller than one might think at first, said Prof. Dobrzynski. "Fear and the way of thinking about the radiation meant that some predicted hundreds of thousands or even millions of deaths caused by radiation released from the plant. However, besides the death of 28 rescuers and 15 deaths due to the development of thyroid cancer during the ten first years after the accident - we have not observed any other effects: neither an increase in the number of cases of leukemia nor solid tumours, and we can not expect that it will occur in the future. All pessimistic assessments proved to be false" - he pointed out. "We have also learned that decisions taken in the former USSR concerning the mass (more than 300 thousand) resettlement of people, depriving them of work, homes, gave extremely negative effects. We also have a group numbering approx. 1-1.5 million people, who suffer from psychosomatic diseases. It has nothing to do with radiation. They are the victims of ignorance and bad political decisions" - said the expert. He added that a similar mistake was made in Fukushima, where more than 1,600 people died only because of the stress associated with resettlement. "These people could be left in their homes" - he believes. According to the scientist, after 30 years there are no more "big questions" relating to the Chernobyl disaster. "You can possibly think about the scale of cancer mortality among rescue workers who scattered across Russia, Ukraine and Belarus after the rescue operation. Their fates were not specifically monitored, which can mean a gap in knowledge. But knowing the radiation dose these people were exposed to, I would not expect a revolution in our knowledge on the subject" - said the National Centre for Nuclear Research representative. Prof. Dobrzynski argues that in the case of nuclear energy, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. "In a long term, even measured in tens of thousands of years old, it is the only technology that can satisfy the energy demand of mankind. We will not satisfy the energy needs of humanity with wind farms, solar panels or other, so-called renewable sources of energy" - he said. He added that nuclear energy is obtained "from a relatively small amount of material, and in an environmentally friendly way, because this technology does not emit gases and dust". The common perception is that the most important problem of nuclear power today is the disposal and storage of radioactive waste. In the opinion of Prof. Dobrzynski, however, this problem is exaggerated, and the fear of wastes from nuclear power plants - inflated. "We know how to deal with spent fuel. It can be stored safely in geological storage sites, although we can of course still discuss the technology of storage" - he said. He added that for half a century from the launch of a power plant is not necessary to store spent fuel in geological storage sites (it can be kept in temporary storage sites). At the same time, researchers are working on the solution to the problem of long-lived fission products, which involves bombarding them with neutrons to obtain short-lived isotopes, with which "we know what to do" - said the professor. According to Prof. Dobrzynski, the main drawback of nuclear energy is the cost of investment. "This is one of the most cost-intensive investments in the energy sector, which returns after a few decades. Therefore, not every country is capable of developing nuclear energy" - he said. Asked about potential terrorist threat against nuclear power plants, the professor said that it should not be underestimated. "If a terrorist is smart and has a lot of time, sooner or later he will be able to cause harm: penetrate the object, become a member of staff, give the impression of an ideal employee. Terrorism is a threat. But let\'s imagine that such a thing in fact happens. Let\'s wonder if the consequences of this would be local or global. We know today that they would not be global; they may be local at most. Such event would not have serious physical consequences. There may be huge psychological consequences, such as those observed after Chernobyl and Fukushima" - he said. PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Anna Slazak zan/ mrt/ tr. RL Ben's back in a big way. And the wait was worth it! In his first race in more than 5 months following his annual winter vacation, Ben's Cat made his 10-year-old debut with an impressive win a 5 -furlong sprint on the Fort Marcy Turf Course that Hall of Famer King Leatherbury's pride and joy loves so much at Laurel Park. That's right. Proof positive that Ben's Cat is still going strong, even as a 10-year-old! And it looks as though race fans around these parts and across the nation won't have to wait even a month now to see the Hall of Fame trainer's multi-millionaire horse run again as he says the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint May 20 at Pimlico, on the undercard of the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan, will be the next target for Ben's Cat. A race that Ben's Cat has become known-for as he has won the McKay three straight years and four of the last five. A race that has made Ben's Cat and the King "regulars" in winner's circle at Old Hilltop on the day before the 3rd Saturday in May. Fitting that a race named after a Maryland legend has been won so many times by another Maryland legend trained by a Maryland legend. And how about the Cat's 10-year-old debut on the first Sunday in May. A race that King Leatherbury described as the "comeback race" for his "old boy". Career victory 31 in 54 tries. His 20th victory on grass and eighth over the plush turf at Laurel. Ridden for the first time by meet-leading jockey Trevor McCarthy, Ben's Cat came charging down the middle of the track to reel in pacesetting long shot Rapid Dan in deep stretch and edge clear by a neck in 1:03.21. Second choice in a field of eight at 2-1, behind the favored even-money entry of Aztec Brave and El Botas, Ben's Cat used what Maryland Jockey Club scribes described as a "determined rally on the far outside" to win $52,000 no-condition allowance for 3-year-olds and up. Named to replace regular rider Julian Pimentel, who had been aboard Ben's Cat in 41 of his first 53 starts including 30 in a row dating back to June 2012, McCarthy joined Pimentel, Horacio Karamanos, Jeremy Rose and Rosemary Homeister as jockeys to win atop the Parker's Storm Cat gelding. It was a sore foot that kept Pimentel from getting his 42 start in the irons with Ben's Cat. McCarthy is now just the sixth jockey to ride Ben's Cat and the first since Sheldon Russell was fifth in the Jim McKay on May 18, 2012. Karamanos, was aboard for a 2012 Mister Diz Stakes win; Rose, up for six stakes wins between April and October 2011 including the Turf Monster (G3) at Parx; and Homeister, whose lone time in the irons was Ben's Cat's first stakes win in the 2010 Mister Diz. All as Ben's Cat did not disappoint in his long-awaited return to racing for 2016. Following Trend enjoyed it CLICK HERE f or more cool local racing tweets from Following Trend It goes without saying that King Leatherbury was "tickled to get the big man back in action.""He ran a super race. I was afraid of that entry shipping in here," Leatherbury said. "It was a little hard for him to get rolling because of where he was. Once he got himself together and fired down the stretch he looked like his old self." And Ben's Cat's portion of that $52,000 purse on Sunday pushed its career purse earnings over $2.5 million, closing the gap on Broad Brush, the all-time leading Maryland-bred earner at $2,656,793 from 1985-87. And who knows what King Leatherbury's winning ticket paid that you know the accomplished handicapper cashed-in at the windows after his horse's win on the turf at the "track by the tracks".So what did Trevor McCarthy think about his first ride (and win) in-the-saddle on the legendary fan Maryland-bred favorite? "He ran a really good race today. He broke well for me, a little sharper than I thought he would. I thought it would be slower on the soft turf," McCarthy said. "I really didn't have to do much. He did all the work; I just kept him out of trouble. I gave him something to run at and when I called upon him he was ready to go. I just guided him around there. Thank you to King and everybody involved. They've all done a great job and really made me look good today." Well said Trev. Ben's Cat and the King have made plenty of folks look good over the last decade, jockeys, bettors and race fans all included! And not to mention track announcers like the great Dave Rodman "Why Vague Sentencing Guidelines Violate the Due Process Clause" | Main | Reviewing the type of federal drug case that the SRCA should most impact This lengthy Wall Street Journal article, headlined "Sheldon Silver Set to Be Sentenced: Judge has wide leeway as prosecution asks for long prison term, and defense seeks leniency for the former Assembly speaker," reports on issues surrounding a high-profile politician's federal sentencing scheduled for tomorrow in New York. Here are excerpts: A federal judge is expected to decide Tuesday whether former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver deserves a long prison sentence for years of corruption, or leniency because he is ill and says he is sorry. Leading up to the decision, lawyers for Mr. Silver have filed letters of support from ex-colleagues, constituents, family members and even a former employee at a Chinese restaurant he frequented. I know that Sheldon Silver has been convicted, but please consider his kind personality and his support to the community, wrote Fei Chen, who was a cook at Nom Wah Tea Parlor in Manhattans Chinatown. The endorsement is part of a trove of materials from both the prosecution and defense that reflect the range of factors judges are supposed to consider in public-corruption cases and the latitude they have in deciding on punishment. Judges in cases like Mr. Silvers grapple with how to account for breaking the public trust, and to what extent a sentence should serve as a deterrent to future crime. Mr. Silver, a Manhattan Democrat who served as Assembly speaker for more than two decades, was convicted of honest-services fraud, extortion and money laundering. Prosecutors said Mr. Silver, 72 years old, netted about $4 million in kickbacks from schemes involving a real-estate company and an oncologist. Attorneys for Mr. Silver have said they would appeal. Prosecutors have asked U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni for a prison sentence greater than any previously imposed on legislators convicted of public corruption in the state. Court filings suggest the longest sentence for such an official was 14 years. Silver exploited the vast political power entrusted in him by the public to serve himself, prosecutors wrote. Defense lawyers have asked for leniency, suggesting rigorous community service. The former legislator also wrote an apology letter to the judge. I failed the people of New York, Mr. Silvers letter said. U.S. law says judges should decide sentences based not only on the offense, but also the defendants history and characteristics. Also relevant, the law says, are deterrence, public protection and the needs of the defendant, including medical care. In court filings, Mr. Silvers lawyers have highlighted his prostate cancer, bile-duct obstruction and knee problems. For judges, sentencing in public-corruption cases presents a particular quandary: While the convicted official usually isnt considered a threat to public safety, or capable of committing the same crimes in the future, the government has an incentive to punish such officials harshly to deter others from similar offenses. The difficulty you have in high-profile cases is that there is a philosophical argument that general deterrence sometimes trumps all other factors, said Benjamin Brafman, a defense attorney not connected to the Silver case who represented Carl Kruger, a former state senator who was convicted on public-corruption charges and sentenced to seven years. In the case of Mr. Silver, Judge Caproni can also consider prosecutors evidence that Mr. Silver used his position to help two women with whom he had extramarital affairs because, like the letters, it speaks to his character. In legal filings, attorneys for Mr. Silver said the allegations were unproven. In recent years, public-corruption cases have garnered more attention, particularly because prosecutors have become increasingly vocal when bringing charges, said Deborah Gramiccioni, executive director of NYUs Center on the Administration of Criminal Law. The publics indignation perhaps seems more pronounced, said Ms. Gramiccioni, a former federal prosecutor who worked on public-corruption cases. But such indignation doesnt necessarily influence judges decisions, she said.... Data show that New York judges often diverge from the federal guidelines when awarding prison sentences. Of 3,301 cases sentenced in federal court in New York in fiscal 2015, judges awarded sentences within the guideline range in 29.5% of cases, compared with 47.3% nationwide, according to federal statistics. Of 544 fraud cases in New York, 28.5% of sentences fell within the guidelines. Just five people received sentences above the guideline range. In Mr. Silvers case, sentencing guidelines suggest a range from about 22 to 27 years. In sentencing filings, both prosecution and defense attorneys cite many of the same public-corruption cases, including that of Mr. Kruger, the former state senator. Attorneys for Mr. Silver note that Mr. Kruger was sentenced to well below the federal recommendations. But prosecutors note that Mr. Kruger pleaded guilty, which they view as a crucial difference. Unlike Kruger, here Sheldon Silver has accepted no responsibility and shown no remorse for his crimes, they said. Justice Breyer dissents alone(!) in California capital case concerning long delays before execution | Main | Would prosecutors be less aggressive if significantly more monies were devoted to indigent criminal defense? May 2, 2016 At SCOTUS, "age-old principes of conspiracy law" produces brand new division of Justices More than six months after oral argument, the Supreme Court this morning finally released its opinion in Ocasio v. United States, No. 14-361 (S. Ct. May 2, 2016) (available here), which concerns the application of a federal conspiracy law surrounding extortion. Justice Alito wrote the opinion for the Court, and here is how it gets started: Petitioner Samuel Ocasio, a former officer in the Baltimore Police Department, participated in a kickback scheme with the owners of a local auto repair shop. When petitioner and other Baltimore officers reported to the scene of an auto accident, they persuaded the owners of damaged cars to have their vehicles towed to the repair shop, and in exchange for this service the officers received payments from the shopowners. Petitioner was convicted of obtaining money from the shopowners under color of official right, in violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U. S. C. 1951, and of conspiring to violate the Hobbs Act, in violation of 18 U. S. C. 371. He now challenges his conspiracy conviction, contending that, as a matter of law, he cannot be convicted of conspiring with the shopowners to obtain money from them under color of official right. We reject this argument because it is contrary to age-old principles of conspiracy law. Few should be surprised that Justice Alito in Ocasio was not moved by a criminal defendant's effort to make more challenging pursuit of a conspiracy charge (a type of crime Judge Learned Hand famously describes as the "darling of the modern prosecutor's nursery"). But I was certainly surprised with how the votes of the other seven Justices broke down: ALITO, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which KENNEDY, GINSBURG, BREYER, and KAGAN, JJ., joined. BREYER, J., filed a concurring opinion. THOMAS, J., filed a dissenting opinion. SOTOMAYOR, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which ROBERTS, C. J., joined. Because I do not spend all that much time thinking about either extortion or conspiracy, I doubt I will have much more to say about Ocasio. But I would be grateful to hear from readers in the comments as to whether they think this opinion was worth the wait and/or whether the unusual divides of the Justices has a possible significance beyond this one case. May 2, 2016 at 10:43 AM | Permalink Comments I love this case because it is a great example of judicial framing. I glanced through all the opinions and agreed with all of them. FWIW, I would probably have voted with the majority. Can a person extort another person in a conspiracy of extortion? Why not? It's not a logically impossible claim. Is it what Congress was thinking about when it wrote the Hobbs act? Probably not, the dissent is correct on that score. And Thomas is correct about the lack of clarity in the court's prior opinions. Where you stand all depends on where you sit. Posted by: Daniel | May 2, 2016 10:55:55 AM Breyer wrote an opinion sympathetic with Thomas, but relied more on stare decisis; this is something fairly familiar -- Breyer accepts precedents he might not like while Thomas will overturn something decided in 1798 if he thinks it is reasoned badly. Sotomayor/Roberts, as I recall, was never in dissent together until a recent case. Now, they have been in dissent twice -- each writing one dissent each. I don't know the particulars of the case but can understand how a person can be guilty of extortion even if the target themselves is somehow guilty. So, it relies on statutory interpretation and applying past cases. Sounds like great law exam fodder. Maybe, Scalia's death had something to do with the delay. Posted by: Joe | May 2, 2016 11:44:06 AM I like that this was an old school Extortion case (claim of official right) rather than the modern use of the term. Given my understanding of the term when I've had to look into this previously, I think Justice Thomas is correct. That being said, given that nobody challenged Evans, I don't think his position is particularly relevant. Given Evans making this more a bribery statute than a Common Law Extortion statute, the majority is probably correct - although I'm very sympathetic to the defense. Posted by: Erik M | May 2, 2016 2:11:13 PM I see by closer reading that Breyer very well might overrule if given the chance but felt the matter was conceded here. Posted by: Joe | May 2, 2016 6:12:17 PM Post a comment Another prominent elderly corrupt politician presenting dynamic federal sentencing issues | Main | Justice Breyer dissents alone(!) in California capital case concerning long delays before execution This lengthy new NBC news piece, headlined "As Drug Sentencing Debate Rages, 'Ridiculous' Sentences Persist," focuses on one notable federal drug defendant subject to a notable federal drug mandatory minimum that could be impacted by federal statutory sentencing reform. Here are excerpts: When he was an addict and petty criminal, Leo Guthmiller knew little, and cared less, about the federal government's harsh drug sentencing laws. The worst he'd endured was 90 days at the county lockup in Lincoln, Nebraska. Then, last April, nearly two years after he'd stopped popping painkillers and smoking methamphetamine, Guthmiller was arrested by two federal agents as he headed for a drug counseling session. He later learned why: a junkie and his girlfriend, facing stiff prison sentences, had told investigators that Guthmiller had introduced them to his meth dealer around the time he was getting sober. That made him the middleman in a street-level drug distribution scheme. Because this was a federal case, and the amount of meth exceeded 500 grams, or 1.1 pounds, Guthmiller was suddenly facing at least 10 years behind bars as a co-conspirator.... The charge thrust him, unwittingly, into a raging debate over a pillar of America's war on drugs: mandatory-minimum sentences. Intended to sideline high-level traffickers, the laws have been used to sweep thousands of nonviolent, small-time offenders into epic prison terms.... Guthmiller didn't dispute the couple's accusation. But he bristled at the government's portrayal of him as a scheming operative. Besides, he was a changed man: sober, working, studying for his GED, leading AA meetings, completing a drug court program, newly married. Still, he pleaded guilty, unwilling to risk a trial that could end in an even longer prison term. "I'm not an innocent person, but at the same time this is all a bit much, I feel," Guthmiller told NBC News. At his sentencing in mid-February, U.S. District Court Judge John Gerrard agreed. He praised Guthmiller's turnaround, but said federal drug statutes gave him no choice. He called the case "Exhibit A" on why Congress needed to pass The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which would give judges more flexibility. "A 10-year mandatory minimum sentence in a case like this is absolutely ridiculous," Gerrard said from the bench. "And the only reason I am imposing the sentence that I am imposing today is because I have to."... The judge's remarks caught the attention of the Washington, D.C., advocacy group Families Against Mandatory Minimums. As he prepared to spend the next decade behind bars, Guthmiller found himself cast as a case study in America's unforgiving drug laws. "The whole idea is these 10-year sentences were written by Congress to go after serious drug offenders, and they're being applied to a guy who is home and is going to drive himself to prison," said Kevin Ring, the group's vice president. "He obviously isn't this major criminal that everyone should be so scared of." This is a key point in the drug-law reform effort, which has inspired an unlikely alliance among Democrats and Republicans, many of whom gathered at the White House last week to discuss their campaign. Mandatory minimum sentences, toughened during 1980s crime panics, established criteria under which judges had to impose lengthy prison terms for drug trafficking. The penalties depended on the type of drug, the amount of it, the offender's criminal history and the nature of the crime including whether the offense involved violence, weapons or children. The new laws triggered an explosion in the U.S. prison population, contributing to a dramatic decline in crime rates but also costing taxpayers millions. That cost-benefit balance has since tipped. Researchers now say that mass incarceration's impact on the crime rate has ebbed. Studies show that the likelihood of punishment, rather than the length of a prison sentence, is more likely to deter criminals. And there are now millions of nonviolent ex-offenders a disproportionate number of whom are black unable to contribute to the economy, including many who return to crime. Reformers argue that the money America spends on prisons would be better used for cops, schools and alternatives to jail, such as probation and drug courts. In a 2011 report to Congress, the U.S. Sentencing Commission found that mandatory minimums focused too heavily on the amount of drugs and not enough on the offender's role in the trafficking operation. The commission has since loosened some of its guidelines retroactively, allowing thousands of nonviolent, low-level drug offenders to leave prison early. President Barack Obama joined the effort by granting clemency to many others. Those moves are considered Band-Aids compared to the larger fix offered by the Sentencing Reform Act, legislation that would allow judges to impose shorter prison terms for bit players. But the bipartisan bill is bogged down by election-year politics. The Justice Department, meanwhile, has tried to change the system from within, ordering federal prosecutors to focus on high-level dealers. It appears to be working: the number of mandatory-minimum cases has dropped to 45 percent of all federal drug cases, down from 66.8 percent in 2007. John Higgins, chief of the narcotics unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nebraska, said in a statement that his prosecutors followed the Justice Department's advice, seeking mandatory minimums "only in those cases that warrant it." That included Guthmiller's, he said. He declined to go into detail, but pointed to court hearings in which prosecutors alleged that Guthmiller's 2013 matchmaking between the dealer and the couple led to the sale of 15-pounds of meth. "Methamphetamine is the number one drug threat in Nebraska," Higgins said. At SCOTUS, "age-old principes of conspiracy law" produces brand new division of Justices | Main | Digging deeply into Virginia's crowded prisons and parole paractices May 2, 2016 Would prosecutors be less aggressive if significantly more monies were devoted to indigent criminal defense? The question in the title of this post is the big question that lingers for me after review of this important New York Times op-ed authored by John Pfaff over the weekend. The piece provides data to back up John's frequent Twitter lament that problems with indigent defense funding do not get enough attention nor play a sufficient role in analyses of problems with modern criminal justice systems. The commentary, headlined "A Mockery of Justice for the Poor," merits a full read and here are a few key excertps: In the landmark case Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court held in 1963 that the state or local government had to provide a lawyer to any defendant facing prison time who could not afford his or her own. This was no minor decision. Approximately 80 percent of all state criminal defendants in the United States qualify for a governmentprovided lawyer. Yet despite this constitutional guarantee, state and county spending on lawyers for the poor amounts to only $2.3 billion barely 1 percent of the more than $200 billion governments spend annually on criminal justice. Worse, since 1995, real spending on indigent defense has fallen, by 2 percent, even as the number of felony cases has risen by approximately 40 percent. Not surprisingly, public defense finds itself starved of resources while facing impossible caseloads that mock the idea of justice for the poor. In Fresno, Calif., for instance, public defenders have caseloads that are four times the recommended maximum of around 150. In Minnesota, one public defender followed by a reporter estimated that he had about 12 minutes to devote to each client that day. There is no way these lawyers can manage the cases being thrown at them. In New Orleans, caseloads are so high that the parishs public defender office has started to refuse to take cases, including murder cases. Public defender offices in other states, including Florida, Missouri, New York and Pennsylvania, have taken similar steps when caseloads have grown too heavy. To make things worse, 43 states now require indigent defendants to pay at least a portion of their lawyers fees, even though these defendants are by definition indisputably poor.... There is, however, a way out of this, one that the presidential candidates of both parties should embrace, one that should have broad bipartisan appeal. And it is an approach that no one is talking about. The federal government, which now provides just a few million dollars per year to prop up local indigent defense services, could make an annual grant of $4 billion to state and local governments for indigent defense. This is a mere 0.3 percent of the federal governments approximately $1.2 trillion discretionary budget. This money would triple spending on indigent defense, especially if the grant was tied to preexisting spending by local governments so they couldnt just cut their own spending one-for-one with the grant. For Democrats, this plan would target a major cost of poverty and inequality and, because of the correlation between wealth and race, it would tackle at least some of the racial imbalances that permeate the criminal justice system. For Republicans, who worry about state overreach and the governments ability to oppress its citizens, meaningful public defense ensures that the poor, too, are able to check the state when it is acting in its most powerful capacity. Funding indigent defense would also help scale back mass incarceration, a goal both parties share. My research has shown that the primary source of prison growth in the 1990s and 2000s has been prosecutors filing of felony charges against more and more arrestees, many of whom in the past would have faced misdemeanor charges or no charges at all. Ensuring that prosecutors opponents are able to do their jobs competently would dampen prosecutorial aggressiveness. Tellingly, as public defender caseloads have soared amid shrinking budgets, prosecutor caseloads appear to have held relatively steady, as funding and hiring of prosecutors generally rose over roughly the last 20 years. Public defenders find themselves at an increasing disadvantage, surely contributing to our nations inability to really rein in prison population growth. If defendants had well-funded, effective representation, our adversarial system would do what it is intended to do. What we have right now, however, simply is not adversarial: relatively well-funded, well-staffed prosecutor offices square off against public defenders whose caseloads defy imagination. Funding public defense would ensure that poor peoples constitutional rights are protected, would advance a commitment to justice shared by liberals and conservatives alike, and would help roll back our staggering prison population. It is also feasible, cheap by federal standards, and would have powerful, longlasting effects. I agree 100% with John's call for much greater funding of public defense although I would much prefer a federal law that urged states to link criminal defense funding/spending to criminal prosecution funding/spending. I am not keen to have federal taxpayers provide an expensive "justice bailout" for all states disinclined to tax their own citizens to pay for constitutionally-required services for those they seek to (over)prosecute. (Indeed, I fear that at least some states now doing significant sentencing reform because of prison bills coming due might use clever accounting to afford more prison beds for more offenders if they get a massive yearly influx of federal cash to cover defense services.) But I really question the notion that greater funding of public defense "would dampen prosecutorial aggressiveness" based on what I see in the operation of the federal criminal justice system. Though certainly not perfectly funded, federal public defenders seem to me to be among the best funded (and certainly the most consistently dedicated and capable and knowledgeable and experienced) of all defense phalanxes that I have seen. And yet I have seen precious little evidence that federal prosecutors are less aggressive because they are frequently facing these defense attorneys in federal criminal cases. (And, of course, we the very largest increase in any jurisdiction's prison population and the lengthy of sentences served over the last 30 years has been at the federal level.) Moreover, in a few cases in which I have served as an expert witness or amicus at sentencing, I have sometimes perceived that certain federal prosecutors get even more aggressive when they realize that a particular defendant has the resources and personnel needed to put up an especially vigorous defense. (Indeed, I expressly warn some defense attorneys when they seek my formal assistance in a low-profile case that they should consider whether my involvement may risk doing more harm than good due to possible prosecutorial reaction to my involvement.) I do not mean to assert that federal prosecutors are distinctly unfair or uniquely aggressive when going after well-defended defendants, but I do mean to question whether it is really likely that prosecutors will be generally less likely to "strike hard blows" if they know the other side has more ability to defend against those blows. That said, I do think better funding of state criminal defense is likely to better deter (or later identify) prosecutorial misconduct, and it also could and should have salutory effects on other aspects of state criminal justice systems --- e.g., better funded indigent defense services should be better able to focus on parole systems and expungement efforts and other back-end services for indigent defendants, and perhaps they also would bring more needed strategic constitutional litigation to assail particularly troublesome practices in some state systems. But, to wrap up, I think the only sure-fire way to "dampen prosecutorial aggressiveness," other than to reduce the number of prosecutors, is to dramatically reduce the number of crimes on the books and make sure (through mens rea and jury reforms) that prosecutors have a little more fear of losing when they first think about filing felony charges. May 2, 2016 at 12:35 PM | Permalink Comments @Doug, I certainly see how it is possible that your involvement would create a Streisand Effect in a particular case. At the same time, it would seem to me a systematic analysis would result in a change in prosecutor's attitude at the margin. To me, the question isn't an abstract one but a practical one. Will the legislature ever fork over the money necessary to even the scales in a way that results in meaningful restraints on prosecutor behavior? I think not. To me, the underlying problem looks like this: A. There is no criminal without a law. B. The people who pass laws do so precisely because they want to privilege some social behaviors over other social behaviors. C. Criminal defense, by its very nature, restrains the ability of the legislature to entrench its preferred policy outcomes via the law. D. So in funding indigent defense the legislature is deliberately hobbling itself. E. There is no evidence in either logic or history that the legislature will deliberately choose to hobble itself. ergo The legislature is only going to fund what it needs to fund in order to keep what it perceives as the harpies off its back. It will never fund indigent defense to the level necessary to keep the prosecutor honest. Nor will the judiciary step in to solve this problem, given that so many of them are ex-prosecutors themselves. So people who want to reign in the prosecutor are not going to succeed by turning it into a resource battle. To my mind this leaves two possible options. (a) The legislature can reduce the power of the prosecutor by reducing the amount of unlawful activity it creates (wait, let me laugh even harder) or (b) by changing the political calculus that prosecutors face when they bring charges. (This is possible but difficult). Posted by: Daniel | May 2, 2016 2:08:45 PM Post a comment Alamo Square Park, perhaps the most photographed of San Francisco's many green spaces thanks to its prettily painted Victorian and downtown views, will close to the public beginning next Tuesday, May 10, for an estimated nine months. SF Rec and Parks issued their Temporary Closure Advisory during April, which Hoodline has been watching since the construction was pushed back from last December, the last time we checked in. It originally appeared set to begin in April, but now it's really happening, and the timing is such that the park will narrowly avoid becoming a pitstop during the annual Bay to Breakers race and revelry, which goes down on May 15 (though fencing has prevented that the last couple years anyway). While there were attempts to complete the renovations piecemeal going halfsies on the park like they did at Dolores those were over budget and eventually rejected. So it's all happening at once, and most of the changes won't be visible to the naked eye, save for the removal of several large trees and the planting of some new ones. The biggest fix will be a full replacement of the "antiquated" irrigation system, which is supposed to result in 37 percent water savings, the equivalent of 3,260,000 gallons per year. Also, a "curving" restroom, one that's finally ADA compliant and wheelchair-accessible, will be going in. Last, there will be some native, no-mow grasses on the perimeter by Fulton and Scott Streets, so don't expect to lounge there anytime soon. The total cost of the project is $4.3 million, which Rec and Parks explains is paid for by the Restroom Bond Program of the 2008 Park Bond, an SFPUC grant, and the Water Conservation Program from the 2012 Park Bond. "While the construction will inevitably be inconvenient for the neighborhood, in the long term, the replacement of the irrigation system, the re-sodding of certain sections of the park, and the brand new ADA-accessible bathroom will result in a better park for the community,"Alamo Square Neighborhood Association president Lisa Zahner, who signed off on the plan, told Hoodline. Renovations will also close the playground at Alamo Square, but let's hope they don't change a particularly clever detail there, a playful nod to the Painted Ladies. Related: Alamo Square Was Once 'A Primeval Forest Of Rocks' Fought Over By Land-Grabbers According to a new poll by pro-business policy group the Bay Area Council, 34 percent of Bay Area residents are "likely to move out of the Bay Area in the next few years," or so they say. For the study, conducted online, Oakland-based EMC Research polled 1,000 residents of the region from February 12 through March 9. Citing a variety of gripes familiar to all housing costs, related cost of living, and traffic issues chief among them 13 percent said they "strongly agree" and 21 percent said they "somewhat agree" that they'll move. Residents discontent is palpable, and we cant ignore it, Bay Area Council president and CEO Jim Wunderman told the Business Times. Traffic is horrific. Our housing shortage is pricing workers, families and others out of their homes and out of the region. Together, these problems threaten to erode our economic vitality and diminish our quality of life." The Bay Area Council poll says that 40 percent of Bay Area residents consider the region to be on the wrong track a figure that's actually lower than the 51 percent of San Franciscans who felt the city was headed in the wrong direction according to a Chamber of Commerce poll conducted during roughly the same timeframe. For further perspective, consider that previous regional polls from the Bay Area Council showed higher faith in the area's direction: Last year, 55 percent of respondents said we were on the right track, and in 2014, 57 percent of them were optimistic. Meanwhile, 54 percent of poll respondents said they had no designs to leave the Bay Area. And while complaints were registered across incomes levels and generations, it was residents with household incomes of over $125,000 who felt most strongly that the area was headed in the right direction though that was just 46 percent of them. In a summary of the results, the Bay Area Council writes that, "Those who've lived in the region for five or fewer years were the most likely to say they would leave." Ironically, if simplistically, recent transplants bear much of the popular blame for an increasingly steep cost of living, which respondents identified as the top problem facing the area. Just last month several sources were floating the idea that young tech workers might start fleeing the Bay Area, citing job searches for growing tech hubs in other regions. And seeming to address that population, Bay Area Council president and CEO Jim Wunderman wrote in a statement that "losing even a fraction of that number (2 million residents) and the talent they represent because we failed to deal with our most pressing issues would be very bad." Related: Eighty Percent Of Bay Area Residents Think Traffic Won't Get Better Are Tech Workers Starting To Flee SF For Jobs In Cheaper Towns? It's hard out there for a tech bus. Or so it would seem, with an exhaustive report from NBC Bay Area revealing that the top companies responsible for shuttling workers to and from tech giants such as Facebook, Google, and Apple are cited for hundreds of traffic violations per year. What's more, the channel observes that many of these violations put pedestrians, cyclists, and those who ride Muni in direct danger. The report identifies 125 commuter-shuttle stops throughout SF proper, of which 100 also happen to be Muni stops. This repurposing of public infrastructure for private use can lead to the situation pictured above, wherein a shuttle bus occupying a public bus stop forced Muni to load/unload passengers in the middle of the street. Indeed, that very concern was one of the many issues raised in the debate over whether or not to legitimize the then illegal practice of tech buses taking over Muni stops. But in many cases tech shuttles occupying Muni stops arre perfectly legal these days, and the violations uncovered are of a different sort entirely, with over 800 citations for things like blocking bus zones, obstructing traffic, and blocking bike lanes in 2015 and 2016 alone. "I think the current program bends over backwards to accommodate these tech companies," Supervisor Jane Kim told NBC. "Residents keep asking who is the city for, who do you represent? Do you represent all of us, or do you just represent a very small category of employers? The NBC team created a map of shuttle bus traffic violations, embedded below, and observed the following: Bauer Transportation is at the top of the list with 176 citations. It provides transportation for companies like videogame developer Electronic Arts. Loop Transportation ranks second with 146 citations. Loop drops off riders to companies that include Facebook, Google, and Apple.Compass (SFO Airporter) received 95 citations. Compass also buses workers to Apple, as well as Yahoo and Genentech. WeDriveU ranked fourth with 89 citations. It shuttles employees to Google. In addition to whatever fines the companies operating the buses are forced to pay, these repeat offenses could have serious impacts on their business models. Just last month, The Examiner reported that "48 complaints about Bauers shuttles between August 2015 and January 2016" (in addition to alleged union intimidation tactics) played a part in SFMTA's decision to deny the company's permit to use Muni bus stops. Bauers continued violations of these requirements has contributed to unacceptable traffic congestion as well as impeded safe and efficient Muni operations by blocking access to Muni stops, SFMTA officials explained to Bauer at the time. Regardless of the shuttles' sometimes scofflaw nature, supporters have cause to celebrate: This past Thursday a San Francisco judge dismissed a case brought by shuttle opponents claiming the buses' use of Muni stops violated state law. As a result, the tech-shuttle status quo, and all the potential traffic hazards that come with it, appear to be here to stay. Related: Tech Shuttle Protest Blockades 24th Street As you know, there have been various small battles being waged following the mayor's announced plan to tackle "hot spots" among homeless encampments citywide and systematically "clear" them, which typically just leads to them popping up elsewhere. The new crackdown came in the wake of the shooting of one homeless man, Luis Gongora, by the SFPD, and some heightened rhetoric about the "safety" of the camps. Countering that is a proposal announced two weeks ago by Supervisor John Avalos which will require city workers to give campers 15 days notice before the removal of tents can occur, and that delay can be extended if the city can't immediately offer free supportive housing to the individuals being evicted from the camp. The Chronicle's C.W. Nevius takes on this proposed ordinance, which still will need approval by the Board of Supervisors, calling it a "template for chaos," and focusing on one small camp that's been recently given "hot spot" status on Florida Street near 16th. He interviews a couple of people at McCalls Catering, whose headquarters is right there and who made complaints to the city that were met with less than immediate results. They've had the familiar experience of seeing people shooting up on the sidewalk, and they complain "they bicker and fight constantly, harass the women who work at the company." The city has encouraged the people at McCalls to report any illegal activity they see among the campers, but so far that has only consisted of the above, the open drug use, and "One of them defecated on the car of one of our clients." They've seen a city worker arrive with a clipboard and talk to campers about supportive housing, and allegedly the campers have refused the offer. The neighbors then witnessed all of the camp's tents get replaced with brand new tents from REI. The problem, of course, are the warring factions fighting for quality-of-life enforcement who say the camps are unsanitary and unsafe, and homeless advocates like the Coalition on Homelessness who say that there simply aren't enough shelter beds for those who need them, setting aside some campers who may be "service resistant." The current shelter reservation waitlist, which they point to and which you can see for yourself here, has 790 people on it. Only the 80 people with the highest seniority on that list are instructed to call in for instructions today. Avalos's proposal, if passed, would also require that for camps of more than 30 people, the city must provide sanitary services like bathrooms and garbage collection. Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said in response to the proposed ordinance, via the Examiner, "This legislation is San Franciscos opportunity to ensure that there is a humane and just plan in place to address our citys crisis." Further, she said, "Cities are not going to ticket or displace their way out of homelessness, while human lives are shortened and lost. Housing is the only solution, and until then we must continue to protect the civil rights of all people." Previously: Following Shooting By Police, Mayor Lee Announces Plan To Clear All Homeless Camps Citywide The drama continues at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco i.e. the joint board that oversees the deYoung and Legion of Honor as ongoing infighting persists over a "disability severance" payment that Board Chair Dede Wilsey authorized to a retired museum employee. The scandal over the $450,000 check, which was cut back in May 2014, but was called to the public's attention by a whistle-blower last year, former Museums CFO Michele Gutierrez. Wilsey has maintained she did not need the board's approval to make the payment, but a subsequent investigation by the state Attorney General's office appears to have concluded otherwise, and as the Chronicle reports, a tentative settlement was reached in April in which anonymous donors would reimburse the Museums' coffers out of their pockets. When board members Dan Johnson and former SF City Attorney Louise Renne each received letters asking if they'd like to donate toward the reimbursement, that was the last straw, and they've both now resigned. Renne tells the paper, "I just felt that the governance at the museum made it virtually impossible for any board member to fulfill their fiduciary duty." It's unclear whether the money has been repaid yet, but Johnson said he felt he had to resign because the "underlying problem" of Wilsey cutting the check in the first place had not been resolved. In March, Renne was vocally calling for Wilsey to do "the right thing" and reimburse the sum out of her own pocket. Clearly Wilsey was unwilling to do that. As reported earlier, part of the reason for the calls of impropriety around the payment is that it was made to the ailing husband of a longtime ersatz assistant to Wilsey, Therese Chen also a museum staffer, who died suddenly in March at the age of 65. Her husband, Bill Huggins, had suffered a heart attack while in the employ of the museums as a stationary engineer, and Chen subsequently had to stay home to care for him. Chen had been known among museum staffers to often do favors for Wilsey. Wilsey's spokesperson only would say to the Chronicle, "We are not going to comment on anything related to the AG [attorney general] matter." Previously: Oh Dear, Dede: Recipient Of Contested deYoung Payment Dies, Prompting New Call For Reimbursement An elderly San Francisco man is recovering from a lost digit today, after a driver struck him as he walked in a Fillmore Street crosswalk. According to the San Francisco Police Department, the 69-year-old man was headed east on McAllister when he stepped into the crosswalk at Fillmore Street at 9:16 p.m. Friday. A 49-year-old woman driving a four-door, black Acura sedan was headed west on McAllister and struck the man as she turned south onto Fillmore, police say. That intersection is governed by traffic signals, not stop signs. A call to SFPD to confirm that both the driver and pedestrian were crossing on the green light/pedestrian walk signal was not returned at publication time. The man suffered lacerations to the head and a severed thumb in the crash, according to the SFPD. He was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with injuries police describe as "non-life-threatening." The driver remained at the scene, police say, and was not arrested for the collision. To justify new office space and perks for the Pied Piper team, incoming CEO Jack Barker delivers a well-worn anecdote. While Richard, who has accepted a demotion to Chief Technical Officer, is skeptical of the new company purchases, Jack recalls that when Google was "a startup just like us," they did the same. "When they started bringing in chefs and masseuses, we thought, they're nuts! But they were attracting the best possible people and they were able to create the best possible product." Jack' philosophy: "All of this is a sound investment as long as we're able to get the best people and make the best possible product." But what is that product? That question underlies the tension of this second episode in Silicon Valley's third season. Consider Jack's diagram of the "Conjoined Triangles of Success," a template he designed that's now being taught at business schools, he says. One triangle: engineering and manufacturing. The other: sales and growth. Their joint hypotenuse: compromise. With Dinesh and Gilfoyle distracted by the new office's catering, that compromise begins with Jack's newly imported sales team. Immediately, they're starting to make changes to the product. First, they inform Richard, the company should be an enterprise one they'll sell Pied Piper to businesses, not individual users. When Richard confronts Jack on the subject he's always imagined Pied Piper as peer to peer Jack has another spiel for him. "You know we're in a bubble right now, right? Or maybe you don't know, you weren't around for the last bubble, you were probably in diapers." But Jack wasn't in diapers, he says proudly. Richard's revenue plan will take too long "In March of 2000, do you know when a four-year plan ended? April of 2000." That's why the product needs to move faster. "We can't put all our eggs in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow basket," Jack says. This episode, named for those "Conjoined Triangles of Success," includes three subplots. The first is over at Hooli, where Gavin Belson has just laid off his entire Nucleus division, a would-be Pied Piper rival. "I started my day, as I always do," Belson says, "by typing my name into Hooli search, which is designed to center me. Lately, it's been doing the opposite." As he demonstrates, his search returns articles tying him to Nucleus' failure, and he want's them gone. "These articles are part of the public record," an engineer insists, saying he would never instruct his employees to tamper with them. The task, then, falls to the outgoing Nucleus team, but in executing it, one engineer begins to crack the "middle-out compression" feature of Pied Piper. Amusingly, the engineer does so after observing a fellow engineer's hands moving on an exercise machine a nod to the show's season one finale, where a similar, more erotic motion sparked the team to imagine the technique in the first place. The outgoing Nucleus team won't share the information with their company, Hooli, and now might present a real rival to Pied Piper. The second subplot: Jared, Pied Piper's team mom and cheerleader, reveals he's been Airbnb-ing his condo while sleeping in Erlich's garage in order to pay off his mortgage. Now he can afford to return but a previous guest is squatting. "I don't want to be a dick," his squatter says, "It's just I can't afford to live around here cause the rent is so high, because of the tech companies, right, and you bought this place with the money you made working at the tech companies, so it kind of all evens out?" Like the nod to the bubble, this tech-backlash joke lands well. It's as close as Silicon Valley comes to really keeping up with the events and attitudes of the world it parodies. And, as Jared quite accurately discovers, "the occupant of a residence in California has almost unlimited rights." It looks like we'll have some eviction proceedings in further episodes. West Coast, it's time for another kimono ceremony. A new episode of #SiliconValleyHBO starts now. pic.twitter.com/8BO5SXcUHP Silicon Valley (@SiliconHBO) May 2, 2016 Meanwhile, in the third subplot, which becomes related to the second, Erlich wants the show's token foreign caricature, Jian-Yang, out of his house to put him on "a slow boat to China, so to speak." Here, Erlich reprises the parting ceremony he once performed for Richard, complete with ceremonial kimono, for Jian-Yang. He knows Jian-Yang is Chinese and that Kimonos are Japanese, he explains; he's not racist. To that, Jian-Yang responds with some anti-Japanese slurs. But eventually, after lashing out at Erlich, Jian-Yang gets the idea from Jared that, since he's lived with Erlich for a year, that he too can squat and he seems to plan to do just that. Back at the new Pied Piper office, Richard is further troubled by the sales team, whose goals clearly conflict with his own. Jack has taken off for the vet, and Richard follows. That leads him to some stables where it turns out that Jack's prize mare is in heat. Here, the audience is treated to some of Mike Judge's lowest-brow humor: Horses fucking, in Animal Planet detail. Pied Piper's a changed company. A new episode of #SiliconValleyHBO starts now. pic.twitter.com/0SJU3ywXX0 Silicon Valley (@SiliconHBO) May 2, 2016 Away from the action for a moment, and in what could be read as a crude metaphor, Jack finally sticks it to Richard. "Do you know what Pied Piper's product is, Richard? Pied Piper's stock." While it's bad news for Richard, Jack's point is trenchant when it comes to today's tech sector. Beholden to markets, many of whom have turned on tech, companies are vying to please investors rather than "change the world" or even remain true to their less-lofty goals. Will this be the fate of the idealistic Pied Piper? Silicon Valley continues its comedy of errors in episode two, mining business conflict to do so. But there are actual errors too: The show's lingering relationship with racism in the Jian-Yang subplot, for example. Jian-Yang is particularly unfortunate to have on a show, as many have argued, because there are so few other minority characters, particularly Asian characters an oversight in a field where so many Asians work. Of course, his character isn't new to this season, and evicting him unceremoniously might be worse than giving him a chance to stay and redeem his storyline. Previously: Silicon Valley Ep. 3.1: 'Decacorn' Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. LOS ANGELES | Anyone who's spent time with a cat might agree with filmmaker Peter Atencio when he says cats are the "15-year-olds of the animal kingdom." Dogs are eager to please their owners. Cats couldn't care less. But the kittens that play the title tabby in the new action-comedy "Keanu " impressed their human co-stars so much, they've earned permanent places in Hollywood. "They blew away my expectations," said Atencio, director of "Keanu" and a self-described "crazy cat man" who has three cats, two dogs and a rabbit at home. "They took direction really well." "Keanu" tells the story of Clarence and Rell ("Key & Peele" stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele), two mild-mannered guys who pretend to be killer criminals after a gang of thugs steals Rell's kitten, Keanu. The gangsters want to keep the kitten now wearing gold chains and a tiny do-rag but Clarence and Rell will do anything, including embracing their inner tough-guys, to get him back. Seven brown tabbies, all rescued from animal shelters, played Keanu. Trainer Larry Payne said animal roles generally require multiple actors (or, in this case, cat-ctors), as each has its own personality traits that contribute to the onscreen character. Some kittens are better at hitting marks, for example, while others are particularly skilled at sitting still and being adorable. "There's the run guy, there's the snuggle guy, there's the meow guy," Key said. "It's like assembling a team of bank-robbers," Atencio added. Payne initially trained three kittens to play Keanu, but they aged out halfway through production. "(They) had gotten big and not really kitten-like anymore," he explained. He adopted four more kittens to finish the film. All were about eight weeks old when they began their monthlong training. Besides learning the skills they'd need for their scenes sit, stay, go from one mark to another the Keanus had to get used to the noise and commotion of a movie set. Loud sounds typically make cats run and hide. "It's a little bit easier with the kittens, believe it or not, than with adult cats, because I don't think they know any better," said Payne, who trains all kinds of animals for film and TV roles. "The kittens almost think, 'This is what all kittens do: We work on movies!'" Payne plied the kitties with treats during training. Repetition and positive reinforcement are key, he said. He uses off-camera buzzers or clickers which signify food is coming to summon the cats to their marks. He also used treats to get them to tolerate the dozen or so costumes Keanu wears. Rell dresses his pet in a little fedora, goggles, a leather jacket, a hoodie and sunglasses, among other things. When the kittens weren't on screen, they hung out in miniature star trailers: deluxe animal carriers decked out with beds, toys and water. When filming on location in New Orleans, all seven Keanus stayed with Payne in his hotel suite. Peele, who co-wrote "Keanu," said a cat-napped kitten wasn't part of the film's original premise. He and co-writer Alex Rubens knew the main characters and their squares-in-gangland dilemma, but "it didn't feel like we had something that really justified why we would put ourselves in danger," Peele said. "That's where the kitten came in." Though he has a dog who sometimes wears outfits ("We got a Burberry outfit and we do have a little beach hoodie. It goes deep."), Peele said they made Keanu a kitten because "we realized there's not a lot of kitten movies." Payne, too, said he "never had the pleasure of doing an entire kitten movie" in his 30-year career. Atencio would do one again, saying, "I would love to do a kitten-based horror or thriller." Maybe he'll call on the kittens formerly known as Keanu? All the film's feline stars are staying in Hollywood. Though one went home with "Keanu" co-star Tiffany Haddish to become a housecat, Payne said the others will continue to act. He and his colleague, April Mackin, each took two kittens home, and the remaining two live at the California ranch where Payne keeps his menagerie of acting animals. "The fact that I was able to acclimate them to a movie-set environment when they were real young, they become valuable for us for the future to do that work," he said. "They're provided a great home. We have on-staff vets. And they're very spoiled, much like a normal star would be." SAN DIEGO | First came home offices where new ideas turned into a small business. Then Starbucks became the place to work on a laptop and network with neighbors and clients. Now a new concept -- "co-working" or "shared workplaces" -- is taking hold: Rent a desk for $500 per month in a warehouse or commercial building and work alongside other individual entrepreneurial "soloprenenurs." The sharing economy has produced this growing type of office around the country to the point where an estimated 40 percent of companies are thinking about adopting it in some form themselves. "This is perfect -- exactly what we were looking for," said Ryan Johnson, 24. He's one of five venture-capitalists at Israel-based OurCrowd, who work at DeskHub, a 15,000-square-foot co-working space in San Diego. He previously operated out of his apartment and now is able to invite dozens of angel investors to monthly meetings. Once in a while he picks up tips from other DeskHub companies for possible investment opportunities. "We love the ability to network with other entrepreneurs and startups," Johnson said. "There are days when the main room at lunch is just crazy -- people having conversations, people touring around. It's a cool environment. You're always talking to somebody new. I hear people making connections and introductions I'm sure they would not have found if they weren't at DeskHub." Jay Chernikoff, 36, started DeskHub in Scottsdale, Ariz., almost two years ago, when he was shifting from tech to real estate and needed a flexible workspace. "The idea is as companies grow and become bigger or smaller, they want to retain flexibility," Chernikoff said. "It's the same as the 'rental' economy, Uber, all those things. You have offices shifting in that way, too." The CBRE brokerage began publishing special reports in January on the shared-workplace movement. It found the commercial real estate world is taking notice, partly in reaction to rising real estate costs in urban centers, the very places where many millennials, the industry's future tenants and customers, want to live and work. "The employees these companies want to attract and retain regard blending work and life as integral to their happiness and success," CBRE said. The brokerage also said office-based companies see co-working as a way to gain more efficiency by using less space per person. In San Diego CBRE broker Evan Knudson identified 11 co-work spaces in 18 locations that add up to 109,047 square feet. While a typical office plans for 250 square feet per person, a co-work setup can reduce that figure to as little as 66 square feet. That's because there are no file cabinets, closed-door executive offices and duplicate bathrooms, break rooms and conference spaces. "You can be extremely dense and it's crazy to walk through there -- and you don't feel elbow to elbow," Knudson said. Individual desks typically rent for $400 to $500 per month with discounts for unassigned "floater" desk locations and "social memberships" that allow limited access for working but full access to seminars and special events. Parking is not necessarily as readily available onsite as in standard office buildings, but proponents of co-working say users find places to park or walk, bike or take public transit instead. Co-working spaces can attract some interesting and imaginative businesses. Wag! is a dog-walking service. 6 Degrees is a meeting organizer. GreekRush develops software to help fraternities and sororities on about 25 campuses organize and manage their rush periods, events and routine business. Cody Cross, 24, got the idea while at Lamda Alpha Chi at the University of San Diego and two other buddies joined him as one of the first DeskHub tenants last year after working out of their apartments. "I wanted to have an impact and be close to my team and build relationships within the team," he said. "It's hard to do that when you're working remotely." He said a real office "definitely legitimizes" pitches to investors and the low-overhead costs reduces the "burn" rate of investors' money. Curtis Clave, 31, started his own co-working space, called Bloc, to make room for his Web developer agency. He is reconfiguring a second location and planning to open a third. He hopes to have seven locations throughout California over the next five years, all close to the beach. "That's a huge plus for a variety of our members for surfing, walking, being close to restaurants and lots of events," he said. Co-working arrangements can help companies experiment with new ideas without requiring a long-term lease commitment. Patrick Dillon, 36, said he moved his Lightpost Digital spinoff marketing company to DeskHub from the office of his other company, Deal Current, a private-label coupon producer for newspapers and other companies. "For us it was a perfect opportunity to separate the teams and see if Lightpost could become something big outside Deal Current," Dillon said. Once the Web design and marketing concept proved successful, he sent the designers back to the quieter Deal Current offices and he and one other salesman stayed to oversee business expansion. Like weekly rotary club lunches, co-working breeds cross-fertilization among disparate businesses. Dillon said a neighboring business that focuses on Web design and management for nonprofits offered some suggestions on how to set up a sales force. "The conversation lasted 20 minutes and was worth six months of mistakes," he said. SIOUX CITY | In a world where smartphones, iPads, Kindles and Netflix constantly compete for people's attention, Sioux City Public Library Director Betsy Thompson acknowledges fewer people are walking into the library to check out a book. Its more of a device-driven culture, Thompson said. We get the quick information from our devices and, if were traveling, we dont mind reading a novel digitally. The library's numbers tell the story. At the end of March, library data showed checkouts of print adult fiction and general nonfiction had dropped since last year. And while interest in the library's e-book, audiobook, DVD and music resources continued to grow, overall checkouts decreased 3.7 percent. Over the past five years, overall checkouts have dropped nearly 23 percent. These trends aren't unique to Sioux City. Iowa libraries as a whole saw a 4.7 percent drop in checkouts from their 2011 to 2014 fiscal years, according to the most recent data available from Iowa Library Services. Iowa State Librarian Michael Scott said preliminary data from 2015 show overall library checkouts continued to decline 1 to 2 percent last year, even as use of e-books and other downloadable materials continued to rise. "Theres been sort of a slow decline in overall circulation, but I think its changing in the sense of what type of materials people are seeking," Scott said. In Sioux City, Thompson said the shift in public interest is driving the library to change the way it uses its funds and assigns its staff. Last year, the library began offering tech consultations, where librarians meet one-on-one with patrons to help them learn to use their digital devices. The library's staff has also been weeding low-demand items from the print collection while bulking up digital offerings like e-books, downloadable audiobooks and music. Since four years ago when we had identified this was happening, weve probably taken away maybe a half-dozen shelf units, Thompson said. We are putting more dollars into e-books and downloadable stuff than we were five years ago. But Thompson said that while checkouts may be decreasing significantly, other important numbers are not. For example, the library's recent emphasis on early childhood literacy has attracted many to library events, and children's books accounted for nearly one-third of the library's total checkouts last year. Gate counts -- the number of people walking through the library's doors -- are steady from last year. And the number of people accessing the librarys Wi-Fi has risen dramatically, with 15,000 more people logging in than at this time last year. Just simply checking things out is no longer the primary measure of what a library does, Thompson said. Our slogan, Creating opportunities for a lifetime of learning, is still primarily what we do. We just do it differently. Scott said on the state level, many libraries are seeing the same thing, causing libraries to shift the way they gauge their success. "Circulation numbers have been sort of our bread and butter, but libraries offer so many different options beside the physical book," he said. "It still doesnt mean theyre not busy places." While Sioux City has seen a steep change in number of checkouts, however, some other Siouxland libraries seem to be bucking the trend. At South Sioux City Public Library, checkouts of print items have been steadily increasing. Library data show the number of materials checked out grew from 43,486 in 2011 to 59,369 in 2014, with checkouts of downloadable materials nearly doubling from 2013 to 2014. Were seeing e-books increasing, but we arent seeing the drop in books, said Library Director Dave Mixdorf. Were kind of at a point where were really within a thousand checkouts each and every year from the past few years very consistent. At Le Mars Public Library, director Shirley Taylor said she has seen slight increases as well. Last years approximately 89,000 checkouts were up more than 10,000 from 2011. Those increases are fueled by more e-book and audiobook checkouts, Taylor said, with print checkouts seeing a small decline. Though they may not be seeing as radical a decline, Le Mars and South Sioux City's libraries are also making changes to adapt to todays digital culture. Mixdorf said the library has started an online community where readers read e-books and connect with each other online. Mixdorf also said library computer usage is down while more people bring in their own devices to connect to the Wi-Fi. The library also schedules opportunities for staff to answer patrons' technology questions. Along with keeping up with the latest e-resources, Taylor pays close attention to the interests of Le Mars area residents, picking print books that she knows will keep coming off the shelves. We buy some things that we think round out our collection, but we really look at what circulates -- what will they really make the trip in there for? Taylor said. And as for print books, Taylor said the decreases don't mean they're going away. She and Thompson both cited studies that predict e-books are reaching their saturation point, meaning print books -- though more specialized in use than five years ago -- are here to stay. Amazon has opened a bookstore, (and) Barnes and Noble is scheduling to open some new bookstores, Taylor said. To me, that tells me that print books are still a driver, not only for libraries, but theres money to be had. SIOUX CITY | Briar Cliff University professors will speak on improving interview skills and financial well-being Thursday during the universitys honors program lecture series. The lecture series will be 7 p.m. Thursday in the St. Francis Center on the Briar Cliff campus, at 3303 Rebecca St. It is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Corey Stocco will present on Scientist as Sailor: The Important Scientific Exploration and Practice, which will discuss an assessment and training model used to teach interview skills to college students. Stocco holds a Ph.D. from Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts, and a masters degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Mark Nielsen will present on Charting a Course in Financial Time Travel, which will discuss some of the basics of handling money in todays modern financial climate. Nielsen is a certified public accountant and holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Iowa. SIOUX CITY | A Moville, Iowa, man who was arrested while transporting methamphetamine to his grandmother's house now faces federal charges. Andrew Tucker-Moreno, 30, was indicted April 20 in U.S. District Court in Sioux City on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Indicted with him was Justin Miller, 27, of South Sioux City, on the same two charges, plus possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Both have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to stand trial June 6. Tucker-Moreno and Miller are accused of conspiring with each other and other people from 2015 through March to sell 500 grams or more of meth. Tucker-Moreno was arrested March 21 after a traffic stop in Moville. Authorities found more than a pound of meth inside his truck. He told authorities he was transporting it to his grandmother's house. Miller was arrested March 16 in Sioux City after police busted a drug deal. He was found in the back seat of a car with a loaded .22-caliber revolver. Both men had been charged with drug and weapons offenses in Woodbury County District Court. The Woodbury County Attorney's Office dismissed their cases after the federal charges were filed. SIOUX CITY | With a record-breaking Saturday rainfall and a dreary Sunday in the rear-view mirror, a week of sunnier, warmer days will grant some relief to a soggy Siouxland. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's total rainfall of 1.59 inches in Sioux City broke a previous daily record of 1.23 inches set in 2003. The Sioux Gateway Airport reported that showers on Sunday added 0.61 inches of precipitation. Saturday's rain extended several flood warnings in Siouxland, where thousands of acres of farmland have experienced minor flooding. Flood warnings continue Monday for nine areas along the Big Sioux, Little Sioux, Ocheyedan and Vermillion rivers. Many of them are set to subside in the second half of the week. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, Monday will be mostly sunny with a high of 64. Monday night will be partly cloudy with a low of 40. Tuesday through Thursday will be sunny and mostly clear with highs in the upper 60s and 70s and lows in the 40s and 50s. The high is expected to climb to 77 degrees Friday and 78 degrees Saturday, with lows in the mid-50s. Saturday will also bring the next chance for rainfall, with a 30 percent chance of precipitation Saturday into Sunday. SIOUX CITY | Hundreds of handprints line the walls and stairwells of Crescent Park Elementary in Sioux City. Imprinted in red, yellow, green, blue or pink paint, they belong to students and staff members who have attended Crescent Park since the handprint tradition began more than two decades ago. During Crescent Park's open house Sunday afternoon, many of those former students and staff scoured the building for their handprints, taking one last photo to preserve the memory. At the end of the school year, those handprints will be covered by a new coat of paint as teachers and students vacate the building to move into the brand-new Perry Creek Elementary in the fall. The new school, at Hamilton Boulevard and 36th Street, will hold grades 1-5 from Lincoln, Clark and Crescent Park elementary schools. This transition will also close Lincoln Elementary, with Clark Elementary housing students from preschool to kindergarten. Crescent Park and Lincoln both held open houses Sunday afternoon, allowing past students and staff to bid one final farewell to the facilities. Its been like a mini class reunion, said Angela Calhoun, assistant principal at the three merging schools. Its a chance to honor the building and all the work thats been done here, all the kids that have come through here, and just to allow families to have that closure as they move on to the next building. Fourth-grade teacher Beth Engle, whos taught at Crescent Park for 29 years, said she was impressed by how many of her old students dropped by. Its been a little emotional, Engle said. You dont realize as a teacher who you touch sometimes." At Lincoln School, former students and teachers toured classrooms and perused photos in the main hallway. Michelle Eyer, of Sioux City, brought her 10-year-old son, Dayton, and 7-year-old daughter, Kaylee, to show them where she had attended school when she was their age. Its neat to see the classrooms and take your kids and say, Hey, this is where I was at, Eyer said. Phoenix Larned, a junior at West High School, said walking through Lincoln Elementary brought back many memories. I was remembering when I broke my arm, he said. I remember coming into the office and sitting at the desk, and its still there." Calhoun said if all goes well with construction, the teachers will be able to start moving into the Perry Creek building in July. She said for the next two to three years, the Crescent Park building will house students and teachers from Bryant Elementary, which is slated to undergo its own construction project. The district is still determining what to do with the Lincoln Elementary building. DES MOINES | Gov. Terry Branstad gave the Legislature passing marks Monday for producing a balanced budget that met state needs despite constraints. But he blamed majority Senate Democrats for blocking an effort to address water-quality problems, which was his top priority. Branstad said he was proud the Senate and GOP-led House made tough decisions in crafting a $7.351 billion spending plan for next fiscal year. It increased spending by $104 million and was $200,000 below the states 99 percent expenditure limitation law. The state will end the current fiscal year with a projected $75.3 million surplus on top of the $718.7 million in cash and emergency reserves. Lawmakers also approved an extra $72.4 million in supplemental spending through June 30, according to the Legislative Service Agency. Next fiscal years surplus was projected at $80 million by June 30, 2017, with reserves totaling $738 million at the required 10 percent level. I know that not everybody is satisfied because there just wasnt enough money to do all the things that people wanted, Branstad told his weekly news conference. But I applaud the Legislature for working together with a divided Legislature to accomplish this and to keep Iowa on a solid fiscal basis. Branstad expressed dismay that lawmakers werent able to find consensus on a long-term water quality funding plan. They rejected his bold plan to divert a portion of future sales tax revenue growth meant for school infrastructure toward programs to curb water pollution and promote conservation practices. The governor said he would have accepted a House-passed bipartisan plan to generate nearly half a billion dollars for water quality efforts over 13 years by shifting money from state infrastructure projects and using revenue Iowans already pay on their water bills to be distributed similarly to his approach. However, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said there was limited Senate interest in a House bill that essentially moved existing money around within the general fund when a new revenue source was needed to address the long-term needs. Gronstal said none of the three alternatives of a fractional sales tax increase, a new commodity checkoff option or an ending-balance trigger to fund water quality had consensus support to move forward. Branstad on Monday slammed Gronstal for burying the House bill in committee and he rejected the Senate leaders assessment that the various water-quality approaches lacked collaboration and communication in reaching the needed consensus to reach his desk. Hes the one that blocked it, hes the one that didnt let the bill be debated, Branstad said of Gronstal, who faces re-election this fall. Hes trying to blame somebody else for his unwillingness as majority leader to debate an important issue. I think hes going to have to be held accountable for that and it will be up to the voters to decide. Gronstal issued a statement responding to the governor later Monday, noting that the water-quality plans floated by the governor and House Republicans had little or no support from senators in either political party. Taking money from one priority public schools and giving it to another priority water quality was met with bipartisan opposition in the Senate and statewide opposition from education advocates, he said. Senate GOP Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock said Iowa farmers are continuing to make voluntary investments to improve water quality. He said he hoped lawmakers would continue talk with Iowans about the best way to address the challenges, including employing new technologies that are becoming available every day. What I hear from people is they want to make sure that we get the policy right, that were actually going to be pursuing efforts that hold the promise of actually improving our water quality and not just spending a lot of money that may not produce a desired result, Dix said at the close of Friday's session. In the current budget year, state funds totaling nearly $25 million were appropriated to the state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for water-quality initiatives. Another $12.55 million was provided to the state Department of Natural Resources for lake restoration and water-quality monitoring. Branstad said he plans to keep working during the interim to build support for a water-quality plan that can win legislative approval during the 2017 session. One water-quality alternative was a revenue-neutral plan offered during the session by Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, to incrementally raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 6.375 percent over three years to fund a constitutionally protected natural resource trust approved by Iowa voters in 2010 while offsetting it with a corresponding phased adjustment to the Iowa income tax filing thresholds. Johnsons proposal was ruled ineligible for consideration under a procedural challenge during a budget debate last week. Branstad indicated Monday the idea might be worth pursuing but not as a stand-alone sales tax increase. The three-eighths of a cent is something we'd be willing to consider, but not by raising taxes. There are other ways I think to do it," Branstad said. Asked to elaborate, he said, Youll hear about it in the future Im sure. DAVENPORT | A new poll says Iowa voters see U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, less favorably than they did two years ago. The survey, commissioned by the Constitutional Responsibility Project and the League of Conservation Voters, said 42 percent of Iowans see the Republican senator favorably, a drop of 18 points from two years ago. Thirty percent now see Grassley in a unfavorable light, the poll said. The two groups have been critical of Grassley and other Republicans for failing to move forward with the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland. The groups unveiled the poll results on a conference call with reporters on Monday. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters the Republican-controlled Congress has failed to act on a number of fronts, including the Garland nomination. The poll was conducted by Hart Research Associates from April 22-24 and sampled the opinions of 501 Iowans. Geoff Garin, president of Hart Research, said the Garland matter has affected Iowans' views toward Grassley. He noted a Hart Research poll two years ago said 60 percent of Iowans saw the senator favorably, while 19 percent saw him in an unfavorable light. "Those ratings have fallen precipitously," Garin said. Grassley's camp has dismissed the idea that Supreme Court controversy has diminished the longtime senator as he faces a re-election this year. His campaign pointed last week to a Morning Consult poll that said 55 percent of Iowans say they have a favorable impression, while 29 percent had an unfavorable opinion. In an email, Beth Levine, a Grassley spokeswoman responded: "Selective leaks from a partisan group with a partisan agenda makes you wonder about what else they learned. The White House and its paid political activists are trying to manufacture interest where its clearly not a defining issue. And, frankly, if polling actually made a difference to this White House, then Obamacare would be repealed by now." Congress is on recess now, and the White House is seeking to put more pressure on Republicans to bring Garland's nomination up for a vote. President Barack Obama was granting interviews with local television station reporters at the White House on Monday, including one from Des Moines. Enough bad feelings had come to a head that some 200 people felt a need to gather at the University of Northern Iowa on a November night to talk. The topic was diversity. The catalyst was the kind of language students were hearing around campus. I mean, when I hand out a flyer for the Baile, freshman elementary education major Chloey Arispe said at the time, referring to an Hispanic Latino Student Union dance, and someone goes, oh, this is just a beaner thing, I cant control whats coming out of their mouth. But I want, I want to control what happens when I report it when I say, Hey, Im not feeling comfortable. Encounters like that on campuses across the country are prompting an examination of whether or not limits on speech and expression should exist at a college or university. Its a controversial topic, raising this sticky question: If limits should exist, where do you place them? An IowaWatch college media journalism project in late winter and early spring revealed a general aversion to limiting speech and expression on several Iowa campuses but willingness among some to regulate speech hate speech for instance that threatens someone. That informal conclusion paired with results of a national study released in April. A national Gallup Poll for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Newseum Institute showed that seven of 10 college students nationally favored policies against slurs and other intentionally offensive language. You can be violent with someone without using your body, Sarah Clark, 21, a Cornell College senior from Salt Lake City, Utah, said. Basically saying to anyone that you dont have the right to exist in this space is hateful. It is hate speech. James Hampton, chair and professor of biology at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, said college campuses should promote the exchange of free ideas and that restricting what you can talk about on them doesnt make sense. But I do think it makes sense that, if you are trying to convince somebody that your idea is the correct one, that you use language that lets them hear you, Hampton said. If youre using hateful language, theyre not going to hear your ideas. Theyre going to hear your hatred. Iowa has had a fair share of instances where First Amendment free speech rights were challenged: -- University of Iowa officials washed away depictions of hearts abortion opponents drew in chalk on university sidewalks in mid-April. It was one of many incidents nationally involving university policies on what can and cannot be chalked. -- The U of I came under fire from free-speech advocates when administrators asked in December 2014 that a statue of a Ku Klux Klansman be removed from the Pentacrest. An adjunct art professor said he placed it there as a piece of art designed to make people uncomfortable and critical of the Klan. It made people uncomfortable angry in some instances and the message did not connect with many. University officials said they sought the removal because the artist did not have a permit to display at the Pentacrest. But university officials also apologized for any offense the statue caused. -- Iowa State Universitys student government rejected a measure calling for expanding free speech zones on campus. Unable to agree on the topic the student leaders opted instead to support a generic call for advocating free speech and asked Iowa State administration to clarify university policy on free speech zones. -- Meanwhile, ISU is appealing a federal court ruling that said the pro-marijuana group NORML may use ISU logos on t-shirts. -- Students at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, are involved in a spring battle of words over how to talk about minorities on campus. College administrators stepped in with public forums to calm nerves while promoting open speech but the words continued to fly into late April. -- Students at the University of Northern Iowa report that routinely used racially charged language and attitudes on campus create an unwelcoming atmosphere. Consistent low-level behavior and comments, called microaggressions, poison the atmosphere for African Americans and Latinos but also bisexual and transgendered people, students said in IowaWatch interviews and reports in the campus paper, The Northern Iowan. Ill be walking around campus and just be thinking, glancing at people and thinking, what do they think of me? or are they racist? or, just things like that, Alfred OBrien, 23, an African American who graduated from Northern Iowa in December with a degree in marketing management and ethics, said. Samantha Harris, director of policy research for the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, was critical of the U of I for asking that the KKK statue be taken down and for apologizing for it. Perfect example of how this subjective determination is an issue, Harris said. You shut down speech that is making a contribution to the marketplace of ideas. The U of I set out at the beginning of this year to establish a bias assessment response team that can respond to complaints about racially based comments or incidents that could violate student policy or a crime. Sarah Hansen, U of I vice president for student life, said the initiatives focus should not be on punishing people. Rather, the team, using the acronym BART, should provide a meaningful way to address the needs of people hurt or offended by something another student did that is illegal or which breaks the universitys student code of conduct, she said. My focus is much more on creating an atmosphere where we can encourage discourse about issues that we disagree about, Hansen said. CAMPUS SPEECH ON THE NATIONAL STAGE The Newseum Institute and the Knight Foundation have embarked on an effort to create suggestions later this year on whether or not acceptable boundaries for speech can exist at a college or university. They invited 42 students three from Iowa State to an April 2 conference in Washington, D.C., to share experiences. IowaWatch gave a presentation about its college media project at that conference. Two of the three Iowa State students were part of the IowaWatch project. Gene Policinski, Newseums chief operating officer, said he hoped to start a multi-year project to find a way to protect speech on campuses. Is there any real point any more to having free speech zones or a free speech location? First of all, my view, all of America is a free speech zone, Policinski said. But, when I can reach the planet with a tweet from my dorm room is there really any point now for universities to establish these zones of free speech? But there also are issues of intimidation. We see these Twitter campaigns where a persons reputation can be attacked very easily. The national Gallup Poll, delivered at that conference and released publicly two days later, showed that eight of every 10 students surveyed said they think it is more important for colleges to allow offensive speech than to prohibit certain speech. Seven of every 10 adults agreed with that, the survey showed. The Gallup Poll survey, conducted March 5-8 for the Knight Foundation and Newseum, was based on 3,072 responding college students ages 18 to 24 who are enrolled full-time at four-year colleges and 2,031 adults ages 18 and older. No Iowa students were surveyed. The margin of error for a 95 percent confidence level was plus or minus 3 percentage points for students and for adults. MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS CHALLENGED First Amendment rights advocates are quick to point out that freedom of speech does not remove accountability for what you say. You know, the price I pay for having freedom of speech is that all those other idiots out there get it, too, Andrew Pritchard, ISU assistant professor of journalism and communication and expert on communication law, said. Pritchard is a member of the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism-IowaWatch board of directors. Even speech that is not critical of a person or institution can provoke controversy. Kendall Hazel, 22, a Buena Vista University senior from Sergeant Bluff, told of how he wrote an opinion column that praised the universitys dining provider, Sedexo. The column, published in February by the student-run newspaper, The Tack, drew a strong response online from one anonymous writer who called the column disgusting and juvenile. What I learned from that moment was like, I wrote an opinion piece and someone commented on my opinion piece with their opinion piece, Hazel, who is graduating with a biology major, said. And I had the ability to comment back and say, Hey, thats fine. IowaWatch college media journalists contributing to this story were Christina Rueth and Clare McCarthy at Cornell College; Ian Schmidt at the University of Iowa; Taylor Zumbach at Mount Mercy University; Christie Smith and Makayla Tendall at Iowa State University; and Tiffany Brauckman, Brittany Poeppe and Kyle Wiebers at Buena Vista University. EVEREST BASE CAMP, Nepal | We reach Everest Base Camp on a sunny but chilly afternoon, after an eight-day trek that stretched our physical and mental limits. Aching knees from steep descents and headaches from mild altitude sickness are forgotten as the yellow and orange tents for the summit-bound framed by some of Himalaya's highest snow-capped peaks come into view. We stay for only about an hour on a hill overlooking the camp, pitched near Everest's Khumbu icefall. We take photos, along with dozens of other amateur trekkers from across the globe, before hiking to the nearest lodge, about three hours away. We're proud. We reached 17,598 feet. That's roughly 1,800 feet higher than Mount Blanc, the tallest peak in the Alps. Getting to one of Nepal's most popular trekking destination also brings home a simple truth it's the journey that matters. The 56-mile hike to Base Camp from an airstrip in the mountain village of Lukla was a "real pain," says Wayne Pedersen, 57, a South African who works in Dubai. "But I never would have missed it because of what I got out it the scenery, the beauty, the comradeship." THE JOURNEY BEGINS Our journey starts in early April, at the Shanker Hotel, a former 19th century royal palace in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. We each get a water-resistant duffel bag, sleeping bag and down jacket. Some of these trekkers came to Nepal last year, but abandoned their plans when an April 25, 2015 earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. The trekking industry a key money-maker for the country was hit hard. A year later, bookings are still down 40 percent, said Narayan Regmi of our tour company, Himalayan Glacier. "Please come to Nepal and help the destroyed economy," he says. Now my fellow trekkers, most in their 40s and 50s, are back for a second try. From Kathmandu, we fly 40 minutes northeast to Lukla, where the tiny Tenzing-Hillary airstrip named after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first to summit Everest is considered one of the world's most dangerous. Its stunted runway is bookended by a mountain wall and steep drop. In the mountains, the only modes of transportation are our feet, yaks, donkeys and in an emergency helicopters. We don't see a car for two weeks. AGONIES AND JOYS During our first downhill hike from Lukla, my left knee starts hurting. At the first overnight stop, I realize I've underestimated the physical challenges. In coming days, I take anti-inflammatory pills to get through steep descents. Coping with the rising altitude is the biggest challenge. A hasty ascent into air with less oxygen can lead to mountain sickness, with headaches and vomiting. Our Nepali head guide, Tulsi Bhatta, exhorts us to "go slow and drink lots of water." A few days into the trek, he begins measuring oxygen levels we stick a finger into a small gadget and offers those with poor readings a diuretic to alleviate symptoms. I get a headache at around the 13,000-feet mark. By the time we reach the night's stop in the village of Dingboche, I take one of Bhatta's pills and crawl into my sleeping bag. Unfortunately, a side effect involves frequent bathroom trips, which in our no-frills lodge means stumbling down a cold hallway with a flashlight. I'm better the next day. Others also suffer from minor bouts, but everyone recovers. We soon realize that pushing through exhaustion creates a special kind of satisfaction. The scenery is truly spectacular. It includes sightings of Everest, the world's highest mountain at 29,035 feet, and of Ama Dablam, a snow-topped peak flanked by long ridges that make it look like a giant ghost raising his arms. We repeatedly cross gorges cut by roaring white-water rivers, using wobbly suspension bridges adorned with colorful Buddhist prayer flags. Rhododendron trees with bright magenta blooms, green fields of onions and low rock walls line our path. Villagers occasionally greet us with a smile and a "Namaste." No one pushes goods on us. "You get a culture and one of the most amazing environments at the same time," says Steven Wilson, 49, a pastor from Lexington, Massachusetts, who is trekking with a different group. "I think that's the gift." ___ ETIQUETTE AND TEAHOUSES Spring and fall are peak seasons. The trail to Base Camp is more crowded than expected. Hikers make way for load-carrying yaks. Bells strapped around their necks announce their arrival. Porters, some in their early teens, have right of way. Hunched forward, they carry trekkers' heavy duffel bags and goods for local communities. This includes stoves, cooking gas, Coke and plywood for construction. Loads are suspended from headbands and cushioned with foam rolls pressed against lower backs. Bhatta, 32, who started as a porter, then learned English and became a guide, says he's been fortunate. "I didn't have any options," Bhatta, whose home was destroyed in the earthquake, says of his load-carrying days. "In Nepal, we don't have industries, nothing." It is always a relief to reach the teahouse simple lodges where we spend the night. Teahouses become more basic as we push up the mountain. Prices for bottled water increases, reflecting higher transport costs at rising elevations. Typically, a stove in the dining room burns dried yak dung for warmth and heats water in huge kettles. Weary trekkers play cards or read books as cookies are passed around. Dinner staples include egg dishes, soups, stuffed dumplings and the local specialty, dal bhat lentil soup over rice and vegetable-potato stew. Searching for protein, I buy cans of tuna, seek peanut butter for breakfast and eat yak steak twice. It's chewy, but edible when mixed with a sauce. Unheated rooms have wooden bunks with thin mattresses. Communal toilets and wash basins are common. Hot showers are increasingly rare at higher elevations. In a nightly ritual, I roll out my sleeping bag, cover a pillow with my own case and place a flashlight next to my head. There's little to do after nightfall except read. An 8 p.m. bedtime is not unusual. Bhatta and his assistants, always cheerful, come around with "bed tea" in the mornings, to make sure everyone is awake and ready to pack their bags. THE PAYOFF The rewards of the 12-day trek become more apparent toward the end. I'm stronger and more sure-footed. I fall into a rhythm as I plant my trekking poles on steep steps and push up without gasping for air. The sights and sounds of the trail make up for any remaining discomfort. Colorful prayer wheels whirl, powered by a small stream. Maroon-robed monks chant religious verses in the region's largest Buddhist monastery. A bird of prey glides above a canyon. Elsewhere, a group of Nepali men sit on the ground, gambling with dice and small shells. We walk in silence at times, single file. There are no pinging iPhones here, no distractions. It's a chance to contemplate issues that get pushed aside in the day-to-day busy-ness of life. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. 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 GREENBELT, Md. (May 2, 2016)U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Colbert Juan Jones, Jr., age 33, of St. Leonard, Maryland today to 10 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute powder cocaine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Chasanow also issued an order requiring Jones to forfeit over $20,000 in drug proceeds, two cars, two shotguns, and ammunition.On April 29, 2016, Judge Chasanow sentenced co-conspirator Vincent Leo Fletcher, age 29, of Clinton, Maryland to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute powder and crack cocaine.The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank Riehl of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ExplosivesBaltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement AdministrationWashington Field Division; Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George's County Police Department; Acting Chief Stanley Johnson, of the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George's County Division; Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry; St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron; and Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans.According to their plea agreements and other court documents, from January through July 2015, Jones and Fletcher conspired with Troy Taishon Swann, Antoine Dewayne Savoy, and James Devwan Pixley, to distribute cocaine. Jones obtained cocaine from Fletcher and other sources. Fletcher obtained two to 20 ounces of cocaine several times a month from Swann and other suppliers. Fletcher distributed the cocaine to his customers for further distribution, and used some of the powder cocaine to manufacture crack cocaine, which he also distributed.Jones sold cocaine to his customers, which included Savoy and Pixley. Jones often distributed the cocaine from the home of a female friend in Prince Frederick, Maryland, which Jones used as a stash house. Savoy and Pixley generally purchased cocaine from Jones several times a month and used at least half of that cocaine to manufacture crack cocaine, which they sold. On August 6, 2015, a search of Jones' stash house in Prince Frederick recovered: approximately 100 grams of cocaine and drug processing paraphernalia, which Jones had attempted to hide inside an audio speaker in the basement of the residence; a 20 gauge shotgun; and 14 rounds of ammunition. A search of Jones' residence on that same day recovered a 12 gauge shotgun and two boxes of ammunition, as well as $22,704 in cash, proceeds of Jones' drug distribution. Jones had been previously convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.Troy Taishon Swann, age 39, of Waldorf; Antoine Dewayne Savoy, age 35, of Lusby, Maryland; and James Devwan Pixley, age 25, of Waldorf, Maryland, have pleaded guilty to their participation in this drug trafficking conspiracy. In addition, Pixley admitted to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and Swann admitted to being a felon in possession of ammunition.Pixley and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts his plea agreement Pixley will be sentenced to between 10 and 14 years in prison. Judge Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for Pixley on June 6, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. Judge Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for Savoy on June 27, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. and for Swann on July 11 2016 at 11:00 a.m.United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, DEA, Prince George's County Police Department, Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George's County Division, and the Charles, St. Mary's and Calvert County Sheriffs' Offices for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael T. Packard and Leah J. Bressack, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. Omaha, Neb. (AP) An Omaha man accused of stealing a gay pride rainbow flag and burning it has been found guilty. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 24-year-old Cameron Mayfield was found guilty of arson. Prosecutors said that the charge was prosecuted as a felony, not a misdemeanor, because the incident was investigated as a hate crime. Mayfield was accused of taking the flag from the porch of a lesbian couple who lived near him, setting it on fire and waving it in the middle of the street in March 2015. James Martin Davis, who is Mayfields attorney, argued the act was a drunken prank and not a hate crime. Mayfield had testified that he thought the flag was a spring ornament, not a gay pride flag, and that he had no idea that the his neighbors were gay. Mayfield faces up to two years in prison. (EDGE) -- A transgender woman from New Zealand said she was fired from her hairstyling job at an all-male barber shop last year after she told her boss she was transitioning. She is now seeking legal action, the Daily Mail reports. Dakota Hemmingson, 23, claims she was fired from her job in April 2015 at Mensworks and Barkers Groom Room in Auckland, New Zealand after telling her boss Matt Swan she was transitioning. She said she was handed a letter that said she no longer fit the establishment's "commercial profile" even though she had eight years of hair dressing experience. "While she raised the issue almost a year ago, she has only just won the right to pursue her unfair dismissal claim with the Employment Relation Authority (ERA) after Mr Swan flat out denied that he was her employer and tried to have her pursue Mens Grooming Limited instead," the Daily Mail writes. Swan says he became Mensworks' director after Hemmingson left the company, adding he had nothing to do with her firing. But the ERA found that Swan signed Hemmingson's letter, which stated it would be in her "best interest" to leave the company. "We would like to mutually agree that due to the situation you have presented to us it would be in the best interests of yourself and the business to end your employment with Mensworks and Barkers Groom Room effective immediately," the letter, which Hemmingson refused to sign, reportedly reads. Though re-living the incident in the courts has been damaging for Hemmingson, she said she will continue to fight the for trans rights in the workplace. "It is exhausting mentally having to remember the moment someone told that who you are is not okay," Hemmingson told Daily Mail. "This is a country that is meant to be forward thinking and for the people, knowing you have this kind of protection as a trans person is a huge thing. People are telling me to keep fighting because it is the right thing to do - it is a human rights issue." She said the letter she received from her employer made her feel humiliated, rejected and even suicidal. "This has caused me a huge amount of emotional pain, triggering severe anxiety to the point where I couldn't even leave my room [and] depression to the point of making attempts to take my own life," she told the newspaper. Hemmingson found another job but says the experience has left her questioning if she will ever be accepted for who she is. She added she has undergone hours of counseling and sees a psychiatrist. "Every time I would go to introduced myself to a new client I would almost have a panic attack, freaking out thinking is this person going to tell me I am disgusting?" she told the Daily Mail. "I am definitely in a much better place than I was three or four months ago but that is because I made looking after my mental health my full time job. I am a great employee and I do my job well - I shouldn't be told that who I am is not okay." The Daily Mail notes mediation between Hemmingson and Mensworks has been unsuccessful and her unfair dismissal case is expected to be heard in June or July. Hemmingson's lawyer Nathan Santesso said the ERA is still waiting for Swan to respond to the initial claim, which was brought up on May 21, 2015. "I normally settle cases like this within a few weeks, we are coming up on almost a year here," he told Daily Mail Australia. He added that he is seeking around $30,000 in damages and lost wages for Hemmingson. C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) ESO A paper published in the journal Science Advances, lead author Karen Meech of the University of Hawai`is Institute for Astronomy and her colleagues conclude that C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) formed in the inner Solar System at the same time as the Earth itself, but was ejected at a very early stage. Their observations indicate that it is an ancient rocky body, rather than a contemporary asteroid that strayed out. As such, it is one of the potential building blocks of the rocky planets, such as the Earth, that was expelled from the inner Solar System and preserved in the deep freeze of the Oort Cloud for billions of years [1]. Karen Meech explains the unexpected observation: We already knew of many asteroids, but they have all been baked by billions of years near the Sun. This one is the first uncooked asteroid we could observe: it has been preserved in the best freezer there is. C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) was originally identified by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope as a weakly active comet a little over twice as far from the Sun as the Earth. Its current long orbital period (around 860 years) suggests that its source is in the Oort Cloud, and it was nudged comparatively recently into an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun. The team immediately noticed that C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) was unusual, as it does not have the characteristic tail that most long-period comets have when they approach so close to the Sun. As a result, it has been dubbed a Manx comet, after the [tailless cat]. Within weeks of its discovery, the team obtained spectra of the very faint object with ESOs Very Large Telescope in Chile. Careful study of the light reflected by C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) indicates that it is typical of asteroids known as S-type, which are usually found in the inner asteroid main belt. It does not look like a typical comet, which are believed to form in the outer Solar System and are icy, rather than rocky. It appears that the material has undergone very little processing, indicating that it has been deep frozen for a very long time. The very weak comet-like activity associated with C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS), which is consistent with the sublimation of water ice, is about a million times lower than active long-period comets at a similar distance from the Sun. The authors conclude that this object is probably made of fresh inner Solar System material that has been stored in the Oort Cloud and is now making its way back into the inner Solar System. A number of theoretical models are able to reproduce much of the structure we see in the Solar System. An important difference between these models is what they predict about the objects that make up the Oort Cloud. Different models predict significantly different ratios of icy to rocky objects. This first discovery of a rocky object from the Oort Cloud is therefore an important test of the different predictions of the models. The authors estimate that observations of 50-100 of these Manx comets are needed to distinguish between the current models, opening up another rich vein in the study of the origins of the Solar System. Co-author Olivier Hainaut (ESO, Garching, Germany), concludes: Weve found the first rocky comet, and we are looking for others. Depending how many we find, we will know whether the giant planets danced across the Solar System when they were young, or if they grew up quietly without moving much. Notes [1] The Oort cloud is a huge region surrounding the Sun like a giant, thick soap bubble. It is estimated that it contains trillions of tiny icy bodies. Occasionally, one of these bodies gets nudged and falls into the inner Solar System, where the heat of the sun turns it into a comet. These icy bodies are thought to have been ejected from the region of the giant planets as these were forming, in the early days of the Solar System. More information This research was presented in a paper entitled Inner Solar System Material Discovered in the Oort Cloud, by Karen Meech et al., in the journal Science Advances. The team is composed of Karen J. Meech (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA), Bin Yang (ESO, Santiago, Chile), Jan Kleyna (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA), Olivier R. Hainaut (ESO, Garching, Germany), Svetlana Berdyugina (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, USA; Kiepenheuer Institut fur Sonnenphysik, Freiburg, Germany), Jacqueline V. Keane (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA), Marco Micheli (ESA, Frascati, Italy), Alessandro Morbidelli (Laboratoire Lagrange/Observatoire de la Cote dAzur/CNRS/Universite Nice Sophia Antipolis, France) and Richard J. Wainscoat (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA). ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the worlds most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the worlds most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the worlds largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre European Extremely Large Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become the worlds biggest eye on the sky. Kevin Bohlins Saint Frank Coffee is considered by some to be one of the worlds best coffee shops, serving exacting, nuanced cups of coffee to the city of San Francisco. It is, in Bohlins own words, extremely nichean establishment built by specialty coffee people for coffee aficionados. But Bohlin wants to do more: he wants to help specialty coffee eclipse commodity coffee, and in doing so, help coffee producers in coffee producing countries to grow, evolve, and improve their lives. For risk of sounding hyperbolic, Kevin Bohlin wants to help change the world. With this in mind, Kevin Bohlin and the team at Saint Frank Coffee have opened St. Clare Coffee, a new pop-up in the lobby of the SPUR Building in San Franciscos sprawling SOMA neighborhood. The goal of St. Clare (named after St. Clare herself, the first female follower of St. Francis) is, first and foremost, accessibility. Bohlin wants to open up the world of specialty coffee to those who arent just looking for light-roasted, flavor-profile-forward brews. And while hes at it, he wants to help coffee producers who may be toiling in the middle ground between commodity and specialty coffee to up their game, to help them push the limits of the quality of their coffee. Beyond this, Bohlin and St. Clare are working with Not For Sale, a San Francisco-based non-profit that focuses on battling human trafficking and sex slavery in developing countries to not only provide financial support, but to help provide survivors of sex trafficking a route to learning barista skills and becoming a functioning part of society. Though St. Clare is in pop-up mode now, Bohlin hopes to not only tastefully expand the retail reach within the Bay Area. But unlike Saint Frank, the coffee and vision of St. Clare is destined for wholesale distribution across the United States. We sat down with Bohlin on a sunny afternoon to discuss accessibility, working with Not For Sale, and just what it means to him to make good coffee do good. Whats the original spark of an idea behind St. Clare? I enjoy working with producers that dont have a specialty coffee connection. These are places that are producing coffees that are, if you had to put a number on them, 83s that totally could be 86s or 87s. Its just a matter of creating space and a relationship and a market for them. Doing this gives me more accessibility to producing communities, and I can work with more coffee. These coffees can be sweet and have bodies; we can develop the roast and then these coffees are more accessible to more people. What we want to do is keep the full traceability and transparency of these coffees but make them more successful. We wont have to limit how long its on the shelf. And if were blessed with the option to grow as a company, then these coffees can grow with us. How does this differ from Saint Frank? Saint Frank is high-end place, and I love it and couldnt be more proud of it, but we are extremely niche. And for me to keep buying more producers and for me to play a part in impacting the specialty coffee world, we need to be able to do more. We want to make delicious coffee but I also want to be part of making the world better. That said, the more we grow at St. Clare, the better Saint Frank gets. All those coffee communities we work with, when were able to identify their best coffee, those coffees will go to Saint Frank. Tell us about St. Clares work with Not For Sale. Not For Sale (NFS) is an organization that tries to stop human trafficking and modern-day slavery. I went to their gala and heard stories about these young women whod been kidnapped and it was sobering. We found out that NFS was working in Northern Thailand with the Aaka Tribes because theyre one of the most at-risk communities for trafficking in the world. As it turns out, this guy Lee Ayu is out in the sticks of Northern Thailand growing specialty coffee. Lees doing incredible work out there with the village hes from, but no ones been importing Thai coffee because its basically commodity grade, but Ive tasted the 85s and 86s and Im like, lets do this. How does your involvement with NFS benefit these communities? Ive learned that you need success stories in these communities. Let this success grow through their own networks and let them see that happening. This isnt charity. When you can do it through business its much more empowering to the people involved. Theyre working for it and theyre doing it on their own. We want to make a difference but it has to be a sustainable business. Beyond that though, you guys are also working with survivors of trafficking in America. NFS helps a lot of these survivors get involved in society contributing work forces. I thought, lets teach them how to be baristas. But for a lot of these wonderful ladies, Saint Frank and Russian Hill are a really different world from where they came from. Accessibility is a part of the emerging story of St. Clare so lets provide coffee in a work environment that is more accessible for the people we want to work with while helping to open up [specialty coffee] to a less niche customer base. How will this affect what you serve at St. Clare? Were going to serve regional blends, where instead of a single farmer itll be the region where theyre from. Were also going to make a version of a Thai Iced Coffee but were getting the coffee from Thailand. Where does the name St. Clare come from? St. Clare was the first woman to follow after St. Francis and his crazy, radical movement and this band of great-hearted misfits. The second Order of Franciscans is called The Poor Clares. In medieval, patriarchal Italy, women had no opportunities The Church wanted her to have a formal benefactor and for her to create a nunnery and she said no. Shes going to be poor and shes going to beg and theyre going to do this and they dont need formal benefaction to follow God. So she gets permission from The Pope and thats just what she does. Shes a great example of an independent woman. At the end of the day, whats your philosophy at St. Clare? We can do something about this tragic human supply chain by using the coffee supply chain. Over there we can help produce great coffee at great prices and change the economics of their villages and then over here, we can give really great people a great chance to be baristas. How cool is it that we can help like that? Noah Sanders (@sandersnoah) is a Sprudge.com staff writer based in San Francisco, and a contributor to SF Weekly, Side One Track One, and The Bold Italic. Read more Noah Sanders on Sprudge. Oran, May 1, 2016 (SPS) - President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Sunday has hailed the position of the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) in favour of just causes around the world and the right of peoples to self-determination. In a message marking the International Workers' Day, read on his behalf by the adviser at the Presidency of the Republic, Mohamed Benamar Zerhouni, President Bouteflika underlined that the choice of the Central Union (UGTA) "to celebrate the Labour Day under the theme 'Solidarity with Sahrawi People' shows the clear commitment of your organization, like all Algerian people, to supporting just causes around the world, and to defending the principle of peoples' rights to self-determination." "This decision shows the Central Union's faithfulness to its founding principles and its history, as being one of the key players in the national liberation movement to regain Algeria's independence and sovereignty," said the Head of State. "How could it not support this cause on such symbolic day and in the month when the Polisario Front was created as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, who are still being denied their right to self-determination," said the President of the Republic. "This position, which does it credit, is backed by the United Nations, which has included Western Sahara in the list of non-self-governing territories since 1963," added the Head of State. (SPS) 062/090/700 The 21-year old refugee has suffered severe burns and is currently being treated by Australian medics on the island, the Australian ABC News broadcaster said. On Friday, the Iranian refugee died after setting himself alight when UN officials were visiting the refugee detention facilities on Nauru, where over 450 refugees are waiting for their asylum applications to be processed by Australia. "GPS internacional gives the audience a tool to navigate through the rough sea of Latin American politics, and search for answers to the main problems of our Big Homeland, in a changing and challenging world," Cardozo said of the new show. "I am very glad to sign this cooperation agreement between Sputnik and Radiodifusion Nacional del Uruguay, to host GPS Internacional' anchored by journalist Fabian Cardozo, a program that will examine Latin American problems. There is a need to generate these kind of programs for our audience, and we hope that our collaboration with Sputnik will be mutually productive," RNU Director Pedro Ramela said. "Sputnik is rapidly growing its presence around the world and wants to maintain professional dialogue with leading media outlets. The agreement we have signed with the national radio of Uruguay offers new information opportunities to provide fresh news and quality information to our audiences," Said Oleg Vyazmitinov, head of Sputnik Mundo hub. Sputnik (sputniknews.com) is a news agency and radio network with multimedia news hubs in dozens of countries. Sputnik broadcasts through its websites in over 30 languages, as well as analog and digital radio, mobile apps and social media. Sputnik newswires, available by subscription, run around the clock in English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese. Radiodifusion Nacional del Uruguay (RNU) is a public service oriented agency that aims to fulfill every citizen's right to information and free expression, and access to high quality products. RNU has four radio stations: Radio Uruguay, Radio Clasica, Babel and Emisora del Sur, and it retransmits through all parts of the country. Pluralism, the search for the truth and objectivity, tolerance and solidarity, the defense of democratic values, are its principles. RNU tries to promote Uruguayan and Latin American cultural values and regional and Latin American integration. *Mercosur (Mercado Comun del Sur) a sub-regional bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Venezuela which aims to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency. Both experts agree that the fall in oil prices will not be drastic. The falling dollar will help keep oil prices from dropping too much. "We believe oil prices will be largely rangebound between $40-$45 ahead of the June OPEC meeting," Starkey noted. On Monday, oil prices slid back from 2016 peaks given the rising production in the Middle East and a falling dollar. The Brent crude price now stands at $46.28 per barrel, as of 15:00 GMT. Analysts also concur that OPEC economies are upscaling output volumes, being heavily dependent on oil revenues and trying to compensate for the loss in price. "Due to the low price environment, countries that depend on 'petrodollars' have to produce as much revenue as possible. So to make up for low prices, producers are putting more on the market. They are also using the production and low price environment to make a run at more market share," Cinquegrana explained. Global oil prices plunged from $115 to less than $30 per barrel between June 2014 and January 2016, hitting their lowest levels since 2003 amid an ongoing glut in global oil supply. The oil output freeze was first proposed at a Doha meeting of OPECs Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Venezuela with Russia in February, in an attempt to reduce the supply glut that has pushed oil prices downward. "In the resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 53, dated January 13, 1947, the first paragraph reads, in the dry official language, that the organ has adopted Comrade Stalin's proposal to build eight high-rise buildings within a five year period, five of which are to have 16 floors, two 26 floors, and one 32 floors. The following paragraphs concern the buildings' planned location, and specify that their proportions and silhouettes must be of an original design, and should not be similar to other well-known examples of high rise buildings abroad." "There are several possible answers to the question as to why Stalin required the construction of such buildings, at a time when the country's economy was still in ruins following the Second World War," Zakharchenko notes. According to the ABC broadcaster, the church went up in flames late Sunday. A local retirement home was evacuated due to the blaze, with two residents requiring hospitalization over chest pains. "They [the firefighters] were surprised by the intensity of the fire and how quickly the building collapsed, and it almost caught people by surprise. We're very lucky only three firefighters were injured," Mullins said, as quoted by the media outlet. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Taxi drivers blocked traffic on a part of the Delhi-Gurgaon highway in protest against India's Supreme Court ruling to ban diesel cabs in the capital, local media reported Monday citing police. "The taxi drivers on Monday morning blocked both the carraigeways on Rajokri flyover near the old Delhi toll booth on Gurgaon to Dhaula Kuan road," a traffic police official said as quoted by the Indo-Asian News Service. The deadline for the taxis' transition from diesel to a cleaner type of fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) expired on May 1 after being extended twice. New Delhi (Sputnik) However, Indias larger objective is to woo its neighbors through soft diplomacy. The Indian government has formulated a grand plan to promote tourism in places which are part of its "Buddhist Circuit." Accordingly, all of the relevant sites will have airports so that visitors will be able to travel between them with relative ease. "Buddhist Circuit" is the term being used to describe places in India which are related to the life and teachings of Buddha, including Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Rajgir, Shravasti, Lumbini and Kapilvastu. These places are sacred to Buddhists around the world and numerous devotees from Japan, China, Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka visit them every year. Buddhism has its roots from Hinduism, it originated first in India and later spread across Asia. pic.twitter.com/QArThZ82kB Ayushi Pandey (@ayushi3pandey) 17 April 2016 Mahesh Sharma, India's Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, announced in parliament on Monday that the "tourism industry has earned 1.35 trillion rupees last year from foreign visitors. Under the Buddhist Tourism Circuit, eight places have been covered and 1.7 billion rupees has been allocated for the purpose of connectivity." Kumar further said that some kind of regulation is necessary to curb this fatal trend. A lawmaker recently put up a question in Parliament, raising concern over people risking their lives for photographs of themselves. In his query, lawmaker Dr. K.P. Ramalingam asked whether it is a fact that India leads in the number of selfie deaths all over the world and whether the Government was planning to bring about regulations to check this dangerous trend. In reply the government said that there is no central database of selfie deaths and no proposal under consideration to come out with any specific guidelines to prevent such deaths in the country. Nonetheless, the city of Mumbai has declared 16 dangerous sites particularly along the coastline in spots with no railings or barriers as "selfie-free" zones where you can be fined for snapping yourself with your phone. The Railway Police has also directed its officials to book selfie-takers under sections related to attempt to commit suicide or create nuisance which could invite a jail term of up to a year. Mumbai authorities took this step after a group of girls drowned in the sea while posing for a selfie in January this year. While Railway Police issued the directions after three youths were killed during an attempt to take a selfie in front of a moving train. Another died while attempting to take a selfie near the exit of a speeding train. Several other incidents of "selfie-deaths" were reported across India in the last couple of years. According to various reports, at least 49 selfie related deaths have occurred around the world in the last two years, with 19 of those in India. The cause of such "selfie-deaths" has ranged from being trampled by an elephant, falling from cliffs and drowning in the ocean apart from being run over by moving trains. According to the press service, Director of RATS SCO Yevgeniy Sysoyev held a meeting with Indian Secretary of External Affairs Sujata Mehta last week. "The parties discussed mechanisms that can facilitate accession of Indias competent authorities to the SCO RATS operations should such decision be made during the forthcoming SCO Heads of States Summit in Tashkent in June this year," the RATS press service said in a statement issued following the meeting. TOKYO (Sputnik) The Japanese Defense Ministry confirmed in a statement on Monday it plans to lease up to five TC-90 training aircraft to the Philippines. In March, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said that his country plans to lease five aircraft from Japan to patrol the South China Sea, which contains a number of islands and territories disputed by many countries. "The sides admit that defense cooperation between Japan and Philippines is essential for peace, stability and prosperity in the region we confirm that cooperation efforts will include the following: up to five aircraft of the MSDF [Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force] will be transferred to the [Philippine] Navy," the statement published after a phone call between Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani with his Philippine counterpart Voltaire Gazmin said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The so-called governor of the Taliban movement for the Afghan Kandahar province has been killed during a special operation of the government forces, the countrys Interior Ministry announced Monday. "As a result of this joint operation, Taliban so-called governor and deputy governor for Kandahar province named Haji Lala and Ahmad Shah Hemat [were] killed along [with] 43 other armed Taliban [militants]," the ministry said in a statement. The two countries have also participated in joint military exercises recently, with another planned for June. According to an Indian naval official, those drills will focus on anti-submarine warfare. While the initial goal is to coordinate surveillance activities, officials say that this will eventually lead to both countries sharing patrol duties across the entire Indian Ocean. According to David Brewster, a security expert with the Australian National University, Australia will likely also take part in this cooperation, given its recent acquisition of a dozen new submarines. "We are likely to ultimately see a division of responsibilities in the Indian Ocean between those three countries, and with the potential to also share facilities," he said. On Sunday, Indias first conventional submarine, Kalvari, conducted its first successful test. To understand what that would mean in practice consider the contrast between what the US public wants and what the US has actually done under successive US administrations. Whereas the US public since 9/11 has been overwhelmingly focused on jihadi terrorism as the greatest threat to the US, the US foreign policy establishment is only minimally interested in that question. Its priority is to secure US world hegemony by reshaping the world geopolitical map. Thank you! WE will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/aKxoD24IN9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 27 April 2016 First and foremost that has meant confronting the two great powers Russia and China the US sees as the primary obstacle to its hegemony. It has also meant a series of geopolitical adventures in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, a protracted confrontation with Iran, and head on collisions with Russia and China in Ukraine and the South China Sea. The US public for its part has shown little or no enthusiasm for any of these projects. By contrast the US foreign policy establishment has show little enthusiasm for confronting the Islamic State/Daesh. Earlier this week, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned that any deal "will not succeed if it does not guarantee that the [quality] standards we have in France for our citizens' health and environment will be maintained." Notably, this was followed by skeptical statements by the French Ministers of Finance and Foreign Trade. Matthias Fekl, the French Foreign Trade Minister, expressed his skepticism regarding the "likelihood or risk" of reaching the agreement during what remains of Barack Obama's presidential term. Emmanuel Macron, the Finance Minister agreed, saying that "there is no urgency" to sign the agreement without being sure that it is "complete, ambitious and does not disown any of our interests." TTIP aims to topple regulatory and tariff barriers to trade and investment between the United States and Europe, open up the EU services sector and better European access to US government procurement projects. Initially, the agreement was to be signed in secret, without disclosing the contents to the public. However, in 2014, a proposed draft was leaked. The European Commission consequently launched a public consultation on a limited set of clauses and in January, 2015 published parts of an overview and subsequently increased security over its secrecy. The Independent summarized the controversial agreement as "reducing the regulatory barriers to trade for big business, things like food safety law, environmental legislation, banking regulations and the sovereign powers of individual nations", or more critically as an "assault on European and US societies by transnational corporations". "A total of 18 people were arrested in Paris and in the provinces. Like all those who break the law, they will answer for their actions in court," Cazeneuve said in a statement, as quoted by his ministry, on Sunday. On Sunday, clashes broke out when a group of young men, hiding their faces behind motorcycle helmets and hoods started throwing garbage and bottles at police. The police used tear gas to disperse activists. On May 2, 2014, pro-Kiev radicals blocked anti-government protesters in Odessa's House of Trade Unions and set the building on fire by hurling Molotov cocktails inside. "Today we recall the tragic events in Odessa on 2 May 2014 that left more than 40 people dead and 200 injured. I urge the government of Ukraine to follow up on the recommendations of the Council of Europe International Advisory Panel and to carry out an independent and transparent investigation," Jan Tombinski said in a statement on the EU delegation's Facebook page. KIEV (Sputnik) The Ukrainian police found an explosive device near the vehicle in the center of Odessa and detained a person who allegedly planted it, local police press service said in a statement. Police officers found an explosive device similar to a smoke bomb at the Deribasivska st. near a GAZelle car. A 20-year-old man was detained at the scene, his involvement in the incident is being verified," the statement reads. The tensions in the city are high amid the second anniversary of the May 2014 violence that saw nearly 50 anti-government activists killed. A deal on issues including health service provisions, mortgage arrears, as well as agricultural and rural problems is expected to be reached by Thursday, with the independents stressing that the provision of cardiac services in Ireland's South East is key to their participation in government , according to the media outlet. After the February 26 general election, Fine Gael lost 17 parliament seats, finishing with 49 seats. Its main rival, the Republican Fianna Fail party, more than doubled its seat count from 21 to 44. The Labour Party faced a crushing defeat, seeing its mandates drop from 37 five years ago to six. Last week, French state-owned company DCNS took over its competitors from Germany and Japan to secure the $39-billion contract to design and build Australia's new fleet. According to the deal, all the ship are to be constructed in Australia. "I will supervise, myself, the implementation of our commitments with the minister of defense who will be coming shortly to Australia," Valls said at a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull, broadcast by ABC News. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Estonian military on Monday starts major drills dubbed the Spring Storm involving NATO troops in the country's southeast near the border with Russia, according to the Estonian Defense Forces statement issued on Monday. "The Spring Storm will make the military units more mature, preparing them for the war-time. The exercise will demonstrate the recruits in action, [as well as] the skills they had acquired," Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Defense Forces Lt. Gen. Riho Terras said as quoted in the statement. The journalist, a Muslim using the pseudonym Said Ramzi, carried out an investigation into the preparation of would-be jihadists of a terrorist attack in France, according to the AFP preview of the documentary, which is to be aired in France on Monday. Ramzi describes himself as a Muslim "of the same generation as the killers" who carried out the November 13 terror attacks which left 130 people dead in Paris. "My goal was to understand what was going on inside their heads," he told AFP. BERLIN (Sputnik) The German Economic Ministry on Monday refused to comment on the authenticity of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) documents recently leaked by Greenpeace. On Sunday, Greenpeace said it obtained 248 pages of classified TTIP documents representing around two-thirds of the draft free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. "I cannot comment on issues of the authenticity, origin and the contents of these documents. We do not have such information and I cannot comment on this," a ministry representative told reporters. Border security on the Danish-German border was tightened on January 4 following a similar decision by Sweden. The Danish ministry said that continuing Swedish border controls and a "historically high" number of migrants , refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Germany meant that many of undocumented migrants could be stranded in Denmark. "Such accumulation could threaten public order and internal security in Denmark, and we must take it seriously. It is therefore necessary that we extend border controls," Migration Minister Inger Stojberg said, as cited on the ministrys website. Indeed, both at the state level and among ordinary Russians, the Odessa tragedy was etched into peoples' minds as a demonstration of the utter madness unfolding in post-Maidan Ukraine. If before, people criticized the new government in Kiev primarily for its 'anti-Russian' and 'pro-Western' pivot, after Odessa, criticism also shifted onto the post-coup government's open ties with ultranationalist and openly-fascist groups of fighters. With the Soviet Union suffering over 20 million deaths at the hands of the Nazis, the idea that their Ukrainian brothers could tolerate or even cozy up to the followers of known war criminals truly was a sign of madness for Russians. For their part, Russian authorities have continued to push for real and open investigation into the tragedy, which Kiev has stalled for over two years. Last week, Russia circulated a draft statement in the UN Security Council reiterating the need for an investigation to occur. The US and the UK ended up blocking the initiative, something Russia's permanent UN representative Vitaly Churkin called "shameless." For his part, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who was ousted from his post together with President Viktor Yanukovych during the events of Maidan, took time out on the anniversary of the massacre to criticize not only Kiev, but the Western governments that continue to back it. "It is clear," Azarov wrote, "that the Kiev regime is doing its utmost to conceal from the Ukrainian people and the international community the truth about this tragedy of a global scale. What is unclear is why the US government, Germany, France, the UK and other countries that call themselves civilized and democratic remain silent about this crime." At the same time, the former prime minister emphasized that he has not lost hope that the perpetrators of the violence will be punished, and that Odessa will one day be liberated from its present 'occupation'. "Odessa, which is Ukraine's most freedom-loving city, has been under occupation for two years. This is a black period in the city's history, but it will surely come to an end." LUGANSK (Sputnik) A rally commemorating the deadly May 2014 Odessa fire will be held Monday in Austrias capital Vienna, a member of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) said. May 2 marks two years since a fire at the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, Ukraine killed 48 anti-Kiev activists and wounded over 250. "A special event will be held in Vienna this afternoon," WFTU Austria member Oliver Jonischkeit said at a memorial service in Lugansk, eastern Ukraine. "Our colleagues in Austria will remember the victims of fascism and those who perished during the tragic events in Odessa." MOSCOW (Sputnik) German intelligence services are currently monitoring activities of about 90 Islamic mosques amid a high terror threat in the country, the head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution said Monday. "We are closely monitoring about 90 Muslim communities of mosques in Germany, predominantly those which speak Arabic," Hans-Georg Maassen told the ARD broadcaster in an interview. BERLIN (Sputnik) About 50 people gathered on Monday in the central part of Berlin to participate in a rally commemorating the second anniversary of the deadly fire in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported. Representatives of human rights groups from both Germany and Ukraine, as well as Odesa's residents and journalists gathered near the Brandenburg Gate. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Brussels and Washington have more controversy in their negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) than has ever been publicly acknowledged by the European Commission, Reinhard Buetikofer, co-chair of the European Green Party, said Monday. On Sunday, Greenpeace said it had obtained 248 pages of classified TTIP documents representing around two-thirds of the draft free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. The documents expose the leading role of corporate interests in the proposed deal, as well as policies posing a threat to the environment and public health, according to Greenpeace. "The most recent TTIP leak provides ample proof of one core fact: The contradictions between the official positions of both sides are far greater than the European Commission has ever publicly acknowledged," Buetikofer said, as quoted by the party's press release. VILNIUS (Sputnik) NATO fighter aircraft tasked to guard the Baltic States' airspace, were scrambled five times last week to intercept the Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said in a press release on Monday. "From April 25 to 30 NATO fighter jets conducting the Air Policing Mission in the Baltic States were scrambled five times to intercept military aircraft of the Russian Federation in international airspace over the Baltic Sea," the press release reads. ODESSA (Ukraine) (Sputnik) Eight foreign reporters were prohibited from entering the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa to cover the events commemorating the second anniversary of the massacre in the city, a lawyer representing one of the people accused of involvement in the deadly events said Monday. "About eight journalists were not allowed to enter [the city]," Kirill Shevchuk told RIA Novosti. He added that the reporters, including those from Poland, France, the Netherlands and Germany, were turned back at passport control in Odessa's airport. RIGA (Sputnik) A Latvian citizen, who had been sentenced in Riga for an online post calling for Latvia to join Russia, appealed the verdict on Monday, his lawyer Ilona Bulgakova said. In 2014, Maxim Koptelov published a petition online, which was calling for Latvia becoming part of Russia, while the bottom line of the post read that it should be treated as a joke. In February, 2015, he was arrested over the issue. Latvian Security Police (DP), which investigated the case, came to a conclusion that the suspect was fully aware of the consequences of his actions, and the text of the petition was qualified as a public call for the liquidation of the state independence, while Koptelov was sentenced to six months in prison. VIENNA (Sputnik) The 2016 Immortal Regiment march, commemorating the Victory Day all across the globe, will take place in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Sunday, May 8, the coordinator of the event said Monday. On May 9, Russia and former Soviet states celebrate the anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany. The day also commemorates the end of war in Europe. The Immortal Regiment is a patriotic initiative that marks the victory. During the marches, people carry photographs of their ancestors, who participated in World War II. "The Victory Day Organizing Committee decided to hold the event on May 8, which is a day-off, when everyone may come to the square and take part in the initiative. So it will be more convenient for the majority of citizens," Sofia Parfyonova told RIA Novosti. "In 2015, the highest number of asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors was registered in Sweden (with almost 35 300 unaccompanied minors, or 40% of all those registered in the EU Member States), followed by Germany (14 400, or 16%), Hungary (8 800, or 10%) and Austria (8 300, or 9%)," the press release continued. Some 51 percent of unaccompanied minors originate from Afghanistan, according to the press release. More than 1.8 million migrants entered the European Union in 2015, according to the EU border agency Frontex. The party demands that the EU returns many of its responsibilities to national governments. If Brussels doesn't, then AfD will push for "the withdrawal of Germany or a democratic dissolution of the EU and the establishment of a new European Economic Community." The party categorically rejects Turkish membership of the EU, which it calls a "non-negotiable" condition of participation in any coalition government. The party also calls for the Bundestag to "order the end of the Euro experiment," and if German parliamentarians don't, then the AfD wants a referendum on German membership of the single currency. German banks should not be responsible for the debts of foreign banks. Instead, banks in the Eurozone should have their "obligations limited to the national level." Foreign Policy and National Security AfD calls for the reintroduction of conscription, and the withdrawal of all foreign troops, and nuclear weapons, from Germany. While some factions in the party expressed their wish to leave the NATO alliance, the manifesto states that Germany should remain in NATO, which "corresponds to the foreign and security interests of Germany, as long as NATO restricts itself to its role as a defensive alliance." Der Spiegel reported that during a lively debate, party vice-chairman Alexander Gauland intervened to recall Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck. Gauland said that if Bismarck were alive today, he would have recommended Germany remain in the alliance. Border Control and Internal Policing AfD calls for the formation of a "nationwide system of border protection under the umbrella of the federal police." The force will supervise border crossings, which "can be closed at any time if there is a dangerous situation." The party recommends that Germany's unsupervised "green border," land where the border is not under active supervision, could be policed "according to the Austrian example, using conscripts." Islam and Migration The party believes that "Islam does not belong in Germany," and wants to ban minarets and the call to prayer, and the full-face veil for women. AfD also wants to deny corporate status to Islamic organizations, and ban religious methods of animal slaughter practiced by Jews and Muslims. The party wants to promote the traditional family, and calls for "more children instead of mass migration." Tax The party proposes greatly simplifying the tax system, cutting taxes for low- to middle-income earners, particularly families. Under the AfD inheritance tax would be abolished, and taxes on businesses reviewed. While the party gave no specific figures, it wants to constitutionally limit the amount of taxes and duty, in order to limit "state power over citizens." Energy AfD wants to extend the use of nuclear power stations and reverse the phasing out of nuclear power, which began in 2002 with the Nuclear Exit Law. The party wants to repeal the Renewable Energies Act, stop subsidizing biofuels and explore the possibilities of fracking. "The climate has been changing for as long as the Earth has existed. Climate change politics is based on ineffective IPCC computer models. Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, but an indispensable ingredient of everyday life," the manifesto's energy section begins. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague has started arbitrating a case filed by Ukrainian companies against Russia over gasoline money in the breakaway Crimean region, a PCA statement said Monday. Two arbitral proceedings were launched in June 2015 by Ukraines largest energy producer Ukrnafta and the second by Stabil LLC and ten others against Russia on accusations that Moscow allegedly breached a 1998 deal with Kiev "by interfering with and ultimately expropriating their investments in petrol stations located in Crimea." Russia responded in August and September 2015 by refusing to recognize the invoked agreement on the encouragement and mutual protection of investments as a basis for composing an arbitral tribunal, or PCAs jurisdiction in this case. Nonetheless, after the release of these products the US witnessed a spike in autoimmune diseases, and complaints of wheat sensitivity, or Celiac disease. Medium-term tests show no association between consumption of genetically engineered products and these ailments, leading the concerns to be dismissed as a fad among hypochondriacs. More concerning, however, has been the large-scale die-off of US bee colonies that serve the vital natural function for pollinating crops. It remains to be seen whether the recent die-offs are related to genetically modified crops or to the potent glyphosate-based pesticides, including Monsantos Round-Up, that are routinely used on these crops. Finally, Monsantos patenting of genetically-modified seeds has led to their litigation and seizure of small farms for intellectual property theft when natural cross-pollination led non-genetically modified crops to bear strains that included elements of the genetically modified 'Round-Up Ready' seeds. Will the TTIP be Expedited in Spite of Growing Public Dissent? During the 2016 US presidential cycle, Republicans and Democrats have come together to decry trade deals, citing a litany of economic and environmental concerns. Likely Republican nominee Donald Trump frequently cites NAFTA and CAFTA as examples that trade deals expand the US trade imbalance and destroy the middle class. Democratic insurgent Bernie Sanders similarly critiques international trade deals but also includes concerns about workers wages and rights as well as environmental degradation. No-one should be afraid to go to the Wiesn [Theresienwiese], deputy Munich mayor Josef Schmid told Suddeutsche Zeitung. "There is no concrete danger. But of course we're adjusting ourselves to the changed global context." Ulises Guilarte, the secretary general of the Workers' Central Union of Cuba, in his celebration speech, noted that this year the labor holiday is also to condemn those who seek to overthrow or otherwise destabilize leftist governments across Latin America. Guilarte named Brazil's Dilma Rousseff, who is currently facing impeachment procedures; Evo Morales of Bolivia, who recently lost a referendum to allow him a fourth term; and Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, whose opponents seek to remove him from power in a referendum. Galvez is accused of running a powerful cocaine-trafficking gang which has been tied to many murders in the region, the media outlet reported. "I have the right to the presumption of innocence. They didn't find anything [drugs] with me," Galvez told reporters as he was getting on a Peruvian Air Force plane, as quoted by the British broadcaster. MOSCOW (Sputnik) In mid-March, the MUD coalition, which control's the country's parliament, approved the first reading of a draft law on holding a recall referendum to oust Maduro. "We hand over to the CNE [Venezuelas National Electoral Council] 80 boxes each with 2,500 sheets for a total of 200,000 forms containing 1.85 million signatures," MUD Secretary-General Jesus Torrealba wrote on his official Twitter account. Under Venezuelan law, a successful recall referendum held after January 2017 will transfer power to Maduro's vice president rather than initiate new presidential elections. The numbers of radicalized Europeans who travel to Iraq and Syria has fallen in recent times, as security has been strengthened. In January, US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander Gen. John Kelly warned that the number of extremists in the Caribbean has been on the rise in the past year. ANKARA (Sputnik) At least one serviceman has been killed and 23 people have been injured by a blast near the gendarmerie in southeastern Turkey, the country's General Staff said Monday. According to the General Staff, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Ankara, staged an explosion in the Dicle district of the Diyarbakir province on late Sunday. "The members of the separatist terrorist organization [PKK] on May 1 detonated a car bomb near the district gendarmerie and the military residence building in Dicle, Diyarbakir province. As a result, one of our soldiers was killed and 20 were wounded, as well as three members of servicemen's families, " the Turkish General Staff said in a statement. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Turkish Armed Forces killed 34 Daesh (IS) terrorists in northern Syria, local media reported on Monday. According to the Turkish Anadolu news agency, terrorist positions have been shelled by the T-155 Firtina (Storm) self-propelled howitzer and long-range artillery. For months, Turkey's southern districts have been subjected to shelling from the territories in Syria occupied by Daesh terrorists. Turkish troops deployed in the vicinity of the country's border with Syria retaliate by shelling positions belonging to the terrorist group, which is outlawed in a number of countries, including Russia. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Syrian military confirmed that the "regime of silence" in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb to the east of the Syrian capital Damascus, has been extended for another two days, a military source told Sputnik on Monday. "It was agreed to extend the truce in the Eastern Ghouta area for 48 hours," the source said. Earlier in the day, Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, the head of the Russian Syria reconciliation center, said the Russian and US sides had agreed with the Syrian government and moderate opposition to prolong the "regime of silence" in the Eastern Ghouta area for two more days until midnight May 4 local time (21:00 GMT May 3). MOSCOW (Sputnik) The United States and Russia agreed to create in Geneva a new monitoring group to oversee the implementation of the Syria ceasefire regime, US State Secretary John Kerry said Monday. "Russian and the United States have agreed that there will be additional personal, who will work from here in Geneva on a daily basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to try to make sure that there is a better ability to be able to enforce the cessation of hostilities [in Syria]," Kerry said following the talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. Moscow and Washington have understanding on how to move forward in addressing the truce situation in Syria, but there is still work to be done, Kerry added. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US-led coalition against the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as Daesh, conducted 25 airstrikes in Syria and Iraq on Sunday destroying the terrorists infrastructure and targets, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release. "In Syria, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes using attack, ground-attack and fighter aircraft against ISIL [Islamic State] targets," the release stated on Monday. "Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using attack, ground-attack and fighter aircraft against ISIL targets." The seven coalition airstrikes near four Syrian cities, including Raqqa and Hawl, destroyed multiple Daesh fighting positions and tactical units, along with a rocket system, according to CENTCOM. GENEVA (Sputnik) UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Monday he had agreed with US State Secretary John Kerry that controls must be tightened over the Syrian ceasefire deal. The UN envoy met with Kerry in the Swiss city of Geneva earlier in the day to discuss the peace process in the country. "The mechanism needs a political will, otherwise it will [remain] only a mechanism. And that has actually been discussed today the [plan] for a much better mechanism for monitoring and controlling a new ceasefire," de Mistura told reporters at a joint press briefing with Kerry. DAMASCUS (Sputnik) A source told Sputnik that militants had attacked the city from five directions simultaneously but were pulled back by the airstrikes of Syria's air forces. "Terrorists of the Nusra [Front] and their allies attempted to attack positions of the [Syrian] army and militia in the western part of Aleppo. The scale of the attack forced the army to request the Syrian Air Force's support, its airstrikes left dozens of militants killed," the source said. In January, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States attempted a new round of peace talks to settle the ongoing instability in Afghanistan and to bring the Taliban into negotiations. The talks fell apart in March when Pakistan, the mediator of the talks, failed to deliver Taliban representation. Bringing the Taliban into a peace settlement will depend on the resilience of the Afghan government, Jalali explained in a speech to the Middle East Institute on Monday. "The longer the state continues to fight them, I think they less opportunity they will have to come back." Jalali indicated that the Taliban would be less apt to enter peace talks if they are in a position of strength. "The priority is to build the capacity of the [Afghan] government so that this will force them [the Taliban] to the negotiating table," he said. Throughout 2015, Afghan Security Forces faced a resurgent Taliban, despite official claims that that nearly 70 percent of the country had returned to government control. US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper asserted in March that fighting in Afghanistan will be even more intense than in 2015, when the Afghan Security Forces suffered more than 6,500 casualties. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Daesh faction inside of Afghanistan poses a threat, but does not have strategic consequences for the countrys future, former Interior Minister of Afghanistan Ali Jalali told Sputnik on Monday. They are not in a position to change the situation drastically, Jalali said of the spread of the Islamic State, or Daesh, to parts of Afghanistan. Jalali emphasized that Daesh terrorists can kill people, but they cannot change the strategic situation. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Several airstrikes have hit warehouses that supplied medical items and fuel to hospital in the Syrian city Aleppo, the US division of the international humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a Twitter message on Monday. "Update from Syria: Warehouses with medical supplies for Aleppo hospitals also being hit by airstrikes," MSF stated. "Ambulances, medical items & fuel destroyed." On April 28, the al-Quds hospital in Aleppo, supported by the charity organization, was attacked with an airstrike, which directly hit the building, killing at least 50 people. Overall, the country is creeping toward moderation, with allies of President Hassan Rouhani scoring victories throughout the country in parliamentary elections. Rouhanis moderate coalition now outnumbers the countrys avowed Islamist hardliners for the first time since 2004, signaling a populist sea change in the political makeup of the country. Official results show President Rouhanis reformist coalition making up 133 members of the parliament with conservatives holding on to 125 seats. The remaining MPs belong to independent and minority parties expected to align with Rouhani to form a coalition government. MOSCOW (Sputnik) "Assailant stabbed Israeli man in Jerusalem. Victim moderately injured. Police searching area for attacker," the IDF said on its Twitter account. Later in the day, media reported, citing police sources that a 60-year-old man was in light-to-moderate condition after being stabbed at 10:15 p.m. local time (19:15 GMT). The unidentified victim fled the crime scene, however the knife had already been found by the law enforcement officers. Israel has been facing a wave of violence since early September 2015, which has claimed lives of more than 34 Israelis and foreign citizens and injured more than 380, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Gunness explained that an April 7 outbreak of fighting between armed groups in southern Damascus neighborhoods had forced the United Nations to suspend deliveries. "For the sake of the well-being and dignity of Palestine refugees and other civilians inside Yarmouk and in the Yalda area, it is imperative that all concerned actors ensure the long-term continuation of the conditions which enabled the success of UNRWA's mission today," Gunness noted. The aid deliveries resumed despite a general unravelling of a US-Russia brokered ceasefire that began on February 27. In Geneva on Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in an attempt to restore compliance with the ceasefire. Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with several opposition factions and terrorist groups like the Islamic State, also known as Daesh and outlawed in Russia and other countries, seeking to topple the government of President Bashar Assad. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Taliban attacks against Afghan Security Forces and civilians began escalating during the winter of 2015 after peace overtures failed. "After a series of bloody attacks that took lives across Afghanistan over the last few months, finally the Afghan government, with the backing of the Afghan people have decided they are going to go on the offensive," Samad stated on Monday. Despite the escalation in violence, Samad said Afghan leaders are going to "go on the offensive and try to keep the doors for talks open" to the Taliban. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US support for Afghanistan should continue after President Barack Obama leaves office next year, former Afghan ambassador and senior government advisor Omar Samad told Sputnik. "I think it would be detrimental if the United States withdraws or suddenly stops being involved or engaged in Afghanistan," Samad said on Monday. "The US role [in Afghanistan] will be defined by the result of the elections here" and by prior US commitments. The United States and international forces officially withdrew their combat troops from Afghanistan in 2014. Obama had planned to reduce the US presence to a small embassy security force by the end of his term in office, but altered those plans last year due to Taliban resurgence and the spread of the Islamic State terror group into the country. "Building a mountain is not a simple thing," says Bruintjes. "We are still busy finalizing assimilation, so we are doing a spread of all kinds of heights, widths and locations as we review the local climatology." The researcher cautioned that the project remains at an early phase and that overall the effort may be prohibitively expensive for the UAE government. "The project gives them an idea of what kind of alternatives there are for the long-term future." This would not be the first time that the wealthy Arab country attempted to recreate the world around them. In 2001 the UAE began construction of the Palm islands two artificial islands, Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali, constructed from sand dredged from the bottom of the Persian Gulf. According to Le360 news portals Sunday report, citing intelligence sources, the detainees were in constant contact with Daesh members in Iraq for staging terrorist attacks in Brussels. Other targets included military objects, a police station and an airport in Nador. The Daesh militant group controls large areas of Syria and Iraq and is banned in many countries, including Russia. The group is notorious for its brutality and human rights violations, as well as for recruiting people from all over the world via social networks through which it spreads its radical ideology and urges young people to join the group. Eventually, the number of British personnel in the country will stand at around 70, with servicemen carrying out medical, logistical and engineering duties. As many as 300 soldiers will also be deployed in South Sudan, the British broadcaster reported. "I think there's a combination of things that are accurate and inaccurate [in the report] I think the 9/11 Commission took that joint inquiry and those 28 pages or so and followed through on the investigation and then came out with a very clear judgment that there was no evidence that Saudi government as an institution or Saudi officials or individuals had provided financial support to al Qaeda," Brennan said on Sunday as quoted by The Hill portal. On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda suicide bombers hijacked four passenger planes in the United States, crashing two into New York's World Trade Center towers, another into the Pentagon and the fourth was sent in the direction of Washington D.C., presumably to attack the White House or the Capitol. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Military exercises involving US troops begin in western Finland on Monday, amid controversy that has surrounded the Northern European countrys involvement with NATO for years, local media said. The drills near the Finnish village of Niinisalo involve 2,300 Finnish and 185 US soldiers, as well as hundreds of pieces of military hardware, among them 20 Stryker armored vehicles, Finlands public broadcaster Yle reported. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US State Department has approved a possible $30-million worth sale of air-to-surface Hellfire Missiles and associated equipment to France, the Defense Cooperation Agency said in a press release on Monday. "The estimated MDE [Major Defense Equipment] cost in this amendment is $25 million. The total estimated cost is $30 million," the release stated. The Defense Cooperation Agency noted that the French government has previously requested 264 Hellfire Missiles of different models. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27. It was supported by Damascus, as well as by dozens of opposition groups on the ground. Despite the deal, violence has been escalating in the country in recent weeks, especially in the northern Aleppo region. "And so these are critical hours. We look for Russias cooperation. We obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond with the international communitys powerful statement through the UN Security Council," Kerry said in Geneva on Sunday before a meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting several opposition factions and militant groups, such as the Daesh. "We have other issues to discuss in terms of the developments in the region the absence of a negotiating track between the Palestinians and Israelis, an ongoing challenge and one that continues to threaten stability not just in the region, but beyond that as well as other region developments," Judeh told reporters before the meeting. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition of their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. Israel has been building settlements on the occupied territories, despite objection from the United Nations. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the CNBC television channel, the 704-passenger vessel left Miami at 16:00 [20:00 GMT] on Sunday. The cruise is expected to reach Cuba at 10:00 local time [14:00 GMT]. The cruise ship, called Adonia, is part of the "impact travel" program which envisages travellers not only taking part in leisurely activities but also working with locals at each stop. US tourists are currently not allowed in Cuba, but may qualify for one of 12 categories, including "people-to-people" and "cultural exchange" programs which Carnival, the company running the cruise, offers. "This was a painful decision. We would have preferred to have had a legal framework to restructure our debts in an orderly manner. But faced with the inability to meet the demands of our creditors and the needs of our people, I had to make a choice. I decided that essential services for the 3.5 million American citizens in Puerto Rico came first," Garcia Padilla said, as quoted by the media outlet. Puerto Ricos debt is $72 billion. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that the Ukrainian authorities must continue the inquiry into the May 2, 2014 Odessa fire that killed 48 people. Lavrov raised the issue of Ukraine during a phone conversation with his US counterpart John Kerry. "When discussing the Ukrainian agenda, [Sergei] Lavrov reminded about the importance of pushing for an investigation into the tragedy that happened in Odessa on May 2, 2014," the ministry said in a statement. Camilla Hansen, who won the Miss Sweden title in 2014 and represented her country at that year's Miss Universe pageant, told the New York Post that in spite of the gibes, she was impressed by Trump when she met him. "Hes obviously a very successful guy," she said. "I think he is a likable person when you're around him because he's someone who takes over a room." Hansen pictured with Trump in 2014. Hansen said that she was not offended by Obama's joke, which "brought a smile to my face." "I thought it was kind of funny, but also a little derogatory, obviously. [Obama] was kind of being sarcastic about me and the other women in the competition. Its sort of important for us. But it was light-hearted," she said. Davutoglu wants to carve out a political space for himself, but Erdogan is not intent on allowing the head of the executive whether Davutoglu or anybody else to have any significant degree of political independence, said former Turkish diplomat Sinan Ulgen. "Erdogan is intent on fully controlling both the executive but also the political agenda of the country and he can only do that if he has this degree of control." While critics have dubbed this a troubling move, the AKP has taken pains to downplay its significance. "This authority has been taken back by the MKYK so that issues concerning the party can be discussed intensively and in more detail," party spokesman Omer Celik told reporters on Friday. "It is not right to consider this change as a very radical move." Gord Macey (@GordMacey) May 2, 2016 Responding to whether she was bothered that her husband may be the infamous mass murderer and that his political campaign may just be a ruse to travel around the country "zodiac killing," as comedian Larry Wilmore suggested on Saturday at the White House Correspondents Dinner, she said, "Well, Ive been married to him for 15 years and I know pretty well who he is, so it doesnt bother me at all." Andrew Ziegler (@zieg) May 2, 2016 Notably, the candidates spouse refrained from actually calling the allegations false, instead suggesting that "there is a lot of garbage out there." In February, Public Policy Polling conducted a poll of likely Florida Republican voters asking them whether they believed it was possible that Cruz may in fact be the long unidentified mass murderer. Although 62% of Florida Republicans assured us that they do not believe that Cruz is the Zodiac Killer, 38% believed it was a definite possibility. Responding to the findings, Andrei Bortsov, a Russian blogger and columnist for the Russian internet news and analysis project PolitRussia, suggests there were several basic flaws with the results. "I have repeatedly pointing out tortuousness of the wording of such polls: what exactly is a 'citizen of the world'? The concept is very uncertain, and among the [Russian] intelligentsia (not to be confused with intellectuals!) means something along the lines of 'patriotism is for the riffraff, while I would like to flit around the world without any commitments or obligations." Thankfully, Bortsov notes, at least the BBC had the courtesy to provide an explanation of its methedology, the BBC Russian article reading: "When respondents were asked to choose the criterion which was most important to their self-identification, they were given five options: 'citizen of my country', 'citizen of the world', 'member of my local community', 'member of my religion', and 'member of my race or culture'. Just over half respondents, 52%, chose 'citizen of my country'." Russians, for their part, "entered the troika of patriots on this question," Bortsov said. "For 70 percent of Russians, their Russian citizenship was the main criterion for their self-identification. Here, however, the pollsters asked the question incorrectly, mixing race with culture and simultaneously not offering the option 'nationality' as a response." Nevertheless, "since the final result we're talking about is Russia's 'mentally closed' nature, that's not so important." The Space Review, the Russian journalist continues, "has emphasized that for the US, the price of shipping cargo to the ISS is just as crucial as the price of an individual 'seat' for the astronauts. And [NASA] puts reliability above all else everything else is secondary. An intimation has also been made about the billionaire's excessive ambitions, and his interest in self-promotion and 'fantastic projects' such as flights to Mars." SpaceX, Sitnikov notes, still also needs to work out kinks in its vehicles. This, he says, is evident by the March 2013 incident when the Dragon went out of control for several hours and was nearly lost after reaching orbit due to a faulty thruster valve. "And so," the journalist summarizes: "the price tag for the launch of the Falcon 9 amounts to $133 million, while Roscosmos, according to American sources, offers clients launches using the Proton-M for $90 million a pop, and $65 million for a series (according to some sources, it's $50 million). At the same time, the Russian carrier is capable of taking satellites with a weight of up to 6.7 tons into geosynchronous orbit, compared to 5.3 tons for the Falcon-9." "In other words, the real competition will begin when Elon Musk reduces the price of his ships' mission to at least $60 millions. It is indicative that the head of SpaceX has put these objectives in front of him. But in the meantime, his business relies solely on US protectionism, which showers him in the gold of the US treasury." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The Science and Technology Corporation in the US state of Virginia has been awarded a $39.3 million contract to support a project to simulate space exploration activities with computers before real-life missions are attempted, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said in a press release. "Contract objectives include: modeling, simulation, analysis of systems relevant to the NASA aeronautics, exploration, space operations and science missions," the release explained on Monday. The company will work with several departments in NASAs Advanced Supercomputing Division and the agencys Aeromechanics Office, according to the release. The decision came after WhatsApp announced plans to encrypt its service in an effort to ensure user privacy against surveillance. Judge Marcel Montalvo ordered WhatsApp to produce chat records related to a drug investigation, but the company refused to comply, informing the court that it did not maintain chat records and was unable to decrypt the data even if it had the records. This is the second time Brazilian authorities called for a temporary shutdown of WhatsApp. In December 2015, Judge Montalvo ordered the service to be blocked for 48 hours following allegations that the Facebook-owned company refused to take down child pornography. The 48-hour ban was rescinded 12 hours later, when another judge ruled it was "not reasonable that millions of users should be affected by the inertia of the company." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Artificial Intelligence had already taken over defense targeting decisions on Aegis missile warships of the US Navy, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work told a conference at the Atlantic Council. "You'll have learning machines that sense we're under attack," Work stated on Monday. "We already have it in the Aegis combat system. [In any attack up to] 60 inbound missiles the machine takes over Machines will give extraordinarily good options to the commander." Work assured the conference that the US government would never allow Artificial Intelligence to have the power to fire nuclear missiles in any offensive capacity. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the New York Daily News newspaper, the fire at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava began at around 18:50 local time [22:50 GMT] on Sunday, and soon grew to a three-alarm blaze. Huge fire at Serbian Orthodox Church on w 25th street in Manhattan ppl crying, horrible fire pic.twitter.com/S5qTp2Eg9O Mike Gallagher (@radiotalkermike) 1 2016 . Beautiful old church on fire on 25th Street in Manhattan. Really sad. pic.twitter.com/v8yq0TfZ5q Alex Schieferdecker (@alexschief) 1 2016 . Nobody was in the church when the fire started, according to the newspaper. Still, some residents are optimistic about the plan. After all, they live in a state where voters supported Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton by more than 20 percent during the Colorado primary. Sanders is proposing a similar Medicare for All measure at the national level. Some say theyre still paying too much in premiums along with thousands in deductibles even with Obama Care. No matter how long we hang in there with the Affordable Care Act, we will never cover everybody, said Jeanne Nicholson, a former Democratic state senator who supports universal health care. We dont understand why we should compromise and say some people can have bronze coverage, some can have silver and some can have gold. Why cant we all have platinum plus? Although unprecedented in the US, a single payer health care system in which a public or quasi-public entity manages health care financing is not unheard of elsewhere. Several developed countries including the UK, Canada and Brazil have these systems. Imagine what the @CIA are planning for the 10th anniversary Puppets? Opera? Pixelated animated gifs? #UBLRaid James Saunders (@Jimbolinos) 1 2016 . Back then it was announced that Bin Laden was killed shortly after 1am on May 2, 2011, local time, after the Seal Team stormed the compound in Pakistan where he had been in hiding for years. @CIA This is unprofessional and serves no edifying purpose. Please stop. Will you reprise this bad idea every year or just to help #Hillary? Zippyman818 (@zippyman818) 1 2016 . The body of the infamous terrorist however was never displayed to the public. So CIA expense out trillions on war against UBL. All were tax money. But citizens have no right to see the body of UBL?#FalseFlag#UBLRaid Osama Sultan (@MuJahidSheroze) 1 2016 . In a process that the US government said was carried out for security reasons, Osama bin Ladens body was reportedly then buried at sea off a US aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson. #UBLRaid Once an anti-Soviet warrior, then a terrorist. After ops they lost the body. pic.twitter.com/KWFIRwkbHX (@sabena_siddiqi) 2 2016 . Images of the burial at sea, along with other pictures of the corpse were reportedly taken, but the Obama administration has resisted all efforts by media sources and other groups to obtain them. Usama Bin Ladin the perfect example for "how to use an agent"@CIA #UBLRaid christos karamanov (@CKaramanov) 1 2016 . This fact has caused many Internet users doubt the truth of the operation. Why dont @CIA begins from the day when Bin Laden was recruited by CIA. We surely want to know the complete and hidden story. #UBLRaid kiran Raza (@kiranraza_01) 1 2016 . Seymour Hersh, the Pulitzer-prize winning investigative journalist renowned for breaking the My Lai and Abu Ghraib stories, believes the actual story of bin Ladens killing differs from the official one. In his new book The killing of Osama bin Laden he called it a targeted assassination, quoting a retired US official as saying the bin Laden killing was clearly and absolutely a premeditated murder and a former SEAL commander as saying by law we know what were doing inside Pakistan is homicide. He was a prisoner of war! The SEALs werent proud of that mission; they were so mad it was outed, Hersh said in an interview with the US-based website Salon. I bet, if ever Americans found UBL's body, they had put it in museum to show it to living world. That wasn't Usama, #UBLRaid is just a drama Dr Shahid Bhutta (@DrBhutta1) 2 2016 . I know a lot about what they think and what they thought and what they were debriefed, I will tell you that. They were very unhappy about the attention paid to that because they went in and it was just a hit. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) In addition, Trumps appeal to voters in the opposing party, Democrats, bests Clintons appeal to Republicans, the poll revealed. "Trump picks up 15 percent of Democrats, while just eight percent of GOP [Grand Old Party] Republican voters prefer Clinton," said a press release with the poll. Overall, 41 percent of likely US voters surveyed picked Trump, compared with 39 percent for Clinton, the poll explained. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Laws in the US state of Colorado that regulate fracking in the states oil and natural gas industry supersede laws approved in two local communities to ban the practice, the state Supreme Court ruled on Monday. In the first of two rulings, the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a local law approved in the city of Fort Collins imposing a five year ban on fracking, saying "the moratorium is preempted by state law and is, therefore, invalid and 20 unenforceable." In a second related ruling, the Supreme Court struck down an outright ban on fracking in the city of Longmont, which the court also said was pre-empted by state law. After being confronted at the party, Watters snatched the phone out of Grims hands, and punches were thrown as Grim attempted to take it back. Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) May 1, 2016 The duo grappled and threw punches as they tumbled into a couch and knocked over a table. The blows continued for several minutes, until the two were pulled apart by guests including RNC executive director Sean Spicer. "Jesse should retire from the ambush business if he can't deal with it on the other end," an unapologetic Grim told The Hollywood Reporter regarding the incident. Watters has not publicly commented on the incident, but is reportedly set to address it on Monday evenings episode of the OReilly Factor. "All of the issues mentioned are well known to the JPO, the US Services, International Partners and our Industry team," JPO chief LT. Christopher Bogdan wrote in response to the GAO report. "Overall, the F-35 program is executing well across the entire spectrum of acquisition, to include development and design, flight test, production, fielding and base stand-up, training, sustainment of fielded aircraft, and building a global sustainment enterprise." But Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, chief of Air Force Material Command, points out that while the F-35s could still function, they would do so at a severe disadvantage. "I dont need ALIS to put fuel in the plane and fly it, [I can] take a part and replace it if I have the spares there. But somewhere along the line Ive got to tell ALIS that I did it so that the supply chain will now know that that part has got to be replaced," Pawlikowski said, according to Defense News. "You can turn on your laptop, you can use it, you can turn it off and never be on the internet. But eventually there is stuff you want to send out by email, eventually there are things you may want to put on your Google drive." The US territory now looks to Washington to prevent a shutdown of vital services. The Puerto Rican government requests that Capitol Hill draft legislation that would grant the territory Super Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, allowing it to discard the debt. In that event, investors would lose their entire stake. An organization called the Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF), founded by former smoking advocate W. Thomas Humber, who led the National Smokers Alliance, has been running two absurdly disingenuous ads, telling voters to call Washington to prevent a bailout of Puerto Rico on the "backs of savers and seniors." As some 70% of the investors in Puerto Rican bonds are billionaire hedge fund clients and the remaining 30% are millionaires invested in high-yield mutual funds, the adverts are misleading at best. The advertisements designed to turn public opinion against the impoverished American territory may undermine the progression of a political solution. In that event, economists worry that Puerto Rico will face mounting debt payments without the support of Washington and diminished access to capital, leading the territory to spin into a major recession and a collapse of Puerto Ricos civil sector. NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Sputnik) On May 9, former Soviet republics, including Russia, celebrate the anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany. The day also commemorates the end of war in Europe. The Immortal Regiment is a patriotic initiative that marks the victory. During the marches, people carry photographs of their ancestors, who participated in World War II. The first US march was held in the city of New York on May 3, 2015. On May 7-8, the marches will be held in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington. In response to the backlash, the Sheriff's Department announced that they will be conducting random email audits and implementing new policies aimed at reducing bigotry and racism on the force. "Despite the Sheriff's Department's many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do," McDonnell stated in a press release. Angel told the Times that his reasoning behind continuing the lowest-common-denominator race and cultural attitudes was pretty simple, as he had not expected to get caught. "Anybody in the workplace unfortunately forwards emails from time to time that they probably shouldn't have forwarded," Angel told the Times. "I apologize if I offended anybody, but the intent was not for the public to have seen these jokes." On Saturday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov stressed that the interception was carried out in accordance with international law. "At the same time we want to note that the RC-135U reconnaissance plane tries to sneak up to the Russian border with the transponder turned off all the time," he told reporters. "Therefore, air defense forces on duty have to lift our fighter to visually identify the type of aircraft and its tail number." On Monday, Richardson called on Moscow to abide by maritime treaties which seek to prevent international mishaps. "We continue to advocate for that," he said. Azerbaijan does not recognize the ethnically Armenian self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and considers the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army to be a part of the Armed Forces of Armenia. The violence in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on April 2. Baku and Yerevan have accused each other of provoking hostilities that led to multiple deaths on each side. The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988, when the autonomous region sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, before proclaiming independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The warring sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities in 1994. If Finland joins NATO, it could spoil the country's relations with Russia for an indefinite period, according to an independent assessment report quoted by the Finnish broadcaster Yle , which added that Russian military experts shared the report's concerns. The survey on the implications of Finland's full NATO membership was conducted by a panel of prominent diplomats and researchers, including former Swedish Ambassador to Helsinki Mats Bergquist, Chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Francois Heisbourg, former Finnish Ambassador to Moscow Rene Nyberg and Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs Teija Tiilikainen. The effects of Finland's possible NATO membership Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland: https://t.co/rE7URLiT6R pic.twitter.com/Utk1tTMYgR On security/Lundin (@londil) 30 2016 . The report said that Finland already belongs to NATO's inner circle of partners and, "with the exception of air surveillance and control, Finland is close to the limit of what a non-member can achieve with the alliance." On Sunday, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov arrived in Saudi Arabia on a three-day visit to hold talks with the Saudi senior officials. In particular, the sides have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of security, a memorandum of cooperation in the field of trade and industry, a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, the government said, as quoted by the Trend news agency. GENEVA (Sputnik) US State Secretary John Kerry said Monday he wanted to bring up the issue of a nationwide Syrian ceasefire during a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later in the day. "I will be talking later today by telephone with Foreign Minister Lavrov and Staffan de Mistura will be traveling to Moscow tomorrow," Kerry told reporters in Geneva. "We are trying in the next hours to see if it is possible to reach agreement that will not just re-implement the cessation but create a path forward for the cessation to hold so that there is not just one day of silence, two days of silence but an ongoing process that relieves people of Syria from this devastation," he stressed. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The upcoming meeting between UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will focus on the Syrian crisis settlement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday. "Syrian settlement," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters when answering a question about the topic of the meeting. Rouhani met with his South Korean counterpart, Park Geun-hye, for a summit in Tehran, where both leaders brought up the issue of North Koreas nuclear and ballistic program. "Iran wishes for peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and we are in principle against producing any kind of Weapons of Mass Destruction. We wish for a world without WMDs and nuclear weapons, especially in the Korean peninsula and the Middle East," Rouhani said, as cited on his official website. GENEVA (Sputnik) UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Monday he was planning to call on Russia to promote ceasefire in Syria during his upcoming visit to Moscow. "There is no excuse for not finding, again, and reinvigorating and reinstalling and re-implementing what has been the only strong message the Syrian people have heard from all of us: that its possible to have talks when finally the cessation of hostilities is reducing the violence on them. Tomorrow, as we discussed, I am going to Moscow and the message will be exactly the same," he said at a press briefing in Geneva. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Ottawa has no reason to join US missile defense program as the nation faces no direct high-level threats, New Democratic Party of Canada defense critic Randall Garrison told Sputnik. "There are no good reasons for Canada to consider at this time joining the US ballistic missile defense program," Garrison said. "Canada decided not to participate and I think that was a good decision. I think we have no evidence of high priority direct threats to Canada from ballistic missiles." In April, the Canadian lawmaker announced in a release that the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is secretly discussing Canadas participation in the US "Star Wars" ballistic missile defense program. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US military pilots would have to shoot at Russian planes that perform flyby maneuvers over American aircraft if diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents fail, US presidential candidate Donald Trump told an Indiana radio station on Monday. Trump emphasized that Washingtons initial response to such incidents should be diplomacy. "And if that doesnt work out, I dont know at a certain point, when that sucker comes by, you gotta shoot," Trump stated. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Norway will send 60 troops to train and advise Syrians fighting against Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) militants inside Syria, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said Monday. This will be part of a broader international mission under a UNSC resolution that urges all UN member states to strengthen their efforts in the fight against Daesh in Syria and Iraq. "The contingent of around 60 soldiers will provide training, advice and operational support to local Syrian groups that are fighting against ISIL," the statement by Solberg read. When the organization lost its founder, Bin Laden, who was killed by US forces in Pakistan in 2011, it was an opportunity for other terrorist groups like Daesh to emerge, Yusufzai said. "Daesh has actually taken away most of the fighters who were earlier aligned with al-Qaeda. Most of the local militant groups have pledged allegiance to Daesh." "But that does not mean that al-Qaeda is finished, al-Qaeda is history. Al-Qaeda has survived, it still has got some dedicated fighters and it has a cause." "They are against the US and Israel and that appeals to many people, frustrated Muslims in different countries." The journalist, who interviewed Bin Laden twice in 2008, added that official reports into the death of Bin Laden have not been released, and that because of that there is conflicting information about what happened and the extent of Pakistani involvement. For horse owner Joe Battaglia, a trip to the U.S. Trotting Association Driving School in 2012 had little to do with becoming a trainer or driver, but everything to do with enhancing his enjoyment of harness racing, not to mention his level of participation. Battaglia, who got his first horse in 2006 and two years ago joined the ownership group of top older male pacer Rockeyed Optimist, attended the USTA Driving School in Goshen, N.Y., not far from his home near Saratoga Springs. It was the first of four consecutive years of the school being conducted in upstate New York. This year, the 17th annual edition of the Driving School will be held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, Delaware, Ohio, home of the Little Brown Jug, June 1-4. The school begins Wednesday evening (June 1) with a welcome reception/dinner and keynote address from George Teague Jr., owner of 2015 Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit and trainer of 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue. Classroom and hands-on instruction will be conducted each day Thursday through Saturday. In addition to offering basics for driving and training, the schools curriculum has been expanded to include information on ownership of Standardbreds. It was a great experience, said Battaglia, a CPA who has horses with trainer John Mongeon in Saratoga. It was a lot of fun. I wanted to be a little more hands on. I like going to the barn. I try to stay out of the way because everyone there knows what theyre doing, but I thought if I could occasionally jog a horse it would be interesting to learn how to do it. I dont have any aspirations of driving or training; I think those are beyond my skill level. But its fun to know I can take one of my horses out and jog them. Battaglia grew up going to the Thoroughbred and Standardbred races in Saratoga Springs. When he and some friends decided to give horse ownership a try, they partnered on a harness racing horse. We started with Standardbreds not knowing where it would go from there, Battaglia said. I just really enjoyed the breed and the people I dealt with, so thats where I stayed. There are options for Thoroughbred ownership up here, but I like the Standardbred game because you can be more hands on, more involved. In addition to owning horses, Battaglia is the president of Heading for Home Racehorse Retraining/Adoption Center in Saratoga Springs. The not-for-profit organization was founded in 2011 and also features equine-assisted therapy in cooperation with ECS Psychological Services of Saratoga. A therapy arena was constructed with funds raised in memory of horseman Alan Kirschenbaum. Standardbred horse owner Erin Christopher-Sisk founded ECS Psychological Services and serves as clinical director. Her husband, Jim, also attended the USTA Driving School in 2012, as did Heading for Home Treasurer John Cimino. It was a spinoff of ownership, Battaglia said about the organization, which currently is home to seven horses, primarily Standardbreds. We thought there should be an organization formed to better help provide an option for people who wanted to stand behind a horse after their racing days were over. We slowly gathered momentum and now have a permanent location. Battaglia looks back fondly on his participation in the USTA Driving School and still keeps in touch with a number of people who were involved in the program. It was nice to be around people who were enthusiastic about the business, Battaglia said. The people who worked with us were very nice and very helpful, from the USTA to the people in the barns. I was in (trainer) Rob Harmons barn. It was fun to learn the behind-the-scenes aspect of the business. As an owner, being around the barn is as much fun as race day. It was a great time. I would recommend that anyone interested in the business go try it out. For more information about this years Driving School, or to enroll online, click here. Those interested in attending should not delay; enrollment is limited. Click here to learn about incentives for attending the program. This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com. The Horse Ownership Trade Show set for next week is officially 'oversubscribed' for industry participation. All of the trade show spots have been reserved and in some cases, some of the groups are sharing booth space. The Raceway at Western Fair District and Standardbred Canada look forward to hosting a great educational show on Friday, May 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. In addition to The Raceway and Standardbred Canada, other participants include: the SBOA, COSA, OHHA (Wanna Drive program), Ontario Racing, Mac Lilley Farms, Anthony MacDonald (The Stable), Howard Pearce (Landmark Racing Stables), Tomiko Training Centre, trainers Kyle Reibeling, Heather Toll, Isaac Waxman, Natasha House, and Patrick Shepherd. Attendees can also enter the contest to be a Horse Owner For A Night and take part in the Wanna Drive program. We are overwhelmed at the amount of industry participation that we have for the trade show, said Greg Blanchard, Raceway Manager. Now if we can translate that level of enthusiasm into attendance at the event, well be extremely happy. "Our goal is to get people outside the industry to attend and get as much information in their hands as we can. Hopefully some will follow through and get involved in ownership. As the calendar turns to May, a number of the three-year-old pacers aiming for Canadian harness racing's biggest prize have made on-track appearances and statements as they aim to displace the reigning divisional kingpins. For the past several years, Trot Magazine's Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book has served as an initial barometer for the colts and geldings that may be in the running for the sophomore pacing set's single biggest payday. This year's edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup will be contested on Saturday, June 18 at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario. Listed by the Spring Book odds as featured in the April 2016 edition of Trot Magazine, here are the horses that are still Cup-eligible as of the April 15 sustaining payment and have raced or are in-to-go as of May 2, 2016. ( indicates a horse not listed last week) Betting Line / 8-1 -- qualified on April 29 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished 5th, individually timed in 1:57.1 Big Top Hanover / 10-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished 2nd, individually timed in 1:50.4 Katies Rocker / 20-1 -- entered to qualify on May 3 at Harrah's Philadelphia Ideal Rocky / 22-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished second, individually timed in 1:52.3 Nocturnal Bluechip / 24-1 -- entered to qualify on May 2 at Mohawk Racetrack Voracity / 25-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished first, timed in 1:52.3 Im Some Graduate / 30-1 -- entered to qualify on May 3 at Harrah's Philadelphia Pretty Boy Hill / 30-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.3 Check Six / 32-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished first, timed in 1:50.4 All The Cookies / 35-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.2 Mystical Rock / 35-1 -- qualified on April 27 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:54.1 Rollaroundtheworld / 38-1 -- last raced on April 24 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.2 Inspiration View / 40-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished seventh after making a break JDs Chancey Design / 40-1 -- qualified on April 28 at Thunder Ridge Raceway, finished first, individually timed in 1:57.1 Easy Lover Hanover / 40-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished eighth, individually timed in 1:51.4 Magnum J / 42-1 -- qualified on April 29 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first in 1:52.3 Kokanee Seelster / 45-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:54.2 The Catamount Kid / 45-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished second, individually timed in 1:51.1 Mindtrip / 48-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished first in 1:52.4 Tom Hill / 50-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished seventh after making a break Manhattan Beach / 50-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:51.3 Arsenic / 50-1 -- qualified on April 29 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first in 1:55.4 New Talent / 50-1 -- entered to qualify on May 2 at Mohawk Racetrack Highlandbeachycove / 55-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished third, individually timed in 1:53.1 Tap Into Power / 60-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished second, individually timed in 1:53 Cruise Patrol / 60-1 -- last qualified on April 23 at The Meadowlands, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:57.2 Dreamfair Mesa / 60-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.1 Flaherty / 60-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:52.3 Bettor Memories / 65-1 -- raced on May 1 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:52.2 Stonebridge Beach / 65-1 -- raced April 25 at Pompano Park, finished first in 1:52.3 Think On It / 65-1 -- last raced on April 21 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fourth, individually timed in 1:53.2 Good Living / 65-1 -- entered to qualify on May 3 at Harrah's Philadelphia Dr J Hanover / 70-1 -- qualified on April 30 at The Meadowlands, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:53.1 Lyons Snyder / 70-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohegan Sun Pocono, finished third, individually timed in 1:50.4 Some Gold / 70-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished fifth, individually timed in 1:53.4 Max Is Back / 70-1 -- last qualified on April 14 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished second, individually timed in 1:54.4 Major Hill / 75-1 -- raced on April 28 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first, timed in 1:53 Sutton Seelster / 90-1 -- raced on April 30 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished sixth, individually timed in 1:53.4 Beast Mode / 100-1 -- qualified on April 25 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished first, timed in 1:54 Brookdale Sonny / 100-1 -- raced on April 28 at Mohawk Racetrack, finished third, individually timed in 1:52.2 Totally Great / 110-1 -- last raced on January 24 at Flamboro Downs, finished ninth, individually timed in 2:05.3 FINANCIAL services bodies from the TCI and Bahamas have joined forces to help spread awareness of risk management in the industry. The Bahamas Institute of Financial Services (BIFS) in partnership with the Turks and Caicos Financial Services Commission (FSC) held a three day seminar in Providenciales. The event was designed to highlight the basics of risk management, compliance, corporate governance and anti-money laundering and how these can be effectively addressed with an organisation. More than 40 delegates attended the event to hear a number of regional and international experts share their expertise. Attending on behalf of ScotiaBank, Wence Martin said: "I am happy that I attended the three-day workshop on risk management, corporate governance and compliance. "The sessions were informative and instructive. "The key presenters displayed their in depth knowledge of the historical and current issues facing the financial services industry. I look forward to the next BIFS workshop in TCI. The TCI FSC has said recently that it wants to be proactive in its approach to financial governance in the wake of the global Panama Papers scandal and the damage that has done to the worldwide reputation of the financial services industry. By Daisy Handfield ELECTRICITY company FortisTCI introduced two renewable energy programmes to Grand Turk recently. Grand Turk residents were treated to free food and refreshments during the launch of Customer Owned Renewable Energy (CORE) and Utility Owned Renewable Energy (UORE) at the companys Grand Turk headquarters on Friday (April 22). During the launch corporate communications manager Talisha Simons said that when they launched the services in Providenciales last November, it was well received. She said: "It was great, the excitement was there and we realised that on the other islands there was interest in solar as well. Simons said that there was no better day to make the Grand Turk launch than on Earth Day 2016, which was also being recognised on the day of the launch. "Judging from the response weve gotten today, the customers are really excited and really interested in these roof top solar programmes, Simons said. CORE means that customers can own their own solar power system. It can be installed and inspected by FortisTCI along with the Government and then the customer will interconnect with the grid. CORE customers will be credited based on what their system produces. UORE customers make no investment, but will rent their roof top space to Fortis and depending on the size of the system, the electricity company will credit them on a monthly basis on their bill. Simons explained that it is a good move for customers who lack capital, but are interested in being more environmentally friendly. It is also a good way to save a bit on electrical bills. By Olivia Rose THE DIVERSIFICATION of the Turks and Caicos Islands economy remains high in the Governments agenda to ensure economic sustainability, and resilience from internal and external economic shocks. Governor Peter Beckingham during his throne speech on Monday (April 18), following the passing of the 2015 to 2016 budget, emphasised the prioritisation of the countrys citizens and the Governments role in creating the conditions and environment for their businesses to thrive. He noted that the introduction of a micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) programme is one of the key pillars of economic diversification. Several policies have been developed and continue to be developed to support economic diversification. These include policies on agriculture, manufacturing and processing, health tourism and other initiatives such as information and technology infrastructure, aquaculture and pelagic fishing. He said: "The Government firmly believes that if we are to be sustainable as a jurisdiction we must be globally competitive and hence the ease of doing business must increase and the cost of doing business must decrease. Governor Beckingham underscored that the Government will continue to improve its systems to reduce the complexity and increase the ease of doing business. This will be done through its investment in e-government technologies especially in areas of finance, immigration, health, education and law enforcement. "The Government will continue to reduce the tax burden and broaden the tax base while protecting the consumer through the introduction of consumer protection legislation and increasing Governments revenue through increased compliance. He said although it is the desire of the Government to create greater diversification of the economy it is cognisant that tourism will continue to be the main economic driver of the Islands. "Hence we will continue to develop and diversify our tourism product and invest in the marketing and promotion thereof and expand our reach into new source markets globally. Governor Beckingham pledged the Governments support to the development of tourism in family islands. This he noted will be done through the development of the necessary infrastructure such as airports, seaports, and roads and attracting local and foreign direct investment in tourism products such as hotels, villas, eco lodges and associated tourism services. By John Toner THE MAN at the centre of alleged disputes over Crown land valuations is due in court next week. Shabaan Hoza, chief land valuation officer for the TCI Government, is due to appear as a prosecution witness in the SIPT trial at some point in the coming week. At the beginning of the trail the court heard that Hoza was the man responsible for valuing Crown land for sale during the Michael Misick years. It has been alleged that he was instructed on more than one occasion by serving government ministers at the time to lower the value he had placed on Crown land. These accusations go directly to one of the main counts on the indictment, the allegation that the defendants conspired to defraud the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands for their own benefit by selling off land cheaply. All the defendants deny all the charges against them. The trial continues. By Olivia Rose LOCAL entrepreneurs will receive financial and technical support to boost the productivity and maximise their profits through a Government support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) programme. The MSME programme forms part of the Governments drive to foster greater economic development in the Turks and Caicos Islands through investment in entrepreneurship. The programme also aims to encourage the establishment, growth and retention of sustainable businesses, which enhances the Turks and Caicos Islands through innovation, creativity, business vitality, diversity, inclusiveness and environmental sustainability. Speaking at a media conference on Monday (April 25) finance minister Washington Misick said the MSME sector is a vital part of any economy, therefore the onus is upon the Government to create a conducive environment for it to thrive. He said: "This is an area that we need to put a lot of emphasis on, and what we want to do is to encourage entrepreneurship. "Theres a big difference between entrepreneurship and trading. What we have here, people buying and selling, is not my definition of an entrepreneur. "It needs to be stretched a little longer and wider to include productivity, whether its primary or secondary production but we want to get people thinking creatively. He noted that the intention of the programme is to create diversity in all sectors. "The list of preferred endeavours at the back of the ordinance, the focus is on agro-culture, aqua-culture, technology, particular emphasis is placed on the hospitality industry. "Trying to encourage particularly the local community to get involved in villa rental, in bed and breakfast. "At the end of the day what were trying to do is to make sure we have an inclusive economy where no-one is left behind. He noted that the funding the Government has made available so far is expendable based on the level of demand. He made it clear that the programme is not aimed at providing funding for retail businesses per se, but it is aimed at the creative industry. John Rutherford, chief executive officer of Invest TC, the company mandated to carry out the logistics of the programme, explained that the companys role is twofold. Firstly to increase economic activity on the Islands and secondly to create employment opportunities. "We kicked off the programme from April and it covers three areas of concessions, one is a cash grant and that cash grant of $10,000 is for what we call micro enterprises. "The second area is duty concessions. Both small and medium enterprises can qualify for duty concession that help with the building, the raw materials and the start-up of a new venture. "The third area is around technical assistance and this can be helping an entrepreneur to develop their product whether it is through labelling marketing, through understanding the finances. Weighing in on the importance of the programme and its all-encompassing approach, Arthur Been, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, explained that while cash grants are not available for retail business they can still benefit from technical assistance to help with the growth of their enterprise. He said: "If you are in the business of producing a product, you can benefit from the customs import duty concessions as well as the concession for technical assistance where you can take your product from being just a home based product to the marketing experts and they will help with packaging and promotion and sale of those products. "So do not be discouraged if youre in the business of resale, if you need equipment to take your business to the next level and take the production process to the next level. TCIs Centre of Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) is tasked with helping entrepreneurs to develop a solid business plan. Head of CEDA Sophia Thomas said the agencys role is to help strengthen the MSME sector of the Turks and Caicos Islands. "We want to encourage innovation, we want our MSMEs to be climate resilient, we also want them to exercise proper managerial skills in operating their businesses. "We want them to continue to see themselves as valuable in contributing to the economic growth of the TCI. The MSME programme will support innovative businesses that demonstrate solid market potential and a sound business model, including long-term financial viability while increasing the overall value and volume of exports from the Turks and Caicos Islands. By Daisy Handfield AFTER conducting an autopsy on a body that was discovered last weekend, police officials have confirmed that it is Yuneiry Veras. The body of the young Dominican woman was discovered at about 1.04pm on Saturday (April 23) in Pirates Cove located on Tom Lightbournes Drive, in the north western area of Providenciales. The area is very secluded and is surrounded by bushes. According to Kevin Clarke, press officer for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, a homicide investigation is already in progress. Veras was last seen on April 18 at about 2.15am at her residence in Blue Hills. She was wearing a black top and blue short skirt. Some residents have commented on social media about the incident and police reaction. A comment read: "This is very sad, as a mother this hurts. "My prayers and sympathy goes out to her parents and family. "It is sad to think that someone will do this cold blooded crime, leave the scene and come back and live among us. "This alone is a scary thought. "Lord we really need your divine intervention in our peaceful, beautiful country. Another said: "Stop the violence against women! "We need a march against violence on women in the TCI. Someone else said: "This is not the first time they kill a Dominican and never do anything. "We are tired of so much discrimination. A date has not yet been confirmed, but several Dominican residents said this week that they will be uniting to march against violence to Dominican nationals. Police are seeking public assistance to find the person or persons who may be responsible for her murder. Anyone with information about this murder or other crimes is asked to contact the Chalk Sound Police Station at 339-5901. To remain anonymous, the public can call Crime Stoppers on 1- 800 8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc. By Olivia Rose THE MAIN Opposition, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), has condemned the killing of 26-year-old Dominican Yuneiry Veras whose body was found on Saturday (April 23) in Pirates Cove, Providenciales. Veras went missing last week Monday at about 2am and her body was found at about 2pm on Saturday. In wake of the discovery of the womans body leader of the Opposition Sharlene Cartwright Robinson called on the public to assist the police in their investigations by coming forward with any information in relation to the death of the woman. She said: "My party is deeply saddened by the rapid evolving headlines over the past week of a young lady being missing, discovery of a dead body and now confirmation of the body: that of the missing 26-year-old Dominican national Yuneiry Veras in Providenciales. "We had hoped that she would have been found alive but are grateful for this closure for her family and friends. "We wish to offer our deepest and sincerest sympathy to her family and friends and to say to you that it is our prayer that God comfort you all during this experience. The Opposition leader said that Providenciales and by extension the Turks and Caicos Islands is losing its identity. She said: "We accept that things can and will change with expansion in population and other areas of development but there are certain things that we cannot and must not accept and these type of crimes can never be allowed to become commonplace in our societies. "The senseless loss of a young life is a great tragedy and a further indication of the little value that some seem to place on human life. "As a woman, I condemn this act against this young woman and call on all women to exercise great caution recognising that women have fallen prey to violent and deadly crimes in recent history. She called on residents to play their part in helping the police to get to the bottom of the incident and to lend assistance to investigators in any way possible. "They have a part to play in fighting crime which has waged a war against us. "It is up to us, as well as the police to determine whether this matter will become a cold case or not. The party commended the police for launching a homicide investigation. Cartwright Robinson emphasised that she will continue to press for the modernisation of the force which will be able to properly address crimes in the TCI. "I will never weary of calling for greater resources and modern crime fighting initiatives for the police but equally I will never weary in calling on the people of this country to fulfil its obligation in this important partnership of people/police. "I have recently released a 12 point crime plan and know these initiatives will do much to aggressively tackle crime. "We cannot allow crime, especially of this nature to affect our peace of minds, our means and way of life, and our reputation. "We must do what we can to ensure that Turks and Caicos Islands is a safe place to live and do business. Anyone with information relating to the death of Yuneiry Veras is urged to contact the Crime Stoppers tip hotline 1-800-8477. MILLIONS of dollars will be spent this year on revamping the countrys roads, according to a Government statement. Work has already begun on roads in Glass Shack, Providenciales. Phase one includes the redesigning and resurfacing of the Paradise and Windward roadways, the construction of a roundabout at the junction of the roads, sidewalks, cycle paths and upgrades to the drainage systems. Work began in February this year is expected to be completed by the end of May at a cost of $1 million. Amanda Misick, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, said: "The Government is providing $6.17 million under its roads infrastructure push across the country. "Building quality infrastructure can change peoples lives, and it can save peoples lives. "These projects will also provide significant opportunities for residents to be employed. This is a clear sign of progress. The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning also undertook road repair work on several major roadways on North Caicos. About $754,000 has been allocated to start the redevelopment and surfacing work of the Belle Field Landing Road, inclusive of sidewalks, cycle paths and upgrades to the drainage system. Work will begin May and be completed by October. North Caicos will see an additional $291,000 to the grading and levelling, and asphalt surfacing to the Major Hill Road. This will begin in May and be completed by August. Money has also been put aside for the Lighthouse Road phase one in Grand Turk. The Government has allocated $3.4 million for the redesigning and resurfacing of this road, inclusive of walkways, cycle paths and improved drainage systems. "It is important to stress the increasing use of the roads by our residents and visitors for walking and jogging for the purpose of physical exercise, and it was mandatory that we consider accommodating these pedestrians through the creation of more sidewalks across the board, Misick said. She added: "We are thankful for your patience and are working on behalf of the Government of the Turks and Caicos to limit any delays, inconveniences, and possible disruptions that may come. Roadworks for Front Street Road in Grand Turk will come directly from the Sea Wall Redevelopment Project. The Clement Howell High School access road is budgeted for and is awaiting the tender process. Consultancy designs for phase two of the Glass Shack and Lighthouse Roads are in the final stages and consultancy for the Blue Hills roundabout is scheduled to be sent out soon. A business on Industrial Way had nearly $14,000 worth of equipment stolen from a showroom on Saturday, according to Longview police records. Chinook Sales & Rentals Inc. told police that burglars broke into the business by cutting into a fence along railroad tracks on the west side of the building, dispatch reports show. They then cut into the side of the metal building and were able to avoid activating a movement sensor inside, the business told dispatchers. The suspects stole nine red Honda EU2000I air compressors valued at $1,150 each, one orange Stihl MS661 28-inch chain saw valued at $1,260 and two orange Stihl quick cut model TS420 valued at at $1,100 each, the dispatch report said. A woman was taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon following a rollover accident at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Ocean Beach Highway, according to Longview Fire. The woman, whose name was not released, was a passenger in a silver hybrid van, which rolled over following a collision with a vehicle, Longview Fire Battalion Chief Troy Buzalsky said Sunday. The woman and the male driver of the van were trapped in the vehicle for about 15 minutes until rescue crews were able to untangle and extricate them, Buzalsky said. They were so twisted in the vehicle, but it was not urgent (nor) life threatening, he said. The woman was sent to St. John Medical Center with limb injuries. The man refused medical transportation, Buzalsky said. The occupants of the red car, an adult and two children, reported minor injuries, Buzalsky said. hidden Does right to privacy include right to delink from the Internet the irrelevant information, the Delhi High Court has asked the Centre and Google. Justice Manmohan sought the responses of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MOC & IT), Google Inc., Google India Pvt Ltd and IKanoon Software Development Pvt Ltd on a plea of an NRI seeking that he be "delinked" from information regarding a criminal case involving his wife in which he was not a party. The petitioner has sought the relief saying it would affect his employment opportunities as companies often search about prospective employees on the Internet and as the criminal case pops up on searching his name, it might give an impression that he was involved in it. His petition has raised the question "whether data controllers or intermediaries such as Google, are required to delete information that is inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant if they receive a request for removal of such data". The petitioner, in his plea filed through advocates Rohit Madan and Akash Vajpai, has said the criminal case involving his wife and his mother against each other pops up when his name is searched on the Internet. "Petitioner got to know that anyone who searches his name on Google will find the aforesaid judgment (of the criminal case) on the second number of search result and consequently giving the impression to everyone that was involved in some sort of criminal proceeding in India," the plea said. The plea has also said, "petitioner tried to contact Respondent 4 (IKanoon) and made a request for taking down the aforesaid judgment through letter dated January 25, 2016 as petitioner wanted this order to be expunged, from website of Respondent 4." It also said that the petitioner had contacted Respondent 2 and 3 (Google Inc and Google India) and sent an email for removing the concerned Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from the search result. According to the petition, it was requested in the email that "material detrimental to the petitioner must not be the first hit in the search result as he has no role in the aforesaid case and because it was giving a bad name to the Petitioner which will further jeopardize his prospective employment opportunities, being an NRI living in Dubai employed with prestigious organisation." "This issue pertaining to the criminal case in which his name has appeared had been fully resolved and therefore that reference to his name in the aforesaid criminal case is now entirely irrelevant," the petition has contended adding that not removing the same "violates his right to privacy" and also "creates a bad social image" about him. The petition has also referred to a European Court of Justice verdict ordering Google "to remove the links related to a person on its website and effectively read a 'right to be forgotten' or 'right to delink' into existing European Union data protection law". "Right to delink broadly, provides that an individual may be allowed to control the information available about them on the web by removing such information in certain situations," the petition has said. PTI tech2 News Staff It is now believed that the Delhi High Court has partially agreed with Xiaomi that Ericsson concealed relevant information about two of its 3G patents. Hence, it has now withdrawn the interim injunction on Xiaomi as it was based on these patents. According to a report by Spicyip, the patents in question involve two of Ericssons 3G patents; IN229632 and IN240471. Other than these, there are six more patents that Ericsson claims Xiaomi infringed on, including five AMR patents and 1 Edge patent. The Delhi High court had declared a ban on the sale of Xiaomi handsets in India after Ericsson accused the latter of infringing upon its patents. The court had restrained Xiaomi and its agents from making, assembling, importing or selling its devices which infringe the mobile phone technology patented by Ericsson. In less than a year after of its launch in India, Xiaomi became one of the biggest players in the smartphone industry, posing as a tough competitor to Samsung and Micromax. India had also become the second largest market for Xiaomi after its home country China. Ericsson stated it had invited Xiaomi to use its patented technology by obtaining a license, but instead of doing so, the Chinese manufacturer launched its devices in India in July 2014. Ericsson stated that it made attempts for three years to get Xiaomi to buy their licenses for products compliant with GSM, EDGE and UMTS/WCDMA. tech2 News Staff The draft of the new encryption legislation was put forth by two US senators in mid April. The draft was controversial and heavily criticized. A detailed analysis by Just Security, shows that the wording of the proposed law has one big implication - web browsers in their current form would be illegal. The law essentially bans strong security. The regulations are based on the proposition that criminals and terrorists must not be able to communicate through encryption that law enforcement agencies cannot get access to. The proposed regulations demand all software providers comply with court orders to make data and communications encrypted by their products, available to enforcement agencies on demand. The Transport Layer Security and HTTPS protocols currently provide security to browsers. The manner in which these protocols are implemented, makes it impossible for the developers of the web browsers from providing enforcement agencies with keys or tools that can bypass the encryption. Additionally, the mere ability to do so increases the potential of risk to users, and creates a high value target for hackers. Third parties can compromise all users of a particular software with the right keys in a scenario where Feinstein-Burr compliant encryption technologies are used. Additionally, the cost of processing court orders and dealing with law enforcement agencies means that only large companies can afford to publish products with encryption, and small companies or indie developers will not be able to come up with Feinstein-Burr compliant technologies. tech2 News Staff Mario Miranda created crowded comic scenes. The busy images were bustling with activity, and it is possible to stare indefinitely at every picture, just figuring what each character is up to and what they are thinking. Miranda's work can be commonly seen in public spaces, restaurants, and text books in Goa, Mumbai and other places in India. Some of his best works are murals occupying entire walls in cafes. His earlier works were typical scenes of Goan towns, a theme he is still famous for. His later works involved showcasing the even more crowded and urban Mumbai. His work also appeared in print, in the Illustrated Weekly of India, Times of India and the Economic Times. He collaborated with RK Laxman during his time at Times of India. Mario Miranda's 90th birthday Google Doodle was made by Aaron Renier, who is a guest doodler. Aaron Renier is also known for drawing, layered, crowded scenes. The Doodle shows a scene from a crowded street in a city, perhaps Mumbai. Renier does a good job in the homage to Miranda. You can make out hazy Victorian architecture in the background. Each individual in the scene is lost in their own thoughts and actions. tech2 News Staff LG Innotek announced a new way to incorporate the fingerprint sensor module in a device. The technology carves out a small space, less than 0.3 mm thick under the display for the fingerprint sensor. The module is embedded below the display, and is not exposed to moisture, friction or air. The nearly invisible sensor can be activated by directly touching on the screen, without requiring a separate area or button for the biometric sensing. In contrast to existing button type fingerprint sensors in the market, this is a buttonless fingerprint sensor. The accuracy, or false acceptance rate of the fingerprint sensor module is 0.002%. This figure is the chances that the unit will accept someone else's fingerprint as the right fingerprint. The toughness of the sensor and glass together was tested, and it can endure drops of a 130 gram steel ball from a height of 20 cm. The sensor module is stuck to the glass with the use of a propriety adhesive, also developed by LG and tested for its strength and durability. There has been no explicit announcement that this new technology will first come to LG devices. In a statement to The Korea Times, LG representatives said they were in the process of offering the technology to smartphone manufacturers around the world. tech2 News Staff At the Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco, the company announced that it is working on a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset, which will work without a smartphone! It will also compete with the Oculus Rift and HTC's Vive. According to a report by Variety, Injong Rhee, head of R&D confirmed, "We are working on wireless and dedicated VR devices, not necessarily working with our mobile phone. VR is amazing, but the industry is still at its infancy." He states that the new device will also include hand and gesture tracking, but might take a few more years before we see it turn into a reality. A lot has already been said and written about how 2016 is the year of virtual reality. Recently, a report by Strategy Analytics revealed that global virtual reality revenues are expected to reach $895 million this year. The report adds that out of the overall revenue, 77 percent will come from Oculus, HTC and Sony. However, the trio will account to only 13 percent of the volumes, says the report. It is the low-priced smartphone based VR systems that will dominate the space. The Oculus Rift was launched for $600 in March, HTC Vive is on its way and Sony plans to launch its PlayStation VR headset later this year. Meanwhile, Google Cardboard is already available and even distributed for free, while Samsung has already launched its Gear VR. hidden Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday launched 'Rajiv Gandhi Digital Student Yojna' here in this town in Mandi district, said an official statement. The chief minister launched the scheme by giving away laptop computers to 86 students who achieved distinction in Classes 10 and 12 examinations. The government will provide 10,000 laptops to the toppers of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education with an outlay of Rs.18.32 lakh, the statement said. Virbhadra Singh said the state government was endeavouring to provide quality education to the students. He said more than 1,000 schools have been opened or upgraded during the last three years, besides 24 industrial training institutes (IITs) and two engineering colleges. The chief minister said 29 colleges have been opened during this period, taking the total number of colleges to 94. Chief parliamentary secretary and local legislator Sohan Lal said the priority of the state was to provide basic education to all the children at their doorstep. More than 30 schools have been either opened or upgraded in Sundernagar alone, he said. IANS 2 killed in 2 dists during norwester A truck helper and a farmer were killed in two separate incidents during the norwester in Narsingdi and Chuadanga districts on Sunday night. In Narsingdi, truck helper Awlad Hossain, 25, hailing from of Habiganj district, was killed as a roadside billboard fell over him at Natun Bus Stand of the district town in the night. Officer-in-charge of Narsingdi Sadar Police Station Golam Mostafa said the incident took place when a roadside billboard crushed through a truck during the norwester around 7:45pm, leaving the trucks helper Awlad dead on the spot. Later, the body was sent to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital for autopsy. In Chuadanga, Daud Hossain, 36, son of Hayat Ali of Chargharia village in Damurhuda upazila, received injuries as the roof of his house fell over him during the violent storm in the night. He was whisked off to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, said hospital sources. Former state minister Mujibur Rahman Fakir passes away Former state minister and ruling Awami League (AL) MP Dr Capt (retd) Mujibur Rahman Fakir of Mymensingh-3 constituency passed away on Monday morning due to heart disease. He was 69. Mujibur Rahman Fakir breathed his last around 9am at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, said Kamrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station. Meanwhile President Abdul Hamid expressed deep shock at the death of the ruling party MP. In a condolence message, he prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family members. --UNB, Dhaka. Global Transaction Banking head of SCB in Dhaka Economic Reporter : Alex Manson, Global Head, Transaction Banking of Standard Chartered Bank has reached in the city on Monday for a short visit, according to a press release. During his stay in Dhaka, he will be meeting with key clients and senior staffs of the Bank. Alex will be accompanied by Farooq Siddiqi, Global Head of Product Management for Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank. Alex joined Standard Chartered as Group Head, Wholesale Banking Geographies in 2012, responsible for the Bank's regions and network strategy. He took over as Global Head, Transaction Banking in 2014. Previously at Deutsche Bank for twelve years, notably as Global Head of Lending and Corporate Banking Coverage, his experience includes product and client coverage spanning fixed income origination and structuring and investment banking advisory & capital raising. Prior to this he spent eight years at Credit Suisse. During his career he has worked in New York, London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Singapore. Rousseff begins her long goodbye Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff addressing a ceremony marking the extension of the Programa Mais Medicos (Program More Doctors), at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil. AFP, Rio de Janeiro :Dilma Rousseff greets the Olympic flame in Brazil on Tuesday, but the pomp and ceremony will seem empty to a president likely to be suspended from office just a week later.The arrival of the flame in Brasilia from an ancient Greek temple via Switzerland will trigger a three-month countdown to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Brazil's big chance to shine on the global stage.But the supposedly joyful occasion coincides with the Latin American giant's plunge into a political furnace, with Rousseff facing impeachment -- and claiming to be the victim of a coup d'etat.That means the choreographed events for the torch in the capital could be one of the 68-year-old leftist leader's last major public appearances. On May 11 or 12 the Senate is expected to vote to open an impeachment trial on charges that Rousseff illegally manipulated government accounts.She would be automatically suspended and replaced by Vice President Michel Temer, the head of Brazil's main center-right party and once a coalition ally of Rousseff before -- in her words -- turning "traitor."A definitive Senate vote on Rousseff's fate could take months more, but unless she was cleared, she would never come back and her nemesis would stay in power until the next scheduled elections in 2018.On Sunday, Rousseff railed against "the coup" and told union supporters of her Workers' Party that she would "fight to the end." However, with the Senate vote to suspend her looking near certain, she appears resigned -- at the very minimum -- to the humiliating prospect of having to abandon her executive offices, called the Palacio do Planalto, in just over a week."She has ordered the drawers to be cleaned out," Folha daily said Sunday.And it isn't just filing cabinets that will be looking for a new home. Her Workers' Party ministers and what Folha calls "a sea" of government employees are likely soon to be sending out job resumes.Ten days from the Senate vote on impeachment "nothing about the routine in the Palacio do Planalto resembles the resistance announced by social movements under the cry of 'No to the coup!'," Estadao daily commented Sunday."In offices at the seat of government, functionaries are already packing their things."Once suspended, Rousseff will hunker down at the presidential residence on half pay.From there she will attempt to persuade senators that the accounting tricks she is accused of do not amount to an impeachable offense and that the whole procedure is a political, not legal assault -- an argument rejected last month by the lower house of Congress.The stakes for Brazilian politics could not be higher.Rousseff, a one-time Marxist guerrilla who was tortured by the military dictatorship in the 1970s, is widely assumed to be nearing the end of the road. However, the Workers' Party, which has dominated and transformed the country since 2003, is still fighting to prevent impeachment from turning into a historic shift to the right.Rousseff's mentor and presidential predecessor, Workers' Party founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, hopes to take the baton back by running in 2018 -- or even in special snap elections before. Polls show he would be a frontrunner, trouncing the stunningly unpopular Temer.Certainly leftist groups are threatening to go down swinging, vowing to make the life of an acting president or eventually full president Temer miserable.Gilmar Mauro from the group Landless Rural Workers' Movement vowed "civil disobedience" against Temer's government, which the vice president is busily forming ahead of the Senate suspension vote.And Vagner Freitas, president of the Unified Workers' Central or CUT, Brazil's main labor federation, was even more blunt."We do not recognize a government that no one elected," he said. Ways to deal with anger! Life Desk : Rage is turning out to be the next big Indian malaise. And it's not just adults but kids as well, who are getting angrier by the day. Experts tell you how to deal with it. Last week, a 45-year-old share-autorickshaw passenger was beaten to death near Mumbai by the rickshaw driver for not having Rs 2 in change. What's scarier about this incident is that it is not a one-off incident. Every hour, India witnesses about 16 deaths and 58 injuries due to road related accidents, many of which are due to road rage. It's not just adults, but kids as well, who get angrier by the day. In many households, they are allowed to do as they please -like play videogames for hours on end -to avoid terrible tantrums. Our reactions are getting increasingly and dangerously disproportionate to the situation at hand. Riddhi Acharya is a case in point. Although she understands that her husband is exhausted when he comes back home from office after a long day, she cannot help but get irritated when he is too tired to help with the chores."When I retrospect," she says, "I realise that I am projecting my own frustration because I have taken a break from my career and all I want to do is get back to the job scene. But still, when my son needs something and I have to be in charge instead of my husband, I do get quite snappy." Acharya is certainly not alone. Samir Kelshikar recalls the time he got into a tiff with an "uncouth driver" who refused to wait for his ailing mother to get into the vehicle and instead, honked furiously. "My mom had undergone minor surgery and was under anaesthesia for almost two hours,"he says."Naturally she was a bit dizzy and disoriented. As soon as my dad pulled up right outside the clinic in the narrow lane, my mom and I walked towards the gate. The whole thing took us two minutes tops, but right behind us was a driver honking away to glory and giving us the 'look'." When did our anger management get so out of hand? Why don't we stop and analyse why the other person did what he did before reacting? And more importantly, what causes this instant rage in so many people, both young and old alike? Experts talk Clinical psychologist Sonali Gupta says she has seen many clients over the years who approach her specifically to reduce frustration, increase tolerance and become more compassionate individuals. "Clients come to me seeking help because they have snapped at family members or indulged in some form of road rage," says Gupta. "In many cases, these clients were scared of the way they reacted to the situation, because they did not believe that this was their inherent personality. Even kids are affected -one child I met had clawed his parent because the iPad was taken away from him!" Experts list out a few reasons for such behavioural issues: Instant gratification culture: We are getting used to getting whatever we want quickly and easily. Get your online purchases delivered the same day. Have your groceries delivered within an hour. Find a date in less than five minutes with Tinder. It's no wonder that we are running out of patience. Social media vanity: We have all become mini-celebrities, thanks to social media. Post a picture and get enough likes and comments to make yourself feel like a rockstar. This breeds narcissism within people, which gradually leads to self centredness, inflated egos and, in many cases, more selfishness. Combine this with impatience and you've got a person who will tend to be intolerant of others' feelings. Excessive work: While at work, we multitask, therefore not allowing our brains to focus on just one thing at a time. We are training ourselves to be distracted. What's more, we carry our work with us wherever we go, increasing the pressure on us to finish more than what we reasonably should. This pressure is what compels us to respond to an email immediately even during our personal time. And as the pressure builds even after work, so do our stress levels. Bedtime procrastination: Are you the kind of person who goes to bed at 2 am without having done anything worthwhile at night? If you spent hours after dinner just browsing Youtube or Twitter, you are indulging in 'bedtime procrastination', which is responsible for many sleep disorders and results in greater irritability. Mumbai Mirror Vow to stablish socio-economic rights of workers, safety in workplaces demanded BSS,Chittagong : The historic May Day was observed in the port city and its adjacent districts with a fresh vow to establish socio-economic rights of the workers and demanding their safety in workplaces on Sunday. Different political parties, cultural and trade union organisations observed the day through various programmes, which included discussion meetings, rally, human chain, processions and cultural functions. Apart from different places in the city, workers of industrial belts and its outskirts including Sitakunda, Fouzderhat, Patenga, Nasirabad, Biyazeed, Karnaphuli and Kalurghat also held rallies, processions and organized cultural programmes to mark the day. The workers carried placards and festoons and chanted slogans in favor of their rights, full wages and other facilities. Workers in the transport sector abstained from work, as usual, on the May Day which lead to the sufferings of city dwellers as well as passengers of long distance routes. To mark the day, Chittagong Divisional Labour Department and Directorate of Factory and Establishment Inspection arranged daylong programmes. The programmes include decorating important city squares and thoroughfares with road sign, banner, posters and festoons inscribed with dignity and significant aspects of the day and laws relating to the workers rights, publication of special supplements, discussions, multimedia presentation on workers rights and cultural functions at Muslim Institute Hall. Local newspapers published special articles while Chittagong centres of Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television aired special programmes highlighting the importance of the day. Divisional Labour Directorate organized a discussion meeting at city's Muslim Hall Institute at 10 am on that day. City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, addressed the function as the chief guest. Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Mezbah Uddin addressed the function as special guest. Entrepreneurs, representatives of trade union organizations and government officials took part in the discussion. Light Vehicles Drivers Union organized a rally at GEC Crossing this morning. Auto Rickshaw and Auto Tempo Sramik Union organized separate rally at Kazir Dwery that afternoon. Chittagong Press Club, Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ), Chittagong Metropolitan Union of Journalist (CMUJ) Chittagong Newspaper Hawkers League, Chittagong Newspaper Hawkers Union (CNHU), Newspaper Computer Operators Association (CNCOA) and Chittagong Newspaper Employees Union (CNEU) jointly organized a rally in front of the Chittagong Press Club and brought out a procession in the city this morning led by CUJ President Reaz Haider Chowdhury.. After the rally, a procession was brought out in the city. A discussion meeting was held under the auspices of Chittagong Metropolitan Union of Journalists (CMUJ) at its hall with CMUJ President Shamsul Haq Haidari in the chair. Bangladesh Communist Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Jatiya Sramik League Chittagong Divisional Coordination Unit, Bangladesh Trade Union Federation, Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Federation, Chittagong Auto-Rickshaw Auto- Tempoo Sramik Union and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal organized daylong programmes to mark the day. Dhaka University Teachers Association stage a sit in at historic Battala of Dhaka University on Monday demanding exemplary punishment to the killers of Rajshahi University teacher Prof Rejaul Karim Siddiquee. Immediate announcement of 9th Wage Board demanded Journalist leaders here on Sunday demanded of the government to announce the Ninth Wage Board for enhancing their salaries and other facilities as their economic condition became intolerable due to price hike of essential items and continuous increase of house rent after declaration of new pay-scale for the government officers and employees. During a May Day discussion at union office in Jatiya Press Club, journalists' leaders said that the government officials and journalists had been enjoying almost same facilities regarding salaries and other benefits for long. But they regretted that after announcement of last pay-scale, the journalist community has gone far behind in terms of salaries and benefits than the government officials. "The issue is also disgraceful for journalists in respect of social status", the leaders said and added that they serve the nation through their services in the media not for mere bread and butter rather for social dignity also. Prime Minister's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury addressed the function as chief guest and Secretary General of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Omar Faruque spoke as special guest in the meeting. Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organized the discussion with its president Shaban Mahmud in the chair. Former BFUJ Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, former General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Swapan Saha, ex-DUJ President Kazi Rafique, DUJ General Secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury, among others, spoke on the occasion. Highlighting the significance of the day, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury recalled the glorious days of the community when the union was united. He called upon all the journalists to be united to realize their demands including the ninth wage board. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing the cultural programme on May Day organized by the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Employment at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city on Sunday. BSS photo 200 shops gutted at Karwan Bazar 4-man probe body formed A devastating fire that broke out at Hasina Market in Kawran Bazar area on Sunday night burned down nearly 200 wholesale shops. Staff Reporter :About 200 wholesale shops, mostly of spices, were gutted in a devastating fire at a two-storey tin shed market of Karwan Bazar in Dhaka on Sunday evening. Most of the shops in this two-storey tin-shed Hasina Market behind 'Janata Tower' were depots of spices. Many shops of quilt and mattress were also located there. All the shops were totally burnt into ashes. However, no casualties were reported.The spices include gingers, garlic, chilli and onions, including the powdered ones. These were kept stored in the shops of the market. Besides, some retail fuel shops there, where diesel and kerosene were sold, also caught fire and these inflammable objects helped quickly spread the fire in and around the market.Twenty-six fire fighting units after two-hour efforts brought the fire under control at 10 in Sunday night. But the Fire Service is yet to say what might have caused the fire, and the extent of damage."The fire began at about 7:45pm, just after the Nor'wester struck. We brought the fire under control at about 10:00pm," said Tanharul Islam, officer of Tejgaon Fire Service.He said on information, 26 firefighting units rushed to the spot and put out the flame after two hours of frantic effort.Police said some electric poles in the area also caught fire due to short-circuit during the storm.Meanwhile, a four-member probe committee has been formed in connection with the fire that broke out at Hasina Market on Sunday night.The Fire Service Civil Defense (FSCD) headquarters formed the committee, headed by its Deputy Director (Dhaka Division) Mozammel Haque.The committee has been asked to submit the report by three days, said Ataur Rahman, Duty Officer of the FSCD.Mohammad Ali, Director General of the FSCD, said it took time to bring the fire under control due to shortage of water and light.Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq visited the spot Sunday night.The DNCC mayor expressed his hope that the wholesale market of Karwan Bazar would be shifted to Jatrabari and Gabtali within a few months. He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters near the burnt out market. "We have two ready markets-one in Jatrabari and another in Gabtali. We hope we will be able to shift two ready markets in future, Annisul Huq said.He said over the last eight months they have been negotiating with the traders of Karwan Bazar to shift the market in two other places. Rafiqul Islam, a teenager who works at a wholesale shop, said that the fire had started on the northeast side and spread around the market very quickly.Traders said goods worth crores of taka were destroyed in the fire. The fire left behind tears on the faces of the traders as they wailed uncontrollably having lost their goods in the fire.Shop owners were also seen running here and there to salvage their goods from destroying while others stood helpless watching the fire ravaging the shops. May Day observed Various organisations including Jatiya Sramik Jote brought out a colourful procession in city on the occasion of May Day. Staff Reporter : The historic May Day was observed across the country like elsewhere in the world on Sunday with the pledge to strive for workers' rights, and to free them from exploitation and deprivation. Marking the day, thousands of working people joined street rallies and other activities to raise their voices for ensuring their basic rights. Leaders of different organizations demanded fixation of minimum wage at Tk 10,000, right of trade union activities, ensuring safety of workplace and free housing and medical facilities. On May 1, 1886, ten workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in the US city of Chicago near Hay Market demanding an eight-hour working day instead 12 hours. At the height of agitation, the authorities had to accept the workers' demand and the eight-hour day was introduced universally. On July 14, 1889 in Paris, an international workers' rally declared May 1 as the International Workers Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers' sacrifice and achievement. Since 1890, the day has been observed globally as the International Workers Solidarity Day. In Bangladesh, the day was a public holiday. All offices, banks, industries and factories remained closed. On the day, different worker groups and trade unions, political parties, different government and socio-cultural and professional organizations arranged various programmes including seminars, discussion meetings, colourful rallies and cultural functions. The Labour and Employment Ministry observed the day with various programmes. The main programme of the day was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A colourful rally was brought out from Dainik Bangla crossing by the Labour and Employment Ministry led by State Minister Md Mujibul Haq Chunnu and it was ended at Jatiya Press Club [JPC]. Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation brought out a procession from the Jatiya Press Club inaugurated by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal [Jasad] held a rally in front of its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue. Information Minister and organization president Hasanul Haq Inu addressed the rally, as chief guest. Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad [SKOP] held a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Jatiya Sramik League President Shukur Mahmud presided over the rally, while SKOP coordinator and Jatiya Sramik Federation President Kamrul Ahsan read out a declaration. Trade unions and professional groups also observed various programmes. A colourful rally was brought out by workers in the evening. A cultural function organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy was held later. Garment Workers Trade Union Centre arranged separate rallies at Nabisco Shaheed Minar in Tejgaon Industrial Area and Aftab Nagar in Rampura of the capital marking the day. Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha and Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik Jote chalked out different programmes in the capital and different places of the country. Bangladesh Communist Party [CPB] arranged a rally in the capital on the occasion. Islamic Foundation held a discussion meeting and milad mahfil in observance of the day. Jatiya Party held a rally at its Kakrail office where party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad was present as chief guest. Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists [BFUJ] and Dhaka Union of Journalists [DUJ] jointly organised a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club. BNP chief Khaleda Zia addressed a rally by her party's labour affiliate at the Suhrawardy Udyan Sunday afternoon. Other organizations which observed the May Day through various programmes include Communist Party of Bangladesh, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Sramik Jote, Garments Sramik Federation, Gano Sanghati Oikya, Garments Sramik Trade Union and workers Federation. Khaleda a liar, thief: Joy Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has branded BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia as a liar and thief, and asked her not to malign Bangabandhu's grandson. Joy, also the Prime Minister's ICT affairs adviser, through a status on his Facebook page on Sunday also asked Khaleda to inform him about the details of the Tk 2,500 crore she claimed to have kept in his account in the USA as per a case document, saying he wants to donate the money to orphan. A day after Khaleda asked about the source of Tk 2,500 crore in his account mentioned in the document of a case filed in connection with a plot to abduct and kill him in the USA, Joy came up with his reaction to her allegation. "A woman who has stolen money from orphans, one whose son is a fugitive accused by the FBI for corruption, really should not be throwing mud at Bangabandhu's grandson. Madam, if you know where the $300 million is, please let me know. I would like to donate it to orphans," the Prime Minister's son said. Describing Mahmudur Rahman and Shafiq Rahman as her henchmen, Joy said the duo stole secret FBI documents listing all his bank accounts but could not find it. "The military regime of 1/11 who arrested my mother could not find it. Even the FBI could not find it. That's because I have never had anything close to $300 million. I am not that rich." "Khaleda Zia on other hand, is a liar and a thief," he added. Earlier on Saturday, Khaleda at a programme of Jagpa alleged that the government had arrested journalist Shafik Rehman to hush up the issue of Tk 2,500 crore in Joy's bank account. "What's the source of the money? The country's people want to know what amount of money they have in this way," she asked. Later on Sunday, addressing a workers' rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city, the BNP chief said Shafik Rehman was arrested and put on remand as he collected some information about Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy's involvement in siphoning off Tk 2,500 crore. Khaleda also demanded the government either release Shafik Rehman and Mahmudur Rahman or arrest Joy and grill him over the laundered Tk 2,500 crore. Thieves spent months lurking inside BB's computers By MICHAEL CORKERY : Tens of millions of dollars siphoned from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. A shadowy set of casinos in the Philippines. A large bank in Bangladesh with creaky technology. An unknown - and perhaps uncatchable - group of anonymous thieves with sophisticated hacking skills. What unites this curious cast of characters and enabled one of the most brazen digital bank heists ever is a ubiquitous and highly trusted international bank messaging system called Swift. Swift - the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication - is billed as a supersecure system that banks use to authorize payments from one account to another. "The Rolls-Royce of payments networks," one financial analyst said. But last week, for the first time since hackers captured $81 million from Bangladesh's central bank in February, Swift acknowledged that the thieves have tried to carry out similar heists at other banks on its network by sneaking into the beating heart of the global banking system. "There are many banks out there right now saying, 'There but for the grace of God go us,'" said Gareth Lodge, a payments analyst at Celent, a financial consulting firm. The admission that the attack was not a one-time event in a developing country but perhaps part of a broader threat has thrust Swift into a spotlight, raising questions about how securely money is being moved around the world. Some financial security experts point out the Swift system is only as safe as its weakest link. The attack also reflects a growing sophistication among digital criminals, who for years have been breaching personal bank accounts and stealing credit card credentials. The thieves in Bangladesh may have spent months lurking inside the central bank's computers, studying how to steal the necessary credentials to gain access to Swift. It is the digital version of the heist depicted in the movie "Ocean's Eleven," said Adrian Nish, head of the cyberthreat intelligence team at BAE Systems, a defense and security company. "The trend is moving from opportunistic crime to Hollywood-scale attacks," said Mr. Nish, whose firm has analyzed the malware believed to have been used in the Bangladesh breach. In the United States, most banks take special precautions with their Swift computers, building multiple firewalls to isolate the system from the bank's other networks and keeping the machines physically isolated in a separate locked room. But elsewhere, some banks take far fewer precautions. And security experts who have analyzed the Swift breach said they had concluded that the Bangladesh bank may have been particularly vulnerable to an attack. "Swift is a great organization," said Chris Larsen, the founder of Ripple, a financial technology company that aims to speed up global money transmissions. "But the system is fractured and antiquated. The way it is set up, you cannot totally isolate problems in a place like Bangladesh from the whole network." In some ways, Swift is a testament to how technology has helped all countries - including poorer ones - gain access to the financial system. But that broader access has a downside. The central bank in Bangladesh, by some accounts, employed fewer protections against cyberattacks than many other large banks. The bank, for example, used $10 routers and no firewalls, according to news reports. The server software that the Bangladesh bank employed was a Swift product called Alliance Access, which connects banks to the central messaging system. In a sign of how seriously Swift regards the breach of Alliance Access, the group issued a "mandatory software update" last week to help its members identify possible irregularities. "These hackers figured out this was a weak point on the periphery, and they went for it," said Jeffrey Kutler, editor in chief at the Global Association of Risk Professionals, a trade group. "But they were not able to compromise the core." Swift's core is built on technology that has been evolving for decades. What began in 1973 as a relatively small network of 240 banks in Europe and North America is now a sprawling network of 11,000 users that includes both banks and large corporations. At first, Swift could be used to authorize payments across national borders. But it is now also used to transmit messages related to domestic payments, securities settlements and other transactions. Swift's growth in recent years - it set a record for messages in March - reflects the increasingly global and interconnected nature of finance. But it also shows the risk of so many financial instructions running through a single system made up of a patchwork of banks and companies with varying levels of online protection. Each bank on the Swift network is identified by a set of codes. And it was the codes assigned to the Bank of Bangladesh that were recognized - correctly - by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York when it transferred $81 million of the Bangladesh bank's money to the Philippines, not knowing that someone, somewhere, had stolen the credentials of the Bangladesh bank and installed malware to cover his or her tracks. Initially, the thieves requested the transfer of $951 million into a handful of bank accounts in Sri Lanka and the Philippines - a number that prompted the New York Fed to ask the Bangladesh bank to reconfirm that it indeed wanted to move the money. In the end, the Fed processed only five of the 35 fraudulent payment requests, after it could not reconfirm with officials in Bangladesh. The hackers seemed to time the attack perfectly: When officials from the Fed tried to reach out to Bangladesh, it was a weekend there and no one was working. By the time central bankers in Bangladesh discovered the fraud, it was the weekend in New York and the Fed offices were closed. To conceal the crime, the malware disabled a printer in the Bangladesh bank to prevent officials from reviewing a log of the fraudulent transfers. The money was transferred to accounts in the Philippines and then into the Philippine casino system, which is exempt from many of the country's anti-money-laundering requirements. The New York Fed has been criticized for letting the $81 million slip out. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a New York Democrat and member of the Financial Services Committee, has called for an investigation, warning that the breach "threatens to undermine the confidence that foreign central banks have in the Federal Reserve, and in the safety and soundness of international monetary transactions." The New York Fed said in a statement that "there is no evidence that any Fed systems were compromised" and that the transfer of the money had been "fully authenticated" by Swift. Swift, which prides itself on its secrecy and low public profile, also put out a statement about the attacks. But its executives declined to speak on the record about the episodes, which are still under investigation. The group's chairman, Yawar Shah, who is a senior executive at Citigroup, also declined to comment. In its statement, Swift emphasized that the hackers had been able to breach only some of the banks that communicate over Swift, not the network itself. "The commonality in what we have seen is that (internal or external) attackers have successfully compromised banks' own environments," Swift said. Even if officials at the Bangladesh bank had employed the highest of security measures, the thieves displayed a level of skill, cunning and determination that may have been able to penetrate a far more secure system. Nobody`s business? Kamruzzaman Bablu :The City Corporations are responsible to remove the uprooted, the skewed and the dead trees from the streets. But the two Dhaka City Corporations have no separate arrangements of doing this work. As a result, there remains chance of road accidents during storm.In the last week of March, a branch of a big old tree fell on a rickshaw of which National Film Award winning filmmaker Khalid Mahmood Mithu was a passenger in Dhanmondi Residential Area. Nearby people took him to the Ganoshasthaya Nagar Hospital where the doctors declared him dead on arrival. It was really a pathetic death.Experts opine, "Although roads and streets look green because of trees, most of the trees are actually hollow from inside, having fear of falling or crashing in the Nor'wester, or even in gust."Environmental activists opined that road digging by the WASA, T&T, and TITAS might have weakened the roots of those trees. Apart from this, roadside trees could not spread their roots due to footpath construction and reshaping. On Sunday, many trees were found uprooted or branches thereof fell on roads on the Baily Road, the Eskaton Road and the Dhaka University area although there was no news of casualty.The estate departments of the both City Corporations can remove any dead trees if considered harmful or risky to city dwellers. In that case, locals have to inform it to the Estate Department of the City Corporation. After receipt of information, it will be placed in a committee consisting of members from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the DC Office and the related organizations for permission to cut the harmful trees, as the City Corporation alone cannot take any decision like it. "Yet, we are careful about the city residents' security." said Khalid Ahmed, the Chief Estate Officer of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). He said, the two City Corporations do not have actual statistics how much trees the city has. There is no specific information about who planted the trees and when? Architect Iqbal Habib said, "As the City Corporations give permission to dig the roads, they should take the responsibility of taking care of the trees." They should also inspect and remove the risky trees. According to him, there could be a list of trees on city roads with regular updates. Dr Tarik Bin Yousuf, Superintendent Engineer of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) also echoed the same. "It is not enough to plant trees. There must be initiatives to look after those regularly," he concluded. A free press helps the government more than others Farhana Haque Rahman : Media freedoms appear increasingly under siege around the world, with concerning signs that achieving middle-income status is no guarantee for an independent political watchdog in the form of the press. The news is constant and disheartening. The death this week of a LGBT magazine editor in Bangladesh shows that around the world, those who speak up are too often themselves tragically silenced. In Mexico, journalists are knocked off - by criminal gangs, or maybe by colluding public authorities - and only rarely is their death punished. The fact that the government has a special prosecutor for such crimes does not seem to have any impact. In South Africa, a new bill on national security allows for whistle blowers to be jailed for decades - the first legislation since the end of apartheid that curtails a freedom many once fought for. The arrest of newspaper editors in Turkey is alarming. In Tunisia, the media's main enemy is no longer tyranny in the form of a dictator, the new constitution tried to make defamation and libel - often flexible categories - punishable by fines only, but those the government often insist on use the penal code. A pending bill that would criminalize "denigration" of security forces. Security threats, not always well-defined, are increasingly cited to promote further restrictions - in France, Belgium and beyond. The U.S. Senate has proposed requiring Internet companies to report "terrorist activity" and a UN Security Council committee recently called for Internet platforms to be liable for hosting content posted by extremists - even though the Islamic State alone posts an estimated 90,000 posts a day and has been known to taunt the social media platforms they use for trying to stop them. Proposed Internet regulations are not just about terrorism or alleged civil war. They can be used to muffle news about deadly industrial accidents, government corruption and more. China wants to forbid foreign ownership of online media. Censorship can use commercial pressure. Many feel the reason a major Kenyan daily sacked its editor was out of fear criticism of the government would lead to an advertising boycott and the risk of bankruptcy. The recent purchase of Hong Kong's South China Morning Post by Alibaba's founder, widely seen as close to Beijing, will be watched closely. Looser defamation laws - proposed in the U.S. by a presidential candidate - have a long history of being used to silence people through long Kafka-esque judicial action. One of the stranger cases - yet no less symptomatic of the trend - was the Indian government's firing of an educational newspaper's editor for having published a story suggesting that iron is an important nutritional element and can be obtained from beef or veal - a taboo food according to the ideological Hinduism championed by the current ruling party. What to do? There is a broadly-agreed narrative that claims a free and independent press is an essential part of any genuine democracy. It has long been held that while there may be stages along the way for developing countries, upholding media freedom is a strong sign of commitment that bodes well for improved governance across the board and thus better human welfare for all. I have not heard one coherent argument claiming that this is no longer the case. Political leaders should be pressured to state publicly that they do not believe in media freedom's merits - which few will do - rather than hide behind vague security threats that often sound like the rumour mill that preceded the guillotines of the French Revolution. This can work, as shown last year when international pressure led President Joko Widodo of Indonesia to force a senior minister to drop new rules curtailing the rights of foreign journalists in the country. Public pressure on governments to make sure legislative threats to the press are reversed and threats against media freedom properly policed are essential. A Swedish law that makes it illegal for a reporter to reveal an anonymous source warrants consideration for emulation. And this highlights how journalists themselves must help achieve the goal. Self-regulation can work, as Scandinavian countries show. Independent press councils can serve as a powerful forum - ideally enhanced with a public code of ethics that all parties can invoke - both for journalists themselves and readers and other stakeholders who may complain about their work. After all, while a free press means that a journalist has rights, it does not mean that she or he is right. To prove effective, a whole ecosystem must be set up. Sweden's Freedom of the Press Act is now several centuries old, and the country has a constitutional principle requiring that all public records be available to the public. It is true that the experience of the Nordic countries is historically linked to the absence of feudalism, but it is an implicit goal of all democracy to overcome such legacies, so setting up institutions that mutually reinforce the free flow of information is part of any sustainable development in the interest of all - and not a perk upon arrival. Digital publishing has, to be sure, raised thorny questions, notably about whether expressions that insult cultural sensitivities - whatever they may be - contribute to the culture a free press needs and is meant to foster. Opinions may vary on where appropriate limits may lie. But all authorities - precisely because they hold power - should accept the principle that the free press exists to hold them accountable, and that suppressing journalists will not bolster their power but ultimately erode it. (Farhana Haque Rahman, Director General, Inter Press Service). Govt out to destroy BNP's future leadership: Nazrul UNB, Dhaka : BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Monday alleged that the government has made their promising young leaders a target to destroy the party's future leadership. "The leaders who have the capability to lead BNP in the coming days are being made a target and implicated in false cases. They're being harmed in various ways and made disappeared," he said. Speaking at a discussion, he further said, "A good number of our leaders and activists were killed, made disappeared, maimed and seriously injured. Their family members are shedding tears every day. But, all believe that trial of these injustice, misdeeds and repression will surely be held one day." Dhaka south city unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the first death anniversary of its former president and BNP's then assistant organising secretary Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu. Pintu, also an ex-BNP MP died on May 3 at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital last year at the age of 48. ACC arrests 5 more graft suspects UNB, Dhaka :The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday arrested five graft suspects, including a sub-registrar, fromdifferent parts of the country in separate graft cases. ACC assistant director of Comilla Zila office Hafizul Islam arrested sub-registrar of Laksam Upazila Md Abu Taleb Miah from Comilla in a graft case filed against him, ACC public relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told UNB.On August 6, 2014, a case was filed against him with Palong Police Station of Faridpur district for allegedly causing a loss Tk 28 lakh in government revenue through the registration of 3.71 acres of land in Shariatpur municipality area, violating rules.ACC deputy assistant director of Kushtia office Mustafizur Rahman detained Md Ahsanul Huq, Fakhrul Alam and Md Khalilur Rahman of Chuadanga for reportedly preparing fake land documents and using it.ACC assistant director of Tangail office Md Amir Hossain apprehended Md Mahmudunnabi from Tangail for allegedly taking job in the police showing fake freedom fighter's certificate. Holocaust being committed against Muslims in Syria Peace and war can't go together. The six days of air strikes and rebel shelling in Aleppo, an ancient Syrian city in the west and now split amidst a ceasefire, left at least 246 people killed in government aerial bombardment and heavy rebels shelling. It is not just Assad forces who are killing Syrians, but Russia, America and rebel forces are also freely killing. Some are killing the Syrians in the name of helping them and others like Russia in the name of helping Assad. It is a shame that the global community is watching in silent when dozens of people were killed and lying under the rubble and the Civil Defense could not dig out the bodies as the TV footage showed. A resident on the government-held area in the city said shells were falling like rain everywhere. The bombing on the Aleppo Hospital alone left more than 50 people dead including women, children and staff doctors that bears all signs of a war crime. In fact the entire city bears the marks of war crimes. The barbaric act of killings and destructions were repeatedly carried out over several days. In fact, the entire Syria is a devastated and divided country and towns burnt, infrastructure destroyed and people uprooted from the homes. They are being killed and slaughtered, and forced to leave the country. Meanwhile over 2,70,000 people lost lives in the war and over five millions became homeless refugees, many swimming across the Mediterranean to move to safely in Europe. It can clearly be compared with holocaust being committed and tolerated internationally. But since the major powers are having their hands behind the tragedy, they are sidetracking the crimes under various peace making games. Many blame the Russians for the extended tragedy since the Bashar al-Assad regime is nothing but a proxy of the Russian interest. In the war in Syria the major players are Russia and the USA with their local allies carrying out the proxy war. The Syrians are utterly robbed and betrayed and made victims in their home country. Their revolution for a democratic change to rescue the country by removing the despotic rule of Bashar al-Assad family, which is in power over the past 44 years, has been lost to big powers intrigues. The Syrians are now fleeing the country to overcrowd in the European Union and other places for humanitarian shelter while Russian and US leaders are negotiating how to protect their interest first over the country before ending the war and allowing the people to return. Russian physical intervention has already made the situation complex while the US is leg dragging without a clear strategy to face the Russian in the ground. Muslims in Syria are subjected to mass killing but real help should have come from the Western human rights protecting countries but they are complaining of Syrian refugees without caring to understand that the Syrians are not economic migrants. They have been forced to leave their country for mass murder being committed by all sides. Hitler is still condemned for mass killing of Jews, but the indiscriminate killing of the Muslims in Syria is seen as global politics without any urgency to stop it. Muslims are discriminated. Troyce Thorla Just days before the Nov. 21 runoff for Lafayette sheriff between attorney Mark Garber and Scott Police Chief Chad Leger a contest won handily by Garber, 55-45 percent Lafayette resident Troyce Thorla, a former police officer and sheriffs deputy in Mississippi who had recently moved back to Lafayette Parish to care for his elderly mother, filed suit in state district court seeking to unseal the divorce files of Mark and Rachel Garber. The files Thorla sought access to were actually the 2013 divorce proceedings between the Garbers, who had secretly separated again in July 2015, three months before the four-man primary election for sheriff but well into the campaign; Rachel Garber would again file for divorce on Nov. 30, just a week after the runoff. By November of last year it had become not-toouncommon knowledge that the Garbers were ending their rocky marriage and were merely playing family for the sake of campaign appearances a keen political maneuver from the perspective of candidate Garber, who would have understandably worried what being in the middle of a divorce involving two small children would do to his election prospects. Candidates for Lafayette Parish sheriff from left, Mark Garber, John Rogers, Chad Leger and Rick Chargois participate in the Stump Speech at the Horse Farm last September. Rogers endorsed Leger while Chargois endorsed Garber in the runoff. Photo by Robin May Naive to Lafayette politics and favoring a fellow cop for sheriff, Thorla supported Leger in the race, and he had standing as a resident of the parish to file suit seeking to have the Garbers divorce files unsealed. Thorla had met City Marshal Brian Pope, who we now know from The INDs ongoing public records battle with the marshal conspired deeply and to the detriment of his own career with the Leger campaign throughout the primary and runoff elections. Pope, according to Thorla, convinced him to file the suit seeking to open up the Garbers divorce files. We can probably see this as a desperation move by Camp Leger: By the time the legal work was done and the suit was filed, it was clear that a judge wouldnt consider the suit until after the runoff; the suit, in other words, wouldnt have affected the runoff even if it were successful in getting the divorce files unsealed, assuming there was dirt in those files that made Garber look bad. However, a source tells The IND that shortly after the runoff, with Garber then the sheriff-elect, Pope inquired with a local election official about how many signatures would be needed on a recall petition against Garber after he is sworn in as sheriff, which takes place this summer. Heres where it gets interesting. On April 5 of this year, Thorla went to Garbers law office Garber wasnt present and signed a 13-point affidavit fingering Pope and a Leger supporter identified as David Prejean as the heavies in the lawsuit to unseal the Garbers divorce files. Paraphrasing the points in the notarized and witnessed affidavit signed by Thorla: Thorla was approached by Pope and Prejean to initiate the lawsuit. Pope and Prejean indicated they supported Leger in the sheriff runoff and believed the Garbers divorce proceedings would discredit candidate Garber. Pope and Prejean believed Thorla was the ideal candidate to file suit because Thorla also supported Leger and had recently moved back to Lafayette Parish. Pope believed there was a compact disc among the divorce files that could prove damaging to Garber. (This is likely the rumored video copy of Garber and a mistress sex tape that evidently never actually existed.) In collaboration with Pope and Prejean, Thorla filed suit to unseal the divorce files. Thorla advised Pope that he didnt have an attorney and couldnt afford one. Pope assured Thorla he would handle the legal costs associated with the suit. Pope told Thorla the legal work would be done at a Downtown Lafayette law office. (The office on Stewart Street identified in the affidavit belongs to the firm Goforth & Lilley, but its also where Popes original attorney in his public record battle with The Independent, Charles Middleton, rents office space.) Thorla went to Middletons office on Stewart Street with Prejean and was given an envelope containing legal papers. Pope personally paid for the cost of filing the suit with the clerk of court. After Garber was elected, Thorla on several occasions approached Pope about discontinuing the suit but Pope advised him that the proceedings could not be stopped. Days before the suit was to be heard in state district court, Thorla again tried to back out but Pope again insisted the trial couldnt be avoided. Thorla attended the trial before District Judge David Blanchet who ruled in favor of unsealing the divorce files; Thorla reported this outcome to Pope. The 13th and final point, verbatim: I regret this action I have taken against Mr. Garber and feel that due to my ignorance of the political environment in the Lafayette Parish Sheriffs race coupled with my lack of fully understanding the ramifications of such a suit, I was manipulated by Marshal Pope and David Prejean in an effort to discredit and impugn the reputation of Mr. Mark Garber. But wait, it gets weirder. City Marshal Brian Pope After this newspaper obtained a copy of the affidavit, which was notarized and signed by Thorla in front of witnesses but was never entered into any official court record, we tracked down Thorla, who works in the scrap metal business in south Lafayette Parish. Thorla tells us that he was approached by Rick Chargois, a former state trooper who ran in the primary for sheriff and later endorsed Garber, about signing the affidavit. But, Thorla suggests, he signed the affidavit more because he felt harassed than out of any true feelings of regret for meddling in the runoff election. They told me that little statement that they drew up, that I wouldnt be bothered no more, Thorla recalls. I had Rick Chargois coming around my house taking pictures and stuff, and I just got tired of it. I went and filed that deal with the court to open up the sealed records, and then I got into something that I just really, I dont know, I did it on my own but I got involved in something that went a little bit too far I think, and then next thing I know I had Chargois coming around, taking pictures of my house. Supposedly [Chargois and/or Garber] done an investigation on me and called my old chief and sheriff where I used to work in Forrest County, Miss., and called my police chief where I used to work in Petal, Miss., done this big investigation on me just because I went and filed some stupid papers to unseal the thing, and I went over there just so theyd quit harassing me about the whole thing; I wanted to be out of it, done with it. I said, You know what, I dont want any more to do with it, and Chargois said, Well, this will solve the whole thing; just sign this and youre done you wont be involved anymore. Because I dont want to be involved with this anymore Im sick of it. Chargois disputes Thorlas claim that he was in any way harassed, telling The IND he merely went to Thorlas house to speak with him after Thorla sought out Garbers attorney to say he had been pushed by Pope to file suit against Garber. Chargois adds that on his initial visit to Thorlas house, Thorla wasnt home, so he talked briefly with Thorlas mother and daughter-in-law and took the photo of the house only because the home is located in a remote, new subdivision and he wanted to remember the house for future reference. Chargois did eventually make contact with Thorla. When I asked him about it, he said he wanted to back out [of going forward with the lawsuit] but was encouraged not to. He felt that he was between a rock and hard place, Chargois says, denying that any background check was conducted on Thorla. I did no background on him I did no background in Mississippi, Chargois says. I went and talked to him direct, and after I had talked to him and went and explained to Mark about what he had to say, how he was in a bad place, Mark said, Have him come in and put down everything he said, that way weve got it on record. It was just for Marks personal knowledge. Thorla, Chargois says, reviewed the affidavit point by point before signing it. Ultimately, the whole episode, from filing suit to unseal the divorce to signing the affidavit, had no effect on who will be sworn in as sheriff. It did, however, sour Troyce Thorla on Lafayette politics. I just want it to be over with, he confesses. The longer the Marshal Brian Pope public records battle goes on, the stranger it gets. The Independents scheduled video deposition of political consultant Hilary Joe Castille was refused in April by his attorney, Clayton Burgess, who plopped himself into the witness chair and insisted the camera roll while he spoke. His client, the reclusive sycophant who conspired with City Marshal Brian Pope late last year to plan and execute an elaborate political attack disguised as a press conference, was out of the frame the entire time, nodding his head affirmatively while his attorney did all of the talking. Burgess argued ad nauseum that his client had not had ample time to prepare for the deposition, as he had only retained an attorney days earlier. Burgess decision to warm his clients seat and instruct the video recording to proceed is unheard of, according to local attorneys with decades of legal experience. Judge [Jules] Edwards wont be happy, says one criminal defense attorney who asked not to be identified. But heres where the day got even wackier: In his video-taped statements, Burgess said he had not had sufficient time to find out what this suits about, suggesting he had only been called into the case in the past few days, but once Burgess had had his say, IND attorney Gary McGoffin produced to a Feb. 23 letter from Popes original attorney, Charles Middleton, to Burgess that referenced the lawsuit and had been (inadvertently, it seems) filed into the public record. Burgess, it was clear from his reaction at the deposition, had no idea the letter had been put into the public record in support of the pleading he himself had filed. It certainly appears that Clayton Burgess, who is now Joe Castilles attorney, been representing Popes interests, which would make him very familiar with the case. And even if both clients have signed off on the potential conflict, will that fly with Judge Edwards? Our country was founded on the belief that individuals have inherent rights and liberties, and that the protection of these liberties is governments highest purpose. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution contains many of the most important freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition. In the 225 years since the passage of the First Amendment in 1791, citizens have engaged in a spirited debate, often decided by the courts, about what each of those rights means in practice. This debate is raging today on college campuses, including UL Lafayette, with the resurgence of chalking, political messages written on campus walkways, walls and public areas. These chalkings, much ballyhooed in the national media as the contest for president has intensified, focus mostly on the lightning-rod candidacy of Donald Trump. Some of the chalkings are pure endorsement, like Trump for President, Trump 2016 and Vote Trump. Other phrases Build the Wall, Hillary for Treason and They Have to Go Back #Trump are more pointed. So pointed, in fact, that some students feel they trample on the free exchange of ideas for which colleges are known. The most objectionable of these chalkings have been termed microaggressions, messages intended to intimidate minorities and other historically disadvantaged groups by creating a climate of hostility and exclusion, violating in the process most colleges mission and values. UL Lafayettes Mission, Values, Vision statement, for example, proclaims the universitys dedication to equity (fair treatment and justice), integrity, intellectual curiosity, tradition, transparency (practicing open communication), respect (demonstrating empathy and esteem for others), collaboration, pluralism (believing in the inherent worth of diverse culture and perspectives) and sustainability. Just how do chalkings spouting antiimmigrant or anti-Muslim rhetoric fit into the landscape of values created by UL Lafayettes mission statement? Are provocative chalkings simply the cost of doing business in a free society, or should a student or communitys feeling of injury function as an (oddly appropriate) trump card, silencing those who stray outside the careful boundaries of mutual respect. What lessons can a university be said to teach, if it prohibits the free expression of its students? Curious to see how UL students view this issue, I put a few of the incendiary messages up on the board, and then polled my State and Local Government class for their responses. The results: in a class of 31, 28 said speech (like these chalkings) should not be limited on college campuses, while three students said some limitations might be prudent. Says one student, Free speech creates an environment that forces us to interact with people who believe differently than we do this is a vital life skill. Another says, I think statements such as Build the Wall are perfectly fine. People need to have thicker skin. A dissenter from this view remarked that you cant scream fire in a movie theater and you shouldnt be able to write No Muslims, No Islam on walls. The fact is words hurt. Just because you can say something doesnt mean you should. Then I turned to my colleague Dr. Rick Swanson, a recognized constitutional law expert in the Political Science Department. Swanson argues forcefully that the chalkings are a form of protected expression under the First Amendment. Noting that students at a public university have even greater protection for their speech than those at a private university, he says while a public college has some ability to tell students the time, place and media they may use to say something, a public college has limited ability to tell students what they can or cannot say. This is especially true for political speech, which the U.S. Supreme Court says lies at the heart of the protections of the First Amendment. In fact, Swanson adds, the protection of these political statements especially the unpopular ones is the very reason for the existence of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. As he puts it, In a democracy, government is never going to ban or punish popular speech. Its only going to ban or punish unpopular speech that people find offensive. So theres no point in having a Free Speech Clause unless its intended to protect unpopular, offensive viewpoints. What happens to the Socratic Method when students beliefs are not challenged or their world view expanded by grappling with stubborn facts and contrary viewpoints? Is not the ability to see all sides of an issue exactly what we expect a liberal education to deliver: the ability to think critically and creatively about history and society, and preparation to face the challenges that await them in the real world? Swanson argues that the purpose of a university is to explore diverse and controversial ideas, including ideas some people might find offensive or disturbing. Yet serious discussion of such issues cannot occur without the willingness to feel uncomfortable and the ability to handle such discomfort. An influential essay in the Atlantic, The Coddling of the American Mind, echoes Swanson, asking: What exactly are students learning when they spend four years or more in a community that polices unintentional slights, places warning labels on works of classic literature [trigger warnings], and in many other ways conveys the sense that words can be forms of violence that require strict control by campus authorities, who are expected to act as both protectors and prosecutors? Of course, the Founders were not thinking about microaggressions when they crafted the First Amendment. In the long run its just as well they werent because they left the First Amendment inviolate and uncompromising, and the defense of free speech the task and inheritance of every American. Pearson Cross is an associate professor in the Political Science Department at UL Lafayette. He holds a Ph.D. from Brandeis University (1997), and his principal areas of teaching are state and local politics, and Southern politics. Cross interviews local politicians and newsmakers on his radio show, Bayou to the Beltway, which airs on KRVS 88.7 FM at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Contact him at [email protected] A piping hot Pizza Margheritta hits table side at Bread & Circus, a stunning example of Neapolitan elegance. Photo by Zoe Huval Lets face it, regardless of what I say here youd take it for bias. Not only because I speak as a former (quasi-present) employee of Bread & Circus Provisions, but also as an eater of pizza and thus the holder of an opinion. Lafayette eaters have long been tribal about their pizza affiliations Alesis (my native tribe), Deanos, Pizza Village, La Pizzeria, Antonis, etc. everyone is a nativist when it comes to choice of pizza. One thing Acadianas favorite spots have in common is the American obsession with more. For years there seems to have been some kind of toppings arms race in town. How good is your pizza? Well, how many toppings can you fit on it? Look, I can totally get behind a cut of pork for every inch of dough. But let it be known that theres another approach. And thats what Bread & Circus is...ahem... rolling out this spring and summer, almost exactly as I type this missive. Its back to basics. Its peasantry, Bread & Circus chef/owner Manny Augello tells me. As part of a near complete overhaul of his business concept, Augello raised more than $10,000 in Kickstarter funds to import a 3,000-pound clay-domed, wood-fired Italian pizza oven. Excessive, I know. But the excess simplifies Augellos culinary message, streamlines his kitchen operation and lowers costs, all by way of Neapolitan pizza and Southern Italian country food. For months prior to a late April re-open, Augello flirted with the change, adding pizza slices to weekday menus that had previously only been served Saturday nights. While Southern Italian components have long populated his rotating menus, the Neapolitan-style pizza is the chief engine driving the concept deeper in Augellos culinary roots. Bread & Circus was always known for culinary adventurism. But his eccentricities are more accessible by dough than by other vehicles. Neapolitan pizza is about elevating simple, well-sourced ingredients. The doughs are hand-tossed, on the chewycrunchy end of the crust spectrum, and are neutral in flavor profile. All eyes are on top: burrata cheese, fresh oregano, balsamic reduction, salumi and fried eggplant make appearances on a short list of five house pies. Consider this in contrasts: On the one hand, Augello offers the familiar Pizza Margherita bold San Marzano marinara, mellowed with fresh mozzarella and lightened with basil. With the other he submits the Pizza Palermo, a house-invention and ode to Augellos native Sicily, which boasts pungent but balanced flavors a house-staple marinara lays a base for Italian anchovies and onion. For cheese, this pie takes low-class Italian liberties with what Augello roughly translates as poor man cheese, a rich dusting of bread crumbs in lieu of mozz. You can forget the Parmesan shaker; for the Palermo your server grates bottarga dry-cured roe, or what I call fish salt on your pizza after it hits your table. That accessibility is provided by the rest of the new rustic menu, 80 percent of which is prepared in that fire-breathing oven. If youre not feeling the pizza, maybe garlic knots, veal meatball sliders, baked rotini or calzones will do the trick. For longtime fans, the Juicy Lucy, fried chicken and the miso ramen are here to stay. The switch to a pizza-centric restaurant concept has given Augello the chance to lower his price points. Local restaurants are suffering from closing expense accounts, and typically the most lux are the first to go. Bread & Circus typically ran in the higher-priced circles that get hit hardest when money is tight. Pizza, its relatives and Italian food in general, for that matter, is a food culture demanding the gathering of friends and family in times of celebration and distress, says Augello. We want to be there for those times, especially the good ones. The more economically approachable we can be across all income levels the more we can practice our craft. 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. Paris, TX (75460) Today Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 73F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 50F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. HARRISBURG Saline County States Attorney Michael Henshaw announced Monday that nine individuals were sentenced to prison in April. The individuals range from different counties and were sentenced for a number of different crimes. James McEwan, 32, of Harrisburg, was sentenced on April 1 to three years in prison for unlawful delivery of cannabis. McEwan was previously sentenced in Saline County for reckless driving in December for an additional three years. Cody Fulkerson, 25, of Carmi, was sentenced April 1 to 10 years in prison for unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material. Alexander McWilliams, 30, of Harrisburg, was sentenced April 6 to four years in prison for aggravated battery and criminal trespass to occupied residence. Scott Jarvis, 46, of Carmi, was sentenced April 8 to three years in prison for criminal trespass to occupied residence. Mark Meylor, 34, of Harrisburg, was sentenced April 8 to four years in prison for unlawful possession of controlled substance. Shawn Smith, 21, of Maunie, was sentenced April 13 to seven years in prison for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. He was also sentenced six years in prison for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police office. The sentences will run concurrently. Larry Morris, 48, of Lovelaceville, Kentucky, was sentenced April 21 to three years in prison for aggravated battery. Ricky Fuller, 42, of Harrisburg, was sentenced April 27 to six years in prison for burglary. Brian Barringer, 44, of Marion, was sentenced April 28 to 10 years in prison for unlawful possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine. Illinois State Police said Monday a Marion man was killed overnight after he was struck by a semi-trailer on Old Illinois 13. Police have not identified the man pending family notification, except to say he was 43 years old and lived in Marion. ISP said Kevin D. Adams, 53, of Creal Springs was driving a semi-trailer west-bound on Old Illinois 13 just east of Illinois 148 when he struck the man, who police said was walking in the middle of the roadway and wearing dark clothing. Williamson County Coroner Michael "Junior" Burke said the man was pronounced dead at 1:35 a.m. Monday, and he died from injuries he sustained in the crash. Burke said the incident is under investigation by his office, Illinois State Police and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. This story will be updated. The Southern MARION A Hurst man charged with first-degree murder is scheduled to appear in court next week, according to court records on Judici.com. Benjamin Howell, 34, was arrested and charged Friday with first-degree murder in the death of Chad Jones, 40, of Lockport, according to a Friday news release from Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick. Administrative Assistant to the States Attorney Jimmy Dean confirmed that Howells appearance is a preliminary hearing at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, May 9 at the Williamson County Courthouse. The case has been assigned to Judge Brian Lewis. A preliminary hearing means the state has to prove there is probable cause that a felony was committed. The defense can exercise its right to waive the hearing. If not, the defense lawyer has the opportunity to ask specific questions if witnesses are called and have testimony placed on the record before a trial or future hearings. According to Judici, Howell was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He was assigned Williamson County Public Defender Alex Fine. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office said previously it received a 911 call at about 2 a.m. Friday, which reported that a man was lying on the ground outside of a pick-up truck at 446 N. Bush Ave. in Hurst. Authorities said the man appeared to have been badly beaten. The man, later identified as Jones, was taken to Herrin Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The police said persons of interest were identified and interviewed, but Howell was the only person taken into custody as of Monday. Williamson County Coroner Michael Junior Burke said Jones said after an autopsy Friday preliminary cause of death was blunt force trauma. Howells bond has been set at $1 million and he is being held at the Williamson County Jail. According to Judici, Howell was fined for a disorderly conduct misdemeanor in October 2005 in Williamson County Circuit Court. In June 2014, charges were dismissed against him for a domestic battery misdemeanor, also in Williamson County. According to Illinois statute, a person commits first-degree murder when performing the act that caused the death, that person either intends to kill or do great bodily harm to an individual or another, or knows that such acts will cause death to that individual. The statute also says a person can commit first-degree murder if they know the act creates a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm to the individual. CARBONDALE Protesters on the Southern Illinois University campus marched into the Faner Hall breezeway at around 10 a.m. Monday, filling the air with chants such as no justice, no peace, and thirty percent isnt enough," referring to the amount of state funding the university will receive after a stopgap funding measure passed last month about a third of what it got last year. After weeks of promoting a call for action, protesters rallied around the campus to raise awareness of issues including university costs and racial discrimination. Events that led up to potential May 2 action CARBONDALE As a strike is set for the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus Monda Ethan Crane, a senior transfer student studying radio and television at SIU, said he made up his mind to accept the call after anti-debt graffiti appeared on Faner Hall, the central hub of the College of Liberal Arts, last month. Crane said the cost of tuition is one of the many concerns that university students face. l owed $6,000 in costs after receiving financial aid, he said. Thats kind of insane. In addition to concerns with costs, Connor Guidry, a junior linguistics student at SIU, said that he chose to participate in the demonstration to address racial issues on campus. As a white person, you get to see the racism that minorities don't get to see, because you're around other white people and when you're alone they feel free to talk about whatever they want without the fear of being judged. It's usually not just in-your-face, old-fashioned racism. It's subtle," he said. Students marched from outside of Faner Hall to the Student Housing Office, then from inside the Student Housing Office to the Student Union making stops in the chancellor's office, the library and outside of student residence halls inviting those in the vicinity to join the march. Community members joined the demonstrations along with students and alumni. Keith Powers, a retired worker from Carbondale, said he decided to join the march in support of the students' calls for action against budget cuts. What I am trying to do out here is support all of my friends in some of these issues," he said. "I'm not a student, and I am not involved with the university, but I see how, as a resident of Carbondale, in this region all of this stuff affects me." As the march came to an end, students gathered outside of Faner Hall once again to demand further action from administrators, who were standing nearby. During an afternoon peace rally led by Mikala Barrett, a freshman criminology and criminal justice student, master's student Donald Chamberlain III made demands to university officials for public acknowledgment of institutional racism on campus. Additionally, Chamberlain, who is also a former SIU undergraduate, spoke directly to administrators, requesting that they create an equal opportunity committee to address diversity issues. "We have to begin to fight the issues on our campus," he said. "Administration is ignoring us (and) we have to make them listen." "This is our university. This is our SIU. We have to change things on this campus (and) the only way it's going to change is if we do it together." Andrew, a graduate student studying philosophy at SIU, also took a turn at the megaphone to discuss his concerns about the administrations failure to hire a professor of Africana philosophy. If racism is not okay, then cancelling these classes is not okay, he said. Concerning the issues presented by the students, Rae Goldsmith, chief marketing and communications officer for SIUC, said (SIU chancellor) Dr. Colwell has heard these requests." "He has met with the students regarding the colleges decision to put the professorship on hold due to the state budget impasse in the current year, and a proposed 20 percent cut in appropriations for the next year. Goldsmith said the impasse has affected a number of high-priority positions as determined by deans. Overall we have not filled more than 100 positions due to the impasse, she said. This does not mean that positions wont get filled, but that the hiring of a number of positions has been delayed. Regarding the other issues raised by protesters during the rally, she said, The chancellor and administrative team have listened to a number of requests today, and in sessions over the last two weeks. Initial steps to address issues as a community will be shared in the next day or so. , , , , . GEORGETOWN Jennifer Stalford waited two years for an open spot with Annies Project, an educational retreat for women farmers hosted each year by Clemson University Cooperative Extension. The wait was worth it. Stalford said she appreciated the small, intimate setting that allowed her to get expert answers to all of her questions on managing an agribusiness. I was able to implement things into my business before I even left, said Stalford, who in 2011 started J and J Farms, a 60-acre tree and vegetable farm in York County. I learned things that were absolutely pivotal for me; business aspects I just didnt understand the importance of or didnt even know existed. Clemson Extension is bringing the program to South Carolina for the fifth year May 4-7 at the Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science in Georgetown. Annies Project was founded in Illinois a decade ago and named for a woman who spent a lifetime learning to be an involved business partner with her husband, a farmer. The four-day event includes educational presentations, networking opportunities and a tour of the Baruch Institute. Presentation topics cover financial management, marketing, social media, risk assessment, insurance, law, estate planning and more. Presenters include representatives from Clemson University, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, AgSouth Farm Credit and ArborOne Farm Credit. Representatives from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development program will participate in a panel discussion. What was attractive to me about Annies Project was it is everything all in one. This is stuff that I couldnt find anywhere else, Stalford said. The share of U.S. farms operated by women has nearly tripled over the past three decades, from 5 percent in 1978 to 14 percent by 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Women are the fastest-growing segment in agriculture right now, said Clemson Extension agent and Annies Project state coordinator Jennifer Boyles. Some are looking for something new. They want to work with the earth. A lot of them are retiring from careers or they are receiving family land through estates. They are seeing that farming is very gratifying. To date, more than 75 South Carolina women have participated in Annies Project, Boyles saidThey really get to know each other and network and bond, she said. Stalford remains in the contact with the members of her class. They support each other and offer business advice, she said. Women from across the state attend. Theyre diverse in age and background. Some are college students. Some are retired women. Some are professionals looking for new careers. We have a really diverse group, Boyles said. Weve had three generations of a family come in together. The program is sponsored by Clemson Cooperative Extension, the S.C. Womens Agricultural Network, ArborOne Farm Credit and AgSouth Farm Credit. BAMBERG Since the beginning of February, a sixth-grade science project has been powering classrooms and childrens curiosity at Richard Carroll Elementary School. Through a partnership between the school and utilities, students are getting a first-hand look at the power of solar energy. The way we use energy is going to play an extremely important role ... in meeting our states needs, said Lonnie Carter, president and chief executive officer of Santee Cooper. This investment here at the Richard Carroll Elementary School as a green power solar school is part of that important future investment in renewable energy in our state. What this solar panel is doing is taking energy from the sun and transforming it into electricity in a form we can use, he said. The Bamberg Board of Public Works and Santee Cooper dedicated the school as the states 28th Green Power Solar School during a Friday ceremony. The school has been equipped with a 2-kilowatt solar power system that is already producing electricity from the suns rays, providing students with a firsthand look at the opportunities and challenges of solar power. Richard Carrolls solar energy project has been in the works for three years, sixth-grade science teacher Bobbie Bunch said. There was lot of paperwork, but it paid off in the end, according to Bunch. The main concept she wanted kids to take away from the project is that energy is everywhere. It cannot be created or destroyed. Its how things get moved around or transformed. Its kind of a hard concept for the kids to wrap their minds around because you cant really see it, feel it or touch it, she said. You can see it in action, but you cant really touch it. Sixth-grader John Marshall said he learned about phototropism, where plants grow toward the sun so they can get as much energy as possible for photosynthesis. Thats where the suns energy, water and carbon dioxide go into the plant and make sugar, he said. The project was pretty fun, Marshall said. A solar array panel was put in place last winter while students were out on break. Its been collecting the suns energy and transforming it into useable electricity ever since. It traps the electricity, breaks up the electrons, Bunch said. The electrons flow into the building with the system we already have set up and it powers up everything we have in the building. The kids can go online and see how many kilowatts the array brings in per second, Bunch said. The solar array was put into place by Santee Cooper and the Bamberg Department of Public Works at no expense to Bamberg District One. Solar energy is the future, said Matt Medlin, chairman of the Bamberg Board of Public Works. We can harness the suns energy. These kids have no idea about the power that lies at their fingertips. WASHINGTON Running mates? Its not even May, and already were talking running mates? Then let me toss Elizabeth Warrens name into the mix. Im making several assumptions here in a year when assuming ANYTHING is dangerous. First, I believe Ted Cruzs desperate gamble of adding Carly Fiorina to his ticket will fail. He was right to throw some kind of Hail Mary, but I dont see how Fiorina attracts enough new support for Cruz to win the Indiana primary on Tuesday. And if he loses there, hes pretty much toast. Donald Trumps landslide wins this past week in the Northeast gave him a bigger haul of convention delegates than even his most optimistic boosters had expected. If momentum still counts for anything in politics, Trump has it. And if he wins Indiana polls show him with about a six-point lead his path to the Republican nomination looks wide enough to taxi the rest of the way in his Boeing 757. Im also assuming that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. The delegate math is just brutal: There is simply no viable way now for Bernie Sanders to catch up. Sanders appeared to acknowledge reality when he announced that his campaign would lay off hundreds of paid staff members. He will use his clout at the convention, he said, to put together the strongest progressive agenda that any political party has ever seen. Which is where Warren comes in. It is absurd to claim that Clinton does not merit the progressive label; she has the scars from decades of attacks by the vast right-wing conspiracy to prove her bona fides. But on most issues gun control being a glaring exception Sanders is well to her left. And, as his surprising campaign has shown, thats where the energy and excitement in the Democratic Party happen to be this year. If there is a specific issue on which Clinton is weak with the Democratic left, it is not the FBI investigation of her emails. It is her perceived coziness with Wall Street, highlighted by the six-figure speaking fees she was paid by investment bank Goldman Sachs. Sanders central theme is that the rich and powerful have distorted our political and economic systems to favor their own selfish interests. He blasts Clinton not only for the Goldman speeches but also for mining Wall Street for campaign cash. My assumption is that Sanders, should he fall short of the nomination, will give Clinton his full-throated support. But will his most ardent supporters follow? As Clintons running mate, Warren could erase this potential weakness with the Democratic base. She has spent her Senate career becoming known as the scourge of Wall Street. No political figure is more closely identified with efforts to curb the excesses of the financial system. Warren would also help address another potential vulnerability. If the general-election matchup is Trump vs. Clinton and that seems increasingly likely it is becoming clear that on the question of U.S. military involvement around the world, Trump will position himself to the left of Clinton. The foreign policy speech that Trump delivered Wednesday was, for the most part, vague and anodyne. His overarching theme is America first, he said. To the extent the phrase means anything, it seems to promise that a President Trump would be extremely reluctant to deploy U.S. combat forces in any sort of worlds policeman role. Trump has even questioned the viability of NATO in its present form. Clinton is a foreign policy traditionalist. As secretary of state, she was more hawkish than President Barack Obama she pushed for more vigorous intervention in Syria, for example. She has long since apologized for her vote to authorize the Iraq War, but Sanders continues to attack her for it. Trump would surely do the same. Warren wasnt in Congress when the Iraq War began, and national security isnt the issue with which she is identified. But her views fit squarely with those of the partys progressive wing. Warren also has a compelling personal story of having risen from modest beginnings to become a Harvard professor and then a U.S. senator. The fact that she and Clinton would be the first all-female major party ticket should be irrelevant, but isnt. To many voters, it would be thrilling. I can think of several other potential running mates for Clinton. Funny, but I draw a blank when trying to come up with a suitable partner for Trump. Maybe hell just go it alone. Orangeburg native and Pulitzer Prize winner Eugene Robinsons email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com In March, an open letter from 121 Republican national security leaders characterized GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trumps foreign policy vision as wildly inconsistent and unmoored in principle, swinging from isolationism to military adventurism within the space of one sentence. While its always wise to take proclamations from the people who brought us the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with a grain of salt, in this case they were right and Trump himself proved it with his speech before the Center for National Interest on April 27. America First, says Trump, will be the major and overriding theme of my administration. Some non-interventionists, especially those of a libertarian bent, cheer the use of that phrase, thinking back to the movement to keep the United States out of World War II and even to Thomas Jeffersons proclaimed policy of peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none. But neither of those remotely resemble Trumps position, to the extent that he has a coherent position at all. Only two sentences after dropping the America First name, he lauds U.S. interventionism in World War II and 45 years of Cold War with the Soviet Union. Later in the speech, Trump condemns open trade lanes with other nations, complaining about a manufacturing trade deficit and Chinas economic assault on Americas jobs and wealth and proposing the most damaging version of international trade war since the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act helped crash the U.S. economy and usher in the Great Depression. So much for commerce and honest friendship. And what about peace? Trump calls for U.S. allies to increase their military spending while claiming that Americas own military still by far the most expensive and powerful in the history of the world and the single largest line item in the federal budget has been weakened and must be rebuilt. This is not a proposal that NATO stand up while the United States stand downs he calls for an escalation, not a drawdown, of military force. Trump supports continued U.S. intervention in the Middle East, including an obligatory tip of the hat to Americas special relationship with Israel, but he doesnt support nation-building. In English that means he isnt giving up on having the U.S. armed forces run around the world killing people and breaking things; hes only against trying to put the victim nations back together again afterward. Wildly inconsistent and unmoored in principle indeed. But its a heck of a personal branding escapade. Trump is just a run-of-the-mill if visibly unstable and irrational hawk trying to pass himself as the peace candidate. And its working, at least among people who believe me when I tell them the word gullible is written on the ceiling. 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. Trusted answers to give tech fortitude for the future Gain a new perspective on what it takes to thrive in an era of unprecedented opportunity and risk in "The New Technology Imperative." /By Azernews/ By Fatma Babayeva A strategic plan for the development of the information and communication technologies sector is being drafted by a commission operating under the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs Organizations of Azerbaijan. Commission Chairman Ismail Alakbarov told Trend that the strategic plan will take into account the short-term and long-term goals for the development high-tech industry in Azerbaijan, and consider issues related to development of the countrys export potential and legal regulation. The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs Organizations has a great potential which can be used for the development purposes, he believes. The commission includes private enterprises from economic sector which have better understanding about the problematic areas in this field, said the chairman. Most likely, the development of the strategic plan will take months, but it will reflect interests of both government and business sector. Alakbarov further added that state support in this sphere can be tax relief or its complete remission in specific activity areas, for example e- commerce. The growth of the countrys export potential in the ICT field is of great importance, but the state support is needed to the private sector. Azerbaijans companies participated in international tenders in this regard, Alakbarov said by reminding that the budget of such tenders amounts to millions of dollars which is beyond that one company can afford. The way-out from this situation is the establishment of a consortium. Nevertheless, there is another constraining factor- requirement for the bank guarantee. Thus, company needs to put $10,000 in its bank account in order to be able to attend the tender. In Turkey, the government directly acts as a guarantor and does everything in order to ensure the companys participation in the tender, and when the company wins the tender it contributes to the states monetary reserves respectively, highlighted Alakbarov. He went on to say that attractive markets for the IT-companies of Azerbaijan are the markets of countries of the Central Asia and Africa. Nowadays, many international financial institutions allocate huge funds for the development of health, education, agriculture and other fields in the African countries. Furthermore, the advantage of local IT-companies is that their proposed solutions are competitive from a commercial point of view in comparison with European equivalents. Whats more, Azerbaijan also intends to reduce its dependence on high-tech imports. Iltimas Mammadov, the Deputy Minister of Communications and High Technologies announced that mass production of high-tech hardware and software development will be established in order to achieve this goal. Mammadov stressed that the security issue is an essential component in realization of import substitution of high-tech products. The cooperation with the scientific community of the country may play an important role in expanding production and software development, he added. Protests over unpaid salaries and reported retrenchment of more than 50,000 foreign workers at leading construction group Saudi Binladin took an ugly turn on Saturday when the disgruntled workers burnt company buses in Makkah, said a report. More than seven company buses were set on fire at Makkah in the latest protests, reported Arab News. Major Nayef Al Sharif, the spokesman for the Civil Defence in Makkah, said late Saturday that firefighters put out the blaze without any injuries reported. The Binladin Group has not issued any statements about the reported layoffs or the unrest. For several weeks, thousands of the firms employees had been staging rare protests in Makkah and Jeddah, with some saying they have not been paid for six months, stated the report. The attack comes a day after the company terminated employment for 50,000 foreign workers and issued them exit visas. Among those laid off were engineers, foremen, steel fixers, carpenters and welders at the firm. Many of those workers are apparently refusing to leave without being paid their late wages, said the report. Gulf-based construction firms have been among the hardest hit due to lower oil prices that have curbed and sometimes delayed government spending on major infrastructure projects, it added. Barwa Real Estate Group, one of Qatar's largest listed real estate companies, plans to set up a warehousing project aimed at diversifying investments and increasing its presence in the local market, a senior Barwa official said in a report. Barwa plans to sign an agreement with Economic Zones Company (Manateq) for the warehousing project. The warehousing complex, on a 253,000-sq-m plot, will also include support functions, ancillary building, and other infrastructure, Barwas group CEO Salman Mohamad Al Muhannadi was quoted as saying in the Gulf Times report. He added that the company has already completed the tender process and valuation, and is about to sign the agreement with Manateq. Al Muhannadi said that announcements will soon be made about the company's Dara project in Lusail, Barwa Village, and Barwa Doha projects. He also announced updates on the QR1.5 billion ($411.9 million) Motor City project, aimed at providing showrooms for used cars, including related facilities and services in the suburbs of Rawdat Rashid along Salwa Road, added the report. Dubai-based Zulekha Hospital has launched its cervical cancer screening and prevention campaign aimed to promote early detection and save lives across the UAE. Developed for the third consecutive year, the Smear, Dont Fear campaign is one of Zulekha Hospitals key CSR initiatives, stressing the importance of regular checks for early detection and educating the wider public about the cervical cancer vaccine that can eliminate the disease. This years campaign, run under the theme Today is the Day, was launched during a press conference featuring prominent doctors and global cancer campaigners, highlighting the need for urgent action following the dramatic rise of cervical cancer in the UAE. As part of the new campaign, women in the UAE can take advantage of free specialist consultations and Pap tests at Zulekha Hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah from now until June 30. Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the board and director-general of the Dubai Health Authority, said during the inauguration: This is the third time were extending our support to Zulekha Hospital in their effort to spread the message that cervical cancer can be easily prevented and effectively cured, if detected in the early stages. Such public awareness campaigns are vital to educate the community about preventive healthcare and screening. Zanubia Shams, co-chairperson of Zulekha Hospitals said: Worldwide statistics list cervical cancer as the second most common cancer among females between 15-45 years of age and we want to highlight both the risk of the disease and the importance of regular checks. The main objective behind our initiative is to educate women about the symptoms, risks and prevention as cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting hundreds of thousands worldwide. More than 92 per cent of those diagnosed in the early stages can, however, be successfully cured, she added. The disease is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the campaigns long-term goal is to permanently eradicate the incidence of cervical cancer in the UAE by promoting and implementing a country-wide HPV vaccination initiative. The vaccine is recommended for both boys and girls under the age of 13 and can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if given before a female is exposed to the virus, according to United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Annually, cervical cancer affects as many as 93 women in the Emirates with 28 fatal cases on average, but regular screening can effectively prevent the disease, said a press statement. TradeArabia News Service Dubai Municipality has launched a public service health campaign banning pregnant women from entering shisha cafes even if they do not intend to smoke it. The ban also includes young children and toddlers. The Doctors at Medeor 24x7 Hospital, Dubai praised the initiative by Dubai Municipality as the health implications of secondhand or third hand smoke are numerous on an unborn child. Even if a pregnant woman is not smoking, she is exposed to second hand smoke at a shisha cafe which is known to contain over 4,000 types of harmful chemicals and this can cause miscarriage, low birth weight and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is also known to result in intrauterine growth restriction, where a fetus does not grow at the normal rate in the womb of the mother. The main reasons for this are poor oxygen circulation in the uterus and lack of nutrients from the mother, said Dr Maryam Raufi, specialist gynecologist at Medeor 24x7 Hospital, Dubai. The detrimental health effects of being exposed to secondhand smoke at pregnancy are also seen in toddlers. A study done by Columbia Universitys Centre for Childrens Environmental Health showed that children, whose mothers were exposed to secondhand smoke when they were pregnant, scored lower on cognitive tests at the age of 2 than children whose mothers were only in smoke free environments. Mothers-to-be also do not realise the dangers of being exposed to third hand smoke. This is the residue of smoke left behind on furniture, rugs and clothing etc. Even if people are not smoking around you at a shisha cafe you are still exposing your unborn child to the dangerous residue left behind. If a mother-to-be touches something with residual smoke, the harmful chemicals are absorbed through the skin into the blood stream which in turn is passed on to the fetus, she continued. And according to the Los Angeles Research Institute this third hand smoke can affect prenatal lung development. Dr Maryam also applauded that the new ban extending to include toddlers and young children. Exposure to second hand smoke also negatively affects the immune system of young kids. They are more likely to suffer from allergies, ear infections, colds, coughs, respiratory ailments like bronchitis and also teeth decay, she continued. Children who are routinely exposed to secondhand smoke will have a harder time shaking of the flu, colds and coughs leading to them missing school quite often. In the long term, these children will grow with poor lung development and will be more susceptible to lung cancer and heart disease. Banning pregnant women, toddlers and young children from entering shisha cafes even if they are not smoking it is a great initiative by Dubai Municipality. Our ongoing commitment to the betterment of the health of UAEs residents is keeping in line with their efforts to raise awareness on the health implications of various diseases, said D Mohamed Berer, medical director at Medeor 24x7 Hospital, Dubai. - TradeArabia News Service Abu Dhabi Ports, the operator of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad), has recorded a 31 per cent increase in roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) traffic at Khalifa Port in the first quarter of 2106. Abu Dhabi Ports, the operator of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad), has recorded a 31 per cent increase in roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) traffic at Khalifa Port in the first quarter of 2106, with 33,687 vehicles, up from 25,709 vehicles in the same period in 2015. Meanwhile, general and bulk cargo across Abu Dhabi Ports saw a 13 per cent upturn, and stood at 3.98 million freight tonnes (FT), as compared to 3.5 million FT registered in the first quarter of 2015. The increased volume of general and bulk cargo indicates vigorous import and export activities related to the industrial and infrastructure development projects in the Emirate. Increased business activities of companies operating across the Emirate, especially in Kizad and Musaffah industrial area, have also contributed to this growth. The first quarter results for Khalifa Port Container Terminal, which is operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, showed that it handled five per cent more containers compared with the same period in 2015. The terminal moved 316,996 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units/containers), up from 302,151 TEUs in the first quarter of 2015. Continuing the last years upward trend, the container cargo volumes indicate increasing demands from the Abu Dhabi market. Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: These achievements demonstrate Abu Dhabi Ports commitment to its strategy of sustaining performance and growth across all its operations. With the guidance of our leadership coupled with the support from our stakeholders and the UAEs economic stability, we are able to witness such success. We aim to continue investing in innovative technologies and solutions, remaining customer focused in our service offerings and in building the capabilities of our national workforce, Al Shamisi added. Khalifa Industrial Zone also witnessed increased business activities during the first quarter of 2016. Four prominent companies, including KSB Service LLC and Polysys Additive Technologies Middle East (PAT ME), commenced operations from within the industrial zone and National Food Products Company (NFPC) and Gulf Printing and Packaging Company, started construction of their facilities. - TradeArabia News Service RSA Logistics, a leading Dubai-based third party logistics (3PL) company, was awarded the 3PL Service Provider of the Year recognition at the 10th annual Supply Chain and Transport Awards (Scata) held recently in Dubai, UAE. Scata is ITP Publishings annual platform for recognising and celebrating the supply chain industry in the Middle East. It brings together the region's foremost players in the logistics, sea freight and air cargo sectors. RSA Logistics was selected by a panel of judges on the basis of its performance as an end-to-end service provider. Scata confers the award on businesses that have led the way in regional investment and innovative solutions for storage, distribution, and value-added services, showing consistent performance in the past year. Wallery DCosta, general manager, international freight services, RSA logistics, said: We have earned this recognition through our teams commitment to implementing timely solutions for our valued customers, and by improving process and delivering initial and ongoing value that makes ours and our partners success possible. It is also a testament of our capabilities in supply chain management and reaffirms our commitment to providing our customers with a personal and innovative service, he added. TradeArabia News Service Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Italys Parma Airport have signed an agreement to develop cargo traffic at the airport in central Italy. The exclusive agreement initially includes the establishment of a cargo transit centre at Parma Airport to receive cargo for forwarding to Milan Malpensa Airport for onward transport, said a statement from the company. The project will be developed in conjunction with Etihad Cargo and partner airlines, providing an efficient solution to companies in the region for the rapid delivery of their products to global markets, it said. Etihad Airways with its equity partner, Alitalia, currently offers belly hold capacity on 38 weekly flights between Italy and the UAE. In addition there are six weekly freighter services from Milan, including a twice weekly service to Bogota and the four times a week service to Abu Dhabi, which offer a combined capacity of 800 tonnes, it added. David Kerr, vice president of Etihad Cargo, said: "This agreement with Parma Airport is a further demonstration of our confidence in Italy, one of the largest cargo markets in Europe. We have already strengthened our freighter capacity out of Milan in the last few weeks, having placed a new 777 freighter on the Milan-Bogota sector, so the opportunity to use Parma gives us a further chance to strengthen our cargo services from Europe, he said. Parma is at the centre of one of the largest exporting regions in Italy for high value goods. These freight items require fast and secure transport, which are all factors that determine the demand for air freight services, said the statement. Guido Dalla Rosa Prati, chairman of Parma Airport, said: "With the co-operation of Etihad Airways, the strategic development plan for the airport is already coming to life. We are really honoured to have gained the interest of Etihad Airways, a key player in the world of aviation, and I am proud of the agreement which will generate new business opportunities for Parma and neighbouring territories, Prati said. Work has already begun to adapt the airport infrastructure for the new service to be operational from July 2016. Cargo and logistics will play a central role in the ongoing development plan for Giuseppe Verdi Airport. Alberto Figna, chairman of the Parma Industrialists Union (UPI), one of the key shareholders in the airport, said: The agreement with an international partner of the calibre of Etihad Airways is confirmation of the potential of this airport and an important indication of the commitment of the Parma business community to ensuring the continuity and progress of a vital piece of infrastructure that will benefit the local economy. It is expected that the new transit centre will also have a positive direct and indirect impact on employment in the local area, he added. Etihad Cargo is a division of Etihad Airways with a dedicated fleet of 11 freighters and an additional freighter to be added during 2016. At the end of February, the team welcomed a new Boeing 777 to its fleet and the aircraft has recently started operations on the Milan- Bogota route providing improved services between Europe and South America, it stated. TradeArabia News Service A UN arbitration court has ruled that India should release an Italian marine who has been detained in Delhi for more than four years, and allow him to return home, the Italian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. India arrested two Italian marines in 2012 on suspicion of killing two fishermen while assigned to an anti-piracy mission on an Italian oil tanker. One returned to Italy with health problems, but India has refused to let the other, Salvatore Girone, go. He is living in the Italian embassy in Delhi. "This really is a significant step forward which we have worked on with great dedication," Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told reporters. "I'll take advantage of this moment to send a message of friendship to the great people of India." The case has soured relations between India and Italy, but they agreed last year to move proceedings to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decisions. The Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in an initial ruling, the court had decided that Girone should be allowed home. It said it would now contact India to try to make sure he could return as soon as possible. No one was immediately available to comment from either the Indian Foreign Ministry in Delhi or The Hague. The UN court will continue to review the merits of the case and no date has been set for a definitive ruling. "The government underlines that today's court decision concerning the measures requested by Italy on behalf of Sergeant Girone will not influence the progress of the arbitration procedures, which should decide if Italy or India has jurisdiction in the case," Italy's Foreign Ministry said. Italy has argued that the case should not be heard in India because the incident occurred in international waters. Marines are viewed by Italy as state officials immune to foreign prosecution. Italy has paid $190,000 in compensation to each victim's family. - Reuters The upcoming Gitex Technology Week, a major IT event in Dubai, UAE will launch and host Gitex Startup Movement, one of the most global startup gatherings in the world with over 30 countries represented. The Gitex Startup Movement will convene over 400 startups and more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors and mentors from the global startup ecosystem, added the report by WAM, the Emirates official news agency. The exclusive set-up will highlight the most innovative startups around the world and provide them a platform to sell, form partnerships and attract investors. Participants will also be able to pitch for prizes, attend an interactive conference to address challenges faced by entrepreneurs and meet leading industry figures. The initiative has already garnered tremendous interest and momentum from supporters across the globe including Business France, Cross Trade agency in Singapore, Digi Robotics in the UAE, Egypt's Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Japan's Jetro agency, Marco Trade Export in Morocco, Star Systems agency in Iran and STC from Saudi Arabia. The Arab world has a burgeoning youth demographic. More than 60 per cent of the 350 million population is under the age of 25. Young millennial Arabs are online, mobile, using technology and becoming entrepreneurs with the strong support of government initiatives. The UAE leads the way in the region on revolutionary smart cities transformation and diversification of economies. Across Middle East & Africa, entrepreneurs are at the heart of the digital revolution as ICT spending increases across the region. "Startups from all over the globe, women, youth and Arab entrepreneurs are a very real force of change that is making a positive impact in our society, said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice-president, Exhibitions and Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre. They need supportive ecosystems to nurture and enable their growth and success. Gitex Technology Week has a strong legacy as one of the leading international tech events and is uniquely positioned to turn the spotlight on startups. With a force of 146,000 technology professionals and 22,000 C-suite executives at Gitex, startups gain immediate access to a powerful industry network and massive technology marketplace, entry into growth markets in Middle East & Africa, and can future-proof their business plans, products and services." Gitex Startup Movement will form the centrepiece of the 2016 edition with emerging technologies sectors in the region equally set to benefit, as the event will showcase IoT applications, next-gen technologies and digital marketing solutions that are expected to revolutionise the global economy by 2025. The Middle East, through its early adoption of emerging and next-gen technologies is poised to benefit from the global industrial shift and startup organisations in the region are well positioned to become innovators and leaders. The region is already projected to spend around $60 billion on 3D printing, robotics, drones, digital marketing and smart living/wearables by 2020. The marketplace is wide open for disruption and innovation by both established technology providers and startups. Technology buyers are hungry to differentiate themselves from their competition. They are open to be early adopters of technology that can revolutionize their customer experience or open up new market possibilities in key industries such as retail, healthcare, education, finance, travel and energy. Gitex Startup Movement will provide that breadth and depth of technology and services for all our trade visitors invested in innovation and enterprise," LohMirmand said. Delegates will be have the opportunity to visit country zones and showcase pods that will feature the most exciting startups offering drones & robotics; IoT, AR, VR & AI; finance; retail; healthcare; education; energy; travel & hospitality; media & marketing; and transport & logistics, to name a few. Gitex Technology Week will feature dedicated zones that will showcase exhibitors and live demonstrations of emerging solutions and providers from 3D Printing, Robotics, Drones, Digital Marketing, Wearables and IoT and Smart Living, as well as industry Vertical Days to streamline the visitor experience looking for specialist knowledge. Gitex brings together, leaders, influencers and innovators from the industry and a compelling programme of networking sessions. Gitex Technology Week, running from October 16 to 20 at Dubai World Trade Center, is expected to attract more than 146,000 visitors from over 140 countries, including 22,000 C-suite executives and 3,500 exhibitors from 55 countries. Saudi Aramco, Princess Nourah University (PNU) and Wipro Arabia, a subsidiary of India's Wipro, today inaugurated Saudi Arabias first all-women business and technology park. The project is expected to create nearly 21,000 jobs for Saudi women over a period of 10 years. The Womens Business Park (WBP) is a result of a joint venture between Princess Nourah University (PNU), the largest womens university in the world, and Wipro Arabia. Saudi Aramco is the strategic advisor and anchor of this initiative. Wipro is a leading information technology, consulting and business process services company. Dedicated to working women, this business park is a first-of-its-kind project aimed at providing knowledge-based employment for women in Saudi Arabia. The joint venture agreement was signed today at a ceremony held at PNU, attended by Education Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Issa; PNU Rector Dr Huda Al-Ameel; Saudi Aramco president and chief executive officer Amin H Nasser; and Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro Limited. The Womens Business Park is envisioned to be the largest engineering drafting services, business process services and information technology hub in the region for a number of industry sectors including oil and gas, manufacturing, government, healthcare, telecom and construction. The idea of the business park was conceived in September 2014 when Saudi Aramco signed a memorandum of understanding with PNU. Wipro joined the partnership because of its experience in managing talent and providing IT services to a multi-industry customer base. The joint venture will be responsible for developing the parks facilities and infrastructure as well as training and employing up to 21,000 Saudi women. Dr Al-Ameel said: The goal of the Womens Business Park is to create 21,000 jobs by 2025 and give women a critical role to play in a way that serves the objectives of the nation and to build a knowledge economy with societal and international partnerships. We also aim to provide a start-up eco-system to upcoming entrepreneurial ventures. "In a country where women represent about 60 per cent of all university graduates, but less than 15 per cent of the countrys workforce, the Womens Business Park is poised to be a milestone initiative, Dr Al-Ameel said. Nasser said: As a strategic consultant to the Womens Business Park, we are happy to lend our expertise in the creation of world class facilities to empower Saudi women. This initiative is the result of a successful consortium among three respected entities and we appreciate the efforts involved in creating this one of a kind facility in the Kingdom. Speaking about this partnership, Premji said, Wipro has always extended support to the cause of women empowerment and it is our endeavour to foster an environment that encourages and enables more women to participate in business and tap their leadership potential. It has been more than a decade since Wipro began its operations in Saudi Arabia and localisation has always been an important aspect of our business strategy here. We are happy to be a partner in this initiative which strongly aligns with our values. The park will be developed in the iconic PNU premises, and will include entrepreneur incubators, daycare centres and a one-stop coordination center for government transactions. - TradeArabia News Service The 13th edition of the CSR Summit has been re-branded as Taatheer, the Mena social impact and CSR Forum, in recognition of how attitudes are changing towards corporate social responsibility and a shift in focus on business strategies and programmes that ensure long-term sustainable social impact. Building on a successful 12-year legacy, Taatheer which means impact, influence and creating legacy in Arabic will bring together an unparalleled speaker line-up of regional and international social impact experts when it returns to The Address Hotel, Dubai Marina from May 22 to 25. Supported by the Community Development Authority of the Dubai Government, the forum will open with a keynote address by Khaled Al Kamda, director general, before speakers from organisations such as Nestle, Facebook, Young Arab Leaders, Saudi Aramco and the World Economic Forum deliver thought-provoking presentations and panel discussions. Hoda Abdelhay, forum director of Ta'atheer, said: We have recognised a shift in the mind-set of businesses and organisations moving away from traditional philanthropic and charitable donations, towards a more sustainable and strategic social impact. We understand that the summit needs to evolve to keep up with the changing times and a rapidly changing industry. Our research has highlighted the need for organisations to rethink and reposition their CSR initiatives, ensuring they are strategic and aligned with both business objectives and with societys expectations. As such, this is what the shift to Taatheer is based upon. The Taatheer 2016 forum will feature keynotes and plenary sessions, case studies and panels, Taatheer impact hubs, collaboration zones, social meet-ups and match-making. The event will start with a two-day forum and conclude with a choice of three boot-camps split across the following two days, each dealing with different topics and themes through the use of lectures, role-play, real-life examples and case studies. The opening day of the forum will feature a keynote session by Nestle Middle East chairman and CEO Yves Manghardt, who will be outlining details of the companys Creating Shared Value strategy and progress on commitments. He said: We were the first in the Middle East to publish forward-looking commitments in the areas of nutrition, responsible sourcing, water, environmental sustainability, and people and compliance, in our Nestle in Society report for the region, published in 2015. The company will call for an Alliance for Youth in an interactive session in line with its commitment to foster further opportunities of starting and developing careers for the youth in the Middle East, because we believe that our efforts can create a bigger social impact through partnerships and collaboration, added Manghardt. Ahmad Al Ashkar, founder and CEO of the Hult Prize Foundation, and partner and member of the Clinton Global Initiative will also be featured in an opening plenary session. He will tackle the subject of social impact in the Middle East, and uncovering the eco system. Al Ashkar said: Global activity in social impact investment is growing rapidly, and this is slowly but surely finding its way into Middle Eastern markets. There are new activities every day in this developing space, but what does it all mean? My presentation will introduce the social impact market in the region, define the mainstream investors and outline what industries are being invested into. Ill offer a panoramic view of the social impact space in the region and discern trends going forward. Other speakers will include Caroline Fiennes, founder at Giving Evidence; Amira Rashad, head of brand, Facebook Middle East & Africa; Elaine Kelly, CSR manager at Microsoft Gulf; Sami Khoury, executive director at Young Arab Leaders; and Heather Alner, associate director corporate partnership, Habitat for Humanity International EMEA. The Nestle Youth Employment and Employability Collaboration Zone is one of the new inclusions to the summit which will introduce discussions and case studies on youth development and employability, while the Taatheer impact hub will enable young social entrepreneurs and innovators to share their successes, failures and experiences. The Taatheer Social Impact Awards will also take place on the opening day (May 22) to recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of organisations and teams that have contributed to the development of social impact and CSR agenda in the Mena region. - TradeArabia News Service Iran is conducting talks with Russia about sales of heavy water, Russia's RIA news agency quoted an Iranian foreign ministry official as saying on Monday. Heavy water is a component of making nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. It is not radioactive. Under last year's landmark nuclear deal between Iran, the United States and five other world powers, Tehran is responsible for reducing its stock of heavy water, which it can sell, dilute or dispose of, under conditions. Reuters Oil prices retreated from 2016 highs on Monday as rising production in the Middle East outweighed a decline in US output and a sliding dollar. Crude production by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries rose in April to 32.64 million barrels per day (bpd), close to the highest level in recent history. Russia, the biggest exporter outside Opec, also increased monthly crude for seaborne exports by more than 7 percent to 3.117 million bpd in April. Brent was trading at $46.77 per barrel at 0840 GMT, down 60 cents from its last settlement. US crude was down 40 cents at $45.52 a barrel. Liquidity was low due to May Day holiday in many countries. On Friday, the June Brent contract expired at $48.13 a barrel, a 21.5 percent gain over the month that marked the largest monthly advance since May 2009. Earlier in that session it reached $48.50, a six-month high. The US oil rig count fell for the sixth week last week, which analysts said showed the price of oil had not risen enough to lure shale producers back. "Despite the price rise, we continue to see a declining rig count," said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst with SEB Bank in Oslo. "The message from the shale players is that...you don't need prices to fall more. It's already doing what it should do in order to rebalance." A weaker dollar, which makes it cheaper for countries using other currencies to import dollar-traded fuel, kept further oil price losses at bay. The chief of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said oil prices may have bottomed if no major global economic issues emerge. "In a normal economic environment, we will see the price direction is rather upwards than downwards," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Sunday during a G7 meeting of energy ministers in Japan. Non-Opec output is set to fall by more than 700,000 bpd this year, the biggest decline in around 20 years, he said. While Morgan Stanley warned that an emerging gasoline glut threatened refinery demand for crude, Birol said the draw in global stockpiles should start toward the end of the year. At the G7 meeting, US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said US oil production would likely fall 600,000 bpd this year from 2015, when output peaked around 9.6 million bpd. - Reuters R Hotels has welcomed Gayan Weerasinghe as the new cluster pastry chef of its Dubai properties Ramada Downtown Dubai, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Jumeirah Beach Residence and ibis Styles Jumeira. In his new role, he will create the confectionery items to be supplied to all three properties. He is expected to come up with creative dessert displays on various occasions, explore the latest trends on pastry-making and design, and ensure that all pastries served by the hotels are up to the highest standard in terms of taste and presentation. He will work closely with the head chefs of each property. Weerasinghe has seven years of experience in the hospitality industry, having started in his home country, Sri Lanka. He was once a student of the international award-winning executive pastry chef Frederic Scailteur. His first stint in the GCC was as commis chef of the pre-opening team of The Torch Doha. Chef Weerasinghe later moved to Bahrain and worked as chef de partie, also for the pre-opening team of Ramee Grand Hotel. He served as acting sous chef at Art Rotana Amwaj Islands in Bahrain before relocating to Dubai and joining R Hotels. - TradeArabia News Service Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa's largest budget carrier, was named Best Low-cost Airline serving the Middle East at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2016, held recently in Dubai. The airline was recognised for its consistent ability to meet the needs of executive travellers, such as ease of booking, speed and flexibility of check-in, on time performance, and in-flight comfort. Accepting the award, Adel Ali, group chief executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: We are proud to be recognised as the regions best low-cost airline for business travellers. This prestigious accolade is a reflection of our efforts in bringing the world closer for business travellers and to making their work trips as hassle free as possible. Senior executives from airlines, airports, and hotels across the region attended the Business Traveller Middle East Awards to celebrate the best solutions for executive travellers over the past 12 months. The Business Traveller Awards Middle East is organised annually by the Business Traveller Middle East magazine to reward those who have excelled in their respective industry and country. The awards are decided on the basis of votes received from readers with the results tallied by global market research leaders. - TradeArabia News Service Quarterly earnings calls generally offer some of the best insight into the thinking of energy executives. But even by those standards, Cloud Peak Energy's first quarter call last week was particularly notable. The news the Gillette-based firm is transitioning away from self-bonds would, under normal circumstances, generate enough headlines on its own. But when you add Cloud Peak CEO Colin Marshall's comment that the coal industry is "permanently changed" to the mix, and, well, people take notice. So let's start with a little bit of background. The big debate in the coal industry right now is whether the current downturn is a short-term event born of market conditions or a long-term shift in how the world gets its electricity. I wrote a story about this a little while back. Basically, the short-termers argue that gas prices can't stay low forever, coal stockpiles will fall and demand will eventually improve. The permanent shift camp essentially believes the technological advancements in fracking, along with concerns over climate change, mean that cheap natural gas is here to stay, and that coal will have difficulty competing. Which brings us to Marshall's comments. The Cloud Peak CEO said: "As we look forward, it is clear that the dynamics of the coal industry have permanently changed, where coal used to provide base load generation, it is now much more variable depending on power demand, renewable output and the price of natural gas." Now a couple caveats here. Cloud Peak is projecting the market to improve over the second half of 2016, as sharp decline rates in natural gas wells begin to work off the glut in that sector. Also, of note: Cloud Peak is sufficiently bullish on long-term prospects for exports to continue the pursuit of its Big Metal project on the Crow Reservation in Montana. So should we read Marhsall's comments as throwing in the towel? Hardly. But it does signal a shift in how coal companies talk about the future of the industry. What about the self-bonding? As for self-bonding, I touched on Cloud Peak's attempts to transition away from self-bonds in my Sunday story about the change in Wyoming's reclamation policies. The long and short of it: The company decided it would be a good idea to pursue surety bonds given the deteriorating market and mounting debate over allowing companies to self-bond. An interesting tidbit that didn't make it into the Sunday story was an exchange between Heath Hill, the company's chief financial officer, and an analyst. Hill was asked directly if he had any indication of a policy shift on self-bonding. This is how he responded: "It was absolutely being proactive. Wyoming had been very supportive. It actually I think its pass through this well, its a regulation that they pass. Thats a change, it would be a big deal, it have to go through the Legislature. But now we are trying to be proactive. And also, yes, we are conscious that as some of our its done against financial tests and on a trailing 12-month basis. And as time goes on, as we weather through this, obviously our finance's are getting weaker before they get stronger in terms of the some of the trailing 12-month numbers." Self-bonds are calculated on an annual basis. So it's telling that the company wants to secure its bonds during what is expected to be a very difficult year. Yet it is also interesting to see Cloud Peak take a preemptive step in attempts to get ahead of a growing political debate over self-bonding. We haven't seen that from another Wyoming coal company yet. Devon Shew, a senior in the elementary education program through the University of Wyoming at Casper (UW-Casper), was recently presented the Sue Jorgensen Excellent Student in Education award. The 20th recipient of the honor, Shew received scholarship funding from John Jorgensen, husband of the late educator whom the award memorializes, which was matched by the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Jorgensen created the award in 1996, honoring UW-Casper education students who earn a minimum 3.5 grade point average, exhibit professional disposition toward mentors and peers, contribute to the education field through leadership and community service, and display a positive attitude to promote excitement and curiosity about learning. Shew was nominated and selected by UW-Caspers education faculty and staff. Devon is amazing, said UW-Casper assistant professor of elementary education Jennifer Forrester. In his residency, he would use sign language to communicate with a special needs student, and then he began teaching the class how to use sign language, too. He is the epitome of a lifelong learner; he never stops pushing himself or others around him. He has a big heart that will take him wherever he wants to go. Shew definitely knows where he wants to go. I have a passion for helping others that started when I used to help my brothers with their homework at the kitchen table, said Shew. But I really learned that I wanted to teach in high school. I mostly enjoy the little moments with students, when you are not ready for them but they make you chuckle. This award is one of the branch campus highest honors bestowed upon prospective teachers. It was established by Jorgensen to pay tribute to the memory of his wife and the first coordinator of the teacher education program through UW-Casper, Sue Jorgensen. Sue was a tremendous advocate for students who wanted to get an education, recalled Jorgensen at the recent award ceremony. Some students thought they could sign a tuition check and get a degree, but she made them work. Shew will graduate from UW-Casper with a bachelors degree this month, and is hoping to teach in the Natrona County School District. DENVER The Colorado Supreme Court struck down attempts by two cities to ban or delay fracking on Monday, a major victory for the oil and gas industry. The court ruled that a ban on fracking in Longmont and a five-year moratorium in Fort Collins are invalid because they conflict with state law. State officials and the industry argued the state has the primary authority to regulate energy, not local governments. The courts may not have the final say, however. Fracking critics hope to get at least five measures on the November ballot to amend the state Constitution to restrict the industry or allow local governments to do so. The industry has said it will fight those proposals. The cases before the Supreme Court were an outright ban on fracking approved by Longmont voters in 2012 and the moratorium imposed by Fort Collins voters in 2013. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association sued both cities, and lower courts threw out the ban and moratorium. The cities appealed, and the cases were put on a fast track to the Supreme Court. The oil and gas association has always maintained that these bans on responsible oil and gas development are illegal, and were pleased that today the Colorado Supreme Court has agreed with us, said Dan Haley, president of the group. Longmont Mayor Dennis Coombs expressed disappointment in the ruling. But he said the city has other regulations in place, including a ban on drilling in neighborhoods and minimum distances between wells and waterways. Fort Collins officials were reviewing the decision, spokeswoman Emily Wilmsen said. Mark Mathews, an attorney for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, said the ruling makes it very difficult for other local governments to try banning fracking. The Colorado decision has no direct effect outside its borders because oil and gas regulation is largely left up to individual states. New York has banned fracking, while lawmakers in Texas and Oklahoma have blocked local governments from imposing bans. In California, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed a panel to study the issue. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, has long been a contentious issue in Colorado, the nations No. 7 energy-producing state. Fracking injects a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals underground to crack open formations and make it easier to recover oil and gas. Combined with other drilling techniques, it opened up previously inaccessible oil and gas reserves and boosted the economy, although low oil prices have led to widespread layoffs and a steep decline in drilling. Critics worry about danger to the environment and public health from spills and leaks. Others say around-the-clock noise, lights and fumes from drilling rigs make their homes unlivable as oilfields overlap with growing communities. The industry says fracking is safe and that drilling companies take steps to minimize the disturbances. Colorado regulators approved new rules earlier this year intended to ease the conflicts by giving local governments the right to consult with energy companies on the location of multiple-well drilling sites and other big facilities. But the rules generally dont allow governments to set their own regulations. Many critics of the industry say thats what is needed to protect property values, peace and quiet and public safety. The industry said the new rules went too far. The Legislature has mostly stayed out of the issue this year, waiting for the Supreme Courts decision. JACKSON The last in a series of stamps commemorating national parks has been selected, and Grand Teton National Park didnt make the cut. The U.S. Postal Service is issuing the stamps for the National Park Services centennial. The agencies worked with a citizens advisory committee to choose 16 parks to honor with a stamp, and this week they named Yellowstone National Park as the last one. Park Service spokeswoman Kathy Kupper in Washington, D.C., noted many hard decisions were made. The National Park Service has seven regions, and officials wanted one stamp from each, along with a selection of natural and historic sites, she said. Many people know about the iconic parks, but this shows the diversity, Kupper said. There was concern about having two Wyoming parks represented, the Jackson Hole News and Guide reported. Grand Teton park spokeswoman Denise Germann said a stamp featuring an Albert Bierstadt painting of an alpine lake backed by the Tetons on a stamp honoring Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, Vermont, will have to do for now. Rockefellers father had a major influence on Grand Teton park, buying 33,000 acres and donating the land to the federal government. It just goes to show what kind of impact that great iconic range has, communicated through a painting, through a national park site in Vermont, Germann said. Its pretty darn cool to have that iconic vista connect to another place on the East Coast. She added more than 400 sites in the National Park Service were considered for the commemorative stamps. How do you narrow all those possibilities down to just 16? Germann said. Some of the parks chosen for the stamps are famous, including Yellowstone and Grand Canyon, while others are less well-known, including Haleakala National Park, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, and Bandelier National Monument. Also selected were the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Gulf Island National Seashore and Kenilworth Park. Officers were fired upon Sunday as they responded to a report of a possible suicidal person near Gillette, the Wyoming Highway Patrol reported. Despite an exchange of gunfire, no one was injured in the incident, which took place about 2 a.m. along Wyoming State Highway 59 about 10 miles north of Gillette. The suspect, who was not identified, fired at a Wyoming state trooper and a Campbell County sheriff's deputy as soon as the officers arrived on scene, the highway patrol said. A highway patrol car was struck by gunfire, and the trooper shot back. The suspect soon surrendered and was taken into custody by the sheriff's office. Authorities with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Campbell County Sheriff's Officer are examining the incident. Donald Trumps damage to the Republican Party, although already extensive, has barely begun. Republican quislings will multiply, slinking into support of the most anti-conservative presidential aspirant in their partys history. These collaborationists will render themselves ineligible to participate in the partys reconstruction. Ted Cruzs announcement of his preferred running mate has enhanced the nomination process by giving voters pertinent information. They already know the only important thing about Trumps choice: His running mate will be unqualified for high office because he or she will think Trump is qualified. Hillary Clintons optimal running mate might be Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a pro-labor populist whose selection would be balm for the bruised feelings of Bernie Sanders legions. Running mates rarely matter as electoral factors: In 2000, Al Gore got 43.2 percent of the North Carolina vote. In 2004, John Kerry, trying to improve upon Gores total there, ran with North Carolina Sen. John Edwards but received 43.6 percent. If, however, Brown were to help deliver Ohio for Clinton, the Republican path to 270 electoral votes would be narrower than a needles eye. Republican voters, particularly in Indiana and California, can, by supporting Cruz, make the Republican convention a deliberative body rather than one that merely ratifies decisions made elsewhere, some of them six months earlier. A conventions sovereign duty is to choose a plausible nominee who has a reasonable chance to win, not to passively affirm the will of a mere plurality of voters recorded episodically in a protracted process. Trump would be the most unpopular nominee ever, unable to even come close to Mitt Romneys insufficient support among women, minorities and young people. In losing disastrously, Trump probably would create down-ballot carnage sufficient to end even Republican control of the House. Ticket splitting is becoming rare in polarized America: In 2012, only 5.7 percent of voters supported a presidential candidate and a congressional candidate of opposite parties. At least half a dozen Republican senators seeking re-election and Senate aspirants can hope to win if the person at the top of the Republican ticket loses their state by, say, only four points, but not if he loses by 10. A Democratic Senate probably would guarantee a Supreme Court with a liberal cast for a generation. If Clinton is inaugurated next Jan. 20, Merrick Garland probably will already be on the court confirmed in a lame duck Senate session and justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy and Stephen Breyer will be 83, 80 and 78, respectively. The minority of people who pay close attention to politics includes those who define an ideal political outcome and pursue it, and those who focus on the worst possible outcome and strive to avoid it. The former experience the excitements of utopianism, the latter settle for prudences mild pleasure of avoiding disappointed dreams. Both sensibilities have their uses, but this is a time for prudence, which demands the prevention of a Trump presidency. Were he to be nominated, conservatives would have two tasks. One would be to help him lose 50 states condign punishment for his comprehensive disdain for conservative essentials, including the manners and grace that should lubricate the nations civic life. Second, conservatives can try to save from the anti-Trump undertow as many senators, representatives, governors and state legislators as possible. It was 32 years after Jimmy Carter won 50.1 percent in 1976 that a Democrat won half the popular vote. Barack Obama won only 52.9 percent and then 51.1 percent, but only three Democrats Andrew Jackson (twice), Franklin Roosevelt (four times) and Lyndon Johnson have won more than 53 percent. Trump probably would make Clinton the fourth, and he would be a tonic for her party, undoing the extraordinary damage (13 Senate seats, 69 House seats, 11 governorships, 913 state legislative seats) Obama has done. If Trump is nominated, Republicans working to purge him and his manner from public life will reap the considerable satisfaction of preserving the identity of their 162-year-old party while working to see that they forgo only four years of the enjoyment of executive power. Six times since 1945 a party has tried, and five times failed, to secure a third consecutive presidential term. The one success the Republicans 1988 election of George H.W. Bush produced a one-term president. If Clinton gives her party its first 12 consecutive White House years since 1945, Republicans can help Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, or someone else who has honorably recoiled from Trump, confine her to a single term. GENEVA Scrambling to resuscitate a nearly dead truce in Syria, the Obama administration has again been forced to turn to Russia for help, with little hope for the desired U.S. outcome. At stake are thousands of lives and the fate of a feeble peace process essential to the fight against the Islamic State group, and Secretary of State John Kerry has appealed once more to his Russian counterpart for assistance in containing and reducing the violence, particularly around the city of Aleppo. We are talking directly to the Russians, even now, Kerry said on his arrival in Geneva as he began talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. The hope is we can make some progress, but the UN Security Council Resolution calls for a full-country, countrywide cessation and also for all of the country to be accessible to humanitarian assistance. Obviously that hasnt happened and isnt happening. These are critical hours. We look for Russias cooperation. We obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond to the international communities powerful statement to the UN Security Council. Kerry spoke at length on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to that end, and had been hoping to meet with Lavrov soon, according to U.S. officials. In Geneva, Kerry met with Judeh and was to meet U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday before returning to Washington. The State Department said Kerry, in his meetings, would review ongoing efforts to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities nationwide in Syria, obtain the full humanitarian access to which the Syrian government committed and support a political transition. Specific, viable options to achieve those broad goals are limited, and Fridays announcement of a new, partial cease-fire that does not include Aleppo underscored the difficulty Kerry faced. U.S. and other officials described that initiative, brokered mainly by Russia and the United States as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, as a reinforcement of the February truce, now largely in tatters. This is an agreement within the task force, but certainly on the part of the U.S. and Russia that there would be a reinforcement of the cessation of hostilities in these specific areas as a start, with the expectation that this ... would be then extended elsewhere, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. Syrias military extended a unilateral cease-fire around the capital for another 24 hours on Sunday, and relative calm set in across much of the country after days of heavy fighting concentrated in Aleppo. For that city, the U.S. is considering drawing up with the Russians a detailed map that would lay out safe zones. Civilians and moderate opposition groups covered by the truce could find shelter from Syrian President Bashar Assads military, which claims to be targeting terrorists. WASHINGTON Officials warned Washington D.C. area residents to brace for a potentially slow commute Monday after a CSX freight train derailed near a Metro stop, sending 14 cars off the tracks and spilling hazardous material. The train derailed about 6:40 a.m. Sunday near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station and one of the cars leaked sodium hydroxide, which is used to produce various household products including paper, soap and detergents, CSX said. No one was hurt and no evacuations were ordered. Mayor Muriel Bowser said no trains will be running on the tracks Monday and CSX couldnt say how long the cleanup might take. We understand that this a significant inconvenience to commuters and to this community so were working as quickly as we possibly can with safety as the first priority, CSX spokeswoman Melanie Cost said. Sodium hydroxide, also known as corrosive lye, is a chemical that can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. D.C. Fire and EMS Deputy Chief John Donnelly said officials believe about half of the 15,500 gallon tanker leaked into the rail bed and ground before it was plugged, but no problems have been reported. At this point all of the air monitoring has been good, Donnelly said. Officials found that another derailed car had been leaking non-hazardous calcium chloride, CSX said. That leak has also been plugged, the company said. A third car was slowly leaking ethanol from the base of a valve, the company said. Officials worked to reseal the valve, and the spilled the ethanol has been contained. It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment of the train, which was heading to Hamlet, North Carolina, from Cumberland, Maryland. Crews were inspecting the tracks, which are used by CSX, the MARC commuter rail system and Amtrak. The Metro tracks are above and adjacent to the derailment site. MARC officials said commuters should expect major services disruptions on the Brunswick Line Monday. MARC said trains likely wont operate past Silver Spring and urged residents to find another way to work. The Red Lines Rhode Island Station was also closed and Metro was reporting delays along that line. Metro officials said they hoped to have Red Line service fully restored Sunday evening. Chris Nellum said he lives nearby and his window looks directly over the tracks. I thought it was like a semi-truck coming toward the building and when I looked out the window, I saw cars piling up, said Nellum, who had just moved in the night before. So Im not even used to hearing trains. It was jarring. The CSX train had three locomotives and 175 cars, including 94 that were loaded with mixed freight, and 81 that were empty. Creators of a business smartphone app won top honors and $10,000 in the University of Arizona McGuire Entrepreneurship Program New Venture Competition and Showcase on Friday. WorkSphere, creators of a smartphone app that gives employers the ability to manage communication, accountability and productivity on one device, topped 20 other McGuire student startup teams in the annual competition. WorkSpheres student team members are Daniel Dicochea, Dante Egger, Ivan Mendez, Timothy Wolfe and Chaoying Yan, all seniors and double majors, the school said in a news release. The team also won a $1,000 cash award for the peer-nominated Best in Class award as well as the honor of receiving the Eller Entrepreneurship Outstanding Team award. Student startup teams presented their ideas in a rapid-fire rocket pitch competition and trade show. McGuire Center Executive Director Joe Broschak called the pitch competition a signature event at the Eller College of Management. Its immensely gratifying to see how much they have developed and to watch them pitch their polished ideas to a panel of industry experts and investors, Broschak said. This past academic year more than 80 students teamed up to develop 21 new ventures, including a wearable 3D camera and virtual reality social media platform, a drone app marketplace, biometric security systems, neurological therapeutics and interactive educational apps, the school said. We went from not knowing what we were going to do at the beginning of the year to knowing exactly what were going to do now, said Dicochea, CEO of WorkSphere, adding that all the winnings will be spent directly on development. WorkSphere previously had won the grand prize in the Arizona Collegiate Venture Competition in Phoenix and a top award in the Carnegie Mellon University Venture Challenge in Pittsburgh, both in April. The other five finalists in the competition were: ROVR, which took second place and a $5,000 prize after pitching a mobile app for casual daters, people seeking a serious relationship or those who want to connect with new friends. Defiiant Technologies, third-place winner of $2,500 and creators of a mobile virtual reality app and wearable virtual-reality camera that introduces immersive 3D social media. Jupitar, creators of a drone app development software and app store. Park Central, a parking brokerage service that links city drivers with private landowners. Five Tucson-area teens have been named semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The program was established to recognize and honor some of the nations most-distinguished graduating high school seniors. The semifinalists are Natalie Ezeugwu and Steven D. Fried of University High School, Remington E. Knauer and Courtney E. Barger of Vail Academy and High School, and Diviya A. Rajesh of Basis Tucson North. The winners of the contest will be named in May and will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June. Kino School senior gets national recognition Diego Huerta, a senior at Kino School, has been recognized by the National Hispanic Recognition Program. Huerta was awarded a National Merit Scholarship of $18,000 per year for four years. He will take part in the honors program at the University of Arizona in the fall. 3 area schools receive foundations A+ honor Three Tucson-area schools have been named A+ Schools of Excellence. The honor, from the Arizona Educational Foundation, honors exemplary Pre-K through 12th-grade public schools that meet the needs of students and achieve overall success. The schools are: Corona Foothills Middle School of the Vail Unified School District. Flowing Wells Jr. High School of the Flowing Wells Unified School District. Sahuarita High School of the Sahuarita Unified School District. Each will receive $500 and a banner designating them as an A+ School of Excellence. All staff and faculty at the award-winning schools will also be eligible for partial scholarships from Argosy University Phoenix. Schools were evaluated in the areas of student focus and support, school culture, active teaching and learning, curriculum, leadership, community and parent involvement and assessment data. Kindergarten enrolling in Tanque Verde district Parents interested in enrolling students for kindergarten in the Tanque Verde School District next year are encouraged to sign up now. Registration for the 2016-2017 school year is open, and kindergarten roundup events are being hosted at Agua Caliente Elementary on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and at Tanque Verde Elementary on May 11 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. To enroll, children must be 5 years old before Sept. 1. Open-enrollment applications are available online at www.tanqueverdeschools.org/OpenEnrollment.aspx For information or to attend, call Kim H. at Agua Caliente, 749-2235, or Sue E. at Tanque Verde, 749-4244. Academy of Tucson hosts open houses The Academy of Tucson Schools will be hosting open houses at all three campuses on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. The Academy of Tucson Elementary School serves grades K-4 and is located at 9209 E. Wrightstown Road. The Academy of Tucson Middle School serves grades 5-8 and is located at 7310 E. 22nd St. The Academy of Tucson High School serves grades 9-12 and is located at 10720 E. 22nd St. Tucson Country Day holds family night Tucson Country Day School is hosting a night of family activities on May 7. The event, Go Live!, is free and open to the public and runs from 4 to 7 p.m. In addition to food, games and activities, there will be student performance and an artwork showcase. Attendees will also learn about what students are doing in specialty classes at the charter school, 9239 E. Wrightstown Road. Compiled by Alexis Huicochea. Contact Alexis at ahuicochea@tucson.com or 573-4175. On Twitter: @AlexisHuicochea The Kaibab Plateau is also known as the Buckskin Mountains because of a history of numerous mule deer hunted for their buckskin by both the Navajo and white settlers in the area. The village of Jacob Lake, at an elevation of 7,920 feet, is a popular tourist destination located on the north side of the Grand Canyon on the Kaibab Plateau. It is named after Mormon pioneer and explorer Jacob Hamblin. The lake is supplied by floodwater from rain and snow, and has traditionally been used as a destination to water cattle. It also served as a destination for Mormon settlers on their journey to St. George, Utah. A sawmill existed around Jacob Lake during the 1880s. During the 1890s, mining became prevalent after the discovery of copper oxide deposits found in limestone. The first claim preceding the hundreds that would follow comprising the Warm Springs mining district was at Warm Springs Canyon. Officially recorded on Feb. 5, 1890, by S.W. Taylor, multiple claims established a mile west of Jacob Lake included the Copper Con., Copper Glance and Kennedy, held by local residents from Fredonia and Kanab, in addition to mining companies. Timber for mining operations came from plentiful aspen, pine and spruce trees. Site accessibility was by wagon road from Fredonia and Lees Ferry. Worked by the Petoskey Mining Co. in 1900, the Petoskey Mine included a small smelter built in 1901 using charcoal as fuel and water piped in from Big Springs, 7 miles to the south. However, it proved a failure because of the highly siliceous nature of the copper ore. Headquarters for the Coconino Copper Co. that operated adjacent to the Petoskey Mine were at the mouth of Warm Springs Canyon. Known as Coconino or Coconino City, the camp became known as Ryan after a Michigan investor who purchased the mine and mill for $40,000 in 1902. A plant was built using the Neil and Burfeind process for leaching copper ores using sulfuric acid acquired from Beaver, Utah. However, the product was not economically viable because of the instability of the copper compounds. Similar attempts on-site later involving the Esmeralda Precipitation Co. and the Buckskin Copper Co. proved discouraging. Ryan proved ephemeral. Its post office lasted from Feb. 6 to July 18, 1902. Resumed mining activity and stock promotion occurred during World War I. John Mackin acquired multiple claims that would later be taken over by the St. Anthony Copper Co. in 1928. A railroad was built from the mine at Warm Spring Canyon to the former camp of Ryan to accommodate ore shipments to a 100-ton blast furnace. Attempts to build a tramway were probably hindered due to a reduced profit margin. The Mackin Mine is credited with having produced 150,000 pounds of copper ore valued at $25,000 in 1929. About 1,000 tons of 8 percent copper ore were shipped to the Asarco smelter at Garfield, Utah, prior to a fire destroying the on-site plant that same year suspending operations. World War II brought renewed mining activity to the Kaibab region. The Atherly brothers of Fredonia formed the Apex Mining Co., leasing the property from the United States Metals Corp. which had acquired the property back in 1939. A -yard Northwest model 25 gasoline shovel loaded 5-ton trucks at the small open-pit mining operation at the Kaibab Mine west of Jacob Lake. Twenty men were employed under the guidance of Vincent M. Ryan. Averaging 30 tons daily of 6 percent ore valued at $19 per ton, transfer was made by 15-ton trucks operated by the Alabam Freight Lines, which was in charge of shipping operations north of Flagstaff to the Utah border. Distance from bin to the railhead at Marysvale, Utah, was 159 miles prior to transport by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad to Salt Lake City. From 1943 to 1947, the Mackin and Petoskey mines produced 20,000 tons of copper ore with meager gold and silver byproduct. A cessation of mining activity followed due to remote location, fluctuating copper prices, limited ore reserves and transportation costs. The area is now part of Kaibab National Forest. PHOENIX Leslie Merritt Jr. sat in a police interrogation room, unaware of why he had just been swarmed by SWAT officers and whisked away in handcuffs. Why do you think you would be here? the detective asked. I have no idea, man. Traffic ticket or something, Merritt replied. Not even close. After weeks of random shootings on Phoenix freeways that rattled residents, police believed they had their man. The interrogation went on for more than two hours, culminating with the detective telling Merritt that ballistics experts had matched his handgun to four of the 11 shootings, and that they had him on video pulling the trigger. The latter was a lie. The former would be the undoing of it all. Seven months after Merritts arrest, the entire case fell apart, leading to his release, the dismissal of charges, allegations of a botched investigation and a gunman authorities dubbed a domestic terrorist possibly still on the loose. Police believe the shootings began Aug. 27 and continued until Sept. 10. Investigators determined eight of the incidents were bullet strikes, while the remaining three were some other projectiles. They also believed that while they had a serial shooter on the loose, some of the crimes were likely copycats. Experts examined bullets retrieved from the crime scenes until they say they determined the exact type of weapon used in the shootings. Detectives fanned out to pawn shops, hoping for a lucky break, retrieving every one of those guns and running tests until the DPS crime lab found a match. It was Sept. 17. The firearm was traced back to Merritt. He was arrested a day later. I was convinced that Leslie Merritt was the guy, said bus driver Robert McDonald, whose bus was hit by one of the bullets. I was, like everybody else, sure. Ballistics doesnt lie. That, in fact, would soon be put to the test as the gun became the linchpin of the case. Merritt was only charged with the first four shootings. The rest remained unsolved. But the tip line signs came down. As the case weaved through the courts, Merritt languished in jail, unable to come up with the money for his $1 million bond or expensive attorneys. He pleaded not guilty to numerous charges, including drive-by shootings and aggravated assault. Thats when two high-profile lawyers say they saw holes in the case and stepped in to represent Merritt. As prosecutors prepared for trial, they had their own forensics expert retest the bullets against Merritts gun. The results were damning but not in the way authorities hoped. The expert found the DPS crime lab came to a faulty conclusion, noting the bullets could neither be excluded or identified as having come from Merritts gun. Merritts attorneys began to dig deeper. Based on measurements of the heights of vehicles that were struck and the height of Merritts car, along with the trajectories of the bullets, they say it is a fantasy that their client fired the shots. The only way Leslie Merritt could have perpetrated this shooting on I-10 ... is if he was driving down the freeway in broad daylight standing on the roof shooting downward. Impossible, defense attorney Jason Lamm said of one of the shootings. Prosecutors also enlisted the FBI to use Merritts cellphone to track his movements on the days of the shootings. Defense lawyers say that was strike three, indicating he was nowhere near the crime scenes. The case went back to court, and based on the new evidence, the judge reduced Merritts bond to zero, allowing for his release pending trial. Soon, prosecutors themselves sought a dismissal of charges without prejudice, meaning they can arrest Merritt again. They have declined to provide explanations about the contradictory evidence and say the investigation is ongoing and that Merritt isnt off the hook. Im not guaranteeing that were going to refile charges in this case. Im also not guaranteeing that charges would not be refiled in this case, top prosecutor Bill Montgomery said. DPS Director Frank Milstead said Friday he stands behind his crime lab. I believe we have enough evidence to develop probable cause to believe that he is the correct suspect, Milstead said. Defense attorneys remain on the attack, though Merritt is still considered the only suspect and has not been vindicated. There was a public thirst for blood, Lamm said, a public thirst for accountability, and that thirst was quenched by the arrest of Leslie Merritt Jr. Jeffries said he owes the broad support for the measure to the stakeholder process that formulated the pension fix. By inviting everyone to the table, we ultimately could leave there with an agreement that we could all work with, he said. Ethan McSweeney is a University of Arizona journalism student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact him at starapprentice@tucson.com Preventable medical harm is not an official cause of death, but it is killing up to 440,000 Americans a year. At that level, medical harm would be the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. But ask any Tucson hospital to give you a list of its fatal medical errors and the answer is no. Try to find any measure of hospital quality, and the results both vary and overwhelm. Search for safety information on local nursing homes and assisted living facilities and whats available is both limited and fragmented between two state agencies and the federal government. In Arizona and most of the U.S., a lack of transparency and mandatory reporting laws put the public at a disadvantage when it comes to assessing preventable errors. While medical malpractice lawsuits may bring accountability in some instances, its increasingly difficult to sue. The cases that are filed are often dropped or settled in confidence, with no details in the public court record about any wrongdoing or who admitted what. We cant study errors in the medical industry the way every other industry does, says JoJene Mills, a Tucsonan and medical malpractice attorney in Arizona for 30 years. Theres an attitude that this industry should not be exposed to sunlight Its shrouded in so much secrecy that we cant study errors and fix them, and the consumers/patients cant make good choices about the hospitals or providers they choose. Local health experts and hospital officials typically recommend that patients check two sources the federal governments Hospital Compare and the twice yearly Hospital Safety scores from The Leapfrog Group. Both measures have been criticized for having old or incomplete data, scores that are not risk adjusted and information that is difficult to decipher. We should all rally around the notion that mistakes should absolutely be disclosed, says Larry Aldrich, former CEO of University Physicians Healthcare in Tucson and now executive chairman of the Employers Health Alliance of Arizona. Transparency will allow people to ask the questions, so you have a better dialogue. What drives me nuts about health care is that all our decisions are made through anecdotes and stories rather than data and statistics. Hospital officials like Dr. Rick Anderson, the chief medical officer for Tucson Medical Center, say serious errors are not the best way for the public to measure hospital safety. Anderson acknowledges theres no one place for consumers to get comprehensive safety information. His recommendation is that people get a good primary care doctor. I am such a strong believer in that strong relationship between a primary care physician or a nurse practitioner and the patient, and really asking those hard questions, says Anderson, who is a primary care doctor. I just cringe at physicians who arent willing to talk and really answer patients questions. Anderson advocates bringing a friend or family member along when a patient is at the hospital. Its sad to say that you need an advocate but things happen in hospitals and you want to make sure you hold nurses and doctors accountable, he says. We need to wash our hands. We need to clean our stethoscopes. We need to protect patients and we should not be afraid to have patients observe and hold us accountable when we dont do that. One bad event TMC reports its most serious preventable medical errors to its board of directors, but the information is not public. It does not report them to any other entity. One bad event would taint the hospital with all the good things that we do well. Sometimes looking at isolated incidents makes great headlines but does not always make it easy for patients (to decide) where to go for medical care, Anderson says. Even the best hospitals in the country have those kind of events. Very few of them report publicly, but the best will make sure they have processes in place to get them fixed. Greg Vigdor, president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, favors the federal governments Hospital Compare tool, which publishes data such as hospital-acquired infections and emergency room wait times. Methodologies should be transparent. Just as important, the information must be presented to patients and consumers in a way that educates rather than confounds or unduly alarms, he says. But in addition to Hospital Compare data, consumers should be trusted to have information on preventable harm, ask questions and put it in context, Aldrich counters. People will die and sometimes it will be unclear whether the illness caused it, Aldrich says, but its important to give consumers the data anyway. Aldrich, who favors Leapfrog as a guide, points out that existing quality measures give Tucson hospitals average to mediocre ratings. In January, three were penalized by Medicare for being among the worst-performing 25 percent nationwide for their rates of patient injuries and infections Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Carondelet St. Josephs Hospital and Tucson Medical Center. And on Monday, when the nonprofit Leapfrog Group released its newest patient safety scores, no Tucson hospital received an A. An analysis of the Leapfrog grading system by Johns Hopkins Medicines Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality concluded that an estimated 33,439 lives could be saved each year if all hospitals had the same performance as those that received an A. A nonexistent measure The Affordable Care Act, which passed in 2010, places greater emphasis on patient safety and public reporting, but theres still a long way to go both in Arizona and across the country. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on April 21 had been scheduled to release new overall star ratings for hospitals. The agency already has a star-rating system for hospitals based on patient satisfaction. The new ratings about overall hospital quality take 62 measures of quality and safety and summarize them as one to five stars, with five being the best. But federal officials, who received a letter from 60 members of Congress urging delay, now say theyll release the ratings in July. The letter said the ratings could be misleading because they do not adequately adjust for socioeconomic status and the medical complexity of some hospitals patient populations. Other rankings and grading systems can be helpful but confusing since there are so many, and the ways they measure safety vary. Hospitals may do well on one, yet poorly on another. The truth of the matter is, we and others have been pushing for better measures of safety so we could report something that is more reliable and more comprehensive to the public, says Nancy Foster, vice president of quality and patient safety policy for the American Hospital Association. But for now, that measure doesnt exist, she says. National patient safety advocate Helen Haskell, who founded Mothers Against Medical Error, says hospitals need to take far more responsibility in sharing information about medical harm with the public. The American Hospital Association does many good things, but in this instance I think they act more as a trade organization than an improvement organization, she says. Haskell, a South Carolina resident whose 15-year-old son died after routine elective surgery in 2000, believes its up to Congress to foster change. But the driver for Congress and the White House is public opinion, she says. It takes the voices of patients, advocacy groups and the media to push them to act. Barriers to transparency In Arizona, the Star identified these barriers to transparency and patient safety: Theres no public database of serious medical errors, and hospitals are not required to report such errors to the state. Hospitals conduct a failure analysis after a mistake through processes called peer review and quality assurance. But both are secret from the public and cannot be used in court cases. Medical malpractice lawsuits are difficult to file due to added requirements in Arizona law. They are also expensive, so lawyers are less likely to take on cases that dont have promises of a large payout. Expert physician witnesses can cost as much as $1,000 an hour, for example, local lawyers say. The number of medical malpractice cases in Arizona filed in 2014 was 45 percent lower than in 2004. An Arizona law passed in 2009 makes it more difficult to sue emergency-room physicians. It raised the burden of proof for malpractice from the usual preponderance of evidence to clear and convincing evidence, a higher standard. Confidential settlements, common in medical malpractice lawsuits, prevent the public from knowing important details, including admissions of wrongdoing. How errors are calculated Estimates of fatal medical harm typically come from two reports. The first was the Institute of Medicines To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, which was published in 1999 and estimated as many as 98,000 people die in hospitals each year as a result of preventable errors. The estimate was based on records from 1984. The estimate was initially criticized but has since become accepted by experts on all sides of health care. The American Hospital Association still uses the 98,000 number, but many other patient-safety experts cite a 2013 study published in the Journal of Patient Safety. That study was done by now-retired NASA toxicologist John T. James, who founded the Houston-based organization Patient Safety America after his 19-year-old son died in 2002 from what James says was negligent medical care. James estimated 220,000 to 440,000 Americans die prematurely each year because of preventable adverse events initiated while under hospital care. He used data from four studies flagging specific evidence in medical records pointing to adverse events. James categorized five kinds of errors commission, omission, communication, context and diagnostic. A third report from the U.S. Office of Inspector General in 2010 found that medical harm in hospitals contributed to the deaths of an estimated 180,000 Medicare patients per year. Medication errors were the most common cause of harm leading to death, the report found. When you are in the hospital for three days and seeing maybe 150 different people, the chance of error is high. You just hope its not a bad error, says Aldrich, the former Tucson health executive. Most estimates use data from hospitals only. Data on patients harmed in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is lagging behind, though patients and their families are often navigating a maze of providers and moving between the hospital and long-term care. The Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report in 2014 that found 11 percent of Medicare beneficiaries discharged from a hospital to a nursing home experienced temporary harm, and that almost 60 percent of those events were preventable. Many of the adverse events were related to infections. Politics and money Through mergers and acquisitions, hospitals are increasingly part of large, powerful health systems. In New York City, hospitals employ more people than Wall Street, giving them big political muscle, says Betsy McCaughey, the former lieutenant governor of New York and founder of the Connecticut-based Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths. In Arizona, Phoenix-based nonprofit Banner Health is the states largest private employer. The largest employer in New York is not the financial sector, its the health-care industry, McCaughey says. They have enormous clout with the state legislature. Enormous. And if they dont want to tell people something, they are going to make sure it doesnt happen. McCaughey at the moment is angry that New York recently released its rates of the antibiotic-resistant Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), but did not disclose the hospitals where it occurred. CRE is fatal in 50 percent of cases and federal officials have called it a nightmare bacteria. The hospitals are afraid people will not go to their institutions if they know CRE is there. It spreads widely in hospitals, McCaughey says. The fact is, they are putting their business interests ahead of the welfare of the populace. In Arizona, CRE is not a reportable condition so the state health department does not know how many cases weve had. Its not a federal requirement to report CRE either. The CDC estimates about 99,000 deaths per year occur as a result of healthcare-associated infections at an estimated $20 billion in healthcare costs. Infections are an increasing focus in improving patient safety because they are usually preventable. If you are going into the hospital in Arizona, you really should be able to find out which hospital has the lowest infection rate, McCaughey says. Arizona law does not require reporting of healthcare-associated infections, so the Arizona Department of Health Services does not maintain a public database like some other states, spokeswoman Holly Ward says. And it is difficult to compare hospital rates of various infections because hospitals have different ways of capturing data, says Dr. Sean P. Elliott, director of infection prevention at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson. The data is old that is reported nationally, Elliott says. Our numbers are low for hospital acquired infections. CRE is quite rare. ... It would be difficult to quote a number to the public. It has to come with an explanation of what does this mean. Elliott adds that the hospital is aggressive about infection prevention and shares data every month with its infection prevention committee, though meetings are not open to the public. In the most recent Leapfrog survey, Banner-University Medical Center Tucson and Northwest Medical Center both scored below the national average on their rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. MRSA, which can cause life-threatening bloodstream infections, is often lurking in bed linens or medical equipment, and can spread when providers dont wash their hands between patients. Its difficult to use Leapfrog as a judge of hospital quality, says Joan Ivaska, senior director of infection prevention for Phoenix-based Banner Health. Banner has really aggressive internal targets, much more aggressive than any regulatory body or external agency, Ivaska says. By the time that data is released we are six to 12 months down the road and we have already done a bunch of quality improvement. One of the most common threats in local hospitals and long-term care facilities remains Clostridium difficile, which is known as C. diff. The CDC says C. diff is responsible for about 15,000 deaths per year, and the risk increases with age. C. diff, which causes inflammation of the colon, is a common cause of surgical site infections and a main reason why Tucson Medical Center recently invested in six ultraviolet robots to make sure rooms are clear from the germ, which can live for long periods on hard surfaces. We park them in operating rooms and patient rooms that are either at risk for or had C. diff. The ultraviolet light kills the C. diff spores as well as just about every germ you can think of, Anderson says. Never events Theres different lingo for serious medical errors in the hospital world, but many call them never events incidents that should never happen, like an operating room fire, leaving a surgical instrument inside a patient or operating on the wrong patient. Others refer to such incidents as sentinel events. At least 18 states have reporting requirements on serious and avoidable medical mistakes that happen in hospitals. Arizona is not one of them. But there are problems with those laws, because states definitions of preventable medical errors vary greatly. Also, critics say in states where public disclosure is required, hospitals seem to report an unusually low number of adverse events. Some hospitals have chosen to volunteer information about their errors. Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, for example, has started posting errors in a blog, along with ways the hospital learned from the incidents. Anderson of Tucson Medical Center, which is Tucsons largest hospital, says his facility is open to improvement in transparency. But it would be best and more consistent if all local hospitals made changes, such as posting mortality and complication rates and patient experience surveys on their websites, he adds. The power of sorry Tucson Medical Center has a policy that says the hospital must apologize and disclose medical errors to the affected patient. As further encouragement for providers to apologize, Arizona law grants immunity to medical providers who say they are sorry, meaning their apology will never be used as evidence in court. Many health experts say the act of saying Im sorry dissuades patients from suing because an apology is all they really want. Still, patients are not always receiving apologies, according to Mills, the Tucson medical malpractice attorney. Some arent receiving any information at all, she says. I met with a family last week whose mother went into the hospital for flu. She was in her 60s and she died, Mills says. They have yet to speak to the physician about what happened. I get about 30 calls a year where something terrible happened and no one told the patient. ... These are the people who feel like they have no one to call but a lawyer. Medical errors are rarely the fault of one person, stresses Dr. Tejal K. Gandhi, president and chief executive officer of the National Patient Safety Foundation. Saying, We are just going to fire that nurse actually does nothing to address the issue and creates a culture where people are afraid of telling you about problems because they are afraid they are going to get fired, Gandhi says. Weve got this culture of trying to cover up and blame as opposed to a culture where people can openly talk about what the issues are and make changes to the system. To be sure, many hospitals and politicians and even more health care workers are serious about patient safety and trying to foster improvement. The problem is that the system works against them, says Haskell, the patient advocate. There is a lot of money to be made in medicine and especially in its many underlying industries, she says. The system is profit-driven rather than mission-driven, and as long as that is the case, patient safety will never be the top priority. Reporting for this project is supported by a grant from the non-profit The Commonwealth Fund through the Association of Health Care Journalists. Next in our series: Sunday, June 5, barriers to transparent patient safety in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. PHOENIX State lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday in a bid to finally adopt a spending plan for the coming year. That was supposed to happen Friday. But some last-minute squabbling over protecting public schools from cuts blew the session apart. Now, with everyone home for the weekend to cool off, Republican legislative leaders in the House hope to put the finishing touches on the plan today. But given the issues that remain, that is far from a certainty. On paper, everyone claims to want the same thing: Ensure that schools do not lose money, at least for this coming year, even as new policies designed to save money take effect. But some rank-and-file Republican lawmakers find the language being crafted by their leaders flawed. And they wont accept commitments that if they vote for the plan now, the measures will be fixed in the Senate. House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, dismissed the current stalemate as no big deal. This is part of the process, he said. This is what putting a budget deal together entails. But for the most part, the battles that are holding up a deal are not about the numbers, at least not directly. For example, lawmakers voted last year to change the method of calculating state aid to public schools to base it on the number of students actually attending that year, versus what enrollment was in the prior year. That change is supposed to take effect this coming school year. That was before the Department of Education did some calculations and figured that schools with declining enrollment would lose a cumulative $31 million a year. The legislative leadership is unwilling to change the policy. But with a cash surplus, the have agreed, under pressure, to effectively keep the old policy in place for one more year. Crafting the language to do that, however, has proved more difficult than they thought. Ditto for another policy change that would have removed some state aid from small charter schools with multiple sites as well as plans to cut aid to traditional school districts that operate charter schools. The language is important, said Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek. The language has to work. Carter, however, said Sunday she is optimistic some agreement can be reached. We think everything is moving in a positive direction, she said. Still, there are other issues to be resolved. During the years of deficit, even moderate GOP lawmakers felt they had no choice but to go along with various cuts in spending. Now, with a surplus, they see opportunities to boost spending. One sore point among several lawmakers has been the state shifting responsibilities and costs to local governments. For example, counties have had to pick up the cost of sending youngsters to the state Department of Juvenile Corrections. And local governments now pay money to the state Department of Revenue for collecting taxes. But resistance remains among the GOP leadership and many other Republicans to anything that boosts funding. Montenegro said both education and public safety are important to GOP lawmakers. Its also very, very clear that having a structurally balanced budget is very important to the rest of the caucus as well, he said of the $9.58 billion spending plan. That goes to the fact that during the recession, state lawmakers did a series of accounting gimmicks designed to meet the constitutional requirement for a balanced budget. For example, $200 million in aid to universities was deferred for one month, from June until July. The trick there is that the new fiscal year begins July 1. With the maneuver, spending in the prior fiscal year effectively was reduced by $200 million. But the debt still remains. So lawmakers hope to use some of the surplus this year to finally straighten out the books, versus spend the money on other programs. At the same time, though, the universities, which saw a $99 million budget cut just last year, are getting back just $32 million. But theres less there than even that number suggests. A total of $19 million of that is one-time funds, meaning the schools cant count on those dollars in future years. And of the remaining $13 million, $5 million is earmarked to support economic freedom schools started with grants from various foundations, including those run by the Koch brothers. You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close Help India! Abdul Kalam Azad Today is the second anniversary of Narasingbari Killings. On 1st May, 2014, at around 8:00pm three people were killed and several injured. Narasingbari was the beginning within less than 24 fours 49 people were killed in Khagrabari (Baksa) and Balapara (Kokrajhar) in BTAD area of Assam. Most of the victims were children and women. Here is the story of Rashida Khatun (13), who survived the attack. More stories will follow Support TwoCircles Rashida Khatun (13) tells me her daily routine in a gloomy and deadly silent house. Every day she wakes up at 5:30 in the morning in a remote village called Narasingbari in Baksa district of Assam. She cleans the courtyard, clears the cow dung, her grandma takes the cows for grassing; she washes the dish and helps grandma preparing food, takes bath and gets ready for school. She does all of these by 8:30 am. Rashida Khatun in her house in Narasingbari She was telling me her stories of misery and bravery sitting on the only wooden bed just the beneath of a smokestack made of a torn vest. The election campaign posters of All India United Democratic Front, the political party headed by perfume baron Maulana Badruddin Ajmal were pasted on the tin wall of her house. The posters were glittering inside the dimed room as like as Ajmals dream to be the kingmaker in the recently concluded assembly election. This is my second visit to her first time I met her on a hospital bed in Barpeta Medical College on 6th of May 2014. From the hospital bed she narrated a harrowing incident. On 1st May, 2014 her parents were killed by the members of outlawed terrorist organization National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). The terrorist organization also rampaged in Khagrabari in Baksa and Balapara in Kokrajhar district of BTAD and killed 49 people within 24 hours, mostly children and women. One that fateful day, her family members were gossiping post dinner with an elderly woman on their courtyard. At around 8:00 pm a heavily armed group of terrorists entered their house and indiscriminately fired their automotive weapons. They killed her parents and the old woman on the spot and severely injured Rashida and a little girl Taslima Sultana (3). Three bullets were pumped into Taslimas little body one blown away her left thump, another went across shoulder, might be just above her tiny heart and last one went by touching her cheek. Their bullet was not kind enough to leave Rashida unhurt; it passed across her thigh. Hopefully, both Taslima and Rashida survived the bullet injuries. Two years on, Rashidas pain and agony is intact. After getting cured the bullet injury, Rashida was shifted to SOS village in Hojai in central Assam along with two siblings, elder sister Shumala (16) and younger brother Ramzan (9). SOS village gave her much needed shelter and protection hunger as well as basic facilities to continue her study. But her mental trauma remained unhealed; memories of the brutality and the loneliness of her grandma continued to haunt her. The SOS village authority says She was not been able to adjust with the environment and tried to escape multiple times. One day, the cook of SOS village rebuked Ramzan for being ill-disciplined. It pained Rashida, reminded her parents and grandma, moreover, her elder sister Shumala held her responsible for younger brothers mischievous act. Rashida could not control her emotions; finally she ran away and traveled nearly 300 kms to reach her grandma in her native village. However, her people and the village had dramatically changed in the last one year. Her grandma and neighbors had already abandoned their houses due to security reason. Terrorists again entered the village and shot one villager in front of the school near their house. Now, half of the school is being occupied by police. Her grandma shifted to uncles place inside the village; who migrated to Arunachal Pradesh and working there as rag picker and has abandoned her helpless mother! She started a precarious life with her grandma. No earning member, no source of income; the ex-gratia amount which was granted by government against her deceased parents, has been fixed deposited in the name of three minors. As per the governments social welfare policy Rashidas grandma is eligible for both widow pension and old-age pension. However, the representative of VCDC (Village Council Development Committee in lieu of Panchayati Raj Institution) says that from 2005 to 2015 not a single widow pension has been disbursed and on 4 oldage pension was awarded in the entire village. When Prime Minister Narendra Modis Beti Basao; Beti Padao campaign was mounting high, Rashida took a hard decision. She became an agricultural labourer at the age of 12. As a child labour she gets Rs. 120/- whereas her counterpart gets Rs. 200/- a day. Neither the high decibel campaign nor the anti-child labour act could reach her. She continues to toil in the field to feed herself and her ageing grandmother, also to save to revive her dream to go to school once again. She purchased books, uniforms and took admission into the newly established private school in the village. The principal of the school, who himself was a victim of violence and left the village in childhood waived off her admission and tuition fees. All 404 Muslim household left the village in 1994; more than fifty percent are still not being able to return to the village, even after two decades, Principal of Navajyoti Jatiya Vidyalaya Abdur Rahman said. Though Rashida lost two precious academic years of her life but she is committed to chase her dream. She wants to be a nurse. The nurses who cared her in Barpeta Medical College have motivated her to be a nurse. Since the beginning of this academic year, she has been working on Sundays and other holidays. Without talking to her, it impossible to imagine how hard she is fighting to balance her schooling and the wage earning. No scholarship or rehabilitation programme has reached her so far! Rashida is not the only victim of violence in Assam or all the children affected violence is not as brave and determined as her. There are thousands of children who are being severely affected by the brutality and madness of violence in Assam since early 80 of last century. Assam is one of the most IDP concentrated states in the India. In 2012, nearly five lakhs people were displaced through the act of violence in western Assam, the biggest ever human displacement in independent India after the partition. There are hundreds of camps, settlements and colonies in western Assam where conflict induced internally displaced persons are languishing since early 90s and the numbers are increasing every year. Thousands of children spent their childhood in those camps without basic services like education, health, nutrition etc. There are instances where the children from IDP camps were denied admission into government school. The governments both in centre and state do not have any well-defined policy to rehabilitate the violence induced IDPs, at least the children. Recurrent violence and subsequent large scale displacement has made Assam hotspot for child trafficking. The Telegraph reported on 10th April, 2016 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ranks Assam as one out of eight Indian states where child trafficking is rampant. According to the report, 5,023 girls and 2,765 boys went missing from Assam, mostly from the BTAD, between 2009 and 2014. While the world is talking about Indias demographic dividend, here is western Assam, lakhs of are growing in camps, settlements and violence torn villages in illiteracy, malnutrition and hopelessness to puncture the bubble of so called demographic dividend. I wonder if the election campaign poster can reach Rashidas house targeting her grandmothers only vote; why her constitutional rights cant be guaranteed. This article taken with permission, from here. Help India! By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net Kozhikode: Hardly a day after his candidature was announced, U C Raman made a beeline to Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, seeking in earnest the blessings of the descendant of Prophet Mohammed like every IUML candidate. Support TwoCircles Although Raman is not a Muslim, he believes that everything ends up on a good note when he starts his journey from Kodappanakkal House in Malappuram, the power house of Muslims in Kerala. Raman is contesting from the Balussery constituency in Kozhikode as an IUML candidate. He is in the fray not only to win the seat, which is conceived as the bastion of CPM, but to strengthen the developing Muslim- Dalit political coordination in Kerala. I am here to keep a rich tradition of IUML intact, which has been granting due privileges to the Dalit community in Kerala from its inception. If the number of Dalit candidates fielded by the party in local self-governing bodies is taken as an indication, IUML is the only political outfit that allows due allocation for Dalits in elections, Raman told Twocircles. The prominent leader of Dalit League, Dalit outfit of IUML, has been contesting as IUML independent in the Assembly elections since 2001 from the Kunnamangalam constituency of Kozhikode district. In 2001 and 2006, he won from the Kunnamangalam reserved seat as an IUML independent. He took membership of IUML in the very next year after he was elected as MLA in 2001 from Kunnamangalam. He contested against CPMs P Kunjan with aeroplane as the symbol. In 2006, Raman defeated CPMs Balan Vaidyar in the same constituency. Though Kunnamangalam was a general seat in 2011, he was retained as IUMLs candidate. He however, lost to PTA Raheem by a margin of 3,158 votes. If we take district and constituency committees into consideration, the Dalit League is active in five districts of the Malabar region. The number of Dalit League representatives in local self-governing bodies of Kerala stands at around 250. Last year, Dalit League leader A P Unnikrishnan was appointed by IUML leadership as Malappuram district panchayat president. IUML leadership, by fielding Raman, is eyeing a new political equation in Kerala. Since 1960s, Dalit leaders have been finding a befitting place in IUML. Former Dalit MLA KP Raman won Wandoor seat in Malappuram with the support of IUML. KP Raman was the inmate of a Muslim orphanage at Tirurangadi in Malappuram. He was brought up and moulded as political leader by late IUML leader MK Haji, says IUML functionary Ummer Pandikasala. Raman, along with Dalit leader Chadayan, has bee the familiar faces at IUML venues. The duo was sitting on the right and left sides of our great late leaders like Bafaqi Thangal and C H Mohammed Koya, Ummer adds. According to him, Raman has been entrusted to the duty of reviving and strengthening this rich tradition. Raman is happy as the party extends him due consideration. My opinions in various issues find befitting place in partys policy and decision. In a state which boasts to be developed in terms of education and social life Dalit mainstreaming is still a concern. Parties like IUML can have sincere interventions in Dalit empowerment initiatives, Raman says. IUML leadership believes that Raman will sail into victory in Balussery constituency, where Muslims roughly forms one third of the population while Dalit population stands at 10 per cent. Help India! By Sheikh Khurshid Alam for Twocircles.net Muslims have a rich history of think tanks or policy institutes. One of the finest examples of this history is the Bayt al-Hikma (House of Wisdom), a major intellectual centre during the Islamic Golden Age. Based in Baghdad from the 9th to 13th century, many learned scholars including those of Jewish or Christian background were part of this research and educational institute. Besides translating books into Arabic and preserving them, scholars associated with the House of Wisdom also made many remarkable original contributions to diverse fields. Support TwoCircles In the modern context, a think tank is an organization, institute, corporation, group, or individual that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economy, science or technology issues, industrial or business policies, or military advice. According to the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report (GGTTI) 2015, India ranks fourth on the list of nations with the most number of think tanks, with nearly 100 new ones taking the countrys total to 280 in 2015. The US tops the list for 2015 with 1,835 think tanks, followed by China and the United Kingdom with 435 and 288, respectively. Namrata Goswami, a Research Fellow of Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) writes, I have come to realise that the world of think tanks is quite different from those of academia and journalism and that mixing them up could create dysfunction and encourage false expectations A think tank is not engaged in teaching; it is specifically focused on throwing light on policy issues, both historical and contemporary from the perspective of states and society. Its role, unlike a university, is more of a public policy institution, an opinion creator, a source of in-depth policy analysis. Think tanks are motivated by social and political agendas in dealing with problems of the world, unlike universities that deal with academic or scientific priorities, dwelling into the world of theory. Think tanks are institutions capable of setting the agenda for policy making; universities ideally like to distance themselves from policy. Furthermore, a think tanks role is to analyse present state policies, both internal and external, and measure their impact. According to a news report, about eight think tanks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are competing for intellectual space in Delhi. It is not a secret that national security advisor, Ajit Doval, principal secretary to the PM, Nripendra Mishra, additional principal secretary to the PM, PK Mishra and NITI Aayog members Bibek Debroy and VK Saraswat are all products of Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), the think tank sympathetic to RSS. These think tanks have been on an upswing since the NDA government came to power in 2014. Some think tanks are also having ulterior motives and are systematically corrupting the intellectual space through misleading and false information about the Muslim community and Muslim organisations. Alvite Singh Ningthoujam, Research Associate at VIF, in one of the occasional papers titled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its South Asian Connection: An Indian Perspective writes on page 12, India-based Islamic organisation such as Jamaat-e-Islami Hind reportedly said ISIS caliphate is binding on all Muslims and a similar support was also endorsed by a cleric from Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama. This type of serious allegation against some reputed Muslim organisations of India is nothing but mischief. Ningthoujam had alleged this on the basis of a report of some website, which had no connection with Jamaat e Islami Hind or Nadwatul Ulama. Whereas prior to the release of VIFs occasional paper, on 7th Nov. 2014, after the three-day session of Central Advisory Committee (CAC) of JIH in New Delhi on 2 to 4 Nov. 2014, resolutions were released to press which were passed by the CAC of JIH. The resolution under the caption The Disquieting Developments in the Muslim World includes the following para: This session condemns the extremist and violent goings-on in the name of ISIL and appeals to the youth not to get influenced by such misleading slogans and appeals as have been declared doubtful and undesirable by eminent Ulema and movements in the Muslim world.The full text can be accessed on this The oppressed people in general and the Muslim community in particular is in an urgent need of founding think tanks conducting social, economic and even political research and producing solutions. In an era of propaganda, deceit and falsehood through intellectual write-ups, it is naive to think that the present resources are sufficient to survive and lead a peaceful live. It is time to learn the art of Tit for Tat. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the famous Muslim theologian from the 19th century, says, It is proved in the Risale-i Nur that today is the time of community. Collective personality dominates. In olden times, since the corruption came from one person, one genius guiding people to the true faith would suffice. But today, it is a collective personality in the form of a community, so only a collective personality can confront it However great the geniuses of the persons are, they may be defeated by the genius of community rising from its collective personalityYes, if three alifs do not unite, they have the value of three, whereas, if they do unite, through the mystery of numbers they acquire the value of one hundred and eleven. The lack of effective think tanks among the Muslim community of India is not due to shortage of intellectuals but due to absence of unity among Muslims. This disunity has led to the crisis of leadership and the crisis of leadership has resulted in victimisation. Such think tanks could focus on numerous subjects, such as education, health, poverty, agriculture, exportation, importation, industry, law, ethics, politics, social unity and solidarity, and could come up with solutions. Think tanks can facilitate ways to make Islam relevant to our children and grandchildren in the years to come and once Islam becomes relevant then it will be the panacea for mankind. The author is a Member of Calcutta Society for Socio-Legal Research (CSSLR) (www.indiacsslr.org) a non-profit organisation addressing the current and future dynamics of the Minorities of India, overall public-awakening activities and research projects. Help India! By TCN Staff Reporter New Delhi: A delay in political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs for travelling abroad left Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Finance Minister, Bihar, ruing a missed opportunity to interact with residents of Bihar and Jharkhad residing in Doha, Qatar and a chance to perform Umrah. Support TwoCircles Siddiqui was scheduled to be the chief guest at the Bihar Diwas celebrations , organised by the Indian Association of Bihar and Jharkhand (IABJ) Qatar on April 22, following which he had expressed his willingness to travel to Saudi Arabia and perform the Umrah. Speaking with Twocircles.net, Siddiqui said, After I received clearance from the State government, my office forwarded the application to the MEA for political clearance. I really wanted to visit Doha to interact with the residents of Bihar and Jharkhand to discuss the states progress and achievements along with the steps to take in future. Siddiqui added that after he received the invitation, he sought clearance from the state government and having received the same, he forwarded his application to the MEA. Despite sending my application weeks in advance, there was no communication from the Ministry and my office finally received a reply only on April 26, five days after I was supposed to leave, he said. His office sent a letter the following day to the Ministry, pointing that the delay had meant that his visits had been cancelled. The IABJ confirmed to Twocircles.net that it had sent an invite to Siddiqui as early as March 16, following which the Minister had started taking steps to get a visa for the event. The association also added that it was not until April 20 that they came to know that Siddiqui will not be attending the program. The IABJ is a socio cultural non-profit organization, established in 2000, functioning in Qatar for the community development and welfare of people of the community at large and people of Bihar and Jharkhand in particular. Niall Farrell Finishes Second in the 2016 FPS Monaco Main Event May 02 2016 Matthew Pitt Editor Niall Farrell took his lifetime live tournament winnings past the $2,000,000 mark this weekend after he finished second in the 1,100 FPS Monaco Main Event for 127,900. 2016 FPS Monaco Main Event final table results Place Player Country Prize 1 Stephane Dossetto France 218,000 2 Niall Farrell UK 127,900 3 Julian Fernandez France 89,900 4 Stefano Terziani Italy 67,100 5 Miguel Silva Portugal 51,780 6 Jean-Baptiste Bertrand France 38,500 7 Romain Matteoli France 29,350 8 Tudor Purice Romania 20,900 Farrell, who won the European Poker Tour Malta Main Event in October 2015 (Season 12) for 534,330, went into the six-handed final table with 9,165,000 chips, only three big blinds behind the chip leader, Stephane Dossetto. A huge pot soon after the final day commenced saw the field carved to four players. Julian Fernandez opened to 360,000 from the cutoff at the 60,000/120,000/20,000s level, Jean-Baptiste Bertrand moved all-in with pocket tens for 805,000, Miguel Silva then moved all-in for 2,460,000 from the small blind with , and Fernandez called with . A final board reading sent both Silva and Bertrand to the rail. An hour later, Farrell doubled through Stefano Terziani when his won a coinflip versus his Italian opponents , a hand that left Terziani with only 12 big blinds. Those chips went into the middle of the felt when he was first to act in the small blind, doing so with . Dossetto snap-called in the big blind with , and when the five community cards fell it was game over for Terziani. It took another hour of play before a player bust, that player being Fernandez. Blinds were now 100,000/200,000/25,000a, and Farrell raised to 425,000 with . Fernandez called from the small blind with , meaning it was heads-up to the flop. Fernandez check-called a 350,000 continuation bet from Farrell, and the dealer placed the on the turn. Fernandez bet his full house to the tune of 550,000, Farrell raised to 1,250,000, only to see Fernandez move all-in for 4,200,000, a bet that Farrell instantly called. The river was no help to Fernandez, and heads-up was set. Those chips sent Farrell into the one-on-one battle with Dossetto holding an 18,165,000 to 12,970,000 lead, but Dossetto won most of the early confrontations to reverse those figures. Farrell reclaimed the lead, before Dossetto nudged his way in front, then opened up what turned out to be an unassailable lead. The final hand of the 2016 FPS Monaco Main Event took place at 7:50 p.m. and saw Dossetto opened to 1,500,000 at the 200,000/400,000/50,000a level with , Farrell raised all-in for 4,725,000 with , and Dossetto called. A flop reading was rather final for Farrell, although the turn gave him outs to a straight. The river was not one of those outs, and Farrell fell in second-place, leaving Dossetto to be crowned champion, and more than double his lifetime earnings. Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! Swiss watchmaker bucks the trend Updated: 2016-05-02 14:48 By Sun Yuanqing(China Daily USA) While luxury retailers in China are facing a tough time, there are still exceptions. Swiss luxury watchmaker Roger Dubuis is one of them. During the anniversary promotion of the Beijing SKP mall - China's top-performing luxury department store - on April 16, Roger Dubuis led the luxury watch segment, scooping up sales of 14 million yuan ($2.16 million) in a single day. Though a lot of established luxury brands are closing stores, this relatively nascent brand with five boutiques in China and 21 worldwide is still targeting new locations. Having opened a flagship store in Geneva last July and its first US boutique in New York last November, the label opened a store in the Beijing SKP mall last September and in Shanghai's West Nanjing Road this month. "As a new brand, every operation is adding business possibilities. You can't compare us with brands which already have thousands of stores," CEO Jean-Marc Pontroue tells China Daily during a recent trip to Beijing. "The brand is building its foundations. We are not as mature as other brands. Our mission is to make sure that the brand is relevant in the top 30 cities in the world." Swiss luxury group Richemont, which earlier owned 60 percent of Roger Dubuis, said in January that it had bought the remaining 40 percent, without disclosing the price. While some analysts say the move indicates the increasingly difficult situation faced by niche brands, Pontroue says he views it as more of an opportunity. "It was purely an opportunity to give Richemont the ownership of the company so we can accelerate our development," he says. "The brand wouldn't be here today if we haven't had Richemont to help us ... in real estate, in distribution, in communication and in hiring the right people. Richemont is involved in many key decisions." Pontroue says that it is much more challenging now to operate a small brand when the big luxury groups have a majority of the business, but he adds that Roger Dubuis has managed to secure the support of a big group while maintaining its own character of being flexible and energized. "We are in an industry which requires a lot of funds and resources to make things happen, compared with 10 years ago. The barriers to enter the industry are much higher. The fact that we are with a big group is a major asset. We have access to information, to logistics, IT and people." Roger Dubuis is mostly known for its extravagant watches priced from 150,000 yuan to nearly 10 million. It makes about 4,500 watches annually, all with the Geneva Seal that certifies origin and standards. Meanwhile, the brand used Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2016, the trade fair of the luxury watch industry, to promote its ultra-feminine Velvet collection, making women's watches its focus this year. As of now, women's watches account for 30 percent of the brand's business, but are expected to reach 40 per cent within the next two years, says Pontroue. "We want customers to see us as a brand with extreme creativity, a brand that is daring, extravagant and different. If you have these ingredients, you can do it for both men and women," he says. The brand has more than 200 points of sales worldwide, among which 21 are boutiques. South Korea, Japan and China are among the company's fastest growing markets, while Switzerland and the United States remain its biggest, says Pontroue. A sketch of Roger Dubuis' Velvet collection. Photos Provided To China Daily (China Daily USA 05/02/2016 page7) Students from Chicago public schools perform at the opening ceremony of the 2016 National Chinese Language Conference on April 28 in Chicago. AMY HE / CHINA DAILY In its 10 years, Hanban has seen a surge in interest in the study of Chinese as a second language. The first 10 years can be seen as developing into new markets where there's an increasing demand in Chinese-language learning, said Xu Lin, chief executive and director-general of Hanban, which oversees the Confucius Institutes at American schools. Hanban acts as a facilitator for schools that want to give students an option to study Chinese in an increasingly globalized world, and the non-profit educational organization supports initiatives by providing teachers and loose guidelines, she said. "From the very start, we've already said that as long as [the schools] teach Chinese and Chinese culture, we're very open to different teaching methods," she said in an interview during the 2016 National Chinese Language Conference in Chicago from April 28-30. "Within the US, various states have their own curriculums and teaching styles, and they decide on the best course of action. We operate like a supermarket or a buffet would we provide the food, but what [the people] want to eat, how they want to eat, and when they want to eat, they choose. We at Hanban provide 24-hour service, just like a 7-Eleven would," she said. Xu Lin, director-general of Hanban Through feedback given in the past decade, Xu said that Hanban has a better understanding of how American students, parents and schools often have different requests and demands when it comes to learning compared to what their Chinese counterparts would do. "There are some teachers who don't graduate majoring in Chinese language, but because they majored in English, their English is particularly good and they have a better understanding of English speaking countries' ways of thinking," she said. "They reflect on how to best teach whether it's through storytelling, singing, or working with elementary and middle school students." If the organization goes by traditional standards of evaluation to assess these teachers, they might not be considered as professional as teachers who have a background in Chinese teaching, but the challenge the latter group faces is that they're often not as used to the management style in American classrooms, Xu said. New graduates are quick to adapt to the American classroom setting and are popular with students, she added. American parents treat foreign language learning differently than Chinese parents do, she said. "They're really think about their kids' future careers," compared with Chinese parents, who focus on getting their children to learn English for the sake of studying abroad. "Americans think that China is the most important, and parents think that their children will one day have to come into contact with China," she said. "All families think like this, whether they're from big cities or smaller ones. So they're creating this demand, and the Confucius Institutes are meant to satisfy a demand from the US," she added. amyhe@chinadailyusa.com Chinese food plays cultural ambassador Updated: 2016-05-02 05:00 By AMY HE in New York(China Daily USA) Food experts speak about Chinese cuisine during the 2016 National Chinese Language Conference in Chicago. From left: Martin Yan, chef and TV personality; Howie Southworth, cookbook author; Ian Cheney, documentary filmmaker; and Monica Eng, food reporter at Chicago Public Radio. AMY HE / CHINA DAILY For many Americans, Chinese food is their first gateway into Chinese culture something that has become incredibly prevalent in America and continues to provide some semblance of what China is and how its 1.4 billion people live. Chinese cuisine went from being something only served at restaurants to something that's readily accessible to customers, making it the "best bridge and best ambassador" for Chinese culture, said Martin Yan, a Chinese-American chef most known for his award-winning PBS show Yan Can Cook. "I remember when I first came over here, when I went to the supermarkets, all I saw was beanstalks. At the most, there was tofu. But now, anywhere you go, every single supermarket you'll see an entire aisle with Asian seasoning not just Chinese, but Korean, Vietnamese, Thai," he said. "You go to the produce department, you see bok choy, long beans, Nappa cabbage, even taro or water chestnut. I think Chinese food or Asian food has become more mainstream," he said, speaking at a panel discussion on Chinese food at the 2016 National Chinese Language Conference held in Chicago on April 29. Documentary filmmaker Ian Cheney talked about his experience making The Search for General Tso, a 2014 film about General Tso's chicken, one of the most iconic Chinese-American dishes and one popularly identified with Chinese food for Americans. Cheney was working on a film about corn in the US when he and a partner popped into a Chinese restaurant and he ordered his usual, General Tso's chicken. The dish is a sweet and spicy chicken concoction served at most Chinese-American restaurants, and it got Cheney wondering: just who is General Tso and what is the origin of the dish? Through making the documentary, Cheney talked to Chinese chefs across the US about the dish and went to Central China's Hunan province, where General Tso whose real name is Zuo Zongtang was born and is a celebrated figure. "I think food is for many people their first window into a place they may not have traveled to. It's kind of a weird window as we all have experienced, food adapts as it travels around the world, the chefs who are preparing these foods and adapting by using local materials, local flavors, but also to meet in the middle with their audience. There's this constant, crazy reinvention," he said. "As Chinese restaurants began popping up all over the culture, people started associating Chinese food and Chinese culture with positive family memories, and I think that shifted a little bit the cultural exchange and the cultural attitudes in America," he said. Howie Southworth, cookbook author and video producer, said that even in the most basic way for Americans who have no knowledge of Chinese food, going to a Chinese restaurant was an experience unto itself. "Even from my childhood, when you go to the restaurants, you do get a little bit of the culture we all learn what animal year we were born in, and we all got crayons to color in the Great Wall, which must surround this mysterious place called China. It opened the world a little bit," he said. "Every once in a while a new cuisine comes in, and I think that door opens just a little bit wider, because there's a new kind of cuisine that people can wrap their minds around, not just think Hunan, Sichuan, so forth," he said. Top students receive awards from China Updated: 2016-05-02 10:44 By Lia Zhu in San Francisco(China Daily USA) Zhang Qiyue (right), China's consul general in New York, presents Zhang Jingwen, a fifth-year PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, with the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Students Abroad, on April 28 at the New York consulate. Hezi Jiang / China Daily Luo Yixiao (right), a researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, takes a photo with Wu Sanfeng, a doctoral student in physics at the University of Washington who won a $10,000 scholarship, at a ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco on April 29. Lia Zhu / China Daily The Chinese consulates in San Francisco and New York presented government awards to outstanding students. On April 29, the consulate general in San Francisco presented the 2016 government awards to 20 outstanding Chinese students currently studying in the US, as well as seven outstanding US students planning to study in China with scholarships. On April 28 in New York, Consul General Zhang Qiyue presented the government awards to 36 Chinese students pursuing PhD degrees at universities from the 1o states in the New York consular district. The annual awards are sponsored by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), a non-profit agency affiliated with the country's education ministry aimed at providing financial assistance to overseas Chinese students and foreign students wishing to study in China. In the San Francisco consular district, covering Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Northern California and Nevada, one Chinese doctoral student received the exceptional excellence award and a $10,000 scholarship, and 19 others were each awarded excellence award certificates and $6,000 scholarships. They were among 500 winners of the Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad, which was established in 2003, as well as encourage them to return to China or contribute to China's development after graduation. In 2015, a total of 40,600 outstanding foreign students had won the Chinese government scholarships in 32 countries, a 10 percent increase over 2014, according to Chinese Consul General Luo Linquan. "The students' mobility is an important part of the educational exchanges between China and the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during his visit to the United States last September that China will sponsor 50,000 students on both sides to study in each other's country through government scholarships," Luo said. "I believe the exchange of students will promote better understanding and friendship between the two countries as well as a healthy bilateral relationship." Wu Sanfeng, the exceptional excellence award winner, told other award-winners at the ceremony that his scientific experiment was much smaller than the one that Chinese society was undergoing. He called on the other overseas Chinese students to integrate their experiments into Chinese society. Wu is completing his PhD in physics at the University of Washington and has been accepted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Pappalardo Fellow in Physics from 2016 to 2019. Another seven US students also were granted certificates and full scholarships at the San Francisco ceremony once they were accepted by Chinese universities for the fall semester. Daisy Matthias will begin her one-year language study at Central China Normal University in Wuhan this fall. "Since I work in mental health, we provide service in English and Spanish. The thing is, San Francisco has a huge Asian population. I don't understand why we don't provide service for them as well," she said. "So I figured I could learn Mandarin and come back helping people here as well." "Thirty-seven years ago, China and the US established an official diplomatic relationship, and there were only 52 Chinese students studying in the US," said Zhang. "Ten years ago, the number reached 62,000, and today, over 300,000 Chinese students are studying in the US. Hezi Jiang in New York contributed to this story. liazhu@chinadailyusa.com 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. SEATTLE Two Seattle police officers were injured and at least seven people arrested on Sunday after a group of unruly demonstrators hurled rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails and broke windows, authorities said. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray blamed Sundays trouble, which he termed "senseless violence," on a "different crowd" from those attending a peaceful May Day immigration march earlier, but he did not give details. Protesters gather on May 1 each year to focus attention on labor and immigration issues, but demonstrators in cities across the United States also used the occasion to rally against police violence. The Seattle police department said in a series of posts on Twitter that one officer had suffered a laceration to the head or face as protesters hurled Molotov cocktails. After making arrests in several places, police said they had contained one group in a parking lot and were slowly allowing small groups to disperse, but were maintaining a presence in the area. The Seattle Times newspaper reported that police were using "blast balls" to disperse a crowd throwing rocks and bottles, and breaking windows, in a downtown neighborhood. Earlier, the paper reported that police had used pepper spray several times to break up throngs of demonstrators. The unrest mirrored violence at a Seattle May Day march last year when crowds threw bottles and wrenches at police, who responded with pepper spray and flash grenades. Sixteen people were arrested and three officers hurt in that violence, which similarly erupted after a day of peaceful demonstrations to focus on workers rights, immigration issues and police treatment of minorities. REUTERS TIKAMGARH, India As young boys plunge into a murky dam to escape the blistering afternoon sun, guards armed with guns stand vigil at one of the few remaining water bodies in a state hit hard by Indias crippling drought. Desperate farmers from a neighbouring state regularly attempt to steal water from the Barighat dam, forcing authorities in central Madhya Pradesh to protect it with armed guards to ensure supplies. India is officially in the grip of its worst water crisis in years, with the government saying that about 330 million people, or a quarter of the population, are suffering from drought after the last two monsoons failed. "Water is more precious than gold in this area," Purshotam Sirohi, who was hired by the local municipality to protect the stop-dam, located in Tikamgarh district, told AFP "We are protecting the dam round the clock." But the security measures cannot stop the drought from ravaging the dam in the parched Bundelkhand region, with officials saying it holds just one month of reserves. Four reservoirs in Madhya Pradesh have already dried up, leaving more than a million people with inadequate water and forcing authorities to truck in supplies. Almost a hundred thousand residents in Tikamgarh get piped water for just two hours every fourth day, while municipal authorities have ordered new bore wells to be dug to meet demand. But it may not be enough, with officials saying the groundwater level has receded more than 100 feet (30 metres) owing to less than half the average annual rainfall in the past few years. "The situation is really critical, but we are trying to provide water to everyone," Laxmi Giri Goswami, chairwoman of Tikamgarh municipality, told AFP. "We pray to rain gods for mercy," she said. In the nearby village of Dargai Khurd, only one of 17 wells has water. With temperatures hovering around 45 degrees Celsius, its 850 residents fear they may soon be left thirsty. "If it dries up, we wont have a drop of water to drink," Santosh Kumar, a local villager told AFP. FARMERS HARD HIT Farmers across India rely on the monsoon -- a four-month rainy season which starts in June -- to cultivate their crops, as the country lacks a robust irrigation system. Two weak monsoons have resulted in severe water shortages and crop losses in as many as 10 states, prompting extreme measures including curfews near water sources and water trains sent to the worst-affected regions. Many dejected farmers are now moving to cities and towns to work as daily wage labourers to overcome their financial losses and support their families. At a scruffy, makeshift camp in north Mumbai, in one of the worst-affected states, dozens of migrants who have fled their drought-stricken villages queue to fill plastic containers with water. Migrants from rural areas usually come to the city in January or February to get jobs on construction sites, but in March and April the number of arrivals kept increasing. "There are some 300-350 families here. Thats a total of more than 1,000 people," said Sudhir Rane, a volunteer running the camp in Mumbais Ghatkopar suburb. "There is a drought and there is no water back home so more families have come here this year," he told AFP. Babies cling to mothers lined up to register with officials. They are allocated a small space in the dusty wasteland, where wooden posts combine with tarpaulin sheets to make rickety tented homes. "We had no choice but to come here. There was no water, no grain, no work. There was nothing to eat and drink. What could we do?" 70-year-old Manubai Patole told AFP. "We starved for five days. At least here we are getting food." BETTER TO BREAK STONES Weather forecasters in New Delhi this month predicted an above-average monsoon, offering a ray of hope for the countrys millions of farmers and their families. But many, like Gassiram Meharwal from Bangaye village in Madhya Pradesh, are not optimistic as they struggle to cultivate their crops. Meharwals two-acre farm has suffered three wheat crop failures in as many years, leading him to lose an estimated 100,000 rupees ($1,500). "Our fields are doomed, they have almost turned into concrete," he said. Thousands of acres of land in his village go uncultivated and fears are mounting for the cattle, which face a shortage of fodder. Desperate for income, 32-year-old Meharwal, who supports eight members of his family including his children and younger brothers, left to work as a labourer in the city of Gwalior, four hours away. "There is no guarantee that it will rain this year. Predictions are fine but no one comes to your help when the crops fail," he said. "It is better to use your energy breaking stones." AFP said on Saturday that Berkshire Hathaway Inc is poised to do well no matter who wins the White House in November, and the billionaire investor defended the performance and tactics of the conglomerate's several large investments. Buffett presided over his 51st Berkshire annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, where he and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger fielded five hours of questions on such matters as Coca-Cola's sugary drinks, lower shipping volumes on the BNSF railroad, risks from derivatives, and who might succeed Buffett as chief executive. Buffett, a staunch supporter of Democrat Hillary Clinton for president, was asked about the regulatory impact on Berkshire if Republican front-runner Donald Trump wins the 2016 US presidential election. "That won't be the main problem," he said to audience laughter. "If either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton becomes president, and one of them is very likely to be, I think Berkshire will continue to do fine." Because the meeting fell early this year, Berkshire also released only preliminary first-quarter results rather than full results, which will come out on May 6. Berkshire said, net income probably rose 8 per cent, helped by a gain from the swap of Procter & Gamble Co stock for the Duracell battery business. Operating profit probably fell 12 per cent, however. Buffett said BNSF was hurt by declining oil prices and coal shipments, while hailstorms caused losses in Berkshire insurance units. "Railroad carloading throughout the industry - all of the major railroads - were down significantly in the first quarter, and probably almost certainly will continue to be down for the balance of the year," Buffett said. Berkshire owns close to 90 businesses in energy, insurance, manufacturing, railroad, retail and other sectors, and invests well over $100 billion in stocks. The meeting filled a downtown arena and overflow rooms, and shareholders could buy products made by Berkshire units at deep discounts in an exhibit hall. Buffett suggested that 40,000 people may have shown up for his "Woodstock for Capitalists," close to last year's record, though the meeting was streamed online for the first time. At the meeting, Buffett and Munger fielded dozens of questions from shareholders, analysts and journalists. A shareholder proposal for more disclosures on the risks to Berkshire on climate change was overwhelmingly rejected. Buffett parried concerns raised by a shareholder, and previously by hedge fund manager William Ackman, that Berkshire promotes bad health through its roughly 9-per cent stake in Coca-Cola Co. Buffett, who consumes 700 calories of Coke a day, said it seemed wrong to blame calories alone for rising obesity levels. "I elect to get my 2,600 or 2,700 calories a day from things that make me feel good when I eat them," he said, including the Cherry Coke and See's peanut brittle he consumed during the meeting. "That's my sole test." Buffett also renewed his defence of Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital, which with Berkshire has a controlling stake in food company Kraft Heinz Co, where it has built on its reputation as a ruthless cost-cutter. Berkshire is seen as a friendlier owner, but Buffett said 3G's cuts have been "extremely intelligent," and did not appear a threat to Kraft Heinz's ability to produce packaged goods. Buffett also defended efforts of Berkshire's NV Energy unit to persuade Nevada regulators to reduce subsidies for homeowners there who use solar power, prompting Elon Musk's SolarCity Corp to say it would cease activity there. "Ninety-nine per cent of our consumers were being asked to subsidise the one per cent that had solar units," Buffett said. "I personally think that if society is the one that's benefiting from the reduction of greenhouse gasses, that society should pick up the tab." Buffett also emphasised his worry that derivatives could cause major risks for most of the world's largest banks if markets were disrupted. "It is still a potential time bomb," he said, but added that he was "not in the least troubled" by Berkshire's big stakes in Wells Fargo & Co and Bank of America Corp. Buffett also said Geico has been hurt because falling oil prices led to more driving, more accidents and more loss claims, but said he did not "necessarily see the same trends this year." He also said there are no "tea leaves" in the recent announcement that the next chief of the General Re reinsurance unit will report to Buffett's insurance lieutenant Ajit Jain, not to Buffett. Some investors believe Jain is a top candidate to succeed Buffett as Berkshire's chief executive. Buffett also said Mark Donegan, chief executive of Precision Castparts, which Berkshire bought in January for $32 billion, may now fare even better now that his company has the support from Berkshire's deep well of capital. "I would almost rank Mark as one of a kind," Buffett said, before joking: "If he needs capital, he's got my 800 number." Shareholders at the meeting included hundreds who waited hours in a rainstorm before doors opened at 6:20 am, 40 minutes early. "I wanted to make sure I got a good seat," said Kim Baumler, an office manager for a wealth management company from Fargo, North Dakota, who said she was at the head of the line at 10:30 pm, Friday night. "My boss is a huge follower, and I got hooked. I wanted to see what it was all about." Mark Hughes, a money manager from Ashton, Maryland attending his 25th meeting, said he sees no sign Buffett and Munger are winding down. "They're 85 and 92, and look as good as they ever did," he said. WATERLOO Dave Quint has big plans for his company, Advanced Systems Inc. Some of those plans already are in motion. On April 1, Advanced Systems completed an acquisition of Schmitt Telecom Partners Inc. and moved Schmitt owner Steve Schmitt and his crew from downtown Waterloo into Advanced Systems headquarters at 2945 Airport Blvd., next door to Waterloo Regional Airport. The move brought Advanced Systems already focused on office management, printing, scanning, copying and other systems into the telecommunications realm. The additional employees swelled Advanced Systems workforce to 85 employees. The current building already was squeezed for space, Quint said. So, plans for the companys future have to include more space, he said. Right now, were exploring a number of options, Quint said Tuesday. For the short term, Advanced Systems would like to find space in which a sales staff of 20 people could function together, Quint said. If we can find something in the 4,000- to 6,000-square-foot range that will house them, that will relieve some pressure at the main facility, Quint said. For the company as a whole, the possibilities could mean building new, or perhaps finding an existing structure that would accommodate a growing staff, Quint said. Only one thing is certain at this point, he said. We are committed to staying in the area, most likely Waterloo, Quint said. Keeping the airport-area location is not an imperative, though, Quint noted. Accessibility is more important than visibility, he said. We dont need to be a high-traffic area. Ease of access is fairly important, but we wouldnt need to necessarily stay in the immediate area. If we were looking to build, theres a number of different areas the city would have available to us, and wed consider all of them. Thats long-term, though, Quint said. Two to five years, if we make the decision that building is the right option, he said. We have been in discussion with builders and architects. It could start sooner, but realistically, two years at a minimum. Thats an 18 month construction process. Of immediate concern is building the business itself, and the addition of Schmitts former company will help along those lines, Quint said. Its kind of the direction our industry is going, he said when the merger was first announced. I look at it this way: Our customers trusted us to take care of their paper documents, and theyre moving to electronic records and that goes to the communication end. Its another product backed by our service. Advanced Systems, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, has eight offices across Iowa. Im going to be doing the same thing, but for their company rather than my own, said Schmitt, who now is vice president of telecommunications with Advanced Systems. The merger has gone smoothly, Quint noted. The acquisition seems certain to bring more growth to the company, Quint said. This is a win-win for Steves customers and for our customers, Quint said. Ultimately, Advanced Systems will hire more people on the telecom side of its business in hopes to grow that sector, Quint said. We are looking to bring more staff on for telecom and well move toward our western territories, he said, referring to Advanced Systems other locations in Spencer, Sioux Falls and a new office in Windom, Minn., which it opened in March after another acquisition. SAN DIEGO, Calif. A 20-year-old Cedar Falls man hopes to make the Marine Corps his lifelong career. This recruit always wanted to join the military, Charles Fowler said, as he followed procedures for referring to himself in the third person. Fowler who isnt allowed a calendar or clock during boot camp believed he was in his eighth week of training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Its been hard to keep track, he said during lunch April 19. It was more intense than this recruit thought it would be. Even during mealtime, there was no time to slack off from training. Recruits who are given a short amount of time to eat and may be limited on food choices are often instructed to carry their cups like they would a grenade. After theyre finished eating, recruits sit still, dont talk and gaze at the table until instructed to do otherwise. Fowler attended Hawkeye Community College for a short time and was put in touch with a recruiter while working as a Wal-Mart cashier. He said his parents, Eric and Bonnie Fowler, met in the Army and have been supportive of his choice to enlist. He said the hardest part of training has been the drills. Its been tough for this recruit to adjust to, Fowler said. And this recruit has made some minor mistakes, like not doing things fast enough. But he says hes taking boot camp one day at a time and is finally starting to relax as he approaches the Crucible, something hes excited to tackle. After graduation, he plans to go into the reserves as a diesel mechanic. WATERLOO A handgun found during a December traffic stop in Waterloo had been stolen from a Chicago police officer. On Monday, a Waterloo man pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen pistol and being a prohibited person in possession of firearms during a brief hearing in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Tearon Kenyage Jackson, 39, faces up to 10 years in prison on each count, and sentencing will be at a later date. Details about the theft werent available, but court records allege a .380-caliber Walther pistol found with Jackson had been reported stolen from a Chicago police officer. Waterloo police arrested Jackson in connection with a Dec. 17 traffic stop. Jackson, a passenger, had walked away from the stop, according to court records. Officers found a bag under a nearby vehicle that contained the loaded Walther and a 9mm Ruger pistol. Jackson had been a marijuana user at the time of the incident, court records allege. PITTSBURGH (AP) DNA and video surveillance evidence strongly suggest a Pittsburgh man killed his neighbors, who were both sisters of an Iowa state lawmaker, a prosecutor said Monday as the double-murder trial began. But a defense attorney contended the suspect, Allen Wade, 45, is the victim of a "sloppy investigation" and a rush to judgment. The Wolfe sisters were found dead Feb. 7, 2014, after they didn't show up for work. Sarah, 38, was a psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, and Susan, 44, a teacher's aide at a private school. Their sister, Mary Wolfe, is a Democratic state representative in Iowa. Both were shot in the head and Susan was also undressed and badly beaten, said Deputy Allegheny County District Attorney Bill Petulla in his opening statement. "She reached out to her attacker that night and she got his DNA under her fingernail," Petulla said. The DNA evidence in the case will be challenged by public defender Lisa Middleman, who noted the Allegheny County crime lab couldn't conclusively identify much of it as Wade's. Instead, investigators had DNA evidence re-examined by Cybergenetics using a computer program to parse results from samples in which more than one person's DNA is found. That company concluded DNA under Susan Wolfe's fingernail was most likely Wade's while Sarah Wolfe's DNA was found on a sock investigators contend Wade tossed in a garbage can. But that conclusion and many others investigators make is based on a series of surveillance videos from a neighborhood where a man can be seen using their bank cards at an ATM shortly before 1 a.m. the morning after they died. The $600 withdrawn using Sarah Wolfe's card "ultimately is the value of two lives," Petulla said. But Middleman contends whoever killed the women wasn't intent on robbing them since the attacker left behind jewelry, a TV and a laptop computer, among other items. And the public defender contends most of the surveillance videos don't clearly show Wade, including one she insists shows a white man. Wade is black. The victims are white. Middleman suggested that race and the victims' connection to the lawmaker prompted the district attorney's office to rush to judgment. "These are 'good' victims, these are people that matter," Middleman told the jury, which includes four black members, three of them women. "The prosecution was so determined to make the evidence fit Allen Wade that they missed or ignored many pieces of evidence." But Petulla suggested there were too many coincidences for the killer not to be Wade, who could face the death penalty if convicted. The ATM video shows someone dressed in a red hooded sweat shirt and gray sweat pants using the sisters' cards. The person's face is covered by a T-shirt, but other video shows a man in similar clothes behind a car repair shop, discarding sweat pants like some later found to contain Wade's DNA. A business card from a caseworker Sarah Wolfe knew was also found nearby. Minutes later, other video shows a man who looks like Wade buying cigarettes at a convenience store. His face can be seen and he's wearing different clothes, except for white shoes, one of which had a dangling strap similar to that worn by the person in the red hooded shirt, which is why police believe both images are Wade. Finally, the man at the convenience store was seen throwing something into a trash container where police later found a pen from Iowa Prison Industries. The company does business only in Iowa, Petulla said. The trial is expected to take three weeks. WATERLOO The Wheaton Franciscan Sisters have finalized an agreement making their hospitals in Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Oelwein part of Mercy Health Network of Des Moines. The change, first announced in October and effective Sunday, makes Covenant Medical Center, Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls and Mercy Hospital in Oelwein part of the Mercy network, which includes hospitals in Des Moines, Mason City, Clinton, Newton and other Iowa communities. Patients and health care providers will see no change, said Jack Dusenbery, CEO of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa. Probably the main thing we will be working on is making sure the transition is seamless we dont miss a second of anything, Dusenbery said. A sign change has not even been part of discussions leading to the change. Under the terms of the agreement, MHN becomes the owner of Wheaton Iowa properties, according to the announcement. The transaction will not change local services or leadership. MHN will have representation on the local Wheaton Iowa board, which will remain in existence but now answer to Mercy officials instead of Wheaton. The Wheaton sisters, based in Wheaton, Ill., decided to get out of the health care business while its facilities are healthy, fiscally sound and have a strong sense of mission and values, the announcement said. Sister Pat Norton, chair of the Sponsor Member Board for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare stated, The choice to transfer our ministries ensures that the needs of the times will continue to be addressed in each community, as the Sisters have worked to do for more than 140 years. The Franciscan Sisters have been in Waterloo for more than 100 years and just cared about the community, Dusenbery said. The sisters founded St. Francis Hospital, forerunner of Covenant, in Waterloo in 1912 and have operated Sartori, previously a municipal hospital, since 1997. In my tenure they have allowed us to continue to grow and focus on helping others. If Mercy can do for our community what the Franciscan Sisters have done for the community over the past 100 years, well be in great shape. And I think they will. Mercy Health Network was founded in 1998 under a joint operating agreement between two of the largest Catholic, not-for-profit health organizations in the U.S., Catholic Health Initiatives, based in Englewood, Colo., and Trinity Health of Livonia, Mich. With the addition of Wheaton Iowa, MHN includes 15 owned hospitals and medical centers, 26 community hospitals affiliated through contracts, and 207 physician clinics. MHN is positioned to best meet the needs of patients, families, employers, insurers and communities throughout the state, said Dave Vellinga, President and CEO of MHN. Together, we strive to be the premier health care system offering the highest value to those we serve. We have the highest regard for Jack Dusenbery and his leadership team, Vellinga said. We are fortunate to have such a strong group of leaders partnering with us in our mission of healing and improving health. Wheaton-Iowa is the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metropolitan areas second-largest employer, with more than 3,000 workers, second to John Deere, with more than 5,600, according to information provided by the city of Waterloos financial consultants. About 2:19 a.m., troopers with the Iowa State Patrol responded to an accident at Dorchester Drive and Iowa Highway 76. According to reports, Benjamin Bednarski, 20, of Waukon, was driving a 2009 Ford, traveling south on Highway 76 when he was unable to negotiate a curve, drove off the road and entered the ditch, coming to rest upside down. CEDAR FALLS Thomas H. Thompson loved playing the saxophone, but was a virtuoso in his service to humanities and fine arts education the University of Northern Iowa. Thompson, whose UNI career spanned five decades and included a college deanship, passed away Thursday morning. He was 92. Everyone admired him, said a colleague, retired UNI English professor Scott Cawelti, like Thompson a longtime Courier columnist. Thompson was one of a triumvirate of campus intellectuals that included professors David Crownfield and Josef Fox. You could always count on him having something to say, in a highly modulated voice, chuckled Cawelti. He was a real speaker and an orator, and he, Fox or Crownfield could be counted on to raise a point to make one rethink ones position on a subject. He also had a flair in the classroom, said a retired colleague he helped hire, 30-year UNI professor Ed Amend. He was a very popular instructor, very dramatic in the way he talked, Amend said. He was a modest person, but very insightful, very thoughtful. In his courses he was quite humorous, entertaining with the students, and yet he had high standards in the courses he taught. Thompson, originally from Sioux City and a graduate of the University of Iowa, joined the faculty of UNI, then Iowa State Teachers College, in 1952. Hed played saxophone in dance bands while working on his doctorate in philosophy. There was an opening in Cedar Falls. He needed a job and Shakespeare once penned, there is no virtue like necessity. I had just gotten my Ph.D in Iowa City that very same summer by the skin of my teeth. I left with bills unpaid and I desperately needed work, he said in a 1990 Courier interview. There seemed to be one job in the whole United States, and this was it. 1952 was brutal. He continued playing music gigs around the area, but also immersed himself in teaching philosophy and humanities. In 1969 he became the first head of UNIs Department of Philosophy and Religion. He was one of a core of UNI professors of varying disciplines who taught the general-education humanities classes to UNI undergrads for many years and is still taught today combining the history, art and culture of Western civilization to encourage students to engage in critical thinking about the world around them, Cawelti said. What Tom and I shared was the love of the humanities courses we have at UNI, said current philosophy and religion department head Jerry Soneson. We call them the crown jewels of the liberal arts courses. Tom loved that. In 1981 Thompson became dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, which included art, language, communication and theater arts, broadcasting services, the School of Music as well as philosophy and religion. He phased out of that post and retired in 1994. As dean, Thompson championed his college and liberal arts even as other parts of the university, such as the College of Business, rose to prominence. What is now the Kamerick Art Building, originally an addition to the Communication Arts Center built in the late 1970s, was completed during Thompsons tenure as dean, in 1985. Both are situated near Russell Hall, UNIs music building. This cluster of buildings is kind of a testament to the fact that when everyone was turning to business, (UNI) kept its head and supported the humanities and arts in a visible fashion, Thompson told The Courier in 1990. Thompson was a regular Courier Sunday opinion page columnist for many years. And he continued to play the saxophone in the neighborhood California Street Sax Quartet, as well as the Cedar Falls Municipal Band. Thompson played a variety of woodwind instruments and was a great administrator as well as a teacher, Calwelti said, calling him a man of amazing traits. A memorial service is planned for June 1 at Richardson Funeral Home. Drive out in the country these spring nights and youre likely to see bright lights in many fields. Its UFOs. No, not the flying kind. Rather, unusually busy farm operators. Its planting season, and the weather, although a bit wet here and there, has been nearly ideal for farmers to get their seeds planted. That often means some around-the-clock work for the farmers and the folks who help make their operations go. But nonstop farming doesnt come without some risk. Farmers are always cautioned about not getting over-fatigued because that can lead to mistakes. And those mistakes can be tragic, the kind we never want to write about. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, about 500 Iowans report injuries from farm machinery, tractors and falls on the farm every year. The DPH offers several suggestions to farmers to help minimize risks. Theyre nothing new but theyre well worth repeating: Review equipment manuals to become more familiar with seasonal equipment. Assess conditions and adjust machinery accordingly. Perform routine maintenance. Survey fields for other problems. Mark stumps, large stones or other obstacles you might not see otherwise, especially at night. Develop a professional attitude toward safety; dont rely on good luck. And to make sure motorists see you, check that all of your lights are working and slow-moving vehicle signs are attached. Motorists also have to be aware farm equipment may show up where and when you might not expect it. The DPH has tips for motorists as well: Give full attention to the task of driving and be alert for slow-moving vehicles. Do not text and drive. Put additional space between your vehicle and those ahead. At this time of the year, the sun can be blinding to drivers during sunrise and sunset. The added space helps you safely maneuver if there is a sudden stop, turn or a slow-moving vehicle ahead. Be patient and do not assume the equipment operator can move aside to let you pass. The shoulder may not be able to support a heavy farm vehicle. Slow down as soon as you see the triangular-shaped red and fluorescent orange slow-moving vehicle emblem. No question about it, a car-field cultivator collision will always favor the field cultivator, so attention is Job 1 behind the wheel no matter what sort of vehicle youre operating. Heres to safe planting season that will lead to another bountiful harvest. Our farmers are off to a terrific start as they work to do what they do better than anyone provide food for the world. Letter response LEWIS LYNCH WATERLOO Bob Kaiser (letter April 19) must have forgotten about Pope Francis and 14 refugee children in his ranting about who to keep. Target decision RICHARD D. PETERSON WATERLOO Retail giant Target has announced they welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restrooms or fitting rooms that correspond with their gender identity. Can you say indecent exposure? The world has gone stark raving mad. Take a stand for common sense. School tax credit KIM REITER President, Cedar Valley Catholic Schools WATERLOO Iowas School Tuition Organization Tax Credit has allowed nearly 11,000 Iowa students and their families to attend nonpublic schools this year alone. As STO celebrates 10 years of assisting families in attending the school of their choice, it is in need of updating. Tuition costs have risen steadily each year, yet the current cap of $12 million in tax credits hasnt been lifted since 2013. STO was signed into law with bipartisan support in 2006 and expanded educational options for Iowa families. Iowans who choose to donate to the STO receive a 65 percent income tax credit. These funds are given as grants to low and lower-middle income families who choose to attend an Iowa accredited nonpublic school. There are approximately 50,000 students in Iowas private schools and each year many families are denied a grant due to the limited funding. The impact of STO is immense and immediate. An increase in STO will allow more families to make a choice regarding the education of their children. Through STO funding, Iowans win. Responsible governing PAUL HIGGINS WATERLOO The more we learn the intricacies of the Federal Government, the more skeptical we become, so no time like tax time to raise questions. Being in the midst of a toxic, $100 billion presidential campaign only magnifies that rightful skepticism. Politicians rant endlessly about inequity and inequality, yet induce those very transgressions themselves at the highest levels by indiscriminately, intentionally, willfully penalizing citizens who got educated, worked hard, saved wisely and lived responsibly. Penalize how? One hundred percent of federal income taxes are paid by 54 percent, while 46 percent pay zero. Yet Clinton and Sanders suggest higher income workers need to pay their fair share. Both propose to irresponsibly add to our $19 trillion-plus debt, never mention $250K speeches to special interests groups and never reinforce the essential needs of education and personal responsibility. They confuse fair with free never honestly admitting nothing is free. Our government is inebriated by spending while apologetically, discriminately soaking 54 percent of us via their 73,000-plus tax code, inspired to add 3,000 earmarks to even reach a $4 trillion-plus budget. Plentiful, logical reasons to never ever elect another incumbent or D.C. insider ever. Insiders destroyed any respect for D.C. Its essential our next president actually possess true leadership skills to restore our Congress to responsible governing. Puppy mills SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS WATERLOO We are Service Learning students from Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Catholic Middle School. Our definition of service learning is, a way people can learn and grow through working with the seven habits and participating in a well put together service experience through faith. The issue we picked as a class is researching how to stop animal abuse in puppy mills. Working with the Iowa Friends of Companion Animals, we have learned some valuable information on this topic. What made us think was the fact Iowa is No. 2 in the nation for the most puppy mills. This billion-dollar industry is easy money, but these animals, like humans, have needs. We learned some of the breeders dont take care of the puppies to the best of their abilities. Finally, when the USDA inspectors go to inspect the puppy mills once a year, we learned theyre not obligated to always report animal abuse to law enforcement. We thank our representatives for considering changes on this issue. Our class believes this is a really important issue and it should be addressed next session. We hope you see how important this issue is to Iowans. Q: How many World War II vets are left in the metro area? A: We werent able to find reliable local statistics. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are about 14,000 vets who served during the World War II era; the National WWII Museum says Iowa is home to about 7,800 veterans of the war. Nationally, there are about 697,000 WWII vets left. Q: On the east side of Highway 58 by Kaplan University there appears to be a dump site in the field. Is this an official dump site or something that needs to be cleaned up? A: Cedar Falls Public Safety Director Jeff Olson replies: This location is private property that is zoned agriculture. The owner has been taking down buildings and working on clearing the site. Q: We often hear the other U.S. senators dont like Ted Cruz. Why not? A: Many regard him as an opportunist and grandstander who puts his own ambitions ahead of the good of his party. He has often criticized senators from his own party, for instance calling Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a liar on the floor of the Senate. For his part, Cruz cites the antipathy of the Washington cartel as proof of his outsider status and willingness to fight entrenched interests. Q: Is it legal in Iowa to wear a handgun and holster openly on your belt? A: In general, the answer is yes, if you have a permit. But there are restrictions and weapon-free zones. And Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson says most county sheriffs discourage openly carrying because it creates unnecessary concern and places the permittee at a disadvantage versus if someone were not aware he or she were armed. Q: Why is the large house on the corner of Conger and Fairview being allowed to deteriorate and crumble into the sidewalk and street and surrounding area? A: The city of Waterloo acquired 717 Fairview Ave. through a court order because it was in bad shape. The city is working to secure funding for the demolition. Q: In the city of Waterloo we receive periodic reports of quality of water in our city. Is this a federal or state requirement? A: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires community water systems, such as the Waterloo Water Works, to deliver annual drinking water reports to their customers. Q: Who do I call when my paper is all wet? 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(16) Apr 09 (20) Apr 08 (36) Apr 07 (22) Apr 06 (11) Apr 05 (28) Apr 04 (20) Apr 03 (29) Apr 02 (32) Apr 01 (18) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (15) Mar 28 (22) Mar 27 (24) Mar 26 (17) Mar 25 (17) Mar 24 (13) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (15) Mar 20 (18) Mar 19 (19) Mar 18 (16) Mar 17 (10) Mar 16 (6) Mar 15 (18) Mar 14 (24) Mar 13 (18) Mar 12 (18) Mar 11 (17) Mar 10 (13) Mar 09 (12) Mar 08 (18) Mar 07 (25) Mar 06 (16) Mar 05 (16) Mar 04 (22) Mar 03 (17) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (23) Feb 29 (19) Feb 28 (25) Feb 27 (26) Feb 26 (23) Feb 25 (12) Feb 24 (13) Feb 23 (15) Feb 22 (26) Feb 21 (31) Feb 20 (12) Feb 19 (21) Feb 18 (15) Feb 17 (10) Feb 16 (15) Feb 15 (19) Feb 14 (15) Feb 13 (25) Feb 12 (20) Feb 11 (9) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (28) Feb 08 (20) Feb 07 (22) Feb 06 (20) Feb 05 (19) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (16) Feb 02 (28) Feb 01 (37) Jan 31 (27) Jan 30 (31) Jan 29 (18) Jan 28 (14) Jan 27 (10) Jan 26 (18) Jan 25 (26) Jan 24 (34) Jan 23 (21) Jan 22 (21) Jan 21 (18) Jan 20 (18) Jan 19 (18) Jan 18 (26) Jan 17 (24) Jan 16 (23) Jan 15 (30) Jan 14 (20) Jan 13 (18) Jan 12 (24) Jan 11 (11) Jan 10 (23) Jan 09 (22) Jan 08 (17) Jan 07 (17) Jan 06 (9) Jan 05 (18) Jan 04 (15) Jan 03 (19) Jan 02 (14) Jan 01 (6) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (15) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (7) Dec 26 (10) Dec 25 (16) Dec 24 (13) Dec 23 (16) Dec 22 (11) Dec 21 (26) Dec 20 (28) Dec 19 (14) Dec 18 (25) Dec 17 (23) Dec 16 (19) Dec 15 (22) Dec 14 (38) Dec 13 (26) Dec 12 (25) Dec 11 (27) Dec 10 (31) Dec 09 (15) Dec 08 (30) Dec 07 (31) Dec 06 (27) Dec 05 (38) Dec 04 (25) Dec 03 (27) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (36) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (17) Nov 28 (23) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (16) Nov 25 (14) Nov 24 (18) Nov 23 (21) Nov 22 (21) Nov 21 (24) Nov 20 (20) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (17) Nov 17 (17) Nov 16 (34) Nov 15 (25) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (21) Nov 12 (18) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (12) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (4) Oct 29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) If youre looking to try out an online casino, there are several things that will help you make a decision. Heres what you should look for when choosing an online casino Are they regulated? A lot of the larger ones have licenses issued by the authorities in their respective regions, so its worth checking this first. Do they offer games from different software providers? Some casinos just use one software provider and limit your selection. This is fine if you like playing those types of games but you may want to check other casinos as well. What does their payout percentage look like? The payout rate refers to how much money you can expect to win after every bet. A high payout rate means youll be able to play more often without having to worry about losing all your money. Its also important to know the minimum and maximum bets allowed on each game. If youre going to play roulette, for example, then you probably dont want a casino with a minimum bet of less than $2.50 or even lower than that. The players used to play the game slot online in the land based casinos in the past time. But now with time after the invention of the online casinos players play the game slot online. Online platform provide the players with the convenience in playing and even better winning. Even after keeping a good percentage of the profits, they distribute good funds to players. How many games do they offer? There are lots of different types of games to choose from. Roulette, blackjack and poker are some of the most popular options, but you might find slots, video pokers, video bingo and others as well. You can usually filter these games down to only show the ones that interest you best, so make sure that your list isnt too long! Is there a bonus offer? Many online casinos offer free bonuses as part of their welcome package which includes new players being awarded 100% up to $10 instantly, for example. These offers are great but not everyone has access to them all the time (and some require you to deposit real money). If youd prefer to avoid paying a fee, some casinos offer no-deposit bonuses where you can get a certain amount of funds before you need to put any actual money into the account. These are usually offered alongside welcome bonuses, so make sure you read both parts of the terms and conditions carefully before signing up. Does it offer live dealer games? Live dealers are much preferred by many over regular virtual versions, so it pays to check this option out too. Most online casinos now offer live dealer games in addition to their regular offerings, allowing you to experience the thrill of the real thing without needing to leave home. Now that youve got an idea of what to look for when choosing an online casino, heres some tips for making the right choice It really comes down to personal preference. No two people are exactly alike, so everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike about each casino. That said, here are some things to consider in order to narrow down your choices Popularity. Check out reviews, forums and Facebook pages to see what other people think of the casino. Also, ask around at work or friends houses who they would recommend to you. You could always take a look at the casinos website too, to see what kind of information they provide about themselves. Reputation. Find out what the general public thinks about the casino. Check out any customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Amazon and Google Play to find out more. As far as gaming goes, you can also check out the Better Business Bureau to see whether there have been any complaints against the casino. Security. Make sure the casino uses SSL encryption to secure its transactions, meaning that your private data stays safe during transactions. Other than that, look for security seals on the site itself and verify that theyre legitimate. You can also check out the casinos privacy policy to see how they handle confidential information. Payment methods. Its good to have multiple payment options available, especially if you plan to play frequently. Its also nice to find a casino that accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. If youre worried about safety, you can always opt for a credit card or PayPal instead. With all those criteria in mind, heres our top picks Betway: Betway is a relatively new UK casino offering online gambling to residents of the United Kingdom and European Union. They offer hundreds of games across both land based and digital platforms, with plenty of top software providers like Net Entertainment, Microgaming and Yggdrasil Gaming Network. With a generous welcome offer that gives players 100% up to 100, you really cant go wrong with Betway. Coral Casino: Coral Casino is operated by the same company that runs the famous Caribbean casino, Grand Reef. Like many casinos, Coral Casino offers a wide variety of games, including plenty of video slots and table games. New players can benefit from a huge 100% match bonus up to 1000, while existing customers enjoy 25% cash back on deposits made within 48 hours of opening an account. Ladbrokes Casino: Ladbrokes Casino is owned by the same company as the famous bookmaker that started life in 1921. With more than 500 games from leading software providers such as Amaya, NetEnt and Microgaming, you wont be disappointed by the quality of the games here. New players get a 200% match bonus up to 500, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits. Paddy Power Casino: Paddy Power is another Irish-owned casino that operates throughout Europe. Not only does Paddy Power Casino offer traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette and slots, but it also provides a full range of sports betting, including football, tennis, boxing and horse racing. New players can receive a massive 100% match bonus up to 200, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits. William Hill Casino: William Hill Casino is one of the biggest names in the industry, operating in Europe, Asia and North America. Founded in 1984, this online casino has more than 400 games to choose from, including slots and table games, with a wide array of software providers like WagerLogic, Big Time Gaming and Rival. Bonus: 100% Match Bonus up to 100 Register Now Betway: 100% Match Bonus up to 100 Claim Now Coral Casino: 25% Cash Back on Deposits Claim Now Ladbrokes Casino: 35% Cash Back on First 3 Deposits Claim Now Paddy Power Casino: 100% Match Bonus up to 200 Claim Now William Hill Casino: 100% Match Bonus up to 200 Claim Now If youre interested in trying out an online casino but arent quite ready to commit to one, why not try out one of the many no deposit casinos weve reviewed? You can test drive various casinos completely risk-free, so you can feel confident about your choice before you make a single penny deposit. Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir? Canl Bahis Nedir? Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir. Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir. Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr. Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr? Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr? Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr. Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr. Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Mobilbahis Tempobet Bets10 Bahigo 1xbahis Betboo Youwin Superbahis Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler. Canl Bahis Taktikleri Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir. Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir. Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz. Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr. Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz. Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz. Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz. Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz. Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz. Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir. Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr. Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak. Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir; Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi Banka hesap bilgileri Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura. Kacak Iddaa Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir. Kacak Bahis Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor. Illegal Bahis Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr. Yasads Bahis Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler. Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir? Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir? Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Iddaa Bilyoner Tuttur Birebin Oley Nesine Misli Iddaa 2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir. Bilyoner Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir. Tuttur Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr. Birebin Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor. Oley 2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr. Nesine Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur. Misli 2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur. Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir. Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir. Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr. Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir. Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz. May 2, 2016 | By Benedict Dubai Holding, a global investment holding company, has launched an International Centre for 3D Printing at Dubai Industrial City. The project follows the directives of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, a citywide initiative to make Dubai an international destination for 3D printing by 2030. While the US still leads the way in terms of global 3D printing systems, other countries around the world are beginning to seize the additive initiative, making the industry a far more international phenomenon. The 3D printing industries of several nations in Europe and the Far East are showing promising growth, but perhaps the loudest noises in the industry today are being made in the Middle Eastspecifically, in the United Arab Emirates. Just last week, Dubai launched the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, an initiative that could see 25% of all Dubai buildings 3D printed by 2030. Today, hot on the heels of that bold promise, comes the news that Dubai Holding has launched an International Centre for 3D Printing at Dubai Industrial City, the recently built city within a city near the Al Maktoum International Airport, consisting of numerous warehouses and office spaces. The new facility is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who has expressed his wish to transform Dubai into a 3D printing hotbed over the next two decades as part of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy. The strategy will focus on three major sectors: Construction, Medical Products, and Consumer Products. The establishment of the International Center for 3D Printing by Dubai Holding will enable us take the first steps towards achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai a global centre of 3D printing technology, commented Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation. As part of the new strategy, the International Centre for 3D Printing will bring businesses and academic institutions together in a large network of factories, research centers, laboratories, and other spaces. Dubai Holding hopes that the facilities on offer will attract big-name 3D printing companies, entrepreneurs, and independent research teams, who will each be supported by a number of integrated services. Professional training and storage solutions will also be offered at the premises. The Centre will offer the advantages of strategic location, advanced infrastructure, developed offices, warehouses, exhibition facilities, not to mention the integrated support system that will enable companies to establish their business, said Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Industrial City. The Centre will host more than 700 local and international companies to make Dubai a major hub of 3D printing technology. Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Industrial City Dubai Industrial City, where the International Centre for 3D Printing will be built Although the new centre will provide an all-encompassing range of 3D printing services for businesses and researchers, the investors behind the project are particularly confident in the centres potential to strengthen 3D printed construction techniquesa strengthening that will be necessary if Dubai is to use additive manufacturing to build 25% of its buildings by 2030. The launch of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum comes in line with the vision and strategic directions of the emirate of Dubai to support innovation and future industry, said Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, Group Chief Executive Officer of TECOM Investments. The world is experiencing significant demand for 3D printing technologies which are set to play an important role in developing basic industries such as real estate. The launch of the International Center for 3D Printing is not the first time that Dubai has put its money where its mouth is to develop 3D printing and 3D printed technologies. Last year, the emirates civil defense force commissioned the development of 20 3D printed jetpacks to be used by firefighters, at a cost of $250,000 per unit. Dubais mooted Museum of the Future represents an even bolder (and more costly) use of additive manufacturing technology, while the city also boasts a number of 3D printed, smartphone-charging Smart Palms, as well as one of the worlds first 3D printed candy stores. Posted in 3D Printer Company Maybe you also like: May 2, 2016 | By Tess One of our favorite contemporary designers, Dutch-born Iris van Herpen, has made a name for herself in both the fashion and tech worlds by expertly combining handcrafting couture techniques with modern technologies such as 3D printing and laser cutting. The first designer to have sent a 3D printed dress down the runway in 2010, van Herpen has consistently wowed us with her designs and has been gaining recognition in more mainstream fashion media outlets. Recently, in an interview with fashion magazine The Cut, Iris van Herpen explained some of her design philosophies as well as how she herself fits in to the fashion and tech worlds. A pioneer of 3D printed high fashion garments, van Herpen has maintained that she sees herself as a part of the handcrafted tradition of couture, which implies hand-made, made-to-measure garments. Her approach, as she explains it, is particularly interesting as she sees technologies like 3D printing as a sort of extension of her hand, as a means to producing couture. She says, Technology, for me, is just a tool. The laser cutter or the 3D printerto me its equal to my hands or the hands of my team. Of course, if you are familiar with Iris van Herpens work, you might question this when thinking of her installation with Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie, in which actual robotic arms 3D knitted a dress onto her. Even these robots, however were based on traditional lacemaking techniques and the hands that made them initially, tying them back to the handcrafted practice. Iris van Herpen, who studied fashion design at the ArtEZ Institute of the Arts Arnhem, has explored many themes in her work: from crystalline forms, organic forms, biopiracy, magnetic reactions, to lucidity in her most recent collection, Lucid. Currently, she is working with a new material called dragon skin, a high performance silicone material used primarily to simulate skin for movie effects. The dragon skin dress, which requires close attention and can be easily ruinedvan Herpen laments a nearly finished version of the dress which was ruined during the application of its last layer of siliconis made up of thousands of wave-like pieces which were laser cut and molded from a 3D printer. The pieces were hand placed onto the dress, which was then lined with a layer of silk and cotton to make it more comfortable for the wearer. Even the dress mannequin had to be specially made from clay and coated in dragon skin to properly create the dress over it. The dress, which took months to complete, will be exhibited alongside other innovative fashion pieces (some of them her own) at the upcoming Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology exhibit which will open May 5th at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The exhibitions curator Andrew Bolton said of van Herpen, Shes like the Marie Curie of fashion. The Dutch designer, who has collaborated with a number of scientists, architects, and tech experts to create her futuristic and innovative pieces, will no doubt continue her astonishing work, as she reportedly even has her eye on using a proto-invisibility material that is currently being patented by the U.S. military. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: yzorg wrote at 5/3/2016 11:32:15 AM:theres always that one ugly dress. ;) i am shure its pretty nasty sticky to touch and smells like silicone putty facility. She should recoat that in Black and you have a go for the next Latex-convention. perfect H.R.Giger styled :) by Michael Liss If you love classical music, there is a place in your imagination that takes you back 192 years, to May 7, 1824, and puts you at one of the most extraordinary moments in musical historythe first public performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. You want to be there. You want to see Beethoven himself raise his hands for the first downbeat, that odd woosh that then unfolds almost like an orchestra tuning up. You want to hear those crisp, slashing sounds as it moves through the second movement, and swirling cloud of notes, floating above you, that is the third. But the payoff comes in the fourth, when Beethoven surpasses himself, first trying, and then rejecting, the themes of the first three to resolve by joining instrumental beauty to vocal, fused in the pure elation of Schiller's Ode to Joy. If you were there, you would do as every other person in attendance didleap to your feet and roar your approval. And you would be witness to the most dramatic, even shattering moment in music historywhen one of soloists, Caroline Unger, gently turns the ailing, unhearing Beethoven to receive their adoration. As the historian (and musicologist) Edmund Morris recounts in Beethoven, the Universal Composer, if there was any silence in the house, it could have only come from the Imperial Box, which was empty. Beethoven, a man underwritten for decades by the aristocratic and wealthy, had begun to edge away from them, and they from him. The Ninth is not only revolutionary in its form, it is perhaps the first large-scale truly democratic work. With one 74-minute effort, Beethoven created an entirely new vocabulary, one that not only spoke of a stateless universal brotherhood, but in form and delivery, frees the individual to participate to the extent of his abilities. To put Beethoven in better context, it's useful to place him, and two of the great composers before him, Bach and Mozart, in political-musical time, or perhaps more accurately, political-musical-economic time. Bach was born in 1685, in a world touched by the Enlightenment, but only in those corners illumination could enter. The dominant forces were the aristocracy and the Church, and for a serious musician, that is where employment and commissions were found. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces of sacred music, and to put it as bluntly as possible, that was his job. Bach's greatness lay in his absolute mastery of a more formal style, one that was often applied to the devotional. Although he could be wonderfully innovative in using counterpoint and employing fugues, his music emphasized a certain schematic obedienceobedience to form, obedience to a greater (higher) power, and also obedience to the hierarchy that supported that power. Bach doesn't often demand your emotional involvement, except in a very channeled wayawe and reverence in the B Minor Mass or the St. Matthew Passion. But often, what he does best to the modern ear is to create a mindfulness, that, at its apex, achieves what Glenn Gould, in discussing his recordings of the Goldberg Variations, called A State of Wonder. Mozart, who lived in the latter part of the 18th Century, and composed as the style was evolving from the Baroque to the Classical Era, was also dependent on the patronage of rich and powerful people. The child prodigy Wolfgang was hauled across Europe to perform and compose for royalty, and as an adult, they held the key to his economic stability. Mozart never had enough, and there weren't many Church or Court jobs that could hold his prodigious talents and his eccentricities, so he began to seek out a wider following. In the 1780s, he moved to Vienna, often staging public concerts in halls, hotels and restaurants as both a performer and composer. He could compose the sacred when he wanted to (his Mass in C Minor is wrenching), but his output straddled the classes both in form and in message. His technical proficiency was every bit as staggering as Bach's, yet Mozart often wrote hummable musicaccessible, open, fun. And, in operas like Marriage of Figaro, he played out for his audiences the struggles between the classes without too much of a stinghe is not a seditionist. The servants Susanna and Figaro successfully scheme to avoid Count Almavira's lecherous designs, but they do it with good humored guile, not outright revolt. In the (happy) end, servants are still servants, and Counts are still Counts, and the world's order is restored. The Beethoven experience was radically different, reflective not only of the man himself but the era he lived through. Beethoven still sought the favor of the elites (some of whom even had their own private orchestras), but the certainties of the world were evaporating. His lifespan (1770-1827) stretched from the stasis of aristocratic rule, through the upheaval of the French Revolution, Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna, and the restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy. What Beethoven witnessed was the beginning of a fundamental change in the way ordinary people, not just the economic and intellectual elites, thought about the relationship between the individual and the state. The absolutism of monarchy, and the iron hold of religion, was giving way to a disorder, sometimes advancing individual liberties, sometimes just disruptive and even frightening. Across the ocean, Americans had thrown off the Crown, and were engaging what George Washington called the Great Experiment. Europe took a different path and the nobility reassembled themselves after Wellington's victory at Waterloo. But the first wave of Napoleon's Grande Armee had brought with them ideas about liberte, egalite, fraternite that left, in the common man, deep impressions and unsatisfied yearnings. In the Ninth Symphony, Beethoven gives voice to some of these. He finds a structure and a musical language that elevates the individual beyond being just a congregant or a subject. Humanity has inherent value, whether as expressed alone, or as part of a universal brotherhood. Identity is no longer grounded in who you obey, rather, it is who you are. This is not to say that Beethoven is a political theorist taking an opportunity to blast the established order. Rather, he amplifies the content of Schiller's poem to articulate his own internal voice, and, by extension, gives others the opportunity to express theirs. To really appreciate what Beethoven achieves, particularly in the fourth movement, listen with a score, or, if you are as challenged as I am by the blizzard of staffs, clefs, and black dots, find the website for the Music Animation Machine, and listen as you watch a graphical representation. I promise, you won't experience this music the same way again. (See video at the end of this article, below.) The fourth movement opens with this wonderful bwaaah, the dissonant/at another tempo 8-12 schrecklichkeit themaliterally an ugly theme. It is immediately followed by the brass and tympani galloping off, and then pulling up short, as if at a cliff's edge. Then the double bass and cello only, to give it weight, and another bwaaah, and then back and forth, as the orchestra assays, and decisively discards, the themes of the second and third movements. Beethoven's considering, and spurning, his own compositions of the first three movements is central to his conception, and obvious to the listener. But when you watch it unfold graphically, what jumps out at you is his remarkable restraint in deploying all his instruments and primary themes. The violas don't come in until the fourth minute, the violins until the beginning of the fifth, and the first human voice until the late in the seventh. Even then, Beethoven makes us wait for Schiller's Ode to Joy as the baritone soloist completes the rejection of the past Oh friends, not these tones! Let us raise our voices in more pleasing and more joyful sounds! If Beethoven had, from this point forward, just wedded his comparatively simple basic melody line in the Ode to Joy section to his chorus, he would still have achieved something different and noteworthy. Composers simply did not merge orchestral and vocal talents in a single work. Yet, there is more. Keep your eyes on the score. Look at how Beethoven blends sound once the choral part beginslook, and hear, the subtleties beyond its pure power. See how often he allows individual voices, vocal and instrumental, either by themselves or in sections, to speak independently of the main theme, not just in support of it. And see how he stretches the performers, demands of them real technical proficiency. These little snippets announce themselves, then go off on their own for a handful of notes, yet somehow seem to fit, either adding density or offering lift. The Ninth has an internal logic that relies on a disciplined risk-takingrisks with dissonance, risks going outside of accepted mores, risks that the performers can deliver his vision, and risks of the intellectual construct itself that talks about universal brotherhood instead of obedience to the accepted order. But, there is one further risk Beethoven takes, and masters. That is risk of the chaos that can ensue when too many are given an opportunity to be heard too distinctly. It is the risk when top-down authoritarianism (after all, that's what composers do) gives way to a subtler form of designreplacing steel bands with a spider's web. If you have ever watched a chorus consisting of conservatory solo vocal-performance majors, or even a group of solo instrumentalists sitting down together for the first time to work on a quintet, you would get an inkling of the potential challenges. Solo performing is not the same as working in a group. Unless they have experience sublimating their individual voices, you might find something counterintuitive: the sum of their voices are often less than the values of the parts. The same also applies to combining genres (i. e. classic/academic style with more contemporary/popular sounds or even folk-tunes). Haydn, who was universally respected in his time and could take some license, did some of this. Mozart, in his terrific Clarinet Concerto in A Major, composed just before he died, unleashes his soloist in a way that can make you wonder whether Gershwin had it in mind when he was composing Rhapsody in Blue. Still, it can be a high-wire actone misstep can cheapen or even infantilize the piece, and perhaps just as seriously, disappoint one's patrons. So, for the composer, every inclination is to act as an absolute monarchto stick to form, and to tamp down individuality to provide a tight, smooth sound that reassures. It is an elemental risk of the movement towards democracythat too many different styles, too many distinct voices produce discord instead of beauty. With the Ninth, Beethoven vaults over the obstacles. He detaches himself from his economic patronshence the empty Imperial Box. He frees his performers. He mixes genres. He reaches for something beyond the formalism of Bach, even the musical innovation and tactical subversiveness of Mozart, and erects the bridge between the emotionally cooler Classical period and the intensity of the Romantic. His is the first to fuse the orchestral and choral sound in a symphony. Nineteenth Century composers followed his lead, notably Berlioz, Mendelssohn, and Mahler. Others began experimenting with Beethoven's innovations in internal dynamicsWagner, Schumann, Chopin. Brahms wrote his First Symphony (without a chorus) as a response to Beethoven's structures and archetypes articulated in the Ninth. Yet, for all of that, there is still something special about this work, something that connects people on an emotional level, that keeps it from being just a warhorse of the classical music oeuvre. Beethoven is a magician. He's taken Schiller's words and opened them up, given them a pulse that everyone can hear and join inorchestra, chorus, soloists, and audience. How does he do it? What elevates the Ninth to its unique place? What makes it music without borders, brought Leonard Bernstein to East Berlin to perform it with a multinational chorus and orchestra to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall, caused it to be adopted as an anthem for what is now the European Union? Its glory, I suggest, is not the product of a single man's genius, but his willingness to embrace the efforts and passion and talent of the many. Beethoven trusts his own inner compass, but he shows trust in his performers, allowing and even empowering them to be heard. In that he demonstrates the great promise of democracy: to be included is to be enfranchised, to be enfranchised is to gain shared ownership. It's Beethoven's Ninth, but it is everyone's music. by Matt McKenna Zootopia s target audience may be a tad younger than Bernie Sanders target audience, but youthful Sanders supporters should nonetheless consider watching the film in order to see a dark vision of their potential future. Like many animated Disney films, Zootopia includes talking animals working together to solve a problem. Also like many animated Disney films, the audience is bludgeoned with allusions comparing the cartoon animals society to our own (in Zootopia, institutions are specist like real world institutions are racist). Theres nothing wrong with talking animals or ham-fisted moralizingafter all, the film is for kids. What differentiates this Disney film from previous Disney films is that a young voterpro-Sanders or notmay well see their dreary, hopeless future in Officer Judy Hopps transition from plucky bunny to establishment stooge. The hero of Zootopia is Judy Hopps who, like young voters in reality, starts out as an ardent advocate for the downtrodden. Though she is but a humble rabbit, a child to carrot farmers, Judy dreams of becoming a police officer in the big city of Zootopia, which is an interesting choice for the name of a city built by animals since (at least for me) the name conjures up images of caged creatures on display for human amusement. Anyway, young and full of hope, Hopps enrolls in the police academy, lands a job as the citys first rabbit cop, and quickly thereafter becomes disillusioned by her role in the force. You can probably guess the challenges she faces: the chief is a jerk, the sleazy Mayor Lionheart (hes a lion) cares about his image and not about the citys crime wave, and the people Officer Hopps attempts to protect eventually take advantage of her naivete. At the films emotional nadir, Hopps falls into a depression and heads home to farm carrots with her parents. It's the classic tale of a kid rebelling at twenty only to go mainstream at thirty. Admittedly, Hopps speeds through this transition much faster than a decade, but that shortened time period may be narratively justified by converting the films timeline into rabbit-years or something. The films primary conflict revolves around the tensions between animals who were traditionally predators and animals who were traditionally prey. In the city of Zootopia, animals arent supposed kill each other, but for mysterious reasons, some predators are going savage and attacking prey. Clearly, this is the work of a criminal mastermind, and the case is far from being cracked until the underutilized Hopps gains a political ally in Assistant Mayor Bellwether, a seemingly sweet and helpful sheep. Bellwether empowers Hopps to work the case, much to the annoyance of the police chief who planned to relegate Hopps to parking ticket duty. Here, Bellwether can easily be read as a stand-in for a socially progressive political figure like Bernie Sanders in that both politicians make it appear as if the impediment to social progress is not a broken system but rather the leader at the top of government. For Bellwether, Mayor Lionheart must be replaced in order to solve crime in the city, and for Sanders, establishment Republicans and Democrats must be replaced in order to make social progress in America. Spoiler alert: the films main twist occurs when we find out that Bellwether framed Mayor Lionheart for the crime of drugging predators into going savage, and as the new mayor she intends to use her power to disenfranchise predators. Unfortunately for her, Officer Hopps figures it all out, arrests Bellwether, and rescues the drugged predatorscase closed. You may therefore be tempted to think that the film has happy ending. Indeed, by the conclusion of the film, the police chief respects Hopps, the bad mayors have been ousted, and the fox that initially scammed Hopps decides to join ZPD as the citys first fox cop. Im sure the children in the audience were relieved by this turn of events. But if we look more carefully, well see that the situation in Zootopia is actually much worse than it was at the beginning of the film. While there isnt a corrupt mayor in office anymore, it isnt clear who the mayor is at all! Will there be special elections? What Zootopia shows it that it doesnt matter who the figurehead is on top of a corrupt system, the corrupt system is still corrupt. Next, Hopps gives a commencement speech at the police academy graduation, indicating that she too has joined the powerful establishment. She is no longer the plucky upstart attempting to change the systemshe has become part of the system. And finally, in a gaudy act of nepotism, Hopps snags a police position (probably with a pension!) for her tax-evading buddy, Nick the fox. In Zootopia 2, I expect Hopps to complete her transition into villain, which will be a useful narrative turn for the films young audience so they will understand that the only thing your heroes can promise is that they will disappoint you. Bernie Sanders wont win the primary and therefore wont win the election. For Bernie fans who wish to keep their good impression of the man, this fact is a blessing since theyll never have to witness him morph from firebrand progressive into a mere cog in the political machine. For comparison, it took fewer than eight years for Barack Obama to transition from anti-war candidate to President running a drone war overseas. Whether youre in America or in Zootopia, it seems, the individual at the top of government cant actually change the system even if they wanted to, which they dont. by Leanne Ogasawara Madonna del Parto Last summer, marooned with a large group of astronomers in a remote 11th century abbey in the Tuscan countryside, I found myself growing increasingly antsy. Hatching a plan to break out, I dragged my astronomer off on what should have been one of the great pilgrimages of our lifetimefor as luck would have it, just down the road lay what Aldous Huxley considered to be the greatest picture in the world. I am referring to one of the paintings on the famous Piero della Francesca trail. To see those masterpieces in situ is astonishing, and I consider the Piero Pilgrimage to be one of the great art historical experiences in the world. Like all pilgrimages, however, this one was not without its mishaps. Flushing my phone accidentally down the toilet after seeing the astonishingly beautiful and transportive fresco cycles in Arezzo was bad enough; but then to finally arrive at the climax of the pilgrimage where Aldous' best picture on earth stood, only to find it unavailable for viewing (and not just that but veiled in such a way as to tantalize us about what glorious beauty we were missing) was close to unbearable. Our biggest blunder, however, came when we willfully decided to skip driving an extra half hour to go see the Madonna del Parto. Yes, I want to kick myself! Located in Monterchi, the Madonna del Parto is an extremely rare (perhaps the only?) treatment in Christian art of the Virgin pregnant. Del Parto can mean labor or childbirthand in the picture, Piero depicts a very pregnant Mary. Slightly underwhelmed by the Bodhisattva-esque Modonna della Misericordia in San Sepulchro, we decided to skip altogether the other Madonna del parto in Monterchi. It was a huge mistake and I didn't quite realize how bad until I read Hubert Damisch's charming and super quirky book, A Childhood Memory by Piero Della Francesca. I wonder who else has read this one? Poking fun at Freud's famous book on Leonardo, where he tries to connect Leonardo's love of pink tights to his penchant for giving up on things, Damisch dives into Piero's childhood (of which almost nothing is known!) It is truly a wonderful book and reading it, I thought, what kind of picture could elicit this much imaginative and playful investigation? How stupid we were to drive right past it! Jorie Graham has a rather famous poem on the painting as well, called San Sepolchro. The poet places the Madonna in San Sepolchro; despire the fact that it is really located down the road in Monterchi (not far from the painter's birth city of San Sepolchro). Graham must have been unable to resist the image of San Sepolchrobeing named after the Holy Sepulcher. This is the birth of God after all. And the poet beckons you in.. Come in, I will take you to see God being born Here is the poem: In this blue light I can take you there, snow having made me a world of bone seen through to. This is my house, my section of Etruscan wall, my neighbors lemontrees, and, just below the lower church, the airplane factory. A rooster crows all day from mist outside the walls. Theres milk on the air, ice on the oily lemonskins. How clean the mind is, holy grave. It is this girl by Piero della Francesca, unbuttoning her blue dress, her mantle of weather, to go into labor. Come, we can go in. It is before the birth of god. No one has risen yet to the museums, to the assembly linebodies and wingsto the open air market. This is what the living do: go in. Its a long way. And the dress keeps opening from eternity to privacy, quickening. Inside, at the heart, is tragedy, the present moment forever stillborn, but going in, each breath is a button coming undone, something terribly nimble-fingered finding all of the stops. Similar to Grahams' incredibly evocative poem, Hamisch's book also beckons you inward. Moving first past the identical angels holding open the curtains (these are mirror images of each other), one cannot help but wonder: Is this Madonna the Ark of the Covenant? Is she the Tabernacle that came before Jerusalem? But Damisch is a French psychoanalyst so he doesn't dwell on this question and turns quickly to Freud's great childhood question of where babies come from But if you don't mind, leave my mother out of all this Says Samuel Beckett. Is the Madonna a phallic symboloh but no, look at the opening of her dress. Like the poet, everything ends in those buttons. but going in, each breath/ is a button Her handsthat gesture are unprecedented in Christian art history; says Damisch several times in the book. But wait, this all gets better (for everyone else who didn't miss out on seeing this picture!); for Herbert Damisch and Jorie Graham are not the only ones who dream of this Madonna. It was the great Soviet film maker Andrei Tarkovsky who perhaps made her most famous of all. Having traveled hundreds of miles across Italy to see this particular work of art, the Madonna del Parto appears prominently in his masterpiece, Nostalghia. In this fascinating article about Tarkovsky's use of the Madonna in his film, the author James Macgillivray, begins by describing the history of the fresco from its removal from the 13th century Romanesque church, where it was originally installed around 1460, to being left as part of the remaining chapel when the majority of the nave was destroyed to create a cemetery in the late 18th century. Macgillivray is painstaking in explaining the way the painting was utterly removed from its context as part of a church, with much of the original architectural frame being lost along the way. It's quite an interesting story albeit one that has occurred over and over. Apparently, when Tarkovsky first saw the Madonna in 1979, the picture was being prepared for its eventual removal to a museumto be cut off forever from its religious and ritualistic context. The Madonna had a long history of veneration by women in the village who were trying to conceive babies. Maybe, suggests Macgillivray, this is why the filmmaker decided to use a very different location some 80 miles away for his 1982 film. It was a better site to replicate the original setting for the Madonna, says Macgillevray. That is, Tarkovsky wanted to put the picture back in what he imagined was its original context. Macgillivray quotes Vida T. Johnson and Graham Petrie's description of the opening scene in the film: Eugenia is seen in the pillared and candlelit interior of a church with women in black dresses kneeling in prayer in the background In a conversation with the elderly sacristan she is politely reproached for lacking faith and is told that a woman is meant to have and raise children, in a spirit of patience and sacrifice. Meanwhile the women have carried a life-size statue of the Virgin through the church and are praying before it; Piero della Francesca's Madonna of Childbirth is visible on the wall behind them. As a woman opens the statue's robes, a flock of small birds streams out. A series of virtual match-cuts takes us from a close-up of Eugenia's face to a slow track in to Piero's Madonna and then, in black and white, to Andrei. Isn't that wonderful? How the scene (video embedded below) replicates the miraculous unbuttoning of the dress by the Virgin in Piero's painting? Except in Tarkovsky's films, birds fly out. I think it is if this is even possiblemore gorgeous than the painting itself. Tarkovsky, in his portrayal of the fresco restores it to what must be something of its original mystery and embedded nature within the community and those birds flying out of the unbuttoned dress of the statue are perfection!. We learn not surprisingly, the women of the village of Monterchi were deeply upset with the authorities' plans to remove the masterpiece and put it within a museum. They protested and Tarkovsky himself was angered by their plans. Art can have such tremendous power over our imaginations, when it's allowed to exist in its original context. Think of an heirloom tea bowl used as part of the Japanese tea ceremony or some of the pusaka treasure of Malaysia and Indonesia. The moment a kris sword or a gamelan bellor heaven forbid! a dragon jar from Borneo is put behind glass, its power is neutralized. Why? Well, in the same way when you remove a Kings crown from the Kings head, it loses its magic power as regalia. Context is meaning. Kant has done much damage to our understanding of art's original power over us. I love museums as much as the next person, but there is something truly unforgettable about seeing art in its original context. It is not just wonderful either but one can almost feel the power the work of art once excerted over people. A few months ago, I wrote in these pages about James Elkin's book on Pictures and Tears. The book is highly recommended and I agree with Elkins that indeed in a kind of dry spell when it comes to feeling moved by art. Being removed from its context and sometimes turned into a commodity of experience of amusement, visual art (unlike live music) has in some significant ways lost its hold over our imagination. This is something wonderfully evoked by the sense of great yearning for mystery in Tarkovsky's film. I hope to finish my Piero Pilgrimage someday and see the Madonna that I continue to dream about. There are other great art pilgrimages as well, I'm sure Lonely Planet's Art Lover's Pilgrimages 3 Quarks: Best Picture in the World (The Piero Pilgrimage) Travel and Leisure On Piero's Trail by Bill Benzon William P. Gottlieb, Library of Congress, c. 1946. Duke Ellington was one of the great composers and bandleaders of the last century, and his band was one of the great bands. Touring, however, is unforgiving. Long hours sitting in a bus, meals if and when you can grab them, and gigs every night. And when youve played the same tunes with the same cats for decades, well, it can be rough to get up for a gig. Fact is there were times when Ellingtons musicians looked like they were asleep on the stage. Thats how they appeared the one time I saw Ellington live. It was at one of those sessions held by the Left Bank Jazz Society in Baltimores Famous Ballroom on Sunday afternoons. This was probably in 1970, 71, or 72, long after Ellingtons prime years in the second quarter of the century. The Famous Ballroom was on North Charles Street, not too far from the train station, and up three flights of fairly wide stairs. It too was past its prime years, but the patrons of the Left Bank, they were always primed for good music. Some were dressed to the nines in their church Sunday best, the men in sharp suits, the women in elaborate hats; and some were dressed casually in jeans and sneakers. Thats generally how it was, but I only specifically remember three things from that concert. Ellington dressed well and had a line of patter smooth as silk and brittle as glass. Hed been doing this a long time. Thats one. The guys slumped in their chairs like theyd just gotten off an all-night flight from Timbuktu. Perhaps they had. Thats two. And three: Paul Gonsalves burned the place down with his tenor sax. I forget what the number was. All I remember is that Gonsalves strode out on stage to play a solo, but he didnt position himself in front of the microphone. He stood to one side. A helpful member of the audience moved the mike directly in front of him as he started to blow. He stopped playing for a second, grabbed the mike angrily and shoved it aside. Not for him the brittle reverberations of amplified sound. Then he started blowing again. The pure juice of the natural human essence flowed from his sax to embrace us in its majesty and urgency. He filled the ballroom with sound. The whole ballroom, you know, the kind with the mirror ball in the ceiling and electric blue paint on the walls. There would have been plenty of room for people to dance but for the fact that this was a concert. The dance floor was filled with tables and chairs and men, women, and children. A photographer went from table to table snapping photos, like in a nightclub, but this was Sunday afternoon. The whole band played behind Gonsalves like they WERE playing for dancers they, were, after all, a dance band. Physically, we were in Baltimore, Maryland, in the early 1970s. Metaphysically, we were in Harlem, USA, the Earth, in the 1930s. THATs what it was like at the Famous Ballroom back in the day. Best jazz venue Ive ever been in. Of course Ive got my quirks. Im not a night person, so I dont go to jazz clubs that often. By the time the music starts cookin at a regular club Im ready for bed. But those sets at the Famous started at 5 PM on Sunday afternoon. Well, they were scheduled for 5 which, allowing for local quirks and prerogatives, generally translated into 5:30 PM or thereabouts. And that was fine. Gave us time to chat, check out the used records for sale, maybe go to the Kentucky Fried Chicken around the corner and get a bucket of the Colonels Original. You could order something from the kitchen on the days it was open fried chicken, collard greens, sweet potato, biscuits and gravy, grits, aka soul food. Or maybe get some set-ups, bring out your own liquor, and get loosened up. By the time the music started up we were mellowed out and ready to luxuriate in delicious sounds. I heard a lot of great music in those days, but I dont remember most of it. When the music goes through you, thats it. Its gone. Nothing to remember, though the aura lingers and one aura blends with another until all thats left is a numinous presence in your mind: the Famous! Saw Mingus. Like Ellingtons men, he seemed to have booked a seat on the Sleepy Time Express. But his tenor man, George Adams, blew fire; then held the sax above his head and spun around helicopter style. Dont know what that was about, but it was fun to see. In a different gig Jimmy Heath quoted Lee Morgan quoting Ziggy Elmans fralich riffs from And the Angels Sing my grandfather, who otherwise disliked jazz, loved Al Hirts version of this tune; Al kept the fralich riffs too. Theyre from way back and across the Atlantic in the old country the shtetls of Eastern Europe. Saw Olu Dara when he was only 18. Hes Nass daddy. Nas, the rapper, you know? Donald Byrd came in from D.C. with the Black Byrds. And Hank Levy brought his big band down from Towson State. Played fine music, even if some of it was in 5/4 time or 7/8; almost forgot they were a bunch of college kids. And then there was Maynard Ferguson, highest of the trumpet gods and he had hung out with Timothy Leary at one time. One of my first musical loves. The man could blow the horn! To the moon, then threading his way through the asteroids, putting a crisp and crackle on those green Martians, then out beyond Jupiter, rounding Saturn and then an astonishing cut-through to Venus. Dont know how he did it. He was a crowd pleaser. Perhaps not the deepest music, nor the subtlest, but thrills and chills. He had a big band with him, not the full band like he had back in the Birdland days of the 50s and 60s, but 12 or 13 guys: four rhythm, three saxes, two bones, three trumpets, and himself. They played the Beatles Hey Jude to close the show. By the time the band had gotten to the end of the main tune and slipped into the repeated tag, Maynard and the other trumpeters had dispersed to the four corners of the room. They started playing, back and forth, dueling and supporting, and walking through the crowd to converge on the stage as they played. Wow! Bright moments! Bright moments! Bright moments is like eat'n your last pork chop in London England, because you ain't gonna git no mo cooked from home. Bright moments is like bein' with your favorite love'n you all share'n' the same ice cream dish. And you git mad when she gets the last drop. And you have to take her in your arms and git it the other way. So sayeth Rahssan. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire tenor sax, manzello, stritch, flute, nose flute, slide whistle, gong, and a half dozen others depending on the occasion. Id been introduced to his music by Larry Marshall Sams back in 1966. He tipped me to Rahsaans Rip, Rig, and Panic. A couple of years later I saw Rahsaan at an outdoor festival at Morgan State. He electrified the crowd, brought us to our feet with his first number: Volunteered Slavery You can keep the music offa the radio, but you cant keep it outa the air! he intoned. His gig at the Famous was a bit different. It had rained earlier that day, but the sky had brightened up a bit by the time people began gathering at the Famous. Five-thirty rolled around and no musicians had taken the stage. OK, so theyre a bit late. But the Famous had always been flexible about start times. Five-forty-five, no musicians. Thats stretching it a bit. Six oclock, the rhythm section takes the stage and starts playing. Thats more like it. Rahsaanll be out once they get it moving. But no, six-thirty, no Rahsaan. Six-forty-five. Still no Rahsaan. Seven oclock. By now the mood is moving into the lower reaches of ugly, just tickling it a bit. Theres a commotion at the back of the hall. Rahsaan walks in, instrument cases in both hands and hanging from his neck. He was led by Joe Texidor Rahsaans blind. Ten minutes later Rahsaan walks out on stage. I hear you all are pissed at me for being late. Think about me. I got up this morning, got in the car, raring to play. The rain had flooded out the expressway. There we were stuck, I wanted to play. Instead I had to wait for the water to go away. You think youre angry! Im angry too! With that he put is sax to his mouth and, you guessed it, blew the roof off the insurance policy at the Famous must have cost a pretty penny, what with having to replace all those scorched ceilings and toasted walls! The ugly in the room was gone. Poof! No more. Just pure joy. Rahsaan had us and took us for a joy ride. But, all things considered, Dizzy Gillespies set moved the most. I play trumpet, Diz plays trumpet, though he takes playing to a rather grand metaphysical level. He was one of my heroes. I had a bunch of his records, and a book of transcribed solos I practiced from. For years. I dont know whether this was the first or second time I saw him live, but probably the first. The second time was also in Baltimore, but outdoors, in a park, with ten thousand people of the sepia persuasion (thats Old School verbal stylin) hanging on his every note. William P. Gottlieb, Library of Congress, c. May 1947. But this was indoors, the Famous yes indeed it was! Ballroom. Families were there. Dad all duded up, crisp white shirt, sharp tie, cuff links. Mom in a nice dress, one with a bit more flash than appropriate for church. And the kids, all of them well turned out. This was, after all, the Left Bank Jazz Society, with the great John Birks Dizzy Gillespie performing. I dont remember who was in the group. Probably Mike Longo on piano, and I think James Moody was on sax and flute. The rhythm section? I havent a clue shame on me! Im sure they played some of Dizs old stuff, Manteca, A Night in Tunisia, Con Alma, and likely some of the newer stuff, Portrait of Jenny and Olinga. At one point Diz strapped a conga to his waist and walked out into the audience playing it. Id never seen that before, nor even read about Diz doing it. I knew he was something of a cut-up how do you think he got the moniker Dizzy? Id read a lot about him, but not this. So I was a bit surprised. Desi Babalu Arnez did this, but I didnt realize this bit of shtick was in Dizs repertoire too. I was enormously pleased, as was everyone. What fun. And it got even better. When Dizzy made his way back to the stage he brought half a dozen kids with him, boys in white shirts and ties and girls in pastel crinoline. Or maybe he saw some kids dancing in the aisle. I dont remember. But there they were up on the stage, dancing. They were a bit hesitant at first the situation was not, after all, defined as a dancing situation but then they got into it. How could they not? The best musicians in the world were playing for and with them. So the children danced Dizzy, he smiled and played his trumpet, peace love and soul filled the hall, God was in heaven and joy rained down on earth. The Famous was once again a Ballroom. by Paul Braterman Toilet signs on sale at ebay Toilet etiquette is where prudery meets absurdity. Your chance of being embarrassed, let alone molested, by a transgender person in a US public toilet is probably zero, and certainly less than your chance of being shot dead at home by a toddler playing with a gun; after all, the only public display of genitalia is at the men's urinal, and you can always use a booth if you prefer. It is said that an undergrad once asked Sir John Pentland Mahaffy, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, where he might find a lavatory. At the end of the corridor, Mahaffy grandly gestured, you will find a door marked GENTLEMEN; but don't let that stop you. In the UK, of which Dublin was stll part at the time, class trumps gender. Incidentally, Trinity had been admitting female undergraduates since 1903, 74 years before Harvard; I assume that sanitary arrangements were instituted to cope with this. It is established law in the US that the teaching of creationism serves a religious, rather than scientific or educational, purpose. It follows (Edwards v. Aguillard) that such teaching is unconstitutional in US public schools, since it violates the First Amendment separation of Church and State. There is no prospect of this ruling being overturned, unless we end up with a Supreme Court nominated by President Ted Cruz. It has also been repeatedly established that display of the Ten Commandments on Government property violates the US Constitution, for much the same reasons. So why do we have States bringing in transgender bathroom laws, scientifically baseless (as discussed here by my friend Faye Flam), whose only effect would be to inconvenience and offend one particular small minority? Why has this monumental non-issue even spilled over into the moronic drivelfest that is now the Republican Party's nomination debate? Why do we have a whole evolving family of sound science teaching bills, which would single out evolution, together with climate change, as subjects concerning which students should be taught both sides, or the strengths and weaknesses of what is in fact well established science? And why should the current Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court keep on asserting his right to display the Ten Commandments in his courthouse? Does he really think it necessary to inform litigants that God brought them out of Egypt, wants them to be nice to their parents, and disapproves of graven images? Stupidity? No, strategy. And a strategy that is highly evolved, if not indeed intelligently designed. Consider how much these issues having common. For a start, there is nostalgia for an imagined era of moral clarity and biblical belief. This feeds in to what is, I suspect, the most powerful of all political motivators, namely the sense of identity. We think as we do and vote as we do because of the kind of person we think we are, or at any rate would like to be. And these three issues translate as assertions of a very American kind of Christian identity. As a corollary, they define an enemy; the smug Liberal sneering at those who disagree with him (would that this image lacked validity). They are timeless, unlike the real issues of foreign policy and budgets; they will still be with us ten budget cycles and three foreign entanglements down the road. And they work as attention grabbers, and as group identifiers. The major US retail chain Target thought it worthwhile to issue a statement inviting people to use the toilets fitting their self-description rather than their birth certificates; in retaliation, a group calling itself the American Family Association has launched a boycott petition that has gathered, so far, over 850,000 signatures. I do not know what evils the AFA plan to blame on Target, but they are among those who blame Darwin for Hitler, so they'll think of something. AFA regards calls to action on climate change as impious, since the planet is in God's hands. It also defends public display of the Ten Commandments, on the grounds that the Ten Commandments are the basis of all of our laws. These views form an identity cluster, and the inclusion of climate change denial is no accident. Crabs washed up on a beach in Oregon after suffocating in low-oxygen waters. Credit: Elizabeth Gates, courtesy of PISCO, via NSF And finally, by the same token, they are perfect distractions from reality. American leaders, at least, could hardly have failed to notice the transgender toilet controversy. But how many of us are even aware of evidence published last week that warming is already reducing the availability of oxygen in the oceans, and that this effect will probably be widespread by the 2030s? We could be talking about the erosion of democracy, looming water shortages in the US and Asia, the unstable world banking system, climate change, and the facts of economic inequality. Or we could be talking about who is allowed to use which bathroom. If you were a North Carolina legislator, or (more importantly, I fear) if you were running for the Republican nomination, which would you prefer? Mahaffey anecdote from Sorenson h/t Abbas Raza. Big offensive night boost Wolves to third-straight NSIC victory The Wolves picked up their fifth win of the year, 49-20 over winless Concordia-St. Paul, improving to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC North Division. ACAs library of educational tools help members improve their business practices. ACA also holds the most popular industry conferences and offers credentialing for collectors, attorneys, and more. ACAs Training Zone subscription gives agencies access to almost all of our education for one low cost. The Financial Accounting Standards Board is expected to release a scaled-back set of changes in accounting standards for nonprofit organizations this summer, with more far-reaching changes planned for the future, probably depending on whether they can also apply to for-profit businesses. In terms of the project itself and the output, FASB has pretty much wrapped up all of its redeliberations on phase 1, said Martha Garner, a managing director at PwC who has been monitoring the developments. Based on the feedback that they received, they broke it into two phases. The first phase is more immediate improvements and the second phase is going to deal with certain bigger issues, including issues that may cross over and intersect with business reporting issues. They recently made the decision about the effective date and transition. And they expect to have the final standard out sometime this summer. The amendments would be effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2017, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after Dec. 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted (see FASB Looks at Nonprofits). Phase 1 consists of targeted changes to the existing model for nonprofit organizations, but FASB has decided to put off further changes until they can also be applied to for-profit businesses, in response to the feedback it received on the initial proposals (see FASB Sees Dissent on Nonprofit Accounting Changes). Some of FASBs constituents worried that the changes in nonprofit accounting might get ahead of those for business reporting. Any more fundamental changes to, lets say, the general U.S. financial reporting model that the not-for-profit model is based on, they would do all at the same time for business entities and nonprofits so that the two models can stay in sync, Garner explained. That was really a very important part of the feedback that theyve heard from the comment letter process. The industry felt strongly that the two models needed to stay in sync. Nonprofit Feedback FASB received plenty of feedback in response to its initial proposals. We were all surprised by the volume of comment letters that were submitted from nonprofits, said Garner. Typically nonprofits dont often submit comment letters, and they got 250+ comment letters on this. There was a consistent theme through the majority of the letters, which was how important it was for the not-for- profit reporting model and the for-profit reporting model to stay in sync, and there are good reasons for that. If FASB wants to undertake more wholesale changes to the not-for-profit model, do it at the same time that they make similar changes to the for-profit model. Its vital that these two models stay in sync. The project raised awareness that when FASB built the not-for-profit model over 20 years ago, it was built on the foundation of the business-reporting model. FASBs Nonprofit Advisory Committee, or NAC, wanted to take a fresh look at the landscape for not-for-profit financial reporting and evaluate a host of ways it could be improved (see Big Changes on the Way for Nonprofit Accounting). They tailored it for things that were unique for nonprofits, but their viewpoint then was to take what is the general rules that apply to business entities and say those will also apply to nonprofits, with some tailoring thats appropriate to their characteristics, said Garner. It really was a different approach completely in how information would be reported in financials. Rather than do that now, they will leave these models in sync because that helps to make the not-for-profit statements more understandable. Make targeted changes now to improve the underlying model, but then if youre going to look at more fundamental changes, do it when and if you start to look at similar changes to the for-profit reporting model. Getting onto FASBs Agenda The problem is that FASB already has an extensive number of possible projects to tackle for for-profit businesses, and it has not yet definitely set its agenda for which projects will definitely be on the horizon. Those projects may include the ones that also involve nonprofits, or they might not. FASB has a couple of projects on its research agenda to look at these same issues for business entities, said Garner. When they do their agenda paper sometime later this year where theyre looking at basically candidates to move up onto their agenda to fill in for some of the bigger projects that theyve just finished, theres the possibility that those business-reporting projects would move onto the technical agenda. However, when the agenda paper goes out, FASB will be soliciting comments on that as well, so the upcoming agenda is not likely to be finalized this year. In any case, FASBs agenda is always subject to change. Different Nonprofit Types FASB heard from its nonprofit constituents that it should take into account the different types of nonprofits, and the functions they perform. Another big message that came through the feedback was that its important for not-for-profits to have the flexibility in their model that allows a not-for-profit operating in a particular area to be able to report similar to its counterparts, said Garner. For example, health care should be able to report comparably to other health care entities regardless of whether theyre not-for-profit or for-profit. The direction that the proposal had gone was to say, lets take a look at trying to make all not-for-profits report uniformly. On the other hand, nonprofits also told FASB it should preserve the flexibility it provides in how they report information. They received some strong messaging from the industry that on reflection they really liked the flexibility that is inherent in the existing model that lets you decide what is the most informative way to report, said Garner. For example, under the proposed model that they brought out, that was going to tell you if you had a certain type of item or activity it will go here in your activities statement. It will go into the classification. If you were a private foundation that operates off of investments, and the grant making you do is based off of investment return, today investment return is the top line in those foundation financial statements. Under the model it would have dropped down to nonoperating revenue. The messaging was its important for a particular type of not-for-profit to be able to report within the boundaries of GAAP, but to be able to present information in a way that best tells their story. Definite Changes for Phase 1 Even though the changes in nonprofit accounting standards in phase 1 are not as extensive as originally envisioned, there will be a number of significant revisions, including the way not-for-profits report net assets. Right now they report their net assets in three classes: unrestricted, temporarily restricted and permanently restricted, Garner explained. Theyre going to collapse those down into two categories. There will be basically a category that is with donor restrictions and a category without donor restrictions, which is the old unrestricted category. Then theyre doing some refinement on certain areas related to releases of restriction, again just very targeted changes to the basic rules around the reporting of those net asset classes. There will be also some tweaks in the reporting of investment returns, although those changes wont be as widespread as originally proposed. What they have decided to do is they have largely left the existing rules for reporting investing returns in place, but theyve clarified certain aspects of it, said Garner. For example, you net the expenses associated with the investment income against the income itself, and theyve clarified the types of expenses that are appropriate to net. Theyve also clarified a couple of other presentation aspects with respect to the investment return. Thats a really important area in particular for not-for-profits that have large endowments or that are otherwise very dependent on an investment return. Another area seeing changes is referred to as liquidity and availability. A lot of this focuses on the balance sheet, helping to better tell the story about what financial resources the not-for-profit has that are spendable for obligations that are coming up, said Garner. Theyre doing that through some disclosure as well as providing illustrations and ideas for ways that not-for-profits can make that clearer on the balance sheet itself. That has been a really important area of focus for them. Also expect to see changes in the rules for how nonprofits report expenses by function. Right now there is a requirement for a not-for-profit to provide information in its financials about the expenses that are associated with particular programs, said Garner. For example, if an entity is doing research, education and other things, then there are requirements for them to report how much in expenses is assorted with research, and how much with the other areas. Theyve been building on that and are going to really expand the disclosures that are required in that area. Theres been a lot of discussion about that and whether thats a good idea just for some nonprofits or all nonprofits. They have decided, at least in this phase, that it will be applicable to all nonprofits, but when they get into phase 2 of the project, then they might take a look at some other areas. For example, should not-for-profit health carewhich is an industry that is driven by revenues as opposed to contributionsbe doing something like segment reporting where they are showing revenues that they generate and the expenses that go with that, in a way that is similar to the way that business entities do. But that would be an issue to consider in phase 2. For right now, theyre staying with the idea of functional reporting and then expanding those disclosures a bit. In addition, FASB is making some modest improvements to the operating indicator that many nonprofits report in their financials. The whole aspect of requiring nonprofits to report an operating measure and to prescribe how it would be reported was one of the most controversial areas of the proposal, Garner noted. Again they said, all right, well take that back up in phase 2. For right now, if a nonprofit does report an operating/nonoperating distinction in its activities, if those activities include transfers of designated funds by the boardfor example, if a board gets a large unrestricted contribution and decides to basically designate it for a long-term purposethey might show that on the face of the statement of activities and the board requirement would just be that if you have those types of transactions and you report an operating measure that would be affected by that, then you should be very transparent to the reader of the financial statements so that they can see basically how those board decisions have affected the statement of activities. That would only be for a nonprofit that (a) voluntarily reports an operating measure today and then (b) on top of that also includes the board-designated transfers in the activity that they report on the statement. Thats not common to all nonprofits, but there are nonprofits that consider it an important area of reporting for them. Phase 1 will thus take the existing model for nonprofit reporting and make targeted changes to it. Phase 2 promises to have more pervasive and fundamental changes. FASB has consulted with the Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee, or NAC, throughout the process, soliciting the NACs input on various proposals. FASB has really seemed to gain a better understanding about its not-for-profit constituency, said Garner. They have really invested a lot of time and resources to gain an understanding about what are the needs of this constituency. They know a lot about their other two constituencies, the public business entities and the private companies, but they have really invested a lot of time and effort now into understanding at a pretty granular level about nonprofits, about who the users of the financials are, about what the areas of concerns are, and that has really been reflected in the redeliberations that have taken place. Not-for-profit reporting at times in the past has almost seemed to be an arcane area of financial reporting. A few people understand it, but its over there to the side. Now its really been much more mainstreamed into what FASB is doing and talking about. A monthly roundup of new software, hardware, books and services for accountants. Ongoing revolution Validis Validis LLC www.validisusa.com Weve written before in this space about how audit, of all the traditional accounting firm services, has benefited the least from the waves of computerization, digitization and automation that have swept the profession since the 1990s. At the same time, though, we usually write that in the context of some new tool that is helping audit benefit from the power of computers and were going to do the same thing now! This time around, the new offering thats helping revolutionize auditing is Validis, which makes it incredibly easy to hook up with a clients accounting data, extract it, and turn it into a set of analyzable information and reports for auditors to work their high-value-added magic on. The cloud-based tool minimizes back-and-forth with the client, and the amount of time you have to spend cleaning up data to the point where you can actually do something with it. Already in use in Europe, its now available here in the U.S. A new well Bond Street Accounting Professional Partner Program www.bondstreet.com Eight years after economic collapse caused banks to turn off the tap, small businesses are still having problems finding capital from traditional sources, which has led to the rise of a whole new class of providers of alternative financing. One of the latest entries is Bond Street, which fills a gap in the market by offering qualifying small businesses quick turnaround on one-to-three-year loans of between $50,000 and $500,000, with an easy, online application process. The lender also has a partner program for accountants that includes referral fees and client discounts. Mossack Fonseca redux? Cyber Security Awareness for Accountants and CPAs Elsevier; $39.95 When most people think of the Panama Papers scandal, they think of the schemes the powerful and ultra-wealthy use to hide their money around the world. We here at New Products think of the professional services firm that has to go to all those ultra-wealthy clients and explain why it lost control of their super-secret private information. Even if youre not helping your clients do anything dodgy in the Caymans, youre still at risk from data breaches, information theft, and a host of other cyber-security threats. This book offers a good overview of the risks in all these areas, and what you can do to lower them its well worth a look. Do what he did 8 Steps to Great: The Eight Essential Strategies to Driving Success at the Worlds Largest CPA Firms CPA Trendlines; $295.50 Not every firm can be great, but every firm can try and its a little easier now with this book from Domenick Esposito, who has held leadership positions at not one or two but three of the biggest and most successful firms in the profession, and has laid out this roadmap to similar success. Moving your firm up into the best of the profession requires a commitment to long-term strategy, and new ways of thinking about your partners, your governance structure, the value you bring clients, and the brand you intend to create. If youve ever wondered what it would take to elevate your firm to the next level, this is the place to start. Meet someone else ACAS Accountants Client Acquisition Services http://www.accountantscas.com/ If the grim prospect of drumming up new business in a competitive environment has you wondering, Cant someone else do it? then youll be happy to know that someone else will specifically, the new Accountants Client Acquisition Services, which uses a free Find an accountant near you matching system to bring small and midsized businesses together with bookkeepers, accountants and tax pros. Professional members of their directory network get automated leads, and the prospect of exclusivity in their ZIP code. Numbers, and numbers Fiscal Checkup www.fiscalcheckup.com There are numbers, and then there are numbers: all the millions and millions of data points in the average companys financials, for instance, versus the handful of key metrics and analytical conclusions you can draw from all those points, which can clue managers in to the health of their business. Fiscal Advantages new Fiscal Checkup aims to provide the latter through a quick, cloud-based solution. Users enter three years of company data (or upload data from QuickBooks or QB Online), and get six customizable reports: an executive summary, an industry comparables chart based on five industry codes, a business valuation, a cash driver report, a profit driver report and a lenders report. With the wheat separated from the chaff, numberwise, business owners (and their advisors) will be better able to plan for the future. Its in the name ShareFile for Accounting Citrix Sharefile https://www.sharefile.com/industries/accounting We here at New Products automatically give extra points to products whose names explain what they do. Looking to share files? Then ShareFile for Accounting is worth a look and not just because it has the words share and file in its name. Its a client portal solution that lets you swap documents and collaborate with clients and team members securely, with complete control over who sees what and when. Users can also PDF files directly into ShareFile, and it integrates with RightSignature, so you can get important documents e-signed quickly and easily, and with ScanSnap. Cutting through Ryan Software Ryan www.ryan.com The average individual taxpayer thinks their taxes are pretty complicated but thats because they havent been exposed to the complexity faced by even relatively small businesses. Cutting through that complexity is a mammoth task, and the self-appointed goal of the suite of corporate tax and abandoned/unclaimed property tools created by tax consultancy Ryan. Their Ryan Software includes five solutions for businesses: PinPoint, for tax calculations; RatePoint, for rate look-up and monitoring; FilePoint, for sales and use tax filings; ControlPoint, for managing and sharing purchase and sales exemption certificates; and Tracker Pro, for AUP compliance. Better to look good Zebra BI Zebra BI https://zebrabi.com People laughed when Fernando Lamas said, Its better to look good than to feel good, but looking good is pretty important in more ways than youd expect. Data visualization is one of those areas: Charts, graphs and reports that people cant or wont read are worse than useless theyre often misleading and confusing. Zebra BI is an add-in to Excel that lets you create top-notch data visualizations based on industry best practices, and then share them easily in a wide range of formats, so that people can actually benefit from how good you (and your charts) look. For those who know BEPS Tracker Bloomberg BNA www.bna.com If you know what BEPS stands for, then you know how important it is for international tax professionals and multinational businesses to stay up-to-date on different countries responses to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Action Plan, which aims to tighten international tax regulation. Bloomberg BNA has added the new BEPS Tracker to its Premier International Tax Library, so users can find out exactly where a country stands regarding the Action Plan, in terms of both proposed and final laws and regulations. With daily coverage of developments, as well as the ability to create country-by-country comparison charts, quick links to relevant government announcements, and more, it offers those who know all they need to know. New and improved! Thomson Reuters announced that it has integrated its OneSource Indirect Tax solution with cloud-based accounting software NetSuite. The company also added a new topic on the taxation of real estate investment trusts to its Checkpoint Catalyst research platform, as well as the new Checkpoint Financial Management and Controllership resource. ... Bill.com has updated its mobile app with new accounts receivable features. Taxify has launched a Xero add-on to manage sales tax compliance, remittance and reconciliation in every U.S. jurisdiction. ImagineTime launched its ImagineTime Anywhere mobile app for Apple and Android devices. Vertex SMB and TaxCloud have partnered to expand the latters service area to include all U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions, and to make the formers cloud solution available to even the smallest retailers. This column is prompted by the fact that voting is now underway on the American Institute of CPAs proposed de facto merger with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Our January column (Transparency, integrity, prophecy and the AICPA merger,) accurately predicted that the balloting would occur right after busy season, anticipating that the institutes elite would expect many members to be too burned out to analyze the issue or vote. We explain our objections to this proposal (and other AICPA activities) by describing our concept of what an ideal professional association of CPAs should be, do, and not do. Because the institute has been part of the professions fabric for so long, we suspect most members havent assessed whether it adequately meets their needs in comparison to all the money they, and their employers, send in every year. We anticipate that this zero-base analysis will be as revealing for our readers as it was for us. We begin with four premises, and then describe several policies based on them. Throughout, we explain why we believe the AICPA doesnt measure up. PREMISES 1. Purpose. The sole purpose for our ideal association would be to help its members benefit society through enhanced professional services to their clients, employers and the public. Affiliation would carry weight because members would be differentiated from nonmembers by their willingness to meet higher professional and ethical standards. 2. CPAs only. To avoid any ambiguity about who it serves, the associations membership would include only CPAs in good standing. 3. Leadership. The leadership would be humble, honest and trustworthy in every respect. To avoid perpetuating an inbred clique, they would be nominated and elected openly with broad participation, not selected by existing officials. All paid managers would be laser-focused on helping members improve their performance and productivity, not on building a profitable commercial operation. In addition, the staff would be small in number and all salaries would be publicized so members could assess whether theyre appropriate for a nonprofit entity. 4. Attitude. The leaders fundamental attitude would be that members must be treated as constituents to be served, not customers to be milked for dues and other revenues. The staffs daily reality check would be that the association is fortunate to have CPAs as members, not that CPAs are fortunate to belong to the association. IMPLICATIONS If these premises were to be conscientiously implemented, the association would do many things differently. No ancillaries. First, the ideal association would not try to generate revenue through ancillary activities that turn constituents into customers. For example, it would not peddle such things as life insurance, credit cards, travel discounts, mortgages and merchandise. Thus, we think the AICPA shouldnt try to duplicate what Amazon, Costco, AARP, QuickenLoans and SelectQuote already do so much more effectively. The CPA Exam. To avoid the conflict of interest inherent in determining who and how many can qualify for membership, our ideal association would neither compile nor administer the Uniform CPA Exam. Historically, the AICPA took on this task because no other entity was capable. Today, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy is sufficiently well-established with credible management and governance to fulfill this responsibility. An additional point for moving the exam to NASBA is our suspicion that the institutes elite has stealthily used it to pursue political objectives. For example, it tried to advance its agenda by putting IFRS-related questions on the test in order to promote what turned out to be the erroneous impression that those standards acceptance was inevitable. We wouldnt be surprised if the same gambit is used to bolster the controversial Financial Reporting Framework for Small and Medium-Sized Entities that was released after the Financial Accounting Foundation rejected the institute-backed proposal to establish a separate Small GAAP standards board. CPE offerings. Because our ideal association would never treat members as customers, it would not offer any continuing professional education courses except when it could uniquely provide relevant experiences, such as national conferences, that smaller vendors could not. Even then, the co-equal goals would be quality and affordability, with fees that would just cover costs. The associations only other CPE-related activity would be accrediting suitable vendors. We note two conflicts of interest related to the AICPAs CPE business. The first is that it converts members from constituents to customers. Second, it makes the institute unable to independently accredit other CPE providers. Relations with others. Our ideal associations leaders would work well with their counterparts at other accounting associations, especially those with overlapping members. Their pattern would be cooperation without competition, and they would certainly make no efforts to acquire another associations members. At the heart of this assertion is our recognition that no single organization can credibly serve the diverse needs of all its members, specifically those who want contacts in other networks and opportunities to enhance their expertise beyond the requirements for CPA licensure. In effect, the ideal CPA association can best serve its own members by strengthening other associations, not by consolidating with them. The proposed AICPA/CIMA merger obviously contradicts this policy because the new entity would be unable to fully serve its diverse subgroups. This cooperative relationship would also exist with state-level associations. Because we fear the AICPA elite now utterly dominates state societies, were neither surprised nor impressed that 51 of them endorsed the proposed merger. What other choice did they have? In summary, true professionalism requires treating all accountants as colleagues with the utmost cordiality and respect, not with envy and avarice. No political activism. Our ideal association would be a reliable source of neutral information for regulators and lawmakers. Its members would be honored to provide unbiased testimony, position papers and educational sessions to clarify accounting-related issues and alternative positions. To preserve its independence, it would not have a PAC for making campaign contributions to elected officials. Jaded AICPA members have told us were naive to think legislators will listen without receiving PAC money. Although they may have rationalized this deplorable system, it doesnt pass our ethical smell test and we think the institutes participation drags all members into a fetid swamp. We also doubt its effectiveness because other petitioners with contrary goals can always hand over larger checks. Apart from this ethical taint, the entire membership cannot possibly have a unanimous view on any political issue. Thus, its patently inappropriate to use an associations prestige, employees and dues to support a position that some members disagree with. Therefore, were convinced an ideal CPA association would not do any lobbying that isnt purely educational. A notable negative example was the institute elites 2013 effort to fiscally induce Congress into squelching the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board consideration of mandatory auditor rotation even though it would have created new opportunities for many members. No official positions. Similarly, our ideal association would never proclaim an official position on any issue. To explain with an example, the leadership of the professional society for academic accountants, the American Accounting Association, implemented this policy after the Financial Accounting Standards Board was created in 1973. They wisely determined that no one would be authorized to present an official AAA position in the boards due process. Instead, ad hoc committees are appointed for specific projects and each must explain that its comment expresses the consensus of only its members, not the entire association. Because of CPAs diverse opinions, no one should ever think that all of us hold the same beliefs. Our ideal associations leaders would never assert that the association officially believes or endorses a specific political position. The only way they could claim that a majority supported a certain view would be after polling all members to find out what they think. Unfortunately, we note that the AICPA elite frequently publishes official positions without checking with the rest of us. No other designations. For three very good reasons, our ideal association would not provide any other certifications or designations to its members. First, doing so clearly implies that some members are less qualified than others. Second, it would treat members as customers. Third, it would create a temptation to water down the qualifying criteria in order to perpetuate the revenues. Its clear to us that the AICPAs elite feels no compunction against this practice. We believe its most flagrant abuse is the notorious program that conjured thousands of CGMAs into existence without an examination. We note that this questionable credential now extracts millions of dollars in annual fees, mostly from members unsuspecting employers. Instead, our ideal associations policy would direct members who want additional credentials to get them from other legitimate bodies that can effectively assess the requisite expertise. For example, those who want a financial planning credential should become Certified Financial Planners and those who want to be recognized as management accounting experts should become Certified Management Accountants. IN CONCLUSION We could say more, but weve said enough to explain why we dont believe the AICPA measures up against our ideal. Therefore, we think institute members who agree with us should vote against the merger to express disapproval of the elites transparent effort to create a larger roster of dues-paying customers. If this proposal passes, we will encourage members to resign in protest. Alas, even if the vote goes against the entrenched elite, were sure they wont step down. If they dont, well then encourage members to send a stronger message by resigning. Of course, its your choice. After all, maybe you like using your AICPA credit card to contribute to the PAC, buy cheaper merchandise and life insurance, book discounted car rentals, and pay your dues as well as your CPE and CGMA fees. On the other hand, if CPAs want a more ideal association, weve just described a useful concept of how it should work. Paul B. W. Miller is an emeritus professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Paul R. Bahnson is a professor at Boise State University. The authors views are not necessarily those of their institutions or Accounting Today. Reach them at paulandpaul@qfr.biz. Imagine a treatment that could manage the behavior of a child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), make you a better parent, and enlist teachers to help him do well in school all without the side effects of ADHD medications. There is such a treatment. Its called behavior therapy a series of techniques to improve parenting skills and a childs behavior. But how does behavioral therapy work? Try ADHD Behavioral Therapy First When I first diagnose a child with ADHD, I tell the parents they need to learn behavior techniques, whether Im prescribing medication or not, says Patricia Quinn, M.D., co-author of Understanding Women with AD/HD (#CommissionsEarned) and When Moms and Kids Have ADD (#CommissionsEarned), and who has treated patients with ADHD in Washington, D.C., for more than 25 years. A pill decreases common ADHD symptoms like impulsivity and distractibility, but it doesnt change behavior. A child on medication might be disinclined to punch someone, because hes less impulsive, but he doesnt know what to do instead. Behavior therapy fills in the blanks, by giving a child positive alternative behaviors to use. Quinn is not alone in prescribing behavior therapy for patients. According to the American Psychological Association, it should be the first line of treatment for children with ADHD who are under five years of age. [Free Resource: 4 Parent-Child Therapies for Better Behavior] William Pelham, Ph.D., director of the Center for Children and Families at the State University of New York, goes further, suggesting that children of any age try it before medication. Theres clear evidence that a behavioral approach will work for the majority of children with ADHD, says Pelham. The benefit of using behavior therapy first is that, if a child also needs medication, he can often get by with a smaller dose. Recent evidence suggests that children who are put on medication first never try behavior therapy or they try it years later, if medication has stopped working. According to a four-year study Pelham is conducting on medication and behavior therapy, at the University at Buffalo, Parents who see that medication is working are less motivated to follow through with behavior therapy. That would be fine if the data showed that medication alone helped the long-term trajectory of kids with ADHD. It doesnt. According to Pelham, a child can take medication for 10 years, and the day you take him off of it or he decides not to take it any more, as some 90 percent of teenagers do the benefits stop. Then what? Its a lot harder to learn from scratch how to deal with a teenager whos acting out than it is with a five-year-old who is acting out, he says. The parent has lost five or 10 years relying on medication and not dealing with problems that behavior therapy could have addressed. [A Pragmatic Parents Guide to Behavior Therapy] What Pelham doesnt point out is that successfully implementing behavior therapy at home is hard work. It requires that you and your child change the way you interact with each other and that you maintain those changes over time. Unlike the benefits of medication, behavioral improvements may not be apparent for weeks or months. The benefits a child receives from behavioral treatment are strongly influenced by the ability of the parent to consistently implement the program plan, says Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. When Should I Start Behavior Therapy? The Earlier, The Better Although its never too late for a child to benefit from behavior therapy, evidence suggests that it works best when started early in the childs life. Younger children generally have simpler problems, and these may be responsive to behavior therapy. For younger children, parent-child interactions arent ingrained and may be easier to change. Studies show that the average child with ADHD has one to two negative interactions per minute with parents, peers, and teachers, says Pelham. If you extrapolate, thats half a million negative interactions a year. Either you sit back and let your child have those negative experiences, or you intervene early and do something to stop them. Quinn suggests that the longer a parent interacts negatively with her child, the greater the chances he will develop secondary behaviors, like oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety and/or a mood disorder, and low self-esteem. You can avoid such problems by treating early with behavior therapy. An intriguing study suggests that using behavior therapy early in a childs life may actually prevent ADHD or minimize its severity. Neuroscientists at the University of Oregon studied children ages 18 to 21 months old who had a gene called the 7 repeat allele, which has been associated with ADHD. This gene is present in about 25 percent of children who have the condition. The researchers observed the childrens behavior and their interactions with parents. They found that children whose parents scored highest in measures of parent effectiveness (gauged by how supportive they were and how well they interacted with their kids) were less likely to show symptoms of ADHD than children with the gene whose parents scored lower. It appears that, in children who have a genetic susceptibility to ADHD, things can be done to prevent it, says Michael I. Posner, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Oregon, who headed the study. Good parenting may be part of that. Although, in some cases, ADHD is inevitable, in a high percentage of children, ADHD occurs because of environmental influences, including the kinds of interactions they have with their parents early in life, says James Swanson, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of California in Irvine. Quinn disagrees. Swanson seems to be saying that parents are the cause of ADHD, she says. Yet its been established that ADHD is a genetic or inherited disorder in a majority of cases. It is true that parents can make the condition worse or better. Employing appropriate parenting techniques is something they can do to make it better, and to modify the impact that ADHD behaviors have on the child and the family. How Behavior Therapy Works Behavior therapy operates on a simple premise: Parents and other adults in a childs life set clear expectations for their childs behavior. They praise and reward positive behavior and discourage negative behavior. All behavior therapy programs should include four principles, says Swanson: 1) Reinforce good behavior with a reward system stars on a chart or extending a special privilege, like playing a favorite video game for an extra half-hour or going to a movie on Friday night. 2) Discourage negative behavior by ignoring it according to experts, a child often uses bad behavior to get attention. 3) Take away a privilege if the negative behavior is too serious to ignore. 4) Remove common triggers of bad behavior. If a child often misbehaves when sitting next to a particular buddy in the classroom, ask the teacher to re-assign your child to another seat. Behavior therapy isnt a cure-all for ADHD behaviors, says Quinn. Parents who think they can change a long laundry list of behaviors will be disappointed. Pick five or fewer that you deem the most important. The most effective programs include parent training, teacher/classroom strategies, and social-skills training for children. Many are based on the COPE program, whose goal is to strengthen the parent-child relationship by teaching strategies in a group setting. Here is the program that Pelham uses with good results: Parent Training Goal: To learn strategies to encourage positive behavior in your child and strengthen your relationship with him. How long: Eight to 12 weekly sessions, lasting one to two hours, with fellow parents and a counselor/therapist. Format: A group of parents views a film of a parent and child confronting a common problem, such as a childs tantrum in the grocery store. The group discusses better ways to handle it than by yelling at the child or threatening him. One example: Parents state their expectations to the child before going into the store: Im going to shop for 15 minutes, and I expect you to walk beside me and help me look for things. If you whine, yell, or complain, well go out and wait in the car until you settle down, and then we will go back into the store. If you cooperate, then we will finish shopping quickly and have time to play in the yard when we get home. The counselor and parents practice the strategy on each other, and parents are asked to use it at home in as many situations as they can. At the next session, parents discuss the strategys success, view another film, and learn the next strategy. Skills learned: To establish house rules and structure (posting chore lists and morning and evening routines); to praise appropriate behaviors and ignore mildly inappropriate ones; to use commands (Sit down, please) and not questions (Why wont you sit down?) and to be specific (You need to sit in the chair and not wiggle while I tie your shoelaces); to use when-then contingencies (When you finish your homework, then you can ride your bike); to establish ground rules, rewards, and consequences before an activity; to use timeouts effectively (giving a child one minute of timeout for each year of age); to create daily charts and point/token systems to reward good behavior. Child Training Goal: To help children acquire the social skills needed to form lasting friendships. Research shows that kids with ADHD who learn to make friends do much better in life than those who dont. How long: Peer groups meet weekly in after-school or weekend sessions, for two to three hours, throughout the year. Another option is summer day camp, led by a therapist. The program runs six to eight weeks, six to nine hours a day. Format: Sessions begin with a brief discussion of a social skill or a common peer issue, and the counselor offers strategies for mastering the skill or dealing with the problem. Then kids play games soccer, basketball, board games and the counselor looks for opportunities to praise them for positive interactions, good social skills, and sportsmanship. For example, during a basketball game, the counselor may compliment a child for passing the ball to his teammates. Skills learned: To problem-solve (a child may role-play different ways to cope when someone calls him a name); to become more competent at games and sports, which can help a child fit in better socially; to decrease undesirable and antisocial behaviors, like bossiness and aggression. Teacher Training Goal: To help teachers adapt the goals of the parent-training program to the classroom. How long: From one hour to one day to a weekend of training at the school or at an off-site seminar. Format: This varies, depending on the school and the professional youre working with. In many cases, the behavior therapist will agree to speak with the school psychologist and teacher about addressing the needs of your child. If not, you will have to set up an appointment to talk with them. Perhaps the best approach, says Pelham, is developing a 504 Plan that allows you to establish behavior goals for your child. And it wont cost you anything. Skills learned: To develop class rules and goals, using small rewards to encourage compliance (rewards are written on poster board and hung up in the classroom); to give positive reinforcement and specific instruction at a childs desk (Today, you are just reading about animals and picking one you would like to write about; you dont have to write anything during this class period); to use when-then contingencies (When you finish your required assignment, then you can have some free time to play a game); to use a daily report card to communicate with parents. Behavior Therapy Program Particulars This three-part program is effective because it is so intensive, says Quinn. However, its tough to find this kind of program in many communities and if you do, it is very expensive. Full-blown programs, like Pelhams, cost $5,000 to $6,000 a year, while summer treatment camps for children run from $2,000 to $4,000. Parent training with a therapist can cost $10 to $100 per session. Most insurance plans cover 20 sessions a year with a therapist, according to Pelham, but generally wont pay for summer camp or social skills training. Some do, however, so consult your plans administrator. If you dont have the time or money for an intensive program, there are less ambitious options. Check with your community mental health center or mental health hospital to see if they run behavior programs. According to Pelham, community mental health centers are required to document that they are using so-called evidence-based programs, like parent training, in order to receive federal funding. If theyre not offering it, ask the health center, Why not?' No matter which program you use, look to include classroom strategies. The teacher must be included and on the same page, or the therapy wont be effective, says Quinn. You cant change a childs behavior only at night and on weekends. You have to do it all day long. While experts point to behavior therapys ability to change a childs behavior at school and at home, Quinn says there are longer-lasting benefits self-control and empowerment. You dont want a child with ADHD thinking he can act right only if he takes his meds, she says. He needs to feel that he is responsible for getting good grades, he is smart, he is taking the initiative to make his bed. Behavior therapy does that. It gives a child control of his life. Every parent would consider that a great return on their investment. [ADHD Medication + Behavior Therapy = The Best Outcomes] #CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication If your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), one of your top priorities is finding a school that matches his learning style. It may seem like a scavenger hunt, but armed with the right tools, you can find the prize: a school that understands ADHD. The key to finding the right school is to start early and to do your research. If you know what to look for in a school and the right questions to ask youll be up to the challenge. Here, we tell you everything you need to know to find the right school for your child with ADHD. Consider it a little help with your homework. Step 1: Understand Your Child Look deep into childs behavior before you consider prospective schools. First, take a few minutes and write about who your child is as a student: Is he a listener or does he learn better through touch? Does he volunteer or does he need to be drawn out? Does he work well independently or would he do better in a group? Next, make a list of your childs specific needs: Frank needs a classroom where he can sit away from the windows. Barbara needs a school thats light on homework. Jim needs a teacher who will give him step-by-step instructions. Your list should contain the things you hope to find, but it should also be realistic. Include your childs strengths and weaknesses, both academically and socially. Often, exceptionally bright kids enter academically challenging programs, but fail because the stress levels are too high. Lay out the whole picture, so your child isnt set up to fail. [Free Download: The Guide to ADHD Learning Styles] Above all, focus on your childs needs. Just because a school is considered top-notch and the whole neighborhood is vying to get in does not necessarily mean its an ideal fit for your child. Step 2: Interview the School Youll read stacks of literature, watch countless school promotional tapes, and listen to everything administrators have to say. But thats just the tip of the iceberg. To understand what a schools really about, youll need to conduct a little Q+A of your own. Interview principals, primary teachers, speech therapists, teachers assistants, and other special-needs providers. And dont forget the parents of kids who are enrolled in the school. Show up when classes are letting out, and ask other moms and dads to share their insights on classes, teachers, and homework theyll give it to you straight. Dont know what questions to ask? Start with these: 1. How big is the school? Obviously, youll want to know how many grade levels a school has and how many students are enrolled in each. But dont stop there. Ask about the physical size of the school as well as the layout of the building. If your child has spatial and memory challenges as children with ADHD often do youll want to know that he can find his way around. 2. How large are the classes? A class of about 15 students is probably your best-case scenario, although such small numbers are tough to find in a public school. But dont give up on the system just yet. In larger public-school classes, a shadow teacher may be provided, who will give your child the extra assistance he needs. 3. Whats the level of teacher training? Be sure theres a fair share of experienced career teachers, says Colleen Berge, an educational consultant in New York City. While youll find many fine entry-level teachers working throughout the school system, your child needs a school where he will be adequately mentored. How flexible is this school? Will it adapt to your childs learning style? Provide accommodations like letting him use a tape recorder in class instead of taking notes or getting extra time for tests? Dont settle for a simple yes. Ask the school for specific examples of how it has adjusted to other students in the past. Typically, kids with ADD do not lack smarts, but they often lack skills necessary for academic success organization, study skills, and test-taking ability. 4. What role do parents play? If the schools mantra is, You are entrusting us with your child, this may be code for, We dont want you involved, says Meyer. On the other hand, a philosophy that the primary concern is the student can mean, We want your help. [Standing Up for Your Childs Educational Rights] Step 3: Go on the Open House Tour Once youve narrowed your choices, youre ready for the open-house school tour a see-for-yourself experience that will prove invaluable. Most parents visit about five schools before deciding on one. Some things to keep in mind: Good schools let you observe classes in progress not just a slide show in the auditorium. At an open house, a school is on its best behavior. If you feel uneasy about it then, chances are, the uneasiness will only get worse. As you roam the halls, step inside classrooms, and talk to teachers, keep an eye out for the following: Bulletin Boards. These brightly-colored displays do more than just liven up classrooms and hallways they showcase the standard work of particular age groups. Read the essays. If the students writing isnt on par with your childs, the school may not be the best choice for him. If hes touring with you, ask him if he has already learned about the things he sees on the walls. Classroom Structure. Kids with ADHD are more likely to thrive in a structured environment because they often struggle with memory and focus. But dont confuse a controlled atmosphere with mere rigidity. Teachers who assign homework verbally and write it on the board, use specific language when giving instructions (Sit in your seat with your hands folded and your book on the floor), and combine gestures with an expressive voice can help your child tremendously. Mainstreaming vs. Special-Needs Classes. Its virtually impossible to know if your child will do better in a regular classroom or a special-needs class until hes tried them both. Some parents lean towards mainstreaming to avoid stigma, but learn that their child isnt thriving. Others opt for special-needs classes, only to find that their child isnt challenged. Before you decide which set-up is right for you, find out how the school runs each one. If your child is mainstreamed, will he get special help in the classroom? If hes in a special-needs class, will he still get the core curriculum? What types of students will he be grouped with? Observe both settings on your tour. [Should Your Child Transfer to an ADHD-Friendly School?] Step 4: Observe the Students Class Change. How are kids behaving between classes? Do they move along easily on their own, or do teachers have to push them on to the next room? Are children interacting in a safe and friendly way? If children are rowdy and need corralling from teachers, it could be a sign of a lack of structure hardly an ideal choice for a child who excels in a controlled environment. Children are Engaged. Be it in a lesson, on the playground, or in a gym class, are kids safely engaged in learning and activities? Your red flag should go up if too many kids are goofing around, staring into space, or picking on other kids. Tolerance. Many children with ADHD learn best through active participation, often relying on movement to keep themselves alert. Problems could arise if a teacher constantly reprimands a student who squirms, shifts in his seat, or gets up a lot. As the school year winds down, youll attend the annual review of your childs Individualized Education Program (IEP). Most school districts hold this meeting in spring, so that educational team members can review current ADHD accommodations and set goals for the coming year. Here are suggestions to help you prepare. If your child receives special services under a Section 504 Plan, the school isnt legally required to hold an annual review or to involve parents in meetings. However, you may request a meeting at any time, and many schools invite parents to participate in the process. Many of the tips that appear below will also prove helpful to you. Getting Ready Review your childs progress. Read the current IEP, and consider whether it has been meeting her needs. Look over the years report cards, test results, and notes from teachers. Use the spring parent-teacher conference to discuss which techniques and accommodations have been most effective. Review your childs schoolwork to see which academic skills have improved, and note any continuing trouble spots. Its also a good idea to involve your child. Solicit her thoughts about which special-ed services have been helpful, and where shes still struggling. At age 14, she may attend the meeting if you feel she can comfortably participate. By the age of 18, her presence will be required. Prioritize your wish list. Determine which goals to emphasize, and which to put on the back burner. [How Do I Create an IEP for My Child? Find Out in this Free Guide] Arrange for a friend or family member to accompany you to listen, take notes, and lend support. If youd like the assistance of an educational advocate, you can find one through the Learning Disabilities Association of America, CHADD, or the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. Some advocates provide free services; others charge an hourly or flat fee. Provide team members with new test results if youve had your child assessed privately since the last meeting. At the Meeting Be specific about your goals. Use the phrase Im requesting to indicate the skills youd like your child to get help with. Its best to leave specific teaching methods to the professionals, although its reasonable to request a change if you feel a particular approach isnt working. Press for details. Make sure the plan specifies who will implement each provision, how often services will be provided, and how the IEP will be monitored. Build in a feedback loop like weekly e-mails from teachers to inform you of your childs progress. Take notes or audiotape the meeting, and take the plan home if you need more time to digest it. Sign only the parts you agree with, and share the results of the meeting with your child. When youre satisfied, send thank-you notes to team members. [12 Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting] KC-135 crews support KC-46A testing missions Sixty-year-old KC-135 Stratotankers from McConnell Air Force Base recently supported the new KC-46A Pegasus testing and evaluation missions in Washington. The KC-135s, which currently serve as the backbone of the air refueling fleet, provided refueling support to receiver and chase aircraft participating in the KC-46A test program, said one of the crewmembers on the flight. The 22nd Air Refueling Wing crew also acted as a contingency plan refueler in case of any mission difficulties. Since the KC-46A is not yet cleared as a refueler, the KC-135's presence is crucial in allowing receiver and chase aircraft to be refueled, thereby extending the amount of times they can stay in the air and participate in testing. "We were flying all different formation positions to check out the plane," said Capt. Alex Durstein, a 344th Air Refueling Squadron instructor pilot. "I valued the experience to see the new aircraft and be on a mission that was directly supporting getting the aircraft out in the field." Before being cleared for operation, each receiver aircraft must be tested for the effects of wake turbulence while approaching and being refueled by the KC-46A, Durstein said. The testing consists of the receiver aircraft approaching the KC-46A at varying speeds and distances from the boom to ensure it is operating within specifications. "When we weren't flying, we were on cockpit alert status as a backup," said Maj. Jason Barry, a 350th ARS instructor evaluator pilot. "We watched all the testing that was done while in formation, listening on the radio to directives and refueling both aircraft as they needed it." As part of on-going testing, the KC-46A test aircraft are flying out of Boeing Field in Seattle. The KC-135 and McConnell aircrew met up with the KC-46A and receiver aircraft mid-mission over Washington and set up two miles in trail or waited in orbit during frequent altitude changes to refuel the chase aircraft, Durstein said. "They checked out the wake turbulence at different positions," Durstein said. "The fighter would come 5 (degrees) to the right, 10 (degrees) to the right, back to center, and then off to the other side to see if it met standards." The KC-46A is equipped with advanced electronic displays and controls for improved system performance, Barry said. With more refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities, improved efficiency and increased capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacuation, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nation coalition force aircraft, according to the Air Force KC-46A factsheet. "It is truly a very capable and advanced aircraft," Durstein said. "They were testing it in air refueling benchmarks, which we do not typically do in the KC-135. (The KC-46A) will allow us to perform more aerial refueling missions within a restricted air space with more varied altitudes." The KC-46A will join the KC-135 tanker mission in worldwide aerial refueling operations, with the first main operating base being McConnell AFB. The first KC-46A is currently scheduled to arrive here in spring 2017. The May issue of Airman magazine is now available to download and is viewable through a Web browser.In the cover story, titled We Chose This, youll go behind the scenes of the challenging training course required to become a Phoenix Raven at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.In the next feature, you will read about the efforts of an officer and her spouse to support the wounded warrior support program through the care of 45 sled dogs for the Iditarod in Alaska.Lastly, youll read about flight attendants on Air Force One.You can download Airman magazines May issue for your tablet here:Airman magazine provides an interactive experience for tablet readers and a limited interactive version is viewable in Web browser format. To read this issue on your PC/Mac, click here For more stories, visit Airman Online , the website for the official magazine of the U.S. Air Force. Beale reserve unit returns to refueling mission The Air Force Reserve's 940th Wing here was officially redesignated as the 940th Air Refueling Wing today. The wing will change from the C2ISR (command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) mission to the air refueling mission and fly KC-135 Stratotanker, which has provided aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force for more than 50 years. The redesignation and mission change will also see the unit change Numbered Air Force organizational assignments from 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, to 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, California Historically, the 940th flew Stratotankers for more than three decades until the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission re-aligned the unit. An air refueling wing since 1977, the unit moved from Mather AFB, California, to McClellan AFB, California, in 1993, and then here in 1998. The former two bases have since closed. The official ceremony to celebrate the mission redesignation is schedule June 4 at 10 a.m. More information for the ceremony will be released in upcoming weeks. For more information, contact the 940th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs at 940wg.pa@us.af.mil or (530)-634-1818. The Karnataka governments recent decision to frame a Good Samaritan law (GSL) has come not a day too soon, and the move should be a boost to concerted efforts at changing the publics tendency to turn away from road accident victims. In todays lawsuit-riddled society, members are often reluctant to try and save someones life in the event of an accident because they are afraid of being sued, and the interim delay in emergency care could mean the difference between life and death of a victim. In October 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) directed the Union government to formulate guidelines for the protection of Good Samaritans, or helpful bystanders. A lethal blend of poor law enforcement and lack of emergency medical care makes India the worlds road death capital. About 150,000 people get killed every year and more than three times as many are injured in road accidents, says a World Health Organisation report. A study by the Indian Journal of Surgery, 2012 says that 80 pc of road accident victims in India do not receive emergency medical care within the golden hour. According to The Law Commission of India, about 50 pc of those victims can be rescued if they receive timely medical attention including assistance from the bystanders and passersby. An astounding 70,000 lives can be saved. Many countries have enacted national legislation aimed at protecting the good Samaritans during medical emergency. In fact, Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain have criminal penalties for failing to come to the aid of another person. Israeli law requires bystanders to help, and good Samaritans are even compensated. The core of the SC guidelines is that no bystander rushing to the rescue of an accident victim be subject to civil/criminal liability. Any sharing of personal information or offer to be a witness ought to be voluntary, adding that good Samaritans must be treated with respect and be assured that they face no hassle. While police are invariably untrained to provide any medical aid, bystanders and passers-by are obvious alternate choice. All the hospitals must be directed not to detain the bystander or demand any payment or admission costs, unless the victim is related to the good Samaritan, and doctors who do not respond should be liable for professional misconduct and disciplinary action. Create a system to recognise those Samaritans. State governments may institute a system of reward and compensation to encourage more bystanders to be Good Samaritans, and initiate deterrent and timely action against officials or police personnel violating the standard operating procedures. Even in the infamous Nirbhaya case, when the male friend along with the medical student who was brutally gang-raped in Delhi were thrown off the bus on to the street, not a single passerby responded to their plight and simply went their way. Good Samaritan laws are important to society because anyone could find themselves in victims situation one day and may need assistance from strangers. The good Samaritan should definitely be absolved of civil liability for any harm inflicted while engaging in reasonable efforts to assist a victim, much as medical professionals would today. All other state governments should follow the Karnataka example, if they have not done so. Its also up to the individual to decide in the moment what it means to be a fellow human. (The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.) This year, Maharashtra has witnessed severe drought and farmer suicides. A wealthy state came in unexpected crisis. People voted for BJP with lots of expectations but the government had no control over these disasters. A shocking 3,228 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra in 2015, the highest since 2001, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on March 4, 2016 that is almost nine farmers every day. Maharashtra is already known for its farm crisis and reports the highest number of farmers suicides in the country. The drought brought on by a delayed and inadequate monsoon is set to deepen the distress for its cultivators. Data with the agriculture department shows that two-third of the states 1.37 crore farmers have been affected by the drought which has impacted mainly the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions. These areas have historically been the most deprived in the state. Many organizations come forward to help the drought affected farmers. Like we have shown some responsibility towards society in our function, if others also take initiative and show their gratitude towards these people then we can provide some relief to these poor people. NGOs should come forward in this regard. The drought has come in focus primarily because of the IPL matches being held in Maharashtra and supposed wastage of water at the grounds when the rest of the state is suffering. Also, there is a water train that has staked its way into Latur, which is almost like ground zero when it comes to the drought this time. Nearly 90 lakh farmers in Maharashtra have been stuck by the drought that has distressed the kharif crop, official data shows. It comes close on the heels of the crop distress wreaked by the hailstorms last year which hit cultivators hard. Earlier farmers used to suffer because of low yields but at least they got a decent price for their produce. Now they have poor yield and earn very low prices for their crop. Three weeks ago, Maharashtra government officially declared that 60% of its villages were facing a drought-like condition. This means that they reported a crop yield which was less than 50% of the standard yield in the area. In absolute figures, 23,811 of the states 39,453 villages come in this category. This will result in a drastic fall in the states agricultural output for the year. It is a very difficult situation. Farmers in the state are facing severe agrarian distress. Latur, Beed, Osmanabad residents cannot bathe more than once a week. They wipe themselves with a wet cloth. They wipe out plates and hands after a meal instead of washing them. None of the toilets in the village has water supply. Poor villagers are migrating to cities and took refuge on streets. Villagers have begun selling their cattle at half-price in Beeds Georai taluka, because they are running out of water and fodder. In the arid region of Marathwada, which received just half its regular rainfall, water storage in the dams is down to 15%. Across the region, wells and borewells are drying up. Officials say the drought in Maharashtra among the most widespread in recent years has affected crops more than drinking water. Yet Marathwada is already in the grip of a crisis which is set to intensify in the summer months. Last October, the region received water from 22 tankers. Now, that has swelled to 640. Destitute old citizens have no place in Maharashtra; they are hungry and starved to death. Not a speck of the 225 metric tonnes of grain the aged in the state are due to get every month under a food scheme for the poor can be found in Maharashtra. With the Centre not releasing the quota since April 2014, the scheme has come to a complete standstill in the state for the last 10 months. The Annapurna Yojana, which has been operating nationwide since 2001, has roughly 78,400 beneficiaries in Maharashtra. Under the scheme, the destitute populationaged 65 and aboveis eligible for 10 kg of free wheat and rice each month. The grains are provided by the Centre. The state was receiving roughly 225 metric tonnes of wheat and rice from the Centre each month. However, since April 2014, the Centres allocation abruptly halted and has still not resumed figures with the state food and civil supplies department show. The state government sent across its utilization certificate with its demand for grains in March 2014. However, no supply arrived and no explanation seems to be forthcoming. Meanwhile as a courtesy Maharashtra government deployed trains to supply water to drought-hit Latur, but there also they are trying to garner political mileage out of it. The Maharashtra government has declared a drought-like condition in 14,708 of the states 43,000 villages. This means the drought covers 34% of the state. This is the second successive year of drought in Maharashtra. In fact, the state has experienced three such calamities in the last four years. The region of Marathwada has been worst-hit, with a drought-like condition declared in every single village. As many as 8,522 villages in the region have been impacted. This accounts for 58% of the drought area in the state. North Maharashtra, which includes Nashik and Jalgaon districts, follows next with 4,869 villages impacted. This accounts for 33% of the drought area. The region of Konkan has been spared, with not a single village affected by the calamity. The Konkan region experienced satisfactory monsoon this year. The government has announced a series of measures for drought-affected farmers, including the waiver of land revenue and school fees for their children and a 33% waiver in the bill amount of agricultural pumps. The government has also said it will provide water tankers in scarcity-prone villages and take steps not to disconnect agricultural pumps. So far, Rs 920 crore has been provided for drought relief, of which Rs 556 crore has come from the Centre. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) Web Toolbar by Wibiya Web Toolbar by Wibiya Date: 17 April, 2016. Place: International Space Station (ISS). Scott C. Waring is maybe one of the most prominent UFO researchers we can find on the internet. His website called UFO Sightings Daily receives thousands of visits per day, since it is a very accessible resource to search for any kind of recent information about the UFO phenomenon, like pictures and videos of UFO sightings, alien encounters, strange objects on Marss surface and many more. In one of his latest articles, from 17 April, Mr Waring claims having spotted a UFO at the [International] Space Station. According to his description, it was diamond shaped and it seemed to be changing its shape. However, he states that this change is due to it moving closer to the ISS. One of the main peculiarities of this case is that when the UFO came closer and began to come into focus, the screen turned blue, the ufologist affirms. He is of the opinion that this blue screen could have been intentionally caused by NASAs personnel in charge of monitoring these transmissions. NASA always turns the screen blue if they see a UFO, he declares, in order to try to hide it from the public. Draw your own conclusions For further information: http://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2016/04/diamond-ufo-shows-up-at-space-station.html Diamond UFO Shows Up At Space Station, NASA Cuts Live Feed, April 17, 2016, Video, UFO Sighting News. Date of sighting: April 17, 2016 Location of sighting: Space Station, Earths orbit Source ISS cam: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/85741557 I saw a UFO at the space station. It was diamond shaped and it seemed to be changing its shape, but I think thats due to it moving ever so closer to the ISS. As the UFO came closer and began to come into focus, the screen turned blue. NASA always turns the screen blue if they see a UFO, in an attempt...failed attempt mind you, to hide it from the public. Scott C. Waring www.ufosightingsdaily.com There was no sound, so I left it original. I hate adding music to videos, it takes away the authenticity. SCW Web Toolbar by Wibiya Web Toolbar by Wibiya Date: 27 February, 2016. Place: Las Vegas, State of Nevada, United States. On 10 April, in the city of Las Vegas, an anonymous witness affirmed having spotted a V shaped UFO, according to a report published on UFO specialised website MUFON.com. However, this is not the first case (and certainly will not be the last, either) of UFO sightings in the so called Sin City. On 27 February, an unnamed observer published on the aforementioned website MUFON.com that he had seen very bright white light hovering above the city. According to this person (who is allegedly a former private pilot), the object emitted no sound, no blinking nor "FAA" I.D. (anti-collision) lights. It glowed from within, he insisted. About the characteristics of its flight, he estimated that it was flying at about 300 ft. [91 metres] high, and maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile [400 to 800 metres] away. On this incident, Scott C. Waring, from UFO Sightings Daily, opines that this device could belong to the Tall Whites. He mentions the case of Dr Charles Wall, who worked two years with tall white aliens that had their own base within Nellis AFB. In his opinion, this glowing ship looks a lot like the description that Hall gives about what he saw then fly in. Draw your own conclusions For further information: http://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2016/04/ufo-over-las-vegas-nevada-near-hotels.html UFO Over Las Vegas, Nevada Near Hotels On Feb 27, 2016, Video, UFO Sighting News. Date of sighting: February 27, 2016 Location of sighting: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Source: MUFON #76076 Dr. Charles Hall worked two years with tall white aliens that had their own base within Nellis AFB. This glowing ship looks a lot like the description that Hall gives about what he saw them fly in. He has stated many times that the Tall Whites like to go to Vegas to relax and enjoy a normal human lifestyle. This ship is probably taking some Tall Whites back to their base. Scott C. Waring www.ufosightingsdaily.com Eyewitness states: I Had Just come out of the Rio Hotel/Casino to catch The E/B Flamingo Bus, I Turned back toward the Hotel Because I Caught this Very Bright White light out of my Peripheral Vision, It was going west, No Sound, No Blinking, or "FAA" I.D. (Anti-Collision) Light's, It Glowed From Within, No External Light's. I Am a Former Private Pilot, and a Aircraft & Technology Enthusiast, I am Familiar with most kind's of aircraft, This wasn't a Helicopter, Or Jet, or Civilian aircraft, when I saw that it was Returning E/B From Behind the Rio Bldg. (on the left) I took out my Cellphone to Video it, took a picture then switched to video, (Both Included) I Think it was a UFO, Unless it was some kind of Homemade Drone, But from my best estimate it was about 300 ft.Alt. Maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile away, and looked to be about the size of a Mini-Van. I Didn't see it emerge from behind Bldg. #2, And right at that time my bus was arriving, You can hear it in the audio, along with traffic noise, so I had to stop the video (and Further Investigation) Could you please take a closer Look at it and let me Know what you think, I Don't have the equipment to Enlarge the video to see more detail, I Was very excited to observe this, and I think I got one! I Believe that we are not alone, and have Never Been alone. . .and I Hope I Live long enough to experience "Disclosure", and possibly meet, and interact with our Space "Family" Thank You!! April 28, 2016 The Paris conference on a two-state solution process, which will be convened May 30, is the first concrete step related to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process since the shuttle diplomacy of Secretary of State John Kerry in 2013-14. The French are inviting the Middle East Quartet representatives (United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations), the Arab League and approximately 20 foreign ministers. Israel and Palestine are not invited, as the French want to prevent an Israeli no. The purpose is to convene a more operative international peace conference later in the summer in order to launch talks on a two-state solution between the parties themselves. This is good news for Middle East peace hopefuls. A Washington conference would have been more useful, but probably out of the question in a US election year. France has decided to walk into the policy vacuum produced by US passivity and despair. This move reflects European concerns that, without a realistic prospect for a two-state solution process, the Israeli-Palestinian equation will be filled with growing violence, which compromises the position of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. All EU partners share this view some with greater enthusiasm (such as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini), some with less (such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel). The French move comes in the aftermath of active shuttle diplomacy by Paris special envoy Pierre Vimont. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will be visiting Jerusalem and Ramallah in mid-May, and he will continue holding talks with Kerry. The US administrations position is the missing link to a successful diplomatic effort. It is not clear yet what kind of policy risk President Barack Obama is ready to take, in light of the possibility of failure, or even a domestic risk given the US election year. The American representative in Paris will most probably not be Kerry himself, but rather a senior official or the US ambassador to France. A Quai dOrsay (French Foreign Ministry) official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that French President Francois Hollande is determined to advance toward a two-state process. A policy void is a prescription for violence or an armed intifada also directed against President Abbas. We see the Arab League as an important partner and favor the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 as the basis of a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines with a shared capital in Jerusalem. We will insist on security measures for Israel, said the source. He added that Ayrault will attempt to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that such an effort is in favor of Israeli security. Ayrault is well-coordinated with Mogherini and wants to integrate the upcoming Quartet report on a two-state solution process that lists obstacles and recommendations for its renewal into the French diplomatic move. Above all, the sense in Paris is that of urgency and of preventing both Israeli settlement expansion and Palestinian sporadic terror to destroy a realistic hope for a two-state solution. In parallel, Washington naturally attributes importance to any potential regional progress. The French initiative comes at a time when the US administration is debating intensely how to leave a viable two-state solution policy platform to the next administration. According to a US diplomat in Tel Aviv talking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Washington is fully updated on the French diplomatic efforts. The administration, while not part of the initiative, has not asked Paris to refrain from convening the conference. Given that in the past the United States has always taken the lead on such initiatives, the French move may signal a turning point in the nature of international diplomatic activity on the issue. The importance of the conference is not only in injecting hope into the region, but also in attempting to reach a global consensus on the policy issues of a two-state solution, as well as drawing up a methodology for progress. The French are aspiring to formulate a common position in the same way that the international community and the P5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany) operated when developing the joint approach on the issues of Syrian chemical weapons and Irans nuclear ambitions. Conflict resolution today demands collective international diplomacy on the highest levels. The United States can and must be part of such a consensus in the case of the French initiative and especially in regard to the Quartet position and the report that is being developed these days. For the French initiative to have a concrete impact on the future of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, it should be based on detailed positions of the Quartet approved at the conference and combined with a realistic timeline for convening a conference with the parties, leading to negotiations on a two-state solution. April 30, 2016 NAJAF, Iraq Islamist parties have dominated the Iraqi political scene since the first elections in 2005 after the fall of Saddam Hussein. As a reaction to their long history of being repressed under Saddam's regime a repression that included leftist and liberal currents those parties gained more support. The Islamist parties failure in managing the country has given a boost to secular and civil currents, and the Iraqi street is currently witnessing a significant growth of these currents through the protests that have been going on since last year. As Islamist parties now fear losing their electoral support on the Iraqi street, they are trying to move closer to the civil currents by adopting their rhetoric and protests, and by trying to scare the citizens away from the secularists. Some Islamist parties, such as the Islamic Dawa Party, have accused the secularists of intending to destroy religion in Iraqi society. In his speech April 9 in Babil province, head of the Dawa Party Nouri al-Maliki said that the goal of the ongoing protests is not reform, but "targeting the Islamist project and Islam itself." He added, "They are saying that Islamists must leave their government positions and go to their mosques and Husseiniyas [Shiite houses of worship]." Malikis speech came in response to recent demands to form a government of technocrats instead of the current sectarian and partisan quota system. Maliki expressed his concern about the demands that would overthrow the Islamist parties in favor of secular technocratic figures, saying, "When we talk about forming a government, they talk about technocrats. They say that independents should lead the country, but arent there Islamists who are technocrats and hold advanced degrees and are professionals? In fact, we have got more [of them]! It seems that Maliki is dealing with the current events by trying to scare the citizens away from the secularists and his Islamist rivals who are sympathetic to the reform project put forward by the secularists. While the secular currents are the ones that proposed a technocratic government, now the current prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, has adopted it. Abadi, who belongs to the Islamic Dawa Party, became prime minister by competing with Maliki. This resulted in a conflict between the two, creating two camps within the Dawa Party. As prime minister, Abadi has moved closer to the secularists than to the Islamists; he has obtained the support of Muqtada al-Sadr's Islamist current, which supports the idea of a technocratic government. Sadr has called for demonstrations in front of the Green Zone, and he has joined the protests there to support a technocratic government. In his April 9 speech, Maliki referred to the rapprochement between some Islamists and secularists, saying in a regretful tone that the secularists have found others to echo their technocrat argument. These Islamists then grew frightened that the vision to hand over state matters to independent technocrats would be realized. He said, "If the conspiracy to hand over the state matters to independent technocrats, then Islam and the Islamist project will be targeted. Yet the countrys situation is significantly volatile. After Abadi put forward his list of technocratic candidates, a number of Islamist parties, including the Islamic Virtue Party, directed several accusations at the candidates, including that some of them were Baathists or Salafists, and that, in the end, they are unfit to take ministerial posts. Objections to the technocrat list led to an internal consensus among a number of Islamist parties including the Badr bloc, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and the National Forces Alliance to put forward a new list of ministers on the basis of partisan quotas among themselves. The agreement was called an honor document and was signed by President Fuad Masum, parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and Prime Minister Abadi, in addition to Islamist party leaders Ammar al-Hakim, Hadi al-Amiri, Osama al-Nujaifi, Hussain al-Shahristani, Saleh al-Mutlaq, Jamal al-Karbouli, Hashem al-Hashemi and Faleh al-Fayad. After the new agreement was announced, the members of parliament of the State of Law Coalition, which is led by Maliki, and other parliamentarians held a sit-in in parliament, demanding the dismissal of Masum, Jabouri and Abadi, in preparation for a new agreement among parliamentary blocs to ensure the coalition a share in the next government. It is clear that Maliki is defending the so-called Islamist project to preserve the influence and power of his parliamentary bloc in the government and to prevent the rise of rivals, whether or not they are secular. Throughout the governments of Maliki and his successor Abadi, Iraq has been managed in a way that no one would call an Islamist project in the face of a secular project. The only common feature among those governments was failure. This is what the Shiite authority in Najaf, Ali al-Sistani, has realized. Sistani subsequently withheld his support from all Islamist parties, and the Dawa Party in particular. He criticized these parties and blamed them for the countrys deteriorating security situation and financial crisis. In fact, the relationship between Sistani and Maliki has been strained since the end of 2010, when Maliki began his second term. The Shiite authority has declined to meet Maliki since then, harshly criticized him and clearly worked to prevent him from getting a third term in office. The Islamist parties are witnessing a major crisis. They have lost the support of the religious establishment and are facing a popular protest movement opposing them, with some of the protesters being Islamist themselves. Thus, these parties are suffering from diminished religious and popular legitimacy, indicating the possibility that a secular discourse may soon emerge to rival that of the Islamist parties. April 28, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Every time Israel wages war on Gaza, it targets mosques under the justification that the Palestinian resistance uses their basements to store weapons. The Ministry of Religious Endowments in the Gaza Strip is raising funds for the reconstruction of destroyed mosques, which will cost millions of dollars. Many Gazans denounce the collection of these enormous sums to rebuild grandiose mosques in a city whose residents are burdened by poverty, unemployment and destruction. The population in Gaza is almost 2 million, 40% of which live below the poverty line and 43% suffer from unemployment, according to the Euro-Med Monitor. Anwar Abu Shawish, the head of the Directorate of Follow-up at the Ministry of Religious Endowments, told Al-Monitor, According to the Ministry of Religious Endowments statistics, there are 1,078 mosques in the Gaza Strip, 921 of which are supervised by the ministry, while 157 mosques are affiliated with political organizations or Dar al-Sunnah. These organizations merely obtain permits to build their mosques from the municipality without reference to the Ministry of Religious Endowments, and thus the latter has no power over them. The ministry has not finished rebuilding destroyed mosques due to the blockade, the lack of funds and the political differences. Fifty-four mosques are still completely destroyed, in addition to hundreds of partially destroyed mosques whose reconstruction is yet to start. He explained that the ministry collects donations from other countries and concerned institutions for rebuilding destroyed mosques and supervises the reconstruction process through committees composed of residents from the neighborhoods in which the mosques are located, an engineer, an inspector and an accountant from the ministry. Turkey has donated an amount of $4.3 million to rebuild nine mosques, while Qatar Charity provided about $800,000 for the reconstruction of two mosques. The Malaysian NGO Aman-Palestin contributed an amount of $3.691 million for the rebuilding of two mosques, and Al-Falah Foundation contributed to the reconstruction of one, he said. He explained that some institutions donate amounts that are not enough to rebuild an entire mosque, so those in charge of the mosque have to request permission the ministry to collect donations from residents. He noted that the ministry was finally able to collect $50,000 for the reconstruction of partially destroyed mosques through a local campaign called I build you a house in Heaven. Abu Shawish indicated that the cost of reconstruction for every mosque was determined based on the mosques size, taking into account the changes in the prices of construction materials. He noted that the cost of large and central mosques in the Strip often exceed $1 million, such as the Grand Mosque in Khan Yunis, whose reconstruction cost $2 million. Aman-Palestin funded Shafii Mosque, whose first phase of reconstruction was completed at a cost of $3 million. The mosque consists of four floors: one for men, the second for women. The third is used as a center for Quran memorization and the fourth as a conference hall for the neighborhoods residents, he said. Abu Shawish pointed out that the ministry does not directly receive the funds for the reconstruction of mosques. He explained that the reconstruction projects involve bids by donors in light of the political differences and the Israeli blockade on Gaza preventing the ministry from carrying out these projects. He noted that the ministry seeks to reconstruct central mosques in the Strip to be used as community centers, pointing out that the ministry is rebuilding destroyed mosques in a modest and simple way and has not built a basement for most of them, since they cost a lot of money and would give Israel the pretext of claiming that the underground floors are being used for military purposes. Regarding how the ministry decides which destroyed mosques to focus on, he said, The donors choose the mosque they intend to rebuild, but when it is left to the ministry to decide, it prioritizes the mosques located in central and densely populated areas. Abu Shawish attributed the spread of mosques in the Strip to the ministry being unable to prevent the construction of new ones, although Gaza does not need any more mosques. He noted that approximately 400 mosques were built in the Strip during the past 10 years. He explained that the endowment lands are actually allocated to building mosques either by their owners or by the donors and stressed that the ministry is trying to discourage donors from building new mosques on the land but is forced to grant them permits if they are determined to do so. He said, The ministry is not efficiently controlling the geographical distribution of mosques, adding, Mosques are mostly built on endowment lands, according to the wishes of their owners, and the ministry cannot use these lands for other projects. Abu Shawish explained that the Ministry of Religious Endowments is responsible for building mosques, not building houses or managing aid projects. Some institutions refuse to donate money for the reconstruction of mosques because it is not a priority for them, he said. Meanwhile, economic analyst Samir Abu Mudallal told Al-Monitor that substantial and illogically high sums have been collected for the reconstruction of mosques and there is no need to have multi-story facilities, especially in light of the harsh economic conditions in Gaza. There are priorities for reconstruction: It is better to build houses for displaced people living in shelters and tents, he said. However, Abu Mudallal pointed out that the reconstruction of mosques may have one positive aspect, as it does contribute some to economic recovery and provides jobs for around 40,000 workers in the construction sector. He said that the former Hamas governments Islamist trend had nothing to do with the increased number of mosques, as these mosques were built by donors and not by the Hamas government itself. He also explained that the ministry cannot prevent any individual or organization from building a new mosque because the Hamas government fears being accused of preventing their construction. Doaa Mohammed, a Gazan whose house was destroyed during the Israeli war on Gaza in 2014 and who is currently staying with relatives, believes the government is making an inappropriate judgment by reconstructing mosques instead of destroyed houses, as it could have used these funds to shelter those who were displaced from their homes. She told Al-Monitor, The ministry sets a budget for the reconstruction of mosques and send its corresponding application to the donors. The ministry should have requested less money for this purpose since it is unreasonable to build a large mosque at a cost of millions of dollars for a limited number of worshipers. Mohammed said she is mostly angry at the government for turning a blind eye to the peoples suffering and focusing its attention on building luxurious mosques. May 1, 2016 On Sept. 11, 2001, I was in the White House when Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda attacked the United States of America. As the special assistant to the president for Near East and North Africa affairs, I was responsible for dealing with the government of Saudi Arabia, bin Ladens home country and the home of 15 of the 19 hijackers who carried out mass murder that day. There has been much controversy since 9/11 about what role the Saudi government or Saudi government officials may have played in the planning, funding or execution of the attack. Most famously, 28 pages of a Senate report that addressed the Saudi role and was completed shortly after the attacks has been kept classified for over a decade. Little attention has been paid to a recent commission report that examined these issues just last year. Saudi-US relations in 2001 were stormy. President George W. Bush wanted to host Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah for a summit meeting at the White House. With King Fahd incapacitated by illness, the crown prince was running the kingdom. He refused to see the president because he was angry at Bushs open tilt toward Israel during the second Palestinian intifada. The crown prince felt strongly that Bush was siding with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a brutal crackdown in the West Bank and Gaza Strip of the Palestinian uprising. I had traveled twice with Secretary of State Colin Powell to see Abdullah that year, once in Riyadh and once in Paris, to explain the presidents position and urge the crown prince to come to Washington. He refused categorically. Only in early September, when Bush wrote a letter to the crown prince laying out his support for the creation of a Palestinian state to live in peace with Israel, did the Saudi leadership relent and agree to a meeting. In dealing with the Saudis my principal interlocutor was Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to Washington and dean of the diplomatic corps in the city. I had known and worked with Bandar since 1990. I had seen him less than 72 hours before the attacks, and I spoke to him often on Sept. 11 as news of al-Qaedas responsibility became clear to the US government. It did not take long for accusations to begin that the Saudis were involved in the attacks planning and or funding. Bandars wife, Princess Haifa al-Faisal, was even accused of sending money to two of the Saudi hijackers who had lived in San Diego while preparing for the attack. Zacarias Moussaoui, who was convicted for involvement in terrorism and has widely been called the 20th hijacker, claimed Bandar was involved in funding al-Qaeda along with Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and Princess Haifas brother. Moussaoui made many other allegations, including that the Saudi Embassy had been involved in a plot to shoot down Air Force One during the Clinton administration. Saudi bashing became a popular media activity. The Saudis denied all these and other accusations. The 9/11 Commission in 2004 examined the possible Saudi role in the plot closely and concluded there was no evidence to support the claims that the Saudi government or Saudi officials were involved in the attacks. The staff report released separately that investigated the funding of the attack concluded, Despite persistent public speculation, there is no evidence that Princess Haifa bin Faisal provided any funds to the hijackers either directly or indirectly. (Oddly, the 9/11 Commission never contacted or interviewed me.) But because the 28 pages remain classified the issue remains very controversial. There is another report that has gotten far too little attention in the debate. In 2014, Congress required the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct a special review of how it had implemented the recommendations of the 9/11 report. The FBI was also asked to review if there was any new evidence not available to the 9/11 Commission that would change its findings concerning the perpetrators of the attack and their supporters, if any, in foreign governments. The FBI set up a commission to do so. Three outside experts agreed to head the commission: former Attorney General Ed Meese, former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer and Georgetown University professor Bruce Hoffman, one of the foremost experts on terrorism in the country. The FBI gave the commission full access to its records and employees. The commission also reviewed documents captured from al-Qaeda since 9/11, including material found in bin Ladens hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011 to see if they shed any new light. They also had access to the information acquired from al-Qaeda detainees. The FBI commission report was published last year and is available online. It found that no new information obtained since the 9/11 Commission 2004 report would change the 9/11 Commissions findings regarding responsibilities for the 9/11 attacks. The 2015 FBI commission specifically looked at some of the accusations about alleged Saudi involvement and found them not credible. After reviewing the material from Abbottabad and from Guantanamo, it concludes, None of this evidence identifies any additional participants in the planning or carrying out of the 9/11 attacks beyond those identified in the 9/11 Commission report. Indeed, the new material available in the last decade since the 2004 report does strengthen and enhance the cases against existing plotters identified by the commission in 2004. The 2004 report had said, The Commission staff found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or as individual senior officials knowingly support or supported al Qaeda. The commission did report that al-Qaeda did fundraising inside the kingdom before 9/11 and that the Saudi authorities were negligent in preventing this. Indeed, the Saudis only became determined to fight al-Qaeda at home and abroad after bin Laden declared war on the royal family in 2003 and instigated a wave of terrorist attacks inside Saudi Arabia. The counterterrorism campaign that defeated al-Qaeda in the kingdom was led by Mohammed bin Nayef, who is now the crown prince. The FBI report is a serious and credible investigation of what new material is available to shed light on the 9/11 attacks. It should be given more attention in the debate about whether the Saudis or others had a hand in the attacks. Of course, the Obama administration should also declassify appropriately the 28 pages from the old report so everyone can see what is there. If there is a smoking gun that implicates the Saudis, it should be thoroughly investigated. That, however, seems unlikely. May 2, 2016 TEHRAN, Iran After having controlled Irans legislature for more than a decade, hard-liners have resolutely been hit with a big defeat in the countrys parliamentary elections. In the first round of voting on Feb. 26, Reformists and moderates got massive support and secured complete victory in the Iranian capital. All of Tehrans 30 seats were won by the joint Reformist-moderate ticket. Overall, the Feb. 26 vote gave Reformists and moderates 83 out of parliaments 290 seats, while the Principlists got 64 and independents won 55. In many cities other than Tehran, elections went to a second round as a number of candidates failed to gain the necessary 25% quorum of votes. The runoff, which was held April 29, was over the 68 remaining seats lesser in number than the first round, but nevertheless momentous since it determines whether one side will have a majority. The results of the runoff have baffled the hard-liners as much as the outcome of the first round. Based on the results published by Iranian media, 38 of the contested 68 seats were won by supporters of President Hassan Rouhani. Overall, the Reformists and the moderates are now considered the biggest faction, with 121 seats in parliament. The Principlists and independents have meanwhile won 83 and 81 seats, respectively. The independent members of parliament will play a major role in the decisions of the next parliament. It is still not fully known which side they favor. However, a number of moderates ran as independents. Iranian political analyst Hossein Kanani Moghaddam told Al-Monitor, [The independent parliamentarians] are mostly close to [incumbent Speaker] Ali Larijani. He added, I think the independent members of parliament will form an alliance with the Reformists and will support Rouhanis policies. Of further note, the number of women in the coming parliament has increased to 17 all of whom are Reformist or moderate. It is possible that one more woman may be added to the list. After having won a seat in the Feb. 26 round of polling, Reformist candidate Minou Khaleghi was disqualified by the Guardian Council. The Rouhani administration has not accepted the electoral watchdogs disqualification, arguing that it is not legal to disqualify a candidate who had been cleared and then won a seat. Indeed, in a speech on the occasion of the May 1 International Labor Day, Rouhani implicitly declared his opposition to the ruling by saying, For the first time, 18 women have entered the parliament, and this is a record and we are happy that our dear women are taking part in all arenas, and especially in politics. Hard-liner reactions The victory of pro-Rouhani candidates in both rounds of parliamentary polling has yet to be acknowledged by some hard-liners. The hard-line dailies Vatan-e Emrooz and Kayhan both tried to portray Principlists as the winners, claiming that they have won a majority. If this was true, it can be assumed that it would have been the top story rather than a little box on the front page. In contrast, Raja News, which is close to the hard-line parliamentary Endurance Front faction, ran the headline, The victory of the [Reformist-moderate] List of Hope. Given how hard-liners both before and during the polling went all out in persuading people not to vote for moderates and Reformists, their loss has left them humiliated. To defeat the pro-Rouhani camp, the hard-liners had first expressed opposition to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Indeed, during the negotiations that led to the nuclear deal, the hard-liners at one point proposed a bill to stop the talks. That effort was only foiled after the intervention of Larijani. After the JCPOA was agreed to on July 14, 2015, the hard-liners were determined to prevent it from being ratified by parliament. However, they failed in that, too. Thus, the next phase of attacks on Rouhani and his allies involved belittling and devaluing the nuclear deal in the eyes of people an approach that has been embraced by the hard-line-controlled state broadcaster. Indeed, ahead of the Feb. 26 vote, state TV did not cover election-related stories in the usual manner. This was met with criticism by moderates, who implied that the state broadcaster was striving to lower the turnout as high voter participation tends to favor Reformists and moderates. In perhaps the most telling reaction, when results of the first round of voting were announced, some hard-liners shocked at their complete defeat in Tehran resorted to comparing the people of the Iranian capital with that of Kufa, a city about 170 kilometers (105 miles) south of Iraqs capital, Baghdad. In Shiite teachings, the people of Kufa are notorious for having abandoned Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, as he was faced with battle against forces of the caliph at the time, Yazid. If anything, the results of the polls may signal that the hard-liners anti-Rouhani propaganda backfired. The outcome of the Feb. 26 and April 29 votes shows that only 12 out of 80 members of parliament who proposed the bill to stop the nuclear negotiations succeeded in defeating Reformist and moderate contenders. Three years into a hard and grueling term, Rouhani, who has been challenged repeatedly by hard-liners in the parliament, may now feel more assured and relaxed about pursuing his stated domestic political agenda. Indeed, in his International Labor Day speech, he said, People chose the best people in the elections, and we are happy that the next parliament will be more coordinated with the government. Moghaddam, the Iranian political analyst, told Al-Monitor, President Rouhani will have a stronger hand in solving the countrys problems when the parliament is in line with him. The president should seize this opportunity and take advantage of it to remove the obstacles from his way. May 2, 2016 Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) estimate, with great caution, that the wave of terror that broke out in October has been stopped. There are many reasons for the significant decline in terror attacks against Israelis and the motivations of would-be attackers. The most significant reason is Israels approach of restraint. This is an essential difference compared with the approach that led Israel to use excessive military force at the beginning of the second intifada (2000-2005), which exacerbated the situation by increasing the motivation of Palestinian organizations to gather forces and respond, and the support of residents of the Gaza Strip and West Bank for acts of revenge against the Israelis. Israel and the PA dont talk much about the successful security cooperation between the two sides, which has also helped to stop the wave of terror, at least for now. Most of the security cooperation focuses on the field of intelligence. Unlike the past, these efforts arent targeted at the armed Palestinian organizations and terror activists in the territories, but at locating the individual assailant. Most of the recent attacks, excluding the attack on bus No. 12 in Jerusalem, which was attributed to a Hamas cell in Bethlehem, have been carried out by young people who did not belong to any organization. At first, Israel and the PA believed that it would be difficult to impossible to foresee the intent to attack on the part of unaffiliated youths, and therefore also difficult to formulate an effective warning system. Despite these assumptions, in recent months the Palestinian security services have examined Facebook pages of young people who carried out attacks and those of young people who planned an attack but backed out at the last minute. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center has worked in a similar fashion. And so it became clear that most attackers gave a broad hint on social media of their intention to carry out an attack. There are many examples. For instance, there was Mohand Halabi, who carried out an attack in Jerusalem in October where Rabbi Nehemiah Lavi and soldier Aharon Bennett were murdered. Halabi wrote on his Facebook page before he went out to attack, Whats happening at Al-Aqsa [Mosque compound] is whats happening to our holy sites and the path of our prophet I dont think the people will accept the humiliation. The people will go on intifada. Or, for instance, Fouad Abu Rajab al-Tamimi, who carried out an attack on Saladin Street in Jerusalem in March where two policemen were injured one fatally, the other moderately. Tamimi left a goodbye letter for his parents, where he wrote, Dont think of the reason for my action, I did it in solidarity with the martyrs. A few days before he set out to attack, he shared on his Facebook page the ten commandments for every martyr a document written by another terrorist, Bahaa Aliyan, who carried out a shooting and stabbing attack at the Jerusalem neighborhood Armon Hanatziv in October. On April 26, Israeli security forces arrested three Palestinians in an apartment in East Jerusalem on suspicion that they intended to carry out an attack. A Palestinian security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al-Monitor that their arrest was aided by the Palestinian security services having established a monitoring system for suspicious profiles of young people from the West Bank. Some of the youths praise martyrs, said the source, but qualified this statement by saying that not every Palestinian who posts a photo of a martyr or praises a martyr is planning an attack. There needs to be another hint [for the intent to attack] that would light the red warning signal for us. About a month ago, said the source, unusual activity was identified on the part of two young women from Ramallah who exchanged suspicious messages. They spoke about protecting the Palestinian people, their wish to end the humiliation of Zionist occupation and their desire ''to contribute to the future of the exalted people in its homeland Palestine.'' In this case, the girls were not arrested. The Palestinian security services work to prevent attacks through what they call the educational approach. It takes place in two steps, according to the level of determination to carry out an attack as it has been identified on social networks. The first, and preferred step, is instruction in the classes attended by the young Palestinian who was identified as interested in carrying out an attack. Representatives of the PA are sent to the classrooms, where they pleasantly explain to students why they shouldnt carry out an attack. They mostly speak to the young people on the emotional plane and note that they would cause great pain to their families, and that their acts would not bring the liberation of their homeland. We also explain to them that the PA is working on the diplomatic level and intends to achieve a Palestinian state with the support of the world, the Palestinian source said. We further explain that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas opposes violence and that the Palestinians must prove their maturity and responsibility. Even when young people claim that they have experienced violence and pain from the Israelis, the response they get is that we must show that we are better than [the Israelis] and that we dont act in violence. We tell them Dont die, live in order to create change, and that they will determine the future of the Palestinian people. A hint at the educational activity that has brought, according to sources in the PA, a significant decrease in the motivation of young people to attack, could be heard in what Abbas said in an interview with Channel 2 journalist Ilana Dayan on March 31, telling about searches in Palestinian schools, followed by the message ''We want you Palestinian youth to live.'' The second, and less preferred step, is to personally approach the parents of youths who Palestinian security is convinced are planning an attack out of despair, after it becomes clear that the talks at school have not helped to tone down their Facebook messages. Were working hard to save the lives of our young people, said the Palestinian source. We know that because of the right-wing Israeli government and the incitement in the Israeli media the huge effort were making is not appreciated [by Israelis]. We are not waiting for your thanks or for your appreciation, but at least dont accuse us of incitement, he concluded angrily. If the relative quiet will continue and the educational approach will turn out to be effective, we could be convinced that an intifada can be stopped with wisdom and with judgment, and not only through massive aggression. May 2, 2016 During a speech May 2, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the US military presence in the Persian Gulf. "Today, the enemy makes statements that are bigger than their mouths," said Khamenei. "They sit and scheme that Iran must not have military drills in the Persian Gulf. What a strange thing to say. They come from that side of the world and conduct drills. What are you guys doing here?" Addressing the United States, Khamenei joked, "Go to the 'Gulf of Pigs,'" referring to the Bay of Pigs in southwest Cuba, where the United States supported an unsuccessful invasion to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro in 1961. He added, "What are you doing in the Persian Gulf? The Persian Gulf is our home. The Persian Gulf is the place for the presence of the great nation of Iran." He said that Iran would continue to have a presence, hold drills and show its strength in the Persian Gulf. Khamenei's comments are in response to an April 28 resolution by Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., regarding Iranian naval actions in the Persian Gulf. While the Forbes resolution hardly made news in the United States, it was the top story on Kayhan newspaper's front page May 2. Kayhan is one of the premier conservative papers in Iran, and its editor is chosen by Khamenei. Forbes, who is chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, wrote that Iran had on a number of occasions failed to "adhere to international maritime law" and by conducting military drills has "undermined stability" in the Persian Gulf. Iran held naval drills in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean in January. They held a joint naval drill with Oman in December 2015. One of the main incidents cited in Forbes' resolution was the January incident in which Iran seized two US Navy boats, which had crossed into Iranian waters, and took 10 sailors captive. The sailors were shortly released, but the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later released pictures of the sailors surrendering, which angered many American politicians. Khamenei raised the issue of the military drills to argue that when Iran avoids showing its strength out of fear or consideration for the enemy, specifically the United States, the enemy will demand more concessions and become bold. Addressing the crowd of teachers on the occasion of Teachers Day in Iran, Khamenei also warned that Iran was facing an "international hegemonic system" and that this system has designs on Iran's youth. He said that rather than using military means, this system would attempt to change the culture of the youth in a way that is more inclined to their system rather than the indigenous culture. Khamenei lamented that in some places "instead of Persian, English is promoted and it has got to the point that English is being taught in kindergarten." He said that Iranian officials have had no specific plans to confront this plan by enemy countries to spread their culture in Iran and should focus on education that teaches an "identity of independence, honor and religiousness." May 1, 2016 The Islamic State's (IS) influence has penetrated Saudi Arabia so successfully via social media that some Saudi youth are being persuaded to kill soldiers and police, even when they are family members. Salafists ultraconservative Muslims believe in the concepts of al-wala wal-bara, which some scholars interpret as loyalty to all that is Islamic and disavowal of everything not considered Islamic. They believe these concepts are a main pillar of monotheism and the basis of Islam and are an expression of the love of God. IS is often said to adhere to "Salafi jihadism." Much like al-Qaeda, IS accuses Saudi Arabia of being an infidel country and describes its rulers as tyrants, apostates and being loyal to the Crusaders. Both organizations believe Saudi soldiers in the army and security services are killing the mujahedeen, or holy warriors, and are just as much infidels as the country's rulers. Faris Ahmed Jamaan al-Showeel al-Zahrani, one of al-Qaeda's most prominent theorists, believed all soldiers of a tyrant government, including Saudi Arabia, are infidels. In his 2002 book, Al-Bahith fi Jwaz Qatl Afrad Thobat al-Mabahith ("Inquiry Into the Ruling of Death Upon Soldiers and Officers of the Security Forces"), Zahrani relied on religious texts to justify the killing of Saudi secret service members or police officers. (The Saudi government executed Zahrani in January.) In a recent demonstration of how IS has infiltrated the minds of Saudi youth, on March 11 the Saudi Interior Ministry announced six wanted IS members were killed in a shootout with police in the country's northwest. Those killed were suspected of being involved in the killing of their cousin Sgt. Badr Hamdi al-Rashidi on Feb. 16 after they allegedly lured him to a deserted area. The suspects are between the ages of 18 and 28; the oldest among them, Wael al-Rashidi, appeared in video footage released right before the murder threatening to kill Saudi soldiers if they did not quit their jobs. This murder is not the first against the backdrop of the spread of IS supporters among Saudi families. Several incidents had already taken place, including the Sept. 24 murder of Madus al-Anzi who had only recently joined the Saudi army troops at the hands of his IS-affiliated cousins, ages 18 and 21. Two days after the incident, the Saudi security authorities announced one killer had been arrested and one killed by police. On July 16, Abdullah al-Rasheed, 19, allegedly killed his uncle Rashed al-Sufiyan, a colonel in the Saudi security forces, then took Sufiyan's car to carry out a suicide attack against a checkpoint in Riyadh. After the murder, the colonels sister received a recorded voice message in which the killer, her son, revealed that he killed his uncle for being an apostate and a soldier for taghouts (idolaters). This violence attests to how deeply IS ideology has penetrated the tribal and family fabric in Saudi Arabia. IS is recruiting Saudis less than 30 years of age on Twitter. This age category represents a group that is enthusiastic and easily influenced by IS productions such as impassioned anthems and scenes promoting jihad against polytheist foreigners and Arab "idolaters." Saudi security authorities are supervising social media sites, tracking those promoting jihad and those who sympathize with terrorists. Moreover, many religious institutions have prohibited any activity promoting the ideas of IS and have banned Muslims from joining the group. The Council of Senior Scholars, the highest religious authority in Saudi Arabia, had already declared in September 2014 that joining IS or al-Qaeda is a heinous crime under Sharia law. A number of religious figures in Saudi Arabia have warned Saudi youth not to get involved with IS. In a Friday sermon in August, the Grand Mosque Imam Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid described IS as a sinful and criminal organization. Yet former Saudi Shura Council member Khalil Abdullah al-Khalil told Al-Arabiya news channel July 25 that 60% of young Saudis are ready to join IS. This would indicate that Saudi Arabia has failed to convince its own prominent scholars and Salafists that IS ideology is a dangerous departure from Islam. Through its media publications and the statements of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, IS is setting a model of the Muslim imam who memorizes the Quran, compared with the Arab rulers who are not proficient in reading Quranic verses. Baghdadi appears as a combatant commander who defies the West, as a ruler who cares about the rights of Muslims and defends the oppressed a stark contrast to the rulers of the Gulf whom Baghdadi describes as dependent on Western powers. To promote its ideology and wars, IS relies on war-related religious texts from the Quran and the Sunnah. These texts are found in abundance in Sunni Islam, and even the most prominent Saudi senior scholars, including Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, a member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, apparently cannot interpret them contrary to the approach adopted by IS in its fight against all those who have a different belief. These texts include Quranic verses such as the verse of al-Anfal (Spoils of War): And fight them until there is no more Fitnah and [until] religion, all of it, is for Allah." Young mens attraction to IS is a global phenomenon that goes beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia. But when a young man hailing from the monotheistic land of the Two Holy Mosques proclaims his allegiance to someone hundreds or thousands of miles away, disavows his country's rulers and kills in cold blood any member of his own family for being a Saudi soldier, this means that the 300-year-old partnership between Salafism and the monarchy has come to an end. Their differences have led to confrontation and separation, and each side will seek to find one or more new partners. May 2, 2016 Ismail Kahraman, the speaker of the Turkish parliament, caused an uproar April 25 by suggesting that the principle of secularism be stricken from the new constitution. Secularism has been a thorny subject in Turkey since March 3, 1924, when the Ottoman caliphate was abolished. As scholars observe a rising trend of Islamophobia, there is simultaneously growing interest in the idea of a caliphate in Turkey. The international Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, established decades prior to the Islamic State (IS) in 1953, emerged with the ultimate goal of resuscitating the caliphate. With a small yet growing group of dedicated followers, Hizb ut-Tahrirs Wilayat Turkiye has been quite active in organizing rallies, conferences and seminars for the past year. In April, the group ran a weeklong social media campaign called Oust colonialists, end terror. On April 22, it held a conference on The Issue of Terror, Real Culprits and Lasting Solution at which five speakers discussed why Muslim-majority countries are facing an increasing number of conflicts, why terror attacks have skyrocketed in Turkey, who the real culprits are behind them as well as what Muslims can and should do about these problems. The answers were clear and straightforward. Hizb ut-Tahrir members said that colonial powers in Turkey were those supporting and generating terror. Therefore, to end terror attacks, they proposed that the US and British embassies be permanently closed and all their personnel expelled. Hizb ut-Tahrir sent letters to the embassies directly asking them to leave Turkey. Hizb ut-Tahrir is not shy about criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Although Hizb ut-Tahrir appreciates the leadership role President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plays in defense of the rights of Muslims, the group finds it insufficient and ineffective. In Hizb ut-Tahrir's video presentation about Western countries supporting terror in Turkey, the photos in the background were poignant: First Erdogans picture would appear with words asking the West, Are you with us or with the PYD? in reference to the Democratic Union Party, a Syrian Kurdish group. Then Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglus photo would appear with his statement, Just because we think differently on the PYD, we cannot quarrel with the United States. Hizb ut-Tahrirs activities have generated not only an increasing number of supporters but also angry critics. On March 10, civil society organizations in support of secular values lodged an official complaint with the public prosecutor against Hizb ut-Tahrirs seminars. On social media, several comments appeared asking how a terror organization can hold conferences in the center of Ankara. Some seasoned pundits have stated that Hizb ut-Tahrirs conferences in Turkey are an indication of Turkish support for jihadis and IS. But is this really the case? Mahmut Kar, the media bureau chief for Hizb ut-Tahrir Turkey, told Al-Monitor, One must question why a group that is proposing concrete and strong solutions to the terror problem of the country, a group whose members do not even carry a Swiss army knife, is charged with terrorism. Hizb ut-Tahrir holds seminars and conferences to reach out to other groups. The party is open to discussion and always eager to take questions from the domestic or foreign press. It is quite telling to see that deep rifts within Turkish society prevent secular analysts from approaching Hizb ut-Tahrir and speaking with it directly. Also of note, Hizb ut-Tahrir members almost always appear in designer suits, sometimes wearing ties, with well-groomed beards. Though women occupy a separate section in their audiences, Hizb ut-Tahrir does not require the full face veil. Women form an active part of the organization. Kar was straightforward. Hizb ut-Tahrir condemns any attacks on civilians anywhere; it is not acceptable to Islam. We submitted letters to the US and British embassies in Ankara because we believe these two are the countries that support terrorism and themselves devour terrorism. We also acknowledge that from time to time, the Turkish state itself feeds upon terrorism for domestic policy goals. We observe that the Turkish leaders have been followers of the UK and currently the US governments. Cutting diplomatic, economic and political links with these countries may be against realpolitik. But then we must remember that realpolitik means to accept the conditions that you have. Then we go in vicious cycles. If you act according to realpolitik, how do you end terror? For Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is critical of nationalism and colonialism, the answer is the reinstatement of the caliphate. The group is critical of the brutal methods of IS as attempts to tarnish the concept of the caliphate and view the group as a US project. It has repeatedly condemned IS attacks. Kar told Al-Monitor that in contemporary Turkey, the caliphate is widely discussed for two reasons: IS brutality and the fact that Muslim populations lack a leader. The argument, for many, is over whether Erdogans executive presidency is enough or a caliphate is needed for Islamic unity. Hence in early March, Hizb ut-Tahrirs seminars in Istanbul and Ankara did not question the reasons for a caliphate, but discussed the kind of caliphate that would be best for believers. Kar said, In March, we gathered more than 5,000 participants who attended the seminar with a yearning for the caliphate. This burning desire for Muslims to live under the rule of the caliphate was always there, but from time to time it was suppressed by foreign demands such as democracy. Today Muslims in the region, including Turkey, see that promises of democracy have failed them and it is not the way for them. Hizb ut-Tahrir never lied to the Muslims about these truths. Kar also observed, In Turkey, politics fails to provide solutions to the problems. Indeed, this view is common to different religious groups and civil society organizations in Turkey. So while anti-AKP groups are fighting each other over whether the AKP can be trusted with sustaining a secular system in the new constitution, multiple Islamist groups are flourishing all over Turkey. To brand all groups with black flags and Arabic script as terrorist and to criticize each Islamist group without bothering to understand their individual demands may not be the most effective method to sustain a secular system in Turkey. May 2, 2016 Nowadays, one of the least enviable positions in Washington is that of a government spokesperson who is required to give daily briefings to the media. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a frequent critic, recently lashed out against US policy regarding Syrian Kurds. Erdogan referred to US State Department spokesman John Kirbys remarks that Washington does not see the Syrian Kurdish nationalist Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as terrorist organizations. In Kirby's press briefing April 28, reporters brought up Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter's statement earlier that day acknowledging "the direct link" between YPG forces in Syria and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The United States has officially designated the latter as a terrorist group, but not the YPG. Kirby found himself in a lengthy exchange with a journalist. Kirby insisted, "Our position on the PKK and the YPG have not changed," and, as if pleading, he asked, "Can we move on to North Korea?" The reporter persisted, "Can you say, just again, it's not linked to the PKK you support it [YPG]. If it was linked to a terrorist group, you wouldn't support it otherwise?" Kirby's response must have pleased the Syrian Kurds, while causing dismay in Ankara: "YPG's not a designated foreign terrorist organization. PKK is. Nothing's changed about that." Washington's position is understandable. The Syrian Kurds have proved to be a most dependable fighting force on the ground against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. After Russia entered the scene as a staunch supporter of the Kurds, the United States apparently became wary of a possible shift in the Kurds' alliances. One of America's most valuable allies in Syria could be lost to Russia. Moscow's relationship with the Syrian Kurds is apparent. Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said PYD militias are coordinating with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Russian air force. Hammond told the British Parliament, "What we have seen over the last weeks is very disturbing evidence of coordination between Syrian Kurdish forces, the Syrian regime and the Russian air force, which are making us distinctly uneasy about the Kurds' role in all of this." Acknowledging Turkey's concerns, Hammond said, "Turkey has a problem with links between the PKK and Syrian Kurdish groups, PKK being a terrorist group, designated as such in Turkey and indeed in the UK." What was interesting about Hammond's remarks is that they followed a blunt statement by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who called Syrian Kurdish forces "hired soldiers" of Russia. Addressing members of his ruling Justice and Development Party on Feb. 16, he said, "Neither Daesh [IS] nor YPG are primary components of these territories. The YPG and the PYD are legionnaires and hired soldiers of Russia." Davutoglu added, "PYD and YPG are puppets of Russia and subcontracted organizations used by the blood-spiller Assad regime and Russia." Notwithstanding the highly debatable nature of his description of the PYD and the YPG as puppets of Russia, not many are contesting the Russian connection with "the Kurdish national movement," a label used by some Kurds to cover all groups, institutions and organizations under the PKK umbrella. Some months ago while in Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, I heard from credible sources that the Qandil Mountains, where the current political-military leadership of the PKK is located, is full of Russian advisers. When I asked when that happened, I received the sarcastic response, "Since you [Turks] downed the Russian fighter jet" Nov. 24. It is very likely that Russian military assistance extends to Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) as well. In March, another credible source who had just been in Rojava told me there seems to be a tacit deal between the Americans and Russians with respect to supporting the PYD and the YPG: While the United States is determined to support the Syrian Kurds east of the Euphrates toward Raqqa and beyond, the Russians will unconditionally support them to the west of the Euphrates, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. I am also told that the Syrian Kurds, while aware of the "generosity" of Russian support, are still careful not to upset the Americans and lose that support. In Sulaimaniyah, I asked PYD leader Salih Muslim about the validity of everything I had heard. He did not reject these allegations outright. However, he said Americans have to be more forthcoming. If they really want Raqqa to be retaken, he said, the capture of Manbij is mandatory to cut to the supply route between Turkey and IS which, according to him, still functions, although it has diminished in the past year. It's noteworthy that he spared Russia any critical remarks. The Syrian Kurds opened a Moscow office in February and Muslim was a regular visitor to the capital of Russia. Russia already has a very different stand than that of the United States and the European Union, not only on the Syrian Kurds but also on the PKK. In stark contrast to the United States and most European Union member states, Russia has not put the PKK on its blacklist. In October, Russia's ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov, said his country did not regard the group as a terrorist organization. "Neither the PKK nor the PYD are considered terrorist organizations by either Russia or the United Nations Security Council," Karlov told Russian News Agency Ria Novosti. If the close historical links between Russia and the Kurds are revisited, the current interaction between the two sides can be better understood. Russian involvement with the Kurds goes all the way back to the 19th century when Russians backed the Kurdish rebellions and nationalist organizations led by the powerful Bedirhan (Badrkhan) family, the semi-independent emirs of Cizre in southeastern Anatolia whose influence extended into the territories of todays Iraqi Kurdistan. A scion of that family, the last independent Kurdish emir of Cizre, Abdurrezzak, was known to be a Russophile. During post-Czarist Russia, the Russian interest in the Kurds continued. In 1923, Soviet authorities established "Red Kurdistan" as an autonomous Kurdish entity between Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan over the Lachin corridor, which is still contested between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Red Kurdistan existed until 1930, when Joseph Stalin disbanded it. Nevertheless, Stalin did become the main supporter of the first independent Kurdish state in modern history, the Mahabad Republic, known by the name of its capital, in Iran's Kurdistan province. The Mahabad Republic was declared in December 1945 by the Iranian Kurdish nationalist leader Qazi Muhammad. Mullah Mustafa Barzani, the father of current Kurdish Regional Government (South Kurdistan) President Massoud Barzani, was the defense minister and commander-in-chief of Mahabad's armed forces. The Mahabad Republic collapsed after Soviet forces withdrew from Iran in 1946. The withdrawal deprived the independent Kurdish state of its major backer, and the advancing Iranian army brought Kurdish independence to an end and executed their leader Muhammad and his companions in the main square of Mahabad. Mullah Mustafa Barzani and his expeditionary force managed to escape, first back to Iraqi Kurdistan and then by walking through the mountainous Kurdish territory to the Soviet Union, where they took refuge. The Kurdish "Long March" of Barzani and his survival made him the legendary nationalist leader of all Kurds. With such credentials, he led the Kurdish struggle in Iraq from 1961 until 1975, to be replaced mainly by two different Kurdish nationalist organizations. One was the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by his sons, Idris and Massoud. The other, which broke from the KDP, was the left-wing Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by Jalal Talabani, who later became the first president of Iraq after the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime. Mullah Mustafa Barzani's and his companions' 12-year exile in the Soviet Union, which started in Nakhchivan, continued in Azerbaijan proper and for the longest period in Uzbekistan, until he finally moved to Moscow, where he cemented the Soviet (and then Russian) connection to the Kurds be they in different parts of Kurdistan or among the Kurdish diaspora. During the Cold War, as the Soviets established their influence on the Baathist regimes of Syria and Iraq, Moscows relations with the Kurds took a back seat, but never waned completely. Very recently, I learned that following the Gulf War of 1991, Talabani sent an emissary to Yevgeny Primakov (1929-2015), the Soviet-Russian intelligence chief who also served as the prime minister of Russia in 1998-1999, asking how to conduct Kurdish relations with Saddam's regime in Baghdad. Primakov offered to mediate between the Kurds and Saddam, while also being supportive of Kurdish self-rule. With a revived interest in the Kurds, partly as a result of the deterioration of their relations with Turkey over Syria, the Russians are once again a factor in the Middle East as efficiently as its Soviet predecessor during the Cold War. The Kurds are instrumental in the Russian re-entry to the Middle East, and the Americans are right to be worried and to fine-tune their policies regarding the Kurds and Ankara. The title of a recent article in an American periodical is perhaps quite close to the truth: "Vladimir Putin, Godfather of Kurdistan?" Highlands James Beard collage.jpg Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham, Ala., is a finalist for the 2016 James Beard Foundation Award for the most outstanding restaurant in America. Highlands pastry chef Dolester Miles, lower right, is a James Beard finalist for outstanding pastry chef. (Left photo by Tamika Moore/tmoore@al.com; bottom right photo courtesy of Highlands Bar and Grill) Birmingham's Highlands Bar and Grill makes its eighth straight trip to the James Beard Foundation Awards tonight as one of five finalists for the most outstanding restaurant in America. Despite an impressive streak that has only been matched by one other restaurant in the country, Highlands has yet to win the top prize. Maybe 2016 will finally be the year. This year's other finalists for outstanding restaurant are Alinea, Chicago; Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, Colo.; Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York City; and The Spotted Pig, New York City. Also tonight, Highlands Bar and Grill pastry chef Dolester Miles is a first-time finalist for the country's most outstanding pastry chef The other finalists in her category are Meg Galus from Boka in Chicago, Dahlia Narvaez from Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, Ghaya Oliveira from Daniel in New York City, Jennifer Yee from Lafayette in New York City, and Maura Kilpatrick from Oleana in Cambridge, Mass. All of this year's chef and restaurant award winners will be announced beginning at 6 p.m. CDT at Chicago's Civic Opera House. The awards show will be streamed live on the Beard Foundation's website. The outstanding restaurant winner is always the next-to-last award presented. In honor of Highlands' eighth straight James Beard Award nomination, here are eight things to know about Birmingham's -- and Alabama's -- most decorated restaurant: In the beginning: Frank Stitt, who grew up in Cullman and later trained under Alice Waters at her restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., opened Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham's Five Points South in November 1982. Practically overnight, Highlands raised the bar for every other restaurant in the Magic City. And within two years, Esquire critic John Mariani included Highlands on the magazine's list of the Best New Restaurants in America. Setting the trends: Long before the farm-to-table movement became the trendy thing to do, Stitt started using freshly picked, locally grown ingredients from state and regional farmers and foragers to create a seasonal menu that applies classic French cooking techniques to traditional Southern dishes. While the menu changes daily, a few signature items, such as the stone-ground baked grits with country ham, are constants. To see a full menu, go here. The dessert queen: Miles, the pastry chef, has worked at Highlands since the doors opened nearly 34 years ago. Although she started out making salads and cold appetizers, Miles soon convinced Stitt to let her make some of the desserts. In 1988, he promoted her to head pastry chef, and these days, she has her hands in almost all of the tarts, pies, cakes and cobblers served at all four of Frank and Pardis Stitt's restaurants: Highlands, Bottega, Bottega Cafe and Chez Fonfon. About that Susan Lucci thing: Going zero for its previous seven outstanding restaurant nominations has earned Highlands the dubious (but not altogether accurate) distinction of being the Susan Lucci of the James Beard Awards. First of all, Highlands hasn't even come close to matching the former soap star's streak of 18 consecutive failed nominations. (Lucci finally won on her 19th time around.) But more importantly, just about any restaurant in America would sell its soul to be a James Beard finalist for what is now eight years in a row. It is an honor, not a jinx. Speaking of streaks: That said, in the 25-year history of the James Beard Awards, only one other restaurant has been nominated for the top prize eight years in a row. And that one, San Francisco's Boulevard, finally won in year eight. So with that precedent, maybe eight will be the lucky number for Highlands this year. And, oh by the way, it's not like Highlands has never won a James Beard Award. In 2001, Stitt was selected best chef in the Southeast, and in 2011, he was inducted into the foundation's Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America, a group that includes such culinary legends as Julia Child, Graham Kerr, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse. Maintaining a standard of excellence: While it might be tempting for Highlands to rest on its laurels, Stitt and his wife, Pardis, are constantly pushing everyone in the restaurant -- from line cooks to servers on up the chef de cuisine -- to get better. "This just sort of makes me want to go back and to try harder and just be more inspired," Stitt said in 2014, after Highland's sixth straight trip to the James Beard Awards without taking home the top prize. Those aren't just words, either. Following a visit to Highlands last year, influential national restaurant critic Bill Addison of Eater wrote: "The restaurant remains as timeless and relevant as ever." The Highlands family tree: In Birmingham, it's hard to walk more than a couple of blocks without passing a restaurant that was opened by a chef who previously worked at Highlands or Bottega or Bottega Cafe or Chez Fonfon -- or all of the above. Among them are Chris Hastings, a 2012 James Beard winner for best chef in the South, of Hot and Hot Fish Club and OvenBird; Chris Dupont of Cafe Dupont; Chris Newsome of Ollie Irene; Brian Somershield and Geoff Lockert of El Barrio and Paramount; and Mauricio Papapietro of Brick & Tin. Also, Drew Robinson is the executive chef for the Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q chain, and Clif Holt is the cooking school instructor at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. What you need to know if you want to go: Highlands Bar and Grill is at 2011 11th Ave. South in Birmingham. The restaurant is open for dinner only from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Reservations are accepted as early as one month in advance. Call 205-939-1400 after 10 a.m. Central time Mondays through Fridays or after 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Reservations are also available online through Open Table at http://www.opentable.com/highlands-bar-and-grill. "Captain America: Civil War" graces movie screens Friday, May 6, in what promises to be an epic superhero battle royale. While most eyes will be fixated on Captain America clashing with longtime frenemy Iron Man, it's the guy in the black pajamas who will have my undivided attention. Trust me, he'll have yours too. Chadwick Boseman will make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Black Panther, who is recognized as the world's first major black superhero. If you're not familiar with the Wakandan Warrior, check out the above video for five reasons why Black Panther is sure to steal the show. The Church of the Highlands, Alabama's largest church, has bought the Cahaba Grand Conference Center on U.S. 280, where it began holding services as its Grandview branch campus on March 6, Pastor Chris Hodges said. Hodges made the announcement during his Sunday sermon on May 1, broadcast live to 14 campuses from the main campus on Grants Mill Road just off Interstate 459 in suburban Birmingham. "This past week, we wrote a check and we own that conference center," Hodges said. Hodges said the church acquired the property for a quarter of what it's worth, although he did not announce a selling price. Pat Henry, president of the Commercial division of Daniel Corporation, which owned the conference center, said he couldn't comment on the sale. "We are really blown away by the impact the Church of the Highlands has made in this community and throughout the state," Henry said. "It really is phenomenal." The conference center was originally built as the Richard M. Scrushy Conference Center as part of the HealthSouth headquarters campus, now called the Grandview Plaza, which was bought by the Daniel Corporation in 2008. Church of the Highlands holds services at Grandview at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Sundays at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. The official grand opening of the Grandview campus was held on Easter Sunday, March 27. Grandview was the 14th campus for the Church of the Highlands, which has its main campus in Irondale on Grants Mill Road. Highlands opened its 13th campus in Gadsden on Feb. 7. That date also marked the 15th anniversary of the congregation's founding. It began meeting in 2001 in the fine arts auditorium at Mountain Brook High School. With sermons by Hodges beamed via internet to all the branch locations, the church has attendance of more than 40,000 per week, making it one of the largest churches in America. Etowah County authorities say a Hokes Bluff man was busy while going through a burglarized house just before he was caught by the owners. Sheriff Todd Entrekin said Kenneth Grover Sprayberry, 33, has been charged with third degree burglary and car burglary, as well as misdemeanor theft of property and cruelty to animals. Investigators say Sprayberry broke into a Haney Road home in the Ball Play community. While inside, he vandalized the home, ate food and drank juice from the refrigerator. He then knocked over a large piece of furniture, killing the homeowner's house cat. He also tried unsuccessfully to break into a truck. The homeowner caught him on the front porch upon returning, Entrekin said. Sprayberry was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center and is being held on $8,000 bond. An Australian scientist is on a quest to find an affordable treatment to combat deadly snake bites in Papua New Guinea. In the grasslands of Papua New Guinea (PNG) they lurk silent, lethal, deadly. The Papuan Taipan lies in wait, ready to pounce on unsuspecting villagers as they walk barefoot through the long grass. This danger zone is David Williams workplace. Known in PNG as the snake man, the Australian reptile handler-turned-scientist ventures where others fear to tread literally. Every year, the Papuan Taipan kills up to 1,000 people in PNG, and in some parts of this South Pacific nation, there can be as many as 60 snakes per hectare. Those who live in remote villages far from medical help are especially vulnerable. We could probably prevent 80 percent of all snake bites in this country, but the reality is that people cant afford footwear, so theyre barefoot all the time and that means they walk quietly. The snakes dont realise that people are walking near them until its too late, says Williams. For snake bite victims, the only hope for survival is an anti-venom treatment produced in Australia. But it costs $2,000 a fortune in PNG. Now Williams and his team are working to change that. Theyre developing a new anti-venom treatment that will be much cheaper and more readily available. Unlike the existing treatment, their anti-venom one, which is produced through a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and Papua New Guinean collaborators, will not need to be refrigerated, so it can be kept at the many remote clinics that lack electricity. If this product passes the clinical trials and goes into general use it can be supplied to the Papua New Guinean government for about $150 a vial, Williams explains. Milking venomous snakes But in order to create this new life-saving treatment, Williams and his team must catch the deadly Taipans so that they can milk them for their venom the essential ingredient in the new antidote. Al Jazeera joined Williams and one of his team members, Owen Paiva, on an expedition to catch Taipans in the bush outside Port Moresby. When Paiva lifted a sheet of tin lying in the long grass, a fierce Taipan lunged at him. Paiva says the aggressive snakes also have large amounts of potent venom, making them a good catch for their research. But it takes a steely determination to grab these killers. We have each others back all the time, says Paiva. We feel that if someone is not able to carry out a certain duty, any one of us is able to step in and help out. Once they extract the venom from the Taipans, its shipped to a laboratory in Costa Rica, where Williams research partners produce anti-venom and send it back. His team of snake milkers know that one day they might need a dose themselves. They understand the risks and I think theyre incredibly brave to learn how to do it properly, for being willing to carry it on, he says. Ive had six snake bites in 30 years Snakes have always been creatures of fascination, not fear, for Williams, the chief executive of the Global Snakebite Initiative, a non-profit organisation that helps snake bite victims. I was told that my first contact with snakes was when I was about three, and I was certainly keeping snakes from when I was about eight onwards, he says. But it wasnt until he went to PNG and stayed in a village where four people died as a result of snake bites in one week that he decided he had to act. I suppose that really sort of made me want to stick my neck out and do something about it, he says. But this love affair has been a dangerous liaison. Ive had six snake bites in 30 years and Ive had adverse reactions to at least four of those. We realise the next one will probably be the last. The last time Williams was bitten in 2008 he went into shock. He had trouble breathing, his blood pressure dropped and he almost lost consciousness. After a frantic dash to Port Moresby, he received the hospitals last dose of Australian anti-venom treatment. This near-death experience inspired him to develop a cheaper, more readily available alternative. Having an anti-venom treatment closer at hand could have helped save Hepatua, a young mother who died after being bitten by a Taipan near Warma village, northwest of Port Moresby. Hepatua was gathering mustard seeds in the bush near her home, carrying her infant son Andrew through the tall grass, when a Taipan struck her several times. When she recognised she had been bitten by a snake, she knew she must go somewhere and raise an alarm, says village elder Robert Kenea. But the venom had a catastrophic effect on Hepatuas nervous system. She tried in vain to reach villagers she could see further along the riverbank, but collapsed on top of baby Andrew, crushing his legs. When friends came they could see she had fallen, says Kenea. So they got the baby out of her arms. She was already numb. By the time villagers carried her to the local clinic, the venom had already surged through her body and her airways were obstructed. With none of the expensive Australian anti-venom treatment at the clinic, the young mother died. Her son, who walks awkwardly after his legs were crushed beneath his mother when she collapsed, is still too young to understand what happened. It will be sad to tell him, but we will tell him. He has to know what happened to his mother, says Kenea. Saving lives Williams says the new anti-venom hes developing could be stocked at remote clinics such as the one in Keneas village because it doesnt require refrigeration. More funding is needed for the project but Williams hopes to finish the clinical trial in the coming weeks. We would hope that if we continue to receive funding then our new anti-venom treatment could be in general use by early 2017 or even late 2016, he says. It may be an inherently dangerous occupation but Williams says the reward the potential to save thousands of lives is worth it. What is gratifying is when you have a child wheeled in on a stretcher and a family, you know that obviously they think that child is going to die any minute. But 24 or 48 hours later, youll be able to say goodbye to them and send them home, he says. From the 101 East documentary Papua New Guineas Snake Man. Watch the full film here. Follow Trevor Bormann on Twitter: @TrevorBormann Follow Liz Gooch on Twitter: @liz_gooch Riace, Italy As the continuous influx of refugees is seen as a cause for concern for many European nations, which are employing strict border controls to stop the unprecedented flow of people, one community in the southern Italian region of Calabria has taken a different perspective of the matter. The village of Riace had seen its population drop from 2,500 to 400 since the 1990s, when people moved to northern Italy for better economic opportunities. Domenico Lucano, Mayor of Riace, saw the flow of refugees in Italy as an opportunity. We have been welcoming refugees with open arms for the past 15 years. [They have] saved our village, Lucano explained. The resourceful mayor first acted on this opportunity in 1998, when a boat with 218 Kurdish refugees on their way to Greece got stranded on a beach in Riace. This is when Lucano first proposed that the refugees should stay in the village and take over the homes and apartments that had been left vacant by the migrating former residents of the town. The mayor helped to facilitate the integration by establishing a refugees welcome project, which is now spreading through neighbouring towns. Presently, people from 20 different nations live in Riace. Bakeries and workshops have re-opened. There is even a school for the children of the village. The population of the village has bounced back to 2,500. The successes in the village have been noted in Rome, according to the mayor, and the Italian government has been promoting the settlement of refugees in other smaller, shrinking communities. The policy makes more economic sense than accommodating the refugees in reception or refugee camps. READ MORE: Meet the Syrian refugees who do not dream of Europe Malemas temperament and confrontational political rhetoric has landed him in trouble. Thembisa Fakude is a researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies. In April 2016 South African opposition politician Julius Malema said in an interview that he is willing take up arms and remove the government through the barrel of a gun. The African National Congress (ANC)-aligned military veterans issued a similar statement against the government over benefits that have not materialised. The governing ANC has since opened a treason case against Malema. The lack of political leadership is presenting a serious political challenge for South Africa. The neglect of political leadership by the ANC, the oldest political party in Africa, is manifesting itself negatively in the current politics of the country. There is a widespread indiscipline and political naivete persisting in several political parties. And Malemas recent statement demonstrates that naivete. Carelessness in political speeches has had a devastating history in Africa. They have led to genocides, civil wars and economic collapse. The economies of almost all developing nations including South Africa are vulnerable to any signs of political instability, and as a result foreign investors are still weary of the developing world. Notwithstanding the endurance of South African democracy compared with many African countries, it is still not out of the woods. Therefore, any political statements that suggest or point towards a possible political upheaval discourage foreign investment which the South African economy desperately needs. Lack of political mentorship The lack of effective party-sponsored political colleges and mentorship has culminated in political sophistry in South Africa. The government justification of the private residence of President Jacob Zuma is one case in point. The underperforming post-apartheid political college of the ANC has failed to produce high-quality political leaders who can do well in international politics. The rise of Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters is a culmination of continued political vulgarity and misdemeanours. by Politicians wait until they reach government positions before they can be enrolled in international political crash courses in preparation for the office. Most former leaders of the ANC Youth have courted radicalism and political vulgarity as a form of political engagement. It is widely regarded as the best method of upward mobility within the ranks of the party. The rise of Malemas Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a culmination of continued political vulgarity and misdemeanours. The EFF was formed by a group of disgruntled ANC Youth League members with Malema and Floyd Shivambu. Malema and Shivambu were expelled from the ANC for bringing the party into disrepute and showing no remorse during the mitigation process in 2012. Controversies Malema once entered a rowdy exchange of words with the BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, subsequently yelling insults at the journalist during a press conference. He was later forced to apologise to Fisher by the ANC. Malemas temperament and confrontational political rhetoric has on several other occasions landed him in trouble. During the rape trial in 2006 of his erstwhile ally, President Jacob Zuma, he was quoted as saying that he was willing to kill for Zuma. This statement invited a barrage of criticism from the public and the opposition parties in South Africa at the time. OPINION: Another five years of Jacob Zuma Later in 2011 he was taken to court and later convicted of hate speech for insisting on singing a sensitive anti-apartheid song Dubul Ibhunu (Shoot the Boer). Shivamu, deputy president of the EFF, has not been clear from controversy either. He was taken, tried and later forced by the court to apologise for calling a white female journalist a stupid white b***h. In November 2014, Shivambu was caught on camera showing his middle finger at the Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa in parliament. These cases clearly demonstrate lack of political discipline, and it is this political trajectory that has characterised the rise of the EFF. What needs to be done? While in developing nations the tradition of political education and mentorship thrives, Africa is still lagging far behind. There are several reasons why this is the case in the developing world and in South Africa specifically. The elongated struggle against colonisation by most African countries resulted in many African leaders missing the opportunity of political education. Moreover, the sociopolitical imperatives of post-colonial dispensation have resulted in the neglect of political education and mentorship of future leaders. Finally, the new power holders are reluctant to mentor owing to fear of raising political competition. What most developing countries have to deal with as a result is regular political violence; and this circle continues unabated. However, unlike those other African countries, South Africa has so far managed to establish a political system that encourages vibrant multi-party democracy. Consequently Malemas threat to take up arms against the government has been a great cause for concern in what most view as an African success story. Thembisa Fakude is a researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. The allure of NATO membership is one of the Wests most effective tools of democracy promotion. Luke Coffey is a research fellow specialising in transatlantic and Eurasian security at a Washington DC based think tank. He previously served as a special adviser to the British defence secretary and was a commissioned officer in the United States army. Recently, Douglas Lute, the US Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, sent shockwaves through much of Eastern Europe when he suggested that NATO would not be taking any new members in the near future. His excuse: because it might antagonise Russia. Lute is a political appointee. This means he is likely to be gone one way or the other after the US presidential election in November. Even so, his ill-timed comments will be used by Russia to fracture further an already divided Europe. NATO has underpinned Europe and North Americas security for more than 67 years, so it is no surprise that many countries in the Euro-Atlantic region who are not already members want to join the alliance. Perhaps this was most evident after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. The countries in the former Warsaw Pact in Eastern Europe were desperately finding ways to re-enter the European community. NATO was an obvious choice. Security guarantee Article 10 of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty NATOs founding document says that any country in Europe can apply to join. Yet NATO membership isnt automatic. Membership requires an aspiring country to reform their systems of governance, economy, and military to become more democratic and open. READ MORE: Why the West must embrace Turkey, not push it away In many ways, the allure of NATO membership is one of the Wests most effective tools of democracy promotion. Obama and those around him have shown very little enthusiasm for the idea of NATO enlargement. by In many ways, Lutes remarks were merely a reflection of US President Barack Obamas views. Obama and those around him have shown very little enthusiasm for the idea of NATO enlargement. The past three NATO summits have not seen any new members invited to join. In fact, until Montenegro was asked to join last December, Obama was on track for being the first US president since the end of the Cold War not to oversee NATO enlargement on his watch. After an explosion of enlargement after the Cold War, which brought the alliance from 16 members to the current 28, the process of adding new members has slowed down. Of the three official candidate countries to join NATO, The Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, none are close to full membership. Macedonia fully met all criteria to join the alliance back in 2009 but its membership is continuously and needlessly blocked by Greece over a bilateral name dispute. Although Georgia was promised eventual membership in 2008, has been a steadfast ally of NATO and has sent thousands of troops to fight in Afghanistan, countries such as France and Germany have blocked its membership progress for fear of upsetting Russia. Bosnia and Herzegovina has too many internal domestic problems preventing it from meeting the criteria to join NATO any time soon. Of course, there is the issue of Ukraine. A closed door Like Georgia, Ukraine was promised eventual membership in 2008. Unlike Georgia it has done very little to achieve this goal until very recently. Until recently public opinion in Ukraine, for years, was against joining the alliance. The Ukrainian Parliament in 2010 approved legislation barring the country from joining NATO which was still on the books until last year. READ MORE: For Eastern Europe, Moscow is an existential threat Of course, recent events with Russia have changed attitudes in Ukraine about NATO but the country has a long way to go before realistically joining the alliance. First and foremost, NATO is a defensive alliance. Its primary mission is to defend the territorial integrity of its member states. As long as Russia does not plan to invade a NATO member, it has nothing to fear from the alliance. Also, Russia should never be seen as having a veto over a potential countrys membership of the alliance. Just because a country was once occupied by the Soviet Union or under the domination of the Russian Empire does not mean it is blocked from joining the alliance in perpetuity. NATO is a collection of 28 democracies. All decisions taken inside the alliance require unanimity. Any country that seeks to join must be a democracy. If a country meets the criteria and the alliance issues an invitation, the matter should be final and not up for debate with Russia. This needs to be made clear to Moscow. NATO has done more than any other organisation, including the European Union, to promote democracy, stability, and security in the Euro-Atlantic region. This was accomplished by enticing countries to become a part of the club. NATO must keep its door open and wide for new members not slam it closed in their faces. Luke Coffey is a research fellow specialising in transatlantic and Eurasian security at a Washington DC-based think-tank. He previously served as a special adviser to the British defence secretary and was a commissioned officer in the United States Army. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. As last-ditch attempt is made to save Geneva peace talks, US secretary of state blames both sides for fierce fighting. John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has called on Syrian government forces and rebel groups to declare a ceasefire, particularly in Aleppo, as intense fighting continues to ravage the city. Both sides the opposition and the regime have contributed to this chaos, Kerry told reporters in Geneva, speaking alongside United Nations special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. We are working over these next hours intensely in order to try and restore this cessation of hostilities. Referring to the bombing of the al-Quds hospital and other clinics in the eastern, rebel-controlled part of the city, Kerry said: The regime has clearly indicated a willingness over a period of time now to attack first responders, to attack healthcare workers and rescue workers. It has to stop. Kerry said that he would speak to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov by telephone on Monday afternoon. De Mistura said he would then travel to Moscow on Tuesday to meet Lavrov. Diplomatic pressure was mounting to extend a ceasefire to Aleppo province after hundreds of people were killed there over 10 days. We are preparing the mechanism, but the mechanism needs the political will, de Mistura said, adding that plans were under way for a much better mechanism for monitoring and controlling a new ceasefire. Russian officials said on Sunday that they were calling on the Syrian government to include Aleppo in a temporary truce already in place in Latakia and around the capital Damascus. Close to collapse Government forces and rebels are battling each other for the city, with each side controlling different neighbourhoods. As of Sunday, more than 250 civilians, including 49 children and 31 women, had been killed in 10 days of renewed fighting between government forces and rebels, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The group said 145 civilians were killed by air strikes on rebel-controlled neighbourhoods. It also said that at least 100 civilians were killed when tens of shells, homemade rockets and explosive cylinders [hit] places controlled by the regime forces in Aleppo. The Observatory did not identify the planes attacking rebel-controlled areas. Local journalist Zouhir Al Shimale said an air strike on the Helluk neighbourhood on Monday wounded several people, while at least three people were killed in barrel-bomb attacks on Kafr Hamra in the countryside outside Aleppo. Russia and the Syrian government had previously said the presence of al-Nusra Front, which was not party to a February 27 ceasefire, justified the offensive on Aleppo. The Syrian army and the Russian defence ministry said on Monday that the truce around Damascus, which began on Saturday, had been extended for another two days. Talks in Geneva to agree a lasting, wider ceasefire were in jeopardy as the Syrian opposition said it would walk out if the air strikes on Aleppo did not stop. Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from the Swiss city, said both opposition delegates and diplomats were questioning Russias role in peace efforts. Many diplomats will tell you Russia is not properly invested in this political process, that instead it seems they are pursuing or allowing their allies to pursue a military option, he said. The process is very close to collapse if they cannot get the cessation of hostilities back in place. A Syrian pro-government newspaper said on Thursday that the army was preparing an offensive to recapture all of Aleppo and the surrounding province. The Arab League is weighing an emergency meeting to discuss the situation. State news agency SANA said on Sunday that six civilians were killed and 40 others injured in rebel rocket attacks on the residential neighbourhoods of al-Midan, al-Sulaimaniyah and al-Sayyid Ali. US Secretary of State John Kerry is seeking Russias co-operation to stop bombing of northern province. Diplomatic pressure is mounting to extend a ceasefire in Syria to Aleppo province after more than a week of fierce bombing that has killed hundreds of people there. Fresh air strikes were reported on Monday, including barrel-bomb attacks outside of the provincial capital. Russian officials said on Sunday they were calling on the Syrian government to include Aleppo in a temporary truce already in place in Latakia and around the capital, Damascus. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived in Geneva in an effort to salvage stumbling peace talks, called for a countrywide cessation of hostilities. We are talking directly to the Russians, even now, Kerry said, after a week in which Moscow refused to rein in its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The UN Security Council Resolution calls for a full countrywide cessation and also for all of the country to be accessible to humanitarian assistance. Government forces and rebels are battling each other for control of the city, with each side controlling different neighbourhoods. As of Sunday, more than 250 civilians, including 49 children and 31 women, had been killed throughout the 10 days of escalated fighting between government forces and rebels, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The group said 145 civilians were killed in air strikes in rebel-controlled neighbourhoods , while at least 100 civilians were killed when tens of shells, homemade rockets and explosive cylinders [hit] places controlled by the regime forces in Aleppo. The Observatory did not identify the warplanes hitting rebel-controlled areas. Local journalist Zouhir Al Shimale said an air strike on the Helluk neighbourhood on Monday injured several people, while at least three people were killed in barrel-bomb attacks in Kafr Hamra in the countryside of Aleppo. Russia and the Syrian government have said the presence of al-Nusra Front, which was not party to a February 27 ceasefire deal, legitimises the offensive on Aleppo. Moscow maintained for days that it would not urge Assads forces to stop air raids but on Sunday, there seemed to be a change in tone. Currently active negotiations are under way to establish a regime of silence in Aleppo province, Lieutenant-General Sergei Kurylenko was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies, using a term the Russian and Syrian militaries have used to mean ceasefire. The Syrian army and the Russian defence ministry said on Monday that the truce around Damascus, which began on Saturday, has been extended for another two days. Talks in Geneva to agree a lasting, wider ceasefire are in jeopardy as the Syrian opposition says it will leave if the air strikes on Aleppo do not stop. Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from the Swiss city, said both opposition delegates and diplomats were questioning Russias role in peace efforts. Many diplomats will tell you Russia is not properly invested in this political process, that instead it seems they are pursuing or allowing their allies to pursue a military option, he said. The process is very close to collapse if they cannot get the cessation of hostilities back in place. READ MORE: What school is like in Aleppo A Syrian pro-government newspaper said on Thursday the army was preparing an offensive to recapture all of Aleppo and the surrounding province. Several hospitals in the city have been bombed, drawing international condemnation and intensified calls for a ceasefire. Aleppo has been experiencing extreme conflict for four years now and 95 percent of the medical staff in the city has quite understandably already fled, Sam Taylor of the international aid organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) told Al Jazeera from Jordan. There are only 70 to 80 doctors in Aleppo. Thats a ridiculously small amount of medical staff trying to deal with an enormous amount of trauma injuries. Hospitals and other civilian infrastructure is not a target in this war. Its appalling that this level of violence still continues in the year 2016. The Arab League is weighing an emergency meeting to discuss the situation. State news agency SANA said on Sunday that six civilians were killed and 40 others injured in rebel rocket attacks on the residential neighbourhoods of al-Midan, al-Sulaimaniyah and al-Sayyid Ali. Tech entrepreneur gives media organisations what he says is evidence he is the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto. Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright has publicly identified himself as Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, potentially ending years of speculation and mystery. Wright, long-suspected of having created the crypto-currency, a form of digital money, on Monday published a blog post offering what he said was cryptographic proof that he is indeed Nakamoto. The 45-year-old computer scientist also gave interviews to the BBC, the Economist and GQ magazine. All three media organisations said that they reviewed the documents Wright provided and talked to Bitcoin insiders who have communicated with Nakamoto in the past. Mr Wright has provided technical proof to back up his claim using coins known to be owned by Bitcoins creator, the BBC said in an article on its website. Prominent members of the Bitcoin community and its core development team have also confirmed Mr Wrights claim. WATCH: Bitcoin gaining popularity in India After years of suspicion and guesswork about the identity of the Bitcoin founder, Wright gave proof that only its true creator could have provided, according to the BBC. He digitally-signed messages using encryption keys that were created in the days after Bitcoins launch in 2009. These keys had to be created by Nakamoto, the pseudonym used at the time by the currencys creator, the broadcaster said. Virtual currency The Economist, though, was more sceptical about the evidence provided by Wright. Our conclusion is that he could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that nagging questions remain, the magazine said on its website. In fact, it may never be possible to prove beyond reasonable doubt who really created Bitcoin. In December 2015, two magazines, Wired and Gizmodo, claimed that Wright could be Nakamato after receiving documents believed to be stolen from him that revealed his involvement with the project. Soon after these stories were published, authorities in Australia raided his home. At the time, the Australian Taxation Office said the raid was linked to a long-running investigation into tax payments rather than to Bitcoin. Wright told the BBC that he was cooperating with authorities. We have lawyers negotiating with them over how much I have to pay, he said. Bitcoin is a virtual currency that is created from computer code. It is bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of central control. Unlike a real-world currency such as the US dollar or the euro, it has no central bank and is not backed by any government. Instead, its community of users control and regulate it. Just like other currencies, Bitcoins can be exchanged for goods and services, or for other currencies, provided the other party is willing to accept them. ISIL claims attack in Iraqs capital on pilgrims commemorating anniversary of Imam Musa al-Kadhims death. A car bombing targeting Shia pilgrims commemorating the death anniversary of a revered imam in Baghdad has killed at least 18 people, according to Iraqi officials. A parked explosives-laden car blew up shortly after midday on Monday in the southwestern Sayadiyah neighbourhood. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack. Tens of thousands of Shia Muslims have been making their way this week to the northern Baghdad neighbourhood of Kadhimiyah, where the 8th-century Imam Musa al-Kadhim is buried. Kadhim, the seventh of 12 imams revered in Shia Islam, died in AD799. The pilgrimage has in recent years turned into a huge event that brings Baghdad to a standstill for days. Security forces had previously said they would be blocking major roads in Baghdad on Monday and Tuesday to prevent potential attacks on pilgrims. Series of attacks On Saturday, a car bomb killed at least 23 people and injured 38 others near the Iraqi capital. The bombing, also claimed by ISIL, targeted an open-air market frequented by Shia in Nahrawan. According to the UN, at least 741 Iraqis were killed in April owing to ongoing violence, a sharp decline from the previous month. In its monthly report issued on Sunday, the UN mission to Iraq put the number of civilians killed at 410, while the rest were members of the security forces. A total of 1,374 Iraqis were wounded that month, it added. In March, at least 1,119 people were killed and 1,561 wounded. The capital, Baghdad, remains the worst-hit area, with 232 civilians killed and 642 wounded in April. US spy agency marks fifth anniversary of al-Qaeda chiefs assassination by posting timeline of operation on Twitter. US spy agency the CIA has live tweeted the military raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan five years ago, drawing derision and satire from many people on Twitter. Bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seal commandos on May 2, 2011, when they raided his compound in Abbottabad. Several of the tweets included diagrams and maps of the compound, providing a rundown of the operation from the moment US President Barack Obama and intelligence officials approved it until the president received confirmation that bin Laden had been killed. To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The CIAs Twitter account has more than 1.3 million followers. According to the timeline of events, two helicopters descended on the compound at 3:30pm and one crashed. 3:30 pm EDT 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The operation continued, however, and commandos killed the 54-year-old inside nine minutes. 3:39 pm EDT Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 One of the tweets showed an aerial photograph of the compound and a map of the region where it was located in Pakistan. Daring #UBLRaid was an IC team effort & in close collaboration with our military partners.https://t.co/rklCIRLlgF pic.twitter.com/xZObdGeqPR CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Another showed a layout of the premises. Features High walls/barbed wire Double entry gates No internet/phone connection Trash burned not collected#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/KyPIFPxA4d CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Several social media users criticised the CIAs posts, while others satirised them. Writing on its Twitter account, The Daily Show, a popular US news satire programme, mocked the agency. If you live tweet the Bay of Pigs invasion, call us. Otherwise, stop it. #UBLRaid https://t.co/RJ7gwLbh1P The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) May 2, 2016 Others lambasted the exercise as an attempt to justify CIA actions. CIA tweeting #UBLraid is more direct approach to pushing "torture works" lie than its usual route of using Hollywood https://t.co/yOQTkKSOhw Sarah Dougherty (@sm_doug) May 1, 2016 And several argued that the US should have brought bin Laden to trial rather than kill him. https://twitter.com/zstruver/status/726834465729695744 Speaking to ABC News, CIA spokesperson Ryan Trapani defended the operation, arguing that the takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time. He said: On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honour all those who had a hand in this achievement. Sacking, following publication by Ming Pao daily of report on Panama Papers leak, raises concerns about press freedom. Hundreds of people have protested in Hong Kong against a veteran newspaper editors dismissal that has increased concerns about press freedom in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. The sacking of Keung Kwok-yuen, Ming Pao dailys second-in-command editor, came after the newspaper published a report on the Panama Papers document leak revealing offshore business dealings of the rich and powerful. The newspaper said Keung was dismissed to save operating costs. Journalists, activists and politicians attended Mondays rally, held outside the Ming Pao Industrial Centre. READ MORE: Panama Papers huge leak alleges elites hiding money Protesters carried signs saying Protect journalists, protect Ming Pao, protect press freedom. Al Jazeeras Sarah Clarke, reporting from the protest, said: The anger is not only confined to this particular newspaper but is spread around the whole news industry in Hong Kong. Some say that the citys press freedoms have been steeply eroded by the increasing influence from mainland China. Rich and powerful The trove of documents, released in April by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, has exposed how Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm, helped Chinas rich and powerful to move their wealth into tax havens. The public is very concerned over press freedoms in Hong Kong. We have been doing a good job covering a lot of news including sensitive political issues such as human rights in China, AFP news agency quoted Phyllis Tsang, head of the newspapers staff association, as saying. We demand a clear explanation [from the management] on the real reasons for the firing of Mr Keung. Was there any relation to this kind of reporting? Before Keungs dismissal, Ming Pao carried a front-page report on Hong Kong politicians and businesspeople named in the Panama Papers. There has been growing anxiety in recent years among many Hong Kong journalists and politicians about the influence of China on the territory. Hong Kong retained its own civil liberties when it was handed over from Britain in 1997. Media groups with close business and personal ties to Chinese politicians have been accused of soft-pedalling their coverage of issues that are potentially embarrassing to China and its allies in Hong Kong. As the Afghan economy struggles, Kabuls once lucrative sticker business isnt what it used to be. If youre stuck in a traffic jam in the Afghan capital, the decor of surrounding vehicles will grab your attention. Thousands of drivers in Kabul express themselves by decorating their vehicles with quirky stickers. From snazzy graphics to romantic overtures personalising car exteriors has been a habit here since the 1970s. Aman Hiran, who has been in the car-decorating business for nearly two decades, said his sticker shop survived the years under the Taliban, because even the fighters enjoyed making their rides their own. Taliban would come to us and demand to put an English sticker on their car, they did not even understand what it means but they loved it, he said. But as the Afghan economy struggles, the once lucrative business isnt what it used to be. Al Jazeeras Osama Bin Javaid reports. Ivatan natives from the northern island province of Batanes weigh in on the May 9 presidential race. Basco, Philippines Around 55 million registered voters will head to the presidential polls in the Philippines on May 9. It is one of the most contentious presidential races in the country in decades. Frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte, a mayor from the southern island of Mindanao, is facing allegations of human rights abuses and hidden wealth. Despite the countrys economic gains, Duterte has managed to tap into a wave of frustration towards the current system of governance. Through brash talk and populist appeal, Duterte promises to hunt down drug syndicates and clean up the corrupted Philippine bureaucracy. One prominent Filipino columnist branded his rhetoric as Dutertismo, comparing it to the rise of Nazism and Fascism in Europe in the early 20th century. Dutertes strongest challenger is Grace Poe, a freshman senator who is weighed down by questions about her previous US citizenship. Another candidate Manuel Roxas II, a former senator backed by current President Benigno Aquino, is battling anti-establishment sentiment, while Jejomar Binay, the current vice president, is facing corruption allegations. Senator Miriam Santiago, a fifth candidate, barely registers in the polls. In Batanes, the smallest and least populated province in the country, Ivatan voters are keenly following the political fever despite the fact that the island is in the countrys northernmost tip poles apart from the capital Manila. Voices of the Ivatans You can call me Grandma Emilia. I was born and raised in Chavayan, one of the six villages on the island of Sabtang. This island-town is one of the only three populated isles in the entire Batanes province. Im 81 and have always lived on this island. Were quite far from the rest of the Philippines and we dont get much attention from our leaders in Manila. This headgear I am wearing is called a vakul and is made from date palm leaves. Ive been working as a hat weaver for many years. Now, my eyes are failing me and I am afraid I wont be able to vote on May 9 because I cant read the ballot papers any more. My name is Rosalinda Homigop. I am 40 years old, married and mother of six. Im also a native of Chavayan village. I am a businesswoman and sell food items to locals and visitors in our village. I make native rice cakes topped with sweetened, grated coconut which tourists love. Every morning, I also make coconut candies which I sell for 25 cents each. These young coconuts are also popular among tourists. I believe in hard work and self-sufficiency. If you are diligent, you can look after your family. I dont really rely on the government for help. But if theres anything the government can do, I hope it can finally set up a mobile phone tower in our village. They promised to do it in the last election and are yet to deliver on that promise. Ive seen some progress in our village but Im voting for opposition candidate Senator Grace Poe because I think she can bring change to our country. Im Pedro Gari, 39 and a motorcyle-cab driver. Im married and have two young children. I earn about $17 daily transporting tourists around Sabtang where I was born and raised. We dont really get to appreciate much of the beauty of our own land because it looks very familiar to us. But Im glad to show tourists around. During the slow season, we dont get many tourists. The waves are too high for visitors to cross from the main island. To supplement my income, I till our farm, planting root crops while raising livestock. We get battered by typhoons six to seven times a year and help from the government is hard to come by. Our town is a peaceful place but I hear in the news that other parts of the country are plagued with crime. Im voting for Rodrigo Duterte because I think he can bring some discipline to our country. I only managed to finish high school because college education is not offered on our island of 1,400 people. I hope the new president can bring some progress to this country and give more opportunities to my children. My name is Cherry Gail Velayo. Im 29 years old, married and a mother of two. My first-born is five years old and my second child is two. Me and my husband are expecting our third child later this year. Im from the Batanes island of Itbayat. But there are more tourists here in Sabtang and I earn more here selling souvenirs. There has been some progress in the last six years since President Benigno Aquino took office. But I am voting for opposition candidate Senator Grace Poe. I think she can better represent me as the leader of our country. My name is Will Gabotero. Im 46, married and have three children. My kids have graduated from college so I retired as a public school teacher and just concentrate on farming and fishing. Two of my children are now based in Europe working as nurses. I just returned from Finland where I went to visit them. Our third child is a marine engineer. Theres been a lot of progress in our province and I thank President Aquino for that. If you look around, our roads have improved, our hospital is also getting some funding for renovation. I want this progress to continue so I am supporting Senator Mar Roxas, who is being endorsed by the president. Im Emmie Ponce, 40 years old and originally from the southern Philippine province of Surigao. Native Ivatans call me an Ipula, their term for immigrants in Batanes. But I am married to an Ivatan. For the past 14 years, I have been working as a staff at a local inn that mostly caters to tourists. I love my job and I love entertaining visitors in Batanes. It is a very quiet and peaceful place and I would never trade this place for another, even though we are very far from the rest of the country. I am from Mindanao so I am supporting our very own Rodrigo Duterte. My name is Siony Misador. Im 62 years old and been living in Manila most of my life. I left Batanes when I was 16 but I still call it home. I remember when, at 6pm, the entire town was quiet and had gone to sleep. We used to go to picnics on Sundays. I used to dread Saturdays because all of us were told by our parents to work in the field, planting root crops and vegetables. We could not plant rice on the island so we only have it on special occasions. We also did not have electricity then so during the summer, it was very hot and humid. During the Holy Week, us Catholics were all required to go to church, pray and stay quiet. Our only medium of communication was the radio. Those were happy times for us and everyone knew everyone. I am voting for Grace Poe because we need change in the country. Follow Ted Regencia on Twitter: @tedregencia The killing of al-Qaeda chief has had very little effect on the War on Terror, says veteran US investigative journalist. The world is no safer 15 years after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and the killing of Osama bin Laden did not change the war very much, veteran journalist Seymour Hersh told Al Jazeera on the fifth anniversary of the killing of al-Qaedas leader. The al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011, an event that is a fantasy, according to Hersh. The president did authorise the killing and the [Navy] Seals did kill bin Laden. Everything after that is sort of a fantasy, its Lewis Carroll, Hersh said. But the killing of bin Laden didnt seem to change the war very much. Hersh said the US is struggling to win the longest war in its history. The Americans declared a war on terror and look at where we are now 15 years later still fighting in Afghanistan. The famed US journalist, known for his expose of US war crimes in Vietnam, said the US was hiding key facts about the raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader. The CIA said the mission in Pakistan was the culmination of years of complex, thorough and highly advanced intel operations and analyses, in a series of tweets posted on Monday, describing the operation as a significant victory in the war against al-Qaeda. The CIA live tweeted the military raid that killed bin Laden five years ago, drawing derision and satire from many people on Twitter. US account disputed Crucially, US officials stated that the Pakistani government and intelligence service were not informed about the operation, a claim Hersh has disputed. We had a disgruntled Pakistani intelligence officer come to our embassy in the summer of 2010 and tell us My God! The Pakistanis have parked this guy in this town, Hersh said. We [the US] eventually worked it out and made an agreement and accommodation with the Pakistani military and intelligence services that we would go with their help and take out the guy. The idea that he was there without the [knowledge] of the Pakistani intelligence service, in particular, the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] and the Pakistani military, is just comical. Hersh said the mistakes of the George Bush administration continued to be made by the current US President Barack Obama, citing his continued use of drones and his involvement in Syria. South Korea and Iran are expected to sign several trade deals worth billions of dollars and discuss sensitive subjects like North Korea following President Park Geun-hyes arrival in Tehran with a large group of business leaders. Irans official state news agency IRNA said that more than 230 business executives accompanied Park who, along with several ministers, met Irans President Hassan Rouhani on Monday and held meetings with Iranian officials. Park asked for Irans help in implementing UN Security Council resolutions calling for the nuclear disarmament of the Korean peninsula. Iran and North Korea are allies. Tehran and Pyongyang have long been suspected of being close partners in developing weapons technology. North Korea was handed tougher UN sanctions for its fourth nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch earlier this year. Iran has denied seeking atomic weapons, insisting its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes like power generation and medical research. Our demand is a world free of weapons of mass destruction, especially freeing the Korean peninsula and the Middle East from destructive weapons, Rouhani told IRNA. Al Jazeeras Raza Sayah, reporting from Tehran, said the two leaders had already signed several agreements. A number of cooperation deals, trade deals and energy deals have been signed, he said. And we have been hearing a lot of numbers, upwards of $10bn in agreements. So this is a big day for Iran-South Korea relations. Security was also on the agenda, including the sensitive subject of North Korea. Global financial system Iran has been seeking to integrate into the global financial system and improve ties with other countries since its own nuclear-related sanctions were lifted in January under a deal with world powers. South Korea, the worlds fifth largest importer of crude oil, used to be one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil, but imports plunged as a result of sanctions. IRNA said trade between the two countries was currently at $6.1bn, and that Iran would like to boost that to $17.4bn, a level last reached in 2011, before the sanctions were imposed. Irans oil exports to South Korea have more than quadrupled to 400,000 barrels a day since international sanctions were lifted in January, Bijan Zanganeh, Irans oil minister, was quoted as saying by the Shana news agency. Iran, whose exports to South Korea were less than 100,000 barrels a day before sanctions were lifted, has since worked to quickly boost its output. It has focused on selling to its traditional customers in Asia, but has also shipped supplies to Europe. South Korea and Iran established diplomatic ties in 1962 but their heads of states have never had bilateral talks, according to Parks office. The trail of Bin Ladens legacy has been long and overwhelming. In an audio speech, purportedly recorded shortly before his death five years ago, Osama bin Laden hailed the Arab Spring revolutions that were still shaking off the Middle East and succeeded in toppling four entrenched Arab dictatorships. In his posthumous address, widely seen at the time as a new political manifesto, al-Qaeda leader urged his Arab disciples to capitalise on the popular uprisings as a catalyst to throw off the yoke of their unjust and despotic governments. It is a great sin and a gross [act of] ignorance to let this opportunity which the nation [Muslims] has been (a)waiting for decades to slip away. Take it and destroy the idols and statues and install justice and faith, bin Laden appealed to his followers. OPINION: What we learn from Osama bin Ladens bookshelf Bin Laden did not live long enough to make the world witness how a fugitive leader who was seeking to conquer infidel superpowers and their local cronies could have turned the Arab revolutions to a sweeter moment for his worlds jihadism. Ostensibly, from beyond the grave, bin Ladens role as an inspirational force is far more important for ideological adherents of jihad than any operational command he might have offered. Yet, conventional wisdom holds that the rise of radical groups was surprisingly one of the unintended consequences of the abysmal failure of the Arab uprisings and the US-orchestrated regime change in Iraq. Today, with the democratic setbacks of the post-Arab Spring, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, which was spawned by al-Qaeda, and al-Qaedas franchises across the Middle East and adjacent areas are working full time advancing bin Ladens agenda. This has always begged the question whether the descent into chaos of religious radicalism was bin Ladens prophecy and ambition or it was part of his legacy. Shortly after bin Ladens killing on May 1, 2011, in a daring raid by US forces in Pakistan, a statement issued by al-Qaeda vowed that the soldiers of Islam would continue his path tirelessly and without desperation Sheikh Osama did not build an organisation that will die with his death and leave with his departure, the group boasted. Even US President Barack Obama acknowledged that the military operation that put an end to bin Ladens life would not put an end to the war against al-Qaeda. Theres no doubt that al-Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad, said Obama in his famous we got him speech. READ MORE: Osama bin Laden left $29m inheritance for al-Qaeda Beyond rhetoric, however, bin Ladens killing has led to a range of speculations about the future of radical groups and the short and long-term security and foreign policy implications for the world at large. While the Obama administration trumpeted the killing of the man who declared war on America as a victory and a turning point in the war against terrorism, many experts had viewed bin Ladens death to be a largely symbolic triumph. By the time bin Laden was dead, they argued, a drastic shift had occurred away from the core of al-Qaedas leadership to subsidiaries and like-minded groups. Many analysts believed that long before Bin Ladens death, al-Qaeda mutated into a franchise operation, relying on local jihadist zeal and initiatives rather than a central command. From Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen to France, Somalia, sub-Saharan Africa, Belgium and Turkey, among other places, the trail of bin Ladens legacy has been long and overwhelming. Contrary to what Western officials have predicted, the successful US military operation against bin Laden did not serve as a powerful deterrent to either current or aspiring radical groups. Those self-proclaimed jihadists have found themselves haunted by the historic realities of the gap between the West and the Muslim world that bin Laden and al-Qaeda have exploited and put on the international agenda. Foreign interventions, Islamophobia, support for Western-backed Arab despots, democracys deficiencies, freedom and human rights abuses, corruption and poverty: these are facts that cannot be brushed aside if one wants to seriously deal with bin Ladens legacy. Bin Ladens killing operation was perhaps a glaring advertisement for the greatest military on earth, but while he is gone the world still lives under his shadow and the radical movement he spearheaded. The debate today looks beyond whether the world is safer or more dangerous after his death to his example of jihad that is used as the ultimate talking point to discuss Islam. Ostensibly, from beyond the grave, bin Ladens role as an inspirational force is far more important for ideological adherents of jihad than any operational command he might have offered. Even more so is the fact that the remaining bin Ladenists are still hoping to revive al-Qaeda as a global jihad forum once ISIL is gone. An insight into Osama bin Ladens life through the eyes of people who knew him and met him. On May 2, 2011, Barack Obama, the US president, announced that Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader, was shot dead in a raid by US special forces on a compound about 60km north of Islamabad, Pakistans capital. When he looked me in the eyes to answer my questions, he sounded like an old uncle telling a story. by John Miller, former ABC News reporter Ahmad Zaidan, Al Jazeera Arabics Islamabad correspondent, interviews a range of people including Taliban commandos, former Mujahideen leaders, Pakistani officials, and journalists who all relate their memories of and insights into the al-Qaeda leader. The death of bin Laden ended a ten-year manhunt for the worlds most wanted man. Before his death, the last known sighting of bin Laden by anyone other than his very close entourage was in late 2001 as he prepared to flee his stronghold in Afghanistan. However, in subsequent years he issued several video and audio messages. How did Bin Laden develop his political agenda? And how did this Saudi-born son of a rich construction magnate who joined guerrillas in Afghanistan fighting the Soviet Union emerge to become one of the most feared men in the world? He speaks to people who are able to debunk some of the myths and describe some of the characteristics of the man who was Osama bin Laden a man denounced by enemies as a religious fanatic and a terrorist and praised by supporters as a leader fighting Western aggression and subservient Arab regimes. Michael Joseph Harris began playing guitar at age 12. At 16 he won accolades as a jazz guitarist with the Downbeat Magazine award-winning Chantilly High Jazz Band. He studied with guitarist Rick Whitehead during high school and Jack Petersen at North Texas State University. Soon after, as a young guitarist in Washington, D.C., he played with popular Latin Jazz group Bossalingo. Harris moved to Baltimore in 2006 and became a father in 2008. In 2011 he produced Steps Beyond, an instrumental jazz recording of Cuban-inspired originals. A CD tour highlight was a Blues Alley concert featuring Grammy-winning pianistIn 2012, he dove into the music of legendary French Manouche guitaristwhich led to the creation of Hot Club of Baltimore. A year later, he founded Ultrafaux as a vehicle for his own contemporary gypsy jazz compositions. He has since produced four full-length recordings with the two groups, backed by Kickstarter campaigns. He also produced the popular HD concert video titled "Ultrafaux & Hot Club of Baltimore," and his original song "Latcho Dromo" was chosen for inclusion on an International compilation produced by Jon Larsen called Django Festival #9. Ultrafaux and Hot Club continue to tour successfully performing at events such as Django by the Sea, The Midwest Gypsy Swing Festival, and the Harris-led Charm City Django Jazz Festival.Acoustic & electric guitarRick Whitehead, my teacher in high school, influenced me a lot in terms of having a relaxed approach to improvisation and finding melodic ideas using chordal harmonies while paying attention to the tune. He really conveyed the essence of being a jazz musician for me at the time. I also have to credit the great teacher Jack Petersen. I was fortunate to study with Jack at North Texas State University. His master class generated a kind of supercharged learning for me. He had a very systematic approach to the guitar. More recently, I have gained insight into Roma Jazz technique and harmony from European masters such as Sebastien Ginaux, Olivier Kikteff, Samson Schmitt, and Tcha Limberger, all of whom I have had the pleasure to study with at a yearly camp called Django in June.I knew I wanted to be a musician when I saw country picker Roy Clark play on TV one night when I was a kid. My mom saw my eyes light up watching him play. I couldn't stop talking about it and begged my mom for a guitar for Christmas. She rented me a Yamaha acoustic and bought me a few months of guitar lessons from the Music & Arts Center where I learned the basics from a teacher named Eric Ulrich. He was very patient and showed me the basics. I always wanted to be prepared for every lesson and I felt bad if I didn't practice. I wanted to learn fast, which I did!My approach to music is to really be present and feel the emotion of the music in every note I play. I don't see myself as a flashy player using tons of fast passages and memorized runs. I like to improvise and take risks when I play and I want every show to be unique for the audience. Guitar is an intimate instrument for me, full of subtlety and nuance, but it can also be a very powerful force. I practice scales and arpeggios just like every good player, but I really like to forget about all that when I play. I play my best when I am imagining the guitar in my mind, and not actually looking at it or staring at where to place my fingers. The exception of course is when I am playing a complex melody, like my tune "La Valse de la folie" where I almost have to look at the fretboard because there is so much jumping around in finger position.I teach only those who really want to become players. I gave up on teaching vast amounts of students who don't really want to be there. I was so eager to learn when I started that I find it hard to relate to students who take music lessons but then don't want to do the work. How can I teach someone who has no motivation? I don't understand why so many young players have no interest in learning technique. You have to play the difficult things to get any better. I constantly perform therefore I favor students who want to be performers too.I have been fortunate to meet and play with some great musicians including Cuban/Venezuelan pianist Cesar Orozco, Romani accordionist Marian Badoi, percussionist Alfredo Mojica Jr., and the Lucini brothers from Brazil, as well as top European musicians Olivier Kikteff, Tcha Limberger, and Samson Schmitt to name a few. I am very happy working with Ed Hrybyk and Sami Arefin in Ultrafaux, so my dream band would expand on that group, adding a combination of the great players I have listed above and a few I have never met, but admire like violinist Marius Apostol, who performs with Angelo Debarre, and Ludovic Beier, who I saw perform with Dorado Schmitt recently. The music would blend Cuban and African rhythms, Roma and Balkan folk, and French musette in a new way using the common thread of jazz harmony to bring it all together. Of course, I would need a horn section to pull it off. A few instantly come to mind like Joseph Brotherton on trumpet, Clarence Ward III on tenor sax, and Greg Boyer on trombone; all exciting players I've worked with before. The goal would be to tour the world with a larger group like this, performing original music, the way Duke Ellington did with his big band.My band Ultrafaux was on tour down south and we had a show in North Carolina. We hadn't made plans for accommodation so we were all wondering where we would sleep that night. After the show we walked around and noticed an amazing bar with gorgeous sparkling crystal everywhere, so we went in to have a drink. Our bassist Eddie started chatting with a very flamboyant man who had a long black ponytail and impeccable attire. After an exuberant conversation with Eddie, the man said we could crash at his place and we graciously accepted. I was ecstatic to have a place to sleep! We stayed to have another cocktail, but by then, Eddie had questioned his decision. I told him not to worry, the guy was just being kind to travelling musicians, but I admit it was getting weirder and weirder. We drove to his place, which he referred to as the "Village of the Ewok." After driving straight up a mountain for 10 minutes, we parked and began taking a small dark path until we saw many lights in the trees coming from a laser star generator in his garden. There on top of the mountain through the lit trees stood a YURT! We did end up getting some sleep, but not until after our host, who had quickly become shirtless, showed his skill at playing the didgeridoo!My favorite venue is The Creative Alliance at The Patterson in Baltimore. It's a 230-seat theater with proper stage, lighting and great sound. They have a stage manager, a great soundman, and a nice backstage. You feel electrified before you go on to perform for a packed house. Every seat is good and it feels like every note matters. The lighting and staging transport the audience into the world of the music, and the performers can join them in that feeling because it's not too large or impersonal.My favorite recording in my discography is Ultrafaux's latest CD Deuxieme. My guitar technique really took a leap forward with that disc. I have been working on a new way of picking, more like what Django Reinhardt would have used back in the day. This new approach has brought a lot of facility to my playing and I love it. I am still quite the perfectionist though and I can be the worst critic of myself, but I am finally starting to enjoy the recording process. I have always preferred playing live in front of an audience or in band practice with friends. My main challenge with recording is to get a take that shows both spirited improvisation and skillful performance of melody. The music is dense and difficult so we are really flying by the seat of our pants. It's not easy to get a "perfect" take in that setting. I really respect Django and other jazz players from the 30's and 40's who were able to do such great music in one take using one microphone! I don't use fancy overdubs or computer editing. I prefer the raw and real performance because amazing moments happen.I think my most important contribution musically is the fact that I am writing original music that people enjoy. I have strong opinions about jazz being a socially viable music and I believe that the music needs to be accessible to all audiences, not just jazz aficionados. I am both a traditionalist who loves the old music, and a contemporary composer, who believes originality is the key to bringing Jazz back into prominence. The jazz legends paved the way for us and we have to pay attention to their legacy. They made music that was smart and technical, but also fun and accessible to wide audiences. It was a social music and hearing it made everyone want to tap their feet and dance. Simultaneously it was a spiritual and intellectually stimulating experience for the listener.I love the way Jazz energizes me and makes me want to move. Its both uplifting and deeply meditative. I really like the effect swing has on people and I enjoy all of the syncopation within the swing feel. I like to experiment with 6/8 rhythm, waltz, odd time signatures, polyrhythms, Latin, Balkan folk rhythms, or even just varying the intensity within the swing feel. The magic happens in rehearsal when we bounce ideas off of one another and try them out to really see what works. Of course we immediately want to share our discoveries with the audience. Bringing our music to diverse crowds is important to us. That's why we intentionally perform in rock venues, house concerts, black box theaters, and festivals, not just in jazz clubs. I want to reach audiences who have never heard of Django and who don't listen to Jazz. Of course, there is nothing better than performing for a packed house of jazz lovers! But I think it's on us as musicians to be bold and bring this music to new audiences.A lot of fans may not know that I became a father in 2008. Happily, my daughter seems to be learning at a faster rate than I ever did, with lessons in harp and mandolin since age five. Now she is showing great skill at violin and guitar. Recently she improvised a solo with me playing rhythm guitar for the first time. I couldn't be prouder! I became very inspired to write new music shortly after she was born and have become so much more focused and productive because of her.I think my first jazz record wasLive at the Hollywood Bowl. My Dad and I loved playing pool together while listening to that double record set. I was totally into Led Zeppelin at the time though, and I loved Yes, both of which bordered on jazz and used some pretty skilled improvisation. My first record may have also been We Want Miles by. That's where I first heardon guitar. The whole album felt so alive and inspiring for me and my friends at the time!Angelo Debarre -Gypsy Unity -Le Chant du MondeLes Doigts de l'Homme -1910 -Alma RecordsLes Doigts de l'Homme -Mumbo Jumbo -LamastrockDjango Reinhardt -Django in Rome 1949/1950 -JSP RecordsAntoine Boyer -Sita -La vie qui vaDjango Reinhardt -Django in Rome 1949/1950 -JSP RecordsLes Doigts de l'Homme -1910 -Alma Records-My Song -ECM Records-Luiza -Universal Music Spain-Giant Steps -Atlantic Records-Jungle Nights in Harlem -BluebirdJazz, as a category, is in a kind of strange predicament, one that as a musician I almost have to ignore to keep doing what I am doing. I see a lot mediocrity out there and it doesn't have to do with how technically good a player is. It has to do with the feeling behind the music and the originality. I try to avoid the label of jazz often because it has become something different from what it originally was back in the early days. I like the Django Reinhardt style of jazz because it brings back some of the original feeling of jazz for me as a guitarist, particularly the swing feel and the way audiences can enjoy it even though the music can be complex harmonically. In my opinion, players like Django andhad it right, along with many others of that era. You could hear a story they were telling harmonically and you could have a sense of melody even as they played all around the chord changes. Above all, you could feel the music like it was a alive, vibrant, and fresh.Some modern jazz is really exciting, supercharged with electricity, but a lot of it falls flat because it just lacks that swing feel or it is too preconceived; not truly improvised. That said, we have to remember that jazz is the language that has allowed all music to grow and change in new ways. It's the most significant development in music since classical. Django was pivotal because he took American jazz music and combined it with his Romani-Manouche and French musette roots. This created a truly unique music that hinted at be-bop long beforeandI suppose in the world of jazz you have to watch out for hype. There is a lot of music out there claiming the moniker Jazz that is really not Jazz at all. However, music is an open market and folks will gravitate to what is popular. My hope is that everyone making good music will be able to get it out there to reach mass appeal. It's one thing to spend hours composing, rehearsing and playing the music. It's quite another to get out there to promote and tour. I bring up the example of Duke Ellington again. He took his original music and all of his musicians to Europe and played for audiences all over the world. He even invited Django Reinhardt in 1946 to perform with him in America to sold out shows at Carnegie Hall. Duke's achievements as a bandleader amaze me, not just in terms of his compositions, but also in terms of his leadership. His is an example we all can learn from in terms of what it takes to really play this music for a living.Players need to be creative about their presentation and keep the audience in mind. They also need to really appreciate those club owners and fans who are passionate about this music. Those people really make the difference. Some venues are run by folks who love music and treat musicians very well. Actively promote those places. However do not avoid other kinds of venues just because there is no jazz following. Put the music in places where it will find new ears. I think of how Snarky Puppy has reinvented how jazz can be presented and how the music can be complex and include improvisation but can also be accessible and exciting for a wide audience. Or how Coltrane and Parker played in schools and in churches at times for large audiences back in the day. It's important that jazz be performed everywhere, but especially on stages with good lighting and sound. There is an important theatrical element to Jazz and musicians should embrace the show aspect of the music. Above all musicians have to find their own style and be themselves. They need to exude everything they feel when they perform. The music does not tolerate any lacking in authenticity. The music has to be played from the heart and audiences want to experience that genuine feeling.I am planning an album of waltzes and another Ultrafaux CD which will have elements of Balkan folk and funk. I also want to do some cool new arrangements of Piaf tunes with Alexis, the vocalist for Hot Club of Baltimore, along with a few big band arrangements paying homage to Django and Ellington.My greatest fear when I perform is tripping over a cable and my guitar falling off the stage. I walk very carefully.Ah funeral songs...The best one for me is "Nuages" by Django Reinhardt."I'm Beginning to See the Light!"I practice about four hours, which includes time for composing, then do marketing and booking for about the same amount of time during the day.Surgeon, sculptor or woodworker because I am good with my hands and I like to fix things or make things. 2005 .. AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63 The Deadly Assault and Bush Administration Cover-Up by S. Eben Kirkesby and Andreas Harsono 5427 14th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34207 $6.99 Fish Fridays! Manatee Co.'s Only 24-Hr. FREE Wi-Fi Paid Advertisement On Native Ground AFTER 5 YEARS, WE'RE STILL LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Next week is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And it is likely that sometime in the next couple of weeks, the 4,000th American soldier will die in Iraq. [MORE] Momentum OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - It's 1931, and a 14-year-old girl is standing alone on a stage. She's small and lively with dark curly hair, widespread hazel eyes, slender wrists and an open, eager face filled with the wonder of performing. Her name is Rose, and one day she will be my mother. But now she is performing an Eugene O'Neill monologue called "Before Breakfast" for a ladies' club in a wealthy suburb of Long Island. [MORE] One Woman's World COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I'm not sure but I think I may be socially incorrect. [MORE] On Native Ground ENOUGH FOR A WAR, NOT FOR A PEOPLE by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Last week, the National Governors Assn. met in Washington, D.C. One of the tasks the NGA had on its agenda was to ask President Bush to increase federal spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects as a way to stimulate the economy. He rejected their pleas out of hand, claiming that infrastructure projects wouldn't offer any short-term economic boost. [MORE] Brasch Words BEWARE THE SELF-REVERENTIAL PRESS by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Shortly before the primary votes this past week, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Sen. Barack Obama's surge to the Democratic nomination "inevitable." It also called for Hillary Clinton to "start her campaign for Senate majority leader." [MORE] Constance A CONVERSATION WITH MY CAT Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Normally, when the cat starts his evening rant of meowing continuously until he makes his point, I just take it as long as I can, pick him up, and put him in the garage for the night. He doesn't want to go, but the meowing stops and I don't care if he likes it or not. [MORE] Momentum OUT OF STRUGGLE, ART by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Here we are again at the crossroads of art and social change, having the opportunity to watch good and great films about the lives of women in support of the Women's Crisis Center. [MORE] Campaign 2008 HOW TO PREDICT SUPER TUESDAY II WINNERS? ONLINE SEARCH by Jay Bhatti NEW YORK, March 4, 2008, 7:00PM ET -- With the outcomes of the Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries to be decided tonight, how possible is it that online searching can predict who will win tonight's primaries? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T VOTE; IT ENCOURAGES THEM by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Call me angry and disgusted but don't call me un-American because I won't be voting come November. [MORE] On Native Ground BUSH AND THE KEYBOARD COMMANDOS by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- As the days tick down toward the eventual departure of President George W. Bush from the White House, it's a hopeful sign that most Americans are no longer moved by his Administration's constant exploitation of terrorism for political gain. [MORE] Momentum WHICH AMERICA DO YOU LIVE IN? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- It's a little confusing. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] On Native Ground FIDEL RETIRES: NOW THE COLD WAR IS REALLY OVER by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Maybe now, we can finally say the Cold War is over. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] One Woman's World POLITICS IS NO PARTY by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Are you having a hard time focusing your eyes? Do you have faint red spots all over your body? Is there a ringing in your ears and do you see wavy lines when you look at your television set? Do your hands shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee? And have you recently been forgetting what day of the week it is - or what year? [MORE] Make My Day FOR BETTER OR WORSE ... A LOT WORSE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- "Marriage: It's Only Going to Get Worse." [MORE] Constance YOU CALL THESE RIGHTS? by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- When you express an opinion you hope to persuade others to your point of view. It doesn't always happen but still, opinion writers try. [MORE] Momentum THE BRIDGE WOMAN by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - Out there in America - yes, still - is a generation of women who were born in the 1940s, raised in the 1950s, and who came to radical consciousness in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I am one of them. Hillary Clinton is one of them. [MORE] On Native Ground OBAMA AND MY GENERATION by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- I originally planned on voting for Dennis Kucinich in the Vermont Primary on March 4. [MORE] The Willies: WARNING: THIS MEDICATION MAY MURDER YOUR FRIENDS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla. -- You've heard the warnings, haven't you? Stop Prozac and you may take a shotgun, an Uzi or an AK-47 and mow down your family and friends, or even a whole classroom full of your fellow students. You didn't? Well, that warning is not on the bottle, but like countless mass-murder incidents before it, Friday's shootings at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 last year, was probably precipitated by the effect of stopping medications that suppress anger and other powerful emotions but do not relieve the underlying cause. Isn't it time we started warning people - or stopped prescribing these medicines? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T KNOCK ON MY DOOR by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I wish I could feel delight in my poet's mansion being like Grand Central Station all the time, but I can't. And I wish my place was such a place that someone would one day write: "Her door was always open and she always made you feel all fuzzy and warm in her presence. She could make a cup of coffee seem like a banquet." [MORE] Reporting: Panama PANAMA'S VIOLENT LABOR UNREST INTENSIFIES Mark Scheinbaum PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb, 15, 2008 -- After just one day of relative calm, wildcat construction strikes by some members of Panama's largest union flared up again Friday morning, four days after a police sniper shot one worker. More than 140 demonstrators have been injured and at least 500 arrested, authorities say. [MORE] Brasch Words TO STIMULATE ECONOMY, BUY A CHINESE-MADE U.S. FLAG by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Walking down Main Street, pushing a grocery cart loaded with clothes, toys, and appliances was Marshbaum. Fastened to the right front corner of the cart was an American flag tied onto a three-foot ruler. [MORE] Make My Day THE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- To commemorate the death of noted shark exploder Roy Scheider, and the "Jaws" movies that resulted in Erik never setting foot in the ocean again, we are reprinting this column from 2003. Shark Experts 0, Sharks 1 [MORE] Momentum THE WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - As I write this, it's raining ice. Maybe a half a foot of snow and ice has already landed up here in the woods of Dummerston. Our cars are encased in it, and the door to the house is blocked. The satellite dish that brings in our Internet service quit about 20 minutes ago - frozen solid. [MORE] The Willies AMERICA TO HILLARY: GET OUT! by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Sen. Hillary Clinton has adopted the Rudy Giuliani strategy, and it's working - for Sen. Barack Obama. It turns out to be the strategy all Democrats are seeking - an exit strategy. But it's not for Iraq. It's for her exit from the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. [MORE] Constance CONFESSIONS OF A DISAPPOINTED VOTER by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A week ago at just about this time, I completed an article and was about to submit it as scheduled to The American Reporter. I was feeling rather elated, ready to show up on Super Tuesday morning, firmly touch the X next to Rudy Giuliani's name and get on with my day. He was my choice; he would get my vote. [MORE] Reporting: Florida SIERRA CLUB SET TO SUSPEND FLA. CHAPTER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2008 -- The national Sierra Club is set to suspend its Florida chapter after years of divisive infighting, the president of the national club told Florida members in a letter delivered to some this weekend. It is the first time in its 116-year history that such a step has been considered by the club, according to news reports. [MORE] One Woman's World PLANT A NEW WORLD THIS SPRING by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- For a little while, the men will just have to toss and turn in their fear-free-women beds. For a small space of time Hillary Clinton will just have to trudge on toward the White House without my faint applause in the background. [MORE] On Native Ground VERMONT AND THE 5 STAGES OF CONSERVATIVE GRIEF by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- First, Vermont tried to convince the nation to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. [MORE] Make My Day REBEL WITHOUT A TONGUE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Kids' brains work in amazing ways. At times, they can grasp complex concepts and make impressive discoveries. Other times, you have to wonder how we ever survived as a species. [MORE] The Willies FOR DEMOCRATS, NOW IT'S ABOUT RACE, INCOME AND GENDER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- It's not a good time to be a Democrat. As the Super Tuesday results demonstrated, the presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has divided the partly along clear racial, income and gender lines - the very distinctions the party has sought to erase in principle but has emphasized in its pursuit of diversity. [MORE] Momentum SUPER TUESDAY BLUES by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Super Tuesday has come and gone and I still can't get excited about the upcoming presidential elections. [MORE] The Willies ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY, YOUR PUSH IS NEEDED by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 5. 2008 -- I'm expecting a sea change tonight. I believe that for the first time in this nation's history we will once and forever banish racism as the deciding factor in the destiny of African-Americans, and indeed adopt diversity as our path to the future. [MORE] Campaign 2008 AT 88, EVERY VOTE REALLY COUNTS by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 5, 2008 -- Pearl Turner will caucus for Mitt Romney tonight in Denver. [MORE] One Woman's World STAND BY YOUR WOMAN by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The black vote. The gay vote. The fundamentalist vote. The Hispanic vote. [MORE] An AR Special SUSPECTS IN BENAZIR ASSASSINATION HAVE TIES TO MUSHARRAF by Ahmar Mustikhan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Gordon Brown this past Monday feted coup-leader-turned-President Pervez Musharraf at 10 Downing Street, Britain's new prime minister probably didn't ask the Pakistani dictator a question that is now on many minds: Did you order the murder of Benazir Bhutto? [MORE] Momentum TO THE VERMONT DELEGATION: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. Back when President George W. Bush and Dick Vice President Dick Cheney were building up to their loathsome war in Iraq, very few people were brave enough to call the bullies' bluff. [MORE] On Native Ground IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY, WE'LL NEVER LEAVE IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. - In his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Bush cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that it would endanger the process that has been made over the past year. [MORE] Campaign 2008 CLASH OF COMMENTS AND PROTESTORS AT CLINTON, OBAMA RALLIES IN DENVER by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 1, 2008 -- At least four presidential campaigns of both partiers rolled into in Denver this week ahead of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries in 22 states, but it was the Democratic presidential contenders who drew the big crowds and duked it out Wednesday. If sheer numbers are any indication, Sen. Barack Obama - preceded by a buoyant and beautiful Caroline Kennedy - won the round handily. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the Colorado primary next Tuesday. [MORE] The Willies WHY THE FLORIDA PRIMARY STINKS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 30, 2008 -- I was with my wife and daughter driving the back way from Miami home to Bradenton when we stopped at a McDonald's in Clewiston, the only big town along the vast shore of Lake Okeechobee, the state's precious freshwater reservoir. The McDonald's had three televisions at a central seating area, each tuned to a different network, and our table was in front of CNN as the very first election results started to pour in around 7:30PM. With them, almost as counterpoint, suddenly came such an overwhelming odor of cow plop that my wife started to throw up as we all ran to the parking lot. [MORE] Passings: Suharto DEATH OF A KEMUSU THUG by Andreas Harsono JAKARTA - A few minutes after hearing that former president Suharto had died in his hospital bed, Marco, a militia leader in downtown Jakarta, raced to Suhartos house, wearing his jungle camouflage and began guarding the Suhartos residence on Cendana Street. [MORE] Constance I REMEMBER YOU by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.. -- It seems to be more often lately that the sentiment is spoken but it's always been out there: "You never get over the death of your child." This is true. But the heartfelt expressions come from some who cannot fathom the notion of losing a child; their own child is who is in their mind, not another mother's child. [MORE] A federal court decision in March striking down the designation of MetLife as a "systemically important financial institution" has sparked a lively debate on the Financial Stability Oversight Council's ability to prevent future financial crises. But for all the attention paid to the court ruling, it does not directly address what the council must do to succeed. In the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress wisely gave regulators greater authority to address systemic risk originating outside the banking sector by letting FSOC designate nonbank financial firms as SIFIs. The MetLife decision doesn't remove this powerful tool. Even if the government loses its appeal, FSOC could still take another crack at designating the insurer by addressing flaws in the council's SIFI designation process identified by the courts. More important, independent of the legal battle, FSOC's designation authority as granted by Congress has several practical limitations. For one thing, a designation is an either-or decision. FSOC can't designate every large nonbank financial firm, meaning the process is always going to be somewhat subjective. Even though a firm designated as a SIFI faces prudential requirements that may make it less risky, it posed some amount of market risk before its designation, and will continue to if it sheds the SIFI label. Meanwhile, the system will also include firms with some amount of systemic exposure that do not face the same prudential standards as a SIFI. There is no magic threshold a firm can cross that suddenly makes it systemically risky. We just can't easily put market dangers into a box. Designation also may simply shift risk rather than reduce it. If a firm restructures itself to attempt to escape its SIFI designation, which has already happened, it is not clear that the overall market will become less risky. As the firm makes divestments, closes units and unwinds certain operations, that risk may simply go somewhere else. In addition, the designation process is cumbersome and lengthy. Since FSOC should be deliberate in these decisions, slow is not necessarily bad. But the process is not designed to allow FSOC to react quickly to emerging threats. That slowness may be one reason FSOC has justified its designations as necessary for companies that it believes could threaten financial stability if they were to fail, rather than focusing on particular characteristics and activities of companies that make them likely to threaten financial stability. These shortcomings reveal how systemic threats are more related to the risky activities and products across a range of companies of different sizes and complexity, rather than to a specific set of individual companies deemed the riskiest. Financial crises are generally caused by activities and practices that inflate asset price bubbles that eventually burst. For example, at its core, the 2007-8 crisis resulted from a housing price bubble inflated by activities like poor mortgage underwriting and excessive leverage at financial firms, and from products like credit default swaps for which risk was drastically mispriced. Speculative frenzies have driven bubble-and-collapse cycles for centuries, from Dutch tulips in the 1600s to dot-com stocks in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Not surprisingly, regulators focus on the riskiest activities and products at the firms they oversee. Financial regulators may even agree that a focus on activities and products is the best approach. In April, FSOC released a public update on its ongoing review of activities and products provided by asset managers and hedge funds. FSOC could still designate one or more asset managers as SIFIs. However, the council is reviewing specific activities and characteristics that FSOC believes could threaten financial stability, and actions that firms and regulators may need to take to mitigate those risks. If an activities-and-products approach is a better way to address systemic risk, why has FSOC focused on designation? A key reason is that designation is the only significant power the council has. FSOC can recommend stricter regulation on risky activities by a regulator which has a seat on the council but it cannot force a stubborn member agency to act on those recommendations. The financial crisis showed why systemic oversight to identify and mitigate threats to financial stability is so important. Creating FSOC in Dodd-Frank was a good first step, but like any new agencyand particularly one made up of other agencies with their own mandates and perspectiveswe should not expect FSOC to get everything right the first time. We should, however, expect it to keep getting better. One way for Congress to improve FSOC is to give it additional options to address systemic threats. It is not that designation is never a good option, just that it is not always the ideal one and should not be the only tool in FSOC's toolbox. To the extent that it can, FSOC should try to address systemic threats using an activities-and-products-based approach. To the extent that it cannot, Congress should give FSOC a more diverse selection of tools to address emerging threats. Justin Schardin is acting director of the Financial Regulatory Reform Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center. As banks weigh blockchain-powered clearing and settlement solutions, Royal Bank of Canada is looking at how the technology can bolster its customer loyalty programs. RBC regards rewards points as currency for its customers and works to ensure they're able to spend their earnings, said Linda Mantia, executive vice president of digital, cards and payments for RBC. But with current technology systems, it can take up to eight weeks for points to reflect in a customer's account. "There's something very meaningful about what blockchain can do to address client experience," said Mantia, who has also helped lead RBC's innovation in areas such as payments executed by connected devices. "Sometimes things get overhyped, but it doesn't change that it will fundamentally change how banking operates going forward." Banks have been investigating potential uses of the blockchain and its decentralized electronic record-keeping system, which was originally created for the digital currency bitcoin. After initially brushing off the potential of bitcoin and its underlying technology, a number of applications have emerged that have piqued the curiosity of banks including clearing and settlement, reference data, collateral management, securities issuance, trade matching and confirmation and over-the-counter derivatives processing. RBC is interested in the potential of a permissioned blockchain to bring real-time exchange for merchant partners and consumer clients. That would open the door to turning points into currency at the point of sale. By implementing blockchain tech, banks can "quickly reconcile and provide real-time feedback and spending and redemption options, so rewards aren't just abstract points, but rather, individual and instantaneous incentives for every purchase," said Chris Finan, co-founder and chief executive of the blockchain startup Manifold Technology, one of the partners in RBC's blockchain efforts. Finan claims its technology can settle transactions in milliseconds, while Ripple can take 10 seconds and bitcoin takes roughly 10 minutes. Loyalty programs are a significant driver of credit card use. They aren't heavily regulated; through its own, RBC has developed a network of merchant partners; and unlike collaborative industry initiatives that require various parties' agreement in order to progress, the bank can build at its own pace, making RBC Rewards more practical blockchain testing grounds for the bank, Mantia said. (RBC is exploring other blockchain use cases as a member of the R3CEV consortium, however, and is working on cross-border payments technolgoy with Ripple.) In November, RBC's chief executive, Dave McKay, teased that the company could roll out its blockchain powered loyalty program sometime this year. Mantia did not comment on the timing, but said the pilot is making good progress. Of course, when it is deployed the blockchain feature won't be discernable to customers, but the advantages might. "Our most avid point collectors will realize that right now, in the world of immediacy, we have a problem with the legacy systems that run a lot of rewards points," Mantia said. "You earn points all month, but you won't get to use them until the following month when they're posted into the account." If the future turns out the way Finan envisions, customers will have the option to receive push notifications at the point of sale updating them on their rewards balances. From there they would also be able to spend their points directly from their bank's mobile app, apply them against a purchase to reduce cost of that purchase, or exchange with other types of points instantly. "This is where a financial institution can be running a points exchange. Redemptions become very easy," he said. "Think of banks' affiliate partnerships with airlines: incredibly painful, can take up to six weeks, the seat is gone, the flight is gone imagine if it's digital currency you could exchange." Manifold is building private blockchain technology for financial institutions, to make them more efficient and help them retain clients' trust, said Finan, a former White House cybersecurity director. This year it joined Microsoft Azure, the tech giant's blockchain-as-a-service program. It is also looking to improve one mobile service provider's cross-border reconciliation and settlement with blockchain. Gamification and fun are important to clients, Mantia said, adding that this is one of her biggest takeaways from the 10-year-old rewards program. Points are "fun money" to customers, but where they collect points to transact is ripe for improvement. Trust, exchange of value and engagement will be crucial in how RBC builds on it. "We've worked for 140 years on the trust side but even with something like points, you have to keep that trust going," Mantia said. "Loyalty can really improve our ability to engage clients more regularly and make them think that it's fun. There's never going to be a more exciting time for our clients if we do this well and take advantage of this technology." Pressure is building on financial services providers to develop more merchant-centric loyalty programs to fight declining interchange revenue, and U.S. Bank is testing one approach in Lawrence, Kan. The bank's Deal Local app, a proprietary system developed with its Elavon merchant processing subsidiary, operates a bit like a card-linked offers platform for local businesses. In the Kansas pilot, U.S. Bank has signed up 23 businesses that already use Elavon for its processing services to provide offers through Deal Local via Fanfare, the loyalty platform Elavon launched in 2014. U.S. Bank joins countless other companies that have invested heavily in the search for a winning formula that combines the power of the mobile channel with merchant-funded deals to replace clunky paper-based coupons and store loyalty programs. Success with these efforts has been elusive, as developers face the perennial challenge of trying to build scale while keeping up with fast-moving changes in the mobile payments landscape. Some efforts, like the early mobile wallet Bling Nation, failed abruptly; others, like the Merchant Customer Exchange's CurrentC, have lingered in development for years. LevelUp has persisted in the market but changed its pricing model several times to appease merchants. These earlier efforts do provide valuable lessons for newer programs. Bling Nation, for example, learned the hard way that it could not dictate to merchants what their loyalty programs should be. U.S. Banks biggest challenge with Deal Local will be the friction in its process and steps required by consumers to capture deals. Obviously this is a pilot, but theyll need to work out the kinks and make sure there are enough fresh and relevant deals to make consumers pay attention. But experimenting in a sandbox like this is going to be very important for banks as they look to keep up with evolving new models for merchant loyalty and rewards, said Brian Riley, principal executive adviser with CEB TowerGroup. U.S. Bank has an advantage in signing up businesses through its existing portfolio of Elavon customers, enabling it to work with merchants that are already receptive to enhancing their relationship with the bank. Getting into the trenches with local merchants is exactly where banks and processors should want to be, Riley said. Business that are already Elavon processing customers need only sign a separate agreement to participate in the pilot, and there is no separate point of sale integration required, a U.S. Bank spokesperson said. U.S. Bank is not charging any fees to merchants during the pilot, which is slated to run for six months, the spokesperson said. During the pilot, Deal Local's offers include 25% off at LOL Family Zone, a Lawrence-based indoor playground, and 50% off the fifth visit to Daylight Espresso Cafe in nearby Baldwin City, Kan. Consumers participate by downloading the app and enrolling a credit or debit card or their mobile phone number to identify them as Deal Local subscribers. Significantly, the app does not yet support in-app or mobile payments. Users scroll through a list of participating businesses, and they must click on each to enroll and receive offers. To redeem offers, users present their payment card at the point of sale, and the offer is displayed on the payment terminal. Alternatively, users can give their mobile phone number to the clerk to retrieve the details of the offer they chose. Talk about trying the opposite end of the spectrum. Christopher Cline, a former Wells Fargo executive, has joined the management of a community bank in Vancouver, Wash., to help it build up its wealth management business. The $390 million-asset Riverview Trust said Monday that it has hired Cline as president and chief operating officer. He will work with John Karas, the companys chairman and chief executive, to oversee daily business operations and lead strategic planning and business development efforts. Cline started in March, according to his LinkedIn profile. Cline was a senior regional fiduciary manager for Wells Fargo, heading up trust services in Oregon and the southwest Washington region since 2008. Before entering financial services, he spent 15 years as an estate planner and was heavily involved in the drafting and revisions of Oregon trust and estate law. Were poised to take advantage of his vast experience working in the estate planning sector and providing legal counsel to high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, foundations and trusts, Karas said in a news release. The selection of Carly Fiorina as Ted Cruz's running mate, should he get the Republican Nomination, is a shrewd move in several ways. As a woman who rose from nothing without the Governor of Arkansas as her husband or a New York multi-millionaire as her father, Fiorina, like Cruz, has a compelling life story that shows that anyone with courage and grit can succeed in America. She is also brilliant and successful in those very parts of economic activity that are the keys to true prosperity. The politics of Cruz announcing his choice for her now makes good political sense. Trump, for once, is behind the news cycle. At a time when Trump wishes the media to be doing nothing but talking about his sweep on the Northeast, Ted Cruz's selection as a running mate drains much of the attention that is the lifeblood of Trump's whole campaign. Selection of a running mate this early is the sort of unorthodox approach that has helped Trump. The sheer novelty of what Cruz has done will keep the talking heads talking for a week or two, all taking air out of Trump's sails. This also creates an opening for Republicans to endorse this proposed ticket Governor Pence, perhaps? creating yet another cycle of positive news stories for Cruz before the next primaries. Fiorina will help Cruz in those remaining primaries by giving Republican women an additional reason to vote for Cruz and not for Trump. The timing, again, was perfect. Cruz was never going to win any of the blue Northeastern states. Indiana will have a primary next week and Nebraska and West Virginia the week after that. Drawing Republican women to Cruz in those three states could easily make the difference between a clean, strong sweep of those states, which would restore momentum to Cruz, and the soft or weak showing that would be trouble for him. Fiorina, whose appearance was mocked by Trump, is the perfect person to remind Republican women of all the reasons why they dislike Trump. This could be reinforced by Cruz pulling out a brilliant, principled, and successful powerful Republican woman: his wife Heidi, who has also been cruelly sneered at for her appearance by Trump. Indeed, because both have been attacked over their physical appearance by Trump already, mistakes on both occasions, Donald Trump will have to watch himself in how he reacts to Cruz's choice of Fiorina. One boorish or stupid remark might cost Trump support at just the time when he fancies himself wrapping up the nomination. Out of the remaining states, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota ought to be Cruz territory. Cruz is leaving Oregon and New Mexico to Kasich. New Jersey will go to Trump. The most important state at the end of the campaign will be California. If Trump loses California, it is hard to see him winning the nomination. Carly Fiorina has already demonstrated in her brief political career that she is very popular with Republican primary voters in California. When Fiorina ran for the Senate in 2010, she won the Republican primary by a landslide in a crowded field. Her savvy with information technology, which is much more important to California than to New York (or most big states), will give California Republicans an additional reason to support the Cruz-Fiorina ticket. It is also likely that selecting Fiorina as his running mate will mean that the general election polls may begin to show the Cruz-Fiorina ticket running ahead of Hillary in the general election, which would give Republican delegates another reason to support this ticket for the nomination. That might also take the steam out of the latent fear that angry Trump supporters would stay home on election day if their guy is not the nominee. How well would a Cruz-Fiorina ticket do in the general election? Carly Fiorina, as a successful, intelligent, and politically astute woman, could speak directly to American women. Heidi Cruz, who is just as bright and successful and politically astute on her own, would be able to provide a second important way to dilute Hillary's attraction to female voters. Fiorina, who has an inspiring life story, also sounds authentic. She could exploit Hillary's greatest vulnerability. Ted Cruz has shown again that he is methodical and intelligent. Fiorina, in many different ways, will help him win the nomination and then win the presidency. The nightmare scenario of an America sent back centuries in time before electricity, refrigeration, and smart phones has grown unnervingly closer with the presence of two North Korean satellites with orbits over a blissfully unaware American populace and an Obama administration indifferent to the apocalyptic threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack. On Feb. 7, North Korea launched a second satellite, the KMS-4, to join their KMS-3 satellite launched in December of 2012. In an article in the Washington Times on April 24, R. James Woolsey, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Peter Vincent Fry, executive director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security as well as director of the Nuclear Strategy Forum, both congressional advisory boards, warned of the dangers of an apocalyptic EMP attack that these and similar satellites pose: Both satellites now are in south polar orbits, evading many U.S. missile defense radars and flying over the United States from the south, where our defenses are limited. Both satellites -- if nuclear armed -- could make an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack that could blackout the U.S. electric grid for months or years, thereby killing millions. Technologically, such an EMP attack is easy -- since the weapon detonates at high-altitude, in space, no shock absorbers, heat shield, or vehicle for atmospheric re-entry is necessary. Since the radius of the EMP is enormous, thousands of kilometers, accuracy matters little. Almost any nuclear weapon will do. Moreover, North Korea probably has nuclear weapons specially designed, not to make a big explosion, but to emit lots of gamma rays to generate high-frequency EMP. Senior Russian generals warned EMP Commissioners in 2004 that their EMP nuclear warhead design leaked accidentally to North Korea, and unemployed Russian scientists found work in North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Woolsey and Pry, along with former Reagan science adviser William R. Graham, chairman of the Congressional EMP Commission, Ambassador Henry Cooper, director of the Strategic Defense Initiative and chief negotiator at the Defense and Space Talks with the USSR; and Fritz Ermarth, chairman of the National Intelligence Council; warned of the North Korean EMP threat an article in the February 12 issue of National Review: Naive reliance on their transparent disavowals could end up costing millions of American lives. North Korea launched its second satellite on Saturday, yet the national press continues to ignore this existential threat. The White House has not recognized that a nuclear-armed North Korea has demonstrated an ability to kill most Americans with an electromagnetic-pulse (EMP) attack. And White House spokesmen and the media have misled the public with unjustified assurances that North Korea has not yet miniaturized nuclear warheads for missile or satellite delivery. We, who have spent our professional lifetimes analyzing and defending against nuclear-missile threats, warned years ago that North Koreas Unha-3 space launch vehicle could carry a small nuclear warhead and detonate it a hundred or so miles over the United States to create an EMP, leading to a protracted nationwide blackout. The resulting societal chaos could kill millions. The image of an America gone dark, an America suddenly transported from an era of IPads to an era of horse and buggy travel, recently depicted in the NBC series Revolution is not science fiction but a very real possibility. As Investors Business Daily described the threat in an aptly titled April, 2013 editorial, How North Korea Could Destroy The United States: The three-stage missile North Korea launched last December that also orbited a package, which experts say could be a test to orbit a nuclear weapon that then would be de-orbited on command anywhere over the U.S. and exploded at a high altitude, releasing an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). That would fry electronic circuitry and the nations power grid. This concern recently has been reinforced by a little-publicized study released in May 2011, titled In the Dark: Military Planning for a Catastrophic Critical Infrastructure Event, by the U.S. Army War College that said a nuclear detonation at altitude above a U.S. city could wipe out the electrical grid for hundreds, possibly thousands, of miles around. The satellite launched by Pyongyang coincided with a third round of nuclear tests described as a nuclear test of a higher level, most likely referring to a device made from highly enriched uranium, which is easier to miniaturize than the plutonium bombs North Korea tested in 2006 and 2009, said Cheong Seong-chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea Any nuclear weapon detonated above an altitude of 30 kilometers will generate an electromagnetic pulse that will destroy electronics and could collapse the electric power grid and other critical infrastructures communications, transportation, banking and finance, food and water that sustain modern civilization and the lives of 300 million Americans Nobody is harmed or killed immediately by the blast. But life in the U.S., the worlds only superpower and the worlds largest economy, would come to a screeching halt as a country dependent on cutting-edge 21st century technology regresses in time almost a century instantaneously. After a reported North Korean test of a Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile, President Obama speculated about deploying the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) thankfully developed under prior Republican administrations to South Korea. As Breitbart noted: One of the things that we have been doing is spending a lot more time positioning our missile development systems, so that even as we try to resolve the underlying problem of nuclear development inside of North Korea, were also setting up a shield that can at least block the relatively low-level threats that theyre posing now, President Obama said in a CBS News interview on Tuesday. First, they are not missile development systems. They are missile defense systems, systems which President Obama has long opposed as Cold War weapons. Soon after taking office, President Obama scuttled plans for ground-based missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic. Second, the North Korean threat, as posed by its nuclear weapons and its satellite-launch capability is definitely not low-level. It is in fact existential and even if President Obama deployed THAAD to the Korean peninsula, the apocalyptic threat of an EMP attack by Pyongyang may already, or could be very soon, over our heads. President Obama either does not understand the EMP threat, or has dismissed it. It would be wise to elect a President in 2016 who both understands the threat and is willing to deal with it, or this election may be the last one the United States as we know it ever has. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Former speaker of the House John Boehner recently spoke ill of fellow Republican Ted Cruz in a Q&A at Stanford University. His comments likening the candidate to "Lucifer in the flesh" got all the media attention, leaving this virtually unreported: Boehner's comments also included a reference to the ongoing FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server while she was at the State Department, speculating on what might happen if the scandal widens. "Don't be shocked if two weeks before the convention, here comes Joe Biden parachuting in and Barack Obama fanning the flames to make it all happen," the former speaker said. I've been warning of this for more than a year, albeit for a different reason. Even someone as self-absorbed as Hillary must surely realize she has too much baggage, too many demonstrable lies, and too many viable avenues of investigation by officials who care more for country than party. These are the anchors that will draw Secretary Clinton below the waves, dooming her bid for the presidency. It is my contention that this is all according to plan. To understand the dynamic, it is important to look back at the genesis of Clinton's legal issues. She clearly mishandled highly classified information during her tenure as secretary of state. Some would go farther and call it intentional exposure of state secrets, but absent further revelations from the FBI investigation, that remains speculative, however likely it may appear. Given the decidedly odd nature of this year's electoral climate, speculation is as good an exercise as any, so let's flesh out this particular line of reasoning. We know that Clinton's excuse for placing a private server in her home for the processing of state secrets via email doesn't pass the laugh test. Supposedly seeking "convenience," citing the desire to carry only one smartphone for all correspondence rather than one for work and another for personal, Clinton established this server in the basement of her private home, also hosting email accounts for her two closest aides, Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills. Of course, your average middle-schooler could have told Secretary Clinton that it would be much easier to abandon the government-issued BlackBerry in favor of a smartphone capable of accessing more than one email account than it would be to set up an entire self-hosted network, vulnerable to hackers, in her home at Chappaqua. What may be a more reasonable explanation is that Secretary Clinton wanted the freedom to permit access to state secrets at her behest, to parties unknown, perhaps in exchange for some of those remarkably large contributions to the Clinton foundation. It strains credulity to think that people would toss around such princely sums on the off chance that she might actually become president one day. Our enemies are nothing if not pragmatic. They would've insisted on a far more immediate return on investment one not possible if information had to first be accessed and retrieved from State Department-hosted servers before passing on to foundation "contributors." The weakness in her plan stems from the discovery of her personal network, revealed by the Romanian hacker known as "Guccifer." The same hacker was recently extradited to the United States at the request of those investigating Clinton's emailgate. Assuming that FBI Director Comey is indeed gathering prosecutable evidence against Mrs. Clinton, it would stand to reason that a political operative of Ms. Clinton's stature would have arranged an escape for such a contingency. Here is my reasoning: realizing that the evidence against her could rise to the level of treason, Secretary Clinton has struck a bargain with the Obama White House that in return for bowing out at or near the convention, she will receive a full pardon in order to ensure that she will never see the inside of a prison cell. She takes the slings and arrows, exhausting the opposition research budgets of Republican campaigns, leaving V.P. Biden and Sen. Warren largely immune from scrutiny during these long months of primaries and caucuses. By the time she begs off the nomination, citing medical issues, the Republicans will have barely three months to investigate and counter the actual nominees, Biden and Warren. Those among the electorate who are itching to make history with a female president will believe themselves to be doing precisely that by voting for a Biden/Warren ticket, albeit with a four-year "on-the-job training" period. Elizabeth Warren is easily as "progressive" as Clinton (likely having more in common with Bernie Sanders) but doesn't carry the ethical corruption baggage that engulfs the wife of Monica Lewinsky's ex-boyfriend. Joe Biden doesn't carry the intellectual heft necessary to attain the presidency as a stand-alone candidate, but teamed with a soon to be historical figure in Warren, his star shines far more brightly. Clinton avoids prison and walks away with hundreds of millions in campaign donations. Obama gets a third term via Biden, and Democrats everywhere get to gush about their tolerance and forward thinking by electing the first female vice president/president in waiting. Republicans are caught on their heels, holding years of now worthless Clinton research while having virtually no contemporary files on their actual opponents. Whenever Democrats accuse Republicans of some shady malfeasance, rest assured that it is they who are engaged in precisely the crime they allege. Given the left-wing media narrative of stolen nominations and convention chicanery, it is more than plausible that the scenario outlined above is something more than pure speculation. By mid-summer, we will all know if I'm right. I first posited this scenario when Secretary Clinton announced her candidacy. Just remember, you heard it here first. The author is the communications director for the Global Faith Institute, (globalfaith.org) and writes from Omaha, Neb. He welcomes visitors to his website at readmorejoe.com. So its come to this in the war of elite America vs. Donald Trump: Kathleen Parker of The Washington Post tells us that Plato would be horrified by Donald Trumps rise. And of course, as Post readers know, that will turn the tide with voters, who will listen to the sweet reason of that pillar of the media elite and turn away from the appeals of The Donald to our base motives. We will then flock to the anyone-but-Trump movement because not just the left and right elites but also Plato and Aristotle have now, through the Post, joined the fight against the immoral, unethical, and dishonest rhetoric of Donald Trump. It is clear, lectures the Posts Parker, that The Donald is not guided by accepted rules of argument and engagement, that he is a world-class demagogue who has shown nothing but contempt for ethos, pathos, and logos. Well. As a Donald Trump supporter, Im not sure what the Three Stooges have to do with politics, but I realize that he has gone too far, especially in rejecting all that is important to our betters. And so to mix metaphors (what can you expect from Trump supporters -- so unsophisticated that we think movement conservatism has something to do with bowels -- but metaphors as scrambled as zombie brains after a Rick Grimes workout in Walking Dead?) he has tugged on Supermans cape, and poked a short finger in the eyes of the mighty Washington Post and its oh-so cultured readers. And now the Post, aghast at the growing support for the Queens-born Trump, has rolled out the big guns on its editorial team in hopes of convincing Trump supporters that political decisions are best made by our betters on both the left and right. And so into the war on Trump and a popular culture that has millions tuning into The Apprentice instead of PBS NewsHour strides Kathleen Parker. This staple of the Washington and New York City social circuit is celebrated as a Beltway treasure, whose pronouncements on outside-the-Beltway life (e.g., people with Southern accents are not smart, sophisticated people read The Washington Post, and internet journalism is another form of terrorism) have long informed the conversation in Georgetown parlors. She is prized by the elites and The Washington Post editorial board (but I repeat myself) for her self-proclaimed ability to translate for the ruling class the wishes and dreams of those of us who reside outside the Beltway, for staying in touch with (the) normal people she endearingly refers to as Bubbas. And so Parker, who pals with MSNBCs Chris Matthews and columnist David Brooks of The New York Times (who just recently admitted to spending large chunks of my life in the bourgeois strata -- yes, he really talks like that, my fellow Bubbas), has used the hallowed ink and pixels of her Washington Post column to tell us Bubbas out here to listen up: Im talking to you, New York state (which, with the exception of Manhattan, voted Trump), Connecticut, Virginia, South Carolina and just about every geography where the Bubbas have voted. Dont you understand that Plato would just hate Trump? That Aristotle would regard The Donald as an unsavory demagogue? Why? Because that ancient Greek icons of our cultural elites envisioned that those practicing persuasion would be guided by accepted rules of argument and engagement. You know, the politically correct stuff of the left and the right. Which The Donald ignores. Why, she recently visited a law school class at the University of Virginia and everyone, simply everyone agreed that Trump operates in a substance-free zone of narcissistic fantasy. And these students, urged on by an incredibly sharp professor who agrees with the Post about the utter catastrophe represented by The Donald, echoed her that the ignorance of Trump and his Bubba supporters can best be combated by resurrecting Plato and Aristotle. The Bubbas need to be exposed to the enlightened discourse favored by, say, Parker and Brooks and UVA elites-in-training before the need arises -- in the fashion of classic Greek political philosophy -- to take the vote from those of us who are simply credulous people eager to believe what Trump is selling. Whoa! Thatll teach us! Nothing like an intense round of Plato-shaming to make us realize just how wrong we are to vote for The Donald. Its time to turn off The Bachelor, put down that clicker, and think aboutPlato. And, for good measure, reflect upon Aristotle. Plato, of course, was Aristotles mentor, as anyone who is someone knows. Supporting Trump? Parker urges us to consider this: WWPD -- What Would Plato Do? After which we should spend some time channeling Aristotle. Wow. You can already hear the ahas bursting from our empty heads as we realize: We cant support The Donald! Plato would be horrified. And Aristotle? Hey, this guy hangs with the big guns (no, Trump supporter, were not talking about what theyve got under those Greek robes). I mean, Kathleen Parker, the editors of the Post and New York Times, Aristotle and Plato and our political leadership...these are smart people. They are better people. Thanks to whom we now understand the perilous fates that await Trump followers! And so, all across this great nation, millions of Donald supporters are being Plato-shamed into changing our votes, perhaps even self-identifying as Aristotle, thats how persuasive Parker is. In thousands of bars and taverns, from Vestal, New York to Panhandle, Georgia and beyond, the conversations will take a lighthearted turn as we realize just how foolish we have been to embrace The Donald: Hey, did you hear the one about Donald trump, a rabbi, and Plato walking into a bar? Why did Aristotle cross the road? To get away from Donald Trump. How do you make an Intellectual Shake? You take it to a Donald Trump rally. Or not. NOT. So not. Honestly, as they say, you cant make this stuff up. Left and right, theyve been savaging him. And now, just as hes about to clinch the nomination, these best of the best are in a panic. This Trump -- how do we stop him? Slanted coverage? Check. Let our readers know that a vote for a man of color does not include orange? Check. Call him a racist? Check. But nothing seems to work. Despair hangs heavy over conference rooms in Manhattan and Washington, on K Street and Rodeo Drive, untilKathleen Parker offers a way out. Well stop Trump, she reassures them, by bringing Plato and Aristotle back into the conversation. That will turn the tide! Never mind, of course, that given the culture of the ancient Greeks, the first thing that Plato and Aristotle would do is weigh in on the Target restroom controversy. Greek leadership did, after all, like their little boys -- and marry 12-year-old girls. And were part of a culture that was big on enslaving captured populations, matricide, patricide and rape. Elites R Us, huh? Oops. Whos unsavory now? Stuart Schwartz, a former media and consumer merchandising executive, is on the faculty at Liberty University in Virginia. Why does America have such a screwy system for electing party nominees to run for the office of president? Theres only one instance of the word primary and its related forms in the Constitution: the 24th Amendment. And the 76 words that make up that amendment all deal with striking down poll taxes, not some justification for any primary election system. Our presidential primary system is akin to the Electoral College system in that both are undemocratic. In the turmoil after the 2000 presidential election, Hillary Clinton actually called for ending the Electoral College: I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means its time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president. If Mrs. Clinton still thinks we should scrap the Electoral College system, a system required by the Constitution, would she be up for scrapping the primary election system, which is not? The main reason we have these wacky undemocratic primaries is this: the ballot access laws of the States. The primary system isnt really a system. Rather, its a mishmash of methods for choosing convention delegates. Yet, folks are expected to defer to it, to the so-called "will of the primary voters." Couldnt the States just repeal their ballot access laws for presidential candidates from the two major parties? After all, the Democratic and Republican parties are the only parties since before the Civil War that have given us presidents. Because America operates under a two-party system, perhaps the States could grandfather in ballot access for our two major parties and not require them to go through the ordeal and expense of primaries. If we had conventions only, with no preceding primaries, the criteria for choosing delegates would be quite different from what they are. For one thing, delegates would not be pledged, i.e. bound, to particular candidates. Imagine some distant America wherein presidential primaries were a thing of the past. In that America, delegates to presidential nominating conventions would all be unbound, they would all have human agency and be free to vote as they saw fit, not merely be a rubber stamp of the primary voters choices. In our imagined America, national party conventions would be quite different than they are today. They would be actual deliberative bodies, deciding which person is best to lead the nation and be their standard-bearer. Such conventions would often be messy and even rancorous. Its doubtful that a party would want to televise such a convention. If they have even a smidgen of honesty, primary voters will admit that theyve made some very bad choices. It was primary voters who gave us Barack Hussein Obama; the Democrat convention delegates merely ratified the primary voters choice, the so-called will of the people. Americans are so celebrity-obsessed that some would vote for the Kardashians if they were on the ballot. One function a political party should have is to pre-screen candidates so the voters will have better choices and wont make so many mistakes. In July, delegates to the Republican National Convention who want to save their partys fortunes should consider doing something that may seem dangerous: they should ignore the primaries. On April 1 at his FiveThirtyEight blog, famed statistician Nate Silver writes: Trump isnt totally safe even if he locks up 1,237 delegates by the time the final Republicans vote. The delegates have a lot of power, both on the convention floor and in the various rules and credentials committees that will begin meeting before the convention officially begins. If they wanted to, the delegates could deploy a nuclear option on Trump and vote to unbind themselves on the first ballot, a strategy Ted Kennedy unsuccessfully pursued against Jimmy Carter in 1980. [] A final possibility is faithless delegates, where individual delegates simply decline to vote for Trump despite being bound to do so by party rules. Its not clear whether this is allowed under Republican rules, but its also not clear what the enforcement mechanism would be. On March 28 at Bustle, Seth Millstein explains faithless delegate in a short article I recommend. He provides links to both the Democrat and the Republican convention manuals, citing the current rules that treat faithless delegates. Faithless delegate sounds like the faithless electors in the Electoral College. Consider this: Hillary wins the election but is indicted before the Electoral College votes are counted on Jan. 6. In such a scenario, we should pray that there are battalions of faithless electors. Otherwise, well have a president whom the FBI thinks is a felon. America would then officially be a banana republic. Faithless sounds terrible, but delegates should consider that the primaries have resulted in a frontrunner with sky-high negatives. I understand the attraction to Donald Trump; Im not entirely immune to it mydamnself. But the polls are telling us Trump is unelectable. Women, minorities, and young people are really put off by the guy. Hell, even the Koch brothers are alarmed by him. If this election really is as pivotal as everyone is saying; if conservatives stand to lose the courts and the senate, and be relegated to permanent minority status, then GOP delegates must do whatever it takes to find the nominee with the best chance of winning. GOP delegates cannot evade responsibility for huge losses this year by simply ratifying the primary voters choice. Delegates should start thinking about the need to dump Trump. They must therefore keep the nuclear and faithless delegate options available. This primary season has not been kind to Republican candidates. If Trump is denied the nomination and delegates were to nominate Cruz or Kasich, Trump supporters would be enraged and might sit out the election. Therefore, delegates must go outside the 17 primary contestants. Delegates need to look for someone new who can unify the party and win the election. But the GOP establishment (the GOPe) must abandon any idea of parachuting in their own white knight. In 2016, the white knight GOP delegates should consider is female. Women will decide this election; 25 percent of the electorate is unmarried women. But not only should delegates draft a woman, they should insist on a woman for vice president, perhaps Condoleezza Rice, Susana Martinez, or Nikki Haley. An all-lady ticket might just save America, (and the GOP). So delegates, put up your nukes. The primary system is a royal mess. But there is one good thing that these raucous primary campaigns have done, and that is to show the establishment the mood of the voters. Some primary voters are so fixated on having a female president that theyll even vote for a possible felon under FBI investigation. Young primary voters are so addled theyll even vote for a socialist, (so much for our educational system). And some GOP primary voters are so angry at professional politicians that they insist on an outsider, any outsider, even Donald J. Trump. Putting the publics dissatisfaction in high relief for all to see is no small thing, and it is perhaps the only good thing that has come out of this years primaries. Power to the delegates! Jon N. Hall is a programmer/analyst from Kansas City. A home-schooled 11-year-old boy in Talladega, Alabama obviously has learned more than just the Three Rs. Emily Sal writes in the New York Post: Youngster Chris Gaither was just chilling at home with his dogs when he heard a suspicious noise on the second floor of his Talladega, AL, home, he told NBC affiliate WVTM-TV. Gaither grabbed a knife and went to investigate, but when the intruder saw the blade he pulled a gun. He was coming down the stairs, thats when he told me he was going to kill me, f-you and all that, the boy told the station. Unfazed, Gaither grabbed a nearby .9mm handgun, and threatening to kill the man if he didnt scram. I guess when I pulled the gun out on him, he didnt think it was a real gun, cause he didnt worry about it, the boy said. He just kept on walking. Once the thief was outside, lugging a hamper full of stolen loot, the 11-year-old emptied the magazine firing 12 shots before the intruder had even made it to the edge of the yard. The unidentified intruder was hospitalized with one bullet wound in his leg, so maybe a little more marksmanship training lies ahead for Chris. Still, he did stop the theft and the burglar will recover. Several activist groups who have received funds from the federal government helped organize the May Day anti-Trump demonstrations in Los Angeles. Most nonprofit groups are prohibited by law from engaging in partisan political activity. However, according to the Daily Caller, it's difficult to say if any of the groups violated the law. A group called the May Day Coalition organized the event, which was held in downtown Los Angeles and attended by thousands of activists, many of whom carried signs denouncing the GOP front-runner. One group even toted a blow-up of the real estate billionaire holding a KKK hood. We want to send a united message that immigrants, people of color and workers are fighting back against hate, reads a description of the event, which was one of many held in major cities across the U.S. to commemorate International Workers Day. As Trump inches closer and closer to the GOP nomination, activist groups have ramped up their efforts to turn out immigrant voters, many of whom hold green cards but have not taken steps to become citizens. (RELATED: Obama Admin Funds Blitz To Naturalize Anti-Trump Voters) The groups oppose Trumps restrictive stance on immigration and worry about his proposal to complete a wall on the southern border. His hate cannot trump our vote, Rusty Hicks, an organizer with the AFL-CIO, said at Sundays event. So while he wants to round up people for mass deportation were going to round up votes and send him back to the Trump Towers and not to the White House, right? he asked the crowd, which was filled with Dump Trump signs. Were ready to march? Were ready to vote? Were ready to organize? The main organizer of Sundays event is the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), a group that in 2014 received $250,000 from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to help immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador complete the citizenship registration process. CHIRLA, which is still listed on USCIS website as a citizenship services provider, was heavily involved in Sundays protests. Whether they violated the law depends on their nonprofit classification. If the groups are classified 501(c)(3), they are allowed to participate in "voter education" activities. No doubt, the nonprofits involved in this demonstration would claim that's what they were doing. But they have nothing to worry about. Does anyone believe that the IRS would actually investigate them? I thought not. These nonprofits are doing the dirty work of the Democratic Party, and they will continue to do so unless the IRS changes the rules governing political activity by nonprofits. Germany is now headed down the road to civil war. In a remarkable interview with the BBC Newshour program on Sunday night, the spokesman for the Islamic Council of Germany (ICG) called for an outright ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after comparing the AfD to the Nazi Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; NSDAP) of the 1930s: BBC: But in a democratic system, if people are voting for them, what can you do? ICG: We have to teach the people that we have made some experiences from the history, which are very similar and close to the what the AFD is now doing. They are excluding one religious group from the social life. Therefore, they have to be banned from the political system because you cannot deal with the enemies of the democracy by means of the democracy, so the democratic people have to exclude them from all the democratic platform. BBC: So you want them banned. A party which has won seats in half of regional elections, which has -- as you say -- between 10 and 15 percent of the vote in opinion polls at the moment -- you'd like to see them banned completely, would you? ICG: Yes. The call by the ICG to employ German state powers to ban the AfD came after the AfD adopted policy platforms at its conference stating that Islam is "not part of Germany." Germany is increasingly falling under the stranglehold of Islamification pressure by Muslims in the country who seek to bring sharia law into full force. Back in January, a Muslim group called for the banning of alcohol in Germany, and now the ICG is seeking to ban political parties that hold a negative view of Islam. So-called "sharia zones" have already been declared by Muslims in western Germany, with "sharia police" patrolling the streets under the support of the German court system. A growing number of legal cases are also being decided by sharia law. One side will ultimately need to give in on its own initiative, or the path toward civil war on German soil is now set in stone. The AfD is too popular to be quietly dismissed and banned from all political activities, and the Muslim proportion of the population (estimated at 6% in 2010, now undoubtedly closer to 10% after the migration wave over the past two years) is too large and activist to be suppressed without force and is unlikely to leave the country voluntarily. The problems in Germany are happening as expected. Full democracies are effectively absent in countries with >6% Muslim population, a threshold that Germany has recently crossed. Don't you just hate early-morning phone calls from family? Our Conservative Campaign Committee team is in Indiana, campaigning for Ted Cruz. When I returned to our hotel room after picking up breakfast for my wife Mary, she said my dad called my phone two times. He is 87 and still preaches the second Sunday of every month. Upon returning his call, Dad wanted me to send him lyrics to a song I used to sing. He wanted to use them in a sermon. Just ordinary people, God uses ordinary people. ... God uses people who will give Him all. It doesn't matter how small your all might seem to you because little becomes much when you place it in the Master's Hands. The song lyrics also mentions the little boy who offered his lunch of fish and bread to Jesus, which He blessed and multiplied to feed five thousand people. Folks, these lyrics are extremely appropriate for the situation in which we Cruz supporters find ourselves in these final hours before the election Tuesday in Indiana. I call upon patriots across America to do whatever they can, contributions, door-to-door, sign waves, pray, and anything else you can think of to secure delegates and votes for the best man in the race, Ted Cruz. Trust God to multiply our efforts. Indiana is truly heartland country. Mary and I have noticed several large families projecting a people of faith aura. Liquor stores are closed on Sunday. Traditional values that have made America great appear to still be celebrated here in Indiana. Our CCC team attended the taping of the Fox News town hall in Indianapolis. A local high school allowed 60 students to attend. Several other families brought their kids. It was truly encouraging, seeing the hall filled with youths excited about Cruz. Thank God they have not drunk Bernie's (government rob others to give to you) poisonous Kool-Aid. A waitress told Mary and me that small business is huge in Indiana; many grocery stores and restaurants are owned by married couples. She has been a happy and proud employee of the same couple for many years. Her bosses now own several restaurants. I detected a vibe supportive of Cruz. The tide has turned toward Cruz. A new poll has Cruz with a double-digit lead in Indiana. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has endorsed Cruz. Former California Gov. Pete Wilson has endorsed Cruz. Prominent conservatives Dr. Thomas Sowell, Brent Bozell, and Amanda Carpenter are strongly encouraging prominent conservatives to rally behind Cruz. I don't know about you guys, but I have come to realize that I cannot figure it all out. All I know to do is to follow God's lead, using the information I have to do everything I can to propel Cruz to victory. Our CCC team implemented standard campaigning initiatives for Cruz. If you're in Indiana, you could see our CCC team sign waving, Mary and me holding our Ted Cruz: Conservative Hero banner. It is crunch time, folks. Everyone must do his part. Thank God that I am wise enough to know that my little becomes much when I place it in the Master's Hands. C'mon, folks let's get Ted another victory in Indiana this Tuesday. Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American Chairman: The Conservative Campaign Committee LloydMarcus.com Open enrollment for Obamacare begins November 1 this year, less than a week before the presidential election. Industry analysts are warning consumers to be prepared for sticker shock; double-digit rate increases on premiums are likely. For most of this summer, insurance companies will be asking state regulators for huge increases in Obamacare insurance premoiums. States may not grant as much as companies would like, which leaves insurance firms with a decision. Almost all companies are bleeding red ink, and it's up in the air whether many of them can afford to remain on the exchanges if they don't get the rate hikes they seek. Politico: I think a lot of insurance carriers expected red ink, but they didnt expect this much red ink, said Greg Scott, who oversees Deloittes health plans practice. "... A number of carriers need double-digit increases. In some ways, the turmoil is not surprising: Under the health law, plans are unable to choose who to insure, or how much to charge them based on their medical history. As a result, many plans enrolled a larger proportion of sicker people than they bargained for. But some of those losses were also a function of political wrangling after Republican lawmakers blocked payments that were supposed to help insurers get through the difficult first years. The timing, though, is bad news for Democrats. Proposed rate hikes are just starting to dribble out, setting up a battle over health insurance costs in a tumultuous presidential election year that will decide the fate of Obamacare. And the headlines are likely to keep coming right up to Election Day since many consumers wont see actual rates until the insurance marketplaces open Nov. 1 a week before they go to the polls. Any reports of premium increases will immediately become talking points on the campaign trail, said Larry Levitt, senior vice president for special initiatives at the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. Were in an election where the very future of the law will be debated. And that future may depend more on insurance companies being able to stem their losses than on the politics of the election. At bottom, the reason companies are losing money is that not enough healthy young people are signing up: One big reason is lower-than-expected enrollment of younger, often healthier people who balance the costs of those who require more costly care. Roughly 12.7 million Americans signed up for Obamacare plans during the most recent open enrollment period. Thats far below the 22 million projected by the Congressional Budget Office, and its certain to decline as some drop out. The pool is far less healthy than we forecast, said Brad Wilson, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which says it lost $400 million on its exchange business during the first two years and is weighing whether to compete for Obamacare customers in 2017. Thats an issue not just here in North Carolina, but all over. We need more healthy people in the pool. 'Not enough of a hammer' Theres a growing realization the financial penalty for failing to obtain coverage is an insufficient cudgel to convince younger Americans to enroll. The fee for 2016 is $695, or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is higher. Just 28 percent of HealthCare.gov customers for 2016 were between the ages of 18 and 34, significantly below the 35 percent threshold typically considered necessary for a balanced marketplace. It wasnt enough of a hammer, said Kevin Fitzgerald, an insurance lawyer with Foley & Lardner. You need a lot of healthy people to sign up to make the numbers work. Obviously that didnt happen. What a nightmare. Amid talk of "hammers" and double-digit rate increases, just about every prediction by critics for what would happen when Obamacare was implemented has come to pass. Young and healthy consumers don't need all that coverage, so they don't buy in. The belief that they would fear the tax penalty for not signing up was magical thinking all along. And the idea that Obamacare would slow the increase in insurance premiums was laughable from the start. The GOP sabotaged the administration's insurance slush fund that would have reimbursed companies for most of their losses, leading to the industry's only alternative to avoid disaster: massive rate increases. Obamacare will probably not go into a death spiral this year. But five years from now, the odds that the law will still be around in its present form are slim. Bernie Sanders is not going to play out the script Hillary Clinton has written for him. Via Bloomberg: Bernie Sanders on Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of his bid for the White House by vowing that the Democratic convention will be "contested," despite Hillary Clinton's wide lead in pledged and overall delegates. "It's virtually impossible for Secretary Clinton to reach the majority of convention delegates by June 14 with pledged delegates alone," the Vermont senator told reporters at the National Press Club in Washington. (snip) "The evidence is extremely clear that I would be the stronger candidate to defeat Trump or any other Republican," Sanders said of the Republican front-runner Donald Trump. He cited several polls showing him doing better than Clinton in a hypothetical head-to-head contest against the real estate magnate. By going after Clintons superdelegates, Sanders can go to the heart of what Donald Trump is calling the rigged political process, and with far more accuracy than is possible in the GOPs case. The superdelegates are the very essence of rigging, designed specifically to prevent the Democrats from nominating another radical like George McGovern, who brought a historic 49-state defeat to the party. Calling for reform of the Democratic Party's nominating process, Sanders said he felt "entitled" to support from superdelegates in states whose nominating contests he won, such as Washington state and Minnesota. The same should also be true for Clinton, he said: superdelegates should cast their votes "in line with the people of their states." Many superdelegatesparty leaders and elected officials not formally bound to any candidatecommitted to Clinton before the 2016 campaign formally started. Sanders said they should reconsider that support in states where he defeated Clinton by a large margin, and if he did very well in the remaining contests, which include California and New Jersey on June 7. The math is tough for him, as he acknowledges. Via The Hill: Sanders said during the news conference he expects to do well in the upcoming primaries. Indiana votes Tuesday, where a new poll shows Sanders trailing Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton by 4 points. He said he has won state after state after a strong majority of younger people have voted for him, noting he hopes to win Indiana in next week's primary. His campaign has sparked energy and excitement, he said, which will translate to a large voter turnout in November. Sanders then detailed the delegate math, saying that to win the majority of pledged delegates, he needs 65 percent of the remaining delegates in the upcoming contests. "There are 10 states remaining where we are going to be vigorously competing, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam," he said. "We believe that we are in a very strong position to win many of these remaining contests and we have an excellent chance to win in California, the state with far and away the most delegates." He admitted that the road ahead is a "tough road to climb," but not an "impossible road to climb." "We intend to fight for every vote in front of us and for every delegate remaining," he said. "In terms of super delegates," he said, "obviously we are taking on virtually the entire Democratic establishment." He is going after that establishment with an appeal to their desire to win the election. Via The WaPo: Theyre going to have to go into their hearts, and they are going to have to ask, do they want the second strongest candidate to run against [GOP front-runner Donald] Trump or do they want the strongest candidate? Sanders said, suggesting that he is the strongest based on polling data. A speech to the delegates at a contested convention could be a decisive moment, especially if backed by huge demonstrations outside the convention site in Philadelphia. Sanders has proven his ability to draw huge crowds, and the fact that the Democrats chosen venue is in the heart of the Acela Corridor, accessible to the largest concentration of population in the country means that if Sanders can get within striking distance, he could potentially draw tens of thousands of enthusiastic and rebellious backers, angry at the prospect of a corrupt and stale candidate being forced on them by superdelegates. But sustaining that plausibility will be a challenge. Sanderss fundraising has already sharply declined: Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said he raised $25.8 million in April, well shy of his eye-popping totals of recent months. The figure comes as Sanderss chance of defeating Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination have dwindled, with his loss to her in the New York primary on April 19 widely viewed as a turning point in the race. Sanderss take, raised almost entirely online, fell about $20 million short of the $46 million he posted in March. His haul was still sizable by some measures: Clinton reported having raised about $27 million in March, not much more than Sanderss take in April. Because of his profligate spending (after all, socialists tend to run out of other peoples money rather quickly), Sanders has very little cash on hand, unlike Clinton. With the FBI primary yet to yield results, it is difficult to predict anything, and as Joe Herring posits this morning, Hillary may already be preparing to pull the ripcord, with the connivance of President Obama. Who knows? The most unpredictable presidential election cycle of my lifetime continues to generate surprises. For eight years I have corresponded with a woman from Venezuela. Her name is Jacqueline Ogilvie and she is a retired surgeon in that God-forsaken hellhole. Although Ive offered to send Jacqueline care packages, coffee, sugar, oil all she's ever asked me was to pray. Recently, I contacted her to ask how she was doing, because I knew the people of Venezuela were suffering from no water, no food, no toilet paper, no medicine, no electricity no nothing. After waiting in line in government-run supermarkets, 30 million people, led by socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, suffer the ravages of empty grocery shelves. Worst of all, the socialized medicine that American progressives tout as being a panacea, in Venezuela, is a certain death sentence. Even still, the only thing Jacqueline ever expressed concern about was one little baby boy named Jose Manuel Villamizar Zambrano, whose family contacted her begging for help. Jose is 5 months old and in need of a complicated heart operation. The baby must receive treatment between the ages of 4 and 6 months. At the time of the familys correspondence with Dr. Ogilvie, Jose was 5 months and 20 days. According to the letter, when the parents brought the child to the free hospital for care, because of old broken down equipment and the high cost of treating him, he and his parents were turned away. Put simply, free health care sent a baby boy, who could be easily saved, home to die. Here is a portion of the letter to Dr. Ogilvie, which said: From the hospital Central Tachira sent in February 2016, a folder with all documents to the Children Cardiologico baby in Montalban - Caracas. We were there on Tuesday, 26 April this year and was informed that the hospital was not operating as it had damaged the equipment to catheterization and operation entity. Damaged equipment? Apparently, the glorious free socialized medicine provided by the government of Venezuela is not so glorious after all. In order for Jose to live, he needs care at a private clinic. According to Dr. Jacqueline, if a person in Venezuela cannot afford care at a private clinic in Venezuela, Youre dead! The problem is that in Venezuela, where fairness reigns supreme, the people without toilet paper and running water do not have the means to buy food, let alone save the life of a dying baby. It is not that Venezuela is by any means naturally poor. It has the worlds largest oil reserves, topping even Saudi Arabia. But socialist politics-in-command management has resulted in declining oil production, to the point that the country must now import oil. And unlike Saudi Arabia, almost anything grows there, fed by plenty of sunshine and adequate water. Venezuela is one of the richest couintries on Earth in terms of natural resources. According to Dr. Maria Capecchi, the urgent cataterismo diagnostic and subsequent surgery for little Jose will cost $10,000 at the Clinic Santa Sofia. Ive never raised money for anything; I wasnt even good at selling Girl Scout Cookies with my daughter. Moreover, I know, this is just one baby among millions of suffering children all over the world in need of help. However, for me, trying to save this baby is a privilege. What an opportunity to tell the Venezuelan government that for this one baby boy just this one the socialism death cult will not have the last say. That is why I decided to do something I would never do. I put up a GoFundMe page to raise the money to try to save a baby who lives in a country far away. Not only is Joses plight heartbreaking, but it delivers a sobering truth as to what might lie ahead for Americas children if the socialism the left is pushing actually becomes a reality. If youre interested in helping keep Jose alive, go to the GoFundMe page entitled A Heart for Jose and give what you can. Every little bit will help. Many thanks to American Thinkers big heart. Blessings! Writing in New York magazine, Jonathan Chait asks, "If we want to be like Denmark, whom do we tax?" Turning into Denmark would be sheer folly for the United States, or almost any other OECD nation. We'll start with real per capita GDP. It is 22% higher in the U.S., meaning that being like Denmark would involve giving up a substantial portion of the average individual national wealth. That doesn't seem wise. Denmark's real per capita GDP is lower now than it was in 2004. A decade of darkness. Make that a decade and a half: since 2000, its real per capita GDP has increased in total only 2.6%. As anemic as the American growth rate is, it is fivefold faster than Denmark's. Denmark has a far higher rate of assault than the U.S. (i.e., the Danes are very violent), and its violent crime rate is headed through the roof. Americans also score much better in terms of self-reported health. So much for that socialized medicine advantage. Job security and the long-term unemployment rate are about equal in the two countries, so no check mark for socialism here, either. Household net adjusted disposable income and household financial wealth are far lower in Denmark than the U.S. In fact, the U.S. leads the OECD by large margins in both fields. Housing expenditures make up a much larger percentage of household income in Denmark (24%, the fourth worst in the OECD) than the U.S. (18%, the fourth best behind only Russia, South Korea, and Norway [the first two don't count]), and for that lower expense ratio, the Americans get 25% more household space per person. A win-win for the U.S. The U.S. wins by a long shot on housing, income, and health, and it's a tie on jobs all the objectively measurable points that matter. And to achieve this victory, the all-in average personal income tax rates at average wage in the U.S. are upwards of half the rate the Danes are suffering under. Want to pay much more to be much poorer? Move to Denmark. While the smartphone industry is sitting at a plateau right now, carriers have had to look elsewhere to continue growing their customer base and continue generating revenue. One of those areas has been tablets even though tablets have also struggled to sell in recent years. AT&T is now bringing over the cheaper of Samsungs tablets onto their network in the Galaxy Tab E. This is the 8-inch model that features Android 6.0 Marshmallow, as well as a quad-core 1.3GHz processor (its not specified, but likely Exynos), along with 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of storage inside and a microSD card slot that can support up to 200GB of additional space. It has a 5000mAh battery inside which is powering this 8-inch tablet, and should be good enough to get you through the day. AT&T is going to be offering up the Samsung Galaxy Tab E for $0 down and $10 per month through AT&Ts NEXT installment plan. The carrier has yet to announce the up-front price for the tablet, but given the AT&T NEXT pricing, its likely to be right around $200-250 up-front. Now along with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Samsungs latest version of TouchWiz, itll also have some DIRECTV software pre-installed. Like weve seen on some of the most recent flagships, like the LG G5. A bit unfortunate, especially for those that dont subscribe to DIRECTV. But its there, hopefully well be able to uninstall or disable it without needing to obtain root. Advertisement The Samsung Galaxy Tab E is going up for pre-order this Friday, May 6th. So if youre looking for a new tablet, heres a great new option to check out. Remember, that picking up this tablet is also going to add $10 to your monthly bill. Even if you do buy it outright. AT&T charges an access fee, which for tablets is going to cost you $10 per line. Smartphones are $25 per line on plans of 5GB of lower. Above 5GB and it drops down to $15 per line per month. So if you are planning on buying the Galaxy Tab E on AT&T Next, you will see a $20 increase in your monthly bill. Which isnt too bad, but everyone should be aware. Android smartphone and tablet users in India have for long had a problem making purchases on the Google Play Store with credit cards issued in the country by leading providers like Visa and MasterCard. Thats because according to a directive issued by the Reserve Bank of India (Indian equivalent of the US Federal Reserve), credit cards issued in the country should be only for domestic usage unless international use is specifically sought by the customer. This was done ostensibly to prevent credit card frauds that were rampant a few years back, but this apparent well-meaning regulation has had an unintended consequence for users of Android devices. Google accepts only credit card payments for Play Store transactions, and with most credit cards in the country, by default, unable to make international payments, most people in India simply do not have an opportunity to buy apps and games from Google Play. Unless of course, they go through the hoops to activate international payments, which is something most choose not to, because of how complex and convoluted the entire process is. Either way, most people in the country prefer using debit cards anyways, to the extent that an overwhelming majority of Indians do not even own credit cards. Even though debit card usage in the country is comparatively more widespread, Google does not seem to accept debit card payments for Play Store purchases. Advertisement Now, however, there may just be a silver lining for those wanting to buy products and services from the Play Store in India. According to reports, Google is bringing carrier billing for purchases made on its app store, and postpaid subscribers of Indian wireless carrier, Idea, will be the first ones to have the opportunity to pay for their Play Store purchases via their monthly phone bills from the carrier. Of course, the postpaid market is miniscule in India compared to the prepaid market and Idea is only the third-largest wireless service provider in the country after the big two Airtel and Vodafone. So obviously, Google has a long way to go before it can tap the actual potential of the Indian market, and the only way to make its apps and services available to everybody in the country would be to start offering carrier billing for prepaid subscribers as well. As Android is built upon an open source base, custom ROMs have been around since the first Android devices launched, and CyanogenMod was one of the first ones out there, running on the original T-Mobile G1 and a vast variety of different devices ever since. A couple of years ago now, OnePlus and the newly-formed Cyanogen Inc made history by offering the first device running Cyanogen OS, a fully-compatible version of Googles Android but with all the tweaks and extra features of CyanogenMod. Things didnt go so well between OnePlus and Cyanogen in the end, but in India Cyanogen partnered up with Micromax to create the Yu subsidiary and line of devices. For some time, the Yu brand has been the only one allowed to use Cyanogen in the country, due to an exclusive agreement. According to Lenovo however, this is no longer the case. This news comes as the result of Lenovo looking to launch the ZUK Z1 in India, which is of course a device running Cyanogen OS. According to Lenovos Anuj Sharma, Head of Product Marketing the deal between Micromax and Cyanogen no longer stands in their way. Sharma went on to say that [the deal] was there before thats what I was told by Cyanogen team. But the team now said its ok now. So we are going ahead with the launch in reference to the ZUK Z1. Right now, the ZUK Z1 is running Cyanogen 12.1, giving it Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and the device has already been available in China for some time now. In fact, we reviewed the device last summer, and those interested can read that here. Advertisement Of course, the ZUK Z2 has recently been launched in China, but for Lenovo, lower-cost devices will probably be the key to success in India. After all, the price tag has arguably been one of the most successful things about the Micromax Yu as well as devices from their compatriot firm Xiaomi. Selling an older model of a device is not always a bad tactic, and it could help put Lenovo back on the map in India, helping take the fight to Yu, Xiaomi and perhaps even Samsung. There are several different web browsers available for desktops and laptops out there these days. On Windows, many users have simply used the default Internet Explorer and on newer Windows 10 machines, the Microsoft Edge web browsers. Microsofts browsers have faced stiff competition from Googles very own browser, Chrome, which is available on multiple platforms. Although use of Internet Explorer had been under pressure for several years now, as it is often seen as obsolete and backwards, Microsofts directive to users on older versions that they needed to update to at least version 11 some eighteen months ago has seen customers decide to abandon Internet Explorer and instead opt for another browser. Googles Chrome has picked up much of this slack. no doubt helped by Googles other products such as Chromebooks and of course Android smartphones and tablets. The rationale behind Microsofts requirement for customers to upgrade was driven by their desire or need to keep current software products up to date. As a given application ages, it becomes harder and harder to keep it secure. This is a common trait with technology companies and in a similar timescale, we have seen Google drop support for the Chrome browser running on older versions of Android. According to American analytics business, Net Applications, Microsofts browsers (both Internet Explorer and Edge) lost 2% of browser use in April 2016, ending at 41.4% of market share and slightly behind the Google Chrome browser. Ten years ago, Internet Explorer had approximately 85% of the browser share. Googles Chrome browser is available on a number of different platforms including Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as Googles own platforms Android and Chrome OS. Advertisement Another story in the results is that Mozillas Firefox browser dropped below 10% of browser use. The Firefox browser is considered to be the first alternative to Microsoft Internet Explorer and the application that persuaded Microsoft to restart develop their own, stagnated, browser. However, Firefox itself has stagnated in the market. Mozilla lacks the marketing pull of the Google Chrome browser and the product itself has not seen the same level of development. One of the reasons for this could be that Mozillas open source development team have been working creating their own mobile operating system and some development work into in-browser advertising systems. Neither of these two projects has gained much traction and in the case of the advertising product, has been abandoned. That the market is largely carved up between the Chrome and Internet Explorer browsers is interesting the Apple Safari and Opera browsers show as also rans in the list, with 4.9% and 1.9% market share respectively. Going forwards, we can expect the share of Microsoft web browsers to decline although it is possible that Windows 10s Edge browser may start to reverse this. Motorolas next-generation Moto G has been in the news in recent times, with the Lenovo-owned company expected to officially unveil the 2016 edition of its mid-range handset at some stage in the coming weeks. While Motorola is yet to announce anything officially about the upcoming device, the company has announced a press event to be held in the Indian capital of New Delhi on May 17th. The company hasnt divulged anything in particular, but sections of the tech media in the country seem to believe that the company will officially announce the Moto G (2016) on that day. While were still two weeks away from that date, Motorolas India Twitter account has now started teasing a new smartphone that it says will help users to Stop #missing on milestones with a better camera. However, even as the company emphasizes on the imaging credentials of its upcoming device, its not just the camera either that is being teased here by Moto India. The company has been tweeting out a series of messages over the past few of days with the #missing hashtag, with some of the tweets clearly hinting at better battery, camera and privacy with the upcoming device. While theres no guarantee that Motorola is indeed teasing the Moto G (2016) with its latest series of tweets, it would be fairly surprising if the teasers turned out to be about any other device what with various reports in recent times indicating that the companys next-gen Moto G is close to hitting primetime. Advertisement While not everything is known about the upcoming next-gen Moto G, some leaks over the past few weeks have indicated that Lenovo may release not one but two Moto G variants this year with different screen sizes. While the original Moto G was a smash hit for the company a couple of years back, subsequent releases in 2014 and 2015 were not quite able to recreate the kind of magic that the original device had created. With its latest release this year, Motorola will be hoping that it can gain back some of the mid-range market share that it has lost over the past couple of years to companies like ASUS and Xiaomi in India. Almost three months after NVIDIA defended several instances of its alleged patent infringement which Samsung accused them of, the two companies settled out of court regarding the last one of those disputes by agreeing to license a limited number of patents to each other, their spokespeople revealed in a joint statement given to the media on Monday. The settlement was reached mere hours prior to the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) were due to announce its final verdict on the case. In short, Samsung filed a patent infringement claim against NVIDIA for the way the latter was making its graphics-processing chips for the NVIDIA SHIELD tablets like the SHIELD Tablet K1. The South Korean company claimed that NVIDIA is infringing no less than three of its patents with the said device and Samsung has already lost the first phase of the aforementioned civil case which was originally started in Virginia. According to Samsung, the infringed patents enabled NVIDIA to not only make better-performing chips but also to save on their manufacturing costs. NVIDIA addressed the accusation by claiming that Samsung is grasping at straws and is accusing them of infringing patents that Samsung is no longer even using anymore. In addition to that, the companys lawyers argued that even if found guilty, the controversial patents shouldnt warrant an import ban which is customary in lost patent disputes because they are only responsible for some minor features of NVIDIAs chips. In addition to the California-based company, Samsung also sued some of NVIDIAs customers such as EliteGroup Computer Systems, Jaton, and Biostar Microtech International. The companies spokespeople revealed that this settlement will officially end all litigation in the ITC, district court, and the US Patent and Trademark Office. The root cause of this dispute lies in the fact that for a long time, NVIDIA has asking its competitors in the mobile GPU market to pay licensing fees for what the company claims is their own uniquely developed technology installed on mobile GPU chips. On the other hand, its products rely on memory chips attached to them which are manufactured by other parties such as Samsung, and in this particular case the South Korean company claimed that NVIDIA was infringing on their patents related to the said memory chips and the exact process by which they were manufactured. OnePlus has introduced three smartphones thus far, the OnePlus One, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X. The first two devices are the companys 2014 and 2015 flagships, while the latter one is their mid-range offering. That being said, OnePlus is expected to introduce their third-gen flagship in the coming months, and weve seen quite a few spec rumors when it comes to the companys new device. Well, a new piece of info surfaced quite recently, so lets see whats it about, shall we. It seems like the company has patented a new charging technology called Dash Charge. Now, the USPTO filing doesnt exactly describe this as fast charging, but based on its name, its kind of easy to guess what were looking at here. We also dont know if it will be included in the OnePlus 3, but considering the timing of the filing, it is more than likely that will happen. Dash Charge will go head-to-head with Oppos VOOC, Qualcomms Quick Charge and a number of other fast charging solutions out there. We do hope that more details will surface in the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see how fast will Dash Charge actually be. Advertisement That being said, the OnePlus 3 rumors just keep on coming. As already mentioned, quite a few spec rumors surfaced already, and the latest one arrived earlier today. According to a leak which surfaced in China, the OnePlus 3 will arrive in two variants, one which will sport 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and the higher end model with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The device will be fueled by the Snapdragon 820 64-bit quad-core SoC, and will run Android Marshmallow out of the box with OnePlus OxygenOS installed on top of it. The pricing of the base model also leaked, and based on that information, it will cost 1,999 Yuan ($310), which means it will be quite affordable, just like its predecessors. That is pretty much it, were sure that more OnePlus 3 rumors will pop up in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for that, well let you know if something interesting surfaces. Only a few days after Samsung revealed its quite positive Q1 2016 financial reports, rumors have emerged that Samsung Groups component affiliates will soon be restructured. The alleged plan is to have Samsung Electronics at the center of the merger and the group has already announced that the current CEO and vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, Kwon Oh-Hyun will also soon serve as the CEO of the Samsung Display division, which caused more speculation regarding a potential merger between the two. Even though Samsung Display dismissed this kind of scenario last month, industry experts claim that a merger of the two divisions is always a realistic possibility due to their equity structures. What separates the relations between these two component affiliates and other Samsung Groups entities is the fact that Samsung Electronics owns 84.8 percent of Samsung Display and most of the decisions must be made not only by the companys board of directors but also during separately held shareholders meetings. Naturally, a potential merger would eliminate the need for constant meetings of shareholders which is why rumors about the two companies becoming one are constantly emerging and re-emerging in the industry. In 2015, Kim Jong-Joong of Samsungs Future Strategy Office claimed that there was no need for a merger between the two given how Samsung Displays performance is already reflected in Samsung Electronics performance through consolidated financial statements. However, when asked to comment on the issue again last Wednesday, he said that he cant be sure how many business reorganizations are awaiting Samsung in the future; if any. Not unexpectedly, this newly found uncertainty on the issue by someone who used to describe his stance in no uncertain terms fueled additional speculation in the industry. In addition to Samsung Display, latest rumors from South Korea also suggest that Samsung Electronics could absorb Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Samsung SDI with the goal of creating a large division for car business within the company itself. Time will there whether theres any substance to these rumors or not and in the meantime, the public is still waiting for answers regarding alleged insider trading conducted by nine Samsungs executive prior to the merger of Samsung Construction and Trading and Cheil Industries. Samsung has been one of the biggest names in the mobile world ever since they burst onto the smartphone scene with the original Galaxy S. Since then, Samsungs dominance has reduced HTC to a former shadow of themselves and forced other big names like Motorola, Sony and even perhaps LG to fight over whats left in the world of Android. Samsung has a massive hold on their home country of South Korea, but theyve also become a dominant force all over the world, especially in North America, Western Europe and farther East in countries like India. In China however, an important market for any big brand in the technology market, Samsung as well as their main rival, Apple have been pushed out by the home brands. As a recent report from Strategy Analytics states, Samsung didnt manage to make it into the Top 5 in terms of units shipped or market share during Q1 2016. Those top five places went to Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo and Apple, in that order. Huawei seems to be on something of a roll, taking first place in Q4 of 2015 as well as Q1 of 2016, shipping 16.6 Million units and taking 15.8% market share. Oppo followed them with 13.2 Million units shipped, earning them 12.6% market share. Collectively, the four Chinese brands secured just over half of the market with a 52.5% combined market share between them. Its surprising to see Apple make it into the top five, and not Samsung, with 11.5 Million units shipped and a 11% market share. Advertisement For Samsung, one of the biggest problems might not be their brand which they continue to cover up in some parts of Asia but the price of their devices. China has become known as the land of the affordable smartphone, as these devices get better and better, theres little reason for consumer to pay more for similar specifications and software features. The Xiaomi Mi 5 is a prime example of how Chinese firms are able to deliver great experiences without breaking the bank. What Samsung needs to in order to gain this market share back in China is unclear, but as theyre doing well in India, they might be better off focusing their efforts elsewhere. Samsung has already introduced quite a few smartphones this year, including the companys all-new flagship offerings, the S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. That being said, one of the companys upcoming tablets has surfaced on GFXBench recently, as you probably know, and it carries the SM-T536 codename. We were wondering what will this tablet going to be called, and a recent report seemingly reveals that information, read on. According to a report from Poland, the Samsung SM-T536 will be called the Galaxy Tab 4 Advanced. The source doesnt really reveal where the info comes from, but the site seems confident this will be the name of the upcoming tablet. For those of you who didnt spot the benchmark listing the other day, this is a mid-range tablet, and its probably going to be rather affordable, like the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1, for example. According to the GFXBench listing, the SM-T536 aka Galaxy Tab 4 Advanced, will sport a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display, along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of native storage. The device will be fueled by an octa-core SoC running at 1.5GHz, which will not be one of Qualcomms Snapdragon mid-range processors considering the Mali-T830 GPU was also listed. Samsung will probably include one of their mid-range Exynos chips here, the Exynos 7850 or Exynos 7870 perhaps. The 5-megapixel snapper will be placed on the back of this tablet, and youll be able to find a 2-megapixel shooter up front. Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow will come pre-installed on this tablet, and on top of it, youll be able to find Samsungs custom UI, also known as TouchWiz. Advertisement Now, considering that the GFXBench listing was the only SM-T536 info weve had until todays rumor, we still dont know what will this tablet look like, even though we can guess. Chances are that the Galaxy Tab 4 Advanced will look quite similar to other Samsung-branded tablets out there, it might be made out of plastic completely, though its possible Samsung might opt to include a metallic frame here. The physical home button will almost certainly going to be placed below the display, and it will be flanked by two capacitive keys, of course. TUSIMAME is a powerhouse song about saving Africas elephants. It brings together talented artists including South Sudans Emmanuel Jal, Tanzanias Vanessa Mdee, Congos Syssi Managa and Juliani Kenya. TUSIMAME first debuted in March 2015 at the resident of US Ambassador to Kenya Robert F. Godec. The pan-African musical stand against the destruction of Africas heritage and its elephants is part of We Want Peaces (WWP) #StandForElephants campaign. In 1970, there were approximately 1.5 million elephants residing in Africa. Today there are fewer than 500,000. An average of 90 elephants are slaughtered every day and if this continues, there will be no African elephants left in the next 200 years said Emmanuel Jal. Music is one of the worlds most powerful tools when it comes to provoking emotion and inspiring real change. We need to take responsibility of our eco-system, and our nature, and elephants are a beautiful and crucial part of that nature. The situation is particularly alarming in Tanzania, according to wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC. Its estimated that the elephant population has declined from 109,051 in 2009 to 43,330 in 2014. USIMAME meaning stand up was filmed in partnership with WildAid in Kenya at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust near Nairobi. AOC has fostered an elephant at the trust and you can, too. Ivory sales are illegal internationally since 1989 and in most developed countries around the world. China is the largest market for illegal ivory, but sadly the United States is the second largest market. New York Crushes A Ton of Ivory (ANSA) - The 18th edition of Cibus, the international food show, opens on May 9 in the city of Parma. Cibus has been held since 1985 on a biennial basis in Parma, which is famous for Parmigiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Culatello, and it is the oldest and best-known Italian food fair in the world. This year 3,000 firms, all Italian, will present the best of Italian production and will bring to Cibus 900 new products to be proposed on foreign markets. Some 70,000 commercial operators are expected to attend, including 15,000 from abroad and 2,000 top buyers from every continent. All sectors are represented: meat and salumi, cheese and dairy, gastronomy, ultrafresh, frozen, pasta, preserves and condiments, sweet and baked products, fresh fruit and vegetables, beverages, typical and regional products, and much more. Among the novelties there is a section devoted to fresh and very fresh products, one devoted to fish and one to halal and kosher products. This latter section will present tasty 'made in Italy' products certified for export. Cibus 2016 will open on May 9 and will remain open until May 12 with an International conference, the World Food Research and Innovation Forum, organized by the Emilia-Romagna region under the aegis of the European Union, in collaboration with Cibus and Federalimentare, the food-industry association. The conference, which will be attended by agricultural ministers and experts from all over the world, will be opened by Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina: the work will focus on challenges for feeding the planet, the legacy of the Milan Expo 2015 world's fair and the Milan Charter, the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the commitments made by the international community to overcome the challenges posed by climate change. Cibus gives great space to foreign retail: from the stand of the top Italian distribution chain, the Coop, with an area completely dedicated to foreign buyers, to the daily space of GDO Week where there will be daily workshops with foreign retailers to discover their approach to Italian products and produce. Last December Parma became one of UNESCO's Creative Cities for Gastronomy, a line-up that includes 17 cities ranging from the US to China, from Brazil to South Korea, from Norway to Spain. A UNESCO delegation will visit Cibus and will be in Parma for four days for meetings and conferences . (http://www.cibus.it/). (ANSA) - New Delhi, May 2 - Italian marine Salvatore Girone will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, the Hague tribunal that is dealing with the case has decided, upholding a request from Italy, ANSA sources said on Monday. The ruling will be made public on Tuesday, the sources said, but the foreign ministry in Rome confirmed the news. The tribunal has called on both sides to agree on the procedure for the marine's return. Girone and fellow marine Massimiliano Latorre are accused by India of killing two Indian fisherman in 2012 during an anti-piracy mission. "If the news is true, I'm incredibly happy," Girone's father Michele told ANSA. "Now I'll have to speak to my son and daughter-in-law to see whether it's true". The case is at the centre of a long diplomatic dispute between Rome and New Delhi. Italy argues the marines should have immunity as they were servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial waters. Italy took the case to international tribunal after repeated delays in the handling of the case in India. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy for treatment after he had a stroke in 2014. (ANSA) - New Delhi, May 2 - Italian marine Salvatore Girone will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, the Hague tribunal that is dealing with the case has decided, upholding a request from Italy, ANSA sources said on Monday. The ruling will be made public on Tuesday, the sources said, but the foreign ministry in Rome confirmed the news. The tribunal has called on both sides to agree on the procedure for the marine's return. Girone and fellow marine Massimiliano Latorre are accused by India of killing two Indian fisherman in 2012 during an anti-piracy mission. Premier Matteo Renzi said that he had spoken to Girone after the "extraordinary news". But he also stressed that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi)". "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence. The case is at the centre of a long diplomatic dispute between Rome and New Delhi. Italy argues the marines should have immunity as they were servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial waters. Italy took the case to international tribunal after repeated delays in the handling of the case in India. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy for treatment after he had a stroke in 2014. "If the news is true, I'm incredibly happy," Girone's father Michele told ANSA. "Now I'll have to speak to my son and daughter-in-law to see whether it's true". (ANSA) - Florence, May 2 - Premier Matteo Renzi said Monday that his government had resisted pressure to conduct a military intervention in Libya. "We are going through a period of extraordinary interest in foreign policy," Renzi said. "For months there was pressure, some would say lobbying. Now it's fashionable to say 'go, intervene, send in the planes, send 5,000 people to Libya'. "We chose a different strategy. Our soldiers are in Afghanistan, in Mosul in Iraq, saving human lives and we express our gratitude to them". Renzi last week denied media reports Italy was set to send some 900 troops to Libya after the national unity government in Tripoli appealed to the United Nations for help in protecting its oil wells. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) will be protected by anywhere from 200 to 300 international troops and Italy will likely contribute the greatest number, defence sources said. Ragusa - Between 20 and 30 migrants are believed to have died on Friday during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean, sources said Monday. The deaths occurred after a freighter that had intercepted a migrant boat in difficulty put down a ladder to allow the passengers to climb on board. In the ensuing scramble several dozen migrants fell overboard, according to survivor reports. The survivors were transferred onto a German military vessel and then to the Norwegian 'Siem Pilot' that took them to Pozzallo. In total 454 migrants disembarked at the Sicilian port. Six migrants - two pregnant women, three suffering from trauma including one with a bullet in his arm and another with a high fever - were subsequently hospitalised. Just two bodies have been recovered.(ANSAmed). (by Shelly Kittleson) ROME - In a conference call with journalists last week to discuss developments in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, Brigadier General Ahmed Al-Assiri said that ''85 to 90 percent'' of the country had returned under government control. Assiri, a spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition and military advisor to Saudi deputy crown prince and defense minister Muhammad bin Salman, told journalists that his country and 12 others had started operations on March 26, 2015 ''to achieve three objectives'': to keep the government structure and prevent Yemen from becoming a failed state, to degrade the capabilities of the (Shia Houthi) militias and to secure the population and enable humanitarian aid to get in. The UN has stated that some 6,400 people have been killed in the last year of fighting, half of them civilians, and that almost 2.8 million have been displaced. On April 18, Houthi rebels backed out of UN-brokered talks in Kuwait hours prior to when they were to have started, demanding that the Saudi-led coalition stop airstrikes they said were continuing even after a ceasefire came into effect on April 10. On Friday, protests were held across the country to call for an end to the fighting that continues despite the fragile ceasefire. Indirect talks started on April 21, while the first direct talks between Houthi rebel and government delegations were held on Saturday. Asiri added in the press briefing that recent operations conducted by the Saudi-led coalition against Al-Qaeda and groups connected with it in Yemen had been carried out in ''Hadramout, we attacked them in Mukalla, and Abyan, in Lahad'' and that the coalition had liberated Aden. Mukalla is a strategic Yemeni port that had been held by local Al Qaeda militants for over a year. The Saudi-led coalition announced on April 25 that they had retaken it and had killed ''800 militants'' in the first few hours of a operation that included UAE Special Forces. Residents have reportedly said that there was little actual fighting in the city and that the extremists had withdrawn. To a question on the issue, Assiri said that the coalition had conducted a surprise attack at night and that was the reason for the high number killed. ''The target at the end of the day, the target is Mukalla streets. Whatever the number of killed'', he said, the port of Mukalla is now controlled by the Yemeni government. ''We continue to follow those terrorists and we continue to find out where they out where they are'', and ''we are committed to clear Hadramout'' of Al Qaeda, he added. Brigadier General Asiri stressed that said that '' we always used the Yemeni army, today we use the Yemeni security unit which was trained by the coalition. We want them to be engaged and to be part of the solution in Yemen. This is why we use them.'' ''We couldn't engage Al Qaeda in the first month or second month of the campaign in Yemen but today we have enough forces of Yemeni security unit'' alongside ''Saudi and Emirati special forces. They can defeat Al Qaeda and they will continue to do so.'' (ANSAmed). Morocco hosts numerous cultural events in May Concerts, meetings and performances up and down the country (ANSAmed) - Rome, May 2 - From Fes to the Valley of Roses, from Essaouira to Rabat and Tan Tan, Morocco will turn into one big stage for the month of May with concerts, meetings and performances up and down the country. First up is the Festival Musiques Sacrees du Monde in Fes from May 6-14, a musical event that animates the imperial city by creating a synergy between art and spirituality each year. Women are the protagonists of this 22nd edition with the theme "the women founders" celebrating the role and influence of women of the Orient in music and poetry. Kelaat M'gouna, approximately 100 km from Ouarzazate, hosts the Moussem des Roses, or rose festival, from May 8-10 in honour of the Damask rose growing in the valley. The colourful and perfumed festival includes concerts, dancing and events including the election of Miss Rose. From May 12-15 it is the turn of the Festival Gnaoua et Musiques du Monde in Essaouira, one of the world's most important music festivals attracting roughly 500,000 people each year. Numerous artists will entertain the eclectic public again this year with a variety of music ranging from Gnaoua to jazz, hiphop, offunky, afrobeat and world music. The capital Rabat is to host the 15th edition of the Mawazine Festival bringing together pop, jazz and soul legends from all over the world from 20-28 May. This year the festival will open with an inaugural concert by pop king Chris Brown and close with a performance by Christina Aguilera. Last but not least, the Berber Tan Tan festival from May 23-27 brings together around 30 nomadic tribes from southern Morocco and other parts of northwest Africa in testimony to the cultural patrimony of the region's various ethnic groups. The guest of honour of the 11th edition of the festival is Tunisia. (ANSAmed). 20-30 migrants drown during rescue operation 454 arrive in Pozzallo, two bodies recovered (ANSAmed) - Ragusa, May 2 - Between 20 and 30 migrants are believed to have died on Friday during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean, sources said Monday. The deaths occurred after a freighter that had intercepted a migrant boat in difficulty put down a ladder to allow the passengers to climb on board. In the ensuing scramble several dozen migrants fell overboard, according to survivor reports. The survivors were transferred onto a German military vessel and then to the Norwegian 'Siem Pilot' that took them to Pozzallo. In total 454 migrants disembarked at the Sicilian port. Six migrants - two pregnant women, three suffering from trauma including one with a bullet in his arm and another with a high fever - were subsequently hospitalised. Just two bodies have been recovered.(ANSAmed). TEL AVIV - The regime of Bashar Assad used chemical weapons against ISIS militants east of Damascus just over a week ago despite a 2013 agreement on their dismantling, Israeli daily Haaretz reported Monday. The regime probably used sarin gas after ISIS attacked two Syrian air force bases that are considered vital military resources, Haaretz added. (ANSAmed). Schools and Jewish community team up to remember Holocaust Valenzi foundation launches project for students and teachers (ANSAmed) - NAPLES, MAY 2 - A memorandum of understanding was signed in Naples on Monday on the issue of 'Cultures, Anti-Semitism and Racism' between the Campania region education department, the Valenzi foundation and the city's Jewish community. The aim is to increase cooperation in respect for diversity and is for the Valenzi foundation the result of seven years of projects on twentieth-century history, from the Holocaust to contemporary Europe. The success of teacher refresher courses beginning in 2013 led to greater involvement by experts and scholars from across Italy. The memorandum calls for signatory institutions to spread best practices in the area of didactics as concerns analysis of contemporary history and that of the twentieth century, as well as organize initiatives and awards for students. ''It is a great honor,'' Naples Jewish community leader Lydia Schapirer said, who signed the memorandum alongside Lucia Valenzi, head of the Valenzi foundation, and Luisa Franzese, director general of the regional education department, ''for the Jewish community of Naples to be involved in this project, which is addressed to the world of teachers, who have the enormous responsibility to hand down the memory of the past, which can seem far away but which re-emerges under a different appearance. The problem today is how to communicate to youths who are ever more distracted by a virtual world from the reality of the horror that all European countries were involved in.'' Valenzi underscored that ''the signing of the memorandum between institutions sets the basis for awareness raising, study and training for the younger generations, teachers and citizens of southern Italy and Naples, to promote a true culture of respect and multiculturalism. It is more necessary than ever that we step up efforts to curb resurgences of intolerance, fundamentalism and negationsim that inside and outside of Europe are negatively affecting peaceful coexistence.'' (ANSAmed). Syria: 48-hour truce around Damascus extended Fighting and bombardment continue in Aleppo (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MAY 2 - The Syrian army has extended a ceasefire around Damascus and Eastern Ghouta, near the capital, for an additional 48 hours, reported state-run news agency SANA on Monday. The ceasefire had been in place since Saturday. Another ceasefire declared in the northwestern region of Latakia is due to expire at midnight but may also be renewed. In Aleppo, instead, violent fighting and bombardment continues. Russia, the US and the UN are seeking some sort of agreement to put an end to the violence in the city after over 250 people were killed in the past nine days. (ANSAmed). Migrants: 5 nations may extend internal EU border controls Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MAY 2 - The European Commission's recommendation to extend internal border controls for up to six months will affect Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway and Denmark and specific borders. All currently have internal border controls in place. For example, for Germany the measure would concern its border with Austria, while for Austria it would affect the borders with Hungary and Slovenia, since the initiative is linked to gaps in Greek management of external borders, sources close to the issue said. However, if migrant flows were to shift - from Greece to Italy, for example - the countries would be able to request controls along their border with Italy. If new migrant flows were to emerge - from sub-Saharan Africa, for example - nations could resume with internal border controls for eight months on the basis of normal regulations. The recommendation will have to be adopted by the European Council by May 13. (ANSAmed). The exclusive agreement initially includes the establishment of a cargo transit centre at Parma Airport to receive cargo for forwarding to Milan Malpensa Airport for onward transport. The project will be developed in conjunction with Etihad Cargo and partner airlines, providing an efficient solution to companies in the region for the rapid delivery of their products to global markets. Etihad Airways with its equity partner, Alitalia, currently offers bellyhold capacity on 38 weekly flights between Italy and the UAE. In addition there are six weekly freighter services from Milan, including a twice weekly service to Bogota and the four times a week service to Abu Dhabi, which offer a combined capacity of 800 tonnes. David Kerr, vice president of Etihad Cargo, said: "This agreement with Parma Airport is a further demonstration of our confidence in Italy, one of the largest cargo markets in Europe. We have already strengthened our freighter capacity out of Milan in the last few weeks, having placed a new 777 freighter on the Milan-Bogota sector, so the opportunity to use Parma gives us a further chance to strengthen our cargo services from Europe. Parma is at the centre of one of the largest exporting regions in Italy for high value goods. These freight items require fast and secure transport, which are all factors that determine the demand for air freight services. Guido Dalla Rosa Prati, chairman of Parma Airport, said: "With the co-operation of Etihad Airways, the strategic development plan for the airport is already coming to life. We are really honoured to have gained the interest of Etihad Airways, a key player in the world of aviation, and I am proud of the agreement which will generate new business opportunities for Parma and neighbouring territories. Work has already begun to adapt the airport infrastructure for the new service to be operational from July 2016. Cargo and logistics will play a central role in the ongoing development plan for Giuseppe Verdi Airport. Alberto Figna, chairman of the Parma Industrialists Union (UPI), one of the key shareholders in the airport, said: The agreement with an international partner of the calibre of Etihad Airways is confirmation of the potential of this airport and an important indication of the commitment of the Parma business community to ensuring the continuity and progress of a vital piece of infrastructure that will benefit the local economy. It is expected that the new transit centre will also have a positive direct and indirect impact on employment in the local area. The airline has accepted an invitation from the college to become a strategic partner for the CBFS Youth Entrepreneurship Competition. The competition aims to prepare students for success in an evolving Omani economy by incentivising, contributing and sustaining the success of the winning students. It culminated in a ceremony, which was held under the auspices of His Excellency Hamad Al Amri, Undersecretary of Manpower, on 24th April. As a part of its support for the competition, Oman Air provided the winner with return tickets to Dubai. The tickets will enable them to continue their project by visiting a financial firm in Dubai to exchange skills and expertise, and to enhance their knowledge and experience. Dr. Khalid bin Abdul Wahab al Balushi, senior manager Government Affairs at Oman Air, said: We are pleased and proud to be supporting this important initiative, in partnership with the College of Banking and Financial Studies. The continuing success and expansion of Omans economy depends on the entrepreneurial flair of todays students, who will go on to become the business leaders of tomorrow. That is why the CBFS Youth Entrepreneurship Competition is so important. The business world is, of course, highly competitive and this project encourages students to shine in their chosen fields. Furthermore, the winner now has the opportunity to travel and to further develop their skills and knowledge. It has been a pleasure to provide them with their flights to Dubai, courtesy of Oman Air. For Mgr Socrates Villegas, president of the Bishops Conference, One cannot proclaim Christ as King and at the same time accept the governance of one whose thoughts, speech and demeanour are diametrically opposed. Winners should not seek revenge, but show respect for "the rights of Gods people enshrined in the Constitution and their demand for justice, unity, progress and peace. Manila (AsiaNews) Mgr Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), issued a letter to his dear countrymen ahead of next weeks elections (9 May) for president, congress, and local government. Whoever wins honestly, whoever takes the oath of his or her office seriously, whoever strives to heal the wounds of the divisiveness of politics, whoever respects the rights of all and is earnest in his or her fear of God and is zealous for his precepts has the support of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the letter says. Mgr Villegas, who is the archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, said that CBCP does not endorse any candidate, and that citizens are free to vote as they please. However, for the prelate, voting must be a public declaration of faith by Catholic believers who cannot choose a candidate who takes positions that are not only politically precarious but worse, morally reprehensible. For the archbishop, One cannot proclaim Christ as King and at the same time accept the governance of one whose thoughts, speech and demeanour are diametrically opposed. The desire for change is understandable among Filipinos. Our people have suffered from incompetence and indifference. But this cannot take the form of supporting a candidate [. . .] who has openly declared indifference if not dislike and disregard for the Church, specially her moral teachings. The CBCP president renewed his call on citizens to pray for the success of the elections, through a rosary a day, and the Holy Communion. Unfortunately, The campaign period has been rancorous, the prelate said. This is regrettable. Many wounds have been inflicted. This is true not only of candidates but also of their supporters. Even close friends have parted ways because of differences in political persuasion. Whatever the outcome of the elections, Mgr Villegas urges everyone to be instruments of peace, reconciliation and healing. To the winners, he said not to seek vengeance, but show respect for the rights of Gods people enshrined in the Constitution and their demand for justice, unity, progress and peace. In concluding his message, the CBCP president invokes the Blessed Mother to cover our nation with her maternal love and to beseech her Son to grant us all the favour of meaningful, peaceful elections and a government thereafter that unifies our people in the sight of God and in accordance with His will. by John Ai A video posted on a national social network forces the government into rare public apology for the incident. The officials, however, insist on "zero tolerance" against illegally built structures. The video of the beating. Beijing (AsiaNews) - A group of security guards savagely and indiscriminately attacked a group of residents of Haikou, in the southern province of Hainan, who wanted to prevent the demolition of their homes. The video that portrays the scene was posted on Weibo a very popular social network in China - and show the agents using clubs, bars and batons even on women and children. It has sparked public indignation and in a very rare move the local government has had to apologize publically for the incident. According to local newspaper Daily Haikou, on 29 April the authorities of Xiuying District deployed about 1,200 workers and security guards to Qionghua village - which is part of Haikou metropolitan area - in order to demolish 104 buildings. These were built illegally in an area of 25 thousand square meters. The demolition - the largest of the year - was supposed to last two days. The authorities had also accused the residents of buying land illegally and of having built on arable land: in this way they "occupied spaces for urban development" and "damaged the public interest". The Haikou Daily points out that it is a decision taken in the context of the "zero tolerance" towards illegal construction. On the morning of Saturday 30 April, the conflict broke out. According to government officials, it came about because some residents "threw bricks, lit fireworks and set on gas cylinders flames" in order to "violently resist the law." Police arrested 11 people and ordered the staff to continue to demolish homes. At the same time, however, a video of the beating began circulating on social networks. Forced to take action because of the wave of public outrage, the official media have admitted the incorrect "behavior" of the teams: seven security guards were arrested and their boss fired. The local government has apologized and announced it would visit the homes of the victims to ask forgiveness and bring consolation to the wounded. However, officials added that the demolition of illegal structures "remains strong" and that the violent resistance to these decisions "will be swept away". by Mathias Hariyadi On April 26 last the terrorist group beheaded a Canadian hostage. The crew members were found yesterday in front of the house of the governor of Sulu. In good condition, they were transported to Jakarta. Mystery over the payment of a ransom: according to Philippine media it amounted to 900 thousand euro, but Indonesia denies any knowledge. Manila (AsiaNews) - The 10 Indonesian sailors kidnapped by Filipino Islamic extremists Abu Sayyaf have been released. They were freed yesterday, following an announcement on national television by President Joko Widodo. The hostages were found in Jolo, in front of the house of the governor of Sulu (southern Philippines). They are "in good condition" and have already been repatriated through Halim Perdana Kusuma airport (South Jakarta). They had been kidnapped on March 26 in the southern waters of the Philippines, while they were on board a ship carrying coal, belonging to Patria Maritime Lines. Mystery surrounds the payment of a ransom. According to some Philippine media, they were released on the back of a payment of 50 million pesos to Abu Sayyaf (about EUR 900 thousand). Indonesian newspapers have not yet responded, while members of the government were quick to deny any knowledge. The former general Kivlan Zen said that the happy ending is the result of an "Indonesian mission": "No ransom was paid. The release came after intense negotiations". Staffer at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila Eddy Mulya, also denied the payment of a ransom to the terrorists. According to the diplomat, the team who led the negotiations were following Badoewi Rizal orders, whose details are not known. Jakartas Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was present at the airport to welcome the sailors home but declined to comment, only saying that men will be sent to hospital for medical checks and then reunited with their families. Abu Sayyaf is the smallest group in number but the most dangerous and bloodthirsty among Muslim movements fighting for independence in the southern Philippines, the only Asian nation with a large Christian Catholic majority. The terrorists' activities are concentrated in Basilan and Jolo. The jihadists are responsible for the beheading of the Canadian John Ridsdel, which took place on 26 April. According to some sources, the group could be the same that a few days ago released the former PIME missionary Rolando Del Torchio. Currently, 11 foreign nationals are still in the hands of Abu Sayyaf: Four Indonesians, four Malaysians, a Canadian, a Norwegian and a Dutchman. by Louis Raphael Sako* The Chaldean Patriarch sends a tough rebuke against the countrys rulers, who have failed to promote reforms and reconciliation, calling for action against Iraqs institutional, economic and security deterioration. As Green Zone protest ends, governments wrath begins. Baghdad (AsiaNews) Iraqi politicians must adopt "wisdom and quietness to breathe life into "true reconciliation" to end the countrys institutional, economic and security deterioration. Iraq has had enough "disunion and dispersion" when "millions are dying from poverty and diseases, said Mar Raphael Louis Sako in a letter sent to AsiaNews for wider circulation. In his missive, the Chaldean patriarch appeals to the government and to parliament without mincing his words against their members at such a dramatic moment in the countrys life. Over the weekend, thousands of protesters, supporters of Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr, occupied part of Baghdads Green Zone where government ministries and foreign embassies are concentrated to protest the lack of reforms and political inaction. During the protest, which saw protesters storm parliament, many buildings were seriously damaged. In response, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has tried for weeks to form a cabinet of experts, ordered the Ministry of Interior to prosecute those among the protesters who had attacked security forces, lawmakers and damaged state property. Speaking recently to AsiaNews about his countrys political and institutional situation, the Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad, Mgr Shlemon Warduni, said that Iraq had reached a low point in its history, although "we cannot say that we have reached the bottom" because "the situation could get worse." Mar Sakos letter to Iraqs leaders follow. Appeal to Iraqi politicians We call upon you, with a saddened heart and sorrow because of what is happening in Iraq and because the people are suffering from violence, poverty and misery! You are all aware of the failure of government institutions, of the disruption of the law, of delayed solutions and essential reforms demanded by people. All of this is a result of the divided political scene, of the failure to achieve real national reconciliation, as well as the conflict of interests and ambitions that has been demonstrated recently. Relying on our human, national and moral responsibilities, we urge all Iraqi politicians to adopt wisdom and quietness, in addition to making every possible effort for true reconciliation to put an end to such institutional, economic and security deterioration. We are also calling for unity of all the counterparts to have a clear vision and a shared coordinated plan to liberate all Iraqi territories and work together for peace and stability in the country to enable displaced people to return home. Enough is enough! We have had enough disunion and dispersion. Focus on the future of your country, the future of your fellow citizens. As your brothers millions are dying from poverty and diseases Iraqis deserve much better than that. * Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Iraq by Nirmala Carvalho Mgr Oswald Lewis heads the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. He spoke about workers conditions, many of whom are unorganised, without health insurance or social security. He stressed the need to eliminate child labour. New Delhi (AsiaNews) May Day celebration this year is all the more important as the universal Church celebrates the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, said Mgr Oswald Lewis, bishop of Jaipur and president of the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), in a message to mark the annual event. Noting that, in the workplace, justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive, he told AsiaNews that his commission is actively involved on behalf of Indias children. In fact, Jesus had a great love of children, he said, and Pope Francis special love for children is another source of inspiration. Indeed, in this Jubilee year, the Catholic Church in India is working hard on eradicating child labour in all its forms, uttering an absolute no to child labour. With this mind, the prelate called for a revolution of tenderness yesterday, International Workers Day. Citing paragraph n. 2401 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he said, The seventh commandment, You shall not steal, commands justice and charity in the care of earthly goods and the fruits of men's labour. In the Year of Mercy, this compels us to demand justice for the sake of the poor". Echoing what Pope Francis said in his visit to the Astalli Centre in September 2013, the bishop said that the Church, but also the authorities, must ensure that no one ever needs a soup kitchen, makeshift lodgings, [or] legal aid in order to have his or her legitimate rights recognised in order to live and work, to be fully a person. Gods mercy finds expression, according to Mgr Lewis, in the recognition of the dignity of labour by providing just wages and social security. Turning to domestic work, including in episcopal sees, he noted, Justice must be the primary concern backed by mercy and charity when it comes to paying just wages, as well as granting holidays, rest and facilities to our domestic workers. This means respect for all our workers and recognition of their human dignity, seeing the face of Jesus in all of them. Thus, they must be enrolled in social security schemes as well as old age pensions and health care plans. Above all, it is necessary to Make sure that no child is employed in our institutions, and show special concern to migrant workers As for unorganised workers, the prelate said that the Indian Church has been pushing for a social safety net. Unorganised labourers represent 94 per cent of Indias 465 million workers without formal contracts. Of these, 79 per cent belong to the poorest category of people, those who without social security and in miserable and unhygienic conditions. The problem is that India does not have a coherent, universal system. Instead, it has a large number of individual schemes that were introduced piecemeal, and [. . .] are administered and operated by a range of different government departments at the level of the federal, state, and local governments. This has led to the dispersion of energy with, in some cases, service delivery entrusted to private or semi-government agencies. by Kamran Chaudhry The new church is being built in Khalsabad, a village near Gojra. The mud chapel used by eight local Catholic families was destroyed in the last monsoon. Muslim farmers and businesses gave financial support. For a Catholic clergyman, "This is a dialogue of life," even though Pakistan is famous for its violence. Gojra (AsiaNews) In a show of generosity, Muslim farmers have contributed to the fundraising efforts of Catholics who are building a church in Khalsabad, a village (chak in Urdu), near Gojra, Punjab province. Eight Christian families live in the village, and their mud chapel was swept away in the last monsoon rains. Given the option of praying at home, they chose to build a church and asked their neighbours for help. "I learnt about the project in a community meeting last month, said Dilawar Hussain, a Muslim shopkeeper. A church is also a house of Allah; praying is what matters. We worship the same God. Hussain donated 10,000 rupees (US$ 95) for the construction of the new place of worship, whilst another local businessman gave 30,000 rupees to the village committee responsible for project. Thus far, the boundary walls of the new church have been erected. "This is a dialogue of life," said Fr Aftab James Paul about the donations. The clergyman is assistant parish priest at the St Fidelis Church in Khushpur. Khalsabad is one of the 56 villages he visits as part of his pastoral outreach. "Another Muslim donated 2,000 rupees on Easter Sunday," noted Fr Paul, who also led the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue in Faisalabad for nine years. This is not the first time that Muslims help in building a Catholic place of worship. In 2005, they helped out in the construction of a church in Gojra Tehnsil sub-district. Still, the area is also infamous for a 2009 incident when, following blasphemy accusations, ten Christians were killed, seven burnt alive, and four churches destroyed. Unfortunately, "We have too many prejudices, the priest said, and let the actions of a few be blamed on all followers of Islam." President Park Geun-hye met her counterpart Hassan Rouhani to ink MoUs in infrastructure and energy. This is the main trade understanding in S Koreas history. Leaders call for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, and eradicating terrorism in the Middle East. Teheran (AsiaNews) South Korea and Iran have agreed to provisional deals worth US$ 45.6 billion dollars, especially in the construction and energy sectors. Various memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed during a visit by South Koreas conservative President Park Geun-hye in Tehran. President Rouhani and I have exchanged meaningful opinions on the common concerns of both countries, President Park said after meeting her Iranian counterpart. The summit was the first since the two countries established diplomatic relations back in 1962. As a major US partner since the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea had been lukewarm towards trading with Iran, until now. For his part, moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed regional peace. "It is our basic principle to eliminate all dangerous nuclear weapons both from the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East, Rouhani said. South Korea-Iran trade was worth US$ 6.1 billion at the end of 2015. Now a notable infrastructure deal is the US$ 5.3 billion provisional contract to lay a 541 kilometre-long inland railway between Esfahan and Ahwaz. South Korea is also expected to invest in Irans water resource sector, not to mention its oil industry. Despite the turmoil in the global stock markets, IPO activity in Australia has held steady from a year earlier. A report from Deloitte shows that IO activity on the Australian ASX was, in volume terms, comparable in the first three months of 2016 with the same period of 2015.The buoyancy in the IPO market is good news for law firms, especially as the ASIC is increasing its scrutiny of public listings, especially when businesses from emerging markets are involved.The technology and financial services sectors are showing particularly strong interest in IPOs according to Deloittes report.Two more international law firms have announced their latest rounds of partner promotions. DLA Piper has added 48 lawyers to its global partnership with 7 in Asia-Pacific.The new partners in Asia-Pacific are: Kate Papailiou (Finance & Projects) in Brisbane; James Morse (Litigation & Regulatory) in Sydney; May Ng (Litigation and Regulatory), Peng Tao (Tax) and Sheng Wu (Corporate) in Hong Kong; Masahiko Ishida (Corporate) in Tokyo; and Johnny Choi (Employment) in Beijing.Meanwhile, Eversheds announced 26 promotions across its international offices. Women made up 42 per cent of the round. There were no new partners in Asia-Pacific.Faz Peermohamed has returned to Ince & Co as partner and global head of shipping. The prominent lawyer was previously with the firm for 22 years and was global head of shipping and admiralty before leaving to become CEO at the Norwegian Hull Club. His experience includes some high-profile cases such as the capsize of the Costa Concordia in Italy; and he was named global maritime lawyer of the year by Lloyds in 2013.Law firm Mayer Brown has launched a new app to identify whether background checks are required. Users can find an overview of legal and practical issues surrounding checks across the Americas, Asia and EMEA.The app, available for iOS and Android devices, includes a traffic light system that enables users to see whether background checks are standard practice, unusual or prohibited in particular jurisdictions. Former federal judge Jim Staples has died at the age of 86. Staples was controversially manoeuvred out of the peak industrial tribunal by Bob Hawke, first earned the attention of ASIO as a member of the Communist Party of Australia. He was later expelled in the 1950s and became a barrister in Sydney before being appointed to the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission in 1975. According to a report by the Canberra Times, Staples died at a nursing home in Gloucester on Wednesday night. Staples served as deputy president of the Commission until 1989, when it was abolished by Hawke and replaced with the Industrial Relations Commission. Staples was the only judge to not be appointed on the new body. The decision was due to a lack of confidence in Staples by other members of the judiciary, Hawke explained in parliament, citing his reasoning for some decisions for the lack of confidence. It certainly was very unusual and had never happened before in the federal sphere, said former High Court judge Michael Kirby, who was appointed to the commission himself in 1974. In a court it was not possible to remove a judge, but the technical point was taken he was not a member of a court. Kirby described Staples as an unusual judge with a colourful turn of phrase. According to the Canberra Times, Kirby briefed Staples as a young solicitor for the Council of Civil Liberties. He was a very good barrister and advocate, he was a terrier, and he was legally imaginative, Kirby said. He had great success before juries and won several important defamation cases. Many people said he should have stayed at the Bar because there is more scope for imaginative ideas there. The real tragedy of his case was that he never really found an appropriate niche after this happened to him. He was a charming, gregarious, kind and determined advocate, and that's where he really excelled. According to an Australian Bar Review article, Kirby said Staples was expelled from the Communist Party in 1956 when he published the text of a secret speech by Nikita Khruschev concerning the crimes of the Stalin era, who was at the time, the secretary general of the Soviet Union Communist Party. By Darren Curnoe, ARC Future Fellow and Director of the Palaeontology, Geobiology and Earth Archives Research Centre (PANGEA) Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA When I think back to the traumatic birth of my own daughter - and how I would have lost her and my partner if it hadnt been for some swift medical intervention - I cant help but wonder how the heck weve grown to be so numerous as a species. Its fascinating to reflect on how our large population makes us unique among the primates. But also, how this seems to have occurred despite our complicated reproductive setup. Theres an estimated 7.3 billion members of Homo sapiens at the moment; no one knows for sure how many. What about during the Palaeolithic? The first 95 percent of our evolutionary history? Scientists have taken a few interesting approaches to this question, but theyve provided us with starkly different answers. Still, they do give us some broad ideas to work with and highlight some trends. Estimates of population size based on the archaeological record link the number (or density) of sites to the size of the population that occupied or made them. In Europe, for example, using this approach, its estimated that between roughly 4 thousand and 40 thousand people were alive during the Upper Palaeolithic. Their numbers fluctuated depending upon the climate - with numbers crashing during the extreme cold of 20 thousand years ago - and increasing with technological innovations that made people more efficient foragers, after this time. Another approach has been to estimate the effective population size - or number of individuals contributing genes to the next generation - from genetic data. Using maternally inherited (mitochondrial) DNA, estimates of the global human breeding population are 10-20 thousand people up until about 50 thousand years ago; averaging out to be more or less constant over time. At 50 thousand years ago, the human population seems to have exploded outside of sub-Saharan Africa, growing more or less exponentially from that time onwards, with a further acceleration from the Neolithic (agricutlural) Revolution on. In Europe over the same period, the effective population may have started off at around 30 thousand people. It then grew perhaps ten-fold over the next 30 thousand years, so that by the end of the Ice Age - roughly 12 thousand years ago - there were close to 300 thousand reproductively active individuals. How many people were there in total for our species during the Palaeolithic? The so-called census population? If we assume that about half the population was of reproductive age - which is close to the effective population for recent hunter-gatherers - then the global human population was perhaps between 20 thousand to 40 thousand at any one time for the first 150 thousand years of our existence as a species. By 40-50 thousand years ago we had settled Asia, Australia and Europe, and our population grew to closer to half a million people. How many people were living in Europe towards the end of the Palaeolithic? There may have been around 200 thousand people there, a value roughly an good order of magnitude larger than that estimated by archaeologists. The most important factors that kept our population in check for most of our prehistory would certainly have been maternal and infant mortality. Ill focus here only on maternal mortality because the causes of infant mortality are so varied; though no less important for natural selection. Each year across the globe, around 209-250 women die per 100,000 live births, according to the World Health Organisation. Thankfully, maternal death rates have improved by 44 percent over the last 25 years, but theres still a long way to go, with 99 percent of all deaths occurring in developing countries. Estimates for hunter-gatherers are exceptionally hard to come by. But, for the Ache people of Paraguay, rates are as high as around 670 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and rise to 1,022 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births among the Hadza of Tanzania. These estimates all come from a time well after European contact and the introduction of infectious diseases. So, its impossible to know how representative they are of maternal mortality rates in the past. Human birth would seem then to be a remarkably risky activity, both to mother and child. Why is this the case? One long held view in anthropology - know as the obstetrical dilemna - is that birth is particularly difficult compared to other primates because the shape of the human pelvis represents a compromise between our two-footed locomotion and the need to give birth to large brained babies. The human pelvis is shorter (top to bottom) compared to other apes in order to increase stability and efficiently transfer body weight from the upper body to lower limb when we walk. The result is a much narrow pelvic outlet and a greatly constricted birth canal. On top of this, the adult human brain is about three times the size of our close cousins, the chimpanzee, while our brain size at birth is about the same as an adult chimpanzees. Unlike in other apes then, there isnt much space in the human birth canal, making delivery a uniquely challenging situation. What all this means is that human birth involves a set of movements or turns of the fetal head that dont occur in other primates: first of all, the head normally and unusually starts in an oblique position compared with the maternal pelvic inlet; it must then rotate as it passes into the mid-pelvic plane; and finally, as it passes into the pelvic outlet, with the back of the head facing outwards, the fetal head must rotate again, sideways, for a safe delivery. Today, among the leading causes of maternal death, excepting unsafe abortions, three of them relate to complications during pregnancy or birth: severe bleeding, high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) and complications from delivery. With few exceptions, humans require assistance at birth, usually from an experienced elder, midwife or medical practitioner, so as to reduce the risks of these occurring and ensure safe passage through the birth canal. Few societies engage in the risky enterprise of solo child birth: the !Kung hunter-gatherers of the Kalahari, who prefer this option, being historically a notable exception. But is this practice unique to humans, as we have been led to believe by anthropologists for many decades? Short answer, no. Birth in the wild, and especially during daylight hours, is a rare occurrence for non-human primates. This has made it difficult for scientists to observe birth in wild populations. However, new research on the birthing behaviour of the Sichuan snub nosed monkey, seen for the first time in the daylight, has added weight to the idea that assisted birth might be quite common among primates. A team of researchers led by Bin Yang from the Shaanxi Academy of Sciences and published in the journal Primates has witnessed for the first time birthing in the wild, during daylight hours, by this monkey. Whats more, the birth was assisted by another adult female in the troop. In fact, it turns out that of the ten primate species that have had wild, daytime, births witnessed by scientists, no less than six of them had assisted births. There is even a recently published report for such practice in the bonobo, or pygmy chimpanzee, one of our closest cousins. Question is, why do other primates engage in assisted delivery? Especially given that they dont seem to need to. Or, perhaps, they sometimes do? What we do know, of course, is that unlike all other primates, such behaviour is fundamental for the safe delivery of human babies. The other lesson we anthropologists might learn from agencies like the World Health Organisation is that, no matter how risky human birth is, the main causes of maternal death have been largely eliminated in the wealthy world through changed birthing (cultural) practices. In other words, we have, yet again, found a way to largely circumvent our evolution: the obstetric dilemna being bypassed despite seemingly posing major risks to women in the past. But, then again, may be we anthropologists have overstated the risks of childbirth during the Palaeolithic? Like today, maybe our very clever ancestors also found cultural solutions that successfully side stepped natural selection? While well probably never know, the fact that theres so damned many of us today suggests they must have gotten an awful lot right in childbirth! Disclosure Darren Curnoe receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Originally published in The Conversation. Dear all, I am interested in procedure for getting working visa. Just at the first step. Any info would be usefull. I have master degree in biotechnology and working 12 years in sales of laboratory instruments. Thank you Tanja Hello The NSW website says "We anticipate nominating 4,000 skilled candidates for the 190 visa in 2015-16." Are the details of the number of nominations made by NSW till today available somewhere? I just need to know the number of nominations made by NSW for the 2015-2016 period and if I have enough time. Help, Me and my partner left each other 2 years ago we are not legally divorced, I cancelled his visa on the basis of domestic violence through an email to department of immigration. Now that we are back together can I reinstate his visa by contacting immigration. My husbands migration agent said he cant and that he either needs to leave the country and come back after 4 years or we have a baby. Please help Hi All These forums have been extremely helpful for us, where my fiance has recently been granted her PMV, and we are ready to plan the wedding. I've searched through the forums which has managed to answer most of my questions but would be interested to know: - exactly when can you submit the Partner Visa application, after getting married? I've read that it takes a few weeks to get the marriage certificate from the BDM office. Can we submit the partner visa application first, in order to obtain the bridging visa immediately? And then submit the certificate when we get it later? - people keep mentioning online applications doesn't require certified copies of documents? just scans will do? It would be good to get the bridging visa asap so my fiance can apply for a medicare card. Thanks! SEAT commemorated the 15th anniversary of its installation in Mexico, a country that has been a key market in the Spanish brands strategy since 2001, with a celebration at the companys headquarters in Puebla City, Mexico. In 2015, SEAT sold a total of 24,148 cars in Mexico, and closed the year with its second best historic sales result and the fifth year of consecutive growth. In the first quarter of 2016, SEAT deliveries in Mexico grew at a steady pace, posting a 4.4% increase at over 6,100 units sold. Photo courtesy of SEAT. Mexico currently has the fourth largest in sales volume, surpassed only by Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, according to the company. Mexico is a key country for SEAT and has made a decisive contribution to the increase in worldwide sales. With the launch of the Ateca and the renewal and expansion of our range, we will be well-equipped to continue the sustained growth path in Mexico we have experienced in recent years, said Luca de Meo, SEATs executive committee president. The celebration ended with the appearance of the new SEAT Ateca, which was shown for the first time outside Europe. Sales of the Ateca will begin in Mexico in the first quarter of 2017, according to the company. The SUV segment grew by 20% in Mexico in 2015 and already accounts for one of every five vehicles currently sold in the country, according to the company. Just like any other companies, even the mighty production line of Ford Motors is struggling. It has been noted that Ford's F-150 production and distribution is at risk owing to the mechanical issues detected on its assembly line. The scenario is already in the minds of those that have made Ford Motors F-150 from the ground and up. However, as reality sets in, that's when the apprehensions begin for the workers and craftsmen of the F-150 segment. According to Automotive News, the F-150 assembly line will have to suspend its operations for a week in Missouri until the mechanical issues are resolved and dealt with. Otherwise, the production for the F-150 will continue to stop until all problems are fixed. Moreover, the temporary production is bringing scrutiny for the corporation since the F-series inventory is almost reaching its highest level in nearly a decade. According to the same post, the workers that are designated to work with the F-150 at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant will temporarily stop operation on the week of May 9 and resume operation on May 16, and at the same time, the company will initiate maintenance schedules as well. We took a look at our inventory levels on F-150 and said we can afford to do that now," Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of the Americas, said in an interview. "We want to be able to run better for the rest of the year." Kansas City Star cited the official statement from Ford regarding the firm's directives to ensure that safety and proper measures are undertaken. Although the operation is halted, it is better rathar than deal with other unforeseeable safety and maintenance issues for the rest of the year. It is indispensable that Ford sees the problem and has detected it. Also, the car firm aims on addressing the existing issues to ensure that operations will resume in the coming weeks. It stands to reason that the mechanical issues detected on the assembly line is placing a negative impact for the production and is hurting the distribution and the entire operation of the plant. A reunified Korea has the potential to become a giant in the world of cars and its business and trades. Moreover, a reunified Korea will also set forth a new era of outwitting the big giant carmakers from all four corners of the globe. Auto Express reported that despite the dividing wall that separates both nations, the South and North Korea still has the latent possibility of winning the world with their skills and with their technologies. Since the economic downturn, many companies are seeking ways and means to counter the demands of financial instability, wages and production expenses. The latter led to the hiring of thousands of North Korean workers. According to the same report, the capitalist business giants down south as well as the Communist counterparts up north are getting along surprising well. The good rapport between these two sectors resulted to a massive hiring of North Koreans that currently works at Kaesong, which is six miles north of the border. If these workers are trained further and equipped, they could also be working with car segments under the banner of Hyundai, SsangYong, Kia and Samsung, as noted by the same post. Given the fact that Hyundai Group has already released 100 million vehicles in the market and the numbers still rising, the demand for growth is escalating. On a different note, Hyundai has undeniably reached new heights and continuing to gain more achievements as well. It was just recently that Hyundai released its Elantra segment, which gained the title as one of the new performance range-topper, reports Motor Authority. If a reunified Korea gains momentum, the threat would be surreal. It would initiate an era of dominance and probably the outwitting of the giant carmakers from all four corners of the globe. However, the DMZ is real, the division is real and the rift is troubling as well but if in the future it becomes a reality, the top car producing nations such as China, Japan, Germany and the USA would surely see a formidable foe rise up from the group and up. Dave strolls into the FBO carrying a travel bag and a pizza box. I let out a sigh. Well, look who showed up. Dave, youre 45 minutes late. Well, I needed gas, and there was a pizza place next door and, well, that smell hit me. I got some for everybody. Were already late and we need to get going. Lets eat in the air. You, Dave and I head outside into the muggy Florida air to our Mooney. We stow our bags and I begin the preflight. Dave piles into the back. After the preflight you follow me in and close the door as I grab the checklist. Do you mind calling for our clearance? I ask, reaching for the master. You got it, you reply. You have our XM Weather system set up. Well need it today. You grab our paperwork and get our clearance. Well be flying from Orlando Executive up to the Panhandle, then west across Pensacola to the New Orleans area. Well land at Slidellwe heard good things about the FBO and the fuel is cheap. Well also get the scenic half-hour drive to New Orleans. The engine roars to life and were soon headed to the runup area. Since about 40 miles of our flight is over the ocean, Im careful with the runup. We call the tower for takeoff clearance, amble into position and open the throttle. The takeoff is smooth and we climb westward into a hazy sky. Orlando Departure turns us toward the Florida Panhandle. The smell of pizza is tantalizing and Im looking forward to cruise. Weather Ahead During our weather briefing, we saw an area of showers and thunderstorms in the western Panhandle. It extends north into Alabama and Georgia, so we cant really go around it. The freezing level (top photo) is quite high, at about 12,000 feet. Ice shouldnt be a factor at our 6000-foot cruise. Were most concerned about the storms and widespread IMC. Plus, its February, so the atmosphere might have a few surprises well watch for. Though looking at SIGMETs and getting a weather briefing gives us the basics information we need, theres not a lot of deptch. What if the forecast is wrong? We can get an extra safety margin by taking in the big picture. By understanding the underlying workings of the atmosphere today, well have a comprehensive picture of the patterns. The surface map (right) shows observed conditions over the Gulf Coast. The pressure field is too weak for a meaningful isobar chart, but observing the temperature field and hand-drawing the front (as shown) reveals the definite presence of a quasi-stationary front extending from northern Florida to Louisiana. What does this front mean? If we look at conditions in the warm sector to the south, we see there is a component that crosses the front from south to north. Forecasters will conclude that the isentropic (potential temperature) surface distorts upward in the cold air mass and parcels must ascend along these surfaces since potential temperature is a conserved property. But its simpler to think that this air tends to rise as it overruns a warm front toward cooler air. The south-to-north component will also cause the front to drift northward as a warm front, but this is often offset if there is an opposing north-to-south component in the cold air mass or extensive cold outflow from thunderstorms. There are widespread storms all along the front, so we cant really be sure which way the front is moving. It will be difficult to know what changes will be occurring at a terminal near the front, so we have to depend entirely on the TAF. The air mass in the Gulf Coast region is unstable and it doesnt take much lift to produce showers and thunderstorms. Frontal lift is significant, yielding widespread IFR conditions and an outbreak of showers and thunderstorms. We can expect conditions south of the front to remain good if it is a stagnant tropical air mass with VMC and cumulus at 2000 to 4000 feet. If this air mass is modifying, shallow stratus and fog might develop. SIGMET and AIRMET products (right) are definitive for weather hazards of concern to pilots. These are produced by the Aviation Weather Center. The only downside is that they dont provide any indication of severity. The Severe product (lower right) is a nice supplement that gives an accurate overview of the hazards. This data originates directly from the Storm Prediction Center convective outlooks. Although the SIGMETs and AIRMETs are already part of your preflight planning, checking all these products during a cross-country flight will help alert you to any changes in forecast thinking. Cruising Along I engage the autopilot as we level off at cruise. The view is occasionally obscured by clouds, but I can see Lake Apopka off to our left and endless subdivisions, probably Orlandos bedroom communities. I strain to look toward the southwest, but Disneyworld is too far away and there are too many clouds. Its a little bumpy. The smell of pizza is overwhelming. I turn back to Dave. Lets open that pizza. Yeah, Dave says. Its right here. He opens the box. Something isnt right. I take a close look at the pizza. Anchovies? Pineapple? Daaaave? Hey man, dont knock it. I like anchovies with pineapple. This must be payback for last week when I actually got him with the old prop wash prank. I grab a shop towel and take a slice of the pizza. I pick off the anchovies. The pineapple I can deal with. You pass on the pizza and settle back into the seat, watching for traffic and enjoying the view. You notice that things are getting a bit dark up ahead. I think Id like to take a look at the weather. I was thinking the same thing. You select the METAR, Radar, and Strike products (lower right). We see an area of showers ahead. The Strike product shows no lightning activity ahead. The image is built from a radio sferics network, covering the United States and reaching far offshore, and it accurately detects cloud-to-ground lightning. The bad stuff is well off the coast, where the Strike product shows clusters of lightning. Radar doesnt reach that far. This shows the value of the Strike product deep into the Gulf of Mexico or off the Pacific or Atlantic coasts. The U.S. has four other areas out of radar range: central Nevada, the Four Corners, southeast Montana, and south-central Oregon where the Strike product proves invaluable, especially during the summer. As we hit the showers we get bounced around a bit. A few small areas show red, and we deviate well around them. Over Apalachee Bay I open the vent window and pitch the anchovies. While Im at it, a little rain blows in and hits Dave. I smile. We bounce in and out of showers, break into VMC and enter another mass of clouds and showers. We reach land and count down the miles to Pensacola. How is the weather looking at Slidell? You switch back to the Metar display and pull up Slidell METAR and TAF reports (bottom right). Still IFR, you say. Its 1100 broken, but 10 miles, not bad. Looks like 500 broken and 6 miles forecast. Well be getting there after that TEMPO group. Gentlemans IMC The rain clears up but it remains cloudy. Daylight fades and the overcast darkens into night. Starting down past Gulfport, we descend through several cloud layers created by the gentle lift over the frontal surface, condensing humid air from the Gulf waters and producing extensive stratus. We fly the GPS Runway 36 approach and break out of the clouds at 800 feet. We have the runway in sight almost immediately. We land in light winds. We park, close our flight plan and shut everything down. I notice the sweep of the airport beacon against the clouds. Thats the tropical air mass just overhead. The temperature is a mild 67 degrees with a light north wind; down here we are in a shallow, stagnant polar air mass. Time for some real food, you say. Yeah. I look at Dave. Were going to the Crescent Pie. We shall crack open some Sessions and feast on jambalaya, reveling in New Orleans. Maybe well hit the French Quarter later. Anchovies and pineapple will not be part of this night. Dave sheepishly nods. You think they have any hot wings there? We laugh as we get our rental car and pitch the remaining pizza. Tim Vasquez is a professional meteorologist in Norman, Oklahoma. XMWX satellite weather is available on many devices and apps, and each adds their own interpretation. For this series, Tim uses WxWorx on Wings, a PC application from the data provider for XMWX. See his website at WeatherGraphics.com. This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue ofIFRmagazine. For more great content like this, subscribe toIFR! 2 May 2016 13:24 (UTC+04:00) By Gunay Camal Population of Armenia continues decreasing in number thus deepening the demographic crisis in the country caused by gap between the government and people. The post Soviet republic recorded a drop in number of population by 12,300 people in April 2016 compared to the same period of 2015, the National Statistical Service said. Resident population of Armenia made up 2,994,400 people as of April 1, 2016. The country has seen decrease in the number of population by 4,200 since early 2016 due to the excess of the negative migration balance, which is 5,700 people, compared with the natural growth of the population 1,500 people. Most part of the Armenian migrants are believed to have gone to Russia and other CIS countries to earn for life. A recent Gallup International study has revealed that a whopping 40 percent of Armenians want to leave Armenia. Experts name corruption, injustice, crime and economic problems among the main reasons for shrinking Armenian population. Armenians mainly prefer the life abroad due to the corrupted Sargsyan regime, undemocratic and non-promising political system. Over 70 percent of Armenians believe that Armenia is not a democratic country, while 80 percent of Armenian population says Armenia will move toward authoritarianism or totalitarianism in the case of maintaining the present system. Worsening economy and political tension affect the life standards in Armenia. The aggressive policy towards neighboring Azerbaijan did not allow a recovery for Armenian economy, and left it aside from all huge regional economic projects. Due to its groundless territorial claims and internal conflicts in Armenia, foreign investment did not come to the country, while its neighbors enjoyed the foreign investments. When Armenia refused to withdraw its occupying forces from Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh and seven regions, Ankara also cut its diplomatic relations with Yerevan and closed borders. Armenia turned into a landlocked and volatile geographic location, which was badly hurt by each global economic crisis. Its destructive political policy resulted in the deplorable situation in the country, as well as in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. During the year 2015 alone, more than 50,000 people left Armenia, according to Armenian media. Many Armenians left the country following the recent hostilities on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops that erupted following Armenian provocation. Also, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh have been migrating to Yerevan, as they dont want to die here for the occupied lands. Armenians who were allocated in Karabakh leave massively here when they find an opportunity. Following the results of an appropriate survey, almost 32 percent of respondents are ready to leave because of lack of work, 30 percent due to hopelessness, 20 percent due to lack of justice, and 17 percent due to lack of livelihood. The studies clearly show that the number of Armenians planning to emigrate is not decreasing, whilst the government is still unwilling to change the situation. Vague future and lack of hope for better life regularly pushes people in this poor country to go to streets to demand answers for many questions... -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00) By Jim O'Neill From the strict perspective of some investors, astute financial management by a company to bolster its share price is a good thing. By this narrow logic, when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry, we should be unconcerned if drug firms share prices are boosted not by new discoveries, but by financial maneuvers, such as share buybacks or tax inversion. But the pharmaceutical industry is not an industry like any other. It is intrinsically bound up with the public good, having historically provided the medical innovation that is essential to societys ability to fight disease. Furthermore, while patients are the consumers, the actual buyers are often governments. Even in the United States, public purchasers account for at least 40% of the prescription drug market. Governments also bankroll much of the research underlying the industrys profits. The US government is the worlds largest funder of medical research and development; globally, taxpayers finance a third of spending on health research. So it should come as no surprise when policymakers insist that the industrys efforts at innovation be channeled into areas that provide the most benefit to taxpayers and patients, rather than those like financial maneuvers that might be most profitable for the industry in the short term. The pharmaceutical industry is at its best when private profitability and social good coincide, as it does when useful new drugs attract large market shares. But, unfortunately, that is not always the case and the results can be tragic. In the field of antibiotics development, in particular, the divergence between profit-seeking behavior and the public good is taking the world to the brink of crisis. When antibiotics first entered into common use in the 1940s, previously dangerous conditions, such as pneumonia or infected cuts, became benign conditions that could be treated easily. Antibiotics underpin modern medicine; without them, surgery or chemotherapy become much riskier. But antibiotics lose their effectiveness over time. And whereas previous generations of scientists quickly found new substitutes, today, in many cases, doctors are down to their last line of defense. For a range of infections including strains of pneumonia, E. coli, and gonorrhea there are no replacements in reserve. One would think this would cause drug companies and their investors to compete to develop new antibiotics. But much of the pharmaceutical industry has abandoned this pursuit. Developing new antibiotics is difficult and expensive and, crucially, far less profitable than investments in other important fields, such as cancer and diabetes. Part of the problem is these drugs unique importance. Companies are not always able to recoup their investments by setting a high price on patented antibiotics. When a new antibiotic is discovered, public health authorities rightly want to keep it in reserve, insisting that it be used only when all other options have failed. As a result, a new antibiotic may not become widely used until after its patent has expired and its inventors are forced to compete with generic manufacturers. In January, the pharmaceutical industry took a big step toward solving this problem when more than 100 companies and trade associations from more than 20 countries signed a declaration calling on governments to adopt a new model of antibiotic development. As part of this new model, the signatories committed themselves to provide access to new drugs for all those who need them, increase investment in R&D that meets global public health needs, and help slow the development of drug resistance in humans and animals. Governments should encourage and enable the industry to meet these objectives. One way would to be adopt a proposal I made last year and introduce rewards of $1 billion or more to those who develop the most-needed types of antibiotics. Such an approach would balance commercial returns with affordability, global access, and conservation, while saving governments money in the long run. Using this approach to restock the antibiotics pipeline would cost roughly $25 billion over ten years. Shared among G-20 governments, this is very little money, and would be a remarkably good investment especially given that antibiotic resistance currently costs the US health-care system alone about $20 billion per year. Governments could introduce incentives for antibiotics R&D, paid for with their existing funding streams or new funding streams that are innovative and self-sustaining. One option would be a small access-to-market fee that could be collected by pharmaceutical regulators in large markets. This system recognizes that antibiotics are a shared and exhaustible resource on which the viability of a range of other pharmaceutical products and medical devices from chemotherapy to joint replacements depends. It is comparable to approaches in sectors such as energy, water, or fisheries, where regulatory tools are used to ensure that shared resources and infrastructure are managed and replenished in the interests of both consumers and the producers whose businesses rely on them. The necessary $2.5 billion per year would amount to just 0.25% of global pharmaceutical sales hardly a strain on an industry that is, by and large, in sound financial health. And the scheme would be particularly attractive if it could be implemented on a pay-or-play basis, whereby companies could choose whether to invest in R&D or to contribute to a fund rewarding those whose efforts result in the desired drugs. It is time to turn ideas into effective action and solve the problem of drug resistance. To do that, companies and governments must recognize that antibiotics are not a commodity like any other. Copyright: Project Syndicate: Overcoming Market Obstacles to New Antibiotics --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 09:43 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva have visited Tartar, Barda and Aghdam regions, which are located on the line of contact between the Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces on May 1. The head of state first visited a military unit in Tartar district. Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov informed Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev about the current situation on the front line. President Aliyev visited the headquarters, canteen and barracks of the military unit. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief met with servicemen, and gave presents to those of them who displayed valour while repulsing Armenian armed forces` provocation on the line of contact. Then, President Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva visited the city of Tartar, Gapanli village, located 200 meters from the line of contact, as well as Mahrizli village in Aghdam region, which were damaged at a result of Armenian army`s shelling from large-caliber weapons and artillery on the night of April 27 to 28. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief viewed the destroyed houses, and talked to local residents. The head of state gave instructions to restore the houses as soon as possible. Later President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva visited Barda Treatment and Diagnostics Center to see civilians, who were wounded as a result of Armenian armed forces` shelling. 2 May 2016 10:05 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan`s human rights commissioner Elmira Suleymanova has sent a letter of protest to secretary general of the European Ombudsman Institute (EOI) Josef Siegele over the tendentious and slanderous information about Azerbaijan posted on the EOI website, Azertac reports. Mrs. Suleymanova raised objection to the institute`s statement titled The EOI condemns the violation of the human rights of civilians and attacks on civilian facilities, dated 11.04.2016. In fact there have never taken place such attacks on civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is known that Armenian armed forces constantly shatter the ceasefire from their own territory and Azerbaijan`s occupied lands. They are mostly targeting civilians living in the cities and villages nearby. There are a number of facts to prove it, she said, emphasizing that the abovementioned statement has not been expressed properly. In reference to your untrue statement, a number of Armenian information sites has released misinformation that the EOI condemns Azerbaijan for attacks on civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh, seeking to deceive the international community. Therefore, we call for the removal of the EOI`s statement dated 11.04.2016 and a refutation, she stressed in her letter. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 2 May 2016 13:07 (UTC+04:00) By Fatma Babayeva Azerbaijans state oil fund was rated at Ba1 for the countrys long-term issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings by the international ratings agency Moody's Investors Service. Moreover, Moodys confirmed state-guaranteed senior unsecured debt rating of the Southern Gas Corridor's at Ba1, according to the report of the rating agency posted on its website on April 29. The report left Azerbaijan's long-term and short-term foreign-currency bond and deposit ceilings unchanged at Ba1/NP and Ba2/NP, respectively. Meanwhile, the long-term local-currency bond and deposit country ceilings also remained unchanged at Ba1. In general, Ba1 rating signifies a low to moderate level of risk for investors or policyholders. The Moodys report reminded that Azerbaijan's large stock of foreign currency assets held by the SOFAZ and Azerbaijan's sovereign wealth fund which helps to cushion negative impacts on the Azerbaijans economy and government balance sheet and gives the country time to adjust itself to lower oil prices. The government retains sizable fiscal buffers which could help it absorb oil shocks, especially SOFAZ's significant foreign currency assets. These fiscal buffers could help Azerbaijan cope with the challenges related to the continuing economic and banking crises, the agency reported. The report further added that Azerbaijans government has room to let fiscal deficits widen during the periods of lower oil prices, economic recession and reduced fiscal revenues. The fund's assets are predominantly invested in high-grade liquid instruments. In addition, the foreign currency assets of SOFAZ remained very huge, although it decreased by 9.5 percent to $33.6 billion in 2015, Moody's said. The Moody's analysts stated that the volume of SOFAZ's assets are high as compared not only to the Azerbaijan's GDP and general government debt but also to other oil exporting countries' sovereign wealth funds, adding that SOFAZ's foreign assets account for roughly 100 percent of Azerbaijan's GDP forecast for 2016. SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million. In accordance with SOFAZ's regulations, its funds may be used for the construction and reconstruction of strategically important infrastructure facilities, as well as, solving important national problems of Azerbaijan. The main goals of the state oil fund is to accumulate resources and to place the funds assets abroad in order to minimize the negative impacts of oil on the economy, to prevent the Dutch disease to some extent in the country, to promote resource accumulation for future generations and to support current social and economic processes within the country. Currently, 13.2 percent of the funds investment portfolio is placed in bonds of agencies and international organizations, 8 percent in sovereign debt securities, 20.8 percent in financial bonds, 44.2 percent in corporate bonds, 8.5 percent in short term commercial securities, and 1 percent in guaranteed bonds. Around 7 percent of the investment portfolio is placed in deposits and monetary market tools, 3.1 percent in gold, 4.6 percent in real estate, 7.7 percent in assets, and 2.5 percent in investments in the projects. So far, SOFAZ has funded many strategic projects for Azerbaijan including the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, Southern Gas Corridor, Oil and Gas processing and Petrochemical Complex, as well as, Samur-Absheron irrigation system, Oguz-Gabala water pipeline and State Program on education Azerbaijani youth abroad. --- Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 16:20 (UTC+04:00) By Gulgiz Dadashova Azerbaijan has entered in a new phase of entrepreneurial development as the economic reforms and programs are underway to turn small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the backbone of the nations economy. For the recent months, the main task of the Azerbaijani state was to compensate for about three or four-fold loss of the country due to the declined oil prices. The state is keen to regain the lost revenues through the sale of products of export orientation. It can be cotton, which is the best product for sale on world markets, which the country will grow in the amount of 100,000 tons compared to 35,000 tons last year. Or it can be construction mixtures that SIKA Azerbaijan plans to manufacture at the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park and export to the neighboring countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Iran. The state also pins great hope on tourism sector, which can bring even more funds to the country along with the fame. The state is going to realize a new tourism strategy that is already on agenda of the Parliament. This strategy can turn Azerbaijan into a new destination of business, medical and leisure tourism. In a nutshell, Azerbaijan aims to change its economic development model through improving the business environment, increasing export potential, attracting foreign investment and boosting domestic production. A state support to business activity is the main focus of the State Programs on socio-economic development of regions of Azerbaijan in 2004-2008, 2009-2013 and 2014-2018. The experience and the example of the global economic system show that SMEs are the locomotive, which contributed to many nations to overcome the deepest economic crisis in the world. Small business can contribute to the dynamics of the economic sphere and significantly reduce the social and economic challenges. In industrialized countries, more than 50 percent of GDP are ensured by SMEs, and the importance of their social function is evidenced by the fact that they provide up to 60-70 percent of jobs. Given the fact that every 9 out of 10 jobs are created by SMEs worldwide, improving their access to finance means faster growth, enhanced productivity and internationalization the core pillars of the countrys sustainability agenda. To ensure that the private sector could perform this function, the government should create a favorable investment and business environment and apply various incentive measures for the development of entrepreneurship, recently stated Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev, hinting at necessity of huge investment projects in the territories where the most poor population live. Over the past 10 years, over 1.2 million new jobs and 55,600 new enterprises have been established in the country. These measures paved the way to increase business activity and gave a strong impetus to the development of small businesses in the regions. One of the main steps in the promotion of SMEs was the establishment of the National Fund for Entrepreneurship, which is engaged in the allocation of preferential loans to SMEs mainly for projects in regions. For the state, development of small business is the least costly way of creating new jobs, an additional source of the goods and services in the market, stable base of income tax, self-adjusting mechanism of redistributing efficient technologies, equipment and manpower. SMEs play a very important role in the economy, accelerating scientific and technological progress, supplying required goods to the market, and creating new jobs, that is, these kinds of businesses address many pressing economic, social and other problems. Even at times of general economic stagnation, small businesses are able to develop and grow. The very SMEs can take on the role of the main locomotive of innovative business while the country will transit to an innovative model of economy. Theretofore, the development of entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan has become a national priority, and its further development will be ensured through the financial means (preferential loans, subsidies, tax and customs privileges), logistic means (creation of industrial parks, technology parks, hi-tech parks ), support (export credits, tax incentives and tools to support the investments of exports, creation of logistics centers), promotion (goods and services in foreign markets), and informational support (creation of business incubators). The changes made in the customs policy aimed at reducing the share of imports in the consumer market, providing planned subsidies for industrial production and exports, improving the regulatory framework in the financial sector. Introducing a new lending model is among the positive measures to be taken by the government. Meanwhile, the development of innovative business requires active, well-educated staff, which in turn will require the organization of specialized training. Also professional trade advisers could help to identify barriers and to provide advice on key objectives and bargaining positions for multilateral and regional trade negotiations, as well as other trade-related issues. The strengthened IT backup is also necessary as for small businesses, e-commerce and the Internet can reduce transaction costs significantly, while increasing the pool of potential customers. Establishing a guarantee fund at the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support can be another boost to help businessmen working in the sphere of production and services, as well as carrying out activities in the countryside. This would allow SMEs' access to finance and carry out timely payments in commercial transactions which in turn will lead to increase of businesses that export and to expand the number of markets and customers served by the SMEs. -- Follow Gulgiz Dadashova on Twitter: @GulgizD Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 18:08 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Egyptian charter airline Air Cairo, the largest company in the country owned by EgyptAir, will resume Baku-Sharm el-Sheikh-Baku flights starting June 1. Chairman of Azerbaijan Tourism Association Nahid Bagirov said that the flights will be opened in connection with the start of tourist season and performed once a week. Although the flight will be opened due to summer season, we hope that it will be permanent, since this direction is popular in the world tourism. Egypt is known as a country of the summer tourism. Prices there are lower than in other tourist detonations, Bagirov emphasized. Several years ago, charter flights from Baku to Sharm el-Sheikh were operated, but later flights were suspended. Azerbaijans State Civil Aviation Administration reported that the opening of a direct flight to Egypt will be possible only after the safety inspection in this direction. Earlier in March, Egypts Deputy Minister of Tourism Mohamed Abdel Gabbar noted that the number of Egyptian tourists visiting Azerbaijan is small and represents about 3,000 people. He added that Egyptian side can offer certain discounts on air tickets. Cairo and Baku enjoy relations which date back to centuries ago but since the last century they have developed closer contacts. Egyptians and Azerbaijanis have much in common: traditions, culture, customs, attitudes and religion. Since Azerbaijan has gained its independence in 1991, the two countries have started building relations in the political, economic, cultural and educational spheres. Egypt recognized Azerbaijan's independence in December 1991 and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in March 1992. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 15:15 (UTC+04:00) By Gulgiz Dadashova There is no financial obstacle to developing the Trans Anatolian Pipeline project and the length of produced pipes for TANAP stood at 1088 km as of April 25. Vagif Aliev, head of SOCAR Investments Department announced about this while talking to NGE. Despite the low oil price and the need for foreign loans, the development of TANAP continues to follow the projected schedule, he said. TANAP designed to transport Azerbaijani gas to the European markets as part of the Southern Gas Corridor will receive $2.7 billion from the World Bank as well as the European Investment Bank to get implemented. The funding will be used by Turkeys pipeline monopoly Botas, which holds 30 percent interest in TANAP and will itself invest $780mn in the project. TAP's initial capacity will be 10 billion cubic meters of gas a year but this volume will be expandable in future. SOCAR owns 58 percent stake in TANAP project while Botas and BP have 30 and 12 percent stakes respectively. The total cost of the gas line line is expected to stand at $8.4 billion. The project aims to deliver initially 16bn m3/yr of Azerbaijans Shah Deniz-2 (SD2) gas to Turkey and Europe by 2021. The total cost of the project, including the development of SD2, is about $45 billion. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 16:54 (UTC+04:00) By Fatma Babayeva An interstate agreement on the cooperation for the supply of crude oil, refined oil products, LPG and LNG is agreed to be signed between Azerbaijan and Pakistan by the Azerbaijans Energy Ministry and Pakistans Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry. This agreement was achieved during the sixth session of Azerbaijan-Pakistan joint commission at the governmental level which lasted two days long in Islamabad, according to the Pakistani media. The agreement is intended to attract investments in the energy sectors of both countries, including reconstruction of the relevant infrastructures and creation of storage facilities in Pakistan. The decision was made that an agreement will be signed between Azerbaijan and Pakistan on cooperating in the energy sector once all required national legal procedures are carried out. The two parties agreed on facilitating negotiations and subsequently signing a memorandum of understanding between Azerbaijans state-owned oil and gas company SOCAR and Pakistans state oil company PSO on trading crude oil, refined oil products, LNG and LPG, as well as, joint development of new facilities for their import. In accordance with the interstate agreement, SOCAR will be represented by SOCAR Trading S.A., a trading house which is totally owned affiliate of the company. During the meeting, Baku and Islamabad also agreed on exploring the possibilities of supplying electricity from Azerbaijan to Pakistan. What's more, detailed meetings were held between the experts of the two sides on a number of issues, especially focusing on trade and commerce, energy, agriculture, education, science and technologies and other matters of mutual interest. Both sides further settled to establish and enhance cooperation on defense industry as well. According to the statistics provided by the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Pakistan amounted to $1.8 million during the first quarter of 2016. Overall, Pakistan has been one the closest allies and strategic partners of Azerbaijan in the Asian continent in various fields such as political, economic and military spheres for a long time. Baku is interested to further develop cooperation and join effort with Islamabad in many spheres. Two countries intend to join efforts to gain access to modern technologies, as well as, modernize their potential. Moreover, trade and cooperation has steadily grown between the two nations with several summits being held in these sectors until now. Pakistan supported Azerbaijan during and after the war over Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. Relations between these two states dates back to 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed and Azerbaijan gained its independence. Pakistan was among the first countries that recognized Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 17:44 (UTC+04:00) The president of the centre-right European Peoples' Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber has sent a letter to Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete and to German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy Sigmar Gabriel, expressing concern about the role of the Commission in bringing to life the Southern Gas Corridor, EurActiv reported. "It is unclear to what extent the European Commission is working together with European energy companies towards the realisation of the Southern Gas Corridor [...]. It is important to ensure that the project doesn't share the same fate as its predecessor Nabucco," Weber writes. Today the Southern Gas Corridor is among the European Commission's priority energy projects, which aims at the diversification of the EU gas supply sources and routes. The project envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe through Georgia and Turkey. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 10:27 (UTC+04:00) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman of Saudi Arabia and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held official talks in Riyadh on May 1, the Turkmen government said in a message May 2. The talks took place within the framework of the Turkmen president's visit to Saudi Arabia May 1-3, according to the message. They also attended the signing of nine agreements and memorandums of cooperation between the two countries. King Salman welcomed the Turkmen leader and said that the president's visit comes as a sign of enhancing relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly commerce and investment; tourism; oil, gas and energy; agriculture and livestock, and combating terrorism and extremism. Salman expressed confidence that cooperation between the Kingdom and Turkmenistan would enhance in all fields, forging a durable partnership to best serve the interests of the two peoples. For his part, the Turkmen president thanked the Saudi monarch for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and the delegation accompanying him. He confirmed the firmness of bilateral relations between the two countries characterized by fruitful cooperation in all fields, including commerce and economy. The two sides discussed various aspects of cooperation and reviewed the latest developments in regional and international arenas. The two leaders later witnessed the signing of nine agreements, memorandums of understanding and cooperation programs between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. An agreement on cooperation in the security field, a memorandum of understanding in the field of sports, an agreement on avoiding dual taxation, a memorandum on financing of projects in Turkmenistan between the government of Turkmenistan and the Saudi Development Fund (SDF) were signed. A memorandum in the field of commerce and industry, a memorandum on political consultations, a memorandum of cooperation in scientific and educational fields, an agreement on air services, as well as cooperation program between Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Relations Institute under Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry were signed as well. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 09:58 (UTC+04:00) One gendarme was killed and 26 others were wounded in bomb attack in Turkey's Diyarbakir province, Anadolu agency reported. 00:21 (GMT+4) Ten gendarmes were wounded in bomb attack in Turkey's Diyarbakir province, Milliyet newspaper reported. Ambulances rushed to the scene, about 65 km north of Diyarbakir, the region's biggest city. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00) Iran and Korea will sign 44 memoranda of understandings (MoU), Iran's Foreign Ministry's spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said at a press conference in Tehran, Trend's correspondent reported. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has arrived in Tehran on May 2. Ansari said that South Korean president will visit Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well. Park Geun-hye is the first South Korean president who visits Iran. The South Korean president is heading a large business delegation of over 230 executives during the three-day visit. The two countries are expected to sign contracts worth $13 to $17 billion for cooperation in various fields including the construction of hospitals, dams, railways and power plants as well as petrochemical, crude oil, infrastructure and industrial projects. Iran-South Korea trade turnover stood at $6.1 billion in 2015. The figure was $17.4 in 2011, Before Western countries imposed sanctions against Iran. South Korea is among the largest importers of Iranian oil. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 2 May 2016 14:30 (UTC+04:00) By Fatma Babayeva Turkmenistan has invited Saudi Arabia and Qatar to join the construction of the transnational gas pipeline running via Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India gas recently. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited companies and financial institutions of Saudi Arabia to take part in the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline, Turkmenistans government announced on May 2. The Turkmen leader came out with this initiative at a meeting with Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. Berdimuhamedov is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia from May 1 to 3. TAPI project is intended to be a bridge of friendship between the countries of the region, said Berdimuhamedov during the meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir. This energy route will bring heat to the homes of the population of the neighboring fraternal countries, provide wide range of opportunities for further development of their economies, enhance the welfare of the population and create new jobs, Berdimuhamedov added. Earlier, the Turkmen president also invited representatives of the business circles of Qatar to participate in the construction of TAPI pipeline during the meeting with Head of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani in Ashgabat on April 28. The main document for the construction of this pipeline, so called Ashgabat Interstate Agreement was signed in 2010 that was the practical commencement of the project. However, the launching ceremony on the construction of the Turkmen section of the TAPI pipeline which has the capacity up to 33 billion cubic meters of gas was held in the mid-December of last year. The total length of the pipeline can reach 1,814 kilometers including 214 kilometers running through Turkmenistan, 774 kilometers through Afghanistan and 826 kilometers through Pakistan to Fazilka village on the border with India. Shareholders of this project which include the state concern Turkmengaz, Afghan gas Enterprise, private Inter State Gas Systems, Pakistani Limited and Indian Gail Limited achieved their first investment agreement worth $200 million on April 7. These funds will be spent on financing the detailed engineering studies of the route, as well as studies on the ecological and social impacts on the environment. In addition, the study will determine the total investment required for the construction of the transnational gas pipeline. Overall, the construction is estimated to take up to 3 years to complete. The implementation of the TAPI pipeline will not only contribute to Turkmenistans economic growth and diversify its gas export markets, but also enhance energy security in the region. Its construction will help to improve energy security in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. TAPI will strengthen Turkmenistan's role as a gas supplies to the southeastern Asia. TAPI is also seen as an opportunity to pave the way for restoring political and social stability and peace in Afghanistan. It could contribute to the rehabilitation of the war-torn country. --- Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A 29-year-old man charged Tuesday with two counts of murder in the killing of his mother and stepfather in northwest Bakersfield was ordered h Advertiser Disclosure We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. The Coast Guard is searching for two missing boaters on the Manatee River near Palmetto. According to Coast Guard officials from St. Petersburg, two men were boating on the river and were reported missing around midnight, shortly after when they were expected to return. Authorities have not released the identity of the men, only saying one is from St. Petersburg and one is from Bradenton. The Coast Guard is searching on the water and by helicopter around the Green Bridge area. This is a developing story and more information will be provided as it becomes available. Family and friends are mourning the loss of an Alonso High School senior who was killed in a motorcycle accident this weekend in Tampa. Troopers say Kenneth Gordils, 19, was traveling on Hillsborough Avenue when a car pulled out in front of him. Gordils was thrown from his 2004 Yamaha motorcycle and died on scene. Kenneth Gordils was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday Gordils joined the arm when he was 17, was set to be deployed Friends, family describe him as a jokester who worked hard Gordils joined the Army when he was 17, and was set to be deployed sometime this year, according to his family. He was so excited," his sister Joanne Gordils said. "He could not actually wait to get deployed." His family says Gordils wanted to be a career military man, but he also had plans to go to Florida International University to get his bachelors degree. Gordils friends and family say he was a jokester who always had a smile on his face, but work is something he took seriously. He held two jobs. He worked at a local gym and a local jewelry store, while juggling JROTC at Alonso High School. On Monday, his fellow students put a candle and flowers on Gordils desk and wore red and black to pay their respects. A large crowd also gathered Sunday night for a vigil, where friends and family spoke about the loss. Flowers and candles still cover the corner. Just behind the crash site, a deputy posted a large electronic sign that read, Look for motorcycles. Gordils' friends say its a simple act that could have saved their loved one's life. Gordils was set to sell his bike to get ready for his deployment. Florida Highway Patrol says charged against the driver are pending. The Hillsborough County Education Foundation and Hillsborough Community College are helping students with essential skills that will hopefully lead to summer jobs and long-term employment. Program aimed at young people looking for first jobs Go2Work Tampa Bay teaches students how to write resumes, practice for interviews Helping students with summer jobs During the program, thats part of the newly launched "Go2Work Tampa Bay," students learned how to write resumes, practiced for interviews and searched for jobs. The program is sponsored by several local businesses and twenty five companies and non-profits have signed on to hire students for five weeks this summer. School officials said students summer jobs could lead to internships and long term employment. "If students are prepared for the workforce then they're going to be more successful than some of the other candidates who haven't done this interview preparation," Chris Jargo with Hillsborough County Public Schools said. "The skills they learn in their summer employment could be vital in obtaining their long term career," Jargo said. There will be another program for student on May 3. For more information go to: Go2Work Tampa Bay This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Ten months after the Beaumont Police Department launched an investigation into a man pretending to be a cop, investigators are still unsure why he did it. Michael Gelagotis , 43, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for impersonating a public servant and unlawful possession of body armor by a felon. Gelagotis, already on probation for impersonation when he was arrested last September, received the 10-year sentence on a previous charge from 2008 and 5 years on new allegations of impersonation and illegal body armor possession. His sentences will run concurrently, meaning Gelagotis will do no more than 10 years in prison. The punishment comes after what prosecutors referred to as an elaborate effort by Gelagotis to dupe others, even some of his own family members, into believing he was a cop. Beaumont police Sgt. Mike Custer, lead investigator in the case, said authorities could never establish a motive. They have asked themselves over and over, he said. "I can't answer that," Custer said. "I have never seen a case in which somebody went to the extremes that he went to. He was spending money to perpetuate this." Gelagotis had help, according to an indictment accusing a former Beaumont PD sergeant of tampering with a governmental record by using false information printed on a BPD letterhead to defraud a national arms dealer. Jefferson County jail Keith Breiner, who was a BPD sergeant before his Nov. 4 criminal indictment, is accused of helping Gelagotis secure a one-year free trial of a rifle under the pretense it would be tested by BPD in 2013. One month after police claim Breiner and Gelagotis sent the fraudulent letter, the pair appeared together publicly at a Houston Rockets game, a video posted online shows. Liberty County Precinct 6 Constable John Joslin is facing perjury charges in connection with the scandal. Investigators say Gelagotis worked for Joslin, even though he was a felon and was never a commissioned officer. Charges against Breiner and Joslin are pending. Complaints in the South End Neighbors complained of Gelagotis activating police sirens on a marked black Tahoe from Liberty County to pull over drivers. They also accused him of speeding in Beaumont's South End. Custer said investigators saw this firsthand while conducting surveillance on Gelagotis's home near Cardinal Drive. Jefferson Co. Sheriff's Office Gelagotis used fake credentials to order law enforcement equipment and body armor recovered from his home that could only be legally obtained by real police, said Assistant District Attorney Ashley Molfino. Gelagotis represented himself as an installer of police equipment, which is something he did in his garage, according to Custer. District Judge John Stevens, who sentenced Gelagotis as part of an agreement between prosecutors and defense attorney Don Duesler, said there had been some discussion of Gelagotis "changing for the better." Molfino declined to comment on what specifically has changed about Gelagotis in the seven-plus months he's spent at the Jefferson County jail. "You're going to have to walk the walk that you're talking and you'll get to prove yourself," Stevens told Gelagotis at Monday's sentencing hearing. Gelagotis was convicted for similar conduct in 2001, when he pleaded no contest in Stow, Ohio, to allegations that he used fake badges to acquire police-specific gear and detain juveniles. Audacious and dangerous From a young age, many people are taught to trust police officers. As Molfino noted after the hearing, Gelagotis perpetuated a fraud and tried to exploit that trust in the process. Those who crossed paths with Gelagotis may have relied on the authority he did not have, she said. Officers also have to be trained to drive with the emergency lights, which presents some dangers because of the high speeds. "You have to take into consideration the safety of everybody else on the road, and I think he was just completely disregarding things like that," Molfino said. "He was running on his own free will up and down the highway, obviously carrying weapons in places where you and I wouldn't be allowed to carry a weapon." Custer said that Gelagotis faked being a cop in multiple counties over the years, including Jefferson, Liberty, Chambers and Harris. "If you watch that (online) video, he cannot keep himself from exposing that gun and purporting himself in front of that crowd to be a law enforcement officer," Custer said. "He couldn't help himself." BScott@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/BrandonKScott EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Twenty years after then-Texas Attorney General Dan Morales filed a federal lawsuit accusing the tobacco industry of racketeering and fraud, the Beaumont attorney who led the state's case is unapologetic about the results. The state's treasury raked in billions of dollars from the litigation, though only a small fraction of the money has gone to anti-smoking programs or health care costs. Although teen smoking has dropped significantly, cigarettes are just as addictive and dangerous. Tobacco companies took a hit, then rebounded to become more profitable than ever. And the lawyers representing Morales saw big paydays. Two decades later, there is no consensus among legal experts on whether the Texas litigation was a success. Walter Umphrey, a prominent Beaumont attorney whom Morales appointed to lead the team of private trial specialists tapped by the state, says success was always measured in dollars. "I don't know of any negatives," he said. The Texas settlement forced the tobacco companies to pay more than $17 billion. Umphrey and the other four lawyers had a contract with Morales that required they pay all the state's costs in the lawsuit and, in exchange for risking losing, receive 15 percent of what they won for the state. That's why Umphrey gathered attorneys with enough cash to roll the dice - Wayne Reaud, of Beaumont; John Eddie Williams, of Houston; Harold Nix, of Daingerfield; and John O'Quinn, of Houston. An arbitration panel awarded the lawyers $3.3 billion, of which the tobacco companies have paid nearly $2 billion, in annual installments of $120 million. A small percentage of what the state received has gone to smoking-related Medicaid costs and anti-smoking programs, as Morales had contended it would. Texas budgeted $10.2 million, or 2 percent of the $490 million payment meant for anti-smoking efforts in 2016. Meanwhile, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says that the tobacco companies will spend an estimated $630 million on marketing their products in Texas. The public health group says the annual health care costs for treating sick smokers in Texas will be $8.8 billion this year. State records show that $110 million of the settlement funds go annually into a special endowment to fund health care for children and cancer research. The endowment currently has a balance of more than $2 billion. Former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore called it the most important health-related litigation in history. Umphrey, who is glad the case never went to trial, said the tobacco companies had a legitimate defense - that smoking cigarettes carries known risk. "We didn't give a damn about the tobacco industry," Umphrey says. "As far as we were concerned, we could put them out of business. We knew that wasn't going to happen, but we had no sympathy for them whatsoever. "We were interested in the money. And we felt like if we got the adequate money, (the rest) would follow." Texas was the sixth state to sue the tobacco industry for smoking-related health care costs. Mississippi filed first in 1994, followed by Minnesota, Florida, West Virginia and Louisiana. Since the tobacco companies had been sued more than 400 times without ever settling or losing a case, the odds were stacked against Texas when it sued the industry on March 29, 1996. The Texas attorneys thought they might have a favorable judge in Texarkana, David Folsom, who had been appointed by President Bill Clinton a year earlier. Richard Mithoff, a Houston trial lawyer who represented Harris County in calling for the industry to pay counties for smoking-related health care, says that the tobacco companies were looking for peace and it was a good time for a settlement. Court records show tobacco companies have paid Texas $10.2 billion so far, with yearly payments of around $490 million. BScott@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/BrandonKScott This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As the costs and government requirements of rebuilding from the March flooding come into focus 42 days after Deweyville reopened, some in the town are considering abandoning recovery efforts. Local leaders are trying to help them move on with buyouts. Newton County Judge Truman Dougharty previously said officials will apply for another round of federal funding to help buy properties that flooded, the same program that has since 2006 turned dozens of homes into empty lots. Greg Wobbe, Newton County's floodplain manager, said about $9 million has been spent on more than 150 buyouts since 2006. Another $1.5 million in post-Hurricane Ike funds has been approved by Federal Emergency Management Agency and is ready for homeowners, and millions more could be secured through another round of funding. "In my opinion, (a buyout) is the only mechanism that can recover flood losses for an uninsured property," Wobbe said. "Second of all, assuming that property owner reinvests in the county, it's the only mechanism for that reinvestment to occur." Wobbe estimated the county is eligible for $10 million in FEMA mitigation funds following the March flooding, which could be used to elevate homes, build new homes less vulnerable to flooding and buy out properties. Residents have mixed feelings about buyouts. Some say the latest flood - the worst in recorded history - have them looking for a way to sell property whose value has been diluted by the Sabine River, while others view the buyouts as an existential threat. "They're trying to make Deweyville a ghost town," said 64-year-old Robbie Campbell, who plans to level his house of 32 years and replace it with a mobile home. Campbell, who can't afford the cost of repairing his home and lifting it to a required elevation, would seem to be a prime candidate for a buyout, but he doesn't want one. On the other end of the Kirkendahl subdivision, the Van Winkles, whose home took on water but doesn't require elevation, want a buyout though they could afford to stay. "I'm not going through this again," JaDene Van Winkle said. The buyout program, which gives residents looking to move from a flood-prone area a potential buyer, aims to reduce the federal government's flood insurance liability and, in this case, removes homes south of the Toledo Bend dam operated by the Sabine River Authority. The program's cost is shared 75 percent by the federal government and 25 percent by the local sponsor, which in Newton County has traditionally been the SRA. The Texas Department of Emergency Management helps administer the funds. About 240 lawsuits were filed against the SRA late last month by residents who claim they're due compensation for property damages. After a property is sold through the program, it is razed of structures, left vacant and wiped from the county's tax roll. It cannot be built upon again. Homes are eligible for the program if they meet one of three conditions, according to a state fact sheet. One is to sustain damage amounting to 51 percent or more of a home's value during a federal disaster. A second is to be located in what the federal government considers a floodplain. Homes also qualify if they've cumulatively taken on at least 7 feet of floodwater over a period of 10 years. Previous rounds of buyouts lessened the impact of the flooding, according to an email circulated among SRA administrators as floodwaters flowed toward Deweyville in early March. Wobbe, the floodplain administrator, on March 12 estimated the flood would impact 150-200 structures in Deweyville. He expected "many houses destroyed" in the town's riverside neighborhoods and roughly 300 structures with substantial damage in Texas and Louisiana, according to the email. "It would be worse were it not for the floodprone property acquisition project (Newton County), whereas they've bought out approximately 150 properties to date," said Wobbe's email, obtained through a public records request. The estimate proved low. About 500 homes in Newton and Orange counties sustained at least $17,000 in damage each, according to latest estimates. Reducing flood risk downstream has long been a priority of officials from local, state and federal authorities. Efforts in 2002 to broker a compromise between residents who live on the Toledo Bend Reservoir and downstream homeowners over how high to keep the lake's level fizzled. But the process, overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, yielded focus on how to lessen the chances of downstream flooding, according to a 2002 FERC letter summarizing the efforts. "The SRA will continue to encourage local county and parish governments to ensure compliance with flood hazard zones in their jurisdictions and to consider the use of property development restrictions and buyouts as needed," FERC noted as one of six positive outcomes from the re-evaluation. In 2012, Newton County amended its flood prevention order to give the county's floodplain manager authority to enforce development guidelines for properties in floodplains. Through those regulations, homeowners who sustained flood damage of at least 50 percent of their homes' value must pay to have their property surveyed and, if necessary, their houses elevated. Those costs, on top of repairs, are seen as too much of a burden on homeowners who did not carry flood insurance and are not eligible for the low-interest U.S. Small Business Administration loans, as is the case for Campbell. FEMA offers grants to pay for home elevations, but homeowners must pay one-fourth of that cost. The agency's disaster aid grants are capped at $33,000 and few residents qualify for the maximum. That's not to say everyone is without help. The SBA, through last Tuesday, had approved 121 loans totaling $8.6 million for Newton County residents, administration spokesman Susheel Kumar said. Through FEMA, the federal government has approved at least $18.4 million in taxpayer-backed grant aid for residents affected by the March flooding. Newton County officials are urging Deweyville residents to relocate elsewhere in the county if they accept buyouts or move on their own accord, said Deweyville resident Holly Hardin, who has attended several meetings on the topic. The town's 2010 population represented about 7 percent of the county's 14,400 residents, according to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data. Deweyville ISD Superintendent Kevin Clark said buyouts would likely affect the school district. State funding of school districts is based on a per-pupil amount. The district also relies heavily on revenue from residential property taxes in a town that lacks the industrial base of Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange or Sabine Pass. As of Friday, administrators counted 613 enrolled students, up from 607 when school returned following a four-week hiatus April 11 but down from 630 before the March flooding. The district sends a school bus daily to Orange to shuttle 14 displaced students, Clark said. EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news SOUTHEAST TEXAS TALES They missed their mothers. So on Mother's Day in 1941, the Orange USO Club invited 250 soldiers from Camp Polk, Louisiana, and shipyard workers living in Orange barracks to Sunday dinner cooked by surrogate moms. A hospitality committee reached out to Orange citizens through newspaper ads and asked them to "Invite a Soldier For Sunday Dinner. Dial Mrs. Wynne Pierce 2536, Mrs. E.T. Drake 2856, Mrs. Harry Hird 4168." A story accompanying one of the ads appealed to the public's conscience: "They are all far from home. The next Mother's Day may find them still farther, defending the homes and mothers of all civilization." An entire weekend of events was planned and coordinated for weeks in advance. The highlights included a dance with three identical door prizes - a free long-distance phone call home. Everyone was invited to the USO club on Sunday to welcome the soldiers, who were to be entertained by the Camp Polk Chorus and Band. A record crowd was expected. At the last minute, 50 soldiers were unable to leave Camp Polk. The community response had been so great that the USO club had to apologize to the families for whom they could not supply dinner guests. The soldiers arrived Saturday afternoon and helped themselves to a buffet sponsored by the Red Cross Canteen Corps. Later, the men worked off their meal at a dance with music performed by George Peglar and His Orchestra. USO Club hostesses wisely invited a number of junior hostesses to attend the event as dancing partners. Some of them, it was reported, might have been on the lookout for future husbands. The USO Club opened Sunday morning to give the soldiers a chance to relax and enjoy themselves before Sunday dinner. That afternoon, more than 1,000 people turned out for open house festivities. The event was officially called "Mother's Day Program, Honoring Soldiers and Boys from Consolidated Steel Corporation Barracks." Three men got to call home: Norman Rovey talked to his wife in Peoria, Illinois; Don Ventura talked to his mother in Cleveland; and Hershel Guinn talked to his mother in Amarillo. Each soldier and man from the barracks received a red and white rose from a member of the Flower Committee. For years, even before Mother's Day was officially designated by Congress in 1914, moms were given flowers, especially corsages, in their honor. The flowers that day in 1941 represented the mothers' presence and "the tender manifestation of motherly love." Southeast Texas Tales is a weekly feature that revisits regional history. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Brena Firkins thinks of former-Subway pitchman Jared Fogle serving time behind bars in a child-sex case, she feels sorry for him. That's why they've been writing to each other, she says. RELATED: Ex-Subway pitchman Jared Fogle attacked in prison, according to reports The Indiana woman told Fox59 that she and Fogle had a very personal relationship years ago so she reached out to him after he pleaded guilty in November to one count each of distributing and receiving child porn and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a child. She shared the one-page letter she says she received back this week. "I kind of felt bad for him, and I wrote him to see how he was doing," Firkins said in the Fox59 interview. "And he wrote me back and sent this letter that was kind of horrifying." RELATED: Jared Fogle reportedly gains 30 pounds in prison The letter asks Firkins to send photos writing, "Are you dating anyone? I need you in my life big time. I've thought a lot about you over the years but had no way to contact you." Firkins said she and Fogle met about eight years ago on a dating site and claims they had a sexual relationship for about a month. Fogle's lawyer did not comment on the letter. Fogle is serving a 15 year sentence in Colorado. Fogle admitted that he paid for sex at New York City hotels with girls who were 16 or 17 years old and that he had received some child pornography produced by the one-time head of his anti-obesity charity, Russell Taylor. Fogle also paid a total of $1.4 million to his 14 victims, with each getting $100,000. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an effort last week to strike down the voter ID law in Texas, although curiously it said it might revisit the issue before the November elections. That doesn't make much sense, as county officials need to know the ground rules for the fall elections as soon as possible. Either way, the Legislature could make an easy fix in the next session that would defuse some of the suspicion that the law is intended to reduce votes from Democrats. It could add college photo IDs to the list of acceptable form of identification for voting - at least from public institutions like Lamar, UT or A&M that are technically part of state government. Here are nine new ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient surgery centers that were opened or announced in April 2016. The Orthopaedic Institute for Children in Los Angeles cut the ribbon for its new ambulatory surgery center with two operating rooms and six pre- and postsurgical suites. University of Florida Health in Gainesville opened an $11 million pediatric outpatient surgical center. A group of surgeons in Georgia opened Albany Surgical, an outpatient surgery center. San Jose, Calif.-based Tri-County Vascular Center opened a 5,800-square-foot ASC. Stamford (Conn.) ASC, affiliated with the surgeons from Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists, opened and is now treating orthopedic, neurosurgery and interventional pain patients. Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network dedicated a new pediatric ambulatory surgery center, the J.B. and Kathleen Reilly Children's Surgery Center. The University of Michigan Health System detailed plans to construct an ASC that would house a small area for patients requiring a 23-hour stay. Roscoe, Ill.-based Northpointe Health and Wellness is building a multi-million dollar expansion including a new ambulatory surgery and treatment center. The state of New York gave John R. Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo approval for an ASC, and construction on the $18.1 million facility is underway. Miami Beach-based Crescent Heights received a $34 million loan to build its Baptist Health South Florida outpatient center in Miami, according to South Florida Business Journal. Here are five takeaways: 1. PNC Bank provided the loan to Alton Road Development, a Crescent Heights' affiliate. 2. Crescent Heights' outpatient facility will be 122,000 square feet. 3. Baptist Health leased 36,900 square feet for ambulatory surgery, medical offices, physical therapy, diagnostics and urgent care. 4. Additionally, Baptist Health will offer free wellness classes at the facility's community center. 5. Prior to the center's approval in July, Mount Sinai Medical Center outwardly opposed the project's development. Mount Sinai Medical Center is Miami Beach's sole hospital. More articles on surgery centers: How the evolving ASC industry changes the joint venture game Orthopaedic Institute for Children holds ribbon-cutting for new pediatric orthopedic ASC: 4 highlights Tenet short interest falls 10.4% 5 points Houston-based Harris Health System will undertake a $70 million expansion project to ensure the trauma unit at Houston-based Ben Taub General Hospital retains its Level I certification, reports Houston Public Media. Below are four things to know about the proposal. 1. In January 2015, the American College of Surgeon's trauma committee warned Ben Taub surgical deficiencies at its facilities could result in the downgrading of its Level I trauma center. ASC asked the hospital to coordinate a plan to its improve operating room capacity and surgical staffing. The expansion is part of Ben Taub's commitment to retain its Level I trauma certification. 2. Along with Memorial Hermann, Ben Taub is one of two hospitals with a Level I trauma unit in Houston. It is critical Ben Taub retain its Level I designation so it can continue providing complicated emergency services to patients in the area. According to Houston Public Media, the Houston region should have at least six Level I trauma centers to support the size of its population. 3. Ben Taub currently has 11 operating rooms. The $70 million proposal will add seven new operating rooms with updated layouts and equipment, giving Ben Taub a total of 18 ORs. 4. Construction is slated to begin early next year. More articles on facility management: Development company to build apartments on former UnitedHealth site Mercy Northwest Arkansas $247M expansion will add 1k new jobs Cleveland Clinic 276-room Holiday Inn to open May 8 New Mexico is the latest state to look at a provider fee to support Medicaid services, The Santa Fe New Mexican reports. The state currently faces an expected shortfall of about $85 million to fully fund its Medicaid program in the next fiscal year, due to a surge in Medicaid recipients in the state, according to the report. This surge, a direct result of the Affordable Care Act, along with the expected revenue decline, has prompted state lawmakers to propose various cuts in Medicaid reimbursements to physicians, hospitals and community providers. To address the issue, hospital executives have proposed imposing a provider fee on clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and diagnostic services such as radiology that would put additional funds into direct care instead of cutting dollars, according to the report. They contend the fee is an investment that will allow the state to leverage more federal funds, the report notes. New Mexico is not alone. The vast majority of states now impose a range of fees that scoop up added federal dollars to support the growing Medicaid population, according to the report. Overall, 41 states impose nursing facility taxes, while 39 states have a hospital fee, according to the report, which cites information from Myers and Stauffer, a firm that provides professional accounting, consulting, data management and analysis services. In New Mexico, it is unclear if a provider fee could be imposed without a vote of state lawmakers, according to the report New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) has been reluctant to move ahead with such a measure without broad-based support from Republicans. Some state lawmakers said there have been discussions and Republicans who control the House of Representatives would consider such a fee if the New Mexico Human Services Department moved to cut spending as well, according to the report. More articles on finance and revenue cycle management: How to keep medical bills error free: 3 providers weigh in Poll reveals widening gap between favorable and unfavorable views of the ACA Good Shepherd Rehabilitation selects Cerner to implement EHR, RCM solutions Math errors at 19-bed Nantucket (Mass.) Cottage Hospital, owned by Boston-based Partners HealthCare, may cause hospitals across the state to see steep declines in their Medicare payments, according to the Boston Globe. Under hospital payment rules, Medicare is required to reimburse employee wages at urban hospitals at the baseline set at rural hospitals in the state. Nantucket Cottage Hospital typically sets the floor for wages at hospitals across Massachusetts because it is the only rural hospital in the state. However, that isn't the case this year. Consultants hired by Partners made several errors in the data Nantucket Cottage Hospital submitted to Medicare. They reduced the hourly rate by overestimating hours and failed to include enough overtime pay and high-paid physician hours. The mistakes could result in a "steep and extraordinarily serious" decline in Medicare payments to Massachusetts hospitals in the fiscal year that begins in October, according to an email from the Massachusetts Hospital Association obtained by the Globe. Hospitals would lose a total of about $160 million next year due to the math errors and separate findings made by Medicare auditors about Partners' Nantucket submission, according to the report. Partners' reimbursement would drop by $18 million, while Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Medical Center and Burlington, Mass.-based Lahey Health System would lose more than $25 million and $20 million, respectively. That payment reduction could force up to 2,100 layoffs combined at hospitals across the state, according to analysis from the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals. The vast majority of those job cuts 1,800 would likely occur in community hospitals. Partners submitted the incorrect data to Medicare in September. System spokesman Rich Copp told the Globe that the Partners identified the errors in mid- to late March and sent corrected numbers April 5, almost two months after the deadline for submitting corrections. Hospitals have enlisted Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) and other congressional delegates to help in their appeal to avoid the payment reduction. Rep. Capuano told the Globe that Medicare has allowed other states to amend data after the correction deadline, and he believes it should give Massachusetts the same opportunity. More articles on healthcare finance: Baystate Health asks for $10M to save 200 jobs Financial updates from 5 health systems Hawaii hospital could close within months without additional funding As Joel Allison prepares to end an era of his healthcare career, he remains committed to his job and grateful for the support he's received. Mr. Allison plans to transition from his current role as president and CEO of Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health to senior advisor to the chairman of the Baylor Scott & White Holdings Board of Trustees, effective Feb. 1, 2017. Mr. Allison joined Dallas-based Baylor Health Care System as senior executive vice president and COO in 1993 and was promoted to president and CEO in 2000. He became CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health following the 2013 merger of Baylor Health Care System and Temple, Texas-based Scott & White Healthcare. In his new role, he will advise the board chairman in the areas of advocacy, philanthropy and medical education. During the Becker's Hospital Review 7th Annual Meeting this week in Chicago, Mr. Allison spoke with Becker's about this new role and the transition process. Note: The following responses were lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: What challenges do you expect during the transition process? Joel Allison: The challenge might be making sure I remain focused on continuing what I do as president and CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health. The transition doesn't take place until Feb. 1, 2017, so I want to very much stay focused on continuing to implement our strategies and work with our board and our team to continue moving forward. Q: Have you encountered any challenges so far? JA: Not really. Everyone has been so gracious and supportive. The transition I believe will almost be seamless because of the mission and vision of Baylor Scott & White Health, a great board, a wonderful executive team that I work with and then tremendous men and women throughout [the system]. What they focus on is coming every day with a sense of purpose and mission to care for patients. What I want to continue to emphasize is what we're really about is taking care of patients, no matter how big we get, no matter what other distractions might be out there. Our focus is still going to be taking care of patients. That's why I believe this will be a very seamless, smooth transition. Q: What are you doing to ensure the transition process goes smoothly? JA: I want to continue to ensure the team that this is going to move forward with a great deal of commitment to what our mission is, to our strategy. I intend over the coming months to get out to our different facilities across the system and just say "thank you" to the people for the tremendous service and continue to focus on the fact that we're here to take care of everyone. And we do it with the highest level of safe, quality, compassionate care, and that's where we are focused. It's always about the patient, so I'll have the pleasure of going around, seeing the people who make it happen each day. Q: What will you do with your free time? JA: As I've talked to some folks, and as you begin to prepare for that transition, the advice No. 1 is, do what you want to do. This is your opportunity and be sure you set priorities. I'll be visiting with my wife and talking about the real priorities. Part of my decision to transition had to do with [gaining] a little bit more free time to focus on the family. Weve got six grandchildren that I truly want to spend time with, love and are growing. We have some free time, so how do we want to spend it? It's a little bit of an adventure. Q: What is your hope for the system moving forward? JA: I hope it never loses its focus on its mission of delivering the highest level of safe, quality, compassionate care to all patients as a Christian ministry of healing. What I have been doing has been my calling, it's been a passion, and I think the system is going to do very well as long as it continues to focus on that mission and what we call our four non-negotiables. We have a screen of questions we ask: Does this put the patient first? Secondly, is it true to our mission? Does it allow us to live our values? And then finally, is it the right thing for the right reason? If you take those four questions and say yes to each one, then I think you make good decisions. More articles on leadership and management: CMS releases Theranos letter, inspection report with more information This CEO has one key to success When a CEO buys shares, you should too Two advisory panels from the Food and Drug Administration will meet Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the agency's strategy to reduce adverse outcomes of opioid use, including review of its current policy that awards continuing education credits for prescriber training. The review comes roughly four years after the FDA implemented its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for extended-release and long-acting opioids. This strategy required drugmakers to make training available at little or not cost to physicians who prescribe extended-release and long-acting opioids. Physicians were offered continuing education credits to incentivize completion of the voluntary training. However, just 37,512 providers, or 47 percent, of the targeted 80,000 providers had completed the training as of March 2015, according to guidance briefing documents published by the FDA. The agency found just over half, or 53 percent, of providers who started the opioid training had completed it, and of those who completed the program only 38 percent actually prescribe the medications. The FDA determined several challenges hinder its training program, including a lack of awareness of the offerings, a program that is not tailored to adult learners with full-time jobs and other competing continuing education activities that dilute its targeted audience. The FDA said it has long supported linking DEA registration to mandatory prescriber education on opioid use. However, it is aware of burden this would add to patients, prescribers, pharmacies and distributors. At its meeting this week, the advisory panels will discuss if its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy should be broadened to include immediate release opioids, and whether training should be required for opioid prescribers, along with other modifications. More articles on integration and physician issues: Bring your physicians to the table Devising a shared vision to facilitate physician engagement Lifespan partners with newly formed 170-physician group UCF medical school seeking applicants for new emergency medicine residency program The following hospital mergers, acquisitions and general transactions took place or were announced in April. 1. Mass General to acquire Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital will acquire Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H. 2. Methodist Health System buying bankrupt Texas hospital: 5 things to know Methodist Health System in Dallas reached a deal to buy the bankrupt Forest Park Medical Center in Southlake, Texas, for $17.6 million. 3. Kaiser inks lease agreement with Hawaii Health Systems Corp. Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is one step closer to taking over three hospitals from Hawaii Health Systems Corp., a state-funded hospital network based in Honolulu. 4. Texas Health Resources makes $112M bid for bankrupt hospital Dallas-based Forest Park Medical Center secured a $112 million purchase offer for its campus in Forth Worth from Arlington-based Texas Health Resources. 5. Schuylkill Health System, Lehigh Valley Health Network ink merger agreement: 6 things to know Pottsville, Pa.-based Schuylkill Health System and Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network signed a definitive agreement to merge. 6. Details emerge on proposed Athens Regional, Piedmont partnership: 4 quick facts New details were released about a proposed affiliation between Athens (Ga.) Regional Health system and Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare. 7. Adventist Health to acquire rural health clinics from closing Colusa hospital Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health agreed to acquire three rural clinics from now-shuttered Colusa (Calif.) Regional Medical Center. 8. Kaleida Health to affiliate with Eastern Niagara Health System Eastern Niagara Health System in Lockport, N.Y., and Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kaleida Health inked an affiliation agreement, which will allow the systems to work together on physician recruitment, clinical education, supply chain and IT enhancement. 9. Prime gets final approval to take over bankrupt NJ hospital After three years, Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services was given final approval to acquire Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, N.J. 10. Northwestern deal-making spree continues with Centegra partnership talks Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Crystal Lake, Ill.-based Centegra Health System signed a letter of intent to explore an affiliation. 11. Health insurer UCare to merge with Fairview Health Services Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and health insurer UCare signed a letter of intent to combine their operations. 12. Physicians Realty Trust discloses $725M deal with CHI: 6 things to know Physicians Realty Trust, a self-managed healthcare properties REIT, is looking to boost its portfolio with the addition of 52 medical office facilities owned by Englewood, Colo.-based based Catholic Health Initiatives. 13. Henry Ford expands Michigan footprint with addition of Allegiance Health Allegiance Health in Jackson, Mich., joined Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System and introduced its new name Henry Ford Allegiance Health. 14. UVM continues to consolidate, buys another physician practice Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network acquired Green Mountain Orthopedic Surgery in Berlin, Vt. 15. Glenwood Regional Medical Center partners with Ochsner Health System Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, La., and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System formed a long-term partnership. 16. North Valley Hospital, Kalispell Regional Healthcare affiliate North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, Mont., will become an affiliate under the Kalispell (Mont.) Regional Healthcare system. 17. CHS acquires majority stake in Arkansas hospital Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems acquired an 80 percent ownership interest in Physicians' Specialty Hospital in Fayetteville, Ark. 18. Alpena Regional joins MidMichigan Health Alpena (Mich.) Regional Medical Center joined Midland-based MidMichigan Health as the fifth hospital in the system. 19. Adventist Health expands Florida footprint Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., joined the East Florida Region of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System. 20. WellStar pays $575M for 5 Tenet hospitals Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare sold its five Atlanta-area hospitals and 26 physician clinics to Marietta, Ga.-based WellStar Health System for $575 million in cash. 21. HCA, Lahey advance bids for New Hampshire hospital Elliot Health System, a single-hospital system in Manchester, N.H., put out a request for acquisition proposals and Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America and Burlington, Mass.-based Lahey Health were chosen as bidding finalists. 22. Sanford Health purchases Sanford Tracy Medical Center Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health bought Sanford Tracy Medical Center from the city of Tracy, Minn. 23. Hackettstown Regional joins Atlantic Health: 5 things to know Morristown, N.J.-based Atlantic Health System completed its acquisition of Hackettstown (N.J.) Regional Medical Center. 24. Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District becomes affiliate of Scripps Health: 4 things to know Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District in Brawley, Calif., is became an affiliate of San Diego-based Scripps Health. From a physician charged with first-degree murder to a Chicago-area health system suing to keep its reimbursement rates secret, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines. 1. Illinois physician charged with first-degree murder, denied bail reduction Brian Burns, MD, who was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in March in connection with the slaying of his estranged wife, has been denied a bail reduction. 2. Former UConn pharmacist faces 173 charges for forging prescriptions Michael Olzinkski, 46, the former supervisor of UConn's Student Health Services, is facing 173 counts of forgery after an internal audit and police investigation revealed he was illegally ordering items through the pharmacy. 3. Debt collector files 1,067 lawsuits against SSM Health patients Las Vegas-based debt collector CP Medical filed more than 1,000 lawsuits against St. Louis-based SSM Health patients, claiming they still owe money for treatment received years prior at SSM Health emergency rooms. 4. Health First Foundation president quickly resigns after arrest in prostitution sting Terry Mohr, president of Health First Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First, was arrested on charges of soliciting prostitution. 5. Advocate Health Care sues to keep reimbursement rates secret Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care filed a lawsuit to block Palos Heights, Ill.-based Palos Community Hospital from gaining access to Advocate's trade secrets. 6. Va. judge rules against LifePoint Health hospital in balance billing dispute A judge ordered Martinsville (Va.) Memorial Hospital to accept 25 percent of its chargemaster rate as payment-in-full for care provided to a patient with coverage from a non-contracted insurer. More articles on health law: 14 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements Teen accused of posing as physician offered plea deal Los Angeles hospital will pay $450k to settle patient dumping allegations A federal appeals court has revived a class-action lawsuit alleging three Florida hospitals owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Holdings overcharged automobile accident victims for emergency radiological services, reports Bloomberg BNA. At a hearing April 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled a federal district court was wrong to deny the suit class-action certification last year. According to Bloomberg BNA, "class certification is appropriate when questions of law or fact common to the class members predominate over questions that affect only individuals." In its opinion, the appeals court said that it is possible to determine HCA's emergency rates to personal injury protection covered patients are unreasonable across the board despite differences in hospitals or patients. Below are three things to know about the lawsuit. 1. The case centers on two Florida patients who had PIP coverage, which provides up to $10,000 in medical coverage for injured motor vehicle drivers. Once an insurer pays the policy limit, the insured becomes responsible for any outstanding expenses. 2. According to the compliant, plaintiffs accused three Florida hospitals JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville and North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainsville of charging patients for emergency radiological services at rates nearly 65 times more than what Medicare pays. By doing so, plaintiffs alleged the hospitals violated a Florida statute requiring hospitals charge a "reasonable amount" for services to patients with PIP coverage. 3. One of the two plaintiffs, Marisela Herrera, was charged nearly $18,000 by JFK Medical Center for CT scans and X-rays after an accident in April 2013, according to Tampa Bay Times. Ms. Herrera is responsible for $8,000 after her insurance paid. The other plaintiff, Luz Sanchez, was billed $14,500 by the same hospital, and saddled with $4,500 in remaining medical bills. Brian Burns, MD, who was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in March in connection with the slaying of his estranged wife, has been denied a bail reduction. Dr. Burns, 57, of Harrisburg, Ill., was a family practice physician at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, Ill. Saline County Sherriff's deputies arrested Dr. Burns March 16 on a charge of first-degree murder. Prosecutors accuse Dr. Burns of shooting his estranged wife Carla Burns and concealing her death by burning her body and spreading her ashes, according to The Southern Illinoisan. The estranged couple began divorce proceedings in December 2014. According to court documents in the divorce case, Ms. Burns accused Dr. Burns of verbal abuse, which she feared would escalate into physical harm. Ms. Burns, 49, was a registered nurse. According to police information, she was last seen March 8 and was reported missing March 10. Dr. Burns is being held in the Saline County Jail on $1 million bond. On Thursday, a judge denied a request to reduce Dr. Burns' bail to $100,000 after hearing testimony from Illinois State Police Investigator Stacy Kinter, showing Dr. Burns could be a flight risk, according to according to a WSIL news report. During a post-arrest interview, Dr. Burns told Ms. Kinter that if he "killed his wife he had enough money to live in the Cayman Islandsand nobody would every find him," according to the report. The murder trial is slated to get underway July 6. More articles on healthcare industry lawsuits: Former UConn pharmacist faces 173 charges for forging prescriptions Ex-SUNY Upstate president could be prosecuted for padding his pay Advocate Health Care sues to keep reimbursement rates secret The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week sued Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Hospital for allegedly violating federal religious discrimination laws by firing employees who failed to receive flu vaccinations. The hospital requires a flu vaccination by December. Employees who wish to abstain from the vaccination due to religious beliefs must file a request by Sept. 1, according to the EEOC complaint. The lawsuit names three employees who were fired after missing the Sept. 1 deadline and at least one other who was suspended without pay prior to her termination, according to the EEOC. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Ashville, alleges Mission Hospital did not make a reasonable accommodation for the employees' sincerely held religious beliefs. "An arbitrary deadline does not protect an employer from its obligation to provide a religious accommodation. An employer must consider, at the time it receives a request for a religious accommodation, whether the request can be granted without undue burden," Lynette Barnes, regional attorney for EEOC's Charlotte District Office, said in a statement from the EEOC. However, Ronald Paulus, MD, president and CEO of Mission, told local news station WLOS the deadline is not arbitrary; it corresponds with the beginning of flu season. He said employees are given 90 days of reminders to file exemption paperwork, and those who are granted the exemption are moved to lower-risk areas of the hospital, according to the report. "We clearly accommodate religious belief, all we do is ask that they take two minutes to fill out the form and put it in," Dr. Paulus told WLOS. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Whistleblower sues hospital for wrongful termination 6 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements Illinois physician charged with first-degree murder, denied bail reduction Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's OMNIA line of discount health plans is no stranger to controversy. Horizon has touted the line as potentially transformative, designed to offer consumers significant savings if they agree to seek care from hospitals chosen for the network that agreed to lower reimbursement rates. However, the line, along with its payment model, has sparked multiple lawsuits, a dozen bills proposed by legislators and an expensive public relations war, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Most recently, a package of bills that would require stricter state regulation of plans like OMNIA was passed by a New Jersey Assembly committee in April, the publication notes. "I've worked in healthcare policy in New Jersey for roughly 20 years, and I can't recall another issue that has prompted so much passionate debate among providers," Betsy Ryan, president of the New Jersey Hospital Association, told The Wall Street Journal. Horizon's OMNIA line is based on a tiered model. Hospitals in the network have been assigned to either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 category. Patients may visit the facility of their choice, but pay less out-of-pocket costs at Tier 1 hospitals than at Tier 2 hospitals. Opponents of OMNIA argue the plan was designed to encourage customers to go to large hospital networks above independent facilities, according to the report. Linda Schwimmer, president of the nonprofit New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, told The Wall Street Journal that Horizon's decision to offer a tiered plan has caused uproar in part because of the company's market dominance. State statistics show Horizon has nearly 3.9 million members, more than half of New Jersey's commercial health insurance market. In 2015, Horizon negotiated price and quality benchmarks with Tier 1 hospitals, with the prospect of additional volume of patients going to their facilities, according to the report. However, both sides contend the same discussions weren't heald with Tier 2 hospitals. This is all done by Horizon on its own terms in a secret way, Steven Goldman, a lawyer representing the 17 Tier 2 hospitals and a former state banking commissioner, told The Wall Street Journal. Horizon executives disagree with that notion, and point to a list of publicly released metrics that were used to evaluate providers for OMNIA. However, Horizon has not disclosed an internal report that contains the scoring of providers, saying it is proprietary, according to the report. Tier 2 hospitals filed a lawsuit to publicize the report, and judges in two counties have ruled it should be disclosed, according to The Wall Street Journal. The case is being litigated on appeal. The company told The Wall Street Journal it does support more transparency for tiered networks statewide. So far this year, 234,235 Horizon members have chosen OMNIA, including 41,248 enrollees who didn't previously have insurance, according to the report, which cites company figures. Robert Marino, president and CEO of Horizon, told The Wall Street Journal some Tier 2 hospitals may be invited to join Tier 1 at a future date depending on how the market develops. Urgent care centers are making an impact on orthopedics. Many practices large and small are opening or considering urgent care services to meet the evolving needs of their patients. Alejandro Badia, MD, a hand surgeon based in Florida, was among the forefront of this trend. He established an orthopedic urgent care center for his practice in 2010 and turned the brand into a franchise by 2014, according to an Orlando Sentinel report. Orthopedic urgent care clinics, open nights and weekends, are convenient for sprains, strains and fractures, especially when sustained during off-hours. Athletes often participate in Friday evening or Saturday morning games, and the urgent care clinic allows them to address their injuries right away instead of waiting until Monday or going to the emergency room. At the orthopedics-focused urgent care clinics, patients can see an orthopedic specialist quickly and efficiently on a walk-in basis. Many orthopedic urgent care clinics include services like bracing, splints or X-ray. If the urgent care is connected to an ambulatory surgery center, patients may be able to undergo minor outpatient surgical procedures. Here are five key statistics on urgent care clinics: 1. There are more than 7,000 urgent care centers in the United States. 2. The urgent care clinic is expected to grow 4 percent to 6 percent over the next several years. 3. Urgent care centers are primarily independently owned but there has been a recent shift to outpatient care driving more hospitals and health insurances to open urgent care clinics. 4. Companies such as Walgreens are opening urgent care clinics to accommodate patients. These clinics typically have lower co-pays and out-of-pocket costs than at other urgent care clinics. 5. There are 10 OrthoNOW clinics sold, with a cost of $450,000 to $850,000 and are owned or operated by solo physicians or group practices. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery named Domagoj Coric, MD, to its board of directors. Here are seven key notes: 1. Dr. Coric currently practices at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates and serves as the chief of neurosurgery at Carolinas Medical Center and spine director at the Carolinas Healthcare System Neuroscience Institute, all based in Charlotte. 2. Dr. Coric has been a member of ISASS since 2007 and was appointed as the ISASS16 Overall Program Chair. 3. He is also a section editor for the International Journal of Spine Surgery. 4. He is on the board of International Advocates for Spine Patients. He is a past president of the Southern Neurosurgical Society and North Carolina Spine Society. He also serves on the executive committee of the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves of AANS and CNS. 5. Dr. Coric has served as the principal investigator on multiple FDA investigational device exemption trials, and he has authored or co-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed research papers and seven book chapters. 6. Most recently Dr. Coric co-authored a study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine that examined the Mobi-C artificial disc from LDR for two-level procedures. At five years, the success rate for two-level disc replacement was 61 percent, higher than 31 percent for the ACDF group. The rate of secondary surgeries was 7 percent for disc replacement patients and 21 percent for fusion patients. 7. Dr. Coric completed his residency in neurological surgery at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Banksy celebrates 25 years of street art with a South Bank Sky Arts Award nomination for Dismaland. The elusive Bristol graffiti artist has been recognised in the visual art category and will compete against Cornelia Parker for Magna Carta (An Embroidery) at The British Library and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Verses After Dusk at the Serpentine Gallery. Dismaland opened at a derelict seaside lido at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset in August. Despite its creator Banksy branding it as "crap", Dismaland sold out every day of its five-week run. The controversial attraction featured migrant boats, Jimmy Savile and an anarchist training camp. Dismaland was dismantled and sent to Calais to be shelter for migrants. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the South Bank Sky Arts Awards honours the very best of British culture and achievement. This year's ceremony, hosted by Lord Melvyn Bragg, will be held at London's Savoy Hotel on June 5 and broadcast on Sky Arts. Among the nominations highlights, the TV adaptation of Wolf Hall consolidates the success of novelist Hilary Mantel's previous South Bank Sky Arts Awards win in 2013 for Bring Up The Bodies. The BBC Two historical epic, which starred Oscar-winner Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell to Damian Lewis' Henry VIII, is up against Suranne Jones' BBC One drama Doctor Foster and Channel 4's acclaimed Humans starring Gemma Chan. In a first for the awards, two nominees of the previously announced The Times Breakthrough Award have also been nominated for a South Bank Sky Arts Award in their respective categories. Michaela Coel's E4 sitcom Chewing Gum has received a nod in the comedy category, while virtuoso clarinettist Mark Simpson is nominated for The Immortal in the classical music category. Londoner Coel will battle it out with acclaimed Channel 4 series Catastrophe and BBC One hit Peter Kay's Car Share. Composer Simpson will vie for his award with Stephen Hough's International Piano Series: Debussy and Chopin, Royal Festival Hall and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra: Andris Nelsons' Farewell Concert, Symphony Hall. In the film category, visual effects Oscar winner Ex Machina goes up against 45 Years, starring Academy Award-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling, and Oscar-nominated movie Brooklyn, with a cast headed by Saoirse Ronan. The awards originated in 1997 in association with ITV's incarnation of The South Bank Show. Lord Bragg has served as editor and host of the awards since their inception. Talking about this year's nominations, he hailed "an extraordinary tapestry of talent." "The South Bank Sky Arts Awards freeze-frame on a unique moment in British cultural history," Lord Bragg said. "It's when 30 nominees in 10 categories across the arts, from opera to pop music, from comedy to theatre, meet to celebrate the best work being done by artists in this country across a wide range of ages and backgrounds." The 76-year-old added: " This is the 20th of these annual awards and a ripple through the records shows an extraordinary tapestry of talent ever-changing, but always the same in its high quality." Phil Edgar-Jones, director of Sky Arts, said: "We are very proud to be the TV home for The South Bank Show and the South Bank Sky Arts Awards - they are programmes and events that over the years have transcended TV to have a deeper cultural impact, forming a lasting and important record of the arts over the last 38 years. "The awards themselves bring together probably the most inspiring room full of creative people it's possible to assemble and, for us, it's without doubt the most anticipated and exciting event of the Sky Arts year." :: The South Bank Sky Arts Awards will be broadcast on Sky Arts on June 8. James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond are to host a new motoring show on Amazon Prime Piers Morgan has taken a swipe at the former Top Gear presenting line-up of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, warning that they will "have to get used to not being big stars in this country any more". The Good Morning Britain host did not hold back when asked if he would be watching Clarkson's "follow-up to Top Gear", the as-yet unnamed Amazon Prime motoring show. Morgan told Radio Times: "I never watched the old Top Gear, because my right temple still has the scar from where Clarkson walloped me (at the 2004 British Press Awards) and whenever he comes on screen, my temple twitches. "But out of pure curiosity, I probably will tune in. It's only going to be watched by about 100,000 people, so they'll have to get used to not being big stars in this country any more." Clarkson and Morgan have had a long-standing feud, stemming back from when Morgan was editor of the Daily Mirror. Clarkson was famously suspended and then later fired by the BBC after a "fracas" that saw him punching Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon. BBC presenter Jeremy Paxman was another name on the receiving end of Morgan's criticism. When asked what he'd do if he had 8 billion to spend on the BBC, Morgan asked: "Am I allowed to fire Jeremy Paxman?" He went on to add that the BBC needed to "go back to being a great public broadcaster" and that they should "stop letting their best talent leave." He said: "They shouldn't have let Robert Peston come to ITV. That's problematic for them, because he's a superstar of new journalism now, and you don't want to be losing too many people like that because I'm sure he brings an audience with him." The outspoken TV presenter and columnist will next be seen in ITV's Killer Women with Piers Morgan, a series that sees him meet some of America's most notorious female murderers. :: The full interview is in this week's Radio Times. The pulling power of a top international tenor has been underlined by Noah Stewart, who played to a packed audience in the Ulster Hall. Backed by the Ulster Orchestra under the baton of Colin Bell, the American excelled in a programme of classic opera excerpts in the first half and much-loved musical standards in the second. Stewart's inspiring rise to fame - from the challenges of Harlem to becoming an acclaimed opera star - is worth a book in itself. He was 'discovered' by Belfast audiences after two televised concerts with the Ulster Orchestra, and they came out to back him in force on Friday. Stewart is an artist with star quality, and he was given a rousing reception when he walked on stage. Stewart and the outstanding Dublin-born soprano Claudia Boyle combined well in the opera repertoire, particularly in the duet O Suave Fanciulla from Puccini's La Boheme. The orchestra was in fine form in the overture to The Force Of Destiny and in Slaughter On Tenth Avenue. The mood changed dramatically in the second half with the show-stoppers Granada and Maria, and the duet All I Ask Of You from Phantom Of The Opera. The evening ended with Puccini's Nessun Dorma, and a much-deserved standing ovation. He can come back to Belfast any time. Actress Maxine Peake has insisted being "very pro-Palestine" does not make her anti-Semitic as she defended Jeremy Corbyn's response to the row engulfing the Labour party. The former Shameless star, who is a prominent supporter of the Labour leader, said s he did not believe Ken Livingstone's comments, which led to his suspension from Labour, were anti-Semitic. Peake, 41, said Mr Corbyn had been "unflappable" amid "constant attacks" following the row, which has prompted Labour to launch an inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in its ranks. She told the Press Association: "There are constant attacks on the Labour party but I think he's holding his own. "Support for him is still very strong. He appears unflappable. He's a man of the people and I think people can see the Tory attacks." Mr Livingstone was suspended from the Labour party on Thursday after saying Hitler had supported Zionism in the 1930s. The former London major made the comments while defending Labour's Naz Shah over comments made on Facebook before she became an MP, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States. Ms Shah later apologised and was suspended from the party. Peake - who was speaking at the Britweek gala in Los Angeles - said she did not believe the L abour party had an anti-Semitism problem. "I don't think what Ken Livingstone's saying was (anti-Semitic)," she said. "I think there's certain issues you have to be very, very careful about. "I wouldn't support a party that was anti-Semitic. I've always been very open. I'm very pro-Palestine and anti the occupation but that doesn't make me anti-Semitic. Not at all. "I think some times wires get crossed with people just wanting human rights for people rather than it being about another race and not liking them or not." Israel's new ambassador to Britain, Mark Regev, has said parts of the left were "in denial" about anti-Semitism and criticised Mr Corbyn's links to groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 The funeral cortege of Sister Clare Crockett, who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador, arrives at Long Tower Church in Londonderry. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire The coffin of Sister Clare Crockett, who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador, is carried into Long Tower Church in Londonderry. Niall Carson/PA Wire The coffin of Sister Clare Crockett, who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador, is carried into Long Tower Church in Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 2, 2016. See PA story ULSTER Nun. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 Mourners at the funeral of Sister Clare Crockett who was killed in the Ecuador earthquake have heard she was an "inspirational example of womanhood". The 33-year-old nun was killed in last month's earthquake in Ecuador. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett, a member of the House Of The Mother Order which she joined in 2001, was one of six people who died when a four-storey building collapsed as the earthquake struck on April 17. The former Nazareth House Primary School and St Cecilia's College pupil died as she tried to help children to safety when the earthquake hit. After her death the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust liaised with the Ecuadorian authorities and with the deceased's Order for the return of her body to Derry. Hundreds of people packed into St Columba's Church close to her family home in the Brandywell area of Londonderry for Requiem Mass. Fr Eamon Graham, who led the service, said: "She was a striking example of Derry womanhood. "Clare asked herself what she could do to make the world a better place and how she could serve God and help the most vulnerable. "And to do that she went to the far end of the earth and she took her goodness with her." Fr Graham told the congregation that many who met the self-confessed former party girl and budding actress had been inspired to change direction. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Sister Clare Theresa Crockett PA Sister Clare Theresa Crockett. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett was based at a school in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother order. The school where nun worked PA Sister Clare Crockett at the school in Playa Prieta PA Sister Clare Crockett with one of the pupils PA Rescuers dig in the ruins after the earthquake AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sister Clare Theresa Crockett He added: "She continued to do this in her death. "She enjoyed life and she loved life. "She always said she wanted to be famous - but she gave all that up. But in a way she has achieved fame and that will help her good work continue." As her coffin, adorned with floral bouquets, was carried into the church, a guard of honour was provided by girls from St Cecilia's College where Sister Clare had received their first-ever award for kindness. A large number of Catholic clergy including Bishops Edward Daly and Donal McKeown as well as the high profile Presbyterian minister and former Army chaplain Reverend David Latimer were among those who took part in the ceremony. Some members of Sister Clare's order were also in attendance as were Stormont politicians including Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and SDLP leader Colm Eastwood, both Derry natives. A guitar was among the gifts offered during the service. Outside the church Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown said Sister Clare's family had drawn comfort by the level of support. He said: "I didn't know her but, her smiling face, her guitar, is the way that she will be remembered. "I understand she was found with the guitar cord round her neck, and in many ways that's the image most of us have seen of her over the past few weeks. "I am sure she will be remembered as somebody who was full of energy and full of life and who wanted to give the best that she had for people who were not as well off or as fortunate as she was." Sister Crockett's remains arrived at Dublin Airport on Friday and were transported to her family home at Iona Park in the Brandywell area of the city. She is survived by her parents Gerard and Margaret, sisters Shauna and Megan, nephew Cahir and nieces Lily, Kayleigh and Maisy. Fr Eamon Graham, of the Long Tower parish in Derry, said the family was relieved to have Sister Clare home. "There is a great sense of relief also in the local community," he said. "The community has shown sympathy with many people signing the book of condolence." Striking example of Derry womanhood Fr Eamon Graham's eulogy in full Two weeks ago yesterday on the day that the Catholic Church prayed for Vocations to the service of God, we awoke to the sad news of the earth quake in Ecuador, little did we realise the sadness that would descend on the Crockett family and this community. That sadness has touched people from near and far peoples of all faiths and of none. We first of all offer our deepest sympathy to Clares parents and sisters, the wider family and her religious community. You are having to deal with an unimaginable cross. No parent expects to bury their child. This past fortnight we as a community and you as a family have asked many questions about God and his ways. We have questioned our faith we have felt feelings of anger and bewilderment. There have been few answers. In many ways these weeks and these awful events have given us an insight into Clares life and motivation. We have all been inspired by her faith and witness. Always expressed in her Derry directness and always lived out with joy and enthusiasm. St Johns Gospel we have just heard tells us that "There are many rooms in my Fathers House". This was a favourite Gospel of Sister Clares. She saw room for us all in the Fathers house. She often spoke of this Gospel. We are rightly very proud of our city. Through the troubles and difficulties that we have experienced over the years one of our greatest strengths has been that of our women who often were the breadwinners and held society together. The Derry women have so often lived the Gospel by putting the needs of others first. Sister Clare was a striking example of Derry womanhood. Clare asked herself what could she do to make the world a better place and how could she serve God through the most vulnerable. She clearly did this in an exemplary manner as a religious sister nourished by prayer and especially through the Eucharist but she did it above all as a woman who never forgot her Derry and her Brandywell roots. Many people have spoken of how meeting Clare had inspired them to change their direction in life. She has continued to do this in her death. Clare gave God all the credit for all the good that she was a part of. As a young girl growing up in this Parish attending the Nazareth House Primary School and St Cecilias College she had a great zeal for life and the ambitions of every young person. She always said that she hoped for fame but she gave that all up. In many ways she has achieved that fame now and much of her good work will continue in the future. Clare often talked of an anecdote concerning the late Pope John Paul the Second. When asked if were tired his response was that he could not remember. She understood him to mean that the work was so important to him that tiredness did not matter. Clare lived her life by the same values. In Pope John Pauls Funeral Mass Cardinal Ratzinger referred to the Gospel I mentioned, the one that was Clares favourite, he said that "John Paul was looking down from the window of the Fathers house." It is our prayer today that Clare now looks down from that same window. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord. It may have been swiftly deleted - but Gerry Adams' single tweet has made headlines around the world. The Sinn Fein president sparked an uproar on Sunday night as he took to social media after watching the Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained. The movie starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo Dicaprio is set before the American Civil War. It features themes of slavery, racism and violence making heavy use of the N-word throughout with it used more than 100 times. Read More After watching the film, Mr Adams came under fire when he used the N-word in a tweet where he compared the struggle against slavery in the US to the plight of Irish nationalists. It said: "Watching Django Unchained - A Ballymurphy N*****!" Although it was quickly removed, it had already been screen grabbed and was being shared across the internet causing outrage and prompting accusations of racism. Among the first news outlets to report on it immediately was the Washington Times. Since then it has been featured on the world's media including Sky News, The Guardian, The Independent and The Telegraph. Gerry Adams has also been trending on Twitter with thousands tweeting about the veteran politician. Expand Close Gerry Adams sent this tweet out before deleting it / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gerry Adams sent this tweet out before deleting it A statement issued by Sinn Fein in the early hours of Monday morning said that the use of the word was "ironic" and denied racism. Mr Adams said: My tweets about the film Django have triggered a lot of interest. "Anyone who has seen the film, as I did last evening, and who is familiar with the plight of nationalists in the north until recently, would know that my tweets about the film and the use of the N-word were ironic and not intended to cause any offence whatsoever. Attempts to suggest that I am a racist are without credibility. I am opposed to racism and have been all my life. The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves. If anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used. For this reason I deleted the tweets. A media facility was later organised on Monday morning where the Louth TD said he "acknowledged" the word was "inappropriate" and apologised for its use. He said: "I acknowledge that my use of the N-word was inappropriate and I apologise for that. But I stand over the context and the historic parallels between what was happening in Ireland and the struggle of the people from Africa America. "There is ample evidence in history of the parallels including the penal laws, the partition of Ireland and even in our own times like in North America, the discrimination over jobs and so on." It's not the first time Mr Adams has evoked the language of the race debate in America. In March, he said his party would not "sit at the back of the bus for anyone" after he was denied entry to the White House for a St Patrick's celebration. He was criticised for comparing himself to civil rights activist Rosa Parks. REACTION: SDLP Party Leader Colum Eastwood said: "The Sinn Fein leaders public use of a racist slur falls well below the standards demanded by us all. Using the language of slave owners is never appropriate and the fact Gerry Adams has yet to apologise only compounds the insult. The tweet shows a staggering deficiency in judgment and he needs to apologise unreservedly. "For years now Sinn Fein have embarrassingly tried to portray Gerry Adams as some kind of international icon. It was only in March that Gerry Adams was comparing himself to Rosa Parks. "If a similar remark had been made by any other political leader on this island, Sinn Fein would have unleashed an orchestrated wave of angry condemnation. They would not accept any talk of context or of irony. They should hold themselves to the same standard. "No-one in Ballymurphy or any other area affected by the Troubles will accept this use of language to refer to events here." Alliance Chief Whip Stewart Dickson said: "For anyone to use such a term is unacceptable. But for the leader of a major political party to do so simply beggars belief. Mr Adams may have deleted his initial post but the internet never truly forgets. Only a few weeks ago, Sinn Fein were comparing Mr Adams in all seriousness to civil rights hero Rosa Parks. This is proof, if it were ever needed, just how delusional that viewpoint is. The attempted explanation from him is not only historically inaccurate but deeply offensive to many. Using terms with racist connotations in any form needs stamped out in our society." UUP Mike Nesbitt said: "Gerry Adams' comments are beyond the pale. I find it extraordinary that the leader of a political party can even think to utter the words that he did. In the past he has made clear that he is happy to use equality as a trojan horse to further his own political agenda and now this. Add his denial of membership of PIRA and Gerry Adams has no credibility. Even some within his own party must realise that now. "To try to liken the fight against slavery to what was happening in Northern Ireland in the 1960s is contemptible. And then for him to claim that he was one of the founders of the civil rights movement. even Martin McGuinness must be rolling his eyes at that one. The Civil Rights campaigners wanted to reform Northern Ireland not destroy it. This is just Gerry Adams trying to re-write history. "The relative silence of the rest of the Sinn Fein leadership on this issue is deafening. Their Assembly candidates need to make their positions clear." DUP DUP's Nelson McCausland said: "In recent years Sinn Fein have been quick to take offence at every turn. Most recently Martin McGuinness called on Teresa Villiers to step down as Secretary of State simply because she believes that the UK is better off outside the EU. "Having compared himself to Rosa Parks only a few weeks ago Gerry Adams has now moved from the bizarre to the indefensible. That he would delete the tweet, then claim that his use of it was 'ironic' before being forced to say it was 'inappropriate' demonstrates very clearly the mess the Sinn Fein president put himself in." Dr Michael Moran (36), a leading figure in the campaign on working conditions, tells Lisa Smyth why he has swapped Northern Ireland for London and why the strike by junior doctors could soon land on our doorstep. Q. What is your current grade and your specialty? A. To complicate things, I have two job titles, depending on my work context. I am a clinical lecturer at University College London and an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialty registrar (level ST6) at UCL Hospitals. This means I have a research contract with the university alongside my work as an ENT surgical registrar. I have just over two years to go until I complete my training and become eligible to become a consultant. Q. How long has it taken to get to this stage? A. I qualified in 2004, so it has taken me 12 years to get here, and I still have two more to go as a junior doctor. ENT is a fascinating and varied specialty, and I work with patients of all ages. ENT surgery is very technologically advanced, and many of our operations involve microscopes, endoscopes, hearing implants and other gadgets. Lots of our work is non-surgical, and we often perform one-off procedures in the outpatient clinic. The throughput is very fast, so a day at work usually doesn't involve much hanging around. Q. How do hospitals in NI compare with other countries? A. The health service here provides great care and is built on the goodwill and friendliness of staff. The most impressive system I have seen was in Australia, where all hospital and primary care IT systems in Western Australia were integrated. There were also innovative approaches to staffing, with extra doctors in the system to always ensure seamless clinical handover and cover for leave. They have extra doctors, so if they need 40 doctors they would employ 45. It means if you have a heavy week one week, you can get a lighter week the next week, which means a really good work/life balance. Medical records were neat and organised, and access to diagnostic tests was fantastic. It just works over there. It seems much more well-oiled. Q. Why should people here pay attention to the junior doctor contract dispute between Jeremy Hunt and doctors in England? A. The way that the Government has handled the contract negotiation has been terrible, and it is most worrying that the voices of the junior doctors, as well as other health professionals, patients and members of the public, are not being listened to. England is on the brink of a workforce crisis in the NHS, and many doctors I know are applying for jobs in Scotland, Wales or further afield in countries like Australia. If the contract is imposed in England, it is almost certain that it is going to be imposed in Northern Ireland. If it is imposed in August 2016, I think we would be looking at it being introduced here in 2017. Q. Would that result in doctors here taking industrial action? A. We have a devolved government in Northern Ireland, so I would like to think we could avoid industrial action by both sides talking to each other. The industrial action in England has been a last resort. We need to learn from the mistakes that have been made there. Q. Do you think it likely that a compromise will be found soon? A. I don't see an agreement without some kind of stand-off by both sides. The Government is still talking about imposition, so I think there is going to be unrest. I'm not sure we will see the Government negotiate until there is a Cabinet reshuffle. I have spoken to some of the HR departments in health trusts and they don't really know how the system will work if imposition goes ahead. If they want to run theatre lists on a Saturday, they are going to need all the support staff, such as nurses, porters, domestic staff, in working as well. It's not just about the doctors. That means they are going to have to find more money to pay for that. Don't forget, if I am in doing a list on a Saturday or Sunday, I am going to have to take a day off in the week, which means services are going to suffer. It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul. They are talking about trying to run a seven-day week with the same number of staff, which I don't think is possible. They're going to have to come up with more resources or it won't work. Q. Can you explain why doctors believe the new contract is unsafe? A. The concerns relate to the removal of requirements for rest breaks, and also the removal of pay penalties applied to health trusts if they roster their doctors for excessively long hours. These penalties have incentivised trusts to redesign rotas to allow adequate rests during and between shifts, but the new contract has worrying work patterns. These involve a mixture of day and night shifts in the same week, listing a day after a night shift as 'off', when the doctor would have worked eight hours on that day since midnight. Doctors love their work, and want to be able to take care of patients safely. We're so disappointed that there has not been a stronger defence of our working hour caps because we feel that our job is really important. We wouldn't board a plane with a tired pilot, wouldn't want to drive along the motorway beside a HGV driver who is drowsy, so why should it be acceptable for the same restrictions not to apply to those who make complex medical decisions? We want to help the public, our patients, but we need the public to help us win this fight. The contract is not safe for patients, and therefore our duty of care dictates that we must not accept it, until we are sure it is safe to do so. Q. Do you believe it is possible for the health service here to operate full services seven days a week? A. Everything is possible, but these things cost money and we must consider how public money should be spent. If the Northern Irish health service is to operate full services every day, it will need significant investment, and this money would likely deprive another vital public service, such as education. We need to acknowledge that if resources are finite, compromises have to be made. Yes, waiting lists for outpatient appointments may be long, but at the same time, if you have a genuine emergency in Northern Ireland, you will be treated immediately. Q. Would it help doctors here if our health minister gave a commitment to not impose the contract? A. This point is key. Northern Ireland has a real opportunity to follow Scotland and Wales, as they have both said they will not impose the contract. But more than that, it has a chance to lead the way. If the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety rejected the contract and actively sought to define a new one, we could lead the way and provide a solution to the problem in England, which does not look like it will be resolved any time soon. I'm worried that because the Assembly is influenced by Westminster, it will be difficult for the health minister here to have the courage to do what works best for the people of Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has already lost many doctors to other countries. This is not a new pattern, and I worked for a year in Australia myself in 2005. The worrying aspect is the lack of desire to return, and from discussions with those who are away, there is concern around the ambiguity in Northern Ireland about the junior doctor contract. Q. There is much talk about doctors leaving the UK, with the junior doctor contract and working conditions both cited as contributing factors. How big is the problem? A. Doctors here who have families and are midway through career pathways are unlikely to move in the event of contract imposition in Northern Ireland, but we should be very concerned about a brain drain of our newly qualified doctors and medical students, who have not yet committed to life in Northern Ireland. In recent years, the number of applications to specialist training programmes has notably dropped, not just in Northern Ireland, but also across the UK, and this is a worry. Doctors, especially GPs are retiring at an earlier age also, and therefore we could face a workforce mismatch in the near future, with consultant and GP places unfilled, let alone junior doctor rota gaps. At an operational level, rota gaps that already exist lead to a very stressed and demoralised workforce, and one that is at risk of burnout. Work as a doctor finishes when patients are sorted out and the next person comes to take over a shift, not at any given time. What happens when no one comes to take over at night? To go back to the flight analogy, a commercial airline would not take off with only one pilot and one cabin crew member, and we would support this. Why then, is this not a non-negotiable standard for healthcare professionals, who look after us, and our loved ones, when ill? Q. What can be done to address waiting times in hospitals here? A. A key factor here is that in cutting waiting times, corners are not cut also. This comes down to resources, both in terms of finance and workforce. I have worked in great NHS units in Northern Ireland that take a very proactive approach to tackling waiting lists by scheduling extra activity at the weekend or in the evenings. The staff who cover these sessions do so voluntarily and for a premium overtime payment or time off in lieu. This model keeps the paper trail that goes with clinical care within the NHS system, and it works well. It is costly, but then perhaps demonstrating excess costs in contexts like these to budget holders may mean bolstering of core staff, such as the appointment of another consultant, which then supports the system and may help in the longer term to keep waiting lists shorter. There is no easy solution to this one, and certainly none that does not incur significant costs. Q. What has been the high point in your career? A. The high points in my career are the days when you feel that you have made a difference, even if small, to someone's day or health experience. The people you meet every day are what make a career in medicine amazing. Patients, their loved ones, surgical trainers, fellow doctors, nurses, health care assistants, other health professionals, administration staff, ancillary staff - everyone who adds a piece of the puzzle that is health care. The miracles and joys of the career are hidden in the everyday, and not much is achieved apart from as a team. Q. And what about the low points since you started out? A. In January last year I had applied for an Irish Fulbright Scholarship and missed out on this great opportunity to work at Harvard at the interview stage. This came at a really difficult time in my career, and so the impact of this was really significant. Looking at this from a wider perspective, I realised that I was very lucky to have even come close, and that what I did after the failure would be much more important and formative. I am happy providence had other plans for me, and I have so much in my life to be grateful for. And as someone said at the time, Harvard will always be there. Q. What piece of advice would you give to the next health minister? A. I suppose it would be to encourage them to make the changes recommended by the independent reviews. There is always the chance the new minister may not be from the DUP and may be minded to conduct their own reviews. But it is important to remember there have been so many independent reviews that have said the same thing. There are difficult decisions to make that may be difficult politically, such as the closure of hospitals, but I think they are necessary. There are hospitals that are difficult to staff and we need to rationalise services. Ultimately, people have to be realistic if funding isn't going to be massively increased. Decisions need to be made on evidence as opposed to emotion. Q. Why have you become so involved in the drive against the contract? A. The campaign against the contract feels like a natural extension of my day-to-day work. It is helping and protecting patients, but just not on a one to one level in hospital. I am someone who always stands up for what is right, and cannot sit on my hands if something needs to be done. Whilst I have been inert at other contract changes, such as pension reform, which really only has a financial impact but does not impact on patient care, this one made me sit up and take notice. Q. If the contract is so bad, why have you moved to England, where you will almost certainly work under the new contract in August? A. At the end of the day, a job in medicine remains a vocation for me. The position that I have taken in London is a fantastic opportunity that superseded the contract imposition issue. It should enable me to build on the excellent surgical training that I received in Northern Ireland, and also develop my research career in a world-class university. In any case, I am confident that the junior doctors' contract is a battle that we will win. Annmarie Strong (in black), mother of tragic Aaron Strong, joined those who gathered for a vigil which was held for him in west Belfast last night A grief-stricken mother last night pledged to fight drug dealers all the way to stop death being peddled on the streets of Belfast. Annmarie Strong (48) was speaking to the Belfast Telegraph following a vigil held outside her home in the Ballymurphy area on Sunday night. Her son Aaron (18) died after an accidental drugs overdose involving drugs including Lyrica and Tramadol. Annmarie said she was heartened by the support from the community at the vigil which was held at Glenalina Road. "Everybody spoke well about trying to get all these drugs that are killing our children off the streets," she said. "It was heart-breaking. It is going to be at somebody else's door tomorrow, it is going to be somebody else's child tomorrow. "It was heart-breaking but very supportive but it has given me a wee bit of hope that the community was behind me. The drugs are just everywhere, on these streets. "I am going to fight this the whole way, I have to, to get the drugs off the streets because they are killing our kids. "I will fight it the whole way because I have other kids growing up too. It is heart-breaking and the drug dealers are getting away with it. They are not taking them but they are selling our children poison." Aaron's funeral will be held tomorrow from Corpus Christi church and on to Milltown cemetery. "I can hardly even speak," added Annmarie. "My poor child, I don't know how I am going to get him out of the house on Tuesday. "I don't want to let him go and I wouldn't like to see another family sitting like that. Do you see sitting in intensive care for a week with my child, oh my God." Aaron donated his organs, helping 11 people, something which Annmarie said gave her comfort. Aaron's uncle Emmanuel Strong (54) said the community has to take a stand against drugs. He said: "At the end of the day something needs to be done. There are too many people getting destroyed, it is getting out of hand. I know we have lost a loved one here but we have to save other kids." There were tears at the vigil and an emotional Annmarie was supported by her family. Some wore special T-shirts featuring pictures of Aaron and others held candles. Blue and white balloons were released. "The balloons were coloured blue and white because it was blue for a boy as all my children are boys," said Annmarie. At the vigil, which was attended by over 100 including many young people, there were strong anti-drugs messages. Aaron Strong was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in April after suffering a massive heart attack caused by drugs. He had been drinking alcohol and had taken Tramadol, a post-operative painkiller, as well as a diabetes drug called Lyrica. Paramedics revived Aaron at the scene but he was in a coma in intensive care for a number of days before he passed away last Wednesday. A teenager has been shot in the leg in north Belfast. The 19-year-old man was reportedly assaulted in the New Lodge area, possibly in the vicinity of Hillman Street, by a number of males. He was then shot in the leg before being taken to hospital. The shooting happened in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police are appealing for information. The shooting comes two weeks after the high-profile gun attack on Michael McGibbon in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast. The 33-year-old taxi-driver had gone to meet his killers at Butler Place after refusing to come to the door when two paramilitaries visited his house in Ardoyne 24 hours earlier. One of the gunmen's bullets struck the father on the thigh, severing a major artery and causing him to bleed to death as his wife Joanne, a nurse, cradled him in her arms. The paramilitary group known as the 'New IRA' claimed responsibility for the shooting but said the intention was not to kill Mr McGibbon. Robert McCartney, who his sisters allege was murdered on the orders of Jock Davison The sisters of Robert McCartney are seeking an urgent meeting with the Victims' Commissioner over plans to honour the IRA leader whom they believe ordered his murder. A memorial event is due to take place in the Markets area of south Belfast to Jock Davison on Friday. His supporters will gather to honour the 47-year-old near the spot in Welsh Street where he was shot dead a year ago by a lone gunman. The McCartneys say that, after a fight broke out in Magennis's bar in January 2005, Davison drew a finger across his throat in a signal for his henchmen to kill Robert. There are reports that a plaque could be unveiled to Davison. Catherine McCartney last night told the Belfast Telegraph: "It is nauseating that there is to be a memorial to Jock Davison and yet there is nothing commemorating my brother. "Jock Davison brought death and destruction into the community. Robert, and others like him, never harmed a hair on the head of anybody else. Why are there not memorials to innocent victims, the ordinary people who just went about their daily business and hurt nobody? "Robert lay in a pool of blood dying just yards from where this gathering will be held. He had been beaten, kicked and stabbed. "I am seeking a meeting with the Victims' Commissioner, Judith Thompson, to discuss this matter." Ms McCartney said that her family would oppose any attempt to whitewash Davison's past. "Holding this commemoration for him is like the Catholic Church paying tribute to Brendan Smyth without mentioning his rape of children," she said. "Jock Davison was not a positive person in the community. His legacy is one of death and mutilation. There are dozens of families who lost loved ones because of him or who had loved ones beaten to a pulp in alleyways in the dark of night." She added: "We shouldn't allow paramilitaries to dictate the narrative of our communities. They have no sense of decency. "They won't let tragedies settle and they then have the nerve to accuse victims of dragging up the past." The memorial to Davison, a local community worker, is advertised on the Facebook page of the Markets Development Association. It says that as republicans commemorate the centenary of the 1916 leaders' execution and the 35th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, "it is only fitting that the Market also remembers one of the legendary figures to emerge from the latest phase of the republican struggle. Our very own Gerard Jock Davison". The advertisement shows a photograph of Davison beside images of Bobby Sands, Che Guevara, and James Connolly. Ms McCartney said: "There was nothing legendary about Jock Davison. "It does a great disservice to Bobby Sands, the 1916 leaders, and Che Guevara to even mention them in the same breath as Davison. He was a thug, a bully boy and, our family believes, a police informer." Ms McCartney said that she believed that any planned memorial was about "marking territory" and could be "in breach of equality legislation". TUV leader Jim Allister described the memorial as "wholly inappropriate". He said: "I would have thought that a more fitting commemoration for the community would be catching those responsible for the murder of Jock Davison and Kevin McGuigan. Trying to glorify someone with Mr Davison's past is absolutely wrong." Mr Allister said there were potentially legal issues about planning permission if a plaque was proposed or if anything was to be erected on public property. He also raised concerns about the Markets Development Association advertising the memorial. "This is a group which receives public funding and questions must be asked if that group is seen to be promoting someone as notorious as Mr Davison," he said. Jock Davison was arrested in connection with the murder of Robert McCartney, a 33-year-old father-of-two from the Short Strand. He denied involvement in the killing. "I totally refute that," he said at the time. He also rejected claims that he was a Special Branch informer. His uncle, Terry Davison, was charged with Robert's murder but was acquitted in 2008. Davison was shot dead near his home last May as he made his way to work. Three months later, Kevin McGuigan - whom the IRA blamed for Davison's murder - was gunned down outside his Short Strand home. Mark Lindsay, who chairs the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said the organisation had been working with PSNI command to resolve the matter Some PSNI officers have had their personal protection weapons taken from them - despite the dissident republican terror threat being officially classed as severe. The removal of the weapons follows concerns over officers' firearms training, which in a number of cases has lapsed. Several hundred officers could be affected, a police source told the Belfast Telegraph. The PSNI said a decision to remove a weapon was balanced between public safety and the officer's personal safety. But officers have voiced their concern at being left unprotected. One said the move had caused alarm. "Police officers in Northern Ireland carry weapons for personal protection - it isn't the same as England where it's mainly for armed response or very specific emergencies," he said. "This is in the context of a severe threat level where an unarmed officer faced with an individual intent on doing them harm is effectively a sitting duck." The development comes at a time when the terrorist threat is described as "severe". Last month Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin warned it was "highly likely" that dissident republicans would try to murder members of the security forces to coincide with the Easter Rising centenary. A PSNI officer contacted this newspaper to report that personal protection weapons were being withdrawn. He said there was serious concern among those who had been left without protection. "The firearms are being removed with no immediate training for the officers in question," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "The officers aren't being trained through no fault of their own. "Some of them might have restrictions, for example, on their duties - injuries and so on - and therefore aren't able to attend firearms training. "What it comes down to is a balance for police management about where they see the risk factor as being greatest. Someone hurting themselves because they haven't been trained, and therefore suing the Police Service, or someone going out this evening, being attacked and not being able to defend themselves. "They see the former as being the higher risk factor, because obviously it's a corporate risk." The officer said he believed several hundred of his colleagues could be affected. He said they were told within the last week that their weapons were being removed. "There is a lot of concern," he added. "Because they carry these as personal protection weapons, they're removing that protection from them because these weapons are carried on and off duty." Mark Lindsay, who chairs the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said the organisation had been working with PSNI command to resolve the matter. He acknowledged it was essential for officers to complete refresher training, but said physical injury and long-term psychological illnesses had caused problems. "In our view, the service could have shown greater understanding to the dilemma officers faced and allowed more time to reduce the backlog," Mr Lindsay said. "Inflexible work patterns, last-minute rostering, operational demands and sick leave have all contributed to the problem. This is not solely the fault of individual officers who are working to plug gaps in the service. "We made representations to management and extra training sessions have been provided for firearms refreshers. "We remain overstretched and understrength and it's inevitable that cracks will appear. "This is a symptom of a service that must show flexibility and common sense whenever officers are giving their all to the job. "The removal of a firearm should not be the first response, but should take into consideration a number of factors, including that individual's role and the current threat." Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris confirmed the PSNI was aware of officers whose training had lapsed. He said any decision to remove a weapon was taken after careful consideration. "PSNI has audited police officer attendance at service pistol refresher training and as a result a number of officers were identified whose training had lapsed," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "Officers are obliged to maintain their competence and to continue to demonstrate proficiency and safety in use of the service pistol through refresher training. Where an officer's training has lapsed, their continued retention of a service pistol is considered by a senior officer. "A decision to remove a service pistol is a balance between public safety, public confidence in the Police Service and the officer's personal safety." In March prison officer Adrian Ismay died as a result of a dissident bomb attack on his van in east Belfast. Speaking after the attack, ACC Martin warned of a heightened threat from dissidents. "There is a severe threat, an attack is highly likely," he said. "We believe that the primary focus of those attacks are police officers, prison officers and soldiers." The tell-all account by the father of David Miscavige, leader of the church of Scientology, is due to be released in the UK and Ireland this week A top Scientologist is threatening to use Northern Ireland's stricter libel laws to prevent a book written by his father from being published. The tell-all account by the father of David Miscavige, leader of the church of Scientology, is due to be released in the UK and Ireland this week. Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige and Me, written by Ron Miscavige, is to be published on both sides of the Atlantic on Tuesday. The book is believed to allege that David Miscavige seized power from L Ron Hubbard, the founder and former leader of Scientology, and makes claims about how members of the church are treated. David Miscavige denies all of his father's allegations. Belfast-based law firm Johnsons sent a legal letter on behalf of David Miscavige to the UK-based Silvertail Books, which plans to release Ruthless on Tuesday. The letter said the church objected to the "false and defamatory allegations contained within" the book, and if publication goes ahead "our client will be left with no alternative but to seek the protection of UK/Irish defamation and other laws". The Sunday Times has reported that the letter also said the church's US representatives had written to St Martin's Press, which is publishing the book in America outlining the "sinister background" of Ron Miscavige. Humfrey Hunter, the founder of Silvertail, released a statement to the Sunday Times. "All the legal due diligence has been done so it is published responsibly, but I wasn't surprised to get the letter because they will try anything they can to fight their corner," he said. Mr Hunter said the legal threat would not affect plans for the release, and he was confident at being able to defend a legal challenge. "(Ruthless) shines a light on the person at the head of the church - it's a story that's never been told," he said. "The Church of Scientology has only ever had two leaders: L Ron Hubbard and then David Miscavige. "Miscavige is a hugely significant figure in the church. People have written things about him, but no one has ever written from a perspective as close as this. It's utterly fascinating." The law on defamation was updated in England and Wales in 2013. Under the new guidelines, claimants have to show they have suffered "serious harm" before suing. However, the reforms do not apply in Northern Ireland after being blocked by Stormont. It has prompted warnings that our unreformed system poses a threat to freedom of speech. Last April a hard-hitting Scientology documentary was axed from UK TV screens because of Northern Ireland's libel laws. Controversial HBO expose Going Clear made allegations of abusive practices at the religion's US headquarters. It was due to air in the UK in April 2015 to coincide with its American release. But the programme was pulled by Sky because of fears it could face legal action under our stricter legislation. Two Iranians walk past a decorated wall in a pavement in Tehran (AP) Iran's supreme leader has criticised the US presence in the Persian Gulf region, saying American forces should go back to the Bay of Pigs. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's website quoted him as telling a group of teachers that American military drills in the region were proof of US arrogance. He said: "You come from another side of the world to hold drills here. "Go back to Bay of Pigs - what are you doing here?" Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks were a reference to the failed invasion of Cuba by 1,500 CIA-trained exiles in 1961. Muslims also view pigs as unclean animals, as the Koran prohibits followers of Islam from eating pork. Ayatollah Khamenei has the final say on all state matters in Iran. Ministry of Defence handout photo of a Russian SU-27 Flanker (top) with a RAF Typhoon fighter during an intercept by RAF Typhoon that were scrambled to intercept "multiple Russian aircraft" as part of the Nato mission to police the airspace over the Baltics, the Ministry of Defence has said Su-27 jets of aerobatics team Russkiye Vityasy, or Russian Knights, perform during the MAKS-2015 International Aviation and Space Show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) A Russian jet has performed an aggressive barrel roll over a US plane on a reconnaissance mission for the second time in a month. The Russian aircraft, a SU-27, performed the manoeuvre in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, approaching the US aircraft and flying over the top of it to the other side, at a distance of around 25 feet, US Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza told CNN. "The SU-27 intercepted the US aircraft flying a routine route at high rate of speed from the side then proceeded to perform an aggressive manoeuvre that posed a threat to the safety of the U.S. aircrew in the RC-135," Baldanza said. But Russia defended the 29 April actions of its air force, which come amid rising tensions between the two countries. "All flights of Russian planes are conducted in accordance with international regulations on the use of airspace," the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement. "The US Air Force has two solutions: either not to fly near our borders or to turn the transponder on for identification." "We are already starting to get used to the insults of the Pentagon regarding alleged 'unprofessional' manoeuvres when our fighters intercept US spy planes at the Russian border," the ministry added. It is the second barrel roll to be performed over a US plane by a Russian jet in the space of a month, with a similar incident occurring on 16 April, when a Russian aircraft approached the US plane over the Baltic Sea and was described as behaving erratically before rolling over the top of the plane. Several days prior to the first barrel rolling incident, two Russian warplanes repeatedly buzzed a US Navy destroyer, passing so close to the ship they created waves in the water around it, in what American officials described as a simulated attack. Independent Water cannon is used on workers at a rally in Manila Workers clash with riot police as they try to get to the gates of the US Embassy in Manila Demonstrators run as riot police in Istanbul use water cannons and tear gas to disperse them Trade unions and other groups staged rallies around the world to mark International Workers' Day with violence breaking out in Paris on the fringes of one protest. Fearing France's worker protections are under threat, hundreds of angry youths on the sidelines of a rally hurled stones and wood at police in the capital, receiving repeated bursts of tear gas in response. The traditional May Day rallies took on greater weight this year as parliament is debating a bill that would allow longer working hours and let companies lay workers off more easily. The bill has prompted the most violent labour-related protests in a decade, with marches and sit-ins frequently degenerating into clashes with police. Police encircled a few hundred suspected troublemakers on the sidelines of the Paris march on Sunday, and frustrated youth threw projectiles. In Marseille, at least five people were arrested after scuffles with riot police. Marchers held banners calling President Francois Hollande a "traitor" and chanted "Everyone together!" The Socialist government hopes the relatively modest labour reform will reduce chronically high unemployment and make France more globally competitive, by allowing companies more flexibility. Opponents say it erodes hard-fought worker protections and call it a gift to corporate interests. In Russia, t ens of thousands of people marched across Moscow's Red Square in a pro-Kremlin workers' rally. The protesters were carrying the Russian tricolours and balloons. As is typical for rallies organised by the ruling United Russia party, the May Day rally steered clear of criticising President Vladimir Putin or his government for falling living standards. The slogans focused on wages and jobs for young professionals. Left-wing Russian groups held their own rallies. This year the May Day coincided with the Orthodox Easter in Russia. Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov told Russian news agencies ahead of the rally that he celebrates Easter despite the Communist party's history of oppressing the Russian Church. In Turkey, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse dozens of May Day demonstrators in Istanbul. Small scuffles broke out between police and demonstrators trying to reach Istanbul's Taksim Square. Taksim has symbolic meaning as the centre of protests in which 34 people were killed in 1977. In the Istanbul districts of Sisli and Bakirkoy, police fired tear gas and water cannon to scatter other protesters. They also rounded up at least 36 demonstrators, according to Anadolu Agency. The state-run news agency said police deployed around 15,000 officers and 120 water cannons in Istanbul, which has witnessed two suicide bombings this year. May Day marches were held elsewhere in Turkey without incident but were cancelled in the southern city of Gaziantep after a car bomb attack on a police station. In Manila, about 2,000 left-wing protesters scuffled with riot policemen, who used shields and a water cannon to try to prevent the flag-waving demonstrators from getting near the US embassy. Labour leaders said 20 protesters were injured. Some of the protesters managed to break through the police cordon. TV footage in the Philippines showed some of them punching a retreating police officer and using wooden poles to hit a fire truck. Police made no arrests and protesters dispersed after about two hours. May Day rallies were held across the Philippines, with campaigning entering the final week ahead of the May 9 presidential election. Some of the candidates pledged to address labour complaints. In T aipei, Taiwan's capital, labour unions took to the streets with a march to call on the government to reduce working hours and increase wages. Many among the Taiwanese public have been concerned that outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou's push for closer economic ties with China has benefited just a few. Young Taiwanese have seen wages stagnate and good full-time jobs harder to find as the export-led economy has slowed. Chen Li-jen, a protester with the Taiwan Petroleum Workers Union, said that while companies were seeing their earnings per share grow every year, workers' salaries were not rising in tandem. "Hardworking labourers are being exploited by consortiums," Chen said. "For the past decade, our basic salary has not made any progress," he said. "Labourers' rights have always been neglected. This is why I hope to take advantage of the May 1 Labour Day protest and tell the government that we are determined to fight for our rights." I've lost count of how often Ive heard coursing and track racing fans tell us how much they love their dogs. The Irish Greyhound Board and the Irish Coursing Club are supposedly committed to the highest standard of dog welfare and both organisations claim to cherish the role of these wonderful dogs in rural life, sport and culture. Yet how silent they are when greyhounds are condemned to a miserable end beyond our shores. No objection from these noted dog lovers to the export of greyhounds to be raced on the cruellest and most dangerous track in the world. The Canidrome racing track at Macau, China, is badly maintained, far too long and narrow and is extremely accident-prone. But our so-called greyhound industry seems to think its fine for dogs to run on. The Macau Society for the Protection of Animals, which monitors activities at the Canidrome, states that more than 30 greyhounds most of them young and healthy die there every month and all dogs used on the track are eventually killed. There are no rescue centre or pet adoption options available for them. Since 1963 thousands of Australian greyhounds have died at the track, but last December two major airlines (Qantas and Cathay Pacific) refused to transport any more dogs from Australia to Macau. This has created a shortage of racers at the Canidrome that is now, sadly, being filled by Irish greyhounds. I wonder if theres any chance the Irish Republics greyhound industry might call a halt to this scandal? If not, I appeal to the incoming government to intervene to save these unfortunate dogs. Mans best friend deserves better than a man-made hell on Earth. JOHN FITZGERALD Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports Imagine a devolved government that fails to deliver on its promises. Actually, you do not have to. You have just endured one. The parties at the heart of the outgoing Stormont administration - the DUP and Sinn Fein - promised to spend 80m tackling poverty, but didn't. They promised to spend 12m providing affordable, accessible childcare, but didn't. They promised to deliver 5,000 new jobs with a 300m investment to develop the old Maze prison site, but didn't. What is hard to imagine is that any government with such a dismal track record would get re-elected in England, Scotland, Wales, or the Republic of Ireland. In fact, the Republic has recently delivered a damning verdict on their last government - and Enda Kenny's administration was recording economic growth at 4%, 5% and even 6%, compared to Northern Ireland's anaemic one-and-a-bit percentage points. In a normal democracy, the above would be more than enough to provoke change, because we all know the natural electoral rhythms are of change, rotation, renewal. You elect a government, give it a term or two and then dispatch it to refresh while you offer the next team a go. Opting for more of the same, when the same is such dire fare, is not tolerated anywhere else. Yet, the DUP continues to insult you with dog-whistle politics - vote for me, or something bad will happen. Why don't they ask for your vote based on their achievements? That was a rhetorical question. This Assembly election is the first in a long time to offer voters the prospect of real change. The Ulster Unionist Party stretched itself almost to breaking point to secure the Belfast Agreement in 1998. It is interesting to note that some of today's 18-year-old, first-time voters are unaware that the DUP took no part in those negotiations, opting instead to stand outside, screaming "traitor", "Judas" and "Lundy" at the Ulster Unionist Party, leaving us to negotiate without their support. How different recent history might have been had they decided to put their shoulder to the wheel with us. It has taken time, but the Ulster Unionist Party is now refreshed and we are ready and eager to return to the heart of the devolved government. We have published our vision for how to make Stormont work, a very detailed critique of what is wrong and how to fix it. We followed that with a suite of no fewer than seven policy papers in advance of our election manifesto (all accessible at www.uup.org). Has any local party ever shown more hunger, knowledge, or effort? To that vision and breadth of policy, we add our people: 33 candidates. No fewer than 24 are new to seeking election to the Assembly, offering the life experiences and skills so badly needed at Stormont. What will follow the 2016 Assembly election will be different. At our suggestion, the formation of the next Executive will be delayed to allow those parties entitled to be in the Executive to agree the next Programme for Government first. Why is it important? Because it will promote joined-up government, countering the toxin of individual ministers working in silos. For example, if we agree that tackling educational underachievement is a priority (and it is for us), then, as we all know that healthier children do better at school, the next minister for health will be committed to help the minister for education. So will the communities minister, given their role in respect of social housing. And so it goes, committing every party of government to cross-cutting targets, before they know their role in delivering on those commitments. The negotiations on the next Programme for Government could last up to a fortnight and will largely determine the shape of the next five years at Stormont. Our tests will be twofold: is it a progressive programme, likely to deliver real change for the economy, education, health and housing? And have we sensed a collective will to actually deliver it? We are not afraid of the answers. We have successfully argued the need for an official Opposition at Stormont. The last nine years of a DUP/Sinn Fein-led Executive have created disbelief, disillusion and sometimes disgust at Stormont - not least at the use of petitions of concern, now used to protect ministerial colleagues, rather than minority community groups, as intended. We need a new era of belief - in Stormont, its politicians and their motivation. There was a time I was being groomed to be the third-generation Nesbitt to run the family linen business. An IRA bomb put pay to that in 1973. I still have a blank invoice from "A Nesbitt & Co Ltd, Linen Manufacturers". The "A" stands for Alfred, my grandfather, a hard-nosed, Victorian gentleman. Under the invoice title come the words, "The deduction of odd pence is not allowed". That has always struck me as wrong. Businesspeople know only too well that you shake hands on a deal, aware the other side did better than they deserved, and you lost out; but you press on, because there is always a next time and what goes around, comes around. What strikes me as wrong with the way we do business at Stormont is the refusal of the big parties to deduct the odd political penny from overly-protracted negotiations. I believe in Northern Ireland as an entity. I see our future positively, based on a growing sense of mutual respect. The old notions have lost credibility. Catholics are not necessarily nationalists, and Protestants have never been exclusively unionists. My father, another Nesbitt, was of French Huguenot origin. My mother's maiden name is Hay, so an Ulster-Scot. Another son of parents who were Ulster Scot and French Huguenot in their respective ancestry and who, like mine, were traders in the great city of Belfast was Henry Joy McCracken, one of the leaders of the 1798 Rebellion. Go figure. The Ulster Unionist Party has the confidence to return to the truly progressive position it took to bring on the Belfast Agreement 18 years ago. It is time for another leap forward, based on this occasion on the economy, our children's education, our heath service and good housing for all. Mike Nesbitt is leader of the Ulster Unionist Party For Immediate Release, May 2, 2016 Contact: Nathan Donley, (971) 717-6406, ndonley@biologicaldiversity.org EPA Uses Industry-funded Studies to Determine Glyphosate Does Not Cause Cancer PORTLAND, Ore. An EPA analysis relying heavily on unpublished, industry funded studies has determined that glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup, is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans. The EPA determination, released to the public on Friday, stands in sharp contrast to a finding last year by the World Health Organizations cancer-research arm that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen. EPAs determination that glyphosate is non-carcinogenic is disappointing, but not terribly surprising industry has been manipulating this process for years, said Nathan Donley, a scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity. The analysis done by the World Health Organization is more open and transparent and remains the gold standard. The EPAs analysis relied heavily on industry-funded studies that have not undergone public scrutiny, while the WHO used publically available research for its analysis. Furthermore, the WHO took into account studies on actual products that are available on store shelves, while the EPA ignored those studies to focus solely on studies that tested glyphosate as a single ingredient. Most products containing glyphosate have other ingredients that can make the pesticide more dangerous. We shouldnt gamble with the risk of cancer and must take appropriate precautions until we get a conclusive answer about the true dangers of glyphosate, said Donley. The indiscriminate drenching of farms, ball fields and backyards with glyphosate needs to end. The EPAs industry-friendly determination comes amid a fierce debate in Europe and the United States over the safety of glyphosate. In February 35 members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy expressing concerns regarding the potential negative health and environmental impacts of a pesticide, Enlist Duo, that combines glyphosate and 2,4-D. The agency is currently reanalyzing its decision to register the dangerous pesticide after it was revealed that the industry had withheld data on how the pesticides work in combination with other ingredients to have a stronger effect on the environment. This finding comes as the EPA is in undertaking a registration review of glyphosate, a process designed to determine whether the chemical can safely be used in light of new scientific research. These documents will inform the agencys decision on whether to allow glyphosate to be used for the next 15 years. The last time the EPA fully analyzed the threats posed by glyphosate was 1993. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. The 5th anniversary of the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear power plant on the east coast of Japan has come and gone, and, still the whole story hasn't been told. The cover-up began almost immediately after the 11 March 2011 disaster, and Japanese journalists who dared write about it, risked criminal action. Besides Japanese pride, there are many reasons for the cover-up. Some include the 2020 Olympic Games, payment of compensation to victims and the negative impact on Japans economy. Fukushima nuclear power plant after the 11 March 2011 earthquake. Source: creativecommons.org/Digital Globe Cracks starting to show However, the smokescreen is beginning to show cracks, and the head of the Japanese nuclear regulatory authority Shinji Kinjo, has just admitted that they have an emergency on their hands. He also criticised Tepco (Tokyo Electric Power Company), the utility that runs Fukushima, saying: Their sense of crisis is weak. Death and contamination Currently if an unprotected person approaches the damaged Fukushima buildings, the radiation level is so high that death could occur in less than an hour. Entering the damaged building, even wearing protective gear, is out of the question, and three remote controlled robots have also failed, due to intense radiation. Daily over 300 tons of highly radioactive water continues to spill into the Pacific Ocean. Besides poisoning the Pacific and bringing the Japanese fishing industry to a halt, there is growing evidence that radioactive contamination has reached the west coast of America. Tepco now warns that it could take another four years to rectify the problem of leakage into the Pacific Ocean. But to rectify the ocean is incalculable. Outside opinion Mycle Schneider is a Paris-based nuclear energy consultant, and advisor to the European parliament on nuclear matters. He is also lead author of The World Nuclear Industry Status Reports and does not mince his words. He says Japans escalating situation is: "Far worse than we truly know. There are hundreds of issues at stake here," he told the Huffington Post UK. "Whether it is meltdown temperature, radiation exposure, or the number of people exposed - all of these statistics are flawed. We don't know anything yet." "This is far worse than what the general public are perceiving. At the moment we are facing the challenge to conquer denial. This is simply organised denial, he said. Pushing ahead with nuclear development Yet, even as the Fukushima disaster continues to play out, Japans prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has reaffirmed his commitment to nuclear power and is pushing to restart other nuclear plants. With 70% of Japanese population opposed to nuclear energy, this proposal goes totally against public opinion. While many scientists and Greenpeace are alarmed by the continuing contamination of the atmosphere and of the Pacific Ocean, Abe insists that the situation at Fukushima is under control. Morality and survival Fukushima provides a perfect case study for the meltdown of truth. It is beyond reckless and immoral for governments and mainstream media to downplay and cover up such disasters. Besides being well researched on environmental crises, I have written many articles and have aired my views on radio several times. Not wanting to be branded a scare monger, Im beginning to shift focus from radiation damage to life, to the immorality and hypocrisy that lies behind such disasters. With such disasters, truth is often the first casualty. Yet truth (in whatever form) is the key to health and survival, especially regarding unprecedented life-threatening disasters like Fukushima. The South African scenario South Africa is no different and we are witnessing the collapse of truth on many levels. Besides vested interests, there is no good reason for South Africa to even consider purchasing nuclear power. Our solar energy potential is one of the highest on the planet. And yet the issue of purchasing costly nuclear power plants is shrouded in secrecy.* Nuclear power simply to boil water To give the situation further perspective, dangerous and costly nuclear technology is being harnessed simply to boil water. This in turn creates steam to drive electrical generators. Have we forgotten that with simple, safe technology such as concentrated solar power (CSP) the sun can boil water extremely effectively? If solar energy works so well in Nordic countries, how much better is it suited here, in sunny South Africa? The dark side of capitalism Let us not forget that the global economy is ruled by those who control the money system. Multinational corporations, including multi-trillion dollar nuclear industries, seek to monopolise control of the markets, such the energy sector. The way profits are extracted have nothing to do with a healthy environment and humanity. This is the dark side of capitalism, working systematically to undermine democracy and common sense, as well as the environment and the health of humanity. *At the beginning of April 2016, minister of energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, said in parliament that a deadline in the nuclear procurement programme had been missed. Opposition parties took this to mean that the programme had been mothballed, but this was denied by the government. According to reports from the KIA the clashes which broke out near the Aung Thein Linn jade mine in the west of Mohnyin and involved dozens of troops from the Burma Armys Infantry Battalion 54 and the KIA's Battalion 35. The area where the clashes took place is normally under the control of the KIAs Battalion 35. The Aung Thein Linn mine has only recently begun operations. Burma Army Infantry Battalion 54 arrived in Mawhan in order to replace troops from Light Infantry Battalion 308, which has been active in KIAs Battalion 35 territory. According to a KIA spokesperson the battle broke out after the Burma Army fired at a KIA outpost with heavy artillery. Clashes have not been fought in this area since last November when the Burma Army attacked KIA troops in the east of Mohyin with jet fighters. After a new civilian government took office, battles have been waged near the KIO's Laiza headquarters and in northern Shan State and now the war has spread to KIA Brigade 8 in Mohnyin. Tensions are also high in Danai, in the Hukaung valley which is controlled by KIA Battalion 14 under the group's Brigade 2. The Hukaung valley is officially home to the world's largest tiger reserve and some of the world's best amber mining areas and large scale plantations controlled by the Yuzana company. Clashes continue in Shan state as well The Burma Armys Light Infantry Divison 99 (LID 99) and the Kachin Independence Armys Brigade 6 re-engaged in a battle near Hpawng Seng in northern Shan State last week. A senior official from KIA told the Kachin News Group that a short battle broke out between the Burma Armys LIB 99 and KIA Battalion 38 on the LID 99's departure from Hpawng Seng at around 4 PM on 26 April. The Kachin News Group has also learned that this past weekend clashes also took place in Shan state between troops from the KIA Battalion 17, under the group's Brigade 4 and army troops near Kunlong. Translated by Thida Linn Suttha Saivanid, the Tak Deputy-Governor said the Thai government had been in contact with Burmas recently elected National League for Democracy government to set in place a process to start the repatriation of the refugees. The Democratic Voice of Burma reported that the Mr. Suttha told reporters that the governments of the two countries, together with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, are set to brainstorm a road map for the repatriation. The Tak Deputy-Governor told reporters that the process to repatriate the 100,000 people in nine refugee camps on the Thai Buirma border would begin within two to three years time. The Mae Sot meeting was attended by representatives of the UNHCR and Thai security officials from Umpium, Mae La and Nupo refugee camps. A refugee from Umphien camp who asked not to be named told Karen News that the problem they have is not with the time frame to return voluntarily with dignity to their homeland. The refugee said that living dignity in the camp is now being undermined by the decreasing food rations and cuts to other vital services in the camp. You cannot afford to care for dignity if you dont have enough to eat or feed your family. The issue is not about being repatriated in two or three years time. The critical issue is how will we survive the massive cuts to our rations, our health services and education while we wait to be repatriated? The important issue is how do we feed our families when donors are withdrawing their support? We are now being driven out by the donor cuts not the Thai government. A camp committee member from Umphiem camp said that the issue of repatriation is nothing new for them. It has always been the position and policy of Thai government to send us home when the conditions are right. The Thai government alone cant start the whole repatriation process. When we are to be sent back home, the Burma government will also need to be involved and take responsibility for their part in the process. We are not hearing of any official statement about this. The camp committee member said that they have not been informed by the Thai authorities about this recent discussion about repatriation and that if it has started there should be official discussions among local Thai officials and the various camp committees if the process is to start taking place. Naw Blooming Night Zan, a member of the Karen Refugee Committee said that no representative from KRC attended the recent meeting, but she had attended previous meetings where the Tak Deputy Governor also made his position clear about the return of refugees. In a meeting with our committee in the previous month, the deputy governor told us that right now there is no plan to send the refugees back. He told us that he agreed that the situation is not conducive to send refugees home. However, they said that they will not stop individuals who make their own decision to go back. Naw Blooming Night Zan said that KRC was told that the Thai government will not forcibly repatriate refugees as it is not their policy to do so. The Thai government has agreed in principle that repatriation should be according to international standards where refugee will return home voluntarily and with dignity. The outbreak of heavy fighting between Kokang forces from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Burmese government troops in February of last year led to an estimated 100,000 refugees fleeting from the homes, many of the refugee arrived in China. Now continuing persecution by Burmese troops camped near their villages is preventing many of these refugees from returning home, concludes the SHRF report released on 22 April. No one can go back to our village now. The Burma Army has blocked the road to our village. They have also laid land mines at the border to prevent people crossing over, said a 61 year old refugee farmer from Shung Diao Ai interviewed by SHRF. According to him three other refugees returned to his village to check on their possessions in March of last year and they were never seen again. SHRF interviewed refugees from more than 20 villages in Laogai and Konkyan townships, many of whom described their villages as completely deserted or with only a few inhabitants temporarily staying to look after their farms. According to SHRF the interviews indicate that there is a deliberate strategy by the Burma Army to depopulate the eastern border regions of the entire Kokang self administered zone. Another refugees SHRF interviewed also described other serious human rights abuses including rape being carried out by Burma army soldiers on Kokang refugee women who sought to return to their villages last year. Report: UN Downplays Kokang Refugee Crisis Citing figures from aid workers, SHRF reports that there are still more than 20,000 Kokang refugees enduring increasingly precarious conditions in China's Yunnan province. A recent report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Burma's refugee situation released in January estimated that only 4,000 Kokang refugees remain in China, something that doesn't sit well with SHRF who say that the UNOCHA report downplays the severity of the crisis. SHRF's research found that many of the refugees who fled to China are currently sheltering in makeshift camps just inside the Chinese border, surviving on donations from volunteers and wage labour in nearby farms. Compounding the crisis, Chinese authorities shut down the official camps last year, according to SHRF. In the report's conclusion the group called on donors and aid agencies to seek ways to address the urgent humanitarian and protection needs of the refugees sheltering along the Kokang-China border. A recent report released jointly by the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF), the Shan Sapawa Environmental Organisation and the Shan State Farmers Network, titled Save the Namtu River, argues that that there has been a complete lack of transparency around plans to construct the dams. Combined with the existing Yeywa dam, the four new dams will obstruct more than half of the Namtu River, which the report says will have an effect that will be irreversibly impacting for the Namtu River's ecology. In a press release accompanying the report Sai Khur Hseng of Shan Sapawa said: For Naypyidaw to push ahead with large dams in conflict zones, against the wishes of local ethnic communities, is thumbing their noses at the peace process. He added: If the new NLD-led government wants to build peace, they must immediately halt the dams on the Namtu and other rivers in ethnic conflict zones. Shortly after the report was released Aung San Suu Kyi's opted to relinquish the role of Minister of Energy and Electric Power. A position that was instead given to Pe Zin Tun, an ex military officer and a former employee at the state owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). It remains unclear if the long-time government official will be more responsive to the concerns of community groups than his predecessor. Of the four dams slated for the Namtu, the Upper Yeywa Dam in Nawngkhio Township, which began in 2008, is the closest to being completed. The dam is slated for completion in 2018, when finished it will create a reservoir that will be at least 60 kilometers long and, according to the report, will wholly submerge Ta Long a Shan village of 500 people. Parts of Hsipaw Town may also be affected. According to the report residents of Ta Long were never informed or consulted before the dam began, and have insisted they do not want to move. The report suggests that both the environmental and social impacts of the dam were a complete afterthought for the firm's involved as the dam's Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was controversially completed in 2014, some six years after construction of the dam had already begun. The dam, which is being funded by China's state backed Exim Bank, is being built by Chinas Zhejiang Orient Engineering Co., Ltd. who serve as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. This means that Orient Engineering Co. has overall responsibility for the dam's construction and is overseeing the entire project including the design, procurement, construction, commissioning and then the handover of the project to the end user, the state run Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise (MEPE). Other firms involved in the project as subcontractors are the Chinese firms Yunnan Machinery Import and Export Co. Ltd, Lahmeyer International GmbH of Germany and the Swiss company Stucky SA. A Chinese subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Toshiba called Toshiba Hydro Power (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd will provide the generators and related equipment for the dam. Norwegian Firm Going Ahead with Middle Yeywa Dam Despite Quake Risk Another of the Namtu dams known as the Middle Yeywa dam is set to be built in a location identified by the report as seismically hazardous because it is close to the Kyaukyan fault line. According to the report this was the location of the biggest earthquake known to have taken place in Burma's history in 1912. The quake which struck Nawngkhio is estimated have been an 8 on the Richter scale. A state owned Norwegian power firm, known as Statkraft Norfund Power Invest or SN Power, is going ahead with plans to build the 700 megawatt dam. The MOU for this dam was signed with the previous government in July 2014. A pre-feasibility study for the dam began in April 2015. The involvement of a Norwegian state owned firm with such a controversial project has drawn the ire of the groups behind the report. The report notes that Norway, who are a significant donor to Burma's ongoing peace process, is opportunistically partnering with Naypyidaw to profit from ethnic conflict areas before peace has been reached. Similarly, Japan and Switzerland, who are also significant donors to the peace process, have firms from their country involved with the Namtu dams. It looks like you have reached this page in error ... The content you are looking for has either moved, or if you typed in the address there might have been a mistake. If you believe there has been a technical error please let us know. Most Popular Destinations Each review score is between 1-10. 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Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Advanced Light Helicopter MK-III. Photo: DRDO NEW DELHI (PTI): As part of its defence diplomacy, India has deployed an advanced light helicopter MK III in Maldives, to be based at Kadhdhoo Island in Laamu Atol. The helicopter will assist Maldivian forces in undertaking search and rescue, casualty evacuation, coastal surveillance, maritime reconnaissance, communication and logistic duties. The Indian Naval contingent, headed by Cdr Rohit Gupte, an experienced helicopter pilot, comprises four officers and 21 sailors. The technical support team comprises 13 technicians. The support team with the spares and support equipment had already reached Male on April 25. The ALH MK III landed at Male and was received by Minister of Defence and National Security Adam Shareef and High Commissioner of India to Maldives Akhilesh Mishra. Advanced Light Helicopter (MKIII) has been manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and has state-of-the-art avionics and is powered by Shakti engines. The detachment of ALH would further strengthen the robust maritime cooperation between the two countries, a Navy statement said. dian Navy's first indigenous Scorpene-class stealth submarine 'Kalvari'. Photo: PIB. MUMBAI (PTI): Kalvari, Indian Navy's first indigenous Scorpene-class stealth submarine, on Sunday sailed out of Mumbai Harbour for sea trials even as the plan to purchase heavy-weight torpedos for the vessel remains stuck due to the VVIP chopper scam. Kalvari is the first of the India's six Scorpene-class submarines being built under the much-delayed Project 75. The vessels are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in collaboration with French company DCNS. In October 2015, Kalvari had been set afloat. "The sea trials of Kalvari have begun today. It is a proud moment for us," a Navy official said. However, the plans to acquire heavy-weight torpedos for the submarine is stuck in the Defence Ministry even though the Navy had been pushing for it, citing national security imperatives. WASS Italy, a Finmeccanica company, had emerged as a successful bidder in the procurement for the torpedos for Project 75 submarines. Subsequently, because of the group's alleged involvement in the VVIP helicopter case, the procurement was put on hold in July 2014. Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan, while stressing on the importance of getting heavy-weight torpedos, had said that the Defence Ministry will take a final call on it. India may have to go in for two more Scorpene-class submarines after the first six are delivered to the Navy. Kalvari is expected to enter service by September end. The remaining five submarines are scheduled to be rolled out every nine months. The Navy has, at present, 14 operational submarines, including nine Russian-made and four German HDW vessels. Chakra, a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, is on lease with the Indian Navy. India's first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant is already undergoing sea trials and is expected to be inducted shortly. BENGALURU (PTI): The Indian Space Research Organisation is indigenously developing Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA) for space borne payloads. TWTA is commonly used in satellite communication links, earth observation payloads, scientific missions or probes and inter-spacecraft communications links. It consists of Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC) and Traveling Wave Tube (TWT). TWT is a complex multidisciplinary technology involving controlled interaction of microwave with electron beam under ultra high vacuum. ISRO said its Space Applications Centre has developed space qualified C-Band TWTA for space borne applications, jointly with the Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI), Pilani. It said qualification involves testing of fragile TWTA for severe vibration withstanding capability, which is critical during rocket launch and also satisfactory stable performance during thermal vacuum condition. After completion of development of space qualified C-Band TWTA, the initiative to develop the Ku-Band Short Length TWT (Traveling Wave Tube) was undertaken jointly with CEERI. ISRO said this will pave the way for space qualification and indigenous realisation of Ku-Band TWTA. Further, it will be integrated with indigenously developed High Voltage EPC and Solid-state amplifier to complete it as Microwave Power Module (MPM). Due to the requirement of large number of such devices, indigenous development can significantly reduce the dependency on foreign sources, ISRO said. TWTA is one of the integral parts of all communication payloads. Hence, their dimensions, mass and efficiency are major contributors to the satellite's power budget and require special attention. NEW DELHI (PTI): Reliance Defence has signed strategic partnership agreement with three Ukranian state - owned companies which will allow them to collaborate on a range of military products including transport aircraft, upgrade of armoured vehicles, maritime gas turbines and unmanned aerial vehicles. The development follows a meeting between Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani and Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine this week. During the hour long meeting, the two leaders discussed issues of strategic interest between the Indian and Ukrainian defence and aerospace industry. "As a follow up of the meeting, a Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed between State Owned Ukroboronprom of Ukraine and Reliance Defence, which will allow it to collaborate with Antonov for its range of military and commercial transport aircraft," a statement by Reliance said. Reliance Defence Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. Under the agreement with Antonov, both companies will jointly bid for the medium military transport aircraft programme of the HAL, it said. In addition to this, they will collaborate for assembly, manufacture and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of Antonov series of aircraft to address the requirements of the Indian market and also the agreed global markets. It is understood that HAL is looking at a market size of up to 300 aircraft in the medium range. This will be potentially the largest collaborative effort involving the public sector, private sector and global OEM as part of the 'Make in India' and 'Skill India' initiatives of the government with value of programmes exceeding Rs 50,000 crore. The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 100 AN-32 aircraft, which forms the backbone of its transport fleet. Cooperation between Reliance Defence and Spetstechno Exports will focus on upgrade programmes for the BMP 2 and armoUred vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and marine gas turbines for the Indian Navy's frigate programme in India. The government has already issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the upgradation of 1,500 BMP 2. The F-16 fighter jet. ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan is still negotiating with the US to buy eight F-16 fighter jets despite difficulties in getting the USD 700 million deal partially financed by the American government, a top Pakistani official has said. The purchase hit snags after US Congress withheld 60 per cent of the aid earmarked for subsidising the deal, which has been opposed by some American lawmakers and India. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, responding to reports about the deadlock said the "negotiations aren't over yet". He said Pakistan's mission in Washington is currently in talks with members of the Congress to raise awareness of Islamabad's views on the matter. "America understands how important a role these eight F-16s can play in the fight against terror, which is why the request was made in the first place," Fatemi was quoted as saying by BBC Radio. According to the deal, Pakistan would have paid USD 270 million and the remaining USD 430 million was to come from the US. "There is strong opposition to provide subsidised arms to other countries in the US Congress, but Obama administration's offer of military aid to Pakistan still stands," Fatemi said. Those opposing the deal argue that these jets can be used against India in the event of a war. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A local faith-based addictions recovery centre broke ground on what will become the site of its new womens facility on Sunday evening. Adult and Teen Challenge has been running its eight-bed residential treatment program out of a 102-year-old home near Kemnay since 2012, but high demand means the aging building is no longer suitable. Weve made (it) work for our program, but my waiting list is very, very long and we just came to the place where we realized we need to expand, director of womens ministries Karen Lowes said. Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun An audience assembles on Sunday for a ground-breaking ceremony for Adult and Teen Challenges new 16-bed womens recovery centre, northwest of Brandon. After looking into expanding its current location, ATC decided to build a new centre from the ground up along Highway 270, northwest of the city. The facility will be able to accommodate 16 women at a time and is scheduled to open this fall, Lowes said. Clients must stay in the program for a minimum of one year and 11 women from all over Canada and one from the Bahamas have graduated from the local ATC branch since its inception. Its anyone who is dealing with a life-controlling addiction, Lowes said, adding that the program focuses mainly on biblical teachings and pastoral mentorship. Its girls from all walks of life, its girls who have come from the streets to girls who are professionals. Less than a year ago, Tessa Pahpasay was abusing drugs and alcohol and living on the streets of Kenora, Ont. Pahpasay shared her story of addiction and recovery during the sod-turning ceremony on Sunday. I was trying harder drugs that I said I wouldnt try like meth and crack and cocaine, the 25-year-old said. I was so focused on getting enough money to get another fix, another high I just wanted to be numb. Eleven months into ATCs program, Pahpasay says her outlook on life and self-worth has changed immeasurably. It just gets better every day, she said. Discovering that He wants a relationship with someone like me. Somebody who was on the streets, somebody who was reckless and mean that blows my mind. Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Tessa Pahpasay relates her personal story of overcoming addictions during Sundays ground-breaking ceremony for Adult and Teen Challenges new womens recovery centre. Pahpasay struggled with life in the recovery centre at first, but after recognizing and working on her own trust issues she formed significant bonds with the other women in the house. I feel really blessed that I have friends here now who I can talk to and we relate to each other, Pahpasay said, adding that shes looking forward to building on her faith when she graduates. So far, ATC has raised $640,000 of its $800,000 goal for the new womens centre, which Lowes says is enough to get the unfurnished structure built. Were looking at seeing if different church groups might consider adopting a room and buying a bed and a dresser for that room, Lowes said. For more information and to donate to the project, visit teenchallenge.mb.ca/brandon. ewasney@brandonsun.com Twitter: @evawasney Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An incidental friendship at a Brandon retirement home has inspired a homegrown memoir about a local veteran and his experiences during the Second World War. Joan Dillon was introduced to Doug Christie while visiting her mother at Riverheights Terrace last summer. The two got talking about Christies harrowing job as a tail gunner during the war and one day, the 96-year-old veteran approached Dillon with a small package of handwritten notes. One day he passed me his story written out on four pieces of paper and I thought, wow, said Dillon, who has turned the notes into a 25-page book padded with historical context. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Riverheights Terrace resident Doug Christie holds an old portrait of himself that sits on the retirement homes Wall of Honour, commemorating veterans who reside there. Christie flew 30 missions as a tail gunner during the Second World War. Christie, who is originally from Winnipeg, served with the No. 6 Royal Canadian Air Force Group Bomber Command. When he joined up at the age of 21, Christie had never been in a plane. By the time the war ended in 1945, he had completed 30 missions with the No. 428 Ghost Squadron the motto of which is "To the very end." I read that the average lifespan of a tail gunner was five to six missions, Dillon said. At the beginning of the war it was about ten minutes, Christie said, interjecting. I ran out the clock. Seated in a turret located at the rear of the aircraft, it was Christies job to defend the bombers from enemy fire. While the veterans main complaint was that it was always either too hot or too cold in the turret, his wartime notes describe at least one close encounter in the air. On Jan. 30, 1944, Christie and his crew were on a mission over Berlin where searchlights and fires turned night into day at 19,000 feet. The reflection on the turret perspex acted in effect like a white sheet being placed over the top so that nothing could be seen from above, Christie wrote. After the bomber dropped its cargo an enemy plane dove toward the plane, narrowly missing the tail where Christie was stationed. He came down like this, Christie said, making downward swooping motion with his hand. And he didnt miss me by very much I was thinking, why didnt he fire? He mustve been out of ammunition or thought he could ram us, I dont know. During the war, Christie kept a journal to remember day-to-day events and mission details some of which include calling a commanding officer a coward, passing out on a two hour flight after his oxygen was accidentally cut off and firing at (and missing) a flock of seagulls. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Joan Dillon has been documenting Riverheights Terrace resident Doug Christies notes from the Second World War, when he flew 30 missions as a tail gunner. Dillon, who is originally from Hamiota but lives in the Netherlands, said Christies story immediately captured her imagination. Its inspiring really, that these young fellows actually did that and kept doing it under some really daring conditions, Dillon said, adding that the two had many long-distance phone conversations when she returned home last fall. Its been a lot of fun putting this together, a good learning experience, we get along so we get a good laugh once in a while. Neither of the collaborators know what the future holds for the memoir, which is tentatively titled Some Experience, but Christie says he is glad his notes have finally been recorded. I figured some day Id get somebody to write it up, Christie said. I hope to give it to my kids when Ive graduated from this Earth. ewasney@brandonsun.com Twitter: @evawasney Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CALGARY Shares in Lightstream Resources Ltd. (TSX:LTS) fell by nearly a third Monday after announcing that lenders had slashed its borrowing base to a level $121 million less than what it owes, starting the clock on a 90-day timeline to default. The Calgary-based intermediate oil and gas producer said its 16-lender syndicate had chopped its base to $250 million from $550 million, the second reduction in six months. It owes $371 million and said it will continue to negotiate while seeking other loans and trying to sell assets to cure the shortfall. Failure could allow the lenders to place the company in receivership. One of the things we would do is an asset sale, said president and CEO John Wright in an interview. But that would have to be sizable enough and profitable enough for us that it would allow us to pay out the banks, reinvest the excess proceeds in our other properties and probably put a new bank line in place. The stock, which traded for more than $30 in 2009, closed down 29 per cent to 23 cents Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange after going as low as 21 cents. Analyst Michael Harvey of RBC Dominion Securities said in a morning note the action by lenders is negative for the company. Lightstream was built through a string of acquisitions starting in 2009. It boasts a strong base of light oil production in Alberta and Saskatchewan but its debt totalled $1.6 billion at the end of 2015. Lightstream launched a sales process for its core Bakken light oil producing assets in Saskatchewan in late 2014 but has been unable to find a suitable buyer in a down market, Wright said. The companys annual average production in 2015 fell 22 per cent to 31,392 barrels of oil equivalent a day due to asset sales and lower investment in new wells. It reported a net loss of $946 million, including a non-cash writedown of $661 million to account for lower anticipated future commodity prices. Follow @HealingSlowly on Twitter. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version had an incorrect borrowing base difference calculation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO Four former Sino-Forest executives accused of fraud did not deceive anyone or shirk responsibility for their actions while they worked for the forestry company, a securities tribunal heard Monday. To the contrary, Albert Ip, one of the four accused, agreed to be examined by law firm Bennett Jones while he was hospitalized in critical condition, said his lawyer Markus Koehnen. Two people from Bennett Jones came to the hospital and examined Ip for three hours, despite the fact that he was having trouble breathing and had suffered internal bleeding, Koehnen said. Thats not running away from responsibility, Koehnen said. Mr. Ip could have kept his mouth shut and said, Go away. He didnt. Koehnen, who is also representing Alfred Hung, George Ho and Simon Yeung, began his closing arguments in the Ontario Securities Commission hearing against five former Sino-Forest executives accused of perpetrating fraud before the firm collapsed in 2012. The case is the longest and most complex in the regulators history. Koehnen said his clients accurately disclosed what was going on to their superiors at the company and did not act dishonestly. He also argued that his clients did not commit fraud because there were legitimate business reasons for their actions even if those reasons can at times be difficult to decipher. I will be the first to agree that sometimes that conduct requires explanation, Koehnen said, adding that its not because the conduct was nefarious but because the companys business operations were in mainland China, where business customs are different. Former CEO Allen Chan has also been accused of perpetrating fraud. His lawyer, Emily Cole, has argued that Chan did not know everything that was going on within the company, and that he relied on others more familiar with Canadian reporting obligations when it came to the companys finances. The OSC alleges the five men took part in deceitful conduct that included the fabrication of assets and revenue, undisclosed relationships with suppliers and customers and providing misleading documentation to support the alleged fraud. The securities watchdog also alleges that the executives misled investors by issuing false financial statements in every quarter from 2007 to 2010. Established in 1994, Sino-Forest was the largest foreign-owned forestry company in China. Most of the companys business was conducted in China, but its headquarters were in Ontario and its shares were traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. At its peak, Sino-Forest was the most valuable forestry company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of $6 billion. From June 2005 to March 2011, the companys shares rose by 340 per cent from $5.75 per share to $25.30 per share. Follow @alexposadzki on Twitter. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CALGARY High prices for condensate, a diluent that allows sticky oilsands bitumen to flow in a pipeline, are expected to remain a thorn in the side of producers already reeling from low prices. In first-quarter results last week, both Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE) and MEG Energy Corp. (TSX:MEG) complained their losses were magnified by the high cost of condensate. For every 10 barrels of raw bitumen, about three barrels of condensate are required. While bitumen prices tumbled briefly to below US$10 a barrel in the early part of 2016, condensate prices in Canada were at or near the much higher price of West Texas Intermediate crude in New York. Oilsands growth into 2019-20, with its heavy weighting towards non-upgraded bitumen, remains the driving force behind rising condensate demand in Alberta, said RBC Dominion Securities in a research report released Monday. Although the North American condensate market appears in equilibrium with adequate pipeline import capacity for now, we envision a wider supply gap emerging in Western Canada over time bridged by mounting U.S. rail imports. RBC forecasts that oilsands production, driven by projects including Suncor Energy Inc.s Fort Hills mine, will grow by 760,000 barrels a day to about 3.1 million bpd by 2020 before stabilizing. Raw bitumen is expected to account for 600,000 bpd of the growth, thereby driving condensate demand growth from 451,000 bpd in 2015 to 631,000 bpd in 2020. Meanwhile, according to RBC, growth in condensate production in Western Canada is slowing as companies cut back on drilling liquids-rich natural gas wells the source of the condensate due to low prices for the other products in the gas stream. It said growth will moderate to about six per cent per year. Canadian condensate production was 226,000 bpd in 2015. Condensate imports averaged 225,000 bbl/d in 2015 and are set to reach 335,000 bbl/d in 2020, RBC said. High diluent prices further complicate oilsands marketing strategies. Bitumen doesnt need to be diluted to be transported in a rail car but rail transportation tends to be much more expensive than pipeline. Both Cenovus and MEG have access to crude-by-rail loading operations in the Edmonton area, although the bitumen must be diluted at their northern Alberta operations to be piped to the railheads. MEG has regulatory approval to build a $75-million diluent recovery unit to strip out the condensate before its loaded in railcars. We like the strategic advantages and economics, said MEG spokesman Brian Bellows. With capital constraints in the current low price environment, construction has been postponed, but we are continuing to advance engineering. Cenovus CEO Brian Ferguson said last week his company is also considering a project, noting it could save the company $2 to $4 a barrel in certain market conditions RBC said it expects two key condensate import pipelines, Enbridges Southern Lights and Kinder Morgans Cochin, with a combined capacity of 275,000 bpd, will run fuller into 2018, opening the door for more transport by rail into Canada. Follow @HealingSlowly on Twitter. Already have an account? Log in here PAYNTON, Sask. - A Saskatchewan man is facing criminal charges for allegedly running down and killing a pronghorn antelope with his dirt bike. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Thanks, but no thanks thats interim Conservative leader Rona Ambroses reaction to a nascent campaign seeking to allow her to run for permanent leadership of the party. A small group of Tory MPs launched a drive last week to open the partys constitution to change the rules that prevent interim leaders from seeking the top job, a move designed specifically to encourage Ambrose to run. But her spokesman said its not in the cards. Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose laughs as she asks a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, May 2, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Rona is obviously happy to be receiving support for the work shes been doing as interim leader because it shows that the team is on the right track, Mike Storeshaw said. But her decision on the permanent leadership was made a long time ago, and it hasnt changed and wont change. Shes not going to be a candidate for it. The partys constitution prohibits an interim leader from becoming a candidate in the leadership process. To change the rules requires 100 delegates from 100 ridings to sign a petition, and thats just the first step. From there, the issue would be discussed at the upcoming Conservative policy convention in Vancouver and if it made it out of a constitutional review, the broader convention would need to vote and approve the change. Tory MP Scott Reid, who is among those leading the effort to draft Ambrose, said the group believes she is best placed to continue to oppose the Liberal government and to eventually take the reins of government altogether. Ambrose wasnt told about it so no one would question her motives when she sought interim leadership last fall, he said. No one doubts that when she ran for that job she didnt want the full-time position, but Reid said he and others believe she should change her mind. We have to convince her this is the right thing to do, he said. Reids office said the group will continue collecting signatures until they hear from Ambrose directly. The campaign launch appeared to catch many Tory MPs off guard, including several considering their own run. Quebec Tory MP Maxime Bernier, who has officially registered to run for the permanent leadership, said Ambrose has the support of caucus as interim leader. The rules of the game are there and I dont think its time to change it, he said. Some leadership hopefuls are gathering next week in Toronto for a forum organized by MP Bob Saroya, one of only a handful of Tories who won a Toronto-area riding in the last election. Just as the region was a key battleground in that campaign, it will also be a hotly contested area for the 2017 leadership vote as rebuilding party support in the greater Toronto area is crucial for the Conservatives ahead of the next general election. Saroya said he thinks Ambrose is doing a terrific job as interim leader but the question of whether she should seek the permanent job isnt his to answer. At the end of the day, its up to her, he said. To date, only two people have formally registered in the race Bernier and Ontario MP Kellie Leitch. Ontario MP Michael Chong is expected to declare his candidacy ahead of the May policy convention. Others thinking about a run include MPs Tony Clement, Andrew Scheer, Jason Kenney and Lisa Raitt. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO A misdemeanour domestic battery charge has been dropped against Trailer Park Boys actor Mike Smith a month after his arrest in Los Angeles. Smith, who plays the character Bubbles on the Canadian cult comedy, was arrested on April 1 after an incident at a Hollywood hotel involving a woman. He was released on bail hours later, after being booked on suspicion of misdemeanour domestic battery, and had been set to appear in a L.A. court last Friday. Actor Mike Smith arrives in character as Bubbles for the Canadian premiere of the film "Trailer Park Boys Countdown to Liquor Day" in Toronto on Monday, September 21, 2009. A misdemeanour domestic battery charge has been dropped against the actor a month after his arrest in Los Angeles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese The Los Angeles City Attorneys office said Monday that Smiths charge had been dropped. Spokesman Frank Mateljan said the office decided not to pursue the charge due to lack of sufficient evidence. Smith had denied any wrongdoing in a written statement issued shortly after his arrest, saying the woman involved in the incident was a friend of his with whom he had a loud and heated dispute. At no time did I assault her. I am not guilty of the misdemeanour charged against me, he said at the time. In the same statement, which was issued by the Trailer Park Boys, a woman who was described as the alleged victim in the incident also denied the police allegations. At no point did I feel I was in danger, otherwise I wouldve called the police myself, which I did not, the woman was quoted as saying. The police were called by others not present in the room who mistakenly perceived the argument to be something other than what it was. The statement also said other members of the Trailer Park Boys and all staff stand behind Smith. Not long after news of Smiths arrest surfaced, however, his then Trailer Park Boys co-star Lucy DeCoutere announced that she was leaving the television show. DeCoutere took to Twitter at the time to say: If I find out that somebody is abusive, I cut them out of my life. She then tweeted that she was resigning. DeCoutere later insisted she remained friends with the cast and crew of the Trailer Park Boys despite saying her departure was linked to Smiths arrest. DeCoutere has become a well-known figure across the country after testifying against former CBC broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi at his sexual assault trial. He was found not guilty in March. Trailer Park Boys is about three petty felons living in a trailer park. The show is produced by Toronto-based Showcase Television and appears on Netflix. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Canada is prepared to join a key United Nations anti-torture agreement more than a decade after it was first passed. The UNs optional protocol to the convention against torture allows for the establishment of national and international systems for inspecting detention centres where torture often takes place in secrecy. It was first approved by the world body in 2002. FILE - Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion speaks with reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons before Question Period in Ottawa on April 13, 2016. "The minister just announced that we agree that the government of Canada should join this important protocol," said Chantal Gagnon, a spokesperson for the minister, of what Dion had to say at a private reception earlier Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Although dozens of countries have signed on, Canada has not ratified the protocol. The Harper government twice promised to do so, but never did. The new Trudeau government will follow through, says Chantal Gagnon, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion. The minister just announced that we agree that the government of Canada should join this important protocol, Gagnon said of what Dion had to say at a private reception earlier Monday. We are taking the first step towards doing so by beginning formal consultations on the optional protocol with provincial and territorial governments. Mohamed Fahmy, who spent more than a year in a prison in Egypt, welcomed the move on Twitter, calling it history in the making. Activist groups have been pressing for ratification for years; Amnesty International Canada retweeted Dions announcement and has a news conference on the subject scheduled for Tuesday. Supporters of the protocol say it is an important step in freeing the world from the practice of torture. They say Canadian ratification would strengthen the countrys ability to press other countries to open detention centres to increased scrutiny. With files from Mike Blanchfield Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Sometimes its for the thrill, sometimes its so they can be a hero. There are several cases of firefighters who start fires, a phenomenon officially called firefighter arson. Kevin Wedick, an Edmonton private fire investigator with the consulting firm Origin and Cause, says that of the cases hes seen in Alberta, most involve volunteer firefighters from small, rural departments. Fire engulfs a Canadian National Railway bridge on the outskirts of Mayerthorpe in this image provide by the Town of Mayerthorpe, Alta., on April 26, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Town of Mayerthorpe Some of these fellows want the excitement, Wedick says. They want to roll out there with the sirens and go on a call. In addition to an adrenaline rush, they may also be motivated by financial gain, he says, since fighting a fire as a volunteer also means getting a paycheque. A 2003 report by the United States Fire Administration calls firefighter arson a rare but serious problem. Their main reason for lighting the fire is so they can appear as a hero, either by being the first to spot the flames, or by rescuing people and saving property, says the report. Other reasons cited in the report were to earn extra money and practise their skills. As an example, the report mentions a firefighter in North Carolina who would set fire to an occupied house, then return to the scene and rescue the family inside. Last weekend, a volunteer firefighter in Mayerthorpe, Alta., was charged with 18 counts of arson following a recent rash of fires in the area northwest of Edmonton. RCMP have said one of the fires included a blaze that engulfed a wooden train trestle and forced the evacuation of a high school and mobile home park. Michael Schalm, 19, who joined the communitys fire department as a junior member when he was 15, is to appear in court on Wednesday. The allegations have not been proven and he has not yet entered a plea. In 2008, firefighter Mike Hagel of Oliver, B.C., who was sentenced to two years for setting fires in the area. He confessed in a letter sent to media, saying he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and had a drinking problem. There are two other reported cases in Quebec where firefighters were handed prison sentences for their arsons. One of the most infamous firefighter arson cases is John Orr, an arson investigator in California who started hundreds of fires in the 80s and 90s, including one that killed four people. Orr, who was nicknamed the Pillow Pyro because he reportedly started some fires with pillows, was arrested after writing a best-selling novel about a firefighter turned serial arsonist. HBO later turned his story into a movie starring Ray Liotta. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Canadas forest products industry is committing to cut its emissions of greenhouse gases by 30 million tonnes a year by 2030. The industry association says about half the promised reductions will come from improved forest practices, including using the slash from downed trees rather than burning it or letting it rot and emit methane. Improved and expanded use of carbon-sequestering wood products, plus efficiencies in mill operations will make up the balance of the emission cuts. Derek Nighbor, the new CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, says the federal governments Canadian Forest Service estimated how much the forestry sector could contribute to reducing emissions and the industry bettered that estimate. As part of the most recent United Nations climate negotiations in Paris, Canada committed to cut its overall emissions 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 a reduction that amounts to about 225 million tonnes a year. The forestry industry association says its carbon measures will make up about 13 per cent of that 2030 emissions promise and that the industry will be tracking its progress to ensure its emissions are coming down. Were the first industry to come forward with a comprehensive plan and its a plan that were going to be reporting on every three years, Nighbor said Monday in an interview. The forestry association is also contributing to all four federal-provincial policy working groups that are negotiating policy options for a pan-Canadian climate plan to be hammered out next fall. Those working groups, formed following a first ministers meeting in Vancouver at the beginning of March, were given six months to find some common ground on areas such as climate mitigation and adaptation, carbon pricing and clean technology innovation. The forestry associations 30 by 30 climate change challenge is part of an intense lobbying effort that includes seeking government financial support for clean tech research and development and forest products procurement as part of infrastructure spending. There are a few levers here we need the government to pull, said Nighbor. The forestry sector says it has spent $1.5 billion on clean tech innovation over the last five years and that since 1990 it has reduced emissions from existing mills by two thirds. Bob Larocque, the forest associations environment and labour market policy director, said using wood waste for new laminate products and biofuels can reduce carbon emissions, as can planting faster-growing, climate-resistant trees that absorb more carbon from the atmosphere. Canada is also re-introducing taller wood structure buildings, including construction of an 18-story residence at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and a 13-story building in Quebec City. The association argues that wood laminate buildings not only sequester the carbon in the timber for the life of the building, they also dont require the carbon-intensive concrete or steel of more conventional tall structures. Follow @BCheadle on Twitter Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VANCOUVER Vancouvers crackdown on unlicensed medical marijuana dispensaries has begun, with bylaw inspectors issuing 44 tickets to date and confirming that 22 stores have already closed. But many owners are refusing to shut their doors and are mulling legal action, while others are refocusing their business efforts on cities without regulations including Toronto. Its absurd that these businesses that have laid the groundwork for access and legalization are being punished and shut down when they do no harm, said cannabis activist Jodie Emery. Don Briere, owner of 15 Weeds Glass & Gifts medical marijuana dispensaries, stands for a photograph outside one of his locations in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on May 1, 2015. Vancouver's crackdown on unlicensed medical marijuana dispensaries has begun, with bylaw inspectors issuing 44 tickets to date and confirming that 22 stores have already closed. But many owners are refusing to shut their doors and are mulling legal action, while others are refocusing their business efforts on cities without regulations including Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A lot of Vancouver dispensary owners in the last year have set up plans to move to other jurisdictions like Toronto because the regulations here are too restrictive. Vancouver became the first city in Canada to develop regulations for medical marijuana businesses last year. Dozens of stores have opened in Toronto in the past few months alone. But Vancouver refused to grant licences to 140 stores that violated certain rules including being too close to schools. Seven businesses have been issued permits and 13 applications are under review. Bylaw inspectors began heavily enforcing the rules on Saturday. Twenty-three stores were ticketed over the weekend, bringing the total number of tickets issued so far to 44. Andreea Toma, the citys chief licensing inspector, said in an interview on Monday that stores that continue to operate without a licence will face a $250 fine for every day they stay open. Staff will continue enforcement this week while compiling the necessary information to take legal action against locations that flout city rules, she said. The citys legal options include bylaw prosecutions that can result in a $10,000 fine or seeking court injunctions to order dispensaries to close, Toma said. These are the tools that we have. Were not coming up with anything new, she said. Were being fair and consistent. This is what we do with all other businesses. Some dispensary operators are considering lawsuits to challenge what they say are overly restrictive and unfair regulations. Everybodys talking about litigation, said Don Briere, owner of the Weeds Glass and Gifts chain. Its going to be costly and of course the taxpayer is footing the bill. Briere said he had spoken with lawyers and was considering a suit alleging discrimination, because many of his sick and elderly customers will now be forced to travel to get their medicine. He said five of his six stores were ticketed on Saturday and he plans to dispute the fines. Chuck Varabioff of the B.C. Pain Society filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court for a judicial review of a Board of Variance decision to deny his appeal to keep his location on Commercial Drive open. The store was shut down because it was within 300 metres of a school, but Vancouvers oldest dispensary, the B.C. Compassion Club, is also near the school and was allowed to stay open. Varabioff said he supports regulating dispensaries, but feels the Board of Variance did not give him a fair appeal and he is refusing to pay the ticket he received on Saturday in protest. Vancouver was kind of the role model for the entire world for licensing dispensaries, and they have now taken 100 steps backwards, he said. Some dispensaries are complying with the regulations. Eden Medicinal Society posted on Facebook that three of its locations were closing and referred customers to its West 10th Avenue location as well as a store coming soon on Kingsway. This is a turbulent time for dispensaries in Vancouver. Always know that Eden is committed to its patients and we will continue to be chameleons with these new city regulations, the post said. Follow @ellekane on Twitter. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 01/05/2016 (2367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VANCOUVER A Vancouver coast guard base controversially shuttered by the previous Conservative government has reopened, but a union spokesman says it lacks around-the-clock rescue capacity. Kitsilano station opened on Sunday with two rigid inflatable vessels, one pollution-response vessel and three crew members, said Bill Tieleman of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees. The government promised in the election campaign that it would be restored to a full 24/7 search and rescue centre. Thats what the union expects to happen. This is not it, he said. Members of the Canadian Coast Guard stand on a hovercraft docked outside the Kitsilano Coast Guard facility as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Hunter Tootoo, announces the federal government's commitment to reopening the station, in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday December 16, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck The Canadian Coast Guard has described the opening on Sunday as a soft launch, with a full launch planned for June, but it isnt clear whether it will increase the number of staff or vessels. The base was closed as a cost-cutting measure in 2013. When a bulk grain carrier spilled at least 2,700 litres of bunker fuel into English Bay last April, city officials complained that the response could have been faster if the base had been open, something the coast guard disputed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised on the campaign trail to reopen the station, and Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo vowed in December that it would be an around-the-clock operation. The 2016 federal budget committed $23 million over five years to re-open Kitsilano. Tieleman said starting Sunday, the station will be staffed by three employees who work eight hours and are on call for 16 hours. While on call, they must be within 30 minutes of the station, he said. They are not working 24/7, he said. If there is an emergency after daytime operating hours, theyre on call to go and respond. Before the base was closed, it was staffed 24 hours a day by a crew of 13, allowing three staff members to be on site at all times, he said. Tieleman also said the base used to have a large all-weather cutter called the Osprey, but that vessel was decommissioned and sold after the base closed. Instead, the base opened Sunday with one rigid inflatable vessel with a cabin called the CCGS Moorhen, one without a cabin called the CCGS Kitsilano 1, and a pollution-response vessel for oil spills, said Tieleman. The Canadian Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, but Assistant Commissioner Roger Girouard said in an email to coast guard personnel that officials have worked hard on a tight time frame to get the station ready. It has been renovated, and equipment and assets are in place to support 24/7 operations, he said in the email dated Saturday. Girouard added that the coast guard continued to work on a plan for the stations enhanced marine response capacity, which will include environmental response ability, emergency response training and an exercise program for partners, local First Nations and coastal communities. Meanwhile, the Canadian Coast Guard is still planning to close a marine communication and traffic services centre in Comox on Vancouver Island, according to the union representing employees there. Unifor has said that if the Comox centres closure is allowed to go ahead on May 10, despite the protests of frontline coast guard officers, there will be fewer back-ups in case of emergency. By monitoring traffic, the centres are the first line of defence for mariners in distress or when an ecological disaster strikes, the union said. Over the last two years nine of 22 marine communciation and traffic centres have been closed. (The Canadian Press, CKNW) Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An inadvertent error by a federal lawyer has let the Catholic Church off the hook, legally speaking, for more than $20 million it owed to a healing and reconciliation fund, set up as part of the Indian Residential School settlement. But that does not free the church specifically, the churches and religious organizations named in the settlement of the larger moral obligation. Churches preach all the time about doing the right thing. They should walk the talk. The right thing, now, is to get busy fundraising, pull out the stops on everything from the ubiquitous church bazaars to special envelope pleas in the pews and the more lucrative estate-planning solicitations many religious organizations have made a part of their long-range budgeting strategies. Churches do not survive on the coins in the Sunday offerings plates. But the more than 50 Catholic organizations named in the 2006 settlement have essentially said theyve done all they can. They raised $3.7 million of a $25-million total obligation, but when they went knocking on the door of corporate Canada, they came up empty, the Globe and Mail was told. The healing fund is financed from a much larger pool of money, including from the federal government. The Catholic Church alone has paid a total of $54 million in cash or in-kind services toward it already. But in negotiations last year, as Ottawa was pursuing the church to fulfil the outstanding obligation, a federal lawyer inadvertently indicated the Catholic entities were discharged of the remaining debt. A judge said anyone looking at what the lawyer said would agree the churches were justified in believing they could halt their fundraising efforts. Ironically, Phil Fontaine, the man who was a force behind Canadas residential school compensation settlement and apology to survivors of the era, went on to help the Catholic Church in its fundraising efforts after the IRS settlement was signed. He has described as futile any efforts to force the church now to drum up the $21.3 million owed. And more insult to injury: the shortfall means two other churches Anglican and United were released from part of their fundraising obligations for healing and reconciliation, which were tied, as a percentage, to the Catholic Churchs contributions. In fact, the Catholic shortfall resulted in $2.7 million being returned to the Anglicans and $450,000 to the United Church. In contrast, the Presbyterian Church waived any refund of the $1.3 million it deposited into the fund. The healing and reconciliation fund was set up to pay for programs and organizations working to improve the health and promote the healing of former students, their families and communities. Its there to mend fences and foster understanding between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. That funding continues, but the work would suffer by the total shortfall of almost $25 million. Symbolically, however, there is likely greater fallout to be seen if the churches walk away from this obligation. There will be damage to the hard work that is continuing on reparations and national reconciliation with First Nations people. It makes one wonder if there is no end to the residential schools pain, the legacy of woe and deep distrust they produced. The Trudeau government may ultimately wear this one and be responsible to fulfil the debt to the fund. But that would be a stain upon the names of the churches. What they should do now is have the heart-to-heart talks with their parishioners and congregations, crank up the fundraising machinery and put the healing fund at the top of their priorities. After all, as St. Paul would say, God loves a cheerful giver. Winnipeg Free Press Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Chances are, when you ask a person where their food comes from, beyond knowing which grocery stores they shop at, further information on the origins of their food will be vague. As the world continues to urbanize and globalize, we are increasingly losing touch with the people who produce what we eat. A group of 13 people, mostly Manitobans including myself, have just returned from visiting producers in Peru. Most folks who travel to that country are more interested in seeing the ancient ruins of Macchu Picchu, but our aim was to visit co-operatives in the northwest of the country that grow coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, bananas, mangoes and other products for the fair trade market. We left Manitoba with snow on the ground a few weeks ago and returned to continued cool weather. While in Peru, however, we encountered temperatures more than 30 degrees higher than here, as we endeavoured to cope with mid- to high 30s with accompanying humidity! As well, visiting rural and remote communities, we found that there was a lot of walking and climbing, seemingly uphill in all directions! Anyone who reads this column regularly likely knows about fair trade, a system that seeks to pay producers a fair price for their efforts, use environmentally friendly growing methods and contribute to the social welfare of poor communities. Under the Fairtrade International symbol, agricultural producers in developing countries organize themselves into co-ops, giving them greater say in decision-making around their business. Farmers we met with talked about how their participation in co-ops and the stabilizing of prices over the past 10 years had brought better financial conditions to their communities and strong representation of each community in the larger co-op. With fair trade, they had more control over who they sold their product to and what price they received, thus their communities were better off now than before. Being part of the fair trade and co-operative system also means getting technical support that is much needed, particularly as producers attempt to deal with the effects of climate change. Flooding in Peru mirrors flooding in Manitoba where crops and roads have been victimized by unusual amounts of rain. The incredibly hot temperatures we encountered were not just a random accident but rather indications of a pattern of global warming. This has led to new diseases attacking crops, in particular the coffee harvest in Latin America. Producers showed us organic pest controls they are using, for example growing hot peppers near their banana crop and then using the peppers to manufacture a spray to ward off insects. New equipment is another benefit of premiums bonuses that come from the fair trade system, particularly items that add to the productivity and safety of harvesting bananas, sugar cane and other (to us) backbreaking activities. Challenges remain for this generation of producers, despite the benefits of the fair trade system. Just like in Manitoba and other parts of the world, young people are migrating to the cities, leaving food production in the hands of fewer and fewer people. Rural schools have much fewer students than before as young people seek training or jobs away from home. We met few farmers below 35 years of age. Young leadership leaving rural areas means a poor prognosis for the future of communities. We met a mayor in a small town who splits his time between his job and family in the capital, Lima, and his feelings of obligation to his hometown. Diversification of crops is also on the agenda of Peruvian farmers so that they can employ local people year-round rather than just seasonally. Rice is one crop that some are considering and they asked us questions about Asian rice producers who are part of the fair trade system. Another concern is the need to increase consumer demand for products in the fair trade system. More is being produced than is being sold as organic and/or fair trade. This is a challenge for us to take on in North America and Europe, to get the word out that fair trade products are good for people and the environment and worth the slightly higher prices we would pay. Some good news has been that the Peruvian government has recognized that their fair trade co-operatives are contributing to the national economy, to the extent that officials are making grants available to develop the co-ops and to improve roads to allow fair trade products to get to market. Still, there is much to be done as the communities we visited were extremely remote and, with the effects of El Nino and global warming, transportation is often uncertain with bridges washed out and roads a quagmire. The positive impact of fair trade on poorer producers in our world is undeniable. But there is much more to do be done to make fair trade part of our mainstream. Corporate and consumer social responsibility, with our help in promoting fair trade,will ultimately bring better products to our store shelves better for us and for our world. Zack Gross is fair trade outreach co-ordinator at the Manitoba Council for International Co-operation (MCIC). Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 02/05/2016 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WASHINGTON Donald Trump will likely become his partys presidential nominee if he wins Indiana on Tuesday, capping a string of dominance across vast swaths of the United States. Theres one glaring exception. Just look at the map. The middle of the country has rebuffed Trump. Hes gone zero for 10 in Republican contests there. Hes lost mainly to Ted Cruz, but also to Marco Rubio. Hes lost primaries, caucuses, and delegate conventions. What political kryptonite lies in Americas heartland, rendering Trump so feeble there? The question carries relevance Tuesday: Indiana bills itself as the Crossroads of America, and sits near the meeting point of the pro- and anti-Trump regions. This is clearly a multi-faceted story, said David Byler, a researcher at the site Real Clear Politics. Political analysts, activists, and data offered some clues. Race and identity: Theres a racial difference. White voters massively preferred Trump in states with a heavy minority presence (Alabama, Mississippi, New York, Nevada). In whiter states, they didnt (Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma). Census data compiled by The Canadian Press shows that states won by Trump averaged three times more African-Americans (16.3 per cent of the population) than states won by Cruz (5.3 per cent). In states without minorities, the candidate who proposed making Mexico pay for a wall and getting tough with Black Lives Matter protesters had less success. Political science has a well-documented term for this: the racial threat hypothesis. Whites who live in close proximity to minority populations tend to be more open to racialized appeals, Byler said, explaining the concept. I want to be clear: obviously not all of Trumps appeal is racial a lot of it is economic, a lot of it is cultural. But some of it may have something to do with race. Trump supporters are by far most likely to call immigrants a burden on the country; 69 per cent expressed that feeling according to Pew Research, compared to 51 per cent of Cruzs and 40 per cent of John Kasichs. Activism: Trump fares best with political outsiders, Cruz with heavily active Republicans. Several western contests played to Cruzs strength. Four out of five Cruz wins have come in states with caucuses, which involve a public meeting. These include Iowa and Kansas. He also dominated in Wyoming and Colorado where the general public didnt vote, and delegates were elected at conventions. Theres just one caucus state in the east: Maine. Its the only one Cruz won in that region. Ideology: Trumps supporters are sometimes conservative just like their candidate. Cruzs are conservative across the board. Take the size of government: Cruz won states where Pew polls showed the highest support for cutting government, and services. On abortion, Trump voters mildly skew pro-life. Its no contest among Cruzs according to Pew, 73 per cent say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. One party activist in Colorado said people dont trust the New York billionaire on gun rights and abortion. Laura Carno called him a conservative of convenience: He has spoken on the record far more in support of pro-choice policies over his career. They just dont believe him. Religion: The most active churchgoers support Cruz. Trump does well with evangelicals generally, but loses to Cruz by 15 points nationally among voters who attend weekly service, Pew says. Trump lost the Lutheran-heavy region in the Midwest. But hes especially toxic among Mormons, concentrated in Utah and surrounding states. Trump finished third in Utah and lost by 54 points. Resentment of elites: Trump supporters are likeliest to feel ignored. The Rand Corp. found a stunning statistic. It said the best way to identify a Trump supporter in its research was to ask: Do people like you have any say about what the government does? Those who answered, No, were 86.5 per cent more likely to prefer Trump. A gap appears when it comes to personal wealth and education. Among Republicans making under $30,000, Trump was trouncing his rivals by 20 points according to Pew while running neck-and-neck with those earning over $100,000. He did best with high-school grads; competed among Republican college grads; and lost with postgrads. That cant be explained by regional differences, one political analyst said. Kyle Kondik said Trumps been so dominant he wouldnt read much into a few smaller-state results. Anyway, it might not matter much after Tuesday. Said Kondik, managing editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball: I think it might be all over but the shoutin if Trump wins (Indiana). The Irish naval vessel LE Roisin has left Ireland for search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. The ship departed Haulbowline in Cork at noon yesterday. The responsibility for the deaths of five babies in Portlaoise hospital may never be known, according to the head of the HSE. Tony O'Brien has written to the Department of Health to outline concerns about how the inquiry into the infants' deaths was being carried out. Update - 12.30pm: Gerry Adams has said his use of the n-word in his tweet last night was "inappropriate". Speaking today at Connolly House in Belfast, Mr Adams said: "Django Unchained is a powerful film which highlights the injustices suffered by African Americans through its main character Django. "In my tweets I described him as a Ballymurphy n and an uppity Fenian. "I have acknowledged that the use of the n-word was inappropriate. That is why I deleted the tweet. I apologise for any offence caused. "I stand over the context and main point of my tweet about the Django which were the parallels between people in struggle. The Sinn Fein President said that, like African Americans, Irish nationalists were denied basic rights. He said: "The penal laws, Cromwells regime, and partition are evidence of that. "In our own time, like African Americans nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy and west Belfast, were denied the right to vote; the right to work; the right to a home; and were subject to draconian laws. While there are parallels between people in struggle, the tweet was inappropriate" - Gerry Adams https://t.co/0kEyhj9FZd Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) May 2, 2016 "This changed because we stood up for ourselves. We need to continue to do that. "The civil rights movement here, of which I was a founding member, was inspired and based its approach on the civil rights campaign in the USA. "I have long been inspired by Harriet Tubman; Frederick Douglass; Rosa Parks; Martin Luther King and Malcolm X who stood up for themselves and for justice." Update - 12pm: Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has told reporters he is sorry for using the N-word in a tweet last night. Mr Adams said: "I stand over the context and the substance of the point I was making which is the parallel between the plight of people here in Ireland and the struggle of people of African-American extraction." Earlier: The Sinn Fein President has come under fire for a tweet he wrote using the N-word. Gerry Adams sent the tweet last night, after apparently watching 'Django Unchained', a film set in pre-civil war era America. Mr Adams has since deleted the tweet, but he has been accused of being racist as a result of it. In a statement he said anyone who is offended by the use of the N-word misunderstood the context in which it was used. Any1 who saw Django would know my tweets&N-word were ironic.Nationalists in Nth were treated like African Americans. Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) May 2, 2016 The Sinn Fein President said: "My tweets about the film Django have triggered a lot of interest. Anyone who has seen the film, as I did last evening, and who is familiar with the plight of nationalists in the North until recently, would know that my tweets about the film and the use of the N-word were ironic and not intended to cause any offence whatsoever. "Attempts to suggest that I am a racist are without credibility. I am opposed to racism and have been all my life. "The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves. .@GerryAdamsSF comments on Django tweets https://t.co/7em2GL83nU "I am opposed to racism and have been all my life." Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) May 2, 2016 "If anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used. For this reason I deleted the tweets." Gardai at Ronanstown in Dublin are investigating a shooting incident which occurred shortly before 9pm this evening at Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. A man in his 20s received gunshot wounds to his leg and arm. Eighteen people have been killed by a car bomb in Baghdad. A vehicle detonated killing 18 Shia Muslim pilgrims. 45 people were also wounded when the car, which was parked in the Say-di-yah neighbourhood, blew up after midday. Islamic State have claimed it was behind the bombing. More than 150 people had to be evacuated as fire tore through an apartment building in southern Sweden. Rescue workers said the blaze raged on the top floor of the building, spreading from end to end along the 200ft-long complex. KARACHI: Speakers at a post-flood dialogue underlined the need to take measures to prevent the causes behind the... MOSCOW: The Kremlin said Friday that the truth behind last months explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines... A new ACTION bus timetable will be in place later in 2016, after changes deferred last year were dropped by the ACT government. Opposition spokesman Alistair Coe has seized on information given to the Legislative Assembly by Transport and Municipal Services Minister Meegan Fitzharris, showing ACTION will not be implementing some aspects of the planned timetable announced in September 2015. Transport and Municipal Services Minister Meegan Fitzharris. Credit:Melissa Adams The government was unable to introduce all its new weekday bus timetable last year because it didn't have enough buses to ensure drivers received a mandatory 10-minute break during their shifts. The timetable had been due to take effect on October 12 but ACTION had about 17 buses fewer than required to run the timetable. Then territory and municipal services minister Shane Rattenbury said the error was embarrassing and the changes would be delayed until sometime in the first half of this year. Canberra International Music Festival: Three Concerts The Gala Opening: Tango Tambuco Fitters' Workshop, Friday, April 29, 7.30pm; Ear of the Cat: Griffyn Ensemble, Ainslie Arts Centre, Saturday, April 30, 10am; Fandango: Forma Antiqva, Fitters' Workshop, Saturday, April 29, 1pm. This year's Canberra International Music Festival under Roland Peelman's direction is off to a grand start, leaving its transition year behind and moving forward with a program focused on repertoire out of the mainstream and engaging with an exciting range of artists across the generations. Tambuco displayed exceptional technical ability in their percussion playing. Opening the festival with Bach's Prelude, Fugue and Allegro BWV 998, was an inspired programming decision, featuring the intelligent young guitarist Andrey Lebedev. This is music to clean the palate and prepare the heart and mind for whatever might follow in this case, more Bach interpreted by Tambuco Percussion, leading into an evening of spirited percussion music, tango and innovative collaborations involving James Crabb, Rohan Dasika, Anna McMichael and the Boccherini Trio. Tambuco was founded in 1993 by four Mexican musicians who explore all styles and repertoire, relying on their telepathic communication forged though years of dedicated music-making together. Their exceptional technical ability to alternate between ferocious drumming and shimmering evocations on marimba and vibraphone created dramatic contrasts throughout the evening. The ACT government will move to guarantee statutory lump sum benefits for workers who are diagnosed with a fatal asbestos-related disease. Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations Minister Mick Gentleman said a bill to be introduced into the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday would streamline government processes to allow workers with an imminently fatal asbestos-related disease to access their fair entitlements sooner, with guaranteed statutory amounts. The ACT government wants to improve compensation available for workers with ailments linked to asbestos. Credit:Rohan Thomson An injured worker would be entitled to receive up to $140,505 in compensation, designed to help with the cost of rehabilitation, other medical expenses and required home-based modifications. As part of the plan, workers will be able to make claims without having to first exhaust all other avenues of compensation. The default insurance fund's claim management arrangements will be changed to become the default insurer for all imminently fatal asbestos-related disease claims. Haoma Mining, the alchemist heavily backed by pollster Gary Morgan, was a big bolter on Monday after the company reported more success with the gold extraction technique it licenses from another Morgan company, Elazac. Haoma produced and sold nearly one kilo of gold during the March quarter, and a smaller amount of silver, for the total sum of $52,372. It was such an outstanding result that Haoma immediately thought about addressing the $64 million debt and interest bill owed to Morgan who is its chairman, largest shareholder, and sole funder of its loss-making operations. To give you an idea of just how big a deal Haoma's announcement is, Morgan's polling shop, The Roy Morgan Research Centre which has being paying the bills agreed to retrospectively slash its loan rate from a 4 per cent margin above the 30-day commercial bill rate, to a 1 per cent margin. The principle that everyone is equal before the law is "not a priority" for the government, a senior barrister has declared, after Attorney-General George Brandis all but confirmed the budget would not add funding needed to quell the legal aid crisis. The Productivity Commission's report on Access to Justice recommended in 2014 that $200 million a year - including $120 million from the federal government - be added to legal aid to meet widespread legal need. Legal aid commissions in every state and territory have cut the number of disadvantaged people they will grant free legal help to in recent years, as demand has grown without a commensurate rise to funding. On Friday, about 18 months later, Senator Brandis released the government's response to the report, which does not mention its position on this recommendation. "The Australian government is committed to doing what it can to increase funding levels for legal assistance in a tight fiscal environment," he said in a statement. ABC radio staff have been instructed to tackle unconscious bias about who they put on air by throwing out "old ideas and assumptions about the average Aussie" and making sure their election broadcasts contain a "healthy mix of ethnicities and accents". The advice, in an email to staff by ABC head of radio Michael Mason, came just hours after new Managing Director Michelle Guthrie used her first official day in the job to say boosting diversity at the public broadcaster would be one of her top priorities. Ms Guthrie's predecessor Mark Scott and said one of his regrets from his 10 years in the job was that the ABC still did not reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Australia and women were under-represented on air. There was a glorious experiment in direct democracy and the magnificence of the human spirit conducted in Britain a few months ago when the public were given the opportunity to name the nation's new arctic research vessel. And thus, for a brief moment of pure democratic beauty, it looked as though Boaty McBoatface a name voted for by a staggering 124,000 people would be proudly charging through the increasingly-less frigid waters of the North Sea. The government has announced the building of a replacement for the Aurora Australis - but what should we call it? Credit:Mike Zupanc, Australian Antarctic Division Sadly British science minister Jo Johnson killed the dream with the mean-spirited declaration that the chief executive of the Natural Environment Research Council would be deciding the final name after all. But now Australia's Environment Minister Greg Hunt has announced the public would help him name the nation's new icebreaker, with certain conditions including that the name would be chosen after consultation with Australia's schoolchildren? If you are an Australian living on Norfolk Island today you are effectively a second-class citizen. You are not covered by Medicare or the PBS: if you want healthcare on Norfolk Island you must contribute to an island-specific public health fund, which costs $1200 a year and only provides partial cover once your medical costs have exceeded $2000. Experts predict Norfolk Island will enjoy an economic boost as it shifts to a governance system used in Australia's other external territories. You are not covered by the Australian social security system: that means no Newstart Allowance if you lose your job, no Disability Support Pension and no Australian Age Pension. You have no access to a range of other Commonwealth programs, including funding for childcare and aged care, student assistance and support for job seekers. Choreographer Atlanta Eke, who won the inaugural Keir Award in 2014 and is now on the judging panel, says the artists selected for the finals are pushing the envelope very hard. The finalists in this year's competition are Ghenoa Gela, a Torres Strait Island performer from Sydney who has worked across dance, circus, television and stage, Melbourne dancer-choreographers Rebecca Jensen and Sarah Aiken, and Australian dancer Martin Hansen, who lives in Berlin. Video projections, live iPhone footage and GoPro cameras strapped to dancers' bodies feature in works by the four finalists in the 2016 Keir Choreographic Award. "The Keir awards are a place to experiment and a place to take risks," Eke says. "All of these choreographers are representative of a community who expand the capacity of dance. There is a sense of urgency in the independent dance sector." Ghenoa Gela's 'Fragments of Malungoka Women of the Sea' draws on traditional Torres Strait Islander dance and customs. Credit:Gregory Lorenzutti Gela's Fragments of Malungoka Women of the Sea draws on traditional Torres Strait Islander dance and customs with a GoPro camera strapped to one of her dancers. "I wanted to explore my female ancestry, on my mother's side, and what it was like growing up in Torres Strait where the women took on the roles of hunting and fishing when the men were out at sea," Gela says. "One of my dancers is wearing a camera on her chest and every now and then the audio-visual components click in and the audience sees a big projection at the back. They see everything the dancer is seeing and doing. The image is then manipulated." Producers of the new Ghostbusters, with an all-female lead cast, should have seen the misogynists coming the moment they announced the reboot - but they couldn't have predicted the trailer, released in early March, would become one of the most disliked trailers in YouTube history. With close to 602,000 thumbs-down, compared with a modest 213,000 likes, the promo has set off a tsunami of hate, with commenters debating whether the passionate aversion expressed by so many people is based on the gender question, or if the film simply looks like it might be a second-rate stinker. Screencrush reports the trailer has broken records for "dislikes" on YouTube, becoming the first movie trailer to break into the Top 100 least-liked videos. Feig has already been busy hitting back at haters, saying he was surprised not only by the level of venom, but the type of critics. He told Variety he has been astounded to find many are unassuming "proud father of two" types. Former High Court judge Michael Kirby has taken aim at the state of political "paralysis" in Australia on privacy law reform and urged NSW to introduce robust new laws allowing people to sue for damages over the publication of intimate photographs and other private information. State Parliament's law and justice committee called on the Baird government this year to pass laws giving people a legal right to sue for serious invasions of privacy, after decades of inertia by successive federal and state governments. The inquiry was triggered by a rise in "revenge porn"-style cases, where compromising photos and videos are posted online by disgruntled former partners. "The tax commissioner is responding by seeking to discredit the messenger because he has no answer to this truth." The internal memo, written by assistant commissioners David Miller and Scott McWhirter, also addressed the ASU's claim a better offer may become available after the federal election. Labor has announced it will scrap the Abbott government-era public sector bargaining policy, which has led to two years of industrial action. "This is sheer speculation and should be treated with great caution. The reality is, no one is able to say what will happen next," the assistant commissioners warned. "If there is a no vote, the ATO, let alone the ASU, is not able to predict how long it may take to complete another round of bargaining, nor when a new vote could occur, nor what changes if any could be in our offer, nor whether there would be any change to the bargaining policy." Modern, gentrified and generally safe Brisbane may be, scratch beneath the surface and you can find a bloody, shameful past. Bloody Brisbane tour organiser Jack Sim said it revealed part of Brisbane's history, of which most of its residents would not be aware. The Regent Theatre foyer was the scene of a dramatic shoot-out in 1962. Credit:Glenn Hunt "There's a deliberate intention to end this preconception, this sort of rubbish, that Brisbane is a 'new' place," he said. "The city's been dreadful it's pulled down so much of its built heritage so we're not new. Despite no one predicting Labor's move, party agitators have taken the crossbenchers siding with the government in the vote as the evidence needed to suggest Mr Springborg's influence with the Katter Party MPs is waning. The push to remove Mr Springborg as leader, following a false start on February, began anew. While numerous party sources have said numbers are yet to be officially counted, the battle for the leadership has been narrowed down to former treasurer Tim Nicholls and former public works minister Tim Mander, with Nanango MP and rising star Deb Frecklington suggested as deputy. Mr Mander saw his margin reduced to just under 2 per cent in his electorate of Everton, traditionally a Labor seat, at the last election, leading to concern his leadership would lead to the same "plan B" questions that plagued former premier Campbell Newman during the campaign. Mr Nicholls holds Clayfield on the fairly safe margin of just under 8 per cent, despite the backlash against the Newman government. While not confirmed, a party room meeting on Monday is shaping up as a leadership showdown, with MPs now only questioning whether Mr Springborg will "stop the bleeding now or six months down the track". "There are ongoing concerns, not just in the party, but from stakeholders, that Lawrence won't be able to win the city and if we can't win the city, we can't win the election," one MP said. "We could be going to a state election any time from August. The bells have been sounded, it just comes down to whether we stop the bleeding now and we are bleeding or we stop it a bit later." With Mr Nicholls, Mr Springborg and opposition mines spokesman Andrew Cripps on a pre-planned trip to inspect a mine site in north Queensland, it was left to deputy LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek to again face down the leadership speculation and attempt to push the opposition's agenda. "I am sure they are having the conversations that we always have, and that is about the future of Queensland, making sure we focus on that whilst Labor is partying out in Barcaldine," he said of the trip, dismissing any leadership spill talk as "rumour and speculation". "I think it is interesting that if there is anything that is going to come of that, I think it is important that we focus on Queenslanders, but rumour and speculation is not what I am here to talk about, it is about making sure we focus on jobs for Queenslanders, which Labor has dropped the ball on," he said. Mr Langbroek said he would not be challenging Mr Springborg. "I support Lawrence Springborg, he is the leader of the party anything else beyond that is speculation," he said. "...I am not challenging Lawrence Springborg. I am happy to serve as his deputy, he has done a great job taking us to a lead in the two-party preferred polling, heading in the right direction, holding the government to account and I am happy to serve as his deputy. "I am happy in my job at the moment and I am confident Lawrence will stay the leader." Mr Langbroek also said he had not discussed the issue with any of his colleagues. "That is something that Lawrence Springborg is dealing with as the leader of the opposition and I am doing my job as the shadow Treasury spokesman," he said. "I think it is pretty obvious that when you are dealing with crossbenchers who also are then dealing with the government, then it is pretty obvious that what happened and what played out was always going to play out. "I don't think anyone could have stopped the situation that happened when our bill came to the Parliament, which was then added. It was Labor who tried the sneaky trick of trying to rig the next election by adding something completely different to a bill's title." The timing has come as a gift to Labor, which celebrated the return of May Day to May with marches and rallies, including one in Brisbane that attracted more than 15,000 supporters. LNP MPs are preparing for change, regardless of whether or not Lawrence Springborg staves off yet another threat to his leadership. After the crossbench sided with Labor to vote in its shock compulsory preferential voting amendment to the LNP's 'urgent' additional electorate bill, agitators against Mr Springborg's leadership, building on concerns the father of the LNP would not be able to shake off his country roots enough to win over the south-east at the next election, moved to have him replaced. Tim Mander, who was the face of an aborted challenge in February, and Tim Nicholls are both being bandied as possible replacements, with Nanango MP Deb Frecklington emerging as the favoured deputy. Mr Springborg won the LNP leadership by one vote following the 2015 election, with his experience and his ability to be able to negotiate with the crossbench getting him over the line against Mr Mander. There has been much in the media over the past 12 months about how big businesses are not paying their workers correctly. There have also been examples of businesses paying workers as contractors rather than employees. Businesses that use contractors instead of employees are in many cases not only breaching industrial awards and working conditions regulated by the Fair Work Commission, they are also breaching income tax, superannuation and workers compensation regulations. Are you being paid properly? Credit:Songbird839 There are many businesses that use contractors to obtain a cost advantage over competitors that do the right thing by hiring employees and paying the required rates. Unfortunately some business owners innocently use contractors not aware of the consequences if the ATO or another of the regulatory authorities discovers what is going on. Q. I am a foreign student working as a cleaner for a cleaning agency. They created a TFN and ABN for me and I issue them with a tax invoice to ask for money that I have earned. Customers pay the agency $36 for each hour of cleaning service and the agency pays me $20 for every hour I work. I receive no payslip or other record of what I earn and the agency is not deducting tax from what they pay me. How do I declare the income that I am earning from my so-called business and how do I calculate it? A. It would appear that you have been illegally taken on as a contractor by the cleaning agency rather than having been engaged as an employee. This means that the cleaning agency is possibly underpaying you, and is certainly receiving a saving from not having to pay superannuation and workers compensation insurance for you. To be classed as an independent contractor running your own business you would need to have a high level of control over how the work is done, including the choice to hire others to assist you; agree to the hours required to complete the job; be paid by completing a task or job rather than hours worked; be responsible for the quality of the work and must fix faults; use your own tools and equipment; pay your own tax and GST; have an ABN and submits invoices; and not receive paid leave. It would appear that you would meet conditions six to eight but possibly none of the others. Despite possibly not being a true contractor you will need to calculate how much you have received from the cleaning agency for the 2016 financial year. Your bank records of the amounts received will more than likely be the best source of this information. You will also need to calculate any costs you have had in relation to earning the income such as cleaning products and equipment you have purchased. If you are driving between cleaning jobs you probably have a claim for motor vehicle costs as well. You will pay tax at your applicable marginal tax rate on the net income you have earned, which is calculated by deducting your costs from your total income received. If there's one band that knows how to manipulate the media to drum up a marketing frenzy, it's Radiohead. On Sunday the popular British group all but erased its online presence in a move that fans believe is designed to drive anticipation for its new album. Radiohead's Thom Yorke. Credit:Edwina Pickles All posts and images have been removed from the band's official Facebook and Twitter pages. The website radiohead.com is also currently just blank white space. Photographs of food posted to social media by contented customers are an easy form of promotion for the restaurants that encourage them - but can they be art? The proof in the pudding will be at Melbourne's first Food Porn Festival exhibition to be held at the SmartArtz Gallery in South Melbourne on May 18. Food Porn Festival organiser Jackie Doran photographs dishes at Kitty Burns eatery in Abbotsford. Credit:Jesse Marlow Forty of the best drool-worthy pictures sent in by restaurant patrons will feature, encouraging the city's foodies to spend even more time standing on chairs, arranging plates on the floor and taking snaps throughout their meal. The photos must have been taken in the past year at a Melbourne eatery. A woman found dead in her home near Mildura at the weekend worked at the local council, where she was an advocate for the White Ribbon program, which is aimed at preventing men's violence against women. Mildura Rural City Council employee Karen Belej was found dead at her Montana Avenue home in Cardross shortly after 7.30pm on Sunday. A man is arrested on Sunday night after the discovery of Karen Belej's body. Credit:Gregory Williams A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is assisting police with inquiries. The death is being treated as suspicious. A human resources officer, 31-year-old Ms Belej was at the forefront of the council's push to become a White Ribbon accredited workplace. One principal wrote into The Age to deplore the ways state schools filter out students - and not just at secondary level. This is his insider view: On the surface, it seems harmless. State school principals are interviewing parents and students to see if they "fit" their school's values. But this is really about determining if a parent or student is going to be a problem. Police have questioned an elderly man who flouted new laws aimed at stopping protesters from harassing women outside abortion clinics. The man was spoken to by two police officers after reports he was praying outside the Fertility Control Clinic in East Melbourne about 4pm. Police question a man outside the East Melbourne fertility clinic on Monday. Credit:Penny Stephens Laws passed last year making it illegal to harass people within 150-metres of abortion providers came into effect on Monday. For the first time in 25 years, the group of anti-abortion protesters who have picketed the Wellington Parade abortion clinic six days a week were absent and women were able to enter the building without first being forced to run the gauntlet. A woman who witnessed a 24-year-old man climbing up the old South Fremantle power station on Saturday shortly before he fell to his death said she warned him what he was doing was dangerous. The witness, who does not want to be named, said the Byford man and a woman were climbing up the side of the building using smashed window ledges as footings. "We shouted, 'please get down, it's very dangerous," she said. "He was really hesitant...I was amazed the window was even holding them up." Chris Gaither was home alone "petting the dogs" on Wednesday morning in the US when he heard a noise upstairs. The 11-year-old boy from Talladega, Alabama, told a local TV station that he was scared, so he grabbed a knife and steadied himself. Chris said that a man appeared on the stairwell, but when confronted, he ran back up upstairs. When the man reappeared moments later, the boy told local media, the individual was holding a gun. Brussels: The departure hall at Brussels international airport has partially reopened nearly six weeks after it was damaged during terrorist attacks on the Belgian capital. "We're again seeing the familiar image of passengers in our departure hall, a big step towards the return to normal activities at the airport, which will give a boost to the economy of the entire nation," chief executive Arnaud Feist said. Workers repair a screen in the departures hall at Zaventem Airport in Brussels. Credit:AP "Brussels is back in business," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said during the opening ceremony. Latest News NAB reveals six market megatrends for brokers More opportunities for investors, first home buyers Firstmac shifts up a gear on auto loans National sales manager appointed to pursue growing market The development of an ApplyOnline App was tabled to senior industry executives late last year as part of NextGen .Nets pledge to deliver Smarter Solutions for now and whats next. The response was one of overwhelming support from brokers and lenders alike, and a question of how soon can we have this?NextGen.Net has now delivered on their promise with the ApplyOnline App launched in early March. With the objective of supporting brokers on the go, the App provides visibility to the broker of their entire application pipeline.The App has been really well received by the industry, declares NextGen.Net Sales Director Tony Carn. We piloted the App for three months before its recent launch and the response has been a unanimous thumbs-up, and the mortgage industry can rest assured that the vast majority or brokers are definitely tech-savvy.NextGen.Nets reputation rides on its smart solutions mission statement, and a commitment to providing innovative technological advancements and servicesthat drive efficiencies and reduce costs for brokers and lenders.The current method of SMS messaging for status updates of loans is generally deemed unsatisfactory because it provides limited information to the broker. The unveiling of the ApplyOnline App will render the need for SMS messaging obsolete.The ApplyOnline App provides brokers with a consolidated, comprehensive view of their entire loan pipelines, across all ApplyOnline lenders with whom they deal. Designed for brokers on the move, the App gives one-tap access to a brokers business.Carn refers to it as essentially a visibility tool, a new service thats part of the ApplyOnline offering.It allows brokers to register all logins to the one mobile device so they see their entire portfolio. The ApplyOnline App retrieves live data from ApplyOnline and also provides a live feed of all status updates for loans.Brokers can favourite an application from the Loan Portfolio or Activity Timeline screens, simply by tapping on the star next to the application.Brokers and lenders are both seeing the benefits, says Carn. Besides looking slick, its got some great features; I show people at BBQs and it clearly demonstrates I am a cutting edge member of the fintech revolution.The first version of the App empowers brokers to keep an up-to the- second eye on their pipeline through their mobile device 24 hours a day, which in turn serves lenders who traditionally have needed to accommodate a high level of traffic from brokers making inquiries about the status of loans.It also eliminates the need for brokers to chase after the status of a loan because they receive a push notification as soon as an update occurs. Plus they can filter it via customer or loan types.Carn reveals that the App will be constantly evolving and that version 1.5 is already underway and soon to be released. Weve got some really exciting enhancements coming up in the near future, one of which will enable brokers to use their mobile device to photograph and upload customer documents, he says.Carn maintains that NextGen.Net will continue to progressively roll out new features on the ApplyOnline App, forging ahead with delivering smart solutions for brokers and lenders. Latest News NAB reveals six market megatrends for brokers More opportunities for investors, first home buyers Firstmac shifts up a gear on auto loans National sales manager appointed to pursue growing market The Bank of Queensland (BoQ) is setting its stall out to attract more customer deposits as a source of funding.The Australian Financial Review reports that the Brisbane bank has asked staff to be proactive when dealing with clients and customers with the aim of increasing its flow of deposit revenue, in order to counter wholesale funding costs.A spokesperson from BoQ said the bank was focusing on growing our retail deposit book (like most banks) because our diversity strategy is generating a range of growth opportunities which we would like to help fund. One of these growth opportunities is to increase its profile in the mortgage broker space.Martin North, principal of Digital Finance Analytics (DFA), offered analysis to Australian Broker.The banks need to fund their loans, and they have the choice of deposits, securitisation or capital markets, he said. But deposits is the best choice, especially for banks with lower credit ratings. We have seen quite a demand for deposits across the board, and rates have moved up a little.Earlier this month, the DFA noted in a blog post that customer deposit growth of $1.3 billion helped BoQ maintain a stable deposit to loan ratio of 66%, with a slight fall in the proportion of long-term funding via securitisation. The ratio of long-term to short-term funding improved a little.As a result, believes North, BoQ will have the headroom to target deposit growth by offering more competitive rates. This could have positive knock-on effects for brokers, he says.The impact is that BoQ loans may be a little less competitive than others, thanks to the repricing, but they are driving volume from brokers hard, they reversed their earlier policy of not using brokers at all, so there is plenty of opportunity for brokers I think. Especially for customers a little less price sensitive. There is plenty of upside for BoQ and brokers as a result. Latest News NAB reveals six market megatrends for brokers More opportunities for investors, first home buyers Firstmac shifts up a gear on auto loans National sales manager appointed to pursue growing market Mortgage brokers should undertake a more specialised financial education, says Dr. Mark Sinclair, managing director of financial services training company Mentor Education.Last week, Sinclair called for legislation that draws a clearer educational distinction between comprehensive and limited financial advisers. Sinclairs recommendations would signal a new means of qualification for mortgage brokers, who come under the banner of limited financial advisers.Speaking to Australian Broker, Sinclair said, As it currently stands, mortgage brokers would be required to undertake a full 24-subject degree to give any personal financial advice. What would be more appropriate is that relevant Bachelor of Financial Planning subjects be required aligned to the limited personal advice that a mortgage broker would seek to provide.Sinclair believes that at a minimum, limited financial advisors should have completed two foundation subjects as part of a Bachelor of Financial Planning degree (with Ethics mandatory) along with three core subjects that offer specialisation. Those training to become a limited financial adviser should not have to study irrelevant subjects as part of a more generic financial degree, Sinclair proposes.Industry professionals, says Sinclair, are also advocating changes to the financial education system in order to raise professional standards, even if it means some professionals going back to school.The financial planning and advice industry publicly embraces raising the education standards to a degree level, particularly for new entrants to the industry, said Sinclair. Existing advisers are arguing for an extended deadline i.e 2023 rather than 2019 and are rightly seeking credits for their current qualifications and related experience in the industry.Tightened standards and more specialised training would also have a long-term impact on consumer confidence. Sinclair added, Demand is very high for financial planners and advisers to have increased levels of professionalism, trust and ethics.This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set the bar for qualifications and exams, and for financial planning and advising to be seen by consumers as a profession. Ariel Malone was crowned the winner of Hells Kitchen season 15, defeating Chicago line cook Kristin Barone for the coveted title, a head chef position at BLT Steak at Ballys Las Vegas and $250,000. Im living proof that hard work and believing in yourself can make dreams come true, Malone said on FOX.com following her victory. Winning Hells Kitchen is an unbelievable honor and Im happy that I get to make a living doing what I love. With this opportunity, Im excited to create a better life for my present and future family. Malone, a 27-year-old country club chef from Hackensack, N.J., struggled a bit during Friday nights finale as she lost the weekly challenge to Barone by a half-point. However, Malone became more confident towards the final dinner service, where she created her own menu and led a team of past competitors. Chef Gordon Ramsay said it was one of the most difficult final decisions hes had to make, but ultimately named Malone the winner. Throughout the competition, Ariel demonstrated that she was a both a leader and a true powerhouse in the kitchen, said Ramsey. She exemplified impressive culinary skills and proved to be creative, ambitious, and quick on her feet no matter what was thrown her way. (Image courtesy of FOX) Last time on Quantico, we left off with Shelby and Alex working together to locate the voice, as Shelby was only working with the mysterious terrorist to keep her friends out of jeopardy. Alex and Shelby finally traced the caller to an abandoned church in East Harlem. The most shocking moment was still to come when Will told them that he built a nuke with his bare hands before collapsing. Thats not goodnot good at all. In this episode of Quantico, Drive, Ryan and Alex spend time working together when the trainees check out different FBI offices. (I wonder if these two will end up back together again romantically.) Real World Experience The NATS are introduced to the box which will help them develop their close-quarters fighting skills. The trainees will be paired with an instructor, and guess who Alex gets? Ryan, of course! After their match-up, a flirty Alex suggests to Ryan that they go to dinner once she is no longer a trainee. Raina and Nimah tell their handler, Susan Coombs, that they want to go after the terror cell that attacked Quantico. Coombs worries about putting them into such a dangerous assignment, but states that she will speak to her boss. Iris questions Shelby about why she has changed her field assignment request form. She says that she wants to be closer to the Canadian border so she can see her parents more often. Liam tells the NATS that they will visit a field office and shadow a real agent as that agent works a case. To add to the anxiety of this assignment, the trainees will be evaluated by the agent on their readiness to work. Ryan is taking Alex, Shelby, Caleb, Iris, Brandon, and the Amin sisters to the Richmond office. Iris pulls Caleb aside and lets him know that Shelby is changing her office request form. Iris questions the motive. She thinks it is so Shelby can be close to Caleb. Iris threatens to bring Caleb down for beating up Will. The Amin sisters are going to be tested again on their ability to match and swap back and forth. One agent at the field office will pose as their contact, and the Amin sisters must contact that agent without blowing their undercover status. If they fail this test, they may never work undercover again. (No pressure at all, right?) Quantico Recap: What is the Terrorists Endgame? >>> No one Likes Filing At the field office, the NATS get their assignments from Agent Kent. Raina/Nimah will work with counter-terrorism Agent Garnett. Caleb and Shelby will work in property crime. Shelby asks to work with a different partner, and Iris volunteers. This doesnt matter a bit to the agent who assigned them, and their assignments stay the same. Brandon, Iris, and Alex are on the case of a break-in at a post office where nothing was stolen. The three trainees settle in for the soul-crushing task of cold-calling the neighborhood for witnesses. Shelby and Caleb are ushered to a room where they will handle the most dangerous task of all: alphabetizing files. Alex gets an actual lead and gets ready to pay the witness a visit. Ryan is skulking around looking worried. Alex teased him that she was going to use her time at the office to find out all about him, and he certainly appears concerned. Find the Contact Nimah is sitting with the counter-terrorism agent. He just finished a case, so there is nothing for Nimah to do. He suggests making something up. Nimah gets a text from Raina saying that they will switch in ten minutes. Nimah sees a list of the names of all 25 agents in the office, and asks the agent if he will introduce her to each one so that she can put a name with a face. The agent is happy to oblige. Nimah and Raina meet for the swap. Nimah has eliminated some agents who are not their contact, and she suggests that her sister flirt with Garnett. Raina goes to Garnetts office and he suggests that they go to lunch or grab a drink later. Poor Raina looks so embarrassed! She meets up with Nimah in a stair well, and the news is not good. They have eliminated all 25 agents on the list, so who is their contact? Raina believes that it is Garnett. Chicago Blues Alex and Agent Kent hop in the car to visit the witness. Alex asks for information about Ryan since this agent was also in Chicago with Liam and Ryan. Much to her surprise, Kent warns her to be careful around Ryan. Kent has an injury that he incurred during the blown sting in Chicago. Kent maintains that Ryan left his post the night that the cell planned their big attack, and it was no coincidence. Kent and Alexs visit with the witness, Mr. Walker, is over a few minutes after it began. It seems really strange. Alex returns and fills Iris and Brandon in on how odd the witness seemed, and how Kent ended the interview. Brandon decides to sit on the house, while Iris offers to get some background information on Walker. Secret Pen Pal Caleb grabs Iris and explains that the only reason Shelbys parents wanted to meet with her was to get more money from her. Caleb pleads with Iris to convince Shelby to keep her original placement request and not to mention her parents. Later, Shelby reads Iris a letter from her parents and Iris tells Shelby that she is sorry that she had doubts. Caleb admits to Iris that he has been writing the letters because he loves Shelby. Alex discovers that Walker was investigated for child pornography ten years earlier, but charges were never filed. Meanwhile, Ryan confronts Kent about what he has been telling Alex. Kent thinks that Ryan wanted the militia group to succeed. Ryan puts his hands on Kent after the other agent questioned Ryans patriotism. Alex arrives to see Kent and sees the end of the encounter. (Awkward!) Up in Smoke Kent explains that they knew about Walker, and that he was at the center of the child porn ring until he lost his job at that post office. In order to keep the ring going, Walker broke into the post office, but didnt steal anything. The FBI has been waiting for Walker to make contact with the rest of the ring before arresting him. A horrified Alex tells Kent that she sent Brandon to keep an eye on Walkers house. Kent and Alex race to get Brandon out of there before he jeopardizes everything. Brandon sees smoke coming from Walkers house, and he enters. Brandon sees photos being burned in a sink, and Walker hits him over the head with a bottle. Ryan and Alex enter the house with Kent. Walker is holding a knife to Brandons throat, but the agents diffuse the situation quickly. Alex asks Ryan what really happened that night in Chicago. Ryan explains that he had the cell house under surveillance, when Liam called and told him to leave and spend some time with Hannah. Liam said he would cover the rest of his shift, but Liam never showed up. Ryan took the blame since Liams career was in a delicate spot because of his drinking. The Truth Hurts Raina is waiting in the stairwell when she is approached by an agent. He is actually their contact, not Garnett. When Nimah tells Garnett that she knows that he is their contact, he is furious. He is about to call Agent Combs when Nimah persuades him to take her to dinner anyway. If he still wants to call Coombs after dinner, then that is his decision. Shelby tells Iris that she is quitting Quantico to go and be with her parents in Europe. Iris breaks down and explains that Caleb has been writing the letters pretending to be her parents. Shelby confronts Caleb and she wants to be with a man who will always be honest with her. She then calls Calebs father, Assistant Director Haas, to bring her parents to justice. Ryan has a chat with Liam. Liam is finally being moved to the D.C field office, and he wants Ryan to go with him. Ryan is done covering for Liams mistakes. Liam promises that he wont have to ever again, so Ryan decides to think about the offer. Find Alex Now In the present day, Miranda wants Alex found since Ryan and Nimah uncovered evidence that Alex smuggled Natalie through security at the FBI building on the last day that Natalie was seen. Ryan and his team burst into Alexs apartment and interrupt Caleb watching television. (How rude!) Miranda tells Ryan to bring Caleb in so she can question him. Caleb tells Ryan that Alex hasnt been home since she left the apartment yesterday. Alex is watching the church where they found Will. Will said that he had assembled the nuclear bomb in the churchs catacombs. Shelby and Alex phoned in an anonymous tip six hours ago, but nothing has been found. Alex hopes that Will can give them more information, but Shelby reminds her that Will is in the ICU. Shelby runs a search to find out if anyone else has been treated with radiation sickness. A man that matches Simons description is in the ICU at St. Lukes Hospital. A Shock to the System Alex and Shelby go to St. Lukes, but the patient isnt Simon. It is Drew Perales. He asks Alex if she caught Ryan. Drew was working for a private security firm in New York when he received a call from the voice. Drew was told to rent a van and park it in the Bronx. He initially refused until his sister and her children were threatened. Drew also had to get information on train routes to Grand Central and Penn Station. Shelby wonders if this was the van that transported Alex to Grand Central the day of the initial bombing. Alex is angry that Drew is accusing Ryan of being involved. Drew counters with the information that, two nights earlier, he delivered a nuclear fuel core to a warehouse in Yonkers. Drew watched the building, and he claims that Ryan arrived with Will in handcuffs. Drew didnt see Simon. Alex is furious and demands to know why Drew didnt contact the authorities earlier. Reasonable Doubts Drew shows Alex some really nasty burns on his chest and he begs her to look into Ryan. He suggests that Alex check Ryans computer for the software program that is able to blend the voices together. Drew also stole a flash drive from his job that should be able to break Ryans computer passwords. Alexs former lover adds that he was trying to bring her the flash drive when he fainted. This seems a bit too convenient. Could Drew be setting Ryan up to take the fall? Alex wants to believe Drew, but she just cant. Shelby echoes one of Drews comments. From the day they first met on the plane, Ryan has lied to Alex. Shelby thinks that they will only know the truth once they get inside Ryans computer. Quantico Recap: What Has Happened to Caleb? >>> A Close Fight Miranda and Ryan talk to Caleb in the New York field office. He points out that his mother wont be pleased that her son, and his addiction problem, are an issue less than 24 hours before the presidential election. Caleb notices that a computer in the next room is on fire, and everyone is evacuated. The fire is actually started by Shelby through the McGregor-Wyatt security system. Alex sneaks into Ryans office and starts to open his computer. Ryan appears and pulls his gun on her. He knows that she is behind the evacuation, and he sneers Ive always known it was you. (Yikes!) Ryan demands to know what is on the flash drive, and she responds that she needs to know what is on his computer. He asks where Natalie is, and Alex cant believe it. If Ryan doesnt know that Natalie is dead, then he couldnt be working for the cell. Ryan asks for her gun again, and as she hands it over, they get to practice their combat in close quarters training. It is violent and hard to watch. In the end, Alex kicks him in the head and he passes out. (Ouch!) And the Voice is The building initiates long-down and Alex asks Drew what was on the flash drive that she plugged in to Ryans computer. It is a manifesto that indicates that Ryan is the terrorist. Drew thinks that Alex should support the version of events where Ryan is the terrorist. He also has a car waiting downstairs for her. Alex goes down and listens to instructions from Drew. He isnt even bothering to disguise his voice anymore. He sends Alex to Ryans truck, and she sees the bomb in the passenger side. Alex is ordered to drive or Drew will kill Simon and set off the nuke. I liked this episode of Quantico. It is still a bit confusing with the time jumps, but I am glad that we are finally getting some answers. Quantico airs Sundays at 10pm on ABC. (Image courtesy of ABC) The creators of The Good Wife have often said the show could just as easily be called The Education of Alicia Florrick, but in this weeks second-to-last episode, Verdict, we see that Peters learned nearly as much. Its time for a reckoning. As Peters trial gets underway, he has to convince the jury (and his wife) that hes a changed man. Is it too late? What will Alicia do if Peter goes to jail stand by her man? And what about Jason? Will he be man enough to stand by Alicia? The Trials of Peter Florrick Admit it you were wondering if Alicia and Peter had a quickie at the end of Jackie and Howies party, right? Apparently not (whew!) because we jump right into Peters corruption trial. Diane is now serving as Peters attorney, with Alicia and Eli sitting loyally behind them. Things dont start off well. They have a judge who hates the governor and a prosecutor insinuating that the First Lady of Illinois took part in the conspiracy. (Objection!) The Good Wife Recap: A Surprise Marriage Proposal from an Unexpected Source >>> AUSA Fox offers a deal that would put Peter in jail for only eight years, but Alicia bluntly tells him to prove it. Fox says he has a witness who will take Peter down. Despite her brave front, Alicias worried enough to call Jason to find out who. Could it be Cary? (Noooo, not Cary!) Jason also mentions that theyve almost finished tearing down the conference room wall at Lockhart, Florrick. Say what? Neither Alicia nor Diane ordered any demolition. In a nod to classic Good Wife episodes past, the women step off the elevator this time to chaos. It turns out the whole thing was a mistake (not a plot by David Lee). The workmen had the wrong floor. But Diane sees this as an opportunity. With the ceiling gone, why not just take over the floor above. They want to expand the firm, dont they? Who Is the Surprise Witness? Back in court, Matan Brody testifies that Peter micromanaged the Locke case, which the governor is accused of burying to help a big donor. Diane (wearing a Madeleine Albright-worth brooch) suggests he was just being thorough. As the attorneys argue (to the judges displeasure) Alicia gets a text and walks into the hallway. Its Louis Canning. Carys not the secret witness, he says. But Peters in trouble. The person waiting in the wings to put the governor in the pokey turns out to be his former ASA, Geneva Pine. Canning says her testimony will sink Peter. At the law firm, Diane and Alicia have already brought in a designer to rehab and expand the damaged offices. (How did they get somebody in so quickly?) Davids not too happy, but when is he ever happy? Walking through the partially demod office (a metaphor for the future demolition of the sets, perhaps?), Alicia asks Jason to investigate Geneva Pine. What does she know and when did she know it? They jump on an elevator together (but of course!) and she apologizes for having to stick by Peter during the trial, but Jason says its okay. Shes still figuring out how to deal with his offer from last week, to be together but not necessarily in the same place. Im not someone who likes to be un-tethered, she says. They agree to meet up later. Did Peter Cheat Again? Jason visits a woman who claims to know all the dirt in the States Attorneys office. Tell me about Geneva Pine, he says. What she says may shock you. Or not. Geneva is out to get Peter because they were sleeping together. It was a long-time affair; up to a month ago. (A month ago!) He broke it off with her, which is why shes now ready to throw Peter under the proverbial prison bus. Jason breaks out into a big grin. This he can use. Geneva is on the witness stand and her testimony about lost evidence and other misconduct is pretty damning. Before Diane can cross-examine Geneva, Canning contacts Alicia again. As long as you keep Cary out of this, I can help, he says. Genevas lying, and he has the affidavits about her affair with Peter to prove it. Alicia takes the files and thanks him. Hes taken aback that she doesnt seem upset about the news. What? You want me to cry? she asks. She makes a crying face and moans, Oh my god, I thought my husband no longer cheated. Then she smiles. Wow, Canning says. I love you. I know, she says, in true swashbuckling Han to Leia style. (Yeah, baby!) Maybe Peter is Telling the Truth this Time At the office, Eli and Diane worry that Genevas testimony hurt their case. Alicia sits serenely and hands over the files proving that Ms. Pine had a motive for lying about her ex-lover. It goes to motive, she say. Eli seems genuinely shocked and sorry that his boss cheated on Alicia again and repeatedly. Peter comes in and says its not true. Its office gossip, and were not going to use it. Diane needs Kurts help for the trial. (Yay about seeing these two together again.) She sweet-talks him into testifying since he was supposed to provide evidence in the original trial (before he married Diane). In his opinion, the (now-missing) bullets didnt come from Lockes gun. David is not happy (again! who knew?) that Diane ispending a lot of money on the expansion and only seems to be hiring women. Oh, boo hoo, says Diane. It must be so terrible to be outnumbered by women. Kurts Reputation Takes a Hit Jason brings Alicia from one of Genevas co-workers that says Ms. Pine often bullied her way into other peoples cases, but nothing about Peter sleeping with her. And now, Jasons done. He can no longer work on Peters case. Back in court, Ms. Westfall (the woman that Kurt didnt sell his consulting business to) testifies that Kurt is brilliant and honest, but he may have oversold his findings to Peter back in the day. But nevertheless, those bullets went missing, so who knows? Then she drops a bombshell: the only ASA who handled the evidence was the co-prosecutor, Cary Agos. Alicia insists to Canning that naming Cary wasnt their fault. It just happened. Tell Cary were on the same side, she says. We were, until about 10 minutes ago, Canning retorts. An Agos Scorned And now its Carys turn on the stand. Hes so rattled, he says that despite Kurts opinion, We knew the bullets damned Peter, when he meant to say Locke. Lucca asks Cary flat out if he hates the Florricks. He says no, but admits hes angry at them. But hes still telling the truth, he says. Afterwards, she wonders why he testified against Peter. I never meant you any harm, she says, clearly upset. You know its amazing, Alicia, he responds. After all these years of working together, you still think I would come in here, to a court of law and perjure myself to hurt you. I was here to tell the truth. What are you here to do? She has no reply. Inside the court, Peter tells his legal team that he needs to take the stand. The jury doesnt trust me, he says. Alicia agrees with him and suggests they prep. Lucca Lays It on the Line Lucca catches up with Jason at the lawyer bar. Shes worried that Peter will be going to jail. Alicia will need a lot of comforting (hint, hint), she says. But he thinks Alicia would continue to stand by him and eventually drift away from him. He tries to act all cool about it, but Lucca calls him on his act. She even asks if hes in love with Alicia. When he says no, she doesnt buy that either. I dont believe you, she says. Take my advice. Stop playing it cool. You want her? Then go to her and say I want you, and Ill protect you. You dont owe your husband anything. Be happy and come to me. Make me happy.' (Jason, I think Luccas got your number and the digits spell out A.L.I.C.I.A.) Back at the Lockhart-McVeigh house, Diane apologizes to her husband for causing him to be humiliated in court. She cries and begs for his forgiveness. Without saying a word, he takes his wifes hand and gently kisses it. (Awwww.) In Preparation, There Is Truth Alicia prepares the governor for court. He insists he didnt make a deal with Lloyd Garber to get his stepson off on the murder charge. Alicia holds his feet to the fire about his past misdeeds, which brings out his passion about why he micromanaged cases. He didnt want to see cases go bad because of his employees mistakes. But his passion for justice is one thing. What about his passion for other women? When he throws Will and Jason back in his wifes face, shes ready for him. Im not on trial, buddy, she says. Smash cut to: Fox cross examining Peter. Why should anyone believe you? Peter tells the court that he was a hard-ass States Attorney because he was wrongly convicted and he never wanted to see that happen to anyone else. Thats when I was at my best. Thats when I was most honorable. Alicias clearly moved by her husband; probably for the first time in a long while. Casting Bits: NCIS Adds Reiko Aylesworth, Firefly Alum Jewel Staite Heads to Castle and More >>> The Jury Deliberates The judge gives instructions to the jury. What happens now is anyones guess. Back at the law firm, David brings Diane an EEOC complaint. David says he has as much right to complain as any other minority. (Oh, lordy, poor white guy!) Just then, a city inspector tells her that someone on the demolition crew took out a load-bearing wall and everyone has to evacuate. AUSA Fox has a new deal for Alicia to consider. Theyre offering Peter two years, down from the original eight. Thats all they get before the jury returns with a verdict. She takes the offer to Peter, but Eli wants to keep fighting. Peter looks depressed, and Alicia asks for the room. She pours her husband a glass of wine. Can I make a confession to you? he asks. (Uh-oh.) Turns out he never really liked wine. He just drank it for her, but now its grown on him. Peter considers the deal. Spending eight months in prison before was an ordeal. The idea of a longer term daunts him. She reassures him, saying his speech went over well. Theres no good answer, is there? he akss. She gives him a hug and recommends that he sleep on it. Im going to take the deal, he says. Its the smart thing to do. Two years. I get out. Write a book. Start over. You gonna come visit me? She assures him that she will. The hardest thing is being forgotten, he says. I wont forget, she says. So its agreed, but just then, her phone buzzes. What? The jurys back, she says. Cut to black! Summary Judgment Given that this episode is titled Verdict, I expected a verdict. But perhaps its better that we dont know yet. The show runners have already revealed The Good Wife will end with Alicia standing by Peters side once again. The question is: Will he be talking about going back to prison or about starting over? Well have to wait till next weeks finale (sob!) to find out. Well also have to wait to find out if Jason comes to his senses and listens to Lucca. Will he go to Alicia and confess his love for her or will he remain unacceptably cool and throw away their chance for happiness? Three words for you Jason: Listen. To. Lucca. Another surprise? Despite being one episode from dunzo, this week didnt have the farewell vibe of last weeks Party (when we said goodbye to Veronica, Owen, Zach, etc., etc.) No elegies here, not yet anyway. I cant even guess whether Peters going to jail, because if theres one thing you could rely on with TGW, its that you couldnt rely on anything. Nothings predictable (except the excellent writing, acting, direction,costumes and set design, of course). So are you with me for the finale? Yes? Amazingly, its only scheduled for one hour. One hour to wrap up the best show on network television. Can they pull it off and keep the audience satisfied? The jury is still out on that, but well know soon. The Good Wife airs Sundays at 9pm on CBS for one more week. At which point it will become part of the pantheon of greatest shows ever. (Image courtesy of CBS.) Campus News Law school to honor Hochul and five distinguished practitioners Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will be honored for contributions by a non-alumnus at the School of Law's annual Law Alumni Association dinner. By ILENE FLEISCHMANN Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a non-alumnus, and six law alumni who have gone on to succeed in widely varied types of practice, will be honored as the School pf Law confers Distinguished Alumni Awards at its annual Law Alumni Association Dinner on May 11. This years Distinguished Alumni Awards honorees include: MKM Building Supplies is the latest major partner of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and is celebrating the announcement with an opportunity to recognise the citys community heroes. MKM and Hull 2017 are launching a campaign to commend Hull's finest, those who go above and beyond to help friends, colleagues and their communities. Under the Community Heroes scheme, people will be invited to nominate their chosen hero in a bid to win them recognition and an exciting prize. Nominations made via http://heroes.mkmbs.co.uk will be considered by a panel of Hull 2017 and MKM representatives. Ten winners will receive tickets to see Rod Stewart in concert at the KC Stadium on 14 June, 2016. MKM, which celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2016, put the concert together as a way of thanking the people of Hull for their support and custom. Proceeds will go to Hull charities The Daisy Appeal and Holy Trinity Church. The 25,000-ticket event is all but sold out. David Kilburn, co-founder and executive chairman of MKM, said: The people here are a huge part of what makes Hull a great place and the Community Heroes nominations will encourage their much-deserved recognition. The concert is a coup for Hull. Sharing it with some of the unsung heroes in our community in celebration of their generosity of spirit seems a fitting way to celebrate both our anniversary and the exciting plans that lay ahead for Hull 2017. "Hull is where we were born and bred - our brand owes its success to the roots we put down here - so we are thrilled to work alongside Hull 2017 to be part of creating a lasting legacy for this great city." Martin Green, chief executive officer and director of Hull 2017, said: It is a pleasure to welcome MKM on board. I look forward to working with the team as a major partner of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, as MKM is a great example of a successful business that is rooted in Hull, with branches across the country. This partnership is sign of great confidence, not only in the people and city of Hull, but also in the enduring legacy of Hull UK City of Culture 2017." Nominations for Community Heroes are now open and close at midnight on 20 May, 2016. They can be submitted via http://heroes.mkmbs.co.uk/. Moorestown honors Percheron that helped build the town Percheron Park opened in downtown Moorestown with a tribute to the horse of yesteryear and its owner, who first brought the breed to the U.S. Over 300 Harley Davidson motorbikes headed through the centre of Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday (May 1st) during a fundraising rally. The annual Cider Parade Run, organised by Bridgwater Harley Owners Group, was marking its 25th anniversary this year and came to Burnham-On-Sea for the first time. Crowds of spectators turned out in the High Street, as pictured here, to watch the bikes arrive before they headed to the South Esplanade, raising money for Burnhams BARB Search & Rescue at the same time. Mick Collins, one of the organisers from the Bridgwater Harley Owners Group, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: We had a great turnout with lots of support from the people of Burnham. The council, residents and businesses have been very supportive and, after such a great success, we hope to come back next year. The event attracted hundreds of extra people into the town, with many town centre cafes and shops reporting a boost in trade compared to a normal May Bank Holiday Sunday. The Police praised the organisers for their safe marshalling of the bikes along the route. The event proved popular with spectators of all ages who headed to the seafront to see the bikes on show. The parade was headed by the flags of all participants and arrived in Burnham-On-Sea around 12 noon, riding through the High Street on its way to the South Esplanade. Burnham and Highbridges Mayor Cllr Michael Clarke presented a trophy for his bike of choice, pictured above. A business choice trophy was presented to rider Dave Lucas by Burnham Chamber of Trades Mark Newman and Town Centre Manager Bev Milner Simonds, pictured below. Dave has not let a serious road accident last year hold him back from giving his long-running support to the event. Bridgwater Harley Owners Group was formed in 1989 and are the second oldest chapter in Europe. Since the group was formed they have taken part in many events and members have attended Harley Owners Group rallies all over the world from Australia to the U.S.A. including many in Europe and all over the UK. Over the years we have raised many tens of thousands of pounds for charity and we continue to do so, added Mick. He added that the Cider Run has a long history: This event has been held at various venues, but is now resident at Sand Bay holiday complex near Weston. We take over the entire site for four days at the beginning of May and each year and the event is sold out well in advance. Harley Owners Group members come to party, meet old friends and make new ones. We always have a grand parade and this is the first year we have brought it to Burnham. Burnhams Mayor took the opportunity to try out one of the motorbikes, watched by organiser Mick Collins and volunteers from BARB Search & Rescue, who raised 400 in donations and collections on the day. The Mayor said: Im delighted to see this event coming to Burnham its a well established Somerset event that brings many spectators to our town. The event got a warm welcome to Burnham. Two of the colourful dressed riders and, right, deputy Mayor Paul Young A display of the bikes was set up outside the Bay View Cafe The clubs flags were flown next to the bikes along the seafront (pic Sam Norris) The arrival of the bikes was watched by spectators along the High Street and a leaflet of local shopping deals was offered to visitors by the Town Centre Manager to encourage trade. FLYING IN HIGH WINDS A Memoir S K Misra Rupa 270 pages; Rs 500 Memoirs of retired civil servants are usually an interesting read simply because they offer an insight into the functional style of the governments with which they have been associated during their careers. The inside stories of how ministers or even the prime minister of the day took certain decisions often act as the proverbial icing on the cake. S K Misra had a long career of close to four decades - from 1956 to 1991. He served as principal secretary to two important government leaders - Bansi Lal when he was chief minister of Haryana and Chandra Shekhar when he was prime minister of India. Expectations of getting rare glimpses of how the two leaders ran their governments are bound to rise as you start reading Mr Misra's account of his career as an Indian Administrative Services officer belonging to the Haryana cadre. And if you feel a little cheated and disappointed after reading the 270-odd pages in the book, it will be largely because he offers hardly any fresh insight into his stint in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) when Chandra Shekhar-led a minority government at a time India was going through its worst economic crisis on account of growing fiscal indiscipline and a rapidly deteriorating balance of payments situation. Politically, too, the Chandra Shekhar government went through turbulent times. Remember that Mr Misra was the prime minister's principal secretary for the Chandra Shekhar government's entire tenure of seven months. Many momentous decisions were taken during those months. The government had to pledge gold with a foreign bank to prevent a default on meeting India's international payments obligation. Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had been initiated to secure for India an emergency loan. Politically also, the Chandra Shekhar government took one of the boldest decisions by calling for elections in strife-torn Punjab and Assam, in addition to allowing US air force planes to refuel in India. The economic crisis facing the country got worse as Chandra Shekhar decided to resign as he came under intense pressure from the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress whose support to the government was crucial for its survival. The Budget had to be postponed just a few weeks before it was due to be presented and elections were called, making the economic challenge even more daunting. Mr Misra occupied a vantage point in the government during that period. Yet, the narrative of his stint in the PMO in those seven months hardly throws any fresh light on the manner in which the Chandra Shekhar government tackled the economic challenges in particular. The account of all the key developments that took place during that period is faithful. But sadly it is not leavened with the understanding and perspective of a man who as principal secretary to the prime minister had seen from close quarters how all those major decisions were taken. Naresh Chandra, who the author says is his friend from his days in Allahabad University, was the cabinet secretary then and Manmohan Singh had just returned from his stint in the South Commission to work as an advisor to Chandra Shekhar on economic policy. Yashwant Sinha was the finance minister preparing a Budget that was aimed at ushering in economic reforms in a big way. Subramanian Swamy as the commerce minister took the bold decision of announcing that India would sign the new agreement on General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which later would lead to the formation of the World Trade Organization. Mr Misras account glosses over the many moves that government had initiated during those seven months. Why he chose to avoid dwelling on how the PMO battled the economic challenges, with the help of all those interesting personalities, is difficult to explain. But his failure to do so has made the memoirs devoid of their essential quality and indeed of what would have been useful material for students of Indias contemporary economic history. The only point where Mr Misra comes close to providing a new perspective is on the fall of the Chandra Shekhar government, where he astutely notes that Rajiv Gandhi was more keen on getting his demands (dismissal of the Haryana government, for instance) met, rather than withdrawing the Congress support to the Union government. Mr Misras assessment is that Chandra Shekhar outsmarted Gandhi by refusing to accept those demands and instead resign after a memorable speech that he delivered in the Lok Sabha. He also dispels the impression that the dismissal of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu was ordered at the behest of the Congress and explains how Chandra Shekhar was good at defusing tensions with Pakistan. On learning that four Swedish engineers had been kidnapped in Kashmir, Chandra Shekhar called up Nawaz Sharif, his Pakistani counterpart, and told him that nobody till then knew of the kidnapping. That was enough and the engineers were released four days later. If Mr Misra's recounting of his days in Chandra Shekhar's PMO appears skimpy particularly on economic policy matters, it could be because he was not considered among the key bureaucrats of that government. Remember that he was seen to be close to Congress leaders and by his own account had to go through a grilling by prosecutors before the Shah Commission in 1977-78, where he had to depose as a witness to establish his credentials as a fair-minded and non-partisan civil servant. That ordeal was not enough. Mr Misra had to remain on forced leave for much of the 21-month long Emergency as Devi Lal, the new chief minister of Haryana, had vowed to arrest him as soon as he returned to the state. In one of the many narrow escapes in his life, Mr Misra met with a car accident but emerged out of it virtually without a scratch. Sensing that his luck was on his side, Mr Misra decided to meet Devi Lal, who by then had a change of heart and decided to have him as his principal secretary. For Mr Misra, it was like homecoming, returning to a job he had performed some years ago with Devi Lal's arch rival and predecessor, Bansi Lal. It was his stint with Bansi Lal that saw Mr Misra learn the skills of administration. He clearly enjoyed his days with Bansi Lal and describes him as having traits similar to those of Narendra Modi - decisive and focused on time-bound implementation of projects. Electrification of all villages in Haryana, implementation of lift irrigation schemes across the state, the setting up of the Moti Lal Nehru School of Sports were among the projects that Mr Misra helped Bansi Lal complete. At the Centre, Mr Misra headed the ministries of culture, tourism and civil aviation (a trained pilot, the author had one more narrow escape when after bring tossed around in a storm he almost landed his Pushpak on an airstrip under repair in Patiala before he took off again to land safely a little later in Hisar). Clearly, he was more at ease organising the Festival of India shows in different cities across the world or negotiating bilateral aviation rights with foreign governments, than the world of economic policy making that he had to oversee in the PMO. The book has another weakness. It devotes far too many pages to his various relatives and their equations with the author. A civil servant's memoirs are not about whether his children adore him as a caring father. The memoirs are better valued if they help reconstruct the economic and political landscape, capturing the interface between politicians and civil servants. Given his long career in civil service, Mr Misra is likely to regret that he lost an opportunity of leaving behind something that posterity could have relied on for research and assessment of the governments that he served. Sales of passenger vehicles cars, vans and utility vehicles surged over 12 per cent in April, thanks to the popularity of newly-launched models and a low base effect. The industry is estimated to have sold 237,149 units in April this year (based on data available for the top 10 players). Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor and M&M reported double-digit growth in domestic sales to dealers. Tata Motors reported a growth of eight per cent after months of decline, thanks to the newly-launched Tiago. On the other hand, Honda and Toyota continue to see double-digit decline in sales. The industry sales of 217,949 units in April 2015 were much lower than the average monthly sales of 232,473 units in FY16. While being higher compared with the volumes in April 2015, data shows a sequential decline for many players. Maruti Suzuki reported a 16 per cent jump in domestic sales for April. The company, which enjoys a 47 per cent share in domestic passenger vehicle market, sold 117,045 units, compared with 100,709 units in April 2015. The growth was helped by sales of Brezza, S Cross and Baleno, all of which are new products. On a sequential basis, however, Marutis sales declined from 118,895 units in March 2016. We are happy to begin this fiscal on a positive note. Driving this robust growth for Maruti Suzuki are the new premium offerings Ciaz, Baleno, Vitara Brezza and S Cross. Some of these products are on wait list, said R S Kalsi, executive director (marketing and sales) at Maruti. At BSE, the companys stock closed at Rs 3,829.55, up 0.91 per cent on a day when Sensex declined 0.66 per cent. Hyundai, the second-largest player in the sector, closed April just short of a 10 per cent growth. Hyundai has seen a sequential increase of 2.8 per cent in April. Utility vehicle major M&M clocked a 16 per cent growth in domestic sales, helped by new products like KUV100 and NuvoSport. The April volume of 22,655 units, however, is lower than the 26,885 units sold in March. We hope to maintain growth momentum with our wide range of product portfolio as well as the new launches, said Pravin Shah, president and chief executive (automotive) at M&M. The companys stock closed at Rs 1,335.75, up 0.30 per cent at BSE. This year the industry is expected to improve the 7 per cent growth rate it registered in FY16, helped by higher demand from sub-urban and rural segment, due to prediction of above-normal rainfall after two consecutive deficit years. In spite of overall growth, the industry is facing a number of challenges. Japanese carmaker Toyota continues to reel under the impact of Supreme Court ban on diesel vehicles with engine capacity of than 2,000cc or more in the National Capital Region. Toyotas April sales were down 30 per cent. Honda closed April with a steep decline of 17 per cent. Renault continued its strong performance and posted 210 per cent growth, helped by its affordable hatchback Kwid. Ford has also seen a 32 per cent increase in sales. Volkswagen and Nissan are learnt to have seen a drop in sales though these companies have not announced the April data. Indian-origin businessman Sanjeev Guptas Liberty House group has confirmed it would be bidding for Tata Steels loss-making UK businesses by Tuesday, according to a media report. The commodities trading firm, which emerged as an early front-runner for Wales-based Port Talbot steelworks, had said last week that its team was evaluating the bid. We can confirm that Liberty will submit a letter of intent to Tata Steel on Tuesday and has put in place a strong internal transaction team and panel of leading external advisers to take the bid forward, a Liberty House spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Financial Times. TATA STEEL EUROPE BIZ Annual capacity figures THE UK 10.2 mt Port Talbot Steelworks, West Glamorgan, Wales: 4.9 mt Scunthorpe Steelworks, South Humberside, England: 4.5 mt Rotherham Steelworks, South Yorkshire, England: 0.8 mt THE NETHERLANDS 7.2 mt IJmuiden Steelworks, The Netherlands: 7.2 mt Gupta is being advised by several former Tata Steel executives including Jon Bolton, who until last year was the head of Tatas Long Products business in Europe, the report said. Bolton joined Liberty House last month to run its steel business in Scotland, also bought over from Tata. Liberty House is reportedly working with Macquarie Capital, which is prepared to support the bid with funding, and the State Bank of India. Deloitte and Grant Thornton are among other firms involved which, among other issues, will advise Liberty House on dealing with the nearly 500-million funding deficit in Tatas pensions scheme, considered the biggest stumbling block in clinching the sale. Gupta, a Punjab-born graduate in economics and management from Cambridge University, has in the past week completed the acquisition of Tatas Scottish plants in a back to back transaction, which saw the Scottish government acquire the two plants of Dalzell and Clydebridge in Lanarkshire and immediately sell them to Liberty House. Our team are continuing to evaluate the opportunity to make a bid for other Tata UK assets, Gupta had said. Other bidders for the remaining assets include Albion Steel, a UK start-up business with industry veteran Tony Pedder on the board. It is believed to be eyeing Tatas speciality steels unit based in Sheffield, northern England. A Tata management team buyout is seen as the other serious contender at this stage. The Tata Group had acquired its UK steel operations as part of a 6.7-billion acquisition from Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2009. The firm has blamed structural disadvantages in the UK, such as extremely high energy costs, as the reason for the crisis in the steel industry. If we were at the same electricity costs as Germany, then (Tata Steel UK) would be 40 million better off we would not be having negative numbers. We would not be selling the business if we were not losing money, Chief Executive Officer Bimlendra Jha told the House of Commons Business Select Committee last week. He had also indicated the company wants to ideally sell all its UK assets together, rather than splitting them up. We would not deal with somebody saying leave alone Port Talbot and give us the rest. That is not a solution thats acceptable, Jha had said. The UK government has indicated that it is willing to take a stake of no more than 25 per cent to help secure a deal. In a year marked by record sales of passenger vehicles, Life Insurance Corporation (along with its schemes and funds) increased its stake in all the three listed automobile companies: Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. The country's largest institutional investor also raised its stake in Hero MotoCorp. The government-owned insurance firm has booked profit in Ashok Leyland and marginally brought down shareholding in TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto in the year ended March 31, 2016. Interestingly, stock prices of all these companies, barring Tata Motors, have seen an appreciation in the year ended March 31. Significant appreciation has happened in Ashok Leyland (47.6 per cent), TVS Motor (22.33 per cent) and Bajaj Auto (19.26 per cent). The rest have seen single-digit gains. LIC's decision to reduce stake in Ashok Leyland and TVS Motor is in line with the sharp run seen in both these stocks. "LIC has booked profits after the run-up in these stocks," said S P Tulsian, an investment advisor. Tata Motors' stock declined 30 per cent during the year, mainly impacted by over poor performance of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The declining trend has been now reversed with the growth in JLR sales. No wonder that LIC's stake in the company has more than doubled to 3.28 per cent in FY16. Private insurer ICICI Prudential has also increased stake in Tata Motors to 2.29 per cent from 1.46 per cent in the said period. Overseas portfolio investors like Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and the government of Singapore have also invested in the stock. The most interesting change in LIC's automobile holding is probably in case of Hero MotoCorp, the country's largest two-wheeler maker. The company has seen challenging times as far as volumes are concerned for two consecutive years, owing to a sub normal rainfall in the past two years that impacted motorcycle demand in rural markets. LIC has raised its holding in the company from 3.58 per cent as on March 2015 to 6.41 per cent in March 2016. Hero's stock has surged in the past few weeks on forecast of an above normal rainfall this year. "A good monsoon augurs well for Hero MotoCorp," said Tulsian. The monsoon will also benefit Mahindra, the country's largest tractor and utility vehicle player. Analysts also say there is a lack of good investment opportunities in the equity market. "Metal- and commodity-based stocks have not delivered in recent years. But, the automobile consumption growth story is strong. A good monsoon can help the car and two-wheeler industry post a growth close to double digit," said Saurabh Jain, assistant vice-president (fundamental research) at SMC Global Securities. Sumitro Ghosh took charge as chief executive officer (CEO) of the 50:50 joint venture of Tata Global Beverages and Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Company, earlier this year. A Starbucks veteran who was born and brought up in the US, Ghosh talks to Viveat Susan Pinto on the way forward for the coffee retailer in a key emerging market. Edited excerpts: Youve been in India for nearly four months. Your sense of the market here? The India market has been delightful. I can see that consumers here have been spending time at our stores and are active on social media (on Starbucks Twitter and Facebook pages). We continue to see how we can keep their interest going, both within stores and on social media. One was the first India-specific digital campaign that we launched last month and what I like about customers here is that they take part in something that connects with them personally. That is interesting. When Howard Schultz (global chairman & CEO of Starbucks) was earlier this year in India, he had spoken of an aggressive rollout of stores in the country. Does that mean you will touch the 100-store-mark this calendar year? We are already at 83 stores. Our growth plans here are strong and our strategies in place. India has seen the fastest rollout of stores in Starbucks' history, in any market. Getting to 83 stores in three and a half years is significant in that sense and we are evaluating which markets we will target beyond the six cities we are currently in. Most analysts believe you've been slower than in China in terms of store rollouts. Is the discretionary slowdown here bogging you? China was a market we stepped into 15 years ago. It is an established market as opposed to India, where we are still in the launch phase. All international markets we stepped into, with the exception of India, saw a slower rollout of stores in the initial phase. Markets like China gathered steam later. So, it is incorrect that India is seeing slower store rollout. It has been the fastest if you track rollouts in the initial phase across Starbucks international markets. Tell us about the digital delivery platform Starbucks is looking to launch in India. When is it expected to happen? We plan to launch this year. Basically, the platform will allow you to make payments from your phone and allow you to participate in the My Starbucks Rewards programme through your phone. It will let consumers know about menu options and store locations and instead of pulling out their Starbucks (loyalty) physical card, they can generate it on their mobile phones and pay. We first plan to get this going and then move to a mobile ordering system as exists in the US and some other markets. The mobile ordering platform is part of our long-term plan for India. When will Teavana tea bars make their way to India? Do you see tea overtaking coffee in India, given that India is a tea drinking nation? We plan to launch Teavana by early 2017, within Starbucks stores. We're excited about it because that should add a whole new dimension to what we are doing here. Additionally, we will continue to develop local products within Starbucks and will also look at new formats that Starbucks stores can take. So, to answer your question, our attention will be on both. The Starbucks brand will evolve and so will Teavana. The Union government will appeal to the Supreme Court to reconsider the ban on diesel vehicles in the national capital region (NCR). The decision was taken after a meeting attended by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete and Environment Minister 8Prakash Javadekar. An informal note issued by the three ministries said a study shows that only nine per cent of air pollution comes from vehicles in summer, while it is 19 per cent in winter. It was observed in the meeting that the initiatives taken by the three ministries in the past two years to reduce air pollution need to presented to the Supreme Court. The ban has created an unprecedented situation of thousands of taxies getting off the road. This has resulted in immediate loss of jobs to thousands of people and also serious commuting problems to working men, women and youths in NCR, said the note issued after the meeting. Many establishments in Delhi-NCR, particularly in the information technology and business process outsourcing sectors, have late working hours. So, non-availability of safe transport facilities poses a safety and security threat to these working men and women, it said. After the ban, major companies in Delhi-NCR have decided not to provide any transport to the employees. The statement said the Union government has taken a number of initiatives in the past two years to address the issue of growing pollution in Delhi. These include announcement of BS-VI norms to be implemented with effect from April 1, 2020. Under this, oil companies would invest Rs 60,000 crore for BS-VI fuels. Besides, standards for bio-fuel such as ethanol, bio-diesel, electric hybrid were notified. Retro-fitment of existing polluting vehicles into electric hybrid and electric vehicle was permitted. Pilot has been successfully completed. Work on the eastern periphery expressway and western periphery expressway (WPE) is currently going on with 53 km of WPE between Manesar to Palwal being opened to commuters recently. The plan to de-congest Delhi has also been finalised with eight arterial roads. Besides, the concept note for the policy to scrap old vehicles has been finalised. E-tolling on national highways has started. The e-rickshaw policy has helped in reducing pollution to a great extent, said the note. Ministerial-level meetings have also been held with NCR states and Punjab. All NCR states have formulated short-term and long-term action plans for control of air pollution. Stubble burning has been banned in all NCR states as well as Punjab. There has been a 40 per cent reduction in burning in Punjab and 17 per cent in Haryana compared to last year. Data from 772 pollution checking centres in Delhi are used for better monitoring of vehicular pollution in Delhi. Three non-complying units of NTPC have been closed. To promote cleaner vehicles, incentives are being given to buyers of hybrid and electric vehicles. Besides, there are plans to infuse seven million hybrid and electric vehicles by 2020 under the National Electric Mobility Mission. Defying Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals diktat to taxi cab aggregators of not bringing back surge pricing, continued to have taxis running with peak pricing on. Ola, however, maintained that they have not yet switched on surge pricing. However, customers of the Bengaluru-based cab aggregator also found Ola taxis missing in the morning. The no cab available sign was a fixture for many hours across Ola, and even Meru. Sources in the state government said that while the next plan of action is being decided, it is certain that action would be taken against erring cab aggregators. Read more from our special coverage on "UBER" For more than 15 days now, the Delhi CM and cab aggregators have had a tussle over surge pricing. The Kejriwal government has even come out with full page advertorials in dailies claiming how it stopped and Ola from committing daylight robbery via surge pricing. Kejriwal in a tweet on micro-blogging website Twitter warned strong action against cab aggregators if they bring back surge pricing. Some taxis have started charging surge. Surge not allowed under law. They r (sic) warned that strong action will be taken against them, Kejriwal tweeted. Cab aggregators are, however, wondering under what sections the government can book them for surge pricing. As far as we know, there are no sections under which they can book us for surge pricing. Now that odd-even rule is over we should be allowed to get back to normal business. We will see if they impound our cabs, then what sections can they book us under, said a senior official at a cab aggregator. They are also waiting for the cab aggregator scheme to be out which the Delhi government has said might be introduced in the next 10 days. We agree we do not have a license to run in the capital but we would only register under the upcoming cab aggregator policy. The government should understand our situation as well, added the official. After the city government last month told the high court that cab aggregators Ola and Uber were operating "illegally" and assured action was being taken by its transport department, sources in these companies said that they would only apply for licence after the government comes out with its proposed cab aggregator scheme. The past few weeks have been rough for both companies, dodging fire from almost all corners. From the Karnataka government putting a cap on their 'surge' pricing to the Delhi chief minister banning it completely and impounding vehicles on the platform, the two companies have been left gasping. The Delhi government wanted these two aggregators to register under its radio taxi scheme, which these companies have not agreed to. They have categorically said they would wait for the state transport ministry to come out with the cab aggregator scheme. Sources in the Delhi government as well as the State Transport Department, however, said that they would take action against cabs via random checks to see if the cabs are running on peak prices as well as act on complaints of the individuals. The Chief Minister has made it clear that action would be taken. We will have further discussions and will decide what would be out next plan of action, said a senior official of the transport department. A UN arbitration tribunal has ruled in favour of Italian marine Salvatore Girone, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at The Hague. However, government sources in New Delhi said the order has clearly recognised that the marine is under Indias authority alone and the Supreme Court exercises jurisdiction over him.Two Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Girone are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014, while Girone is on bail and is staying in the Italian embassy in New Delhi. India and Italy had agreed to an arbitration by the UN court. There is no appeal process against UN tribunal and its order cannot be challenged. In India, any new political turn will add grist to the raging political controversy over the issue. The Congress has alleged that the government has done a quid pro quo with Italy by promising to release the marine in return for revelations that target its leadership in the AugustaWestland issue. The government has denied this. The Supreme Court will set Girones bail conditions. Source said Italy has accepted that if Girone is allowed by the Supreme Court to return to Italy, he will remain under the jurisdiction of the courts of India. According to sources in New Delhi, the order also says that India must be assured, unequivocally and with legally binding effect, that Girone will return to India in case the tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the Enrica Lexie incident. Italy in March had asked the judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". Italian news agency ANSA quoted Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to his Indian counterpart (Narendra Modi)" after the news that marine Salvatore Girone will return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi said in Florence. Jammu and Kashmir are now free to meet representatives of Pakistan, the Indian government said last week, the Times of India reported. The about-turn comes almost two years after the Indian government imposed a ban on meetings between and Pakistani officials. Minister of State for External Affairs, V K Singh, in a written reply to Parliament last week said, "Since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so-called Kashmiri 'leaders' are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India." Singh, however, went on to clarify that the India-Pakistan dialogue process could not be interfered with by any third party. "India has consistently maintained that there is no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan as per the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. India's displeasure at Pakistan's attempts to interfere in India's internal affairs has been repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan," he was quoted in the newspaper as saying. In August 2014, the Modi government cancelled talks between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan, following a meeting between the Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit and Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah. This is a red line we have drawn, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson had said at the time, quoted The Hindu. We have told Pakistan you either talk to us, or to them [Kashmiri separatists]. A year later, in August 2015, Pakistan cancelled Security Advisor (NSA)-level talks with India, after the Indian government insisted that Pak NSA Sartaj Aziz would not be allowed to meet with Hurriyat Conference leaders during his visit. The Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled up the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) today for failure to stop polluting the Yamuna River. Last year, the DJB had established 15 MGD waste water treatment plants at a cost of Rs 204 crore at the Delhi Gate Nalla aimed at curbing the problem of highly polluted water from areas of Old Delhi being released into the Yamuna. "You had assured us that not a single drop of untreated water will go into the Yamuna. Still 25 to 30% of waste water is going into the Yamuna. We will not allow you to waste public money like this. Enough of this joke," the presiding NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said in today's hearing while summoning the engineer in charge to explain the situation."The bench also asked the DJB to submit details of planned expenditure with regard to the water and sewerage sector for the current fiscal year. The NGT had earlier taken the DJB to task for spending money errantly without prior permission and had directed the board not to surrender funds allocated to it for rejuvenation of the Yamuna but to use the amounts in the Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project instead. Even as Indian enterprises are increasingly going online, there has been a notable uptick in the number of attacks, especially targeting the small and medium businesses as most of them are not well protected. According to a recent report by security software firm Symantec, November 2015 was most vulnerable month for India Inc when, on an average, 2.5 targeted attacks took place every day. There has been a steady rise in attacks targeting businesses with less than 250 employees, in the past five years. In 2015, one in two attacks (52 per cent) were aimed at small businesses in India, proving that companies of all sizes are at risk. Attackers motivated purely by profit can be just as technically sophisticated and well-organised as any nation state-sponsored attacker.India also continues be one of the top sources of cyber attacks. In 2015, the country ranked 18th as a source of spam, an improvement considering that it ranked sixth in 2014. It, however, continues to rank as the third top source of overall malicious activity including spam, malware, phishing hosts and bots. Some of the factors that are propelling this include large young population, millions of mobile connections and rapid adoption of cloud and integration of information and communications technology in critical infrastructure. The report reveals how lucrative India is for cyber criminals, said Tarun Kaura, director (solution product management) for Asia-Pacific and Japan at Symantec. In fact, India is the second most favoured destination for ransomware in Asia with the average number of attacks increasing 114 per cent to 15 per hour. Almost 10 per cent of these attacks were crypto-ransomware, posing a threat to consumers and enterprises alike. The government is also looking to increase cyber security in the country to protect people and enterprises from cyber terrorism. It is in the process of recruiting, on contractual basis, cyber security experts and partner with top international cyber security firms. In December 2014, an expert group constituted by the home ministry submitted its report on Roadmap for Effectively Tackling Cyber Crimes in the Country after examining the global best practices. As a result of all this, cyber security is also fast becoming a major growth area for Indian industry. According to industry body Nasscom, it would be a major revenue and job creator for the country going forward. By 2020, it has projected the cyber security sector to fetch revenues of $35 billion apart from creating a million new jobs. We estimate cyber security is $2.5-3 billion or about two per cent of the $150-billion Indian information technology (IT) sector. With the IT sector on track to reaching $350 billion by 2025, we estimate 10 per cent of this to come from cyber security, Rajendra Pawar, chair, Nasscom Cyber Security Task Force, said recently. CYBER THREAT Italian Salvatore Girone will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure. The International Tribunal at the Hague that is dealing with the case has decided on Girone's return, upholding a request from Italy, the media reported on Monday. The ruling will be made public on Tuesday, the sources said, but the foreign ministry in Rome confirmed the news. The tribunal has called on both sides to agree on the procedure for the marine's return. Girone and fellow Massimiliano Latorre are accused by India of killing two of its fisherman in 2012 during an anti-piracy mission. "If the news is true, I'm incredibly happy," Girone's father Michele said. "Now I'll have to speak to my son and daughter-in-law to see whether it's true." The case is at the centre of a long diplomatic dispute between Rome and New Delhi. Italy argues the marines should have immunity as they were servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial waters. Italy took the case to International Tribunal after delays in the handling of the case in India. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy for treatment after he had a stroke in 2014. After crash landing on Congress' doorstep, the alleged AgustaWestland has found a second life and does not seem to be going away any time soon. Last week saw the Bharatiya Janata Party go after Congress President Sonia Gandhi in earnest even as her party left no stone unturned to tell the public that it was their government which cancelled the deal and initiated investigations into the matter. Corruption in the purchase of 12 AW-101 helicopters from Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland International Limited, for an estimated amount of euro 556 million (currently Rs 4,195 crore), has already seen the Central Bureau of Investigation quiz former Indian Air Force (IAF) Deputy Chief J S Gujral for over eight hours on Saturday, with former IAF chief S P Tyagi having appeared before the agency on Monday. One of the alleged middlemen in the deal, James Christian Michel also came forward, offering himself up for questioning by Indian authorities as long as the 'interview' was conducted outside India. Michel was also the source of the allegations that the Modi government had struck a deal with the Italian Prime Minister offering Italy the freedom of the two marines accused of killing Indian fishermen in exchange for information linking Sonia Gandhi and her family to the chopper scam. Let us look at details which have emerged as the month begins. Not your garden variety FDI: Part of the amount paid as kickbacks in the alleged scam was repatriated to the country in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI), the Economic Times reported on Monday. According to the report, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found "a web of companies" meant to "route" Rs 37 crore to Indian entities. The report adds that these shell companies were based out of Mauritius and Tunisia. The amount, according to the report, is part of the "Rs 160 crore that AgustaWestland allegedly paid to middlemen", with the remaining Rs 123 crore unaccounted for so far. Citing the ED, the report says that about Rs 29 crore was received by Chandigarh-based firm Aeromatrix Info Solutions Pvt Ltd. Of this amount, the report says that Rs 4.77 crore came "by way of criminal act in the shape of FDI... from Infotech Design System, Mauritius". The remaining Rs 24.6 crore, according to the ED, was received by the same company "through a Tunisian intermediary as payment against software exported to AgustaWestland", the report adds. The report adds that the remaining part of the Rs 37 crore was paid to beneficiaries who had rendered services to AgustaWestland. The Punjabi music angle: Michel was into Punjabi music and it seems so were Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials. According to India Today, Michel had floated a media company to "export Punjabi music CDs from India". The report adds that the firm was "never used for the purpose". Instead, it was used for obliging former officials at the MoD in return for insider information about the chopper deal. The report cited ED sources as saying that Michel, with the help of one R K Nanda, floated the company named Media Exim. The money pumped into the company, according to the report, came from Michel's Dubai-based company Global Services FZE. According to the report, investigations revealed that the Safdarjung Enclave-based media company's travel agency was "used to oblige former officials of the defence ministry". The report adds that these facts came to light after the ED nabbed Michel's driver and questioned him. Parrikar to clear the air: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that he will place all the facts, along with the detailed chronology, about the chopper deal before Parliament on Wednesday. "I will place the detailed chronology, giving facts about the chopper deal before Parliament on Wednesday. I will place the detailed chronology, giving how and when necessary clauses or provisions were relaxed to suit the company," Parrikar told reporters. Parrikar had earlier called for the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) dispensation to provide answers about the allegations linking it to the alleged scam. However, the Defence Minister conceded that the individuals who had received undue gains were unlikely to have left a trail. Parrikar further asked the then UPA government why it had not blacklisted AgustaWestland. "I challenge the Congress to show the UPA government's order blacklisting the AgustaWestland company. Let them reply first why it was not banned. It was during our ( Democratic Alliance) government that we banned it," he said. Fifty eight and countingthe number of farmers' suicides in Punjab in the past three months due to agrarian distress is alarming. Maharashtra, Punjab and Telangana top this grim list, the Union government informed Parliament last week. Rainfed states are in a crisis due to two years of drought but Punjab is a largely irrigated state, that pioneered the country's green revolution. Yet, its farmers grapple with mounting debt and dwindling income, despite the government's assured purchase of wheat, paddy and cotton. Satish Verma, professor at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development here, did a study which showed a debt to income ratio in Punjab at 96.8 per cent as of end-2013. And, this ratio is the highest among low-income farming families; it decreases with increase in income. A joint study by three universities in the state has calculated the estimated farm debt total at Rs 69,000 crore. The study also incorporates data on farmer suicides between 2000 and 2010; it estimates this at 3,954. Another study for the period after 2010 is on. While the minimum support price of grains are raised by four to five per cent yearly, on average, the cost of cultivation has been rising by eight to 10 per cent annually -- of labour, diesel, pesticides, deepening of tubewells, etc. This has accelerated the suicide numbers, says G S Kalkat, chairman, Punjab Farmers Commission. The census of 2011 showed the number of small farmers in Punjab (having a holding of five acres or below) dipped from 500,000 in 1991 to 360,000 in 2011. The high cost of cultivation due to mechanisation and the low water table has turned small holdings increasingly unviable for crops. An average income of Rs 3,000 an acre after meeting all expenses is not sufficient for even daily need and the farmer borrows from one source to repay the other, getting into a debt trap, reveal the studies. Farmers do get interest subvention from nationalised banks but need to repay the principal and interest at the end of the year to be eligible for a loan next year. He borrows at a higher rate (24-36 per cent from commission agents) to repay the bank to maintain a good credit record. One year's income is needed to pay off debt in rural areas but at low income levels, it is almost four times the income, and such households comprise two-third of rural households, says Verma's study. And, the grip of commission agents has become stronger over time. Farmers in Punjab cannot, in effect, sell their produce in the open market. They are entitled to various state schemes like health insurance only if they produce a J Form, a receipt of sale of grain to the commission agent. The network of moneylenders and procurement agencies makes it impossible for him to go to the open market for a better price. To address all this, the state's legislative Assembly recently passed a Punjab Settlement of Agriculture Indebtedness' Bill. The maximum rate of interest, says the bill, would be fixed each year by the government, based on the repo rate of the Reserve Bank of India and interest charged by banks. Uttar Pradesh government has mandated Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for estimating the sugarcane acreage for the 2016-17 crushing season. GPS is a satellite-based navigation, wherein GPS satellites circle the Earth in a precise orbit and transmit signals. With the help of technology tools, one can determine the exact position of an object and display it on an electronic map for analysis. It can also be used for ascertaining the cropped area. GPS will ensure acreage estimates are more accurate to enable the state sugarcane department brace for the impending season. Besides, it would help the state sugar mills in ascertaining cane availability in their reservation area. UP cane commissioner Vipin Kumar Dwivedi today also issued the UP Sugarcane Survey Policy 2016, which stresses upon the authenticity and preciseness of the survey data for analytical purposes. The state government is further aiming at increasing cane area by 5 percent and facilitating cane sowing through trench method across 10 percent of the acreage. As per last year's estimates by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the cane area in UP during 2015-16 was about 2.30 million hectares (MH), which was almost flat compared to previous year. However, the actual cane production had dropped due to unseasonal rains in the subsequent months even as the crushing season was on. Meanwhile, the state government is targetting at replacing the rejected/unsuitable cane varieties and ensuring early variety across 40 per cent of the total cropped area. The government is attempting at increasing cane yield to 70 tonnes per hectare from the current level of about 65 tonnes to maximise farmers' income. During the current year, UP sugar mills had so far produced 6.8 million tonnes (MT) of sugar compared to 7.04 MT in 2014-15. The state sugar mills had clocked better sugar recovery of about 10.50 percent this year. The (FDA) has refused entry of 12,012 Indian products, including drugs, into the American market between January 2011 and March 2016 for various reasons, including adulteration and misbranding, Parliament was informed on Monday. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman informed about this in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The reasons given for the refusal include misbranding, adulteration, packaging, labelling, pesticides, unapproved products and the like, she added. On various measures being taken by the government to improve the quality of products, Sitharaman said, ... the steps include tightening labelling rules and making it mandatory for companies to clearly mention the dates of manufacturing, best-before use and expiry dates and improving pre-export inspection. Other steps include greater emphasis on standards through sensitisation of exporters for compliance of regulatory issues through export promotion agencies and taking up the issues at bilateral trade forums, whenever appropriate, she said. Public sector banks (PSBs) to which Punjab owes Rs 12,000 crore may not have to provision for these because the loans are apparently backed by sovereign guarantee. The central government is likely to tell the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that state-owned banks will not need to provision for the dues extended to Punjab for its food procurement programme, as they will get absorbed, the Business Standard has learnt. For the long term, the Centre would also speed up the process of online tracking and procurement of foodgrain by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), to avoid the kind of controversies that cropped up with Punjab. It has also asked other states from which the FCI procures foodgrain to go through their books again and bring to the Centre's notice any discrepancy in food procurement numbers. In April, the Punjab government had claimed that it is owed Rs 20,000 crore by the Centre in foodgrain procurement dues. While the amount is still being verified, central government sources said these dues accumulated over the last 10-15 years because of the difference between the prices at which the state's agencies procures from farmers and the prices at which the FCI picks the foodgrain from Punjab. "We are in the process of finding out exactly where and how much food stock we have. It is an ongoing process but our view is that these loans are covered by a sovereign guarantee so why do you want it to be provisioned?" said a senior government official aware of the deliberations between officials from the finance ministry, the RBI and banks. "If everything is clear, the RBI should not have to worry. Even if there is some shortfall, which may be possible, the FCI is saying it is accumulated over time. It has sovereign guarantee. It will be absorbed by the government," the official said. As reported by the Business Standard earlier, sources in the FCI have disputed Punjab government's claims. The FCI has said the amount the Centre owes the state cannot be higher than Rs 5,000-7,000 crore. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal visited New Delhi on April 18 and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. He sought an immediate release of cash credit limit worth Rs 20,094 crore to enable the state government to make timely payments to farmers for wheat procurement. According to reports, the Centre has already released Rs 10,000 crore of that amount. Claims by the Punjab government and the discrepancies in the amounts owed by the Centre have also led to a comprehensive review of the procurement process. The government is hastening the process of making procurement and tracking completely online, as announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his 2016-17 Budget speech. "An online procurement system will be undertaken through the FCI. This will usher in transparency and convenience to the farmers through prior registration and monitoring of actual procurement," Jaitley had said on February 29. "The idea is to correct such discrepancies between what a state claims and what the FCI claims. We want all this to be online so we know what is happening. We are tightening everything across the system," said a second official. Other states, including Haryana, have also been asked to look at their outstanding dues, if any, with their food grain stocks to reconcile possible discrepancies. Officials admit that the Punjab situation was a blessing in disguise. As a result of it, a check is now taking place on the entire food procurement system. "It is not a bad thing sometimes to have a pressure in the system, to ensure that the system actually works properly. Clearly, there is some shrinkage and something has happened. We don't know how big it is. We are working on finding out and we want to fix this systemically. We want to put some pressure in the system through the RBI and banks so that both the FCI and states clean up their act," the second person said. The Centre has set up a procurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2016-17, starting this month. The wheat procurement has already started and the state has purchased about three million tonnes as on April 17. Punjab and Haryana contribute in a big way to the central pool. "Why should I be afraid of anyone? Gunmen move around with me all the time. Besides, I am the secretary of a local club and I run some schools here," says a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader in Bolpur, the home to the prestigious Visva-Bharati University, describing the levers of power he controls, making him an influential leader in the area. And controlling a 'club', hitherto known to be a place for recreational activities, is one of them. The Government along with other member countries of the United Nations Organization has set a target of reducing road accident of fatalities by 50% by 2020. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken a number of steps to implement the said target: . . i. The Government has approved a National Road Safety Policy. This Policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information data base, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws etc. . . ii. The Government has constituted the National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety. . . iii. The Ministry has requested all States/UTs for setting up of State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees, and to hold their meetings regularly. . . iv. The Ministry has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on 4 Es viz. Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care. . . v. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage. . . vi. Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways has been taken up. . . vii. High priority has been accorded to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways. Around 700 such black spots have been identified for improvement. . . viii. The threshold for four laning of national highway has been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs. About 52,000 Km of stretches of State Highways has been identified for conversion to national highways. . . ix. Setting up of model driving training institutes in States and refresher training to drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicle in the unorganized sector. . . x. Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic and print media. . . xi. Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like Seat Belts, Power-steering, anti-lock braking system etc. . . xii. Providing cranes and ambulances to various State Governments under the National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme for development on National Highways. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed stretches of National Highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts. . . xiii. Launch of pilot projects for providing cashless treatment of road accident victims on Gurgaon Jaipur, Vadodara Mumbai stretch of National Highways No. 8 and Ranchi Rargaon - Mahulia stretch of National Highway No. 33. . . The Ministry has drafted a new Road Transport and Safety Bill covering entire gamut of road safety. The Bill envisages the creation of a National Road Safety & Traffic Management Authority(NRSTMA) to look after all issues related to vehicle regulation and road safety. . . A sanctioned ceiling of Rs 500 Crore has been earmarked under NH(O) for rectification of identified road accident black spots on National Highways during the year 2015-16 for the entire country. . . This information was given by Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. . . The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that Petronet LNG Limited (PLL) has signed a revised contract with RasGas of Qatar. Petronet LNG Limited has a 7.5 MMTPA FOB LNG supply agreement with RasGas, Qatar on long term basis for 25 years. The supply under this agreement commenced in 2004. PLL has successfully negotiated the revised price formula for the said contract effective from 1st January, 2016 thereby aligning prices with the world gas market. Further, PLL has executed agreement for additional supply of 1.0 MMTPA of LNG from RasGas, Qatar for a period of about 12 years w.e.f. January 1, 2016 at the prevailing market prices. Earlier the prices during 2015 were in excess of USD 12/MMBtu. The current price applicable under the contract works out to less than USD 5.00MMBtu based on prevailing crude prices. This revision has led to making LNG cheaper for the end consumers. . . RasGas and Petronet LNG Limited agreed to reschedule the LNG quantity not taken by Petronet LNG Limited during 2015 to a future period and RasGas has agreed to waive the take or pay liability under the contract for the year 2015. . . YKB/RG/Rk During his last visit to Germany in April 2015, Hon. Prime Minister apprised the German companies that the regulatory regime in India is much more transparent, responsive and stable. Lots of efforts have been made and are still underway to improve the Ease of Doing business in the Country. Steps have been taken to open up more FDI in key areas like insurance, construction, defence, railways and medical devices. Procedures are being simplified and digital technology is being used to eliminate multiple approvals. A predictable, stable and competitive tax regime is being built. . . FDI policy is reviewed on an ongoing basis, with a view to making it more investor-friendly. Significant changes are made in the FDI policy regime, from time to time, to ensure that India remains an increasingly attractive investment destination. . . As per the extant FDI policy, any non-resident entity can invest in India, subject to the FDI Policy except in those sectors/ activities which are prohibited. However, a citizen of Bangladesh or an entity incorporated in Bangladesh can invest only under the Government route. Further, a citizen of Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Pakistan can invest, only under the Government route, in sectors/ activities other than defence, space and atomic energy and sectors/ activities prohibited for foreign investment. . . This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. . . The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme in the year 2014-15 with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities. Buddhist Circuit has been identified as one of the thirteen thematic circuits for development under the scheme. All Buddhist sites in the country including in the State of Uttar Pradesh are covered under the Buddhist Circuit. . . The development & promotion of destination/circuits is primarily undertaken by the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations themselves. The Ministry of Tourism, as part of its on-going activities, annually releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country, including the lesser known destinations which have tourism potential. In addition, a series of promotional activities are undertaken in important and potential tourist generating markets overseas through the Indiatourism Offices abroad with the objective of showcasing Indias tourism potential. These promotional activities include participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organizing road shows, Know India seminars & workshops; organizing and supporting Indian food and cultural festivals; publication of brochures; offering joint advertising and brochure support and inviting media personalities, tour operators and opinion makers to visit the country under the Hospitality Programmes of the Ministry. . . There is no State wise allocation of funds for States/Union Territory Administrations under the above scheme. The funds are sanctioned to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for various tourism projects in consultation with them subject to availability of funds, liquidation of pending utilization certificates, submission of suitable Detailed Project Report and adherence to the scheme guidelines. . . Under Buddhist Circuit theme, Ministry has sanctioned the project Construction of Cultural Centre at Bodhgaya, Bihar" for Rs.33.17 crore in 2014-15. . . This information was given by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. . . Students are free to study in languages of their choice, and the Universities have academic autonomy to teach languages in accordance with the decision of their statutory councils. The language of teaching for various subjects taught in the Universities lies within the domain of respective universities. There is no evidence that the inclination towards Hindi language among students taking education in Universities is decreasing. . . The University Grants Commission has implemented programmes to promote and encourage teaching in medium of Hindi, including Establishment/Upgradation of Hindi Departments in those Central/State/Deemed Universities which are receiving University Grants Commissions (UGC) assistance. Besides, the UGC has approved and sanctioned setting up of Hindi Cells in Central Universities. 39 Central Universities have established Hindi Cells. . . The Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (KHS) under Ministry of HRD runs a number of academic and promotional activities specifically prepared for the students, trainees and teachers of Non-Hindi States of India and abroad. Under its international Hindi Teaching Program, KHS invites foreign students to learn Hindi in India. It has also developed courseware for Hindi teaching in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Almost every year, KHS teachers are deputed in various countries for teaching and promotion of Hindi. Every year, KHS also announces Awards for Hindi Scholars from all over India who have worked in different categories for promotion, propagation and development of Hindi at national and international level. . . This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question. . . Sanitation, Water Supply and other development projects in Varanasi to be speeded up . Execution of various projects to ensure sanitation and water supply in Varanasi will be speeded up with all the stakeholder agencies taking necessary actions in a time bound manner. This was agreed upon at a two hour long review meeting taken by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary (Urban Development) here today. . . Construction of household and community and Public toilets, solid waste management, operationalization of a waste processing plant at Karsada, management of waste dump at Ramna, cleaning of ghats, installation of LED lights, land acquisition for a Water Treatment Plant, execution of HRIDAY works, implementation under Kyoto-Varanasi Collaboration Agreement, JICA assisted works etc were discussed and reviewed in detail. . . Regarding construction of toilets, Municipal Commissioner of Varanasi has informed that as against the need for construction of 3,500 household toilets in the city, work has just begun on 779 toiles with the State Government agreeing to ts share of assistance to the beneficiaries and 46 community and public toilet seats have so far been constructed as against the need for 205. The officials assured that construction on remaining toilets will be commenced soon. . . Shri S.P.Singh, Pricipal Secretary(UD) of Uttar Pradesh has assured that Varanasi Municipal Commissioner will intensify efforts to mobilize funds under Corporate Social Responsibility for construction of public toilets in the city. . . Shri Rajiv Gauba impressed upon the State Government officials for speedy and concerted efforts to make Varanasi Open Defecation Free at the earliest. . . Regarding Solid Waste Management, the state government officials said that IL&FS, which has been entrusted with door-to-door collection and transportation of municipal solid waste in 14 core area would be asked to consider doing the same for the remaining 74 wards in the city. Financing of solid waste collection and transportation in these 74 wards will be considered under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). . . It was also decided that IL&FS would be asked to examine issues relating to the management of huge waste dump at Ramna including the presence of combustible waste before capping of this dump is considered to avoid possible fires. It was felt necessary to ensure presence of only inert material in the dump. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has agreed to operationalize waste processing plant at Karsada in a months time. . . Regarding setting up of a Water Treatment Plant at Baraipur for bringing more Ganga water to the city and a pending court case, it was stated that the Court has been informed that land proposed to be acquired is not on patta land and necessary further action in this regard would be taken. . . Varanasi Municipal Corporation will come out with an Action Plan for ensuring 24 X 7 cleaning of ghats in ten days time. . . Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary(UD) suggested that a revenue sharing model be evolved by the company EESL to meet the infrastructure cost of Rs.38 cr for installing LED lights along all streets and ghats in Varanasi. . . A Committee will be set up under Divisional Commissioner of Varnasi to enable speedy execution of 24 road projects under Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) to be implemented by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC). . . Regarding operationalization of Kyoto-Varanasi Collaboration Agreement, it was agreed that JICA will soon complete survey works for Rs.760 cr sewerage network projects in Cis-Varuna areas of the city and Rs.100 cr Sewerage and STP project in Ramnagar so that they could be launched before India-Japan Cooperation Review due next year. . . JICA also agreed to quickly take a final view on financing the proposed Rs.74 cr Convention Centre project. . . State Government officials have further informed that necessary approval has been accorded for JICAs technical cooperation in the areas of solid waste management, sewerage and liquid waste management and water supply (Non-revenue water )projects in Varanasi. . . Shri Rajiv Gauba also reviewed progress in respect of Kanpur Metro Project. The State Government was asked to quickly respond to the issues raised by the Ministry of Urban Development regarding a Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the city and some complaints received regarding the alignment of the project. . . Varanasi Mayor Shri Ram Gopal Mohiley, Shri Pravin Prakash and Shri B.Anand, Joint Secretaries in the Ministry of Urban Development , Shri S.P.Singh, Principal Secretary(Urban Development, Govt of UP), Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi, Vice-Chairman of Varanasi Development Authority, Municipal Commissioner of Varnasi and other concerned senior officials of UP Government besides members of the Steering Committee on Kyoto-Varanasi Collaboration Agreement, representatives of JICA and Benares Hindu University attended the meeting. . . AAR . . May 2,2016 The Ministry of Human Resource Development has been implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students" through the State Education Boards. To bring awareness amongst target group, the State Education Boards have been uploading the information about the Scheme in their website and also advertisements are brought out in the regional dailies. The Scheme is being implemented on the National e-Scholarship Portal under the Digital India Initiative. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that they have been providing widespread publicity to their various scholarship schemes by giving advertisements in National Dailies, Employment and on UGC website. The UGC also has an exclusive link e-SARTS fellowship on their website to cater to various scholarship schemes where the students can apply online. . . This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question. . . Government of India (GOI) has launched National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM), to plan and monitor implementation of policies and programmes related to Smart Grid activities in India. This was stated by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. . . The Minister further stated that an expenditure of Rs. 21.73 crore has been incurred for development of four Smart Grid pilot projects and one Smart City Pilot project during 2015-16. NSGM envisages implementation of Smart Grid projects in the country to make Indian Power infrastructure cost effective, responsive, reliable and self healing. Two smart grid projects for Amravati and Chandigarh have been approved under NSGM, at a cost of Rs 118.63 crore with 30% funding from GoI under NSGM. The Budgetary support for NSGM activities for the Financial Year 2016-17 is Rs.30 crore, the Minister added. . . RM/RS- USQ876 - RS 18 States and one Union Territory viz. Puducherry have given their in-principle approval to join the scheme Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY). So far, 10 States have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Ministry of Power under UDAY. This was stated by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. . . The Government of India has launched UDAY for the financial and operational turnaround of state-owned Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs). The scheme aims to reduce interest burden, reduce the cost of power, reduce power losses in Distribution sector, and improve operational efficiency of DISCOMs. The scheme also incentivizes the States by exempting State takeover of DISCOM debts from FRBM limits for two years; increased supply of domestic coal; coal linkage rationalization; liberally allowing coal swaps from inefficient to efficient plants; allocation of coal linkages to States at notified prices and additional/priority funding in schemes of Ministry of Power and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, if they meet the operational milestones in the scheme, the Minister added. . . RM/RS- USQ873 - RS The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has congratulated the University of Delhi on its 94th Foundation Day, here today. . . The Vice President said that since its foundation in 1922, with 750 students from three colleges, it has grown into one of the largest universities in India and the University has maintained a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research and has become a role model for other universities in the country. He further said that the academic distinction of the University has attracted the most eminent scholars and the most talented students. . . The Vice President said that as one of the premier institutions of the country, the University of Delhi has to play its role of a neutral assembler of talent; that of an unmatched idea factory where the passion, creativity and idealism of young minds can be applied to meeting the transitional needs of our society, polity and economy. . . Following is the text of the Vice Presidents message: . . It gives me great pleasure to send my congratulations to the Vice Chancellor, faculty, staff and students on the joyous occasion of the 94th foundation day of the University of Delhi. . . Since its foundation in 1922, with 750 students from three colleges, it has grown into one of the largest universities in India with more than five lakh students in both the regular and non-formal education programs. The University has maintained a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research and has become a role model for other universities in the country. The academic distinction of the University has attracted the most eminent scholars and the most talented students who have gone on to make significant contributions to the society. . . Universities today have the role of equipping a new generation with skills and research output to meet the economic and social demands of society. In addition to this, especially as the pace and complexity of our global society increases exponentially, they have the responsibility of building new institutions of civil society, encouraging and facilitating new cultural values, and training and socializing the youth. . . As one of the premier institutions of the country, the University of Delhi has to play its role of a neutral assembler of talent; that of an unmatched idea factory where the passion, creativity and idealism of young minds can be applied to meeting the transitional needs of our society, polity and economy. . . As the Chancellor of the University, I take immense pride in your achievements and wish to commend the efforts of the faculty and students of the University. May your success continue to inspire you to ever greater heights. I wish you all the very best for the future." . . As per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF)-2005, Yoga is an integral part of Health and Physical Education at all levels of school education. Education, being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and the majority of schools being under the jurisdiction of the State Governments, it is for the respective State/ Union Territory Governments to introduce this subject in their schools. However, for the schools affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Health and Physical Education is compulsory for Classes I to X and optional at classes XI and XII. The Government had set up a Committee to suggest modalities to introduce Yoga education in Universities, which has recently submitted its report. . . Based on the NCF-2005, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have already developed model syllabi and textual material for Health and Physical Education, which includes Yoga. . . The Ministry of AYUSH at present has constituted National Board for the Promotion and Development of Yoga and Naturopathy. . . As part of the celebration of International Day of Yoga-2016, in order to promote Yoga amount students, it has been decided to organize Yoga Olympiad, involving school children. In order to promote Yoga among students Yoga-2016, CBSE also organizes National level competition annually for the schools affiliated to it. . . This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question. . . Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright on Monday told the BBC he was the creator of controversial digital currency Bitcoin, ending years of speculation about a person who until now has gone by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. The BBC said Wright gave technical proof supporting his claim to using Bitcoins known to be owned by Bitcoin's creator. It said prominent members of the community had also confirmed Wright's claim and said Wright repeated the claim to The Economist and GQ. "I was the main part of it, but other people helped me," the BBC quoted Wright as saying. Wright last year became the latest in a line of men alleged to be the creator of Bitcoin, a currency that has attracted the interest of banks, speculators, criminals and regulators. Wired magazine, which along with fellow U.S. publication Gizmodo published a story outing Wright based on a stash of leaked documents and emails, called him a genius. Craig Steven Wright, an Australian entrepreneur, identified himself as the creator of bitcoin almost five months after he was outed in media reports as the man behind the virtual currency. Wright said in a blog post and interviews with three media organisations that he developed the original bitcoin software under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, a claim that has been disputed by others. Wright provided technical evidence, including the original encryption keys, that have been confirmed by prominent members of the bitcoin community, the BBC reported. Wright was named as the creator of ... Premium valuations and lack of big triggers will weigh on Indian equity in the near term, believes Mahesh Nandurkar, India Strategist, CLSA. In a conversation with Sheetal Agarwal, he talks about the earnings, foreign institutional investor inflows and overall market outlook. Edited excerpts: Do you believe the recent rally in is sustainable? We dont think so. We believe that there have been a few triggers for the over the past two to three months, such as a reasonably good Budget, decent monsoon forecast and the US Federal Reserves dovish statement in February. So, the market has had a decent run. But, going forward, I dont see any big positive triggers for the market. In fact, I think there could be a few sentiment dampeners. Of late, there has been some excitement around the high frequency indicators, which have improved quite a bit. As we go into May or June, many of these will soften as the base effect normalises. Also, the earnings expectations are still high and we will still see some earnings downgrades. We believe the Sensex could give five to seven per cent returns over the next 12 months. Are the Indian markets over-priced? By consensus estimates, the Nifty trades at 16.1 times earnings on a one-year forward basis. This is an 11-12 per cent premium to past 10 years' average of about 14.5 times on unrealistically high growth expectations. As against 23 per cent earnings growth expectations, if you look at a more realistic picture of 14-15 per cent, then 16.1 becomes 17.5 times, which is a higher premium and does not look sustainable to me. The fair valuation should be 15-15.5 times, which is average valuation plus some premium on account of corporate profitability bouncing back from its lows. But, it is still a de-rating from current levels.. Are we at the bottom of the earnings downgrade cycle? Downgrades this year will be lower than last year. The market seems to be expecting 23 per cent earnings growth from Sensex companies in FY17 and reality will be closer to 15 per cent. So, it is still a downgrade. Which sectors will drive earnings? The effect of a low base in earnings will play out in FY17. Earnings growth will look up for companies that reported very badly last year. Corporate banks, for instance, because last year in the December and March quarters, they took big write-offs, driven by the Reserve Bank's asset quality review. That is not going to happen again next year. Non-performing asset ratios will still rise in FY17 over FY16 but the pace will be much lower. Similarly, health care companies had to do acquisitions-related write-offs in FY16 and will benefit in FY17, due to a very low base. The numbers will be good to some extent from cement companies as well. A lot of this, though, is base effect-driven and appears unsustainable. Excluding this base effect, which sectors will do well? We believe IT, private sector banks and select energy companies will post good numbers. I dont see much of an improvement though. They have been good they will continue to be good. But I dont think the 15 per cent growth will become 20 or 25 per cent. What are the key investment themes in this market? The single biggest theme we are looking at is earnings visibility where you will see least amount of earnings downgrades. Apart from that, disruption is a big theme and is not restricted to e-commerce. For e.g, a Patanjali trying to disrupt the consumer goods space space or Amazon web services having some negative impact on information technology companies. If there is a new entrant on the telecom side, then existing players will get impacted. You will see a lot of this disruption. We need to see to what extent these companies will get disrupted. Where you will see the least amount of disruption would be relatively safer bets. How does India stack up vis-a-vis other emerging markets? In 2016 so far, India has under-performed all other EMs, except China. With some rebound in commodities, the commodity-driven markets benefit more than us. But, on a structural basis, my talks with most investors suggest India remains a more attractive bet for the longer run as compared to Brazil, Russia. Indian markets have seen healthy FII inflows in 2016 so far. Is this sustainable? While India has seen inflows, the other markets have seen larger inflows. Its a global risk-on and India has had its own share in that.. At the international level, since 2009, every bad economic news is considered to be good news for the equity markets. Because the bad economic news will mean that the central bankers will do QE (quantitative easing), rate cuts, etc to fight deflation and then that money will come into the financial assets. But I think we have played this game for a pretty long period of time now. At some point markets will start questioning the efficacy of central banking actions. We did see impact of that earlier when BoJ (Bank of Japan) cut rates deeper into the negative territory but the local Japanese markets actually collapsed. Something similar happened in the case of ECB (European Central Bank) as well. So my own sense is that this tendency will increase going forward which is a global risk for emerging equity markets including India. In this context I believe the possibility of these flows sustaining is low. Are we seeing any signs of uptick in capex? There are three types of institutions that do capex - government, private corporates and households. Government capex is clearly on an upmove and that trend will continue. But I do not think that private corporate capex will pick up because the capacity utilisation rates are pretty low at 62-70 per cent. I think household capex which is largely property can drive delta in the near term. In the last 2-3 years we saw a negative trend on the household capex both in the volume terms and the prices terms. A lot of people ask me that if the government capex is up by 30-40 per cent why it is not reflected in the numbers. This is because while one segment is growing by 35-40 per cent, the other segment is growing at a negative rate leading to an offsetting impact. I am hopeful about the household capex trend changing. Maybe it will take another 3-4 quarters but the property market will begin to bottom out. Which are the sectors that you like and the ones you will stay away from? We continue to be positive on the IT sector where the valuations are between 15-17 times on one-year forward basis and double digit earnings growth appears highly likely. Second sector is private sector banks. Even though the credit growth for the market will be as low as 12-13 per cent but the private banks can still grow by 20 per cent. Continued market share gains and the fact that they dont need to raise equity despite the higher NPA provisioning are key positives. We also like select OMCs (oil marketing companies), some refining companies where the valuations are quite attractive. Few names in pharma and power utilities sectors too look promising. InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, the operator of the country's biggest airline IndiGo, slid the most in two months after President Aditya Ghosh told analysts that a cooling issue faced by some engines powering the A320neo jets has the potential to hurt the carrier's low-cost model. Shares of the company fell 4.7 per cent to Rs 1,025.30 in Mumbai, their biggest decline since March 9.Read more from our special coverage on "INDIGO"IndiGo slips on lacklustre fourth quarter resultsIndiGo profit flat at Rs 579 crIndiGo revises cancellation fee, will now charge flat Rs 2,250Aviation shares surge; ... The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has told mutual fund (MF) houses there will be no extension of its earlier order to them for disclosing the remuneration of their top executives. The deadline for disclosure was Sunday but several fund houses had not complied, saying there was lack of clarity on the issue. There would be no extension, members were told on Sebis behalf by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) on Monday. Anyone whod not complied by Sunday would have till end-Monday to do so. Further, the regulator asked fund houses not to put unnecessary and unhelpful filters while providing the information to investors. For instance, some fund houses were asking for several details from investors such as folio number, registered phone number, PAN card number, registered e-mail IDs, bank account number and date of birth, among others, for accessing the information of remuneration. Sebi also allowed fund houses to indicate employee stock options for different years separately. This would help fund houses to come up with a more realistic annual salary and not a bloated one for key managerial people. India's top fund houses - ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, HDFC MF and Reliance MF adhered to the regulator's diktat and allowed their investors a sneek-peak into the pay packages of their top officials for 2015-16. However, other leading asset management companies -- including Birla Sun Life, UTI MF, SBI MF, Franklin Templeton MF, IDFC MF and Kotak MF opted not to upload the remuneration figures on their websites. The industry body Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) had been trying to get some relaxation on the issue as its members considered salary disclosures a sensitive matter. Meanwhile, Sebi provided some relief to the fund industry by deferring the scheme related disclosures raising hopes that similar relief may be expected on the remuneration front. However, till now since the issue of circular Sebi did not provide any relief to industry. Interestingly, on April 30, the last day of the deadline, Leo Puri, chairman of Amfi, issued a letter to all fund houses saying that there has been some uncertainty on how to proceed with uploading compensation data on the websites... following the cancellation of a meeting with Sebi's chairman UK Sinha. The letter further adds, "We are now scheduled to meet Sebi chairman on May 2 evening, which is post the deadline mentioned in the circular for uploading data." The Amfi's letter advised fund houses that those AMCs who wish to wait until final guidance, to be issued on the manner of disclosure on Monday, may do so. However, it adds that it should not be taken to represent a change of heart on substance of the circular, (but) merely an accommodation of my request that it would help our members properly align themselves and ensure compliance in standardised and orderly manner. The letter, however, made it amply clear, that those AMCs who have disclosed or wish to disclose may also do so as the circular was in force. The Amfi's meeting with Sebi is scheduled on Monday at 4 pm (earlier it was on Friday last week, which got cancelled). Puri, in the letter, added, "We will issue guidance to all members after our meeting on Monday. Until then it is appropriate to be prepared for disclosure, but if you have not done so there will be forbearance shown until further guidance is received on Monday." Puri is also the managing director of UTI Mutual Fund. A Balasubramanian, chief executive officer (CEO) of Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund is vice chairman on Amfi's board. Email queries sent to Birla Sun Life MF, UTI MF and SBI MF did not elicit any responses. Some fund houses may be uploading the data by today. Franklin Templeton follows October-September as financial accounting year, so the fund house' disclosures is expected only in October this year. Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar has asked the former to act against the Taliban groups pursuing violence. According to Atmar, Islamabad is supposed to start crackdown against the insurgent group in accordance with the commitments it made as part of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and United States. Atmar added that the government's top priority was to defend the lives and properties of the Afghan people and not the peace process. Following the remarks, Atmar held meeting with Sweden envoy, Peter Semneby. Semneby reaffirmed support to Afghanistan's policies in maintaining peace and stability and peace talks with the anti-government armed militants, a statement released by the Office of National Security Adviser said. Atmar's remarks comes in wake of the recent comment made by President Ashraf Ghani in which he said that Pakistan government should act responsibly in fight against terrorist groups and group's leaderships based in Peshawar and Quetta. Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Monday accused the Centre of pursuing a politically motivated campaign to defame the grand old party through the AgustaWestland copter scam. "The move by the government is politically motivated. They do not want the real culprits to be caught; they want to make it an issue in the elections to defame the Congress Party. This is their motive," Kharge told ANI here. "But our intention was clear, we wanted the bribe takers to be exposed and action should be taken them as per the law," he added. Meanwhile, the CBI has started questioning former Air chief S.P. Tyagi at its headquarter here in connection with alleged irregularities in the Rs. 3600 crore VVIP chopper deal with AgustaWestland. The investigating agency had earlier on Saturday quizzed former IAF deputy chief J.S. Gujral in connection with this case. Both Tyagi and Gujral were questioned at length in 2013, but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after recent order of an Italian Court which indicated corruption in the deal. The investigating agency had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others, including his cousins and European middlemen in the case. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that he would place all facts along with the detailed chronology about the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal before the Parliament on May 4. Parrikar, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Goa's Panaji yesterday, said the details will include how and when necessary clauses or provisions were relaxed to suit the company. "Those who received kickbacks will not leave behind the proof to prosecute them, but the government will make every effort to prove it," he said. At the recently held 63rd annual convocation ceremony of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI) was conferred with Doctorate of Science (D.Sc.) by His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, Chancellor of the university. This is the fifth university to honour Dr. Seth with doctorate for his contribution and pioneering efforts to the field of medical science, particularly cardiology. Over the past two and a half decades Dr. Ashok Seth is recognized to have contributed significantly to the unprecedented growth and development of Cardiology. With a special focus on interventional cardiology, Dr. Seth has pioneered numerous angioplasty techniques for india and Asia Pacific region with performance of more than 50,000 angiograms and 20,000 angioplasties. He is recognized for introducing new procedures for treating Coronary Artery Disease like the Directional Atherectomy, Rotablator, Drug Eluting Stents, Thrombectomy devices, use of Impella heart support device failing heart, Bioabsorbable Stents and percutaneous valve replacement (TAVR). Dr. Seth's recent and one of the most significant achievement is to become the first ever Indian doctor to be invited to Washington to present his experience on the use of bio-absorbable stents to the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Panel. He is known to be a part of the focused Advisory Group and seminal studies for development and clinical applicability of Bioresorbable Scaffold (BRS) Stent, which is recognized internationally. Globally known and respected for his unique achievements and contributions, Dr. Seth is also a recipient of the National Award of 'Padma Shri' (2003) and the Padma Bhushan' in 2015 by the President of India, among numerous other awards. Dr. Seth was conferred with Doctorates by other prestigious universitites Benaras Hindu University, Jamia Milia Islamia, Amity University and Tirthankar Mahavir University in the past. Dr. Seth has mentored and trained thousands of doctors on the complex angioplasty techniques and has more than 250 publications to his credit in Indian and International medical journals. He has taught and live demonstrated complex angioplasty techniques at more than 400 scietific meetings across the globe and is Founder Member of numerous scientific bodies across the world. His large experience, expertise and techniques in this sphere are recognized and respected worldwide. On receiving this honour, Dr. Seth said,"It is one of the most touching and memorable moments of my life. If time could stand still I would ask it to do now, for it is a fortunate few who have this satisfaction and privilege to be recognized by their Alma Mater, their teachers, their peers and provide inspiration to the students of their Alma Mater. My efforts to help India with the highest standards and quality of healthcare is strengthened." Congratulating Dr Seth on being presented with Honorary Doctorate of Science by Aligarh Muslim University, Col (Retd) Harinder Chehal, Chief Operating Officer, Fortis Healthcare, said, " We are proud of Dr. Seth on being conferred with this recognition. It is an acknowledgement to the tireless endeavours Dr Seth has undertaken to provide optimised clinical treatments in excellence for heart diseases and offer best patient care at Fortis. Despite being the recipient of the second highest aid package for education in the region, aid for basic education per child in Pakistan is the fourth lowest in the region and far below requirements. The Dawn reports UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report, Pakistan received $643 million dollars in aid for education in 2014, second behind India which received 806 million dollars in the same year. The aid for basic education for every child in Pakistan in 2014 stood at just 16 dollars , behind other countries in the region such as Nepal ,Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. It was up by nearly 41 percent from 2013 when Pakistan received 454 million dollars , and has nearly trebled from 2002 when it received 218 million dollars. Despite the fact that Pakistan has a large percentage of out-of-school children with UNESCO's Institute for Statistics listing 5.5 million of primary school-age children not attending schools in 2013. This the GEM report indicates that the sector is falling further down the list of priorities for donors. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday moved a privilege motion against leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad over his remark that there was a deal between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi to fix Congress president Sonia Gandhi. BJP's Bhupendra Yadav moved the privilage motion against Azad, who alleged that Prime Minister Modi had met his Italian counterpart and struck a "deal" to free two Italian marines. "Pronouncement of judgement (on the chopper deal) has come and NDA government is now allowing Italian marines to return home. So the deal is struck," he alleged. Azad said the UPA government had in 2013 cancelled the deal when wrong-doings were reported and had directed the CBI and ED to investigate corruption charges. The BJP challenged that Azad had said there was a deal between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella to fix Congress presi Sonia Gandhi. Earlier, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha for moving Breach of Privilege Motion against Leader of Opposition Azad over his remarks over the AgustaWestland issue. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien told Swamy, who took oath as a Nominated member on Tuesday last, "if you have given a privilege notice, there is a rule". Azad had on Wednesday said in the House that the UPA government had "blacklisted" AgustaWestland company. "So, I would like to ask this question from the Government. A company, AugustaWestland company, which was blacklisted by the UPA Government, why did Modi Government allow this blacklisted company to take part in 'Make in India'?," Azad had said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested a Delhi Police inspector and a man, who posed himself as the Joint Secretary, during raids conducted in the capital's Janakpuri area. The man, who has been arrested with the Delhi Police officer, has been identified as Ashutosh. Posing himself as a Joint Secretary attached with the Textile Ministry, Ashutosh used to move around in a red beacon car. The CBI has also seized documents of properties worth Rs. 40 lakh during raids. They are conducting further search operations. CIA Director John Brennan has defended the classification of secret 9/11 congressional documents on the premise that their investigative findings were preliminary and not deemed to be accurate. At the 'Meet the Press' last month, he said that the congressional findings weren't finalized and in the months after the attacks, just teed up issues were thoroughly investigated and reviewed by the 9/11 Commission. That panel "came out with a very clear judgment that there was no evidence that indicated that the Saudi government as an institution, or Saudi officials individually, had provided financial support to al Qaeda," New York Post quoted Brennan as saying. The Obama administration has been under pressure to release 28 classified pages from a congressional inquiry that alleged Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Though 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens, Saudi leaders have clearly denied any responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. The White House is weighing whether to release some of the findings or not. Meanwhile, one of the authors of the 28 pages publicly has been pressuring the administration. Former Florida Senator Bob Graham had said that the pages point a strong finger at Saudi Arabia as a chief financier of the attacks. He also accused that the White House of covering up the truth. "All the evidence points to Saudi Arabia. We know that Saudi Arabia started al Qaeda," Graham told "Meet the Press" in April, reports the New York Post. Many believe that classifying the report would protect state sponsors of terrorism from being held accountable and undercuts families seeking justice. The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been criticised online for live tweeting the killing of on it's fifth anniversary. The Guradian reports the act to be distasteful 'victory lap' and a PR exercise. was killed on 2 May 2011 after a raid on his compound in Abbottabad in Pakistan by United States Navy Seal commandos. It has shared details of the mission and intelligence that led to America's most wanted man being found. The series of tweets complete with diagrams of the compound that the al-Qaida leader was killed in marked five years since "Operation Neptune Spear". "To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid" tweeted CIA. But reaction has been largely negative, with one Twitter user calling the move "grotesque and embarrassing". The tweet announcing the death of "Osama Bin Ladin" had been retweeted 2,400 times and favourited 1,700 times at time of writing. The series concluded with praise of the 'daring team effort' linking to a 'featured story' wrap and a more detailed timeline on the CIA's website. posted memes and gifs of people rolling their eyes and putting their heads in their hands. The CIA's other tweets mostly concern historical trivia and artefacts. Speaking on the fifth anniversary of his death, CIA director John Brennan said the United States had destroyed a large part of al-Qaeda. However, not everyone is convinced by the CIA's official account of the Bin Laden operation. Seymour Hersh, the Pulitzer-prize winning journalist renowned for breaking the My Lai and Abu Ghraib storie , said that the claim that Bin Laden was tracked down by painstaking surveillance is a fiction constructed by the Obama administration. Expressing deep concern over the water crisis in Latur and surrounding areas in Maharashtra, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has mooted the idea of using rubber dams to solve the problem, while asserting that technology should be used to provide relief to people. In an exclusive interview to ETV News head Jagdeesh Chandra, Gadkari said converting bridges to dams in water scarcity prone areas would go a long way in solving problems. "If we build four rubber dams, then lot of water crisis can be resolved. If we can convert the bridges as dams than also the water problem in those localities can be sorted out. We can turn the existing bridges to dams," he said in ETV's popular 'The J C Show'. "We have to solve the problems by using the technologies. There is no use of talking on problems only. We have to solve the problems," he added. He further said that the Central Government is committed to speed-up pending irrigation projects. "Out of 89 AIBP projects, 28 are in Maharashtra. Those are uncompleted. If Indian Government make a schedule of five years and assure to provide four five thousand crore every year, then the projects can be completed. Many other projects are pending and uncompleted. If all these can be completed then two crore hectare lands will be irrigated and agriculture production will increase two and half fold," he said. Latur has been facing one of its worst droughts this year, with the problem compounding due to consecutive drought years. In the wake of drought situation, the Maharashtra Government has decided to ban digging of borewells below 200 feet to check further depletion of ground water. The decision came close on the heels of cut in water supply to industrial units including breweries in the severely affected Aurangabad district. This is the fourth year of drought in Marathwada in the past five years. Each of its 8,522 villages has been affected for two consecutive years. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said the government is taking action as per the law against liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who has fled the nation with over Rs. 9000 crores of unpaid debt. Gadkari told ETV News Network head Jagdeesh Chandra in a recent interview that judicial proceedings are on with regard to Mallaya's default. "Steps will be taken on whatever will be right. Earlier, his companies were giving interest to banks regularly. At that time, the people were rating him good, the consultants were considered good, their managers were considered good. When one company faced difficulty, then all are termed as thief," said Gadkari on ETV's JC Show. "The government is taking action as per law. Overall, we have to take a positive development oriented approach. We should help the bonafide defaulters. Actions should be taken against malafide defaulters," he added. Responding to a poser about the progress on black money issue, Gadkari said the people cannot hoard black money outside the way the economy is changing. "The economical reforms on gold and in other things will curb black money. Slowly, the black money will come back. We have also given an option to disclose the black money by paying tax and penalty," he added. When asked about perception that the BJP-led NDA Government has changed the concept of black money after coming to power, Gadkari said there is a separate law for black money kept abroad and a separate law for black money hoarded in the country. "There are internal and external laws for these. It's government's duty to implement the laws. Take for example, circulation of fake currency that comes from Pakistan and Bangladesh. That is also an issue. Second, people feel pinch due to complicity in tax laws. So, we are trying to build an economy which will be transaction oriented. One need not require to pay tax. Taxes will be deducted during transaction through banks. We are working on such proposals," said Gadkari. "In this team along with me, there is Manohar Parrikar, some economists, some media people, some film stars are also involved. After chalking out plan, we will place the proposal before Modi. It's a difficult work. Everyone should extend support. Ultimate aim is that people should not face difficulties," he added. Gadkari further said Prime Minister Modi is giving stress on ease of doing business, adding the government is working on that line. "Like, recently we worked on toll collection. Now, there's no need to stop at toll gates. Like recharging mobiles, there will be Fast Track Sticker on the Car Wind Shield. The toll will be auto deducted and you will be getting messages on all the deductions. Sixty thousand crores will be saved through this," Gadkari said. "Similarly, we are placing scanners in all the ports. The rails can be scanned. There won't be need of presence of customs or inspectors. We are adopting technologies. This will automatically reduce the corruption," he added. When asked one side there is talk of growth and development while on the other hand there is no move in share market and the jewellers are worried, Gadkari said it is the fact that the Chinese economy has come down, adding there is slowdown is in the whole world economy. "So, it's obvious that financial crisis is looming over the world. It's a global phenomena. We have also difficulties in different sectors. When there was import of steels from China, at that time our steel market was in difficulties. Cement industries were also facing difficulties. When we worked on infrastructure, the steel and cement industries started prospering. We are also accepting that everything is not in good position," said Gadkari. "But we are trying to improve the situation. Banks positions are also not in good terms. But we cannot term every defaulter as thief. We have to see if default is bonafide mistake or malafide mistake," he added. At least 15 people, including four children, were wounded when unknown miscreants lobbed a hand grenade at a madrassa in Peshawar's Tehkal Bala area. At least seven people were injured in the attack and police arrested one of the attackers, SSP Operation Abbas Majeed Marwat reports The Express Tribune. A mosque was the target of the grenade attack, added the police officer. Grenade detonator blows up during court demonstration in Karachi The mosque and madrassa belong to Jamaatud Dawa and several people were wounded in the attack, SP Cantt Kashif Zulfiqar said. After the attack, the guards and residents opened fire at a man who was trying to escape, leaving him injured. He was shifted to the nearby hospital and taken into custody. We believe he is the attacker, he added. Meanwhile, local residents said a religious lecture was ongoing inside the madrassa at the time of the attack. If trends are anything to go by, the early estimates for information technology (IT) consulting and software sector based upon the declared annual corporate results for 2015-16 have been somewhat mixed, according to a just concluded an ASSOCHAM research paper. "Though there has been a rise in annual growth of revenue or net sales for most firms that have declared their results, viz., Infosys, Mindtree, TCS, Wipro, Zensar Technologies and Sasken Communication Technologies, while the same cannot be said about net profit situation," said an ASSOCHAM research paper titled 'IT sector 2015-16 corporate performance: Indications from early estimates.' The ASSOCHAM Economic Research Bureau (AERB) had analysed aforementioned six IT consulting and software firms whose performance details indicated that in financial year 2015-16, annual growth in net sales has increased for four firms as compared to growth rate seen in FY 2014-15, whereas the remaining two have witnessed a marginal decline in growth rate. Interest payments seem to have seen a rise in three firms thereby indicating a probable rise in amounts of total borrowings by these organisations. "It is disappointing to note that only two out of the six firms analysed have been able to register better net profit annual growth rate in FY2015-16 over FY2014-15," said D.S. Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM, while releasing the findings of the chamber's research paper. "The domestic IT and software industry needs to work towards a comprehensive digital transformation with a concrete strategy to utilise its strengths and alleviate the challenges," added Rawat. The ASSOCHAM research paper further noted that future of global technology industry will be shaped by economic forces and adoption of new technologies. "With rapidly-evolving technologies, changing consumer preferences and often times competing channels, many organisations might struggle with how to transform internally to meet challenges," it added. Besides, government's clear policies and economic growth agendas particularly - Digital India and Make in India would further help drive a vision of technology-enabled India thereby making it an excellent delivery centre for IT industry. Actress Kangana Ranaut, who is involved in a legal battle with Hrithik Roshan, has finally recorded her statement on Saturday. Replying to the same, Hrithik's lawyers said that a lot of delay and drama has happened before this first step. The 42-year-old actor's released a statement that read, "We welcome the move. It has taken so long for them to take this basic first step. Recording of statement is the first step in any investigative process. A lot of delay and drama has happened before this first step." "It's not for them to say if police is happy with them or not, let that come from the investigative agencies. Let's not try and confuse the matter further with various statements. Let the investigation speak for itself," the statement added. The 'Queen' star was asked to visit the Cyber Cell of the Mumbai Police to record her statement and was accused of stalling the investigation by Hrithik. However, she finally recorded it before a police team that came to her residence. The Supreme Court of Nepal on Monday has ordered the release of journalist and Sajha Yatayat Chairman Kanak Mani Dixit who was detained by the anti-graft body CIAA on April 22. A division bench of acting Chief Justice Sushila and Justice Jagadish Sharma Paudel ordered the CIAA to release Dixit after conducting a hearing on the writ of habeas corpus filed by Dixit's wife, reports The Himalayan Times. Kanak Mani Dixit's brother Kunda Dixit, apparently suffers from hypertension, is going back to the Intensive Care Unit of Bir Hospital. The Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a complaint that several people were gathered, forced and threatened to sit for political rallies, in open fields under the scorching sun, for four to five hours without drinking water and other basic facilities leading to injuries and loss of lives, amounting to violation of basic and fundamental human rights. This had allegedly despite the District Collectors' orders that public should not venture out from 11:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. due to scorching heat. The commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Government of Tamil Nadu calling for detailed reports, within two weeks, about the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incidents. NHRC has also directed them to take all necessary measures to prevent reoccurrence of all such incidents in the future. Issuing the notices, the commission has observed that the allegations are serious and the incidents, if true, are indeed unfortunate. It said, "while the political parties, especially during the election period, have every right to organise public meetings, it is also the duty of the State/District Administration, while granting permissions for such meetings, to take all necessary steps considering the safety and security issues in mind." The repeated incidents, one after the other, point towards failure on part of the authorities. Allegedly, for three public rallies on the April 11, 15 and 20 in Cuddalore, Virudhunagar and Salem districts respectively, people were forced and threatened to assemble as early as 11:00 a.m. in the scorching heat, although, the meetings were to start after 03:00 p.m. They were neither allowed to attend nature's call nor provided with basic amenities like drinking water, thereby subjecting them to various hardships. It is reported that many people fainted at Virudhuchalam rally in Cuddalore district, creating unrest and panic, which in turn, led to stampede. Total 17 persons were admitted in hospital following the incident. Two persons lost lives as first aid was not provided promptly. Another person was seriously hurt in the stampede at Aruppukkottai in Virudhunagar district and eventually died while two others died in Magudanchavadi in Salem district due to heat and overcrowding. It is also reported that people were paid Rs.300 over and above the wages under the MNREGA to participate in the meetings. With Centre giving its nod to the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders for talks with Pakistan and its representatives, former chief minister and Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday welcomed the move and said it is good the ruling dispensation has finally realised its mistake. "When they (the Centre) cancelled the bilateral talks with Pakistan over Hurriyat leaders meeting them, we had said that it was a wrong thing. It is good that they have realized their mistake," Omar told reporters here. Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh had in a written reply to the Parliament last week said there is no bar on so-called Kashmiri leaders meetings with representatives of any country in India since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and they are Indian citizens. General (Retd.) Singh reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's stand that there can't be any role for any third party in the India-Pakistan dialogue process. "India has consistently maintained that there is no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan as per the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. India's displeasure at Pakistan's attempts to interfere in India's internal affairs has been repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan," he added. The NDA Government had in August 2014 cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Islamabad over Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit's meeting with the Hurriyat leaders prior to the talks. The on Monday rejected the petition of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) seeking to transfer Interconnect Usage Charges (IUC) case from the Gujarat High Court to Delhi High Court. The Trai had moved the apex court last month seeking transfer of the Idea Cellular petition from the Gujarat High Court to the Delhi High Court, which is hearing a similar plea by Vodafone Mobile Service and its group companies. Vodafone and Bharti Airtel have also challenged the Interconnect Usage Charges (IUC) at the Delhi High Court. The telecom operators had challenged Trais Telecommunication Interconnect Usage Charges (Eleventh Amendment) Regulations 2015 that came into effect from March 1, 2015, by which it has fixed termination charges for wireline-to-wireless as zero paise and wireless-to-wireless at '0.14 per minute. The Delhi High Court has sought the telecom regulator's response in the Vodafone case. Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) or termination charges are payable by one telecom, whose subscriber makes a call, to another whose subscriber receives the call. The charge is payable by the first for using the second's network. Nepal's acting Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been re-recommended for the post of Chief Justice at the Supreme Court. In a meeting of the Constitutional Council held today, members of the Council approved Karki's name for the post, reports The Himalayan Times. Karki was earlier nominated for the post by the Council. However, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who heads the Council, had decided to repeat the process to avoid any controversy likely to occur as Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar was not present in the meeting on April 10. Speaker Gharti had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the nomination process as the Constitution requires 100 per cent attendance of CC members to take any decision. With Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari asking Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy to leave the Upper House for the day, Congress MP and former union minister Renuka Chowdhury on Monday asked the lawmakers to maintain restraint so that such a situation does not arise in the future. "If the members do not follow what he says then he takes actions at times. It will be better if we be in our limits so that such a situation does not arise," she told ANI outside the Parliament. Ansari invoked rule 255 against the TMC MP, asking him to leave the Rajya Sabha for misbehaviour. Roy repeatedly demanded that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar make an urgent statement on the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Raising objection to Ansari's decision, the TMC members staged a walkout from the Upper House after Roy was asked to leave for the day. The TMC had today given a notice in the Rajya Sabha for suspension of all business to pave way for immediate discussion on the AgustaWestland chopper deal. The UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague has recommended relaxation of bail conditions of Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen, said government sources. Two Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Sources say that the Arbitral Tribunal's Order clearly recognises the fact that "Girone is under India's authority alone" and that the "Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction" over him. The Order further asks India and Italy to approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of the bail conditions. The order reportedly states that Italy must ensure that Girone reports to an authority in Italy designated by the Supreme Court of India. It also recommends that Girone should to surrender his passport and shall be prohibited from leaving Italy unless the Supreme Court of India grants him permission. Sources say that Italy has also accepted that if Girone is allowed to return to Italy, he will remain under the jurisdiction of the courts of India. With reports surfacing in the media that Girone may be permitted to return home, the government has reportedly said that Italy was "misrepresenting" the order, which actually affirms the Supreme Court's authority over the matter. Italy had earlier in March asked the PCA to order India to release Girone, saying the latter, otherwise, risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The Supreme Court, which was handling this case, suspended the court proceedings relating to the trial of two marines in August 2015 following an order to this effect by International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which was approached by Italy for international arbitration. The United States Congress has persuaded Islamabad to release Dr. Shakil Afridi who assisted US efforts in tracking down Osama bin Laden . Dr.Afridi is now serving a 23-year prison term in Pakistan and is considered a hero in the United States. The Dawn reports that a group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers were working on a new measure to use aid cuts to get Dr. Afridi out of prison. In January 2014, President Barack Obama signed a bill that proposed to withhold 33 million dollars from assistance to Pakistan over Dr. Afridi's detention. Congress has been holding 33 million dollars from its assistance to Pakistan every year since the restriction was first placed. The Dawn reports that this year the US lawmakers want a more substantial cut to force Pakistan to release Dr. Afridi. Congressman Matt Salmon, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, also supported the suggestion saying that Pakistan needed to know that its treatment of Dr. Afridi 'is the single biggest impediment to members' wanting to support the country. Another lawmaker, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, said it made 'little sense to continue to give Pakistan billions of dollars if it's going to continue to work against our interests'. American lawmakers added that they did not understand why the administration was wasting US taxpayers' money on a country, which often worked against US interests. A Software also Launched for Centralized Processing to Transfer and Consolidate Accounts with Ease Sh. Bandaru Dattatreya, the Union Minister for Labour & Employment (Independent Charge) launched a special Mission consolidation drive One Employee-One EPF Account for members of the EPFO. Sh. Bandaru Dattatreya, on the occasion stated that in the recent past, EPFO has taken several IT based initiatives to provide convenient and efficient services to its stakeholders. The initiative of launching the Mission consolidation One Member One EPF Account is a step towards encouraging EPF members to access enhanced IT enabled services through UAN accounts that are linked with Aadhaar. Sh. Dattatreya also informed this drive, would result in EPF members having just one EPF account and multiple conveniences. The Universal Account Number that is Aadhar seeded will consolidate multiple past service accounts, across various spells of employment during working life of an EPF member. Sh. Shankar Aggarwal, Secretary (Labour & Employment) elaborated that the EPF member would be requested to provide all his earlier EPF accounts along with his UAN linked account, Member ID and registered Mobile Number. And EPFO would facilitate the transfer of all these accounts into his present account. Instructions have been issued to establishments that in case any new employee joins an establishment, they may furnish, UAN, if any, allotted to the member earlier, or declare that s/he is becoming a PF member for the first time. Dr. V.P. Joy, Central Provident Fund Commissioner added that the success of this drive would reduce not only the burden of members but would also result in ease of work for EPF employees. Similar to other IT initiatives taken by EPFO that have brought transparency and efficiency in the working of EPFO, the success of this drive would further strengthen the bond between EPFO and EPF members. By the end of April 2016, UAN has been issued to some 67716584 members To educate workers and strengthen the cause of social security, EPFO launches a special drive to encourage EPF members to consolidate their multiple accounts. The members whose accounts are scattered face many inconveniences such as approaching multiple employers located at multiple locations for settlement of claims. They also face the inconvenience of keeping record of multiple scheme certificates issued in the process. To know about the updated EPF balances, they need to approach multiple offices. With consolidation, a member can have complete control of his EPF account apart from accessing variety of IT enabled services such as email/sms alerts, access to e-pass book etc. EPFO has been advising members to link all their PF account numbers with the UAN and to also seed KYC data against their UAN number. Aadhaar has been uploaded against 1.30 crore UAN, out of which 1.03 crore Aadhaar have been digitally authenticated by the establishments. The establishments are advised to upload and then digitally authenticate the KYC information. KYC primarily means Aadhaar, PAN and Bank Account. With the enactment of Aadhaar Act, 2016 (26th March 2016), EPFO is now seeking to make Aadhaar, the primary identifier. Members having Aadhaar seeded UAN, saves the inconvenience of claims forms attestation by the employers. Explaining the benefits of integration of members' multiple PF accounts Dr. Joy said that consolidated accounts enable continuance of lifelong PF membership, and allow PF, pension and insurance benefits on combined service. Today, large number of members are unaware of Pension benefits that can come through consolidation, defeating the very soul of the EPF legislation. EPFO therefore seeks to encourage members to continue their PF membership by offering increasingly better services and ease of convenience. Larger aim is to help members to upgrade their quantum and variety of benefits being offered by EPFO. In order to boost the process of seeding the Universal Account Number (UAN) with KYC, an Incentive Scheme has been launched for the employers. Under this scheme a claim refund of upto 10% of administrative charges payable to EPFO can be claimed upon completing specified tasks (furnishing member information and digitally authenticated KYC details). The Scheme shall be in operation for one year, beginning 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2016. This drive will run for one year. During this drive following actions will be taken by EPFO: Run a Publicity campaign at regular intervals in Print, electronic and digital media A software has been launched today for centralized processing that will transfer and consolidate accounts with ease. Features of the software are: A member has to provide his current activated UAN along with the current member ID & Mobile number registered at UAN Member portal. On validating these credentials, EPFO will facilitate the member to register his/her as many as 10 earlier EPF accounts. The earlier PF member IDs provided by members will be forwarded to EPFO field office to which earlier member ID pertains. The information provided to field offices will also include current member ID & Mobile number of the member, so that the members can be contacted and facilitated to consolidate his previous EPF Accounts to the Current EPF Account. Wide publicity will be given to make use of Inoperative Help Desk that helps an EPF member to integrate/ settle such accounts. An electronic de-duplication process to be carried out by EPFO. EPFO-E-samkisha software that is launched to be used for monitoring and implementation of the programmme. Features of E samiksha software are: EPFO e-Samiksha is a real time, online system for follow-up action on the decisions taken. The follow up action will be required to be updated by the offices continuously and the status can be viewed centrally. Business divisions and the field offices can securely access the system through a log-in/password. This system can also be configured to review the follow up actions in respect of other meetings, if require. Powered by Capital Market - Live News HDFC rose 0.36% to Rs 1,092.70 at 14:41 IST on BSE after net profit rose 39.98% to Rs 2607.05 crore on 23.72% growth in total income to Rs 9225.72 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The result was announced during market hours today, 2 May 2016. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 168.84 points or 0.66% at 25,437.78 On BSE, so far 1.67 lakh shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 1.97 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,097.95 and a low of Rs 1,079.05 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,370.80 on 16 July 2015. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 1,012 on 25 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 29 April 2016, falling 3.45% compared with Sensex's 2.84% gains. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, declining 7.54% as against Sensex's 2.96% gains. The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 315.97 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2. HDFC's provisions for contingencies jumped 990% to Rs 545 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The sharp surge in provisions is due to an additional provision of Rs 450 crore in Q4 March 2016 towards standard assets and other contingencies. HDFC's loan book increased to Rs 2.59 lakh crore as on 31 March 2016, from Rs 2.28 lakh crore as on 31 March 2015. This is after considering the loans sold during the preceding 12 months amounting to Rs 12773 crore. On consolidated basis, HDFC's net profit rose 30.76% to Rs 3460.46 crore on 15.52% growth in total income to Rs 17012 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. HDFC said that the company has sold 17.95 crore shares of HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company to Standard Life Mauritius Holdings 2006, in Q4 March 2016, resulting in a gain of Rs 1422.20 crore. The sale consideration has been received subsequent to the balance sheet data, HDFC said. The profit on sale has been accounted as excess of sale value over proportionate share in the net assets of the group, the company said. HDFC is India's first retail housing finance company and is currently one of the largest originators of housing loans in the country. Powered by Capital Market - Live News The recommendation of 5% provisional safeguard duty on aluminum imports by the Director General of Safeguards is likely to provide modest protection to domestic companies from cheap imports but unlikely to push up margins significantly, says India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). Ind-Ra believes metal producers are unlikely to realise price increases equivalent to the safeguard duty given the structural issues including over-capacity, import pressure and weak demand. Moreover, industry players have a high proportion of export sales which will not benefit from the imposition of safeguard duty. Directorate General of Safeguards Customs and Central excise has recommended a provisional safeguard duty of 5% ad-valorem for a period of 200 days. This is following the incessant increase in the imports into the country in the last twelve months. Import of primary aluminum and aluminum alloys has increased by 13% yoy to 0.4mt as of December 2015. India imports aluminum metal mainly from China and Middle-East. Fitch expects China's GDP growth rate to slow down to 6.3% in 2016, compared with 6.8% in 2015. Slowing economic growth in China means a surplus in the international market and therefore a delay in price recovery. For domestic players it implies increased competition from low-cost imports into India as well as competition in the export markets. China's import of aluminum and aluminum alloys has declined by an estimated 25% yoy for trailing twelve months ending January 2016. Ind-Ra believes weak domestic demand growth and surplus capacity could lead to low capacity utilisation in FY17. This is despite the agency's expectation of a moderate pick-up in consumption growth during 2HFY17. Imports into India are likely to remain elevated, with excess capacity in China. The agency expects China to add 3.5-4.0mtpa efficient capacity and shut 2.5mtpa in 2016. Efficient new capacities in China and Middle East will underpin sustained import pressure. In India, the near-term new capacity, along with unutilised available capacity, is over 120% of the 2015 output. Vedanta Limited ('IND AA'/Negative) has started production from new capacities BALCO-II and Jharsuguda-II smelters which may double its production in FY17 compared to FY16. LME Aluminum prices have fallen by around 15% in the last 12 months to USD1520/ton as of end-March 2016. However the prices have recovered from the lows of USD1450/ton observed in November 2015. Indian average realisations are estimated to have declined by 20%-30% yoy in FY16, with a decline in LME and local premiums. The weak rupee has moderately off-set some of the decline. Physical premiums in India nearly halved in 2015 compared to 2014. Aluminium divisions at Hindalco Industries Ltd and Vedanta (Vedanta Aluminium) have reported a substantial decline in their absolute margins by 70% in 9MFY16. Ind-Ra expects the FY17 profitability of the producers to continue to remain fragile compared to FY15, however is likely to be improve from FY16 levels. Lower cost of inputs, cost control and higher percentage of value added products in the sales mix are likely to improve margins in FY17. Vedanta's FY16 blended cost of production declined by 10% yoy to USD1,570/mt and is likely to decline further to USD1,400-1,450/ton in FY17, due to softer input prices and energy costs. Ind-Ra believes the increase in the capacity utilisation and local premiums will depend on the strong revival in domestic demand. The increase in government spending on infrastructure will be the key catalyst for acceleration in consumption in the key end-user industries, namely Construction, Auto and Power. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Key benchmark indices edged lower in early trade tracking weakness in Asian markets and decline in US stocks during the previous trading session. At 9:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 167.56 points or 0.65% at 25,439.06. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 52 points or 0.66% at 7,797.80. In overseas stock markets, Japanese stocks led decline in Asian markets. Japanese Nikkei 225 Average was currently off 3.62%. US stocks closed lower on Friday, 29 April 2016, as healthcare stocks weighed. Closer home, the market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was negative. On BSE, 653 shares declined and 449 shares rose. A total of 60 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.1%, outperforming the Sensex. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently down 0.16%. The decline in this index was lower than Sensex's decline in percentage terms. Shares of public sector oil marketing companies (PSU OMCs) edged higher after Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) on Saturday, 30 April 2016, announced an increase in the price of petrol and diesel with effect from the midnight of 30 April 2016. BPCL (up 0.5%), HPCL (up 1.11%) and IOCL (up 0.72%) rose. Petrol price was hiked by Rs 1.06 per litre and diesel price was raised by Rs 2.94 a litre at Delhi (including state levies) with corresponding price revision in other states. After the latest revision, petrol in Delhi costs Rs 62.19 per litre and diesel costs Rs 50.95 a litre. In the global commodities markets, Brent for July settlement was currently down 38 cents at $46.99 a barrel. The contract had declined 40 cents or 0.83% to settle at $47.37 a barrel during the previous trading session. UltraTech Cement was off 0.17% at Rs 3,157. The company clarified after market hours on Friday, 29 April 2016 that the company has no fund raising proposal. Media reports had indicated that the company is looking to raise funds by way of equity for financing acquisition. Index heavyweight and housing finance major HDFC was up 0.55% at Rs 1,094.75. The company is scheduled to announce its Q4 March 2016 results today, 2 May 2016. Wipro lost 1.03% at Rs 548. The company announced before market hours today, 2 May 2016 that its subsidiary Wipro Arabia and Saudi Aramco, Princess Nourah University (PNU) on 1 May 2016 inaugurated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's first all women business & technology park. The project is expected to create nearly 21,000 jobs for Saudi women over a period of ten years, Wipro said in a statement. The women's business park is envisioned to be the largest engineering drafting services, business process services and information technology hub in the region for a number of industry sectors including oil & gas, manufacturing, government, healthcare, telecom and construction, Wipro said. Eicher Motors lost 0.66% at Rs 19,900. The company announced that the total sales of its unlisted subsidiary VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) rose 36.51% to 5,365 units in April 2016 over April 2015. The company announced the monthly sales volume data before market hours today, 2 May 2016. Separately, Eicher Motors before market hours today, 2 May 2016, said that its total motorcycles sales rose 42% to 48,197 units in April 2016 over April 2015. The company is scheduled to announce its Q4 March 2016 results on 5 May 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Maruti Suzuki India gained 0.37% to Rs 3,809.05 at 14:25 IST on BSE after after the company reported 13.3% growth in its total sales at 1.26 lakh units in April 2016 over April 2015. The company announced the monthly sales volume data during market hours today, 2 May 2016. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 154.19 points or 0.6% at 25,452.43. On BSE, so far 60,113 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 1.01 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit high of Rs 3,822.40 and low of Rs 3,752.85 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 4,789 on 23 November 2015. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 3,202.10 on 29 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 29 April 2016, gaining 1.72% compared with Sensex's 2.84% gains. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 7.38% as against Sensex's 2.96% gains. The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 151.04 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5. Maruti Suzuki India's domestic sales rose 16.2% to 1.17 lakh units in April 2016 over April 2015. Exports declined 13.7% to 9,524 units in April 2016 over April 2015. Maruti's net profit declined 11.7% to Rs 1133.60 crore on 12.5% growth in net sales to Rs 14929.50 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. Japanese parent Suzuki Motor Corporation held 56.21% stake in Maruti Suzuki India (as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 March 2016). Powered by Capital Market - Live News Total Operating Income decline 5.64% to Rs 3434.63 crore Net profit of State Bank of Hyderabad declined 43.18% to Rs 253.13 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 445.51 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. Total Operating Income declined 5.64% to Rs 3434.63 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 3639.85 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. For the full year,net profit declined 19.15% to Rs 1064.93 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 1317.13 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. Total Operating Income rose 2.63% to Rs 14187.20 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 13823.76 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. ParticularsQuarter EndedYear EndedMar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Mar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Total Operating Income3434.633639.85 -6 14187.2013823.76 3 OPM %63.6172.64 -68.8172.87 - PBDT379.06724.16 -48 1613.731966.78 -18 PBT379.06724.16 -48 1613.731966.78 -18 NP253.13445.51 -43 1064.931317.13 -19 Powered by Capital Market - Live News Filmmaker Vikram Kumar, known for films such as "13 B" and "Manama, says his forthcoming Tamil time-travel thriller "24", which releases in cinemas on Friday, was destined to be made with Suriya. Although the film was initially pitched to a few heroes, it eventually went to Suriya. "Every story has its own destiny. It will only get made when the time is right and no matter how hard you try, problems will crop up. In the case of '24', I had the story with me for nearly six years and I'm glad it was finally made with Suriya, who was destined to star in it," Vikram told IANS. He admits he couldn't have made this film with anyone else. "When I see '24' now, I know for a fact I couldn't have made this film with any other actor. Had it materialized with another actor, I'm sure it wouldn't have been as good as it is now. Call it god's grace, but I'm happy I got to work with Suriya," he said. Although several time-travel related films have been made around the globe, Vikram assures there's one element that makes his film unique. "I've always wanted to do a sci-fi film and time-travel was one of the most exciting topics I wanted to work on. However, I asked myself how '24' will be different from other sci-fi films that have come over the years. As the story started taking shape, I came up with one element that will be unique and original which audiences will get to see in the film," he said. Talking about the inspiration behind the idea to do a time-travel based story, Vikram said it stemmed from human being's association with time. "As humans, we're all time travelers. God gave us power to do so many things but didn't allow us to control time. Anyone with regrets must've thought about going back in time and revoking some crucial decisions," he said, adding "24" won't be difficult to understand. "Even a 6-year old will understand my film. We've simplified everything but without losing intelligence. It's important everybody should comprehend your story and we've ensured that in '24'. The film will test the audience,a he said. Vikram says "24" could've been a very stressful film without Suriya. "To take up this project as a producer is itself a herculean task, but Suriya also played triple roles. No matter how much I talk about Suriya's contribution, it won't be enough," he said, and added in one of the roles, Suriya will be seen as a watch mechanic. "There was a real watch mechanic on the sets. Suriya would sit next to him and learn simple things like how to hold a watch and use a tool. He also met people who are bound to wheelchair, and learnt everything about being a paraplegic for the other role," Vikram said. "24" is the story of its antagonist Aathreya, which is also played by Suriya. "Aathreya requires someone to be evil and wicked. Suriya's transformation into this role is amazing. When I went to narrate the story, I didn't tell Suriya he'd be playing the antagonist. When I narrated Aathreya's part, I saw his face light up in excitement," he said. "A lot of stars are cautious about choosing roles that are against their image. With Suriya, however, he has built his image around the variety of roles he's portrayed so far. He will make audiences fall in love with Aathreya," he added. (Haricharan Pudipeddi can be contacted at haricharan.p@ians.in) --IANS hp/nv/vm Sanitation workers of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) on Monday claimed before the Delhi High Court that about 50 percent of them were yet to receive salaries for March. A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was, however, informed by the Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, who appeared for EDMC, that salaries for March have been paid to all employees. "As far as the EDMC is concerned, we have paid all the salaries till March 2016," Anand said. The Delhi government's counsel, too, informed the Bench that funds have been released for paying salaries to EDMC employees. The bench has fixed the matter for hearing on May 10, asking the employee unions to file affidavit if salaries were not paid to them till then. During the hearing, the bench told the Aam Aadmi Party government and the three municipal corporations that they were responsible for paying salaries to the employees of civic bodies and could say they lacked funds. The court on April 19 had directed the civic bodies to ensure that the wages for March be paid to all the sanitation workers within a week without fail. It had directed civic bodies to pay regular salaries to the sanitation workers on or before 7th of every month for smooth functioning of the corporations. --IANS gt/sd/dg Indian automotive makers opened the new fiscal with positive sales growth while hoping for a favourable verdict in the apex court over the sale of diesel engine-powered vehicles. India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd logged 13.3 percent rise in its sales volume. The company sold 126,569 units (domestic 117,045 units, exports 9,524 units) in total, as against 111,748 units (domestic 100,709 units, exports 11,039 units) in the corresponding month last year, the company said in a statement. Among car segments, the sales of the mini, compact, super compact and mid-size passenger cars grew only 2.7 percent in April while the company's sales in utility vehicles rose by a whopping 260.4 percent. Maruti Suzuki sold 16,044 units of utility vehicles in April as against 4,452 units in the same month last year. On its part, India's second largest car maker Hyundai Motor India Ltd sold 54,420 units (domestic 42,351 units, exports 12,069 units) last month as against 51,505 units (domestic 38,601 units, exports 12,904 units) during April 2015. According to Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice president for sales and marketing, the company continued its growth momentum, logging 9.7 percent volume growth last month at a time when the industry is facing challenges on rural sales, and sales on diesel vehicles. Similarly Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) logged 14 percent higher sales at 41,856 units last month as against 36,727 units sold in April 2015. President and chief executive Pravin Shah expressed happiness over the growth in sales. He hoped that the apex court would take into account the role of the automotive industry in the industrial growth while deciding on the ban on diesel vehicles in the national capital region (NCR). Commercial vehicle maker VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) posted 36.5 percent growth in total sales in April at 5,365 units as against 3,930 units sold in the same month last year. The company, a joint venture between Sweden's Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, said Eicher-branded trucks and buses registered total sales of 5,326 units (domestic 4,641 units, exports 685 units) in the last month compared to 3,838 units (3,503 units, exports 335 units) in the corresponding month last year. The company sold 39 units of Volvo trucks last month compared to 92 units in April 2015. Similarly, Ashok Leyland Ltd. said it sold 10,180 units last month up from 8,435 units in April 2015. On the two-wheeler side, Eicher Motors Ltd reported sales of 48,197 units (domestic 47,037 units, exports 1,160 units) up from 33,918 units (domestic 33,118 units, exports 800 units) sold in April 2015. However, two- and three-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto Ltd. went on the reverse gear last month selling 330,109 units down from 336,274 units in April 2015. The company's sales of commercial vehicles last month went down by 24 percent to 38,211 units as against 50,483 units in April 2015. --IANS vj/pm/dg Nepal Police on Monday said they have arrested Canadian national Robert Penner from near Kathmandu for his provocative posts on Twitter against Nepal's "social harmony". Though his arrest was requested by the Department of Immigration for some interrogation, the exact reason behind his arrest was not clear. "Nepal Immigration says they are holding me overnight. I repeatedly asked Nepal Police to tell me under what charges they are taking me in but they won't say," Penner tweeted. According to Lalitpur district police chief Pitambar Adhikari, Penner was arrested after complaints were filed that his posts on the social networking site would incite social discord. Immigration Department Director General Kedar Neupane acknowledged that police were requested to arrest Penner. The Canadian has been living and working in Nepal for the past three years as principal scientist at Cloud Factory, which provides on-demand, digital workforce to various enterprises. Recently, he had been posting tweets on various issues of Nepal, including the Terai/Madhes agitation. He also posted a controversial tweet over the arrest of journalist Kanak Mani Dixit by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. (Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com) --IANS giri/pm/dg Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the central government had "thankfully realized its mistake of calling off talks with Pakistan on the issue of separatist leaders meeting the Pakistan high commissioner". Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a National Conference (NC) function here, Omar said: "We had said that time that it was a mistake to call off talks with Pakistan. "Thankfully, they (central government) have realized the mistake now." Omar was referring to Minister of State External Affairs V.K. Singh's written reply in the Parliament on the issue. In a reply in parliament, Singh said, "Since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so-called Kashmiri 'leaders' are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India." One of the reasons for which the dialogue process between New Delhi and Islamabad was halted by the central government was the invitation and subsequent meetings of local separatist leaders with the Pakistan high commissioner in Delhi just ahead of bilateral official talks. The NC working president also alleged the state government headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti "is without any vision and direction. You cannot see this government on the ground as it does not exist there." --IANS sq/rn/vm The Delhi High Court on Monday said it cannot halt proceedings on a bunch of pleas over the powers of the lt. governor on governance in the city. "We cannot stay the matter at the fag end of proceedings," said a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath and also asked the central government to file its response by May 9 on the Delhi government's plea. The Delhi government sought a stay on the hearing on these petitions saying the issues involves a dispute of a federal nature between the central and state government. The court has been hearing 11 different petitions arising out of the spat between the lt. governor and Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party government over the powers to appoint bureaucrats in the national capital and other issues. In one of its pleas, the Delhi government challenged the central government's May 21 notification giving the lt. governor absolute powers of appointments to various Delhi government posts and barring the Anti-Corruption Bureau from proceeding against any staff under the central government's control. --IANS gt/vd Traffic was thrown out-of-gear in areas around Highway 8 Monday morning as hundreds of cab drivers blocked both carriageways near the Rajokri toll booth in southwest Delhi on the key road protesting against the Supreme Court's decision to ban diesel taxis in the city. The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, linked by NH-8, and the traffic helpline was bombarded with calls from distressed commuters. Dhaulakuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli were some of the areas where traffic crawled for hours and a long tailback stretching over a kilometre was witnessed near the Rajokri flyover around 9 am, a traffic official said. The chaotic situation stretched beyond 11 am and traffic personnel had to be pressed into service in the area, the official added. After extending the deadline twice, the apex court had on Saturday refused to give more time to cab operators to convert to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the capital, of which 27,000 run on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months. An Australian court on Monday sentenced a former Catholic priest to 29 years in prison for sexually abusing a dozen children between 1979 and 1988. John Joseph Farrell, 62, who abused three girls and nine boys in the towns of Moree and Tamworth, was found guilty of 62 sexual crimes against children and 17 other offences. Sydney district court judge Peter Zahra said Farrell planned his crimes in advance, including the seduction of his victims and deceiving their parents, EFE news reported. Farrell will not get parole for a period of 18 years, which includes the time he has already served in jail, and will not be released until 2033. --IANS ksk Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for espousing the cause of a separate state of Vidarbha. Fadnavis had voted in a 2013 referendum favour of separating Vidarbha from Maharashtra, and hence, "has lost the moral right to continue to as chief minister of the state", Thackeray said, displaying pictures of the referendum. "Vidarbha is just the beginning; later, they will demand a separate Marathwada, and so on to break up the state into pieces. Their final intention is to sever Mumbai from the state," Thackeray alleged. Speaking to media persons, he said persons like former state advocate-general Srihari Aney, who quit in a cloud following his demands for Vidarbha state, and former RSS former spokesperson M. G. Vaidya "are propped up by the BJP-RSS lobby in Nagpur" to divide and break up the state. "For the first time, the Hutatma (Martyrs) Chowk memorial in south Mumbai was not decorated on the occasion of Maharashtra Day yesterday (on Sunday). This was insult to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. But the ruling ally, Shiv Sena, did not even raise a protest," Thackeray said. Asking the government "to tender an apology" for this insult, he challenged the Shiv Sena to display guts and walk out of the government, as it was playing "a dual role of both opposition and ruling party ally". Thackeray also accused the BJP of bandying out "lies" and misleading the people of the state on various counts. Citing examples, he said the government had claimed to have dug 33,000 wells for farmers in the state, but letters and RTI queries revealed nothing. "Most of the proposals are only on paper. All the funds have been gobbled up by the contractors. So what's the difference between BJP and Congress?" he said. He claimed fudging of figures of investment proposals received during the the recent 'Make In India' conclave in Mumbai mid-February this year. "I can provide evidence on all this. Let Fadnavis reply to the issues I have raised," Thackeray demanded. --IANS qn/vd A former top ranked man from the Tamil Tiger rebel outfit was arrested by Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in eastern Sri Lanka on Monday, local media reported. The ex-cadre, known as Krishnapillai Kalainesan alias Praba, was taken into custody in Eravur, Batticaloa, to be interrogated, Xinhua news agency reported. He is the third high profile former rebel cadre to be arrested by the TID recently. Reports said that Praba was released in 2013 after being rehabilitated, following the end of the war. His arrest comes as the government assured that any attempt by the Tamil Tiger rebels to regroup in Sri Lanka will be thwarted. Government troops defeated the rebels in May 2009, ending a 30-year civil war in the island nation. The UN estimates that at least 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final stages of the war. --IANS ahm/vt Vatican City, May 2 (IANS/AKI) Petty gossip and criticism are forms of persecution, Pope Francis said on Monday as he celebrated mass at the Vatican hotel where he lives. The Christian who bears witness to the Holy Spirit in his daily life and behaviour can draw persecution, Francis said in his homily. "This can take the form of little acts of persecution in the form of idle gossip to the big ones that fill the history of the Church. "The latter can lead Christians into jail or even to sacrifice their lives," he said. Jesus invites his disciples not to be surprised if they draw persecution, the pope said. --IANS/AKI vd The government and the opposition parties on Monday blamed each other for disrupting the functioning of the ongoing parliament session by politicising and raking up the AgustaWestland chopper scam issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the government wants to bring out the facts related to the issue so that people must get to know the truth. "This issue should not be politicised. Facts must be brought to the fore and people must get to know the truth. Government is ready, we need not hide anything nor we are hiding any fact. We are talking about it openly," Naidu said talking to reporters outside Parliament House. Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, who is member of the Rajya Sabha, said the government must discuss the issue on the floor of the house so that everyone get to know the details of it. "Our party believes that BJP, Congress and TMC people are obstructing the functioning of the house on this chopper scam. The government must take the issue seriously and it must be discussed on the floor of the house. The government should see the house functions properly," Mayawati said talking to reporters here. On the other side, the Congress has accused the BJP of using the issue to defame it so that the BJP may take an advantage of it in the ongoing assembly polls in four states. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said it was his party which had ordered a CBI inquiry into the issue to bring out the truth. "Had we been scared, we would not have issued a CBI inquiry. Because we had involved the CBI in the investigation, this shows our government was serious to bring out the facts," Kharge said talking to reporters outside parliament. "But what this government is doing is politically motivated. They do not want to catch the real culprits. They just want to use this issue to defame the Congress and take an advantage in the ongoing state polls," he added. Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader K.C. Tyagi said his party wants the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete the investigation so that judicial proceedings do not get hampered. "We want the investigation to complete. Both CBI and ED (Enforcement Directorate) are involved in the investigation of this issue. But BJP is populating and propagating the results before the investigation gets completed. They have made it a political issue which may also obstruct the judicial proceedings," he said. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has already said he will speak on the AgustaWestland chopper deal in parliament on Wednesday, and give a detailed chronology of the events. He has said the Congress needs to answer on its inaction on the CBI probe in the deal which involved bribes given in India. The issue has become major political affair in the country after a court in Milan, Italy, jailed AgustaWestland's former head Bruno Spagnolini on the charges of false accounting and corruption in the sale of the firm's 12 VVIP choppers to India. Some documents submitted to the court contain the names of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her political adviser Ahmad Patel and former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi. --IANS vin/sd/vt Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Iliyas Azmi resigned from the party on Monday stating that it has become a "one man" party. Referring to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Azmi said "the party has become Kejriwal's fiefdom". The resignation comes after his name was not included in the PAC (Political Affairs Committee), the highest decision-making body of the party, at the National Council meeting held last week. Azmi did not attend the meeting. "I was told about the meeting but not about where it will take place. Hence, I chose not to go for the meeting," Azmi told IANS. Azmi has been a member of the AAP's National Executive and PAC. Responding to the allegations, AAP media coordinator Deepak Bajpai said: "I don't know about his resignation yet. But it's his wish whether he wants to remain in the party or not." Azmi won two Lok Sabha elections from Bahujan Samaj Party in 2004 and 2009 before joining AAP in its early days. Azmi had voiced his dissent during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he was not allowed to contest from Lucknow. He was given the ticket from Lakhmipur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh which he later turned down. In November 2015, he had also attended an event organised by Swaraj Abhiyan, an NGO formed by ousted AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and lawyer Prashant Bhushan. --IANS av/rn/dg Tehran is ready to facilitate a dialogue among Iraq's different political groups, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said Iran stood for tranquility in Iraq and it would help all political factions solve their differences through dialogue. To tackle the problems in Iraq, the political groups should concentrate on the fight against terrorism and corruption in the country, Ansari said. Thousands of followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Saturday stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad and took control of the Parliament building and surrounding areas, while dozens of lawmakers, officials and employees tried to escape the district. The incident happened minutes after al-Sadr delivered a televised speech from the holy Shia city of Najaf, in which he rejected the latest approval of five cabinet members presented by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. A series of failed reform measures have paralysed Iraq's Parliament and the government as the country struggles to fight the Islamic State (IS) group which holds swathes of territories in northern and western Iraq. --IANS py/mr A Yazidi teenager who was allegedly held as a sex slave by Islamic State has said she was kidnapped and trafficked by an Indian origin British jihadist and likely masked executioner Siddhartha Dhar. Nihad Barakat said the man who was widely suspected to be the "new Jihadi John" from IS videos was now one of the most senior commanders among foreign fighters in Mosul, the group's Iraqi stronghold. The Independent reported that Dhar, a former British Hindu who preferred to go by the nickname Abu Rumaysah after his conversion to Islam, skipped police bail to travel to Syria with his wife and young children in 2014. He has since taken a number of Yazidi sex slaves for himself, and played a key role in the capture and trafficking, according to Barakat. Barakat was just 16 when she and 27 members of her family were kidnapped by IS militants after the fall of Sinjar province in Iraq two years ago. Barakat says the first man she was forced to marry was the notorious Australian extremist Abdul Salam Mahmoud -- one and a half months before he was killed in Syria, a fact which made headlines around the world. Describing her initial capture to presenter Joseph Hayat, she said: "The ISIS leaders told us we had to convert to Islam or we will be killed." "They separated us into three groups, men, married women and single women, then took the single women and girls to Mosul." "Sometimes they would come and take girls for their pleasure. They did everything to the girls." It was difficult to verify that the "Abu Dhar" who kidnapped Barakat was the same man as the most-wanted British jihadi. As well as Dhar's legal name and his "kunya" -- or nickname -- Abu Rumaysah, he has also gone by the name Saiful Islam since his conversion in his late teens. He was thought to have replaced Mohammed Emwazi -- known as "Jihadi John" before he was killed in a drone strike -- as the masked apparent executioner of hostages in IS videos. --IANS ahm/vt The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking exemption from National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical courses, officials said. The matter is listed to be heard on Tuesday by the apex court. Earlier, State Minister Naeem Akhtar had said: "We are approaching the Supreme Court for relief. We have a strong case and are hopeful our state would get exemption from NEET and we would be allowed to continue our established process for selection to these professional courses". The state government officials said given its special status, Jammu and Kashmir should be exempted from NEET. The first phase of NEET was held throughout the country on Sunday following an order of the Supreme Court on April 28. The second phase is scheduled for July 24. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda told the Lok Sabha on Friday: "NEET extends in the entire country, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir, for admission in UG (undergraduate) and PG (postgraduate) medical courses". However, State Law Secretary Muhammad Ashraf said is in the concurrent list, but the amendment that brought into that list was not extended to Jammu and Kashmir. So education remains a state subject in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. The state has been conducting its own entrance test for medical courses held by the board of professional entrance examinations (BOPEE). Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country that has a constitution of its own which is applicable along with the Constitution of India. "It is this special status that has created the confusion which needs to be immediately cleared. We have also to be clearly told whether the merit arrived at would be such that candidates from outside the state would also get admission in J&K and vice versa," said Bashir Ahmad War, whose niece is an aspirant for the graduate course in medicine this year. What happens to reservations available to aspirants if the state is not exempted from NEET, wondered War. "There is 50 percent reservation for girls in these courses in J&K. Then there are state specific reservations like residents of backward areas, residents of line of control, children of police personnel etc. What happens to these reservations if NEET is the entry route to graduate and post graduate courses in the state?" The BOPEE has already announced its schedule for this year's selection to MBBS and other courses in various medical colleges in the state. The state did not have a NEET centre for phase one and aspirants who took the test had to travel to Delhi and other places to appear in the exam. Aspirants for this year's professional courses in Kashmir who had applied for NEET and who appeared for phase one say they did so without much preparation as they are focused completely on the BOPEE test scheduled for May 14 and 15. "I appeared for the test, but did so only to get a better feel of the test. We are focused on the BOPEE test," said Suhail, an aspirant for the MBBS course this year. --IANS sq/kb/vm The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) will observe a hunger strike on Tuesday against the university administration on various issues, including slapping fine on Kanahiya Kumar and rusticating three other students. The JNUTA called a general body meeting on April 28 and decided to hold one-day hunger strike to protest "non-responsive attitude of the administration" on the current situation on the campus, the teachers association announced late Sunday in a statement. "We are forced to take this step without a response on major issues, including on continuation of the seniority-based rotation system in appointment of Deans and Chairpersons, on intimidation of colleagues, victimisation of elected representatives, unsupportive attitude towards wardens and IHA officials when attacked by motivated elements, non-implementation of HLEC Report on harassment of Dr. Burton," the JNUTA said. The association also slammed the administration and the High Level Enquiry Committee for the penalties handed down to the students accused of involvement in the Feburary 9 incident, saying the punishment was awarded without a credible inquiry. The committee, constituted on February 11, fined Kanhaiya Kumar Rs.10,000 and rusticated students Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and Mujeeb Gatto for their involvement in the event. Anti-national slogans were reportedly raised during an event held on the JNU campus to commemorate parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's death anniversary. "Our students are on indefinite hunger strike against arbitrary penalties imposed without a credible inquiry. Instead of bringing back normalcy, the administration is busy provoking the students by digging up old complaints, sending Proctorial Punishment declaration to special cell of Delhi Police, denying striking students access to bathroom and toilet facilities etc.," the JNUTA said. Two of the accused students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, were recently served fresh notice by the administration for their alleged involvement in a screening of "Muzaffarnagar abhi baqi hai" which was held last August. JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Khalid and 18 others began their indefinite hunger strike on April 27, rejecting the findings and recommendations of the HLEC that probed the February 9 event on the JNU campus. --IANS ar/sd/vt Bollywood veteran actor Kabir Bedi, who has films such as "Hulchal", "Khoon Bhari Maang" and "Dilwale" to his credit, has been roped in to play a crucial role in Nandamuri Balakrishna's highly anticipated upcoming Telugu period drama "Gauthamiputra Satakarni". "Kabir Bedi plays a very important role and he will join the first schedule in Morocco, where we plan to shoot for about 2-3 weeks from May 9 onwards. In this schedule, one of three major war sequences of the film will be shot," film's producer Rajeev told IANS. After wrapping the Morocco schedule, the makers will return to India. "We haven't decided yet if we want to go back and shoot another schedule in Morocco. We'd like to see the rushes of the first schedule and then take a call. Moreover, it's getting very expensive to shoot there, so we need to plan accordingly," he said. To be directed by National award-winning filmmaker Krish, the film is about the story of an unsung Satavahana ruler from 1st century AD. Veteran actress Hema Malini will play Balakrishna's mother in the film, which will have music by Devi Sri Prasad. The film's leading lady is yet to be finalised. "We had approached Nayanthara and she seemed interested. However, she has no dates till September and we couldn't afford to wait for that long. The heroine is only required in the third schedule," said Rajeev, adding that they will zero in on the heroine in the next 3 to 4 weeks. Contrary to rumours, the project will not mark the cinematic debut of Balakrishna's son Mokashagna. --IANS hp/nv/vm When it comes to online smartphone shopping in India, the LeEco Le 1s device has beaten all rivals in the Rs.10,000-Rs.15,000 price bracket, a report said on Monday. Among 243 smartphones available online, the Rs.10,999 Le 1s was ranked the top selling device in February, the report from global market research firm IDC said. Among 387 smartphones in both online and offline sales, Le 1s reached the top 10 list, ahead of Samsung's Galaxy J5 and Xiaomi's Redmi 2. Launched on Flipkart in January, Le 1s received over 20 lakh pre-sale registrations and over 2 lakh orders in three flash sales. The Chinese internet and technology conglomerate is set to host an event in Mumbai on Tuesday where it is rumoured to launch content services and new hardware. LeEco is also eyeing a manufacturing base along with research and development centres in the country, the company's vice chairman and co-founder said recently. "We have already applied for the single-brand retail licence with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The ministry for communications and information technology has given us options like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Raipur's electronic cluster, Bhopal and Bhilwada (Rajasthan) to set up our manufacturing base. We will evaluate all the options before finalising our manufacturing location," Liu Hong, vice chairman and co-founder, LeEco, told IANS in a recent interview. "We are looking forward to meet the Indian prime minister and the telecom minister because we really want to contribute for 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' initiatives. We would like them to understand our ecosystem and support us manufacture in the country," Hong added. After storming the Indian market with its disruptive marketing strategies online, LeEco is also planning to sell its products via retail stores. LeEco is also planning to set up in-house Content Delivery Networks (CND) across 10 cities in India with an initial investement of $10 million to ensure seamless content distribution. --IANS na/vm The Election Commission will examine a CD of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's speech in which she had issued a virtual threat to police and accused them of creating pandemonium, an official said here on Monday. "The poll panel has sought a report from the district magistrate for alleged model poll code violation. The CD of her speech is being sent to the Commission," additional chief electoral officer Dibyendu Sarkar said. On Sunday, Banerjee issued a virtual threat to police and accused them of creating pandemonium, saying those who declared prohibitory orders during the ongoing assembly polls and locked local clubs and Trinamool Congress offices will have to suffer. Addressing election meetings in East Midnapore district, Banerjee said she had never in the past seen "so much atrocities being perpetrated during the polls". The Trinamool Congress chief alleged that some "broker police personnel from Delhi" along with a section of local police locked her party offices. Alleging a nexus among the Congress, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Banerjee said "the central police were used to aid the nexus". The Left Front, BJP and Congress lodged separate complains with the poll panel alleging Banerjee had violated the model code for elections. --IANS sgh/ssp/pm/ Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who will be seen as a traffic constable in forthcoming thriller film "Traffic", will be giving neon coloured florescent jackets, also called reflective jackets, to traffic constables here. "Traffic constables lead really difficult lives and have a very hectic schedule. During Ganpati or any festivals, they don't come home for five to seven days straight and do not get to see their families. "Paying respect to all the constables, this is a small gift from my end. I hope that these jackets help ensure safety of the man who is out there in the middle of the road controlling the traffic, so you can reach home on time," Manoj said in a statement. Meanwhile, Manoj visited the traffic control room of Mumbai police on April 28 to personally meet and thank traffic constables. The actor went to observe their work pattern, which has over the years shown remarkable results. "Traffic" tells the story of a traffic constable (Manoj) who spearheads a situation where a harvested heart has to be delivered to a patient in Pune for transplant, weaving his way through the heavy traffic in Mumbai. Directed by Rajesh Pillai, the film also stars Jimmy Sheirgill, Divya Dutta and Prosenjit Chatterjee "Traffic" will release on Friday. --IANS sas/nv/dg Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address five election meetings in Kerala. On May 6, Modi will address a rally in Palakkad district which borders Tamil Nadu. He returns two days later to the state capital. On May 12, he will have stopovers at Kasargode, Alappuzha and Ernakulam. The Bharatiya Janata Party is determined this time to open its account in the Kerala assembly. Kerala goes to the polls on May 16 to elect 140 legislators. Other BJP leaders who will campaign in the state include its president Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. --IANS sg/mr Nepal's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit who was in custody of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in a disproportionate assets case. There was pressure from national as well as international circles on the CIAA to release him unconditionally. Dixit was in custody since April 22. Opinions were divided over his arrest as many saw it as a vendetta by CIAA chief Lokman Singh Karki. Dixit had opposed Karki's appointment as the chief of one of the most powerful constitutional bodies in Nepal. Karki comes from royal background and served as chief secretary of former king Gyanendra Shah. Dixit was on Monday presented before the Supreme Court following a habeas corpus writ filed by his wife Shanta. The apex court had also directed the CIAA to present Dixit before it. Earlier, a special court had granted permission to the anti-graft body to take Dixit into custody for investigation. The CIAA had sought 30-day custody of Dixit to investigate the corruption case. Dixit was arrested on April 22 from Patan Dhoka by CIAA for amassing property disproportionate to his known sources of income. After his arrest, Dixit complained of uneasiness and was admitted to a hospital for treatment. According to his brother Kunda Dixit, who is also a journalist, Kanak was admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering from high blood pressure and hypertension after the arrest. (Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com) --IANS giri/pm/dg President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday condoled the deaths caused by the massive forest fires in Uttarakhand. The fires have led to major air pollution and damaged the environment. "I am sad and distressed to know about the massive fires which have affected large areas of the state, causing loss of lives and air pollution as well as damage to environment," the President said in a message to Uttarakhand Governor K.K. Paul. "I am confident the government and people of Uttarakhand will deal this challenge with speed and determination." Extending his sympathies to "all whose lives have been affected", the President said: "My prayers and good wishes are with the people of Uttarakhand at this difficult juncture." Applauding the efforts of the state government, he said: "I applaud the efforts of the state government and all rescue personnel as well as civil society organisations to save the environment and our biodiversity as well as human lives. "I call upon the state government and all other authorities to provide every assistance possible to the bereaved families as well as all those affected." Uttarakhand is under President's Rule since March 27 after the dismissal of the Harish Rawat ministry. President Mukherjee made the statement on his way back to India after a six-day official visit to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. --IANS sid/sd/mr President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday greeted the people of Israel and Poland on their National Day. Sending his greetings to Israel President Reuven Rivlin, President Mukherjee said: "Our common commitment to the safeguarding of our democratic institutions and our shared values of liberty, freedom and equality have helped in forging a deep friendship between our two nations." Mukherjee, who first visited Israel in 2015, expressed confidence in the discussion between the two countries, saying it would contribute to reinforcing ties and building new bonds of trust and partnership between people of the two countries. "I am confident that our two countries will continue to achieve new heights in our bilateral cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples in the years to come," he said. Sending greetings to Poland President Andrzej Sebastian Duda on the country's national day, the India president said the friendship between India and Poland is historic and time-tested. "India is committed to further strengthening our bilateral ties in all spheres of collaborative activity. "As our economic cooperation increases, we will be able to realise the great potential that exists in our mutually beneficial bilateral partnership," Mukherjee said while conveying progress and prosperity for Poland that celebrates its National Day on May 3. --IANS ar/sd/vt Families of victims as well as social activists are not happy over the police department's failure to solve six murders in Manipur in the last 10 days. The families said many of them have lost their homes, shops and other valuables, but the government has not extended any help to them. Many people have been organising road blockades and agitations at several places, and the families were also not claiming the bodies for the last rites as the government has not conceded to their demands. A. Ngarungshung and M.K. Lungrio, two tribal loggers from Ukhrul district, were shot dead by suspected militants in Chandel district on April 28. A few days earlier, a driver in the same district was killed, and the assailants are still untraced. "We are not claiming the body until the government fulfills our demands. The killers should be brought to book and the bereaved family given some financial solatium," activist Somi Shimray told reporters. Deputy Speaker of state assembly Presto Shimray said: "The government is doing everything possible to book the killers. We seek cooperation of the people. Police are also doing their best. The government are doing their best to concede the demands of the people in connection with the two killings." The Imphal-Lilong sector of the national highway has been blocked by people protesting the death of a boy named Sagolshem Prasanta, whose body was found hanging from a tree at Lilong, a Muslim majority village. Activists said the government refused to make available the post-mortem examination report, and they will continue the blockade. They suspect that the boy was bludgeoned to death and then the body was hanged up to make it appear like a case of suicide. Following the lynching of two people who allegedly stole a two-wheeler, there were clashes on April 11 in which 11 houses and shops were torched at Mayang Imphal. Over 60 people were injured in the clashes. As the destroyed shops and roadside stalls have not been repaired, the victims said they were unable to earn anything. "We are facing problems of food and shelter and now our village is being battered by thunderstorms and hailstorms for the past several nights," a young woman said. The government had agreed to pay compensation of Rs.5 lakh each to the families of the two lynched youths, but the payment is yet to be made to the next of kin. --IANS il/pm/vt Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said he "expects" Rahul Gandhi to become the party chief during this year. "Rahul Gandhi is the vice president of the Congress and we expect him to become president of the party in 2016 itself," Ramesh said at a press conference at Parliament House. To a query whether the party's election strategist Prashant Kishor wanted Gandhi to be projected as the chief ministerial candidate of Uttar Pradesh, Ramesh evaded a direct reply, and instead said Congress leaders want him to lead the party. --IANS sk/pm/dg Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged the international community to recognise the potential of her state's youth by utilising their knowledge and expertise in key areas. "I expect major youth-oriented interventions from the international community to give wings to the ambition of our talented youth," Mehbooba Mufti said in an interaction with German Ambassador to India Martin Ney. The German envoy -- who was accompanied by his wife Med Gabriele Ney -- said he was very keen to engage the youth of Jammu and Kashmir by giving them a new perspective in the field of education, entrepreneurship and skill development. The chief minister admired the perseverance of young people of her state for shaping their future despite the threat of violence and conflict. Batting for greater exchange of ideas between the youths of Jammu and Kashmir and other countries, Mehbooba Mufti said: "Our baby steps need a big push from countries like Germany, which have a wealth of expertise in the fields of skill development, biotechnology, animal husbandry and horticulture." She said transfer of knowledge can take place only when there is a healthy discourse on matters of mutual interest. "Unfortunately, our success stories are sparingly highlighted and even these get drowned in the din of violence as and when it rears its ugly head," she said. Mehbooba Mufti also suggested if Germany can introduce a few scholarships and fellowship programmes for young students and entrepreneurs for which a link-up between industry and academia can be mutually worked out. On conflict resolution and challenges facing world peace today, Mehbooba Mufti said Jammu and Kashmir, being the only Muslim majority state in the country, can become a showcase to which the world can look up to. She, however, said that unless there was greater people-to-people contact, it will be difficult for anyone to change people's opinion. "Seeing is believing. We practise the great religion of Islam in its true sense by living together as a tolerant society with deep sense of respect for sensitivities of each community living here," she said. Urging a rethink on travel advisories imposed by many European countries, Mehbooba Mufti said Kashmir was unjustly compared with conflict zones in other parts of the world, where the sheer magnitude of violence was forcing people to leave their homes. She sought help from Germany "in changing this negative perception which is taking a heavy toll on our tourism sector, the mainstay of our economy". The envoy, who described Kashmir as "one of the most beautiful places on earth", was on a visit to the state as part of Germany's Management Training Programme in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He is scheduled to attend an apple clinic with some young entrepreneurs in Shopian on Tuesday to see how technology and best practices can be transferred. --IANS sq/pm/vt Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated the National Health Programme in the country's southwestern province of Balochistan. According to reports, the National Health Programme under which 300,000 poor patients were likely to avail free treatment, will initially be launched in Quetta, Loralai, Turbat and Lasbela districts of Balochistan. "The programme has been launched to provide health facilities to people living below poverty line," Sharif said during an address in the Balochistan Governor House, the Express News reported. "Some 76,000 families in Balochistan will receive their national health cards today," the premier said, adding that through this programme, the poor can get treated for fatal diseases without spending any money. "We need to change the political culture in the country," he added. "We have to change the ongoing culture in which only the wealthy and powerful have privileges." "Providing the nation with health facilities, education and employment is not a favour, it is each citizen's fundamental right," Sharif added. --IANS ahm/vt senior separatist leader and chairman of his Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday said his successor would be nominated by the party only after his death. Scotching rumours that he was likely to name his successor, the octogenarian separatist leader told reporters here: "The issue of naming by successor will be decided by the office bearers of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat only after my death." There was media speculation on Sunday that Geelani, who has not been keeping good health, would name senior separatist leader Ashraf Sehrai as his successor. A three-year-old girl was among a number of people injured in separate incidents of post-poll violence in various parts of West Bengal since Sunday afternoon, with the CPI-M blaming the ruling Trinamool Congress. The Trinamool denied the allegations and counter-charged that the Communist Party of India-Marxist cadres were attacking its workers. In Satgachia of South 24 Parganas district, a CPI-M worker was assaulted by miscreants allegedly close to the Trinamool. The girl sustained injuries in the ear during the violence. Seven polling agents of CPI-M's Jadavpur assembly constituency candidate Sujon Chakraborty were attacked, allegedly by Trinamool workers in the Bagha Jatin area on the city's southern outskirts on late Sunday night. The CPI-M alleged that the agents were beaten up, and their houses ransacked. The party's local committee secretary Buddhadeb Ghosh was also assaulted, his house attacked, and his old mother beaten up. Chakraborty visited the houses of the victims on Monday morning. "The Trinamol failed to loot votes. So they are frustrated. Without any provocation, they carried out the planned attack by bringing people from outside the area," he said. Local Trinamool councillor Bappaditya Dasgupta admitted that his partymen were involved in the attack, but claimed it was only a retaliation for the attack on Trinamool workers by CPI-M "goons" on Sunday afternoon. "We had informed police then, but they did not act. Had they taken action the later incidents would not have taken place." In another clash between the CPI-M and Trinamool workers in the Kasba area of south Kolkata, several workers from the two parties were injured. Some people were detained by the police, following which locals demonstrated outside the Kasba police station. The CPI-m also alleged widespread attacks on its workers at Khanakul, Haripal, Dhanekhali and Chuchura of Hooghly district. --IANS ssp/vd A A UN court has said Italian marine Salvatore Girone, jailed in India for the alleged 2012 killing of two fishermen, should be allowed home on bail even as the arbitration proceedings in The Hague carry on. According to the foreign ministry in Rome, the ordinance by the international tribunal "does not affect the continuation of the arbitration proceedings" to decide on the Italian government's plea that it is their jurisdiction and not that of India to proceed against the accused. Girone and fellow Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre allegedly shot dead two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012, reportedly mistaking them for pirates. While Latorre is already back home on health grounds, Italy has been seeking Girone's return also. But India has refused to let Girone, who is housed in the Italian embassy premises in New Delhi, to leave the country. The case has triggered a diplomatic row between India and Italy even as the two countries last year agreed to move to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decisions. Italy argues that the marines should have immunity as they were servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial waters. The foreign ministry said the ruling, which is expected to be officially announced on Tuesday in The Hague, comes after "a constructive attitude of India". The court, according to the ministry, has asked both Italian and Indian governments to agree on the date and modalities of Girone's return home. It said it would get in immediate contact with the Indian government to make sure Girone returns home as soon as possible. But official sources in New Delhi said the order by the arbitral tribunal "clearly recognises that Girone is under India's authority alone". "(The) tribunal order affirms Supreme Court of India's authority," a source said, adding that the order has asked India and Italy to approach "the Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone". The sources said Girone's possible return to Italy was "strictly conditional" on the government in Rome "guaranteeing to return him if required" for court proceedings in India. Girone's father Michele said "I am incredibly happy" to hear about the news "if true". "Now I will have to speak to my son and daughter-in-law to see whether it's true," the father was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency. Italy took the case to the international tribunal after repeated delays in the handling of the case in India. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy for treatment after he had a stroke in 2014. --IANS sar-ruwa/dg United States Steel's complaint about alleged Chinese hacking is clever but risky. The giant producer claims cyber theft violates trade laws and has asked the US International Trade Commission to block offending firms' imports. It's a novel approach to a thorny problem but one unlikely to attract imitators. China often gets blamed for corporate hacks, with the FBI saying it was behind a 53 per cent increase in economic espionage cases from 2014 to 2015. A Chinese national pleaded guilty last March to charges of conspiring over six years to infiltrate computer networks of Boeing and other American defence contractors. A 2010 breach at - the first of two - was one of six cyber attacks against companies and a labour union that a 2014 Justice Department indictment pinned on five Chinese soldiers. Hacking victims typically deal quietly with law enforcement, but went public out of frustration with a lack of deterrence. It called out major Chinese producers like Baosteel in the ITC complaint, accusing them of benefiting from stolen secrets on how to make advanced high-strength steel. The light and flexible product used often in automobiles took a decade to develop. Yet the company says Chinese companies suddenly began cranking it out in 2011, just after the second alleged hack. The ITC has the power to address patent infringement and other violations of intellectual property rights, but hacking cases are less common. Even if US Steel's complaint succeeds, though, it probably won't lead to many similar complaints. The Chinese market is too lucrative. The company said it was forced to fight back, because the cyber snooping led to a 33 per cent drop in domestic sales from 2013 to 2015 as well as plant shutdowns and workforce cutbacks. Yet China hasn't shied from retaliating against trade sanctions in the past, and it can inflict serious pain as the world's second-largest economy. No wonder hacking victims in telecommunications, clean energy and other industries have avoided costly confrontations. Instead, they have turned to creating more safeguards against intrusions by, for example, walling off computer servers or putting data into physical files rather than on digital networks. It's a sensible but imperfect solution, of course. When it comes to China, though, occasional breaches are just a cost of doing business. State Bank of India (SBI), the countrys largest lender, has reduced by five basis points its marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR), the new benchmark to which the pricing of loans are linked. The reduction has been done across all maturities and now the overnight MCLR stands at 8.90 per cent. With this revision, home loans have also become cheaper. Now, the rate of interest for women borrowers stands at 9.35 per cent whereas other borrowers will be charged 9.40 per cent. The new rates came into effect from May 1. Banks have been asked to move to MCLR for pricing of loans by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) since April this year to improve monetary transmission. This is also expected to improve bank credit in the system. Experts believe the implementation of MCLR has the potential to channelise the recent surge of volumes in the commercial paper market towards bank credit. CP dues as a percentage of short-term bank credit went up to 14 per cent in FY16 (from 11 per cent last year) and 3-5 per cent of this, which is Rs 74,500 crore to Rs 1,20,000 crore, is likely to flow back into the banking system as rates get competitive. Banks are expected to review their MCLR every month as per the central bank's guidelines. At present, SBI's MCLR is the lowest among it peers, Senior government strategists said the government was keen that Parliament complete the discussion on and passage of the general budget, passes the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and takes a vote on ratifying the ordinance on imposition of Presidents Rule in Uttarakhand by the end of the week. If things go according to plan, the government is likely to recommend an end to the current session a week before its scheduled close on May 13. Much would depend on whether the opposition allows the Rajya Sabha to transact business in the next couple of days. On Monday, the chair suspended Trinamool Congress member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy for persistently raising the AugustaWestland issue after the chair had rejected his notice. Roy demanded the government reveal the names of Gandhi and AP, as revealed in the handwritten notes of the accused in the case. Trinamool members boycotted the House for the entire day, after Chairman Hamid Ansari suspended Roy. Suspecting a closing of ranks between Trinamool and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress members disrupted the proceedings to demand a discussion on the Comptroller and Auditor General report on anomalies in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC)s K-G Basin gas project. The government initially rejected the demand but junior parliamentary affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi later told the House they'd abide by the decision of the chair on the issue. A discussion on AugustaWestland is scheduled in the Rajya Sabha for Wednesday, with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar slated to reply. Congress Shantaram Naik has moved a breach of privilege motion against the government for issuing official press releases on Westland when Parliament is in session and the House is yet discuss the matter. The Congress hopes the government would show a give and take approach and also have a discussion on the GSPC issue. On Monday, the Rajya Sabha, despite the disruptions, passed the Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) Amendment Bill. As for the governments push to advance the end of the session, it has two reasons. First, it isnt left with any substantive legislative agenda where it might hope for Congress support, particularly in the Rajya Sabha where it is in a minority. Second, Kerala and Tami Nadu go to polls on May 16 and the attendance of members is likely to be low, as several will be campaigning in these two states in the last week of the session, from May 9 to 13. In a meeting of the business advisory committee, Naqvi suggested an early end to the current session if the two Houses wrapped up the financial business and take a vote on the Uttarakhand ordinance. Lack of opposition numbers in the Rajya Sabha might even help the government secure an unlikely victory in that House on Uttarakhand. Government sources said the Guillotine will be applied on Tuesday, with the Finance Bill to be taken up the next day and the reply of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday. The minister, who will be in Frankfurt on Wednesday, is said to be keen that the Lok Sabha takes up the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code on Thursday itself. The government is hopeful of it being passed, as a joint committee of MPs has recommended taking all proposed amendments on board, with no dissent notes. With around 350 million people reeling under the impact of drought, aggravated by the summer, across the country, the Union cabinet secretary on Monday directed all ministries and departments to immediately release additional funds under various schemes as soon as the finance Bill gets cleared by Parliament. The secretary gave these instructions after reviewing the drought and drinking water situation in the country with chief secretaries of 13 states and top officials from the ministries of drinking water and sanitation, rural development, land resources, water resources, urban development and agriculture. According to an official statement, Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha directed all central ministries to convey to states the financial provision for each scheme for the financial year so that they can arrange funds from other schemes to mitigate problems arising out of the drought. As the finance Bill is yet to be cleared, the finance ministry is able to disburse just a sixth of the allocation made for a scheme or programme made in the Budget 2016-17. Press Trust of India reported that the Bill might get passed this week after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley replies to the debate when he returns from Frankfurt. Jaitley leaves for Frankfurt on Tuesday. The debate on the Finance Bill will be initiated on May 4 by Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha and Jaitley will reply to the debate the next day, PTI said. The Bill deals with tax proposals of the government. Its passage signals the end of the Budget exercise, which also enables the government to allocate funds. States raised issues like construction of farm ponds, community ponds, check dams and measures to remove silt, and demanded early release of funds to take up water harvesting. Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat participated in the review meeting through video conferencing. Balraj Madhok, among the early founders of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, earlier avatar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), passed away here on Monday. He was 96. In the 1960s and early 70s, Madhok was a leading Jana Sangh leader but fell into political oblivion after being worsted by Atal Behari Vajpayee in intra-party intrigue. Madhok would later tell interviewers that Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Nanaji Deshmukh and K R Malkani got together to ensure he was suspended from the party in 1973. The episode is remembered until this day in Sangh Parivar circles. With the political careers of Vajpayee and Advani in the ascendant, the contribution of Madhok to the cause wasnt publicly acknowledged but several privately continued to admire him. Madhok was national president of the Jana Sangh in 1966-67, leading the party to 35 seats, its highest tally until then, in the 1967 Lok Sabha elections. In 2013, Madhok had blessed Narendra Modi for being elected the BJPs prime ministerial candidate and said Advani should have accepted the decision with grace. Madhok considered Advani his protege who then left him to join the Vajpayee camp. Madhok had a ringside view of the founding of the Jana Sangh by Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He'd also tell any who would care to listen that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had an incidental role to play in founding of the party. Instead, the Jana Sangh helped the RSS rebuild itself after its ban in the wake of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. In the late 1960s, Madhok complained to RSS chief M S Golwalkar about Vajpayee. He insinuated that Vajpayee had brought the partys central office in disrepute. In 1973, Madhok was expelled from the party on the charge of leaking party documents to the media. Madhok claimed he was a victim of a conspiracy hatched by his rivals. He also believed that Deen Dayal Upadhyay, considered the man who gave the Sangh its political philosophy, was assassinated (in early 1968). Not that he thought much of Upadhyays political philosophy of Integral Humanism. He'd say it was borrowed from M N Roys Radical Humanism. Science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted: Madhok left for heavenly abode today. India loses a great intellectual, thinker and social reformer. Advani also issued a condolence message that detailed his former rivals political journey. Madhok was born on February 25, 1920. He founded the Jammu Praja Parishad in November 1947. He was also a founder member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and edited Organiser, an RSS-inspired publication, in 194849, and Hindi weekly Veer Arjun. In 1951, Madhok was convener of the first convention of the Jana Sangh and was appointed its national secretary. He taught at Delhi University and was head of the history department at PGDAV College. He won in a by-election to the second Lok Sabha from New Delhi constituency in 1961 and to the fourth Lok Sabha from South Delhi in 1967. During the Emergency, Madhok was detained under the draconian Maintenance of Internal Security Act for 18 months. Madhok wrote extensively, including a biography of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. His novel Jeet ya Haar is considered autobiographical. At least 711 locations and more than 1,233 polling booths have been identified as 'critical' or 'vulnerable' by the Election Commission in Kerala where more central police forces would be deployed for the May 16 Assembly polls. Most of the critical and vulnerable locations were in Kasargod, Kannur and Kozhikode in North Kerala and this figure would go up, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi said after reviewing the poll preparedness by the Commission with the state government officials here. Central police force would be deployed in adequate numbers in the state for route marches, confidence-building measures and surveillance of vulnerable locations, Zaidi said. Stern steps also would be taken to prevent bogus voting, he added. On steps to curb the influence of black money during poll, Zaidi said enforcement activities against unaccounted money would be further intensified. Already 340 flaying squad have been activated, he said. A total of Rs 19.49 crore unaccounted money, gold weighing 11.19 kg, and liquor to a tune of 18,384 litres along with 4437.5 litres of spirit have been seized, he said. To a question on the demand by DMK for a CBI probe into the seizure of unaccounted money to a tune of Rs 70 crore in Tamil Nadu, Zaidi said "enforcement authorities are already acting. Necessary mechanisms have been activated to ensure money power does not endow some candidates undue advantage over the others". He said the Commission would continue to review instances of paid on a day-to-day basis. The Commission will collect intelligence on real time basis on violation related information and pass on to flying squads and other enforcement agencies. "By and large we are satisfied with the election preparedness in the state. The objective is to increase the voting turnout, he said, adding, "we want around 80 per cent and more". Battle lines are drawn for the May 16 assembly polls in Kerala with 1203 candidates remaining in fray to contest from the 140 constituencies when the last date of withdrawal of nominations ended today. The highest number of candidates is from Malappuram district with 145 and the lowest from Wayanad district with 29, Office of the Chief Electoral officer said here tonight. A total of 1647 candidates had filed their nominations earlier and 444 candidates withdrew their nominations today. In 2011 elections, 971 candidates had contested the polls. Even though the main electoral battle in the state is between the ruling Congress-led UDF and CPI(M) headed LDF opposition, BJP-NDA has also thrown its hat in the poll arena, forcing a triangular fight in several constituencies. Among the prominent candidates are: Chief minister Oommen Chandy (Puthupally), Opposition leader V S Achutanandan (Malampuzha) and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan (Dharmadom) and BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan (Vattiyoorkavu). Except two, all other ministers of the Chandy cabinet, including Home Minster Ramesh Chennithala (Haripad), Industries Minister and IUML leader P K Kunahlikutty (Vengara), Water Resources Minister P J Jopeph (Thodupuzha) of the Kerala Congress (M) and Labour Minister Shibu Baby John (Chavara) of RSP are in the battlefield. 93-year-old CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan and 83-year-old K M Mani, former Finance Minister and supremo of Kerala Congress (M) are the two senior most politicians who are contesting this time. Passengers set sail from Miami on a historic cruise to Cuba, the first in decades to depart from a US port for the communist island nation. Carnival Corp's 704-passenger Adonia yesterday left port at 4:24 pm, bound for Havana. Carnival's Cuba cruises, operating under its Fathom brand, will visit the ports of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba on the seven-day outing. The cruise comes after Cuba loosened its policy banning Cuban-born people from arriving to the country by sea, a rule that threatened to stop the cruises from happening. Restarting the cruises was an important element of a bid by President Barack Obama's administration's to increase tourism to Cuba after the December 17, 2014, decision to restore diplomatic relations and move toward normalisation. The most recent such cruise, from another US port, was in 1978. When it first announced the cruises, Carnival said it would bar Cuban-born passengers due to the government's policy. But the Cuban-American community in Miami complained and filed a discrimination lawsuit in response. After that, the company said it would only sail to Cuba if the policy changed, which Cuba did on April 22. Cuba-born passengers were aboard yesterday, the company said. Carnival said the Adonia will cruise every other week from Miami to Cuba. Bookings will start at USD 1,800 per person and feature an array of cultural and educational activities, including Spanish lessons, Carnival's website says. Seventy-three-year-old passenger Rick Schneider told The Sun-Sentinel that he had waited decades for the chance to make the journey. He bought a Cuban flag for the occasion, which he waved from the deck at protesters who opposed the cruises. He said he once passed up taking a trip to Cuba in 1957, adding "the time is now." The cruise is among the many changes in US-Cuban relations since a thaw between the former Cold War foes began in late 2014. The thaw also led to a historic, two-day trip to Cuba in March by Obama, who met with Cuban counterpart Raul Castro and others. The Cuban government says the shift in policy removes prohibitions enacted when Cuban exiles were launching attacks by sea after the first Cuban revolution. Two CID personnel were killed while defusing bombs in a village near Bangladesh border in the district today, even as four persons were killed and four others were injured while making the bombs ahead of the last phase of polling on May 5 in the state. Vishuddhananda Mishra and Subrata Chowdhury died while they were being rushed to Kolkata for further treatment after being seriously injured when two crude bombs went off as the CID bomb squad officials were trying to defuse them, senior police officers said. Earlier in the day, an explosion occurred when bombs were being made in the house of one Giasu Sheikh in Jaunpur village under Baishnab Nagar Police Station at about 1 AM, Superintendent of Police Syed Waquar Raza said. One person died on the spot and three others succumbed to their injuries in Malda Medical College and Hospital. The deceased were identified as Kalam Sheikh (35), Simu Sheikh (28), Surup Sheikh (35) and Alam Sheikh (30). Three persons were admitted in hospital, said the SP who himself visited the spot, adding local rowdies were involved in the incident and Giasu has been absconding. Soon after the SP left the spot, two more bombs were recovered from the village and the CID bomb disposal squad was alerted to difuse them. A senior police officer said the CID officials took the bombs to a desolate spot near the village to defuse them and in the process, suddenly the bombs went off, seriously injuring three of officials - Vishuddhananda Mishra, Subrata Chowdhury and Maniruzzaman. All three were rushed to Malda Medical College and Hospital and were later on referred to Kolkata for further treatment. Both Mishra and Chowdhury succumbed to their injuries when the ambulance ferrying them to Kolkata reached Farakka, the officer said. Incidents of post-poll violence have been reported from various parts of the state. Polling was held in the district on April 17 in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls. : At least two persons were killed and eight others injured today when policemen opened fire on anti-dam activists trying to barge into a police station demanding release of a monk at Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said. The police opened fire when the activists tried to force their way into the police station, demanding release of Lama Lobsang Gyatso, a monk who headed a group opposed to hydro power projects in the border district, IGP Nabin Payeng said. "The Army has staged a flag march at Tawang town to bring the situation under control while prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been clamped in the district," Payeng said. Unofficial sources, however, claimed that three persons, including a woman, were killed in the firing. The deceased have been identified as Tenpa and Nima Wangdi. Lama Lobsang was arrested on April 28 on a complaint that he had defamed the Abbot of the Tawang Monastery Guru Tulku Rinpoche, the spiritual head of Mon region, by questioning his nationality in an audio clip. Lobsang in the clip said that the Abbot of the Monastery should not indulge in hydro power politics of Tawang if he was not concerned about the welfare of the area. An official communique here said that Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju discussed the situation with the DC and the district SP, besides with Chief Minister Kalikho Pul. The Minister suggested constituting a high level peace committee comprising representatives from all sections of society to initiate a dialogue in an effort to restore normalcy in the district. The Chief Minister, who is in New Delhi, assured that the government would take all steps to ensure that the grievances of the public were addressed. With an aim of afforestation on the vast tracts of rail land, the Railways today joined hands with the forest departments of Punjab and Haryana for plantation of 5 lakh trees in the two states as part of the 'Green India Mission'. After Punjab and Haryana, railways will sign similar agreements will other states to carry out the green mission. Terming the initiative as a "significant" one, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said a joint forest management comprising of Environment Ministry, the two state governments and railways will be responsible for tree plantation and maintenance at rail land. Railways signed agreements with the forest departments of both the states. He said Punjab has maximum irrigated land but still tree plantation is required there. "That is why we have this agreement today." While about 5 lakh trees are to be planted in the two states, railways have a target of planting total 5 crore trees across along the track and rail land across the country. However, while the forest department will be involved in the plantation along the track on rail land boundary as well as maintenance and disposal of trees, such land will not be declared as protected forest so that it can be utilised at any time for railway projects. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who was present on the occasion, said "it is a historic agreement which envisages that railway will plant more trees. Our aim is to increase afforestation and not declaring those land as forest. We want more tree cover outside forest." As per the Environment Ministry plan, besides railway land, tree plantations will be carried out at both sides of the Ganga river and highways to increase green cover. Prabhu said that besides tree plantation, railways have finalised an action plan for restoring water bodies all over the rail land and water harvesting at all rail buildings. Stating that tree plantation will check soil erosion, Prabhu said there will be no exotic trees to be planted and only indigenous trees will be chosen for plantation on rail land. The trees suitable for western part will not be chosen in the eastern zone and both small and large varieties of trees will be planted, he said. Railways will also rope in NGOs for carrying out the plantation exercise. Five suspected Naxals allegedly involved in abduction of tribal school workers and looting valuables have been arrested in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said today. A joint team of Central Reserve Police Force's 230th battalion and the district police nabbed them last evening in the forests under Gadiras police station limits, Additional Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh told PTI. The security forces were cordoning off Padampara Kondre village forests when they spotted the suspected Naxals who were trying to escape. The arrested persons were identified as Podiyami Joga, (23), Kuhrami Muya (24), Kalmu Nanda (22), Rava Ganga (35) and Iddo Raju (26). They were members of Dandakaranya Kisan Adivasi Majdoor Sangh, a frontal organisation of the Maoists, Singh said. They were suspected to be involved in looting of laptop, bikes and machinery from a group which was recording information for the Aadhar cards at Kondre village in the district, and abduction of Anganwadi (tribal school) workers last year, the ASP added. More than 60 per cent voting was recorded in the third phase of panchayat polls in Bihar today amid reports of booth grabbing, firing and group clashes at some places. "A total of 60.25 per cent of voters' turnout was recorded in the third phase of panchayat polls that passed off peacefully barring some stray incidents of irregularities," State Election Commissioner (SEC) A K Chauhan told reporters. Chauhan said the voting percentage may slightly increase once the final figures reach to the Commission. Polling in the third phase was held at 62 blocks of 38 districts amid tight security to elect 129 members of Zila Parishad, 1284 members of panchayat samitis, Mukhiya and Sarpanch in 941 gram panchayats, 12863 members of village Panchayat and 12863 members of Gram Kutchery. As per reports available to the Commission so far, Chauhan said, it has cancelled polling at booth number 63, 64 and 65 of Oob village in Aurangabad district following a report from the SP that polling and police personnel were helping one contestant through bogus voting. He said 16 persons including a sub-inspector of police were arrested in this connection. Re-poll has been ordered at several booths in Darbhanga, Samastipur, West Champaran, Nalanda and Muzaffarpur districts due to incidents of mistakes in printing names and symbols on ballot papers, pouring of ink in ballot box, inter-change of ballot papers, group clash etc. There is a report of firing incident during a clash between two groups at polling station 46 in Saren Panchayat of Neemchak Bathani police station of Gaya. The State Election Commissioner said repolling has been ordered at 45 polling stations in first phase and 27 polling stations in second phase. A total of 420 persons were arrested, while 47 vehicles, one air gun, 300 cartridges and 1.4 litre of illicit liquor were seized in the third phase of polling, he said. Out of the 10 phase of polling, three phases have been conducted on April 24, 28 and May 2 while the remaining seven phases would be held on May 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 and 30. Some 80 countries so far are planning to attend the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul this month to re-think how to confront global crises, the UN aid chief said. Among those, 45 will represented by their heads of state or heads of government who will be asked to pledge funds and make commitments for action during the May 23-24 summit. Stephen O'Brien, the UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, yesterday said he found the turnout "so far encouraging", even though it amounts to fewer than half of the UN's 193 member-states. He declined to name the leaders attending or give details of the countries that have accepted the invitation, saying only that they represented a diverse group of nations. The United Nations released a short film featuring several celebrities including Daniel Craig, Forest Whitaker and Michael Douglas who called for leaders to attend the summit. World governments, international organisations and aid agencies are struggling to cope with the largest refugee crisis since World War II affecting 60 million people on the move. Globally, some 125 million people are in need of aid and, this year, the relief efforts will require a record USD 20.1 billion in funding - five times the amount a decade ago, according to UN estimates. Every year, 218 million people are affected by disasters. The three-day gathering will seek to chart a course with new strategies to address humanitarian crises and the rising cost of aid efforts, said O'Brien. "It is clear that the facts on the ground are changing and so it's incumbent on all of us to change the way we are doing things," he said. Part of the discussion will focus on striking a "grand bargain" between donor nations and UN agencies to help address the funding crises, O'Brien said. The goal would be to "try to get a better predictable financial base to support humanitarian action in exchange for more effective delivery of those goods," said O'Brien. The heads of leading international aid organisations and some private sector representatives will be among the 6,000 delegates at the summit, which has been in preparation for the past three years. Aam Aadmi Party founder member and former MP Ilyas Azmi today quit the party citing "lack of inner democracy" in the organisation and convener Arvind Kejriwal's alleged "autocratic style of functioning", almost a week after he was dropped from party's top decision-making bodies. Azmi accused Kejriwal of indulging in caste and community-based politics and of ignoring Muslims and people from backward classes. "There is no inner democracy in the party. It has been reduced to one man's property," Azmi said. "Also, Muslims and people from backward classes are completely being ignored. There is hardly any Muslim representation in AAP. Kejriwal is appointing people of his own community to key posts in the government. He is openly giving preference to people of his own community in the party too," he claimed. He said he was also against the removal of lawyer Prashant Bhushan and psephologist-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav from the party. Asserting that AAP was founded on principles which were against caste and community politics, Azmi said, "But now AAP itself is indulging in community politics even more than Mulayam Singh Yadav so I stopped participating in party's activities." A former BSP MP, Azmi was one of the founder members of the party. In a rejig, Azmi was dropped from both the National Executive and Political Affairs Committee of the party. He also alleged that rules were not followed during the rejig and decisions on appointments were made well in advance. "I had left Mayawati's BSP because she was running it like a one-person party but then here even Kejriwal is doing the same. So I have no other option but to leave it," he said. Azmi also attacked the BJP-led central government likening it to the Nazi regime, and said, "Today, a condition is being created in the country similar to what Hitler had created in Germany in 1934-35. Earlier, the governments were being run from 7, Race Course, they are now operated from Nagpur." Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kejriwal, Azmi said, "dictatorship cannot be replaced by another dictatorship." Azmi, however, was full of praise for JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "I have reached a conclusion that at this point of time Nitish Kumar is the only person in the country who believes in democracy and human values," he said. The Delhi High Court today told the AAP government and the three municipal corporations here that they are responsible for paying salaries to the employees of civic bodies and cannot say they do not have the funds. "You (government and civic bodies) cannot say we do not have the funds so we cannot release the salaries. You have a responsibility and if you will not comply with the directions then we will pass appropriate order," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said. The bench said this after it was informed that salaries for March were not paid to all the employees of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, who appeared for EDMC, claimed they have paid salaries for March to all the employees. "As far as the EDMC is concerned, we have paid all the salaries till March 2016," she said. However, the employees union alleged that 50 per cent employees of EDMC have not been paid the salary of March. The counsel appearing for the Delhi government informed the bench that funds have been released for paying salaries to the employees of EDMC. The bench has fixed the matter for hearing on May 10 and has asked the employee unions to file affidavit if salaries are not paid to them till "7th of every month". On April 19, the bench had directed the three civic bodies to ensure that the wages for the month of March be paid to all the sanitation workers "within a week without fail". It had directed the civic bodies to pay regular salaries to the safai karamcharis "on or before 7th of every month" for smooth functioning of corporations, whose employees frequently go on strike due to non-payment of salaries. The court had also said the Delhi government shall process the financial statements submitted by the corporations for the year 2015-16 and ensure that the amounts to which the corporations were entitled under head Municipal Reform Fund (MRF) be released within four weeks. The court's order had come on pleas seeking release of salaries in the first week of each month. During the hearing today, Delhi government's counsel told the bench that process of releasing funds under MRF was going on. In January, petitioner Rahul Birla had moved the court when safai karamcharis had gone on strike, claiming the authorities were not paying salaries and arrears to the MCD workers. He had said workers of North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations had gone on strike in 2015 too leading to "accumulation of garbage for number of days at different places". Another petitioner Birender Sangwan had sought lifting of garbage littered on streets here due to safai karamcharis' strike in January and that the strike be called off as it was causing hardship to public. The employees had later called off the strike after their salaries till January were paid. Aam Aadmi Party today demanded cheap power, free medicines and water for the people of BJP- ruled Madhya Pradesh on the lines of facilities provided by the party government in Delhi. "We demand cheap power, free medicines and water for the people of Madhya Pradesh the way it is being done for residents of Delhi," AAP's MP Unit Joint In-charge Ratnesh Gupta told reporters. Besides providing cheap power, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP Government is supplying 20,000 litres of free water per month and making available free treatment, medicines and diagnostic facilities at mohalla clinics (colony health centres) to the people in the national capital. He said the AAP will launch a programme to make people aware of their rights and take up issues related to farmers. "On the lines of Delhi, we are creating our organisation in Madhya Pradesh also. We already have a network up to the Vidhan Sabha level and whatever shortcomings are there will be addressed soon." The AAP leader termed the 'odd-even scheme' in Delhi a success and said it is being praised by the people. If needed, the car rationing plan should be implemented in Bhopal and Indore too, he said. The prosecution of women in Northern Ireland over abortion has become a key campaign issue ahead of regional elections on Thursday, with unprecedented political support for reforming the law. A 21-year-old woman was prosecuted earlier this year for taking pills to induce a miscarriage, while a mother has been charged after ordering medication over the Internet to help her daughter end an unwanted pregnancy. The prosecutions have fuelled a campaign against one of Europe's most stringent abortion laws and a backlash by anti-abortion campaigners and the Catholic Church who have urged voters to boycott candidates favouring reform. "I am not coming at this from an ideological viewpoint but as someone who lives in the real world," Ruth Patterson, an independent unionist candidate in the South Belfast constituency. Patterson is one of a number of candidates calling for an extension of a more liberal abortion law covering the rest of the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland currently bans abortion in all cases except when the life of the mother is in danger. More socially conservative than most parts of mainland Britain, it never adopted the laws on the issue governing the rest of the UK which were passed in 1967. The only two European states with stricter laws -- total bans on abortion -- are Malta and the Vatican. Ireland also has tough legislation banning abortion in the vast majority of cases. Cracks in the status quo, however, are beginning to appear. The incumbent power-sharing administration in the UK province unites historic foes the Democratic Unionists -- a mainly Protestant party which wants Northern Ireland to stay in the UK -- and Sinn Fein, Catholic republicans who want a united Ireland. Unionists and republicans were divided during three decades of sectarian unrest which killed around 3,500 people and was largely ended by a 1998 peace deal. The Democratic Unionists pointedly fail to mention abortion in their election manifesto. Sinn Fein has pledged to legislate in favour of abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape and incest. Launching Sinn Fein's manifesto this week, deputy first minister Martin McGuinness, claimed rival parties had "run away" from the issue of abortion. McGuinness said there would be "no hiding place" in future, adding that he did not want to live in a "backward" place. Pro-choice groups have staged protests against the three-month sentence suspended for two years given to the 21-year-old woman who aborted her foetus, which spares her jail but means she now has a criminal record. A man accused in several cases of crime and absconding for the last one year was today arrested, police said. Absconder Tara Singh was arrested by a police team, headed by Station House Officer Yashpal Singh Jamwal, in Dollian area of Bari Brahmna belt in Samba district, an officer said. He was wanted in several cases of crime, particularly cheating, he said. Asian Development Bank and China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) today signed an agreement to co-finance an infrastructure project in Pakistan. The MoU to cofinance about USD 300-million road project in Pakistan between AIIB and Asian Development Bank (ADB) was signed here on the opening day of the 49th annual meeting here amidst perceived closeness of China and Pakistan. ADB President Takehiko Nakao, however, downplayed any such consideration while approving the cofinancing of the Pakistan road project. "We have been working together to identify projects ... by chance Pakistan road project was more mature so it is not related to relationship between China and Pakistan," he said. The first of these projects would be Pakistan's M4 highway project, a 64-kilometer stretch of motorway in Punjab Province, he said, adding ADB and AIIB would be sharing the same amount. The Beijing-based USD 100 billion multi-lateral lender AIIB was set up last year to boost lending for infrastructure projects. China is the largest shareholder with 26.06 per cent voting shares. India is the second largest shareholder with 7.5 per cent followed by Russia 5.93 per cent and Germany with 4.5 per cent. Asked if similar kind of cofinancing arrangement is being looked at with New Development Bank set up by BRICS countries including India, China, he said that he had talks with its president KV Kamath on the issue. "We had agreed that if there is opportunity for cofinancing we will look at it," Nakao said, adding that at the moment there was nothing in the pipeline. On raising of the resources, he said, "We may consider raising capital in the coming years if there is further requirement." With unanimous support of donors, it has been agreed to substantially strengthen financing capacity with the merger of Asian Development Fund lending operation and Ordinary Capital Resources starting next year, he said. "As a result, we will be able to expand our annual loan and grant approval by 50 per cent, from USD 13 billion in 2014 to more than USD 20 billion by 2020," he said. The leveraging capacity of ADB will also increase from the next year, he added. Nakao also said that 32 donors agreed to the 11th replenishment of the Asian Development Fund (ADF 12) for the four-year period from 2017 to 2020. This will provide USD3.3 billion of new resources to ADF, the ADB's grant window, and USD 0.5 billion to the Technical Assistance Special Fund, he said. ADF finances grant operations in its poorest and most debt-distressed member countries. One important feature of the ADF 12 replenishment is the greater role played by non-traditional donors. The share of donor contributions from Asian emerging economies including India and China increased to 11.7 per cent from 6.9 per cent during the ADF 11 period (2013-2016). The Andhra Pradesh government today requested the Centre to intervene and rescue women from the state languishing in jails in some Gulf countries. In a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, state's Information Technology and NRI Affairs Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy said many women from AP fell victim to brokers who lured them with jobs in the Gulf. "The brokers are taking women to Gulf countries on the pretext of providing employment. They are selling the women like products in the retail shop," Reddy alleged. Women are being sold for Rs 4 lakh in Saudi Arabia, and Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in Bahrain, UAE, and Kuwait, he claimed. Unable to bear the harassment of Arabs, many women escaped from their clutches. "The Arabs are filing cases against the escaped women and sending them to jail. They are being imprisoned for a long term. Nearly 25 women victims have been jailed by them," the AP Minister said. "The Embassy officials in New Delhi were not taking any action against the brokers despite having their contact numbers and knowing their whereabouts," he claimed. The victims were not in a position even to call their families. "I request you to use your offices and issue necessary instructions to officials of Indian Embassies in the Gulf and extend required help to the women victim. "Necessary steps may also be taken to bring them back to their native places safely by providing free travel and visa documents at the earliest," Raghunatha Reddy urged Swaraj. Observing that he did not know whether the Centre was really concentrating on granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh, state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said it might happen if Prime Minister Narendra Modi "focuses" on the issue. "We don't know if the Centre is concentrating on special category status. The Prime Minister referred it to Niti Aayog. The Niti Aayog submitted its report, but I don't know what is there in it," the Chief Minister remarked. "I met the PM and Central ministers 20-30 times on special status, financial assistance and many other issues related to AP. The Centre should do all these with true spirit of the AP Reorganisation Act. I will again write a letter to the Prime Minister or meet him if required," Chandrababu told a press conference. Referring to the conflicting statements by some Union Ministers on the special status, the Chief Minister wondered if they were speaking out of ignorance. "I don't know if they are speaking with the Prime Minister's knowledge or out of their ignorance (of the subject). Things will happen if the Prime Minister focuses," Chandrababu noted. Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said he was "not soft" on the special status, as being alleged by opposition parties, but "very much assertive". "Taking our problems to the Centre's notice and find solutions is my main duty. We have a lot of things to get done," he added. Declaring himself as a "proud Indian", Congress MP from Arunachal Pradesh Ninong Ering today said in the Lok Sabha he wishes to visit China to meet the members of the Lohoba tribe but asserted that he will not do so on a "stapled visa". "I want to visit China as a proud Indian and not go there through the backdoor like other MPs have done. I will go there on a regular visa and not a stapled visa," Ering said. "I will prefer to take the bullet on the chest," said the MP from Arunachal East. China, which lays claim over Arunachal Pradesh, has a policy of issuing stapled visas to residents of the state. Erring, who belongs to the Adi tribe, said he wanted to visit China to meet the members of the Lohoba tribe. "We speak the same dialect and have the same dress code. On the Chinese side the tribe is known as Lohoba while on the Indian side its known as Adi," Erring added while participating in a debate on Demand for Grants of the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism. When later asked about the issue, Ering said some "BJP MPs" had visited China through "backdoor". Australian Police today issued a fresh appeal to the public seeking information over the mysterious disappearance of an Indian-origin man in 2014. Shiva Chauhan, then a 27-year-old delivery boy, began his delivery route on the evening of May 1, 2014and was last sighted at a bakery on South Park Road, Dandenong South around 12.30 AM (local time) next day, detectives have been told. Concerns were raised later that morning when it was discovered that his deliveries were not made and he had failed to turn up to an arranged meeting the same afternoon. His locked van was later traced in Hutton Road, Keysborough where his wallet, identification and personal items were found inside the van. Police said investigators still held grave concerns for Chauhan, who went missing two years ago. "Missing Persons Squad detectives are today appealing for information on the two year anniversary of the suspicious disappearance of delivery man Shiva Chauhan," Victoria state police said in a statement. Investigators believe that a stolen Toyota Camry sedan was involved in Chauhan's disappearance and that the vehicle was not yet been recovered. Detectives said theybelieved that Chauhan might have been taken to Phillip Island in the early hours of May 2, 2014. After receiving this information, police searched Flynn's Beach last year but failed to locate anything relating to the investigation. Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Rhodes said, "Today marks two years since Chauhan's disappearance. We are treating this as suspicious and believe someone out there knows where he is. We are appealing for anyone with information to come forward and contact police". Police have released pictures of Chauhan in a bid to trace him. An Australian IT entrepreneur today identified himself as the creator of digital cash system Bitcoin, ending years of speculation behind the identity of the crypto-currency founder. 45-year-old Craig Wright has revealed his identity to three media organisations - the BBC, the Economist and GQ. Wright identified himself as Satoshi Nakamato, the pseudonym he says he created when launching the currency in 2009. He had earlier refused to comment when these three media outlets unveiled his identity in December. But then today Wright came forward and provided proof of his true identity as the founder of Bitcoin. In a statement, he said he is identifying himself because: "I care so passionately about my work, and also to dispel any negative myths and fears about bitcoin." "I cannot allow the misinformation that has been spread to impact the future of bitcoin and the blockchain." His claim was backed up by Jon Matonis, one of the founding directors of the BitcoinFoundation, who said he "had the opportunity to review the relevant data along three distinct lines: cryptographic, social, and technical". "It is my firm belief that Craig Wright satisfies all three categories," he said. Bitcoin has emerged as a dominant cryptocurrency, which allows consumers to make electronic transactions without commercial banks as intermediaries. However, no central bank has backed Bitcoin. One Bitcoin is currently worth around USD 449. Nakamato's identity has been the subject of fierce speculation since he outlined the ideas behind bitcoin in an academic "white paper" in October 2008. Wright has now unmasked that the pseudonym was a homage to Tominaga Nakamoto, a 17th century Japanese philosopher, merchant and advocate of free trade. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said his government has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in resolving the agrarian crisis in the state. "State government was in touch with the Prime Minister to resolve farm crisis and sought immediate intervention of the Centre to form a high level committee of farm experts to pull the economy from the current agrarian crisis," Badal said. He accused the successive Congress governments at the Centre of formulating "anti-farmer policies" which "have been forcing" the beleaguered farmers to end their lives. "Congress-led governments at the Centre for over six decades have absolutely ignored the hardships faced by the farmers," he alleged. At a Sangat Darshan programme in Lambi Assembly constituency, the Chief Minister said the state government had hardly any role in fixing the costs of agriculture inputs like diesel, pesticides, fertilizers and even the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which primarily fell within the domain of the Centre. He said the state government had initiated "certain steps to put the derailed agrarian economy back on track by way of giving subsidy to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore annually to PSPCL" in return of free power in the farm sector and enhancing the natural calamity fund from Rs 3,400 to Rs 8,000 per acre. Badal said the state government has started first-of-its-kind scheme to provide interests free crop loans worth Rs 50,000 to the farmers. "In a "historic decision" it has been decided that all the farmers would be provided a health insurance cover of Rs 50,000 and an insurance of Rs 5 lakh in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family," he said. Terming the 'Punjab Dialogue' programme started by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a "flop show", he said AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal was "least concerned" about the rights of the state, which was evident from the fact of submitting an affidavit in the Supreme Court by the Delhi government regarding the river waters. (Reopens DES39) "Kejriwal cited the reason of disintegration of country on the stand taken by the Punjab government over SYL issue and termed it as unconstitutional in the affidavit filed in the Apex Court," Badal alleged. He said Kejriwal belonged to Haryana and his "infatuation and affection" with his state was all the more natural. He also noted that the people of Punjab were well aware about Kejriwal's stand and they have turned back to his program 'Punjab Dialogue', which was now gradually losing its sheen. (REOPENS DES44) Badal said it was bounden duty of the state government to preserve rich cultural heritage for the future generations. He said it goes to the credit of the SAD-BJP government which undertook momentous task to preserve cultural heritage of Punjab through state-of-the-art memorials and monuments like Virasat-E-Khalsa, Chotta and Wada Ghallughara, Baba Banda Singh War Memorial, State War Heroes Memorial & Museum. Apart from these, Jang-E-Azadi Memorial, Baba Jeevan Singh (Bhai Jaita), Guru Ravidas Memorial and Bhagwan Valmiki Sthal would soon be opened. "Concerted efforts of the state government in this regard were to perpetuate the glorious and rich legacy of our great culture especially amongst the younger generations so as to enable them to connect with their roots," he said. The Chief Minister said the Congress leadership was well known for "betrayal with Punjab since the times of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who had promised to create Punjabi Suba on linguistic lines on which they later backtracked". Paying homage to those who made sacrifices for formation of Punjabi suba, Badal said every Punjabi was indebted to these sons of soil who made this distant dream a reality. He said it was on record that nearly 59,000 people were imprisoned and 43 attained martyrdom during this struggle. Reminding the people about the "notorious" past of Congress, the Chief Minister said the Congress has irrelevantly meddled in the social, political, economic and even religious affairs of the state. Assailing the Congress for its anti-Punjab stance, the Chief Minister said it has always pursued divisive politics for the sake of its vested political interests. Badal said due to around 60 years of misrule of Congress, the country was confronting several social maladies like unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and others. In his address, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley rechristened the year 2016 as the period of reconstructing Punjab and putting it on high growth trajectory. Lauding the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for giving a boost to overall development of the state, he said that in the past decade Punjab has witnessed unparalleled development. Jaitley said that though the long rule of Congress proved "detrimental" for the peace and progress of the state, the NDA government at Centre and the alliance government in Punjab have restored its pristine glory within a short span. He said the sole motive of SAD-BJP alliance was to unite Punjab and promote the ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood amongst the people. He said that during the black days of terrorism, the alliance healed the wounds of people and brought normalcy back in the state. In his address, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that even after the formation of Punjab, successive Congress governments denied the state its capital, Punjabi speaking areas and even legitimate share in river waters. The Deputy Chief Minister vowed to fight till all these territorial issues were resolved. In his address, Union Minister and Punjab BJP President Vijay Sampla lauded the Deputy Chief Minister for giving facelift to the holy city. He complimented the Chief Minister for taking steps for preservation of glorious heritage of the state. A Canadian national, who backed the Madhes movement, was today arrested by Nepal Police for allegedly posting provocative and anti-national comments on social media and visa violations. Robert Penner was arrested from Lalitpur on a request from the Department of Immigration (DoI), Nepalease media reported. DoI Director-General Kedar Neupane said Penner was arrested to probe his posts on social media which are "liable to incite" social disharmony in the nation. Penner had obtained working visa for a sprout technology company, which was already dissolved in 2012, but worked for Cloud Factory, a foreign outsourcing company, according to the DoI. Penner is also accused of holding multiple visas and overstaying. "He obtained visa for working at an IT company but he was found engaged in making provocative statements that may jeopardise national integrity," said Neupane, adding, "foreigners are not allowed to engage in such activities." The report said immigration laws bar any foreign national from expressing public comments on internal politics of the host nation. A source at the DoI told MyRepublica that they received complaints that Penner had been engaging in activities that could harm Nepal's national integrity. "We had to arrest him due to his suspicious activities and for misusing his visa," said the source. Penner has previously tweeted in favour of the Madhes movement. He had also written controversial tweets about the arrest of journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, MyRepublica reported. Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding that Nepal's Constitution be amended to include their concerns over inadequate political representation and redrawing of federal boundaries. They had enforced months-long blockade of Nepal's all trading points with India, creating huge shortage of essential commodities in the country. The Central Administrative Tribunal has asked the Centre to submit afresh the proposal regarding the deputation of IFoS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi to Delhi government. The CAT bench headed by Justice M S Sullar pronounced the order while directing the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to submit the proposal within two weeks and said that the "Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) may take a decision in the matter as expeditiously as possible. The request for the deputation posting of Ex CVO of AIIMS and Uttarakhand cadre officer Chaturvedi to Delhi government is pending for a year now. "Undoubtedly a lot of delay has taken place in processing this case considering the fact that the request letter of the Chief Minister of GNCTD to Minister of State, MoEFCC, is dated February 16, 2015... "Regarding waiving off cooling of requirement of applicant (Chaturvedi) for his proposed inter-carder deputation to GNCTD as OSD to the Chief Minister, we would like to say that it is solely the domain of the ACC to grant special dispensation, as has been in quite a few cases in the past or take a decision otherwise. "What really important is that the ACC should take a decision in this matter," the tribunal said. The officer had moved the tribunal against the pendency of his deputation proposal to Delhi government. Union minister V K Singh's statement that separatist leaders can talk to Pakistan High Commissioner was today welcomed by the moderate Hurriyat Conference while the hardline faction said peace will not be restored until promises made by the Centre to Kashmiri people were fulfilled. While welcoming Singh's statement, Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the Centre has realised that red lines do not work in politics or diplomacy, the chief of hardline faction, Syed Ali Shah Geelani said peace cannot be achieved till promises made by India to the people of Kashmir at the national and global level are fulfilled. "It (Singh's statement) is better late than never. Perhaps the government of India has realised the red lines which they had drawn do not work either in politics or diplomacy," Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told reporters here. Terming it as a "welcome change" and an "acceptance of the reality", he said there is no other option for India and Pakistan but to engage with each other and take along the people of Kashmir. He suggested that the Centre need to revisit the policies of "shedding the beaten track and take new initiatives" of former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to address Kashmir issue. In a written reply in Parliament on April 28, Singh had said that since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so-called Kashmiri 'leaders' are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India. The Mirwaiz said the Kashmir is among India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and Hurriyat has always maintained that it is the primary party to the dispute. He also accused the state government of using "oppressive methods" to silence the separatists. The Mirwaiz threatened mass agitation if the curbs on the movement of separatists are not withdrawn immediately. Meanwhile, dismissing Singh's statement, Geelani said "It is not an issue for us whether we are invited or not. Our only concern is that the promises made by India to the people of Kashmir at the national and global level are fulfilled." "UN resolutions be implemented to give an opportunity to the people of J-K the right to self-determination. Till then peace cannot be achieved," he told reporters. He said Kashmir was not a border dispute between India and Pakistan, but an "internationally accepted dispute and the solution of which lies in implementation of UN resolutions." Geelani alleged that plans were being made by BJP and RSS to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir by holding an all-India level medical entrance test. "They will then be selected at all-India level and if students from here are selected, they will be sent to different states and doctors from other states will be forced upon us. "This is the plan of RSS and BJP, to turn Valley of Muslim saints into a Hindu Rashtra. They want to force Hindutva upon us," Geelani said. About his successor in his party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and the Hurriyat Conference amalgam, Geelani said the leader would be chosen after consultations following his death. Chinese officials have defended the mass forced deportations of Taiwanese from different countries to China for alleged telecom frauds, saying the action complies with international law and will help fight crimes better. A total of 174 suspects, including 77 Taiwanese, implicated in more than 100 major telecom fraud cases abroad were repatriated to China on grounds that all the victims of the fraud trap are mainland residents. Taiwansaid China's actions amounted to an "uncivilised act of extra-judicial abduction" which represents a "gross violation of basic human rights". Wherever the criminals are, the mainland has territorial jurisdiction over these cases as the impact of the fraud was on the mainland, said Li Juqian, deputy head of the International Law School under China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL). "It is in accordance with the international and mainland law that Malaysia deported the suspects to the mainland. The move is unchallengeable in terms of law," Li was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua agency. Yesterday 97, including 32 Taiwanese, were deported to China by Malaysia. Earlier, Kenyan police also deported 77 suspected telecom scammers, including 45 Taiwanese, in another two fraud syndicates to the Chinese mainland last month. China's law enforcement agencies have cooperated with their counterparts in countries like the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia in cracking down on telecom frauds since 2011, according to Ma Chengyuan, a law professor with the CUPL. Given diplomatic relations and extradition treaties that China established and inked with these countries as well as criminal justice pacts signed with some of them, China can cooperate with them if crimes are committed there and it does not matter whether suspects are from the mainland or Taiwan, Ma said. In late March, Malaysian and Chinese mainland police cooperated in destroying five telecom fraud dens located in Malaysia and nabbed 117 Chinese suspects, including 65 from the mainland and 52 from Taiwan. Among those from Taiwan, 20 were transferred to Taiwan authorities on April 15. The mainland government requested Malaysia to transfer the rest of the suspects to the mainland. The mainland used to transfer Taiwanese suspects to Taiwan, which was in compliance with the relevant cross-strait agreement and no more than an internal division of work, Ma said. As stipulated by the mainland's criminal law, the mainland enjoys territorial jurisdiction over telecom fraud cases based overseas and targeting mainland legal persons and residents, the report said. China, which claims Taiwan as part of it, alleges that Taiwan is not handing stiff punishments for the Taiwanese involved in the telecom frauds. Considering the comparative lighter punishment that telecom swindlers face in Taiwan, experts said, repatriating Taiwanese suspects to the mainland and trying them according to mainland laws will help better fight crimes and protect legitimate rights and interests of people across the strait. Telecom fraudsters could face a maximum prison sentence of five years in Taiwan, while the maximum sentence on the mainland for the crime is life sentence, said Fan Chongyi, professor from the CUPL's Procedural Law Research Institute. "Telecom fraud has been on the rise and done great harm to the interests of mainland legal persons and residents. Suspects who were sent back to Taiwan were given lenient sentences or even acquitted. Many of them later resumed swindling," Fan said. Malaysia deported the suspects to the mainland "solely for the need to fight crimes," law expert Chen Jingtian said. "It is completely unnecessary to politicise the move. The 97 repatriated suspects are now being held at a detention centre in the southern city of Zhuhai," Zhang Jun, a senior investigator from the Ministry of Public Security, said. Sending the suspects back to the mainland will help the police obtain evidence and investigate thoroughly into the case, Zhang said. In a telecom fraud syndicate, roles are clearly divided with members posing as postal clerks, delivery persons, telecom company employees, police officers or prosecutors. "Some members are tasked with recruiting, maintenance support or acquiring information of victims," Zhang said. It will be very difficult to find out how the syndicate is structured and fraud is committed if interrogation is not conducted at the same place, Zhang noted. Repatriating all the suspects to the mainland will help form a chain of evidence, Zhang said, adding that the investigation and obtaining of evidence need to take place primarily on the mainland with the evidence to be crosschecked with statements of the suspects and victims. Moreover, criminals could face harsher penalty on the mainland than in Taiwan and thus be deterred from repeating crimes, Zhang asserted. Taiwan laws impose lighter punishment on telecom fraud, thus making it a lucrative business and encouraging more to participate, he said. has accused China of raping the US, the sharpest criticism of the Communist giant's trade policies by the controversial Republican presidential front-runner. Trump, a billionaire businessman, compared the USs balooning trade deficit with China, which he regularly laments and vows to tackle as president, to rape. We cant continue to allow China to rape our country, and thats what theyre doing,Trump said during his second rally yesterday in Fort Wayne, Indiana, referring to Chinas growing exports to the US. Trump, 69, has repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive on the global market and has claimed that China is "killing" the US on trade. Sunday marks the first time in this campaign that Trump has used the term "rape" to refer to what he views as China's dominance in trade with the US, CNN reported. "We're going to turn it around. And we have the cards, don't forget it. We're like the piggy bank that's being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China," Trump said before referring to China's relationship with the US as rape. Trump added that he is not angry at China, but with US leaders whom he accused of being grossly incompetent. Latest figures from the US government show the trade deficit with China reached an all-time high of $365.7 billion last year. By February this year, it had already reached $57 billion. Trump previously claimed in 2011 that "China is raping this country". Trump's use of the analogy come as Trump is under fire for remarks he made about Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton that critics are calling sexist and for touting the endorsement of boxer Mike Tyson, who was convicted of rape in Indiana. Trump has claimed that Clinton -- a former secretary of state, senator and first lady -- is using "the woman card" to get elected and that she would not have a shot at the presidency if she were not a woman. China's meteorological authority has warned the public of possible geological disasters in the south with heavy rain predicted for the region. Parts of Anhui, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces was expected to see torrential rains, the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) said in a statement on Sunday. The NMC said precipitation could reach up to 95 mm in these areas. Read more from our special coverage on "CHINA" Lightning and gales will accompany the rain. The centre warned of high risks of geological disasters in the areas, suggesting people affected by the rainstorms to take precautions against possible mountain torrents, mud-rock flows and landslide, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. has extended the weekend as the government has declared a public holiday on Monday to celebrate May Day. Former IAF chief SP Tyagi was today questioned by CBI for around 10 hours over his alleged links with middlemen in the controversial Rs 3,600-crore Agusta Westland chopper deal during which he was also quizzed about the source of funding for his post-retirement trip to Italy. It was for the second time in three years that the retired Air Chief Marshal was being questioned in connection with the VVIP chopper deal but it was for the first time he was quizzed after an order of the Italian court on the matter. He was earlier quizzed in 2013. The Milan Court of Appeals -- equivalent of an Indian High Court -- has given details of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter-maker Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal. The order reportedly mentions the name of Tyagi at several points. Tyagi who has been named in the CBI FIR reached the agency headquarters at around 10 AM but refused to speak to media which posed questions about his role in the alleged corruption in the deal. "I have told CBI what I had to say. You people(media) are inhuman," he told reporters in response to questions in the night at the end of his questioning. CBI sources said that during the probe they came across a trip undertaken by Tyagi to Florence, Venice and Milan in Italy after he retired in 2007. They said it is being probed who accompanied him on the trip and who funded for the hospitality. The sources claimed that Tyagi was also confronted with response received from Italy on the judicial requests of CBI. He was also understood to have been asked about the statements of middlemen Carlos Gerosa and Guido Hashke, to Italian authorities, who had purportedly claimed to have met Tyagi on several occasions between 2004 and 07. Tyagi has denied allegations against him claiming innocence and that the change of specifications, which brought Agusta Westland into contention, was a collective decision in which senior officers of Indian Air Force, SPG, NSA and other departments were involved. CBI had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen. The allegation against the former Air Chief was that he reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000m to 4,500m (15,000ft)which put AgustaWestland helicopters in the race for the deal without which its choppers were not even qualified for submission of bids. CBI sources said the agency has called Gautam Khaitan, a former board member of Aeromatrix and who is also named in the FIR, for questioning on Wednesday while cousins of Tyagi--Sanjeev, Rajeev and Sandeep--have been called later this week. It is alleged by Italian prosecutors that bribes to clinch the deal were paid through middlemen and routed through a consultancy contract between AgustaWestland and companies owned by middlemen. Khaitan and the Tyagi cousins have strongly refuted allegations against them. A class XII student was brutally stabbed to death by a group of six youths outside his home in southeast Delhi's Madangir locality, police said today. The deceased has been identified as Deepu (18), student at a government school, who had appeared in the class 12 board exams. Locals told police that the accused persons stabbed him over 40 times, a claim yet to be verified, a senior official said. The incident took place on Friday evening when Deepu received a call and went out. Minutes later he was seen running towards his residence, chased by a group of six youths. The group got hold of Deepu outside his house, allegedly stabbed him multiple times and fled. Locals called up police and Deepu was rushed to a hospital where he died during treatment. A case of murder has been registered and police suspects the involvement of some juveniles in the incident. The government has received complaints from some officials regarding corruption, malpractices and humiliation of faculty members at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Uttarakhand in the last three years, Lok Sabha was informed today. In a written reply, HRD minister Smriti Irani said her ministry had received complaints from "some of the officials and faculty members" of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Uttarakhand during last three years through various organisations. She was replying to a question by former Uttarakhand CM Maj Gen (retd) B C Khanduri, who had himself complained about alleged corruption and humilation of faculty members. Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "doctoring" information on his date of birth and his educational qualifications and threatened to reveal the 'facts' behind his degrees tomorrow. Party leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters that Modi has been "doctoring information" on his date of birth and educational qualifications. He claimed Congress spokesman Shaktisinh Gohil is coming from Gujarat with all the documents and would be addressing a press conference tomorrow on the issue of educational qualifications of the Prime Minister. On Sunday, Vice-Chancellor of the University M N Patel said that Modi completed his post-graduation in political science from Gujarat University in 1983 and had scored 62.3 per cent as an external student of the varsity. Patel revealed the information days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Central Information Commission (CIC) of covering up the prime minister's educational qualifications. Congress had yesterday alleged "discrepancies" in Modi's date of birth. "In students' register of MN College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Narendra Modi's date of birth is mentioned as August 29, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950," Gohil had said in Ahmedabad. Gohil had also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modi's Masters degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. Congress expects Rahul Gandhi to take over as its chief this year, the party said today, virtually dismissing reports that he would be projected as the chief ministerial candidate in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017. "Rahul Gandhi is MP from Amethi and Vice President of Congress. We all expect him to be the President of the Congress in 2016," party leader Jairam Ramesh said at the AICC briefing, when asked about reports that the party's poll strategist Prashant Kishor has suggested that Rahul should be projected as the chief ministerial candidate. According to reports, Kishor is learnt to be in favour of either Priyanka Gandhi Vadra or Rahul taking the lead in the state election as the chief ministerial candidate. On the possibility of Priyanka as the chief ministerial candidate, Ramesh said, "I have no knowledge". According to reports, Kishor feels that Congress can come back to power in 2019 in the Hindi heartland by projecting the Congress vice president and if people start believing that he can lead them to victory in an election. At the same time, the report also said if Rahul does not give his consent then Priyanka's name should be propped in Uttar Pradesh. And if both turn down the offer, then Kishor may suggest former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's name. Kishor, who had managed the successful election campaigns for Narendra Modi in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance in Bihar assembly elections last year, has been drafted by Congress to draw up a campaign strategy for the key state. There is speculation of changes in Uttar Pradesh Congress this month. Nirmal Khatri is PCC Chief for the last few years while Pradip Mathur is CLP leader. Congress is in political wilderness in UP since 1989 which saw the emergence of BSP and issues like Ram Mandir and Mandal made it a marginal force where it was in power for almost all the time since independence. There are reports that Rahul's supporters are pitching for his takeover as party chief sooner than later. He was made the party Vice President at the Jaipur Chintan shivir in January 2013. Sonia Gandhi has created a record of being at the helm of the party since March 1998. The Congress and BJP have intensified their stir demanding removal of Justice (Retd) M M Das from heading the Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the chit fund scam and resignation of minister Sanjay Dasburma over CBI notice against him. While the BJP supporters gheraoed the commission's office in Cuttack and staged a protest-dharna in front of it, Congress activists across the state undertook a similar demonstration. The Congress activists in large number submitted memoranda to the collectors of their respective districts demanding action against Justice Das and minister Dasburma. The party also submitted a memorandum addressed to Governor S C Jamir. The Centre today admitted in Lok Sabha the difficulties faced by people living in forest villages and said it had asked state governments to convert them into revenue villages to enable villagers get benefits of welfare schemes. There are 4,526 forest villages in the country in which 22.06 lakh people like, majority of them being tribals, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said during Question Hour. Out of a total 22,06,011 population living in 4,526 forest villages across the country, 13,32,265 belong to Scheduled Tribes, he said. Admitting difficulties faced by these people, the Minister said state governments were told to convert the forest villages into revenue villages so that the people living there get government welfare benefits. Oram said that 925 forest villages in Madhya Pradesh will be converted to revenue villages, in Maharashtra all forest villages, except for 73 villages in Nandurbar, are in the process of conversion into revenue villages, while 421 forest villages in Chhattisgarh have been converted into revenue villages. The Minister said in West Bengal 86 forest villages were converted into revenue villages, while in Odisha, 22 forest villages and unsurveyed habitations were identified for conversion to revenue villages. In Gujarat, out of 196 recorded forest settlement, 175 have been identified for conversion to revenue villages, while in Uttar Pradesh, out of the 12 recorded forest settlement, six have been converted to revenue villages, he said. Former "Friends" actress Courteney Cox and guitarist Johnny McDaid are said to be not only back together, but planning to get married as soon as possible. Cox, 51, and McDaid called off their engagement last year but sparked reunion rumours in March. They are fast tracking their wedding plans and looking at possible venues in Ireland, reported Contactmusic. "Courteney and Johnny are planning a fall wedding. They just took a trip to London to meet with their wedding planner," a source said. The ceremony will reportedly be held in 39-year-old McDaid's native Ireland, with high-profile venues being considered. "They are considering Castle Leslie where Paul McCartney married Heather Mills, as well as Ballintubber Abbey where Pierce Brosnan got married," the source continued. "She really wants a low-key wedding with about 100 guests. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has proposed to set up ambient air quality monitoring systems in cities with the help of public sector undertakings, the government said today. "CPCB has proposed to set up Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) in 46 million plus cities under corporate social responsibility programme of central public sector undertakings," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. He said the CPCB has already received proposals for setting up 62 air monitoring systems. The ambient air quality is being regularly monitored with manual and continuous air quality monitoring systems in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) by the CPCB in association with state pollution control board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and System of Air Quality and Weather Forcasting and Research (SAFAR), he said. CAAQMS, established by CPCB, DPCC, NEERI and SAFAR in Delhi, has been upgraded considering the parameters notified under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Replying to another question, Javadekar said there is no conclusive data to establish direct co-relationship of diseases exclusively due to air pollution. "Health effects of air pollution are synergistic manifestation of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity and others of the individuals. Air pollution can be one of the triggering factors of respiratory ailments and associated diseases," he said. The Environment Minister said the analysis of available air quality data of 41 million plus cities suggests that the concentration of SO2 in all 41 cities are within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality (NAAQ) annual standards. Nine out of 41 cities namely Delhi, Faridabad, Howrah, Kalyan-Dombivali, Kolkata, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, Navi Mumbai and Thane exceed the annual NAAQS of 40ug/m3 in respect to oxides of nitrogen and 38 cities out of 41 cities do not comply with annual NAAQS of 60ug/m3 with reard to particulate matter (PM10). Delhi Police's Crime Branch today arrested a "notorious criminal" who claimed he was getting Rs 36 lakh as "protection money" from the toll tax concessionaire of MCD. "Crime Branch was working on information that some criminal gangs in outer Delhi area were extorting money from toll companies at various toll nakas. These companies were in turn settling and negotiating protection money by hiring rival criminals instead of taking legal action," said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner(Crime) of Police. A team of Crime Branch working on an input arrested a notorious criminal Krishan Kumar (29) alias Sunny from a five star hotel in Rohini on April 20. Two illegal double barrel shot guns were also recovered from him, he said. During interrogation, Sunny claimed that various gangs are active in outer Delhi area who extort protection money from Toll check points. "He revealed that as per an oral agreement he received Rs 36 lakh as protection money from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation's toll tax concessionaire 'DEP Toll'. He also admitted having such an arrangement with previous concessionaire SMYR Consortium," said the officer. In return he used to help the company in settling disputes with locals or other criminal gang members at different toll check points in outer Delhi. Sunny's gang involved about 20 persons in the age group 20-35 whom he paid Rs 10-15,000 as salary. Some of his gang members owned licenced weapons. The officer however clarified that they were not on the company's payroll or there was no written contract between the accused and the concessionaire. A partner of DEP Toll, Ajay Agarwal said that the company had nothing to do with the accused arrested by Crime Branch. "I am hearing his name for the first time. If he claims receiving protection money from us then he must be lying. We do not pay protection money," Agarwal said. Sunny was earlier arrested for attacking a person at Jonti Road MCD toll tax check point in 2011. He had also attacked a Delhi Police sub inspector at Ladrawan toll tax check point in 2013. Chemicals firm Deepak Nitrite today said the company has sold a parcel of land in Pune for a total consideration of Rs 69.60 crore. Deepak Nitrite in a regulatory filing also announced that it has "surrendered/assigned its lease hold right in respect of adjoining land admeasuring 8,093 sq mtr, situated at Sinhagad Road, Pune for a total consideration of Rs 9.66 crore." The company has concluded the sale of 12,141 sq mtr of land situated at Sinhagadh Road, Pune in Maharashtra for Rs 69.60 crore, the filing added. Deepak Nitrate also informed that these transactions are not a related party transactions and the buyer is also not related to the promoter or key managerial personnel of the company. In January, the company had raised Rs 83.30 crore from institutional investors through private placement of shares. Gujarat-headquartered Deepak Nitrite has manufacturing facilities at Nandesari and Dahej in Gujarat, Roha and Taloja in Maharashtra, and at Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. It manufactures Bulk Chemicals & Commodities, Fine & Speciality Chemicals and Fluorescent Whitening Agents. Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain today likened power discoms with British colonising the country and said power is the only sector where the profit margin is 16 per cent despite "inefficiency". Jain also questioned the purchase agreements with the power discoms in which there can be "no negotiations". "The power purchase agreements...Even if the (power) plant life is over, the agreement is still extended. There can be no negotiations in the power purchase agreement," Jain said. The AAP government, which has often been at odds with the power discoms, has initiated their CAG audits. Jain was speaking at a conference organised by the United Residents Joint Action of Delhi (URJA). He said power is the only sector where price variations are 1000 times more, citing examples of power generation where price per unit from Bhakra Nangal Hydroelectric Power Project is as low as "22 paise" while some sources have power costing "Rs 10" per unit. "How can people be looted? First you colonise an area. The British came and colonised (the country). This is not possible today. Its difficult to control anyone physically in today's time. Today, there are necessary items, or items which have been made necessary...Electricity has become a necessity. "Even the poor or rich cannot live without it. So people pay it quietly. These are not answers, but questions that I have," the power minister said. He said the Delhi government has written to the Centre several times over "surrendering" over 2265 MW of expensive power. "When we asked to bring down the rates of electricity, they said you can surrender power. I went back to surrender 2265 MW of power. I was told that Delhi will face electricity shortage. To this, I said this will be taken care by us, but just accept the surrender of power. If the 2265 MW could be surrendered whose cost is more than Rs 6 per unit, then rates of electricity will come down." Attacking the Centre over the issue, he said, "The test is endurance of Delhi people is very high. So they need to be told about this (issue). Even people of Delhi are part of the nation. If you are working for the nation then do something for the people of Delhi as well. Speaking about a plant in Bawana of 1300 MW, he said, the power generation from the source is only 200 MW. Taking a dig at Reliance Industries, which was to provide gas to the plant, Jain said, "The reason they cite is lack of gas. The company which assured us of gas stopped providing us. The company initially said that it will provide gas at an international rate...16 dollars. "The government later increased it to 5.6 dollar. They said we will not give it below 16 dollars and will stop the production. Now give us at international rate since the price is 2 dollars now. I don't understand the maths. (Reopens DES 41) Jain noted that India produces 2.7 lakh MW of electricity, but the maximum consumption is 1.4 to 1.5 lakh MW, so there is an excess of almost one lakh megawatt of spare capacity. The minister said its been a year that he has been handling the portfolio, but he is not able to "understand" the business model of the sector. "This is the only sector where profit is minimum 16 per cent. The more inefficient work you do, you will be rewarded more. Because if you spend Rs 100 crore, then you will get a profit of Rs 16 crore. And if you spend Rs 200 crore for the same work because of your inefficiency then you will be rewarded," Jain said. "The way this system is made by giving such incentives that you spend Rs 100 crore and show that you have spent Rs 500 crore. So you get Rs 80 crore (profit) in a year. People say that is the practice. People are a little hesitant to give actual proof, but the system promotes this. The system we made that 16 per cent guaranteed return is a flawed system which does not promote efficiency," Jain said. The minister noted that the technology in power generation has remain unchanged over the last 50 years. "If per megawatt cost was Rs 2 crore 30 years ago then it comes to Rs 7 crore today. Because the incentive is if the cost is more. So no one has the intention to bring down the cost, invest more in technology. "The technology, which was 50 years ago still prevails. We need to think about this system and we need to bring it under competition," Jain said. Pure-play home finance major HDFC today reported a nearly 31 per cent jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,460.5 crore for the March quarter, boosted by sale of part stake in its life insurance arm for Rs 1,513 crore. In March, the company sold 9 per cent of its stake in HDFC Life to Standard Life Mauritius Holdings for a total consideration of Rs 1,706 crore, which yielded a net income of Rs 1,513 crore, the company Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Keki Mistry said. On a stand-alone basis, the net income rose 40 per cent to Rs 2,607 crore, from Rs 1,862 crore, driven by the one-time income. For the full fiscal, the consolidated net profit rose 16.3 per cent to Rs 10,190.3 crore, from Rs 8,762.6 crore after providing Rs 3,015 crore for tax, including Rs 379 crore as deferred tax liability on special reserves. Provisions for contingencies, including an additional provision, stood at Rs 450 crore towards standard assets and other contingencies. Retail loan grew by 18 per cent during the year, with average size being Rs 25 lakh as against Rs 23.3 lakh in the previous year, taking its loan book to Rs 2,59,224 crore as against Rs 2,28,181 crore in the previous year. Loans sold to HDFC Bank during the year rose significantly high to Rs 12,773 crore, as against Rs 8,249 crore. The growth in the individual loan book after adding back loans sold in the preceding 12 months was 24 per cent, or 16 per cent of net loans sold, while non-individual loan book grew at 9 per cent, Mistry said. Individual loans comprise 73 per cent for the full year and as much as 83 per cent of incremental loan growth came in from individual loans. The company maintained its asset quality, with gross non-performing loans at 0.70 per cent, or Rs 1,833 crore. NPAs in retail portfolio stood at 0.51 per cent while that of the non-individual portfolio read 1.12 per cent, he said, adding that its total provisions stood at Rs 1,959 crore, of which Rs 1,341 crore are against standard assets. The balance in the provision for contingencies account stood at Rs 2,695 crore, of which Rs 566 crore are for NPAs, or 1.03 per cent of the total loan portfolio. During the year, the company made an additional one-time provision of Rs 450 crore against standard assets and other contingencies to further strengthen the balancesheet. The loan spread for the year came down a tad to 2.29 per cent, from 2.32 per cent, while the spread on individual loan book stood at 1.94 per cent. The same on commercial loans stood at 3.10 per cent. Accordingly, the core net interest margin for the year came down by 10 bps to 3.9 per cent. Share of profits from subsidiaries and associates in the consolidated net profit stood at 30 per cent for the year, taking the consolidated return on equity to 20.7 per cent. HDFC Standard Life reported a profit after tax of Rs 818 crore for the full year as against Rs 786 crore in the previous year on a 10 per cent rise in premium income to Rs 16,313 crore. Its AMC business HDFC Asset Management Company reported a net profit of Rs 478 crore, up from Rs 416 crore, while AUM rose 13 per cent to Rs 1.83 trillion at the end of the year. The general insurance arm HDFC Ergo reported a gross direct premium of Rs 3,380 crore as against Rs 3,182 crore in the previous year while its net income rose to Rs 151 crore, from Rs 104 crore. Investors ignored the numbers and the HDFC counter closed almost flat with a positive bias of 0.4 per cent at Rs 1,092.75 on BSE while the benchmark shed 0.7 per cent on global cues. A total of 9776 people including a 103-year old man residing in the enclaves in CoochBehar district would exercise their franchise for the first time in the sixth phase Assembly poll on Thursday. Among 14,864 population of 51 enclaves' six Assembly constituencies - Mekhliganj (584), Sitalkuchi (1980), Sitai (1362), Dinhata (5605), Natabari (0) and Tufanganj (9), out of 9540 eligible voters 9209 enrolled themselves to vote May 5 in 41 polling stations, Additional CEO Dibyendu Sarkar said here today. There were 567 more voters among the 922 people in the settlements in Coochbehar, he said while showing a presentation on the enclave that became an Indian territory on August one, last year. "The total number of voters is 9,776 who will vote for the first time on Thursday," he said. Interestingly, there was no voter in Natabari constituency's two enclaves as nobody resides there, though three polling stations have been allotted there. India and Bangladesh had signed a Land Boundary Agreement last year. Under the agreement Bangladesh had transferred 51 enclaves to India while India transferred 111 to the neighbouring country. "We have conducted voter awareness camp and trained them in every aspect way so that they do not face with any problem while voting," Sarkar said. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India increased to USD 37.53 billion during April-February period of the last fiscal, Parliament was informed today. It was USD 30.93 billion in 2014-15. "FDI equity inflow has increased from USD 22.42 billion in 2012-13 to USD 37.53 billion in 2015-16 (up to February)," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Services attracted the most (USD 5.95 billion) during the first eleven months period of 2015-16. It was followed by computer software and hardware (USD 5.83 billion), trading (USD 3.67 billion) and automobile (USD 2.44 billion). Replying to a separate query, she said during the past three years, two applications for compulsory licensing (CL) under section 92 of the Patent Act 1970 have been received by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). Under the Indian Patents Act, a CL can be issued for a drug if the medicine is deemed unfordable by the government and grants permission to qualified generic drug makers to manufacture it. In March 2012, Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma was allowed to manufacture and sell cancer-treatment drug Nexavar at a price over 30 times lower than charged by patent-holder Bayer Corp., under CL. As per the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement, a CL can be invoked by a national government allowing a company to produce a patented product without the consent of the patent owner in public interest. The US had raised concerns over issuance of the licence by India. New Delhi had so far issued only one such licence. Hip hop star Fetty Wap says he refused to undergo physical therapy following his motorcycle accident last year because he wanted to employ his own methods of healing. The 24-year-old "Trap Queen" star broke his leg in three places in September, when he collided with a car while driving through a residential area in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. In December, he suffered a setback in his recovery as he returned to the hospital to care for his knee. The rapper is now walking on his own, but he initially didn't take advantage of treatment he was offered, reported Contactmusic. "I kept going because I got my fans (sic). People fall and hurt themselves way worse than I did so I'm blessed that I only broke my leg in three places rather than losing a leg. I think I can live with that. "Recently, I started walking on my own. Even though I should've, I didn't do the physical therapy. I wasn't about it, at that time. When I go onstage, that's my physical therapy." And the accident hasn't turned the rapper off from riding motorcycles. "I got my babies (motorcycles) with me on the tour," he added. Former Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) President Balraj Madhok, who was among its founders but was expelled later, died today after being ill for over a month. Madhok (96) was unwell for some time and had been admitted to AIIMS for a month where he died around 9 AM. Born on February 25, 1920, in the undivided Jammu and Kashmir's Skardu area, Madhok led the BJS to its biggest ever win in 1967 when it won 35 seats in the Lok Sabha. His decline began in the 1970s as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani rose in prominence and he was expelled from the party in 1973 on disciplinary grounds. A leading light of the Jana Sangh, the forerunner of Bhartiya Janata Party, in the 1960s and early 70s, Madhok represented the NCT of Delhi and South Delhi in the 2nd and 4th Lok Sabha in 1961 and 1967 respectively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his last respects to him and met his family members to condole his death. "Heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of a stalwart leader of Jan Sangh Shri Balraj Madhok. Balraj Madhok ji's ideological commitment was strong & clarity of thought immense. He was selflessly devoted to the nation & society. "Had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions. His demise is saddening. Condolences to his family. RIP," Modi said in earlier tweets. Madhok was associated with the RSS before the Jana Sangh was founded and was also the founder Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the pro-Hindutva organisation. In 1951, he was the convener of the first convention of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and was appointed the national Secretary. In 1966, he was elected as National President of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Madhok's close associate L K Advani described him as a leader who was fully committed to Jana Sangh's ideology and principles. "I am deeply grieved to learn about the passing away of Balraj Madhok. I mourn Balraj Madhok's passing away and offer my heartfelt condolences to his two daughters. May the departed soul rest in peace," he said in his condolence message. Expressing his condolence, Advani said, "He was fully committed to its (Jana Sangh) ideology and principles. During the Emergency he was detained under MISA for 18 months," he said. Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan tweeted, "Balraj Madhok left for heavenly abode today - India loses a great intellectual, thinker and a social reformer. May his soul rest in peace. (Reopens DES 30) Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also condoled the death of Balraj Madhok. In her condolence message, she said, "I am saddened to learn about the sad demise of Balraj Madhokji. I convey my condolences to bereaved members of his family. May the departed soul rest in peace." BJP president Amit Shah went to Madhok's residence to condole his death. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat condoled Madhok's death, saying his work at the time of partition will remain etched in the memory of patriots. In a condolence message Bhagwat and his deputy Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said a very dedicated and hardworking person who was committed to ideals has passed away. "We pay tributes to him on the behalf of all swayamsewaks," they said in a joint condolence message. RSS joint general secretary Krishan Gopal also visited Madhok's residence. Madhok was later cremated at the Pusa Road crematorium. A number of RSS and BJP leaders attended the funeral, including Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, M Venakaih Naidu, Harshvardhan and Dharmendra Pradhan. Four persons were killed and three others injured while they were allegedly making bombs in a village near Bangladesh border in the district early today, ahead of the last phase of polling on May 5 in the state. An explosion occurred when bombs were being made in the house of one Giasu Sheikh in Jaunpur village under Baishnab Nagar Police Station at about 1 AM, Superintendent of Police Syed Waqar Raza said. Incidents of post-poll violence have been reported from various parts of the state. One person died on the spot and three others succumbed to their injuries in Malda Medical College and Hospital. The deceased were identified as Kalam Sheikh (35), Simu Sheikh (28), Surup Sheikh (35) and Alam Sheikh (30). Three persons were admitted in hospital, said the SP who himself visited the spot in the morning. He said local rowdies were involved in the incident, adding, Giasu has been absconding. Polling was held in the district on April 17 in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls. The police have filed charge sheet in yet another case involving the cases pertaining to mafia Dhalasamant brothers, taking the total number of charge sheets in this connection to four so far. The city police have slapped as many 21 cases against the two brothers and several of their associates. The Markat Nagar police on Saturday filed the charge sheet naming Sushant Dhalasamant and his brother Sushil with four others in connection with recovery of four sophisticated pistols. All the accused in this case are booked under section 25 of the Arms Act and sections 387, 341 and 34 of IPC. The same police station had last month filed charge sheet in the case related to recovery of 12.5 litres of liquor from the house of Dhalasamant here during a raid on January 29. The police have booked only Sushil in this case under section 47 of Bihar and Orissa Excise Act. In the case pertaining to recovery of a fake driving license from their rented house at Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the Markat Nagar police have booked only Sushant under section 420, 419, 467 and 471 of IPC. The charge sheet in this case was filed before the SDJM court here on April 28. Likewise, the Chauliaganj police of the city have also filed charge sheet last month in connection with seizure of arms and ammunition from several gun runners. Along with the Dhalasamant brothers, four of their close associates, including Bharat Bhusan Swain have been framed charges under section 25 Arms Act. A French appeal court today upheld a four-year prison sentence for the founder of PIP, the company that manufactured defective breast implants that caused a health scare across Europe and South America. The court in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence confirmed the fraud conviction against Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) founder Jean-Claude Mas, 76. The court also upheld the 2013 trial's sentence that Mas must pay 75,000 euros (USD 86,000) and be banned for life from working in medical services or running a company. Mas also faces two other pending legal cases, one for involuntary manslaughter and another linked to the financial implications of the scandal. The scandal first emerged in 2010 after doctors noticed abnormally high rupture rates in women with PIP implants. It gathered steam worldwide in 2011, with some 300,000 women in 65 countries believed to have received the faulty implants. In France alone, 18,000 women had PIP implants removed because of a risk of rupture or because they had become uncomfortable. In the appeal, which had to be held in a congress centre to accommodate all the plaintiffs, Mas denied that the implants made by his company from industrial oil carried any health risk. A mega-deal to build Australian submarines is so important to France that he will personally supervise the project as Paris and Sydney bolster defence ties, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Monday. French contractor DCNS last week beat off competition from Japan and Germany to seal the 12- 50-billion Australian dollar ($39 billion) contract, prompting Valls to make a surprise visit to Canberra. "I will supervise, myself, the implementation of our commitments with the minister of defence who will be coming shortly to Australia," Valls told a joint press conference with Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. "It is an industrial and economic partnership. It is also a partnership that binds us for a very long time on other issues, including security and defence," he added. DCNS plans to build a 4,500-tonne conventionally-powered version of its 4,700-tonne 'Barracuda' nuclear-powered submarine, which the company has described as "the most technically complex artefact in Australia". The DCNS website says, the new vessel would be "the recipient of France's most sensitive and protected technology and will be the most lethal conventional ever contemplated". A Japanese government-backed consortium, led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and German group ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, was also in the running. But, Canberra said, DCNS was considered "best to meet all of our unique capability requirements". The tender process was politically sensitive domestically, with national elections expected in July. Canberra insisted that all the submarines be built in Australia amid fears that any off-the-shelf purchase could kill off the domestic shipbuilding industry. "We are an island nation and we need to ensure that we have the best defences. Now, that is the primary objective," said Turnbull, adding, "We partner with France to ensure that we have the best technology and we work together to develop the supply chain here in Australia right from the shipyard to every person, every firm that is contributing to this effort." "This is a great national enterprise and it will drive our economic plan for jobs and growth in the 21st century," he said. Britain's Princess Charlotte, who turned one today, has received numerous gifts since her birth and among them is an 18-karat white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires worth a whopping 30,000 pounds. Alist of gifts released by Kensington Palace on behalf of her parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, shows an 18-karat white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires made by the Natural Sapphire Company and valued at 30,000 pounds was among her most lavish presents so far. According to 'The Daily Telegraph', the golden rattle won over a silver one given to her by the President of Mexico,Enrique Pena Nieto, and his wife Senora Angelica Rivera during their State visit to the UK last year. Completing the rattle list is also a simple willow one woven by Scottish basketmaker Ciaran Hogan, given to Prince Charles for his new-born granddaughter. President of China Xi Jinping brought baby Charlotte a set of silk figurines depicting the 'Dream of the Red Chamber', a classic 19thcentury Chinese novel, when he came for his State visit in October last year. US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle left her a jigsaw and a cuddly toy version of the Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, during their visit last month. The Obamas had also given her a children's rocking chair and a baby blanket when she was born. Schools, community groups and royalists have sent her blankets, clothes, books, toys and plenty of hand-knitted clothes, including a large supply of bootees. Aspokesperson for Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for all the letters, gifts and good wishes they have been fortunate to receive in the year since Princess Charlotte was born. Google today honoured renowned Indian cartoonist Mario de Miranda with a doodle on his 90th birth anniversary. The Padmashri and Padma Vibhushan awardee cartoonist was known for his trademark stylish strokes which told detailed colourful stories with shades of humour, largely based on life in Mumbai and Goa. The commemorative doodle was created by another comic artist Aaron Renier known for portraying large crowds. It shows a rainstorm scene in a crowded Mumbai, with the hazy hint of a prominent landmark building and people of various communities that spice up Mumbai in their traditional attire, running around. "I approached Mario's work by pretending I was drawing with him. I chose his most popular style, very flat with criss-crossing interactions. In this homage to Miranda, we see a rich litany of people, each unique in their perspective," Renier was quoted as saying in an official statement. "That is what I liked most about his work, trying to pick out who knows who, who's watching who, who's annoyed by who, who's enamoured by who. Hopefully people will see something of (Miranda's) spirit in it," he added. The doodle depicts people struggling with their umbrellas, newspapers, a spontaneous lovers hug, the typical dog chasing a stray cat and dragging his master on the leash. On a ground floor is someone quietly observing the goings -on outside, on the first floor a woman absently empties the bucket of water onto the roads after cleaning her home, while on the left side appears an image resembling Miranda himself struggling with his next creation on the canvas. Miranda died of natural causes at his home in Loutolim in Goa in 2011. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and was conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2012. Amid a raging row over alleged kickbacks in the helicopter deal, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board has deferred a decision on increase in FDI in the Italian firm's joint venture with Tata Sons. Indian Rotorcraft, a joint venture of (a Finmeccanica company) and Tata Sons for setting up an assembly line for the AW119Ke helicopter, had sought post-facto approval of the FIPB for increased FDI inflow of Rs 19.64 crore as against Rs 17.6 crore approved in September 2011. Besides the increased FDI inflow, it had also sought approval for "change of the foreign investor from S.P.A, Italy to Finmeccanica S.P.A by way of merger of AgustaWestland S.P.A, Italy into Finmeccanica S.P.A." Decision on proposal for Indian Rotorcraft has been "deferred," said Finance Ministry in a statement. It gave no reason for deferring the proposal. The FIPB meeting was held on April 8. Tatas have previously said Indian Rotorcraft has "no connection whatsoever with AgustaWestland's (AW) supply of AW101 military helicopters to the Government of India." It is alleged that bribe was paid for securing the contract for supply of 12 AW101 military helicopters during the previous UPA regime. "Indian Rotorcraft's (IRL) business proposition is to assemble AW119ke helicopters, at a facility in Hyderabad, for exports to AW for it to sell them to its customers. IRL's business remit does not include any selling activity for defence related entities," Tata Sons said on its website. Tata Sons and Italian Defence major AgustaWestland had in February 2010 signed an agreement for formation of a joint venture company to establish a final assembly line for AW-119 helicopters for the Indian Army and the global market. The Finance Ministry release further said the FIPB headed by Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das cleared seven FDI proposals worth Rs 517.57 crore, including FDI proposal of pharma company Helix lnvestment Holdings Pte Ltd. Government has invited bids from companies willing to set up call centres in small towns with financial support under India BPO Promotion Scheme. "Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) invites online bids through Request For Proposal (RFP) from the eligible companies, who are desirous of setting up BPO/ITES operations, under the India BPO Promotion Scheme," the tender said. The IBPS under Digital India Programme provides financial support in the form of viability gap funding to eligible companies engaged in creation of employment opportunities by promoting IT and IT enabled services (ITES) particularly by setting up BPO or ITES operations. The IBPS also seeks to incentivise establishment of 48,300 seats in respect of BPO or ITES operations across the country. The number of seats is distributed among each state in proportion of its population. The government will provide capital support of up to 50 per cent of one time expenditure incurred with an upper ceiling of Rs 1 lakh per seat. Special incentives will also be provided within the ceiling amount. The special incentives have been linked to employment for women, person with disabilities and providing jobs beyond the set target. Companies setting up BPOs in hilly area of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will get special package. Government has also relaxed turnover criteria for companies setting up facility in these regions. The food ministry is considering revoking its order for compulsory export of 3.2 million tonnes (mt) of sugar and is open to lowering import duty in order to keep the price of the sweetener under control. The government had asked sugar mills to export 3.2 mt in the current 2015-16 marketing year (October-September) to offload surplus stock in the domestic market that depressed local prices. The mills have exported about 1.4 mt of sugar so far and are likely to ship only 1.5 mt by the end of September with exports being virtually stopped. The government is considering to revoke compulsory sugar export order because of not-so-conducive prices. In fact, despite the policy decision, the government had to push mills for exports, a source said. There are sufficient sugar stocks in the country for the current and even next year. Physical imports of sugar are not required, but if there would be any manipulation and artificial spike in sugar prices, then the government is open to tweaking import duty, the source added. At present, there is 40 per cent import duty on sugar. Sugar production of India, the worlds second largest producer after Brazil, is estimated to decline to about 25 mt in the 2015-16 marketing year as against 28.3 mt in the previous year. With retail sugar prices crossing Rs 40 per kg, the Centre last week allowed the states to fix the stock holding limit on sugar to check hoarding and control rising prices. The Cabinet has given its approval to bring sugar under the purview of stock holding limit, keeping in view the recent uptrend in prices, an official statement had said. CHECKING PRICES As protesting taxi drivers created a traffic chaos here today, the government said it will request the Supreme Court to reconsider the ban on plying of diesel taxis in the national capital. "The government has decided to request the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision on ban. The ban has created an unprecedented situation of thousands of taxis getting off road and people facing severe hardships," Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters. The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting, attended by Gadkari, Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete and Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar. Hundreds of taxi drivers today blocked National Highway 8 and the Ring Road here to protest against the action by enforcement agencies following the court order. The Supreme Court on Saturday refused to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for conversion of diesel cabs into less-polluting CNG mode for plying on city roads, sending off-road thousands of diesel taxis, including those run by aggregators like OLA and UBER. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital of which 27,000 run on diesel. Gadkari said the government "respects" Supreme Court and is committed to the issue of environment and has already taken a slew of steps to curb pollution. "We respect Supreme Court...We have to be sensitive towards pollution. We have been inundated with updates on people facing hardships. That is why we have decided to update the Court on all the measures we had taken in the last two years to curb the pollution," the minister said. Gadkari said there are reports that the ban has resulted in immediate loss of jobs to thousands of people and also serious commuting problems to working men, women and youth in the National Capital Region. He said the government is aware that many establishments in Delhi-NCR, particularly in IT and BPO sectors have late working hours and non-availability of safe transport facilities would pose a security threat to those. After the ban, major companies in Delhi-NCR have decided not to provide any transport facility to their employees. (REOPEN DEL38) It was observed in the meeting that initiatives taken by the government during the last two years to check pollution, which include decision to implement BS VI norms from April 1, 2020 for which oil companies shall be investing over Rs 60,000 crore, need to be properly presented before the apex court. Speaking about steps taken by the government to check pollution, Gadkari said standards for bio fuel such as ethanol, bio diesel, electric hybrid have already been notified and projects have been taken for introducing up to 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. "Retro fitments of existing polluting vehicle into electric hybrid and electric vehicle have already been permitted and pilot project has successfully completed," he said. Gadkari said work is in full swing on eastern and western peripheral expressway (WPE) projects to decongest Delhi and 53 km of WPE between Manesar to Palwal has been opened to commuters. "We have also finalised Delhi decongestion plan with eight arterial roads and concept note for voluntary vehicle scrapping policy is ready. E-tolling has been started on national highways and E-rickshaw policy has also helped in pollution reduction to a great extent," he said. On Environment Ministry front, five ministerial level meetings have already been held with NCR states and Punjab and short-term and long-term action plans for control of air pollution have been formulated. "Stubble burning has been banned in all NCR States as well as Punjab and has reduced by 40 per cent in Punjab and 17 per cent in Haryana as compared to last year," he said adding action has been initiated against non-compliant industries. "Satellite monitoring of stubble burning is being carried out and online transmission of data from 772 PUC Centres in Delhi is being done for better monitoring of check on vehicular pollution in Delhi," he said. The minister said three non-complying units of NTPC have already been closed and a comprehensive order covering all major sources of pollution has been issued by CPCB in consultation with Ministry of E&F under Air Act. Geete said to promote cleaner vehicles, incentives are being given to buyers of hybrid and electric vehicles. "Measures have been initiated to introduce hybrid and electric vehicles for public transportation (buses and taxis)," he said and added the government has introduced an ambitious plans to infuse 7 million hybrid and electric vehicles on road by 2020 under National Mission on Electric Mobility. The other measures include introducing up to 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. The government is working on a plan to offer benefits like insurance and pension to over 40 crore unorganised workers in India using Aadhaar, Jan Dhan accounts and the existing platform without going for smart cards. "In view of the near-universal coverage of Aadhaar, the government is now working on a policy on delivery of various public services using Aadhaar, Jan Dhan yojana accounts (JDY) and the existing platform without the issuance of new 'Unorganized Workers Identification Number' (U-WIN Card)," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply to Lok Sabha today. According to the UIDAI portal, Aadhaar has been issued to over 100 crore residents with over 93 per cent adults having the 12-digit unique number and over 25 crore bank accounts linked with it. A senior official said that using Aadhaar can save resources and time for implementing the government's various programmes for informal sector workers, including social security schemes. The minister also informed the House that the government has proposed a unified IT-based platform for delivery of the services available under various social security schemes. The proposal is being reviewed on the basis of remarks/comments received from various stakeholders. Earlier, the government had planned to launch a smart card scheme for over 40 crore unorganised workers in the country to provide them with various social security benefits such as insurance and pension. It wanted to provide social security to all those people who are not covered either by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) or Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) through this smart card. As per the proposal, the U-WIN card would have been a chip-based instrument to provide benefits to these workers and their families under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Atal Pension Yojana, Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY), Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. The government wanted to complete the entire task of issuing smart cards to over 40 crore informal sector workers in two years. On non-distribution of the cards so far, the minister added that the registration, identification and issuance of the smart card to unorganised workers come under the purview of respective states/UTs as per the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. said it was in possession of leaked documents showing that a planned huge free trade deal between the United States and the European Union poses "major risks for climate, environment and consumer safety". The campaign group yesterday said it would on Monday publish 248 pages of classified documents to "shine a light" on negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), an ambitious treaty both sides want completed by year-end but which is facing mounting opposition. The leaked pages will be published online, said in a statement. It says the cache -- obtained by Netherlands -- represents two-thirds of the TTIP draft text as of the latest round of talks in April, and covers a range of issues from telecoms to food and agriculture and trade barriers. "These leaked documents confirm what we have been saying for a long time: TTIP would put corporations at the centre of policy-making, to the detriment of environment and public health," said Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss. The US and the EU have been trying to reach a deal on the world's largest trade agreement since 2013. It is billed as a free-trade and investment deal for the 21st century, focused on harmonising regulations, lowering barriers on investment, opening access to government contracts and addressing new areas like data trade and consumer protections. But it is facing rising resistance and protectionist sentiment, as critics question the benefits of more open trade. In Europe in particular there is deep suspicion that TTIP will erode social and consumer protections to the advantage of big business. Greenpeace says the confidential documents prove that long-standing environmental protections are being ignored and claims there is no mention at all in the proposed text of global goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The group also says the US wants the EU to drop its so-called "precautionary principle" under which products that may be harmful are banned. Instead, the less strict US approach "that aims to manage hazardous substances rather than avoid them, finds its way into various chapters," according to Greenpeace. "It is time to shine a light on these negotiations. Hard-won environmental progress is being bartered away behind closed doors," said Faiza Oulahsen, campaigner for Greenpeace Netherlands. Gujarat government today said that it will pay wages due to 625 traffic regulation brigade (TRB) personnel by Thursday. This submission came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court. The government told the division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi that it has deposited Rs 57 lakh in a government-managed traffic fund from where the money will be transferred to TRBs by Thursday. The matter will again come up for hearing on Thursday. The PIL, filed on Friday (last week) by lawyer K R Koshti, had sought a direction to the state home department and police departments to pay TRBs who are put on duty since January 1, 2016, after physical test and training. They are yet to receive appointment letter or contract papers. TRBs have been placed at different points in Ahmedabad to assist traffic police personnel. They have so far not been given any uniform and identity card and not been paid wages for two months despite working for 8 hours daily. Koshti in his PIL had sought minimum wages to these guards. He also asked for uniform and I-card for them. Villages in Haryana, where service points have been established for delivery of electronic amenities to people, will soon be connected with the National Optical Fibre Network on a priority basis. The announcement was made by Haryana Chief Secretary D S Dhesi while presiding over a meeting on implementation of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) here today, an official release said. 105 common services are being provided to people through 3,387 common service centres -- service delivery points in rural areas in the state. The Chief Secretary directed officers concerned to ensure that maximum e-governance services were delivered to the people through the CSCs. He said the Information Technology Department and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited would coordinate with the Development and Panchayat Department on a regular basis to review the progress of work in this direction. Madras High Court has directed Food Safety and Standard Authority to look into the alleged mixing of a harmful chemical in refined flour and take action if the charge was found to be true. The directive was given by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh while disposing of a PIL which alleged the chemical alloxan was mixed in 'maida' and intake of food made of it killed beta cells of pancreas resulting in diabetics. The court ordered the FSSA to complete the probe within three months. Petitioner K Rajendran sought a direction to the authorities to ban use of alloxan in white flour. He also contended that bleaching of the flour destroys its nutrient values. Noting that apparently the petitioner had no expertise in the field to canvass for ban on the chemical, the bench, however, said the matter was important. "...Our concern is that the cause does not get damaged because of the petitioner has no expertise in the field," the bench said directing the FSSA to look into it. The Madras High Court has dismissed a review petition against its June, 2015 order making wearing of helmet compulsory for two-wheeler riders in Tamil Nadu. Justice N Kirubakaran also came down heavily on the petitioner, an advocate, for making unnecessary contemptuous and uncharitable remarks against the court and said there was no "unwanted judicial activism" in the order even if the direction amounted to judicial legislation. "It is only to save the lives of the two-wheeler riders...," he said adding the court cannot wait for any person to come and knock its doors seeking a direction to the authorities. The court had issued the order making helmet compulsory while hearing an appeal for higher compensation claim by the family of a man who died in a road accident. The Judge noted that the insurance company had opposed the claim on the ground the victim died due to non-wearing of helmet. He also referred to statistics that 41,330 people died in accidents because of non-wearing of helmet in the state in the last ten years. "Whenever an appropriate and relevant case, in which one of the problems of the society is the subject matter, comes up before the court, it is the best occasion for the court to give suitable remedial directions to address the menace/problem and it cannot be termed as unwanted judicial activism," he said. Referring to the petitioner's contention that the court has only become a "cat's paw of the crocodile tears shedding by helmet lobbyists group consisting of helmet manufacturers", he observed that the petitioner, being an advocate, cannot stoop to the level of making such allegations against the court. The Judge said the petitioner, R. Muthukrishnan, being a lawyer, was supposed to know the law. By seeking to review the order, he was indirectly seeking a direction to violate section 129 of Motor Vehicles Act. If the order of the court is reviewed, it would amount to a direction to violate the statue." Justice Kirubakaran said even though very high cost was required to be slapped on the petitioner, the court was sparing him considering that he is a senior citizen and having sufficient standing in the bar. Infrastructure major Hindustan Construction Company today said its board appointed Rajgopal Nogja the Group CEO effective tomorrow. "The board of directors of the company at its meeting held on May 2, 2016... Has appointed Rajgopal Nogja the Group CEO of the company with effect from May 3, 2016," the company told the BSE. Pursuant to his appointment, Nogja has stepped down from the board as a whole-time director effective today, the filing said. N R Acharyulu has been appointed as an additional director. Hindustan Construction Company has reported a 7.3 per cent decline in its stand-alone net profit at Rs 19.1 crore for the March quarter. Net profit stood at Rs 20.7 crore in the year-ago period. Its total income from operations increased to Rs 1,196 crore in January-March of 2015-16 as against Rs 1,175 crore in the year-ago period. The HCC Group, with a turnover of Rs 8,768 crore, comprises HCC, HCC Infrastructure Co, Lavasa Corporation and Steiner AG in Switzerland. During the quarter its subsidiary Steiner AG reported a revenue of Rs 1,585.9 crore against Rs 938.2 crore in Q3 FY16. The company bagged orders worth Rs 5,648.3 crore in past 9 months and has secured orders for more than Rs 3,056.4 crore, where the contracts are yet to be signed. HCC Concessions commenced the commercial operations of Farakka-Raiganj Highways during the quarter. Bahrampore-Farakka Highways witnessed a steady PCU growth of 7 per cent y-o-y, which is lower than the 15 per cent achieved in the first two quarters. This is partially as a result of demonetisation but largely because of repair and rehabilitation of a bridge on NH60 connecting the quarry area to NH34 at Moregram junction, the company said. Lavasa Corporation's Lavasa city witnessed tourist footfall of 1.81 lakhs in the third quarter of FY17. In the wake of intense heatwave conditions in the state, Gujarat government has appealed people to take precautionary measures to protect themselves from sunstroke. "We appeal people to take precautionary measures to protect themselves from sunstroke. Additionally, we have put all the district hospitals on alert and have directed them to provide immediate medical assistance to the people affected by sunstroke," Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel told PTI today. Day temperatures in Gujarat are soaring and some places have recorded temperatures at even 43 degrees Celsius. The Gujarat government has also asked people to ensure that they don't get directly exposed to sunlight, wear light coloured cotton clothing, cap and use umbrella. "We have asked people to drink ORS, homemade drinks like 'lassi' (a type of drink prepared using milk), lemon water, coconut water, buttermilk which help to re-hydrate the body," the government said in a statement. It also suggested people to avoid venturing out between 2 PM to 4 PM. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said forest fires in his state are "not comparable" with those raging in Uttarakhand and the situation here is "fully under control". "There is nothing unusual in forest fires occurring during summers but the situation (in Himachal) is not like (that in) Uttarakhand where IAF choppers have been pressed into service to douse the fire," he said. He said these fires are caused by burning of highly -inflammable dry pine needles, which sometimes occur due to negligence and in some cases villagers deliberately set them on fire to get good crop of grass, used as fodder. As many as 378 forest fire incidents have been reported from different parts of Himachal Pradesh this summer. "I have been seeing forest fires in Shimla and surrounding areas since my childhood and there is nothing unusual and the forest department is fully geared up to deal with the situation and people are also cooperative," Singh said. The Chief Minister also lashed out at the BJP for raking up the issue of loans raised by the government and said "all loans have been raised within the limits prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India RBI) and not a penny has been taken as loan over and above the limit". "All governments take loans for development projects and Himachal is no exception but the opposition BJP is unnecessarily making a hue and cry over the issue," he said. Referringto the reported remarks of youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh that they will "write report card of MLAs" based on which tickets would be given, Chief Minister said "he had been misquoted and that he had only said about fielding more youths in 2017 assembly polls". The youth Congress can only recommend candidates' name but it's for the party High Command to take decisions on the basis of reputation, image, and winability. When asked about the visit of AICC president Sonia Gandhi to the state, he said it's the prerogative of the chief minister to decide the place and venue and the party leaders can give their choices to him. He said the post of Chief Information Commissioner is being advertised and successor of Chief Secretary, P Mitra, who is retiring this month would be decided soon. Around 400 people gathered in Hong Kong today to protest a veteran newspaper editor's dismissal that triggered concerns about press freedom in the semiautonomous Chinese territory. The dismissal last month of the Ming Pao newspaper's No. 2 editor, Keung Kwok-yuen, came after the newspaper published a report on the "Panama Papers" document leak revealing offshore business dealings of the rich and powerful. The newspaper said Keung was dismissed to save operating costs. The South China Morning Post said journalists, activists and politicians attended the rally outside the Ming Pao Industrial Center. Protesters carried signs saying "protect journalists, protect Ming Pao, protect press freedom." The chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, Shan Yee-lan, read a joint letter from eight journalist groups calling for Keung to be reinstated, the newspaper said. "The recent sudden dismissal of (Keung) is a matter of great concern to the industry and to society as a whole," she was quoted as saying. Before Keung's dismissal, Ming Pao carried a front-page report on Hong Kong politicians and businesspeople named in documents leaked from a Panama law firm and published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. There has been growing anxiety in recent years among many Hong Kong journalists and politicians about the influence of Beijing on the territory, which retained its own civil liberties when handed over from Britain in 1997. Media groups with close business and personal ties to Beijing have been accused of soft-pedaling their coverage of issues that are potentially embarrassing to China and its allies in Hong Kong. Slowdown in capex on network rollout following spectrum purchase and a simultaneous increase in demand for wireless Internet led to problems such as call drops and poor service quality, credit rating firm ICRA today said. "ICRA is of the opinion that prominent reasons for deterioration in service quality are expanding data volumes, which have exerted pressure on the overall network, and a slowdown in capital expenditure (capex) on network rollout or upgradation by telcos," ICRA Senior Vice-President Sabyasachi Majumdar said in a statement. Of late, quality of services has come under the scanner, given frequent call drops. "The capex intensity, in turn, was constrained over the last few years largely on account of the fact that telcos had to deploy funds towards spectrum acquisition," ICRA said. In 2015, telecom operators jointly made a bid of around Rs 1.1 lakh crore towards spectrum acquisition and the total outgo in 2015-16 is estimated to be over Rs 49,000 crore. Furthermore, the government is gearing up for the largest ever spectrum auction where radiowaves worth Rs 5.36 lakh crore will be put up for sale. The industry has asked the government to defer the auction in the premium 700 Mhz band, which alone has potential to fetch bids of over Rs 4 lakh crore. The government, however, has decided to go ahead with auction of all available airwaves. According to ICRA, performance on quality of service metrics is critical and the telcos cannot afford poor customer experience, especially in data services. "The capex intensity has improved in FY16 and the telcos are guiding higher capex, going forward. This should drive the improvement in service quality from the current levels," ICRA said. It said the deterioration in quality metrics coincides with the period of strong growth in mobile data traffic following rollout of data services by all telecom operators, attractive data tariffs, and increasing penetration of smartphones. "Moreover, addition of spectrum does not automatically translate into higher capacity as network capex has to be incurred to put the spectrum to use," ICRA explained. The intensity of network capex for Indian telecom operators is lower than 20-22 per cent for many major telecom service providers internationally and much lower than that of telcos in China, where it is in excess of 30 per cent, it said. "For the ICRA sample, over the last five years, the cash outflows for spectrum acquisition comprised 44 per cent of the total capex. However, network capex has picked up as reflected by improvement in capex to sales ratio to 16 per cent and 17 per cent for FY15 and first half of FY16, respectively," said Majumdar. "ICRA expects this momentum to be maintained in the medium term. India has expressed interest in setting up an LNG terminal at Chahabar port in Iran to ship back home natural gas from Persian Gulf nation, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today. India is keen to set up its engagement with hydrocarbon- rich Iran, which has recently come out of western sanctions, and is lining up USD 20 billion of investment in oil and gas as well as petrochemical and fertiliser projects. Pradhan said he had during his visit to Tehran on April 9 conveyed interest of Indian companies in setting up fertiliser and petrochemical plants, including in the Chahabar SEZ. The projects can be "either in joint venture between Indian and Iranian public sector companies or with private sector partners," he said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha here. He said he asked Iran to allocate land in SEZ for the project but no MoU has so far been sized on this. Also, he expressed India's interest in importing LPG from Iran and proposed to set up an extraction plant in Chahabar. India is also keen on importing natural gas from Iran either in ships (LNG) or through the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, he said. During his visit, he also "expressed India's interest in setting up an LNG plant and gas cracker in Chahabar port," the reply said. Pradhan asked Iran for "favourable treatment in the pricing of gas for India and also supply of rich gas at competitive price and on long term basis for the life of the joint venture projects than Indian companies are interested in setting up." "Competitive gas pricing was crucial in making the projects attractive for the prospective investors," he said. The Minister also discussed with his Iranian counterpart the repayment of nearly USD 6.5 billion that Indian refiners owe to Iran as also rights to develop Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf discovered by OVL. "After lifting of sanctions by the international community following the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement between P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, UK and the US), the European Union, and Iran, the Central Bank of Iran has requested RBI for bringing the country under ACU mechanism," he said. After this system is established, all future trade transactions with Iran would be settled through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), he said. "RBI in turn has sought concurrence from the Department of Economic Affairs for brining Iran under the ACU mechanism. Actual settlement through ACU mechanism hinges on availability of international euro channels for making the payment," he added. India sees huge potential in expanding ties with New Zealand, President Pranab Mukherjee said today as he underlined that the two nations have "shared stakes" in a peaceful Asia-Pacific region and can successfully work as partners in promoting security and stability there. Mukherjee, while delivering a speech at a University here, said it was time for both the nations to enhance their ties, as India presents a "picture of optimism and economic success." "Ours is the fastest growing major economy in the world -- with an estimated growth rate of 7.6 per cent in the year 2015-16. The World Bank estimates that this will accelerate to 7.8 per cent and 7.9 per cent in the next two years. There are great prospects for New Zealand's participation in our growth," he said. "The flagship programmes like 'Skill India', 'Make In India' and 'Digital India' are but a few of the many sectors where India has liberalised the regulations to encourage investment inflows and where India welcomes the foreign participation," Mukherjee said while addressing students and faculty at the Auckland College of Technology here. Mukherjee stressed India and New Zealand have "shared stakes" in a peaceful, cooperative and prosperous Asia-Pacific region. "We believe that this is a region of huge opportunity -- where we can successfully work as partners in promoting security, stability and prosperity. India values her cooperation with New Zealand at the United Nations and other multilateral fora," he said. "We have a shared interest in keeping maritime lanes open in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean Region and convergence of foreign policy positions on various regional and global issues," the President said. Mukherjee also expressed appreciation for New Zealand's support for India's permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council. "At the present time, seven decades after the United Nations was created, we are both agreed on the urgent need for reform of its organs to make them relevant and effective in the significantly altered world of the 21st century," the President said. He said the powerful endorsement that New Zealand received in its election to the United Nations Security Council is testimony to the respect that it commands in the international arena. "You are a strong voice on behalf of the Pacific Island countries, and you are playing an influential role in shaping the global dialogue on key global challenges," Mukherjee said. "India sees enormous potential in the expansion of our bilateral partnership. At a time when New Zealand, too, has decided that it must invest more time and energy into strengthening its ties with Asia, this is an opportune moment to intensify our engagement in all fields," he said. (Reopens FGN 2) The President said New Zealand has unique strength and capabilities in the field of agriculture, including in post harvest technologies and supply chain management, and also in the area of disaster management from which India can benefit by way of collaboration. He praised the country for having earned the distinction of being amongst the top ranking nations in "ease of doing business" and as a "corruption free country". "You have a stable and internationally competitive economy that was ranked 16th in the 2015-16 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness index. Your growth rate has been amongst the most impressive amongst the OECD economies," he said. Mukherjee said he was happy to be at the educational institution as he himself had been a teacher but he had to bury that streak of his life five decades back, because of his political career. "I like to talk to the students, young and bright minds, who ask questions. I may not be a good teacher and rather a nagging teacher but I like to interact with these brilliant minds," he said. The President said he was happy to note that Indian students constitute the second largest number of foreign students in New Zealand. "Their (Indian students) strong presence underlines the value that is placed by them on receiving an education in New Zealand. I am confident that Indian students will, on their part, contribute to New Zealand's future global partnerships," he said. Mukherjee said India and New Zealand share bonds in many ways. "Our nations may be separated by oceans and continents but we are connected by many shared values including our commitment to democracy, the preservation of our open and pluralistic societies and the values of liberty, dignity and rights of every individual," he said. The President also invited academicians from the universities in New Zealand to participate in the next Festival of Innovation, which will be held in March, 2017, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Mukherjee said ties between the two countries are also strong because of Bollwood movies. "Our people to people contacts have been strengthened by the enormous influence of Indian movies. As Bollywood movies and regional cinema show to our audiences the breathtaking beauty of New Zealand's landscapes, Indians are thrilled and enthused to travel here with their families and friends. "I am happy to see that connectivity, which used to be an area of concern, has been addressed by the signing of the bilateral Air Services Agreement between India and New Zealand during my visit. I invite you all to visit India and discover it in all its fascinating aspects," he said. Welcoming the President, New Zealand Education Minister Steven Joyce said India is the largest supplier of skilled migrants to his country. He said India is also the source of second largest batch of students coming to New Zealand and they choose the country as their destination because of world class education system in a clean environment. An Indian American Sikh woman from California has been elected to a key position in the Republican party at the national level. Chandigarh-born Harmeet Kaur Dhillon was elected as the newest national committee woman of the Republican National Committee on Sunday by thousand plus votes in attendance at the California Republican Party convention. She was earlier the vice chairman of the California GOP. She was the first woman elected to this position of vice chair of the California Republican Party. A ntionally recognized trial lawyer, Dhillon, 47, was born in India, but raised in rural North Carolina after her Sikh parents moved to the US. "A little girl from Chandigarh, India, the Bronx, and Smithfield, North Carolina back in the day, to being one of California's three votes on the RNC. For the next four years starting in late July, I will help shape the policies of the party of Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman, the party of liberty and opportunity," Dhillon said after here election. Following her clerkship with Paul V Niemeyer of the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Dhillon's practice in New York, London, and the San Francisco Bay Area has focused on federal and state commercial litigation and arbitration, with a particular emphasis on unfair competition/trade secret misappropriation, intellectual property (including trademark litigation and internet torts), complex contractual disputes, and First Amendment litigation. "I could not have done this without the support of a huge number of friends old and new and my family, who have brought me to where I am today. Thank you to my parents Parminder Kaur Dhillon and Tejpal Singh Dhillon for instilling conservative values in me. I am truly honored," she said. Based in San Francisco, Dhillon among other things also sat on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union, and once made a financial contribution to Kamala Harris' campaign for local office - Harris who is a US Senate hopeful and rising star in Democratic politics. Iran's Supreme Leader has criticised the US Presence in the Persian Gulf region, saying American forces should go back to the Bay of Pigs. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's website quoted him as telling a group of teachers yesterday that American military drills in the region were proof of US arrogance. "You come from another side of the world to hold drills here," he said. "Go back to Bay of Pigs, what are you doing here?" Khamenei's remarks apparently were a reference to the 1961 failed invasion of Cuba by 1,500 CIA-trained exiles. Muslims also view pigs as unclean animals as the Quran prohibits followers of Islam from eating pork. Khamenei has the final say on all state matters in Iran. Iraqi forces advancing from two opposite directions in Anbar have joined up, reducing the isolation of the city of Haditha, military sources said on today. A statement from Iraq's joint operations command coordinating the fight against the Islamic State group said forces retook several villages from the jihadists along the Euphrates River. The Iraqi army's 7th division had been moving down the river from Al-Baghdadi and eventually joined up with forces from the counter-terrorism service moving up from the town of Heet. "The road is therefore open between Heet and Haditha, via Al-Baghdadi, after an 18-month siege by the terrorists of Daesh," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "The siege of Haditha and Al-Baghdadi was broken after liberating the strategic highway between Baghdadi and Heet," Major General Ali Ibrahim Daboun, the army commander responsible for the area, told AFP. However, a commander of Haditha's tribal fighters said the area of Al-Dulab, which lies in a loop of the Euphrates just east of Al-Baghdadi, was still in IS hands. "The people are hopeful but for now nobody will take the risk of travelling on this road so long as Al-Dulab has not been retaken," Sheikh Abdullah al-Jughaifi told AFP by phone from Haditha. Haditha, 210 kilometres (130 miles) northwest of the capital Baghdad, is the third city in the vast province of Anbar and lies near the country's second largest dam. It has come under repeated attack since the jihadists launched their massive offensive in Iraq in June 2014, but the dominant tribes there were opposed to IS and able to hold them off. For months, the city's main lifeline was the nearby military base of Al-Asad, which was only accessible by air. A special CBI Court today granted permission to in-charge Gujarat DGP P P Pandey, an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case who is currently on bail, to travel abroad for two months. The court presided by Judge S J Raje, also allowed another IPS officer G L Singhal, Pandey's co-accused, to travel abroad for a month. The Judge gave the nod to the police officers by modifying their bail conditions that barred them from leaving India. Both Pandey and Singhal were asked to deposit Rs 2 lakh each as security money. The two IPS officers, chargesheeted in the alleged fake encounter case of 2004 and currently out on bail, had moved the Court with pleas to modify their bail conditions so that they could go abroad. Pandey told the court he wanted to visit the UK to meet his son and his family and also conduct research for his PhD. Singhal, on the other hand, sought relief on the ground he needed to visit universities abroad in connection with higher education of his daughter. The two police officers were named along with five others in the first charge sheet filed by CBI in July 2013. The case relates to alleged fake encounter killing of Mumbai-based 19-year-old college girl Ishrat Jahan and others accompanying her, Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Zeeshan Johar and Amjad Ali Rana, by police on the city's outskirts on June 15, 2004. The police had then claimed they were on a terror mission. Other officers named in the charge sheet included N K Amin, D G Vanjara and their subordinates Tarun Barot, J G Parmar and Anaju Chaudhary. In the charge sheet, the central agency had said the encounter, a joint operation between Gujarat Police and Intelligence Bureau, was stage-managed. Pandey, Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau, was given the additional post of in-charge DGP last month, while Singhal serves as Group Commandant in State Reserve Police. Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon today announced the reopening of one of the main crossing points into the Palestinian Gaza Strip, which has been closed for at least eight years. However he did not give a date for the reopening of the Erez crossing in the north of the territory, saying only that this "will not happen tomorrow or the day after". "It is in our interests that a significant amount of truckloads of food continues to go to Gaza," a spokesman for Yaalon said in a statement. "It is our interest that Gazans live in dignity. Both from a humanitarian point of view and because this is a way to protect the peace, in addition to existing security deterrents." Yaalon also spoke of the necessity to ease congestion at the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south, currently the only conduit for goods between Israel and the Gaza Strip. He said that "at least half of what currently goes via Kerem Shalom" will be redirected to Erez. Israel imposed a tight air, sea and land blockade on Gaza in 2006, designed to prevent the Islamist Hamas movement that controls the territory from rearming. Bordered to the north and east by Israel and with the Mediterranean Sea to its west, the enclave is also subjected to an Egyptian blockade to the south. Israel controls all but one of the crossing points with Gaza -- the Rafah crossing into Egypt, The Erez crossing was closed to the passage of goods in 2008. The first four months of 2016 have witnessed over 20,000 incidents of forest fire compared to nearly 16,000 such cases entire last year, Rajya Sabha was told today. "Till April 21 this year, a total of 20,667 incidents of forest fires have taken place. In 2015, the total number of forest fire incidents were 15,937," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply. Javadekar said the Centre has formulated a contingency plan for dealing with such crises. The reply comes in the backdrop of raging fires in Uttarkahand forests which have destroyed 2,269 hectares of forested area across the state and claimed seven lives. Pauri, Nainital, Rudraprayag and Tehri are among the worst-hit districts. He said that this year, 291 forest fires have occurred in Uttarakhand, 2,422 in Chhattisgarh and 2,349 in Odisha. Madhya Pradesh reported 2,238 forest fires this year against 294 such incidents last year. Maharashtra reported 1,638 forest fires in 2016 while the figure stood at 1,719 for Assam. 1,416 fire forest incidents took place in Andhra Pradesh, the minister said quoting the figures of Forest Survey of India. In 2014, 19,054 forest fire incidents were reported, while 18,451 forest fire incidents took place in 2013. "Environment Ministry has formulated a contingency plan for dealing with forest fires which details the mechanism for coordination during the crisis situation of a major forest fire. "The plan provides for crisis groups at the Centre, state and local levels which take appropriate action to mitigate any crisis arising out of forest fires," Javadekar said. He said that the government provides funds to states and union territories under the centrally-sponsored scheme 'Intensification of Forest Management Scheme' to supplement their efforts. "Under the scheme, various activities such as creation and maintenance of fire lines, construction of watch towers, engagement of fire watchers, assistance to joint forest management committees... "...Construction of water storage structures, setting up of fire fighting cells, procurement of firefighting equipment, fire mapping, preparation of fire management plan and training and awareness are supported," Javadekar said. Japan's foreign minister Fumio Kishida has announced a multi-billion dollar initiative to promote development in the Mekong region, which encompasses parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand through which the river flows. In a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok today, Kishida affirmed the importance of Southeast Asia's economic prosperity to . He pledged 750 billion yen ($7 billion) in funding during the next three years to support development and growth in the region. Read more from our special coverage on "JAPAN" Kishida also renewed his call for the establishment of a code of conduct in the South China Sea and that prosperity can only achieved if there is peace and stability in the region. The visit to Thailand is part of his regional tour that includes stops in China, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. The Bombay High Court today refused to extend the stay granted on trial against actor Sooraj Pancholi in the Jiah Khan suicide case. The High Court had on February 25 stayed trial against Sooraj while hearing a petition filed by Jiah's mother Rabia Khan challenging the investigating agency CBI's charge sheet terming Jiah's death as a suicide. Rabia had petitioned the High Court against CBI categorising Jiah's death on June 3, 2013 as suicidal and not homicidal. Rabia sought the High Court to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case afresh. When the petition came up for hearing today before a division bench of justices N H Patil and A M Badar, Rabia's lawyer Subash Jha sought for the stay to be extended pending hearing of this petition. The bench, however, refused to extend the stay on the trial and posted Rabia's petition for hearing on June 7. "You (Rabia) were not happy with the state police probe and approached the high court which directed CBI to probe the case. CBI has filed its chargesheet and has concurred with the findings of the police and charged the accused under section 306 (abetment). Now you (Rabia) want SIT probe. What if tomorrow your are not satisfied with the SIT also ? This has to end somewhere," Justice Patil said. The trial court is scheduled to frame charges against Sooraj Pancholi on May 5. CBI counsel Hiten Venegaonkar today told HC that the agency was planning to file a petition challenging the government's notification appointing a special public prosecutor in the case. Rabia in her petition pointed out various anomalies in the charge sheet filed by the CBI in December last year and sought directions to enable the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist the SIT as Jiah was a US citizen. Jiah's boyfriend-actor Sooraj Pancholi was arrested for abetting her suicide on June 10, 2013 but released on July 2 after the HC granted him bail. The petition alleged that the CBI concluded in haste that the case was that of suicide; that it did not bother to counter question concerned people and that it did not bother getting important evidence on record. "The CBI has not concluded the investigation in its real spirit and have closed the investigation without making any serious efforts to unearth the issues as are involved in the death of the deceased. In fact, they have been misleading both the petitioner and the US Consulate about the direction of the investigation," the petition alleges. Former Union Minister and Congress MLA Preneet Kaur today supported the demand of the striking petroleum dealers of Punjab for parity in VAT on petroleum, on par with other neighbouring states. On her appeal, the petroleum dealers, who were sitting on hunger strike, broke their fast also. President of the Petroleum Dealers Association Paramjit Singh Doaba and two other office bearers of the association had been on hunger strike for last few days. Kaur told the striking petroleum dealers that Congress was in support of their demands which were "genuine and justified." She promised that once Congress forms the government in Punjab, it will bring the VAT on petrol on par with other states so that the petrol pumps bordering other states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and the Chandigarh do not suffer any losses. The former Union Minister while urging the petroleum dealers to break their fast, told them that their lives were precious. She alleged that the Akali-BJP government in the state was totally "insensitive and did not bother about the lives of people. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today laid the foundation stone for the Kaleshwaram irrigation project in the district. Rao said after completion, the said project would lift 300 TMC water from river Godavari. "The project fulfils the need of irrigation water for north Telangana region and Rs 13,811 crore has already been released for its the construction," the Chief Minister told a gathering. The project, which is expected to be completed in three years, will provide water for 30 lakh acres in Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Medak and Warangal districts. "The Maharashtra Government has extended its cooperation for this project and soon we will sign an agreement with them", KCR added. Earlier, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone for the Pump House at Kannepally village near Kaleshwaram. Telangana Assembly Speaker Madhusudana Chary, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, state ministers, MPs and others were present on the occasion. A special women's court on Thursday convicted all four men accused in the 2011 Amboli murder of Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the court has held them guilty under Section 302 as well as Section 354 of the IPC. "We prayed today that all the accused be sentenced for life imprisonment and court has awarded the same," he added. The four men Jitesha Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival have been in jail since their arrest on October 20, 2011, the night of the murder. Keenan, 24, and Reuben, 29, were attacked outside a popular eatery in Amboli in Mumbai's Andheri on October 20, 2011. The duo was standing there along with some women friends when the group of men allegedly started harassing the women. Keenan and Reuben were attacked after they tried to stop the harassment. Keenan died soon after the incident and Reuben died ten days later, on October 30, 2011, in a hospital in Andheri. Keenan worked as a bartender in a five-star hotel. In January 2012, the police filed a 416-page chargesheet before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate court. In October 2012, the court framed charges, including murder, conspiracy and molestation, against the accused. Ruling BJP today termed as a "diversionary tactic" the Congress' demand for a discussion in Rajya Sabha on a CAG report regarding "anomalies" in Gujarat's KG Basin gas project, saying Congress always raises "non issues" when names of their leaders get linked to scams. "Ever since names of some Congress leaders have surfaced in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, they are making irresponsible statements out of fear. They are trying hard to divert people's attention from the main issue," state BJP unit spokesperson Bharat Pandya said in a statement. Referring to the ruckus created by Congress in Upper House over the issue of alleged irregularities in the KG basin gas project, Pandya said Gujarat has been always on Congress' "hit-list". He said the Italian court's order on AugustaWestland case "mentioned Congress president Sonia Gandhi's name 4 times while names of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and many other Congress leaders are also mentioned in the order". "Whenever names of Congress leaders get linked to any scam, they try to target Gujarat by raising non-issue (like KG Basin) to divert people's attention. "People who gave bribe have been sent to jail by the Italian court. Here, people who have received that bribe are shouting at us instead of feeling ashamed. It is their tactic to save themselves from answering scam-related questions raised by BJP president Amit Shah," added Pandya. He said Congress should wait till Wednesday when Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to submit the detailed chronology related to the VVIP chopper scam in Parliament. However, Pandya's statement did not reply to the Congress' charge on the KG basin issue. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today ordered a vigilance inquiry into alleged irregularities committed by the HUDA Employees Welfare Organisation. The Chief Minister was interacting with a delegation of HUDA Workers Union who met him today to get their grievances redressed, an official release said here. The Chief Minister said the state government would consider reservation of plots for HUDA employees. Also, their other genuine demands would be considered sympathetically. Regarding transfer of HUDA sectors to Municipal Committees and Corporations, the Chief Minister said a survey would be conducted and only developed sectors would be transferred. Lamar Odom's father has been kicked out of his home after Khloe Kardashian stopped paying his rent. Joe Odom, 62, moved back to Brooklyn from Los Angeles after Khloe, who called off her divorce to Odom last year following his collapse at a Nevada brothel, allegedly cut him off, reported Femalefirst. "Khloe didn't even have the guts to tell me herself that my rent wasn't going to be paid anymore. She got the guys who handle Lamar's money to call me and they said the rent wouldn't be paid, I gotta move and my phone was going to get cut off. "She disrespected me. She decided to kick me out of my home when Lamar was in hospital in Nevada," he said. Khloe has been taking care of Odom in LA while he recuperates following his collapse after a drugs and alcohol binge, but Joe insists he just wants to look after his son. "I just wish I could be at his side in LA to support him, but Khloe doesn't want me there," the broken-up father said. Whenever I call him, she answers. She must be checking his texts, too. I can't always get through to him anymore. "She may be Lamar's wife, but I'm his father. She shouldn't have cut me out of his life like she has. Sri Lanka has set up a special panel to probe its nationals named in the "Panama Papers", the finance minister said today while promising to investigate "each and every" Sri Lankan tax evader who may figure in the leaked documents. Sri Lankans are said to figure in the leaked documents and the government of President Maithripala Sirisena, which came to power in January on a promise to clean up corruption, said it would probe "each and every Sri Lankan" whose names were likely to figure in the documents to be made public on May 9. The Sirisena government has accused former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of large-scale corruption and siphoning off billions of dollars during his decade-long tenure. Rajapaksa has denied the charges. The Finance Ministry has set up a special panel to probe individuals named in the 11.5 million documents on global tax evasion leaked from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. "Any names there we will write to them and compel them to respond, we will also use the diplomatic channels to gather information," Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. He told reporters the panel will consist of officials from the finance ministry, exchange control department and inland revenue department. "The panel will look into the names that will come up in the Panama Papers, as well as those already named in Offshore Leaks." Karunanayake also accused the Rajapaksa regime of failing to probe 46 Sri Lankans whose names figured in 2013 in the Offshore Leaks by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). One such official holding a high government position resigned recently allowing an investigation. In view of raging fires in Uttarakhand's forests and recent blaze in Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve in Chandrapur district, state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today sought proposals from officials on purchasing technology to tackle the infernos. He directed officials to study national and international-level research in tackling forest fires and sought from them a proposal within 15 days on the purchase of latest modern technology to counter them. Meanwhile, taking note of severe drought conditions in the state, Mungantiwar said that forest officials have been asked to study the latest machinery purchased by Karnataka at the cost of Rs 12 crore that is capable of digging wells in three hours. "People can raise their voice if drinking water is not available, but the mute wild animals cannot ask for water," the minister said. He said the foresters have been asked to complete construction works of ponds in forest areas by May 31 by utilising funds allocated in the District Planning and Development Committees (DPDC). "There are adequate watering holes for wild animals constructed in the forests in Maharashtra, which are fitted with automated water pumps," he said. Referring to the fire in the Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve that was put out promptly yesterday, the minister said the probe into the incident has revealed that it was caused by human negligence. He said the forest department officials are training people living in buffer zones of forest areas in tackling forest fires. Mungantiwar also announced that government will conduct a free-of-cost tour for 6,000 students from poor families in tiger reserves like Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve. On the planned afforestation drive commencing from the onset of monsoons, he said the Forest department has already dug 1.76 crore pits for planting trees and that the Ministry of Railways has also assured to dig 50 lakh pits for planting trees. "The target of the government is to plant two crore trees in the ensuing monsoon season and to ensure survival of 80 per cent of the trees that will be planted this monsoon season," he said. A Delhi court has convicted a man for outraging the modesty of a minor girl, observing that his intention was not innocent. "In his statement the accused has admitted that he did kiss the victim and he did pat her on the back but with innocent intention. From the evidence on record, it does not appear that his intention was innocent. "It appears from evidence that accused had the intention to outrage the modesty of the victim who was 14 years old," Metropolitan magistrate Bhavna Kalia said while convicting a south-Delhi resident. According to the prosecution, the accused, who was a distant relative of the 14-year-old girl, on April 18, 2012 took her out in a car and misbehaved with her. The prosecution also alleged that he, again on April 21, 2012, went to her house when she was alone and attempted to molest her. The victim's father approached the police three days later and the accused was apprehended. During the trial, the man denied all the allegations and claimed that he had only kissed the girl on the cheek. The court observed that the girl was about 14 years of age and she was not of adequate age to give proper consent. The court also observed that the evidence led by the witnesses were consistent and they have stood the test of cross examination. "At the time when the offence was committed, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was not applicable but the fact remains that the offence was committed with a child who could not said to have consented for use of criminal force," the court said while convicting the accused. BSP supremo Mayawati today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, accusing them of "wasting money on government functions" on the occasion of May Day instead of taking measures to improve the lot of labourers. "Instead of giving long speeches and wasting money on government functions on May Day yesterday, had the daily wage of labourers been hiked it would have made the day more relevant for them," Mayawati was quoted as saying in a party release issued here. Dubbing as ridiculous the Prime Minister's declaration in Ballia yesterday that he was 'Shramik No 1' (Worker No 1), Mayawati said before him Congress leaders also used to term themselves as 'Janata ka Sewak and Mukhya Sewak' (public servant or main worker) and now Modi is following them and trying to mislead people. "Similarly, the head of Uttar Pradesh government announced that those working at four official construction sites will get lunch at Rs 10 per head but will these declarations and schemes aimed at getting cheap publicity suffice in making the lives of crores of poor and labourers in the state better...I feel that these are all an eyewash," she asked. Malaysia today said the 16 countries, including India, need to "work harder" to seal the RCEP deal by the year-end amid persisting differences over various issues such as tariff cuts and market access. Malaysian Minister for Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed, who is currently on a visit to India, said countries involved in the negotiations need to "work harder" to achieve the year-end deadline for conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Elaborating on hurdles being faced in the negotiations, he said there were issues related to scheduling of market access and a "higher level of ambition" in terms of some countries wanting steeper tariff cuts. "It (RCEP) is going to be a historic agreement when it is completed hopefully by the end of 2016," Mohamed said while addressing business leaders at a meeting organised by Ficci. Besides, the Minister told reporters he had a "good meeting" with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman where the two discussed issues including review of the free trade agreement between India and Malaysia. The Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA), which came into force in 2011, was slated to be reviewed after five years. Besides, Mohamed said he expects bilateral trade to touch USD 15 billion by 2017. Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia stood at USD 13.84 billion in 2014, but came down to USD 12 billion in 2015. Mohamed attributed the decline in bilateral trade to the sharp depreciation in Malaysia's currency Ringgit witnessed in 2015. "We hope this year there will be some recovery in bilateral trade," he said. RCEP is being negotiated amongst the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) trading bloc - Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, Bangkok and Philippines with six of its partner countries - China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. The mega trade deal aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights. The pact has assumed greater significance post the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) accord led by the US. Indian industry is apprehensive that the TPP will adversely impact India's exports. India has offered to open its market the most for ASEAN countries -- with which it has an FTA in place -- and has proposed to eliminate duties or tariffs on 80 per cent of items for the 10 nation bloc. Besides, the Minister invited Indian businesses to invest in Malaysia, describing Malaysia as the gateway to the ASEAN market. He said that Indian investments in Malaysia amount to only USD 1.3 billion, which is far less than the USD 4.1 worth of Malaysian investments into India. (Reopens DCM 116) The Minister said Malaysia can act as the gateway to ASEAN market for India and the two nations can explore opportunities in smart manufacturing and explore the Principal Hub scheme for Indian companies with a global presence. "Indian companies should look ahead for expansion in Malaysia to strengthen their presence in the region including mergers and acquisitions (M&As). An ecosystem approach must be adopted to strengthen complementarity between Malaysian and Indian companies," Mohamed said. The Minister said that India was Malaysia's 11th biggest trading partner in 2015. To further deepen the relationship between the two countries, a Joint Statement Malaysia-India Strategic Partnership was issued in 2015. Mohamed said there were opportunities in manufacturing such as chemicals & chemical products, textiles and textile products, pharmaceutical, and machinery and equipment, that could be explored and in services as well such as healthcare, education, centre of excellence and tourism. Amid reports that chances of merger of JD(U) and RLD of Ajit Singh are almost over, JD(U) president Nitish Kumar said the initiative to this effect had come from RLD and so this should be answered by them only. "Initiative to this (merger) had come from Rashtriya Lok Dal itself. They should answer this (if chances of merger are over)," Kumar, also Bihar Chief Minister, told reporters here. Kumar, whose slogan of "sangh-mukt" country has triggered a national debate and also a talk over his chances of becoming Prime Minister after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, said he has already made it clear that he has no claim for the PM post. "At JD(U) National Council meeting (that ratified Kumar's appointment as party President in place of Sharad Yadav) recently I had said categorically there is no claim from my side for PM post," he said. Asked that NCP president Sharad Pawar has described him as PM material from the grouping of anti-BJP parties, Kumar said he was indebted to Pawar who is among "the seniormost leaders of the country". To another question about state Congress' view that Rahul Gandhi alone is the PM candidate, Kumar did not give any specific reply. Congress minister Madan Jha was present at the press conference. Kumar said, "He (Jha) is sitting here as Revenue minister in my government. This is not a meeting of the Grand Secular Alliance." On invitation from Nepal to attend Buddha Purnima programme on May 21, Kumar said the invitation has been sent to External Affairs ministry and he was waiting for their comment on the trip. About media reports that PM Narendra Modi wants Kumar to travel with him to Lumbini, which is being seen as his closeness with him post-Bihar poll, Kumar said he has no knowledge of this. Kumar said he will attend anti-liquor programmes at Dhanbad in Jharkhand and in Lucknow and Varanasi in UP. "Wherever I am called for creating awareness against liquor I will try to attend it," said Kumar whose government announced complete ban on sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar on April 5. (REOPEN CES27) Asked that JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, for whom his government had rolled out red carpet during his two-day visit ending yesterday, has spoken against prohibition in the country, Kumar said he explained merits of the alcohol ban to Kanhaiya when he met him. "He might have spoken something against prohibition due to inadequate information on the subject," he said. Kumar defended ban on alcohol by his government and favoured similar initiative elsewhere and said "drinking liquor cannot be the fundamental right of any citizen." Under Constitution it is the fundamental duty of a state to protect health of citizens by putting a stop on liquor, he said. Kumar questioned the seriousness of NDA government about the probe into the AgustaWestland chopper deal. "Why were they sitting over it for all these days when UPA government had ordered CBI inquiry into the deal?" the Chief Minister asked. Hitting out at BJP-led NDA government, Kumar said "They always have double standards. When some allegation is levelled against their leader, they are defensive but goes ballistic against rivals." On the logjam in Parliament, the new JD(U) president blamed the NDA government for it. "They think that only they have lung power to shout. Others are not observing 'maun' (silence) and they can also shout them down," he said. Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and DMK President M Karunanidhi, are among over 3,800 candidates who were left in the fray at the end of withdrawal of nominations today for the May 16 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. On the last day today, more than 300 candidates withdrew their nominations, according to the Election Commission. A total of 7,151 persons had filed their nomination papers with 4,128 of them being accepted after scrutiny on April 30. More than 3400 men, about 320 women and two third gender candidates will fight the elections. Among those contesting the election are Jayalalithaa (R K Nagar), Karunanidhi (Tiruvarur), his son M K Stalin (Kolathur), Chief Ministerial candidates of DMDK-PWF-TMC combine and PMK, Vijayakant (Ulundurpet) and Anbumani Ramadoss (Pennagaram) respectively and VCK founder Thol.Thirumavalavan (Kattumannarkoil-SC). In a multi-cornered fight, AIADMK is facing the polls virtually by itself by contesting from 227 seats, with smaller allies being allotted seven constituencies. DMK has aligned with Congress after a three-year break and is leading a multi-party coalition. DMDK has joined hands with MDMK founder Vaiko-led People's Welfare Front and GK Vasan's TMC. CPI (M), CPI and VCK are the other constituents of PWF. BJP has tied up with IJK and Kila Indiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam. A woman and her two sons were electrocuted when they came into contact with a high-tension wire at Laxmipur village in Bihar's Araria district, the police said today. The incident happened late last night, superintendent of police Sudhir Porika said. The police today sent the bodies to Araria Sadar Hospital for postmortem, the SP said adding that ex gratia has been provided to the deceased's kin as per the government rule. Nepal's Supreme Court today ordered the release of veteran journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, who was arrested by an anti-graft body for allegedly misappropriating a huge amount of money by misusing his public post. The apex court nullified the Special Court's decision to send 60-year-old Dixit to a 10-day judicial custody. Dixit, who is also the Chairman of Sajha Yatayat - the public transportation bus system in Nepal which serves Kathmandu Valley, was produced before the Supreme Court today. Responding to a habeas corpus writ filed by his wife Shanta Dixit, the court had earlier directed the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to produce him before it. Shanta had registered the petition at the apex court claiming that Dixit's arrest was illegal. She had named the CIAA and the Special Court as defendants. Dixit was arrested on April 22 on the charge of amassing property through illegal means in the capacity of chairman of Sajha Yatayat, a public transport corporation. He was admitted next day to the ICU of a hospital after he complained of high blood pressure. The Special Court had remanded him to a 10-day judicial custody effective from Friday. Dixit, the publisher of Himal and Nepali Times magazines, is considered well-disposed towards India and also writes for leading India media outlets. He is accused of selling the organisational property as own inheritance and investing the income in other corporations. He has also been alleged to have procured a house and land in his name in the US. The total amount of alleged embezzlement was not known. Delhi government will consult people on the and take into account the experiences of the first two phases before announcing the next round of the traffic rationing measure, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said today. He said the city government has undertaken a series of measures to curb pollution, both from vehicles and dust, which include marking of dedicated bus lanes and vacuum cleaning of roads under the Delhi government. The Minister said they have also sent a proposal to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 on those who violate the bus lanes. He said Jung has raised some objections on this, which will be addressed. Jain also lashed out at those who claimed that pollution had increased during period. "If the diesel and pollution consumption has gone down by 30%, how can the pollution rise?...To fail Odd-Even, some people say that pollution has increased due to it. This is wrong. Our government is new and we don't have any baggage. We can even fail and we are ready to take failures," he said. "Many big people are not ready to take failure. We are starters, so we don't have any issues in learning. And if we have to do it again then we will ask you, learn from past experiences and we will do it only then," Jain added. He was speaking at a conference organised by United Residents Joint Action of Delhi (URJA), where a 'Delhi Clean Air Forum' campaign was launched. The minister said that the government has been successful in bringing the issue of pollution to the "centre-stage". Jain said there are roads measuring 1,260 kms under the Delhi government and it has started the initiative of using vacuum cleaners to clean them in order to avoid pollution due to dust. But it will take two more months for the project to start on full scale, he said. He added that the PWD is also planning to cover the soil around these roads with grass in order to curb pollution from dust particles. "...Because 50% of pollution is because of dust and the rest 50% by vehicular pollution. We will be vacuum cleaning the dust," he said. A day after the city's biggest- ever heist of Rs 14 crore at a jewellery shop located in the main commercial complex, police are still hunting for clues to solve the robbery in which two men and a woman are involved. "We are investigating the case. There is no breakthrough yet. At the moment we have nothing more to say beyond this," Chandigarh Police DSP (Central) Satish Kumar told PTI today. The trio took less than 20 minutes to decamp with diamond and gold ornaments worth over Rs 14 crore and also took away the DVD recorder of the CCTV cameras installed at the showroom located in Sector 17-C in the heart of the city. Besides, the accused, who were in their mid 20s, had locked up owners of the shop, 'Forever Diamonds', in a room at gunpoint yesterday afternoon, police said. The robbers, who took less than 20 minutes to execute the crime, arrived before the jewellery and ornaments were put up for display and were still in the strong room, making it easy for them to carry the booty. Another senior police official said they were working on the case and at the moment cannot say how soon they will be able to crack it. "There is no breakthrough yet. We are working on the case," Sector 17's Station House Officer Uday Pal Singh said. The shop owners, Vinod Verma and Rajnish Verma, had earlier told the police that they were at the shop along with an employee Ajay when the robbers arrived. The shop owners said they did not suspect anything when the accused came as one of them had ordered a diamond ring worth Rs 3 lakh a day ago, police said. Rajnish said the youth, who had placed the ring order, yesterday claimed that the piece of jewellery was tight, after which the worker was sent to a market in Sector 35 to get the necessary changes made. The youth then asked to see a ring for the woman accompanying him, Rajnish said, adding that later he went to the strong room in the shop's cabin to pick out a ring and one youth followed him. The other accused placed a gun on Vinod's head and brought him inside the strong room. He gave them a bag to put all valuables, they said. The owners stated that the robbers packed the bag with several diamond ornaments, including rings, chains, ear rings and bracelets, and fled after locking the cabin, police said. The owners managed to come out after smashing the glass door using a fire extinguisher. Subsequently, the police was informed. Police said the jewellery shop did not have any security guard for the last three years and added that they were quizzing the staff members. The DVD recorder of CCTV cameras installed inside and outside the showroom were also taken away by the accused. Footage from CCTV cameras installed at nearby shops was being screened, they said. A case under various sections of the IPC, including for robbery, and under the provisions of the Arms Act has been registered against unidentified accused at the Sector 17 police station. Sketches of the accused have also been prepared. One of the accused was dressed like an NRI and had spiky hair, the other youth was sporting a small beard while the woman was dressed in a traditional Indian suit. Days after the Chief Justice of India made an impassioned plea to the government to help address shortage of judges, Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda today said there was no procedural delay from the government's side in appointing judges and it was "exclusively" in the hands of the judiciary. "Appointment of judges is exclusively in the hands of the judiciary. Now their appointments are through collegium. The High Court collegium is there for the High Court. (They) refer the matter to the Supreme Court, then they refer the matter to the Ministry of Law and Justice only for processing, he said. Gowda was responding to a question on Chief Justice of India Justice T S Thakur turning emotional on the issue recently and lamenting the government's "inaction" in raising the number of judges from 21,000 to 40,000 to handle mounting cases. "In my office, I have not kept files (on appointment of judges) for more than 15 days," the law minister told a Meet-the-Press programme organised by Ernakulam Press Club here. "I don't want to make any comment or anything about the judiciary and all that. Central government so far has not delayed even a single file in processing. And we are taking care of the judiciary," he said. "Nothing moves", Thakur had said, recalling a 1987 Law Commission recommendation to increase the number of judges per 10 lakh people from 10 to 50. "Then comes inaction by the government as the increase (in strength of judges) does not take place," he had said while addressing the inaugural session of the joint conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts. Gowda noted that Parliament had unanimously passed the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill (NJAC Bill), but it was rejected by the Supreme Court. "100 per cent members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, supported the bill. But that bill has been struck down by the Supreme Court," the Minister said. In October last year, the Supreme Court had rejected the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment which sought to give politicians and civil society a final say in the appointment of judges to the highest courts. (REOPENS MDS5) Gowda said as far as pendency of cases is concerned, how they should be disposed and in which manner they should be disposed, it is within the domain of the judiciary. "The executive cannot encroach upon the judiciary. That is the rule laid down in the Constitution," he said. Gowda also elaborated on the steps his Ministry had taken to speed up the appointment of judges after the Supreme Court struck down the NJAC Act, saying he himself had met CJI and said there were more than 100 names which were listed earlier to the apex court. The Minister said he told the CJI to go ahead with the present memorandum of procedure for appointment of judges as the government felt that formulating a new memorandum as directed by the court would delay the whole process. "I thought it would delay the whole process. Already about 400 HC judges' vacancy was there. So I said to the Chief Justice, no sir ...Now you go ahead with the present Memorandum of Procedure (a document to guide appointment of judges to the apex court and the high courts.. "I myself went, I wrote a letter to the Chief Justice. I have got the process started (for appointing judges)," he said. The Minister said he informed the CJI that the new memorandum of procedure once drafted could be placed before the apex court and till then the present procedure could be used. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said there was no proposal to appoint Bollywood stars like Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of the state. The Chief Minister also said every citizen is a brand ambassador. "I read such things (considering Shatrughan Sinha, Rekha or Manoj Bajpai) in papers only as brand ambassador of Bihar. But, there is no such proposal before the government," Kumar told reporters during his "Janata ke Darbar me Mukhya Mantri" programme. "For me every Bihari going out of the state is a brand ambassador of the state to tell the turn around story of the state to the people," the CM said. "The citizens who are themselves witness to the progress taking place in the state are the best brand ambassador. We do not need others for this," he added. Media reports had suggested chances of appointing actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha as brand ambassador of Bihar on the lines mega star Amitabh Bachchan was appointed to promote Gujarat. items had also hinted chances of Bollywood actress Rekha and even star Manoj Bajpai as brand ambassador of Bihar. Shatrughan Sinha, second term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, and Manoj Bajpai, born in Bihar, had said though there was no official word to them about proposal for appointment as brand ambassador of Bihar, if asked, they would love to serve their mother state. The police in Hooghly district arrested a notorious anti-social Ramesh Mahato along with his two aides from Bora-Serampore road. Mahato is charged with committing more than 20 murders and with 50 extortion cases in Hooghly, Howrah and Burdwan districts in West Bengal, Hooghly SP Pravin Tripathy said. Mahato began his criminal life by looting scraps of the closed JK Steel factory in Serampore along with another anti-social. He regularly extorted money from real estate companies and factories. His luck deserted him when he demanded a huge amount of money from the Bengal-Sriram housing project at Hindmotor in Uttarpara recently. The Bengaluru office of the Bengal Sriram group apprised the chief minister's office of the extortion bid. Acting on a tip-off, a police team from Singur raided Bora-Serampore road late last night and arrested Mahato with his two aides from inside a car which was carrying 60 kg 'ganja', the SP said. He was produced in a court in Chisurah, which denied him bail. Onion exports fell by 6.75 per cent to 8.28 lakh tonnes in the first ten months of 2015-16 fiscal due to restrictions on the overseas sale of the key vegetable. However, in terms of value, exports rose over 35 per cent to Rs 2,161.70 crore in April-January as against Rs 1,597.99 crore in the same period a year ago on higher realisation, according to data compiled by National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF). As per the data, onion exports stood at 8,28,656 tonnes in the period under review as against 8,88,673 tonnes in the year-ago period. The fall in shipments in volume terms was mainly due to increase in the minimum export price (MEP) to USD 425 per tonne in June and then again to USD 700 per tonne in August last year after prices in the domestic market shot up on lower output, owing to unseasonal rains. However, on December 25, the government had to scrap the MEP on onion to encourage exports as the domestic prices crashed. MEP is the rate below which no trader is allowed to export. The average price realisation was as high as over Rs 48,000 per tonne when export curbs were in place. But sale realisation fell to Rs 14,997 per tonne in January after the government removed MEP. India had exported 10.86 lakh tonnes of onion for Rs 2,009.94 crore in the full 2014-15 fiscal. Onion output is estimated to touch a new record at 203 lakh tonnes in the ongoing 2015-16 crop year (July-June) as against 189.2 lakh tonnes in 2014-15. The previous record was 194 lakh tonnes in 2013-14. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are the top three onion-producing states in the country. Prices of onion are ruling at Rs 20-25 per kg in the retail market of the national capital. Seeking strong action by the government to rein in rising air ticket prices, Opposition in Lok Sabha today charged the airlines with "looting" passengers as airfares remained high despite decline in jet fuel costs. Initiating the discussion on Demands for Grants for the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Congress leader K C Venugopal said airlines have not passed on the benefits of fall in fuel prices to passengers and added that private carriers were "looting" them. He said the price of ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) has come down resulting in huge benefits to airlines but still airfares have been going up and claimed that Air India has benefitted by over Rs 1,000 crore from fall in ATF prices. Maintaining that airlines have not passed on the benefits to passengers, the Congress leader said, private carriers are "looting". He said that air ticket prices were high in international air routes too, giving the example of Air India Express, the low cost carrier which operates a significant number of flights mainly connecting the Gulf and Kerala. "What action is being taken for justice to the people," Venugopal asked and urged the government to take "strong action" to deal with exorbitant airfares. "There is no justification for high air ticket prices... There is a need for an intervention from the (Civil Aviation) Ministry... There is need for strong action," he noted. TMC leader Saugata Roy also urged the government to rein in the rising airfares. "I feel that the government should have a role in having some regulations" when air ticket prices go up and cited that during the recent Jat agitation, airfares rose for flights to and from Chandigarh. During holidays and festivals too, air fares goes through the roof, he noted. In the recent times, concerns have been expressed in various quarters about rising airfares despite fall in fuel prices, which account for over 40 per cent of a carrier's total operating costs. Venugopal said the Ministry has taken a stance not to intervene citing pricing regulations, but airfares have been rocketing. As he wondered whether such a stance was "a right thing", Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, in a lighter vein, was heard saying "wrong". Criticising the government for reducing budgetary allocation to Air India, Venugopal said it would put the carrier in trouble and asked the government to earmark the maximum possible amount. Venugopal asked the Centre to expedite Kerala government's proposal to launch the carrier Air Kerala that would mainly cater to people from the state living in Gulf countries. The state government wants to invest in the airline and was awaiting consensus from the Centre. A cabinet note in this regard was even circulated during the previous UPA rule but could not go forward as elections were announced by that time, Venugopal, who hails from Kerala, said. He also cited various incidents like those involving cabin crew and one pilot and said such things would not help Air India and action needs to be taken, Venugopal said even as he appreciated the efforts made by the carrier's current CMD. He also requested the government to shift the headquarters of Air India Express to Kochi in Kerala. One Tourism Ministry, Venugopal expressed disappointment saying many ongoing projects were stopped by the government while new ones are not taking off. He noted that with the government cutting down funding for the initiative PIDDC (Project/Infrastructure Development for Destination and Circuits), many initiatives have been hit. PIDDC was started during the UPA regime. "Government is a continuation... Why this discrimination," he wondered. Regarding Kerala, Venugopal said certain announcements made have not been fulfilled. "How can you punish a state that has huge tourism potential?," he noted. BJP's Dushyant Singh sought to put the onus on the previous UPA governments for the financial problems faced by Air India. Countering criticism that allocation to the national carrier has been reduced, Singh said Air India placed orders for new aircraft during the previous regime despite fall in market share. The Empowered Group of Ministers, under then Union Minister P Chidambaram, had approved placing orders for new aircraft, he said. (Reopens PAR33) Singh took a dig at the previous government for the merger of Indian Airlines and Air India. Now, the situation is improving and Air India has started "making monthly operational profits", he claimed. The government is working on various plans for the aviation sector, including for boosting regional connectivity. With regard to tourism sector, Singh claimed that change of government at the Centre has helped. He asked the government to further promote the country's tourism sector including in overseas markets. Initiatives such as Indian food festivals should be looked at apart from developing destinations like "Ayodhya," he added. While speaking about Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Nagpur, Singh mentioned, "my leader comes from Nagpur", eliciting reactions from some members present. TMC leader Saugata Roy sought to know which leader Singh was talking about, while BJP member Anurag Thakur wondered whether something happens to the Opposition when the word Nagpur is mentioned. Roy said the government was struggling to formulate the new aviation policy and demanded expediting the process. He said the government should not privatise the airports as public owned companies can run and make profits. "We need not give airports to fly-by-night operators... they should not get airports for free," he said adding although Air India has registered operational profit, there are some problem in their Dreamliner fleet. "The minister should do something...No effort should be made to privatise Kolkata airport," Roy said. The TMC leader emphasised that India needs more domestic carriers and the government should encourage more players for domestic carriers. Speaking on the tourism sector, he said though states like Kerala have done a lot to promote the sector but states like Uttar Pradesh need to do a lot. Citing the example of Agra, he said there was a need for "tourist police" to protect foreign and domestic tourists from touts and hawkers who sell spurious products. He also sought more focus on developing strong infrastructure for the sector. Roy also claimed that no development has taken place in Varanasi, which is the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Arka Keshari Deo (BJD) said tourism has huge potential in terms of boosting GDP growth and generate jobs. He asked the government to focus on Odisha, saying huge potential exists there for both tourism and civil aviation sectors. "Every member of parliament should give at least one suggestion to develop tourist spot," he added. Gajanan Kirtikar (Shiv Sena) said as many as 5,000 employees of the Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AIATSL) should be made permanent. There is also a need to review their wages and "I demand to look at their issues," he said. Kesineni Srinivas (TDP) said India is not able to make itself a major transit hub like Dubai which handled 78 million passengers in 2015 while Delhi handled only 37 million. "Make India MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) hub of the Asia. Government should focus on this. It will be a great opportunity for our engineers," he said. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (TRS) too said that for smallest of the things, Indian carriers go abroad. He also demanded extension of tax breaks for the companies engaged in this business. Shankar Prasad Dutta (CPM) said the budget of Ministry of Civil Aviation has been slashed against the previous year and that the Finance Ministry should look into as it is linked to the tourism of country. He demanded that the Agartala Airport also should be declared as an international airport so that it can prove to be a gateway to Southeast Asia. M Rajamohan Reddy (YSRCP) said although the Tirupati airport was declared as international services were yet to commence. Raising the issue of air traffic congestion over the Delhi airport, Jagdambika Pal (BJP) demanded that a new airport should be built to cater to NCR which can deal with the problem. Rajesh Ranjan (expelled RJD member) and Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) demanded betterment of services at the Patna airport and opening up of more services. Kaushalendra Kumar (JDU) said state-owned Air India is sitting on huge losses and debt burden. "I want to know from the Minister when will Air India be back on its feet? Whatever steps you take to turnaround AI, we will be with you," Kumar said. PD Rai (SDF) alleged that most airports are managed in PPP project and private sector partners like GVK and GMR are not keeping up with the assigned target. "We need to see there is a regulatory mechanism to ensure the target is met," Rai said. Outspoken Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang has been slapped with one-year imprisonment for criticising President Xi Jinping's comments that the country's official media should show absolute loyalty to ruling Communist Party. The Communist Party committee in Beijing's Xicheng district said in a notice today that Ren, who has been called "China's Donald Trumph", had been placed on probation for a year for seriously violating the party's political discipline, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Ren, 65, was the former head of real estate firm Hua Yuan Property. In Chinese legal terminology probation meant short term incarceration. Ren, also known as 'Cannon Ren' for his outspoken comments, had on several occasions made improper remarks through online platforms such as popular Chinese microblogging site Weibo, the notice said. It, however, did not specify which of Ren's remarks were improper, the Post reported. The notice said Ren had repeatedly posted such comments online that violated the party's "four basic principles" as well as its policy and direction. Ren who had 37 million followers in his Chinese social media account Weibo, which is akin to Twitter in China, said in his microblog account in February that the outfits were funded by taxpayers' money, and so should serve the public, rather than the leadership. His comments were directed at the remarks by Xi during his visit to official media outlets in February that all media run by the party must speak for the party's will and protect its authority and unity. In his comment on the social media, Ren said, "when does the people's government turn into the party's government? (Are the media) funded by party membership dues? Don't waste taxpayers' money on things that do not provide them with services." Ren's Weibo account was subsequently shut down by China internet watchdog. An editorial on a website affiliated with the Beijing municipal party committee accused him of spreading "anti-Communist Party" thoughts. Ren's violation of party discipline could amount to challenging the one-party rule as the "four basic principle" stipulates that party members must adhere to the country's socialist path, dictatorship of the proletariat, the party's leadership and the political thoughts of Marxism and Maoism, the Post said. The penalty is the second most severe that can be dealt out to a party member for such an offence. Ren's punishment came despite Xi's remarks on April 29 calling for greater tolerance of "well-intentioned" criticisms on the online by the intellectuals. Delhi Police today booked over a hundred diesel-run taxi drivers for plying their vehicles in the city violating the Supreme Court ban, even as cab drivers protesting against the crackdown by police threw traffic out-of-gear by blocking National Highway 8 and the Ring Road. "Over 100 drivers were booked till 7 PM today and challans were issued to them. Vehicles were impounded in a few cases," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sandeep Goel said. After extending the deadline twice, the Supreme Court had on Saturday refused to give more time to cab operators to convert to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1. The court exempted taxis with all-India tourist permit (AITP) from switching to CNG if they operate outside NCR. The errant drivers were booked under Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Cases in which the vehicles had AITP, police officials spoke to the passengers enquiring about their boarding and de-boarding points, a senior official said. Nearly 150 such diesel-run cab drivers, including several with AITP, were prosecuted yesterday and many vehicles were impounded, following which the drivers alleged harassment by enforcement agencies. The city groaned under traffic woes today as hundreds of cab drivers blocked National Highway 8 and Ring Road, protesting against action by enforcement agencies following the Supreme Court's decision to ban diesel taxis in Delhi. In the early hours, a group of protesters blocked both carriageways near the Rajokri toll booth on National Highway 8, which led to a long tailback stretching over a kilometer in the area, traffic officials said. The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, linked by NH-8. In no time, traffic was thrown out-of-gear in Dhaulakuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli, and the chaos continued for hours. The situation turned worse at around 11.30 AM when the protesters blocked both carriageways on the Ring Road stretch at Maharani Bagh, close to Ashram Chowk. The second blockade directly hit traffic in areas including Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram, near PGDAV College in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Moolchand stretching upto AIIMS. The protesters included the diesel cab drivers with AITP, who are exempted from the ban provided they operate outside NCR. "We will continue with our protest until the authorities forbid police and transport department officials from penalising us as we have an All India permit which is exempted from the ban. We are only asking for exemption which we have already been given," said Sanjay Samrat, President of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association. Soft drink giant PepsiCos plant in Puthussery will be served a memo by the village panchayat to stop drawing groundwater, in view of severe drought-like situation and drinking water scarcity in the district. The Puthussery village panchayat's administrative committee during its meeting on Monday decided in principle to serve the stop memo, panchayat sources said. It also decided to carry out a detailed study on the issue and present a resolution in this regard at the next committee meeting to be held on May 10, the sources said. The panchayat alleged the soft drink multinational company was drawing hundreds of thousand of litres of water every day even though as drought-like situation prevailed in the district, which has since the past few days recorded above 40 degree Celsius temperature, the highest in the state. A Parliamentary panel today expressed concern over the "shabby" surroundings of the Parliament House and pulled up the civic agencies for their "lackadaisical manner of functioning". The Standing Committee on Urban Development, headed by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Pinaki Misra, noted that the Parliament House should be kept neat and clean all the more when the prime focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on cleanliness. "The Committee is anguished over the shabby and messy conditions of the Parliament House surroundings as concrete debris, iron rods, wire mesh etc can be seen lying all over the vicinity," the panel said in its report tabled in Parliament. "..When Swachhta Abhiyan is the prime focus of the Prime Minister at least the Parliament House should be kept neat and clean," it said. The Committee pulled up Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and NDMC for their "lackadaisical manner of functioning". The panel observed that construction of the Parliament House annexe building may miss its deadline for the fourth time due to lack of fund allocation. It noted that the funds allocated for completion of the project was a "meagre" Rs 23 crore with which it "appears to be impossible" to complete the construction work within the deadline of June 30. The deadline for construction of the building was breached in 2012, 2014 and 2015. The panel "strongly" recommended to the Urban Development Ministry to expedite the completion of the extension project by allocating more funds at the earliest. India's imports of pharmaceutical products from China has reached USD 1.74 billion during April-December 2015, Parliament was informed today. In 2014-15, it stood at USD 2.22 billion as against USD 2.11 billion in 2013-14. India imports drugs and pharmaceutical products from China in the form of raw materials as well as finished products for both domestic consumption and exports. As per the reports available, in case of 12 essential drugs including Paracetamol and Amoxicillin "there is a significant dependence on imports of drug ingredients and substantial imports of these products are from China". "One of the reasons for imports from China is the price competitiveness of these products," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. An inter-ministerial committee has suggested that the API industry (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient industry) has to be made more viable and there is a need for building up an ecosystem to promote investment in the sector based on global practices. There are also recommendations for improving the regulatory regime in the country, the minister said. In a separate reply she said, India's pharmaceutical exports stood at USD 5 billion during April-February 2016 to the US followed by USD 555 million to South Africa and USD 512 million to the UK. The total exports during April-February 2016 stood at USD 15.36 billion. President today left for home from here, wrapping up his six-day official visit to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand where he met top leaders of the two countries and inked a few important deals as part of India's 'Act East' policy. Concluding the three-day visit to New Zealand as part of the second leg of his two-nation tour, Mukherjee talked about cooperation in agriculture, dairy, food processing, education and skill development as well as high technology between the two countries. During the course of the visit, India and New Zealand also signed a deal that opens the door for direct flights between the two countries with an aim to boost tourism and trade sectors. Mukherjee's trip is the first high-level visit from India in 20 years after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to the island nation. Prominent amongst whom he met here include New Zealand Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Prime Minister John Key. Earlier, as part of his two-day maiden state visit to PNG, the President had sought for freedom of navigation saying sea lanes of communications should be devoid of tension and rivalry. The two nations, as part of measures to strengthen bilateral ties and ensuring energy security, signed a few agreements even as India offered a $100 million line of credit for development of infrastructure in PNG and agreed to jointly develop new avenues of cooperation to explore and develop the Pacific nation's vast oil and gas resources. India also offered the country, during the visit, its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich country's abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures. The President, while in PNG, met his counterpart Sir Michael Ogio. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has advised coconut growers to take a suitable decision on selling the nuts as price of good quality coconut would stabilise at around Rs 8 to Rs 9 and that of copra around Rs 52 to Rs 54 per kg this June. Production of coconut in Tamil Nadu and Kerala was above normal whereas it was low in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh due to water scarcity. Arrivals of copra from other states were lower compared to last year and arrivals from Mysore may commence from June onwards, it said. Demand from North India would also stabilise the prices of coconut in near future. Considering this, The Price Forecasting Scheme of Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies in TNAU analysed coconut and copra prices for the last 14 years in Avalpoonthurai Regulated market of Erode district to give necessary advisory to coconut growers. Tamil Nadu stands first in production, contributing about 50 per cent to the total coconut production of the country, followed by Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Coimbatore stands first among coconut producing districts in Tamil Nadu with a production of 8,598 lakh nuts followed by Tirupur, Thanjavur, Dindigul and Kanyakumari. PTC India today said it has emerged as the most successful bidder on the recently launched e-bidding portal for procuring power and offered maximum bids to Uttarakhand and Kerala state discoms. "PTC India offered a total of 9 bids from different sources to Uttarakhand and three bids to Kerala on the first ever e-bidding & e-RA (reverse auction) conducted on the new DEEP portal," the company said in a statement. The Power Ministry has recently launched the DEEP e-bidding portal providing a single platform to all the utilities willing to procure power on Short-Term Open Access contracts through electronic competitive bidding and an electronic Reverse Auction thereafter. This whole process aims at securing the most competitive power purchase costs to the distribution utilities. The transparency and fairness of the procurement process ensures the discovered rates are available in public domain. PTC, being the sole successful bidder in Kerala tender, is to supply the entire requisitioned quantum of KSEB i.E. 100 MW Peak & 50 MW Day power to the state during the month of May 2016. In Uttarakhand, PTC again bagged the contract for more than half of the quantum as awarded by the UPCL. PTC is to supply power to Uttarakhand in evening Peak during July 2016 & August 2016 and additional 150 MW round the clock power for entire July 2016 at highly competitive rates. An inter-state police meeting will be held here tomorrow with a view to boost coordination among cops to effectively clamp down on criminals besides sharing information on their modus operandi and other aspects pertaining to the crime. Apart from senior police officials from Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, various commissionerates from Maharashtra will also exchange their information on criminals involved in chain snatching. "The first meeting was held in February in which police officials from Bengaluru, Bhopal and various other police commissionerates from the state took part and the co-ordination has helped to detect cases. "Now this is the second time that we are hosting a similar meeting here on Tuesday to augment the inter-state coordination between police machineries," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) P R Patil. He said that participating commissionerates are worst affected by the chain snatching menace and the intention behind the meeting is to share information about criminals with each other. "During the meeting, besides sharing information about criminals, the representatives from different commissionerates will explain various methods used by criminals while executing the crime and photographs of criminals on record too will be shared," said Patil. He added that apart from Bengaluru and Bhopal, senior police officials from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Aurangabad and other cities will attend the meeting. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has banned drones from flying over her Sandringham estate in an apparent bid to prevent terror attacks and protect the privacy of the royal family. The ban covers all 20,000 acres of the estate in north Norfolk in eastern England, making it potentially the largest single area in the UK to ban unmanned aircraft, The Times reported. It comes amid fears that remote controlled drones could carry a bomb or chemical weapon. The ban will also help to foil paparazzi using drones to take aerial photographs over the estate, which also houses Anmer Hall - the country home of Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. Last December the Department for Transport made it a criminal offence for low-flying aircraft, including drones, to be flown within 1.5 miles of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's estate. A similar ban is in place within 1.5 miles of Sandringham House from every December to the end of February when the 90-year-old Queen and other members of the royal family are often in residence. The restrictions are similar to the drone bans around military bases, nuclear power stations and airports in the UK. Anyone breaking the restrictions faces a fine of up to 5,000 pounds. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson refused to comment. IAS officer B Radhakrishnan today took charge as the new Collector of Nashik district. Radhakrishnan replaced Dipendrasinh Kushwah, who has been transfered to Mumbai. The 2008-batch IAS officer was Collector of Ratnagiri district in coastal Maharashtra before being transferred here, an official release said here. He earlier held the posts of Sub-Divisional Officer of Ahmednagar and Nandurbar districts and Chief Executive Officer in Jalana district of Marathwada, it added. As Sri Lanka today withdrew the army from the security detail of Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son accused the government of carrying out a political witch-hunt against the former president and his family. Sri Lankan government had announced in April to withdraw the army from the security detail of Rajapaksa. The decision came into force today. "We have been facing this kind of harassment for a long time now. This is nothing surprising," Namal Rajapaksa, an MP, and the elder son of the former strongman told reporters. "The government fears us more so after yesterday's big crowd that was seen at our May Day rally." He said that 50 of the 102 security detail, which included five Army Majors and 45 Commandos, would be replaced with four Sub-Inspectors and 46 Police Constables from the police ministerial security division which provides VIP protection. Rajapaksa demands the Army Commando security in the light of his actions to end the decades-old separatist campaign led by the LTTE. The former President and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, then head of the defence ministry played key roles in plotting the military defeat of the LTTE. Since his defeat to President Maithripala Sirisena in January 2015, the Rajapaksa family have faced allegations of corruption and wrongdoings during Mahinda Rajapaksa's decade rule. The former president's younger brother Basil Rajapaksa, then powerful economic development minister, and his second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa were both jailed for misdemeanors. With the army being removed from his family's security detail, former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa's son today accused the government of carrying out a political witch-hunt and said they have been facing such "harassment" from a long time. "The change comes into force today. We have been facing this kind of harassment for a long time now. This is nothing surprising. The government fears us more so after yesterday's big crowd that was seen at our May Day rally," Namal Rajapaksa, an MP, and the elder son of the former strongman told reporters. He said that 50 of 102 security detail, which included five Army Majors and 45 Commandos, would be replaced with four Sub Inspectors and 46 Police Constables from the polices ministerial security division which provides VIP protection. The government in April had announced that the army will be removed from the security detail of Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa demands the Army Commando security in the light of his actions to end the decades old separatist campaign led by the LTTE. The former President and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the then head of the defense ministry played key roles in plotting the LTTEs military defeat. Since his defeat to President Maithripala Sirisena in January 2015 elections, the Rajapaksa family have faced allegations of wrong doings. Former President's younger brother, Basil Rajapaksa the then powerful economic development minister, and his second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa were both jailed for misdemeanors. in India was on a "negative trajectory" in 2015 as religious tolerance "deteriorated" and violations "increased", a US report on international said today. In its annual report, the Congress-mandated US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) asked the Indian government to publicly rebuke officials and religious leaders that make derogatory statements about religious communities. Read more from our special coverage on "RELIGIOUS FREEDOM" India denies visa to US commission to report on freedom of religion "In 2015, religious tolerance deteriorated and religious freedom violations increased in India," the report said. Members of USCIRF were denied visas by Indian government early this year on the argument that religious freedom is enshrined in the constitution and any foreign third party has no locus standi to comment or investigate on it. "Minority communities, especially Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs, experienced numerous incidents of intimidation, harassment, and violence, largely at the hands of Hindu nationalist groups," the report alleged. USCIRF alleged that members of the ruling BJP tacitly supported these groups and used religiously-divisive language to further inflame tensions. "These issues, combined with longstanding problems of police bias and judicial inadequacies, have created a pervasive climate of impunity, where religious minority communities feel increasingly insecure, with no recourse when religiously-motivated crimes occur," said USCIRF which has retained India in the Tier-2 Countries on religious freedom. India has been placed in Tier-2 since 2009. Others listed in the Tier-2 countries are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhastan, Laos, Malaysia, Russia and Turkey. It has recommended to the State Department to designate eight countries - Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan and Vietnam as countries of particular concern or CPC. USCIRF recommendations are not binding on the State Department, which has so far put nine countries in this list - Myanmar, China, Eriteria, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Stating that though it has again placed India on Tier 2, where it has, been since 2009, USCIRF noted that the largest democratic country of the world "is on a negative trajectory" in terms of religious freedom. Observing that it will continue to monitor the situation closely during the year ahead to determine if India should be recommended to the State Department for designation as a "country of particular concern," USCIRF urged the US to integrate concern for religious freedom into bilateral contacts with India, including the framework of future Strategic Dialogues, at both the federal and provincial level. USCIRF praised US President Barack Obama for raising this issue during his visit to India in January 2015. "During his January 2015 visit to India, President Obama gave a major speech highlighting the need for religious tolerance and freedom, and he reiterated the point at the February 2015 Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC," the report said, adding that this had an impact. "Notably, the Prime Minister of India subsequently gave a major address about these concerns. As this example demonstrates, one of the most direct ways to stress the importance of religious freedom is in high-profile public events," USCIRF said. In mid-February 2015, at an event honouring Indian Catholic saints, Modi stated publicly, for the first time, that his government "will ensure that there is complete freedom of faith and that everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence," the report said. "This statement is notable given longstanding allegations that, as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002, he was complicit in anti-Muslim riots that occurred in that state," it said. The report rued that the states of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan tend to have the greatest number of incidents of religiously-motivated attacks and communal violence, as well as the largest religious minority populations. Referring to a recent Union Home Ministry report, USCIRF said India in 2015 experienced a 17 per cent increase in communal violence. In 2015, 97 people were killed, and 2,246 people injured, it added. The report rued that the Indian courts are still adjudicating cases stemming from large-scaleHindu-Muslim communal violence in Uttar Pradesh (2013) andGujarat (2002); Hindu-Christian communal violence in Odisha (2007-2008); and Hindu-Sikh communal violence in Delhi (1984). NGOs, religious leaders, and human rights activists allege religious bias and corruption in these investigations and adjudications, it said. "Additionally, religious minority communities claim that eye-witnesses often are intimidated not to testify, especially when local political, religious, or societal leaders have been implicated in cases," the report alleged. In February 2016, the first major verdict of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots acquitted 10 people charged with arson and murder for lack of evidence, it said. Six rape cases registered with police are pending in the courts or are still being investigated. In August 2015, the Indian government gave a 15,000 rupee (USD 225) compensation to 12 victims of the Odisha violence; other court cases are still pending. (Reopens FGN 18) "Court cases connected to the Gujarat violence also are ongoing. However, there have been numerous credible reports that the government targets lawyers and activists for their work in seeking justice," the report alleged, adding that in February 2015, a new SIT was formed to review several incidents that occurred during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Reportedly, the SIT has not released any reports on their investigations, nor filed any new cases, it said. In its report, USCIRF urged the US Government to develop a lookout list of non-citizens who can be denied an American visa for violation of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act of the Congress. "This provision is known to have been invoked only once: in March 2005, it was used to exclude then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi of Gujarat state in India due to his complicity in riots in his state in 2002 that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,100 to 2,000 Muslims," it claimed. "USCIRF continues to urge the Departments of State and Homeland Security to develop a lookout list of non-citizens who are inadmissible to the US on this basis. The IRF Office has worked to identify people inadmissible under US law for religious freedom violations, and USCIRF has provided information about several such individuals to the State Department," the report said. Urging India to boost training on human rights and religious freedom standards and practices for the police and judiciary, USCIRF also called on New Delhi to press states that have adopted anti-conversion laws to repeal or amend them to conform with internationally-recognized human rights standards; make clear US opposition to laws that restrict freedom of thought and association. Bollywood actress Divya Dutta has worked in several intense films, but it was her role in the upcoming movie "Traffic" which drained her emotionally. Directed by late Rajesh Pillai, "Traffic" is the remake of a 2011 Malayalam film of the same name which features Divya in the role of a mother of a 12-year-old child. "I was emotionally drained. We were shooting in a real hospital, the whole feeling of being there was... I normally don't use glycerin, so to cry all the time and feel the pain of the mother who is losing her child did take its toll on me. I used to go home very exhausted," Divya told PTI. The drama-thriller is inspired from an actual event that happened in Chennai, where a doctor couple donated organs of their 15-year-old son who died in a road accident. The young boy's heart was transported to another hospital for a girl who required heart transplant. The journey, which would've taken close to 45 minutes with traffic, was completed in 11 minutes as the police cleared the way and gave green signal for the ambulance to pass. The "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" actress says the remake is "more or less" like the original, which she completely loved. "The film is more or less the same, but with a little bit of tweaking here and there, keeping in mind the Hindi audience. I had seen the original and I absolutely loved it. There was no reason for me to say no to the film," the 38-year-old actress said. Produced by Fox Star Studios and Endemol India, "Traffic" stars Manoj Bajpayee as a traffic police constable. Divya, who has worked with the "Aligarh" star in films like "Veer Zaara" and "Special 26", says Bajpayee gives his "heart" to the performance which is good for a co-actor. "This is the third film we are doing together, and in all the previous films we were not opposite each other, so we barely had a scene together. Manoj is a person who is himself. He is fun loving, but when he is working he is very serious about it," she said. "He gives all his heart and when you see someone as sincere as him perform the way he does, it affects you as a person. Acting is all about reacting," Divya said. "Traffic", also starring Jimmy Shergill, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee and Amol Parashar, is scheduled to release on May 6. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to host UN envoy Staffan de Mistura for talks on Syria in Moscow today, the foreign ministry said. "Talks between Mistura and Sergei Lavrov followed by a press conference will take place" in Moscow, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP. The talks will be held amid accusations by the United States and other supporters of the Syrian opposition that Russia has violated international agreements to back peace in the war-torn country. Washington and Moscow are the joint sponsors of the Syrian peace process, and de Mistura had made it clear that he sees little hope of progress without their agreement. But the United States charges that Russia, while agreeing to support a ceasefire, has done little to rein in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces around Aleppo. The head of Moscow's coordination centre in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, said on Sunday that talks to include Aleppo province in a so-called "regime of silence" -- or freeze in fighting -- had begun. Kuralenko told reporters that those talks were still continuing. Russia says it will not ask the Syrian regime to halt air raids on Aleppo as it believes they are helping to combat jihadist groups there. More than 270,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests demanding Assad's ouster. Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal today decided to contest the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections with like-minded parties, but made clear that its alliance with BJP is "rock solid and intact". The decision was taken at a meeting of Akali leaders here, where SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the party wants to ensure due recognition for Sikhs and the Punjabi community by expanding in the state. Badal, however, put at rest all speculation and said that "the party's alliance with BJP is rock solid and intact". Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Rai Singh was also appointed as party's incharge of the state. The SAD chief formed a 5-member committee to focus on strengthening SAD in UP and identify the potential 40-45 seats it plans to contest in the 2017 assembly polls, keeping in view the number of Sikhs and Punjabi's population in the state. SAD is in alliance with BJP both at the Centre and shares power with it in Punjab for the last ten years. Punjab election are also slated in early 2017. The committee comprising Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Sri Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, Cabinet minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, President Delhi Unit and DSGMC Manjit Singh GK and senior leader Avtar Singh Hit would submit its report to the SAD President within two weeks. Elaborating on its the agenda for UP, Punjab deputy Chief Minister said SAD would launch a concerted campaign in UP in order to redress the problems being faced there by Sikhs and Punjabi community besides ameliorating their lot. For this, the need for having an organised party structure in UP is being carefully looked into, he said. Badal said Sikhs and Punjabi community has done a lot for the development of the state and are the prime contributors to the parameters of progressive index there. The Punjabi community has still not got its due in UP, which explains and justifies the need for SAD to step in to cater to their needs and aspirations, he said. "Being the second oldest party in the country's polity, SAD has a glorious history of playing a yeoman role in freedom movement and after independence too, it was always been in the forefront for the sake of Punjabis, Sikhs and every other community which made it the epitome of secularism,"Badal said. The SAD President further said that it is the motive of the SAD to harness the capabilities of UP based Punjabis and Sikhs by bringing them all under the unified banner of SAD as various political outfits took advantage of them till now by promising them the moon and applying "use and throw" policy. "Nobody would dare to even dream of using Sikhs and the Punjabi community as political tools for vote bank purposes," Badal said. Refusing to budge on its directive for mandatory disclosure of top-management salary by mutual funds, Sebi today told them it is a 'non-negotiable' requirement and investors must be provided date without any 'extra filters'. Some fund houses, including HDFC, Reliance and ICICI Prudential Mutual Funds, today began publishing the salary details for unit holders on their respective websites as per the directive, but many others did not do so and wanted the regulator to relax the rules or at least extend the deadline. They made a representation through industry body AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India) this evening before the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman U K Sinha, but were told in clear terms that "the requirement is non-negotiable" and must be complied with immediate effect. Regulatory sources said, Sebi is of the view that fund houses good profitability records have been forthcoming with the disclosure requirements, but others have been resisting the move. Sebi had earlier this year asked fund houses to disclose salary details within one month of a financial year, starting with 2015-16. Accordingly, all fund houses needed to publish the details by today, after taking into account the weekend holidays for the last two days. Sources said the fund houses have also been told to disclose the salary details without any 'extra filters'. While all fund houses ask for investor details like folio number and registered mobile number and email IDs for giving access to these details, a few of them have put in additional requirements such as name of the executive whose salary the investor wants to know. In case of DSP Blackrock MF, the investors were being told that the details would be shared a few days after receipt of the request. "Your request for information has been registered our Human Resource team will reply to you shortly," as per DSP Blackrock MF website. In today's meeting, Sebi told the fund houses that investors in any scheme are entitled for the information and "unhelpful and unnecessary filters in providing the information should not be applied". Asking AMFI to ensure uniform compliance by all fund houses, Sebi has told them that ESOPs or incentives pertaining To other years may be indicated separately as an explanation. After the meeting with Sebi Chairman, AMFI also told all its members that the fund houses that no "impediments" should be created in providing the information and the remuneration for the purpose of disclosure would include all forms of income as defined under the IT Act. It asked all fund houses to take suitable action for disclosure by tonight itself. As per the disclosure, top fund house HDFC MF's chief Milind Barve got a total annual remuneration of Rs 26.21 crore for the latest fiscal 2015-16. This included previously granted ESOPs that were exercised during the last fiscal. HDFC MF said that remuneration include "exceptional amounts computed on exercise of options granted under ESOP plans over the period 2008-2013". The other executives of HDFC MF took home salaries ranging from Rs 13 crore to Rs 1 crore. As many as 38 persons received remuneration in excess of Rs 1 crore. Sundeep Sikka, the top honcho of Reliance MF, received a pay package of Rs 13.74 crore -- which included Rs 3.5 crore as salary and over Rs 10 crore as a one-time payout. ICICI MF paid Rs 5.4 crore to its Managing Director Nimesh Shah. A total of 15 executives received remuneration of more than Rs 1 crore. A member of MP Backward Classes and Minority Welfare Commission today wanted sedition charge to be slapped on four pastors and believers for allegedly helping an OBC couple enter into a wedlock unlawfully at a church in Satna district that was foiled by right wing activists. Laxmi Yadav said he has sought legal opinion on whether sedition charge could be invoked against the four Christians for "waging a war against the country". The four are already facing prosecution in connection with the event on April 27. "The clerics and the faithful have waged a war against the state by trying to convert the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Hindu couple clandestinely and marry off a minor," Yadav told PTI. "I have sought legal opinion on whether sedition charge could be invoked against the Christians for waging a war against the country," he said and argued that when Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel can be charged with sedition why the pastors can't face similar charge. Yadav said he was going to petition Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, State Home Minister Babulal Gaur and Director General of Police to slap sedition charge on the reverends after seeking legal opinion. "The pastors and believers have tried to convert (groom) Arun Kushwaha and (bride) Subhadra, (both who are allegedly Hindus) to Christianity. A Christian network with a centre in Satna is working in the country to convert Hindus, a community which is on decline in India," he claimed. "Ten people including four reverends and believers have already been booked for conversion and trying to facilitate a minor girl's marriage," he added. Church of God pastor Sam Samuel told PTI that the only mistake he had committed was that he did not check Subhadra's birth and school certificates. "Her parents told me that she was 19 years old as per her birth certificate and 18 according to her school certificate. I personally did not check it given that the girl's parents were believers and coming to Church since last three years," the pastor said. "I did not indulge in any conversion or wrongdoing. Along with me, pastors Stephen Raj Kumar from Tamil Nadu, Gyan Das and Gaya Pratap were also arrested," he added. (REOPENS DEL31) After their marriage was foiled, Arun and Subhadra have been quoted in media as saying that they came "closer to Christianity" after members of their families were "healed by Jesus Christ" who pulled off "miracles" for them, but the two had "not embraced" it formally. Their marriage could not be solemnised after right-wing activists and Yadav petitioned to the police, who along with them allegedly entered the Satna church and stopped it last month. This happened as the girl was "not of marriageable age" and the couple was clandestinely being converted to Christian faith, Yadav claimed. Police were provided documents relating to the girl being a minor, he added. Following a complaint by Bajrang Dal in Kolgawan Police Station, a police team along with the ringt-wing activists entered the 'Church of God' here and stopped the wedding ceremony which was being solemnised by the pastor on April 27. City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Sitaram Yadav on April 28 had said the girl was a "Hindu and according to her certificate was "10 days short of turning 18". "We had arrested 10 persons in this regard including church pastor Sam Samuel and the groom," the CSP had said. All the accused have got bail, police sources said. One of Saudi Arabia's most powerful firms, the Saudi Binladin Group, has laid off 77,000 foreign workers, a Saudi daily reported today, citing an anonymous company official. Saudi Binladin Group confirmed to AFP that some staff have been let go, but gave no numbers. The report in the Al-Watan newspaper is the latest alleging tens of thousands of layoffs, unpaid salaries and unrest by employees of the firm which built some of the Gulf country's landmarks. Sources in March told AFP that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues collapsed over the past two years, have left employees of the kingdom's construction giants struggling to survive while they await their salaries. However, Saudi Binladin Group was also sanctioned by the government after a deadly crane accident in Mecca last September. "The size of our workforce is always appropriate to the nature and size of projects and the timeframe they are to be carried out by the group," Yaseen Alattas, a Saudi Binladin Group spokesman, told AFP. He said workforce changes would be normal "especially when some projects have ended or are about to end". Most of the jobs eliminated "are on specified term contracts" for particular projects, Alattas said in an email. "We understand that the reduction of the workforce isn't easy on everyone. But the Group will continue to implement its obligations towards everyone including the employees it has let go of. "They have received their full dues" under the law, said Alattas. The unnamed company official cited by Al-Watan said that as of Sunday 77,000 Binladin Group workers had received exit visas. He added that they were among 200,000 expatriates employed by the company, one of the largest builders in the world. In addition, 12,000 out of the 17,000 Saudis working for the firm as engineers, administrators and inspectors were expected to be let go, the source said. On Friday, Al-Watan reported that 50,000 of the group's staff were refusing to leave the country while their salaries remained unpaid after more than four months. Another newspaper, Arab News, on Sunday cited Saudi Binladin Group employees as confirming "massive layoffs". An Arab report on Monday blamed "unpaid workers" for torching several Binladin Group buses in Mecca over the weekend. Authorities confirmed seven buses were burned but did not give the cause. Egyptians account for a large percentage of Binladin Group employees. Even as supporters of separate Vidarbha announced plans to intensify their movement over the statehood issue, Maharashtra Transport Minister Diwakar Raote has said his party, Shiv Sena, would never allow formation of a separate state at any cost. The minister said this during an inspection visit to the bus stand here last evening, after a supporter of the Vidarbha statehood cause allegedly smashed window panes of a few buses yesterday. After inspecting the damages caused to the ST buses, Raote said his party would not allow formation of a separate state of Vidarbha. "Shiv Sena would not allow a separate Vidarbha state. We want united Maharashtra and we are not going to accept any such demand (for separate statehood)," he said. Condemning the act of targeting public property, including buses, the minister said, "By damaging the ST buses, you are not going to get separate Vidarbha...Those who damage ST buses and other property, they would be dealt with sternly." He also announced that as a punitive measure, his ministry was mulling to bring in ten per cent fare hike within 100-km radius of the places, where ST buses are damaged or burnt by the unruly mob. Meanwhile, reacting to Raote's statement, former MP and a votary of Vidarbha statehood, Jambuwantrao Dhote, said "These Shiv Sena leaders have forgotten that their late party supremo Balasaheb Thakeray had announced during an election rally a decade ago that he would join the pro-Vidarbha movement if the Maharashtra government failed to fulfil the aspirations of people of this region by bringing all round development within five years." "What kind of development has happened in the Vidarbha region so far?" he asked. Dhote also warned that more incidents of violence in the region over the statehood issue cannot be ruled out as the agitation would be intensified. Indian-origin Islamic State terrorist from Britain Siddhartha Dhar, dubbed as the "New Jihadi John", is a senior commander of the dreaded outfit, according to a media report. Nihad Barakat, a Yazidi teenager held as a sex slave by the group, was quoted as saying by the Independent that she was kidnapped and trafficked by Siddhartha, who is now based in Mosul, the group's Iraqi stronghold. Siddhartha, a British Hindu who converted to Islam and now goes by the name Abu Rumaysah, had skipped police bail in the UK to travel to Syria with his wife and young children in 2014. In an interview for a new documentary series for UK-based British Muslim TV about life on the frontline in Iraq, Barakat said Siddhartha was among the foreign fighters who enslaved her. "When I was captured near Kirkuk, they took me to another leader from Mosul. His name was Abu Dhar. He also took Yazidi girls for himself. Every day he would tell me that I had to marry another man," she said. The newspaper admits that while it is difficult to verify whether "Abu Dhar" is the same man as the most-wanted British terror suspect, the documentary's presenter said he was "very confident" Barakatwas referring to Siddhartha. "From the information I have, Siddhartha is deemed a leader in Mosul now, and she was very insistent on that name. When we showed her pictures of Siddhartha she recognised them but went very cold. She didn't want to go further and got very agitated," said presenter Joseph Hayat. Londoner Siddhartha is believed to have replaced Mohammed Emwazi, known as 'Jihadi John' before he was killed in a drone strike, as the masked apparent executioner of western hostages in propaganda videos. His sister, Konika Dhar, had appeared before a House of Commons Home Affairs Committee hearing earlier this year which was trying to establish the possibility of Siddhartha being the masked man who appeared in an propaganda video showing "British spies" being executed. "I'm still holding to the firm belief that what I'm seeing is not him - and I haven't had verification otherwise. It's sort of the realisation that 'is he really my brother that has done this? and I can't accept that he would ever do that. I can't accept it," the London-based law student had said. Siddhartha had six previous arrests while in the UK and was free on bail when he was able to escape from the UK via Paris. British police reportedly wrote to Siddhartha UK address to remind him of the need to surrender his passport, by which point he was already in Syria. "What a shoddy security system Britain must have to allow me to breeze through Europe to (ISIS)," he tweeted on his arrival in territories. Singapore's tech-heavyweights, with products designed for markets in India, China and the United States, is aiming to raise funds from The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) at a convention to be held in Silicon Valley this week. An 11-company delegation, led by state-owned trade promoter International Enterprise Singapore, will explore market specific product development opportunities and funding from some 4,600 delegates expected at The Indus Entrepreneurs convention (TIEcon) to be held on May 6-7, said Puneet Pushkarna, chairman of TiE Singapore chapter. The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is partnering the delegates in venturing into its global community of over 4,000 entrepreneurs, mostly Indians who led tech-startups in the 1990s and are now investors placing USD 1 billion a year in new tech startups with focus on the Indian, Chinese and American markets, he said. "Singapore's strong tech start-up base is ever growing and is focused on India, China and the United States," Pushkarna added. "The Singaporean participation, a first in TiEcon, will help channel investment into technologies and solutions for the world's three largest markets," he pointed out. Founded in 1992, TiE has a combined value creation of over USD 300 billion worldwide and now seeks greater participation in technologies for expanding economies where India is top of the list. The convention has a special session on 'Destination India' on May 7, which will be addressed byleaders on the growing potential of the Indian market. A high-power tech-delegation from India will be at the convention, joining global start-ups and presenting latest in the technologies to tech-investors. "Our focus will be on the hottest areas of innovation, and discussions will be on markets, technologies and investments," said Pushkarna, who sees Singapore as the second big technology hub after Silicon Valley. Six persons, including a father-son duo, were killed and one person was injured in separate road mishaps in Kota and Bundi districts, police said today. Bhawani Shankar Mali (22) and his father Chotmal (50) were killed after the motorbike they were riding on rammed into a stationary tractor trolley from behind last night on Kota-Lalsot mega highway near Gamach railway crossing gate, police said. No case was lodged in this connection as the family members did not want any police action, he added. In another road mishap, Rakesh Meena (32) and Satayanarayan Soni (62) were killed while one Prabhulal Dholi sustained minor injuries after the motorbike they were riding on collided late last night against a truck on Kota-Jhalawar highway, police said. In third road mishap, Ramlaxman Meena (38), a resident of Saptija in Bundi district, was killed after his motorbike rammed into a tractor under Talera police station last night, police said. In another incident, Ram Kumawat (22), a resident of Lankagate area of Bundi city, was killed after the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a speeding truck from behind near Chaterpura linking road on Kota-Jaipur highway, police said. Syria's military extended a unilateral cease-fire around Damascus and opposition strongholds in the eastern suburbs of the capital for another 48 hours today, as a humanitarian convoy delivered aid to 12,000 families trapped in a government-besieged area in central Syria. In Geneva, US Secretary of State John Kerry today said that "several proposals" were being discussed aimed at finding a way to restore at least a partial truce in the war-torn country. The latest partial truce in Syria does not cover Aleppo, the country's largest city and the scene of its worst violence in recent weeks. Aleppo remains on knife's edge as rebels and government forces trade rockets and bombs across the northern city and its outskirts, according to activist monitoring groups. Rebels today lobbed rockets into government-held areas in the western part of the city while government helicopters dropped crude and unguided "barrel bombs" on opposition-held areas in the city and surrounding villages, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Separately, a car bomb detonated in the rebel-held Salhin neighborhood of Aleppo, appearing to target an Islamic judiciary council. The explosion wounded a lawyer and several other people, according to the Local Coordination Committees, an activist network. The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, which organizes rescue operations in opposition-held areas of Aleppo, said several civilians were killed and wounded, including a judge for the hard-line jihadist faction Ahrar al-Sham. Still, Aleppo was safer Monday and Sunday than it had been in over a week. Fierce violence took the lives of more than 250 civilians over the previous nine days, according to the Observatory, while only six died in violence Sunday. The government declared its cease-fire on Friday around Damascus, the capital's eastern Ghouta suburbs, and the coastal Latakia region, in the wake of two weeks of rising violence that spoiled a previous cease-fire brokered by the US and Russia in late February. Russia's Tass agency quoted Russian Lt Gen Sergei Kuralenko, head of the Russian coordination center in Syria, as saying that the Damascus area cease-fire was brokered by the Russia and the United States, "in agreement with the Syrian leadership and the moderate opposition. The tea industry is under pressure due to factors including increased cost of production and climate, the United Planters of Association of Southern India (UPASI) today said. "The tea industry is under pressure, there is no denying in that. The prices are below cost of production, wages are increasingly getting determined politically without reference to the economic health of the industry, exports are being stagnant since many years,"UPASI President N Dharmaraj told reporters here. "Now the climate effect as the last straw on the camel's back is adding to the pressure", he added. Dharmaraj was speaking as UPASI today announced that India International Tea Convention will be held between 22nd to 24th September at Nilgiris. Stating that very few tree estates have made profit last year, Dharmaraj said in states like Kerala many tea estates have closed. "Due to high labour cost going up and the price issues, about seven or eight estates closed in the central Travancore area last year," he added. India roughly produces 1,200 million kg of tea, out of which 230 million kg is exported. Out of 240 million kg produced by south India, about 90 million kg is exported. Stating that 40 per cent of south Indian tea is exported, UPASI officials said exports is a critical element of south Indian Industry. Dharmaraj said the present drought situation is affecting the production "significantaly". "....By April I think south India alone to be lower by around 10 million Kg; ....For the full year we expect 10 per cent decline. Noermally the pattern in tea is April, May is big month, if we loose out, it is difficult to make up," he said. Indian Tea Association Secretary S Patra said, at all India level in March there was bumper crop, but in April there is loss due to unfavourable climate, so upto may it will be "somewhat so so like last year." About 22 per cent of India's tea production is from Southern states, Patra said. Pointing out that China is emerging as an "important" consumer of black tea, Dharmaraj said, "There is emerging interest for black tea in China; it is more of a life style kind of a change that we are seeing in China." He said India last year (2015 calander year) exported 3.93 miillion kg to China, which in value terms is about Rs 76.43 crore. Out of India's tea production about 80 per cent consumed by the dosmestic market. Dharmaraj said, "We have a very large domestic market, but the quantity of exports is very crucial for maintaining the price line, because the difference of even five to ten million kg impacts the domestic price. From the producers perspective increasing exports is very crucial." The 7th edition of India International Tea Convention with the theme "Let's 'Tea'm up for sustainability" will see participation from USA, Iran, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. It is for first time happening in a plantation district. Seven members of a marriage party were electrocuted and 15 others were injured when their vehicle came in contact with high tension wires in Telangana's Medak district, police said today. The marriage of one Shiva Ram, a native of Ramsingh Tanda under Chaukanpally village in Medak was held at Manju Wada Tanda near Kamareddy in Nizamabad district yesterday. The marriage party was returning to their village in a lorry at around 11 PM last night when the vehicle came in contact with the high-tension wires near Degaulwadi village, about six kms from their native village, Saida Naik, Circle Inspector of Narayankhed police station, said. In the mishap, seven persons, including the groom's father Nandi Ram and six other family members, died on the spot, he said. Besides, 15 others were injured, out of whom two were critical and shifted to a private hospital in Hyderabad. The others injured were shifted to government hospital at Narayankhed, he said. The bodies were also shifted to government hospital at Narayankhed and after a postmortem, they will be handed over to the relatives, police said. There were nearly 70 people travelling in the lorry at the time of the mishap. Police have registered a case. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he was "thankful" that the Centre had "accepted its mistake" of calling off talks with Pakistan over invite to Hurriyat by Islamabad last year. "We have been saying this since the first day, when they (Centre) called off talks with Pakistan over Hurriyat invite, that it was a mistake to call off talks. Thankfully, they (central government) have accepted the mistake now," Omar told reporters here. He was reacting to Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh's statement that government has no objection to Hurriyat talking to Pakistan High Commisioner. "At that time (of cancellation of talks) also we called this a gross over-reaction and said this should not be used as a pretext to derail talks between New Delhi and Islamabad," he said. "When nothing is legally and constitutionally wrong in Hurriyat leaders meeting Pakistani diplomats, why was this used as a ruse to derail the talks earlier? Who is responsible for the adverse implications this had in Kashmir? These questions need to be answered," Omar said. Perceptions are very important in places like Kashmir and the continued instability in Indo-Pak ties has harmed the State internally. Because of the uncertainty in Indo-Pak dialogue, there has been a sense of political anxiety and apprehension in Kashmir which has affected the state adversely," he said. He said there has been an "increase" in local youth resorting to armed militancy and a stark "decrease" in the state's tourism inflow which has adversely affected its economy. He also took a dig at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government in the state, saying it was "vision-less and directionless". "Only two words can be used for this government - vision-less and directionless. You cannot see this government on the ground as it does not exist there," Omar said. Omar said the Centre should clarify why the previous PDP-BJP government detained Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar last year in order to prevent them from travelling to New Delhi to meet the visiting Pakistani delegation. "The onus also lies on the Government to explain why the previous PDP-BJP Government prevented the meeting between Hurriyat leaders and the Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi when, as clearly stated by Singh, Hurriyat leaders have every right to meet citizens of other countries in India," Omar said while addressing party workers at a function in Kani Kadal here. He said Hurriyat leaders should not be prevented from meeting visiting Pakistani delegations and this was not an issue that should result in any confrontation between the two countries. The city groaned under traffic woes today as hundreds of cab drivers blocked National Highway 8 and ring road, protesting against action by enforcement agencies following the Supreme Court's decision to ban diesel taxis in Delhi. In the early hours, a group of protesters blocked both carriageways near the Rajokri toll booth on National Highway 8, which led to a long tailback stretching over a kilometer in the area, traffic officials said. The situation turned worse at around 11.30 AM when the protesters blocked both carriageways on the Ring Road stretch at Maharani Bagh, close to Ashram Chowk. In no time, traffic was thrown out-of-gear in Dhaulakuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli, and the chaos continued for hours. The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, linked by NH-8, and the traffic helpline was bombarded with calls from distressed commuters, officials said. The second blockade directly hit traffic in areas including Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram, near PGDAV College in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Moolchand stretching up to AIIMS. With people taking alternative routes, several stretches including Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Defense Colony and Mathura Road also got clogged within an hour, officials said. The protesters included the diesel cab drivers with All India tourist permits (AITP), who are exempted from the ban provided they operate outside NCR. Yesterday, over a hundred diesel-run cabs, including many with AITP, ended up getting impounded after they were found plying within the city limits, following which the drivers alleged harassment by enforcement agencies. "We will continue our protest until the authorities forbid police and transport department officials from penalising us as we have an All India permit which is exempted from the ban. We are only asking for exemption which we have already been given," said Sanjay Samrat, President of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association. After extending the deadline twice, the Supreme Court had on Saturday refused to give more time to cab operators to convert to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1. The court exempted taxis with all-India tourist permit (AITP) from switching to CNG if they operate outside NCR. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital of which 27,000 run on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months. One Turkish soldier was killed and 20 others were wounded when a car bomb blamed on Kurdish militants exploded in the Kurdish-majority southeast, the army said today. In a statement, the army said a total of 23 people were wounded in the blast which took place late on Sunday, 20 of them soldiers and three of them civilian family members. The car bomb detonated near a military command complex in the Dicle district of the Kurdish majority province of Diyarbakir, a security source told AFP, blaming the attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The command post and an adjacent housing area for families was seriously damaged in the attack, the Dogan agency reported. Police stopped a suspicious car after the attack but the suspects inside opened fire, injuring a judge and three police officers before they fled, the agency said. Turkey has been waging a major military offensive against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and much of the international community, after a two-year fragile ceasefire collapsed last summer. Since then, hundreds of members of the Turkish security forces have been killed. The renewed conflict has also struck at the heart of the country, with two attacks that killed dozens of people in the capital Ankara claimed by a PKK splinter group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK). The same group on Sunday claimed last week's suicide bombing in Bursa, Turkey's former Ottoman capital, which only killed the female bomber. Over 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK took up arms in 1984 demanding a homeland for Turkey's biggest minority. Since then, the group has pared back its demands to focus on cultural rights and a measure of autonomy. On Sunday, two police were killed and 22 other people were wounded in another car bomb attack in the southern city of Gaziantep, a major refugee hub, with initial suspicion for that attack falling on jihadists. Keeping tabs on tweets may be an effective tool to help prepare for - and prevent - increases in asthma-related emergencies, researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have found. The study suggests that to predict and possibly prevent severe asthma attacks in a community, physicians can look for clues in social media. Researchers collected tweets posted between October 2013 and June 2014 and narrowed them down to the 3,810 that mentioned asthma attacks and that originated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the US. During the same time period, incidence of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalisations across the region area were recorded. When the number of asthma-related tweets increased in a given week, the researchers found, the number of asthma emergency department visits or hospitalisations increased proportionally during the following week. "If the number of asthma-related tweets increased by 20 in a given week, for example, we would expect asthma-related emergency department visits or hospitalisations to increase by 12 in the following week," said lead researcher Yolande Mfondoum Pengetnze, medical director at Parkland Centre for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), a non-profit research and development corporation in the US. "This is an important finding that can change the way health departments and other healthcare stakeholders monitor asthma activity in a community," said Pengetnze. She said asthma activity in a community is usually measured after emergency department visits or hospitalisations already have occurred. "By using real-time Twitter activity health departments could actually anticipate asthma ED visits or hospitalisations in the following days and possibly intervene before some of them occur," she said. "For instance, a notification might be sent by the health department when there is an increase in asthma-related tweets in the community, giving people with asthma a heads-up to take necessary precautions, like avoiding exposure to asthma triggers or being more assiduous in taking their asthma medications," said Pengetnze. In turn, she said, this could help prevent some asthma flare-ups, improve people's health and decrease the number of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalisations. "We live in the era of Big Data," said study co-author Sudha Ram, referring to increasingly immense sets of information that lends itself well to analysis revealing patterns of human behaviour. "Our research is innovative and unique because it harnesses the power of Big Data from social media and other sources to address the problem of anticipating emergency department visits for a chronic condition, in this case asthma, in close to real-time conditions," Ram said. A UN arbitration tribunal has ruled in favour of an Italian marine, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at the Hague. Two Italian marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy here. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN Court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. However, the tribunal's order is expected to be made public tomorrow. Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was "misrepresenting" the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. Information reaching the Indian government said "India and Italy asked to approach Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Possible return to Italy strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required." "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Meanwhile, Italian new agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi)" after the that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence, as per ANSA. Later, the sources reproduced "relevant extracts" from the order of the Arbitral Tribunal. According to the extracts, (a) The Order neither releases nor frees any Marine. It only recommends further relaxation of bail conditions of one Italian Marine (Girone) to be considered and decided upon by the Indian Supreme Court. It may be noted that Sgt. Girone is already on bail on Orders of the Supreme Court, the sources said. (b) The Arbitral Tribunal's Order clearly recognises that "Girone is under India's authority alone" and that the "Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction" over him. (c) The Order therefore asks India and Italy to approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of the bail conditions of one Marine (Girone) under strict conditions to be laid down by the Indian Supreme Court, they said. (d) The Tribunal has suggested that these may "include the following conditions and guarantees: Italy shall ensure that Sgt. Girone reports to an authority in Italy designated by the Indian Supreme Court in intervals to be determined by the Court; Sgt. Girone shall be required by Italy to surrender his passport and shall be prohibited from leaving Italy unless the Supreme Court of India grants him leave to travel; Italy shall on its own motion, apprise the Supreme Court of India of the situation of Sgt. Girone every three months", the sources said. (e) Italy itself has accepted that if Girone is allowed by the Indian Supreme Court to return to Italy, "he will remain under the jurisdiction of the Courts of India"..."without prejudice to the authority of India's courts". (f) The Order also says that "India must be assured, unequivocally and with legally binding effect, that Sergeant Girone will return to India in case the Arbitral Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the Enrica Lexie incident". Italy has already given multiple undertakings to this effect, they added. (g) The Tribunal affirms that "these undertakings constitute an obligation binding upon Italy under international law". The Tribunal also "confirms that Italy is under an obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India if the Arbitral Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him in respect of the Enrica Lexie incident", the sources said. 2. The Tribunal is adjudicating only on the limited question of whether India or Italy has the jurisdiction to try the two Marines for the killing of two innocent Indian fishermen. Only after the Tribunal decides which country has jurisdiction, will the criminal trial commence. Pending this final decision of the Tribunal, both Marines are currently on bail on orders of the Supreme Court and will continue to remain under its jurisdiction till the verdict of the Arbitral Tribunal. Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen, will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, Italian Foreign Ministry said today, citing an order of the UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. However, the ruling about the same will be made public tomorrow, according to Italian agency ANSA. "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. The Government has been working to submit the whole matter to international arbitration and, in this framework, bringing home the two Riflemen Marina. The announced order paves the way for this result. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen during an anti-piracy mission in 2012 off the Kerala coast after mistaking them for pirates. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. The other marine, Massimiliano Latorre, is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014. The Italian government has taken the marines case to international arbitration after repeated delays in the trial in India. According to Italian Foreign Ministry, the government will immediately start consultations with India that the conditions to give effect to the decision of the arbitral tribunal are quickly defined and agreed. The UN said today it had enlisted Oscar winning Australian actress Cate Blanchett to help raise awareness about the plight of refugees, amid a massive global displacement crisis. The United Nations refugee agency said it had appointed Blanchett as its newest Goodwill Ambassador, a role long famously held by US film star Angelina Jolie. "I am deeply proud to take on this role," Blanchett said in a statement, stressing that "there has never been a more crucial time to stand with refugees and show solidarity." "We are living through an unprecedented crisis, and there must be shared responsibility worldwide," she added. Last year, a record 60 million people worldwide were displaced from their homes, and more than one third of them were living as refugees, according to the UNHCR. But solidarity has recently appeared to be in short supply in Europe for instance, which is facing surging xenophobia as it reels from its worst migration crisis since World War II. "It feels like we're at a fork in the road, do we go down the compassionate path or do we go down the path of intolerance?" Blanchett said. "As a mother, I want my children to go down the compassionate path," she added. Ahead of the announcement, Blanchett had gone to Jordan to see for herself the massive operation there to help people displaced by Syria's brutal five-year conflict and to meet refugee families first hand and hear their stories, UNHCR said. The Obama administration has asked Pakistan to "put forward" its "national funds" to buy the eight F-16 fighter jets as some top American Senators have put a hold on use of the US tax payers' money for this purpose. "While Congress has approved the sale, key members have made clear that they object to using FMF (foreign military financing) to support it. Given Congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose," US State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference yesterday. Kirby, however, did not say when this decision was taken and when was it communicated to Pakistan. On February 11, the State Department had informed the Congress about its determination for selling eight the fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of $700 million. The move was opposed by the Indian government as it summoned the US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, to lodge its protest. Here in the US, top American lawmakers led by Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, put a hold on the sale arguing that it would not let the Obama administration use tax payers' money for sale of the fighter jets to Pakistan given that Islamabad was not taking enough action against terrorist organisations, in particular the Haqqani network, and there was continued existence of terrorist safe havens inside its territory. Several Indian American organisations reached out to lawmakers expressing their concern over such a sale, which they argued is nothing but rewarding a bad actor. Last week, top American lawmakers during a Congressional hearing openly told the Obama administration that they feared Pakistan would be using these F-16 fighter jets against India and not against terrorists. Fresh air strikes pummelled the Syrian city of Aleppo today as US Secretary of State John Kerry made a desperate bid to salvage a two-month ceasefire in the war-torn country. The top US diplomat gave some of his most downbeat comments yet after meeting the UN peace envoy on Syria, saying the conflict was "in many ways out of control and deeply disturbing to everybody in the world, I hope." "The attack on this hospital is unconscionable," he said, accusing President Bashar al-Assad's regime of deliberately targeting three clinics and a major hospital last week. "And it has to stop." Kerry met UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura and the Saudi foreign minister in Geneva, but the absence of Russia cast a pall over the proceedings. Washington and Moscow are the joint sponsors of the Syrian peace process, and de Mistura has made it clear that he sees little hope of progress without their agreement. Kerry said he would call Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later Monday to press for the ceasefire to be restored. De Mistura was due to fly to Moscow for talks with Lavrov on Tuesday. While agreeing in theory to support a ceasefire, Russia has done little to rein in Assad's forces around Aleppo, which were in action again early Monday. More than a week of fighting in and around Syria's second city has killed hundreds of civilians, and fresh air strikes hit rebel-held eastern Aleppo in the early hours. Several neighbourhoods, including the heavily-populated Bustan al-Qasr district, were hit, according to AFP's correspondent in the northern Syrian city. "What is happening in Aleppo is an outrage. It's a violation of all humanitarian laws. It's a crime," said Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir as he met Kerry. "It's a violation of all the understandings that were reached," he added, accusing Assad and the Russians of violating international agreements to back peace. Despite the early-morning raids, there was a relative lull in the fighting later Monday, allowing some residents to venture out into the streets, AFP's correspondents there said, with some even opening up shops. Kerry said Washington would press moderate rebels to separate themselves from the Al-Nusra Front's jihadists in Aleppo. Russia and Assad's regime have used the presence of Al-Nusra, which was not party to a February 27 ceasefire deal, as an excuse to press their offensive. A US Congress-formed federal body on international religious freedom today appelaed to the Obama administration to designate Pakistan among nations listed as worst violators of religious freedom due to the current state of minorities in the ciuntry. "In 2015, the Pakistani government continued to perpetrate and tolerate systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations," US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in its annual report. As such USCIRF again recommended the State Department to designated Pakistan a "country of particular concern," or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), as it has recommended since 2002. Its recommendations are non-binding and Pakistan has not been designated as a CPC country by the State Department. In addition to Pakistan USCIRF has recommended to the State Department to designate seven other countries as CPC: Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Tajikistan and Vietnam. The State Department designated CPC countries are Myanmar, China, Eriteria, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. "Religiously-discriminatory constitutional provisions and legislation, such as the country's blasphemy law and anti-Ahmadiyya laws, intrinsically violate international standards of freedom of religion or belief and result in prosecutions and imprisonments," the report said. The actions of non-state actors, including US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban), continue to threaten all Pakistanis and the country's overall security, it said. Religious minority communities, including Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslims, Christians, and Hindus, experience chronic sectarian and religious violence from both terrorist organizations and individuals within society, it added. The government's failure to provide adequate protection for likely targets of such violence or prosecute perpetrators has created a deep rooted climate of impunity, it said, noting that discriminatory content against minorities in provincial textbooks remains a significant concern, as are reports of forced conversions and marriages of Christian and Hindu girls and women. "While the Pakistani government has taken some steps over the last two years to address egregious religious freedom violations, it has failed to implement systemic changes," the report noted. "For years, the Pakistani government has failed to protect citizens, minority and majority alike, from sectarian and religiously-motivated violence," USCIRF said. USCIRF in its report expressed its disappointment over US policy towards Pakistan. "Human rights and religious freedom have not been among the highest priorities in the bilateral relationship," it said. "Anti-Terrorism Courts had limited procedures for obtaining or admitting foreign evidence. The trial of seven suspects accused in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack was ongoing at year's end, with many witnesses for the prosecution remaining to be called by the court," it said. "Security concerns and procedural issues resulted in a slow pace of trial proceedings," the State Department said. In December 2014, the court granted bail to the lead defendant, alleged Mumbai attack planner and LeT operational commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi. Lakhvi was released from prison on bail in April 2015 and the government of Pakistan reports he remained under house arrest at the end of 2015, it added. According to the State Department, money transfer systems persisted throughout much of Pakistan, especially along the border with Afghanistan, and may be abused by drug traffickers and terrorist financiers operating in the cross-border area. While Pakistani authorities did report having frozen assets of UN-designated entities during 2015, the amount was unclear. The US government was not informed of any successful terrorism financing prosecutions in 2015. Forest fires raging through large parts of Uttarakhand began showing signs of abating as two IAF choppers and over 10,000 personnel continued firefighting operations for the second day today. The number of active fires dropped sharply to 40 in the hill state and the Centre claimed the situation was "under control". Three persons were arrested from Pithoragarh and Nainital for burning dry leaves of Cheed and stoking the fires. "There are only 40 active fires in the state today in comparison to yesterday's 73 which is an encouraging sign. It shows the situation is gradually getting under control. "Today there were 271 incidents of forest fires in the state out of which 232 have been extinguished, " Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) S Ramaswamy said. Two IAF helicopters made nine sorties from Nainital and Pauri and poured water out of Bamdi buckets over the flaming forests as 10,000 personnel fought numerous infernos on the ground. Governor KK Paul, who is closely monitoring the situation, spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Forest and Environment Prakash Javadekar and briefed them about the situation prevailing in the state where forests in 3185.45 hectares have been blighted since February 2. According to Raj Bhawan sources, the Prime Minister asked the Governor to keep the Centre posted about the steps being taken to put out forest fires and assured him of all help from the Centre to overcome the situation. President Pranab Mukherjee also shared his concern with the Governor and expressed his condolences to families which had lost their kin in forest fire incidents. Around 5-6 people were reportedly killed in such incidents over the past few days. In Delhi, Union Minister of State for Home Kirren Rijiju said the fires have been largely contained. "As per the latest information, fire has been contained. Situation is under control now," Rijiju told reporters. A four-member Central team of experts, including Special Director Centre for Fire Explosives K C Wadha and director of Delhi Fire Services G C Misra have reached Uttarakhand to assess the situation and suggest possible remedies. Rijiju said, if required, the Centre would send additional personnel to assist the state. "Kumaon is very much under control now with two MI 17 choppers conducting several sorties over affected areas to sprinkle water. We have to concentrate now with greater focus on Garhwal," Principal Conservator of Forest B P Gupta, who is the nodal officer for firefighting operations for both regions said. Fresh fire incidents will continue to occur till there is a drop in day temperatures but the heartening factor is that we are now equipped to control the situation with MI17 choppers and 10,000 personnel of the NDRF, SDRF, Forest Guards, Homeguards and locals involved in the firefighting exrcise," Gupta said. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand High Court has issued notice to the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment seeking a detailed report from it on the extent of damage caused by forest fires in the state so far and the steps taken to control the blaze. Projects related to upgrading of civic infrastructure and rejuveation of heritage in Varanasi would be speeded up in a time-bound manner, officials today said. This was agreed upon at a two-hour long review meeting taken by Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba here, an official statement said. Construction of household and community toilets, solid waste management, cleaning of ghats, installation of LED lights, land acquisition for a water treatment plant, among other projects, were discussed in detail, it said. Gauba asked the state government officials to ensure speedy and concerted efforts to make Varanasi an open defecation-free city at the earliest. It was also noted in the meeting that National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has agreed to operationalise a waste processing plant at Karsada in a month's time and Varanasi Municipal Corporation will come out with an action plan for ensuring round-the-clock cleaning of ghats in ten days time. A committee will be set up under the Divisional Commissioner of Varnasi to enable speedy execution of 24 road projects under the Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) to be implemented by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), it said. Regarding operationalisation of Kyoto-Varanasi Collaboration Agreement, it was agreed that JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) will soon complete survey works for Rs 760 crore sewerage network projects in cis-Varuna areas of the city and Rs 100 crore sewerage and STP project in Ramnagar so that they could be launched before the India-Japan Cooperation Review due next year, it said. BJP MP from Hamirpur and BJYM national president Anurag Thakur today attacked the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh for "faulty" implementation of Rashtriya Uchhtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for undergraduate courses. "RUSA had been introduced in a hasty manner by the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) colluding with the state government to get additional annual fat funds of 100 crores from the Centre," Anurag charged in a press release. In their greed, the Virbhadra government Singh has played with the future of its students, he alleged. "Today, these students aren't able to apply for their post-graduate courses in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh and other University because their RUSA degrees are not being recognised," he said. Thakur said that "to make matters worse, the university is raising fees as well as planning to introduce RUSA system in its post-graduate courses as well. He said no justification could be given for delaying the results, in some cases, for almost 3 years. So now, if a 3rdyear graduate gets to know he hasn't cleared a 1styear course, he/she would return and wait for additional years to complete these courses again. The Virbhadra Singh government should answer why such hasty implementation was done, Thakur charged. "What was their urgent need for annual 100 crores fund? Was it worth playing with student's future?" he said. Thakur also plans to raise the issue in Parliament tomorrow. He has requested the HRD ministry to immediately intervene in the matter regarding implementation issues of RUSA, delayed results and proposed fee hike with HPU. Also, since the academic session for the first batch of RUSA undergraduates is about to end, he has been following up with HRD ministry that immediate directions be issued to Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh and other universities so that applications from HPU students be admitted until the matter be resolved. Vistara today launched a flight connecting this city with Delhi and Hyderabad. Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, flew its inaugural flight to Chandigarh from Delhi. On its return leg, it will fly to Hyderabad via Delhi. The new service will also offers connection via Delhi between Chandigarh and Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad, Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara told reporters here. The introductory fare between Chandigarh and Delhi has been kept at Rs 1,990. "Chandigarh is a key market in north India, a base for significant business and tourism in the region. Our focus will be on corporate and leisure travellers," Kapoor said, adding the company would also introduce premium economy class on this route, apart from business and economy class. International travellers from the city will also be connected to global destinations via Vistara's hub at Delhi, making it a convenient for them to travel overseas, he said. With introduction of the new route, Vistara now covers six destinations in north India including Jammu, Srinagar, Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi, and 12 others across India. "We will soon add Kolkata as our new destination," he said. On purchase of new aircraft, Kapoor said by 2018, the airline will have 20 Airbus A320 planes in its fleet. "Currently, we have nine aircraft and by October this year, we will add four more. By 2018, we shall have a fleet of 20 aircraft," he said. Vistara is currently operating 417 flights per week to 16 destinations, he said, adding that with the addition of more aircraft, it will be operating 580 flights per week. Kapoor termed the 5/20 rule for flying internationally as an "artificial" restriction on domestic airlines, saying it should be removed. Under 5/20 rules, an airline should have five years of domestic flying experience and fleet of 20 aircraft for flying international. "This rule is hurting the country as 70 per cent of the traffic from India is being carried by foreign airlines. "It (5/20 rule) is hurting us. Aviation is a scale industry, the more scale you have, the better you can operate and if you are limited to domestic sector, then your 'scale' will be limited to domestic. To succeed, you need to have no artificial restrictions. You fly wherever you think you can," he said. "We cannot fly internationally until 5/20 goes," he said. India needs to enhance the pool of trade lawyers and legal experts to effectively handle the growing number of complex disputes at the WTO, Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said on Monday. All developing countries, including India, she said, would face difficulties in contesting trade disputes at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) because of a paucity of lawyers and legal professionals to deal with such cases. "That is something we need to develop in every developing country. The capacity in terms of international trade lawyers, legal experts," she said. Read more from our special coverage on "WTO" "What is a bit of concern that as yet the number of law firms within India is very very limited who engage in the practice of trade law and I think what we would like to see is that this pool should grow, the number of experts should grow, because that is the only way in which we will deepen the pool and truly become able to handle many of our own disputes entirely within the domestic firms," she said. Teotia was speaking at a function on ' Dispute Settlement: Between Honest Admiration and Candid Criticism'. It was organised by Centre for Studies and IIFT. She said that India is engaged with the international legal fraternity and also working with Indian law firms in this area. "We are supporting them (domestic firms) in gaining the experience in being able to participate (in disputes)," she said, adding that huge opportunities exists in this areas. India has been a very active participant in WTO's dispute settlement mechanism. It is a complainant in about 22 disputes, and respondent in 23 cases and as a third party, the country is participant in about 100 disputes. Raising certain concerns, Teaotia said: "As we progress, there is an effort to include within the dispute settlement mechanism, the disputes arising out of decisions in other forums and I am talking about very specifically labour and environment issues." She said that such cases would pose a great challenge in the coming years for developing countries because very often these are conditions which add as restrictions in the freedom of trade, particularly for developing countries. She also said that as the global trade slows "there tends to be a much greater level of protectionism across the world and that is what we seeing now that there is an increasing use of trade remedies and as these are used often, some of these would also end up as disputes". Further, the secretary said that there is also a need to work with law schools within India to deepen the specific courses and to increase the interest of the younger generation of the legal fraternity in trade laws. "I believe that cost (to contest cases in WTO) is also one of the reason why developing countries are not utilising this (dispute) mechanism," she added. With the AgustaWestland issue set to be debated in Rajya Sabha tomorrow, Congress today threatened to stall the proceedings if the Centre opposed a discussion on the alleged Rs 20,000 crore Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) scam. Seeking to put the government in a tight spot, the Opposition Congress demanded a thorough discussion on the alleged GSPC scam, when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. "If that is the case, we will not allow the House to function," party spokesman Jairam Ramesh, a member of the Upper House, told reporters. His remarks came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu's reported opposition to taking up the GSPC issue in spite of the matter being pending with the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. "If the CAG report was to be 'Brahmastra' for 2-G, and if CAG Report was the 'Brahmastra' for the coal allotment, how can't it not be 'Brahmastra' for KG Basin (the GSPC issue). Why are these double standards," Ramesh asked. Targeting Modi, he said, "The 'Sutradhar' of the GSPC is now the Prime Minister of India. That is the only reason the man who masterminded the GSPC, who ran the GSPC, after all he is hands-on PM, he is hands-on CM and one of the characteristics of the hands-on CM is that he had his hands on everything and he certainly had his hands on GSPC." On being asked about the AgustaWestland issue, he said, "Congress is not running away from debate and is wanting it and we will participate". (Reopens DES52) Ramesh alleged all overseas acquisitions of GSPC are being liquidated. "GSPC's scam footprints extend not only to KG basin but also globally and internationally," he charged. To a question whether GSPC-scam can be called an "international scandal", Ramesh alleged Gujarat government was suppressing a letter written to it by the government of Egypt in which it had sought an explanation as to how USD 135 million, as claimed to have been spent by GSPC in Egypt, have been spent. "Hunger Games" star Woody Harrelson has been reportedly denied a medical-marijuana dispensary license. The 54-year-old actor applied for the licence back in February in Honolulu County on behalf of his company, Simply Organic Living, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Harrelson was among 66 Hawaii residents who applied to open the state's first medical-marijuana dispensaries. Applicants were required to have USD 1 million cash, plus USD 100,000 for each of their planned dispensary locations. They also must have been residents of Hawaii for more than five years. The eight successful licensees were announced on Friday by the Hawaii Department of Health. The law allows medical-marijuana businesses to have two production centers and two retail dispensaries, for a total of 16 dispensaries statewide. And, the facilities can be open for business as early as July 15. Six are allowed on Oahu, four on the island of Hawaii, four on Maui and two on Kauai. Hawaii became the first US state to legalise medical marijuana 16 years ago. A 23-year-old youth died due to heat stroke, becoming the first victim of the searing heat wave that has gripped the city, officials said. The victim, identified as Suraj Pal, a resident of Narol locality, fell unconscious and collapsed yesterday due to severe heat. He was rushed to a government hospital for treatment, but died late last night during treatment, an official of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said. "Pal was working in the open, when he suffered heat stroke and collapsed. He was rushed to LG Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment. However, he died late last night," in-charge medical officer, AMC, Bhavin Solanki said. Several parts of the state are reeling under heat wave, with temperatures soaring above 43 degrees Celsius, prompting the state government to put district hospitals on alert. The government has directed hospitals to provide immediate medical assistance to the people affected by heat stroke. A youth today allegedly tried to fling his chappal towards Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public interaction programme here but was arrested by the police. The incident occurred when the youth, who incidentally goes by the name of Nitish Kumar, came to meet the CM and hand over his request at 'Janata ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri' programme. As the accused, a resident of Arwal district bent down to take off his chappal, he was immediately caught by a posse of security men. Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told reporters the youth has been arrested and taken to Sachivalaya police station for detailed questioning, the SSP said. At 'Janata ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri' programme at the Chief Minister's residence people present their grievances and the CM directs officials to initiate action. It emerged that the youth had created ugly scenes earlier too at the 'Janata Darbar' programme of senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi recently. The grievance of the youth was not very clear but officials said he was apparently angry over the state government's recent advisory against use of fire for cooking and hawan etc between 9 AM to 6 PM to curb increasing incidents of fire. By Byron Kaye SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright told the BBC on Monday he was the creator of controversial digital currency bitcoin, ending years of speculation about a person who until now has gone by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. The BBC said Wright gave technical proof supporting his claim to using bitcoins known to be owned by bitcoin's creator. It said prominent members of the bitcoin community had also confirmed Wright's claim and said Wright repeated the claim to The Economist and GQ. "I was the main part of it, but other people helped me," the BBC quoted Wright as saying. The Economist however said it was not entirely convinced. "Our conclusion is that Mr Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain," it said. "Indeed, it may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin." The Australian Tax Office (ATO) and police were not immediately available for comment. In December, police raided Wright's Sydney home and office after Wired magazine named him as the probable creator of bitcoin and holder of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the cryptocurrency, a currency which has attracted the interest of banks, speculators, criminals and regulators. Police at the time referred all inquiries about the raids to the ATO, which said it could not comment on "any individual's or entity's tax affairs" due to legal confidentiality. The treatment of bitcoins for tax purposes in Australia has been the subject of considerable debate. The ATO ruled in December 2014 that cryptocurrency should be considered an asset, rather than a currency, for capital gains tax purposes. Unlike traditional currency, bitcoins are not distributed by a central bank or backed by physical assets like gold, but are "mined" by users who use computers to calculate increasingly complex algorithmic formulas. Bitcoin experts say that unmasking Satoshi Nakamoto would be significant for the industry. Not only would the proven founder likely hold some sway over the future of the bitcoin protocol, but Nakamoto may also hold enough bitcoin to influence its price. As an early miner of bitcoins, Nakamoto is sitting on about 1 million bitcoins, worth more than $400 million at present exchange rates, according to bitcoin expert Sergio Demian Lerner. (Additional reporting by Matt Siegel; Editing by Nick Macfie and Raju Gopalakrishnan) By Byron Kaye and Jeremy Wagstaff SYDNEY/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright has told the BBC that he was the creator of controversial digital currency bitcoin, after years of speculation about a person who until now has gone by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. The BBC reported on Monday that Wright gave some technical proof demonstrating that he had access to blocks of bitcoins known to have been created by bitcoin's creator. But he declined requests from The Economist to provide further proof that he was Nakamoto. "Our conclusion is that Mr Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain," The Economist said. "Indeed, it may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin." The BBC said prominent members of the bitcoin community had confirmed Wright's claim. "I was the main part of it, but other people helped me," the BBC quoted Wright as saying. Bitcoin experts say that unmasking Nakamoto would be significant for the industry. Not only would the proven founder likely hold some sway over the future of the bitcoin protocol, but Nakamoto may also hold enough bitcoin to influence its price. Researchers believe Nakamoto may be holding up to one million bitcoins, which if sold today would fetch about $440 million. "If Mr Wright is in possession of Satoshi's original nearly one million bitcoins, he will be for sure closely watched by investors trying to guess his future moves," Tomas Forgac, who runs bitcoin startup Coin of Sale, told . Wright told The Economist he would exchange bitcoin slowly to avoid pushing down its price. Bitcoin fell more than 3 percent after of Wright's claims, from $454.89 to below $440, before recovering slightly. In December, police raided Wright's Sydney home and office after Wired magazine named him as the probable creator of bitcoin and holder of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the cryptocurrency, which has attracted the interest of banks, speculators, criminals and regulators. The treatment of bitcoins for tax purposes in Australia has been the subject of considerable debate. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) ruled in December 2014 that cryptocurrency should be considered an asset, rather than a currency, for capital gains tax purposes. On Monday, the ATO said it had no comment while police were not immediately available for comment. "PASSION AND INTELLECT" In a blog post dated Monday, Wright appeared to out himself as bitcoin founder by posting a technical explanation, including examples of code, of the process by which he created the currency. He thanked all those who had supported the project from its inception. "This incredible community's passion and intellect and perseverance have taken my small contribution and nurtured it, enhanced it, breathed life into it," he wrote. "You have given the world a great gift. Thank you." However Wright did not make a clear admission that he was Nakamoto. "Satoshi is dead," he said. "But this is only the beginning." Unlike traditional currency, bitcoins are not distributed by a central bank or backed by physical assets like gold, but are "mined" by users who use computers to calculate increasingly complex algorithmic formulas. If Wright is Nakamoto he "is now the leader of a movement", said Roberto Capodieci, a Singapore-based entrepreneur working on the blockchain, the technology underlying the currency. That movement ranges from libertarian enthusiasts to banks experimenting with cryptocurrencies, all of which pay homage in some way to Nakamoto's writings. Top of the list of outstanding issues is the future of bitcoin itself, where two groups are debating over changes to the size of the blocks in the blockchain, the digital ledger that stores transactions. "He may help to settle the issues internal to the bitcoin community: block size and new node protocols," Capodieci told . (Additional reporting by Matt Siegel in Sydney; Editing by Nick Macfie and Raju Gopalakrishnan) In this era of rapidly evolving technology, HR must rethink about its strategy and processes to meet the requirements of the present day workforce. Jason Averbook, thought leader and author, in his keynote address "HR Innovation in the Age of Technology" at the SHRM Tech Conference 2016 emphasised that people, process and technology should work in tandem for organisational development. He emphasised on the need to move away from HR technology, which focuses on HR people, to workplace technology, which is technology for the people. The point he was making was the technology currently used in HR serves HR personnel, but it has to be employee friendly, not just HR-friendly. He said most of the money spent in HR Tech is spent on one aspect, which is payroll. It is important for companies to have, not one, but a three-year strategy in place for HR that uses technology, story-telling and design thinking. On the sidelines of the conference, Averbook raised a concern: "HR has 47 processes but employees don't have to know all of that. In HR, we have got to create that single experience or platform that addresses all the issues and is holistic, user friendly, and personalised." Another important trend that was raised by the companies was the need to create and define a user experience for the company and the employees, and not just the customers. Madhura Dasgupta Sinha, Head, Employee Experience - IDFC Bank, spoke about the changing role of Technology in HR. Dasgupta stressed on the need to treat the employees as the best customers. She said, every experience with the organisation can be divided into the rational part, which is technology driven and the irrational or emotional part on how the organisation makes you feel. "If the employee isn't engaged, they will not be motivated to make your customers feel great too." For that, the need for user experience through design thinking, gamification and appification needs a leg up. Averbook said companies should create and drive mobile first technology. Another important component is personalisation, the move from a world where everything is cold service to providing a personal experience. Sameer Khanna, VP & head - HR, Ericsson India highlighted the need to involve employees' families too. In India, we rely a lot on what our parents and siblings tell us. The decision-making is mostly joint. In today's age when work permeates family time, there is a need for families to be a part of the company, too. With more and more companies facing challenges to source and recruit the best talent, Hacker Rank's co-founder Harishankaran K gave a demo session on Source, Screen, and interview the best tech talent where he explained how Hacker Rank's automated CodeChallenges helps with accelerated hiring. He said with their product CodeChecker recruiters can save 95 per cent of the time they spend on shortlisting candidates. Indian-origin businessman Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty House group has confirmed that it will be submitting its bid for Tata Steel's loss-making UK businesses by tomorrow, according to a media report. The commodities trading firm, which emerged as an early front-runner for Wales-based Port Talbot steelworks, had said last week that its team was evaluating the bid. "We can confirm that Liberty will submit a letter of intent to Tata Steel on Tuesday and has put in place a strong internal transaction team and panel of leading external advisers to take the bid forward," a Liberty House spokesperson was quoted as saying by 'The Financial Times'. Gupta is being advised by several former Tata Steel executives including Jon Bolton, who until last year was the head of Tata's Long Products business in Europe, the report said. Bolton joined Liberty House last month to run its steel business in Scotland, also bought over from Tata. Liberty House is reportedly working with Macquarie Capital, which is prepared to support the bid with funding, and the State Bank of India. Deloitte and Grant Thornton are among other firms involved which, among other issues, will advise Liberty House on dealing with the nearly 500 million pound funding deficit in Tata's pensions scheme, considered the biggest stumbling block in clinching the sale. Gupta, a Punjab-born graduate in economics and management from Cambridge University, has in the last week completed the acquisition of Tata's Scottish plants in a back to back transaction, which saw the Scottish government acquire the two plants of Dalzell and Clydebridge in Lanarkshire and immediately sell them to Liberty House. "Our team are continuing to evaluate the opportunity to make a bid for other Tata UK assets," Gupta had said. Other bidders for the remaining Tata Steel UK assets include Albion Steel, a UK start-up business with industry veteran Tony Pedder on the board. It is believed to be eyeing Tata's speciality steels unit based in Sheffield, northern England. A Tata management team buyout is seen as the other serious contender at this stage. The Tata Group had acquired its UK steel operations as part of a 6.7 billion pounds acquisition from Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2009. The firm has blamed structural disadvantages in the UK, such as extremely high energy costs, as the reason for the crisis in the steel industry. "If we were at the same electricity costs as Germany, then (Tata Steel UK) would be 40 million pounds better off -- we would not be having negative numbers. We would not be selling the business if we were not losing money," Tata Steel UK CEO Bimlendra Jha told the House of Commons Business Select Committee last week. He had also indicated that the firm wants to ideally sell all its UK assets together, rather than splitting them up. "We would not deal with somebody saying leave alone Port Talbot and give us the rest. That is not a solution that's acceptable," Jha had said. The UK government has indicated that it is willing to take a stake of no more than 25 per cent to help secure a deal. Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya has resigned as a member of the Rajya Sabha, several television news channels reported on Monday. Mallya, 60, flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 at a time when the government and mainly state-controlled banks are trying to recover $1.4 billion owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines. The government wrote to its British counterpart on Thursday seeking the deportation of the Formula 1 motor racing boss, who is the target of a non-bailable warrant in a money laundering investigation. The government has already revoked the diplomatic passport that Mallya carried as a member of the Rajya Sabha. LOGAN A 25-year-old Smithfield man, Shane Hallstrom, was arraigned Monday afternoon on charges that he murdered his father. Hallstrom appeared by closed circuit video from the Cache County Jail, wearing a purple jumpsuit. He sat motionless as Judge Kevin Allen told him that prosecutors had filled one charge of first-degree murder against him. State attorney Tony Baird asked the court to hold Hallstrom without bail, stating he was an extreme danger to the community. Judge Allen agreed and ordered him to remain incarcerated. He also found him indigent and assigned him a public defender. Hallstrom was arrested Thursday night outside his Smithfield home after officers said he stabbed Calvin L. Hallstrom in the neck with a kitchen knife. The two had previously agreed to meet and spend the evening together, and try to repair their relationship. Calvin was found lying at the entrance of the driveway, unconscious and bleeding heavily from the neck when officers and deputies arrived. He was transported to Cache Valley Hospital by ambulance where he was later pronounced dead. Shane was found kneeling near Calvins body. He was subdued and unwilling to speak to investigators. Officers later searched the home and found a three-inch long paring knife believed to be the murder weapon. During Mondays court appearance, Judge Allen ordered Shane to appear again in court next Monday.

will@cvradio.com Here's your guide to Corpus Christi's Dia de los Muertos festival The goals for the event are to celebrate and honor the cultural heritage of Mexico and educate and unite the Corpus Christi community. SHARE By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times NuStar Energy cracked the top 10 on Fortune Magazine's coveted "50 Best Workplaces for Giving Back" list. The San Antonio master limited partnership ranked ninth on the list compiled by the business publication. It was the only the only energy company on the ranking. Great Place to Work Institute analyzed surveys from nearly 600 companies to rank those that best create a sense of purpose and meaning among their employees through involvement in the community. The Best Workplaces for Giving Back also considered feedback from about 240,000 employees, as well as their companies' volunteer programs and charitable giving relative to revenue. In a statement, NuStar president/CEO Brad Barron credited board chairman Bill Greehey with fostering a culture of caring and sharing within the company. NuStar operates 8,643 miles of pipeline and 87 terminal and storage facilities that store and distribute crude oil, refined products and specialty liquids. The company has deep roots in the Coastal Bend, having invested more than $70 million in its Corpus Christi operations the past 10 years. In 2014, it completed work on a new dock at the Port of Corpus Christi, with a storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels. Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam Natalia Contreras/Caller-Times Mary Garcia adds a hair piece on her granddaughter Mariela Garcia, 8, on Sunday before a performance. Mariela danced a traditional San Luis Potosi dance during the KSAB 99.9 annual Cinco de Mayo festival at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. SHARE Natalia Contreras/Caller-Times Members of the Alcorta's Compania de Danza Folklorica perform Sunday at the KSAB 99.9 annual Cinco de Mayo festival at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. Natalia Contreras/Caller-Times Members of the Alcorta's Compania de Danza Folklorica perform Sunday at the KSAB 99.9 annual Cinco de Mayo festival at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. By Natalia Contreras of the Caller-Times Mariela Garcia, 8, said she has been dancing Folklorico since she was 3 years old. On Sunday, Mariela wore a traditional dress from San Luis Potosi. "I like the outfits and the music," Mariela said as she stood patiently by her grandmother, Mary Garcia, who added a hair piece on her before her performance. Mariela performed with the Alcorta's Compania de Danza Folklorica during the KSAB 99.9 annual Cinco de Mayo festival at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown. Garcia said her granddaughter has performed at the festival for the past four years. She said she is proud to know her granddaughter knows about her culture and her roots at an early age. "It's so important that these kids know about their culture," Garcia said. "They should never forget about it." The festival featured about 15 food and 35 retail arts and crafts vendors. Live music included Ricky Naranjo y Los Gamblers, Chente Barrera y Taconazo, La Conquista, Gabriel Zavala, Vidal, and Juan P. Moreno & The Texas Renegades. Celeste Herrera, KSAB 99.9 account executive said for several years the event's purpose has been to bring family fun and culture to the community. She said event officials welcome about 3,000 listeners from the Coastal Bend at the festival. "This has always been our favorite event because people can bring friends and family," Herrera said. "It's also a chance to embrace our Hispanic culture through music, food and the vendors here." Brenda Garza said this was the first time she and her family attended the festival. She said she tries to expose her children, Jaxen, 2, and Kaylee, 1, to Hispanic celebrations as much as she can. "We saw this on Facebook and thought it would be a good way to get together and get out," Garza said. "There are a lot of kids who don't speak Spanish or maybe their parents don't either. It's always good to know about that part of yourself." Twitter: @CallerNatalia SHARE Andrews By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times The Bexar County District Attorney's Office dismissed a barratry case against a Corpus Christi lawyer Monday. Prosecutors cited insufficient evidence to prosecute Keith Gould, 54, who had been indicted in 2014 on three counts of barratry. Barratry, or illegally soliciting clients, is commonly known as ambulance chasing. "The state is unable to prove all the elements of the offense of barratry beyond a reasonable doubt," prosecutors wrote in the dismissal form filed in 186 District Judge Jefferson Moore's court. The case stemmed from circumstances surrounding a 2011 lawsuit filed by a former employee who claimed the Gould Law Firm in Corpus Christi and the Andrews and Gould Law Firm in San Antonio paid employees to solicit cases. Gould was not immediately available for comment Monday. In 2011, Gould said the lawsuit was the result of a disgruntled employee who was fired for misconduct and insubordination. Gould's lawyer, Demetrio Duarte, praised the justice system for working correctly in the case against Gould and called Gould a "good and honest lawyer." Paul David Andrews, 59, was also charged with barratry and solicitation of capital murder. As part of a plea deal, Andrews pleaded no contest in March to solicitation of murder and the barratry charges will be dismissed, court officials said. Andrews, who is out of jail on bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12. Andrews gave up his law license in lieu of discipline in 2014. Officials told the San Antonio Express News that an informant told investigators that Andrews made plans with him to have a witness in the barratry case killed. The former employee sued Andrews and Gould but Andrews, who has since declared bankruptcy, has been dismissed. Twitter: @CallerKMT SHARE Contributed photo John and Abigail Delaney in 1988. Contributed photo John and Abigail Delaney renewed their wedding vows Saturday at the St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Orange Grove. By Natalia Contreras of the Caller-Times When John Delaney, 60, first met Abigail in Los Angeles he could not communicate with her. It was 1977, and Abigail had moved with her family into Delaney's apartment complex. "She only spoke Spanish," Delaney said. "I had to ask the neighborhood kids to translate for me." He continued to do that for about a year until he asked her to marry him. "I just knew the first time I saw her that she was the one," Delaney said. He said now he knows he was right. About 10 years ago Delaney fell ill and has had about eight surgeries that have made moving difficult. He had his gallbladder, 14 inches of his colon and both kidneys removed. Around the same time he fell ill the couple decided to relocate to Texas for his treatments. He said his wife Abigail, 56, never gave up on him. "She has been my wife and my caretaker," Delaney said. "I get tired easily and it has been stressful to both of us." That's why he decided to surprise Abigail on Saturday by asking her to renew their wedding vows after 38 years of marriage at the St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Orange Grove. Abigail Delaney said she was surprised and was happy her two daughters and two granddaughters were there. She said it was difficult for her to hold back tears. "This time it meant so much more than the first time because of everything we have been through," she said. "We have always loved each other very, very much. Everything we have gone through has made us stronger." Delaney said Abigail drives him to his dialysis treatment appointments, she stays with him at the hospital and takes care of their home. "She's the best thing in the world," Delaney said. "I knew this would be the right time to do this. She's everything." Twitter: @CallerNatalia EGYPTE :: Egypt, the return of authoritarian rule After Mubaraks rule, a ray of hope crossed Egypt sky and vanished just after a year, as Mohamed Morsi was removed from power by a military coup; then came Fatah Al-Sisi amid more violence, massive arrests, bloodshed, human rights violations and imprisonments which continue to day. Yes, since Al-Sisi is in power, the situation is getting worse and Egyptian people are looking for a messiah still. For the year he spent in office, Morsi wasnt the type of leader Egyptian people needed, indeed; his rule was tarnished with discriminations, the absence of dialogue, human rights violations and a perilous foreign policy. Nowadays, the current president, Al-Sisi, is following the same track. He does not want to be contradicted or criticized, and he believes things must always go his way. He does not tolerate anti-government protests at all and is turning Egypt into a police state. For instance in Egypt, a new anti-protest law gives the current government the power to ban all gatherings of more than 10 persons. Opponents and journalists that in a peaceful way disapprove the way their country is being ruled, are brutalized, massively arrested and jailed. Egyptian people are pouring into the streets because despise all the promises from the current government to tackle the monster of unemployment, the economic crisis keeps pounding the populations harshly, while injustices known under Mubaraks and Morsis regimes are tracing deeps furrow amid them daily. Egyptians also are very unsatisfied with Al-Sisi foreign policy and now regard him as a conspirator. His recent decision to cede the control of the two Red Sea islands (Sanafir and Tiran) to Saudi Arabia without consulting with Egyptian people had brought massive protesters to the streets anew, followed by rough military and police interventions as usual. Saudi Arabia had never been interested in these islands, and since 1950 theyd been under Egypt army control. The very and unique question one must ask is, why did Al-Sisi decide to cede control of the two islands to Saudi Arabia now? Why now? Let us not be surprise that Saudis authorities simply cede their control to another country or sell them. And for what reason? Analysts should take over from here and dig deeply into it. I am not surprised at all by what the current regime is doing to the Egyptians who challenge its policy on many issues. Egyptian people understand now that they made a very bad choice. A bad choice I signaled three years ago in an article published on January 10th 2013 Egyptian General Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi and his group must be arrested and put on trial where I stated: General Abdul F. Al-Sisi is Egyptian, indeed. But he does not look like someone whos working for Egyptians. Time will come; theyll discover that hes a citizen of Egypt but on the papers. Theyd discover that Al-Sisi was working for the others. Egypt wont be in peace with this guy and his close friends around. [] even those who massively demonstrated against President Morsi and built the bridge to the military coup will discover their mistake; theyll regret and feel guilty. Also, theyll know that Democracy is but an empty risky bag that each country can fill its way, according to its environment and components. In fact, the current Egyptian president, Al-Sisi, is busily digging his own tomb. He is not the one Egyptian people were looking for, and thus must soon go. We know how Mubarak left, we know how Morsi left and where hes. But I wonder if Al-Sisi would ever be enough lucky to be where Morsi is. Time will tell. CAMEROUN :: Cameroon: Sea turtle shell Trafficker arrested A 33-year old man was arrested on Tuesday April 26, 2016 for trafficking in sea turtle shells, chimpanzee skulls and pangolin scales in Eseka. The arrest was carried out by wildlife officials of the Nyong and Kelle Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with the gendarmerie territorial brigade in Eseka and with technical assistance from The Last Great Ape Organistion LAGA. The operation was conducted at the Eseka II neighbour, in a bar not very from the Gendarmeire Brigade premises as the suspect sat drinking a beer. The man had been tracked from the moment he alighted from a bike that left him in front of the bar. He carried a big bag that indicated some bulky load was inside and when he entered the bar, got a beer a from the counters and settled for a drink, the arresting team approached him and asked what he had inside the bag that was sandwiched in between his legs. He said he doesnt know what the bag contained and this drew some curious faces around. The bag was opened and when the contents were revealed and an officer shot a similar question to know what he was doing with all the stuff, which included 8 sea turtle shells, 3 chimpanzee skulls and a few kilogrammes of pangolin scales. He again said he doesnt know and could not explain anything. He was asked to come along to the wildlife office for clarification but he told officials to wait for him to finish his beer. The team sat and watched as he gulped down the full contents of the bottle. The arrest is part of a wider government strategy to conserve wildlife species in the country and trafficking in protected species including sea turtles, chimpanzees and pangolins is prohibited by the law. Illegal trade in endangered species like sea turtles and tortoises is fast paving the way for their extinction, and one of the ways of preventing it is the strict application of the law- a fine of up to 10 million francs and or a maximum prison sentence of up to 3 year is handed to defaulters of the wildlife law. Sea turtles are reported to be one of the most ancient creatures on earth. The species found today have been around for about 120 million years that is longer than the dinosaurs which have long gone extinct. They are found in all warm and temperate waters throughout the world but their survival is now under threat as growing seizures of turtle shells indicate they are facing intense poaching. Apart from trafficking, two other threats menace the species survival. Climate change plays an important role because the temperature at which the sea turtle egg incubates determines the sex of the turtle. As global temperatures continue to rise, sea turtles could be faced with the reality of only females being born at very high temperatures. Climate change is reported to increase severe storms and the rise of sea levels which destroy sea turtle nesting sites. And to compound matters the poaching of its eggs for food poses a another serious threat to its reproductive abilities. | BY Ricki Green | UPDATED In two major moves today Dave King has been appointed chief creative officer of Whybin\TBWA New Zealand effective July replacing Toby Talbot, who has been lured to the CCO role at DDB Sydney. Talbot (near left) only took on the chief creative officer and co-managing role at Whybin\TBWA Auckland in early 2013. He returns to the DDB fold he was group ECD of the NZ office for five years after spending a year at RKCR/Y&R in London. As a result of Kings departure the troubled M&C Saatchi New Zealand office will close in July. It is understood that the agency has given management the opportunity to take ownership of the agencys clients. Talbot will be working with DDB Sydney ECD Dylan Harrison, as the network puts in place a new creative structure in the region. In line with the appointment of Damon Stapleton as CCO at DDB New Zealand last month, Talbots appointment comes as the network looks to magnify the senior creative offering within Australia and New Zealand. Says managing director DDB Australia, Andrew Little: Under Dylans tenure DDB Sydney has produced outstanding commercial and creative success over the past three years. Following suit with New Zealand we have appointed Toby as Chief Creative Officer at DDB Sydney to amplify our creative firepower and continue to develop effective, relevant and outstanding campaigns. Toby and Dylan are both world-class talents what a partnership! Says Talbot: DDB has always been hugely supportive of me and my work and I am thrilled to be returning home. My time at DDB Auckland continues to be a highlight for me and I have kept a close eye on the networks outstanding success. The output across the region, not least in Australia, has been extraordinary and I am excited to be joining Dylan and the team. Adds Marty OHalloran, chairman DDB Group Australia and New Zealand: We are delighted to welcome Toby back into the DDB fold. He led the creative department in DDB Auckland to tremendous success and we always secretly hoped he would return to us one day. As with every department within the DDB Group, we are always looking at ways to optimise our structure with the resources available whilst producing the highest possible quality of work. Adds Harrison: Toby has been a great mentor to me ever since I began at DDB Sydney, Im looking forward to the relationship being made official. He is an awesome creative talent not to mention an awesome bloke. I think we will be a great team. King (above left) is recognised as one of the most successful, integrated creative leaders in the region, having forged a career that spans digital, direct and above-the-line. In 2007 and 2008, he was named one of the most awarded creative directors in the world by The Won Report, and is consistently one of the most awarded direct and digital creative leaders in Australasia. In 2011, King was awarded the Irving Wunderman award at the Caples Awards in New York. His work has won more than 30 Caples awards, including a number of Gold awards and the Best in Show award in 2008. King has also won 14 Cannes Lions awards, in additional to many more Australian and New Zealand awards. Says Keith Smith, TBWA president international: I am delighted that Dave is now in a position to join our growing team in New Zealand at this time. He is one of the rare creatives that can move seamlessly between media types and is perfectly suited to lead Whybin\TBWA in its push to create brand-aligned content across a broader range of customer channels. Dave has a formidable reputation for developing talent and for producing work that is highly effective. He is the modern age creative mind media-neutral, very savvy, and an excellent mentor. Hes the ideal fit for Whybin\TBWA. Whybin\TBWA New Zealand chief executive officer, Todd McLeay, said he couldnt wait to start working with King because he truly understood the new marketing order. | BY Lynchy | Indications suggest there are well over 400 Aussies (including expats) going to Cannes this year and delegate numbers worldwide are up from last year with more seminars and events at Cannes 2016 than ever before. News Corp Australia, Australias Cannes representatives, together with Campaign Brief, will be hosting a Welcome Cocktail Party for the Aussie delegates on Monday 20 June from 5.30pm. | BY Ricki Green | Australian comedian Tom Gleeson will host this years Siren Awards in Melbourne on 12 May. Currently working alongside Charlie Pickering and Kitty Flanagan on the ABC series, The Weekly, Gleeson will bring his award winning comedy stand up style to the Sirens stage at the announcement of the best radio ad for 2016. Gleeson has been nominated for a Helpmann Award three times, won the Piece of Wood Comedians Choice Award in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and performed several times at the two major comedy festivals in Melbourne and Edinburgh, as well as the invite only Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. He has also entertained the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and published a book, Playing Poker with the SAS: A Comedy Tour of Iraq and Afghanistan. Finalists in the best radio ad of 2016 were announced last week, with 15 leading ad agencies, radio stations and production studios battling it out for the national Siren Awards. The Gold Siren winner will receive a trip to the Cannes Radio Lions in June, accompanied by the client of their winning campaign. In addition, Silver Sirens will be awarded to the winners of the three Siren categories of single, campaign and craft. Says Joan Warner, chief executive officer, Commercial Radio Australia: Tom is a talented comedian and we look forward to him hosting the 12th Siren Awards. The winners are decided by the Siren Creative Council; a panel of creative directors from leading ad agencies. Finalists are selected from five rounds of Siren voting throughout 2015-16. There is also a $5000 cash prize for a client-voted award. A panel of clients vote for the best ad from the round 1- 5 overall winners and it is presented to the writers of the winning ad. Last years Gold Siren was won by Matt Dickson, creative solutions director at Southern Cross Austereo Perth, with the ad We Dont Do Husbands promoting pest control company Allpest. The national Siren Awards are run by Commercial Radio Australia and are designed to recognise the best radio advertising in the country. The 2016 Siren Awards will take place on Thursday, 12 May at Alumbra, Central Pier, Docklands, Melbourne 6 9 pm. | BY Ricki Green | AWARD School is calling on aspiring creatives to help three of Australias biggest brands champion diversity across their businesses, brands and products. Live briefs will be published later today on the AWARD School website for ANZ, Toyota, and Meat & Livestock Australia, open to anyone without prior creative agency experience to address the challenge. Says Niccola Phillips, AWARD school head: Were delighted to have the opportunity to work with some of Australias biggest brands to champion diversity through creativity. This is a rare chance for the future creative leaders of Australia to work directly with some of Australias best agencies, and on brands of the highest caliber. Following first round judging, fifteen finalists will be selected to develop their idea with the support of partner agencies Whybin\TBWA, Saatchi & Saatchi, or BMF, in a one-day interactive session at Semi Permanent festival of creativity and design on Saturday 28 May. Three winning ideas will then be awarded with a fully paid scholarship to AWARD School 2017 Australias preeminent training program for the next generation of creatives in the Australian advertising industry. Running for more than 30 years, AWARD School is a 12-week intensive industry course about idea generation and the creative thinking process. The program is run by more than 40 senior creatives, and accepts around 200 students each year across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS and NZ. Says Phillips: The best creative work has always been born out of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Through offering the three winners scholarships to AWARD School 2017, we are able to provide future creatives from every walk of life the opportunity to embark on the first step of their future careers. Key timings are as follows: Monday 2 May Briefs Released Thursday 19 May, 5pm Entry Deadline Friday 20 May Judging Monday 23 May Shortlist Announced Saturday 28 May Interactive Session and Final Presentation at Semi Permanent Format Applications will be submitted online and judged by a panel of representatives from AWARD School, ANZ, Toyota, Meat & Livestock Australia, Whybin\TBWA, Saatchi & Saatchi, and BMF. Shortlisted candidates will then present their ideas in person on 28 May. How to enter To gain more information on the challenge, entry requirements, and to register your interest, visit AWARD Online. | BY Ricki Green | How will Australia perform at Cannes this year? In the lead up to the Festival, Campaign Brief will be showcasing the work we hope will impress the judges Cummins&Partners, Melbourne Under a new brand platform, Giving Blood Feels Good, we decided to talk about the part of giving blood that seemed as easy and everyday as possible: the humble biscuit you receive after you donate. To launch the idea, we recruited the worlds leading biscuit expert, the Cookie Monster. We seeded an unbranded teaser video out to the Blood Services 160,000+ active Facebook fans, declaring Cookie Monster was heading to Australia for the best biscuits. We then added some of Australias best-known celebrity chefs. Unbranded images of them, holding biscuits, were shared across their own social channels, followed by almost 1,000,000 Australians. This activity garnering tens of thousands of views, likes and comments came at no media cost. A week later, all 100+ Blood Service centres unveiled biscuit-themed collateral. Specially packaged biscuits were presented to donors. TV, print and digital executions were launched. Each chef then released individual videos talking about the biscuit on their own social channels and PRd the campaign on TV and radio programs. Facebook and Instagram using #save3lives were inundated with positive posts. Cummins&Partners, Melbourne In prominent sites across Victoria, our Your Future is in Your Hands activation gave people the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see and touch their superannuation balance in real cash. They simply lined up, used a customised VicSuper digital tool to quickly calculate their current super balance, then held it with outstretched arms inside a specially built chamber. It didnt matter if they were existing VicSuper customers or not everyone was given the chance to experience your future in your hands. While holding their super as cash, they were then prompted to pose for a Super Selfie, a photograph they could take away in a VicSuper information sleeve or immediately share socially via a digital kiosk. VicSuper staff were also on-hand at each activation to provide financial advice to anyone keen to know more. Cummins&Partners, Melbourne Most brands use their advertising dollars to tell the world how great they are. But what would happen if those dollars were instead put toward a project that actually proved how good they were? In 2016 CGU Insurance found out. Using the platform See It Through, CGU had built their brand by showing examples of how they stand-by Australian small businesses in times of need. And never had there been one so desperately in need as Tropfest, the worlds largest short film festival. Without immediate assistance, they were finished. Hearing Tropfests cancellation, we decided it was time to do more than make ads about CGU helping Australians See It Through. Instead, we would reach out to Tropfest, a business CGU had no prior relationship with, and use CGUs advertising budget to help them actually see it through. In doing do, CGU would make their intangible brand promise completely tangible. Cummins&Partners, Melbourne | BY Ricki Green | We Are Visionists, a growth agency based out of Sydney is boldly entering the space of the startup studio. Says Joel Hauer, ex-Clemenger digital producer and founder of We Are Visionists: It was obvious to us, were entrepreneurs as well. We have a great, passionate team. Weve helped a lot of companies launch, grow, and generate excellent financial returns. Many people are told that a startup studio is a studio-like company that aims at repeatedly building several companies in parallel by focusing on reusable resources and strategies. Says Hauer: We abide by the fail fast mentality if it doesnt succeed well kill the idea, and move on with the next one. Hauer, who previously worked in agencies such as Clemenger BBDO and The Monkeys, comes from an entrepreneurial background after also launching WeCo, a co-working space in Sydneys east also home to several startups. We Are Visionists, or WAV is all about bringing great people together to collaboratively work on the growth of an online business, whether thats an internal business or a clients. Says Vincent Ryan, lead digital producer, We Are Visionists: With a focus on split-testing everything from an email campaign to an entirely new digital strategy, weve struck a chord with clients that want insights on what their customers engage with. The team plans to introduce a ventures part of the business, which aims to invest in startups through in-kind services. Its first venture is an alcohol delivery business, which plans to disrupt the billion- dollar whisky market. WAV can help any business to grow the way that startups grow, with an imaginative and lean approach to data analytics and digital customer acquisition marketing. | BY Ricki Green | Building on the success of ING Direct, Compare the Market and Fitness First, VCCP Sydney continues its growth with the launch of a new leadership team. Gary Dawson, M&C Saatchis highly respected creative director, joins VCCP as executive creative director and creative partner. Dawson will join managing partner David Kennedy-Cosgrove, whilst Peter Grenfell returns to London to take on a global role at VCCP. Says Kennedy-Cosgrove: Were a challenger agency for challenger clients. Gary joining the agency is a sign of our ambition and commitment to offer clients more than just advertising. He shares our passion for work and thinking that helps clients make their mark, both commercially and culturally. Gary will be joining a talented team and ambitious clients ready to take VCCP to the next level. Dawson, who can count awards from D&AD, AWARD, Cannes, New York Festivals and Clio, amongst others, brings with him a wealth of experience across a diverse portfolio of local and international brands, including CommBank, Subaru, 118 118, wotif.com, Pepsi, Diageo and McDonalds. Most recently he helped launch NRMADE BETTER, a new brand platform for NRMA Insurance. Prior to his time at M&C Saatchi, Dawson held senior creative posts at WCRS London and Clemenger BBDO before becoming deputy creative director at Leo Burnett Sydney. Charles Vallance, founder and chairman of VCCP: Ive worked with Gary before so know first hand that hes one of the best in the business. VCCP Sydney have a great ECD at the helm who will steer us on to even greater things. Says Dawson: Ive enjoyed four very successful and unforgettable years at M&C Saatchi and have forged some great relationships working with a bunch of very talented people. But Ive always been a big fan of VCCP and have followed the meteoric rise of their network from afar. Compare the Market and Be More Dog for UK Telco O2 rank among my wish Id done that moments. Im a great believer in infectious and memorable work that oozes personality and entertains. So when the opportunity arose to take the creative reins at VCCP Sydney, I didnt hesitate. The agency has had a fantastic start to life in Australia and these are exciting times for clients. I look forward to working with the team and building on their success. Food By: Cook Britain With layers of airy sponge and sweet buttercream balanced by decadent coffee and walnut flavours, this cake is simply divine. Read More "Some public acknowledgement of this, along with a moratorium on any action in response to alleged past misdemeanours, may help to clear the air and facilitate cultural repair. It would then be reasonable to expect everyone to support whatever direction the vice-chancellor determines for the school, and to work together under the leadership of the new head of school; equally, anyone then not willing to do so should look to moving on elsewhere." "The access roads to town are mostly one lane and therefore compound congestion," an NRMA spokesman said. "The time delay of getting to the tram is such that motorists could find staying with their car for the whole journey is the quickest means of getting where they need to go." Writing in 2015, as the Scott McIntyre Anzac Day tweeting controversy raged in the industrial relations system, I worried that "a judicial pronouncement on the extent of the government's ability to restrain its employees from making public comment does not appear imminent". With the benefit of hindsight, this statement was overly pessimistic. Less than a year later, the government has suffered two considerable blows in this arena: Starr's unfair dismissal success and the Federal Court case of army reservist Bernard Gaynor (although not an employment relationship per se, the termination of his commission was invalidated on free speech grounds). With both on appeal, further consideration of these thorny issues can be expected. "There is likely to be a lot of interest in these roles although, as always, there will be interest from a number of people who are not qualified to fulfil the role." Three college students who first met while attending a Catholic high school in Florida have launched a scholarship fund to help others experience faithful Catholic education at a Newman Guide college. As we went off to different colleges, we kept in touch and found time to catch up whenever we returned [] Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. New Delhi: The results of the ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12 examinations 2016 will be announced on May 6, two weeks earlier than previous years. The results will be available on the career portal of the council and its website as well as through SMS. To receive the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or Indian School Certificate (ISC) results by SMS, the candidate will require to type ICSE or ISC followed by their seven digit unique ID code and send the message to 09248082883. Council introduces LICR technology to compile results: The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, which conducts the exams, has for the first time used Live Ink Character Recognition (LICR) technology, which has helped in fast compilation of results. "The Council will announce the results at 3 PM on May 6, 2016. We are the first Examination Board in the world to introduce usage of LICR technology," according to a statement by CISEC Chief Executive and Secretary Gerry Arathoon. LICR captures and digitizes marks entered on the top-sheets of answer scripts, and instantly encrypts and transfers the captured data to the Councils cloud based servers directly from the evaluation centers. "This significantly reduced the time required for compilation of results as the system automatically totals the marks awarded by the Examiners and also applies the question-paper rubrics, hence eliminating any possibility of manual totaling and manual rubric application errors," the statement said. PTI Also Read: Admissions While there have been plenty of documented kangaroo attacks in Australia, its hard to imagine the animal lunging at the car as if trying to audition for some type of found-footage monster flick. And yet thats exactly what goes down on this Australian back-road. Initially, it seems like all the kangaroo wants to do is cross the street, but as soon as it comes across the light from the incoming car, it changes direction and the rest, well, see for yourself in the video below. We think its best to just watch the clip because describing this type of attack kind of has us at a loss for words. Lets just say that youre not going to be expecting the action to go down the way it did. On top of that, theres not much the driver could have done we reckon. On a lighter note, this footage kind of puts a dent in Volvos Kangaroo Detection technology, which only goes as far as to apply the brakes automatically if the driver is unable to react in time. However, the system does nothing in case the animal feels like starting a fight in which case, the XC90s surprisingly good pedestrian protection rating actually tends to work in favor of the aggressor. VIDEO With just a few weeks away from the reveal of the EV-R, Mazzanti has dropped a new video, revealing some of its performance specs. The Italian model is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 402 km/h (250 mph), making it faster than the LaFerrari, which needs less than 3 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) and has a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). When you think of a new project, the best way to make it concrete, is with setting objectives. The objectives must be then translated into numbers in order to become real; the speed of 250 mph have a different meaning for a street legal hypercar, said the companys founder, Luca Mazzanti. Responsible for the Mazzanti EV-Rs performance is a new 7.2-liter Vi bi-turbo engine, the output of which remains unknown at this time, but were probably looking at an upgraded version of the same powertrain used on the Evantra, which has a displacement of 7.0 liters and produces 751 HP and 860 Nm (634 pound-feet) of torque. Stopping power comes from carbon ceramic brakes, made by Brembo, covered by OZ Racing wheels that are wrapped in Pirelli Trofeo R rubber. Mazzanti will celebrate the EV-Rs world debut at the 2016 Turin Motor Show, on June 8. VIDEO Photo: David Wylie Residents in the Lake Avenue Beach area are hoping to help the picturesque slice of sand make a clean break from its more infamous past. About 100 people gathered Saturday to beautify the park. They planted more than 100 native plants and painted trees funky neon colours. The group also tidied up the area. Julie Cancela, one of the organizers with the Lake Avenue Residents Group, said they want people to come and use the park but in a respectful way. She said people are openly drinking, using drugs and smoking, which is stopping others from enjoying the area. If you just let it happen, if you accept it, it will continue, she said. We dont accept it. Lake Avenue Beach is located near downtown Kelowna. The group said thousands of people walk through it on many summer days, and its important that the park puts its best foot forward. Dayna Margetts, another member of the residents group, was covered in paint from the family friendly event. This is the first time weve seen kids on this beach, she said. Often people just go through as fast as they can because of the stuff thats going on. The group got some help from the City of Kelowna through two grants, the Partners in Parks grant and Strong Neighbourhoods grant worth a total of $11,000. Theyve also installed pay parking so people dont park at the beach all day and sell drugs or drink. Theres now a dog walking trail nearby and theyve also added a Porta Potty. Our neighbourhood has invested in making this a place that all of Kelowna can use. Recently, a group that refers to the beach instead as Mushroom Beach staged its own cleanup. A Castanet poll asking whether the beach is called Lake Avenue Beach or Mushroom Beach found the majority referred to it as Lake Avenue Beach. Photo: The Canadian Press Anti-capitalist demonstrators smashed windows at a downtown Montreal police station on Sunday as protesters held their annual May Day march. The incidents occurred about one hour into the demonstration and prompted police to fire off canisters of tear gas and warn protesters to disperse. Police reported about 10 arrests and one minor injury. Earlier in the day, a union-organized protest was held without a hitch. More than 80 people were arrested in the anti-capitalist protest last May 1. Photo: redcross.ca Government officials are looking for people to survive a massive natural disaster. The Province and Emergency Management BC are planning an earthquake and tsunami response exercise for June 7-10, in Port Alberni called Exercise Coastal Response. To make this exercise as real as possible for the teams involved, officials are asking for the publics help. They are looking for people to volunteer in two categories: Medical patients: You will work with first responders and Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR). You will be treated to a medical makeover with movie quality makeup artists and given a patient care script to follow during the course of your treatment. Emergency social service (ESS) clients: You will work with ESS teams located at reception and housing centres and represent those in need of shelter, food and water. Volunteers will receive a letter of recognition for your role in the exercise. Organizers are also looking for materials and would like to hear about anything that can enhance the realism of the exercise including: boats, trucks or even junk that can help with Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) training. For further clarification on what is needed in terms of material and volunteer support, call 250-720-2709 or email [email protected] to connect with the volunteer co-ordinators. A plan is only as good as the paper its written on unless you exercise it, test it and improve it. During this exercise in Port Alberni, the Province will work closely with our First Nations and local authority partners to show how B.C. will support a coastal community in the event of an earthquake and tsunami. The Province has taken significant strides to progress our earthquake preparedness, and its safe to say we now lead the nation, said Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness Naomi Yamamoto. Photo: The Canadian Press A Vancouver coast guard base controversially shuttered by the previous Conservative government has reopened, but a union spokesman says it lacks around-the-clock rescue capacity. Kitsilano station opened on Sunday with two rigid inflatable vessels, one pollution-response vessel and three crew members, said Bill Tieleman of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees. "The government promised in the election campaign that it would be restored to a full 24/7 search and rescue centre. That's what the union expects to happen. This is not it," he said. The Canadian Coast Guard has described the opening on Sunday as "soft launch," with a full launch planned for June, but it isn't clear whether it will increase the number of staff or vessels. The base was closed as a cost-cutting measure in 2013. When a bulk grain carrier spilled at least 2,700 litres of bunker fuel into English Bay last April, city officials complained that the response could have been faster if the base had been open. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised on the campaign trail to reopen the station, and Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo vowed in December that it would be an around-the-clock operation. The 2016 federal budget committed $23 million over five years to re-open Kitsilano. Tieleman said starting Sunday, the station will be staffed by three employees who work eight hours and are on call for 16 hours. While on call, they must be within 30 minutes of the station, he said. "They are not working 24/7," he said. "If there is an emergency after daytime operating hours, they're on call to go and respond." Before the base was closed, it was staffed 24 hours a day by a crew of 13, allowing three staff members to be on site at all times, he said. Tieleman also said the base used to have a large all-weather cutter called the Osprey, but that vessel was decommissioned and sold after the base closed. Instead, the base opened Sunday with one rigid inflatable vessel with a cabin called the CCGS Moorhen, one without a cabin called the CCGS Kitsilano 1, and a pollution-response vessel for oil spills, said Tieleman. The Canadian Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, but Assistant Commissioner Roger Girouard said in an email to coast guard personnel that officials have worked hard on a tight time frame to get the station ready. "It has been renovated, and equipment and assets are in place to support 24/7 operations," he said in the email dated Saturday. Girouard added that the coast guard continued to work on a plan for the station's enhanced marine response capacity, which will include environmental response ability, emergency response training and an exercise program for partners, local First Nations and coastal communities. Meanwhile, the Canadian Coast Guard is still planning to close a marine communication and traffic services centre in Comox on Vancouver Island, according to the union representing employees there. Unifor has said that if the Comox centre's closure is allowed to go ahead on May 10, despite the protests of frontline coast guard officers, there will be fewer back-ups in case of emergency. By monitoring traffic, the centres are the "first line of defence" for mariners in distress or when an ecological disaster strikes, the union said. Over the last two years nine of 22 marine communciation and traffic centres have been closed. Photo: The Canadian Press The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation alert for multiple homes in the Cecil Lake area in northeast B.C. Two small wildfires, about 10 and 12 hectares in size, are burning south of Cecil Lake Road, about 30 kilometres east of Fort St. John. The district issued the evacuation alert Sunday evening for properties within several blocks of the fires as ground crews and one helicopter attempted to contain the flames. Evacuation alerts are meant to prepare residents to be ready to evacuate their homes at a moment's notice if it is deemed necessary. The B.C. Wildfire Service says there are currently 40 active fires larger than 10 hectares burning in the province. Last month a number of large blazes in northeastern B.C. destroyed a house and forced evacuations from about 500 other homes. Photo: The Canadian Press Traditional Aztec dancers headed up the annual El Comite May Day March for Worker and Immigrant Rights in Seattle. At least four people have been arrested and two police officers injured in Seattle following clashes between anti-capitalist protesters and authorities on May Day. Seattle police used pepper spray to disperse the protesters Sunday evening after authorities say rocks, flares and bricks were thrown at officers downtown. Police also said Molotov cocktails were thrown at them. Authorities said two officers were hurt - one treated at the scene for a head laceration. Details about the other officer's injury weren't immediately available. Dozens of people dressed in black had gathered at a downtown park following a peaceful, permitted march by advocates for workers and immigrants. They marched through downtown and were later pushed south by officers in riot gear on bikes. The anti-capitalist demonstrators, who did not have a permit from city officials, carried signs, including one that said "We Are Ungovernable." The group gathered at the downtown park before starting to march through the streets. Some downtown businesses had earlier boarded up storefronts, anticipating violence. Police reported seeing people with poles with bolts, rocks and cans of spray paint in the crowd. Police reported some broken windows. Seattle traditionally sees large, disruptive May Day gatherings. Last year, police arrested 16 people during demonstrations and in 2014 10 people were arrested. In 2013, police arrested 18 people from a crowd that pelted them with rocks and bottles. Storefronts in downtown Seattle have also been smashed in previous protests. Photo: The Canadian Press Rachel Notley's New Democrats became the first NDP government in Alberta when they won a majority last May 5 in the provincial election. The victory ended a run of Progressive Conservative governments stretching back to 1971. Tory leader and premier Jim Prentice quit public life altogether in his concession speech. Here are some key events for the NDP government in the year since the election: May 22: Member of the legislature Deborah Drever is suspended from caucus after social media posts surface containing violent sexual imagery and a homophobic slur. Drever is among a cast of students, newbies and young ambitious leaders who won seats for the NDP and who will bring change to the chamber. Within a year, Service Alberta Minister Stephanie McLean is answering questions in the house while carrying her newborn. May 24: Notley and her government are sworn in on the sun-dappled steps of the legislature to the cheers of thousands. Notley introduces a lean cabinet of 12 ministers. That number will grow to 19 within nine months. The NDP wrongly advertises the swearing in as a party fundraiser, the first of several missteps confusing party events with government ones. June 15: The NDP begins remaking Alberta's political and economic landscape in its first legislature sitting by increasing taxes on higher-income earners, raising the corporate tax and banning political donations by corporations and unions. Sept 3: The honeymoon is over for the NDP in Calgary, where it made unprecedented breakthroughs in the general election. A Wildrose party candidate wins a byelection to replace Prentice. About six months later, in another Calgary byelection, another Tory wins to replace Conservative Manmeet Bhullar, who died in a car crash. Oct 27: The NDP brings in its first budget as a prolonged slump in oil prices continues to hammer Alberta's bottom line. Finance Minister Joe Ceci says infrastructure spending will be ramped up, despite the slump and a $6.1-billion deficit. The government passes legislation to keep spending within 15 per cent of GDP, but months later removes the ceiling as borrowing grows. Nov 22: Notley and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips introduce a climate-change plan to erase Alberta's reputation for "dirty oil." They also say it will give the province credibility when asking for new fossil-fuel infrastructure such as pipelines. The plan includes a broad-based carbon tax, caps on oilsands emissions and phase-out of coal-fired electricity. Dec 10: Despite vocal public backlash, the NDP passes a farm safety bill that gives compensation benefits to paid farm workers and puts them under health-and-safety rules. Opponents fear the red tape will destroy the viability of farm operations and kill the family farm. Protest rallies on the legislature steps are accompanied by anger, threats and hate directed toward Notley and others in her caucus. Jan 29, 2016: Notley announces that a royalty rate review has determined that what the government collects from oilsands operations is fair and will remain in place. It's a surprising decision, since the NDP in opposition railed against the PC government for giving away its black gold resources at fire-sale prices. Notley says the industry has changed. March 9: The spring legislature session opens to what the Opposition Wildrose calls "a gong show." The NDP caucus pushes past pages to take part in what would have been an illegal vote. It's one example of the NDP and new Speaker Bob Wanner learning the ropes. NDP member Michael Connolly flips the middle finger to the Wildrose in debate, but denies it until caught red-handed. PC interim leader Ric McIver is tossed out of the house after accusing Wanner of prejudging a decision against him. April 14: Finance Minister Joe Ceci announces a 2016-17 budget with a $10.4-billion deficit and forecasts another $10.1 billion deficit the year after. Total debt of almost $58 billion expected by 2019. There is no plan to balance the books before 2024. Notley says later that despite low oil prices, the province needs to move ahead to restructure, diversify and green the economy and get off the oil price roller-coaster. April 24: Notley pitches the need for more pipelines to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet during a federal retreat in Kananaskis, Alta. Pipelines have become Notley's idee fixe. She has spent her first year stumping relentlessly on the need for a line to the coast to get better prices abroad. She says given Alberta's critical role in the country's economy, the province needs Canada's help. Photo: The Canadian Press Aircraft dropping fire retardant are working with crews on the ground to protect homes from an uncontrolled wildfire close to Fort McMurray in northern Alberta. The province has deployed two air-tanker groups and eight helicopters to fight the flames as crews and heavy equipment try to contain the fire that is just over a kilometre from the city's south end. The one-square-kilometre blaze is producing very thick smoke. Darby Allen, regional fire chief for the Wood Buffalo municipality, says the situation on the fire line is better than it was on Sunday, but conditions could change as temperatures rise and if the wind kicks up. "I think that we are looking better than we were yesterday," Allen said Monday. "We are hopeful that we can stop this fire before it gets into town. We will monitor the weather conditions and fight the fire as aggressively as we can." About 700 people who were ordered from their homes as a precaution from the Centennial Trailer Park and Prairie Creek neighbourhoods remained out. Allen said the province was bringing in more aircraft and ground crews to fight the blaze. The plan was to have air tankers and the helicopters drop water directly on the flames once the smoke cleared a bit. "We are seeing some bombers flying through laying fire retardant and once the smoke clears the water bombers will go up to put water on the fire," he said. "We are doing OK." Another blaze on the northern edge of the city called the Diamond Stone Ridge fire was being held. There were no reports of injuries, but air quality was a concern because of the smoke. Photo: The Canadian Press A solar-powered airplane took off from California for Arizona early Monday to continue its journey around the world using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 flew from Mountain View south of San Francisco shortly after 5 a.m. Monday for an expected 16-hour trip to Phoenix. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg was at the helm of the plane that began circumnavigation the globe last year. Borschberg's co-pilot, Bertrand Piccard, also of Switzerland, made the three-day trip from Hawaii to the heart of Silicon Valley, where he landed last week. The Solar Impulse 2's wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey. The two legs to cross the Pacific were the riskiest part of the plane's travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. "We have demonstrated it is feasible to fly many days, many nights, that the technology works" said Borschberg, 63, who piloted the plane during a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii and who kept himself alert by doing yoga poses and meditation. The crew was forced to stay in Oahu for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The single-seat aircraft began its voyage in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan. The layovers will give the pilots a chance to swap places and engage with local communities along the way so they can explain the project, which is estimated to cost more than $100 million and began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. Photo: The Canadian Press The treatment team for a mentally ill British Columbia man who killed his three children is expected to oppose day passes during an upcoming annual review. A lawyer for Allan Schoenborn has told a B.C. Supreme Court judge that the man's psychiatrists will recommend against allowing him on escorted outings when his hearing is held later this month. Schoenborn was granted the potential for limited freedom at his hearing last year by the B.C. Review Board, which decided he had made progress and could possibly make day trips as part of his rehabilitation. But his lawyer Rishi Gill says the director of the psychiatric facility where he lives in suburban Vancouver has never actually given Schoenborn final approval for an outing. A spokesman for the family members of the three victims, Dave Teixeira, says he's not surprised by the change in Schoenborn's treatment plan, noting the hospital has recorded at least 48 violent incidents since he entered the facility. In 2010 Schoenborn was found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder for the slayings of his 10-year-old daughter and eight- and five-year-old sons in their Merritt home. The information was presented at the start of a hearing on Monday to determine whether strict new controls should be placed on Schoenborn, who has been diagnosed with mental illness since the killings eight years ago. Crown lawyers are seeking to have Schoenborn designated as a "high-risk accused," a controversial label that was created by the former Conservative government. The Criminal Code designation includes provisions that can stop almost all of his absences from a psychiatric hospital and has the potential to extend annual review hearings to once every three years. Schoenborn's lawyers object to the designation and plan to argue that it's unconstitutional at a future hearing, while the family of the victims is strongly in favour of the tougher designation. The hearing, which is scheduled to last three weeks, comes just ahead of Schoenborn's annual review before the B.C. Review Board in late May. Photo: The Canadian Press An Australian man long rumoured to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin has publicly identified himself as its creator, a claim that would end one of the biggest mysteries in the tech world. BBC News said Monday that Craig Wright told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The computer scientist, inventor and academic said he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. Wright made similar claims to the Economist magazine, which said on its website it still has "nagging" questions about Wright's claim. He also asserted his role in a lengthy blog post. The founder's identity has been shrouded in uncertainty, and the media's inability to pinpoint the person responsible has led to a series of investigations. Last year, some reports claimed Wright was the founder and had used a false name to mask his identity. Wright told the BBC he had decided to make his identity known to stop the spread of "misinformation" about Bitcoin. "I didn't take the decision lightly to make my identity public and I want to be clear that I'm doing this because I care so passionately about my work and also to dispel any negative myths and fears," he said. Wright said he believes that Bitcoin and blockchain, the technical innovation that makes the currency possible, "can change the world for the better." He added that he would now be able to release his research and academic work to help people understand the potential of Bitcoin. Bitcoin is designed for secure financial transactions that require no central authority no banks, no government regulators. That makes it attractive to off-the-grid types such as libertarians, people who want to evade tax authorities, and criminals, even though Bitcoin doesn't guarantee anonymity, since it documents every transaction in a public forum. According to the BBC, Wright supported his claim to being the founder by signing digital messages using cryptographic keys used during the early days of Bitcoin. If Wright is the founder, he is likely a very wealthy person. The person going by the pseudonym Nakamoto is believed to have amassed about 1 million Bitcoins, which would be worth about $450 million if converted to cash, the BBC says. Jon Matonis, one of the founding directors of the Bitcoin Foundation, which says it helps support the use of the currency, told the BBC he is convinced that Wright is who he claims to be and is responsible for a brilliant achievement. The hunt for Bitcoin's founder had become a mission for some journalists. Attention focused for a time on a Finnish sociologist, a Japanese math whiz and a Japanese-American engineer. In December, the technology magazine Wired and the website Gizmodo both published lengthy investigations based on documents and emails that concluded Wright was probably the man behind the pseudonym. He was living in an upscale suburb of Sydney at the time. The reports were circumstantial and contained no proof. But Wright's new statements, and his use of Nakamoto's own encrypted signature, known as a PGP key, may have confirmed his role. He also spoke to GQ magazine and the London Review of Books. Photo: The Canadian Press George John Dryden, who spent years of his life trying to prove conclusively he was the love child of former Canadian prime minister John George Diefenbaker, died on Sunday, a longtime friend said. Dryden, 47, who had terminal pancreatic disease, suffered fatal injuries in a suicide attempt, Merry-Ellen Unan said. He blamed decades of alcohol abuse for the illness. "I didn't have a bad life," he told The Canadian Press last week in his last interview. "I basically ended up killing myself." Dryden, who bore an uncanny resemblance to "The Chief," grew up in a Toronto family of privilege as the son of prominent federal Liberal Gordon Dryden. About five years ago, however, a cousin told him it had long been a quiet family rumour that Dryden's mother, Mary Lou Dryden, had an affair with Diefenbaker that led to his conception. In a stunning revelation, DNA tests confirmed Gordon Dryden was not his biological parent. "For somebody who knows who their father is, it seems kind of strange," Dryden said at the time. "But I went for 42 years thinking I was a Dryden, and I just found out...that Im not." The bombshell sparked his elusive quest to prove his parentage definitively. It also caused an ugly rupture with the Drydens. The family kept him from his ailing mother, and hid the death of his father from him for eight months. Unan, who met Dryden 20 years ago and was with him when he died, described him as sensitive, caring, a wonderful friend, but also "very much a lost soul," she said. "He was searching most of his life for his identity," Unan said. "He truly didn't know who he was." Dryden said his mom, a staunch Conservative and known confidante of Canadas 13th prime minister, admitted to him she had seen Diefenbaker privately around the time he was conceived in late 1967 or early 1968 a few months after she married Gordon Dryden. The former prime minister would have been 72 at the time; she would have been in her mid-30s. She also told him his father's name was John, Dryden said. History books record the twice-married Diefenbaker as childless, and Dryden found little appetite to change the official narrative. Known Diefenbaker relatives refused to co-operate, but Dryden managed to obtain a DNA sample from one of them, which proved enough of a match to convince him of the relationship. "I don't have any doubts," Dryden said last week. "But nobody is going to say it." His belief was bolstered when DNA tests showed he was related to the Goertzens in Saskatchewan three brothers with whom he had no known connection. Independently, the brothers had previously learned that their father, Ed Thorne, was the son of Mary Rosa LaMarche, Diefenbaker's housekeeper in Prince Albert, Sask., in the late 1930s. Her daughter would tell them Thorne was the product of a dalliance between LaMarche and Diefenbaker, which would make them the former prime minister's grandchildren. When one of the brothers, Lawrence Goertzen, read about Dryden, he made contact three years ago. Two of the siblings and Dryden did DNA tests. The result showed with near certainty that they had an uncle-nephew relationship. Two weeks ago, an ailing Dryden went out to Saskatchewan to meet the Goertzens for the first time. They visited Diefenbaker's house in Prince Albert and the Diefenbaker Canada Centre in Saskatoon along with his grave. "George was looking for a sense of connection there," Goertzen said. Goertzen, who was surprised at how much alike he and Dryden were, described his putative uncle as a searching soul. His inability to get Diefenbaker, who died in 1979, to recognize the relationship former prime minister Pierre Trudeau was open about fathering a daughter in later life left Dryden with a sense of something missing that he needed to find. He always insisted there was nothing in it for him, beyond certainty about his parentage. "The best possible present that George could ever have gotten was an acknowledgment that Diefenbaker was his father," Goertzen said from Saskatoon. "I get it: People don't want to tarnish Diefenbaker's name (but) somebody's covered something up." Dryden, who never married, recently developed a close relationship with the sister of "Wheel of Fortune" personality Vanna White in South Carolina. Their father, Herbert White, treated him like a son, he said, for which he was grateful. "I miss her and what could have been," he said wistfully. As he counted down his final days, Dryden said he wanted to warn others of the dangers of alcohol abuse, and said he had no plans to suffer. "I'm not going to be tied to machines," he said. "I'll take care of it myself." He chuckled at the notion of a "Diefenbaby Dies" headline. His tombstone in Toronto, he said, would carry both the Dryden and Diefenbaker names. Photo: The Canadian Press Unseasonable heat is once again searing northeastern British Columbia, fuelling wildfires that have prompted evacuation alerts around two communities. The Peace River Regional District says residents about 60 kilometres northeast of Fort St. John should be ready to leave on short notice as the Siphon Creek wildfire is uncontained and burns nearby. It has now charred an estimated 40-square kilometres, more than doubling in size since Friday, in part because of temperatures that reached 23 Sunday and are slated to reach 27 degrees this week. Winds gusting to 40 kilometres per hour are also forecast, potentially complicated firefighting efforts in the Cecil Lake area about 30 kilometres east of Fort St. John, where two small wildfires threaten a number of homes. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Voight Creek fire is now 85 per cent contained, and guards surround 75 per cent of the Clearview fire, but crews will keep a close watch on conditions through the day. Wildfire experts add 40 active fires larger than 10 hectares are currently burning in the province. Photo: Marjan Apostolovic Throughout British Columbia, hundreds of vulnerable people with severe addiction and mental illness are securing housing, having fewer interactions with police and spending less time in emergency rooms, according to the latest numbers from health authority programs. Most people with severe addiction and mental illness dont need to be institutionalized. They need a network of health and community supports that meets their unique needs, said Health Minister Terry Lake. The spectrum of services now available in B.C. is helping people who struggle with some of the most difficult circumstances to turn their lives around, by providing targeted services where they best meet clients needs, instead of relying on hospitals and police. Health authorities, police departments, health care staff and other partners are seeing improvements after just over two years collaborative work to increase mental health and addiction supports, as part of the $25-million mental health action plan launched by the Ministry of Health in November 2013. The evidence-based Assertive Outreach and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, which partner with local law enforcement, housing services and clinical professionals to provide proactive mental-health and substance-use treatment and supports, have been particularly successful. According to government statistics, Interior Healths Kamloops and Kelowna teams, established in early 2015, have helped reduce client acute care admissions by 73 per cent and average length of stay in care by 54 per cent in their first year. ACT team clients are also benefitting from rehabilitation supports provided by the program, with every client receiving employment counselling and a connection with safe, stable, affordable housing. These are individuals who frequently have substance use issues. They are homeless or at risk of homelessness and they are high users of hospital and police services. Their care needs are complex and they have not benefitted from our traditional mental-health and substance-use programs, said Lisa Wensink, an ACT team leader in Kelowna. The team approach is powerful. A big part of our work is liaising with others to provide a really comprehensive service. The provinces mental health action plan was created to reduce barriers and service gaps, and to support evidence-based solutions for patients with severe addictions and mental illness. With $20 million in new annual funding allotted to health authorities as part of the plan, every region has seen enhancements, including new rehabilitation and recovery beds, new community outreach teams, new youth group home beds and expanded rural services. Photo: Skylar noe-vack A man has died in Abbotsford and the province's independent police watchdog is checking any possible connection between his death and the actions of officers. A news release from the Abbotsford Police Department says officers were called to a report of a fight at a business, in the Clearbrook area of the Fraser Valley city, at about 8:30 Sunday night. It says that when police arrived, they found an unconscious man without any vital signs. Resuscitation efforts began immediately and paramedics took over as soon as they arrived, but the 54-year-old man was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later. Police contacted the Independent Investigations Office to determine if any police action contributed to the death. The IIO must investigate all cases of police-involved death or serious injury involving municipal or RCMP detachments in B.C. Photo: The Canadian Press She may be too young to appreciate it, but Princess Charlotte has received an extraordinary array of birthday gifts, including a snowsuit and a book from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Kensington Palace officials say she received letters and gifts from 64 countries on her first birthday Monday. Some were early birthday presents given during recent state visits by world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, who with his wife Michelle gave Charlotte a jigsaw puzzle and a soft toy modelled on Bo, the White House dog. British Prime Minister David Cameron gave the princess Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales. New Zealand sent teddy bears, blankets and booties of native wool, the Chinese gave her a set of silk figurines and the president of Mexico sent a silver rattle. Photo: Contributed Bitcoins allow people to buy goods and services and exchange money without involving banks, credit card issuers or other third parties. The online currency's origins have long been a mystery though an Australian man long rumoured to have ties to bitcoin has come forward claiming to be its creator. Who is this man, and how does this system work? Here's a brief look at bitcoin: HOW BITCOINS WORK Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not tied to a bank or government and allows users to spend money anonymously. The coins are created by users who "mine" them by lending computing power to verifying other users' transactions. They receive bitcoins in exchange. The coins also can be bought and sold on exchanges with U.S. dollars and other currencies. Their value has fluctuated over time. At its height in late 2013, a single bitcoin was valued above $1,100. On Monday, it was worth about $445. Because the currency isn't formally regulated, its legality is a bit fuzzy. The currency has also drawn the ire of many in law enforcement and cybersecurity because its untraceable nature makes it the currency of choice for hackers behind ransomware attacks. But in September, New York state regulators approved their first license for a company dealing in bitcoin. WHY BITCOINS ARE POPULAR Bitcoins are basically lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. Transactions can be made anonymously, making the currency popular with libertarians as well as tech enthusiasts, speculators and criminals. SHOULD I TRADE IN ALL MY CASH FOR BITCOINS? That would be a questionable decision. Many businesses such as blogging platform Wordpress and retailer Overstock have jumped on the bitcoin bandwagon amid a flurry of media coverage. Leading bitcoin payment processor BitPay works with more than 60,000 businesses and organizations, while the total number of bitcoin transactions has climbed to over 200,000 per day, more than double from a year ago, according to bitcoin wallet site blockchain.info. Still, its popularity is low compared with cash and cards, and many individuals and businesses won't accept bitcoins for payments. HOW BITCOINS ARE KEPT SECURE The bitcoin network works by harnessing individuals' greed for the collective good. A network of tech-savvy users called miners keep the system honest by pouring their computing power into a blockchain, a global running tally of every bitcoin transaction. The blockchain prevents rogues from spending the same bitcoin twice, and the miners are rewarded for their efforts by being gifted with the occasional bitcoin. As long as miners keep the blockchain secure, counterfeiting shouldn't be an issue. HOW BITCOIN IS VULNERABLE Much of the mischief surrounding bitcoin occurs at the places where people store their digital cash or exchange it for traditional currencies, like dollars or euros. If an exchange has sloppy security, or if a person's electronic wallet is compromised, then the money can easily be stolen. The biggest scandal involved Japan-based bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, which went offline in February 2014. Its CEO, Mark Karpeles, said tens of thousands of bitcoins worth several hundred million dollars were unaccounted for. He was arrested on suspicion of inflating his cash account in August. HOW BITCOIN CAME TO BE It's a mystery. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a person or group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin was then adopted by a small clutch of enthusiasts. Nakamoto dropped off the map as bitcoin began to attract widespread attention. But proponents say that doesn't matter: The currency obeys its own, internal logic. WHO IS THE REAL NAKAMOTO? There's been plenty of speculation on Nakamoto's identity over the years. In December, the technology magazine Wired and the website Gizmodo both concluded that Australian computer scientist, inventor and academic Craig Wright was probably the man behind the pseudonym. The reports were circumstantial and contained no proof. BBC News said Monday that Wright told the media outlet he is Nakamoto. Wright said he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. Wright told the BBC that he decided to make his identity known to stop the spread of "misinformation" about bitcoin. If Wright is the founder, he is likely a very wealthy person. The person going by the pseudonym Nakamoto is believed to have amassed about 1 million bitcoins, which would be worth about $450 million if converted to cash, the BBC says. Photo: The Canadian Press Inuit hunters may have just brought down their biggest quarry ever. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to stop pushing for an international ban on the trade in polar bear parts an effort that has been strenuously opposed by Inuit and the Canadian government. The U.S. agency has been trying for years to have skins and other parts put in the same category as elephant ivory. It sponsored votes at the last two meetings of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species that would have prevented Inuit hunters from selling hides or teeth even after eating the meat. Late last week, the service quietly dropped its campaign. "Though we remain concerned about the commercial use of polar bear hides as an additional threat to the species, we are not pursuing increased ... protections at this time," says a statement on the service's website. "We are putting our resources into working in collaboration with other polar bear range states to address climate change and mitigate its impacts on the polar bear as the overwhelming threat to the long-term future of the species." The service abandoned the campaign even as it appeared to be winning. The European Union went from supporting Canada at the 2010 convention vote to abstaining in 2013. Major countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom opposed Canada's position. The U.S. motion was co-sponsored in 2013 by Russia, which argued that poachers from that country were using Canadian bear permits to launder their own illegal kills. The Americans were also supported by groups such as Humane Society International, the Natural Resources Defence Council and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. They all warned that allowing Canada to continue trading in the bears was contributing to more hunting at a time when their sea-ice habitat is shrinking because of climate change. Global concern was strong enough for an international review to have been conducted in 2014 into Canada's bear management. Canada along with Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, influential scientific bodies and other NGOs said the Canadian hunt is sustainable and that the real threat to the bears is from climate change. Hunting quotas for populations in particularly unstable habitats, such as those along Hudson Bay, have been significantly reduced. Environment Canada reports that about 300 Canadian polar bears enter the international marketplace every year. That figure has not changed much in recent years and represents about two per cent of the total Canadian population of about 16,000. Photo: CTV Sen. Mike Duffy is back on Parliament Hill after keeping a low profile during his long-running legal odyssey. Duffy's return comes less than two weeks after he was acquitted of all 31 charges in his trial for fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Duffy was suspended from the Senate over his expense troubles, but the suspension was lifted with the last federal election. He is now free to return to his Senate office and privileges and take his seat when the chamber returns to work on Tuesday. He will sit as an independent since he was kicked out of the Conservative caucus over his expense problems. The once-outspoken Duffy was uncharacteristically quiet during his prolonged trial and since his acquittal, and had nothing to say today as he arrived on the Hill. 3. Public in Attendance 3.1 University of British Columbia - Okanagan 3.2 RCMP Quarterly Report 4. Development Application Reports & Related Bylaws 4.1 Walker Rd 4480, Z18-0047 - Thomas A.M. Brown 4.2 and 4.3 Lakeshore Rd 4119, Z19-0046 - Whitworth Holdings Ltd., Inc.No. BC1059455 4.4 and 4.5 Kirschner Rd 1977, Z19-0023 - Lambert and Paul Construction Ltd, Inc No 80191 4.6 and 4.7 Clement Ave 1049, Z19-0045 - Gurpreet Pannu 4.8 to 4.10 Neptune Rd 1260, OCP17-0014 Z17-0053 - Davara Holdings Ltd. Inc. No. BC0797640 4.11 and 4.12 Ethel St 1675 & 1685, TA19-0006 - Petel Properties Inc., Inc.No. A0069509 4.13 to 4.16 Bach Rd 140, Rutland Rd N 615 & 625, OCP19-0001 Z19-0039 TA19-0002 - BharoaDevelopments Ltd. Inc.No.BC1177705 4.17 Sutherland Ave 1149, DP19-0038 - Culos Development (1996) Inc., Inc.No. BC1099204 4.18 Harvey Ave 2271, DP19-0061 - Orchard Park Shopping Centre Holdings Inc. No.A59814 5. Non-Development Reports & Related Bylaws 5.1 Council Priorities 2019 2022 5.2 2019 Financial Plan Final Budget 5.3 BL11805 - Five Year Financial Plan 2019-2023 5.4 BL11806 - Tax Structure Bylaw, 2019 5.5 BL11807 - Annual Tax Rates Bylaw, 2019 5.6 BL11808 - Development Cost Charge Reserve Fund Expenditure Bylaw, 2019 5.7 BL11809 - Sale of City Owned Land Reserve Fund Expenditure Bylaw, 2019 5.8 BMID Boundary Inclusion for 1421 Tower Ranch Drive and 1920 Swainson Road (FrindProperties Ltd.) and 1955 McCurdy Road East (FortisBC Inc.) 6. Bylaws for Adoption (Non-Development Related) 6.1 to 6.3 7.Mayor and Councillor Items When I look at that flag, it's clear as day that it is a Canadian flag. Is it a little worse for wear? Yes. Would it be nice to have a brand new flag waving in the wind to represent our beautiful country? Absolutely. However, if buying a new flag comes out of the same budget that is stretched to the core to fight fires, serve rescue missions, and all of the other public service tasks that our fire team performs, I say let her fly, or do something about it. In fact, let's buy the flag, and present it as a thank you for their service and effort in the past and what they are about to face with a hotter than ever recorded summer they are about to endure. Jesse Paul Photo: Crime Stoppers An organization of franchise business owners is disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court won't hear a challenge to Seattle's $15-an-hour minimum wage law. The International Franchise Association and five franchises sued the city, saying the new law discriminates against them by treating Seattle's 623 franchises like large businesses because they are part of multistate networks. But the franchises say they are small businesses. The association says it's still deciding what its next steps will be. The justices didn't comment on their order Monday that leaves in place a federal court ruling in favour of Seattle. The law that went into effect last year gives small businesses seven years to phase in the higher wage, but requires large companies and franchises to meet the $15 target by 2017 or 2018. I was very disturbed by the latest advertisement by the Right to Life, Kelowna brigade, which is on the highway in West Kelowna. The add depicts a beautiful little dog on one side of the billboard and an unborn fetus on the other. It asks the question why killing an animal is considered cruelty but aborting a fetus is acceptable. Well, first of all, I dont believe this type of advertising belongs on the side of a highway, or anywhere else for that matter. The whole thing is disturbing. The dog is alive and well, thank you. The fetus isnt. It cant function unaided. It isnt breathing on its own. It is a fetus. There are many people who probably feel the way I do about this, but putting your name out there may not considered appropriate. Well, I am fed up with it. I would be very grateful if the Right to Life, Kelowna, would remove this offensive garbage and find a more respectful and less intrusive way of expressing their views. Yvonne Callihan Interior Health can find 15 million dollars for a building in downtown Kelowna. Yet, because of a lack of money, patients in Kelowna and the surrounding areas are losing the only endocrinologist. Dr. H. H. Chirayath, announcing that his service would no longer be available as a result of a lack of resource for diagnosis and treatment from Interior Health, and commensurate with the increased demand. As a result, his patients would be transferred back to their family physician. Dr. Chirayath is the only specialist for more than 1.1 million people who live in the vast area of British Columbia north of Chilliwack. It is ironic that B.C. Premium for MSP has increased on a regular basis in the past few years, and it is the only province in Canada to charge the equivalent of head-tax-like premium for health care coverage. Yet, the province, through Interior Health, cannot afford vital patient care service. Also, the Liberal government grabbed more than $1.7 billion in revenue from ICBC and BC Hydro on the heels of rate hikes at both Crown corporations. ICBC raised basic insurance rates by 4.9 per cent in November, and Hydro rates are set to go up 28 per cent over the next five years, adding hundreds of dollars to the annual bills of most British Columbians. With the departure of Dr. Chirayath in June, family physicians would have to refer their patients with endocrine problems to a specialist located in Vancouver, Chilliwack, or Victoria. Waiting time in Kelowna for a patient to see Dr. Chirayath is almost 5 months. Can you imagine how much longer it would take for a family physician to refer patients to one endocrinologist in these three areas? Just think of the added cost to a patient for travel, accommodation, and time! I have been in Kelowna for 40 years and, as a former Assistant-Director of Nursing and a retired professor of Nursing, I have a good idea of health care. Sadly, the more Kelowna General Hospital grows, with massive amount of money spent on building and middle-management, the worse health care services to the public gets in terms of waiting time for conditions like cataract, hip and knee replacement. Now the departure of a very rare specialist from Kelowna? I have connections with numerous health service providers, from physicians and surgeons, to attendants. They lament the deterioration of services. There is a provincial election coming next year and I plan to publicly hold the government accountable, especially our Okanagan representatives and that includes the Premier. My letter, Is it Interior Health or exterior private health was published in the Okanagan Saturday of the Daily Courier (June 20, 2015) and I received personal calls from people, especially seniors, who have been waiting years for the above-mentioned conditions. Needless to say there was no response from Interior Health or any M.L.A. However, if people are titillated for being milked to death, then voters know who and for what party to vote at next years provincial election. Mo Rajabally If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... Press Release Contact: Media Relations (404) 639-3286 Groundbreaking and life-saving investigations by CDC EIS officers, also known as disease detectives, are the highlight of the 65th Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference May 2-5 in Atlanta. Sessions on Zika, e-cigarettes, and non-traditional investigations into injury, violence, environmental health, and chronic diseases will also be featured at the annual conference sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., opens the conference with remarks on May 2, followed by presentations by members of the recently created Laboratory Leadership Service, a competency-based program similar to EIS focused on training fellows in laboratory quality management, the science of biosafety, and leadership. Margaret Hamburg, M.D., former FDA commissioner and currently a foreign secretary of the National Academy of Medicine, will present the Langmuir Lecture, the preeminent public health lecture in the United States. Past Langmuir Lecture speakers have included Abraham Lilienfeld, Sir Richard Doll, Geoffrey Rose, and Jonas Salk. During the past year, many EIS officers supported CDCs response to the Zika epidemic. They will present: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) Outbreak Bahia State, Brazil, 2016: CDC Zika investigators identified a cluster of GBS cases in the Salvador area of Brazil. The location and timing of the GBS outbreak coincided with the introduction and spread of Zika virus in Brazil, suggesting a possible link. Zika Virus Disease in Returning U.S. Travelers 2010-2016: Before the current Zika outbreak in the Caribbean became big news, CDC researchers identified 11 travel-related cases of Zika among travelers returning to the U.S. from visits to Pacific Islands. Before the current Zika outbreak in the Caribbean became big news, CDC researchers identified 11 travel-related cases of Zika among travelers returning to the U.S. from visits to Pacific Islands. Ongoing Zika virus transmission Puerto Rico, November 23, 2015February 15, 2016. Puerto Rico is at the forefront of CDCs domestic Zika response. This presentation describes the ongoing EIS investigations of the Zika outbreak in this U.S. territory. Zika is far from the only health threat EIS officers investigated over the past year. Other featured presentations during the conference demonstrate the wide range of public health activities that EIS officers are involved in at CDC, including: Mycoplasma hominis Surgical Site Infections Following Receipt of Amniotic Tissue ProductOhio, 2015: CDC investigated a cluster of surgical site infections in Ohio in October 2015. All patients had received an amniotic tissue product from the same donor; investigators found that 27 vials of product from this donor were distributed to 7 states. Of the 9 Ohio patients who received it, 2 developed infections with M. hominis. Amniotic tissue, obtained from the innermost layer of the placenta, is used in wound management but this CDC investigation demonstrates that the product may not be free of contamination by microorganisms that can result in disease transmission. CDC investigated a cluster of surgical site infections in Ohio in October 2015. All patients had received an amniotic tissue product from the same donor; investigators found that 27 vials of product from this donor were distributed to 7 states. Of the 9 Ohio patients who received it, 2 developed infections with M. hominis. Amniotic tissue, obtained from the innermost layer of the placenta, is used in wound management but this CDC investigation demonstrates that the product may not be free of contamination by microorganisms that can result in disease transmission. Increased Cases of Syphilis among Pregnant Women and Infants United States, 20122014: National data show a 25 percent increase in syphilis cases among pregnant women from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, nearly 1 in 4 women with syphilis were pregnant. There was also a 37 percent increase in infants born with syphilis and a 67 percent increase in syphilis-related stillbirths during 20122014, although the overall number was small. While nearly half of all syphilis cases among pregnant women in 2014 were in non-Hispanic blacks, the biggest increases during 20122014 were in American Indians/Alaska Natives (200 percent) and non-Hispanic whites (47 percent). Prevalence of Failure to Floss among Adults U.S. 2009-2012: Do you floss every day? You should but if you dont, youre not alone. Nearly a third of American adults never floss, and only about 31.5 percent told CDC researchers they flossed every day in the last week. Failure to floss is more common in some groups than in others. Do you floss every day? You should but if you dont, youre not alone. Nearly a third of American adults never floss, and only about 31.5 percent told CDC researchers they flossed every day in the last week. Failure to floss is more common in some groups than in others. Getting Too Close to Wildlife: Risk Factors Associated with Injury from Bison Encounters Yellowstone National Park, 2000-2015: Bison freely roam throughout Yellowstone National Park. People can be injured when they get too close to the very large, wild animals. CDC and the National Park Service note that people injured by bison generally were within 9 feet of the animal; about half were taking photos. To protect people and bison, the park requires people to view bison at a distance of 75 feet. Severe Illness Associated with a Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid Mississippi, April 2015: When a clinician at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson noticed an unusual number of patients seeking emergency care after using synthetic cannabinoids, CDC helped investigate. Of the 721 cases and 9 deaths statewide, investigators took a closer look at the records of 119 UMMC patients, including 3 deaths. Lab analysis showed that 71 percent tested positive for a synthetic cannabinoid and more than three fourths of the positive tests identified MAB-CHMINACA, a particularly potent synthetic cannabinoid. This outbreak, the investigators report, was unprecedented in magnitude and severity. Invasive Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections among Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients Hospital A, Pennsylvania, 2010-2015: Heater-cooler units used to regulate body temperature during open heart surgery may have exposed some 1,300 patients to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections at a Pennsylvania hospital, CDC investigators found. The disease detectives were called in to find the source of the infections in a cluster of patients. The findings are the first in the U.S. to suggest that NTM aerosolization by the heater-cooler units might cause invasive infections. Violent Death among the Homeless National Violent Death Reporting System, 17 States, 2005-2013: About a half million people are homeless in America every day. To better understand violent death in this population, CDC researchers analyzed data from the 17 states participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System from 2005-2013. Homeless homicide victims were 3 times more likely than non-homeless victims to die from injuries inflicted by a blunt or sharp object, and homeless suicide victims were 1.6 times more likely to use hanging as a means of suicide than were the non-homeless. Alaska Resident Infected with a Novel Species of Orthopoxvirus Alaska, 2015: The smallpox vaccine protects against all kinds of orthopoxviruses but since elimination of smallpox and the end of routine smallpox vaccination, orthopoxvirus infections have begun to pop up. In this case, CDC disease detectives isolated a never-before-seen member of this virus family from an Alaska resident living in a woodland setting in the Alaskan interior. The smallpox vaccine protects against all kinds of orthopoxviruses but since elimination of smallpox and the end of routine smallpox vaccination, orthopoxvirus infections have begun to pop up. In this case, CDC disease detectives isolated a never-before-seen member of this virus family from an Alaska resident living in a woodland setting in the Alaskan interior. Special Session on ECigarette Advertising: Invited speakers will address four different perspectives on e-cigarette advertising to young people: social marketing tactics targeted to youth, e-cigarette advertising exposure among middle- and high-school students, comparing marketing claims to laboratory evidence, and policies that might reduce e-cigarette advertising exposure among youth. Members of the media interested in attending the EIS conference should contact the CDC Media Office at 404-639-3286 or media@cdc.gov. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/eis/conference.html for more information. ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon Catholic Family News A Monthly Journal Preserving our Catholic Faith and Heritage Home Latest Archives Subscribe CFN Media - videos Contact Us CFN Bookstore Oltyn Library Services 2017 CFN Daily Blog Originally started as a daily Blog update of news reports on the Papal Conclave and ongoing news on Pope Francis, it is now a general Blog updated daily on traditional Catholic topics Updated Regularly Book mark this page click here Luxury hotels in the historic center for a Catholic family. Only luxury hotels can provide a paradisiacal vacation for a big Catholic family. A high-level vacation for families, children and not only. The gorgeous views, divine service, and the best location are all luxury hotels. Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and more. Everyone will find their place in this corner of paradise. Popular destinations Breckenridge, CO, United States In Breckenridge, Colorado, there are plenty of places to visit, whether you're a nature lover or thrill seeker. For nature lovers, the Blue River runs right through town and there are plenty of trails to explore. If you're looking for a thrill, Breckenridge is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. There's also plenty of shopping and dining options in town, so you'll never run out of things to do. Breckenridge Luxury Hotels Savannah, GA, United States Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city with lots of places to visit, including Forsyth Park, River Street, and the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Another place to visit is the Savannah History Museum, which is jam-packed with interesting exhibits on the history of the city. Savannah Luxury Hotels Naples, FL, United States Naples is known for its stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Its also home to a wide variety of attractions, including world-class golf courses, vibrant nightlife, and interesting cultural experiences. Here are five places to visit in Naples, Florida: Naples Pier: Stroll along the pier and enjoy panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Fifth Avenue South: This popular shopping and dining district is home to eclectic boutiques, award-winning restaurants, and lively bars. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples: This luxurious resort is set on 26 acres of pristine waterfront property and offers superb amenities, including a world-class spa and championship golf course. The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: This zoological park is home to more than 700 animals representing 150 species, including flamingos, lemurs, and tigers. Tin City: This eclectic shopping and dining district is housed in a series of restored waterfront warehouses and features eclectic shops, galleries, and award-winning restaurants. Naples Luxury Hotels Naples Luxury Resorts Louisville, KY, United States Louisville is in the heart of Kentucky and is known for being the home of the Kentucky Derby. There are a lot of great places to visit in Louisville, including the Louisville Zoo, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the Frazier History Museum. There are also a lot of great restaurants and bars in Louisville, and it's a great place to visit for a weekend getaway. Louisville Luxury Hotels Galveston, TX, United States Galveston is a Texas coastal town that is rich in history and offers visitors a variety of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include the Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and Historic Downtown. There are also a number of museums and other historical landmarks, as well as plenty of shopping and dining options. Galveston Luxury Hotels Galveston Luxury Resorts Omaha, NE, United States The birthplace of Warren Buffett, Omaha, Nebraska, is a great place to visit. There are plenty of things to see and do in Omaha, from touring the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium to visiting the Durham Western Heritage Museum. Other popular tourist destinations in Omaha include the Joslyn Art Museum, the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, and TD Ameritrade Park. Omaha Luxury Hotels Columbus, GA, United States Columbus is a charming small town in Georgia that is worth a visit. There are several places to visit in Columbus, including the Riverwalk, the Chattahoochee River, the National Infantry Museum, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The Riverwalk is a beautiful walkway along the Chattahoochee River that is perfect for a relaxing stroll or a bike ride. The Chattahoochee River is a great place to go fishing, swimming, or kayaking. The National Infantry Museum is a museum dedicated to the infantry of the United States Army. It is a must-see for history buffs. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a museum dedicated to space science. It is perfect for kids and adults alike. Columbus Luxury Hotels Anchorage, AK, United States Anchorage is a great place to visit if you're looking for an adrenaline rush. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to rafting and fishing in the summer, Anchorage has something to offer everyone. In addition to its outdoor activities, Anchorage also has a variety of cultural and historical attractions, including the Anchorage Museum and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Anchorage Luxury Hotels Portland, OR, United States Portland is a city that is located in the US state of Oregon and it is known for its art scene, food, and coffee. There are a lot of interesting places to visit in Portland, such as the Portland Art Museum, where you can see a variety of art from all over the world. Another place to visit is the Powell's City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world. If you're looking for a place to eat, Portland has no shortage of amazing restaurants, such as Pok Pok, which serves Thai cuisine, and Le Pigeon, which serves French cuisine. And, of course, no trip to Portland would be complete without trying some of the city's famous coffee, such as Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Portland Luxury Hotels Florence, Italy No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to Florence. This historic city is home to some of the country's most famous attractions, including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Michelangelo's David. There's also plenty to see and do outside of the city center, including the picturesque Tuscan countryside and the vibrant university town of Arezzo. Florence Luxury Hotels Florence Luxury Villas Asheville, NC, United States Asheville is a city in western North Carolina. It is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Buncombe County. Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the United States. The city of Asheville proper had a population of 84,236 in 2010. The city is known for its art deco architecture, mountain scenery and outdoor activities, and as the birthplace of American novelist Thomas Wolfe. It is also home to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the second largest craft brewery in the United States. Asheville Luxury Hotels Asheville Luxury Cottages Long Beach, CA, United States There's plenty to do in Long Beach, California without ever having to leave the city limits. If you're looking for a little adventure, head to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a glimpse of the ocean's creatures or take a walk on the boardwalk at Rainbow Harbor. If you're more of a history buff, the Queen Mary is a must-see. This retired ocean liner is now a hotel and museum with plenty of stories to tell. And no trip to Long Beach is complete without a visit to the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge. Long Beach Luxury Hotels Long Beach Luxury Villas Cincinnati, OH, United States Cincinnati is a city located on the Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Ohio. The city was founded in 1788 and named after the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Revolutionary War officers. Cincinnati is a major U.S. city and the metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million people. The city is well-known for its German heritage, Oktoberfest celebration, and its variety of chili dishes. Cincinnati is home to three major sports teams: the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, MLB's Cincinnati Reds, and the NBA's Cincinnati Cavaliers. The city is also home to the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. The city's historic neighborhoods include Over-the-Rhine, Mount Auburn, and Hyde Park. Cincinnati is a popular tourist destination and offers a variety of attractions and places to visit, including the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Newport Aquarium, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Cincinnati Luxury Hotels Laughlin, NV, United States Laughlin, Nevada is a great place to visit if you're looking for a fun and affordable vacation. There are plenty of casinos and resorts to choose from, as well as plenty of outdoor activities and attractions. Be sure to check out the local nightlife, and don't forget to take a trip down the mighty Colorado River. Laughlin Luxury Hotels Laughlin Luxury Resorts Anaheim, CA, United States Anaheim, California is home to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. The parks are just a short walk away from each other, and make for a great day of exploration. Anaheim is also home to the Anaheim Angels and the Anaheim Ducks, so there's always a game to catch. If you're looking for something a little more low-key, Anaheim has a great shopping district and a variety of restaurants to choose from. Anaheim Luxury Hotels Santa Cruz, CA, United States Santa Cruz is a great place to visit! There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of my favorite places to visit are the Boardwalk, the wharf, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Boardwalk is a great place to go for a walk, ride on the amusement park rides, and eat some of the delicious food. The wharf is a great place to go for a walk, eat some seafood, and listen to the street performers. The University of California, Santa Cruz is a great place to visit to learn about the history of the area and to see some of the beautiful architecture. I highly recommend visiting Santa Cruz if you are looking for a fun and interesting place to visit!. Santa Cruz Luxury Hotels Eugene, OR, United States Eugene, Oregon is a great city to visit with a lot of places to see and things to do. One of the most popular attractions is the University of Oregon campus, which is home to a number of museums and a large football stadium. The city also has a vibrant arts scene, with a number of theaters and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the dozens of parks and hiking trails in the area, and there are also a number of wineries and breweries in the area. Eugene Luxury Hotels Branson, MO, United States There's plenty to see and do in Branson, Missouri, from state parks and amusement parks to theaters and shopping. Here are some of the most popular places to visit: Silver Dollar City is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." Table Rock State Park has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. The Titanic Museum features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. Branson Landing is a shopping and entertainment complex on the waterfront. There's something for everyone in Branson, Missouri come visit and see for yourself!. Branson Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach, FL, United States The white sand beaches and emerald waters of Panama City Beach, Florida, are a popular tourist destination. The city is home to numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants, as well as amusement and water parks. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, kayaking, and surfing. Panama City Beach Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach Luxury Resorts Monterey, CA, United States Monterey is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, United States. It stands at the southern end of Monterey Bay, on the Pacific coast. The city is also the home of the Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey is the largest city in the Central Coast region of California. The main attractions in Monterey are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the downtown area. Monterey Luxury Hotels Norfolk, VA, United States Norfolk, Virginia is a great place to visit for its historical places and military bases. Some places to visit in Norfolk are the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the Norfolk Naval Station. Norfolk Luxury Hotels Palm Springs, CA, United States Palm Springs is a vibrant city located in the Coachella Valley and is known for its year-round sunshine, resort atmosphere and Mid-Century Modern architecture. Top places to visit include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Art Museum, Indian Canyons and Moorten Botanical Garden. For a truly unique experience, be sure to check out the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale the worlds largest vintage furniture and design event. Palm Springs Luxury Hotels Palm Springs Luxury Resorts Palm Springs Luxury Villas Rochester, NY, United States Rochester is a city in western New York State and is the county seat of Monroe County. Rochester is known for its annual festivals, including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rochester Fringe Festival, and the Holiday Folk Fair International. Places to visit in Rochester include the George Eastman Museum, the Strong National Museum of Play, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Seneca Park Zoo. Rochester Luxury Hotels Pigeon Forge, TN, United States Visit the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge for a unique experience. This museum is dedicated to the Titanic, one of the most infamous ships in history. Tour the ship and learn about the passengers and crew who were on board. You can even see the actual artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. If you're looking for a little more excitement, head to Dollywood. This amusement park is home to roller coasters, a water park, and plenty of other rides and attractions. Plus, the park is themed around the life and music of Dolly Parton. No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains offer a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Plus, the natural beauty of the area is simply breathtaking. Pigeon Forge Luxury Hotels Jacksonville, FL, United States Jacksonville is less than an hour's drive from the beaches of Amelia Island and St. Augustine, and a little more than two hours from Orlando. The city has a lot to offer visitors, including a riverwalk, museums, and a vibrant arts scene. Jacksonville is also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team. Jacksonville Luxury Hotels Minsk, Belarus Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a city that has something for everyone. If you're looking for a little history, Minsk has plenty of it, with churches and monuments dating back to the 12th century. If you're looking for a lively nightlife, Minsk has that, too, with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants. And if you're looking for a little nature, Minsk has parks and gardens to enjoy. Here are just a few of the places you can visit in Minsk: The Holy Spirit Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Minsk, is a must-visit for history buffs. The National Library of Belarus is a huge library with more than 18 million items in its collection. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is a beautiful building that hosts performances of both opera and ballet. The Victory Park is a large park with a war memorial, a children's playground, and a lake. And for a little bit of nature in the heart of the city, the Botanical Garden is a great place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Minsk. Minsk Luxury Hotels Jaipur, India Jaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is known for its palaces, forts and temples. Some of the places to visit in Jaipur include the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar Observatory and the Hawa Mahal. Jaipur is also a great place to shop for traditional Indian handicrafts. Jaipur Luxury Hotels Chicago, IL, United States Chicago is a city full of culture and history. There are plenty of places to visit, such as the Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago is also home to many restaurants and bars, so there is something for everyone. Chicago Luxury Hotels Auckland, New Zealand Auckland is a beautiful city located on the north island of New Zealand. There are many places to visit in Auckland, including the Sky Tower, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Auckland Domain. The beaches in Auckland are also worth visiting, especially Karekare and Piha. Auckland is a great place to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Auckland Luxury Hotels Auckland Luxury Villas Amsterdam, Netherlands If you're looking for a city that's got it all, Amsterdam should be your go-to destination. From the city's lively and vibrant nightlife to its charming and quiet neighborhoods, Amsterdam has something for everyone. Be sure to check out the Anne Frank Huis, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum, as these are some of the most popular attractions in the city. And if you're looking for a little bit of nature, be sure to take a walk or bike ride through Amsterdam's many parks. Amsterdam Luxury Hotels Berlin, Germany There are so many great places to visit in Berlin that it can be hard to know where to start. From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the fascinating Reichstag Building, there's something for everyone in this vibrant city. If you're looking for a bit of history, make sure to check out the Berlin Wall Memorial or the DDR Museum. And for those looking for a bit more fun, there's always the Alexanderplatz Christmas Market or the Zoologischer Garten. No matter what your interests, Berlin is a city you won't want to miss. Berlin Luxury Hotels Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok is a city of contrasts with its gleaming temples and skyscrapers, chaotic markets and tranquil canals. While it's a popular tourist destination, Bangkok is a city that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Some of the top places to visit in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, the floating markets and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok Luxury Hotels Bangkok Luxury Resorts Bangkok Luxury Villas Bruges, Belgium Bruges is a city in Belgium that is worth visiting. It is full of medieval charm and there are a lot of things to see and do. Some of the places to visit include the Markt, the Belfry, and the Begijnhof. Bruges Luxury Hotels Brussels, Belgium Brussels is a city in Belgium that is best known for its chocolate, waffles, and beer. But there is much more to see and do in Brussels than just indulge in the local cuisine. There are a number of interesting historical landmarks to visit, such as the Grand Place and the Atomium, as well as a variety of parks and gardens. And, of course, Brussels is also a great city to explore on foot. Brussels Luxury Hotels Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Hungary's capital, is a city of thermal baths and medival, baroque and art nouveau architecture. Crowded with tourists, the city is bisected by the Danube River into the hilly Buda and the more developed and flat Pest. Among the main places of interest are the neo-Gothic Parliament, the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest, the Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda bank, and the State Opera House and Heroes' Square on the Pest side. Budapest Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen, Mexico Home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is a favorite tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. With its lively nightlife, gorgeous coastline and ample shopping opportunities, there's something for everyone in this tropical paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to visit some of the area's most popular attractions, such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, or the eco-friendly Turtle Beach. With its friendly people, delicious food and stunning scenery, Playa del Carmen is a place you'll never want to leave. Playa del Carmen Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen Luxury Resorts Playa del Carmen Luxury Villas Denver, CO, United States Denver is a great city for visitors. There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of the top places to visit include the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the Colorado State Capitol. There are also plenty of great restaurants and shops to explore. Denver is definitely a city worth visiting!. Denver Luxury Hotels Dublin, Ireland Dublin is a city located in Ireland. It's a city full of culture, with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist spots are the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and the Dublin Castle. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants to discover. Dublin Luxury Hotels Dusseldorf, Germany Dusseldorf, Germany is a city with many different places to visit. The city has a mix of old and new buildings, and a variety of activities to do. The best places to visit in Dusseldorf are the Konigsallee, the Rhine Tower, and the Oktoberfest. The Konigsallee is an open-air shopping mall that has many high-end stores. The Rhine Tower is the tallest building in the city and offers great views of Dusseldorf. The Oktoberfest is a week-long festival that celebrates German culture and food. Dusseldorf Luxury Hotels Edinburgh, United Kingdom Edinburgh, Scotland is a beautiful city to visit. The architecture is very old and unique, and there are plenty of historical places to visit, like Edinburgh Castle. There are also plenty of parks and gardens, and lots of shops and restaurants. Edinburgh Luxury Hotels Rome, Italy Rome is a city rich in history and filled with beautiful places to visit. Make sure to stop by the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Also be sure to visit St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel while in Rome. If youre looking for a little more nature in your trip, head to the Villa Borghese gardens or the Janiculum Hill for some wonderful views of the city. And of course, no trip to Rome is complete without a gelato!. Rome Luxury Hotels Rome Luxury Villas New York, NY, United States There are many amazing places to visit in New York State. Some of my favorites are the Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Finger Lakes. If you're looking for a city break, New York City is definitely worth a visit. There's endless things to see and do, from touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to visiting world-famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. No matter what your interests are, you'll be able to find something to enjoy in New York State. New York Luxury Hotels New York Luxury Villas London, United Kingdom London is a city rich in history and full of amazing places to visit. Some of my favorite places are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. There is so much to see and do in London, you could spend weeks here and never run out of things to do. If you're looking for a city full of culture and history, London is the place for you. London Luxury Hotels London Luxury Cottages Madrid, Spain Madrid is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world. From the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum, theres plenty to see and do in Madrid. If youre looking for a little bit of nature, Madrid has plenty of parks, like the Buen Retiro Park, to relax in. And dont forget to try some of the delicious tapas and wine while youre in town. Madrid Luxury Hotels Memphis, TN, United States The birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis is a city rich in history and culture. From Graceland to Beale Street, there are plenty of places to visit in Memphis. Be sure to check out Sun Studio, where rock 'n' roll was born, and the National Civil Rights Museum, which tells the story of the African-American civil rights movement. Memphis is also home to some amazing food, so be sure to try some of the city's famous barbecue and soul food. Memphis Luxury Hotels Miami Beach, FL, United States There is much to explore in Miami Beach, from the famous Art Deco district to the vast beaches and crystal-clear waters. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, while history buffs can explore the ancient burial mounds at Miami Beach. Shoppers and foodies will find plenty to keep them busy, with vibrant neighborhoods like Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive offering unique boutiques and award-winning restaurants. And of course, no trip to Miami Beach is complete without a visit to world-famous South Beach. Miami Beach Luxury Hotels Miami Beach Luxury Resorts New Orleans, LA, United States You can't visit New Orleans without trying some of the local food. Beignets, Po' Boys, and gumbo are just a few of the must-try dishes. While you're in town, be sure to check out the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral. If you're looking for some nightlife, Bourbon Street is the place to be. And, of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Mardi Gras!. New Orleans Luxury Hotels Milan, Italy Milan is a city located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is a popular tourist destination because of its historical and artistic heritage. Some of the places you should visit while in Milan are the Duomo, La Scala, and Castello Sforzesco. Milan Luxury Hotels Naples, Italy Naples is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Italy. There are countless places to visit, such as the Royal Palace, the Museum of San Martino, and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Naples is also home to excellent shopping and dining options. Be sure to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the city's many cafes and take a stroll through the picturesque streets. Naples Luxury Hotels Paris, France Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It's home to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, as well as a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene. If you're looking to explore all that Paris has to offer, here are some of the top places to visit: The Eiffel Tower: This iconic landmark is a must-see in Paris. Climb to the top for stunning views of the city, or take a ride on the elevator to the bottom for a closer look at the structure. The Louvre Museum: This world-famous museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, including the Mona Lisa. The Notre Dame Cathedral: This beautiful cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. Make sure to climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. The Champs-Elysees: This famous avenue is a popular destination for shopping and dining. Be sure to wander down the street and take in all the sights and sounds. The Arc de Triomphe: This towering arch is another iconic landmark in Paris. Climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. Paris Luxury Hotels Paris Luxury Villas Prague, Czech Republic Prague is a city rich in history and culture. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy, and the nightlife is vibrant. Prague is a truly unique city and a must-visit for anyone traveling to the Czech Republic. Prague Luxury Hotels Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. This paradise is a favorite destination for travelers looking for a Caribbean getaway. Punta Cana is home to a wide variety of resorts and activities, from enjoying the sand and surf to golfing, spas, and shopping. Nature lovers can also explore the areas jungles, caves, and waterfalls. Punta Cana Luxury Hotels Punta Cana Luxury Resorts Punta Cana Luxury Villas Marbella, Spain If you're looking for an idyllic and luxurious Spanish escape, look no further than Marbella. Located on the country's Costa del Sol, Marbella is home to stunning beaches, top-notch resorts, world-class golfing, and much more. A visit to Marbella is the perfect way to experience all that Spain has to offer. Marbella Luxury Hotels Marbella Luxury Villas Marrakesh, Morocco Marrakesh is a city in Morocco that is full of culture and history. There are several places to visit in Marrakesh, including the Palace of the Bahia, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Saadian Tombs. The souks (markets) are also a must-see, where you can find everything from souvenirs to spices to traditional clothing. Be sure to enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants or cafes in Marrakesh; the food is delicious and the atmosphere is always lively. Marrakesh is a wonderful city to explore and definitely worth a visit!. Marrakesh Luxury Hotels San Francisco, CA, United States San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. There are plenty of things to see and do in this vibrant city. Here are some of the top places to visit: 1. Fisherman's Wharf: This neighborhood is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a popular pier where you can enjoy views of the bay. 2. The Golden Gate Bridge: This iconic bridge is a must-see for any visitor to San Francisco. 3. Alcatraz Island: This former federal prison is now a popular tourist attraction. It's a must-see for fans of history and crime dramas. 4. Chinatown: This colorful neighborhood is home to some of the best food in San Francisco. Be sure to check out the Dragon Gate entrance. 5. The Mission District: This trendy neighborhood is home to hip restaurants, bars, and art galleries. San Francisco Luxury Hotels Moscow, Russia Moscow, Russia is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Other great places to see include the Bolshoi Theatre, Gorky Park, and the Tretyakov Gallery. There are also many churches and other historical buildings to explore. Moscow is a lively city with a lot of culture and nightlife. There is something for everyone to enjoy in Moscow. Moscow Luxury Hotels Venice, Italy Venice is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The city is built on a lagoon in northeast Italy and is known for its canals and gondolas. There are many places to visit in Venice, including the Grand Canal, St. Marks Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is also home to many museums, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Venice Luxury Hotels Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria is a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Vienna, including the Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna is also home to some of the world's best shopping, including the Karntner Strasse and the Graben. Finally, no visit to Vienna is complete without experiencing the city's world-famous nightlife. Vienna Luxury Hotels Zurich, Switzerland Zurich is a marvelous city located in the heart of Switzerland. It is a city that has something to offer for everyone. From amazing restaurants and beautiful architecture to exciting nightlife and gorgeous parks, Zurich has something for everyone. Some of the most popular places to visit in Zurich include the Bahnhofstrasse, which is the city's most famous shopping street, the Lindenhof, which is a beautiful park with amazing views of the city, and Grossmunster, which is a stunning Romanesque church. Zurich is also home to some of the best museums in the world, including the famed Museum of Art and the Swiss National Museum. With its mix of old-world charm and modern amenities, Zurich is a city that is definitely worth exploring. Zurich Luxury Hotels Acapulco, Mexico If you're looking for a Mexican vacation spot with plenty of history and culture to explore, Acapulco is a great option. From the archeological wonders of the ancient city to the stunning coastal views, there's something for everyone in Acapulco. Plus, with its temperate climate, it's a great escape from colder winter weather. Acapulco Luxury Hotels Acapulco Luxury Resorts Acapulco Luxury Villas Nashville, TN, United States One of the United States' most interesting places to visit is Nashville, Tennessee. There's plenty to see and do there, from the Grand Ole Opry to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Music is a big part of the city's history and culture, so be sure to catch a show while you're in town. Other popular attractions include the Ryman Auditorium, the Parthenon, and the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Nashville is also a great place to eat, with a wide variety of restaurants serving up everything from barbecue to Mexican food. So if you're looking for an exciting and diverse city to visit, be sure to add Nashville to your list. Nashville Luxury Hotels Nashville Luxury Villas Atlanta, GA, United States What's not to love about Atlanta? From the iconic Georgia Aquarium to the World of Coke, from the Fox Theatre to Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta offers a wealth of destinations for tourists. Sports fans will want to check out the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and history buffs will enjoy the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Braves fans can take a tour of SunTrust Park, and shoppers will enjoy the many boutiques and malls in the city. There's also a great restaurant scene in Atlanta, and music lovers will want to check out the many venues offering live music. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation spot or a place to explore on your own, Atlanta is a great choice!. Atlanta Luxury Hotels Miami, FL, United States The Magic City is a top tourist destination for a reasonthere are endless things to do in Miami! From exploring the trendy neighborhoods and dazzling beaches to soaking up the Latin culture and nightlife, Miami is jam-packed with amazing places to visit. Here are a few of our favorites: 1. Wynwood Walls: This outdoor art exhibit is a must-see for any art lover. The colorful murals are awe-inspiring and definitely Instagram-worthy. 2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: This estate is dripping with luxury and opulence, from the grandiose architecture to the expansive gardens. It's the perfect place for a day of relaxation. 3. South Beach: This world-famous beach is a must-visit for any sun-seeker. The crystal-clear water and soft sand make for the perfect day-long beach getaway. 4. Little Havana: Experience Cuban culture at its best in Little Havana. From delicious food to lively music and dance, there's something for everyone in this vibrant district. 5. Art Deco District: This district is home to Miami's most iconic architecture. Take a stroll down the charming streets and admire the colorful buildings that make Miami so unique. Miami Luxury Hotels Miami Luxury Villas Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is a must-see destination in Japan. There are endless places to explore in this city - temples, shrines, gardens, and more. The Shinjuku district is a great place to start, with its neon-lit streets and myriad shops and restaurants. For a taste of traditional Japan, visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa or the Imperial Palace. Nature lovers will enjoy the Hamarikyu Gardens or the Hama-rikyu Teien Garden. And for a unique experience, take a trip to Mount Fuji. Tokyo Luxury Hotels Tokyo Luxury Villas Buenos Aires, Argentina There are plenty of places to visit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some popular tourist destinations include the obelisk, the Casa Rosada, and the Puerto Madero district. Every barrio (neighborhood) has its own unique culture and flavor. San Telmo, La Boca, and Palermo are some of the most popular barrios. There are also many parks and plazas, such as Plaza de Mayo and Plaza de la Republica, that are worth checking out. Buenos Aires Luxury Hotels Hamburg, Germany One of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany is Hamburg. From the lively and colorful harbor district to the grandiose City Hall, there is plenty to see and do in Hamburg. Some of the other popular places to visit include the Reeperbahn district with its pubs and nightlife, the Planten un Blomen botanical gardens, and the architecturally stunning Rathausmarkt square. Hamburg Luxury Hotels Lisbon, Portugal The capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a city of fascinating contrasts. From its coastal location, visitors can enjoy stunning ocean views, while its hilly, narrow streets are home to a maze of charming traditional homes and lively nightlife. A city of 7 hills, Lisbon is a bustling metropolis with something for everyone. Here are some of the top places to visit: The Belem Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Lisbons most iconic landmarks. This 16th-century fortress and lighthouse is a must-see for visitors. The Alfama district, with its winding streets and tile-roofed homes, is the oldest district in Lisbon. This is the perfect place to get lost and explore the citys history. The Lisbon Zoo is a great place to enjoy a day out with the family, with over 2,000 animals from around the world. The Christ the King statue, located atop a hill in the suburb of Almada, offers impressive views of Lisbon and the river Tagus. The Lisbon Oceanarium, located in the Parque das Nacoes district, is home to more than 12,000 marine creatures and is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. Lisbon Luxury Hotels Lisbon Luxury Villas Malaga, Spain Malaga is an attractive seaside city in southern Spain with a long history. There are many places to visit in Malaga, including the Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Malaga Cathedral. Malaga is also home to a variety of museums, including the Picasso Museum. The city is well known for its beaches, and there are many delightful places to relax and enjoy the sun and the sea. Malaga Luxury Hotels Malaga Luxury Villas Munich, Germany When planning a vacation to Munich, Germany, be sure to include these top places to visit: The Marienplatz is a must-see square in the city center, featuring a beautiful Glockenspiel show and the Old and New Town Halls. The Englisher Garten, Europes largest city park, is a great place for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. OlympiaPark is home to the famous 1972 Olympic Stadium as well as a huge amusement park. The Frauenkirche is a stunning church in the old town with a Glockenspiel of its own. Beer lovers will want to visit the Hofbrauhaus, the worlds most famous beer hall. For a bit of history and culture, check out the LudwigMaximilians-University and the Deutsches Museum. There is so much to see and do in Munich these are just a few highlights!. Munich Luxury Hotels Granada, Spain Granada is a city in southern Spain that is known for its Moorish architecture and history. The city is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress that was constructed in the late 1300s. Visitors can also enjoy the citys many churches, including the Cathedral of Granada. Granada is also a convenient base for exploring the other cities and towns in Andalusia. Granada Luxury Hotels Bucharest, Romania Bucharest is a city full of history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Palace of Parliament, which is the world's largest civilian building. Other places to visit include the old city center, which is full of charming streets and buildings, and the Botanical Garden, which is the largest botanical garden in Romania. Bucharest Luxury Hotels Bologna, Italy Bologna, Italy is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist destinations include the Piazza Maggiore, the Tower of Asinelli, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. There are also plenty of museums and churches to explore, and the city is full of charming restaurants and cafes. Bologna is an excellent destination for a vacation, and there is something for everyone to enjoy in this amazing city. Bologna Luxury Hotels Porto, Portugal Porto is a port city in Portugal that is well known for its wine. It's also a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Porto, including the old city center, the Dom Luis I Bridge, and the Clerigos Tower. Porto is also home to the famous Port wine caves, which are a must-visit for wine lovers. Porto Luxury Hotels Cologne, Germany Cologne, located on the Rhine River in western Germany, is a city well worth visiting. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Some of the city's most popular tourist attractions include the Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, and the RheinEnergieStadion. Additionally, Cologne is home to a wide variety of museums, shops, and restaurants. In fact, the city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Germany. So, if you're looking for a great European city to visit, be sure to add Cologne to your list. Cologne Luxury Hotels Istanbul, Turkey If you're looking for an exotic and affordable vacation destination, look no further than Istanbul, Turkey. Filled with historical places to visit and bargains to be found, Istanbul offers something for everyone. Be sure to visit the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque while you're there. Don't forget to bargain for the best prices when shopping in the bazaars, and enjoy some delicious Turkish cuisine while you're at it. Istanbul is sure to leave you with a lasting impression. Istanbul Luxury Hotels Istanbul Luxury Villas Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai is a fascinating and exotic city that offers visitors a mix of traditional Middle Eastern culture and modern, cosmopolitan life. There are plenty of places to visit in Dubai, from the towering skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the luxury shopping malls and luxurious hotels of the Palm Jumeirah. Don't miss a chance to experience an Arabian night out on an epic dhow cruise, or take a trip out into the Arabian Desert to see the stunning sand dunes. Dubai Luxury Hotels Dubai Luxury Resorts Dubai Luxury Villas Antwerp, Belgium Antwerp is a city located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Antwerp and has a population of over half a million people. Antwerp is a popular tourist destination due to its many historical buildings, museums, and art galleries. Some of the most popular places to visit in Antwerp are the Cathedral of Our Lady, the City Hall, the Rubenshuis, and the Antwerp Zoo. Antwerp Luxury Hotels Lyon, France Lyon is a beautiful city in the south of France that is full of culture and places to visit. Some of the most popular places to visit in Lyon are the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, the Place Bellecour, and the Vieux Lyon. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere is a beautiful cathedral that is a must-see when visiting Lyon. The Place Bellecour is a large square in the heart of Lyon that is full of restaurants and cafes. The Vieux Lyon is a district in Lyon that is full of old buildings and is a great place to wander around and take in the sights. Lyon Luxury Hotels Athens, Greece If you find yourself in Athens, there are definitely some spots you won't want to miss. The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Olympic Stadium are all essential stops, but there are plenty of others, too. If you're looking for a bit of history, the National Archaeological Museum is a must-see, while nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the botanical gardens. If you're looking to relax, take a walk along the beach in Glyfada or head to the Plaka district for a charming and picturesque setting. No matter what you're interested in, Athens has something for you. Athens Luxury Hotels Athens Luxury Villas Helsinki, Finland While in Helsinki, make sure to visit these popular tourist destinations: The Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral The Sibelius Monument Ateneum Art Museum Market Square Helsinki Zoo. Helsinki Luxury Hotels Vilnius, Lithuania The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is a picturesque city with a rich history. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of charming churches, narrow streets, and pretty squares. There are also lots of museums and other places of interest to visit, including the Hill of Crosses, Gediminas Tower, and the Presidential Palace. Vilnius is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars to enjoy in the evening. Vilnius Luxury Hotels Reykjavik, Iceland A city of remote beauty, Reykjavik is teeming with interesting places to visit. One of the worlds most northern capitals, Reykjavik offers stunning landscapes and a wealth of cultural experiences. From the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church to the popular Golden Circle tour, theres plenty to see and do in Reykjavik. Be sure to check out the citys lively nightlife scene, too you wont be disappointed!. Reykjavik Luxury Hotels Glasgow, United Kingdom Some of the most popular places to visit in Glasgow include the Gallery of Modern Art, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. There are also many wonderful parks and gardens to explore, including the Botanic Gardens and Glasgow Green. For those interested in history and architecture, there are many fascinating old buildings to see, such as the Glasgow Cathedral and the University of Glasgow. And for those looking for a lively nightlife, Glasgow has no shortage of pubs, clubs, and restaurants. Glasgow Luxury Hotels Los Angeles, CA, United States As the birthplace of Hollywood and home to some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, there's no shortage of places to visit in Los Angeles. Start by exploring the city's iconic neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills and Hollywood, then venture out to attractions like the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach and Disneyland. And don't forget to savour the city's world-famous cultural scene, with its abundance of museums, theatres and restaurants. Los Angeles Luxury Hotels Los Angeles Luxury Villas San Diego, CA, United States San Diego is a city located in California and is a major tourist destination. One of the main reasons people visit the city is for its many beaches. Coronado Beach, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach are some of the most popular and are all within close proximity to the city center. Other attractions in San Diego include the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and the USS Midway Museum. Restaurants, bars, and shopping can be found throughout the city, and world-renowned museums, like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, are also located in San Diego. San Diego Luxury Hotels San Diego Luxury Resorts San Diego Luxury Villas Washington, DC, United States Washington, D.C. is a city full of history and places to visit. Some popular places to visit are the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Smithsonian. D.C. is also home to a number of monuments and memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. There are also a number of museums in D.C., like the American History Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. Washington Luxury Hotels Cancun, Mexico Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. Aside from its beautiful beaches, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Cancun. Some of the most popular attractions include the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, the eco-park Xcaret, and the nightclubs and bars in the resort district. Cancun Luxury Hotels Cancun Luxury Resorts Cancun Luxury Villas Virginia Beach, VA, United States Virginia Beach is one of the top tourist destinations on the East Coast. From the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to the miles of sandy beaches, there's something for everyone to enjoy. There are also plenty of restaurants, shops, and other attractions to keep visitors busy. Some of the most popular places to visit in Virginia Beach include: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk: This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. First Landing State Park: This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. Cape Henry Lighthouse: This lighthouse is one of the oldest in the country and offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. There are plenty of other things to do in Virginia Beach, including dolphin and whale watching tours, kayaking, and golfing. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation or a romantic getaway, Virginia Beach is sure to please. Virginia Beach Luxury Hotels Virginia Beach Luxury Resorts Beijing, China If you're looking for an amazing cultural experience, be sure to add Beijing, China to your travel bucket list! With beautiful temples, charming hutongs (traditional alleyways), and a lively food scene, there's something for everyone in this bustling city. Plus, Beijing is home to some of the most iconic attractions in China, like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. So if you're looking for an unforgettable East Asian adventure, be sure to add Beijing to your list!. Beijing Luxury Hotels Seoul, South Korea Seoul is a metropolitan city that is home to over 10 million people. It is a city full of culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of places to visit in Seoul, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and N Seoul Tower. The Jeongdongne district is a must-see for anyone interested in art and culture, and the Itaewon district is a great place to go for a night on the town. Seoul Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States Known for its dramatic lake and mountain scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers visitors plenty of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include floating down the river on a tube, hiking the trails in the summer and skiing or snowboarding the slopes in the winter. The city also has a variety of restaurants and nightlife options, as well as casinos for those looking to try their luck. South Lake Tahoe Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe Luxury Resorts Daytona Beach, FL, United States Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is approximately 40 miles northeast of Orlando, and 85 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The city is known as "The World's Most Famous Beach." Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida. The Daytona Beach area is a popular tourist destination. It is well known for its beaches, sports events, and motorsports. Daytona Beach was the birthplace of NASCAR and home to its first track, Daytona International Speedway. Dayton Beach also features a large number of tourist-oriented businesses, such as motels, restaurants, and bars. Daytona Beach Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The coastline of Rio de Janeiro is breathtaking, and the views from Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are unforgettable. Rio's world-famous beaches are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and the surf. The city's rich culture and history can be experienced in its many museums and in the lively nightlife. Rio is also a great place to shop for souvenirs. Rio de Janeiro Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro Luxury Villas Jaco, Costa Rica Jaco is a town on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It's about an hour drive from San Jose and is a popular spot for surfers, sunbathers, and tourists. There are a number of beaches in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and hotels. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Costa Rican sun and beaches, Jaco is a great option. Jaco Luxury Hotels Oslo, Norway Oslo, Norway is a city with plenty of places to visit. You can find the peace and tranquility of nature parks and green spaces, experience the city's vibrant nightlife, or take in the historical and cultural sights. Here are a few of the top places to visit in Oslo: The Royal Palace: Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Vigeland Park: Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. The Maritime Museum: This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. The National Gallery: The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. Aker Brygge: Aker Brygge is a popular waterfront district in Oslo, home to a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. The area is a great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord. Oslo Luxury Hotels Lima, Peru If you're looking for a city that's bursting with culture and flavor, Lima, Peru is the place for you! This vibrant destination is home to some of the most amazing places to visit in all of South America. From ancient ruins to lush rainforests, there's something for everyone in Lima. Here are just a few of the must-see attractions in this amazing city: The Larco Museum is one of Lima's top tourist destinations. This incredible museum is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian art in the world. The Historic Center of Lima is a must-see for any history lover. This vibrant area is home to some of the oldest architecture in Lima, including the iconic San Francisco Monastery. If you're looking for a little bit of jungle in the city, head to the Parque de la Reserva. This lush park is home to beautiful gardens, a zoo, and even a butterfly farm! No trip to Lima would be complete without a visit to Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca citadel is one of the most iconic sites in all of South America. Lima Luxury Hotels Ankara, Turkey Ankara is the cultural and political center of Turkey. The city is home to many museums, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and is a popular destination for tourists. The Citadel, the Ataturk Mausoleum, and the War of Independence Museum are all popular tourist destinations in Ankara. The city is also home to a vibrant nightlife and is a popular destination for students. Ankara Luxury Hotels Birmingham, United Kingdom There are plenty of great places to visit in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Some of the most popular places to go include the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Black Country Living Museum. These places are all great for tourists, as they offer a variety of attractions, including beautiful gardens, interesting art, and a recreation of an old-fashioned town. Additionally, there are plenty of other great places to visit in Birmingham, such as the Jewellery Quarter and the German Christmas Market. Birmingham Luxury Hotels York, United Kingdom With a rich history that spans back over 1,000 years, York is a must-visit destination in the United Kingdom. Explore the city's medieval architecture and narrow cobblestone streets, or enjoy a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural experiences, such as the York Minster cathedral, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy in York. York Luxury Hotels Inverness, United Kingdom Inverness, Scotland is a must-see destination on any traveler's list. Filled with rolling green hills, historical sites, and plenty of outdoor activities, there's something for everyone in this charming town. Start by exploring the city center, which is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out the Inverness Castle, which offers commanding views of the area, and the Inverness Cathedral, a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Outside of the city center, there are plenty of other attractions to explore. The Loch Ness Monster is said to make its home in the loch here, and visitors can take boat tours to hunt for the mythical creature. If you're looking for a more active adventure, take a hike in the hills or go fishing on the loch. No matter what you choose to do, Inverness is a beautiful and welcoming town that is sure to charm you. Inverness Luxury Hotels Marseille, France The Vieux Port (Old Harbor) is the oldest port in France. It is a beautiful place to visit with its sailboats, restaurants, and cafes. The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is also worth a visit. It offers stunning views of the city. If you're looking for a more lively atmosphere, head to the La Canebiere. It's a wide avenue with plenty of shops and restaurants. Marseille Luxury Hotels Marseille Luxury Villas Honolulu, HI, United States Honolulu is a city located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous city in the state of Hawaii and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is located in Honolulu. Other places to visit in Honolulu include Diamond Head, the USS Arizona Memorial, and Hanauma Bay. Honolulu Luxury Hotels Honolulu Luxury Resorts Honolulu Luxury Villas Bar Harbor, ME, United States Famous for lobster and stunning ocean views, Bar Harbor is a popular destination in Maine. There are plenty of things to do in the town and its surroundings, including hiking, biking, whale watching, and exploring Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor Luxury Hotels Colorado Springs, CO, United States There are many places to visit in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a popular park with beautiful rock formations. Pike's Peak is a 14,115 foot mountain that offers great views and outdoor activities. The Broadmoor is a world-renowned resort with lovely gardens and a championship golf course. Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a popular tourist spot. Colorado Springs Luxury Hotels Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States Just an hours drive from the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach is a popular tourist spot, especially in the winter when the snowbirds migrate down. The seven-mile-long beach is known for its white sand and clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as a few stores. Fort Myers Beach Luxury Hotels Biloxi, MS, United States There are plenty of places to explore in Biloxi, Mississippi from the citys iconic Beaches to the picturesque Bay Saint Louis. Venture into the citys downtown area to check out the many shops and restaurants, or take a walk along the shoreline. No matter what you choose to do, youre sure to have a great time in Biloxi. Biloxi Luxury Hotels Palermo, Italy If you're looking for a city with a rich and diverse history, Palermo is the place for you. This coastal city in Italy is teeming with medieval architecture, churches, and cathedrals. Be sure to check out the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Europe, and the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the Sicilian government. Don't miss out on the city's vibrant nightlife and vast array of restaurants that serve up some of the best food in the country. Palermo Luxury Hotels Palermo Luxury Villas Manila, Philippines The capital of the Philippines, Manila is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. There are plenty of places to visit in Manila, including the walled city of Intramuros, the Rizal Park, and the Manila Bay. The city is also home to a large number of churches, including the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Manila is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy. Manila Luxury Hotels Zermatt, Switzerland Zermatt is an alpine village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is famous for its ski resort, mountaineering and hiking trails. The views of the Matterhorn from Zermatt are iconic. The village is car-free, making it a cyclists' and pedestrians' paradise. There are many places to visit in Zermatt, including the village's beautiful churches, impressive museums, and great restaurants. Zermatt Luxury Hotels Basel, Switzerland Basel is a city located in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel has a population of about 176,000 and is the third most populous city in Switzerland. Basel has many interesting places to visit, including the Basel Munster, the Basel Rathaus (town hall), the Basel Zoo, and the Munsterhof, the old town square. Basel also has a number of art museums, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Fondation Beyeler, and the Schaulager. Basel is a great city to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Basel Luxury Hotels Copenhagen, Denmark There are a number of places to visit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, and the Rosenborg Castle Gardens. Tivoli Gardens is a beautiful amusement park that has something for everyone. It is perfect for a day of fun with family or friends. Nyhavn is a charming canal district that is popular for its brightly colored houses and lively atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing cruise down the canal or take a seat in one of the many cafes and restaurants. The Rosenborg Castle Gardens are home to a majestic castle as well as beautifully landscaped gardens. There is plenty to see and do in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen Luxury Hotels Steamboat Springs, CO, United States Steamboat Springs is located in northwestern Colorado. The town is named for the steamboats that traveled up the Yampa River in the 1800s. Today, the town is a popular tourist destination, known for its skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and rafting. Steamboat Springs Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is home to many tourist attractions. Some popular places to visit in Abu Dhabi include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Ferrari World Theme Park, and the Yas Island Waterpark. There are also a number of museums and shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, making it a great destination for those looking for a mix of culture and leisure. Abu Dhabi Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi Luxury Resorts Abu Dhabi Luxury Villas Bogota, Colombia There's a lot to see and do in Bogota. Some of the top places to visit include the historical La Candelaria district, the cobblestone streets of Plaza de Bolivar, the Monserrate mountain, the Bogota Botanical Garden, and the Gold Museum. La Candelaria is home to many brightly-colored colonial buildings, churches, and plazas. Plaza de Bolivar is the center of Bogota and is surrounded by important landmarks like the Presidential Palace and the National Capitol. The Monserrate mountain is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning views of Bogota. The Bogota Botanical Garden is the largest in Colombia and features a wide variety of plants and trees. The Gold Museum is home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world. Bogota Luxury Hotels Cebu, Philippines Due to its location and its rich history, there are plenty of places to visit in Cebu. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include the Cebu Taoist Temple, the Fort San Pedro, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, and the Magellan's Cross. Cebu Luxury Hotels Cebu Luxury Resorts Lagos, Portugal Lagos is a small town in Portugal with a population of around 22,000. It's located in the Algarve region and is a popular tourist destination. Some of the places to visit in Lagos are the beaches, the old town, and the Marina. The beaches are beautiful and there are a lot of them to choose from. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways with lots of shops and restaurants. The Marina is a great place to walk around and watch the boats. Lagos Luxury Hotels Medellin, Colombia Some places to visit in Medellin, Colombia are: the Botanical Garden, the Ethnographic Museum, the Jardin Botanico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Park of Lights, and the San Pedro Claver Church. Medellin Luxury Hotels Genoa, Italy While there are many places to visit in Genoa, one of the must-sees is the city's cathedral. Dedicated to San Lorenzo, the church features an intricate Gothic facade and a Renaissance interior. If you're looking for a place to take in some stunning views, head to the Genoa Aquarium, which is located on the promenade stretching along the city's harbor. Genoa Luxury Hotels Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Its a bridge town thats best explored on foot. The narrow streets are a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture. There are tailors, artisans, and lantern shops galore. The food is also some of the best in Vietnam. Be sure to try the local specialties, like Cao Lau and White Rose dumplings. Hoi An Luxury Hotels Hoi An Luxury Resorts Baku, Azerbaijan Baku, Azerbaijan is a city with a lot of culture and history. There are a lot of places to visit, like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. There are also a lot of great restaurants, like the Flame Club, which has a great atmosphere and delicious food. Baku Luxury Hotels San Luis Obispo, CA, United States San Luis Obispo is a city located in the central coast of California. It's known for its natural beauty, relaxed vibe, and abundance of things to do. Some of the top places to visit in San Luis Obispo include the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, and the Paso Robles wine country. The city is also home to a variety of beaches, parks, and other attractions. In addition, San Luis Obispo is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and other amenities. San Luis Obispo Luxury Hotels Colombo, Sri Lanka Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The city is located on the west coast of the island and is the administrative, commercial, and industrial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo is also the center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with numerous Buddhist temples. There are a number of places to visit in Colombo, including the Galle Face Green, the Dutch fort, the Pettah Bazaar, and the Sri Lankan National Museum. Colombo Luxury Hotels Yogyakarta, Indonesia The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia is home to some of the most stunning temples and historical landmarks in the country. The city is also a great place to enjoy traditional Javanese culture and cuisine. Some of the must-see places in Yogyakarta include the Borobudur Temple, the Prambanan Temple, and the Sultan's Palace. Yogyakarta Luxury Hotels Cefalu, Italy Looking for a beautiful and historic place to visit in Italy? Look no further than Cefalu. This town is teeming with history and stunning architecture, and its location on the coast makes it the perfect place to relax and take in the stunning scenery. Don't miss the Duomo di Cefalu, a 12th century Norman church that is definitely worth a visit, or the Palazzo dei Normanni, a former royal palace. Cefalu Luxury Hotels San Jose, CA, United States San Jose, California, is home to a variety of tourist destinations. Some popular places to visit include the Winchester Mystery House, the Tech Museum of Innovation, and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There are also a number of lovely parks, such as Kelley Park and Plaza de Cesar Chavez, that are well worth a visit. San Jose is also home to a number of great restaurants, so be sure to check out the local cuisine. Whatever your interests, San Jose has something to offer visitors. San Jose Luxury Hotels Hong Kong, China Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in China. There are many places to visit in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Victoria Peak, and the Temple Street Night Market. Hong Kong is also a great place to shop, with many high-end malls and markets. Hong Kong Luxury Hotels Hong Kong Luxury Resorts Orlando, FL, United States Orlando is a city in the central region of Florida, in the United States. The city is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the metropolitan area also known as Greater Orlando. Orlando is well known for its theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Other tourist destinations in Orlando include the Holy Land Experience, the Orlando Science Center, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, one of the largest universities in the United States. Orlando Luxury Hotels Orlando Luxury Resorts Orlando Luxury Villas Philadelphia, PA, United States If youre looking for a place thats rich in history and culture, Philadelphia is the place for you. The city is home to numerous iconic landmarks, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Theres also a great variety of museums and other attractions to explore, such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. And, of course, Philly is the birthplace of Americas favorite sandwich, the cheesesteak. So why not visit Americas most historic city and see for yourself what all the fuss is about?. Philadelphia Luxury Hotels Nice, France France is known for its many beautiful places to visit, and Nice is no exception. With its stunning coastline and mild climate, Nice is a popular tourist destination. Some of the most popular places to visit in Nice include the Promenade des Anglais, the Castle Hill, and the Old Town. There is also a wide variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy in Nice. If you're looking for a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in France, Nice is definitely worth considering. Nice Luxury Hotels Nice Luxury Villas Singapore, Singapore Singapore is a popular tourist destination, brimming with cultural and natural attractions. From award-winning restaurants to serene gardens and pristine beaches, there is much to explore in this diverse city-state. Here are some of the top places to visit in Singapore: 1. Marina Bay: This iconic waterfront district is home to stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, and a vibrant nightlife. 2. Gardens by the Bay: These stunning gardens feature a mix of plants from around the world, as well as towering sculptures and a biodome. 3. Chinatown: This lively district is home to traditional Chinese shops and restaurants, as well as vibrant street markets. 4. Little India: This neighborhood is known for its vibrant culture and colorful temples. 5. Sentosa Island: This resort island is home to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and a variety of entertainment options. Singapore Luxury Hotels Singapore Luxury Resorts Nottingham, United Kingdom Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England. It is one of the United Kingdom's major cities, with a population of over 321,000. The city is home to two universities, Queen's Medical Centre, and seven football grounds. Nottingham is known for its lace-making and bicycle manufacturing. The city has a rich history, dating back to the Bronze Age. There are plenty of places to visit in Nottingham, including the Nottingham Castle, the Sherwood Forest, and the National Ice Centre. The city also has a lively nightlife, with a variety of pubs and bars. Nottingham Luxury Hotels Cannes, France Cannes is a city located in the south of France. Some of the places to visit in Cannes are the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, the Boulevard de la Croisette, and Le Suquet. Cannes Luxury Hotels Cannes Luxury Villas Park City, UT, United States Park City, Utah, offers visitors a wealth of places to visit and things to do. Main Street, with its charming shops and restaurants, is a must-see. The Park City Museum tells the town's fascinating history, and the Park City Utah Temple is a beautiful sight. For outdoor enthusiasts, there's plenty of skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. And don't forget to visit the Olympic Park, where the 2002 Winter Olympics were held. Park City Luxury Hotels Park City Luxury Resorts Port Angeles, WA, United States If you're looking for a quaint, small town to visit in the US, Port Angeles is worth a stop. Located in the state of Washington, it's right on the Pacific coast with stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. There's plenty of things to do in the area, from hiking and fishing to whale watching and enjoying the local restaurants and breweries. Port Angeles Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States If you're looking for a fun-filled Florida getaway, look no further than Fort Lauderdale! With its miles of pristine beaches, world-famous shopping and vibrant nightlife, there's something for everyone in this seaside city. Here are some of the top places to visit in Fort Lauderdale: Las Olas Boulevard: This popular shopping and dining district is home to some of Fort Lauderdale's most upscale boutiques and restaurants. The Beach: With its wide, sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Fort Lauderdale's beach is a major draw for visitors. The Everglades: Just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, bald eagles and manatees. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts: This world-class performing arts center is home to a variety of theater, dance and music performances. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Fort Lauderdale today!. Fort Lauderdale Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale Luxury Resorts Myrtle Beach, SC, United States Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to visit in the area, including amusement parks, beaches, and golf courses. Myrtle Beach also has a lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and restaurants. Myrtle Beach Luxury Hotels Myrtle Beach Luxury Resorts Salzburg, Austria Salzburg is one of the most visited places in Austria. It is a city rich in history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Mirabell Palace, and the Salzburg Cathedral. There are also many hiking trails and parks to enjoy. Salzburg Luxury Hotels Pattaya, Thailand Pattaya is an amazing city with plenty of places to visit and things to do. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Pattaya offers something for everyone. There are lovely beaches, interesting temples, great shopping, and exciting nightlife. With its moderate climate and affordable prices, it's no wonder Pattaya is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Pattaya Luxury Hotels Pattaya Luxury Resorts Pattaya Luxury Villas Dallas, TX, United States Dallas is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the ninth most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in the state of Texas. Dallas is also the main city of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The city's prominence arose from its historical importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries, and its position as a major transportation hub for the South. Dallas is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, and transportation. The city is home to the world's largest airline hub and the third largest cargo airport in the United States. Dallas Luxury Hotels Kolkata, India Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. It is the second most populous city in India, after Mumbai, and the third most populous metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi. The city is notable for its colonial architecture, art and culture, and for its overwhelming poverty. Kolkata is home to the Indian Museum, the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the National Library of India, and the Indian Statistical Institute. Kolkata Luxury Hotels San Antonio, TX, United States San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas. There are plenty of places to visit in this city, from the well-known River Walk to the exquisite Spanish missions. If you're looking for a fun place to spend the day, you can't go wrong with San Antonio. San Antonio Luxury Hotels Seattle, WA, United States There are many wonderful places to visit in Seattle, Washington. Some of the most popular attractions include Pike Place Market, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Museum of Pop Culture. There are also many parks and gardens, such as Volunteer Park and Seattle Chinese Garden, as well as plenty of restaurants and shops. Located on the other side of the world, Western Australia is a great place to visit for those looking for something different. Some of the most popular attractions include Rottnest Island, the Margaret River region, and Monkey Mia. There are also plenty of beautiful parks and gardens, such as Kings Park and Botanic Garden, as well as restaurants and shops. Seattle Luxury Hotels Liverpool, United Kingdom Liverpool is a city located in North West England and is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom. The city is known for its football teams Liverpool and Everton, The Beatles, and its maritime history. Liverpool is a popular tourist destination and is home to various tourist attractions including Mersey Ferry, Liverpool Cathedral, and Albert Dock. Liverpool Luxury Hotels Malmo, Sweden Malmo is Sweden's third largest city with a population of over 310,000. It is located in the province of Scania on the country's southern tip. Malmo is a vibrant city with a strong arts and cultural scene. There are plenty of places to visit in Malmo, including the Malmo Castle, the Botanical Gardens, and the Turning Torso skyscraper. Malmo is also home to a large shopping district and a lively nightlife. Malmo Luxury Hotels Gothenburg, Sweden Goteborg, Sweden's second largest city, is a major port on the country's west coast. It's a popular tourist destination, known for its lively nightlife, beautiful architecture and delicious seafood. Some of the city's highlights include the Liseberg amusement park, the Botanical Garden, and the charming old town district. Goteborg is also home to a large number of museums, including the Volvo Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Universeum science center. Gothenburg Luxury Hotels Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and is a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Ljubljana, such as the castle, the old town, and the cathedral. The city is also home to many museums, art galleries, and parks. Ljubljana is a great city to explore on foot, and there are many restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Ljubljana Luxury Hotels Sydney, NSW, Australia Australia is a vast country with plenty of stunning places to visit, but Sydney is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations on the continent. From the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to the beautiful beaches and lush national parks, there's something for everyone in this lively city. There's also a thriving food and nightlife scene, so you'll never run out of things to do in Sydney. Sydney Luxury Hotels Sydney Luxury Villas Melbourne, VIC, Australia There's a lot to love about Melbourne its lively arts and culture scene, its parks and gardens, its diverse range of restaurants and cafes, and its stunning architecture. Here are some of the best places to visit in Melbourne: - Federation Square: This iconic square is a great place to people-watch and take in the city's impressive architecture. It's also home to a number of museums and galleries, including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the National Gallery of Victoria. - Queen Victoria Market: This vibrant market is a must-visit for foodies and shoppers alike. It's the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers a vast array of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and souvenirs. - Melbourne Cricket Ground: If you're a sports fan, be sure to check out the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It's also home to the Australian Football League, and has hosted a number of major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Union World Cup. - Royal Botanic Gardens: These beautiful gardens are a great place to relax and take in some of Melbourne's natural beauty. They're home to a number of different gardens, including the Australian Garden, the Sculpture Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Melbourne Luxury Hotels Melbourne Luxury Villas Vancouver, BC, Canada The top places to visit in Vancouver are Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, and Chinatown. These are all must-see attractions that offer an array of activities, scenery, and history. Stanley Park is a world-famous urban park that features greenery, beaches, gardens, and a stunning view of the North Shore Mountains. Granville Island is a vibrant neighbourhood with unique shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Gastown is the city's oldest neighbourhood and is home to charming cobblestone streets and funky boutiques. Chinatown is one of the largest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America and offers delicious food, interesting history, and vibrant culture. Vancouver Luxury Hotels Toronto, ON, Canada From the CN Tower and Hockey Hall of Fame to the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Distillery District, there are plenty of amazing places to visit in Toronto, Canada. With something for everyone, Toronto is a great city to explore. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!. Toronto Luxury Hotels Montreal, QC, Canada Montreal is a vibrant city with something for everyone. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Notre Dame Basilica, the Olympic Stadium, and Mount Royal. The city is also home to a lively arts and culture scene, with theatres, art galleries, and music venues. Montreal is a great place to visit year-round, with festivals and events happening throughout the year. Montreal Luxury Hotels Seville, Spain Seville is one of the most visited places in Spain for a plethora of reasons: its stunning architecture, tapas bars, flamenco and great weather. The Giralda Tower is a must-see when in Seville as is the Plaza de Espana. Andalusian culture is heavily present in the city and is best experienced by wandering the narrow streets and alleyways, popping into a lively tapas bar for a drink and some snacks or enjoying a flamenco show. Seville Luxury Hotels Seville Luxury Villas Ocean City, MD, United States Ocean City is a seaside resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, on the Atlantic coast. It is well known for its long promenade, its fishing, and its crab cuisine. There are plenty of places to visit in Ocean City, including the boardwalk, amusement rides, shopping, and restaurants. You can also visit the Assateague Island National Seashore, which is home to wild horses, or head to the nearby town of Berlin for more shopping and dining options. Ocean City Luxury Hotels Cambridge, MA, United States If you're looking for a quintessential New England town to visit, Cambridge, Massachusetts is the place for you. With its elaborate architecture and Colonial history, Cambridge is a lively town with plenty of things to see and do - perfect for a weekend getaway. Some of the places you won't want to miss include the Harvard University campus, the charming and lively shops and restaurants in Harvard Square, and the leafy paths of the Cambridge Common. Cambridge Luxury Hotels Laguna Beach, CA, United States Laguna Beach, California is a place known for its stunningly beautiful coastline, excellent restaurants, and art galleries. But there's more to Laguna Beach than meets the eye. Here are some of the best places to visit in Laguna Beach: Crystal Cove State Park: This state park is known for its coves, tidepools, and bluffs. It's a great place to go hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. Heisler Park: This park is a great place for a walk or a picnic. It's also home to some of the best views of the Pacific Coast. Downtown Laguna Beach: This charming downtown area is home to art galleries, boutique shops, and excellent restaurants. Aliso Beach: This beach is known for its excellent surfing and swimming conditions. It's also a great place to take a walk or enjoy a picnic. Laguna Beach Luxury Hotels Hot Springs, AR, United States In downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, you'll find historic buildings, antique shops, and art galleries. For nature lovers, there are also plenty of places to visit, including the Garland County Arboretum, Ouachita National Forest, and Hot Springs National Park. Spa enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing day in one of the area's hot springs. And no trip to Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the world-famous Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs Luxury Hotels Sedona, AZ, United States There are many places to visit in Sedona, Arizona. Among the most popular are the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. The town's unique red-rock formations and ancient ruins offer plenty of photo opportunities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Sedona is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Southwest. Sedona Luxury Hotels Sedona Luxury Resorts Boulder, CO, United States Boulder, Colorado is a breathtaking city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city is home to stunning views, ample outdoor recreation, and a lively arts scene. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring the city's many trails, parks, and open spaces. History buffs will enjoy checking out the city's museums and historic sites. Culture seekers will appreciate the city's many theaters, art galleries, and restaurants. No matter what your interests, you'll find something to love in Boulder. Boulder Luxury Hotels Key West, FL, United States Key West is a small island off the coast of Florida that is filled with history, charm, and fun places to visit. Its lush tropical setting and the laid-back vibe of the island make it a popular destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. There are plenty of places to explore in Key West, from the charming historic district to the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Here are some of the top places to visit in Key West: -The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: This iconic museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for over 20 years. -Duval Street: This lively street is the heart of Key West's nightlife and is home to many bars and restaurants. -The Southernmost Point: This landmark is located at the end of Duval Street and is the southernmost point in the continental United States. -The Key West Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is a popular spot for tourists and offers stunning views of the island. -The African American Heritage House: This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans in Key West. -The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: This attraction is home to over 2,000 butterflies and a variety of other tropical plants and animals. Key West Luxury Hotels Key West Luxury Resorts Key West Luxury Cottages Key West Luxury Villas Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden is a city with many places to visit. One place is the Vasa Museum, which is home to a ship that sunk in 1628 and was raised from the ocean floor 333 years later. The ship is preserved and on display in the museum. Another place to visit is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch. The palace is open for tours, and visitors can see the royal apartments, the throne room, and the Hall of State. Stockholm Luxury Hotels Destin, FL, United States Looking for a place to visit in Florida? Look no further than Destin! This city is home to beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and plenty of places to shop. No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in Destin. Be sure to check out the Destin Harbor and the fishing pier for amazing views and plenty of things to do. If you're looking for a place to relax, head to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. There's something for everyone in Destin, so be sure to visit this amazing city!. Destin Luxury Hotels Destin Luxury Resorts Ashland, OR, United States There are many places to visit in Ashland, Oregon. Some of the most popular places are the Shakespeare Festival, Lithia Park, and Mt. Ashland. The Shakespeare Festival is a great place to see some of the best plays in the world. Lithia Park is a beautiful park with a river running through it. Mt. Ashland is a great place to go skiing in the winter. Ashland Luxury Hotels Seaside, OR, United States One of the most beautiful places on the Oregon Coast is Seaside. With its wide, sandy beach and majestic promenade, Seaside is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to eat and shop, and the Seaside Aquarium is a must-see. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, whale watching, or just taking a leisurely stroll along the beach. Seaside Luxury Hotels Newport, RI, United States Newport is a picturesque town located in southern Rhode Island that is home to some of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. The city is known for its miles of beaches and historic mansions that line the coast. Some popular places to visit in Newport include the Cliff Walk, the Breakers Mansion, the Museum of Yachting, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Newport Luxury Hotels Siena, Italy Siena, Italy is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its well-preserved medieval city center. The city is famous for its art, food, and wine. Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, making it the perfect base for exploring this beautiful region of Italy. Don't miss the Duomo (cathedral), the Piazza del Campo, and the Torre del Mangia. Siena Luxury Hotels Reno, NV, United States Home to the University of Nevada, Reno and a wide variety of cultural and natural attractions, Reno is a great place to visit. Some of the top places to see in Reno include the Nevada Museum of Art, the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, and the Reno Events Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and skiing at Lake Tahoe and biking and kayaking on the Truckee River. In addition, Reno is home to a diverse array of restaurants and nightlife venues. Reno Luxury Hotels Atlantic City, NJ, United States Atlantic City is a popular East Coast tourist destination, known for its boardwalks, beaches and casinos. There are plenty of places to visit in Atlantic City, from the Boardwalk Hall and the Absecon Lighthouse to the Atlantic City Aquarium and Lucy the Elephant. For a more thrilling experience, head to one of the city's casinos, where you can try your hand at blackjack, slots, roulette and more. Atlantic City also offers a wide variety of restaurants, from seafood spots to pizza places, so you're sure to find something to your taste. And if you're looking for some nightlife action, the city has you covered there too. Atlantic City is definitely a place worth visiting!. Atlantic City Luxury Hotels Atlantic City Luxury Resorts Lake George, NY, United States Looking for a place to visit in upstate New York? Look no further than the stunning Lake George. This picturesque locale is located in the heart of the Adirondacks and is known for its pristine beauty and terrific recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and skiing, among other activities. Don't miss the chance to take in the spectacular views from the summit of Prospect Mountain or from the water's edge. Lake George Luxury Hotels Buffalo, NY, United States If you're looking for a city that has it all, Buffalo is the place to be. From its vibrant downtown district to its abundance of parks and nature preserves, there's something for everyone in Buffalo. Here are some of the top places to visit in Buffalo: 1. The Buffalo Zoo - One of the top zoos in the country, the Buffalo Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. 2. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery - Buffalo's answer to the Louvre, the Albright-Knox is home to some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. 3. The Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village - This living history museum offers a glimpse into what life was like in Buffalo in the 1800s. 4. The Buffalo River - Take a walk or bike ride along the Buffalo River, one of the city's most picturesque areas. 5. Delaware Park - This large park is home to a variety of attractions, including a zoo, a golf course, and a nature preserve. Buffalo Luxury Hotels Rochester, MN, United States Rochester, Minnesota is a city with plenty of places to visit. There's the Mayo Clinic, the Apache Mall, and several other shopping areas, as well as a variety of restaurants. There are also a few parks and golf courses. For those who love the outdoors, Rochester is also close to several state parks and the Mississippi River. Rochester Luxury Hotels Duluth, MN, United States If you're looking for an amazing place to visit, Duluth, Minnesota should definitely be at the top of your list. This city is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, and there are plenty of things to do here that will keep you entertained for days on end. Some of the most popular places to visit in Duluth include the Aerial Lift Bridge, the Glensheen Mansion, and Chester Creek Park. Additionally, there are a number of excellent restaurants and shopping areas in the city, so be sure to explore everything that Duluth has to offer. Duluth Luxury Hotels Maputo, Mozambique Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Maputo, such as the Jose Eduardo dos Santos Museum, the Maputo Cathedral, and the Rua da Independencia. Maputo is also home to the Maputo Bay, which offers beautiful beaches and great seafood. Maputo Luxury Hotels Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, located on the northeast coast of Spain, is a renowned tourist destination and one of the most popular cities in the world. There are plenty of places to visit in Barcelona, such as the Gothic Quarter, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and more. The city is also home to a lively nightlife and some of the best restaurants in the country. Barcelona Luxury Hotels Barcelona Luxury Villas Split, Croatia Split is a city on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city in Dalmatia. It has a population of over 200,000 inhabitants. The metropolitan area, which includes the City of Split and the surrounding towns, has a population of over 330,000. Split is a popular tourist destination and is the home of the Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular tourist destinations include the Riva, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Sustipan. Split Luxury Hotels Split Luxury Villas Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik is a city on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the administrative center of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "The Pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik Luxury Hotels Dubrovnik Luxury Villas Byron Bay, NSW, Australia Byron Bay is a magical place. It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular destinations in Australia. The town is set in a beautiful location, surrounded by rolling green hills and the bright blue ocean. There's plenty to do in Byron Bay, whether you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday or an adventure-filled trip. Some of the top places to visit in Byron Bay include the iconic lighthouse, the stunning beaches, and the lush rainforest. There's also a great nightlife and plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy. If you're looking for an amazing Australian getaway, be sure to add Byron Bay to your list!. Byron Bay Luxury Hotels Wellington, New Zealand If you're looking for a little slice of heaven on earth, look no further than Wellington, New Zealand. With its gorgeous landscape and plethora of activities, there's something for everyone here. Whether you're a nature lover or a city slicker, Wellington has something special to offer. Top Wellington attractions include the Zealandia eco-sanctuary, the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens, and the sprawling Te Papa museum. For those who love getting out into the great outdoors, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as lovely seaside towns and villages to explore. And of course, no trip to Wellington would be complete without trying some of the delicious local cuisine be sure to sample a traditional Maori hangi feast! So what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Wellington today and start planning your perfect holiday!. Wellington Luxury Hotels Saint Louis, MO, United States If you're looking for a fun place to visit with a rich history and plenty of things to see and do, look no further than Saint Louis, Missouri. This vibrant city is home to a variety of interesting attractions, including the Gateway Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. There's also no shortage of restaurants and shopping options in Saint Louis. So, whether you're looking for a place to explore new cultures and cuisines or you're just looking for a place to have some fun, Saint Louis is a great option. Saint Louis Luxury Hotels Bloomington, IN, United States The city of Bloomington, Indiana is home to a variety of attractions and places to visit. The Indiana University campus is a popular destination, as is the city's historic downtown district. Monroe County Courthouse Dr. Megan Moe, associate professor of communication at Lee University, was named the American Advertising Federation District 7 Educator of the Year, receiving the Donald G. Hileman Award. According to the AAF D7, the Donald G. Hileman Award recognizes a college educator for outstanding service to advertising, AAF District 7, his/her club or generation, and college advertising students through his/her volunteer efforts to the student advertising team, a student advertising club, and teaching of superior quality. "One of my greatest joys is working with the advertising students at Lee University, said Dr. Moe. I love their creativeness, their energy, and their passion. I am blessed to have full support from AAF Chattanooga, our local professional club, which is committed to advertising educational programs. When I learned they nominated me for the award, I was honored to be recognized by this set of influential professionals." Dr. Moe was honored in 2013 by the National Communication Association with the Mid-Career Award for teaching leadership and artistic scholarship. She has served in leadership roles in the NCA including the National Nominating Committee. She was also a Page Legacy Scholar at Penn State University, and has presented research at various academic conventions including the NCA, Southern States Communication Association, and Association for Theatre in Higher Education. At Lee, Dr. Moe is the discipline coordinator for the communication program and oversees the advertising emphasis of the communication degree. She serves as the faculty advisor for the Lee Advertising Federation and as sponsor for Lees National Student Advertising Competition team. As an educational representative, she has served as a board member for AAF Chattanooga for nearly 10 years. As a board member of Bachman Academy, a school specializing in educating 6-12th grade students with learning differences, Dr. Moes current research interests include social skills training for teens with social deficits. Prior to teaching at Lee, Dr. Moe was involved in numerous communication fields including as a reporter, market researcher, floor director and camera operator, public service announcement writer for PBS, writer, director, actor, and a drama coordinator for her New York Church. Established in 1905, the AAF protects and promotes the well-being of advertising. It represents nearly 40,000 advertising professionals across the United States, with more than 5,000 college chapter members and approximately 100 corporate members. The AAF annually hosts the Advertising Hall of Fame, the American Advertising Awards, the NSAC, the Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism, and summer ad camps for high school students. AAF District 7 represents the 5-state region of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Tennessee Solar Solutions was recognized at the BRIC Awards (Building Recognition in Chattanooga), taking home the Sustainable Project of the Year - Peoples Choice Award.Tennessee Solar Solutions winning project consisted of building a solar installation on a trailer for the Urban Green Lab based in Nashville. The Mobile Lab brings hands-on learning and demonstrations about sustainability to middle and high schools.We are so proud to have the community demonstrate strong support for our innovative use of solar power and sustainability, said Anthony Roden, founder and president of Tennessee Solar Solutions.Adding solar to the Mobile Lab gives students the chance to see sustainable energy in action. We hope that more companies will take advantage of solar in unique ways after seeing this successful project.The 34-foot gooseneck trailer is topped with six, 300 watt solar panels. This provides 90 percent of labs energy needs. The project was completed in the spring of 2016 and is now traveling to schools in middle Tennessee.The goal of the BRIC Awards was to showcase the best of the best in each category, said Dawn Hjelseth, director of development at green|spaces. For the sustainable project of the year category, we looked for projects that excelled in achieving a strong triple bottom line - meaning it was not only environmentally beneficial but was also socially and economically beneficial to the community. We had over 100 people vote in selecting the winner. Russian President Valdimir Putin and President Barack Obama shake hands for the cameras before the start of a bilateral meeting at the United Nations headquarters September 28, 2015 in New York City. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) Politicians do it. Businessmen do it. Secret societies do it. Even a well-trained dog does it. When it comes to handshakes, you've probably heard all the tired advice: Shake it like you mean it. Grip firmly, stand up straight, look them in the eyes. But here's a more interesting question: Why exactly do we feel the compulsion to shake hands when we're saying hello, making a deal, or burying hatchets? Here's what the research says about this most common of rituals-and how the act can change the way people perceive us. Advertisement - Why we shake it: As anybody who owns a rear-sniffing dog knows, animals use ritualized physical contact when they meet somebody new. Handshake-like interactions are likely ancient. "At a basic level, you're literally showing your hand and letting it known that you can be trusted, because you don't have a concealed weapon or are hiding anything else," says Florin Dolcos, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Illinois who has studied the science of handshakes. "It's very primal, but this is how we probably started shaking hands in the first place." Advertisement Dolcos also points to a fundamental need for humans to connect physically with each other-especially when establishing a sense of trust and safety. And while we're comfortable cuddling or hugging family members, a handshake allows for such touch in a way that is less likely to put strangers off-or weird them out. Handshakes could also be used to, quite literally, sniff other people out. A 2015 study conducted at Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science used cameras to show that people often instinctively smell their hands after shaking somebody else's. The researchers theorize that this behavior is similar to that displayed by other mammals, such as rodents and dogs, that often use their sense of smell as a part of social interactions. - It's about trust: In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Dolcos and his wife Sanda Dolcos, also a faculty member at the University of Illinois, found that simply adding a handshake to a social interaction made people more likely to view others more positively. In the study, researchers placed subjects in an fMRI brain scanner while showing them movies of social interactions. Some of these movies showed people engaged in "approach" behaviors that signaled a positive social interaction, while others included "avoidance" behaviors that suggested one person was less than thrilled to be interacting with the other. With all types of interactions-friendly, unfriendly, and anything in between-adding a handshake caused test subjects to rate the people they viewed as more confident, trustworthy, and interesting. "At a general level, it seems that shaking hands before a social interaction will make things more likely to go well," Sanda Dolcos says. - Touch can help seal deals-even bad ones: This study reenforces another one published in 2010 in the journal Psychological Science that found that that minimal amounts of physical contact could increase a person's sense of security to the point that he or she is more likely to make risky financial decisions. For the study, researchers at Columbia University and the University of Alberta greeted some test subjects with a 1-second pat on the back of the shoulder prior to giving them the option of choosing between a certain cash payout or a risky bet. Those who received the touch were far more likely to take the riskier route. But guys shouldn't view this as carte blanche to get too touchy-feely with with clients: While the effect was seen on both male and female test subjects, it was present only when the person doing the touching was a woman-a result that researchers theorize could be related to feelings of maternal security. And while handshakes certainly did put test subjects at ease, a light touch on the back of the shoulder (right below the deltoid, if you're asking) proved far more effective in creating a sense of security and encouraging subjects to go for the gamble. Advertisement "Doctors do this all the time, sometimes also salespeople," says Jonathan Levav, one of the study's authors who is now an associate professor of marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. "Certain kinds of touch can make people more comfortable-consciously or nonconsciously-and that can have an effect on the decisions that they make." Bloomberg Breakfast tacos will be free 9-11 a.m. on Cinco de Mayo at Big Star's walk-up window. The restaurant is launching breakfast tacos with sister spot Dove's Luncheonette. (Sandy Noto) With Cinco de Mayo just days away, dozens of restaurants and bars in Chicago and suburbs are readying drink and food specials to mark the Mexican army's victory over France during the Battle of Puebla in 1862 -- or did you forget that part? Regardless, here's a selection of places where you can indulge, from free tacos to cocktail and beer specials to full multicourse dinners. Beatrix (519 N. Clark St., 284-1377): Featuring $5.50 pineapple habanero margaritas all day. Bub City (5441 Park Place, Rosemont, 847-261-0399): The Rosemont location has a build-your-own nacho bar ($8 per visit), and Coronas ($4) and margaritas ($8) on special. Big Star (1531 N. Damen Ave., 773-235-4039): Big Star is teaming with sister restaurant Dove's Luncheonette to offer free breakfast tacos 9-11 a.m. on Cinco de Mayo -- one per person while supplies last. Choices include vegetarian, steak, and egg and chorizo options. Available at Big Star's takeout window. Additional tacos are available for purchase. Cactus Bar & Grill (404 S. Wells St., 312-922-3830): Don Julio tequila representatives will be on hand to sample spirits 5-7 p.m. Featured cocktails include Don Julio margaritas ($8), paloma supremas ($8) and blanco mojitos ($10). Draft specials ($6) include Ska Mexican Logger, Tocayo Hominy White Ale, 21st Amendment El Sully and Oskar Blues Beerito. Cantina Laredo (508 N. State St., 312-955-0014): Two special margaritas will be added to the restaurant's extensive list: Cinco 'Rita ($11.50) features five kinds of tequila, and Verde Infusion 'Rita ($12) has cucumber-infused mezcal and blanco tequila. Sierra Nevada Otra Vez ($6) is also available. Clark Street Dog (3040 N. Clark St., 773-281-6690): Specials include a queso burger ($4.59 single, $6.59 double) featuring a quarter-pound burger served with pico de gallo and Chihuahua cheese. Modelo and Corona bottles are $6 each. Commonwealth Tavern (2000 W. Roscoe St., 773-697-7965): Drink specials include margaritas and Mexican mules ($6 each) and Dos Equis Tall Boys ($5). Cinco Division: For a Cinco de Mayo bar crawl, seven bars along Division Street celebrate with $5.50 Corona and $5 tequila cocktails, including Original Mother's (26 W. Division St., 312-642-7251), She-Nannigan's House of Beer (16 W. Division St., 312-642-2344), Coconutz Chicago (13 W. Division St., 312-266-0944), Mother's Too (14 W. Division St., 312-266-7444), The Lodge Tavern (21 W. Division St., 312-642-4406), Butch McGuire's (20 W. Division St., 312-787-4318) and Hopsmith Tavern (15 W. Division St., 312-600-9816). The Duck Inn (2701 S. Eleanor St., 312-724-8811): Start the celebration a day early, 6-10 p.m. May 4. The fiesta features a Mexican-inspired buffet ($35); drink specials include tequila shots ($5) and banana margaritas ($8). Flagship (1622 W. Belmont Ave., 773-281-3805): Drink specials include Modelo drafts ($4), Tijuana Sweet Heat margaritas ($5) and Blue Moon drafts ($3). Foodlife (835 N. Michigan Ave., 312-335-3663): From 2 to 5 p.m., tacos are specially priced at $2; choose from vegetarian and various meat options. Mercadito (108 W. Kinzie St., 312-329-9555): A Cinco de Mayo menu ($40) offers three types of guacamole, two types of salsa, four types of tacos and two sides. Flan de cajeta is served for dessert. To celebrate ahead of time, the restaurant's La Mez Lounge will also host a Cinco de Mayo fiesta ($60) on May 3, featuring five courses with beverage pairings and a cooking demo. Mahoney's Pub & Grille (551 N. Ogden Ave., 312-733-2121): Specials include tacos ($2), Corona ($3) and Jose Cuervo margaritas ($5). Mity Nice Bar & Grill (835 N. Michigan Ave., 312-335-4745): Baja tuna and chili-lime chicken tacos are half off. They'll be $9 and $7, respectively, during lunch and dinner. Nana (3267 S. Halsted St., 312-929-2486): The organic restaurant's four-course prix fixe menu ($35) includes a cocktail pairing with each dish. The first course is kingfish ceviche with avocado and yucca chips. It's followed by chicken roulade served with Aztec grits and fire-roasted tomato salsa, and the third course is cochinita pibil with zucchini ribbons in a pea basil cream. Dessert is margarita curd with cake croutons and berries. The dinner is at 7 p.m.; reservations are required. Petterino's (150 N. Dearborn St., 312-422-0150): Chef/partner Mychael Bonner offers a Mexican-themed cooking class that transitions into a sit-down dinner ($34.95) paired with a cocktail or glass of wine. Menu items include ceviche, guacamole, pueblana beef tinga and churros for dessert. It begins at 6 p.m.; call for reservations. Rebar (401 N. Wabash Ave., 312-588-8034): Celebrate with Rebar's Single de Mayo (tickets start at $55), which includes a Herradura tequila tasting, mezcal margaritas, micheladas, sangria and appetizers along with dance lessons and some games designed for mingling. R.J. Grunts (2056 N. Lincoln Park W., 773-929-5363): Drink specials include margaritas ($5) and Coronas ($2). Robert's Pizza, the month-old spot in Streeterville, is offering pizza for Cinco de Mayo. Yes, pizza. The huevos rancheros pie is $18. Oh, and hibiscus margaritas are $12. (Jason Little) Robert's Pizza Co. (355 E. Ohio St., 312-222-0905): The newly opened pizza purveyor will offer a huevos rancheros pizza ($18) featuring black beans, chorizo, queso fresco, scallion, cilantro, salsa verde and eggs. A hibiscus margarita ($12) will also be featured. Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard St., 312-645-6000): Mark the holiday May 2-6, with menu specials such as cilantro-lime shrimp tacos ($16), chicken chili verde nachos ($14) and steak quesadillas ($14). Coronas are $5 each. Both Taco Joint locations will offer a beer and a shot of tequila for $5 on Cinco de Mayo. (Taco Joint) Taco Joint (158 W. Ontario St., 312-337-8226; 1969 N. Halsted St., 312-951-2457): Both locations offer a beer and tequila shot ($5) special: a can of Modelo Especial with chilled Jimador blanco. Liter margarita bottles (normally $32-38), which serve four, will be $5 off. Tavern on Little Fort (4128 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-360-1869): Specials include tacos ($2), margaritas ($6) and Mexican mules ($6). Tallboy Taco (325 W. Huron St., 312-488-4917): Casamigos tequila flights ($15), any two tacos and a tallboy beer ($10), and any taco and a Tecate ($5) are on special all day. Additionally, 5-7 p.m., margaritas are $8 (normally $12). Tuscany (1014 W. Taylor St., 312-829-1990): Pizza specials for Cinco de Mayo? Yes. Selections ($5 at lunch and dinner) include margherita; speck with gorgonzola, smoked prosciutto and mozzarella; funghi e taleggio with arugula and truffle oil; affumicata with smoked mozzarella, apple bacon, tomatoes, caramelized onion; and others. Oh, and there will be margaritas, also $5. Althea Legaspi is a freelance writer. Advertisement Note: This story has been edited to eliminate an event at Stretch Bar, which has been canceled. "The whole reason I moved to the city is because of how great the transportation is and I don't have a car," said Natalie Jose, 34, a stand-up comedian who says she was evicted from her apartment in Logan Square after her rent jumped to $1,095 from $735. "I don't know how I can afford to stay in Chicago." In the 40 years since the war ended, most Americans have moved on. Unless you lost a loved one there were nearly 60,000 American fatalities or know a veteran suffering in the aftermath, Vietnam has been filed away as ancient history. It has taken a back seat to the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A woman was shot and killed as she sat in a car at an intersection in Edgewater early Monday, among five people shot in Chicago since Sunday morning, according to police. The 21-year-old woman was with her boyfriend at Ridge and Peterson avenues about 1 a.m., when someone got out of a gray sedan and fired shots, hitting her in the head, police said. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital and pronounced dead. The woman was identified as Karina Soria-Bautista of the 4900 block of North Rockwell Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Police believe she was not the target of the shooting. A law enforcement source said her boyfriend is a member of the Latin Kings street gang. No one was reported in custody. Other shootings: A 65-year-old man was shot in a West Pullman backyard Sunday night, police said. He was in the back of a home in the 12100 block of South Wentworth Avenue at 9:40 p.m. when someone began shooting from the alley, said Officer Hector Alfaro, a Chicago police spokesman. He was hit in the lower back and the right arm and went to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. His condition was stabilized. In the South Austin neighborhood about 7:05 p.m., someone shot a 36-year-old man sitting in a parked vehicle in the first block of North Long Avenue. He made it to Loretto Hospital on his own and was transferred to Stroger Hospital for treatment of chest and shoulder gunshot wounds. Advertisement A 21-year-old woman was shot and killed while sitting inside a car that was stopped at a red light in the Edgewater neighborhood May 2, 2016. (CBS Chicago) About 5:25 p.m. a 27-year-old woman was shot in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. The woman was shot in the arm near West Walnut Street and South Homan Avenue, police said. She walked into University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System and was listed in good condition. An 18-year-old man was seriously wounded Sunday morning in a shooting on the West Side in the city's West Garfield Park neighborhood. The shooting happened about 9:45 a.m. in the 4100 block of West Wilcox Street, said Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago police spokesman. The man suffered gunshot wounds to the thigh and abdomen. He was taken in serious condition to Mount Sinai Hospital, Estrada said. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens as Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, gives a statement to the media during a bilateral meeting on Syria in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 1, 2016. (DENIS BALIBOUSE / AP) GENEVA Scrambling to resuscitate a nearly dead truce in Syria, the Obama administration has again been forced to turn to Russia for help, with little hope for the desired U.S. outcome. At stake are thousands of lives and the fate of a feeble peace process essential to the fight against the Islamic State group, and Secretary of State John Kerry has appealed once more to his Russian counterpart for assistance in containing and reducing the violence, particularly around city of Aleppo. Advertisement "We are talking directly to the Russians, even now," Kerry said on his arrival in Geneva as he began talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. "The hope is we can make some progress, but the UN Security Council Resolution calls for a full country, countrywide, cessation and also for all of the country to be accessible to humanitarian assistance. Obviously that hasn't happened and isn't happening." "These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation. We obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond to the international communities' powerful statement to the UN Security Council." Advertisement Kerry spoke at length on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to that end, and had been hoping to meet with Lavrov soon, according to U.S. officials. In Geneva, Kerry met with Judeh and was to meet U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday before returning to Washington. But Lavrov was not expected to be in Geneva, complicating Kerry's efforts to make the case directly to the Russians for more pressure on their Syrian government allies to stop or at least limit attacks in Aleppo. The State Department said Kerry, in his meetings, would "review ongoing efforts to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities nationwide in Syria, obtain the full humanitarian access to which the Syrian government committed and support a political transition." Specific, viable options to achieve those broad goals are limited, and Friday's announcement of a new, partial cease-fire that does not include Aleppo underscored the difficulty Kerry faced. U.S. and other officials described that initiative, brokered mainly by Russia and the United States as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, as a "reinforcement" of the February truce, now largely in tatters, that they hope to extend from Damascus and the capital's suburbs and the coastal province of Latakia to other areas. "This is an agreement within the task force, but certainly on the part of the U.S. and Russia that there would be a reinforcement of the cessation of hostilities in these specific areas as a start, with the expectation that this ... would be then extended elsewhere," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. Syria's military extended a unilateral cease-fire around the capital for another 24 hours on Sunday, and relative calm set in across much of the country after days of heavy fighting concentrated in Aleppo. Advertisement For that city, the U.S. is considering drawing up with the Russians a detailed map that would lay out "safe zones." Civilians and members of moderate opposition groups covered by the truce could find shelter from persistent attacks by Syrian President Bashar Assad's military, which claims to be targeting terrorists. One U.S. official said "hard lines" would delineate specific areas and neighborhoods. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It was not immediately clear whether Russia would accept such a plan or if Moscow could persuade the Assad government to respect the prospective zones. Some U.S. officials are skeptical of the chances for success, but also note that it is worth a try to at least reduce the violence that has wracked Aleppo for the past week, with hundreds killed and thousands wounded. Kerry discussed the deteriorating situation in calls over the past days with de Mistura and the head of a Syrian opposition negotiating committee. "We are working on specific initiatives to de-escalate the increased fighting and defuse tensions and hope to make tangible progress on such initiatives soon," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. For the administration, Friday's announcement about the partial cease-fire is largely a means to measure the commitment of the warring parties to the concept of a truce that could lead to serious peace talks. "It's a test for the Russians and for the regime, as well as for the Syrian opposition," Toner said. Advertisement The administration's problem is that the Russians, the Assad government and the opposition backed by the U.S. and its partners have all failed that test in the past. In particular, the administration has been routinely disappointed that Russia has not lived up to pledges that U.S. officials think it has made. From the start of the conflict, the administration has sought numerous times for Moscow to use its influence with Damascus to bring about an end to the violence and to advance a political transition. At each turn, those hopes have been dashed with Russia continuing, and even increasing, its support for Assad. U.S. officials concede there is little to suggest that will change. Associated Press The free trade agreement signed by Australia and China late last year is "delivering" for Australian businesses, the nation's Minister for Trade and Investment said on Monday. Steven Ciobo said the Chinese appetite for premium Australian products such as wine, beef, seafood and vegetables had contributed to a number of impressive gains in export levels, and praised the government's decision to sign the historic China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). He said the reduction and abolition of tariffs on agricultural products had led to a big increase in export requests from China; something he said was greatly benefiting Australian businesses and would continue to do so for "years to come." Among the best performing exports were bottled wine, lobsters and fresh cherries, while products such as beef, other varieties of seafood and livestock feed all experienced significant rises in export levels. "Between January and March 2016, Chinese imports of Australian bottled wine grew more than 60 percent compared to the same period 12 months previously, to reach 160 million U.S. dollars, as tariffs were cut twice, from 14 percent to 8.4 percent," Ciobo said in a statement released on Monday. "With tariffs cut, China's 9 million U.S. dollars' worth of imports of fresh Australian lobster between January and March were triple those of 12 months ago, and exceeded China's entire 2015 imports of Australian lobster. Milk powder and fresh cherry imports more than doubled." "Chinese imports of other products -- including fresh mangoes, fresh abalone, fresh and frozen boneless beef, various types of cheese, and hay and chaff -- grew impressively as ChAFTA cut tariffs and boosted Australia's competitive position." Ciobo said the encouraging export figures would continue to rise as Asia's middle class grows, with increased demand not only from China, but from Japan and Korea as well, after Australia signed free trade deals with both nations earlier this decade. "This positions Australia to continue to capitalize on the rapid expansion of Asia's middle classes and their demand for the high quality produce and other goods we can provide," Ciobo said. "This means exciting opportunities for Australian businesses and will drive jobs and growth in the Australian economy." Australian entrepreneurs in Sydney are paving the way for a new export to China -- cans of Australian air. John Dickinson and Theo Ruygrok, founders and directors of Green & Clean, devised a way for those overseas and in China to have a taste of Australian air harvested from some of the nation's most iconic locations. Ruygrok told Xinhua on Monday he found that pollution in some parts of China was quite heavy and he wanted to do something about it. "When I came back to Australia (from China) and found pristine locations that we have, we came up with the idea of bottling pure air from those locations," Ruygrok said. Green & Clean harvests air with a mobile farming unit from some of Australia's most picturesque and pristine locations such as Sydney's Bondi Beach and Queensland's Gold Coast. The company sold the cans of air in souvenir shops and airports, where customers can take "part of Australia back to their home country." Ruygrok recommended users take 10 deep breaths from the can to help clear their lungs, which contains approximately 140 breaths of clean Australian air. The company is in the process of finding a Chinese distributor for their product. You are here: Home Chinese authorities are worried about a drastic decline in the number of engaged couples having premarital physical checkups. Since the government made checks on reproductive health non-compulsory in 2003, fewer and fewer people have been choosing to have them, with many regions reporting a corresponding increase in birth defects. Beijing resident Zhu Hongfang and her boyfriend plan to tie the knot soon, but a premarital checkup is not on their agenda. I cant see the point, as we have the checkups organized by our employers once a year and were both healthy, Zhu said. The premarital checkup rate in Beijing fell to under 7 percent in 2014, according to Xi Shuyan, an official with the citys municipal health and family planning commission. In Guangzhou, capital of South Chinas Guangdong Province just 7 percent of people got a premarital checkup in 2011. Meanwhile, as well as increased birth defects, there has been a higher rate of diseases found in premarital checkups since 2003. In 1996, 5 percent of people taking checkups in Beijing were found to have diseases, while the rate increased to 13 percent in 2014. Statistics from Guangdong claim almost 3 percent of newborns in cities in the Pearl River Delta had birth defects in 2011, roughly double the percentage in 2001. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, about 900,000 babies are born with mental or physical disabilities every year in China. Xi said some diseases have a great influence on marriage and childbirth, not only affecting the health of the couple but also causing infertility or birth defects. Although the rise in birth defects rate is a result of multiple causes, the drop in premarital checkups is an important one, she said. Beijing has been providing premarital checkups for over 30 years. The service has been free for permanent residents since 2006. Geng Yutian, deputy director of the Beijing health commission, said authorities should improve services during premarital checkups and use publicity to raise awareness of their importance. Flash Followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr are seen in central Baghdad, Iraq on April 30, 2016. Thousands of followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Saturday stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad and took control of the parliament building and surrounding areas, while dozens of lawmakers, officials and employees tried to escape the government district. [Xinhua] Thousands of followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Sunday started to withdraw from the Green Zone in central Baghdad in honor for a major Shiite ritual and to give time for the political parties to agree on reforms demanded by the protesters. A statement issued by a committee of Sadr aides, responsible for organizing the protest, said "the masses from a position of strength announces evacuation from the Green Zone." The statement said that the move came as hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims gather at the mausoleum of Imam Musa al-Kadhim in Baghdad's northern district of Kadhmiyah to commemorate the death of the seventh of the most revered 12 Shiite Imams. The statement reiterated the demand of Sadr's followers to vote in new cabinet members of independent technocrats. The statement warned that if the government and the parliament fail to meet their demand, there would be call for early elections, while the people will take all lawful means, like entering the headquarters of the three presidencies (President, Premier and Speaker) and announcing civil disobedience and public strike. On Saturday, thousands of Sadr followers broke into the heavily fortified Green Zone and took control of the parliament building and surrounding areas, while dozens of lawmakers, officials and employees tried to escape the government district. Breaking into the Green Zone came minutes after Sadr delivered a televised speech from the holy Shiite city of Najaf, in which he rejected the latest approval of partial cabinet members presented earlier by Abadi. "Any minister in the Iraqi government is not our candidate and represents only his government," Sadr said, confirming that he and his followers "will not participate in any political process that includes quota system." He accused all the political blocs of being determined to vote on their loyal ministers under the title of political technocrats. "All those political blocs decided to kill the real reform movement through today's parliament session," Sadr said, referring to the parliament session which failed earlier in the day to achieve quorum due to deep division by the political blocs over the new candidates presented by Abadi for his new cabinet. Some political blocs and politicians apparently have been resisting the reforms because there is a lack of trust among the political parties, which see that such reforms are marginalizing their factions. Sadr's discontent with the partial cabinet reshuffle was seen as a signal for his followers to increase pressure on the parliament by storming the Green Zone. A series of failed reform measures have paralyzed Iraq's parliament and the government as the country struggles to fight the Islamic State militant group, which seizes swathes of territories in northern and western Iraq. The country is also in dire need to respond to an economic crisis sparked in part by a plunge in global oil prices. Li Jiangong China Aid By Ava Collins (Zhumadian, HenanApril 27, 2016) On April 25, less than two weeks after a Christian woman died from being buried alive at a forced church demolition, local authorities ruled that the disputed land where the incident took place belongs to the church and its pastor for use as a religious site. Following international outcry condemning the April 14 killing of Ding Cuimei, wife of Beitou Churchs pastor Li Jiangong, a special task force consisting of the township government, the local ministry of land and resources and a village administrative committee declared that the land where the incident took place is the property of Li Jiangong and Beitou Church. A report issued by the task force declares that no individual or other organization should claim land from the church and designates the site for religious use. Despite the victory for his church, Li Jiangong is concerned about the lack of action regarding his wifes death. Though two members of the demolition crew were criminally detained at the time of the incident, authorities have released no information regarding their possible charges. The investigative bureau has reportedly taken no further action on the case. Li Dunyong, a lawyer from Beijing, will represent the family in the case of Dings murder. After an autopsy, Dings body was placed in a preservative case under a temporary tent near the site where she was killed. Ding Cuimeis body has been preserved at the site where she was killed. (Photo: China Aid) While we are glad to see that the local authorities acted swiftly and fairly under international pressure to resolve the churchs right to their land, we are concerned that justice for the family of the martyr is still not done, said Bob Fu, president of China Aid. Pastor Lis wife, Sister Ding Cuimei, was brutally killed on April 14. We appeal to the Chinese authorities to hold those criminal perpetrators accountable with a fair investigation and standard judicial process with full justice and unhindered legal representation by Beijing based human rights lawyer Li Dunyong. China Aid reports on cases such as the murder of Ding Cuimei and the persecution of Beitou Church in order to expose abuses by the Chinese government and encourage the families of those affected. If you would like to help China Aid support legal cases such as the murder of Ding, please consider donating to our legal defense fund. China Aid Contacts Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] Website: www.chinaaid.org People of Wa ethnic group and tourists take part in the "Monihei" Carnival in Cangyuan, Southwest China's Yunnan province, May 1, 2016. As a tradition, Wa people throw and smear muddy water onto each other to express their wishes for health and happiness during the "Monihei" carnival. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese travelers can now make purchases at Thai 7-Eleven convenience stores using the Alipay app on the smartphones at 9,000 Counter Service cashiers - with no transaction fees. The cross-boarder mobile payment service partnership was announced on Saturday night in Bangkok and began on Sunday. "Chinese travelers need many things when they land in a foreign country, such as food, drinks, mobile sim card. ... They may not have had the opportunity to exchange renminbi for the local currency before they have to make a purchase. Alipay wants Chinese tourists to enjoy the kind of convenience they are used to in their home market," said Jia Hang, executive director of the global strategic partnership department at Ant Financial, the parent company of Alipay. "We are also providing 7-Eleven stores with various marketing tools to reach their Chinese customers," said Jia, adding that Alipay is also considering launching a car-hailing service in Thailand that targets Chinese travelers. China has been the biggest market source for Thai tourism since 2012, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Last year, Thailand welcomed 7.9 million Chinese tourists, 27 percent of all international arrivals. Chinese travelers spend 6,400 baht ($183) per person per day in Thailand, compared with an average tourist spending of 5,690 baht per day. The local tourism authority is expecting to host 8.8 million Chinese travelers by the end of the year. "Cross-boarder services in the mobile payment industry often face various challenges in local markets. But with the large and increasing number of Chinese travelers, particularly more young and individual travelers, we are confident in developing our business in Thailand, even if the new method of payment has not been well accepted by Thai people," Jia said. Chinese mobile payment services have expanded quickly in Thailand over the past two years. In August, Alipay began online shopping service for Chinese customers at Thailand's largest duty free shop, King Power. Other mobile payment services affiliated with China's WeChat and Baidu also started their business in Thailand at the beginning of this year. "Convenient payments like Alipay will effectively stimulate Chinese tourists spending in Thailand. This will also benefit SMEs that distribute souvenir products for Chinese tourists in 7-Eleven stores," said Weeradej Ackapolpanish, vice-president of Counter Service, a leading payment service company in Thailand. zhaoyanrong@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily 05/02/2016 page2) Lawsuits against central and Beijing government departments have substantially increased since a law was adopted last year easing residents' path to challenge official administrations in court. Beijing courts agreed to hear 10,786 administrative disputes from May 1, 2015, when the Chinese Administrative Procedure Law took effect, to April 20, a year-on-year increase of 111 percent, according to a Beijing High People's Court report issued on Friday. According to the report, the central government was named as defendant in 1,866 cases - up by 450 percent year-on-year - and Beijing municipal departments in 526 cases - a 525 percent increase. The surge in such litigation must be attributed to the revised law, under which superior authorities can be simultaneously named as defendants along with their directly involved local counterparts, said Lou Yuhong, chief judge of the Administrative Case Tribunal at the Beijing court. "Residents can apply to the higher authority for a review if they find a district bureau has erred in its work. Previously, the district bureau would be the only defendant if residents turned to the courts," Lou said. About 30 percent of the administrative lawsuits heard last year concerned government failures, she said, "which means mistakes and illegal behavior still exist in some administrations and residents are aware of their enhanced rights to protect themselves in court". Most administrative disputes heard in the city's courts in the past year regarded people's rights in civil affairs related to urban construction, taxes, education, labor services or social protection, she said, and around 20 percent regarded information provided by government entities. In one case, a Beijing resident surnamed Han sued the Haidian district government in Beijing's No 1 Intermediate People's Court because the information it provided him on a civil matter differed from that it gave a friend on the same question. "During the hearing, we found that the response Han received was correct, but incomplete," said Qi Ying, deputy chief judge at the administrative tribunal. "It's not that governments refuse to give information, but that some of their disclosures are inaccurate," Qi said. Lou said that such administrative cases previously often took more than six months to resolve, but they can now be finished within two. More governments have opened their work to the public since the new law took effect, she said. In addition, heads of government departments sued by residents are expected to appear in court when their cases are heard, "which is another big requirement and progress brought by the new law," she said. So far, officials have made court appearances in 587 lawsuits, and in 60 such cases they were heads of administrations, the report said. caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily 05/02/2016 page2) The People's Liberation Army has released a rap-style music video filled with masculine lyrics and advanced weaponry in an attempt to attract more young people to join the military. The song, called Battle Declaration, was posted on 81.cn, the PLA Daily's website, on Thursday. It is the first hip-hop video made by the PLA. Previous PLA songs have been sung to the accompaniment of orchestral melodies, and their lyrics were carefully worded to avoid being too aggressive. By comparison, Battle Declaration, in an unmistakable effort to cater to the taste of young people, features a popular hip-hop style, and the lyrics hide neither combativeness nor a desire to fight. The video starts with a young PLA soldier touching his uniform and putting on his cap. Then a man's voice comes in and says, "There are always missions in soldiers' minds, enemies in their eyes, responsibilities on their shoulders, and passions in their hearts." The song then continues: "There could be a war at any time. Are you ready for that?" The video shows soldiers training and exercising, fighter jets conducting dogfights and missiles being fired, among other military activities. Almost all of the PLA's best weaponry is displayed in the video, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning, J-11 fighter jet, Type-99A tank and DF-11 ballistic missile. Satellites and spacecraft also appear in the video, which indicates the PLA has placed unprecedented importance on its space force, said a PLA publicity expert who asked to be identified only as Jiao. Moreover, the appearance of the military's space assets also intends to impress upon viewers that "the PLA is no longer the poorly equipped one that they saw from TV dramas, but a powerful force as modernized as the United States military," he told China Daily. Jiao said the hip-hop video could be a big help in recruiting young people. The PLA is striving to recruit more educated young people. An increasing number of media reports say some young people spare no efforts to avoid military service. Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said at a news conference on Thursday that a man's youth is not only about being cool, but also about being responsible for the nation and its security. zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn Telecom fraud suspectes are escorted off a plane by Chinese police from Kenya. [Photo/Xinhua] Scammers could get life on the mainland, compared with up to 5 years in Taiwan Considering the comparatively lighter punishments that convicted telecom swindlers face in Taiwan, repatriating Taiwan suspects to the mainland and trying them according to the mainland's laws will better help in fighting crime and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of people on both sides of the Straits, experts have said. In Taiwan, people found guilty of conducting telecom fraud face a maximum prison sentence of five years, while the maximum on the mainland is life, said Fan Chongyi, a professor at the Procedural Law Research Institute at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing. "Suspects who were sent back to Taiwan were given lenient sentences or even acquitted. Many of them later resumed swindling," Fan said. The comments came after 97 suspects, implicated in more than 100 major telecom fraud cases across the mainland, were repatriated from Malaysia on Saturday, including 32 who were originally from Taiwan. As all of the alleged victims were from the mainland, that means the mainland has territorial jurisdiction over the cases, regardless of where the alleged perpetrators were from, said Li Juqian, deputy head of the International Law School under the CUPL. "It was in accordance with international law and mainland law that Malaysia deported the suspects to the mainland. The move is unchallengeable in terms of the law," Li said. The 97 repatriated suspects are now being held at a detention center in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, said Zhang Jun, a senior investigator from the Ministry of Public Security. The fact that the suspects were sent back to the mainland ensures that the police stand the best chance of obtaining evidence and investigating the case thoroughly, Zhang said. Criminals could face harsher penalties on the mainland than they might in Taiwan and that is likely to deter others from carrying out similar crimes, Zhang added. A Taiwan resident surnamed Hsu, who was one of the telecom fraud suspects deported from Kenya to the Chinese mainland earlier in April, said the main reason he was attracted to telecom fraud was that "money comes easy and punishment is light", Xinhua News Agency reported. Hsu was sentenced to seven months in prison the first time he was caught by Taiwan authorities. "If I had have known I could have been deported to the mainland this time, I would definitely have been too afraid to have done this," Hsu said. Xinhua contributed to this story. Over 980 square meters' lavenders blossomed at Mount Chaya in Zhumadian city, inviting tourists there to take photos.[Photo/IC] China concluded its rotating presidency on April 30of the UN Security Council for April. Under the month-long Chinese presidency, the Security Council convened 21 open meetings and 23 closed consultations, adopted seven resolutions and three presidential statements, said Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, on April 29 at the UN headquarters in New York. In April, China heldthree open debates at the Security Council on issues including terrorism, the Palestine issue and piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. Under the Chinese initiative, an open debate was held at the Security Council on April 14 to discuss the issue of countering terrorism, which is a major concern now. The debate heard a briefing by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and statements by representatives of more than 70 countries, further strengthening the political will of the international community in fighting terrorism. Liu called for international efforts to update means of response and effectively suppress use of the internet and social media for terrorism at the open debate. As a result, it is widely agreed upon that the international community should use political, economic and cultural means in an integrated manner to address both the symptoms and the root causes of terrorism. Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians prompted a second open debate at the Security Council on April 18. The demolition of Palestinian homes and businesses in the West Bank was continuing at an alarming rate and plans for more illegal Jewish settlements in the area cast doubt on Israel's commitment to a two-State solution, Ban said at the start of the debate. The creation of new facts on the ground through demolitions and settlement-building raises questions about whether Israel's ultimate goal is in fact to drive Palestinians out of certain parts of the West Bank, thereby undermining any prospect of transition to a viable Palestinian State, Ban said. The third open council debate on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea,was convened on April 25 and jointly organized by China, Senegal and Angola. The Gulf of Guinea has seen frequent pirate attacks and armed robbery throughout its territorial waters in recent years. These attacks feature links to terrorism organizations, illegal armed groups and criminal gangs. Apart from these open debates, China also led council members to promote peace process in such countries as Syria, Yemen and South Sudan, urging political solutions to the crises. Meanwhile, the Security Council also discussed issues including Cote d'Ivoire, Somalia and Ukraine. Participants of Fudan China-Europe Forum organized by Fudan University and the University of Copenhagen have discussed on regional integration on Friday. [Provided to China Daily] The five Nordic countries generally hold the same position as Denmark to give China market-economy status, but it is up to individual countries to decide and not the Nordic Council of Ministers, according to Dagfinn Hoybraten, secretary-general of the council. "I think, in general, it is the Nordic policy toward that way (recognizing China's market-economy status) but it is a question for individual governments to address," Hoybraten told China Daily in Copenhagen on April 29 at the Europe-China Forum organized by Fudan University and Copenhagen University. Denmark supported the recognition of China's full-market economy status after President Xi Jinping met Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on March 31 at the sidelines of the global nuclear security summit in Washington. The Nordic Council of Ministers is responsible for policy coordination between Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland, which has already signed a free-trade agreement with China. Hoybraten is scheduled to visit China at the end of May to attend the Shanghai Forum, organized by Fudan University. Last week's forum in Copenhagen was an annual event of the Fudan-European Center for China Studies, a joint initiative of Fudan University and the University of Copenhagen to meet a growing demand for China-Europe exchanges. Whether to give China market-economy status at the end of this year after 15 years of a transitional period of China joining the World Trade Organization is testing EU-China relations. Beijing said China should be automatically given such treatment in line with its WTO accession agreements. Yang Yanyi, Chinese ambassador to the EU, said recently that China trusts the EU's political wisdom and looks forward to the EU's timely compliance with the WTO agreement and recognition of China's market-economy status. "Such a constructive move will strengthen an open and reliable bilateral economic environment, boost trade and investment and reduce trade frictions," said Yang. The EU has launched its "approval process" by asking for public consultations, a European Commission assessment and European Parliament voting while many member states such as the UK and Germany have agreed to give China such treatment. Analysts have expressed concern that the EU's approach instead of granting China such status automatically may make the process complicated and damage bilateral relationships. (Photo : Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Actress Fan Bingbing attends a charity event on April 15, 2016 in Beijing, China. Advertisement China passed a long awaited law on Thursday, April 28 governing the registration, operation, funding, and supervision of foreign chairities in the country. The law seeks "to regulate and guide activities conducted by overseas funding agencies within mainland China, safeguard their lawful rights and interests, and promote exchanges and cooperation." Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The law puts a strong emphasis on protecting China's security: Article 5 of this new law mentioned that NGOs "must not endanger China's national unity, security, or ethnic unity; must not harm China's national interests, societal public interest and the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations; [...] must not engage in or fund for-profit activities or political activities, and must not illegally engage in or fund religious activities." The new law gives the police power to review the source of funding and examine the spending pattern of foreign non-government organisations (NGOs) on a regular basis and take appropriate legal actions. This police is also authorized to interrogate the administrators of these NGOs and convince their Chinese partner agencies to terminate any project considered a threat to the country's security. Thousand NGOs founded, run or financed by foreigners are currently operating in China in various fields ranging from animal protection to human rights law and environmental protection. There are numbers of overseas NGOs, who have partnered with Chinese academic and social groups, but work in a legal gray area that leaves them susceptible to clampdowns by the security forces. The new draft law says the foreign charity organisations are not required to seek approval for occasional activities and projects but their Chinese partner organisations will have to register with local authorities 15 days before the start of the project. The draft law says that foreign charities - whether running long term offices or operating infrequent programs in China - generally would not be permitted to recruit new staffs except for those allowed by the state council. That is largely because China is encouraging its scientists to join powerful international organizations in science and technology. Advertisement TagsNGO, Charity, china (Photo : LOBSANG WANGYAL/AFP/Getty Images) Sikyong (Prime Minister) of the Central Tibetan Administration Lobsang Sangay was one of the 69 attendee of the conference. Advertisement Close to 69 foreign delegates, including Uyghur American Association president Ilshat Hasan, were present at a summit on "Strengthening the Alliance to Advance People's Dream" at Norbu House in McLeodganj, Dharmashala, India on Thursday, April 28. The summit was convened by Yang Jiamil, a known US-based Chinese dissident leader. Dharmasala in Himachal Pradesh, India is the home to Dalai Lama, the spiritual Tibet leader, and is where the Tibetan government-in-exile is situated. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement According to the Hindustan Times, "although the Indian government led by PM Narendra Modi rejected visa request of Uyghur leader Dolkun Isa, it seemingly permitted at least eight Chinese activists and a prominent Uighur leader to participate in the Dharamsala consultation." During the second week of April, India's decision to grant an electronic visa to Dolkun Isa, a prominent forerunner of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), attracted protests from China. New Delhi subsequently withdrew the visa. The goof happened apparently because an Interpol red corner notice issued against Isa in 1998 did not figure in the records of India's department of immigration. China considers WUC leaders as promoters of terrorism in its unstable Muslim-dominated Xinjiang province. India's earlier decision to grant Isa a visa was seen as a retort to Beijing decision to block an attempt by India to blacklist Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar in the United Nations (UN) last month. Xinjiang, which has a population of over 10 million Uyghur Muslims, has been at the center of major disturbances in China in recent years. Chinese authorities have linked the unrest to the global rise in terrorism. Advertisement Tagsuyghur, china, India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dalai Lama (Photo : Getty Images/Muhannad Fala'ah) Iraqi MPs failed to reach a quorum to ratify the Prime Minister's new scheme. Advertisement A state of emergency has been declared in Baghdad after its Green Zone was breached by supporters of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and entered the parliament building on Sunday. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said that security has been restored in the city and called on the demonstrators to go back to the "designated protest areas." Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The Green Zone is the location of many government offices in Baghdad. Prime Minister Al-Abadi threatened to arrest the protesters, sending them to a retreat from the area. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr also called for protesters to end their siege of parliament. The storm-in is the culmination of months of protests across the country that casted a shadow of uncertainty over the current political system. The current regime was put in place by the US-led coalition after it toppled the long-standing command of the late Saddam Hussein. Muqtada al-Sadr has a history of leading violent protests against US troops during the Iraq war. In a statement issued on Saturday, he declared, "History will record the birth of a new Iraq, from the ashes of corruption and the corrupt." The protestester condemned the Iraqi parliament's failure to convene for voting to approve new ministers. Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi's efforts to replace party-affiliated ministers with technocrats stalled as MPs failed to form a quorum required for approval. Following Sadr's news conference in Najaf where he criticized the political deadlock, the unrest began to proliferate. He accused that politicians have "refused to end corruption and refused to end quotas," referring to the system of sharing government posts on the basis of sectarian and political affiliations. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq has expressed grave concerns about the situation. Advertisement TagsIraq, United Nations, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Haider al-Abadi (Photo : John Stillwell | WPA Pool/Getty Images) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with their children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, enjoy a short private skiing break on March 3, 2016 in the French Alps, France. Advertisement In celebration of Princess Charlotte's first birthday on May 2, her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge shared photos of her through Twitter. Kensington Palace said that, "The duke and duchess are very happy to be able to share these important family moments and hope that everyone enjoys these lovely photos as much as they do," according to BBC News. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement It was revealed that Princess Kate personally captured the photos at their home in Norfolk in April. One of them showed a close-up shot of Princess Charlotte walking while pushing a wooden building bricks trolley. Princess Charlotte was also photographed while playing at their home in blue and pink outfits with matching hair bow. The post also included a still of Prince George cradling his then five-weeks-old baby sister at Anmer Hall. According to a source from the palace, "Turning one is an important family milestone, and the family is happy to share these pictures." Although the royal couple gave their fans a surprise, Princess Charlotte's first birthday will be celebrated "privately" on Friday with her family. Luckily, her special day also falls on a UK public holiday. The royal family has been sharing adorable photos of Princess Charlotte before her first birthday hits and the most recent was one of her sitting on her great-grandmother Elizabeth II on her 90th birthday. Meanwhile, as her special day approaches, the Duchess of Cambridge will get have a helping hand from Prince George. According to the royal couple's maternity nurse, Sarah Dixon, "George will enjoy all the birthday festivities, and I'm sure there will be a few of his friends invited too." "He'll help Charlotte open all her gifts - older siblings love to do that," she continued. Advertisement Tagsprincess charlotte, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte Birthday (Photo : Getty Images) A Chinese man smokes as he shields himself under an umbrella from the snow during a snowfall on November 22, 2014 outside the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Advertisement The Shanghai Health Enhancement Commission revealed that the majority of the people they surveyed are open to following the smoking ban in public places, should the proposal becomes a law. The website asked 17,000 respondents in Shanghai if they will abide by the new regulation. 94 percent said yes, while 2 percent said they will only follow it when there are other people in the area. The other 1 percent said that they will stop smoking if a third party reminded them. The other 2 percent did not express their opinions. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Questioned if they would smoke outdoors in the presence of children and women, 94 percent said they will not while 3 percent said that they may not if alerted to the women and children's presence. The remaining 1 percent said that they will still smoke. Currently, 16 percent smoke indoors, 18 percent stop smoking indoors when other people are present, while 64 percent never smoke indoors. Smoking is not allowed in 13 kinds of public places in Shanghai, including children's hospitals, and primary and kindergarten schools. Shanghai's local government submitted a draft amendment in April to the National Legislature to implement a citywide ban on smoking. The revised version covers all public areas in Shanghai such as airports and train stations which currently have designated smoking areas. If the bill materializes, Shanghai will become China's third city that has a complete smoking ban, joining Beijing and Shenzhen. Shanghai aims to implement the new rules before November when it will host the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in partnership with the World Health Organization. Advertisement Tagssmoking ban, smoking ban in China (Photo : Getty Images.) A new study has revealed that China exports more counterfeit goods than any other country in the world. Advertisement China tops the list of countries exporting fake and counterfeit goods across the world, according to a joint study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union's Intellectual Property Office (EU IPO). China accounted for a whopping 63.2 percent share in the estimated half-a-trillion dollar counterfeit and fake goods exported globally, the study said. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Turkey is second in the list with 3.3 percent share, while Singapore and Thailand are in third and fourth with 1.9 percent and 1.6 percent shares, respectively. China's neighbor India is fifth in the list. The study is based on the analysis of nearly half a million custom goods seized from across the world from 2011 to 2013. Its value amounted to $461 billion. The OECD said that US, Italian, and French brands are the most hit by counterfeit goods. The study also revealed that even Chinese companies were not immune from the effects of fake and pirated products. "While China is the top provenance of fake goods, its most innovative companies also fall victim to counterfeiters," the study said. Footwear, chemicals, perfumes, handbags and machine parts were found to be immensely popular with manufacturers of fake items. "The traffic goes through complex routes via major trade hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore and free trade zones such as those in the United Arab Emirates. Other transit points include countries with weak governance and widespread organised crime such as Afghanistan and Syria," the study explained. Advertisement Tagschina, counterfeit goods, chinese goods, Counterfeiters in China, fake China, Made in China, items made in China (Photo : Getty Images) A large percentage of Hong Kong's middle class admitted they wanted to kill themselves, according to a study conducted by a non-government organization Advertisement Mental health experts in Hong Kong were alarmed after a large percentage of the city's middle class reported that they often thought about committing suicide in the past 30 days. A study conducted by the Caritas Centre for Human Empowerment and Achievement on the mental health state of the Hong Kong middle class found out that almost 90 percent of those surveyed said they have thought about suicide "many times." Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Caritas project manager Li Po-kay expressed alarm about the result of the study. Mental Health Crisis She said this "mental health crisis" that is happening to the middle class men and women could worsen if not properly addressed. "Many middle-class people don't want to seek help out of fear of labelling, losing face, their professional image or having their work abilities questioned by employers," she said. Hong Kong psychiatrists said middle class professionals are prone to mental health problems as they have to juggle work and family lives, leaving them with so much pressure to handle. Mental Health Study The study was conducted through the internet and phone conversations between May and December last year to screen for mental disorders. It surveyed 688 people and were asked about how they felt about handling stress at work and at home. It revealed that while almost half of the middle class men and women in Hong Kong believed they were in a healthy mental state, the World Health Organization mental health benchmarks indicated that more than half of the respondents need psychological help. Only 13 percent of those surveyed sought medical help for their mental condition. The survey classifies the middle class as professionals who earn HK$ 20,000 to HK$100,000 per month. Around 1.7 million Hong Kongers suffer from various types of mental illness, according to medical authorities. Advertisement TagsHong Kong, mental health experts, mental health crisis, middle class professionals, mental illness, Hong Kong state of mind, Hong Kong mental health (Photo : YouTube Screenshot) China is getting a taste of Australia's fresh air. Advertisement More Chinese people will soon experience a taste of Australian air after two entrepreneurs from Sydney opened its Green Clean air business to capture and bottle fresh air for the Chinese market. John Dickinson and Theo Ruygrok managed to contain air from Australia and sell them into cans for $18.80 each. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "We want to give people internationally a chance to taste what our beautiful air is like," Dickinson said. The bottled air products were fresh from the Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Yarra Valley. They said they plan to harvest more from other locations. Dickinson added that they intentionally displayed the photo of the air's origin so foreign tourists could "take a bit of Australia home with them." For Chinese netizens, it is more for their health. "There's real interest in having some clean air from places they trust," Dickinson said. He observed that China's middle class is beginning to become anxious of China's poor air quality. The entrepreneurs partnered with a mechanical engineer to help them design a device that could harvest fresh air from open spaces. The system uses filters and nozzles to compress the air into a can. Each place possesses different air quality characteristics. For instance, Blue Mountains have eucalyptus traces, while Bondi Beach has a salty taste. "Some people will sense that," Dickinson said. "Each can is quite individual." Each can contains an equivalent of 130 deep breaths via a mouthpiece. The two began exporting cans of fresh air in China, while rich Chinese families have personal shoppers to ship Australian air overseas. "We all love the pure air from Australia," Vivian Zhou, a Chinese personal shopper told Seven News. "I buy the air from Australia for my clients and I post it back to them." According to studies, China's poor air quality has brought over 1.6 million deaths each year. Beijing traffic officers are mostly affected, with their life span shortened only up to 43 years old because of the constant exposure to exhaust and dirty air. Advertisement Tagschina, Australia, clean air, Green Clean (Photo : Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) A model astronaut in the Astronaut Gallery at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center on April 3, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Advertisement NASA expects to intensify its cooperation with China in the area of civilian space exploration, as the head of the US space agency described the Asian giant as a "potential partner" and not a threat. This was the core of NASA Administrator Charles Bolden's remarks during an event hosted by the Washington-based think-tank Strategies and International Studies, reported the China Daily. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "Since I only view civilian space, I see them as a potential partner," Bolden said in his message. "They're already a partner in some areas" he added, referring to NASA and China's cooperation in areas such as Earth and lunar science, including collaborative research with the Chinese Academy of Sciences on geodetics and glacial characterization in the Himalaya region. "So there are potential areas of partnerships there, but because of congressional restrictions right now, we are limited to merely multilateral activities," the NASA administrator continued. "Engagement always beats isolation. Engagement always beats trying to do things on their own." It can be recalled that the US Congress passed a law in 2011 which prohibited NASA from hosting Chinese visitors at its facilities. The law likewise barred the space agency from working with researchers who were connected with any Chinese government entity or enterprise. In a groundbreaking move on Sunday, China expressed its willingness to work hand in hand with all nations including the United States in space exploration. The Chinese government believes that close cooperation between major space players will lead to the development of mankind. "China will not rule out cooperating with any country, and that includes the United States," noted Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut during celebrations of the first China Space Day. With these latest developments, NASA and China's increased cooperation in space-related activities are anticipated to bring humankind closer to its dream of conquering the vast frontiers of outer space. Advertisement Tagschina, NASA, charles bolden (Photo : Jung Yeon-Je-Pool/Getty Images) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) waves after his speech as South Korean President Park Geun-Hye (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd R) give claps during a business summit on Nov. 1, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. Advertisement China-Japan relations is anticipated to improve, as high-ranking officials of the world's two leading economies committed to increase collaboration and pursue common development goals. In a landmark meeting between Premier Li Keqiang and visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, the former urged Japan to continue to maintain positive and peaceful policies towards China, China Daily reported. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Li said that it is only by doing so that the current diplomatic relations between the two countries will be enhanced. The Chinese premier stressed that stable ties between the two Asian countries will ultimately benefit their people, and consequently, foster greater regional and global stability and prosperity. Li noted that despite setbacks in China-Japan relations in recent years, there are strong indications that Sino-Japanese ties are actually improving. Although he described the relationship between their countries as "fragile," Li said that China is willing to extend its trust for its Asian neighbor, which could eventually lead towards the normalization of their bilateral ties. "China hopes Japan will maintain peaceful development and make real steps toward fulfilling its agreement to take up opportunities created by China's peaceful development," he said. Li pointed out that Japan should be more circumspect in handling foreign policy issues, which could adversely affect China-Japan relations. He added that Japan must work towards building a positive atmosphere that would encourage the resumption of bilateral dialogues, as well as the trilateral leaders' meeting between China, South Korea and Japan. For his part, Kishida said that Japan is willing to show mutual respect, strengthen political trust, and manage disputes with China. As a measure of good will, he declared that Japan will expand cooperation with China in various fields, which aim to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two. It is Kishida's first official visit to China since becoming foreign minister more than three years ago. He is the first Japanese foreign minister who has travelled to China since Shinzo Abe's re-election in 2012, a strong indication of improving China-Japan relations. Advertisement Tagschina, Japan, Premier Li Kequiang (Photo : Getty Images) Last week Japan detained the Tung Sheng Chi 16 - a Taiwanese trawler - near Okinotorishima, an area frequented by up to 200 Taiwanese fishing boats per year. Advertisement Taiwan sent two patrol ships to Japan's Okinotorishima Island on Sunday in response to the seizure of a Taiwanese fishing vessel by the Japanese coast guard last week. The ships - a coast guard ship and a Council of Agriculture vessel - left from Kaohsiung and will be followed by warships, said government spokesperson David Lo. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Although Japan's claim to Okinotorishima is disputed by China, Taiwan, and South Korea, a 2013 fisheries agreement between Taiwan and Japan enabled Taiwan's fishing activities to continue peacefully in the surrounding waters - until now. Last week Japan detained the Tung Sheng Chi 16 - a Taiwanese trawler - near Okinotorishima, an area frequented by up to 200 Taiwanese fishing boats per year. Japan considers the atoll an island, giving the country rights to an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles and justifying the seizure of the Taiwanese vessel, which ventured within 150 nautical miles of the territory. Taiwan views Okinotorishima as a reef with no protected waters. "Japan has no right to ban our fishing boats from the area. The government will resolutely defend the rights and freedom of our fishermen in international waters," Taiwan's coast guard said in a statement. The ships' deployment will last between one to three months as the two sides are waiting for Taiwan's government to transition from current president Ma Ying-jeou to newly-elected Tsai Ing-wen on May 20. Alex Chiang, professor of international relations at Taipei's National Chengchi University, is not overly concerned about the conflict. "I don't think (the dispute) will get any bigger. I think the Ma government has to take some stand. Japan will hold on and talk to the new government." Prior to the 2013 fisheries agreement, the worst incident between the two countries involved ships firing water cannons at each other. Advertisement TagsJapan, Taiwan, Japan seizes fishing boat, coast guard, disputed islands, Okinotorishima island, tung sheng chi 16, international waters (Photo : Getty Images) Philippines Presidential Candidate Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday that he will seek bilateral dialogue with China to resolve South China Sea issue. Advertisement Rodrigo Duterte, one of the frontrunners in the Philippines presidential elections, said on Sunday that he is willing to stage bilateral dialogue with China if the current multilateral talks fail to resolve the South China Sea issue. "If negotiations will be in still waters in 1 or 2 years, I will talk to the Chinese," Duterte told his supporters in Manila. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Duterte said he may even invite Beijing to build key railway projects in the country if their bilateral dialogue fetches desirable results. However, the 71-year-old presidential nominee reiterated that he would not leave any stone unturned in defending the Philippines' claim over the contested maritime territory. Duterte said that he would forge deeper ties with western powers to compel China to accept the Philippines' stand over the South China Sea. Duterte's friendly policy toward China would mark a stark departure from outgoing President Benigno Aquino's aggressive policy. Aquino government's 'anti-China policy' resulted in the Philippines lodging a case against China to settle the dispute over the South China Sea in an arbitration court in the Hague. A judgment over the case is expected this week, but China has categorically said that it would not accept the judgment of the arbitration court. Duterte did not make any comments about the ongoing case in the Hague. Duterte is a favorite among five presidential candidates to replace the outgoing President Benigno Aquino. He is leading most opinion and exit polls, with the latest polls showing that around 33 percent of the people in the Philippines support him. Duterte was the mayor of Davao City for over two decades and is one of the most popular leaders in the Philippines. He is credited with drastically improving the economy and security of Davao City. Advertisement Tagschina, Philippine, Rodrigo Duterte, South China Sea (Photo : Zapata Racing) Franky Zapata flies on his jet powered Flyboard Air Advertisement Frenchman Franky Zapata, a champion jetskier and inventor, flew his jet-powered hoverboard named Flyboard Air for some 2,252 meters (7,388) feet) to set a new world record for distance. The record was confirmed by Guinness. He broke the old record of just 275.9 meters (905 feet, 2 inches) set by Canadian inventor Catalin Alexandru Duru in 2015. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Goodbye, jet pack. Hello, jet hoverboard. Zapata's breathtaking and record setting feat of solo flight off the coast of Sausset-les-Pins in southern France was recorded on video. You can see it on YouTube. "This has really been a life's work," Zapata said after his flight. "It's an amazing sensation, it's really peaceful," he said. "I open my arms because it helps me control my movements, but when you open your hands and you feel the wind go through your hand and you have nothing under your feet - it's hard to describe, really. You have to experience this moment in your life." Next after this incredible adventure is to make the Flyboard Air smaller and more consumer friendly, said Zapata. He also intends to have pilots of his future hoverboards sit down. Zapata stood up for the entire duration of his flight that took him 100 feet above the water. He said his Flyboard Air uses what he describes as an "Independent Propulsion Unit." This unit consists of four 250 horsepower turbo engines fueled by Jet A1 kerosene, the same fuel used in jetliner engines. Zapata carried the highly inflammable fuel in a tank strapped to his back. It's a problem Zapata has to address in the consumer version of his Flyboard Air. There are two other engines on each side of the machine used to stabilize the board in flight. Zapata Racing, the company Zapata founded to promote and build his flying machines, said the Flyboard Air can reach a maximum height of 10,000 feet and speed up to a maximum of 150 kilometers per hour. Advertisement TagsFranky Zapata, jet-powered hoverboard, Flyboard Air, Sausset-les-Pins, Zapata Racing (Photo : Reuters) Major graphics card manufacturer Nvidia is betting big in the future of virtual reality. Advertisement Two next generation GeForce cards are set to be unveiled during Nvidia Editor's Event, which will be held on May 6. According to a leaked information prior to the company's event, the California-based technology company, Nvidia, is set to announce two powerful GeForce graphic cards, which is presumed to be the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 that will be made available to the public on June. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The new Pascal cards, which will have its hard launch at Computex 2016, will be the successor to Nvidia's current high-end cards, namely GTX 980 Ti, GTX 980 and GTX 970. GTX 1080 has been confirmed to feature 8GB GDDR5X memory chips, while GTX 1070 will feature 8GB GDDR5 memory chips. It is said that the GeForce GTX 1080 will be equipped with an innovative Pascal design and 16nm FinFet process. The said graphic card will be one of the most powerful GPU ever created by Nvidia. GeForce GTX 1070, on the other hand, is expected to run a bit slower that GeForce GTX 1080; however, compared to its predecessors, this will still be a better choice as it is an upgraded GPU version. In terms of pricing, GTX 1070 is expected to be priced at $449, while GTX 1080 will be priced at $599. On other news, Samsung and Nvidia have agreed to settle the lawsuits they filed between them. It can be remembered that in 2014, both companies filed lawsuit against each other due to patent infringement. Samsung and Nvidia may have agreed to settle their issues, but no other details were disclosed to the public. Advertisement TagsGeForce GTX 1080, GeForce GTX 1070, Nvidia, Samsung, Nvidia vs Samsung Bigotry, abuse, incarceration worldwide indicates 'serious and sustained assault' against religious liberty 02 May, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner) Religious freedom is imperiled now as never before, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in its annual report May 2. The report, which monitors abuses of religious rights and encourages foreign governments to adopt policies favorable to religious liberty, recommends nine countries be re-designated as "countries of particular concern" or "CPCs" by the U.S. State Department after continued and egregious violations of the rights of religious minorities there. Those countries include Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. There is also sufficient evidence to warrant the CPC designation for eight other countries, including the Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, and Vietnam. From the plight of new and longstanding prisoners of conscience, to the dramatic rise in the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, to the continued acts of bigotry against Jews and Muslims in Europe, and to the other abuses detailed in this report, there was no shortage of attendant suffering worldwide. A second tier of countries was also recommended to receive the CPC designation, but being "Tier 2" likely means the State Department will not recognize them as particularly troublesome because of their long-term or burgeoning political relationship with the U.S. For example, Turkey, India and Cuba are unlikely to receive the designation since Turkey and India are major U.S. allies, serving as counterbalances to Russia and China, and since the Obama administration is seeking detente with Cuba. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, and Russia are designated as "Tier 2" countries, as well. "By any measure, religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault since the release of our commission's last Annual Report in 2015. From the plight of new and longstanding prisoners of conscience, to the dramatic rise in the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, to the continued acts of bigotry against Jews and Muslims in Europe, and to the other abuses detailed in this report, there was no shortage of attendant suffering worldwide," the report claims. "The incarceration of prisoners of conscience people whom governments hold for reasons including those related to religion remains astonishingly widespread, occurring in country after country, and underscores the impact of the laws and policies that led to their imprisonment." The 276-page report then highlights specific countries where religious abuses are occurring. In North Korea, the communist regime of Kim Jong-Un imprisons thousands of religious believers, the report claims, even though it is nearly impossible to obtain information about the inner workings of the closed society. USCIRF notes in its report that the government controls "all political and religious expression" and punishes those who do not follow the regime. The regime also demands allegiance to its own religion, Juche, which emphasizes devotion to the Kim family and "self-reliance." "Religious freedom is non-existent. Individuals secretly engaging in religious activities are subject to arrest, torture, imprisonment, and execution. North Koreans suspected of contacts with South Koreans or foreign missionaries or who are caught possessing Bibles have been executed," the report claims. Most of the countries mentioned as CPCs are countries where Islam is the predominant religion and where religious liberty has never been part of political life. That includes countries in both the Middle East and Asia. Pakistan, which neighbors both Afghanistan and India, for example, is listed as a CPC. "More people are on death row or serving life sentences for blasphemy in Pakistan than in any other country in the world," the report claims. "Aggressive enforcement of these [blasphemy] laws emboldens the Pakistani Taliban and individual vigilantes, triggering horrific violence against religious communities and individuals perceived as transgressors, most recently Christians and Muslim bystanders on Easter Sunday 2016 in Lahore." China also receives significant attention in the report because the country recently tore down crosses on Christian churches, has imprisoned house church leaders and Uighur Muslims, and even holds prisoners is "'black jails' or brainwashing centers, with credible reports of torture, sexual violence, psychiatric experimentation and organ harvesting. "Over the past year, the Chinese government has stepped up its persecution of religious groups deemed a threat to the state's supremacy and maintenance of a 'socialist society.' Christian communities have borne a significant brunt of the oppression, with numerous churches bulldozed and crosses torn down," the report notes. The report also sheds light on the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Europe, especially France, and also criticizes the sectarian strife in Iraq and Syria, where much of the persecution of religious minorities is carried out by non-state actors such as the Islamic State. However, Iraq is also criticized for its government's indifference to Shiite militias who inflict human rights abuses on Sunni Muslims. Russia is criticized in the report for its approach to dealing with those who attack the Russian Orthodox Church on social media and its investigation of those who align with Jehovah's Witnesses. Both are normally charged and imprisoned. The report provides names of Muslim prisoners in Russia, but it is unclear why those associated with Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamic group that seeks to establish a global caliphate like ISIS, are listed as prisoners of conscience rather than terrorists. Hizb ut-Tahrir has been banned in Russia for its radical Islamist ideology. The USCIRF claims it is "non-violent." Rome's Trevi fountain painted in red light to symbolize martyrs blood 02 May, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | ROME (Christian Examiner) Rome's Trevi Fountain was awash in blood red light April 29 as the Catholic faithful remembered the persecuted church worldwide. During the nighttime demonstration, the voices of Christians from persecuted communities worldwide resounded from speakers across the square. The Christians told stories of how their loved ones and friends were martyred for their faith and they also called for an end to the violence. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza said the purpose of the event was to remember the blood of the martyrs "spilled by the violence of men and the sin of the world." Piacenze said the martyrs had shared in the suffering of Christ but, he added, they had made "a real and vicarious atonement, through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, in favor of all men." Protestants reject the idea that the death of martyrs has any salvific benefit for others. The cardinal, who leads the church's Apostolic Penitentiary and president of Aid to the Church in Need, said the martyrs had "entered into the glory of Paradise, with the palm of martyrdom in their hands and girded with the crown of glory." The Apostolic Penitentiary is the arm of the church that grants indulgences, or the forgiveness of sins an act Protestants also reject as antithetical to Scripture. Still, the martyrdom of Catholics, Protestant Christians and other religious minorities has come into sharper focus in recent days. Among the countries where persecution has intensified are Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan. Among those present were Luka Loteng, whose Christian friends from Garissa University were killed by Al-Shabaab militants from Sudan in 2015. A member of the Missionaries of Charity, a largely Pakistani Catholic charity, was also present. Four of the nuns from the group were killed in Yemen earlier this year when militants aligned with the Islamic State attacked the nursing home where they worked. Two weeks ago on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis said in an address that persecution is "the daily bread of the church." "Jesus said so himself," Francis said as he reminded his audience that Christians today are suffering in the same way they did when torn apart by lions in the Colosseum. "Today, on Easter Sunday, just three weeks ago ... Those Christians who were celebrating Easter in Pakistan were martyred because they were celebrating the Risen Christ. Thus, the history of the Church goes ahead with its martyrs." On March 18, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry formally designated the actions of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria toward Christians as "genocide." The #WeAreN2016 Congress testified about the persecution against Christians at a United Nations event held on April 28 in New York. The panel was comprised of experts and eyewitnesses of the violence perpetrated against Christians in middle-eastern and African countries of Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, which are besieged by Islamic State and other militant organizations. The 'N', or in Arabic, is a symbol that stands for Nazarene or Christian, which ISIS drew on the doorways of believers, to identify them in cities that have been captured. The panel was organized and co-sponsored by CitizensGo, Mas Libres, Defense of Christians, and is supported by many religious leaders including Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN. The event discussed the violence against and mass exodus of Christians and minorities in the terror-stricken areas of Middle East, apart from the treatment of believers in countries such as Pakistan, where the Christians are in minority. The website of the congress states that "Christians account for 80% of persecuted minorities. They are victims of the deliberate infliction of conditions of life that are calculated to bring about their physical destruction in whole or in part." "They are being murdered, beheaded, crucified, beaten, extorted, abducted, and tortured. They have been victims of summary executions," it continues. The panel demanded that the international community take action to stop the atrocities and work to bring relief to the victims. "We have a unique opportunity to change things for the better," said Carl Anderson, head of the Knights of Columbus. "Never before has the world's attention been so focused on the suffering of these minorities. Never has their plight been so high on the agenda of the world's governments, the vast majority of the world's Muslims, and all people of good will." The UN event, which lasted three days from April 28 to 30, featured many panels, including one on sexual violence inflicted on Christian and Yazidi women. "Women and girls in particular have been subjected to forms of sexual violence such as rape, and have been victims of forced marriages and human trafficking. Children have been transferred to other groups and forcibly recruited. Christian churches and religious and cultural sites have been vandalized. Christian towns, villages, and districts have been devastated," #WeAreN2016 said. Last week, the House of Commons in UK voted unanimously (278-0) to pronounce IS atrocities as genocide against Christians and other minorities. In March, the US Secretary of State John Kerry also called the extremist group's activities "genocidal". The Islamic State is a militant organization that wants to form its caliphate (Daesh) in the Middle East, and still retains large territories in Syria and Iraq, despite significant losses during the past few months. Boko Haram (which means 'western education is sin'), is active in western African countries of Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon, and has also pledged allegiance to ISIS. A Chinese pastor who defended churches facing demolition and contacted the US consulate in Shanghai and foreign journalists was imprisoned along with his wife and son on April 26. Wen Xiaowu leads a house church in Zhejiang province (which is also called the "Jerusalem of China") was accused by the authorities for disturbing social order and hindering public services, according to China Aid. Xiaowu and his wife both gave legal consultation to churches who are facing cross demolition campaign. They had met with the US consulate members and foreign journalists to give them an update about the cross demolition situation in China. The family is not allowed to meet with relatives, and their house was ransacked by the authorities who also took their personal items including laptops. "He [Wen] is a man with integrity and passion who is always ready to help others. Despite the constant threats state security agents posed to him and his family in the past few years, he and his wife have been boldly providing legal counsel for churches and persecuted human rights defenders in Zhejiang," said China Aid President Bob Fu. "I urge the U.S. government to work with the Chinese authorities for the immediate release of the Wen family and other innocent church leaders who are under arrest." Since the year began, multiple churches have been demolished in Zhejiang and neighboring province of Fujian. Some of the churches were not registered with the local government. A Yulin Furen Christian Church in Fujian was registered before, but due to changing regulations over the last several years, it was not registered at the time it was deemed unauthorized by the officials. "Previously, it was registered and approved, but not in recent years," an individual from the Fuqing Christian Association told China Aid. "At this time, a real estate certificate is required for registration [in Fuqing] ... [Therefore], we cannot just go register, even if we want to do so. There are still many [churches] that have not registered." However, no reason was given to demolish many other churches, according to eyewitnesses. "The Chinese authorities have no reason for the demolition of the church. All of our churches will defend to the death and refuse to let them break down. This is religious persecution with no right to suppress us," said Wen Xiaowu, a local believer. Some cross demolitions were also done secretly by the authorities. Waipu church in Wenzhou had its cross removed by the officials in the early morning hours with no heavy equipment used, so that the congregation would not be alerted of the action. Authorities also confiscated the church's surveillance and video equipment. "These demolition personnel came suddenly, and many believers did not know [what was happening]," recounted a church who only gave his last name Wu. Another church in Wenzhou was also demolished late at night, Wu said. The authorities have faced stiff protests from congregations who knew that their church was targeted for cross removal or demolition. Local media reported that last year in July, a team of about 600 people comprising police, fire protection, and urban management met with strong resistance from members at Kau Yan church in Shuitou town of Zhejiang province. Huge cranes, fire engines, and ambulance were mobilized to break down Kau Yan's cross. The church members confronted the police, who also used batons to injure people. Four people were seriously wounded and hospitalized in Wenzhou. The demolition was unsuccessful and the authorities returned after a struggle lasting over an hour. In April, a pastor's wife was buried alive after she stepped in front of a bulldozer as it proceeded to demolish Beitou Church in Henan province, because the land on which it stood was claimed by a real-estate developer. After about two weeks the land was restored to the church by authorities, and will be used for religious purposes. For his latest research, University of Virginia sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox stepped out of the ivory tower and relocated to New York City. He and his family spent a year living in Harlem, interviewing pastors and members Of black and Latino churches in their neighborhood, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Wilcox and co-author Nicholas H. Wolfingers analysis appears in the new book Soul Mates: Religion, Sex, Love and Marriage among African Americans and Latinos(Oxford University Press). The academics reached across ideological aisles to explore the ways Christian faith has bolstered two of the countrys most vulnerable ethnic groups. A Roman Catholic, Wilcox is perhaps best known to CT readers for his research on marriage. He recently spoke with assistant editor Morgan Lee about the crucial role of Latino and African American pastors, why they hesitate to preach about sex, and what everyone might learn from his findings. Youre married, religious, conservative, and have children. Your co-author, Wolfinger, is single, an agnostic, progressive, and childless. What compelled you to write a book together? The academy is pretty divided, ideologically speaking. Most scholars, particularly in sociology, have a more progressive and often more secular perspective on the world than do ordinary Americans. There are few opportunities for scholars who dont share the same ideological commitment to engage in a meaningful way. Despite our differences, Wolfinger and I share a commitment to the truth and to trying to understand whats happening in the data. For people who are skeptical of our empirical claims about marriage and church, its important to underline the fact that a progressive was also doing the statistics. ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Pastor Calls for National Boycott of Lutheran Social Services Contact: Rev. CJ Conner, 620-255-9597 DODGE CITY, Kan., May 2, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- Lutheran Pastor Rev. CJ Conner of Dodge City, Kansas, calls on Christians of good conscience to boycott Lutheran Social Services (LSS). Lutheran Social Services has resettled at least 1000 Muslims in the state of Minnesota alone and recently released a booklet titled, "My Neighbor is Muslim, Exploring the Muslim Faith." Once an essential Lutheran Institution in American Christianity, Rev. Conner believes that LSS is unapologetically obsessed with resettling Muslim refugees to the exclusion of persecuted Christians. Their refugee programs are directed by Yusuf Abdi in Minnesota. Rev. Conner says, "Jodi Harpstead, Executive Director of LSS Minnesota, lauds the booklet, 'My Neighbor is a Muslim.' She partnered with Hassan Ali Mohamud the founder, Imam, and director of the Minnesota Da'wah Institute. All we hear about is their work with Muslims." Dr. Stephen Kirby recently wrote about the Lutheran Social Services booklet and Harpstead's associate, Hassan Ali Mohamud, in the March Edition of Frontpage Magazine: "Ironically, the Muslim imam selected to endorse this booklet appears to be a Hamas supporter, believes that Shariah Law should be enforced in American communities where Muslims are the majority, heads one of two mosques that have been the focus of articles about Somali youth leaving Minneapolis to fight for a terrorist organization, and was recently refused a government security clearance." Says Rev. Conner, "Christians are being slaughtered, children beheaded, and Lutheran Social Services has abandoned them. Not unlike the Lutheran Leftists in Hitler's Germany who turned a blind eye to the Jewish Holocaust, LSS of Minnesota has turned their back on the victims of the Christian genocide. LSS would rather play footsy with the likes of Hassan Ali Mohamud." "Christians have lamented the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world and have asked, 'What can we do to stop the genocide? What can we do to help them?' Start by closing your pocketbook to Lutheran Social Services and re-directing that money to Christian organizations who care about the plight of Christians, who resettle Christians, and who leave the resettlement of questionable Muslim refugees to the Mosques." "We need a national boycott of Lutheran Social Services. We need to stop giving money to Christian organizations who don't care about Christians being murdered by Muslims for their faith" Find Out More: home World Christian missionary gets 10 years hard labor in North Korea after 'espionage' allegations A Korean American man was sentenced on Friday, April 29 to 10 years of hard labor in North Korea after he was convicted guilty on charges of "unpardonable espionage." North Korean authorities said Kim Dong Chul, 62, was stealing valuable information including military secrets and giving them to South Korea. "The accused confessed to all crimes he had committed ... and gathered and offered information on its party, state and military affairs to the South Korean puppet regime, which are tantamount to state subversive plots and espionage," North Korean state news agency KCNA reported, according to Reuters. Kim, who was born in Seoul, is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Before his arrest in October 2015, he had been frequenting North Korea on business trips, having established a business in the special economic zone in Rason in 2008. In January, a woman saw him on T.V. and recognized him as the Christian missionary she had met in the U.S. in 2007. Ma Young-ae said she remembered seeing Kim talk to churches and ask for their support in the work that he was doing in North Korea. Kim had been sending medical aid to Rason from China in order "to help poor North Koreans," according to a previous Reuters report. Ma's statement was confirmed by another pastor, Park Simon, who had been with Kim in some church gatherings. Park said he knew Kim often went to North Korea. Kim reportedly had asked for help from the U.S. and South Korea to save him. The U.S. State Department refused to comment on the issue, though a department official said they knew about the North Korean Supreme Court's decision regarding Kim. Aside from Kim, there are five other foreigners detained in North Korea. The country ranks number one among the countries where Christians suffer the most persecution, with an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Christians serving time in various labor camps. Biggest megachurches located not in U.S. but in Asia, Africa: More people embracing Jesus Christ worldwide When we say largest megachurches in the world, Americans are likely to immediately think of the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texaswhich boasts of some 43,500 people attending its services weeklyor Potter's House in Dallas. However, Leadership Network's Warren Bird, an expert when it comes to the subject of megachurches, recently released a research showing that Christian churches with the largest attendance are not located in the United States but in Asia and Africa. In an article on the Leadership Network's website, Bird named the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea as the most attended Christian church in the world. This Pentecostal church, located in the capital city of Seoul, boasts of 480,000 people attending its weekly services and 830,000 individuals in total membership. In far distant second are the Deeper Christian Ministry and the Onnuri Community Church, which are both located in Nigeria. These churches each have a total attendance of 75,000 individuals on a weekly basis. Bird said these figures give Christians reason to celebrate, since these indicate that more and more people are embracing Jesus Christ in different parts of the world. "Accurate data allows us to see the larger picture of what God seems to be doing. For starters, you'll observe that the world's biggest churches are not in the United States (and further, the United States did not even start the trend of megachurches)," Bird wrote. He also expects Christian churches to continue to grow around the world, even in countries where other religions are more dominant. "You'll also see which countries have the newer growth of larger churches (and as this list grows, I'm convinced that we'll document that there are far more megachurches outside the United States than in it)," Bird said. "As one example, India today has more believers than at any time in its 4,000-year history, and as my list populates, I suspect we'll find a growing number of megachurches there. You can explore everything from average pastor age to the likelihood level of Pentecostal/charismatic theology in these large churches," he added. California judge rules woman's lawsuit vs. Church of Scientology can go to trial A California judge ruled on Wednesday that a woman's lawsuit against the Church of Scientology can proceed to trial, denying the organisation's motion for summary judgment. In law, summary judgment is a judgment rendered by a court prior to a verdict because no material issue of fact exists and one party or the other is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Judge John Doyle of the Los Angeles Superior Court said former Scientologist Laura DeCrescenzo's allegations against the church that she was forced to have an abortion, worked long hours and stayed against her will, will be tried in court. She filed the lawsuit in 2009. In 1991 when she was just 12 years old, DeCrescenzo signed a "billion year contract" with Scientology and moved into the church's "Pac Base" in Hollywood, ABC7 reports. Her parents were also Scientology members and they encouraged her to join the church at a young age. In her second amended complaint in 2010, DeCrescenzo said Scientology forced her to have an abortion in violation of her privacy; deprived her of liberty; imprisoned her; intentionally inflicted emotional distress; violated wage and hour laws; and conducted unfair business practices. She said the church forced her to have an abortion when she got pregnant at 17, saying she was threatened that she would lose her position in the Sea Org, her housing and her husband if she did not comply. "I was told by the commanding officer of my organisation that. She immediately started telling me that at this point the baby wasn't a baby, it was just tissue," she said in 2010. She added, "I never agreed to have an abortion. Did I concede? Yes, I did. Does it kill me every day? Yes, it does." Scientology admitted that church policy bars active members of the Sea Org from having young children. "To be clear, defendants do not argue that a church may physically force a woman to have an abortion," according to Bert Deixler, attorney for the Church of Scientology International. But he said the issue is that under the First Amendment, churches may urge a minister of a religious order to forego having a baby for religious life. DeCrescenzo said she stayed in Scientology for more than a decade as she fell under a powerful sway of the church. Judge Doyle ordered both sides to return to court in June to set a trial date. Christian missionary sentenced to 10 years hard labour in North Korea A Christian missionary has been sentenced to 10 years in one of North Korea's punitive hard labour camps for alleged "unpardonable espionage". Kim Dong Chul, aged 62, who was born in South Korea and is a naturalised US citizen was accused of stealing information, including military secrets, and passing it on to South Korea. North Korean state news agency KCNA reported: "The accused confessed to all crimes he had committed and gathered and offered information on its party, state and military affairs to the South Korean puppet regime, which are tantamount to state subversive plots and espionage," according to Reuters. At a press conference in March in Pyongyang, Dong Chul, who lived in Virginia in the United States, appeared to confess. Foreign prisoners are often forced to confess in North Korea. He told reporters he had been paid by intelligence officers from South Korea and that he had been introduced to them by US intelligence. Before Dong Chul was arrested last October, he had set up a business in a part of Rason in North Korea that is set aside as a special economic zone. Earlier this year, a woman who saw him on television recognised him as a Christian missionary who she had seen give testimony in the US about the work he was doing in North Korea. A pastor also recognised him as the same man. He has asked both the US and South Korea for help. He is one of six foreigners known to be held by North Korea, where as many as 70,000 Christians are currently imprisoned in labour camps. About 300,000 of North Korea's 25.3 million population are believed to be Christian. Open Doors ranks the country in first place on its persecution watch list. North Korea did its fourth nuclear test in January and has also done recent nuclear missle tests, breaching UN sanctions. Last Thursday, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was called after two mid-range ballistic missiles crashed after they were launched. A fifth test is believed imminent. Kidnapped bishop handcuffed and beaten then released A bishop in southern India has been released after suffering kidnap and violent assault. Bishop Gallela Prasad, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah in the state of Andhra Pradesh, was blind-folded, handcuffed and kidnapped on his way home from celebrating Mass at the popular Karunagiri Shrine. Bishop Prasad, aged 54, whose motto is "The Lord is my strength and I trust in him", said he was taken to an undisclosed location by the kidnappers. "They hit me and punched me resulting in injuries all over my body. I did not resist," he told ucanews.com. He said he was quizzed repeatedly about diocesan finances by his assailants. Cuddapah is a suffragan diocese of Hyderabad Archdiocese and has more than 100,000 Catholics. The kidnappers also demanded five million rupees, or over 50,000. They told him that since he helped so many other people, he should help them too. They also claimed to be from the police before releasing him the following day. "They appeared to be paid goons and non-Christians from the way they talked and behaved," he said. Archbishop Thumma Bala of Hyderabad said in a statement: "It is unbelievable that such a violent atrocity is perpetrated on a high ranking religious leader of a minority community, who is totally dedicated to the service of the needy and marginalised." Massive fire destroys historic New York cathedral The beautiful 19th century Gothic Revial Cathedral of St Sava in New York was destroyed by fire yesterday evening. The blaze broke out as 700 members of the Serbian cathedral's congregation were inside, celebrating the Orthodox Easter. No one was injured. More than 170 firefighters were called to the fire which could be seen for many blocks. "We're all alive, but the building is gone," Father Djokan Majstorovic, parish priest, told RT. "It's heartbreaking. My parents were the first couple married there in 1944 after it was reconsecrated as an Orthodox church," Melana Pejakovich, of Nevada, also told RT. Formerly a church of The Episcopal Church by architect Richard Upjohn, it opened in 1855. It ceased being an Episcopal Church in 1915. The building was sold to the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1943. It was made an official New York City landmark and entered into the National Register of Historic Places. The chapel was designated a New York City landmark in 1968, and the complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. According to reports from the scene, the fire is being treated as suspicious. Report: Religious freedom under 'serious and sustained assault' around the world Religious freedom has come under "serious and sustained assault" across the globe in the past year, according to an annual report released today. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released its 2016 report, and found that religious liberty has deteriorated around the world, with abuses committed by both state and non-state actors. A number of countries are "plagued by extremism and religious freedom violations," the report said. "By any measure, religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault since the release of our commission's last Annual Report in 2015," the USCIRF said. "From the plight of new and longstanding prisoners of conscience, to the dramatic rise in the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, to the continued acts of bigotry against Jews and Muslims in Europe... there was no shortage of attendant suffering worldwide." The report highlights religious freedom violations in more than 30 countries, including China, Sudan, North Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq and Syria. The USCIRF recommended that the US State Department add eight more countries to its list of "countries of particular concern", where "particularly severe violations of religious freedom are perpetuated or tolerated". Included in that list were Vietnam, Egypt and the Central African Republic. In China, the communist government has "stepped up its persecution of religious groups deemed a threat to the state's supremacy and maintenance of a 'socialist society'," the report said. "Christian communities have borne a significant brunt of the oppression, with numerous churches bulldozed and crosses torn down". In Eritrea, up to 3,000 people are believed to be imprisoned on religious grounds, and to receive "the cruelest punishments". In Pakistan more people are serving life sentences or are on death row for blasphemy than any other country in the world. The report also brands Islamic State's treatment of Yazidis, Christians, Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims who do not "subscribe to [its] barbaric interpretation of Islam" as "a genocidal effort to erase their presence" from Iraq and Syria. The report condemns ISIS' "summary executions, rape, sexual enslavement, abduction of children, destruction of houses of worship, and forced conversions". "The governments of Syria and Iraq can be characterised by their near-incapacity to protect segments of their population from ISIL [ISIS] and other non-state actors, as well as their complicity in fuelling the sectarian tensions that have made their nations so vulnerable," the report continued. "Syria's government has no only fuelled these tensions but committed crimes against humanity in its treatment of Sunni Muslims." In Western Europe, there has been a rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents, the USCIRF said, characterising this as a "disturbing trend". it noted that various European countries restrict individuals from wearing religious symbols. The international community must act to end religious freedom abuses, the commission said. "[These] are crises in their own right which cry out for continued action on the part of the international community, including the United States. To be effective, such action must recognize the unmistakable fact that religious freedom is a common thread in each of these challenges, and deserves a seat at the table when nations discuss humanitarian, security, and other pressing issues. "The United States and other countries must fully accord this right the respect it deserves and redouble their efforts to defend this pivotal liberty worldwide." The report covers the period from February 1, 2015 to February 29, 2016. 'Star Trek' anthology news: Series begins filming this fall The upcoming "Star Trek" anthology series, which will be managed by showrunner Bryan Fuller, will begin filming this Fall. According to Trek Core, this means the series may be ready sooner than later and CBS may be premiering the new series as early as January 2017. As stated in a report from Cinema Blend, Paramount Pictures issued a mandate that any other "Star Trek" project could not be released until six months after they launch "Star Trek Beyond" in theaters. The movie is set to be released this coming July 22, meaning the earliest the new series could premiere would be the end of January or early February. The series has yet to be given an official subtitle and the studios have not yet announced directors or cast for the series. It has been confirmed that the plot of season 1 will take place before the events of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" but after "Star Trek: The Original Series" therefore the series will not have cameos from the movies. Given that it is an anthology serires the second season will be set in a different time period and will have a different cast of characters. It is undetermined if future seasons will be set in the "Prime" universe of the franchise or the rebooted universe that was made with the 2009 reboot movie. TrekCore also points out that this is the first live-action "Star Trek" television series that is not going to be filmed in Los Angeles, California. Instead, the series will be filmed in Toronto, Canada, which is also where Bryan Fuller is working on the upcoming "American Gods" series with author Neil Gaiman. "Star Trek" has traditionally been filmed in Los Angeles but this has changed with the 2009 reboot film and the projects that followed. "Star Trek Beyond" notably filmed in several different international locations such as Dubai, Vancouver, United Arab Emirates and British Columbia. U2 star The Edge rocks up at the Vatican U2's The Edge, also known as David Evans, has become the first contemporary artist to play a gig in Rome's iconic 15th century Sistine Chapel. The rock guitarist, with seven Irish teenagers on stage with him, sang four songs, including a cover of Leonard Cohen's If It Be Your Will and three U2 songs. The gig was part of the Cellular Horizons conference organised by the Stem for Life Foundation which promotes the use of adult stem cells to cure rare diseases. The Edge's audience consisted of 200 doctors, scientists and donors connected with the foundation. Evans' own daughter overcame leukaemia in 2006. A year later he joined the board of the Angiogenesis Foundation, which promotes new blood vessell growth. Just weeks ago, his father died of cancer. "Usually when I mention angiogenesis people's eyes glaze over. But you all understand what I am talking about," he said during the performance. "When they asked me if I wanted to become the first contemporary artist to play in the Sistine Chapel, I didn't know what to say because usually there's this other guy who sings," he said, according to NBC. He thanked Pope Francis "for allowing us to use the most beautiful parish hall in the world". He added: "Being Irish you learn very early that if you want to be asked to come back it's very important to thank the local parish priest for the loan of the hall." Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Beau recently died of brain cancer, addressed the conference on the vital need for cancer research funding. Annabelle Breakey Think cheddar is better? Go bonkers for brie? Then what we're about to say might be bittersweet: America won't be running out of cheese anytime soon, but it's bad news for American dairy farmers. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, our current level of stockpiled cheese is the highest it has been in 32 years. More than half of it is American cheese, followed by 2 percent of Swiss, with the remaining amount labeled as "other." Reason being, dairy imports from Europe have steadily been on the rise while cheese prices have been falling. That means other countries won't be buying our higher priced cheese, while we also opt to import the cheaper stuff instead of consuming our own. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fans of Asian fare could spend weeks dining out and never have to visit a restaurant a second time. Here are some recommended stops: Banana Leaf A pretty dining room, attentive service and exuberant Malaysian fare means there might be a line to get a seat in this Chinatown restaurant. 9889 Bellaire, 713-771-8118; 9896 Bellaire, 713-271-2338; bananaleafhouston.com. Bon Ga Garden Everything served in this Spring Branch Korean restaurant - spicy stews, seafood pancakes, bibimbap - warms the soul. 9861 Long Point, 713-461-5265. Crawfish & Noodles Houston has many Vietnamese/Cajun smash-ups, and this is one of the best. The crazy-popular restaurant serves up steaming bags of crawfish and crabs, as well as noodle dishes and fried seafood. 11360 Bellaire, 281-988-8098; crawfishandnoodle.com. Huynh This is home-style Vietnamese cooking at its finest, from stunning chargrilled pork soft rolls, to vivid duck salad, to flash-fried chicken with crushed rice, cabbage pickle and a frizzly fried egg. Major bang for the buck. BYOB. 912 St. Emanuel, 713-224-8964; huynhrestauranthouston.com. Izakaya This Midtown Japanese-inspired pub is striking in design, but it is the marvelous fare that keeps the dining room jammed with foodies. Don't miss the Vuelve a la Vida and the Tori Kawa chicken-skin skewers. 318 Gray, 713-527-8988; houstonizakaya.com. Kata Robata Chef Manabu Horiuchi - known as Hori-san to the legion of fans who pack the sushi bar - has a gift with fish. And what's served here is among the most carefully sourced protein in town. 3600 Kirby, 713-526-8858; katarobata.com. Kuu This contemporary dining room is a stage for chef Adison Lee, who marries Gulf Coast seasonality with the spirit of Japanese kaiseki. The menu is always evolving. 947 N. Gessner, 713-461-1688; kuurestaurant.com. Mala Sichuan Bistro This family-owned business is known for its spicy dishes, such as the Three Pepper Beaten Duck. Lightweights, beware: Dishes range from fiery to tongue-numbing. 1201 Westheimer, 832-767-0911; 9348 Bellaire, 713-995-1889. Uchi This Austin transplant, from James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole, turns out inspired sushi, sashimi and modern Japanese plates that are as pretty as the dazzling dining room. While reservations can be tough, the restaurant greets walk-ins with a smile. 904 Westheimer, 713-522-4808; uchirestaurants.com. Vieng Thai There's a reason chefs and wine professionals dote on this unpretentious restaurant on a scruffy stretch of Long Point. The flavors are exhilarating, it's BYOB and the price is right. 6929 Long Point, 713-688-9910. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Whether you are seeking a taco or a mind-blowing mole, you will find plenty of places serving authentic Mexican fare and the comfort foods we call Tex-Mex. Here are some recommended restaurants: Arnaldo Richards' Picos Chef-owner Richards' menu draws from the seven distinct regions of Mexican cuisine. Don't miss sauteed calamari, cochinita pibil, enchiladas moles and chiles nogada. The margaritas are renowned. 3601 Kirby,832-831-9940; picos.net.Cuchara What's not to love about this hip Montrose restaurant? There's the all-female kitchen that cooks with love and authenticity, the colorful murals that decorate the dining room and an adults-only vibe after dark. 214 Fairview, 713-942-0000; cuchararestaurant.com. El Real Housed in the restored Tower Theater, this temple of Tex-Mex serves vintage fare, such as puffy tacos and cheese enchiladas topped with chili gravy. 1201 Westheimer, 713-524-1201; elrealtexmex.com.El Tiempo The expensive chow at El Tiempo is outstanding - deliciously charred fajitas, pillowy flour tacos, amazing salsa. The margaritas are potent and tasty, which is a rare combination. 5602 Washington, 713-681-3645; 322 Westheimer, 713-807-8101; and six other Houston-area locations;eltiempocantina.com. Goode Co. Taqueria Trendy restaurants come and go, but this Houston icon is still the go-to cafe for comforting Tex-Mex and hefty, mesquite-grilled burgers. 4902 Kirby, 713-520-9153; goodecompany.com. Irma's Irma Galvan's legendary downtown lunch spot is known for the namesake owner's comforting Mexican sauces and stews, gracious hospitality and homemade lemonade. Irma's serves high quality fare and the prices reflect that. 22 N. Chenevert, 713-222-0767;irmasoriginal.com. Molina's Cantina In the vast salsa sea of Tex-Mex joints in Houston, Molina's gets bonus points for authenticity (don't miss the chili). Just know you'll be presented with two red salsas. Insiders know to ask for the green. 4720 Washington,713-862-0013; 7901 Westheimer,713-782-0861; 3801 Bellaire, 713-432-1626; molinascantina.com. Original Ninfa's on Navigation As the name implies, this is where it all started. If you believe the legend, Mama Ninfa was (is) the patron saint of Tex-Mex. In her once-tiny kitchen, she cranked out the world's first fajitas. 2704 Navigation, 713-228-1175; ninfas.com. Spanish Village It's simple Tex-Mex fare served in a colorful and festive setting for more than 50 years. More than a few Houstonians admit their love of Spanish Village is fanned by the house margarita. The slushy margaritas are tart, lively and, yes, intoxicating. 4720 Almeda, 713-523-2861; spanishvillagerestaurant.com. Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen Sylvia Casares' plates feature fresh ingredients and complex flavors. Among her enchilada offerings: squash and corn, crab and grilled pork with a fiery red sauce. 6401 Woodway, 713-334-7295; 1140 Eldridge, 832-230-3842; 12637 Westheimer, 281-679-8300; sylviasenchiladas.com. Firefighters battled a blaze Monday morning at a Mexican restaurant in southwest Houston. The fire broke out about 8:10 a.m. at Mexico Lindo restaurant, 6500 Fondren near Clarewood, according to the Houston Fire Department. Officials said when firefighters arrived they found flames ripping from the eatery and smoke billowing into the sky. More firefighters and equipment were sent to the scene to help battle the flames. Firefighters got the fire under control about 30 minutes later. The flames and smoke badly damaged the building. No injuries were reported. Motorists in the vicinity of the fire may see delays as traffic is rerouted away from the scene. Investigators are trying to determine what sparked he blaze. Two people have been arrested and four others are wanted in connection with a dogfighting ring uncovered in Jefferson County earlier this spring. Beaumont residents Abdual Ramon Bluitt, 38, and Robert Ray Hale, 37, are both charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. An Austin High School student who brought a gun to school was arrested Monday, Houston Independent School District officials said. The unnamed student is charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon to the 1700 Dumble St. school. "In addition to criminal charges, the student also will face appropriate disciplinary action," according to a statement released by the school district. "HISD takes these situations very seriously, as the safety of students and staff is always the district's top priority." The school is southeast of downtown. Related: Student accused of having a gun at Cullen Middle School No other details were released. This is a developing story. A seasoned Santa-Claus-for-hire Monday pleaded guilty in a Corpus Christi federal courtroom to distributing child pornography online. Nine days before Christmas 2015, Corpus Christi police executed a search warrant at Reynaldo Ramirez's home. The 38-year-old admitted he had an addiction to child pornography and had been downloading it for six years, according to court documents. During their search, police came upon a Santa costume along with a trove of wrapped gifts in a closet. Ramirez told the officers he had four Santa gigs lined up that weekend and others booked later in the month. He had been working as Santa Claus for 15 years, prosecutors said. Court documents indicate that a Corpus Christi police detective traced several files on the file-sharing program Ares, to the IP address of Ramirez. Homeland Security officials also assisted in the investigation, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas said in a written statement. Police seized several digital devices containing child pornography, including video of a 4-year-old girl touching her chest and exposing her genitals. Ramirez also told investigators he had sexually assaulted a four-year-old child. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos heard Reynaldo Ramirez's plea and set sentencing for Aug. 1. Texas A&M will spend $150 million building a 2,000-acre research park and education center on an old air base just west of its main campus between Houston and Austin, college officials announced Monday. University officials are planning to entice private companies specializing in robotics, autonomous vehicles, chemical safety to set up research and development operations in the research park to get new products ready for the commercial marketplace. For example, the research campus hopefully will be a place to test driverless cars, drones and other autonomous vehicles, university officials said. A key part of the ambitious project will be a new education center that will offer a four-year college degree path for students who didn't make the cut for admission to A&M's College Station campus, but still want to live in Bryan-College Station. Students could start their degrees at the center and could graduate from the center or transfer to main campus. AGGIE LIFE: The tradition, secrets and myths of Texas A&M University "We must offer new, transformative business models whether we are moving our research from the laboratories into the marketplace, or helping more students to achieve a college education," said John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. "It is a big idea and it is important that the Texas A&M University System nurture big ideas." The education center will come a little later. There isn't anything exactly like it in Texas, and the courses and degrees offered there will require approval from the state and accrediting bodies. Other teaching centers with multiple universities are housed far away from those universities. This one is on the doorstep of A&M's College Station campus. It's aimed at keeping the roughly 10,000 students who are rejected from A&M and choose to go out of state in Texas. A&M ALUMNI: Famous former Texas A&M Aggies The university will spend $25 million to demolish 32 old buildings on the air base tract, rebuild roads and upgrade utilities. A&M will save the chapel and a couple of hangars in recognition of the historic role of the air base. Another $125 million will go toward building seven new buildings, including the Center for Infrastructure Renewal a $73-million endeavor funded by the state. The university also will build a building for research focused on automated vehicles, robotics, chemical safety and industrial distribution. The site will remain home to a law enforcement training facility, as well. A&M officials expect to begin work next year and plan to open the new campus in 2018. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Houston teenager who died in a hotel bed after prom in 2014, was killed by an overdose of drugs and alcohol, not because of rough sex, her boyfriend's lawyer said Monday. Eddie Herrera, 20, faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted of seriously injuring Jacqueline Gomez, his date to the senior prom for Aldine school district's MacArthur High School. "They were happy," said defense attorney Doug O'Brien. "There's no reason for him to choke his prom date to death." DETAILS EMERGE: Texts hint girl may have overdosed after prom During opening statements in Herrera's trial, prosecutors said he was 18 when he, with help from his mother, rented a hotel room, bought two large bottles of whiskey and obtained pharmaceutical painkillers on May 17, 2014. "You're going to learn about the web of lies and deceit propagated by Eddie Herrera and his mother," said prosecutor Justin Wood. "(Herrera's mother) doles out 10 hydrocodone pills each and sets them up for one heck of a fantastic prom night." THE CRIME: Girl's death morning after prom ruled homicide In front of a jury of 10 men and two women, Wood focused on the hours before 17-year-old Gomez was found, including conference calls from Herrera's mother to Gomez's mother so the two teens could secretly spend the night at the hotel. Herrera, then 18, woke up to find Gomez, dead in bed and called his mother. She was in the hotel lobby, waiting for the teens to get up so she could take them home. MORE CHARGES: Mom arrested and charged in prom night death that included sex, drugs and alcohol After she found her son with Gomez's body, she and her son put clothes on the teen's body before calling 911, prosecutors said. Paramedics pronounced her dead on arrival at the hotel. She was found with elevated levels of hydrocodone in her system and a blood alcohol level of .26, more than three times the legal limit to drive. She also had bruising around her neck. Herrera told investigators he had choked her during consensual sex. LAWSUIT: Mom's lawsuit claims daughter's prom date choked her to death Her death was ruled "undetermined" after medical examiners could not decide whether she died from an overdose or from being choked. More than six months after the incident, investigators interviewed Herrera again and filed criminal charges, saying his stories were inconsistent. They also charged his mother with drug possession. Her criminal case is pending. Herrera is not charged with murder, and prosecutors do not have to prove that he killed Gomez. Instead, he is charged with the first degree felony of domestic violence, so prosecutors have to prove that he caused serious bodily injury. The trial, in state District Judge Vanessa Velasquez's court, is expected to last less than a week. brian.rogers@chron.com twitter.com/brianjrogers This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Following a two-day hearing in Austin, the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is still probably at least five months away from making a decision on disciplining a Brenham practitioner who boasted about killing a cat with a bow and arrow. Dr. Kristen Lindsey, a licensed veterinarian since 2012, caused a storm of controversy in June when she shot an orange tabby with a bow and arrow and posted a photo on Facebook. Following an uproar from animal welfare advocates, the veterinary board filed a formal complaint in October to revoke Lindsey's license. RELATED: Vet who shot cart with an arrow facing Texas veterinary board this week A day-long mediation in March failed to resolve the matter, leading to the "contested case" hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings in Austin. Now, several legal steps must take place before the board can take disciplinary action, according to a statement on the board's website: - Both parties (Lindsey and the board) must submit written closing arguments by June 10. - Each party may then submit a written reply to the other party's argument by July 1. - The administrative law judge who presided at the hearing then has 60 days to issue a "proposal for decision" (PFD), and the parties have a chance to file written responses to the proposal. - Once the replies are complete, the proposal will be presented to the full board at its next meeting, which is expected to take place Oct. 18. RELATED: Mediation fails to resolve case against vet who shot cat with arrow Two groups that have pressed for Lindsey's license to be revoked -- Alley Cat Allies and Animal Legal Defense Fund -- sent representatives to the hearing and posted synopses of the two-day proceeding. Alley Cat Allies posted this summary of the Austin hearing. Lora Dunn, staff attorney and interim director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Criminal Justice Program, prepared this hearing summary. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 53-year-old Texas woman performed a "topless handstand" at a courthouse two days before a jury found her guilty last week of stealing four 30-packs of beer, according to a news report. RELATED: Sextet of alleged child predators arrested in Central Texas sting operation near Fort Hood The Texarkana Gazette reported that Annette Laverne Harris was sentenced to 23 months in a state jail on Wednesday for the early 2015 theft. Initially, Harris was scheduled to make a plea on Monday, but became belligerent in the courtroom, the Gazette reported. State District Judge Bobby Lockhart ordered Harris into custody, according to the newspaper. RELATED: Police: Austin man 'grinded' on woman at bar before throwing glass at her face "As soon as we put her in the witness room to await transport, she took off her T-shirt and bra, climbed under a chair and put her feet and rear end against the wall," Chad Ford, a Bowie County Sheriff's Office Investigator, testified Wednesday. "It appeared she was attempting to do a topless handstand." Lockhart scolded Harris sitting in a wheelchair for her behavior and told her he did not believe that she needed the chair or that she suffered from mental illness. RELATED: North Texas man recaptured after mother, girlfriend allegedly helped him escape from jail "You've been six times in front of me, and there have been no signs of mental illness. No signs of any handicap," State District Judge Bobby Lockhart told Harris. "Those two conditions only surface when you're going to be arrested. You're not a very good thief, and you're an even worse actress." According to the newspaper, Harris had stolen four 30-packs of beer on Jan. 27, 2015 but police had been unable to catch her initially. A store manager wrote down the license plate of her car when Harris repeated the offense on Feb. 2, 2015, the newspaper reported. RELATED: Pennsylvania woman arrested for having loud sex, yelling racial slurs at neighbors Harris resisted arrest when Texarkana police officers detained her later that day, kicking the inside of a patrol car, cursing and "saying disgusting things involving her body," officer James Harris testified Wednesday. jfechter@mySA.com Twitter: @JFreports An Alabama home-school student proved that old adage: The only way to stop a bad guy with a hamper is a good guy with a gun. Chris Gaither, 11, was alone on the first floor of his Talladega, Ala., home, protecting our freedoms when he heard someone break into his house and walk up the stairs, Birmingham's WVTM-TV reported. An online retailer of prophylactics has announced a new line of Hillary Clinton-branded condoms titled "Slick Willy Wants Back In." Priced at around $10 for a five-pack, RipnRoll.com is really just selling regular condoms with gawdy packaging. They did the same with Donald Trump not too long ago as well. A story swiftly spreading online charges Sen. Ted Cruz with pretending not to notice as his vice presidential pick Carly Fiorina falls off the stage at an Indiana campaign event. But an alternate video angle posted on the website Mediaite shows the circulating narrative is an extreme exaggeration. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sen. Ted Cruz refused to answer whether he'd support GOP frontrunner as his party's nominee during a tense interview Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press, even as host Chuck Todd prodded nine times for Cruz to take a side. Cruz did give an indication of his position when he said, "Trump's winning the nomination loses the country and I am not willing to give up on America." His comment is another omen of trouble ahead for the GOP when it comes time rally behind a nominee. RELATED: Divisive GOP presidential race ventures into unknown territory This election cycle has sharply divided the Republican Party between followers of Trump, of Cruz, and those in the middle who are unsatisfied with their options, thanks largely to the candidates' sharp rhetoric against each other and against the party's so-called establishment. RELATED: Odd fellows: Cruz becomes GOP establishment's best hope A month ago, experts called it unprecedented in American political history when the Republican candidates unanimously declined to pledge their support to the party's eventual nominee. Cruz on Sunday significantly upped the rancor, telling Todd that nominating his rival would virtually be the end of America. "We are headed to a contested convention and I'm going to win and I'm not willing to concede this country," Cruz said. "If we lose this we lose our country. We lose the Supreme Court for a generation. Religious liberty is taken away, the Second Amendment is taken away. Our kids are bankrupted. We are at the edge of a cliff." RELATED: Ted Cruz: Trump may encourage riots at contested convention The sharp splits in the Republican electorate have prompted anticipation of trouble at the party's convention in Cleveland in July. No matter the winner Trump, Cruz or a surprise a big voting bloc will become highly irate. Whether this race goes to a contested convention depends largely on what happens Tuesday in Indiana, where Trump stands a chance to step within striking range of an outright win. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An old anecdote says that President Lyndon Johnson once spread a rumor about a political opponent and said, "Of course it ain't true, but I want to make the son of a bitch deny it." Such a sweet, twisted victory almost came for a collection of social media warriors who months ago began to allege that Sen. Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer a still-unknown serial murderer from California. Cruz's wife Heidi addressed the allegations on Monday with Yahoo News, saying she was unphased by the internet rumor. RELATED: No, Ted Cruz didn't ignore Carly Fiorina when she fell off the stage Never mind that Cruz was born after most of the Zodiac murders happened; proponents of the meme "Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer" say that's not the point. It is admittedly absurd (and to be clear, not true). "I helped spread the rumor because it was funny on its own," said Nate Lamagna, a comedian who encouraged Twitter users to Google the meme and force it into the most searched terms after a GOP debate in February. "But even funnier to think of the poor social media manager on the Cruz campaign seeing it pop up as a trend on Twitter and Google." Since then it's become more than a meme. There are now dozens of variations of "Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer" t-shirts, and a Houston dive bar offers a bloody-looking cocktail by the same name. So, what the heck does it even mean? RELATED: Killer cocktail named after Ted Cruz, sort of "It's not really about believing whether he could secretly murder people, it's more about demonizing his character," said Julie Lozano, bartender and creator of the killer cocktail at Houston's Grand Prize bar in Montrose. In other words, it's a wackier way of saying "Ted Cruz is Satan" (and actually former House Speaker John Boehner pretty much said exactly that on Friday). Most propagators of the meme claim left-leaning inclinations, and decry Cruz's frequent calls for increased militarism and warfare, and what they see as his push for discrimination based on religion and gender. During the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday, comedian Larry Wilmore brought the meme to light with repeated reference. RELATED: Republican John Boehner calls Ted Cruz 'Lucifer in the flesh' "Recently, Ted Cruz got a string of wins and endorsements," Wilmore said in his standup act. "Then everybody remembered who Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer." He next day, a reporter for Yahoo News asked Heidi Cruz about the rumors at a campaign stop in Carmel Indiana. "It's amazing how a lot of people are swayed by it," she told Yahoo. "Well, I've been married to him for 15 years, and I know pretty well who he is, so it doesn't bother me at all. There's a lot of garbage out there." RELATED: Ted Cruz: Donald Trump may encourage riots at contested GOP convention In addition to getting several mentions in a nationally televised event Sunday and spawning a line of t-shirts, the meme has inspired a collection of social media groups, including one on Facebook with 27,000 members. And it's been explored in articles by a handful of major publications. Lamagna said, "In an election with so many candidates pumping so much money into advertising and media coverage, it is fun to control the dialogue on social media." In spite of a week full of ambitious attention grabs, a new poll out of Indiana bodes poorly for the presidential campaign of Sen. Ted Cruz. That state's Tuesday vote could push GOP frontrunner Donald Trump within striking distance of the 1,237-delegate threshold needed to clinch the nomination. For Cruz, keeping Trump from a sweeping Hoosier win seems crucial to his campaign's future in this race. It will be a challenge, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist poll released Sunday, which found Cruz trailing 15 points behind Trump in Indiana. It's the widest lead given to Trump by any major Indiana poll yet. It comes even after a pair of unconventional Cruz campaign stunts last week sought to reclaim the spotlight from Trump in Indiana. On Wednesday Cruz announced former rival Carly Fiorina as his running mate in a move to divert media attention from Trumps five-state sweep the night before. RELATED: Cruz taps fellow outsider Fiorina as running mate Days before that, Cruz announced a surprising alliance with rival GOP candidate John Kasich, with a stated aim of blocking Trump. Under the accord, Kasich pulled his forces from Indiana, leaving Cruz to court all Hoosier republicans willing to take anyone but Trump. It may have backfired. RELATED: Cruz defends anti-Trump pact with Kasich Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they disapproved of that agreement, according to the new poll, while 34 percent approved. That's according to responses from 645 likely Republican voters, and results have a 3.9 percent margin of error. The plentiful polls of this election cycle deserve healthy of skepticism. Most in Indiana, however, have given Trump a strong lead. Only one of seven state polls aggregated by Real Clear Politics gave Cruz a lead (by 16 points). All together, the aggregator puts Trump ahead by nearly eight points. A candidate can win all of Indiana's 57 delegates by winning a majority in the statewide vote and each of the nine congressional districts. If Trump does that, he'll need barely less than half of the remaining bound delegates in the race to clinch the nomination. That seems like a plausible feat for Trump, especially with the nation's largest delegate cache looming in California, where Trump commands a strong lead in polls. Cruz's only remaining hope in this race is forcing a contested convention, where Trump fails to cross the necessary 1,237-delegate threshold. In that case, the delegates would revote on the convention floor in Cleveland in July to pick a nominee. Experts say Cruz would have the upper hand in that scenario. Either way, this race will draw out until the very end: the nation's last primary in its westernmost time zone. It's a picture perfect ending for what's already been an exceptional cycle. John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images Villagers in Indonesia were disappointed to learn that an "angel" that fell from the skies is actually a sex toy, a turn of events that many humans of a different mindset would not be disappointed by at all. The tale begins in Bangaii, days after an auspicious solar eclipse appeared over the region. A 21-year-old fisherman was walking the beach when he spotted a beautiful, lonely angel on the sand. Naturally, he took her appearance as a sign from heaven and he gently bundled her up and took her home. Another plane with evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation arrived in Thunder Bay on Sunday. Around eight flights were expected to arrive in the city from the remote First Nation community throughout the day. The evacuation was in anticipation of possible flooding in the community. The television anchor told a heartwarming story of a disabled young man taken to his high school prom by 37 dates. It was a memorable day for he and his classmates, the anchor concluded. Thats a common error that occurs in writing more than it does in speech. As we frequently say, pronouns can be difficult. As we did previously on this subject, we could go all grammar on you and talk about subject pronouns and object pronouns or the nominative, accusative, and objective case, but its easier to offer simple tests to let you see when youre using the right one. In the above example, just eliminate his classmates and its clear what you would say: It was a memorable day for him. Even if you switch the word order, the pronoun doesnt change: It was a memorable day for his classmates and him. That was easy, yes? Apply the same test when other people are involved: Lets say the young man is telling people about the prom. Would he say a) Me and they had a great time. Sign up for CJR 's daily email b) Them and I had a great time. c) I and they had a great time. d) They and I had a great time. e) Them and me had a great time. f) Some combination of the above. g) Something else. (He could, of course, just avoid the issue by saying We had a great time, but what would be the fun in that?) This is a trick question. A grammarian or the test above will tell you that c) and d) are correct, because I had a great time and they had a great time are both correct. But language is affected by idioms. (Its also affected by idiots, but theyre not relevant here.) While I and they is technically correct, it doesnt sound right to most American ears. Me and them had a great time may not sound correct to others, which is why our usual advice when confronted with a difficult question of right or wrong is to avoid the problem entirely and rewrite the sentence. Now, lets move our pronouns to the end of the sentence. I had a great time with they, seems obviously wrong. But what about I had a better time than they? Should it be I had a better time than them? One school of thought says that, because the sentence is a comparison, it needs to be balanced with the verb on either side: I had a better time than (they/them) had. In that scenario, its obvious that he had a better time than they. But those idioms moved in again, and, as weve dropped the verb at the end of the sentence, the pronoun has started to change as well. Its nearly as common to see or hear I had a better time than them as to hear I had a better time than they. If you can stand the grammar, one English language and usage site has examined this change and concluded: Both forms are standard, so my advice to a writer choosing between these forms is to consider that the traditionally correct form is unimpeachably correct but a bit formal. Choose the form that best matches [the] tone and formality level of your writing. That writer said it better than us/we did/can. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl. Over a 40-year career at The Miami Herald, Tim Chapman covered more than 50 hurricanes, rolled up on thousands of crime scenes and parachuted, figuratively speaking, into wars and coups around the regionthough those who know him wouldnt be surprised if he jumped out of a plane to get a photo. His images recorded the best and the very worst of Miami, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Now retired, Chapman has donated more than 750,000 photos and negativeshis entire archiveto the HistoryMiami museum, which has launched an exhibit, Newsman: The photojournalism of Tim Chapman. More than 300 people attended the sold-out opening on April 15. After attending the show myself, I spoke with Chapman, an old friend and former colleague, about the tales behind the pictures. He may be retired, but he hasnt mellowedhes still cantankerous, and he still loves a good story. Below is an edited excerpt of our conversation, which was less an interview and more just Chapman telling stories. Note: the post contains graphic images and some salty language. ***** Chapman: I always felt it was historically important to save every image because it represented everythingthe history of myself, the history of our town, the history of photography in that period of time, and the region. Its all Ive ever done. Im gonna light a cigar here. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project CJR: Ok. Go ahead. [After a brief pause.] The whole point of the exhibit was recording the history of everything I covered. Nicaragua for 11 years, Salvador for 10, Colombia. Miami street violence. Miami is the best news town, no doubt. I was the Everglades guy and the news guy. One section of the exhibit is Everglades. Thats something I did my whole life, trying to show people why they should save it. The maze of Shark River winds through the largest mangrove forest in the northern hemisphere in Everglades National Park. Photo by Tim Chapman It was amazing to see all of the stories youve covered. The mass suicide images from Jonestown, Guyana, were horrible. Tell me a little bit about going down there. I was always ready to go. I always kept a couple thousand dollars and visa photos in my locker. That day, I came in around four oclock in the morning to work on some prints or something. I walked out into the newsroom and they had this wire machine kicking out stuff and all of the sudden it said reports of shootings and possibly several hundred people dead and maybe a congressman. I said, Jesus whats going on there? It kept going. I got my money and a couple editors came in and I said look, Im going. What was fantastic is there were decision-makers at that time. They said, get there any way you can. The Guyanese military was there and they had some Hueys, American choppers. I talked my way on. When we landed, the military wouldnt even walk in. There were hundreds and hundreds of bodies. You could smell it from the helicopter a few hundred feet up. In 80, 90 degree heat, they started decomposing rapidly. Youve smelled bodies. Theres nothing like it. I just kept shooting. I realized I had to shoot as much of it as I could. We only had an hour and a half because we had to get back before dark. I knew I had to record it because nobody would believe it. If you didnt photograph that, who would believe it? A photographer records victims of the Jonestown Massacre in the jungles of Guyana, November 1978. Photo by Tim Chapman After covering that, hell it was easy. Nothing ever shocked me ever again. The Herald was bold enough to run it. I wanted people to get up in the morning and look at the front page of the Herald and see what they needed to see. Not what they wanted to see. I fought that battle a lot. At the exhibit, I read that at some point you decided to stop going to Haiti. What happened? I first went to Haiti in 79. I saw quite a bit, the despair, the basic rape of the island. I went back many times. I covered coups, counter-coups. I really always loved Haitians and Haiti. I always felt a real bond with them. They had been under the thumb of Duvalier and the tyranny of that. Then they had hope. I went down there during the [1994 U.S.] invasion and there was all this hope again. Aristide was put back in power, taking out the military regime. And yet again, I had hope, just like the Haitians did. Immediately after, there was so much corruption. One of the aid busses that the doctors had raised money for, they got strong-armed for bribe money to bring it into the country. Haitians celebrate following a U.S.-led invasion in 1994 to reinstate President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Photo by Tim Chapman I always had a mission. My mission was not for adventure. My mission was to help change the world. But all the photos I took [in Haiti] started to repeat themselves. Those photos you see, I could have shot them in 79, or 80, or 82 or 83, 90, 94. And they didnt make a difference. I had to make a decisionIm not going back to Haiti ever again unless its to rescue somebody whos kidnapped, you know a friend of mine. I felt that way after a while in some parts of the Middle East because of the religious zealots. I was enchanted with the Middle East. I made the decision to cover things I felt I had a slim chance of helping change. There are many things where I dont know if photography makes a difference. You covered a lot of crime in Miami, a lot of crime scenes, a lot of kids killed. Did you ever feel like anything changed or got better? I actually think we made a difference in the Cocaine Cowboy years. I photographed, I think, like 300 bodies one of those years. I actually do believe that us showing this incredible violence that had come to us because people like to snort lines of cokewe showed society, hey, theres a cost. I do believe that our coverage, people finally said, you know this is crazy. I do believe that Miami over a period of time changed that. I do believe we made a difference. A man was shot and killed and stuffed in the trunk of a car that was left in an apartment building parking lot, one of the many victims of violence during Miamis cocaine cowboys era. Photo by Tim Chapman The scanner is the heart of the city. The best way to get out of a shitty assignment was to say Hey, you want me to go get that mug shot, or do you want me to shoot this quadruple murder in Medley? I got out of half the shitty assignments because I found better news. Tell me about the iguanas falling out of the trees when it got cold. I dictated a story to Casey Frank, a great editor at the Herald. In that one I got a quote from a ranger who said, Iguanas are falling from the sky like rain. And Casey said what? I handed him the phone and said, tell him what you just told me. Casey made sure. It was just too perfect, the quote. Because he doubted me, I took one of the comatose iguanas and put him in my camera bag and I took him in and put it on his desk. It was barely blinking its eye. And I said, dont ever doubt me again. It got near the computer and started warming up. You always had a thing for reptiles. I used to supplement my income by catching rattlesnakes and selling them to a scientist for $3 a foot. One day, I was running late to work. I had a duffel bag with three of them in it. After work, I got down to my jeep and somebody had taken a box of bolts out of my jeep. They were scattered around. Then I found the duffel bag. They had dropped it after checking out what was inside. They were only pygmy rattlers. Theyll bite you, but your hand will just swell upit hurts, but they wont kill you. Luckily, when they dropped the duffel, the flap fell back over it. The snakes were comfortable enough. I counted. All three were still in there. Nobody ever broke into my fucking jeep again. Better than a goddamn alarm. But I almost released rattlesnakes in front of the Herald building. I didnt tell anybody about that for years. Tim Chapman in his M-38 Willys 1951 Military Jeep in the Everglades, photographed in 1972 catching live rattlesnakes to earn extra money while he worked part-time in the Herald photo lab. Chapmans first photo in the Herald was of an Everglades fire he shot on one of his snake hunts. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Susannah Nesmith is CJRs correspondent for Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. She is a freelance writer based in Miami with more than 25 years working for regional and national outlets. Follow her on Twitter @susannahnesmith. Kids In Danger (KID), Consumer Federation of America (CFA), Consumers Union and the National Center for Health Research called on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to secure a formal recall of IKEA furniture responsible for the deaths of three toddlers in tip-over incidents. In a letter to CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye, the groups urged the safety agency to take strong, immediate action to better protect children from the tip-over hazard of certain IKEA Malm dressers. Just last week, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the February death of a 22-month-old boy in Apple Valley, Minnesota, who died when the Malm dresser in his room tipped over on him. This is the third confirmed tip-over death from IKEA Malm dressers. In July 2015, the CPSC and IKEA announced two deaths from tipping dressers, and launched a repair and education campaign for the products, but did not issue a recall. In the letter sent today, the safety advocacy groups urged a formal recall, including a stop-sale of unsafe products and refunds for consumers who would like them. To learn that a tipping IKEA Malm dresser killed yet another child, when the company and the CPSC chose not to do a recall after the first two deaths, is beyond heartbreaking it is unacceptable, wrote the groups. The July 2015 announcement by CPSC and IKEA also did not inform consumers that the IKEA dresser in question fails to meet a voluntary safety standard agreed to by the furniture industry, ASTM F2057-14. While the voluntary standard is considered by many to be weak, it does require testing to ensure each drawer is able to withstand a 50-pound weight, while open, without the dresser tipping over. At less than 2 years old, it is unlikely the child in the most recent death weighed more than 50 pounds. Had the dresser complied with industry standards, he may have survived. We urge the CPSC to take further action and deem this compliance action a recall, the groups added. We recommend a stop sale of the type of furniture that was involved in deaths and that does not meet the ASTM standard, as well as refunds for consumers who want them. For those who want to anchor the furniture, IKEA should develop a program to provide an incentive for consumers to anchor their furniture. Source: Kids In Danger, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union and the National Center for Health Research The upcoming wildfire season across the U.S. isnt expected to be as bad as last years infernos, when a record 15,800 square miles burned, the nations top wildland firefighting official said Wednesday. But parts of the nation should expect a rough season after a warm, dry winter or because of long-term drought, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said. Southern California, other parts of the Southwest, Alaska and Montana are all vulnerable, he said. So where we anticipate the severity of the fire season will not be at the same level as last year, we still expect to have some areas that will be really active, Tidwell said. Tidwell discussed the fire outlook with The Associated Press four days before the federal government issues its wildfire outlook for the summer season. He was in Denver for a conference on forest health. California is vulnerable because much of the state remains in a drought, despite an El Nino weather system that brought near-average snowfall to its northern mountains. Wildfires have already broken out in Alaska after a warm winter with below-average precipitation. Slightly more than half the land scorched by wildfires last year was in Alaska, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates firefighting nationwide. Washington and Oregon accounted for 18 percent. The Forest Service, the nations primary firefighting agency, spent a record $1.72 billion on firefighting last year. The overall bill for wildfires, including prevention programs and the cost of putting crews, equipment and aircraft on fire lines, is consuming a growing share of the Forest Service budget. That has forced cuts in forestry research, campground and trail maintenance and other areas, Tidwell said. The Obama administration has been pressing Congress to pay the cost of fighting the worst fires from natural disaster funds, rather than the Forest Service budget. Tidwell said the largest 1 or 2 percent of wildfires account for about 30 percent of the costs. Congress has not agreed to the change, but it did approve an additional $520 million for fighting fires this season, Tidwell said. He said climate change is making wildfires worse, heating up the air, drying out forests and extending the wildfire season by an average of 78 days since 1998. A growing number of homes at the forests edge, which firefighters call the wildland-urban interface, also drives up costs by forcing managers to concentrate crews and equipment to protect communities, he said. Tidwell said state and federal agencies need to thin those forests to a more natural state to prevent fires and make them easier to fight. Researchers say decades of over-aggressive firefighting have left forests dense with living and dead trees and more prone to deadly mega-fires. With a chuckle and a smile, Tidwell defended Smokey Bear, his agencys memorable mascot, from allegations of making things worse by portraying fire as evil instead of part of the natural cycle that kept forests healthy. Smokeys original message, Only you can prevent forest fires, has been updated to Only you can prevent wildfires. Really, Smokey was just talking about those human-caused fires which actually occur at the wrong time of the year, not where the natural fire occurs, Tidwell said. Those are the fires that the Forest Service still wants to stop, he said. Smokey Bear gets no blame for the situation we have today, he said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. After a contentious and bumpy process that saw Floridas top Republican officials deadlock several times, the state has a new insurance commissioner just weeks before the start of hurricane season. During an emergency meeting on Friday, Gov. Rick Scott and the three members of the Florida Cabinet voted to elevate Deputy Commissioner David Altmaier to the top post. Altmaier, 34, will be paid $165,000 a year $50,000 over his current salary. Scott and the Cabinet agreed on Altmaier only after Scott refused to support two other names initially suggested by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. The governor and the three members of the Cabinet must vote on the position, but an arcane state law allows Scott and Atwater to individually veto the choice. Altmaier, a former Kentucky math teacher who started out as an insurance examiner with the state in 2008 and quickly rose through the ranks, will succeed current commissioner Kevin McCarty. Atwater heaped praise on Altmaier even though he wasnt his initial pick for the job, saying that he displayed a good knowledge of Floridas complex insurance market. This guy is impressive, Atwater said. I think people can rest comfortably there is a real talent here. The job of insurance commissioner in Florida is crucial because the person regulates an important industry in a hurricane-prone state. Hurricane season starts on June 1. The selection of a new commissioner triggered a furious behind-the-scenes lobbying effort among those aligned with various parts of the industry. McCarty had been on the job for 13 years, including a time when the homeowners insurance market nearly collapsed following a two-year period when the state was hit with eight storms. Right after being re-elected in 2014 Scott said he wanted to replace McCarty, but Atwater didnt support the move at the time. McCarty announced back in January that he would resign May 2. At the urging of Atwater, he will help Altmaier over the next 60 days. Both Scott and Atwater had offered up rival candidates in two previous meetings, but were unable to reach an agreement. Altmaier, who oversaw the state office that deals primarily with property insurance, emerged as a possible compromise candidate for the job in the last week. Altmaier once taught algebra and geometry before he moved to Florida. He worked briefly in an insurance agents office before taking his first position with the Office of Insurance Regulation. Voter records show that he is a registered independent. He changed his party affiliation from Democrat in March of this year. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Marcus Turner Marcus Turner, left, with attorney Don Hicks, was found guilty of murder on Monday. (Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com) AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man was found guilty Monday in a 2013 revenge slaying. The jury of nine women and three men found Marcus Turner, 39, guilty of murder and felonious assault in the Sept. 12, 2013 shooting of Amandeep Singh. Retired Visiting Judge H.F. Inderlied Jr. sentenced Turner to life in prison with parole eligibility in 18 years. "I know it was a bad situation and someone lost their life," Turner said. "I don't know what to say." The jury deliberated about seven hours on Friday and returned their verdicts after another five hours on Monday. A different jury in 2013 deadlocked on the murder and felonious assault charges and prosecutors elected to try the case again. That jury found Turner not guilty of aggravated murder and guilty of possessing a weapon as a felon in the 21-year-old's death. He was sentenced to three years in prison for the gun conviction. Prosecutors said Turner came home from his job at Summit Plastics the day before the shooting and noticed that someone broke into his apartment. A television, Nintendo Wii video game system and a computer were stolen. Turner reported the break-in to police and named Singh and another man, Carlton Smith, 30, as the people he thought robbed him. Turner's neighbor told him that she saw Smith and Singh leave his apartment with grocery bags earlier in the day. Turner got angry that Smith and Singh weren't immediately arrested. Neither were charged in the burglary. Turner went over to Smith's apartment later that day with a gun. Nothing happened because Smith refused to go outside. Smith and Singh walked out of Smith's apartment about 10:45 p.m. to buy cigarettes. Smith told police he saw Turner lurking around a corner with a gun and heard gunshots as he ran back to his apartment. Turner fired several gunshots at Singh, police said. One hit him in the buttocks. A second bullet went through the left side of his lower back and out his right thigh, severing a major artery. Singh was taken to a hospital where he died about an hour later. Prosecutors said cellphone records placed Turner at the scene. Smith also testified in the trial about seeing Turner with a gun shortly before Singh was shot and killed. Defense attorney Don Hicks argued that Smith was a career criminal who testified in exchange for a shortened prison sentence. If you want to comment on this story, please go to our crime and courts comments section. Jerry Jefferson Jerry Jefferson, left, with attorney Ed Smith. (Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com) AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man admitted Monday to being part of the Hazel Block street gang, the second time a member of that gang has been convicted in the last two months. Jerry Jefferson, 20, pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal gang and possessing a weapon as a felon. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tammy O'Brien sentenced him to three years in prison. Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Kevin Mayer said he will not oppose judicial release in six months. Jefferson declined to say anything before the sentence except to make sure the deal included a possibility he could be released from prison early. Akron police officers and Summit County Sheriff deputies on Nov. 2 arrested Jefferson on East Glenwood and Oxford avenues. Officers reported knowing that Jefferson had a warrant out for his arrest stemming from a probation violation in a March 2015 burglary conviction. Jefferson noticed the officers and ran. Officers caught up with him down the road and took him into custody. Jefferson had a loaded handgun tucked in his waistband. He later admitted to police that the gun belonged to him. Jefferson was sentenced in March to two years on probation for a May 2014 burglary. Jefferson and two others broke into a home in the 600 block of Upson Street while the homeowner was in Florida. They stole two televisions, three window air-conditioning units, a microwave, laptop computer, stereo system and a tan pit bull. Two other accused Hazel Block gang members have been charged recently. Roy Hill, 21, is scheduled for trial May 19 on several charges, including being part of the street gang. Hill is in photos with other gang members flashing gang signs and wearing "gang attire," police said. Hill also has a tattoo on his chest that says "Hazel Block," according to court records. Hill is also charged with felonious assault in connection with the Dec. 3 shooting of a 44-year-old man in the leg and hand as they argued in the 100 block of South Portage Path. Another gang member, Trevonte Mitchell, was arrested in October and eventually pleaded guilty to being part of the gang. He was sentenced to two years in prison. If you want to comment on this story, please go to our crime and courts comments section. Akron double murder An Akron mother and her son were fatally shot in this home. The woman's 9-year-old daughter was in the house and unharmed. (Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com) AKRON, Ohio -- Sonia Freeman was a devoted mother who sang in the church choir. Her 28-year-old son Christopher Lane-Freeman took care of his 9-year-old sister and worked in the maintenance department at the Akron Art Museum since 2011, his father John Freeman said. The mother and son were fatally shot about 10 p.m. Sunday inside their home in the 1200 block of Hartford Avenue. No arrests have been made and Akron police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Police said they have no motive for the shooting. "They were both really great people," John Freeman said in a phone interview from Atlanta. "She was devoted to her church. She was an outstanding mom. This is just unbelievable." Freeman said his son was quiet and mostly kept to himself. Neighbors said he took care of his sister and drove her to school every morning. Sonia Freeman, 48, worked with people with mental illnesses at Community Support Services for more than 15 years, Freeman said. Other family members contacted Monday said they were too upset to speak about their loved ones. Family and friends made a makeshift memorial on the front steps with balloons and stuffed animals. Akron police said the 9-year-old girl was at the home at the time of the shooting. She called 911 and reported that her brother had been shot dead and her mother was shot in the chest but was still alive. Akron police found Sonia Freeman near the staircase on the first floor of the home. Sonia Freeman told police three men entered her home and shot at her and her son. The three gunmen then ran from the home, the girl told 911 dispatchers. Sonia Freeman can be heard in the background giving information to her daughter to relay to the dispatchers. "My mom got shot 12 times and my brother got shot," the girl told dispatchers. "They're hurt. My mother is laying on the floor and can't get up...My brother's dead." Sonia Freeman was taken to Akron General Medical Center, where she died of a gunshot wound to her chest. Lane-Freeman was found dead in his upstairs bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach, police said. Their deaths were ruled homicides. The 9-year-old girl was unharmed. One neighbor, who said she didn't want to be identified, said the girl was a third-grader and often played in the neighborhood with other kids. She's now in the care of other family members. Several neighbors said Freeman was known to attend New Trinity Baptist Church every Sunday. "They were real quiet and kept to themselves for the most part," neighbor Marcus Cooper said. "They would throw their hand up and wave when they saw us, but that was about it. There were never any problems over there that we knew of." If you want to comment on this story, please go to our crime and courts comments section. If you want to cut college costs and limit student loan debt, then the old adage is true "time is money." The sticker price for a four-year college degree can easily tip into six figures; for the 2015-16 academic year, the College Board estimated the cost to attend at almost $44,000 for a private nonprofit institution and about $20,000 for a public one, including tuition, fees and room and board. But many students don't graduate on time, a trend that pushes up the price of that degree. "For a four-year institution, most of the students are not graduating in four years," said Jeffrey Selingo, author of "There Is Life After College." Among students who started at a four-year private nonprofit college in 2007 (the latest data available), just 52.8 percent graduated within four years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. At public four-year colleges, 33.5 percent got their four-year degree on time, and at for-profit four-year colleges, 22.5 percent did. By the six-year mark, 59.4 percent of students had graduated, including 65.3 percent of those attending a private nonprofit college, 57.7 percent of those at a public college and 31.9 percent of those at a for-profit college. Speeding up the timeline to graduate early or at the very least, on time can reduce the tab considerably. "How easy is it to do today? It's not particularly easy," said Paul Weinstein, director of Johns Hopkins University's graduate program in public management, who has studied the potential savings of shifting to a three-year degree system. While some colleges have accelerated programs (more on that below), most students looking to graduate sooner than usual are in the position of trying to compress four years of requirements into three. "You're talking about the very top-notch students who are able to do that," he said. "At first, it was a money play," said Elizabeth Schirmer Shores, 31, who fulfilled undergraduate requirements for a double major in marketing and international business from Villanova University in three years, thanks to a combination of credits earned in high school and extra classes taken in college. (Shores stayed for a fourth year to walk with her class, but her bill was limited to just one course. She spent the rest of her time in internships.) Elizabeth Schirmer Shores Source: Brandi Beaty Later, Shores who is currently on sabbatical from her role as vice president of sales and marketing for Sweetwater Energy, serving as executive director for nonprofit Untapped Shores International shaved six months off her MBA through the University of Rochester. The program was supposed to take 3.5 years, but she sped through by taking two extra online classes through Harvard University Extension School. "College classes can rise up to $4,000 per class," she said. "It adds up to maybe tens of thousands of dollars saved." Here's how to quickly get that degree: Score on exams. AP classes as well as the College-Level Examination Program and DSST exams allow students to obtain college credits without taking college courses. "I've seen cases where students have been able to waive an entire freshman year by doing well on these placement tests," said David Levy, editor of Edvisors.com. Exam costs are cheaper than college courses. Each AP exam costs $92 ($62 for low-income students), for example, but state and school rebates may cover some or all of the cost. Before you bank on this strategy, however, make sure your college of choice will accept such credits, said Weinstein. Many have tightened requirements to accept only top scores, or nixed using them at all, he said. For example, Dartmouth College no longer accepts AP scores toward graduation requirements, only using them to determine course placement. Start college classes early. Check to see if any local colleges offer early access for high school students, either in addition to their regular high school course load or through concurrent enrollment programs where a student earns both high school and college course credit. As a high school student, Shores was able to take two free college classes for credit through the University of Rochester, netting an extra six credits. At Marlboro College, high school juniors or seniors can take one free class and Vermont residents can take up to two others without cost through its dual enrollment program. (Subsequent classes are offered at a discount.) The Community College of Baltimore County lets eligible high school students take up to four classes tuition free; other programs allow for parallel enrollment and dual credit. Colleges don't always accept transfer credits, however, said Weinstein. Try to get a sense of the transfer requirements at the colleges where you plan to apply. Consider accelerated programs. When deciding among Colleges A, B and C, factor in whether there are accelerated programs. Syracuse University, for example, offers a "3+3" program through its Whitman School of Management and College of Law for students who want to pursue both an undergraduate and law degree at a faster pace. Purdue University's Brian Lamb School of Communication has three-year plans of study in five majors, with estimated savings of $9,290 compared with a four-year degree for in-state residents and $18,692 for nonresidents. Check for competency-based programs. "[These programs] set out a series of skills you need to have for a degree and learning outcomes and tests you on those outcomes," Selingo said. That can help accelerate a degree if you're coming to college with work or military experience, he said. At Western Governor's University, which offers a competency-based program, the average student graduates with a bachelor's degree in less than three years and spends roughly $18,000 on his degree. Not all competency-based programs are created equal, Selingo said. Assess the college's reputation and program requirements before diving in. Develop a game plan. Map out a path to graduation, figuring out which prerequisites and required class you need to take when, Levy said. Missing out on a class that's only offered once a year could add a semester or more to your graduation timeline. (If a class is full, ask the professor or dean's office for an override.) Creating a plan can also help you find overlap can one class do double-duty for your major, as well as a general college requirement? "The best thing a student can do is check with his or her advisor to make sure they're on track," Levy said. Ask the college for a review of your requirements well ahead of graduation to make sure you won't come up short. Overload. "Most students take the minimum course load to be a full-time student," said Levy. Usually, that's 12 credits. But many colleges allow students to take 15 or 18 credits before incurring additional charges, he said. Provided you can handle the work, those extra free classes could eliminate a semester or more. Branch out. Don't limit yourself to classes during the regular semester and at your own college. Summer and winter intercession classes (at your own college or elsewhere) are often cheaper per credit. Purdue's accelerated programs, for example, estimate the cost of a summer on campus, including tuition, room and board, at $5,501 roughly half the cost to attend for a single regular semester. Firefighters are battling a huge fire at a historic church in New York City. Authorities say no serious juries have been reported in the blaze that broke out early Sunday evening at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in Manhattan. Parts of the roof collapsed and smoke billowed from the Gothic Revival style building. The fire broke out on the same day Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter. The church website listed services that morning and an Easter luncheon at 1 p.m. A church priest, Father Djokan Majstorovic, says he felt like he was "in a nightmare" as he tried to get to the fire scene that was blocked off by firefighters. The church was built in the early 1850s and was designated a city landmark in 1968. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. watch now The world's biggest sovereign wealth fund is launching a crackdown on executive pay, targeting high salaries at companies around the globe in an attempt to exert its influence in a debate that has been gathering pace in recent months. Norway's $870bn oil fund, which has previously refused to interfere in how much chief executives are paid, has decided that its position is untenable and is looking for a first company to target publicly on pay in the coming months. The move is significant for almost every listed company in the world as Norway's oil fund owns on average 1.3 per cent of each one. The decision comes as executive pay faces increased scrutiny from shareholders, with British companies in particular facing renewed anger from investors over excessive wages. Weir Group investors last week defeated management pay plans at the UK engineering company with a 72 per cent majority in the biggest protest against executive pay since binding UK votes were introduced. "We have so far looked at this in a way that has focused on pay structures rather than pay levels. We think, due to the way the issue of executive remuneration has developed, that we will have to look at what an appropriate level of executive remuneration is as well," Yngve Slyngstad, chief executive of the fund, told the Financial Times. The fund has been making a big push to be more active in corporate governance matters such as election of directors and board composition. But it has previously shied away from taking a view on executive pay, due to concerns that its actions would be perceived as being influenced by Scandinavian pay conditions. Executives in the region are paid much less than in the UK or US and the gap between the highest and lowest paid in companies is far smaller. Last month the fund voted in favour of BP chief executive Bob Dudley's pay rise, despite an overwhelming majority of other investors voting against his 20 per cent increase after it made its worst ever financial loss. watch now Puerto Rico will miss a major debt payment due to creditors Monday, registering the largest default to date for the fiscally struggling U.S. territory. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced on Sunday the "very difficult decision" to declare a moratorium on the $389 million debt service payment due to bondholders of the island's Government Development Bank, which acts as the island's primary fiscal agent and lender of last resort. "We would have preferred to have had a legal framework to restructure our debts in an orderly manner," Garcia Padilla said in a televised address in Spanish. "But faced with the inability to meet the demands of our creditors and the needs of our people, I had to make a choice. I decided that essential services for the 3.5 million American citizens in Puerto Rico came first." This will not be the first default for Puerto Rico. According to Moody's Investors Services, the government has failed to make about $143 million in debt obligation payments since its historic default in August on subject-to-appropriation bonds issued by the Public Finance Corporation. Atlantic City decided to make its $1.8 million bond payment Monday to avoid default, Mayor Don Guardian said. The resort has struggled as casinos have closed, taking jobs with them and leaving the city with a widening deficit. The state of New Jersey has cast doubt on the city's abilities to make payments like school district remittances. "Financially, we're running on fumes," Guardian said. "Massive inherited legacy debt from years of bad decisions on all levels by government, ... we really are teetering on the edge." The $1.8 million payment was due Monday. Asked whether the city rummaged through "the couch cushions" to come up with the money, the mayor said yes. The risk of artificial intelligence software becoming super smart is "way out in the future," Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told CNBC Monday. In the next 10 to 20 years, AI is going to be "extremely helpful" in managing our lives, Gates said in a "Squawk Box" interview. Instead of being glued to your computer or smartphone all day trying to keep up with emails, texts and all the other information flooding in, Gates said what he called "alter-ego software" is going to shoulder that burden. "It will look at all the new information and present to you, knowing about your interests, what would be most valuable," he predicted, saying Microsoft along with the Google unit Alphabet , Facebook and Apple are making great strides in artificial intelligence. "What we're [also] seeing is, for the first time, computers can see as well as humans. If you combine that with arm-like manipulation, then they could make us far more productive," Gates said, but acknowledged the job market will need to adjust to more machines doing rote work. Gates, a Berkshire Hathaway board member, appeared on "Squawk Box" Monday from Omaha, Nebraska, with Berkshire Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett, who hosted the company's annual shareholders meeting on Saturday. He's absolutely sure beyond a reasonable doubt even if few others are. At the Consensus 2016 event in midtown Manhattan on Monday, surrounded by longtime bitcoin believers, speculative investors and many in between, early bitcoin developer Gavin Andresen stood on stage and declared that he was confident he knew who had created the powerful technology. That is, Andresen the chief scientist for the Bitcoin Foundation and a longtime member of the cryptocurrency's primary development community said he was not troubled by the outcry of criticism that had erupted since multiple media outlets reported an Australian entrepreneur's claims that he was the notoriously secretive Satoshi Nakamoto. "I still believe that Craig Wright is, beyond a reasonable doubt, Satoshi Nakamoto," Andresen said Monday during a panel at the conference an event focused on bitcoin and distributed ledger technology adding that his recent blog post to that effect was not the result of a hacking as some had claimed. And Andresen's opinion is hard to discount: He was the core developer of bitcoin's code for many of its early years. In fact, he's been deemed "the man who really built bitcoin," for his work after Nakamoto apparently put him in charge. But at that Monday panel, only a few hours after Andresen had told the world he was confident Wright was the technology's true creator, others were pushing back. "I think he's not Satoshi," Vitalik Buterin, the founder of bitcoin competitor (or compliment, depending on who you ask) Ethereum, said as Andresen wrapped up echoing a sentiment expressed by many others at the event. Tweet A rail-thin 20-something in a t-shirt among Monday's Wall Street-heavy crowd, Buterin pitched the Nakamoto question as a simple matter of game theory: The true bitcoin creator could have chosen a clear and obvious way to show his identity, or he could have conducted a convoluted and trust-requiring proof. "Instead he's taken this path where he wrote this big long blog post with 200 lines that are so confusing ... and tries to only show that signature to a few select people and we're supposed to trust them," Buterin said. "In general, signalling theory says that if you have a good way of proving something and a noisy way of proving something, and you choose the noisy way, that means chances are it's because you couldn't do the good way in the first place." Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright says he's the inventor of the digital currency bitcoin . Wright told the BBC that he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the shadowy creator of the cryptocurrency, in a move that could end the years-long search for the inventor. In a follow-up blog post on Monday, Wright thanked everyone who helped out in bitcoin's beginnings. "I have been staring at my screen for hours, but I cannot summon the words to express the depth of my gratitude to those that have supported the bitcoin project from its inception too many names to list. You have dedicated vast swathes of your time, committed your gifts, sacrificed relationships and REM sleep for years to an open source project that could have come to nothing. And yet still you fought. This incredible community's passion and intellect and perseverance has taken my small contribution and nurtured it, enhanced it, breathed life into it. You have given the world a great gift. Thank you," Wright wrote. "Be assured, just as you have worked, I have not been idle during these many years. Since those early days, after distancing myself from the public persona that was Satoshi, I have poured every measure of myself into research. I have been silent, but I have not been absent. I have been engaged with an exceptional group and look forward to sharing our remarkable work when they are ready." To prove his claim, Wright digitally signed a message using the cryptographic keys that were associated with the creator and was backed up by experts. "These are the blocks used to send 10 bitcoins to Hal Finney in January [2009] as the first bitcoin transaction," Wright told the BBC. Wright said Finney helped turn his vision of bitcoin into reality. watch now watch now watch now watch now Wall Street and Congress are, in part, to blame for Puerto Rico's debt crisis, the president and CEO of the National Puerto Rican Coalition said Monday. The island was set to default on a $389 million debt payment to bondholders Monday. "Let's be real here, Puerto Rico is in an economic, unstable situation in its relationship with the United States. And that is Congress, how Congress decided to build this relationship with Puerto Rico," Rafael Fantauzzi said in an interview with CNBC's "Power Lunch." A barman serves a customer as Alejandro Garcia Padilla, governor of Puerto Rico, is seen giving a speech on a television screen in a bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Erika P. Rodriguez | Bloomberg | Getty Images He also pointed to hedge funds that own Puerto Rican debt, noting that some of them also own Argentinian debt. "Guess what they waited 10 years and they got their pay off. But Puerto Rico is a very, very, very different situation." However, municipal bond investor Hector Negroni, co-CEO of Fundamental Credit Opportunities, called blaming creditors for Puerto Rico's situation "a little appalling." "Our entire marketplace rests upon the rule of law and faith in governments to perform, to live within their means and to make amends to creditors when they fall short," he told "Power Lunch." Baidu shares closed down almost 8 percent Monday after Chinese news outlet Sina reported the company's CEO, Robin Li, would be summoned by Chinese authorities over the death of a student. China's Internet regulator said on Monday it would send an investigation team to Chinese search leader Baidu over the death of a university student, who had used the search engine to look for treatment for his cancer. Wei Zexi, 21, died last month of a rare form of cancer. He had turned to Baidu to look online for the best place for treatment, finding a department under the Second Hospital of Beijing Armed Police Corps that offered an experimental form of treatment that ultimately failed, according to state media. Before dying, Wei had posted criticism online accusing Baidu of promoting false medical information, as well as the hospital for misleading advertising in claiming a high success rate for the experimental treatment, state radio said. To mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden, the CIA Monday "live tweeted" the special forces raid on the al-Qaeda leader's compound in Pakistan in a move that was slammed on social media as "inappropriate" and "distasteful". Bin Laden, a key leader of al-Qaida, had been identified as the al-Qeada leader behind the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. and was finally tracked down in May 2011 when U.S. military raided a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and killed Bin Laden. His body was buried at sea. "Death of Usama Bin Ladin marked significant victory in US-led campaign to disrupt, dismantle, & defeat al-Qa`ida. #UBLRaid," the CIA wrote on Twitter before commencing a to-the-minute live-tweeting session of the mission. Here are a few examples: TWEET TWEET TWEET TWEET Unsurprisingly the internet didn't react well with many denouncing the stunt as poor taste. TWEET TWEET Others wondered when it would live-tweet other historic events. TWEET And some questioned the agency's public relations strategy. TWEET TWEET TWEET A CIA spokesperson defended the live-tweeting. "The takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time. History has been a key element of CIA's social media efforts," CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani told ABC News. "On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honor all those who had a hand in this achievement." He added that the CIA has done a similar exercise to mark other events, including the Glomar operation, Argo, U-2 shootdown, and the evacuation of Saigon. When Baker Hughes and Halliburton called off their merger, CNBC's Jim Cramer wasn't surprised, saying the decision to pursue the deal was based on advice that was "so stupid it really is rather extraordinary." The two oilfield services companies ditched their $28 billion merger after antitrust concerns surfaced from a regulatory lawsuit. Haliburton will pay a $3.5 billion breakup fee for the axed merger, according to Reuters. The companies had expected the merger to result in "compelling benefits" as the U.S. oil industry battles with historically low prices amid oversupply, according to a statement. "Today's outcome is disappointing because of our strong belief in the vast potential of the business combination to deliver benefits for shareholders, customers and both companies' employees," Martin Craighead, Baker Hughes' CEO, said in the statement. watch now Donald Trump has taken his rhetoric about China to a new level, accusing the country of "raping" the U.S. China's trade policy has been a frequent target of the Republican front-runner. In the past, Trump claimed the country's currency devaluation would "suck the blood out" of America. As a singularly unloved candidate, Clinton has known from the outset that her only path to the presidency involved convincing voters whose passions lie elsewhere of her acceptability. Her long record in the public eye, and her willingness to shift positions with the political winds, has given almost everyone looking for a straw to clutch some reason to hope that their favorite Hillary persona is the one that would emerge to govern. Trump, on the other hand, has given Sigh-OK voters very little reassurance. For months, we have argued that Trump needs to provide personnel announcements and policy details capable of convincing skeptical Republicans that he plans to govern as a Republican. Newt Gingrich, one of Trump's biggest boosters, has made numerous public calls for him to begin a series of substantive speeches. So far, Trump has made two serious scripted presentations, both on foreign policy: One to AIPAC in March, and one last week at the Center for National Interest. While those speeches represent a start, Trump needs to provide far more guidance to those asking: "Why should those who question your innate greatness nevertheless conclude that you will be an acceptable President?" We have never been bashful about our own preferences. We continue to believe that Cruz's passion and moral clarity, his fidelity to the nation's constitutional underpinnings, and his views on national security, foreign affairs, and economic growth would make him an excellent president; our skepticism about Trump's performance in each of these areas lead us to doubt his potential for such excellence. watch now A drug that has shown success in helping opioid addicts control their dependence on heroin and painkillers soon could see increased use by patients and adoption by doctors if federal authorities approve a new delivery method for the medication. The medication, called Probuphine, would be the first implantable version of the drug buprenorphine, which over the past 14 years has become a popular tool for eliminating opioid withdrawal symptoms in addicts. During the period, opioid addiction has reached crisis proportions in the United States, where upwards of 80 people fatally overdose each day, and where the recent death of music superstar Prince is being investigated for a possible connection to painkillers. Research has shown that recovering addicts who do not manage their dependence with medication are significantly more likely to relapse into illicit drug use than people who take buprenorphine, which is often sold under the brand name Suboxone, or other medications including methadone and naltrexone. About a quarter of the 2.8 million people estimated to have diagnosed opioid abuse disorder take buprenorphine. Current versions of buprenorphine are "sublingual" they require users to take a pill or a film every day and hold it under their tongue for about 15 minutes, without swallowing, until it dissolves. In contrast, Probuphine has four small stick-like implants, which can be inserted by a doctor under the skin in the users' upper arm, during a session in the physician's office lasting less than 15 minutes. The implant remains there for up to six months, delivering a steady dosage of buprenorphine to users' bloodstream. After that, it is extracted during a procedure lasting a half hour or less, and can be replaced with another implant. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to rule on whether Probuphine can go on sale by the end of May. The product was developed by Titan Pharmaceuticals and is licensed to Braeburn Pharmaceuticals for sale in North America, which is the largest market by far for drugs to treat opioid dependence. Braeburn Pharmaceuticals said there is already strong interest in Probuphine. About 4,000 doctors have already signed up to ask to be trained in how to implant and remove the drug. While 28,000 doctors are federally authorized to prescribe buphrenorphine, only about 6,000 write about 90 percent of the total prescriptions in the U.S. The company says that the advantage of Probuphine would be not only in removing the need to hold a pill or film in one's mouth for a quarter hour every day, but also save the embarrassment and hassle of getting prescriptions refilled at a pharmacist. Probuphone also avoids either the chance for "diversion" someone else other than the prescribed person taking the pill. Behshad Sheldon, CEO of Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, said the relatively low percentage of authorized doctors writing prescriptions for buprenorphine reflects the fact that many physicians "don't like the idea of diversions" and their worry about getting scammed by patients who might sell the medication on the black market. Probuphine, a buprenorphine implant for long-term maintenance treatment of opioid addiction. Source: Braeburn Pharmaceuticals Sheldon noted that Probuphine could limit the risk of an addict stopping the buprenorphine dosage one day and relapsing to illegal drugs, perhaps fatally. "Every time somebody uses there's a chance to die, especially if they've been clean," Sheldon said. "Their brain no longer knows what they're used to, and the same dosage that they used to get high could kill them." And with Probuphine, Sheldon said, addicts "no longer have to be reminded to have to take your medicine" every day. "You can focus on different parts of your recovery," she said. "What patients have is ... peace of mind and freedom. They don't get looks from the pharmacist [when they fill their prescription]. They don't have worry about their boyfriend stealing it or that kind of thing," Sheldon said. Sheldon said doctors would be more inclined to prescribe implants because their concerns about diversion of buprenorphine would be mitigated. "Just by coming on to the market, there's going to easily be 2,000 or 3,000 doctors that haven't taken patients and would be doing so," she said. "That in itself is going to expand the number of patients." Sarah Wilson, a 40-year-old mom of four from Jacksonsville, Florida, said that buprenorphine "has been a lifesaver" for her. She also said the implant was both more convenient and safer for her and her family. Wilson suffered serious spinal damage in 2008 when a suicidal man rammed his car at 65 mpg into Wilson's vehicle containing her and two of her children. After losing her secretarial job and her health insurance, Wilson was no longer able to afford the pricey specialty injections that had successfully managed her chronic pain. But her doctor told her she could afford hydrocodone, a powerful painkiller pill. Wilson began taking hydrocodone regularly in 2010, and "I realized I had a dependency in 2012." "I was taking 300 milligrams a day," she said. "My recommended dosage was 90 milligrams a day." Wilson fed her habit by buying hydrocodone from friends, and paid for the pills in part by stealing from her father, a retired police officer father, and her mother, a nurse. Although she knew what she was doing was illegal and wrong, her fear of withdrawal and of being in pain without medication kept her using hydrocodone. She admitted her secret addiction after her parents voiced their suspicions which were proven false that Wilson's husband was the one stealing from them. But she told them "I can't go into detox. I said I can't face the pain of detox and the daily pain of my injuries." But after her husband spotted an advertisement targeted at people suffering from opioid dependency, Wilson was in a doctor's office, where she was placed into a clinical research trial for buprenorphine. She said she was "scared to death" before taking the drug, worried that the initial nausea she was already feeling from not taking her opioid painkiller would get worse as she withdrew further. But within a half hour of taking buprenorphine, her withdrawal symptoms were "gone. And I was shocked," she said. Wilson said she has never relapsed while on buprenorphine, which she notes not only has treated "my addiction, it also treats my pain." And after starting on 16 milligrams of the medication three years ago, she has since moved down to 8 milligrams daily. Wilson last year participated in another trial involving buprenorphine, this one being a six-month double-blind, double-dummy trial of Probuphine. She and more than 170 regular users of buprenorphine were given arm implants and an oral version of the drug, and not told which one actually contained the buprenorphine and which one contained a placebo. Participants had to already have been using buprenorphine for 90 days without evidence of illegal drug use. She later found out that she was among half of the participants whose implant contained buprenorphine. The trial found that more than 96 percent of the Probuphine users had been free of any opioid use for at least four months, compared with 87.6 percent of people who used the oral form of buphrenorphine. And almost 86 percent of the people who used Probuphine in the trial managed to stay off illicit opioids for the entire six months, which was nearly 14 percentage points better than the group that used oral versions containing buprenorphine. Sheldon said one of the relapses in an earlier trial of the implant was fatal. That was by a woman who was taking the oral version and stopped using the medication. Three days later, Sheldon said, the woman overdosed in front of her children, and died. Sarah Wilson Source: Sarah Wilson The latest trial results represented a big step forward for Titan Pharmaceuticals and Braeburn Pharmaceuticals. The companies had been asked to run the trial by the FDA because the agency was concerned that past trials, which has showed Probuphine performed better than a placebo for new users of the buprenophine, did not contain high enough dosages of buprenorphine for the results to be clinically meaningful. In the latest trial, "the agreement with the FDA was that we would just meet 'non-inferiority,'" said Sheldon. Non-inferiority means that the new version of the drug would not lead to worse outcomes for patients and Probuphine trial showed actual improvement. "What this means is that in the population that we were treating, there's an advantage, probably, to having an implant," said Dr. Richard Rosenthal, medical director of addiction psychiatry in the Mount Sinai Behavioral Health System in New York City, and the investigator for the Probuphine trial. Rosenthal said federal approval of the implant should be "a no-brainer" based on the results of the latest clinical trial. He said addiction specialists such as himself are desperate for ways to help opioid-dependent people get off clean. "We've got an epidemic," Rosenthal said. "I want to get people to get treatment. And the relapse rates for when people [aren't on dependency-controlling medication] are abysmal." "Hopefully this medication gets approved, and we'll have another weapon against this epidemic." Amid stagnant economic growth around the global, investors may need to buy companies that are doing the growing for themselves. "The investor has to do a lot of homework because growth just isn't popping out at you," Fort Pitt Capital portfolio manager Kim Forrest said Friday on CNBC's "Trading Nation." "So what you have to do is look at their earnings calls and look at the earnings announcements, and see those companies that are actually gaining market share." The first two companies she points to are in the insurance brokerage area, a sector that has seen steady growth with sales and earnings outlooks projected to rise over the next few years. Her top picks include Illinois-based Arthur J. Gallagher and Marsh & McLennan . Gallagher has managed to grow its annual revenue each year going back to 2005, with 17 percent top-line growth enjoyed in 2015 and 45 percent in 2014. Forrest also recommended RPM International , an American multinational company specializing in high-performance building maintenance products. Read More Goldman: Fed could hike 3 times, buy these stocks While Forrest encourages buying tried-and-true industry names, Max Wolff, chief economist at Manhattan Venture Partners, looks to tech-related sectors. His list may not include today's floundering big-cap tech companies, but rather names that could be set to rise with growing demand in the future. One of those areas includes the cybersecurity sector, given possible government regulations that Wolff believes will give specific companies a leg up even in times of an economic slowdown. "We think there are new regulations coming into play [in cybersecurity] that would mean you're legally responsible for being hacked, particularly if you're a financial institution," Wolff said. "That's going to put a big premium, and it's going to mean that your insurers require you to spend more money on cybersecurity as a legal defense and a stipulation. Names like FireEye and Palo Alto Networks look a little better, particularly as they come down to earth." Wolff also points to the e-commerce sector as more consumers move toward online outlets. Here, he cites the money-losing, peer-to-peer art and supply site Etsy , which has seen its shares plunge. Canadian e-commerce software developer Shopify rounds out Wolff's list. If the names are not currently at the top of the average investor's buy list, that's part of the idea. To Forrest's point, finding good stocks in a weak macro environment probably takes a bit more digging. Disclosure: The Fort Pitt fund managed by Forrest has positions in AJC, MMC and RPM. Neither Wolff nor his firm have any positions in the companies he mentioned. Disclaimer watch now Lawyers charged with untangling the multi-million dollar estate of music superstar Prince, who died with no known will, head to court on Monday for the start of what could be a years-long dispute over his fortune. Six siblings or half-siblings of Prince, found dead at age 57 at his home in suburban Minneapolis on April 21, were listed as heirs in court documents filed in Carver County District Court in Chaska, Minnesota, where the hearing gets under way before Judge Kevin Eide. The exact value of Prince's estate has not yet been disclosed, but his music catalog alone has been estimated at over $500 million. Prince Matt Kent | WireImage | Getty Images Bremer Trust, National Association, a bank where Prince conducted business for years, could play a key role as a special administrator to safeguard his fortune. The bank was appointed at the request of Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, and Judge Eide will hear any objections on Monday, Minnesota courts spokesman Kyle Christopherson said. Creditors and inheritors also can file claims against the estate, he said. "We're not sure who's coming to sort of stake a claim," Christopherson said. Born Prince Rogers Nelson, Prince, whose hits included "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," was married and divorced twice. He had no living children. Under Minnesota law, his assets are likely to be split evenly among the siblings, tax attorney Steve Hopkins said. Hopkins said the bigger the estate, the greater the likelihood there will be a dispute by claimants that could take years to settle. Pakistan has been beleaguered by terrorism and security "challenges" but is still managing to focus on growth and job-creation, the country's minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs, statistics and privatization told CNBC. "Pakistan's economy has shown great resilience against the global trend of developing countries and the emerging markets which have seen negative declines," Mohammad Ishaq Dar told CNBC on Monday. "We have shown seven-year high growth in the last fiscal year and in the current year we hope to cross 5 percent. We are aiming at a growth rate of 7 percent in the next two fiscal years so things are moving quite nicely," he said, speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Asia Development Bank in Frankfurt. ASIF HASSAN/AFP/Getty Images "But we had two serious challenges apart from macro-economic stability which is now in order, one was security and extremism and in June 2014, Pakistan took a bold decision to have an all-out war against terrorism and it's a fairly costly item," he said. Pakistan has been a hot-bed of terrorist activity despite attempts to combat insurgents in predominantly the north-western region of the country that are linked to the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and so-called Islamic State. Despite the government being an ally of western countries' alliance against terrorism, the conservative Muslim country has also been accused of having an ambivalent stance towards religious extremism and, at worst, of sponsoring and harboring terrorists. Pakistan's government strongly rebuffs such accusations, pointing to the arrests of high-ranking terrorist suspects since 9/11 attacks and claiming that it assisted the U.S. in its pursuit of Osama bin Laden, the founder and head of Al Qaeda, who was killed in Pakistan in 2011. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note , which moves inversely to its price, rose to 1.862 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond climbed to 2.714 percent. U.S. sovereign bonds fell Monday after of a swathe of economic data. All eyes were on data releases Monday, including the final reading for Markit's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI), which came in at 50.8. The ISM manufacturing came in at 50.8, below expectations. March construction spending rose 0.3 percent, but was expected to show a 0.6 percent rise, compared with a 0.5 percent contraction in February. Investors will also keep an eye on San Francisco Federal Reserve President John Williams, who is set to deliver a speech on systemic risk at the Milken Institute's 2016 Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California at 5:30 p.m. ET. An auto-rickshaw drives along a flooded street in Colombo Ishara S. Kodikara | AFP | Getty Images Sri Lanka's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may have averted a crisis, but the bailout may undermine a key source of strength: the country's impressive economic growth rate. The deeply indebted country inked an agreement for a $1.5 billion bailout, announced Friday, as it faced heavy fund outflows and overseas debt payments amid declining foreign-exchange reserves, which could have caused a balance of payments crisis. Foreign-exchange reserves fell by a third from late 2014 to $6.2 billion at the end of March, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, credit rating company Moody's Investors Service, in a report last week before the IMF deal, noted that general government debt was around 76 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, up 71.6 percent from five years earlier. "Without an IMF loan, Sri Lanka would have been in a precarious position," Krystal Tan, an Asia economist at Capital Economics, said in a note Saturday, noting that foreign exchange reserves only covered around 80 percent of short-term external debt. She estimated the bailout would boost reserves to around 108 percent of short-term debt, a bit above the minimum of 100 percent recommended by many economists. But the deal is likely to come with costs. "Growth is likely to slow further over the next couple of years," Tan said. She forecasts the economy will grow at just 4.5 percent this year and next, compared with an average of 6.4 percent between 2010-15. In a report Tuesday, the IMF has also cut its projections for Sri Lanka's economic growth, now forecasting 2016 and 2017 at 5.0 percent each, down around 1.5 percentage points from October World Economic Outlook forecasts. Despite its financial wobbles, economic growth in Sri Lanka has been impressive in recent years. Fitch Ratings, which rates Sri Lanka at B+, noted in February that median growth for 'B' and 'BB' rated countries is around 4.6% and 3.9% respectively. But the country's economy may lose a key support. "While the IMF deal should prevent a crisis in the short-term, policy will need to be tightened to ensure Sri Lanka does not find itself in the same mess again," Tan said, noting the agreement is contingent on plans to narrow the fiscal deficit. That's no small feat: Sri Lanka has now pledged to cut its fiscal deficit to 3.5 percent of GDP from 7.4 percent of GDP in 2015, which itself was well above a 4.4 percent target, and up from 2014's 5.7 percent, Tan noted. In a March note, Standard & Poor's said that government investment was a key factor underpinning economic growth; it affirmed Sri Lanka's B+ rating, but cut the outlook to negative from stable. At the time, S&P said it expected real per capital GDP growth of 5.5 percent over 2016-19, which it estimated was equivalent to 6.2 percent real GDP growth. A crackdown on terrorism financing in the wake of the attacks on Paris and Brussels will see European regulators tighten up the rules governing digital-only currencies like bitcoin and prepaid payment cards. In June, the European Commission (the legislative arm of the European Union) is set to update its anti-money laundering rules to force virtual currency exchange platforms to check their clients are who they claim. Belgian military forces patrol tourist streets in Brussels. Justin Solomon | CNBC Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are characterized by their anonymity, with neither payers nor payees required to identify themselves and the system open for anybody to use. Regulators believe this makes them attractive to criminals. "The Commission proposes to bring virtual currency exchange platforms under the scope of the anti-money laundering directive, so that these platforms have to apply customer due-diligence controls when exchanging virtual for real currencies, ending the anonymity associated with such exchanges," the European Commission said in a news release in February. Identification could take the form of a passport, official photographic ID or proof of residence such as a utility bill. ISIS and the Dark Web This follows reports the so-called Islamic State which claimed responsibility for the attacks on March in Brussels and November in Paris was receiving funding via the so-called Dark Web. This is the encrypted, hard-to-reach part of the internet where bitcoin or other digital-only currencies are the preferred payment methods. "There is a shadow banking system that now exists around the world that is capable of moving unlimited amounts of money They (terrorists or criminals) know the banking system is well-monitored," Scott Dueweke, the founder of Zebryx, a digital identity consultancy, told CNBC via phone. In October, a report from the U.K. Treasury and Home Office concluded digital-only currencies were already the preferred method of online payment for illicit goods like firearms and drugs. The report added that the money-laundering risk associated with digital-only currencies was low, but could rise if their use became more prevalent. A few months later, in January, Dutch authorities arrested 10 people accused of running a bitcoin-laundering ring. Any impact? For many leading bitcoin exchanges, the change will have negligible impact, as they already comply with best practice on anti-money laundering and "know your customer" rules, Garrick Hileman, an academic at the University of Cambridge in England's Judge Business School, told CNBC via phone. Those exchanges already in compliance include San Francisco-based Kraken, which claims to be the largest euro-bitcoin exchange, and Circle, a peer-to-peer digital currency player that has secured Barclays as a U.K. banking partner, Hileman said. Other players in the space will need to come up to standard or consider relocating their operations away from the European Union or not serving EU customers. Some jurisdictions such as the U.S. and the U.K. have already launched similar crackdowns to that planned by the EU, which hopes to persuade others to do the same. Yuriko Nakao | Bloomberg | Getty Images Pre-paid, no name The EU also plans to toughen up on the identification requirements for using prepaid instruments, of which consumer prepaid cards make up the vast majority. These are not linked to a bank account, are topped up with cash and can include cards linked to a particular store. It is believed prepaid cards were another means used by terrorists to anonymously finance purchases for last year's Paris attacks. Under the current rules, no identification is needed for non-reloadable cards worth up to 250 euros ($283), or 500 euros for those than can only be used in one country. These thresholds are likely to be lowered under the news rules and cardholders may need to identify themselves with an ID card or passport. UTICA, N.Y. The Kelberman Center, an affiliate of Upstate Cerebral Palsy, announced it has hired Leah Welchons as senior psychologist. Dr. Welchons joins the clinical staff of the Kelberman Center after previously serving as attending psychologist in the Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Childrens Hospital and as an instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School. In addition to her clinical work at Boston Childrens, Welchons also chaired a committee to provide training on Autism Spectrum Disorders for hospital staff, according to a news release from the Kelberman Center. The Kelberman Center, which is headquartered in Utica and has an office in Syracuse, says its a regional center for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Its services include evaluation and diagnosis, individualized education and services, social and life skills enhancement, and training and research. In her role as senior psychologist, Dr. Welchons provides diagnostic evaluations to patients and clinical-case support to Kelberman Center staff. This summer, Welchons will transfer her services to the new Kelberman Center clinical offices at 2608 Genesee St. in Utica, according to the release. Welchons received her doctoral degree from Syracuse University and completed her internship at the May Institute in Randolph, Massachusetts. She finished a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Childrens Hospital before joining the staff there. Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com SYRACUSE, N.Y. St. Josephs Health announced that Dr. Heather Finger has joined St. Josephs Physicians Family Medicine at its North Medical Center location in Clay. Before St. Josephs Physicians, Finger practiced as a family medicine provider in Central Square. She has 11 years of practical experience in a rural primary care environment caring for patients of all ages, including the diagnosis, ongoing management, and education of individuals and families about disease and preventive care, according to a St. Josephs Health news release. Dr. Fingers experience in family and rural medicine coupled with her professional interests in womens care and diabetes is a great asset to our team of skilled physicians. Julianne Himes, chief operating officer for St. Josephs Physicians, said in the release. Fingers interests include womens health, the assessment and treatment of cervical dysplasia through colposcopy, and the management of Diabetes Mellitus including insulin pump therapy. She earned her doctor of medicine degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University and completed her residency in family practice at St. Josephs Hospital Health Center. Dr. Finger is currently accepting new patients at St. Josephs Physicians Family Medicine North Medical Center, located at 5100 W. Taft Road. St. Josephs Health is a nonprofit regional health-care system based in Syracuse, providing services to patients throughout Central New York and northern Pennsylvania. St. Josephs Health is affiliated with Franciscan Companies and St. Josephs Physicians, and is part of Trinity Health. Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com Photo credit: Manufacturers Association of Central New York DeWITT, N.Y. The Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) has tabbed Feldmeier Equipments director of engineering as its Innovator of the Year. MACNY will honor Kyle Brown during its annual dinner on May 19 at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. The MACNY Innovator of the Year Award, which Corning, Inc. sponsors, recognizes individuals within a company who consistently demonstrate forward thinking ideas in the areas of technology, innovation and advancement of products and production, according to MACNY. Jeanne Jackson, Feldmeiers VP of human resources, nominated Brown for the honor. Brown demonstrated his ability to lead and innovate and we feel he sets an example for others, Jackson said in a MACNY news release. He joined DeWittbased Feldmeier Equipment as a design engineer in 1997. Brown then served as general manager (GM) of Feldmeiers Little Falls facility from 2000 to 2015. Brown has since relocated to the companys DeWitt site to serve as the firms director of engineering. Browns efforts at the firm have contributed to the growth and continuous innovation at Feldmeier Equipment, MACNY said. During his 15 years as GM, the Little Falls location expanded to two facilities and grew from 110 to 180 employees. Brown also recently received his first patent for a thru-shaft cleaning strategy that cleans hard-to-inspect areas on mixers. Using the mixer shaft as a rotary-spray device, the method reaches areas that are typically a cleaning liability, according to MACNY. We received numerous submissions celebrating employee innovation within MACNY member companies, and we commend all of this years nominees. We were particularly impressed with Kyles leadership and commitment to developing competitive solutions. MACNY and its members look forward to recognizing Kyles exemplary innovation at the 103rd annual dinner, Randy Wolken, president of MACNY, said in the release. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com 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. By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal A free-market think tank based in Nashville today launched a legal attack on a Tennessee licensing requirement to shampoo hair, with two Memphis sisters as prime examples of citizens denied opportunity by bureaucracy. The Beacon Center of Tennessee held a media conference outside Memphis City Hall with the two sisters, Tammy Nutall-Pritchard and Debra Nutall, while filing a lawsuit in Davidson Countys Chancery Court in Nashville. Aimed at the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, the civil rights lawsuit contends that requiring a license to shampoo hair infringes on a right to earn an honest living. As one of five states that require the licensing for shampooing, Tennessee calls for the most hours of education, at 300, the Beacon Center maintains. The lawsuit contends that state regulators could not identify any cosmetology school offering the training, which includes shampoo theory, rinsing and answering the phone. With no licensing available for shampooing, only cosmetologists, whose licenses require 1,500 hours of schooling, have a monopoly on shampooing, the lawsuit contends. Shampooing, its just one of those things, we all do it every day," said Braden Boucek, director of litigation for the Beacon Center. Its hard to see a case for why that needs to be licensed to begin with. Kevin Walters, a spokesman for the state Department of Commerce & Insurance that includes the cosmetology board, said state officials had no comment about the lawsuit at this time. The lawsuit lists Tammy Nutall-Pritchard, 47, a resource officer for Humes Preparatory Academy in Memphis, as its plaintiff. Her sister, Debra Nutall, 54, is known as a pioneer in the natural hair-braiding business. Tennessee state licensing for hair-braiding earlier drove Debra Nutall to Mississippi, although she said shes no longer in the business. Nutall-Pritchard wants to supplement her income by shampooing at a beauty shop, but not at the price of getting a cosmetology license. The Beacon Center cited one example of a cosmetology program costing $3,225. We dont have an issue with going to cosmetology, its the hours, Nutall-Pritchard said. Thats too many hours and too much money. A new state law, the Right to Earn a Living Act, requires new scrutiny of regulations that could limit entry into businesses and professions. It requires the state to look at all of the ways it regulates low-income fields, Boucek said. The Beacon Center pointed to licensing of shampoo technicians as an example of why the act was needed. The Goldwater Institute, an advocate of limited government, recommends that all states adopt it. An Institute for Justice study called License to Work ranked Tennessee as the 13th worst state in terms of burdening low-income professions, Boucek said. Its everything from makeup artist, natural hair braiding, but its also soil sampler, bartender, youve got to have a license to be a court clerk, locksmith is another one, he said. We think that this is a right that we need to open up. SHARE photo courtesy artandremembrance.org Esther Nisenthal Krinitz's selection of needlepoint works about her experiences during World War II is on display at Temple Israel Museum in Memphis through May 13. By Fredric Koeppel, Special to The Commercial Appeal The horrors of the Holocaust have received many kinds of creative treatments, from documentary and narrative films, to novels, stories and nonfiction prose, to plays and artworks. Few approaches, however, feel as personal as the exhibition "Fabric of Survival: The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz," on display through May 13 at the Temple Israel Museum. The artist, whose family was destroyed in the death camps of Poland during World War II, later in life fashioned 36 fabric panels through needle and thread, employing such techniques as stitching, crocheting and embroidery to produce a unique visual narrative of persecution, escape and survival. When Esther was 15, in 1942, German soldiers ordered the Jews in her Polish village of Mniszek to report to the train station. Everyone knew they would be boarding trains delivering them to certain death. However, with her mother's approval, Esther and her younger sister assumed identities as Polish Catholics, and they were taken in by a farm family where they were hidden for the rest of the war. The sisters never saw their family again. The girls arrived at a displaced-persons camp after the war. Esther met Max Krinitz, married him and moved to the United States. Trained as a dressmaker but not as an artist, at age 50, in 1977, at her home in Brooklyn, Krinitz began the project that would culminate in the work for which she is now known, as well as a documentary film, a book, a foundation and a website. She died in 2001. "My mother's experiences were not a secret," said Bernice Steinhardt in a telephone interview from Newark Liberty International Airport, where she was about to board a flight to Barcelona. "She always talked about her life before the war and during the war. We grew up with these stories. It was like an adventure story, but as I grew older, it took on more poignancy." Steinhardt and her sister Helene McQuade created the exhibition through the nonprofit organization Art and Remembrance. "The pictures work on so many levels, and touch universal themes. Everyone understands the story of a girl forced to leave her home. And there's a great deal of contemporary resonance," she said, referring to the influx of refugees to Europe fleeing oppression and the carnage of war in the Middle East. The exhibition, Steinhardt said, appeals "to people eager to learn something about their history, about their lives and what happened during the war." That's why Temple Israel wanted to have "Fabric of Survival" in its museum. "We strive to bring traveling exhibitions to Memphis that would have relevance to religious school students, to middle-age and older people, too," said Jerrold Graber, past chairman of Temple Israel's museum committee. "We thought this was quite unique, even though it told a familiar story, and told it through one individual's experiences. The fact that the artist was self-taught also felt important to us. The story itself is one of courage, and it took courage to create these works of art." The original panels have been displayed at 20 or so venues around the country, and there's also an exhibition of photographic reproductions. The 30-minute film, "Through the Eye of the Needle," about Krinitz's achievement, shows continuously during exhibition hours. FedEx Custom Critical White Glove Services provided transportation for the exhibition from Washington, D.C., to Memphis, ensuring that the panels were protected in a temperature-controlled situation. SHARE The Memphis Jewish Community Center is partnering with Memphis in May to present a program about the historic Jewish community in Montreal. The center's J-Ed Series welcomes Eddie Paul, head of bibliographic and information services at Montreal's Jewish Public Library, to speak at 7:30 Tuesday at the center, 6560 Poplar Ave. In "St. Urbain Legends: A 100-year Photo-history of Stories Told from the Jewish Public Library in Montreal," he will trace the origins of the library, which opened in 1914, the political climate that led to its founding, and "the evolution of the library to what it is today: a multicultural, multi-linguistic entity with collections ranging from 15th century incunabula (books printed before the year 1501) to e-books." It holds the largest circulating collection of Judaica in North America. Paul's talk will introduce the companion exhibit, "Stories Told: 100 Years of the JPL," which is on display through May in the center's Shainberg Gallery. Through photographs and other historical items, the exhibit demonstrates the Jewish Public Library's role in serving both Jewish and non-Jewish communities while preserving a rich heritage. The talk and the gallery exhibit are free and open to the public. In addition to the MJCC and Memphis in May, the exhibit and speaker are presented by Facing History and Ourselves, The Jewish Historical Society, and the Memphis Public Library and Information Center. Beginners wanting an introduction to crafts like bookbinding and journaling can attend a Daydreaming on Paper workshop Saturday at the South Main Book Juggler. Dawn Vinson of DaydreamingOnPaper.com will lead the workshop, in which participants will make a soft-cover, single-signature notebook and get ideas for how to use it. The 90-minute session includes hands-on instruction, journal exercises, and a detailed handout for future reference. The $10 workshop price includes materials and light refreshments. It starts at 1 p.m. at the Book Juggler, 548 S. Main St. Contact Vinson at drv1913@yahoo.com or 901-330-8571 for more information. May 10, 2015 - Chefs Michael Patrick (right) and John Fitzgerad Kennedy put together Southern inspired dishes for Mother's Day brunch at Rizzo's Diner on South Main Street Sunday morning. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) Don't forget: Sunday is Mother's Day. If a restaurant is typically open for brunch, you'd better believe it's open then. Mother's Day and Easter are the busiest brunch days of the year. But there's plenty going on this weekend to entertain Mom if you want to do something a little different. Don't forget the Memphis Greek Festival, which I told you about in last week's column. It runs 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 573 N. Highland St. All the good food you've come to expect, music, dancing, wine there's nothing about it she won't like. If she's not up for it, at least get a box of pastries and take them to her on Mother's Day. You'll be her favorite. How about this? On Saturday, take her to Cafe du Memphis at Overton Park. The Rotary Club of Memphis will host a New Orleans-style brunch with shrimp and grits, beignets, cafe au lait, mimosas, Bloody Marys and more. It's from 9 a.m. till noon at the pavilion on East Parkway, and you can buy tickets at cafedumemphis.com; they range from about $8 for beignets and coffee up to about $16 for a full plate (and way north for sponsorships). Proceeds benefit the Dorothy Day House. When your bellies are full, head over to Art in the Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Memphis College of Art, and stop in Memphis Brooks Museum of Art for Party for the Century, the 100th anniversary party for the museum; make a day of it in Overton Park. And while you're there: Latino Memphis Festival celebrating Brazil will also take place in Overton Park. It promises a lot of high-energy fun for you, Mom, the kids everyone. It's 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and Mom can even get in her Zumba workout (twice, if she wants). All kinds of things are going on, including a salsa contest (you can judge for People's Choice), music, a Carnaval parade, capoeira demonstrations (Brazilian martial arts, and you can join in if you want), a 5K run, a 1-mile fun run lots and lots to do and plenty of Brazilian barbecue to eat and caipirinhas to drink. Get more information at latinomemphis.org. This and that Pup Crawl: OK, OK I know we already took care of Mother's Day. But I'm just saying that there are moms around town who would love to do this, because dogs and drinks: The Cooper-Young Pup Crawl is 6 to 9 p.m. May 12. You go to the gazebo at the corner of Cooper Street and Young Avenue, get a wristband, then go to any of the 10 bars listed below and order the specialty cocktail. By wearing the wristband, you ensure that 10 percent of the price of your drink goes to the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County. Live music by Mark Edgar Stuart, adoptable dogs at each place, and you can even take your own dog if you want; most patios welcome your four-legged buddies. The participating bars and their drinks are Alchemy, Hound Dog; Bar DKDC, I Wanna Be Your DoG; Beauty Shop, Walking the Dog; Cafe Ole, Clifford's Cocktail; Celtic Crossing Irish Pub, Irish Setter; Hammer & Ale, Barking Pale Ale; Next Door, Ruff Punch; Stone Soup Cafe, Red-Nosed Bully; Tsunami, Shih Tzu Not; Young Avenue Deli, Junkyard Dog. Sad news: John's Pantry in Cordova is closing June 1. Be sure to go by 8046 Willow Tree Lane to visit John Moberly before he closes up shop (it faces Germantown Parkway, so you can see it from the street). Regular customers will be glad to know that he said he'll be glad to share his recipes with you, if you ask nicely. Woman's Exchange The Tea Room at the Woman's Exchange, 88 Racine St., has a new menu. When was the last time you ate lunch there? I don't remember, either, but I'll be going soon. Some of the new items include the Triple Salad Plate, with a scoop of chicken salad, tuna salad and potato salad, served with finger sandwiches and fresh fruit; chicken or seafood crepes; and Rev's Famous Chicken Spaghetti Fiesta. Daily specials change and include Lacy Special, fried catfish, and beef tenderloin (still on Thursdays). Hours are 11:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 901-327-5681 for more information. Recipe of the week Tuna salad is my peanut butter. I loved it when I was a kid and still turn to it for a quick bite today. This recipe is going in my rotation for sure: Tuna with avocado = great. Photos by Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal May 1, 2016 - Blues musician Leo "Bud" Welch performs at the Blues Shack during the final day of the 2016 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival at Tom Lee Park. SHARE April 30, 2016 - Lauren Frost (from left), Whitney Williams and Erin Miller Williams dance to the sounds of The Lone Bellow during the final day of the 2016 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival at Tom Lee Park. April 30, 2016 - Performer Courtney Barnett energized the crowd at the Bud Light Stage during the final day of the 2016 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival at Tom Lee Park. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal) April 30, 2016 - Dan Auerbach of The Arcs performs during the final day of the 2016 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival at Tom Lee Park. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal) Related Photos Beale Street Music Festival 2016 - Day Three Gallery By Bob Mehr, mehr@commercialappeal.com The proverbial sun set on another Beale Street Music Festival as Sunday brought a close to the 39th annual edition of Memphis in May's centerpiece event. Music fest organizers had a busy weekend, dealing with hard daytime rains and flash flood warnings on Friday, and then having to repair several smaller structures damaged by winds on Saturday morning, forcing a handful of early shows to be canceled. Despite a few of Mother Nature's ravages, the festival largely went on unscathed. Weather during the bulk of the performances was both dry and temperate, factors that are always considered major victories for organizers. "That's always a good thing, and as a result everyone who we expected to draw a big crowd drew a big crowd," said Memphis in May's Director of Marketing, Penelope Huston. Huston also noted that the decision to stagger Sunday's headlining sets from Paul Simon, Beck and Zedd allowed festivalgoers to see most or all of the day's big names. Sunday began with a lovely acoustic set from Those Pretty Wrongs. Led by Memphian Jody Stephens a founding member and lone survivor of the iconic cult band Big Star the group's first ever local performance came just a few weeks ahead of their debut album release. And yet most of the songs they played sun-dappled, harmony-laden pop numbers in the mold of Big Star, the Byrds, Beach Boys and Beatles sounded wonderfully and reassuringly familiar. Stephens' partner in the project, Los Angeles musician Luther Russell, added soulful guitar figures and vocal touches to the songs. Though the crowd for the show was modest (the audience did grow considerably by set's end) it was, by any measure, an auspicious hometown debut for Stephens and company. In any festival, an artist's value is about name recognition as much as musical worth. Perhaps that's why The Arcs' early evening turn was not as buzzed about or well attended as one would expect surprising given that it's the new project from Black Keys front man Dan Auerbach. Leading the Keys, Auerbach headlined a packed music fest appearance just three years ago. Working in the same blues-pop mold as his longtime band, Auerbach actually proved to be the least interesting element of the Arcs. Manning several positions on stage, the group's multi-instrumental wiz Richard Swift actually produced the more intriguing musical textures, while a backing group, the all-female outfit Mariachi Flor de Toloache, had the more engaging stage presence. Australian indie rocker Courtney Barnett made her first appearance in Memphis, riding high off the critical acclaim, strong sales and Grammy nomination for her debut album. If some of the praise heaped on the Melbourne songstress has seemed a tad over the top Barnett trades in a throwback brand of '90s-style indie guitar rock watching her set it was hard not to be charmed by her buzzing songs, guitar heroics and grinning slacker persona. The crowd, which was sizeable, though not massive, was deeply attentive as they sang along loudly and cheered Barnett's every solo wildly. Despite a sunset slot, rock legend Paul Simon's music fest set seemed to suffer for some reason. Perhaps it was a hangover from a weekend New Orleans Jazz Fest concert that was underwhelming according to several reports, or simply a question of age/fatigue, but Simon's voice was notably diminished compared to his last stop in town at Mud Island in 2011. Whatever the cause, after an early run through some familiar hits ("50 Ways to Leave Your Lover") and favorites off "Graceland" ("That Was Your Mother"), Simon seemed to stagnate, having a hard time parlaying the audience's early excitement into actual momentum during the middle part of the set. He would eventually recover with run of big hits "Slip Slidin' Away," "Mother and Child Reunion," "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" later in the performance. Post-rocker Beck, on the other hand, had control of his audience from the first and never let up. Opening with a rousing version of the "Odelay" burner "Devil's Haircut," the Los Angeles-based musical alchemist put together a hard charging set list that kept the audience's energy and spirits high, capping the festival in triumphant fashion. Here's what to expect in Memphis real estate for the rest of 2022 Business SHARE By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal A state probe into more than $160,000 meant to help feed low-income children during the summer of 2014 has landed a former ministry prophetess from Memphis behind bars in Florida. Jeannette Jives-Nealy, 48, currently a resident of Tampa, Florida, has been held since Friday after a Shelby County grand jury indicted her last week on a charge of theft over $60,000, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Jives-Nealy is being held without bond in the Hillsborough County jail awaiting extradition to Shelby County, the TBI reported. Jives-Nealy was a prophetess affiliated with the Kingdom Dominion Worldwide Ministries in Memphis, which received funding from the Tennessee Department of Human Services to provide food for low-income children during that summer, TBI agents reported. The probe was triggered when state comptroller's office auditors found about $162,165 for the summer program unaccounted for in financial statements for the nonprofit organization. By Yolanda Jones and Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal A serial drunken driver, who was charged in a fifth crash that killed two Briarcrest Christian School students and injured three other people last year in Marshall County, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to the charges Monday and was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Melandus Penson, 33, was sentenced in a Holly Springs courtroom to 60 years in prison, with another 60 years suspended, and five years of post-release supervision for four counts of DUI involving death or maiming, and one count of aggravated assault by culpable negligence. Penson, from Belden, was driving a Dodge Charger that rammed the rear of a car driven by Roxanne Anderson, the grandmother of one of the girls, along U.S. 78 in Marshall County at about 6:30 a.m. on May 31. The impact knocked the car into a utility pole, killing Rachel Lynch, 17, and Maddie Kruse, 16. Caroline Kam, 18, received minor injuries while Kara Holden, 17, suffered a broken collarbone, broken ribs and other injuries. The four girls, then rising seniors at Briarcrest, were headed to Florida for a beach vacation just a few days after school ended last summer, the survivors and the victims families testified Monday, said state District Attorney Ben Creekmore. Creekmore said there was no one in the courtroom who was not visibly moved by the testimony about the crashs aftermath, including the judge. For them, they were beyond excited, he said of the victims, recalling Kams testimony about the beach trip. And they went to beyond healing in an instant. Penson, who had four previous DUI convictions from as many different Mississippi jurisdictions, in addition to a reckless driving conviction in Mississippi and speeding in Florida, stood to ask for forgiveness and to say that he wasnt a stumbling drunk, said his Tupelo-based attorney, Rob Laher. At the time of the fatal crash, Pensons blood-alcohol level was .14 nearly twice the states legal limit. Penson said he had consumed alcohol the night before, but not that morning, according to Laher. Youre not left with a lot to say other than asking for forgiveness, asking for mercy, asking for hope, Laher said of Pensons history of DUI-related charges. Laher said it was odd but understandable that the family didnt offer forgiveness to the victim. But Creekmore said that, if that was true, it was probably because Pensons remarks seemed more about justifying his actions than asking for forgiveness. Both Creekmore and Laher said the sentence was fair, even though Penson could only serve a fraction of his sentence before hes released. Family members of the victims and survivors didnt immediately return phone calls and emails. SHARE By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal Memphis police on Sunday continued investigating shootings outside a store on Airways north of Interstate 240 that left one young man dead and another injured late Saturday. A 21-year-old man died on the sidewalk outside Airways Food Mart, 2293 Airways, and a 23-year-old was taken to the Regional Medical Center for treatment of noncritical injuries, according to police. Authorities on Sunday did not release the names of the victims. The gunfire was reported about 11:40 p.m. Police said an initial investigation determined that the man who was fatally shot had emerged from the store earlier, confronted and argued with other men and then left. He returned with other men and two men opened fire, shooting the two victims. Fred Griffith/The Commercial Appeal files All Metro Baseball team members pose for a group photo at Tim McCarver Stadium on May 3, 1984. Left to Right (front row) Marvin Davis, Northside; Rodney Swindle, Westwood; Jean Gentleman, Germantown; Chris Marable, CBHS; David Lail, Germantown; Forest Nabors, Germantown; Mike Haag, CBHS; Cecil Carney, Bishop Byrne; and Kevin Locastro, Bishop Byrne. (second row) Chip Moreland, CBHS; Randy Smith, ECS; Terry Babb, Elliston; Ray Archer, Raleigh-Egypt; Kyle Coleman, Raleigh-Egypt; Phillip Cummings, White Station; Mike O'Neill, Germantown; John Wakefield, Harding; and Keith Wilson, Harding. SHARE May 2 25 years ago: 1991 Ronnie Morgan, Harold Purnell and Michael Saripkin can't make it to Shelby State Community College's graduation ceremony Friday night. So they got their certificates in office technology at a special ceremony Wednesday at the Shelby County Correction Center. Morgan, Purnell and Saripkin are inmates at the center. They are the first three graduates of Shelby State's off-campus program at the prison. Shelby State has been offering college-credit classes at the prison since 1986. More than 600 inmates have taken classes, including a record 225 enrolled this semester. 50 years ago: 1966 WASHINGTON Congressional coin watchers proclaimed Sunday that the coin shortage is over except for John F. Kennedy half dollars, which are hoarded almost as fast as they are produced. Representative Dante Fascell (D., Fla.) who conducted an investigation of the shortage which started in 1964, released a report by the House Government Operations Committee that expressed mystification at the shortage of half dollars. 75 years ago: 1941 A fund of $5,000 to administer "The Memphis Plan," which will provide hospitality to visiting soldiers to the city, will be raised by the sale of official shields to merchants, Dave Ballon, committee secretary said yesterday. 100 years ago: 1916 Child labor, the disgrace of the South Atlantic states, which is claimed to exist also in Tennessee, could not exist if women of the South were allowed to vote, said Miss Margaret Foley, the Boston women suffrage worker, in an address to the young women students of West Tennessee Normal yesterday afternoon. 125 years ago: 1891 HOT SPRINGS, Ark. The state medical convention adjourned last night. The only charges brought against members were those against Dr. John R. Dale of Arkadelphia. He was charged with undercharging patients as to professional fees. SHARE Efforts by the administration of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland to mediate the parking dispute between the Memphis Zoo and the Overton Park Conservancy finally are yielding results. Strickland, who took office Jan. 1, announced Thursday the city and zoo will create between 225 and 325 new parking spaces near Overton Park, which will give the zoo more than half the spaces it needs to stop its questionable practice of using the park's greensward for overflow parking. What still is needed, however, is a long-term, holistic solution for parking and traffic flow for the extremely popular zoo and an iconic urban park that is home to some of the city's most important amenities. The zoo and the conservancy, which manages the park under contract with the city, have participated in mediation since March 24, following the City Council's approval of a resolution earlier that month giving control over much of the greensward to the zoo. To create the new spaces, the city will add on-street parking in the southern lane of North Parkway near Rhodes College, and the zoo will reconfigure its existing parking lot, following the recommendation of a recently released Overton Park Conservancy-commissioned parking and traffic study. Frankly, this move is low-hanging fruit ideas proposed during the administration of former mayor A C Wharton. Strickland deserves credit, though, for being able to get this done. The City Council, which made the controversy worse when it adopted the resolution, is planning to butt in again. That should be a cause for trepidation since some council members made it clear the greensward parking situation, in their opinion, is much ado about nothing. Chairman Kemp Conrad, anticipating a parking compromise between the zoo and the conservancy, said Friday the council is drafting a placeholder ordinance, which could put additional pressure on the zoo and the conservancy to find a long-term solution to the zoo using the grassy area in the park for overflow parking on peak attendance days. That would be a good thing if that is going to be the real reason for the proposed ordinance, and not a vehicle to get angry park advocates out of the council's hair. The opening of the zoo's newest exhibit, the Zambezi River Hippo Camp, last week is expected to draw even more visitors to the zoo, exacerbating the greensward parking issue. The compromise announced Thursday is placing an adhesive bandage on a major wound. Nonetheless, we hope it is the first step toward finding a permanent, viable solution. The zoo needs more parking, and the conservancy and other park advocates have a legitimate point that at some point the greensward has to stop being used as a parking lot. We have supported mediation as the best way to find a permanent solution. The zoo and conservancy are making progress on that front. Interference from 13 City Council members with 13 different agendas will only clog up the process. SHARE Philip Williams Cordova Fox News and other right-wing commentators have the audacity to try to blame President Obama and Hillary Clinton for the rise of the Islamic State. The George W. Bush administration falsely claimed an invasion of Iraq was needed because Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction that posed a threat to the United States and the world. The invasion of Iraq found no weapons of mass destruction, but brought about the needless deaths of 4,491 U.S. service members. The invasion also destabilized Iraq, allowing al-Qaida, which the Bush administration should have concentrated on destroying instead of invading Iraq, to grow stronger and also gave rise to the forces that would become the Islamic State. Had Bush done what he should have done, when he had the whole country and most of the world behind him, and focused on destroying al-Qaida, the world would be a much safer place today. Al-Qaida could have been eradicated, and the Islamic State would not exist. SHARE By Ann Friedman Even before most major news outlets confirmed that Prince had died, mournful posts began filling my timeline. First, there was denial: "No. No. No," a friend tweeted. "Not Prince . . . not Prince," wrote another. The other stages of grief soon followed. I scrolled past concert memories on Facebook. Instagram was full of stills from "Purple Rain" and, later, photos of Los Angeles City Hall, Niagara Falls and the Eiffel Tower lit purple. Prince's actual funeral was attended by just 20 close friends and family members. Online, millions of us mourned together. The outpouring was sincere, but also eerily familiar. Prince's death was a replay of David Bowie's in January, with echoes of the public mourning for the victims of the November terrorist attacks in Paris. Have we made an unspoken pact? When a death is newsworthy, we must grieve collectively now. Because of social media, everyday people feel pressure to grapple with questions of etiquette that, in previous decades, only celebrities in the public eye and subject to public criticism for perceived insensitivity had to address. If you've never traveled to Paris, is it necessary to denounce terrorism there? Is it enough to acknowledge the death of a well-known artist R.I.P., Prince or must you put together a heartfelt tribute? In fact, no one would take offense if some of us decided to skip a round of grieving if we decided not to change our avatars in memoriam. Probably no one would even notice. But perhaps that's beside the point. "Thinking about how we mourn artists we've never met," tweeted one woman after David Bowie died. "We don't cry because we knew them, we cry because they helped us know ourselves." In that vein, we seize upon celebrity deaths as yet another opportunity to express ourselves. The Fox sketch comedy show "Party Over Here" recently mocked online celebrity-death tributes as little more than self-congratulatory posturing. "Let us celebrate Jackie," says comedian Alison Rich, in a skit that supposes Jackie Chan has died, "but let us also remember to celebrate me." Brief exclamations of sorrow often precede lengthy remembrances. We tell our followers how listening to a deceased artist's lesser-known albums helped us survive high school, or just a rough night in high school. We expect and accept this routine, which seems more meaningful than simply saying, "I was a fan." But we also have standards. While grieving publicly, we feel we must avoid the appearance of self-promotion at all costs. Corporate marketers have learned this the hard way. After Prince's death, the official Cheerios account tweeted a purple background with the words, "Rest in Peace" on top. The "i" was dotted with a Cheerio, and the hashtag was #prince. Mourning fans were outraged by the opportunism of the tweet, which was soon taken down. There was a similar incident involving Hamburger Helper. Collective grief can be a balm. But sometimes weighing in feels more performative than personal. We need to reclaim the option of saying nothing at all to disconnect the association between remaining silent and not caring. We don't expect constant digital updates from someone who has recently lost a loved one, nor should we expect such missives from each other after a headline-grabbing tragedy or celebrity death. We should grant ourselves permission to stay out of the public mourning ritual, whether because we're not personally affected, or because we are affected so deeply we cannot immediately translate our grief to words. There is also comfort in silence. Ann Friedman is a contributing writer to the Los Angeles Times' opinion section. Select Commodity All Ajwan Alasande Gram Almond(Badam) Alsandikai Amaranthus Ambada Seed Amla(Nelli Kai) Amphophalus Antawala Anthorium Apple Apricot(Jardalu/Khumani) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar Dal(Tur Dal) Ashgourd Astera Avare Dal Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Balekai Bamboo Banana Banana - Green Barley (Jau) Bay leaf (Tejpatta) Beans Beaten Rice Beetroot Bengal Gram Dal (Chana Dal) Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Betal Leaves Bhindi(Ladies Finger) Bitter gourd Black Gram (Urd Beans)(Whole) Black Gram Dal (Urd Dal) Black pepper BOP Bottle gourd Bran Brinjal Broken Rice Broomstick(Flower Broom) Bull Bunch Beans Cabbage Calf Capsicum Cardamoms Carnation Carrot Cashewnuts Castor Seed Cauliflower Chapparad Avare Chennangi Dal Cherry Chikoos(Sapota) Chili Red Chilly Capsicum Chow Chow Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum(Loose) Cinamon(Dalchini) Cloves Cluster beans Cock Cocoa Coconut Coconut Oil Coconut Seed Coffee Colacasia Copra Coriander(Leaves) Corriander seed Cotton Cotton Seed Cow Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea(Veg) Cucumbar(Kheera) Cummin Seed(Jeera) Custard Apple (Sharifa) Dalda Dhaincha Drumstick Dry Chillies Dry Fodder Dry Grapes Duck Duster Beans Egg Elephant Yam (Suran) Field Pea Firewood Fish Foxtail Millet(Navane) French Beans (Frasbean) Galgal(Lemon) Garlic Ghee Gingelly Oil Ginger(Dry) Ginger(Green) Gladiolus Cut Flower Goat Gram Raw(Chholia) Gramflour Grapes Green Avare (W) Green Chilli Green Fodder Green Gram (Moong)(Whole) Green Gram Dal (Moong Dal) Green Peas Ground Nut Oil Ground Nut Seed Groundnut Groundnut (Split) Groundnut pods (raw) Guar Guar Seed(Cluster Beans Seed) Guava Gur(Jaggery) He Buffalo Hen Hippe Seed Honge seed Hybrid Cumbu Indian Beans (Seam) Indian Colza(Sarson) Isabgul (Psyllium) Jack Fruit Jaffri Jamun(Narale Hannu) Jarbara Jasmine Jowar(Sorghum) Jute Kabuli Chana(Chickpeas-White) Kacholam Kakada Kankambra Karamani Karbuja(Musk Melon) Kartali (Kantola) Khoya Kinnow Knool Khol Kodo Millet(Varagu) Kulthi(Horse Gram) Lak(Teora) Leafy Vegetable Lemon Lentil (Masur)(Whole) Lilly Lime Linseed Lint Litchi Little gourd (Kundru) Long Melon(Kakri) Lotus Lotus Sticks Lukad Mahedi Mahua Mahua Seed(Hippe seed) Maida Atta Maize Mango Mango (Raw-Ripe) Marasebu Marget Marigold(Calcutta) Marigold(loose) Mashrooms Masur Dal Mataki Methi Seeds Methi(Leaves) Millets Mint(Pudina) Moath Dal Mousambi(Sweet Lime) Mustard Mustard Oil Myrobolan(Harad) Neem Seed Niger Seed (Ramtil) Nutmeg Onion Onion Green Orange Orchid Ox Paddy(Dhan)(Basmati) Paddy(Dhan)(Common) Papaya Papaya (Raw) Patti Calcutta Peach Pear(Marasebu) Peas cod Peas Wet Peas(Dry) Pegeon Pea (Arhar Fali) Pepper garbled Pepper ungarbled Persimon(Japani Fal) Pigs Pineapple Plum Pointed gourd (Parval) Pomegranate Potato Pumpkin Raddish Ragi (Finger Millet) Raibel Rajgir Ram Rat Tail Radish (Mogari) Raya Resinwood Rice Ridge gourd(Tori) Ridgeguard(Tori) Rose(Local) Rose(Loose) Rose(Loose)) Round gourd Rubber Sabu Dan Sabu Dana Safflower Sajje Same/Savi Season Leaves Seemebadnekai Seetafal Seetapal Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) She Buffalo She Goat Sheep Snake gourd Snakeguard Soanf Soapnut(Antawala/Retha) Soapnut(Antawala/Retha) Soji Soyabean Spinach Sponge gourd Squash(Chappal Kadoo) Sugar Sugarcane Sunflower Sunhemp Suram Surat Beans (Papadi) Suva (Dill Seed) Suvarna Gadde Sweet Potato Sweet Pumpkin T.V. Cumbu T.V. Cumbu Tamarind Fruit Tamarind Seed Tapioca Taramira Tender Coconut Thinai (Italian Millet) Thogrikai Thondekai Tinda Tobacco Tomato Toria Tube Rose(Double) Tube Rose(Loose) Tube Rose(Single) Turmeric Turmeric (raw) Turnip Walnut Water Melon Wheat Wheat Atta White Peas White Pumpkin Wood Yam Yam (Ratalu) Select State Select Market Employees that need access to certain business data on the go can now build their own app for it using a tool from Microsoft that went into public beta on Friday. The company has announced that it's opening up its PowerApps app creation service to the world, after a private beta period that began last year. PowerApps allows line of business employees to take data from a variety of sources and create apps that run on phones and tablets without requiring them to do any coding. Developers' time is often constrained, so doing something like creating a mobile expense reporting app might not be a top priority, even if it would save time and money. Applications built with PowerApps, which can run on iOS, Android and the Web, can pull data from sources including Dropbox, OneDrive, Dynamics CRM and SharePoint Online. That's notable, since it shows Microsoft reaching outside its own products to include some that it competes with. Apps built with PowerApps can then be loaded into the PowerApps app on iOS and Android, and accessed on the go. The apps aren't full native mobile apps, so companies shouldn't think of it as something that could be used to create a product for consumers or for external use. When users first sign into PowerApps, they're greeted by a set of sample applications that help show them how to do things like track a budget. Once they're comfortable with the service, they can download the PowerApps Studio from the Windows Store onto a computer running Windows 10, and build applications with it. They can then make that application available for colleagues to use on their phones, tablets and the Web. Businesses that rely on Microsoft Access to build applications should pay particular attention to this launch, since this seems to be something that replaces the app-creation capabilities of Microsoft's prosumer database product. PowerApps's capabilities feel similar to some of what Access is capable of, and also extend those powers to mobile devices. Microsoft hasn't said that it plans to replace Access, but giving it major updates and improvements doesn't seem to be one of Microsoft's priorities. At the very least, PowerApps should be of interest to Access-reliant organizations because it could do what that application does better, even if Microsoft doesn't choose to replace it wholesale. With PowerApps, Microsoft is playing in a rough and tumble market, which includes Salesforce and SkyGiraffe, a startup that the company funded through its Microsoft Ventures program. The latter has said that it looks forward to competing with Microsoft in this arena. Database fans, start your clocks: Microsoft announced Monday that its new version of SQL Server will be out of beta and ready for commercial release on June 1. The news means that companies waiting to pick up SQL Server 2016 until its general availability can start planning their adoption. SQL Server 2016 comes with a suite of new features over its predecessor, including a new Stretch Database function that allows users to store some of their data in a database on-premises and send infrequently used data to Microsoft's Azure cloud. An application connected to a database using that feature can still see all the data from different sources, though. Another marquee feature is the new Always Encrypted function, which makes it possible for users to encrypt data at the column level both at rest and in memory. That's still only scratching the surface of the software, which also supports creating mobile business intelligence dashboards and new functionality for big data applications. SQL Server 2016 will come in four editions: Enterprise, Standard, Developer and Express. The latter two will be available for free, similar to what Microsoft offered with SQL Server 2014. In addition to its on-premises release, Microsoft will also have a virtual machine available on June 1 through its Azure cloud platform that will make it easy for companies to deploy SQL Server 2016 in the cloud. Many of the new features in SQL Server 2016 like Always Encrypted and Stretch Database are already available in Microsoft's Azure SQL Database managed service, but the virtual machine will be useful for companies that prefer to manage their own database infrastructure or that plan to roll out SQL Server 2016 on premises and want to test it in the cloud. All of this comes a few months after Microsoft shocked the world by announcing that it would also release SQL Server on Linux in the future. That's a powerful sign of Microsoft's strategy of making its tools available to users on a wide variety of platforms, even those that the company doesn't control. Microsoft last week outlined the timetable it will use to drop browser support for sites that secure traffic with SHA-1 certificates, part of an Internet-wide plan to rid the Internet of the weaker encryption. With the delivery of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update -- slated to ship sometime this summer -- both Internet Explorer (IE) and Edge will stop displaying a lock icon for sites that reply on a SHA-1 certificate. That icon signals that the bits back and forth between browser and website are encrypted, and so not vulnerable to spying. But Microsoft and other browser makers -- including Google and Mozilla -- have declared that SHA-1 certificates are unsafe because their encryption was insufficiently strong. Originally, the browser builders had agreed to stop trusting SHA-1-signed certificates on Jan. 1, 2017, but new research last year prompted them to consider a July 1, 2016 deadline. Security researchers have demonstrated that cybercriminals can craft fake SHA-1-based certificates, which they could then use to dupe users into believing that a counterfeit website was the real deal. Microsoft's IE and Edge won't actually block sites signed with a SHA-1 certificate until Feb. 14, 2017, that month's Patch Tuesday. Between this summer's removal of the lock icon and next year, users will be able to browse to such websites even though they will be marked as insecure. The first-stage changes to Edge and IE11 in Windows 10 will appear with the Anniversary Update for that OS, and simultaneously in separate updates to IE11 for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Microsoft said nothing about whether it would also update IE9, the sole company browser supported on Windows Vista. The omission may be due to Vista's impending April 2017 retirement. Google and Mozilla have also pledged to drop support for SHA-1 by Jan. 1, 2017, but both have said that they may accelerate that to July 1, 2016. Microsoft will update its Windows 10 Insider preview "soon," the company said in a Friday blog post, with the change to the lock icon. The Redmond, Wash., company has published technical information here about its plans to end support for SHA-1-signed certificates. This story, "Microsoft to begin SHA-1 crypto shutoff with Windows 10's summer upgrade" was originally published by Computerworld . Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright is bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, he claimed on his personal blog and in media interviews on Monday. Within hours, skeptics were pointing to flaws in his claims. Wright was first outed as the developer of the cryptocurrency by Wired magazine in December, but would not confirm the magazine's claims at the time. Days later the magazine said fresh evidence pointed to another possibility it had raised: that Wright may be a sophisticated hoaxer. But Wright really is Satoshi, he has claimed in interviews with the BBC, The Economist and GQ -- but not Wired. The BBC backed his claim enthusiastically, headlining it "Craig Wright revealed as Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto." The Economist was more measured: "Craig Steven Wright claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto. Is he?" Many readers are even more skeptical, but that's something Wright is resigned to. "Some people will believe, some people won't, and to tell the truth, I don't really care," Wright said in a video interview with the BBC. Satoshi's identity has been shrouded in mystery in the years since he withdrew from bitcoin development. His reappearance now could influence the future direction of bitcoin, including a key debate about the size of blocks in the blockchain. Wright posted instructions on his personal blog on Monday on how to verify the validity of a digital signature -- and implied that a gobbledygook-looking string of text -- "IFdyaWdodCwgaXQgaXMgbm90IHRoZSBzYW1lIGFzIGlmIEkgc2lnbiBDcmFpZyBXcmlnaHQsIFNhdG9zaGkuCgo=" -- was a digitally signed message with a signature matching the private encryption key used to sign the ninth block of the bitcoin blockchain, thus proving that he is the technology's inventor. However, a number of people are already disputing whether Wright's blog post proves anything at all. The mysterious string of text is not a digital signature at all, they say, but merely a Base-64 encoding of the end of an earlier paragraph in the blog post: "Wright, it is not the same as if I sign Craig Wright, Satoshi." Furthermore, say others, the encryption key linked to Satoshi that Wright uses is already publicly known as it is contained in the ninth block. Anyone with some knowledge of cryptography could have performed the same demonstration, they say. In his video interview with the BBC, Wright himself betrays this: "I am about to demonstrate the signing of a message with the public key that is associated with the first transaction ever done on bitcoin," he says. But in fact, it is the private key of a public-private key pair that is used to sign a message. Any signature associated with the ninth block of the bitcoin blockchain is significant because it contained a transaction transferring bitcoins from Satoshi to the late Hal Finney, a cryptographer and early bitcoin enthusiast. While the private key to the ninth block is extremely likely to have been controlled by Satoshi, Wright's production of a message signed with that key would not in itself be conclusive proof that he and Satoshi are one and the same: Someone else could have used the private key at some time in the past to sign the message Wright claims to have signed. Wright's refusal to sign a message chosen by someone else to demonstrate his possession of the key may be a sign that he cannot, as The Economist suggested. The ninth block in the blockchain is important for its link to Finney, but the real Satoshi would also have possessed the private keys used to sign still earlier blocks in the bitcoin blockchain, including the all-important first. Wright appeared to sign a message with the private key to the first block in a demonstration for The Economist but, the magazine warned, "Such demonstrations can be stage-managed; and information that allows us to go through the verification process independently was provided too late for us to do so fully." Nevertheless, the magazine said, Wright "seems to be in possession of the keys, at least for block 9." Wright's claims and demonstration were enough to convince two stalwarts of the bitcoin community, Jon Matonis and Gavin Andresen, who communicated electronically with Satoshi in the early days of bitcoin without ever knowing his true identity. Matonis, the founding director of the Bitcoin Foundation, corresponded with Satoshi in early 2010. He first ran into Wright at a conference on June 4, 2015, and that night told his wife he had "this weird feeling of having just met Satoshi," he wrote Monday morning in a blog post entitled, "How I met Satoshi." At proof sessions in London last month, Matonis wrote, Wright signed and verified a message in his presence using the private keys from newly generated coins in the first and ninth bitcoin blocks. "According to me, the proof is conclusive and I have no doubt that Craig Steven Wright is the person behind the Bitcoin technology, Nakamoto consensus, and the Satoshi Nakamoto name," Matonis wrote. As for Andresen, who took over from Satoshi as lead developer of the bitcoin software, Wright's demonstrations were equally convincing: "I believe Craig Steven Wright is the person who invented Bitcoin," he wrote on his blog on Monday. Andresen attended the same meetings in London as Matonis and the reporters from The Economist, the BBC and GQ. "An initial email conversation convinced me that there was a very good chance he was the same person Id communicated with in 2010 and early 2011. After spending time with him I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt: Craig Wright is Satoshi," Andresen wrote. So what made Wright decide to make his claim now? "I didn't decide," he told the BBC in a video interview. "I had people decide this matter for me. And they're making life difficult not for me but my friends, my family, my staff. I have staff here in London, I have staff overseas, and they want to be private, they don't want all of this to affect them. I don't want any of them to be impacted by this." Other news organizations hoping Wright will repeat his claims and his message-signing demonstration on camera are out of luck. "I'm going to come in front of the camera once, and I will never be on a camera, ever again, for any TV station or any media, ever," he said. Dells planned $67 billion acquisition of EMC will create a broad collection of businesses called Dell Technologies. Under that umbrella, the pure Dell name will live on in the companys client business, including its PCs, while its enterprise infrastructure division will be called Dell EMC, chairman and CEO Michael Dell announced on Monday at EMC World in Las Vegas. Dell Technologies will be the only company selling everything from edge devices to core data centers and cloud infrastructure, a mission that rival HP backed away from when it split into Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc., Dell said. He pitched the end-to-end strategy as a boon to customers who want a single partner that can do everything, letting them focus on business growth. You want technology made easier, Dell said. Dell Technologies will include all of whats called Dell today, plus EMCs core Information Infrastructure storage division, Pivotal, Virtustream, the partly public VMware and two security businesses: Dells SecureWorks and EMCs RSA unit. For EMC, owning a collection of semi-autonomous businesses and making them add up to something more is called federation, and it has come under attack from some investors and skeptics. On Monday, Dell called it a family and said Dell Technologies will be able to align its businesses and invest in new technologies at its own pace as a privately held company. The acquisition is on track under its original terms and timeline, Michael Dell said. The deal still needs regulatory and shareholder approvals. EMC Chairman and CEO Joe Tucci received a standing ovation as he addressed the annual conference for what is likely to be the last time, before introducing Dell. Tucci has been CEO since 2001, one of the longest tenures in the tech industry. EMC is joining Dell to take advantage of a revolution in technology brought about by cloud computing, the Internet of Things and agile software development, Tucci said. We have to rediscover the art of writing software, Tucci said. Thats going to take IT to new heights, and youll see IT budgets go up significantly. Qatar National Bank has admitted that its systems were hacked but said that the information released online was a combination of data picked up from the attack and from other sources such as social media. The incident would not have a financial impact on the banks customers whose accounts are secure the bank said, without providing details of how its systems were hacked, the possible identity of the hackers, and what information was harvested. The announcement Sunday by one of the leading financial institution in the Middle East follows the posting online last week of leaked documents. The attack only targeted a portion of Qatar-based customers, the bank said, claiming the hack attempted to target the banks reputation rather than specifically its customers. QNB Groups Risk Team monitored abnormal activity in our system environment, this was immediately communicated to relevant authorities, the bank said in a statement. We also took immediate steps and our systems are fully secure and operational. The 1.4GB trove of documents leaked online included both financial information such as customer transaction logs, personal identification numbers and credit card data, but on closer scrutiny was found to have folders with detailed profiles on specific individuals, including what appeared to be files on members of the Qatari royal family, employees of media outlet Al Jazeera, and people listed as working for the British MI6 and some other intelligence agencies, security firm Trend Micro said on Wednesday. The attackers used an open source SQL injection tool to extract all of the customer data they needed, wrote Simon Edwards, cyber security expert at Trend Micro. SQL injection is used against against websites which use SQL (structured query language) to query information from the database server. The log file suggests that the attack could have started about nine months ago in July last year, Edwards said. QNB said Tuesday that it would not comment on reports in social media of an alleged data breach, but sought to assure all concerned that there was no financial impact on the bank or its clients. A Turkish far-right group, called Bozkurtlar for Grey Wolves, has claimed responsibility for the bank breach, wrote security researcher Omar Benbouazza. The hack could be linked to the Syrian conflict, he added. The group has uploaded a video online, claiming its role in the hack. The bank made a big mistake using known vulnerable software in the targeted host, said Benbouazza, who also believes that the attackers used an SQL injection. Google Apps is getting a new set of tutorials. The tech giant announced Monday that it has acquired Synergyse, a startup that offered businesses a guided tutorial for Google Apps. Synergyse's technology allowed businesses to give their users step-by-step interactive guides to doing things inside Google Apps like sending emails in Gmail, setting up appointments in Calendar and getting started with Docs. The tutorials are frequently updated with new features that Google releases, so users can stay current with new functionality that gets added to the different services. Later this year, Google will integrate Synergyse's tutorials into Google Apps, so all Google's customers can have access to the services and get their employees up to speed on working in Apps. The reason for the acquisition is pretty clear: Google said that on average, Synergyse customers make 35 percent greater use of Apps compared to other companies that dont have the training service. By extending that capability to more Apps customers, Google should be able to increase adoption of its productivity software and make it less likely for businesses to switch to another service like Office 365. A representative for Google declined to disclose the terms of the deal. Existing Synergyse customers will continue to have access to the service now and after it has been integrated into Google Apps. The move is another sign of the company's increased emphasis on driving adoption of its productivity suite, especially among businesses. A major hurdle that Google faces when it comes to attracting existing businesses is helping administrators manage the transition between Office (or another productivity software suite) and Apps. Offering training for users who aren't comfortable with Google Apps may help the company pick up customers who might otherwise have stayed with what's comfortable. While some Canadian officials are worried about distracted driving in the future, such as drivers being too busy having sex in self-driving cars to be attentive to the vehicles take over command, Michigan lawmakers are so worried about car hacking that theyve proposed making it punishable by life in prison. Michigan Senators Ken Horn and Mike Kowall have proposed a cybersecurity bill aimed at hackers and connected and autonomous cars. While Senate Bill 928 (pdf) sets out the type of crime and corresponding sentencing guidelines for car hacking, Senate Bill 927 (pdf) spells out that car hacking will be a felony. Further down, the legislation says car hacking will be punishable by life in prison. I pasted that portion under the red line for your convenience to see it for yourself. Automotive News quoted Kowall as saying, I hope that we never have to use it. That's why the penalties are what they are. The potential for severe injury and death are pretty high. Some of these people are pretty clever. As opposed to waiting for something bad to happen, we're going to be proactive on this and try to keep up with technology. Of course we dont want to wait until hackers are remotely taking control and crashing cars before we figure out what should be done to malicious attackers, but if security researchers cant look for vulnerabilities without fear of life in prison, then arent we all less safe? Would we have been better off not to know that hackers could remotely seize control of a Jeep as it is speeding down the highway? I dont think so. 1.4 million vehicles were recalled to fix the flaw in Fiat Chryslers uConnect. How else would the vulnerability have been fixed? Last month, the FBI and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a warning about cars being increasingly vulnerable to hacking. It specifically mentioned the scary Jeep hack. Security awareness is a good thing, but locking up people who discover the flaws that lead to awareness is a terrible idea. If the bill was approved, it could signal a screeching halt to presentations such as the upcoming Remote Exploitation of an Unaltered Passenger Vehicle keynote to be given by Charlie Miller at the SecureWorld conference. Miller seems understandably aggravated, judging by an all-CAP tweet. His follow-up tweet suggests we could all be convicted of a car hacking felony in Michigan. And this is being proposed in Michigan, really? Ironically, Michigan is home of the University of Michigans Mcity, the worlds first controlled environment specifically designed to test the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies that will lead the way to mass-market driverless cars. The 32-acre full-scale simulated real-world urban environment has been used for testing by Ford. Testing the real potential of connected or semi-autonomous cars surely involves hacking for safety and security purposes? Michigan has Detroit, aka Motor City, and the state is also competing against California as the ultimate testing site for autonomous vehicles; in fact, Michigan used its harsh winters and real potholes as an argument for why it should be selected. All together, it makes Michigan a mighty strange place to try to pass a law which would lock car hackers up for life. Distracted drivers Regarding the Canadian concerns about distracted driving mentioned at the beginning of the article, CBC News quoted Barrie Kirk, of the Canadian Automated Vehicles Center of Excellence, as saying: I am predicting that, once computers are doing the driving, there will be a lot more sex in cars. That's one of several things people will do which will inhibit their ability to respond quickly when the computer says to the human, Take over. Kirk believes that once cars are fully self-driving, it may not be an easy task to ensure drivers are paying attention to the road and can assume control of the vehicle in case of an emergency. Maybe don't tell Michigan...it might be outlawed and punishable by being locked up for life. Nvidia and Samsung have avoided a potentially ugly court battle with a settlement that ends all outstanding intellectual property litigation between the two companies. Nvidia sued both Samsung and Qualcomm in September 2014, accusing them of infringing seven of Nvidia's GPU patents. Under Monday's agreement, Nvidia and Samsung will license "a small number" of patents to each other, though they said there's no broad cross-license agreement. There's also no financial payment. Nvidia's short statement makes no mention of Qualcomm, so the two may still be at loggerheads. Nvidia filed its complaints in federal district court and also with the U.S. International Trade Commission, asking it to block shipments of Galaxy phones and tablets with graphics processors from Qualcomm, ARM and Imagination Technologies. Samsung countersued Nvidia and Velocity Micro for patent infringement, and for supposedly false claims by Nvidia that its Tegra K1 was the world's fastest mobile processor. Samsung claimed its Exynos 5433 was faster in some benchmarks. The lawsuits disrupted otherwise peaceful relations between makers of ARM chips and opened the door to a potentially ugly court battle. Samsung's ARM-based chips are still used in mobile devices, but Nvidia has been focusing less on phones lately and more on automobiles, virtual reality and PCs. Nvidia declined to comment further on the agreement and Samsung said it was "happy to resolve this dispute through a fair settlement." At the time, Nvidia said it was the first intellectual property lawsuit it had initiated against another company in its 21-year history. Ashland Electric Products Inc. of Rochester won a $142,266 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency for centrifugal fans. L-3 Communications Corp. of Londonderry, won a $100,770 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency for night vision image intensifier housings. MPB Corp. of Lebanon won a $74,888 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency for airframe roller bearings. MPB Corp. dba Timken Aerospace of Lebanon won a $52,637.40 federal contract modification from the Defense Logistics Agency for cylindrical roller bearings. Gentex Corp. of Manchester won a $41,313.58 federal contract modification from the Defense Logistics Agency for special purpose electrical cable assemblies. Continental Microwave & Tool Co. Inc. of Exeter won a $36,584 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency for radio frequency cable assemblies. Lyme Computer Systems Inc. of Lyme won a $34,002.04 federal contract set aside for small business from the U.S. Department of Labor for information technology equipment. Historic Homes Inc. of Salisbury won a $16,600 federal contract set aside for small business from the U.S. Forest Service for floor stabilization. The place of performance will be at the Russell-Colbath Historic House in Albany. Targeted News Service Lord Flight is Chairman of Flight & Partners Recovery Fund, and is a former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The disgraceful conduct of the BMA, which behaves like the worst of the trade unions prior to the Thatcher Reforms, has not had adequate exposure. It told its members that the proposed new contract which offers a 13.5 per cent increase in basic pay, an overall pay increase for 75 per cent of the workforce and a guarantee of no pay cuts for anyone would slash their salaries by 30-40 per cent. The BMA has been negotiating with the Government for three years, during which time there have been three independent processes to broker a settlement and 75 negotiation meetings. The Government has granted 73 concessions towards the BMAs position. Yet the BMA says it will only drop the strike if it is allowed to resume its obstructive tactics. Young doctors have been wickedly misled by the BMA to break the Hippocratic Oath although one in five has had the bravery to cross the picket lines. 125,000 operations and appointments have already been cancelled by 45,000 doctors. This is disgraceful. Not only is the pay deal offered very reasonable, but also young doctors should remember that the taxpayer has invested huge sums in their training. Part of the reason for the BMAs aggressive behaviour is that the last Labour Government caved in to its demands for large extra pay and reduced out of hours responsibilities after the BMA declared war over attempts to reform the consultant contract in 2003. Labour gave the consultants a 27 per cent pay rise, along with the right for the first time to opt out of weekend work. Labour also oversaw the 2004 GP contract which increased salaries by 50 per centand so enabled GPs to take up the offer to allow them, for the first time, to opt out of providing out of hours care. The BMA negotiators later admitted they could not believe their luck. The costs of the NHS have risen from about 20 billion a year when John Major was Prime Minister to 145 billion a year forecast for 2016/17. An independent report has found that 43 per cent of the additional NHS funding has gone on higher pay and prices, largely resulting from Labours cave in on pay in 2003/04. Proper manning of hospitals at weekends, moving to a seven-day service, represent a sensible and correct use of resources, because an ageing population and new clinical techniques are increasing the demands on the NHS. Jeremy Hunt is correct to stand his ground, and should have greater support from both the total community of doctors and the public. The BMA needs dealing with, although it is worth noting that many doctors do not now join it. It has knowingly misled up to 45,000 junior doctors to substitute a hypocritical oath for their Hippocratic Oath. The letter from the BMA to junior doctors wrongly assures them that patients safety is the responsibility of hospitals and NHS Trusts, not individual doctors. The BMA has even circulated advice stating that doctors should feel no obligation to take responsibility nor return to work if disaster struck at their hospital, unless agreed by their Union contrary to the meaning of the Hippocratic Oath. It is clear that the unrealistic objective of the BMA is to topple the Government. I just hope those young doctors whom the BMA has misled to go on strike will wake up to how they are being exploited by the BMA. I thought that I should say something about the EU Referendum. It strikes me the Governments fear campaign has been over the top and is, if anything, having a contrary impact. People did not like Barack Obama being sent in to tell us what to do, and the main thing that people remember was that the President used the English word queue rather than its American equivalent line, indicating he had clearly been set up! George Osbornes dodgy Treasury dossier went over most peoples heads. Those who understand such territory quickly spotted it was not based on fact but on highly debatable assumptions, with results that were magnified by Gordon Brown-type accounting cheating. The Treasury considered the widest possible concept of income as GDP per household, where they should have taken disposable income per household: the GDP difference was divided not by the number of households, predicted to be 31 million in 2030, but by todays smaller number of 27 million both slights of hands boosting the alleged cost of Brexit. The extent to which the Chancellor claims we will be poorer is a bogus calculation of what is anyway a bogus concept. The range of independent forecasts of the impact on GDP of leaving the EU varies from minus 6 per cent to plus 10 per cent. People also felt that the Government had cheated in going against what Parliament had advised in producing its 9m pro-EU membership propaganda document full of errors and questionable assumptions. It appears, however, that few people have actually read it! The Remain Campaign is starting to run out of heavies to prompt to give dire warnings, where its key weakness is that it has little or nothing positive to say with regard to the claimed advantages of EU membership. It tried to make much of the role of the EU in keeping us safe from terrorists, but Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of M16 boss, has put paid to that. As he pointed out, our security and peace over the last half century have stemmed not from the EU but from NATO. We share serious intelligence only with the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Senior security figures privately deride EU intelligence sharing as of limited benefit. As Sir Richard pointed out, there could be positive benefits from Brexit, given the enhanced border controls and the extradition powers the UK could introduce outside the EU. Nadhim Zahawi is a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and MP for Stratford On Avon. As London faces the decision on Thursday about who should be the new Mayor, many politicians in the Labour party have, during the last few weeks, been accusing Zac Goldsmith of running a racist campaign. Its the same old accusation from the same old Labour party. If youre not comfortable with something, get up on your high horse, claim someones racist until theyve been shouted down and then you can go home and convince yourself youve won the argument. Quite frankly, it is appalling for the accusation of racism an accusation that is one of the most serious that can be made to be thrown around and used to make political points and to provide protection against questions that need to be asked. This use grossly devalues the term of racism. It detracts from the suffering of people faced with real racism; whether theyre attacked in the street, or find themselves unable to find a job because their name or face doesnt quite fit. Anyone that has actually felt the sting of racism for themselves should be disgusted with its use in this pathetic way. Why do I feel so strongly about Labour throwing around this term? Firstly, because Sadiq Khan has genuine questions to answer. Ive known Sadiq for many years, having both served together on Wandsworth Council in the 1990s and I know he is not a radical Islamist. But no one is saying he is. Hes simply being asked why he has, not just once but repeatedly, allowed himself to be associated with a number of individuals who have expressed abhorrent opinions, again and again. As a man who wishes to run London, he should answer questions about judgement without hiding behind cries of racism. The idea that Zac Goldsmith, or any other Conservative is raising these issues because they have a problem with Sadiq being a Muslim is a joke. Has there been an outcry amongst my party whenever a Muslim, or any other individual from an ethnic minority background has ascended to be a councillor, an MP or a Secretary of State? No: in the modern Conservative party every person from every background has been supported, valued, and encouraged. I should know. The invalidity of this accusation, and the obviousness of its weakness is shown by Yvette Coopers about-face on the subject. When she was running against Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour leadership contest just eight months ago, remember- she was saying that he should distance himself from those who have quite extreme views, homophobic and pushing homophobic abuse and pushing extremist abuse. Now that Zac has said much the same about Sadiq she has said that it is a full blown racist scream. Is it seriously only legitimate to ask such questions of a white man but not, in exactly the same terms, of a Muslim? If this was genuinely their thought process, it would be a case of patronising oversensitivity, but its not. The difference is not one of race, but one of party. Sadiq Khan is Labour, and Zac Goldsmith is a Conservative. Therefore its legitimate for Cooper to question Corbyn, but Zac cannot do the same to Sadiq. In reality, it is throwing around the accusation of racism for party political ends, to help a Labour candidate win an election, and it has been disgraceful to see. Questions still need to be asked about the judgement of Sadiq Khan and Jeremy Corbyn. They are both putting themselves forward for difficult positions of great responsibility. No one wishes to see Hamas being invited to Downing Street, or anti-Semites visiting City Hall and they have met with these people, and spoken alongside them on many occasions. If their attitudes to legitimising these people has changed, then thats great. But we need to know why it has changed, and how they came to realisation that it is wrong to legitimise them. I cannot see how asking this is anything other than reasonable Of course weve seen people being called racist for asking valid questions before. Just remember the last Labour Government, when anyone questioning their open door immigration policy was accused of being racist. They couldnt have been worried about the increase in demand for hospitals, schools or housing; they were just racist idiots. Or as the former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said in one case, just bigoted. Its sad that despite claiming theyd learned their lesson on immigration, Labour quickly reached for the racism card, cynically and offensively. It is even more galling that these accusations come at the time when another Labour MP stands accused of having made and supported anti-Semitic statements. Statements that included the relocation of Israel from the Middle East; this is not legitimate questioning of Israeli policy, but a suggestion that fits the description of ethnic cleansing. And in the context of a procession of anti-Semitic scandals involving a number of Labour members and councillors making other disgraceful comments, it just beggars belief that the party can still feel comfortable throwing racism around to silence others. So no, Labour. I will not take a lecture on racism from you. Racism is awful, it blights too many lives in this country and it must be tackled by everyone; but we cannot allow false accusations of racism to be used in this way. It has to stop. The question was whether or not David Cameron and George Osborne and other Remain campaigners or Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and other Leave campaigners or all four and both campaigns equally are most to blame for the dangers to party unity after the EU referendum ends. We also listed a blame-the-press option, as follows: There is no substantial danger to party unity after the EU referendum ends. The media is simply getting over-excited as usual. The replies from our Party member respondents broke down as follows: 52 per cent said Cameron, Osborne and the Remain campaign is most to blame. 16 per cent said that Boris, Gove and the Leave campaign is most to blame. 11 per cent said blame should be shared equally. And 20 per took the its-all-a-media-storm-in-a-teacup option. Not a helpful finding for Downing Street. Elsewhere, on our regular voting intention for the referendum question, there is no movement at worth noting. Definitely for Remain: 19 per cent ( + 2 per cent). Definitely for Leave: 59 per cent ( 1 per cent). Leaning to Remain: 9 per cent ( + 1 per cent). Leaning to Leave: 10 per cent ( 3 per cent). Yet again, the sheer consistency of the survey shines through the returns. SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox. Close UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor is back yapping and is expectedly looking for ways to get himself back into UFC 200. His original tiff, a rematch with Nate Diaz was pulled recently after the Irishman refused to take part in the promotional tour for UFC 200. With McGregor citing that he wanted to prepare and redeem himself following the second round submission at UFC 196, The Notorious found himself out of the main event. To date, Nate Diaz is still without an opponent though it is possible he too could be pulled. Diaz made it clear that he is only interested in McGregor and no one else. Replacing the botched main event was a rematch as well. Instead of a McGregor vs. Diaz rematch, Jon Jones returns to face UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. Knowing the drama and rivalry between the two fighters, such drowned all potential disappointment of not seeing McGregor once more. McGregor has however not completely closed the door on being at UFC 200 which will be held at the T-Mobile Arena on July 9. Technically he is sort of promoting his rematch with Diaz though on a different medium which is Instagram. A video posted by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on May 1, 2016 at 4:21am PDT His efforts of drawing support to pressure Dana White and the UFC is unlikely to work with the cards already set. Listen, Conors going to fight again, White said via MMA Junkie. Hes going to fight at UFC 201, 202, 203 whatever the deal might be. whats next when that plays out. But (UFC) 200 is the fight everybodys been looking to for a long time. It is what it is. The shows going to roll on, and Conor will fight again. With more than a month to go, it will be interesting if any changes will allow McGregor back in. If not, the Irishmans future is equally interesting. With UFC 200 officially out for now, it will be interesting where McGregor will be fighting next. A rematch with Diaz is still hanging but there is also his actual title that needs to be defended. In fact his challenger will be known at UFC 200 as well. Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar will be slugging it out to determine the interim champion and the winner will get the change to lay his hands on McGregor moving forward. Both are eager to get their hands on the Irishman so that could stand out as a better matchup than a rematch with Diaz. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Printer Friendly Version For A New Rendezvous With Dr Ambedkar By Subhash Gatade 02 May, 2016 Countercurrents.org ..These are no ordinary times to discuss Dalit vision* or rather reach a consensus around what could be called Dalit Vision.You have on the one hand the upheaval witnessed in the country especially among educated young dalits and broader democratic sections symbolised by the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula and the mass movement which it has generated and at the other end of the spectrum renowned Dalit leaders paying obeisance before rabid reactionary forces. You have on the one hand slogans of Jai Bhim and Lal Salaam being raised in unison on campuses across the country and on the other the process of mythologising Dr Ambedkar and marginalising his meaning being underway nonetheless. Today as we embark on the task of understanding/analysing/debating Dalit Vision we have before us its multiple readings. A new radical reading of it visible in the experiences of the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle at IIT Madras or Ambedkar Students Association at HCU or at the other end of the spectrum people who venerate globalisation as the panacea of Dalit's ills or tell us that with advance of capitalism castes will vanish away are also there to proclaim that they are the true legatee of this vision. In fact a possibility does exist that the emancipatory thrust in this worldview is slowly being marginalised on the altar of pragmatic politics or around our immediate concerns of daily life. As an aside it is important to remember that Dr Ambedkar did have apprehensions about it and had cautioned his followers to this effect. It is one of the most poignant moments of his life that in a public meeting held in Agra in Feb 1956 - where there was a large gathering of newly educated youth from oppressed communities - he literally became emotional (in fact the late Prof Tulsi Ram has written that he literally cried) when he realised that they were not bothered about society or other depressed sections. 2. How does one proceed then to define/debate/discuss Dalit Vision in the present context, which is 'beyond rhetoric, decorative politicos and Brahminical hegemony? One way is to 'collect' all those 'visions' or readings and find some commonality from them. Definitely an impossible task ! What commonality could be derived from a 'vision' whose one manifestation supports status quoist politics and the other opposes it. Perhaps the best option available is to not to look at its present day exponents or its various manifestations available but its best exponent ever and see how he envisioned things, how he analysed 'his' present or how he forecasted 'future', what sort of cautions he shared with his comrades to be taken note of and taking him as our pole star look at 'our' present, and define Dalit Vision for our times. This revisiting would also serve another purpose. We have been witness to a new brand of converts supposedly to Ambedkar's worldview who have started claiming him more aggressively these days surpassing even his loyal followers. Our search would also help demonstrate how the forefathers of these new converts derided him when he was alive and even after his death and how he opposed their politics tooth and nail and cautioned his followers about it. Today when they are competing with each other to lay claim over his legacy let us not forget that one of their ideologues had even penned a few hundred page monograph 'Worshipping False Gods' in mid-nineties - which spew venom against Dr Ambedkar (http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/falsifying-the-truth/203929) - an act for which he was suitably rewarded by them when they held reins of power at the centre for the first time, an act for which one is yet to see any apology or self-criticism from them. 3. Everybody would agree that it is challenging task to encapsulate a great wo/man's vision in a few words- who as a public figure has impacted not only her/his generation but future generations, initiated or channelised debates in the society, led struggles, mobilised people, wrote thousands of pages and left a legacy for all of us to carry forward ? And within a short timespan available before us it is next to impossible to look at Ambedkar's complete journey or rather quest to usher into - what Prof Gopal Guru writes - 'enlightened, inclusive India' from a 'bahishkrut' India. To save time one can focus more on the last decade of his life - the most tumultuous period in his as well as the newly independent nation's life - to know the important concerns which bothered his mind and how he envisioned the future trajectory of the movement he led and how he tried to chart a roadmap for the nascent nation with due support/cooperation and at times resistance from leading stalwarts of his time. It is true that such a focus would obviously rob us of an opportunity to look at the historic MahadSatyagrah - which we in Marathi call as 'Mahad Kranti' (1927) an important milestone in his political life, neither we will be able to look at the historic rally he organised against KhotPratha- a feudal practice - alongwith Communists, or his growing disillusionment with Hinduism witnessed after the unsuccessful Satyagrah for temple entry at 'KalaramMandir, Nashik' which continued for five years, the way he formed Independent Labour Party or how he told his followers (in his speech to Dalit Rail Workers) that they have to fight the twin enemies of 'Capitalism' and 'Brahminism' etc and many other milestones of his life. 4. First of all what was his vision for independent India or how he looked at a future roadmap for India. Yes, he has been rightly called the Chief architect of the Constitution and it was his intervention/presence - definitely with due support from Nehru and others - that he could include important pro-people or pro-dispriviledged provisions into it but we cannot be under any illusion that it was only 'his vision' which triumphed ultimately. The making of constitution itself was marked by pressures and counterpressures - from believers of radical change to the status quoists - and what came out can at best could be called a compromise document between various contending forces, ideas. Dr Ambedkar's separation between beginning of political democracy in India with the advent of one man one vote regime and the long hiatus he viewed for ushering into social democracy- regime of one man one value while dedicating constitution to the nation was in fact a reminder of the fact that the struggle is still not over. At another place he similarly underlined the limitations of such a constitutional exercise in a backward society like ours Indians today are governed by two ideologies. Their political ideal set in the preamble of the constitution affirms a life of liberty, equality and fraternity whereas their social ideal embedded in their religion denies it to them (As an aside let me mention here that I continue to have my reservations about Dr Ambedkar's participation in the making of constitution. What would have been the course of history if he would have decided to remain outside and fought for inclusion of pro-people provisions? While one can marvel at the strategic move by Gandhi who insisted for his inclusion - despite his lifelong struggle against Congress - but why Dr Ambedkar felt compelled to take up the work.Of course, that is for another time to sort out. ) And if we are keen to know his 'vision' about a future India then it can be discerned in the less discussed monograph 'States and Minorities : What are Their Rights and How to Secure them in the Constitution of Free India' which was basically a '[m]emorandum on the Safeguards for the Scheduled Castes for being submitted to the Constituent Assembly on behalf of the Scheduled Castes Federation' he led. (http://www.ambedkar.org/ambcd/10A.%20Statesand%20Minorities%20Preface.htm) The said monograph by the political organisation he led then does not limit itself to 'safeguards' but also talks of danger of majoritarianism, incompatibility of Hinduism with any change, and also suggests model of economic development which he himself describes as 'state socialism' 5. It would be quite enlightening for many of us how in the same monograph he envisaged that 'state shall not recognise any religion as state religion' and 'guarantee to every citizen liberty of conscience' but coming to the aspect of protection against economic exploitation declared that 'key industries shall be owned and run by the state' and even basic industries 'shall be owned by the state and run by the state'. He was of the opinion that 'agriculture shall be state industry 'where - state shall divide the land acquired into farms of standard size, and farm shall be cultivated as a collective farm, in accordance with rules and directions by the government and 'tenants shall share among themselves in the manner prescribed the produce of the farm left after the payment of charges properly leviable on the farm' He further explains this clause in the following words: 'The main purpose behind the clause is to put an obligation on the State to plan the economic life of the people on lines which would lead to highest point of productivity without closing every avenue to private enterprise, and also provide for the equitable distribution of wealth. The plan set out in the clause proposes State ownership in agriculture with a collectivised method of cultivation and a modified form of State Socialism in the field of industry.'..'State Socialism is essential for the rapid industrialisation of India. Private enterprise cannot do it and if it did it would produce those inequalities of wealth which private capitalism has produced in Europe and which should be a warning to Indians. Consolidation of Holdings and Tenancy legislation are worse than useless.' Interestingly he does not propose that the idea of state socialism should be left to legislatures but by 'law of the constitution.' The plan has two special features. One is that it proposes State Socialism in important fields of economic life. The second special feature of the plan is that it does not leave the establishment of State Socialism to the will of the Legislature. It establishes State Socialism by the Law of the Constitution and thus makes it unalterable by any act of the Legislature and the Executive.' 6. In the same monograph he clearly differentiates between 'Untouchables' and 'Hindus'. Gone were the days when he felt that Hinduism would reform itself from within and also it had been more than a decade that he had declared at Yeola conference that he 'may be born a Hindu but he will not die a Hindu'. He is unequivocal about the 'Hindu population which is hostile to them (untouchables)' and emphasises that it is 'not ashamed of committing any inequity or atrocity against them'. He is also not hopeful about their situation under Swaraj what can Swaraj mean to the Untouchables ? It can only mean one thing, namely, that while today it is only the administration that is in the hands of the Hindus, under Swaraj the Legislature and Executive will also be in the hands of the Hindus, it goes without saying that such a Swaraj would aggravate the sufferings of the Untouchables. For, in addition to an hostile administration, there will be an indifferent Legislature and a callous Executive. The result will be that the administration unbridled in venom and in harshness, uncontrolled by the Legislature and the Executive, may pursue its policy of inequity towards the Untouchables without any curb. To put it differently, under Swaraj the Untouchables will have no way of escape from the destiny of degradation which Hindus and Hinduism have fixed for them... He was very much aware about the dangers of majoritarianism implicit in the way Indian nationalism has developed which according to him [h]as developed a new doctrine which may be called the Divine Right of the Majority to rule the minorities according to the wishes of the majority. Any claim for the sharing of power by the minority is called communalism while the monopolizing of the whole power by the majority is called Nationalism. And to protect the rights of the minorities (remember he does not restrict himself with religious minorities here but also includes the 'scheduled castes' in his definition) he proposes a form of executive which could serve following purposes (i) To prevent the majority from forming a Government without giving any opportunity to the minorities to have a say in the matter. (ii) To prevent the majority from having exclusive control over-administration and thereby make the tyranny of the minority by the majority possible. (iii) To prevent the inclusion by the Majority Party in the Executive representatives of the minorities who have no confidence of the minorities. (iv) To provide a stable Executive necessary for good and efficient administration. In fact, his fears vis-a-vis the majoriatarian impulses were evident in the political manifesto of the Scheduled Castes Federation itself the political outfit which was set up by him in 1942 which rejected the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha as reactionary organizations. The Scheduled Castes Federation will not have any alliance with any reactionary party such as the Hindu Mahasabha or the RSS, (See Vol 10 of Dr BhimraoRamjiAmbedkarCharitragranth, a Marathi book by ChangdevBhavanraoKhairmode, or refer to http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2016/04/appropriating-ambedkar#sthash.b53dwFL4.dpuf) And anyone who has looked at the making of Indian constitution would tell us why he considered them 'reactionary' parties. History is witness to the fact that they opposed its making and suggested in their organs that instead of a new constitution, the newly independent nation should adopt Manusmriti. A laughable suggestion right now but was seriously raised by its proponents. The worst [thing] about the new Constitution of Bharat, is that there is nothing Bharatiya about it [T]here is no trace of ancient Bharatiya constitutional laws, institutions, nomenclature and phraseology in it...no mention of the unique constitutional developments in ancient Bharat. Manus laws were written long before Lycurgus of Sparta or Solon of Persia. To this day his laws as enunciated in the Manusmriti excite the admiration of the world and elicit spontaneous obedience and conformity [among Hindus in India]. But to our constitutional pundits that means nothing. (Excerpts of Editorial on Constitution, Organiser' November 30, 1949, whose final draft had just been presented to the Constituent Assembly by Ambedkar. In his monograph 'Pakistan or Partition of India' he reiterates his fears vis-a-vis the possible majoritarian turn at the hands of those who vouched for 'Hindu Raj' If Hindu Raj does become a fact, it will no doubt, be the greatest calamity for this country. No matter what the Hindus say, Hinduism is a menace to liberty, equality and fraternity. On that account it is incompatible with democracy. Hindu Raj must be prevented at any cost. Ambedkar, Pakistan or Partition of India, p. 358 7. Much on the lines of lack of debate/discussion around 'States and Minorities' another important intervention during that period led by him has also received little attention. It was related to the struggle for Hindu Code Bill and happened to be the first attempt in independent India to reform Hindu personal laws to give greater rights to Hindu women. Attempt was to put a stamp on monogamy and also ensure separation rights to Women and also grant them rights in property. We know very well that it was a key reason that Ambedkar resigned from the Cabinet led by Nehru because he felt that despite lot of attempts not much headway could be made in granting these rights. In his resignation letter he underlined the importance he attached to the bill To leave inequality between class and class, between sex and sex, which is the soul of Hindu Society untouched and to go on passing legislation relating to economic problems is to make a farce of our Constitution and to build a palace on a dung heap. This is the significance I attached to the Hindu Code. - (See more at: http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2016/04/appropriating-ambedkar#sthash.b53dwFL4.dpuf) It is now history how the Hindutva Right and the Conservative Sections within the Congress coupled with the Saffron robed Swamis and Sadhus had joined hands to oppose the enactment of Hindu Code Bill. In fact, this motley combination of reactionary, status quoist forces did not limit itself to issuing statements it opposed the bill on the streets and led large scale mobilisation at pan India level against the bill. There were occasions when they even tried to storm Dr Ambedkar's residence in Delhi. The main argument peddled against Ambedkar was that the bill was an attack on 'Hindu Religion and Culture' One can get an idea of the resistance to the bill listening to the intervention by AcharyaKriplani on the floor of the house. While supporting the bill he said "I am afraid I do not see the point in Hindu religion being in danger, Hindu religion is not in danger when Hindus are thieves, rogues, black marketeers and bribe-takers. Hindu religion is not endangered by people who want to reform a particular law . May be, they are over zealous, but it is better to be over zealous in things idealistic than be corrupt in material things. " .. AcharyaKripalani on the floor of the house while discussing Hindu Code Bill, (24 Dec 1949, Economic Weekly) An excerpt from RamchandraGuha's book gives an idea about the resistance to the bill. The anti-Hindu code bill committee held hundreds of meetings throughout India, where sundry swamis denounced the proposed legislation. The participants in this movement presented themselves as religious warriors (dharmaveer) fighting a religious war (dharmayudh). The RashtriyaSwayamsewakSangh threw its weight behind the agitation. On the 11th of December, 1949, the RSS organised a public meeting at the Ramlila grounds in Delhi, where speaker after speaker condemned the bill. One called it an atom bomb on Hindu society The next day a group of RSS workers marched on the assembly buildings, shouting Down with Hindu code bill The protesters burnt effigies of the prime minister and Dr Ambedkar, and then vandalised the car of Sheikh Abdullah. ('India after Gandhi', Guha ; See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/bhagwats-ambedkar/#sthash.6ZNPVwHq.dpuf) Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of BJPs predecessor, the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, had said the Bill would shatter the magnificent structure of Hindu culture. In fact, like Mahatma Phule - whom he called the 'Greatest Shudra' and included him in the triumvirate of Buddha, Kabir whom he considered to be his teachers - the concern for women's emancipation always existed in movement led by Ambedkar. 8. I will accept and follow the teachings of Buddha. I will keep my people away from the different opinions of Hinyan and Mahayan, two religious orders. Our BouddhaDhamma is a new BouddhaDhamma, Navayan. Dr.BabasahebAmbedkar,Press interview on 13 October 1956 at Sham Hotel, Nagpur An important development in the last decade of his life was his decision to embrace Buddhism with lakhs of followers. Apart from his deep fascination for Buddhism from younger days, his conversion to Buddhism had also to do with his contention that the 'untouchables' were in fact former Buddhists. He elaborates it in his book 'The Untouchables: A Thesis on the Origin of Untouchability(1948). ( For details : https://kafila.org/2016/04/26/jayadeva-uyangoda-on-ambedkars-legacy/) Thus it could be also said to be return to 'their' original religion than a conversion. Interestingly one finds deep commonality between Dr Ambedkar and JyotheeThass, the great Tamil-Buddhist Scholar, who also maintained that 'Untouchables' were early Buddhists. His 'conversion' to Buddhism was also renouncement of Hinduism which according to him had '[p]roved detrimental to progress and prosperity of my predecssors and which has regarded human beings as unequal and despicable' ( See Pledge 19) If one refers to the 22 pledges he administered to the followers on the occasion then one can broadly categorise them into four -complete rejection of Hindu gods (e.g. I will not accept Brahma,Vishnu and Mahesh as God and will not worship them) and their worship and the related rituals (I will not perform shraddhaPaksh or Pind Dana(Rituals to respect the dead), acceptance of the principles and teachings of Buddhism, declaration that 'all human beings are equal' and 'no faith in divine incarnation'. An important aspect of this 'return' or 'conversion' is the fact that it was also a reinterpretation of Buddhism which he described as Navayan - a new vehicle. Apart from a big monograph 'Buddha and His Dhamma' where he tries to revisit Buddha one can get a glimpse of his reading of Buddha and his teachings from the speech he delivered in Kathmandu, merely a fortnight before his death which was posthumously published as 'Buddha Or Karl Marx.' (http://www.ambedkar.org/ambcd/20.Buddha%20or%20Karl%20Marx.htm) Summarising 'The Creed of Buddhism' he while underlining necessity of 'religion for a free society' says many things which would be rather unacceptable to a scholar or follower of religion where he seems to reject the 'necessity of God' as well as Shastrasand rituals . Like he says 'Religion must relate to facts of life and not to theories and speculations about God, or Soul or Heaven or Earth' 'It is wrong to make God the centre of Religion.', It is wrong to make salvation of the soul as the centre of Religion, It is wrong to make animal sacrifices to be the centre of religion; real Religion lives in the heart of man and not in the Shastras ; Man and morality must be the centre of religion. If not, Religion is a cruel superstition; It is not enough for Morality to be the ideal of life. Since there is no God it must become the law of life.' Ambedkar differentiates himself from popular definitions of religion first by criticising the way religion(s) have tried to explain origin and end of world around and says that its 'function is to to reconstruct the world and to make it happy'. And he further explores source of unhappiness and does not talk about 'sins' or 'otherworldly affairs' but says that 'unhappiness in the world is due to conflict of interest and the only way to solve it is to follow the AshtangaMarga' Further elaborating on 'Creed of Buddhism' he says that 'private ownership of property brings power to one class and sorrow to another' and 'it is necessary for the good of Society that this sorrow be removed by removing its cause' While religions the world over have remained the basis of 'othering' - which in extreme cases have resulted in big genocides also - Buddhism as perceived by Ambedkar ' All human beings are equal' 'Worth and not birth is the measure of man'. While supporting 'War for truth and justice' and also emphasising that 'Victor has duties towards the Vanquished' in the last portion of his summary of creed of Buddhism', he not only challenges monopoly of the few over learning (Every one has a right to learn. Learning is as necessary for man to live as food is) , he also discusses that ' Everything is subject to the law of causation' and 'nothing is final,; Nothing is infallible. Nothing is binding forever. Everything is subject to inquiry and examination' 'Nothing is permanent or sanatan. Everything is subject to change. Being is always becoming.' 9. This speech - as the title shows - also throws light on his views about Marxism. Of course it is not for the first time that he had expressed his views on the theme. In his famous booklet 'Annihilation of Caste' he had already made it clear that while he appreciates goal of Marxism but is repelled by its Indian Practioners. In this speech also he declares that 'Buddha is not away from Marx' if 'for misery one reads exploitation', For him non-violence is not an issue of principle. 'The Buddha was against violence. But he was also in favour of justice and where justice required he permitted the use of force. ' Ambedkar further writes that 'Violence cannot be altogether dispensed with. Even in non-communist countries a murderer is hanged. Does not hanging amount to violence? Non-communist countries go to war with non-communist countries. Millions of people are killed. Is this no violence? If a murderer can be killed, because he has killed a citizen, if a soldier can be killed in war because he belongs to a hostile nation why cannot a property owner be killed if his ownership leads to misery for the rest of humanity? There is no reason to make an exception in favour of the property owner, why one should regard private property as sacrosanct.' He also underlines that even 'Buddha established Communism so far as the Sangh was concerned' The Russians are proud of their Communism. But they forget that the wonder of all wonders is that the Buddha established Communism so far as the Sangh was concerned without dictatorship. It may be that it was a communism on a very small scale but it was communism without dictatorship a miracle which Lenin failed to do. Of course he underlines that 'The Buddha's method was different. His method was to change the mind of man: to alter his disposition: so that whatever man does, he does it voluntarily without the use of force or compulsion. Perhaps the last para in his speech he makes concluding remarks in this debate and seems to validate [what friend AnandTeltumbde calls] 'his decision as confirming to Marxism, minus violence and dictatorship in the latter.' (http://www.countercurrents.org/teltumbde160812.htm) ..It has been claimed that the Communist Dictatorship in Russia has wonderful achievements to its credit. There can be no denial of it. That is why I say that a Russian Dictatorship would be good for all backward countries. But this is no argument for permanent Dictatorship. ... We welcome the Russian Revolution because it aims to produce equality. But it cannot be too much emphasised that in producing equality society cannot afford to sacrifice fraternity or liberty. Equality will be of no value without fraternity or liberty. It seems that the three can coexist only if one follows the way of the Buddha. Communism can give one but not all. 10. As I said in the beginning these are no ordinary times to discuss Dalit vision. We have before us an India where (to quote Prof AchinVanaik) ..[t]he centre of gravity has shifted perhaps decisively to the right, in three crucial spheres : economy, secularism and democracy. It is an India where the political dispensation at the centre is busy furthering the exclusivist/majoritarian worldview of HindutvaSupremacism coupled with the neoliberal agenda under the glib talk of development and concerted attack has been unleashed on (what Ambedkar defined as ) minorities of various kinds and other deprived sections. What can be said to be the contours of Dalit Vision for our times then. It will have to be necessarily for ensuring that'state shall not recognise any religion as state religion' and 'guarantee to every citizen liberty of conscience', it has to be against 'majoritarianism of every kind' and specifically -to prevent majority from forming a Government without giving any opportunity to the minorities to have a say in the matter.- for women's emancipation,, for State ownership in agriculture with a collectivised method of cultivation and a modified form of State Socialism in the field of industry, against inequalities of wealth which private capitalism produces, it will have to be necessarily for annihilation of caste as The existence of the Caste System is a standing denial of the existence of ideals of society and therefore of democracy.(Speech on the Voice of America radio (20 th May 1956) It will be for reason and rationality and scientific temper and not for dumbing down of minds. It does not need reminding that it will not be based on sanitisation or vulgarisation of Dr Ambedkar in any form as it is being experimented these days. While his appropriation by the Hindutva Right has been widely commented upon and exposed as their attempts to carve out a 'suitable' Ambedkar for their project based on exclusion and hatred, much needs to be done to expose his projection as a free market economist. (http://www.countercurrents.org/teltumbde110911.htm) Scholarly sounding pieces have appeared based on selective quotes from his vast corpus of writings to project him as a 'Free Market Economist [ http://blog.mises.org/16519/ambedkar-the-forgotten-free-market-economist/ ] or Capitalism is being valorised supposedly for annihilation of caste (Chandrabhan Prasad and MilindKamble, Manifesto to end caste : Push Capitalism and industrialisation to eradicate this pernicious system, Times of India, 23 rd January 2013). It is being argued by noted columnists and upcoming industrialists from the oppressed communities that Capital is the surest means to fight caste. In dalit's hands, capital becomes an anti-caste weapon; little wonder that the traditional caste code prohibits dalits from accumulating wealth. Dalit capitalism is the answer to that regime of discrimination. The manifesto demands promotion of dalit capitalism through a variety of means-procurement, credit options and partnerships. An important point is Dalit Vision will have to be wary of 'Hero worship' or laying 'liberties at the feet of a great man' as it can culminate in 'subverting of institutions' in a Democracy as Ambedkar has warned us. In fact he had this to say while dedicating Constitution to the nation. This caution is far more necessary in the case of India than in the case of any other country. For in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. Everybody can see that this caution has contemporary import. It was only last month that a responsible minister of the ruling dispensation told us that honourable PM was "God's gift to India' While Bhakts can rejoice about this unique gift to India every sensible person would agree that if this trend is allowed to continue then it is a 'sure road to degradation and eventual dictatorship.' (Draft of Presentation made at a Discussion on Dalit Vision : Beyond Rhetoric, decorative politicos, Brahminical hegemony and Maharashtra 1 st May 2016, organised by India International Centre, Maharashtra SanskritikaniRannanitiAdhyaynSamiti and Working Group on Alternative Strategies) Subhash Gatade is the author of Pahad Se Uncha Aadmi (2010) Godse's Children: Hindutva Terror in India,(2011) and The Saffron Condition: The Politics of Repression and Exclusion in Neoliberal India(2011). He is also the Convener of New Socialist Initiative (NSI) Email : subhash.gatade@gmail.com Tweet WhatsApp Share Share on Tumblr Comments are moderated Research That's A Blessing And Research That's A Threat By Anwar Khursheed 02 May, 2016 Countercurrents.org Science through its application brought terrific benefits to society, yet upon closer analysis environmental pollution, ecological imbalances, radiation causing indescribably horrific sufferings. There is a thin line between research that's a blessing and research that's a threat. Professor Lisa Bortolotti, University of Birmingham while discussing philosophy of cognitive science in her book titled An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (John Wiley and Sons Ltd) provided a lively and accessible introduction to ethical implications of scientific research. She paid special attention to the complex relationship between the advancement of science, policymaking, and public interest and to the continuity between scientific research and other human activities. David Papineau says In a way, bioethics is the science of science. Bioethics is the moral discernment as it relates to medical policy, practice, and research concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy. The scope of bioethics includes cloning, gene therapy, life extension, human genetic engineering, astroethics and life in space. There is no dearth of examples of conflicting science; to name a few; The experimental mutation of rare viruses, development of nuclear weapon in the name of power generation and nuclear medicine through uranium enrichment, thought policing by using Brain scanning to accurately read a person's thoughts could be a valid apprehension of misuse; otherwise an extraordinary tool to enhance security or the treatment of brain damaged patients unable to move or communicate, the charge of artificial rains over the coffee plantation is initially a fiction but could be reality in future. The best possible elucidation to global warming is manipulating Earth's environment on a planetary scale through geoengineering, Prenatal diagnosis lies in the fragments of DNA to develop fetal genetic screening raising the thorny ethical issues. The experimental mutation of rare viruses can do either help in developing new strains to curb potential hazards or create a new deadly virus which could be potential bio-weapon. The possibility of such a situation does exist in many scientific fields, whose enquiry may cause serious threat to the global security. The ethical issues as the outcome of many researches could create painful social dilemmas. Separation of radioisotopes for nuclear power generation and nuclear medicine production could be very tempting, but the same could be used for development of nuclear weapons, the same research could either be bane or boon. Uranium found in nature consists largely of two isotopes, U-235 and U-238. The production of energy in nuclear reactors is from the 'fission' or splitting of the U-235 atoms, a process which releases energy in the form of heat. U-235 is the main fissile isotope of uranium. Natural uranium contains 0.7% of the U-235 isotope. The remaining 99.3% is mostly the U-238 isotope which does not contribute directly to the fission process. Isotope separation is a physical process to concentrate (enrich) one isotope relative to others from 0.7% to 3% to 5% U-235 in their fuel. The extent of enrichment extended beyond 90% is sufficient to make a bomb. Because the chemistry of the various isotopes is almost identical, sorting one from another has always been one of the major barriers to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Today's state-of-the-art technology involves cascades of thousands of centrifuges, and huge infrastructure, normally difficult to perform secretly; the stalemate of Iran and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the most recent episode. Alternatively, lasers can be used quickly, quietly and more efficiently to excite the levels associated with the desired isotope and, together with other technology; can sort the uranium-235 from the rest. Nearly a decade back South Korea applied laser technology to enrich uranium-235 to near weapons purity in a matter of weeks. However, it remained unnoticed and undetected for years together and was unearthed accidently. This advent of laser which started with the separation of Calcium-48 for medical use in the diagnosis of bone disorders; and Nickel-64, a promising agent for cancer therapy developed by Texan researcher Mark Raizen. The desired isotopes push electrons into higher energy states by the cheap and tunable laser whose wavelength of operation can be altered in a controlled manner. Despite acute shortage of medical isotopes the high risk of nuclear proliferation does exist. Opinion is divided; Raizen argued that it is unlikely that his technique will work well for heavy elements such as uranium but others stress that laser-enrichment technology should be undertaken with caution as it make ends up into unsafe hands or even terrorists. Thought policing by using Brain scanning to accurately read a person's thoughts could be a valid apprehension of misuse; otherwise an extraordinary tool to enhance security or the treatment of brain damaged patients unable to move or communicate. Accurately reading a person's thoughts could be an extraordinary breakthrough namely; application in criminals arrest, brain damaged patients cure, recovery of voice, taste, touch, movements and other feelings through functional MRI. At the same time each person's brain is different; it's far from clear that scientists will ever come up with a general-purpose 'mind-reading' algorithm for all. For another, functional MRI machines could not easily be deployed in airports. Even if they were, a simple shake of the head would throw them off. You can't build a detector that says 'this person is going to blow up a plane now. The entrepreneurship in 'neuromarketing' has already introduced lie-detection and tools of measuring an individual's subconscious emotional responses to stimuli. All this please us till it is used for well being, but the moment it comes to mind that someone could use a machine to gain access to your most secret inner thoughts the prospect of such a device raises hackles. The best possible elucidation to global warming is manipulating Earth's environment on a planetary scale through geoengineering; for instance ambient temperature control through solar -radiation management by virtue of tiny particle spraying in the stratosphere to reflect or attract the incoming sunlight or shifting of excess carbon dioxide from the air through algal blooming of large water bodies by nutrient seeding (iron) to shift the carbon dioxide from the air to the ocean floor. The charge of artificial rains over the coffee plantation is initially a fiction but could be reality in future. The conservationists perhaps rightly expect that geoengineering might be reckless in the extreme and further ignite the volatile politics of climate change. The Stratospheric Particle Injection for Climate Engineering (SPICE) project of the British government consisted of pumping water up a one-kilometer tall hose and spray it into the air to test solar-radiation management to investigate the technique which could produce the same type of global cooling effect as a large volcanic eruption such as Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in June 1991 (but without any disruption from hot lava, ash or smoke, which would not be present). In the two years following that eruption the Earth cooled on average by about half a degree Celsius. The objective of SPICE research project was to understand whether or not these natural processes can be mimicked and, if so, with what effect, but the project was halted out of the concerns about the lack of government regulation of such geoengineering projects were raised. The opinion was much split on those who favour says the altitude is too low to alter the climate, and there is plenty of water vapour already up there, David Keith, a geoengineering specialist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts says It doesn't pose a risk other than the hose falling on someone's head,, however on the other side of the fence environmentalists sounded the alarm on moral hazard in addition to unintended consequences such as accidentally shifting rainfall patterns and triggering droughts. The environmental organizations such as Ottawa, Canada based ETC Group; its director Pat Mooney argues that the very presence of such an experiment may make politicians think that there's a way to wriggle out of emissions caps underway on climate negotiations stalled around the world and It will be an easy way for governments to sidestep their obligations,. Prenatal diagnosis lies in the fragments of DNA to develop fetal genetic screening to understand the baby's future behaviour and health. Cure of specific diseases based on this method are already a reality; for example Downs syndrome detection in the embryo itself is more than 95% sensitive, making it comparable to more invasive tests such as amniocentesis. Because it carries no risk, says Dennis Lo, a pathologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Other genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis may also be detected during early pregnancy, but it raises some thorny societal questions and many more pregnancies might be terminated, there are countries that are very concerned about mental retardation and might be willing to enforce genetic selection to avoid it, insurance companies or public-health services might resist paying for the care of disabled children if their birth could have been avoided opined Henry Greely, a bioethicist at Stanford University in California. Developments in genomics have made full foetal sequencing possible and affordable, might raise even more contentious issues like termination of pregnancy due to high disease risk even though that disease might occur much later in old age in the future, or might never occur at all, given that it is currently impossible to predict whether this condition or the vast majority of other diseases will occur on the basis of genetic information alone. At present, there are no guidelines on how to counsel prospective parents about the avalanche of genetic information they may be about to receive. Dennis Los predicament is how to convince parents before birth about a disease that could be cured within a child's lifetime. Who knows where medical science will be in 60 years? The ethics or philosophy of science has in more recent times become an increasingly important subject, but the modern day scientific ethics has their roots under the ethics or morality underpinning Islamic Science. Incisive thought from one of the greatest Muslim scholars of all time, Al-Ghazali (1058-1111) and great historian Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406)), states that "total reflection also includes inner reflection, and the pursuit of knowledge should not be divorced from ethical and value criteria." Hence, one could indeed argue that experimental and empirical efforts cannot be completely divorced from one's heart, inner intuition, insight or conscience. Reason and revelation go hand in hand, it would then seem, while science and knowledge are at once personal and social. Consideration for higher ethics under Islam is expressed in many ways. As early as the 9th century, the physician Ishaq bin Ali Rahawi wrote the first treatise on`adab al-tabib, i.e. medical ethics. In this treatise, Rahawi labels physicians as "guardians of souls and bodies" and in this treatise he spells out all the deeds and acts a Muslim physician must observe. Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi (854-925), too, in his medical work did so much to `humanise' medicine by taking into consideration the patient's problems and attitudes and God imposed on physicians the oath not to compose mortiferous remedies." The modern history of ethics in science started with Renaissance when science got popular with the masses, but most of the scientists remained cautious about the application and use of their work. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) drew a distinction between offensive and defensive warfare, and emphasized the role of good defenses in protecting peoples liberty from tyrants. He refused to divulge the details of his plans for submarines out of his apprehension. John Napier (1550-1617), the inventor of logarithms, also experimented with a new form of artillery. Upon seeing its destructive power, he decided to keep its details a secret, and even spoke from his deathbed against the creation of new kinds of weapons. Robert Boyle (1627-1691) a pioneer of physics and chemistry concealed all his inventions related to a variety of potentially harmful subjects, including poisons, invisible ink, counterfeit money, explosives, and kinetic weaponry and said my love of Mankind has obliged me to conceal, even from my nearest Friends. Alfred H. Lloyd (1905) Ethics and Its History (American Journal of Sociology, 11, No. 2) is a detailed discourse on this topic published more than a century back describing the Dependence of Ethics on Natural Science, and the Important Difference between Ethics as Personal Experience and Ethics as a Social Profession. The golden principle is the dissemination of knowledge; despite the fact that people did not always think that the benefits of freely disseminating knowledge outweighed the harms. F.S. Taylors in his book The Alchemists, (H. Schuman, 1949) says, Alchemy was certainly intended to be useful .... But [the alchemist] never proposes the public use of such things, the disclosing of his knowledge for the benefit of man. . Any disclosure of the alchemical secret was felt to be profoundly wrong, and likely to bring immediate punishment from on high. The reason generally given for such secrecy was the probable abuse by wicked men of the power that the alchemical would give . The alchemists, indeed, felt a strong moral responsibility that is not always acknowledged by the scientists of today. The intention is not to create panic but to just press the alarm button that look we should not be swayed by the rosy claims rather go by the ethics, if benefits greatly outweigh the risks. Dr. Anwar Khursheed is Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering in Aligarh Muslim University and University Engineer, Building Department, AMU Aligarh. He did his under graduate and masters programme from AMU and PhD from IIT Roorkee. He possesses teaching and research experience of about 33 years. He has also served for three years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was involved many design and consultancy projects out of which 46 were major. He is mainly teaching subjects related to Environmental & Pollution Control Engineering. His research areas are Wastewater Treatment, Energy Recovery Processes, Nutrient Removal, and Reverse osmosis. He has published more than forty (40) papers in various International and National journals and conferences. He has also delivered dozens of invited talks and expert lectures, 59 projects and dissertations. He has completed large number of projects including Campus-wide Networking on 10 Gigabyte OFC backbone & Camus Wi-Fi projects and Construction projects of more than 200 crores. He also headed Computer Centre as its Director and FCI as Principal and presently he also hold the position of Nodal Officer of the Camus-wide Networking Project (Wi-Fi Project). Asthma: We Can Beat It But Not Kill It By Shobha Shukla 02 May, 2016 Citizen News Service - CNS World Asthma Day is Tuesday, 3rd May 2016 Asthma is a common chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) that is usually characterised by inflammation of the bronchial tubes or airways of the lungs. 10,000 litres of air and blood pass through our lungs and, as a result, they deliver 350 litres of oxygen every day. If this delivery is hampered in any way it leads to respiratory distress or breathlessness. The episodic onset of respiratory symptoms is called an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, the bronchial tubes in the lungs become inflamed and narrow, resulting in wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing. Even though asthma cannot be cured, we can keep it under control with proper management. The Global Asthma Report 2014, pegs the number of people suffering from this disease worldwide at 334 million. The report also says that even though asthma is a rare cause of mortality, contributing to less than 1% of all deaths in most countries, it is often a cause of reduced quality of life not only due to its physical ill effects, but also due to its high economic, burden. It is also a major cause of school and work absence. Further, avoidable asthma deaths are still occurring due to inappropriate management of asthma, including over-reliance on reliever medication rather than preventer medication. India has an estimated 30 million people with asthmaaccounting for nearly 10% of the global burden. During a recent webinar [Watch the webinar recording here: www.bit.ly/apr16-recording ] organised by CNS (Citizen News Service) and The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), in the lead up to World Asthma Day, Professor Surya Kant, Head, Respiratory Medicine Department, King George Medical University, strongly advocated use of inhaler therapy (as opposed to oral therapy) for management of asthma. He informed that while a reliever inhaler is used to quickly relieve (within few minutes) a bronchial spasm caused by sudden constriction of the airways muscles, a preventer/controller inhaler has anti-inflammatory properties. It takes 1-3 hours to act, and has a long term effect lasting more than12 hours. While relievers provide symptomatic relief, they are not meant for regular use. Preventer inhalers should be taken regularly, twice daily, by people living with asthmairrespective of their status of wellness, advised Dr Surya Kant. If a person is on proper inhalation therapy, he/she can keep this lifelong disease under control forever and lead a very normal and healthy life. But if they are on oral therapy, then they lead a compromised life and mortality rates could also be high. However, he lamented that in India only 20% of the patients use inhalers while the rest 80% are on oral therapy. Prof Surya Kant also warned against use of alternative medicine to treat asthma. Till date no medicine other than inhalation therapy is effective for asthma management. Many herbal medicines were used before the advent of inhalation therapy, as there was no proper medication available. But as of now, no herbal, ayurvedic or any other system of medication can manage asthma. So please do not go for any medication other than preventer inhalation therapy. If a person is on proper inhalation therapy, he/she can lead a very normal and healthy life. But if they are on oral therapy, then mortality rates could be high. Bronchial asthma is due to interaction between genetic constitution of a person and the environment. If a person is genetically hypersensitive, environmental irritants like air pollution, tobacco smoke, indoor and outdoor allergens, biomass smoke, harmful chemicals in the workplace, as well as cold air, iced drinks and physical exercise can act as potential triggers of asthma attacks and must be avoided by asthma patients as much as possible. Iced drinks are a big causative factor for asthma in a hot country like India. A study conducted at the Patel Chest Institute, Delhi found that mosquito repellants are also a trigger/causative factor for asthma. Also smells of room fresheners, paints, incense sticks, perfumes etc should also be avoided by those with asthma, warned Dr Surya Kant. In recent years, Yoga has gained global popularity as a form of exercise with general life-style benefits. Some studies have also investigated the potential of yoga to relieve asthma-related problems. A recent systematic review by Cochrane, has summarised the results of 15 such randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared yoga with usual care or no/sham intervention in people with asthma, and reported at least one of the following outcomes: quality of life, asthma symptom score, asthma control, lung function measures, asthma medication usage, and adverse events. Most of these studies had been conducted in India, followed by Europe and the United States. 6 studies looked into the effects of breathing alone during yogic exercises, whilst the other assessed the effects of yoga that included breathing, posture and meditation. The review authors found moderate-quality evidence in 5 studies that yoga leads to small improvements in quality of life and symptoms in people with asthma. However, evidence about potential adverse effects of yoga and its impact on lung function and medication usage is uncertain, because either the results varied or only a few very small studies reported these outcomes. As a holistic therapy, yoga might have the potential to relieve both the physical and psychological suffering of people with asthma. However, the review authors warn that while practicing yoga might have some beneficial effect on symptoms and quality of life in people with asthma, RCTs with large sample sizes and high methodological and reporting quality are needed to draw any firm conclusions about the effects of yoga for asthma. In the aforesaid webinar, that was incidentally organised just one day before the release of the Cochrane review, Dr Surya Kant too had said that, as of now, Yoga exercises might help, but cannot be an alternative to inhalation therapy. Rather Yoga could be an add-on to inhalation therapy. Prof Surya Kant advocates the 5-D approach for asthma management comprising; Doctorwell trained and well informed Diagnosis/Differential diagnosis correct and accurate Drug and dosageappropriate inhaler therapy Devicedry powder or multi dose inhaler Deliberationpatient education and guidance Shobha Shukla is the Managing Editor of Citizen News Service - CNS. Twitter: @shobha1shukla, @cns_health; Facebook.com/CNS.page; Email: shobha@citizen-news.org; website: www.citizen-news.org) US Military Whitewashes Attack On Afghan Hospital By Peter Symonds 30 April 2016 WSWS.org The Pentagons final report into last Octobers deadly US airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital in northern Afghanistan is a brazen whitewash. The protracted attack by an AC-130 gunship on the medical facility in Kunduz killed 42 civilians, some of whom were burned alive in their beds, and others mowed down as they attempted to flee. General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, told a press conference yesterday that the attack on the MSF hospital was not a war crime because it had not been intentional. He claimed that neither the gunship crew members nor the Special Forces on the ground directing the attack knew they were striking a medical facility. The report blamed the deaths on human errors compounded by process and equipment failures. None of those involved will face a court marshal or criminal charges. Instead, 16 American military personnel have been punished with administrative actions that range from suspension and removal from command to letters of reprimand. None have been named, and some are still active in overseas war zones. The Pentagons account of events on the night of October 3 is riddled with contradictions. The AC-130 supposedly took off early without the crew being briefed and without a database being uploaded to the aircrafts computers that would have identified the Kunduz hospital as a protected building. MSF had previously provided coordinates to the US military, and the hospital was marked with the organisations insignia. The report claimed that the hospital had been mistaken for the intended targetthe National Directorate of Security building that had been taken over by Taliban forcessome 400 metres away. The aircrafts data link failed and it came under fire, forcing it to move to a safe distance. The coordinates provided by Afghan ground forces supposedly directed the aircrafts weapons at an empty field, forcing the crew to rely on visual identification. At 2:08 am, the AC-130 gunship, which is armed with 40mm and 20mm cannons as well as a 105mm howitzer, began its devastating attack. Within minutes, MSF personnel contacted the American military saying they were under fire, but the onslaught continued. According to the Pentagon report, the Special Forces commander on the ground finally called off the attack at 2:38 amhalf an hour later. A MSF inquiry based on eyewitness statements found the assault continued for between 60 and 75 minutes, clearly contradicting the Pentagons claims. Moreover, the Pentagon report itself concluded that the hospital was not being used by the Taliban as a base of operationsnegating Afghan government allegations to the contrary. No one was firing or carrying out hostile acts from the hospital. Yet the Special Forces commander on the ground ordered the attack anyway in violation of rules of engagement that authorise airstrikes only to protect US or allied forces. At his press conference, General Votel justified the attack by declaring that the American aircraft was operating in an extraordinarily intense combat situation in which it was trying to support Afghan troops. At the same time, he claimed that it was often not possible for trained operators to tell if fire was coming from a particular building or location. The Pentagons account is simply not credible. If the aircraft was plagued by equipment failure and the crew had difficulty identifying the target, why was the mission not simply aborted? Doctors Without Borders has reiterated its call for an independent inquiry. MSF President Meinie Nicolai told the media: Todays briefing amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during when US forces failed to follow the basic laws of war... There are questions here, on the self defence called in by the troops, even though it was a quiet evening. Why didnt they call off the operation if they had such a malfunctioning system, they had a duty to take precautions, and they had doubts about the target? Nicolai said. John Sifton, Asia policy director of Human Rights Watch, told the New York Times that the failure to bring criminal charges was inexplicable. He said that the Pentagons assertion that no war crime had been committed because the attack was unintentional was flatly wrong, pointing out that recklessness or negligence did not absolve someone of criminal responsibility. In reality, the Pentagons elaborate account of human errors and equipment malfunctions stinks of a carefully contrived cover-up. A far more straightforward explanation is that the US military deliberately targeted the hospital either to assassinate a particular high-value individual, or to destroy a facility that treated everyone, including wounded Taliban fighters. The chief responsibility for what is clearly a war crime rests not just with the immediate operational commanders but with the Pentagon top brass and the Obama administration. Hundreds of civilians have been slaughtered as a result of indiscriminate drone attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and other countries. Moreover, in nearly a decade-and-a-half of war in Afghanistan, the Pentagon has routinely denied responsibility for civilian deaths. It has acknowledged such crimes only when, as in the case of the Kunduz hospital, the evidence is overwhelming. In the wake of the Kunduz slaughter, the US military provided a so-called condolence payment of $6,000 to the families of the dead and $3,000 to injured victims. The Pentagons whitewash of the airstrike on the Kunduz hospital is in marked contrast to the immediate US condemnation of an alleged Syrian government attack on a MSF hospital in the city of Aleppo on Wednesday. At least 27 patients and staff were killed in the attack. US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the US was outraged by the attack. Without waiting for facts and details, he declared that it appears to have been a deliberate strike on a known facility and follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities. Kerrys denunciation of the Aleppo attack simply underscores the crimes of the Obama administration for which no one has been held accountable. TTIP Leaked Documents Show Obama Demands Killing Paris Accord Against Climate Change By Eric Zuesse 02 May, 2016 Countercurrents.org "248 pages of leaked Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiating texts show that the American negotiating position, as Greenpeace put the matter, allows "No place for climate protection in TTIP, and, though "We have known that the EU position was bad, now we see the US position is even worse. Jorgo Riss, Director of Greenpeace EU, said, "The effects of TTIP would be initially subtle but ultimately devastating. It would lead to European laws being judged disregarding environmental protection and public health concerns. A 70-year-old EU rule, which allows nations to restrict trade in order to protect human, animal and plant life or health," or for "the conservation of exhaustible natural resources, would end, if U.S. President Barack Obama gets what he wants. Furthermore, the Precautionary principle is forgotten: its currently enshrined in the EU Treaty, but Obama wants it gone; it is stated in the EU Treaty as allowing "rapid response in the face of a possible danger to human, animal or plant health, or to protect the environment. In particular, where scientific data do not permit a complete evaluation of the risk, recourse to this principle may, for example, be used to stop distribution or order withdrawal from the market of products likely to be hazardous. Obama wants there to be no ability for EU nations to withdraw from the market products likely to be hazardous. All products would be assumed safe, unless proven not to be. Other TTIP developments in recent days: Britains Independent headlined on April 29th, "TTIP could cause an NHS sell-off and UK Parliament would be powerless to stop it, says leading union, and reported that a labor union, Unite, was determined to block TTIP from going into effect in the UK: "Gail Cartmail, Unite assistant general secretary, said that it was 'a scandal' that MPs [Members of Parliament] may not have the democratic power to stop TTIP, which she said 'threatens the irreversible sell-off of our NHS [National Health Service]. Privatization of government assets is favorably viewed by Obama. Tamara Hervey, a professor of EU law at the University of Sheffield, told the Independent, "The UK government could include a reservation in the agreement to say that it does not include the NHS. As far as I understand, that isn't on the table, even though several other EU countries have already put such reservations in the negotiating text. British Prime Minister David Cameron, like Obama, is strongly in favor of privatization. The Independent said, "Obama used a recent visit to the EU to push for the completion of TTIP, promising it would remove 'regulatory and bureaucratic irritants and blockages to trade. Now, we know that in his mind the EUs existing regulations concerning environmental protection and product safety belong in that category: bureaucratic irritants and blockages to trade. Britains Guardian banners on May 1st, Leaked TTIP Documents Cast Doubt on EU-US Trade Deal, and Arthur Nelson in Brussels, reports that, "Because of a European ban on animal testing, 'the EU and US approaches remain irreconcilable and EU market access problems will therefore remain, which is yet further indication of Obamas free-market convictions: he doesnt accept any ban on animal-testing of products. Presumably, he wants to allow corporations to determine what the cheapest way to determine a products safety or dangerousness is, regardless of whether the animal model thats used tells anything reliable about the products safety on humans. If one nations testing procedure is less reliable than anothers, then Obama wants the two to compete as equals, so that the incentive will exist for all corporations to use the cheapest method, regardless of the methods reliability, or even humaneness. Obama didnt run for President as a libertarian, but he turns out to be remarkably libertarian in his policies. Hes pushing for a vigorous race to the bottom, in all sorts of regulations. Polls show Obama to have extremely high approval-ratings in European countries, such as 62% in Germany (far higher than any German national politician). Polls also show TTIP to be extremely unpopular there. The contradiction apparently isnt noticed by respondents approval of a politician has no clear correlation with the politicians policies. Obama is black, and he speaks well; and, perhaps thats enough. Perhaps Europeans dont really care very much about such things as global warming, product-safety, or humaneness toward animals. If thats true, then EU Parliamentarians can likewise ignore such matters and simply vote to approve TTIP, notwithstanding the merely nominal opposition to it amongst the electorate. The percentage of voters who really care about such issues might actually be inconsequential. If thats the situation, then corruption makes sense, because the money that a politician thereby obtains for his/her campaign will far outbalance the potential loss of voters support that results from violating their interests only words will matter, a politicians actual record wont, in terms of the given politicians support by voters. If thats true, then the results of democracy might be no better than the results of dictatorship; there might be no real difference. Certainly, the disabling of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change would have enormous impact; but, if a politicians rhetoric has a bigger effect on his favorability-rating than his policies do, Obama might be highly regarded even when the planet is burning up as a consequence of his policies. Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of Theyre Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRISTS VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity. SHARE Alzheimer's Association Program: "Living with Alzheimer's," 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Alzheimer's Association, 701 N. Weinbach Ave. ($5 donation suggested). Registration required by calling 800-272-3900. FA (Families Anonymous): a 12-step fellowship for the family and friends of those individuals with drug, alcohol or related behavioral issues. Meetings are at 10 a.m. Saturdays at Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Ave. Use the Kelsey Avenue entrance, second floor. Information: 812-550-5777. Bereavement support group: Meeting 5:30-7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month in the large group meeting room, second floor of Central Library, 200 SE MLK Blvd. Men's bereavement support group: Meeting 9-10:30 a.m. the second Monday of each month in Room 204 at Deaconess VNA Plus, 610 E. Walnut St. Support group for bipolar/manic-depressive disorder: Meeting 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month, Kempf Bipolar Wellness Center, third floor of St. Mary's Rehabilitation Institute, 3700 Washington Ave. Information: 812-485-4934. Survivors of Suicide support group: Meeting 6:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month, Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Ave. Information: Mental Health America at 812-426-2640. Mending Hearts pregnancy loss support group: Meeting 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month, Gift Conference Room, off the lobby of St. Mary's Hospital for Women & Children, 3700 Washington Ave. Information: 812-485-4204. Men's cancer support group: Meeting 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, St. Mary's Epworth Crossing Community Conference Room, 100 St. Mary's Epworth Crossing, Newburgh. Information: 812-485-5725. Stroke support group: Meeting 10 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month, St. Mary's Community Education Room at Washington Square Mall, 5011 Washington Ave. Information: 812-485-5607. ALS support group: Meeting 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Meeting Room E, Deaconess Gateway Hospital. The support group is for patients, caregivers and survivors who have lost someone to Lou Gehrig's disease. Women's cancer support group: Meeting 5:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month, St. Mary's Epworth Crossing Community Conference Room. Information: 812-485-5725. Pulmonary fibrosis support group: Meeting 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Room 1420, Deaconess Hospital, 600 Mary St. Information: 812-450-6000 or deaconess.com/calendar. COPD/asthma support group: Meeting 4 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month, Room 1420, Deaconess Hospital, 600 Mary St. Information: 812-450-6000 or deaconess.com/calendar. Parkinson's support group: Meeting at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month, Room 350, Deaconess Physician Center, 600 Mary St. Information: 812-450-6000 or deaconess.com/calendar. Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association support group meetings: 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month, Tri-State MS Association Office, 971 S. Kenmore Drive, Evansville (contact Nita Ruxer at 812-479-3544 or Sharon Omer at 270-333-4701); 10 a.m. the fourth Saturday of each month, Gibson General Hospital, fifth floor, first room on the right, 1808 Sherman Drive, Princeton, Indiana (contact Alice Burkhart at 812-782-3735); 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Twilight Towers, in the cafeteria, 1648 10th St., Tell City (contact Terri Hasty at 812-649-4013 or Gayle Taylor 812-719-2417); 10 a.m. the third Saturday of each month, Daviess Community Hospital, Washington, Indiana (contact Cindy Kalberer at 812-254-6735 or Fran Neal at 812-259-1565); 10 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 2360 Green River Road, Henderson, Kentucky, (contact Meg Burnley at 270-826-9507 or Debbie Whittington at 270-827-8298); 6 p.m. the second Monday of each month, Owensboro Health Healthpark, 1006 Ford Ave, Owensboro, Kentucky; and 11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, Fairfield Memorial Hospital in the board room of Horizon Clinic, 303 NW 11th St., Fairfield, Illinois (contact Kathie Hill at 618-847-8452). Compiled by Leah Ward, leah.ward@courierpress.com. SHARE Carltez J. Taylor By Mark Wilson of the Courier and Press The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office will seek a life sentence for an Evansville teenager accused of a fatal shooting linked to an alleged gang rivalry. Carltez Taylor, 18, is charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the Nov. 28 shooting of 17-year-old Javion Wilson. Prosecutors on Friday filed a notice to seek a life without parole sentence for Taylor if convicted and cited criminal gang activity as the sole statutory reason for it. Defense attorney Barry Blackard has objected and a hearing has been set for 2 p.m. May 9 in Circuit Court. "It just seems extreme under this set of circumstances," Blackard said. He said the life-without-parole notice, as well as the conspiracy charge, were filed after the Feb. 20 deadline for making new filings in the case. "The paperwork filing on Friday morning allows our office an option as we go forward with the case," said Whitney Riggs, spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office. "His eligibility for life without parole is due to the facts of the case. Ultimately though, the final decision will be up to the jury." Under Indiana law, in cases where life without parole or death sentences are sought juries decide whether or not to recommend it. Criminal gang activity is one of the aggravating factors listed in Indiana law that the state must prove to secure a life without parole or death sentence. Judges are legally bound to accept the jury's sentence. Blackard said that DNA was recovered from a handgun reportedly used in the shooting but it does not match Taylor. "I've seen many cases that are far more egregious than this, where there was far more evidence, and life without parole was not filed," Blackard said. Investigators were told Taylor had "announced his intent to kill members of the gang known as "Cream Team" just before the shooting, according to an affidavit of probable cause. That proclamation was made while Taylor was inside a residence at 819 W. Franklin St. on the night of the shooting. Taylor is also accused of showing a gun to other people before he allegedly confronted Wilson in the street. The conspiracy charge is based on the March grand jury indictment of Danilyn Grossman, 17, who has been charged with aiding, inducing or causing murder. Taylor, Grossman, and possibly others are alleged to have conspired to lure Wilson to the street corner, where he was shot, and then to hide evidence, including a gun. According to the charge, Grossman and/or Taylor contacted Wilson by cell phone and convinced him to go to an area around Second Avenue and Franklin Street. Taylor and possibly others then reportedly exited the house with a 9 mm handgun. Grossman is alleged to have met Wilson, who was with another male, and reportedly convinced them to wait at the corner of Michigan Street and Second Avenue. Taylor is then accused of firing the gun at them, according to the charge. The last life without parole case in Vanderburgh County was in September 2015, when a Superior Court jury recommended not to impose a life sentence on Christopher Compton, after convicting him of three counts of murder for starting a fatal fire. However, in Compton's case, Judge Robert Pigman sentenced him to consecutive sentences for 200 years in prison. Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a United Steel Workers Local 1999 rally in Indianapolis, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) By Zach Evans of the Courier and Press Several thousand people are expected Downtown Monday morning for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' campaign rally ahead of the Tuesday primary. But local law enforcement say don't expect the same numbers -- or fervor -- as last week's Donald Trump rally. Sanders, who's trailing Hillary Clinton in the primary race, will hold a rally at Old National Events Plaza. Doors open at 8 a.m. with the event starting at 10 a.m. The exhibit rooms will be standing room only on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sanders will be the third White House hopeful to assemble at Old National Events Plaza in the last week. Republican candidate Ted Cruz had a crowd of about 1,000 last Sunday, and Republican front-runner Donald Trump brought in about 12,000 for his rally Thursday. Sheriff Dave Wedding expects several thousand Downtown for the rally on Monday, but expects a calmer atmosphere. "I don't think Bernie will bring the dynamics that Donald Trump did. I think the crowd will be smaller, and there won't be as much tension in the air," Wedding said. Despite issues at other Trump rallies across the country, including one in California that included arrests and violence between protesters and rally-goers hours after his Evansville stop, there were few issues between protesters and attendees at the Trump event Thursday except for a protester arrested on suspicion of "mooning." Sanders, who's had a campaign office in town for more than a month, is the first Democratic presidential candidate to visit Evansville. Clinton has had very little presence in Southwestern Indiana this primary election. There is no Clinton campaign headquarters in Evansville, and she's had no campaign stops in the region so far. Former President Bill Clinton made a pair of small stops in town a private speech with union labor officials and local Democrats and a meet-and-greet at Penny Lane Coffeehouse. In 2008, when she was chasing then Sen. Barack Obama's delegate lead, Clinton and her surrogates made a handful of stops in the region. Clinton narrowly won Indiana, including Vanderburgh County, eight years ago. The margin is thin, but Clinton has polled better than Sanders in Indiana this month, so far. In an NBC-Wall Street Journal-Marist College poll (pdf) published Sunday, Clinton had a slim edge over Sanders, with 50 percent of likely Democratic primary voters saying they'd vote for her and 46 percent saying they'd vote for Sanders. That four percent split is less than the poll's 4.6 percent margin of error. Three percent of respondents were undecided in the poll. By Richard Gootee of the Courier and Press The polls in Indiana are open until 6 p.m. And for Vanderburgh County residents that means registered voters can cast their ballots at any of the county's vote centers, regardless of which precinct they call home. Unlike in last year's municipal elections, all 22 voting centers countywide not just the ones inside Evansville city limits will be open starting at 6 a.m. All polls in Indiana close at 6 p.m. local time. However, there is one recent location change: The Salvation Army is no longer being used as such a center. After last fall's city election, officials at the North Fulton Avenue location asked to be replaced as a voting location because it was interfering with meal service. Taking the Salvation Army's place is Pleasant Chapel Baptist Church, located at 1305 W. Florida St. For a full list of voting centers visit the county clerk's webpage at www.vanderburghgov.org. In 2015, Albright United Methodist Church replaced Old North Methodist Church as a voting center. Albright will again be used as voting center this year while Old North will not. Albright is located at 606 Van Dusen Ave. Because of Election Day, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Civic Center is closed on Tuesday. All Hoosier voters, Vanderburgh County or otherwise, will need to present a valid driver's license or identification to vote on Tuesday. Prospective voters who do not have such identification may be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches are open on Tuesday until 6 p.m., for people who need to obtain or renew items that can be used for proper identification. A lawsuit filed on 14 April by US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharra gives an insider's view on how frighteningly easy it is for a company to be duped out of a huge sum of money. In this case almost US$100 million (AU$128 million). The civil forfeiture lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York City and is being brought on behalf of an unidentified American company that was suckered out of $98.9 million over a four-week period late last northern summer. Luckily, the majority of the money has already been recovered and this suit is specifically going after the remaining US$25 million that is being held in at least 20 overseas banks, according to court documents. This is more than twice as large as any reported loss that we have seen, Ryan Kalember, senior vice president of Cybersecurity Strategy, told SCMagazine.com in an email Friday US time. What this case perfectly illustrates is the step-by-step process a criminal can take implementing such a scam and all of the warnings that were ignored by the victim. The scam Considering the massive pile of money involved, the scheme itself was extremely simple and used by cybercriminals every day, albeit to normally steal smaller amounts of plain old data. It was a classic spearphishing attack. According to Bharra's suit, the scam was initiated around 10 August 2015, when the victimised company received an email purportedly from an Asian-based vendor with which it has frequently done business in the past. The email in question contained the name D Talan, AR and was not picked up not by the victim company itself. Instead it came to an email address set up and monitored by an outside firm hired by the victim to deal with its vendors and other payees. The initial email from Talan simply asked for some background information regarding its billing history with the victim. This information was supplied on 11 August and then that same day a follow up email was received by the vendor's partner from Talan informing the company that the vendor's banking information would be changing and they wished to know who to contact at the victim company to make the change so any payments would go to the correct account. On 17 August Talan gave the victim's payment partner the new account information and it was placed into the victim's system. Starting around 21 August the payment partner began sending a series of 16 payments to the new, fraudulent account, as part of its usual business. All appeared to be going well when on 14 September both the victim and its payment company received word from the real vendor that it had not received any payments starting 22 August, or the day after Talan's account information was input into the system. Warning signs A quick investigation ensued and when Talan's email was studied it was quickly discovered to have several irregularities, including a @mail.md domain instead of the vendor's corporate domain name. In addition, it indicated that the domain was hosted in Moldova, far from the vendor's true location in Asia. The final indicator that something was amiss was that the funds were deposited into a Eurobank facility in Cyprus, and not at a bank in the vendor's home nation. If any of these indicators had been flagged from the start the entire scam would have been stopped in its tracks. Employees should be suspicious if they receive a request for unusual information or a wire transfer via email, even if it appears to come from a high-level executive. Check the reply-to email address and always call to confirm. If a vendor changes their wiring instructions over email, call them to confirm. If the CEO requests a significant transfer that is unusual, call him or her to confirm it. If the email header has a warning from your email security system, such as a subject like [BULK] or [SUSPICIOUS], then contact the vendor directly on the phone, do not enter the invoice for payment, Kalember said. Lucky A US magistrate working with Eurobank quickly froze the Cypriot account stopping about US$74 million of the stolen money from moving out. This was an extremely lucky and somewhat rare occurrence as most wire transfers one completed are tough to reverse. Recovering money can be difficult if sent by wire. As the transaction may be irreversible within a short time window. There have been many variations of these scams in the past and they have been going on for some time. Luckily, international law enforcement has been taking note of these scams to better monitor, mitigate the financial losses and arrest the criminals responsible, Terrence Gareau, chief scientist of Nexusguard, told SCMagazine.com in an email. The victim was not so lucky with its remaining funds because the bad guys had almost immediately moved them from Eurobank and spread them around to 19 other banks to help duck authorities. The court document did indicate that US authorities know where those accounts are located with one being in Estonia. This article originally appeared at scmagazineus.com Amazon Web Services has announced that its physical data migration device Snowball is now available in Australia. Snowball, first debuted at the vendor's re:Invent conference last November, is a rented device that physically migrates data from on-premises hardware to the AWS public cloud. AWS chief security information officer Stephen Schmidt said Wednesday morning at AWS Summit Sydney that Sydney, to serve the Asia-Pacific, and Dublin, to serve the European Union, have opened as the first Snowball reception centres outside North America. The geographic expansion came simultaneously as the release of a new 80TB Snowball device, up from the 50TB capacity released last year. Sydney and Ireland will only accept the new 80TB model for processing. Schmidt told the packed crowd at the Hordern Pavilion that his company is seeking to "increase the awareness and delivery" of Snowball internationally. "We're committed to having Snowball available in every AWS region by the end of 2016," he said. The 23-kg Snowball, which looks like a hard suitcase, is "rugged enough to withstand a 6G jolt" and has a 10GB network connection. The rental service includes couriering of the appliance to and from the data source. Stephen Schmidt and Snowball at AWS Summit Sydney Data transfer acceleration: money back guarantee The cloud giant also launched the Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration service. The offering attempts to speed up data uploads by utilising Amazon edge - a 50-location network that was previously reserved for the Amazon CloudFront content delivery service. Schmidt said that even the best technology could not overcome physics and the tyranny of distance: "We've provided tools in the past to accelerate [data movement] as much as we can, through multi-part uploads. But for very large files that need to move long distances, this can still be very challenging." However, using a reserved network - currently used primarily for downloading content - for mass data uploads resulted in a 300 percent improvement in transfer speeds "for most use-cases". Schmidt expressed AWS' confidence in the acceleration with a satisfaction guarantee. "If you try out our transfer acceleration service and it's not faster than your standard upload, you don't pay for it," he said at the Sydney conference. Partners, customers and potential customers from around Australia are attending the AWS Summit Wednesday and Thursday in inner city Sydney. Lifeboat Network has sprung a leak. A division of Hydreon Corporation, Lifeboat runs servers for Minecraft Pocket Edition the smartphone version of the immensely popular video game Minecraft. According to security researcher Troy Hunt, who maintains a database of compromised user credentials, accessible via his Have I Been Pwned? website, Lifeboat's network was hacked in January 2016, resulting in a data breach exposing the mobile game's seven million-plus user base. Hunt, also a Microsoft regional director, publicly exposed the data leak yesterday on Twitter, noting that at the time, six percent of Lifeboat gamers' credentials were already on his database. In a subsequent interview with Motherboard, Hunt accused Lifeboat of failing to notify its customers of the incident. Moreover, passwords accessed in the breach also hashed with a weak MD5 algorithm, making them susceptible to cracking. Just today, Lifeboat issued a security update acknowledging the breach, noting that leaked information included usernames, weakly encrypted passwords and emails, but not personal information such as real names or addresses. In its statement, Lifeboat explained that upon learning of the breach, it chose to be discreet, forcing customers to reset their passwords without explaining why. We did not learn of the breach until late February. At that time we prompted you to choose a new password in-game," the statement read. "The password that you chose is encrypted using much stronger algorithms, and we've taken steps to better guard the data. In the Motherboard article, several Minecraft Pocket Edition players said they never received a password reset. "I'm glad to finally see a statement from them, although I feel it makes some dangerous assumptions about the risks they consciously left people exposed to," Hunt told SCMagazine.com via email. "By only prompting a reset in-game, people never learned of the risks to their other accounts where they'd reused credentials. To suggest they don't know of anyone having had their email or other services hacked as a result is ludicrous; how would they know when nobody had any reason to point the finger at Lifeboat?" This article originally appeared at scmagazineus.com Tri-state reseller Viatek has signed a five-year contract with the company behind the high-profile WestConnex motorway project in Sydney. Sydney Motorway Corporation (SMC) went to market in September before deciding on Viatek as its 'ICT-as-a-service' provider. The value of the deal was not disclosed. Viatek is immensely pleased to win this comprehensive tender. We understand from SMC that three of the main reasons we were selected were: our good references; that our proposal and service offerings were well structured and easy to understand; and our as-a-service consumption pricing model, Viatek managing director Jonathan Salmon said. The $16.8 billion WestConnex project is dubbed the "biggest transport project in Australia" by the NSW government and SMC, and involves 33km of new and widened motorways through inner-west Sydney including tunnels. WestConnex project The wide-ranging deal will see Viatek supply and deploy networks, enterprise voice and security, desktop PCs, SOE, Microsoft Office 365, infrastructure-as-a-service, service desk, field services and IT procurement. Notwithstanding the diverse technical nature of the relationship, Salmon emphasised the "utility-inspired" consumption pricing model for the SMC. An innovative ICTaaS model like this has been talked about for a number of years now, but few organisations have deployed it in the manner SMC has done, he said. The agreement gives SMC the requested flexibility as staffing levels naturally move up and down over the lifetime of this enormous project, and it also allows the business to better manage its fluctuating ICT demands." The Melbourne-headquartered Viatek Group, through acquisitions, has transformed from its print roots to a full-service IT company in recent years. The company boasts strong regional reach with branches like Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Sheppparton, Newcastle, Orange and Wagga Wagga. The Sydney office is located in the northern suburb of Artarmon. The flood of executive departures at Symantec reached all the way to the top levels of the security vendor Thursday with the news that Michael Brown would be stepping down from his position as president and CEO. Symantec did not provide a reason for Brown's departure, saying only that he would remain with the company as director and CEO until a successor had been found. The company said the board of directors had already begun its search with the assistance of an executive search firm. Ajei Gopal has joined the California-based company as interim president and chief operating officer. Gopal is a former senior vice president and general manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and current operating partner at Silver Lake, which recently took a $500 million strategic investment in Symantec. The company formed a new office of the president, which includes Gopal, executive vice president and CFO Thomas Seifert, and executive vice president, general counsel and secretary Scott Taylor. Chairman of the board of directors Daniel Schulman said Symantec has executed on its company transformation priorities, making the time right for an executive transition. "We thank Mike for guiding Symantec through a critical period of transition as president and CEO Given our solid financial foundation and clear path forward as the leader in cybersecurity, this is the right time to transition leadership for Symantecs next chapter of growth. We appreciate Mikes continued support as the board conducts a thoughtful and comprehensive search for Symantecs next CEO," Schulman said in a statement. Drastic changes The Symantec transformation has been drastic over the past three years, trying to turn the company back to growth and position it for relevancy once again in the new security landscape. That transformation has included the sale of its Veritas storage business earlier this year, a new product road map around enterprise security, cost structure improvements, executive leadership additions and returning cash to shareholders. "I am extremely proud of what our team has accomplished. I look forward to supporting this transition as we continue executing on our unified security strategy, building our enterprise security sales pipeline, improving our cost structure and efficiently allocating capital," Brown said in a statement about his departure. Symantec also said the company had lowered its revenue guidance for the upcoming quarter to US$873 million, down from an expected range of US$885 million to US$915 million. The company said it now expects non-GAAP operating margins of 25 percent, down from 26 percent to 28 percent, and earnings per share of 22 cents, down from 24 cents to 27 cents. The company said the revenue drop was due to lower-than-expected licence revenue and more deferred revenue than anticipated, due to the company's subscription service business. "The shift to more ratable revenue is consistent with our unified security strategy, as more customers are buying security offerings that require continuous protection and monitoring to remain up to date and protected against the latest threats," Brown said in a statement about the revenue expectation changes. Earnings are expected to be announced 12 May. Brown's departure is the latest in an executive exodus at Symantec in recent months, particularly around the company's channel team. Most recently, the security vendor lost Americas channel chief Stephen Thomas, who took a role as vice president of sales for North America at Cyberbit Commercial Solutions. Other recent departures include Adrian Jones, executive vice president and general manager of global sales and operations; Tom LaRocca,vice president of global channel programs and sales; and Sean Maxwell, vice president of global sales strategy and field enablement. Sources with knowledge of the situation have also told CRN USA layoffs have already started at the security vendor, including in the company's sales organisation. This article originally appeared at crn.com JB Hi-Fi has rescued the channel of Chinese smartphone vendor Oppo after the collapse of Dick Smith. The electronics retailer will stock Oppos entire device range, which includes the R7s, R7 Plus, F1 and the new flagship R9 and R9 Plus smartphones. JB Hi-Fi will also stock Oppo phone covers, cases and chargers. Oppo Australias marketing director Michael Tran said he was pleased with the vendors progress in Australia so far. We know from customer feedback that when Aussies experience our products, they fall in love with them, said Tran. Our partnership with JB Hi-Fi will help us get into the hands of Aussies nationwide, which is very important in building our brand." Dick Smith scooped an exclusive retail agreement to sell Oppos R7 and R7 Plus in June last year. The retailer went on the offensive by opening dedicated kiosks in 150 stores alongside Apple and Samsung. After Dick Smith fell into administration, Oppo began talks with other resellers to stock its devices. Tran told CRN that Oppo was left in the dark on its retail future after Dick Smiths assets were acquired by Kogan in March. Optus was signed on to sell Oppos budget F1 smartphone in its retail stores. Optus also sells the Oppo R7 on a $40-per-month plan. Google has promoted director of Asia-Pacific sales operations and strategy Jason Pellegrino as the new managing director of Australia and New Zealand. The move follows just two months after former MD Maile Carnegie left Google after three years to join ANZ Bank as its new head of digital banking. Pellegrino joined Google in 2008 as head of strategy and sales operations for Australia, responsible for business strategy and commercial opportunities. In 2011, he transitioned into the sales director role before moving to the Asia-Pacific sales operations and strategy job in 2014. Google Australia reported revenue of $501.8 million for the financial year ending 31 December, an increase of $63.2 million. Net profit dipped slightly from $49.2 million to $47.1 million. EMC wants to undercut competitors such as Pure Storage and Nimble with its new Unity all-flash array, which it claimed is half the price of competitive products. The 2U (two rack unit) product starts at US$18,000 (A$23,500). It has been designed for the smaller end of town not typically EMC's sweet spot, admitted Jeremy Burton, president of products and marketing, EMC at the vendor's conference in Las Vegas. "We made our name as a company focusing on the high-end enterprise. We have never really built out volume distribution, therefore, we have not really built a lot of volume products. Unity was absolutely designed and architected as a volume product." The product is aimed at small, mid-sized and departmental enterprise IT deployments, and also comes in a hybrid array configurations priced at less than US$10,000. By deploying multiple Unity arrays, users can scale up to 3 Petabytes of storage, with up to 300,0000 IOPS. Unity was announced on the opening day of EMC World. The array's entry-level nature chimes with the mainstream market approach of Dell, which is in the process of acquiring EMC. Burton added: "With Unity, we as EMC will do well with it. In the hands of Dell's distribution channel, which has historically been a volume channel, I think we can do amazing things." Unity will be sold though EMC's two Australian distributors, Ingram Micro and Avnet. Darren Adams, Australian & New Zealand general manager of Avnet Technology Solutions, is in Las Vegas for EMC World. He told CRN that the distributor already had sales and technical staff skilled up on the Unity range. "Therefore, Unity is quotable and orderable from Avnet now." Adams expected Unity to "give EMC a real technological lift, particularly in the mid-tier market". "Additionally, Avnet will be immediately offering Unity to our partners as one of the many options available in our new Powered-by-Avnet solution that CRN wrote about recently," Adams added. Also in Las Vegas for EMC World is Jonathan Fox, general manager of Ingram Micro Australia's Advanced Solutions Group. The distie's team "have been fully trained and have been able to quote since late April," Fox told CRN. "The product set is available to be ordered from us now and we've already seen a strong uptake and pipeline building." "We're excited about what the new products will mean for our mid-market business given the aggressive price point we see, combined with some of the simplicity of management and deployment," he added. "It will also complement the existing EMC portfolio and fit nicely into the overall Dell/EMC value proposition as we see the two businesses merge to become Dell Technologies," said Fox. The journalist travelled to EMC World as a guest of EMC. Results from two recent studies suggest that cybersecurity needs an overhaul at most companies with root causes of the problem including poor communication, a lack of employee awareness, slowed productivity and a lack of budget. In its 2016 Cybersecurity Confidence Report, Barkly, an endpoint security company, surveyed 350 IT pros to determine the top security concerns for 2016 and gauge how confident IT leaders are when it comes to cybersecurity issues. The survey looked at IT leaders' biggest security concerns, levels of confidence around security, number of breaches in 2015, amount of time spent on security, biggest priorities in IT and the downsides to current security solutions -- and, for the most part, the results were grim. Security is on the top IT leader's mind, especially as hacks become more frequent, sophisticated and malicious, but the report also uncovered some shocking truths about cybersecurity in the enterprise. The report showed major flaws in how businesses and IT leaders approach security, and it boils down to a lack of communication between the C-Suite and IT leaders, as well as a general frustration with how security slows down overall productivity in the company. But just because security might bog down productivity, or IT leaders and executives suffer from a lack of communication, businesses need to remain vigilant regarding security. Jack Danahy, CTO and co-founder of Barkly, says efficiency should be redefined. "Good security does not bog down efficiency. Efficiency can't be measured by how fast a single user can accomplish a particular task; it must be directly linked to the performance of the organization as a whole." Confidence in security is low For IT pros did not express high levels of confidence when it comes to security. Fifty percent reported that they aren't confident in their current security products and initiatives, while one in five don't believe it's even possible to have effective endpoint security. The study shows that three out of four IT leaders say employees' understanding of cybersecurity is, at best, moderate -- which only further diminishes confidence in cybersecurity. For employees, it's a matter of them not understand what's at stake if they ignore security protocol -- oftentimes they simply feel security measures hinder their productivity, which only motivates them to take shortcuts. Danahy likens enterprise security to a pilot getting a plane ready for take-off. After boarding, passengers have to sit and wait for the pilot to complete a checklist, and it might mean the plane gets off the ground a bit later than scheduled, but "no one thinks of this as bogging down the flying process. It is a thoughtful, proven technique to ensure a higher level of safety." Most importantly, Danahy says that a lack of confidence from IT or employees aren't valid excuses for why businesses aren't living up to cybersecurity expectations. "Every business leader should know whether they are secure enough or not. They should ask themselves that question, and then force themselves to support the reasons for their response." [ Related story: 5 tips for defending against advanced persistent threats ] Difficulty proving security ROI Another reason IT pros are abandoning effective security practices is that it's difficult to calculate the ROI of security. The study found that 54 percent of respondents have low confidence in their company's ability to demonstrate the ROI of security. For business leaders, the biggest motivation for implementing new process, procedures, or expanding budgets boils down to how much money they can make on the initiative. But IT pros are finding it hard to concretely define the ROI around security, whether it's purchasing new software, hardware or implementing company-wide security measures. Still, 52 percent of IT executives say they "would still jump at the chance to purchase new, improved security software, and one in four say there is no limit to what they would pay for something more effective and reliable." Another cybersecurity study from the ISACA/RSA found that, while 82 percent of board members are concerned about cybersecurity, the reality is that only one in seven CIOs report directly to the CEO and most are completely left off the board. And that's in an environment where 74 percent of security pros believe a cyberattack will occur in 2016, with 30 percent reporting daily phishing attempts, according to the study. Businesses might need to move beyond an ROI-based attitude -- at least around cybersecurity -- says Eddie Schwartz, ISACA board member, chair of ISACA's Cybersecurity Task Force and president and COO of WhiteOps. "It's ridiculous to talk about ROI or the lack of ROI relative to cybersecurity at this point. It's clear from all of the breaches over the last several years that cybersecurity should be a key investment area for CIOs. If CIOs can't explain the value of security investments as easily as they explain the value of other features of their IT investment programs, they should not be CIOs." [ Related story: 5 signs you've been hit with an advanced persistent threat ] Are IT pros are giving up? The survey asked how many breaches respondents experienced in the last year, and one third of respondents said they weren't sure. But for those who were aware, companies with less than 1,000 employees averaged two breaches, while companies with over 10,000 employees reported an average of 2.7 breaches for the year. The study from ISACA/RSA found similar stats for 2015, with 24 percent stating they "didn't know" if user credentials were hacked or stolen or if hackers exploited their organization. Twenty-three percent couldn't say if they had experienced an "advanced persistent threat attack," while 20 percent didn't know if corporate assets were "hijacked for botnet use." When asked in the Barkly study what the biggest issues around implementing effective security procedures are, 41 percent said they slow down the system, 33 percent said they're too expensive, 36 percent cited too many updates and 20 percent said that security "requires too much headcount to manage." IT leaders are being forced to choose between strong security and productivity, and most companies are sticking to the latter, according to the data from Barkly. Ultimately, these solutions aren't stopping breaches, as the study points out, and the effects are simply slowing down day-to-day business. But if security pros are worried now, it's only going to get worse as technology changes faster and becomes more advanced. And as the skills gap grows wider -- with too many security jobs and not enough qualified candidates to fill them -- the problem will only increase. The ISACA/RSA study also found that two emerging industry trends -- artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things -- are causing growing concern for security pros. The study found that 42 percent believed AI would increase risk in the short term, while 62 percent agreed that it will certainly cause problems in the long term. More than half of the respondents also cited the IoT as a potential platform for more expansive and intelligent hacks. Ultimately, the results from both show businesses need to reconsider their cybersecurity measures. "IT leaders should see security as an intrinsic and critical part of their overall program. By doing so, they would be demonstrating leadership across their own organization and for their customers that they care about protecting information," Schwartz says. Related Video This story, "IT leaders pick productivity over security" was originally published by CIO . Thousands of taxpayers have been impacted by a wave of Phishing attacks targeting W-2 records, with more than sixty organizations reporting such incidents in the first half of the year. By taking advantage of the trust relationships that exist within a given company; these attacks have resulted in at least $2.3 billion in losses over the last three years. Business Email Compromise / Correspondence attacks (BEC attacks) aren't overly clever, but they're effective. A person with authority is impersonated, and a lower-level staffer is asked to share W-2 records or related payroll information. That's all there is to it. Because the request looks and feels legitimate, the employee usually complies, but there have been a few cases where the scam was flagged before any damage could be done. Last month, Jonathan Sander, vice president at Lieberman Software, remarked to Salted Hash that the common theme in each successful attack is also the reason why the success rate should be zero. "The employee shouldnt have been able to access that much data without some sort of oversight kicking in. The fact that a single employee, for any reason, could grab so much data and simply send it to anyone, regardless of who they think that person is, is a scary prospect when you stop to think about it. Of course, you can also ask why an employee would be fooled into thinking that an executive would be making such a sweeping request," Sander said. In the first quarter of 2016, at least 41 organizations were victimized by BEC attacks, but that number is closer to 70 when additional disclosures are counted. Some organizations were successfully hit earlier in the year, but only just recently discovered the problem, delaying notification. On April 25, GoldKey | PHR, a hotel management company that controls a large part of the rooms on Virginia Beach, disclosed that W-2 information was compromised on February 29, but this fact wasn't discovered until April 3. The cause of the breach was listed as a "criminal Phishing email" and impacted at least 3,000 people. Also on April 25, NetBrain Technologies Inc., a network visualization firm based in Burlington, Massachusetts, said someone posed as a company executive and requested 2015 W-2 data on March 3. The documents were delivered as asked, impacting all employees. On April 12, the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida disclosed that on March 17, someone impersonated the author of the notice itself, Betsy Laughlin, the Director of Finance, and requested 2015 W-2 records. Because the request was spoofed to appear as if she sent it, the employee who received it didn't hesitate. On April 26, Michels Corporation, a contractor based in Brownsville, Wisconsin, disclosed that a company executive was impersonated by a scammer, requesting 2015 W-2 records. The incident occurred on April 16, and impacted more than 5,000 current and former employees. With a low barrier of entry to launch such a campaign, and an even lower overhead, criminals show no signs of slowing when it comes to targeting W-2 information. Even if the stolen data isn't used immediately, it can be compiled and sold for a number of different uses. "If your CEO appears to be emailing you for a list of company employees, check it out before you respond. Everyone has a responsibility to remain diligent about confirming the identity of people requesting personal information about employees," IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a statement issued earlier this year with a memo warning about the rise in BEC attacks. Many of the firms that have disclosed these incidents report that employees have detected tax fraud, which seems to be the ultimate goal in these attacks. Since 2015, the FBI says there has been a 270-percent increase in the number of identified victims and exposed losses. BRIDGEPORT When outdoor retailing giant Bass Pro Shops was designing its 150,000-square-foot store along the harbor, city fire officials spent several days reviewing the plans to ensure they met safety guidelines. That time would have added up to a nice bit of revenue for cash-strapped Bridgeport had the city actually charged fees for the fire marshals services. While marshals are required to sign off on construction plans ahead of the permits being issued, We never charged before, said Fire Chief Brian Rooney. And last year was a boomer year with Bass Pro, which would have been a massive amount of revenue, Rooney said. As Mayor Joe Ganims administration hikes fees in parks and other departments to try and balance the books, Rooney wants to start charging anyone who has the fire marshals office eyeball construction designs. The fire marshals office already levy $100 fees for required inspections of everything from hotels to public halls, day care centers and dry cleaners. Rooney and the marshals office are proposing establishing a minimum $50 fee to review designs for small projects, then figuring out how to escalate the price tag from there for bigger, more time-consuming developments like Bass Pro. Rooney said not only are the fees justified by the time marshals office personnel spend hunkered over building plans, taking them away from other important work like site inspections, but in some cases the people or companies doing the construction never return to pick up those designs. And while Bass Pro is a missed opportunity it opened on the Steel Point redevelopment area in November there are other major projects in the pipeline, from new apartment buildings downtown to a luxury movie theater at Steel Point. It will add up, believe me, Rooney said. He estimated the fees could total $10,000 in the first year. Ganims budget office is sticking with a more conservative $5,000. While for some it might seem like a no-brainer to impose such fees, Bridgeport is hardly the only big city not doing it. New Haven and Stamford, for example, do not charge for that fire marshal service. But Keith Flood, immediate past president of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, said in an email, There are a number of cities and towns that have plan review fees. Those, Flood said, includes West Haven, where he is fire marshal. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Nirone Gully Guns Hutton was going down for murder Monday two slugs fired in the back of 25-year-old Juan Marcano and a jurys guilty verdict made that a certainty. What wasnt certain until the 32-year-old Hutton opened his mouth in court was where Superior Court Judge Maria Kahn was going to land on the sentencing scale of 25 to 60 years. This wasnt a fair trial. It felt like 1960s Mississippi when blacks had no rights, Hutton exclaimed as a crowd of his family and friends nodded in agreement from the back of the courtroom. Everybody here is pointing fingers at me, but you guys railroaded me the whole time. Judge, you never gave me a fair trial only in Bridgeport. Huttons lawyer, Robert Berke, attempted to explain away his clients outburst, describing him as passionate. But in the end, Kahn sentenced Hutton to 55 years in prison. This was a brutal killing, the judge told Hutton. The victim was lured into a building and positioned so that he was shot in the back and the only one responsible is you, Mr. Hutton. Marcano was found lying in a stairwell of Building 5 in the Greene Homes on Feb. 27, 2007, with two bullet holes in his back. But despite a police investigation, the case remained unsolved for six years. During that time, Marcanos mother, Star Beauregard, was relentless in her efforts to keep the investigation open. Nirone Hutton decided to play God and take the life of my only son, she tearfully told the judge Monday. Then, turning to where Hutton sat rolling his eyes and shaking his head she added, You shot my son not once but twice in the back and that shows you are a coward. You left him to die like an animal. Senior Assistant States Attorney Joseph Harry praised the work of police in the case, but said it wasnt cracked until members of the public came forward with vital information. Witnesses during the two-week trial testified that Marcano, who did not live in the housing project, had been visiting some girls there when he was confronted by members of the Harlem 5 Star Generals, a franchise of the Bloods gang that controlled the building. Harry said Marcano took on the leader of the gang, Garrett "Slim" Bostick, and appeared to be getting the best of him when Hutton put two 38-caliber slugs into Marcano's back. Within hours of the shooting of Marcano, federal agents rounded up members of the gang after finding them with a cache of guns and ammo. Harry said that Marcano, on his death bed, was able to identify Bostick as the man he fought, he couldn't identify the shooter. Police later got a big break when they intercepted a letter to a prison inmate from "Gully Guns," according to trial testimony. The letter, read to the jury stated: "I redrum this (expletive). Gee got caught with the slammy after the redrum went down. I got that redrum under my belt that's crazy cause I aint trying to go to jail," police said. Redrum is code for murder on the streets. Slammy is a gun, the prosecutor told the jurors. Police said a fingerprint lifted from the letter was Huttons. Following his arrest in October 2013, police said Hutton confessed to killing Marcano. On the witness stand, Hutton reiterated that he had shot the victim, but claimed he did it in self-defense. Hutton claimed Marcano had been pistol-whipping his friend, and out of fear the victim was about to shoot them, he fired his gun. A resolution that would have added Connecticut to a list of 25 states demanding a national constitutional convention crashed and burned last week in a quiet collision in a noisy hallway outside the House of Representatives. The proposed conventions purpose was ostensibly to overturn the controversial Citizens United decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed unlimited corporate and union money in political campaigns. Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, led the charge against what is a wolf in sheeps clothing, backed by ultra-cons and a group called Wolf PAC, and killed the bill, 26-17, before the House gaveled in. Godfrey, in the hustle of the meeting, went off on the forces behind the call for a national convention. They want some limitations on federal powers, he said. They want the ability of states to overturn both congressional acts and Supreme Court decisions. They want to deal with amending the U.S. Constitution so the 50 governors, by a majority vote, can amend the Constitution. They want to change the Electoral College, which I would be in favor of, but they also want to put a right-to-life clause in the Constitution. They want to put a marriage is a man and woman in the Constitution. I dont think this is the time and this isnt the state. Once a constitutional convention convenes it can do anything it wants. The bear facts A bill that cleared the House last week 124-20 would allow the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to write regulations on bear and coyote habitat. But environmentalists in the House warned that it could allow the DEEP to make life difficult for people who feed birds, ducks and even stray cats if the food attracts bear and coyote. While the regulations would include outreach to communities with literature, Rep. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, warned that environmental conservation officers could find themselves confronting bird lovers in their homes over inadvertently feeding bears. James Albis, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the Environment Committee, confirmed that residents have to stop doing things like leaving out plates of food for neighborhood bear. These events are only going to become more prevalent as the population of bears increases in our state, Albis said. You could have a bird feeder out, but not during these months. Like many bills this time of year, the title of the legislation: An Act Concerning the Prevention of the Habituation of Potentially Dangerous Animals and the Status of Snapping Turtles Under State Law, has been watered down. The turtle part was excised, which is too bad, because the tough but important animals are getting hunted for sale in Asian food markets out-of-state, said Rep. Phil Miller, D-Essex. Smarter than the average law Miner, sensing that the chamber needed some levity, offered an amendment that would exempt a famous animal from the regulations If the bear was found to be smarter than the average bear 2) if the feeding occurred from a picnic basket Yes, its Yogi Bear. Albis, given a chance at Miners amendment, asked How do we determine whether a bear is smarter than average? The gentleman has spoken, I think, at length about the regulatory process and I would expect that this would be handled through some deliberative process in the DEEP, Miner replied, to general laughter in the House. He then withdrew the amendment. Rock, paper, scissors A lawmaker named Al Adinolfi, R-Cheshire, the other night went after the bill that would expedite the seizure of firearms from people, mostly men, who are targets of temporary restraining orders. The bill passed 140-42 and went to the Senate, but Adinolfi probably didnt help his cause, when he described a family member of his who had been murdered with a sledge hammer. Tone deafness This gave Sen. William Tong, D-Stamford, the co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee who introduced the bill on the House floor, an opening. He talked about an incident in Manchester, years ago, when his parents operated a small store on Main Street. A man came in and confronted his mother, saying he had a gun and ordering her into the back of the store. She didnt argue and she started to walk down the aisle, Tong recalled in the hushed chamber. Halfway down that aisle, my mom decided Im not going out like that today, so my mother turned around, in her mid-50s at that time, and confronted this man who she thought had a gun. He had a knife and so in a rage my mother lunged at this man to save her life. And he raised up that knife and proceeded to lunge toward her in attempt to stab her. My mother grabbed that knife with her bare hands and held onto it for dear life. And to this day her pinkie is messed up from that encounter. There was a scuffle, he stabbed her multiple times and my mother stumbled out the back of the store into the pizza palace next door and proceeded to bleed profusely and luckily they were able to call an ambulance and my mother lived. I will never forget seeing my mother in Hartford Hospital having been stabbed within inches of her life. My mother is with me because that man did not have a gun. If he had had a gun my mother would have never stood a chance. Adinolfi, who is not running for re-election, was tone-deaf to the moment. I think that kind of agrees with my thoughts that your mother, thank God, wasnt killed but she could have been. I had to go down and identify a body that was bludgeoned to death with a sledge hammer. It probably would have been better for him to be shot with a gun because he wouldnt have suffered as much. Adinolfi challenged the premise that the bill was to protect the lives of woman. Closing up shop Officially called Hillary for America, three volunteers and a supervisor were busy calling registered Democrats throughout the 4th Congressional District, which includes most of lower Fairfield County. It wasnt quite like the phone banks of yore these days the volunteers use their cell phones. Thirteen-year-old Rowen Villamil of Newtowns Sandy Hook section, said that it was the tragedy of Dec. 14, 2012 that gave her reason to work for the Clinton campaign. The son of my voice teacher was killed that day, a terrible day, she said on Primary Day last week. Sandy Hook is still a gun-loving place, and after the shooting I became very interested in gun-control advocacy. I love her policies on gun control and the environment. I could go on for hours on how much I love Hillary. She said that in her school in Brookfield, most of her classmates lean to the right. When they found out I was a Hillary supporter, it was like, Oh, good, someone we can argue with, she said. Theres a little tension there. Villamil was joined at the Hillary for America center by Anna Green, 16, a student at Fairfield Warde High School, said that she volunteers for Clinton to be a part of the Democratic process. Even though were too young to vote, were not too young to back the candidate who would make the best president, Green said. JBurgeson@CTPost.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Donald Trumps supporters are threatening to boycott the annual state Republican party fundraising dinner after Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruzs running mate, was announced as the events keynote speaker. Trump swept almost the entire state in the April 24 GOP primary, while Cruz failed to win a single city or town. The next day, Cruz added Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO and one-time presidential candidate to his ticket. Fiorina had been chosen weeks before the primary as the headliner for the Prescott Bush Awards Dinner, the partys main fundraiser, which is named for the late Bush family patriarch from Greenwich. Since she was added to the Cruz ticket, however, Fiorina has repeatedly assailed Trump, saying he would get shellacked by Clinton. If she continues up to the Bush dinner publicly bashing Trump, then youre going to see a revolution at the Bush dinner with a lot of a Trump supporters walking out, said Joe Visconti, a Trump organizer and former gubernatorial candidate. But Visconti is urging restraint from his fellow Trump backers, some of whom, he said, have talked about boycotting the May 24 dinner and organizing a separate event. For Republicans to take back the White House, Visconti said, they need Cruz, a Texas Senator, and his supporters to coalesce around Trump, who won all 28 of Connecticuts GOP delegates. If Trump wins Indiana and West Virginia this Tuesday and next Tuesday, Fiorinas role as a Trump critic could dramatically change, Visconti said. Will she capitulate that (Trump) is the nominee or will she continue to be negative? Visconti said. (Then) theres going to be a problem. At that particular point, there will be a boycott of the Bush dinner. State GOP Chairman J.R. Romano, who vowed to support the primary winner on the first ballot at the partys national convention this summer as a delegate, did not respond to a request for comment. Carl Higbie, a retired Navy SEAL from Greenwich who is volunteering for Trumps campaign, said he has also heard rumblings among the Trump faithful of a boycott or competing event. This dinner is not about Carly, Higbie said. Its not about Trump. Its about the Connecticut Republican Party. For long-term supporters of the Connecticut Republican Party to not support this dinner, I think, is foolish because theyre only hurting the end goal and helping Hillary Clinton. Ive told people, Dont be an idiot. If you want to do something, do something on another night. Bob MacGuffie, a tea party stalwart from Fairfield who led the volunteer effort in the state for Cruz, characterized Trumps supporters as thin-skinned. They shouldnt be afraid of Carly Fiorina coming in and standing on conservative values, MacGuffie said. The Trumpeteers should have a little more respect for the conservatives. Previous keynote speakers for the event, which MacGuffie is skipping, include Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Mitt and Ann Romney. Im sure (Fiorina) will put in a pitch for the ticket shes on, MacGuffie said. A request for comment was left Monday for the Cruz-Fiorina campaign. Jamie Millington, who has endorsed Trump and is Fairfields Republican Town Committee chairman, said Fiorina is savvy enough to realize it would be tone deaf to badmouth the GOP frontrunner. If she starts giving us the Cruz stump speech, its not going to be well received, Millington said. Overall, when you look at the election results for Connecticut, Ted Cruz really got trounced. His message is not selling here in Connecticut. Millington was one of several GOP leaders who called on the rival factions to unite for the good of the party. So did Bridgeport RTC Chairman Mike Garrett, who is also supporting Trump. I would not hold that against her, Garrett said of Fiorinas alliance with Cruz. I understand what her role is. Art Mannion, a Republican State Central Committee member from Danbury, said he expects cooler heads to prevail. I think all of those suggestions may be in the heat of the moment, Mannion said of a boycott. People are making bombastic statements. Were all good Republicans who will support whoever the Republican nominee is. neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy Federal legislation aimed at stopping the nations prescription drug shortage has worked but not well enough. A new study out of Yale University shows that, while there are fewer new drug shortages since the legislation passed in 2012, many medications are still in short supply, particularly those used to treat critically ill patients in hospital emergency rooms and intensive care units. The types of drugs were seeing shortages of are the kind that get used every day, said Arjun Venkatesh, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Yale, and the studys senior author. This is a public health crisis. In the study, published in the May issue of Health Affairs, researchers examined data from the University of Utahs Drug Information Service to determine whether the 2012 passage of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act had any effect on drug shortages. The FDA defines a drug shortage as a period of time when the demand or projected demand for a medication exceeds its supply. The act was spurred by a huge spike in pharmaceutical shortages in the years leading up to its passage. According to the University of Utah, there were 210 drug shortages in 2011, compared with only 70 just five years earlier, in 2006. The FDA Safety and Innovation Act, among other things, gave the FDA the power to speed up the development of new medicines that could help address shortages. Venkatesh, who is also an emergency room physician, said he wanted to examine the laws effectiveness after having multiple incidents in the same day when drugs he needed were in short supply. About a year or so ago, I wanted to order some saline, he said. When I entered the order into the computer, immediately I got this warning saying Can you use an alternative? Venkatesh had a similar experience later that day when trying to order another medication. I wasnt able to get access to the first choice drugs I wanted, he said. He wanted to see if this experience was common. In reviewing the University of Utahs data, the Yale researchers and their coauthors found that the overall number of new shortages appeared to decline after the passage of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act. But they found that shortages remained, and more than half of them involved acute care drugs. These included such commonly used medications as saline, certain antibiotics and even naloxone often used to reverse drug overdoses. Researchers found that the average duration of these shortages was about eight months. Its unclear why these particular drugs are the ones experiencing shortages, but Venkatesh said the reasons are likely financial. Bridgeport Hospital Chief Medical Officer Michael Ivy agreed. A lot of these (drugs) are generic and companies dont make as much money off of them, he said. Ivy said he wasnt surprised by the findings of the Yale study. We get updates on drug shortages regularly, and it impacts the patients and the doctors who take care of them all the time, he said. Though physicians have the option of using alternatives, Venkatesh said these often arent ideal, as they can be less effective, more costly or have more side effects than the drug of choice. We really want to use this research to highlight this issue and say Hey this problem isnt solved, he said. When I sit at dinner with my family, I often think about my students. I have been a teacher in Bridgeport for many years and have seen the disparities between my own son, who lives in a suburban home and attends a suburban school, and the challenges my students face in a high-poverty, urban community. I know my students have the potential to succeed. I also know that my students go home praying that no bullets will pass through their windows, and hoping they will have food to eat. I understand that it is often a world of haves and have nots. So I work hard to provide the education and knowledge they will need to grow and achieve. My students deserve an academic experience that lifts them up and helps them overcome the obstacles they face. Respecting the potential and humanity of each student should be at the heart of our public school education system. Far too often, however, students in high-poverty schools must confront not only the challenges in their community, but also the burden of an impersonal, standardized testing scheme that too often results in the wrong priorities and fails to identify and address their needs. My students deserve assessments that are free from bias and are designed to benefit them not testing corporations. Thats why the idea of linking the state mastery exam, the Smarter Balanced or SBAC test to teacher evaluation is wrong for both teachers and students. The State Department of Education admits that SBAC is not meant as a diagnostic measure to directly inform a teachers classroom instruction on a daily or weekly basis. It in no way helps inform the instruction of my students. A mastery exam is supposed to measure knowledge in a uniform and fair manner, and not discriminate against students on the basis of income or whether they have desktops, laptops and computer tablets at home. It is especially punishing and developmentally inappropriate for special-education students, English language learners, students below grade level, and younger students, as they must stare into a computer screen for many hours and become discouraged and frustrated with a test that does not accommodate their needs. For some, it is a crushing experience. This is an important civil rights issue. I recently joined several of my urban teacher colleagues, who are members of the Connecticut Education Associations Ethnic Minority Affairs Commission, and met with representatives of the Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission and state lawmakers who are members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. We explained the harmful effects of SBAC on all students, but especially on students in low-income districts like ours. We discussed the research that shows how the awkward, computerized format of the SBAC test creates a significant technology gap for students in high-poverty schools. We talked about the unintended consequence of linking this unfair and biased test to a teachers evaluation, especially for urban teachers. There are much better, more accurate tools to measure the effectiveness of teachers. Urban districts like mine are often training grounds for talented, beginning educators who leave urban schools for jobs in the suburbs, where resources and learning conditions are more conductive to school success. My colleagues and I told the legislators that the state requirement linking the invalid SBAC test and teacher evaluations is a disincentive to committed educators who want to stay in city schools. We urged them to focus their energies on enabling our cities to retain these educators, and develop innovations for cities seeking to attract and retain high-quality teachers, especially minority teachers. Teachers know what matters most: providing engaging instruction and promoting skills that lead to lifelong learning such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity. These skills are not measured well or at all by standardized tests. Connecticut should join the majority of states that have already rejected the SBAC test, and refuse to undermine the integrity of teacher evaluations. Senate Bill 380, currently before the state legislature would do just that. Eliminating SBAC from teacher evaluation will increase reliability and validity. Evaluations currently include the review of multiple measures of student performance, growth and development, including tests that are designed specifically to measure the progress of classroom learning. I assess my students using classroom-based projects, assignments and tests that give me immediate feedback so that I can target my instruction to help them achieve at the highest levels. I want to be evaluated based on the growth of my students during the course of the school year, in the subjects and skills that I teach. As a teacher, I have chosen to dedicate my life to helping my students achieve within and outside of the classroom. There is nothing more important than the education of our children, and we owe it to our students to assess that education in a manner that is honest, valid and fair. Its what we should all want. Legislators must reach this same conclusion for the sake of our children and our future. Mia Dimbo lives in Branford and teaches in Bridgeport. Pa. is about to vote. Here's what to know about voting and ballot access in 2022 Elections Gov. Ron DeSantis and Charlie Crist square off in their only TV debate Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democrat Charlie Crist are expected to tussle over the economy, abortion and culture war issues. 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 Through three years of ferocious fighting in Afghanistan, Nangyalai Dawoodzai served this country loyally. Despite the daily risk of reprisal from the Taliban, he acted as a translator and local guide to British soldiers on missions into deeply hostile territory. But when his service was over, instead of rewarding his courage, we abandoned him with tragic consequences. Fellow translators said Nangyalai Dawoodzai was deeply depressed about the threat of being thrown out of the UK despite working with British forces in war-ravaged Helmand province (pictured) After constant death threats at home, he made his way to Britain in the hope of sanctuary. Yet in an act of callous ingratitude, we slammed the door in his face his asylum application was refused. And rather than be deported, he took his own life. His suicide is a tragedy that shames our nation and highlights the plight of some 600 other interpreters still living in Afghanistan, who are in mortal danger solely because they worked for Britain. The resurgent Taliban has branded them infidels and pledged to hunt them down. There have already been several attempted murders and at least one translator was recently shot as a spy. Yet still we refuse them shelter. Dawoodzai, 29, paid people smugglers to reach the UK after receiving Taliban death threats in his homeland (file image of Helmand province) The Daily Mails Betrayal of the Brave campaign has highlighted the plight of former frontline translators who remained in Afghanistan after UK forces left and have been targeted by the Taliban because of their service (file image of Helmand province) After the Iraq war, asylum was granted to 1,500 interpreters. Their Afghan counterparts are probably in even greater danger and the Mail believes we have an equally strong moral duty to them. Our Betrayal of the Brave campaign, which has led the way in highlighting this injustice, is backed by a petition of 180,000 signatures including military chiefs, soldiers and MPs. The Home Office must act now, before any more translators die. Britain gives refuge to war criminals, terror suspects and endless thousands of random migrants who arrive from Calais in the backs of lorries with far weaker claims on our hospitality. How can we, in all conscience, deny a safe haven to friends who stood by us in time of need? Strictly a non-starter If reported leaks from the BBC White Paper are to be believed, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has come up with some interesting and important ideas. Publishing the earnings of on-screen talent, for example, would give licence-fee payers a greater insight into how their money is spent. And a review of programme quality in five years time may help ensure the corporation isnt dumbing down standards in a chase for higher ratings. If reported leaks from the BBC White Paper are to be believed, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale (pictured) has come up with some interesting and important ideas But the suggestion it should stop screening its most popular shows on Saturday and Sunday evenings to avoid clashing with ITV is surely a non-starter. For many families, weekends are the only time they sit down to watch television together and they deserve the best. Is the BBC expected to schedule its most boring programmes in these prime time slots rather than its most entertaining? Its difficult to see how screening an extended edition of Newsnight at 6.30 on Saturday evenings instead of Strictly Come Dancing would benefit the viewing public. Yet another celebrity witch-hunt has come to an ignominious conclusion after the collapse of 37-year-old sexual abuse allegations against John Inman. But this was not before the much-loved actors reputation had been unjustly trashed. After the fiasco of Operation Midland, the inquiry into a supposed VIP paedophile ring, youd have thought the police would have learned to treat flimsy historic claims with extreme caution. Lets hope they heed that lesson now. It was surely unfair of Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to accuse a male head teacher of sexism for suggesting she wasnt in control of her department. Advertisement First, we had to find the panda in a sea of snowmen. Then, we looked for the potato in a crowd of hamsters. And now? Daily Mail Online wants you to find Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in a pack of playing cards. The Republican and Democratic front-runners' faces are both hidden somewhere among the kings and queens in this illustrated image but can you scope them out without a hint? Playing games: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton's faces are hidden in this pile of playing cards Sparring: Donald, 68, and Clinton, 69, have been trading words about whether Hillary is playing the 'woman card' simply because she is a woman The pile of face cards is, truly, the perfect puzzle game for the pair, particularly because Trump, 69, continues to make snide comments about Clinton, 69, playing her 'woman card'. 'The only card she has is the woman card,' he told Fox News Sunday, adding in an interview with Today: 'Without the woman's card, Hillary would not even be a viable person to even run for a city council position.' In fact, from the frequency and manner in which he's used the phrase, some have joked that the candidate seems to think the 'woman card' is an actual physical card Clinton carries in her wallet. 'Mr. Trump accused me of playing the, quote, "woman card,"' she fired back. 'Well, if fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in.' But whether Hillary's playing the 'woman card' or hiding her face on a 'Queen card', this puzzle is the first of its kind to get political. Drawn by artist Michael Rogalski exclusively for Daily Mail Online, it plays off the popular internet craze of these Where's Waldo-style games. Found! Clinton is hidden on a queen card toward the bottom, while Trump is upside down in the top right corner Back in December, the internet first started to go wild over these puzzles, which disguise something in a crowd of lookalikes. Hungarian artist Gergely Dudas posted the first, a Christmas puzzle, hiding a panda among a group of snowmen on his Facebook page on December. Dudas drew hundreds of carrot-nosed snowmen and challenged his followers to find the single bear among them. The puzzle was shared 100,000 times within days, and inspired a slew of similar puzzles a panda hidden among Stormtroopers, a dog lost among pandas, a cat among owls. Some were drawn by Dudas himself, while others were created by admiring copycats. He has also gone on to draw several more holiday-themed puzzles, including one that hides an Easter egg among bunnies. More games: In December, these Where's Waldo-style puzzles began sweeping the internet Who meows? He created several more puzzles which were also quite popular, including this one that hides a cat among owls In a galaxy far, far away: Here, a panda is hidden among a bunch of Star Wars characters, including Stromtroopers My mother lived to be 90 and I was so lucky because it meant I had time to thank her. I remember the day I did it, over a cup of tea in her kitchen. Thank you, Mum, I blurted. For everything. I'm so glad I did it, but you need more special words for what the women of my mother's time did for their daughters. Mum was born in New South Wales in Australia in 1912, into a world where women were second-class citizens. Her parents were barely literate country people - her father was a sheep shearer - and the first struggle was to go to high school. Special bond: Kates mother loved her career and her children and managed to juggle both successfully Even the teachers discouraged girls from getting an education. But she was clever and determined, and did well enough to study pharmacy, alongside 80 men and five other women. Even when she graduated, plenty of customers wouldn't be served by a 'lady pharmacist'. She married my father, a solicitor, who turned out to be an irregular earner, and opened her own pharmacy to support the family. It was unheard of for a woman - a mother - to have a business of her own. One of my most vivid memories is of Mum in a white coat taking a prescription and getting down the glass jars with Latin writing on them. I was proud of her. She was the only mother I knew who'd write 'H2O' instead of 'water' in a recipe. But I can also remember when the juggling act of running a business and organising a household finally became impossible. Her partner in the business - a carefree young bachelor - started to be late taking over in the afternoon, so she'd be late picking me up from school. I'd be in tears. The teacher would be furious. I'd hear her hiss to another teacher: 'Mrs Gee's late again!' For my sake, Mum finally had to give up the business. I think now that it must have broken her heart. But when I was old enough she went back to university and had a second career as an inspiring teacher. When Kate Grenville was a child, she sometimes wished her mother was around more - but now she realises what gifts her mother gave her 'You can do anything, anything at all,' she'd say to me. 'Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't.' In the Fifties and Sixties, when I was growing up, someone had to tell you that, because it wasn't the way the world looked. The 'careers corner' at my high school had pamphlets about being a teacher, nurse or dressmaker. That was about it. But Mum assumed I'd get a proper education, find a purpose in life and live beyond the narrow confines of the home. She also hoped I'd get married and have children. She often told my brothers and me that having children was the best and most important thing she'd ever done. 'Women can do it all,' she'd say. 'Just not all at the same time.' I offered to help her cook dinner one night. 'No,' she said. 'Go and do your homework. That's more important' I must have been a teenager when I offered to help her cook dinner one night. 'No,' she said. 'Go and do your homework. That's more important.' I insisted, but she put down the saucepan of potatoes and looked me full in the eye. 'I don't want to teach you how to cook and clean,' she said. 'If I do, you'll just become some man's domestic slave.' So when I left home to live with my boyfriend, we lived in squalor and ate baked beans out of the tin. His mother came to visit one day and - seeing the mess through her eyes - I asked: 'Mrs Goodwin, how often should you clean a house?' There was a pause. Finally, she said: 'Well, when it gets dirty, dear.' Mum did teach me one or two things about cooking, but only what would be useful for a woman like herself. She showed me how you could buy cheap cuts of meat and casserole them in a slow oven. That way, she said, you could go away and do something more interesting while the meal looked after itself. Kate was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for The Secret River in 2006 She also taught me something else: forget diamonds, machines are a girl's best friend. I heard her arguing with Dad one night about what we called the 'washing-up machine' (Mum was an early adopter). Dad thought it was a crazy extravagance. 'But Ken, your mother had servants. Well, these machines are the new servants,' I heard her say. The pharmacy was a long way from where we lived, so Mum bought her own car, a stumpy little navy-blue box. Dad wouldn't have been seen dead driving that. We were the first two-car family I knew. I grew up knowing that having your own wheels opened the door to an independent life, and I got my licence on the day I was legally allowed to drive. Mum earned her own money. She could spend it however she chose. If her marriage became impossible (as it eventually did), she could leave. Of all the things she wanted me to know, that was the most important. I didn't become 'some man's domestic slave'. But I've also never had the kind of equal partnership in a marriage that Mum taught me to hope for. I've shared my life with some wonderful men, but none would do his share of the housework. Like Mum, I've found myself squeezed between two ugly roles: the nag and the resentful doormat (research shows I'm not alone). When I was a child, I sometimes wished my mother was more like other mothers. They never missed being there, waiting at the school gate. But I realise now what gifts my mother gave me. Like most writers, at first I got a lot of rejections. What kept me going was what Mum had shown me: harness that negative energy and turn it around. Don't complain about the washing up, buy a machine to do it. The way to harness a rejection slip was to re-read the story through the cold eyes of whoever had rejected it (not the warm glow of your own admiration). Armed with the weapon of distance, you could improve it. It took eight years for my first big public success, but Mum was with me every step of the way. She sent me money when things were tight, took the children for the morning so I could write. Most important was her example: in her 50s - divorced and lonely - she picked herself up and created a whole second life. The success that has meant most to me was being shortlisted for the Booker Prize for The Secret River in 2006. It's a novel based on stories about a convict ancestor that Mum told me. She died while I was writing the book, but, as I sat in London's Guildhall waiting for the announcement, I knew she was with me. Her great-great-grandfather, an illiterate Thames bargeman, had stood in this hall, waiting to be given his apprenticeship papers. Now, thanks to Mum telling me those stories about him, here I was in the same splendid place. Mum's is the story of hundreds of thousands of women whose stories usually aren't told. They were the first ones, the brave ones, determined to live the fullest life they could, against the grain of the society they lived in, and to give their daughters the gift of their example. Advertisement That natural smile, the softly sunlit skin, the barely there make-up Remind you of anyone? Diana, Princess of Wales, featured on four Vogue covers, but her loveliest was also her most informal a simple black jumper, tousled hair and her head resting on her arms, cornflower-blue eyes looking straight at you. So when the Duchess of Cambridge finally came to make her Vogue debut, its no surprise that the 34-year-olds cover has echoes of her late mother-in-law, with a set of photographs that emphasise Kates natural, country-set style and, of course, her megawatt smile. Scroll down for video The Duchess of Cambridge has made her Vogue debut, with a set of photographs that emphasise Kates natural, country-set style and, of course, her megawatt smile Theyre certainly a far cry from Princess Annes three oh-so-glam appearances as a Vogue cover girl in the Seventies. And while securing Kate as a cover star is a huge coup for Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, it is clearly Kate who has taken the reins on the project. Coinciding with the release of her own photos to mark Princess Charlottes first birthday today, Kate has shown once again her determination to maintain as much control as possible over her familys public image. Casting aside much of the slick tailoring, grand millinery and dazzling jewellery that she often wears for public engagements, these new images of the Duchess of Cambridge are redolent of the point-to-points and country shows of the Home Counties set albeit with plenty of fashionable energy lent by brands such as Burberry and British Vogues fashion director Lucinda Chambers. Chambers is known for a quirkier take on British heritage style, blending ballgowns and wellies, but she clearly exercised restraint when it came to Kate, a young woman determined to define her own public image. Its no surprise that the 34-year-olds cover has echoes of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana (left), and theyre certainly a far cry from Princess Annes three oh-so-glam appearances as a Vogue cover girl in the Seventies (right) Her off-duty wardrobe in this shoot with skinny jeans, Breton tops, shearling coats, waxed jackets, boots and crisp shirts does as much to portray a certain look as the McQueen suits and Emilia Wickstead gowns she favours for official engagements. Whether frolicking on the polo lawns of Gloucestershire or hanging out on country estates with posh pals, this is the tribal style of William and Kates glossy posse. Yes, she may be a fashion icon, but these photographs, which were commissioned in collaboration with Londons National Portrait Gallery to commemorate Vogues centenary, are far more revealing than most fashion shoots. HAT'S THE WAY TO SEE OFF A RIVAL! Kate's hat works to make her look down-to-earth in a way thats strangely reminiscent of Prince Williams old flame Jecca Craig (left) or of Jane Seymour's role in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman (right) In an Australian Akubra-style fur felt hat, the sort worn by Outback cattle herders, Kate looks ready to leap into the saddle. The hat, from trendy vintage outlet, Beyond Retro, sells for 38. Its an unusual choice, given her hair is her crowning glory, and the brim casts a heavy shadow on her face but it works to make her look down-to-earth in a way thats strangely reminiscent of Prince Williams old flame Jecca Craig (top) or of Jane Seymour's role in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman. NICE GNASHERS Straight, even and gleaming, Kates teeth are a sight to entice any of us to visit the orthodontist. Refreshingly, she doesnt appear to have succumbed to the Hollywood trend for over-whitening them. It is known she wore a dental brace at the age of 12 and it is also thought she had invisible braces fitted ahead of her engagement to help give her that perfect smile. At 4,495, Kates chocolate suede double-breasted tailored coat is hardly one of her High Street bargains A 4,495 CALF SUEDE COAT At 4,495, Kates chocolate suede double-breasted tailored coat is hardly one of her High Street bargains. The Burberry number has oversized lapels with topstitched bound edging that make for a striking frame to her face on the magazines cover photo, where she is seen in a head and shoulders shot. It reflects Kates off-duty style: she often wears an Alice Temperley shearling jacket and favours brown coats. The classic white cotton shirt also by Burberry for a mere 325 adds to the wholesome, casual image, while subtly pandering to Vogues audience and advertisers. ONE SHOOT - BUT TWO HAIRSTYLES Kate would have had the opportunity to work with any one of Vogues elite army of session stylists, but the Duchess chose instead to have her personal and very loyal hairdresser, Amanda Cook Tucker, work with her on the shoot. In this image, Cook Tucker has probably used tongs to bring back the natural curl and bounce in Kates brunette locks. But for the shots where shes wearing a hat, her naturally wavy hair has been blow-dried straight and brushed through to create a more natural, glossy, outdoorsy style. NO PANDA EYES AND A FEW LINES! Kate normally favours heavy eyeliner, but Vogue make-up artist Sally Branka has persuaded her to try softer, blended eyeshadow and a dark brown brow pencil. The outcome? She looks so much younger and fresher. Branka has matched this with a tawny lipstick and warmed her complexion with a light dusting of bronzer. The result is fresh-faced and natural, though a surprising amount of cosmetics will have been used for this no make-up make-up look. Refreshingly, there is little or no touching-up work, allowing Kates natural facial lines to show. As usual, she is seen without nail polish. IS THAT CAR A PRODUCT PLACEMENT? Its an unusual fashion accessory... but clearly visible in the background is a Land Rover Defender, leading some to speculate that it may be a deliberate product placement. In fact, although Land Rover does hold the Royal Warrant and is a favourite with all the family, the model was discontinued in January... 68 years after it was launched. SHE'S MADE SURE WE CLOCK DI'S RING Kates hands are oh-so-casually arranged to show off the ever-present sapphire and diamond engagement ring that once adorned Dianas hand. The heirloom was left to William on his mothers death. Instantly recognisable, it draws the eye in with its dazzling gems, especially when worn with casual country clothing. It is worn with two other narrow bands, one of which is her wedding band, made from Welsh gold. HOT YOUNG SNAPPER Kate chose London-born fashion photographer Josh Olins, 36, for the shoot. Olins, who lives in New York, has photographed a host of celebrities including Emma Watson, the Beckhams and Julia Roberts, and has also done advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Mango, H&M and Gap. AT 35, SHE LOVES YUMMY BRETON TOPS Kate's 35 striped top is from the French label Petit Bateau, a favourite with yummy mummies. A childrens brand at first, the company launched a womenswear collection after slender mums began slipping their tiny frames into their kids Breton tops. Kate has a penchant for Breton stripes, with those by her favoured brand ME + EM selling out after she wore them to the polo with George. They look great with jeans but stylish dressed up with a blazer. By leaning across this gate (left), Kate neatly obscures her wasp-thin waist, ensuring there wont be more sniping about her oh-so slender frame. Kate's 35 striped top (right) is from the French label Petit Bateau, a favourite with yummy mummies WHO NEEDS A STUDIO? Determined to reinforce her status as a woman who is happiest away from the bustle and glamour of urban life, Kate decreed that the shoot would take place near Anmer Hall, her Norfolk home. It is believed that some of the images were taken on the Queens Sandringham estate in January, with the whole project kept so secret that only a handful of Vogue staff even knew it was happening. GATE HELPS HIDE SO-SKINNY WAIST Many of the other royal attendees chose to wear one for the banquet Royals from around the world gathered in Sweden for a lavish banquet on Saturday, to celebrate King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden's 70th birthday. And while royals including Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Princess Takamado of Japan all chose to wear tiaras for the occasion, Princess Mary opted for something a little different. Arriving to the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, on a chilly Saturday evening, the Princess donned a modern golden headpiece by Ole Lynggaard - an official jeweller appointed to the Danish Royal Court. Scroll down for video No tiara: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark chose to forego a tiara for King Carl XVI Gustaf's 70th birthday celebrations in Sweden over the weekend Sticking with tradition: Princess Madeleine of Sweden (left) and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (right) both chose to wear tiaras for the occasion Modern twist: Arriving to the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, on Saturday evening, Princess Mary donned a modern golden headpiece by Ole Lynggaard - an official jeweller appointed to the Danish Royal Court The exclusive floral piece was inspired by Japanese minimalism and adorned with fine diamonds and intricate leaf-inspired detailing. There is no strict etiquette surrounding tiaras and royalty, but tradition would normally dictate that a night time event attended by numerous members of royalty and notable people would be the ideal time... though it is not uncommon for women to opt for a brooch or small headpiece instead. The stylish Princess also donned a conservative yet fitted white and yellow floral print gown for the occasion, which she paired with a golden clutch and matching yellow heels. Chic: The exclusive floral piece was inspired by Japanese minimalism and adorned with fine diamonds and intricate leaf-inspired detailing and she paired it with a fitted white and yellow floral gown Formalities: Queen Mathilde of Belgium (left) and Princess Takamado (right) of Japan both stepped out in glamorous tiaras for the lavish banquet Sparkling royals: Princess Anna of Bavaria (left) and Princess Martha Louise of Norway (right) also kept to tradition with stylish tiaras Chilly choice: Mary's hair was styled with simple classic waves and once again she chose to forego a coat for the occasion, despite the temperature in Sweden averaging just five degrees (pictured with Queen Silvia) Her hair was styled with simple classic waves and once again she chose to forego a coat, despite the temperature in Sweden averaging just five degrees. She was snapped leaving the Danish Royal Yacht, the Dannebrog, to attend the banquet alongside her husband who was dressed in formal black tie attire and his military medals. As she left she was all smiles and waved to members of the public on the docks. On her way: She was snapped leaving the Danish Royal Yacht, the Dannebrog, to attend the banquet alongside her husband who was dressed in formal black tie attire and his military medals Group photo: Mary wasn't the only one without a tiara, with a few other attendees also choosing to go without All smiles: As she left she waved to members of the public on the docks On Sunday, the mother-of-four and her husband Crown Prince Frederik attended the King's birthday lunch at City Hall in Stockholm, with the Princess opting for a classic understated look in a beige trench coat and nude Christian Louboutin heels. For a splash of colour the 44-year-old paired the look with an elegant purple pillbox hat, purple leather clutch and matching purple gloves. Princess Mary wore the exact same outfit in March 2015, when she welcomed Queen Maxima of the Netherlands to Denmark. Birthday party: On Sunday, Mary and Crown Prince Frederik attended the King's birthday lunch at City Hall in Stockholm Elegance: The Princess opted for a classic understated look in a beige trench coat and nude Christian Louboutin heels Chic: Princess Mary wore the exact same outfit in March 2015 (pictured), when she welcomed Queen Maxima of the Netherlands to Denmark Thrifty: It's not the first time the Princess has repeated outfits and regularly recycles her favourite pieces Underneath the heavy coat she wore an understated cream Prada dress. The Princess posed for photos alongside her husband before joining guests including Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, Denmark's Queen Margrethe and Japan's Princess Takamado. She was seen cozying up to her beau in the cold weather and laughing with he and other guests as they met on the balcony to sing. Simple yet striking: For a splash of colour she paired the look with an elegant purple pillbox hat, purple leather clutch and matching purple gloves Clare snapped a selfie with him and posted it on Instagram They met at a Dog Lover's Show and she said he was her 'perfect husband' They're both single and have an unrivalled passion for animals. So it comes as no surprise that Married At First Sight Australia bride Clare Verrall developed an instant crush on celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown after meeting him at a 'Dog Lover's Show' over the weekend. The bubbly 32-year-old, from Melbourne, took to Instagram after the show and excitedly shared a selfie of herself and the handsome TV vet. Scroll down for video Dog lovers unite: Married At First Sight bride Clare Verrall developed an instant crush on celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown after meeting him over the weekend Moving on: The striking blonde, 32, was paired with controversial 'groom' Jono Pitman on Married At First Sight Australia, season two 'Preeeeeeetty sure I've found the absolutely perfect husband number two, no 'experts' required [sic],' she captioned the snap, adding a heart-eyed emoji. 'He's "what I ordered",' she added in the comments, alluding to a comment made by her controversial TV groom Jono, who famously said Clare 'wasn't what he ordered'. Clare, who recently slipped and fell on a piece of ice while out with fellow MAFS star Erin Bateman and broke her wrist, also had the Bondi Vet star sign her plaster cast for good luck. 'Preeeeeeetty sure I've found the absolutely perfect husband number two': Clare also showed off her newly signed plaster cast on Instagram Where else? Clare ran into the celebrity vet at the Dog Lover's Show 'Temporary cast signed by @drchrisbrown for good luck. Bring on tomorrow's surgery! Once it's full of plates & screws this is totally going to become my super strong jar opening wrist!!! [sic]' She wrote on another photo, showing off his signature. On Monday morning the striking blonde shared a video of herself (the autographed cast front and centre) ahead of having surgery on her wrist. 'Project for everyone, I'm in the hospital. Don't Google the operation you're about to have and then watch a 10 minute gruesome YouTube video on it,' she said. 'It just makes you want to run home... No.' Clumsy: Clare recently slipped and fell on a piece of ice while out with fellow MAFS star Erin Bateman (left) and broke her wrist Chris for good luck: 'Project for everyone, I'm in the hospital. Don't Google the operation you're about to have and then watch a 10 minute gruesome YouTube video on it,' she said Clare's TV groom Jono has also moved on from their dysfunctional relationship and has already started up a new relationship and gone through another break up since filming. Before appearing on Married At First Sight Australia, Daily Mail Australia reported that Jono Pitman, 28, had already found love with a woman not on the show. But the show may have torn the couple apart, with the reality star revealing on Friday morning that he is now '100 per cent single.' Appearing on Fitzy and Wippa, Jono was asked whether he was single amidst claims he had gotten back with his ex-girlfriend. Controversy: Before appearing on Married At First Sight Australia, Daily Mail Australia reported that Jono Pitman, 28, had already found love with a woman not on the show Confirmed: But it seems the show may have torn the couple apart, with the reality star revealing on Friday morning that is is now '100 per cent single' New lady: However fans hoping for a happy ending for the pair were left disappointed when a woman named Rachael shared a loving photo of herself with Jono before the show went to air 'It's sort of been a little bit of an up and down process since the show,' Jono said. 'I can say now that I'm 100 per cent single. A week or two weeks ago I said I was seeing someone, I was trying to work things out with a certain person. 'But unfortunately that didn't work.' Didn't work out: 'I can say now that I'm 100 per cent single. A week of two weeks ago I said I was seeing someone, I was trying to work things out with a certain person,' Jono said Short-lived: Interaction between the pair goes as far back as August (before filming), with Jono previously commenting on a Facebook photo of Rachael lying on the ground with her hair up Jono said of Clare: 'She's basically the opposite of what I expected to walk down the aisle. She's not what I... Not what I ordered.' However fans hoping for a happy ending for the pair were left disappointed when a woman named Rachael shared a loving photo of herself with Jono before the show went to air. 'You annoy the absolute s**t out of me, but there's no one else I could imagine waking up next to every morning,' the Melbourne-based blonde wrote on Instagram with the hashtags #soppypost, #mrperfect and #thanksforbeingyou and emojis of a boy and girl holding hands and a kissing face. Not so private: She also tagged Jono's Instagram account where he had written several flirty comments on Rachael's pictures previously She also tagged Jono's Instagram account where he had written several flirty comments on Rachael's pictures previously. Interaction between the pair goes as far back as August (before filming), with Jono previously commenting on a Facebook photo of Rachael lying on the ground with her hair up. There's a new angry looking, but utterly cute, feline on the social media scene and he may just be a rival for Grumpy Cat. Emergency Norman, an 'adorable a**hole' according to his owner, has been taking Twitter by storm and gathered a following of die hard fans. The British Shorthair cat, one of the rarer 'longhair' varieties, seems to almost always have an angry look on his face in photos, whilst still managing to be incredibly cute. Purrrfect: Emergency Norman (above) is the latest pet to rival social media star grumpy cat in looks Look at me: Norman has a cult following on Twitter, where his owner posts photos of the feline around the house Looks that could kill: According to his Twitter account, Norman is an 'adorable a**hole' 'His hair is so good': Norman's owner, Anna Spargo-Ryan, says that Norman is 'just a general p***k' and compared him to a private school boy Social media star: Norman is a British Shorthair cat, one of the rarer longhaired varieties, and lives in Melbourne with his family And the Melbourne cat's behavior isn't fantastic either, according to his owner Anna Spargo-Ryan. 'Hes just a general p***k,' Ms Spargo-Ryan told Daily Mail Australia. 'Hes like a private school boy whos never had to work for anything because his hair is so good.' 'If you try to cuddle him on your terms, hell put his claw in your earlobe, but if youre on the toilet, he is all over you.' Norman's hobbies include stealing tomatoes from the bench and hiding them around the house, lying on the clothes airer and watching his owners from afar with a deadly look in his eyes. Ow: Ms Spargo-Ryan says that you never know how Norman is going to be adnt hat 'If you try to cuddle him on your terms, hell put his claw in your earlobe' Look into my eyes: Norman often likes to sit and watch his family with his piercing yellow eyes, looking as if he is going in for the kill Naughty: Norman has been known to steal tomatoes from the kitchen bench and hide them all over the house 'He sits on them like a brooding hen': He also does things like collect avocado seeds and hide them under the oven Adorable: Ms Spargo-Ryan says that the cat can be lovely sometimes, just enough to make everyone fall in love with him 'His behavior is so peculiar. Last month I realised hes been cultivating a collection of avocado seeds under the oven. He sits on them like a brooding hen,' Ms Spargo-Ryan said. 'The first day he was here, he didnt want anyone to pick him up and we thought it was just first-day nerves, settling in, you know. But weve since realised thats just his personality.' But she said that he can also be lovely when he wants to be, sleeping on the end of her bed under the doona like a human and very occasionally permitting a cuddle. Who I am: Ms Spargo-Ryan says that when he was a kitten, they thought he disliked cuddles because he was nervous, but soon realised it was just the cat's personality Popular: Norman has 1,700 followers on Twitter who follow his every move and eargerly anticipate updates on the cat Only a baby: Ms Spargo-Ryan started the Twitter account in November 2014, just a month after getting Norman as a kitten Fluffy and fierce: The author uses the account to give updates on what Norman likes and dislikes each day 'Things Norman hates today: bright lights, racism in police work': Ms Spargo-Ryan also makes jokes on Norman's account relating to current affairs and news Ms Spargo-Ryan started the Emergency Norman Twitter account in November 2014, only a month after the cat joined her family. She uses the account to post pictures of Norman, detailing what he is loving or hating that day. Often the posts are poking fun at topics in the news. 'Things Norman hates today: bright lights, racism in police work,' the caption on one photo reads. As bank holiday viewing goes, an hour-long programme about UK railways sounded just the ticket. But viewers tuning into the second episode of Paul Merton's new series Secret Stations got more than they bargained for after a segment on salmon breeding saw the funnyman pleasuring a fish. Twitter, unsurprisingly, was quickly awash with surprise at the moment, in which Merton get to grips with the salmon in a bid to help keep the population of the species up. Scroll down for video 'You wouldn't catch Michael Portillo pleasuring a fish!' Paul Merton gets involved in salmon breeding for his new show Secret Stations on Channel Four Head of Fish Bob Kindness at Attadale in the Scottish Highlands 'milks' the salmon, adding its sperm into a bowl full of eggs for fertilisation Viewers were more than a little awkward about the scene, expecting a sedentary tale of UK railway history from Merton's Secret Stations The cringe-worthy scene came about after Merton, 58, visited Attadale, on the Kyle of Lochalsh line in the Highlands. When Head of Fish Bob Kindness asked Merton to get involved with 'stripping', essentially extracting salmon semen for the purpose of producing more of the fish, he didn't look too pleased. However, after donning a pair of latex gloves, the comic began the process and looked rather awkward doing so, as did the salmon. @andybailey123 wrote: 'Paul Merton pleasuring a fish? You wouldn't catch Michael Portillo doing this. Nice cap though!' after watching. @MarkA380 added: 'Was watching Paul Merton's #SecretStations expecting a program about trains but it's now showing him making a fish c**' And @dumbpea said: 'Nothing in the ads for #SecretStations prepared me for Paul Merton "milking" a salmon.' Viewers took to Twitter to express their surprise at the section about salmon breeding @PGFParsons quipped: 'Not sure about my Bearnese sauce on the steak tonight after watching Paul Merton 'milk' a male salmon #PaulMertonsSecretStations.' Others were plain disturbed: @AmarylisValdeon penned: 'Erm... Disturbed that I have just watched Paul Merton w**king off a salmon! #secretstations'. @davenoisome said: 'Watching Paul Merton fertilising a salmon...no, seriously #Ch4' It was a moment of television that seemed to deviate off topic, with the genteel title suggesting this would be a Portillo-style amble around the UK with Merton's trademark wit thrown in. Of the series, Merton, whose dad was a London Underground train driver, has said railway stations have long since provided a huge source of fascination. He says: 'I love railways. Uncovering the secrets behind these humble request stops, all the places that aren't in any travel brochures... you have to get yourself on a train!' In the show, his first destination is the Scottish Highlands, taking the Kyle Line from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast and hopping off at Attadale. Almost there! Merton milks the salmon, adding the sperm to the eggs Let's make baby salmon! Nothing scientific here...simply a bowl of eggs left to be fertilized by the eggs Paul Merton at Knucklas Railway Station, Glyndwr Knighton, on his journey around the UK for a new series Joanna Macpherson pictured stopping the train at Attadale with a view over Loch Carron to the Isle of Skye, one of the 152 request stations in Britain Knucklas Railway Station is one of the request stops Paul visits on his travels There to meet him on the platform - with a view over Loch Carron to the Isle of Skye - is the laird's daughter, Joanna Macpherson. When the station opened in 1873, the laird was Alexander Matheson, who made his fortune selling opium to the Chinese. He built the railway so, of course, had his own station just yards from home. Back then it was a shack with a red flag to wave down the train. Not much has changed, as Merton discovers here and in lots of other places too. Surprisingly, there are 152 of these tiny request stations - sometimes just a platform in the back of beyond - and they equate to 6 per cent of all our railway stations. Princess Charlotte may have only just reached her first birthday but it appears that the one-year-old may have already developed expensive taste. Over the past year Prince George's little sister has been lavished with gifts and letters from 64 countries around the world, from Australia to Bhutan. The youngest member of the royal family has received tokens from well-wishers across the world, including blankets, clothes, cards, books, toys and hand-knitted bootees. Scroll down for video Princess Charlotte celebrates her first birthday today and Kensington Palace have revealed some of the lavish gifts the princess received over the past year. Here the youngest royal appears in one of the official photos released by Kensignton Palace yesterday The Natural Sapphire Company claims it gifted the young royal with this 8 carat rattle decorated with diamonds, rubies and sapphires worth 30,000 to mark her birth The list of gifts from schools, community groups and individuals includes a 54,000 charity donation and a silver rattle over the past year. Not mentioned on the list is an 18 carat white gold rattle decorated with diamonds, rubies and sapphires to form the Union Jack worth 30,000. The Natural Sapphire Company claims to have gifted Charlotte with the lavish baby toy in celebration of her birth in May last year. The company says that it presented the gift to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second child by way of thank you as, following the couple's engagement, sales soared as women tried to replicate the Duchess' sapphire engagement ring. Kensington Palace were unable to confirm whether the rattle had been received by Prince William and Kate - adding that, as a general rule, gifts from commercial companies were not accepted. The unique toy is not the only luxurious gift to be bestowed on the baby, with a silver rattle being given to her by the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, and his wife, Senora Angelica Rivera, during their visit to Britain in 2015. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have expressed their gratitude for the many letters and gifts that their daughter has received During their recent visit to London, Barack and Michelle Obama gifted Charlotte with a jigsaw and a stuffed dog (seen on the table) The dog is a replica of Bo the President's very own Portuguese Water Dog (pictured left) Charlotte was also gifted with a jigsaw from the Obamas, which may have been this one featuring Bo The President and the First Lady of the USA gave Princess Charlotte a children's rocking chair and baby blanket after she was born, not dissimilar to the ones pictured CHARLOTTE'S GIFTS OVER THE PAST YEAR New Zealand Rugby sleepsuit and Wellington Rugby snowsuit, given to her uncle Prince Harry during his tour of New Zealand. The Australian Government sent a cot blanket made from Tasmanian merino wool sourced from Launcestons renowned Waverley Woollen Mills. The blanket is embroidered with the Australian floral emblem, the wattle, by members of the ACT Embroiderers Guild, and contributed AUS$10,000 to the Healesville Sanctuary, part of Zoos Victoria, to support the important work it is doing for the Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus). The Prime Minister of Canada gave a snowsuit, a book, and made a $100,000 donation to Immunize Canada The Prime Minister David Cameron gave Princess Charlotte a copy of Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales The Prime Minister of New Zealand gave a selection of teddy bears, baby blankets and bootees, all made from Stansborough wool During the Chinese state visit PSSC was given a set of silk figurines, depicting the traditional Chinese story, 'Dream of the Red Chamber' During the 2015 Mexican state visit, the President of Mexico and Senora Angelica Rivera gave Princess Charlotte a silver rattle The President and the First Lady of the USA gave Princess Charlotte a children's rocking chair and baby blanket after she was born. During their recent visit to the UK, they gave Princess Charlotte a jigsaw and a 'Bo' teddy(their Portuguese Water Dog), to match Prince George's. In Bhutan, both Prince George and Princess Charlotte were given coats by Their Majesty The King and Queen of Bhutan. The princess has also had some very generous charitable donations made in her name including one for 54,000 from the former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper. Despite her many expensive presents it appears that Charlotte still favours her stuffed toys above anything else. Photographs of her at six months old showed her laughing at her Fuddlewuddle puppy, from British company Jellycat costing just 16. Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith presents Prince Harry with a personalized onesie for his niece Princess Charlotte during his visit to New Zealand Princess Charlotte was presented with this pink dress by the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin The Prime Minister of Canada gave the young Princess what is believed to be a Canada Goose snowsuit not dissimilar to the one pictured 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for all the letters, gifts and good wishes they have been fortunate to receive in the year since Princess Charlotte was born,' a spokesman for Kensington Palace said. 'The couple have taken a number of gifts into their home, some gifts are stored within The Royal Household, and some gifts were donated to organisations which could make good use of them.' It marked the celebration yesterday by releasing four new pictures of the birthday girl. In one of the pictures Charlotte, wearing a little pink cardigan with a matching pink bow in her hair, can be seen pushing her walker across a lawn. The Australian Government sent a cot blanket made from Tasmanian merino wool sourced from Launcestons renowned Waverley Woollen Mills, pictured here The blanket was embroidered with the Australian floral emblem, the wattle, by members of the ACT Embroiderers Guild David Cameron gave the princess a book of fairy tales by Hans Christian Anderson, such as the one pictured here (right) Both Prince George and Princess Charlotte were given coats by Their Majesty The King and Queen of Bhutan The King and Queen of Bhutan are believed to have gifted the princess and her brother with these coats from designer Chimmi Choden In another she gazes thoughtfully at the camera and appears relaxed and happy - perhaps because her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, was behind the lens. A third photograph shows her leaning on a wooden chair, this time wearing a cream cardigan over a blue dress with a blue ribbon clip in her hair, Meanwhile the final image reveals Charlotte's startling resemblance to George as she clambers on a wicker chair, playfully glancing back towards the camera. The royals released the images yesterday on their Twitter account and said: 'The Duke and Duchess are delighted to share new photographs of Princess Charlotte. The Duchess took these pictures of her daughter in April at their home in Norfolk. 'The Duke and Duchess are happy to be able to share these family moments, ahead of their daughter's first birthday. We hope that everyone enjoys these lovely photos as much as we do.' To mark the princess' first birthday Kensington Palace has released four new pictures of the youngest member of the royal family. She is pictured here in a photo taken at home by the Duchess of Cambridge The young royal was first introduced to the public on the day she was born, May 2 2015, and like her older brother the images of the tiny infant were captured by the world's media. But Charlotte's privacy has been carefully guarded by the Cambridge's and in the past year she has only been seen in public on one other occasion - her christening. On that day her cheeky big brother George stole the limelight by standing on tiptoe to peer into her pram and chatting to the Queen, who bent down to speak to her great-grandson. Since then Charlotte has only been seen in a handful of pictures released to mark her milestones - including her at six months, her first Christmas and most recently in a group picture with the Queen's other great-grandchildren and youngest grandchildren to mark the monarch's 90th birthday. Despite appearing in a few official photographs, Charlotte's outfits have attracted huge attention on social media. Curious: Princess Charlotte gazes at the camera in this photograph taken by her mother the Duchess of Cambridge to mark her birthday The Duchess of Cambridge shot these pictures of Charlotte at six months old in November with her favourite toy, a Fuddlewuddle Lauren Greene and Chrissy Diaz blog about the clothes the young Princess and her brother George wear on their website princegeorgepieces.com - providing information for the young royals' growing legion of fans. Charlotte has been photographed a number of times in floral dresses, matched with cardigans and the royal bloggers believe this repetition is an attempt to stop her becoming the focus of the fashion world like her mother Kate. Chrissy believes Kate is making a 'commentary on the monarchy' with the outfit choices, adding: 'While there's a decision to remain fresh there's also a sense of tradition.' There are also a number of similarities between the children's look and what members of the royal family have worn in the past, notably the Prince of Wales and William when they were children. With the princess fourth in line to the throne, she will be an important figure in the monarchy in the years to come. A celebrity massage therapist is mouthing off about her unusual technique that sees her biting her clients. Dorothy Stein, 48, from New Jersey, was nicknamed Dr Dot by musician Frank Zappa in the early days of her career when she used her skills to nab free concert tickets and meet her favourite rock stars backstage. Since then, Dr Dot has massaged - and bitten - an impressive roster of famous names, including one famous band who were 'massage virgins'. Scroll down for video Doctor Dot, real name Dorothy Stein, has built up a successful massage career thanks to her unusual technique of biting her clients. Pictured: Dr Dot biting Elena Pogosyan Journist Elena says she was surprised at how much she enjoyed her massage session saying that there 'is no way to explain it' Journalist, Elena Pogosyan, visited Dr Dot for one of her renowned massages delivered with her patented, 'bite method'. Elena said: 'I was a little bit apprehensive about getting bitten by a woman I've never met. I didn't want to walk into a Fifty Shades Of Grey scene.' But most of Dr Dot's clients are eager to sample her talents. A certain British music mogul is a big fan. Dr Dot revealed: 'He loves a gentle bite massage'. Other celebrities demand a more 'sensual' approach. Dr Dot says that one female rockstar demands that she is massaged all over her front, although Dot adds, 'I've never bitten boobs though.' Dorothy made her first forays into therapeutic biting at the age of five, encouraged by her 'hippy' mother. She said: 'She wanted me to massage her but my hands weren't strong enough, so she just kept on saying 'Bite me! So I've been doing this my whole life.' Dorothy began using her biting technique at the age of five while massaging her mother and now the 'bite method' is her signature Dorothy, demonstrating her technique on Elena Pogosyan, used to give out free massages to big rockstars in order to get into concerts without paying At 15, Dr Dot gave her first backstage massage to Sheffield-born rockers Def Leppard. She said: 'I wanted to get into shows for free and meet the people who wrote the lyrics that were so close to my heart. Before adding any oil I bite the whole back up and down, in a very fluid motion 'It was a choice of either money or massage. So I chose massage.' Since then, Dr Dot has traded her services to see over 3,000 concerts for free. Giving free massages helped build her reputation, and she now charges around $150 (102) for a massage session - with no extra fee for biting. The colourful masseur told Refinery29 how she has practised her biting technique on Sting and Simon Cowell. She says: 'Naturally, I ask the client if they want to try it first. And then - before adding any oil - I bite the whole back up and down, in a very fluid motion, bit by bit, avoiding any bones. I do the neck and shoulders, and sometimes the glutes, too. Giving free massages helped build the flamboyant masseuse's reputation, and she now charges around $150 (102) for a massage 'I take big bites, obviously not firm enough to break skin, but firm and deep enough to grab and "tenderise" the back muscles, warming them up for the real rubdown that follows. 'Ive never hurt anyone doing it; its actually divine for the client, as its a sensation theyve never experienced before. Theyre marching into the unknown and putting their trust in me.' 'I'll never forget this experience because it's not every day I have a woman biting my back Elena was certainly surprised at how much she enjoyed it. She said: 'It felt like someone biting my back - there's literally no other way to explain it, but it feels good. 'I'll never forget this experience because it's not every day I have a woman biting my back or my neck or playing with my feet or biting my butt.' Dr Dot usually starts her sessions with biting - she describes it as the 'appetiser to the full meal'. She bites their backs and buttocks, before rubbing oil on their skin and moving on to a more traditional massage. Twitter users have taken to social media in the hope of persuading Disney to introduce their first ever openly gay character in one of their films. The social media campaigners have been using the hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend to persuade the creators of Frozen to make Elsa a lesbian for the sequel. The hashtag was started by writer Alexis Isabel who tweeted the company directly asking them to consider the possibility of introducing a gay princess. Scroll down for video Twitter users have been using the hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend in the hope of persuading Disney producers to introduce their first ever openly gay character in the Frozen sequel She wrote: 'Dear @Disney, #GiveElsaAGirlfriend' which has now had more than 1,000 retweets and 2,000 likes since she it was posted on Saturday. It wasn't long before others showed their support with their own messages aimed at Disney. Members of the LGBT community pointed out that the Frozen narrative particularly resonates with them because it mirrors the journey of coming out. The hashtag was started by writer Alexis Isabel and has since seen thousands of tweets pour in in support of the idea Queen Elsa struggles to keep her powers hidden from her family and worries about being accepted, hiding in her castle until she finally reveals her secret and finds happiness. Kenneth Sergienko pointed this out when he tweeted: 'Given that Frozen was one giant metaphor for the closet, to #GiveElsaAGirlfriend is just logical. More LGBT representation is a great idea.' Dana Addams agreed adding: '#GiveElsaAGirlfriend because half of Frozen is one big metaphor for being in the closet, getting outed and coming to terms with yourself...' Many Twitter users pointed out the symmetry between Queen Elsa's storyline and the journey of coming out Several gay women took to the social media site to say that they would have appreciated a lesbian princess as a Disney heroine when they were younger. Cry baby explained: 'Please please please #GiveElsaAGirlfriend my life would've been so much easier as a kid if this were a thing.' Jordan agreed adding: 'A gay Disney princess would have helped me feel so much more normal when I was younger. Representation is important #GiveElsaAGirlfriend ' Many gay women explained that they would have greatly appreciated a lesbian Disney heroine while they were growing up Other account holders shared inspiring tweets which included the lyrics from the 2013 smash hit film. Marceylan said: '#GiveElsaAGirlfriend because we are in the 21st century, we must take it upon ourselves to end stereotypes, let it go.' Annie was queenvives added: 'Love is an open door. This door should be open to everyone, not just straight people #GiveElsaAGirlfriend' Whether the campaign will be a success or not remains to be seen with the sequel to Frozen not due to hit our screens before 2018. MailOnline has contacted Disney for a comment. Some users chose to use the movie's song lyrics to drive home their message for the campaign A pair of stunning Mormon sisters are being called the 'next Kendall and Kylie Jenner' and they're certainly following in the reality stars' big-brand footsteps The Smith sisters Pyper America, 19, and Daisy Clementine, 20 first started earning media mentions thanks to their equally good-looking little brother, 17-year-old model Lucky Blue Smith. But now the blonde beauties are getting plenty of recognition in their own right, thanks to a steady stream of gigs that include a new campaign for mega-retailer Forever 21. Big gig: Sisters Pyper America (top) and Daisy Clementine Smith (bottom) are starring in Forever 21's latest campaign Summer Lovin': They posed side-by-side in a series of images modeling the brand's summer collection Having fun: Pyper, 19, and Daisy, 20, can be seen goofing around in some shots The genetically-gifted duo star side-by-side in the brand's new images, which seem them modeling swimwear, tops, shorts, and dresses. In one shot, Daisy wearing a cropped cami lays in the lap of her little sister, who modeling a neoprene bikini top. In another shot, it's Daisy modeling swimwear with a denim jacket whole Pyper lounges nearby in a yellow dress. Besides summery staples like maxi dresses and cutoff shorts, they also bring their best accessory game in stretchy choker necklaces, round sunglasses, and high-top sneakers. With their complementary good looks and fashion brand bona fides, it's no wonder Pyper and Daisy are drawing comparisons to Kendall and Kylie. DIY girl: Pyper flaunted her bright pink hair, which she dyed herself Busy bee: Older sister Daisy (pictured) has also modeled for Nordstrom, Nylon, and BELLOmag That face: Pyper has posed for Air France Madame, Vogue China, V Magazine, and L'officiel Thailand Pyper, in particular, seems to be going the Kendall route with a jam-packed schedule full of designer campaigns, magazine shoots, and for the first time ever an invite to this year's Met Gala. 'Going to the Met Gala for my first time tomorrow,' she teased on Instagram yesterday. 'Follow my Snapchat if you wanna watch me pretend like I know what I'm doing.' She's shot campaigns for Gap and Calvin Klein Jeans, and walked the runway for Giorgio Armani and Moschino. Recently, she's also posed for Air France Madame, Vogue China, V Magazine, L'officiel Thailand, and a collaboration between Fendi and Beats by Dre. Pyper who died her own hair pink on camera in January also has the same social media philosophy as the Jenner girls. She told Elle in March: 'Instagram is an insight into your life. It's been a great tool for my work it's another way to build my brand.' Fab style: The duo clearly has good genes though they didn't wear much denim in the shoot Social popularity: Pyper has talked about using Instagram as a tool to build her brand Big sister Daisy's also been keeping busy. The first of her siblings to be scouted, she modeled for Nordstrom, Nylon, and BELLOmag, and walked the runway for Ermanno Scervino and Philipp Plein bug especially loves when she gets to do her job with family 'Photoshoots with my siblings are my favorite ever,' she told Nylon earlier this year. 'You just mess around and you just do the most fun job in the world with the most fun people and you just have a great time.' 'Its really cool because because modeling can be so misunderstood, and unless youre in the industry, its hard for people to wrap their minds around it,' she went on. 'Its really refreshing to talk to my siblings about it because they get it. They live it.' Major event: She also shared on Instagram that she will be attending tonight's Met Gala in New York City Good-looking fam: Pyper and Daisy also model alongside their other siblings, Lucky Blue (left) and Starlee (right) Following in their footsteps: Kendall and Kylie have lived much of their lives in the spotlight - however Pyper and Daisy are relatively new to the world of fashion and fame Though the girls sure don't seem afraid to model bikinis, low-cut tops, or short shorts and have even been known to share some lingerie shots on Instagram they still insist that they're adhering to their strict Mormon roots, which ban things like cigarettes, alcohol, and even coffee. 'At a recent shoot, they asked me to do a nude shot I turned that down. But I don't think I'm missing out,' Pyper told Allure this year. She also explained that she's aware that some people see contradictions between what she does and how she was brought up, first in Utah and then in Los Angeles. The 36-year-old King of Bhutan has an incredibly thick-looking head of hair and luckily for his newborn son, it seems to be genetic. A new close-up image of the young prince, named Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, shows that at just three months old, he already has quite a lush 'do. In fact, his parents King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema seem to be able to easily brush and style the his long locks. What a 'do! A website curated by Bhutan's Royal Office for Media released a desktop calendar image featuring the country's newborn prince, Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck The website Yellow Bhutan which is curated by the country's Royal Office for Media released this week a set of 'desktop calendars' for May 2016 featuring an image of the young prince. The hi-res images can be used for wallpapers on computers or smartphones, and show little Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck wrapped in yellow and staring at the camera. The tot has thick, side-swept brown hair, which looks recently brushed and perfect parted. His parents, known as the Dragon King and Queen, only released his name last month when he was two months old. Bhutan's new crown prince was officially bestowed with the name at a solemn religious ceremony at a majestic 17th century palace that houses the relics of a famous Buddhist master. Welcome to the world: Last month, the baby's parents, King Jigme and Queen Jetsun, revealed his name in a public ceremony Touch-ups: Ahead of the ceremony, the Prince's proud grandfather, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, was seen lovingly tidying his mop of dark hair with a soft white brush Kinley Dorji, the government's information secretary, said the naming ceremony was held to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the day that Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a revered Tibetan Buddhist master, arrived in Bhutan. Dorji said the relics of this revered Buddhist master were preserved at the Punakha palace, where the naming ceremony was held. 'The prince has symbolically received his name from Zhabdrung Rinpoche,' Dorji said. At the Thangzona outside the Dzong, thousands of people had gathered to commemorate Zhabdrung Kuchoe, as well as to celebrate the new Prince. Bhutan's king and queen prayed at a Buddhist monastery in the capital, Thimphu, before driving to Punakha, where the ceremony took place. The King carried the baby prince, draped in a yellow blanket, as he walked the short distance alongside his wife to the Punakha Dzong complex, followed by Buddhist monks in maroon robes and musicians playing pipes. There, they were received by His Holiness, the Je Khenpo. Big family: The little boy was attended to by his parents, his grandfather the former King, and the former King's five wives (pictured) Loyal: Though his father took multiple wives, King Jigme has said he will only marry Queen Jetsun and remain faithful to her Revealing the crown prince's name, the King said: 'The Gyalsey is not just the prince of the King and Gyaltsuen, but a son to all the Bhutanese people. 'Jigme means fearless. It symbolizes great courage to overcome any challenge that he may confront in future as he serves our country. He continued: 'When the time comes for Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to serve his country, he must always place the concerns of his country above all else and serve his people justly with great love and dedication. 'It will be his sacred responsibility to build a harmonious and just society, and thereby, fulfill all the aspirations of his people.' Ahead of the ceremony the Prince's proud grandfather, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, was seen lovingly tidying his mop of dark hair with a soft white brush, and his grandmother presented him with the yellow shawl he was wrapped in for the special day. The naming ceremony topped off an exciting week for the tiny Himalayan Kingdom, during which time they welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Rolling out the red carpet: His Royal Highness The Gyalsey is brought into the Punakha Dzong for the first time Super ceremony: The little boy was carried to the Punakha Dzong complex, followed by Buddhist monks in maroon robes and musicians playing pipes A-list visitors: Shortly before the naming ceremony, the Dragon King and Queen welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Bhutan William and Kate tried their hand at archery, the national sport, and enjoyed a private dinner with the Bhutanese royals. They also trekked three hours to the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery. Situated about 10,000ft (3,000m) above sea level and on a cliff face, the monastery is considered to be one of the holiest for the Bhutanese people. The royal couple showed off the queen's baby bump in a picture released in January. The child, the couple's first, was delivered Feb. 5 by a medical team at Lingkana Palace in Thimphu. THE KING'S FULL SPEECH AT HIS SON'S NAMING CEREMONY It is most auspicious for all of us to have gathered here today to observe the sacred occasion of Zhabdrung Kuchoe at Pungtang Dewachenpoi Phodrang, the principal seat of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. All the people of our country were joyously united in offering prayers when our son was born in February this year. I express my appreciation to all the people of twenty dzongkhags for your prayers, support and love, and wish you Tashi Delek on the auspicious occasion of Zhabdrung Kuchoe. Today is a very significant day in an exceptional year filled with propitious events. The year marks the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche and the 400th anniversary of Zhabdrung's arrival in Bhutan. Along with His Majesty Fourth Druk Gyalpo, I and my son offered our prayers today to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the sacred Machen Lhakhang for the present and future wellbeing of our people and country. Never before has there been a time when the royal grandfather, father and son of the Wangchuck Dynasty came together at the same time to offer prayers in the sacred temple of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. This has come to signify a most fortunate event on a most auspicious day. As I have said before, the Gyalsey is not just the prince of the King and Gyaltsuen, but a son to all the Bhutanese people. After profound contemplation, he has been named Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck in the sacred Machen Lhakhang. Jigme means fearless. It symbolizes great courage to overcome any challenge that he may confront in future as he serves our country. Namgyel means victorious in all directions and victory over all obstacles. It is a name taken from the revered Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, who enabled the Dharma to flourish in all directions as prophesied by Guru Rinpoche. Wangchuck is the name of the royal lineage and dynasty. When the time comes for Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck to serve his country, he must always place the concerns of his country above all else and serve his people justly with great love and dedication. It will be his sacred responsibility to build a harmonious and just society, and thereby, fulfill all the aspirations of his people. He must live such a life as a good human being and serve his country in a manner that it will be exemplary and worthy of emulation. He will also have the responsibility to preserve and foster the legacies and teachings of Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. My heartfelt prayers and aspirations are that during his reign, our people will be able to enjoy even greater peace, security, prosperity and happiness than they have in the past. I thank all the people of the twenty dzongkhags for your continued support, loyalty and dedication. The young couple made news in Bhutan while they were dating, when Wangchuck displayed open affection for his wife-to-be. He publicly held her hand and even planted kisses on her cheek, something rare in conservative Bhutan, particularly among royalty. Wangchuck ascended Bhutan's throne in November 2008, when his father, King Jigme Singhye Wangchuck, abdicated in his favor. By that time, the older Wangchuck had also guided the remote Himalayan kingdom toward democracy. In March that same year, the kingdom held its first democratic election and voted in a new parliament that can constitutionally impeach the king. Karen Lovell, 33, died at Wythenshawe Hospital hours after the junior doctors strike ended A mother whose daughter died at the end of the two-day junior doctors' strike has launched an impassioned attack against Jeremy Hunt's treatment of the 'wonderful' NHS medics who fought to save her. Grieving Julie Lovell says she will 'NOT accept' daughter Karen's death being included in any statistics aimed at discrediting the striking doctors, whose cause she fully supports. Miss Lovell passed away at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester on Wednesday night, just hours after the strike over proposed new contracts ended. The 33-year-old had been in critical care for four weeks following an operation on her heart. Last week Health Minister Mr Hunt warned the strike action would create an 'unacceptable' risk of patient deaths - and Julie says she will not have her daughter used as a political pawn. In a powerful Facebook post to the politician, which has been shared more than 40,000 times, Ms Lovell, 51, praised the staff at Wythenshawe Hospital and slammed Mr Hunt for what she referred to as his 'attempt to destroy and discredit' the NHS. She wrote: 'Jeremy Hunt. How dare you! My darling daughter passed away at 9pm Wednesday evening in Wythenshawe hospital at the end of the two day strike by the young doctors whom I fully support. 'She did not die due to this strike and I will NOT accept her name included in any statistics saying it was. Scroll down for video 'Every member of the doctors and nurses who looked after and worked tirelessly for the 4 weeks she was in there were and remain amazing people. 'How dare you Mr Hunt. I challenge you to sit quietly in intensive care and watch the staff treat patients with so much care and attention. Both nurses and doctors at all levels. 12 hour shifts 16 hour shifts and more. Julie Lovell, pictured with daughter Jenny, 24, said she did not want Karen's death to be used as a statistic against junior doctors and praised the care she received before her death Karen Lovell had suffered from heart problems since she was a baby and died at 9pm Wednesday evening in Wythenshawe hospital at the end of the two day strike. Her mother praised her 'amazing care' 'Our NHS is amazing and deserves to be supported and saved. 'My daughter Karen had many procedures some surgical and Mr Hunt even on Sundays! How dare you Mr Hunt! 'Karen and every other patient in that Critical Care Unit received expert care and treatment day and night and 7 days a week despite your attempt to destroy and discredit these wonderful people who I know did everything in their power to save my beautiful daughter. The doctors and nurses fought tirelessly to save her, and she underwent several procedures after her operation - one of which was on a Sunday and another on the day she passed away Julie Lovell, 51 'How dare YOU Mr Hunt. And thank you everyone at Wythenshawe.' She explained her daughter had suffered with heart problems since she was a child. 'She had her heart repaired 20 years ago and has always had problems. Over the past five years her health really deteriorated. 'Karen went into Wythenshawe on April 4 and was operated on a week later to replace valves in her heart. Sadly she never regained consciousness. 'The doctors and nurses fought tirelessly to save her, and she underwent several procedures after her operation - one of which was on a Sunday and another on the day she passed away. 'I am a big supporter of the NHS and junior doctors, and it was my biggest fear that Karen became a statistic used by Jeremy Hunt against these wonderful people. They cannot be blamed for her death.' The Zika virus could be more dangerous in pregnant women than first feared, Brazilian scientists have warned. Experts are now linking it to several neurological conditions - in addition to microcephaly, where babies are born with abnormally small heads. Dr Renato Sa, an obstetrician and foetal medicine specialist, said he believes babies in up to a fifth of pregnant women with the virus could be affected. The expectation is that a woman who has had Zika has a one per cent chance of having a baby with microcephaly,' he told the BBC. Experts now say that Zika could affect babies in 20 per cent of pregnancies where the mother has the virus 'But if we consider a range of other possible neurological conditions, that figure rises to about 20 per cent. The virus has long been linked to babies being born with microcephaly - a disease characterised by unusually small heads and developmental problems. It has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome - a nerve disorder that causes temporary muscle paralysis. Previous estimates have suggested one per cent of women who have had Zika during pregnancy will have a child with microcephaly. But a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, said 29 per cent of scans showed abnormalities in babies in the womb, including growth restrictions, in women infected with Zika. It comes after experts Europe should brace itself for the arrival of the Zika because mosquitoes carrying the virus will flock to the continent as summer arrives. Despite a decline in cases in Brazil, there is the potential for a 'marked increase' in Zika infections as the virus spreads to new parts of the world, according to the United Nations' health agency. Until now Zika has been largely contained to Latin America and the Caribbean - but as summer arrives in the northern hemisphere the mosquitoes that carry the disease will travel to Europe. Marie-Paule Kieny, the World Health Organisation's assistant director general, said: 'As seasonal temperatures begin to rise in Europe, two species of Aedes mosquito which we know transmit the virus will begin to circulate. 'The mosquito knows no borders.' There is also a risk men infected with Zika could pass the disease on to women via sex, and the world 'could see a marked increase in the number of people with Zika and related complications,' Ms Kieny said. The virus is known to be transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes found in the tropics. But the second Zika-transmitting mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has been found in European countries in the summer including France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia. Scientists at the University of Oxford produced map charting the potential spread of the Zika virus across the world - but they did not predict it would spread to Europe A Zika-transmitting mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has been found in European countries in the summer including France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia However, Aedes albopictus mosquito is less prone to causing outbreaks than its cousin Aeses aegypti, according to new research by the Pasteur Institute. A virus can also be introduced to a new region when a local mosquito picks it up from an infected human - someone coming back from a holiday in South America, for example. If it lives long enough, the mosquito then infects people who it bites, starting a vicious cycle. In Brazil, the country hardest hit by the outbreak, officials are investigating more than 2,500 cases of suspected microcephaly. But Ms Kiely said infections are 'clearly on the decline'. She made the comments at a Zika conference in Paris, in which 600 disease experts from 43 nations are meeting to analyse data on the outbreak. Despite a flurry of research, very little is known about the virus, including how long it can hide out in the human body and the degree of risk of sexual transmission. It is also not known exactly which diseases and disorders it may cause or all the mosquito types capable of transmitting it. As seasonal temperatures begin to rise in Europe, two species of Aedes mosquito which we know transmit the virus will begin to circulate. The mosquito knows no borders Marie-Paule Kieny, the World Health Organisation's assistant director general Professor David Heymann, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said: 'It's not what we know but what we don't know that is concerning. 'We can't make recommendations for prevention if we don't understand the full potential of a virus or bacteria.' As there is no vaccine or treatment for the virus, Ms Kieny described it as a 'global emergency' and a 'growing threat'. Developing new tools for quickly diagnosing infections - particularly in pregnant women whose babies risk severe disability - is an 'urgent priority', she added. Scientists in the United States, France, Brazil, India and Austria are working on 23 vaccine-development projects, she said. But it could take years to create, so the feasibility of an 'emergency-use' vaccine is being examined. Until then, the first line of defence remains controlling mosquitoes and preventing people being bitten, experts said. And women in regions where there is an outbreak are advised to put off becoming pregnant. There have been an estimate two million cases of Zika across 40 countries, with 1.5 million infections in Brazil Duane Gubler of the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, said Zika 'surprised' the world, just as Ebola before it, despite both viruses having been known about for decades. 'I think we should take this as a wakeup call and start developing our surveillance systems so we can monitor these viruses a little more effectively,' he told the conference. Ms Kieny said particular vigilance was required in Africa, where the virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947. A Zika outbreak began in Brazil in early 2015, followed nine months later by an surge of infants born with microcephaly, and an increase in Guillain-Barre cases. Brazil reported some 1.5 million infections out of an estimated global total of two million in more than 40 countries. In eight nations, there have been reports of person-to-person transmission via sex. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and have been taking (steroid) prednisolone ever since Im now down to two 1 mg pills daily. You recently advised someone not to take this for more than two weeks. I tried to stop the pills last year, but the pain returned within a couple of days. I am 75, have an underactive thyroid and high blood pressure, but I feel well generally and walk regularly. Marion Holloran, Hornchurch, Essex Please accept my apologies if an earlier response to a readers letter was misleading. Let me reassure you that in the case of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), regular treatment with a low dose of the steroid prednisolone is the correct approach, even if it has to be continued for some years. First, a bit more about the condition. Most people with PMR are in their 60s or older it is very rare in those under 50 and typically women are affected. The main symptoms are aching and stiffness on waking in the morning, often lasting several hours, mainly in the muscles of the shoulders and upper arms, hips and thighs. The body needs steroids for many processes, including maintaining normal blood pressure if you take away the artificial supply by suddenly stopping the tablets, the normal supply takes a while to kick in Some patients experience swelling or stiffness of small joints in the hands and feet. There may be more general symptoms of fatigue, weight loss and a slightly raised temperature. There is no PMR test as such diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and history, as well as blood tests to check for levels of inflammation in the body. Treatment usually starts with a low dose of prednisolone 10 mg or 12 mg. This is so effective it can confirm diagnosis, with improvement often seen within days. Most people will need the treatment for a couple of years, sometimes longer. However, we know that, when taken over a long period, steroids such as prednisolone can have serious side-effects. These include weight gain, diabetes, stomach ulcers, osteoporosis, increase in blood pressure and a disturbed sleep pattern. This is why I cautioned another reader to limit the duration of prednisolone treatment (at a higher dose and for a different condition) to a short course of less than two weeks. Even when the patient is on very low doses of the medication as in your case we must be constantly aware of the potential for side-effects. This means keeping a monthly weight chart and checking urine for sugar (steroids taken long-term may lead to diabetes); other things to watch for are indigestion (the medication may irritate the lining of the stomach). Patients need to take a regular medication to help protect against steroid-induced osteoporosis at the very least this means taking daily calcium with vitamin D tablets. It is important to note that steroids such as prednisolone must not be stopped suddenly. This is because the drug suppresses the production of steroid hormones by the adrenal glands (the treatment provides steroids in greater levels than the body does). The body needs steroids for many processes, including maintaining normal blood pressure if you take away the artificial supply by suddenly stopping the tablets, the normal supply takes a while to kick in. When your doctor does eventually stop your steroid treatment, it will be done gradually, to allow the adrenal glands to build up their natural production. In November 2014 I had a seizure in the night I was told it was a nocturnal clonic seizure. Thirteen months passed before I had another, also at night. This time epilepsy was diagnosed and I was advised to take medication. Since taking lamotrigine I feel tired, depressed, weepy and have an atrocious memory. I want to know what caused the seizures, and if there is an alternative to the medication. Also, my eye prescription has changed recently could seizures have caused this? Name and address withheld IT MUST have been alarming to be diagnosed with epilepsy. The term describes many different kinds of disorder where there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain leading to seizures. It affects about 3 per cent of people, with new cases usually seen in infants and children and people over 50. With any form of epilepsy, the seizures can occur when the patient is asleep. But in your type, this is the only time they occur. It can be difficult to diagnose nocturnal epilepsy without a witness to the seizure. Nocturnal seizures are thought to be triggered by changes in the electrical activity of the brain as you move between the stages of sleep they typically occur during light sleep, or soon after dozing off. Sometimes it can be confused with disorders called parasomnias (undesirable physical events that happen as you fall asleep or during lighter sleep). These include hypnic jerks, where the body twitches involuntarily, and bruxism, the medical term for grinding teeth. Fortunately, as you say in your longer letter, your husband was there to witness the signs of a tonic-clonic seizure (the most common type) stiffening of your entire body, jerking of all the limbs with loss of consciousness (which is why, as your letter also states, your husband could not wake you). Nocturnal seizures are thought to be triggered by changes in the electrical activity of the brain as you move between the stages of sleep they typically occur during light sleep, or soon after dozing off. Nocturnal seizures can disrupt your sleep affecting concentration and performance the next day but I can find no evidence that they cause the changes in eyesight that you mention. The treatment of nocturnal seizures is similar to the treatment of daytime seizures, and is no less necessary. WRITE TO DR SCURR To contact Dr Scurr with a health query, write to him at Good Health Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk - including contact details. Dr Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence. His replies cannot apply to individual cases and should be taken in a general context. Always consult your own GP with any health worries. Effective treatment should prevent future seizures, avoid side-effects and maintain quality of life. In your case, lamotrigine has been successful on the first goal and failed on the second two, bearing in mind your tiredness, emotional state and poor memory (more common side-effects of this drug are rash, nausea, tremor, dizziness and double vision). Being able to tolerate the side-effects is as important as the treatments effectiveness. Your specialist will be aware that no single drug is ideal for every patient only about half of patients are successfully treated with the first drug prescribed. You probably need to change to a different drug, which can be discussed with your neurologist. When an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan shows no abnormalities (as you say happened to you in your longer letter), the seizures cannot be attributed to any pathology in the brain (such as stroke or tumour). The cause must therefore be considered as idiopathic (that is, of no known cause). Dehydration, low blood sugar and sleep deprivation may trigger seizures in susceptible people, but they are not the cause of the problem, which will have to remain unexplained. I very much hope that your neurology team will be able to find you a tolerable and effective alternative medication. BTW...Why I Think The Circumcision of Boys is Wrong The circumcision of baby boys is something that divides opinion, triggering strong emotion on both sides. Last month, a high court judge prevented a Muslim father having his two sons circumcised against their mothers wishes. The judge suggested that young children should not undergo the procedure until they are old enough to decide for themselves. Although doctors recognise the deep religious, symbolic and cultural sensitivity surrounding it, here in the UK, routine circumcision of baby boys is virtually only practised for religious, rather than medical, reasons. Circumcision is a violation of human rights and society has an obligation to protect children too young to object Studies that suggest circumcision reduces the risk of urinary tract infections and HIV are not seen as sufficient proof that this procedure is better than other, less invasive methods. Circumcision is painful, I have no doubt. Until recently, the operation was carried out without any pain relief, and even though local anaesthetic is now used almost universally, studies show the most effective form fails in 6 to 8 per cent of cases. Regardless of the method of pain relief, the baby will be in agony for days afterwards, until the wound has healed. In my view, circumcision is a violation of human rights, and society has an obligation to protect children too young to object. And last year, a very careful study in Denmark of 340,000 boys born between 1994 and 2003 showed that those who undergo circumcision at birth run a greater risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For many years, we have known that pain and stressful surgery in early childhood can have long-term psychological consequences indeed, newborns perceive pain and stress in the same way as older children and adults. Other studies have confirmed a link between a single painful injury and lifelong problems with stress response. This sort of information prompted the vast Danish study, which found a 46-62 per cent increased risk of ASD in circumcised boys in the first ten years of life, and an 80-83 per cent increase in the first four years. This is shocking. More research is needed and the study falls short of identifying what might cause the link, but it must set us thinking. And then what about the ethics? Many children do not later share their parents beliefs or even their cultural values. Taping the mouth shut while you sleep may offer a new way to tackle snoring. A device which sticks to the outside of the mouth and stops it opening during sleep is being trialled in a new U.S. study involving 30 patients. Scientists say the approach forces people to breathe though their noses, and this could help tackle sleep apnoea where the tissues in the throat collapse repeatedly during the night, blocking the airways. Consequently, people stop breathing for up to ten seconds at a time. The theory is that breathing through the mouth more is one of the main causes of apnoeas (the period when someone stops breathing) as well as snoring (the sound produced as air squeezes through restricted airways at the back of the throat). A device which sticks to the outside of the mouth and stops it opening during sleep is being trialled in a new U.S. study involving 30 patients - potentially curing snoring This is because when you sleep with your mouth open, the incoming air is cold and hits the back of the throat at high speed. This combination can make the soft tissue at the back of the throat vibrate and constrict. Conversely, when we breathe through our nose the air coming in warms up as it goes through the nasal passageway, and when it comes into contact with the back of the throat it isnt as turbulent and doesnt cause the effects that would lead to an apnoea or snoring. Scientists believe that the new treatment, by encouraging patients to breathe through their noses, will overcome this problem. Sleep apnoea is thought to affect around one in five adults in Britain, and studies suggest 60 per cent of over-65s suffer from it. It deprives the body of oxygen and, if left untreated, can contribute to long-term problems such as high blood pressure, heart failure and tumour growth. Risk factors for sleep apnoea include being overweight, having a large neck and smoking. Some medications, including sleeping pills, are linked to it and hormonal changes in the menopause can lead to throat muscles relaxing. The standard treatment is with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) a face mask the patient wears while sleeping, which delivers pressurised air to prevent the soft tissue of the throat collapsing and the airway closing. Sleep apnoea is thought to affect around 1 in 5 adults in Britain, with 60 per cent of over-65s affected by it It is effective, but almost half of CPAP users abandon the treatment as they find the equipment (which includes hoses, cords, masks and straps around the head) and its bulky design unbearable. However, the new device the Varnum mouthpiece is far more discreet and is essentially a disposable sticky patch that is placed over the mouth and stuck on around the lips before sleep. It is an interesting study using a simple, cheap and user-friendly device that has potential to reduce snoring and apnoea in selected mouth-breathers Professor Jaydip Ray, ENT Surgeon It has a tiny hole in the centre that allows a small amount of air in and out just enough without vibrating the throat tissue in order to make it more comfortable to use, and not wake patients up during the night if they subconsciously start breathing through their mouth. In a previous study last year at the National Taiwan University, where patients had their mouths sealed while sleeping with a similar sticky patch, there was a significant reduction in the number of apnoeas they had per hour. They also had quieter snores indicating less severe sleep apnoea, according to the journal Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. A pilot study with the Varnum mouthpiece has found it produces a threefold drop in snoring, too. And now, in the new study at the Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, 30 patients will use the mouthpiece for one night in a sleep laboratory and the number of sleep apnoeas will be monitored, as well as the changes in breathing rate and movement of soft tissue in the throat. Should flu jabs be given in the morning? This was the suggestion of a recent study, which found that elderly people vaccinated between 9am and 11am produced more antibodies against flu than those who had the jab in the afternoon. Researchers at the University of Birmingham said levels of key chemicals in our immune system are higher earlier in the day, so the body responds better to vaccines. There is plenty of evidence that the time of day we take some medicines and use certain products can make a difference to how well they work, and may reduce their side-effects But Bryony Dean Franklin, a London-based pharmacist and professor of medication safety at UCL School of Pharmacy, believes it is too early to draw any conclusions. Producing antibodies is not the same as preventing a case of flu, she says. If the jury is still out on flu jabs, there is plenty of evidence that the time of day we take some medicines and use certain products can make a difference to how well they work, and may reduce their side-effects. Are blood pressure pills best first thing? When it comes to taking certain medications for cardiovascular health, there is an optimum time based on our body clock. Also known as our circadian rhythm, this controls everything from sleep patterns to hormones, metabolism, bowel movements, blood pressure and the functions of our organs. Some statins which reduce the amount of so-called bad LDL cholesterol produced by the liver should be taken in the evening, says June Davison, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation. This is because liver production of cholesterol is highest at night. However, this rule only applies to short-acting statins such as simvastatin, which lose half their strength in two to three hours. Longer-acting ones such as atorvastatin, which lose half their strength in 14 hours, can be taken regularly at any time of day. Patients with high blood pressure will often be advised to take their medication such as ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers in the morning. This is because blood pressure normally rises as the body releases a wake up surge of the hormone cortisol. The morning can also be a good time to take diuretics which reduce pressure in the arteries by encouraging water excretion so patients avoid having to get up at night to relieve themselves. However, researchers are looking at whether certain patients should take their blood pressure medication at night. A 2011 Canadian study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that for some people ACE inhibitors work best when taken at night because they reduce the effect of a hormone that is most active during sleep. This hormone can cause the heart to enlarge, and can increase the risk of cardiac damage in patients with heart problems. Use antiperspirant BEFORE bed Applying deodorant first thing may seem like a sensible way to face the day. But research suggests that applying antiperspirants at night is actually more effective. A study of 60 women aged between 18 and 65, cited in the journal The Dermatologist in May 2009, showed that those who used antiperspirants at night had much higher sweat reduction rates after three, seven and ten days than women who used the products in the morning. Although the exact mechanism is unclear, it is thought that the antiperspirant has time to set in the pores during sleep, then lasts for hours on waking. Although the exact mechanism is unclear, it is thought that the antiperspirant has time to set in the pores during sleep, then lasts for hours on waking It is logical enough because if you apply antiperspirant in the morning, when you are more likely to sweat as a result of emotional triggers such as stress, the product will just be washed straight off, says Dr Nick Lowe, a consultant dermatologist based in London. And although it may seem obvious, it makes sense to apply some anti-ageing creams at night, too. As Dr Lowe points out, the active ingredient retinoid, in some preparations, can degrade when exposed to visible light. Over-the-counter acne creams should also be applied last thing at night, says Sultan Dajani, a community pharmacist and spokesman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. This allows the cream to do its work without being affected by things such as the weather and pollution, he adds. Many patients with eczema and psoriasis prefer to apply emollients at bedtime, as these itchy skin conditions often get worse at night. Cancer drugs that work in your sleep Cancer doctors are looking at how they can use the body clock to make chemotherapy more effective. A drug known as 5-fluorouracil, used to treat colorectal cancer, is now often given before bedtime because this is when healthy cells seem to be at rest. One theory is that they are less likely to interact with the drug at night, leaving the abnormal, and more active, cancer cells to take the full onslaught. However, more research is needed to establish cause and effect, says pharmacist Professor Franklin, who adds that exact treatment and timings should be based on a patients individual response and side-effects. During sleep, the function of the digestive system is also markedly reduced. For this reason, it is best to take medications for chronic constipation, such as lactulose and Fybogel, last thing at night, explains Sultan Dajani. A drug known as 5-fluorouracil, used to treat colorectal cancer, is now often given before bedtime because this is when healthy cells seem to be at rest The drugs work by irritating the bowel slightly and are slow acting, he adds. It helps that bowel movements have slowed right down at night so the drug can get to work. Eight hours later, the patient wakes and typically passes a bowel movement. The pills to pop before breakfast Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which suppress acid production in the stomach, are widely prescribed for heartburn. The usual advice is to take them 30 minutes before breakfast, because eating causes acid to be produced. However, recent research suggests these drugs may be more effective when taken at night. A 2003 U.S. study, by the University of Kansas School of Medicine, found that heartburn sufferers who took a common PPI before their evening meal, were far more likely to report reduced symptoms than those who took the drug in the morning. The theory is that taking them at night ensures levels of stomach acid are low when the patient goes to bed lying prone can make heartburn worse because acid can splash back into the oesophagus. Another pre-breakfast drug is alendronate, for the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis. Sticking to this time ensures there is no food in the stomach that can bind to the medication and prevent it working properly, says Sultan Dajani. When to take asthma medication Our lungs are influenced by the body clock in a number of ways that can affect when drugs are most effective, says Dr Richard Russell, a consultant chest physician at Lymington New Forest Hospital, Hampshire. Asthma symptoms are often worse at night because the bodys natural levels of cortisol, which acts as an anti-inflammatory, and adrenaline, which helps the walls of the bronchi relax and stay open, are lowest between midnight and 4am. Another issue is that the vagus nerve which regulates the resting state of the lungs is most relaxed in the early morning before waking. This causes the airways to narrow, which can also make asthma symptoms worse. Therefore, doctors often recommend patients take steroid inhalers before they go to sleep. Asthma symptoms are worse at night because the bodys levels of cortisol, an anti-inflammatory, and adrenaline, which helps the walls of the bronchi relax and stay open, are lowest between midnight and 4am However oral steroids, which are more powerful, can interfere with good sleep, so patients may be advised to avoid them after 6pm. Taking steroid medication once in the morning and once in the evening should give relief for 24 hours, according to Dr Russell, who is also a spokesman for the British Lung Foundation. Meanwhile, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella condition that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, tend to have more severe symptoms during the day when they are physically active. Once-daily medication for this condition is usually taken in the morning so it works when needed, explains Dr Russell. P.S. How can shift workers get it right? Around 3.5 million people work shifts, which can throw their body clocks out of kilter and make it hard to judge the best time to take prescribed drugs. Drugs such as low-dose daily aspirin, which can be prescribed to reduce blood pressure, should ideally be taken when you wake whether that is 7am or 1pm because this is when blood pressure rises, says Sultan Dajani. However, it is better to take it at the same time each day to ensure you dont forget. Short-acting statins should still be taken at night, whether that is the beginning or end of someones working shift. Diuretics, which cause frequent trips to the loo, should be taken before a period of activity and wakefulness, whenever that falls in the day. Large campuses, elegantly designed buildings, manicured lawns, modern facilities and scientists busy with test tubes. This is how our national research laboratories are perceived. We have a vast number of them all over the country, thanks to early investments made in development of scientific research infrastructure. This has helped India develop an excellent pool of trained manpower and emerge as a leading producer of scientific papers in recent decades. Elite Institutions: India has developed an excellent pool of trained manpower and has emerged as a leading producer of scientific papers in recent decades Yet, such centres of scientific research are seen more as ivory towers or islands of excellence in a land of mediocre science education. Universities and colleges teaching science struggle to attract bright young minds for careers in science, for reasons such as lack of basic lab infrastructure, libraries and manpower. We need to literally build bridges between the two systems, because one depends on another. This is what the National Institute of Immunology (NII), a research laboratory under the Department of Biotechnology, is attempting for the past one year. The institute has designed a programme, Science Setu, to facilitate interaction between its top scientists and students from colleges of the University of Delhi (DU). The interaction takes place in NII campus as well as in respective colleges. DU students come to NII and spend time in its labs, while NII scientists go to different colleges delivering popular talks on subjects like stem cells and DNA fingerprinting, highlighting latest trends including their own work. College teachers are also mentored on innovative teaching methodologies, careers in research, science policy, etc. DU colleges participating in this programme are Daulat Ram, Dayal Singh, Gargi, Hansraj, Hindu, Miranda House, Ramjas, Khalsa, Sri Venkateswara, Zakir Hussain, Shivaji and Institute of Home Economics. The initiative is a good example of how innovative methods can be deployed to promote science education and encourage young students to pursue a research career. It is also an opportunity for scientists to contribute to the education system. Leading global centres of learning like Yale, MIT and Harvard have extensive outreach programmes, including summer courses for school kids. Such courses are taught by scientists - sometimes Nobel laureates - working in cutting edge of scientific research. This kind of high-quality interface with scientists in universities and research institutes can leave a lasting impression on young minds and motivate children to become scientists. The programme has generated a great deal of goodwill and excitement in the academic community, and will benefit both NII and the partner colleges, says Dr Chandrima Shaha, director of NII, who is engaged in research on cell death. The feedback from colleges has been good. About 50 students have been given training in wet laboratory for varying periods of time, in some cases up to three months. Large groups of students from colleges have visited our labs and 16 scientists have delivered multiple lectures in colleges. Creating an interest in science through actual laboratory work and exposure to practising scientists would certainly help students to get into the scientific research stream, feels Dr Shaha. It is an example worth emulating by national institutes all over the country. Another delay to MCI reform The directive of the Supreme court to appoint a panel to oversee functioning of the Medical Council of India (MCI) on Monday comes after failure of the government to clean up the mess. In the past five years, several health ministers and government panels have reviewed working of MCI and made suggestions, but nothing has changed the way it functions. The last such attempt was made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, which recommended that the council be disbanded and replaced by a new regulator through a new legislation. Instead of acting on the recommendations right away, the government has once again gone into a committee mode. A four-member panel headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya has been constituted to suggest an implementation framework for restructuring of MCI. Now this panel has started consulting experts, many of whom had already deposed before the parliamentary panel and also a Group of Experts in 2014 which too had recommended an independent National Medical Commission. The UPA government had even brought a Bill for setting up National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH) to subsume the role of all councils including MCI. Every sane exert/committee has called for a new structure to replace MCI which was once dubbed a den of corruption by the Delhi High Court, but vested interests in the business of medical education are so powerful that nothing changes. Tobacco firms begin to implement 85 per cent pictorial health warnings After having failed to coerce the government on cigarette health warnings, the tobacco industry is slowly falling in line. Several leading smoking and chewing tobacco companies have started implementing 85 per cent pictorial health warnings on both sides of their product packs. A few cigarette and beedi manufacturers are yet to comply with the new regulation. The claim by certain tobacco companies about limited branding space due to the size of the warnings is unwarranted. Many cigarette and khaini companies have already printed the 85 per cent pictorial warnings on both sides, which shows that it is practical and possible to print the warning along with other product information, says an official of the Voluntary Health Association of India, which monitors tobacco products. The tobacco industry, in its offensive against pictorial warnings, is advancing absurd argument that large pictorial warnings would give rise to illicit trade in cigarettes. First, illicit trade - if at all it is a problem - is an enforcement issue. Second, if Indian products will carry prominent pictorial warning, it will be much easier to identify smuggled packs. New Delhi and Italy have arrived at a different interpretation of an order from the UN arbitration tribunal of an Italian marine held in India on murder charges. The accused has been allowed to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at The Hague. Sources said saying Italy was misrepresenting the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. Two Italian marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - are facing charges of murdering two Indian fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast The tribunal order affirms Supreme Court of Indias authority. India and Italy asked to approach the Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. The possible return to Italy (by the Marine) is strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required, an Indian official said. Two Italian marines - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - are facing charges of murdering two Indian fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy here. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN Court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. However, the tribunal's order is expected to be made public on Tuesday. The Italian Foreign Ministry said the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated its decision that Rifleman Girone (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the government on June India, Italy differ on UN marines report 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to grave violation of his human rights. The PCA is hearing arguments by the two sides. The arbitration could last at least three or four years which means that Girone risks being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years, Italy's representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two two fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Meanwhile, Italian news agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi) after the news that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. Vijay Mallya has resigned from the Rajya Sabha Days before a parliamentary panel was set to expel him from the Rajya Sabha, business tycoon Vijay Mallya has beaten them to the punch, and resigned. Mallya, who is wanted by in case of banks frauds worth Rs 9,000 crore and is currently in Uk, sent his resignation letter to avoid further ignominy. I don't want my name and reputation to be further dragged in the mud and since recent events suggest that I will not get a fair trial or justice, I am here by resigning as a member of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect, Mallya said in his resignation letter. The Ethics Committee of the Upper House was set to expel Mallya in its meeting scheduled for May 3. Last week, the panel had reached a consensus to expel the tycoon but had given him a weeks time to present his case. We have examined the entire issue related to Mallyas case. The documents that we had sought from banks have also come. There was a unanimous view in the panel that he should be expelled from the House membership. But still we have decided to give him a week time to tell us whatever he has to say. The next meeting of the committee has been fixed on May 3, Karan Singh, chairman of the panel had said. Mallya has made it clear that he has no plans to face the case lodged by public sector banks, to whom his defunct Kingfisher Airlines owes over a billion dollars. With his passport revoked, Mallya has described his status as being in forced exile, blaming banks for refusing several plans for repayment offered by him. We have always been in dialogue with banks saying: We wish to settle. But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before, Mallya had said in a recent interview. Mallya flew to London on March 2 when public sector banks belatedly accelerated efforts to recover the $1.4 billion owed by Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. India has asked for Britain to deport him, and an arrest warrant has been issued for him by a Mumbai court on money-laundering charges. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav headed to Ballia district in Purvanchal region of the state on Monday with a number of schemes, just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana on Sunday. His maiden speech at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Chandrashekhar University was mainly aimed at offering clarifications against allegations regarding the law and order situation in the state, and boasting about the various schemes launched by his government over the past four years. Our dial 100 service is the fastest in the country and the cops reach the spot within 10 minutes. Very soon, there will be no need for a complainant to go to the police station. The police will be at your doorstep, Yadav said. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is presented a model of Samajwadi Party symbol - cycle - by supporters during a public meeting in Ballia Taking a jibe at the Centres Ujwala scheme, Yadav asked Cylinder toh mil jayega, usse bharwaoge kaise?(You will get a cylinder for free but how will you refill it?). Our government is providing Samajwadi pension to 30 lakh families and soon it will accommodate another 25 lakh families. It is just a matter of assessment and we will see how long the central governments pension scheme is on. Continuing with the attack, Yadav said his four-year-old government could be pitted against the two-year-old central government on the basis of developmental works. We have developed by many folds with our limited resources and have fulfilled all the promises we made during the last elections. We had high expectations from this (BJP) government and were hopeful that the central budget (for UP) will increase. However, our hopes have all been in vain. The All Indian Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) 2016, being treated as the first phase of the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), was held in 1,040 examination centres in 52 cities, on Sunday. The competitive examination (for entrance to MBBS and BDS courses across the country) was held amid tight security this year. Around 6,67,000 aspirants appeared for the first phase of NEET on Sunday. The second phase of the common medical entrance test will be held on July 24. Students arrive at an examination centre to appear for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) Aspirants were allowed to bring an admit card, a passport size photo and a postcard size photo and nothing else, not even pen/pencil or paper. Most Aspiring medical students across the country complained that the paper was lengthy despite being an easy one. The biology section, was lengthier when compared to the other sections. Several questions in the section were out of syllabus. Only those who studied beyond NCERT, would have answered it, said Rishab Sood, one of the aspirants. Meanwhile, more than 30 students coming to Bal Bharati Public School in Pitampura failed to sit for the medical examination, due to alleged irresponsible behaviour of the school authorities. Parents and students claimed that the school did not give clear directions for the entry into the school and the students got confused over four of the school gates. We kept standing in the queue, but the school authorities closed the gates at 9.30 am and did not let us enter and sit for the examination. The school should have made necessary arrangements, said Anil Thakur, one of the parents. The school authorities later called the police after some of the parents created ruckus outside the premises. Aspirants were not allowed to enter the examination centre wearing caps, rings, bracelet or any religious symbols. Candidates had to take off wallets, shoes and wrist watches. Students had a proper dress code to adhere to as they were not allowed to enter the examination hall carrying any kind of stationary or mobile phones. Taking note of previous years All India Pre Medical Test that was nullified by the Supreme Court due to incidents of cheating, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officials left no stone un-turned, to ensure a free and fare examination. Stringent security measures were put by the CBSE to deter any wrong-doing. On April 28 the Supreme Court cleared the path for the medical students by holding the NEET- a single common entrance test for the admission to MBBS and BDS courses - in two phases. The decision will impact on the students career as now no private institute can hold a separate entrance test. The new decision will force the private institutes to grant admissions. Sources in the Health Ministry had said that this measure has been taken to keep a control over the private Medical Institutes that had become money-minting machines, and would demand huge sums from the students in exchange for a place. Fee hike: Parents in Gurugram threaten to move court By Ajay Kumar Miffed with the unprecedented enhancement in private school fees for the 2016-17 academic session, hundreds of parents gathered at Leisure Valley Park and threatened to take the legal route if the price-hike was not withdrawn. The parents body blamed the policies of Haryana government, which has allowed the private schools to arbitrarily increase the fee on account of tuition, transportation and development work in the school. This is simply bizarre to know that each and every school has hiked fees up to 23 per cent, said Nandini Kulshrestha, whose 7-year-old son is a student of Alpine Convent School in Sector 38. She asked: For a middle class family, how would we manage such a steep hike every year. Such enhancements are totally unfair for majority of the parents here. Michal Saini, a resident of Sector 31, whose son studies at Ryan International School said: I met Haryana education minister Ram Bilash Sharma six times in the last year and requested him to curb the fee hike for this academic session. Sharma had ensured me and constituted a committee in this matter. We have still been harassed by the schools as the committee has no accountability. Since schools were allotted land at subsidised rate and as per bylaws for private schools drawn by Haryana education board to facilitate fair and low cost education to tax payers children. Despite that private schools are flouting all norms and implementing their monopoly at the behest of state government, Saini said. The penalising policies of private schools are affecting the parents so that they are not even thinking of expressing negative thoughts. I have been so fed up with regular fee hike every year that I put my kid in government school and deposited a lump sum in bank under a long term policy, so that I can give donations at the time of his college admission. If I was capable of donation, I would put my kid in premier institutions of the country, said Parveen Kataria, whose daughter was also a student of Ryan International school. Kataria added: With a well planned strategy, these private schools are responsible for destroying the academic structure in government schools in a systematic way. This is hurting us dearly now. Another parent Saurabh Agrawal said he along with other parents met Gurgaon deputy commissioner TL Satya Prakash urging him to intervene in the issue. He claimed the deputy commissioner suggested them to settle the matter with the principal. After protests in Hawaii in the US against the proposed Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) project alternative sites are being explored including Ladakh. The project was to come up at Mauna Kea in Hawaii. But, protests by the locals and indigenous population has stalled the project. The construction was expected to start on Mauna Kea, Hawaii in 2015. However, it is now stalled due to the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Hawaii to revoke the construction permit on procedural grounds. The construction was expected to start on Mauna Kea, Hawaii in 2015. However, it is now stalled due to the recent decision of the Supreme court of Hawaii revoking the construction permit on procedural grounds. The State of Hawaii agencies are working on the permit process following the prescribed procedure by the court. TMT is pursuing the matter in consultation with the University of Hawaii (land lease holder) and other agencies. It seeks to construct TMT on Mauna Kea which is the preferred choice, said Bacham Eswar Reddy, Programme Director. However, given the importance of the project, in terms of finance and its scientific value, the project partners are also looking at alternate sites, both in the northern and southern hemispheres. These include sites in Chile, Hanle, Ladakh and others which are all being evaluated for technical and logistical suitability. It is expected that on-site civil work on the project may be delayed by about 18-24 months. However, work on telescope and observatory subsystems continues across the partnership, Reddy added. India is a 10 per cent partner in the TMT project, which also includes China, Japan, Canada and the US. On the Indian side, the project is being handled by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Department of Atomic Energy. If the programme comes to India, it will open several doors. The project is expected to improve employment opportunities for the local people besides development of the region. TMT being the largest optical and infrared telescope in the northern hemisphere will strengthen the domestic programme of the country in this field and lead to several discoveries, which will inspire future generations. The BJP and its allies are expected to gain seats in the next round of elections in the Rajya Sabha in June-July. But, this would still not be sufficient for them to overcome the Opposition. According to sources, over 50 seats from various states will fall vacant in June and July, as members retire. The BJP is expected to improve its tally by eight seats in this round, but will still not achieve the comfort level, where it can easily push through legislation with help from its allies. Since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in which the BJP secured an absolute majority of 282 seats in the Lower House, the saffron party has been facing stiff opposition from the Congress and its allies, who have been setting the agenda in the Rajya Sabha, disrupting the House at will. Among the key BJP members who will retire from the Upper House in the next few months are Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman from Andhra Pradesh, Suresh Prabhu and Birender Singh from Haryana, MJ Akbar from Jharkhand, M Venkaiah Naidu from Karnataka, Piyush Goyal from Maharashtra, and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi from Uttar Pradesh. At present, the BJP has 49 members while its allies the Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal have three seats each. Against this, the Congress alone has 65 members, while SP has 15, JD(U) has 13, TMC has 12, BSP has 10 and NCP has six keeping the ruling party managers on the tenterhooks. Sources said around 15 BJP members will retire over the next few months, but the saffron party hopes to re-elect 17 members. Likewise, around 21 Congress members will retire over the next few months and the party is expected to re-elect around 13. The rest will depend on the position of regional players, who may like to re-elect a candidate of their choice. In the past, aggressive opposition has stalled the Upper House over issues such as alleged helping of former IPL chief Lalit Modi, provocative speeches by BJP leaders, intolerance, Presidents rule in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and naming of Sonia Gandhi in the AgustaWestland deal. The ruling party leaders have often suggested a re-organisation of the Upper House, arguing that a hostile opposition was deliberately blocking passage of key legislations. The Congress, on the other hand, claims the effective strength of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha helps in retaining a balance in the functioning of the Parliament and keeping a check on the BJP. Prashant Kishor suggests Rahul Gandhi as first choice for CM post Party wants Pahul Gandhi as the face of UP elections Congress master poll strategist Prashant Kishor has strongly suggested that Rahul Gandhi should be made the party's face in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017. Highly placed sources in the Congress told India Today that Kishor feels the only way the party can come back to power in 2019, is if people start believing that the Congress vice president can lead them to victory in the election. He feels the best place to start the experiment is the politically-important state of Uttar Pradesh. However, if Rahul does not agree to the proposal, Priyanka Gandhi may be made the party's face in Uttar Pradesh. In case both disagree, then Kishor will be suggesting the name of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. More than 6,100 personnel and three IAF choppers fitted with water carrying Bambi buckets, have been deployed in Uttarakhand to douse the forest fire that engulfed large part of the hill state. As many as 6,000 personnel comprising NDRF, SDRF, state police, forest staff and volunteers have been deployed to douse the fire. Three Indian Air Force helicopters (1 ALH and 2 Mi 17) with Bambi bucket and 116 rescuers of National Disaster Response Force were also deployed to help the state government in controlling the situation. An Indian Air Force helicopter fitted with a Bambi bucket dumps water in the forests of Uttarakhand to douse the raging fire The situation is under control now, a Home Ministry spokesperson said. A four-member Central team of experts, including Special Director Centre for Fire Explosives KC Wadha and director of Delhi Fire Services GC Misra have reached Uttarakhand to assess the situation and suggest possible remedies. In view of the urgency of the matter, the team will submit it's report to the Home Ministry within a week with its recommendations. Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the forest fire situation with the top officials of the Uttarakhand government, and assured them of all central assistance. Singh had on Saturday spoken to Governor KK Paul, who briefed him about the prevailing crisis. The three IAF choppers on Sunday dumped loads of water on forest fires raging for the last several days in Nainital and Pauri districts in Uttarakhand. The authorities claimed that the situation is gradually getting under control, latest satellite imagery of the forest fires has reported that the blaze has been extinguished in over 75 per cent of the affected area in the hill state. The water sprinkling operations commenced on Sunday as part of efforts to douse the fires that has killed seven persons and destroyed 2,269 hectares of forested land. PM Modi distributed e-rickshaws in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency Even the PM's tight schedule could not prevent him from visiting his constituency again. PM Narendra Modi was in Varanasi on Sunday and it was his seventh visit to the temple town after assuming office nearly two years ago. Modi spent six hours in the city during which he presided over a function where e-rickshaws were distributed to hundreds of beneficiaries. He interacted with distinguished persons hailing from the city, including educationists, jurists and those running self-help groups. Shahs Kerala trip cancelled BJP President Amit Shah, who was to kickoff his campaign tour of Kerala for the May 16 Assembly elections on Sunday, cancelled his visit following indisposition. Shah was scheduled to arrive at Thiruvananthapuram to attend a meeting of party workers and three public gatherings, but cancelled the trip as he took ill, party sources said. The BJP, has not yet opened its account in the Assembly. Didi warns the cops in West Bengal Claiming that a section of police officials have unleashed terror on people at the behest of the Election Commission, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee warned them of consequences if she is voted to power again. Those responsible will have to face the consequences. EC's duty is to ensure free and fair poll, but they have unleashed terror with the help of a section of police officials, Banerjee alleged, addressing an election rally in Midnapore district. Anandiben takes a cue from PM Taking a cue from PM Modis Smart Cities plan, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said her government has decided to make 300 villages across the state self-reliant. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its Parivar have denounced the International Workers Day saying the tradition is alien to Indian culture and the ideology of cultural nationalism. The RSS also claimed that the day smacks of Marxist-Leftist inclination towards creating societal discord. The Narendra Modi-led BJP dispensation and organisations under the Right-wing umbrella are on a drive to change the public discourse of India not just in the political realm, but also otherwise. Labour Day was observed in different part of the country, but, the RSS claims that it is alien to Indian culture While Modi spoke on the occasion on Sunday at a rally in Ballia, he spoke of a new mantra. Against the leftist slogan of Workers of the World Unite, Modi posited Labourers, Unite the World. The situation has changed. The biggest cementing factor is the sweat of the workers who can unite the world, Modi said. Modi chided the Left as he went on to note that those who used to raise slogans of uniting the workers have been losing ground the world over. In an exclusive interview with Mail Today, general secretary of RSS-affiliated workers body Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Vrijesh Upadhyay said the concept of May Day was alien to the India ethos and dubbed the Left-dominated trade unionism as the biggest enemy of labourers and workers. This maverick Spartan style of mobilization of workers needed to be rooted out of India, he added. The BMS does not recognise May Day and thus we dont celebrate it. It does not send a good message among workers. On the contrary, we celebrate Indian workers day on Vishwakarma Jayanti on September 17. Otherwise May Day is celebrated across the world and we hope well for it, said Upadhyay. Meanwhile, Congress-supported trade union, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) declined to comment on the issue. It is their personal belief and they are welcome to believe in what they do, said Amit Yadav of INTUC. The BMS leader pointed that while a certain section across the world celebrated the day under the ideological influence of Marxism, the country in which it originated does not commemorate it. The day is celebrated to commemorate the Haymarket Affair which happened in Chicago in May 1886, US itself does not celebrate it, Upadhyay added. The organisation believes that one of the reasons for not celebrating the day was the bloodbath and violence that occurred on the occasion in 1886. Rolls-Royce has won the contract to design the 200million Boaty McBoatface polar research vessel. The ship will be one of the most sophisticated floating laboratories in the polar regions when it takes to the seas in 2019. Commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council, it will be built in Birkenhead but is not expected to keep the joke name that was chosen by more than 120,000 people when a social media campaign backfired. Riding into the ice: The ship will be one of the most sophisticated floating laboratories in the polar regions Shipbuilder Cammell Laird will announce this week it has selected the engineering giants design, which includes four Rolls-Royce engines. These will power a propulsion system consisting of two stainless steel ice-smashing propellers and a set of positioning thrusters usually found on oil rig supply ships, which are used to maintain a specific position regardless of the weather conditions. The hulls design means that the vessel will actually ride up on to the ice to crush it. The design has also been specially modified to reduce the amount of noise the vessel makes underwater, so that the scientists will be able to observe marine life without causing too much interference. The deal is important to Rolls-Royce because its marine division had been dependent on the oil and gas market for half of its 1.3billion revenues last year and has been hit hard by the falling price of crude. Metals tycoon Sanjeev Gupta is seeking a $1billion (684million) war chest to rescue the UK arm of Tata Steel and has lined up investment bank Macquarie as a backer. Sources revealed that the entrepreneur behind Liberty House, who recently bought two Scottish steel mills from Tata, has privately calculated that he will need about $1billion in working capital to keep the various sites operational. The jobs of thousands of steel workers are hanging in the balance ahead of tomorrows deadline for initial bids. Seeking financial support: Metals tycoon Sanjeev Gupta Tata has told more than 190 suitors they have to submit letters of intent for the business, which are aimed at identifying the serious players. Port Talbot was put up for sale last month by the Indian conglomerate, which decided to pull out of the UK altogether after rejecting a 100million rescue plan because it was unaffordable. If a buyer cannot be found it would mean up to 7,000 staff and contractors at the South Wales plant will lose their jobs. At least three firms have publicly expressed an interest and are racing to submit their letters of intent in time for Tuesdays deadline. Liberty House has said it will submit a letter of intent to Tata Steel on time. It has formed a team of advisers that include Jon Bolton, a former director of Tata Steel who is also chairman of the UK Steel trade association. Lead adviser Macquarie Capital, along with a number of other backers, are believed to have offered financial support to help Gupta towards his $1billion target. Gupta is thought to want to convert at least one of the Port Talbot blast furnaces to a cheaper electric arc furnace which is able to recycle steel. Tony Pedder, chairman of Sheffield Forgemasters, has set up a consortium called Albion Steel, which is also mulling an offer. Pedder is a former executive of Corus, which evolved into Tata UK. Nurofen-owner Reckitt Benckiser faces a shareholder backlash this week after handing its boss more than 23million in pay and perks. Rakesh Kapoor, chief executive of the FTSE 100 consumer goods company, saw his earnings jump from 12.8million in 2014 to 23.2million last year. Investors are expected to voice their anger at the pay deal at the companys annual meeting on Thursday as Reckitt becomes the latest firm to face a rebellion in the so-called shareholder spring. Golden pay: Rakesh Kapoor, chief executive of Nurofen-owner Reckitt Benckiser The UK Individual Shareholders Society, or ShareSoc as it is known, described Kapoors earnings for 2015 as indefensibly high and urged investors to vote against it. The group, which represents small shareholders, pointed out that Kapoor has now earned 56million since he took over as chief executive in 2011 It also noted that Kapoor and his predecessor Bart Becht collectively received 120million from Reckitt over the past seven years. ShareSoc director Cliff Weight said: A reasonable, fair and adequate chief executive remuneration would be less than half this amount. A string of chief executives have faced a backlash over fat cat pay this year. The most dramatic came last week when more than 72 per cent of shareholders in FTSE 250 engineer Weir Group voted down a plan to allow executives to take home millions in share options regardless of how well the company performed. It followed a revolt at BP where just over 59 per cent of shareholders rejected a pay package of almost 14million for chief executive Bob Dudley. A Sydney primary school-teacher says 'airy-fairy' holistic education of children in our classrooms has been a failure and is the main cause behind plummeting numeracy skills. Jo Otto, 43, has more than 20 years experience in teaching and was shocked to find many children did not know the basics of mathematics, like their times-tables. 'It's not the teachers fault, and it's not their parents fault, it's all about the children's holistic development which is bull****,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Jo Otto, 43, the primary school teacher who says the holistic approach to education has been failing children. She now goes into schools to showcase her learning App - Maths Rockx A veteran Sydney schoolteacher has slammed modern education methods as 'airy fairy' Jo Otto took a Year 6 class as a substitute teacher and found several students counting with their fingers The problem came to a head the day she took a Year 6 class and began with what she called a 'maths warm-up'. 'They were kids who were supposed to be heading to high school and I said "let's do our times tables", well some just looked up to the sky, others were trying to work it out in their heads,' she said. Ms Otto is critical of the modern-day learning method she calls 'strategising', with the emphasis on how students get to an answer rather than being taught memory recall. 'They would do 5,10, 15, 20 on their hands, they would count up in blocks of five,' she revealed. 'Numeracy skills have plummeted because you dont teach them facts, what has been taught has been illogical. 'Even I was confused, I didn't understand it.' A 2016 OECD report found almost half of Australia's teenage students were not meeting minimum international standards in mathematics studies According to the OECD, 42% of Australias 15-year-olds are not proficient in maths, and in high school it's even worse, with half of all students failing to attain the minimum international standard. Ms Otto believes the 'practice makes perfect' model is a proven method for teaching and learning maths. 'Rote [memory] learning became a dirty word, you cant get better without practising - its like getting better at footy you have to practice kicking the ball,' she said. She recalled once being caught out trying to teach maths the old-school way. 'I was doing times tables with my Year 6 on the blackboard, and the principal walked in and 'I s*** myself' because we were taught as teachers not to do that,' she admitted. Jo Otto, a Sydney primary school teacher, has developed an an App called Maths Rockx to help students learn their basic multiplication skills in class THE SONGS HELPING CHILDREN LOVE MATHEMATICS Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire Schoolchildren enjoy a lesson of Maths Rockx by singing their times tables to familiar tunes Kelly Clarkson - Stronger One Directon - What Makes you Beautiful P!NK - So What OneRepublic - Counting Stars Aqua - Doctor Jones Hoodoo Gurus - Whats My Scene Lady Gaga - Born This Way Usher ft. will.i.am - OMG Lloyd ft. Andre 3000 - Dedication to my Ex Happy Pharrell Wiliams Still, Jo Otto turned her frustration into a passion for finding a way for children to learn the old-fashioned way with the aid of music, and enlisted the help of entertainers Lady Gaga and One Direction. Ms Otto said she decided to 'fix things' and came up with an idea to get kids loving maths - by encouraging them to sing their times tables. Maths Rockx uses popular music to create memory triggers for the lyrics, which are changed to reflect numbers. 'There were kids in some classes who had this bad attitude and kept telling me I hate maths and didnt want to learn and then all of a sudden they get up and start clapping and dancing.' The Otto family Jackson , Stuart, Jo and Angel. The Maths Rockx App has been a family affair While the likes of Lady Gaga, Pink, Usher and One Direction quickly agreed to having their songs aligned with the maths learning App, others include Katy Perry, Beyonce and George Michael denied permission. Maths Rockx quickly made its way into the top five education Apps in Australia and New Zealand and has already gone top 50 in the UK in less than 24 hours. The App has cost her about $120,000, with most of the costs going to licensing fees for the music. Ms Otto revealed that she had seen children 'that really struggled with most aspects of school' actually enjoyed maths because this technique was successful for them. Even her own children, Jackson, 6, and Angel, 4, have benefited from the musical approach to maths. 'Since they [the children] have heard the songs a billion times they can't help but learn,' she added. 'We teach kids their ABCs in that melody style, and this is basically the same principle. Increases could also affect millions of Americans who purchase individual policies outside the government system More than 12 million people nationwide get coverage though the health law's Insurers will seek significant premium hikes under President Barack Obama's health care law this summer - stiff medicine for consumers and voters ahead of November's election. Expect the state-by-state premium requests to reflect what insurers see as the bottom line: The health law has been a financial drain for many companies. They're setting the stage for 2017 hikes that could reach well into the double digits. For example, in Virginia, a state that reports early, nine insurers returning to the HealthCare.gov marketplace are seeking average premium increases that range from 9.4 percent to 37.1 percent. Those initial estimates filed with the state may change. Many buyers won't know their actual premiums until Nov. 1, when open enrollment in the government-manged health programs begins anew. That's a week before the general election. Scroll down for video Expect insurers to seek significant premium increases under President Barack Obama's health care law, in a wave of state-level requests rippling across the country ahead of the election this fall More than 12 million people nationwide get coverage though the health law's markets, which offer subsidized private insurance. But the increases could also affect several million who purchase individual policies outside the government system. Going into their fourth year, the health law's markets are still searching for stability. That's in contrast to more-established government programs like Medicaid and Medicare Advantage, in which private insurers profitably cover tens of millions of people. The health law's nagging problems center on lower-than-hoped-for enrollment, sicker-than-expected customers, and a balky internal stabilization system that didn't deliver as advertised and was already scheduled to be pared back next year. This year, premiums for a benchmark silver plan rose by a little more than 7 percent on average, according to administration figures. A spike for 2017 would fire up the long-running political debate over the divisive law, which persists despite two Supreme Court decisions upholding Obama's signature program, and the president's veto of a Republican repeal bill. Of the presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton is the only one promising to build on the Affordable Care Act. She's proposed an aggressive effort to increase enrollment along with measures to reduce consumer costs. The Republican candidates all want to repeal 'Obamacare.' Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders would incorporate it into a bigger government-run system covering everyone known as Medicaid-for-all. The health law is 'likely in for a significant market correction over the next year or two,' said Larry Levitt of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. 'There have been a lot of signals from insurers that premiums are headed up.' Standard & Poor's health insurance analyst Deep Banerjee said he expects premium hikes to be higher for 2017 than in the larger, more stable market for employer coverage. Insurers are facing higher medical costs from health law customers, and some companies priced their initial coverage too low in an attempt to grab new business. 'What they are doing now is trying to catch up,' said Banerjee. Aetna chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini said Thursday the nation's third-largest health insurer still sees a good business opportunity, but Congress needs to provide leeway for companies to design lower-cost plans tailored to young, healthy people. 'We will see the dynamics of the market get tougher as we go forward if we don't get those kinds of structural changes,' he said. How that would happen in a politically polarized atmosphere, Bertolini did not explain. Aetna lost more than $100 million on its health law business last year but hopes to break even this year. The administration says talk of premium increases is premature and overblown. Initial requests from insurers will get knocked back in some states, officials say, aided by a rate-review process strengthened under the health law. Pro-choice demonstrators appear outside of the Supreme Court as arguments were heard in a case against the Affordable Care Act in March. A long-running political debate over the divisive law, which persists despite two Supreme Court decisions upholding it and the president's veto of a Republican repeal bill, could restart if premiums go up for next year Most significantly, more than 8 out of 10 customers in the health law's markets get subsidies to help pay their premiums, and that financial assistance will increase as premiums rise. Many have also shown they're willing to shop around for lower-priced coverage. 'Marketplace consumers would do well to put little stock in initial rate filings,' spokesman Ben Wakana said in a statement. 'Averages based on proposed premium changes are not a reliable indicator of what typical consumers will actually pay.' Also mitigating the pressure for higher premiums is a one-year moratorium for 2017 on a health law tax on insurers, part of last year's federal budget deal. Still, it's hard to ignore the litany of insurer complaints. Last month, an analysis of medical claims from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association concluded that insurers gained a sicker, more expensive patient population as a result of the law. The 'Blues' represent the most common brand of insurance. Recently, UnitedHealth, the nation's biggest insurer, said it will radically pull back from the health law markets, citing estimated losses of $650 million this year, on top of $475 million it lost last year. Many insurers struggled because they didn't know how much medical care their new customers would use. Some patients had been out of the health care system for years and had been holding off getting needed care. Insurers also say they've been hurt by customers who signed up outside the regular enrollment period and then used a lot of services. Advertisement Since arriving in the capital last month Saudi billionaire Turki Bin Abdullah, 23, (pictured on Saturday) has made headlines for the extravagant display of wealth that is his fleet of gold supercars He is the mysterious playboy owner of the fleet of golden supercars worth millions, is a close friend of American rapper Dr Dre and stays in only the most luxurious hotels the world's richest cities have to offer. Since arriving in London in March Saudi billionaire Turki Bin Abdullah, 23, has made headlines for the extravagant - and some say gaudy - display of wealth which includes a custom 350,000 Aventador, a 370,000 six-wheeler Mercedes AMG off-roader, a 350,000 Rolls Phantom Coupe, a 220,000 Bentley Flying Spur and a 180,000 Lamborghini Huracan all painted a uniform shade of gold and imported from the Middle East. He and his entourage are regularly spotted cruising around the affluent streets of West London, where even among the cars of the super wealthy his golden fleet sticks out like a sore thumb. Various reports have described him as a wealthy sheik, an Arab playboy, a Saudi Prince and a businessman. But no one seems to know exactly who he is, what he does or what he is worth. Online there are hints that he is linked to the Saudi royal family - the House of Saud - on his mother's side, but no English language media outlets have been able to definitively confirm this rumour. So who exactly is Turki Bin Abdullah? MailOnline exclusively met him to find out - although he proved rather elusive to pin down. But even when we did manage to finally track him down he was reluctant to reveal any sort of personal information, although he was happy to talk about his cars, which he described as his 'passion.' We did, however, discover that he is surprisingly shy for one so ostentatious; that he freely admits he is bankrolled by his father, who 'buys me what I want', although he is setting up his own yet-to-be revealed business; he is friends with Canadian rapper Drake and American rap legend Dr Dre, who is personally designing him a pair of one-of-a-kind solid gold Beats By Dr Dre headphones; and, rather sweetly, he counts his mother as his most treasured possession. He also revealed his first ever car was a Porsche 911 and that he customises each of his cars, spending hundreds of thousands on each vehicle to have to covered in gold vinyl as it is his favourite - and lucky - colour. And Bin Abdullah is clearly generous - he tips parking attendants 50 a time and hands out designer goods to his friends like sweets. We arranged to meet Bin Abdullah at The Mall, close to Buckingham Palace, at the spot where rich Londoners like to see and be seen in their luxury cars on the weekend. Despite it being a Saturday, which meant the tourist hotspot was crawling with visitors, we did not have any difficulty in spotting the entourage as they made a head-turning arrival in the bright gold Bentley and Mercedes AMG off-roader. After several minutes the doors of the Mercedes opened and Bin Abdullah's entourage poured out, a group including his PR man, his security detail and some friends. They then surrounded the Bentley and, finally, the star of the show himself stepped out. Bin Abdullah was not what we were expecting. Diminutive and baby cheeked he stepped out of the vehicle and shyly shook our hands while his entourage attempted to hold back the crowd of interested passers-by. Despite his taste for the eye-catching the 23-year-old clearly did not relish being the centre of everyone's attention. Some of the people in the growing crowd had begun shoving one another in order to get a better look at the circus which was unfolding before us. All of a sudden Bin Abdullah bolted, walking quickly away from the cars while talking on his phone. Flash: He owns a custom 350,000 Aventador, a 370,000 six-wheeler Mercedes AMG off-roader, a 350,000 Rolls Phantom Coupe, a 220,000 Bentley Flying Spur and a 180,000 Lambo Huracan all painted a uniform shade of gold and imported from the Middle East Eye-catching: Two of the golden cars were parked outside London's exclusive 5* Mandarin Oriental hotel in London during our interview His security team nodded at us to follow so we dutifully wandered over to a quiet spot where we were told the interview had to be moved as there were 'too many people around'. We were told to hop in a taxi and to meet Bin Abdullah at London's opulent Mandarin Oriental and the golden vehicles would follow. But as we pulled away a police car suddenly rolled up behind us after letting out a bleep of sirens. The officers appeared to be asking what exactly the supercars were doing parking brazenly in the middle of The Mall on a Saturday afternoon. After a minute and some gesturing on both sides we moved off. Playboy: Various media reports have described Bin Abdullah as a wealthy sheik, an Arab playboy, a Saudi Prince and a businessman Fleet: Bin Abdullah posted this photo on Instagram of just some of his golden vehicles - his first ever car was a Porsche 911 Unfortunately the relief was short lived. As we circled around the busy roundabout at Hyde Park Corner we were confused and then rather alarmed when the golden cars carried on going. It was all going a bit Benny Hill. We decided to carry on to the hotel and hope they turned up. I sent a text to Michael, Bin Abdullah's PR man, who sent the reassuring reply 'We will be there in 5.' Half an hour later we were still waiting in the opulent surroundings of one of London's most luxurious hotels where Abdullah regularly stayed before he got his own apartment in Mayfair. Finally, the entourage and Bin Abdullah turned up. Michael the PR cheerfully told us: 'This is what it's like - our plans change all the time!' As they settled in with us it appeared some soul searching had been taking place on the journey. 'He doesn't want to do video or pictures,' Michael the PR man told me. 'It's fine - you just ask the questions and write them down.' After explaining for some time the way MailOnline works we settled on a compromise: One photo, five minutes of video and no awkward questions. Jet set life: Bin Abdullah shared this picture of his friends (left) on a private jet as they head between the Middle East and Europe Expensive taste: Bin Abdullah also revealed his first ever car was a Porsche 911 and that he customises each of his cars, spending hundreds of thousands on each vehicle to have to covered in gold vinyl as it is his favourite - and lucky - colour Although Bin Abdullah was very polite throughout our unusual afternoon together it was made clear to us, through Michael the PR man, that certain topics were very much off limits, particularly regarding his family and royal connections. Despite the fact he regularly documents his exploits online - including the time he chased a camel through the desert and the occasion he strapped a cheetah into the front seat - he would not be drawn on the personal. Before he moved to an apartment in Mayfair he used to stay at The Dorchester and the Mandarin Oriental - two of London's most expensive hotels. He did reveal that all together he has seven gold cars - but has only brought four of them to London, which is one of his favourite cities along with Paris. But Bin Abdullah was very keen to make one point: He resents the implication that he is one of those who drive their cars loudly and anti-socially through West London. Glitz: Bin Abdullah and his entourage are regularly spotted cruising around the affluent streets of West London in the golden cars Beast: When we finally managed to track Bin Abdullah down he was reluctant to reveal any sort of personal information, although he was happy to talk about his cars, which he described as his 'passion' He says he never breaks the law - PR man Michael was quick to brush over the issue of parking tickets - and it appears to be a bugbear for him that media outlets in the Middle East have tried to portray him as a feckless driver terrorising London. He said: 'I've been in London for two months - if I was breaking the law like some people say, the UK has a government and police, they would not let me drive if I was breaking the law. 'In two months I have not had a speeding ticket or broken any red lights. If I did do something London has police and they will not let this happen. 'If I did something wrong they will stop me, but they don't stop me because I don't do anything illegal.' He also revealed that on one occasion, while staying at a luxury hotel in Paris, security caught someone putting a lighter to the body of one of his cars because the hapless would-be thief thought it was real gold which would melt off. While talking about the cars Bin Abdullah, who described them as his passion, was animated and keen to talk. But when it came to personal questions he closed off - and Michael, from Throne Entertainment PR & Communications, was clearly keen that he did not give too much away as it could be a - in his words - 'security breach'. But perhaps they have good reason to be caution. In the last year three members of the Saudi royal family have gone missing without explanation. So who exactly is Turki Bin Abdullah? I'm still not entirely sure - which appears to be exactly how he likes it. Bizarre: Bin Abdullah recently shared this image of a cheetah strapped into the front seat of one of his golden cars on Instagram Seattle police used pepper spray Sunday evening to disperse black-clad anti-capitalist protesters during a rowdy May Day gathering. Protesters threw rocks, flares, bricks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails at police officers during the rally according to authorities. At least nine people were arrested and five officers were hurt including one treated at the scene for a head laceration. A second police officer was bitten by a protester and a third was hurt, but not burned, after being hit by a Molotov cocktail. The clashes in Seattle followed a peaceful march in the city earlier in the day by advocates for workers and immigrants, just one of several events in cities nationwide Sunday to call for better wages for workers, an end to deportations and support for an Obama administration plan to give work permits to immigrants in the country illegally whose children are American citizens. Scroll down for video Some May Day protesters in Seattle clashed with police. Pictured, officers fire rubber bullets at protesters after they threw rocks and fireworks at them along 2nd Ave Seattle police officers stand by during an anti-capitalism protest Sunday in Seattle. At least seven were arrested in the city A Seattle police officer uses pepper spray during an anti-capitalism protest Sunday, as a protester takes cover behind a black flag A man lies in the street after being struck in the face by an object during anti-capitalist protests Police detain a protester during anti-capitalist protests following May Day marches in Seattle Seattle Police arrest a protester on 4th Avenue South in Sodo during the annual May Day Anti-Capitalist protest Polic make an arrest in the parking lot of Cosco on South 4th Street in Seattle A person helps a woman who has been pepper sprayed in the face during protests in Seattle A woman is helped after being pepper sprayed in Seattle during protests Sunday A blast ball explodes on 3rd Avenue and Washington in Pioneer Square in Seattle. Five police officers were injured in the protests Police officers on bicycles detain a protester during anti-capitalist protests following May Day marches in Seattle 'This is no longer a peaceful march,' Steve Wilske, Seattle Police assistant chief (not pictured), said in a statement on Twitter and police ordered protesters to disperse A police flashbang device explodes among a crowd of protesters in Seattle Sunday At least nine people were arrested during protests in Seattle, and five police officers were injured A person spray paints under an on ramp during an anti-capitalism protest in Seattle The anti-capitalist demonstrators, who didn't have a permit from city officials, then started marching through the streets. They carried signs including one that said, 'We Are Ungovernable' Seattle Police throw blast balls into the crowd of protesters to disperse them at 2nd Avenue and Cherry during the annual May Day Anti-Capitalist protest Rocks, fireworks, and other items sit in Westlake Park after the beginning of anti-capitalist protests following May Day marches Hundreds of May Day marchers chanting slogans and carrying signs and at least one Donald Trump pinata took to the streets of Los Angeles. 'We want them to hear our voices, to know that we are here and that we want a better life, with jobs,' said Norberto Guiterrez, a 46-year-old immigrant from Mexico who joined families, union members and students who marched through downtown. Demonstrators repeatedly called out Donald Trump for his remarks about immigrants, workers and women. The leading Republican presidential contender has called for a wall on the border with Mexico and chided Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton for playing the so-called 'woman card.' 'In addition to fighting for workers' rights, we are fighting for our dignity this time around, our self-respect,' said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Marchers heading up Broadway demand an end to deportations and tout immigrants' rights in U.S. policy during the annual El Comite May Day March for Worker and Immigrant Rights in Seattle Hundreds of May Day marchers chanting slogans and carrying signs - these say 'Immigrant Workers Want Respect'- take to the streets of Los Angeles, calling for immigrant and worker rights A member of the 'Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition' poses in front of a giant effigy of US Republican Party presidential hopeful Donald Trump as they protest on May Day in Los Angeles Protesters in several U.S. cities took the opportunity to denounce Donald Trump Sunday. Pictured, a Trump effigy in Los Angeles A woman carries a pinata based on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during one of several May Day marches on May 1, 2016 in Los Angeles Left, a demonstrator is seen near a sign that reads, 'Stop killer cops!' Right, A man carries a sign critical of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Los Angeles People wave and call 'We are here' and 'You are not alone' in Spanish to immigrant detainees at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles Children join immigration rights protesters during a May Day rally to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Los Angeles A man carries a sign that reads 'Don't put us down' during a protest at the ICE detention center in Los Angeles A woman holds a child as she gazes up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles Sunday 'We can certainly encourage folks to look at what they're watching, what they're hearing and have them represent themselves and their families whether they can vote or not and say, "We are not the rapists. We are not the criminals you are talking about. And we are quite good for this country,"' Cabrera said. Trump says he is not racist or anti-immigrant; he says he simply wants the U.S. to stop illegal immigration and control its borders. Around the world, union members have traditionally marched on May 1 for workers' rights. In the United States, the annual events have become a rallying point for immigrants and their supporters since massive demonstrations in 2006 against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. In recent years, the marches have waned in size in U.S. cities, but the tradition has continued. Children marched in Los Angeles holding a sign that read 'Don't deport my parents' People in Los Angeles gaze up at the Metropolitan Detention Center where immigrant detainees are held In Seattle dozens of people dressed in black had gathered at a downtown park following the earlier, peaceful march. The anti-capitalist demonstrators, who didn't have a permit from city officials, then started marching through the streets. They carried signs including one that said, 'We Are Ungovernable.' Some downtown businesses had earlier boarded up storefronts, anticipating violence. Police said there was some property damage, including broken window at a residential building. Several reports of assaults on officers and broken windows. "This is no longer a peaceful march" -A/C Wilske Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2016 'This is no longer a peaceful march,' Steve Wilske, Seattle Police assistant chief, said in a statement on Twitter and police ordered protesters to disperse. Bicycle police in riot gear helped push the crowd south of downtown, where it began to disperse. Seattle traditionally sees large, disruptive May Day gatherings. Last year police arrested 16 people during demonstrations and in 2014 10 people were arrested. In 2013, police arrested 18 people from a crowd that pelted them with rocks and bottles. Storefronts in downtown Seattle have also been smashed in previous protests. Immigration rights protester Enma Torres wipes a tear as she holds an effigy of US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump during a rally outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center In San Francisco, hundreds of marchers rallied at Fisherman's Wharf for immigrant and workers' rights and to demand justice for several men fatally shot by city police. Across the bay in Oakland, close to 1,000 people marched in the Fruitvale district to raise awareness for workers, housing and immigrant rights and denounce Trump. Meanwhile, social justice advocates in Durham, New Hampshire, made the rejection of racism, xenophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment the themes of their annual rally. Marchers in San Francisco rally in support of immigrant and workers' rights and to demand justice for several men fatally shot by city police during May Day demonstrations San Francisco saw one of several events in cities nationwide to call for better wages for workers, and an end to deportations Protesters pass San Francisco's Ferry Building as they rally in support of immigrant and workers' rights and to demand justice for several men fatally shot by city police Hundreds of May Day marchers chanting slogans and carrying signs - and one carrying a Donald Trump - take to the streets of Los Angeles, calling for immigrant and worker rights Los Angeles protesters shout slogans during May Day protests in the city Sunday Bernie Sanders says he has an 'uphill climb' to the Democratic nomination that relies on him winning over superdelegates, the elected officials, lobbyists and other party insiders who are free to back either candidate, but it's not an impossibility. He's asking those party leaders, who overwhelmingly support rival Hillary Clinton, to 'go into their hearts' and change their support to him ahead of a contested convention. The U.S. senator had to lay off hundreds of staffers last week as his campaign suffered stinging defeats in states it expected to win, and the Sanders campaign yesterday announced a sharp $20 million decline in donations in the month of April. He reasserted Sunday that he intends to stay in the race until its completion and said the Democratic Party can 'be unified after the convention' in July where its nominee will be formally selected. Bernie Sanders says he has an 'uphill climb' to the Democratic nomination that relies on him winning over superdelegates, the elected officials, lobbyists and other party insiders who are free to back either candidate, but it's not an impossibility Sanders reasserted Sunday that he intends to stay in the race until its completion and said the Democratic Party can 'be unified after the convention' in July where its nominee will be formally selected. His supporters are seen here at a rally yesterday in Indiania The U.S. senator had to lay off hundreds of staffers last week as his campaign suffered stinging defeats in states it expected to win, and the Sanders campaign yesterday announced a sharp $20 million decline in donations in the month of April. He's trudging on, though In a press conference organized to mark the year anniversary of his insurgent bid, Sanders called on the superdelegates to reflect the vote in their state. He also cast himself as more electable against Donald Trump, arguing that superdelegates should prioritize beating the GOP frontrunner over other concerns. 'It's a steep hill to climb,' he admitted, at the press conference in Washington, D.C. on Sunday. 'But, at the end of the day the responsibility that superdelegates have is to decide what is best for the country and what is best for the Democratic Party.' His plea to party bigwigs is one that even some aides call ironic, given that Sanders has focused his campaign on taking down what he calls a corrupt political establishment. The Vermont senator formally joined the Democratic Party a year ago, after serving decades in Congress as a self-identified democratic socialist. He said Sunday on Face the Nation of the superdelegates debacle, 'thats not the point at all.' 'What is unfair is when I win a state by 70 percent of the vote and super delegates in that state vote for Hillary Clinton because theyre part of the Democratic establishment, thats unfair. 'Whats unfair is before I even get in to the campaign, Hillary Clinton has some 4, 500...superdelegates who are on her side,' Sanders said. Sanders says he needs to win just 65 percent of the remaining pledged delegates available to catch up with Clinton before the party's convention. It's not as simple as that. To win the nomination, at this point, Sanders would also have to flip hundreds of superdelegates, far more than the several dozens that changed from Clinton to support then Illinois Senator Barack Obama eight years ago. And if he doesn't catch up to her in vote totals over the next two months, he would also have to convince superdelegates to vote against the national pledged delegate leader an unprecedented political maneuver. Though they've been part of Democratic presidential elections since 1984, the superdelegates have never been a determining factor for the nomination because they've never overturned the candidate that leads nationally in pledged delegates. Hillary Clinton is 91 percent of the way to clinching the Democratic nomination when including superdelegates. She leads in both pledged delegates by 1,645 to Sanders' 1,318, according to the Associated Press. It takes 2,383 to win. Sanders would need to win more than 82 percent of the remaining delegates and uncommitted superdelegates through June if he hopes to clinch the nomination; currently, Sanders has been winning just 39 percent. So far, no Clinton-backing superdelegates have flipped to Sanders, despite an aggressive lobbying campaign from his supporters that in some cases included harassing phones calls and online threats. To win the nomination at this point, Sanders would have to flip hundreds of superdelegates supporting Hillary Clinton, seen here yesterday in Indiana, as well Despite her lead, Sanders says he plans to compete through the remainder of the primary contests in May and June. The question is whether he'll have the resources to fund an aggressive advertising campaign, particularly in the expensive media markets of California. The Democratic presidential candidate said on Sunday that he brought in about $26 million in April for his campaign, a steep decline from the $46 million he raised in March. Earlier this week that he was laying off hundreds of staffers after losses last month in New York and several East coast primaries. The campaign said it was downsizing its staff because about 80 percent of the primaries and caucuses had been completed and the changes would allow it to focus heavily on California. Sanders' campaign did not report Sunday how much it spent in April or how much it had in the bank at the end of the month. The figures will be included in fundraising reports filed with the Federal Election Commission later in the month. The former secretary of state entered April with $29 million in the bank compared to $17 million for Sanders. Her campaign said this morning that she raised $26.4 million in April for herself on top of the $9.5 million she raised through her joint fundraising committee with the DNC. In past months Sanders had significantly outraised her, allowing him to spend millions more on TV advertising in influential states. This month's deficit means he won't have as much cash to pour into California. He's has vowed to campaign into the party's convention in Philadelphia in July and seek as many delegates as possible to influence the party's platform. Sanders is in Indiana today and will campaign in Kentucky tomorrow. Indiana votes Tuesday and Kentucky is on the docket a week later alongside West Virginia - three states Sanders expects to win. Senior adviser Tad Devine told the AP, 'We also can do arithmetic. We understand her advantage is substantial. One day, a terrifying hereditary illness will stop siblings Hayley and Lachlan Webb from ever going to sleep again and eventually it will kill them. The brother and sister from Queensland have inherited the extremely rare disease known as Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI) from their family and have no idea when it will strike, 60 Minutes reports. The rare genetic disease, which affects less than one in 10 million people worldwide, is a debilitating brain disease with no treatment and no cure. Scroll down for video Queensland siblings Hayley and Lachlan Webb have inherited an extremely rare disease known as Fatal Familial Insomnia, which will one day stop them from ever going to sleep again and eventually will kill them Anyone who has FFI is tragically destined to die because it stops them from ever falling into a deep sleep and leads to rapid mental and physical deterioration. Hayley, 30, and Lachlan, 28, first became aware of the genetic time bomb in their family when they were teenagers and their grandmother became ill. 'In my early teens I remember becoming aware of it, aware we had this family curse,' Ms Webb said. 'My grandma started getting sick and dying. Her eyesight went, she had signs of dementia, she was hallucinating and couldn't talk. Eventually she was diagnosed with FFI, that was the first time the family even knew that FFI existed.' Ms Webb, who is a Channel Nine news reporter, said her mother started showing the first symptoms in 2011. Hayley, who is a Nine News reporter, is taking part in a pioneering study at the University of California to help find a cure for the brain disease that affects less than one in 10 people worldwide Hayley and Lachlan (pictured with their parents) first became aware of the genetic time bomb in their family when they were teenagers and their grandmother became ill The 30-year-old television reporter said she first became aware of the 'family curse' when she was a teenager and her grandmother started to show symptoms. Her grandmother passed away aged 69 'I remember leaving for work to my new post on the Sunshine Coast and mum saying 'have a great day, I'm so proud of you' and then later that week coming back and she was calling me Jillian and she thought I was the housekeeper. It was incredibly aggressive,' she said. The aggressive disease took hold giving her full blown hallucinations and she tragically passed away after six months. FFI causes abnormal clumps of protein that damages nerve cells and eventually causing sponge-like holes in the thalamus - the part of the brain that regulates sleep. 'Your body is not allowing you to rejuvenate at all so it's like being awake for the last six months of your life,' Mr Webb said. Hayley's mother started showing the first symptoms in 2011 but the aggressive disease took hold and six months later she died Hayley, pictured with her mum after she was diagnosed, said her mother had full blown hallucinations towards the end. The disease begins with exhaustion and leads to a decline in mental and physical capabilities Hayley and Lachlan say they have no idea when Fatal Familial Insomnia will strike. There is currently no treatment and no cure for the debilitating brain disease While there is currently no cure, the siblings are taking part in a pioneering study at the University of California being led by US couple Eric Minikel and Sonia Vallabah to help find a remedy. The siblings have no idea when the disease could strike for them. 'My aunty passed away at 42, my mum passed away at 61, my grandmother passed away at 69 - mum's brother died at 20... we're just hoping we're not one of the young ones,' Ms Webb said. 'It could happen tomorrow but until we're in that danger zone we probably have a good 10 years up our sleeve and I am praying that there is a cure between now and then. 'I don't want to sit here while the sands through the hour glass pass waiting for it to trigger and for me to cark it. I want information, I want answers and I want a bloody cure.' Lachlan underwent tests alongside his sister in San Francisco to help with research into the fatal disease The siblings say they are determined not to let Fatal Familial Insomnia rule their lives Johnson accused of asking Julie Bishop for help with her financial woes Ex-employees say she was more focused on celebrities than paying bills Celebrity designer Johanna Johnson jet-setted around the world in the comforts of First Class while failing to pay staff superannuation, it has been claimed. The designer, whose bridal dress business went into liquidation earlier this year, is alleged to have defaulted on staff pay and taxes for years. She is accused of owing more than $1million to the Australian Taxation Office and $25,000 to a former production manager. Former employees claim Johanna, who counts Madonna and Kim Kardashian among celebrity clients, ignored the company's financial woes to globe trot and build a reputation among Hollywood's A-list. Scroll down for video Celebrity designer Johanna Johnson (right) was more focused on mingling with Hollywood's stars than paying employees' superannuation, former staff have claimed. She is seen above with star stylist Rachael Zoe (left) in Los Angeles 'These were all of course work trips, but personally it was a little bit of a slip in the face for us,' one former employee told The Daily Telegraph. 'It showed where her priorities lay and also that she didn't really care and had no interest in the superannuation situation.' During one trip the designer checked in to the Quantas First Class Lounge, boasting to Facebook followers jokingly as she made her way to Texas from Sydney. Another claimed she still received invoices from overseas suppliers after leaving the company. 'She has run away from all her problems and, as a result, her employees will never receive their entitlements and clients will never receive their gowns.' The designer did not respond to Daily Mail Australia's request for comment and has not spoken publicly of the allegations. Earlier this month Ms Johnson was ordered to pay $1.1million to the Australian Tax Office or face losing her empire. Ms Johnson has allegedly been ordered to pay more than $1million to the Australian Tax Office or faces losing her business Johanna regularly shares photographs from the red carpets of Hollywood events, posing with celebrities for snaps to appear on her Instagram account. She is seen above with actress Laverne Cox (left) and Michelle Dockery (right) The designer (seen above during another trip to Lake Como) is also accused of not paying staff's superannuation She was also told to hand over $25,000 in unpaid superannuation and taxes to former head of production, Alana Teasal, it was reported. Ms Teasel told Fairfax Media how she had grown tired of watching her former employer travel the world to shower celebrities with free merchandise. 'Seeing Johanna Johnson continue to dress celebrities for free, participate in fashion weeks and go overseas for red carpet collections ... when she owes myself and others (entitlements) is the reason why I have pushed forward with the wind-up of her company. 'I feel like I need to stand up not just for myself as a former employee but also all the other ex-employees who are owed significant superannuation,' she said. The designer is also accused of approaching Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, another of her clients, to ask for help. 'Today's office': Another photograph from the designer's travels revealed her drinking wine in a swimming pool at an L.A. house She is also accused of asking Foreign Minister Julie Bishop for help on her taxes, an allegation the politician denied Ms Johnson announced she was moving her company's head office to Los Angeles earlier this month. She is seen (left) during another trip to Hollywood and (right) at Vogue's Manhattan office Ms Johnson has assured customers that while her Australian business faces collapse, brides with outstanding orders for wedding dresses will receive them According to The Daily Telegraph the politician, who has worn the designer's gowns to a number of events, refused. 'Ms Bishop did not become involved in resolving the dispute and at no time was there any direct contact between Ms Bishop and the ATO, nor has there been any request for preferential treatment for Ms Johnson,' her office said. The designer's Facebook page has been flooded with messages from panicked brides claiming to have been stood up for appointments and fittings at the brand's boutiques despite paying thousands for bespoke gowns. The designer counts Maddona (above in one of her designs) and Kim Kardashian among celebrity clients Ms Johnson assured fans it was 'business as usual' last month when announcing her company's move to America Earlier this month Ms Johnson assured customers it was 'business as usual' after relocating its offices to Los Angeles. In a lengthy post she described needing to spend more time with her children but insisted she said: 'To my dearest clients and brides... I need more time with my babies, and to get somewhat of a work/life balance back. '(As much as I love my work, 7 day weeks are not good for anyone's soul!) We look forward to seeing our lovely clients in their fittings and updating you all with these great things ahead. Kindest, JJ.' Brides took to Facebook to share their fears after learning of the business's insolvency last month A statement issued by the business followed, reading: 'Johanna Johnson has decided to relocate her operational headquarters to the United States. It is very much business as usual. All manufacturing and local client sales will remain in Sydney as we continue to deliver our luxury products locally and internationally, and prepare to launch our new collection in Los Angeles in the following weeks. 'To facilitate this expansion the Australian company will undergo a process of administration as the management operations are transitioned to the US head office. 'This is simply an internal process and we are very excited for the possibilities this will bring for both the brand and our treasured clientele as we continue to deliver our "Made in Australia" product to the world.' A teenager who died after being 'shot in the neck' with an air rifle at close range has been named locally as tributes have been paid to him on social media. The 13-year-old has been named online by friends as Ben Wragge and a page has been created on Facebook honouring his memory. Two other teenagers were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but have since been released on bail until June while police continue an investigation. The boy is believed to have been hit in the neck by an air rifle pellet and was taken by ambulance to West Suffolk Hospital in a 'critical' condition. However, he died from his injuries a short time later. The teenager who died after being 'shot with an air rifle' has been named locally as Ben Wragge, pictured Ben, left and right, died due to 'an injury caused by an air pellet', police confirmed in a statement today Tributes have been left at Thurston Community College, pictured, where the 13-year-old was a pupil Messages of support and love for Ben have been attached to many of the flowers left at the school gates Police confirmed his identity in an update today and a post mortem has taken place which found he died of 'an injury caused by an air pellet'. Detectives are understood to be working on the theory that he was shot accidentally and that there was no intention to harm him. MailOnline approached his family today but neither his father Robert, 41, or mother Claire, 40, wished to comment. Dozens of his friends took to social media to pay tribute to the teenager. A Facebook memorial page set up in his name reads: 'This page is in memory of Ben Wragge a dear friend gone but never forgotten.' Ty Grant Marzell said: 'Ben u were like a brother to me in beyton and we were still close in thurston (sic) I really hope you will be okay up there mate! I will see you on the other side my friend.' Shannon Buckley wrote: 'RIP Ben will be missed by so many people. You was such a good friend. 'Such a good hearted boy had so much more a head off. 'Why would stupid people want to take you from us, I love you. 'My throughputs (sic) will go out to you and your family and friends. Rest in paradise.' Lewis Duncan posted: 'R.I.P Ben Ben Wragge ily bro, we all are going to miss you mate love you lots and have fun up there.' And Leah Stevens added: 'Rest in peace Ben. My thoughts are with his family through this tragic time. You will be missed by so many Ben, we love you'. A police presence remained in place in Thurston today as officers continued to investigate the teenager's death. This black and white photo has been used on a Facebook tribute page to Ben on which he is described as a 'funny and smiley' boy He was described in Facebook comments as a 'good-hearted boy' who 'will be missed by so many people' Detectives are said to be working on the theory he was shot accidentally and that no harm was intended Zak Goddard said: 'You will always be in everyones heart u was so funny (sic). Ben always had a smile on his face and he would want us to be happy so we now know he is in a better place.' Another friend tweeted: 'Rest in peace Ben Wragge, you were a top lad who always put smiles on everyone's face. You'll be missed' Another Twitter user added: 'RIP Ben Wragge, heaven has gained another angel.' Asha Row wrote on Facebook: 'RIP Ben such a tragic thing to happen. We talked a few times at school and you were a good person. My heart goes to you and you family. Fly high, heavens gained another angel.' The rev Manette Crossman, 51, the vicar of St Peter's Church, Thurston, said: 'People in the village are absolutely horrified by what has happened. Tributes were yesterday paid to the mature and intelligent schoolboy. Helen Wilson, the principal of his school, Thurston Community College, said: He was an extremely likeable character, whose calm and respectful demeanour made him popular. Ben will be sadly missed. One tribute, pictured, described Ben as an 'amazing friend' from a school pal identified as Harry E The popular teenager has been inundated with tributes both physical and online since the tragedy 'Thurston is such a peaceful place and you don't expect things like this to happen here. 'Our thoughts go out to the family and we villagers will be there to support them through the incredibly tough weeks ahead.' Neighbours said they had been told that the victim did not live at the address where the shooting occurred. One resident said: 'I was told that it was a group of boys who play together quite a lot. I think they were messing around with an air rifle. 'It went off and a pellet hit the boy in the neck and he didn't make it. 'A lot of people have air rifles around here and we never believed they could kill someone. 'It must have been a chance thing. He could have been hit in the jugular. I just don't know. 'It just hit him in a place where it shouldn't have. At close range you never know what is going to happen. 'I know that the boy who died didn't live at the house. I think he was just there to play. 'It is really bad, what happened. I have heard of accidents with air rifles in other places. It just shows the dangers.' The house where the shooting happened is home to a middle-aged couple who have children. Another neighbour said: 'They are a decent family. What happened is just awful.' The boy who died is believed to have lived in the village, which has a population of around 3,200. Last night, police refused to disclose the ages of the two teenagers who were arrested. A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'Two teenagers have been arrested following the death of a 14-year old-boy after an incident at an address in Thurston. 'Police were called by the ambulance service at 1.35pm following reports of a male having sustained life threatening injuries. Ben was taken by ambulance to West Suffolk Hospital (pictured) in a 'critical' condition. However, he died from his injuries a short time later 'The injured teenager was taken to West Suffolk Hospital in a critical condition, where he sadly died a short while later. 'At this early stage, police believe there was a discharge of a firearm, and are investigating the circumstances around the incident. 'Police have arrested two teenage boys on suspicion of manslaughter, and they have been taken to Bury Police Investigation Centre for questioning.' Young people aged 14 to 17 can legally borrow an air rifle and ammunition and shoot unsupervised on private land when they have permission. But the British Association for Shooting and Conservation website states that anyone in the age bracket cannot buy, hire or own an air weapon. Any gun that they use has to be looked after by a 'responsible adult' aged over 18, normally a parent or guardian. Children aged under 14 can use an air rifle on private land when they have permission, as long as they are supervised by a person aged over 21. There are no restrictions on anyone aged over18 buying an air rifle and ammunition and using it. Rhys Johnson, ten was accidentally shot dead by a 12-year-old friend with an airgun in September 2009 in Llansmlet, Swansea. Restaurants could be banned from adding a service charge to bills under a Government crackdown on rip-off tips. New laws could also make them spell out that tipping is always voluntary. Customers would have to opt in to make an extra payment and bosses would not be able to suggest an amount. A dramatic overhaul of tipping policy could also see owners forced to give staff every penny in tips and service charge instead of taking a share or all of it themselves. Business Secretary Sajid Javid will publish a nationwide consultation setting out the Governments proposals for the handling of tips following a seven-month investigation. Scroll down for video Restaurants could be banned from adding a service charge to bills under a Government crackdown on rip-off tips (File photo) It follows a row over firms taking staff tips to make up for the costs of introducing the higher national Living Wage. Coffee shop chain Le Pain Quotidien was sharply criticised for stopping paid breaks and for failing to pass on all staff tips as a result of the increased living wage. Pizza chain Zizzi was also accused of slashing staff perks, including the amount they take home from tips, ahead of its introduction. Meanwhile French-style brasserie Cote, which has dozens of branches nationwide, was accused of using the automatic service charge to subsidise its waiters wages. And last year it emerged that chains such as Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia and Prezzo kept 10 per cent of the service charge if customers paid by card. There has also been public anger at restaurants failing to make it clear to customers that they do not have to pay a service charge or that tips do not go to staff. Some diners also complained that they had been led to inadvertently tip twice once through a service charge mentioned only in the small print on a bill or menu, and again when they were asked to leave a discretionary sum when they came to pay. Under the Government plans, a current voluntary code of practice could be enshrined in law to force restaurants to be more transparent and make it clear to customers they do not have to pay tips. Workers would receive all of their tips given to them for their service, rather than the money going to their bosses. Mr Javid will say: We want workers who earn a tip to be able to keep it. We will look closely at all the options, including legislation if necessary. Currently there is no legal requirement covering what proportion of a discretionary tip should go to staff and how much to the employer. Business Secretary Sajid Javid will publish a nationwide consultation setting out the Governments proposals for the handling of tips following a seven-month investigation (File photo) The voluntary code of practice was introduced in October 2009 to improve the information available on tips, gratuities, cover and service charges. But critics claim restaurants and bars are still not being transparent enough. Under the options being considered by the Government is a suggestion that no bills should have a discretionary service charge. Instead, the customer would choose how much to tip. In another option, bills could carry a suggested 5, 10 or 15 per cent tip with the customer free to choose one amount or nothing. Last night unions welcomed the plans. Dave Turnbull of Unite called it a massive victory for waiting staff, adding: All they want is what any worker wants to take home what they have earned, no corners cut. But he said it would need to be made law. A construction worker has been taken to hospital after he was run down by a car stolen from a road works site. Security footage from a nearby pub shows the thief making a getaway with the truck which was parked on the Melbourne construction site with the keys in the ignition. A 28-year-old tradesman working on the site tried to stop the thief from driving away by placing his hands on the bonnet of the truck. The thief sped away hitting the tradie who was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He suffered neck and arm injuries but no broken bones. Security footage from a nearby pub captures the moment the thief gets into the car and tries to make a getaway The vehicle was parked on the Melbourne construction site with the keys in the ignition. The robbery occurred just before 1am on Monday morning The footage captures the moment the thief enters the vehicle and the tradesman, wearing a white jumpsuit, can be seen running up to the truck The footage captures the moment the thief enters the vehicle and the tradesman, wearing a white jumpsuit, can be seen running up to the truck. The tradie jumps in front of the car, putting his hands on the bonnet in an attempt to stop the thief. Despite this, the thief drives on and hits the 28-year-old who falls to the ground and rolls a few times. He struggles to get up as the thief escapes. The tradie jumped in front of the car, putting his hands on the bonnet in an attempt to stop the thief The thief drives away in the vehicle and hits the 28-year-old who falls to the ground and rolls a few times. He struggles to get up as the thief escapes The footage shows the construction worker lying on the ground after being hit by the truck. He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital suffering neck and arm injuries but no broken bones Police are continuing to investigate the robbery which happened just before 1am in Melbourne's city centre Monday morning. The owner of the vehicle, Nicholas Cashin from Momentum Traffic Control, arrived at the scene a soon after the incident. He told 9News his biggest concern was for his injured friend. 'Specialists' undergo an 11-week training program and are paid $52,397 Police buildings will undergo a radical security overhaul, with Tuesday's Budget to announce $150 million in funding for armed guards and building improvements. The new funding is a reaction to the increased terrorist threat and attacks on police. The money will be rolled out over five years. Curtis Cheng, a police staffer, was shot dead last October by a 15-year old outside Parramatta Police Station in western Sydney Numan Haider stabbed an Australian Federal Police Officer and a Victoria Police Officer outside the Endeavour Hills police station in Melbourne in September 2014 The money will allow for a new group of Protective Service Officers to protect Australian Federal Police and Australian Crime Commission buildings and their personnel. Police have been the target of two terrorism-linked attacks over the last 18 months. In the first Islamic State-inspired attack, radicalised teenager Numan Haider stabbed two Federal police officers in September of 2014, before being shot dead by police. In October 2015, police accountant Curtis Cheng was murdered by an alleged Islamic State terror cell operating in Western Sydney. The moment a 15-year-old boy began shooting outside Parramatta police station Extra security will be funded in Tuesday's Budget for police officers after two terror attacks on officers in 18 months On top of the initial funding, the ACC will receive $5.1million to upgrade physical and personnel security. The new security measures will also include a revamp to the personal security of AFP officers, with a study underway into developing 'enhanced protective technical capabilities' for officers. This will also cover the use of special firearms. Numan Haider had been on police watch-lists for some time as he began to display more radicalised behaviour Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism Michael Keenan told The Daily Telegraph it was essential to mitigate the heightened threat of attack against law enforcement agencies. According to the AFP website, Protective Service Officers are paid $52,397 during an 11-week live-in training program and after graduation they receive a 22% composite allowance. Tributes were left outside of NSW police headquarters following the shooting of long term employee Curtis Cheng A 29-year-old woman who was killed in a collision with a duck boat while riding a motor scooter in Boston has been identified. Family members identified the victim as Allison Warmuth, an insurance underwriter, who often traveled on the red moped that she was riding when the vehicle crashed into her, according to the Boston Globe. Warmuth's parents Martha and Ivan Warmuth said Sunday that they are stunned by the fatal crash, which happened around 11.30am on Saturday. Her friend, a 32-year-old man, was also on the moped but he was not seriously injured. Allison Warmuth, 29, was killed in a collision with a duck boat while riding her motor scooter near a park in Boston Family members identified Warmuth, who was an insurance underwriter who often traveled on the red moped she was riding when the vehicle crashed into her Martha Warmuth told the Globe that her daughter was 'an incredible person'. Allison Warmuth had been a resident of the Boston area for more than five years. She was a senior underwriter at Lexington Insurance Company, according to the Globe. Warmuth had been rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital after the accident but later died of her injuries, according to Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans. The boat was carrying more than 20 people, according to Boston.com. None of the passengers had been reported injured. Duck boats are amphibious sightseeing vehicles that can ride on water or road. In September, a duck boat in Seattle swerved into a charter bus carrying international students while crossing the Aurora Bridge. Four students died and 40 people were treated at the hospital. A Boston duck boat (pictured above at an earlier time) was involved in the accident Councils raised almost 20million from fines for littering as they handed out penalties at the rate of nine every hour (stock image) Councils raised almost 20million from fines for littering as they handed out penalties at the rate of nine every hour. New figures show councils across the UK issued 477,957 fixed-penalty notices for littering since 2010. Fines for dropping rubbish soared dramatically as they are used a cash cow for councils hit by dramatic cuts. A Freedom of Information request found there were 48,000 fines issued across the country in 2010 compared to 115,000 last year. Councils more than doubled their annual income from 2.1mililon in 2010 to 4.9million in 2015. Penalties set by councils for offenders range from 50 to 80 but the Department for Communities and Local Government is expected to recommend a higher figure of 150. The minimum fine is set to double from 50 to 100. Between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015, councils raised 19,806, 949, according to the Sunday Times (must keep). Figures do not reveal how many notices were unpaid and how many were appealed. The total number of fines and the sum collected across the UK is likely to be considerably higher. Of the 434 local authorities approached, only 229 provided comparable data. The London borough of Enfield earned 1.5m from fines over the period, the most of any council and 150 times the national average of 10,000. It was among four London boroughs in the top five. Maidstone in Kent had the second highest income from fines. Councils claimed the money raised from fines did not cover the cost of cleaning up the streets. They have said they are not trying to make money, but encourage locals not to drop litter and keep the streets cleaner. In Enfield the litter enforcement teams were nicknamed the Black Watch when they began. Retired estate agent Nigel King told the newspaper: We would do well to copy Singapore. There, people know they will be treated harshly for dropping litter and it is very clean as a result. Daniel Anderson, Enfield councils cabinet member for environment said: We make no apology for targeting those who drop litter, adopting a zero tolerance approach.' Sheriff Jim McDonnell said he will now conduct email audits of his employees to prevent this incident from repeating in the future Tom Angel (pictured), now-former chief of staff for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office, resigned on Sunday after emails mocking Muslims, Mexicans, blacks, women and other minorities surfaced A Los Angeles Sheriff's Office official has turned in his resignation after a series of offensive emails mocking Muslims, Mexicans, blacks, women and other minorities surfaced. Tom Angel, now-former chief of staff for the LASD, left the department after Jim McDonnell accepted his resignation, it was announced Sunday. The emails were sent during Angel's time with the Burbank Police Department and include him asking a colleague 'how many virgins Muslims get in heaven' and forwarding tasteless jokes. 'I took my Biology exam last Friday. I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently "Blacks" and "Mexicans" were NOT the correct answers,' one of the jokes read. Another set of emails were chain emails with distasteful jokes. One had the subject line 'How dumb is dumb?' It went on to list 20 reasons 'Muslim Terrorists are so quick to commit suicide' and included 'Towels for hats', 'Constant wailing from some idiot in a tower' and 'You can't wash off the smell of donkey'. Angel sent the emails to private citizens and the Los Angeles Times did not reveal their identities as to not invade their privacy. The emails, sent during 2012 and 2013 when Angel was the No. 2 police officer at the Burbank department, were made public after a records request by the Los Angeles Times. 'This incident is one that I find deeply troubling. The Los Angeles Times was able to obtain the emails from 2012 anf 2013 when Angel worked for the Burbank Police Department Despite the Sheriffs Departments many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do. 'I intend to turn this situation into a learning opportunity for all LASD personnel,' McDonnell told the Los Angeles Times. McDonnell said the department would now conduct audits of its employees emails in order to prevent another incident like this from happening again. Shortly after it was revealed Angel stepped down, the LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis released a statement praising McDonnell for his work to reform the Sheriff's Department. She added there 'is still much work to be done'. 'We must move forward and strive for a law enforcement work culture that values diversity and promotes tolerance,' she said. Advertisement A 160-year-old Orthodox Christian cathedral in New York has been completely destroyed after a huge fire tore through it on Sunday The blaze broke out at the Serbian Cathedral of Saint Sava on 25th Street in Manhattan's Flatiron district at around 7pm. It is not known how the fire started, though it is believed to have broken out on the first floor of the building before consuming the interior and roof. An FDNY spokesman said that nobody was believed to be inside the building at the time the fire started, and there have been no reports of injuries. Fire officials said the church's caretaker ran inside the church to try to put out the blaze but suffered minor smoke inhalation and had to be rescued. 'I feel like I'm in a nightmare right now,' said church priest, Father Djokan Majstorovic as he tried to get to the fire scene that was blocked off by firefighters. Alex Velic, 31, the caretaker's stepson, told the Daily News he lives next door. He said he smelled smoke and came outside and saw the church on fire. 'Once the fire caught the wood there was flames coming out of the top of the church. That's when people were going crazy,' Velic said. "I'm in shock. I don't know what to say. It's sad.' Scroll down for video The Serbian Cathedral of Saint Sava, on 25th Street in Manhattan, New York, has been completely gutted by flames after a huge fire broke out there at around 7pm on Sunday Orthodox Easter celebrations were scheduled to take place at the Church earlier today with a Confession and Communion service at 9am, a liturgy at 10am and a lunch scheduled to start at 1pm Fire crews were pictured desperately trying to dampen the flames as they scorched through the roof of the beautiful gothic-style building, rising at least 50ft up from street level The church, which was designed by celebrated architect Richard M. Upjohn, appeared to have been completely gutted by the blaze, though fortunately FDNY officials do not believe anyone was inside at the time More than 170 firefighters were dispatched to deal with the blaze, the FDNY said. It is not clear how the fire started, though it is believed to have broken out on the first floor (pictured, the cathedral before and during the fire) Images taken from above show how the flames completely engulfed the church, streaming from the windows and burning the roof away Orthodox Easter celebrations were held in the building earlier in the day, including a lunch at 1pm, according to the church's website. The extent of the damage is also currently unknown, but images taken by bystanders appear to show the entire building has been destroyed. Dozens of fire engines and at least 170 firefighter were scrambled to deal with the fire, the FDNY said, as flames could be seen shooting from the rose window at the front of the building. Views from above show the fire streaming from the apex of the church roof, around 50ft above street level. While the true extent of the damage is unknown, images suggest nothing more than a shell of a building will be left behind, as windows burst from the heat and the roof was almost entirely scorched away Hundreds of stunned onlookers gathered in the streets near the church to watch fire crews try in vain to save the historic building Firefighters were still battling to put the blaze out as night fell in New York, while most of the building appeared to have been destroyed Stunned onlookers were described 'crying' in the street on social media, while others mourned a 'huge loss for the community' The church was designed in 1845 and built in the early 1850s, and was the first place to hold an Orthodox liturgy in the U.S., an event hailed at the time as the 'inauguration of the Russian-Greek Church in America' More than 170 firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze along with dozens of vehicles, and continued damping down the fire as darkness fell on Sunday night Aerial images of the cathedral show the horrifying extent of the damage to the building, once branded 'irreplaceable' by New York officials Hundreds of onlookers gathered in the street to watch the vain attempts to save the building, with dozens taking to Twitter to describe the scene. One user, going by the name Matty Brocker, said people were 'crying' as the building went up in smoke, while others branded the sigh 'horrific' and mourned a 'huge loss for the community'. The Serbian Cathedral of Saint Sava was designed in 1850 by architect Richard M. Upjohn, the founder of the American Institute of Architects, and first consecrated in 1855 by the Episcopal Diocese. Firemen remained on scene tamping the flames down until late on Sunday night, revealing through the smoke how little of the church was left following the fire that broke out hours earlier Through the smoke a few charred roof beams appeared to be all that remained of the church roof, while the ornate stained glass windows were also gone, having exploded outward during the blaze Once firemen have finished extinguishing the blaze the gothic-revival building will need to be assessed to see whether it can be repaired Dozens of firemen remained on the scene overnight to keep the embers of the church from burning up again While the fire has almost certainly destroyed the building, there have been no deaths or injuries reported from the blaze so far The church was designated a New York City landmark in 1968 and at the time the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission said the church's 'striking appearance commands special attention. It added that 'its special character, historic significance, and aesthetic interest and value of the development, heritage, and cultural characteristics of New York make it irreplaceable.' In 1865 the church played host to the first Orthodox liturgy was held in an Episcopal church in the U.S., an event described at the time as the 'inauguration of the Russian-Greek Church in America.' American writer Edith Wharton married socialite Edward Wharton in the chapel in 1885, and later immortalized the church in her famous novel, The Age of Innocence. Designed by Richard M. Upjohn, founder of the American Institute of Architects, the church was consecrated in 1855 and made a New York landmark in 1968 (pictured before the fire) Designating the church a landmark, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission said the church's 'striking appearance commands special attention' (pictured before the fire) Advertisement Captain Cook's famous ship has seemingly been discovered in the US 230 years since it was sold, sunk and forgotten. The Endeavour is one of the most famous ships in naval history and was used by Captain James Cook to discover the East Coast of Australia in 1770. The last sighting of the Endeavour was around 1778 when it is believed the ship was sold, renamed the Lord Sandwich, and then used to transport British troops during the American Revolution. Archaeologists believe they have found the scuttled remains of the Endeavour just off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island in Narragansett Bay. The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project made the discovery, saying the ship was scuttled in Newport Harbor in 1778 by British forces in the lead up to the Battle of Rhode Island. Scroll down for video The HMS Endeavour (replica pictured) was a British research vessel sailed through the Pacific by Captain James Cook. In 1769 Captain Cook circumnavigated New Zealand in the ship before landing in Australia a year later The wreck of the Endeavour was found in Newport Harbor in Rhode Island. It is thought the wreck was sunk there in an attempt to block the harbor before the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778 Earl of Pembroke, later HMS Endeavour, leaving Whitby Harbour in 1768 The HMS Endeavour was first launched in 1764 as the Earl of Pembroke, and then renamed His Majesty's Bark the Endeavour after it was purchased four years later by the British Royal Navy. Captain James Cook returned the Endeavour to England in 1771 where it was largely forgotten before it was sold four years later It was sent out to explore the Pacific Ocean in August 1768 both to observe the 1769 transit of Venus across the sun and in the search for the continent which was then called Terra Australis Incognita, or unknown Southern land. The previous transit of Venus in 1639 had provided a vast amount of the information astronomers and scientists had about the size of the solar system and universe. The ship departed from Pymouth with 94 people on board, including Captain Cook. It traveled down the coast of Africa before cutting across the Atlantic and arriving in Rio de Janeiro in November of that year. The boat then set out to round Cape Horn, which it managed to do in January after its third try after wind, stormy weather and difficult conditions forced Captain Cook to turn back during his first two attempts. In April the ship reached Tahiti, where it stayed for the next four months and were astronomer Charles Green was able to study the transit of Venus in June. After months exploring the Pacific for islands, the Endeavour reached the coast of New Zealand in October, becoming the first European vessel to land on the island in over 100 years. Dutch explored Abel Tasman had previously reached the islands of New Zealand and Tasmania during his 1642 journey while with the Dutch East India Company. Cook spent six months exploring and mapping the coast of New Zealand and claimed the land for Great Britain before sailing west. In April of 1770 individuals on the ship first spotted Australia, and on April 29 the HMS Endeavour became the first European vessel to make landfall on the east coast of the island. Cook spent four months charting the coast and at one point ran into trouble when the ship struck part of the Great Barrier Reef. The ship was 24 miles off the coast at the time with not enough life boats, but managed to clear the water from the hull of the ship and make its way safely back to shore. The ship continued to explore the island, and in November was taken out of the water to have major repairs done before setting sail back to Great Britain. It set sail the day after Christmas, and in March rounded the Cape of Good Hope before docking in Cape Town. On July 12 it made its way into port in Dover, almost three years after it first left from Plymouth. A print from an oil painting attributed to J Clevely, showing Captain James Cook arriving at Queen Charlotte's Sound in New Zealand Endeavour beached at Endeavour River for repairs after her grounding on the Great Barrier Reef in 1770 A print from a painting showing Captain James Cook taking possession of New South Wales Cook was later promoted to Commander and explored the Pacific twice more on the HMS Resolution. He was killed in 1779 during a fight with Hawaiians on the island. HISTORY OF COOK'S ENDEAVOUR The HMS Endeavour was a British research vessel sailed by Captain James Cook. Captain Cook set off from England in the Endeavour in 1768 in search of Australia then known as the 'unknown Southern Land'. The Endeavour was a small ship - less than 100ft long - and housed a crew of around 100 sailors. Before coming to Australia, Captain Cook reached New Zealand in 1769. He circumnavigated New Zealand's North and South Islands and drew the first complete chart of the country's coast. The Endeavour was the first ship to reach the East Coast of Australia, landing in Botany Bay in 1770. The vessel returned to England in 1771 and was largely forgotten before it was sold in 1775 and renamed The Lord Sandwich. Source: Australian National Maritime Museum The Endeavor soon become a naval transport ship, and was sold to a shipping magnate just before the start of the Revolutionary War. That individual then tried to sell the ship back to the British when the demand for ships increased during the war but they would not accept the vessel given its age and what it had been through over the years. The seller then made the decision to rename the boat Lord Sandwich and try to sell it again, which worked after the boat underwent serious repairs. It was sent to Rhode Island as a prison ship when the British attempted to recapture the port city of Newport in 1778, and there it was blown up in hopes of creating a blockade in the harbor during the Battle of Rhode Island. The Endeavour was discovered alongside 13 other ships in a massive archaeological investigation that combined high-tech mapping of the seabed with analysis of historical shipping documents found in London. RIMAP said it was '80 to 100 per cent certain' that the remains it has discovered belonged to the Endeavour. In a statement, the group said: 'RIMAP has mapped 9 archaeological sites of the 13 ships that were scuttled in Newport Harbor in 1778 during the American Revolution. 'One group of 5 ships included the Lord Sandwich transport, formerly Captain James Cook's Endeavour. 'All of the 13 ships lost in Newport during the Revolution are important to American history, but it will be a national celebration in Australia when RIMAP identifies the Endeavour.' More details about the discovery, including scans and documents will be presented on Wednesday. A cutaway painting of Captain Cook's Endeavour ship during its journey An 1893 chart showing Endeavour's track Captain Cook's famous ship It was sent to Rhode Island as a prison ship when the British attempted to recapture the port city of Newport in 1778, and there it was blown up in hopes of creating a blockade in the harbor during the Battle of Rhode Island (ships entering the port before the Battle above) Graphics and other materials related to this effort will also be placed on this website for public review on this day. This date will mark Rhode Island's 240th birthday as the anniversary of the Rhode Island Colonial legislature's disavowal of loyalty to the King of England in 1776. That was two months before all the colonies issued the formal Declaration of Independence. In 1998 a RIMAP scientist first discovered historical documents in a shipping archive which hinted that the Endeavour had been renamed and scuttled in the United States. In 2014 the Australian National Maritime Museum funded RIMAP to investigate the theory further. Scandal-hit Royal Bank of Scotland will remove its RBS branding from high street branches in an attempt to break with its toxic past. More than 300 outlets in England and Wales will be rebranded as Williams & Glyn. The group, which famously sponsors the Six Nations rugby tournament, will continue to be called RBS on the stock exchange. Scandal-hit Royal Bank of Scotland will remove its RBS branding from high street branches in an attempt to break with its toxic past But in a return to its pre-crisis roots the bank will rebrand its 200 Scottish branches as Royal Bank of Scotland. The bank plans to sell or float the Williams & Glyn operation by the end of next year. The group also has 1,000 NatWest branches across England and Wales which will become the leading brand in these regions. Disgraced former chief executive Fred Goodwin championed the RBS name believing Royal Bank of Scotland was too parochial for a global bank It is understood that the companys Ulster Bank will remain the same in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. In 2008 RBS was bailed out by the taxpayer who footed a 46bn bill during the height of the financial crisis. Since then the bank has been fined hundreds of millions of pounds for Libor and foreign exchange rate rigging. The rebranding is being seen an attempt to move on from these scandals. Disgraced former chief executive Fred Goodwin championed the RBS name believing Royal Bank of Scotland was too parochial for a global bank. He promoted the acronym as part of his aggressive global expansion strategy that finally brought the bank to its knees. David Wheldon, chief marketing officer, said: We are no longer a global bank with global ambitions to be the biggest. We are now a UK and Ireland focused bank with a strong bank of brands and an ambition to be the best bank for customers. He added: As part of our strategy to build a stronger, simpler, fairer bank we are dialling up our brands and directing our efforts to make each of our customer brands number one in their respective markets. Last week RBS reported a doubling of net losses to nearly 1bn in the first quarter. Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assads top cleric has issued a chilling fatwa calling for the extermination of civilians in the city of Aleppo. His bloodthirsty demand came after air strikes and shelling have caused daily massacres in the besieged rebel stronghold. The fall of Aleppo would strike a devastating blow against those opposed to Assad in Syrias five-year civil war. Scroll down for video The fatwa was passed by the tyrants top Sunni cleric, Ahmad Badr al-Hassoun, (pictured) against ordinary Syrians living in the eastern parts of Aleppo which is under the control of opposition forces The fatwa was passed by the tyrants top Sunni cleric, Ahmad Badr al-Hassoun, against ordinary Syrians living in the eastern parts of Aleppo which is under the control of opposition forces. He said: I call upon the Syrian Army to show us its rage and I also call upon our leader to show us their rage in exterminating those criminals. Bombs and missiles have rained down on residential areas for nearly 10 days, killing more than 250 people including at least 40 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Some 30 airstrikes took place on Saturday, although there was less shelling reported yesterday. The Kremlin, which backs Assad, has rejected calls to rein in its ally although it said it was working to freeze fighting. No, we are not going to put pressure on (Assad) because one must understand that the situation in Aleppo is part of this fight against the terrorist threat, declared Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov. At least 27 people died when a hospital was hit last week, leaving a delicate truce negotiated in February hanging by a thread. Since breaking its ceasefire nine days ago, the regime has reportedly launched more than 260 airstrikes, 110 artillery strikes and 18 missiles, and has dropped 68 bombs. A health worker carries a girl, who has been rescued from the wreckage, after the helicopters belonging to the Syrian army carried out a barrel bomb attack on a medical center in the opposition controlled Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood of Aleppo (pictured) Civil defense workers and civilians carry out search and rescue works after the Russian forces staged air-strikes in Bustan al Qasr neighborhood of Aleppo (pictured) Some humanitarian organisations are poised to pull out of the city. A draft statement being circulated among non-governmental aid organisations, seen by the Observer newspaper, warns of a complete absence of the fundamentals of safe humanitarian intervention and accuses Assads regime of targeting them on purpose. This weekend, the United States again demanded that Assads forces halt their bombardment. Secretary of State John Kerry was flying to Geneva last night for talks with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura. A new round of UN-backed peace talks is set to start in Geneva on May 10. Yesterday families continued to flee Aleppos rebel-held eastern district. The situation has become unbearable, said Abu Mohammed as he prepared to leave with his wife and five children. Everything is paralysed. The violence in Aleppo has severely tested the February 27 truce between the regime and non-jihadist rebels intended to pave the way to an end to the conflict. A pro-government newspaper vowed on Thursday the army was preparing an offensive to recapture all of Aleppo and the surrounding province. Thousands of parents have threatened to take their children out of school tomorrow in protest against tests taken by six and seven-year-olds. Mothers and fathers across the country have signed an online petition by the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign pledging to keep their child at home for a day of fun learning. Under government rules, children are only allowed to be taken out of school in exceptional circumstances, with fines of 120 per child for those who disobey. Tougher assessments have been introduced this year by Nicky Morgan, the education secretary (left). Right is a stock image of an exam But it is understood that some teachers are supportive of the campaign and may not register the absences as unauthorised. The parents are protesting against the tests taken by pupils in Year 2 of primary school. Tougher assessments have been introduced this year by Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, who wants British pupils to become more competitive internationally. A petition has been signed by more than 30,000 people backing a kids strike, with around 300 small events across the country for those staying off school. Children are tested at the end of infant and junior school to measure schools performance. Children do not have to revise but parents say the pressure on teachers is causing unnecessary stress in classrooms and hampering creativity. The anonymous organisers of the campaign founded by five parents of Year 2 pupils have written to Mrs Morgan saying: Children as young as six are labelling themselves failures and crying about going to school. We know this because we are [their] parents. The capacity for children of this age to actually learn the concepts you have asked them to learn is questionable. Childrens mental health is at risk because of the increased pressure they face through primary school testing. Parents arent employed or paid by you. You cant dismiss our concerns as being about pay or holidays or pension plans ... our priority is the happiness and wellbeing of our children. Sub-postmasters, who were allegedly wrongfully convicted or unfairly forced to pay back 'missing cash' due to IT glitches, have launched a mass High Court compensation claim against the Post Office. So far 125 persecuted former Post Office workers have teamed up to take legal action against the 'corporate bully' and many more are likely to join in the claim that could cost the publicly-owned company millions in damages. Many dozens of Post Office staff been jailed, forced into bankruptcy and had their reputations ruined in what has been described as one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in the UK this century. Sub-postmasters, who were allegedly wrongfully convicted or unfairly forced to pay back 'missing cash' due to IT glitches, have launched a mass High Court compensation claim against the Post Office (file picture) The group secured external funding to cover all costs for the legal case in return for a cut of the proceeds if they are successful. The Criminal Courts Review Commission (CCRC) has also been considering applications from at least 15 sup-postmasters who were prosecuted in cases related to the Post Office's controversial Horizon software system. The body, which can send cases to the Appeal Court, has been looking at the claims for a year and is likely to make a ruling next month. The High Court case was revealed by a statement from the organisation Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA) in which it accused the Post Office of 'corporate blindness and arrogance' by its repeated refusal 'to accept the truth.' It stated: 'Denial and cover up has been the only response from this government supported organisation. Therefore in order to finally bring resolution and redress to those who have had to suffer injustice by a corporate bully abusing its power, we have had to issue proceedings against it in the High Court.' Alan Bates, the alliance founder, said: 'None of us would be involved if we didn't think we would win and we would not have secured legal support and finance if people didn't believe in it.' The Daily Mail revealed the scandal of computer faults being blamed for wrecking dozens of lives three years ago. Branch 'losses' identified by the computer system led to sub-postmasters having to hand over thousands or tens of thousands of pounds. Others were ruthlessly prosecuted for false accounting or theft with many feeling pressured into pleading guilty in a plea bargain deal to avoid jail. Last April an independent report by forensic accountants Second Sight hired by the Post Office to investigate the Horizon system suggested discrepancies could have been caused by computer failures, cyber criminals or human error. So far 125 persecuted former Post Office workers have teamed up to take legal action against the 'corporate bully' and many more are likely to join in the High Court (pictured) claim that could cost the company millions It also accused the Post Office of failing 'in many cases' to identify the 'root causes of shortfalls' before starting civil or criminal proceedings. The report said the Post Office failed to provide the accountancy firm with the documentation required and 'terminated' their contract before the research was finished. Demands for a full judge-led inquiry followed, but with the Post Office refusing to accept wrong-doing sub-postmasters have now turned to the courts for justice. Jo Hamilton, 58, ran the sub-post office in the Hampshire village of South Warnborough and was prosecuted over an alleged 36,000 shortfall. She always insisted she took no money but admitted a false accounting charged to avoid being jailed for theft. Mrs Hamilton, who is one of the people involved in the High Court claim and CCRC review, said yesterday: 'I am absolutely positive we are going to win. We have so much evidence now that we didn't have when we first started fighting for justice. We've got masses of evidence and I think they're in big trouble.' She described victims like herself as 'law-abiding middle aged people' whose lives have been unfairly ruined. The Post Office has refused to accept blame. It has long said the number of complaints about the IT system was a 'tiny fraction' of the 500,000 people who used it effectively. Cleared: The historic sex allegations against Are You Being Served? actor John Inman have been dropped by Devon and Cornwall Police The family of John Inman reacted with fury yesterday as the late actor was cleared of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy almost four decades ago. Police announced they were dropping their inquiry into the claim made against the TV star nine years after his death. The collapse of the investigation came as a former police chief said too much time and money was being spent on looking into historical sex claims at the expense of protecting children today. Devon and Cornwall Police launched the investigation into the star of sitcom Are You Being Served? in January this year after a father-of-two told police he was assaulted 36 years ago. The man, now 48, claimed he was lured to a hotel room by a friend of Inman on the promise of an acting role. He told detectives he was forced to perform a sex act on the then 44-year-old actor on several occasions at the Imperial Hotel and the Princess Theatre in Torquay, Devon, in 1979. But after a four-month inquiry, officers concluded the claims could never be proven as both the accused had died. Yesterday Inmans family said people had been jumping on the bandwagon following the Jimmy Savile scandal. They also criticised police, accusing them of a celebrity witch-hunt. His sister-in-law Patricia Inman, 75, said: It was very upsetting when you knew he was a person that would never do such a thing, it would never cross his mind... I found it very hard to comprehend that people would ever suspect something like this of him. She added: Im pleased they are dropping the case but they should never have been looking into it in the first place. It was a complete waste of time and money. Comments: Sir Hugh Orde, said the police have to focus on people who need our protection now rather than spending money on historical cases Inman, who played Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served?, was one of the biggest names on TV when the incidents allegedly happened. At its peak, the sitcom had up to 22million viewers tuning in. At the time of his death from liver disease in 2007 aged 71, he had never been accused of any offence. Known for his Im free catchphrase, Inman, who in later years specialised as a panto dame, married long-term partner Ron Lynch in 2005. The latest historical sex claims fiasco comes after Scotland Yard shelved its 1.8million Operation Midland investigation into claims of a VIP paedophile ring in March without a single arrest. Yesterday Sir Hugh Orde, former head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, criticised the focus on old child abuse cases. You fully resource a historic investigation, yet you dont fully resource a current day investigation, he said. That is back to front. We have to focus on people who need our protection now. But Liz Dux, of Slater and Gordon Lawyers, who represented Savile victims, said: Its very dangerous if an offender thinks, Well, if I committed my crime 40 years ago Im not going to be prosecuted because there isnt any police money. That would be a terrible message to send out. Lebanese officials said he was there to plan a terrorist attack An Australian man has been arrested in Lebanon and could be facing terrorism charges The man has been named as Mark Eddie Maximus according to Lebanese media sources. The ABC reports that the man is a dual Australian-Syrian national and was arrested in Tripoli, the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in the country. Mark Eddie Maximus was arrested in Tripoli, the largest city in northern Lebanon, and faces terrorism charges Officials received intelligence that Mr Maximus was in the city to plan a terrorist attack. He was arrested in the Dam wal Farz district on Sunday and detained by army intelligence officers 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is seeking to confirm reports of the detention of an Australian man in Tripoli, Lebanon on suspicion of terrorism-related offences,' a spokeswoman from the department said to AAP. Mr Maximus was arrested in the Dam wal Farz district on Sunday and detained by army intelligence officers on 'suspicion of belonging to a terrorist group', according to a Voice of Lebanon report. The unconfirmed reports say officials received intelligence that Mr Maximus was in the city to plan a terrorist attack. Mr Maximus was reportedly picked up after a vehicle in which he was travelling was tracked by Lebanese intelligence who arrested him after an exchange of gunfire. Authorities were still reportedly looking for a woman, who is also suspected of having ties with the Islamic State group. Sir Eric Pickles said he was not entirely convinced by the Prime Ministers argument that taking in 3,000 children would encourage more to make the dangerous crossing A Cabinet minister yesterday became the most senior Tory MP to suggest he could rebel in a Commons vote against David Camerons refusal to let child refugees in Europe into Britain. Sir Eric Pickles said he was not entirely convinced by the Prime Ministers argument that taking in 3,000 children would encourage more to make the dangerous crossing. The Communities Secretary said he would seriously consider voting against the Government and was not averse to giving more help to children travelling on their own. He said he was not in doubt that the Government was since about their worries that taking children from Europe would encourage more of them to make the journey across the sea. But he said: I am not in the government so I will say I myself am not entirely convinced by their argument, I just gave them the benefit of the doubt in this vote. Asked on Sky News Murnaghan programme if he remained to be persuaded, he said: I remain to be persuaded. As many as 30 Tory MPs and eight members of the Democratic Unionist Party have signalled they intend to switch sides and back a compromise plan put forward by Labour peer Lord Dubs. His attempt to make Britain take 3,000 child refugees from the EU was blocked in a Commons vote last Monday with a majority of just 18. They are set to vote in favour of his amendment, which does not specify an exact number, when they come before the Commons on May 9. To avoid a humiliating defeat, ministers are reconsidering whether to offer sanctuary to thousands of unaccompanied children in camps on the Continent. In a sign Number 10 will be forced into a U-turn on the issue, last night a spokesman said: Its quite a different amendment. Mr Pickles said: If it comes back to the House I will give it very serious consideration. He added: I would not be averse to seeing unaccompanied children given additional help. His comments were echoed by Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley, the latest Tory to switch sides after mounting pressure. The Communities Secretary said he would seriously consider voting against the Government and was not averse to giving more help to children travelling on their own. Pictured, Syrian refugee children in Turkey He said: The government is right we mustnt encourage people smugglers and more refugees to take the perilous journey across Europe and the Mediterranean. As a dad myself I think we should do more to help vulnerable unaccompanied children and I hope ministers will work with Lords Dubs to accept his compassionate proposals. This is about doing the right thing and I hope it doesnt come to another Parliamentary vote, if it does I will be supporting the new Dubs amendment. In a full-page leader last Thursday, the Daily Mail said: We believe that the plight of these unaccompanied children now in Europe hundreds of them on our very doorstep in the Channel ports of France has become so harrowing that we simply cannot turn our backs. It added that strict checks must be made to establish that those granted asylum are genuine refugees and the age they claim to be, but in the exceptional circumstances of the crisis it would be wrong not to help such children, who should be allowed a one-off amnesty. As many as 30 Tory MPs and eight members of the Democratic Unionist Party have signalled they intend to switch sides and back a compromise plan put forward by Labour peer Lord Dubs. Pictured, children shelter from the rain at a makeshift camp near the village of Idomeni not far from the Greek-Macedonian border Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said on the programme yesterday: The Government says the UK is taking children from the camps because otherwise it would encourage smugglers. I think that is a bogus argument. The children are not safe. What these young people have seen is appalling. More than 600 people were evacuated from New South Wales Parliament House over a 'security threat' after a suspicious item was found. A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed to Daily Mail Australia a police operation was underway at Hospital Road in central Sydney on Monday. 'Officers attached to Sydney City Local Area Command were called shortly after 10am after concerns were raised about an item found at the location,' she said. More than 600 people were evacuated from New South Wales Parliament House over a 'security threat' after a suspicious item was found Parliament staffer John Townsend, who was inside the building, tweeted a photo of people being evacuated, saying: 'NSW Parliament House is being evacuated due to a "security threat".' He told Daily Mail Australia there were more than 600 people - including ministers, staff members and school groups - as it was the start of a sitting week. 'There was a suspicious package at the State Library concourse. Parliament was evacuated and police rescue are on site,' Mr Townsend said. People were allowed back in an hour later about 11.15am after police deemed the area safe. A suspicious package was found at the State Library concourse. Above are police at the scene People were allowed back in an hour later after police swarmed the scene The New South Wales Parliament House has been evacuated over a 'security threat' after a suspicious item was found. Above is a picture of the scene from parliament staffer John Townsend A police spokeswoman said a bag had been found and it was 'inspected by specialist officers and rendered safe'. 'A number of evacuations were carried out as a precaution and people were allowed back in,' she said. Investigations into the incident are continuing. Parents should be stripped of the right to take their children out of religious education lessons to reduce the risk of them being radicalised, head teachers say. Advocates of the move said parents 'may not always know what is best' for their children and that their needs may fall 'outside of their own experience'. School leaders voted yesterday in favour of making RE compulsory in schools amid fears that those not taking part could be vulnerable to being groomed by extremists. Scroll down for video School leaders have voted in favour of making RE compulsory in British schools amid fears that those not taking part could be vulnerable to being groomed by extremists (file picture, posed by models) The National Association of Head Teachers, which has 28,000 members, will now lobby the government to revoke the existing legal framework which allows families to withdraw children. It is understood parents from a variety of different communities have made requests to teachers to excuse children from learning about certain religions. The move was co-led by Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, head of a Birmingham school which was embroiled in the 'Trojan Horse' scandal. She said it was crucial for pupils to learn about other faiths because groomers and radicalisers 'exploit the us and them syndrome'. However, the resolution is likely to prove controversial with some parents' groups who have said in the past that schools should not undermine the wishes of families. The motion vows to 'negotiate with the Department for Education to revoke the existing legal framework which entitles parents to be able to withdraw their children from Religious Education'. Speaking in favour of the motion, Hilary Alcock, head teacher of Buntingsdale Primary School and Nursery in Shropshire, said schools needed to show they 'respect what is important to pupils and make RE an entitlement for all'. She added: 'Parents may know their children best, but they may not always know what is best for them. The move was co-led by Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson (pictured), head of a Birmingham school which was embroiled in the 'Trojan Horse' scandal 'What is best for them as they grow up in modern Britain may be outside of their own experience and their child's primary socialisation.' Seconding the motion, Ms Hewitt-Clarkson added: 'If it's laughable that we would withdraw our children from English or science why is it OK to withdraw from RE? 'We share many beliefs as human beings and are usually very different in a few. This is diversity and a good thing. Allowing withdrawal is not inclusive, it's divisive. 'Groomers and radicalisers exploit the us and them syndrome, they exploit ignorance and narrow views of life. 'Learning about the teaching of love, not hate, has to be a good thing. Designing a Christmas card does not make you a Christian, visiting a Sikh temple does not make you a Sikh, being interested in Ramadan does not make a Muslim. They make you a participant in life.' Ms Hewitt-Clarkson, head of Anderton Park Primary in Sparkhill, has been subjected to death threats for running an anti-homophobic bullying programme. The school, which caters for a mostly Muslim community, had a dead dog planted outside its gates last year, which staff interpreted as an act of intimidation. In the years after she took over leadership in 2012, she battled with a small but significant minority of hardline governors and parents who tried to undermine her. Ms Hewitt-Clarkson gave evidence to last year's Clarke inquiry led by former counter-terrorism police chief Peter Clarke into the Trojan Horse controversy. She also spoke during last year's NAHT conference about the climate of 'fear and intimidation still prevalent' in Birmingham in the wake of the affair, which saw extremists try to impose an Islamic agenda on a number of state schools. It comes after the government launched a drive to teach 'British Values' in schools, including tolerance of other faiths, in a bid to clamp down on classroom radicalisation. Hannah Gilley, one of the eight victims of a horrific mass shooting in south Ohio, was 'an innocent who was in the wrong place at the wrong time,' a family friend has claimed. Patty Hammond, 46, attended the 20-year-old's funeral on Saturday a week after the new mother was shot dead alongside seven members of the Rhoden family in the town of Piketon. While police have revealed no suspects or motive in the killings, the presence of marijuana grow sites near the bodies have led many to believe the murders were drug-related. Speaking to Mail Online, Hammond said: 'She didn't deserve to die like that - she wasn't into drugs and, from what I hear locally, she didn't have any drugs in her system when she died. Scroll down for video Patty Hammond, 46 (left), a family friend of murdered Hannah Gilley, 20 (right), claims the mother was not targeted because she was involved in drugs, but was murdered for her connection to the Rhoden family Gilley, who was buried on Saturday (pictured), was married to 20-year-old Clarence 'Frankie' Rhoden with whom she had a six-month-old child who luckily survived the massacre unharmed 'That poor girl shouldn't even have been there when the killers showed up.' Blonde-haired Hannah - the mother of a six month old son by her fiance, Clarence 'Frankie' Rhoden, also 20 - was shot dead execution-style on April 22 along with Frankie. When police arrived to investigate, they found a commercial marijuana-growing operation in three of the four Rhoden homes the bodies were found in. The discovery triggered rumors over whether the deceased family members had been dealing drugs locally, or were involved with a sinister Mexican drug cartel. Others wondered if the victims had double-crossed a dope dealing partner who'd taken his revenge by wiping them out in one evil professional 'hit'. Cops investigating the gruesome killings won't comment on any of these theories. Meanwhile married mother of three Patty Hammond insisted: 'Hannah's family knows that she wasn't involved in any of that drug stuff, especially since she had a baby boy. 'I have nothing against the Rhodens - they suffered a huge loss with seven of their family killed with Hannah and I feel for them. 'But what upsets me is that all the attention around here has been on the Rhodens. It's the Rhodens this and the Rhodens that - nobody says anything about Hannah. Gilley was shot dead alongside seven other members of the Rhoden family last week in the town of Piketon, Ohio, where police still have road blocks in place around the family home Hammond says she is trying to support Gilley's family by helping them raise money to pay for her funeral (left) while the Rhoden family hold their own fundraiser on the same day (right) 'It's like poor Hannah has been booted aside like she wasn't even there - yet she died a horrible death just like all those Rhodens did. And she was innocent!' When Patty heard that of a benefit on May 7 to raise money for the Rhoden family to pay for the funeral of six family members scheduled for Tuesday, she decided to organize a benefit for Gilley on the same day. Patty - who is in the process of buying restaurant Beril's Bar and Grill, where she works - decided to hold the fundraiser for Gilley there. She has printed flyers and posters which read: 'Benefit for Hannah Gilley - a victim of the tragic massacre on Union Hill (the Piketon street where three of the four murder homes are located).' Patty hopes to raise the $7,900 the Gilley family paid for their daughter's funeral last Saturday. She added: 'Hannah's family isn't rich - nobody around here is - so I want to help out as much as I can.' 'I wanted to make sure that Hannah's family - and her baby boy - aren't left out and lost in the shuffle.They need support too. ' The other benefit the same day is being organized by the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, Ohio Chapter 14, and its posters and fliers declare: 'All proceeds go to the Rhoden Family.' Hammond says she has nothing against the Rhoden family and feels sorry for their loss, but says Gilley (casket, pictured) is being forgotten Gary Rhoden, 38, was the first of those killed to be buried on Thursday last week. Gilley was buried on Saturday (pictured) while burials for the six other victims are planned for Saturday While one recent report claimed that the Rhodens lost some support around Piketon when revelations about the marijuana found at their homes came out, there is clearly still a lot of sympathy for the family in this poor, run-down community. Dave Entler, former U.S.Marine who now works a nearby nuclear plant near Piketon, said: 'The Rhodens were good people and I don't know if they were involved with drugs or if they weren't. 'But what I do know is that Pine County is one of the poorest counties in Ohio. 'There's a lot of people out of work around here and people do what they have to do to get by, to put food on the table for their families.' About 25 per cent of the residents of Pike and Neighboring Pike counties live at or below the poverty line, compared to 16 per cent of Americans, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Average family income in the area is 60-70 percent of the national average. Even as families lay their loved ones to rest and attempt to deal with the emotional damage caused by the killings, police seem to be no closer to finding those responsible. Cops still have road blocks preventing all but residents from getting to Union Hill, where three of the homes used in the executions are located. One of Salim Mehajer's little sisters has been crowned a beauty queen, in a rare bright spot for the suspended Auburn deputy mayor. Mr Mehajer couldn't keep the smile off his face as Mary (Mariam) Mehajer was crowned Miss Lebanon 2016 after blitzing the runway in a purple skirt on Sunday. The suspended deputy mayor of Auburn expressed his congratulations with a vague Facebook platitude: 'Greatness is to stay humble when the world calls you great,' he wrote. Scroll down for video Salim Mehajer's little sister, Mary, took out the title of 'Miss Lebanon Australia' at Doltone House in Pyrmont, Sydney, at the weekend Strutting her stuff, Ms Mehajer (centre) faced off against eight competitors in her quest for the prestigious title, catching the attention of several onlookers (right) The nervous competitors, including Ms Mehajer (in a silver sequined dress, centre), placed their hands on their hips as they waiting for the winner to be announecd Belle of the ball! Touting a bouquet of flowers, Mary Mehajer poses with a friend (left) after sweeping the title. On right, she is pictured during a candid moment with Salim Mehajer's wife, Aysha In this family photo obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Mary is pictured furthest on right with (from left) Aysha Mehajer, Salim Mehajer, the matriarch of the eight-strong clan Amal and sister Khadijeh The 'baby' of the Mehajer family cradled a large bouquet as she posed for pictures with her parents, Mohamed and Amal, and the rest of the clan Older sister Aisha has had similar success in the contest in the past. She was named Miss Personality Miss Lebanon Australia in 2015. She gushed over her sister's victory - 'she made the whole family proud!' - which was watched by several hundred people and the patriarch and matriarch of the Mehajer clan, Mohamed and Amal. The competition was held at Doltone House in Pyrmont, Sydney, with organiser Joe Khoury telling Daily Mail Australia the rules as 'exactly the same' as your run of the mill pageant. At the end of the day, Ms Mehajer beat out eight other competitors to take out the title, with competitors Mary Hakim and Jessica Nercessian coming in as first and second runners up. In recent days, the western Sydney clan has been the subject of increased attention after rumours Mr Mehajer has split from his wife Aysha. Mr Mehajer was allegedly seen 'screaming' and 'yelling' out the front of a home in the Illawarra region where his wife was staying a week ago. In recent days, a cryptic posts filled with loving messages about his wife have disappeared and re-appeared from his Facebook page. Salim's older sister Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer is likely to bring some more good news to the family with a 'big wedding' to fiance Ibrahim Sakalaki expected later this year. Old pictures obtained by Daily Mail Australia a fortnight ago showed 'Kat' has turned over a glamorous new leaf in the lead-up to the ceremony. Future bride Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer is pictured several years ago upon her graduation with a Bachelor of Criminology The bride-to-be isn't afraid of sharing pictures with the world of herself with future husband Ibrahim Sakalaki Khadijeh (left) is pictured with look-a-like sister Aiisha (right). The pair are often confused with one another Salim Mehajer's wife Aysha Mehajer (centre) is pictured with Khadijeh (right) during family celebrations Despite the newfound attention, Kat Mehajer has remained silent, working hard to promote her familys new Beauty Bar business on Instagram. The Mehajer clan has courted the spotlight since Salim's extravagant wedding in August 2015. But it has brought an unprecedented level of scrutiny to his personal, business and council affairs. The wedding - which he hired helicopters and Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Harley Davidsons for - also left Mr Mehajer with a $220 City Council fine for closing Frances Street in Lidcombe. Stark pictures also emerged of Salim Mehajer's wife, Aysha, in her youth before she met Mr Mehajer and changed her name by deed poll from April Amelia Learmonth. Khadijeh wearing a blue wig with her beau Ibraham Sakalaki. The date of their wedding has been kept tight lipped Salim Mehajer married Aysha in what he called the 'wedding of the century' last year, and has faced the unforgiving glare of the public spotlight ever since Aysha Mehajer is pictured left, in recent years, and right, in a yearbook photo first obtained by Daily Mail Australia last year Speculation has ratcheted up about Mr Mehajer's relationship with Aysha in recent days, with her emailing A Current Affair a statement under her previous name, April Learmonth Lenda Asberry, 62, was killed along with her four great-grandchildren, as she tried her hardest to save them all from a devastating flash flood in Texas A 62-year-old great-grandmother, who was killed along with her four grandchildren, tried her hardest to save them all from a devastating flash flood in Texas. The family of Lenda Asberry said she did everything she could to save her four great-grandchildren, before they were killed in a flood, according to KHOU. Asberry was in her home with her grandchildren, nine-year-old Venetia Asberry, eight-year-old Devonte Asberry, seven-year-old Von Anthony Johnson Jr and six-year-old Jamonika Johnson, when heavy rains led to a flash flood in the area. The flood waters rose quickly as Asberry got the children out of the home in an attempt to get to safety. 'She made it out of the house with those babies, all four of em,' Toya Johnson, Asberry's daughter, told KHOU. Johnson, who is also the aunt of the children, said authorities told the family the water had risen up to Asberry's neck, as she struggled to get to safety. She told the station that a 'tide of water' became 'too much pressure for her with all those kids' and moments later they were all swept away in the waters. Kwanae Johnson, the mother of the children, cried hysterically as family members comforted her as she grieved. 'Lord, you took four babies from me, and God, I don't know what to do,' she said during an interview with KHOU. 'They were my heart.' Tragic: Asberry was in her home with her four great-grandchildren (pictured), nine-year-old Venetia Asberry, eight-year-old Devonte Asberry, seven-year-old Von Anthony Johnson Jr and six-year-old Jamonika Johnson, when heavy rains lead to a flash flood in the area. It is unclear when this photo was taken Kwanae Johnson (pictured), the mother of the children, cried hysterically as family members comforted her as she grieved 'Lord, you took four babies from me, and God, I don't know what to do,' she said cried. 'They were my heart' Asberry was known to almost everyone as Miss Peaches. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Captain James Muniz of the Palestine Police Department told CBS46 that the water 'was up to the roofline of the homes and that's what prevented the people from being able to get away'. 'The water just came up too fast.' More than 7 inches of rain fell in less than half an hour on Friday night. Muniz said that six to 10 homes in a Palestine cul-de-sac were severely damaged following the heavy rainfall. All other residents of the cul-de-sac were accounted for, he said. City crews found the five bodies near one of the homes before dawn after the floodwaters had receded. 'The water came down the hill,' Muniz said. 'The street was full of mud, so the water just came up. With the enormous amount of rain we had, we had people tell us that within minutes, the water was waist deep.' City officials used a dump truck to rescue one man from the roof of a home, Muniz said. One neighbor told authorities that he saw the family but lost sight of them as he waded through waist-deep water. Asberry was known to almost everyone as Miss Peaches. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother 'The water was up to the roof-line of the homes and that's what prevented the people from being able to get away,' said Captain James Muniz of the Palestine Police Department Inside the flooded home in Palestine. One neighbor told authorities that he saw the family but lost sight of them as he waded through waist-deep water Police said that several people called to tell them that the grandmother and her children were missing Tragedy: City crews found the five bodies near one of the homes before dawn after the floodwaters had receded. Pictured here is a bar under water nearby Submerged: Muniz said six to 10 homes in a Palestine cul-de-sac (Palestine pictured) were severely damaged Police said that several people called to tell them that the grandmother and her children were missing. The family is planning to bury Asberry with her great-grandchildren in Dallas. They've created a GoFundMe page to help pay for substantial and unexpected funeral expenses. 'It's really hard for us having to try to bury five people at one time, so we need all the support we can get. We are asking for all prayers,' Johnson told KHOU. 'It's just devastating.' 'We started to get overwhelmed with calls,' said Muniz. 'We had fire and other city workers out looking for them and once the water receded, we found them,' he told NBC. Officials say that floodwaters from a creek swept Giovani Olivas, a 30-year-old man also from Palestine, away from his vehicle off US 79 shortly after midnight. 'The water was rising so he got out of his vehicle. Some folks on the other side of the creek tried to help him, and he didn't make it,' Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor said. 'He washed away.' Olivas was the flood's sixth victim. Palestine police say all six bodies have been taken to Tyler for autopsies, which will be completed on Monday. Residents who evacuated their homes are now trying to see if they can save their personal belongings from the damage. The Red Cross is helping six to eight families in the neighborhood who were displaced by the flooding, NBC reported. 'All the residences are empty right now. The people are going to go back in a see if they can salvage anything,' Muniz said. One woman recalled leaving a bar called The Shelton Gin in East Texas as it was beginning to fill with rain water. There was over half a foot of rain fall that fell in Texas. The waters rose very quickly overnight in Palestine, Texas, but the water became too deep for swift water rescues, said the fire chief Under water: One woman recalled leaving a bar called The Shelton Gin in East Texas as it was beginning to fill with rain water That was some total craziness now that it is all sinking in. Wow! Now I can't sleep! Wide awake thinking about what could have happened! Geesh!,' wrote Rebecca Longcrier Pue on her Facebook page about the bar Aftermath: Pictured here is an old Palestine, Texas, business destroyed by the flood that shocked the state 'This was a few minutes before we left the gin. It was totally crazy. I have never seen water rise that fast. What a crazy night. We lost some cars, my truck, and a some really cool businesses in the holler. 'We all made it out. Wow. That was some total craziness now that it is all sinking in. Wow! Now I can't sleep! Wide awake thinking about what could have happened! Geesh!,' wrote Rebecca Longcrier Pue on her Facebook page along with a photo of the flooded bar. The flooding was the result of a storm that hit the South and the Plains on Friday through Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas until early Saturday. A home in Fletcher, Oklahoma, was also severely damaged but there were no injuries, officials said. Tornadoes snaked across northern and eastern Texas and southern Oklahoma, causing severe damage, including fallen tree limbs and power lines that slowed first-responders. The heavy rain in East Texas began on Friday night continuing into the morning on Saturday. At least six to 10 homes in a Palestine cul-de-sac (not pictured) were severely damaged following heavy rainfall Advertisement Thousands of Queensland workers have marched through Brisbane streets carrying banners and balloons to mark the 125th anniversary of the famous shearers' strike of 1891 and Labour Day. Although confined to a wheelchair in the 34 degree heat, former prime minister Bob Hawke led the charge on Monday and addressed a strong crowd in Barcaldine, 1000 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, saying the Outback town was 'where the great Australian Labor Party started'. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Minister for Health Cameron Dick also joined Mr Hawke as well as hundreds of Barcaldine unionists and locals. Scroll down for video Although confined to a wheelchair, former prime minister Bob Hawke joined thousands of workers as they marched through Brisbane for Labour Day, to mark 125 years since shearers' strike Thousands of Queensland workers marched through Brisbane streets carrying banners and balloons to mark the 125th anniversary of the famous shearers' strike of 1891 and Labour Day on Monday After leading the rally, Mr Hawke rose from his wheelchair and took the stage. He praised Ms Palaszczuk's government, saying: 'You are going well mate, you are going very well'. 'No institution, more than the union movement and Labor Party, have approached what their contribution has been in shaping the character and quality of the Australia we enjoy today,' he said, according the The ABC. The 86-year-old continued standing as the crowd sang the union song 'Solidarity Forever'. As he spoke, back south 15,000 unionists marched from Brisbane's CBD to the RNA Showgrounds, chanting and waving flags. The public holiday was shifted to the second half of the year by the former Newman government, before the Labor party reversed the change. But Ms Palaszczuk's decision has come with mixed reactions as Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Ros McLennan said the public holidays should be spread out over the year. After leading the rally further north in Barcaldine, Mr Hawke rose from his wheelchair and took the stage. He praised Ms Palaszczuk's government, saying: 'You are going well mate, you are going very well' CMEFU members were in full force as the Queensland Unions celebrated their holiday restoration during the Labour Day march Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and her Minister for Health Cameron Dick (top right) also joined Mr Hawke and the 15,000 unionists, politicians and locals The state's Labour Day has been returned to May by Ms Palaszczuk after former premier Campbell Newman moved it to October 'Nobody is talking about moving Easter, no one is talking about moving Anzac Day,' he said, The Courier Mail reported. 'By God, Labour Day has been celebrated for 100 years in May.' Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) president Rohan Webb said last week 'tens of thousands' of people turned out for Anzac Day. 'We have no doubt we're going to see tens of thousands of people come out here for Labour Day to recognise the achievements of working families in this country,' he said at the Anzac Day march in Brisbane's CBD. When questioned on his comparison, Mr Webb Spoke of the traditions of Anzac Day and the 'great men and women' who fought for Australia. 'A lot of them came back and became trade unionists in this country and led the charge across the country to ensure decency,' he said. But Ms Palaszczuk's decision has come with mixed reactions as Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Ros McLennan said the public holidays should be spread out over the year Unionists celebrated the holiday being moved back to May, after former premier Campbell Newman shifted the public holiday to October 'Returning servicemen weren't looked after that well when they returned to the country. 'They got together, they unionised ... and we saw the strength of the union movement flow straight out of that for many decades.' Mr Webb didn't believe returned servicemen or women would be offended by his comments. Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Grace Grace said Labour Day was special for workers and Anzac Day was special for soldiers. 'They're equally important to both sides,' she said. According to the Queensland Council of Unions, this years March focused on protesting against corporation and wealthy Australians who avoided paying tax. Ms McLennan said unions would not consider moving the public holiday back to October. 'Public holidays are about the entire community, it's not about a commercial imperative.' Company's revenue went up by 276% to $394m last year The NHS has been hit by a 14-fold increase in the price of basic medicines like eyedrops after a Canadian drugs group introduced astonishing price hikes. Concordia Healthcares surge in pricing affects the cost of fusidic acid eyedrops for bacterial conjunctivitis - for which it is the only manufacturer - from 2.09 in May 2013 to 29.06 in April 2016. Other products affected include ear drops and a hyperthyroidism treatment, for which prices have risen fivefold in the past three years. The NHS has been hit by a 14-fold increase in the price on a a range of basic medicines provided by a Canadian drugs company. They include treatments for conjunctivitis and hyperthyroidism The dramatic increase in costs paid by the NHS has exposed a major potential flaw in Britains healthcare system, which normally pays less for drugs than the US. Although the cost of branded medicines is under tight control in the UK, the market for generic off-patent drugs is less regulated as costs are normally kept down by competition between rivals. But steep price hikes appear to have been allowed to have been pushed through because AMCo, a British sector of Concordia, specialises in niche medicines and therefore has very little or no competition. AMCo, which had UK sales of around 250m last year, was bought by Concordia last September for 2.3bn. At the time, AMCos chief exective John Beighton said that Britain was a prime market [for] being able to move prices. The firm, which has also steeply increased the price of many of its medicines in the US, saw its revenue shoot up 276 per cent last year to $394m, thanks to price rises and acquisitions. The NHS has admitted that it needs to remain vigilant on the issue, and that drug companies should not be irresponsible with their pricing. Ear drops are one of the treatments that has seen a rise. Prices have gone up by fivefold in the past three years A spokesperson for NHS England said: While the NHS is making major investments in new drug treatments this year, it is also essential that drug companies price their products responsibly. The recent public backlash against price gouging in various countries including the United States has underlined the need for continuing vigilance on this issue. According to Concordia, many of its medicine prices include pharmacist payments, and it provides many medicines offering very significant savings to the NHS. It also said that AMCos last annualised weighted average selling price across all the medicines it sells in the UK was just 4.90, which is less than the standard adult prescription payment of 8.40. Michael Rea, chief executive of Rx Savings, told the Financial Times: These types of price increases are eroding the American economy. Consumers, employers and health plans simply cannot keep up with the unsustainable trajectory. Concordias price surge is reminiscent of a plot employed in the US last year by so-called bad boy of pharma Martin Shkreli, the founder of Turing Pharmaceuticals, who increased the cost of a medicine for Aids by 5,000 per cent. The Competition and Markets Authority has investigated drug pricing in the UK previously. A paraplegic man plans to walk down the aisle on his wedding day with the aid of a wearable robotic exoskeleton. Conor McGrory, 23, from Perth was diagnosed as a T7 paraplegic at the age of 21 after a motorcycle accident in 2014. Doctors told Mr McGrory that he would never walk again, but in his own way he has proved their diagnosis wrong, with the use of a robotic exoskeleton call a ReWalk. The electrician misjudged a corner in Neerabup, north of the Western Australia capital city, flipping his bike, breaking his back and losing all function in his legs. 'I had all my protective gear on, absolutely everything. I didn't have a scratch on my body but I broke my back,' Mr McGrory told Perth Now. Conor McGrory, 23, (right) from Perth and fiancee Ellie Pollard, 22, (left) are raising funds for a ReWalk after he was diagnosed as a T7 paraplegic after a motorcycle accident in 2014 Doctors told Mr McGrory that he would never walk again, but now with the aid of the ReWalk he is able to stand up, walk and even climb stairs The ReWalk allows those who have injured spinal cords to stand up, walk and even climb stairs. The Israeli-made technology provides battery-powered hip and knee motion, using changes in the wearer's centre of gravity to control movement Earlier this year Mr McGrory, along with fiancee Ellie Pollard, 22, flew up to Making Strides, the only Australian retailer of the ReWalk, in the Gold Coast to try out a ReWalk himself. 'It was amazing to be back at my level with my partner and be able to give her a hug standing up.' Mr McGrory, is the first person in Western Australia to own the robotic exoskeleton, but the ability to walk has come with a substantial price tag of $130,000. Mr McGrory, (middle right) along with fiancee Ellie Pollard, (middle left) flew up to Making Strides in the Gold Coast to try out a ReWalk. The robotic exoskeleton comes with a price tag of $130,000 The Israeli-made technology provides battery-powered hip and knee motion, using changes in the wearer's centre of gravity to control movement The couple have set up a GoFundMe fundraising page to help make ends meet. 'Whilst this is a huge price tag, there is no price that I would put on being able to get up and walk wherever I want, whenever I want. I am now seeking assistance from those who can help me in purchasing my ReWalk,' Mr McGrory wrote on the page. 'The ReWalk is something that is available now and it has changed my life for the better. I am able to get up and walk in places I never thought possible; including down the aisle on my wedding day!' Mr McGrory worries that the couple won't be able to afford a wedding after the purchase. 'It's going to be pop-up tents, party pies and party poppers. That'll be about the extent of it.' However fiancee, Ms Pollard said the were focused on tackling 'one goal at a time'. A woman, who gave birth to a baby girl while sitting in the back seat of her Honda, asked the car company for a new vehicle. Beth Newell, a writer, editor and director, became a mother early Sunday when she gave birth to her daughter in what appears to be the back seat of a vehicle. Newell tweeted a photo of her and her daughter that was captioned: '@Honda, earlier today I gave birth to my daughter in the back of a Honda Fit. It is a mess. Can I have a free car?' Beth Newell (pictured), a writer, editor and director, became a mother early Sunday when she gave birth to her daughter in what appears to be the back seat of a vehicle. She then tweeted the photo asking Honda for a new vehicle Her tweet has been retweeted more than 8,000 times. Several Twitter users are routing for Newell and hoping Honda will give her a new car 'If they don't give you a car, I'm trading in my civic,' Holly S GoLightly wrote Newell (pictured) is the founder and editor of satirical ladiess journal, Reductress, which describes itself as the one and only fake womens news magazine Her tweet has been retweeted more than 8,000 times. Several Twitter users are routing for Newell and hoping Honda will give her a new car. 'If they don't give you a car, I'm trading in my civic,' Holly S GoLightly wrote. Lauren Duca tweeted: 'OMG, get it, Beth. @Honda, give Beth a new car.' Another user who goes by Slav tweeted to Honda that Newell 'bloody well deserves one'. But some users weren't so convinced. One Twitter user asked the question: 'Why does Honda have to fork over a car because this chick has bad timing?' While a Facebook user wrote: 'Doubt that it's real.' Newell is the founder and editor of satirical ladiess journal, Reductress, which describes itself as the one and only fake womens news magazine. The magazine also has a podcast called Mouth Time, according to her Twitter bio. Newell also teaches Sketch Writing at The Magnet Theater in New York City, where shes written and directed several sketch shows, according to her website. Despite some negative reactions to Newell's request, there were twice as many people rooting for her and asking Honda to give her a new car Osama bin Laden died in the early hours of May 2, 2011 after NAVY Seals stormed his Pakistan compound The CIA has been mocked and criticised after deciding to 'live tweet' the operation which killed Osama bin Laden on the fifth anniversary of the raid. The CIA announced the commemoration of the May 1, 2011, operation in a tweet Sunday: 'Join us beginning at 1:25 p.m. EDT today as we tweet the #UBLRaid as if it were happening today.' Immediately, social media users questioned the appropriateness of the stunt. 'This is messed up,' wrote @J0ule. 'Why re-live tweet a killing? Do you think killing is some form of entertainment?' 'How does this differentiate you from ISIS and their videos?' questioned RedLessGeorge (@RedLessGeorge). Equally incensed, Legalize Ketchup (@loudlod) wrote: 'Honestly @CIA, are you trying to start World War 3?' Meanwhile, Nick Bedo tweeted: 'This is in extremely poor taste.' Others mocked the organisation's decision, wondering what they might 'live tweet' next. 'I look forward to the Kennedy assassination tweet special,' wrote Marc West (@westius). 'Shattered I missed last month's Bay of Pigs 55th anniversary play-by-play,' added Stephen McAteer (@smcateer). Bin Laden was killed shortly after 1am on May 2, 2011, local time, at the hands of NAVY Seals who had stormed the compound in Pakistan where he had been hiding for years. Scroll down for video The first tweet in Sunday's 'live' session shows Leon Panetta, then-director of the Central Intelligence Agency But the moment it was announced, Twitter's users reacted in horror - with some asking if they were trying to start another war, and others questioning the thinking behind the decision The angry and disgusted tweets far outweighed the number supporting the publicity stunt Other Twitter users began to mock the organisation by suggesting other events they could 'live tweet' Sunday's time-stamped tweets began the narrative at the moment then-director of the CIA Leon Panetta approved the operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The final tweet came at 7:01, when Obama received confirmation of 'high probability of positive identification' of the former al-Qaeda leader. 'The takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time. History has been a key element of CIA's social media efforts,' CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani said in a statement, according to ABC News. 'On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honor all those who had a hand in this achievement.' Earlier on Sunday, President Barack Obama spoke to CNNs Peter Bergen about the raid, which has become one of his defining legacies of his time in the White House. During the interview, Bergen said that the last person bin Laden saw on Earth was an American. Between 1:51pm and 3:30pm Eastern time, two helicopters departed from Afghanistan for bin Laden's Pakistan compound. One of the original helicopters crashed on arrival The iconic photo of Obama and his staff watching the operation from the Situation Room was taken at 3:30pm Al-Qaeda leader an 9/11 planner Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALS at 3:39pm Eastern time Shortly before 4pm, the team that carried out the raid began retrieving materials from bin Laden's compound. Obama received 'tentative confirmation of positive identification' of the al-Qaeda leader at 3:53pm Shortly after 4pm, the first helicopter left the compound for Afghanistan, and the second, crashed one is destroyed The remaining team members were picked up at 4:10pm and arrived in Afghanistan shortly before 6pm At 7:01pm Eastern time, Obama received confirmation that there was a 'high probability' bin Laden had been identified Obama replied: And hopefully, at that moment, he understood that the American people hadnt forgotten the some 3,000 people who he killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Obama administration had used it as a poignant example of the presidents willingness to act aggressively against terror, despite usually maintaining a more cautious foreign policy. Five years after ordering the raid, Obama spoke about the decision for an Anderson Cooper 360 episode called We Got Him, which will air on Monday, saying he knew it was risky but that it was our best chance to get bin Laden. A timeline shows how the raid unfolded after Obama ordered NAVY Seals to storm bin Laden's compound In this February 26, 2012, photo, Pakistani boys play as bin Laden's compound is being demolished in the background Americans celebrate on May 1, 2011 after Obama announced bin Laden was dead. Polls showed over 90 percent of Americans approved of the raid After discussions with our principals, it was clear to me that this was going to be our best chance to get bin Laden, he said. Bin Laden was buried at sea shortly after his killing. No unequivocal proof of his death has been released to the public, although al-Qaeda confirmed their leader's passing on May 6, 2011. Former and current detainees at the Manus Island immigration detention centre have lodged an application for compensation after a court ruling decreed their detention is and was illegal. The ruling from the Supreme Court was made on Tuesday, and has opened the door for more than 900 current and former asylum seekers to each claim up to $125,000. This amount is based on past compensation cases and the amount of time each asylum seeker spent in the detention facility, Ben Lomai, the lawyer leading the claim, told the ABC. Scroll down for video The PNG Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has offered to take some of the 'skilled' men who have been declared genuine refugees There are currently 850 asylum seekers still on Manus Island, though Australia and Papua New Guinea are both unwilling to take responsibility for them While Papua New Guinea is named as partly responsible in the application, the group are seeking their compensation from the Commonwealth of Australia. 'As you will note, the Memorandum of Understanding provides that the Australian Commonwealth Government is responsible for all the costs associated with offshore processing,' Mr Lomai told the ABC. This will increase the pressure on Australian and PNG governments to work out who is responsible for the 850 asylum seekers still on Manus Island, as if the compensation is granted, that country will have to foot the bill for all 900 claims. Since the Supreme Court ruled to close down the centre last Tuesday, PNG and Australia have been fighting to declare themselves free of responsibility. 400 of the 850 men who were detained at the time of the ruling have been found to be genuine refugees. Papua New Guinea's High Commissioner, Charles Lepani, told Sky News the PNG Prime Minister had made it clear some of the genuine refugees 'with skills' would be welcome to settle in the country. About 400 of the 850 men detained on Manus Island have been found to be genuine refugees The small island nation has declined to accept responsibility for all of the asylum seekers however, despite Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton maintaining that they are legally responsible. According to Mr Lomai, the two governments are scheduled to discuss the matter this week. 'What transpires within that discussion, we [will wait] to hear,' he said. According to Fairfax, Australia has been in negotiations with Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia since February about taking some of the detainees from the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres. Both major parties remain adamant that the asylum seekers will not be settled in Australia. Aspiring model Lucille Butterworth was strangled by a convicted murderer, a coronial inquest has found almost 50 years after he death. Ms Butterworth, 20, went missing on August 25, 1969 after she was dropped off at a bus stop at Claremont, north of Hobart, by a colleague she worked with at a radio station. Witnesses told the inquest she was picked up by an 'old bomb' turquoise green Holden FB after she missed the bus to New Norfolk. Aspiring model Lucille Butterworth was strangled by a convicted murderer, a coronial inquest has found almost 50 years after he death Coroner Simon Cooper found the car was driven by Geoffrey Hunt who confessed to raping and murdering another Hobart woman Susan Knight in 1976. 'On the journey to New Norfolk Mr Hunt stopped the FB Holden, strangled Miss Butterworth in the vehicle and thereafter disposed of her body,' Mr Cooper said. But Mr Cooper was unable to rule what was the cause of Ms Butterworth's death because her body was never found. 'In the absence of any medical evidence I am unable to find the precise cause of Miss Butterworth's death,' he said. Coroner Simon Cooper found Ms Butterworth had been picked up by convicted murder Geoffrey Hunt on August 25, 1969 after she missed her bus Witnesses told the inquest the 20-year-old typist was picked up by an 'old bomb' turquoise green Holden FB after she missed the bus to New Norfolk in Tasmania 'I am unable to make any finding as to whether Miss Butterworth was alive or dead when Mr Hunt disposed of her body.' Mr Cooper also sent his sympathies to Ms Butterworth's family and friends. 'I extend my sincere condolences to the family of Lucille Gaye Butterworth and all those who knew her, loved her and felt her loss,' he said. At the time of her death, the 20-year-old typist was 'informally engaged' to John Fitzgerald. In an interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night last year, Hunt's brother, who did not wish to give his first name, said given the evidence and his experiences growing up led him to believe that there was a 'good possibility' his brother did kill Ms Butterworth. In an interview last year, Hunt's brother (above), who did not wish to give his first name, said given the evidence and his experiences growing up led him to believe that his brother did kill Ms Butterworth At the time of her death, the 20-year-old typist was 'informally engaged' to John Fitzgerald (above) 'He was like a time bomb waiting to explode. So putting it all together, I'd have to say a very good possibility,' Hunt's brother said. Hunt was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of Ms Knight as that was the only conviction for murder at the time. But he was re-sentenced in 1999 to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole term of 25 years. Hunt was released on parole on June 6, 2000. Hundreds of Telstra customers were affected by an internet outage just hours after the communications company announced it would spend $50 million to fix its previous network issues. Customers took to social media website Twitter on Monday morning to complain about not having any ADSL access. 'Our depots in Hendra, Logan and Miami Qld are all down. Does S/E Qld not have any internet??? [sic]' one man wrote. Hundreds of Telstra customers were affected by an internet outage just hours after the communications company announced it would spend $50 million to fix its previous network issues Others complained they could not watch popular fantasy series Game of Thrones due to network problems. 'Outage in 4552 [postcode for the Sunshine Coast]? Not working and now crying Coz I can't watch game of thrones [sic],' a second man said. 'JUST FIX THE INTERNET @Telstra! GAME OF THRONES NEEDS TO BE WATCHED [sic],' another unhappy customer wrote. There were 1,023 outage issues reported just after 11am, with people mainly from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria complaining of internet, mobile and phone problems, according to aussieoutages.com. There were 1,023 outage issues reported just after 11am, with people from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria complaining of internet, mobile and phone problems. Above are the areas affected A Telstra spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the outage 'affected a small number' of customers. 'There was an outage issue with our fixed broadband service in Queensland,' he said. 'That was caused by a hardware fault and it lasted less than half an hour. 'Our customers were back on the network within half an hour and it was only in Queensland.' The spokesman denied there was an outage involving Telstra's mobile network as reported by other media. The fixed broadband outage came just hours after Telstra announced it would be investing $50 million to put in place recommendations that came off the back of its review into its network issues. A string of outages earlier this year, including three outages in six weeks, sparked a review into the telecommunications giant's network. Telstra's chief operations officer Kate McKenzie said the company would be spending about $25 million on installing better monitoring equipment. 'In any highly sophisticated world class network like ours there will always be disruptions which is why we use sophisticated tools to help us better detect issues and allow stronger monitoring,' she said. 'We are going to make even further investments in this area to take advantage of some of the most cutting edge technology becoming available. 'We will be specifically introducing more real time traffic monitoring along with more real time customer impact reporting. 'This will assist in getting better early warning of any traffic patterns in the network that might be a cause for concern.' The other $25 million will be spent on increasing the company's capacity to handle a large number of reconnections that happen at the same time. 'What this means is that in the event of a disconnection, a much larger number of customers will be able to re-register at the same time so any disruption to services will be of a much shorter duration,' Ms McKenzie said. Donald Trump used the word 'rape' to describe America's trade deficit with China during a rally in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Sunday night. The Republican frontrunner, who has lashed out at 'politically correct' speech in the past, told supporters: 'We cannot continue to allow China to rape our country. And that's what they're doing.' While the bombastic billionaire has often attacked the U.S.-Chinese trade deficit, the Fort Wayne rally marks the first time in recent history he has chosen to use the word 'rape' to describe it. Scroll down for video Donald Trump accused China of carrying out 'the biggest theft in the history of the world' over the U.S. trade deficit, comparing it to 'rape' in a typically inflammatory speech According to CNN, Trump has used the inflammatory term to describe the deficit once before, back in 2011, as he toured a defense manufacturer in New Hampshire. While the remark is likely to play well to Trump's base of supporters who appreciate his willingness to say things other candidates will not, it is unlikely to play well with women, a category where he is badly lacking support. Trump has already made missteps with female voters, particularly when he said women who have abortions will be punished under his administration, before later backtracking on the comment. An endorsement from Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight boxer who was convicted of rape in Indiana, has also provided ammunition for Trump's rivals. While the current frontrunner lauded Tyson as a 'strong guy', Ted Cruz went on the attack, saying: 'I don't think rapists are tough guys. I think rapists are weak, they're bullies and they're cowards.' Addressing the crowd in Indiana ahead of the state's primary on Tuesday, Trump added: 'We're going to turn it around. And we have the cards, don't forget it. 'We're like the piggy bank that's being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China.' In a familiar tone to his previous speeches, Trump then went on to say he didn't blame China for the deficit, but laid the blame with America's leaders who he branded 'grossly incompetent'. Trump has accused China, among other countries, of 'killing' the U.S. on trade, saying they have deliberately devalued their currency to make sure export markets favor them. This is not the first time Trump has described the deficit in such terms, using the word 'rape' once before back in 2011 as he toured a defense manufacturer in New Hampshire The trade deficit is a measure of the value of goods America exports to China, versus the value of goods coming back the other way. While the U.S. shipped around $9million worth of goods to China per month throughout 2015, China returned an average of $40million worth per month, according to the United States Census Bureau. Over the course of last year that led to a trade deficit in excess of $365million, while the total this year has already reached almost $60million. Trump is widely expected to win Indiana, a state once led by Ted Cruz, after a poll released on Sunday showed him with a 15-point lead ahead of voting. However, Cruz has vowed not to give up on Indiana, saying he is 'barnstorming' the state in a campaign bus with his wife ahead of polling. A resounding win for Trump would put him in prime position to secure close to the required 1,237 delegates ahead of the Republican convention, giving his candidacy a clear head-start in subsequent rounds of voting. Acknowledging this, Cruz has described Indiana as a 'crucial' battleground for his campaign, though stopped short of calling it a 'must-win'. Ben Batterham will promise to live in a secret location and will be allowed to return to his apprentice chef job at the exclusive Newcastle Club if his $100,000 bail application succeeds on Friday. The 33-year-old, who was charged with with the murder of 'home invader' Ricky Slater on Easter Saturday, is hopeful of being freed from Cessnock Correctional Centre after his parents put up the surety at Newcastle Magistrates Court. The Newcastle Club, a private members club in the NSW Hunter Valley with strict dress regulations and exclusive membership, is understood to have offered to re-employ Batterham if he is released from custody. The accused's parents, Bruce Batterham, an IT executive and Dianne Batterham, the manager of the Newcastle Family Medical Practice, have mortgaged one of their properties to raise the proposed bail sum. Ben Batterham will promise to live at a secret location and will be allowed to return to his chef's job at the exclusive Newcastle Club if his $100,000 bail application is successful on Friday Ben Batterham's parents, father Bruce Batterham (pictured) and medical practice manager mother Dianne have reportedly mortgaged a home to raise the $100,000 believed necessary to get their son bailed on a murder charge Cleary Street, pictured in daylight and showing the house (left) owned by Benn Batterham's parents Bruce and Dianne and the home (right) the couple bought for their son where the fatal incident began Batterham is understood to be 'very keen' to get out of prison and resume living with his partner Monique and their young daughter who were in the house on Cleary Street, Hamilton, in Newcastle, where the incident leading to Slater's death began. His lawyers are examining photographs of the bite mark alleged to have been inflicted by Slater on Batterham's upper right arm for signs that Slater possibly choked or failed to get enough oxygen during the struggle which preceded his death. Ricky Slater, who had a criminal record for rape, assault, drug possession and break and enter offences and had been released from prison last December, allegedly appeared in the hallway of Batterham's home at around 3.30am on March 26. Batterham was drinking beer to celebrate his birthday and chatting 'about old times' with a friend, Paul O'Keeffe, in the kitchen of his home. Slater 'didn't didn't get past the hallway', Batterham's lawyer, the eminent Sydney barrister Winston Terracini, SC. Scroll down for video Ben Batterham's lawyer said he had never met Ricky Slater before the 34-year-old convicted criminal allegedly entered his home while Batterham was having birthday drinks Ricky Slater allegedly entered Ben Batterham's home (pictured) but was chased out by the chef and down the street Batterham's barrister, leading Sydney criminal defence lawyer Winston Terracini SC (pictured) is examining photos of bite marks allegedly inflicted by Slater on Batterham's right bicep Mr Terracini asserted that Slater went nowhere near the bedroom of Batterham and his partner Monique's young daughter and was unknown to the apprentice chef when he turned up at the house. Batterham, whose lawyers will tell the magistrate on Friday that he had never before met Slater,ran from the kitchen down the hallway towards Slater and said something like 'get out. what the hell are you doing here'. He then dialled Triple-O as he chased him, but did not speak with police and some way down from Batterham's home the struggle allegedly ensued. Batterham was allegedly bitten twice, had his tooth chipped and cheekbone injured as he held down the 120kg Slater and waited for police to arrive. Photographs of the bite just below Batterham's right bicep show a mark in the shape of both upper and lower teeth. Batterham has since undergone hospital tests for Hepatitis C, HIV and tetanus. Mr Terracini said Batterham was 'scared and angry' and the chase allegedly continued for between 10 and 20 seconds out of Batterham's yard and onto the footpath. The footpath outside Ben Batterham's home where Ricky Slater was allegedly chased at around 3.30am on March 26 (left). Batterham (right) alleges he was bitten by Slater The street was poorly lit and for a few moments in the early-morning gloom Batterham could no longer see the man he says was Slater, but the intruder then jumped out at him and there was a verbal confrontation and swearing exchange about the fact that Batterham had allegedly called the police. According to Mr Terracini, Batterham then 'tried to restrain him and wait for the police'. He said Batterham, who was considerably smaller than the taller, heavier Slater 'held him on the ground and in the process he [Slater] bites more than once ... just below the right bicep'. Slater allegedly continued to resist being held down and chipped Batterham's tooth and injured his cheekbone. At some point, Slater allegedly lost consciousness and when emergency services arrived at the scene, he was placed on a stretcher and taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital, where he was placed on life support. Doctors found that his brain had been deprived of oxygen for too long and the following day, Easter Sunday, his mother Beryl Dickson, her daughters and estranged husband Ricky Slater Snr made the decision to turn off Slater's life support. At the same hospital, Ben Batterham was treated for his injuries. He had turned himself into police on the Saturday and Paul O'Keeffe was questioned by detectives but then released. Eminent Sydney defence lawyer, Winston Terracini SC (pictured), will apply for bail in Newcastle Magistrates Court this Friday on behalf of Ben Batterham, the chef charged with 'home invader' Ricky Slater's murder Slater, pictured with his mother Beryl Dickson, was chased out of Ben Batterham's hallway and down the street before the chef held allegedly him down as the convicted rapist is said to have bit and struck him An autopsy on Ricky Slater (pictured) has yet to be released by authorities to Ben Batterham's lawyers Batterham, who had turned himself into police and been charged with grievous bodily harm, had his charge upgraded to murder. He was taken to the Mater Hospital in Newcastle to be tested for a range of diseases including HIV, Hepatitis and tetanus. Batterham was placed in a maximum security remand cell at Cessnock Correctional Centre where he has been visited by his parents and by his partner Monique. Mr Terracini visited Batterham in the cells at Cessnock and inspected the bite marks below his right bicep, the chipped tooth and cheekbone injury. Dianne and Bruce Batterham, who are health centre manager and IT professionals and who live in the house next door to the dilapidated home they bought for their son, initially struggled to raise the $100,000 believed sufficient to apply for bail. Bruce Batterham was retrenched from his IT executive job at Hunter Water six months ago and Dianne Batterham's role is clerical rather than medical. The couple are believed to have now successfully raised the sum by mortgaging one of their properties. Mr Terracini, who specialises in complex murder and manslaughter cases, with a history of defending notable clients including Gordon Wood and Keli Lane, will appear in Newcastle Court on Friday on behalf of Batterham, whose family is hoping for his release soon after. Ben Batterham's arrest has caused significant outrage in the community, with 112,000 people signing a change.org petition demanding his immediate release. Many have claimed that the father-of-one was simply defending his home and family after the convicted sex offender allegedly broke in. Ricky Slater (pictured) 'didn't get past the hallway' of Ben Batterham's home and when spotted by the chef from the kitchen where Batterham was drinking beer with an old friend was chased out and down the road TIMELINE OF RICKY SLATER'S ALLEGED MURDER BY BEN BATTERHAM Richard James 'Ricky' Slater allegedly entered the Cleary Street, Hamilton home of Ben Batterham at around 3.30 am on Waster Saturday, March 26. Slater, a 34-year-old convicted rapist with a 15-year adult criminal history of assault, drug possession and break and enter offences, entered the hallway of the home where Batterham was drinking beer with his friend Paul O'Keefffe of Brisbane. The two, who had known each other from when they lived in Melbourne were celebrating Batterhma's 33rd birthday and 'talking about old times' when Slater, who Batterham had never before met, appeared in the hallway. Batterham ran down the hallway towards Slater, yelling out 'get out. what the hell are you doing here' and chased Slater through his yard and down Cleary Street. En route, Batterham dialled Triple-0 Zero and in the gloom of the poorly lit street lost sight of Slater, who then emerged from the gloom. Batterhma tackled Slater to the ground and was holding him down to wait for police to arrive andmake an arrest. During this physical struggle, Slater allegedly bit Batterham twice just below the apprentice chef's right bicep, chipped his tooth and injured Batterham's cheekbone. Police arrived at the scene where Mr Batterham was struggling with Slater who lost consciousness and was rushed to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. Doctors fund that Slater had been deprived of oxygen to his brain and the following day, Slater's family turned off his life support. Treated for his injuries and charged with causing grievous bodily harm, Batterham was taken into custody and charged with murder. He was placed in a maximum security remand cell at Cessnock Correctional Centre and taken to the Mater Hospital in Newcastle to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis and tetanus. His parents, Bruce and Dianne Batterham have raised $100,000 for a bail application on May 6. Prominent defence barrister Winston Terracini, SC, will make the application in Newcastle Magistrates Court. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls received a fierce yet traditional Maori welcome in New Zealand ahead of formal talks with John Key. Mr Valls was given a 'Hongi', or touching of the noses, when he arrived at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Monday flanked by a large security team. While the Hongi is normally considered a friendly welcome, Mr Valls and the two warriors he was greeted by appeared to stare aggressively at each other during the traditional greeting. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls received a fierce yet traditional Maori welcome in Auckland on Monday as he was given a 'Hongi', or touching of the noses He was accompanied by New Zealand Governor-General Lewis Moeau who could be heard explaining the ceremony to the French PM, according to the NZ Herald. A young armed warrior was pictured approaching Mr Valls before the dignitary picked up a leaf - or token - that was left by the warrior as a sign of peace. Mr Valls arrived in New Zealand on Sunday after visiting the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. His visit involved talks with Mr Key about trade and investment opportunities, counter-terrorism and connections to the Pacific. While the Hongi is normally considered a friendly welcome, Mr Valls and the two warriors he was greeted by appeared to stare aggressively at each other during the traditional greeting A young armed warrior was pictured approaching Mr Valls during the traditional welcome before the prime minister picked up a leaf - or token - that was left by the warrior as a sign of peace Local Maori performers welcomed French Prime Minister Manuel Valls at the official ceremony of welcome at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Monday Mr Valls detoured to Australia on Monday afternoon to meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra to flesh out details of the country's largest-ever defence contract. Their meeting comes a week after the government announced French industrial group DCNS would design and construct 12 submarines to replace Australia's Collins class vessels, at a cost of around $50 billion. Mr Valls told reporters the strategic relationship between France and Australia had just reached 'another level' with that decision. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls (left) was accompanied by New Zealand Governor-General Lewis Moeau (right) who could be heard explaining the ceremony to the French PM French Prime Minister Manuel Valls inspected the Guard of Honour at the war memorial ahead of formal talks with New Zealand PM John Key on Monday 'It is a partnership that binds us for a very long time - 50 years at least,' he said. A French reporter quizzed Mr Valls on why he had come to Australia given the contract is yet to be detailed. The Prime Minister noted he was in New Zealand when the Australian announcement was made and had already delayed a trip Down Under earlier this year. "The political life in Australia meant that unfortunately we could not postpone this meeting," he said, referring to expectations Mr Turnbull will call an election shortly. Mr Valls arrived in New Zealand on Sunday to the official welcome (pictured) after visiting the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia An asylum-seeker who set himself on fire to protest against Australia's immigration detention laws on Nauru went 10 hours before being medicated for his burns, his wife has claimed. Omid Masoumali died in Brisbane on Friday two days after being airlifted off the island where he doused himself in petrol and set himself alight in front of UNHCR officials to protest against conditions at the processing centre. The 23-year-old's widow Nana claims he was forced to spend up to ten hours after the incident waiting for an air ambulance and was not given morphine despite suffering excruciating burns to most of his body. Omid Masoumali, who died in Brisbane after setting himself on fire in a detention camp in Nauru, went hours without pain relief, his wife has claimed. Sydney-based Dr Barri Phatarfod, who spoke with the widow via an interpreter after his death, told Daily Mail Australia she was 'distraught' by her late husband's treatment. 'When he was still in hospital on Nauru it seemed he had been intubated but clearly he didn't have any morphine - there's a video of him racing around. 'I spoke with his wife when he'd arrived in Brisbane late on Thursday. He'd already spent 12 or 27 hours on Nauru (after the incident) despite having his injuries on Wednesday. Mr Masoumali, 23, was airlifted to a Brisbane hospital on Thursday but died the following day. 'She said he was swollen and unrecognisable, that doctors were telling her he was at one point brain dead.' It is not clear how long officials waited after Mr Masoumali had set himself on fire before phoning for an air ambulance. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection did not respond to Daily Mail Australia's request for comment on Monday. A candlelight vigil was held in Mr Masoumali's memory in Sydney on Saturday, with signs displayed saying 'Killed by detention on Nauru. Close the camps now' Shocking footage of the moment Omid set himself on fire in protest of Australia's detention laws emerged last week (above) It is understood an air ambulance was requested from Queensland based company Care Flight but Dr Phatarfod alleges the company had difficulty finding a pilot to operate it. Slamming the conditions at the detention camp, she said: 'Nauru is a six hour flight from Austraia, in order for them to be evacuated then you need to put the call in. 'At the absolute earliest it would have taken 12 hours. You simply can't put 700 people that far away, children, young kids. 'The camps are grossly inadequate for anything other than the most basic of procedures. There is no intensive care unit let alone a burns unit. It's hopelessly ill-equipped.' On Saturday a vigil was held for Mr Masoumali outside Sydney's Town Hall where members of the Refugee Action Coaltiion pleaded for those being held on Nauru to be brought to Australia. Five people have attempted suicide at the detention camp in the last 24 hours, said the Australian Refugee Action Coalition. The man was heard screaming 'I can't take it anymore' before he set himself alight in front of other detainees Their attempts coincided with a visit from the UNHCR refugee agency visits the island. It comes after the decision by the Papua New Guinean government that Australia's detention centre on Manus Island, which houses more than 900 asylum seekers, was operating illegally. Mr Masoumali's shocking act was filmed by a fellow immigrant last week. In the footage he could be heard shouting: 'This is how tired we are, this action will prove how exhausted we are. 'I can not take it anymore,' according to a witness who spoke to Fairfax. He lay on the ground until being ushered to a medical facility on Wednesday. Further footage showed him running around frantically while awaiting treatment. Mr Masoumali arrived in Brisbane by air ambulance on Thursday morning and died on Friday afternoon. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection issued this statement shortly afterwards: 'The man was taken to Republic of Nauru Hospital for medical treatment by the Nauruan authorities. 'He was then transferred to Australia by air ambulance for medical treatment. The man passed away this afternoon in a Brisbane hospital. 'The department expresses its sympathies to his wife, family and friends.' Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said an immediate medical evacuation has been requested on Wednesday. 'He is in a very, very serious condition and his outlook is not good at all,' he said. Peter Dutton said he sympathises with the people detained on Nauru, acknowledging they are in a 'very desperate situation', but confirmed Australia will show no leniency when it comes to border security Refugee groups claim four other people previously tried to self-harm by swallowing washing powder over the weekend. Iranian women, Marziyeh Faghih, 28, and Amineh Shajira, 34, have also been missing since Sunday. It is feared that they may have disappeared at sea after trying to flee the island. Police on Nauru also arrested a 38-year-old Iranian refugee last week after he splashed himself with petrol and tried to set himself alight. The string of protests come as Australia's policy of detaining and settling refugees trying to reach the country in foreign nations comes under new pressure. Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled that Australia's detention of asylum seekers on that country's Manus Island was illegal on Tuesday, with the government confirming shortly after that the centre will be closed. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said in a statement on Wednesday that the centre is unconstitutional and would be shut down as soon as Australia makes arrangements for the refugees held there. 'Respecting this ruling, Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum seekers currently held at the regional processing centre,' Mr O'Neill said. Loani Henao, counsel for the PNG opposition leader told Sky News, that the two governments will have to work together to relocate the refugees. 'It effectively means both governments must take steps to effectively shut down the Manus Island detention centre,' he said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said in a statement on Wednesday that the centre is unconstitutional and would be shut down as soon as Australia makes arrangements for the refugees held there Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled that Australia's detention of asylum seekers on that country's Manus Island was illegal on Tuesday. Pictured Manus Island Despite international outcry, Mr Dutton has reiterated the government's tough stance on asylum seekers who tried to enter Australia illegally. He said that while they are in a 'very desperate situation', those who try to gain access to Australia by boat will never be allowed to settle in the country. 'The Government's policy remains absolute and that is that we are not going to allow people to settle in our country if they've sought to come here illegally by boat,' Mr Dutton said on Wednesday. 'We don't want advocates saying to people who are on Nauru or Manus... that if you don't engage somehow you'll come to Australia.' He has urged 'well intentioned' refugee advocates not to deliver false hope to the populations detained overseas. 'It doesn't matter what others are saying to you, it doesn't matter what people from Australia who are sending you social media messages are saying, you will not ever settle in Australia,' he said. 'That has been the absolute determination of this Government from day one.' He confirmed incident occurred while officials from the United Nations refugee agency were on the island but had no advice about whether there was a link between the two. The Nauruan government have warned others to 'refrain' from shocking protests of this nature, adding there is 'no value in such behaviour' Albert Moyer (pictured), a high school French teacher has been accused of not being able to speak the language he's been teaching his students A high school French teacher has been accused of not being able to speak the language he's been teaching his students. Albert Moyer, said that the extent of his French education was just one year in high school, according to an investigation by KHOU 11. Moyer has been teaching at the Houston Independent School District's Energy Institute High School, where one student said that the only word Moyer knows is 'bonjour'. Moyer was hired to replace Jean Cius, a certified French teacher for more than 25 years. Cius was removed from the school after a dispute in December, according to KHOU 11. But student Nathanial White's told the station that his teacher knows the word 'bonjour' and has to look up anyhting more complex on Google. Replaced teacher Cius told the station: 'It makes me extremely mad. I feel bad for the fact that the kids are not learning.' Cius was later declared fit for duty, but the high school didn't give him back his old job and instead he now works at another high school where he monitors the halls. 'I feel so bad for the taxpayers because they're paying me for not doing anything at all,' he told KHOU 11. Moyer (pictured) said that the extent of his French education was just one year in high school Student, Nathanial White (pictured), said that the only word that his teacher really knows is 'bonjour' But even though Cius is no longer teaching Nathanial's French class, his report card shows that the school is still using Cius as the teacher of record, according to KHOU 11. Moyer said there is two sides to every story in a blog post on his website. He said: 'First and foremost most associate teachers are placed in positions on temporary or long-term basis. 'Education today has a real talent pool issue. We have a shortage of teachers across America, and some teachers have to be removed for a variety of reasons, from criminal issues, to not doing their jobs.' Moyer went on to say that his job is to 'be as qualified as I can in an emergency wherever I am placed'. 'I have had numerous assignments in all subjects. I am extremely reliable with a strong track record of success for over 13 years.' The high school released a statement that said school officials work 'diligently year-round to fill open teaching positions across the district with the best qualified applicants'. 'It can often become a difficult task to find certified foreign language teachers, in the middle of the academic school year, to fill the needs of the district. 'Effective French teachers are especially hard to come by. However, the district continues its efforts to hire talented foreign language teachers to instruct HISD students.' Moyer remains in his position at the present time. The Energy Institute High School sent out a letter from the principal following KHOU's investigation and parents telling them their child's teacher is not highly qualified. Moyer was hired to replace Jean Cius (pictured), a certified French teacher for more than 25 years. Cius was removed from the school after a dispute in December. Cius said he feels 'bad for the fact that the kids are not learning' Lindt Cafe siege gunman Man Haron Monis was a dangerous, selfish psychopath and a lone wolf terrorist who would have killed more hostages had police not ended the ordeal, an inquest has heard. Monis also adopted violent extremism as a means of self-aggrandisement, and his mix of anti-social and narcissistic personality disorders put him at the 'epicentre' of a dangerous personality group, psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Phillips said on Monday. But he also found Monis didn't have a psychiatric illness, rather a complex personality disorder which led to vicious, deceitful, manipulative and anti-social attitudes and behaviour. Scroll down for video Man Haron Monis, the Lindt Cafe siege gunman who killed cafe manager Tori Johnson was a 'psychopath' who would have killed more hostages according to a psychologist 'He lived by the premise that he was always right,' Dr Phillips told the coronial inquest into the siege which took place over two days in December 2014. 'Monis constructed and lived in a world where he took no notice of others.' Dr Phillips has been called to give evidence about about the personality and mental state of Monis. Monis took 18 people hostage in the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney, in December 2014 Katrina Dawson (left) was killed in gunfire when police stormed the cafe after Tori Johnson (right) was shot dead by Monis Under old definitions and terms Monis would have been called a psychopath, given his ability to mimic normal functions while having no empathy or difficulty inflicting immense harm on others, the inquest heard. 'Other people merely became objects in his egocentric psychological world,' Dr Phillips said. Monis adopted his strong religious views about 2008, but only as a way to further his own cause. Jieun Bae was pictured running towards waiting police as she fled the scene of the Sydney cafe siege The siege lasted sixteen hours, though some hostages were able to escape before police stormed in Hostages were forced to read the demands of Monis on video, which were then published to social media and shared widely He had also been facing a raft of charges relating to his time working as a 'spiritual healer', including 22 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 14 counts of aggravated indecent assault. Monis used that position as nothing more than a front to have non-consensual sex with female clients, Dr Phillips said. While finding Monis had suffered from anxiety and depression, Dr Phillips said it was no different to what everyone experiences 'from time to time'. Monis claimed that there were others roaming around Sydney who could detonate more bombs in busy city locations Dr Phillips never met Monis but has reviewed material and worked with two people who had previously treated him. He found him to be a 'lone wolf' terrorist. 'Monis had orchestrated the incident in a meticulous and callous manner,' he said. Monis took 18 people hostage on December 15, 2014. Sixteen hours after he first drew a sawn-off shotgun from a bag and ordered the cafe closed, police stormed the building to end the stand-off, Monis killed cafe manager Tori Johnson, and Monis and barrister Katrina Dawson were left dead following the gunfight. Julie Taylor was 19 weeks pregnant when she was taken hostage in the Lindt cafe in 2014 Ms Taylor was held in the cafe alongside her best friend, Katrina Dawson, who was killed in gunfire as police moved in to arrest Monis Had the siege dragged on, more hostages would have been killed, Dr Phillips said. 'Each individual hour increased the risk of mayhem and murder,' he said. 'If the siege had not been terminated ... Monis would have gone on to murder multiple hostages.' The long-running inquest continues before NSW Coroner Michael Barnes in Sydney. Sydney siege survivor Paolo Vessallo was one of 18 hostages held in the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place Marcia Mikhael, who was taken hostage in the siege, said that she initially thought the siege was a prank, before speaking to police and media SEOUL, South Korea (AP) British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser apologized Monday for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured hundreds of people, five years after the government ordered the company to remove the products from shelves for health risks. Ataur Safdar, head of the company's Korean division, said the company accepted responsibility and wanted to make amends. He spoke at a news conference, where he was interrupted by angry and tearful victims and family members who cursed and hit him. A teenager with a big, green oxygen tank, and four other people who were apparently victims or their families, walked to the stage to confront Safdar. A relative of a victim in the British disinfectant case complains to Ata Safdar, head of British firm Reckitt Benckiser Korea, right, during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 2, 2016. British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser has apologized and accepted responsibility for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured about 180 people. (Yun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT "Can you save the child? What are you going to do?" said a woman, in a scene broadcast live on television. "Why did it take so long?" a man said. Safdar said the company will come up with a plan to compensate victims. It will also provide 10 billion won ($8.8 million) to a humanitarian fund for them, including 5 billion won it pledged two years earlier. He called the day "an important milestone in achieving progress for victims." But the victims and families rejected the apology, appealing to the South Korean public to punish Reckitt Benckiser with a boycott. In a press conference outside the prosecutors' office, victims and campaigners lined up the products made by Reckitt Benckiser and asked the public not to buy them. The apology came as South Korean prosecutors were investigating Reckitt Benckiser and about a dozen other companies for selling or manufacturing unsafe disinfectants. Earlier the company had refused to take responsibility. In a separate statement after the press conference, civic groups representing the victims said they planned to file a complaint against Rakesh Kapoor, the British company's chief executive officer, and the company's seven other board members for failing to conduct safety tests before the disinfectant's launch in 2001 and until sales were discontinued in 2011. The victims have already filed a complaint against 10 disinfectant manufacturers and 19 companies that sold the products. The health risks from the disinfectants came to attention in 2011 with mysterious lung ailments that killed pregnant women. Later that year, authorities said the chemicals PHMG and PGH in the disinfectants that many South Korean households used to cleanse humidifiers were to blame. Nearly all households in South Korea use a humidifier during the dry winter season. Many victims were children and pregnant women who had the most exposure to the chemicals emitted by their home humidifiers. South Korea's government said it would compensate 221 confirmed victims, 95 of whom died. Another 309 people were denied government compensation on the grounds they had not proven their sicknesses were linked to the chemicals. Civic groups said the government tally understates the number of victims. They estimate that the disinfectants killed 239 and injured 1,289. Officials are investigating and expect more applications for compensation. Reckitt Benckiser sold millions of bottles of liquid disinfectant, called Oxy Ssak Ssak, containing the harmful chemicals for about a decade and was blamed for 100 deaths. A report posted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health says the chemical PHMG can pose "a critical health hazard when inhaled in the form of droplets." The NIH has also recorded acute toxic effects for both PHMG and PGH. An Australian court recently ordered Reckitt Benckiser to pay 1.7 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) in penalties after ruling that the company misled consumers about the effectiveness of a popular painkiller. The Federal Court ruled the company deceived Australians by selling Nurofen painkillers marketed as relief for specific ailments, such as back pain and period pain, when all of the products contained an identical amount of the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine. ___ Lee can be reached on Twitter: www.twitter.com/YKLeeAP Her previous works can be found on: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/youkyung-lee Ata Safdar, head of British firm Reckitt Benckiser Korea, bows during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 2, 2016 British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser has apologized and accepted responsibility for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured about 180 people A relative of a victim complains to Ata Safdar, head of British firm Reckitt Benckiser Korea, right, during a press conference Residents complained it would pollute their roads, stink the air and bring in immigrants that would change the town's character Half-ton pickup trucks crowd the curb outside the One Horse Saloon, a neon Coors Light sign in the window and rib-eye steaks on the menu, but otherwise Nickerson, Nebraska, is nearly silent on a spring evening, with only rumbling freight trains interrupting bird songs. Regional economic development officials thought it was the perfect spot for a chicken processing plant that would liven up the 400-person town with 1,100 jobs, more than it had ever seen. When plans leaked out, though, there was no celebration, only furious opposition that culminated in residents packing the fire hall to complain the roads couldn't handle the truck traffic, the stench from the plant would be unbearable and immigrants and out-of-towners would flood the area, overwhelming schools and changing the town's character. "Everyone was against it," said Jackie Ladd, who has lived there for more than 30 years. "How many jobs would it mean for people here? Not many." Scroll down for video The town of Nickerson, Nebraska turned down the chance to gain 1,1000 new jobs from a chicken processing plant - because they wanted to preserve their rural way of life Regional economic development officials had thought Nickerson would be the perfect spot for a chicken processing plant, bringing more jobs than the town had ever seen The village board unanimously voted against the proposed $300 million plant, and two weeks later, the company said they'd take their plant - and money - elsewhere. Deep-rooted, rural agricultural communities around the U.S. are seeking economic investments to keep from shedding residents, but those very places face trade-offs that increasing numbers of those who oppose meat processing plants say threaten to burden their way of life and bring in outsiders. "Maybe it's just an issue of the times in which we live in which so many people want certain things but they don't want the inconveniences that go with them," said Chris Young, executive director of the American Association of Meat Processors. Nickerson fought against Georgia-based Lincoln Premium Poultry, which wanted to process 1.6 million chickens a week for warehouse chain Costco. It was a similar story in Turlock, California, which turned down a hog-processing plant last fall, and Port Arthur, Texas, where residents last week stopped a meat processing plant. There also were complaints this month about a huge hog processing plant planned in Mason City, Iowa, but the project has moved ahead. Courtesy WOWT But residents packed the fire hall (pictured) to list their complaints: the roads couldn't handle the truck traffic, the stench from the plant would be unbearable and immigrants would flood the area The village board unanimously voted against the proposed $300million plant and two weeks later the company said they'd take their plant - and money - elsewhere The Nickerson plant would have helped area farmers, who mostly grow corn and soybeans, start up poultry operations and buy locally grown grain for feed, said Willow Holliback, who lives 40 miles away and heads an agriculture group that backed the proposal. "When farmers are doing well, the towns are doing well," she said. The question of who would work the tough jobs was at the forefront of the debate, though many were adamant they aren't anti-immigrant. Opposition leader Randy Ruppert even announced: "This is not about race. This is not about religion." But both were raised at the raucous April 4 meeting where the local board rejected the plant. One speaker said he'd toured a chicken processing plant elsewhere and felt nervous because most of the workers were minorities. More overtly, John Wiegert, from nearby Fremont where two meat processors employ many immigrants, questioned whether Nickerson's plant would attract legal immigrants from Somalia - more than 1,000 of whom have moved to other Nebraska cities for similar jobs, along with people from Mexico, Central America and Southeast Asia. "Being a Christian, I don't want Somalis in here," Wiegert, who has led efforts to deny rental housing to immigrants in the country illegally, told the crowd. "They're of Muslim descent. I'm worried about the type of people this is going to attract." Nickerson fought against Georgia-based Lincoln Premium Poultry, which wanted to process 1.6 million chickens a week for warehouse chain Costco Others pointed out that, given Nebraska's unemployment rate is among the nation's lowest near 3 percent, few local residents would accept the entry-level jobs. While the projected wage of $13 to $17 an hour was above the region's current median wage for production workers, opponents argued meat processors generally have high turnover. "We aren't against jobs," farmer John Schauer said. "We want clean, stable jobs." The land is flat and rich around Nickerson, which is a half-mile off a narrow state highway about 30 miles from Omaha. The town's tidy but often faded single-story homes sit on large, grassy lots. There's a small cluster of commercial buildings, most of them long shuttered, and a grain elevator. Its school was demolished more than a decade ago, leaving only the old playground, but residents take pride in the regional school district. Superintendent Jeremy Klein told the village board he worried new students would overwhelm local schools and that tax breaks would limit any extra money to hire more teachers. "It's impossible to know what the size of that impact will be," Klein said days later. People seem to be more willing than in earlier eras to fight developments they think could harm the environment or change an area's character, University of Nebraska-Lincoln economics professor Eric Thompson said, even if the development offers an economic boost. Mason City official Brent Trout said he heard all the arguments against the $240 million plant planned some 200 miles northeast of Nickerson: What's the environmental impact of an operation that will process up to 22,000 hogs daily? How will 2,000 new jobs affect the isolated city of 27,500? It's already hard to attract employers to Mason City, which has lost about 10 percent of its population over the last 30 years, he said. But, like Nickerson, Mason City's best selling point is its focus on agriculture: "This is what Iowa is. This is what Iowa does," Trout said. "We raise pigs and we process pigs." Although Nickerson residents have succeeded in pushing away the industrial-scale operation, opponents said they're getting better organized to help the town that's targeted next. Victims hit with 400 bills for 'fake' 0843 or 0845 calls lasting up to 12 hours A disabled pensioner says she has been charged 289 for an eight hour phone call she never made as more victims are being ripped off by a new terrifying scam. Oriel Ross-Wardell, 77, from Hull, claims she could not have been on her mobile because she left it at home while she visited her daughter in Sheffield, who is undergoing cancer treatment. Mrs Ross-Wardell, who is nearly housebound, only bought her new smartphone five days before the 'fake' call but had already shut it in a drawer because she 'didn't have a clue how to use it'. But 02 took 279 from her bank account, leaving her without any money for food, heating or to take her puppy to the vet for its immunisations. Mrs Ross-Wardell is one of dozens of new victims who have contacted MailOnline saying they have also been ripped off and left out of pocket by up to 400 for calls they never made. Terrifying: Oriel Ross-Wardell from Hull, East Yorkshire, who has had 279 taken by 02 for a call she never made - because the phone was in a drawer and she was 70 miles away Shocking: Mrs Ross-Wardell says she 'nearly died' when she saw 279 had come out of her account - leaving her overdrawn and without money for food (pictured is her bank statement) The scam begins with the customer receiving a call from an unfamiliar number that starts with 0845 or 0843 - usually resulting in a missed call. The customer never answers the call typically lasts just a fraction of a second and it's recorded on their mobile handset as a missed call. Weeks later, the bewildered victim receives a bill showing they called that number back and owe a huge sum. Some victims are vulnerable or even children who have accused their mobile phone networks of taking money without consent and then refusing to accept it is a mistake. Ofcom has launched an investigation but while phone companies including Vodafone, 02 and EE have refunded some victims - but in many cases they continue to insist their customers rang the premium rate number. Police are not yet investigating it as fraud. This is despite many of these calls, lasting between three and 12 hours, happened in the middle of the night, while phones were switched off or in Mrs Ross-Wardells case, when her mobile was 70 miles away in a drawer. HOW THE TERRIFYING NEW PHONE SCAM WORKS 1. Mystery call from 0845 or 0843 number 2. Person receiving call usually ignores it believing it is a nuisance caller 3. It appears as a missed call - no voicemail is left 4. In some cases the person has no missed call at all 5. Weeks later the victim will receive a huge bill of up to 400 showing they have called the 0845 or 0843 number back 6. Because systems show a call has been made the mobile networks will not refund without evidence She told MailOnline: I had this bog-standard phone for years but it got wet and I thought I would get one of these smart phones. But I couldnt get the menu up let alone make a call. I havent got a clue. I had only had it for five days when 02 said I had made an eight hour call to an 0843 number. Now I can talk for England but I was visiting my daughter in Sheffield, the phone was shut in a drawer at home because I didn't even know how to use it. 02 just took 279 from my account without ever sending me a bill. I nearly died when I found out - it was the first time in my life I have ever been overdrawn. I didnt have any money for food or to take my puppy to the vets. 02 are adamant I made the call but my Asda delivery driver saw the MailOnline piece and printed it off for me to show it was a scam. Mrs Ross-Wardell has taken a direct debit indemnity with her bank, which means that the bank will cover the cost until the cash is returned. She said: If 02 dont pay back that money to me I will have to pay the bank - I just dont know where Ill find it from. Now I can talk for England but I was visiting my daughter in Sheffield, the phone was shut in a drawer at home because I didn't even know how to use it Victim Oriel Ross-Wardell, 77 O2 say they have blocked some 0845 and 0843 numbers as a 'precaution' but maintain it is likely that the calls took place. A spokesman said: 'We have no evidence that our customers have been billed for calls that have not been made. There could be a number of reasons why customers may not have been aware that a call had been made, for instance, they may have inadvertently dialled a missed call and in some cases, customers may not have ended the call correctly on their handset'. Jane Brady, 45, was handed a 51 bill for a four hour call made by her daughter Anna, 15, even though they were on a family trip to the cinema. Vodafone refused to accept the truth - and only paid the money back when she went to the ombudsman that helps regulate networks. Row: Jane Brady and her daughter Anna Brady, who was charged 51 for a call she never made on New Year's Day Evidence: The Bradys were in the cinema watching a film when 15-year-old Anna was meant to be calling a compensation hotline She said: Vodafone tried to charge us 51 for a four-hour phone call to an 0843 number my daughter never made. 'We complained and told them that we had all been in the cinema and that it was impossible - but Vodafone were insistent that she had called. They were having absolutely none of it. 'It couldn't have been a pocket call and she didn't even have the number saved in her phone. 'The idea that a 15-year-old would spend four hours on the phone to a flight compensation company is crazy. 'Eventually Vodafone said that they would pay 50 per cent but I told them why should I pay for something that I didn't owe. 'It was only when I went to the Ombudsman they finally accepted our story. 'I couldn't believe it when I saw the story on MailOnline because I had been having this same discussion with Vodafone since January. I now know many others have been in the same position, and that really worries me. 'It has taken five months to get to this point - and we are still haven't seen a penny of the money they took. I was particularly upset with the implication that I had accidentally turned on my phone in my hand bag or I had given the phone to someone else. Hazel Brown, 64, who was charged 211 for a call she never made Hazel Brown, 64, from Surrey, was unfairly charged 211 for a seven hour call she never made. Vodafone refused to refund the cash despite Mrs Brown making seven phone calls to customer services. But they finally gave back the money when she produced three witnesses to confirm she was not on her phone at the time and wrote to the chief executive. She said: 'I believe this scam is orchestrated by a very sophisticated criminal organisation who by their nature are without moral conscience. 'I found the range of responses from Vodafone to my approaches incredulous. I was driven to tears with sheer frustration at one point finding myself going around in circles. I was particularly upset with the implication that I had accidentally turned on my phone in my hand bag or I had given the phone to someone else. 'I was surprised that Vodaphone did not take my information seriously. I supplied them with a link to a website, that I had found after a quick search on the Internet, showing that others had similar experiences with the same 08 number. It was only as a result of my letter to the chief executive that the issue was addressed'. Upset: Hazel Brown, 64, left, from Surrey, was unfairly charged 211, right, for a seven hour call she never made - she believes the scam is criminal In every case seen by MailOnline, mainly involving Vodafone, EE and O2 customers, the scam begins with the customer receiving a call from an unfamiliar number that starts with 0845 or 0843. In almost all the cases we have seen, the return call supposedly made by the customer is shown to have lasted between three and 12 hours. Yet the victims have no recollection at all of calling the number on their bill. Many say they didn't even see the missed call, let alone ring back. Others say they did notice a strange number pop up on their phone, but just ignored it. Customers who ask their mobile supplier to waive the charges are being fobbed off and told to pay up. Victim: Ruth Dance was hit with a bill for 300 from Vodafone Vodafone insists the problem is not its fault. EE and O2 customers have also come forward to say they have been handed refunds, but the companies are yet to comment. Communications watchdog Ofcom says customers of several mobile firms providers are being hit and has launched an investigation. A spokesman said: 'We are very concerned to hear of a number of people receiving mobile charges they didnt expect. Ofcom is working with the mobile operators, industry experts and partner regulators to establish the causes and address the problem. 'We are pleased that Vodafone is blocking suspicious numbers and refunding affected customers. We advise those who believe they are affected to contact their phone company promptly. The mobile giants admit their customers are victims of a clever scam but seem to have little idea of how it works. One theory is that hackers are gaining access to mobile users' accounts and making fraudulent calls in their names. Vodafone denies this suggestion - O2 and EE failed to respond. The offending numbers appear to be for several different claims management firms touting flight delay compensation. One theory is that crooks hire 0845 and 0843 numbers and set high fees for incoming calls. They then hack into victims' mobiles and program them to automatically call back if there is a missed call from the scammer's 08 number. The cost appears on the customer's bill and, like with any premium phone line, the mobile company passes on a share to the company that hired the 08 number. That means the crooks can take a cut of the exorbitant charges. Ofcom say they are working with the mobile networks to find the source of the problems, but refuse to say what they think the problem is. Telecommunications expert Ben Levitan says: 'There are people who spend their lives looking at phone companies' systems and ways to make money from them. 'People share these secrets online and use them, but the criminals can be very hard to trace and catch.' A Vodafone spokesman says: 'Our systems have not been compromised or breached. 'Our security monitoring systems have identified that a number of customers have returned unsolicited calls, leading to them being charged significant amounts. 'We have taken proactive measures to ensure none of the customers affected are out of pocket and have identified and blocked the numbers creating this issue. 'As this is an industry-wide issue, we are working with Ofcom and other operators to identify and close down this issue as soon as we can.' Threat: One theory is that hackers are gaining access to mobile users' accounts and making fraudulent calls in their names The Navy SEAL who claims to have killed bin Laden was eating a sandwich next to the al-Qaeda leader's body when news of his death broke over television. Still in their uniforms, Rob O'Neill and the other members of Seal Team 6 watched as President Barack Obama declared their mission a success to the American people. 'I heard him say Osama bin Laden, I looked at Osama bin Laden - I thought, "How in the world did I get here from Butte, Montana?"' O'Neill recalled Sunday in a Fox interview. O'Neill was at the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, and bin Laden's corpse lay on a table beside him. Scroll down for video Former Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill, left, claims to have fired the shot that killed Usama bin Laden, right. He recalled Sunday the moment the news of the al-Qaeda leader's death broke Bin Laden was killed shortly after 1am on May 2, 2011, local time, after the Seal Team stormed the compound in Pakistan where he had been hiding for years. Sunday marked the fifth anniversary of the May 1, 2011 raid. O'Neill told Fox how he explained bin Laden's killing to the families of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks: 'I explained how I went into a room and I saw him and he was standing 3 feet in front of me and he was a threat and I shot him.' John Brennan, who was chief counter-terrorism adviser to Obama during the bin Laden raid and now the director of the CIA, spoke on Meet the Press Sunday about the continuing threat of Islamist terrorism. FDNY firefighter Aaron Clark looks on from atop a firetruck as people celebrate in Times Square after the death of accused 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden Students gather at the fence on the north side of the White House, chant 'U.S.A.! U.S.A.!' and sing the Star Spangled Banner while U.S. President Barack Obama announces the death of Osama Bin Laden He said ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could make a future, symbolic target of a U.S. assassination. 'He's important and we will destroy ISIL, I have no doubt in my mind,' Brennan said, using an alternate acronym for ISIS. 'Bin Laden had important symbolism and, if we got Baghdadi. it would have great impact on the organization. We're going to have to remain very focused.' Recalling the night that bin Laden's death was announced, Brennan said: 'I remember that same evening, the chants of "USA" and "CIA," culmination of hard work. We had destroyed a large part of Al Qaeda.' On Sunday, President Barack Obama spoke to CNN's Peter Bergen about the raid against bin Laden, which has become one of his defining legacies of his time in the White House. During the interview, Bergen said that 'the last person bin Laden saw on Earth was an American.' A timeline shows how the raid unfolded after Obama ordered NAVY Seals to storm bin Laden's compound People walk past Osama bin Laden's compound, where he was killed during a raid by U.S. special forces, May 3, 2011 in Abottabad, Pakistan Pakistani boys collect debris at the site of the crashed helicopter outside the hideout house of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following his death Obama replied: 'And hopefully, at that moment, he understood that the American people hadn't forgotten the some 3,000 people who he killed' on September 11, 2001. The Obama administration had used it as a poignant example of the president's willingness to act aggressively against terror, despite usually maintaining a more cautious foreign policy. Five years after ordering the raid, Obama spoke about the decision for an Anderson Cooper 360 episode called 'We Got Him,' which will air on Monday, saying he knew it was risky but that it was 'our best chance to get bin Laden.' 'After discussions with our principals, it was clear to me that this was going to be our best chance to get bin Laden,' he said. Bin Laden was buried at sea shortly after his killing. No unequivocal proof of his death has been released to the public, although al-Qaeda confirmed their leader's passing on May 6, 2011. The Sydney teenager charged with plotting an Anzac Day terror attack said he wanted to 'terrorise' non-Muslims on their day of celebration, a court has heard. The 16-year-old was trying to find a gun and a bomb manual to carry out the attack before he was caught by undercover officers posing as extremists, it is alleged. Speaking at the teen's bail hearing, crown prosecutor Chris Choi said there was a strong case against the boy, who had been plotting the attack from as early as April 16. Scroll down for video Zemarai Khatiz (centre) the lawyer representing a 16-year old-accused of planning an Anzac Day terrorist attack leaves court on Tuesday after entering a not guilty plea When asked why he chose April 25, the teenager replied: 'Because here in Australia the kafir (non-Muslims) celebrate Anzac Day and I want to terrorise them on the day', Ms Choi said. The boy's mother wept and buried her head on her husband's shoulder during the prosecutor's address at the Parramatta Children's Court. The boy's father later pleaded in court for his son to be allowed to come home. He said: 'To get my son back home I would do anything ... I love him with all my heart and he's everything to me.' Police presence was increased across the state following the arrest of the teenager. Above are officers at Martin Place in central Sydney last month The boy was not in court and instead appeared by video link. He has been in custody since April 24, when he was arrested by officers from the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) near his home in Sydney's west. Ms Choi said the teenager first came under investigation between May 5 and May 8 last year. He was at that time referred to the national disruption group and agreed to undergo a de-radicalisation program to address 'violent, extremist behaviours', a program which he was still on when arrested. The Sydney teenager, 16, was arrested on Sunday and he was charged with terror-related offences. He was allegedly planning an attack for Anzac Day (above is the Martin Place service) and tried to get a gun The boy's profile picture for a messaging application was a lion on the Islamic State flag and there was evidence on his phone that he'd accessed recruitment videos and other Islamic State propaganda. Ms Choi said there was a serious risk the boy would fail to appear or endanger the safety of the public if he was granted bail. If he was released, she argued, he had a greater urgency to achieve 'what he failed to do' on Anzac Day. The boy was taken to Auburn Police Station (pictured) and he appeared at Parramatta Children's Court The boy's lawyer, Zemarai Khatiz, has argued he should be granted bail because his age and youth mean there are exceptional circumstances in place. Last week Mr Khatiz submitted a list of strict potential bail conditions, including a condition the boy would wear an ankle bracelet if released. Mr Khatiz also said the boy's family was willing to use its $1.2 million home as security if the teenager was granted bail. Following the boy's arrest in late April, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said police were working around the clock to keep the public safe. He said: 'The risk from this particular threat has been thwarted. Do not let an event like this stop you from going out. 'So, please, don't be perturbed. We are doing absolutely everything we can to keep people safe. This threat has been dealt with.' A British grandmother knocked unconscious by a gang of thugs in Thailand has spoken for the first time about her shocking ordeal, telling a court: 'I still have nightmares.' Still bearing a black eye from her savage beating, Rosemary Owen appeared at court to testify against her alleged attackers but was too traumatised to face them in the same room. Mrs Owen, her husband Lewis and their son, also called Lewis, were seen on CCTV being pounded by a drunken gang in the resort of Hua Hin last month, leaving them lying lifeless on the ground. Mrs Owen, 68, spent weeks in hospital after suffering serious eye and head injuries. She told the Hua-Hin provincial court: 'I still have nightmares. And the headaches. The headaches are there all the time. 'I don't know if it will always stay with me, the memory, but for now I have nightmares and it is sad that this has happened to me by a small group of Thai people, people who I love.' Scroll down for video Beaten black and blue: Grandmother Rosemary Owen arrives at Hua Hin provincial court to give evidence against her alleged attackers after she, her husband and son were knocked unconscious by a gang of thugs Brave: Mrs Owen, her husband Lewis and their son, also called Lewis, were seen on CCTV being pounded by a drunken gang in the resort of Hua Hin last month, leaving them lying lifeless on the ground Lewis Owen also appeared at the Hua Hin provincial court under heavy security to give evidence Beaten: The couple and their son Lewis, 43, were left knocked out cold and lying in the street during Thai New Year festivities in the popular resort of Hua Hin, after being attacked by a gang of local youths Mrs Owen, from Cardiff, was speaking in a private room, giving evidence to a court official, because she was too nervous to be in the same room as her alleged attackers. She was spared the ordeal of trying to recall what had happened in a bar street late at night, particularly as she had indicated that she couldn't remember much about the moment she was punched to the ground and then kicked hard in the face, rendering her unconscious. But the court officer still had to try to bring back some of the incident and passed to Mrs Owen still photographs taken from the CCTV footage. Mr Owen, 68, was giving evidence in an adjoining courtroom, coming eye-to-eye with the three men who had allegedly assaulted the family and who were now sitting smartly dressed before the judge. Mrs Owen said that because of her ongoing headaches she would be consulting specialists on her return to the UK. She said: 'I'm looking forward so much to seeing my family again. I know the family and all our friends have been very worried about us. 'But our Thai friends have been just wonderful. I cannot imagine what life would have been like here without the support of our Thai friends.' Police officers jumped in front of cameras and waved their arms in front of lenses to try to prevent photos being taken of the couple as they arrived at Hua Hin provincial court Ordeal: Mrs Owen, from Cardiff, gave evidence in a private room because she was too nervous to be in the same room as her alleged attackers Only one observer was allowed to sit in on the discussion Mrs Owen had with the court official and even then note taking was not allowed. And the courtroom next door was closed to the public with only people closely related to the case being allowed to sit in and hear Mr Owen give his evidence. The couple's son, Lewis, has already given a full statement to police prior to his return to Singapore, where he lives. A friend of the couple said they were slowly recovering physically, but Mrs Owen has made it clear that she still has a long emotional road ahead of her. Their arrival at the monolithic court house on the outskirts of the popular beachside resort was heralded by a convoy of police cars, with their lights flashing. The British couple were driven around to a side entrance, but were not allowed to step out from their vehicle until police had formed a mini guard of honour in order to keep cameras at bay. Police officers jumped in front of the cameras and waved their arms in front of lenses to try to prevent photos being taken of the couple who are at the centre of what Thai people believe was an attack which could seriously harm the tourist industry. Arrested: Thai police parade the suspects Suppata Baitong and Yingyai Sangkham, both aged 32, who have been arrested in connection with the horrific assault Locals gather next to the prison truck that brought the accused to the court in Hua Hin Members of the British Embassy arrive at the court. The couple's case has become a high profile affair in Thailand because of the brutality of the assault Mrs Owen was dressed in a dark blue blouse and black pants, while her husband wore a white shirt and black trousers. They walked through the court corridors before emerging in the main foyer, from where they were led upstairs, Mr Owen to the courtroom and his wife to a side room with a less austere atmosphere. The case is expected to take several weeks. The family were on holiday on the beach resort of Hua Hin when they were attacked. Mr Owen, who lives in Singapore said neither he nor his elderly parents would go back. Mr Owen, 43, said: 'I'm not going back to Thailand again. Mum and dad won't be either. Never, ever again. 'My mum and dad are on the mend so it is all okay. Dad had six stitches in his forehead and there is some heavy bruising and he had two black eyes. 'They were a bit worried about my mum but she is okay. The swelling was not going down on her brain but they have done some operations. 'Mum and dad have been going to Thailand for a long time. I don't get to see them very often, I see them at Christmas and at my dad's birthday,' he told The Mirror. Hopsitalised: Rose Owen and her businessman husband Lewis were were set upon after their son, also called Lewis, spilled one of the gang's drinks. This photo, released by the Thai tourist board, shows Mrs Owen in hospital following the April 13 assault Holiday: The grandparents were on a month-long holiday in Thailand when their dream trip turned into a nightmare, after the couple were viciously attacked by a gang of drunken thugs Mr Owen and his parents were walking along the street when they were attacked. He said the CCTV footage of the assault was so violent that police would not let them look at it. He said he suffered 16 stitches, but luckily all of the damage was above his hairline. He said he believed the attacks were entirely random. Mrs Owen has since been released from hospital. One of the men launched a flying punch at Mr Lewis when he brushed past him and seemed to spill his drink while he was involved in an altercation with another man. His mother, who lives in a village near Cardiff, Wales, tries to reason with them, before slapping one man. Seconds later, her husband is punched by a man who runs up to him, seemingly in order to land a hit with the most force possible. Mrs Owen then tries to escape the violence. In the next moment, one of them walks up to her and punched her so hard in the face the grandmother is sent flying to the floor, knocked unconscious. As she lies unmoving on the ground, her husband and son are subjected to a barrage of punches and kicks. Catalyst: The row appeared to start when Lewis, known as Blue to his friends, put his hand out and brushed a local man who had collided with him as they walked down the road Hurt: The couple's grown up son can be seen clutching his head in agony in the left of this image, after he was pushed to the ground seconds after touching the man This horrific image shows the moment the elderly woman was punched in the face (circled) during the fight, after she approached one of the gang members and appeared to try to reason with him As the stunned woman tried to sit back up after being punched in the face, one of the attackers kicks her hard on the jaw knocking her unconscious (circled) Mrs Owen then comes around and props herself up, at which point her assailant walks over and kicks her so hard in the face her head snaps back, out cold once more. By the time the men had finished their vicious attack, which happened at around 2am on Wednesday in the popular tourist resort of Hua Hin, all three Owens were lying on the floor. The crowd which had stood by and watched the brutal beatings only daring to step forward once they were sure the gang had left. The couple's case has become such a high profile affair in Thailand because of the brutality of the assault in a tourist town that is popular with Britons more than other nationalities. A British man dining out with his wife in cheap Thai restaurant said it was 'just like Benidorm.' News of the Welsh family's beating had spread quickly through the bars and cafes, with many people commenting that it was fortunate a CCTV camera had captured the assault. But the tourist authority and the police, while accepting the camera had made it possible to identify the alleged attackers, were perturbed that the video had been made public from an unidentified source, tarnishing the image of the town. The couple's daughter Ceri was visibly upset at her home in Barry, three miles from her parents country cottage, just outside of Cardiff. This is the first photograph of the British couple beaten by Thai thugs in a horrific street assault after being released from hospital - with the wife sporting a shocking black eye Injured: Mrs Owen - pictured on holiday in the country last year - is understood to still be recovering in hospital, having suffered head injuries. The couple have been visiting the country since the 80s Horror: The early morning attack happened in the popular tourist resort of Hua Hin, where the family from Wales were celebrating Thai New Year. Pictured: Mr Lewis, who runs an engineering company in Cardiff The mother-of-two said: 'My mum and dad are in hospital abroad, I'm too upset to say anything.' A picture showing Mrs Owen with members of the Thai tourist board while recovering was released to the local media, showing her badly damaged face. In the leafy village of Wenvoe, five miles outside of Cardiff, neighbours are still in shock after seeing the footage of their friends being so horrifically attacked. Dave Cannon, chairman of the village hall committee, a long-time friend who has been to Thailand with the couple, told MailOnline: 'I've been in touch with Lew by text after seeing the pictures of the attack. 'It was a hell of a shock to hear what happened to them.' Friends revealed the couple had visited Thailand almost every year since falling in love with the country in the 80s. Birthday: The family always enjoyed spending Mr Owen's birthday in Thailand, as it coincided with the New Year celebrations. The family joked it was like the entire country came out to celebrate Brutal: Mrs Owen was initially punched in the face, after trying to escape. When she came back around, one of the attackers walked over and kicked her hard in the face, knocking her out again And they are always in Thailand for the Songkran festival - which falls the same day as Mr Owen's birthday. 'They always go to the festival, it is a part of their holiday,' Mr Cannon, 71, told MailOnline. 'It is a family joke - Lew reckons the whole of Thailand is celebrating his birthday that day. Mr Cannon has visited Thailand with the couple and was last in the country with them in 2007, from which he has a souvenir plate in his hallway with a picture of himself and Mr Owen taken as they were sitting in a boat on the way to the Floating Market near Bangkok. He said: 'They love it out there. They used to travel around Vietnam Laos and Cambodia but they always return to Thailand, it's their favourite place. 'They go sightseeing and have made lots of friends over there. 'Their Thai friends bake a cake every year for Lew's birthday.' Attacked: Lewis, pictured, lives in Thailand, and his parents visit once a year - sometimes with friends Break: Mr Owen runs a successful electrical engineering company in Cardiff Local police chief in Hua Hin and the head of the local tourist authority held a press conference on April 17 where they confirmed they had arrested two men - Suppata Baitong and Yingyai Sangkham, both aged 32 - in connection with the incident. Chief Police Colonel Chaiyakorn Sriladecho explained that the younger Mr Owen accidentally bumped into Suppata, who had been drinking and responded by pushing him into a table. Mr Owen then asked Suppata not to hurt his son, at which point it is alleged four other men turned up at the scene and assaulted the father, son and the mother. Police added that the family had identified the arrested men, who had apologised to the victims for being drunk and that officers are still looking for the accomplices. Colonel Sriladecho also added that the son suffered head injuries that required minor stitches with the father suffering a gash to his forehead and had eight stitches. Police said the son has already left Thailand, while Mr and Mrs Owen are still in the country helping with the police investigation but will leave on Wednesday. A three-year-old boy is in critical condition after being dragged from a pond in Sydney's north. Several ambulances, police and fire crews were called to a home on Chiltern Road in Ingleside just before 3pm on Monday after receiving reports the child was in the water. NSW Ambulance Paramedics treated the toddler on the scene before he was rushed to the Children's Hospital in Randwick. Scroll down for video A three-year-old boy is in critical condition after being dragged from a pond in Sydney's north Several ambulances, police and fire crews were called to a home on Chiltern Road in Ingleside just before 3pm on Monday after receiving reports the child was in the water NSW Ambulance Paramedics treated the toddler on the scene before he was rushed to the Children's Hospital in Randwick Officers from Northern Beaches Local Area Command are at the scene and have launched an investigation into the near drowning. The pond appears to be adjacent to a small house with a tin roof. Officers from Northern Beaches Local Area Command are at the scene and have launched an investigation into the near drowning The pond appears to be adjacent to a small house with a tin roof A 70-year-old Australian man charged with sexually assaulting a handful of Balinese children has been seen for the first time in his cell. Robert Andrew Fiddel Ellis was arrested in January on the suspicion of molesting four young girls by enticing them with shoes, toys and cash. Photographs have emerged of the man in a cell at the prosecutor's office in Denpasar where he is awaiting trial. Robert Andrew Fiddel Ellis, 70, was arrested in January on suspicion of child sexual offences. He has been seen for the first time in his cell at the Denpasar Prosecutor's Office in Bali (above) Hunched over on a concrete seat dressed in a t-shirt and thongs, he was seen staring vacantly in to space on Monday surrounded by plastic bags. It is the first time he has been seen since January when police took him in to custody on suspicion of molesting the children who were all older than 10. Authorities are questioning four other children from the markets where they worked. 'These victims are not school children, but children who are working in the market,' said Bali Provincial Police Spokesman Hery Wiyanto earlier this year. 'When he met them, he asked the victims to come with him and promised them something.' Ellis was seen sitting on a tiled seat dressed in a white t-shirt, shorts and thongs for the first time since his arrest three months ago The man was surrounded by belongings including a water bottle, plastic bags and a rubbish bin in the holding cell A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'Due to privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further information'. However, 'the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance, in accordance with the Consular Services Charter, to an Australian man arrested in Bali.' Upon detention in January Ellis was given a health check. It was said at the time authorities were seeking a lawyer and translator before questioning him. His arrest came after a tip-off from a charity for Balinese street children whose founder said they were suspicious of his frequent visits in 2011. A sign in the cell read: 'Keep proper hygiene'. Ellis's distinctive strawberry-blonde beard was still in tact It is not clear whether the man has yet received legal representation. He is accused of luring street children back to his rented home to assault them Charity founder Luh Putu Anggraeni said Ellis allegedly had a list of children's names and record of how much money he had spent on each in his possession. It is claimed that he gave the children gifts to the value of around $20. The man faces abuse charges carrying a maximum 15 years' jail. Children allegedly told authorities they were brought to the man's rental home in Denpasar and molested in a bath tub, The Daily Telegraph reported. Authorities claim the man kept a list of children's names and the amount of money he had spent on them in the markets Robert Andrew Fiddel Ellis (pictured) has been accused of molesting four girls - all aged over 10-years-old The 70-year-old is being escorted by Bali police at police headquarters in Denpasar earlier this year As Malcolm Turnbull and his team put the finishing touches on this year's federal Budget, former prime minister Tony Abbott has been involved in another spill on the floor of Parliament. The nation's former leader dribbled a few drops of water on the floor of the House of Representatives during Question Time on Monday. Clutching three glasses in a triangle hold, Mr Abbott deftly delivered the glasses to his colleagues Andrew Robb and Kevin Andrews. Scroll down for video Confidently making his way over to the bench, Tony Abbott attempted to deliver glasses of water to his colleagues Andrew Robb and Kevin Andrews Clutching three glasses in a triangle hold, Mr Abbott was snapped by news photographers who were said to have gone into 'Abbottmania' when the Liberal backbencher picked up the drinks News photographers were said to have gone into 'Abbottmania' when the Liberal backbencher picked up the drinks. Despite the constant frenzy around his most banal activities, Mr Abbott has pledged to stay in politics, telling Peninsula Living last month he still has 'fire in the belly' for politics. He said his stature as a former prime minister would help get things done for voters in his electorate of Warringah. It was another spill on the floor of Parliament, when Abbott made his way over to his seat during Question time A few drops splattered on the floor, but the spill was nothing like September 2014 'It definitely helps an electorate to have someone well known - and as a former prime minister, I am definitely well known,' he was quoted saying. 'I can say things in the party room and in the media and generally get attention.' Treasurer Scott Morrison will hand down an election year Budget at 7.30pm AEST on Tuesday. He has described it as an economic plan aimed at helping Australians who want to achieve more. The first British troops have arrived in Somalia as part of efforts to tackle the threat from Islamist militants, just days after ISIS claimed its first ever attack in the East African country. The soldiers, the first of up to 70 set to be deployed there this year, are part of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission to counter the extremist group al Shabab. The troops arrive just days after ISIS claimed its first attack in the country, blowing up an African Union car just outside the capital Mogadishu. Somalia has long been dominated by the extremist al-Shabaab military group (pictured), which is battling African Union forces for control of the country. British troops will be providing support to the AU forces Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK is commited to targeting terrorism around the world The group has released several propaganda videos recently imploring al-Shabaab fighters - who have been aligned to Al-Qaeda for several years - to break ranks and join them. If they did, Somalia would become the terror group's first outpost in East Africa. However, they will not be on the front line. The military personnel, from Force Troop Command, 1 Div and Field Army training, will ffer medical, engineering and logistical support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). When David Cameron announced the deployment last September he made assurances that 'all the right force protection arrangements' would be put in place to minimise the risk of harm to any UK troops. Speaking this week, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the move reinforces the UK's commitment to targeting terrorism around the world. He added: 'This deployment is another demonstration of the flexibility and global reach of our Armed Forces. 'Alongside our efforts in Iraq, Syria and Nigeria, it shows our determination to tackle terrorism wherever it rears its head.' However, the troops arrival comes just days after ISIS claimed its first attack in Somalia, which has long been aligned to al-Qaeda. The terrorist group is calling on al-Shabaab to join its ranks The Prime Minister also announced personnel would be deploying to South Sudan, where inter-tribal fighting has forced people from their homes and left millions facing a severe food shortage, to provide engineering work to strengthen infrastructure. Another is the alleged leader of Islamist group that kidnaps and tortures Germany is due to begin its first ever trials over atrocities committed in Syria, further raising fears that terrorists are sneaking into the country among refugees. The suspects to appear in court this week include a man who was pictured posing with severed heads, the leader of a notorious Islamist group and a Syrian who is accused of kidnapping a UN soldier. Authorities have been dealing with 25 to 30 tip-offs every day from asylum seekers reporting possible jihadis who could be looking to carry out lone wolf attacks on German soil. Prosecutors have so far examined 127 cases and heard 4,500 witnesses but this effort led to only four trials, including a conviction for genocide. The first case to be heard in Frankfurt tomorrow is that of a German national who posted pictures of himself posing with the heads of two decapitated civilians on Facebook (file photo of ISIS terrorists) 'Ten investigations linked to Syria or Iraq are currently being examined by the federal prosecutor,' said a spokesman for the prosecutor's office. These make but some of more than 30 cases against former jihadists over their membership to a terrorist group. The first case to be heard in Frankfurt tomorrow is that of German national Aria L, 21, who posted photos of himself with two decapitated heads on Facebook after travelling to the Middle East posing as a volunteer. Another key war crimes suspect, Syrian born Ibrahim al-F, 41, is thought to be the leader of an Islamist rebel group known for kidnapping and torturing civilians in Aleppo. While his fellow countryman Suliman A.S, 24, is suspected of having kidnapped a UN soldier in 2013. Investigations had to be stepped up following the arrival 1.1million asylum seekers in Germany last year - around 40 per cent of whom fled the wars in Syria and Iraq. But since 2013, refugees looking to settle in Germany have had to complete a form asking if they have witnessed war crimes or could name perpetrators of violations. Authorities have been dealing with 25 to 30 tip-offs every day from asylum seekers (pictured, migrants arriving in Munich) reporting possible jihadis Prosecutors have so far examined 127 cases and heard 4,500 witnesses but this effort led to only four trials of potential jihadis (pictured, an ISIS terrorist in Syria) 'The refugee influx has provided new opportunities for prosecutors to collect specific information,' said Geraldine Mattioli, expert on international justice at Human Rights Watch. Investigators dealing with Syrian cases face the additional challenge of access because - with war still raging in the country - they are unable to travel there to gather evidence. While propaganda images posted by jihadist fighters on social networks offer a glimpse of the atrocities, it is difficult to authenticate the photos or their provenance. But with the mass arrivals of refugees, Germany is taking a proactive stance by collecting information little by little, and organising it by country, rather than waiting for specific accusations before taking action. The hope is that each piece of information being collected could one day help build a broader picture or point to a specific trend. Germany is no stranger to trying war crimes committed abroad, although past attempts have been met with mixed success. In 1993, pushed by an inflow of refugees fleeing the war in Yugoslavia, Germany formed a special police unit dedicated to investigating war crimes committed in the Balkans. Other European countries took similar action, with one of the most active investigations carried out by Dutch police. Investigations into potential jihadis had to be stepped up following the arrival 1.1million asylum seekers in Germany last year (pictured, migrants off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa) Since 2013, refugees looking to settle in Germany (pictutred, Chancellor Angela Merkel who adopted an open door policy to refugees) have had to complete a form asking if they have witnessed war crimes Undeterred, the prosecution service sought ways to refine their procedure, becoming more sophisticated in tackling cases involving massacres in Africa's Great Lakes region. There, the judiciary dispatched its investigators to collect evidence on the ground and sought to offer better protection for witnesses. The painstaking task led to the convictions of two Rwandan rebel leaders for masterminding massacres in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo from their homes in Germany. The village of Pozieres, in northern France, was wiped off the face of the earth in just four weeks during the battle Century-old photographs show the devastation of the Battle of the Somme as an entire village is reduced to rubble Advertisement These shocking aerial photographs show the devastation of the Battle of the Somme as an entire village is wiped off the face of the earth in just four weeks. The pictures, printed from fragile glass negatives, were taken by members of the Royal Flying Corps using a camera which was strapped to the side of a two-seater plane. They had flown above Pozieres in northern France on June 17, 1916 and captured a bird's-eye view of the small village, which was unscathed with its buildings and roads intact. However, just more than a month later, a plane flew over the exact spot and photographed the same part of the residential area - and the buildings and roads had been completely obliterated and reduced to rubble. Before: The village of Pozieres in northern France was photographed on June 17, 1916, and was unscathed with its buildings and roads intact After: But just four weeks later, a photographer on a plane captured a bird's-eye view of the same village - which had been wiped off the face of the earth following the Battle of Pozieres The village had fallen victim to the Battle of Pozieres - which was a two-week struggle for the area during the middle stages of the Somme Offensive in 1916. At the time, Pozieres was in the centre of what was the British sector of the Somme battlefield, despite being an important German defensive position. It was the scene of bitter and costly fighting for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions in July 1916 as the Australians and British fought together to try and defeat the German empire. Between July 13 and July 17, the British field army known as the The Fourth Army made four attacks against Pozieres and in this period, the village was subjected to a heavy bombardment and reduced to rubble. Poignant aerial photographs showing the Somme battlefields where more than 1million men were wounded or killed have inspired an English poet to pen a new series of writings. One of the century-old photographs (pictured) shows the line of the Roman road between Bapaume and Albert in northern France And these poignant aerial photographs showing the Somme battlefields where more than 1million men were wounded or killed have now inspired an English poet to pen a new series of writings. Simon Armitage, 52, looked at the century-old evocative images of the French villages and he was immediately motivated to create a new collection of poems. His new work will be displayed for the first time as part of the Fierce Light exhibition at the Norfolk and Norwich festival later this month. The exhibition will feature Mr Armitage's collection of six poems, called Still, which will be engraved onto the aerial photographs of the WWI battlefields. This aerial photographs of the Somme battlefields shows the village of Courcelette and sugar refinery in September 1916 Mr Armitage, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said he was immediately drawn to the photographs because they look 'beautiful and idyllic'. He said: 'I am responding poetically to a series of photographs from the First World War, essentially about a road which sort of describes the direction and extent of the Somme Offensive.' He added: 'And one of the things that interested me about them is that a lot of these photographs look very beautiful and idyllic. 'They sometimes show landscapes which are either untouched or which conceal the horror. 'I'm choosing six or seven of these images and then I'm writing poetry which is going to be engraved onto glass to mimic the glass negatives which were being used at the time.' The photographs, printed from fragile glass negatives, were captured by members of the Royal Flying Corps using a camera which was strapped to the side of a two-seater plane Mr Armitage, (pictured) from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said he was immediately drawn to the photographs because they look 'beautiful and idyllic' The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme Offensive, was a battle fought by the French and British empires against the German empire. It was one of the largest battles of World War I and more than 20,000 men were slaughtered in just one day. Alan Wakefield, a historian specialising in first world war photography at the Imperial War Museum, told The Guardian that the flyers bragged they could have the images processed, printed, and couriered by motorcycle to a desk at the War Office, within half an hour of the plane landing. He said: 'They prided themselves in the quality of the photographs, but it was in their interest to get it right the first time otherwise they would have to go right back and do it again.' AN EXTRACT FROM SIMON ARMITAGE'S NEW POEM, STILL: A time will certainly come in these rich vales When a ploughman slicing open the soil Will crunch through rusting spears, or strike A headless iron helmet with his spade, Or stare, wordless, at the harvest of raw bones He exhumes from the earths unmarked grave. Mr Wakefield has a staggering 120,000 glass negatives in his care, which is the largest collection in the world. By 1916, the photographers could load a cartridge with several glass plates into the camera, but would then have to replace them repeatedly when flying. The camera man was also responsible for looking out for German fighter pilots and was in control of the only gun on board. Indeed, many paid with their lives as they tried to capture the information with a camera, because the images were only obtained when the pilot flew slowly, in a straight line and at a constant level - straight over the German lines. Meanwhile, people operating the observation balloons were given an even more dangerous task after being sent up 3,000ft in a basket and were the only troops given parachutes. Mr Wakefield added: 'The trouble was they were only sent up in still weather, so they were jumping with a blazing balloon falling straight down on top of them. 'This is what flying was really about in the first world war people remember the air aces and the dog fights, but they were really only operating in support of the observers.' Mr Armitage is Professor of Poetry at the University of Sheffield. He has published ten collections of poetry and is the author of two novels as well as the best-selling memoir, All Points North Mr Armitage went into the IWM photographic store in central London, to look through the archive with Mr Wakefield and choose the images. He told the Guardian the photographs offered an unfamiliar visual perspective of the conflict, seen not from the trenches but from the sky. One of the century-old photographs shows the line of the Roman road between Bapaume and Albert in northern France. It was the location of one of the most notorious killing grounds of the First World War. Another picture shows location of where The Battle of Pozieres took place, which was a two-week struggle for the village of Pozieres during the middle stages of the Somme Offensive in 1916. The Battle of the Somme (pictured) began at 7.30am, and by the following morning 19,240 British soldiers had died. Almost 40,000 more British men were wounded, captured or missing in action Mr Armitage is Professor of Poetry at the University of Sheffield. He has published ten collections of poetry and is the author of two novels as well as the best-selling memoir, All Points North. In 2010, he received the CBE for his services to poetry. The exhibition Fierce Light will also feature poems from Paul Muldoon, Jo Shapcott and Jackie Kay. Its world premiere will be at the East Gallery of Norwich University of the Arts on May 10, and the exhibition will run until June 4. A 15-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy have been charged after allegedly stabbing and trying to rob a 28-year-old man the girl met on Tinder. The alleged victim picked up the girl at an address in Massey, a suburb north-west of Auckland, after meeting through dating app, according to the New Zealand Herald. He was allegedly asked by the female to drive down a driveway where the 14-year-old male was hiding in the bushes. Scroll down for video The 28-year-old male was found injured in the middle of a roundabout in the north-west suburb of Massey in Auckland He was taken to Waitakere hospital where he was treated for a deep wound in the chest and a collapsed lung A male, allegedly armed with a weapon, then approached the vehicle, according to a report on Stuff.co.nz. The man tried to drive away but was allegedly stabbed in the chest by the girl. He made an attempt to get away from the scene but collapsed. The teenage girl has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to rob the man on Friday night. The 14-year-old boy has been charged with being a party to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to rob. A police spokesman said emergency services arrived on the scene and found the victim in the middle of a roundabout on the corner of Triangle road and Huruhuru road at 11.50pm. The 28-year-old was taken to Waitakere Hospital by ambulance with a deep cut just below his collar bone and a collapsed lung. The female offender has appeared in front of a youth court on Monday while the 14-year-old will appear in Waitakere district court on Tuesday. He was allegedly attacked by a 15-year-old girl in his car after they met through dating app Tinder The girl's 14 year-old male friend has been charged being a party to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to rob and will appear in Waitakere District Court on Tuesday Salim Mulla, pictured while mayor in 2014, today became the second Labour councillor to be suspended in as many hours Labour today suspended three councillors over allegations of anti-Semitism as leader Jeremy Corbyn scrambled to draw a line under a toxic row just days before crunch polls. Burnley councillor Shah Hussein joined the list of suspended Labour politicians shortly before 5pm this afternoon after it emerged he tweeted at an Israeli footballer that 'your country doing the same thing that hitler did to ur race'. Nottingham City councillor Ilyas Aziz was the first suspended today at around 11.20am and he was swiftly followed by Salim Mulla, a former mayor of Blackburn, around two hours later. The quick-fire suspensions came amid the continuing fall out from Ken Livingstone's incendiary remarks that Hitler supported 'Zionism' before he went 'mad and killed six million Jews'. In stark contrast to last week's damaging delays surrounding Mr Livingstone and Bradford West MP Naz Shah, Labour issued statements announcing suspensions within minutes of allegations emerging. Councillor Mulla was suspended after posts emerged which included backing for a conspiracy that Israel was to blame for the Sandy Hook school shooting in the United States. He also posted a call for Israel to be 're-located' to the US - using the same graphic shared by MP Naz Shah a week ago that triggered the toxic row. In a further post, Mr Mulla suggested an Israeli conspiracy was funding ISIS - drawing a direct link between the decision of France to recognise calls for a Palestinian state and the Paris attacks. Mr Aziz was the first Labour councillor suspended today. The party acted after it was claimed he had posted on Facebook: 'Jews and Muslims lived together in the Middle East, in peace pre 1948. Perhaps it would have been wiser to create Israel in America it's big enough. They could relocate even now'.' In another post dating back to 2014, linking to an article about Nazi Germany, Mr Aziz said: 'A reminder of the treatment and suffering of Jews in Nazi Germany. Are there are any similarities to how Israel is treating Palestinians.' Mr Aziz's Twitter account shows him to be a strong supporter of Mr Corbyn - including a retweet of Mr Corbyn's May Day speech insisting Labour was not anti-Semitic. He has also tweeted pictures of himself with Mr Corbyn at a rally during last year's leadership campaign. The allegations all emerged on the political blog Guido Fawkes. Ilyas Aziz, right, tweeted a picture of himself campaigning with Jeremy Corbyn during last year's leadership campaign. He was the first councillor to be suspended by Labour today Mr Aziz today denied some of the claims made against him, including denials he had posted some of the comments visible on his account. Asked if he suggested Israel could be relocated and whether he feared he could be suspended as a result - as it was the same suggestion that led to the action against MP Naz Shah - Mr Aziz said: 'I didn't write that.' On the comparison with the Nazis, Mr Aziz said: 'That one possibly (was) because you make a comparison that it's wrong, that nobody should be doing that.' Asked whether he thought that people who criticised Israeli policy faced being accused of anti-Semitism, he said: 'I think you need to be careful. 'The thing you have got to try and appreciate is that if a particular government - whether it's the Israeli government, whether it's the British government - if the government is actually doing something wrong they should be criticised. 'But not the population itself, it's got nothing to do with them, it's got nothing to do with the religion.' Councillor Shah Hussain became the third Labour councillor to be suspended today after his 2014 tweet to footballer Yossi Benayoun became public He added that 'as politicians you need to be careful' and said he supported the suspensions imposed on Ms Shah and Mr Livingstone. Mr Aziz added: 'But at the same time I'm also a great believer that justice should be done and I think they should do a swift inquiry into exactly what the feelings are and if the party feels that they have crossed a boundary then yes, they should be suspended or expelled.' Mr Corbyn's hesitation over suspending Ms Shah last Wednesday drew more fire a day later when Mr Livingstone made his explosive claims on breakfast radio only to be met with hours of silence from the leaders' office. In other developments today, there were renewed threats of a front bench walkout on Mr Corbyn if Thursday's results are as bad as some in Labour fear. Polls suggest Labour will lose 150 or more council seats, lose control in the Welsh Assembly and potentially fall to third in Scotland. Sadiq Khan admitted at the weekend the anti-Semitism row was hurting his bid to be London Mayor despite him being favourite to be the first Labour winner of City Hall since Mr Livingstone. Former London mayor Mr Livingstone caused and then stoked outrage with his repeated claim Hitler was a Zionist last week It has also emerged Mr Livingstone's 'guru' on Hitler and Zionism is a Jewish Trotskyite who spent three years in prison for cannabis possession and obstructing the police. Lenni Brenner wrote 'Zionism in the Age of Dictators' in 1983, detailing a pact between Zionists and Nazis to help Jews emigrate to Palestine. The revelation Mr Livingstone's incendiary remarks were based on the 1983 text added a bizarre new element to the scandal today. The Times today reported Mr Livingstone has threatened to table the book as evidence in a hearing over his suspension for anti-Semitism. Mr Brenner was a left wing campus agitator at Berkeley, California, during the 1960s. He was jailed for 39 months in San Luis Obispo state prison after being caught with a cannabis cigarette. His probation was extended into a jail term after he was accused of blocking a door during a student protest. Mr Livingstone cited the claims in his 2011 autobiography, admitting he was 'shocked by the revelations'. Mr Livingstone wrote: 'Of course Labour Zionists cannot be blamed for not anticipating Nazism would become the greatest evil in human history but however well intentioned their motives it was a catastrophic error of judgement not to throw all the resources of Zionism against Nazism.' He added: 'Brenner's books helped form by view of Zionism and its history so I was not going to be silenced by smears of anti-Semitism whenever I criticised Israeli government policies.' Mr Corbyn could face a walk out of shadow ministers if the anti-Semitism row makes Labour's expected bad results even worse after Mr Livingstone's incendiary remarks Sources told The Times that members of the shadow cabinet had renewed discussions of whether to move against Mr Corbyn following Thursday's election. They said: 'People who are doing frontbench jobs, who are on the soft left, are quite embarrassed now about the fact they are linked to this team. 'After the local elections a few people might prise themselves away from it. A lot of them are saying, 'Why are we making excuses for this team all the time?' You could certainly see some shift in personnel.' Yesterday, the bitter row escalated again amid fresh warnings that Labour will be hammered by voters for failing to deal with the issue. Shadow Cabinet member Diane Abbott risked further inflaming the row threatening to engulf the party ahead of key elections by lashing out at 'smears'. Unite boss Len McCluskey also waded in to accuse Blairite MPs of 'manipulating' anti-Semitism concerns in a bid to unseat the leader. But Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev condemned links to Hamas and Hezbollah as he warned that Labour appeared to be 'in denial' about issues among its activists. Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring, 67, (pictured) painted her multi-million pound Kensington townhouse in red and white stripes The woman who painted a multi-million pound townhouse in red and white stripes has revealed she has spent an 'absurd' amount in planning applications and legal fees during a bitter row over the property with her neighbours and council bosses. Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring, 67, is in the process of pulling down the mews property in Kensington, west London, which was branded an 'eyesore' by neighbours after the stripes appeared last Spring. She had been ordered to repaint the building in January after a court ruled that the colour scheme damaged the exclusive area's aesthetic appeal, but now plans to completely rebuild it - subject to agreement from her adjoining neighbours. Details of the row with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, and the attempts by South African businessman Niall Carroll - who lives next door - to block her plans, are now set to be revealed in a Channel 4 documentary, Posh Neighbours At War, which airs this evening. Speaking ahead of the documentary airing, Ms Lisle-Mainwaring told The Times that she had spent a 'seven figure' sum during the four-year dispute, which began with an application for a double basement, in which she planned to house a pool. Scroll down for video 'I supposed I never had a doll's house and now I like playing house,' she told Stefanie Marsh in the Times2 interview. 'But of course, I was forced to pay an absurd amount on planning and appeals.' She added: 'I could give all my money to charity, but I'm not that nice a person.' Ms Lisle-Mainwaring, who divides her time between Switzerland and London, paid 4.7million for the property in August 2012, when it was being used as office space. Ms Lisle-Mainwarin said she had chosen to paint her property in protest over the council's refusal to grant her permission to change the use of the building from storage into residential use South African businessman Niall Carroll (pictured), who lives next door to Ms Lisle-Mainwaring, complained to the High Court that he had not been properly consulted over her attempt to change the property use from storage to residential She was able to change the building's planning designation to storage space, but in July 2013, her application to convert the property into a residential classification and extend it to include a double 'super' basement was refused. She then submitted a second planning application in December 2013, but this was refused by the planning committee in May last year despite being recommended for approval by planning officers. After six planning applications, Ms Lisle-Mainwaring was granted permission to change the building's use into a residential property in February - a month after she was ordered to repaint the house within 28 days, although that deadline was later put on hold after she lodged an appeal against the decision made by Hammersmith magistrates. The stripes had appeared on the building in March last year, in a paint job that took 'five-and-a-half hours', after Ms Lisle-Mainwaring won the right to change the property into a home, only for the approval to be quashed by the High Court after a complaint by Mr Carroll over the fact he had not been properly consulted. Ms Lisle-Mainwaring is in the process of pulling down the mews property in Kensington, west London, which was branded an 'eyesore' by neighbours after the stripes appeared last Spring He had been allowed to build his own basement swimming pool, but told the Channel 4 programme that this was built 'under a different set of circumstances', and that noise from the building work on Ms Lisle-Mainwaring's property would force him to leave his home. 'I don't think you can say because the Queen has a tiara, everyone should be allowed a tiara,' he told the documentary makers. Ms Lisle-Mainwaring's neighbours were not impressed with the paintwork, with some likening the outlandish stripes to a 'beachside hut' and others claiming they were 'horrendously unhappy' with the decoration. She told Times2 that she had chosen to paint her property in protest over the council's refusal to grant her change of usage application. 'I was making a statement: if you want a warehouse, this is a warehouse,' she said. She was later ordered to repaint it by the council, but took the authority to court challenging the decision. During that court hearing in January this year, her lawyer denied that the house was out of character for the conservation area where it is situated. But District Judge Susan Baines ruled that the colour of the house 'had an adverse effect of the amenity of the area' and ordered the homeowner to repaint it within 28 days - meaning it should have been restored to its white colouring by the end of February. The judge added: 'The applicant did not have to choose such a garish red colour and in so doing brought harm to the amenity of the area. 'She should have been aware of the nature of the area and it was incumbent upon her to paint the property in a similar manner to other properties.' Ms Lisle-Mainwaring lodged an appeal against the judge's ruling, which automatically suspended the deadline by which she was supposed to paint the house. She started work on knocking down the empty building on March 22, with scaffolding erected outside and asbestos removed, but is now awaiting a so-called party wall agreement from her adjoining neighbours - including Mr Carroll - before she can completely level the building. Last week the Evening Standard reported that Ms Lisle-Mainwaring will be replacing the property with a new four-bedroom home, and now plans to request planning permission for a single basement extension. She said she had 'no doubt' her neighbours would cause her more 'terrible problems' for her plans, adding: 'It has been very stressful but at least I have a comfortable home to live in and am not going to go bankrupt.' Nicola Sturgeon today insisted there should be a second independence referendum within five years if there is a decisive turn in support despite a backlash over the SNP plan to restart campaigning. Just four days before Ms Sturgeon is expected to re-elected as First Minister with an increased majority, she said it would be democratic to hold a second poll if the evidence shows independence would be successful. The SNP plans to restart its independence campaign this summer despite not including a second referendum in its manifesto for Thursday's election. In a fiery pre-election debate last night, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson blasted that it was 'not on' for Ms Sturgeon to break her promise on the 2014 referendum being a 'once in a lifetime' event. Nicola Sturgeon said there should be a second independence referendum if there is sustained support for a Yes vote in opinion polls Polls suggest Ms Davidson could be installed as opposition leader by Thursday's elections as Labour's turmoil could propel the Conservative's into second place in Holyrood. Ms Sturgeon said she would look for 'sustained' support for independence in a 'range of opinion polls'. She added: 'I've believed in independence all my adult life. 'I would like it to be within five years but I don't know that the majority of people in Scotland would support it within that timescale because I accept that I didn't... persuade enough people in 2014. 'So if we are ever going to be independent, we've got more people to persuade.' In the BBC interview, Ms Sturgeon today rejected claims she was breaking a promise. She said: 'I'm making a simple democratic point, we had a referendum in 2014, much to my regret, those of us arguing for independence didn't win that referendum. 'If there's no shift in opinion from that which we saw expressed in 2014, I don't think we would have the right to propose a second referendum. 'But on the other side of that argument, if we do see a shift in opinion, if independence becomes the clear option, the preferred option of the majority of the people in Scotland then I don't think it would be right for politicians to stand in the way of that because the decision belongs in the hands of the people.' Scotland's party leaders - from left Scottish Labour Party leader Kezia Dugdale, BBC presenter Sarah Smith, Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie - clashed over independence at last night's debate Speaking in last's debate, Ms Davidson said: 'It's not up to her to see one opinion poll she likes and say we're putting this country through it once more. 'It's not on.' Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale accused Ms Sturgeon of 'trying to pull the wool over people's eyes'. She added: 'So many people in Scotland just want to move on from that referendum of the past. We have substantial new tax and welfare powers coming to the Scottish Parliament. A British company executive was physically attacked by angry relatives of victims whose deaths have been linked to its products in South Korea. Nearly 180 South Koreans have died or suffered injuries as a result of lung injuries caused by a humidifier sterilizer sold by Reckitt Benckiser, forcing the company to make a public apology. Ata Safdar, the head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea and Japan, was slapped during a news conference in Seoul on Monday where he apologised to the victims for his firm's role in selling the dangerous product. Slap: The head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea and Japan, Ata Safdar, is attacked by families of victims as he apologised for his firm's role in selling a humidifier disinfectant blamed for nearly 100 deaths in South Korea Confrontation: Nearly 180 South Koreans have died or suffered injuries as a result of lung injuries caused by a humidifier sterilizer sold by Reckitt Benckiser The news conference in a Seoul hotel marked the first publicacceptance of responsibility by the firm, which also manufactures Nurofen painkillers and Durex condoms, for its role in abitter controversy that has raged since 2011. The government said last year that 92 people were believedto have died from causes related to the humidifier products -not all them marketed by Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, which was thegroup's South Korean arm at the time. Mr Safdar was attacked after making an apology which saw him bow several times before an audience that included victims and their families. 'Today's apology, was about acceptance of responsibility forthe harm that Oxy HS (humidifier sterilizers) has caused,'Safdar said. Sorry: Mr Safdar bowed several times during the apology 'This is the first time we are accepting the fullestresponsibility, and we are offering a complete and full apology. 'We were late, five years have passed, we are alsoapologising far too late. This is what we are apologisingabout.' As he spoke, a man stepped on to the stage, shoutingexpletives and slapping him on the back of the neck. 'This is heartbreaking,' Safdar said as he asked to beallowed to continue. 'I apologise again. I would request that Iam allowed to finish my statement, please.' Another man who mounted the stage shouted: 'It's too late.' Sales of the sterilizers, a liquid added to the water ofhumidifiers, were suspended by the South Korean government in2011. Safdar said some 178 users of its products are among thosebelieved by the South Korean government to have been affected,and he outlined a plan to set up a compensation panel. South Korea says 530 people had registered claims since 2011of lung ailments from using humidifier sterilizers marketed byOxy Reckitt Benckiser, and similar products marketed by otherfirms. South Korea is believed to be the only country where theproducts were sold, according to a government official. South Korean prosecutors have opened a criminalinvestigation against makers of the products. Reckitt Benckiser's global brands include Dettol antisepticwash, Nurofen and Durex condoms. Monday's apology comes as the company braces itself for a shareholder backlash, after handing its boss more than 23million in pay and perks. Rakesh Kapoor, chief executive of the FTSE 100 consumer goods company, saw his earnings jump from 12.8million in 2014 to 23.2million last year. Dave Campbell, 68, from Manchester, who was locked up in a Thai prison for eight months A British grandfather who was locked up in a Thai jail while facing a manslaughter charge claims he was sexually abused by guards and beaten by fellow inmates at the 'squalid' prison. Dave Campbell, who is originally from Salford, Manchester, has lived in the country since 2014 and was horrifically injured in a motorbike collision in Ban Phe in March last year. He spent more than three weeks in hospital and another three weeks in jail - before being hauled before the courts after a French woman involved in the crash died. Mr Campbell, 68, claims he has now been told by lawyers representing the French woman's partner that they are pushing for manslaughter charges against him The incident came while driving at night, when Mr Campbell collided with another bike, which didn't have its lights on and was carrying three people who weren't wearing helmets - a French man and woman and a local. After being knocked unconscious, he was left with broken ribs and severe cuts. He also claims he nearly lost an eye in the incident and has been left suffering terrible memory loss. When he was discharged from hospital, the grandfather says he voluntarily went to a police station to tell officers he had been involved in the crash. He was told there was no record of the incident and thought the matter had ended there. But around six weeks later, he was arrested, was told he faced an assault charge and claimed officers tried to force him to sign a confession. He said his phone was confiscated and claimed he was denied access to a lawyer and British consular assistance. After being taken to a cell, Mr Campbell's friends attempted to bail him out after police asked for 10,000 Thai Baht - around 200 - but the price soon rocketed to 2,000. He was then taken to Rayong, shackled to three other prisoners, before being thrown in a cell with 30 hardened criminals for three days. The pensioner said he was then put in another jail for two weeks, where he was beaten and robbed by prisoners in a tiny cell - and humiliated by laughing guards who sexually assaulted him after stripping him naked. He explained: 'From the minute I was arrested, they were shouting at me, slapping me, prodding me. They wouldnt let me speak to anyone and just said I was guilty. Ive had no idea whats been going on for 14 months. While in the prison Mr Campbell claims that he was beaten by fellow inmates and sexually abused by prison guards 'In prison, they made my life hell. The guards hit me for fun and the prisoners beat me and robbed me. 'Im out of jail now, but Ive been a prisoner for eight months. Its ruined my life, put me in thousands in debt through borrowing for hospital and legal bills, and put years on my life. 'Im not entirely sure what Im being accused of. All I know is that it was an accident. Ive done nothing wrong, but Ive been treated like a criminal.' Around eight months after Mr Campbell was released from prison and the case reached court after the French man involved in the crash returned to Thailand, claiming his partner had died of her injuries. He said French lawyers have told him a manslaughter charge could be brought against him when the case continues on May 30, having been adjourned. British troops arrived in Somalia today to join efforts against Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia. The soldiers, the first of up to 70 set to be deployed there this year, are part of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission to counter the extremist group. The military personnel, from Force Troop Command, 1 Div and Field Army training, will offer medical, engineering and logistical support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the move reinforces the UK's commitment to targeting terrorism around the world. The British troops will join a multi-national effort to stop the Al-Shabaab militants Somalia (file picture) by offering medical, engineering and logistical support to the African Union forces Al-Shabaab is al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia and operates primarily out of the country's southern and central regions. Mr Fallon added: 'This deployment is another demonstration of the flexibility and global reach of our Armed Forces. 'Alongside our efforts in Iraq, Syria and Nigeria, it shows our determination to tackle terrorism wherever it rears its head.' Announcing the deployment in September as he prepared to attend a summit at the UN General Assembly in New York, David Cameron said 'all the right force protection arrangements' would be put in place to minimise the risk of harm. The Prime Minister also announced personnel would be deploying to South Sudan, where inter-tribal fighting has forced people from their homes and left millions facing a severe food shortage, to provide engineering work to strengthen infrastructure. The assignments are part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) pledge to double the number of UK troops on UN peacekeeping tasks from the 300 currently deployed. The new deployment comes amid continued speculation about Britain's role in a mission to support the new Government in Libya. Last month, Philip Hammond admitted Britain might have to deploy combat troops to fight ISIS in Libya. The Foreign Secretary acknowledged the severity of the threat on Europe's doorstep as a new government in Tripoli battles to exert some control over the war-torn country. Mr Hammond has repeatedly said in recent weeks there are no plans in place for Britain to join a new mission in Libya - despite firm reports a 1,000-strong British force will be deployed on a training mission. But in a newspaper interview Mr Hammond said nothing should be ruled out, adding Royal Air Force or Royal Navy assets could also be deployed alongside the Army. A one-year-old girl has tragically died in a fierce unit fire after her mother and three-year-old brother were rescued from the blaze. The 22-year-old woman and her son were rescued from the balcony after the fire broke out at an apartment complex on Mowatt Street in East Queanbeyan, in southern New South Wales. Emergency crews arrived just before 3pm on Monday to find the unit alight and neighbours trying desperately to enter the property. Scroll down for video A one-year-old girl died in the blaze on Mowatt Street in East Queanbeyan on Monday Kenny Cameron, who lives in the unit next door, told the ABC: 'There was black toxic smoke bellowing out from the next-door neighbour's door. 'I tried to kick down the door and I could hear [the mother] screaming inside that she couldn't find her little baby girl.' NSW Police confirmed a child's body was found inside the unit shortly after 4pm, after the fire was extinguished. The girl's mother and her three-year-old brother were rescued from the unit's balcony NSW Police confirmed a child's body was found inside the unit shortly after 4:00pm, after the fire was extinguished Fire and Rescue NSW Commander Luke Unsworth said it was fortunate there were not three deaths in the fire. 'The mother and one of the children were actually on the balcony of the unit and with the assistance of NSW Police we managed to put a ladder up onto the balcony and rescue the mother and child,' he told the ABC. 'The firefighters that were now inside the unit were faced with an intense fire. There was a lot of flames, a lot of smoke. Kenny Cameron, pictured, said: 'I tried to kick down the door and I could hear [the mother] screaming inside that she couldn't find her little baby girl' The three-year-old boy was treated for smoke inhalation and the mother was treated for burns by paramedics. They have both been taken to the Canberra Hospital. Three police officers and three firefighters were also needed treatment for smoke inhalation at the scene. Advertisement New Zealand is world renowned for their beautiful and dramatic natural scenery and airplane passengers have taken to social media to share some of the country's most spectacular images from up in the air. Air New Zealand is encouraging their customers to share their best shots on social media of the land of the long white cloud using the hashtag #AirNZshareme. Close to 16,000 images have been shared by travelers keen to show off their photography skills and filter editing prowess. Stunning pictures show off New Zealands beautiful snow-capped mountains and coastline from the comfort of the window seat A passenger captures the sunset and clouds with tinges of pink and purple that almost look like cotton-candy This passenger traveling from Auckland to Wellington snapped a picture of Mount Taranaki, a strato volcano, located on the west coast of New Zealand's north island An Air NZ passenger captures the dramatic snow capped mountains near Mount Cook on the south island The images captured show off the beautiful and unique landscapes from the window seats of tourists. From snow-capped mountains to clouds in the sunset that almost look like cotton-candy and aerial views Queenstown and Wellington. Many of the breath taking photographs have been shared by Air New Zealand's official social media accounts. A traveler flying out of Wellington has shared an amazing evening photo of the city and lights below, with the clouds and sunset Amazing aerial shot captured flying over the picturesque Wellington's coastline and shared on social media A passenger captures the dramatic mountains flying from Queenstown to Auckland during winter The hashtag #AirNZShareMe has allowed keen travelers to show off their pictures of New Zealands stunning natural scenery A second refugee on Nauru has set herself on fire, just days after a male refugee died from self-inflicted burns. The Nauruan government confirmed the 21-year-old female refugee from Somalia had critical injuries after setting herself alight on Monday and was being treated at Nauru hospital. The government said in a statement it was distressed that refugees were attempting 'dreadful acts' to influence the Australian government's immigration policies. The woman's name is Hadon, Refugee Action Coalition said. Scroll down for video The Nauruan government confirmed a 21-year-old female refugee from Somalia had critical injuries after setting herself alight on Monday (stock image) The Nauru government said the woman was being treated by four emergency doctors from Australia and emergency medical evacuation had been requested. A source reportedly said a witness said her burns were more serious than those Omid suffered, Guardian Australia reported. It's alleged the 21-year-old was one of three refugees returned to Nauru last week, after being taken from Brisbane's immigration transit accommodation. She was brought to Australia in November after suffering a head injury in a motorcycle accident and was reportedly forcibly removed from Brisbane last Wednesday morning about 3am by Border Force officials. Ian Rintoul, spokesman for Refugee Action Coalition, told Daily Mail Australia they he could not confirm when that would be. Despite Nauru government's report the woman is 21, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has claimed she is 19-years-old and was taken to Nauru detention when she was 16. A spokesperson for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said they are 'supporting the Government of Nauru to identify appropriate medical treatment options'. A vigil for Hadon has been organised for Wednesday at 5.30pm at Sydney's Town Hall. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young wrote on Twitter: 'A young woman who asked Aust for help has now set herself on fire after losing all hope for freedom. Our nations heart is better than this.' 'This is another self-harm attempt that is Peter Dutton's responsibility,' Mr Rintoul said in a statement. 'A vulnerable young woman who needed protection was a victim of a spiteful removal. She has been sent to the toxic environment that the Minister has created on Nauru. Tragically this was entirely predictable.' In a statement, the Nauruan government stressed refugees on Nauru are given the same freedoms as citizens but 'have better facilities'. 'Refugees and asylum seekers are not distressed due to their conditions,' the statement said. 'Their conditions are better than most other refugee camps across the world.' The Nauruan government called for refugee advocates to stop giving refugees and asylum seekers false hope and 'stirring up these protests'. Mr Masoumali set himself alight on Wednesday and was airlifted to a Brisbane hospital on Thursday but died the following day A candlelight vigil was held in Mr Masoumali's memory in Sydney on Saturday, with signs displayed saying 'Killed by detention on Nauru. Close the camps now' 'This is very distressing for support workers, health workers and all others who work closely with our refugee community,' the government said. Australians have aired outrage at the self-immolation, calling on Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton to bring refugees remaining on Nauru to Australia. The incident comes just days after Iranian asylum seeker Omid set himself on fire in front of refugee advocates who were visiting Nauru. He died in Brisbane Hospital on Friday. The Nauruan government denies reports Omid was not provided quality care at Nauru hospital. Mr Dutton's office and the Immigration Department have been contacted for comment. It comes after the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court found Australia's detention of refugees on Manus Island illegal, prompting asylum seekers to seek up to $125,000 in compensation each. Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Another refugee, 21, has set herself alight in detention on Nauru just days after the death of Omid Masoumali, 23 (pictured) Shocking footage of the moment Omid set himself on fire in protest of Australia's detention laws emerged last week (above) The man was heard screaming 'I can't take it anymore' before he set himself alight in front of other detainees A heart-stopping 360 degree view 'on board' a 7000ft wingsuit BASE jump shows what it's like to fly just 10ft above the ground. As Jarno Cordia prepares for the death-defying descent off a mountain near Chamonix, France, he stares straight down the rock face. Once the 38-year-old professional wingsuit pilot takes flight, the vertigo inducing height becomes clearer as he plummets to the ground at 140mph. He's not afraid of heights: As Jarno Cordia prepares for the death-defying descent off a mountain near Chamonix, France, he stares straight down the rock face Soaring down: Once the 38-year-old professional wingsuit pilot takes flight, the vertigo inducing height becomes clearer as he plummets to the ground at 140mph While passing flying partner, Aurelien, snowy mountain peaks are quickly replaced by sunnier tree tops and dry ground. As the thrilling footage comes to an end, Jarno glides perilously close to canopies and earth below at speeds of up to 50mph. Jarno, from Den Haag, Netherlands, said: 'The experience of flying a wingsuit is quite an amazing one. 'Having the ability to fly several miles, using your own body to manipulate the air around you, makes you feel like you're donning an Iron Man suit. 'Though for sure the sport does carry its risks, I can't say that's ever a conscious thought.' Jarno has been flying wingsuits for 13 years and has completed a few hundred skydives in places ranging from Europe to Brazil, South Africa, USA and China. An average freefall would see Jarno diving towards the earth at 120mph, but the wingsuit slows down the descent rate to 50mph. He added: 'Through over 4500 jumps of training while skydiving, I've learnt to control my movement to a very high degree of precision. 'It's a very peaceful, yet intense state of mind, with visuals like nothing else on earth. 'I'm aware of the risks the sport carries but touch wood I've never had any injury or scary situations.' Terrifying: Jarno has been flying wingsuits for 13 years and has completed a few hundred skydives in places ranging from Europe to Brazil, South Africa, USA and China Flyign team: While passing flying partner, Aurelien, snowy mountain peaks are quickly replaced by sunnier tree tops and dry ground Close to earth: As the thrilling footage comes to an end, Jarno glides perilously close to canopies and earth below at speeds of up to 50mph Jarno worked on the video with Scopic.nl, a Dutch company specialising in 360 degree video. He said: 'We had worked together to produce a wingsuit documentary before but wanted to try something in 360. 'We hope to one day make a complete virtual directory documentary on wingsuit flyers. BASE jumping is parachuting or wingsuit flying from a fixed structure or cliff and 'base' is an acronym which stands for Building, Antenna, Span (such as bridges), and Earth (such as cliffs and mountaintops ) that jumpers can parachute from. The term was originally coined by the legendary Carl Boenish, often seen as the father of base jumping. The extreme sport is significantly more dangerous than jumping from a plane with a parachute as they take place at lower altitudes. In July 2015 Ian Flanders, 37, a wingsuit base jumper, died in Turkey during the country's first ever exhibition of the dangerous sport when his parachute cord became tangled and he plummeted to his death in a rocky valley. Flanders was the 264th jumper to die since record keeping began. High up: An average freefall would see Jarno diving towards the earth at 120mph, but the wingsuit slows down the descent rate to 50mph Strong winds and powerful thunderstorms are set to hit Melbourne on Tuesday, while other capital cities can prepare to bask in sunshine. The wild weather predicted for Melbourne follows a battering in the city on Sunday when storms brought down trees and damaged buildings in parts of the city. Victoria's State Emergency Service (SES) issued a severe weather warning for Tuesday, with winds of 110km/h and seas expected to top seven metres. Scroll down for video Melbourne took a battering on Sunday when severe thunderstorms brought down trees and damaged buildings in parts of the city Victoria's State Emergency Service has predicted more chaos on Tuesday, issuing a severe weather warning, with winds of 110km/h and seas expected to top seven metres The SES has warned of likely power outages, fallen trees and branches and severe wind gusts in parts of Victoria The SES has warned of likely power outages, downed trees and severe wind gusts in parts of the state. But the storms are expected to be isolated in the southeastern part of the country, with other major capitals enjoying more of Australia's endless summer-type conditions. In Sydney, temperatures are expected to climb to 25C on Tuesday. This is a return to fine weather after temperatures dropped to a chilly 6.5C on Sunday night finally giving the city a taste of autumn. In Sydney, temperatures dropped to a chilly 6.5C on Sunday night, and it seemed autumn had finally arrived. But the harbour city will enjoy glorious weather in the coming days, with temperatures expected to reach 25C on Tuesday Brisbane, having just sweltered through its hottest April on record, can expect a warm and sunny 30C on Tuesday While Brisbane, having just sweltered through its hottest April on record, can expect a warm and sunny 30C. While day time temperatures remain above average, it seems the country is finally beginning to cool off after a scorching and seemingly endless summer. May will be for the most part dry, with only a scattering of storms in parts of the New South Wales north east. 'It's definitely starting to feel like autumn now,' said Weatherzone meteorologist Tristan Meyers. 'It has been warmer in some places and cooler in others - with temperatures dropping down in Sydney. 'Over the next few days New South Wales will remain a touch above average.' Last week most of the country basked in summer temperatures, with many flocking to the beach to make the most of the heat. Above, sun-seekers at Bondi Beach While a drier and warm autumn can be expected this month, winter will be rung in with heavy rainfall. 'Rather than a wet end of autumn we could have rainfall increasing in to June and July, particularly in southern parts of the country. 'Next week, from sort of Saturday onwards, there will be fairly decent rain across the south and south east of the country,' Mr Meyers added. 'We may get some good rain in May but it's certainly drier than average,' he said. It comes after a lengthy summer which brought record temperatures for the month of April. Last week sun-seekers turned out in their droves to soak up the last of the good weather. The NSW Riverina region recorded the warmest day in 11 years at 28C. The average maximum temperature for the area at this time of year is around 22C. An employment tribunal lasted seven days and ruled that he lost his claim Usman, from Birmingham, said he was sacked due to racial discrimination He showed stunned colleagues the 'aggressive' and 'sinister' photographs Khalid Usman, 23, has been sacked by Jaguar after posing with AK47 rifle Khalid Usman, 23, (pictured) posed with the deadly weapon and wore a 'have a got at me face' which was similar to those in 'Dirty Harry' films, an employment tribunal heard A Muslim car plant worker has been sacked by Jaguar after he 'intimidated' colleagues by showing them pictures of him clutching an AK47 assault rifle - just days after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist atrocity. Khalid Usman, 23, posed with the deadly weapon and wore a 'have a go at me face', similar to those in 'Dirty Harry' films, an employment tribunal heard. He was in Pakistan when the photographs were taken and Mr Usman, from Birmingham, West Midlands, argued that 'guns are part of the Pakistani culture' in that particular region. But when he returned to the UK, Mr Usman showed the 'sinister', 'aggressive' and 'menacing' pictures on his phone to shocked workers who were left feeling intimidated. He did so just days after the Charlie Hebdo killing spree in Paris on January 7 this year, a terrorist attack which killed 11 employees at the satirical weekly newspaper. Mr Usman was the shown the door by Jaguar Land Rover after he proudly shared the images with frightened employees, the hearing in Birmingham heard. Mr Usman has now lost a legal action against the motor giant after claiming his dismissal was due to racial discrimination. The hearing heard the company's reputation would be tarnished if the photographs fell into the hands of the press. Sarah George, representing Jaguar Land Rover, said the pictures showed Mr Usman pointing an AK47 at the camera. She said: 'Mr Usman wore a challenging 'have a go at me' facial expression in the images, similar to those seen in the Dirty Harry films. 'The images were regarded as sinister, aggressive and menacing.' Miss George added workers found the photos offensive and intimidating. One was frightened and wondered why Mr Usman was dressed in black. But Mr Usman, who worked at the company's Castle Bromwich plant, stressed in a witness statement that there were no sinister motives behind the snaps. He was holidaying in a remote, mountainous part of Pakistan where it is common to carry arms as protection against bandits when he posed for the pictures. Mr Usman, who had been employed by Jaguar for a year, said: 'Guns are part of the Pakistani culture in this region. Mr Usman, who worked at the company's Castle Bromwich plant (pictured), claimed in a witness statement that there were no sinister motives behind the snaps An employment tribunal in Birmingham heard Mr Usman, 23, pointed an AK47 (similar to the one pictured) at the camera 'The images could only be viewed by my friends and family but I was asked to show them to work colleagues on my return to work.' Mr Usman argued that his dismissal was down to racial discrimination. He added: 'I was the only Pakistani Muslim working in C block.' Indonesian president's attempts to clamp down on industry have been met with Advertisement The orphaned orangutan sits quietly as the vet listens to his heartbeat - barely moving, bedraggled, seemingly on the point of death. But he is the lucky one: he has been rescued. His mother was not so lucky, becoming another victim of the greed which is slowly destroying vast swathes of a ranforest known as 'the earth's lungs'. Because there is a lot money to be made here in the Leuser Ecosystem Area, in Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra - but only if you cut the trees down, and destroy a habitat. Endangered: This orphaned Sumatran orangutan is one of just 7,300 left in the wild, fighting to survive as their habitat is slowly destroyed by the demand for palm oil, which needs vast areas for plantations, and the logging industry - both legal and illegal Extinct: As demand for palm oil, used in everything from biscuits to shampoo, increases, so does the likelihood the Sumatran orangutan will be wiped out forever. Pictured: An orphaned male orangutan Oxygen: These orphans come from the Leuser Ecosystem Area, in Gunung Leuser National Park, - a rainforest known as 'the earth's lungs' The biggest culprit in recent years is the palm oil industry, whose plantations encroach into the forest as demand for the product - used in everything from biscuits to shampoo - skyrockets. Added to this are the forest fires which tear through the trees every year during the dry season due to illegal slash-and-burn clearance. This combination of deforestation, forest fires and palm oil production on the Leuser Ecosystem Area - classed as a raninforest in danger by UNESCO - has meant the already critically endangered Sumatran orangutan is now even closer to becoming extinct. At one point in the 1990s, it was estimated the forest was being destroyed so quickly, the habitat of 1,000 orangutans was disappearing every single year. Photographer Sutanta Aditya, who spent time photographing the rainforest, plantations and wildlife to highlight the issue, said: 'According to the IUCN, over the last 75 years the population of Sumatran orangutans has decreased by 80 percent.' What's more, the palm oil plantations that operate in the core zone of the national park have resulted in Indonesia producing more greenhouse gasses than the US and China, based on factors such as peatland degradation, forest fires and deforestation. The photographer added: 'CO2 emissions even when a forest fire in 2015 totalled 1.700 million tonnes, exceeding the CO2 emissions of the United States.' There are also problems with drought and local farmers hope to continue farming in the area, despite the effects of the palm oil industry. However, there may be hope on the horizon: Indonesia is pushing to ban new palm oil operations after last year's haze-belching forest fires were partly blamed on the industry's expansion. Smog: The deforestation is not only slowly killing the wildlife, but also has devastating consequence for pollution levels Greed: Palm oil brings in millions every year to Indonesia, and supports some 24,000 people, either directly or indirectly, giving the companies a lot of sway. Pictured: A person walking inside the palm oil plantation Ban: Indonesian president Joko Widodo has proposed a halt on granting new land for palm oil plantations in the country Threat: Many people remain unconvinced that it will work, with the Indonesian Palm Oil Association claiming it would damage the country if they were not allowed to continue to grow. Pictured: Environmental activist Awaluddin Syam, 62, prays beside the deforestation land area President Joko Widodo has proposed a halt on granting new land for palm oil plantations in the world's top producer of the edible vegetable oil - a proposal which is aimed at reducing environmental destruction caused by the industry and halting the annual smog outbreaks. In a statement, he said that 'palm oil concessions available at the moment are already adequate' and urged producers to concentrate on using better seeds to increase their yields. But the Indonesian Palm Oil Association warned that the ban could damage a mainstay of Southeast Asia's biggest economy that supports 24million jobs, directly or indirectly. 'Palm oil is a strategic sector which contributed $19billion in exports in 2015,' said Tofan Madji, a spokesman for the group, which represents some 650 companies. 'It contributes to economic growth, especially in remote areas.' Activists were cautious about the proposal, with Greenpeace Indonesia warning it would not be effective unless the government introduces a tough regulation, rather than just a weaker 'presidential instruction'. Saved: An orphaned baby Sumatran orangutan called Leo undergoing his medical check-up Attempts: The palm oil plan follows a 2015 ban on new development on all peatlands after swathes of carbon-rich peat were drained for use as plantations in recent years, creating highly flammable areas. Pictured: A worker carries an orphaned orangutan Laws: The government has also pledged to punish more than 50 companies accused over last year's forest fires, but it suffered a setback when a lawsuit against a pulp and paper company accused of failing to prevent the blazes was rejected Difficult: Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research, believes the forest will continue to be destroyed for as long as there is money to be made from the palm oil industry Kiki Taufik, Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaigner, also warned of implementation problems as various parts of government would need to work together for a ban to operate smoothly. 'This is probably one of the hardest parts. Lack of coordination among officials is common and it often leads to bad implementation of regulations,' Taufik said. A moratorium on new logging permits on primary forest and peatlands - defined as areas not logged in recent history - has been in place since 2011, but campaigners say it has sometimes been ignored when local governments grant concessions. The palm oil plan follows a 2015 ban on new development on all peatlands after swathes of carbon-rich peat were drained for use as plantations in recent years, creating highly flammable areas. The government has also pledged to punish more than 50 companies accused over last year's forest fires. But it suffered a setback in December when a court rejected a $565million lawsuit against a pulp and paper company accused of failing to prevent the blazes. Some believe that little can be done to stop the annual fires when there is still money to be made from palm oil. 'The main cause of forest fires is greed,' said Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research. Plans to give visa-free travel to Europe for 75million people from Turkey are set to be given the go-ahead this week despite Ankara not fulfilling all of its criteria. The European Commission is expected to recommend the move on Wednesday despite deep public misgivings in some countries. In an apparent panic over attempts to tackle the migrant crisis, it has asked EU governments and the European Parliament to approve the decision by the end of June. But Turkey has not yet fully complied with an agreement to introduce 72 pieces of legislation to qualify for the waiver scheme. Women and children at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece. Many thousands of migrants remain at the border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe An EU source told EUobserver: 'They [the commission] will issue a positive recommendation. 'But it remains to be seen what kind of legal formulas and tricks they will use to justify the move.' Under the visa proposals, tourists from Turkey will be able to move freely within the 26-member Schengen zone for up to three months. In return, Turkey has agreed to take back one Syrian migrant who crosses to Greece in exchange for a Syrian in one of its refugee camps. The move comes as Germany and other EU countries plan to ask the EU Commission for an extension of border controls within the Schengen zone for another six months, because they fear a new wave of migrants. Interior Minister Thomas de Maizere's spokesman says a letter is being sent on Monday asking for an extension of the controls on the German-Austrian border, which were implemented last year when thousands of migrants crossed into Germany daily. De Maizere has expressed concern before that an increasing number of migrants will try to reach Europe this summer by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from lawless Lib Sinan Ulgen, the head of the Istanbul-based Centre for Economics, said Turkey's visa deal was a 'cornerstone' of the migrant agreement, but warned that Ankara had threatened to stop migrant readmissions unless it was granted the travel perks. Mohammoud Attaki, from Damascus, Syria, shaves his beard on the platform of a train station which was turned into a makeshift camp crowded by migrants at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece Among the criteria Turkey is expected to meet is a revision of anti-terror laws to protect minority rights and starting judicial cooperation with Cyprus, which Turkey does not recognise as a state. Ulgen told EUobserver that those reforms would be the hardest 'because it comes at a time when Turkey is facing a wave of terrorist attacks by the PKK and Islamic State.' A senior EU official familiar with the negotiations insisted that Europe had not 'lowered our standards', adding that 'Turkey had raised its game'. He was seeking to explain how the EU executive could certify compliance after telling lawmakers just two weeks ago that Ankara had met fewer than half the so-called benchmarks. The political reality is that Brussels cannot say 'No' and risk a collapse of a much criticized March 18 EU-Turkey deal that was a turning point in Europe's migration crisis. It may lack political support to sustain a 'Yes', but the Turkish government won't take 'Later' for an answer. So in the time-honoured EU manner, the Commission will present a package aimed at offering something for everyone. The commission recommendation must be approved by a majority of EU states and by MEPs. Turkey, which has a population of 75 million, has been included as part of a deal brokered by Germany for cooperation in controlling the flow of migrants to Europe. Migrants line-up for food at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, on Monday Germany took in more than a million asylum seekers last year as part of Chancellor Angela Merkel's 'open door' policy, and is keen to curb the flow of migrants. France and Germany have proposed a new 'emergency brake' that could suspend visa-free travel for countries that no longer meet the specific criteria. But commission officials have indicated that idea has been rejected. A senior EU source told the Sunday Times Turkey could threaten to 'open the floodgates' irrespective of any safeguards . 'The threat will always be there, not just regarding visas, but also perhaps in disputes related to human rights or the Kurdish issue,' the diplomat said. It comes as new figures revealed nearly 90,000 migrants who applied for asylum in Europe in 2015 were unaccompanied children a four-fold increase from the year before. Eurostat, the European Commission's official statistics office, said 88, 300 sought refuge last year compared to 23,000 in 2014 and between 11,000 and 13,000 from 2008-2013. The first U.S. cruise ship in nearly 40 years crossed the Florida Straits from Miami and docked in Havana on Monday, restarting commercial travel on waters that served as a stage for a half-century of Cold War hostility. Carnival Cruise Line's Adonia became the first U.S. cruise ship in Havana since President Jimmy Carter eliminated virtually all restrictions of U.S. travel to Cuba in the late 1970s. Travel limits were restored after Carter left office and U.S. cruises to Cuba only become possible again after Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro declared detente on December 17, 2014. Scroll down for video Cuban soldiers watch the Carnival Adonia cruise ship arrive from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) A woman from Cuba waves as Adonia leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba. (Patrick Farrell/The Miami Herald via AP) Hundreds of workers and passersby gathered to watch, some cheering, as the gleaming white 704-passenger ship pulled into the dock - the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. The straits were blocked by the U.S. during the Cuban Missile Crisis and tens of thousands of Cubans have fled across them to Florida on homemade rafts - with untold thousands dying in the process. The number of Cubans trying to cross the straits is at its highest point in eight years and cruises and merchant ships regularly rescue rafters from the straits. The Adonia (under the banner 'Fathom') is one of Carnival's smaller ships - roughly half the size of some larger European vessels that already dock in Havana - but U.S. cruises are expected to bring Cuba tens of millions of dollars in badly needed foreign hard currency if traffic increases as expected. More than a dozen lines have announced plans to run U.S.-Cuba cruises and operations come to fruition, then Cuba could earn more than $80 million a year, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council said in a report Monday. People watch the Carnival Adonia cruise ship arrive from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, on Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Most of the money goes directly to the Cuban government, council head John Kavulich said. He estimated that the cruise companies pay the government $500,000 per cruise, while passengers spend about $100 person in each city they visit. Carnival says the Adonia will cruise twice a month from Miami to Havana, where it will start a $1,800 per person seven-day circuit of Cuba with stops in the cities of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. The trips include on-board workshops on Cuban history and culture and tours of the cities that make them qualify as 'people-to-people' educational travel, avoiding a ban on pure tourism that remains part of U.S. law. People watch Carnival's Adonia cruise ship arrive from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday. Optional activities for the Adonia's passengers include a walking tour of Old Havana's colonial plazas and a $219 per person trip to the Tropicana cabaret in a classic car. Before the 1959 Cuban revolution, cruise ships regularly traveled from the U.S. to Cuba, with elegant Caribbean cruises departing from New York and $42 overnight weekend jaunts leaving twice a week from Miami, said Michael L. Grace, an amateur cruise ship historian. New York cruises featured dressy dinners, movies, dancing and betting on 'horse races' in which a steward dragged wooden horses around a ballroom track according to rolls of dice that determined how many feet each could move per turn. People take photos as Adonia leaves port in Miami. After a half-century of waiting, passengers finally set sail on Sunday from Miami on an historic cruise to Cuba. Carnival's Cuba cruises, operating under its Fathom band, will visit the ports of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. Rick Schneider of Delray Beach waves a Cuban flag onboard the Adonia as the ship leaves port in Miami. Passengers on board the Adonia watch as the ship leaves port in Miami on its way to Havana, Cuba. The United Fruit company operated once-a-week cruise service out of New Orleans, too, he said. 'Cuba was a very big destination for Americans, just enormous,' he said. Cruises dwindled in the years leading up to the Cuban Revolution and ended entirely after Castro overthrew the U.S.-backed government. People display a Cuban flag as they wait for passengers from Carnival's Adonia cruise ship to arrive from Miami. Passengers of the first US-to-Cuba cruise ship to arrive in the island nation in decades, walk in the streets of Havana right after disembarking on Monday. After Carter dropped limits on Cuba travel, 400 passengers, including musical legend Dizzy Gillespie sailed from New Orleans to Cuba on a 1977 'Jazz Cruise' aboard the MS Daphne. Like the Adonia, it sailed despite dockside protests by Cuban exiles, and continued protests and bomb threats forced Carras Cruises to cancel additional sailings, Grace said. The following year, however, Daphne made a several cruises from New Orleans to Cuba and other destinations in the Caribbean. Cuba cut back on all cruise tourism in 2005, ending a joint venture with Italian terminal management company Silares Terminales del Caribe and Fidel Castro blasted cruise ships during a four-and-a-half hour speech on state television. 'Floating hotels come, floating restaurants, floating theaters, floating diversions visit countries to leave their trash, their empty cans and papers for a few miserable cents,' Castro said. Today, the Cuban government sees cruises as an easy source of revenue that can bring thousands more American travelers without placing additional demand on the country's maxed-out food supplies and overbooked hotels. Before detente, Americans made surreptitious yacht trips to Cuba during Caribbean vacations and the number of Americans coming by boat has climbed since 2014, including passengers on cruise ships registered in third countries and sailing from other ports in the Caribbean. Traffic remains low, however, for a major tourist attraction only 90 miles (145 kilometers) from Florida. Aiming to change that as part of a policy of diplomatic and economic normalization, Obama approved U.S. cruises to Cuba in 2015. St. Petersburg residents and sisters, Janet Rappazini, left, and Jackie Ely, center, check-in as they board the Adonia before ship leaves port in Miami. Janet Rappazini, left, and Jackie Ely, center, hand their documents to security agent, Mazanne Jean, as they board Carnival Corp.'s Adonia. (Carl Juste/The Miami Herald via AP) A dancer of the welcoming commission waits at the entrance of the cruise terminal in Havana as passengers of the first US-to-Cuba cruise ship to arrive on the island. The Doral, Florida-based Carnival Cruise Line announced during Obama's historic trip to Cuba in March that it would begin cruises to Cuba starting May 1. Unexpected trouble arose after Cuban-Americans in Miami began complaining that Cuban rules barred them from traveling to the country of their birth by ship. As Carnival considered delaying the first sailing, Cuba announced April 22 it was changing the rule to allow Cubans and Cuban-Americans to travel on cruise ships, merchant vessels and, sometime in the future, yachts and other private boats. Norwegian Cruise Line says it is in negotiations with Cuban authorities and hopes to begin cruises from the U.S. to Cuba this year. Cruise traffic is key to the Cuban government's reengineering of the industrial Port of Havana as a tourist attraction. Security agent looks over towards the Carnival Crop.'s Adonia as passengers board before it leaves port in Miami on Sunday en route to Cuba. After decades of treating the more than 500-year-old bay as a receptacle for industrial waste, the government is moving container traffic to the Port of Mariel west of the city, tearing out abandoned buildings and slowly renovating decrepit warehouses as breweries and museums connected by waterfront promenades. A 17-year-old girl has died after taking a form of ecstasy known as 'MasterCard' today, prompting police to warn anyone else who may have consumed the drug to seek urgent medical help. Police were called to the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester at around 5am this morning, where the teenager had suffered an adverse reaction after allegedly taking one of the pills during a night out. It is understood the girl had been attending a Bank Holiday Monday club night called 'Don't Let Daddy Know' at the venue when she was taken ill. She was rushed to hospital but died shortly afterwards. A teenage girl has died after taking a form of ecstasy known as 'MasterCard' today, as police warned anyone else who may have consumed the drug to seek urgent medical help Police have today urged anyone who may have taken a similar pill to urgently seek medical attention, while those who might know where the drug had come from were told to contact officers. The drugs are pink in colour and are shaped like the MasterCard credit card logo, with the name stamped on one side. The girl's identity is not yet known. Detective Inspector Helen Bell from Greater Manchester Polices Trafford Division said: 'This is a tragic situation, the death of a young person is always devastating, but in these circumstances, it is all the more heart breaking. 'My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time. 'Sadly we know it is very unlikely that the girl was the only person to have taken this drug last night. 'We are appealing to anyone who may have taken this form of ecstasy, known as "MasterCard" to get checked out urgently. 'Even if you took it some hours ago, this pill will still be in your system and could be seriously harming your health. Police were called to the Victoria Warehouse (pictured) in Manchester at around 5am this morning, where the teenager had suffered an adverse reaction after allegedly taking one of the pills during a night out 'Anyone with any information about what happened or where this drug may have come from is asked to contact police as soon as possible.' The club night, also known as #DLDK, returned to Victoria Warehouse following a sell out debut last year, and it is believed up to 5,000 clubbers packed into the venue to see acts such as Showtek, Blasterjaxx, Don Diablo and Laidback Luke. According to event information posted online, the venue operates a zero tolerance drugs policy. 'Victoria Warehouse do NOT condone the use of drugs at their events,' it said. 'As a condition of entry everyone will be searched on the way in. We have a zero tolerance policy for anyone found with drugs on their person.' It added: 'Victoria Warehouse are extremely concerned about customers using such drugs. No drugs are safe but if you do take drugs please wait for them to take effect before taking more. Mixing drugs with alcohol can also be extremely dangerous. 'There is a welfare / medic area on site for all of our events at the Victoria Warehouse. If you or a friend feels at all unwell throughout the night, please come and find a member of staff to help.' Five-year-old Keshav Sahu, who is recovering in hospital after doctors found a toothbrush lodged in his stomach, which had been there for a year An Indian boy who complained of stomach ache is recovering in hospital after doctors removed a six-inch long toothbrush which had been in his stomach for almost a year. Five-year-old Keshav Sahu complained of being in pain forcing doctors to operate where they found the object near his bladder. The youngster from Chhattisgarh in eastern India, had swallowed the toothbrush but didn't tell his puzzled parents, who kept giving him medicine to make him fell better. But when the pain worsened, his father Hemant took him to Raipur Medical College for treatment, where doctors detected a stone in his bladder and a six-inch long object. And when doctors operated on the child, they were shocked to find the toothbrush. Dr Patel, the paediatric surgeon who treated the boy, said: 'The foreign object was not clear in the x-ray and ultrasound. 'When we pulled the stone out of the boy's bladder, a 15cm long stick came out with the stone covered with blood. Later, we came to know that it was a toothbrush. 'The toothbrush had ripped three holes in the child's intestine before it reached the bladder. 'The stone was removed and the internal damage was tended to immediately.' Meanwhile Mr Sahu, 33, was shocked when he learnt about his son's condition. He said: 'He never told me he swallowed a toothbrush. He had been complaining of stomach pain and would throw up food. 'While we tried to subside the pain with painkillers, he would only cry every day.' Keshav is now recovering fast but is still unsure of how he swallowed the toothbrush. Keshav is now recovering fast but is still unsure of how he swallowed the toothbrush, pictured after it was removed by surgeons He told the doctors that he might have not have told his parents out of fear. Dr Patel added: 'It was an unusual case as generally we come across cases like swallowing of coins by children. A rhino has been shot and killed in India's Kaziranga National Park, just weeks after another killing took place hours after the park had been visited by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The female rhino was found with her horn sawn off in Kaziranga, home to the world's biggest population of the one horned rhino on Monday, taking the total number poached this year to eight. Last month, another rhino was killed 12 hours after Prince William and his wife Duchess Catherine had visited Kaziranga to raise awareness about protection of the species. Tragedy: Another rhino has been killed in Kaziranga National Park on Monday, taking the total number poached this year to eight The rhino was killed just weeks after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Kaziranga National Park in Assam during their week-long tour to Indian and Bhutan This image shows another rhino, which was shot dead at Kaziaranga National park hours after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went on safari there to raise awareness about the endangered animals Poachers killed the male rhino in Kaziranga National Park in Assam using high-powered assault rifles - and 88 empty cases fired from AK-47s were found lying near the slain creature. Forest officials said they heard a burst of gunfire just hours after the royal couple had driven through the park in an open jeep, with security vehicles escorting them. Following the callous shooting the Royal couple released the following statement: 'The Duke and Duchess were angry to hear about the killing of this rhino during their visit. 'They hope their time in Kaziranga encourages others to support the brave rangers that are protecting animals that are so important to the communities that surround the national park.' The rhino was killed about 12.5 miles away from the Diphlu River Lodge where William and Catherine stayed on April 13, before leaving for Bhutan the following day. The rhino was killed about 20km (12.5 miles) away from the Diphlu River Lodge where Prince William and Princess Kate stayed during their visit Forest officials said they heard a burst of gunfire, just hours after the royal couple had driven through the park in an open jeep, with security vehicles escorting them A forest official shows the empty AK-47 cartridges, which were recovered near the dead rhino A forest official makes the shape of a rhino using the empty cartridges of the weapons used to kill it Poachers killed a female rhino just two days before the royal visit. The horns of both that female and the male killed on the day of the Royal visit were hacked off by poachers. The poachers shot the female rhinoceros and, while it was still alive, sawed off its horn before fleeing before dawn Sunday, wildlife official Subasis Das said. Once the dying animal was discovered, park officials rushed to try to save it but were unsuccessful, he said. Six rhinos have been poached at the sanctuary so far this year, after 20 were killed in 2015. M.K. Yadava a former director of the Kazrianga Park said: 'It is war against poachers and sometime we win, but many times we lose due to scarcity of resources.' All five of the world's rhino species are under constant threat from poachers seeking their horns to sell on the black market. Demand is high in countries such as China and Vietnam, where people mistakenly believe consuming rhino horns can increase male potency. The 480-square-kilometer grassland park is home to the world's largest population of rare, one-horned rhinos, as well as other endangered species including swamp deer and the Hoolock gibbon. The Royal pair travelled in an open-air jeep on their safari trip around the National Park Look over there! Prince William and the guide appear to be pointing out a passing creature to and excited Kate Prince William (centre) feeds baby elephants as a rhino calf looks on at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Armed with large bottles of milk, the The Duke and Duchess fed the hungry animals during a trip to a sanctuary in Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The calves were clearly impatient to get their meal and bellowed when they first saw rangers approaching with the flasks. The couple were touring Kaziranga National Park home to elephants, water buffalo, the endangered swamp deer, tigers, and two-thirds of the world's population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses. The park in the state of Assam, in the north east of India, is a unique mix of grasslands, wetlands and forest and is more than 800,000 square kilometres in size and has designated a Unesco World Heritage Site. William, who is a passionate conservationist, and Kate were introduced to the group of young animals at Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC). It provides emergency care and rehabilitation for wild animals that have been injured, displaced, or orphaned. In a large area of grassland and sparse woodland the baby animals had gathered under the shade of a tree waiting for the royal couple who walked towards them. The maternal instincts of the Cambridges - who left their two children at home before setting off on their Indian tour - came to the fore during the encounter. Kate admitted that she was 'terribly missing' her own children after four days away, adding that Prince George was 'too naughty' to bring on the trip because the two-year-old 'would be running all over the place'. The Duke and Duchess were touring Kaziranga National Park, home to elephants, water buffalo, the endangered swamp deer, tigers, and two-thirds of the world's population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses The park in the state of Assam in the north east of India is a unique mix of grasslands, wetlands and forest and is more than 800,000 square kilometres in size and has designated a Unesco World Heritage Site The maternal instincts of the Cambridges - who left their two children at home before setting off on their Indian tour - came to the fore during the encounter A mother-of-four says she is lucky to be alive after suffering a fall during a Mexican zip lining excursion. Heather Gladden, 36, of Cloverdale, California, suffered bruising and cable burns throughout her body after a zip line malfunctioned during what was supposed to be a romantic and relaxing getaway with her husband Ryan last week. The Gladdens booked a zip line excursion through the Nogalito Eco Park in Puerto Vallarta last Thursday, during one of the stops on their Mexican cruise. Scroll down for video Heather Gladden suffered a 500 foot fall into a Mexican rainforest last week, when a zip line she was riding malfunctioned The 36-year-old mother-of-four suffered bruising and cable burns throughout her body, but luckily no broken bones Mrs Gladden says she watched her husband zip line across the 2,100-foot canyon without incident. But when she was attached to the line and sent down the canyon, something happened halfway through and she suddenly plummeted 500 feet straight down into the jungle. 'Next thing I could hear the trees rustling through my ears and the noise of the tree branches,' Mrs Gladden told KPIX. 'And then just a hard yank and then when I opened up my eyes I was upside down in the tree.' After her fall, Mrs Gladden's (left) husband Ryan (right) came running to her rescue and found her dangling upside down, 40 feet up in the forest Paramedics helped get her down from the trees and take her to the hospital. But the Gladdens decided not to stay overnight, returning to their cruise ship so they could seek medical treatment back in the U.S. Mr Gladden watched the accident play out from the other side of the canyon, and immediately ran to his wife's aide, directed by her screams. When he found his wife, she was dangling upside down from the rainforest canopy, about 40 feet up. An ambulance was called and paramedics helped free Mrs Gladden and take her to the hospital. While doctors wanted her to stay overnight, the Gladdens decided to return to the cruise ship, which would have left without them. The cruise then returned to San Pedro, where they parked their car, and they immediately drove home to northern California, arriving early Sunday morning. At Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, Mrs Gladden says she was treated for bruising and cable burns. She says she may have a torn ACL but she's lucky in that she didn't actually break any bones. She credits the rainforest canopy with breaking her fall. While the Gladdens believe that the zip line snapped or broke, the company that runs the tour says it was not as dramatic. Nogalito manager Nuria Flores Gonzalez told the Press Democrat that the zip line did not detach or break at one end, but that it dropped when a cable support mechanism failed. 'It got weak in some way and thats what made it drop lower than normal,' Flores said. 'I believe it was a slow drop.' Three bombs targetting Shiite pilgrims have killed at least 14 people in Baghdad - including women and children. The largest bomb, planted in a parked car in the south of the city, killed 11 and wounded at least another 30. It is thought ISIS are behind the deadly blasts, which appeared to be targeting pilgrims gathering in Baghdad for the annual commemoration of Imam Musa Kadhim's death in 799 AD. The biggest blast, in the south of the city, the aftermath pictured here, killed 11 people and wounded 30 Iraqis look at the damage following the car bomb, which was targeting pilgrims heading to commemorate the death of Imam al-Kadhim The second blast ripped through Tarmiya, 15 miles north of the city. The explosives were planted in the ground, killing two and wounded six. The third bomb was a roadside blast in Khalisa, a town 20 miles south of the city. One person died and two were wounded. Their deaths are added to the 23 who were killed in similar attacks on the outskirts of Baghdad on Saturday. If they are all linked to ISIS, it follows a trend which has seen the group increase the number of attacks it carries out as it tries to response to substantial territorial losses. U.S.-based analysis firm IHS calculated there were 891 attacks in the first quarter of 2016 across Iraq and Syria, more than in any three-month period since the militants' sweeping advance in mid-2014. Those attacks killed 2,150 people, a 44 percent rise over the previous three months and the highest quarterly toll in nearly a year. At the same time, the U.S. military has estimated ISIS's territory in Iraq has shrunk by about 40 percent from its 2014 peak and 20 percent in Syria. ISIS has yet to claim responsibility for the attacks, but it has been increasing them as it loses ground Monday's deaths are added to the 23 killed in similar attacks on the outskirts of Baghdad on Saturday 'The group is resorting more and more to mass-casualty violence as it comes under heavy pressure from multiple angles,' said Matthew Henman, head of IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Centre. The IHS report also noted a rise in Islamic State attacks in Libya, where the militants have grown in strength, taking over the central city of Sirte and attacking oilfields. Analysis showed almost as many attacks in the first three months of this year as in the preceding six months. IHS said Islamic State activity has also spiked around the northwestern town of Sabratha it described as a key staging ground for attacks in neighbouring Tunisia. Male driver, 55, has been arrested and questioned by Humberside Police Ms Jackson described as 'lovely mother who lived for her kids' Tributes have been paid to a mother and daughter who were killed after being hit by a lorry on a pedestrian crossing outside an Iceland. The family, named locally as Zena Jackson, 43, and daughter Cidalia, six, died after they were hit by the HGV while they were believed to be in the road on the crossing. The pair were crossing the road outside an Iceland store in Springbank in Hull, East Yorkshire, who lived just a short walk away from where the accident happened, when they were hit by the lorry driven by a 55-year-old man. The driver has since been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is helping police with their inquiries. Zena Jackson, left, 43, and daughter Cidalia, right, six, were killed after being hit by a lorry on a pedestrian crossing in Hull Flowers and tributes have since been left in huge numbers by well-wishers at the crossing outside the Iceland Katie Fairweather, who knew Ms Jackson and her daughter well, said the mother 'lived for her kids'. She said: 'She was lovely and she now leaves her other children behind. She was one of those people who just lived for her kids. 'Her daughter was a beautiful child who was always well-behaved and well-mannered. She was an absolute angel. 'It is sickening what has happened and I know lots of people who haven't slept since it happened.' Ms Fairweather's daughter Abbie, eight, was a friend of Cidalia and added: 'She was really nice and always happy. Her mum took me to the park once and we had a nice time.' Donna Grayson, whose eight-year-old daughter Demi-Rose went to school with Cidalia, said: 'It is devastating news. 'I am just absolutely blown away by it all. The whole community is. I think everyone is in disbelief. 'My daughter knew the girl from the school. She classed her as her little friend. I had to break it to her. She is devastated. 'I was speaking to the mum just last week. The school had a dance competition and we were all there outside having a laugh and a joke. The fence along the road has been adorned with bouquets and messages of love for the mother and daughter Ms Jackson was described as a 'wonderful mum' while family friends said her daughter was 'always happy' 'She was lovely. She was a wonderful mum. Always there for her kids. 'Everybody knew her in some way and mostly through her children and the school and a lot out of school as well. It is the family I feel so sorry for.' Tributes left on railings close to where the incident happened said: 'Sleep tight beautiful girl, safe in the arms of your mum.' Another said: 'Taken too soon beautiful girl. Now an angel in the sky wrapped in the arms of your mum.' A soft toy 'from your school friends' was also left at the scene. Jalal Hassan, who worked as Tabarak Food, near to the crossing, said: 'I was crying for much of the day after what I witnessed, I won't be able to sleep for a week. 'I just saw the woman and child at the crossing and saw the lorry come up. It was horrible. I knew there was nothing I could do.' The driver of the lorry, 55, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving Tributes have also been paid on Facebook from Ms Jackson's son and Cidalia's brother, Aidan Jackson. He said: 'R.I.P. to the most wonderful loving mum I could ever ask for and my beautiful little sister Cidalia. 'You both will always be in our hearts and I'm going to cherish every single moment I had with both of you. I love you both so much.' Family friend Ruhal Husain described Ms Jackson as a 'devoted mother' and said Cidilia was a girl who 'brought happiness and joy to everyone who knew her'. Mr Husain is hosting a fundraising page which has already raised thousands of pounds on behalf of Ms Jackson's family. Migrant children trapped in a Greek border camp are being given English lessons in a makeshift school as they desperately wait for a new life in Europe. More than 10,000 migrants have been stranded in squalid conditions for weeks at Idomeni on the Macedonian border after the so-called Balkan route was shut down. Greek authorities have sought to clear the facility but most have refused to relocate to other camps further inland, hoping that the borders might reopen. But with no sign of when that might happen, a temporary school has been set up in a tent, offering classes from English and maths to drawing and yoga. Children attend an English lesson inside a tent at the Idomeni migrant camp on the Greek-Macedonian border Children show their drawings during an English lesson at the makeshift migrant camp on the Greek border Children learn how to describe the part of the human body in English during a class inside a makeshift school A girl plays next to the school schedule board that offers migrants classes from English and maths to yoga It comes as new figures revealed that nearly 90,000 migrants who applied for asylum in Europe in 2015 were unaccompanied children a four-fold increase on the year before. Eurostat, the European Commission's official statistics office, said 88,300 sought refuge last year compared to 23,000 in 2014 and between 11,000 and 13,000 in each year from 2008-2013. Over half were aged 16 to 17, while those aged 14 to 15 accounted for 29 per cent and those under 14 around 13 per cent. More than 90 per cent were boys, while around half were Afghans, the figures showed. People look into a classroom set under a tent at a makeshift camp for migrants at the Greek-Macedonia border Ordeal: New figures have revealed that nearly 90,000 migrants who applied for asylum in Europe in 2015 were unaccompanied children a four-fold increase on the year before More than 10,000 are in the overcrowded camp in Idomeni, separated from Macedonia with a barbed wire fence The scenes at Idomeni mirror those of the so-called Jungle migrant camp in Calais where facilities including mosques, schools and even a nightclub were set up to meet the needs of thousands of refugees trying to reach Britain. Some 54,000 people, many of them fleeing the war in Syria, have been stranded on Greek territory since the closure of the migrant route through the Balkans in February. More than 10,000 are in the overcrowded camp in Idomeni, separated from Macedonia with a double barbed wire fence. Groups have intermittently tried to cross the border, where they face the Macedonian police and army. Children draw during an English lesson inside a tent at the makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border The scenes at Idomeni mirror those at the so-called Jungle migrant camp in Calais where mosques, schools and even a nightclub were set up to meet the needs of thousands of refugees trying to reach Britain Two weeks ago some 260 refugees were injured when Macedonian police fired tear gas in a bid to prevent a large group from storming the border. Last month, three Afghans drowned trying to wade through the river into Macedonia, while another 1,500 who followed them made it across the border only to be rounded up and sent back by troops. Last month, a Macedonian army spokesman said the police and military 'daily discover 50 to 300 illegal migrants who are trying to enter into the country or break the fence' and send them back to Greece. Macedonia, a non-EU and non-NATO country of two million people, has deployed its army at the border since August last year to control the influx of refugees and other migrants hoping to start new lives in northern Europe. Squalor: A child drinks water from a pipe on the platform of a trim station which was turned into a makeshift camp crowded by migrants at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni Women and children at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece. Many thousands of migrants remain at the border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe Syria's civil war is 'in many ways out of control' US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned, as rebel groups reject local ceasefires. Kerry, who was in Geneva to meet with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, vowed to work hard in the 'coming hours' to salvage a tattered truce between government forces and the rebels. The ceasefire, brokered by Russia and the U.S. in February, appears to be on the brink of collapsing entirely, after an escalation of violence in the divided city of Aleppo put peace talks at risk. Scroll down for video U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, right, has warned the conflict is 'in many ways out of control' as he tries to save the fragile ceasefire Tensions have been mounting as violence in the northern city of Aleppo, where more than 250 people have died in the last nine days. Pictured: Syrian kids gather around the rubbles of houses at Damascus' Cobar region to protest against Assad Regime forces' air attacks And now rebel groups - speaking through the Free Syrian Army - have said that 'any attack against any liberated area where one of our factions is present will be considered an assault against all factions', which means 'we will have a right to respond'. Meanwhile, a leading pro-government newspaper in Syria claimed the army is preparing a major offensive to recapture the whole of Aleppo and its surrounding province. The editorial in Al-Watan came as fighting intensifies in and around the divided city despite a February ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States. 'Now is the time to launch the battle for the complete liberation of Aleppo,' the paper said. 'It's no secret that the Syrian army has prepared this decisive battle with its allies. It will not take long to begin, nor to finish.' A source close to the regime also said the army would launch a major offensive in the coming days. 'The army is preparing a huge operation in the coming days to push the rebels away from the city by encircling it and creating a security zone,' the source said. Kerry admitted on Monday that, while the ceasefire was holding in some parts of the country, the situation in Aleppo - where more than 250 people have died in shelling and airstrikes in the last nine days, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - was particularly bad. A leading pro-government newspaper in Syria claimed the army is preparing a major offensive to recapture the whole of Aleppo and its surrounding province. Pictured: A man carries an injured child in Aleppo There, he said, Bashar al-Assad's regime had deliberately targeted three clinics and a major hospital, killing doctors and patients and threatening the truce. 'The attack on this hospital is unconscionable,' he said. 'And it has to stop.' Kerry said he would call his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov later Monday to press for the ceasefire to be restored - but he did not promise success. Standing by de Mistura, he thanked him for supporting a political process in the midst of 'a conflict that is in may ways out of control and deeply disturbing to everybody in the world, I hope.' Rebel groups - speaking through the Free Syrian Army - have said that 'any attack against any liberated area where one of our factions is present will be considered an assault against all factions', which means 'we will have a right to respond'. Pictured: Syrians evacuate a toddler from a destroyed building Kerry also met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir while in Geneva, who spoke out against Russia's continued airstrikes, calling them an 'outrage' and a criminal violation of humanitarian law. He said that Syrian President Bashar Assad would be held accountable for the attacks and would be removed from power either through a political process or by force. He's been condemned by other Muslim leaders and banned from several mosques but a brave man has broken his silence to come out as Australia's first openly gay Imam. Melbourne Imam Nur Warsame - who is a well-respected leader of a mosque in the Islamic community in Australia - was once married and has a young daughter. The Somali-born man revealed his battle with reconciling his faith and sexual identity for decades - and at one point, he attempted to take his own life after suffering years of trauma. Scroll down for video Melbourne man Nur Warsame (pictured) speaks out about his sexuality as Australia's first openly gay Imam 'Reconciling spirituality with sexuality is a very difficult journey,' he told the SBS program The Feed. But after living in silence, the father of one has taken a bold step after coming out publicly in a bid to provide support to young gay Muslims who are too afraid to speak up. 'My intentions are to try to make a difference in Muslim homes,' he said. 'The idea is to make avenues and paths for other young queer Muslims to live their lives to the fullest and to hold on to their spirituality.' The Somali-born man (pictured after being interviewed on Joy FM) was once married and has a young daughter And that's exactly what he's done by setting up a safe space across Melbourne for closeted LGBT Muslims to share their experiences and seek advice with one another. 'The reason it's difficult for people to come out in the Muslim world or Islamic communities is because the losses are too high, the risks are too great. 'I mean there is even a risk to your life because the conservative school of thought in Islam to counter homosexuality is to be killed, that's your repentance.' Many Muslim countries still impose the death penalty if anyone is convicted of 'homosexuality'. Earlier this year, photographs and videos emerged online showing two men bound and blindfolded being thrown to their deaths after they were said to have 'engaged in homosexual activities'. There were children of different The internet has fallen in love with an adorable indigenous girl who could not stop yawning during a speech by the Mexican President. The girl, whose name is still unknown, was one of several children stood on a stage behind Enrique Pena Nieto in Guadalajara, Jalisco state. But it was clear from her expression - and constant yawning - that she was not entertained by the leader's words. A young indigenous girl has become an internet sensation after she was filmed yawning behind Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto Her yawns were so loud they were picked up by the president's microphone as he addressed the audience at the opening ceremony of Tianguis Turistico 2016, a fair promoting tourism to Guadalajara. Behind him were several children of different ages and backgrounds, but it was one little girl in a pink and white dress that caught the eye. She repeatedly yawned, her mouth wide open, before rubbing her face to try and stay awake during the speech. At one point the First Lady of Mexico, Angelica Rivera, held the young girl's face and shook it gently to try and wake her. The President even put his arm around the little girl - unaware of what has been happening behind his back - and began talking about 'the excitement' the children were showing. The young girl's yawns were so loud they were picked up by the president's (pictured) microphone At one point the First Lady of Mexico (top left), Angelica Rivera, shook the girl to wake her The President even put his arm around the little girl and began talking about 'the excitement' the children were showing The incident was soon trending on Twitter with the hash tag #TodosSomosLaNina (we are all the girl). One user commented: 'What else needs to be said if the little girl did us the favour of saying it all?' A never-before-seen photo released by the father of David Miscavige shows the controversial Scientology leader posing with his family - including his wife Shelly who has been reported missing multiple times over the past few years. Ron Miscavige appeared on Good Morning America Monday to promote his upcoming book about the Church, Ruthless, and shared a family photo with his wife, children and grandchildren from when they were all still members of Scientology. Since that time Ron and his wife have left the Church, as has his oldest son Ron Miscavige Jr. and his family. Everyone else remains in Scientology including Shelly, who was the subject of a 2013 missing-person report filed by her friend Leah Remini after she had not been seen in several years. Scroll down for video Rare sighting: Scientology leader David Miscavige and his wife Shelly (above) are seen together in a newly released photo Family affair: The picture was shared by David's father Ron Miscavige (center with first wife Loretta) and also shows his brother Ron Jr. (second from right), his sister Lori (third from left) and their children Ron has been cut off from his family since he made the decision to leave the Church in 2012 with his second wife Becky. The pair drove for three days across the country after leaving one of Scientology's California compounds, eventually ending up in Wisconsin. His son Ron Miscavige Jr. was the first to leave the Church in 2000, followed five years later by Ron Jr.'s daughter Jenna. Jenna has also written a book about the Church, Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape. She said in her book that after her mother and father left Scientology in 2000 she was not allowed to receive mail from them and could not use a phone for a year. Ron's daughters and David's sisters Denise and Lori and still members of Scientology, and have disconnected from Ron and Ron Jr. It is unclear why Shelly has not been seen in public since 2007, but after Remini filed her report in 2013 Shelly did speak with members of the Los Angeles Police Department and say she was fine and not being held against her will by the Church. Her location is unknown. She and David married in 1982, and four years later he became Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center after the death of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Concern: Shelly has not been seen in public since 2007 and in 2013 her friend Leah Remini (above last week) filed a missing-person report Claim: A 2014 report claimed Shelly was sent away to a secret Church facility in 2006 after making executive decisions behind her husband David's back (David above with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in 2008) Remini first grew alarmed about Shelly she said at the 2006 wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, which the wife of the Church leader did not attend. 'Shelly was always where David Miscavige was,' Remini explained in an interview with ABC News last year. 'It was a wedding of the century it was like, "wheres Shelly?"' Making things even more odd for Remini was that she could never get an answer when she asked people at the wedding. 'Its such a simple thing. Its a big wedding that the leader of the Church is here and his wife isn't. Its getting weirder because you're making it weirder,' said Remini. A Vanity Fair story from March 2014 claimed that Shelley is being kept at Twin Peaks, Rimforest, a 500-acre site that is located a little over an hour outside Los Angeles. There is heavy security on the site, which is also outfitted to house David and Scientology paterfamilias Tom Cruise in the event of a nuclear Armageddon. She has been there since 2006, but reportedly remains incredibly loyal to the Church. Donald Trump insisted on Monday that the only reason he skipped Saturday's annual White House Correspondents Association dinner was because he could trust the press to report honestly on his reactions to being the butt of jokes. The Republican front-runner said on CNN's 'New Day' that when he attended in 2011 and took repeated comic blasts from President Barack Obama, 'I thought it was fine. ... I'll tell you what honestly, I had a great time.' The president saved his best Donald jokes for last at Saturday's DC event. Obama joked Trump's foreign policy experience is meeting with 'Miss Sweden [and] Miss Argentina' and Trump could close Gitmo because he's good at running waterfront properties to the ground.' Miss Sweden Camilla Hansson said she thought it was kind of funny' and sang Trump's praises, calling him a 'larger-than-life character.' NO-SHOW: Trump, shown Sunday in Indiana, skipped the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday, saying he couldn't trust the political press to report that he knows how to take a joke BIG FAN: After Obama joked about Trump's foreign policy experience, hinting it was limited to the Miss Universe contest, Miss Sweden, Camilla Hansson said she wouldn't mind discussing anything with the front-runner and called him him a 'larger-than-life character.' Obama cracked wise in 2011 about Trump's dalliance with the 'birther' movement and his role on 'Celebrity Apprentice' being a ludicrous model for presidential leadership. C-SPAN's cameras showed Trump stoically taking his beating but not laughing along with it. But he claimed Monday that he took it all in stride. 'I said, 'The President is joking. I had a great time.' I told that to the press as I was leaving,' he told CNN. ''Did you like it?' I said, 'I had a great time. he did well, everything. I had a fantastic time.' The next day, they said, 'Donald Trump had a miserable time. he felt humiliated'.' 'I didn't feel humiliated. I had a great time,' Trump reiterated. 'So the press is very dishonest. They don't report the truth. And therefore it's easier not to go.' Washington Post feature writer Roxanne Roberts backed Trump up on Thursday, writing that she was seated close enough to Trump in 2011 to be forced to look around his hair to see the president. Like this time around, he was being talked about as a natural Republican presidential hopeful. Trump told reporters that night, Roberts recalls, that 'he'd had a great time and was honored to be skewered by the president. And then he headed to the airport to jet home.' 'Pundits took that as yet more proof that he was upset, but some VIPs stick around for the after-parties, and some beeline to their private jets which is why, Trump says, he didn't linger.' GOOD SPORT: The GOP front-runner said on CNN that when he attended in 2011 and took repeated comic blasts from President Barack Obama, 'I thought it was fine. ... I'll tell you what honestly, I had a great time' 'The next morning, the newspapers had a different version that boiled down to 'Trump humiliated',' Roberts wrote. 'Trump says he was baffled by the headlines, because that wasn't his take on the night.' Trump conceded that he didn't like comedian Seth Myers' jokes, but insisted he thought Obama's routine was funny. Meyers that night was more caustic. 'Trump owns the Miss USA Pageant, which is great for Republicans, because it will streamline their search for a vice president,' he said. 'Donald Trump said recently he's got a great relationship with 'the blacks.' Unless the Blacks are a family of white people, I bet he's mistaken.' Trump said the following morning on the Fox news Channel that 'I thought Seth Meyers, frankly, his delivery was not good he's a stutterer and he really was having a hard time.' On Saturday, Obama attended his final correspondents' dinner and took a few more chunks out of Trump's hide while he watched on television. Trump's contact with world leaders, he chuckled, consisted of meetings with international beauty pageant winners. But 'I would have loved to have gone ... no matter how great a time that I would have, it wouldn't matter,' Trump said Monday of the anticipated press onslaught. 'They will say 'Donald Trump was humiliated! Donald Trump had a miserable time!' You know, that's what they did last time. I had really a great time. Hey look: You had the President of the United States spending much of his speech on me ... and he was very respectful. It was good.' 'The one group that lies more than Lyin' Ted Cruz is the press, the media. They really are bad. They really are dishonest. And that's why their poll numbers with people in the public are so low,' Trump said. NO SMILES: C-SPAN's camera showed the billionaire stoically staring at President Obama as he delivered his Trump wisecracks during the 2011 Correspondents dinner 'I'm a big boy. When I do something that's off, I don't mind being criticized. But they make things up. They literally make up things that you said. And they cut you off at half-sentences. ... I've gotten used to it but the press is so dishonest, especially the political press.' Trump's two adult sons Eric and Don Jr. did attend the event in Washington on Saturday. Eric said that next year it will be his father dishing out the witty barbs. 'We'll take some shots back next year,' he told The Hill, a Washington, D.C. newspaper. 'He who laughs last laughs longest, right?' And Don Jr. assured CNN that his family is used to people tossing chuckles in their direction. 'If there's anyone that can make fun of ourselves, it's my father, it's me, it's our family. That's what we are,' he said as he arrived at the dinner. Friends said Welsh had been depressed his blog wasn't making money Blogger said Trump would win next week's Indiana vote with 50 per cent primary prediction in case 'I'm not around to see the vote results' Gary Welsh, who wrote the respected conservative blog Advance Indiana, was found dead in the stairwell of an apartment block on Sunday Police are investigating the 'tragic suicide' of a prominent political blogger after his final column predicted an Indiana win for Donald Trump. Gary Welsh, who wrote the highly respected conservative blog Advance Indiana, was found dead in the stairwell of an apartment block in Park Avenue, Indianapolis, on Sunday, the Indy Star reports. The witness, who discovered the body shortly before 8am, told police that they had seen a gun lying next to the body. Welsh was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. Welsh, who was a practicing attorney, was renowned for his no-nonsense posts which took aim at Democrats and Republicans alike. His final post, published on Friday, was discussing the latest poll results in Republican presidential race. In an article which now seems tragically ominous, Welsh made his prediction of which candidate would win between Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. 'If I'm not around to see the vote results, my prediction is that Trump wins Indiana with just shy of 50% of the vote,' he said. 'But he will carry every single congressional district and sweep the delegatesassuming the party-chosen delegates honor their rules-bound commitment to support the winner on the first ballot.' Several of his readers appeared to have become alarmed by the worrying post. Marycatherine Barton wrote: 'Btw, Gary, should we read any foreboding in your words about 'if you are around for the election results.' Take care of yourself, please.' Welsh is suspected to have taken his own life just two days later. His friend and fellow attorney, Jim Klimek, who worked across the hall from Welsh, told the Indiana Business Journal that the blogger had seemed depressed recently and had been concerned that his blog was barely making money. Police are investigating his death as a 'tragic suicide' blogger after his final column predicted a win for Donald Trump The 53-year-old had been blogging for more than a decade as 'a way of communicating my discontent with the political state of affairs in Indiana.' Welsh's body was taken to the Marion County Coroner's Office, where an autopsy is expected to be performed Monday. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said that an official cause of death will be announced shortly. For confidential support in the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255. A depraved former priest was able to carry out a decade-long reign of abuse against three girls and nine boys because he was protected by the Catholic Church, a Sydney judge says. Loud applause broke out in court on Monday as John Joseph Farrell was led from the dock after being sentenced to 29 years behind bars, with a minimum of 18 years, for his crimes in Moree and Tamworth, in country NSW. Victims and their loved ones packed into the courtroom at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court to watch the 62-year-old face sentencing for dozens of historical sexual crimes committed against children between 1979 and 1988. Former priest John Joseph Farrell (pictured three years ago), 62, has been sentenced to 29 years in jail for sexually abusing nine altar boys and three girls between 1979 and 1988 The victim Mark Boughton appeared at the Downing Centre District Court with his wife Belinda beside him. He is one of the victims who will be suing the Catholic Church for compensation The disgraced ex-priest sat with his eyes closed as Judge Peter Zahra told how he preyed on his victims, grooming the children, cultivating the trust of their parents and exploiting his powerful position as a priest. 'This allowed him to offend whenever and wherever he chose,' Judge Zahra said. 'The offender created situations where he was confident he would not be detected even where his sexual abuse was, at times, brazen in the extreme.' The judge said that although there was evidence senior members of the Catholic Church were told of Farrell's crimes many years before he was brought to justice, allegations levelled by complainants 'appeared to be frustrated either by the failure of those within the church to pursue any investigation or by dissuading further complaint'. Authorities in the Catholic Church knew of Farrell's crimes and protected him for 10 years until he was suspended in 1992 'The offender was thereby protected from the authorities by those within the church who chose to move the offender rather than inform the authorities,' Judge Zahra said. Outside court on Monday Mark Boughton, one of Farrell's victims, described the church's actions as 'despicable'. He is one of a number of victims who are expected to seek compensation in civil proceedings. 'You've got to bring it out and get justice,' Mr Boughton said in a report by Seven News. 'They knew it was happening and they didn't do anything about it,' he said. 'They just pushed it under the rug and tried to forget about it, or paid people to forget. 'It won't be forgotten.' After Farrell forced an altar boy to perform oral sex, the boy told an adult in the presbytery what had happened and was told 'they would sort it out.' But when the boy next saw Farrell, the priest raped him behind the altar for what 'felt like hours' as he whispered threats in his ear. 'The complainant said that he felt excruciating pain,' Judge Zahra said. 'The offender whispered that if the complainant told anyone he would kill him or his family.' Another boy who was repeatedly molested admitted to his mother that Farrell had 'touched' him. The mother promptly contacted a monsignor who asked Farrell to leave the parish. But the priest went on to serve in a number of other parishes and was not suspended from public ministry until 1992. Mr Boughton said: 'They [the Catholic Church] knew it was happening and they didn't do anything about it' The court heard that although the complainant went on to contact the nation's most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, in 2002 to ask why the church had not responded to his family's allegations, Farrell was not laicised until 2005. Around the time of the initial disclosure, the victim's mother also sought advice from a nun who told her 'the church had a large amount of money to fight such allegations'. Five men have been arrested in Sweden for sexually assaulting a teenage boy at a housing centre for asylum seekers near the Norwegian border. The victim, aged between 15 and 18, was reportedly attacked on Sunday at a refugee centre in Arjang, Varmland, where he was being housed along with the five accused. The five men were initially arrested for attempted rape, but charges were later downgraded to aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, and threatening behaviour. Allegations: The victim, a boy in his late teens, was reportedly sexually assaulted and assaulted by five men at this asylum seekers' housing in Arjang, Varmland 'It was not the kind of violence which is required for a rape,' Varmland police's Tommy Lindh told The Local. 'There's a difference between rape and aggravated sexual assault. You can make a person commit sexual acts without using violence, for instance.' The five men remain in custody and Varmland police said they will continue interviews on Monday. This is the latest sexual attack at asylum seekers housing centres to take place in Sweden in recent months. A 12-year-old boy was raped by two men at home for underaged unaccompanied migrants and refugees in Alvesta, Smaland. The five men, who reportedly live at the centre with the victim, were initially arrested on rape charges, which were downgraded to aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, and threatening behaviour The boy is said to have been beaten and then raped, first by one of the men, and then by the other. The first rape was allegedly filmed by one of the men, and sent over to the second suspect's mobile phone. The men had claimed to have been 15 and 16 when applying for asylum, but after undergoing a dental age assessment in the wake of their arrest for the alleged rape, they have been found to be over 18. Sweden welcomed more than 163,000 migrants and refugees in 2015, more than any other European nation per capita. While asylum is granted to all refugees, asylum for migrants is needs-based and the application process can be long and arduous, particularly after the recent influx. Influx: Sweden welcomed more migrants and refugees per capita than any other EU nation in 2015, with some 165,000 people arriving in the country This has led to many asylum seekers' housing centres becoming overcrowded, and migrants and refugees struggling to integrate as they cannot apply for jobs or access education. The Scandinavian country, which has a population of nearly 10 million, imposed compulsory border-control ID checks in January to try to curb the influx. Europe is facing it's biggest wave of immigration since the Second World War, with millions risking their lives to leave war and terror behind, or simply to seek a better life on another continent. A recent UN report shows that in the first two months of 2016, more than 130,000 refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea - more than the total number for the first half of 2015. Two 10,500-a-year private schools have been accused of sexism after boys were told to wear pinstriped business suits while girls say they have been forced to dress 'like secretaries'. Bablake and King Henry VIII schools in Coventry have been criticised after introducing new uniforms for sixth formers that some parents and pupils say promote 'gender stereotyping'. The new dress code, which will come into force in September and will cost as much as 230, was revealed in a glossy brochure, produced by corporate suit-maker Brook Taverner. Two 10,500-a-year private schools have been accused of sexism after boys were told to wear pinstriped business suits while girls say they have been forced to dress 'like secretaries'. The new dress codes were revealed in this glossy brochure, produced by corporate suit-maker Brook Taverner Photographs in the catalogue show men power-dressed in pinstriped suits complete with waistcoats while women model secretarial outfits with many skirts cut above the knee. There are both trouser and skirt options for girls, but pupils from the schools - run by Coventry School Foundation - have expressed outrage on social media, branding the new uniform policy 'out-dated sexist rubbish.' Deeps Sinha tweeted: 'This issue with uniforms isn't just us being petulant or anything, we have genuine cause for concern. 'The uniforms seem mainly directed towards girls, as the boys' uniforms are mostly generic and already what they wear.' Bablake school in Coventry (pictured) has been criticised after introducing new uniforms that some parents and pupils say promote 'gender stereotyping' King Henry VIII school, which like Bablake is run by Coventry School Foundation, is also bringing in the new dress code for sixth formers Hannah Rose added: 'A school that apparently celebrates diversity, but wants to shun individuality with a sixth form uniform well done.' Another said: 'So the boys wear business suits straight out of Wall Street while the girls totter about on high heels in secretary skirts. When did Bablake turn into Mad Men? 'A truly shocking example of an out-dated sexist set of gender stereotypes. Rubbish.' A now defunct account set up on Twitter to fight the uniform stated: 'Bablake pupils be like, oh well rules are rules lets all just follow the uniform code. 'This is a sexist issue.' However, pupil Adam Keir defended the policy, and wrote: 'People confusing rights with rules. 'We have the right to education, so many children don't. How's that for oppression of rights? Open your eyes.' Nick Payne added: 'The reason they're doing this is because for years girls have disobeyed the much more lenient dress code that they had in place.' Mark Woodward, head of careers at Bablake, tweeted: 'The Bablake I am so proud of encourages free debate and is fiercely supportive of feminism and equality. Photographs in the catalogue show men power-dressed in pinstriped suits complete with waistcoats while women model secretarial outfits with many skirts cut above the knee BOYS UNIFORM Cassino or Imola jackets - 105 Trousers - 49. Prato shirt - 32 Brusso waistcoat - 45 Total - 231 GIRLS UNIFORM Calvi or Novara jackets - 95 Bronte skirt - 95 Felina blouse - 24 Scapoli waistcoat - 45 Total - 209 'Would urge students and parents to consult school re uniform concerns as all pupils' well-being crucial.' Parents have also expressed their anger over the changes. 'I am outraged,' said one. 'They are letting the boys dress like high-flying CEOs while forcing the girls to dress like secretaries. 'Parents pay a not inconsiderable amount of money to send their daughters to this school. The vast majority would certainly not expect the school to tell them to dress like a woman from the 1950s.' Another parent added: 'We paid for our children to go to a progressive school, but this is like the bad old days. 'It seems sexism is still rife amongst the powers that be. It's a disgrace.' Currently Bablake sixth form pupils are told they have 'flexibility' when it comes to clothing, 'with the expectation that they will exercise this greater freedom responsibly', while it is expected that Henry VIII students will have a 'professional, clean and smart appearance'. Coventry School Foundation has said the move to review the sixth form dress code is about maintaining standards in both schools, and there are plenty of options to satisfy pupils. A spokesman for Coventry School Foundation said: 'We have been looking at our sixth form dress code for a while to ensure our standards are maintained. 'Both King Henry VIII and Bablake Schools have either consulted or are in the process of consulting with parents, pupils, staff and governors about the possibility of introducing a selection of standardised suits for both boys and girls rather than the current vaguer interpretation of smart business wear. 'There is quite a range - with several different styles and jackets. Disturbing CCTV footage of two men repeatedly beating an innocent bystander last year, has led to one man sentenced to 12 months in jail with no parole, while the other walks free. The victim is seen being furiously punched, thrown to the ground and kicked in the face before the two attackers walk away from the incident. The brawl was believed to have started after an argument erupted between two groups of men in front of the McDonald's on George Street in Sydney's city centre last year, reported Nine News. Disturbing CCTV footage of two men repeatedly beating an innocent bystander in Sydney's city centre last year, has led to one man sentenced to 12-months in jail with no parole, while the other walks free The victim is seen being furiously punched, thrown to the ground and kicked in the face before the two attackers walk away from the incident Out of the two men charged only one received a year in jail, while the other was sentenced to two months, before being immediately released on parole. The shocking footage shows a man pushing the victim into a nearby pole before pummeling his head continuously and cornering him in an alcove on the busy Sydney street. When the victim tries to leave the brawl, both offenders are seen following him onto the street and throwing him to the ground. Both attackers are relentless with their punches - only stopping to pick the victim up and slam him on the ground. Despite the dozens of onlookers, no one diffused the fight. The brawl was believed to have started after an argument erupted between two groups of men in front of the McDonald's on George Street in the city centre Out of the two men charged only one received a year in jail, while the other was sentenced to two months, before being immediately released on parole One aggressor then fly-kicks the targeted man in the face, walks away and then returns to punch him in the head. After the attack, the victim is seen standing up and gesturing at the offenders before they both walk away from the scene. One of the charged offenders is then seen picking up his jacket before leaving. The shocking footage shows a man pushing the victim into a nearby pole before pummeling his head continuously and cornering him in an alcove on the busy Sydney street When the victim tries to leave the brawl, both offenders are seen following him onto the street and throwing him to the ground Dozens of onlookers witnessed the event according to a report by Nine News, but none attempted to diffuse the fight. A Sydney court that was shown the confronting CCTV footage, described the attack as 'sickening', reported Seven News. The court was also heard describing the fight as 'an ugly incident, comprising of violence of a relatively high order', reported Nine News. After the attack, the victim is seen standing up and gesturing at the offenders before they both walk away from the scene A 41-year-old woman who stopped to defend her younger brother during a DUI arrest on a Florida highway was also charged with drunken driving. The arrests occurred along Interstate 75 near Ocala early Friday morning. Officers received a bulletin to be on the lookout for a reckless driver going southbound in the interstate and a trooper stopped the vehicle on State Road 200 east of Southwest 43rd Street Road, according to Ocala Star Banner. Ercilia Moncada (left), 41, stopped to defend her baby brother, Josue Moncada, 31, from a DUI but ended up in the slammer on a DUI charge herself The trooper smelled alcohol on 31-year-old Josue Moncada and arrested him. Minutes later, his sister, Ercilia Moncada, 41, arrived in her vehicle and argued with the trooper over her brother's arrest. Another trooper was called to the scene, found her to be impaired, and arrested her. The handcuffed woman escaped from the patrol car, but was later captured in the 2300 block of Southeast 19th Circle. A huge trade deal between the US and EU would place corporate interests above the environment and consumer safety, according to documents released by Greenpeace. The campaign group managed to obtain 248 pages of classified material relating to the proposal called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). And they published it all online to 'shine a light' on the closed door talks to forge what would be the world's biggest bilateral trade and investment agreement. Volker Gassner from Greenpeace holds the 248 page classified document that has been leaked by the capign group, during a press call in Berlin Greenepeace presented the documents, saying: 'This treaty is threatening to have far reaching implications for the environment and the lives of more than 800 million cizitens in the EU and U.S.' At an event in Berlin today, Greenepeace presented the documents, saying: 'This treaty is threatening to have far reaching implications for the environment and the lives of more than 800 million cizitens in the EU and U.S.' Both Washington and Brussels want the mega-deal completed this year before US President Barack Obama leaves office, but the agreement in the making has faced mounting opposition on both sides of the Atlantic. In Europe there is deep suspicion that TTIP will erode social, ecological and consumer protections to the advantage of big business, while the US has also seen rising protectionist sentiment. Greenpeace said the papers show, for example, that the US wants to be able to scrap existing EU rules in areas such as food labelling or approval of dangerous chemicals if it they spell barriers to free trade. 'TTIP is about a huge transfer of power from people to big business,' the group argued, having also projected an image of a classified text passage onto the facade of Berlin's parliament building. In Brussels, Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem insisted that the papers 'reflect each side's negotiating position, nothing else. And it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are areas where the EU and the US have different views'. 'It begs to be said, again and again: no EU trade agreement will ever lower our level of protection of consumers, or food safety, or of the environment,' Malmstrom said in a blog. Greenpeace said the cache, a snapshot from ongoing talks, represents two-thirds of the TTIP draft text as of the latest round of talks in April, and covers a range of sectors from telecoms to autos to agriculture. Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily, which received the documents early, said they indeed 'show that the opponents' fears are not unfounded ... They show that the reality of the negotiations is worse than these dark forebodings.' A man reads the classified papers which Greenpeace says show corporate interests are being put before consumer or environmental safety The Munich-based daily said the papers show that the US side is trying to use the carrot of easing restrictions on auto imports from Europe for concessions on its agricultural exports, perhaps including genetically modified foods. The Sueddeutsche - the paper behind the publication of the so-called 'Panama Papers' - also charged that some political leaders who publicly defend TTIP 'either don't know the status of negotiations, or are deliberately leaving the public in the dark'. The newspaper focussed on a controversial TTIP proposal to set up private investor courts that would allow multinational companies to sue governments if they deem public policy to hinder fair competition. While Brussels and Berlin had suggested, after strong opposition, that the investor courts are off the table, the newspaper said that 'that was not and is not true'. Although the EU had made such a proposal, 'the Americans flatly rejected it' and the issue had not been seriously negotiated yet. TTIP is billed as a free-trade deal for the 21st century, focused on harmonising regulations, lowering barriers on investment, opening access to government contracts and addressing new areas like data trade. The classified papers are available to read in a glass container close to the Brandenburg Gate. Last week, Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a joint pitch for TTIP, saying it would spur much-needed economic growth Last week, Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a joint pitch for TTIP, saying it would spur much-needed economic growth. Following the latest negotiations last month, US and EU said they had made progress but 'substantial work' remained to agree a deal in 2016. They said that while 97 per cent of tariff issues had been covered, three percent - the most challenging, including for farm products - remained. French newspaper Le Monde, which also had access to the leaked documents early, said they showed that 'the Europeans (are) more involved and more interested in negotiations' than the Americans, whose stance it described as 'reluctant'. Greenpeace said the confidential documents prove that long-standing environmental protections are being ignored and that, for example, there is no mention at all in the proposed text of global goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 'These leaked documents confirm what we have been saying for a long time,' said Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss. Nicole Wilfinger, 37, was arrested on Friday for allegedly having sex with a student A middle school math teacher was arrested last week on charges of having sex with a student. Nicole Wilfinger, a 37-year-old 8th grade math teacher at Las Vegas' Molasky Junior High School, was arrested on Friday. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Wilfinger was hit with three charges of sexual seduction by a person older than 21, one charge of engaging in sexual conduct with a student between 14 and 15 years of age, one charge of engaging in sexual conduct with a student between 16 and 17 years of age and three charges of lewdness with a child older than 14. It's unclear if the charges refer to one student or multiple, and how far back the alleged incident or incidents took place. Wilfinger was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on $60,000 bail on Friday, but appears to have been released since then. She was due in court Saturday morning for a hearing. On Friday, the school sent a message to parents notifying them of Wilfinger's arrest, according to a mother's post on Facebook viewed by the Review-Journal. Wilfinger has worked at the school since 2012, and previously taught at Hyde Park Junior High School. In a picture that appears to have been taking for the school yearbook, Wilfinger bizarrely wears a necklace that reads 'SWAG'. According to Facebook, she appears to be married with a young daughter. It's unclear if Wilfinger is still employed by the school district. The Clark County School District's communications office did not immediately return Daily Mail Online's calls Monday morning. A gun-loving British paedophile has been jailed for almost 20 years for carrying out sex attacks against children while living in luxury in Crete. Douglas Barr, born in Dundee, Scotland, tortured his young victims and kept them prisoner in a basement during his campaign of abuse on the Greek island, a court heard. He has now been convicted and is behind bars at one of Greece's most notorious jails after one lawyer described him as the 'literal definition of barbarity'. Douglas Barr, born in Dundee, Scotland, tortured his victims and kept them prisoner in a basement during his campaign of abuse on the Greek island, a court heard Barr has now been convicted and is behind bars at Greece's most notorious jail after one lawyer described him as the 'literal definition of barbarity' Allegations of sex abuse were made concerning two girls who told a trial in Greece that they had been raped by the married 56-year-old, who moved to the resort of Tavronitis in 2007. According to the Sunday Post, the court was told that British state hand-outs were funding his life in Crete amid reports he was receiving up to 4,500 a month. Pictures have also emerged of the heavily built child abuser posing with a range of guns. Barr, who lived in Leeds before moving to Crete, was arrested in January last year after a row over a car crash. After driving drunk into a parked car, the owner complained only for Barr to return to the scene with a gun. It was while he was behind bars and awaiting trial that his victims came forward and told locals what had happened to them. British and Greek authorities were notified and an investigation got underway. Allegations of sex abuse were made concerning two girls who told a trial in Greece that they had been raped by the married 56-year-old, who moved to Crete (shown in the file picture) in 2007 The Sunday Post reports how lawyer Notis Fyllakis described Barr in court as as the 'definition of barbarity' and 'ethically spineless'. 'The psychological and physical violence against these children paints a picture of a villain which not even Charles Dickens could have imagined. 'I do not believe that this terrible series of events will be resolved easily. It is being investigated by many different levels already.' The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been liaising with Greek authorities. A spokesman said: 'We have remained in contact with Greek authorities since the detention of a British national in January 2015, and continue to provide consular assistance.' She plans to return to North American jungles and open her own sanctuary The 25-year-old is using data to complete PhD studies in Swansea, Wales Meet the real-life Dr Dolittle on a mission to save adorable orphaned sloths. Zoologist Becky Cliffe is studying the cuddly critters for her PhD studies at Swansea University, having spent five years at the world-famous Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica. During her time there animal lover Becky, 25, compiled data on a number of poorly and orphaned animals suffering from limb deformities and albinism. These are genetic problems she believes are caused by pesticides sprayed on fruit crops and loss of habitat which has resulted in inbreeding. Zoologist Becky Cliffe (pictured) is studying the cuddly critters for her PhD studies at Swansea University Beck is now studying in Wales having spent five years at the world-famous Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica The 25-year-old compiled data on a number of poorly and orphaned animals suffering from limb deformities and albinism She said: 'Many people love sloths and find them very cute and cuddly but they don't know what problems they're facing. 'As consumers people want to help but don't realise the impact of buying products which have been sprayed with pesticides. 'It's only until you go out to the rainforests that you see the affect it's really having.' Becky is now sifting through the data as a part of a long-term investigation into sloth genetics and habitat in a bid to protect future generations. She said: 'I think the biggest step in making a change is to do real science.' Becky has been fascinated with animals since she was a tiny tot, revealing that when her parents sat her in front of the TV she'd demand to sit outside instead. She said: 'I've always loved all animals. When my parents would try and make me sit in front of the TV I would make a fuss as I always had to be outside - even in the rain. 'As long as I was outside with nature I was happy.' Her love of sloths developed at the age of 17 when she took an interest in tropical biology. She said: 'I didn't know a lot about sloths as they weren't well studied, it was only when an opportunity to work with them came up from through university that I learned more about them. Becky says she has been fascinated with animals since she was a tiny tot, revealing that when her parents sat her in front of the TV she'd demand to sit outside instead Becky explained that despite their lazy reputation two-fingered sloths are quite feisty and can only be captured with the help of a vet Caring for sloths is no mean feat, as they can scratch, bite, are incredibly strong and are reluctant to let go of the tree they are hanging on to 'The more I learned, the more I became obsessed with them - they are my life.' Becky explained that despite their lazy reputation two-fingered sloths are quite feisty and can only be captured with the help of a vet. She revealed they can scratch, bite, are incredibly strong and are reluctant to let go of the tree and be examined. With no financial backing for the project, Becky turned to online crowd-funding website Indiegogo to raise the money needed for basic lab equipment to process the data. She smashed the $15,000 target and can now give the cash to Dr. Sofia (Sonia) Consuegra del Olmo, Associate Professor in Biosciences at Swansea University, to conduct the tests. She said: 'I'm very lucky to be working with her - she's a big deal in the world of conservation genetics.' Becky admitted that she now has to get to grips with the data she's amassed in the last five years to complete her PhD before returning to Costa Rica and her beloved sloths. She said: 'It was so hard to leave the jungle - I plan on going back out there. My dream is to set up my own sloth conservation foundation.' A baby sloth called Onesie hangs on to the finger of a worker at the Costa Rican sanctuary as it takes a nap The campaign for Brexit was blasted by Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey today for casting fake 'dragons' in a spoof TV advert. The Britain Stronger in Europe (BSE) campaign slammed its rival Vote Leave for not taking the EU referendum seriously after the casting note for its ads emerged. The casting note said Vote Leave was planning three different sketches - a Dragons' Den spoof where 'Jean Junket' would be grilled on the EU, a Sepp Blatter sketch and a comical vox pop of Londoners. The brief for the campaign suggests the films will aim to show Vote Leave 'from a more liberal view' and look to change the perception it is only backed by 'white, middle-class Tories'. Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey, who is a spokeswoman for Britain Stronger in Europe, blasted Vote Leave for casting fake dragons for a TV ad instead of finding real business people to make its case Ms Devey, who speaks on small business issues for BSE, told MailOnline: 'I'm not surprised that they are having to use fake 'dragons' because real business people overwhelmingly know that we are better off in Europe. 'I'm used to asking tough questions and it's the Leave campaign that are failing to provide any answers about what being Out of Europe looks like. 'It's a shame the campaign are resorting to gimmicks of this type when we should be having a real debate about the negative impact leaving the EU would have on Britain's businesses large and small.' James McGrory, BSE chief campaign spokesman added: 'Vote Leave are at least displaying some self-awareness with their brief that their campaign is seen as being dominated by Tory obsessives. 'They are scrabbling around to cast fake dragons and an imitation Sepp Blatter because they know they have not got any credible arguments to make on the economy. 'This is not a joke. This is the biggest decision we will take as a country in a generation. 'Instead of spoofs to pretend that everything will be fine if we leave the EU, Vote Leave should be explaining what will happen to jobs and prices. 'Leaving the EU is a risk we cannot afford to take.' The Vote Leave casting note calls for an actor to play Jean Junket, a fictional EU Commission. Pictured left is Jean Claude Juncker, the EU Commission President, and Sepp Blatter - who Vote Leave want to replicate in another of its planned adverts The casting note sought an actor to play EU Commission 'Jean Junket' - describing the ideal actor as a 'a rotund man who gets himself in a flap under the pressure of the 'Dragons' he is asking for investment'. The 'dragons' in the sketch would be John Sessions, Lewis Macleod, Kate Robbins and Steve Furst, according to the document. Britain Stronger in Europe has secured Hilary Devey as small business spokeswoman and the endorsement of Kelly Hoppen. Both appeared as investors on the hit BBC Two show. The second sketch needs an actor to play Sepp Blatter - with the notes seeking someone with 'excellent comedy skills and physical awareness'. For the third sketch, Vote Leave is seeking a 'gobby youth' who will be mixed in with 'real people' being interviewed in an improvised sketch in London. The notes to the casting call said all three of the spoof films could be used online, on social media, in official Vote Leave referendum broadcasts or on the radio. as walks into the path of the tram This is the horrifying moment a woman is is run over by a tram as she crosses the tracks - but miraculously survives. Dashcam from a nearby car in the city of Sosnowiec in southern Poland filmed the moment the oblivious lady walked straight into the path of the oncoming vehicle and was dragged along the track before being sucked underneath. Fortunately the quick-thinking tram driver managed to react in time and slammed on the brakes preventing the victim from being pulled under the wheels of the heavy transport vehicle. Striding across the track: Dashcam filmed the moment the oblivious lady (right) walked straight into the path of the oncoming vehicle and was dragged along the track before being sucked underneath Not paying attention: It is unclear in the grainy video whether the woman's negligence was caused by her listening to music or talking on the telephone However the woman, 42, was still seriously injured in the alarming accident. According to rescue workers, the unnamed lady was still able to speak when they turned up, and they managed to remove her from underneath the tram with the aid of firemen. She was then rushed to hospital. She has suffered acute internal injuries but is expected to make a recovery. The footage from Tuesday 26 April showing the heart-stopping moment she disappears under the tram has now been released by police in Sosnowiec. They hope to warn citizens to always be vigilant and take more care when crossing roads or tram tracks. It is unclear in the grainy video whether the woman's negligence was caused by her listening to music or talking on the telephone. The incident occurred at 7.40am but the trams were restored to action by 9am. Local police were contacted but are unable to provide more information as the accident is currently under investigation. Impact: The tram smashes into the woman as she blindly crosses the tracks Struck down: Fortunately the quick-thinking tram driver managed to react in time and slammed on the brakes preventing the victim from being pulled under the wheels of the heavy transport vehicle Dragged under: The unnamed lady was still able to speak when they turned up, and they managed to remove her from underneath the tram with the aid of firemen.She was then rushed her to hospital James Medina, 40, is accused of planning a bomb attack against a Florida Jewish center A Florida man who planned an explosive attack against a Jewish center was busted by the FBI after he accepted a dummy bomb from an undercover agent, authorities said Monday. James Medina, 40, made his initial appearance in federal court Monday following his arrest last week in the alleged plot against the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, which includes a synagogue, school and meeting halls. Medina is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a potential life prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton said the FBI learned in March that Medina, a Muslim convert, planned to bomb the center by placing a device under a car or throwing it over a wall. An FBI undercover operative was used to provide Medina with a fake bomb, and he was arrested after accepting it on Friday near the Jewish center, Anton said. A judge appointed a public defender for Medina, who began his court appearance by announcing 'I got a few words of my own. My name is James Medina, aka James Mohammed,' according to the Sun-Sentinel. U.S. Magistrate Judge William C. Turnoff told Medina he might want to keep his mouth shut. 'I urge you to understand that anything you say can be used against you,' Turnoff said. Scroll down for video A planned explosive attack on the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center was thwarted by the FBI through an undercover operation, authorities said Monday A bail hearing was scheduled for Thursday. U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who represents many of the Jewish center's 800 congregant families, suggested that Medina may have been motivated by anti-Jewish bias. The plot would have struck during the synagogue's Passover celebration last week. 'This attempted attack is a harsh reminder that there are many in our community who are motivated by bigotry and violence,' she said in an email statement. 'As a community and a nation we must work together to confront this kind of hatred.' A 17-page FBI affidavit unsealed Monday includes numerous comments allegedly made by Medina about his plan, which initially envisioned use of AK-47-style weapons to shoot up the Jewish center. Several of these conversations were recorded by an informant identified only as a 'confidential human source' in the document. According to the FBI, Medina wanted to create a leaflet to be left at the scene in which he would claim the attack was traced to the ISIS terror group. There's no evidence the group was actually linked to Medina, but he told the informant that leaflet would 'make it look like it's ISIS here in America. Just like that.' In a photograph posted to social media, Medina poses in front of a mosque at an unknown location The plot, Medina said in one conversation, would be to 'strike back at the Jews, by going to a synagogue and just spraying everybody ... It's a war man and it's, like, it's time to strike back here in America.' Later, Medina called the plan 'my call of duty.' 'When I'm doing this, I feel that I'm doing it for a good cause for Allah,' he is quoted as saying. Another undercover FBI employee several times asked Medina whether he really wanted to go through with the plot, which might include killing women and children. 'I'm up for it. I really am. This is no joke. This is serious, dog,' Medina said on an FBI recording. The Aventura center's Rabbi Jonathan Berkun and Executive Director Elliott Karp released a statement on the center's Facebook page saying the FBI stepped in before any harm could be done. Berkun and Karp said they had been briefed on the case by law enforcement officials. 'They assured us that the synagogue and school were never at risk at any time during the investigation and arrest, and that there are no credible threats directed against us at the present time,' their statement said. Medina said in court he is unemployed, divorced and has no assets. According to Local 10 News, he was homeless and regularly ate lunch at the Jubilee Center of South Broward. A French former gym manager is believed to have been promoted to the top of ISIS to co-ordinate attacks on the West as a reward for planning the Paris massacre. Abu Suleyman al-Faransi has been given a senior position in the terror group's foreign intelligence branch, the first Western European to rise to such an elite rank, according to a defector. He is said to have impressed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi after presenting him with a blueprint for November's gun and suicide bomb attacks that killed 130 people in the French capital. Scroll down for video A French former gym manager (not pictured) is believed to have been promoted to the top of ISIS command after impressing leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (right) with his blueprint for the Paris massacre in November There are also indications the militant dubbed the French emir of ISIS may have been behind last month's Brussels attacks. A French security source described him to The Daily Beast as the 'head of overall operations for Europe' while a senior U.S. official said there is 'good' intelligence that appears to confirm his role. His meteoric rise suggests the terror group is shifting its focus to spearheading attacks on the West using militants with European backgrounds to fine-tune operations. An ISIS defector known as Abu Khaled said Suleyman was 'smart, disciplined, well respected... and more sophisticated' than his predecessor Abu Abdelrahman. A French policeman assists a blood-covered victim near the Bataclan concert hall following the ISIS attacks that killed 130 people in Paris in November Carnage: There are also indications Suleyman dubbed the French emir of ISIS may have been behind last month's Brussels attacks on the airport (above) and Metro station He said Suleyman had the advantage of being 'born, raised and educated in France' and was often mistaken for a white convert due to his light-skinned appearance. 'He knows Western culture very well, its strengths and its weaknesses,' he added. The son of an imam, Suleyman is said to have run fitness clubs in Paris before fleeing to Syria with his wife and two children at some point during the civil war. His wife, who is a French citizen, is expecting their third child. The are understood to live in al-Bab, an ISIS-controlled town in the district of Aleppo that is home to the group's Amn al-Kharji foreign intelligence headquarters. An ISIS cell in France threatened new rocket attacks on passenger jets and a new Charlie Hebdo-style massacre in chilling undercover video (pictured) filmed by a journalist who infiltrated the group The journalist, a Muslim using the pseudonym Said Ramzi, also received instructions to 'shoot until death' in a nightclub slaughter and set off an explosives vest if security turn up The militant, whose real name has not been disclosed, is the second jihadi to go by the nom de guerre Abu Suleyman al-Faransi who has been linked to the Paris attacks. The other, Charaffe al Mouadan, who had direct ties to the Paris 'mastermind' Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in December while reportedly plotting other attacks. Abaaoud, 28, was killed in a police raid in north Paris days after the coordinated shootings and bombings in the French capital on November 13. It comes as an ISIS cell in France threatened rocket attacks on passenger jets and a new Charlie Hebdo-style massacre in chilling undercover video filmed by a journalist who infiltrated the group. The journalist, a Muslim using the pseudonym Said Ramzi, also received instructions to 'shoot until death' in a nightclub slaughter and set off an explosive vest if security turn up. Police in Italy believe that a young girl who fell to her death from an eight storey block of flats was raped by a man and thrown off the balcony. Six-year-old Fortuna Loffredo died in June 2014 in Caivano near Naples and since the investigation into her death was re-opened recently, Italy has been shocked by the horrific details on how she was murdered. A 44-year-old man, Raimondo Caputo has been arrested and charged with her rape and murder, which police say came when she refused his sexual advances. Six-year-old Fotuna Loffredo, who police in Italy believe was raped before being thrown to her death from an eight floor balcony They say he was only detained when one of his children claimed they too had been sexually abused. The man is now in prison in Rome and has denied the charges. Caputo was already in investigative custody after he was accused of molesting his own children. Despite the police investigation into the alleged wrongdoings, Caputo had met a conspiracy of silence in the area, with the breakthrough allowing them to arrest the suspect and his girlfriend when their children told detectives what had been going on. Caputo was detained and his girlfriend, 32, was ordered to remain on house arrest on charges of sexually abusing the children she had had with her lover, including a three-year-old child. The children are in care and the couple have had a bottle with flammable liquid thrown at the couple's window, which set the property on fire. Prosecutors said they had suspected since the beginning that the six-year-old Fortuna had been the victim of a paedophilia ring Her mother, Domenica Guardato, said that she had always believed all along that the couple were responsible for her daughter's death The latest charges of rape and murder follow a two-year investigation which had sparked controversy when an autopsy revealed the dead six-year-old child had been sexually abused. Caputo had in the meantime been kept in investigative custody since November 2015 on suspicion of sexually abusing his three-year-old daughter. Prosecutors said they had suspected since the beginning that the six-year-old Fortuna had been the victim of a paedophilia ring. Her mother, Domenica Guardato, said that she had always believed all along that the couple were responsible for her daughter's death. She said: 'I've always been sure that it was them, I always said it. I've never met him, but I asked her and she always denied it.' Guardato said that everyone in the neighbourhood had kept quiet about her daughter Fortuna's death, invoking an unspoken code of silence about the crime. She added: 'I was thinking, hoping, that today, at least today, someone from this cursed place would come up to me to say something, a hug, but instead, nothing. Here, there's always been and there always will be silence. Pope Francis broke off script during his Sunday Mass at the Vatican calling for paedophiles such as Fortuna's abuser to be 'severely punished' 'I am the only one to speak because here I am with an immense pain that will never go away. Because I loved Fortuna, as only a mother can, and they killed her. And still today I don't know why.' Naples prosecutor Domenico Airoma said that it was children who gave their investigation a breakthrough. 'The adults were hindering the investigation. The children permitted the turnaround', Airoma said, referring specifically to the three children of the arrested man's girlfriend. Airoma said that the adults in the neighbourhood had 'a conspiracy of silence, indifference, and culpable collusion'. Meanwhile, yesterday Pope Francis has called for 'severe punishment' for paedophiles such as her abuser. 'This is a tragedy. We should not tolerate the abuse of minors,' Francis said, departing from prepared remarks at his weekly Sunday message and blessing to tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square. Willie Bee Turner, 21, was sentenced to almost four years in prison for the horrific abuse and killing of his puppy, Angel Star A 21-year-old California man was sentenced on Friday to three years and eight months in prison for burning his eight-week old Chihuahua puppy alive in 2015. Willie Bee Turner of Sacramento was found guilty of the heinous crime on March 3. In January 2015, when the tan puppy, which Turner had named Angel Star, defecated on his friend's floor, Turner doused the helpless animal in bleach and tossed her off a balcony. The puppy miraculously survived. The next night, he locked the puppy in a portable kennel and set the animal on fire on the sidewalk outside a Masonic Lodge on Becerra Way near Marconi Avenue, burning her alive, according to the Sacramento Bee. A driver passing by saw the blaze and called 911 - horrified firefighters found the puppy's charred remains. Turner was arrested in February after tips from the outraged public led to his whereabouts. In addition to his three years and eight months prison sentence, Turner cannot own a pet for 10 years and he will be registered as a lifetime arson offender and can no longer own or possess a firearm. Animal rights advocates (above) protested at every court date of Willie Bee Turner, who burned his puppy alive, but Jennifer Canady, a regular at his trial, says his three years and eight month sentence isn't enough Court Judge Lawrence Brown, who sentenced Turner to the max allowable under state guidelines, was clearly horrified at the convicted man's actions. 'There is a darkness in the defendant,' said the judge, who mentioned taking his own dog out for a walk that morning. Deputy District Attorney Hilary Bagley, who prosecuted the crime, said the sentence was 'piddly' and noted Turner's statement to the court, in which he said he will 'take responsibility for the things he did not do.' Bagley said that 'significant introspection' was needed for a crime of that nature if the convicted is to enter back into society. 'Clearly, that hasn't happened,' she said. Animal advocate Jennifer Canady, who devotedly attended Turner's court appearances, told the Sacramento Bee: 'The results of this grotesque case of cruelty the outcome of three years, eight months for the tossing off a balcony, dousing with bleach and the setting of this monsters puppy on fire hardly does justice to this little life.' Legislators have had difficulty trying to extend the terms for animal abusers. Republican State Sen. Jeff Stone, who represents Riverside County, recently lost a bid to double the sentences for animal cruelty crimes. Two police officers have been reprimanded for breaching security protocol after they stopped to help change a woman's tyre. The officers, from Chatswood on Sydney's North Shore, had spotted the woman with a busted tyre on the side of the road. The helpful cops stopped to assist the woman and found the jack in her car was not working. A police officer was praised for assisting a couple to change their tyre on Anzac Day, just day before another pair of officers were reprimanded for doing the same thing NSW Police spokesperson said: 'Police are there to help to the public but it is crucial that the assistance is balanced all the time with best interest of the community' One of the officers returned to their station to pick up better equipment while the other stayed with the woman and her car to to keep them safe, according to a report by The Daily Telegraph. The incident became an issue after the woman notified the station's superior officer in Chatswood commending the officers that helped her, according to Nine News. After receiving a letter the pair were spoken to and disciplined their superior who told them it was the NRMA's job to change tyres and that they were safety breaching protocol by putting their lives and the lives of the public in danger. The superior officer gave a dressing down to the police involved, saying that it was not their job to change tyres and that they were breaching protocol A NSW police spokeswoman played down the incident saying that there was no official reprimand on the officers involved. A NSW police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'The officers actions in this incident compromised their ability to effectively respond to an emergency and to also involved possible breaches of security protocols.' 'Police are there to help to the public but it is crucial that the assistance is balanced all the time with best interest of the community.' 'There has been no official reprimand.' This comes after officers in The Hills district, in the north-west of Sydney, were commended for helping to change a tyre for a couple visiting from Victoria on Anzac Day while conducting Random Breath Tests. In a post written on The Hills LAC Facebook page, along with a photo of the officers, police said: 'Quick to prove we have better customer service than our brothers and sisters from down south, Victoria Police, the tyre was changed in no time and the travelers on their way.' Smith Sr., 45, was due in court the day after his death to face 14 felonies One woman told investigators Makayla laughed and admitted to the killing after police found his body two days later A 14-year-old girl has been charged as an adult in the death of her mother's boyfriend, 45, who was found lying in a pool of blood on his kitchen floor with a shell casing next to him. Makayla Dawn Brown is accused of first-degree murder in the killing of Mario Smith Sr. in his Ripley, Oklahoma, home on April 19. Investigators are looking into claims the teenager shot Smith because he reportedly pistol-whipped her mother, KFOR reported. One witness saw Makayla shoot Smith in the head while another woman told investigators the teenager laughed when she admitted to killing Smith two days later, according to an arrest warrant affidavit cited by the Stillwater News Press. Makayla Dawn Brown, 14, is accused of killing Mario Smith Sr. (pictured), with one witness claiming she acted in revenge because he pistol-whipped her mother a month before. He was due in court to face 14 felonies the very next day Smith, Makayla Brown, and her mother Tysa Brown were all in the 45-year-old's home on April 19, along with several other friends and family members. Merrill Carter, Smith's cousin who was in the house at the time, told the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation he saw Makayla walk into the kitchen and pull out a gun. Tysa's friend Alexis Terry said she saw Makayla shoot Smith once in the head, claiming the 14-year-old had done so because he had physically abused her mother by hitting her in the head with a gun, according to the affidavit. Another woman said she thought Makayla was 'bragging' when the teenager laughed and admitted to shooting Smith two days later after his body was found. Authorities found Smith two days later, face down on his kitchen floor in a pool of his own blood. There was a nine-millimeter shell casing next to him. The weapon has not been recovered, although witnesses said Makayla shot Smith with a caramel-colored semi-automatic pistol, according to the affidavit. Smith's son told authorities his father owned a gun similar to the one described by the witnesses. Witnesses also added they did not believe Tysa was involved in Smith's death because she was visibly upset. Smith, who died one day before he was due to appear in court, was charged with 14 felonies across three cases related to methamphetamine, marijuana, stealing, firearms, assault and battery, the News Press reported. Makayla has been charged as an adult. Republican candidates are in an all-out push in the final hours before Indiana voters go to the polls, with Donald Trump hoping to score a big victory that would propel him to the national GOP convention by winning a state Ted Cruz has elevated. Cruz has been throwing everything he has into the Indiana contest, with a Hail Mary naming of Carly Fiorina to be his running made and a splashy endorsement by Gov. Mike Pence. If Trump is able to haul in the state's 57 delegates, it could set up the real estate mogul to be able to win the nomination on the first ballot, which would scuttle Cruz's effort to be able to get in on subsequent ballots. A win by Hillary Clinton over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders would continue to pad her delegate lead, as even Sanders acknowledges he must rack up huge wins while converting super delegates over to his side. 'I am in for the distance as long as we have a viable path to victory. I am competing to the end,' said Cruz Monday as he kicked off a series of campaign retail stops. Cruz vows he'll stay in the race but a big win by Trump would deflate his campaign The Texas senator is bringing Pence along for the ride, while rolling out TV ads touting Pence's support though Pence last week only says he was 'voting' for Cruz without giving a more full-throated endorsements. Indiana has 57 delegates, with 30 voted to the statewide winner. Cruz is increasingly casting his battle against Trump as a good vs. evil contest. 'I trust the good people of Indiana to differentiate. We are not a country built on hatred. We are not a country built on anger, on pettiness. We are not a country built on bullying,' Cruz said Monday morning at the start of his full day of campaigning. 'We are not a country about selfishness ... We are not a bitter, angry petty bigoted people. That is not America. I reject that vision of America,' he continued. 'We are not an angry, ugly people. And the people of Indiana, the people of Indiana have good judgement, good values the people of Indiana are the heartland of this country.' Trump and Cruz face their latest battleground in Indiana on Tuesday Trump has said if his campaign wins in Indiana, 'It's over.' His blowout victories in five states last week lowered the threshold of remaining delegates needed to win. Now Trump get can by without winning a majority of remaining delegates A strong performance by Cruz would keep the angry primary fight going, and put an intense focus on California, which votes June 7. Trump leads Cruz by 15 points 49 percent to 34 percent in the latest Wall Street Journal / NBC poll. Acknowledging the stakes Sunday night at a rally, Cruz said: "This whole long, wild ride of an election has all culminated with the entire country with its eyes fixed on the state of Indiana. The people of this great state, I believe the country is depending on you to pull us back from the brink." He showed some frustration when a young heckler yelled out, 'You suck.' Cruz responded: 'Children should actually speak with respect. Imagine what a different world it would be if someone told Donald Trump that years ago. Cruz continued: 'You know, in my household when a child behaves that way they get a spanking,' to cheers. Sanders has begun to acknowledge his own challenges, after laying off hundreds of staffers and being unable to take away Clinton's delegate lead despite continuing to draw huge crowds and score primary and caucus wins. Sanders was holding another big rally in Evansville, Indiana Monday, and urging supporters to turn out. He trails Clinton by 4 percentage points in the Journal/ NBC poll. 'It's a steep hill to climb,' Sanders said at a D.C. press conference Sunday. 'But, at the end of the day the responsibility that superdelegates have is to decide what is best for the country and what is best for the Democratic Party.' Sanders is urging party big shots and other Democrats who serve as super delegates and get to cast votes at the convention to honor the vote in their particular states though many committed to backing Clinton months ago. Hillary Clinton holds a delegate lead but that doesn't mean Bernie Sanders is going anywhere 'What is unfair is when I win a state by 70 percent of the vote and super delegates in that state vote for Hillary Clinton because theyre part of the Democratic establishment, thats unfair. 'Whats unfair is before I even get in to the campaign, Hillary Clinton has some 4, 500...superdelegates who are on her side,' he grumbled. Cruz was set to hold five Indiana events Monday. Ohio Gov. John Kasich pulled out of the state after reaching a controversial pact with Cruz meant to deny Trump from amassing delegates. Although the pact immediately frayed, Cruz has said he won't focus on New Mexico and Oregon as part of the deal. Kasich released a new radio ad in Oregon Monday. 'John Kasich leaves no one behind,' a moderator says. America never give up.' Kasich was still scoring 13 per cent in the Journal's Indiana poll, an indication that the pact wasn't working. Trump mocked his rivals on Sunday. "They're like hanging by their fingertips," he said [saying] "Don't let me fall! Don't let me fall!" The mogul has two rallies planned Monday He's vowing to go after Clinton. "I haven't started on Hillary yet," he told CNN. But only 300,000 kits have been sent out for 27million dangerous units sold From 2015, Ikea has sent kits to owners to secure furniture to walls That says it must be stable with a 50lb weight hanging from an open drawer He was the third child to be killed in a tip-over accident since 2014 Killed: Ted McGee (left) was just 22 months old when a Malm dresser from Ikea tipped over and killed him in February. Critics say it doesn't meet industry standards for tipping over Outrage is mounting against Ikea, whose low-cost Malm range of dressers have now killed three toddlers in the US, with claims the dressers don't meet industry standards and that the company is avoiding withdrawing the dangerous items. The latest victim, Theodore 'Ted' McGee, was just 22 months old when the tall, six-drawer Malm dresser bought by parents Jeremy and Janet fell on him in their home in Apple Valley, Minnesota, on February 22. They had thought the boy was napping at the time and didn't realize an accident had occurred until it was too late, attorney Alan Feldman told Philly.com in April. 'They didn't hear the dresser fall,' he said. 'They didn't hear Ted scream.' In February 2014, two-year-old Curran Collas of West Chester, Pennsylvania, was killed when a six-drawer Malm dresser he was attempting to climb fell on top of him. And four months later another two-year-old, Camden Ellis of Snohomish, Washington, died after four days on a ventilator after a smaller, three-drawer version of the Malm dresser pinned him. In July last year, it was revealed that 14 tippings of Malm furniture had been reported since 1989, with four injuries and three deaths - not including Collas and Ellis - MSN reported. Now The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched an investigation into McGee's death, which it calls a 'tragic tip-over fatality', Philly.com reported Monday. And a committee is looking at proposals to tighten up existing laws. But it's too little, too late say critics, who are questioning why Ikea didn't withdraw all its Malm units, which do not meet an industry-standard stability test. Scroll down for video Victims: Curran Collas (left, with mom Jackie Collas) and Camden Ellis (right), both two, were also killed by Malm furniture. Ikea has not withdrawn the 27million units in danger of tipping over, 7million of which are Malms In a report on Wednesday, the website said the test requires a dresser to remain stable with a 50-pound weight hung on an extended drawer even when tip restraints - which secure furniture to walls for stability - aren't used. It's a standard the Malm fails. 'The furniture is unsafe,' parents wrote in a letter campaign to the CPSC last week. 'The weight of a 22-month-old baby was enough to tip it.' Rather than withdraw the furniture after the first two deaths, Ikea and the CPSC launched what they called a 'repair program' for the 27million dressers - 7million of which were Malms - that had been sold and were in danger of tipping. The move, which came in 2015, was technically a recall under the commission's rules - though Ikea resisted the term, saying that none of the shipped units were returned or replaced. Instead, it shipped out free 'restraint kits' to those who bought the furniture, allowing them to secure their units to walls. They also ran an 'awareness campaign' that included this video, which shows a three-drawer Malm falling over in slow motion with the statistic 'Every two weeks, a child in the US dies from furniture, appliances or TVs tipping over.' But the McGee family, who bought their Malm in 2012, say they were unaware of the campaign. And with only 300,000 restraint kits shipped - just 1.1 percent of the 27million easily tipped units - some are asking why the Malms and other furniture weren't simply taken back by the company. 'Obviously, it's a question we have,' the McGees' lawyer Dan Mann, who works with Feldman at Feldman Shepherd, told Philly.com Monday. 'Whether the outcome would have been different if there has been a full-blown recall... Whether he'd still be alive.' Dangerous: In 2015, Ikea ran a campaign to warn of the dangers of tipping furniture, with a video showing a Malm drawer (pictured) falling over. But the McGees say they were unaware Warning: Ikea has shipped out 'restraint kits' to people with dangerous furniture, but only 300,000 have been sent. The McGees say they were unaware of the program, which might have saved their son's life Now pressure is mounting, with the parents in last week's letter campaign being joined by Members of Congress, who are writing their own letter. The CPSC has declined to comment on its investigation or previous negotiations with Ikea, saying it is federally prohibited from talking about any of its work without the consent of the company it is investigating. Missed: Critics say that McGee (pictured, with aunt Heather Noble) would not have tipped the Malm if it had met the standard, which requires stability even with a 50-pound weight hanging from an open drawer But CPSC commissioner Marietta Robinson, who is working to strengthen laws surrounding industry regulations, says that there is a loophole that at least one company uses to bypass standards. She said the company claims its dressers are designed to be used ONLY when anchored to a wall - so they don't need to pass the 50-pound stability test. She refused to name the company, but Philly.com noted that it was the same argument Ikea used to defend its Malm dressers. 'It would be like car companies saying we don't have to put air bags in cars if somebody drives them drunk,' Robinson said. 'One has nothing to do with the other. The standard has to do with the manufacturer's responsibility to make the furniture stable.' Her committee is attempting to remove the loophole, but is receiving push-back from furniture companies. They say more effort should be done to reprimand those who don't meet the standards rather than changing the standards themselves. However, Robinson has succeeded in negotiating more power for her five-member committee to approve action plans companies make regarding potentially dangerous products. Previously, they were approved solely by the executive director's office. 'If a so-called recall or repair program does not correct the defect that's causing the injury or death, then we should not go along with it and we shouldn't put our stamp of approval on it,' Robinson told Philly.com. 'We should litigate and try to get the companies that have the defect to fix it.' Advertisement Investigators are calling the fire that broke out at a historic Orthodox Christian cathedral in New York City on Sunday 'suspicious'. The blaze broke out at the 160-year-old Serbian Cathedral of Saint Sava Sunday evening around 7pm, shortly after Easter celebrations wrapped up at the church. The fire spread so quickly that firefighters were not able to go inside the building to put out the flames and it waged out of control for three hours. By Monday morning, the New York City landmark was gutted, with only its stone shell left remaining. Luckily, no one was inside the building when the fire started and there are no reports of injuries. Following the devastating blaze, an anonymous fire official spoke with Daily Mail Online and said that the fire was suspicious because it appeared to start in the roof area and burned so intensely that it likely wasn't sparked by a candle. Scroll down for video The 160-year-old Serbian Cathedral of Saint Sava in New York City was gutted by a fire that broke out at the church Sunday night, following Easter celebrations. Above, the church on Monday Investigators are calling the fire that broke out at the historic church 'suspicious' since the fire seemed more intense than something started by church candles. Above, the church on Monday The blaze broke out around 7pm, not long after the church celebrated Easter with a luncheon. Nobody was believed to be inside the church when the fire broke out and no injuries have been reported. Above, the church on Monday By Monday morning, the New York City landmark was gutted, with only its stone shell left remaining. The roof had also collapsed in places and fire officials said the building was in danger of falling down. Above, the church on Monday Firefighters continued to douse the building in cold water Monday morning to make sure no other flare ups would happen. Above, the church on Monday The charred remains of the roof are seen as firefighters continue to work at the scene where the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava was gutted in a massive fire Sunday evening in the Flatiron District on May 02, 2016 in New York City . The fire, which started on the day which Serbian Orthodox parishioners had celebrated Easter at the church, injured a number of firefighters, none critically. The landmark church was a historic testament to the once vibrant Serbian community in the area Firefighters continued to work at the scene Monday morning, spraying water all over the ruins of the building 'We were not immediately able to determine the cause so its being deemed suspicious, and is under investigation,' FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala told the New York Post on Monday. 'We were only committed inside the structure for a few minutes (fighting the flames on Sunday night) before we were overwhelmed (by the fires intensity),' Gala added. Firefighters continued to douse the church in cold water Monday morning, to guard against potential flare ups. Fire officials say that the fire caused portions of the roof to collapse and that the building is in danger of falling down. The Cathedral of Saint Sava was one of three Orthodox Christian churches that went up in flames on Sunday, the day Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter. The other two fires happened at Orthodox churches in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. 'We were not immediately able to determine the cause so its being deemed suspicious, and is under investigation,' FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala told the New York Post on Monday. Above, the church on Monday 'We were only committed inside the structure for a few minutes (fighting the flames on Sunday night) before we were overwhelmed (by the fires intensity),' FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala said. Above, the church on Monday The cathedral was one of three Orthodox Christian churches that went up in flames on Sunday, the day Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter. The other two fires happened at Orthodox churches in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Above, the Manhattan church on Monday Fire officials said the church's caretaker ran inside the church to try to put out the blaze but suffered minor smoke inhalation and had to be rescued 'I feel like I'm in a nightmare right now,' the church's priest, Father Djokan Majstorovic, said as he tried to get to the fire scene on Sunday The cathedral appeared to be a shell on Monday morning, when the blaze was finally put out. It's unclear whether the building can be saved The charred shell of the roof are seen above in this picture from the scene Monday morning, after the Sunday night blaze Fire officials said the church's caretaker ran inside the church to try to put out the blaze but suffered minor smoke inhalation and had to be rescued. 'I feel like I'm in a nightmare right now,' said church priest, Father Djokan Majstorovic as he tried to get to the fire scene that was blocked off by firefighters. Alex Velic, 31, the caretaker's stepson, told the New York Daily News he lives next door. He said he smelled smoke and came outside and saw the church on fire. 'Once the fire caught the wood there was flames coming out of the top of the church. That's when people were going crazy,' Velic said. "I'm in shock. I don't know what to say. It's sad.' Hundreds of people gathered around and stared in horror as flames overtook the building Sunday night in New York City Orthodox Easter celebrations took place earlier on Sunday with a Confession and Communion service at 9am, a liturgy at 10am and a lunch scheduled to start at 1pm Fire crews were pictured desperately trying to dampen the flames as they scorched through the roof of the beautiful Gothic-style building, rising at least 50 feet up from street level The church, which was designed by celebrated architect Richard M. Upjohn, was completely gutted by the blaze More than 170 firefighters were dispatched to deal with the blaze, the FDNY said Images taken from above show how the flames completely engulfed the church, streaming from the windows and burning the roof away Orthodox Easter celebrations were held in the building earlier in the day, including a lunch at 1pm, according to the church's website. The extent of the damage is currently unknown, but images taken by bystanders appear to show the entire building has been destroyed. Dozens of fire engines and at least 170 firefighters were scrambled to deal with the fire, the FDNY said, as flames could be seen shooting from the rose window at the front of the building. Views from above showed the fire streaming from the apex of the church roof, around 50 feet above street level. While the true extent of the damage is unknown, images suggest nothing more than a shell of a building will be left behind, as windows burst from the heat and the roof was almost entirely scorched away Hundreds of stunned onlookers gathered in the streets near the church to watch fire crews try in vain to save the historic building Firefighters were still battling to put the blaze out as night fell in New York, while most of the building appeared to have been destroyed Stunned onlookers were described 'crying' in the street on social media, while others mourned a 'huge loss for the community' The church was designed in 1845 and built in the early 1850s, and was the first place to hold an Orthodox liturgy in the U.S., an event hailed at the time as the 'inauguration of the Russian-Greek Church in America' More than 170 firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze along with dozens of vehicles, and continued damping down the fire as darkness fell on Sunday night Aerial images of the cathedral show the horrifying extent of the damage to the building, once branded 'irreplaceable' by New York officials Hundreds of onlookers gathered in the street to watch attempts to save the building, with dozens taking to Twitter to describe the scene. One user, going by the name Matty Brocker, said people were 'crying' as the building went up in smoke, while others branded the sight 'horrific' and mourned a 'huge loss for the community'. The Serbian Cathedral of Saint Sava was designed in 1850 by architect Richard M. Upjohn, the founder of the American Institute of Architects, and first consecrated in 1855 by the Episcopal Diocese as Trinity Chapel. The church was designated a New York City landmark in 1968 and at the time the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission said the church's 'striking appearance commands special attention. It added that 'its special character, historic significance, and aesthetic interest and value of the development, heritage, and cultural characteristics of New York make it irreplaceable.' In 1865 the church played host to the first Orthodox liturgy held in an Episcopal church in the U.S., an event described at the time as the 'inauguration of the Russian-Greek Church in America.' American writer Edith Wharton married socialite Edward Wharton in the chapel in 1885, and later immortalized the church in her famous novel, The Age of Innocence. Firemen remained on scene tamping the flames down until late on Sunday night, revealing through the smoke how little of the church was left following the fire that broke out hours earlier Through the smoke a few charred roof beams appeared to be all that remained of the church roof, while the ornate stained glass windows were also gone, having exploded outward during the blaze Once firemen have finished extinguishing the blaze the Gothic-revival building will need to be assessed to see whether it can be repaired Dozens of firemen remained on the scene overnight to keep the embers of the church from burning up again While the fire has almost certainly destroyed the building, there have been no deaths or injuries reported from the blaze so far Designed by Richard M. Upjohn, founder of the American Institute of Architects, the church was consecrated in 1855 and made a New York landmark in 1968 (pictured before the fire) Designating the church a landmark, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission said the church's 'striking appearance commands special attention' (pictured before the fire) He goes under the wheels after falling over in front of the truck Huge truck filmed as it drives into a group of spectators This is the dramatic moment a huge truck drove into a group of spectators, running over a photographer in Russia. The lorry had been competing in the Zoloto Kagana rally in south-western Russia's Astrakhan Oblast region when the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle. Video coverage shows it hurtling towards a group of spectators who frantically try to get out of its way as it careers over sand dunes. However, one photographer can be seen trying to capture the moment, and does not get out of the way fast enough. The man, reportedly in his 40s, loses his footing right in front of the huge vehicle and goes under the wheels. The photographer was later flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital where doctors described his condition as critical. He is suffering from multiple internal injuries, a broken arm and broken ribs. The driver of the vehicle, who did not wish to give his name, said he had not seen the man through the sandstorm thrown up by the powerful truck's wheels. Out of control: The lorry had been competing in the Zoloto Kagana rally when the driver suddenly appears to lose control of the vehicle, hurtling towards a group of spectators who frantically try to get out of its way The photographer, seen wearing jeans and a grey hoodie, falls over and is caught under the wheels of the lorry The driver of the vehicle, who did not wish to give his name, said he had not seen the man through the sandstorm thrown up by the powerful truck's wheels He said: 'We only found out about the accident at the finish line. We didn't see anything at the time due to the large swirl of sand.' Police said the man had been standing too close to the track in the 'Big Brother' section of the rally. A spokesman said: 'He ended up too close to the lorries due to his own carelessness. He has been evacuated by the police officers assigned for security work at the event.' The injured man was employed by the rally and had just arrived at the track with a group of journalists. The video of the accident has attracted more than 120,000 views on video-sharing websites in just a few days. Advertisement It comes with endless Harbour Views, period elegance and a home theatre, so it's little wonder this Sydney mansion was snapped up less than a week after it was put on the market. Goldman Sachs executive director David Nolan and wife Anita sold their Vaucluse residence on Saturday for $12.5million - making a cool $7.9m profit in the process. The Nolans had lived in the house since 2002 and recently purchased the former Windsor Castle hotel in Paddington for a record-equalling $11.85m. A multi-million dollar view: The new owners of this Vaucluse property will enjoy uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbour from their lounge room Designed by John R Brogan and redesigned by Garth Barnett, the 1930s architecture brings incredible elegance to the home David Nolan and wife Anita sold the property for $12.5million, a significant increase on the $4.6million they paid for it in 2002 Designed by architect John R Brogan and redesigned by Garth Barnett, it sits less than 100 metres from Hermit Bay Beach among some of Sydney's most prestigious homes. In leaving the Vaucluse Road address, the couple give up their uninterrupted views from Rose Bay to Middle Head through the arch windows from their lounge room. The exquisite circa 1930s architecture is a standout feature of the home, however dashes of modern elegance manage to bring it into the 21st century. The elegant tallow wood floorboards combine beautifully with the decor inside the waterfront mansion The kitchen boasts a stone island bench and Miele and Gaggenau appliances and is a major feature of the house The modern touches combine perfectly with the old school elegance throughout the entirety of the property The effortless transition from the inside of the home to the outdoor area and swimming pool is an entertainer's dream A stone island kitchen boasting Miele and Gaggenau appliances is a real feature, while the beautiful combination of tallow wood floorboards and stained glass bay windows add to the luxurious feeling. There's the effortless transition from the inside of the home to the ideal outdoor entertaining area and swimming pool. Not only are the former owners bidding farewell to their panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Sydney's CBD, but also a luxurious master bedroom and dual garage. They'll also say goodbye to a 1200 bottle wine cellar. Imagine waking up to this view every morning! This is the lifestyle that a spare $12.5m can buy The agent who listed the house said there was currently a shortage of high-end properties in the Sydney market Uninterrupted views of landmarks for as far as the eye can see come from the loungeroom of this Sydney mansion The mansion sits less than 100 metres from Hermit Bay Beach among some of Sydney's most prestigious homes The agent who listed the house said there was currently a shortage of high-end properties in the Sydney market, meaning it was little surprise it was snapped up so quickly. 'Its simply a matter of there being more buyers than vendors in the $10 million-plus market, Will Manning of McGrath Estate Agents told Domain.com.au. Agents say vendors have disappeared for different reasons including the upcoming federal election and international money market nerves. The elegant grand entrance to this 1930s mansion is just a sign of what is to come once you step inside! With the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House in the background, it's little wonder this property sold for such a high price A man suspected of murdering an American au-pair in Vienna may have acted out of jealousy after finding her lying next to a 15-year-old Afghan boy, Austrian police have claimed. Lauren Mann, 25, was found naked at her apartment in the Wieden district of the Austrian capital on January 25 after her employers told police she had not picked up their child from school. A Gambian asylum seeker - identified only as Abdou I. - has been charged with her murder but insist he was not in the city at the time of her death. A man suspected of murdering American au-pair Lauren Mann (pictured) in Vienna may have acted out of jealousy after finding her lying next to a 15-year-old Afghan boy, Austrian police have claimed Lauren Mann, 25, was found naked at her apartment in the Wieden district of the Austrian capital on January 25 after her employers told police she had not picked up their child from school According to The Local, investigators now believe Abdou I. killed her in a jealous rage after entering her flat and finding her with her arm around a 15-year-old boy from Afghanistan. During a police interview, the 24-year-old suspect said he had left the city and was in Switzerland when she was killed. Firemen broke down the door to her flat to find her half-undressed body lying face down on a mattress and surrounded by burning candles, having been violently suffocated. Police have already claimed that Abdou's sperm was found on her body and bed. He has admitted having a sexual relationship with her. Investigators now believe Abdou I. killed her in a jealous rage after entering her flat and finding her with her arm around a 15-year-old boy from Afghanistan. Police officers work at the scene of the grisly slaying He was arrested nine days after her death at a refugee centre in Switzerland. In March, it was reported that Ms Mann may have met him via the CouchSurfing website. According to Kurier.at, the 25-year-old was active on CouchSurfing, and her profile on the accommodation website states she had met many friends by using the service. Her profile also reveals she had graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Music and French. This is the dramatic moment a group of female passengers turned on a man after he had sexually harassed on of them while on a bus in Turkey. The incident, caught on camera, showed the 34-year-old man, identified only by his initials AEA, being confronted by his victim after he allegedly showed her his genitals on the bus in Turkey's north-western Kocaeli province. The disgusted woman then starts beating the accused harasser, and when he does not react, other women on the bus join in, with some of them kicking him. A group of female passengers on a bus in Turkey began attacking a man when he showed one of them his genitals As the blows grew more and more frequent, he was forced to try and climb off the bus when the doors opened As the blows grew more and more frequent, he was forced to try and climb off the bus when the doors opened. But he was then grabbed by another passenger after trying to flee when the bus doors opened. Eyewitnesses said when the woman realised what the man was showing her, she screamed and started hitting him, and then the other women joined in. They said the police were quickly on the scene because the bus driver had only opened the doors when he was driving alongside the Basiskele Police Station. Police interviewed the victim, and he was arrested and is currently in custody. The incident was recorded by the security camera of the bus with the footage given to police who are investigating. Eyewitnesses said when the woman realised what the man was showing her, she screamed and started hitting him, and then the other women joined in Daily Mail astrologer Jonathan Cainer died today following a suspected heart attack at home. The enormously popular newspaper horoscope writer was found by his wife Sue, who raised the alarm, but was pronounced dead at hospital. Mr Cainer, 58, was the Daily Mail astrologer from 1992 to 2000 and returned to his column with the newspaper in 2004. He was read by some 12 million followers around the world and his horoscopes were translated into Japanese, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. Daily Mail astrologer Jonathan Cainer died today following a suspected heart attack at home. He was found by his wife Sue and was pronounced dead in hospital. He is pictured left on This Morning in July 2013 Mr Cainer, 58, was the Daily Mail astrologer from 1992 to 2000 and returned to his column with the newspaper in 2004. He is pictured during one of his performances at the Literary Arena of Latitude Festival, Suffolk His younger brother Daniel, a musician, said his family believed he had suffered a heart attack after he was found collapsed in his office at the familys home in North Yorkshire. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed. He had suffered a previous heart attack a year ago but was thought to have made a good recovery. SAGITTARIUS: NOV 23 - DEC 21 READING FOR MAY 3, 2016 Life is very short and theres no time for fussing and fighting my friend . . . So sang The Beatles in We Can Work It Out. Not that this stopped them from fussing or fighting in the years after that song became a hit. Did they work it out? Well, they at least stopped long enough to notice how short life is and they shared some sense of the precious perspective with which we should all view our existence. You may not have all the answers, but you have enough to make today a good day. Advertisement Mr Cainer, a former nightclub manager, studied at the Faculty of Astrological Studies in London and got his first astrology column with the now-defunct Today newspaper in 1986. He went on to work at the Daily Express and the Daily Mirror but was best known for his columns for the Daily Mail, which were read by millions. His brother Daniel said: Jonathan had this great talent not only his gift and wisdom but also the ability to make people feel he was speaking directly to them as individuals. I think that was the key, that people felt he spoke to them personally. Even the most cynical and hardened person could read their forecast and be amazed by its accuracy. One reader said he was spookily accurate and I think that was borne out by his own prediction for his sun-sign, Sagittarius, today. He was read by some 12 million followers around the world and his horoscopes were translated into Japanese, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. Cainer is pictured at the Sunrise festival in Bruton, Somerset (left) in May 2009 and at his home in North Yorkshire (right) Mr Cainer (pictured), a former nightclub manager, studied at the Faculty of Astrological Studies in London and got his first astrology column with the now-defunct Today newspaper in 1986 Mr Cainers daily horoscope for his own sun-sign today began: Were not here for long. So make the most of every moment. We forget this so often, and get caught up in missions, and desires. We think we have forever and a day. 'MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT': JONATHAN CAINER'S HOROSCOPE ON THE DAY OF HIS DEATH We're not here for long. So make the most of every moment. We forget this so often, and get caught up in missions, and desires. We think we have forever and a day. In one way, we may be right for are we not eternal spirits, temporarily residing in finite physical form? An elevated perspective is key to a meaningful existence. As Jupiter soon reaches the end of its retrograde phase, youll find the higher you rise, the further you see. Advertisement Born in Surbiton, Surrey, in 1957 to David, a bank worker, and Ruth, a medical secretary, Mr Cainer had six brothers and sisters. He left school at 15 with no qualifications and became a petrol pump attendant, then moved to the US in the 1980s to manage a nightclub and his brothers musical career. Once in Los Angeles, he met a psychic poet, Charles John Quarto, who told him he would go on to write an astrology column which would be followed by millions. Returning to Britain, he studied at the Faculty of Astrological Studies in London before beginning his newspaper career. His newspaper columns, phone lines and website went on to make him one of the worlds best-read astrologers and he employed a 30-strong support team for his business, which had a reported turnover of some 2million a year. Tragedy struck in 1992 when his wife, Melanie, died during surgery following a car crash. Mr Cainer was at their home, looking after their young children, but later recalled: I was serving tea to the kids and suddenly, sound and vision in the corner of the room. Born in Surbiton, Surrey, in 1957 to David, a bank worker, and Ruth, a medical secretary, Mr Cainer (left and right) had six brothers and sisters. He left school at 15 and became a petrol pump attendant It was Mel in a strange blue light, looking serene. She said: Jon, I think Im going I said: No youre not, I need you here. She said: No, no, I think I am So I wasnt too surprised when the doctor later told me shed died in surgery. I said I thought as much. A six-month-old boy who died after his brain was starved of oxygen was forced to wait up to four hours for an ambulance while paramedics were on a lunch break, an inquest heard. Kyran Day was admitted to Shoalhaven Hospital on the south coast of NSW on the night of October 19, 2013 where he was allegedly misdiagnosed with gastroenteritis, The Daily Telegraph reported. But by the time he was formally diagnosed with a bowel obstruction and rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital to undergo surgery, the toddler had suffered several cardiac arrests. Kyran Day (pictured) died in October 2013 after he was allegedly misdiagnosed and suffered cardiac arrests A heartbreaking photo shows Kyran lying in a hospital bed with his parents Naomi and Grant Day by his side His parents Naomi and Grant Day speaks out about their grief, saying they want justice for their son Kryan His parents Naomi and Grant Day - who are expected to testify at Glebe Coroner's Court - have spoken of their devastation following the death of their son, saying they want justice. 'This is our 3rd year now and it's been hell but we will keep going until we have answers and justice for Kyran James day,' Mrs Day wrote on Facebook. Mr Day said: 'We will fight and continue to fight for change and Kyran's legacy for all the babies, children and parents without a voice.' A heartbreaking photograph shows the baby boy lying in a hospital bed with his distraught parents by his side in the hours leading to his death. Three days after he was first admitted, Kyran died after his brain was starved of oxygen (pictured right with his mum and the badge (left) his family wore to the first day of the inquest on Monday) Little Kyran was admitted to hospital on the night of October 19, 2013 where he was allegedly misdiagnosed His parents Naomi and Grant Day have spoken of their devastation following the death of their son Kyran The coronial inquest heard Dr Toby Greenacre refused to re-examine Kyran because he had 'more urgent cases' and two ambulances were delayed as emergency crews were on their lunch break. After waiting four hours for an ambulance, the family were finally airlifted to Sydney but three days after he was first admitted, the young boy died from oxygen starvation. The two-week inquest will examine Shoalhaven Hospital staff who were involved in the case, including a paediatrician, two nurses, Newborn Emergency Transport Service and NSW Ambulance. Advertisement The final moments of Aleppo's 'last pediatrician', killed in a Russian airstrike as he began work last week, have been caught in chilling CCTV footage. Mohammad Wassim Maaz was killed along with 26 other people - patients, doctors and visitors among them - when the Russian bombs hit the Al Quds hospital last Wednesday. And now CCTV from inside the hospital has revealed how he and others spent the last moments, unaware of the terrible end which was about to befall them. The harrowing footage shows doctors and what appear to be visitors making their way around the halls of the Medicins sans Frontiere's supported hospital on Wednesday evening. Mohammad Wassim Maaz - the last paediatrician in Aleppo - gets ready to start his night shift at Al QudS hospital last Wednesday Less than 10 seconds after Dr Maaz walks out of sight of the camera, the explosion hits the corridor, engulfing it in flames After it strikes, everything goes black, the dust just visible swirling in front of the camera - until you can just make out the figure of person, seemingly clutching a baby or small child Another camera captures porters wheeling a person down the corridor, before cutting to footage of Dr Maaz, making his way down the stairs to start his shift. Wearing his green scrubs, ready to start a night shift at the hospital, he turns the corner - out of sight of the cameras. Seconds later, the camera is engulfed with flames, apparently coming from the same room the pediatrician had just entered. It is the explosion that kills him and two of his colleagues, as well as countless civilians. After it strikes, everything goes black, the dust just visible swirling in front of the camera. And then the figure of a person appears from the dark, apparently clutching a baby or small child. In less damaged corridors, people are seen trying to help each other, while a camera trained on the outside of the hospital shows people carrying torches running down the road. Whether it is to help the injured, or flee danger, is unknown. Today, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the bombing as 'unconscionable', adding: 'It has to stop. Meanwhile, the UN said it was 'catastrophic', while Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir laid the blame at Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's door. 'There is only one side that is flying airplanes, and that is Bashar al-Assad and his allies, so they are responsible for the massacre of women, children, and the elderly,' he said. 'They are responsible for the murder of doctors and medical personnel, and this situation, any way you slice it, will not stand. The world is not going to allow them to get away with this.' Dr Maaz (left), described as the last paediatrician in Aleppo, was among dozens killed when jets attacked the Al Quds hospital (right) Other cameras show different parts of the hospital which suffered less damage than the corridor Dr Maaz was walking down In another part of the hospital, people start to tend to the injured as they come to terms with what has just happened An injured woman covered in blood and dust staggers to safety after an air strike hits a rebel-held area of Aleppo Obliterated: Children walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after air strikes on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after a reported airstrike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of Aleppo Distraught: Syrians walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after air strikes on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in Aleppo More than 250 people have been killed in the last nine days, the vast majority on the rebel side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. And without the hospital, the situation is looking even more dire for those trapped inside the city/ 'This devastating attack has destroyed a vital hospital in Aleppo, and the main referral centre for paediatric care in the area,' said Muskilda Zancada, MSF head of mission, Syria, shortly after the attack. 'Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage?' International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Ewan Watson said: 'It is unacceptable, any attack on hospitals is a war crime. But it is up to an investigator and it is for a court to take that decision on whether it is a war crime or not.' The city of Aleppo is at the epicentre of a military escalation that has undermined peace talks in Geneva to end the five-year-old war and UN envoy Stefan de Mistura appealed to the presidents of the United States and Russia to intervene. 'The catastrophic deterioration in Aleppo over the last 24-48 hours' has jeopardised the aid lifeline that delivers supplies to millions of Syrians, said Jan Egeland, chairman of the UN humanitarian task force. 'I could not in any way express how high the stakes are for the next hours and days.' The Geneva talks aim to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, allowed for the rise of Islamic State and drawn in regional and major powers but the negotiations have all but failed and a truce to allow them to take place has collapsed. A badly wounded man is loaded on to a vehicle so he can be taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries A man carries a child after airstrikes destroy a rebel-held area of Aleppo. The violence brings the death toll over 24 hours to at least 61 The White Helmets have been braving the continued bombing in an effort to drag people from the rubble The Syrian regime has been pounding rebel-held areas in Aleppo since the weekend including the hospital Winding up the Geneva talks, de Mistura said he aimed to resume them in May, but gave no date. 'Wherever you are, you hear explosions of mortars, shelling and planes flying over,' Valter Gros, who heads the International Committee of the Red Cross Aleppo office, said. 'There is no neighbourhood of the city that hasn't been hit. People are living on the edge. Everyone here fears for their lives and nobody knows what is coming next,' he said. A Syrian military source said government planes had not been in areas where air raids were reported. Syria's army denied reports that the Syrian air force targeted the hospital. The Russian defence ministry, whose air strikes have swung the war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, could not immediately be reached for comment. Russia has previously denied hitting civilian targets in Syria where it launched air raids late last year to bolster its ally. The British-based Observatory said 31 people were killed as a result of air strikes on several areas of opposition-held Aleppo on Thursday. Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate a baby from a destroyed building in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in Aleppo Six days of air strikes and rebel shelling in Aleppo, which is split between government forces and rebels, have killed some 200 people in the city, two-thirds of them on the opposition side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says A Civil Defence worker carries a child through the rubble-strewn streets of Aleppo after airstrikes by suspected government forces A civil defence member carries a child to safety after she is pulled from the rubble in Aleppo In addition, it said at least 27 people were killed in the air strike on the hospital that was struck late on Wednesday. Rescue workers put the toll higher. In government-held areas, rebel mortar shelling killed at least 14 people, the Observatory and Syria's state news agency SANA reported. Peace talks, which have been deeply divided on the future of Assad, looked to be over last week when the opposition walked out. They said the Syrian government was stalling for time to advance on the ground and calling for implementation of a UN resolution requiring full humanitarian access to besieged areas. De Mistura voiced deep concern at the truce unravelling in Aleppo and at least three other places, but also said he saw some narrowing of positions between the government and opposition visions of political transition. 'Hence my appeal for a U.S.-Russian urgent initiative at the highest level, because the legacy of both President Obama and President Putin is linked to the success of what has been a unique initiative,' de Mistura told a news conference. The damage at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed Al Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes in a rebel-held area of Aleppo They should 'be able to revitalise what they have created and which is still alive but barely'. The United States and Russia must convene a ministerial meeting of major and regional powers who compose the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), he said. Egeland said: 'So the appeal of Staffan de Mistura to the United States, to Russia and to the other powers in the ISSG is 'you did it once, you can do it again.'' Bashar Ja'afari, who led the government delegation, said on Tuesday the round had been 'useful and constructive'. But he gave no sign of ceding to the opposition HNC's central demand for a political transition without Assad. The government has said the future of Assad is non-negotiable. De Mistura, asked whether Assad's fate was discussed, replied: 'We didn't get into names of people ... but actually how to change the current governance.' More than 100 people have been killed in airstrikes in Aleppo with scores injured since Friday afternoon The state run media service has blamed many of the deaths on the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front The UN envoy said the two sides remained far apart in their vision of a political transition, but shared some 'commonalities', including the view 'that the transitional governance could include members of the present government and the opposition, independents and others'. Giving a chilling statistic about the backdrop of violence against which the talks played out, de Mistura said that in the past 48 hours there had been an average of one Syrian civilian killed every 25 minutes and one wounded every 13 minutes. Hossam Abu Ghayth, 29, a documentary film-maker living in the rebel-held area of Kalasa in Aleppo which was bombed on Thursday, said by WhatsApp: 'There are still planes (flying)... they're hitting everything, mosques, markets, residential buildings, field hospitals. 'Dozens of people are under the rubble and the Civil Defence cannot dig out the bodies because of the intensity' of the bombardments. Tony Ishak, 26, a resident of the government-held area of Suleimaniya in Aleppo and a politics student, said via WhatsApp: A 26-year-old woman driving along a highway in Milwaukee was shot and killed by her two-year-old son in the backseat who got his hands on a gun last week. Patrice Price was pronounced dead on scene after deputies were alerted to the crash around 10:30am on 26th April. Patrice Price, 26, was driving when she was shot and killed by her two-year-old son in the backseat who got his hands on a gun last week It's believed that the gun was left in the car by the woman's boyfriend, who works as a security guard 'Initial witness accounts indicate that a child in the back seat of the vehicle got a hold of a gun and discharged the firearm, sending a single bullet into the driver's back,' the local police department said in a statement. 'The MCSO investigation into the death is on-going.' Price was driving a car owned by her security guard boyfriend, who allegedly left the firearm inside. The same week, a three-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself with his father's gun. Holston Cole died last Tuesday from the self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest after finding the semi-automatic pistol inside his father David's book bag at his Paulding County home, Georgia. Deputies responded to a 911 call just after 7am while the toddler's parents were getting him ready for the day. Holston Cole (pictured with with parents David and Haley Cole and one-year-old twin sisters Paisley and Macy) died last Tuesday from the self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest after finding the semi-automatic pistol inside his father David's book bag at his Paulding County home, Georgia No charges have been filed. It is not known who owns the gun and how the child got access to it First responders performed CPR on the toddler when they arrived before taking him to a nearby hospital. But he was pronounced dead a short time later, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Holston lived at the residence with parents David and Haley Cole and one-year-old twin sisters Paisley and Macy. No charges have been filed. It is not known who owns the gun and how the child got access to it. Investigators would not reveal what type of gun was used. They would only reveal that it was a small handgun. Pastor Paul Richardson, who is acting as spokesman for the family, said that Holston was 'full of life' and a 'happy little boy'. A three-year-old toddler picked up a loaded pistol at his great-grandparents' house and accidentally shot and killed his nine-year-old sister, on February 6. Third-grader Kimberly Reylander suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was flown by a medical helicopter from the home in Irondale, Alabama to Children's of Alabama hospital, where she died. A relative who was not home at the time had left the loaded gun on the nightstand, not realizing the children would be in the house that day, police chief Ken Atkinson said. Kimberly Reylander, nine, was remembered as smart, sweet, artistic and beautiful by her relatives. Her obituary reads: 'Kimi was her Mommy and Daddy's little angel. She was a gifted singer and artist.' The other adults in the house were unaware the gun was in the room where Kimberly and her brother were playing. Kimberly's great-grandfather, Joel Watson said he and the other adults rushed into the room once they heard the gunshot. He told WIAT: 'Her grandma was laying the towel on her head and laid down there and started praying, she was praying, I was praying, my wife was screaming and praying. 'Nobody knows how that feels until you experience it.' The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, when Kimberly was sitting on the floor of the bedroom in the 2000 block of Monroe Drive, about 14 miles outside of Birmingham. Kimberly and her brother lived nearby with their mother. Kimberly (left) died after her three-year-old brother accidentally shot her with a pistol left on their great-grandparents' nightstand in Irondale, Alabama Atkinson called it 'a tragic accident', but an investigation is still underway. Her maternal grandfather Rodney Watson told WBRC: 'She was a beautiful child, straight A student, she loved God, she loved singing at church, she was just a precious angel.' He added: 'You know, I've always had this thought that this could only happen to someone else, you know you only hear about these things, but when it hits home it's hard.' Irondale police said there were no charges filed at this time. A North Carolina mother was jailed after her two-year-old son found a gun inside his mother's purse and shot himself in the stomach. Valencia Burks, 22, was charged with reckless conduct on March 23 after her son Chandler Burks, accidentally shot himself at a hotel Lithonia, Atlanta at around 2.30am. Valencia Burks, 22, was charged with reckless conduct on March 23 after her son Chandler Burks, accidentally shot himself at a hotel Lithonia, Atlanta at around 2.30am The toddler was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery but is expected to make a full recovery. Dekalb Police Sgt Vincent Gamble said the boy took the gun out of the purse as his mother slept. His older brother and the female friend are also believed to have been asleep, according to WXIA. A high-profile pro-gun activist was shot in the back by her four-year-old son after he found her pistol lying on the back seat of her truck just 24 hours after he boasted about his shooting skills online. Jamie Gilt, 31, who posts about firearms on her social media accounts was driving through Putnam County, Jacksonville, Florida, on Tuesday in her truck when she was wounded after the toddler picked up the weapon and shot her in the back. It came just a day after she said the youngster would get 'jacked up' before a shooting practice on a page dedicated to her musings on Second Amendment rights. On the profile Jamie Gilt for Gun Sense she wrote: 'Even my 4 year old gets jacked up to target shoot with the .22'. Jamie Gilt was shot in the back by her son as they drove through Putnam County in Jacksonville Florida She runs the Jamie Gilt for Gun Sense page on Facebook which promotes Second Amendment rights Discussing gun rights on Facebook, Gilt wrote Monday that her '4 year old gets jacked up to target shoot' She reportedly believes she has the right to shoot anyone who threatens her family - and plans to teach her offspring the same mentality. According to CBS47, Gilt was on her way to pick up a horse when the shooting unfolded. Her four-year-old son picked up a loaded .45 semi-automatic handgun from the back seat, pointed it towards his mother and pulled the trigger. The powerful round went through the front seat and passed through Gilt's body . Gilt flagged down a passing Sheriff's deputy and told him that she had been shot. Deputies recovered a .45 semi-automatic handgun from the floor of the truck. They are satisfied that the round was fired from inside the vehicle. Gilt and her son had been travelling to pick up a horse from a relative when the accident happened. Before being transported to the emergency room, the victim told deputies that her son had accidentally shot her. 'The investigation by Major Crimes Unit Detectives and the analysis of the crime scene confirmed that the victim was accidentally shot by the young boy who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. Another family, in Kansas City, were left grieving after their two-year-old daughter was shot by her three-year-old brother. Police were called to the home in Lawn on the afternoon of April 21 after reports that little Shaquille Kornegay had been shot in the head. The only other person in the house at that time was her older brother, authorities said. Courtenay Shaquel Block, 24, has been charged with 1st degree endangering the welfare of a child, armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence after after his two-year-old daughter was shot by her three-year-old brother The girl's father, Courtenay Shaquel Block, 24, has since been charged with 1st degree endangering the welfare of a child, armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence. Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker said: 'This homicide was 100 percent preventable,' Baker said, according to a news release. 'This is tragic. We must do a better job of protecting our most vulnerable, our children.' Just one day after the death of Shaquille Kornegay, a three-year-old boy in Louisiana picked up a pistol and accidentally shot himself in the head. Alverious Demars and the boy's mother had been lying in bed together when the youngster was somehow able to get hold of the gun and fire it, police say. The child was taken to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, where he later died. Just one day after the death of Shaquille Kornegay, a three-year-old boy in Louisiana picked up a pistol and accidentally shot himself in the head. Demars, 22, of Natchitoches, was arrested after the tragic accident on counts of negligent homicide Demars, 22, of Natchitoches, was arrested after the tragic accident on counts of negligent homicide and obstruction of justice in connection. The latter charge arises from the fact that the gun has yet to be found. Gilbert Sr had threatened to slash his son's weekly allowance by $200 to deem if he is fit to stand trial A hedge fund manager whose spoiled son is standing trial for his murder after he cut his allowance by $200 was only worth $585,555.50, it has been revealed. Thomas Gilbert Jr, 31, is accused of murdering his father, Thomas Gilbert Sr, in January 2015 after he threatened to slash his weekly allowance from $600 to $400 and to stop paying the rent on his $2,400-a-month Chelsea apartment, authorities say. But while Gilbert Sr was believed to be worth as much as $200 million at the time of his death, court documents obtained by the New York Post have revealed he had less than $10,000 in stocks and bonds, under $20,000 in cash and retirement accounts, and some $500,000 in 'miscellaneous' assets. Thomas Gilbert Jr (pictured) is accused of murdering his father, Thomas Gilbert Sr, after he threatened to slash his weekly allowance from $600 to $400 and stop paying the rent on his $2,400-a-month But while Gilbert Sr (right) was believed to be worth at least $200 million at the time of his death, court documents have revealed he was actually worth $585,555.50. Left, Thomas Gilbert Jr Gilbert Sr was once a successful Wall Street man who lived in an Upper East Side brownstone but after a bid to start his own hedge fund failed, he was forced to sell the home and start renting a Beekman Place apartment. The family rented out a home in the Hamptons they had owned, where Gilbert Sr had been a member of the tony Maidstone Club. Gilbert Jr - known as Tommy - meanwhile was not working, despite an economics degree from Princeton, and relied on his father to cover the $2,400 rent on his Chelsea apartment as well as a weekly $600 allowance. Before Princeton he went to Deerfield for boarding school and the all boys, exclusive Manhattan day school Buckley before that. A judge had previously rejected Gilbert Jr's lawyer's plea for insanity back in November after he said his client had been seriously mentally ill and should not stand trial. His attorney, Alex Spiro, is being paid for by his mother, Shelley Rea Gilbert. The New York Times had reported that Gilbert Jr was taking medication for his mental illness while at Princeton, according to evidence eluded to in a State Supreme Court hearing in Manhattan. In the same hearing, the court also learnt that Gilbert Jr had experimented with illegal drugs while at Princeton, including LSD, magic mushrooms, cocaine and marijuana. He has also previously talked about people 'infecting his mind' and has claimed skits on Saturday Night Live were attempts to mock him. A judge had previously rejected Tommy's lawyer's plea for insanity back in November after he said his client had been seriously mentally ill and should not stand trial His attorney, Alex Spiro, (right) is being paid for by Gilbert Jr's mother, Shelley Rea Gilbert (left) Though he was deemed mentally fit in November, a new court ruling made on April 28 means that a judge will hear testimony from two new court psychiatrists on Gilbert's mental state and review the question of his competency once again at a hearing in June. Gilbert Jr, who rarely appears in court but chooses instead to write letters to the judge, was present at the hearing and also took the opportunity to complain that he doesn't have cable in his jail cell. Manhattan socialite Anna Rothschild, 50, dated the accused killer in 2014 and said he was a loner with few friends who deeply resented his father and was obsessed with how he would 'never be good enough' for his dad. The twice-divorced Upper East Side woman said he was jobless - and seemed to have few prospects, and little interest, for finding serious work. Instead, he spent most his time in the Hamptons, going to the gym, doing yoga and surfing. His one professional aspiration was founding his own hedge fund - but he complained that his father wouldn't give him the seed money to start it, Miss Rothschild said. Miss Rothschild said Gilbert Jr was also preoccupied with how controlling his father was with his money and was convinced that he could never do anything to gain his approval Manhattan socialite Anna Rothschild, 49, dated the accused killer (pictured together) dated in 2014 and said he was a loner with few friends The socialite told the Daily Mail Online earlier this year that she was repeatedly warned by her friend that Gilbert Jr 'would chop her into tiny pieces'. Gilbert Jr. had allegedly tried to stage his father's body to make it look like a suicide - placing the .40-caliber Glock pistol on his chest. The trial is not Gibert Jr's first brush with the law. While a student, in 2007, he was arrested after head-butting a nurse treating him at a hospital while he was high, but the charges were dropped after he agreed to counselling. Gilbert Jr was also reportedly ordered to undergo anger management in 2013 after assaulting his roommate and friend Peter Smith, breaking his nose during a bust-up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In 2014 he stole a flag from the Smith family estate in Sagaponack, New York, and was charged with petit larceny. Gilbert Jr (pictured left, while at Princeton, and right) experimented with illegal drugs, including LSD, magic mushrooms, cocaine and marijuana, a court heard Gilbert Sr, 70, was found with a single gunshot wound to the head at the family's apartment in Midtown Manhattan. Pictured, his body is carried out of the property He breached a court order later that year by approaching Mr Smith and was questioned after the Smith family home was attacked by an arsonist two weeks later. Gilbert Jr was not charged in connection with the blaze. The millionaire heir was also banned from an exclusive club in the Hamptons after allegedly threatening to kill a member of staff there. Gilbert Jr was a major beneficiary of his father's will which was written just two years before the alleged patricide - and he could receive payments he is due to help pay legal fees. He also has one sister. A mother-of-two shot during the execution of notorious underworld figure Walid Wally Ahmad says her children have helped her to move on from the horrific events of that day. Hoda Darwiche, 32, had stopped to buy a coffee at a cafe before heading to the gym at a shopping centre in Bankstown in Sydneys south-west when a masked gunman opened fire at Ahmad and an associated on Friday. Ms Darwiche was caught in the crossfire and shot in the leg. She was at first believed by police to be at the cafe with Ahmad, but was later revealed to be an innocent bystander. Scroll down for video Mother-of-two, Hoda Darwiche, 32, (pictured, right) that was shot during the execution of notorious underworld figure Walid Wally Ahmad says her children have helped her to move on from the horrific events of that day Caught in the cross-fire Ms Darwiche was shot in the leg. Paramedics attended to her on scene and took her to Liverpool hospital along with another man, 51, believed to be Nael Hamid, Ahmad's associate Ahmads associate, Nael Hamid, 51, was also wounded. Paramedics attended to Ms Darwiche and the 51-year-old before taking them both to Liverpool hospital to be treated. In a picture showing Ms Darwiches children posted to Instagram on Friday, she wrote: When I look at them smiling and happy like this Ill forget everything happening, reported The Daily Telegraph. Former neighbours told the Telegraph that the Darwiche family were lovely and were shocked to learn the friendly mother had become a victim of the Bankstown shooting. New South Wales police said: 'Initial inquiries have led police to confirm the woman injured in the incident was an innocent bystander, and was sitting at a coffee table nearby when she was shot in the leg. Ms Darwiche was comforted by a picture of her children and posted it on Instagram and said: When I look at them smiling and happy like this Ill forget everything happening 'She is believed to not be linked in any way to those involved in the shooting.' Ahmad, 41, was shot dead in a 'well-planned ambush' on the rooftop carpark at Bankstown Central shopping centre in the 'execution styled attack'. Shocking footage which emerged from the moment paramedics tried to resuscitate Ahmad shows the gangland figure struggling for life before going into cardiac arrest. His family and friends were heard screaming 'Walid, Walid! Don't die on me Walid!' The 32-year-old had stopped to buy a coffee before the gym at Bankstown Central in Sydneys south-west, when a masked gunman opened fire at Ahmad and his associate on Friday Nael Hamid (pictured) is thought to be Ahmad's bouncer and made light of the situation by saying his injuries were due to 'fireworks' The 41-year-old known criminal was ruthlessly shot eight times according to witness accounts on the day. A crime scene has been established at the popular south-west Sydney shopping centre while detectives and forensic specialists examine the area. Police said: 'Officers from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad have taken carriage of the investigation and have established Strike Force Bindon as inquiries into the incident continue.' The search for the shooter who gunned down Ahmad has spread to Victoria. Shocking footage emerged of the moment paramedics tried to resuscitate Ahmad. Family members can be heard screaming: 'Walid, Walid! Don't die on me Walid!' Police have voiced fears that a war between rival Sydney crime gangs, thought to have stemmed from a drugs debt, could escalate following the death of the convicted killer Police investigating Friday's shooting in Bankstown have shifted their focus to an abandoned vehicle found on the Hume Highway. NSW Police confirmed they had been contacted by Victoria police after a single-vehicle crashed in Benalla. Police have reason to believe the car might be linked to the shooting reported The Sydney Morning Herald. Police investigating the crash found the car empty and mangled among trees just off the Hume Freeway near Baddaginnie. Ahmad is a central figure among Sydney's middle eastern crime gangs and his death has sparked serious concerns about an emerging gang war The gunman is believed to have escaped in a Mercedes, which was found burned out less than 1km away Police are still trying to confirm who was driving the vehicle when it crashed. Detective Superintendent on the investigation, David Eardley said: 'It's clearly targeted, this is not a random shooting.' 'We're certainly not ruling out any links - we're looking at all opportunists and all avenues of investigation.' It has also been reported a senior police officer from the Middle Eastern Crime Squad has said people would 'be lining up to kill him'. Ahmad's family were seen looking distraught following the shooting at the shopping centre Ahmad was wanted for questioning over the fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji (pictured) outside the A Team Smash Repairs in Condell Park on April 9 'In the past few months he has been spiralling out of control and bingeing on cocaine,' The Daily Telegraph reported. Ahmad, a known standover man, was wanted by police for questioning the fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji, which is believed to be the reason for his murder. Charbaji was killed at his smash repairs business earlier this month in Condell Park. 'There are two distinct crime groups now involved in a feud and they are extremely violent,' a sebuir police officer told the Telegraph. Images of an abandoned vehicle in Victoria has led police investigators over the border from New South Wales to search for Ahmad's shooter. The incident is said to have been a targeted attack Bankstown Central shopping centre is located about 20km south-west of Sydney The 41-year-old, who is believed to be married with children, was also reportedly being investigated over his role in an extortion racket. Ahmad was jailed in 2005 after shooting dead Mayez Danny at Greenacre in Sydney's south-west in 2002. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he was well known for intimidation and stand over tactics, particularly in the automotive industry. Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The shooting of Ahmad is believed to have been triggered by the fatal attack of fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji earlier this month. Police are still searching for the unknown gunman Most Presidents try to make every last day in power count, so why does Obama look like his practicing for a new career as stand-up comic rather than trying to secure what's left of his legacy? School is definitely out for the summer at The White House. When President Obama isn't encouraging non-binary students to be proud of their sexuality - of which they are uncertain - he's prancing around the Oval Office like a kid with a new phone, making spoof videos to entertain the nation. Obama seems to be practiving for a post-White House stand up career. He made a spoof video released Saturday night where he practices Snapchat, makes jokes about morning beer and chills in his cool sunglasses with John Boehner He's so down with the kids, he's underground. So busy coolin' with his homies he's got brain freeze. And that's precisely the problem. It may be fairly entertaining to watch someone in high office show they are not actually made of stone. He even managed to get our Queen in on the act, sparring with Prince Harry ahead of the Invictus Games. And she's only ever played the fool with the immaculate James Bond. Admittedly he is able to do things no other politician can; sing, dance, act human. It's a credible threat he'd be pretty useful between the sheets with Michelle - something I can't say of the British Prime Minister who undoubtedly keeps his socks on for comfort. But being a regular guy, does not excuse a President acting like a kid from YouTube desperate to advertise Oreos or snag a TV deal. Someone needs to tell him to put his phone away and concentrate on how he wants to be remembered. And I can't believe this is it. Usually at this point in Presidential proceedings, the man in charge of the Free World is trying to make every last day of power count - busy jet-setting about, securing their legacy as a global statesman, for their future, more lucrative career *see Tony Blair for details*. Mic drop! Malia, right, is off to Harvard and by the time she gets there he'll be instagramming photos in a leotard at this rate. His approval ratings have plummeted In contrast, I am assuming Obama believes his calling is as a stand up comic or after-dinner speaker, because he is advertising his services like a hooker wearing a safety harness and no knickers. His kids must be mortified. Malia is off to Harvard in a year and if her dad continues on his current trajectory by then he'll be posting Insta pics of himself in a leotard doing yoga at the 18th hole. It's not as if he just a got SAT scores north of 1500 and has cause to celebrate. Voters have been singularly unimpressed with his ability to deliver on his promises during his administration. Despite starting his presidency with some of the highest approval ratings in history, a FoxNews poll earlier this year shows his approval rating is on the floor. This brilliant orator capable who said 'yes we can' has turned into 'no, we didn't...but have you seen my clip on Buzzfeed? Voters are disillusioned and don't want to be fed click-bait. Despite the big fish showing up for a celeb-fest at his final Correspondents Dinner, history tends not too judge Presidents of the United States on their gags or their guest lists. Bit rather on things they actually achieved. The Obamas even got the royals in on his routine - sparring with Prince Harry and the Queen ahead of the Invictus Games Playing a video of his bloopers during his time in office, we saw him fall down the stairs of Air Force One, trip up steps into the office and getting The Beast stuck on a nasty ramp. But he left out some of the biggest bloopers from his time in office; not achieving gun reform, not delivering on Obamacare and failing to make the country safer from terrorism. A defining moment of the new Presidential race was Obama's failure to respond at speed to the terror shootings at San Bernardino, seeming weak in the face of attack. Meanwhile two thirds of voters says he has failed to handle ISIS, a similar number say he has failed to curtail illegal immigration. His impotence in this area fueled the surge of Republican support for Donald Trump. At a time when the country was gripped by fear, Donald reassured them he would build a wall and ban Muslims from the USA. Bombastic rhetoric? Absolutely. I recognise these are impossible promises to keep. But they did at least indicate a man in touch with the mood of the nation. As opposed to a man closer to his own reflection in the mirror. It's no wonder Americans are voting for Trump - the country is mad and sick of the joker who is slow to respond to national security issues In the latest Fox poll, 61 percent of voters say they are unhappy with the direction of the country under Obama. Nearly 70% saying they are somewhat angry about the situation. Looking at the strength of support for Donald Trump, winning all five of his recent primaries and his promise to 'Make America Great Again' suggesting a turn-around after 'no, we didn't', I'd say 'somewhat angry' was an understatement. Most look fuming mad. Even if you aren't a Republican and support the other Beast in the Presidential fleet - Hillary Clinton - you might recognize she has quite a task on her hands. Many will vote for anything other than more of the same. While some may not be enjoying the emergence of Donald Trump 2.0, he is looking a great deal more Presidential than the current joker enjoying the limelight. Hollywood star Emma Thompson today revealed she would abandon voting Labour on Thursday despite being 'inspired' by Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. In a fresh blow to the Labour leader, Ms Thompson endorsed the Women's Equality Party in the race for London's City Hall. The party's candidate Sophie Walker is a rank outsider in the race, the focus of which has been on the contest between Labour's Sadiq Khan and Tory Zac Goldsmith. But Ms Thompson said she had decided after a lifetime of voting Labour she had decided to do 'something new' with her ballot. Oscar winner Emma Thompson, left, today said she would end a lifetime of Labour voting and instead back the Women's Equality Party on Thursday, represented in the London mayoral contest by Sophie Walker, right She said she was motivated by 30 years of failure to tackle the gender pay gap and warned: 'I don't feel spoken to by Labour.' Ms Thompson made her intervention in a letter to The Guardian. She said: 'I just got to the point where I thought, Im 57, I have voted Labour all my life, I have spent my life living and working in the capital, and I can safely say I have never known it worse.' The Harry Potter actress added: 'To be sure, there have been some good shifts but by and large, the dreams of my generation have not been realised and many of our hopes have been dashed.' Endorsing the Women's Equality Party, Ms Thompson said: 'I am backing them because I have met and talked with them and a more committed, bright, inspiring bunch of women with fantastic ideas I have never found. 'I am inspired by Jeremy Corbyn, but I feel like I need to do something new.' Ms Thompson has made a series of political interventions in recent weeks. She joined a Greenpeace fracking protest last week, trespassing into a field earmarked for drilling. Ms Thompson was spoken to by police officers during the stunt - and even had to shelter in a tent after an irate farmer sprayed raw sewage at the protesters. The Oscar winner also hit the headlines earlier this year when she waded into the Brexit debate. She sparked outrage by deriding Britain as a tiny cake-filled misery-laden island which must stay in the European Union. Advertisement Dozens of holidaymakers abandoned their cars and started to walk towards Manchester Airport after police closed four lanes of the congested M56. Officers blocked off part of the motorway for nearly three hours while responding to 'an incident on an over bridge' at Junction 4 yesterday evening. Police shut part of the motorway on Sunday evening as officers tried to talk a man safely down from a bridge at around 6.30pm, and he came down at around 9pm. Meanwhile desperate passengers caught in the tailback were seen dragging their suitcases towards the airport, fearful they would miss their flights. Backlog: Police closed part of the M56 while they responded to an 'incident on an overbridge' near Manchester Airport yesterday Helping hand: Motorists helped each other over the fence as they made the journey on foot, left, and dragged their luggage along the road Desperate: Holidaymakers abandoned their vehicles and started to climb up the embankment on the side of the motorway Photographs show passengers trekking along the hard shoulder and helping each other over fences on the side of the road. North West Motorway Police tweeted about the incident yesterday evening, urging motorists to remain in their vehicles and off the hard shoulder so emergency vehicles could attend the scene. Some 40 minutes later, the force announced it would be closing the motorway between junctions two and three and advised those travelling to the airport to allow extra time for their journeys. However frustrated motorists caught up in the chaos decided to continue their journeys on foot, determined to keep their travel plans. Plea: Officers took to Twitter to urge motorists to remain in the car rather than walk towards the airport Concerned: Passengers with suitcases were seen talking to officials on the hard shoulder of the motorway Abandoned: Passengers were seen standing on the hard shoulder, while others climbed up the embankment Passengers pulled their suitcases alongside the parked cars, while others climbed up the embankment and clambered over a fence to reach a footpath. The exodus prompted the police to tweet: 'Closures will remain but if are trapped in the tail back. RETURN TO YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATLY we will be getting you moving in next few mins [sic].' Later the force wrote: 'Incident at J4 #M56 has now concluded. We will be stopping the traffic whilst closures (cones) are removed & the full c/way opened.' Warning: People caught in the traffic jam gathered on the hard shoulder as officers tried to offer assistance Finding a way: Two motorists were seen climbing over a fence on the side of the road to escape the traffic Thousands of travellers queued for hours and some missed their flights amid tighter security checks at the newly reopened departures hall at Brussels airport following the terror attacks in March. Angry passengers took to social media to complain of three-hour waits due to increased security screening at Brussels Zaventem Airport, which reopened yesterday. One traveller Jan Drahokoupil tweeted: 'Over 2h wait to get into the reopened @BrusselsAirport. A big fail for passengers and Bxl business.' Scroll down for video Chaos: Thousands of travellers queued for hours and some missed their flights amid tighter security checks at Brussels Airport today Passengers, some of whom missed their flights from the airport - took to social media to vent their anger The tightened security comes after two suicide bombers killed 16 people at Brussels airport in March Jan Spooren wrote on Twitter: 'For those traveling through @BrusselsAiport - make it 4 hours 2 b there b4 scheduled departure time - it's 1 big mess.' The airport had already resumed some flights before the check-in hall was reopened, but passengers had been using a temporary check-in tent due to extensive damage to the departure hall. Passenger Julius Waller tweeted: 'Belgian incompetence. Lines from parking to departure hall. Passengers like sardines. #brusselairport 2hrsto fly.' Cliff Mosco posted a photograph of queues at the airport alongside the message: '4 hours just to get into the airport and missed my flight. And there is no air Canada rep in the building. #fml.' Another, Jan Spooren added on Twitter: 'For those traveling through @BrusselsAiport - make it 4 hours 2 b there b4 scheduled departure time - it's 1 big mess.' The former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme missed his flight yesterday morning after waiting two-and-a-half hours at the airport, according to La Libre newspaper. Waiting: Passengers took to social media to complain of three-hour waits due to increased security screening Brussels Airport spokesperson Nathalie Van Impe told AD.nl: 'The first day of major operational change is always difficult.' She said the operations would be evaluated and she suspects 'it will improve in the coming days'. The two airport suicide bombers are believed to be Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El-Bakraoui. The pair killed 16 people when they blew themselves up within seconds of each other. One of the blasts hit the heart of the packed American Airlines check in desk, and the other struck outside Starbucks as early morning travellers ran for their lives. The third bomb - thought to be comprised of the heaviest explosive - was left abandoned as the 'man in white' fled the scene. The newly-repaired departure hall was opened yesterday after a special ceremony presided over by Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel. Attackers: The two airport suicide bombers are believed to be Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El-Bakraoui The two suicide bombers killed 16 people at Brussels airport when they blew themselves up within seconds of each other 'We all choose to resist. Today, our capital's airport is reopening. Brussels is back in business,' Michel told a gathered crowd near a plaque bearing the names of victims, surrounded by photos and flowers. In a statement, Brussels Airport Company CEO Arnaud Feist called it 'an important day in the recovery' of the airport and in efforts to revive the city's image. Feist said he hoped the airport would be back at 100 per cent capacity by mid-June. A nine-year-old girl called 911 to report her brother had been killed by three men and her mother was still alive after she had been shot 12 times in the chest, police said. Christopher Lane Freeman, 28, was shot multiple times in the upstairs bedroom of the family home in Akron, Ohio around 10pm Sunday. Mother Sonia Freeman, 48, was found downstairs after she tried to confront the men and later died at Akron General Medical Center. A nine-year-old girl called 911 to report her brother Christopher Lane Freeman, 28 (left) had been killed by three men and her mother Sonia Freeman, 48, (right) was still alive after she had been shot 12 times in the chest, police said Christopher (left) worked at the Akron Art Museum and drove his little sister to school every morning. Sonia, who won an ugly sweater contest (right) was a regular church goer who helped people with mental illnesses The Akron police are searching for two to three men in their 20s, thought to be responsible for the shootings, although no motive has been determined yet. Christopher sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and his younger sister said he was dead by the time she called 911. He worked in the maintenance department at the Akron Art Museum, and regularly took care of his sister and drove her to school every morning, his father John Freeman toldCleveland.com in a phone interview from Atlanta, Georgia. Sonia was shot in the chest when she tried to confront the intruders, and she was found near the staircase in the home. The 48-year-old mother, who died in the hospital, was a regular church-goer who worked for the Community Support Services helping people with mental illnesses for more than 15 years, according to Cleveland.com John told the local news website: 'They were both really great people. She was devoted to her church. She was an outstanding mom. This is just unbelievable.' Members of the community left balloons outside their door on Monday, while The young girl, who a neighbor said was in the third grade, is in the custody of extended family. She was not harmed. No arrests have been made so far. Ted Cruz is refusing to say whether he'd support Donald Trump for president if the real estate mogul who regularly brands him as 'Lyin' Ted' were to capture the Republican nomination. The Texas senator dodged repeated efforts by 'Meet the Press' host Chuck Todd to pin him down on whether he'd back Trump, just days before the Indiana primary which could shake up the race. 'I am going to beat Donald Trump,' Cruz declared, despite polls that show him trailing in Indiana as Trump gets closer to the requisite 1,237 delegates needed to win on the first ballot. Cruz tangled with Chuck Todd on 'Meet the Press' but wouldn't get pinned down on backing Trump Todd kicked off the interrogation Sunday after Cruz ripped Trump as the 'ultimate' DC insider. 'You've spent this entire interview trying to eviscerate Donald Trump. If he's the nominee, I take it you can't support him anymore, can you?' asked Todd, a longtime political journalist. 'I believe if the Republican Party nominates Donald Trump we will lose to Hillary,' Cruz responded. 'But are you going to support him,' Todd followed up. 'We will lose, responded Cruz. Then the anchor tried another tack.'I understand what you believe in the Republican Party. Can you support him? Can you tell your delegates: 'Lay down your arms.'' Then Cruz went on the attack. 'I recognize that many in the media would love for me to surrender to Donald Trump,' Cruz said, because that would mean Clinton would win. 'It's about the numbers,' countered Todd. 'Republican voters are the ones rejecting you, this is not a media conspiracy.' Cruz shot back: 'With all due respect, the media has given $2 billion of free advertising to Donald.' 'You can't answer that question,' blasted Todd. 'Chuck, let me finish this point I'm making,' pivoting to lines about the need for another debate and an attack on network executives. Then Cruz went right after NBC, saying 'Your network's executives are partisan Democrats. 'It's just not true, but go ahead, said Todd, defending his bosses. 'You're broad brushing here ... this is exactly what people hate about the media and politics, broad brushes, right?' 'That is the reality of it. The media created this Trump phenomenon ... and then they don't hold him accountable.' Trump has hauled in endorsements from several of his former rivals, but Cruz may be a tough sell The host wasn't giving up.Trump is already calling on Cruz to get out of the race if he fails to be Trump in Indiana, after Cruz camped out in the state in a last-ditch effort to hold down Trump's delegate count so that he can be taken down at the GOP convention. 'Are you going to support Donald Trump if he's the nominee?' Todd asked. 'I am going to beat Donald Trump. We are headed to a contested convention, and we're gonna win, and I'm not willing to concede this country,' Cruz said. Telling sign: Cruz won't agree to back Trump if Trump wins the GOP nomination Finally, Cruz had had enough. 'You're welcome to lobby for support for Trump as much as possible,' he lectured Todd. Todd then waved the white flag. 'All right, so let the record show, you have not taken a position on whether Trump whether you can support Trump if he's the nominee. Fair enough?' But Cruz, a skilled debater when he was a student a Princeton University, took the last word. 'And let the record show you tried very, very hard to get me to commit to supporting Trump. The record will show that.' Donald Trump called on Ted Cruz on Monday to quit the presidential race and go back to the U.S. Senate if Tuesday's Indiana primary ends with the billlionaire beating the senator. 'Yes, he should. He should leave the race if I win,' Trump told DailyMail.com in a wide-ranging interview at an Indianapolis hotel during his last day of campaigning in the Hoosier State. 'Now, let's see what happens. Indiana's a great state and I have the support of Bobby Knight and so many other people. We'll have to see what happens, but yes, I think he should get out of the race,' Trump said. The Republican front-runner also said Cruz's 'tough temperament' might make him unsuitable for a spot on his short-list of potential Supreme Court nominees a consolation prize he could offer the Texas as a party-unifying gesture. Instead, Trump insisted Ted prepare to pack his bags and doubled down on his demand later during a lunchtime stop at Shapiro's Delicatessen a few blocks from Lucas Oil Stadium. Asked during an impromptu press gaggle whether an Indiana defeat should spell the end of a Cruz candidacy, he told reporters: 'I think it should.' DROP DEAD, TED: Donald Trump told DailyMail.com that if Ted Cruz can't beat him tomorrow in Indiana, it will be time for him to throw in the towel WIDE-RANGING: Monday morning's interview in Indianapolis touched on foreign policy, Trump's attitude toward the media, and even whether a President Trump would deliver a comedy routine at the White House Correspondents Association's annual gala A Cruz spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Monday morning's interview touched on Trump's foreign policy goals, his attitude toward the media, his criticism of past Republican National Conventions, and whether a President Trump would deliver a comedy routine at the White House Correspondents Association's annual gala. Indiana's 57 delegates to the Republican National Convention, should Trump claim them in Tuesday's winner-take-all primary election, would put the businessman within striking distance of the magic number 1,237 that he needs in order to become the party's White House nominee. Cruz has insisted that he will stay in the contest all the way to the July convention in Cleveland, Ohio. he launched an ad Monday in Indiana in which he tries to turn Trump's nickname for him 'Lyin' Ted' back on the real estate tycoon. The ad, titled 'Lying,' features an announcer claiming that 'Donald Trump is lying about Ted Cruz' with respect to the senator's positions on trade, illegal immigration and work visas. 'Trump also had a one-million-dollar judgment against him for hiring illegals,' the ad claims. 'What a phony.' LYIN' DON? Ted Cruz's last-ditch effort to salvage an Indiana win is to turn Trump's nickname for him back on the billionaire But Indianans seem to be siding with Trump, giving him a 15-point edge in an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released yesterday. Trump lashed out at Cruz Monday morning, telling DailyMail.com that he disagrees with the Texan's characterization of him earlier in the day as a hateful bully and his base as 'bitter, angry, petty, bigoted people.' 'That is not America. I reject that vision of America,' Cruz told reporters in Indiana after a campaign stop. 'They're not angry,' Trump said of his loyal following. 'They're very disappointed in politicians like him that get a lot of money from special interest groups, and they protect their special interest groups very much to the detriment of the country.' LOSING PATIENCE: Trump rejected Ted Cruz's criticism of his base as 'bitter, angry, petty, bigoted people' as he said they were just 'very disappointed in politicians like him' HOME STRETCH? Trump will look practically unbeatable if he wins Indiana's 57 Republican convention delegates Tuesday in a winner-take-all primary election Trump has faced calls for specifics about how he will 'unify' the Republican Party if he performs well enough in the remaining ten primary elections to claim the GOP's nomination outright. But the billionaire said he isn't ready to put Cruz on the Supreme Court as a consolation prize because his 'temperament' might not be suited to the job. Cruz, once the solicitor general for the Lone Star State, argued nine cases before America's highest court, winning five of them. 'I don't know. I'd have to think about it. That's a big decision,' he told DailyMail.com, saying that he's aware of Cruz's record as a constitutional lawyer. 'But there's a whole question of uniting, and there's a whole question as to temperament. And I'd have to think about it.' Trump raised Cruz's 'temperament' four separate times while explaining why putting the lawmaker on his Supreme Court short-list wasn't an easy call. He has said in the past that in order to quell conservatives' concerns about how he would approach Supreme Court appointments, he would release a list of names during the campaign and pledge to to only choose nominees from it. 'He's got a tough temperament for what we're talking about,' Trump said of Cruz. 'You have to be a very, very smart, rational person in my opinion, to be a justice of any kind at a high level or low.' 'You need a proper temperament. And that would be a question that I would have.' MORE TO COME: DailyMail.com will publish additional segments of Trump's interview with U.S. Political Editor David Martosko (pictured at right) At Shapiro's, Trump projected confidence as the lunch crowd milled around him and asked for autographs and selfies. He signed one man's $50 bill before dining at a table that included campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and nonfiction author Ed Klein. Asked whether the general election season begins for him on Wednesday, he said: 'Yes, I mean it's sort of already started.' A woman who was held captive in a cellar after responding to a singles advert in the newspaper has died in Germany, it has been claimed. The victim was allegedly kept captive for several weeks by a man and his ex-wife in Hoxter and died from a 'blunt trauma' to her head, prosecutors said. A statement from the police and prosecutor's office said the 41-year-old victim made contact with a 46-year-old man through a newspaper advert. The victim was reportedly held captive in a cellar in this house after responding to a singles advert She then moved into the man's house in Hoxter, where he lived with his ex-wife, 47, and it is believed the victim was held there for several weeks. It is believed the woman was physically abused, but there was no evidence of sexual abuse. Bild reported she had been kept in a cellar and described it as 'The Horror House of Hoxter'. The suspects tried to take the injured woman back to her apartment, but called an ambulance when their vehicle broke down, according to NBC News. She later died in hospital and the suspects were arrested on April 21. German media has reported there may be other victims. More than a quarter century after the largest art heist in US history, FBI agents returned to search a reputed mobster's Connecticut home for the second time in an attempt to recover the renowned artwork. FBI agents returned to Robert Gentile's Manchester home on Monday in the search for a Manet, Degas, Rembrandt, and Vermeer among several other works stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990. Two thieves dressed as Boston police officers entered the museum saying they were responding to a call, and handcuffed two guards in the basement before they made off with 13 pieces worth a total of $500million. FBI agents returned to the Manchester home of Robert Gentile (right) on Monday in the search for 13 artworks stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (left) in 1990 None of the artwork has been recovered, and no one has ever been arrested in connection to the crime. Authorities have searched Gentile's home before, including one time with ground penetrating radar in his yard in what Gentile's lawyer called a veiled attempt to find the artwork. Agents also have removed items from Gentile's house and searched a backyard shed. Federal officials declined to say why FBI agents went to Gentile's home. Gentile's lawyer, A. Ryan McGuigan, who was at the scene, also declined to comment. In 2010, the widow of Boston mobster Robert Guarante told investigators her late husband had two of the paintings, but passed them on to Gentile, according to Boston Magazine. 'The FBI is conducting court-authorized activity ... in connection with an ongoing federal investigation,' said Kristen Setera, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Boston. 'We will have no further comment at this time.' Gentile has told authorities that he doesn't know anything about the stolen paintings, and McGuigan has denied prosecutors' allegations that Gentile is a made member of the Philadelphia Mafia. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham has said in court that Gentile once told an undercover FBI agent that he had access to two of the stolen paintings and could negotiate the sale of each for $500,000. Durham also has said that authorities have evidence Gentile, who currently is charged in a weapons case, talked about the paintings with at least three fellow prisoners at a Rhode Island jail, including giving them information on who to call about the art and what code name to use. In 2010, the widow of Boston mobster Robert Guarante told investigators her late husband had two of the paintings, but passed them on to Gentile, according to Boston Magazine The museum is offering a $100,000 reward for one of the least valuable items, a bronze eagle finial (left), and a $5 million for information leading to the recovery of the works in good condition (right, Chez Tortoni by Eduardo Manet, stolen in the heist) Gentile has told authorities that he doesn't know anything about the stolen paintings Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham said authorities have evidence Gentile talked about the paintings with at least three fellow prisoners at a Rhode Island jail (pictured, The Concert by Johannes Vermeer) McGuigan has alleged that because the FBI believes Gentile has not been forthcoming with everything he knows about the heist, the agency has set him up for arrests twice in the last three years. Gentile is charged with selling a loaded .38-caliber revolver for $1,000 to a cooperating government witness at his Manchester home. He has pleaded not guilty and is detained without bail. In May 2013, Gentile was sentenced to more than two years in prison for illegally selling prescription drugs and possessing guns, silencers and ammunition. In that case, Durham said federal agents found in Gentile's home a handwritten list of the stolen paintings and their estimated worth, along with a newspaper article about the museum heist a day after it happened. Three years ago, the FBI in Boston said investigators believed the art thieves belonged to a criminal organization based in New England and the mid-Atlantic. They believe the art was taken to Connecticut and Pennsylvania in the years after the theft and offered for sale in Philadelphia. After that, the trail went cold. The museum is still offering a $5 million reward for the return of the artwork. The Islamic State and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad have been colluding, according to leaked documents. An investigation suggests there was co-operation between the regime and the terror group over the city of Palmyra, which was held by ISIS for nearly a year before it was retaken by Syrian forces in March. They also appear to show ISIS and the Syrian government made a deal to trade oil for fertiliser. Leaked documents: One letter, penned before the ancient city of Palmyra was recaptured, read: 'Withdraw all heavy artillery and anti-aircraft machine guns from in and around Palmyra to Raqqa province' An ISIS defector confirmed ISIS was coordinating the movement of its fighters in coordination with the Syrian army and the Russian airforce The ancient city of Palmyra was held by ISIS for nearly a year before it was retaken by Syrian forces in March The information was revealed in letters - copies of documents sent from ISIS headquarters - which were among 22,000 files obtained by Sky News. One letter, penned before the ancient city of Palmyra was recaptured, read: 'Withdraw all heavy artillery and anti-aircraft machine guns from in and around Palmyra to Raqqa province.' Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site northeast of Damascus known as the 'Pearl of the Desert', was taken back by the Russian-backed Syrian army from ISIS fighters last month. The city was a major tourist destination before the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, known for its ancient ruins, colonnaded streets and 2,000-year-old temples. Jihadis seized Palmyra last year and beheaded its 82-year-old former antiquities chief three months later. The jihadists destroyed some of the city's most striking monuments and used the ancient amphitheatre as a venue for public executions. An ISIS defector confirmed to Sky News reporter Stuart Ramsay that the terror group was coordinating the movement of its fighters in coordination with the Syrian army and the Russian airforce. Another asks for a driver to be able to travel through the terror group's checkpoints 'until he reaches the border with the Syrian regime to exchange oil for fertiliser'. A letter asks for a driver to be able to travel through the terror group's checkpoints 'until he reaches the border with the Syrian regime to exchange oil for fertiliser' The Islamic State and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad have been colluding, according to leaked documents The letters also show there were arrangements for ISIS to evacuate areas before Assad's forces attacked. And they reveal ISIS has been training foreign fighters to attack targets in the West for longer than was originally thought - for years. Professor Anthony Glees, director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the the University of Buckingham, believes such a deal could be a game-changer. 'Deals between two mortal enemies invariably mean one side is winning - but not yet - and the other is losing but isn't defeated and is hoping to stabilise its position,' he said. 'Certainly ISIS has no genuine interest in safeguarding our common cultural heritage. It's about hanging on to weapons and territory. In this case it can only mean Assad and Putin think they are winning and ISIS knows it is losing. But not yet. 'For us in Europe any deal between these two is very bad news. First because both Assad and ISIS terrorise the people in Syria and that will lead to more suffering and more refugees. 'Second it could strengthen rather than weaken ISIS. We in Europe are far less safe if this story is true. 'We in the West are slowly squeezing IS. We should do all we can to prevent them from wriggling loose.' MailOnline has been unable to verify the authenticity of the documents obtained by Sky News through the Free Syrian Army. The former lawyer for DC madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey claims records contains a name which The Supreme Court has rejected a plea to release phone records from a notorious DC madam, despite claims from her former attorney that they're 'very relevant' to the presidential election. Montgomery Blair Sibley had asked the court to lift a restraining order which prevented him from releasing the names of clients who called Deborah Jeane Palfrey for prostitutes between 2000 and 2006. The lawyer has long-claimed that one of the names in the documents is closely linked to this year's presidential race. It is not clear whether the individual is a candidate or an aide. But the rumors swirling round the secret client list has already forced Ted Cruz to deny that he used the service or cheated on his wife. Scroll down for video The Supreme Court has rejected a plea to release phone records from a notorious DC madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey (right, in 2007) despite claims from her former attorney Montgomery Blair Sibley (L) that they're 'very relevant' to the presidential election The Republican candidate's digits were alleged to have been included in 15,000 pages of phone records dating back two decades. The allegations came after Cruz, who has made his evangelical faith a central plank of his campaign, was accused of cheating on his wife Heidi and having had five 'mistresses'. Last month he issued a furious denial, branding the call girl claims 'complete garbage' and telling Fox News: 'I have always been faithful to my wife.' The DC Madam, Palfrey, operated Pamela Martin and Associates and made $2 million servicing wealthy clients over more than a decade. At the time of her arrest in 2006 her escorts had slept with officials in the White House, the Pentagon, lobbyists and high-powered lawyers. Palfrey hanged herself in May 2008 before she could be sent to prison to serve a 55 year sentence. Her former lawyer, who Palfrey fired before she killed herself, was barred from ever sharing the records she had left behind in a court order imposed during the 2008 trial. Montgomery Blair Sibley had asked to lift a restraining order which prevented him from releasing the names of clients who called Deborah Jeane Palfrey for prostitutes between 2000 and 2006 Her former lawyer, who Palfrey fired before she killed herself, was barred from ever sharing the records she had left behind in a court order imposed during the 2008 trial Since then, Sibley has repeatedly challenged the restraining order imposed during that trial and has even threatened to release the records and face the consequences later if the courts did not modify the order. Sibley was furious the Supreme Court refused to release the records but said he would 'sleep on it' before making a decision whether to breach the restraining order. 'I'd like to be able to stand up and [release the records] on the Supreme Court steps, but maybe my interests are served by just having it 'appear' and make it more to trace back to me or the others that have it,' he told US News. 'Maybe it would give me more comfort that I wouldn't face criminal prosecution. We'll see.' He that his argument was 'legitimate' and added that he wanted the courts to know they had 'lost personal jurisdiction' of him with their decision. Earlier this month, Sibley released the names of 174 businesses and agencies whose employees allegedly called the madam's escort service. The entities that include government agencies, embassies and huge companies that he says phoned Deborah Jeane Palfrey for call girls between 2000 and 2006. Rumors swirling round the secret client list has already forced Ted Cruz to deny that he used had ever cheated on his wife Last month Cruz issued a furious denial, branding the call girl claims 'complete garbage' and telling Fox News: 'I have always been faithful to my wife' Family values: Ted Cruz has taken his wife Heidi and their two daughters, Catherine and Caroline, on the stump Among those named were the FBI, IRS, the State Department, the Department of Commerce, the Embassy of Japan, Lockheed Martin and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. In an email to Daily Mail Online, Sibley said he obtained the information from cell phone numbers dug up in a subpoena conducted by Verizon. Despite naming the organizations, the lawyer is still barred from naming any of the supposed 815 clients who are said to have hired escorts. He hopes to release both the raw phone logs, which have an estimated 5,000 phone numbers, and a Verizon Wireless subpoena which Sibley says contains names, addresses and Social Security numbers of 815 of those callers. The subpoena response contains the ties to high profile political figure involved in the presidential race, he claims. In January, the then-chief judge of U.S. District Court in Washington refused to allow a clerk to file the motion seeking consideration of the individual names, saying Sibley had no legal right to hold the records, as Palfrey fired him before her trial. Sibley disagreed and took the argument to the D.C. Circuit federal appeals court but was again refused. The lawyer represented Palfrey in 2008 when she was convicted of federal racketeering and various prostitution charges. The scandal of her arrest rocked the nation's capital as some of the city's biggest power players, including father-of-four Senator David Vitter, were outed. Palfrey hanged herself in 2008 before she was set to be sentenced for her crimes and left the book containing details of her 815 clients behind The attorney has hit headlines in the past. He filed a failed lawsuit claiming Barack Obama isn't a natural-born citizen and also ran for president in 2012 as a write-in candidate News of Palfrey's death in 2008 followed reports she handed a list of telephone numbers of 15,000 clients to a U.S. television network She had vowed to identify as many well-known figures as possible to subpoena them as defense witnesses. Palfrey had insisted her company, Pamela Martin and Associates, was a legal enterprise that provided 'high-end' clients with nude dancing and massage, but not sex and initially considered selling her phone records in order to raise money for her defense. When she later released her phone records for free, they ended up shedding little further light on her clientele. However, the subpoena response may contain much more damning information. When records were released in 2007, they lead to exposure of high profile people. In what could be the biggest sex scandal in the U.S. capital for more than a decade, Ms Palfrey caused the resignation of married 65-year-old Randall Tobias, a deputy to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The list also thrust another official, Pentagon adviser Harlan Ullman, into the heart of the scandal. However Senator David Vitter was one of the biggest victims. He admitted to being on Palfrey's 'list' and was forced into a grovelling apology. He suffered months of attack ads and recently addressed the scandal in a campaign video. The 30-second commercial released in November shows Vitter sitting at a kitchen table as he talks to the camera, saying: 'Fifteen years ago, I failed my family but found forgiveness and love.' 'I learned that our falls aren't what define us but rather how we get up, accept responsibility and earn redemption,' Vitter says, as the ad next shows him eating dinner with his family. However, Vitter never directly refers to his involvement in a prostitution ring in Washington D.C., which was discovered in 2007 - seven years after he began using the service, according to his own words. Those records had time gaps meaning the names of certain clients may have been held back. However, a former researcher for Palfrey, Matt Janovic, said he had a copy of the subpoena response and could not see a connection to Cruz. After three weeks of more than 80 prospective juror interviews, a judge has ruled a change in venue for the murder trial of Justin Ross Harris. Harris, 35, has been held in jail on charges including malice murder, felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children since the day his 22-month-old son Cooper died in June 2014, after being left in an SUV car with the windows up for seven hours. Harris' attorneys argued pretrial publicity had saturated the metro Atlanta county where the boy died and has resulted in a 'pervasive, persistent opinion of guilt.' They filed a motion for a change of venue Friday afternoon, about three weeks into jury selection. After three weeks of more than 80 prospective juror interviews, a judge has ruled a change in venue for the murder trial of Justin Ross Harris (pictured in court Monday) Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley (pictured in court Monday) listened as defense team went through each of the potential jurors, one by one, to say why they could show prejudice Jurors will decide if 22-month-old son Cooper Harris died of heatstroke in a closed-up and unbearably hot car because his dad forgot to take him to daycare or if it was a deliberate and cruel murder by design, carefully researched and planned Once a county in Georgia has been selected, a fresh jury pool will be summoned and the process begins anew. For more than an hour Monday, only a few days before opening arguments were expected to begin, Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley listened as Harris' defense lawyers went through the long list of potential jurors one by one, explaining why they felt each of those prospects should be removed because of their prejudicial opinions. Forty-one local residents have been qualified to serve on the jury, but five have already stated their belief in Harris' guilt. The court needs one more juror from which to select a panel of 12 plus four alternates. Judge Staley ordered both prosecution and defense teams to 'collaborate' on a jury that is acceptable to both. Despite her final ruling, Judge Staley said moving the trial would be expensive and complicated, with the potential to find themselves in a courtroom with no security, air conditioning, or nearby hotels to accommodate the large number of people who would be housed for as long as six weeks. Both prosecution and defense as well as judge and court staff will need to stay wherever the new location is for the duration of the trial and may get weekends off, the court heard today. Brunswick, Georgia was put forward as a potential option but the court will decide on a new location over the next few days. Police believe Harris (left and right) intentionally left his son in the car to die in the sweltering summer heat while he worked as his web development job at a Home Depot satellite office Justin Ross Harris defense attorneys plead to Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley for a change of venue for Harris' first-degree murder trial, citing counsel inability to find jurors who haven't already decided on defendant's guilt Police believe Harris intentionally left his son in the car to die in the sweltering summer heat while he worked as his web development job at a Home Depot satellite office. Investigators said Harris had breakfast with his son at a Chick-fil-A restaurant shortly before placing him into a rear-facing child's car seat in the back of his silver Hyundai Tucson SUV, and then driving short distance to his job - two minutes and less than a mile away. Police said Harris backed his into a parking space about 9.30 am and then walked into the glass and steel office building, leaving his toddler son strapped in his car seat for nearly seven hours with the car's windows rolled up. The toddler died of hyperthermia, according to the county medical examiner's report. Weather experts said the outdoor temperature reached 92 degrees on that day. They believe temperatures could have climbed to 120 degrees or more inside the car. Harris' attorneys insist Cooper's death was an accident. They maintain their client simply forgot to take his son to a company-operated daycare center a mile away before starting his workday. Harris' ex-wife Leanna (pictured right with Harris) was also questioned by police and initially considered a possible accomplice in Cooper's death, sources said. She was not charged They also maintain Harris didn't notice that his toddler son was still strapped in his car seat when he stopped briefly at his vehicle several hours later, and placed some light bulbs he had purchased onto his SUV's front seat. Harris reportedly left his office about 4.16 pm, police said. Harris told police he was on his way to a movie theater when he realized his son was still in the car. Witnesses said he screeched to a halt just inside the entrance to an outdoor shopping center, hysterically screaming, 'Oh my God, my son is dead! What have I done?' In the October 2015 pretrial hearings, Det. Phil Stoddard of the Cobb County Police Department read several conversations from KIK, a social media phone application where Ross Harris allegedly asked a 17-year-old girl to send picture of her lower private body parts. The detective said Harris met the girl online when she was 16 years old. Harris was aware of her age, the detective said. During an interview with investigators, Harris admitted he recently researched, through the internet, 'child deaths inside vehicles and what temperature it needs to be for that to occur,' search warrants stated. 'Justin stated that he was fearful that this could happen,' according to police. Advertisement A pride of lions have been photographed in Bradford - but they're not big cats roaming the streets, rather, the Carroll family who have undergone an incredible metamorphosis. Claudia and Rob Carroll and their children Finn, six, and Reuben, two, from Bradford, have been transformed into a pride of lions thanks to the digital creativity of US-based artist Devin Mitchell. The family were selected from hundreds of competition entrants and Devin spent four days working with the facial characteristics of each individual to turn them into realistic lions. Devin used the big cat characteristics from the famous Lion King characters - including Simba and Nala - for the incredible transformation, with breathtaking results. The Carroll lion pride: From left, mum Claudia, Finn, 6, dad Rob, and Reuben, 2, underwent the jaw-dropping transformation thanks to the creative genius of American-based artist Devin Mitchell After being selected from hundreds of competition entries, the Carroll family were photographed in portrait set-ups, which Devin Mitchell used to transform into their big cat counterparts by using digital artistry techniques Using only digital artistry, Devin worked with the facial features and structure of each family member to create a unique lion portrait. The metamorphosis was commissioned by Disney Junior to celebrate the new series of The Lion King spin-off, The Lion Guard, which airs on Disney Junior. Digital artist Devin said: 'I was thrilled to be asked to work on such a creative project. 'It was great fun turning one family into their very own pride like that in The Lion Guard series, and testing my skills to bring out the animal characteristics for each of their different portraits!' Each individual lion image of the Carroll family, mum Claudia, dad Rob and their sons Finn, six, and Reuben, two, took a day to create. Six-year-old Finn Carroll is transformed into a big cat - the artist used the big cat characteristics from the famous Lion King characters for the incredible metamorphosis Rob Carroll - or Mufasa? Using only digital artistry, Devin worked with the facial features and structure of each family member to create a unique lion portrait Devin took inspiration from the much-loved lion characters in The Lion Guard series, using the big cat characteristics from characters including Simba, Nala (the cubs in The Lion King) and their cub Kion. The family, from Bradford, were photographed in the UK by photographer Daniel Lewis with their hands precisely placed over their faces to give a canvas for Devin to work with. During the shoot a specific set-up using a single light source from a 45 degree angle was used to give a 'natural dimension' to the face. Claudia Carroll, who entered the competition for her family, said: 'It was amazing to see the final portraits - we're such huge fans of Disney and the first Lion King film. 'And the kids especially loved seeing how they would look if our family were to be our very own 'pride' of lions together, like Simba and Nala's family in The Lion Guard.' Mum Claudia undergoes a metamorphosis to become the lioness of the Carroll pride. The family were photographed with their hands precisely placed over their faces to give a canvas for Devin to work with Reuben - or Simba? The two-year-old and his family were picked from hundreds of competition entrants to take part in the unique photographic session Rep. Renee Ellmers poured some jet fuel into what was already expected a biting primary battle for North Carolina's 2nd District congressional seat. Ellmers posted to her Facebook page a picture of her rival, Rep. George Holding, snoozing on a commercial flight. 'My opponent George Holding made sure to get another nap in after voting against North Carolina road projects, our family farms, disease prevention and even funding for our troops,' she wrote, deploying the hashtags 'low energy' and 'not for us.' Republicans George Holding (left) and Renee Ellmers (right) are engaged in a tough primary race as Holding changed districts after redistricting to wage a bid against Ellmers, also an incumbent On Friday, Rep. Renee Ellmers posted a picture of her opponent, George Holding, taking a snooze on a commercial airlines flight. Ellmers sounded like Donald Trump by calling Holding 'low energy' Ellmers and Holding, both Republicans who currently serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, are fighting for the same seat after North Carolina lawmakers redrew the borders this spring. Ellmers, who came to Congress in 2010 along with droves of Tea Party-elected peers, has fallen out of step with the right-wing of the Republican party, with many now labeling her too establishment, and thus attracting a primary challenge from the right. Ellmers' name was also entangled with that of House She originally expected to have four primary challengers including Frank Roche, who she beat 59 to 41 percent in the Republican primary, before going on to beat Democrat Clay Aiken, of 'American Idol' fame, in the general election. Even more threatening than Roche was Jim Duncan, the chairman of the Chatham County Republican Party, who planned to run against Ellmers. But in February, the state's districts were redrawn by lawmakers trying to comply with a three-judge panel's ruling that two of North Carolina's congressional districts were racial gerrymanders. Holding, who had represented the 13th District, decided to swoop in and challenge Ellmers in the newly redrawn 2nd District. In the meantime, Roche decided to drop out. 'My ultimate objective has been to unseat Ellmers for her betrayal of 2nd District voters, conservatives and Americans across the country,' Roche wrote in a statement that announced he would not be running, according to Raleigh newspaper, the News & Observer. 'George Holding's entry into the race, a well funded and seemingly more conservative incumbent than is Rep. Ellmers, should ensure she only serves three terms,' Roche added. The redistricting also forced Duncan not to stay in and he exited the race in late March. 'We looked at all districts,' said Duncan's spokesperson Sean Moser. 'We talked to representatives of all districts. It just didn't seem to be a good fit with what Jim was wanting to accomplish.' 'We're sure Mr. Holding is going to defeat Miss Ellmers and will have a good run in Congress,' Moser told the newspaper. Another candidate, Greg Brannon, who unsuccessfully tried to mount a primary challenge to Sen. Richard Burr, has also joined the congressional race. Because of the redistricting the congressional primary got moved back to June 7, while the presidential took place on March 15. Ellmers, who said she voted for Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the Chatham County GOP Conventions straw poll, said she actually voted for Donald Trump in her state's presidential primary, according to Roll Call. It wasn't long before she took a page out of the Trump playbook too, labeling Holding 'low energy,' the damaging term The Donald successfully deployed against Jeb Bush. This is the mentally disabled teenager found dead with her uterus removed inside her family's burned out home - after claiming she had been impregnated by her stepfather. Holli Jeffcoat, from Lubbock, Texas was found dead on February 10 with her throat cut and womb and uterus removed. Her stepfather James Holland had been accused of raping her and was arrested in March on three counts of sexual abuse. Scroll down for video Holli Jeffcoat (pictured) had her throat slit and uterus removed in a brutal killing in February. Her death came soon after she accused her stepfather of sexually assaulting her Now Holli's mother Debi Holland has been arrested on a charge of aggravated sexual assault. She is accused of having covered up her husband's alleged crimes. However, no one has been charged in the death of the 18-year-old from Idalou, who was reportedly stabbed in her home before being burned. Video courtesy: KCBD According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Debi Holland's arrest warrant offers harrowing new details about the alleged abuse. Investigators believed Holland had 'first hand knowledge' of her husband's abuse and was 'allowing' it to continue. Abuse of the teenager was suspected as early as 2010, when the youngster tested positive for an STD in a blood sample taken following a car crash. No charges were brought against her abuser. However, in January this year the special needs teenager - who had the mental age of a seven-year-old - told school officials that she didn't want to go home with her stepfather because the 'sex hurt'. She also said participating in her PE class was painful because she could feel the baby moving inside her - but her mother had told her they could not afford to get rid of the unwanted pregnancy. In interviews with investigating authorities, Holland initially denied her husband was a drug or alcohol user. However, she later admitted he had been intravenously using methamphetamine for a long period of time. James Holland (pictured) was arrested in March following accusations he was sexually abusing his special needs stepdaughter and had impregnated her Debi Holland (pictured) is accused by police of having allowed her husband to abuse her daughter to ground below where he lay motionless This is the shocking moment a tourist fell off the Great Wall of China and lived to tell the tale. The man was visiting the famously beautiful Jiankou section of the Great Wall during the May Day Holiday when he lost his balance and fell over the edge. He plummeted to the ground below and his fall was captured on camera by a passing tourist with a camera phone. Drop: The man fell from the Great Wall of China and plummeted to the ground below where he lay motionless The footage shows the man lying motionless on the ground afterwards and the emergency services rushing to help. Amazingly, the man only suffered minor injuries on his leg and waist and was taken to safety in a stretcher. It is not clear how far the man fell but some parts of the wall are up to 30ft high. The Jiankou section is a photographic hotspot due to its unique style, steep mountains and beautiful scenery. 'Jiankou', is translated as 'Arrow Nock' in English, for the shape of the collapsed ridge opening is reminiscent of an arrow nock. Miracle: Amazingly, the man only suffered minor injuries on his leg and waist and was taken to safety in a stretcher A three-year-old boy has died in hospital after being found unconscious in a neighbour's pond in Sydney. Bob Watt Jr was riding his bike at his family's Ingleside home in Sydney's north when he wandered onto the adjoining property on Monday afternoon. The boy was found floating unconscious in the pond by his father Robert, who had been working nearby, about 10 minutes later, the Manly Daily reports. Scroll down for video Three-year-old Bob Watt Jr was riding his bike at his family's Ingleside home in Sydney's north on Monday afternoon when he wandered onto the neighbour's property. A three-year-old boy has died in hospital after being found unconscious in a pond at a property at Ingleside in Sydney's north on Monday afternoon He was pulled from the water by his father just before 3pm and a neighbour raised the alarm with emergency services. Paramedics treated the boy at the scene before he was rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick in a critical condition. Police said the boy died overnight. Joe Gigliotti, the man who leases the home to Bob's parents, told the Manly Daily he saw the boy riding his bike up the driveway about 10 minutes before he was found. Emergency services were called following reports of a child in water after the toddler wandered from his home onto the adjoining property on Monday afternoon Paramedics worked on the boy at the scene and transferred him to hospital in a critical condition 'I saw the father walking up and down the drive way and next door looking for him. And then I was up on the roof of my property doing some repair work and the next thing I hear is all these sirens,' he said. 'I asked the father what happened, he said he looked for him next door, here, and at first he saw the bike on the edge of the dam, and then he saw the little boy face down in the dam and he went to pick him up but he was all blue, his face was all blue.' Officers from Northern Beaches Local Area Command attended the location and have commenced an investigation. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner. Two U.S. missionaries who were found dead in Jamaica appear to have been shot, officials say. The bodies Randy Hentzel, 48, and Harold Nichols, 53, were discovered among bushes in separate areas of St. Mary parish on the Caribbean island over the weekend. Though an autopsy is pending, sources close to the investigation told CBS 48 Hours the men were shot dead. Both had left their resort, Tower Isle, on motorbikes at 8am on Sunday. American missionaries Harold Nichols, 53, (left) and Randy Hentzel, 48, (right) have been found dead in Kingston, Jamaica Hentzel was found hours later at 2pm. At 5pm next day, during a search for evidence, investigators found Nichols' body. It is believed the pair were killed on April 30. There have been no arrests, and investigators made no comment about a possible motive. Police did not provide hometowns for the victims. Hentzel's Facebook page said he was from Donnellson, Iowa. Nichols' hometown appeared to be Salamanca, New York. Both missionaries lived and worked in Jamaica for a Pennsylvania-based religious organization called Teams for Medical Missions. The two men and their families did evangelism and Bible ministry and built homes in Kingston, Jamaica Both men appeared to be married from images on their Facebooks and listed their current residences as being in Jamaica The two men and their families did evangelism and Bible ministry and built homes. 'We do not know who would do this or what their motivation was. 'These men greatly loved the people of Jamaica and were greatly loved in return,' said John Heater, executive director of Teams for Medical Missions. 'We are devastated to hear this news and will be praying for the Hentzels and Nichols and Teams and the St. Mary's Parish and communities they served in Jamaica,' Wendy Irwin wrote on a Facebook post from Teams. Diana Milhone Merrifield posted: 'So very sorry for the loss of these saints, and the pain their loss leaves behind.' On social media, fellow missionary Merlin Pratt said he was told the two men were killed on their way to check on the foundation of a house they were building for an impoverished family. The men's bodies were found in bushes near a parish on St Mary. A country of about 2.7 million people, Jamaica had at least 1,192 slayings in 2015 Jamaica had at least 1,192 slayings in 2015, a roughly 20 percent increase from the previous year. A country of about 2.7 million people, Jamaica has long been ranked among the most violent countries in the world. Paul Gatling served 10 years in jail for a murder he did not commit. He was released in 1974 after the Legal Aid Society proved there was no way he pulled the trigger that killed Brooklyn-based artist Lawrence Rothbort in 1963. But despite having his 30-year sentence commuted, the 81-year-old retired landscaper from Virginia has remained - at least on record - a convicted murderer ever since. On Monday, after 50 years of limited citizenship, he was finally vindicated as Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson moved to overturn his conviction. The moment was poignant, emotional and somber. The judge apologized and Gatling hugged his crying ex-wife and a friend. 'There's a lot of water gone under the bridge, but the bridge is still standing,' Gatling, who walks with a cane, said after the court proceeding. Scroll down for video Absolved: Paul Gatling, who served 10 years in jail for a murder he did not commit, is cleared of his crime in a Brooklyn court on Monday at the age of 81 - five decades after he was released from prison The moment was poignant, emotional and somber. The judge apologized and Gatling hugged his crying ex-wife It came a year after Gatling asked Brooklyn's Conviction Review Unit to look into his case. His is now the 20th case that has been vacated in just two years since Thompson set up the groundbreaking crack team of researchers to investigate wrongful convictions. 'Paul Gatling repeatedly proclaimed his innocence even as he faced the death penalty back in the 60s,' Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson said. 'He was pressured to plead guilty and, sadly, did not receive a fair trial.' In Gatling's case, he was jailed after a man who committed perjury in other cases identified him as the suspect. Rothbort was shot in his Brooklyn home. His wife told police that a man with a shotgun had entered the apartment and demanded money, shooting her husband when he refused. She provided a description, but no suspect was found. Thompson said Gatling, 29 at the time, was questioned after another man said he saw him in the area. That man was a witness in other cases and was known to have committed perjury, Thompson said, adding that other circumstances also led to Gatling not receiving a fair trial. Rothbort's wife, nine-months pregnant at the time of the trial, said Gatling was the man who had killed her husband, despite not being able to identify him in a line up previously. No physical evidence tied him to the crime. Defense attorneys were never given some police reports, including a description of the suspect as several years younger than Gatling. Finally: Gatling emerges from court beaming on Monday. He is pictured (left) with Malvina Nathanson, his lawyer since 1973. Gatling was accused of shooting dead a Brooklyn artist by a known perjurer Gatling's attorney and family pressed him to plead guilty to second-degree murder, afraid that he would otherwise face the death penalty if convicted. He agreed, and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in October 1964. His sentence was commuted by then-Gov. Nelson Rockefeller at the behest of the Legal Aid Society and he was released in January 1974. A Somali woman named Hodan Yasin, 21, has become the second refugee to set herself on fire at Nauru just days after a fellow refugee died from self-inflicted burns. Witnesses told the Refugee Action Coalition Ms Yasin suffered severe burns and all off her clothes were burnt off. One witness said her burns were as bad as Omid Masoumali who died on Friday, two days after being airlifted off the island where he doused himself in petrol and set himself alight to protest against conditions at the processing centre. Scroll down for video A Somali refugee named Hodan Yasin, 21, became the second refugee to set herself on fire on Nauru just days after a fellow refugee died from self-inflicted burns Witnesses told the Refugee Action Coalition she suffered severe burns and all off her clothes were burnt off. Above is a stock image of Nauru's off-shore detention centre RAC's Ian Rintoul told Daily Mail Australia he did not know what condition Ms Yasin. She arrived at the Royal Brisbane Hospital on Tuesday. Mr Rintoul also said the 21-year-old referred to herself as Hodan, but was officially recorded as Hadon. Another refugee on Manus Island posted about the incident, expressing his sadness about the situation. 'I'm so sorry my sister hodan yasin [sic], she was in detention centre more than three years, and now she is burning her self on fire,' he said. 'I can imagine what cause this problem... I'm not sure if she is a live [sic] or not. Anyway I'm praying for you. 'Please where is the human rights? Where is the justice in this world ? Where are the people saying we look after the human being? Why they don't talk the people are dying in manus Island and nauru? 'Who will take the responsibility our bleeding blood? Please let them know the human rights this situation. We're in defence we can't talk so please we need help.' The Government of Nauru confirmed a 21-year-old female refugee from Somalia had critical injuries after setting herself alight on Monday. The government said in a statement it was distressed that refugees were attempting 'dreadful acts' to influence the Australian Government's immigration policies. It said Ms Yasin was being treated by four emergency doctors from Australia. The 21-year-old was one of three refugees returned to Nauru last week after being taken from Brisbane's immigration transit accommodation. She was brought to Australia in November after suffering a head injury in a motorcycle accident and was reportedly forcibly removed from Brisbane on Wednesday about 3am by Border Force officials. Despite the Government of Nauru's report the woman is 21, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre claimed she is 19 years old and was taken to Nauru detention when she was 16. A spokesperson for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said they were 'supporting the Government of Nauru to identify appropriate medical treatment options'. Omid Masoumali set himself alight on Wednesday and was airlifted to a Brisbane hospital on Thursday but died the following day A candlelight vigil was held in Mr Masoumali's memory in Sydney following his death, with signs displayed saying 'Killed by detention on Nauru. Close the camps now' A vigil for Ms Yasin has been organised for Wednesday at 5.30pm at Sydney's Town Hall. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young wrote on Twitter: 'A young woman who asked Aust [sic] for help has now set herself on fire after losing all hope for freedom. Our nations heart is better than this.' Mr Rintoul said in statement: 'This is another self-harm attempt that is [Australia's Immigration Minister] Peter Dutton's responsibility. 'A vulnerable young woman who needed protection was a victim of a spiteful removal. 'She has been sent to the toxic environment that the Minister has created on Nauru. Tragically this was entirely predictable.' The Government of Nauru stressed refugees on the island were given the same freedoms as citizens but had 'better facilities'. 'Refugees and asylum seekers are not distressed due to their conditions,' a statement said. 'Their conditions are better than most other refugee camps across the world.' The island's government called for refugee advocates to stop giving refugees and asylum seekers false hope and 'stirring up these protests'. The 21-year-old set herself alight in detention on Nauru just days after the death of Mr Masoumali, 23 (pictured in hospital) Shocking footage of the moment Omid set himself on fire in protest of Australia's detention laws emerged last week (above) The man was heard screaming 'I can't take it anymore' before he set himself alight in front of other detainees 'This is very distressing for support workers, health workers and all others who work closely with our refugee community,' the government said. Australians have aired outrage at the self-immolation, calling on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to bring refugees remaining on Nauru to Australia. The incident comes just days after Iranian asylum seeker Mr Masoumali set himself on fire in front of refugee advocates who were visiting Nauru. He died in a Brisbane hospital on Friday. The Nauruan government denies reports Mr Masoumali was not provided quality care at Nauru Hospital. Mr Dutton's office and the Immigration Department have been contacted for comment. It comes after the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court found Australia's detention of refugees on Manus Island illegal, prompting asylum seekers to seek up to $125,000 in compensation each. Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. A St. Louis Cardinals pitcher has been accused of knowingly giving his partner a sexually transmitted disease. Carlos Martinez is the subject of a $1.5million lawsuit filed by his lover, who allegedly tested positive for an infection days after they broke off a relationship in December. According to court documents, the 24-year-old starter from the Dominican Republic met the woman in 2012 and had an on-and-off relationship for the next two years. They reportedly had sex again on December 16, 2015. Two days later the woman, who has not been identified, fell ill and tested positive for a STD. A St. Louis Cardinals Carlos Martinez pitcher has been accused of knowingly giving his partner a sexually transmitted disease Reports suggest she even asked the All Star about his sexual health before they started their brief tryst, but he insisted he was clear. She's now suing him for battery, negligent transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, fraud. It comes two years after Martinez was reprimanded by the Cardinals for favoriting pornographic images on his Twitter account. Martinez's attorney Ruben Scolavino denied the allegations. He told TMZ: 'I can tell you most assuredly the allegations are 100 per cent false.' Daily Mail Online has contacted him for comment. The Cardinals's management is aware of the situation. They let Martinez leave the team on Friday so he could go to Miami where the lawsuit has been filed. General manager John Mozeliak told the St. Louis Dispatch: 'We wait. And once we learn more, then well have more of an idea. These are things you just learn as you go.' 'My understanding is that he and his attorney are working on it,' he added. He didn't want to elaborate on the content of the lawsuit. Sources told ESPN the MLB would not be investigating Martinez under their domestic violence policy as it falls under their jurisdiction. In 2014, the Cardinals management worked to clear up Martinez's social media after he continually shared explicit content on Twitter. At the time, Mike Matheny told the Dispatch he was embarrassed with Martinez's conduct. The 24-year-old is the subject of a $1.5million lawsuit filed by his lover, who allegedly tested positive for an infection days after they broke off a relationship in December More than 80 EU nationals are arrested in London every day, the Mail can reveal. The scale of crime linked to European nationals is exposed in official police figures which show nearly 100,000 arrests in three years. Scotland Yard data, published after a Freedom of Information request, showed the Met has arrested more than 30,000 EU nationals in the capital in each of the past three years. The figures sparked renewed calls for Britain to quit the EU to restore immigration and border controls. Scotland Yard data, published after a Freedom of Information request, showed the Met has arrested more than 30,000 EU nationals in the capital in each of the past three years (file photo) The revelations come just days after Justice Secretary Michael Gove warned that staying in the EU would see huge pressure placed on Britain's jails. He said there were already 10,000 foreign criminals in UK jails - with one in 20 from Albania, which wants to join the EU in the coming years. Last night backbench Tory MP and Eurosceptic Philip Davies said: 'The Home Secretary says EU membership is vital as it has allowed the extradition of 5,000 criminals from the UK. 'That's dwarfed by the sheer number being arrested on our streets every year. Being outside the EU would allow us to be able to stop them coming in in the first place.' Among the individuals represented by the figures are Latvian murderer Arnis Zalkalns. He was let into Britain despite serving seven years in jail in his country for killing his wife. Theresa May, left, urged Britons to vote to stay in the EU, warning security and crime fighting would be made much difficult if we leave. Michael Gove, right, warned staying in the EU would place pressure on Britain's jails He moved to the UK in 2007 but police did not know about this conviction when he was questioned about a sexual assault on a girl in London. He was not prosecuted and went on to murder schoolgirl Alice Gross in August 2014. He was later found hanged. Figures from the Freedom of Information request reveal 30,561 non UK EU nationals were arrested in London in 2015. There were 32,214 arrested in 2014 and 32,851 in 2013. In 2013 a total of 13,087 - more than 1000 a month - were charged. In 2014 that figure was 12,266 and last year 11,285. Home Secretary Theresa May last week urged Britons to vote to stay in the EU, warning that security and crime fighting would be made much difficult if we leave. She pointed to the European Arrest Warrant saying it allowed 5,000 suspects to be sent overseas to face justice. At the same time, she said, 675 convicted individuals or suspects had been brought to the UK. Official figures suggest there are a record three million Europeans living in the UK. Husband and wife reportedly worked to recruit new jihadis for ISIS An American couple who pledged allegiance to ISIS have been killed in a drone strike in Syria, social media accounts linked to the terror group have revealed. The husband and wife were identified as Abu Isa Al-Amriki and Umm Isa Al-Amriki, but their birth names were not given. ISIS often use the term Al-Amriki to refer to Americans. The couple worked as recruiters for the terror group, Fox News reports. Scroll down for video An American couple who pledged allegiance to ISIS have been killed in a drone strike in Syria. Pictured, a man rides a motorbike through Aleppo on Monday after the Bab al-Hadid neighborhood was targeted by air strikes The drone strike that killed them took place in late April, according to the Middle East Media Research Institutes Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor. They were hit in their house by the airstrikes, one ISIS-linked account said. O my sister Umm Isa Al Amriki, I miss you so much, wrote a woman who goes by the nom de guerre Umm Sayyaf on Twitter. May Allah accept you and your husband as martyrs in Jannah Al Firdaws [paradise]. The wife was keen to make ISIS appealing to women, Fox reports. Her posts including one of her holding a suicide belt, which she said she hoped to use herself to kill infidels. She was also only looking to communicate with other women, reportedly writing on social media: My account is for sisters only, so unless you menstruate, do not message me. It is not clear who carried out the drone strike that killed the couple. A U.S strike killed ISIS executioner Jihadi John, whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi, in November last year. The government has failed to stop more than 250 Americans from travelling abroad to join terrorist groups, including ISIS, since 2011, a congressional study found late last year. The study revealed that, overall, 30,000 foreign fighters have fled to Iraq and Syria to join ISIS or similar groups. But in October last year, FBI director James Comey said federal law enforcement had seen far fewer Americans trying to travel abroad to join ISIS. Scores of ministers and officials are cashing in on their time in office by picking up lucrative jobs in the private sector. Many are working in the very sectors they used to regulate while in government. Those taking advantage of this 'revolving door' include Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem former Treasury chief. After losing his seat at last year's election he has been taken on by a Chinese-run bank. Whitehall watchdogs have stipulated only that he must not exploit the 'privileged information' he picked up as George Osborne's deputy. Sir Danny can still lobby his former colleagues, allowing him to try to cash in on his Treasury contacts. Despite rules against the use of insider information, hundreds of former public servants are pocketing jackpot wages from private firms. In-depth analysis by the Daily Mail shows that the stampede has barely slowed despite a promise of action from David Cameron in 2010. On leaving a government department two-thirds of ministers and officials now take a private job in the same sector. Acoba, the appointments watchdog, has dealt with 371 individuals since 2008 and 247 of them followed this route. Not one application for clearance was turned down. Jobs waved through include: Roles in the energy sector for six former energy ministers; Charles Hendry signed up for Britain to get electricity from Iceland then took a job with a firm working on the project; Ed Davey struck a money-spinning nuclear deal with EDF and now works for a lobbying firm that has the French firm as a client; Fourteen out of 15 trade and business ministers went into the City or commerce and six out of nine health ministers took jobs with health firms; A diplomat who 'helped halt' a corruption inquiry into the Saudis and BAE Systems later took directorship with the defence firm; Sir Henry Bellingham used his position as Africa minister to lobby Mozambique in support of a mining company he now chairs, on 4,000 a month. Taking advantage: Former Lib Dem Treasury chief Sir Danny Alexander works for a bank Before taking up roles outside government, ministers and senior civil servants have to apply to Acoba the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments which examines any potential conflicts of interest. Appointed under the auspices of the Cabinet Office, its job is to scrutinise job applications and stop outgoing ministers and mandarins exploiting their 'insider information'. It can advise the Prime Minister that a particular minister or crown servant's job application is 'unsuitable' but it has never wielded this power. Instead it issues 'advice' such as: 'For two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government.' The civil service once a job for life is now increasingly seen as a taxpayer-funded springboard to personal riches in the private sector. In the Treasury, 17 out of the 21 civil servants who applied for clearance left public service for jobs in the banking or business worlds. Of 41 from the Ministry of Defence, 32 were poached by arms firms or other defence-related companies, the Mail's dossier shows. Bernard Jenkin, who chairs the Commons public affairs committee, demanded a complete revamp, saying: 'Acoba is an advisory body, with no regulatory powers and is frequently ignored.' David Davis, Tory MP and former chairman of the public accounts committee, said it should be mandatory for senior public servants to take two years of purdah. 'There should be a clear break, whether that's former ministers, senior civil servants or generals,' he said. 'Acoba is far too weak. It has given lots and lots of exemptions. It almost seems like exemptions are the norm. 'Cabinet ministers and senior civil servants are not underpaid. It shouldn't be that they just go off and take work where they use their influence and their contact network. 'It simply compounds the problem if a British government minister goes and works for any foreign power.' Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said: 'The problem is we don't know what goes on behind closed doors. Springboard: On leaving a government department two-thirds of ministers and officials now take a private job in the same sector. Pictured, MPs in the House of Commons 'It is very difficult to control these things. It may well be that people are abusing their past experience of government for personal advantage.' Paul Flynn, a Labour MP and member of the Commons public administration committee, said he had no idea the situation was so bad. 'It's a deep-seated and growing scandal, where MPs are allowed to prostitute their insider knowledge to the highest bidder,' he added. 'These people are appointed for their contacts, the people they know, to oil the wheels. They should be banned.' He said Acoba was less watchdog, more 'pussycat without teeth and claws'. Last month Baroness Browning, who chairs Acoba, told MPs her committee was worried about the trend toward ministers seeking employment in the sectors they had responsibility for. She said the watchdog had neither 'the resources nor the remit' to make the significant changes required. The former Tory minister called for the power to take ministers to court if they took jobs against Acoba's advice. Douglas Carswell, the Ukip MP for Clacton, said: 'Some of these people are trading on insider information in any normal marketplace, they'd expect to join Bernie Madoff in prison, but in politics it seems to be a way of life. A baby has been born with a total of 31 fingers and toes to shocked parents who say there were no indications of his deformities on pre-natal scans. The three-month-old boy, nicknamed Honghong, has 15 fingers and 16 toes. Incredibly, he also has two palms on each hand, with no thumbs, according to People's Daily Online. His parents are now desperate to find medical treatment for him as doctors at their local hospital in Hunan, central China, tells them surgery will be extremely difficult. Extreme: Honghong from Hunan, China, is born with extra fingers and toes in an extreme case of polydactyly Unexpected: The family says they went for several pre-natal scans and were told their baby was 'normal' Reality: Both of Honghong's feet have eight toes while one of his hands has eight fingers and the other, seven Honghong has an extreme case of polydactyly. The medical condition, where children are born with extra fingers or toes, appears in approximately one in 1,000 cases. But to have so many extra digits is extremely rare. According to the report, Honghong's mother also suffers from polydactyly and has extra digits on both her hands and feet. She was worried about passing it on to her child so she had multiple examinations at hospitals in Shenzhen, south China. When she was half way through her pregnancy, she even visited Futian District Maternity Hospital in Shenzhen to get a four-dimensional ulltrasound. She was again told that the baby had no deformities. Genetic: Honghong's mother also suffers from the condition and was worried about passing her genes on Desperate: The baby is able to get surgery to correct the deformity but it will be too expensive for the family But the couple, who live in rural Hunan, were horrified to find that their son's polydactyly is even more severe than that of his mother. Both of Honghong's feet have eight toes while one of his hands has eight fingers and the other, seven. Liu Hong, a professor at Hunan Provincial People's Hospital for Pediatric Orthopedics, told Honghong's father Zou Chenglin that surgery will be extremely difficult. The boy is currently too young for anaesthetics but he will need to undergo surgery between six months and a year before the bones set. Unfortunately for the impoverished family, the surgeries are likely to cost in the to cost hundreds of thousands of Yuan (tens of thousands of pounds) - too much for them to bear. Now, the three-month-old boy's parents are desperately trying to find money to fund the treatment for their son. SouthAfrica's Salt telescope has once again surprised astronomers by helping to detect the first white dwarfpulsar. A pulsar is a type of neutron star, a collapsed core of an extremely massive star that exploded in a supernova. This is the latest discovery to be made by the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere as astronomers hope it will help unlock the galaxy's secrets. South Africa's Salt telescope (pictured) has once again surprised astronomers by helping to detect the first white dwarf pulsar. A pulsar is a type of neutron star, a collapsed core of an extremely massive star that exploded in a supernova. A white dwarf star is pictured in the constellation Aquarius Scientists know of neutron stars, large objects about thesize of the sun that have compacted down at the end of theirlives to something about 6 miles (10km) across, the last stopbefore a black hole. These incredibly dense objects have been knownfor decades to produce pulsars, which emit regular pulses ofradio waves and other electromagnetic radiation at rates of upto one thousand pulses per second. 'But there is another class of compact objects called whitedwarfs, bigger, the size of the earth,' said Ted Williams, a director at the South African Astronomical Observatory managing the site. 'So rather than 10kilometres in size we are looking at 6,000 kilometres and we'vejust discovered the very first white dwarf pulsar. The white dwarf pulsar is the latest discovery to be made by the largest optical telescope (pictured) in the southern hemisphere as astronomers hope it will help unlock the galaxy's secrets Shared by a consortium of partners from South Africa, India, America and Europe, Salt's queuing system allows it to interrupt routine observations and within minutes focus its 32ft (10-metre) optical telescope on new discoveries. The dome of the telescope is pictured WHITE DWARFS AND PULSARS White dwarfs and pulsars represent distinct classes of compact objects that are born in the wake of stellar death. A white dwarf forms when a star similar in mass to our sun runs out of nuclear fuel. As the outer layers puff off into space, the core gravitationally contracts into a sphere about the size of Earth, but with roughly the mass of our sun. The white dwarf starts off scorching hot from the stars residual heat. But with nothing to sustain nuclear reactions, it slowly cools over billions of years, eventually fading to near invisibility as a black dwarf. A pulsar is a type of neutron star, a collapsed core of an extremely massive star that exploded in a supernova. Whereas white dwarfs have incredibly high densities by earthly standards, neutron stars are even denser, cramming roughly 1.3 solar masses into a city-sized sphere. Pulsars give off radio and X-ray pulsations in lighthouse-like beams. White dwarfs and pulsars represent distinct classes of compact objects that are born in the wake of stellar death. A white dwarf forms when a star similar in mass to our sun runs out of nuclear fuel. As the outer layers puff off into space, the core gravitationally contracts into a sphere about the size of Earth, but with roughly the mass of our sun. The white dwarf starts off scorching hot from the stars residual heat. But with nothing to sustain nuclear reactions, it slowly cools over billions of years, eventually fading to near invisibility as a black dwarf. A pulsar is a type of neutron star, a collapsed core of an extremely massive star that exploded in a supernova. Whereas white dwarfs have incredibly high densities by earthly standards, neutron stars are even denser, cramming roughly 1.3 solar masses into a city-sized sphere. Pulsars give off radio and X-ray pulsations in lighthouse-like beams. Quick reaction times, as well as being significantly cheaperthan similar European or American facilities in producing thescience are key competitive advantages, said a senior astronomerat the Salt consortium during a media visit. Shared by a consortium of partners from South Africa, India,America and Europe, Salt's queuing system allows it to interruptroutine observations and within minutes focus its 32ft (10-metre) optical telescope on new discoveries, said Williams. In February, Salt was the first major telescope to take a spectrum of a supernova in the nearby Centaurus A. It also helped reveal one of the biggest explosions ever recorded in the universe, 200 times more powerful than a typical supernova (pictured) and believed to have shone at 570 billion times the brightness of the sun In February, Salt was the first major telescope to take aspectrum of a supernova in the nearby Centaurus A galaxy hoursafter its discovery. It also helped reveal one of the biggest explosions everrecorded in the universe, 200 times more powerful than a typicalsupernova and believed to have shone at 570 billion times thebrightness of the sun. 'It is what we wanted for South Africa and for Africa, notto stay at the margins but actually at the centre and beginningto do world-class quality work,' said Naledi Pandor, SouthAfrica's science minister who visited the telescope on Friday. The bond between man and dog is so strong that their hearts beat in sync, a study has found. Australian researchers separated three dogs from their owners, strapped heart monitors on the people and animals and then watched what happened when they were reunited. Doggy and human heart rates quickly fell and then began to mirror each other. Charts showed that despite beating at different rates, they followed the same pattern, with each dogs heart rising and falling in tandem with its masters. Australian researchers separated three dogs from their owners, strapped heart monitors on the people and animals and then watched what happened when they were reunited Researcher Mia Cobb, of Melbournes Monash University, told the Huffington Post: I was impressed at how much they came together. The fact that they shared patterns do closely surprised me. This kind of effect of experiencing a lowered heart rate makes a significant difference to our overall wellbeing. If we can decrease our heart rate by hanging out with our animals, thats something that can really benefit the community. Colleague Dr Craig Duncan, said: Stress is a major killer in todays society and, as we get busier and busier, it is something that is really important for us to try to help with. The Hearts Aligned project aims to show how pet ownership can help us positively deal with the stressors of everyday life. Charts showed that despite beating at different rates, they followed the same pattern, with each dogs heart rising and falling in tandem with its masters The study, which was funded by pet food firm Pedigree, is just the latest to show that having a dog is good for the heart. For instance, a review of research by the American Heart Association suggested that pet owners have healthier hearts than other people and dog owners particularly benefit. This may be because of the necessity to go for walks, whatever the weather. Millions of mutant mosquitoes are poised to be taken from the UK and released in Florida in the fight against zika virus. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads the disease, has been genetically modified by a British biotech company to pass on a 'killer' gene. This shortens the life of their young, which should make the population crash and halt the spread of zika. The Aedes aegypti mosquito (pictured), which spreads the disease, has been genetically modified by a British biotech company to pass on a 'killer' gene and is poised to be taken to Florida in the fight against the Zika virus Trials in Brazil have shown mosquito numbers to fall by 90 per cent, an 'unprecedented level of control'. The World Health Organisation has declared the disease's rise a public health emergency and pregnant women have been warned not to travel to infected areas. Already rife in South America, and a growing threat to the US, zika is blamed for thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains. Florida has been identified as one of the most likely places for the disease to gain a foothold, and, with no treatments for zika available, regulators have provisionally approved the release of GM mosquitoes. Derric Nimmo, a bioscientist with Oxitec, an Oxford University spin-out company, told the Sunday Times: 'We would expect to release about 3.3million mosquitoes over nine months just over 200,000 a week. Already rife in South America, and a growing threat to the US, zika is blamed for thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains. Pictured: Larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes found in Recife, Brazil 'We know this technology works very well. 'It's a matter of scaling up and drawing up a release strategy.' The plans have come up against opposition, with some Key West residents saying the mutant bugs carry unknown risks to the environment and to humans, and their release could deter tourists. But Dr Amesh Adalja, of the University of Pittsburgh, said: 'The fight against mosquito-borne diseases has been going on for over a century. Advertisement Solar Impulse 2 is preparing to leave California for Arizona later today as it continues its journey around the world using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made aircraft will take off from Mountain View before dawn on Monday for what should be a 16-hour flight to Phoenix. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg will be at the helm of the plane that began circumnavigation the globe last year. The Swiss-made aircraft (pictured above California) will take off from Mountain View before dawn on Monday for what should be a 16-hour flight to Phoenix. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg will be at the helm of the plane that began circumnavigation the globe last year Borschberg's co-pilot, Bertrand Piccard, also of Switzerland, made the three-day trip from Hawaii to the heart of Silicon Valley, where he landed last week. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the US before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa. The two legs to cross the Pacific were the riskiest part of the plane's travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. 'We have demonstrated it is feasible to fly many days, many nights, that the technology works' said Borschberg, 63, who piloted the plane during a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii and who kept himself alert by doing yoga poses and meditation. The crew was forced to stay in Oahu for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The layovers will give the pilots a chance to swap places and engage with local communities along the way so they can explain the project, which is estimated to cost more than $100 million and began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. The solar-powered airplane landed in California (pictured) last week after completing a risky, three-day flight across the Pacific Ocean as part of its journey around the world. The landing came several hours after Piccard performed a dazzling fly-by over the Golden Gate Bridge (pictured) as spectators watched the narrow aircraft with extra wide wings from below Pilot Bertrand Piccard landed the Solar Impulse 2 in Mountain View, in the Silicon Valley south of San Francisco (pictured), at 11.45pm local time (06:44am UTC on 24 April) following a 62-hour, non-stop solo flight without fuel During the flight, as Piccard performed a fly-by over Golden Gate Bridge (pictured), he said: 'I crossed the bridge. I am officially in America.' Last week's landing came several hours after Piccard performed a dazzling fly-by over the Golden Gate Bridge as spectators watched the narrow aircraft with extra wide wings from below. At the controls of Si2, Bertrand Piccard touched down at the Moffett Airfield, home to Nasa's Ames Research Centre and to Google's Planetary Ventures, after a flight of three days and two nights and 2,810 miles (4,523 km). Piccard said at a news conference after he landed: 'You know there was a moment in the night, I was watching the reflection of the moon on the ocean and I was thinking 'I'm completely alone in this tiny cockpit and I feel completely confident. At the controls of Si2, Piccard touched down at the Moffett Airfield (pictured), home to Nasa's Ames Research Centre and to Google's Planetary Ventures, after a flight of three days and two nights and 2,810 miles (4,523 km) The solar-powered airplane is attempting to circumnavigate the globe to promote clean energy and the spirit of innovation. The Solar Impulse 2 landed in Hawaii in July and was forced to stay in the islands after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The plane is pictured above San Francisco Piccard and fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg (pictured together) have been taking turns flying the plane since taking off from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in March 2015 'And I was really thankful to life for bringing me this experience. It's maybe this is one of the most fantastic experiences of life I've had.' During the flight as he performed a fly-by over Golden Gate Bridge, Piccard said: 'I crossed the bridge. I am officially in America.' 'Solar Impulse showcases that today, exploration is no longer about conquering new territories, because even the moon has already been conquered, but about exploring new ways to have a better quality of life on Earth,' Piccard continued. 'It is more than an airplane: it is a concentration of clean technologies, a genuine flying laboratory, and illustrates that solutions exist today to meet the major challenges facing our society.' Piccard was all smiles as he waved to the crowd after landing the plane (pictured left), which has had some bumps on its around-the-world journey. The plane's maximum altitude is 27,900ft (8,500m) but this drops to 3,280ft (1,000m), when the pilot (Piccard is pictured right) is able to take short 20-minute catnaps HOW DOES SOLAR IMPULSE WORK? Solar Impulse 2 is powered by 17,000 solar cells and on-board rechargeable lithium batteries, allowing it to fly through the night. Its wingspan is longer than a jumbo jet but its light construction keeps its weight to about as much as a car. Solar Impulse 2 relies on getting enough solar power during the day to survive the night. It is also extremely light - about the weight of a car - and as wide as a passenger jet. Both of these combined means it is extremely susceptible to the weather. In high winds it can struggle to stay aloft at the altitudes necessary to gather sunlight. Advertisement Piccard and Borschberg have been taking turns flying the plane on an around-the-world trip since taking off from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in March 2015. The plane's maximum altitude is 27,900ft (8,500m) but this drops to 3,280ft (1,000m), when the pilot is able to take short 20-minute catnaps. The goal of the project is to show the possibilities of renewable energy such as solar power. To help break up the long periods in the cramped cockpit, the pilots planned to land Solar Impulse 2 in 12 locations around the world. The Solar Impulse 2 has made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China, Japan and Hawaii. The trans-Pacific leg was the riskiest part of the plane's global travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. Although it's most recent landing was a success, the aircraft faced a few bumps along the way. After taking off in Abu Dhabi on 9 March 2015, it stopped in Muscat in Oman before heading to Ahmedabad in India on 10 March and Varanasi, also in India, on 18 March. On the same day it flew to Mandalay, Burma, before making a pit stop in Chongqing, China on 29 March - for three weeks, rather than the one planned. After Nanjing in China, the next was a five-day flight to Honolulu in Hawaii, before its unscheduled stop in Japan. The Solar Impulse 2 landed in Hawaii in July and was forced to stay in the islands after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The plane performed a dazzling fly-by over San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge before landing on Saturday night. Although it's most recent landing was a success, the aircraft faced a few bumps along the way including a battery failure last year Piccard hugs his wife Michelle (pictured left) outside the cockpit of Solar Impulse 2 after the successful landing. The Solar Impulse 2 (pictured right flying over San Francisco) has made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China, Japan and Hawaii The trans-Pacific leg was the riskiest part of the plane's global travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. The Solar Impulse 2 landed in Hawaii in July and was forced to stay in the islands after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan The team was delayed in Asia, as well. When first attempting to fly from Nanjing, China, to Hawaii, the crew had to divert to Japan because of unfavourable weather and a damaged wing. A month later, when weather conditions were finally right, the plane departed from Nagoya in central Japan for Hawaii. The plane's ideal flight speed is about 28 mph, though that can double during the day when the sun's rays are strongest. The carbon-fibre aircraft weighs more than 5,000 pounds (2,268kg), or about as much as a midsize truck. The plane, piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, completed a 62-hour nonstop solo flight without fuel The goal of the project is to show the possibilities of renewable energy such as solar power. To help break up the long periods in the cramped cockpit, the pilots planned to land Solar Impulse 2 in 12 locations around the world. Piccard is pictured taking a selfie on board Solar Impulse 2 during a test flight over the Pacific Ocean Piccard said: 'You know there was a moment in the night, I was watching the reflection of the moon on the ocean and I was thinking 'I'm completely alone in this tiny cockpit and I feel completely confident'' The project, which began in 2002 and is estimated to cost more than $100million, is meant to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. The flight is pictured above the Golden Gate Bridge The tranSolar Impulse 2 will make three more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or Northern Africa 'I think innovation and pioneering must continue,' Piccard said. 'It must continue for better quality of life, for clean technologies, for renewable energy - this is where the pioneers can really express themselves and be successful.' Solar-powered air travel is not yet commercially practical, however, given the slow travel time, weather and weight constraints of the aircraft. 'Maybe it will be boring in 20 years when all the airplanes will be electric and people will say 'Oh it's routine'', said Piccard. 'But now, today, an airplane that is electric, with electric engines, that produces its own energy with the sun, it can never be boring. It's a miracle of technology.' The carbon-fibre aircraft (pictured) weighs more than 5,000 pounds, or about as much as a midsize truck The plane's wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night After years of speculation and rumours, Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright has officially announced he is the Bitcoin creator. Dr Wright was unofficially named as the founder in a report released at the end of last year and the 45-year-old has now outed himself publicly for the first time. He is also said to have provided 'technical proof' to back up last year's claims, which many believed at the time were an elaborate hoax. After years of speculation and rumours, Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright (pictured) has officially announced he is Bitcoin creator. Dr Wright was unofficially named as the founder in a report released at the end of last year and the 45-year-old has now outed himself publicly for the first time Dr Wright was named in two reports in December 2015 following investigations by Wired and Gizmodo. The report features posts on Dr Wright's blog - which was deleted after the report was published - that declared his intent to launch a 'cryptocurrency paper' in 2008. In another post from 10 January 2009, Wright announced the launch of bitcoin 'tomorrow' - which would have been published in Australian time before the 3pm launch on 9 January in American time. The report also contained a leaked email Dr Wright drafted during a tax dispute with the Australian government which was signed 'Satoshi Nakamoto' but was never sent A leaked transcript of a meeting between Dr Wright's and Australian tax officials in 2014 which saw him seemingly confess to 'running' Bitcoin was also published in the report. He has now confirmed his identity to the BBC, the Economist and GQ. The report features posts on Dr Wright's blog - which was deleted after the report was published - that declared his intent to launch a 'cryptocurrency paper' in 2008. In another post from 10 January 2009, Wright (pictured) announced the launch of bitcoin 'tomorrow' - which would have been published ahead of the launch Bitcoins (illustrated) are lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. They are the basic unit of a new online economy which runs independently of any company, bank, or government The currency launched in 2009 by a group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto (pictured) was wrongly identified as the inventor in 2014 A video filmed by the BBC shows him providing the technical proof to the organisation's Rory Cellan-Jones. Elsewhere, leading members of the Bitcoin community are said to have corroborated his claim. Dr Wright (pictured) has confirmed his identity to the BBC, the Economist and GQ Bitcoins are lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. They are the basic unit of a new online economy which runs independently of any company, bank, or government. Because Bitcoins allow people to trade money without a third party getting involved, they have become popular with libertarians as well as technophiles, speculators - and criminals. The currency launched in 2009 by a group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto and it was then adopted by a small clutch of enthusiasts. Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto was wrongly identified as the inventor in 2014. The New York Times, Newsweek and other publications have guessed at Nakamoto's real identity and Nakamoto was nominated for a Nobel prize earlier this month but was declared ineligible do to his mysterious identity. This prompted the following tweet from Dr Wright: 'If Satoshi-chan was made for an ACM turing price [sic] or an Alfred Nobel in Economics he would let you bloody know that'. Dr Wright is now planning to release further information in a bid to verify he is who he says he is. Following the Wired report, Dr Wright said he used nearly $85 million worth of the currency to buy gold and software based on advice from businessman Mark Ferrier. He allegedly struck a deal with former mining contractor Mark Ferrier in 2013 and planned to use the gold to build his business,The Australian reported. WHAT IS A BITCOIN? A LOOK AT THE DIGITAL CURRENCY What is a bitcoin? Bitcoins are lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. They are the basic unit of a new online economy which runs independently of any company, bank, or government. Because Bitcoins allow people to trade money without a third party getting involved, they have become popular with libertarians as well as technophiles, speculators and criminals. Who's behind the currency? Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a person or group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto and then adopted by a small clutch of enthusiasts. Nakamoto dropped off the map as Bitcoin began to attract widespread attention, but proponents say that doesn't matter: the currency obeys its own, internal logic. Dr Craig Wright was suspected as the creator following a report by Wired last year and he has now confirmed his identity as the cryptocrrency's founder. What's a bitcoin worth? Like any other currency, Bitcoins are only worth as much as you and your counterpart want them to be. Bitcoins are lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. Physical coin used as an illustration In its early days, boosters swapped Bitcoins back and forth for minor favors or just as a game. One website even gave them away for free. As the market matured, the value of each Bitcoin grew. At its height, a single Bitcoin was valued at $1,200. Is the currency widely used? That's debatable. Businesses ranging from blogging platform Wordpress to retailer Overstock have jumped on the Bitcoin bandwagon amid a flurry of media coverage, but it's not clear whether the currency has really taken off. On the one hand, leading Bitcoin payment processor BitPay works with more than 20,000 businesses - roughly five times more than it did last year. On the other, the total number of Bitcoin transactions has stayed roughly constant at between 60,000 and 70,000 per day over the same period, according to Bitcoin wallet site blockchain.info. Is Bitcoin particularly vulnerable to counterfeiting? The Bitcoin network works by harnessing individuals' greed for the collective good. A network of tech-savvy users called miners keep the system honest by pouring their computing power into a blockchain, a global running tally of every bitcoin transaction. The blockchain prevents rogues from spending the same bitcoin twice, and the miners are rewarded for their efforts by being gifted with the occasional Bitcoin. As long as miners keep the blockchain secure, counterfeiting shouldn't be an issue. Advertisement But the alleged deal fell through, prompting Dr Wright to sue Mr Ferrier for $84.25 million in the Federal court, but the claim was dropped in 2014. The pair met at a mining conference and allegedly agreed Mr Ferrier would buy software on Mr Wright's behalf. Dr Wright claimed Mr Ferrier, who was working with an ASX-listed goldmining company, also persuaded him to purchase gold - allegedly telling him gold was a good asset to have in case the price of 'funny money' Bitcoin crashed. Following the report being published in December, more than a dozen Australia Federal Police officers raided Dr Wright's Gordon property on Sydney's north shore hours, but they denied any link to the Wired report Dr Wright alleged he paid Mr Ferrier the value of $38.8 million, equivalent to 245,103 Bitcoins, in August 2013 and a further $20.3 million, or 135,000 Bitcoins, the next month. Later in 2013, Dr Wright launched action against Mr Ferrier in court, however, discontinued it in March 2014. In December, Mr Ferrier said he had 'never met' Dr Wright before the legal action, and said the academic had not paid him 'one cent'. At the same time, more than a dozen Australia Federal Police officers raided Dr Wright's Gordon property on Sydney's north shore hours, but they denied any link to the Wired report. From safety issues to technical problems, there are many issues that need to be addressed before self-driving cars can hit the roads. But one, possibly unexpected, consequence of the autonomous cars is that they could give sex lives a boost. A Canadian expert believes people will have 'a lot more sex in cars', once a computer takes over and this could be dangerous as the 'drivers' won't be paying attention to the road. From safety issues to technical problems, there are many issues that need to be addressed before self-driving cars can hit the roads. Now a Canadian expert believes people will have 'a lot more sex in cars', once a computer takes over and this could be dangerous as the 'drivers' won't be paying attention to the road The claims were made by Barrie Kirk from the Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence. 'I am predicting that, once computers are doing the driving, there will be a lot more sex in cars,' said Kirk. 'That's one of several things people will do which will inhibit their ability to respond quickly when the computer says to the human, 'Take over.'' 'Drivers tend to overestimate the performance of automation and will naturally turn their focus away from the road when they turn on their auto-pilot,' said a note obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. This note is part of a series of briefing notes given to Transport Minister Marc Garneau. Current Canadian standards don't prohibit driverless vehicles, but last month's federal budget included money for Transport Canada to develop regulations around the vehicles. 'Drivers tend to overestimate the performance of automation and will naturally turn their focus away from the road when they turn on their auto-pilot,' said a briefing note given to Candaian Transport Minister Marc Garneau. Current Canadian standards don't prohibit driverless vehicles Last month's federal budget included money for Transport Canada to develop regulations around the vehicles. These regulations include adding a 'fail-safe that can respond to situations when the driver is not available,' according to the briefing notes. A stock image of a self-driving car is pictured These regulations include adding a 'fail-safe that can respond to situations when the driver is not available,' according to the briefing notes. Elsewhere, in a bid to push forward with plans for self-driving cars in the US, Alphabet's Google recently teamed up with Ford and Uber to form a coalition to push for federal action. Sweden-based Volvo, which is owned by China's ZhejiangGeely Holding Group, and Uber rival Lyft also arepart of the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets. The group said in a statement it will 'work with lawmakers, regulators and the public to realise the safety and societal benefits of self-driving vehicles.' The coalition said David Strickland will be the coalition's counseland spokesman. California has proposed barring self-driving cars that do not have steering wheels, pedals and a licensed driver ready to take over in an emergency, which Google (self-driving car pictured) has opposed. Under current regulations, fully autonomous vehicles without human controls are not legal in the US A draft roadmap for having self-driving cars within five years and autonomous vehicles for driving by 2025 in China could also be unveiled as early as this year. The draft will set out standards, including a common language for cars to communicate as well as regulatory guidelines. Changan Auto's self-driving car is shown He is the former top official of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the US auto safety agency that is writing new guidance on self-driving cars. A draft roadmap for having highway-ready, self-driving carswithin five years and autonomous vehicles for urban driving by2025 could also be be unveiled in China this year. The draft will set out technical standards, including a common language for cars to communicate with each other and infrastructure, and regulatory guidelines. At a most basic level, the committee will define a'self-driving' car and set a minimum level of functionality. In other respects, China plans to be more ambitious and mayadopt cellular data technology - already used in many cars toaccess the web - for cars to communicate, rather than thededicated short-range communications (DSRC) standard used in theUS and Europe. Modern humans arrived in Europe 45,000 years ago but little is known about how they spread across the continent before the introduction of farming. Now, researchers carrying out the most detailed genetic analysis of Upper Paleolithic Europeans to date have discovered a major new lineage of early modern humans. This group, which lived in the northwest 35,000 years ago, directly contributed to the ancestry of present-day Europeans and is believed to have been formed of the 'founding fathers' of Europe. Researchers carrying out the most detailed genetic analysis of Upper Paleolithic Europeans to date have discovered a major new lineage of early modern humans. This group, which lived in the northwest around 35,000 years ago, directly contributed to the ancestry of present-day Europeans (artist's impression pictured) Archaeological studies have previously found modern humans swept into Europe 45,000 years ago. This ultimately led to the demise of the Neanderthals, despite the fact some modern humans interbred with these cousins. During the Ice Age that ended 12,000 years ago, with its peak between 25,000 and 19,000 years ago when the melt started, glaciers covered Scandinavia and northern Europe all the way to northern France. As the ice sheets retreated at the end of the last Ice Age, the region was repopulated. David Reich and his colleagues from Harvard University analysed genome-wide data from 51 modern humans who lived between 45,000 and 7,000 years ago to study this repopulation. TRACING EUROPEAN ANCESTRY The genetic data shows that, beginning 37,000 years ago, all Europeans come from a single population that persisted through the Ice Age. The founding population has deep branches in different parts of Europe, one of which is represented by a specimen from Belgium. In fact, present-day Europeans can trace their ancestry back to this group of humans who lived in northwest Europe 35,000 years ago. However, this founding population, which was part of the Aurignacian culture, became displaced when another group of early humans arrived on the scene in many parts of Europe 33,000 years ago. This group was made up of members of a different culture known as the Gravettian. Around 19,000 years ago, a population related to the Aurignacian culture re-expanded across Europe. It is thought these people went on to repopulate Europe after ice sheets retreated. Based on the earliest sample in which this ancestry is observed, it is plausible this population expanded from the southwest - present-day Spain - after the Ice Age peaked. Advertisement Remains found from this period include three 31,000-year-old skulls from Dolni Vestonice in the Czech Republic, the lower jaw of the 19,000-year-old 'Red Lady of El Miron Cave' and the skull of a 14,000-year-old individual discovered at the Villabruna in northeastern Italy, among others. The genetic data shows that, beginning 37,000 years ago, all Europeans come from a single founding population that persisted through the Ice Age. The founding population has deep branches in different parts of Europe, one of which is represented by a specimen from Belgium. In fact, present-day Europeans can trace their ancestry back to this group of humans who lived in northwest Europe 35,000 years ago. However, this founding population, which was part of the Aurignacian culture, became displaced when another group of early humans, members of a different culture known as the Gravettian, arrived on the scene in many parts of Europe 33,000 years ago. Then, around 19,000 years ago, a population related to the Aurignacian culture re-expanded across Europe. It is thought these people went on to repopulate Europe after the vast ice sheets retreated. Based on the earliest sample in which this ancestry is observed, it is plausible this population expanded from the southwest - present-day Spain - after the Ice Age peaked. The second event the researchers detected happened 14,000 years ago when populations from the southeast, around Turkey and Greece, spread into Europe, displacing the first group of humans. Professor Reich added: 'We see a new population turnover in Europe, and this time it seems to be from the east, not the west. Researchers from Harvard University analysed genome-wide data from 51 modern humans who lived between 45,000 and 7,000 years ago. The location and age of these humans is shown. Each bar corresponds to an individual, the colour represents the genetically defined cluster, and the height is proportional to age The team studied three 31,000-year-old skulls from Dolni Vestonice in the Czech Republic (pictured). For 5,000 years after this group lived, all samples, from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy, were found to be closely related, reflecting a population expansion associated with the Gravettian archaeological culture An early branch of the European founder population was displaced across much of Europe for around fifteen thousand years before becoming widespread again. The lower jaw of the 19,000-year-old 'Red Lady of El Miron Cave' is pictured. This is the first individual in the study to show the resurgence of ancestry BATTLE OF THE CULTURES: AURIGNACIAN VERSUS GRAVETTIAN The genetic analysis shows the Aurignacian culture was displaced by the Gravettian culture, but later re-emerged. Radiocarbon dating shows the Aurignacian culture from Europe and southwest Asia dominated from 47,000 to 41,000 years ago, although emerged in smaller groups earlier than this. The group is categorised by its tools made of bone or antler points with grooves cut in the bottom. The Aurignacian culture is categorised by its tools made of bone or antler points with grooves cut in the bottom as well as bladelets (pictured) Elsewhere, they made flint tools include blades and bladelets. The people of this culture are also linked with early cave art, including animal engravings and imagery in the Chauvet cave in southern France. By comparison, the Gravettians were a Stone Age culture known for making small pointed blades who lived across much of Europe. This group of hunter gatherers lived in central and Eastern Europe between 30,000 and 20,000 years ago. Remains of this prehistoric culture have been found in caves in southern France and more open sites on the plains of Central Europe and Russia. Isotopic studies of human remains from the Czech Republic have also revealed that mammoths formed a large part of the Gravettian diet. Advertisement 'We see very different genetics spreading across Europe that displaces the people from the southwest who were there before. 'These people persisted for many thousands of years until the arrival of farming.' The study, published in Nature, also detected some mixture with Neanderthals, around 45,000 years ago, as modern humans spread across Europe. The prehistoric human populations contained three to six per cent of Neanderthal DNA, but today most humans only have about two per cent. 'Neanderthal DNA is slightly toxic to modern humans' and this study provides evidence that natural selection is removing Neanderthal ancestry,' Professor Reich added. The genetic analysis shows the Aurignacian culture was displaced by the Gravettian culture, but later re-emerged. Radiocarbon dating shows the Aurignacian culture from Europe and southwest Asia dominated from 47,000 to 41,000 years ago (locations pictured), although emerged in smaller groups earlier than this During the first major warming period at the end of the Ice Age, a new population swept in from the southeast, drawing the gene pools of Europeans and Near Easterners closer together. The skull of a 14,000-year-old individual discovered at the Villabruna in northeastern Italy is pictured Ancient specimens are frequently contaminated with microbial DNA, as well as DNA from archaeologists or lab technicians who have handled the specimens. The arm bone of a 35,000-year-old individual from Belgium who was part of a previously undiscovered major lineage To solve this problem scientists used a technique called in-solution hybrid capture enrichment. They used about 1.2 million 52-base-pair DNA sequences corresponding to positions in the human genome that they were interested in as bait to target specific segments of DNA. After they washed the ancient DNA over the 1.2 million probe sequences, the researchers sequenced the ancient DNA that was captured by the probes. Prior to the Harvard Medical School study there were only four samples of prehistoric European modern humans 45,000 to 7,000 years old for which genomic data were available. This made it difficult to understand how human populations migrated or evolved during this period. Using a new technique, more samples could be assessed. Professor Reich continued: 'Trying to represent this vast period of European history with just four samples is like trying to summarise a movie with four still images. 'With 51 samples, everything changes; we can follow the narrative arc; we get a vivid sense of the dynamic changes over time. 'And what we see is a population history that is no less complicated than that in the last 7,000 years, with multiple episodes of population replacement and immigration on a vast and dramatic scale, at a time when the climate was changing dramatically.' The people of the hamlets of Kobakini at the headwaters of the Kapau were strangely quiet at our arrival. They were insistent that we must not linger. They brought us food in exchange for knives and salt, yet they carried with them an air of supressed animosity that I found hard to explain. There was a difference in these people. They did not yell insults at the patrol or apparently want to challenge us merely for the love of a fight, yet truculence was not far from the surface. Then I saw that some carried steel axes, although I thought I was the first white they had met. I saw a belt, and some buckles and some European clothing, and when finally two men were seen with shotgun barrels used as handles for their stone clubs, I began to understand. Well camp here, Nusa, I announced, and camp we did, despite our obvious unpopularity, which was quickly growing. We camped outside one hamlet, and very soon afterwards my suspicions were confirmed. In a nearby gully the police found the evidence of a massacre. It was a pitiful sight. The remains of two murdered white men and their carriers lay just as they must have been killed. Their bodies were decomposing now, but boots unmistakably identified the two white men. Who were they? I had no idea of their names, but I supposed they had been prospecting. Meanwhile our discovery of the massacre made the watching Kukukuku nearly mad with rage. This was unfortunate, because now that we had stumbled on the scene of the murders we could hardly move on without taking action, or else the already over-confident Kukukuku would think we were running away. I tried to think it out carefully. There could be no thought of investigating the murders and then deciding what individuals were guilty. These primitive people had no conception of the white mans laws. Yet a lesson had to be taught the lesson that this sort of attack had to end. I decided we would capture some of the men, notably the two who had been displaying the gun-barrels in their clubs, and take them to Salamaua as prisoners. After a suitable indoctrination period they could be returned to their homes to spread the gospel. Constable Nusa remarked that the Kukukuku didnt look as if they intended to wait much longer before attacking us, anyhow, so the sooner our job was done the better. Well surround the hamlet first thing in the morning, Nusa. You pick the fittest of the carriers to help in holding about ten men. If we end with five that should do, anyhow. We collected better than five, but couldnt manage ten. We started off with ten, but as our men struggled with them at first light, two of the Kukukuku kicking and biting like maniacs got away. Right, Nusa! These eight will do! Well soon have the whole crowd of them on our heels! We did too. We got moving quickly with our eight men including the two men with the gun barrels but the disturbance had brought the men from the other hamlets on to the scene. I was at the rear with Lance-Corporal Anis and a police party, and soon had to order the police to fire in the air to keep the Kukukuku at a safe distance. They were hopping mad. Then, suddenly, our attackers ceased to follow us. Soon there was hardly a sound. Our prisoners gave no trouble they were trembling and obviously in a nervous state, with the fear of death in their eyes. They clearly felt we would kill them, and I felt sorry for them as we continued quickly east. Our captives were each handcuffed and a cord from the handcuffs was tied to the wrist of an escorting policeman one policeman for each prisoner. Eventually we came to outlying hamlets, and there was nothing we could do to stop some of the prisoners from shouting out for help. But as it happened it did them no good for the hamlets were deserted an ominous sign, I thought, that the news had travelled and that trouble was afoot. I could do nothing but keep going at the fastest clip possible. Theyll be after us, Nusa, I told the corporal when we stopped for a rest at one stage. I cant believe they will let us get away with this easily. The country was heavily timbered and suitable for a surprise attack now, so the police and I took it in turns to walk ahead of the patrol as points in case of ambush. We were each on point for twenty minutes at a time, walking about 100 yards ahead of the patrol. We were able to camp that night without having seen any signs of an attack. Next day I estimated we were about three days walking from Mark Pitts post at Otibanda. We stuck camp early and had a hard climb to the top of the divide. Soon we came to a large hamlet. Here one of our prisoners, the most powerful man of the lot, resumed his shouts for help and then finally lay down and refused to walk. We moved him only by half-carrying him. We entered heavy jungle as we followed a stream I hoped was the Waikanda, and the track down became overgrown and very steep. A light rain began, resulting in the track becoming greasy and slippery so that the eight police to whom the prisoners were attached were in difficulties. Ahead of us, Corporal Nusa was just commencing his period of point and had reached the bottom of the ravine, ready to begin climbing the other side. Leading the patrol proper, about 100 yards behind Nusa, was Lance-Corporal Anis. I followed him a few feet away, together with Bob, my Airedale, and strung out behind us in this difficult piece of country were the rest of the patrol. We drew level with a large clump of bamboo near the stream at the foot of the ravine when the attack came. I felt a sudden blow in the stomach, like a punch. I was startled to find myself on the ground, where I saw that an arrow was sticking out from my middle. There seemed to be dead silence. It occurred to me that I had best get my pistol. I was still trying to draw it it seemed stuck in the holster when a man jumped from the bamboo and fired an arrow point-blank into my right thigh. Now everything was noise. There were roars, shouts and rifle shots. The man above me had a mouth bright red with betel, I noticed, as he raised his club. I still couldnt get at my holster. There was an explosion a few inches above my head, and the red-mouthed Kukukuku came crashing down on top of me. Boko (McCarthys cook) had shot the man with my Winchester. The terrible position we were in suddenly became clear, and I began to struggle to my feet, amazed at the number of arrows that were now coming from the bamboos. I saw two strike Anis as he charged, shouting, into the bamboo with his bayonet fixed. Anis disappeared but the police were firing and the gully was alive with yells and shots. Another few minutes and it was all over. The noise stopped as suddenly as it had begun and there was an uncanny stillness. The attackers were gone. We counted our casualties. Lance-Corporal Anis was badly wounded. He had several arrow wounds and one had entered his chest on the left side. He was bleeding freely from wounds caused by a club. Near him in the bamboo were the bodies of two of the attacking Kukukuku he had killed. Constable Suaga had a head injury and arrow wounds in his left and right sides, and his wounds too were serious. Constables Gwambilon and Natava were badly wounded with arrows Gwambilon had one arrow in his neck. My personal boy, Tami, had taken an arrow clean through his left breast the point was sticking out his back. Constables Sigasik and Boganau also had arrow wounds, but they made light of them as they set about doing what they could for the other wounded. Of my own arrows, one had gone in near my navel and one into my thigh. The arrow wound on the knee was no trouble. Not one of our carriers had been hurt, but the powerful Kukukuku prisoner who had specialised in calling out for help was dead with five arrows in him all from the bows of the men who had tried to rescue him. And seven of the attackers were lying dead. Some we recognised as men of Kobakini the hamlets where the white men has been massacred. The attack had been carefully planned and well carried out. The men at Kobakini had ceased to follow us after the arrests and had circled ahead to find out which way we were going. They must have watched our camp and calculated correctly which track we would follow. They had laid an ambush in the best possible place and there they had caught us as we negotiated the difficult ravine and had let the pointman, Nusa, go unscathed while they concentrated their arrows on the police and myself, who had arms. Five police and myself out of 13 armed men was good shooting. With us out of the way, the attackers would have been able to kill the unarmed carriers with ease. My boy Tami had been shot because he carried a shotgun. These bow and arrow men had had a tactical victory and they deserved better success, for seven of their men still remained with us as prisoners. We had few medicines and these were simple, consisting of iodine and aspirin. The remaining police kept guard in case the Kukukuku attacked again as we tended the wounded. Anis looked as if he were dying. He was conscious but his reddish skin was almost white from loss of blood. By charging into the bamboo Anis had given the police time to recover and so had saved us all. I told him so. Boganau underlined all our feelings when he held on to the weakening Anis and said, Anis, you are a true man! Anis was a Catholic and one of the police gave him a rosary to hold. I suddenly realised that it was 25 April and in the towns they would be commemorating Anzac Day. I had now been out for two and a half months during which we had covered more than 240 miles. Obviously the time had come to get to Otibanda just as soon as we could if we were going to survive at all. We would have to carry Anis, Suaga and Tami on stretchers which we would make from ground sheets. Gwambilon and Natava, although seriously wounded, would be able to walk if they had a carrier on either side of them. If we walked for the rest of the day and all night, we might be able to reach Otibanda the next day, I thought. We would have to dump most of our food and equipment for the dash and hope we wouldnt be attacked again from some of the Kukukuku hamlets we would still have to pass. A patrol of cripples couldnt face anybody looking for even half a fight. I pulled the arrow out of my thigh. But every time I touched the one in my belly it was worse than jabbing a raw nerve in a tooth. I finally broke the shaft off and let the point remain not game enough to let anyone else touch it. But the police were wiser. There was no argument. All at once Corporal Nusa grabbed both my arms from behind and held me. Constable Boganau said, Sorry too much kiap! at the same time as he jerked the barbed arrow head from my vitals. It hurt like hell, and I fainted. As I came to, I found them pouring iodine into the wound and rubbing the stinging selat plant into my skin. Thank you, Nusa. Many thanks Boganau, I said, getting shakily to my feet. Their action had been the sensible thing to do, and now that it was over I was grateful. We moved off. I found I was able to walk well enough if I held my stomach with one hand. My thigh wound did not trouble me. I was glad when the night came and the darkness sheltered our many weaknesses. My own weaknesses were brought home to me when I called for a rest about 8 oclock and found my leg stiffening alarmingly. At the same time I had an almost irresistible desire to sleep. Sleep in these circumstances would, I realised, be fatal, and in any case there were men more badly hurt. We kept walking, and as the long night wore on, it became a nightmare for all of us. We were staggering badly, and little was said as we concentrated on the business of pushing on to Otibanda and to Mark Pitt, who, thank God, had studied medicine. Indescribably dirty, ragged and bloodstained we staggered in to the post early next day, and Pitt wasted no time in treating the wounded. Advertisement The end is coming for the famous Black Hawk helicopter - but not without a battle. Two teams - Sikorsky-Boeing with their Defiant, and Bell Helicopter-Lockheed Martin with their V280, are vying for the lucractive contract to create a 'supercopter'. Both are set to take off for the first time next year in the final stage of the battle to replace the Black Hawk. Scroll down for video The Bell Helicopter design, which is called the V-280 Valor, is an advanced tilt-rotor design that is based upon technology similar to the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey The Sikorsky-Boeing entry, called the SB-1 Defiant, is a compound helicopter design with co-axial rotors and a pusher-propeller COMPETITORS AT A GLANCE The Sikorsky-Boeing entry, called the SB-1 Defiant, is a compound helicopter design with co-axial rotors and a pusher-propeller. The Bell Helicopter design, which is called the V-280 Valor, is an advanced tilt-rotor design that is based upon technology similar to the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. The new tilt-rotor is smaller, faster and much more manoeuvrable than the Osprey and has a top speed of over 300 knots. The two prototype aircraft will be built and flown as part of a project called the Joint Multi Role Technology Demonstrator Air Vehicle, which will then inform the Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program to replace the long-serving Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and Boeing AH-64E Apache. The FVL program will also inform the US Navy's MH-XX program to replace the MH-60 Seahawk. Bell revealed this week it believes it's entrant could enter service in 2024. 'There's no real technology that needs to be further developed for us to be able to design and develop an aircraft that meets those requirements,' said Vince Tobin, Bell's vice president of advanced tiltrotor systems, according to DefenceOne. 'Our big push now is that, after we fly this and prove out that we can build this aircraft, that we are ready to go into engineering and manufacturing development.' The Sikorsky-Boeing team is also hoping to fly in 2017, said Doug Shidler, Sikorskys program director for its Joint Multi-Role tech demonstrator. 'The intent of the JMR TD effort is to maximize the knowledge gain and risk reduction toward an anticipated Future Vertical Lift acquisition program,' said Dan Bailey, the Army's JMR/FVL program director when the two finalists were announced. Two other teams led by Karem Aircraft and AVX Aircraft were not selected for continued development, but the service is still interested in their technologies. 'The Army will seek to continue technology development efforts with those teams based on resources and opportunities,' the service said. The Sikorsky-Boeing entry, called the SB-1 Defiant, is a compound helicopter design with co-axial rotors and a pusher-propeller. The Bell Helicopter design, which is called the V-280 Valor, is an advanced tilt-rotor design that is based upon technology similar to the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. The new tilt-rotor is smaller, faster and much more manoeuvrable than the Osprey and has a top speed of over 300 knots. The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) is a program to develop a family of military helicopters for the United States Armed Forces. The Bell Helicopter design, which is called the V-280 Valor, is an advanced tilt-rotor design that is based upon technology similar to the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. The Bell V280 program completed its final design and risk review period in August, and construction has already begun. Four different sizes of aircraft are to be developed, and they will share common hardware such as sensors, avionics, engines, and weapons. It will eventually lead to replacements for the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. The precursor for FVL is the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) helicopter program, which will provide technology demonstrations planned for 2017. Chris Gehler, director of Bell Helicopter's advanced tilt-rotor systems, said the V280 program completed its final design and risk review period in August. Spirit Aerosystems has completed building the fuselage in Wichita, Kansas, and shipped it to Amarillo just before AUSA. 'This is real. The aircraft is coming together now,' Gehler told Defense News. Spirit Aerosystems has completed building the fuselage in Wichita, Kansas, and shipped it to Amarillo ahead of flight tests in 2017 THE DEFIANT-1 The Sikorsky-Boeing entry, called the SB-1 Defiant, is a compound helicopter design with co-axial rotors and a pusher-propeller. The design will have a cruise speed of 250 kn (290 mph; 460 km/h), but less range due to using the 'old' T55 engine. The SB-1 will be quick and nimble, with fast acceleration and deceleration, side-to-side movement, and hovering with the tail up and nose down. The Defiant demonstrator will be powered by the Honeywell T55, which powers the CH-47 Chinook. It will be slightly modified to better operate at slower speeds down to 85% rpm. 'We've got all kinds of pieces and parts, different technologies and things that are yielding today and starting to flow to Amarillo.' 'About this time next year,' he said, the aircraft will look ready to fly and the team will be running pre-flight checks, ground runs, shake tests and other reliability activities. The U.S. Army-led Joint Multi-Role Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program is the science and technology precursor to the Department of Defense's Future Vertical Lift program expected to replace 2,000 to 4,000 medium-class utility and attack helicopters. The U.S. Army and Department of Defense are seeking leap-ahead capabilities and have identified a speed of 230+ knots as a key discriminating capability. Apple's shares have suffered its longest losing streak since July 1998. Shares of the iPhone-maker posted fell 0.1% Monday for an eighth consecutive session of losses, following the company's announcement last week that iPhone sales fell for the first time ever in a quarter and revenue fell for the first time since 2003. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNBC's Jim Cramer 'I couldn't disagree more' when asked if the tech giant's best days were now behind it, saying claims the firm is dead were 'a huge overreaction'. Scroll down for video Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNBC's Jim Cramer 'I couldn't disagree more' when asked if the tech giant's best days were now behind it. The latest share performance is Apples longest losing streak since July 1998, according to WSJ Market Data Group. The last time Apple stock suffered 8 straight days of losses was on July 27th 1998. 'The most important thing is that customers love our products,' Cook said. 'That is the most important thing for the long term of Apple,' Cook said. Cook also addressed claims the Apple Watch has been a failure, claiming 'We're still in learning mode...you'll see the Apple Watch get better and better.' 'Our first goal is to establish a new category...we wanted to roll out slowly' he said. Last week for the first time in the iPhone's history, Apple has revealed a year-on-year drop in sales of its handset - and its first drop in overall revenue since 2003. The firm's quarterly results were below Wall Street targets, and it forecast another disappointing quarter - which saw Apple's shares down more than 5 percent in early after-hours trading. Apple says the slump is sales was caused by 'macroeconomic headwinds' and the iPhone 6 being 'an anomaly' as it offered an entirely new size handset. Apple said it sold 51.2 million iPhones in its second fiscal quarter, down from 61.2 million in the same quarter a year ago but above analysts' estimates of about 50 million devices. Sales fell faster in China than in any other region, down 26 percent compared to the previous year, and sales in the Americas were down 10 percent. RESULTS AT A GLANCE Apple sold more than 51.2 million iPhones in the first three months of 2016 - while racking up $10.5 billion in quarterly profit. That was more than many analysts expected, but still fewer than the 61 million iPhones sold a year earlier. Revenue of $50.56 billion missed expectations of $51.97 billion. Apple Music now has 13m subscribers Over all, Apple sold 16 percent fewer iPhones in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year - although Tim Cook pointed out the results no not include sales of the smaller iPhone SE. He claimed demand for the new handset had been 'very strong, and exceeds supply at this point'. After five successive quarters where Apple has reported record revenues, the first three months of 2016 are the worst in 13 years. The company is battling perceptions that its latest iPhones aren't dramatically different from previous models, as overall smartphone sales are slowing around the world. 'I think that the market, as you know, is currently not growing,' Cook said in response to an analyst question. 'However, my view is that's an overhang of macroeconomic environment in many different places in the world. 'We are very optimistic that this too shall pass and that the market, and particularly us, shall grow again.' 'Unit sales of Apple Watch met our expectations,' said Cook. 'In fact, sales of Apple Watch in its first year exceeded iPhone sales in its first year - and we've learnt a lot.' 'We are unwavering in protecting out customers data,' said Cook. 'The future of Apple is very bright, out future product pripeline has some amazing products' Cook also made a rare reference to the firm's aquisition strategy. 'We've made 15 acquisitions in the last four quarter,' he said. 'And we are always on the lookout.' Apple also said it was raising its capital return program by$50 billion through a $35 billion increase in its share buybackauthorization and a 10 percent rise in the quarterly dividend. A cloud over Apple: After five successive quarters where Apple has reported record revenues, the first three months of 2016 are likely to be the worst in 13 years. 'Despite the pause in our growth, the results reflect our team executed extremely well in the face of strong macroeconomic headwinds,' said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. 'We are very happy with the continued strong growth in revenue from Services, thanks to the incredible strength of the Apple ecosystem and our growing base of over one billion active devices.' Apple was hard pressed to top sales from the year-ago quarter, which was boosted by the recent launch of a new generation of iPhones, Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri told Reuters in an interview. The phones featured larger screen sizes and sparked historic sales. 'The iPhone 6 is an anomaly, and so it creates a very difficult comparison for us,' he said. 'We generated strong operating cash flow of $11.6 billion and returned $10 billion to shareholders through our capital return program during the March quarter,' said Luca Maestri, Apple's CFO. YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISONS iPhone Q1 2015: 61.2 million Q1 2016: 50.4 million iPad Q1 2015: 12.6 million Q1 2016: 10.1 million Profit Q1 2015: $13.6 billion Q1 2016: $11.1 billion Sales Q1 2015: $58 billion Q1 2015: $50 to $53 billion 'Thanks to the strength of our business results, we are happy to be announcing today a further increase of the program to $250 billion.' But earnings of $1.90 per share fell short of the averageanalyst estimate of $2 per share, according to Thomson ReutersI/B/E/S. Revenue of $50.56 billion missed expectations of $51.97billion. Apple forecast third-quarter revenue of $41 billion to $43billion, short of the Wall Street consensus of $47.3 billion. While Apple executives had predicted iPhone sales woulddecline this quarter, they must reassure investors that the drop represents a momentary roadblock for the company, rather than apermanent shift for the product that fueled its meteoric rise. After years of blockbuster sales, many investors fear thatthe iPhone has reached a point of saturation, spelling the endfor Apple's era of exponential growth. The company has yet to present another device that can drivesales on that order, though last year it released the AppleWatch, its first new product without legendary co-founder SteveJobs at the helm. Rather than buying the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, many consumersare waiting for the release of the expected iPhone 7 later thisyear to upgrade their phones, according to analysts. Apple had planned to release its quarterly results on Mondaybut delayed the event by a day due to the memorial service forBill Campbell, a longtime Apple board member who mentored manyprominent executives in Silicon Valley. In the first quarter of 2015, Apple sold 61.2 million iPhones. This is significant because around two thirds of the firm's revenue comes from the sale of iPhones. In the first quarter of 2015, Apple sold 61.2 million iPhones and the latest forecast suggests the first quarter of 2016 will show sales of 50.4 million - down 18 per cent. Apple Vice President Greg Joswiak introduces the iPhone SE during an event at the Apple headquarters in Cupertino in March Slowing growth in China has been suggested as the core reason for the drop, an area Apple has focused on heavily in the last two years, alongside the increasingly saturated smartphone market - with competition from rivals such as Samsung continuing, but also due to improved performances from Chinese firms including Huawei. In January, Apple, the world's most valuable publicly tradedcompany, forecast its first revenue drop in 13 years and postedthe slowest-ever increase in iPhone shipments, suggesting thetechnology company's period of exponential growth may be ending. A less-than-stellar report from the company, however, may toan extent be baked into the price of its shares, analysts said. 'They have been talking about it for long enough,' saidScott Fullman, chief strategist at Revere Securities LLC.Fullman's family has a position in Apple stock. Apple shares are down about 20 percent over the last year,compared with a 1.1 percent dip in the S&P 500 index. OnTuesday, the shares fell 0.3 percent to $104.66, a six-week low. 'People are also maybe hoping that there's going to besomething said that will help prop the stock up,' Fullman said. An increase in Apple's 47 cent quarterly cash dividend and aboost to its stock buyback plan could be good news for theshares. The fall comes off the back of figures released in January which showed the iPhone made Apple more money in just a single quarter than Google's Android platform has ever made. Slowing growth in China has been suggested as the core reason for the drop, an area Apple has focused on heavily in the last two years, alongside the increasingly saturated smartphone market - with competition from rivals such as Samsung and Huawei. Apple boss Tim Cook is pictured with the iPhone 6 It emerged Google has made $31 billion (22 billion) in revenue from its Android operating system, but the figure is dwarfed by Apple, which generated more than $32billion from iPhone sales alone in a single quarter last year. Google's parent company, Alphabet, has been keen to keep its earnings close to its chest, but the figures were made public during an ongoing court case with computer technology company Oracle. It also follows reports Apple will push its next major iPhone launch to 2017. An analyst has said that the next flagship phone, expected to be called the iPhone 7, will lack 'many attractive selling points' and could be remarkably similar to the iPhone 6 and 6S. The analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, from KGI Securities, added that despite the forecasts, he estimates that iPhone SE shipments will rise from 12 million to 18 million handsets. Advertisement A stunning superyacht that was owned by Mikhail Lesin a former Vladimir Putin adviser who died under mysterious circumstances has sold for tens of millions of pounds. The 55-metre (180ft) vessel, Serenity, was built for Lesin, founder of the Kremlin-funded broadcaster RT and Putins one-time chief propagandist, in 2011 and was in limbo while his assets were arranged following his death. Serenity had an asking price of 37million (29million, $42million) when it went on the market around three months ago and has been delivered to its new owner, who paid an undisclosed price. Scroll down for video The 55-metre (180-ft) vessel Serenity was built for Mikhail Lesin, founder of the broadcaster RT and Vladimir Putins former adviser Serenity had an asking price of 37million (29million, $42million) when it went on the market around three months ago Launched in 2011, the superyacht was undergoing a refit when Lesin was found dead under mysterious circumstances last November Serenity's amenities include a full gym with air conditioning and sliding glass doors that can be opened for al fresco workouts Lesin, a 57-year-old millionaire and Russias former press minister, was found dead in a Washington, DC, hotel room last November, with an autopsy revealing he died of blunt force injuries. The investigation into his death continues. At the time of his death his superyacht, launched in 2011, was being overhauled at a shipyard in Brisbane, Australia. Last February, Serenity was put up for sale and made the 11,000-mile journey to the Palm Beach International Boat Show once Lesins assets were sorted, Yacht Harbour reported. The sale was handled by Florida-based brokerage firm IYC. Dimitri Semenikhin, founder of Yacht Harbour, told MailOnline Travel: 'It's unclear what was the final price the yacht sold for. However, as it was a quick sale, it is likely that the final price was lower than the asking price which was set near replacement cost.' Lesin's superyacht remained at a shipyard in Brisbane, Australia, for a few months following his death until his assets were sorted Designed by Omega Architects, its on-board amenities include a bar, sauna, steam room, massage room, hot tub and swimming platform IYC said at the time of the listing that Serenity was in immaculate condition and the only 55-metre Heesen superyacht on the market Calling it a high pedigree motor yacht, IYC said at the time of the listing that Serenity was in immaculate condition and the only 55-metre Heesen superyacht on the market. Designed by Omega Architects, its on-board amenities include a full gym on the top deck, sauna, steam room, massage room, hot tub and swimming platform. The gym has air conditioning and sliding glass doors that can be opened for al fresco workouts, said IYC. Serenity can accommodate up to 12 guests in six staterooms, and its owners suite on the main deck has an en-suite marble bathroom Last February, Serenity was put up for sale and made the 11,000-mile journey to the Palm Beach International Boat Show Serenity's on-board gym is stocked with professional grade workout equipment manufactured by Italian company Technogym Mikhail Lesin, a 57-year-old millionaire and Russias former press minister, was found dead in a Washington DC hotel room last year Serenity can accommodate up to 12 guests in six staterooms, and its owners suite on the main deck has impressive views through floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in closets, a private office, marble bathroom with his and hers sinks, and a hot tub. IYC said Serenity is designed for an active owner who demands performance. If you have ever been in a situation which words fail to describe in English then look no further. Thanks to a new infographic 50 untranslatable words from countries including Norway, Germany and Japan have been explained in a helpful series of illustrations. The lively infographic, which was created by Morningside Translations, reveals the words or phrases used in languages such as Swedish, Italian and Russian, that describe the moments in life that are hard to explain and have no counterpart in English. For example buying a book and not reading it would be Tsundoku in Japanese, and Yiddish word Trepverter describes the annoying moments in life where you think of a witty comeback, but it's far too late to use it. Tartle in Scottish is the act of hesitating while introducing someone whose name you have forgotten - something you may do when taking a Fika in Sweden, which means gathering with others to to take a break from everyday routines. Ranging from the touching to the ridiculous, here the infographic illustrates some of the world's most untranslatable moments, from the Norwegian word to describe the euphoria you feel when you fall in love to the German word for hatching an ingenious plan while drunk. A traveller has been fined 1,000 after he disobeyed the captain's order to turn off his mobile phone or switch it to flight mode before take-off. Aaron McWilliams, 32, from St Kew Highway, Cornwall, was charged after he flew from Amsterdam to Exeter last December. Before take-off, Flybe crew delivered their usual safety instructions and ordered all passengers to comply with rules that state mobile phones, tablets and e-readers must be off or in aeroplane mode throughout the flight. Aaron McWilliams, from Cornwall, was charged after he flew from Amsterdam to Exeter last December McWilliams admitted to a charge of failing to obey the command of the captain of the aircraft and a second charge of behaving in a threatening manner towards a female member of the crew. He was fined 500 on each charge and ordered to pay a total of 1,135 with costs. A Flybe spokesperson said: 'Flybe has a zero-tolerance attitude towards any disruptive behaviour that has the potential to jeopardise the safety of its passengers and crew.' UK Civil Aviation Authority rules allow for devices such as mobile phones to be used during a flight as long as they are in aeroplane mode before departure. Most airlines ban passengers from using their mobiles for voice calls or text messaging in the air (file photo) Personal electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets need to be turned off because they would otherwise transmit signals that could interfere with the pilots' radio communications with air traffic control. A mobile that hasnt been switched to flight mode may annoy pilots and air traffic controllers with an unpleasant sound. Its the same kind of noise that can be heard over speakers if a mobile is nearby and its due to the phones powerful radio emissions. There is no evidence signals from passengers electronic devices have ever caused a plane to malfunction and crash. Berlin authorities have made it illegal for tourists to rent out their apartments using Airbnb and its competitors, in a bid to protect affordable housing and to keep city rent as low as possible. Property owners who are discovered to be listing their properties can now be fined up to 100,000 (78,260). The German capital fears that the growing trend of people letting out apartments to tourists through sites such as Airbnb, Wimdu and 9Flats is cutting into a limited property supply and driving up rents. Berlin authorities have made it illegal for tourists to rent out their apartments using Airbnb and its competitors, in a bid to protect affordable housing The new law bans the short-term renting of entire apartments to tourists without a city permit, although Berliners can still let single rooms The ruling falls under a new law, Zweckentfremdungsverbot, which was passed in 2014, but only came into effect on May 1. It bans the short-term renting of entire apartments to tourists without a city permit, although Berliners can still let single rooms. To catch them, the city has even appealed to the 'civic spirit' of its residents and asked them to anonymously report any suspected misuse online. It is 'a necessary and sensible instrument against the housing shortage in Berlin,' said Andreas Geisel, Berlin's head of urban development. 'I am absolutely determined to return such misappropriated apartments to the people of Berlin and to newcomers,' he said. The move tackles the issue of soaring rent in Berlin, which rose 56 per cent between 2009 and 2014, although amounts are still low in comparison to other major European cities. Berlin has become one of Europe's top travel destinations, with 30.2million overnight stays last year, the Airbnb trend has also impacted the local hotel industry Investors have been accused of causing a housing shortage by holding onto their pads for short-term holiday lets, instead of having long-term tenants. San Francisco-based Airbnb - short for the business's original name AirBed & Breakfast - is the biggest of several sites that allow people to offer and find such rental accommodation worldwide. A spokesperson for Airbnb said: 'Berlin's housing law is complex and unclear, and the government has released conflicting and confusing statements on how it will be implemented. 'This is bad news for Berlin and regular locals who occasionally share their homes to afford living costs in the city they love. 'Berliners understand home sharing is different to other forms of accommodation in the city and want clear and simple home sharing rules. 'We will continue to encourage the government to listen to the people of Berlin and follow the lead of other major cities that have introduced clear, simple and progressive rules to support regular local residents who share their homes to pay the bills.' In 2015 around 568,000 Airbnb guests visited Berlin and stayed in local homes, with the overwhelming majority saying they chose Airbnb to experience life like a local While Berlin has become one of Europe's top travel destinations, with 30.2 million overnight stays last year, the Airbnb trend has also impacted the local hotel industry. According to research firm GBI, the private online bookings represent a 'parallel market of an additional 6.1 million' overnight stays a year. More than 20,000 Berliners shared their homes last year on Airbnb, with the typical host earning an additional 1,800 (1,408) by sharing their space for 34 nights, according to the letting site. A third of these hosts said they rely on this additional income to pay the bills and make ends meet. In 2015 around 568,000 Airbnb guests visited Berlin and stayed in local homes, with the overwhelming majority saying they chose Airbnb to experience life like a local. The average stay and party size was 4.6 nights with 2.3 people. She's found success in drama and horror films, and is once again stretching her comedy muscles in Bad Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising, opposite Seth Rogen. But despite her many talents, Australian actress Rose Byrne admits that female roles in comedy scripts aren't quite up to the level of their male counterparts. 'Most things I read, I still would much rather play the guy,' the 36-year-old told The Cut recently. Australian actress Rose Byrne (pictured) told The Cut that female roles in comedy scripts aren't quite up to the level of their male counterparts, admitting: 'Most things I read, I still would much rather play the guy' Rose added that 'there have been some changes' to how women are portrayed in the last few years, but says she '(wishes) there was more.' She also reckons that Bad Neighbours 2 director Nicholas Stoller and actor-writer Seth are helping to get 'rid of the stereotypes' and create funny roles for women besides simply The Nagging Wife. Meanwhile, the Damages star, who hails from Sydney, NSW, also spoke briefly about how motherhood has changed her outlook on life. Rose, pictured alongside Bad Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising co-stars Seth Rogan and Zac Efron, added that 'there have been some changes' to how women are portrayed in comedy films in the last few years, but says she '(wishes) there was more' Rose also reckons that Bad Neighbours 2 director Nicholas Stoller and actor-writer Seth are helping to get 'rid of the stereotypes' and create funny roles for women besides simply The Nagging Wife Rose welcomed her first child, baby son Rocco, with long-term partner Bobby Cannavale in February this year. 'Its been a different kind of year,' she told the New York magazine-affiliated publication. 'Having a child, you sort of reprioritize. All of the cliches are true.' Rose reportedly began dating Bobby, star of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, following an after party in November 2012, the New York Daily News reported. Happy couple: Rose has been in a relationship with Boardwalk Empire star Bobby Cannavale (left) since 2012, and earlier this year they welcomed their first child together, baby son Rocco The following year, Bobby confirmed his relationship with Rose during his Best Supporting Actor acceptance speech at the Emmy Awards, calling her the 'love of (his) life'. Rose was previously in a long-term relationship with Australian actor-director Brendan Cowell for over six years before their split in January 2010. Meanwhile, Bobby was married to actress and screenwriter Jenny Lumet from 1994 to 2003, which produced one child. They've been best friends for many a year after striking up a firm-friendship in their teens. So it was little surprise that Daisy Lowe was the first person Nick Grimshaw called after moving into his new house in East London, on Sunday. Having moved into his new house, the Radio One DJ, 31, appeared to have enlisted the 27-year-old model's help to settle in over the May bank holiday. Scroll down for video With a little help from his friends: Daisy Lowe appeared to be the first person Nick Grimshaw called after he moved into his new house in East London, on Sunday Arriving at Nick's new abode in a 4X4, the pair appeared to have been picking up a few select items for Daisy's visit - with the model arriving with a shopping bag in hand full of groceries. And it looked as though Daisy was planning on spending some quality time with her BFF in his new abode, as she sported a large velvet bag - possibly signalling an overnight stay at the house. While the pair were undoubtedly looking forward to a catch-up over the bank holiday, Daisy wasn't about to let her fashion credentials slip. Settling in: Having moved into his new house, the Radio One DJ, 31, appeared to have enlisted the 27-year-old model's help to settle in over the May bank holiday BFFsL Arriving at Nick's new abode in a 4X4, the pair appeared to have been picking up a few select items for Daisy's visit - with the model arriving with a shopping bag in hand full of groceries Embracing the warm weather, the face of Triumph lingerie opted for a saucy summer ensemble - donning a see-through polka dot dress. Flashing a hint of skin as well as her underwear, the raven-haired beauty made sure her dress straddled the sartorial line between racy and modest. Adding her customary rock chick twist to her look, Daisy teamed the floaty number with a pair of sturdy black army-style boots. Summer sauciness: Embracing the warm weather, the face of Triumph lingerie opted for a saucy summer ensemble - donning a see-through polka dot dress Ready for all weather: Adding her customary rock chick twist to her look, Daisy teamed the floaty number with a pair of sturdy black army-style boots and a black fur-trimmed rain coat But clearly prepared for the changeable nature of the British weather, the model rounded her look off with a black light-weight raincoat, which featured a fur trimmed collar. Daisy rounded her summery look off with a pair of over-sized shades, while she also sported a pair of large silver hooped earrings. She wore her long locks in a typically on-point yet dishevelled manner, with her dark her tumbling down around her shoulders. Raven-haired beauty: She wore her long locks in a typically on-point yet dishevelled manner, with her dark her tumbling down around her shoulders Sleep over? And it looked as though Daisy was planning on spending some quality time with her BFF in his new abode, as she sported a large velvet bag - possibly signalling an overnight stay at the house Nick meanwhile went for a casual vibe, pairing a dark plaid shirt with a pair of skinny jeans and a pair of matching Converse. With his peroxide locks swept back into a quiff, the former X Factor judge looked his usual slick self. The breakfast show DJ rounded his look off with a pair of wayfarer style shades, while he also sported a lanyard and an array of trinkets and keys in one hand. He's known for his controversial and outlandish comments, but Joel Creasey took it one step further as he took to the stage in Perth for his solo comedy show. The stand-up comic regaled a crass joke of Bindi Irwin seeing him masturbating when they were both filming I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, earlier this year. Taking to the stage at the Regal Theatre with his show The Crown Prince, the Western Australian reports the show host jokingly gave details of Wildlife Warrior Bindi, 17, accidentally catching him in the act. Scroll down for video Crass: Joel Creasey pretended to recount a moment Bindi Irwin saw him masturbating when they were both filming I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Special guest appearance: Bindi appeared on I'm A Celeb with her mother Terri and her brother Robert and the trio featured in two episodes of the show He joked that she saw him through a set of binoculars while he was at his open air accommodation. Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative of Bindi and Joel for comment. Earlier this year, Joel hosted the spin-off of the show NOW! while Bindi made a guest appearance in the South African jungle with her family, but complained she could not stick being cut off from the outside world for long. At home: Bindi is seen here at Australia Zoo, Queensland with a tiger cub and her mother Terri During her short stint on the Channel Ten show, the former Dancing With The Stars US winner said she would 'go insane' and 'would not do well,' given the harsh conditions, adding: 'I don't think I could do it.' Turning to her brother Robert, 12, and mother Terri, she said: 'I would really miss you guys. 'The food doesn't bother me, that's all good,' she explained, adding: 'I can build a campfire and I am okay with wildlife, but you are getting cut off from the outside world - that would be weird!' 'I would not do well': While making her appearance on the show Bindi admitted she couldn't survive in the jungle and would 'go insane' if cut off from the outside world She went on: 'That would be weird, imagine coming back, just all of this flood of information,' she went on. 'I would have a real hard time with it,' she confessed. The family's matriarch, Terri, also admitted that she would not fare well in the jungle, saying: 'I could not survive six weeks under these conditions!' The Irwin's were guests on one episode to teach the contestants about wildlife. They bought with them a large Burmese Python which they showcased to the camp-mates and hosted a jungle quiz game called Clash Of The Irwin's, as they tested contestants on their jungle knowledge in a bid to win a wildlife safari experience with the family. She had quite the evening when she met President Obama at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. And Kendall Jenner came back down to earth with a bump on Sunday as she stepped out in dreary conditions in New York for a solo stroll. The 20-year-old Chanel muse flashed her toned tummy in a white crop top and high waist jeans with pristine white sneakers. Scroll down for video Back to reality: Kendall Jenner stepped out in a dreary looking New York on Sunday after meeting with President Obama the night before at the White House Correspondents Dinner She layered on a chic striped coat and donned circular sunglasses along with some silver chokers to complete the look. Her brunette locks were swept up in a no-nonsense ponytail for the outing. Kendall seemed quite starstruck when she met the POTUS on Saturday night and shared a starry eyed Snapchat during the evening. See Kendall Jenner updates as she flashes her toned tummy on wet New York outing Casually clad: The 20-year-old model flashed her toned tummy in a white crop top and high-waist jeans Low-key outing: The model covered up in a long striped coat and shaded her eyes with circular sunglasses 'He was like, 'Say hi to Kim and Kanye,'' she told People afterwards. I was like, 'Okay.'' Obama even mentioned the reality star in his speech during the dinner. 'Kendall Jenner is also here. We had a chance to meet her backstage and she seems like a very nice young woman,' he said. Watch out! Kendall accessorised with silver necklaces and kept her head down as she checked her messages 'Im not exactly sure what she does but I am told that my Twitter mentions are about to go through the roof.' he joked. Kendall looked stunning on the night, wearing a black strapless dress and diamond choker. Her beautiful Vivienne Westwood designer gown had a sweetheart neckline and a slit at the bottom. Meanwhile season 12 of Keeping Up With The Kardashians premieres Sunday night. Kendall seemed quite starstruck when she met the POTUS on Saturday night and shared a starry eyed Snapchat during the evening At its worst, it brought unspeakable cruelty, deprivation and injustice. To say that the European colonial record is mixed is a major understatement and, very understandably, few if any of the colonised were terribly appreciative of the experience. At its best, along with undoubted exploitation, European colonialism brought many benefits to its colonies in the form of education services, health care, transportation systems and so forth. Over that period, the major European powers collectively extended their political, military and economic control over virtually the whole world. For good or for ill, vast numbers of human beings were subjected to an abrupt and often traumatic change process in what was a massive collision between cultures. DEPENDING on your interpretation of history, the European Age of Empire lasted from around 1600 to the late 1960's, give or take a few years. Now, the sun has well and truly set on the Age of Empire and no-one is lamenting its passing. There is plenty of debate amongst historians about not just the facts surrounding this period but, much more significantly, the motivations, intentions and actions of the colonisers and the responses of the colonised. In an Australian context, this debate has taken the form of the so-called history wars. On one side we have those who espouse what is called the "black armband" view of Australian history, who tend to dwell upon the bad things that happened, especially the terrible treatment of the Aboriginal people. The proponents of this view have clashed often and fiercely with those who prefer to adopt what they regard as a more balanced viewpoint. The latter argue that Australia's bloody and racist origins, while quite real, should not be allowed to define the country and its people. Where the truth lies, as is often the case, is still rather hard to discern. Personally, I subscribe to a "grey armband" view of all history, including Australia's. There are now comparatively few people left alive who have experienced colonialism, either as colonist or coloniser. Firsthand accounts of the colonial experience do exist in fair quantity, by both colonialists and colonisers, but not so much in the case of Papua New Guinea. Colonial histories may generally accord with the known facts but can sometimes diverge wildly when it comes to attributing motivations to the main actors and meaning to events. Sources like the autobiographies of politicians are notoriously self serving and unreliable. Winston Churchill once quipped that he would be depicted favourably in the history of World War II because he intended to write it (which he did). Biographies are sometimes even worse, especially if the biographer falls under the spell of his or her subject. This can lead to results that range from outright hagiographies to books in which inconvenient truths are downplayed or spun to put the subject in a more favourable light. Damning critiques can be just as bad because they are frequently so unbalanced. These problems mean that divining the truth becomes tricky for any historian intrepid enough to tackle as potentially thorny a topic as colonialism. From an academic standpoint, it is a case of "here there be dragons"! As a former representative of a colonial regime, I try very hard to take what I think is a balanced view of Australia's record in PNG. The more sceptical reader might immediately think, "well, he would say that, wouldn't he?" and be well within their rights to do so. Those of us who were the colonisers tend, I think, to view our time in PNG through a gentle haze of nostalgia. As a consequence, we tend to either down play or simply ignore "inconvenient truths". Thus the social chasm that existed between Australians and Papua New Guineans, and the accompanying patronising or casually racist behaviour, is rarely a feature of the colonisers version of PNG history. Also, there is a tendency to underplay just how privileged an existence it was possible to have when you, the coloniser, could exert almost total control over the social and economic lives of others. For example, I always had a household servant (haus boi or manki masta) during my time in PNG, who relieved me of a great deal of tedious work. This was not, and is not, the typical experience of supposedly egalitarian Australians, yet in PNG we collectively embraced with enthusiasm the idea of having household staff. It seems that a life of privilege is terribly easy to get used to. Similarly, whilst on patrol, I was sometimes in command of a small detachment of armed police and was received by villagers with a degree of deference and respect that was essentially earned by my predecessors, not by me. Of course, at the time, I was too busy doing whatever job I had to do to reflect upon this. I just took it for granted that my authority would be respected and my commands obeyed. It never crossed my mind to try to imagine what the villagers thought about me as an individual or why they mostly decided to uncomplainingly endure my intrusion into their lives. I was, after all, a very young "liklik kiap" or "taubada mereki" and so, in their cultures, ought to have had very little personal status. I have read recently where the late Viscount William Slim, a former Governor General of Australia and Field Marshal in the British Army, once told Sir Paul Hasluck (then Minister for Territories and later Governor General himself) that he regarded the pacification of Papua New Guinea by a tiny handful of Australian kiaps as something that he would have felt unable to achieve without using an entire army. To my mind, this is an illuminating comment not only about the intrepid nature of the early kiaps but, just as importantly, the thinking of people they came into contact with. It is almost as if Papua New Guineans collectively, once they understood the severe power imbalance which confronted them, made a conscious decision to at least tolerate, if not immediately embrace, this new and alien culture rather than engage in futile resistance. After all, Papua New Guinean warriors were no less brave than, say, the Zulus in South Africa. They did not simply give up without a fight, as their clashes with patrols attest. However, they did not need to be slain in vast numbers in pitched battles with armed troops before realising that spears, bows and arrows could never defeat rifles. Courage was, it seems, soon tempered by a pragmatic realisation that at least nominal acquiescence to the demands of the colonial regime was a smarter long term strategy. This is, of course, mere speculation on my part and points to a significant problem in trying to understand the history of colonialism in PNG. Why was it that a handful of armed men were able to so quickly bring under colonial control such a large number of people? It cannot possibly have been just force of arms alone. Papua New Guineans warriors could, theoretically at least, have overwhelmed even a well armed patrol, provided they were willing to take serious casualties doing so. This certainly happened in places like South Africa, notably when a Zulu army defeated the British at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879. Also, Papua New Guineans could have adopted a guerrilla warfare approach that would have tied down huge numbers of troops or police for a long period. This was the strategy followed by the Apache in the US. Led by their famous chief, Geronimo, the Apache harassed the US army from 1850 to 1886 before finally being subdued. That Papua New Guineans did neither of these things has never been completely explained, at least to my satisfaction. I think that it has simply been assumed that force of arms, combined with the fragmentary nature of traditional PNG societies, are sufficient explanation, but this is probably not the full story. It seems plausible to me that those people first contacted by the kiaps and other Europeans simply decided that it may be in their best interests to cooperate with these strangers who could wield, so it must have seemed, near mystical powers. After all, very few demands were initially made of them other than that they obey the laws of a distant and poorly understood "gavman", as represented by the kiap. In most cases, the latter tended only to wander by from time to time, rather than being a continuous presence. The truly disruptive nature of colonial rule was revealed only slowly, over a period of years. So, for example, in 1970 I patrolled in the mountains lying to the north of Kerema, a place which by then had some 70 years experience of colonial rule. Despite this, the people living in those mountains (the much feared Kukukuku) were still living essentially traditional lives. There were some signs of European influence such as steel axe heads and knives, the odd radio receiver, a couple of distinctly dodgy airstrips, a few crude tracks that could cope with a motorbike, and a small number of mission run schools. But, despite this, the influence of the colonial regime was fairly tenuous, even after several decades of contact. It struck me then, as it does now, that the colonial hand rested only very lightly upon those people. They could thus afford to cooperate with the colonial government when it suited and largely ignore it if it did not. Was this a conscious strategy for them or just the way it worked out? I think that any history of Papua New Guinea's colonial experience will be incomplete unless and until the memories of those with direct experience of the colonial era can be recorded. The trouble is that time is fast running out to do this. It therefore is important that PNG historians do their best to collect oral histories about this period before it is too late. How accurate these might be is, of course, a matter of conjecture, but it remains an important task to be undertaken. Only with such evidence to hand will it be possible to form a fair and balanced judgement about PNG's colonial experience. They met and fell in love on the hit reality dating show The Bachelor last year. And while Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski's romance has been played out under the scrutinizing glare of the public, the couple have found an upside to living life in the spotlight, managing to turn their fame into fortune. Since going public with their romance in September, the loved-up couple - who have just been named as ambassadors for Weet-Bix - have managed to cash in on their love story with lucrative endorsements. Scroll down for video Cashing in: Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski have managed to turn their fame into fortune securing a number of lucrative endoresments From what they eat for breakfast, to the clothes they wear, even the holidays they go on - it seems the world is their oyster when it comes to promoting their lives using their social media pages. It's hardly surprising that brands are eager to work with the pair, considering between them they amass a following of almost half a million on Instagram alone. The genetically-blessed duo are even rumoured to be televising their wedding later this year. See The Bachelor updates as Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski cash in on their love story Business-savy: The couple have managed to cash in on their love story at every opportunity - from what they eat for breakfast to the clothes they wear, even the holidays they go on - it seems nothing is off limits Nothing is off limits: The pair have managed to turn their very public romance into a highly marketable business deal - and they have the Instagram endorsements to prove it In Snezana's recent posts she's thanked Diamond Kicks for a pair of $240 customised Nike trainers and regularly posts about food delivery service Hello Fresh. The beauty praised Pallas Couture for her custom-designed, and no doubt pricey, engagement party dress. Meanwhile Sam recently thanked a friend after being gifted a GHD hair dryer, an ELEVEN hair straightener iron and even received a standing work station from In Movement Australia. The couple also documented their every movement during their recent trip to Singapore tagging the Tourism Signapore account in ever image, suggesting they could have been invited on the trip for free. Gym entrepreneur Sam proposed to Snezana with a mammoth $50,000 diamond ring from Bensimon Diamonds during a romantic trip to his native Tasmania. Wardrobes to die for: The couple have all the latest trends at their beck and call Lavish: Snezana was even recently being gifted with a pair of 'authentic sneakers using the highest quality Swarovski crystals Lady of leisure: Snezana has also enjoyed luxuriant beauty treatments at day spas She's got it all: Hair and makeup sessions, massages and facials are also covered High flyers: The couple have been lucky enough to go on a number of all-expenses paid for holidays Seeing the world: The family have visited a number of overseas destinations including Singapore Getting out there: The family also enjoyed a trip to Tasmania - where Sam proposed to Snezana Healthy: The pair have promoted every food item from protein balls to breakfast cereal and have a number of lucrative business deals with pre-packaged grocery companies including Hello Fresh Not subtle: Everything down to the sauce they put on their food is on the house - with Snezana previously endorsing her 'favourite snack' - Kraft cheese singles and Masterchef tomato sauce Pricey: Sam proposed with a ring thought to be worth $50,000 Dream: Sam and Snez had their engagement party organised for them at the Pop Up Patch in Melbourne, with the help of an events planner Settling in: For their new home, the pair have been lucky enough to stock it with everything from plush sofas valued at more than $2,200 Romantic: They were also spruiked Sheridan bed linen starting at $279.95 Just for his gym: Sam has been gifted with items including GHD hair dryers ($310), ELEVEN hair straighteners ($250) and even a standing work station from In Movement Australia Nothing is off limits: Even Snezana's daughter Eve appears to be getting in on the action Cashing in: The 10-year-old has also had her wardrobe padded out with the latest designer threads for children, including adorable items from clothing retailer Zara The loved-up couple, who found each other on the third season of hit dating show, got engaged in December, and by the sounds of things wedding plans will not be too far down the track. Sam confirmed the purchase of a family home in late December, with Snezana and daughter Eve moving from Perth to join him in Melbourne in February. She's never embarrassed to flaunt her figure in a daring outfit. But newly single Paris Hilton got more than she bargained for when her demure black dress appeared to turn see-through as she left a restaurant in London. The 35-year-old seemed oblivious to the cringe-worthy wardrobe malfunction as she playfully posed for the camera, on Sunday. Scroll down for video Flashing under the flash: Paris Hilton got more than she bargained for when her demure black dress appeared to turn see-through as she left a restaurant in London on Sunday evening However, despite being fully dressed in the long-sleeved mini-dress, the flash from the camera meant that Paris's modest assets were clearly on display. The American socialite wore a cut-out skater dress for her meal at China Tang in Mayfair. She topped off her simple all-black look with a thin choker, a small leather handbag and kept things chic in the footwear department with thigh-high suede boots that featured a towering heel. The actress also appeared to be toting a fur shawl to keep off the spring chill. Unsuspecting: The 35-year-old seemed oblivious to the cringe-worthy wardrobe malfunction as she playfully posed for the camera, on Sunday Not so demure: Despite being fully dressed in the long-sleeved mini-dress, the flash from the camera meant that Paris's modest assets were clearly on display Lady in black: Paris topped off her simple all-black look with a thin choker, a small leather handbag and kept things chic in the footwear department with thigh-high suede boots that featured a towering heel Paris maintained her high-glamour look in the makeup department with a dewy complexion and perfectly contoured cheeks. She also opted to draw attention to her eyes with a large set of false eyelashes and kept her lips simple in a nude shade. The blonde bombshell styled her hair glamorously with large bouncy curls and a sweeping side fringe. Fresh faced: Paris maintained her high-glamour look in the makeup department with a dewy complexion and perfectly contoured cheeks Poser: She opted to draw attention to her eyes with a large set of false eyelashes and kept her lips simple in a nude shade Over-exposed: The blonde bombshell styled her hair glamorously with large bouncy curls and a sweeping side fringe And despite pouting and putting her hands on her hips in a sultry manner, Paris kept her phone tightly in her grasp. Paris' current trip to London comes after reports that she has parted ways with her millionaire boyfriend Thomas Gross after just one year of dating, according to TMZ. Sources close to the reality star allegedly told the outlet that the duo broke things off over a month go because they could failed to find a balance between running their own empires from one place Thomas is based in Switzerland, while Paris' fashion and DJ work insists the beauty regularly jets between Los Angeles and Ibiza, something she struggled to do from their home in the Swiss Alps. Constantly contactable: Despite pouting and putting her hands on her hips in a sultry manner, Paris kept her phone tightly in her grasp Newly single: Paris' current trip to London comes after reports that she has parted ways with her millionaire boyfriend Thomas Gross after just one year of dating The publication also claimed that Paris found it difficult to be away from her sister and mother, despite her ability to make the 12-hour flight between L.A. and Switzerland on Gross' private jet. It was also suggested that the TV personality missed her dogs, who were forced to remain in LA during her relationship with Thomas. The blonde beauty started dating the Swiss businessman after meeting at the Cannes Film Festival last May, and was rumoured to have relocated to Europe to be close to him. Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik exudes effortless elegance on the cover of Emirates Woman magazine. The 25-year-old Australian model, who travelled to Dubai to shoot for the publication, stuns in an off-white frilly dress while flaunting a glowing complexion. Sitting down in the shot, the runway sensation of mixed Australian, Lithuanian, Pakistani and Saudi Arabian descent, stares into the camera while revealing a glimpse of her slender arms and toned legs. Scroll down for video Stunning: Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik exudes effortless elegance on the cover of Emirates Woman magazine Not only does her outfit feature frilly straps, but mesh fabric covers her back to add a stylish touch to the look. Her dark tresses are worn back in a sleek bun, while she accessorises with a pair of delicate drop earrings and a complementing necklace. Furthermore, Shanina's stunning facial features are brought to the reader's attention, thanks to a slick of pink lipstick and lashings of jet black mascara. 'Sizzle and Shaik,' reads the caption on the cover of the magazine, and Shanina happily speaks with magazine about her career and cultural upbringing. Model life: Shanina has become one of the world's most in-demand models because of her striking features and perfectly toned body Runway sensation: Shanina displayed her figure at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York last year 'I was born and raised Muslim and I lived a very normal lifestyle,' the beauty, whose father is of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian descent, says. 'My father is very open to my job and understanding and he is very grateful for the woman I have become. 'Im a very sophisticated and respectful woman. I had a great upbringing and a great lifestyle with my sibling.' Family love: Shanina pictured with her mother Kim who is of Lithuanian and Australian heritage Younger years: The Victoria's Secret model and her younger brother Shah were raised by mother Kim in suburban Melbourne The Victoria's Secret model and her younger brother Shah were raised by mother Kim in suburban Melbourne. She has previously spoken out about being bullied during her teenage years due to her mixed ethnicity. The brunette beauty shot to fame after finishing as runner-up in 2008 on Australian reality television show Make Me A Supermodel. She subsequently scored a breakthrough when she walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2011, and has been strutting the runway for the luxurious lingerie line ever since. Strutting it: Shanina pictured at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in London in 2014 Nowadays it is something of an achievement for a celebrity marriage that starts in Vegas to last two days, never mind two decades. So no wonder Kelly Ripa decided to celebrate her 20th marriage anniversary with Mark Consuelos by posting a joyful image of them together on Instagram on Sunday. In the picture the Live With Kelly And Michael favourite is cuddling up to the Latino beefcake as they enjoy a glittering evening on the red carpet together. The Roaring 20: Kelly Ripa marked her 20th wedding anniversary to Mark Consuelos with a touching Instagram post on Sunday The 45-year-old blonde beauty captioned the snap: ''The Roaring 20! I love you @instasuelos #cheerstotwentyyears.' Touching stuff indeed, and a reflection of the devotion the couple have shared for each other since they got hitched after shockingly eloping to Las Vegas together in 1996. Since then, they have had three children together, 18-year-old Michael, Lola, 14, and 13-year-old Joaquin. Now: Kelly and Mark attending the star-studded Vanity Fair Oscar Party earlier this year Then: The busty beauty and her husband were a slightly bigger draw at the 1997 Soap Opera Digest Awards The dynamic duo first met on the set of All My Children, where Kelly played Hayley Vaughan and he played her on-screen love interest Mateo Santos. Sadly for Kelly, her anniversary celebrations have been over-shadowed by the dramas surrounding her co-host Michael Strahan's shock departure from their show as a new host on Good Morning America. But she made sure to draw attention to her milestone on the show when she shared an image of her wearing her wedding dress from their big day 20 years ago when she returned to the show on Tuesday. Still fits! Kelly shared a picture from her short anniversary celebration vacation in Turks and Caicos wearing her original wedding dress Eloped: She shared a snap in the dress from their Vegas wedding in 1996 If anything, she appears to be slimmer than she was two decades ago when she walked up the aisle in the floor-length embroidered spaghetti-strap simple gown. The pint-sized starlet looked to be make-up free and tanned as she showed off her toned physique, cuddled up to her handsome partner as they enjoyed a break in in Turks and Caicos. 'Thats my wedding dress. And guess what? It still fits!' she told viewers. Life imitating, erm, art: Kelly and Mark starred together as on-screen lovers on All My Children, here in 1996 Actress Claire Foy - who plays Her Majesty in TV drama The Crown - had to fit her filming commitments around her own baby's feeding routine Tracing the life of the Queen from her wedding in 1947 to the present day was always going to be a daunting challenge for the makers of TV drama The Crown, but its leading lady had another complication. Claire Foy - who plays Her Majesty - had to fit her filming commitments around her own baby's feeding schedule. 'Claire was breastfeeding, her chaperones were constantly rushing off to bring bottles to supplement her, and the whole schedule was shot around her timing for the breast feeding,' says animal trainer Luke Cornell, who worked on scenes in South Africa. 'It was crazy.' In the drama, which begins on Netflix this autumn, South Africa doubles as Kenya, where the young Princess Elizabeth was staying with Prince Philip when she learnt that her father had died. Cornell adds: 'I used two of my cheetahs with Claire, about 25 metres from her, and she was really terrified, but I constantly assured her it's not dangerous.' Revolting students snub Wills Poor Prince William. Accused of being 'work-shy', he's told to go away by his ungrateful future subjects when he does venture out of his Norfolk idyll. Wills is due to cut the ribbon on the 10.5 million library at Magdalen College, Oxford, next week and some students are revolting. 'Prince William has made it to his current position simply by being born to a certain father,' complains Magdalen undergraduate Ted Mair. 'This appears to me as exactly the kind of cultural elitism that Magdalen, as part of the University of Oxford, should be discouraging. As an institution trying to open its gates to students from as many walks of life as possible, this choice of guest seems like a step backwards.' William's great, great uncle, Edward VIII, was at Magdalen, but perhaps it's best not to bring that up: he left after eight terms with no qualifications. Now Lipman's show is halted by 999 drama Does any West End show reach its finale these days? A day after Funny Girl was called off for 'technical reasons' as leading lady Sheridan Smith was slurring her words, a different production was cancelled at the interval. My Mother Said I Never Should, starring Maureen Lipman, failed to go on after the interval at the St James Theatre because a middle-aged member of the audience fell down its steep stairs. 'The lady was in some distress and had to be laid out over three chairs,' says my man in the stalls. 'An ambulance had to be called.' Lipman went on stage to apologise and offered free tickets for a later date. Cold comfort for her friend Sharon Gless, the Cagney & Lacey star, who was in the audience for Funny Girl the previous night. Body beautiful Aidan Turner, who set pulses racing as Ross Poldark, also sent his own bank balance into a spin. The actor racked up earnings of almost 300,000 in the year to last February. Figures for his company, Achroi which means heart in his native Irish reveal assets of 287,000. After creditors are satisfied, it was left with healthy reserves of 200,000. His electrician father Pearse and mother Eileen are directors of the company, but he owns all 100 shares. Truly, madly, eventually! Juliet weds, 23 years on It'll never last. Truly, Madly, Deeply star Juliet Stevenson is poised to marry her 'partner' of 23 years but don't let her hear you saying that. The 59-year-old actress, who has two children with her long-term companion, anthropologist Hugh Brody, 72, says: 'After all this time, we are thinking of getting married. 'We have been together for 23 years and I call him my husband because I hate the word 'partner'. Truly, Madly, Deeply star Juliet Stevenson is poised to marry her 'partner' of 23 years, Hugh Brody (pictured) 'It doesn't feel right to use the same word for someone you are in business with and someone you are in bed with.' She adds: 'I feel this is my person, I love him and vice versa, so if we got married then it would be to celebrate that. It would be to celebrate love.' Juliet lost her good friend and Truly co-star Alan Rickman, who died in January aged 69. She turned heads in a custom-made Prada frock at last year's Met Gala. And Margot Robbie will no doubt dazzle in another dramatic ensemble as she is expected to attend the star-studded event again on Monday night. The 25-year-old was spotted leaving a hotel in New York City with a bodyguard on Sunday night ahead of the upcoming red gala. Scroll down for video Margot in Manhattan: The Australian actress was spotted leaving a New York City hotel on Sunday night She wore a navy silk shirt dress and kept her slender legs warm in black opaque tights and a pair of blue suede ankle boots to match her trendy attire. The former Neighbours star wore her glossy blonde locks in a low ponytail with a middle part, while clutching her black leather handbag as she exited the building. Silky smooth: Margot kept her figure hidden in a navy silk shirt dress as she left the building on Sunday night Fashionable: The former Neighbours actress kept her shiny blonde tresses pulled back in a low ponytail and her makeup simple for the fitting Margot smiled and chatted to her bodyguard, who was keeping the Australian stunner undercover with an umbrella, as they walked out onto the street. The Wolf of Wall Street actress is expected to attend this year's Met Gala on Monday night, where fashion and movie stars collide at the biggest style event of the year. But there's been no reports on what the stunner will wear, given the theme of this year is Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. Bronzed babe: The Gold Coast-born beauty flaunted her glowy complexion as she headed out, accompanied by her bodyguard The actress has recently been promoting her upcoming flick Suicide Squad, in which she plays fictional supervillain Harley Quinn. Suicide Squad follows a group of supervillains imprisoned in an asylum who are offered clemency by a secret government agency in return for carrying out covert black ops. Also starring in the movie are the likes of Will Smith, Care Delevingne and Jared Leto. Margot is also set to appear in film Legend Of Tarzan alongside Alexander Skarsgard. Former Victoria's Secret beauty Erin Heatherton showed off her stunning 6ft frame during a trip to Mexico this week. The 27-year-old sported a mismatched bikini on a beach in Tulum as she enjoyed a day of leisure with girlfriends. Erin displayed her slender physique in striped briefs and a red patterned bikini top as she sipped a drink while chatting with pals. Bikini beauty: Erin Heatherton was spotted having fun with pals on a beach in Mexico on Saturday Soaking up the sun: The 27-year-old former Victoria's Secret model sported a mismatched bikini which showed off her slender physique The blonde beauty wore her curly locks up in a messy bun and donned tortoiseshell sunglasses, After soaking up some sun the Illinois born beauty larked about with a pair of white Capri pants, pulling them on her head and dancing around. The leggy star - who dated Leonardo DiCaprio in 2011 for about a year - also accessorized with a pair of headphones around her neck and a red tote bag as she wandered away from the beach with a girlfriend. Giggles: Erin was in high spirits as she larked about with a white pair of Capri pants That's a novel way to wear them! The star appeared to be putting the pants on her head Erin parted ways with Victoria's Secret in 2013 and recently revealed she went through a lot of 'self-questioning' afterwards. 'My last two Victorias Secret shows, I was told I had to lose weight,' Erin told Time magazine. 'I look back like, "Really?"' She said she succeeded in hitting her target weight in 2012 but the following year it just wouldn't happen. Larking about: The model was certainly making herself laugh as she fooled around Letting her hair down: The blonde beauty pranced around with the trousers on her head After eating healthy and exercising twice a day, Erin said her body 'just wouldn't do it.' 'I was really depressed because I was working so hard and I felt like my body was resisting me,' she said. 'And I got to a point where one night I got home from a workout, and I remember staring at my food and thinking, "Maybe I should just not eat."' 'I realized I couldn't go out into the world - parading my body and myself in front of all these women who look up to me - and tell them that this is easy and simple and everyone can do this, 'I'm willing to sacrifice my pride, in a sense, and my privacy because I know that if I don't speak about it, I could be withholding information that would really help women. Mismatched chic: Erin teamed striped briefs with a red patterned bikini top Heading for shade: The Illinois born beauty packed up her red tote and headed off with her girlfriend The 6ft stunner had her headphones wrapped around her neck as she wandered off 'It hurts too much to keep it in, and that's why Im not keeping it in now,' she said about why she decided to speak out. Last month she posted an Instagram with an inspiring message for her fans - part of which read: 'The breakdown to breakthrough moment in my life has allowed me to become the truest version of myself. In my moment of failure, I stood in the face of adversity. 'I was struggling with my body image and the pressures to fulfill the demands of perfectionism upon me. I am not perfect. Through this struggle, however, I found the strength to love myself. I stood in my power. ' She's the party girl who recently admitted to joining the dating app Tinder. And it appears Brynne Edelsten is enjoying single life as she is spotted clutching onto a very muscly male companion during a night out in Melbourne on Sunday. The 33-year-old was pictured smiling seemingly obvlious to the fact her plunging pink top had slipped down to expose her polka-dot bra. Scroll down for video Busting out: Brynne Edelsten, 33, popped out of her pink top during a night in Melbourne with a mystery man The blonde appeared a little worse for wear as she steadied herself with the aid of her male friend. Brynne showed off her slim legs in a pair of black leather hot pants and gold strappy heels. She completed the look with some chunky gold arm jewellery. Her mystery male friend meanwhile, accentuated his built torso with a figure-hugging white shirt, which he teamed with terracotta pants and tan boots. Brynne didn't let go of her friend the whole time as they walked through the streets of Melbourne. Who's the hunk? The socialite and her male companion kept close as they enjoyed a night on the town on Sunday At one point, the pair sat down on a bench as the former Dancing with the Stars contestant rested her head on his shoulder. The outing comes after Brynne revealed she was on Tinder, showing off her profile to photographers while partying in the city. A representative for the blonde model confirmed it was indeed her account. Single and ready to mingle: Brynne's representative confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the reality TV star is 'exploring her options' on Tinder 'Yes, that's Brynne's Tinder account,' the representative said, before adding: 'She's a single girl and like lots of single girls she's just exploring her options.' The discovery of her online dating account came days after she opened up about her infamous marriage to medical entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten, telling Channel Seven's The Morning Show: 'I don't regret marrying him.' The reality TV star added that she could understand why the public had branded her as a 'gold digger' at the time. 'I don't regret marrying him:' Last month, the model admitted she doesn't regret her marriage to Geoffrey Edelsten 'Obviously when you see someone - I was 25 and Geoff was 65 at the time - obviously you're gonna think 'gold digger' - who's not gonna think that?' She continued: 'I just loved him. But he wasn't the right person for me and it didn't work out, but I don't regret marrying him.' Brynne and Geoffrey tied the knot in 2009, but their marriage fell apart after five years, with the blonde claiming her ex-husband had a fling with other woman. Putting herself out there: The blonde model has recently joined dating app Tinder in a bid to find love following her split from personal trainer Red Ra Months following their very public split she moved on to personal trainer Red Ra. They too called time on their relationship after a short few months. Brynne, who unveiled her new look earlier this year, has been spotted in Melbourne's social circuit more recently of late after having a drug possession charge quashed by police. She had been due to face trial for alleged possession of an ecstasy tablet but had the charge dropped in Western Australia. Fear The Walking Dead is well known for its blood and guts and terrifying action. The latest episode on Sunday titled Blood In The Streets took an unexpected turn and revealed the tender gay love story behind much of the key action. As a team of modern-day pirates took over the ship the Abigail, mysterious Victor Strand was seen trying to escape in a dinghy - only to be shot at, seemingly hit and also lost in the water as his boat deflated from after being shot. In deep water: Victor Strand tried to flee the Abigail after pirates boarded his yacht but was shot at on Sunday's episode of Fear The Walking Dead It sparked a series of flashbacks into how Strand got there - revealing an unexpected gay love story at the heart of his story and why he is so desperate to get to Mexico. They showed him in a relationship with a wealthy businessman Thomas Abigail - clearly the Abigail the boat is named after - after initially trying to rip him off in his hometown of New Orleans because he was left bankrupt by Hurricane Katrina. They were then shown in a paradise-like villa in Mexico - with Thomas explaining that life there was all they needed no matter what happens in the rest of the world. Tender moment: Thomas Abigail and Victor gave each other a kiss goodbye In the beginning: Victor was shown with Thomas as Hurricane Katrina left him bankrupt Credit cards: Thomas was wasted as Victor took a bunch of his credit cards Well never want for anything, Thomas told him, holding his hand as the lay together in the sun overlooking a stunning view. This place makes me feel as if the rest of the world has fallen away and we dont need it, he added, unknowingly predicting the future. The flashbacks ended with Thomas begging Strand not to go to Los Angeles for a business meeting for the pairs work buying land, telling him there was rioting all over the country. New obligation: Thomas and his muscle Luis paid Victor a a visit after he stole the credit cards Ill close quick and come right back. Ill be fine, Victor said, not knowing the nightmare that awaited. The pair were then seen sharing an affectionate kiss, with Victor promising: Two days. Ill be back in two days. The episode had started with young Nick swimming ashore secretly at night - naked and carrying his clothes in a plastic bag - and then killing a zombie he lured to an abandoned survivors camp full of tents. Mexican villa: Victor and Thomas soon made up and were enjoying themselves at his Mexican villa He was shown gagging as he tore open its belly to cover himself in its blood and guts - with the next zombie he saw walking straight pass him, not realizing he was one of the living. Nick was seen holding a piece of paper with an address and finding himself in a gated, well-to-do street - finally meeting up with Luis Flores, a man seen in the flashbacks as working with Victors lover Thomas as his muscle and right-hand man. It soon became clear that Strand had sent Nick to get Luis who was a key part of the plan to get to Mexico, but that the plan did not include the others. On a mission: Nick was sent on a mission by Victor to retrieve Luis I secured transit for two, Luis told Nick. I secured money for two. Adding seven more - its a problem. OK, well Strand must have planned for us, Nick said optimistically. As they made their way to the Abigail, Nick realized that there were armed strangers onboard - with Luis using a high-powered rifle to shoot dead two of them, with the others onboard quickly capturing the others. Armed strangers: Luis and Nick used binoculars and spotted armed people on the Abigail In the crosshairs: A high-powered rifle was used by Luis to take out two of the pirates Strand sent me to get Luis, OK - hes going to help us get to Mexico, Nick told the others when they finally got onboard, understandably wary of the armed stranger he had brought with him. I was getting Strand into Mexico, Luis corrected him, quickly warning the others when they said Strand was shot and missing in the water: We will not cross the border without him. Without Strand, we dont get into Mexico. The episode ended with Strand being found in the water, getting lifted out injured but still alive by Madison. Helping hand: Victor was rescued after fleeing the yacht To the rescue: Madison helped pull Victor out of the water As well as key insight into his motivation to get to Mexico, the flashbacks also gave major background into who Strand is as a person, telling Thomas when he first met him he was the son of a street mall preacher father and a mom who Im sure she lived a fruitful and fulfilling life. far from us. He also told him how his real estate investments were all destroyed in Katrina, telling him: Everything I own is submerged and beyond salvage. Im bankrupt. The ended their night of drinking with Strand taking Thomas to his hotel room - then stealing all his credit cards. Flashback scenes: Thomas and Victor were shown getting to know each other Thomas soon tracked him down - with Luis by his side - and confronted hm about taking out $36,000 in cash advances. If youre not going to call the police in, I thank you. If you want a return on your investment, Ill oblige, Strand said, insisting when he was told he would have to pay it back: I intended to. With interest. Before leaving, Thomas had warned him: I dont pardon you. I obligated you. Candid conversation: Victor said he intended to pay Thomas back but he wasn't pardoned The pirates who forced their way on to the Abigail had tricked their way onboard by pretending a heavily pregnant woman in their group was having complications and bleeding heavily. Once there, Alicia soon realized they included Jack, the boy she had been talking to on the radio, giving him too much information about their whereabouts while doing so. But they knew more than she had told them - including the names and faces of everyone onboard - and when their captain, Connor, finally arrived, he made it clear he was only interested in Travis and Alicia, taking them with him before Luis arrived for the shootout. Pregnant lady: Madison helped an injured pregnant woman who turned out to be a pirate Ruthless pirate: One of the pirates was quick to threaten people Tough spot: Travis volunteered to start the yacht's engines without the keys Knocked out: Madison was knocked out by the pregnant woman she was trying to help Before leaving, Alicia had told Jack that she would happily go with him but only with my family. I cant abandon them. Back at your base Ill contribute - Ill help. I can be with you if I know theyre safe. You have to protect my family, she said, hugging him when he finally untied her. Fear The Walking Dead continues next week on AMC. They'll no doubt have their outfits meticulously planned out for Monday night's Met Gala. So Kylie Jenner - who is rumoured to be making her first appearance at the event this year - and sister Kendall kept it low-key on Sunday as they headed to Nobu restaurant in New York. The reality star chose a layered look with a baggy beige coat over the top of casual black trousers and trainers. Scroll down for video Family meet-up: Kylie and Kendall Jenner headed to Nobu in New York on Sunday to meet with mom Kris and her boyfriend Corey Gamble The 18-year-old sported her raven locks in loose curls and sported a full face of makeup. Curiously the teen also carried a vintage style camera for the outing. Kendall, 20, flashed her toned tummy in a white crop top and high waist jeans with black ankle boots. She layered on a chic striped coat and donned some silver chokers to complete the look. See Kylie Jenner updates as she and Kendall go to dinner in New York and meet with Kris Dressed down: Kylie, 18, opted for a layered look with baggy camel hued coat, casual trousers and black trainers Her brunette locks were swept up in a no-nonsense ponytail for the outing. The siblings also met with mum Kris, 60 and her boyfriend Corey Gamble, 35. The couple coordinated in all-black with the momager accentuating her legs in leggings and strappy heels with a chic coat. Intriguing outfit: The teen wore a full face of makeup with her casual ensemble and also carried a vintage style camera From day to night: Kendall wore the same outfit she wore during the day but switched her sneakers for black ankle boots Kendall and Kris, along with Kim, 35, went to the Met Gala last year and this year it is thought that Kylie will be joining the trio. No doubt the clan will have fun with this year's theme 'Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology' Meanwhile Kendall was quite starstruck when she met President Obama at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night and shared a starry eyed Snapchat during the evening. Going strong: Kris, 60 and her boyfriend Corey Gamble left the restaurant ahead of her two daughters Coordinated couple: Kris and her 35-year-old beau opted for all-black ensembles Back to reality: Kendall stepped out in a dreary looking New York earlier in the day after meeting with President Obama the night before at the White House Correspondents Dinner 'He was like, 'Say hi to Kim and Kanye,'' she told People afterwards. I was like, 'Okay.'' Obama even mentioned the reality star in his speech during the dinner. 'Kendall Jenner is also here. We had a chance to meet her backstage and she seems like a very nice young woman,' he said. Casually clad: The 20-year-old model flashed her toned tummy in a white crop top and high-waist jeans Low-key outing: The model covered up in a long striped coat and shaded her eyes with circular sunglasses Watch out! Kendall accessorised with silver necklaces and kept her head down as she checked her messages 'Im not exactly sure what she does but I am told that my Twitter mentions are about to go through the roof.' he joked. Kendall looked stunning on the night, wearing a black strapless dress and diamond choker. Her beautiful Vivienne Westwood designer gown had a sweetheart neckline and a slit at the bottom. Meanwhile season 12 of Keeping Up With The Kardashians premieres Sunday night. Kendall seemed quite starstruck when she met the POTUS on Saturday night and shared a starry eyed Snapchat during the evening Many of the issues here involve some continuity with problems that occurred during the violent conflict, 1988 to 1997. But there are also significant new developments. Its hardly surprising that, in the aftermath of such a violent, bitter and divisive conflict, that many opposing factions and divisions exist in Bougainville, and that consequentially, there is still much mistrust. In a real sense it is a post-conflict situation in that Bougainvilles violent, destructive, and deeply divisive nine year civil war ended almost 19 years ago, in mid-1997. MANY of the Autonomous Bougainville Governments (ABG) leadership challenges are inherent in the general situation of Bougainville in 2016. While the mainstream former Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and Bougainville Resistance Force (BRF) elements that supported the peace process now largely work well together, at the local level there remain many unresolved divisions where reconciliation is still required. While the BRA and the BRF no longer exist as armed militias, since about 2010 former combatant organisations have emerged as significant political voices in Bougainville. To some extent this development reflects uncertainty for some former senior leaders about whether President Momis, elected in mid-2010, was too much a Papua New Guinean nationalist, and not sufficiently committed to the holding a referendum on independence for Bougainville. While that concern has now reduced significantly, I think it contributed to a number of pressures that saw the former combatants become more politically active. A complicating factor here is the various business and other economic interests of several key former combatant leaders. Some of them use their ex-combatant networks to advance such interests. Of course, there are other sources of significant division and tension. They include several different Meekamui factions, none of which participated in the weapons disposal process under the Bougainville Peace Agreement and so remain in possession of numerous firearms. Another source of tensions is a group led by former BRA leader, Sam Kauona, who has long had interest in establishing mining operations in association with dual Australian/Canadian citizen Lindsay Semple and who - whenever they fear their mining interests are not sufficiently guaranteed attacks the ABG as being under the control of Bougainville Copper Ltd and its 53% majority shareholder, Rio Tinto. In general the ABG faces grave difficulties because of the weakness in administration and policy capacity in both Bougainvilles Public Service and Police Service. It was one of the great tragedies of the Bougainville conflict that the remarkable capacity of the North Solomons Provincial Government administration, built up over the 15 years from 1974, was almost entirely destroyed. It could not simply be re-established after the conflict. The very much weakened administration of the Bougainville Interim Provincial Government was taken over by the ABG in mid-2005. But during the conflict, management, planning and accountability mechanisms had been severely weakened. While the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the Bougainville constitutional laws make a remarkably extensive range of functions and powers available to the ABG, there is a transfer process involved. It involves the ABG initiating the transfer process by request to the PNG national government. Negotiation is then required to develop necessary transfer plans within a year. The plans are required to take account of the need to build the necessary ABG capacity and provide it with the necessary financial resources to take over the functions and powers in question. The transfer process for many functions and powers has become bogged down in problems, misunderstandings and inertia. In general theres been a failure to address ABG capacity and resources needs. The much slower than anticipated progress in transfer of powers has resulted in frustration, and contributed to widespread criticism of the ABG for lack of performance, and failure to meet expectations. If the ABG is to achieve real autonomy, or to have independence available as a real option in the future, achieving fiscal self-reliance is essential. But the challenges of achieving that goal - so strongly emphasised by the Bougainville Constitution - are immense. It is the need to explore realistic means of achieving that goal that has been a major factor leading the ABG to consider the possibility of permitting strictly limited large-scale mining. However, any such mining must be on a dramatically different basis from the grossly unfair conditions under which BCL operated the Panguna mine. There are critics of ABG mining policy. The main ones are a few noisy outsiders. They include the NGO Jubilee Australia and close associates of Jubilee that post endless anonymous postings on the PNG Mine Watch and PNG Exposed blogs. They refuse to in any way recognise the grave dilemmas facing the ABG. They have no understanding of the realities of Bougainville and the complex leadership challenges facing us. Little more needs to be said here about the referendum, other than to emphasise that the ABG has heavy constitutional and political responsibilities in relation to referendum preparations. It is now increasingly likely to be held in 2019. Following the conduct of the referendum, the ABG will need to shoulder even more significant responsibilities, in terms of negotiating with PNG on implementation of the outcome and managing the ensuing situation. An unexpected challenge for the ABG has been the sometimes amazing extent of deeply misleading public commentary on Bougainville, the ABG, its mining policy, and related matters. This commentary began mainly in 2012 as the ABG moved to develop its own mining laws. The main attacks have come from two sources. One involves small groups in Bougainville. The other is a closely linked external network. Their main message is that - in some way never explained and with no credible evidence ever provided - the ABG is under the control of, or part of a conspiracy with, Rio Tinto, BCL, Australia and PNG. This conspiracy (or so they say) is intended to force the re-opening of the Panguna mine against the united opposition of the people of Bougainville. The small group inside Bougainville involves a few foreign adventurers seeking control of mining resources. They do so by fostering links with Bougainville factions. The adventurers and their local supporters fear that ABG mining policy and legislation will limit their opportunities. The external network centres on UK-based Australian academic activist, Kristian Lasslett. His network comprises his close associates, including: the NGO, Jubilee Australia; the two blogs run by the PNG-based Bismarck Ramu Group PNG Mine Watch and PNG Exposed; the Bougainville Freedom Movement; a group of criminologists supposedly studying state crime, calling itself the State Crime Initiative; and an Australian activist journalist, Anthony Loewenstein. All network elements have their own ideological positions that they project onto Bougainville. They do so with virtually no understanding of, or interest in, what is really happening in Bougainville. They do not need much in the way of evidence, mainly because they have no interest in understanding our complex reality. Rather, they pick and choose a bit of information here, an opinion expressed there, and twist what little they have to fit their own pre-conceived theoretical or ideological position. The misinformation that they put out has very little impact in Bougainville. But the internal and external contributors are mutually reinforcing. The external network undoubtedly provides encouragement to the foreign adventurers and their associates in Bougainville. The misleading commentary does also perhaps influence perceptions of Bougainville by uninformed observers outside Bougainville. So while not a major leadership challenge, it is certainly one that we would prefer to do without. While undoubtedly the ABG faces many complex and difficult leadership challenges, we are facing them honestly. We constantly explore our best options for dealing with them. Although our resources are extremely limited, we work hard to change that situation, and to face our challenges head on. I can say little more than that. Full version of Mr Nisiras speech - Download 'Challenges facing the Bougainville Government' by Patrick Nisira Patrick Nisira is vice-president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. This article is extracted from a speech given late last week at the Australian National University in Canberra With their blog titled A Bikini A Day, fans would expect nothing less than daily swimwear updates from Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman. And on Sunday the two stunners certainly didn't disappoint, as they posed in matching sleek black bikinis at South Beach in Miami. 'Matching hair clips. Matching bikinis. @mondayswimwear #tashanddev,' read the caption next to a photo of the pair shared on 25-year-old Natasha's Instagram account. Scroll down for video Matching: On Sunday Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman stunned in sleek black bikinis on Instagram In the image the busty beauties were seen resting on some beachside chairs, with their ample cleavage and toned stomachs on display for all to see. Natasha's golden tresses were pulled back on this occasion, while Devin's caramel locks were worn half-up and half-down. Another solo image of Natasha was uploaded to their swimwear line Monday Swimwear's Instagram page. Reclining on a beach chair, the blonde beauty let her stunning figure do the talking. Flaunting it: A Bikini A Day co-founder Natasha showed off her bikini body while sunbaking at South Beach in Miami Her bikini top's neckline dipped in across the front, revealing her ample assets and tanlines. Last week the girls were seen relatively more covered up, ditching the sunbaking for another task they had at hand. The stunners decided to hit the road with UberEats, to distribute healthy lunch options to those who'd ordered from the SELF magazine editors' menu. Sharing the good news to Instagram, Natasha and Devin uploaded photos of themselves standing next to a black four-wheel-drive with huge grins. Covered up: Last week the girls were seen relatively more covered up, when distributing healthy lunch options Doing what they do best! Natasha and Devin are the co-founders of the highly lucrative A Bikini A Day The blonde beauty Natasha donned a pair of mid-rise blue jeans and a black cropped top which showed just a flash of her toned midriff. She casually draped a burgundy leather jacket over her shoulders and pumped up her height with a pair of tan leather mules. Her best friend and business partner Devin meanwhile opted for a pair of distressed boyfriend jeans with slashes across the thighs. She put her assets on display in a plunging white shirt, which she'd tied up the front in a knot to crop it as well as rolling up the sleeves. In the caption, Sydney-born Natasha wrote: 'Devin and I are going to be personally delivering food to anyone who orders healthy options from the Self Editors Ubereats menu!' They're gearing up to attend the all important Met Gala on Monday night. But Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her fiance Jason Statham were enjoying a low-key date night ahead of the glamorous event, looking more loved-up than ever as they rocked matching tuxedo jackets. The 29-year-old model went hand-in-hand with the Hollywood hardman as they stepped out in New York City on Sunday. Scroll down for video Style savvy: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her fiance Jason Statham were rocking matching looks as they stepped out in New York City on Sunday Rosie opted for her fail safe fashion look, slipping into a low-cut, lace-trimmed camisole and a pair of skinny leather trousers. The British bombshell covered up in a cool jacket with a silk embellished lapels, adding a touch of glamour thanks to a satin clutch bag. The M&S beauty completed her look with a pair of silver earrings and styled her blonde locks in loose waves. Elegant as ever: Rosie opted for her fail safe fashion look, slipping into a low-cut, lace-trimmed camisole and a pair of skinny leather trousers Jason, 48, was leading the way out of the pair's hotel, sporting a similar smart jacket and a crisp white shirt. The Expendables star popped the question to his partner of five years in January with a $350,000 diamond ring. The blonde stunner debuted her engagement ring on the red carpet at the 73rd annual Golden Globes earlier this year. Glamorous: The British bombshell covered up in a cool jacket with a silk embellished lapels, adding a touch of glamour thanks to a satin clutch bag Rosie's effortlessly chic ensemble gave a promising nod to Monday night's Met Gala, which will bring together the biggest names in fashion and the world's most stylish celebrities to help benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute. With this years theme announced as Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, Rosie spoke to Violet Grey about her intense preparations. Explaining that her custom made dress 'has been hand transported back and forth from LA for fittings multiple times', she gushed: 'I cant wait to see it completely finished!' She's worked hard on her figure after shedding more than three stone to drop down to a size 8. And Vicky Pattison showcased the fruits of her labour as she shared behind-the-scenes snaps from a fitness shoot in Tenerife over the weekend. Putting her cleavage on display in a lime green bikini, the former Geordie Shore star, 28, delighted her Instagram followers with the very sexy selfie. Scroll down for video A happy Bank Holiday indeed! Vicky Pattison put on a busty display as she treated her Instagram followers to a behind-the-scenes shot from her fitness shoot in Tenerife over the weekend Modelling a bikini from her Ann Summers collection, Vicky captioned the shot simply '#SwimsuitSunday'. The Ex On The Beach personality previously shared another snap as she frolicked in front of the camera on her work trip. Vicky looked sensational as she topped up her tan in her skimpy neon green bikini, straddling a fun flamingo float. The brunette teased a top-secret fitness campaign with a series of Instagram pictures capturing the sun-soaked pool day. Hard day's work! The former Geordie Shore star, 28, previously shared a snap of her frolicking in a picturesque pool on an inflatable lilo The picture, which was shared as a throwback snap, was captioned: '#SwimsuitSaturday... Already' missing tennaz with the squad.. But this picture makes me smile! In another image from the same pool day, the fiery brunette sat with her back to the camera in a sexy, backless one-piece. With a plate of fruit next to her, Vicky cut a lonely figure as she looked out at her stunning view. Scenic views: In another image which seemed to be from a different swim session, the fiery brunette sat with her back to the camera in a sexy red one-piece, which showed off her toned back Paying those bills: Vicky was in Spain to shoot a fitness campaign The pool seemed to be on a balcony, overlooking the Spanish town where Vicky engaged in her photo-shoot. Balancing out the jealousy-inducing snaps of her lounging poolside, the reality star shared a behind the scenes image of her on a shoot, being shaded by a palm tree. Wearing a red sleeveless crop and a floral figure-hugging skirt, she looked the epitome of health as she posed up a storm. The I'm A Celeb winner also honed her modelling skills earlier this week as her flaunted her fabulous figure for her latest fashion collection for online retailers, Honeyz. THAT'S A WRAP!!!!: Vicky credited her glam squad for a fun few days in Tenerife, where she shot the campaign She looked summer-ready in the outfits which ranged from tiny crop tops to glamorous maxi dresses. Speaking about her collection, the TV personality said: 'Having my own fashion collection is just a dream come true. 'Everyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with fashion, whats hot, whats not, so to be involved from day one was incredible. Summer chic: The former Geordie Shore star looked ready for summer for her latest fashion collection for online retailers, Honeyz Style queen: Vicky Pattison proved she had earned her style crown as she showcased her designing prowess She has also been putting on quite the sexy display whilst promoting the Ann Summers line. The star, who strips down to seriously racy swimwear for the brand's latest campaign, has revealed that the sexy shots are the perfect f*** you to all the trolls who mocked her during her time on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Speaking exclusively to MailOnline about the campaign, Vicky admitted: This was my f*** you to everyone who said anything negative about me. Vicky, however managed to make it back in time from her Spanish trip to attend Ferne McCann's penultimate Gatsby performance at London's Union Theatre. The Great Gang: Ferne McCann had the support of her reality star friends (L-R) Vicky Pattison, Danielle Armstrong, Ferne, Jess Wright) who attended the penultimate show of her musical Gatsby It's the long-awaited tenth season of Australia's Next Top Model. And as filming kicked off in Sydney on Saturday, Daily Mail Australia can now exclusively reveal some of the faces that will by vying for the title. There seemed to be a strong trend of long locks among the contestants, with a Kendall Jenner lookalike and a statuesque brunette in fern-printed pants leading the pack. Scroll down for video First look! Daily Mail Australia can now exclusively reveal some of the faces that will by vying for the title There was plenty of fierce attitude among the group, and despite being competitors they seemed to enjoy each other's company. Showing her fashion flare, the model with the leaf-printed pants was particularly eye-catching, and as she strutted down the wharf she appeared to have already nailed the 'smize' - a term coined by the show's creator Tyra Banks which means smiling with your eyes. She wore a simple black, long-sleeve top so as not to distract from her bold trousers, and she pumped up her height with a pair of platform heels. It's a trend! Many of the girls displayed long luscious locks, though this could change come makeover week Strutting their stuff: Filming for the show commenced on Saturday at The Rocks in Sydney Taking direction: The contestants appeared relaxed and focussed as they listened to a member of the crew There was also the striking Kendall Jenner lookalike, who donned a stylish, pinstripe dress by Australian label Shona Joy. She too had long, raven locks, which she styled straight and donned a black fedora as a chic accessory. Another contestant with a celebrity doppelganger was the girl in the pink, python printed dress, who bore a striking resemblance to Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Georgina in Gossip Girl. Fresh faced: The girls appeared to be wearing very little makeup Walking the walk: The winner of the series will be launched into the spotlight like so many of her predecessors Another doppelganger: The contestant in the python skirt bore a striking resemblance to Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Georgina in Gossip Girl Following in their footsteps: The girls will be launched into the spotlight like their predecessors, such as cycle three winner Alice Burdeau (L) and Montana Cox, who won cycle seven (R) The winner of the series will be launched into the spotlight like so many of her predecessors including David Jones ambassador Montana Cox, who won cycle seven in 2011. Montana has well and truly been the show's most successful winners, having walked for some of the world's most coveted fashion houses in fashion weeks around the world. Alice Burdeu, who won the series' third cycle, has gone on to forge a hugely successful career internationally, having walked for Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton and Alexander McQueen. Supermodel Megan Gale joins the cast as a permanent judge, joining host Jennifer Hawkins, Alex Perry, Cheyenne Tozzi and mentors Zac and Jordan Stenmark. Together Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc played the most endearing best pals in TV history. And the Friend stars were back together again on Saturday night in London as Matt went along to support his long-time friend and former co-star Matthew at his play The End Of Longing, at The Playhouse Theatre. The actors looked incredibly dapper as they caught up at the weekend, while happily posing for pictures and no doubt invoking excitement in the millions of fans across the world who grew up loving them as Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani. Scroll down for video The bromance continues! Matt LeBlanc (left) visited Matthew Perry at his London-based play The End Of Longing at The Playhouse Theatre on Saturday night However, it's fair to say the two comedy sitcom stalwarts now look a world away from their younger selves, the playful roommates whose bromance lives on today in TV repeats and box sets across the globe. Star of the show Matthew, 46, kept it simple after his performance in a white shirt and black blazer, teamed with simple trousers and trainers. The actor - who also wrote the play, his playwriting debut - sported a heavy mass of salt and pepper stubble and his hair was grown out, falling loosely over his forehead. Could there BE a better TV duo? Matt played Joey Tribbiani while Matthew brought the jovial Chandler Bing to life on the hit US TV series, from 1994 to 2004 My, how they've changed: Matt and Matthew may have aged, but they still looked handsome as they posed backstage together after the show And Matt, 48, cut a handsome figure in a blue and green tartan jacket with jeans and a crisp white shirt. He went for a more clean-cut look, no doubt keeping himself neat and tidy as he continues work on his forthcoming stint as a presenter Top Gear, of which he is the new host along with Chris Evans. After the performance, Matt happily shared his brief review of the theatrical performance, writing on Twitter: 'Went to support my pal last night @MatthewPerry in The End of Longing. Great performances by the whole cast.' Matthew and Matt kicked off their Friends careers in 1994 as Chandler and Joey respectively, the best buddies who shared a special bond through thick and thin for a decade, until the hit sitcom ended in 2004. Had a great time: New Top Gear host Matt, 48, tweeted his enjoyment of The End Of Longing for his fans They endured silly spats, the adopting of a chick and a duck, moving across the hall to the girls' apartment after winning a game, Joey moving out briefly when his soap opera career kicked off and finally living apart as Chandler's romance with Monica grew. And, while they have stayed in touch over the years since the show ended - as all of the Friends stars have (Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer) - Matthew recently admitted that he hadn't yet spoken to Matt about his new job on the BBC motoring programme. During an appearance on Alan Carr's Chatty Man, Matthew said: 'It's a very exciting job for him because he loves cars. He must be thrilled. 'I haven't spoken to him since he booked the gig but he is going to be great.' Wardrobe goals: Matthew (left) won the hearts of millions of fans across the globe as quick-witted, self-deprecating Chandler, while Matt (right) portrayed hungry ladies' man Joey flawlessly But it seems the delightful UK-based duo have finally had that catch up, as Matt went down to the theatre to watch the show, which ends on May 14 after a two and a half month run. The play has thus far had mixed reviews, with it coming under fire for a lack of character depth and a predictable storyline. The End Of Longing's website says: 'Meet Jack, Stephanie, Joseph and Stevie: four lost souls, entering their forties and searching for meaning. 'After sharing one raucous night together in a downtown Los Angeles bar, their lives become irreversibly entwined in a rollercoaster journey that forces them to confront the darker sides of their relationships. 'A fast paced and bittersweet comic play, The End of Longing, will make you realise that broken people don't need to stay broken.' London, baby! The Matts' reunion at the weekend no doubt harked back to this Series 4 episode, where the Friends travelled to London for Ross Geller and Emily's wedding It's one of the most star-studded nights of the fashion calendar, with the great and good of the sartorial elite vying for the most dramatic outfit. And James Corden was worlds away from his comic roots as he and wife Julia Carey attended Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala dinner in New York City on Sunday evening. Enjoying a celebratory night out prior to the main event, the couple demonstrated their style savvy as they mingled with a rather chic crowd. Scroll down for video Stylish night out: James Corden was worlds away from his comic roots as he and wife Julia Carey attended Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala dinner in New York City on Sunday evening Julia certainly dressed to impress for the occasion, looking the epitome of ladylike elegance in a sophisticated checked wool pencil dress in grey and baby pink. The mother-of-two - who raises son Max, five, and daughter Carey, 19 months, with James - elongated her toned and tanned pins with a pair of towering nude patent stilettos and toted her belongings in a small black clutch bag. The Late Late Show host James, 37, didn't let the side down sartorially and was suited and booted to perfection in a dapper navy two-piece. Checking things out: Enjoying a celebratory night out prior to the main event, the couple demonstrated their style savvy as they mingled with a rather chic crowd Teaming his midnight blue tailoring with a crisp white shirt and a slim raspberry-coloured tie, the television funnyman completed his dinner date look with a pair of chocolate brown leather boots. The pair - who married in 2012 made the successful transatlantic shift in 2014 where James has rapidly expanded his circle of celebrity friends. James and Julia were certainly in good company at the event, with pop princess Taylor Swift also pictured leaving Wintour's Manhattan home. Effortless elegance: Julia certainly dressed to impress for the occasion, looking the epitome of ladylike elegance in a sophisticated checked wool pencil dress in grey and baby pink The 2016 Met Gala is set to take place at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night, with a theme in place of Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. As one of the most star-studded nights in the fashion calendar, the annual Met Gala attracts a wealth of big names from both sides of the Atlantic. This year's event will see the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Karlie Kloss, Bella Hadid, Katy Perry and Selena Gomez in attendance, while Kylie Jenner, 18, is set to make her hotly-anticipated Met Gala debut. Mingling with the style elite: The mother-of-two - who raises son Max, five, and daughter Carey, 19 months, with James - elongated her toned and tanned pins with a pair of towering nude patent stilettos She has acted as a body double for both Cameron Diaz and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini. And Chloe Goodman proved she certainly has the credentials for the job as she stripped down to just a bikini during a recent trip to Lanzarote. The 22-year-old slipped into a simple yet effective turquoise bikini which enhanced both her bust and derriere to perfection due to its scanty shape. Scroll down for video Blue beauty: Chloe Goodman proved she certainly has the credentials for the job as she stripped down to just a bikini during a recent trip to Lanzarote Chloe kept the shape of her two-piece simple to afford a better look at her phenomenal curves comprising of her pert bust and derriere. The stunning star, who shot to fame on Ex On The Beach in 2014, utilised the halterneck detail on the top to boost her bust to perfection. Her bottoms were relatively high-rise in the leg and extended into a thong-style back which did little to cover the majority of her posterior - no doubt intentionally. Never far from a smattering of bling, Chloe slipped into a pair of bejewelled flip-flops which were black in body but diamond studded on the strap. Feeling chesty: The 22-year-old slipped into a simple yet effective turquoise bikini which enhanced both her bust and derriere to perfection due to its scanty shape Oops! Her bottoms were relatively high-rise in the leg and extended into a thong-style back which did little to cover the majority of her posterior - no doubt intentionally Punctuating some detail into her simple ensemble, Chloe sported oversized mirrored sunglasses in an aviator style which shielded her make-up laden visage. She scraped her hair into a high bun, which accentuated the red and brown hues of her lustrous tresses. Ensuring she stays sun safe, Chloe paid special attention to every inch of her frame when intricately applying her suncream to her entire physique. Despite the seemingly overcast weather, the Brighton-born beauty was not held back from flashing her figure in her tiny two-piece. Poolside posing: Punctuating some detail into her simple ensemble, Chloe sported oversized mirrored sunglasses in an aviator style which shielded her make-up laden visage Hello there! Chloe no doubt thrilled fellow sunworshippers as she flashed her perky posterior Relaxation mode: Chloe puller her best pout as she soaked up the sun by the pool Bending over: At one point Chloe contorted herself onto all fours to pose up a storm Catching them rays: Ensuring she returned to UK soil with a deep tan, Chloe rotated regularly on the sun lounger Sun cream time: Chloe lathered on the sun cream, proving herself to be sun safe while flashing the flesh Catching an i(phone) full: Ensuring she was entertained by the pool, Chloe caught up on the news on her phone In January, she hinted to fans that she was working on her shape when she posted a lingerie mirror selfie that simply said 'under construction'. Chloe previously shed a stone in 10 weeks in preparation for 2015's Celebrity Big Brother, saying that she wanted to shake her 'jelly belly.' There was certainly no sign of a belly as the brunette sat up on her knees at the poolside, showing off a mass of her curves for all to see. The reality TV star recently took a stab at the new recruits for MTV's Ex On The Beach, making the observation that producers' 'standard of girls' had slipped since the first series, in which she starred. She told The Daily Star: 'Since I filmed the show I've continued to watch each series and I've noticed the standard of girls has been dropping in terms of how they look and how they act.' Incredible curves: The reality TV star recently took a stab at the new recruits for MTV's Ex On The Beach, making the observation that producers' 'standard of girls' had slipped since the first series, in which she starred Showing what she's got: She told The Daily Star : 'Since I filmed the show I've continued to watch each series and I've noticed the standard of girls has been dropping in terms of how they look and how they act' Wowsers! Chloe previously shed a stone in 10 weeks in preparation for 2015's Celebrity Big Brother, saying that she wanted to shake her 'jelly belly' Despite being some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Naomi Watts and Liev Shreiber are able to maintain a typical family lifestyle The doting 47-year-old mother and her partner, 48, took some time out of their busy schedules to take their sons Alexander, eight, and Samuel, seven, fishing in Malibu on Sunday. Liev was seen to be showing their golden-haired boys how to cast a line as they enjoyed the low-key afternoon. Family day out! Naomi Watts enjoyed an afternoon of fishing with her partner Liev Schreiber and their children Alexander, eight, and Samuel, seven, in Malibu on Sunday The English-born Australian actress was dressed suitably casually for the outing in a pair of three-quarter length jeans with a striped T-shirt and Birkenstock sandals. Meanwhile Liev donned a pair of camouflage cargo shorts, a black sweatshirt and also a pair of black Birkenstock sandals. The outing comes a day after the 21 Grams star shared a sweet selfie with her family that she shared to Instagram. Keeping it simple: The English-born Australian actress was dressed suitably casually for the outing in a pair of three-quarter length jeans Lending a hand: Liev was seen to be showing their golden-haired boys how to cast a line as they enjoyed the low-key afternoon 'My tribe #family xxx, the actress simply captioned the snap. The lovely picture saw the happy family look downwards into the camera lens, while enjoying the balmy outdoor climes. Naomi and Liev were recently reunited after the Spotlight actor returned from a stint of filming Ray Donovan in Primm, Nevada. Their bonding session also comes soon after the mother-of-two spoke openly about her 11-year relationship with her beau in the spring fashion forward issue of Los Angeles Confidential. 'My tribe': Naomi recently shared a cute snap with her family and shared it to Instagram 'Relationships are hard whether you're famous or not, she confessed. I don't know anyone who doesn't have to work on it. Being an actor doesn't change anything.' 'I'm sure it's the same if you're a doctor or a couple of lawyers, she added. You have high-pressure jobs, lots of hours, stresses that come unexpectedly - and you have to figure out how to be present in the midst of it all.' Naomi and her long-time love have starred in three films together, with the latest - The Bleeder - set to be released later this year. Naomi and Liev also played in the 2006 drama The Painted Veil as well as Movie 43, an anthology comedy. She's preparing to dazzle alongside the great and good of the sartorial elite at the 2016 Met Gala on Monday night. But Bella Hadid ensured all eyes were well and truly on her as she attended Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala dinner at her Manhattan home on Sunday night. The supermodel, 19, put her catwalk queen figure on full display as she emerged from the event, slipping into a slinky strapless silk midi-dress in metallic pink. Scroll down for video Bella of the ball: Bella Hadid ensured all eyes were well and truly on her as she attended Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala dinner at her Manhattan home on Sunday night Featuring a daring split, the form-fitting garment highlighted the brunette beauty's slim physique to perfection as she enjoyed her night out on the town alongside a rather stylish crowd. Bella wore her sleek dark locks scraped back from her face into her signature low ponytail, and accentuated her striking features with natural make-up. The runway goddess - the younger sister of fellow supermodel Gigi Hadid, 21 - added height to her 5ft 7in frame with a pair of towering strappy sandals and toted her belongings in a delicate blush pink box bag. Bella's look was worlds away from the grunge-inspired ensemble she favoured earlier in the day as she indulged in a designer shopping spree at Givenchy. Model behaviour: The supermodel, 19, put her catwalk queen figure on full display as she emerged from the event, slipping into a slinky strapless silk midi-dress in metallic pink Metallic magic: Featuring a daring split, the form-fitting garment highlighted the brunette beauty's slim physique to perfection as she enjoyed her night out on the town alongside a rather stylish crowd Showcasing her envy-inducing washboard abs, the model teamed a loose-fitting white cropped sweater with charcoal ripped jeans and black leather sneakers as she enjoyed a spot of retail therapy. Bella was in good company at Wintour's bash with pop princess Taylor Swift and The Late Late Show host James Corden also in attendance at the pre-Met Gala dinner. As well as vying with the sartorial elite on the red carpet at Monday night's star-studded bash, Bella - who has been in a relationship with Canadian musician The Weeknd, 26, for over a year - will no doubt be looking forward to a reunion with her sister Gigi. Bella was unable to attend Gigi's celebrity-packed 21st birthday party at West Hollywood hotspot, The Nice Guy, on Thursday evening, which saw the likes of Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Gigi's pop heartthrob boyfriend Zayn Malik, 22, turn out to celebrate her big day. Punk rock princess: Bella's look was worlds away from the grunge-inspired ensemble she favoured earlier in the day as she indulged in a designer shopping spree at Givenchy Supermodel siblings: Bella - pictured with Gigi Hadid at a Stuart Weitzman event in New York City last month - will no doubt be looking forward to a reunion with her sister on Monday night Although the rest of the Hadid family were in attendance at the birthday bash, Bella was busy with work commitments in New York City. The brunette has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame over the past year, and recently landed her first Vogue cover for the Turkish edition of the fashion bible. Bella couldn't wait to share her milestone moment on Instagram, posting the cover alongside a gushing thank you note to photographer Sebastian Faena, and stylist Konca Aykan. 'I can't believe it!!! My first VOGUE cover !!!Thank you @vogueturkiye and my wonderful @sebastianfaena & so talented @koncaaykan for creating such an amazing story with me,' she wrote. Talented teen: The brunette has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame over the past year, and recently landed her first Vogue cover for the Turkish edition of the fashion bible The 2016 Met Gala is set to take place at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night, with a theme in place of Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. As one of the most star-studded nights in the fashion calendar, the annual Met Gala attracts a wealth of big names from both sides of the Atlantic. This year's event will see the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Karlie Kloss, Katy Perry and Selena Gomez in attendance, while Kylie Jenner, 18, is set to make her hotly-anticipated Met Gala debut. Star-studded: Bella was in good company at Wintour's bash with The Late Late Show host James Corden and his wife Julia Carey also in attendance at the pre-Met Gala dinner He was meant to leave the judges of MasterChef Australia speechless with his roast chicken and chips with a mushroom medley dish. But cooking hopeful Adam left George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan lost for words for the complete opposite reason. During the hour episode on Monday night the South Australia was slammed by the professional cooks for using bottled vegetable stock. Firing line: MasterChef hopeful Adam (pictured) was slammed by judges George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan on Monday night after using pre-packaged vegetable stock Walking slowly towards the work bench, George commented: 'What is this? Gary...' His co-star was quick to quiz Adam on his purpose of the pre-packaged product, saying 'What do we make stock from?' 'We make stock from chicken,' he bluntly replied. Later on in the episode Adam revealed he regretted his decision to use the vegetable stock in his piece to camera. Not impressed: Walking slowly towards the work bench, George (R) commented: 'What is this? Gary...' to which Gary (L) questioned Adam, saying 'What do we make stock from?' Devastated: Later on in the episode Adam said: 'I'm absolutely kicking myself. Vegetable stock. What was I thinking? I can't serve this to the judges like this. There's an apron on the line. How the hell am I gonna fix this?' 'I'm absolutely kicking myself. Vegetable stock. What was I thinking? I can't serve this to the judges like this.' he said while holding back the tears. 'There's an apron on the line. How the hell am I gonna fix this?' Adam went on to explain: 'I'm in trouble. The judges have picked me up for using vegetable stock, so I've got to fix this mushroom sauce and quickly, but I'm really not sure how. 'I'm racking my brains as to how I'm going to get some more flavour into that sauce and I realise that I've got chicken bones in front of me, so why wouldn't I put them into my sauce? Hopefully if I can caramelise them, they'll give me the punch that I need so that sauce really pops.' Picking up his game: Despite the minor set back, Adam managed to save his dish from being ripped apart in the critique Happier: After eating a spoonful of the gravy, George said 'It's tough because we come up there and basically took you to town and crucify you but you know, you've got to lift yourself up and cook a dish. And you did that' Despite the minor set back, Adam managed to save his dish from being ripped apart in the critique. After eating a spoonful of the gravy, George said 'It's tough because we come up there and basically took you to town and crucify you but you know, you've got to lift yourself up and cook a dish. And you did that!' Matt Preston added: Big thumbs-up because you've nailed the chicken. There's some good elements on that and I'm really pleased for you. Well done.' Adam was later presented with one of the four aprons, sending him through to the top 24. MasterChef Australia airs on Network 10 on Sundays to Thursdays at 7.30pm. It began a long time ago. In pre-independence times it developed mostly in places like the Gazelle Peninsula on New Britain and around the larger towns like Port Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen. Most of them are not only without land, they are also poverty stricken and deprived. THERE is a largely invisible class of people that have been developing in Papua New Guinea for some time now the people without land. Provinces like Simbu began experiencing land pressures before independence. There were simply too many Simbus for the available land. The land that was available was jealously guarded by clans who had no desire to make it available for use by traditional enemies. On the Gazelle Peninsula, the burgeoning Tolai people were under stress and running out of land too. In their case, the cause was over population exacerbated by the vast areas of traditional land which had been taken up for plantations, most notably by the Catholic Church. The Australian administrations response at the time was to resettle people in other districts (now provinces). To do this they bought surplus land in areas with low populations and set up resettlement schemes with plantations for products like oil palm and rubber. This is when the great highlands exodus began in earnest. The drift to urban areas made many people landless when their former clan land was swallowed up to accommodate the needs of a growing town population. The biggest impact was in Port Moresby on the Motu and Koiari people, but by the 1990s immigrants to Mount Hagen and Lae had lost their land and had nowhere to go back to. Resource development, especially mining, also made many people landless but the biggest impact by far has come from logging, particularly that carried out under Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABLs). In most cases, but especially with SABLs, the people losing their land receive little or no compensation. What they get is miserly and nowhere near enough for them to re-establish their lives elsewhere. In many cases there is no elsewhere anyway. And too often, unscrupulous wantoks make off with most of the proceeds. Migration had emerged as a problem before independence. People saw the commerce and the bright lights of the towns and wanted to be part of it. When their dreams were not realised they stayed on in settlements just hoping things would get better. The urban areas didnt get better, they got worse, but these people had children and those children had children and soon the link to the home villages and clans was broken permanently and they had nowhere to go. In their villages the land they might have inherited had gone to other people and they had been forgotten. As far as their home villages were concerned, they had ceased to exist. If they werent there already, these deprived people - with no land, no prospects and no income - tended to drift to the fringes of the towns. They still do, and in increasing numbers. On top of that they are reproducing at an alarming rate, very often outside marriage. Single women with dependent children are now a significant demographic in most towns. Increasingly, as traditional norms break down, it is the case in rural areas too. The landless people of Papua New Guinea are a ticking time bomb. Their options are severely limited. To get by, they often become involved in crime. Good people have become thieves simply to survive. And this is what they teach their children. A few struggle above the pack, mostly by preying on their fellow citizens. They become big time criminals and join the elite as bona fide big men. It is a strange irony that the poor steal from the poor; but it happens everywhere. The rich also steal from the poor in more sophisticated ways. Everyone steals from the poor. The poor people steal, go hungry and resort to alcohol and drugs to dull their pain. The latter makes them even more prone to exploitation. It is not a story unique to Papua New Guinea. It happens in most third world countries, especially Africa, and it happens in advanced western economies too. The poor and landless are the people who will eventually rise up in revolution (if we take other revolutions as case studies, led by middle class dissidents). They will reach a point where they have nothing to lose and, even if they fail, as is often the case, they will at least gain the satisfaction of destroying many of those people who have exploited them. A sensible government would look after its poor and landless but where can you find a sensible government in these greedy times? The very term has become an oxymoron. For Australia, which has its own problems of inequality, the time bomb is sitting on its doorstep, just 10 kilometres away at low tide. But for some reason the Australian government cant see it. Neither can the Papua New Guinean government, and it sitting right on top. Why are governments so stupid? Why do they persist in allowing the development of the things that will eventually develop the potential to destroy them? She still floating on cloud nine after becoming Mrs Pete Evans. And now the MKR judge's new wife Nicola Robinson Evans has taken to social media to show off the finer details of her stunning bohemian inspired gown. Sharing a candid snap from their special day, Nicola has her back to the camera as she faces her paleo-loving chef, which shows the more intricate details of her kimono style dress, including flared sleeves, lace and patterned cut-outs. Scroll down for video Blushing bride: My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans new wife Nicola Robinson Evans has taken to social media to show off her stunning bohemian inspired wedding dress The blushing bride also reveals that she was responsible for making her impressive flowing veil in the caption. Nicole also shared a number of other special snaps from their romantic day including a snap of herself riding a horse while her whimsical gown draped across the back. Pete and Nicola exchanged their vows in an intimate rustic farmhouse ceremony. Whimsical: In a series of pictures uploaded to Instagram, the more intricate details of her kimono style dress are shown including flared sleeves, lace and patterned cut-outs Talented: The blushing bride also revealed on social media that she was responsible for making her impressive flowing veil in the caption Days after saying 'I do' My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans reiterated his love for second wife Nicola Robinson Evans, 39, with a tender message on Instagram. The television personality penned a gushing tribute on Sunday, saying: 'Everyday is unique & special, but this particular day was a fairy tail! [sic]. 'Thank you for creating such a wonderfully magic day to celebrate LOVE!' Special day: Pete and Nicola exchanged their vows in an intimate rustic farmhouse ceremony. Thank you for creating such a wonderfully magic day': My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans reiterated his love for second wife Nicola Robinson Evans, 39, with a tender message on Instagram last week The couple married in front of Pete's two children Indii and Chilli and his three ladies were pictured on horseback riding through a paddock on their wedding day. Last week, days after tying the knot, Peter proudly called Nicole, who dubs herself Nutritionmermaid on Instagram, his wife in a social media post. And on Saturday, Nicola shared the picture alongside the words: 'We're not shy of a little dance in the rain... My Dragon & I! #onefoot #onelove #oneness'. Galloping into happily ever after: Nicola Robinson Evans, 39, provided a glimpse at her dreamy nuptials with a photo of herself riding horseback through a paddock while clad in her wedding dress this week Pete also shared the photo and captioned it simply with: 'Like the wind! #fearless'. It comes after Nicola made her marriage Instagram official by changing her name to Nicola Robinson Evans on the photo-sharing platform. Her handle nutritionmermaid remains the same. Taking the next step: Nicola has changed her Instagram name to 'Nicola Robinson Evans' after tying the knot with THE My Kitchen Rules judge Slight change: Her handle nutritionmermaid remains the same, though her name is now extended In an article published in New Idea magazine earlier this week, Nicola opened up about her decision to change her surname after marrying 42-year-old celebrity chef Pete. 'I've always felt reluctant to change my name out of respect for my own family, but it's definitely time for me to honour Pete and share his last name,' she told the publication. The couple also shared some details of their farmhouse wedding in New South Wales with the magazine. Making the switch: She told New Idea magazine 'it's definitely time for me to honour Pete and share his last name' The couple revealed the intimate affair was complete with 'butterfly bridesmaids, four-legged guests and Paleo cake'. 'We didn't write vows, we chose to do what we call "winging it",' Nicola revealed of the pair's nuptials. 'We shared our deepest hopes, dreams and promises from our hearts.' The pair's nuptials come after the celebrity chef proposed last year while they were on holiday in New York. Loved up: Pete met his second wife Nicola in Adelaide four years ago, and she has been a driving force behind his Paleo lifestyle They met four years ago in Adelaide and she has been a driving force behind his Paleo lifestyle. Nicola was previously married to millionaire Warriors rugby league club owner, Eric Watson, though they didn't have children together. He's been busy filming World War II drama Allied since last month. And Brad Pitt was back in action again last week as he got to work on the set of the romantic thriller in the Oxfordshire countryside. The 52-year-old actor was joined by a host of extras, who took part in a line-up to determine who looked the most like the A-list star for some last minute double filming. Scroll down for video Back in action: Brad Pitt was hard at work filming upcoming war drama Allied in the Oxfordshire countryside last week Brad looked dapper in his military uniform as he confidently strode onto the set, his smart coat billowing in the wind. The Hollywood star was seen chatting to crew members as they discussed the finer details of the day's work. Allied, set in 1942, is based on the true story about two assassins who fall in love during a war mission. Making an entrance: Brad looked dapper in his military uniform as he confidently strode onto the set Line up: The 52-year-old actor was joined by a host of extras, who took part in a line-up to determine which man looked the most like the A-list star for some last minute double filming The previously untitled film sees Brad's character, Max Vatan, fall in love with French agent Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) during a mission to kill a German ambassador holed up in Casablanca. According to uinterview, 'the two ultimately marry and start a family but Max soon learns that Marianne is likely a Nazi spy'. Brad also stars alongside Mean Girls actress Lizzy Caplan and Downton Abbey's Matthew Goode in the war drama. Romance: Brad's character, Max Vatan, falls in love with French agent Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) during a mission to kill a German ambassador holed up in Casablanca True tale: Allied, set in 1942, is based on the true story about two assassins who fall in love during a war mission Plot: According to uinterview , 'the two ultimately marry and start a family but Max soon learns that Marianne is likely a Nazi spy' All-star cast: Brad also appears alongside Mean Girls actress Lizzy Caplan and Downton Abbey's Matthew Goode in the war drama The film is directed Robert Zemeckis (Back To The Future) and is slated for release later this year on November 23. While Brad looks set to be working in England for the foreseeable future, he won't have to make do without his family as they reportedly moved into an eight-bedroom, 14,700-per-month rental house in Surrey at the end of February. The Oscar-nominated actor shares six children with his wife Angelina Jolie; Maddox, 14; Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, nine, and seven-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. As reported by Us Weekly, The Jolie-Pitt's new family home is described as a 'beautiful, White House-style' home in the well-heeled county, an area popular with commuters to London. In addition to eight-bedrooms, the spacious estate has an indoor pool and gym, and is close to the River Thames. Making the move: Brad reportedly moved into an eight-bedroom, 14,700-per-month rental house in Surrey with his famous family at the end of February Permanent base: Brad looks set to be working in England for the foreseeable future She often treats her fans with a glimpse into her adorable daughter's world. And Kim Kardashian proved that life really is a fairytale for her daughter as she posted a sweet snap of North dressed up in a princess costume. In the snap taken while North was sat down on the floor, the two-year-old cutie was seen sporting a pretty purple dress and a white tiara. Scroll down for video Hot mum: Kim Kardashian proved that life really is a fairytale for her daughter as she posted a sweet snap of North dressed up in a princess costume Precious: In the snap taken while North was sat down on the floor, the two-year-old cutie was seen sporting a pretty purple dress and a white tiara With her hair left out in its natural curls, the famous tot could be seen playing with a cute white toy cat as Kim wrote: 'She sleeps in costumes'. However, Kim's Snapchat story started on a far more racy note as she put on a very busty display in a skintight tank-top. The 35-year-old reality star gae a typically eye-popping closeup view of her ample bosom in the short video clip. See Kim Kardashian updates as she shares sweet snap of 'princess' daughter North She's got some front! Kim's Snapchat story started on a far more racy note as she put on a very busty display in a skintight tank-top Her best assets: The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star went with minimal makeup as to not draw any attention away from the main attraction The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star modelled her sexiest power poses while filming from several angles, ensuring fans would not miss an inch of the revealing number. She wore her chestnut locks down in relaxed waves and went with minimal makeup as to not draw any attention away from the main attraction. Her rapper husband, Kanye West, 38, stood behind his wife of nearly two years with his head down as she proudly publicized her famous cleavage. Showstopper! The reality star filmed from several angles, ensuring fans would not miss an inch of her ample cleavage The couple recently arrived in New York City as they will be attending the star-studded Met Gala on Monday. Not only will Kim and Kanye make an appearance at the ball but it's likely most of the Jenner/Kardashian clan will also make an appearance. On Friday Vogue released a flashback video of Kim and her supermodel sister Kendall Jenner discussing their plans for the evening back in February during New York Fashion Week. 'I feel like we should all go together,' Kim said. 'Like, all wear the same designer and just have, like, our looks be like the family Christmas card.' Supportive spouse: Kim's rapper husband, Kanye West, 38, stood behind his wife of nearly two years with his head down as she proudly publicized her famous cleavage Adding: 'We can use our Met picture up the stairs as our family Christmas card since we never have time anymore to take photos.' But if Kim's gown on Monday is anything like the one she wore at last year's gala, that holiday card might have to come with a warning label. Barely protecting her modesty the mother-of-two pushed the boundaries in a sheer Roberto Cavalli by Peter Dundas gown. Upcoming: Kim recently arrived in New York City as she's gearing up for the Met Gala on Monday night It was her most daring dress yet as she flashed flesh and forwent underwear in the revealing lace number. This year's theme of the ball - which is being held on Monday, May 2 - is 'Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.' The Gala will be hosted by Taylor Swift, Anna Wintour, and cochairs Idris Elba and Jonathan Ive. Flashing her flesh! Barely protecting her modesty the mother-of-two pushed the boundaries in a sheer Roberto Cavalli by Peter Dundas gown at the Met Gala in 2015 Daring to bare! It was Kim's most daring dress yet as she flashed flesh and forwent underwear in the revealing lace number She first gave us a glimpse of her inner cowgirl in a revealing shot last week. And now Imogen Anthony has gotten even cheekier as she shared another country and western-themed snap, this time flaunting her pert posterior in the same bottom-less chaps. Taking to Instagram, the 25-year-old uploaded the seductive shot, showing off her derriere in a pair of black Brazilian-cut underpants and matching strapless bra while also donning the brown suede fringed chaps. Scroll down for video Cheeky! Imogen Anthony has taken to social media to share another seductive snaps of herself posing in bottom-less cowboy chaps 'Babes in California,' the pink-haired beauty captioned the picture before adding, 'Vintage fringed, leather chaps are everything. New blog post w/ outfit details coming soon to #IMMYTURE.' Imogen also then added the hashtags #putyourbackintoit #giddyup #cowgirl. Despite pulling on a somewhat demure display on social media lately, the girlfriend of radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands was up to her old tricks when she posted the first cheeky shot. Not one to ever shy away from attention, the former Maxim model had no qualms flashing her bum cheeks in the brazen snap. Revealing her inner cowgirl! The girlfriend of Kyle Sandilands first showed off her pert posterior in a pair of cowboy chaps in a racy snap last week The aspiring fashion designer confidently posed as she writhed her slender frame into a sultry pose. The controversial beauty accessorised her country and western-themed look with her bright pink cotton-candy hair and a small black choker. 'When yo girl as wild as the motherf****** west,' she wrote in the caption - no doubt directed at her beau Kyle. She added the hashtags 'coming soon,' 'Immyture' and 'White Trash Royalty' - providing a subtle hint that the revealing pants may be soon be available for purchase under her fashion label, allowing her fans to easily emulate her signature style. Something to share? The 25-year-old sparked speculation of a pregnancy on Friday when she posed naked and pushed her tummy out to look like a baby bump Late last month Imogen fuelled speculation of a pregnancy as she posed side on, naked with an arm covering her breast and her stomach pushed out to look like a baby bump. The outspoken model posted the image to her public Snapchat account, cryptically captioning it with 'Shh...' as she posed in the bathroom. Imogen flashed some serious skin in the image, her modesty barely covered. Her pastel coloured locks were wrapped up in a towel and she held another in front of herself while making sure to lean back and push her stomach out. Her followers immediately began speculating that she was expecting, with one even commenting: 'I have a feeling Imogen is pregnant? Nice snap and congrats if it's true' When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Imogen's management denied that there was any news to announce. Questionable: Her followers immediately began speculating that she was expecting, with one even commenting: 'I have a feeling Imogen is pregnant? Nice snap and congrats if it's true' Cheeky: Following the post, the Maxim model took to Snapchat again, confessing to her followers that she was just bloated because it was 'that time of the month' after posting a picture of herself with a flat stomach less than a week earlier Following her post, Imogen took to Snapchat again, confessing to her followers that she was just bloated because it was 'that time of the month'. Throughout her recent trip to Los Angeles with her beau Kyle, the beauty has shared plenty of snaps of herself on social media, including a nearly naked photograph. In the image she was seen placing the palms of her hands over her breasts and posing in a doorway wearing only a beige pair of knickers. She stretched her back straight and glared out into the distance while displaying some serious underboob. No news: When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Imogen's management denied that there was any news to announce They're both widely rumoured to be the next James Bond. And Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston proved there's certainly no rivalry between them as they enjoyed a pre-Met Ball dinner at VOGUE Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour's home in New York City on Sunday night. The British actors appeared to be having a whale of a time on their boys' night out, emerging from the VIP gathering in fits of giggles. Scroll down for video Shaken, not stirred: Bond contenders Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston enjoyed a pre-Met Ball dinner at VOGUE Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour's home in New York City on Sunday night The handsome duo were both showcasing their sartorial expertise in stylish evening wear, and it seems they'd have no trouble playing part of the charming spy. Idris opted for smart black chinos and matching polo neck, with a velvet blazer featuring silk lapels completing the look. Tom donned an eye-catching burgundy suit with a baby blue shirt, wearing his hair slicked back. The pair were in great spirits as they headed off into the night, ensuring they got some rest ahead of Monday's star-studded fashion gathering. Jovial: The pair were in great spirits as they headed off into the night, ensuring they got some rest ahead of Monday's star-studded fashion gathering Their outing comes as former James Bond star George Lazenby backed Idris Elba to be the next actor to play 007. The Australian, who starred in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, said there would be 'a lot of people scratching their head' if a black actor was cast as the character, created by Ian Fleming, but he believed hiring Elba would be a 'good idea'. When asked whether a black actor could play Bond, Lazenby, 76, told the Press Association: 'That's beyond me. I mean, why not? That's what I say. Dapper duo: The handsome British actors were both showcasing their sartorial expertise in stylish suits, with Idris donning a velvet jacket and Tom opting for a burgundy suit Big decision: Daniel Craig is widely rumoured to have turned down the opportunity to play 007 one more time 'But then on the other hand, you're going to have a lot of people scratching their head going "James Bond wasn't black". Asked whether Elba would make a good James Bond, Lazenby replied: 'Why not? It would be a good idea.' Daniel Craig is widely rumoured to have turned down the opportunity to play 007 one more time as new US television series Purity has meant he will be too busy to reprise the role. Show of support: Their outing comes as former James Bond star George Lazenby, who starred in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, backed Idris to be the next actor to play 007 No doubt the decision will come as little surprise to Bond fans as Daniel claimed he'd rather slash his wrists than play James Bond again, after playing the secret agent for a decade. Both Tom and Idris have shut down rumours they would be taking over from Craig in the past, with Tom once again dismissing the claims over the weekend. Speaking at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, he said: 'The thing is the position is not vacant," he said. "So, I don't know that I can answer that question until it is.' She was crowned the winner of Australia's Next Top Model in 2011 and is by far the most successful graduate of the reality series thus far. And Montana Cox will now offer her years of expertise to this year's batch of modelling hopefulls as a guest mentor. Speaking with The Daily Telegraph in an interview published on Tuesday, the 22-year-old said she feels 'nervous' about being on the other side of the table. 'It's scary being on the other side, judging them': Montana Cox said she feels 'nervous' about taking on the role of mentor for this year's batch of contestants 'It's kind of scary now I'm on the other side, judging them,' she said. 'But at least I know what they are going through, so I can help them out in that way.' Now based in New York, Montana has well and truly been the show's most successful winners, having walked for some of the world's most coveted fashion houses. 'I know what they are going through': The 22-year-old was crowned winner of the show's seventh cycle in 2011 International success! The brunette beauty has walked for some of the most coveted fashion houses in the world But her beginnings on the international fashion week circuit didn't start off smoothly. She was lucky enough to score the near-impossible opportunity to walk in a casting for Gucci, only to trip in front of everyone. 'My bad experiences have always got to do with an unaware perception of my limbs, more than anything else,' she told blog All My Friends Are Models. 'I'm incredibly goofy!' Montana's international career didn't get off to the smoothest start, having tripped and fallen in front of casting agents at Gucci 'I'm incredibly goofy!' Montana will join twin models Zac and Jordan Stenmark on the show as mentors on the show's tenth cycle. Jennifer Hawkins will return as host, alongside judges Alex Perry and Megan Gale, who is now a permanent fixture on the panel. She's a busy mother-of-three with a superhero hunk for a husband. But Elsa Pataky has taken time out to spend quality time with her two-year-old twins Tristan and Sasha as she dedicated a loving snap to all mothers on Spanish Mother's Day. Taking to Instagram the 39-year-old shared a picturesque shot of the trio on the beach which shows a silhouette of the stunning actress lifting one of her sons up above her head while the other plays by her feet in the sand. Scroll down for video A mother's love: Elsa Pataky has taken to social media to celebrate Spanish Mother's Day on May 1 with a picturesque shot of her enjoying a beach day with her two-year-old twin sons Elsa first captions the picture in her native Spanish tongue before adding the English translation writing, 'Mother love, makes possible the impossible! , congrats to all the Spanish mums!!' While Australians will give love to their mother's this weekend on May 8, Spain celebrates the day on May 1. Chris and Elsa also have a three-year-old daughter India. The Fast and The Furious star isn't shy to show off her gorgeous children regularly sharing adorable pictures to social media. Loved up: Elsa and husband Chris Hemsworth (R) have three children together, three-year-old India and twin sons Sasha and Tristan In late March Elsa posted a birthday tribute to her twin boys as they celebrated their second birthday with their handsome father. As the twins hold on tight while giving their movie star father a massive hug, Chris reciprocates, wrapping his muscular arms around his blond boys who have their backs to the camera. The loved-up parents wed at the end of 2010 and welcomed their daughter two years later. Birthday celebrations! In late March the 39-year-old actress posted a birthday tribute to her twin boys as they celebrated their second birthday with their handsome father Young family: The Fast and The Furious star isn't shy to show off her gorgeous children regularly sharing adorable pictures to social media Earlier this week, Chris, who relocated his young family from LA to Byron Bay on the New South Wales north coast last year, spoke to TV Week about the love he has for his wife of six years. 'Each week I find something different, more I love about her,' he told the publication. 'It continues to grow, which is a great thing. 'It just made sense to both of us. There was an ease to it neither of us had had before,' he concluded. The family are regularly seen enjoying the relaxed beach lifestyle in Byron Bay and were this week seen with Chris' younger brother Liam and his rumoured fiancee Miley Cyrus. Big daddy! Earlier this week, Chris, who relocated his young family from LA to Byron Bay on the New South Wales north coast last year, spoke to TV Week about the love he has for his wife of six years 'Each week I find something different, more I love about her':The pair began dating at the start of 2010 before tying the knot over the Christmas holiday the same year Supermodels eat carbs, apparently. At least Cindy Crawford does. The leggy Vogue model posted a photo on Instagram on Sunday revealing a poolside lunch of pasta and a bowl of bread. The 50-year-old beauty may eat Italian food but she looks none the worse for the wear. Poolside carbs: Cindy Crawford, 50, posted a photo on Instagram on Sunday revealing a pasta lunch with a bowl of bread Cindy captioned the Sunday Funday post with 'Lunch by the pool' and a sun emoji. The backdrop featured a nearby pool, large wood lounge chairs with plush white cushions, and the ocean in the distance. The blue tabletop was set for eight. Spaghetti noodles filled a large white bowl which was joined by a bread basket. While meatballs covered in tomato sauce were featured in the center on a large platter. Model physique: The mother-of-two flaunted the starchy poolside meal a month after she shared this snap on Instagram which showcased her flawless swimsuit body A mixed greens salad plate and water glasses filled to the brim were also present. The sunny photo op appeared to be a perfect day for al-fresco dining. The carbs, however, don't seem to affect Cindy's famous model physique. Proud husband: Cindy's husband, Rande Gerber, 54, has shared many bikini-clad shots of his supermodel wife on social media. Rande posted this picture to Instagram 9 months ago She flaunted the starchy poolside meal a month after she shared a snap showcasing her flawless swimsuit body. The mother-of-two re-grammed the shot from husband, Rande Gerber, 54, and she garnered nearly 37,000 likes. In the Instagram Cindy rocks a black string bikini which showed off her flat hard abs. Bare-faced and beautiful: Rande shared this close-up shot of his wife seven months ago with the caption, 'Who needs hair and make-up when you look like this after jumping in the ocean' The supermodel's long brunette locks blew in the wind as she gazed off in the distance with a pair of dark shades over her eyes. Cindy's proud husband has shared many bikini-clad shots of his supermodel wife on social media. One close-up shot taken seven months ago revealed that famous mole and a bare-faced Cindy with wet tresses. Rande captioned the stunner: 'Who needs hair and make-up when you look like this after jumping in the ocean.' And in February 2015 for Valentine's Day Rande shared an Instagram of his bikini-clad wife that went viral. They share a history on BBC One time travelling drama, Doctor Who. And for actors Billie Piper and Matt Smith, it was just like old times again this week, when they were pictured hanging out in Soho, London. Billie, who confirmed her split from husband Lawrence Fox two months ago, seemed to be turning to an old friend as they duo reunited in the British capital. Scroll down for video Reunited: Former Doctor Who stars Billie Piper and Matt Smith were spotted hanging out in Soho, London this week Newly-single Billie cut a very casual figure in an oversized striped hoodie, which she paired with skinny jeans and ankle boots. She was puffing on a cigarette through scarlet lips while Matt talked away on his mobile phone during their meeting. The actor formerly known best as The Doctor was more sharp in a long navy coat and a dark jumper. Matt was evidently relaxed in his former co-star's company; even wearing his hand in his trousers while consumed with his phonecall. Making up for lost time: The old friends both previously worked on Doctor Who in the Noughties Catching up: The daytime date meant that the duo had old ground to cover Casual outing: Both in jeans, Billie and Matt were very casual for their daytime meet up Having managed to go unnoticed on the streets of London, the acting duo later hopped into a taxi that afternoon. TV heartthrob Matt has found his home in the States more recently, filming new projects, but on British TV he played the eleventh Doctor, preceding Peter Capaldi, between 2010 and 2013. Secret Diary Of A Call Girl's Billie starred as one of the primary companions of the ninth and tenth Doctors, playing Rose Tyler after the 2006 revival, While Matt and Billie never starred in Doctor Who together, they certainly seem to share a lot of history. Walking and talking: Matt was consumed with a phone call during his time out with Billie Busy bee: He seemed to be busy making plans as he chatted away with a mobile in hand Matt and Billie previously shared a date in 2006, which was kept a secret until 2010 when pictures of the pair holding hands at a Surrey fete emerged. Pride And Prejudice And Zombies star Matt - whose exes include Daisy Lowe and Brazilian actress Mayana Moura - has now been in a relationship with Cinderella actress Lily James since 2014. Meanwhile Billie found love with now-husband Laurence the year after the secret date, in 2007, and they have two sons together. Chris Evans' ex Billie and musician-cum-actor Laurence announced their separation after eight years of marriage at the end of March. Going unnoticed: They seemed to go largely unnoticed in London's busy streets Pacing about: They hung out in London, after Matt has more recently been spending time Stateside Moving on: They hopped into a car to get around London that afternoon No public transport please: The acting duo previously shared a secret date in 2006 Never co-stars: They were never co-stars, because Billie starred in Doctor Who in 2005 He's no stranger to dating having had his first girlfriend when he was just 13. Michael Jackson's son Prince Jackson was spotted out for lunch with a female friend in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, on Sunday. The 19-year-old and the mystery brunette cuddled up for a big hug before going their separate ways. Big hugs: Michael Jackson's son Prince Jackson cuddled up with his gal pal after lunch in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, on Sunday The couple looked quite close during their meal, laughing and chatting as they ate. Prince was casually dressed like any teen lad in a dark blue T-shirt with a graphic image on the front, black cargo trousers and black boots. He covered his dark hair with a khaki cap with an American flag on the front, shading his eyes from the bright sun that glinted off the gold pendant he wore on a long gold chain around his neck. Prince also sported a small, neatly trimmed beard on his chin. His friend showed off her shapely legs in skin tight yoga pants which she teamed with a plum-coloured sweatshirt and white sneakers. Al fresco: The 19-year-old and his friend opted to eat outside on the beautiful day and she checked her phone as they laughed and chatted in the sunshine Sunday fun-day: The couple obviously had a good time as they couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces Her long hair cascaded down her back and she flicked it away from her face as they strolled. Prince first started dating his school sweetheart Niki Berger in 2010 when he was just 13, after meeting at Buckley High School in Sherman Oaks, California. They broke up a year later but reunited in 2012 and stayed together for another year, splitting when he was 16, according to RadarOnline. Casual date: The brunette showed off her shapely legs in yoga leggings teamed with a plum sweatshirt and white sneakers while Prince opted for a blue T-shirt, black cargo trousers and black shoes He then dated another classmate, Nikita Bess, for 11 months before they split in December 2014. The oldest son of the late King of Pop has been seen out with a few other girls since then. Meanwhile, June 25 will mark the seven-year anniversary of his father's death. Michael passed away in 2009 at the age of 50, leaving Prince and his siblings sister Paris, 18, and 14-year-old brother Prince Michael, aka Blanket. Extrasolar planet ESO Astronomers using the TRAPPIST telescope at ESOs La Silla Observatory have discovered three planets orbiting an ultracool dwarf star just 40 light-years from Earth. These worlds have sizes and temperatures similar to those of Venus and Earth and are the best targets found so far for the search for life outside the Solar System. They are the first planets ever discovered around such a tiny and dim star. The new results will be published in the journal Nature on 2 May 2016. A team of astronomers led by Michael Gillon, of the Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique at the University of Liege in Belgium, have used the Belgian TRAPPIST telescope [1] to observe the star 2MASS J23062928-0502285, now also known as TRAPPIST-1. They found that this dim and cool star faded slightly at regular intervals, indicating that several objects were passing between the star and the Earth [2]. Detailed analysis showed that three planets with similar sizes to the Earth were present. TRAPPIST-1 is an ultracool dwarf star it is much cooler and redder than the Sun and barely larger than Jupiter. Such stars are both very common in the Milky Way and very long-lived, but this is the first time that planets have been found around one of them. Despite being so close to the Earth, this star is too dim and too red to be seen with the naked eye or even visually with a large amateur telescope. It lies in the constellation of Aquarius (The Water Carrier). Emmanuel Jehin, a co-author of the new study, is excited: This really is a paradigm shift with regards to the planet population and the path towards finding life in the Universe. So far, the existence of such red worlds orbiting ultra-cool dwarf stars was purely theoretical, but now we have not just one lonely planet around such a faint red star but a complete system of three planets! Michael Gillon, lead author of the paper presenting the discovery, explains the significance of the new findings: Why are we trying to detect Earth-like planets around the smallest and coolest stars in the solar neighbourhood? The reason is simple: systems around these tiny stars are the only places where we can detect life on an Earth-sized exoplanet with our current technology. So if we want to find life elsewhere in the Universe, this is where we should start to look. Astronomers will search for signs of life by studying the effect that the atmosphere of a transiting planet has on the light reaching Earth. For Earth-sized planets orbiting most stars this tiny effect is swamped by the brilliance of the starlight. Only for the case of faint red ultra-cool dwarf stars like TRAPPIST-1 is this effect big enough to be detected. Follow-up observations with larger telescopes, including the HAWK-I instrument on ESOs 8-metre Very Large Telescope in Chile, have shown that the planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 have sizes very similar to that of Earth. Two of the planets have orbital periods of about 1.5 days and 2.4 days respectively, and the third planet has a less well determined period in the range 4.5 to 73 days. With such short orbital periods, the planets are between 20 and 100 times closer to their star than the Earth to the Sun. The structure of this planetary system is much more similar in scale to the system of Jupiters moons than to that of the Solar System, explains Michael Gillon. Although they orbit very close to their host dwarf star, the inner two planets only receive four times and twice, respectively, the amount of radiation received by the Earth, because their star is much fainter than the Sun. That puts them closer to the star than the habitable zone for this system, although it is still possible that they possess habitable regions on their surfaces. The third, outer, planets orbit is not yet well known, but it probably receives less radiation than the Earth does, but maybe still enough to lie within the habitable zone. Thanks to several giant telescopes currently under construction, including ESOs E-ELT and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope due to launch for 2018, we will soon be able to study the atmospheric composition of these planets and to explore them first for water, then for traces of biological activity. Thats a giant step in the search for life in the Universe, concludes Julien de Wit, a co-author from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. This work opens up a new direction for exoplanet hunting, as around 15% of the stars near to the Sun are ultra-cool dwarf stars, and it also serves to highlight that the search for exoplanets has now entered the realm of potentially habitable cousins of the Earth. The TRAPPIST survey is a prototype for a more ambitious project called SPECULOOS that will be installed at ESOs Paranal Observatory [3]. Notes [1] TRAPPIST (the TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope) is a Belgian robotic 0.6-metre telescope operated from the University of Liege and based at ESOs La Silla Observatory in Chile. It spends much of its time monitoring the light from around 60 of the nearest ultracool dwarf stars and brown dwarfs (stars which are not quite massive enough to initiate sustained nuclear fusion in their cores), looking for evidence of planetary transits.The target in this case, TRAPPIST-1, is an ultracool dwarf, with about 0.05% of the Suns luminosity and a mass of about 8% that of the Sun. [2] This is one of the main methods that astronomers use to identify the presence of a planet around a star. They look at the light coming from the star, to see if some of the light is blocked as the planet passes in front of its host star on the line of sight to Earth transits the star, as astronomers say. As the planet orbits around its star, we expect to see regular small dips in the light coming from the star as the planet moves in front of it. [3] SPECULOOS is mostly funded by the European Research Council and led also by the University of Liege. Four 1-metre robotic telescopes will be installed at the Paranal Observatory to search for habitable planets around 500 ultra-cool stars over the next five years. More information This research was presented in a paper entitled Temperate Earth-sized planets transiting a nearby ultracool dwarf star, by M. Gillon et al., to appear in the journal Nature. The team is composed of: M. Gillon (Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), E. Jehin (Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), S. M. Lederer (NASA Johnson Space Center, USA), L. Delrez (Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), J. de Wit (Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), A. Burdanov (Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), V. Van Grootel (Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), A. J. Burgasser (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California, San Diego, USA and Infrared Telescope Facility, operated by the University of Hawaii), C. Opitom (Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), A. H. M. J. Triaud (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK), B-O. Demory (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK), D.K. Sahu (Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, India), D. B. Gagliuffi (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California, San Diego, USA and Infrared Telescope Facility, operated by the University of Hawaii), P. Magain (Institut dAstrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium) and D. Queloz (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK). Khloe Kardashian has always been very up front about her personal struggles on Keeping Up With The Kardashians - from her split with Lamar Odom to her struggles with her weight. And on Monday she was her most frank yet when talking about life pre-fame in a touching post to her website khloewithak.com. The 31-year-old beauty offered an impressively honest account of her high school years where she felt she was not as popular as older sisters Kim and Kourtney, and had a difficult time getting good grades. See Khloe Kardashian updates as she gives honest account of her high school years Her painful past: Khloe Kardashian shared on her website on Monday that she struggled during her high school years; here she is seen in the early 1990s She has triumphed: The E! queen, now 31-years-old, looks better than ever and is the most liked Kardashian; here she is pictured on Thursday at The Nice Guy in West Hollywood The post was titled: XOXO: All About My Education. 'My education didn't follow a traditional trajectory, but I'm thankful for my parents who listened and supported me when I was having trouble. I know you've been curious about this (it's one of the top questions Googled about me, apparently), so here are the ABCs of my education!' she wrote. The star revealed she dropped out of her first high school. Too cute! The siren, seen here with her mother's father, said: 'My education didn't follow a traditional trajectory, but I'm thankful for my parents who listened and supported me when I was having trouble' Her family: 'I went to Marymount in ninth grade, while Kourt and Kim were there, but after they left, I felt like I had no one to be with,' she said; here she is seen in 1995 'I went to Marymount in ninth grade, while Kourt and Kim were there, but after they left, I felt like I had no one to be with,' she said. 'I struggled really hard in school, so I took myself out of Marymount and forged my parents' names to enroll in Alexandria Academy. My dad was livid when he found out, and I was so scared, I was shaking. 'He told me, "I'm so pissed, but the fact that you put so much effort into all of this ... I'm going to let you do this. But you have to keep a certain GPA." A new life: 'I struggled really hard in school, so I took myself out of Marymount and forged my parents' names to enroll in Alexandria Academy. My dad was livid when he found out, and I was so scared, I was shaking,' she wrote Suddenly a siren: The reality diva looked like a svelte supermodel next to a much shorter Kim in 2006 when Khloe was 21-years-old The Strong Looks Better Naked author continued: 'Alexandria Academy is not at-home, you go to a school, and there are tutors that give you individual attention. I needed that. I really did not know one person there. I knew college wasn't for me, and I graduated from Alexandria with honorswhich I never would've done in a traditional school.' Though school got easier, it was hard being in the shadow of Kim and Kourtney. 'While I loved having my built-in group with Kim and Kourtney, it was hard for me at times,' she confessed. Two years later: Khloe is full reality TV mode with Kim and Kourtney in 2008; here she is 23-years-old Gaining momentum: In season two Khloe really started to blossom; she has said she was not popular in his school like her sisters 'They may have already graduated when I got to school, but I remember that teachers would always exclaim, "You're THEIR sister?" I didn't have my own identity and was compared to them. Kim and Kourtney were so popular.' Khloe went her own path. 'I didn't care about being popular in school, and was nice to everyone. If you were a loner I was like, "Come and sit with me!"' she said. Siren: These days the star looks the best in the family thanks to steady workouts and cutting down on sugar Turns out school was hard for her because she had some roadblocks. 'I really loved to write, so English class was my favorite, but there was one teacher who had it out for me and almost crushed my love of writing. 'This teacher would consistently give me C's or D's on my papers. 'I wanted to know what I was doing wrong because I cared about my writing, but she wouldn't help me or give me constructive criticism. 'My dad read my papers and felt the grades weren't justified so, as a test, he wrote one of my papers and I turned it in. The teacher still gave me a D!' She added: 'My dad pulled me out of the class. I also loved theologyI think religions and how it intersects with culture and history is fascinating. I love learning, but don't give me a test, LOL! I didn't get A's and B's, but I enjoyed that stuff.' Blac Chyna had the safe in her Tarzana, California, mansion broken into over the weekend. The thief made off with a whopping $200,000 as well as several pieces of jewelry, according to a Monday report from TMZ. It was her fiance Rob Kardashian who noticed the money and gems were missing and called police. On Tuesday the site added that the beauty believes it was a 'close friend' who committed the crime and now she is trying to track down the person by looking over security footage. She'll get the person: Blac Chyna is trying to track down the 'friend' who stole $200,000 and jewelry from her Tarzana home over the weekend, according to TMZ; here she is seen in April; that's fiance Rob Kardashian behind her The site also alleged that Blac is certain the criminal is a person who is now 'jealous' of her new life. The star has given up alcohol and cigarettes since she started dating Rob Kardashian. And she also has been living much better with more fame - Kim Kardashian is a pal again - and that $325,000 diamond ring from the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star. Home invasion: Chyna seen in March with fiance Rob Splashy: The looker lives inside the Silver Hawk Ridge community of Tarzana 'Signs point to the culprit being someone close to her and Rob,' said a source. There was 'no obvious signs of entry,' law enforcement sources told TMZ, and the safe wasn't 'busted open.' That has led police to believe it was someone in the couple's 'inner circle.' The site added that very few people even knew the safe exited, so that narrows the field. Rob has been living with the model ever since his sister Khloe Kardashian kicked him out of her Calabasas mansion, which was once owned by Justin Bieber. Time to rethink your friends: 'Signs point to the culprit being someone close to her and Rob,' said a source This burglary comes just after news that Blac's sex tape with ex Tyga might be sold. Chyna is allegedly doing everything in her power to stop her on-camera romp with Kylie Jenner's beau from hitting the internet. The 27-year-old star is planning to take legal action should her X-rated antics surface online, according to TMZ. Blac Chyna's lawyer Walter Mosley told the gossip site she will go after punters 'with a vengeance'. This is getting complicated: This burglary comes just after news that Blac's sex tape with ex Tyga might be sold. Chyna is allegedly doing everything in her power to stop her on-camera romp with Kylie Jenner's beau from hitting the internet Meanwhile, Rob was featured heavily on Sunday's season 12 premiere of KUWTK. Khloe Kardashian said Rob 'burned his last bridge' when he bought Chyna back to her house. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star slammed her brother for 'disrespecting' her by bringing his now-fiancee to her home when he was living there. Mad: Meanwhile, Rob was featured heavily on Sunday's season 12 premiere of KUWTK. Khloe Kardashian said Rob 'burned his last bridge' when he bought Chyna back to her house The 31-year-old fumed: 'Do you want to hear the craziest story? Rob was asking what time I would be home and I got home 30 minutes than the time that I told him I was coming home so I walked in on him with Blac Chyna at my house.' The event took place earlier this year and the family is now embracing Chyna. Even Kylie - who feuded with the model after she started dating her baby daddy Tyga - has posed with the siren for selfies. But back when Rob first started seeing Blac, there was a lot of tension. All on TV: The 31-year-old fumed: 'Do you want to hear the craziest story? Rob was asking what time I would be home and I got home 30 minutes than the time that I told him I was coming home so I walked in on him with Blac Chyna at my house' Khloe especially didn't like it when she found the beauty at her sprawling Calabasas mansion, which was once owned by Justin Bieber. 'Theres alcohol everywhere. Hes having the time of his life. Dont you dare make me feel uncomfortable in my own home.' She added: 'I dont really care who Rob dates but having Chyna over at my house without my knowledge is disrespectful. Kerry Washington is pregnant again. The Scandal star, 39, is expecting her second child with husband Nnamdi Asomugha, according to E! News. This comes just after the two were seen on the red carpet on Saturday evening at the White House Correspondents' dinner in Washington DC. Scroll down for video Baby on board? Kerry Washington is pregnant again. The Scandal star is expecting her second child with husband Nnamdi Asomugha, according to E! News; here she is seen on Monday in NYC Clever clothes? It seemed as if she could have been hiding a bump in a distracting black and white print floral dress with polka dots. A leather jacket also helped conceal what could be a pregnant belly Pregnant belly or burrito? The beauty showed off some of her tummy when she sat down for a GMA chat Kerry's rep told DailyMail she does not comment on her clients' personal lives. The New York native was last seen on Monday morning in Manhattan ahead of her Met Gala appearance. She was heading in for an interview with Good Morning America. It seemed as if she could have been hiding a bump in a distracting black and white Self Portrait print floral dress with polka dots. A leather jacket also helped conceal what could be a pregnant belly. Doing just fine: This comes just after the two were seen on the red carpet on Saturday evening at the White House Correspondents' dinner in Washington DC Hiding her tummy again: The siren put her hands in front of her belly on the red carpet With her TV co-workers: The leggy star with Scandal actor Tony Goldwyn and show creator Shonda Rhimes Motherhood seems to agree with the TV icon. Last year she told the Los Angeles Times: 'I will say I feel really, really blessed. I just feel really blessed that I'm kind of living extraordinary dreams come true in my work life and in my personal life.' Kerry likes to keep her family life private. She secretly married the San Francisco 49ers cornerback in 2013 and has stayed away from Twitter. 'Well...I still won't talk about my personal life on here,' she said last year. 'But...I see your tweets. And I am filled with gratitude! XO #HappyMothersDay.' Pre-gala: The siren with Tony at the White House in this Instagram snap On GMA she talked Monday night's Met Gala. 'You have to be able to touch up your own lipstick and wear a dress you can eat in,' she said. The gala overseen by Vogues Anna Wintour has as its theme Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. 'For me, this night is really strictly about fashion,' said Washington. 'This night is really about fashion as art and celebrating the Met and celebrating the history of great fashion and how it fits into our context of American art, international art.' Last year, Washington wore pink Prada ball gown. He's been at the centre of some baby drama on-screen as part of his role in Eastenders. But James Bye, 32, who plays Martin Fowler in the BBC soap, couldn't have looked happier as he introduced his new baby, Louis George alongside his beautiful wife Victoria. And despite being delivered ten days after his due date, the couple OK! about the very hands-on water birth. Scroll down for video New arrival: EastEnders star James Bye, 32, who plays Martin Fowler introduces new baby Louis George alongside his wife Victoria Louis was born at 6.50pm on March 9 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, and weighed a healthy 8lb 15oz. Speaking to OK! magazine about the water birth, James said: 'I got my trunks on and got in, too. 'I put my hand down and held his head. It was the most amazing feeling on earth. Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today 'I can't put into words what it felt like to do it, to pull him into this world.' And they added that working through the birthing process together helped to strengthen their bond as a couple. Posing alongside her beautiful family, Victoria, said: 'It makes you stronger as a couple to share these experiences and go through them together. 'Part of me did wonder whether it would faze James to see me in all my glory through labour - the scarier, gorier parts particularly. 'But he wanted to be there and to be a part of it.' And although the couple are dealing with the stresses of being new parents, they say that they also have a little helper on hand for extra assistance. Victoria, said: 'Edward's just fallen in love with him. 'When Louis cries, Edward runs up to him and says "Shhh, it's okay." 'When I arrive to pick up Edward from nursery now it's "Baby Louis" he shouts in greeting, rather than "Mummy".' Meanwhile, James has been embroiled in a heart-breaking storyline, which sees his on-screen partner Stacey (Lacey Turner) suffer from postpartum psychosis after giving birth to son Arthur, who Martin wrongly believes is his. Speaking about his career in an interview, last year, he said: 'There were times I thought about giving up and if it hadn't been for my wife I would have. I'd tell her, "It's not gonna happen," but Victoria kept me going and would write to agents and casting directors. 'It's incredible to have someone like that by your side.' See EastEnders updates as James Bye and wife Victoria celebrate their new son Close to home: James has been embroiled in a heart-breaking storyline, which sees his on-screen partner Stacey (Lacey Turner) suffer from postpartum psychosis after giving birth to son Arthur He added that Victoria, who he met aged 22, continues to help him. He said: 'You become a team; she gives me advice on my scripts I know with her input I'll do better. Or if there's a scene we think isn't working, she'll suggest we do it another way. 'She looks after our son full-time at the moment, but she's come from the industry, having done acting, singing and modelling, so she knows what she's talking about. It's not like getting my nan to direct me!' James says the greatest thing about joining EastEnders is being able to support his family while doing a job he adores. He said: 'It doesn't matter what time you get up or get home because I'm know I'm providing for my family and working with the best people in the world.' Her love-life has once again been thrown into the spotlight thanks to her rollercoaster romance with Gary 'Gaz' Beadle. But Charlotte Crosby has been making the most of the May bank holiday, and has been showing her Geordie Shore co-star exactly what he's missing out on in a series of Instagram posts. Taking to social media on Monday evening, the 25-year-old reality star shared yet another leggy selfie, which saw Charlotte posing up a storm in a daring cream playsuit. Scroll down for video Another leggy display: Charlotte Crosby has been making the most of the May bank holiday, and has been showing her Geordie Shore co-star exactly what he's missing out on in a series of Instagram posts Snapping a full-length selfie of herself, Charlotte made sure that she captured every inch of her saucy yet stylish outfit for the evening. Making sure her toned legs were firmly on display thanks to the one-piece's thigh-skimming design, Charlotte looked to have made sure all eyes would be on her. Featuring a cinched-in waistline and a flesh-flashing corseted neckline, the sleeveless garment highlighted the reality star's incredible figure to the max. And as always the Northern lass appeared to have taken extra care to ensure her hair was immaculately styled, with her long tresses falling curling waves past her shoulders. Legs for miles: Charlotte Crosby shared a very Instagram post on Sunday in which she wowed in a super short playsuit from her own fashion collection Being a selfie Queen, Charlotte was sure to fix a smouldering expression on her face for the snap - with the MTV star defining her striking features with some expertly applied make-up. However the leggy selfie was the latest in a series of saucy and fun-filled Instagram snap from across the weekend. As Charlotte put on another pin-parading performance on Saturday night, as she showed off her slim curves in a super short black playsuit. Further defining her legs with a sky high pair of statement heels, which also added some extra inches to her frame. What's the worst that could happen? It looks as though Charlotte is getting ready to let her hair down with a couple of pals in her new outfit Charlotte simply captioned the image with the words: 'Bank holiday b***hes Playsuit @inthestyleuk.' The snap comes as the lovely lady came over all shy while leaving a restaurant on Thursday night, covering her face with a napkin instead of her posing for the cameras. She has been going through a tough time as rumours swirled of her on/off boyfriend Gary Beadle bedded two women while filming MTV reality show Ex On The Beach. Dressed in a demure golden silk shirt, jeans and ankle boots, love-lorn Charlotte joined the rest of the Geordie Shore crew - minus Gary who was still on his way home from Thailand - for a meal. Shy: Charlotte Crosby hid her face with a purple napkin when she left Mambos in South Shields on Thursday night as on/off boyfriend Gaz Beadle jetted back into the UK Sheepish: Gary Beadle arrived at Heathrow on Friday morning to face the music with on/off girlfriend Charlotte after rumours emerged about fling with co-star Jemma Lucy, who was also pictured arriving home The reality TV star could have found recent events too much to handle, as she tried to leave Mambos restaurant in South Shields incognito. Meanwhile, Gary was spotted in Heathrow Airport after touching down from south east Asia on Friday Morning. Wheeling his luggage through arrivals, the 28-year-old looked sheepish. It is thought he will face crisis talks with Charlotte, who he has dated on and off since he joined the Geordie Shore house in 2011. Charlotte voiced her concerns that Gary would was going to play away while he films his second stint on MTV dating show Ex On The Beach - a show centered around dating and dalliances. Geordie stars: Holly Hagan was also pictured leaving Mambos on Thursday, but was happy to be photographed Woman in black: Chloe Ferry was also present at the dinner, which was the first time Charlotte has been seen since the drama emerged about Gary and Jemma Lucy The Sunderland-born beauty insisted that if Gary returns and announces he has romanced a cast mate - she would break things off for good. Her vow comes after reports surfaced claiming he worked his charm on two of his co-stars on upcoming season of the controversial MTV hit - allegedly bedding both Charlotte Dawson, daughter of late comic Les, and returning cast-member Olivia Walsh. A source told The Sun: 'Gaz and the girls barely knew each other, but they were determined to make this the raunchiest series of Ex on the Beach ever and jumped into bed with each other pretty much as soon as the cameras were on. 'It was a total free for all and even though Gaz has slept with over 1,000 women, it'll be a night he never forgets. He definitely wasn't thinking about how Charlotte C may feel.' The claims come as Charlotte threatened to quit Geordie Shore after it emerged Gaz had a fling with another Ex On The Beach star - Jemma Lucy. Sideboob ahoy: Jemma Lucy posted a photo of herself wearing a very low-cut black vest and shorts as she waded through the water The notorious reality star was also pictured arriving back in the UK on Friday. She was seen sporting her Thailand-tan as she waited in the miserable weather at Manchester airport to be picked up. Despite her adamant sentiments, she also revealed that if he managed to stay faithful they could give their relationship a go. She adds: But if he comes back and says: "I didnt get with anyone and I realise I just want to be with you," then Ill say lets be in a relationship. 'I do care so much about the boy and I want more than anything for us to be together. It's the biggest night for fashion and the ladies must look their best. So it's no wonder several of the attendees of the 2016 Met Gala - which is held in New York City and has the theme Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology this year - started primping early. Karolina Kurkova, Adriana Lima, Karlie Kloss and Alessandra Ambrosio got an especially early jump as they revealed on their Instagram accounts. Scroll down for video She does it white: Karolina Kurkova posted one of the chicest getting-glam photos as she got ready for the Met Gala on Monday The frill of it all! She also gave a look at her pretty lit-up dress which she described as 'emotional' Karolina posted one of the chicest getting-glam photos as she got ready in a bathroom. The 32-year-old had on white cream and sipped from a cappuccino cup. The blonde model's caption read: 'In the very good hands of @ctilburymakeup and @lacyredway. Starting early with curlers and a clay mask to prep the skin & hair. #kkbeauty #MetGala #KKgoestoMetGala #MetGala2016' She also gave a look at her pretty dress which she described as 'emotional.' It was co-designed by Marchesa and IBM. She always goes for the sexy look: Kate Hudson gave no clue as to what her gown would look like as she sat in the makeup chair Rico Suave: Nick Jonas - who was reportedly with Hudson on Sunday night - posed in a tux by a window Kate Hudson gave no clue as to what her gown would look like as she sat in the makeup chair. She wore a white robe with black piping and her blonde hair was down. Her caption read, 'We starting.' Her reported beau Nick Jonas was also seen getting spiffed up. She's so in Vogue: Gigi Hadid looked flawless as she was getting powdered Her name says it all: Bella Hadid had on mirrored sunglasses and her hair pulled back with a black choker She looks half her age! Cindy Crawford, 50, flashed her leg while getting touched up at The Lowe in NYC Sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid were both getting glammed up for the big event. Gigi looked flawless as she was getting powered. She was on Tommy Hilfiger's Snapchat. Bella had on mirrored sunglasses and her hair pulled back with a black choker. Work it girl: Adriana Lima got in a last workout before the Met Gala on Monday and said in her caption she was 'ready for a good night' Purrr: Lima looked like Catwoman as she had on an eye mask Blue mood? Alessandra Ambrosio had on a blue facial scrub and puckered for the camera. She wrote Glam Cam over the image. Naughty little girl: Jourdan Dunn, 25, stuck her tongue out for Allure. The caption read: ;allure#MetGala beauty prep with the gorgeous @officialjdunn! Stay tuned for more' Lima got in a last workout before the Met Gala and said in her caption she was 'ready for a good night.' The 34-year-old wore a neon top and looked toned to the max. Alessandra had on a blue facial scrub and puckered for the camera. She wrote Glam Cam over the image. What will she do? Karlie hinted that she was going to wear a wig Nice: First she showed an image with her blonde locks pulled back So Lulu of her: Then KK revealed what she looked like with a black bob on Posing: The girlfriend of $200m man Josh Kushner put her hands under her chain in a Vogue pose Will she really wear a wig? Kendall Jenner teased she would have on this hair piece as she sat for Estee Lauder Karlie hinted that she was going to wear a wig as she first showed an image with her blonde locks pulled back then revealed what she looked like with a black bob on. There were several other wigs in the background, all with short hair. She had three male attendants around her - one looked as if he belonged in a 90s music video. Lady Gaga posed away in her hotel room on the Upper East Side. She will shock for sure: Lady Gaga posed away in her hotel room on the Upper East Side Flowers everywhere: The singer shared this image of the bouquet in her room Freida Pinto shared a photo where designer Tory Burch was putting the finishing touches on her white dress that had ruffles on the back. The actress had her hair pinned up and her face could not be seen. Tori on the other hand was made up with large earrings. Light and lovely: Freida Pinto shared a photo where designer Tory Burch was putting the finishing touches on her white dress that had ruffles on the back Hailey Baldwin shared an image where a man was looking at her long honey locks. The ex of Justin Bieber looked to already have sharply drawn in eyebrows and she was sipping from a glass of water in a hotel room. Later she shared a look at her nails. Hails alert: Hailey Baldwin shared an image where a man was looking at her long honey locks Silver! The ex of Justin Bieber later she shared a look at her nails Maria Sharapova looked fresh faced as she sat in a makeup chair. Her hair was down and there was zero hint of what her look would be, but the tennis ace is sure to stun. It also looked as if she had eyelash extensions. Clean: Maria Sharapova looked fresh faced as she sat in a makeup chair The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit is hosted by Taylor Swift as well as Editor of American Vogue Anna Wintour, Idris Elba, and Jonathan Ive, chief design officer of Apple. Anna took over as chairwoman of the gala in 1999. Since then, she has been instrumental in transforming a local philanthropic event into a massive event. Practice makes semi perfect: Giuliana Rancic getting ready with her co-stars on Monday Blinging in the Gala: Lena Dunham showed off her hands with her fave pals It has been called the Oscars of the East Coast. The honorary chairs are the Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld; Miuccia Prada; and Nicolas Ghesquiere, Louis Vuittons artistic director. All will be in attendance except for Mr. Lagerfeld, who will be in Cuba because the Chanel Cruise show is in Havana the day after the gala, according to the New York Times. The site added that tickets this year are $30,000 apiece, and tables are $275,000. The party and exhibit are sponsored (this year Apple is the main underwriter), so all the money raised from ticket sales goes to the Costume Institute. Last year, more than $12.5 million was raised. A look: Dresses on display at the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" press preview at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on at Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday There were disturbing signs that Made In Chelsea was being over-run with newcomers who were even more vacuous and preposterous than the shows regulars. Hard to witness and even more difficult to believe possible. For example you might think Jamie going out with one bland Sloanie called Jess was enough. Jessica Molly managed to make her rival seem interesting (well almost) - something the scriptwriters had been trying to achieve for the last few series. After all Jessica Molly was basically just a shameless hanger-on the best mate of Lucy Watsons sister who was herself nothing more than an adjunct cashing in on her siblings fame. Scroll down for video There were disturbing signs that Made In Chelsea was being over-run with newcomers: For example you might think Jamie going out with one bland Sloanie called Jess was enough - he had to go out with Frankie too! No doubt next year we can look forward to Jessica Molly having her own sister or sidekick. As for Frankie (Jamies other date) ranked lower still, because she wasnt even called Jess. For years now Victoria Harber-Baker has been Mark-Francis Vandellis confidante/groupie like a designer version of Hinge and Bracket. This week, Victoria finally got her own lackey in the shape of Tallulah Rufus-Isaacs. Tallulah spoke a strange form of English not just because she was American, but because she used a syntax that seemingly stressed every 8th word regardless of its significance. Victoria is someone I spend a lot of time with on her OWN, Tallulah drawled, which was preferable to Rosie or anyone who knew them. I want to take it clear to YOU that Im not taking her SIDE. A real achievement! Jessica Molly managed to make her rival seem interesting (well almost) - something the scriptwriters had been trying to achieve for the last few series Another new face: Victoria finally got her own lackey in the shape of Tallulah Rufus-Isaacs - who spoke a strange form of English, using a syntax that seemingly stressed every 8th word regardless of its significance Predictably Tallulah failed to persuade Victoria to bury the hatchet except in Rosies head. I dont think you change my life at all, Victoria informed Rosie before flouncing out of the peace talks by concluding. I really cant be bothered with this s**t anymore ! Ciao ! (Top tip: there is no better/bitchier way to make your exit than having Ciao ! as your final word.) As for the series other newcomer, Olivia Bentleys biggest talent was not her photography but her penchant for looking down on her fellow novices. Do you ever wear heels? she sneered elegantly to Jess, adding tartly maybe you should. Big trouble in little Chelsea: Predictably Tallulah failed to persuade Victoria to bury the hatchet except in Rosies head Ice cold! I dont think you change my life at all, Victoria informed Rosie before flouncing out of the peace talks by concluding. I really cant be bothered with this s**t anymore ! Ciao! Her advice to Frankie before her date with Jamie meanwhile was the exact opposite but equally pithy. Youll have to wear flats. Otherwise youll be looking down at the small b*****d. Ouch. Heaven help the first man/victim Olivia is paired up with. As for MiCs stalwarts, they were in surprisingly forgiving mood. This weeks episode included the strange sight of Stephanie Pratt pouring her heart out to Nicola Hughes and inviting her to the Maldives. This was just a fortnight after the old pro (of Reality TV that is) had targeted Nicolas boyfriend Alex Mytton as an option a betrayal Nicola seemed to forget after the mention of the word Maldives (as if shed been hypnotised). Acerbic to the max? As for the series other newcomer, Olivia Bentleys biggest talent was not her photography but her penchant for looking down on her fellow novices Friend or foe? Youll have to wear flats. Otherwise youll be looking down at the small b*****d, quipped Olivia as she met up with Frankie and Jess Lucy Watson of course was less benevolent about Stephanie, particularly as it was her birthday. I dont need a friend thats going to try and drag me down, she purred pointedly, as if the rest of us did. Just be nice ! Binky beseeched, as if she hadnt seen Made In Chelsea before let alone actually been friends with her. I dont want to be nice, Lucy Watson concluded - something none of us wanted either. Her birthday was ruined even further when James revealed he had given a lift to two girls Sam had picked up at a pardy. Why would you put two random girls in my car?! Watson gasped, seemingly more upset about them being random than female. I dont want skank cells all over my car ! she continued as if skank cells were a perfectly normal concept. Seriously, did you get it cleaned? Another MIC stalwart, Little Louise Thompson, was also having trouble with her love life despite (or because of) her other half (Alik Fonzarelli Alfus) living as far away from her as possible in New York, where he was still making hideous leather waistcoats for the few remaining fans of Miami Vice. On the rocks? Another MiC stalwart, Little Louise Thompson, was also having trouble with her love life despite (or because of) her other half (Alik Fonzarelli Alfus) living as far away from her as possible - in NYC Hair-low Alik. Hi ham just cawling becawse I haff nort spoh-ken to yew in a why-yal-er: Despite her best efforts Lousie couldn't talk to Alik until he decided to call her via Skype Hi liter-al-air haff nort slept, Louise complained, trying to sound as posh as the other gals and pouring Rosie a cup of what Louise called hairball tea. Louise feared Alik was playing away because he had been posting pictures on social medi-yah. He-eee has been hact-airng com-pleeee-ter-lair different-lair. Hes gorn hout ever-air night. Its a gut instinct. Im not being ov-ah dramatic. As if... If you feel that something is wrong then chances are something IS wrong, Rosie told her comfortingly. (Thats what friends are for.) When Louise phoned Alik sensibly he didnt answer, forcing Louise to leave a message. Hair-low Alik. Hi ham just cawling becawse I haff nort spoh-ken to yew in a why-yal-er. Ive just been going out a lot: Alik explained their lack of communication - which she probably knew from his photos from nightclubs across New Yorks five boroughs A tearful subject: I have had opportunities to be with other people, he told her. I hate this distance thing an excuse that basically implied any infidelity was her fault for not being there to stop him Eventually they spoke via the scientific, futuristic, breakthrough that is Skype. This was a scene that confirmed we can put a man on the moon but the scratchy picture and delay means Skype still looks and sound like, welllike youre talking to someone who is on the moon. Whats going on? Louise asked in the manner of fellow social commentator Marvin Gaye only if Marvin had actually said warts gurgh-hing hon? Ive just been going out a lot, Alik explained - which she probably knew from his photos from nightclubs across New Yorks five boroughs. Poor Louise was at her wits end admittedly not something that takes long. My mind is going craze-air ! she wailed. I just feel like Im rilly, rilly, on hedge. Ive felt rilly, rilly, uncomfortable the last few days. I feel like there is someone else. Youve been posting pictures of girls on social medi-yah. Ever the gentleman, Alik immediately sought to put her mind at ease. I have had opportunities to be with other people, he told her for reasons of his own (and the scriptwriters). I hate this distance thing an excuse that basically implied any infidelity was her fault for not being there to stop him. Hi ham hupset, Louise sobbed (or tried to). I need to come to Hamerica and speak to yew. Sure enough she had reluctantly flown to New York for a single scene talking to Rosie rather than Alik. Im hoffering to drop ever-air-thang to be-hee hout hair in New-hew York, Louise protested as if her life in London involved running a multinational company rather than appearing on Made In Chelsea. Im prepared for the worst, she continued in the manner of a tragic heroine on a par with Greta Garbo. Its not what I want. But in a way Im already imagining what itll like to be single. To be fair, with her track record, this shouldnt be that hard. She's getting ready to reprise her role as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades Darker. But it seems all 27-year-old actress Dakota Johnson can think about is her off-screen beau, Matthew Hitt. Dakota and her indie rock musician boyfriend were seen strolling arm in arm through NoHo in New York on Monday. Scroll down for video The couple that dresses together: Dakota Johnson and Matthew Hitt were seen arm in arm strolling through NoHo in New York on Monday She's really getting into character! Dakota wore an all black outfit for her stroll with her beau. The actress is getting ready to reprise her role as Anastasia Steele for 50 Shades Darker The couple decided to compliment each other as they both wore black for the outing. Dakota looked casual in her black jeans, matching top and black floor length coat. She finished off her look with some white trainers. She wore minimal make-up and a pair of big shades as she let her wavy brown hair fall naturally on her shoulders. Matchymatchy: The couple decided to compliment each other as they both wore black for the romantic outing Her rocker boyfriend wore an edgy leather bomber with a pair of black trousers and black shoes as he was seen smiling during their stroll. The couple have been inseparable since they got back together. On Saturday the loved up couple were spotted holding hands and cuddling. The two were broken up for several months earlier this year. It's been a rocky road for the young couple who dated for a few months before splitting last summer. Not smooth sailing: It's been a rocky road for the young couple who dated for a few months before splitting last summer Dakota confirmed she and Matthew had gone their separate ways during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last September. When the talk show host asked Dakota: 'Are you in a relationship?' she replied 'no' with a nervous laugh. But they were seen together in New York in October and again in late January this year when the couple left Dakota's New York apartment separately, making it seem that they were on again. Casual chic: Dakota looked casual in her black jeans, matching top and black floor length coat. She finished off her look with some white trainers Dakota squashed that rumour in February when she told Marie Claire that she currently only had the capacity for platonic relationships. 'I don't have a boyfriend. Why? You got one for me?' she replied when asked by the magazine if she was taken. 'Right now I find myself having the capacity to love my family and friends, and that's it.' Dakota is currently filming the 50 Shades Of Grey sequels in Vancouver, B.C. Fifty Shades Darker is due to be released on February 10, 2017, which will be followed by the last installment in the franchise, 50 Shades Freed, which will hit theatres February 19, 2018. 50 shades of balloons! It seems Dakota and Jamie Dornan are having fun filming the sequels to 50 Shades OF Grey as Dakota posted a birthday picture for the actor: 'Happy early birthday @jamiedornan' Kendall Jenner served as muse, yet again, for Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld in a blurry, artsy spread in V Magazine's summer issue. Stylist Amanda Harlech showcased the 20-year-old reality starlet's statuesque 5ft10 figure in a variety of spring couture from designers like Dior and, what else, Chanel. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians stunner sported wet and wild locks by Sam McKnight and elaborate eye make-up by Tom Pecheux. Scroll down for video Ready for her close-up: Kendall Jenner served as muse, yet again, for Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld in a blurry, artsy spread in V Magazine's summer issue Wearable art: Stylist Amanda Harlech showcased the 20-year-old reality starlet's statuesque 5ft10 figure in a variety of spring couture from designers like Dior and, what else, Chanel Alexander McQueen FW16 kimono: The Keeping Up with the Kardashians stunner sported wet and wild locks by Sam McKnight and elaborate eye make-up by Tom Pecheux Kendall tapped into her inner-Geisha during the romantically stark shoot, in which she swanned around in a gold-embroidered Valentino silk kimono. Inspired by 'classical Chinese watercolors,' the dreamy pictorial also included Jenner in a Swarovski crystal-laden lavender Giorgio Armani Prive top and wavy plisse organza skirt. The Society Management model is frequently featured by the German 82-year-old, who first cast her in his runway show back in 2014. Catch more of marketable Kendall - who boasts 85.7M social media followers - in Issue 101, which hits newsstands this Thursday. See Kendall Jenner updates as she goes high fashion in blurry V Mag spread Yellowface? Kendall tapped into her inner-Geisha during the romantically stark shoot, in which she swanned around in a gold-embroidered Valentino silk kimono Inspired by 'classical Chinese watercolors': The dreamy pictorial also included Jenner in a Swarovski crystal-laden lavender Giorgio Armani Prive top and wavy plisse organza skirt Reunited: The Society Management model is frequently featured by the German 82-year-old, who first cast her in his runway show back in 2014 Charlize Theron on the cover: Catch more of marketable Kendall - who boasts 85.7M social media followers - in Issue 101, which hits newsstands this Thursday Jenner - who's attending Monday night's Met Gala - was last seen dining with her momager Kris and her toyboy Corey Gamble at Nobu in Manhattan on Sunday. The nepotistically-privileged millennial - who relies on stylist Monica Rose - bared her belly in a Re/Done Hanes tee, Citizens of Humanity jeans, and a striped Erika Cavallini maxi-jacket. The Hillary Clinton supporter and her Calabasas socialite family continue their adventures on the 12th season of KUWTK, which airs Sundays on E! What will she wear to the Met? Jenner - who's attending Monday night's Met Gala - was last seen dining with her momager Kris and her toyboy Corey Gamble at Nobu in Manhattan on Sunday Big Apple babe: The nepotistically-privileged millennial - who relies on stylist Monica Rose - bared her belly in a Re/Done Hanes tee, Citizens of Humanity jeans, and a striped Erika Cavallini maxi-jacket She spectacularly ended her friendship with Stephanie Pratt over her lies. But Lucy Watson was slightly more forgiving of her boyfriend James Dunmore - just - when she confronted him over some lies on Monday night's Made In Chelsea. Following a brief conversation with Sam Thompson, who spectacularly dumped James in it, the 25-year-old reality beauty wasn't prepared to forgive her boyfriend's little white lie - accusing him of 'ruining' her birthday. Scroll down for video 'I didnt think youd ever lie to my face': Lucy Watson struggled to come to terms with the fact her boyfriend James Dunmore had told her a lie at the start of their relationship in Monday night's Made In Chelsea Despite admitting to Sam over a friendly drink that he thought telling a 'white lie' was part and parcel of dating, the chiseled Chelsea boy was left reeling when Lucy confronted him over his own fib. Arriving at her birthday party with a surprise present for his girlfriend, James was forced to admit that he had lied to the fiery brunette on at least one occasion. The trouble all started when Sam tried to patch things up after they fell out over his treatment of her younger sister Tiff. Catching him snooping through the present pile, Sam managed to turn a conversation about Tiff into one about James, as he attempted to explain his theory on white lies in relationships. See Made In Chelsea updates as Lucy Watson confronts boyfriend James Dunmore Bad move? Following a chat with Sam Thompson, who spectacularly dumped James in it, the 25-year-old reality beauty wasn't prepared to forgive her boyfriend's little white lie - accusing him of 'ruining' her birthday 'People in relationships do tell white lies. James does it to you,' he explained to a perplexed Lucy. 'But maybe James shouldnt lie to you?' Twigging that something wasn't quite right, a rattled Lucy told Sam exactly what she though, saying: 'I just want to say do you think its really weird that you brought James into this?' To which Sam replied: 'I just think it's better to live in the real world.' But with a sneaking suspicion that Sam wasn't telling the whole story, Lucy rounded on her boyfriend as he came to surprise her with a suitably large present. Jumping straight in at the deep-end, the MIC stalwart started the interogation, saying: 'It was so weird I was talking to Sam and he said you lie to me all the time... He was like, "James lies to you".' Just between the guys? Despite admitting to Sam that he thought telling a 'white lie' was part and parcel of dating, the chiseled Chelsea boy was left reeling when Lucy confronted him over his own fib Trying to play it cool, James looked suitably surprised by the sudden and unexpected accusation, he feigned ignorance, mumbling: 'Whats he on about?' But with his resolve withering under Lucy's laser-beam stare, he admitted there may have been one occasion where he concealed some of the truth from his girlfriend. James admitted wincing as the words came out. However, he added that 'it was quite early in our relationship' and he hadn't wanted to anger Lucy by revealing that he'd been with Sam and two 'random' girls in Lucy's car without her. 'People in relationships do tell white lies. James does it to you': The trouble all started when Sam tried to patch things up with Lucy after they fell out over his treatment of her younger sister Tiff An inquisition: Jumping straight in at the deep-end, the MIC stalwart started the interogation, saying: 'It was so weird I was talking to Sam and he said you lie to me all the time... He was like, "James lies to you"' Despite explaining that he would never usually lie to her, Lucy was less than impressed with the news that she'd been lied to by her boyfriend of one year. 'Why would you put two random girls in my car? Why not just tell me that?' Asked an incensed Lucy, before she stated the obvious,quipping: 'It just looks shady.' And while James tried to defend his actions, saying he only had best intentions at hear, Lucy could only think of the negatives, snapping: 'I don't want skank cells all over my car.' Though James insisted that the girls, Sam and himself were all fully clothed, the damage was done. 'Its actually ruining my birthday,' Lucy insisted. And while James apologised and implored her to trust him, Lucy was clearly hurt by her boyfriends admission, saying:'I didnt think youd ever lie to my face.' Shes been in the spotlight since she was 13 years old. And now former Neighbours stars Caitlin Stasey has celebrated turning 26. On Monday, the striking actress took to her social media sites to share a series of snaps from what appeared to be a surprise birthday party thrown by her loved ones. Scroll down for video Surprise! Former Neighbours star Caitlin Stasey shared a series of snaps from what appeared to be a surprise 26th birthday party thrown by her loved ones on Monday The first snap, which was simply captioned with the word surprise, shows the starlet beam with delight as she was handed a large bouquet of flowers. She later followed the post with another picture of herself blowing some candles on a birthday cake. Earlier on in the week, Caitlin shared a childhood throwback photograph of herself from an old school year book - taken over a decade ago. Sweet treat: The actress later followed the post with another picture of herself blowing some candles off a birthday cake Fly since '02 AND they spelled my name wrong, she wrote alongside the nostalgic image. The former soap star - who is in a relationship with fellow actor Lucas Neff - is the picture of sweetness in the archive school portrait which sees her smile beautifully. Although there's no denying Caitlin's blossomed into a beautiful young woman since then, it seems her cherubic good looks has remained. Fly since '02': Earlier on in the week, Caitlin shared a childhood throwback photograph of herself from an old school year book taken over a decade ago Meanwhile, at the start of the year, the Australian beauty strongly hinted that she had tied the knot with Raising Hope actor Lucas, 30. In January, she posted several images which show the Chicago native carrying her over the threshold and the pair punching the pair with glee. Their close pal, actor Echo Kellum, took to Twitter to congratulate them, writing: 'Congrats to Lucas Neff and Caitlin Stasey on their marriage! They are the cutest!!! Proud to be y'all friend!' Caitlin and Lucus have yet to address their marriage. He had a reputation as the bad boy of AFL. And Brendan Fevola has confessed that he once spent a night in a Brisbane jail cell - for jaywalking on New Year's Eve in 2010. The I'm A Celebrity winner, 35, admitted to Fifi and Dave on Fox 101.9 on Tuesday that he had drunk 'a few beers' before he was locked up for four hours. Scroll down for audio 'They got me': Brendan Fevola (left) has confessed that he once spent a night in a Brisbane jail cell - for jaywalking on New Year's Eve in 2010 When asked by Fifi Box whether he had ever done a stint in jail, he said: 'Yeah once, it's not fun. 'On New Year's Eve 2010 I was walking across the road at 3am and they got me for jaywalking in Brisbane and locked me up. 'They got me. It's the only time I've been locked up and it's cold, it's not nice.' Reunited! In February, the 35-year-old confirmed that he and his wife Alex (pictured together) were giving marriage another shot Oh dear: The AFL star, who has battled a gambling addiction in the past, has run into controversy throughout his career Presenter Dave Thornton then joked that Brendan was probably ok because he was a 'big unit'. But the former Carlton player said he was 'picked on' and didn't want to use the steel toilet in his cell. 'I was in a cell by myself,' he told the radio show. 'But I did get picked on. It wasn't fun and I was only in there for 4 hours or something. 'They give you one blanket and there's a steel toilet there. I was bursting to go but I didn't want to use it. Think about who you has sat there. I didn't want to go in there. I'd had a few beers.' The AFL star, who has battled a gambling addiction in the past, has run into controversy throughout his career. He made headlines for incidents including urinating outside a nightclub in 2008 that made him be stood down from leadership at his club. Drama: He made headlines for incidents including urinating outside a nightclub in 2008 that made him be stood down from leadership at his club Among other controversies, he was banned from appearing on the Grand Final Footy Show after behaving inappropriately at the 2009 Brownlow Medal ceremony. He then went to the Brisbane Lions not long after. In February, he confirmed that he and his wife Alex were giving marriage another shot. The pair were married for almost a decade when they announced their split in 2014, having tied the knot in October 2005. The couple share three children, including Alex's older daughter Mia from a previous relationship, and their kids Leni and Lulu. She and Brendan had also previously split in 2005, after Brendan's controversial affair with Australian model Lara Bingle, who is now married to actor Sam Worthington. Alex has previously confirmed the betrayal ruined their marriage but, at the time, Lara denied the allegations. In 2010, a nude image of Lara in the shower resurfaced from her alleged affair with Brendan. They are said to be the leading men topping the list of potential new James Bonds. And Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston certainly looked every inch the suave superspy as they attended the Met Gala in New York on Monday. The handsome pair were among the dapper gents who walked the red carpet in white tie at the biggest night in fashion. Scroll down fro video Dapper lads: Bond contenders Idris Elba competed in the suave stakes alongside Tom Hiddleston as they attended the Met Gala on Monday evening Arriving at the city's world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art, 43-year-old Luther star Idris opted for a classic and ageless take on evening dress - wearing a fitted tails coat and white tie. No stranger to slick tailoring, the Pacific Rim star ensured that he looked the definition of dapper as he arrived at the star-studded event. The London-born actor, DJ and writer has been a regular staple in the 'best dressed' lists of the likes of GQ and Esquire for many a year. And clearly aiming to keep his superior fashion credentials up to scratch, Idris chose to attend the soiree in classic evening dress. A classic look: Arriving at the city's world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 43-year-old Luther star opted for a classic and ageless take on evening dress - wearing a fitted tails coat and white tie Simple and slick: Teaming a tails coat with fitted suit trousers, the actor stuck to the traditional rules of 'full evening dress', with the Beast Of No Nation star wearing a white tie, waistcoat and shirt Teaming a tails coat with fitted suit trousers, the actor stuck to the traditional rules of 'full evening dress', with the Beast Of No Nation star wearing a white tie, waistcoat and shirt. And not one to let himself down at the final furlong, the Award-winning actor put his ebst foot forward by rounding his wardrobe off with gleaming pair of black patent Oxfords. Keeping to the age-old addage that 'less is more', he kept his look uncluttered; only choosing to wear a watch and a white boutonniere. Stepping thing up: Keeping to the age-old addage that 'less is more', he kept his look uncluttered; only choosing to wear a watch and a white boutonniere Idris sported his trademark goatee for the event, but he made sure that his facial hair was perfectly groomed, while he sported a freshly clipped disconnected do to match. Despite the theme of this year's event being 'Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology', the star had decided to stick to a more traditional look. He certainly faced some stiff competition from rival dashing Brit, Tom. The handsome actor - also a favourite alongside Idris to take over from Daniel Craig as the next Bond - also arrived in traditional dinner suit with tails. Dapper: Idris faced some stiff competition from another dashing Brit - Tom Hiddleston Shaken not stirred: The handsome actor - also a favourite alongside Idris to take over from Daniel Craig as the next Bond - also arrived in traditional dinner suit with tails Night shift: Tom was joined by his glamorous The Night Manager co-star Elizabeth Debicki, who glowed in a green dress Nice to see you: The pair looked pally on the red carpet as they gazed at each other in front of the snappers, before Tom pulled off some solo poses Tom was joined by his glamorous The Night Manager co-star Elizabeth Debicki, who glowed in a green dress. The pair looked pally on the red carpet as they gazed at each other in front of the snappers, before Tom pulled off some solo poses. However many of the glamorous ladies ,who arrived alongside Idris on the red carpet, embraced the space-age theme. Poppy Delevingne led the fashion pack, with the 29-year-old model and social slipping into a plunging silver tiered gown. Taking the plunge! Poppy Delevingne led the fashion pack, with the 29-year-old model and social slipping into a plunging silver tiered gown Space oddity? Taylor Swift also embraced the theme of this year's event being 'Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology' With five-year delay, CIA 'live-tweets' bin Laden raid The CIA has marked the anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden by live-tweeting -- with a five-year delay -- the raid by US special forces on the Al-Qaeda founder's compound in Pakistan. Using the hashtag #UBLRaid, the CIA blasted out updates of the May 2011 strike as if it was unfolding in real time -- in a highly unusual move for the secretive spy agency. "To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. #UBLRAID," @CIA said in announcing its social media blitz. The CIA has marked the anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden by live-tweeting -- with a five-year delay -- the raid by US special forces on the Al-Qaeda founder's compound in Pakistan Nicholas Kamm (AFP/File) Tweets included the now famous picture of President Barack Obama and other high-ranking US officials watching matters unfold from the White House's Situation Room. "1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan #UBLRaid," read one tweet. "3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury #UBLRaid," read another. That was followed just minutes later by: "3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed #UBLRaid." The CIA's Twitter move got quite a bit of attention, with not everyone enthused. "@CIA Are we tweeting Hiroshima on August 6th too? Or is THAT in bad taste?" tweeted one user, Kris Knight. Another who identies as Amber V tweeted: "Don't you have better things to do, like catch living and breathing bad guys, or secretly invade our privacy, or something? @CIA#UBLRaid" But others reacted positively. "Watching the @CIA relive on Twitter the #UBLRaid today reminds me of how proud I am of the men and women who do what they do. Thank you," tweeted Toby Knapp. - CIA focus on al-Baghdadi - With 1.33 million Twitter followers, the Central Intelligence Agency has sent 1,662 tweets since it joined the social media service in February 2014. "We are the Nation's first line of defense. We accomplish what others cannot accomplish and go where others cannot go," reads the Twitter bio. Previous @CIA tweets in recent days have featured a video about the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine and a counterfeit Nazi stamp. Amid the tweetstorm, CIA chief John Brennan said Sunday that taking out the head of the Islamic State group would have a "great impact." He also warned that Al-Qaeda remained a threat, and that IS was not just an organization but a phenomenon. "We have destroyed a large part of Al-Qaeda. It's not completely eliminated. So we have to stay focused on what it can do," Brennan told NBC's "Meet the Press" talk show. "Now, with the new phenomenon of (IS), this is going to challenge us for years to come," he added. Asked if removing IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from action was as important as the Bin Laden get, Brennan, who does not often do interviews, was direct. "If we got Baghdadi, I think it would have a great impact on the organization. And it will be felt by them," he said. Timeline of the 2011 bin Laden raid Adrian LEUNG, John SAEKI (AFP) A crashed military helicopter is seen near the hideout of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after a ground operation by US Special Forces in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011 An undated video seized by US special forces in their 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden's house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, reportedly shows the Al-Qaeda leader watching television South Korea warns of citizens' potential abduction by North South Korea warned on Monday there is a risk of its citizens being abducted by Pyongyang in retaliation for the defection of a dozen North Korean staff at a restaurant in China. Twelve women working at the restaurant in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo defected to the South with their manager last month. Seoul said they came voluntarily while the North insists they were tricked into defecting by South Korean spies who effectively "kidnapped" them. Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have, over the decades, fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South Choi Jae-ku (AFP/File) The South's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, said overseas missions had been advised to heighten their vigilance. "We are closely watching out for multiple possibilities, including abduction or terrorism ... by the North," said ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee. "We are trying to ensure the safety of our nationals," he told reporters. Seoul's Hankook Ilbo daily reported Monday that Pyongyang was plotting to abduct South Koreans to trade for the 13 defectors. "They set the target of 120 people including expats, soldiers and officials," the newspaper said, citing an official source familiar with North Korean affairs. Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have, over the decades, fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. But group defections are rare, especially by overseas restaurant staff who are generally hand-picked from families that are "loyal" to the regime. Pyongyang has proposed sending the women's parents to Seoul to meet their daughters and has released a video of them tearfully demanding their return. North Korea has a track record when it comes to abductions. In the most high-profile case, late leader Kim Jong-Il had a famed South Korean film director and his actress wife kidnapped in Hong Kong in 1978, in order to make films in the North. The couple escaped in 1986. In 2002, North Korea admitted it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and customs. 'Grown in Washington': the marijuana farms near US power hub Security cameras and barbed wire suggested this was the right place -- the old warehouse on a dead-end street not far from the White House that hosts one of the handful of legal marijuana farms in the US capital. "We're going to do the visit with a panic button... in case of a break-in," Matt Lawson-Baker, the co-owner of Alternative Solutions, told AFP. Alternative Solutions is one of seven facilities in Washington authorized to grow medical marijuana for nearly 3,700 local patients. Alternative Solutions is one of seven facilities in Washington authorized to grow medical marijuana for nearly 3,700 local patients Brendan Smialowski (AFP) Countries worldwide are examining their marijuana laws as they measure effectiveness against enforcement costs. In the United States, medical marijuana has been legalized in 24 states and the capital Washington, while recreational marijuana is legal in four states and the District of Columbia. "We first got into business in 2012, we got approved for a license back then and we sat on it for a while. We started growing a year ago," said Lawson-Baker, who is originally from Australia. - Millions - "We thought we would make millions fast," Lawson-Baker said. But with the Washington medicinal marijuana market still relatively small, and stiff competition already out there, he soon realized he was in it for the long haul. Until demand takes off -- which it fully expects it will -- Alternative Solutions is growing only half of the 1,000 plants allowed by its license. The Australian and his American father-in-law/business partner Bob Simmons -- both of whom previously worked in construction -- are also still learning the intricacies of cannabis cultivation. Depending on the variety, the end product can fetch between $3,000 and $4,500 a pound (about $6,615 to $9,920 per kilogram). In the three harvests since November 2015, the company has generated $700,000 in revenue, and the owners are hoping to break even in three or four years. The fourth harvest is currently underway. A magnifying glass reveals a forest of tiny white pistils covering the leaves and buds of the marijuana plants. The aim is to have plants that look like they're covered with fine sugar -- or when viewed close-up, tiny crystals of ice. "The more, the better," Simmons said. "You want them dumped in sugar." During harvest, each marijuana plant is cut at the base and hung upside-down to dry for about 10 days before the buds are cut off and trimmed. The trimmings are processed into powder ($40 per gram) or resin ($90 per gram). Those products and the buds themselves are then sold in Washington's five official marijuana dispensaries. - Opportunity - Those in the cannabis business hope Washington will one day fully legalize recreational marijuana. Since February 2015, anyone over 21 in Washington can consume marijuana on private property, possess up to two ounces (56 grams) and grow as many as six plants. However, the legal purchase and sale of marijuana for recreational use are not permitted, leading to an explosion in street sales. "The police doesn't know how to handle things so basically they turn a blind eye to it," Lawson-Baker said. With more and more US states allowing medical and recreational marijuana use, it seems he was smart to get in early: the country's marijuana market is estimated to reach $22 billion in 2020, up from $4.6 billion in 2014. - Heaven - In its immaculate 3,600 square foot (335 square meter) growing area with a surprising lack of any distinctive smell, Alternative Solutions is pampering 12 varieties. "Blue Cheese" is pungent and stings the nose, while "AK47" -- unexpectedly -- is softer. "Green Love Potion" supposedly has aphrodisiac qualities while "Goji OG" remains the best-seller. The temperature and humidity are slightly higher in areas with flowering plants, compared to the rooms for incubation and the mother plants, which provide cuttings and never bloom. "It's a heaven for marijuana. We've created the best environment in which they could grow in," Simmons said. Their secret: a high-performance watering system that includes filtration, oxygenation and the addition of plant-based nutrients. Filming or photographing the system was strictly off-limits. Much of the growing operation, including temperature and watering, can be controlled remotely over the Internet. The 84 flowering plants receive about 200 gallons (750 liters) of water per day, and are grown without chemicals or pesticides. From the cutting to the finished product, everything is labelled and can be traced by barcode. The warehouse is inspected monthly by health authorities and police. Like their competitors, Lawson-Baker and Simmons are anxious to find out who will be the next occupant of the White House, just three miles (five kilometers) from their marijuana farm. The next president's views on marijuana will play a major role in shaping future policies on the substance. The pair remain optimistic: they've already obtained a second license to grow in Washington, are waiting for another in the neighboring state of Maryland and have plans to branch out on the East Coast. And they're planning to roll out edible medicinal marijuana products this summer. In the three harvests since November 2015, Alternative Solutions has generated $700,000 in revenue, and the owners are hoping to break even in three or four years Brendan Smialowski (AFP) Depending on the variety, the end product can fetch between $3,000 and $4,500 a pound (about $6,615 to $9,920 per kilogram) Brendan Smialowski (AFP) The trimmings and buds of marijuana plants are seen during a harvest at Alternative Solutions Brendan Smialowski (AFP) French PM vows to supervise Australian sub deal himself A mega deal to build Australian submarines was so important, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Monday, that he pledged to personally supervise the project as Paris and Canberra bolster defence ties. French contractor DCNS last week beat off competition from Japan and Germany to seal the 12-submarine Aus$50 billion ($39 billion) contract, prompting Valls to make a surprise visit to Canberra. "I will supervise, myself, the implementation of our commitments with the minister of defence who will be coming shortly to Australia," Valls told a press conference with Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. A computer-generated image of the 4,500 tonne Barracuda shortfin submarine that French firm DCNS is building for the Australian Navy "It is an industrial and economic partnership. It is also a partnership that binds us for a very long time on other issues, including security and defence," he added. Valls said it was a "win-win" deal, adding that Paris would fulfill all its commitments including job creation in Australia and the transfer of technology. DCNS plans to build a 4,500-tonne conventionally-powered version of its 4,700 tonne Barracuda, which the company has described as "the most technically complex artefact in Australia". The DCNS website says the new vessel would be "the recipient of France's most sensitive and protected submarine technology and will be the most lethal conventional submarine ever contemplated". A Japanese government-backed consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and German group ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, were also in the running. But Canberra said DCNS was considered "best to meet all of our unique capability requirements". The tender process was politically sensitive domestically, with national elections expected in July. Canberra insisted that all the subs be built in Australia amid fears any off-the-shelf purchase could kill off the domestic shipbuilding industry. "We are an island nation and we need to ensure that we have the best defences. Now, that is the primary objective," said Turnbull. "We partner with France to ensure that we have the best technology and we work together to develop the supply chain here in Australia right from the shipyard to every person, every firm that is contributing to this effort. "This is a great national enterprise and it will drive our economic plan for jobs and growth in the 21st century." Five years on, bin Laden doctor languishes in Pakistan jail Five years after his fake vaccination programme helped the CIA track and kill Osama bin Laden, Pakistani doctor Shakeel Afridi languishes in jail, abandoned by the US, say supporters, in its bid to smooth troubled relations with Islamabad. Afridi, believed to be in his mid-50s, has no access to a lawyer, and his appeal against a 23-year prison sentence has stalled. "I have no hope of meeting him, no expectation for justice," his elder brother Jamil told AFP. A newspaper bears the photograph of Pakistani surgeon Shakeel Afridi, recruited by the CIA to help find Osama bin Laden, at a newsstand in Karachi on May 24, 2012 Asif Hassan (AFP/File) The former senior surgeon lives in solitary confinement in a small room, according to his lawyer, able to see his immediate family no more than six times a year. Afridi's role in one of the most famous assassinations of recent decades is murky. Details of how he was sought out by the Central Intelligence Agency are unclear -- Pakistani reports suggest officials at Save the Children acted as go-betweens, though the charity denies involvement. What is known is that Afridi's job was to run a fake Hepatitis C vaccination program with the aim of obtaining genetic samples from Abbottabad, a garrison city and home to the Pakistan Military Academy, the country's answer to Westpoint. It was there that Al-Qaeda chief bin Laden and his family had set up home in the mid-2000s, under the noses -- and some say protection -- of senior Pakistani military officers. -- Deadly raid -- In the darkness of May 2, 2011, two helicopters full of elite Navy Seals touched down inside the compound. In a dramatic raid just one kilometre (half a mile) from the military academy, they fought their way in and surprised the terror mastermind. They shot him in the head and fled with his body, abandoning a damaged Black Hawk helicopter. The killing was a huge success for US President Barack Obama, whose country was profoundly scarred by the attacks on New York and Washington of September 2001. It decapitated Al Qaeda, badly hampering the organisation's ability to carry out further atrocities. But it drove a wedge between Islamabad and Washington, with lingering suspicions that the Pakistanis had for years been covering up the whereabouts of one the world's most wanted men. Weeks after the raid, Afridi was arrested and thrown in jail, accused of having ties to militants, a charge he has always denied. Commentators believe Pakistan opted to punish Afridi in this way, rather than try him for treason -- aiding a foreign power -- because that would have entailed a public trial that would thrown a spotlight on Islamabad's role in harbouring bin Laden. A furious US senate committee voted to cut aid to Islamabad by $33 million -- $1 million for each year of his original sentence. The sentence was later cut by 10 years. But since then, US pressure for Afridi's release has tapered off, and analysts say Washington has dropped the issue, preferring to concentrate on what its sees as more pressing matters -- such as negotiating with Islamist extremists in Afghanistan. "The Taliban talks have taken priority over everything. The Americans don't want to muddy the water by raising other issues that are contentious," says Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani author and security expert. -- On the backburner -- Qamar Nadeem, Afridi's lawyer who has been denied access to him for the past two years, believes his client's best hope for early release is US pressure, "But so far they have not shown their support," he says. He is allowed to see his wife and children every two months or so, according to Nadeem. But an appeal against his sentence that began in 2014 is bogged down in adjournments and an uncooperative government. Though elder brother Jamil and his siblings won a Peshawar High Court decision granting them visiting rights, that verdict has not been implemented, and he has been told by his lawyer that pursuing the matter could result in harm to the doctor. "They are not admitting the High Court decision. What can I say? I am pessimistic," he said. Author Rashid says justice for Afridi has gone by the wayside for the US, which would rather Pakistan use its influence with the Afghan Taliban to encourage them to restart peace talks with Kabul. "The Americans have ceased to criticise Pakistan on many fronts," he said. But Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington said all hope is not lost for Afridi. He said, rather than having abandoned him, the Americans may have decided that shouting about it is not going to work. "In Washington the issue has likely moved off the front burner because it's clear that Pakistan isn't willing to play ball and negotiate an arrangement that could set him free," he said. "(But) the Afridi issue has never really gone away, and my sense is that US officials quietly press Pakistan about it from time to time." Supporters of hard line pro-Taliban party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) pray for the slain Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden during a rally in Quetta Banaras Khan (AFP/File) Jamil Afridi, the elder brother of jailed Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi who was recruited by the CIA to help find Osama bin Laden SS MIRZA (AFP) Where they are now? Key players in the bin Laden raid Five years ago, United States special forces shot and killed Osama bin Laden, ending a manhunt that began in earnest after his Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked planes and flew them into buildings in New York and Washington in September 2001. Here are short profiles of some of the key players in the raid. Barack Obama A T-shirt reading "Osama Got Obama'd" is displayed at a souvenir stand near the White House in Washington in May 2011 Nicholas Kamm (AFP/File) The unofficial slogan of President Barack Obama's victorious 2012 re-election campaign was stark in its simplicity: "Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive." Having originally come to office in the aftermath of global financial meltdown, Obama had put America back on track, extricated its forces from the "dumb war" in Iraq and had seemingly won the smarter war against Al-Qaeda by ordering the mission to kill bin Laden. Now -- five years after that victory -- Obama's second and final term is drawing to a close and the threat once posed by bin Laden's Al-Qaeda has been eclipsed by the rise of the Islamic State and renewed warfare in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya. US Navy SEALS In November 2014, a retired SEAL named Robert O'Neill went public with his account of the infamous raid, revealing himself to be the triggerman who had killed bin Laden, shooting him twice in the head and a third time once he had fallen to the floor. The revelation provoked a backlash from fellow SEALs, who call themselves the "quiet professionals" and pride themselves on performing risky missions in humble anonymity. O'Neill said he had wanted to share his story to help give closure to the family of victims of the September 11 attacks. Since his revelation, O'Neill has embarked on a new career as a public speaker and security expert, making appearances on Fox News as a military analyst. He has also started a charity to raise money and awareness for special operations troops transitioning into civilian life. Ayman Al-Zawahiri Bin Laden's long-time deputy Ayman Al-Zawahiri took charge of Al-Qaeda following his boss's death. But the Egyptian doctor's tenure has coincided with a steady decline in the group's prominence as the rival Islamic State group has conquered vast swathes of territory and Syria and Iraq, and carried out high-profile attacks in the West. Analysts believe he is hiding in the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, though, like his predecessor, the extent of his operational control over the network is unclear. Pakistani author and analyst Ahmed Rashid says despite efforts to rebrand itself, and its putative ties with the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, the group's strength has dwindled in South Asia. The brutality of the Islamic State, with its harsh sectarian line that declares all Shiites apostates, and its savage oppression of the lands it controls, have made Al-Qaeda appear moderate by comparison. Bin Laden's wives Bin Laden married five times, but by the time he fled to Pakistan around the spring 2002, he was accompanied by just three wives, including his youngest -- and reportedly his favourite -- Amal. The Yemeni national was with her husband on the night of the US helicopter raid, according to a leaked Pakistani judicial commission report, which said they were awakened by what "sounded like a storm" after midnight. Realising that a raid was under way, the family prepared to take their final stand. When Amal saw a SEAL pointing his weapon at the terror chief, she rushed at him as the man shouted "No! No!" and shot her in the knee. All three widows were handed over to Pakistani authorities before being deported to Saudi Arabia a year later. Nothing has been heard from them since, though it is believed Amal was sent on to Yemen with her five young children. Sohaib Athar Pakistani IT professional Sohaib Athar became an overnight celebrity when he unwittingly live-tweeted the raid that killed bin Laden. The 34-year-old was working on his computer in the early hours of May 2, when he heard the roar of rotor blades. "Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event)," he wrote -- the first of many tweets that inadvertently broke the story to the world. Athar's followers soared in the days that followed, peaking at over 100,000, and he was inundated with interview requests -- both from journalists, and Pakistani intelligence services, who memorably asked him "What is Twitter?". Last month he moved his family once more, this time to Islamabad. "Life has moved on," he says. "I never wanted to make it part of my personality or life story." Still, he adds, he has kept some memorabilia, including parts of a damaged Black Hawk helicopter abandoned by US forces. "I've got a cable (and other things). They're in my store. They're lying there somewhere in a carton," he said. Iran to grant citizenship to families of foreign 'martyrs' Iran has passed a law allowing the government to grant citizenship to the families of foreigners killed while fighting for the Islamic republic, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday. "Members of the parliament authorised the government to grant Iranian citizenship to the wife, children and parents of foreign martyrs who died on a mission... during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) and afterwards," it said. Citizenship must be awarded "within a maximum period of one year after the request", IRNA added. A woman walks past murals of Iranian soldiers marching during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88), on Palestine square in Tehran Behrouz Mehri (AFP/File) Iran's outgoing conservative-dominated parliament will serve until late May. No figures are available on the number of foreign fighters killed during the Iran-Iraq war, but Afghans, and even a group of Iraqis, fought alongside Iranian forces against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The law could apply to "volunteers" from Afghanistan and Pakistan who are fighting in Syria and Iraq against jihadists including the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front. Shiite Iran is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and provides financial and military support to his regime. Tehran says its Fatemiyoun Brigade, comprised of Afghan recruits, are volunteers defending sacred Shiite sites in Syria and Iraq against Sunni extremists like those of IS. The Islamic republic denies having any boots on the ground and insists its commanders and generals act as "military advisers" in Syria and Iraq. Less than three months after launching an exploratory committee for a potential gubernatorial campaign in 2018, U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson said Monday he won't run governor. Gibson, R-Kinderhook, said he'll finish his third term in the House of Representatives he already announced he won't seek re-election this year and will begin working as a visiting lecturer on leadership at Williams College in February 2017. He also wants to spend more time with his wife, Mary Jo, and their three children. "Therefore, I will not be running for governor in 2018," Gibson said in a statement. "At the conclusion of my term in the U.S. House of Representatives, I will be leaving politics and starting this new direction with my family. In the near-term, I will be closing my exploratory committee. For our donors to that committee, we'll be refunding contributions we've received." Gibson traveled across the state in preparation for a gubernatorial campaign. He said Monday he visited 48 of New York's 62 counties. Last year, he attended the Onondaga County Republican Committee's annual clambake fundraiser. "I appreciate greatly the warm welcomes and support I have received, and the time so many have dedicated to our mission to change the state," he said. "For that I can only say thank you." Ed Cox, chairman of the state Republican Committee, said Gibson "is the true definition of what it means to be a public servant." "Chris leaves New York and the nation better for his service, and we are grateful for the time he dedicated to the people of our great state," Cox said. "We wish Chris, Mary Jo and their family well." Before entering politics, Gibson served in the U.S. Army for 29 years. He earned numerous awards during his career and was deployed to Iraq and Kosovo. He also had a stint as a professor at West Point. Gibson retired from the Army and ran for Congress in 2010. He defeated U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy by 10 points in the 20th Congressional District race. In 2012, Gibson ran for re-election in the redrawn 19th Congressional District. He won that race, and won re-election again in 2014. At the beginning of his third term, Gibson announced he wouldn't run for re-election in 2016. By bowing out of the 2018 gubernatorial race, Gibson leaves Republicans with a smaller pool of candidates. Potential challengers include Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who challenged Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014, and Carl Paladino, a Buffalo businessman who ran for governor in 2010. Astorino lauded Gibson and said he considers the congressman a friend. "While he is leaving the political arena, I hope that he will continue to be a voice for New Yorkers who are suffering in a stagnant economy and a state government under a massive cloud of corruption," Astorino said. Top Sudan court lifts ban on newspaper: editor Sudan's highest court has allowed a leading newspaper to resume publishing, nearly five months after the authorities banned it from printing, the newspaper's editor said on Monday. Sudan's powerful National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) had suspended the independent Al-Tayar newspaper in December after it published a series of editorials criticising the government over subsidy cuts on fuel and electricity. The newspaper challenged the NISS in the country's Constitutional Court, which ordered that the ban on the daily be lifted. In 2014 the offices of Sudanese daily newspaper Al-Tayar were raided and its editor Osman Mirghani was badly beaten Ebrahim Hamid (AFP/File) "We will resume publishing in the coming days as we have the court's order," Al-Tayar's editor-in-chief Osman Merghani told AFP. The newspaper's lawyer Nabil Adeeb confirmed the order. Court officials were not immediately available to comment on the decision. Al-Tayar was banned along with another newspaper, Al-Jarida, in May 2015 over reports that it had published articles about child abuse. The publications were later allowed to resume printing, but Al-Tayar was banned again in December. Security agents of NISS frequently seize the entire print runs of newspapers over articles they deem inappropriate. Cambodia charges six as MP 'sex scandal' deepens A Cambodian court on Monday charged six people -- including a local United Nations employee -- over an alleged attempt to bribe a woman so she would deny an affair with a top opposition party member. It is the latest twist in a sex scandal that has gripped the country since phone recordings of conversations allegedly between lawmaker Kem Sokha and a 25-year-old hairdresser were leaked two months ago. Rights groups say the legal proceedings are the latest attempt by Prime Minister Hun Sen to undercut a resurgent opposition trying to end his 31-year grip on power. Earlier in 2016 phone recordings were released of conversations allegedly between Kem Sokha (pictured), deputy leader of Cambodia's opposition party, and a hairdresser Tang Chhin Sothy (AFP/File) The woman initially denied the affair with the MP, who is the deputy leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. But she later told a court it had taken place and accused a prominent advocacy group, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), of instructing her to deny the relationship. On Thursday the country's anti-corruption unit arrested four members of the rights group along with a former group employee. They remain in custody. "We have decided to charge them with bribing a witness," Ly Sophanna, spokesman for the prosecutor's office at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, told AFP. A UN rights office staff member, Sally Soen, was also charged with being an accomplice to an attempted bribe, he added, although he has not been arrested. Prosecutors have yet to reveal details of the alleged bribe. Under the criminal code the group face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Khem Sokha has not publicly commented on the accusations against him. A local administrator was jailed last week pending trial for allegedly bribing the hairdresser's family to pressure her into denying the affair. In addition prominent political analyst Ou Virak will appear in court next week after being sued by Hun Sen's ruling party for defamation. He had suggested the sex scandal was aimed at damaging the opposition. Hun Sen's main rival, opposition leader Sam Rainsy, has been forced to live in self-exile abroad to avoid arrest warrants which he says are politically motivated. Hundreds protest over sacking of Hong Kong editor Hundreds of protesters gathered Monday outside the headquarters of a Hong Kong newspaper where a respected editor was recently sacked after publishing a front-page story linked to the Panama Papers leak. Around 300 reporters, activists and members of the public rallied over the firing of Keung Kwok-yuen, saying it was further evidence of deteriorating press freedoms in the semi-autonomous city as Beijing tightens its grip. Keung was sacked overnight last month from investigative newspaper Ming Pao, whose former chief editor was stabbed by masked attackers in the street two years ago. Protesters outside Ming Pao offices on May 2, 2016 demonstrating against the firing of editor Keung Kwok-yuen, which they say is further evidence of deteriorating press freedoms in Hong Kong as Beijing tightens its grip Isaac Lawrence (AFP) His sacking coincided with the paper publishing a front-page story linking top Hong Kong businessmen and politicians to new revelations from the Panama Papers. The trove of documents, released in April by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, has exposed how Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca helped China's rich and powerful funnel their wealth into tax havens. "The public is very concerned over press freedoms in Hong Kong. We have been doing a good job... covering a lot of news including sensitive political issues such as human rights in China," said Phyllis Tsang, head of the newspaper's staff association. "We demand a clear explanation (from the management) on the real reasons for the firing of Mr. Keung. Was there any relation to this kind of reporting?" Protesters sat on the ground outside Ming Pao's offices Monday afternoon. One banner read: "They can't fire us all." Some also held up pieces of ginger -- which sounds "Keung", the editor's surname, in Cantonese. "Hong Kong is a unique place in China where there is freedom of the press... Such freedoms could deteriorate if the bosses bow to pressure," said reader Stanley Ng, 55, an urban planner, who had joined the protest. Lawmaker Emily Lau of the Democratic Party warned Beijing was "exerting a lot of pressure on media and many news organisations are willing to comply". "Hong Kong people have to stick together to defend editorial independence," she said. Reporters have said the decision to sack Keung was taken by Malaysian chief editor Chong Tien Siong, who is seen as pro-Beijing. Chong was brought in two years ago to replace veteran investigative journalist Kevin Lau as chief editor, triggering protests by newspaper staff. Soon after, Lau was stabbed in broad daylight leaving him severely wounded, sparking major concerns over reporting freedoms. Russia's Lavrov to meet UN Syria envoy in Moscow Tuesday: govt Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to host UN envoy Staffan de Mistura for talks on Syria in Moscow on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said. "Talks between Mistura and Sergei Lavrov followed by a press conference will take place" in Moscow, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP on Monday. The talks will be held amid accusations by the United States and other supporters of the Syrian opposition that Russia has violated international agreements to back peace in the war-torn country. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to host UN envoy Staffan de Mistura for talks on Syria in Moscow Yuri Kadobnov (AFP/File) Washington and Moscow are the joint sponsors of the Syrian peace process, and de Mistura had made it clear that he sees little hope of progress without their agreement. But the United States charges that Russia, while agreeing to support a ceasefire, has done little to rein in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces around Aleppo. The head of Moscow's coordination centre in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, said on Sunday that talks to include Aleppo province in a so-called "regime of silence" -- or freeze in fighting -- had begun. Kuralenko told reporters on Monday that those talks were still continuing. Russia says it will not ask the Syrian regime to halt air raids on Aleppo as it believes they are helping to combat jihadist groups there. Disgraced swim star Park begs to compete in Rio Disgraced South Korean swim star Park Tae-Hwan literally got down on his hands and knees Monday and begged the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) to let him compete in the Rio Games. The multiple Olympic medallist completed an 18-month drug ban last month after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid in out-of-competition controls before the 2014 Asian Games. But the 26-year-old remains barred from competing in Rio by a KOC rule banned athletes from representing the country for three years after the expiration of any doping ban. South Korean swimmer Park Tae-Hwan at a press conference in Incheon on May 2, 2016, begged the Korean Olympic Committee to allow him to compete in the Rio Games Yonhap (YONHAP/AFP) "I will be grateful if I could be given another chance to serve my country and put on a good performance for the South Korean people," Park told reporters at a press event in Incheon west of Seoul. He then got down on his knees and bowed his head to the floor, in a traditional Korean gesture of extreme remorse. Park was once the poster-boy of South Korean swimming -- courted by advertisers and idolised by fans. He won 400m freestyle gold and 200m freestyle silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and two silver medals at the 2012 London Olympics, as well as 400m world titles in 2007 and 2011. On his competitive return to the pool last month, he easily won the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle events at the 88th Dong-A meet -- which doubles as a national trial. His performance reignited debate around the fairness of the KOC regulation, which remains the only barrier to Park competing in Rio. His positive doping test was only revealed in January last year, and was initially blamed by Park's management team on the incompetence of a doctor at the hospital where the swimmer was receiving treatment. Militants threatened to slit our throats: Indonesian hostage An Indonesian sailor told Monday how Philippine Islamic militants threatened to slit his throat during a terrifying kidnap ordeal, a day after he and nine other crew members were released. The sailors were freed Sunday in the strife-torn southern Philippines after more than a month in the hands of Abu Sayyaf militants, and flew back to Jakarta. The Indonesians were among about 20 foreigners abducted in a recent Abu Sayyaf kidnapping spree, and their release came just days after the militants beheaded a Canadian hostage. Indonesian sailors arrive for a welcoming ceremony in Jakarta on May 2, 2016, after their release from kidnap by Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants Adek Berry (AFP) The sailors, who were taken hostage in late March from a tugboat transporting a coal barge, were reunited with their families Monday after doctors confirmed they were in good health. Crew member Julian Philip described how they were taken hostage by eight militants disguised in Philippine police uniforms, who boarded the tug from speedboats and tied up the sailors. The barge was then abandoned, and the Indonesians were taken to an island and divided into two groups. They were moved every few days to avoid the military, which has launched an assault against Abu Sayyaf. "We were all stressed out because they frequently threatened to slit our throats," he told reporters after the 10 were reunited with their families at the foreign ministry. However, Philip added the militants did not harm them and he thought that in reality "they did not want any of us to die as they would not get any money". - Questions over ransom - He said he did not know whether a ransom was paid for their release. "We were just put in a car and sent on our way and told to look for the governor's house," he said. The sailors turned up at the house of a local governor on Jolo, a mountainous and jungle-clad island in the far south of the Philippines that is an Abu Sayyaf stronghold. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Monday the release had been a "long process as the situation on the ground was very volatile, with a high degree of complexity". But she dodged questions about whether a ransom had been paid. The Abu Sayyaf does not normally free hostages unless ransom demands are met. The militants had demanded $21 million for the release of Canadian John Ridsdel, whose severed head was found on a street in Jolo. There were emotional scenes at the ministry as the sailors were reunited with their families, with Youla Lasut, one of the men's wives, giving tearful thanks. "On behalf of my family I would like to thank the foreign minister and the company for their help in releasing my husbands and his friends," she said. Authorities say the Abu Sayyaf is still holding at least 11 foreign hostages -- four sailors from Indonesia and four others from Malaysia, a Canadian tourist, a Norwegian resort owner and a Dutch birdwatcher. Abu Sayyaf is a radical offshoot of a Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines. Its leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, but analysts say they are more focused on kidnappings for ransom than setting up a caliphate. The Abu Sayyaf group Gal ROMA, Adrian LEUNG (AFP) Baghdad car bomb against Shiite pilgrims kills 14 A car bomb targeting Shiite pilgrims killed at least 14 people in southern Baghdad on Monday, security and medical sources said. An Iraqi security command said a suicide bomber detonated the explosives-rigged vehicle, while other officials said it was a car bomb. At least 14 people were killed and at least 41 others wounded, security and medical officials said. Iraqi security forces stand guard in Baghdad's heavily fortified "Green Zone" on May 1, 2016 Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP/File) They said several women and children were among the victims. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, but such attacks are usually carried out by the Islamic State jihadist group. IS perpetrated a similar attack against pilgrims on the outskirts of Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least 23 people. Many of the main thoroughfares in the city are closed in the days leading up to the annual commemoration of Imam Musa Kadhim's death, an important date in the Shiite Muslim calendar. Kadhim, the seventh of 12 imams revered in Shiite Islam, died in 799 AD. The pilgrimage to his shrine in northern Baghdad has in recent years turned into a huge event that brings the capital to a standstill for days. India should allow accused Italian marine home: Hague court An international tribunal has ruled that an Italian marine accused of killing two fishermen in India should be allowed to return home pending trial, Italy's foreign ministry said Monday. Salvatore Girone and fellow marine Massimiliano Latorre are accused of shooting the fishermen while protecting an Italian oil tanker as part of an anti-piracy mission off India's southern Kerala coast in 2012. While Latorre was allowed to travel back to Italy in 2014 for treatment after suffering a stroke, Girone has been barred from leaving India pending the resolution of a dispute between New Delhi and Rome over which country has jurisdiction in the case. Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre (R) and Salvatore Girone arrive at Ciampino airport near Rome, on December 22, 2012 Vincenzo Pinto (AFP/File) He is currently living in Italy's embassy in New Delhi. Italy initiated international arbitration proceedings in the case last year, referring the row to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague and asking it to rule on where the men should be tried. In an interim ruling cited by Italy's foreign ministry to be officially announced on Tuesday, the PCA -- which helps resolve disputes among states -- found Girone should be allowed to return home until the arbitration process is complete. "The decisions regarding his return will be arranged by Italy and India," the foreign ministry said in a note, adding it expected "a constructive attitude from India". The detention of the marines, the murder charges and the long wait for the case to be resolved are sore subjects in Italy, with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi regularly flayed by opposition leaders for failing to get both men home. "Happy for Salvatore Girone's return, I confirm our friendship with and desire to collaborate with India," Renzi wrote on Twitter. Italy insists the oil tanker, the MV Enrica Lexie, was in international waters at the time of the incident. India argues the case is not a maritime dispute but "a double murder at sea", in which one fisherman was shot in the head and the other in the stomach. Italy's foreign ministry said the tribunal's decision was "good news for the two marines, for their families and... the government", which would immediately begin consultations with India so Girone could be returned "shortly". Gay channel first to broadcast Eurovision in US US television channel Logo, geared toward the LGBT community, will broadcast the May 14 Eurovision Song Contest final live in the United States, organisers announced on Monday. The European Broadcasting Union said it had signed a deal with the channel, part of the Viacom group, making it the first US broadcaster of the event, to be held this year in Stockholm. "The Eurovision Song Contest is now a truly global phenomenon and we are extremely happy that US viewers now get to join those all over Europe, Australia and Asia," the contest's executive supervisor Jon Ola Sand said in a statement. Eurovision has for decades been a hugely popular event in gay culture circles Anders Wiklund (TT News Agency/AFP) Last year, 197 million people watched Sweden's Mans Zelmerlow take home the grand final. Logo, aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, is available in "nearly 50 million homes", according to the EBU. Iraq in political limbo after Green Zone storming Iraq's political reform process was in limbo Monday after protesters demanding a change of government reacted to weeks of stalling by storming parliament. Security concerns were also high due to the presence in Baghdad of thousands of Shiite pilgrims, who were targeted for the second time in three days with a suicide bombing that killed at least 14 people. Demonstrators pulled out of the Green Zone, where parliament is located, on Sunday evening, a day after breaching the walls of the fortified government district. The Crossed Swords monument in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on May 1, 2016, the day after protesters broke into the area Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP/File) But the protesters, most of whom are followers of outspoken cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, also warned they would be back on the streets of Baghdad on Friday if their demands were not met. Sadr supports Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's efforts to form a new cabinet of technocrats to replace the current government of party-affiliated ministers, accused of graft and sectarianism. There was no clear plan of action emerging Monday from any of the main players and Sadr himself flew to neighbouring Iran, the main foreign broker among Shiite political blocs in Iraq. "The leader of the Sadrist movement left at 11:00 am from Najaf airport to the Imam Khomeini airport" southwest of Tehran, a Najaf airport official told AFP. "Sadr took two other clerics with him," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A political source in Baghdad confirmed the information. Iraq's lawmakers looked unlikely to hold another session this week however, with the main parliament building requiring a massive cleanup following Saturday's events. Thousands of mostly Sadrist protesters pulled down blast walls around the Green Zone and stormed the chamber after MPs again failed to agree on reforms. Some MPs were roughed up on Saturday and their vehicles vandalised, and lawmakers appeared wary of exposing themselves to another attack. "It was decided to hold a parliamentary session next week in another place because the (parliament) hall was damaged," MP Abbas al-Bayati told AFP. There was no official statement from the speaker on the issue however. - IS claims fresh bombing - Abadi called for those who committed violent acts on Saturday to be arrested, but his grip on Iraq's top job looked more tenuous than ever. A senior official in the Dawa party, of which Abadi is a member, said there was discussion within the party of the premier's resignation. "We are in a debate inside the party for the first time (on) the demand for Abadi to resign," the official said. Since coming to power in September 2014, Abadi has faced tough opposition from his predecessor and fellow party member Nuri al-Maliki. Abadi nonetheless enjoys the support of Western powers, who have warned that continued political deadlock risks hampering Iraq's fight against the Islamic State group, which seized control of large parts of the country in mid-2014. Backed by a US-led coalition, Iraqi security forces have made significant gains in retaking territory from IS in recent months, but still face huge challenges in rooting out jihadist fighters from the western province of Anbar and the country's second city of Mosul. As the "caliphate" the jihadists proclaimed nearly two years ago continues to shrink, they have increasingly reverted to targeting civilians in bombings in Iraq's cities. IS claimed responsibility for Monday's bombing that left at least 14 dead, saying one of its suicide bombers had detonated a car bomb against Shiite pilgrims in southern Baghdad. They were walking to the northern Baghdad shrine of Imam Musa Kadhim, whose 799 AD death is an important date in the Shiite Muslim calendar and is commemorated annually. Another 23 people were killed in a similar attack on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital on Saturday. The religious commemoration is due to culminate on Tuesday with tens of thousands of faithful converging on the shrine in Baghdad's Kadhimiya neighbourhood. Gunmen kidnap Turks at stadium site afp (AFP) Iraqi protesters climb over a concrete wall surrounding the parliament after breaking into Baghdad's heavily fortified "Green Zone" on April 30, 2016 Haidar Mohammed Ali (AFP) A car bomb in southern Baghdad on May 2, 2106 targeting Shiite pilgrims killed at least 14 people Haidar Mohammed Ali (AFP) The managing editor of the Watertown Daily Times says his newspaper stands behind the story they wrote on alleged inmate abuse at Ogdensburg Correctional Facility an article which led New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association President Michael Powers to call for a boycott of the publication Friday. In an email, Watertown Daily Times Managing Editor Perry White wrote that the story "parallels findings of other journalists who have managed to get inside the state's tightly closed prison walls." He added that NYSCOPBA was asked to comment on the story, and the union did participate. Powers told the newspaper that the allegations were unfounded the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's Office of Special Investigations looked into the claims and a union spokesman said they stand behind the officers. The story was published on Thursday. On Friday, Powers released a statement slamming the Watertown Daily Times and calling on NYSCOPBA members to boycott the newspaper and its sister publications. "We did, after all, make numerous efforts to get statements from NYSCOPBA, its members and officials of the prison," White wrote. "NYSCOPBA's response was one sentence, as was the state's. No prison official was allowed (or will be allowed) to speak to the press. Under this cloak of secrecy, I'm uncertain how either NYSCOPBA or the state can claim the Times story was one-sided." White also addressed the boycott, which he said is "emblematic of the bullying nature of NYSCOPBA, which seems to think that any newspaper that writes anything not entirely sympathetic to the union is twisting the truth." "The Watertown Daily Times has been a fiercely independent newspaper for more than a century and a half, and neither NYSCOPBA nor any other group or organization has any influence over what stories we cover now, or ever," he said. Here is White's full response to NYSCOPBA's boycott: We stand behind the story we did on Ogdensburg Correctional Facility and the sometimes brutal treatment meted out to inmates there. The story parallels findings of other journalists who have managed to get inside the state's tightly closed prison walls, most notably a story earlier this month in the New York Times about the very topic we covered, and the union's iron-fisted control of the prison system. We did, after all, make numerous efforts to get statements from NYSCOPBA, its members and officials of the prison. NYSCOPBA's response was one sentence, as was the state's. No prison official was allowed (or will be allowed) to speak to the press. Under this cloak of secrecy, I'm uncertain how either NYSCOPBA or the state can claim the Times story was one-sided. As for the boycott, this is emblematic of the bullying nature of NYSCOPBA, which seems to think that any newspaper that writes anything not entirely sympathetic to the union is twisting the truth. The Watertown Daily Times has been a fiercely independent newspaper for more than a century and a half, and neither NYSCOPBA nor any other group or organization has any influence over what stories we cover now, or ever. Hope that helps. Perry White Managing Editor Watertown Daily Times Liquor tycoon Mallya resigns from Indian parliament Beleaguered Indian liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya on Monday resigned as a lawmaker, even as a committee was preparing to expel him from parliament over an unpaid billion dollar bank loan. The 60-year-old, a part-owner of the Force India Formula 1 team who used to run a liquor empire and Kingfisher Airlines, left India on March 2 despite calls for his arrest and is believed to be in Britain. "He has resigned from Rajya Sabha (upper house) of the Indian parliament," Mallya's spokesman told AFP. Vijay Mallya, a part-owner of the Force India Formula One team who used to run a liquor empire, left India on March 2 owing more than $1 billion Prakash Singh (AFP/File) Last week the ethics committee from parliament's upper house asked the embattled businessman to explain his conduct, after it unanimously decided to expel him over huge bank debts. He reportedly travelled to Britain on a diplomatic passport while a group of public banks chased him for $1.43 billion in unpaid loans. A two-time independent MP, Mallya has an arrest warrant against him over money laundering charges. Once dubbed the "King of Good Times" for his lavish lifestyle, he represented his home state of Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha in 2002 and became a politician again in 2010, a term expiring in June 2016. An active Twitter user, his profile continues to introduce him as a member of parliament. Last month the Indian government revoked Mallya's passport, after he repeatedly failed to appear before investigators looking into financial irregularities at Kingfisher Airlines, which shut down in 2012 after several loss-making years. India has requested British authorities to deport him to face investigations in his home country. His massive debt has become a symbol of Indian banks' vast volume of bad loans -- meaning in default or close to it -- seen as a threat to financial stability in Asia's third-largest economy. Turkish soldier killed in PKK bombing in southeast: army One Turkish soldier was killed and 20 others were wounded when a car bomb blamed on Kurdish militants exploded in the Kurdish-majority southeast, the army said on Monday. In a statement, the army said a total of 23 people were wounded in the blast which took place late on Sunday, 20 of them soldiers and three of them civilian family members. The car bomb detonated near a military command complex in the Dicle district of the Kurdish majority province of Diyarbakir, a security source told AFP, blaming the attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Police officers look at a piece of debris outside the police headquarters in the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep on May 1, 2016 after a bomb exploded, killing one police officer - (ILHAS News Agency/AFP/File) The command post and an adjacent housing area for families was seriously damaged in the attack, the Dogan news agency reported. Police stopped a suspicious car after the attack but the suspects inside opened fire, injuring a judge and three police officers before they fled, the agency said. Turkey has been waging a major military offensive against the PKK, listed as a terror group by Ankara and much of the international community, after a two-year fragile ceasefire collapsed last summer. Since then, hundreds of members of the Turkish security forces have been killed. The renewed conflict has also struck at the heart of the country, with two attacks that killed dozens of people in the capital Ankara claimed by a PKK splinter group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK). The same group on Sunday claimed last week's suicide bombing in Bursa, Turkey's former Ottoman capital, which only killed the female bomber. Over 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK took up arms in 1984 demanding a homeland for Turkey's biggest minority. Since then, the group has pared back its demands to focus on cultural rights and a measure of autonomy. Holocaust survivors finally get coming-of-age blessing Fifty holocaust survivors who were prevented from getting a traditional Jewish coming-of-age ceremony finally received it during an emotional event at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Monday. The septuagenarians and octogenarians were given Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, which are normally staged for male and female Jews at age 12 or 13, in an event held ahead of Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day. The 13 men and 37 women had mostly missed their ceremonies due to the war and its after effects, so Israel's government organised a joint one at Jerusalem's Western Wall -- Judaism's holiest site for prayer. Dozens of Jewish holocaust survivors wear the Tefilin or the Phylacteries and the Tallit prayer shawl as they read from the Torah scrolls during their Bar-Mitzvah Jewish ceremony, normally done at the age of 13-years-old, on May 2, 2016 Menahem Kahana (AFP) The men and women filed into the two separate parts of the gender-divided site. In the male area, the men read from the Torah while wearing small leather boxes called tefillin, containing religious verses, on their heads. A number of the survivors cried during a funeral prayer sung by European Jews to commemorate the Holocaust. Gal Moshe, an 80-year-old who came to Israel from Poland after World War II, said it was an emotional day. "The memorial prayer moved me particularly as I thought of my family, and especially of my mother. I literally cried." Moshe, who said he was unable to discuss the Holocaust, was never given a Bar Mitzvah in Poland. After the war and emigrating, "the economic situation was so difficult for us that we didn't even think about doing the Bar Mitzvah." "When I found out I could do a Bar Mitzvah now I wanted it a lot and I also asked my two grandsons to come with me. I was at their Bar Mitzvah and now they are at mine." - Delayed by poverty - For Jews, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah -- literally the son or daughter of commandment -- is when children become adults and are given new duties and responsibilities. Dr Robert Rozett, director of the libraries at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre, said huge numbers of Jews suppressed their faith during the war -- meaning many thousands missed out on the ceremonies. "For many, many people (Bar Mitzvahs) were not something they could have, either because they were in a place where there was no religious observance, because it wasn't allowed or maybe they were in a camp." He said there were a number of reasons why those who missed the ceremony at the age of 13 were unable to do it once their lives stabilised, including poverty. Others, like Yitzhak Rezink, found themselves in the Soviet Union where religion was frowned upon. He survived the war in the Kovno ghetto in Lithuania but was "left alone after my parents were murdered". After the war, the Soviet forces took control and religion was suppressed. "The Russians took over at the end of the war and we couldn't leave until 1970," he said. A 2015 study found that some 45,000 of Israel's estimated remaining 190,000 Holocaust survivors are now living in poverty, while estimates of those in America and other countries are also high. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is held on January 27 but Israel commemorates it separately on Thursday. About six million Jews died at the hands of Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. Dozens of Jewish holocaust survivors dance after performing their Bar-Mitzvah Jewish ceremony, normally done at the age of 13-years-old, on May 2, 2016, at the Western Wall in the Jerusalem's Old City Menahem Kahana (AFP) Deadly drone, artillery strikes launched against IS from Turkey: report Turkish artillery have launched deadly strikes on Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria, while drones that took off from an air base in southern Turkey also pounded the jihadists, state media said Tuesday. The strikes were in response to repeated rocket fire by IS jihadists inside Syria on the Turkish border region of Kilis that has killed 18 people inside Turkey since the start of the year. The state-run Anatolia news agency reported that a total of 63 IS members were killed in the drone and artillery strikes but it was not immediately possible to verify the figures. Syrians stand outside a damaged charity clinic for women and children following reported air strikes in the city of Azaz, on Syria's northern border with Turkey, on February 15, 2016 Mujahed Abdul Joud (AFP/File) Turkish artillery howitzers struck IS positions, killing 34 IS extremists, the report said. Four drones took off from Turkey's Incirlik air base, used by the US-led international coalition for air raids on the IS group, killing 29 extremists, Anatolia said. The report did not specify which country the drones belonged to, saying they were part of the international coalition against IS. The drones struck some IS vehicles as well as five arms storage pits, it added. Turkey's NATO allies have sometimes lamented that Ankara could do more in the fight against IS but Turkey appears to have stepped up efforts in the last weeks after a string of attacks on its soil. A car bomb on Sunday struck the Turkish city of Gaziantep, a major refugee hub near the Syrian border, killing at least two policemen and wounding 22 people. Turkish media reported that investigators suspect IS, which still controls territory in Syria on the other side of the border, of carrying out the attack. Trump looks to smother Cruz as Indiana votes Tuesday Republicans Donald Trump and Ted Cruz made last-minute appeals to Indiana voters Monday, as the billionaire looks to crush his rival for the White House nomination and pivot towards presumptive Democratic standard-bearer Hillary Clinton. The "stop Trump" movement faces a moment of truth in the Midwestern state on Tuesday, as Cruz's campaign struggles to win over voters ahead of its potentially decisive primary. "If we win Indiana, it's over," Trump told a rally in The Hoosier State, where a new NBC poll showed him 15 percentage points ahead. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the crowd during a campaign rally at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum on April 27, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana John Sommers II (Getty/AFP/File) Cruz was counting on Indiana acting as a Trump firewall, blocking him from receiving the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the nomination at the Republican convention in Cleveland in July. Mathematically eliminated from winning outright, Cruz has openly stated his goal is to snatch victory on a second ballot, when most delegates become free to vote for whomever they choose -- but which will only be held if Trump falls short of a majority. Trump has so far amassed 1,002 delegates, according to CNN's tally. He needs just under half of the 502 in play in the remaining 10 contests to lock in the nomination. The map currently favors the billionaire, who is polling well ahead in the largest states yet to vote, California and New Jersey. With momentum favoring Trump -- he has won the last six contests -- Cruz put on a brave face, telling reporters "the stakes are enormously high" and that he would stay in the race regardless of the Indiana outcome. "I am in for the distance," Cruz said. "As long as we have a viable path to victory, I am competing to the end." The underdog endured an awkward encounter in Marion, Indiana when he engaged Trump supporters who called on him to drop out. "You are the problem," said a man holding a Trump sign, just inches from Cruz. "Indiana don't want you." "Are you Canadian?" one of them challenged, referring to his birth in Calgary -- a frequent line of attack for Trump. Should the conservative senator fall short in Indiana, even his supporters see an extremely steep road ahead. Indiana's primary awards 30 delegates to the state's winner. The remaining 27 are awarded three each to the winner of the state's nine congressional districts. If Trump sweeps the state "it could be over," former Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler acknowledged on MSNBC. But if Cruz pulls off an upset, he would be strongly positioned in California, Tyler noted, citing Cruz's formidable ground game and superior organization in The Golden State, which votes June 7 on the final day of the Republican race. - 'Let's focus on Hillary' - Clinton, with her commanding lead over Bernie Sanders, needs only 21 percent of remaining Democratic delegates to win her party's nomination. But Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist senator representing Vermont, wasn't throwing in the towel. At a Washington news conference Sanders insisted the Democratic race would come down to a "contested" convention, and appealed to hundreds of so-called superdelegates in a bid to grab the nomination. These number around 700 and, in contrast to pledged delegates, they can vote for any candidate at the party convention in Philadelphia in July. Either candidate needs 2,383 delegates for victory. Currently Clinton has 2,176 including 510 superdelegates, while Sanders has 1,400 including 41 superdelegates, according to CNN's tally. Even with a Sanders nomination a near impossibility, he insisted Monday that his focus on reducing economic inequality and the influence of "special interests and the billionaire class" in politics was resonating with voters. Meanwhile Trump was already looking beyond Tuesday's contest to a general election matchup with Clinton. "And then we can focus on crooked Hillary," he said. "Please, let's focus on Hillary." The two have clashed repeatedly on gender issues, with Trump accusing Clinton of playing "the woman card" and saying that if she were a man she'd have no chance of winning. Trump's brutal campaign trail insults have appalled many in the Republican Party. But with Cruz disliked by many of his colleagues in Congress, and his campaign failing to rebound, there were increasing signs that the establishment has accepted backing Trump. Former US senator Alfonse D'Amato of New York said that more and more of his fellow Republicans were "recognizing the inevitability" of Trump. "The facts show Trump is on the way to victory," he told Fox News. Supporters of Donald Trump, Carolyn Gibbs (L) and Cheryl McDonald (R) pose for photos in Burlingame, California, April 29, 2016 Gabrielle Lurie (AFP/File) The "stop Trump" movement faces a moment of truth in the Midwestern state, as Ted Cruz's campaign struggles to win over voters ahead of its potentially decisive primary Joe Raedle (Getty/AFP) Jill Huennekens waits for the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at her campaign stop on May 1, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana Joe Raedle (Getty/AFP) Sudan says has 'sovereign rights' in dispute with Egypt Sudan insisted on Monday it had "sovereign rights" over two border territories whose ownership has been the subject of a long-standing dispute between Cairo and Khartoum. Sudan has regularly protested at Egypt's administration of Halayeb and Shalatin near the Red Sea, saying they are part of its sovereign territory since shortly after independence in 1956. Since April, Khartoum has stepped up its claim to the territories after Egypt transferred two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia in a move that triggered street protests in Cairo. "We will not let go of our sovereign rights on the Halayeb triangle," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told parliament, in reference to a dispute over border territories between Cairo and Khartoum, on May 2, 2016 Khaled Desouki (AFP/File) "We will not let go of our sovereign rights on the Halayeb triangle," Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told parliament on Monday. "We have adopted legal and political measures to assert our rights in the Halayeb triangle." Ghandour said Khartoum was also trying to get a copy of the agreement between Cairo and Riyadh on the transfer of the two islands in the Straits of Tiran. "We need to gauge the impact of this agreement on our maritime borders," he told lawmakers. Cairo's transfer of the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia became a key factor behind street protests in the Egyptian capital last month. Iraqi forces retake road to isolated Anbar city Iraqi forces advancing from two opposite directions in Anbar have joined up, reducing the isolation of the city of Haditha, military sources said on Monday. A statement from Iraq's joint operations command coordinating the fight against the Islamic State group said forces retook several villages from the jihadists along the Euphrates River. The Iraqi army's 7th division had been moving down the river from Al-Baghdadi and eventually joined up with forces from the counter-terrorism service moving up from the town of Heet. Iraqi soldiers gather at the front line in al-Anbar desert, 50 kms north east of Haditha, where the country's forces are fighting the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, on March 9, 2016 Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP/File) "The road is therefore open between Heet and Haditha, via Al-Baghdadi, after an 18-month siege by the terrorists of Daesh," the statement said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "The siege of Haditha and Al-Baghdadi was broken after liberating the strategic highway between Baghdadi and Heet," Major General Ali Ibrahim Daboun, the army commander responsible for the area, told AFP. However, a commander of Haditha's tribal fighters said the area of Al-Dulab, which lies in a loop of the Euphrates just east of Al-Baghdadi, was still in IS hands. "The people are hopeful but for now nobody will take the risk of travelling on this road so long as Al-Dulab has not been retaken," Sheikh Abdullah al-Jughaifi told AFP by phone from Haditha. Haditha, 210 kilometres (130 miles) northwest of the capital Baghdad, is the third city in the vast province of Anbar and lies near the country's second largest dam. It has come under repeated attack since the jihadists launched their massive offensive in Iraq in June 2014, but the dominant tribes there were opposed to IS and able to hold them off. For months, the city's main lifeline was the nearby military base of Al-Asad, which was only accessible by air. "The engineering corps of the army continues to remove explosive devices to reopen the road for goods, oil products and food," Daboun said. Iraqi forces, with backing from the US-led coalition that carries out daily air strikes against IS, has retaken significant ground from the jihadists in recent months. IS still controls Fallujah city only 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, but it is almost completely besieged by pro-government forces. Israel says Erez crossing into Gaza to reopen Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon on Monday announced the reopening of one of the main crossing points into the Palestinian Gaza Strip, which has been closed for at least eight years. However he did not give a date for the reopening of the Erez crossing in the north of the territory, saying only that this "will not happen tomorrow or the day after". "It is in our interests that a significant amount of truckloads of food continues to go to Gaza," a spokesman for Yaalon said in a statement. Israelis and relatives of Avraham Mengistu, a 28-year old Israeli of Ethiopian descent who went missing after crossing into the Gaza Strip, hold posters as they rally on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing to the Gaza Strip on September 3, 2015 Menahem Kahana (AFP/File) "It is our interest that Gazans live in dignity. Both from a humanitarian point of view and because this is a way to protect the peace, in addition to existing security deterrents." Yaalon also spoke of the necessity to ease congestion at the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south, currently the only conduit for goods between Israel and the Gaza Strip. He said that "at least half of what currently goes via Kerem Shalom" will be redirected to Erez. Israel imposed a tight air, sea and land blockade on Gaza in 2006, designed to prevent the Islamist Hamas movement that controls the territory from rearming. Bordered to the north and east by Israel and with the Mediterranean Sea to its west, the enclave is also subjected to an Egyptian blockade to the south. Israel controls all but one of the crossing points with Gaza -- the Rafah crossing into Egypt, New mass brawl erupts in Turkey parliament: TV Ruling party and opposition Turkish lawmakers on Monday exchanged punches and hurled water bottles at each other as a new mass brawl erupted in parliament over changes to the constitution, television broadcasts showed. Parliament's constitutional committee was meeting to discuss a government-backed proposal to strip MPs of their immunity, after last week's session also broke up in violence. Television footage showed lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) fighting in the crammed committee room after a heated verbal confrontation. Turkish Prime Minister and the leader of the Justice and Development (AKP) Ahmet Davutoglu attends AKP's provincial chairmen meeting in Ankara on April 27, 2016 Adem Altan (AFP/File) The head of the HDP's faction in parliament, Idris Baluken, dislocated his shoulder in the fighting, reports said. Several MPs were seen jumping onto tables and then dive-bombing the crowd of opposing lawmakers on the other side. Others vaulted onto tables to get a better crack at kicking their opponents from above while some MPs sought to calm the tensions. Water bottles and other objects were hurled across the room in some of the worst fighting ever seen in the Turkish parliament, in a new sign of the severe political tensions in the country. The constitutional committee was due to discuss the AKP-backed plan to strip lawmakers of their parliamentary immunity. It comes as the government has stepped up efforts to have pro-Kurdish lawmakers prosecuted over their alleged links with militants amid mounting tension in the Kurdish-majority southeast. Government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus deplored the scenes of fighting in the national legislature. UN signs up Cate Blanchett to boost support for refugees The UN said Monday it had enlisted Oscar winning Australian actress Cate Blanchett to help raise awareness about the plight of refugees, amid a massive global displacement crisis. The United Nations refugee agency said it had appointed Blanchett as its newest Goodwill Ambassador, a role long famously held by US film star Angelina Jolie. "I am deeply proud to take on this role," Blanchett said in a statement, stressing that "there has never been a more crucial time to stand with refugees and show solidarity." Australian actress Cate Blanchett, pictured on February 14, 2016, is appointed by the United Nations refugee agency as its newest Goodwill Ambassador Justin Tallis (AFP/File) "We are living through an unprecedented crisis, and there must be shared responsibility worldwide," she added. Last year, a record 60 million people worldwide were displaced from their homes, and more than one third of them were living as refugees, according to the UNHCR. But solidarity has recently appeared to be in short supply in Europe for instance, which is facing surging xenophobia as it reels from its worst migration crisis since World War II. "It feels like we're at a fork in the road, do we go down the compassionate path or do we go down the path of intolerance?" Blanchett said. "As a mother, I want my children to go down the compassionate path," she added. Ahead of the announcement, Blanchett had gone to Jordan to see for herself the massive operation there to help people displaced by Syria's brutal five-year conflict and to meet refugee families first hand and hear their stories, UNHCR said. Before that, she had been working closely with the agency for over a year to raise awareness around the forcibly displaced, including a trip to Lebanon last year to meet stateless people. UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi hailed Blanchett's appointment saying it would help "create better public understanding and support for refugees." AUBURN Auburn's annual Seward Day ceremony in Auburn celebrated the legacies of both historic statesman William Seward and revered Boy Scout Harold Short. Short, the first Boy Scout of Cayuga County and one of the agency's most tenured members until his death in 1995, originated Seward Day in 1948 as a way for the community to honor a local son, said Jeff Laduca, a regional Boy Scout supervisor. Those intentions brought together several countywide Cub and Boy Scouts on Sunday for the 69th annual observance. The troops, packs and many from the community first congregated at the Seward House Museum for the scouts to organize into a marching order. Then, at the tolls of the Old Wheeler bell at Auburn Memorial City Hall, the scouts marched down the South Street sidewalk to Seward Park with supporters in tow. Among those to attend Sunday's ceremony included state Assemblyman Gary Finch, Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould and Auburn City Councilor Debby McCormick. Finch recalled stories about Seward, who was secretary of state under presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, as well as a state senator and governor of New York. "A man of small stature, but a giant," Finch said. Gould who was an Eagle Scout himself told the young men to have pride in their scouting as well as their community. "If you grow and you move away, you go to college whatever you choose to do, please always come back to Cayuga County because this is our home and we have to have pride in it," Gould said. "I appreciate everything you guys are doing for this community." Mitch Maniccia, facilities manager for the Seward Museum, told the scouts that they are "the future leaders of our community, our state and our nation" and to look to Seward as a model of leadership. Recalling Seward's past convictions such as abolition and the Alaska purchase, Maniccia said that the scouts should have the courage and strength to stand up and fight for their beliefs, while welcoming others to join their cause. "That's what William Seward did throughout his career and his life not only for this community, or for his state, or even his country, but for all of mankind," he said. "As Boy Scouts, you are the next generation that can do that for all of us." Senegal signs accord giving US forces permament access to the country Senegal and the United States on Monday signed a defence accord allowing "the permanent presence" of American soldiers in the west African country, especially to help fight against the terrorist threat. A key point of the accord will give US troops access to areas in Senegal, such as airports and military installations, in order to respond to security or health needs, according to officials, who did not talk about US bases in the country. The accord allows for "the permanent presence of American soldiers in Senegal" and aims to "face up to the common difficulties in security" in the region, said Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye at the signing alongside the US ambassador to Dakar, James Zumwalt. Soldiers parade during the closing ceremony of the three-week joint military exercise between African, US and European troops, on February 29, 2016 in Saint Louis Seyllou (AFP/File) After Ebola, which caused more than 11,000 deaths since late 2013 in West Africa, the US diplomat noted that the next crisis could be another epidemic, or a natural disaster calling for a humanitarian response "or a terrorist threat". The accord sets out the rules for cooperation between the US and Senegalese forces and the conditions for access and for using installations while US soldiers are in Senegal, Zumwalt added. It also allows for training to enable US and Senegalese forces "to be better prepared to respond together to the risks which threaten our common interests," he said. Senegal has up to now been spared the deadly jihadist attacks that have hit neighbouring countries, killing 30 people in Burkina Faso's capital in January and causing 19 deaths at an Ivory Coast beach resort in March. Obama still undecided about Hiroshima visit The White House on Monday said it is still weighing a possible first presidential visit to Hiroshima, one of two Japanese cities bombed by a US nuclear weapon. "We're obviously hard at work planning that trip," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of a potential visit that could prove controversial. "The president has been to Japan three or four times as president, and each time the president has traveled there, this question has come up and we've considered it each time." The Atomic Bomb Dome at the Peace Memoral Park in Hiroshima Kazuhiro Nogi (AFP/File) Obama will visit central Japan in late May for a Group of Seven summit. Last month, Secretary of State John Kerry became the highest ranking US political figure to visit Hiroshima. He said he was "deeply moved" by the experience and a "gut-wrenching display that tugs at all your sensibilities as a human being." "Everyone should visit Hiroshima, and everyone means everyone," he added, fueling speculation that Obama would go. Japan has long urged world leaders to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to see the horrors of the atomic bombings and join efforts to eradicate nuclear arms. But a presidential visit could rile Obama's opponents and some in the military whose predecessors carried out presidential orders to drop the bombs. The visit would come at a particularly sensitive time. This December marks the 75th anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, in Obama's home state of Hawaii. On August 6, 1945, the US dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing around 140,000 people, including those who survived the explosion itself but died soon after from severe radiation exposure. Three days later, the US military dropped a plutonium bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, killing some 74,000 people. The bombings are controversial in the United States, where opinion remains divided over whether their use in the closing days of World War II was justified. Circus elephants' retirement home promises pampered life When Mysore performed in the Ringling Brothers' traveling circus, she waltzed, she hooked her trunk onto another elephant's tail, and she stood on her hind legs in a line for a trick known as the long mount. Now at the age of about 70 -- and one of the oldest Asian elephants in the world -- Mysore is retired at the circus's refuge in central Florida, where she gets weekly pedicures, daily baths, naps on a giant dirt pile, eats ground-up hay and more than six loaves of wheat bread a day. "Boy, she loves the bread," says Janice Aria, the director of animal stewardship at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, where Mysore arrived in 2006. An elderly elephant named Mysore gets a pedicure at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk City, Florida on March 8, 2016 Kerry Sheridan (AFP) This week, the remaining 11 elephants that traveled in the Ringling Brothers circus will join Mysore and 27 other pachyderms in retirement, ending a 145-year tradition of elephants performing in the circus. "It is sad. You feel it is the end of an era," says long-time trainer Trudy Williams. The circus has faced torrents of criticism from animal rights groups, including widely circulated videos from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that show a male handler hitting elephants with a pointed-stick, known as an ankus, before a performance. Ringling Brothers was also embroiled in a 14-year lawsuit in which animal rights groups alleged the circus was mistreating its herd. The case was eventually thrown out after a lead witness was found to have been paid for his testimony by animal rights groups. By 2014, the plaintiffs, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society, had been ordered to pay the circus $25 million to reimburse its legal fees. - 'Outlawed' tool - What finally ended the shows for traveling elephants were the actions of a handful of local municipalities in California, Massachusetts and Virginia that banned circus trainers from using the ankus, a stick about two feet long (0.6 meters) with metal hooks on the end. Handlers employed by Ringling Brothers maintain that the tool is not used to harm to elephants -- which typically weigh 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms) -- but merely to signal them and give them tactile directions. "You just don't stand around one of these animals without one of these tools," says Aria. The logistics of being able to perform with elephants in some cities but not others became too much, Aria says, and the circus announced it would end elephant participation in its shows in 2016, two years earlier than planned. - Retirement life - The Ringling Brothers herd is the largest in the western hemisphere for Asian elephants, listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which says 40,000-50,000 exist in the world in highly fragmented populations. The Polk City conservation facility rests on 200 acres (80 hectares) of land in central Florida where orange groves are a common crop. It opened in 1995 as a place to keep the herd, to breed and raise young ones -- 26 babies were born here -- and to shelter those who simply "never took a shine to circus life," says Aria. Female elephants are usually paired up and kept in fields that are fenced in with thin electrical wire. Because of her age, Mysore stays in her own pen. The males, which like to fight and spar with others, are kept alone behind sturdier bars. Their sperm is collected for breeding purposes, and sometimes a female is put into their enclosure for breeding, or they are sent out to other facilities to mate. Here, the elephants are fed 2.5 tons of hay daily, and up to 800 pounds of fruit, veggies and greens. They are led into a barn in the afternoon, and chained for the night. Aria says the elephants are so used to these tethers that they won't relax or eat without them. But the facility has its critics, and many in the community of people who deal with elephants -- from zoos to sanctuaries to researchers of elephants in the wild -- are divided about what it means to treat elephants well. "Their environment needs to stimulate them. That particular piece of property is not an environment that would stimulate an elephant," says Carol Buckley, who was part of a team that inspected the Polk City facility several years ago for the lawsuit. "It is like a stockyard. It is flat, square, boring," says Buckley, who advocates for female-only elephant sanctuaries in which the animals are not dominated by humans and contact with people is kept to a minimum. But Ringling Brothers trainer Erik Montgomery says people need to know how to live with elephants. "The truth of the matter is elephants - especially Asian elephants -- are not going to be around in the future without people's help, without being in responsible, man-managed facilities," he says. "As long as we can enrich their lives and have a relationship with them -- and enrich our own lives in the process -- I think that is the way to go." Mysore -- who was born in India and named after a city there before being shipped to the United States in 1947 -- is a prime example of an elephant living a long and healthy life in the care of humans, Montgomery says. "Without that human intervention, she wouldn't be here today," he adds. A train car that used to transport elephants from city to city for the circus is parked March 8, 2016 at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk City, Florida Kerry Sheridan (AFP) A man with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) stands next to mechanical elephant "Ellie" as he hands out leaflets outside the Ringling Bros. Circus on April 2, 2016 in Washington, DC Mike Theiler (AFP/File) A pair of female elephants stand together on March 8, 2016 in their enclosure at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk City, Florida, where circus elephants retire Kerry Sheridan (AFP) NZ's Helen Clark starts UN campaign tour in Paris New Zealand's former prime minister Helen Clark was in Paris on Monday at the start of a tour of key world capitals in her campaign to head the United Nations. Although Clark would become the first woman to hold the top job at the world body, she told AFP she had "never asked for supporters because I'm a woman." But the former three-term prime minister added: "Of course I am a woman, and I bring that perspective to a job." Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and administrator of the United Nations Development Program, speaks with reporters after being interviewed as a candidates for the position of UN Secretary-General April 14, 2016 at the United Nations Don Emmert (AFP/File) "It holds generally true that women carry a broad range of family responsibilities" and give priority to health and education, said Clark, 66. As such, women are a vector for peace and stability, she said, stressing: "Peace really matters to women." Clark has headed the largest UN agency, the UN Development Programme, which implements the body's worldwide economic development operations, since 2009. Clark plans to push her bid in each of the capitals of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- France, Britain, the United States, Russia and China -- the main gatekeepers in the process. She and three other women are among the nine candidates so far in the running to succeed Ban Ki-moon of South Korea. Bulgaria's Irina Bokova, head of the UN cultural agency UNESCO, is considered a strong contender and would be the first UN chief from eastern Europe, the only region that has yet to be represented in the top job. Given an unwritten rule of regional rotation to fill the post, Clark may be at a disadvantage being from the same Asia-Pacific region as Ban. But she said "this time the member states are looking more at the scale of what is needed" in a secretary-general, adding that she offered "pragmatic and effective" leadership. The UN Security Council is expected to begin a round of straw polls in July to nominate a candidate. UN Security Council to make Somalia visit ahead of vote The UN Security Council will travel to Somalia this month to show support for elections scheduled in August, Egypt's UN Ambassador and this month's council president, Amr Aboulatta, said Monday. The 15 envoys will also travel to Nairobi during the May 17-21 trip and hold meetings in Cairo with the Arab League, Aboulatta said, presenting the program of work for the month. "The council will be going to Somalia to push for the elections," he said. "The election is supposed to be held in the month of August and we will try to give the support of the council." A Somali soldier stands guard on December 2, 2013 outside the parliament session in Mogasishu Mohamed Abdiwahab (AFP/File) The vote will be Somalia's second since 1991, when warlords ousted president Mohamed Siad Barre, plunging the country into years of war and chaos. The last elections took place in 2012. Last month, the Security Council heard a report on the situation in Somalia during a special meeting in New York attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Voting for the upcoming general elections will take place through electoral colleges, but the council has said it should be a stepping stone to one-person, one-vote elections in 2020. ANZ Bank profit slumps, repositions for future ANZ Bank Tuesday posted an interim net profit slump of 22 percent on the back of impairment and restructuring charges that the lender said would reposition it for the future. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's result for the six months to March 31 came in at Aus$2.73 billion (2.0 billion US), while cash profit, which strips out one-off and other items, was Aus$2.78 billion. The unexpected drop was largely down to Aus$717 million in one-off net charges, including an accounting change to its software capitalisation policy, a writedown related to the value of its investment in Malaysias AmBank, and restructuring. ANZ Bank posts an interim net profit slump of 22 percent on May 2, 2016, on the back of impairment and restructuring charges that the lender said would reposition it for the future Greg Wood (AFP/File) In a surprise move, ANZ slashed its interim dividend seven percent to 80 cents. With banks juggling new rules that demand they hold more reserves as a buffer against mortgages, and fears over rising bad loans, chief executive Shayne Elliott said the one-off charges meant "stronger profit before provisions growth in the future". "This result reflects a challenging period for banking and we have taken the opportunity to move decisively and adapt to the changing environment by building a simpler, better capitalised and more balanced bank," he said. "We have strong underlying drivers in our Australia and New Zealand consumer and small business franchise and we have seen good early progress in transforming Institutional Banking. "This has been supported by prudent capital management and tight control of costs with total expenses, excluding the impact of specified items, being lower for the first time in seven halves." Elliott added that banking was experiencing rapid shifts in technology and regulation against a backdrop of low economic growth, volatile financial markets and rising credit costs. "Our priority is to take bold action to ensure ANZ is fit and ready for this future," he said. "This means for the immediate future we are in a period of consolidation, simplification and transition." The soft numbers follow Westpac posting a three percent rise in interim net profit to Aus$3.70 billion on Monday, disappointing investors who savaged the share price. National Australia Bank reports its half-yearly results on Thursday. US woman sues Starbucks for $5 mn over ice in cold drinks A Chicago woman is suing Starbucks for more than $5 million, claiming the coffee giant is underfilling its popular hand-blended iced coffee, tea and other drinks, making customers overpay for beverages. In a lawsuit seeking a jury trial and class action status, alleging false advertising and consumer fraud, Stacy Pincus accuses the world's biggest coffee retailer of serving its customers "much less than advertised -- often nearly half as many fluid ounces." "As a result of this practice, Starbucks's cold drinks contain significantly less product than advertised, by design and corporate practice and procedure," the suit filed last week says. Starbucks has rejected claims they are ripping off customers with their cold drinks by topping off many of the beverages large amounts of ice in an effort to fill up the cups to the required levels Starbucks baristas typically fill cold-drink plastic cups to the top black line printed on the cups and the rest with ice. Pincus says that since April 2006, she and millions of other Starbucks customers have been defrauded because Venti cup customers get only 14 ounces (0.4 liters) of beverage -- the amount of liquid obtained when filling cups to the top line -- even though menus state a 24-ounce total. "Starbucks includes these three black lines on its cold drink cups to ensure that its employees fill these cups with less fluid ounces than are advertised on Starbucks's menu for a given cold drink," the lawsuit says. "In fact, Starbucks instructs its employees to provide its customers with fewer fluid ounces than advertised." Pincus is also challenging Starbucks's pricing, saying it charges more for cold drinks than hot ones. An average Grande Iced Coffee, advertised as a 16-ounce drink, costs $2.65, while a hot Grande Freshly Brewed Coffee costs $2.10. "Essentially, Starbucks is not only underfilling its cold drinks compared to how they are advertised, but it is charging a premium price for them as well," the filing reads. "Starbucks's cold drinks are underfilled to make more money and higher profits, to the detriment of consumers who are misled by Starbucks's intentionally misleading advertising practices." Starbucks dismissed the lawsuit as "frivolous and without merit." "Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any 'iced' beverage," the coffee giant said in a statement. "If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it." Starbucks, which boasts more than 23,000 stores worldwide, reported $19.2 billion in net revenue during fiscal 2015, a 16.5 percent increase from the previous year. Outrage over college's plans to sell political memorabilia HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) One of America's largest troves of political and campaign memorabilia is headed for the auction block, spurring protests from some who do not want to see it divided up and sold to private collectors. The University of Hartford plans to hire an auction house and sell off more than 70,000 items, many of them donated by the late J. Doyle DeWitt, a former chairman of the Connecticut-based Travelers Cos. who spent decades amassing letters from presidents, campaign posters, buttons and advertisements dating to the 18th century. The artifacts include a pin worn by George Washington at his inauguration and torchlights used by a political group, The Wide Awakes, which marched at night in northern states during the 1860 campaign in support of Abraham Lincoln. In this Friday, April 29, 2016 photo, attorney Bruce Rubenstein, a collector of left-wing political memorabilia, stands in front of a 1920s drawing by political cartoonist Art Young on April 29, 2016 inside his office in Hartford, Conn. Rubenstein is threatening to sue the University of Hartford which plans to sell a political memorabilia collection to which Rubenstein donated hundreds of items. (AP Photo/Pat Eaton-Robb) The university, which once served as home to the federally funded Museum of American Political Life, said it offered the collection for sale to other schools, the state, the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress. But no one has agreed to buy the entire collection. "The university began the process of selling this memorabilia after determining that maintaining and exhibiting the collection as an academic resource on campus no longer matches the university's best interests and needs, and that maintaining the collection is not the best use of university resources," the school said in a statement. One donor has threatened to sue to stop the auction. Bruce Rubenstein, a Hartford attorney and collector of left-wing memorabilia, said he donated hundreds of artifacts in the early 1990s that became part of the collection, but only after getting assurances from the university they would never be sold. The items included early Communist Party material and pamphlets from the infamous 1886 Haymarket demonstration in Chicago that ended in a bombing. "I intended the materials be put on public view, so people could come in and get an education experience from it," he said. "I didn't want it to be locked up for 10 years and then sold to plug some operational hole in the school's budget." Hubert Santos, another attorney and collector, also has written to the U.S. attorney's office in Connecticut, asking it to investigate. He believes the federal government prohibited the sale of the collection as a condition of funding the museum. "This is a national treasure," Santos said. Lowell P. Weicker Jr., the former governor and U.S senator from Connecticut, helped secure that funding. He could not recall Monday what restrictions, if any, there were on the sale of the memorabilia. But, he said he is unhappy the school is considering an auction. "It shouldn't be sold off obvious," he said. "You don't give these things so they can be sold or go into storage." The school closed the museum in the summer of 2004 after determining it needed the space to expand its architecture program. An evaluation of school resources in 2012 included a recommendation to divest and sell the collection. University officials said the collection, most of which was never put on display, was donated without restrictions and it has determined there is no legal impediment to the sale. The university said it has narrowed down the choice of auction houses to two. The school said it has not yet determined the value of the collection or what it will do with the revenue generated from the sale. But Santos and Rubenstein said they were told the school was seeking $4.5 million. "That's a fire sale," said Rubenstein, who said the items he donated were worth over $1 million at the time. French leader says all new subs will be built in Australia CANBERRA, Australia (AP) A new fleet of French-designed Australian submarines will be built in Australia on time and within budget, the French prime minister said on Monday. Prime Minister Manuel Valls met his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull on Monday, a week after Australia announced that DCNS, a French state majority-owned company, had been chosen to design 12 diesel-electric submarines. Australia expects the new fleet will cost at least 56 billion Australian dollars ($43 billion), although contracts have yet to be signed to create a DCNS-Australia partnership to build the world's largest conventionally powered submarines. Valls dismissed speculation that at least the first 97-meter (318-foot) long Shortfin Barracuda subs would be built in a DCNS shipyard in France before construction shifted to the Australian manufacturing hub of Adelaide. "The choice of the Australian government was to have the 12 submarines built in Australia and this was the basis of our agreement," Valls told reporters at Parliament House through a translator. "This contract represents also a lot of work for the DCNS staff both in France and across the world," he said. Turnbull, who faces an election on July 2, agreed that the "entire submarine fleet" would be built in Adelaide by Australian workers with Australian steel. "The success of the project will draw upon the expertise and technology and resources of our two great countries," Turnbull said. Both prime ministers agreed that the project boosted the strategic relationship between their countries to a new level and would bind them in a partnership for more than 50 years through submarine construction and maintenance. Valls said he was personally overseeing the implementation of DCNS's commitments made in its bid against rival submarine manufacturers from Germany and Japan. "We will meet our commitments be it on the timeline, on the financial commitments or on the performances of the submarines," Valls said. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Australia chairman John White said last week that while he was disappointed that the German bid had not been selected, his company stood ready to support the French project through its personnel's experience in building submarines in Australia. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said he would seek an explanation from Australia to find out why the Japanese submarine wasn't selected. Tiny Nebraska town says no to 1,100 jobs, citing way of life NICKERSON, Neb. (AP) Half-ton pickup trucks crowd the curb outside the One Horse Saloon, a neon Coors Light sign in the window and rib-eye steaks on the menu, but otherwise Nickerson, Nebraska, is nearly silent on a spring evening, with only rumbling freight trains interrupting bird songs. Regional economic development officials thought it was the perfect spot for a chicken processing plant that would liven up the 400-person town with 1,100 jobs, more than it had ever seen. When plans leaked out, though, there was no celebration, only furious opposition that culminated in residents packing the fire hall to complain the roads couldn't handle the truck traffic, the stench from the plant would be unbearable and immigrants and out-of-towners would flood the area, overwhelming schools and changing the town's character. "Everyone was against it," said Jackie Ladd, who has lived there for more than 30 years. "How many jobs would it mean for people here? Not many." Cedar Street in the center of the village of Nickerson, Neb., is seen at night, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) The village board unanimously voted against the proposed $300 million plant, and two weeks later, the company said they'd take their plant and money elsewhere. Deep-rooted, rural agricultural communities around the U.S. are seeking economic investments to keep from shedding residents, but those very places face trade-offs that increasing numbers of those who oppose meat processing plants say threaten to burden their way of life and bring in outsiders. "Maybe it's just an issue of the times in which we live in which so many people want certain things but they don't want the inconveniences that go with them," said Chris Young, executive director of the American Association of Meat Processors. Nickerson fought against Georgia-based Lincoln Premium Poultry, which wanted to process 1.6 million chickens a week for warehouse chain Costco. It was a similar story in Turlock, California, which turned down a hog-processing plant last fall, and Port Arthur, Texas, where residents last week stopped a meat processing plant. There also were complaints this month about a huge hog processing plant planned in Mason City, Iowa, but the project has moved ahead. The Nickerson plant would have helped area farmers, who mostly grow corn and soybeans, start up poultry operations and buy locally grown grain for feed, said Willow Holliback, who lives 40 miles away and heads an agriculture group that backed the proposal. "When farmers are doing well, the towns are doing well," she said. The question of who would work the tough jobs was at the forefront of the debate, though many were adamant they aren't anti-immigrant. Opposition leader Randy Ruppert even announced: "This is not about race. This is not about religion." But at a time when immigration issues, including calls to deport millions in the country illegally, have been a focus of attention in the U.S. presidential campaign, questions about both race and religion were raised at the raucous April 4 meeting where the local board rejected the plant. One speaker said he'd toured a chicken processing plant elsewhere and felt nervous because most of the workers were minorities. More overtly, John Wiegert, from nearby Fremont where two meat processors employ many immigrants, questioned whether Nickerson's plant would attract legal immigrants from Somalia more than 1,000 of whom have moved to other Nebraska cities for similar jobs, along with people from Mexico, Central America and Southeast Asia. "Being a Christian, I don't want Somalis in here," Wiegert, who has led efforts to deny rental housing to immigrants in the country illegally, told the crowd. "They're of Muslim descent. I'm worried about the type of people this is going to attract." Others pointed out that, given Nebraska's unemployment rate is among the nation's lowest near 3 percent, few local residents would accept the entry-level jobs. While the projected wage of $13 to $17 an hour was above the region's current median wage for production workers, opponents argued meat processors generally have high turnover. "We aren't against jobs," farmer John Schauer said. "We want clean, stable jobs." The land is flat and rich around Nickerson, which is a half-mile off a narrow state highway about 30 miles from Omaha. The town's tidy but often faded single-story homes sit on large, grassy lots. There's a small cluster of commercial buildings, most of them long shuttered, and a grain elevator. Its school was demolished more than a decade ago, leaving only the old playground, but residents take pride in the regional school district. Superintendent Jeremy Klein told the village board he worried new students would overwhelm local schools and that tax breaks would limit any extra money to hire more teachers. "It's impossible to know what the size of that impact will be," Klein said days later. People seem to be more willing than in earlier eras to fight developments they think could harm the environment or change an area's character, University of Nebraska-Lincoln economics professor Eric Thompson said, even if the development offers an economic boost. Mason City official Brent Trout said he heard all the arguments against the $240 million plant planned some 200 miles northeast of Nickerson: What's the environmental impact of an operation that will process up to 22,000 hogs daily? How will 2,000 new jobs affect the isolated city of 27,500? It's already hard to attract employers to Mason City, which has lost about 10 percent of its population over the last 30 years, he said. But, like Nickerson, Mason City's best selling point is its focus on agriculture: "This is what Iowa is. This is what Iowa does," Trout said. "We raise pigs and we process pigs." Although Nickerson residents have succeeded in pushing away the industrial-scale operation, opponents said they're getting better organized to help the town that's targeted next. "I've lived in exotic places, but I've never wanted to live anywhere but here," said Chuck Folsom, an 88-year-old former Marine and farmer. "We've got to protect the land. We're not making any more of it." ___ Follow Scott McFetridge at: https://twitter.com/smcfetridge . Taylor Ladd does a back flip on the trampoline with the fire hall seen in the background, in Nickerson, Neb., Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) A building stands on Cedar Street in Nickerson, Neb., Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Randy Ruppert addresses residents during a meeting at the Nickerson, Neb., fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Jackie Ladd and her husband Mike Ladd react in Nickerson, Neb., Tuesday, April 19, 2016, when told that a chicken processing plant decided not to built in their village. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Residents of Nickerson, Neb., turn in their seats towards Randy Ruppert, left, during a meeting at the Nickerson, Neb., fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Randy Ruppert addresses residents during a meeting at the Nickerson, Neb., fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Randy Ruppert goes over a document with Kathy Drawbridge following a meeting at the Nickerson, Neb., fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Randy Ruppert speaks on camera following a meeting at the Nickerson, Neb., fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Residents of Nickerson, Neb., congregate outside the village's fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, following a meeting. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Kathy Drawbridge chats with other residents following a meeting at the Nickerson, Neb., fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Residents of Nickerson, Neb., congregate outside the village's fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016, following a meeting. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Nickerson, Neb., resident Chuck Folsom poses for a photo following a meeting at the Nickerson, Neb., fire hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. When regional officials announced plans to open a $300 million chicken processing plant employing 1,100 workers, residents packed the firehall and the village board unanimously voted against the plant, and a week later the company gave up, saying theyd take their plant and jobs elsewhere. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) The deadline to collect bids for the former Seneca Army Depot land has been closed for over two months, but the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency has refused to release the names of the 16 bidders, nor has it released a date of when it will. The bidding deadline closed on Feb. 29 for the approximately 7,000 acres of land, which is the home to a herd of white deer. Some of the bids were for the entire swath of land, and others were for parcels, according to the IDA. Officials from the IDA and from the Seneca County Board of Directors have been meeting to discuss the bids over the last several weeks. The Citizen filed a Freedom of Information request on March 2 with the IDA to find out the names of the 16 bidders. That request was denied. The Citizen filed an appeal on April 14, and that request was denied as well. In its first denial letter dated April 7, the IDA cited the New York State Public Officers Law, "which permits an agency to deny access to records which 'if disclosed would impair present or imminent contract awards.'" The IDA went on to say, "any amount of public disclosure of the details of the bids could undermine the integrity of this process. For example, simply releasing the names of the bidders would give interested parties (particularly the other bidders) the ability to discern the relative viability of the bids, and, as such, undermine the Agency's negotiation position." The Citizen appealed, citing an opinion provided by Robert Freeman, the executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government. Freeman said he did not believe releasing the names of the bidders would impact negotiations, and it's the burden of the IDA to prove how it could. Freeman wrote that by releasing the names of the bidders, it may in fact "encourage creativity on the part of the submitters so that they can offer the best possible solutions in terms of the agency's needs or goals." Robert Aronson, executive director of the IDA, wrote a letter to The Citizen denying its appeal. "Given the nature of the Depot property, and the nature of the parties that submitted bids, it remains the Agency's position that any publicity at this sensitive point, even of the names of the bidders, could undermine the integrity of this ongoing process," Aronson wrote. "You indicate that Robert Freeman has offered to you his opinion that 'disclosing the identities of those who submitted proposals would not have an impact on the negotiation process.' With all respect to Mr. Freeman, the Agency, which has been involved in myriad negotiations aimed at effecting a transfer and productive re-use of the Depot property for nearly twenty years, would disagree with his opinion." In an interview Monday, Freeman said the IDA's first and second denial fail to address exactly how releasing the names would hinder the negotiation process. "The world knows that there's to be a sale of the former Seneca Army Depot land," Freeman said. "That being so, the statement that the denial, from my perspective, is based upon speculation. In my view, it is insufficient, particularly in consideration of the reality that the public is well aware of the IDA's intent to demonstrate that the disclosure of the bidders, without additional details regarding the bids, would impair the process." Seneca White Deer Inc., a nonprofit conservation group whose mission is to save the white deer, partnered with the town of Varick to submit a bid for a 3,000-acre parcel. Robert Hayssen, Varick's town supervisor, said they'd like about 1,000 acres to go toward conserving the white deer and 2,000 acres would be developed however the town would like. Aronson wrote that the IDA intends to release all the bid submission documents "at the appropriate time." Wildfires sweep through mountain forests in north India LUCKNOW, India (AP) Massive wildfires that have killed at least seven people in recent weeks were burning through pine forests in the mountains of northern India on Monday, including parts of two tiger reserves. With dense black smoke billowing in the skies for kilometers (miles), authorities were urging villagers to be on alert and tourists to avoid traveling to the Himalayan foothills, popular during the summer for their cooler temperatures. Dozens of fires were spreading unpredictably in the states of Uttarakhand and neighboring Himachal Pradesh, officials said. A major fire in the forests at Ahirikot in Srinagar, Uttarakhand state, India, Monday, May 2, 2016. Massive wildfires that have killed at least seven people in recent weeks were burning through pine forests in the mountains of northern India on Monday, including parts of two tiger reserves.(Press Trust of India via AP) INDIA OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO ARCHIVE "We are struggling to bring the situation under control," forest officer Bhanu Prasad Gupta said in the state of Uttarakhand. After state firefighters were unable for months to put out the fires, the Indian government sent air force helicopters over the weekend to drop water on blazes covering nearly 23 square kilometers (8 square miles) of pine forests. After areas were soaked from above, groups of villagers fanned out into the steaming jungle forests and used green-leafed branches to beat out the embers still glowing on the ground. But the thick smoke and remote, mountainous terrain were making the job difficult for some 9,000 firefighters, army soldiers and forest guards deployed to battle the flames, Gupta said. Nearby villages were asked to stay on alert, but none has yet been asked to evacuate. Authorities set up 84 monitoring centers to receive reports of new fire outbreaks. Hundreds of tourists have abandoned plans to visit the popular hill towns of Ranikhet, Almora and Pauri after smoke reduced visibility on steep mountainous roads. During the scorching summer, hill resorts in Uttarakhand are a favorite weekend getaway for people in New Delhi, 400 kilometers (250 miles) to the south. While forest fires are not uncommon in the dense forests of the Himalayan foothills, there were more fires than usual this year and they were unusually intense, according to forest department official Ujjawal Kishan. The fires began early in February, after a particularly dry winter and two years of poor monsoon rains, and raged out of control last week as summer temperatures soared. In total, 13 districts of Uttarakhand have been affected, along with six districts in Himachal Pradesh. The fires were worsening the already-high air pollution over northern India, while also destroying forest ecosystems and affecting nesting birds and other animals. "This is the breeding season of many avian species," wildlife official Ramesh Unnwal said. "The fire has destroyed their eggs." About 5 square kilometers (2 square miles) of protected forest land had been destroyed in the Corbett National Park and Rajaji National Park tiger reserves, but officials reported no evidence so far of any tiger deaths. The burned area is a small fraction of the parks' combined area of 1,340 square kilometers (520 square miles). Officials said they are not sure what sparked the fires. Scientists say climate change brings warmer temperatures that dry up forests and exacerbate drought. The aftermath of the El Nino climate pattern has worsened drought conditions and could still weaken this year's monsoon, expected to begin in June. In the first four months of this year, there have been more forest fires across India than in all of 2015 or 2014, according to Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar. The government counted 20,667 wildfires up to April 21 this year in the Himalayan foothills and in central and eastern India, he told lawmakers. By comparison, there were 15,937 forest fires recorded in 2015, 19,054 in 2014, and 18,451 in 2013. Meanwhile, authorities detained four men for questioning on suspicion they started some fires to clear land for real estate development. Javdekar said, however, that even burned forest land would be left to regenerate and not be diverted to any other purpose. "Not a single inch of forest land will be allowed to be encroached or diverted by anybody," Javdekar said. Since Prince was divorced and childless, his estate will likely be split evenly among his siblings - but the process could take years Five of Prince's six surviving siblings appeared in court Monday for the first hearing to start sorting out an estate certain to be worth millions, a task complicated because the star musician isn't known to have left a will. In a hearing that lasted a little over 12 minutes, Carver County District Judge Kevin Eide formalized his appointment last week of Bremer Trust to handle matters involving the estate of Prince, who died suddenly last month at age 57. Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, requested the appointment so that the company can manage Prince's estate until an executor is named. Eide asked the packed courtroom whether anyone knew of a will, and the courtroom was silent. Lawyers for Bremer Trust said they hadn't found one but would keep looking. Scroll down for video Five of Prince's six surviving siblings appeared in court on Monday for the first hearing about splitting up the music legend's estate. Pictued center is Tyka Nelson, Prince's only full sibling Prince's other half-siblings Norrine Nelson (center, in black), Sharon Nelson, Alfred Jackson, and Omarr Baker also appeared in court for the hearing on Monday During the hearing, the judge asked whether there was a will and lawyers from Bremer Trust said they had not found one yet. Above Prince's half-brothers Alfred Jackson, left, and Omarr Baker, right, on Monday The hearing didn't address how long the estate may take to settle or how much it is worth. Above, Prince's half-sister Sharon Nelson outside of court on Monday 'The court is not finding that there is no will, but that no will has yet been found,' the judge said. The hearing didn't address how long the estate may take to settle or how much it is worth. His property holdings alone in Minnesota, including his Paisely Park studios in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen, were worth about $27million, but music industry experts say his earnings after death are likely to be far more - in excess of $500million. Prince (pictured above in February 2015) unexpectedly died on April 21 at the age of 57 He owned royalties for 30 albums, had regained ownership of his master recordings and is said to have been sitting on a cache of unrecorded material including an album with jazz great Miles Davis. Prince was divorced and childless, so under Minnesota law his estate is likely to be split evenly among his surviving six siblings. Tyka Nelson is Prince's only full sibling. Four half-siblings - Alfred Jackson, Norrine Nelson, Sharon Nelson and Omarr Baker - were present in court on Monday. A fifth, John Nelson, didn't attend. Norrine Nelson and Sharon Nelson exchanged a hug in the courtroom, and family members chatted quietly. Tyka Nelson sat at a table between her two lawyers, while the four others sat side-by-side in the well, just behind their lawyers. None of the siblings commented afterward. Frank Wheaton, an attorney for Alfred Jackson, said afterward that the siblings were cooperating in settling the estate. 'Everyone is in full accord,' he said. Even if all the heirs really are in agreement, it's going to take a long time to settle the estate, Judith Younger, a University of Minnesota law professor who isn't involved in the case, told The Associated Press. Other claimants are likely to come forward, any disagreements with tax authorities over the value of the estate could result in litigation, and Minnesota courts haven't settled yet whether the rights to someone's likeness, such as Prince's, can be inherited. 'It a real mess that he left behind,' she said. It's also possible that a will could turn up and that it could lead to fights over its validity, Younger said. 'I find it so hard to believe,' Younger said, noting how careful Prince was to keep control of his music and other business affairs. 'How can there not be a will?' Susan Link, a Minneapolis estate attorney who also isn't involved in the case, said she doesn't think any of the lawyers involved will 'fan the fire' of any discord among the siblings and that their decision last week to sit the siblings down together was a good move. If the siblings can't agree, the personal representative will be going to court a lot, she said. The hearing didn't address how long the estate may take to settle or how much it is worth. His property holdings alone in Minnesota, including his Paisely Park studios (pictured), were worth about $27million Prince's half-sisters Sharon Nelson and Norrine Nelson arrive at Paisley Park recording studio after attending a hearing on the estate of Prince Rogers Nelson on May 2, 2016 in Chanhassen, Minnesot Prince's half-sisters Sharon Nelson and Norrine Nelson stand outside of Paisley Park on Monday, following the court hearing Attorney Frank Wheaton is escorted through the media as he exits the Carver County court house after the first hearing Prince's estate on May 2, 2016 in Chaska, Minnesota Carver county Sheriffs deputies escort Prince's family and attorneys through the media as they exit the Carver County court house after the first hearing the musician's estate on May 2, 2016 in Chaska, Minnesota A law enforcement official told the AP that investigators are looking into whether Prince, who was found dead at his home on April 21, died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks beforehand. The official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Eide did not set a date for future proceedings. But he noted the intense interest in the case, as reflected by the throng of media and lawyers inside and outside what would normally be a quiet suburban courtroom. North Carolina pair survive 5 days in New Zealand wilderness WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) An American exchange student and her mother were rescued over the weekend in the New Zealand wilderness, where they were lost for five days after setting off on a day hike. A helicopter pilot spotted the large "help" signs they had made from fern fronds. After thinking she would die, 22-year-old Rachel Lloyd is now recovering in Wellington Hospital with her mother, Carolyn Lloyd, by her side. The pair recounted their ordeal to The Associated Press. ___ The word HELP spelled out with fern fronds is seen by Amalgamated Helicopters chief pilot Jason Diedrichs as he hovers over head in Tararua Forest Park near Wellington on New Zealands North Island, Saturday, April 30, 2016. Carolyn Lloyd and her daughter Rachel Lloyd from North Carolina in the U.S. made the help sign after they got lost for five days while on a day hike in the New Zealand wilderness.(Photo/Jason Diedrichs/Amalgamated Helicopters Via AP) DAY ONE: Carolyn Lloyd, 47, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was visiting her daughter for about a week, and Rachel was eager to show her some highlights of New Zealand. They had planned to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a popular route that was the backdrop for some of the scenes in "The Lord of the Rings" movies. But the winds that day were too strong, so they changed their plans to do a day hike in the expansive Tararua Forest Park. It was close to where Rachel was completing a semester abroad at Massey University in Palmerston North, after finishing most of a double degree at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. They left April 26, with Rachel's college backpack filled with some water, trail mix and other snacks. They followed orange markers up a trail for about three hours to a summit, where they enjoyed sunny weather and spectacular views. But as they set off to complete the circular trail, they couldn't locate any more orange markers and started following some blue markers down a hill. They figured it was a continuation of the trail but later learned it was probably a track for pest monitoring. "It got very steep, very jungly," said Rachel. "The markers completely stopped after about 20 minutes but it was so steep it was physically impossible to climb back up." Rachel said they continued descending until they got stuck on a tiny ledge atop a 182-meter (600-foot) waterfall. As it got dark, they straddled a tree and lay atop one another to keep warm, keeping each other awake so they wouldn't fall over the edge. ___ DAY TWO: Carolyn opened a package of cheese, only to have it tumble over the waterfall. The pair forged ahead by scaling down the cliff next to the waterfall. "There would be one tiny little rock, or one tiny shrub, and we'd swing to the next thing," Rachel Lloyd said. Once down, they followed a stream, figuring it would lead eventually to civilization. But they were forced to keep switching sides and Rachel fell head first into the icy water, hitting her head on a rock. "That's when I started going downhill," she said. "I could never get dry and couldn't get warm the rest of the trip." Carolyn piggybacked her daughter at times as they continued their journey. They made camp that night in a grassy clearing. They gathered ferns and lay atop each other as they tried to keep warm in temperatures which fell close to freezing. "At this point it was very scary," said Rachel. "I was trying to stay positive, and constantly praying, asking God to be with us." ___ DAY THREE: Their cellphones died. They had been able to get reception at the summit but hadn't been able to get service since they'd gotten lost. They had tried to conserve the batteries by switching off data and apps while periodically checking in to see if they could get reception. Now they had no way to contact anybody, and nobody yet knew they were missing. Unknown to them, Carolyn's husband, Barry, had been sending messages, urging them to get in touch, but hadn't yet raised the alarm. And some hikers in the area stay overnight in huts, so the fact their car remained at the trailhead may not have seemed unusual. The pair kept following the stream but it became deep and unpassable. They turned back and found a flat area with some sun and decided to stay put. Rachel said her health was failing and she was losing her vision and hearing. They were rationing what little food they had left, eating as little as three peanuts at a time. They were able to drink fresh water from the streams. ___ DAY FOUR: Carolyn came up with the idea of making the "help" signs. She made one in a creek bed and another in a clearing, using dead fern fronds, sticks and stones to make letters about 2 meters (6 feet) high. "I was like a zombie, very dizzy, disorientated and cold, in my wet clothes," said Rachel. She said her mother was incredibly supportive. Rachel said she thought she was going to die, and began relaying her last wishes to her mom, telling her who should get various souvenirs she'd collected in New Zealand. "I was terrified as a mother," said Carolyn. "I was doing everything I could to keep her alive." By this time, authorities knew something was wrong. Carolyn had failed to check out of her hotel and return her rental car. Police had been in touch with family members back in the U.S., who were frantic. Authorities sent search teams into the forest. ___ DAY FIVE: Jason Diedrichs, chief pilot for Amalgamated Helicopters, said police asked him Saturday morning to try to find the missing women. He didn't know all the details, he said, but knew that after four nights missing, it could well be a mission to haul out bodies. However, after 30 minutes of searching, at about noon, he spotted a "help" sign in a riverbed. As he circled overhead, he spotted the second "help" sign in a small clearing and saw the two women waving. "To be honest, we were pretty relieved," Diedrichs said. He said Carolyn seemed OK but Rachel was clearly weak and exhausted, and he needed to lift her into the helicopter. She was later admitted to Wellington Hospital suffering hypothermia and undernourishment. She said Monday she expected to stay there a couple more days, with her mother by her side. Rachel said despite everything, she intends to finish her studies in New Zealand. And she wants to thank everyone who helped, including police, university officials and U.S. Embassy staff. "I'm feeling so, so much better," she said Monday. "I've gotten a lot of food into me, I'm eating all the time, and just hearing my father's voice, and my brother's voice. On both sides of the equator, everyone's support and love has been so overwhelming." Carolyn Lloyd, left, of Charlotte, N.C., and her daughter Rachel smile at Wellington Hospital in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, May 2, 2016. The American pair were rescued over the weekend in the New Zealand wilderness, where they were lost for five days after setting off on a day hike. A helicopter pilot spotted the large help signs they had made from fern fronds. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) Closings begin in 'Grim Sleeper' serial killer trial LOS ANGELES (AP) The "Grim Sleeper" trial was nearly over Monday after months of testimony about a serial killer targeting black women during the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic on the south side of Los Angeles. Lonnie Franklin Jr., 63, faces the death penalty if convicted of killing nine women and a 15-year-old girl between 1985 and 2007. All were shot or strangled, and their bodies were dumped in alleys and trash bins. Perhaps the most riveting witness against Franklin is the only woman known to have survived the serial killings. She described being shot in the chest and sexually assaulted in 1988. Then, she noticed her attacker taking a Polaroid picture of her before pushing her out of his car. FILE- In this Feb. 16, 2016, file photo, Lonnie Franklin Jr., left, appears in Los Angeles Superior Court for opening statements in his trial in Los Angeles. The Grim Sleeper serial killer trial is coming to a close in Los Angeles after months of testimony. Closing arguments were scheduled to begin Monday, May 2, 2016, in the trial of Franklin. Hes charged with killing nine women and a 15-year-old girl between 1985 and 2007. They were shot or strangled and their bodies dumped in alleys and trash bins in South Los Angeles and nearby areas. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, File) When Franklin was finally arrested 22 years later, the same photograph showing the wounded woman slouched over in a car was one of many pictures found in his possession, prosecutors said. Franklin was connected to all ten victims named in this trial through either ballistics or DNA evidence, prosecutors said. Many of the victims were prostitutes; others used cocaine. Franklin targeted women who were "willing to sell their bodies and their souls in order to gratify their dependency on this powerful drug," prosecutor Beth Silverman told jurors. Before his arrest, a police officer posed as a pizza parlor busboy to collect DNA samples from dishes and utensils Franklin used at a birthday party. Franklin's defense questioned the DNA evidence. Attorney Seymour Amster told jurors that many victims had DNA from more than one man on their bodies, and that more than 20 DNA tests excluded his client. Both Silverman and Amster acknowledged disliking each other, and at times held heated arguments in the courtroom out of the jury's hearing. At one point, Amster even yelled at Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy after she ruled that he would have to refile a subpoena. "I am now going to rest. We have no defense," Amster declared, prompting gasps in the courtroom. "I cannot represent this man any further." However, he continued on with the case. Authorities dubbed him the "Grim Sleeper" because the killings attributed to him stopped from 1988 to 2002. Dozens of police officers had failed to solve the case in the 1980s, and the renewed killings prompted the creation of a special task force. Franklin was finally arrested in 2010. Killing of 5 Egyptians deepens mystery over Italian's death CAIRO (AP) It was a brutal killing that became an international incident: An Italian graduate student disappeared from the streets of the Egyptian capital in January, his body discovered days later dumped by a roadside, tortured to death. The death of Guilio Regeni quickly poisoned ties between Egypt and Italy, where suspicions were high that Egyptian police who have long been accused of using torture and secret detentions snatched the 28-year-old and killed him. Egyptian officials as high up as the president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, in a national address have denied any police role, but in the months since the slayings, the Italian government has hiked the pressure for answers. Then in March came a surprise twist. Egyptian police announced they had killed a gang of five Egyptian men they said specialized in kidnapping and robbing foreigners and, while searching the gang leader's sister's home, came upon Regeni's passport. Government media proclaimed that Regeni's killers had been found. This undated handout image provided by a family member shows 62-year-old Tareq Saad, left, and his son-in-law Salah Ali, two of the five slain men shot by Egyptian police last month in relation to the death of Italian Ph.D. student Guilio Regeni. The Egyptian police announced it had killed them along with three others specialized in kidnapping and robbing foreigners and while searching the gang leader's home, came upon Guilio Regeni's bag. (Courtesy of Rasha Tareq Saad via AP) The claim was immediately dismissed by Italian officials as not credible, with some Italian media calling it an outright cover-up. Even the editor-in-chief of Egypt's top government newspaper, Al-Ahram, wrote that Egyptian authorities had to get serious about uncovering the truth and that such "naive stories" about Regeni's death were only hurting the country. Now accounts from witnesses and family members interviewed by The Associated Press raise further questions about the official version of the March 24 shooting in a wealthy suburban enclave outside Cairo. The Interior Ministry said security forces hunting for the gang stopped their minibus and the men opened fire on them, prompting a gunbattle in which all five were killed. But witnesses say the men were unarmed and tried to flee as police fired on them, and that afterward police confiscated footage from security cameras near the scene. The men's relatives say they were house painters merely heading to a job in the suburb, Tagammu al-Khamis, when they were killed. "I am accusing the Interior Ministry of trying to cover-up their wrong deeds by killing my family," said Rasha Tareq Saad, whose husband, brother and father were among those killed. "I want my family's rights." The AP spoke to six witnesses in Tagammu al-Khamis as well as six relatives and lawyers of the slain men. No video footage from the shooting has emerged, so their accounts could not be independently verified. A number of other family members have been arrested, and their lawyers say they have not been allowed to see investigators' reports on the shooting. Asked about their accounts, Interior Ministry spokesman Abu Bakr Abdel-Karim said he was not authorized to comment and referred questions to the prosecutor-general investigating the case. Repeated calls to the prosecutor-general's office went unanswered. A series of visits to the forensic agency, security headquarters in Cairo and the Tagammu al-Khamis police station were also unfruitful: Officers and prosecutors refused to speak to the AP. The shooting adds a new layer to the mystery surrounding Regeni's slaying. The Italian Ph.D. student vanished after leaving his apartment on Jan. 25, the anniversary of the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak. It was a tense day: Police were out in force to prevent demonstrations commemorating the day, and in the preceding days dozens of activists had been arrested. Regeni had been researching the labor movement, a sensitive subject in Egypt since labor activists are frequently protest organizers, and security agents are known to monitor activities by foreign researchers. The Interior Ministry has denied that police detained Regeni, and authorities have offered various possible scenarios for his death, including a personal dispute or a robbery. The day Regeni's body was found a top police official said he died in a car accident, until investigators reported the extensive signs of torture, including cigarette burns, broken bones and bruises from beatings. The announcement about the gang is the closest that authorities have come to an explanation for Regeni's slaying. However, since the Italian reaction including Rome withdrawing its ambassador from Cairo Egyptian officials have avoided claiming the culprits have been found. In a speech this month, el-Sissi angrily rejected accusations that police were behind the Italian's death but he made no mention of any gang involvement. Abdel-Karim, the Interior Ministry spokesman, has said the gang was "a new variable" but that Regeni's death was still under investigation. There has been no explanation of how the men allegedly obtained Regeni's passport if they were not his killers. Two witnesses told the AP the five men were not armed. They said seven police vehicles surrounded the minibus they were riding in and opened fire on it around 6 a.m. As police sprayed the vehicle with bullets, several men jumped out and ran, only to be gunned down "in cold blood," one of the witnesses said. Afterward, police confiscated footage from security cameras at nearby houses, said the two witnesses as well as four others who saw the aftermath of the shooting. The bodies were left in the street for around 10 hours, the witnesses said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The slain men included three members of a single family 62-year-old Tareq Saad, his son Saad and his son-in-law Salah Ali along with a family friend, Mustafa Bakr and the minibus driver, 26-year-old Ibrahim Farouk. Announcing their deaths, the Interior Ministry said the five had criminal records and claimed their gang had been posing as policemen to abduct and rob foreigners. It listed a string of nine robberies in the past months they were allegedly involved in though none of the cases were listed as involving kidnappings. Their relatives acknowledge all except the younger Saad had past offenses but nothing involving theft. Tareq Saad and Ali were jailed for two years in the mid-2000s for impersonating police officers, after they were arrested at a checkpoint for carrying a police ID card, said Tareq Saad's son, Sameh. Later, he said, the two were jailed for drug possession. Bakr served 15 years in prison for drug offenses, according to his ex-wife's uncle, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Rasha Saad, Ali's wife and Tareq Saad's daughter, said police were well acquainted with the family and often raided their homes in the lower-class Cairo district of Shubra al-Kheima after the men's release from prison. She said her husband was a house painter and got a call from a client to paint a villa in Tagammu al-Khamis, and she showed the AP photos of past jobs he'd done. She said she suspected her husband was secretly having an affair so she asked her father and brother to go with him, along with Bakr, a friend of her father. Sameh Saad, who went to the morgue with his sister to identify the bodies, said he was shocked by the injuries. All five were riddled with bullet wounds and "the heads were blown up so much you could see the bones of the skull," he said. Later that day, police searched the house of one of Tareq Saad's sisters and said they found Regeni's passport, his university ID and other items in a bag decorated with the Italian flag. They arrested Tareq Saad's wife, one of his brothers and the sisters, along with her husband and son, on suspicion of hiding stolen goods. Days later, police arrested Bakr's ex-wife and her two sons, witnesses said. Police photos of the bag's contents showed a man's black wallet, a woman's pocketbook with the word "love" on it, a watch and several pairs of sunglasses. Rasha Saad said the pocketbook belonged to her mother and the watch to her brother, Sameh. The wallet was her husband's and he carried it at all times, she said, causing her to suspect it was planted along with the other possessions. "They took the wallet from his jeans and put it in the bag," she said. The siblings said their father, brother and Ali were in the Nile Delta region of Sharqiya on Jan. 25, the day that Regeni disappeared in Cairo. Choking back tears, Ali's mother, Umm al-Hassan, said, the police killed her son "and now they are the ones investigating the case. Everything is in their hands. They control everything." It appeared the driver, 26-year-old Farouk, had little connection to the other men. While the authorities quickly announced the identities of the four men, they initially listed the fifth as "unknown," until days later when they identified him as a gang member as well. A lawyer for Farouk's family, Abdel-Wahab Youssef, told the AP that he had been refused access to forensic reports or investigation documents in the case. "The secrecy of the investigation raises suspicions. They tell me these are instructions from the top prosecutor," he said. Things to know: the benefits of students taking a gap year WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama's daughter Malia is taking a year off after graduating from high school before attending Harvard University as part of an expanding program for students known as a "gap year." Many colleges are encouraging the delayed entry to give students time to recharge after the stress of high school and build upon life or work experiences with a structured program of volunteer work, part-time employment or travel and internships in foreign countries. Gap years have been getting increased attention in the U.S., although the percentage of students who actually end up deferring their admission for a year or two remains small, typically by students from higher-income families. Some colleges have been seeking to make gap years more accessible to lower-income families by offering financial aid packages that allow students to explore different communities rather than jump right into college. FILE- In this April 8, 2016, file photo, President Barack Obama and his daughter Malia walk from Marine One toward Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport. Malia is taking a year off after graduating from high school before attending Harvard University as part of an expanding program for students known as a "gap year." (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File) Some things to know about a gap year: ___ HOW IT WORKS Not all universities allow it, and policies and programs vary. Upon receiving their admissions letter, students may request delaying their entry for a year or in less frequent cases, two years outlining what he or she plans to do during their time off. In Harvard admissions letters, students are actively encouraged to consider taking a gap year. Once approved, during that year a student may need to provide updates or otherwise check-in periodically to the university as a way to affirm their activities and continued interest in the university. ___ INTEREST IN U.S. IS GROWING Gap years have long been popular in Europe, and more recently have begun to gain traction in the U.S. There are no official statistics kept on participation, but the Portland, Oregon-based American Gap Association found in surveys it conducted that about 30,000 to 40,000 students each year take advantage of the program. It said in 2015, participation increased about 22 percent from the previous year. The group reports that anecdotally, interest has been growing via participation in gap year fairs that promote the programs. Still, the percentage of students who defer admissions for a year or more remains very small generally 1 percent or less of an admitted class. __ WHAT STUDENTS TYPICALLY DO Many students opt to spend some time abroad studying, learning foreign languages or volunteering with nonprofit groups, according to a 2015 report by the American Gap Association, which cited students' desire to experience personal growth, see the world and take a break from the traditional academic track. Popular destinations for students according to the group were parts of Central and South America, Israel, India and Australia. But many students also reported doing volunteer or political campaign work, taking classes, traveling or doing outdoor adventures in different regions of the U.S. ___ ADVANTAGES OF A GAP YEAR Students who took a gap year typically say they entered college feeling more recharged and focused, while universities say those students often arrive on campus as better leaders more civically engaged and motivated. Anecdotally, "students come away much more mature and take their studies more seriously, and they are more assured of what they want to do major wise," said Jeffrey Selingo, author of the book, "There Is Life After College." More important, Selingo said, they know what they don't want to do. ___ LIMITATIONS In part due to cost, students who take a gap year typically come from higher-income households, according to the American Gap Association. But Ethan Knight, executive director of the group, notes that some schools including Tufts University, Florida State University and the University of North Carolina have begun to offer some forms of financial aid to give cash-strapped students exposure to a broader range of experiences before college as well. Knight also advises that a gap year isn't right for everyone. He says a student might not be a good fit if he or she doesn't have a clear plan of learning or enrichment activities during the time off, or doesn't feel that they are academically burnt out and are looking forward to classes. "If a student really lights up at the prospect of going to college, then he or she is ready," Knight said. ___ Gender politics playing a big role for Trump, Clinton WASHINGTON (AP) She has no stamina. She shouts. She's got nothing going for her but being a woman. Donald Trump, after toying with gender politics off and on during the campaign, is all in on a mission to undercut Hillary Clinton's credentials by syncing up his say-anything campaign strategy with his alpha-male persona. The same Republican presidential candidate who mocked "little" Marco Rubio, dismissed "low-energy" Jeb Bush and promises to "cherish" and "protect" women as president is dismissing the former senator, secretary of state and first lady as little more than a token female who's playing the "woman's card." FILE - In this April 26, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks. After toying with gender politics off and on during the campaign, Donald Trump is all in on a mission to undercut Hillary Clintons credentials by syncing up his say-anything campaign strategy with his alpha-male persona. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) "Frankly, all I'm doing is stating the obvious," Trump insisted, when pressed about whether his latest Clinton take-downs were sexist. "Without the woman's card, Hillary would not even be a viable person to run for city council." That message may resonate with one subset of the electorate and touch off outrage with another. But for many other voters, Trump's line of attack is simply baffling when America is trying to deal with far more complex matters of gender, such as gay marriage and transgender rights. "It's a very simplistic notion of gender," said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. She said Trump is "putting out there a notion of masculinity" that fits with popular images of the presidency. "He is playing the gender card but not connecting it to policy, instead connecting it to his own macho image and his bravado." Trump's messages about women represent a tangle of views, said Stanley Renshon, a political psychologist at the City University of New York. There's the Trump who has no qualms about advancing women within his business enterprises, the Trump who disparages women just because "I can say whatever comes to mind," and the retrograde Trump who never outgrew an adolescent fixation with desirable and beautiful women, Renshon said. "I don't think he knows how to talk about them in a modern sensibility way," said Renshon, adding that the billionaire businessman is not used to having his utterances corrected by anyone. Trump rival Ted Cruz says the GOP front-runner's attacks on Clinton are unsurprising. "Donald Trump has a real problem with strong women," Cruz said. "It's one of the reasons he can't win a general election." Trump's issues with women in the campaign extend well beyond Clinton. He has mocked the face of onetime GOP rival Carly Fiorina, who's now Cruz's running mate. He's retweeted an unflattering image of Heidi Cruz, the Texas senator's wife, juxtaposed with a glamorous photo of his wife, Melania. He engaged in a long-running dispute with Megyn Kelly of Fox News in which he dismissed her as a "lightweight" and "bimbo," and described her at one point as having "blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever." He was just as unfiltered in his thoughts about women and their appearances before entering politics. In 1996, Trump reportedly described a Miss Universe who had gained weight as "an eating machine." He described Rosie O'Donnell as "my nice fat little Rosie" in a 2006 spat. In 2012, he tweeted that Huffington Post editor Arianna Huffington was "unattractive both inside and out." None of this has seemed to bother Trump's loyal followers in the GOP primaries. But it could be a different matter in the general election, when Republican candidates typically suffer from a gender gap. In every presidential election since 1980, a greater proportion of women than men preferred the Democratic candidate. "The challenge for Republican candidates has been trying to make some inroads into that women's vote," Walsh said. "And it's hard to imagine that Donald Trump, as of right now, is well positioned to be the Republican candidate to make those inroads, given the things that he's said." A woman's candidacy can cut both ways with voters. In an Associated Press-GfK poll in February, 14 percent said a female candidate would be at least somewhat less likely to get their vote. Likewise, 19 percent said a woman would be at least somewhat more likely to get their vote. In the primaries, Trump has drawn a disproportionate amount of his support from men, with an average of 44 percent of men and 36 percent of women supporting him in states where exit polls were conducted. Further, in a recent AP-GfK poll, women (66 percent) were slightly more likely than men (60 percent) to say they definitely would not vote for Trump in a general election. Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, cautioned that both Trump and Clinton "have a problem with gender in this election." "Trump's is more serious," she added, pointing to his high unfavorable ratings with women, who make up a larger share of the electorate than do men. Clinton, she said, shows significant weakness with white men, particularly white working-class males. The question in November, Bowman said, will be whether party loyalty will trump gender politics. "Party is really powerful in the end," she said. Clinton is betting on gender. After playing down women's issues in her 2008 campaign against Barack Obama, this time Clinton is embracing the historic nature of her candidacy and playing up her roles as grandmother and longtime advocate for women. She happily addressed Trump's accusations that she was making much of her candidacy as a woman. "If fighting for women's health care, and paid family leave, and equal pay is playing the woman card," she said, "then deal me in." As for Trump's intemperate remarks, Clinton told CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" that she "could really care less." "I have a lot of experience dealing with men who sometimes get off the reservation in the way they behave and how they speak," she said. "I'm not going to deal with their temper tantrums or their bullying or their efforts to try to provoke me." ___ Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and AP News Survey Specialist Emily Swanson contributed to this report. ___ Follow Nancy Benac on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nbenac Raging fire destroys historic New York City church NEW YORK (AP) A historic church in New York City was destroyed in a raging fire just hours after its Orthodox worshippers celebrated Easter. The fire that started at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in Manhattan sent plumes of smoke billowing into the city's skyline. The fire was largely extinguished three hours later, but firefighters had to beat back small pockets of flames. Authorities didn't disclose the cause of the fire, which gutted the building and destroyed the church's roof. Firefighters battle flames at the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. The church that was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Fire officials said the church's caretaker ran inside the Gothic Revival style building to try to put out the blaze but suffered minor smoke inhalation and had to be rescued. The fire broke out on the same day Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter. The church website listed services on Sunday morning and an Easter luncheon at 1 p.m. "I was just inside that building three hours ago," a heartbroken Dex Pipovic, told PIX11 News. He said he had been going to the church for seven years. Alex Velic, 31, the caretaker's stepson, told the Daily News he lives next door. He said he smelled smoke and came outside and saw the church on fire. "Once the fire caught the wood there was flames coming out of the top of the church. That's when people were going crazy," Velic said. "I'm in shock. I don't know what to say. It's sad." Father Djokan Majstorovic, the church's priest, struggled to get to the fire scene blocked off by firefighters. "I feel like I'm in a nightmare right now," he said. City Council Member Corey Johnson called for a full investigation into the cause of the fire. "This is a huge loss for the community," he said. "In addition to being a place of worship, this historic building was a New York City landmark, treasured by the people" living in the neighborhood. The church was designed by architect Richard M. Upjohn and was built in the early 1850s. One of its earlier congregants was novelist Edith Wharton, who wrote "The Age of Innocence." She was married in the church in 1885. The Serbian Orthodox Church purchased the building from the Episcopal Diocese in New York in 1943. The building was designated a city landmark in 1968. Firefighters battle flames at an historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in New York, Sunday, May 1, 2016. The church was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (Anindya Ghose via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Firefighters battle flames at an historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in New York, Sunday, May 1, 2016. The church was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (Anindya Ghose via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Firefighters battle a fire in the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. The church that was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. Authorities said no injuries were reported at the fire scene. The church was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. Authorities said no injuries were reported at the scene. The church was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. Authorities said no injuries were reported at the fire scene. The church was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. Authorities said no injuries were reported at the fire scene. The church was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. Authorities said no injuries were reported at the fire scene. The church was constructed in the early 1850's and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire in the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. Authorities said no injuries were reported at the fire scene. The church was constructed in the early 1850's and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a fire at the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. The church that was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a fire at the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. The church that was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Firefighters battle a fire at the historic Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in New York. The church that was constructed in the early 1850s and was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) SKorea worries about its citizens abroad after North threat SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Seoul has instructed its foreign embassies to take extra precautions against possible North Korean attempts to kidnap or attack South Koreans abroad, officials said Monday. The instruction was issued in response to North Korea's threat to retaliate for last month's group defection by 13 North Koreans, who Pyongyang says were kidnapped by South Korean spies while working at a North Korea-owned restaurant in China. South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon Hee reiterated Monday the 13 North Koreans decided on their own to resettle in the South. He said South Korea keeps close tabs on possible North Korean responses like an attempt to abduct or attack South Korean citizens in foreign countries. The Foreign Ministry said it has instructed its overseas diplomatic facilities to be extra careful about the safety of its personnel and South Koreans staying abroad. It didn't elaborate. Defections are a contentious issue for the rival Koreas. More 29,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, according to South Korean records. South Koreans defecting to the impoverished, authoritarian North is rare. Childhood obesity, new research in Australia as US rate soars A centre dedicated to researching and fighting childhood obesity in children aged 0-5 years has opened at the University of Sydney. The Centre for Research Excellence in the Early Prevention of Obesity in Childhood was established with AUD $2.4 million in funding from the Australian federal government. Professor Louise Baur A.M., Department of The Childrens Hospital at Westmeads Clinical School in Sydney has been appointed leader of the centre and says she will be guiding a team of global investigators in bridging the current gaps in research. At only five years old, 1 in 5 Australian children are overweight or obese, which is quite a startling figure. This may have implications for the rest of their life because early childhood is a period when physical inactivity and poor eating habits become established, Professor Baur said. Previous studies have shown us that larger body size and rapid growth in the first two years predict the development of obesity, both in later childhood and in adulthood but that if we intervene in the early years of life, when biology is most responsive to change, we are more likely to have sustained effects on health, she said. Our project aim is to target children in these early years before unhealthy habits are set in place and develop new methods of intervention that will lead to physical change (BMI), behavioural change and in time, policy change, Professor Baur said. Childhood obesity remains on the rise in the US Meanwhile, in the US, a new study has found childhood obesity rates are still on the rise despite heavy investment in healthy lifestyle campaigns. Published online on the 26 April 20216 by the Obesity journal, scientists from the Duke Clinical Research Institute in North Carolina discovered between 2013 14, 33.4 per cent of children aged between 2 and 19 were overweight. Among those, 17.4 per cent were considered obese. Researchers said these figures were similar to statistics reported in 20011 2012 and showed that childhood obesity in the US has been increasing from 1999 2014. Lead author of the study, Dr Ashley Skinner from DCRI said the most disheartening finding was an increase in serve obesity with 2.4 per cent of US children fitting into this category. An estimated 4.5 million children and adolescents have severe obesity and they will require new and intensive efforts to steer them toward a healthier course, Skinner said. Studies have repeatedly shown that obesity in childhood is associated with worse health and shortened lifespans as adults, she said. Skinner said the study had its limitations, relying solely on two-year data. She however believes the data used was a broader source than those use in studies showing obesity rates are declining in certain US population groups. We dont want the findings to cause people to become frustrated and disheartened, Skinner said. This is really a population health problem that will require changes across the board food policy, access to health care, school curriculums that include physical education, community and local resources in parks and sidewalks. A lot of things put together can work, she said. PICTURED: Editor selections from the past week in Asia Colorful lanterns in Seoul for Buddha's birthday, an anti-Rohingya protest in Myanmar and sumo wrestlers holding babies were among editors' picks of images from around Asia last week. Mar Roxas, one of five presidential candidates in the Philippines, greeted supporters with a week to go in the country's May 9 elections. In Myanmar, a maroon robe-clad Buddhist monk wore a sticker saying "No Rohingya" during a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Yangon. Myanmar nationalists believe the long-persecuted Muslim minority who live in the western part of the country are illegal immigrants and refer to them as "Bengalis." FILE - In this Wednesday, April 27, 2016, file photo, a worker adjusts lanterns for the upcoming celebration of Buddha's birthday on May 14 at the Bongeun temple in Seoul, South Korea. Similar lanterns will be displayed in all Buddhist temples around South Korea for the public viewing. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) Most parents try to keep their babies from crying. But in the ancient Japanese ritual of "nakizumo," sumo wrestlers holding babies make noises and faces to try to get the infants to cry. The baby who wails first or longest and loudest is deemed the winner. The tradition is based on the idea that crying babies will ward off demons and grow healthily. In disputed Kashmir, a masked protester jumped in the air during a confrontation with Indian police while another man rode a horse past walls of snow on a mountain pass that was opened to traffic for the first time in about six months. Much of India is reeling under a weeks-long heat wave and drought conditions. One girl carried drinking water on her head from an almost dried up well. The severe conditions have destroyed crops, killed livestock and left at least 330 million Indians without enough water for their daily needs. ___ This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Karly Domb Sadoff in Bangkok. FILE - In this Thursday, April 28, 2016, file photo, Mar Roxas, former Interior and Local government secretary and now a presidential candidate reaches out to greet supporters during a campaign sortie in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines. Five candidates are running for Philippine president in the coming elections on May 9. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File) FILE - In this Thursday, April 28, 2016, file photo, a nationalist Buddhist monk wears a sticker with the words " No Rohingya" during a protest outside the US embassy in Yangon, Myanmar against the US embassy's April 20, 2016 statement. Myanmar nationalists believe the long-persecuted and stateless Muslim minority in western Rakhine state who self identify themselves as "Rohingya" are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh and refer to them as "Bengalis." About 400 protesters, including Buddhist monks marched in front of the embassy and held a protest rally.(AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe, File) FILE - In this Friday, April 29, 2016 file photo, a man on a bicycle puts on a plastic rain poncho in front of a propaganda billboard in Beijing. The characters in the back read "prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony," four of the "socialist core values" promoted by China's Communist Party. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE - In this Friday, April 29, 2016, file photo, a referee puts on an ogre mask to face a baby, who is held by a college sumo wrestler, cry to win in the Naki Sumo, or crying baby contest at Sensoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo. The babies participated in the annual traditional ritual performed as a prayer for healthy growth. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) FILE - In this Friday, April 29, 2016, file photo, aircrafts of the British aerobatics team Global Stars perform their flying skills during the inauguration of three-day air show in Ahmadabad, India. The three-day air show was the part of the Gujarat state Foundation Day celebrations. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File) FILE - In this , Friday, April 29, 2016, file photo, a Kashmiri masked Muslim protester jumps in the air to avoid stones thrown at him by Indian police during a protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. Government forces fired tear gas and pellet guns to stop rock-throwing Kashmiri youths after Friday prayers. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) FILE - In this Saturday, April 30, 2016, file photo, a Kashmiri man on a horse rides past walls of snow on the Zojila Pass, about 110 kilometers (68 miles) north of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. The Srinagar-Leh national highway connecting Ladakh to the Kashmir Valley was re-opened to traffic Saturday after remaining closed for nearly six months. The highway passes through the high altitude Zojila Pass of the Himalayan range.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) FILE- In this Friday, April 29, 2016, file photo, an Indian girl carries drinking water in a plastic container on her head as she walk back to her village after collecting it from an almost dried up well in Samba district, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Jammu, India. Much of India is reeling under a weeks long heat wave and severe drought conditions that have decimated crops, killed livestock and left at least 330 million Indians without enough water for their daily needs. (AP Photo/Channi Anand, File) Japan announces $7 billion plan to develop Mekong region BANGKOK (AP) Japan's foreign minister announced a $7 billion initiative Monday to promote development in Southeast Asia's Mekong region, which encompasses parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand through which the river flows. In a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Fumio Kishida affirmed the importance of Southeast Asia's economic prosperity to Japan. He pledged 750 billion yen ($7 billion) in funding over the next three years to support development and growth in the region. The initiative will help promote "connectivity" within Southeast Asian countries and Japan through funding in infrastructure and development of human resources. Thailand has become a key manufacturing and export hub for Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda. "Invigorating the flow of goods and people by connecting the region through roads, bridges and railways is indispensable for promoting economic development," he said, adding that Japan's cooperation will go beyond just building infrastructure. Over the next three years, "we will make use of funds amounting to 750 billion yen toward cooperation with the Mekong region," Kishida said. Specific details have not been announced but he said Japan would like to work together with the Mekong countries to create a framework to support the various efforts, including regional issues and theme-oriented support, in a detailed manner. "I am expecting the day when, as a result of these efforts, I can depart from Bangkok eastward in the morning and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at night and enjoy pho for dinner," he said. Kishida also renewed his call for the establishment of a code of conduct in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines and others have competing territorial claims, and that prosperity can only achieved if there is peace and stability in the region. "In this region, there are issues of terrorism, extremism, and ensuring maritime safety and security," he said. "There are multitudes of issues now facing our ASEAN partners. We need to face these issues together, and maintain stability in this region. What is necessary is respect for diversity, and what is fundamental for that is the rule of law." Referring to Thailand's current political situation and its military government, Kishida said he hoped that the people of Thailand will overcome the current difficult challenges and "play more active role in the region and international community." Iran leader urges for nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Monday appealed for a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons during a visit to Tehran by his South Korean counterpart, the official IRNA news agency reported. Rouhani met with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and said Iran seeks a world free of weapons of mass destruction, "especially nuclear" weapons. "Our demand is a world free of weapons of mass destruction, especially freeing the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East from destructive weapons," he said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, center left, and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye, center right, leave Saadabad Palace after their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 2, 2016. Rouhani met with visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye and said Iran seeks a world free of weapons of mass destruction, "especially nuclear" weapons. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Park said she has asked for Iran's help in implementing U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for the nuclear disarmament of the Korean Peninsula. The remarks were aimed at North Korea, which has been hit with tough U.N. sanctions over its nuclear weapons program. North Korea has conducted four nuclear bomb tests and tested a long-range rocket earlier this year. Park arrived in Tehran on Sunday for the first visit by a South Korean president to Iran since 1962. Rouhani said both sides agreed to increase their bilateral trade from the current $6 billion per year to $18 billion in the coming years. They also signed a number of agreements in the fields of oil and gas, railroads, tourism, and technology, and agreed to re-establish direct flights between Tehran and Seoul. Iran has been seeking to reintegrate into the global economic system since nuclear-related sanctions were lifted in January under a landmark deal with world powers. Energy-hungry South Korea, the world's fifth largest importer of crude oil, used to be one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil before the sanctions were imposed. Iran said it has raised its oil and gas condensate exports to South Korea to 400,000 barrels per day, a fourfold increase since the nuclear deal was implemented. South Korea and Iran established diplomatic ties in 1962 but their heads of states have never held bi-lateral talks. Also Monday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, told Park that the Seoul-ally United States should not influence the extent of Iran-South Korean ties. "Relations between Iran and South Korea should not be dependent on sanctions or influenced by the United States or any grudges U.S. may hold" against Iran, Khamenei's website cited the top cleric as saying. "We believe there is a possibility for more understanding, agreement and cooperation with Asian countries, including South Korea," Khamenei also said. South Korean President Park Geun-hye, left, speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after their meeting at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 2, 2016. Rouhani met with visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye and said Iran seeks a world free of weapons of mass destruction, "especially nuclear" weapons. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, center left, and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye, center right, leave Saadabad Palace after their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 2, 2016. Rouhani met with visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye and said Iran seeks a world free of weapons of mass destruction, "especially nuclear" weapons. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) In this picture released by official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, meets with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, center, as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accompanies her in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 2, 2016. A portrait of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini hangs on the wall. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, meets with South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 2, 2016. A portrait of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini hangs on the wall. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, and South Korean President Park Geun-hye, right, leave Saadabad Palace after their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Monday, May 2, 2016. Rouhani met with visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye and said Iran seeks a world free of weapons of mass destruction, "especially nuclear" weapons. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Reckitt Benckiser Korea apologizes for deadly sterilizers SEOUL, South Korea (AP) British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser apologized Monday for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured hundreds of people, five years after the government ordered the company to remove the products from shelves for health risks. Ataur Safdar, head of the company's Korean division, said the company accepted responsibility and wanted to make amends. He spoke at a news conference, where he was interrupted by angry and tearful victims and family members who cursed and hit him. A teenager with a big, green oxygen tank, and four other people who were apparently victims or their families, walked to the stage to confront Safdar. A relative of a victim in the British disinfectant case complains to Ata Safdar, head of British firm Reckitt Benckiser Korea, right, during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 2, 2016. British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser has apologized and accepted responsibility for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured about 180 people. (Yun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT "Can you save the child? What are you going to do?" said a woman, in a scene broadcast live on television. "Why did it take so long?" a man said. Safdar said the company will come up with a plan to compensate victims. It will also provide 10 billion won ($8.8 million) to a humanitarian fund for them, including 5 billion won it pledged two years earlier. He called the day "an important milestone in achieving progress for victims." But the victims and families rejected the apology, appealing to the South Korean public to punish Reckitt Benckiser with a boycott. In a press conference outside the prosecutors' office, victims and campaigners lined up the products made by Reckitt Benckiser and asked the public not to buy them. The apology came as South Korean prosecutors were investigating Reckitt Benckiser and about a dozen other companies for selling or manufacturing unsafe disinfectants. Earlier the company had refused to take responsibility. In a separate statement after the press conference, civic groups representing the victims said they planned to file a complaint against Rakesh Kapoor, the British company's chief executive officer, and the company's seven other board members for failing to conduct safety tests before the disinfectant's launch in 2001 and until sales were discontinued in 2011. The victims have already filed a complaint against 10 disinfectant manufacturers and 19 companies that sold the products. The health risks from the disinfectants came to attention in 2011 with mysterious lung ailments that killed pregnant women. Later that year, authorities said the chemicals PHMG and PGH in the disinfectants that many South Korean households used to cleanse humidifiers were to blame. Many South Korean households, especially those with kids, use a humidifier during the dry winter season. Many victims were children and pregnant women who had the most exposure to the chemicals emitted by their home humidifiers. South Korea's government said it would compensate 221 confirmed victims, 95 of whom died. Another 309 people were denied government compensation on the grounds they had not proven their sicknesses were linked to the chemicals. Civic groups said the government tally understates the number of victims. They estimate that the disinfectants killed 239 and injured 1,289. Officials are investigating and expect more applications for compensation. Reckitt Benckiser sold millions of bottles of liquid disinfectant, called Oxy Ssak Ssak, containing the harmful chemicals for about a decade and was blamed for 100 deaths. A report posted by the U.S. National Institutes of Health says the chemical PHMG can pose "a critical health hazard when inhaled in the form of droplets." The NIH has also recorded acute toxic effects for both PHMG and PGH. An Australian court recently ordered Reckitt Benckiser to pay 1.7 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) in penalties after ruling that the company misled consumers about the effectiveness of a popular painkiller. The Federal Court ruled the company deceived Australians by selling Nurofen painkillers marketed as relief for specific ailments, such as back pain and period pain, when all of the products contained an identical amount of the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine. ___ Lee can be reached on Twitter: www.twitter.com/YKLeeAP Her previous works can be found on: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/youkyung-lee Ata Safdar, head of British firm Reckitt Benckiser Korea, bows during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 2, 2016. British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser has apologized and accepted responsibility for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured about 180 people. (Yun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT A relative of a victim in the British disinfectant case complains to Ata Safdar, head of British firm Reckitt Benckiser Korea, right, during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 2, 2016. British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser has apologized and accepted responsibility for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured about 180 people. (Yun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT A relative of a victim complains to Ata Safdar, head of British firm Reckitt Benckiser Korea, right, during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 2, 2016. British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser apologized Monday for selling deadly disinfectants that killed or injured hundreds of people, five years after the government ordered the company to remove the products from shelves for health risks. (Yun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP) KOREA OUT Afghan police officer kills wife in public, then himself KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) An Afghan official says that a police officer shot his wife in public before shooting himself in the country's eastern Paktika province. Nesar Ahmad AbdulRahimzai, deputy provincial police chief in Paktika, said on Monday that the man accused his wife of having affairs. He then shot her in front of a crowded public market before shooting himself. The police officer was pronounced dead on the scene, but his wife died later in a local hospital. Yemeni government suspends participation in peace talks KUWAIT CITY (AP) The United Nations envoy for Yemen says the country's government delegation has suspended its participation in peace talks aimed at ending fighting in the impoverished Arab country. U.N. envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement that the Yemeni government stopped participating in plenary sessions held in Kuwait on Sunday because of developments in the governorate of Amran, which reportedly came under rebel attack. The statement says he has received assurances from the warring parties that they are committed to resolving difference without participating in joint sessions, and that the U.N. hopes to resume the talks. UK Labour Party suspends councilors in anti-Semitism dispute LONDON (AP) The anti-Semitism dispute bedeviling Britain's Labour Party ahead of an election Thursday has continued with the suspension of three city councilors. The party said Monday that Nottingham City councilor Ilyas Aziz has been suspended pending an investigation. Salim Mulla, a Blackburn with Darwen city councilor, was suspended hours later. Burnley councilor Shah Hussain was then suspended for telling an Israeli soccer player on Twitter that Israel was treating Palestinians the way Hitler treated the Jews. He told Britain's Press Association he would fight the suspension, suggesting that Jews who found his comment offensive should consider "what the rest of the world thinks" about Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn sits aboard a London bus as he waits to address the crowd at a May Day rally in central London, Sunday May 1, 2016. Corbyn has condemned anti-Semitism, and has set up an independent review of anti-Semitism and other alleged racism within the party, following issues prompted by party members over the last few days. (Anthony Devlin / PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES The moves follow the suspension last week of two other Labour figures, including former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who was on the Labour party's executive council. Aziz had suggested on Facebook that it might have been wiser to create Israel in the U.S., and that Israel could be relocated "even now." Mulla was reported to have posted derogatory comments about Zionist Jews. Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has launched an independent review of anti-Semitism and racism within its ranks. The party's London mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan, says the controversy may damage his hopes in Thursday's election. ___ Hungary aiming to drive Uber ride-hailing app out of country BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) The Hungarian government wants to drive out ride-hailing app Uber from the country while proposing new legislation to crack down on unlicensed passenger transport, officials said Monday. Taxi drivers have held several demonstrations against Uber and unlicensed drivers, slowing traffic in Budapest and petitioning authorities to ban the U.S. company, whose European headquarters are in Amsterdam. Uber was "consciously and cynically breaking every Hungarian law," said Janos Fonagy, state secretary at the Ministry of National Development. "The aim is to make impossible in Hungary the activities of this company which ignores the rules, and totally oust them from Hungary." FILE - In this April 26, 2016 file phot taxi drivers line up their vehicles at Heroes' Square during their demonstration against the use of Uber rideshare application in downtown Budapest, Hungary. The Hungarian government wants to drive out ride-hailing app Uber from the country while proposing new legislation to crack down on unlicensed passenger transport, officials said Monday, May 2, 2016. (Zoltan Mathe/MTI via AP, file) The government has proposed new legislation increasing penalties for unlicensed drivers who could lose their license for up to six months and their cars for up to three years and banning apps like Uber for up to a year. Fonagy said after a meeting with representatives of 16 taxi companies and transportation groups that parliament was expected to approve proposals later this month. He also urged taxi drivers to meet users' demands, for example, by increasing the use of apps. Earlier, Uber said the planned rules, which could affect 1,200 drivers and 150,000 users, could be unconstitutional and violate EU law. "This unprecedented proposal destroys much-needed jobs ... and will cut the country off from exciting digital developments being embraced across Europe and the world," Zoltan Fekete, Uber's general manager in Hungary, said in a statement. For their part, taxi drivers said they planned to go ahead with a protest scheduled for Tuesday afternoon which would block traffic on roads in downtown Budapest, including the Chain and Liberty bridges, which span the Danube River. "There is nothing new in the government proposals. We've heard these promises before," protest organizer Geza Gottlieb said. "The only thing authorities would really need to do is enforce existing regulations." Uber Technologies, Inc. is based in San Francisco. Iran criticizes US presence in the Persian Gulf TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran's Supreme Leader criticized the U.S. presence in the Persian Gulf region on Monday, saying American forces should go back to the Bay of Pigs, state media reported. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a group of teachers Monday that American military drills in the region were proof of U.S. arrogance. "They sit together, scheme and say that Iran must not hold war games in the Persian Gulf. What a foolish remark! They come here from the other side of the globe and stage war games. What are you doing here? Go back to the Bay of Pigs. Go and hold exercises there. What are you doing in the Persian Gulf? The Persian Gulf is our home," said Khamenei. State TV broadcast part of his speech. His remarks were an apparent reference to the 1961 failed invasion of Cuba by 1,500 CIA-trained exiles. Muslims also view pigs as unclean animals as the Quran prohibits followers of Islam from eating pork. Khamenei also urged education officials to add other languages to their foreign language programs, saying limiting the curricula to English was a mistake. "The language of science is not English alone. Insisting on promotion of English alone is unhealthy," said Khamenei. "Other languages like Spanish, French, German and Eastern languages are the languages of science, too." Khamenei also reiterated his criticism about the conspicuous spending habits of Iran's increasingly prominent wealthy upper class, saying the government needed to regulate consumption patterns. Critics have drawn attention to the wave of new luxury cars present in Tehran and other major cities. "I have many times warned but the consumption patterns have not been amended. The nouveau-riche kids with those cars in the streets are there for this reason, he said. Nutrient supplements can give antidepressants a boost: Uni of Melbourne and Harvard study A international evidence review conducted jointly by researchers from the University of Melbourne and Harvard University has found certain nutritional supplements can increase the effectiveness of antidepressants. Omega 3 fish oils, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), methylfolate (bioactive form of folate) and Vitamin D, were all amongst the supplements found to boost the effects of antidepressants. The researchers examined 40 clinical trials worldwide, alongside a systematic review of the evidence for using nutrient supplements (known as nutraceuticals) to treat clinical depression in conjunction with antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs and tricyclics. Head of the ARCADIA Mental Health Research Group at the University of Melbourne, Dr Jerome Sarris, led the meta-analysis, published online late last week in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The strongest finding from our review was that Omega 3 fish oil in combination with antidepressants had a statistically significant effect over a placebo, Dr Sarris said. Many studies have shown Omega 3s are very good for general brain health and improving mood, but this is the first analysis of studies that looks at using them in combination with antidepressant medication, he said. The difference for patients taking both antidepressants and Omega 3, compared to a placebo, was highly significant. This is an exciting finding because here we have a safe, evidence-based approach that could be considered a mainstream treatment, Dr Sarris stated. Good evidence for Vitamin D, not so much for folic acid The University of Melbourne research team also found good evidence for methylfolate, Vitamin D, and SAMe as a mood enhancing therapy when taken with antidepressants. The team reported mixed results for zinc, vitamin C and tryptophan (an amino acid). Folic acid did not work particularly well, nor did inositol. A large proportion of people who have depression do not reach remission after one or two courses of antidepressant medication, Dr Sarris said. Millions of people in Australia and hundreds of millions worldwide currently take antidepressants. Theres real potential here to improve the mental health of people who have an inadequate response to them, he said. Dr Sarris stated medical professionals may be hesitant to prescribe nutraceuticals alongside pharmaceuticals due to a lack of scientific evidence around effectiveness. Medical practitioners are aware of the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids, but are probably unaware that one can combine them with antidepressant medication for a potentially better outcome, he said. The researchers found no major safety concerns in combining the two therapies, but said people on antidepressants should always consult their health professional before taking supplements. Were not telling people to rush out and buy buckets of supplements. Always speak to your medical professional before changing or initiating a treatment, Dr Sarris said. Hundreds gather in Hong Kong to protest editor's dismissal HONG KONG (AP) Around 400 people gathered in Hong Kong on Monday to protest a veteran newspaper editor's dismissal that triggered concerns about press freedom in the semiautonomous Chinese territory. The dismissal last month of the Ming Pao newspaper's No. 2 editor, Keung Kwok-yuen, came after the newspaper published a report on the "Panama Papers" document leak revealing offshore business dealings of the rich and powerful. The newspaper said Keung was dismissed to save operating costs. The South China Morning Post said journalists, activists and politicians attended the rally outside the Ming Pao Industrial Center. Protesters carried signs saying "protect journalists, protect Ming Pao, protect press freedom." Protesters try to pierce balloons during a rally outside the Ming Pao's office building in Hong Kong Monday, May 2, 2016. Around 400 people gathered Monday in Hong Kong to protest the dismissal of a veteran editor of the Ming Pao that has triggered concerns about waning press freedoms in the semiautonomous Chinese territory. The Chinese words on placard is read " To Guard Journalists, To Guard Ming Pao, To Guard Press Freedom". (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) The chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, Shan Yee-lan, read a joint letter from eight journalist groups calling for Keung to be reinstated, the newspaper said. "The recent sudden dismissal of (Keung) is a matter of great concern to the news industry and to society as a whole," she was quoted as saying. Before Keung's dismissal, Ming Pao carried a front-page report on Hong Kong politicians and businesspeople named in documents leaked from a Panama law firm and published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. There has been growing anxiety in recent years among many Hong Kong journalists and politicians about the influence of Beijing on the territory, which retained its own civil liberties when handed over from Britain in 1997. Media groups with close business and personal ties to Beijing have been accused of soft-pedaling their coverage of issues that are potentially embarrassing to China and its allies in Hong Kong. Protesters gather outside the Ming Pao's office building during a rally in Hong Kong Monday, May 2, 2016. Around 400 people gathered Monday in Hong Kong to protest the dismissal of a veteran editor of the Ming Pao that has triggered concerns about waning press freedoms in the semiautonomous Chinese territory. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) A placard featuring with a China national flag and Chinese words "Ming Pao Can't Protect Press Freedom" is left with balloons as protesters gather outside the Ming Pao's office building during a rally in Hong Kong Monday, May 2, 2016. Around 400 people gathered Monday in Hong Kong to protest the dismissal of a veteran editor of the Ming Pao that has triggered concerns about waning press freedoms in the semiautonomous Chinese territory. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) A protester speaks during a rally outside the Ming Pao's office building in Hong Kong Monday, May 2, 2016. Around 400 people gathered Monday in Hong Kong to protest the dismissal of a veteran editor of the Ming Pao that has triggered concerns about waning press freedoms in the semiautonomous Chinese territory. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) Germany wants to extend border controls for another 6 months BERLIN (AP) Germany and some other EU countries are planning to ask the European Commission for an extension of border controls within the Schengen passport-free travel zone for another six months because they fear a new wave of migrants. Interior Minister Thomas de Maizere's spokesman says a letter is being sent Monday asking for an extension of the controls on the German-Austrian border, which were implemented last year when thousands of migrants crossed into Germany daily. De Maizere has expressed concern before that an increasing number of migrants will try to reach Europe this summer by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from lawless Libya to Italy, then travel north to Austria and Germany. Women and children stroll at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Germany registered nearly 1.1 million new arrivals last year and is keen to bring the numbers down in 2016. Germany's defense minister, meanwhile, said it was up to Italy to protect its borders but other European countries must be ready to help if needed. Ursula von der Leyen's comments Monday touched on the potential problems Italy could have with increased arrival of migrants looking for an alternative route into the EU now that the West Balkans route is closed and Turkey has committed to taking back those arriving illegally to Greece. She said a solution must be found "together with Italy." Austria plans to impose border controls at its main border crossing with Italy to prevent potential attempts by migrants to enter, and with Austria bordering Germany, von der Leyen's comments indicate her country's concern that it also may have to deal with new waves of migrants seeking entry. A man lays inside a tent set on the tracks of a train station which was turned into a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A woman walks past tent and shelters set at a makeshift camp crowded by migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Sunday, May 1, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A child steps out a shelter at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Tents are set in front of a train station turned into a makeshift camp crowded by migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The writing in Greek letters of the Idomeni train station towers over a man and a child looking outside a window at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Children learn how to describe the parts of the human body in English during a class inside a school tent set at a makeshift camp crowded by migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Children learn how to describe the parts of the human body in English during a class inside a school tent set at a makeshift camp crowded by migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Children learn how to describe the parts of the human body in English during a class inside a school tent set at a makeshift camp crowded by migrants and refugees at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Monday, May 2, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Italy: Hague tribunal OKs marine's return from India for now ROME (AP) An international tribunal in The Hague has decided that an Italian marine being held in India in the shooting deaths of two Indian fishermen mistaken for pirates can return home for the duration of arbitration, the Italian foreign ministry said Monday. The tribunal's decision, approving an Italian request, was expected to be officially announced in The Hague on Tuesday. India has accused two marines, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, of the shootings in 2012 while they were assigned to anti-piracy duties aboard an Italian commercial ship, the Enrica Lexie. FILE In this Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 file photo, Italian marines Salvatore Girone, left, and Massimiliano Latorre, arrive at the Ciampino Rome airport from Kochi, India. Italy's Foreign Ministry says Monday, May 2, 2016 an international tribunal in The Hague has decided that Salvatore Girone, an Italian marine being held in India in the shooting deaths of two Indian fishermen mistaken for pirates can return home for the duration of arbitration. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File) Latorre has been in Italy since 2014 for medical treatment following a stroke suffered while detained in India. The Italian government had insisted that Girone also be allowed to return to Italy, for the length of the arbitration process, which could take years. Italy contends the incident occurred in international waters. It disputes India's claim to jurisdiction, insisting the case should be handled by the Italians. The Hague tribunal has been asked to rule on the jurisdiction dispute. India has been bullish in insisting its sovereignty in the case be recognized. Its government didn't immediately issue any official comment on Monday's development, or indicate when Girone might return. "The conditions of (Girone's) return will be agreed upon by Italy and India," Italy's foreign ministry said in a statement. In the evening, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni expressed satisfaction. Girone "won't be back tomorrow, it will take some weeks" for him to set foot in Italy, Gentiloni said in an appearance on state TV. "But an important decision was taken." "Today's decision makes me think we did well to choose an international judge," Gentiloni added. He said that when the arbitration ruling finally comes, "I'm convinced we will be proven to have been in the right." Earlier, the Italian foreign ministry said in its statement: "The government is counting on a constructive attitude by India." Earlier in the dispute, the two marines were allowed to return home to see their families on holiday, but then were sent back to India under the terms of that arrangement. FILE - In this Friday, May 25, 2012 file photo Italian marine Salvatore Girone, looks out of the window of a vehicle as he is shifted with fellow Marine, Massimiliano Latorre, right, to a different prison in Kochi, India. Italy's Foreign Ministry says Monday, May 2, 2016 an international tribunal in The Hague has decided that Salvatore Girone, an Italian marine being held in India in the shooting deaths of two Indian fishermen mistaken for pirates can return home for the duration of arbitration. (AP Photo, File) No mayday call before fatal helicopter crash in Norway HELSINKI (AP) The oil-rig helicopter that crashed in western Norway, killing 13 people, gave no mayday call or indicated it was in trouble, Norwegian investigators said Monday. Norway's Accident Investigation Board said the process of retrieving data from the flight and cockpit recorders had been completed and the quality of the data was good. It was being sent back to Norway from Britain, where investigators had extracted the information. Kare Halvorsen of the Norwegian agency said the information so far does not indicate a problem on board, but acknowledged that investigators were aware of "videos on the Internet" that seemed to show a helicopter rotor that was propelled through the air immediately before the crash on a tiny island near the city of Bergen. Police and rescue workers investigate at the scene following the Friday April 29 helicopter crash on the coast of Norway near Bergen, Sunday May 1, 2016. Emergency crews salvaged the wrecked fuselage of the Airbus helicopter from the sea Saturday, along with the flight recorders, and retrieved the rotor blades following the crash which killed the 13 people on board. (Torstein Boe / NTB Scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT Halvorsen, who heads the board's aviation department, said it was too early to say what caused the accident. "We don't want to speculate about anything yet," he said. "We are in the process of gathering the information." The victims 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian were aboard the Airbus EC-225 helicopter that was flying from an offshore rig in the North Sea to Bergen when it crashed Friday on the island of Turoey. The National Criminal Investigation Service in Oslo said Monday it had identified all the victims. Police in western Norway released the names of seven victims but said the families of the remaining six did not want to their names released. Their ages ranged between 32 and 60, and they worked for several oil and gas companies. After the accident, Norway's aviation agency banned such Airbus helicopters from flying in Norway or near Norwegian offshore facilities and Britain's Civil Aviation Authority grounded all commercial passenger flights using the Airbus EC-225LP helicopter except for search-and-rescue operations. Helicopter rotor blades are loaded onto a truck following the Friday April 29 helicopter crash on the coast of Norway near Bergen, Sunday May 1, 2016. Emergency crews salvaged the wrecked fuselage of the Airbus helicopter from the sea Saturday along with the flight recorders, and retrieved the rotor blades following the crash which killed the 13 people on board. (Torstein Boe / NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT An image released by Accident Investigation Board Norway, Sunday May 1, 2016, showing the twisted wreckage of the salvaged helicopter which crashed Friday April 29, west of Bergen, Norway, as it is lifted aboard a rescue vessel. The helicopter was salvaged along with the flight recorder on Saturday April 30, as investigators continue to examine the incident, which left 13 people dead. (AIBN / NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT Norway's Prime minister Erna Solberg and Statoil's CEO Eldar Saetre talk to the press after a meeting with the families of the people who died in the helicopter crashed Friday, on the island Turoy, just outside of Bergen, in Norway, Saturday, April 30, 2016. Emergency crews pulled the wrecked fuselage of an Airbus EC-225 helicopter out of the sea Saturday off western Norway after a crash that killed all 13 people on board. The helicopter was carrying workers from an offshore rig in the North Sea the Statoil-operated Gullfaks B oil field before it went down Friday on Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, Norway's second-largest city. Eleven Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian were aboard. (Terje Bendiksby/NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT Police and rescue workers patrol the area where a helicopter crashed Friday, on the island Turoy, just outside of Bergen, in Norway, Saturday, April 30, 2016. Emergency crews pulled the wrecked fuselage of an Airbus EC-225 helicopter out of the sea Saturday off western Norway after a crash that killed all 13 people on board. The helicopter was carrying workers from an offshore rig in the North Sea the Statoil-operated Gullfaks B oil field before it went down Friday on Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, Norway's second-largest city. Eleven Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian were aboard. (Vidar Ruud /NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT An image released by Accident Investigation Board Norway, Sunday May 1, 2016, showing the memory unit retrieved from the Flight Data and Cockpit Voice Recorder of the salvaged helicopter which crashed Friday April 29, west of Bergen, Norway. The helicopter was salvaged along with the flight recorder on Saturday April 30, as investigators continue to examine the incident, which left 13 people dead. (AIBN / NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT A rescue vessel lifts up parts of the helicopter which crashed Friday, on the island Turoy, just outside of Bergen, in Norway, Saturday, April 30, 2016. Emergency crews pulled the wrecked fuselage of an Airbus EC-225 helicopter out of the sea Saturday off western Norway after a crash that killed all 13 people on board. The helicopter was carrying workers from an offshore rig in the North Sea the Statoil-operated Gullfaks B oil field before it went down Friday on Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, Norway's second-largest city. Eleven Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian were aboard. (Vidar Ruud /NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT A police officer talks to members of the media, during an inspection of the area where a helicopter crashed Friday, on the island Turoy, just outside of Bergen, in Norway, Saturday, April 30, 2016. Emergency crews pulled the wrecked fuselage of an Airbus EC-225 helicopter out of the sea Saturday off western Norway after a crash that killed all 13 people on board. The helicopter was carrying workers from an offshore rig in the North Sea the Statoil-operated Gullfaks B oil field before it went down Friday on Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, Norway's second-largest city. Eleven Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian were aboard. (Vidar Ruud /NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT A recovery vessel lifts up parts of a crashed helicopter from off the island of Turoey, near Bergen, Norway, as emergency workers on the shoreline attend the scene Friday, April 29, 2016. The helicopter carrying around 13 people from an offshore oil field crashed Friday near the western Norwegian city of Bergen, police said. All aboard the helicopter were killed. (Torstein Boe/NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT A recovery vessel lifts up parts of a crashed helicopter from off the island of Turoey, near Bergen, Norway, as emergency workers on the shoreline attend the scene Friday, April 29, 2016. The helicopter carrying around 13 people from an offshore oil field crashed Friday near the western Norwegian city of Bergen, police said. All aboard the helicopter were killed. (Vidar Ruud/NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT A search and rescue vessel patrols off the coast of the island of Turoey, near Bergen, Norway, as emergency workers attend the scene after a helicopter crashed believed to be have 13 people aboard, Friday April 29, 2016. A helicopter carrying around 13 people from an offshore oil field crashed Friday near the western Norwegian city of Bergen, police said. Many are feared dead. (Rune Nielsen / NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT The Latest: Police surround Syrian prison following rioting DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 5:20 p.m. Syrian activist groups say authorities have surrounded a prison in the central city of Hama in response to a riot inside the facility that saw prisoners take several guards hostage. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, standing next to the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, right, speaks to the media during a press briefing after their meeting on Syria in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, May 2, 2016. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says security forces fired tear gas into Hama's main prison on Monday. The Syrian prisoners' rights group Detainees' Voice says inmates went on strike after authorities tried to transfer five political prisoners on death row to the notorious Sidnaya prison in Damascus. A Syrian state broadcaster, Al-Ikhbariya TV, is denying reports that inmates have taken control of the prison. ___ 3:10 p.m. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says that intense work is underway to try and restore the cessation of hostilities in Syria, particularly in the northern city of Aleppo. Speaking in Geneva Monday after meeting with the U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, Kerry said both the Syrian government and the opposition have "contributed to this chaos." But he blasted the Syrian government for unleashing its "killing machine" on the people of Syria. He says the U.S. and Russia have agreed that there will be additional personnel stationed in Geneva around the clock to make sure there is more accountability and a better ability to enforce the cessation of hostilities on a day-to-day basis. Kerry also spoke of "several proposals" on the table but added, "We are not there yet." ___ 3 p.m. A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross says a humanitarian convoy has delivered aid to 12,000 families trapped in a government-besieged area north of the central Syrian city of Homs. Pawel Krzysiek said Monday that a convoy of 13 ICRC trucks and 3 trucks from the Syrian Arab Crescent are delivering food, hygiene items, diapers, and school books to the besieged town of Talbiseh. The town's population has doubled to 60,000 with the influx of displaced residents form other areas, according to the ICRC. Pawell says the joint ICRC and SARC team will assess medical, water, and sewage infrastructure in Talbiseh and neighboring villages. ___ 1:30 p.m. Syria's state news agency says the military has extended its cease-fire around Damascus and opposition strongholds in the eastern suburbs for another 48 hours. The Monday report said that President Bashar Assad's army would extend the cessation of hostilities that was declared Friday around the capital and the coastal Latakia region, following two weeks of escalating violence around the country. The truce excludes Aleppo, Syria's largest city and a major battleground between rebels and pro-government forces. Russia's Tass news agency quoted Russian Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, head of the Russian coordination center in Syria, as saying that talks are continuing about a cease-fire for Aleppo. He says the Damascus area cease-fire was brokered by the Russia and the U.S., "in agreement with the Syrian leadership and the moderate opposition." The Latest: Solar plane lands in suburban Phoenix GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) The Latest on the flight of a solar-powered airplane from California to Arizona in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe (all times local): 9:00 p.m. A solar-powered plane has landed in suburban Phoenix after a flight from California on the latest leg of its round-the-world journey. FILE - In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at the end of its journey from Hawaii, part of its attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The next leg of the solar-powered around-the-world flight is scheduled to start from Mountain View, Calif., Monday, May 2, 2016, at 5 a.m. PDT, bound for Phoenix.(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Solar Impulse 2 arrived in the suburb of Goodyear, which is just to the southwest of Phoenix, shortly before 9 p.m. PDT Monday. The aircraft took off from Mountain View in northern California shortly after 5 a.m. Monday on the 16-hour flight to Phoenix. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg flew the plane, which began its globe-circling journey last year. Solar Impulse 2 flew from Hawaii to the Silicon Valley last week. The wings of the plane are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic. ___ 1:30 p.m. A solar-powered plane is crossing the Mojave Desert on its way from California to Arizona on the latest leg of its round-the-world journey. Solar Impulse 2 took off from Mountain View (in northern California) shortly after 5 a.m. Monday for an expected 16-hour flight to Phoenix. By midday it was crossing desert northwest of Los Angeles at an altitude of around 23,000 feet. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg is flying the plane, which began its globe-circling journey last year. Solar Impulse 2 flew from Hawaii to the Silicon Valley last week. The wings of the plane are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic. ___ 3 a.m. A solar-powered airplane is preparing to leave California for Arizona to continue its journey around the world. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 will take off from Mountain View before dawn Monday for what should be a 16-hour flight to Phoenix. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg will be at the helm of the plane that began circumnavigation the globe last year using only energy from the sun. Borschberg's co-pilot, Bertrand Piccard, also of Switzerland, made the three-day trip from Hawaii to the heart of Silicon Valley, where he landed last week. The crew was forced to stay in Oahu for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The aircraft began its voyage in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan. FILE - In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Solar Impulse 2 lands at Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif., completing the leg of its journey from Hawaii in its attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The next leg of the solar-powered around-the-world flight is scheduled to start from Moffett Field Monday, May 2, 2016, at 5 a.m. PDT, bound for Phoenix.(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Alabama governor, senator urge TVA to sell unfinished nuke BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and Sen. Richard Shelby are among those urging the Tennessee Valley Authority to sell its unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, where more than four decades of work hasn't produced a watt of electricity. Comments released publicly by the federal utility show that the Republican Bentley and Alabama Republican Shelby, along with local officials, one environmental group and others want the Tennessee Valley Authority to get rid of the twin-reactor facility in northeast Alabama near Hollywood. At least one potential buyer has been identified, documents show. But five environmental groups are urging the federal utility to keep the plant and use it for renewable energy, and numerous individuals also submitted comments opposing a sale. The final decision on whether to sell is up to the TVA board. TVA has said it is considering whether to sell Bellefonte, where more than $4 billion has been spent since construction began in 1974. Work was put on hold in 1988 and employees now simply maintain the plant, located on the Tennessee River about 50 miles east of Huntsville. A summation of Bentley's position says the governor wants TVA to sell Bellefonte to a private party that will complete the plant, similar to Shelby's stance. Shelby also would like to see the plant sold for use as a large industrial or technology complex, according to the TVA report. Documents also show a Western energy company is interested in purchasing the plant. An executive with the firm, Phoenix Energy of Nevada, said the company has developed a new, non-nuclear technology that uses electromagnetic induction energy fields to heat water indirectly and produce steam that would turn turbines and generate electricity at Bellefonte. "We are a completely clean, regenerative source of non-intermittent reliable and dependable, low-cost electric power," Michael Dooley, managing partner and principle engineer for Phoenix Energy, said in an email to The Associated Press. Bellefonte is located on a 1,600-acre site and includes two partially finished nuclear reactors plus office buildings, warehouses, parking areas, railroad spurs and a helicopter pad. Solar plane on global trip arrives in Arizona GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) A solar-powered airplane landed in suburban Phoenix Monday night after a daylong flight from California the latest leg in its around the world journey using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 arrived in the suburb of Goodyear, just to the southwest of Phoenix, shortly before 9 p.m. PDT. Pilot Andre Borschberg called the 16-hour trip "a beautiful flight," after stepping from the cockpit. Pilot Andre Borschberg sits in the cockpit of the Solar Impulse 2, as his son, Teo Borschberg, prepares the solar powered plane at Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif., before dawn Monday, May 2, 2016. The plane took off from California for Arizona to resume its journey around the world using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 left Mountain View south of San Francisco shortly after 5 a.m. Monday for an expected 16-hour trip to Phoenix. (Karl Mondon/The Mercury News-Bay Area News Group via AP) "It was a special flight; not a long flight," he added. The aircraft took off from Mountain View in northern California shortly after 5 a.m. It began its globe-circling journey last year, and flew from Hawaii to the Silicon Valley last week. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey. For several minutes after arriving, Borschberg remained aboard as powerful winds buffeted the aircraft, forcing the ground crew to hold down it down with straps. "Sometimes it is more difficult to handle the airplane on the ground than in flight," he told reporters later. Video from cameras aboard the aircraft as well as on the ground at the Goodyear airport showed the Solar Impulse as it flew through the night sky enroute to its safe touch down southwest of Phoenix. Hours earlier, shortly after takeoff, Borschberg used his phone to snap photos of the sun coming up along the horizon. Then he prepared for media interviews and made breakfast plans. "I'm heating up water for coffee," Borschberg told his ground crew. "A nice Nescafe." His co-pilot, Bertrand Piccard, also of Switzerland, made the three-day trip from Hawaii to the heart of Silicon Valley, where he landed last week. The Solar Impulse 2's wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night. The two legs to cross the Pacific were the riskiest part of the plane's travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. "We have demonstrated it is feasible to fly many days, many nights, that the technology works" said Borschberg, 63, who piloted the plane during a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii and who kept himself alert by doing yoga poses and meditation. The crew was forced to stay in Oahu for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The single-seat aircraft began its voyage in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan. The layovers will give the pilots a chance to swap places and engage with local communities along the way so they can explain the project, which is estimated to cost more than $100 million and began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. ___ AP writer Bob Seavey contributed to this report from Phoenix Andre Borschberg, left, and Bertrand Piccard, right, embrace Monday, May 2, 2016, before Borschberg pilots the next flight of the Solar Impulse 2, the solar-powered plane, at Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif. The plane took off from California for Arizona to resume its journey around the world using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 left Mountain View south of San Francisco shortly after 5 a.m. Monday for an expected 16-hour trip to Phoenix. Piccard had flown the plane from Hawaii nine days ago. (Karl Mondon/The Mercury News-Bay Area News Group via AP) Pilot Andre Borschberg sits in the cockpit of the Solar Impulse 2, as his son, Teo Borschberg, prepares the solar powered plane at Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif., before dawn Monday, May 2, 2016. The plane took off from California for Arizona to resume its journey around the world using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 left Mountain View south of San Francisco shortly after 5 a.m. Monday for an expected 16-hour trip to Phoenix. (Karl Mondon/The Mercury News-Bay Area News Group via AP FILE - In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at the end of its journey from Hawaii, part of its attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The next leg of the solar-powered around-the-world flight is scheduled to start from Mountain View, Calif., Monday, May 2, 2016, at 5 a.m. PDT, bound for Phoenix.(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) FILE - In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Solar Impulse 2 flies over San Francisco at the end of its journey from Hawaii, part of its attempt to circumnavigate the globe. The next leg of the solar-powered around-the-world flight is scheduled to start from Mountain View, Calif., Monday, May 2, 2016, at 5 a.m. PDT, bound for Phoenix.(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) New book about Ariz. wildfire that killed 19 firefighters "The Fire Line: The Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and One of the Deadliest Days in American Firefighting" (Flatiron Books), by Fernanda Santos It began as a routine assignment for the 20 men of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Wielding picks, axes, shovels and chain saws, they set out to build a barrier to protect homes and people from an Arizona wildfire sparked by lightning. Within hours, their mission ended in tragedy. Fifty mph winds set off by a powerful thunderstorm had changed direction, fanning a raging fire that raced down Yarnell Hill, cutting off the crew's escape route and trapping the men in a canyon. Nineteen of them perished, the bodies found in portable fire shelters that were no match for the 2,000-degree heat. The death toll of professional wildland firefighters was the largest in more than a century. The only survivor was the assigned lookout who barely escaped the flames. This book cover image released by Flatiron Books shows, "The Fire Line: The Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and One of the Deadliest Days in American Firefighting," by Fernanda Santos. (Flatiron Books via AP) In this riveting and poignant narrative, Fernanda Santos introduces the reader to a brave band of men, most of them in their 20s, who battle destructive wildfires that pose a mounting threat as developers in the West build vacation and retirement homes in areas where urban boundaries intersect with fire-prone woods and brush. Based in Prescott, Arizona, Granite Mountain was one of 107 elite Hotshot crews in the U.S. at the time of the 2013 fire and the only one run by a municipality. Its members are deployed around the country, riding in 10-seat, diesel-powered "buggies" that transport them to the fires. Once there, their task is to fell trees, hack away brush and cut roots to build a fire line that can block the flames. It's a task that demands strength, endurance and teamwork. The pay is meager rookies received $12.09 an hour and crew members relied on long hours of overtime during fire season to make ends meet. Santos, the Phoenix bureau chief for The New York Times, covered the Yarnell Hill story and was taken with the stories of victims she admired but never met. She bonded with family members to learn about the lives of these fallen firefighters, some of them "second chancers" who saw the physical challenge and discipline of the job as a path toward overcoming earlier stumbles that ranged from alcoholism or drug addiction to minor crimes. The author also walked the walk, taking two courses at a wildfire management academy in Prescott that many of the Granite Mountain crew had attended. She donned flame-resistant clothing, wielded the tools of the Hotshots' trade, cut fire line in the wild and even practiced deploying an emergency shelter that she carried along with a loaded backpack. The product of her efforts is a gripping account of one of the nation's most deadly wildfires and an inspiring look at the men who put their lives on the line and the loved ones they left behind. Federer withdraws from Madrid Masters because of back injury MADRID (AP) Roger Federer's injury woes continue. In the latest setback to an already complicated season, Federer was forced to withdraw from the Madrid Masters on Monday because of a back injury. The third-ranked Federer said that he was hurt in practice during the weekend and didn't want to take any chances aggravating the injury. FILE- In this April 15, 2016 file photo, Swiss Roger Federer gestures during his quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in Monaco. Roger Federer withdrew from the Madrid Masters on Monday because of a back injury. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File) "I rather play it safe and rest up now," Federer said. "I'm very disappointed to say the least." Federer was coming of a knee injury after the Australian Open which sidelined the Swiss player for about two months. He also withdrew from the Miami Open in March because of a stomach virus. "It's been a tough year," Federer said. "I hope it gets better from here." The 35-year-old Federer, a three-time winner in Madrid, had been a late addition to the field this week. The tournament was not originally on his schedule, but the former No. 1 decided to include it as part of his preparations for the French Open in three weeks. Federer appeared fine in practice on Saturday, but cancelled his media appearance on Sunday and had not been back to the courts in the last couple of days, raising doubts about his participation. He said he felt some pain while practicing on Saturday and it hadn't improved significantly since then, so he would not be fit to debut on Wednesday as scheduled. "Sorry to the tournament for coming and leaving without playing," Federer said. "I arrived and I was OK, and then I practiced on Saturday and hurt my back a little bit in practice and then stopped early. I just didn't feel like I could practice." Federer downplayed the seriousness of the injury, saying that it has happened to him before and he knows how to treat it. "This is normal back things I've had in the past, which I guess is good, because I know how to handle it, I know how long it can take," Federer said. "It's the back stuff I kind of know. I'm OK with it, at least I know what it is." His season has been marred by health problems. In February, the 17-time Grand Slam winner underwent arthroscopic surgery for torn cartilage on his left knee. When he was set to return to action at the Miami Open in late March, he had to withdraw because of a stomach virus. Federer is still expected to play at the Rome Masters before heading to France for Roland Garros. The Madrid Masters would have been Federer's fourth tournament of the season, and the first since he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters last month. Federer lost to Nick Kyrgios in three sets in last year's second round in Madrid, a tournament he won in 2006, 2009 and 2012. All other top-10 ranked players are playing in the men's tournament in Madrid this week. Last week, Serena Williams, who was set to be the No. 1 seed in the women's draw, withdrew because of an illness. The tournament said that she had a fever and was feeling "less than 100 percent." Indonesian police fatally shoot French citizen in Bali BALI, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian police said they fatally shot a French citizen after he stabbed a policeman to death Monday while resisting arrest on the resort island of Bali. Bali police chief Maj. Gen. Sugeng Priyanto said Amokrane Sabet, reportedly a former mixed martial arts fighter, was shot during a skirmish in front of his rented villa in Badung. Priyanto said police had received complaints from residents who described the 49-year-old Sabet as a violent troublemaker. Sabet, who is believed to have been in Bali for two years, reportedly often carried a knife, harassed people, and ate at restaurants without paying. Priyanto said Sabet, whose tourist visa expired last September, brandished a knife when police and immigration officers came to arrest him. Sabet chased the officers and repeatedly stabbed a policeman who fell to the ground, he said. Priyanto said police shot Sabet after he ignored three warning shots. Bali police spokesman Hery Wiyanto said Sabet had been summoned twice by police for questioning but tore up the summons and failed to appear. He said Sabet died at the scene, while the policeman, a chief sergeant from the North Kuta police station, died later at a hospital. PICTURED: Highlights of the 2016 race for the White House The candidates in the race for the White House are making the case to voters across the country in a fight to win the Republican and Democratic nominations. Here's a look, as seen in images made by Associated Press photographers on the campaign trail. ___ See the latest AP photo galleries: http://apne.ws/TXeCBN Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures while speaking during a campaign rally at the Indiana Theater Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Terre Haute, Ind. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) The Archive: Top photo highlights from previous weeks: http://apne.ws/13QUFKJ ___ Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers Follow AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a campaign rally in Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, works the crowd after a campaign event Sunday, May 1, 2016, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes photographs with audience members during a campaign stop in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. walks off-stage after speaking at a news conference in Washington, Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Fort Wayne, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts to the audience during a campaign stop in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, greets attendees after a campaign rally in Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Fort Wayne, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Review: Laura Lippman's 'Wilde Lake' is character-rich story "Wilde Lake" (William Morrow), by Laura Lippman Every family has its secrets a relative no one talks about; an incident best not discussed; a conversation that conjures painful memories. Family secrets as well as the fragility of memory have been an ongoing theme of Laura Lippman that she explores with precision and insight in the superb stand-alone "Wilde Lake." In "Wilde Lake," Lippman melds a character-rich story with a deftly plotted tale that incorporates a family's history, secrets, myths and ambitions. "Wilde Lake" also looks at the line between truth and lies, and how sometimes falsehoods are easier to digest. This book cover image released by William Morrow shows "Wilde Lake," by Laura Lippman. (William Morrow via AP) The newly elected state's attorney of Howard County, Maryland, Luisa "Lu" Brant, inherited her love of the law and justice from her father, Andrew Jackson Brant. A fair but formidable prosecutor during his time, Andrew earned the respect of the people during his own tenure as the state's attorney, and Lu holds him in the same esteem as Scout did Atticus Finch. Now widowed, Lu and her 8-year-old twins live with Andrew in her childhood home in Wilde Lake. The family, which includes Lu's brother, AJ, who is eight years her senior, moved to Wilde Lake when the planned community was built. A new community for a new family, though the area also was rife with tragedy as Andrew's wife, Adele, died a week after Lu was born. "Wilde Lake" smoothly alternates from the present and the past, including memories so vivid the incidents could have happened yesterday, including an act of violence that occurred during a high school graduation party attended by AJ. Settling into her new job, Lu is anxious to prove herself and decides that she will handle the murder case of Mary McNally, a waitress who was strangled in her apartment by a homeless man. Forensic evidence and an eye witness should make it an easy case, but Lu's former boss, and newly ousted state attorney, Frederick C. Hollister III, decides this will be his first case in private practice. Lippman is an expert at lending a clear-eyed view of the bonds that link people and the truths we tell ourselves to survive the emotional morass of life. She continues this high standard in "Wilde Lake," which proves that the most intricate of mysteries are how we deal with each other. Each of us is a product of our childhood it's what we do with it that makes the difference. ___ Online: Guyana police arrest 5 suspects in casino robbery, shootout GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) Police in Guyana have arrested five men suspected of raiding a hotel casino and engaging in a shootout that wounded a police officer and four others. Guyana police say Monday that one of the suspects is a casino security guard who was on duty shortly before five gunmen stormed the casino of the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel. One of the suspects was arrested last week after he was found hiding in a maintenance room at the hotel in Guyana's capital. The robbery and shootout occurred on Friday. Judge temporarily blocks removal of Confederate monument LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) A judge on Monday temporarily barred the city of Louisville from removing a 70-foot-tall Confederate monument near the University of Louisville campus. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Judith McDonald-Burkman signed a restraining order forbidding the city from moving the 121-year-old obelisk honoring Kentuckians who died fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Mayor Greg Fischer and University President James Ramsey had announced Friday that they would remove the monument, marking the latest government effort to reconsider displaying Confederate symbols following the massacre of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina last summer. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer speaks in front of the Confederate monument near the University of Louisville with university President James Ramsey, left, in Louisville, Ky., Friday, April 29, 2016. The Confederate monument capped with a statue of Jefferson Davis will be removed from a spot near the University of Louisville campus where it has stood since 1895. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan) The city said the stone and bronze structure, for years a source of tension, would be disassembled and moved to storage until a decision is made on where it should be properly displayed. The Sons of Confederate Veterans and Everett Corley, a Republican running for Congress, filed for the restraining order on Monday. They contend that the mayor lacks the authority to remove the monument and did not follow proper protocol. County Attorney Mike O'Connell said he would aggressively defend the merged city-county government's legal ability to remove the sculpture from its prominent location between Second and Third streets, next to campus and the university's celebrated Speed Art museum, which just completed a $60 million renovation. The judge scheduled a hearing Thursday morning, though O'Connell's office asked for more time to prepare its legal arguments. The judge will hear that motion Tuesday morning. Corley, a real estate agent running against two other Republicans to take on Rep. John Yarmuth in the fall, called the statue's proposed removal "the 2016 version of book burning." He said removing the monument which features statues of three Confederate soldiers and the inscription "To Our Confederate Dead" would be an insult to soldiers who fought and died. Kentucky, sandwiched between three free states and three slave states, never seceded from the Union and attempted to remain neutral throughout the Civil War. But its people were deeply divided. Some fought for the Union, others for the Confederacy, and the mixed allegiances tore apart families and communities across the state. Kentucky is the birthplace of both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederacy. Both are honored in the state's Capitol rotunda with large statues. Following the Charleston church shootings, leaders from both political parties called for the removal of the Davis statue. But a state commission voted 7-2 to leave it be. Corley charged that while the city says it plans to move the Louisville monument, it really intends to destroy it and throw it away. O'Connell called that allegation "ridiculous." The Latest: Trump says Indiana win means 'it's over' WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the 2016 presidential race on the eve of Indiana's primary (all times EDT): 8:30 p.m. Donald Trump is telling supporters at his final rally ahead of Indiana's primary that if he wins the contest Tuesday, the Republican nomination in his. Former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps, left, shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after introducing Trump at a campaign stop Monday, May 2, 2016, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) "If we win in Indiana, it's over with, folks," Trump is telling thousands of cheering supporters at a rally in South Bend. Trump has been making the case over the last few days that a win in the state should signal an end to rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich. Both men are trying to stop Trump from winning a majority of delegates, which would force a contested convention. But Trump says he's eager to move forward to a one-on-one match with Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. "That's going to be fun," he says. __ 8 p.m. Donald Trump is kicking off his final rally ahead of Indiana's primary with more endorsements from local sports greats. Trump was introduced in South Bend on Monday evening by former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady and former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps. He also announced the backing Monday of former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz. "We've had so many great endorsements," says Trump, who has also been endorsed by former Indiana Hoosiers basketball coach Bob Knight. Phelps says Trump "is the man who will make America great again." Trump is hoping a decisive win Tuesday in Indiana will establish him as the GOP's inevitable presidential candidate. __ 6:37 p.m. About a dozen protesters are shouting at Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as he campaigns outside of a grocery store on the eve of the Indiana primary. Backers of GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, Democrat Bernie Sanders and those holding anti-Cruz signs joined together to heckle the Texas senator Monday as he shook hands with supporters on the sidewalk outside the grocery store in Bloomington, Indiana. Cruz had been confronted by Trump protesters at an earlier stop as well. His opponents in Bloomington held signs saying, "Indiana doesn't want you!" and chanted "Go home to Canada!" Several hundred Cruz backers far outnumbered the hecklers. They yelled "Ted! Ted!" as he sampled barbecue, shook hands and posed for selfies. ___ Hundreds of protesters are confronting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Williamson, W. Va. Waiting in the pouring rain outside a health center, they are waving Donald Trump signs and chanting "Kill-ary." The crowd was visited by former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, who was recently sentenced for a mine safety conspiracy at Upper Big Branch Mine, where 29 miners died in a 2010 explosion. Clinton is touring a health center in the midst of a two-day swing through coal country. Comments she made on CNN that Clinton would "put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business" angered many leaders in the region. ___ 4:44 p.m. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says his rivals' deal to try to stop his march toward the GOP nomination is a big reason they appear to be fading on the eve of the Indiana primary. He's telling supporters at a performing arts center in Carmel, Indiana, that "After they made the alliance their numbers tanked." He added: "That's what happens when politicians make deals." Trump was mocking the fraying alliance between Republican rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich. The two remaining Trump rivals in the GOP contest agreed on which states they would focus in an effort to hobble Trump's progress toward the 1,237 GOP delegates required to clinch the nomination. Yet Trump has dominated recent contests. Trump also made fun of Cruz for not helping his running mate, Carly Fiorina, when she fell from the stage Sunday. "Even I would have helped her," Trump said. "That was a weird deal." ___ 3:22 p.m. Ted Cruz is sparring with Donald Trump supporters on the eve of the Indiana primary. Protesters carrying Trump signs confronted the Texas senator as he campaigned in Marion, Indiana on Monday. One man yelled, "Lyin' Ted!" while standing just a few feet from the Republican presidential candidate. The insult is Trump's pet name for his chief rival. Cruz responded with a question. He asked the protester, "What do you like about him? ... Name one thing." The Trump supporter had a simple response: "Everything." The exchange came during one of Cruz's five scheduled stops on Monday. He was campaigning alongside Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. ___ 2:40 p.m. Ted Cruz's campaign says his choice for running mate, Carly Fiorina, is uninjured after falling on the campaign stage. Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier says Fiorina missed a step Sunday but was uninjured and continues to campaign on behalf of the senator in Indiana. Footage of the incident shows Fiorina dropping quickly, with Cruz apparently unaware as he enters and waves to the crowd. Fiorina re-appears a couple seconds later and is seen hugging Cruz's wife Heidi. The stumble comes as Cruz is trying to shake off the perception that his campaign is in trouble heading into the Indiana primary on Tuesday. Cruz has vowed to keep up his campaign as long as he has a viable route to winning the GOP nomination. ___ 2:00 p.m. Donald Trump says he is ready to get on with the general election against Hillary Clinton. Neither candidate has won their parties' nominations. But Trump is telling reporters at a lunch stop in Indianapolis that he's ready for the pivot, saying he'd "like to get on to Hillary." Trump, the only Republican with a chance of locking down the delegates needed to win the nomination without a contested convention, says he has "a great relationship" with the people of Indiana and expects to do well in Tuesday's primary. Of the general election, he adds, "It's sort of already started." ___ 1:35 p.m. A spat is brewing between Donald Trump supporters and party officials in New Hampshire over which delegates should hold posts on the powerful convention committees. Trump won 11 of the state's 23 delegates. New Hampshire rules allow campaigns to hand-select their delegates, in effect ensuring greater loyalty should the nominating process go beyond the first ballot. But in a perceived move to deny Trump power, the state party is proposing a committee slate that doesn't include any Trump supporters. Each state gets to place two delegates on committees, including the rules committee, which will set the guidelines for selecting a nominee. Trump's campaign, in response, is launching an effort to control all eight committee seats. Delegates were originally asked to vote by email on the party's proposed slate. But in the face of backlash including from non-Trump supporters who see the kerfuffle as an unnecessary headache the delegates will now vote in person at a Friday meeting. "In the interest of party unity, I am willing to reschedule the vote at an in person meeting," Horn wrote in the email. She hasn't responded to multiple requests for comment. ___ 1:33 p.m. Donald Trump is making an unscheduled stop for lunch in Indianapolis. His motorcade pulled up at Shapiro's Delicatessen just after 1:15 p.m., and the candidate received applause when he walked inside. Trump, the Republican front-runner, told one patron that he "felt good" about Indiana's primary Tuesday. Another diner asked him a question about taxes and Trump said he "would look into it once I get into office." Trump then ordered a Reuben sandwich and a Diet Coke. ___ 12:30 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says Indiana's primary on Tuesday will be important to his goal of amassing as many delegates as possible to catch up with rival Hillary Clinton. And he's acknowledging that's a big challenge. In Evansville, Indiana, Sanders is telling supporters that with 10 states left, his campaign needs to earn more than 50 percent of the remaining delegates up for grabs. The Vermont senator says he will "fight as hard as we can for every vote." Sanders says he has won 45 percent of the pledged delegates awarded so far but only about 7 percent of the superdelegates the party leaders who can vote for either Democratic candidate but are overwhelmingly committed to Clinton. Sanders says his campaign has been winning among voters 45 years of age and younger, showing that his ideas are "the ideas for the future of this country." ___ 10:45 a.m. Ted Cruz is calling the Indiana primary "neck and neck" and says he'll stay in the Republican presidential race for as long as he has a "viable path to victory." He spoke to reporters after greeting hundreds of people in northern Indiana at a popular breakfast stop a day before the state's crucial primary. Cruz is framing a potential fall election match-up between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton as the choice between two "big government, New York liberals." And he has been trying to rally the politically diverse, working-class swath of voters in northern Indiana, where the industrial economy remains viable but union jobs have declined in recent decades. ___ 10 a.m. Ted Cruz is blitzing through Indiana in a make-or-break moment for his slumping Republican presidential campaign. A victory for Donald Trump in Indiana on Tuesday would be a dispiriting blow for Cruz and other forces trying to stop the front-runner, leaving them with few opportunities to block his path. Trump is the only candidate in the race who can reach the 1,237 delegates needed for the GOP nomination through regular voting, though Cruz is trying to push the race toward a contested convention. Cruz is holding five events across Indiana on Monday. Trump is holding a pair of rallies in the state. He's already confidently looking past Cruz and engaging the likely Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. ___ 9:20 a.m. Hillary Clinton's campaign says she raised about $26 million in April for her primary race against Bernie Sanders, as her rival's fundraising juggernaut slowed. Sanders' take for April was a little under Clinton's, marking a steep decline from the $46 million he raised in March. He did not report how much money he has on hand, raising questions about whether he can sustain his long-robust online fundraising as his path to the nomination narrows. Clinton's campaign says she has $30 million in the bank heading into May. She had about $29 million at the start of last month. ___ Former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady talks about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign stop Monday, May 2, 2016, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, autographs Randall Perry's boot, during a visits to the Bravo Cafe during a campaign stop, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Osceola, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Carly Fiorina, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz' pick for vice president, waves after being introduced during a campaign rally in Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, speaks during a campaign event Sunday, May 1, 2016, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, talks with Elizabeth Craig's children during a visits to the Bravo Cafe during a campaign stop, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Osceola, Ind. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the NAACP's 61st annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner in Detroit, Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) The Latest: Judge agrees to move hot SUV death trial MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) The Latest on the trial of a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler in a hot SUV to die (all times local): 3:10 p.m. The judge in the trial of a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler son in a hot SUV to die has granted a defense request to move the trial. Attorneys for Justin Ross Harris had asked the judge to move the trial, arguing Monday that pretrial publicity has tainted the jury pool. Harris faces charges, including murder, and has been in jail since the day 22-month-old Cooper died in June 2014. Prosecutor Chuck Boring argued that the fact that the defense has agreed that 36 of the jurors questioned are qualified to be in the jury pool shows that an impartial jury can be found in the metro Atlanta county where the child died. Harris is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ___ 2:15 p.m. The judge overseeing the trial of a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler son in a hot SUV to die has told the prosecution and defense to try to reach an agreement on a handful of disputed potential jurors. Attorneys for Justin Ross Harris had asked the judge to move the trial, arguing Monday that pretrial publicity has tainted the jury pool. Harris faces charges, including murder, and has been in jail since the day 22-month-old Cooper died in June 2014. Prosecutors noted that they'd already agreed on about three dozen potential jurors qualified for the jury pool, saying that shows an impartial jury can be found in the metro Atlanta county where the child died. Before taking a recess, the judge also asked both sides to consider the logistics if the trial is moved. ___ 11:45 a.m. The judge in the trial of a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his son in a hot SUV to die is considering arguments from attorneys on both sides about whether the trial should be moved. Attorneys for Justin Ross Harris asked the judge to move the trial, arguing Monday that pretrial publicity has tainted the jury pool. Harris faces charges, including murder, and has been in jail since the day 22-month-old Cooper died in June 2014. Prosecutor Chuck Boring argued that the fact that the defense has agreed that 36 of the jurors questioned are qualified to be in the jury pool shows that an impartial jury can be found in the metro Atlanta county where the child died. Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley said she hopes to announce a decision after a lunch break. Harris is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 11:05 a.m. A prosecutor in the case of a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler son in a hot SUV to die argues that three weeks of jury selection have shown an impartial jury can be found. Defense attorneys for Justin Ross Harris have asked the judge to move the trial, arguing that pretrial publicity has tainted the jury pool. Harris faces charges, including murder, and has been in jail since the day 22-month-old Cooper died in June 2014. Prosecutor Chuck Boring argued that the fact that the defense has agreed that 36 of the jurors questioned are qualified to be in the jury pool shows that an impartial jury can be found in the metro Atlanta county where the child died. Harris is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ___ 10 a.m. A defense attorney for a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler son in a hot SUV to die argues that extensive pretrial publicity has tainted the potential jury pool to the point that his client can't receive a fair trial. Justin Ross Harris faces charges, including murder, and has been in jail since the day 22-month-old Cooper died in June 2014. Defense attorney Bryan Lumpkin argued Monday that even though many potential jurors said they would like to be fair and impartial, they also said they were leaning toward thinking Harris is guilty. The arguments came during a hearing on a defense motion to move the trial away from the metro Atlanta county where the child died. ___ 6:35 a.m A judge is expected to consider whether to move the trial of a Georgia man accused of intentionally leaving his toddler son in a hot SUV to die. Justin Ross Harris faces charges, including murder, and has been in jail since the day 22-month-old Cooper died in June 2014. Harris' attorneys filed a motion for a change of venue Friday afternoon, about three weeks into jury selection. They want the trial moved from Cobb County. The attorneys said they don't believe an impartial jury can be found in the county just northwest of Atlanta. They said the questioning of potential jurors has shown that pretrial publicity has led many to believe Harris is guilty. Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley said she'll hear arguments on the motion Monday morning. Guide highlights Native American link to historic Route 66 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A new story is unfolding along historic Route 66 thanks to a yearlong project coordinated by a tourism group with help from the National Park Service and American Indian tribes along America's Mother Road. The result is a guidebook and website detailing the histories of more than two dozen tribal communities along the 2,400-mile byway and their relationship to the road that helped change the West. Stretching from Chicago to California, more than half the route cuts through Indian Country. This June 7, 2014 image shows the Tepee Curios neon sign along historic Route 66 as a storm approaches in Tucumcari, N.M. The shop was originally a gas station that carried souvenirs and groceries. The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association has released a guidebook that details tribes and notable sites along the route. (AP photo/Susan Montoya Bryan) Those behind the project say their work is aimed at filling the gap between reality and the stereotypes once used to lure travelers along the route, from the billboards that featured Indian figures wearing war bonnets to staged photo ops and metal teepees. Tribes now have a venue to tell their own stories, said Lisa Snell, who was tapped by the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association to spend a year traveling the route, doing research and conducting interviews. It was an eye-opener even for Snell, a Cherokee and publisher of the Native American Times. "It was so much different from what I had been exposed to during childhood, growing up watching the Lone Ranger and what you saw in the advertisements. What I experienced was completely different from the images and the things I read," she said. The guidebook is being unveiled this week by the tourism association. It includes stories of how communities were affected by the commerce that came along with traffic on Route 66. The book and website also cover the role played by the federal government's Indian relocation program of the 1950s and how the romance of the roadway was partly spurred by the marketing of the Hollywood version of the Indian. Snell's research and interviews indicated what happened along America's Mother Road was more about money than the sharing of a culture. "Because of the socio-economic conditions, what do you do? You take the job, you put on your buckskins, you put on your war bonnet and you have your picture taken. You do the job," she said. "That's been perpetrated through today. It's still that image we have. It's lingering." Sammye Meadows, who works with the tourism association, said interest in tourism has grown among tribes now that some have fostered successful programs for tapping their own cultural resources. Foreign visitors alone account for an estimated $7 billion in annual spending in Indian Country and visitation by overseas travelers has grown by nearly 1 million over the last several years, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. "It's an evolving thing and I think a lot more stories will come forward," Meadows said. "People will have stories they would like to contribute to the overall sort of correcting of the tribal image." Aside from history that stretches back to the Pueblo Revolt in the centuries before New Mexico was a state and the creation of reservations, the new guidebook includes details about key sites along Route 66 both old and new as well as etiquette for attending powwows and tips for buying arts and crafts. ___ Online: http://www.americanindiansandroute66.com ___ Follow Susan Montoya Bryan on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanmbryanNM This November 2014 photo provided by the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association shows the view from the road to Sky City at Acoma Pueblo, N.M. The pueblo is one of more than two dozen tribal communities along historic Route 66. (Lisa Snell/American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association via AP) This undated photo provided by the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association shows the Route 66 sign near the historic Summit Inn at the end of Cajon Pass in California. The association is releasing a guidebook that details more than two dozen tribal communities along America's Mother Road. (Lisa Snell/American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association via AP) Q&A: When is a Boot on the Ground not a Boot on the Ground? WASHINGTON (AP) No one disputes that U.S. military forces are fighting in combat in Iraq and Syria -- except maybe President Barack Obama and some members of his administration. The semantic arguments over whether there are American "boots on the ground" muddy the view of a situation in which several thousand armed U.S. military personnel are in Iraq and Syria. Obama has said more than a dozen times that there would be no combat troops in Iraq and Syria as the number of service members in those countries grows; last week, Defense Secretary Ash Carter acknowledged the military personnel there were in combat and "we should say that clearly." So, when is a military boot on the ground? And what does it all mean? FILE - In this March 21, 2015 file photo, Iraqi security forces participate in a drill as U.S. forces train them in Taji, north of Baghdad, Iraq. No one disputes that U.S. military forces are fighting in combat in Iraq and Syria -- except maybe President Barack Obama and some members of his administration. The semantic arguments over whether there are American boots on the ground muddy the view of a situation in which several thousand armed U.S. military personnel are in Iraq and Syria. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim, File) ___ ARE U.S. MILITARY TROOPS IN IRAQ? Yes. More than 5,500 U.S. service members. The Pentagon, however, counts them in different ways. Obama recently authorized an increase in the number of troops that can deploy to Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces in fighting the Islamic State. The cap was increased last week from 3,870 to 4,087. But a number of troops aren't counted against the cap because of the military's personnel accounting system. For example, troops assigned to the U.S. Embassy for security or those sent to Iraq for temporary, short-term assignments are there in addition to the 4,087. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, in Stuttgart, Germany for a change-of-command ceremony Tuesday, revealed that a serviceman had been killed in combat near Irbil in Iraq. A U.S. military official, speaking on grounds of anonymity, said the American was killed while performing his duty as an adviser to Kurdish Peshmerga troops. He was killed by "direct fire" after Islamic State forces penetrated the Peshmerga's forward line. The official said the American was three to two to three miles behind the front line. ___ ARE U.S. MILITARY TROOPS IN SYRIA? Yes. Last week the Pentagon announced an increase in the number of U.S. forces working in Syria from 50 to 300. Those troops are working with local Syrian forces and are mainly Army special forces, but the latest increase will also include medical and logistics units. ___ SO, THAT WOULD MEAN THERE ARE U.S. "BOOTS ON THE GROUND" IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, WOULDN'T IT? Yes it would. In Iraq there are advisers, trainers, special operations forces and others stationed at Iraqi bases, working with the Iraqi forces. Last week, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that some advisers would begin working with Iraqis at the brigade and battalion level. They had been working with Iraqis at the division headquarters level. The change would embed those teams of advisers with smaller units, who would likely be closer to the fight. In Syria, the U.S. has about 50 special operations forces going into Syria from a base in a neighboring country to meet with local Syrian opposition forces. They aren't based in Syria, so they travel in and out, sometimes staying in the country for several days at a time. According to officials, the additional 250 forces will do the same thing. They will not be based in Syria, but will instead work out of neighboring countries, such as Iraq or Turkey. And they are not there to fight alongside the Syrians, they are there to provide advice and other assistance. ___ WHAT ABOUT AIRSTRIKES? AREN'T PILOTS FLYING COMBAT MISSIONS? Yes they are. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made it clear during a Senate hearing last week that U.S. fighter jets conducting airstrikes in Iraq and Syria are conducting combat missions. ___ WHY DOES THE ADMINISTRATION SAY THERE ARE NO U.S. BOOTS ON THE GROUND? Obama administration officials have consistently told the American public since 2013 that there will be no combat "boots on the ground" in Iraq and Syria. Their argument is based on the idea that there are no conventional U.S. ground forces in large units fighting the Islamic State militants in direct combat. Saying there are "no U.S. boots on the ground" while inaccurate is meant to convey the administration's view that U.S. troops are not on the front lines waging the war. Instead, U.S. troops are advising and assisting the Iraqi and Syrian forces, providing training, intelligence, and logistical support from behind the battlefront. The parsing of words is meant to differentiate the latest Islamic State conflicts from earlier wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when thousands of U.S. troops were battling the enemy in small units and in close combat. Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that U.S. troops are not going to war to substitute for the local forces, but are trying "to get them powerful enough that they can expel ISIL with our support. And when we provide that support, we put people in harm's way. We ask them to conduct combat actions." ___ AREN'T SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN DIRECT COMBAT IN IRAQ OR SYRIA? A: Probably. But the Pentagon doesn't talk about the often highly classified operations that U.S. commandos -- including Army Delta Force or Navy SEALs -- are doing no matter where they are. And Army special forces or Green Berets are in many war-torn countries providing training and assistance, because that's one of their key jobs. In some cases, U.S. officials have acknowledged special operations missions to capture or kill high-value targets or to try and rescue hostages. Colorado clinic reopens 5 months after deadly shooting COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) A Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic has reopened five months after an attack by a gunman left three people dead and nine more injured. The Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/1rdtVq0) that workers at the clinic have repaired damage from the Nov. 27 shootings and celebrated a full reopening Sunday. The emotional event was attended by employees, state officials and peaceful protesters. Robert Lewis Dear Jr. has admitted to opening fire at the clinic and psychologists have testified that Dear has a delusional disorder. A judge has not yet made a decision about whether he is competent to stand trial. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountain was officially reopened on Sunday, May 1, 2016 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three people were gunned down at the health center on Friday, November 27, 2015, the day after Thanksgiving. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains President and CEO Vicki Cowart says security has been upgraded but wouldn't go into detail about the changes. ___ Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountain was officially reopened on Sunday, May 1, 2016 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three people were gunned down at the health center on Friday, November 27, 2015, the day after Thanksgiving. Former staff member, Lynn Young, right, gets a hug after the ceremony. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountain was officially reopened on Sunday, May 1, 2016 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three people were gunned down at the health center on Friday, November 27, 2015, the day after Thanksgiving. The people attending had mixed emotions, sometimes tearful when talking about those who died and sometimes joyous about the reopening of the clinic. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) Flagstaff businesses have a new way to do an old business. Businesses have been bartering services with each other for hundreds of years, but Value Card Alliance is offering a new twist on the old system. The Arizona company recently moved into the Flagstaff area, said Tim Stipo, the northern Arizona regional manager for VCA. In a typical barter system, a business trades services with another business to get something they need. But sometimes a business may need a services or product that isnt offered by the company that wants to trade with them. For example, a dentist may need advertising, but no one at the advertising company needs dental work. VCA allows businesses to put out services or products for trade to earn credits, Stipo said. Those credits can be turned in for goods or services from other members of VCA. So the dentist could put out his services on the VCA network and attract businesses that have employees that need dental work. Each business that takes advantage of the dentists offer generates trade credits for the dentist, he said. The dentist can use those credits to purchase services from an advertising company. We act as a sort of middleman and an online bank, Stipo said. VCA stores the trade credit balance of each business and completes the transaction between businesses like a bank, but without cash. The credits can be exchanged for any type of service available on the network. Stipo said the system actually helps businesses save money and generate business at the same time. VCAs network can connect businesses that may never have heard of each other. It also saves businesses money because if they use their trade credits, they may not have to pay $5,000 to install a new air conditioning unit. VCA is free to join and is only available to businesses that have a service or product they can trade, he said. It charges a monthly $8 administration fee for its software and takes a 10 percent commission on each trade. That commission and fee cannot be paid with trade credits. One of the founders of VCA has been using this type of business barter system since his parents opened a barter system in Tucson in the 1960s, Stipo said. VCA started in Tucson in 2004 and has expanded to Phoenix and now Flagstaff. The company is hoping to branch out in the near future to all of northern Arizona. It already has about 70 companies in Flagstaff signed on to its barter network and more than 3,000 other businesses in its network across all of Arizona. Some of the Flagstaff businesses that have already signed on to the service include Arizona Snowbowl, Starlight Lanes, Bearizona, Mother Road Brewery and Chiba Hut. We sign on about 50 to 60 new businesses each week, Stipo said. While VCA only has offices in Arizona, it has partnerships with other similar trade and barter networks across the U.S., he said. Credits can also be traded for personal services, such as dental work, vacation items like hotel stays, or tickets to events with anyone that offers those services. VCA does have an office in Flagstaff, but the remodeling for the office isnt complete yet, he said. Interested businesses can contact Stipo by email or phone. Turkey: Islamic State behind attack that killed 2 policemen ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey's interior minister says a car bombing that killed two police officers and wounded 22 other people in the southern city of Gaziantep, near Syria, was carried out by militants linked to the Islamic State group. Minister Efkan Ala told reporters on Monday that up to 50 people were detained for questioning in Gaziantep over Sunday's attack. The minister also confirmed the identity of the suicide bomber who blew herself up and wounded 13 people in the city of Bursa last week as 23-year-old Eser Cali. He described Cali as a member of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party, or PKK. Security officers and firefighters work moments after an explosion outside the Police headquarters in Gaziantep, Turkey, Sunday, May 1, 2016. A car bomb struck the entrance of a Turkish police station Sunday in the southern city of Gaziantep, killing a policeman and injuring over 20 other people, an official said. (Depo Photos via AP) TURKEY OUT The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, an off-shoot of the PKK, claimed the Bursa attack in a statement Sunday and said Cali blew herself up before reaching her intended target. Czech Republic OKs 'Czechia' as one-word version of its name PRAGUE (AP) The Czech government has approved a plan to use "Czechia" as one-word version of the country's name alongside the official Czech Republic. Unlike most European countries, the Czech Republic has lacked a one-word version of its name in foreign languages. Now, the country can use the name "Czechia" (pronounced CHEHK'-ee-uh) in English, "Tschechien" in German or "Tchequie" in French, translations of the Czech word "Cesko." The Foreign Ministry said a one-word name is more practical and flexible at times. Before the government's green light Monday, Czech leaders, including President Milos Zeman, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and the speakers of both chambers of Parliament endorsed the new name last month. Police: Man broke into store so he could see jailed brother TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Police in New Jersey's capital city say a man told them he broke into a business because he wanted to see his brother in jail. The robbery in Trenton was discovered around 4:20 a.m. Saturday. Authorities say the business' glass front door had been smashed. Officers say they found 24-year-old Jose Ixcolin about a block away, holding a computer monitor taken in the burglary. Police say Ixcolin told officers he wanted to get arrested so he could see his brother. It wasn't immediately clear why his brother was in jail or if Ixcolin had been able to speak with him following his arrest. A brokered convention, 3 candidates, 2 factions: GOP in 1880 CLEVELAND (AP) It was a brokered convention with three candidates and two factions. Republican Party leaders hoped for unity, but once the delegates began voting, consensus proved elusive. Welcome to the presidential nominating convention of 1880. After round upon round of votes, the delegates finally nominated a dark horse from Ohio on the 36th ballot. The candidate nobody saw coming was James A. Garfield, a congressman and Civil War veteran. He went on to win the presidential election. Garfield was shot by an assassin four months after taking office, and without a legacy, his story has faded. But history geeks and maybe even some of the Republicans heading to the convention in Cleveland this summer may find Garfield's story and the jockeying that led to his nomination of interest. This April 22, 2016 photo shows a replica of a log cabin where President James Garfield was born in Moreland Hills, Ohio. He was the last president born in a log cabin. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz) "This is a guy who became a presidential candidate unexpectedly," said Todd Arrington, site manager at James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio. "With the Republicans coming to Cleveland, we hope they'll come 25 minutes down the road to Mentor to learn about him." The Republican Party was founded in the 19th century to stop the expansion of slavery, and Garfield, who served in the Union Army, went to Congress to advocate for the rights of African-Americans. Arrington says he views Garfield's commitment to civil rights as "the last stand of the roots of the Republican Party" from that era. For conventioneers, political history geeks and others, there's an added bonus: Garfield is the only U.S. president whose birthplace, home and final resting place can be visited in one day. Here's a look at those sites. ___ JAMES GARFIELD BIRTHPLACE Garfield was the last president born in a log cabin. His father died when he was an infant, and his mother raised him and three siblings on a frontier farm in dire poverty. "They were so poor, they didn't even have candles," said Sandra Vodanoff, who volunteers at a replica of the cabin about a half-hour's drive from Cleveland. The cabin site at 4350 S.O.M. Center Road in Moreland Hills, Ohio, also includes a historical marker and a statue of Garfield that depicts him as a shoeless boy carrying a hoe and a book. Open Saturdays, June through September, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., or by appointment, at 440-248-1188. ___ JAMES A. GARFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Garfield, his wife and five children lived in a farmhouse on nearly 160 acres in Mentor, Ohio. The property was nicknamed Lawnfield by reporters covering the 1880 campaign, and today it's a National Park Service site. The interior has been restored to Victorian splendor, including the wild wallpaper patterns and heavy, dark furniture popular in that era. Looking out from the front porch, you can almost imagine Garfield standing there greeting the thousands of people who turned out to meet him during his campaign. The house includes the first-ever presidential library, created by Garfield's widow as a private memorial. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily May 1-Oct. 31; Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 1-Apr. 30. House tours, $7. Museum, grounds and film free, https://www.nps.gov/jaga/ . ___ JAMES A. GARFIELD MEMORIAL This elaborate castle-like monument with turrets and arches is located on a hill in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland. Inside, a towering white marble statue of Garfield is spotlit amid mosaics, stained glass windows and granite columns. Downstairs, Garfield's casket the only presidential casket on full display is covered with an American flag next to his wife's casket. From an outdoor balcony on a clear day, you can see 40 miles of the Lake Erie shore and the Cleveland skyline. Open April 1-Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., free, http://www.lakeviewcemetery.com/garfield.php . This April 22, 2016 photo shows the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio. President Garfield lived here with his wife and five children. Garfield was nominated in 1880 at a brokered convention. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz) This April 22, 2016 photo shows a sculpture depicting President James Garfield at his birthplace in Moreland Hills, Ohio. The statue shows Garfield as a shoeless boy with a book and a hoe. He was the last president born in a log cabin. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz) This April 23, 2016 photo shows the exterior of the James A. Garfield Memorial at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland. Garfield was assassinated in 1881. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz) This April 23, 2016 photo shows a detail from the elaborate memorial to President James A. Garfield at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland. Garfield was assassinated in 1881. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz) 'The King and I' welcome 2 new leads _ on the same night NEW YORK (AP) Marin Mazzie found herself last Friday wearing a lilac ball gown hoop skirt and a determined expression. She was waiting to go onstage for the top of Act 2 of the lavish Broadway production of "The King and I" at Lincoln Center. This was her first and only rehearsal of the show in full costume with all the other actors and the orchestra before she does it for real Tuesday night in front of an audience. "Ready to give it a try?" asked Lisa Chernoff, the assistant stage manager. In this image released by Philip Rinaldi Publicity, Daniel Dae Kim, left, and Marin Mazzie appear during a performance of, "The King and I," in New York. (Paul Kolnik/Philip Rinaldi Publicity via AP) "Let's do it," replied Mazzie, before striding out to play the leading part of school teacher Anna Leonowens. Leaping aboard a finely-tuned musical like "The King and I" isn't for the faint of heart, but on this day Mazzie, thankfully, had company: Her King of Siam was Daniel Dae Kim and it was his first full show, too. Replacing leads in long-running Broadway shows isn't unusual, but getting two leads ready for their first time in a show on at the same night is rare. Talk about whistling a happy tune. To add to the stress, Mazzie is replacing Kelli O'Hara, who won a Tony Award in the role, while Kim, who stars on the TV series "Hawaii Five-0," is making his Broadway debut. "I can see where there's work to be done. At the same time, I'm not too hard on myself because there are a lot of new elements that we've never rehearsed with before," said Kim, who played the same monarch in London in 2009. For Mazzie, her stage debut in "King and I" comes virtually a year after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The veteran of such Broadway shows as "Ragtime" and "Passion," last April was ill and singing the lyric "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" in the musical "Zorba." Now she's signing "Shall We Dance." "It's very emotional for me," she said. "I'm so anxious and excited and thrilled to be able to bring, in essence, a new me back to the stage with what's gone on in my life." Signs of nerves were hardly evident during the rehearsal in front of a handful of people at the massive Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The mood was light and cast members crept into the massive hall to cheer and clap the newcomers when not needed onstage. The rehearsal had a slightly surreal quality since only the show's new additions Kim, Mazzie and two of the 11 Thai children were in full costume. All the rest wore sweats, T-shirts, hoodies and Converse. Director Bartlett Sher stopped the action only twice, once to ask Kim to project more on the tricky song "A Puzzlement" and another time to ask that everyone pick up the pace in a pivotal scene in Act 2. The musical's story centers on an Englishwoman who travels to Siam in the 1860s to teach the children of the king. The 51-cast-member revival won the Tony Award in 2015 starring O'Hara and Ken Watanabe. Its score by Rodgers and Hammerstein includes "I Whistle a Happy Tune," ''Getting to Know You" and "Shall We Dance." Ruthie Ann Miles, who won a Tony playing Lady Thiang, complemented Kim for having great instincts. "He's really digging into the legacy of the king," she said. "That's what keeps it fresh." As for Mazzie, Miles is just happy to work alongside her: "It's really fun to watch someone who I've admire for so long step into a role a moving train and go with it. It's inspiring. It's not easy what they're doing." To get ready, Mazzie and Kim spent hours rehearsing together in a basement room with Sher and the stage manager, who would play five or six different roles. "Having someone like Marin come in with me is a real blessing because we're finding this show together," said Kim. "The fact that both of us are working together and finding our King and our Anna makes it a really, really fantastic situation." Kim, who graduated from New York University with a master's degree in acting and cut his teeth in off-Broadway shows, said he often would come to Lincoln Center. "I've seen so many shows here," he said. "I would wish that someday maybe I would be on that stage. Someday is now." ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits ___ Online: http://www.lct.org Chinese policemen are starting to patrol with Italian officers in Rome and Milan as part of a two-week experiment. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Monday that the aim is to make Chinese tourists feel safe. He also noted that it's the first time that China have sent police to Europe for such a project. Starting on Tuesday, two Chinese uniformed policemen are patrolling with Italian counterparts in Rome, while two others are based in Milan. For the second week, the Chinese will switch cities. Chinese police Shu Jian and Sa Yiming, together with two Italian police, check the documents of a Chinese tourist group outside the Colosseum in Rome Chinese policemen are in Italy to start patrols with Italian officers in Rome and Milan as part of a two-week experiment Interior Minister Angelino Alfano noted that it is the first time that China have sent police to Europe for such a project The Chinese, who speak Italian, received training from Italian officials in Beijing. The four officers will wear the same uniforms as the Italian police force to make it easier for tourists to identify them. The idea of the project is to provide assistance to a rising number of tourists visiting major sightseeing spots. More than three million Chinese tourists visit Italy annually. With two officers based in Milan and two in Rome, the policemen will switch cities in the second week of the project Interior Minister Angelino Alfano says the aim is to make Chinese tourists feel safe The four officers will wear the same uniforms as the Italian police force to make it easier for tourists' to identify them Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said: 'This service was planned with Chinese tourists in mind, and if it works well we may consider other forms of collaboration, given the presence of the Chinese community in our country.' The officers will share information with Italian police and help Chinese tourists if they need to contact local authorities and diplomats from Monday until May 13, the ministry said. Liao, the head of the Chinese International Cooperation Bureau, said the officers' assignment was a 'historic moment', recalling that the route between China and Italy had been mapped out 700 years ago by Venetian merchant traveller Marco Polo. The officers will share information with Italian police and help Chinese tourists if they need to contact local authorities and diplomats Liao, the head of the Chinese International Cooperation Bureau, said the officers' assignment was a 'historic moment' French far right party punishes Jean-Marie Le Pen's allies PARIS (AP) Marine Le Pen's far right National Front has punished two leading party figures for attending a Paris rally led by her father. The party announced Monday that Bruno Gollnisch and Marie-Christine Arnautu were removed from the anti-immigration party's decision-making political bureau because of their "unacceptable" participation in an event led by people "violently hostile" to the National Front. Marine Le Pen expelled her father, party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, from the National Front last year for comments diminishing Nazi gas chambers. France's far-right National Front party leader Marine Le Pen addresses her supporters as part of a May Day party lunch in Paris, France, Sunday, May 1st, 2016. On background is a portrait of Joan of Arc the party's patron saint . Jean-Marie Le Pen, a founder and the decades-long leader of France's far-right National Front, declared Sunday that his daughter, Marine Le Pen, the party president who has expelled him, will lose next year's presidential race if she fails to unify the party. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) AP EXPLAINS: What is bitcoin? A look at the digital currency NEW YORK (AP) Bitcoin is a type of digital currency that allows people to buy goods and services and exchange money without involving banks, credit card issuers or other third parties. Its origins have long been a mystery though an Australian man long rumored to have ties to bitcoin has come forward claiming to be its creator. Who is this man, and how does this system work? Here's a brief look at bitcoin: File - This is a Oct. 16, 2015 file photo of a Bitcoin ATM. An Australian man long thought to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin has publicly identified himself as its creator. BBC News said Monday, May 2, 2016 that Craig Wright told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The computer scientist, inventor and academic says he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP, File) UNITED KINGDOM OUT ___ HOW BITCOINS WORK Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not tied to a bank or government and allows users to spend money anonymously. The coins are created by users who "mine" them by lending computing power to verifying other users' transactions. They receive bitcoins in exchange. The coins also can be bought and sold on exchanges with U.S. dollars and other currencies. Their value has fluctuated over time. At its height in late 2013, a single bitcoin was valued above $1,100. On Monday, it was worth about $445. Because the currency isn't formally regulated, its legality is a bit fuzzy. The currency has also drawn the ire of many in law enforcement and cybersecurity because it's difficult to trace, making it a currency of choice for hackers behind ransomware attacks. But in September, New York state regulators approved their first license for a company dealing in bitcoin. ___ WHY BITCOINS ARE POPULAR Bitcoins are basically lines of computer code that are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next. Transactions can be made anonymously, making the currency popular with libertarians as well as tech enthusiasts, speculators and criminals. ___ SHOULD I TRADE IN ALL MY CASH FOR BITCOINS? That would be a questionable decision. Many businesses such as blogging platform WordPress and retailer Overstock have jumped on the bitcoin bandwagon amid a flurry of media coverage. Leading bitcoin payment processor BitPay works with more than 60,000 businesses and organizations, while the total number of bitcoin transactions has climbed to over 200,000 per day, more than double from a year ago, according to bitcoin wallet site blockchain.info. Still, its popularity is low compared with cash and cards, and many individuals and businesses won't accept bitcoins for payments. ___ HOW BITCOINS ARE KEPT SECURE The bitcoin network works by harnessing individuals' greed for the collective good. A network of tech-savvy users called miners keep the system honest by pouring their computing power into a blockchain, a global running tally of every bitcoin transaction. The blockchain prevents rogues from spending the same bitcoin twice, and the miners are rewarded for their efforts by being gifted with the occasional bitcoin. As long as miners keep the blockchain secure, counterfeiting shouldn't be an issue. ___ HOW BITCOIN IS VULNERABLE Much of the mischief surrounding bitcoin occurs at the places where people store their digital cash or exchange it for traditional currencies, like dollars or euros. If an exchange has sloppy security, or if a person's electronic wallet is compromised, then the money can easily be stolen. The biggest scandal involved Japan-based bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, which went offline in February 2014. Its CEO, Mark Karpeles, said tens of thousands of bitcoins worth several hundred million dollars were unaccounted for. He was arrested on suspicion of inflating his cash account in August. ___ HOW BITCOIN CAME TO BE It's a mystery. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a person or group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin was then adopted by a small clutch of enthusiasts. Nakamoto dropped off the map as bitcoin began to attract widespread attention. But proponents say that doesn't matter: The currency obeys its own internal logic. ___ WHO IS THE REAL NAKAMOTO? There's been plenty of speculation on Nakamoto's identity over the years. In December, the technology magazine Wired and the website Gizmodo both concluded that Australian computer scientist, inventor and academic Craig Wright was probably the man behind the pseudonym. The reports offered detailed circumstantial, but no hard proof, and hedged their conclusions accordingly. On Monday, Wright told BBC News, the Economist and GQ that he is Nakamoto. (He also put out a press release .) Wright said he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. Wright told the BBC that he decided to make his identity known to stop the spread of "misinformation" about bitcoin. If Wright is the founder, he is likely a very wealthy person. The person going by the pseudonym Nakamoto is believed to have amassed about 1 million bitcoins, which would be worth about $450 million if converted to cash. ___ Follow Bree Fowler at https://twitter.com/APBreeFowler. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/bree-fowler. FILE - In this April 7, 2014 file photo, a man arrives for the Inside Bitcoins conference and trade show in New York. An Australian man long thought to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin has publicly identified himself as its creator. BBC News said Monday, May 2, 2016 that Craig Wright told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The computer scientist, inventor and academic says he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) This framegrab made available by the BBC on Monday May 2, 2016 shows creator of the Bitcoin, Craig Wright speaking in London. Australian Craig Wright, long rumored to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin, has publicly identified himself as its creator, a claim that would end one of the biggest mysteries in the tech world. BBC News said Monday that Craig Wright told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. (BBC News via AP) No new info released on threats vs. relatives in 8 slayings COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Authorities investigating the slayings of eight family members in southern Ohio have no new information to indicate whether there's an ongoing threat to the victims' relatives, the state's attorney general said Monday. The eight Rhoden family members were found shot in the head on April 22 at four homes near Piketon, about 80 miles east of Cincinnati. Authorities say the deaths were a "sophisticated operation," but they haven't released any specifics on suspects or a motive. In the days after the slayings, Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader said that it was clear the family was targeted and that he had told the victims' relatives to arm themselves. Ohio State Attorney General Mike DeWine, left, speaks to the media alongside Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader during a news conference, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Waverly, Ohio. A coroner's report released Tuesday showed new details of vicious violence in the shooting deaths of eight members of a rural southern Ohio family, finding most victims were shot three to nine times each and some of them were bruised. Meanwhile, the hunt for whoever is responsible continued to expand, with more than 200 law enforcement officials involved. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) On Monday, Attorney General Mike DeWine said authorities didn't know whether there was a threat to the family and he would not speculate about whether a threat remains. "We have no new information that would indicate that there is a threat to any of the members of the family," DeWine told The Associated Press in an interview before speaking at an opiate-related conference in Columbus. "We don't have any information on that. And we did not when we initially said it other than the fact we had eight people killed." Services have been held for two victims. Funerals for the other six are set for Tuesday. DeWine said "ample security" will be present at the services. DeWine's office said agents worked through the weekend on the investigation. So far, more than 100 pieces of evidence are at the state crime lab. Investigators have received 450 tips and conducted 128 interviews and contacts. DeWine said some of those interviews could be repeats. The victims are 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr.; his ex-wife, 37-year-old Dana Rhoden; their three children, 16-year-old Christopher Rhoden Jr., 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden and 20-year-old Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden; Christopher Rhoden Sr.'s brother, 44-year-old Kenneth Rhoden; their cousin, 38-year-old Gary Rhoden, and 20-year-old Hannah Gilley, whose 6-month-old son with Frankie was unharmed. Two other children, Hanna Rhoden's 4-day-old daughter and Frankie Rhoden's 3-year-old son, also were unharmed. Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader speaks to the media alongside Ohio State Attorney General Mike DeWine during a news conference, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Waverly, Ohio. A coroner's report released Tuesday showed new details of vicious violence in the shooting deaths of eight members of a rural southern Ohio family, finding most victims were shot three to nine times each and some of them were bruised. Meanwhile, the hunt for whoever is responsible continued to expand, with more than 200 law enforcement officials involved. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Amber Cassell, 16, right, gets a hug from Margaret Williams, left, as they hold a candle into the air during the Pike County Vigil at the Pike County Fairgrounds in Piketon, Ohio on Friday, April 29, 2016. (Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch via AP) Jacob Hoagland, right, places candles into the ground to form a G during the Pike County Vigil at the Pike County Fairgrounds in Piketon, Ohio on Friday, April 29, 2016. The G stands for Gilley and there was also a R in candles for Rhoden. (Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch via AP) The popular messaging service WhatsApp went down in Brazil on Monday as a state judge ordered it blocked nationwide for 72 hours amid a legal tussle over users' information. The decision by a judge in the northeastern state of Sergipe applies to the five main wireless operators all over the country, affecting 100million WhatsApp users. The reason for the order is not known due to legal secrecy, however it is believed to be connected to the company's reluctance to hand over information relating to an investigation into organised crime. No notifications: A group of teenagers are seen trying to check their WhatsApp messages in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during a court-ordered three-day block of the popular messaging service The outage marked the latest chapter in a dispute between Brazilian law enforcement and Facebook, which bought WhatsApp in 2014. In March, Facebook's most senior representative in Latin America was detained in Sao Paulo and held overnight. Officials accused the company of repeatedly failing to turn over information on WhatsApp users for an investigation into drug trafficking and organized crime. At the time, a spokeswoman for federal police in Sergipe, Monica Horta, said investigators had requested content from a WhatsApp messaging group as well as other data, including geolocation. The decision by a judge in the northeastern state of Sergipe applies to the five main wireless operators all over the country, affecting 100million WhatsApp users The block is believe to have been caused by WhatsApp's reluctance to provide user information to help a court case involving organised crime and drugs trafficking in Brazil Investigators first contacted WhatsApp several months earlier but hadn't received a response, Horta said. In a statement widely cited in Brazilian media, WhatsApp said the company was disappointed by the judge's decision, saying it 'punished more than 100 million Brazilians who depend on our service.' The statement also said it does not have the information that authorities are demanding in the case. WhatsApp has been rolling out a so-called end-to-end encryption system under which only the sender and recipient can access the content of messages. Brazilian authorities also clashed with Facebook in December, when a judicial order forced telecoms to block WhatsApp for about 12 hours over its alleged refusal to cooperate with a police inquiry. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the time said he was 'stunned' by the 'extreme decision.' 4 arrested in slaying of Honduran environmental activist TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduran authorities arrested four people Monday in the killing of environmental activist Berta Caceres, including an active duty army officer and at least one man who worked for a hydroelectric project she opposed. A spokesman for the public prosecutor's office, Yuri Mora, said the three did work for or were direct employees of Desarrollos Energeticos SA, also known as DESA, which was developing the project that Caceres' organization successfully stopped. The Hidroelectrica Agua Zarca Company, which is managed by DESA, said in a statement that only one of the men was employed by the firm, and denied it had anything to do with Caceres' killing. Police arrest a suspect in the murder of indigneous leader and environmentalist Berta Caceres in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Monday, May 2, 2016. Honduran authorities have arrested four people in connection with Caceres' murder, including three who worked for a hydroelectric project she opposed. Caceres was shot dead by two unidentified men on March 3. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) The Goldman Environmental Prize-winning activist was shot dead March 3 by gunmen who invaded her home. Caceres had reported death threats from security personnel for the company, which is known as DESA. Caceres' children and the group she founded, the Council of Indigenous and Popular Organizations of Honduras, said in a statement that they wanted an international group of experts from the Inter American Human Rights Commission to participate in the investigation, because "we do not know if these arrests reach all the levels of the masterminds" behind the killing. Mora identified those arrested as Douglas Geovanny Bustillo, Mariano Diaz Chavez, Sergio Rodriguez Orellana and Edilson Duarte Meza. Hidroelectrica Agua Zarca said only Sergio Rodriguez worked for the company, as the manager for social and environmental issues. "We trust that all of our employees' actions are always within the bounds of law," the company said. The firm said that "under no circumstances is Hidroelectrica Agua Zarca responsible, nor did it have any material or intellectual links to the killing." In a December 2013 video interview, Caceres told the Swedish journalist Dick Emanuelsson that she had text messages in her phone from Bustillo, who she identified as the hydroelectric project's security chief, threatening her with sexual assault. Lenin Gonzalez, a spokesman for the armed forces, said at a news conference that Diaz Chavez is an active infantry major and Duarte Meza is a retired infantry captain. The U.S. Embassy in Honduras said in a statement that it welcomed the arrests. Caceres led the defense of the Gualcarque River in western Honduras, which is considered sacred by the Lenca people, who successfully fought to halt the proposed Agua Zarca dam. US citizen says North Korea detainment granted understanding SEATTLE (AP) Kenneth Bae knew he was in trouble when he opened his briefcase for a North Korean customs official and saw a computer hard drive he meant to leave in China. He had no idea how much trouble: He would go on to spend the next two years in detention, including in a labor camp where he was ordered to plant soybeans in sweltering heat and dig sewage lines in frozen ground. As difficult as it was, the U.S. citizen says, it also gave him a greater understanding of the isolated nation. Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen who was detained in North Korea for two years, talks during an interview, Monday, May 2, 2016, in New York. Bae tells his story in a new book, "Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea." He says his detention began when he accidentally brought an external hard drive into the isolated nation. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) "Even though I was in and out of North Korea 17 times prior to that, I only stayed a short period," he said in an interview ahead of the Tuesday release of his memoir. "By staying as a prisoner for two years, I learned their culture, their way of thinking, how the ordinary people live in their day-to-day lives." "Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea" is appearing as North Korea holds two other Americans in custody. One, Kim Dong Chul, was sentenced last Friday to 10 years of hard labor on charges of espionage and subversion. North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government. Outsiders say North Korea seeks to use its U.S. detainees to wring concessions from Washington. Bae, 47, of Dallas, was born in Seoul and came to the United States with his family in 1985. After attending the University of Oregon and a seminary in St. Louis, he moved to China in 2006, where he began missionary work. In 2010, he began leading small tour groups into North Korea. The hard drive that landed him in custody contained files about his missionary work as well as a documentary video showing emaciated North Korean children scrounging in the dirt for food materials the North Korean officials considered subversive. Agents brought him to a hotel in northeastern North Korea. There, he writes, he was held in seclusion for the next month as officials grilled him about his family, who had sent him to the country, who had given him the files and why he was in North Korea. He was given little to eat generally a few bites of rice and some wilted vegetables, he says and was forced to watch government propaganda every evening, but was not beaten, he says. He eventually confessed one of the documents was a plan for what he described as "Operation Jericho," an effort to bring tourists into North Korea to pray and spread the love of God. They would not have openly evangelized, but he had hoped that the "walls" isolating North Koreans from the rest of the world would come crumbling down, as the walls of Jericho fell in the Bible story. North Korean officials did not understand the plan's metaphorical nature, and he struggled to explain that he wasn't trying to actually overthrow the government, he writes. The government sentenced him to 15 years in prison, but his weak health including a bad back, diabetes and gallstones made it difficult for him to perform hard labor. He spent some of his time resting in a hospital room. Bae said the worst parts of his detention were knowing his family was worrying constantly about him and not knowing what the White House might be doing to try to free him. Eventually, former basketball star Dennis Rodman became involved, first asking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Twitter to "do me a solid" and release Bae. Rodman then traveled with other basketball players to North Korea and in what he later described as a rant fueled by alcohol and stress suggested in an on-camera interview that Bae's detention might be justified. The backlash against Rodman's comments helped raise awareness of Bae's case in the U.S. and increased pressure for his release, Bae writes. "Thanks to Dennis Rodman's drunken outburst and my sister's defense of me, my case had now catapulted to a new level of national consciousness and outrage," he writes. In 2014, following negotiations handled with the help of the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Klapper traveled to retrieve him, along with another detained American, Matthew Miller. He relied heavily on his faith, reading Bible verses and praying until he came to realize that he could serve as a missionary even while in custody, Bae writes. He came to know several of his captors and sought openings where he could talk to them about their lives, the U.S. and Christianity. They were astonished to hear of how common it is for Westerners to own cars or their own homes, he writes, and he was amazed at aspects of North Korean life such as when his captors drove him across the country to Pyongyang in a snowstorm. Over a stretch of nearly 200 miles, thousands of people lined the gravel road that passed for a highway all of them shoveling to keep the road clear. Bae says he still loves the North Korean people and hopes that someday he'll return "not as a threat, but as a blessing." In the meantime, he hopes to open an organization that will work with North Korean refugees in South Korea, helping them adjust to life outside. His book's title, he says, came not only from the fact he wasn't forgotten while he was in custody, but also "because they should not be a forgotten people anymore." ___ Follow Johnson at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen who was detained in North Korea for two years, talks during an interview, Monday, May 2, 2016, in New York. Bae tells his story in a new book, "Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea." He says his detention began when he accidentally brought an external hard drive into the isolated nation. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen who was detained in North Korea for two years, talks during an interview, Monday, May 2, 2016, in New York. Bae tells his story in a new book, "Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea." He says his detention began when he accidentally brought an external hard drive into the isolated nation. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Azarenka beats Cornet to advance to 3rd round in Madrid MADRID (AP) Fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka continued her fine form, beating Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-2 to win her 16th straight match and advance to the third round of the Madrid Masters on Monday. Azarenka, seeking her third consecutive title, broke Cornet's serve five times to maintain her winning streak. The fifth-ranked Belarusian saved seven of the eight break points she conceded to her French opponent at the clay-court tournament. In the men's draw, Frenchmen Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Lucas Pouille advanced to the second round, along with local favorite Feliciano Lopez and 11th-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic. Azarenka has not lost since the second round at Acapulco in February. The two-time Australian Open champion won tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami heading into Madrid. "I feel that this year is going to be all about making progress and trying to improve, making errors but still improving," Azarenka said. "It's just day by day progress, trying to get the game together." The 48th-ranked Cornet has failed to advance past the second round in her last five tournaments since winning the title in Hobart in January. Azarenka next faces 130th-ranked American Louisa Chirico, a 19-year-old qualifier who upset 14th-seeded Ana Ivanovic 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Defending champion Petra Kvitova reached the third round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina, the finalist at Charleston in April. Kvitova will next face Australian Daria Gavrilova, who upset 12th-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-2, 7-6 (4). Two other Americans advanced to the third round: Christina McHale topped 13th-seeded Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (3), 6-4 and Madison Keys eliminated Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-3. Sixteenth-seeded Sloane Stephens fell to qualifier Patricia Maria Tig of Romania 6-2, 6-3. Gasquet, the No. 10 seed in the men's draw, beat qualifier Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1, 7-6 (5), while 11th-seeded Raonic defeated Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (4), 6-1, and 16th-seeded Simon got past Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in nearly 2 1/2 hours. Lopez edged Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4 behind 14 aces, while French qualifier Pouille saved four match points to defeat 12th-seeded David Goffin of Belgium 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (7) in a thriller. The 34-year-old Lopez, a Madrid resident, has participated in every singles draw in the tournament's 15-year history. "I'm a very fortunate player. I didn't think to be able to play so many years and have such a long career. I feel very proud and fortunate to be able to still be competitive with my age," Lopez said. "It's been 15 great years with a lot of the matches and things to remember." Earlier Monday, third-seeded Roger Federer announced he was withdrawing from the tournament because of a back injury. Rafael Nadal debuts on Tuesday. ___ Q&A: Sanders' long-shot bid to clinch Democratic nomination WASHINGTON (AP) Trailing significantly in the Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders wants superdelegates to flip his way and is aiming for a contested national convention in July against front-runner Hillary Clinton. For his plan to work, he'll need plenty of big-time breaks. Sanders says he will campaign until the final primary in the District of Columbia in mid-June and aim to amass as many delegates as possible to influence the platform at the party's convention in Philadelphia. The Vermont senator faces a daunting deficit against Clinton among pledged delegates from primaries and caucuses as well as among superdelegates, the Democratic elected and party leaders who can support the candidate of their choice and account for 30 percent of the 2,383 delegates needed to win. Bernie Sanders was at IPFW's Gates Center Monday, May 2, 2016, for a rally in Fort Wayne, Ind. (Michelle Davies/The Journal-Gazette via AP) Some questions and answers about Sanders' longshot odds for the Democratic nomination: ___ WHAT'S THE MATH? Clinton leads Sanders among pledged delegates from primaries and caucuses, 1,645 to 1,318, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. Among superdelegates, Clinton leads 520 to 39. That means overall, Clinton holds a lead of 2,165 to 1,357, putting the former secretary of state 91 percent of the way to clinching the nomination. Clinton also has an edge of roughly 3 million raw votes. Clinton has received more than 12.2 million votes in primaries and caucuses to date, compared with 9.1 million for Sanders. Those numbers do not include Iowa, Nevada, Maine, Alaska, Washington and Wyoming caucus states where the AP tabulated delegate equivalents, not raw votes. Sanders won four of those six states. ___ HOW CLOSE IS CLINTON TO CLINCHING? Clinton is still a few weeks away. She remains 218 delegates short. The election contests in May offer a total of 235 delegates, including states such as Oregon, where Sanders believes he can do well. Democrats award delegates in proportion to the share of the vote, so even the loser gets some. That means Clinton won't be able to win all 235 from May. More likely, she'll split the delegates more evenly with Sanders, putting her on track to reach 2,383 in early June. That date could move up sooner if Clinton does better than expected in the May contests and picks up many more superdelegate endorsements. __ WHAT ARE SANDERS' ODDS? When including superdelegates, Sanders would need to win more than 82 percent of the remaining delegates and uncommitted superdelegates. That's all but impossible Clinton would basically have to lose every remaining state with 20 percent or less of the vote. So far, Sanders has been able to achieve that only in three smaller, less diverse states: Alaska, Utah and his home state of Vermont. Sanders would need to win a solid victory in Indiana on Tuesday, then put together a winning streak in West Virginia on May 10, Kentucky and Oregon on May 17 and Puerto Rico on June 5. On June 7, Sanders needs a big delegate haul in California, the nation's largest state, and in contests held that day in Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota. The final primary is in the District of Columbia on June 14. __ WHY DOES SANDERS SAY HE CAN WIN? He's mostly focusing on the pledged delegates won just from primaries and caucuses. He trails significantly with those delegates, but not by as much as when including superdelegates. To overtake her in those delegates, Sanders would need to win 65 percent of those remaining. That would require sweeping victories by Sanders in coming states large and small, including California, where Clinton holds a lead in polling. If Sanders overtakes Clinton in the pledged count, he would still need to win support from at least half of the 714 superdelegates who get a vote at the national convention to reach 2,383. Currently, he has endorsements from 39, or about 5 percent. __ WILL SUPERDELEGATES FLIP THEIR SUPPORT? Barring a major Clinton loss in Indiana, it's mathematically impossible for Sanders to clinch the nomination outright without earning the support of these party officials. So Sanders is banking on hundreds of superdelegates to change their public support from Clinton to him. In 2008, when Clinton waged a lengthy primary battle against then Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the future president was able to persuade dozens of superdelegates to come to his side. But there was a big difference: Obama had the lead among delegates from primaries and caucuses for much of the 2008 race. Sanders says superdelegates should honor the will of the voters in their states. He's going after superdelegates who are supporting Clinton in states he's won for instance, in Minnesota, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Gov. Mark Dayton; and in Washington state, Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to switch their support. But by that logic, some of Sanders' faithful, including Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Alan Grayson of Florida, might need to back Clinton because she won their congressional districts. __ IF SUPERDELEGATES IN STATES HE WON SUPPORTED HIM, WOULD SANDERS LEAD? No. It's not clear if Sanders means that he should get proportional support for instance, 60 percent of the superdelegates in a state if he wins 60 percent of the vote or if he is entitled to all the state's superdelegates even if he wins a small majority of the state's popular vote. By either calculation, Sanders would still trail Clinton in the total delegate count. It would, however, garner Sanders additional delegates, which could help him influence Clinton's platform at the convention in July. __ On Twitter follow Ken Thomas at https://twitter.com/KThomasDC and Hope Yen at https://twitter.com/hopeyen1 Study: 7 of 10 most profitable US hospitals are nonprofits CHICAGO (AP) Seven of the 10 most profitable U.S. hospitals are nonprofits, according to new research, including one in Urbana, Illinois, where hospital tax exemptions are headed for a contentious court battle that soon could determine whether medical facilities are paying their fair share of taxes. The "Top 10" list accompanies a study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs. The analysis is based on federal data from 2013 on nearly 3,000 hospitals. The authors measured profits using net income from patient care services, disregarding other income such as investments, donations and tuition. Researchers say the measure reflects how hospitals fare from their core work, without income from other activities. The research comes as cities in New Jersey, Michigan and Wisconsin also wage battles over hospital tax breaks. Officials are scraping for revenue and pressuring hospitals to either pay up or justify their tax-exempt status. Carle Foundation Hospital is seen Monday, May 2, 2016, in Urbana, Ill. In a study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs, researchers analyzed why some hospitals make big profits and found a surprise: Seven of the 10 most profitable hospitals are nonprofits, including Carle in Urbana, where hospital tax exemptions are headed for a contentious court battle. The research on hospital profits comes as city officials in several states are pressuring hospitals to justify their tax-exempt status. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette via AP) So, who's making money, and how? According to the study, delivering patient care was a money-loser for 55 percent of hospitals in the year studied. About a third made some money up to $1,000 per patient. And a small group about 12 percent of the total made profits of more than $1,000 per discharged patient from payments by insurers, government and patients themselves. The highly profitable hospitals were mostly for-profit corporations, such as Medical City Dallas Hospital in Texas and Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado. But money-making hospitals also include nonprofits such as the Carle Foundation Hospital in Illinois, where a state appeals court in January ruled a state law allowing hospitals to avoid taxes is unconstitutional. The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to review the decision, on appeal by Carle Foundation Hospital. Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing said her city lost 11 percent of its assessed tax value when Carle stopped paying $6.5 million a year in property taxes the majority of which went to Urbana and its school district. "We need to question this whole idea of what not-for-profit means," Prussing said. "This is a highly profitable business that manages to not pay taxes." Carle Foundation Hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Hendricks-Kaufmann said the research "considers only one year and omits important details" like system-wide expenses and one-time government payments. The hospital provided $25.8 million in charity care in 2013, she said. "A positive bottom line does not mean a hospital does not deserve tax-exempt status," said Danny Chun of the Illinois Hospital Association. Nonprofits reinvest net income into "the latest technology, newer equipment, modern facilities, highly-trained staff and other programs that ensure access to quality health care services and benefit the health of their community." Taxation would force hospitals operating on thin margins to reduce services, lay off staff and delay the purchase of equipment or facility upgrades, Chun said. Hospital care is nearly a third of all U.S. health care spending the largest share of all categories and increased by 4 percent from 2013 to 2014 to reach $972 billion. That's why it's important to understand which hospitals make money and how public policy affects them, said study co-author Ge Bai of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In the study, hospitals affiliated with larger health care systems and those with less competition in their markets fared better on profitability. Consumers "should be skeptical of hospital consolidation," Bai said. "It may mean hospitals can be more efficient and have higher quality. But it almost always means they're going to negotiate higher prices with private insurers." The new study, along with other recent research showing hospital price variation around the country, may put more public pressure on hospitals to help lower the growth of health care spending, said Craig Garthwaite of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. "Hospitals have gotten a bit of a free pass when we talk about health care spending," Garthwaite said. Hospitals are treating fewer uninsured patients because of the expansion of coverage under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul "but the value of their tax benefit has not changed," Garthwaite said. "I'd like a more careful accounting of how hospitals are going to reallocate their community-benefit spending." ___ Follow AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson at https://twitter.com/CarlaKJohnson Cheering Cubans greet first cruise ship from US in decades HAVANA (AP) Greeted with rum drinks and salsa dancers, the first passengers to cruise from the U.S. to Cuba in nearly 40 years streamed Monday into a crowd cheering the rebirth of commercial travel on waters that served as a stage for a half-century of Cold War hostility. Many watching the festive arrival praised a Cuban government decision to drop a longstanding ban on Cuban-born people returning to their homeland by sea, a step that allowed 16 Cuban-Americans to make the journey from Miami. "This is history," said Mercedes Lopez, a 54-year-old nurse who waited for hours to see Carnival Cruise Line's 704-passenger Adonia pull up to Havana's two-berth cruise terminal. "We Cubans must unite, all of us. This is a step forward, a little step toward normalization, peace, family unification." Carnival's Adonia cruise ship arrives from Miami in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) The passengers of the Adonia were welcomed by live music and dancing inside Havana's single state-run cruise terminal. Outside, police carved a single lane into the crowd of hundreds of Cubans waiting in Old Havana's Plaza San Francisco for passengers taking walking tours of the restored colonial center. The group included dozens of plainclothes security agents and hawkers promoting restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as many trying to witness history. Cruise ships stopped crossing the Florida Straits from the U.S. after a brief window in the late 1970s when President Jimmy Carter allowed virtually all U.S. travel to Cuba. U.S. cruises to Cuba once again become possible after Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro declared detente on Dec. 17, 2014. Both sides hope it is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. "I feel hopeful for the people of Cuba and for Cuba, hopeful that Cuba can realize its full potential," said North Miami Beach City Manager Ana Garcia, who left the island nation in 1968 when she was 6. Setting sail from Miami shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday, the Adonia took nearly 17 hours to cross the Florida Straits, steaming through a waterway blockaded by the U.S. during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tens of thousands of Cubans have fled to Florida on homemade rafts in recent decades, with untold thousands dying in the process. The number of Cubans trying to cross the straits is at its highest point in eight years, and cruises and merchant ships regularly rescue rafters from the straits. U.S. cruises are expected to bring Cuba tens of millions of dollars in badly needed foreign hard currency if traffic increases as expected. More than a dozen lines have announced plans to run U.S.-Cuba cruises, and if all actually begin operations, Cuba could earn more than $80 million a year, the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council said in a report Monday. The Adonia will take eight days to circumnavigate Cuba and return to Miami. Part of the Fathom brand, the Adonia is one of Carnival's smaller ships, roughly half the size of some larger European vessels that already dock in Havana. Environmental scientists fear that if they're joined by dozens more ships, there will be serious damage to an island that boasts the Caribbean's healthiest marine life in large part due to decades without large-scale development. "An influx of supersized ships in coastal waters of Cuba presents real risks to fragile coral reef ecosystems," said Dan Whittle, head of the Environmental Defense Fund's Cuba program. "Discharge of sewage into near pristine waters may degrade water quality and harm coral reefs and marine life." Before the 1959 Cuban revolution, cruise ships regularly traveled from the U.S. to Cuba, with elegant Caribbean excursions departing from New York and $42 overnight weekend jaunts leaving twice a week from Miami, said California-based cruise ship historian Michael L. Grace. New York cruises featured dressy dinners, movies, dancing and betting on "horse races" in which stewards dragged wooden horses around a ballroom track according to rolls of dice that determined how many feet each could move per turn. Cruises dwindled in the years leading up to the revolution and ended entirely after Castro overthrew the U.S.-backed government. After Carter dropped limits on Cuba travel, 400 passengers, including musical legend Dizzy Gillespie sailed from New Orleans to Cuba on a 1977 "Jazz Cruise" aboard the MS Daphne. Like the Adonia, it sailed despite dockside demonstrations by Cuban exiles, and continued protests and bomb threats forced Carras Cruises to cancel additional sailings, Grace said. The following year, however, Daphne made a several cruises from New Orleans to Cuba and other destinations in the Caribbean. Cuba cut back on all cruise tourism in 2005 after Fidel Castro blasted cruise ships during a 4-hour speech on state television. "Floating hotels come, floating restaurants, floating theaters, floating diversions visit countries to leave their trash, their empty cans and papers for a few miserable cents," Castro said. Today, the Cuban government sees cruises as an easy source of revenue that can bring thousands more American travelers without placing additional demand on the country's maxed-out food supplies and overbooked hotels. The number of Americans coming by boat has climbed since 2014, including passengers on cruise ships registered in third countries and sailing from other Caribbean ports. Traffic remains low, however, for a major tourist attraction only 90 miles (145 kilometers) from Florida. Cruise traffic is key to the government's reengineering of the industrial Port of Havana as a tourist attraction. After decades of treating the more than 500-year-old harbor as a receptacle for industrial waste, the government is moving container traffic to the Port of Mariel west of the city, tearing out abandoned buildings and slowly renovating decrepit warehouses as breweries and museums connected by waterfront promenades. ___ Michael Weissenstein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mweissenstein Daniel Miranda waves a U.S. flag as he watches the arrival of Carnival's Adonia cruise ship from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. (AP Photo/Fernando Medina) Yaney Cajigal, left, and Dalwin Valdes hold up U.S. and Cuban flags as they watch the arrival of Carnival's Adonia cruise ship from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. AP Photo/Fernando Medina) People watch Carnival's Adonia cruise ship arrive from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) People waving Cuban flags greet passengers on Carnival's Adonia cruise ship as they arrive from Miami in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Cuban soldiers watch the Carnival Adonia cruise ship arrive from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) A woman from Cuba waves Adonia leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba. After a half-century of waiting, passengers finally set sail on Sunday from Miami on an historic cruise to Cuba. Carnival's Cuba cruises, operating under its Fathom band, will visit the ports of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. (Patrick Farrell/The Miami Herald via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT People watch the Carnival Adonia cruise ship arrive from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. The Adonia's arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most U.S.-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Education secretary calls for repeal of 2 transgender laws BOSTON (AP) Laws in North Carolina and Mississippi that restrict the rights of transgender Americans are hateful and should be repealed, Education Secretary John B. King Jr. said Monday. Asked about the laws at the Education Writers Association national conference in Boston, King called them hateful and said gender identity should be protected. He said the laws send a problematic message to students and he is calling on state legislatures to repeal them. "My hope is legislators will realize they've made a terrible mistake," he said. The North Carolina law requires transgender people to use bathrooms in state government buildings and public schools and universities that correspond to the gender on their birth certificates. It also established statewide anti-discrimination protections that exclude LGBT people, and it bans communities from passing anti-discrimination ordinances that go further. Last month, President Barack Obama called for the law to be overturned. Transgender advocates and the Obama administration have argued federal anti-discrimination law requires that transgender students be able to use the restroom and locker room that correspond with their gender identity. A federal appeals court ruled last month in a Virginia case that a high school discriminated against a transgender teen by forbidding him from using the boys' restroom. The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to a lower court for trial rather than issuing a definitive decision. In a court filing in that case, the U.S. Education Department and the Justice Department argued that preventing students from using restrooms that correspond with their gender identity violates Title IX of federal law. "Treating a student differently from other students because his birth-assigned sex diverges from his gender identity constitutes differential treatment on the basis of sex under Title IX," the departments said in a friend-of-the-court brief. The Mississippi law allows religious groups and some private businesses to deny services to same-sex couples and transgender people. It takes effect July 1. Any employer or school could refuse to allow transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice. Bathrooms have been a focal point as schools around the country grapple with how to balance the rights of transgender students with privacy issues. Students at Santee Education Complex worked to establish the first multi-stall, gender-neutral restroom at the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest. Adults protested the move. In Ocala, Florida, the Marion County School Board voted to limit restrooms to students based on their birth sex. ___ Detroit teachers to consider next move after mass sick-out DETROIT (AP) Teachers in Detroit are considering their next move after they effectively shut down the financially strapped school district on Monday, giving nearly 45,000 schoolchildren an unscheduled day off. The educators stopped short of calling it a strike, instead saying they called a massive sick-out in response to an announcement that the district wouldn't be able to pay teachers who deferred part of their salaries to get checks during the summer months. Here are some questions and answers about what teachers call a lockout vs. what would be an illegal strike. HOW DID THE DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS' FINANCES GET SO BAD? Detroit teachers march outside the district headquarters, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Detroit. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has said the district's debt will reach about $515 million by this summer. Much of the blame for the money troubles can be traced to plummeting student enrollment. The Detroit Public Schools had 150,415 students in 2003-2004. Now, about 46,000 students attend the district's 97 schools. Detroit receives about $7,400 for each student. Many Detroit parents seeking out better educational opportunities for their children have turned to charter schools and close-by suburban districts. WHY DID THE DETROIT TEACHERS' UNION CALL FOR A SICK-OUT MONDAY? The Detroit Federation of Teachers has not supported sick-outs held earlier this year by some of its members, but union leadership is growing more frustrated with the district's poor finances. Monday's sick-out closed 94 of the district's 97 schools, eclipsing a January sick-out in which classes were canceled at 88 schools. The union was told over the weekend by state-appointed transition manager Steven Rhodes that there would be no money after June 30 to pay teachers who have chosen to have their paychecks spread out over the entire year. Union president Ivy Bailey said Sunday that an inability by Rhodes to guarantee those teachers would receive paychecks during the summer for work they would have already performed was the breaking point. WHAT ACTIONS DO TEACHERS PLAN TO TAKE NEXT? The union says a meeting is scheduled Tuesday with the members to discuss their options. Bailey has said that by refusing to guarantee teachers will be paid for their work, the district is effectively locking them out of their classrooms. Former Detroit Federation of Teachers president Steve Conn says there is a "possibility that many schools will remain closed Tuesday." Conn has said Monday's sick-out will lead to a full-blown teachers strike and that "a strike is the only way the teachers can win." But under Michigan law, it's illegal for teachers to strike. HAVE DETROIT TEACHERS EVER GONE ON STRIKE, AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? In 2006, Detroit teachers went on strike for 16 days after rejecting a contract offer that would have cut their pay by 5.5 percent over two years. Teachers agreed to return to work and consider a deal with eventual raises. During the strike, a judge ordered the teachers to return to work after Detroit Public Schools requested an injunction, but teachers mostly stayed off the job. The district argued that the strike was illegal. A contempt charge against the teachers' union was later dismissed. Teachers received a 2 percent pay raise after a nine-day strike in 1999. WHAT ARE LAWMAKERS DOING? The state approved $47.8 million in emergency money in March to keep the school district operating, but that amount only pays the bills through June 30. The Republican-controlled Senate approved a restructuring plan in March. The $720 million plan that would pay off the district's enormous debt. It is pending in the House, where majority Republicans want to tie aid to restrictions on teacher work stoppages and some collective bargaining rights. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT'S NOT APPROVED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE? Lawmakers could consider passing another emergency stopgap measure, like the earlier emergency measure that is keeping the district operating through June 30. __ Associated Press writer David Eggert in Lansing contributed to this report. Detroit teachers march outside the district headquarters, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Detroit. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Detroit teachers march outside the district headquarters, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Detroit. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Detroit Public Schools state-appointed transition manager Steven Rhodes attends a news conference at the district headquarters, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Detroit. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Detroit teachers march outside the district headquarters, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Detroit. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Hundreds of teachers march during a rally in Detroit's New Center on Monday, May 2, 2016. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (Tanya Moutzalias/The Ann Arbor News-MLive Detroit via AP) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Alise Anaya, 8, a Detroit Public School student at Academy of the Americas, holds up a sign reading, "Pay my teachers and my mom!" Alise's mother, also Alise, a Detroit Public School teacher at Clippert Academy, followers behind her as they march in a rally in Detroit, Monday, May 2, 2016. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (Tanya Moutzalias/The Ann Arbor News-MLive Detroit via AP) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Detroit Public School teachers line Grand Blvd. as cars drive by honking during a rally in Detroit, Monday, May 2, 2016. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday and more than 45,000 students missed classes after about half the district's teachers called out sick to protest the possibility that some of them will not get paid over the summer if the struggling district runs out of cash. (Tanya Moutzalias/The Ann Arbor News-MLive Detroit via AP) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Orrostieta could face 20 to 40 years in prison for the On Monday jurors said they thought the killing was unintentional, meriting the third-degree murder, rather than a first-degree Gregorio Orrostieta, 20, (pictured) has been convicted of the third-degree murder of his college girlfriend 18-year-old Karlie Hall A man who told authorities he got into a fight with his college freshman girlfriend over spilled noodles was convicted Monday of beating and strangling her last year in Pennsylvania. Jurors deliberated for a little over an hour before convicting Gregorio Orrostieta of third-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Karlie Hall at her Millersville University dorm in February 2015. Orrostieta, 20, told police they had been drinking and got into the fight and she fell and hit her head, authorities said. The defense argued that an earlier injury figured into her death. Orrostieta was found trying to administer CPR to his girlfriend after calling 911, but authorities said he was faking that and she had been dead for hours. Prosecutors described him as jealous and said he cursed at and shoved her earlier in the evening at a party. Brett Hambright of the Lancaster County district attorney's office said officials were 'surprised' by the third-degree conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years. 'We thought we had a first-degree case here. That's what we presented,' he told LNP newspapers. Defense attorney Peter Bowers said he was pleased that jurors 'found it was not an intentional killing'. Hall (left) was beaten and strangled by Orrostieta (right) in her dorm after a fight over spilled noodles. Officers walked in on Orrostieta performing CPR on Hall but said it was faked Jurors believed that the murder was not premeditated, which would have merited a first-degree conviction 'There are no winners in this case,' Bowers said outside the courtroom. 'There never were.' In closing arguments earlier Monday, Assistant District Attorney Susan Ellison said Hall's autopsy concluded that deadly force was used on her head, neck and chest, each of which could have been sufficient to kill her. 'That's not reckless, that's not negligent,' Ellison said. 'That's intent.' Bowers cited disagreement between prosecution and defense pathologists on the manner of death and the position Hall was in when it occurred. Convicted sex offender pleads guilty in ID theft case WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A decades-long ordeal ruined a Texas man, but his life might start to get better now that the convicted sex offender in Kansas who stole his identity has pleaded guilty to misusing a Social Security number. After years of fighting, Marcus Calvillo almost gave up on trying to clear his name. Then he read an Associated Press story about a case in 2013 in which a Houston teacher's entire identity was stolen. Calvillo contacted the federal prosecutor in Wichita who was involved in that case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson, hoping the official might help him as well. "I don't know of a case where the theft of an identity had a more devastating impact than this one," Anderson said of Calvillo's plight. FILE - This photo provided by the Kansas Department of Corrections shows convicted child sex offender Fernando Neave-Ceniceros, who has been indicted by federal prosecutors and accused of stealing the identity of Marcus Calvillo. A decades-long nightmare that ruined Calvillo's life may ease a bit on Monday, May 2, 2016, when Neave-Ceniceros is expected to plead guilty to federal charges in Wichita, Kan. (Kansas Department of Corrections via AP, File) The guilty plea Monday from Fernando Neave-Ceniceros, a 41-year-old convicted child sex offender and Mexican national, will help untangle the impostor's long criminal history and begin to repair the havoc left behind for Calvillo, the man whose identity he assumed. "Now we have a court on-the-record admission of who he really is," Anderson said after the hearing. Neave-Ceniceros admitted in his plea deal in U.S. District Court in Wichita to unlawfully using Calvillo's Social Security number to hide his own identity and lack of legal status in the United States. He will be sentenced July 25. His attorney, David Freund, declined to comment. The defendant's criminal record including convictions for indecent liberties with a child, bribery, drug offenses and other charges became wrongly linked to Calvillo when the impostor was first fingerprinted as a teenager using the false identity. Calvillo, now 46 and living in Grand Prairie, Texas, went public with his ordeal in October, telling the AP at the time that his "whole life has been put on hold because of this person, and it has gotten worse and worse and worse." He recalled his confusion when he got fired from his job as a cable installer, being told only, "You know what you did." He was in his early 20s when he learned his identity had been hijacked. His marriage fell apart. He couldn't find or keep a job, and fell behind on bills and child support. Calvillo, who prosecutors say has no criminal record, began rebuilding his life after the government found him an alternative Social Security number. Now self-employed, he has a home services business that power washes houses. Once Neave-Ceniceros is sentenced, Anderson said he can begin clearing Calvillo's name in each county where the impostor's seven felony convictions for past crimes took place. Under the plea agreement, Neave-Ceniceros would get a year and a day to be served concurrently with a state prison sentence he is already serving. He then will likely be deported. FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2015 file photo, Marcus Calvillo's image is reflected in a coffee table at his parents home as he poses for a photo in Grand Prairie, Texas. Calvillo had given up hope of ever clearing his name after his identity was stolen by a convicted sex offender, Fernando Neave-Ceniceros. The decades-long nightmare that ruined Calvillo's life may ease a bit on Monday, May 2, 2016, when Neave-Ceniceros who assumed his identity is expected to plead guilty to federal charges in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez File) Authorities: Slaying suspect later shot at family's car DEFOREST, Wis. (AP) Deputies shot and wounded a suspect in the weekend killing of a man in a suburban Milwaukee apartment and the wounding of a woman hours later while she was traveling home to Illinois with her family on a busy highway, authorities said Monday. It all began around 7 a.m. Sunday, when police in West Allis received a report of a man forcing his way into a pair of apartments. Responding officers found 42-year-old Gabriel Sanchez fatally shot, authorities said. The 20-year old suspect also had made threats to a member of Epikos Church, which canceled Sunday evening services in Milwaukee. The suspect and his two brothers later drove in a Chevrolet Blazer to Wisconsin Dells, a city known for its theme parks. They were traveling south on Interstate 90/94 toward Madison on Sunday afternoon when a family of four a 43-year-old man, his 44-year-old wife and their children passed them on their way back to Illinois after a weekend in the resort city. CORRECTS THAT POLICE WOUNDED THE SUSPECT NOT KILLED HIM - Columbia County Sheriff Dennis Richards speaks during a press conference at the Wisconsin State Patrol's DeForest Post in DeForest, Wis., Monday, May 2, 2016. On Sunday, a suspect in a suburban Milwaukee homicide was shot and wounded by police along Interstate 39/90/94 near DeForest. (Michael P. King/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) The 20-year-old man was driving the Blazer and opened fire on the family's BMW sedan, Dane County Sheriff's spokeswoman Elise Schaffer said. He shot the car twice, hitting the mother in the neck, authorities said. Another round struck a Nissan sedan, but the Florida woman driving that car wasn't hurt. Other motorists called 911. Officers from multiple agencies chased the Blazer into Dane County, where deputies stopped the SUV with a spike strip. The 20-year-old man then emerged from the vehicle holding a revolver. He ignored orders to drop the weapon and two Columbia County deputies shot him, authorities said. Both the Illinois woman and the suspect were taken to the University of Wisconsin Hospital. The suspect's brothers, ages 30 and 34, were taken to the Dane County Jail. At a news conference Monday, Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney described the woman's condition as "very critical." He declined to provide any additional information about the family, saying they had asked for privacy. Schaffer didn't immediately respond to a message later Monday afternoon inquiring about the suspect's condition. UW Hospital media officials also didn't immediately return an email. The suspect hasn't been formally charged and authorities have not released his name. Mahoney couldn't explain why the man decided to attack the family, saying only that it appeared to be random and the investigation continues. The state Department of Justice is investigating the deputies' decision to shoot the suspect. They have been placed on administrative leave, Columbia County Sheriff Dennis Richards said during the news conference. One of the deputies has been with the department for nine and a half years, Richards said. The other has worked as a deputy for four and a half years. West Allis Deputy Police Chief Robert Fletcher didn't immediately respond to a voicemail seeking more information about the Sanchez slaying. ___ Associated Press writer Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee contributed to this report. CORRECTS THAT POLICE WOUNDED THE SUSPECT NOT KILLED HIM - Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney speaks during a press conference at the Wisconsin State Patrol's DeForest Post in DeForest, Wis., Monday, May 2, 2016. On Sunday, a suspect in a suburban Milwaukee homicide was wounded by police along Interstate 39/90/94 near DeForest. (Michael P. King/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) CORRECTS THAT POLICE WOUNDED THE SUSPECT NOT KILLED HIM - Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister speaks during a press conference at the Wisconsin State Patrol's DeForest Post in DeForest, Wis., Monday, May 2, 2016. On Sunday, a suspect in a suburban Milwaukee homicide was shot and wounded by police along Interstate 39/90/94 near DeForest. (Michael P. King/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) Transgender pride flag raised at Boston City Hall BOSTON (AP) Mayor Marty Walsh says a transgender pride flag raised Monday over Boston City Hall plaza will continue to fly until everyone is equal under the law in Massachusetts. The Democratic mayor and other elected officials joined activists in raising the flag of blue, pink, and white horizontal stripes as state lawmakers continue to weigh a bill that would extend protections to transgender individuals in public places. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker hasn't said whether he would sign the measure, which would expand a 2011 state law banning discrimination against transgender people in the workplace and housing by also prohibiting discrimination in restaurants, malls and other public accommodations, including restrooms or locker rooms. A flag representing the transgender community, right, flies next to the Massachusetts state flag, left, and an American flag, behind, in front of Boston City Hall, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Boston. Democratic Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a supporter of transgender rights, said Monday the flag will continue to fly until everyone is equal under the law in Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) The bill would allow transgender people to use public accommodations corresponding to their gender identity. "We raise the trans pride flag for those who cannot be here today, for those who have been taken from us due to anti-trans violence," said Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. Dunn said the ceremony marked the first time a trans pride flag has been raised in Massachusetts. Supporters said they know of only three other cities in the country to fly the flag Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Jose, California. Boston has had a public accommodations law for transgender individuals since 2002, Walsh said, and he wants those same protections put in place statewide. "We've proven there's nothing to fear from being inclusive," the mayor said. "Quite the opposite. We are safer, we are stronger when everyone enjoys the same protections." Massachusetts House leaders last week unveiled a revised version of the bill, adding language that could facilitate legal action against anyone who makes an "improper" claim of gender identity. The redrafted bill would allow the attorney general to provide "guidance or regulations" to law enforcement about legal action against "any person who asserts gender identity for an improper purpose." Opponents have cited fears that a male sexual predator could falsely claim to identify as a female to gain access to a women's bathroom or locker room. And the Massachusetts Family Institute has dismissed the House redraft saying it offers no protections to women and children who don't want to be eyed by or exposed to naked men in locker rooms. Supporters argue such fears are unfounded. Baker told reporters Monday that he "appreciated some of the clarity that was provided by the House version." "This is an important issue and as we've said before we'll look forward to reviewing whatever makes it through the process," he added. Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg said the Senate will debate the House bill May 12. "We welcome the diversity of the human race here in Massachusetts," Rosenberg said at the flag-raising ceremony. ___ Associated Press reporter Bob Salsberg contributed to this report. Lori Gillen, of Westwood, Mass., left, helps display a banner with the names of businesses that she said support the transgender community during a ceremony held to commemorate the raising of a flag representing the transgender community at Boston City Hall in Boston, Monday, May 2, 2016. State lawmakers are weighing a bill that would extend protections to transgender individuals in public places. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Mason Dunn, executive director of Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, addresses an audience during an event held to commemorate the raising of a flag representing the transgender community at Boston City Hall in Boston, Monday, May 2, 2016. State lawmakers are weighing a bill that would extend protections to transgender individuals in public places. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Prosecutor: Evidence speaks for 10 'Grim Sleeper' victims LOS ANGELES (AP) The victims were all young black women, some were prostitutes and most had been using cocaine before their bodies were discovered in alleys in a rough part of Los Angeles, hidden in trash bins or covered by mattresses or debris. For decades, the serial killer dubbed the "Grim Sleeper" eluded police, dumping at least 10 bodies and leaving one woman for dead after shooting her in the chest. After months of testimony, a prosecutor Monday said that the evidence overwhelmingly points to Lonnie Franklin Jr. and speaks for the vulnerable victims he silenced as he spent years hiding in plain sight. FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2010, file photo, photographs found in the possession of Lonnie David Franklin Jr. are shown during a news conference in Los Angeles. The trial of alleged "Grim Sleeper" is headed to a close Monday, May 2, 2016, after months of testimony about the serial killer who stalked women during the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) "How do we figure out what happened here? How do we know who committed these crimes?" Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman asked as she closed her case in Los Angeles Superior Court. "Ten of the victims can't tell you themselves. The defendant took their voices when he brutally murdered them. ... The evidence in this case is the voice of the victims." Franklin, 63, a former garbage collector who also worked as a mechanic for the Los Angeles Police Department, could face the death penalty if convicted of the slayings of a 15-year-old girl and nine young women. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, as well as to attempted murder in the case of the woman who survived. Defense attorney Seymour Amster said victims had DNA from more than one man on their bodies, and that more than 20 DNA tests excluded his client. Franklin is one of three men to face charges in slayings originally attributed to a single killer called the "Southside Slayer" during the crack cocaine epidemic, when crime spiked. The killings Franklin is charged with were later dubbed the work of the "Grim Sleeper" because while the first victim was found in 1985 and the last in 2007, there was a 14-year gap when no bodies turned up, although prosecutors believe his violence never ceased. The most riveting witness was the sole known survivor. Enietra Washington described being shot in the chest and sexually assaulted in 1988. She noticed her attacker taking a Polaroid picture of her as she slipped into unconsciousness. When Franklin was finally arrested 22 years later, the same photograph showing the wounded woman slouched over in a car was one of many pictures found in his house. When his arrest was announced six years ago, authorities displayed dozens of photos of black women and appealed for the public's help in identifying them. This trial has been focused on 11 victims, but police suspect there were more. Silverman said Franklin was connected to all 11 victims through ballistics or DNA evidence. She also pointed out the similarities: Most were shot in the left side of the chest with a .25 caliber pistol, or strangled. Their bodies were all found in alleys, where they were dumped in bushes or dumpsters or hidden under mattresses. Franklin targeted women who were "willing to sell their bodies and their souls in order to gratify their dependency on this powerful drug," Silverman said earlier. Family members wept, and some doubled over to avoid looking as photos of partly naked and decomposing bodies were shown to the jury on a big screen. Franklin, wearing black-framed glasses and a blue dress shirt, stared straight ahead in court, showing no emotion during all-day arguments that continue Tuesday. The body of Janecia Peters, the final victim, was found in a fetal position in a trash bin, her red nails visible through a hole in a garbage bag that was discovered by someone rifling through the trash. Franklin's DNA was found on a zip tie securing the bag. Twenty years earlier and only a block away, another victim, Bernita Sparks, was found. "Is that merely another coincidence?" said Silverman, who described the agonizing way Peters had been strangled for two to three minutes after suffering a paralyzing shot in the back. Franklin was finally arrested in 2010 after a police officer posed as a pizza parlor bus boy to collect DNA samples from dishes and utensils he used at a birthday party. Amster said in his closing that prosecutors had built a circumstantial case using inferior science and patterns that were nothing more than illusions. He said Franklin was obsessed with sex and could have spread his DNA to the breasts of murder victims because he often gave women bras and other garments. "His DNA is probably on more women out there than we'll ever know," Amster said, noting it wasn't a morality case. Amster compared government work in the case to a rancher who calls himself a marksman after drawing bullseyes around bullet holes in his barn. FILE- In this Feb. 16, 2016, file photo, Lonnie Franklin Jr., left, appears in Los Angeles Superior Court for opening statements in his trial in Los Angeles. The Grim Sleeper serial killer trial is coming to a close in Los Angeles after months of testimony. Closing arguments were scheduled to begin Monday, May 2, 2016, in the trial of Franklin. Hes charged with killing nine women and a 15-year-old girl between 1985 and 2007. They were shot or strangled and their bodies dumped in alleys and trash bins in South Los Angeles and nearby areas. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool, File) FILE - In this July 9, 2010, file photo, a billboard showing that the suspect known as the "Grim Sleeper" had been arrested stands near a freeway in Compton, Calif. The trial of alleged "Grim Sleeper" is headed to a close Monday, May 2, 2016, after months of testimony about the serial killer who stalked women during the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File) Lonnie Franklin Jr. appears in Los Angeles Superior Court during closing arguments of his trail Monday, May 2, 2016, in Los Angeles. The Grim Sleeper serial killer trial is coming to a close in Los Angeles after months of testimony. Franklin is charged with killing nine women and a 15-year-old girl between 1985 and 2007. They were shot or strangled and their bodies dumped in alleys and trash bins in South Los Angeles and nearby areas. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool) The Marine Corps is investigating whether it mistakenly identified one of the soldiers shown raising the US flag at Iwo Jima in one of the iconic images of World War II. The Marines announced its inquiry Saturday, more than a year after Eric Krelle, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Stephen Foley, of Wexford, Ireland, began raising doubts about the identity of one of the men. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal shot the photo on February 23, 1945, on Mount Suribachi, amid an intense battle with the Japanese. Rosenthal didn't get the names of the men but the photo was immediately celebrated in the US and President Franklin Roosevelt told the military to identify the men. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal shot the photo (pictured) on February 23, 1945, on Mount Suribachi, amid an intense battle with the Japanese After some confusion, the Marines identified the men as John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Harlon Block, Michael Strank and Franklin Sousley. All were Marines except Bradley, who was a Navy corpsman. The identification of the six servicemen has been accepted for decades but Krelle and Foley say the man identified as Bradley was actually Harold Henry Schultz, a private first class from Detroit who died in 1995. Foley, an employee at a building supply company, noticed possible discrepancies in the picture in the summer of 2013 while recovering from a hernia surgery, the Omaha World-Herald reported in November 2014. He enlisted the help of Krelle, who has a website dedicated to the Marines' 5th Division. They say the man identified as Bradley wore uncuffed pants in the famous photo but other pictures shot that day shows in him tightly cuffed pants. According to Krelle and Foley, the bill of a cap is visible beneath the helmet in the flag-raising picture but not in other images of Bradley made that day. Lastly, the man identified as Bradley is wearing a cartridge belt with ammunition pouches, and a pair of wire cutters hangs off the belt. But as a Navy corpsman, Bradley would typically be armed with a sidearm, not an M-1 rifle, and he'd have no need for wire cutters. Other photos that day show him wearing what appears to be a pistol belt with no ammo pouches. 'People can hold onto what they have always known in the past. But to me, the photos are the truth,' Krelle told the Omaha World-Herald in 2014. The Marine Corps issued a statement on Monday saying it was examining information related to the photograph. 'Rosenthal's photo captured a single moment in the 36-day battle during which more than 6,500 US servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation and it is representative of the more than 70,000 US Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Coast Guardsmen that took part in the battle,' the statement said. 'We are humbled by the service and sacrifice of all who fought on Iwo Jima.' The Marine Corps didn't give a timeline for its investigation. Eric Krelle (left), of Omaha, Nebraska, and Stephen Foley (right), of Wexford, Ireland say the man identified as John Bradley was actually Harold Henry Schultz, a private first class from Detroit who died in 1995 Krelle declined to comment on the Marine's investigation, telling the Omaha World-Herald he had signed a confidentiality agreement with a third party. Iwo Jima, a tiny island 660 miles south of Tokyo, was the site of an intense battle that began on February 19, 1945, between about 70,000 Marines and 18,000 Japanese soldiers. Capturing Iwo Jima was deemed essential to the U.S. war effort because Japanese fighter planes were taking off from the island and intercepting American bomber planes. Hal Buell, a retired AP executive news photo editor, had long discussions with Rosenthal about the flag-raising picture and in 2006 wrote a book about the famous image. It's hard to understand the photo's power in 1945 to Americans, who were weary of the war and horrified by the incredible number of deaths by servicemen, especially in locations of Asia most had never heard of, Buell said. 'People were just tired of the war, and all of a sudden out of nowhere came this picture that encapsulated everything,' he added. 'It showed that victory was ultimately possible.' Buell said after Rosenthal shot the photo, the flag-raisers quickly moved onto other tasks, and it was impossible for him to get their names. That task was left to the Marines after the picture prompted an overwhelming response and the government decided to use the image in an upcoming sale of war bonds to finance the continued fighting. Rosenthal died in 2006. Block, Strank and Sousley were killed in fighting at Iwo Jima before the photo was distributed in the US. Bradley's son, James Bradley, wrote a best-selling book about the flag raisers, 'Flags of Our Fathers,' which was later made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. Before writing his book, he interviewed the surviving Marines and Rosenthal. He said he was shocked to hear the Marines were investigating the identity of the men. Judge investigating drug traffickers arrested in Argentina BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) An Argentine judge who had investigated thousands of drug trafficking cases has been arrested on accusations he helped drug dealers in exchange for money. The official judicial news agency says federal judge Raul Reynoso was detained Monday in the northeastern city of Salta. Reynoso denies any wrongdoing. He had been under investigation by a local judge since late 2015, but had not been detained because he enjoyed immunity as a judge. He recently stepped down from his post. Reynoso was a judge for more than a decade in Salta province in an area bordering Bolivia that is known as a hotbed of drug trafficking. Doctor files complaint, says support for abortion silenced WASHINGTON (AP) A physician who performs abortions at a Washington hospital filed a federal civil rights complaint Monday alleging that she's been unfairly barred from speaking publicly about her view that abortion is an essential procedure for women's health. The complaint was filed with the civil rights division of the Health and Human Services Department. It says Dr. Diane Horvath-Cosper, an obstetrician and gynecologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, was barred from talking to the media about her views on abortion rights under the guise of increased security after the November 2015 shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. Horvath-Cosper has emerged in recent years as an advocate for abortion rights. She wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in October 2015 about the threats and potential violence faced by abortion providers. The complaint was filed under a 1973 federal law that shields doctors and other health care workers from discrimination because of their views on abortion. It's typically cited by medical providers who refuse to perform or assist in abortions because of their religious beliefs or moral convictions. Gretchen Borchelt, a vice president with the National Women's Law Center and one of Horvath-Cosper's attorneys, said she was unaware of a previous complaint that cited the law on behalf of a doctor who feels a moral obligation to advocate for abortion rights. "She has a deep moral conviction that as a doctor she has a moral duty and obligation to speak about this as a medical procedure and to take every action she can to destigmatize this," said Debra Katz, Horvath-Cosper's private attorney. "By doctors speaking out, it does in fact do that." According to the complaint, on Dec. 4, 2015, Horvath-Cosper was ordered by Dr. Gregory Argyros, the hospital's chief medical officer, to stop speaking publicly about abortion because he "did not want to put a K-Mart blue light special on the fact that we provide abortions at MedStar." Donna Arbogast, MedStar vice president of public affairs and marketing, said in a statement that the hospital "is committed to providing family planning services for our community, and we do so in a respectful, private and safe environment. We look forward to cooperating fully with the Office of Civil Rights." According to the complaint, Argyros later clarified to Horvath-Cosper that she could speak publicly if she sought the approval of the hospital's public affairs office. However, the hospital has since denied all such requests, the complaint says. Horvath-Cosper started working at MedStar, which receives federal funding, in 2014 under a fellowship meant to train family-planning physicians and reverse a nationwide drop in the number of abortion providers. Advocating for the procedure is part of the fellowship "because of the continued attempts to stigmatize and discourage abortion, and the ongoing need to counterbalance the anti-abortion rhetoric that threatens women's access to abortion," the complaint says. According to the complaint, the hospital did little to increase security in the wake of the Colorado shootings, instead turning its attention toward silencing Horvath-Cosper. Government criticised following 'suicide' of war translator facing deportation The Government has been accused of "shameful" treatment of Afghan war translators over the case of an interpreter who reportedly killed himself while facing deportation from Britain. Nangyalai Dawoodzai is understood to have worked for the British Army in Afghanistan for three years before fleeing the country after receiving death threats from the Taliban. The 29-year-old, who paid people smugglers to reach the UK, was told his request for asylum in Britain had been rejected when it was found he had been fingerprinted in Italy on arrival in Europe, according to the Daily Mail. Nangyalai Dawoodzai is understood to have worked for the British Army in Afghanistan for three years before he fled, fearing for his life Faced with being sent back to Italy to claim political asylum there he killed himself, a fellow translator told the newspaper. Liberal Democrat peer Lord Ashdown, who has championed the cause of Afghan war interpreters for years, said their treatment was scandalous. "This is the most tragic example of a shameful Government policy," he told the Daily Mail. In March, David Cameron told the House of Commons a set of conditions for Afghan interpreters to be given sanctuary in Britain had been agreed while in coalition with the Lib Dems. The Prime Minister said there was also a scheme in place for Afghans who want to help rebuild their war ravaged country. According to the Daily Mail, at least three other interpreters who served UK forces in war zones currently face deportation because they were fingerprinted in mainland Europe before arriving in the UK. Lord Ashdown said: "These people will have been at the frontline day in, day out, with no break for years. Given the way they have been treated, who in the future will ever offer to be an interpreter to help British soldiers do their job when we treat those who have served our troops so scandalously?" Chairman of the Commons defence select committee, Dr Julian Lewis said he hoped the case would press UK authorities to take a "more generous and enlightened attitude" towards former interpreters, should Mr Dawoodzai's case be verified. He said: "Many people will share my bafflement and concern that we seem unable to get rid of people who mean us harm and unwilling to take people who have served us loyally." A former interpreter named only as Rafi, who helps coordinate work to support former colleagues, told the newspaper Mr Dawoodzai seemed "extremely depressed" when they spoke a month ago, adding that Afghans in Mr Dawoodzai's position feel betrayed when they are not granted asylum in the country they helped in battle. Mr Dawoodzai reportedly told a fellow former interpreter he worked with British soldiers based at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province. He had been staying at a hostel in Birmingham when his application was rejected when the Italian records were found. He was reportedly arrested and held in a detention centre for 18 days. On release he returned to the hostel while his paperwork was processed. The interpreter told the newspaper: "He was depressed and very down. He said his life was at risk and no one cared ... he believed that Britain would help him because he had helped them. Now he has killed himself - it is so desperate." West Midlands Police told the Daily Mail a man's body was found at an address in West Bromwich last Wednesday night. The death is not being treated as suspicious. Jeremy Corbyn plays down Labour anti-Semitism row ahead of elections Jeremy Corbyn has insisted there is not a "huge problem" with anti-Semitism in Labour and vowed to stay on as leader even if the party received a mauling at the ballot box on Thursday. He acknowledged he could face a challenge but said he was "not having sleepless nights" about it and told critics they should "respect the mandate" he has after his landslide win in the leadership contest. Mr Corbyn declared he would be "carrying on" no matter what the result of the election results in England, Scotland and Wales. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has condemned anti-Semitism The contests will provide the first national test of Mr Corbyn's leadership as Labour critics insist the party must make gains, with former shadow cabinet minister Michael Dugher suggesting a benchmark of another 400 seats. But with experts forecasting though the party could lose hundreds of seats in England - and apparently on course for another difficult night in Scotland and a tough fight in Wales where devolved governments are up for election - Mr Corbyn insisted in a Daily Mirror interview: "There are no goals, no targets - the best result we can get." His strongest hope of a headline-grabbing victory lies with Sadiq Khan wresting back the London mayoralty after eight years of Tory Boris Johnson at City Hall. But while the Labour candidate remains the bookies' favourite, the Tooting MP is engaged in a concerted effort to prevent his campaign being derailed by the anti-Semitism row and to distance himself from both Mr Corbyn and ex-mayor Ken Livingstone. Mr Corbyn played down the impact of the controversy on Mr Khan, saying he did not think the row over allegations of anti-Semitism had "damaged his chances at all". Three Labour councillors were suspended on Monday over comments about Israel, repeating the action taken against MP Naz Shah and Mr Livingstone, but Mr Corbyn said: "No, there is not a huge problem. "What there is is a very small number of people that have said things that they should not have done. "We have therefore said they will be suspended and investigated." Despite Mr Corbyn's claim that only a "small number" of people were involved in alleged anti-Semitism, the Daily Telegraph suggested that as many as 50 people had been suspended by Labour's compliance unit in the past two month. A Labour Party source said: "This is a wild overestimate. The Labour Party takes anti-Semitism very seriously and that's why Jeremy has set out a robust plan to tackle the issue." The source indicated that the "majority" of suspensions for anti-Semitism were already in the public domain. Mr Corbyn has set up an independent investigation into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism within Labour led by former Liberty chief Shami Chakrabarti. The row has deepened splits between Mr Corbyn and many of his MPs, but the leader vowed to face down any challenge to his position. "If there is one, there is one - but I'm not having sleepless nights about this," Mr Corbyn said. "I was elected with a very big mandate to do the job, and I am doing the job. "I was elected on a mandate from a very large majority of members and supporters of the party. I intend to carry out that mandate." In a message aimed at his critics in the Commons he said: "The Parliamentary Labour Party are a very important part of the Labour movement - but it's not the only part." Mr Corbyn's denial that there is a "huge problem" came after shadow cabinet minister Lucy Powell said: "There clearly is an issue with anti-Semitism in the Labour Party otherwise we wouldn't have spent the best part of the last six or seven days talking about it. "I think it is a very small element within the Labour Party and probably a small element in wider society as well. And that's why we are taking swift action to root it out." Asked about Mr Livingstone's future within the party, she told Channel 4 News: "That will be a matter for the National Executive Committee who will look at that and they will come to their own view." But she added: "I think it's very, very difficult to see a circumstance where his suspension would be lifted and he would be readmitted." Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said there 'clearly is an issue with anti-Semitism' within Labour 17-year-old girl dies after taking 'MasterCard' ecstasy pill A 17-year-old girl has died after taking a "MasterCard" ecstasy pill, prompting police to urge anyone else who may have taken the drug to seek urgent medical attention. The teenager's death is being investigated after officers were called at around 5am on Monday to the Victoria Warehouse on Trafford Wharf Road in Trafford, Greater Manchester. She was found suffering an adverse reaction after allegedly taking one "MasterCard" ecstasy pill during a night out, and later died in hospital. A form of ecstasy known as MasterCard because the pills are shaped like the logo (Greater Manchester Police/PA) Police are investigating and are asking anyone with information about where the drug may have come from to get in touch. Detective Inspector Helen Bell, from Greater Manchester Police's Trafford Division, said: "This is a tragic situation. "The death of a young person is always devastating, but in these circumstances it is all the more heart-breaking. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time. "Sadly we know it is very unlikely that the girl was the only person to have taken this drug last night. "We are appealing to anyone who may have taken this form of ecstasy, known as 'MasterCard', to get checked out urgently. "Even if you took it some hours ago, this pill will still be in your system and could be seriously harming your health." Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 7662 or 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In a statement, Victoria Warehouse confirmed the incident took place at the venue and said it was working with investigators. Barry Hearn wants to take Anthony Joshua to China to give him global platform Anthony Joshua could defend his IBF world heavyweight title in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing under ambitious plans being made by promoter Barry Hearn. Hearn has confirmed he is in talks with Chinese officials over staging a bout involving the 26-year-old, who ripped his portion of the crown from American Charles Martin last month. Hearn, head of the Matchroom organisation with whom Joshua signed after winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, said taking Joshua to China is part of his plan to turn him into a global superstar. Anthony Joshua could defend his IBF heavyweight title at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing Hearn told Press Association Sport: "When you plan someone's career like Joshua you tend to plan in advance and I think we're two years away from saying we can sell out the Bird's Nest in China. "I think Joshua's going to be a global figure, and therefore I've got to give him a global platform. I was in Shanghai last week and we were talking. As soon as you show people pictures of Joshua knocking someone out, they get excited." Joshua will make the first defence of his title against another American, Dominic Breazeale, in London next month, which is likely to raise anticipation for a prospective unification bout with Tyson Fury. But Hearn said he hoped a prospective bout in China could involve 2008 Olympic silver medallist Zhang Zhilei, who has built an unbeaten professional record of eight fights since basing himself in Las Vegas. U.S. oil drillers cut rigs for 6th week to Nov 2009 lows -Baker Hughes April 29 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms cut oil rigs for a sixth week in a row to the lowest level since November 2009, oil services company Baker Hughes Inc said Friday, as drillers remained cautious in returning to the well pad despite crude futures climbing to their highest levels this year. Drillers cut 11 oil rigs in the week to April 29, bringing the total rig count down to 332, Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report. The number of U.S. oil rigs currently operating compares with the 679 rigs operating in the same week a year ago. Energy firms have slashed spending by sharply reducing oil and gas drilling since the collapse in crude markets began in mid-2014. U.S. crude futures fell from over $107 a barrel in June 2014 to a near 13-year low around $26 in February. U.S. crude futures, however, have spiked nearly 80 percent in the past two months and hit 2016 highs of just under $46 on Friday as market sentiment turned more upbeat despite the persistent oversupply. U.S. crude futures were above $47 a barrel for the balance of 2016 and about $49 for calendar 2017. Baker Hughes said at its quarterly earnings release on Wednesday that it expected the U.S. rig count to start stabilizing in the second half of the year, although it did not expect any meaningful hike in oil drilling activity. Whiting Petroleum Corp's Chief Executive Jim Volkers said the firm would like oil prices to stay at or above $50 for at least 90 days before deciding to reduce drilled-but-uncompleted well count in Colorado. The world's No. 1 oilfield services provider Schlumberger NV also said it will remain cautious in adding capacity even after energy firms show signs of recovery since it believes the industry will continue cutting costs through the coming quarter. The rig count is one of several indicators of future oil and gas production. Other indicators include drillers ability to get more out of each well and the completion of drilled but uncompleted wells. (Reporting by Barani Krishnan; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Afghan forces battle to push Taliban from southern highway By Sayed Sarwar Amani KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 1 (Reuters) - Afghan security forces have been battling to push back Taliban fighters seeking to cut off the capital of the southern province of Uruzgan, officials said on Sunday as army units worked to clear roadside bombs from the main highway into the town. The insurgents have in the past month stepped up their offensive aimed at taking control of Uruzgan, which straddles one of Afghanistan's main opium and gun-smuggling routes. NATO commanders view the rural province as a key battleground as, if it fell, the Taliban could use it as a springboard to launch attacks on Helmand and Kandahar further to the south. The Taliban is seeking to isolate the provincial capital Tarin Kowt from outlying districts and over the past week has been fighting Afghan forces for control of the road between the town and Shawali Kot in Kandahar province. The battle has added to the pressure on stretched security forces engaged in heavy fighting from Helmand in the south to Kunduz in the far north. A spokesman for the Afghan army's 205th Corps said troops had reopened the route but the situation was still unstable and the road was threatened by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the insurgents. "We launched a counter-attack that inflicted heavy casualties to the Taliban and reopened to the highway but it is heavily mined and our engineers are working to clear IEDs off the road," army spokesman Mohammad Mohsen Sultani said. Underlining the extent of the threat, General Abdul Raziq, the Kandahar police chief who gained a fearsome reputation fighting the insurgents in his home province, has joined the battle, according to Zia Durani, a spokesman for the head of Uruzgan's provincial police. Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Kabul, said the situation in the province was "serious" although there did not appear to be any immediate prospect of Taliban victory. "We're watching it closely and there is concern about Uruzgan," he said. "We don't think either the province of Uruzgan or the provincial capital Tarin Kowt is about to fall but we're watching it closely," he said. 'TALIBAN ARE EVERYWHERE' Uruzgan neighbours the Taliban heartlands of Helmand and Kandahar and is among the least-developed areas of Afghanistan, with only 8 percent of the population having access to electricity. Its mix of flat and mountainous terrain has been fertile ground for insurgents who fought Australian, Dutch and U.S. troops for years. So far no additional foreign troops have been sent to bolster the defence, as they were in Helmand earlier this year, and coalition aircraft have not carried out air strikes in support of Afghan troops fighting the Taliban, Cleveland said. But the fighting in Uruzgan underlines how difficult ensuring security in remote areas has been for the Western-backed government in Kabul, which is estimated to control only about two-thirds of the country. "The Taliban have not been defeated. They are everywhere," said provincial council chief Abdul Karim Khademzai. "Apart from one district, all roads from the district centres to the provincial capital have been cut off and the government only control the provincial capital," he said. The districts of Deh Rawod, to the west of Tarin Kowt and Khas Oruzgan, to the east, have long been targeted by the insurgents, who say they have control of large parts of the province and now threaten Tarin Kowt. "If the provincial centre is captured and liberated, it will inevitably be a huge blow for the enemy as they will lose their only toehold in the province," Mullah Aminullah Yousuf, identified on the Taliban's website as the insurgent official in charge of Uruzgan province, said in an interview on the site. With the annual opium harvest now in full swing, Taliban tax collectors have been raising funds from local farmers, who depend heavily on the crop but as fighting has intensified, life has become increasingly difficult, said Amanullah Hotaki, a local tribal elder. Air France-KLM appoints Jean-Marc Janaillac as CEO PARIS, May 1 (Reuters) - Air France-KLM's board appointed Jean-Marc Janaillac as the Franco-Dutch airline's new chief executive on Sunday, following the resignation earlier of Alexandre de Juniac. Sixty-three year old Janaillac is currently CEO of multi-modal transport company Transdev. "The Board has decided that Mr. Janaillac will be co-opted as a group director when Mr. de Juniac leaves office on July 31st at the latest. He will then be appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air France KLM," the company said in a statement. The nomination had been expected for Tuesday but the board met two days earlier than planned after news of the appointment leaked to news media. Janaillac sat on Air France's board in the late 1980s and first occupied a senior executive position in the airline industry when he was associate director general at now defunct airline AOM in the late 1990s. He is a graduate of France's elite administration school, ENA, and of the HEC business school. Frederic Gagey will stay on as the chief executive of Air France-KLM's French network, Air France, a company spokeswoman said. De Juniac announced his surprise departure to lead the International Air Transport Association last month, saying he had achieved his goals of ending losses and reducing debt, despite having three years left of his mandate. De Juniac was credited with restructuring Air France-KLM without, for the most part, triggering major conflict with the company's powerful unions. But in 2014 plans to open bases for subsidiary airline Transavia outside France sparked a 15-day pilot strike. Australia coal mines brace for floods as La Nina looms By James Regan SYDNEY, April 29 (Reuters) - Five years ago floods linked to a La Nina weather pattern nearly brought Australia's coal industry to a standstill. With another of the sea-cooling events now forming and the risk of heavy rains returning, mining companies say they are ready. They have bought pumps, fortified levees and brushed up on procedures to deal with the deluge of water that a La Nina can bring, the companies say. The stakes could be high. Over several months in late 2010 and early 2011, during the last La Nina event, around 85 percent of Australia's coal mines across a region bigger than Texas either had to restrict output or close as record rains fell. Australia is the world's biggest exporter of metallurgical coal and second-biggest exporter of thermal coal. While coal prices briefly raced to near peak levels as buyers vied for cargoes, clean-up bills far outweighed the short-lived financial gains. That could prove even more disastrous than in 2011, with MineLife Services in Sydney saying coal prices have now retreated to the point where at least a third of the industry is operating at a loss. Idemitsu Australia Resources began expanding flood levees as early as 2008 after flooding in one of its mines. "We learned a lot of lessons ... which have gone into improving our procedures and planning to protect operations and maintain a safe working environment," said Idemitsu Australia's chief operating officer Steve Kovac. And most mining companies should now be better prepared, said Andrew Musgrave, group manager of sales for Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment, which helps companies mitigate flood risk. "There is an excess of de-watering equipment on all sites at the moment," Musgrave said. Cooling La Nina weather patterns have followed 11 of the last 15 El Nino warming patterns, records show. Australia is just now emerging from an El Nino - which can cause drought in Australia - to the much wetter La Nina. Australia's weather bureau warned this week a threshold for a new La Nina will likely be breached by September. A replay of 2011 - one of the worst years for floods on record - is not guaranteed, but ominous similarities are emerging, said Andrew Watkins, the bureau's head of climate prediction services. "Like the last time, we are seeing a rapid cooling off in the Pacific Ocean, a strong signal La Nina's on the way," Watkins said. Rail transport company Aurizon, which expects to haul more than 200 million tonnes of coal this year, said it is ready to respond to flood conditions at its Central Queensland Coal Network that connects many of the country's collieries. "Significant infrastructure work has been undertaken since 2011," an Aurizon spokesman said, and contingency plans have been put in place with mines and ports. For its part, mining and commodity trading giant Glencore said it was prepared to divert water from its mines to safe storage sites if required. "This limits the risk of uncontrolled discharge," a spokesman said. South Korea revives GPS backup project after blaming North for jamming By Jack Kim and Jonathan Saul SEOUL/LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - South Korea has revived a project to build a backup ship navigation system that would be difficult to hack after a recent wave of GPS signal jamming attacks it blamed on North Korea disrupted fishing vessel operations, officials say. Global Positioning System (GPS) and other electronic navigation aids are vulnerable to signal loss from solar weather effects, radio and satellite interference and deliberate jamming. South Korea, which says it has faced repeated attempts by the rival North to interfere with satellite signals, will award a 15 billion won ($13 million) contract this month to secure technology required to build an alternative land-based radio system called eLoran, which it hopes will provide reliable alternative position and timing signals for navigation. "The need for us is especially high, because of the deliberate signal interference by North Korea," a South Korean government official involved in the initiative told Reuters, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. The latest jamming campaign from the North began on March 31, lasting nearly a week and affecting signal reception of more than 1,000 aircraft and 700 ships, originating from five locations along the border, South Korean officials said. Aircraft traffic was not affected because the GPS system is normally used as a backup, not a primary navigation tool, one of the officials involved in telecommunications policy said. The jamming prompted warnings by South Korea's military to North Korea to stop what it called "provocation" and a protest at the United Nations. North Korea has denied involvement. South Korea has been on high alert against possible cyber attacks from the North following the North's nuclear and missile tests and threats of war in response to new sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council and the South. The reclusive North and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, rather than a treaty. The North routinely threatens to destroy South Korea and its major ally, the United States. "THE REALLY SCARY PART" No major disasters anywhere have been blamed on loss of GPS, although the risks are growing as sea lanes become more crowded. Part of the problem is that it's not easy to detect a GPS outage caused by jamming. "When GPS/GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) fail, transportation is impacted immediately. It slows down, becomes more dangerous, and every mode can carry less capacity," said Dana Goward, president of the non-profit Resilient Navigation & Timing Foundation. "As short-term backup clocks start to desynchronize with each other ... cell phone towers start to fail, IT networks slow down or fail, financial systems are impacted, management of the electrical grid becomes problematic. That is the really scary part," said Goward. GPS vulnerability poses security and commercial risks, especially for ships whose crews are not familiar with traditional navigation techniques or using paper charts. The General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland, which tried to pioneer an eLoran system in Europe, conducted simulated communications attacks on ships at sea and said the results "demonstrated the devastating effects of jamming on the ships' electronic bridge systems". Many vessels, such as fishing boats, lack backup electronic navigation systems. The United States, Russia and India are all looking into deploying versions of eLoran, which sends a much stronger signal and is harder to jam, as backup. Installing an eLoran receiver and antenna on a ship would cost thousands of dollars, although cheaper options could include incorporating eLoran systems into satnav devices, according to technical specialists. DISRUPTIONS AT SEA Last month, hundreds of South Korean fishing boats returned to port after GPS jamming that also created problems in locating nets at sea, South Korean officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard said in January that "multiple outbound vessels from a non-U.S. port suddenly lost GPS signal reception", although the vessels were able to navigate using compasses and other aids. In 2013, the U.S. Navy reported almost certain, intentional jamming of the GPS system of one of its vessels sailing near Iranian territorial waters. South Korea's eLoran initiative dates to 2011, after a series of incidents also blamed on the North, but was stalled in part by a cancellation of contracts due to a conflict over payment schedules with a U.S. supplier. Its new plan envisions setting up coastal transmitters by the end of 2019, said Seo Ji-won, a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, who is on a government advisory panel. A British-led initiative to create an eLoran system was suspended after failing to keep other European countries interested. A private group called Taviga is in talks with European governments to resume support for eLoran, the company said. "The situation for this country is different, because there have been real cases of deliberate interference," the South Korean government official said. "We need this." China airs two more confessions by Taiwan fraud suspects BEIJING, May 2 (Reuters) - Confessions by two more Taiwanese telecoms fraud suspects, from among dozens deported from Kenya to China last month, were aired by Chinese state television on Monday, appearing to back China's contention that such crimes are lightly dealt with in Taiwan. The case, and subsequent deportations of Taiwanese from Malaysia for similar suspected crimes, has infuriated Taiwan and soured ties that were already strained by the election in January of a pro-independence party in Taipei. Taiwan has said China effectively kidnapped its nationals. China says they are criminals wanted for serious crimes in China and that it has every right to try them, accusing Taiwan of turning a blind eye to crime and politicising the issue. The videos are the latest in a recent string of on-camera confessions in China that have prompted international criticism that the admissions could have been made under duress. Chinese state television showed two men it said were from Taiwan and had been deported from Kenya. The men, whose faces were blurred out, were identified by their family names of Lin and Hsu and spoke with Taiwanese accents. It was not possible to verify their origins independently. The report said Lin, 46, set up a Kenyan fraud cell which called people in China to extort money by pretending to be law enforcement officers. Lin had been jailed in Taiwan in 2011 for telecoms fraud, state television said, but was only given a six-month sentence and resumed his crimes upon release. "Of course I want to go back to Taiwan. Because it's closer to home and because the sentence will probably be quite light," Lin said. Hsu, 37, amassed 200,000 yuan ($30,894) from his crimes in Kenya and had also been jailed previously for seven months in Taiwan, the report said. "If I had known earlier that I would be tried in the mainland I wouldn't have done it. In the mainland I could get a life sentence," Hsu said. Calls to the Ministry of Public Security seeking comment went unanswered. State television said the interviews were conducted on Sunday at a Beijing detention facility. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's top China policymaker, called on Beijing to pursue the criminal cases under "the universal value of due process". "Before the suspects are judged to have committed a crime, the principle of presumption of innocence should apply," the council said in a statement to Reuters in response to a question about China's use of media for confessions. Islamic State targets struck in Syria, 34 militants killed - Turkish military ANKARA, May 2 (Reuters) - Shelling by Turkish artillery and drones which took off from the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey struck Islamic State targets in Syria on Sunday, killing 34 militants, the Turkish military said on Monday. Intesa says signed deal to sell payments units for 1.035 bln euros MILAN, May 2 (Reuters) - Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo said on Monday it has signed a deal to sell its payments units Setefi and Intesa Sanpaolo Card to private equity firms Advent, Bain Capital and Clessidra in a deal worth 1.035 billion euros ($1.2 billion). Under the final deal, which confirms what sources told Reuters on Thursday, the bank will pocket a net capital gain of 895 million euros. Kuwait freedoms make austerity drive tricky for government By Sylvia Westall and Ahmed Hagagy KUWAIT, May 2 (Reuters) - A three-day strike by oil workers in Kuwait last month over pay reforms shows the government faces considerable opposition as it prepares to push through painful and controversial cuts to longstanding welfare benefits. Oil-exporting states around the Gulf are reducing subsidies for fuel, public utilities and food, and freezing or slowing the growth of public sector wages, as they try to curb big budget deficits caused by low oil prices. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain have all taken such steps in the past six months. But Kuwait has been slower to act; reforms were still being discussed in parliament last week and no timetable has been set. In mid-March, Finance Minister Anas al-Saleh said the cabinet had approved in principle a "repricing" of some commodities and public services, but he gave no details and did not mention a date for the changes. One reason for the delay is that Kuwait has more of a history of industrial action than the rest of the Gulf, where unions are banned or tightly controlled. In recent years, brief work stoppages over pay and conditions have also hit Kuwait's national airline and the customs administration. More broadly, Kuwait's political environment is freer - in contrast to the other wealthy Gulf states, members of its rambunctious parliament routinely criticise government policy, and citizens are not shy about complaining on social media. In 2012, thousands of Kuwaitis demonstrated repeatedly against a new electoral law which they said disadvantaged the opposition. Such protests are almost unheard of in the other Gulf states. The result is that Kuwait's government is having a harder time imposing austerity policies than its counterparts, and the extent of those policies is still uncertain. "The oil strike was a showdown between a welfare government and a civil society fearful that the government will solve its problem, resulting from a lack of planning, at its expense," said Shafeeq Ghabra, political science professor at Kuwait University. "This strike shows that the government needs to have a major dialogue with civil society regarding economic as well political reform." Billions of dollars are at stake; finance ministry undersecretary Khalifa Hamada told the al-Qabas newspaper at the end of last year that "rationalising" subsidies would save the government 2.6 billion dinars ($8.7 billion) over three years. Savings would be greater if the bloated public payroll could be reformed. The finance ministry projected in January that the government would run a budget deficit of 12.2 billion dinars in the fiscal year starting on April 1, 2016, after state contributions to the sovereign wealth fund. STRIKE Between 7,000 and 13,000 of around 18,000 Kuwaiti nationals in the oil sector took part in the strike in late April, union members estimated. Union membership is not compulsory and foreign workers are not permitted to strike. Workers were protesting a proposed overhaul of the public sector payroll system that would set uniform standards for salaries, bonuses and benefits. The Oil and Petrochemical Industries Workers Confederation fears the government will use the reform to freeze salaries of higher-paid employees. Ultimately, the union called off the strike "in honour of his highness the Emir", and the government insisted it made no concessions - an apparent victory for authorities. But the union has been talking to the government since the strike ended, so concessions could still be made. Kuwait's oil output fell as low as 1.1 million barrels per day during the strike from the usual output of around 3 million bpd, tarnishing the country's image as a reliable exporter. "The workers have achieved their main objective of getting their message across," said Faisal Abu Sulaib, another political science professor at Kuwait University. Saif al-Qahtani, chairman of the oil workers' union, said he could not speak for other unions but that some of them also opposed wage system reform. Some other union members and analysts said a string of strikes in Kuwait remained unlikely. An official at the headquarters of the Kuwait Trade Union Federation, which represents 15 unions in the energy and government sectors, said it had not been informed of any other planned walkouts. Nevertheless, in the wake of the oil strike, the government may move even more gradually and cautiously with reforms. While most of the current parliament has been relatively supportive of the idea of reform, legislative elections are due next year, and the government will not want the issue of austerity to cause the election of a more antagonistic parliament. "Negotiations may take time, but my expectation is that the government will ultimately move towards a compromise on some of the union's demands to prevent further economically damaging escalations," said Coline Schep, a Middle East and North Africa associate at consultancy Eurasia Group. Poland - Factors to Watch May 2 Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Monday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours): PMI Markit is scheduled to publish its April manufacturing PMI index for Poland at 0700 GMT. PENSION AGE Parliament will likely pass new laws regarding the pension age by the end of 2016, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo told wSieci weekly. The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has promised to reverse a hike in the pension age passed in 2012. JSW State-controlled coal miner JSW will receive about 300-400 million zlotys ($79-105 mln) in state funding to restructure its coal mines, Rzeczpospolita daily reported. ****Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.**** Koeman urges Mane to focus on consistency after hat-trick May 2 (Reuters) - Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has urged Sadio Mane to show greater consistency after the striker scored a hat-trick to guide his team to a 4-2 victory against Manchester City on Sunday. The Senegal-born striker has endured a mixed season for Southampton, scoring 10 league goals so far, but failing to find the back of the net in 19 league appearances between November and March. The 24-year-old is, however, finishing the campaign strongly with his hat-trick against City taking his tally to seven goals in his last six league appearances. Koeman said the inconsistency was down to his youth. "Sadio is a little bit unpredictable sometimes," the manager told British media. "He's still a young player, and young players they need sometimes to be more consistent. "Sadio was focused and clinical (on Sunday). That was one of my criticisms of all of the strikers but we are very productive at home with more chances to score more." Slovak Republic - Factors To Watch on May 2 BRATISLAVA, May 2 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Monday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview =========================EVENTS=============================== BRATISLAVA: Slovakia's budgetary watchdog will release a report on the country's public finances. Related stories: =========================NEWS=============================== PRIME MINISTER'S HEALTH: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was released from hospital on Sunday after having heart surgery on April 22, he said on his official Facebook page. Story: Related stories: GOVERNMENT DEBT: Slovakia will offer a new zero coupon bond maturing in 2023 in a May domestic auction, the state debt agency Ardal said on Friday. Story: Related stories: BALANCED BUDGET: Slovakia's new government is aiming for a balanced budget by 2019 while also funding needed investments, taking advantage of accelerating economic growth, Finance Minister Peter Kazimir said on Friday. Story: Related stories: For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) Japan to support Mekong countries with $7 bln over three years BANGKOK, May 2 (Reuters) - Japan wants to work with countries in the lower Mekong river basin and will help them improve infrastructure and bolster development with 750 billion yen ($7 billion) in aid over three years, its foreign minister said on Monday. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida made the pledge to help the Southeast Asian economies in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, where on Sunday he began a week-long visit to the region in which Japan competes with China for influence. "Japan would like to work with the countries of the Mekong region to create a framework to support efforts by the Mekong countries in a detailed manner, on a region-by-region basis or on a theme-by-theme basis," Kishida said in a speech. Japan announced the three-year plan last year. China has offered billions of dollars in infrastructure loans and government aid programmes to Southeast Asian countries. Kishida did not mention China in his speech. He is also due to visit Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. On Monday, he met Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has led a military government since the army took power in a May 2014 coup. Thailand has drawn closer to China since the coup which many western countries criticised. Kishida and Prayuth discussed Thailand's political process, regional terrorism threats and economic challenges, a Japanese official said. Kishida visited Beijing on the weekend where both China and Japan expressed willingness to improve relations strained over conflicting territorial claims in the East China Sea. In his speech in Bangkok, Kishida addressed maritime security and renewed a call for countries to respect the rule of law. He also backed a Southeast Asian bid to draft a code of conduct for the South China Sea, where China's claim to virtually the entire sea clashes with claims to parts of it by Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. "We must establish a regional order whereby the principle of the rule of law is truly upheld and practiced," he said. "I would like to renew my call for the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea." Japanese Prime Minister Shinto Abe is pursuing a more robust foreign policy but Masato Otaka, deputy press secretary at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters Kishida's visit was not aimed at counteracting China's influence. Syrian army says "regime of calm" extended around Damascus for another 48 hours - state TV AMMAN, May 2 (Reuters) - The Syrian army on Monday confirmed an earlier Russian announcement that a "regime of calm" around Damascus had been extended for another 48 hours, state television reported. The military on Sunday had extended a 24-hour lull in fighting in the capital which was announced on Friday that affects the capital and the Eastern Ghouta region on its outskirts. Rocket Internet removes Kinnevik from supervisory board BERLIN, May 2 (Reuters) - Rocket Internet said on Monday two supervisory board members from long-standing investor Kinnevik are stepping down after the Swedish fund hit shares in the German ecommerce firm by cutting its valuation for joint holdings. Rocket said in a statement that Kinnevik Chief Executive Lorenzo Grabau and Erik Mitteregger would resign from the supervisory board effective June. Grabau was replaced as chairman of the Rocket supervisory board in December by former ProSieben digital media manager Marcus Englert, a move Rocket denied at the time was due to a dispute over diverging valuations of their joint investment. Rocket did not give a reason for the departures, but said the two would be replaced by board members independent of its shareholders - former Deutsche Bank finance chief Stefan Krause and Orange deputy chief executive Pierre Louette. The two are to be elected to the board at Rocket's annual shareholders' meeting on June 9, the group said. Founded in Berlin by brothers Oliver, Alexander and Marc Samwer in 2007, Rocket has set up dozens of ecommerce sites, aiming to replicate the success of Amazon and Alibaba in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Russia. But Europe's top Internet investor has faced increasing concerns from investors about the scale of losses at its start-ups ranging from online fashion to food delivery, as well as delays to planned listings due to volatile markets. Kinnevik was one of the first investors in Rocket and still has a 13 percent holding - as well as stakes in several of its major start-ups - making it the firm's second-biggest shareholder after the Samwer brothers with a 38 percent stake. But Rocket's share price took a tumble last week after a new fund raising with Kinnevik for its Global Fashion Group (GFG) slashed its valuation by two thirds. Kinnevik also cut its valuation for Rocket's furniture site Home24 and its figures for Westwing and Linio were also well below those given by Rocket as of March 31. Sources close to the company have told Reuters that Chief Executive Oliver Samwer and Kinnevik disagreed last year over the valuation for ingredients delivery start-up HelloFresh, which had its listing pulled at the last minute in November. Australian says he created bitcoin, but some sceptical By Byron Kaye and Jemima Kelly SYDNEY/LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright identified himself as the creator of controversial digital currency bitcoin on Monday but experts were divided over whether he really was the elusive person who has gone by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto until now. Uncovering Nakamoto's real identity would solve a riddle dating back to the publication of the open source software behind the cryptocurrency in 2008, before its launch a year later. Bitcoin has since become the world's most commonly used virtual currency, attracting the interest of banks, speculators, criminals and regulators. Worth a total of $7 billion at current levels, it fell more than 3 percent on Monday -- a normal intraday move for the volatile currency -- after the news, to below $440 from around $455, before recovering slightly. Some online commentators suggested bitcoin's creator could help resolve a bitter row among the currency's software developers that threatens its future. But Wright made no reference to the row in a BBC interview identifying himself as Nakamoto, and as the protocol bitcoin runs on is open-source and cannot be controlled by any one person, it is unclear whether he would be able to influence the way it develops. "I was the main part of it, other people helped me," Wright, who is now living in London, told the BBC. "Some people will believe, Some people won't, and to tell you the truth, I don't really care," he said. Many bitcoiners said Wright had not done enough to definitively prove that he was Nakamoto, who maintained his anonymity throughout his involvement with bitcoin, which he stepped away from in 2011. But Gavin Andresen, who Nakamoto chose to succeed him, published a blog post in which he described meeting Wright last month and said he is "convinced beyond a reasonable doubt" that the Australian is Nakamoto. Jon Matonis, a founding director of the Bitcoin Foundation now works as a bitcoin consultant, wrote a blog post on Monday which, like Andresen's, supported Wright's claims. "According to me, the proof is conclusive and I have no doubt that Craig Steven Wright is the person behind the Bitcoin technology, Nakamoto consensus, and the Satoshi Nakamoto name," Matonis wrote. He and Andresen also confirmed they had been responsible for their respective blog posts to Reuters directly. LEGACY Nakamoto's biggest likely legacy lies well beyond his control. The blockchain technology that underpins the currency could transform the way banks settle transactions, the way that property rights and other vital data are recorded, and provide a way for central banks to issue their own digital currencies. The BBC reported on Monday that Wright gave some technical proof demonstrating that he had access to blocks of bitcoins known to have been created by bitcoin's creator. Researchers believe Nakamoto may be holding up to one million of the more than 15 million bitcoins currently in circulation, which would make the creator worth around $440 million. In a blog post also dated Monday, Wright posted an example of a signature used by Nakamoto and an explanation of how bitcoin transactions are verified and thanked all those who had supported the project from its inception. "This incredible community's passion and intellect and perseverance have taken my small contribution and nurtured it, enhanced it, breathed life into it," he wrote. However he did not state directly that he was Nakamoto. "Satoshi is dead," he said. "But this is only the beginning." Bitcoin expert Peter Van Valkenburgh, director of research at Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group Coin Center, said a new message cryptographically signed using the private key associated with the so-called Genesis block, the first ever "mined" would have been more convincing. The currency's "miners" are incentivised to process transactions every 10 minutes by a possible reward of bitcoins (25 currently), which is how new bitcoins are created. Wright also spoke with The Economist, but declined requests from the magazine to provide further proof that he was Nakamoto. His representatives told Reuters he would not be taking part in more media interviews for the time being. "Our conclusion is that Mr Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain," The Economist said. "Indeed, it may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin." Hopes that bitcoin would become broadly used helped buoy its price to more than $1,000 in December 2013, when its market capitalisation was $13 billion compared with today's $7 billion. Wright told The Economist he would exchange bitcoin he owns slowly to avoid pushing down its price. HOME RAIDED In December, police raided Wright's Sydney home and office after Wired magazine named him as the probable creator of bitcoin and holder of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the cryptocurrency. At the time he made no comment. The treatment of bitcoins for tax purposes in Australia has been the subject of considerable debate. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) ruled in December 2014 that cryptocurrency should be considered an asset, rather than a currency, for capital gains tax purposes. On Monday, the ATO said it had no comment while police were not immediately available for comment. If Wright is Nakamoto he "is now the leader of a movement", said Roberto Capodieci, a Singapore-based entrepreneur working on the blockchain, the technology underlying the currency. That movement ranges from libertarian enthusiasts to central banks experimenting with digital currencies, all of which pay homage in some way to Nakamoto's writings. Kerry aims to extend truce to Syria's Aleppo as ceasefire unravels By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Lesley Wroughton AMMAN/GENEVA, May 2 (Reuters) - Washington and Moscow said on Monday they were working hard to extend a truce in Syria to Aleppo, the divided northern city where a sharp escalation of violence in recent weeks has left a ceasefire in tatters and torpedoed peace talks. U.S. Secretary of State Joahn Kerry was in Geneva for meetings with other dignitaries to try to revive the two-month-old U.S. and Russia-sponsored cessation of hostilities, which quieted guns for the first time during the five-year Syrian war but which has unravelled in recent days. Syria announced temporary local truces in two areas last week. But those agreements have not been extended to Aleppo, where government air strikes and rebel shelling have killed hundreds of civilians in the past week, including more than 50 people in a hospital rebels say was deliberately targeted by the army. The Aleppo fighting threatens to wreck the first peace talks involving the warring parties, which are due to resume at an unspecified date after breaking up in April when the opposition delegation walked out citing government ceasefire violations. "We're getting closer to a place of understanding, but we have some work to do, and that's why we're here," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. Kerry said he hoped for more clarity in the next day or so on restoring the nationwide ceasefire. The United States and Russia had agreed to keep extra staff in Geneva to work on it. "Both sides, the opposition and the regime, have contributed to this chaos, and we are working over the next hours intensely in order to try to restore the cessation of hostilities," Kerry said. He later spoke by telephone to Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Russian Foreign Ministry said they both called on all sides to observe the ceasefire. A Russian military official, General Sergei Kuralenko, said talks were under way on extending the local truces to Aleppo. ALEPPO KEY TO PEACE The United States and Russia have taken the leading roles in diplomacy since Moscow joined the war last year with an air campaign that tipped the balance of power in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, its ally. Washington is among Western and regional powers that say Assad must leave office. The White House said on Monday Assad's government needed to live up to its ceasefire commitments. The civil war in Syria has killed hundred of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes, created the world's worst refugee crisis and provided a base for Islamic State militants who have launched attacks elsewhere. All diplomatic efforts to resolve it have foundered over the fate of Assad, who refuses to accept opposition demands that he leave power. The local truces, known as a "regime of calm", were launched in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus and the countryside of northern Latakia province from Saturday morning in a bid to revive the overall ceasefire. The Latakia truce was for three days and the Ghouta truce, initially for 24 hours, was also extended by another 48. Both cover areas where there has been heavy fighting. But without a similar truce in Aleppo, divided for years between government and rebel zones, there appears to be little hope of restoring the overall ceasefire so talks can resume. De Mistura, due to travel to Moscow for talks with Lavrov, said in a statement there could be no progress in political talks without the ceasefire and other steps to bring "tangible benefits on the ground for the Syrian people". Aleppo remains the biggest prize for Assad's forces hoping to take full control of the city, Syria's largest before the war. The nearby countryside includes the last strip of the Syria-Turkish border in the hands of Arab Sunni rebels. CIVILIANS KILLED The opposition accuses the government of deliberately targeting civilians in rebel held parts of Aleppo to drive them out. For its part, the government says rebels have been heavily shelling government-held areas, proving they are receiving sophisticated weapons from foreign sponsors. A British-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has reported scores of civilians killed on both sides in recent days, although more in rebel-held territory. Syrian state television said on Monday that a missile had hit the surroundings of Aleppo University Medical Hospital, and several civilians were injured by rebel mortar attacks on the residential area of Jamiyat Hay al Zahra in western Aleppo. The rebel-held local council of Aleppo city announced a state of emergency in areas it runs due to the intense bombardment. About 350,000-400,000 people are believed to remain in rebel-held parts of what was once a city of 2 million. Mohammad Muaz Abu Saleh, a senior councillor in the rebel Aleppo governate council, said residents were nonetheless not abandoning opposition-held areas. "Those who wanted to leave Aleppo have fled," he said. Those who have stayed behind "have decided to stay under all circumstances of shelling and siege. Aleppo will remain populated with its people not leaving." Amar al-Absi, a resident of a rebel-held area, said: "There was heavy shelling throughout the night. In my neighbourhood, Salah al-Deen, a missile hit a building that was empty and it was levelled but there were no casualties." In Hama, a western city, government troops surrounded a prison and fired teargas to put down a revolt by inmates, who seized several guards in protest against their planned transfer to a military prison, the Observatory reported. In countryside north of Aleppo, other rebel groups have battled Islamic State fighters who are not party to any ceasefire. Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said the militants had gained control of three villages near the border with Turkey, cutting supply routes of other rebels, despite Turkish shelling. The Observatory said the militants had staged a counterattack to regain ground lost from other rebels in to-and-fro fighting that has seen no major gains for any side. Two rockets hit the Turkish town of Kilis near Islamic State positions in Syria on Monday, killing one person and wounding others, a security source told Reuters. The source said the Turkish military returned fire hitting IS targets. Ankara said it had killed 34 militants on Sunday. Turkey, a NATO ally and backer of anti-Assad rebels, is part of a U.S.-led coalition launching air strikes against Islamic State but is also strongly opposed to the main Kurdish militia in Syria, Washington's closest ally on the ground. Another major supporter of the rebels is Saudi Arabia, whose Foreign Minister Jubeir blamed the latest escalation on the government and called for Assad to step down. Low oil prices offer chance to spur G7 energy transition -Canada By Osamu Tsukimori KITAKYUSHU, Japan, May 2 (Reuters) - Energy ministers of the leading Western economies are discussing ways to create opportunities from the oil slump that include a push for more electric vehicles, Canadian Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr told Reuters on Monday. Members of the G7 include major auto-producing countries such as Japan and Germany, which benefit from cheaper oil but have been hit by fuel consumption and emissions scandals. In a push to regain the initiative, Germany last week announced the launch of a 4,000-euro-per-electric-vehicle subsidy. For G7 member Canada, a major oil and natural gas producer, an oil price fall of some 70 percent since mid-2014 means economic pain, but the Canadian energy minister said that the slump also opened up an opportunity. "Prices are low. Investment is down but we see this also as an opportunity to prepare for a transition phase in the energy economy, and we were discussing that over these last two days at the G7 ministerial meeting," he said on the sidelines of the G7 energy ministers' meeting in Kitakyushu, southwestern Japan. "In the case of Canada, we have tabled a budget in the House of Commons that will invest significantly in this transition through electric vehicles, green technologies, green infrastructure." Canada still plans to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) despite low energy prices, a current abundance and the delay and cancellation of some projects. "Our policy objective is that Canada should be an exporter of LNG both on the east coast and the west, and the geography is favourable to a Canadian-Japanese relationship," he said. "We also have some hope that there will be an LNG industry that develops on the east coast of Canada for export to Europe." Canada has said it wants to sell oil to Asian economies but has faced difficulty getting crude pipelines built to the Pacific coast. Carr said that the government is trying to turn that around. "The regulatory process and the way in which the previous government went about trying to get approvals for pipelines didn't work," he said. PRESS DIGEST- Canada - May 2 May 2 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** The Ontario government has moved to reassure the auto sector that it considers the industry crucial to the province's economy amid a controversy stirred up by a draft action plan on climate change and comments critical of auto companies and executives by Environment Minister Glen Murray. (http://bit.ly/1W1E2ex) ** Marijuana advocates are calling on the City of Vancouver to de-escalate what some see as a new phase of the war on drugs, as bylaw officers visited dispensaries on the weekend to start handing out C$250 ($200) tickets to more than 100 unlicensed businesses. (http://bit.ly/1W1E4D2) ** The federal public-service union representing Canada's 17,000 immigration and employment workers is under trusteeship following allegations of serious financial troubles in some of its regional offices and infighting among its executive members. (http://bit.ly/1W1Ef1j) NATIONAL POST ** A group of Alberta conservatives are calling for the formation of a new party, rather than unification under either the Wildrose or Progressive Conservative parties, to patch up the fractured political right in the province. (http://bit.ly/1W1GBgy) Nepal, northern India battle worst forest fires in years By Malini Menon and Gopal Sharma NEW DELHI/KATHMANDU, May 2 (Reuters) - Nepal and parts of northern India are battling their worst forest fires in years that have devastated thousands of hectares of woodland, killed at least 18 people and sent a pall of smoke across the southern Himalayas that can been seen from space. In Nepal, 11 people have died while trying to fight fires that have razed 280,000 hectares (692,000 acres) of forest across the country, the worst in six years. "This year we have experienced a longer spell of dry weather and the temperatures have risen significantly, contributing to the disaster," Forest Ministry official Krishna Prasad Acharya told Reuters. The worst forest fires in four years in India's northern Uttarakhand state have killed at least seven people and disrupted the lives of thousands, an emergency official said on Monday. The Uttarakhand fires have intensified in the past week, torching more than 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of forest. Indian Air Force helicopters have been scooping and dumping water from reservoirs in an attempt to douse the flames, but operations were hampered by poor visibility. A dozen locations, including in Almora, Pauri Garhwal and Chamoli districts, were badly hit, said Anil Shekhawat, a spokesman at the National Disaster Response Force. "This can be compared with the worst fire of 2012," Indian Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said in New Delhi. Four people had been arrested on suspicion of starting forest fires, he added. The number of reported forest fires has jumped to 1,689 so far this year in Uttarakhand, compared to 207 for the whole of 2015, according to data from the Forest Survey of India. Forests cover about a quarter of India's total area. "The fire is under control and has shown a downward trend in the past two days," said S. Ramaswamy, additional chief secretary of Uttarakhand. Saudi Arabia looks to UK, France and China for help building homes DUBAI, May 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's government has authorised the housing ministry to seek the assistance of Britain, France and China in building hundreds of thousands of homes to ease a shortage of affordable housing in the kingdom. The housing minister and his deputy were given the power to sign memorandums of understanding with those countries, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. It gave no details of what the agreements might contain, but in March the ministry signed memorandums with South Korea and a Saudi-South Korean consortium to develop 100,000 housing units in northern Riyadh over 10 years. The consortium includes Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co and Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. South Korea warns of risk North may abduct citizens abroad SEOUL, May 2 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Monday it was on guard for the possibility North Korea may try to snatch its citizens abroad or conduct "terrorist acts" after the North accused it of abducting North Korean workers from a restaurant in China. "All measures of precaution" were in place for the safety of South Koreans abroad including an order to beef up security at diplomatic missions, said the South's Unification Ministry, which handles issues related to the North. "We are on alert for the possibility that the North may try to abduct our citizens or conduct terrorist acts abroad," ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee told a briefing. The two Korea's have been fierce rivals since the 1950-53 Korean War and tension on the peninsula has been high since January when North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test. It followed that with a string of missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. South Korea said in April 13 North Korean workers at a restaurant run by the North in China had defected. North Korea accused the South of a "hideous abduction". North Korea proposed sending family members of the 13 to South Korea for face-to-face meetings but the South rejected the suggestion. Greenpeace publishes confidential U.S-EU trade deal documents By Caroline Copley BERLIN, May 2 (Reuters) - A sweeping free trade deal being negotiated between the European Union and the United States would lower food safety and environmental standards, Greenpeace said on Monday, citing confidential documents from the talks. But the European Commission said the documents reflected negotiating positions, not any final outcome, and the EU's chief negotiator dismissed some of Greenpeace's points as "flatly wrong". Greenpeace opposes the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), arguing with other critics that it would hand too much power to big business at the expense of consumers and national governments. Supporters say the TTIP would deliver more than $100 billion of economic gains on both sides of the Atlantic. Greenpeace Netherlands published 248 pages of "consolidated texts" for 13 chapters, or about half, of the deal on the website TTIP-leaks.org on Monday. They date from early April, before a round of meetings in New York last week. "We've done this to ignite a debate," Greenpeace trade expert Juergen Knirsch told a news conference in Berlin, adding that the documents showed the negotiations should be halted. "The best thing the EU Commission can do is to say 'Sorry, we've made a mistake'." The documents show how entrenched differences have become on both sides of the Atlantic, Greenpeace said, though Washington and Brussels said last week they could still reach a deal before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in January 2017. Knirsch said the texts showed the United States wanted to replace Europe's "precautionary principle" - which prevents potentially harmful products from coming to market when their effect is unknown or disputed - with a less stringent approach. "ALARMIST HEADLINES" In Europe, there is widespread opposition to allowing more imports of U.S. agricultural products due to concerns about genetically modified foods. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom played down the significance of the texts. "It shouldn't come as a surprise that there are areas where the EU and the U.S. have different views," she wrote in a blog. "That does not mean the parties will meet halfway. In areas where we are too far apart in a negotiation, we simply will not agree. In that sense, many of today's alarmist headlines are a storm in a teacup," she said. In Brussels, EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero dismissed Greenpeace's comments on the precautionary principle, adding: "We have made crystal clear that we would not agree on anything that implies changes of our regulatory regime on GMOs (genetically modified organisms)." The negotiators aim to have "consolidated texts" by July, when a 14th round of talks is due to be held. They would then seek to settle the thornier issues in the second half of 2016. A survey published last month by the Bertelsmann Foundation showed waning support for a TTIP deal in both Germany and the United States after three years of negotiations. Hague court says India must release Italian sailor -Italy By Crispian Balmer ROME, May 2 (Reuters) - A U.N. court has ruled that India must allow an Italian marine detained in Delhi for more than four years to go home, Italy's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. India acknowledged the ruling but said Salvatore Girone would remain under the authority of its Supreme Court which might impose various conditions on his release. Girone is one of two Italian marines were arrested in India in 2012 on suspicion of killing two fishermen while on an anti-piracy mission on an Italian oil tanker. One returned to Italy with health problems, but India has refused to let Girone go. He is living in the Italian embassy in Delhi. "This really is a significant step forward which we have worked on with great dedication," Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told reporters. "I'll take advantage of this moment to send a message of friendship to the great people of India." The case has soured relations between India and Italy, and also overshadowed Delhi's efforts to improve its ties with the European Union as other EU countries backed Rome in the row. Looking to overcome the legal impasse, the two countries agreed last year to move their dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decision. The Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in an initial ruling, the court had decided that Girone should be allowed home while it continued its deliberations, which might take many months. The court itself declined to comment. Responding hours later, India said Girone should be free to return home for the duration of the U.N. investigation, but stressed that he would remain on bail and would have to return to India if the Hague court ruled that India could try the case. The Ministry of External Affairs said the Supreme Court might demand that he surrender his passport to the Italian authorities and not leave Italy without Indian permission. The U.N. court will continue to review the merits of the case and no date has been set for a definitive ruling. "The government underlines that today's court decision ... will not influence the progress of the arbitration procedures, which should decide if Italy or India has jurisdiction in the case," Italy's Foreign Ministry said. Italy has argued that the case should not be heard in India because it said the incident had occurred in international waters. India said it remained confident that the issue of jurisdiction would be decided in its favour. India amends mining law in boost to cement mergers and banks By Sankalp Phartiyal and Devidutta Tripathy NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, May 2 (Reuters) - The upper house of India's parliament on Monday approved an amendment to the mining law, allowing the transfer of mines from sellers to buyers in a victory for the State Bank of India (SBI) that had lobbied for the change. Under pressure to cut corporate bad debts of more than $120 billion, lenders including SBI have been trying to forge tie-ups between distressed cement, steel and power companies and those that are in better shape. The amendment to the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, requested by SBI some three months ago, has now cleared both houses of parliament and should soon become law. Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar told Reuters the changes were mainly aimed at helping companies sell limestone mining licences along with their cement plants. It could also facilitate a merger of the Indian assets of France's Lafarge and Switzerland's Holcim after a global merger between the two companies last year created Lafargeholcim. SBI chair Arundhati Bhattacharya welcomed the move. "This will enable banks to sell assets to relieve stress in group accounts," she told Reuters. "Without (the) amendment selling was becoming untenable as assets were losing value in the absence of mines." The deal will help UltraTech Cement Ltd's efforts to complete a deal to buy heavily indebted Jaiprakash Associates Ltd's cement plants for 159 billion rupees ($2.39 billion) along with its limestone mines. UltraTech's finance head Atul Daga told Reuters before the parliament vote that the amendment would clear the way for the deal without leaving "any ambiguity on the value of the mines". He predicted more deals in the sector but did not elaborate. Dalmia Bharat Ltd, which had also bid for the Jaiprakash cement plants, said the changes would help it look for deals in the longer run given its ambition to grow from being the No.3 player in the country. EU guarantee deal paves way for potential HSH Nordbank sale BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT, May 2 (Reuters) - The European Commission on Monday approved a guarantee by two German states for HSH Nordbank that will ultimately facilitate a sale of the state-owned bank which had to be rescued during the financial crisis. The Commission found that a 3 billion euro ($3.44 billion) increase in a guarantee ceiling provided by the regional states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein was in line with EU state aid rules. In 2013, the Commission had temporarily approved the increase in the guarantee to 10 billion euros from 7 billion euros but began an investigation to assess whether the public-sector bank could restore its viability. The Commision said its finding was based on new commitments by Germany to split the bank into two parts and to sell the operational business without state aid. "The split and sale solution, as I already outlined in agreement with the German authorities in October, created an opportunity to sell an important part of the bank," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. "It paves the way for a privatised, viable business to emerge from the sale process," she continued. HSH Nordbank, majority-owned by Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, turned to its owners after risky assets turned sour in 2008 and the shipping lender got hit by the slump in global trade in the wake of the financial crisis. The bank said on Monday the Commission's approval would allow it to transfer non-performing loans worth 8.2 billion euros to a wind-down vehicle run by its owners. HSH will contribute 260 million euros to setting up this external 'bad bank'. The Commission has set HSH's owners a February 2018 deadline to privatise the bank, which can be extended by six months provided the EU agrees. If Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein fail to find a private investor, then Germany's public-sector banks may seek a solution for HSH, sources familiar with the matter said. DSGV, the umbrella organisation of Germany's seven landesbanks and roughly 400 savings banks, said on Monday that it would continue to cooperate with HSH Nordbank. U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal in shareholder suit against BP By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined a request from shareholders seeking to revive their class action lawsuit against BP claiming the British oil company misrepresented its safety procedures prior to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The court left in place a September 2015 ruling by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that refused to certify the lawsuit filed by investors who bought shares in the 2-1/2 years before the spill. BP's share price plummeted after the disaster, which has cost the company more than $55 billion. BP said in court papers the lawsuit should not be allowed to proceed because the plaintiffs were improperly seeking damages for the entire decline in stock price as a result of the spill. The appeals court said some of the investors might have bought the stock even knowing the risk, and these investors may still sue BP individually. In the same ruling, the appeals court allowed claims by investors who bought shares after the spill to move forward. Those claims were not at issue in the appeal. "BP has long argued that all the plaintiffs' securities claims are meritless and will continue to defend vigorously against them," BP spokesman Geoff Morrell said. Lawyers for the investors did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and Macondo oil well rupture killed 11 workers and caused the largest offshore environmental disaster in U.S. history, polluting large parts of the Gulf, killing marine wildlife and harming businesses. It took 87 days to plug the leak on the ocean floor. In total, BP has incurred about $55 billion in losses as a result of the spill, including $18.7 billion to settle federal, state and local claims. Hillary Clinton kicks off a two-day tour through struggling Appalachia Monday, and her first task will be trying to clean up her own comment about putting coal companies 'out of business.' Clinton has pledged to plow more than $30 billion to help the region, but she's been trying to dig out of a mess she made with her coal country comment in March. After Clinton said during a CNN town hall in Ohio that, "We're going to put a lot of coal companies and coal miners out of business,' she immediately wrote West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democratic supporter, to try to walk back the comment. 'You know my history and the depth of my commitment to our coalfield workers,' Clinton wrote. She said she wanted to point out that 'coal will be part of the energy mix for years to come' and that 'we need to do more to support the workers and families' facing challenges caused by the long-term decline in coal industry jobs. Clinton won West Virginia in 2008 when she was positioning herself as a commonsense alternative to Barack Obama Chipotle run: Clinton and aide Huma Abedin grabbed road food in Ohio during last year's 'Scooby Van' trip Clinton's campaign announced the 'Breaking Down Barriers' tour Sunday. The campaign itself brought up the 'Scooby Van' which references a ham-handed effort by Clinton to kick off her primary campaign with a road trip filled with undisclosed stops along the way. 'The trip will underscore Clintons focus on the aspirations and needs of families, especially in often overlooked or underserved communities across the country, and what they are looking for in their next president,' according to her campaign. The trip comes a day after primary opponent Vermont Sen. Sanders has vowed to keep up his campaign against her despite having to win an ever higher percentage of remaining delegates to prevail. Sanders' message which blasts trade agreements and hammers the government for not doing enough to break up big banks who contributed to the financial crisis has elements that seem tailor-made for the region. Bill Clinton got heckled on Sunday during an appearance in Logan, West Virginia, where he told supporters 'I care about what you're going through.' Mayor Serafino Nolletti and written Manchin in opposition to Clinton's pending visit. Bill and Hillary Clinton are simply not welcome in our town, Nolletti, WOWK reported. Hold on: Bernie is still hauling in campaign cash for a long fight, though his monthly totals have dropped Donald Trump's anti-trade message also could carry weight in the struggling region Clinton's March statement was seized upon by coal industry groupsand Republican lawmakers such as U.S. Senators Rand Paul andMitch McConnell, both from Kentucky, as evidence she planned tocontinue carrying out President Barack Obama's regulatory "war"on coal. Clinton's decision to embark on an Appalachian tour is in parttimed ahead of Democratic nominating contests in West Virginiaon May 10 and in Kentucky on May 17 as she seeks to secure thenomination before the party's July convention. So Sorry! Clinton cleaned up coal mess with letter to Sen. Joe Manchin Clinton won Ohio's contest in mid-March, besting rivalBernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont. However, her aides say her decision to focus on the regionalso reflects her commitment to show voters she will work forthem if elected, even if they do not support her now. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, campaignedon Sunday in West Virginia, encountering protests from Trumpsupporters and being asked about Clinton's town hall remark andsubsequent apology. Manchinaccompanied the former president, who is also expected tocampaign in Kentucky on Tuesday. West Virginia last voted for a Democratic presidentialcandidate in 1996, when Bill Clinton was running for his secondfour-year term. He is the only Democrat who has won Kentuckysince 1980. John F. Kennedy credits West Virginia with helping propel him to the nomination, after the state's majority protestant voters gave a big win as he was trying to overcome concerns about his Catholic faith. The trip will feature plenty of retail stops where voters get to interact with the real Hillary During her first presidential run, Clinton defeated Obama inthe 2008 primaries in those states but lost the nomination tohim. Her tour is an early move to siphon support from Donald Trump, thefront-runner for the Republican nomination, who has called forcontinued coal production and dismissed environmental concernsas a policy priority. Clinton's first stop, at a restaurant in Ashland, Kentucky,will be a discussion with the leader of a local steel workersunion and several of some 600 workers who were laid off when AKSteel Holding Corp announced in October that it would idle oneof its furnaces amid a supply glut and lower steel prices. Clinton last month criticized China's announcement that itwas encouraging increased steel output amid a global surplusthat is driving down prices and said, if elected, she wouldcrack down on Chinese trade practices. She will continue to Williamson, West Virginia, aonce-thriving town near the state's border with Kentucky inMingo County, the heart of the coal-producing region. Its mainstreets had been dotted with empty store fronts as coal miningemployment has been cut in half over the past four years. Thetown is now trying to reshape its economy. Clinton will meet retired mine workers there and also tourthe Williamson Health and Wellness Center, which serves as thenerve center for a local program that aims to drive economicrevitalization through a health-focused, local-foods movementusing land once designated for mining to drive large-scaleagricultural development. Aides say Clinton's interest in the region's economictroubles was piqued after she left the U.S. State Department in2013. She circulated data to aides then about studies related todecreased life expectancies for less-educated white adults inAppalachia, where the decline in coal-related employment hasbeen accompanied by a growth in opioid addiction, diabetes andother health issues. MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf markets fall; Emaar Properties drops after earnings By Andrew Torchia DUBAI, May 2 (Reuters) - Stock markets in the Gulf fell on Monday after oil prices pulled back and Dubai blue chip Emaar Properties dropped following the release of its first-quarter earnings. Saudi Arabia's index slipped 0.6 percent as petrochemical shares in particular were weak, with Saudi Basic Industries losing 1.2 percent. Saudi Arabian Mining Co retreated 3 percent after jumping by its 10 percent daily limit on Sunday on news that the miner had reshuffled its board and appointed the chairman of state oil giant Saudi Aramco, Khalid al-Falih, as its own chairman as part of a government drive to develop the mining sector. In Dubai, the index fell 1.8 percent. Emaar rose at the opening but closed 2.1 percent lower; it reported a 17 percent rise in first-quarter net profit to 1.21 billion dirhams ($330 million). SICO Bahrain had forecast 1.22 billion dirhams. Dubai Investments, another stock commonly seen as a play on the Dubai economy, sank 5.1 percent. Dubai Financial Market slid 4 percent after reporting a 27 percent rise in first-quarter net profit on the back of an increase in trading activity. But GFH Financial rose 0.9 percent after saying it had signed a preliminary letter of intent with Abu Dhabi's Eshraq Properties, under which GFH might sell real estate assets to Eshraq in exchange for Eshraq shares. Eshraq dropped 1.2 percent and was Abu Dhabi's most heavily traded stock. Abu Dhabi's index lost 0.8 percent as some banks continued falling after last week's disappointing earnings in the sector. Abu Dhabi National Energy Co (TAQA) outperformed, rising early on and closing flat in unusually heavy trade, after sources told Reuters that TAQA was considering whether to sell its overseas oil and gas assets to another Abu Dhabi state-owned entity as it focuses on its core business of power generation and water production. TAQA declined to comment. Qatar's index fell 0.9 percent as real estate firm Ezdan Holding lost 2.7 percent after reporting a 12 percent increase in first-quarter profit to 585 million riyals ($161 million), with growth restrained by a sharp rise in expenses and financial costs. But Dlalala Brokerage surged its 10 percent daily limit in unusually heavy trade. Egypt's market was closed for a public holiday. MONDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS SAUDI ARABIA * The index slipped 0.6 percent to 6,716 points. DUBAI * The index fell 1.8 percent to 3,385 points. ABU DHABI * The index dropped 0.8 percent to 4,470 points. QATAR * The index fell 0.9 percent to 10,092 points. KUWAIT * The index dropped 0.6 percent to 5,372 points. OMAN * The index edged up 0.1 percent to 5,952 points. BAHRAIN * The index rose 0.2 percent to 1,113 points. Airbus Helicopters lifts ban on some Super Puma flights By Stine Jacobsen and Tim Hepher OSLO/PARIS, May 2 (Reuters) - Airbus Helicopters is no longer recommending a blanket ban on commercial flights of its H225 Super Puma helicopter, saying initial evidence suggested there was no link between Friday's crash in Norway and two North Sea accidents in 2012. Airbus, which had initially urged a halt to all public flights, said on Monday commercial operations could resume outside UK and Norway where regulators have imposed bans. Safety experts cautioned it was too early to say what caused the helicopter's rotor blades to detach, sending the aircraft plunging onto a rocky coastline off Bergen. In 2012, Super Pumas were grounded after two ditchings in the UK North Sea later blamed on gearbox cracks. A workhorse for the oil industry, the Super Puma has been in operation since the 1970s. There are 800 in operation worldwide. Some operators including CHC Helicopter, the owner of the crashed helicopter, said they were keeping Super Pumas grounded. Search-and-rescue operations were not affected. CHC said there had been no emergency calls from pilots before the crash and confirmed reports that the same helicopter had returned to base twice last week due to a warning light. After two parts were changed on successive days, the warning disappeared and the aircraft did six commercial flights on the eve of the crash without incident, CHC said, adding neither part was connected to the gearbox or rotor. Norway said cockpit voice and data recordings had been successfully downloaded and sent for analysis. Amateur video showed all five rotor blades, still apparently connected to their rotor head, spinning towards the ground after parting from the helicopter. Such accidents are extremely rare. The last such disaster involved an earlier version of Super Puma off Aberdeen in 2009, in which 16 people died. Oil companies and helicopter firms moved to rejig operations using Sikorsky helicopters. But disruption has been tempered by a recent drop in activity driven by low oil prices. According to Norways's oil safety regulator, offshore helicopter traffic fell 11.9 percent between 2014 and 2015. "We must always do everything we can so that people can feel safe going to work," Statoil Chief Executive Eldar Saetre said after visiting Gullfaks B oil platform, where the 11 workers who died had boarded the helicopter. The version of Super Puma which crashed, the H225, has been in use since 2004. There are 179 in service, including 40 in the North Sea. Airbus, Safran finalise space launcher deal PARIS, May 2 (Reuters) - Airbus Group and fellow France-based company Safran said on Monday they had signed an agreement for the second phase of a merger of their space launcher activities. The two are combining these activities in response to competition from private U.S. launch provider Space X and in order to prepare for the next version of Europe's Ariane rocket. Under the deal, engine maker Safran will, as expected, pay 800 million euros ($920 million) to Airbus Group to ensure an equal 50/50 ownership split in the new venture, sources close to the talks said. The long-awaited agreement will close in the second quarter, the aerospace groups said in a joint statement. The second phase calls for the integration of industrial assets and military launchers, turning their existing Airbus Safran Launchers venture into a "fully fledged operational company", the two partners said. The deal had been held up for months as the two companies and the French government debated how the lump sum arriving in Airbus coffers should be treated for tax purposes. "An agreement has been reached between Airbus Group and Safran on the fiscal details of the operation, which conforms to French legislation," one of the sources said. Still no will found for Prince as Minnesota court opens probate process By David Bailey MINNEAPOLIS, May 2 (Reuters) - Lawyers charged with untangling the multimillion-dollar estate of music superstar Prince said on Monday they still have not located a will that could avert a years-long dispute over his fortune but have not stopped looking. Six siblings or half-siblings of Prince, who was found dead at age 57 at his home in suburban Minneapolis on April 21, were listed as heirs in court documents filed in Carver County District Court in Chaska, Minnesota, where a brief hearing was held before Judge Kevin Eide. The exact value of Prince's estate has not yet been disclosed but his music catalog alone has been estimated at more than $500 million. Bremer Trust, National Association, a bank where Prince conducted business for years, could play a key role as a special administrator to safeguard his fortune. The bank was appointed at the request of Prince's sister, Tyka Nelson, and Eide reconfirmed that appointment during the hearing. Natasha Robertson, an attorney for Bremer Trust, said the search for a will continues. Eide said the court would not find at this time that there is no will - only that one has not been found. Creditors and inheritors can file claims against the estate. Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, was married and divorced twice. He had no living children. Under Minnesota law, his assets are likely to be split evenly among the siblings, tax attorney Steve Hopkins said. Hopkins said the bigger the estate, the greater the likelihood there will be a dispute by claimants that could take years to settle. Prince's affairs seems destined for tax court, much like superstar Michael Jackson's estate, which is in a high priced skirmish with the Internal Revenue Service over the value of Jackson's name and image, Forbes reported. Prince, whose hits included "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," owned royalties from his more than 30 albums and had regained ownership of his master recordings. He was said to have a cache of unheard recordings, including an album cut with late jazz trumpet great Miles Davis. It could be weeks before results are released from an autopsy on Prince, whose body was found in an elevator at his home-studio complex called Paisley Park in a Minneapolis suburb. The cause of death remains undetermined. Denmark extends controls on German border, EU set to authorise more COPENHAGEN/BRUSSELS, May 2 (Reuters) - Denmark extended temporary controls at its border with Germany on Monday, imposed to help control an influx of migrants, as the European Commission confirmed it would shortly authorise more such extensions within the passport-free Schengen zone. Seven members of the Schengen zone, including Germany and Denmark, have introduced temporary border controls after more than one million migrants entered the European Union last year, mostly via Greece. The European Commission, struggling to prevent the collapse of the Schengen accord, is expected this month to allow EU member states to retain the emergency border checks, which are due to expire in May, for a while longer. Denmark, which first introduced border checks on Jan. 4 in response to similar steps by its northern neighbour Sweden, said it had prolonged them by a further 30 days to June 2, citing concerns about illegal immigration. In Brussels, Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said: "By May 12 at the latest (the Commission) should have a decision ready which would allow (us) to prolong internal border controls under the Schengen Borders Code." "We have a decision on this ready for next Wednesday," she told a daily news briefing. Countries that first resorted to internal border checks blamed Greece - Europe's main point of entry for the refugees and migrants fleeing wars and poverty in the Middle East and Africa - for not controlling its part of Schengen's external border well enough. The Commission launched a procedure against Greece on that basis, which allows it to approve a further extension of the temporary border checks other countries have introduced. Brussels can authorise border checks inside Schengen to be in place for a maximum of two years in total. A European Commission source told Reuters it was leaning towards allowing their extension until November. The move will be welcomed by Germany, which had asked Brussels for the extension. Investors may have profited from leaked U.S. data: ECB research paper FRANKFURT, May 2 (Reuters) - Investors earned millions of dollars in profits from correctly betting on market moves ahead of sensitive U.S. economic data, suggesting leaks of key indicators, a European Central Bank research paper said on Monday. Studying moves in the case of 21 market-moving indicators between 2008 and 2014, 11 showed some pre-announcement price drift consistent with the announcement surprise, with seven of them indicating substantial moves, the authors said in the paper, which does not necessarily represent the ECB's opinion. "Based on a back-of-the-envelope calculation, we estimate that since 2008 in the S&P E-mini futures market alone the profits associated with trading prior to the official announcement release time have amounted to about $20 million per year," the authors said. "Prices start to move about 30 minutes before the official release time, and this pre-announcement price move accounts on average for about a half of the total price adjustment." Data that showed "strong" evidence of pre-announcement price moves included the CB consumer confidence index, existing home sales, preliminary GDP, industrial production, the ISM Non-manufacturing index, the ISM Manufacturing index and pending home sales, the paper said. "While the overall evidence points to leakage and proprietary data collection as the most likely sources of pre-announcement drift, reprocessing of public information may also contribute to some extent," the paper said, arguing that leakage cannot be conclusively established. Clinton courts coal-country unions with eye toward fighting Trump By Emily Stephenson and Amanda Becker WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clinton, turning her attention to the November U.S. election and an increasingly likely match-up against Republican Donald Trump, sought on Monday to shore up union support by visiting coal and steel workers in the economically struggling Appalachian region. While the Republican presidential candidates focus on Tuesday's primary contest in Indiana, Clinton will meet the head of a local steel workers' union and retired mine workers in Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio. Trump's pro-coal, anti-trade message has resonated with voters frustrated over job losses. Clinton has pledged more than $30 billion to help regions that depend on coal, but her promise was overshadowed when she said in March that the country would "put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business." Parts of Appalachia, a region that spans multiple states across the eastern United States, have struggled with poverty and losses of jobs. West Virginia's unemployment rate of 6.5 percent in March was well above the national rate of 5 percent, according to Labor Department data. Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, while the figure in Kentucky was 5.6 percent. Clinton has a large lead over U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination, and she is making early moves like this week's trip to try to siphon support from Trump, who says his outsider campaign will succeed with struggling voters. It will be an uphill struggle for Clinton in Appalachia. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, campaigned on Sunday in West Virginia, encountering protests from Trump supporters. West Virginia last voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1996, when Bill Clinton was running for his second four-year term. He is the only Democrat who has won Kentucky since 1980. TRUMP IN INDIANA Trump will take a leap toward winning the Republican nomination if he comes out ahead in Tuesday's Indiana primary. His success in the race for the White House may well ride on the support of Republican evangelicals. On Monday, the New York billionaire criticized a trade deal signed by Bill Clinton, and threatened tariffs on goods from companies that move out of the United States in search of cheaper labor. "People look for a job and they have to quit after four, five months," Trump said on CNN. "I think that a lot of these people are going to join my campaign. I think a lot of the Bernie Sanders young people are going to join my campaign." Republicans plan to tie Clinton to what they say is an anemic economy under President Barack Obama. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Monday cited data released last week that showed economic growth slipped in the first quarter to its slowest pace in two years. "Struggling Americans will never get ahead under Hillary Clinton. They are going to keep getting taken to the cleaners," Priebus said in an opinion piece for RealClearPolitics. Clinton's first stop, at a restaurant in Ashland, Kentucky, will be a discussion with the leader of a local steel workers union and several of some 600 workers who were laid off when AK Steel Holding Corp announced in October that it would idle one of its furnaces amid a supply glut and lower steel prices. She will continue to Williamson, West Virginia, a once-thriving town in the heart of the coal-producing region. Its main streets had been dotted with empty store fronts as coal mining employment has been cut in half over the past four years. The town is now trying to reshape its economy. Norway to send 60 troops to train Syrian fighters OSLO, May 2 (Reuters) - Norway will send some 60 troops, including special forces soldiers, to train, advise and give operational support to Syrian fighters battling Islamic State militants, the country's prime minister said on Monday. The troops will be based in Jordan. The Norwegian Parliament will need to be consulted if the troops are to operate within Syria, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said. Norway had previously sent 120 soldiers to Iraq to help to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State in northern Iraq. Those troops are still in Iraq. Norway's decision comes a week after the United States announced its biggest expansion of U.S. ground troops in Syria since its civil war began. White House: Assad regime must uphold Syria ceasefire commitments WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government needs to live up to its commitments to a cessation of hostilities, the White House said on Monday, adding that "safe zones" are not a practical alternative now. One person killed by rocket fire in Turkey's Kilis -source ANKARA, May 2 (Reuters) - One person was killed and some were wounded when two rockets fired from Islamic State-controlled Syria landed near a school and in a street in the Turkish border town of Kilis on Monday, a security source said. The Turkish military returned fire into Syria, hitting Islamic State targets, the source said. The southeastern town of Kilis, just across the border from a region of northern Syria controlled by the militant group, has been hit frequently by rocket fire in recent weeks. It was not immediately clear how many people were wounded and whether any of them were children. Over the weekend, Kilis was hit by at least five rockets, although no one was killed. On Sunday, Turkish artillery and drones that took off from southern Turkey simultaneously struck Islamic State targets in Syria, killing 34 militants. Turkey has repeatedly fired back at Islamic State positions under its rules of engagement but has said it needs greater support from Western allies, citing the difficulty of hitting moving targets with howitzers. Ecuador names Icaza as new oil minister QUITO, May 2 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa has named chemical engineer Jose Icaza as the Andean nation's new oil minister, according to a decree published on Monday. Icaza since November had worked as the manager of state-run oil company Petroamazonas, which oversees the majority of the country's oil production. He was named to the post following the resignation of former minister Carlos Pareja. The decree did not offer details as to why Pareja left the post. Turkey says prevented 85 security "incidents" since January ANKARA, May 2 (Reuters) - Turkey has prevented 85 "major incidents" since January, many involving live bombs, the government's spokesman said on Monday, a day after the sixth suicide bombing in a Turkish city this year. "We are making great efforts in the struggle against terror," Numan Kurtulmus told reporters at a briefing in the capital, Ankara. "We have prevented 85 major incidents since January. Forty-nine of those included live bombs." Turkey has been hit by a series of suicide bombings this year, including two in its largest city Istanbul blamed on Islamic State, and two in the capital Ankara which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group. It has also faced attacks from far leftist groups, mostly on police and security forces. On Sunday, two police officers were killed and 22 people wounded by a suicide car bomb in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. U.S. says Iraq's PM in "strong position" amid political unrest STUTTGART, Germany, May 2 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi is in a strong position despite political unrest in Iraq, thanks in part to his battlefield successes and his commitment to a multi-sectarian state, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Monday. US and Senegal sign defence cooperation deal DAKAR, May 2 (Reuters) - The United States and Senegal signed a cooperation agreement on Monday to ease the deployment of American troops to the West African nation to counter humanitarian crises, natural disasters or terrorist attacks. "Terrorism knows no border and it's very important for everyone to cooperate," James Zumwalt, U.S. ambassador to Senegal, said during a joint news conference in Dakar with Senegal's Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye. "We believe that this agreement will help the U.S. military and the Senegalese military reinforce our cooperation together to deal with threats to our common interests." Around 40 U.S. Department of Defense personnel are currently stationed in Senegal, according to the U.S. Africa Command. The U.S. embassy in Dakar said that number would not increase under the deal. "This agreement is about access, is about coming when there is an urgent desire and when both sides agree," Zumwalt said. It sets out the rights and responsibilities of future U.S. access to Senegalese facilities for joint training and possible troop deployments. Foreign Minister Ndiaye said the pact was the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa and would bolster Senegal's ability to respond to growing challenges. "Crises are not always predictable, that's why this agreement is a long-term agreement," he said. Senegal faces a growing threat from jihadist groups following a string of deadly attacks on neighbouring countries claimed by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The group has made clear Senegal is in its sights due to its close ties to France, which has some 3,500 soldiers fighting with regional armies against Islamist militants in West Africa. Leader of Canada's separatist Parti Quebecois steps down By Allison Lampert MONTREAL, May 2 (Reuters) - The leader of the separatist party in Canada's French-speaking province of Quebec stepped down on Monday less than a year after being elected, saying he needed to choose family over work. The abrupt resignation of Parti Quebecois leader Pierre Karl Peladeau, 54, a former chief executive of Quebec's largest media company, Quebecor Inc, led to speculation he may return to the business world. He became the party's leader in May 2015 promising to take Quebec out of Canada and make it a country but he struggled to make gains against the ruling provincial Liberals. "I had to make a choice between my family and our political project," Peladeau said during a surprise news conference. "I chose my family." Speculation about Peladeau's political future had increased after his marriage last year to talk-show host and producer Julie Snyder foundered. The two announced a separation in January. At the time, Peladeau said he would stay on as leader. During its previous times in government, the Parti Quebecois unsuccessfully held two referendums on the province seceding from Canada, but recent polls showed the cause had faded as a priority with voters. The task of rebuilding after the party's worst defeat in 40 years in the April 2014 election proved an uphill battle against the Quebec Liberals, a federalist party, as separatist forces split between the PQ and rival Quebec Solidaire. The abrupt departure of Peladeau, known as PKP, had little initial market impact, with the next provincial election likely years away. The PQ has traditionally trod a careful line between keeping the dream of independence alive and scaring off voters who want to stay in Canada or have simply had enough of the debate over secession. "The sovereigntist movement is in a period of turmoil but that preceded Peladeau and I think it will be there after him," said Christian Bourque, a pollster for Quebec-based Leger Marketing. Peladeau's resignation surprised Quebec's political class. Former Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, who recruited Peladeau to the party, told Radio Canada: "I am profoundly saddened because I believe this is a very talented man of great value who brought a lot to the Parti Quebecois." Floods wipe out 15 pct of Argentine soy crop-climate agency By Hugh Bronstein BUENOS AIRES, May 2 (Reuters) - Argentina lost an estimated 9 million tonnes of soy in the April storms that swamped the Pampas farm belt, an analyst with the state weather agency said on Monday, forecasting a 15 to 16 percent drop in production from the world's No. 3 exporter. The sun has come out but too late to help the hardest hit areas. Big importers like China are already looking to the U.S. Midwest to make up for a likely drop in Argentine supply. The first three weeks of April saw record downpours in Argentine soy provinces Entre Rios, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires and Cordoba, bringing harvesting to a halt. A cold front has since pushed the rain off the Pampas, allowing soils to dry out enough to support the 30-tonne combines used to bring in the crop. "We estimate total production losses at 9 million tonnes so far. That's a preliminary estimate," said Stella Carballo, chief analyst with the government's Climate and Water Institute. "The floods are receding and harvesting has resumed, but the effects are lingering," she said. "We had 19 straight days of rain combined with warm weather right at the end of the growing cycle; ideal conditions for crop diseases that reduce yields." The Buenos Aires Grains Exchange last month chopped its harvest forecast to 56 million tonnes from 60 million. The farm ministry forecasts a 57.6 million tonne crop, warning that estimates will likely fall once the extent of damage becomes clear. Growers are meanwhile selling damaged beans at a discount. In Santa Fe alone, soy yields were pounded 18 percent lower by the early April rains, said Sofia Corina, an agronomist with the Rosario grains exchange. The province had originally been expected to produce 4 tonnes per hectare. Last month the exchange estimated a nationwide crop of 59 million tonnes. The projection "is certain to be lowered" when it issues its next crop report on May 11, Corina said. After soybeans are harvested, Argentine farmers will concentrate on bringing in their 2015/16 corn, which has been less affected by the rains. Advertisement The ancient Roman city of Pompeii, an island jail built by the Bourbons and the home of Botticelli's Venus are among dozens of cultural sites due to share in a 1billion (790million) cash injection, Italy's culture ministry said on Monday. Caring for centuries worth of art and architecture has caused headaches for successive Italian governments as economic stagnation squeezed funding for the arts and restoration projects were dogged by bureaucracy and bad management. Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the 33 projects constituted 'the biggest operation on our cultural heritage in the history of the republic', referring to the period since a 1946 referendum sent Italy's royal family into exile. Scroll down for video In total 33 sites will share in the billion euro government funds, including the ancient city of Pompeii which is to receive 40million (31million) Other projects include completing restoration at the Palace of Caserta, near Naples. The large Bourbon palace, which was originally constructed to rival Versailles, has also been allocated 40million (31million) One of the biggest windfalls is due to go to an 18th century prison on the tiny Tyrrhenian Sea island of Santo Stefano, which was closed in the 1960s and has been slowly decaying ever since. The ministry said in a statement the prison, whose cells were built in a horseshoe shape around a watchtower to make prisoners feel they were always being watched, would receive 70million (55million) for restoration and development. In the past, political opponents were banished to the island under the Fascist regime, including Sandro Pertini, who later became president of Italy. Pompeii, where work to secure a city preserved under volcanic ash for more than 1600 years was long delayed by corruption and mismanagement, will get 40million (31million). One of the biggest windfalls is due to go to an 18th century prison on the tiny Tyrrhenian Sea island of Santo Stefano, which was closed in the 1960s and has been slowly decaying ever since The ministry said in a statement the prison, whose cells were built in a horseshoe shape around a watchtower to make prisoners feel they were always being watched, would receive 70million (55million) for restoration and development A further 40million (31million) will go to works on the Uffizi museums in Florence, home to masterpieces by Sandro Botticelli and Caravaggio. The historic centre of L'Aquila, destroyed by an earthquake in 2009, will get 30million (23million). The 29 other projects include extending the Pinacoteca di Brera gallery in Milan, finishing an auditorium in Florence and completing restoration at the Palace of Caserta, near Naples. Turkish parliament debate on lawmakers' immunity ends in a brawl By Gulsen Solaker and Yesim Dikmen ANKARA, May 2 (Reuters) - Members of Turkey's ruling AK Party and the pro-Kurdish opposition traded kicks and punches and threw water at each other in parliament on Monday, halting talks about lifting parliamentarians' immunity from prosecution. A previous meeting on the bill was postponed on Thursday when a scuffle broke out. The law, championed by the ruling AKP, would strip members of parliament of their legal immunity. The Kurdish-rooted Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) says the bill is targeting them and is aimed at suppressing dissent. President Tayyip Erdogan, who founded the AKP, has called for members of HDP to face prosecution, accusing them of being an extension of the outlawed militant group, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Scores of deputies crammed into a committee room to debate the bill, according to a Reuters reporter in parliament. Tempers flared and some deputies started shoving each other. As punches and kicks flew, a few suited parliamentarians launched themselves into the melee from a table. Others threw water at each other and at least one person could be heard taunting opponents by shouting, "Come on, come on." Several lawmakers were hurt during the scuffle, broadcaster CNN Turk said. The brawl last week delayed efforts to pass legislation related to Turkey's deal with the European Union to take migrants in exchange for visa-free travel to the EU and accelerated accession talks. That legislation was also left unfinished on Monday evening, as some ruling party lawmakers left the general assembly to join their colleagues in the brawling. Kosovo airport closes after Turkish Airlines jet skids off runway PRISTINA, May 2 (Reuters) - A Turkish Airlines jet carrying 143 passengers and eight crew from Istanbul skidded off the runway on Monday when landing at Kosovo's sole airport, officials said. "Turkish Airlines flight TK1018 from Istanbul has had a minor incident and fortunately no one was injured," airport spokeswoman Valentina Gara said. "The airport will remain closed for few hours until some initial technical investigations are finished." A flight from Brussels was diverted to Tirana, Albania. Local media showed images of the Turkish Airlines jet standing in a grassy area next to the runway. "Thanks God we (were) saved from a tragedy," one passenger wrote in a facebook posting with photos of the aircraft. Nigeria's vice president says $15 bln stolen in arms procurement fraud ABUJA, May 2 (Reuters) - Around $15 billion - equal to about half the country's foreign currency reserves - was stolen from Nigeria's public purse under the previous government through fraudulent arms procurement deals, the vice president said on Monday. Africa's top oil exporter is going through its worst economic crisis in decades due to the drop in global crude prices and ministers say these problems have been exacerbated by the impact of fraud under previous administrations. President Muhammadu Buhari, who last year won election fought on his vow to crackdown on corruption, has said the theft of "mind boggling" sums of oil money meant state coffers were virtually empty in Africa's biggest economy when he took office last May. Corruption charges have been levelled against former military chiefs and companies accused of involvement in an alleged arms procurement fraud during the tenure of Buhari's predecessor Goodluck Jonathan. They have pleaded not guilty. . The total sum lost to corruption related to the provision of security equipment to the military and amounted to around 15 billion US dollars, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said. Endemic corruption over decades has enriched a small elite but left many Nigerians mired in poverty despite the country's oil wealth. Osinbajo's claims are the latest in a string of allegations by members of Buhari's administration. In January, the information minister said 55 people who were government ministers, state governors, public officials, bankers and businessmen stole 1.34 trillion naira ($6.8 billion) over a seven-year period. The fall in crude prices has eroded Nigeria's foreign reserves, since oil sales make up around 70 percent of national income, with the central bank adopting fixed exchange rate to protect further depletion of its reserves which stood at $27 billion in April. Osinbajo, who was speaking at a university in the southwestern city of Ibadan, said the $15 billion figure which he alleged had been stolen "is more than half of the current foreign reserves of the country". "It is important to send a message that no public officer can steal the resources of this country and expect to escape," he said. Buhari's presidency ended a period from the end of military rule in 1999 until 2015 when the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was in power. The PDP, now in opposition, has accused the president of mounting a witch-hunt against its members. U.S. tells Pakistan it will have to fund F-16s itself WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - The United States has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets itself after members of the U.S. Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them. The U.S. government said in February it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, as well as radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million. However, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any U.S. funds for the deal to send a message to Pakistan that it needed to do more in the war against militants. Corker's stance reflected deep unhappiness among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress about what they see as Islamabad's policy of supporting militant groups that target Afghans and Americans, and Pakistan's failure to support the reconciliation process for Afghanistan. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said congressional opposition meant funds from the U.S. government's Foreign Military Financing allocation could not be used to purchase the aircraft. "Given congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose," he told a regular news briefing. Kirby said the State Department opposed putting conditions on the use of such funds and believed that effective engagement with Pakistan, including by supporting its counter-terrorism effort, was "critical" to promoting democracy and economic stability in the country. Earlier, in Islamabad, Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant on foreign affairs to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, did not refer directly to the F-16 issue, but complained that there was a "lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan's whole-hearted efforts it was undertaking jointly with the U.S. administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism." Fatemi made the remarks in a meeting with visiting professional staffers from the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. Chinese police to patrol in Italy in two-week experiment ROME, May 2 (Reuters) - Chinese police are joining Italian officers on the streets of Rome and Milan in an experiment aimed at helping tourists from China feel safe, Italy's interior ministry said on Monday. The experiment is the first of its kind in Europe, China's ambassador to Italy, Li Ruiyu, said at a meeting to announce the project, according to a statement from the ministry. The four Chinese officers, who were trained by Italians in Beijing, will wear the same uniforms they wear at home so their compatriots can recognise them easily. More than 3 million Chinese tourists come to Italy every year, according to Liao Jinrong, the director general of the Chinese International Cooperation Bureau. "This service was planned with Chinese tourists in mind, and if it works well we may consider other forms of collaboration, given the presence of the Chinese community in our country," said Interior Minister Angelino Alfano. The officers will share information with Italian police and help Chinese tourists if they need to contact local authorities and diplomats from Monday until May 13, the ministry said. AIG profit misses again as weak hedge fund returns weigh (May 2) By Sudarshan Varadhan May 2 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc, under fire from investors to improve its performance, reported a lower-than-expected profit for the third straight quarter as poor returns from hedge funds hurt its investment income. Shares of the biggest U.S. commercial insurer by premiums fell 3.3 percent in extended trading on Monday. AIG has been scaling back investments in hedge funds, which have borne the brunt of excessive market volatility in the past year. Big-name hedge funds favored by pension funds and the ultra-wealthy for their track record of stellar returns took a battering in the first quarter of 2016, with some posting their worst ever start to a year on record. AIG's weak results come at a time when the company is facing the possibility of having to set aside more capital as regulators worry about financial firms deemed "too big to fail". The insurer's near collapse in 2008 and its $182 billion bailout by the U.S. government led to its inclusion in the Federal Reserve's list of "systemically important financial institutions" (SIFIs). Chief Executive Peter Hancock said in March that a judge's ruling that MetLife Inc was not "too big to fail" opened up an opportunity for AIG to seek an exemption from the designation. Investors will look for an update on AIG's position when the company holds its post-earnings call on Tuesday. AIG has been under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn to split into three independent companies. In February, the insurer agreed to add one member nominated by Icahn to its board. Samuel Merksamer, a managing director at Icahn Capital LP, and billionaire investor John Paulson are expected to join AIG's board next week. The operating profit attributable to AIG fell 54 percent to $773 million in the first quarter, partly due to restructuring costs of $122 million. On a per-share basis, AIG earned 65 cents, far short of the average analyst estimate of $1.00, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Pre-tax income in AIG's commercial property and casualty insurance business, its biggest, fell 38.5 percent to $720 million. The unit's net investment income fell about 44 percent to $577 million. Shares of AIG, which traces its roots to a two-room office in Shanghai in 1919, were trading at $54.75 after the bell. In a sharp and shocking U-turn, the Centre has acknowledged the Jammu and Kashmir Hurriyat leaders' talks with Pakistan. The new stand is a path-breaker in India-Pakistan relations. Besides, it is as shocking as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unscheduled visit to Lahore to attend the wedding ceremony of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter and wish him on his birthday on December 25 last year. The latest stand On April 28, minister of state for external affairs VK Singh said in Rajya Sabha, "(The) government is aware of reports regarding presence of leaders of the Hurriyat and other Kashmiri separatist leaders at the Pakistan High Commission on Pakistans national day. Since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so called Kashmiri leaders are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India." The minister was replying in writing to Rajya Sabha MP Paul Manoj Pandian's questions. While recognising the talks between the separatists and Pakistani authorities, he, however, rejected any third-party interference in the India-Pakistan dialogue. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is greeted by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif after Modi took the oath on May 26, 2014. Photo: Reuters Continuity with change "However, India has consistently maintained that there is no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan as per the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. Indias displeasure at Pakistans attempts to interfere in Indias internal affairs has been repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan," Singh said. BJP's hawkish position as an opposition party When in Opposition, the BJP would accuse then prime minister Manmohan Singh of being weak when dealing with Pakistan. As Gujarat chief minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi had promised tough response to Pakistan for the terror activities on Indian soil. Today, the prime minister meets Nawaz Sharif but the country doubts whether the prime minister has the courage to discuss the issue of terrorism unleashed on us by Pakistan, Modi had said in the national capital before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In her famous threat to Pakistan, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who was the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha then, had talked about getting 10 heads from the neighbouring country if it did not return the head of martyred soldier Hemraj. "If his (Hemraj's) head could not be brought back (from Pakistan), we should get at least 10 heads from their side," Swaraj had said, asking the then Congress-led UPA government to take tough action against that country. "The question is: will we sit without any reaction and engage in a dialogue? This should not happen. At least the government should react in some way. That is why we have said that government should take some tough measures," she had said. Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Hemraj were killed on January 8, 2013 by the Pakistan Army regulars after infiltrating into Indian territory in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. NDA stance since May 2014 India's stance on Hurriyat leaders and separatists holds a larger significance. Had this decision of allowing talks between Hurriyat and Pakistan been allowed two years back, it would have saved two India-Pakistan from getting cancelled. India cancelled its official talks with Pakistan in August 2014 over the question of the Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah meeting Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit in the national capital. At that point in time, the external affairs ministry had said, This is a red line we have drawn... We have told Pakistan, you either talk to us, or to them [Kashmiri separatists]. The India-Pakistan talks suffered casualty for the second time a year later in August 2015. On this occasion, it was Pakistan's turn to cancel its talks with India. The national security adviser (NSA)-level talks between the two countries suffered a miscarriage as Pakistan rejected the Indian government's insistence that its NSA Sartaj Aziz would not be allowed to meet with Hurriyat Conference leaders during his visit to New Delhi. The change That hawkish approach of the opposition days has given way to dovish approach when in power. India seems to have realised the futility of taking strong exception to Pakistan-Hurriyat talks after cancellation of two official talks between New Delhi and Islamabad. It is certainly a climbdown for India from its earlier stated position. Narendra Modi will complete two years as prime minister of India this month. Since he assumed the power in New Delhi, minorities have been forced to live in a hostile environment, history books are being rewritten and mythology is being projected as scientific achievements. RSS activists are being appointed to influential positions to further Hindutva into Indias institutional fabric. Hindu religious clerics have become prominent faces of the public discourse. What Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq did to Islamise Pakistan in the 1970s, Narendra Modi is repeating that formula in India to turn India into a fief for Hindutva forces. What Zia-ul-Haq did to Islamise Pakistan in the 1970s, Modi is repeating that formula in India. Prominent artists, historians and scientists have been raising their voices against an intensifying climate of religious intolerance in the country. Student protest movements are spreading from one academic institution to another against the upper-caste favoured mindset of Hindutva forces. Security forces are being sent to academic campuses and Hindutva thugs have been given a free run to attack protesting students. Right-wing commentators are shamelessly screaming to stop spending taxpayers money on students of these "anti-national" academic institutions. On domestic front, by subverting the secular features of the country, Modi has been very successful in his project of making India a Hindu Pakistan. This Pakistanisation of India is not only limited to domestic politics, it has also captured countrys foreign policy. The pre-election promise of economic miracle by the Modi sarkar has turned into a mirage. Besides a few Hindutva regulars, many converters have converted again and have started to censure Modis governance agenda at home. Much is being written these days in critically assessing Modis domestic policies, while an overall notion still prevails that he has been successful at the foreign policy front. His frequent foreign trips mainly to Indian diaspora-rich countries are being stage-managed to perfection to showcase his popularity abroad. Modi was virtually banned to travel to the West for nearly a decade and his foreign policy utterances before the election were primarily confined to chest-thumping rabble-rousing sermons vis-a-vis Pakistan. In this environment of expectation vacuum, he started well. He invited leaders from neighbouring countries, including Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan to his swearing-in ceremony. In a few days, Modi tried to project himself from a chest-thumping iron-man to a hugging and hand-holding endearing figure. Some of his admirers even coined the term "Modi Doctrine". But, there is always limit to this packaging, particularly if the product is of questionable quality. With decreasing economic growth in other BRICS countries including China, India has been lucky to be the "one-eyed king in the land of the blind". The potential for doing business in a still-growing India and electoral strength of the Hindu diaspora has made Western leaders to superficially pander to Modis vanity. This has deluded Modi into fancying himself as a statesman. However, Modi is flying around the world as a salesman, selling Indias potential to be the factory for the world under his pet program, "Make in India". For this to be successful and India to be the next China of the world, internal peace and stability is extremely crucial. But, Modis domestic agenda of turning India to a Hindu Pakistan is in serious conflict with his international agenda of turning India into a "worlds factory", China. The Hindutva project has made India far more divided and volatile now than what it was two years back. And for this growing internal instability, no one else can be blamed except Modi and RSS. Not only Modi has ignored the Chinese "mantra" of securing internal peace and stability, he has also taken a different route on foreign policy than the strategy Deng Xiapong adopted while undertaking the path for his country towards economic glory. The fundamentals of Chinese foreign policy under Deng were to create a favourable external environment for its economic opening up while keeping a safe distance from any international power struggle. Chinas economy thrived while keeping a low profile and waiting for its time to arrive to take the centre stage in global politics. Of course, Modi, by nature, can never maintain a low profile or wait for his turn. However, international diplomacy is of course much more complicated than winning the power struggle against Advani within the Sangh Parivar. Modi not only has waged a series of assaults on secularism at home; on the external front, he has also deviated considerably from the post-independence foreign policy paradigm of India, which was not to entangle itself with any kind of alliances or commitments that would lead to fight a war for others. Modi government in April 2016 has signed an agreement with the US to open up its military bases to the Americans. This will allow American fighter planes and warships to use Indian facilities, bringing them closer to Chinas southern border. By doing this, India has virtually entered into a formal military alliance with the Americans against China. Americans have been putting pressure on India for this deal since George W Bush administration signed the Civil Nuclear Agreement with India in 2005 but the so-called weak and indecisive Manmohan Singh had even refused to give in to preserve Indias strategic autonomy. But, Modis 56-inch chest decided to cave into the American pressure. Even his government is on the verge of agreeing to aid US Navy to track Chinese submarines in Indian Ocean. India is now on its way to be the same as Pakistan, which was used by Americans to encircle Soviets. Zia-ul-Haq did not only Islamise Pakistan, he also handed over his countrys military bases to American forces to be used against Soviet army in Afghanistan. A correction was made to this story on May 2, 2016 An unidentified man is in stable condition after he was struck by a vehicle in the 700 block of McIntire Road on Sunday. Charlottesville police responded to a report of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle early Sunday morning. They found one white male, age 55 to 60, injured at the scene, according to a news release from the city police. The man was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center. The driver remained at the scene to answer questions. Lt. Steve Upman said there was no indication of drug or alcohol use by either the driver or the pedestrian. Upman said the incident is still under investigation. Police did not release the name of the driver Sunday. The victim told Charlottesville police he was assaulted by several black males, who took several items off his person during the incident, according to a news release from the department. The victim did not provide any other descriptors, police said. Virginia Republican leaders have hired a prominent conservative lawyer to lead an expected court challenge to Gov. Terry McAuliffe's recent order restoring voting rights for 206,000 felons. General Assembly Republicans announced Monday that they have retained Charles J. Cooper, a former assistant attorney general under President Ronald Reagan who was once named "Republican lawyer of the year." A founding member and chairman of Cooper & Kirk PLLC in Washington, Cooper defended California's ban on same-sex marriage before the United States Supreme Court in 2013. It is the obligation of the legislative and judicial branches to serve as a check on overreaches of executive power," House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, said in a prepared statement. "To that end, we are prepared to uphold the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law by challenging Governor McAuliffes order in court." "We have retained Mr. Cooper to examine the legal options to remedy this Washington-style overreach by the executive branch," said Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City. "Mr. Cooper is an extremely qualified attorney and we have every confidence he will proceed prudently, judiciously, and expeditiously. Taxpayer funds will not be used to fund a lawsuit, Republicans said. McAuliffe has said he has the legal authority to restore voting and civil rights for all felons who had completed their sentences, probation and parole by April 22. Past governors have restored rights on an case-by-case basis for ex-offenders who applied to regain their rights. Republicans have argued McAuliffe overstepped by issuing a blanket order that applies to violent and nonviolent felons regardless of whether they submitted an application. Past governors have concluded they did not have the power to restore rights en masse. Coming in a presidential election year, Republicans have accused McAuliffe of playing politics by adding thousands of likely Democratic voters to the rolls as a boost to longtime McAuliffe friend Hillary Clinton. McAuliffe's order has received national acclaim in progressive circles. Supporters have applauded the order as a bold move that does away with a restriction that disproportionately impacts African-Americans and brings Virginia more in line with policies of other states. NC GOP Chair Hassan Harnett speaks to Beaufort County Republicans: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage Click image to expand. Here's the late Fred Sanford's first reaction to being introduced to Robin Hayes.On Saturday, the NCGOPe tossed out the party's first black chairman and replaced him with a, um, "intellectually-challenged" white man who documentary evidence clearly demonstrates was clearly outperformed by said ousted black man. Complain about someone not performing, and then replace him with someone who did even worse?Yep, ol' Robin is back. He of the strong-arm, threatening tactics in Tampa. He of the Ripon Society. He of meddling in Republican primaries. He of the Mark Harris stalking horse campaign in the 2014 US Senate primary. His prior experience as a congressman and party chairman clearly demonstrates his contempt for conservatism and The Tea Party. So, it made perfect sense to make his appointment to interim chairman of the NCGOP the cherry on top of the F-U move perpetrated against teaconservatives on Saturday in Raleigh.So, the NCGOP has moved from an executive director and governing committees antagonistic to conservatives and a chairman with Tea Party support, to full control of the party by petty RINOs with nothing but contempt for conservative voters they so desperately need to come out for the GOP ticket in November.This move Saturday is one big middle-finger aimed at the activists who do the work: putting up signs, canvassing door to door, manning phone banks, and working polling places on election day. How smart is it to smack that hornet's nest - piss off sooooo many of the people whose help you are going to desperately need in about six months?Hayes's previous tenure as chairman was marked with contempt for and spats with Tea Partiers. How is this guy the smart choice for unifying the party heading into November?Donald Trump won the state's primary. But Hayes has been an outspoken advocate for Marco Rubio. But, hey, so is the NCGOPe's SUGAR DADDY Art Pope. Hayes's appointment sure would seem to indicate the potential for mischief within North Carolina's delegation to the Republican National Convention.Robin Hayes is what Stalin and Lenin referred to as "a useful idiot." He does what he is told. In 2012, Pat McCrory told him to go away because Claude Pope was NOW going to be party chairman . Now that we're in a presidential year, with NCGOPe types like McCrory and Burr in tight races and the RNC mulling mischief at the national convention, it's quite handy to have a state chairman in place who will follow the orders of Thom Tillis, Pat McCrory, Art Pope, and Paul Shumaker.I don't like playing the race card. But it's going to be interesting to see how these, um, "geniuses" who tossed Harnett combat those accusations from Bill Barber and the Democrats. The only two leaders run off by the NCGOPe - Hasan Harnett and Tim Johnson - have been black. And both were replaced with white candidates who underperformed when compared to their black predecessors. DallasWho needs Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels? With Dallas Woodhouse and Robin Hayes, the NCGOP has their very own "Dumb & Dumber." It has been far too many years since the Woke theology interlaced its canons within the fabric of the Indoctrination Realm, so it is nigh time to ask: Does this Representative Republic continue, as a functioning society of a self-governed people, by contending with the unusual, self absorbed dictates of the Woke, and their vast array of Victimhood scenarios? Yes, the Religion of Woke must continue; there are so many groups of underprivileged, underserved, a direct result of unrelenting Inequity; they deserve everything. No; the Woke fools must be toppled from their self-anointed pedestal; a functioning society of a good Constitutional people cannot withstand this level of "existential" favoritism as it exists now. he described her husbands affair with their Auckland host as a "twisted form of internet dating". (Photo: AFP) A woman recently revealed how she lost her husband to an Airbnb host. The American woman who wishes to remain anonymous said that 30 years of their marriage came to an end after the couple booked an accommodation choosing an Airbnb host for the space and facilities it offered over a hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, last autumn. However she never realised the consequences that this trip might lead to. She described her husbands affair with their Auckland host as a "twisted form of internet dating". Our host was a single middle-aged woman who was unusually solicitous and intrusive during our stay, calling periodically to ask if everything was all right and even asking to come by to make sure that the cleaning ladies were doing a good job," the woman told the Herald on Sunday. The husband arrived at hosts place a few days earlier and informed his wife on her arrival that the host has shared very personal details about her life and past relationships with him. The husband thought that their host was a sad and needy woman. I returned home to the US a week before my husband did, and that's when our host and my husband got to know each other better," she told the New Zealand Herald. And now the woman and her husband are getting divorced. This whole incident came as a big shock to the woman. The man is now in a relationship with the host. I thought our marriage was imperfect but solid. My husband and I are now in the midst of a divorce, and he and our Airbnb host are still in a relationship, said the woman. The woman believes that her story is uncommon, however hopes to warn all those who use Airbnb. She also said that she doubts that she will ever be using their service again due to the bad memories. Chennai: Four fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were detained by Iranian authorities since February 6 after they reportedly crossed the border in international waters while fishing for a firm in Dubai, returned to Chennai on Sunday. The 4 fishermen from Kadiapattinam coastal village in Kanyakumari district M Hilarian (51), C David (40), K Prabhu (330 and M Anthony Raj (44) had ventured into the deep sea for fishing when intercepted by Iranian security agency. They also faced gunfire when they were confronted mid sea. In the firing, Anthony Raj suffered bullet injuries on his chest and right shoulder. The Iranians took him to the hospital while others were taken to jail. As their return to India was getting delayed, an NGO, International Fishermen Development Trust, had been trying through diplomatic channels to know their whereabouts, which is when they came to know that they were detained by the Iranian forces for entering into their waters and kept in Bander Abbas jail. They were later shifted to Orrduza jail. As advised by Indian embassy officials, arrangements were made to collect the passports of these fishermen from their sponsor and handed over to them and they left Iran on Saturday night and landed in Chennai early on Sunday morning. Though they reached Chennai with Iranian currency worth `2,500 each given to them by Indian mission from Iran, they found that there were no takers for those currency notes at money exchange centres at the airport. The NGO coordinated with the rehabilitation department to arrange bus tickets for the four to go back to their native place. Hyderabad: Telangana State irrigation minister T. Harish Rao has been keeping his department engineers and staff on their toes with his night halts at irrigation projects. With not much pro-gress in restoration of tanks and lakes under Mission Kakatiya and work on irrigation projects pending, the minister has started visiting irrigation projects and lakes in districts and having night halts to speed up work. With minister himself present at night at irrigation project sites, the engineers and staff are a harried lot and trying their best to speed up the work. Mr Rao, who visited Mahbubnagar on Fri-day to review the prog-ress of Kalwakurthy lift irrigation project stage-2, conducted a review me-eting throughout the day and surprised ever-yone with his night halt at the irrigation project. The unexpected development created a huge impact as entire district administration turned up at the irrigation project site and several pen-ding issues like land ac-quisition, compensati-on etc, were cleared on the spot enabling faster works. With this, the minister has decided to have night halts at all pending irrigation projects. Though the government has been giving utmost importance to irrigation projects by sanctioning Rs 25,000 crore every year, there is no progress in irrigation projects due to negligence of officials, he said. Since the night halt at Kalwakurthy gave good results, I have decided to visit projects in other districts too and monitor works day and night. My next night halt will be at Nettempad to monitor the works of Palamur lift irrigation project, Rao said. The minister has been taking officials to task for delay in works and warning them of suspension. Harish warns Naidu, Jagan on Telangana interests Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Sunday threatened AP Chief Minister N. Chandra-babu Naidu and YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy with severe consequences if they try to obstruct the irr-igation projects taken up by the Telangana state government. Mr Rao said both Mr Naidu and Mr Reddy should realise that th-ey hold assets in Hy-derabad. If they try to harm the interests of Telangana state, they would be chased away from Hyderabad, he said Like we waged a ba-ttle to achieve Telangana, we are ready to wage another battle to construct irrigation projects and ensure that the state gets its justifiable share of water in Godavari and Krishna rivers. When the TD and YSRC are trying to obstruct our projects, why are their leaders in Telangana silent, Mr Harish Rao said. YSRC Khammam MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and TS TD working president A. Revanth Reddy owe an explanation to the people,Mr Harish Rao told mediapersons in his home constituency Siddipet. Mr Rao alleged that Mr Naidu and Mr Reddy had hatched a conspiracy to obstruct TS projects but the TRS government would th-wart their attempts and ensure that the target of irrigating one crore acres in the state will be met, come what may. The Seemandhra leaders continue to harm the interests of Telangana state even after bifurcation. This will not be tolerated, Mr Rao said. He said Mr Naidu was shameless in trying to obstruct the Palamuru-Ranga Re-ddy project by repeatedly writing letters to the Centre and appro-aching the Supreme Court. He came down heavily on Mr Reddy for an-nouncing hunger stri-ke demanding stoppage of Palamuru pro-ject. His father Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy loo-ted Telangana water in undivided AP and his son is trying to continue his fathers legacy, Mr Rao said. Chennai: This neither seems like a French spring nor any Rousseau in the making. But when senior CPI (M) leader Nilotpal Basu elegantly summed up in a television programme recently that the Left parties, in taking the initiative to form the Peoples Welfare Alliance (PWA) ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, are experimenting with a new combination of classes and marginalised sections of the people, he was referring to breaking away from the dominant regional parties that have shaped the states political milieu. Put an ear to the ground and things can hardly be more crystal clear, as the events of the last two months of hectic political activity in the run-up to the May 16 elections have been unfolding. The grassroots dynamics has rather been one of reconfiguring leadership roles of the visible campaigners, both inside and outside the PWA, to the point of old caste identities re-emerging in new bottle. A good case in point is the MDMK leader Mr Vaiko who began with a bang as coordinator of the PWA. Straining every nerve and even risking a war of words with the DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, which at one stage touched a new low, and striking new equations with the two main Left parties CPI and CPI (M) and the Dalit leader, VCKs Thol. Thirumavalavan, Vaikos Herculean efforts eventually saw Mr Vijayakanth, the actor-turned-politician and founder of DMDK, being the prize catch of PWA. It was a process in which the actors wife and star campaigner, Premalatha Vijayakanth had also played a crucial role. The PWA got bigger with the G.K. Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) joining their front. And as nominations opened, Mr Vaiko declared he will contest for the Assembly from Kovilpatti, a safe seat in many ways, held by the CPI several times earlier and forming part of a political terrain where the OBC Naickers have a say in the way the votes will swing in any election. Vaiko had even readied a mission plan 2016-21 for Kovilpattis development. Nonetheless, apparently sensing a nasty faceoff with the other dominant OBC group in the South the Thevars in the backdrop of Vaiko supporting inter-caste marriages and his strong condemnation of a recent instance of honour killing in Udumalpet where a Dalit youth Sankar was done to death for marrying an upper caste girl, the MDMK leader suddenly withdrew from the poll fray, citing an alleged game-plan by the DMK to foment Vaiko-centirc caste clashes. Knowingly or unknowingly, a raw nerve had been touched, though Vaiko had contested several elections from that region in the past. He even emphatically went on record that he was above all castes and how he deeply respected the late leader of the Forward Bloc, Pasumponn Muthuramalinga Thevar. But its electoral implications for the PWA turned out to be even weightier. From being a big bang leader of PWA, Vaiko backing out of the Kovilpatti race donning a self-effacing cap, made the front suddenly look like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. This dramatic development is seen in political circles as Vijayakanths, Vasans and the Left parties leveraging power with the voters taking a hit. And first ground reactions also bear this out. No free rides for Captain in Ulundurpet part of the OBC Vanniyars belt in North Tamil Nadu from where Vijayakanth is contesting this time, says S.K. Chandrasekharan, AIADMKs Villupuram district treasurer. People will not be deceived this time as Vijayakanth hardly did anything either for Virudhachalam or Rishivandhiyam, from where he had contested successfully in 2006 and 2011 Assembly elections respectively, he says. As the actor instinctively rewired his leadership role, hopping from one constituency to another, Chandrasekharan is almost certain that voters will not be taken in this time. But a new small gainer from the rewiring this time could be Thirumavalavan, whose VCK cadres are striking a better rapport with the actors fans in parts of the Vanniyar belt, like in Panruti, Cuddalore, Kattumannarkovil, and Kurunjipadi than the VCK-PMK combination in the 2011 Assembly election, said a cross-section of voters from those places to whom DC spoke to. While this puts pressure on the way the PMKs youth wing leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has redefined his leadership profile in this election, bulk of the Vanniyar belt looks to be heading for basically a triangular contest between the AIADMK, DMK and the PMK. The DMK has not been insulated from these leadership swirls either, an unusual feature of the 2016 Assembly elections, wherein campaigns seem to be making the leaders, rather than one strong leader calling the shots and giving a direction to the poll campaign. The image makeover of the DMKs youth wing leader and party treasurer, MK Stalin, since his Namakku Naame tour since September last year, has clearly projected him as the future hope of the DMK. Still, Stalin has to swim against the current as the veteran DMK patriarch, 93-year-old Muthuvel Karunanidhi, has dispelled the double SIM syndrome in the DMKs leadership by unambiguously asserting that he will be the Chief Minister again if the DMK is voted to power. And from scripting historical and reformist stories that assiduously mixed socialist ideals with the rationalist approach of the Dravidian movement in his early days, to now penning the screenplay for a television serial on the revolutionary Vaishnavite saint Sri Ramanuja, it is a sea change over the decades that has marked Karunanidhis leadership evolution itself. Dehradun: Deposed Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Saturday asked Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul to take cognisance of a sting operation video against him, claiming it carries enough evidence to prove there was a "criminal conspiracy" by BJP and Congress "backstabbers" to topple an elected government. Rawat said he has been ready for any probe from day one as he knows he is innocent but the "so-called sting CD should be investigated in entirety and not in bits and pieces." The CBI has initiated its preliminary investigations into the sting operation in which Rawat was purportedly seen talking to middlemen in a bid to strike a deal with rebel Congress MLAs. The agency questioned the journalist allegedly involved in the sting operation at its headquarters in New Delhi on Friday as part of its preliminary enquiry. Alleging that the reputation of the journalist who made the CD has always been under suspicion, Rawat said a close analysis of the content of the CD in totality puts it beyond doubt that there was a "criminal conspiracy jointly hatched by BJP and Congress backstabbers" to topple an elected government in Uttarakhand. Reading out transcripts of the CD as it appeared on social media at a press conference here, Rawat said names of Vijay Bahuguna, Saket Bahuguna and Kailash Vijayvargiya had been mentioned in the CD as people involved in the plot to throw him out of power. Questioning the antecedents of the journalist who had made the CD, Rawat alleged dozens of cases had been lodged against him during the tenure of a former BJP chief minister on the basis of which a red corner notice had also been issued against him. "Why doesn't the BJP show the courage of instituting a probe against the man who made the CD. His reputation has always been under a cloud of suspicion," he said. Claiming that he was innocent, he said the CD was made to "malign him - a fact corroborated by its timing exactly six months before the state was to go to polls." However, he said he was ready for any probe and will cooperate with any impartial inquiry into the sting CD. Xiaomi is all set to launch the new Mi Max (possibly with the debutant Rifle chipset), the Mi Band 2, the Smart watch and the next version of the operating system MIUI 8 on May 10. It does not come in as a surprise that Xiaomi is planning to introduce its own chipset. The tech giant from China is receiving a fair amount of funding and making sufficient profits to rub shoulders with top brands such as Apple and Samsung. Xiaomi has been known as the budget smartphone manufacturer that makes many low-cost smartphone seekers happy with premium hardware. Now, Xiaomi could shake up the mobile industry with their own chipset to alter the smartphone pricing around the world. Xiaomi is all set to announce its own chipset for smartphones, tablets and smartwatches. The chipset is presently dubbed as Rifle and is based on the British maker ARMs architecture. The new processor is said to be launched in May and the first Rifle-based handset could be the Mi Max. The company is developing its own mobile APU (Application processor unit) in a possibility to make its products cheaper and have their own eco-system in place. According to the Korean Times, the Xiaomi APUs will be manufactured with licensing from ARM, a British-based intellectual property firm. Developing their own APUs could give Xiaomi the upper hand in altering the pricing for the products they use it in. This could mean a possible threat for chipset giants such as Qualcomm, MediaTek, Intel and Samsung, who are one of the top chipset giants at present. The new chipset, if successful, will make its way into many devices and gadgets that Xiaomi plans to release henceforth. The chipset could benefit Xiaomi hugely by being implemented into their smart devices, such as the smartphones, tablets, the upcoming smartwatch, the televisions and other smart appliances. Xiaomi is all set to launch the new Mi Max (possibly with the debutante Rifle chipset), the Mi Band 2, the Smart watch and the next version of the operating system MIUI 8 on May 10. The event will be held at the National conventional Centre in Beijing, China. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Bogota: Colombian police on Sunday announced the capture of an alleged dangerous drug lord described as Peru's most-wanted criminal. Gerson Galvez, or alias "Caracol," was arrested Saturday at a Medellin shopping center and expelled to Peru less than 24 hours later because he lacked migration papers, authorities said. Peruvian officials said Galvez was first spotted in March in Ecuador and his movements had been tracked since then in Panama and Colombia. The final phase of the joint investigation took place Friday when the head of Colombia's police, Gen. Jorge Nieto, returned from a law enforcement conference in Peru in which he obtained new leads about the 34-year-old's whereabouts. Alleged Peruvian drug trafficker Gerson Galvez shouts at the press as he is escorted by police officers into a Peruvian Air Force plane. (Photo: AP) Dubbed by Peruvian media as the new "El Chapo," in reference to Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, Galvez is wanted in connection with 101 slayings in Peru, where he is also alleged to have managed large shipments of cocaine from the nation*s main seaport in Callao. Galvez is considered highly violent, the reason why the head of Peru's police, Gen. Vicente Romero, came personally to Bogota to oversee his deportation. Peruvian authorities had been offering a $150,000 reward for information leading to his arrest - the largest bounty offered against any Peruvian criminal. Among his many alleged crimes is the 2015 attempted murder of a rival who was attacked while driving by a curtain of gunfire and two grenades. He is also believed to have threatened prosecutors and used his Barrio Kings gang to extort businesses in Callao. "I have the right to be presumed innocent," Galvez shouted to journalists as he was handed over to Peruvian authorities in handcuffs and wearing a bulletproof vest. It was not clear what he was doing in Medellin, but authorities said he might have been trying to meet with partners in the Office of Envigado crime syndicate or to arrange a furtive visit with his Venezuelan girlfriend. Colombian police said he owned a luxury apartment in the city*s upscale El Poblado neighborhood. The US government says Peru is the world's largest producer of cocaine. Trump, the GOP front-runner, has pledged to deport the estimated 11 million people living in the US illegally. (Photo: AP) Miami: On a recent Saturday morning in South Florida, 50-year-old Edgar Ospina stood in a long line of immigrants to take the first step to become an American. Ospina has spent almost half his life in the U.S. after emigrating from his native Colombia, becoming eligible for citizenship in 1990. But with Donald Trump becoming a more likely presidential nominee by the day, Ospina decided to wait no more, rushing the paperwork required to become a citizen. "Trump is dividing us as a country," said Ospina, owner of a small flooring and kitchen remodeling company. "He's so negative about immigrants. We've got to speak up." Nationwide, immigrants like Ospina are among tens of thousands applying for naturalization in a year when immigration has taken center stage in the presidential campaign, especially in the race for the Republican nomination. Trump, the GOP front-runner, has pledged to deport the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally. He's also vowed to bar Muslims from entering the country and threatened to cut off remittances that Mexican immigrants in the U.S. send back home. And he's called for building a border wall - among other proposals to deal with unlawful immigration, saying the federal government has failed to protect the border from people and drugs illegally entering the country. That rhetoric, immigrant advocates and lawmakers say, is driving many foreign-born residents to seek citizenship. "There is fear of a Trump presidency," said Maria Ponce of iAmerica Action, a Washington-based immigrant rights group that is teaming up with other organizations to help those seeking citizenship - part of a national campaign called "Stand Up To Hate." They've sponsored naturalization workshops from Washington state to Nebraska and Massachusetts. Nationwide, naturalization applications are up 14 percent in the last six months of 2015 compared with the same period in 2014, according to the government. And the pool of future U.S. citizens is large. Nearly 9 million legal permanent residents, or green-card holders, are eligible to become Americans. Of those, about 4 million are Hispanic. Rep. Luis Gutirrez, D-Ill., was featured in a public service announcement encouraging immigrants to become citizens so they can vote in November. He mocked Trump's slogan, suggesting it was really: "Make America Hate Again." "We've seen it in the past and we are seeing it again many times over this year," he said. "When immigrant communities feel they are under attack they react with a large number of eligible immigrants becoming citizens and a large number of eligible citizens becoming voters." Erica Bernal of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials said the tenor of the presidential campaign is galvanizing Latino immigrants. She said today's movement is reminiscent of the 1990s when Latinos in California rose up against Proposition 187, which sought to deny government services to those in the state illegally. The courts overturned it. Her group and several local ones in Los Angeles recently launched a regional campaign to encourage Latino immigrants to become citizens. About 775,000 legal immigrants in the L.A. area are eligible for citizenship. To qualify, immigrants must have been in the country five years, complete a 21-page application, get fingerprinted, pass a civics and English exam and pay almost $700 in fees. Ivan Parro, citizenship coordinator with the Florida Immigrant Coalition said immigrants laugh when he asks why they want to become Americans. "'You know why,' they say, 'I want to vote against racism and hate,' " said Parro. He says immigrants this year are "desperate to be part of the political process." Maria Cristina Giraldo, originally from Colombia and already a U.S. citizen, said she is so fearful of Trump becoming president that she brought five relatives to a naturalization workshop in South Florida. "Trump is anti-immigrant," said Giraldo, who works cleaning houses. "I don't know if it's because he's such a brute in his speeches or that he isn't careful in what he's saying, but he's very nasty toward Hispanics." Her sister, Gladys Ceballos of Hollywood, Florida, agreed. She's trying for the second time to become a citizen after failing to pass the English exam. She says she's not fearful of Trump, but she doesn't trust him. John Haughton, 66, a Jamaican immigrant, said: "Trump is a man who would say one thing today and may modify his views tomorrow." "I want my voice heard," said Haughton, a legal permanent resident since 2008. Seung Baik, 43, who was born in South Korea and brought to the U.S. as a teenager, said he too believes Trump is too divisive. "It took me a little longer to become a citizen because I didn't want to apply and treat this as a membership to something, like joining a club," said Baik, a church pastor. "The world and this nation are changing, and my vote matters." Baik said he won't be registering as a Democrat or Republican but remains independent. He's undecided about whom he will vote for in his first presidential election as a U.S. citizen, but "it won't be Donald Trump." Indonesian sailors, who were taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants in the Philippines, get off a plane upon their arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta. (Photo: AFP) Jakarta: An Indonesian sailor told on Monday how Philippine Islamic militants threatened to slit his throat during a terrifying kidnap ordeal, a day after he and nine other crew members were released. The sailors were freed Sunday in the strife-torn southern Philippines after more than a month in the hands of Abu Sayyaf militants, and flew back to Jakarta. The Indonesians were among about 20 foreigners abducted in a recent Abu Sayyaf kidnapping spree, and their release came just days after the militants beheaded a Canadian hostage. The sailors, who were taken hostage in late March from a tugboat transporting a coal barge, were reunited with their families Monday after doctors confirmed they were in good health. Crew member Julian Philip described how they were taken hostage by eight militants disguised in Philippine police uniforms, who boarded the tug from speedboats and tied up the sailors. The barge was then abandoned, and the Indonesians were taken to an island and divided into two groups. They were moved every few days to avoid the military, which has launched an assault against Abu Sayyaf. "We were all stressed out because they frequently threatened to slit our throats," he told reporters after the 10 were reunited with their families at the foreign ministry. However, Philip added the militants did not harm them and he thought that in reality "they did not want any of us to die as they would not get any money". Questions over ransom He said he did not know whether a ransom was paid for their release. "We were just put in a car and sent on our way and told to look for the governor's house," he said. The sailors turned up at the house of a local governor on Jolo, a mountainous and jungle-clad island in the far south of the Philippines that is an Abu Sayyaf stronghold. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Monday the release had been a "long process as the situation on the ground was very volatile, with a high degree of complexity". But she dodged questions about whether a ransom had been paid. The Abu Sayyaf does not normally free hostages unless ransom demands are met. The militants had demanded $21 million for the release of Canadian John Ridsdel, whose severed head was found on a street in Jolo. There were emotional scenes at the ministry as the sailors were reunited with their families, with Youla Lasut, one of the men's wives, giving tearful thanks. "On behalf of my family I would like to thank the foreign minister and the company for their help in releasing my husbands and his friends," she said. Authorities say the Abu Sayyaf is still holding at least 11 foreign hostages -- four sailors from Indonesia and four others from Malaysia, a Canadian tourist, a Norwegian resort owner and a Dutch birdwatcher. Abu Sayyaf is a radical offshoot of a Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines. Its leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, but analysts say they are more focused on kidnappings for ransom than setting up a caliphate. Unverified online photographs showed a large plume of smoke rising above buildings in the area where the blast took place. (Photo: videograb) Two suicide car bombs claimed by Islamic State killed at least 32 people and wounded 75 others in the centre of the southern Iraqi city of Samawa on Sunday, police and medics said. The first blast was near a local government building and the second one about 60 metres (65 yards) away at a bus station, police sources said. The death toll was expected to keep rising. Unverified online photographs showed a large plume of smoke rising above the buildings as well as burnt out cars and bodies on the ground at the site of one of the blasts, including several children. Police and firefighters carried victims on stretchers and in their arms. Islamic State said it had attacked a gathering of special forces in Samawa, 230 km (140 miles) south of the capital, with one car bomb and then blew up the second when security forces responded to the site. Islamic State holds positions mostly in Sunni areas of the country's north and west, far from the mainly Shi'ite southern provinces where Samawa is located. Such attacks are relatively rare. The rise of the ultra-hardline Sunni insurgents has exacerbated Iraq's sectarian conflict, mostly between Shi'ites and Sunnis, which emerged after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The quota-based governing system put in place by the United States at the time is being challenged by hundreds of protesters who camped out overnight in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone after storming the parliament building. Dixit was arrested on April 22 on the charge of amassing property through illegal means in the capacity of chairman of Sajha Yatayat, a public transport corporation. Kathmandu: Nepal's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of veteran journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, who was arrested by an anti-graft body for allegedly misappropriating a huge amount of money by misusing his public post. The apex court nullified the Special Court's decision to send 60-year-old Dixit to a 10-day judicial custody. Dixit, who is also the Chairman of Sajha Yatayat - the public transportation bus system in Nepal which serves Kathmandu Valley, was produced before the Supreme Court today. Responding to a habeas corpus writ filed by his wife Shanta Dixit, the court had earlier directed the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to produce him before it. Shanta had registered the petition at the apex court claiming that Dixit's arrest was illegal. She had named the CIAA and the Special Court as defendants. Dixit was arrested on April 22 on the charge of amassing property through illegal means in the capacity of chairman of Sajha Yatayat, a public transport corporation. He was admitted next day to the ICU of a hospital after he complained of high blood pressure. The Special Court had remanded him to a 10-day judicial custody effective from Friday. Dixit, the publisher of Himal and Nepali Times magazines, is considered well-disposed towards India and also writes for leading India media outlets. He is accused of selling the organisational property as own inheritance and investing the income in other corporations. He has also been alleged to have procured a house and land in his name in the US. The total amount of alleged embezzlement was not known. One of the persistent tragedies of Android, Googles globe-conquering mobile operating system, is that it continues to be better in theory than in reality. The search company has spent more than a decade perfecting its software, and in the abstract, Android is now just as pristinely well-conceived as Apples iOS. But almost nobody buys Googles idealised version of Android; instead, most people buy a version that has been chewed up and predigested through the phone-maker-carrier supply chain, an intestinal pathway that never fails to transform good software into heaps of steaming code. For Android phones, this usually means loads of terrible, unnecessary apps installed by carriers and by the phone manufacturer itself. Thats why I was puzzled recently when the European Union opened a strange new front in its antitrust inquiry against Google. Contrary to what you might have concluded from looking at your phone, the regulators argue that Androids problem isnt too many preloaded apps its too few, and its all Googles fault. Based on our investigation thus far, we believe that Googles behaviour denies consumers a wider choice of mobile apps and services and stands in the way of innovation by other players, in breach of EU antitrust rules, Margrethe Vestager, the European commissioner for competition, said in a statement. The charges make sense in the abstract. Google makes the worlds most popular mobile operating system, and some of its licenses do compel phone makers to include several Google apps, even if they just want to include the Google Play app store. On paper, that may constitute unfair bundling, one of the sins that did in Microsoft at its apex in the late 1990s. Yet the European charges miss the messy reality of life on Android, which is clear to anyone who studies the mobile software business: Android phones come teeming with non-Google apps, often to the point of frustration for users. The search company appears powerless to keep many of them off peoples devices, even when doing so might help its business. Theres no better evidence for this than the meteoric rise of Facebook, Googles archrival, which announced another blowout earnings report Wednesday with much of its revenue coming from ads on Android phones. Facebooks numbers show the primary weakness in the European Unions case: If Googles grand plan really is to keep rivals off Android phones, it sure is doing a poor job of it. Representatives for the European Commission and for Google declined to comment for this column, citing the current regulatory process. In a statement responding to the EUs statement of objections, Kent Walker, Googles general counsel, said the company would aim to show regulators that Android has been good for competition and for consumers. Harry First, a law professor at New York University who studies antitrust issues, says the key difficulty for regulators in this case is that the tech world has changed radically since the Microsoft antitrust case. Back then, Microsoft managed to outflank rivals like Netscape by bundling its Internet Explorer browser with its Windows operating system, and by using licenses and payments to prevent computer makers from installing competing browsers. In the Microsoft era people were unfamiliar with downloading, and nothing was as effective as getting the browser installed by the OEMs, he said, referring to the original equipment makers, or computer manufacturers. But now, Id be surprised if people arent fully at ease with downloading things from app stores, and people are familiar with having more than one app on their phone that does the same thing, he said. Consider, for instance, the market for messaging apps. Google runs a messaging service called Hangouts that comes bundled with many Android phones. If you scoured the globe Im sure youd find people who regularly use and love Hangouts, just like you could find people who regularly listen to Nickelback. But Hangouts is clearly no messaging juggernaut. In much of the world, that title belongs to two apps owned by Facebook Messenger, which has 800 million active users a month, and WhatsApp, which has more than 1 billion. (Google has never disclosed Hangouts user base; analysts I spoke to estimated that its share of the messaging market was in the single digits.) Then theres the popularity of the main Facebook app. As its chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has acknowledged, the company was late to realise the importance of mobile phones; for years, its smartphone app was a slow, kludgy mess, and until just a few years ago it had no mobile revenue to speak of. Google, meanwhile, bundled its own social network, Google Plus, with Android phones. So if you were looking at the market a few years ago through the eyes of an EU antitrust regulator, you might have anticipated some trouble for Facebook on Android phones, and you might even have ventured that Google Plus would become a hit. After all, here was a small, late-moving upstart pitted against a bundle-friendly giant that owned the operating system. Of course, thats not how things turned out. Google Plus is now all but dead. And Facebook did not just survive the shift to mobile phones, it became the unstoppable force in the industry. Facebook now derives the vast majority of its revenue from mobile ads. Its sales are growing at a breathtaking clip. People now spend more time on the Facebook app than doing anything else on our phones. Facebooks embedded web browser which opens if you click a web link from within the Facebook app is now used to access nearly as many web pages as the included web browsers on Android and iOS, according to a report by research firm ScientiaMobile. How did Facebook get so popular on phones? On the whole, it happened the old-fashioned way: People loved Facebook, they had no trouble finding it in mobile app stores, and they began to download and use it. In other words, unlike in the desktop era ruled by Microsoft, Googles platform dominance on mobile phones does not appear to have posed any hindrance to a competitors rise. The EUs objections go beyond the supposed restrictions that Google places on Androids app ecosystem. Another key charge involves Googles dominance in web search. Regulators say Google ensures that it remains Androids dominant search engine both by requiring phone makers to install the Chrome browser on their phones and, in some instances, by paying manufacturers to position the Google Search app on the phones home screen. First, the law professor, said the search issue isnt as clear-cut as the question of whether Google has restricted rival apps. But he noted that the general flexibility of Android the fact that, in general, Google makes it pretty easy for device makers and users to tinker with the software cuts in Googles favour. I have this new Samsung Galaxy S5 that I havent used before, so I thought lets see what happens if I try to install DuckDuckGo, he said, referring to the privacy-focused search engine. So I downloaded it, that was easy to do. And the first time that I searched for something I got a prompt that said, Which one do you want to use and do you want to use it just once or always?' First said the interaction was noteworthy: Android easily let him download a rival to Googles offering, and it even asked him if he wanted to set the rival as a default. Its hard to see how the commission could do better than that, he said. Four people have been arrested on Monday, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said when asked whether the Uttarakhand forest fire was man-made. The minister assured strict action against the people involved after the investigation, according to reports. The latest satellite imageries of Uttarakhand have reported that the forest fire has gone out in over 70 per cent of the affected areas, even as the NDRF has deployed over 130 personnel to tackle the massive blaze. "We have been informed that fresh images from satellite has shown that the effective area under fire in Uttarakhand has come down to 110-115 locations from the earlier about 427. "It is expected that these figures will be brought down to 50-60 in the next few days by the combined forces fighting to douse the jungle fire," NDRF Director General O P Singh told PTI. He said the images from the sky were taken on April 29-30 and this has now given hope to all the agencies combating the fire that it will be contained soon. The Director General said the NDRF men are also working to save animals who could have been trapped in the blazing fire. A squad of over 135 personnel of this special force are deployed in Uttarakhand as part of multiple firefighting teams to combat the raging fire in the jungles of Uttarakhand that have destroyed about 2,269 hectares of jungles in several districts and claimed at least seven lives till now. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have spread out in 13 affected areas of three districts of Pauri Garhwal, Almora and Chamoli with fire fighting equipment to tackle the massive blaze. "Our teams are working in 13 sectors in coordination with the officials and personnel of the state fire and forest department. The teams have been instructed to adopt the conventional method of cutting the fire line and containing the fire. "We are using fire beaters and green bushes to cut the fire from spreading. About 135 personnel as part of multiple teams are working in Uttarakhand at present," Singh said. He said in Chamoli the NDRF is working in Pakhi and Gopeshwar areas, while in Almora the teams are working in areas like Binsar, Someshwar, Bikisen, Siplakhet and Dhauladevi. Each team is covering an area of 8-10 sq km, he said, adding, additional NDRF teams have been kept on standby at its camp in Ghaziabad. The force also saved a house from getting engulfed in the fire in the hilly jungle area of Mehlchori in Pauri district in which a family of four members lived. Singh said he is in constant touch with his team leaders working in the state. Equities started the week on a dull note with the market benchmark Sensex tumbling to a three-week low today as a plunge in Tokyo and disappointing domestic corporate earnings along with a fall in manufacturing sector activity rattled investors. In contrast, broader markets were in a better shape with the mid-cap and small-cap indices closing higher by 1.10 per cent and 0.39 per cent, respectively. Falling for a second straight session, ICICI Bank emerged as the top Sensex loser, skidding 4.08 per cent to close at Rs 226.95 as the company posted its worst numbers in over a decade with net profit plunging 87 per cent in March quarter. Investor sentiment was badly hit following heavy losses in Japanese shares, dragging the Nikkei down by 3.11 per cent, as exporters took a major hit from surging yen after BOJ took investors by surprise by deciding against fresh stimulus. Markets in China, Hong Kong, Malaysian, Singapore and Thailand remained closed for public holidays. Housing finance major HDFC Ltd, however, perked up by 0.36 per cent on 30.76 per cent surge in consolidated net profit to Rs 3,460.46 crore for the March quarter. "Value buying efforts were capped by India's PMI figures released during the day, which showed manufacturing activity slowed sharply in April," Anand James Chief Market Strategist Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services. A monthly survey showed that manufacturing output grew at its slowest pace in four months in April as new orders stagnated and input costs rose sharply. The 30-share index stayed in the negative zone throughout the day and settled 169.65 points or 0.66 per cent lower at 25,436.97 after touching a low of 25,341.14. This is the weakest closing since April 12. The broader Nifty also succumbed to selling and slipped below the 7,800-mark in early trade to hit a low of 7,777.30 before recovering partially to close 43.90 points or 0.56 per cent down at 7,805.90. On the other side of the spectrum, the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki ended 0.91 per cent up at Rs 3,829.55 after it posted a 13.3 per cent growth in sales in April. Shares of IndiGo's parent InterGlobe Aviation plunged 4.51 per cent to close at Rs 1,023.80 after its net profit remained flat at Rs 579.31 crore in the three months ended March. In Europe, most indices rose as a sharp decline in the previous session prompted investors to look for bargains. Key indices in France and Germany rose between 0.49 per cent and 1.06 per cent. Back home, out of the 30-share Sensex, 18 scrips ended lower. Major losers were, ICICI Bank (4.08 pc), Dr Reddy's (2.66 pc), Adani Ports (1.93 pc), Bharti Airtel (1.64 pc), HDFC Bank (1.37 pc), SBI (1.35 pc), ITC (1.20 pc), Tata Steel (1.07 pc), Wipro (0.98 pc) and Infosys (0.84 pc). However, BHEL rose by 1.91 per cent followed by GAIL (1.89 pc) Hero MotoCorp (0.99 pc) and Maruti (0.91 pc). Among BSE sectoral and industry indices, banking fell by 1.34 per cent, teck 0.65 per cent, IT 0.65 per cent, realty 0.59 percent, finance 0.49 per cent and industrials 0.16 per cent. While, consumer durables rose 1.07 per cent, metal 1.02 per cent and energy 0.26 per cent. The market breadth was negative as 1,327 shares ended lower, 1,283 closed higher while, 118 ruled steady. The total turnover fell to Rs 2,425.66 crore from Rs 2,817.96 crore on Friday. Citing news reports revealing Prime Minister Narendra Modis post-graduate academic record in the Gujarat University, the Delhi BJP on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for attempts to raise doubts over Modis degrees. Kejriwal last week angered the saffron brigade by pointing to a news reports clipping which said that Modi did not hold any academic degree. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay slammed Kejriwal saying that the RTI query on Modi has exposed that Kejriwals politics is only to mislead the people. The BJP has now dared Kejriwal to act against two of his party MLAs whose academic documents were alleged to be forged. Pointing to the Modi controversy, Upadhyay said, in order to cover up his shortcomings Kejriwal does not hesitate in questioning the dignity of any constitutional authority or any constitutional position. Upadhyay said Kejriwal should apologise for creating meaningless controversy on the degrees of the Prime Minister. The people of the country are quite satisfied with the educational qualification of our Prime Minister but they want to know from Kejriwal what action he has taken against his former minister Jitender Singh Tomar, facing allegations of forging degrees, and MLA Surrender Singh who was also involved in an alleged controversy over his degree. Last week, Kerjriwal wrote to the Chief Information Commission giving a go-ahead to the idea of making public his academic details but wondered why the transparency commission had imposed a bar on revealing similar details of Modi. Earlier in his letter addressed to Information Commissioner Madabhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu, Kejriwal frowned over the double standards of the transparency commission over making public his and Modis academic details. Attaching a clipping of a news report, the AAP leader said there are allegations that Modi did not hold any academic degree. In such a situation, the people want to know the truth. Still, you are hesitant in making public information related to him public, wrote Kejriwal in Hindi. He expressed surprise that the Information Commission was keen to share his details but not so interested in the case of Modi. Such a stand would raise doubts among people over the Commissions impartiality. While approving release of information related to me, also show the courage to make public the academic details of Modi, wrote Kejriwal. The BJP on Sunday also slammed Kejriwal for raising the controversial issue of public debate over Delhis full statehood to divert attention from his own failures. The leader of opposition in Assembly Vijender Gupta said the statehood debate has been reignited by Kejriwal government for hiding failure of second phase of odd-even scheme and its continuing tussle with the Centre. If Delhi government was serious about statehood of Delhi, it would approach Centre with a formal proposal because the chief minister knows very well that it will require a change in the Constitution, he said. Amid continuous threat to green belt from increasing commercial activities, the National Green Tribunal has directed South Delhi Municipal Corporation to finalise an action plan on preservation of trees in the stretch located along Mehrauli-Badarpur Highway in Saket area. The DC of South Zone (SDMC) is directed to convene a meeting to prepare an action plan in consultation with the Residents Welfare Association concerned as well as the applicants and finalise action plan for maintenance of existing trees and planting of fresh trees and submit a report before the Tribunal within four weeks, a bench headed by Justice M S Nambiar said. The green panel also directed the petitioners in the case to furnish the list of the details of Residents Welfare Association in the area to SDMC within three days to enable them to convene the meeting. The directions came while hearing a plea of Tripta Sood and Vivek Pande who had sought directions to maintain status quo to protect the green belt, which is about 1.5-km-long and 13-m-wide, along the Mehrauli-Badarpur Highway in Saket from any change in land use and stoppage of tree felling and encroachment. The matter is listed for next hearing on May 30. The tribunal had last year prohibited tree felling in the stretch after the two Saket residents moved NGT against increasing encroachment in the area. The ruling AIADMK today "strongly protested" the manner in which transfers of many IAS and IPS officials were effected by the Election Commission in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, describing it as "an apparent knee jerk response to motivated petitions and representations" from DMK and Congress. An AIADMK team led by M Thambidurai MP, also Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, today submitted a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi in Thiruvananthapuram, seeking ECI to revoke "the transfer orders, given that such a short period is left before the date of polling." "We strongly protest the manner in which such large-scale transfers have been ordered by the Election Commission of India in an apparent knee jerk response to motivated petitions and representations from vested interests." "We strongly urge the Election Commission of India to revoke the transfer orders, given that such a short period is left before the date of polling," it said. Referring to the transfers and appointments of senior officials, including a DGP (Elections), it said that though there were no complaints on arrangements for conduct of polls in the state, the DGP who was in overall charge of the Police force, had been "divested" of all responsibilities relating to conduct of elections. Such large-scale transfers ordered by EC in the run up to the polls were "unprecedented in Tamil Nadu," it said. "It is shocking to note that such a large number of officers have been transferred, based only on the motivated petitions and representations received from DMK and Congress and without due enquiry into the basis of these allegations or a background check of the officers concerned," the party said. The petition said it was "deplorable" that such transfers had been effected by the EC based on "motivated and false petitions submitted by persons who had occupied high positions as Cabinet Ministers in the previous UPA Government headed by the Congress, of which DMK was also a part." "We wish to categorically point out that such large scale transfers in a state like Tamil Nadu, which is known for its strong and good governance, is counter productive to the peaceful and efficient conduct of polls," it said. With barely two weeks left for polling, the newly posted officers would "hardly" have the time to effectively deal with poll-related activities and arrangements, especially on the law and order front, which, the party said, required detailed local knowledge and a grasp of recent developments in the area. "Hence, the large-scale transfers ordered by the Election Commission solely based on the malicious petitions of opposition parties is administratively ill advised, disruptive of the smooth conduct of the election process, besides having an adverse impact on the morale of the official machinery," it said. The state government was adhering to all EC guidelines on posting of officers to ensure free and fair polls, the party insisted, even as it objected to the "unprecedented" transfer of "non-poll" related official, MD of Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV), J Kumaragurubaran. "The sole purpose of the DMK and Congress seems to be to malign the AIADMK and give an impression that the officialdom is with the ruling party, while this is not so. Except throwing the names of officers, they have not cited a single instance where the officers have acted in a partisan manner," it said. AIADMK recalled that DMK leaders had in the past too levelled allegations against EC and are doing so now also. "The DMK-Congress combine has always adopted such pressure tactics. If officers are transferred on frivolous grounds merely to appease the DMK Congress combine, it is tantamount to yielding to their pressure tactics and gives a false impression amongst the voters regarding the AIADMK party and the Government headed by it," the petition said. This was "blatantly unfair" and did not allow for "a free and fair play in the polls," the ruling party contended. Many IAS and IPS officers in Tamil Nadu have been transferred on the EC's directives. A French journalist infiltrated a cell of would-be jihadists, filming them with a hidden camera as they plotted an attack in the name of the Islamic State group, before they were arrested, he said. The journalist, a Muslim using the pseudonym Said Ramzi, carried out the investigation for a documentary entitled "Allah's Soldiers" which gives an insight into the minds of young jihadists, and will be shown in France tonight. Ramzi describes himself as a Muslim "of the same generation as the killers" who carried out the November 13 terror attacks which left 130 people dead in Paris. "My goal was to understand what was going on inside their heads," he told AFP."One of the main lessons was that I never saw any Islam in this affair. No will to improve the world. Only lost, frustrated, suicidal, easily manipulated youths. "They had the misfortune of being born in the era that the Islamic State exists. It is very sad. They are youngsters who are looking for something and that is what they found." To make contact with the group, Ramzi said the first steps were easy, following and interacting with those preaching jihad on Facebook. Then, he had to meet the person presented as the "emir" of the group of about a dozen youths, some of them born into Muslim families, and the others converts.This took place in Chateauroux, a town in the centre-west of France, at an outdoor activities centre that was deserted in winter. The "emir" was a young French-Turkish citizen named Oussama, and on their first meeting he tries to convince the journalist he knows as Abu Hamza, that paradise awaits him if he carries out a suicide mission. "Towards paradise, that is the path," Oussama says, a chilling smile on his face. "Come, brother, let's go to paradise, our women are waiting for us there, with angels as servants. "You will have a palace, a winged horse of gold and rubies." During another meeting in front of a mosque in the Paris suburb of Stains, a member of the group points to an airplane approaching the nearby Bourget airport. "With a little rocket-launcher, you can easily get one of them... you do something like that in the name of Dawla (Islamic State), and France will be traumatised for a century." Some of the gang, like Oussama, try and reach the Islamic State group in Syria. He was arrested by Turkish police and handed back to France where he spent five months in jail before being released. While he had to show his face at the local police station once a day under his release conditions, he stayed in touch with the group via encrypted messaging application Telegram to organise meetings at which plans to launch an attack took form. In January 2015 two brothers attacked the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people. Holding of common entrance examination for medical courses from this year continues to draw objections from lawmakers with members in the Lok Sabha today raising the issue again and the government admitting that there are some "practical problems". Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu noted that the decision was taken by the Supreme Court and not the government. He said he will convey the concerns of members to the Health Minister who in turn will consult law officers. K C Venugopal (Congress) called the decision "hasty and not practical" and said it has triggered much "confusion and apprehension" among parents. He did not oppose the common entrance examination but said it should have been implemented from next year onward, noting that some states had already taken their exams. The two-phases test, first on May 1 and second on July 24, is also "discriminatory" as questions asked in the first phase will not be asked in the next. "It will create havoc," he said, asking the government to take necessary step to maintain status quo. His party colleague Rajiv Satav also spoke on similar lines, saying the decision will affect 80 per cent of Maharashtra students. He asked the government to file a Special Leave Petition in the apex court. Naidu objected to Venugopal blaming the government for the decision, saying the order had come from the Supreme Court. The government has asked the court to hear states as well, he said, adding he is not here to explain the order. "There are some practical problems, some heart-burning also," he said. The issue was raised last week also when members of various parties had opposed holding of the first phase of common entrance test for MBBS and BDS on May 1 saying it gives little time to students. Some of them also demanded that states be given time till 2018 to adapt. A UN arbitration tribunal has ruled in favour of an Italian marine, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at the Hague. Two Italian marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy in New Delhi. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN Court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi that the Arbitral Tribunal unanimously prescribed that India and Italy would approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of bail conditions of Girone. He said the tribunal left it to the Supreme Court to fix the precise conditions of Girone's bail and noted that while the marine may return to Italy during the present arbitration, he would remain under the authority of India's apex court. The tribunal's order is expected to be made public tomorrow. Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was "misrepresenting" the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. "While remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, he may return to Italy for the duration of the present arbitration. The Tribunal confirmed Italy's obligation to return him to India in case it was found that India had jurisdiction over him in respect of the incident. "The Tribunal left it to the Supreme Court of India to fix the precise conditions of Sergeant Girone's bail. This could include him reporting to an authority in Italy designated by our Supreme Court, surrendering his passport to Italian authorities and not leaving Italy without the permission of our Supreme Court," Swarup said. He said Italy will have to apprise the Supreme Court of his situation every three months. "Let me also emphasise that the Tribunal placed on record undertakings given by Italy in regard to Girone's return to India. It noted that these undertakings constitute an obligation binding upon Italy under international law. "It has also confirmed that Italy is under an obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India if the Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him," the MEA spokesperson said. Girone is one of the two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Swarup said the tribunal considered that provisional measures should not alter the situation where the Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction over Girone. "Government is studying the order which was received today. It would, in due course, approach the Supreme Court for its directions on this matter. "We believe that Government's consistent positions and key arguments in this particular case have been recognised by the Tribunal. The authority of the Supreme Court has been upheld. We remain confident that the issue of jurisdiction will be determined in our favour," the MEA spokesperson said. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Last year, Italy had sought international arbitration in the case under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arbitral Tribunal was requested by Italy to prescribe provisional measures for the duration of the arbitration which is expected to conclude in 2018. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Meanwhile, Italian new agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi)" after the news that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence, as per ANSA. Outspoken Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang has been slapped with one-year imprisonment for criticising President Xi Jinping's comments that the country's official media should show absolute loyalty to ruling Communist Party. The Communist Party committee in Beijing's Xicheng district said in a notice today that Ren, who has been called "Chinas Donald Trumph", had been placed on probation for a year for seriously violating the party's political discipline, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Ren, 65, was the former head of real estate firm Hua Yuan Property. In Chinese legal terminology probation meant short term incarceration. Ren, also known as 'Cannon Ren' for his outspoken comments, had on several occasions made improper remarks through online platforms such as popular Chinese microblogging site Weibo, the notice said. It, however, did not specify which of Ren's remarks were improper, the Post reported. The notice said Ren had repeatedly posted such comments online that violated the party's "four basic principles" as well as its policy and direction. Ren who had 37 million followers in his Chinese social media account Weibo, which is akin to Twitter in China, said in his microblog account in February that the news outfits were funded by taxpayers' money, and so should serve the public, rather than the leadership. His comments were directed at the remarks by Xi during his visit to official media outlets in February that all news media run by the party must speak for the partys will and protect its authority and unity. In his comment on the social media, Ren said, "when does the people's government turn into the party's government? (Are the media) funded by party membership dues? Don't waste taxpayers' money on things that do not provide them with services." Ren's Weibo account was subsequently shut down by China internet watchdog. An editorial on a news website affiliated with the Beijing municipal party committee accused him of spreading "anti-Communist Party" thoughts. Ren's violation of party discipline could amount to challenging the one-party rule as the "four basic principle" stipulates that party members must adhere to the countrys socialist path, dictatorship of the proletariat, the partys leadership and the political thoughts of Marxism and Maoism, the Post said. The penalty is the second most severe that can be dealt out to a party member for such an offence. Ren's punishment came despite Xi's remarks on April 29 calling for greater tolerance of "well-intentioned" criticisms on the online by the intellectuals. Donald Trump led by 15 points in latest polls for the Indiana primary, where rival Ted Cruz has mounted a last-ditch effort to stop the outspoken frontrunner from sewing up the Republican nomination, while the Democratic aspirants Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were nearly tied. A win in the primary, scheduled for tomorrow, will bring as many as 57 delegates for Trump and put him in a commanding position, making it difficult for Cruz to pose any serious challenge to the real-estate tycoon before the July Republican convention. The latest NBC-Wall Street Journal poll said that Trump has the support of 49 per cent likely voters and Cruz 34 per cent, followed by Ohio Governor John Kasich at 13 per cent. Trump and Cruz are blitzing the crucial state. Trump has held a number of rallies there and has also blasted Cruz in TV ads as supporting "bad trade deals [that] have hurt Indiana." The poll indicated a majority of Republican voters opposed a pact between Cruz and Kasich by 58 per cent to 34 per cent. Republican voters said they disagreed with the decision by Cruz and Kasich to compete in different states in an attempt to deny Trump the first-ballot victory. As part of the deal, Kasich is not campaigning in Indiana. "Indiana is an important state," Cruz said yesterday on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' Trump, who has declared himself the "presumptive nominee", said the contest would end if he won the state. "I think it's over now, but it's over," Trump told Fox News. "Cruz cannot win, he's got no highway, he's got nothing, he's way behind. I'm leading him by millions and millions of votes and I'm leading him by 400 or 500 delegates." But Cruz, who is already eliminated from reaching 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination outright, said he would prevent Trump from a first-ballot victory. He desperately needs a victory in Indiana to attempt to clinch the nomination at the convention in Cleveland this summer. "We are headed to a contested convention, and we're gonna win, and I'm not willing to concede this country," he said on NBC. Among the Democrats, Clinton, with 50 per cent supporters, leads Sanders by 4 per cent. Sanders said yesterday his path to nomination is difficult, but not impossible. Sanders has told his supporters he is not going anywhere and that he too is counting on a contested convention. "Let me be very clear. It is virtually impossible for Secretary Clinton to reach the majority of convention delegates by June 14 with pledged delegates alone. In other words, the convention will be a contested contest," he said. But Clinton already seems to be wooing Sanders supporters by releasing an ad that encourages Democrats to come together. "America is stronger when we are all supporting one another," she has said in a campaign ad. Karnataka State Mental Health Taskforce Chairman Dr Ashok Pai, on Sunday, said that superstition was a major hurdle for medical practitioners as the people were yet to develop a complete mindset to follow the advices of doctors. Speaking at a symposium on a book authored by S P Yoganna Samagra Aarogyadarshana, organised by Institute of Development Studies, University of Mysore (UoM) and Kannada Sahitya Parishat, district unit at Rani Bahadur auditorium, here, Pai said, Anything that is developed unscientifically can not be accepted and the patients must follow guidance of doctors to stay healthy. Pai suggested medical professionals to concentrate on literature and to publish articles as the doctors are the only professionals who can succinctly tell people about recent innovations in the realm. After inaugurating the event, writer S R Vijayshankar said, Many doctors lacked communication and writing skills. If the medicos cultivate these habits, then they could contribute enormously to the world of literature. Speaking on the occasion, film director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar said that Bhutan was the only carbon-free nation in the world, achieved by practicing simple lifestyle. Today, our (Indians) mantra should be simplicity for better and healthy nation, he said. Writers Malali Vasanth Kumar, C P Krishna Kumar, K Venkatagirigowda and KSP district unit president Y D Rajanna were present on the occasion. The Grauers gorilla, the worlds largest primate, has been a source of continual worry for conservationists for more than two decades. Long-standing conflict in the deep jungles of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo left experts with no choice but to guess at how that gorilla subspecies may be faring. Now, with tensions abating somewhat, researchers finally have an updated gorilla head count one that confirms their fears. According to findings compiled by an international team of conservationists, Grauers gorilla populations have plummeted 77% over the last 20 years, with fewer than 3,800 of the animals remaining. We suspected that the Grauers gorilla had declined because of all the insecurity in the region, but no one had an idea of how much theyd declined by, said Andrew Plumptre, director of the Wildlife Conservation Societys (WCS) Albertine Rift Programme in Central and Eastern Africa. It turns out that the rate of collapse pushes this subspecies to the verge of extinction. The conflicts impact Grauers gorillas named after Rudolf Grauer, an Austrian explorer and zoologist who first recognised the apes as a separate subspecies resemble their close relative, the mountain gorilla, save for their longer limbs and shorter hair. Although Grauers and mountain gorilla populations were once connected, years of isolation have left them genetically distinct enough to warrant separate designations as eastern gorilla subspecies. In 1994, the Wildlife Conservation Society conducted surveys in and around Kahuzi-Biega National Park, in what was then eastern Zaire. Researchers estimated that 17,000 Grauers gorillas remained. But the Rwandan genocide that year led to the gorillas precipitous decline. An estimated 8,00,000 Rwandans were killed over a 3-month period, while hundreds of thousands more fled to neighbouring Zaire. Some of those refugees formed militias such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, and the forest served as their stronghold and hide-out. Instability soon spread, leading to the overthrow of President Mobutu Sese Seko and civil war in the newly formed Democratic Republic of Congo. From 1996 to 2003, that conflict cost the lives of an estimated 5 million people, and also brought the formation of more armed groups, 69 of which continue to operate in the eastern part of the country. Bushmeat feeds many of them, and gorillas, which can weigh up to 400 pounds, prove easy and worthwhile targets. To finance their efforts, many armed groups have also set up artisanal mining sites, nearly all illegal. Risky environments The International Peace Information Service, an independent research institute based in Belgium, has documented more than 1,000 of these mines, and the Wildlife Conservation Society has counted at least 240 more within protected areas and proposed protected areas. The mines attract untold numbers of outside workers, who also need to eat. Although the fighting has ebbed somewhat over the last 5 years, the region today is by no means secure for people or for animals. Eastern Congo is just tragic on every level imaginable, said Liz Williamson, a primatologist at the University of Stirling in Scotland. People there have been living through hell for 20 years. Those trying to protect the regions flora and fauna are equally at risk. The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates that 170 to 200 park rangers have been killed in eastern Congo since 1996. The government has been trying to go into some areas to disarm all these groups, but its not an easy job, Andrew said. In that large of a chunk of forest, finding people is difficult. Despite the danger, over the last few years, field teams of local residents, park staff members and scientists have managed to undertake the most comprehensive survey of Grauers gorillas ever, covering 7,450 miles of their range. Statistical analyses allowed Andrew and his colleagues to estimate a total remaining population of fewer than 3,800. All told, the researchers calculated a 77% decline in Grauers gorilla populations since 1994, although some sites were hit harder than others. In and around Kahuzi-Biega National Park, for example, there has been an 87% decline. Additionally, nearly 80% of the total losses took place over just one generation a rate 3 times higher than what is normally needed to officially declare an animal on the brink of extinction. Should this trend continue, most Grauers gorillas will be gone within the next 5 to 10 years, Andrew said. New protected areas Grauers gorillas are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but Andrew and his colleagues believe that their situation warrants immediate updating to critically endangered status. Liz submitted evidence this month supporting that change, and she expects approval by June. While killing gorillas is already illegal in the country, declaring the subspecies as critically endangered would probably bring more funding and support for saving it. Protecting the entirety of the gorillass 7,700-square-mile territory would no doubt prove impossible, but Andrew and his colleagues are talking with the government and community leaders about establishing 2 new protected areas that would encompass 60% of the remaining gorillas habitat. I think people felt like this was a lost cause and not much could be done, Liz said. But now WCS is really pushing to get boots on the ground and create these new national parks, which would really make a difference. Home Minister G Parameshwara has hinted at tough measures for strengthening policing in the city. Bengaluru will see an important change in another 10 days regarding safety and security. I will soon share details about the development, he told reporters after a review meeting with senior police officers here on Monday. The minister said that murders, dacoities and chain-snatchings had come down in the city in the last few days. The police have arrested members of Bawaria and Irani gangs which were notorious for chain-snatchings. Around Rs 40 crore would be spent for purchasing more CCTV cameras. Parameshwara said that he had directed the police to closely monitor the activities of 8,900 rowdies in the city. The police had also been told to speed up investigation and crack cases. It has been decided to prevent sale of drugs near schools and colleges. Action will also be taken against unauthorised spas, he said. The minister said that 247 persons had been detained in connection with the violence during the recent stir by garment workers. Of the 656 foreigners staying illegally in the city, steps had been taken to deport 350, he added. The state government would soon submit a report to the Centre on the acts of indiscipline of IPS officer Abhishekh Goyal during mid-career training, Parameshwara said. The Home minister inaugurated the upgraded Dial 100 project before the review meeting. The upgraded system has 16 call takers and 4 dispatchers. It enables citizens to call 100 through different media - landlines, mobiles, messages, social media and e-mails. A mild outbreak of gastroenteritis is being reported in localities where Karaga and Ramanavami festivals were celebrated last month. The Epidemic Diseases Hospital (Isolation Hospital) has been seeing around 20 cases of gastroenteritis every day since the last week. While Ramanavami was celebrated two weeks ago, public distribution of butter milk and lemonade is still going on in some parts of the city. The beverages are also distributed during Karaga. People tend to consume uncooked salad that are served in an unhygienic way. Sometimes, the water added to the juice and butter milk is contaminated. This leads to gastroenteritis, Dr Ansar Ahmed, medical superintendent, Isolation Hospital, told Deccan Herald. Those complaining of diarrhoea and vomiting are being treated as outpatients while those with severe conditions are being hospitalised. Since last week, we have been seeing close to 20 cases every day. Around seven patients need hospitalisation, he said. The number of gastroenteritis patients is, however, lesser than last year. The hospital saw around 150 cases in April last year. Dr Veerana Gowda, head, Department of Internal Medicine, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, said that most of the patients were recovering in a day or two. There have been no cholera cases this time. We are expecting a spurt in gastroenteritis cases after summer rainfall, he said. With increased dust, upper respiratory infections are also going up, he added. Syncopal attack As the temperature rises, there are cases of travellers fainting This usually happens because of high temperature and dehydration, Dr Ahmed said. Sebi has cancelled the registration of Deutsche Mutual Fund. The cancellation is due to the transfer of schemes of Deutsche Mutual Fund to DHFL Pramerica Mutual Fund. Pursuant to the transfer of schemes of Deutsche Mutual Fund to DHFL Pramerica Mutual Fund and at the request of Deutsche Mutual Fund, Sebi, vide its letter dated May 2, 2016, has cancelled the certificate of registration of Deutsche Mutual Fund and has withdrawn the approval granted to Deutsche Asset Management, to act as the asset management company to the mutual fund, Sebi said. Consequently, the Deutsche Mutual Fund, Deutsche Trustee Services and Deutsche Asset Management cannot carry out any activity as a mutual fund, trustee company and asset management company respectively, Sebi added. Meanwhile, refusing to budge on its directive for mandatory disclosure of top-management salary by MFs, Sebi on Monday told them it is a non-negotiable requirement and investors must be provided date without any extra filters. Work on upgrading the Hebbal flyover finally began after a year's delay. While the project is expected to ease commuting around north Bengaluru, it will pose temporary hiccups to commuters travelling towards KR Puram and Tumakuru Road because of diversions. Bangalore Development Minister K J George on Monday laid the foundation to make Hebbal junction signal free. Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will construct a uni-directional underpass for traffic from Tumakuru Road going towards KR Puram. BDA will dismantle the existing loop of the Hebbal flyover to KR Puram side and will connect this traffic to the loop connecting Tumakuru Road to the city and will construct a three-lane flyover parallel to Hebbal flyover from Nagawara side towards Esteem Mall. The total project cost is Rs 87 crore. BDA engineers said traffic flow from the airport to the city will not be affected; traffic below the flyover will be diverted. Officials said no roads will be closed and work will go on in phases. But traffic movement will slow down because no pre-cast technology will be used. Hebbal flyover was inaugurated in 2008 when the passenger car units was 5,000-6,000. When the airport opened by 2011-12, PCU was around 15,000 and by 2015-16, it touched 30,000. George said nobody had expected the city and traffic to grow so fast and hence a change in the existing infrastructure was needed. Nobody had thought the temperature will touch 39 degree Celsius also. There is thus a need to restrict growth as far as possible. Planned real estate growth is not a problem, illegal constructions need to be curtailed, George said. Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda urged George and BDA to complete the work within the stipulated time (two years). For the safety of pedestrians and commuters, he sought the construction of a pedestrian underpass. This long-pending demand was ignored yet again, he said. MLC Y A Narayanswamy also sought a railway underpass to ease commuting. A day before the BJPs protest rally against the property tax hike, the ruling Congress in the BBMP tried to turn the tables on its rival party, saying the guidance value-based classification of taxation zones was proposed when the BJPs D Venkatesh Murthy was the mayor in 2013. Flaying the BJP for misleading the taxpayers, Mayor B N Manjunatha Reddy said the BJP had proposed a hike of 15% to 30% and later published the same in the gazette notification. The BJP has no moral right to hold any protest. Everybody knows that the zonal classification based on the guidance value was proposed by the then mayor Venkatesh Murthy on Jan 11, 2013. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had criticised the Palike administration for not revising the tax every three years as mandated by the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act, he said. The mayor said the situation was so grave that it warranted the deployment of marshals in the BBMP council. We were opposed to the deployment of marshals as we never wanted to send a message of lack of civility among the corporators but the way the BJP members in the Council behaved, it has become necessary to seek marshals for the BBMP. The mayor said the BJP displayed utter disregard for him inside the Palike council on April 29 when some of its members pulled his gown and held his legs. He showed the pictures of the BJP corporators pulling his gown. Former mayors of Bengaluru, K H N Simha, J Huchappa, M Ramachandrappa and P R Ramesh, who were present at the press conference, submitted a memorandum to the mayor, demanding stern action against four BJP corporators, including their leader Padmanabha Reddy. Tight security to foil BJP stir A thick security blanket will be thrown around the BBMP head office in the wake of a large protest planned by the BJP against the exorbitant hike in property tax and revision of taxation zones. In this regard, senior police officers held a meeting on Monday evening with the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force chief T Suneel Kumar and other staff. No upgrade yet for tax software The BBMP is yet to upgrade its property tax collection software to limit the tax hike to 20% for residential buildings and 25% for commercial establishments, though Palike Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad had stated that it would be operational by Monday. M Shivaraju, chairperson of the taxation and finance committee, said the upgrade of the software was almost done but it would be ready for public use Thursday onwards. He said that in the last 24 hours, Rs 6.7 crore was collected as property tax though the software had not been upgraded. As of May 1, tax collection reached Rs 306 crore from 3.34 lakh property owners, he said. The Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Board (HKRDB) has directed the departments of Energy,Transport and Higher Education to call for applications to fill vacant posts in the region, within the next 15 days. HKRDB chairman and minister, Sharanprakash Patil, who held a meeting with the representatives from three departments, told reporters that as many as 30,000 posts were vacant in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The Cabinet has already decided to fill up the posts within six to eight months. Patil said that appointments had been made to around 9,000 vacancies so far and the process was on for another 12,000 posts. Karnataka has given two days time to eight deemed-to-be medical universities in the state to surrender 25% of their total seats to the government. Minister of State for Medical Education, Sharanprakash Patil, on Monday held a meeting with the representatives of the varsities who were asked to pledge 25% seats to the government as per the norms. Speaking to reporters, he said the varsities, which ran 9 colleges, were supposed to surrender a total of 407 seats to the government. However, the colleges had surrendered only 127 seats of the total 1,630 seats available for the 2015-16 academic year. He said he was confident that the varsities would fall in line within the next two days Tuesday and Wednesday. However, when asked why the government was finding it difficult to convince the varsities, many of which were run by politicians, especially Congress leaders, Patil said, No matter who owns these colleges, I have ensured that they are all brought under the ambit of the law. But they (varsities) challenged the government decision before the court and succeeded in getting a stay. We will fight it out in the court if they fail to obey. Though a government order was issued in 2010 stipulating these varsities to surrender 25% of their total seats, none of them had done so. When the department began pursuing the matter seriously in 2014, the varsities moved the court contending that they came under the University Grants Commission and the state government cannot call the shots. They had even argued that the government had not taken an undertaking about seat-sharing, when the colleges were set up. Both the Supreme Court and the High Court have ruled in favour of the varsities stating that the colleges have to surrender 25% of the enhanced seats every year. Last year, the government brought an amendment to the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006, introducing a clause mandating that 25% of the overall seats have to be surrendered. Else, the varsities are not entitled to conduct exams. Undeterred, the varsities yet again moved the court and succeeded in obtaining a stay order. Karnataka will be the first state in the country to provide panic buttons on its state transport buses for use by women in case of emergency. The facility, which will be available on Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses plying in and around Bengaluru, is among many measures for womens safety that the corporation will take. The other features include closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) and GPS units, which will be installed on more than 2,000 buses to give passengers a sense on security while travelling on state-owned buses. These initiatives will soon be a reality once the Centre releases funds to KSRTC under the Nirbhaya fund. KSRTC has sought Rs 61.32 crore for enhancing safety and security of women and girl children in buses, bus stands and also in KSRTCs workplaces. KSRTC had sent a detailed, 21-page proposal to the Centre in the first week of April. The proposal includes demand for funds to provide facilities like exclusive lounges for women at bus stations. KSRTC managing director Rajender Kumar Kataria said the panic button will alert the central control room in the satellite bus stand, which helps the control room staff alert the nearest police station for action. The proposal copy said that around 13 lakh women work in and around the city and many of them travel within the radius of 60 kilometres everyday to garment units, malls, small scale industries, IT companies and even in the government sector. A KSRTC official said each bus will be fitted with three CCTV cameras which will help curb crime against women. Women hail move Panic buttons are a help for women, particularity when conductors or drivers try to abuse passengers when there are very few passengers in the bus. But its efficiency will be known once it is implemented, Nirmala, private company employee said. Every week I travel to my native place Ramanagaram. The technology will give a secure feeling not only to me but also to my parents, Kruthika, a student said. Known as the abode of peace and the seat of the famous Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, the largest Buddhist monestary in the country, the sleepy town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh turned volatile on Monday when at least two protesters were killed in police firing. The police took the drastic action to control a mob which was protesting against the arrest of a noted anti-mega dam activist and Buddhist monk Lama Lobsang Gyatso. According to official sources, indefinite curfew has been clamped in Tawang and the army has been called in to conduct flag march. Locals alleged that there is another dead body which the police have not disclosed. There are unconfirmed reports that four people including a Buddhist Lama have been killed, sources from Tawang added. Gyatso has been heading Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF), a group opposed to hydropower projects in Tawang region. He was arrested on Thursday afternoon based on a complaint that he had defamed the Abbot of the Tawang Monastery, Guru Tulku Rinpoche, the spiritual head of the monastery by questioning his nationality through an audio clip. Rinpoche had earlier advised the Buddhist lamas to stay away from anti-mega dam protests that have been on in the region since half a decade. Tension stated building up recently after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted to 780 MW Nyamjang Chhu Hydroelectric Project, by Bhilwara Group in Zemithang on eco-sensitive stretch of Tawang River basin. On Monday, thousands of Gyatsos supporters came to Tawang and demanded his release. As a police convoy taking Gyatso was passing by, his supporters broke the police barricade, police sources added. The police opened fire in which at least two person died, seven other received bullet injuries. Gyasto was released on bail on Monday evening. On April 1, supporters of local MLA Tsering Tashi took out a rally against Gyasto for his remark against Rinpoche. A Zila Parishad member had even sent him a death threat. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalipho Pul directed for Peace Committees to be constituted immediately at various levels. The CBI on Monday claimed that former Air Force chief S P Tyagi visited Italy after his retirement. The agency is probing whether it is connected to the VVIP chopper deal. Agency sources said Tyagi, who appeared before the agency in AgustaWestland bribery scandal, facing allegations of taking bribes, visited Florence, Milan and Venice probably in 2008 or 2009 and investigations are on to ascertain who funded the trip, who accompanied him and who all he met. Tyagi has been asked to appear again on Tuesday. Lawyer and middleman in the deal Gautam Khaitan has also been summoned besides Tyagi's cousins during the week. The CBI will look into Tyagis bank accounts and assets. We are figuring out the purpose of SP Tyagi's visit to Italy after retirement," a senior CBI official said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also summoned Tyagi on May 4 in connection with the money-laundering case emerging out of the FIR filed by CBI. The summons to Tyagi came following the sentencing of two former top officials of Italy-based Finmeccanica, the mother company of UK-based AgustaWestland, on corruption charges. The judgment said that Tyagi along with others had taken bribes. CBI questioned Tyagi earlier in 2013. Tyagi and 12 others, including his cousins Sanjeev, Rajeev and Sandeep, were named in an FIR by CBI in 2013 on charges of cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy. It was claimed that Rs 360 crore was paid as bribe through a maze of companies, including Chandigarh-based Aeromatrix. Investigators are ascertaining whether he met AgustaWestland officials around half-a-dozen times before he retired in 2007. The first meeting was in 2004 when Tyagi was Air Force vice chief. There were two in 2005, including one at Bengaluru airshow where the company had set up a stall. Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor is keen to project Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Vadra as the next Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, but the party hopes to see Rahul as party president this year. Last month, Kishor had made a presentation to the Gandhi family and suggested that either Rahul or Priyanka be projected as the chief ministerial candidate, a proposal that was not readily accepted. How do I know? You people keep running these stories, so you might me knowing, Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by ANI. The Congress was dismissive of Kishors suggestions and made it clear that they expected Rahul to take over as party president some time this year. I have no idea of what Prashant Kishor has said. Rahul Gandhi is an MP from Amethi. Rahul is the vice-president of the Congress and we expect Rahul to become president in 2016, Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh said at the party briefing. Asked about Priyankas projection as the chief ministerial face, Ramesh merely said: I have no knowledge about it. Rahul cannot be the chief minister of 29 states, he shot back in reply to a question. The Congress is expected to revamp its team in Uttar Pradesh and replace state unit chief Nirmal Khatri with a leader from the upper caste. The names of Sheila Dikshit and Amethi royal Sanjay Singh are doing the rounds. The revamp is expected to be announced after May 19, the day results of the elections to Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are to be announced. A section of Congress leaders, particularly the veterans, have not taken kindly to the importance given to Kishor, who also holds an official position as an Adviser to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Earlier, Kishor had scripted the successful Lok Sabha campaign of Narendra Modi in 2014 and later helmed the election strategy for Kumar during last years Bihar elections. These may be some stray thoughts of Kishor, a Congress leader replied wryly when asked about Rahul as chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh. Cong posters portray Rahul as Singham The ongoing poster war among political parties in Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly elections will be held early next year, intensified further with the Congress coming out with posters portraying Rahul Gandhi as Singham (the supercop character played by Ajay Devgn in the movie Singham), DHNS reports from Lucknow. Rahuls Singham posters, which appeared in Gorakhpur town, about 275 km from here, on Monday, showed him holding a stick in his hand and gesturing toward his rivals, including UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, state BJP president Keshav Prasad Maurya, BSP supremo Mayawati and AIMIM chief Asauddin Owaisi. Forest fires raging through large parts of Uttarakhand began showing signs of abating as two IAF choppers and over 10,000 personnel continued firefighting operations for the second day on Monday. The number of active fires dropped sharply to 40 in the hill state and the Centre claimed the situation was under control. Three persons were arrested from Pithoragarh and Nainital for burning dry leaves of Cheed and stoking the fires. There are only 40 active fires in the state today in comparison to yesterdays 73 which is an encouraging sign. It shows the situation is gradually getting under control. Today there were 271 incidents of forest fires in the state out of which 232 have been extinguished, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) S Ramaswamy said. Two IAF helicopters made 9 sorties from Nainital and Pauri and poured water out of Bamdi buckets over the flaming forests as 10,000 personnel fought numerous infernos on the ground. Governor K K Paul spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Forest and Environment Prakash Javadekar and briefed them about the situation prevailing in the state where forests in 3,185.45 hectares have been blighted since February 2. According to Raj Bhawan sources, the Prime Minister asked the Governor to keep the Centre posted about the steps being taken to put out forest fires and assured him of all help from the Centre to overcome the situation. President Pranab Mukherjee also shared his concern with the Governor and expressed his condolences to families which had lost their kin in forest fire incidents. Around 5-6 people were reportedly killed in such incidents over the past few days. A four-member Central team of experts, including Special Director Centre for Fire Explosives K C Wadha and director of Delhi Fire Services G C Misra have reached Uttarakhand to assess the situation and suggest possible remedies. In House The government on Monday told the Lok Sabha that the forest fire in Uttarakhand was now under control. After MPs expressed concern over the devastating forest fire in Uttarakhand, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the situation was brought under control. The situation is now totally under control after three NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams were pressed into service along with the (Indian) Air Force with MI-17 helicopters, he told the House, adding that some expert teams were also sent to the area. Saugata Ray of the Trinamool Congress raised the issue in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour. The central government has deployed the NDRF, the Army and also the Air Force for helicopters to douse the fire. But in many places, the smoke is so dense that the helicopters cannot fly, Ray said. Forest fires near school cause panic Panic gripped Lawrence school, Sanawar near Kasauli, on Monday as fires raging in adjoining forests advanced towards the school and students ran helter skelter with columns of smoke descending on the school complex, PTI reports from Kasauli (HP). The fires were brought under control and no damage was caused to the 169-year-old residential school and the situation was normal, said R Chauhan, a senior teacher of the school. There was no cause for panic and all the students and the school complex is safe, he added. With Cooch Behar in North Bengal going to polls, the Trinamool Congress has geared up for a tough battle ahead on May 5, the final phase of polling in Bengal. Even as all the parties are putting in efforts, the Trinamool seems particularly focussed on wining maximum seats from the district, given this could be the last few seats the ruling party can pick up from the region. While the Trinamool and the Opposition parties have all channelised their energy and resources on the district, all the parties have lined up their star campaigners to woo voters, with campaigning coming to end on Tuesday. Trinamool sources admit that the ruling party has the most at stake since Cooch Behar is the only North Bengal district where they can hope to pick up the most number of seats, unlike in the other six districts in the region. With her eyes on the goal, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee addressed as many as six public meetings and rallies across Cooch Behar in last two days. Gautam Deb, outgoing North Bengal development minister and Trinamools leader from the region, said Mamata will leave North Bengal for Kolkata only after the elections are over. Besides rallies at far-flung parts of the district, Mamata will be addressing public meetings at the two seats surrounding Cooch Behar town as well as at Dinhata. In Dinhata, the party hopes to fare well since it fielded sitting Forward Bloc MLA Udayan Guha, who defected to the Trinamool in 2015. The Trinamool has also roped in senior leader Mukul Roy and actor Dev to address rallies. Interestingly, while CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra has already addressed a number of rallies in the district, the BJP brought in big guns like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh to campaign in the area. 2 CID officers killed while defusing bombs Two CID personnel were killed while defusing bombs in a village near Bangladesh border in the district on Monday, even as four persons were killed and four others were injured while making the bombs ahead of the last phase of polling on May 5 in the state, PTI reports from Malda. Vishuddhananda Mishra and Subrata Chowdhury died while they were being rushed to Kolkata for further treatment after being seriously injured when two crude bombs went off as the CID bomb squad officials were trying to defuse them, senior police officers said. Amid Kottayams searing summer heat, two stalwarts of Kerala politics in the central district are fighting the political firestorm that threatens to tarnish their credibility. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Kerala Congress Mani remain icons in their respective Assembly constituencies of Puthupally and Pala, but the corruption scandals that engulfed the UDF regime have put them in rather unfamiliar territories. Chandy (72) won Puthupally for ten times since 1970, while Mani (83) has been representing Pala since 1965. The CPM has fielded the 25-year-old Students Federation of India state president Jaick C Thomas against Chandy. More than caring for immediate success, the Left now offers a flavour of change and an alternative, something Chandy himself represented back in 1970 when, as a 26-year-old, he defeated CPI(M)s E M George to win Puthupally. Chandy starts as favourite, admits Kottayam-based businessman Reji George. He has a huge support base in Puthupally built largely on familiarity factor. The point, however, is whether or not his rivals are able to draw votes in Puthupally discussing the state and THE solar scam IN WHICH Chandy himself is under the scanner or scandals that linked other ministers. C Mathew, a Congress supporter in Ettumanoor, based his verdict on Chandys personal connection with Puthupally and his overall credentials as a leader. Is there a leader of Chandys stature who did not face allegations? Mathew said, admitting that even Chandys popularity in the constituency is unlikely to afford him the kind of winning margin he enjoyed in 2011. The Chief Minister won by 30,000 votes in the previous polls. K M Mani would also look at his winning margin of 5,259 over his NCP rival Mani Kappen with increasing trepidation. In 2016, he faces Kappen again, amid sliding votes and the possible impact of the bar bribery scam, over which he was forced to resign as a minister. If victory margins in the past two elections are any indication, Mani is likely to put up a strong resistance. His performance would also hinge on his ability to reduce the impact of the bar scam. Kerala Congress, a 50-year-old political force in the Christian, settler-farmer belts of Kottayam and Idukki districts, is facing its worst crisis in the wake of the bar scam, subsequent resignation of party chairman Mani as Finance Minister and another break-up in its ranks. Kerala Congress, the third largest constituent in Keralas Congress-led ruling coalition, has often lived up to its reputation of being a party which breaks as it grows and grows as it breaks. Dissent and subsequent break-ups which have defined the partys evolution over its history of 50 years is, perhaps, most evident in Poonjar in Kottayam district. The constituency with 1,81,504 voters is set for a close four-way contest in the May 16 Assembly election. Rebels Interestingly, three of these four candidates have had ties with the Kerala Congress; one of them is contesting as the partys official candidate while the others are rebels who have drifted apart from the parent party. The Mani faction of the Kerala Congress, the official party, has fielded Georgekutty Augusthy as candidate of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). P C Joseph, one of the Kerala Congress rebels, who recently broke away to form Kerala Congress (Democratic) and join the CPM-led coalition, is the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in Poonjar. Out of favour with both the political fronts, former Kerala Congress leader P C George is fighting it out under the banner of Kerala Congress (Secular). The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has fielded M R Ullas of the newly-formed political party Bharat Dharma Jana Sena as its candidate. George, who won as a Kerala Congress candidate in 2011, had constantly criticised the Congress leadership and had started taking pot-shots at KC(M) chief K M Mani himself before he was ousted from the party. George started discussions with the CPM leadership and even announced that he would be the LDF candidate. The CPM, however, decided to welcome the breakaway KC (Democratic) into the Left fold and allotted the seat to P C Joseph. George, a prominent leader and six-time MLA, has taken the snub personally and is on a campaign to make a statement on what he has claimed as his clout in the region. An international arbitration tribunal has asked New Delhi and Rome to approach Indias Supreme Court to allow an Italian Navy sergeant who is accused of killing two fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012 to go home. The tribunal, however, made it clear that marine Salvatore Girone would remain under Indias authority alone even if he was allowed to stay in Italy. The Supreme Court of India would continue to have jurisdiction over him till the dispute over the case was finally settled by the tribunal, it said. Rome on Monday claimed that the tribunal had asked India to allow Girone to return to Italy. Sources in New Delhi, however, said that Rome was misinterpreting the order of the tribunal, which asked the Government of India to approach the Supreme Court to relax Girones bail conditions to allow him to return to Italy. The order of The Hague based tribunal will be officially made public on Tuesday. Sources in New Delhi, however, said that the possible return of Girone to Italy remained strictly conditional on Italian government guaranteeing his availability before a court of India, if required. Girone is on bail and is staying at the Embassy of Italy in New Delhi. Traffic crawled on Monday with a section of taxi operators protesting against the Supreme Court decision to impose a ban on diesel-fuelled cabs, numbering about 60,000, and blocking city roads. Traffic was held up at various spots, including National Highway 8 and Ring Road. Office and school goers were the worst hit. Taxi operators demanded that the Aam Aadmi Party government should give them subsidy for switching to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG). The BJP said the Delhi government had intentionally avoided persuading the Supreme Court to allow more time for diesel cabs to switch to CNG. On Saturday, the Supreme Court had refused to give more time to cab operators to make the switch and banned diesel taxis in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from May 1. Protesters blocked traffic at Delhi-Gurgaon and Delhi-Noida borders and southwest Delhi's Rajokri area. Cars crawled bumper to bumper between Dhaula Kuan and Gurgaon on Monday morning. The traffic situation on Ring Road worsened at around 11.30 am when the protesters blocked the road at Maharani Bagh, close to Ashram Chowk. There was a massive jam at DND expressway, as protesters blocked traffic at Maharani Bagh, Pankaj Kamboj, a Mayur Vihar resident, said. Ankit Joshi, a Jamia Millia Islamia student, who was caught in a traffic jam early in the morning, said, I took 40 more minutes to reach the university. The protest also affected cab services, and taxi-hailing apps like Uber and Ola showed fewer cabs available for hire. But an Ola tweet said it has "no peak pricing on the Ola platform in Delhi-NCR. Delhi Airport issued an advisory, asking flyers to use the Metro to avoid congestion on roads. Traffic Police also advised commuters to avoid DND flyway and clogged stretches between Modi Mill and Mathura Road, and Bhairon Road and Sarai Kale Khan. Many cabs were impounded on Sunday, following which the cabbies alleged harassment by enforcement agencies. We are planning to meet the Delhi Police Commissioner in the evening. We will ask him to be considerate and free vehicles impounded yesterday. BJP leader Vijender Gupta is also joining us, Harpreet Singh, a Delhi transporter said. [cf. Judge denies motions by fossil fuel industry and federal government in landmark climate change case The most important lawsuit on the planet right now] By Sydney Brownstone 29 April 2016 (The Stranger) A King County Superior Court judge has reversed a ruling that gave the Washington State Department of Ecology the opportunity to decide when to cut statewide greenhouse gas emissions. Because of a lawsuit filed by eight Washington State kids, Judge Hollis Hill has ruled that the threat of climate change is so urgent that the state must be placed on a court-ordered deadline to hold polluters accountable now. The decision was the first of its kind. Earlier this year, Judge Hill found that the state had a constitutional responsibility to protect its citizensincluding the children who filed the lawsuitbut that dictating an additional greenhouse gas rule-making process wouldnt be necessary. After all, in July of last year Governor Jay Inslee had directed Ecology to come up with a rule to cut greenhouse gas emissions. That changed when Ecology withdrew the draft rule in February of 2016 in order to take more time to confer with stakeholders. When that happened, the kids lawyer, Andrea Rodgers, asked the judge to change the earlier ruling in favor of the state based on two criteria: one, that the state had misrepresented the facts, and two, that extraordinary circumstances deemed it necessary. Judge Hill didnt think that Ecology committed fraud or misrepresentation by committing to a rulemaking process and then withdrawing a draft rule later. But she did agree with the kids lawyer that climate change constituted extraordinary circumstances. Ecology doesnt dispute that current science establishes that rapidly increasing global warming causes an unprecedented risk to the earth, to the land, sea, and atmosphere, and all living plants and creatures, Judge Hill said. Then the judge used Ecologys own words to demonstrate the extraordinary circumstances, reading back a quote from 2014 warning of serious economic and environmental disruptions. Judge Hill continued: The reason Im doing this is because this is an urgent situation. () These children cant wait, the polar bears cant wait, the people of Bangladesh cant wait. I dont have jurisdiction over their needs in this matter, but I do have jurisdiction in this court, and for that reason Im taking this action. Now the state must come up with a rule to cut greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2016. In addition, it must make recommendations to the legislature next year to update the states greenhouse gas reduction goals based on the most current science. [more] ZTE Corporation saw operating revenue grow 4.09 per cent year-on-year to RMB21.859 billion (US$3.375 billion) in the first quarter of 2016. Net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company amounted to RMB950 million (US$146.7 million), representing a 15.97 per cent increase from the same period last year; while basic earnings per share amounted to RMB0.23 (US$0.035), the company reports in its Q1 financial results. The company highlighted its research and development (R&D) activities in Q1, which saw it invest a record 13.96 per cent of revenue into R&D; which it said is in line with ZTEs strategy to innovate mobile ICT. In the carrier network market, ZTE said it continued growth in traditional businesses including long-term evolution (LTE) and fiber optic networks, while also focusing on developing cutting-edge technologies and sectors such as Pre5G/5G, Big Video, software-defined networking/network function virtualization (SDN&NFV) and Internet of Things (IoT). The company said it made headway in the SDN/NFV and next generation IoT spaces through strategic collaborations with the mainlands three biggest operators. ZTE also won contracts and commenced deployment of smart city 2.0 solutions in Shenyang and Huaian; continued to work on smart rail transport projects in Denmark, Greece and India; and said it is becoming more competitive in the smart energy sector with private power line LTE wireless networks in China and Africa. In the consumer space, the company said network video communication products and TV set-top boxes are winning an increasing percentage of the global market. Focus also continues to sharpen on the high-end smartphones market, ZTE said. Emerging markets offer Amazon Prime an untapped $70 billion revenue opportunity for OTT services according to a new report. As Amazon has unveiled its latest revenue figures, a new report has revealed that engaging consumers in high growth markets could offer a $70 billion revenue opportunity to digital service providers. With the recent announcement that Amazon Prime Video is to be offered as a standalone service for the first time, and entry into the Indian market is on the horizon, attention is naturally turning to further expansion plans. Developing markets offer an obvious route for growth for Amazon. However, as the findings suggest, in order to capitalise on this opportunity fully, the digital content provider must understand and address the intricacies of each market and adjust their business and delivery strategies, accordingly. Moreover, MNOs must decide whether they are going to embrace Amazon if or when the Silicon Valley giant makes its moves, or whether they will try to resist the inevitable pressure it will put onto already over-stretched mobile broadband networks and the threat it poses to existing services. The 2016 Developing Markets Mobile Commerce report reveals that despite Amazon Prime not yet being available in the markets questioned, if cost wasnt an issue, almost one in five consumers would like to access the service, more than other digital content, via their mobile device. 87% of consumers make daily use of mobile devices for accessing digital services and 73% of respondents reported that they are willing to pay for high-value digital services via mobile devices. These are encouraging signs for the digital content provider, but success in high growth markets will only be achieved if it develops an offering that is relevant to each particular market, ensuring content is affordable, accessible and localised. Affordability The report reveals that the top factors that influence the decision of consumers in emerging markets to purchase a digital mobile service are pricing adjusted to local currency (88%) and low data charges (87%). The cost of streaming content on mobile devices is a challenge that Amazon, like Netflix, would need to understand and overcome if it expands to these markets. For some consumers, the cost could be more than double the service subscription cost for streaming a single episode alone. Income and purchasing power of consumers also varies significantly, so digital content service providers need to adopt differential pricing strategies that reflect these discrepancies. They must also account for the cost of streaming video in markets where WiFi access is not prevalent. A typical 1GB data package costs around $15 a month in Brazil. For subscribers to Netflix, a single House of Cards episode streamed at standard definition can cost consumers $9.90 on top of their subscription to the service. Accessibility The stats reveal that 61% of consumers in the markets questioned feel unsatisfied with their current mobile connection, with 25% stating it is unreliable and 36% stating it is slow. As a result, over a third of consumers (40%) want brands to provide lite versions of their digital services. The report goes on to show that digital services are being consumed through multiple routes when accessing content on their mobile devices (43% web browsers, 40% apps), highlighting how digital service providers cannot rely on apps alone to reach their target audience and should adjust to meet the specific needs of the consumers. Localising content The findings highlight that localisation of content is key for consumers in emerging markets; with over three quarters (76%) of those questioned wanting the digital services they consume to have a substantial local feel. In Brazil, video services are used by 62% of consumers, with 92% of respondents requiring at least a balanced mix between local and international content in their preferred streaming services. For Amazon, and other digital brands, it will be critical to understand what the local content needs are for each market and build a content portfolio that meets the consumers preferences in each country. Commissioned by Upstream, a mobile commerce accelerator in high growth markets, the 2016 Developing Markets Mobile Commerce was conducted by YouGov and polled the views of a representative sample of 5,215 adults in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Africa. Commenting exclusively to Developing Telecoms on the findings, Marco Veremis, CEO of Upstream said: "Amazons decision to offer Prime Video as a stand-alone service shows that digital content is of increasing importance to the e-commerce powerhouse. The announcement indicates that Amazon is sizing up to Netflix, and while Prime Video is only available in five western markets at the moment, if it wants to achieve further significant revenue growth, it should turn its attention to the next 3 billion consumers in emerging markets." "Developing markets offer digital brands like Amazon a potential $70 billion market opportunity. Netflix has had a head start in terms of popularity and availability, but the increasing appetite for highvalue digital services, combined with the vast financial opportunity means there are will be no shortage of competitors eager to engage consumers." "In order to capitalise on this digital opportunity, tech giants like Amazon will require an adapted approach. A clear understanding of what consumers in developing markets want, their needs and the associated challenges, will enable digital brands to create an offering that is relevant to consumers in developing markets. Success comes down to three factors; delivering local content, making sure the total cost of ownership is affordable to the consumer and that digital services are technologically accessible." Global internet of things (IoT) connectivity provider Sigfox announced it has begun deploying a dedicated IoT network throughout Brazil. The deployment of the IoT network in Brazil marks Sigfoxs first launch in Latin America. Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo will be the first two cities to get coverage, with the company promising more countries will follow soon as it looks to boost IoT networks throughout the region. Sigfox pointed to GSMA Intelligence research placing Brazil as the worlds fourth-largest machine-to-machine (M2M) and IoT market as a key reason for the companys choice to deploy in Brazil. The network will be delivered in partnership with startup network development company WND. Launched in 2015 by entrepreneur Chris Bataillard, the company claims to have extensive experience starting and running cellular networks. Sigfoxs rapid expansion in the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East demonstrates the universal appeal of its IoT network and ecosystem, which enable Sigfox Network Operators to very quickly provide their customers with low-cost, energy-efficient connectivity for an extensive range of applications, said Bataillard. Brazil and Latin America are huge markets for Sigfoxs IoT solution, and we are very excited to quickly offer its services throughout the region. In partnership with Portuguese IoT device maker Thought Creator, WND has also developed a low-cost geolocation device specifically for the Latin American asset-tracking market, with a battery life of more than a year. Bataillard says the company has identified a strong demand from the insurance industry in order to reduce insurance-and-theft costs. Both small and inexpensive, this location device, which offers an optimal combination of WiFi and Sigfox capabilities, has many indoor and outdoor applications for businesses and consumers. These include construction and telecom equipment, packages, vehicles and bicycles and pet-tracking, Bataillard commented. The companies expect to have city-wide coverage of Rio de Janeiro by July, and of Sao Paulo by September. The top 10 urban areas will be covered by 2017. IoT is becoming a priority trend in Brazil of late. Todays announcement comes only days after the Brazilian Government signed an agreement with Ericsson to create a Networked Society Lab, to drive IoT innovation in the country. TechExpo is a national science competition which is held at IIT Guwahati during its Annual Techno Management Fest, Techniche. TechExpo is an exciting competition which helps students to explore their vision and curiosity through science. It has been initiated with the cardinal aim of bringing to light the technological advancements made by the youth of this country and provide an opportunity to showcase their innovations on a larger platform. The winners will be awarded with a total cash prize of INR 3,00,000. . The competition will be conducted in two phases, where Phase I will include abstract submission along with a short video giving a brief introduction of the project. The deadline of Phase I is 20th May 2016. The entries of Phase I will be rigorously evaluated by the judging panel which includes IIT Technical Board Chairman, Professors and the Top 100 contestants will be qualified for Phase II which will be held at IIT Guwahati, during its Annual Techno Management Festival, Techniche. The top seven projects will be selected as the final winners. TechExpo will provide a platform for the participants to showcase the projects undertaken by them in front of a mass multitude of people which includes but isnt restricted to Professors from various fields, notable personage including Nobel Laureates, leading business tycoons, venture capitalists, professors from IITs and Students from across the nation. The teams would also get a chance to witness one of the most amazing and enthralling college festivals in India, Techniche 2016 at IIT Guwahati. The summit comprises of various lectures, competitions, exhibitions and nites, and is conducted from September 1st to 4th. Such events are a rarity in the present day scenario and a technology student is highly encouraged to participate and learn to streamline his abilities with the modern day gadgets. The registration for the event is totally free and can be done by logging onto www.techniche.org/techexpo. For any further queries, please contact the organizers of TechExpo at (+91)-7576918640 or (+91)-9531126269 Australian computer scientist, Craig Steven Wright, has claimed that hes Satoshi Nakamoto, the fabled creator of Bitcoin, sparking skepticism against the claims. But does it matter whether Wright is indeed Satoshi Nakamoto? Mahin Gupta, Co-Founder, Zebpay, Indias first Bitcoin exchange, doesnt think so. The only thing that matters is whether he has the 1 million Bitcoins that Satoshi Nakamoto is supposed to have, he said. Nakamoto has been known to have amassed a million Bitcoins over the years. Gupta says that to him, and others dealing in Bitcoins, these million Bitcoins matter, because the person owning them has a big hold over the Bitcoin economy. Personally, I dont believe Craig Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto, the proof isnt enough, said Gupta. According to him, the only way to prove Wrights identity as Nakamoto, would be through his private key. He said that if Wright sends a message from Nakamotos account, others can use his public key to verify the account, as belonging to Nakamoto. Craig Wright's presented evidence to The Economist, BBC and GQ, claiming to be the man behind Bitcoins. Even then, it just proves that he has control over Nakamotos account, and not that he indeed is Satoshi Nakamoto, said Gupta. But control over the fabled Satoshi Nakamotos account is all that matters, according to him. Gupta isnt the only skeptic either. This Reddit thread claims that Wrights signature, in his blog post, is worthless. That's sort of the impression he seems to be giving, now that I re-read it. But, again, why not just publicly prove it instead of only demonstrating it to a select few people? wrote user c_o_r_b_a. The want of public cryptographic evidence has been cited by many users on Reddit. Mahin Gupta, from Zebpay, said the same. There is one important person, however, who believes in Craig Wrights story. Gavin Andreson, chief scientist at the Bitcoin Foundation, said he believed Wright. In a blog post, Andreson wrote, I was flown to London to meet Dr. Wright a couple of weeks ago, after an initial email conversation convinced me that there was a very good chance he was the same person Id communicated with in 2010 and early 2011. After spending time with him I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt: Craig Wright is Satoshi. Andresons backing is important, since hes one of the few people, known to have collaborated with Satoshi Nakamoto, in the initial days of Bitcoins. Nakamoto had since stopped his participation in Bitcoin. The Economist wrote, that Nakamotos successors have written far more code than he ever did. The Economist was one of three media channels who interviewed Wright before his announcement, the other two being BBC and GQ. It is also worth noting that earlier investigations by Wired, New Yorker and Newsweek, had also found Wright to be one of the contenders for being Satoshi Nakamoto. Having said that, there are few who have the number of Bitcoins that Satoshi Nakamoto does. So, as Gupta said, it may not matter who Satoshi Nakamoto is, but who has control over his Bitcoin account. If Wright has the private key to that account, he is sitting on a million Bitcoins, which makes him very important in the volatile Bitcoin market. In addition to announcing the price cut, the Coolpad also announced a new Black variant of the Coolpad Note 3 Coolpad has announced that the Coolpad Note 3( 5799 at amazon) will now be priced at Rs. 8,499. In addition, the company announced a new Black variant of the smartphone. The Coolpad Note 3 was initially priced at Rs. 8,999 and is exclusively available on Amazon India. The company says that this move is due to it being continuously voted as the number one smartphone in the sub 10K category. Read the complete press release below Coolpad, a global leader in smartphone manufacturing and integrated wireless data solutions celebrates the success of Note 3 being continuously voted No1 in the sub 10K category. The company celebrated this milestone by giving a surprise to its customers by offering Coolpad Note 3- Black variant at a special price of Rs 8499, which was initially priced at Rs 8,999 rupees. The phone is exclusively available on Amazon India and the offer is available till stock lasts. Additionally Coolpad also won the Best mobile and accessory brand in Brands with Outstanding E-Retail Performance category at the India Retail & E-retail Congress held recently. The company unveiled the Black variant of Note 3 during its first ever FAN meet held in New Delhi. It was launched exclusively for Indian market in the presence of Coolpads leadership team. Syed Tajuddin, CEO, Coolpad India said, The recent turn of events have been remarkable for Coolpad, winning at the Indian Retail and e-Retail Congress is yet another milestone in Coolpads India journey, For over 6 months Coolpad has beaten stiff competition hands down to be repeatedly voted as the No.1 smartphone in the sub 10k category, We are committed in our endeavor to bring exclusive products to the Indian market and you can expect some innovative products from Coolpad soon, we will continue rolling out initiatives for Coolpad enthusiasts across the country by expanding our after sales service network and establishing some offline touch points for robust after sales support, The next few months Coolpad will be making an aggressive leap in both the range of exclusive products for the Indian Market and a strong customer support network, The recent price roll back is a gift to our loyal customers and their peers that want to experience the Coolpad Note 3 device. The phone was a ground breaking device in the market due to its highly responsive fingerprint sensor which is the key highlight of the device at the price it is being offered. Coolpad Note 3 is equipped with 5.5 inch HD screen, bundled exclusively for the Indian market. The device is upgraded with 3GB of RAM along with 16GB of in built storage which supports 4G LTE, 3G and GSM network frequencies along with a dual-SIM slot. It features a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and auto focus alongside a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Both the front and rear-facing cameras feature CMOS image sensor for better image quality and powered by a 3,000mAh battery. Buy Coolpad Note 3 at Rs.8499 on amazon The partnership between Micromax and Cyanogen is no longer exclusive, said Lenovos Head of Product Marketing, Anuj Sharma. Lenovos Zuk Z1 smartphone is expected to be launched in India sometime next week, and the phone runs on CyanogenMod 12. This would earlier have not been possible, since Micromax had a exclusive deal with Cyanogen Inc in India. In fact, the Indian OEMs deal had been problematic for OnePlus, which was forced to cut ties with OnePlus, and announce its own OxygenOS. That said, Micromaxs deal with Cyanogen hasnt been very fruitful either. While the companys Yu brand did gain consumer interest, the companys market shares have continued to fizzle out. This pushed Micromax to go for a complete brand revamp last month, announcing over 15 new products, none of which were under the Yu brand. When we reviewed the Yu Yutopia, the companys flagship device, it turned out to be a lacklustre attempt at making a mid-range flagship as well. That said, we recently had some hands on time with Lenovos upcoming Zuk Z1 smartphone. The devices India launch has been delayed by almost a year, thanks to the exclusive deal mentioned above. As a result, the Zuk Z1 comes with an outdated Snapdragon 801 SoC. However, from our first impressions the phone seems to be quite responsive still. Sharma explained that the Cyanogen 12 OS on the device is optimised for the Snapdragon 801, which still makes it competitive as a mid-ranged device. Further, the Zuk Z1 has a 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and 3GB of RAM, along with a 5.5 inch 1080p display. According to Lenovo, the display covers 100% of the NTSC colour gamut, and has the same panel that we saw on the Lenovo Vibe X3. Again, from what we saw, while the display does look crisp, it seems to be a tad dim, compared to the Vibe X3. Lenovo however, says both displays can reach up to 450 nits and have a contrast ratio of 1500:1. Interestingly, the Zuk Z1 has a 4100 mAh battery, which can be cut-off when needed. So, if youre charging the phone overnight, it will reach 100% and then continue running on AC power, through the charger. This allow battery micro-cycles to be saved. According to Sharma, phones today charge to 100% and cut-off the charger, which allows the battery to run the device even when connected to a power outlet. As a result, the phone starts charging again whenever the battery drops to around 90-95%, resulting in micro-cycles. These can in turn reduce the overall life of the battery. From our first impressions, the Lenovo Zuk Z1 does seem like a pretty good smartphone, aimed at enthusiasts. In fact, Lenovo is also allowing users to unlock the bootloader, without losing the phones warranty. Sharma clarified that if you brick the device while making tweaks to the software, Lenovos service centers will return it to the original CM 12 version. The Lenovo Zuk Z1 should be launched in India, around May 9, but the final launch date isnt available yet. We expect the phone to be priced in the 14-18K price segment. Unleaded 88 fuel is often cheaper, but should drivers use it? Unleaded 88 fuel gives lower gas mileage than regular unleaded but with fewer carbon emissions. So, should you put it in your vehicle? That depends. School says $17,570 table was a mistake DURHAM, N.H. (AP) The University of New Hampshire now acknowledges that spending $17,000 on a custom-made chef's table with LED lights for the campus dining hall was a mistake. Initially, university officials thought the light-up table would allow the dining staff to interact with students and demonstrate healthy cooking techniques. But word soon got out about the $17,570 price tag on the 16-seat table, which was installed several weeks ago. The school newspaper wrote about it, and other media outlets picked up on it. The table costs nearly as much as in-state students pay annually for tuition and fees. On Friday, UNH spokeswoman Erika Mantz told The Associated Press that having a chef's table was a good idea, but much less money should have been spent. The university plans to keep the table. Facebook to ignore unofficial takedown pleas Facebook, the world's largest social network, has made it tougher for offensive content to be taken down and will do so only if it gets a legal or government notice, in keeping with a recent Supreme Court ruling. "We have changed our process. So now, before we restrict content in India for illegality, we require that the government submit legal process to us and we scrutinise that with our legal teams," Facebook's global policy head Monika Bickert told The Economic Times by phone. "We would not restrict the content if somebody in the community, somebody outside the government, flagged that content." India had 14,971 content restriction requests in the July-December period, second only to France, and down from 15,155 requests in the first half of 2015, according to a Facebook report released on Thursday. The take-down calls were made by legal and government agencies as well as NGOs and Facebook members. The numbers in the next report will reflect Facebook's decision to act only on legal or government requests. India also made the second highest requests for user data at 5,561, after the US, which made 19,235 such demands. Facebook gives users the option to flag or report objectionable content including posts, photos, messages, comments, profiles, events and pages. Content is blocked or taken down if it violates Facebook's community standards. Bickert clarified that the new rules do not mean that people can no longer report offensive content. "When people in India report content we will continue to look to see if it violates our community standards and if it does, we will remove it. It's only in these unusual circumstances where it doesn't violate our community standards but does violate the Indian law that we would require the government orders," she said. The Supreme Court last year read down Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to say that a non-government request for taking down online content should be accompanied by a court order. At the behest of law student Shreya Singhal, the court had also scrapped controversial Section 66A of the act, which gave the authorities wide powers to penalise free speech on online forums that were considered offensive. The case for compliance with local laws is strong for Facebook, which counts India as its second largest market with 142 million monthly active users. In the past three years, India has almost always been the top requester for content restrictions worldwide, according to Facebook. "For true transparency, the company will also need to start reporting the content removed suo moto under community standards," said Chinmayi Arun, executive director of the Centre for Communication Governance at theNational Law University in New Delhi. Bickert said Facebook works with governments across the world to make the reports better, but did not specify if the next report would have greater granularity about the kind of requests it receives or fulfils. People working with law enforcement agencies say Internet companies are usually stringent about restricting content. "It is a misconception that the police can just get access to data through backdoors," said Rakshit Tandon, advisor to the cybercrime units with the Agra and Gurgaon Police, adding that there has to be a valid reason to remove or block content. "It is only taken down after a court or legal order says an online action violates a law," Tandon said. In the latest report, Facebook said France saw a total of 37,695 content restrictions, with 32,100 of these being "instances of a single image related to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris" that allegedly violated French laws related to the protection of human dignity. Spectrum auction likely in July; base price 'too high' The Telecom Commission (TC) has cleared the way for the largest ever spectrum auctions likely in July, including a debut for 4G airwaves in the 700 Mhz band at a base price of Rs11,485 crore a unit as suggested by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The rates have been criticized by the industry and analysts as too expensive, which could derail the sale. "All spectrum will be auctioned, at the same prices recommended by Trai, even in the 700 MHz band," a senior official said on Saturday, asking not to be named, adding that the operators who will bid for 700 MHz have the capacity to pay, according to an Economic Times report. The official added that harmonisation of spectrum will be done before the auctions begin which will add another 200 Mhz to the 2,142 Mhz that has been already cleared for sale, making it highest ever quantum of airwaves put on auction. The TC, the highest decision making body in the Department of Telecommunications, (DoT), however deferred a crucial decision on levying a uniform spectrum usage charge (SUC) across all bands for auctioned or non-auctioned bandwidth, sending a report by its technical panel for legal opinion by the Attorney General of India. Another person familiar with the matter said that DoT backs a flat SUC levy at 4.5 per cent, which it feels is revenue-neutral, compared with the current structure involving multiple rates depending whether the spectrum is auctioned or not, mainly on grounds that segregation of revenue based on multiple spectrum bands for delivering 4G-LTE services would be a huge challenge. Technologies like carrier aggregation allow simultaneous usage of multiple rates depending whether the spectrum is auctioned or not, mainly on grounds that segregation of revenue based on multiple spectrum bands for delivering 4G-LTE services would be a huge challenge. Technologies like carrier aggregation allow simultaneous usage of multiple spectrum bands. The flat SUC levy though has been opposed by Reliance Jio Infocomm which says such segregation can easily be done. Besides, any such change for already allocated/auctioned spectrum would result in windfall gains to existing operators and cause huge losses to the national exchequer, Jio claims. "The final decision on SUC will be taken before the July auctions," the person added. No easy payments In other important decisions, the TC rejected the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) recommendations on an easier payment structure aimed at reducing the financial burden of carriers. In fact, it made it tougher for winners of airwaves in bands above 1 Ghz - 1800 Mhz, 2100 Mhz, 2300 Mhz and 2500 Mhz - mandating an upfront payment of 50 per cent of the winning bids, compared with 33 per cent earlier, with the balance to paid over 10 equal annual instalments after a moratorium of two years after the initial payment. Telenor for one has asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to retain the option of deferred payment suggested by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), saying it would help reduce the burden on the industry. But apparently this is not to be. (See: Telenor urges DoT to go for deferred spectrum payment) Payment terms for winners of sub 1 Ghz bands - 700 Mhz, 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz bands - remained the same at 25 per cent upfront with the rest to paid in similar terms as other bands, the person said. The TC's decisions will need to be cleared by the cabinet. At base prices, the auction of 4G bands of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands, and 3G airwaves in the 2100 MHz band can generate almost Rs544,000 crore for the government, or about five times the amount raised at the previous sale in 2015, if all spectrum on offer is sold. Just the 700 Mhz band can contribute over Rs400,000 crore at starting price. The government needs funds to bridge its fiscal deficit after volatile market conditions curbed plans to sell stakes in state-owned companies. It has budgeted over Rs160,000 crore from the auction, of which it has factored in roughly Rs50,000 crore as upfront payment this year, which started on 1 April. But experts say the government will fall far short of its estimates as the auctions are likely to evoke a lukewarm response at current prices, and given that there are ample airwaves in the market and no business continuity challenges. "Clearly, the reserve price for 700 MHz band is too steep. The quantum of spectrum of 700 MHz and pricing are not the principle issues, it was rather keeping auction of this band in abeyance for 2 years or so," said Rajan Mathews, director general, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). "If we're going ahead, then the immediate price points become a matter of serious concern." At this price, it won't be a "blockbuster auction" because there won't be a high degree of participation, he said. COAI represents India's biggest telcos such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular besides newcomer Reliance Jio Infocomm. "There may be a one-off that someone may buy 700 Mhz in a few circles which they believe are not that expensive, but pan-India buying of 5 Mhz block does not seem realistic," Rajan added. Raising the upfront payment to 50 per cent for above 1 GHz bands does not make too much sense either, experts said. "It is these bands where spectrum is in higher demand. It's a way for the government to get more revenue without considering the financial condition of the industry," Rajan said. Geneva County Sheriffs investigators charged a Samson woman on Monday as serving as the get-away driver in the March home invasion robbery of a 74-year-old couple. Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms said investigators arrested Hyundaia C. Kyles and charged her with felony second-degree burglary and felony second-degree robbery. Kyles was booked into the Geneva County Jail and will be held without bail until her first appearance of court, which is set for Tuesday morning. Helms said investigators already arrested two of Kyles friends over the weekend on multiple felony charges involving in the home invasion robbery. She dropped them off and picked them up, Helms said. Helms said both 20-year-old Sebastian Lemach Tolbert Jr. and 20-year-old Gavin Petty are being held at the Geneva County Jail on bail totaling $1 million. Sheriffs deputies charged Tolbert and Petty with felony attempted murder, felony first-degree burglary and felony first-degree robbery. Helms said both Tolbert and Petty were charged with the home invasion robbery and assault of a 74-year-old Samson couple at their home on Steven Ferry Road, just off Alabama Highway 87. The robbery and assault happened between 7:30 and 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16. Helms said the investigation into the home invasion remains ongoing with the possibility of more charges being filed. After this happened, the next morning their names were given to us as suspects. Weve had them as persons of interest as soon as it happened, Helms said. Helms had released a sketch of one of the suspects based on a description given to police by the victims, which he said matched Petty. There were circumstances in an investigation in Dothan that gave us the missing piece of the puzzle, Helms said. Dothan Police Investigator Bryan Tate said he arrested 18-year-old Laquantay Tolbert, the younger brother of Sebastian Tolbert, on Friday and charged them both with the rape, sodomy and robbery of a woman at her Dothan home last week. Tate said he charged both Laquantay Tolbert and Sebastian Tolbert with felony first-degree rape, felony first-degree sodomy and felony first-degree robbery. He said police arrested Laquantay Tolbert on Friday. Sebastian Tolbert has not been arrested yet because hes in custody in the Geneva County Jail. Tate said he charged the two Tolbert brothers with the rape, sodomy and robbery of a woman at her home during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 26. Sebastian (Tolbert) and the victim had been texting and emailing through the cell phone and she invited him to her home, Tate said. Tate said his investigation showed Laquantay Tolbert then forced his way into the victims home where he and his brother both raped, sodomized and robbed the victim in her own home. Tate said the victim had some cash and other property stolen during the sexual assault and robbery. He said Laquantay Tolbert was booked into the Houston County Jail on bail totaling $750,000. Tate said through the police investigation they learned of the connection to the home invasion assault and robbery in Samson. 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. Audi is set to start fixing its dodgy diesel-powered cars within weeks with confirmation of an official recall expected soon. The German brand is caught up in the same emission-cheating software scandal that has rocked its parent company, Volkswagen, with more than 16,000 Audi vehicles featuring the manipulative engine codes. Like Volkswagen, which commenced an official rectification process in Australia last month with its Amarok dual-cab ute, Audi will issue a staggered series recall notices for individual models over the course of the year. Audi Australia's managing director, Andrew Doyle, told Drive this week the first notice is "in the final stages of approval with the authorities" and he expects the company will begin official communication with customers soon. "The first model we have is the A4; it's relatively small volume - between 30 and 40 cars - to start with, but we're moving forward and we believe we have a solution. We're moving through the correct channels and the process should commence very soon," he said. Doyle confirmed that, like the Volkswagen campaign, the software upgrade will take approximately 30 minutes to install and will be completed at no charge to customers. He also said that Audi will offer owners a replacement vehicle if required, despite the relatively quick fix. Other Audi models that feature the EA189 2.0-litre diesel engine include the related A5 coupe, popular Q5 SUV and TT sportscar. These vehicles will be added to the recall roster over the next few months while other models powered by the smaller 1.6-litre motor will be subject to a separate rectification process that may not be confirmed until later this year. Read all the latest Audi news and reviews here Ford plans to introduce a long-range electric vehicle to compete with battery-powered models coming from Tesla and General Motors that would go 200 miles (322 kilometres) or more on a charge. "We want to make sure that we're either among the leaders or in a leadership position," chief executive officer Mark Fields told analysts and reporters on a conference call on Thursday. "When you look at some of the competitors and what they've announced, clearly, that's something we're developing for." He didn't say when Ford would start producing the vehicle. Ford joins a growing field of automakers seeking to overcome consumer fears that electric cars will run out of juice and strand them. GM plans a debut this fall for the Chevrolet Bolt, a hatchback it says will have a range of at least 200 miles (322 kilometres). Reports indicate Nissan's next-generation Leaf car will match that distance. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has said the $US35,000 ($46,000) Model 3 slated for late 2017 will go 215 miles (346km) or more between plug-ins. News of Ford's electric-vehicle plans helped drive up its shares on a day when the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker posted record first-quarter net income of $US2.5 billion ($3.27b), surpassing analysts' expectations. The stock rose 3.5 percent to $US14.14 at 12:22 pm New York time. Tracking Tesla Ford, which recently paid almost $US212,000 ($277,000) to buy one of the first Tesla Model X electric sport utility vehicles, is clearly paying attention to the Palo Alto, California-based maker of electric vehicles. Tesla was deluged with $1,000 reservations for the Model 3 after Musk revealed it March 31 at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, California. "I'm glad Mark Fields is saying Ford will be a leader and match whatever EV range is out there," said David Whiston, an analyst at Morningstar in Chicago, who rates Ford the equivalent of a buy. "You can't just ignore Tesla getting 400,000 reservations on a vehicle in a little more than a week's time." Research shows that more consumers will be willing to buy an electric vehicle as driving range grows to 200 miles and the price falls below $US30,000. Automakers are under pressure to improve the fuel economy of their entire lineups to meet US regulations that mandate a company's fleet must average 54.5 miles per gallon (4.3L/100km) by 2025. Focus Upgrade Ford will soon begin offering its Focus Electric model in the US with a driving range of 100 miles (160km). That's an upgrade from the 2016 model's 76-mile (122km) limit. Current Focus Electric owners drive about 9,500 miles annually, or about 30 miles a day, according to the automaker. Ford expects that a longer range and faster charging outlets will generate more EV buyers. Ford has said it is investing $US4.5 billion ($5.89b) in electrified vehicles and will add 13 electric cars and hybrids to its lineup by 2020. Those models will represent 40 per cent of Ford's US showroom, up from 13 per cent now. Fields has said plug-in hybrids will be the fastest-growing type of electric vehicle. But with fuel prices low, the automaker has had a hard time attracting buyers to its hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, including the C-Max, Fusion and Lincoln MKZ hybrids. US sales of those models have fallen 6 per cent this year, to 13,688 vehicles, according to researcher Autodata. Consumers are showing a greater preference for SUVs and pickups. US sales of Ford's SUVs rose 16 per cent in the first quarter. - Keith Naughton For the second time in about a decade, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. faces a scandal that poses an existential threat. The Japanese automaker has improperly tested the fuel economy of its cars for the past quarter century, widening the scope of misconduct that executives initially said dated back to 2002. The Mitsubishi Motors board formed a panel of three ex-prosecutors to investigate for about three months. Until then, customers, investors and minicar partner Nissan Motor Co. may be left waiting for information about the number of affected models and details of compensation. "I'm taking this as a case that could affect our company's existence," President Tetsuro Aikawa told reporters during a press conference Tuesday. "My mission is to solve the issue." Mitsubishi Motors shares plunged for a fifth day, slashing the company's market value by half during that span to about 427 billion yen ($3.8 billion). The deepening crisis is the worst since the automaker covered up defective axles that led wheels to detach in fatal accidents, prompting multiple bailouts from Mitsubishi group companies. "Right now, understanding which cars and how many of them are at stake is the most important thing," Koji Endo, a Tokyo-based analyst with Advanced Research Japan, said by phone. After two press conferences in the span of a week, investors are "still waiting for a proper report." Mitsubishi Motors hasn't decided how it'll compensate customers, Aikawa said. The company is in discussions about reimbursing Nissan, which was supplied about three-quarters of the 625,000 minicars that were improperly tested and relied on manipulated data. Nissan has since voluntarily stopped sales of the Japan-only models, called Dayz and Dayz Roox. Depending on how many more vehicles were improperly tested, the company "will get into a situation where its survival is difficult," Endo said. Wrongdoing by the Japanese automaker and Volkswagen AG has prompted a reckoning of the ways carmakers test for and label the fuel economy and exhaust emissions of their vehicles. Government investigators last week raided French manufacturer PSA Group as part of broader checks into vehicle emissions, while Daimler AG initiated an internal probe into its certification process at the behest of the U.S. Department of Justice. Japan's transport ministry asked Mitsubishi Motors to re-submit findings from its investigation of improper testing methods by May 11. An initial report that the company provided the regulator ahead of a Wednesday deadline was insufficient, a ministry official said Tuesday. In addition to potential payouts to customers and Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors may have to pay back government tax rebates that its minicars shouldn't have been eligible for, Ryugo Nakao, an executive vice president, has said. Nissan first uncovered fuel economy discrepancies when working on development for the next generation of the minicars. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said Monday that Nissan will decide on the future of the partnership after further verification. Mitsubishi Motors had set stretch fuel economy goals for its engineers to achieve. Aikawa, 62, and other executives attended meetings where the company raised targets for the Nissan Dayz, Dayz Roox and Mitsubishi eK Wagon and eK Space minicars, Nakao said Tuesday. "We aren't able to deal with customers," Aikawa told reporters Tuesday, adding that he wasn't aware of the improper testing. "We're just telling them that we'll offer something." - Bloomberg Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Today is the international day to celebrate workers a day created in 127 years ago in the Netherlands to rally workers in support of 8-hour work days. Traditionally workers across the globe take to the streets in the call for better wages and job conditions. While May day celebrations, or Labour Day, are a little more subdued in Australia compared to overseas, its a day to take stock of what you do to show your staff you truly appreciate them. So without further adieu, here is the Dynamic Business top tips for showing your staff you care. An open door, without exception Theres nothing worse than feeling as though you cannot approach the boss. Regardless of how cool and with it you may think you are, if your staff dont drop into your office or by your desk on a regular basis then youre doing something wrong. Try reminding staff they can talk to you whenever they need to, and drop by their desks to get the dialogue flowing. Quality over quantity As important as an open door policy is, its not a free pass to forgo quality meetings and specific feedback. Try taking individual staff members for a coffee meeting to more thoroughly discuss ideas and whatever project that person may be working on at the time. Dont generalise praise Its obviously essential to praise a job well done, but its much more meaningful if you articulate why it was well done. You might say something like, Nobody else could have got that client at that price etc. Being specific shows you notice the detail, and how hard they worked to get a particular result. Even better is if you can praise publicly kill two birds with the one stone and boost the whole teams morale. Transparency matters When it comes to leadership and financial decisions that impact the business or company, dont hide behind smoke and mirrors. You hired your staff because theyre capable and intelligent. Trust them to understand why certain decisions are made, encourage questions, and seek their input. It reinforces a sense of were in this together, and undoubtedly fosters loyalty. Foster opportunity In the modern age, employees are with you for a good time, not a long time. Gone are the days of 25 year milestones with the same company. Recognise that, and use it to your advantage. Staff churn is expensive, and theyre more likely to stay for longer if they know they will grow and learn if they stay. It also demonstrates that you care about their future. This is my first time to try fencing. Ive always wanted to do it because of Richard Gomez, Zorro and the Three Musketeers! Haha! Anyway ,Fencing is known as a very elite sports in the Philippines because of the expensive equipment, but now you can try it out without having to buy a thing! Just [] Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope. ALBANY -- As much as $3 million is available to help New Yorkers who have medical conditions that can be aggravated by extreme heat to buy and install air conditioning. Eligible households can apply for cooling assistance through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Home Energy Assistance Program beginning today."The heat and humidity during the height of the summer can be uncomfortable for some, but potentially life-threatening to others with medical conditions exacerbated by high temperatures," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "This program will ensure that some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers can remain safe and cool in their homes when the summer weather is at its worst."Cooling assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program is only available to those households which meet the program's income guidelines and include a member who suffers from a documented medical condition exacerbated by extreme heat.Last summer, more than 4,100 households -- including 1,782 in Western New York -- received cooling assistance.New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said, "It's important that anyone who may be eligible applies soon, so their air conditioning unit can be safely installed before the hot weather arrives. There's no reason for someone whose medical condition can be worsened by the heat to suffer through the summer when this help is available."Applicants must provide medical documentation in writing, signed by a physician, physician's assistant or a nurse practitioner. The document must clearly indicate the need for an air conditioner and must be dated within the previous 12 months.Cooling assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Local departments of social services will accept applications through August 31, or until funding runs out, whichever comes first.Information on where to apply in each county can be found at http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/HEAP-contacts.pdf The euro idea and reality Speech by Sabine Lautenschlager, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Single Supervisory Mechanism,at the Europa Forum Luzern,Luzern, 2 May 2016 President of the Confederation Schneider-Amman, President of the Government Wyss, Mayor Studer, Excellencies and parliamentary representatives, Ladies and gentlemen, 800 years ago, here in the Swiss Alps, a structure was built that was vital in bringing people together in Europe: the Devil's Bridge over the river Reuss. It was because of this bridge that the Gotthard pass become one of Europe's main routes, the people's road. Lucerne is located on this road and is thus an early witness of European integration. Today, in the 21st century, Europe is interconnected by much more than a pass. Europe has become a political and economic community. A tangible symbol of this community is our single currency, the euro. The euro do the idea and the reality clash? The idea of the euro was, and is, to support Europes internal market, and thus provide for economic growth and prosperity. But the name of the currency says it all: the euro should be more. The euro aims to be a single currency for a united Europe. It should deepen Europes cultural and political unity, dismantle borders and strengthen our feeling of togetherness. So much for the idea. Some people perhaps even some of you may be sensing a different reality: financial crisis, economic crisis, unemployment these are the keywords currently dominating the discussions on monetary union. How much does the reality have to do with the actual idea of the euro? Is the euro still a symbol of what holds Europe together? Or has it become a symbol of what divides Europe? The growing appeal of anti-euro and anti-Europe parties is a sign that we need to make the incalculable benefits of a single currency easier to understand for the people of the euro area. And we should encourage people to look at the full reality and not just one facet. The euro is a fundamental part of the single market. More than 300 million people in 19 countries make payments using the euro. Its the worlds second most important currency. Over 20% of global currency reserves are held in euro. And despite all the euroscepticism, recent surveys[1] show that 70% of people in the euro area want the single currency. Obviously, in my view too, a united Europe with a single currency is the right idea; as Theo Waigel, former German Minister of Finance, once said, the euro is ingenious. And, for me, its about more than the economic advantages brought by a united Europe and a single currency. Its also about a political reality. Not all the countries of Europe can live in splendid isolation Europes voice in world affairs would fall silent. More than 60 years ago, Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, said: Our countries have become too small for todays world, at the level of modern techniques, at the measure of America and Russia today, China and India tomorrow. The idea is therefore ingenious and the will of the people is clear. Together, this represents an appeal to policymakers to straighten out what is crooked, to reinforce the foundations of monetary union and once again reconcile the reality of the euro with the idea of the euro. The consequences of the recent financial and economic crisis show what is needed to achieve this from an economic perspective. What we certainly need is a European crisis tool a mechanism that works quickly, effectively and efficiently in an acute crisis. A first step was taken with the creation of the European Stability Mechanism. But whats necessary above all are structural reforms at national level, including reforms of social security schemes, labour and goods markets and insolvency laws. Reforms which ensure that the community of 19 countries grow together economically and move closer to the highest international standards. Such a convergence is important, not only to keep monetary union stable in the medium and long term, but also to safeguard economic growth and prosperity. Yet even after successful structural reforms, in a monetary union with 19 Member States there can always be economic shocks which affect some countries more than others. Flexible labour markets and a responsible fiscal policy help to cushion such shocks not only in a monetary union. In such a union however they play an even greater role, because the countries concerned can no longer react by way of the exchange rate or national monetary policy. But if the shock is excessive or the economic structures too rigid and the national budget under pressure, the Member State in question may be quickly overwhelmed. This is exactly what we have seen during the recent crisis. The costs of the crisis were borne in large part by the citizens in the crisis countries, but also shifted in part to the European level through mutual guarantees. Basically, the countries concerned resorted to a sort of implicit insurance that was not originally foreseen. This experience gives rise to two key questions: First, how can Member States better absorb external shocks even without an independent exchange rate and without a national monetary policy? Second, how can risks be shared at European level without a transfer of risk occurring which distorts the incentives for the individual Member States? A monetary union needs strong members... As for the first question, the euro area countries need economic structures which meet the requirements of a single currency. The crisis has made this abundantly clear. Many countries are now on the right track. Ireland, Spain and Portugal, for example, have implemented a series of reforms; they have become more competitive and their economies are recovering. And yet, in some euro area countries, unemployment remains very high, especially among young people. In addition, many countries still have large public deficits and high levels of debt. So further reforms are necessary here. The same applies to goods markets and the general business environment. In many Member States bureaucratic hurdles have to be overcome in order to start a business, and not only in the crisis countries. Removing such administrative barriers is much less expensive than national recovery plans, and can contribute significantly to sustained growth and increasing prosperity.[2] It is all the more worrying that the OECD in its recent Economic Policy Reforms report notes that particularly in the euro area countries the pace of reform is slowing. It would be disastrous if necessary reforms cannot be implemented or, if implemented, reforms were even to be withdrawn. That would slow down, or even totally impede, the necessary economic upswing. Central banks would then come under pressure to counteract this by pursuing an exceptionally loose monetary policy. A stable monetary union rests on the shoulders of individual Member States. Sound economic and responsible fiscal policies at national level are an essential basis for a stable monetary union. Against this background, the founders of the monetary union put in place a rulebook that seeks to ensure sound fiscal policy: the Stability and Growth Pact. We all know that these rules were not particularly effective. They have therefore been strengthened since the crisis and complemented by a better control of macroeconomic imbalances. But even the best rules only work if they are respected. And even the best rules may not prevent a country from experiencing economic shocks. ... but union also means community For cases where these shocks are too big to be absorbed at national level, a monetary union needs mechanisms to spread the ensuing costs over more than one pair of shoulders. And this brings me to the second question: how can risks be shared at European level without a transfer of risk occurring which distorts the incentives for the individual Member States? I mentioned this earlier: during the crisis, risks were shared especially by way of mutual guarantees and thus via national budgets. However, such a sharing of fiscal risks can reduce the incentives to pursue sound fiscal policies. In order to counter this disincentive, both the risks and the monitoring would therefore have to be shared at European level. So the Presidents of the European institutions[3] including the ECB are calling for stronger fiscal integration leading to a fiscal union. For the moment, I see little political will to create a European fiscal union. Fiscal risk-sharing, for the time being, therefore remains a problematic issue. As long as the basic willingness to share fiscal sovereignty is lacking, we could and should then agree that sovereignty will be relinquished if a Member State does not comply with the jointly agreed objectives, such as the deficit and debt limits. At the same time, its necessary to strengthen national ownership and private risk-sharing. From an economic perspective, it would seem obvious: if a state gets into financial difficulty, why shouldn't the state's creditors bear the losses? In reality however, this is not so easy to implement. Bear in mind how long it took to arrange that for the resolution of banks their creditors will also be liable in the future. Where does the problem lie? It lies in the possible contagion effects and in concerns about financial stability. The creditors of countries are in many cases the domestic banks. A state bankruptcy with a bail-in could therefore trigger a financial crisis. This problem is intensified by the fact that the regulation creates incentives for banks to hold government bonds. A bank neither has to put aside capital for government bonds nor is bound by an upper limit on how much it can be indebted vis-a-vis an individual sovereign debtor. On the one hand, government bonds are treated as if they were risk-free. On the other hand, banks may easily hold very many government bonds of a single issuer and this is usually the home country. First, banks in this way increase their exposure to the financial problems of states. Because government bonds are not as risk-free as the regulation assumes. The crisis has shown this. Second, it becomes easier for an individual state to run a loose fiscal policy. Its becoming more likely that systemic problems are emerging or intensifying: a state infects the national banking system, or vice versa, and the problems spread across borders. Such systemic risks can then only be kept in check by way of a fiscal risk-sharing. In order to promote ownership and private risk-sharing, we must revise the preferential regulatory treatment of sovereign debt. One option is to introduce a risk weighting for government bonds which rises along with the concentration risk. The more government bonds held by a bank, the more capital the bank would have to hold against each of these bonds. In this way, the capital requirement and upper limit would be combined in a single rule. This would be an important step towards breaking the vicious circle between banks and sovereigns; and it would be a further step towards reinforcing the foundations of monetary union. Private risk-sharing does not have to be exclusively via the credit markets and not solely in relation to the public sector. Investors can also help to share risks via the equity markets. Take a German company as an example. If the German economy is hit by a shock, this company will probably be affected too. If its owners, the shareholders, are spread across many countries, the companys losses will be spread likewise. The more cross-border financing companies have, the less the national economy is affected by any shock and the faster it can recover. In the United States, for instance, this kind of risk-sharing works: studies show that integrated capital markets in the United States absorb 40% of the cyclical variations between the states.[4] This speaks in favour of the European capital markets union project. And also for, as part of this project, a greater harmonisation of equity markets in particular. I admit that this is an ambitious goal as insolvency law and company law, for example, would need to be further harmonised. This step would remove a few barriers to a single European capital market. Closing remarks Ladies and gentlemen, At the beginning of my speech I mentioned the Eurobarometer survey which indicated that 70% of people in the euro area want the euro as the single currency. The problem is not the idea of the euro. It is much more about repeatedly reviving citizens awareness of the benefits of a united Europe and a single currency. And about creating a solid and sustainable economic basis. I have shared with you some proposals on how monetary union could be designed so that it responds to people's wishes and durably fulfils its objectives. Are these proposals new? No, these and other proposals for the further development of monetary union have been around for quite some time. This shows that we have no problem understanding, but we do have a problem implementing. It's up to politicians to create a framework that is appropriate for the idea of a single currency at national as well as at European level. The longer politicians stand still, the more people will lose faith in Europe. One sign of this is that political parties which want to move backwards have recently been gaining support. At the same time, the European Central Bank is being pushed into a role for which it was not created. Monetary policy can neither solve structural problems at national level nor institutional problems at European level. On the contrary, the more that is expected from monetary policy, the more likely it is to be overburdened. The ECB alone cannot create growth and prosperity for all. For that, structural reforms are necessary at national and European level. At the same time, structural problems are making monetary policy less effective in the euro area. In this context, it seems very odd to me that politicians are now criticising the European Central Bank. This endangers our independence and undermines trust. I would like to see a political class that has the courage to lead public opinion. Politicians who have the confidence to explain to voters that a fully fledged European monetary union is not without an alternative, but that it is worthwhile even if it's proving difficult to get there. But once the idea and the reality of the euro are back in harmony, then Eurosceptic voices will not find many listeners. I am convinced of this. Constitutional conservatives, yes, even at the state level, believe that their main, driving purpose is to protect the constitution, both at the federal level and the state level. Agree or disagree, it is what they claim to want, fight for, and live for. That is, except when they disagree with said constitutions. Case in point on the state level is a little-known reality in our constitution that basically says that, as a citizen, if the legislature fails to respond to the will of the people, the people have a right to petition the public to create laws the legislature refuses to, for whatever reason they choose. Fair enough, right? Well, yes and no. But allow me to try to simplify this and explain. There is a fair-minded reform group, headed by Lansing attorney Jeff Hank, that is making every effort, through the constitutional process, to petition the people of Michigan to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Their efforts are endorsed by national and local organizations like NORML and Michigan LEAP. There is no surprise there. But this is where it gets very interesting. As Hanks points out, the refusal, until very recently, to honor the constitution, has nothing to do with marijuana and everything to do with the hypocrisy of the state legislature and their constitutional conservative costumes. As those who follow petition drives in Michigan know, you have a set period of time to collect signatures, assumed to be 180 days. I say assumed because it seems that the state constitution says you actually have four years. The 180-day window was never intended to be the collection period at all but the length of time established before such things like computers the state actually had to go to every election official in the state to verify the voter rolls. That is NO LONGER an issue so the 180-day window which was never intended to be the dead-set collection period for petitions is a moot point. Unless, of course, you are a Republican in Michigan and believe the constitution is only useful when it advances your agenda. MILegalize.com is a case in point, among many other cases in point, to be honest. No matter how you may feel about the legalization of marijuana, you should have very definitive feelings about the way in which the GOP-controlled legislature is acting, especially among the so-called constitutional conservatives and how they interpret or ignore the constitution. A recent court ruling recently overturned a state GOP law, signed by Governor Rick Snyder, that took away the ability of school systems to educate their residents about millage renewals, sinking fund requests, and tax increases for their schools 60 days before an election. Not only were school districts outraged, so were most in the communities they serve. The court ruled the law was unconstitutional and overturned the law, which the state agreed this week to honor. Now we have Senate Bill 776 that, if it passes the House and is signed by the Governor which I am sure it will be will create that 180-window the constitution forbids. This is all in response to Jeff Hanks finding within the constitution, not a loophole, but a reality that for decades the state has improperly and unconstitutionally limited the collection of signatures to the aforementioned 180-day window. Imagine the petitions that have been signed and came up just short that would have benefited from the revelation of this constitutional guarantee, which was not discovered until a few weeks ago. Although the mainstream media has covered this story to a small degree, this is NOT, I repeat NOT about MILegalize.com but about the constitution and how we perceive it. Even former Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley had the foresight to rule in favor of the constitution decades ago. But his ruling has been ignored for many years now and the GOP response to this discovery was to close the window. The problem? You cant change the constitution without a vote of the people and while the Chair of the House Elections Committee, Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) will allow two efforts currently under way, MILegalize.com and the anti-fracking measure the extra time to collect signatures, she is also endorsing the bill that will close the real window of four years to the 180-day window that is currently unconstitutional. This is not an easy issue to work through and if I were to get into the details in full I would lose you. But I can safely say this explanation is the real broad strokes of what is a major diss of our state constitution. Clearly, even after a recent court ruling that sends a message to the legislature that passing unconstitutional laws is NOT legal and is ripe for legal challenge. But they seemingly do not care for the constitution or the law. Hardly a surprise. As for the pro-legalization efforts of MILegalize.com, they are very close to their goal of collecting enough signatures to place this measure on the November ballot and have until June 1 to complete their mission. However, they do need help and are offering to pay people to help collect signatures. Just go to their website and click on the Volunteer Packages link for instructions on how you can help. Remember, close is not close enough and if you believe that allowing legal use of recreational marijuana and ending the 20,000 unnecessary arrests of people each year for marijuana-related crimes, your time and energies are needed now. The lack of blog posts over the past couple of weeks is due to the fact that I was in Canada for a week-long business trip two weeks ago that involved me working 8-10 hour shifts, grabbing a quick bite to eat on the fly, and then catching a few hours of sleep before heading back to the plant. I got home Friday night at around 9 p.m. and was back at the airport the next morning to fly to Ireland for a wedding/vacation. Interestingly and unexpectedly, the day we arrived in Dublin was the 100-year anniversary of the Easter Rising that essentially created the nation of Ireland was we know it today. That several-day uprising was crushed by the British but marked the beginning of the end of British rule of Ireland. Anne and I watched parades, speeches, and got to experience the enormous Irish pride in their independence and the heroes who led that effort 100 years ago. At any rate, it was a lovely and necessary break that involved getting LOLGOP married and considerable Irish whiskey & pints of Guinness. What happened in Michigan while I was gone is jaw-dropping. First, Gov. Snyder agreed to conduct a public relations ploy by drinking filtered Flint water at home and at work every day for 30 days. Then, a few days into his gesture, he left for a week-long European trip, promising to return to drinking the citys water upon his return. The tragic issues facing Flint arent just news in the U.S., by the way. In both Canada and Ireland, anytime I told people Im from Michigan the issue of the Flint water crisis came up immediately. Then Attorney General Bill Schuette astonished many of us by filing indictments against three people related to the Snyder administrations poisoning of Flints water with lead. However, none of the top people involved in the calamity were held responsible. Instead, Schuette chose two employees in the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and a worker in the Flint water department: The charges against the three defendants Michael Prysby, a district engineer with the State Department of Environmental Quality; Stephen Busch, a district supervisor in the same department; and Michael Glasgow, the citys utilities manager included tampering with evidence contained in reports on lead levels in city water, and the two state officials were also charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence. [] Among other things, the workers were accused of distorting the results by directing residents to run their water before it was tested and failing to collect samples from some houses they were required to test. That had the effect of making the levels of lead in the water supply appear far less dangerous than they were, and falsely reassured officials who could have intervened months earlier, as well as residents, that the water was safe. [] The three men face a total of 13 charges, a mix of felonies and misdemeanors. The state workers have been suspended without pay, Mr. Snyder said late Wednesday. Mr. Glasgow has been placed on administrative leave, [Flint Mayor Karen] Weaver said. Aside from ignoring the Emergency Managers in charge when decisions were made that lead to Flints drinking water being poisoned, the choice to lay blame at the feet of Glasgow is particularly astonishing. He was an early whistle-blower in the Flint water crisis and was instructed by DEQ regulators to make changes to water testing reports. He also tried to put the breaks on the switch to the Flint River for the citys drinking water supply but was shut down. Now hes being thrown under the bus while, so far, at least, Flints Emergency Managers and other higher-ups in the DEQ are not being held accountable. Schuette has pledged that there is more to come so perhaps that will change. While were on the topic of Flints Emergency Managers, when Darnell Earley testified before a Congressional committee last month, he had a high-priced attorney sitting at his side. That racked up over $70,000 in fees and now Earley has sent a bill to the city of Flint to pay for his lawyer: Earley, whose office was searched by state investigators on Feb. 29, and who told the City of Flint on March 11 that he is under criminal investigation in connection with the lead contamination of Flints drinking water, wants the city to pay legal fees that already have topped $75,000 and continue to grow, records obtained under Michigans Freedom of Information Act show. Flint City Councilwoman Jacqueline Poplar reacted with outrage Friday when she learned of the Earley invoices from a Free Press reporter. If he did send a bill shame on him, Poplar said. The City of Flint shouldnt be giving him a dime for legal fees or anything else. I would like him to refund every penny the City of Flint paid him to take us down this road. Earley is likely to have significant legal standing to do this, by the way. Public Act 436 specifically says so: If, after the date that the service of an emergency manager is concluded, the emergency manager or any employee, agent, appointee, or contractor of the emergency manager is subject to a claim, demand, or lawsuit arising from an action taken during the service of that emergency manager, and not covered by a procured workers compensation, general liability, professional liability, or motor vehicle insurance, litigation expenses of the emergency manager or any employee, agent, appointee, or contractor of the emergency manager, including attorney fees for civil and criminal proceedings and preparation for reasonably anticipated proceedings, and payments made in settlement of civil proceedings both filed and anticipated, shall be paid out of the funds of the local government that is or was subject to the receivership administered by that emergency manager , provided that the litigation expenses are approved by the state treasurer and that the state treasurer determines that the conduct resulting in actual or threatened legal proceedings that is the basis for the payment is based upon both of the following: (a) The scope of authority of the person or entity seeking the payment. (b) The conduct occurred on behalf of a local government while it was in receivership under this act. As my daily counter over there in the right sidebar shows, as of today it has now been 214 days since Gov. Snyder admitted that Flints water had been poisoned with lead. Since that day, not one lead water service line has been replaced through the efforts of the Snyder administration. Not only that, we now know that the funds allocated by Republicans in their budget for the coming year are short by half of the necessary amount needed to fix the problem: The state could be $28 million short of where it needs to be to replace all of the affected lines responsible for the lead-tainted drinking water crisis in Flint, a top adviser to Gov. Rick Snyder said Friday. In a private meeting Thursday in Lansing with House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, Richard Baird, a senior aide to Snyder who is leading the states response team to the Flint crisis, said the administrations original $27-million budget for pipe replacement has grown to $55 million. The elevated estimate came as a result of a new inventory of the citys lead service lines, which are blamed for leaching lead into the water supply, Baird said Originally, the Snyder administration asked the state Legislature for $25 million in water line replacement as part of a nearly $200-million aid package for Flint, a city of nearly 100,000. The city already has $2 million from the state to replace about 500 lines, according to Baird. But the governors top adviser on Flint said in an interview that the figure is likely not enough given new information about the scope and cost to remove lead lines as well as galvanized lines, which are also suspected of leaching lead. Keep in mind that this is all a direct result of the corrosive, untreated Flint River water that damaged the water lines throughout the entire system. Whats not figured into any of these estimates is how much damage occurred to appliance and other water fixtures in peoples homes. Dishwashers and clothes washers throughout the city are likely to have been severely damaged and nobody is talking about compensating Flint city residents for this. And they SHOULD be. And, finally with respect to the Flint debacle, we learn today that Republicans in the state legislature are slow-walking increased medical care funding to residents of Flint. In March, federal regulators okayed expanding Medicaid coverage to a wider pool of recipients in Flint. Two months later, Republicans have yet to act on it: Two months ago this week, the federal government approved Gov. Rick Snyders request to extend Medicaid health insurance to another 14,000 Flint children and 1,000 pregnant women who may have been exposed to toxic lead through the citys tainted drinking water. But the health care coverage has yet to be activated because it requires approval of the state Legislature, where the wounds of a divisive 2013 Medicaid expansion battle still linger. Snyders request to give health insurance to thousands of additional Flint residents got wrapped into a $144 million supplemental funding bill for the city. That bill was put on a slower track with the overall $55 billion state budget, which lawmakers plan to pass by June. The speed is frustrating. Were losing that sense of urgency at the state and federal level, said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the Hurley Medical Center pediatrician who last year discovered high levels of lead in the blood of Flint children. In other words, this is largely a Republican-caused crisis thats now being made worse by Republicans who are still playing games related to Medicaid expansion in Michigan, largely because of their simmering hatred of President Obama and his signature accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act. The word disgusting is inadequate. Lets turn now to Detroit Public Schools, another debacle caused by Republican policies and overseen by the Snyder administration. While I was gone, DPS Emergency Manager Steven Rhodes announced that the school district will not have enough money to pay its teachers at the end of June when emergency funds from the state run out. The impact of this falls most painfully on the two-thirds of teachers who agreed to have their paychecks decreased during the school year in order to receive checks throughout the summer when school is not in session. So, not only have they been receiving reduced payments, the money they earned is no longer available. This has prompted a call by the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) for a district-wide sick-out that closed 94 Detroit schools today: A mass of teacher sickouts has shut down 94 schools in Detroit Public Schools today, as teachers protest the news Saturday that the district wont be able to pay them past June 30. The district enrolls about 46,000 students in 97 schools. The Detroit Federation of Teachers on Sunday called for the mass sick-out of the districts 2,600 teachers. DPS emergency manager Judge Steven Rhodes told the union Saturday that unless the state Legislature approves sending more money to the district, there is not enough in the coffers to pay teachers their already-earned salaries after June 30. Summer school and extended special education services would also be canceled. Teachers said they had been told that the $48.7 million allocated by the Legislature last month to fund the district through June 30 would cover summer pay for the approximately two-thirds of district teachers who signed up for the plan, which allows for paychecks year-round instead of just during the school year. Keep this one thing firmly in your mind when you hear Republicans and anti-public schools reformers blame this on the schools and teachers themselves: the Detroit Public School system has been under the control of the state government for 14 of the past 17 years. In other words, this isnt a problem caused by an inept or corrupt school board or by greedy, over-paid teachers. This is a problem caused by inadequate funding of and investment in the school system by the state government for nearly two decades. And this is despite having privatized much of the operations and conducted failed experiments like the Education Achievement Authority. What school reformers want us all to believe is that for-profit charter schools can do it all better and make a profit at the same time. So far, there has been no evidence of this in Detroit or elsewhere. In the meantime, Republicans are trying once again to put money in the state education budget for private schools in violation of the state constitution. Sometimes it just doesnt pay to take a vacation Apples top legal official on Tuesday appeared before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and reiterated the companys willingness to help law enforcement on active cases and cooperate on long-term solutions, despite its contentious legal battle with the FBI over the encrypted iPhone used in the San Bernardino terrorist attack. Apple works daily on an operational level with law enforcement on a number of cases, General Counsel Bruce Sewell told legislators. Among past collaborations were one that involved child abduction and a case in which lives were saved. The company is willing to work with law enforcement when they cannot crack the code on encrypted data, he said in response to questioning. Despite its cooperative stance, Apple would not be able to establish some sort of lockbox to provide law enforcement with a key to access encrypted data without risking the security of its data platform, Sewell said. We havent figured out a way that we can create an access point and then create a set of locks to protect access through that access point, he said in response to questioning. The problem is the key to that lock will ultimately be available somewhere. Sewell was one of several encryption and cybersecurity experts who testified at the hearing. His testimony followed remarks by a top FBI official and two local law enforcement experts. His concerns about the vulnerabilities of a backdoor were echoed by Matthew Blaze, an associate professor of computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania, who testified that he discovered the same kind of vulnerabilities in the backdoor Clipper Chip encryption device, which the National Security Agency introduced in the 1990s. Sewell pushed back hard against suggestions in the local law enforcement officials testimony that Apple had provided source code to the Chinese government and that Apple had a created a key to access encrypted data 19 months ago but threw it away. He also balked at suggestions that Apple had decided to provide passcode encryption with its next generation of iCloud, saying nothing has been announced. Prefer to Stay In-House In earlier testimony, Amy Hess, executive assistant director for science and technology at the FBI, conceded that the bureau should not rely on gray hats to help it access encrypted data going forward. However, the FBI is not equipped to handle encrypted data investigations on its own, she added. These types of solutions that we do employ and we can employ require a lot of highly skilled, specialized resources that we may not have readily available to us, Hess said in response to questioning. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has expressed the hope that when the FBI calls on outside parties for help, it will then share with Apple or other technology firms any information gained about vulnerabilities exploited to access data, said Parker Higgins, a spokesperson for the organization. However, that issue was not addressed at the hearing, he told the E-Commerce Times. Police Stymied The growing use of encryption in messaging apps and mobile phones has led to real consequences for police investigations on the local level. During a six-month period ending in March of this year, the New York Police Department was locked out of 67 Apple devices connected with 23 felonies, 10 homicides, two rapes and one case in which two officers were shot in the line of duty, said NYPD Chief of Intelligence Thomas Galati in testimony before the committee. In every case we have the file cabinet, as it were, and the legal authority to open it, but we lack the technical ability to do so because encryption protects the contents of those 67 Apple devices, he testified. The Indiana State Police examined 1,000 mobile phones related to crimes, testified Captain Charles Cohen, commander, intelligence and investigative technologies. An estimated 40 percent of the phones involved in Internet crimes against children contain encryption that prevents forensic examination. Apple and other tech companies should censor the apps that are allowed in their libraries, rejecting those that contain encryption capabilities that might thwart future investigations, according to several officials. That suggestion raised the ire of a number of privacy and technology advocates. The suggestion that app stores could be used to censor encryption apps is beyond the pale, said Ross Schulman, Co-Director of New Americas Cybersecurity Initiative. The only way to truly keep encryption apps out of the United States would be to recreate the Great Firewall of China, he told the E-Commerce Times. The suggestion would be wholly destructive to commerce within the United States and anathema to the First Amendment. Google has rehired former executive Rick Osterloh to lead its hardware businesses, which it plans to consolidate under a single division, according to news reports published last week. Osterloh, who recently stepped down as president of Motorola, reportedly will head up Googles Nexus business, which will include a suite of products dubbed the living room. It looks like Google is trying to develop a coherent hardware product strategy and fix the hodgepodge collection of hardware products scattered all over Google, said Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research. With a centralized group, Google can share development expertise and costs. It should lead to better products and products that work together, he told the E-Commerce Times. Unified Devices Google reportedly had planned to reshuffle its hardware businesses following the departure of Regina Dugan, advanced technology and project chief, who left to join Facebook. It was developing technologies such as artificial intelligence and upgrading its existing product line, including Chromebooks, to better compete against a number of startups. In addition to Nexus, the new division reportedly will include Googles OnHub home router, Chromecast, ATAP and Google Glass, the wearable headgear that is being redeveloped under Project Aura. Nest CEO Tony Fadell will remain as an adviser to the Glass team. Hiroshi Lockheimer will continue to work on Nexus, but he will move over to work on software and platform development. Most people figured that Osterloh wouldnt be unemployed for long after leaving Motorola, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. Along with being highly experienced and skilled, hes well-liked and respected across the industry, he told the E-Commerce Times. Motorola Moves Google agreed tosell its Motorola Mobility smartphone business to Lenovo in 2014 for US$2.91 billion, a move designed to increase Lenovos presence in the U.S. and Latin American smartphone business. The deal made Lenovo the worlds third largest maker of smartphones at the time. In one of his first major moves after the sale closed, Osterloh last year led the re-entry of Motorola into the Chinese market with the Moto G and Moto X, two years after the company withdrew from that market. The Chinese market had been a difficult environment to compete in, as rivals such as Xiaomi and Huawei were growing at a rapid pace and pushed Motorola on price. The China re-entry was one of his proudest moments at the company, he said last year. International device makers that cant make themselves relevant to Chinese consumers are dead, Osterloh said. Meanwhile, savvy homegrown companies are taking advantage of this landscape to use China as a launchpad for their own global ambitions. The American market was still important but mature and in some ways stodgy, he said, adding that the most interesting opportunities in mobile was on the frontiers of the business. Wait and See During the fiscal third quarter, which ended in December, Lenovo reported that global smartphone volume was down 18.1 percent year over year, with 20.2 million units sold. Little-known Chinese mobile phone companiesOPPO andVivo pushed Lenovo and Xiaomi out of the worlds top five smartphone market share rankings, IDC reported last week. Motorola earlier this year announced plans to restructure its businesses by focusing on two product subbrands, Moto and Vibe. Lenovo last month announced plans to restructure its global business, which included naming Xudong Chen and Aymar de Lencquesaing, the former head of Lenovo North America, as co-presidents of its Mobile Business Group. Osterloh is well regarded, but Googles hardware business has gone nowhere and the question, is can anyone make it work? said analyst Jeff Kagan. Its not like at Motorola he has transformed the business into a hot growing handset opportunity under Lenovo, he told the E-Commerce Times. So while there is great opportunity with Google, I would rather withhold judgment and see if he can get the hardware business off the ground, Kagan added. If he fails, I wouldnt blame him. Google has not been successful with Nexus or other hardware to date, Kagan said. So I just consider this another shot for Google. The Obama administration has authorized a new online campaign in its slow, grinding war against ISIS, The New York Times reported earlier this week. The Pentagons Cyber Command will target ISIS in a way that essentially will get inside the heads of terrorist commanders to disrupt their military operations. The goal appears to be to sow mistrust and confusion among ISIS leaders by interfering with their ability to pay their soldiers, execute operational orders, recruit new fighters, and communicate with one other. The plan amounts to dropping cyberbombs on the enemy, Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work told the Times, which is something the U.S. never before has done in such a large-scale battlefield environment. Shift in Strategy The Cyber Commands primary focus has been on Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, Admiral Michael S. Rogers, commander of the unit, said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month. Also known as the Islamic State in the Levant, or ISIL, ISIS has limited organic cyberwarfare capabilities, he told lawmakers, and it has used the Web primarily for recruiting, propaganda, radicalization and fundraising. The Pentagon intends to use cyberwarfare as one tool in the toolbox, suggested Isaac Porche III, associate director of the Forces and Logistics Program at the Rand Arroyo Center. Although he has no inside information on the Pentagon strategy, it appears that the aim is to break the will of the enemy, he told TechNewsWorld. That type of effort is not used as a substitute for traditional counterterrorism or battleground campaigns, but in conjunction with them, Porche pointed out. Cyber is just one domain that we fight in, and all the domains have to be addressed, he emphasized. No one domain is necessarily the place to take on an adversary. They understand its a test of wills. As a nation, the U.S. has to be prepared to respond to retaliatory attacks, Porche said. One of the reasons there have been so few major attacks on the U.S. is that enemies know retaliation could come in a multitude of ways. The response from the U.S. would not necessarily be in cyber, Porche noted. Domestic Concerns In many ways, the U.S. is living in a pre-cyber-disaster world, observed GreatHorn CEO Kevin OBrien. That is, it has not suffered a crippling large-scale cyberattack from a foreign entity. We have not yet seen a cyberattack take down the power grid, disrupt critical infrastructure, or so far as we know gain access to military secrets, OBrien told TechNewsWorld. However, it is likely a matter of time before we see one of these events take place. There are routes through our cyberdefenses that are largely unsecured. For example, ISIS last year gained access to the Twitter accounts of U.S. Central Command, OBrien noted. While this was essentially Web vandalism, one can imagine a scenario where instead of posting propaganda pictures, they used their access to begin a more sophisticated, longer-term, and insidious social engineering attack against targets both public and private, he suggested. Federal prosecutors just last month charged seven Iranians working for two companies sponsored by the Iranian government, ITSECTeam and Mersad, with a series of crimes against U.S. financial institutions that resulted in losses of tens of millions of dollars. The suspects between 2011 and 2013 allegedly used botnets and other malicious computer code to carry out distributed Denial of Service attacks on nearly 50 financial institutions, preventing victims from gaining online access to their bank accounts. One of the suspects, Hamid Firoozi, allegedly gained access to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems of the Bowman Dam in Rye, N.Y., in 2013. Separately, federal prosecutors last month charged three members of the Syrian Electronic Army, a pro-Assad hacker collective, with spearphishing attacks against U.S. media organizations, a U.S. Marine Corp recruitment site, and the Executive Office of the President. The Defense Department did not respond to our request to comment for this story. 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In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange commission, Unifi has announced the departure of CEO Bill Jasper and COO Roger Berrier who both joined the board in September 2007 and championed the Repreve recycled polyester brand which helped the company turn around it fortunes after financial problems stemming from 2000. Jasper and Berrier left the company effective Wednesday 27th April and a regulatory statement was filed with the SEC on Thursday 29th. Daniel and Philip Berrigan on the cover of Time Magazine on Jan. 25, 1971. Tributes have flowed for Daniel J. Berrigan, a Jesuit priest whose defiance of the Vietnam War landed him in prison drawing both the praise and barbs of many Americans and who died April 30 at the age of 94 in the Bronx, New York. The poet priest and activist died at Murray-Weigel Hall, the Jesuit infirmary at Fordham University. His father Thomas was an Irish Catholic trade unionist and his mother Frieda was of German descent. "The United States was tearing itself apart over civil rights and the war in Southeast Asia when Father Berrigan emerged in the 1960s as an intellectual star of the Roman Catholic "new left," articulating a view that racism and poverty, militarism and capitalist greed were interconnected pieces of the same big problem: an unjust society," Daniel Lewis, wrote in his New York Times obituary. Berrigan and his younger brother, Philip Berrigan, emerged as leaders of the radical anti-war movement in the 1960s, reported The Associated Press. Berrigan's was basically a religious position derived from a rigorous reading of the Scriptures "that some called pure and others radical" writes Lewis. "But it would have explosive political consequences as Father Berrigan; his brother Philip, a Josephite priest; and their allies took their case to the streets with rising disregard for the law or their personal fortunes." MAIRHEAD MAGUIRE Northern Ireland peace activist, Mairead Maguire, a Nobel Peace Laureate and founder of Peace People wrote in America: The National Catholic Review that "Father Dan was a man of great courage, whose life touched millions, not only through his writings but especially by his actions. "His message was delivered with great clarity and based on his passionate belief in the power of the Gospel of Nonviolence and Jesus's message of no killing and love of enemies." Maguire said that as a young man, Berrigan knew the cost of war, when his four brothers left home to join the Second World War. "They returned having witnessed much horror and suffering and it was out of this experience came the Berrigan Brothers conviction of what Father Dan called 'the sin of war' and their lifetime commitment to the abolition of war, nuclear weapons and all forms of violence." In May 1968, the Berrigan brothers went into a draft board in Catonsville, Maryland, in May 1968 with seven other activists, removing records of young men about to be sent to Vietnam, taking them outside, placing them in garbage cans and burning them. They were dubbed the Catonsville Nine, convicted on federal charges that accused them of destroying U.S. property and interfering with the Selective Service Act of 1967, The Associated Press reported in The Guardian . They received prison sentences ranging from two to three and a half years. The brothers made the Jan. 25, 1971 cover of Time magazine under the headline, "Rebel Priests: The Curious Case of the Berrigans." In 2009 Berrigan was asked by America magazine if he had any regrets about his actions and he replied: "I could have done sooner the things I did, like Catonsville." Father Berrigan was released from the Danbury penitentiary in 1972; the Jesuits, alarmed at his failing health, managed to get him out early. He then resumed his travels. RELEASE FROM JAIL Lewis writes in the Times that after his release from Danbury penitentiary in 1972 Father Berrigan accused Israel of "militarism" and the "domestic repressions" of Palestinians and his remarks angered many American Jews. "Let us call this by its right name," wrote Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, himself a contentious figure among religious scholars: "old-fashioned theological anti-Semitism." However Philip Weiss wrote in Mondoweiss, "Sadly the Times did not quote from the speech in any fair measure." He adds, "It's a pity that the New York Times doesn't explain that Berrigan's critique of Israel was equally harsh to his criticism of the United States at the time; and more important, that it was prophetic." However Lewis writes in the Times that Berrigan was also not universally admired by Catholics. "Many faulted him for not singling out repressive Communist states in his diatribes against the world order, and later for not lending his voice to the outcry over sexual abuse by priests." Father Daniel's brother Philip, died in 2002, aged 79. Berrigan continued his life of activism and was arrested a number of times in the 1980s and remained opposed to wars such as American intervention in Central America, the Gulf War in 1991, the Kosovo War, the U.S. foray into Afghanistan, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o... I completed my schooling from Anand Niketan Shilaj in Ahmedabad. Since class IX, I was sure I wanted to study anthropology. Anthropology is fundamentally concerned with human relations and the plurality within cultures, societies and communities. My parents thought I would change plans and my father wanted me to pursue medicine, but I was firm. As anthropology is not a very well-known discipline in India, I was sure that I would have to pursue my higher education in a foreign country. Canada has good resources for higher education. I applied to five universities and was offered admission to each one of them. However, I decided to select York as the anthropology department at the university is known for its focus on the socio-cultural aspects of the discipline. Students get to study both the social and cultural schools of thought that have contributed to the discipline. During my first year at York, I learnt that I can obtain a double major that would allow me to graduate with two subjects without any additional time or cost. I, thus, decided to opt for political science as my second major as I felt it would provide me the skills that would complement anthropology well. The course material at York is interesting and the professors are genuinely enthusiastic about the discipline. I have the most intellectually stimulating conversations with my professors and classmates. When I tell people I am majoring in anthropology, I get sceptical responses. Many wonder about the career prospects the degree offers. Few know that a course in anthropology inculcates such skills among students that are important to succeed in several careers related to language, culture, writing and analysis. For me, anthropology helps me make sense of the world and what is going around. Political science, on the other hand, teaches me about power, holding it accountable and understanding how it can change the world for the better. I thus get to study two highly stimulating subjects. Anthropology and political science use different methods of teaching. The former is committed to on-field experience as a method of learning. We learn by throwing ourselves among people and participating and observing them at the same time. It is fun! We have three-hour lectures followed by field trips to the place where we conduct research. The latter is more about the macro-level processes of governance, particularly in a democracy. The department at York is different from other universities, because it constantly pushes us to think and redefine the political. Political science courses are of two hours duration each with a one-hour tutorial where we engage in in-depth discussions about the materials we are taught in class. My education and training make me an ideal candidate for different careers. I already have a job at my university where I work as a peer mentor for other students. I also mentor students from Central Asia, under the Aga Khan Development Network. I am active in many organisations on campus such as the Model United Nations, UNICEF, etc. On completion of my course, I may return to India and become a professor or go on to pursue an MBA and work in the field of business or organisational anthropology. -As told to Ruchi Chopda How would you define skill? Skill is the acquired ability that increases the efficiency and performance of an individual while performing a defined task. Professionals from across fields require a broad range of skills in order to contribute to a modern economy. Professionals must skill, up-skill and re-skill themselves according to the needs of their job. What is your focus to train the existing workforce or create a new trained workforce? Our approach for skill development in the country currently is multi-fold. It is imperative to skill fresh talent and upgrade and re-skill the existing workforce to the level of standards identified by industries. The National Skill Mission clearly defines our mandate to provide skill development to 40.2 crore people by the end of 2022. The ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) has also identified that there are large numbers of people who are skilled in a particular area but do not have a formal recognition. To address this issue, we have launched the Recognition of Prior Learning Programme, which aims to access and certify people for their existing skills. Are there enough jobs in the country to accommodate the new skilled workforce? Certainly. We need a job ready workforce for national missions like the Make in India, Digital India, Smart Cities, etc. We also need a workforce that is acquainted with model technology so we are not dependent on resources from international markets. We need to upgrade the skills of our workforce to match the needs of the technical expertise that we need. We have mapped our standards with the standards of the United Kingdom and Australia. We will soon be signing a MoU with the United Arab Emirates on mutual recognition of the skill standards in the respective countries. What kind of jobs does the Skill India campaign focus on? Our focus is spread as per the geographical requirements across the country. This ensures that professionals get jobs that interest them and there is less need for migration. Similarly, we have studied the markets and the requirements of industries. Accordingly, our Sector Skill Councils identify sectoral needs. We have developed 1,661 qualification packs from which the youth can identify courses and get skilled. Skill India initiatives focus on the priority sectors of the Make in India campaign which includes strategic manufacturing, automotive, constructions, infrastructure, food processing, textiles, tourism, wellness, etc. We are also supporting the Digital India and Smart Cities campaigns by training the required workforce. By 2020, the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), will become compulsory for a government job and will integrate vocational education, skill training, general education, technical education and the job market. Which industry do you foresee a growth in? According to a CII-KPMG report, India is the fastest growing services economy. The country has contributed 61% to the GDP. The IT-BPM industry, one of the largest employers in India with 3.7 million people, is also poised for a major growth and will touch $143 billion during the ongoing fiscal year. The other sectors that will enjoy growth are healthcare and tourism. Technology, innovation and creativity are rapidly redefining the global economy with digitisation collapsing distances and transcending borders. We are also focusing on the manufacturing sector, an industry that presently contributes 10-12% to Indias GDP. If India envisions a double digit growth in the future, we ought to enhance the contribution of the manufacturing sector. A number of qualified Indians settle overseas under the highly skilled migrants programme (HSMP) in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, etc. Does India lose its skilled workforce to other countries? What do you think can be done to stop this outflow of talent? The Prime Minister has aimed to make India the skill capital of the world. He envisions India as the hub of skilled workforce towards which countries could turn to for their skills requirement. Moreover, employment in India would be limited. The demand for skilled youth in India will not surpass the supply, at least in the coming few years. We will soon be signing a MoU with the ministry of external affairs to train people for employment overseas, adhering to globally identified skill standards. The HRD ministry recently agreed to make the two-year diploma courses at ITIs equivalent to a class XII certificate. When will this be implemented? We are working with the MHRD to provide for a pathway for horizontal migration from skill development to general education. Some countries have provided for convergence among different education systems. One can reach the university level from post-secondary through junior colleges/centralised institutes, polytechnics or institutes of technical education (ITEs). We are working on a similar recognition to our courses in the ITIs. We had a meeting with AICTE in this regard as well, and are hopeful for some encouraging developments in the near future. How do you plan to utilise the 2016 budget allotted for skill development? As announced, we will create 1,500 multi-skill training institutes (MSTIs) which will be the new generation industrial training institutes (ITIs) set up in public-private partnership (PPP) mode. These will be set up in those blocks and districts of the country that are yet to focus on skill development. To achieve our target of skilling one crore youth over the next three years under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), we are setting up model skill centres across more than 500 districts in the country. The formation of the National Board for Skill Development Certification (NBSDC) is another big step in further strengthening the skill ecosystem. It will see representation from both, government and industry, which will collectively enable a joint framework for quality skill assessment. Assessment processes in the country so far have been highly fragmented and varied. The NBSC will act as a one stop shop for examinations, assessments and awarding national-level certificates in compliance with National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) for skill development courses in the country. Thus, it is envisaged that the board will be an autonomous organisation with the mandate of ensuring that the skills assessment ecosystem in the country is maintained at a designated standard. We will work to deliver entrepreneurship, education and training in 2,200 colleges, 300 schools, 500 government ITIs and 50 vocational training centres. Aspiring entrepreneurs will be connected to mentors and credit markets. You recently stated that over 18 lakh people have been under PMKVY scheme over the last eight months. By when do you aim to reach your target of enrolling 24 lakh people? On reaching this target, how does the government plan to utilise this skilled manpower? Under the scheme, the target of training 24 lakh people was divided into fresh training (14 lakh) and recognition of prior learning (RPL) (10 lakh). We have already crossed the mark of 14 lakh freshly trained people out of which nine lakh have also been assessed and certified. However, we faced some initial challenges in training under the RPL since the programme focuses on the recognition of skills people already possess. This skilled workforce is distributed across formal and informal sectors with a majority in the latter. We have reviewed the framework and have proposed a different approach to processes in both, the formal and informal sectors. Moreover, the financial viability of the process has been duly considered and accordingly, amendments to the guidelines have been made. A skilled individual has three options employment, enhancement or entrepreneurship. S/he can opt for employment; however, as I said, the options are limited. The second option for an individual is to enhance their skills through high level courses in that sector. Lastly, skilled professionals can become entrepreneurs and contribute to the growth of the country. Lauding the entrepreneurial mindset of Indian students, Alice Gast , president of Imperial College London , says she is keen to attract more talent from the country. During her recent visit to Delhi, Gast reiterated the views from her article in The Times in UK, saying: When Indian students come to our universities, something special happens --- academic, creative and entrepreneurial excellence synthesise. Gast was in India to reconnect with alumni and their families. She also held talks with partner institutions on collaborative research. The college partnered with IIT Delhi during its founding years and continues to be an important collaborator. She was accompanied by John Chambers, professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at the college, who is leading a study on ethnic south Asians in London and their susceptibility to diabetes due to genetics and other factors. Its wonderful to have had such a diverse gathering at the receptions, and to have the opportunity to not only meet alumni, but also to welcome our incoming students. We have a strong and enduring relationship with India, and we are grateful to our alumni associations for all of the work they do. In Delhi, Gast made a special mention of Jag Mohan Puri (Mechanical Engineering 1958), who founded the Imperial College Alumni Association of India in 1991 at the British Council in Kolkata. Gast expressed concerns that following the UK student visa changes, Indian students may feel that the UK is less open to Indian entrepreneurship and new ideas than the US. They worry that they will not receive the welcome that generations of brilliant Indians have enjoyed at UK universities, she said, adding that British universities have to make more of an effort to welcome Indias brightest. Imperial alum Vibin Joseph, who launched his venture on completing his studies, says it was the colleges track record of consistently producing several successful spin-off companies that sealed his decision. I am an engineer and biologist by training. The class I undertook at the business school, Master of Science in Management, had a global mix of nationalities and industry backgrounds. Besides, faculty who have been entrepreneurs themselves delivered the lessons focussing on simulating real-world scenarios through team-based industry projects, says Joseph. His company Biozeen enables pharmaceutical companies manufacture vaccines and biologicals by providing bioprocess hardware and automation solutions. My studies at Imperial have been instrumental in shaping my mind-set and pushing me to dream higher, he adds. Indian-origin British student Kushan S, who is pursuing an MBBS/BSc degree and is in the second year, says the course is taught in a mixture of styles such as lectures, small group tutorials, using iPads in class, recording lectures to allow students to learn on their own. Also, there are hospital visits to provide a clinical setting to learn from. The six-year course is designed for those who do not yet have a first degree in a biological science subject and leads to the award of both a BSc and an MBBS qualification. Measuring Excellence Commenting on the meaning of excellence in higher education, Alice Gast says metrics alone are inadequate to capture excellence. The debate about peer review versus metrics should be turned toward a balanced combination of peer review and metrics. She has outlined plans for Imperial College London for a new approach for individual evaluation that combines metrics with peer review and which is based on a profile rather than aimed at specific metrics. It will be implemented in the next academic year. Measures will include improved feedback for students, and increased mental health support. To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. This May will see the coming together of the German-African business association, Afrika-Verein, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) at the 3rd Africa Finance, meeting. The focus this year will be on the development of projects and the accompanying funding opportunities in Africa. Tenders and the procurement process of international financing institutions like the EIB, KfW , the African Development Bank and the World Bank will also be discussed. A series of interactive presentations, discussions and workshops will held in order to give entrepreneurs the opportunity to exchange views and gain detailed information. Experts from the EIB will be both facilitating and presenting at an array of these sharing valuable knowledge and answering such questions as how to develop a successful project in Africa. For information on how to register for the event, please visit the website here. 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. She's been in the business for quite some time now, yet it looks like Bella Thorne has her sights set up real high when it comes to her Hollywood career. Even though she's stared in a number of films and television shows such as Shake It Up and Big Love, the 18-year-old Florida native says that she is hoping to one day direct, too. The actress, who can currently be heard voicing the tough-talking Cora in the new animated film Ratchet and Clank (based on the long-running video game series of the same name), says that unlike other actresses, she's never in her trailer whenever she's filming new projects. Instead, she's also behind her director, taking notes. "My goal was to have my first self-directed short film premiere at South By Southwest next year and hopefully some other festivals," Thorne told Enstars. "I love the creative process. One of the unfortunate things about this film was this character was already created when I came in and stepped foot inside her. So that was fun and you know, interesting." She added, "But I would love to do some more live action animation, where actually get to go behind the scenes and really go and literally create this character, because anything behind the scenes, to me, is just so cool." A photo posted by BELLA (@bellathorne) on Apr 9, 2016 at 3:21pm PDT Considering the fact that the flame-haired beauty is juggling a few projects at a time (which also includes her upcoming backpack and shoe line), Thorne says that she that she likes to stay organized the same way we all do: with her phone. What's more, she also puts her list of things she wants to accomplish (along with directing) on her phone, too. Thorne explained, "You know, I have a goals list that I just started on my phone, which is pretty cool. And I'm just trying to do everything. I make personal time for myself when I'm on sets, which is good. So like, I'll be on set, but then I'll have a buddy come by and spend time with me while I'm on set. So that's kind of how I balance my personal relationships a bit more. But yeah I just want to do everything, but more directing and writing, specifically." Ratchet and Clank is out in theaters now. From the stalls of Montezuma: A new front in culture war By Michael R. Shannon North Carolina has a reputation for going the furthest in the pursuit of a lost cause. The Gettysburg battlefield features a monument carefully placed at the "high watermark of the Confederacy" where the 26th North Carolina came to within ten paces of the Union position in The Angle before being driven back. That Civil War conflict took place on 11,500 acres of Pennsylvania farmland. North Carolina's latest battle is being fought stalltostall in public bathrooms around the state. Hostilities commenced when the governor signed a bill requiring people using public restrooms to patronize the facility that corresponds to the plumbing noted on their birth certificate. From the reaction of the Gaystapo one would have thought the new law required a public declaration followed by a TSAstyle body cavity inspection. Realistically passage of the law would not affect the bathroom destination of most of the population. Crossdressers and transvestites are no doubt already sneaking into women's bathrooms. What the law meant is the state would not give its official blessing to switchsitting and if a switchsitter was caught in the act, so to speak, there would be consequences. The law allowed business and individuals to set their own bathroom regulations, up to and including playing fruit basket turnover. For a few days it was the usual Christians versus the licentious affair until PayPal entered the fray. The Internet payment company made a big production out of cancelling a 400employee planned facility in Charlotte. CEO Dan Schulman began his moral preening by declaring, "Becoming an employer in North Korea, (whoops, typo, should be Carolina) where members of our teams will not have equal rights under the law, is simply untenable. The new law perpetuates discrimination and it violates the values and principles that are at the core of PayPal's mission and culture." He added his decision, "reflects PayPal's deepest values and our strong belief that every person has the right to be treated equally, and with dignity and respect." This is the same domestic cheap PCPR pointscoring that had Apple fighting the FBI over a phone used by a terrorist. Normally I would insert an analogy here to point out Schulman's cheap moralizing, but it's so difficult to find any real convictions in an executive like this other than a commitment to making money and a vague, extremely flexible secularism that constructing relevant analogies is extremely difficult. For example, PayPal has no trouble doing business in Saudi Arabia where the penalty for homosexual behavior, to say nothing of switchsitting, is significantly more stringent than in that hotbed of hate North Carolina. But I'm going to try. Let's say Schulman gets a call from the front desk that informs him there's a nice man named Nevada Starshine who has decided his persona is a mistake and he really identifies as Dan Schulman. And oh, yes, he wants to use the toilet in the real Schulman's office. That puts the bathroom on the other foot. Based on Schulman's statement he can't say it's a case of mistaken identity, because that fails to treat Starshine's delusion with "dignity and respect." Sure the lobby Schulman is mentally ill, but so is someone who says the DNA factory made a mistake and they are a man trapped in a woman's body. Schulman is one of those cultural Marxists who have no problem imposing burdens on lawabiding citizens at the expense of their rights (see: Common Sense gun laws). It's fine to demand North Carolina allow men to use the ladies, but hotswapping his own seat is a toilet too far. And where does Schulman draw the line? National Review found a Norwegian woman who claims she's a cat trapped in a woman's body. Will the state be forced to supply litter boxes for tabbies like her? Or should the Arizona woman interviewed by the Telegraph who says she's really a dragon be allowed to demand a horde of gold to sit upon? These unfortunate "trans" types are mentally disturbed people who need treatment instead of the indulgence preferred by Schulman and other business "leaders." The latest is the porn site XHamster that according to The Huffington Post has banned North Carolina porn aficionados. Using somewhat fuzzy logic the site says, "Judging by the stats of what you North Carolinians watch, we feel this punishment is a severe one. Back in March, we had 400,000 hits for Transsexual' [and] Gay' 319,907 times." So it appears XHamster is punishing what people claim are the "victims" of the law. That sounds like cutting off your nose to spite your face, which is a surgery where even the "trans" community draws the line. Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr (at) gmail.com. He is also the author of Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!). Home Thirty years since George Parkin Grant's Technology and Justice (1986) By Mark Wegierski 2016 is the 30th anniversary of George Grant's Technology and Justice, his last major published work. It was a follow-up to his earlier books, Technology and Empire: Perspectives on North America (1969), and English-Speaking Justice (1974/1985). Grant is best known for his work, Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism (1965), written after the defeat of the staunch Tory Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker, by Liberal Lester B. Pearson, in the crucial 1963 federal election. Grant's first major published work was Philosophy in the Mass Age (1959). One could sharply ask today -- is there still really a place for Grantian-type traditionalism in current-day Canada? First of all, it should be remembered that Grant's profound and subtle definition of conservatism is very remote from what is its more common definition today, as mostly a tax- and budget-cutting ideology. Indeed, the shallowness of what passes for conservatism in Canada today, is quite apparent. It is generally accepted that almost everyone is socially liberal, and economically conservative. Social conservatism is typically seen as a dour, obdurate outlook. Nevertheless, economic conservatism can be seen as little more than a defense of consumerist capitalism which Grant had severely criticized. The notion of conservatism as a decent, humane outlook has been lost today. Indeed, most people in Canada today cannot wrap their minds around the notion of the genuine idealism of traditionalist dissent in current-day society. Despite his greatly impassioned writing, Grant did not seem to offer much hope for someone wishing to be active in the social, political, and cultural arena of current-day Canadian society. Perhaps a quietistic self-cultivation is the only path available today. However, is this not problematic, for a philosophy that has emphasized public engagement and civic-mindedness? The four main possibilities available today are probably: activism in the current federal Conservative Party; activism in the Canadian pro-life movement; moving out to the countryside; or becoming an independent political writer/blogger. Activism in the current federal Conservative Party (or perhaps other major political parties, such as the Ontario Progressive Conservatives) gives one a sense of immediacy and connection to so-called "real" political matters. However, one will be in a major party with multifarious factions, many of which may be indifferent or hostile to one's views. While one may feel that one is doing "useful" work, it may just be a drop in the ocean. Also, if one is able to hold increasingly prominent posts in a given party, the unfriendly public scrutiny one's views undergo is increased, which often results in an ever-increasing downplaying and "trimming" of one's own ideals and principles. Also, the federal Conservatives have been decisively trounced in the October 2015 federal election. The accusation has been that the Conservatives lost because of their obdurate, reactionary policies. The notion that the Conservative Party had actually followed a very moderate course during their majority government, is not widely accepted. Canada will now presumably see another roaring tide of unabated change under Justin Trudeau, mirroring, to some extent, what happened during the sixteen years of Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1968-1984, except for nine months in 1979-1980). Activism in the Canadian pro-life and pro-family movement offers a considerable engagement with "real" political matters combined with an intense idealism. One can read in such publications as The Interim and the Hamilton-based Convivium and Comment, how the pro-life and pro-family people are often the dynamic edge of resistance to the current late modern near-dystopia, and, indeed, how often they do suffer for their beliefs. However, what appears to be the demand for a life of continual "martyrdom" may not be emotionally sustainable for some people. Ironically, pro-life and pro-family activists are seen as veritable "devil-babies" by current-day society. For example, pro-life student clubs have been banned at several Canadian universities. Becoming involved in a minor political party or some kind of ginger group is somewhat akin to being a pro-life activist, although usually with less social impact likely, but also less "martyrdom" required. Moving out to the countryside represents a sort of "secession". The idea is that life in more rural areas is "healthier" than in the big cities. Perhaps not everyone might find rural life congenial. It requires a considerable amount of quite arduous physical labour with which a person used to living in urban or suburban areas is unacquainted. If one is already living there (or will end up there), one also has to think about having an impact beyond one's immediate physical vicinity. The idea of becoming an independent political writer/blogger may be attractive if one feels one can carry one's weight intellectually and do so with considerable grace and dignity. Having a cultural-political Internet presence today is not necessarily tied to living in a major cultural or political centre although it might help in putting together one's writing output. If one is truly independent, one need not always hew to party and religious lines even as one is generally in opposition to late modern society. Nevertheless, one might become prone to live increasingly as a "lone wolf" with fewer and fewer personal social interactions "a voice crying in the wilderness". It could be argued that Grant's thought does indeed have much to say to all persons living in current-day Canada and America, and in so-called "late modernity" not just to those who are actively in opposition to it. For example, one can easily elicit from Grant's philosophy a critique of the economism and the "infinite growth" mindset that are probably among the main contributing factors to the post-2008 economic crisis. There could also be a role for Grant's anti-Americanism (or what might less pointedly be called "non-Americanism") in a truly meaningful Canadian conservatism. It is little understood today that before the 1960s, Canada was actually a more conservative society than America (in the better sense of conservatism). Today, one finds that much of what is negative about current-day Canada if one were to carefully look at its real origins -- actually emanates from the U.S. There are, for example, the trends to "judicial activism" and litigiousness, tendencies of increasing violence and anomie, and the excesses of the North American (U.S. and Canadian) pop-culture. It looks like the best that traditionalists can hope for in Canada today is to maintain some kind of sharp niches of critique in what is likely to become an increasingly hostile society. It may perhaps be suggested that things will have to get even worse, before there can be some hope of things getting better, over the longer term. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home NEWS ALERT: 'Islamists Nuke U.S. Urban Centers' By Mark Alexander If Barack Obama's failed foreign policies are extended four more years, the headline above will be closer to reality. But before we contemplate the prospect of Islamists detonating a nuclear weapon in a major U.S. city, let's start with a little background. Islamists have been harassing the United States for a very long time, starting with Thomas Jefferson's Barbary pirate problem in 1801. The Barbary States Algiers, Morocco, Tripoli and Tunis were seizing U.S. merchant vessels and taking hostages for ransom. When Jefferson refused to pay, the Barbary States declared war. Jefferson requested that Congress declare war in return, and while it never officially did so, Congress did authorize the use of force to end the attacks on U.S. merchant ships and American citizens. In fact, I write this column on the anniversary of the battle that turned the tide in the Barbary War. On April 27, 1805, a small contingent of U.S. Marines directing a large contingent of mercenaries overtook a much larger force of Islamic adversaries in Derna, Libya. Victory in Derna was the first time U.S. forces raised a flag after combat on foreign soil, and the success there is memorialized in the second line of the Marine Hymn "To the shores of Tripoli." Two months after the battle at Derna, the Tripolitan Islamic leader, Yusuf Karamanli, signed a treaty ending hostilities. Notably, Jefferson's successor, James Madison, would have to send forces back in 1815 to prosecute the second Barbary War. So it began, and so it continues. This week, in yet another failed policy reversal to contain the current Middle East Meltdown, Obama announced that he's sending additional U.S. troops to Syria. He's doing so after determining conclusively that power doesn't tolerate a vacuum in this case, the one he created when ordering a retreat from Iraq to fulfill his ill-advised 2012 re-election promise. Recall that in 2011 there were about 150 U.S. military personnel remaining in Iraq, but more than 5,000 have now returned in an effort to contain the aforementioned Islamic State, the most dangerous terrorist group in history, an organization now posing a formidable threat to Western civilization. What gave rise to the Islamic State? Let's review. As I outlined in "Obama's Iraqi Makeover": In 2008, Obama campaigned on "ending the war in Iraq." In 2009, he upended our long-term military objectives to establish a forward military operating capability in Iraq in order to maintain stability in a region where we have very critical national interests, and he set a new course for retreat and withdrawal from the region. In 2011, having rejected the Bush strategy of establishing a status of forces agreement (SOFA) to secure our hard-won gains in Iraq and the region, Obama declared, "Everything Americans have done in Iraq, all the fighting, all the dying, the bleeding, the building and the training and the partnering, all of it has led to this moment of success. ... We're leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq." In 2012, amid the cascading failure of his domestic economic and social policies, Obama centered his re-election campaign on his faux foreign policy successes crafted around the mantras, "Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq. I did," and, "al-Qa'ida is on the run." How did that chapter of "hope and change" work out? Not so good for all the families who lost loved ones in that theater, or those who came back severely wounded. Their priceless sacrifice was squandered for a Democrat campaign bumper sticker. And of course, just weeks before his re-election, Obama dodged the Benghazi bullet with a well-organized cover-up crafted by his wannabe successor, Hillary Clinton. Blaming that deadly fiasco on a "protest over an Internet video" protected the centerpiece of Obama's campaign. Predictably, Obama's retreat left fertile ground for the resurgence of a far more dangerous incarnation of Islamic terrorism in Syria under the name ISIL. ISIL has displaced al-Qa'ida as the dominant asymmetric threat to our national security. Since his re-election, Obama has attempted to unhitch his colossal and unprecedented foreign policy malfeasance in the Middle East from his 2012 election propaganda. He has insisted that ISIL was a "JV Team" and that "we've contained them" but apparently not. At the same time the Islamic State was rising, Obama and John Kerry were cutting a catastrophic "nuke deal" with Iran, releasing $150 billion in frozen assets and paving the way for development of its nuclear weapons capacity and terrorism sponsorship. The combination of these events virtually assures that the future consequences of Obama's Middle East legacy will be even more disastrous than the humanitarian refugee crisis he created. While the Islamist attacks against the U.S. have grown much more deadly in recent decades, culminating with the slaughter of 2,922 civilians and 55 military personnel on 9/11, the nuclear threat is far more grim. For decades before 9/11, U.S. national security planners were focused on non-proliferation strategies to keep states that support asymmetric terrorist organizations most notably Iran from achieving the capability to develop nuclear weapons. I know this because I had a role in attack simulations and preparations through four presidential administrations Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton and Bush (43). Preventing the detonation of a fissile weapon in one or more U.S. urban centers was and remains the most ominous challenge now more than ever. The September 11 attack was low-tech, having been executed by a small cell of 19 hijackers with box cutters. But the loss of life, the economic consequences, and the cost in additional blood and treasure prosecuting those terrorists in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, pales in comparison to the cost of a nuclear attack in Manhattan or Boston or Charleston or Los Angeles or Seattle. OEF and OIF successfully diminished the threat of Osama bin Laden's "American Hiroshima" objective until Obama took office in 2009. Today, although the greatest probability of domestic Islamist attack remains low-tech conventional, the potential of an Islamic terrorist group gaining access to a nuclear weapon and detonating it in the U.S. is increasing. That notwithstanding, most Americans remain blissfully unaware of this threat, primarily because the 24-hour news cycle and its dutiful talkingheads rarely distinguish between what is critical news and what is not. In order to keep their audiences mesmerized, Fox, CNN and other new recyclers continuously slap "ALERT" shock banners on a lot of "news" that simply isn't. They do so to ensure their market share and their ad revenue, and the net effect is that important events are lost deep in the weeds. And so it goes with Obama's announcement about additional boots on the ground in Syria. In a fitting example of this administration's feckless and aimless ineptitude, there was a surreal "boots on the ground" reality check for Obama's reality-challenged State Department spokesman John Kirby a political hack whose last disinformation gig was in his admiral's uniform at DoD. When asked by Associated Press reporter Matt Lee about Obama's repeated assertion that he would not put more boots on the ground in Syria, Kirby categorically denied that Obama ever took that position. Lee asked, "For months and months and months, the mantra from the president and everyone else in the administration has been 'no boots on the ground,' and now" Before he could finish, Kirby cut him off, insisting, "No, that is not true. ... It's just not true, Matt. ... That's just not true. ... I just flatly, absolutely, disagree with you." Kirby then claimed Obama was not "saying one thing and then doing the other completely." The complete exchange is painful to watch. However, while the "boots on the ground" debate is spun and re-spun until the next news "ALERT" emerges, the most significant terrorist threat nuclear attack the real strategic justification for the OEF and OIF military operations, goes unnoticed. Too many Americans are unable to see the proverbial forest for the trees, what is important versus all the mindless media claptrap. However, the prospect of a Clinton presidency, and the extension of Obama's deadly foreign policy malfeasance, looms large and the consequences will be catastrophic. Recall for a moment your reaction to breaking news the morning of September 11, 2001. Now, try this out for a shock news alert banner: "Islamists Nuke U.S. Urban Centers." This one is in our future. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. The New World Order's Armageddon By Michael Moriarty Fox News Network won't even come close to mentioning the over-25-year-old Republican conspiracy to create The New World Order. A few lawyers, first for the Republican Party and then for Fox News, have concluded that this video and a few others, are so flagrantly treasonous that, if it were possible, all mentions of a New World Order run by the United Nations, particularly by Presidents in office, should be obliterated. Too late now. George H. W. Bush undeniably claims that this "New World Order" is conceived of will most certainly exist under and now, most certainly, is on record as a world governing body to be run by The United Nations. For a President of the United States to singlehandedly and unmistakably promise to hand all of American sovereignty over to an entirely foreign body of diplomats and their "Secretary General"? For a President to enforce Executive Actions that must and will surrender America to a New World Order without one shred of support from either the judicial or legislative branches within the United States government? I personally find that President George H. W. Bush's declaration and New Word Order prophecy, no matter where he has made it, either here, before Congress, or, as I've shown in an earlier clip from the Oval Office I brand this increasingly hidden conspiracy to be utterly and completely treasonous! Last week I pondered the prospect of Escape From The New World Order. Now I realize, without any doubt this time, that the one possible source of reliable news on television, Fox News, continues to edit out any mention of this increasingly encroaching New World Order and its inevitable invasion of all American constitutional rights. As if such a notion to end America, as we know it, no longer existed?! Then what can possibly explain the brazenly unconstitutional behavior of President Barack Hussein Obama and his own efforts to hand the United States over to the sovereignty of the United Nations?! His own Presidential promise: "The fundamental transformation of the United States of America". Obama has, within his two terms, instituted major portions of that plan without one ounce of major resistance from either House of Congress. Meanwhile, George H. W. Bush has even echoed his still treasonous notion of a new world order, but without capital letters, on, of all days, September 11th, 1990, before a Joint Session of Congress. As for the United Nations, here are its plans for a New World Order. There are darker versions of it here and here. Four separate Presidents H. W. Bush, William Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Hussein Obama all four have, in their own distinctive ways, pushed The New World Order Agenda down the throats of America. With that objective in mind, all have behaved treasonously!!!! Why have I called and still persist in calling for the impeachment of President Barack Hussein Obama? Obama passed the point of no return with his Sanctuary Cities and his dictatorial legalization of illegal aliens. Obama's increasingly long list of other, undeniably unconstitutional crimes in office can now be included among the conglomerate "crimes and misdemeanors" committed not only by President Obama but by both houses of Congress as well. What "statute of limitations" exist upon these despotically shameless abuses of power I have no idea. If, however, Obama's Presidency ends, either by its term limits or necessarily by force, the next President faces the cries for justice from a growing number of Americans, many of which are and still won't be appeased until the treasonous perpetrators of The New World Order are jailed. I left my home city, New York, and my homeland, the United States of America, when the entire East Coast and much of Hollywood laughed at my grave concerns over the behavior of the Clinton Administration and its Attorney General, Janet Reno. I moved to Canada and have been here as a resident and eventually a citizen for over 20 years. The appearance of Donald Trump on the political scene and his singularly brave commitment to making "America great again" has me wondering if, when he's elected, America will return to protecting the basic rights insured by the American Constitution. The Second Amendment, for one, and an American's right to bear arms! The snakes that have slithered into the American government for over the last 25 years?! Empowered with a treasonous declaration by President George H. W. Bush who claims that a "New World Order" will replace the nationalism and individual sovereignty of all nations?! Four Presidencies of the United States under the leadership of H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Hussein Obama plus the growing surrender of Congress to the dictates of these men these last many decades of America have led to the criminally unconstitutional and infuriating shamelessness of the Obama Nation! Plus, the silent acquiescence of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to such treason!! These disastrous excuses for American leadership claim that the last three decades have just been "business as usual". Along comes Donald Trump! Trump virtually HORRIFIES THE ESTABLISHMENT! THE BOTTOMLESSLY CORRUPTED NEW WORLD ORDER ESTABLISHMENT!! Having so suffered under that "Establishment" that I moved to Canada, perhaps a Trump house-cleaning of Washington, D. C. would so lift my hopes for a renewal of traditional American values that it could persuade me to at least visit my old hometown of New York City. I am still an American citizen and tax-payer as well as a Canadian. Until Canada's Conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, was suddenly ousted by the white mirror image of the Obama New World Order, the Justin Trudeau Campaign For Irreparable, National Canadian Debt and that New World Order's growing surrender to a Worldwide Communist Islam?! Until that happened, Canada, under Prime Minister Harper, had become more American, much more familiar to me than the frightening America of The Obama Nation. I hadn't felt, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, so at home since America's days under Ronald Reagan. Now all of North America is being transformed into a mere province of the United Nations' greedily demanding vision for a New World Order. Some authorities on the Biblical Armageddon claim that America is that "other beast" of the Holy Bible's Revelations 13:11. The Catholic Church and today's America apparently are those "two beasts of Revelations". Never have the Catholic Church and America been so closely allied over something as huge and threatening as The New World Order than now under Pope Francis and President Barack Hussein Obama. Both Pope Francis and President Obama work toward the creation of The New World Order. Obama's open flirtations with a possible declaration of Martial Law? Such a diabolical declaration and its inevitable tyranny over America? Such Martial Law would insure a Second American Civil War and, to my mind, the fulfillment of the Bible's prophecy: Armageddon. Whether you believe in Biblical Prophecy or not, America has never, since her First Civil War, been so divided against herself as now. As President Lincoln prophesied: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Ironically, the same principle that drove Americans into The First Civil War will, of necessity, drive its citizens into The Second Civil War: Freedom From Tyranny. "You shall know the tree by its fruit." The fruit hanging off of Barack Hussein Obama's "tree"? Exactly what he promised the world: "The Fundamental Transformation of The United States of America!" That has inevitably proven to mean: The Fundamental Destruction of The United States of America and her Individual Freedom! The God of the Judeo-Christian Civilization promises in His Bible that such a thing won't happen. Why? Not even The Devil wants the end of Free Will! It would mean an end for the very Devil himself and the end of life as we have known it As it has existed for thousands and thousands and thousands of years! Out of the roughly 4 BILLION years since the Earth first appeared in the Universe! Michael Moriarty is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the landmark television series Law and Order from 1990 to 1994. His recent film and TV credits include The Yellow Wallpaper, 12 Hours to Live, Santa Baby and Deadly Skies. Contact Michael at rainbowfamily2008@yahoo.com. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@MGMoriarty. Home PayPal only cares about LGBT media attention By Ryan Maass Internet payment provider PayPal was one of the first major entities to formally withdraw from North Carolina in protest of the state's controversial "bathroom law" - a new ordinance requiring transgender residents may only use the public restroom corresponding with the gender on their birth certificate. Like Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam's announcements after the fact, PayPal was openly embraced by the liberal media for its allegedly brazen progressivism. Hundreds of companies in the state voiced opposition to the law, but PayPal spoke with its money by canceling its $3.6 million investment plan in Charlotte. "Our decision is a clear and unambiguous one," the company said in a statement. "As a company that is committed to the principle that everyone deserves to live without fear of discrimination simply for being who they are, becoming an employer in North Carolina, where members of our teams will not have equal rights under the law, is simply untenable." Of course, PayPal's image as a stalwart defender of civil liberties for the LGBT community lasts only as long as one is willing to ignore its other investments - which includes a global operations center in Malaysia, where gays, transgenders, and virtually all other members of the LGBT community are whipped and jailed. Targeting Hypocrisy The American Family Association was quick to point out PayPal's astonishing hypocrisy, announcing they were planning to boycott the service in a press release on Wednesday. In the announcement, AFA doubled down on its support for North Carolina's new law, while also condemning PayPal for punishing the state while rewarding a country with its patronage where rights for LGBT members are far worse. "What most people don't know is, PayPal built a global operations center in Malaysia where homosexuals are publicly whipped and jailed," the statement read. "Ironically, PayPal is boycotting North Carolina for enacting a common sense and simple law requiring people to use a restroom consistent with their biological gender." It added: "As corporations continue to bully states across America, we will continue to expose their hypocrisy and combat their secular agenda." AFA also released a full-page ad, which reads like an open letter to PayPal: "How can you build your global operations center in Malaysia where LGBT individuals are whipped and jailed...but you boycott North Carolina for enacting a law requiring people to use a restroom consistent with their biological gender?" It continues: "Shouldn't you be boycotting Malaysia rather than the people of North Carolina?" Battling Agendas Obviously, the AFA has an agenda just like PayPal does, demonstrated by its obvious endorsement for North Carolina's bathroom law. By all reasonable accounts, the ordinance is rather absurd - and seems almost impossible to enforce without criminally invading individual privacy. But AFA has a point - any hardships imposed on the LGBT community by the state of North Carolina pale in comparison to what they would face in Malaysia simply for being who they are. The fact of the matter is PayPal hopped on a bandwagon to score PR points with those who are oblivious to the plight of oppressed peoples in other parts of the world. PayPal has every right to do business where it pleases, but its customers should not be fooled by its charade in Charlotte. A "loud and proud libertarian headbanger", Ryan Maass strives to put a fresh face on capitalism and individual liberties.Read more at EpicTimes.com where this originally appeared. Home First, do no harm: A few simple rules for the FDA By Richard E. Ralston Top management recently changed at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a new commissioner, Robert M. Califf, in the top spot. Therefore, this is a good time to review the basic principles upon which the FDA should base its decisions. The first principle is not that the FDA is in charge of American medicine but rather that patients and their physicians are in charge of their care. From that follows "First, do no harm." You and your physician should not have to ask the FDA for permission to use a medication. If you have a terminal illness, you should especially not have to ask the FDA for permission to live. Unfortunately current law says that you do. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that you must comply with that law. Therefore, we must change current law. The first reform at the FDA must be compassionate, early access for the terminally ill to new drugs and treatments that have cleared Phase 1 safety approval. With a large bureaucracy like the FDA, we have to be clear about the meaning of "access." It does not mean a right to submit hundreds of pages with applications and wait for months to get approval. It means prompt access. "Prompt" means before you die. Organizations like Patients for Stem Cells and the Abigail Alliance have made a courageous effort to obtain access for patients to medical advances. The Abigail Alliance has cast light on the thousands of patients who have died while waiting for the FDA to clear use of many drugs that were eventually approved. Once safety has been addressed, the study of "comparative effectiveness" should not delay compassionate use of a new drug or procedure. A vain search for omniscience should certainly not delay the availability of a drug to the terminally ill. Yet "comparative effectiveness" review has blocked approval of drugs proven to help some patients because they do not help all patients in the same way. No drug is safe in any combination with any other drug or combination of drugs in any dosage anywhere, for every age, race or gender. The goal of the FDA should be saving lives, not publishing exhaustive research papers. Caution and careful judgment are required, but demanding absolute certainty can kill people. The FDA must neither forbid nor subsidize new drugs because they are too expensive but allow use by individuals or firms that can afford them. Anyone should be free to use their life savings to save their own life. Their experience will provide important information that will benefit everyone. It is vital to maintain an environment in which firms can make significant investments in research on new medications and treatments with the prospect of a return on that investment. The FDA must give no credence to those who would prefer that patients suffer and die rather than allow anyone to make money helping them. Envy can also kill. One certain principle that the FDA must apply: If patients have the right (as they should) to use willing physicians to help them die at the end of their lives, they must also have the right to investigational drugs that may save their lives. These and other life-saving principles must be at the foundation of the FDA and the clinical details that determine drug safety and effectiveness. In a constitutional republic based on an inalienable, individual right to life-- among other rights--patients must have the unmitigated right to drugs that may keep them alive. Richard E. Ralston is executive director of Americans for Free Choice in Medicine, Newport Beach, California. Copyright 2016 Americans for Free Choice in Medicine. All rights reserved. Home Keeping tabs on Tweets may be an effective tool to help prepare for -- and prevent -- increases in asthma emergencies BALTIMORE, MD - New research at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting suggests that to predict -- and possibly prevent -- severe asthma attacks in a community, physicians can look for clues in social media. For the study, "The Twitter Asthma Pulse: Using Real-Time Twitter Data to Prospectively Predict Asthma Emergency Department Visits or Hospital Admissions in a Population," researchers collected tweets posted between October 2013 and June 2014 and narrowed them down to the 3,810 that mentioned asthma attacks and that originated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. During the same time period, incidences of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations across the region area were recorded. When the number of asthma-related tweets increased in a given week, the researchers found, the number of asthma emergency department visits or hospitalizations increased proportionally during the following week. "If the number of asthma-related tweets increased by 20 in a given week, for example, we would expect asthma-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations to increase by 12 in the following week," said lead researcher Yolande Mfondoum Pengetnze, MD, medical director at Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), a non-profit research and development corporation in Dallas. "This is an important finding that can change the way health departments and other healthcare stakeholders monitor asthma activity in a community." Currently, Dr. Pengetnze said, asthma activity in a community is usually measured after emergency department visits or hospitalizations already have occurred. "By using real-time Twitter activity," she said, "health departments could actually anticipate asthma ED visits or hospitalizations in the following days and possibly intervene before some of them occur. For instance, a notification might be sent by the health department when there is an increase in asthma-related tweets in the community, giving people with asthma a heads-up to take necessary precautions, like avoiding exposure to asthma triggers or being more assiduous in taking their asthma medications." In turn, she said, this could help prevent some asthma flare-ups, improve people's health and decrease the number of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations. "We live in the era of Big Data," said study co-author Sudha Ram, PhD, referring to increasingly immense sets of information that lends itself well to analysis revealing patterns of human behavior. "Our research is innovative and unique because it harnesses the power of Big Data from social media and other sources to address the problem of anticipating emergency department visits for a chronic condition, in this case asthma, in close to real-time conditions. We believe this work paves the way to address signal extraction and prediction for other chronic conditions and goes beyond current work that mostly looks at infectious conditions." ### An abstract of the study, "The Twitter Asthma Pulse: Using Real-Time Twitter Data to Prospectively Predict Asthma Emergency Department Visits or Hospital Admissions in a Population," will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 12:15 p.m. in rooms 321-323 at the Baltimore Convention Center. To view the abstract, visit http://www.abstracts2view.com/pas/view.php?nu=PAS16L1_4600.8. Please note: only the abstract is being presented at the meeting. In some cases, the researcher may have more data available to share with media, or may be preparing a longer article for submission to a journal. Contact the researcher for more information. The work at PCCI was supported in parts by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, the National Institutes of Health and the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation at Communities Foundation of Texas. The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting brings together thousands of individuals united by a common mission: to improve child health and wellbeing worldwide. This international gathering includes pediatric researchers, leaders in academic pediatrics, experts in child health, and practitioners. The PAS Meeting is produced through a partnership of four organizations leading the advancement of pediatric research and child advocacy: Academic Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, and Society for Pediatric Research. For more information, visit the PAS Meeting online at http://www.pas-meeting.org, follow us on Twitter @PASMeeting and #PASMeeting, or like us on Facebook. Monday, April 4, 2016, Chicago: Cleveland Clinic researchers, as part of the Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network (CTSN), have found that two common approaches to post-operative atrial fibrillation - rhythm control and rate control - are equally safe and effective. Post-operative atrial fibrillation is the most common complication after cardiac surgery, occurring in 20 percent to 50 percent of patients and leading to major adverse effects such as increased morbidity, long-term mortality, reoccurring hospitalizations and increased cost. Post-operative AF is managed by using one of two methods: Rate control, which slows the heart rate with medications, such as digoxin, calcium-channel blockers, and beta blockers, or; Rhythm control, which restores the heart's normal sinus rhythm through antiarrhythmic drugs or through direct current cardioversion that uses an electrical shock to convert the heart rhythm back to normal. The multicenter, randomized trial found that each strategy was associated with equal numbers of hospital days, similar rates of complications and low rates of persistent AF after 60 days. The study showed that the physician should tailor the treatment strategy to an individual patient's clinical situation. "This is the first large, randomized controlled clinical trial examining treatment strategies for this common complication," said Marc Gillinov, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon in Cleveland Clinic's Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. "Based upon these results, it may be reasonable to begin with a strategy of rate control, which limits the risk of toxicity from rhythm control agents." The findings are being presented by Dr. Gillinov, at the American College of Cardiology 65th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The study consented 2,109 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery to treat coronary artery disease (40 percent), heart valve disease (40 percent) or a combination of both (20 percent). Of those patients, 33 percent developed new onset post-operative atrial fibrillation, out of whom 523 were randomized to a treatment strategy of either rate or rhythm control. Post-operative atrial fibrillation developed in 28 percent of patients who underwent an isolated CABG, 33.7 percent of isolated valve surgery patients, and 47.2 percent of patients who underwent combined CABG and valve surgery. The primary outcome - the numbers of days in the hospital from the date patients were randomized until 60 days later - did not differ between the patient groups assigned to rate control or rhythm control. There were no differences in overall serious adverse events between the two groups. The average time to onset of post-operative atrial fibrillation was 2.4 days (0-7 days) from surgery. In the study, rhythm control medications resolved AF faster but came with stronger side effects and more patients had to switch treatment due to intolerance. Rate control led to a slightly higher prevalence of AF during follow up. At 60 days, more rhythm control patients were free of AF, but neither treatment was deemed superior. "These trial results will serve as valuable guidance to help manage patients after heart surgery," said Michael J. Mack, M.D., chair, Cardiovascular Service Line, Baylor Scott & White Health; cardiovascular researcher, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; and contributing author to the study. "Postoperative atrial fibrillation is a common complication of cardiac surgery and adversely affects patient recovery. In patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation, one strategy does not appear to have a net clinical advantage over the other, but there are clinical differences between these strategies. The results of this trial fill an important knowledge gap and should better inform therapeutic decisions for this common complication," said Annetine C. Gelijns, Ph.D., the Edmond A. Guggenheim Professor of Health Policy and Chair of the Department of Health Evidence and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the principal investigator for the Data Coordinating Center based at Mount Sinai. This CTSN trial was conducted at a total of 21 centers in the U.S. and Canada. Core sites include Baylor Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Duke University, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec, Hopital Laval, Montefiore-Einstein Heart Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Suburban Hospital, University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California and 11 additional Consortium sites participated as well. The CTSN Data Coordinating Center is located at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and directs each of the CTSN clinical trial designs and methodologies, regulatory and trial conduct and study data analysis and reporting. ### This study was supported by a cooperative agreement (U01 HL088942) funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). About Baylor Scott & White Health Formed from the 2013 merger between Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, the system referred to as Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in the state of Texas. With total assets of $9 billion** and serving a population larger than the state of Georgia, Baylor Scott & White Health has the vision and resources to provide its patients continued quality care while creating a model system for a dramatically changing health care environment. The system now includes 48 hospitals, more than 900 access points, 6,000 active physicians, and 40,000 employees, plus the Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance -- a network of clinical providers and facilities focused on improving quality, managing the health of patient populations, and reducing the overall cost of care. For more information visit: BaylorScottandWhite.com **Based on unaudited 2015 fiscal year statements About Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. More than 3,000 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals, more than 90 northern Ohio outpatient locations, including 18 full-service family health centers, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2014, there were 5.9 million outpatient visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 152,500 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and 147 countries. Visit us at http://www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. Editor's Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request. About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services--from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care. The System includes approximately 6,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked as one of the nation's top 10 hospitals in Geriatrics, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, and Gastroenterology, and is in the top 25 in five other specialties in the 2015-2016 "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 11th nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel is ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Contact: Andrea Pacetti, 216.316.3040, pacetta@ccf.org Tora Vinci, 216.339.4277, vinciv@ccf.org WOODS HOLE, Mass.-- The front line of the human immune system is made up of T-cells: white blood cells that circulate in the body and scan for foreign invaders and infections. If a T-cell surface receptor detects a threat during its surveillance, it relays a signal to the interior of the cell and activates it to attack. Once this crucial "call of duty" is heard in the cell, how the signal is relayed through a series of proteins to activate the cell's immune response is clarified in a new paper in Science by a team working at the Whitman Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole. By successfully re-creating a T-cell receptor signaling pathway independent of the cell itself, the scientists gained novel insights into how protein signaling works in a complex cellular process. "We focused on one T-cell receptor signaling pathway involving 12 different proteins, but what we discovered is probably reflective of the way other signaling pathways happen in the cell, as well," said co-author Ron Vale, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator at the University of California, San Francisco and a Whitman Center scientist. The study, supported by HHMI, was performed by scientists from several institutions who convene at the MBL to work collaboratively. Their study revealed "a very important self-organization of the protein molecules in the signaling pathway, where they end up clustering to form dense structures in which the proteins are talking to one another," Vale said. The protein molecules separate into structures by a process similar to phase separation of oil and water, he said. "That spatial organization seems to be very important for the efficiency of the signaling pathway." "It's very important that we could conduct this research at MBL," Vale said. "This reconstitution was a very complicated undertaking that was beyond what any single lab could do. At MBL, we could bring all these labs together with different expertise to make it work." ### Citation: Su, Xiaolei, Jonathon A. Ditlev, Enfu Hui, Wenmin Xing, Sudeep Banjade, Julia Okrut, David S. King, Jack Taunton, Michael K. Rosen, Ronald D. Vale. Phase separation of signaling molecules promotes T cell receptor signal transduction. Science, published online April 07, 2016, doi: 10.1126/science.aad9964 The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery -- exploring fundamental biology, understanding marine biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago. Researchers have characterized the prevalence and risk factors of fatty liver disease in patients who undergo liver transplantation. The findings, which are published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, could have important implications for safeguarding transplant recipients' health. Steatosis -- when the liver becomes infiltrated with fat--occurs frequently after liver transplantation, but little is known about its actual prevalence in transplant recipients, which risk factors are involved, or what effects the condition has on patients' survival. To investigate, Irena Hejlova, MD, of the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague, and her colleagues retrospectively examined liver biopsies and patient survival data on 548 liver transplant recipients. Steatosis was found in 309 patients (56.4 percent), including 93 patients (17.0 percent) with significant steatosis. The prevalence increased from 30.3 percent at 1 year to 47.6 percent at 10 years after liver transplantation. When the investigators looked at patients' pre-transplant characteristics, they found that high body mass index and cirrhosis caused by alcohol consumption were linked with an increased risk of developing steatosis. Regarding patients' post-transplant characteristics, high body mass index, elevated blood triglycerides, alcohol consumption, and type 2 diabetes were linked with steatosis. Post-transplant steatosis was not associated with worse patient survival within several years, but the long-term survival of patients with significant steatosis tended to be worse. "Our study is the first to describe the occurrence, evolution, and significance of fatty liver in a large unselected population of European liver transplant recipients," said Dr. Hejlova. "Occurrence of fatty liver could indicate those patients whose long-term survival might be impaired. Therefore obesity should be avoided and patients should be encouraged to increase their physical activity. Screening and treatment of diabetes and hyperlipidemia should also be performed, and naturally, liver transplant recipients should abstain from alcohol consumption." ### Full citation: "Prevalence and Risk Factors of Steatosis after Liver Transplantation and Patient Outcomes." Irena Hejlova, Eva Honsova, Eva Sticova, Vera Lanska, Tomas Hucl, Julius Spicak, Milan Jirsa, and Pavel Trunecka. Liver Transplantation; (DOI: 10.1002/lt.24393). URL: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/lt.24393 Author Contact: Veronika Velcova Press office veronika.velcova@ikem.cz 00420-23605-251100420-702-013-041 Martin Kutil PR and marketing martin.kutil@ikem.cz 00420-23605-2511, 00420-731-190-833. About the Journal Liver Transplantation is published by Wiley on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society. Since the first application of liver transplantation in a clinical situation was reported more than twenty years ago, there has been a great deal of growth in this field and more is anticipated. As an official publication of the AASLD and the ILTS, Liver Transplantation delivers current, peer-reviewed articles on surgical techniques, clinical investigations and drug research -- the information necessary to keep abreast of this evolving specialty. For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/lt. About Wiley Wiley is a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-enabled services that improve outcomes in areas of research, professional practice and education. Through the Research segment, the Company provides digital and print scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising. The Professional Development segment provides digital and print books, online assessment and training services, and test prep and certification. In Education, Wiley provides education solutions including online program management services for higher education institutions and course management tools for instructors and students, as well as print and digital content. The Company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. 1. ACP recommends cognitive behavioral therapy over drugs for treating chronic insomnia Soundbites: HD video soundbites of ACP's president discussing management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults are available to download at http://www.dssimon.com/MM/ACP-insomnia-guideline/. Free content: Recommendation: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M15-2175 Evidence Review: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M15-1781 Evidence Review: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M15-1782 Editorial: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M16-0359 Paper URLs go live when the embargo lifts Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) should be the first-line treatment for adults with chronic insomnia, according to the American College of Physicians (ACP). The new evidence-based clinical practice guideline is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. CBT-I consists of a combination of treatments that include cognitive therapy around sleep, behavioral interventions such as sleep restriction and stimulus control, and education such as sleep hygiene (habits for a good night's sleep). A review of published evidence found that CBT-I is an effective treatment and can be initiated in a primary care setting. While the reviewers found insufficient evidence to directly compare CBT-I and drug treatment, CBT-I is likely to have fewer harms than sleep medications, which are associated with significant side effects. If CBT-I alone is unsuccessful, ACP recommends that doctors use a shared-decision making approach with their patients to decide whether drug therapy should be added to treatment. This should include discussing the benefits, harms, and costs of medications. Note: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff. To interview someone from ACP, please contact Steve Majewski at smajewski@acponline.org or 215-351-2514. 2. ICDs associated with high risk for long-term complications Implantation at a younger age, female sex, and black race associated with the greatest long-term risks Abstract: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M15-2732 URL goes live when the embargo lifts Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation is associated with a high risk of long-term complications and reoperation, especially for younger patients, females, and blacks. The observational cohort study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. ICDs are highly efficacious in preventing sudden cardiac death and reducing mortality in select populations, yet early complications are common. Less is known about the long-term risks of ICDs and how patient and device characteristics at implantation affect outcomes. Using data from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry ICD registry and Medicare claims, researchers assessed the long-term nonfatal risks for ICD-related complications among patients with first-time implantations. Based on data from more than 114,000 patients at 1,437 centers, ICDs were associated with a high risk for complications and reoperations in the years after implantation. Increasing complexity of the implanted device (particularly CRT-D devices), younger age at implantation, female sex, and black race were associated with the greatest long-term hazards for complications. The researchers suggest that these findings be considered during the decision-making process before implantation. Note: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff. To interview an author, please contact Karen Peart at karen.peart@yale.edu or 203-432-1326. 3. Scientific community seeks answers about explosive Zika outbreak Abstract: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M16-0617 URL goes live when the embargo lifts The explosive nature of recent Zika virus epidemics and links to Guillain-Barre syndrome and microcephaly, have scientists concerned, according to an article published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Poor understanding of the transmission and pathogenesis of Zika virus presents an enormous challenge in responding to the rapidly emerging threat to human health. Zika was identified in 1947 and for decades caused only sporadic cases of mild human disease. However, the recent Zika epidemic that began in Brazil in 2015 has spread rapidly to more than 30 countries in the Americans and the Caribbean and shows no signs of slowing. Answers are needed to inform vaccine development and also to properly advise those living in or traveling to Zika-endemic areas. While the contribution of Zika infection to the total increase in microcephaly cases being observed relative to other unidentified causes remains unknown, blood evidence suggests that Zika infection at any stage of pregnancy could increase risk for microcephaly, intrauterine growth restriction, and fetal death. As such, pregnant women in unaffected areas are currently advised to postpone travel to Zika-endemic regions, if possible. Pregnant women are also advised to avoid sex with males who have traveled to Zika-endemic regions. Zika virus is detectable in semen for at least two months following infection and multiple cases of suspected sexual transmission of Zika are currently under investigation in the United States. The relative importance of sexual transmission with regard to the overall burden of Zika transmission and risk for microcephaly is unknown. At present, there is no specific antiviral and no vaccine for Zika, though vaccines are in development. Providers should maintain a high level of suspicion for Zika infection in any patient presenting with rash and either a personal history of recent travel to an area with active Zika transmission or a history of travel in a sexual partner. Note: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff. For an interview with the lead author, Dr. Kathryn Anderson, please contact Caroline Marin at crmarin@umn.edu or 612-624-5680. 4. Internists Recommend Ways to Better Align Graduate Medical Education Financing with Workforce Needs Abstract: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/M15-2917 URL goes live when the embargo lifts The Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) and the American College of Physicians (ACP) call for changes that better align funding for Graduate Medical Education (GME) with the nation's health care workforce needs. The paper, Financing U.S. Graduate Medical Education, is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. GME is the process by which graduated medical students progress to become competent practitioners in a particular field of medicine. GME programs, referred to as residencies and fellowships, allow trainees to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for independent practice. GME plays a major role in addressing the nation's workforce needs, as GME is the ultimate determinant of the output of physicians. Under the current system, GME is funded through a combination of sources. The federal government, which is the largest source of GME financing, provides GME funding to teaching hospitals through Medicare. States fund GME through Medicaid, but the level of funding varies greatly by state. Private payers pay higher rates to teaching hospitals compared with other hospitals to fund GME, though they do not explicitly contribute to GME. And finally, GME receives funding from private sources, such as hospitals, universities, and gifts or grants from industry, though the amount can vary significantly. According to authors from the AAIM and ACP, the current system of GME financing does not consider physician workforce needs on the local, regional, or national level. They recommend changes to better align GME with the nation's health care workforce needs. These recommendations include using Medicare GME funds to meet policy goals to ensure an adequate supply, specialty mix, and site of training; spreading the costs of financing GME across the health care system; evaluating the true cost of training a resident and establishing a single per resident amount; increasing transparency and innovation; and ensuring that primary care residents receive training in well-functioning ambulatory settings that are financially supported for their training roles. Note: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff. To interview someone from ACP, please contact Jacquelyn Blaser at jblaser@acponline.org or 202-261-4572. Also new in this issue: Living on Benefits: How cancer screening is portrayed in the UK national press Jack W. Bedeman, BM, BSc, MSc; Susanne F. Meisel, PhD; and Nora Pashayan, MD, PhD Annals Graphic Medicine Free content: http://www.annals.org/article.aspx?doi=10.7326/G15-0019 ### SEATTLE, WA, May 2, 2016 -- BrightFocus Foundation today recognized five scientists in the fields of macular degeneration and glaucoma research, awarding them grants named in honor of leaders in vision research and advocacy. The five recognized today are among a group of 32 scientists who will collectively receive nearly $5 million in vision research grants this year from BrightFocus, a record level of financial support. The awards were presented at a Seattle breakfast event coinciding with the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. "We are proud to honor and support these brilliant scientists as they strive to better understand and ultimately end macular degeneration and glaucoma. Their innovative work honors the legacies of the advocates and scientists in whose name these awards are given," said BrightFocus President and CEO Stacy Haller. The five scientists honored today with named awards, all women, come from research institutions in four states in the US--California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Ohio--and from Australia. The awards are as follows: Macular Degeneration Research Vera Bonilha, PhD, of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, received The Elizabeth Anderson Award for Macular Degeneration Research, to better understand late-stage dry, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by comparing images of eyes donated by persons with AMD, with a detailed analysis of the changes in inflammation and cell structure along the leading edge of retinal lesions. Maria Valeria Canto-Soler, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University, received The Helen Juanita Reed Award for Macular Degeneration Research, to develop a novel 3D human mini-retina model ("retina in a dish") for the early stages of macular degeneration, to help investigate the initial triggers leading to this disease. Robyn Guymer, MBBS, PhD, of the Centre for Eye Research Australia, The University of Melbourne, received The Carolyn K. McGillvray Award for Macular Degeneration Research, to study the underlying mechanisms by which debris accumulates in the retina in AMD, a process that may lead to novel treatments for early AMD. Glaucoma Research Meredith Gregory-Ksander, PhD, of the Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, received The Thomas R. Lee Award for Glaucoma Research, to test whether inhibiting an important new regulator of inflammation in the eye's optic nerve head will stop the development of glaucoma and vision loss. Yvonne Ou, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, received The Dr. Douglas H. Johnson Award for Glaucoma Research, to better understand the steps between optic nerve cell injury, loss of nerve cell connections, and cell death in glaucoma -- an understanding that could ultimately lead to treatments before irreversible cell death occurs. The names and projects of this year's other individual grant recipients will be announced at a later date, pending completion of final agreements with researchers and supporting institutions. ### The nonprofit BrightFocus Foundation drives innovative research worldwide and promotes public awareness of Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. For more information, call 1-800-437-2423 or visit http://www.BrightFocus.org. A team of astronomers led by Michael Gillon, of the Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique at the University of Liege in Belgium, have used the Belgian TRAPPIST telescope [1] to observe the star 2MASS J23062928-0502285, now also known as TRAPPIST-1. They found that this dim and cool star faded slightly at regular intervals, indicating that several objects were passing between the star and the Earth [2]. Detailed analysis showed that three planets with similar sizes to the Earth were present. TRAPPIST-1 is an ultracool dwarf star -- it is much cooler and redder than the Sun and barely larger than Jupiter. Such stars are both very common in the Milky Way and very long-lived, but this is the first time that planets have been found around one of them. Despite being so close to the Earth, this star is too dim and too red to be seen with the naked eye or even visually with a large amateur telescope. It lies in the constellation of Aquarius (The Water Carrier). Emmanuel Jehin, a co-author of the new study, is excited: "This really is a paradigm shift with regards to the planet population and the path towards finding life in the Universe. So far, the existence of such 'red worlds' orbiting ultra-cool dwarf stars was purely theoretical, butnow we have not just one lonely planet around such a faint red star but a complete system of three planets!" Michael Gillon, lead author of the paper presenting the discovery, explains the significance of the new findings: "Why are we trying to detect Earth-like planets around the smallest and coolest stars in the solar neighbourhood? The reason is simple: systems around these tiny stars are the only places where we can detect life on an Earth-sized exoplanet with our current technology. So if we want to find life elsewhere in the Universe, this is where we should start to look." Astronomers will search for signs of life by studying the effect that the atmosphere of a transiting planet has on the light reaching Earth. For Earth-sized planets orbiting most stars this tiny effect is swamped by the brilliance of the starlight. Only for the case of faint red ultra-cool dwarf stars -- like TRAPPIST-1 -- is this effect big enough to be detected. Follow-up observations with larger telescopes, including the HAWK-I instrument on ESO's 8-metre Very Large Telescope in Chile, have shown that the planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 have sizes very similar to that of Earth. Two of the planets have orbital periods of about 1.5 days and 2.4 days respectively, and the third planet has a less well determined period in the range 4.5 to 73 days. "With such short orbital periods, the planets are between 20 and 100 times closer to their star than the Earth to the Sun. The structure of this planetary system is much more similar in scale to the system of Jupiter's moons than to that of the Solar System," explains Michael Gillon. Although they orbit very close to their host dwarf star, the inner two planets only receive four times and twice, respectively, the amount of radiation received by the Earth, because their star is much fainter than the Sun. That puts them closer to the star than the habitable zone for this system, although it is still possible that they possess habitable regions on their surfaces. The third, outer, planet's orbit is not yet well known, but it probably receives less radiation than the Earth does, but maybe still enough to lie within the habitable zone. "Thanks to several giant telescopes currently under construction, including ESO's E-ELT and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope due to launch for 2018, we will soon be able to study the atmospheric composition of these planets and to explore them first for water, then for traces of biological activity. That's a giant step in the search for life in the Universe," concludes Julien de Wit, a co-author from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. This work opens up a new direction for exoplanet hunting, as around 15% of the stars near to the Sun are ultra-cool dwarf stars, and it also serves to highlight that the search for exoplanets has now entered the realm of potentially habitable cousins of the Earth. The TRAPPIST survey is a prototype for a more ambitious project called SPECULOOS that will be installed at ESO's Paranal Observatory [3]. ### Notes [1] TRAPPIST (the TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope) is a Belgian robotic 0.6-metre telescope operated from the University of Liege and based at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile. It spends much of its time monitoring the light from around 60 of the nearest ultracool dwarf stars and brown dwarfs ("stars" which are not quite massive enough to initiate sustained nuclear fusion in their cores), looking for evidence of planetary transits.The target in this case, TRAPPIST-1, is an ultracool dwarf, with about 0.05% of the Sun's luminosity and a mass of about 8% that of the Sun. [2] This is one of the main methods that astronomers use to identify the presence of a planet around a star. They look at the light coming from the star, to see if some of the light is blocked as the planet passes in front of its host star on the line of sight to Earth -- transits the star, as astronomers say. As the planet orbits around its star, we expect to see regular small dips in the light coming from the star as the planet moves in front of it. [3] SPECULOOS is mostly funded by the European Research Council and led also by the University of Liege. Four 1-metre robotic telescopes will be installed at the Paranal Observatory to search for habitable planets around 500 ultra-cool stars over the next five years. More information This research was presented in a paper entitled "Temperate Earth-sized planets transiting a nearby ultracool dwarf star", by M. Gillon et al., to appear in the journal Nature. The team is composed of: M. Gillon (Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), E. Jehin (Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege,Belgium), S. M. Lederer (NASA Johnson Space Center, USA), L. Delrez (Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege,Belgium), J. de Wit (Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), A. Burdanov (Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), V. Van Grootel (Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege,Belgium), A. J. Burgasser (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California, San Diego, USA and Infrared Telescope Facility, operated by the University of Hawaii), C. Opitom (Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege, Belgium), A. H. M. J. Triaud (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK), B-O. Demory (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK), D.K. Sahu (Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, India), D. B. Gagliuffi (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California, San Diego, USA and Infrared Telescope Facility, operated by the University of Hawaii), P. Magain (Institut d'Astrophysique et Geophysique, Universite de Liege,Belgium) and D. Queloz (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK). ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world's largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre European Extremely Large Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky". Links * Research paper - http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1615/eso1615a.pdf * TRAPPIST is the acronym of "TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope", more information here - http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/lasilla/trappist/ and at the TRAPPIST website - http://www.orca.ulg.ac.be/TRAPPIST/Trappist_main/Home.html * SPECULOOS is the acronym of "Search for habitable Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars". For more information, see here - http://www.orca.ulg.ac.be/SPECULOOS/Speculoos_main/Home.html Contacts Michael Gillon University of LiegeBelgium Tel: +32 43 669 743 Cell: +32 473 346 402 Email: michael.gillon@ulg.ac.be Julien de Wit MIT Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Email: jdewit@mit.edu Richard Hook ESO Public Information Officer Garching bei Munchen, Germany Tel: +49 89 3200 6655 Cell: +49 151 1537 3591 Email: rhook@eso.org Turin, Italy: A large study of testicular cancer patients has shown that radiation therapy is a better treatment than chemotherapy for patients with stage IIa disease (where one or more regional lymph nodes contain cancer cells but they are less than 2cms in diameter). These findings, presented at the ESTRO 35 conference today (Monday) and published simultaneously in Clinical Oncology [1], are important because, until now, there has been little evidence about which treatment for testicular seminoma is more effective, and there has been a tendency to move away from radiation therapy towards chemotherapy for treating stage IIa-b patients. Guidelines from the US National Cancer Comprehensive Network recommend radiotherapy for stage IIa, while those from the European Association of Urology allow for either radiation therapy or chemotherapy; both sets of guidelines are equivocal for stage IIb. The study of 2,437 patients presented today is the largest group of patients with stage II testicular seminoma evaluated so far, and researchers found that 99% of patients with IIa disease were alive after five years if they had been treated with radiation therapy, versus 93% of patients treated with chemotherapy. For patients with IIb disease, the five-year overall survival was 95% for those treated with radiation therapy and 92% for those treated with chemotherapy. Dr Scott Glaser, resident physician at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, USA, told the conference: "For patients with IIa testicular seminoma, this improvement in outcome with radiation over chemotherapy persisted after adjustments for all available factors that could introduce a bias. For patients with stage IIb disease, similar rates of overall survival were seen regardless of treatment with multi-agent chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This suggests that an individualised approach is necessary for such patients." He continued: "Testicular seminoma is a rare disease, there is a lack of randomised data to guide treatment and many prior studies have been limited by small sample sizes. It has, therefore, been difficult to tease out small differences in efficacy of radiation therapy versus chemotherapy. The trend away from radiation therapy may be due to a misperception that it is more toxic than three or four cycles of multi-agent chemotherapy. Across this large, national dataset, radiation therapy was associated with a better outcome for stage IIa patients and equivalent outcomes for stage IIb patients. However, potential explanations for these improved outcomes are less clear." The study, led by Dr Sushil Beriwal, an associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, analysed data from 2,437 patients with stage II testicular seminoma diagnosed between 1998-2012 and treated with radiation therapy or multi-agent chemotherapy after removal of the cancerous testicle. Of the total number, 960 patients had IIa disease, of whom 78% received radiation therapy and 22% received chemotherapy; 812 had IIb disease, with 54% and 46% receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy respectively; and 665 had IIc disease, with 4% and 96% receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy respectively. "For stage IIc patients, there is clear consensus that multi-agent chemotherapy is the preferred treatment as the risk of distant progression is high, whereas for stage IIa-b there is no such consensus as to the optimal treatment and practice patterns vary significantly. In our series, 96% of stage IIc patients received multi-agent chemotherapy, which also severely limits meaningful comparison to other treatments," explained Dr Glaser. He said the results support the recommendation that radiation therapy should be the preferred option for treating patients with stage IIa. "We view stage IIb disease as a spectrum where smaller volume disease patients (i.e. those with a 2-3 cm tumour in a single lymph node) may act more like IIa disease and attain the greatest benefit from radiation therapy, whereas patients with a larger volume of disease (i.e. 4-5 cm tumour or that has spread to multiple lymph nodes) may act more like IIc disease and attain the greatest benefit from chemotherapy." Dr Glaser concluded: "Our results demonstrate the need for a collaborative group effort to open a randomised trial for stage IIa-b testicular seminoma patients examining the role of radiation therapy and chemotherapy." Limitations of the study include its retrospective nature as it used a national data registry (the US National Cancer Data Base), a relatively short follow-up period (an average of 65 months) as certain toxic effects of treatment may only become apparent after longer follow-up, and the fact that the researchers were unable to describe how well the disease was controlled and deaths that were specifically from the cancer. Testicular cancer is divided into two main types: seminoma and non-seminoma. Both develop from the germ cells in the testes. Testicular seminoma is one of the most treatable and curable cancers with a survival rate of over 95% if it is discovered in the early stages. President of ESTRO, Professor Philip Poortmans, who was not involved in the research, commented: "In cases where there is an absence of prospective randomised trials, such as in rare tumours like stage II testicular seminoma, the analysis of 'real-life' data can help us to verify whether assumptions that are used to guide our treatment recommendations are valid or not. The movement away from radiation therapy in favour of chemotherapy, induced by the fear of a higher rate of late toxicity, is now suggested to be probably not the right one for patients with stage IIa testicular seminoma, with an overall survival benefit in favour of radiation therapy up to at least ten years after treatment. Ideally, these results should be confirmed in a prospective trial with a very long-term follow-up, including a thorough analysis of side effects. However, this might be difficult to achieve." ### [1] "Stage II testicular seminoma: patterns of care and survival by treatment strategy". By S.M. Glaser, J.A. Vargo, G.K. Balasubramani, S. Beriwal. Clinical Oncology (2016) in press, doi 10.1016/j.clon.2016.02.008. Clinical Oncology is at: http://www.clinicaloncologyonline.net OAKLAND, Calif., May 2, 2016 -- A widely recommended risk calculator for predicting a person's chance of experiencing a cardiovascular disease event -- such as heart attack, ischemic stroke or dying from coronary artery disease -- has been found to substantially overestimate the actual five-year risk in adults overall and across all sociodemographic subgroups. The study by Kaiser Permanente was published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, also known as atherosclerosis, is a silent disease that starts early in life and can have serious consequences, including heart attack, stroke or even death if untreated. It progresses through a build-up of cholesterol plaque and other substances in the walls of arteries, causing obstruction of blood flow. Evidence-based use of statins to reduce cholesterol has been a cornerstone for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events in those patients who are at high enough risk to benefit. Publication of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Pooled Cohort risk equation for estimating the likelihood of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events in 2013 was considered an important step forward. However, the equation was developed from several groups of enrolled volunteers primarily conducted in the 1990s with limited ethnic diversity and age range, so its accuracy may vary in current community-based populations. "Our study provides critical evidence to support recalibration of the risk equation in 'real world' populations, especially given the individual and public health implications of the widespread application of this risk calculator," said senior author Alan S. Go, MD, chief of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions Research at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. The actual incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events over five years was substantially lower than the predicted risk in each category of the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort equation: For predicted risk less than 2.5 percent, actual incidence was 0.2 percent For predicted risk between 2.5 and 3.74 percent, actual incidence was 0.65 percent For predicted risk between 3.75 and 4.99 percent, actual incidence was 0.9 percent For predicted risk equal to or greater than 5 percent, actual incidence was 1.85 percent "From a relative standpoint, the overestimation is approximately five- to six-fold," explained Dr. Go. "Translating this, it would mean that we would be over-treating a good many people based on the risk calculator." The study followed a population of 307,591 men and women aged 40 to 75 years old, including non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, Asian, Pacific Islanders and Hispanics, from 2008 through 2013 and had complete five-year follow-up. The study population did not include patients with diabetes, prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or prior use of lipid-lowering therapy such as statins. To determine whether the risk equation might be improved by being recalibrated in "real world" clinical care, Kaiser Permanente researchers examined a large, multi-ethnic, community-based population of the health plan's members in Northern California whose cholesterol levels and other clinical measures could theoretically trigger a discussion about whether to consider starting cholesterol-lowering therapy based on estimated risk using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort tool. Among both men and women, there was consistent overestimation of observed five-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease incidence in each predicted risk category, with similarly poor calibration in both genders. Researchers also found consistent overestimation of actual atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in each of the major ethnic subgroups. Results were also similar across measures of socioeconomic status. On the other hand, researchers found that observed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk was substantially closer to that predicted by the ACC/AHA tool among adults with diabetes who were not treated with statin therapy for primary prevention. "Statin therapy is a mainstay treatment for millions of Americans," said lead author Jamal S. Rana, MD, PhD, cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and adjunct investigator with the Division of Research. "Our study highlights the importance of ongoing research and dialogue in this area to provide more rigorous evidence to guide treatment for the patients most likely to benefit from this approach." ### Other authors of the study include Grace H. Tabada, MPH, Matthew D. Solomon MD, PhD, Joan C. Lo, MD, Marc G. Jaffe, MD, and Sue Hee Sung, MPH, of Kaiser Permanente Northern California; and Christie M. Ballantyne, MD, of the Baylor College of Medicine. This study was funded by grants from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Fund and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. About the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research conducts, publishes, and disseminates epidemiologic and health services research to improve the health and medical care of Kaiser Permanente members and society at large. It seeks to understand the determinants of illness and well-being, and to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. Currently, DOR's 500-plus staff is working on more than 400 epidemiological and health services research projects. For more information, visit http://www.dor.kaiser.org or follow us @KPDOR. About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 10 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share. New Rochelle, NY, May 2, 2016--Significant improvement in health-related quality of life was reported by patients 12-14 years after undergoing an uncommon form of bariatric surgery at one U.S. medical center. Follow-up of the 27 patients who underwent biliary pancreatic diversion surgery with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) by the same surgeon is described in an article in Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free for download until June 2, 2016. Birgit Khandalavala, MD, Jenenne Geske, PhD, Maya Nirmalaj, and Ranjan Sudan, MD, University of Nebraska, Omaha, used the SF-36 assessment tool to evaluate health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in this group of patients. It provides measures of both physical and mental functioning. In the article "Biliopancreatic Diversion Revisited: Health Related Quality of Life Outcomes of Biliary Pancreatic with Duodenal Switch," the authors compared the HrQoL scores from the long-term bariatric surgery patients to those obtained pre-surgery from a similar population of patients and to scores from the general population. "This is one of the unique studies that describe long-term effectiveness for an operation that is less often performed now," says Editor-in-Chief Edward Lin, DO, MBA, Surgical Director, Emory Bariatrics and Director, Gastroesophageal Treatment Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. "To know how we are doing with an intervention, it is not enough to say that the patient did well in the first 30-days. The follow-up reported here is one example of patient care excellence." ### About the Journal Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care is the essential peer-reviewed journal delivering clinical best practices and quality updates for achieving optimal bariatric surgical outcomes. Led by Editor-in-Chief Edward Lin, DO, MBA, Surgical Director, Emory Bariatrics and Director, Gastroesophageal Treatment Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, coverage includes quality outcomes measurement and reporting; process innovations and care delivery; short- and long-term surgical complications; pre-op, peri-op, and post-op standards of practice; and more. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care website. About the Company Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques and Videoscopy, Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, and Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website. Among this year's finalists for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal is Dennis Reuter, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Named for the Partnership for Public Service's late founder, the award recognizes federal employees who "break down barriers, overcoming huge challenges and getting results." "It's very gratifying that the team is being selected for this," Reuter said. "The LEISA instrument has provided some really groundbreaking data and it's very exciting that it's being recognized at this level." Reuter and the team were selected as finalists by a committee that included government officials, educators and industry leaders for their contributions to the New Horizons mission to Pluto, which flew by the dwarf planet in July 2015. Together with his colleagues, Reuter developed New Horizons' LEISA infrared imaging spectrometer, which provided observations to map Pluto's surface and to determine its composition. LEISA is part of the Ralph instrument, which serves as the eyes of New Horizons. Ralph also contains the Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera. LEISA measures wavelengths of infrared light to identify different elements and compounds on the dwarf planet's surface. These wavelengths form a kind of elemental fingerprint from which scientists can identify compounds like water, methane and carbon monoxide - all of which were found on Pluto's surface. LEISA's observations changed scientists' understanding of the outer solar system, said Lucy-Ann McFadden, a Goddard scientist. They showed that Pluto has an active surface consisting of a variety of terrains, including ice. They have also provided unique information about the other bodies in the Pluto system. "Nobody expected to see what we're seeing," Reuter said. These observations greatly expand on previous knowledge about the dwarf planet. "We basically had these blurry pictures of Pluto," said Paul Mahaffy, director of Goddard's Solar System Exploration Division. "It is so far away, and we had no information on the details of the geology. The data is telling us what Pluto is like. It is opening our eyes to a place in the solar system that took decades to reach." Reuter and his colleagues built the instrument to confirm their belief that there was more to Pluto than meets the eye. "To think there would be more than just a dirty ice ball was an incredible thought," Goddard Center Director Chris Scolese said. "Dennis wasn't the only one to think that, but he came up with the concept for the instrument that could measure properties they thought were there. And he convinced others it could be done." Developing the instrument was a challenge - the team had to work with numerous requirements. It had to be lightweight, use little power and operate at temperatures as low as minus 455 Fahrenheit. The instrument also had to be sensitive enough to pick up light from the sun, which was 1,000 times fainter at Pluto than on Earth, and needed high resolution to pick out different wavelengths and different compounds on Pluto. But perhaps the biggest innovation was that LEISA contained no moving parts, which could have worn out over the long journey and rendered it inoperable. LEISA's design and construction took Reuter and his team nearly two decades, even with the help of industry partners and the support of Alan Stern, the New Horizons principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. Then, they waited another nine years to see the data it would send back from its destination. But at least they didn't need to wait nine years to confirm it would work. Reuter said LEISA opened its eyes for the first time during a flyby of Jupiter, about 14 months after launch. Eight years later, they saw the first images from Pluto. "We could see spectra, we could see features, we could see molecules," Reuter said. The correlation between surface features and composition has given scientists insight into the processes on the dwarf planet. "It defines delayed gratification." Reuter said that the great results seen from LEISA and New Horizons are a testament to how well the team worked together, including the Goddard group and a wider team consisting of research centers, such as the mission manager, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, universities, other NASA centers, industry partners, and more. About two-thirds of New Horizons' data has been communicated to the ground, as of late April 2016. Now scientists are waiting to find out if New Horizons' mission will continue as it flies further into the Kuiper Belt. Also among this year's honorees is Jenn Gustetic, who is on detail from NASA to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she has served as assistant director for open innovation since September 2014. Gustetic has helped NASA leverage crowdsourcing, prize contests and challenges to benefit from innovation outside the agency. ### For more information about New Horizons, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/newhorizons Researchers at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have taken part in a study of the effect of one molecule, 3-nitrooxypropanol, in inhibiting methane production in ruminants. The work has been published in the magazine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Ruminants are animals which digest their food through fermentation carried out by microorganisms living in the rumen. This process produces organic acids: acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, all of which are absorbed and metabolized by the organism as a source of energy. But, in addition, it also produces methane, which escapes into the atmosphere in the form of gas. How 3-nitrooxypropanol works By 2014, scientists had demonstrated the effectiveness of this molecule in sheep, but were unaware of how it actually worked. Now, in vivo research, using incubated anaerobic microorganisms from ruminants' digestive systems have revealed how the compound 3-nitrooxypropanol only had an effect on methane producing microorganisms (arqueas methanogens) and not on those which contribute to digestion (bacterias). As David Yanez, a CSIC researcher at the Zaidin Experimental Research Centre in Granada (southern Spain) explains, "Up until now, no-one had described the mode of action of a compound which can repeatedly reduce (by 30%) methane production in animals without any risks, either to the animal's health, or to their productivity". The results of this work open up the possibility of reducing methane emissions and of contributing to a reduction in global temperatures which is caused by greenhouse gases. In addition, "We will see an increase in the efficiency of ruminant production systems as better use is made of the energy taken in in animal feed, given that methane production accounts for a loss of up to 12% of the energy an animal ingests" notes Yanez. Both the University of Auburn in the USA and the Max Planck Institute in Germany collaborated on this project as did the Swiss company, DSM Nutritional Products, which developed and owns the patent to 3-nitrooxypropanol. ### (PHILADELPHIA) - Millions of Americans currently use medication for their indigestion and reflux, so it may come as no surprise that parents and doctors also prescribe medicine for newborns with reflux. However, according to a new study, newborns are likely being over treated the majority of the time with interventions - including surgery - that have risks for the infant. Gastric reflux is common in infants because the band of muscle, or sphincter, that squeezes the top opening of the stomach shut, does not yet close at full strength, especially in premature babies. As a result, babies often have reflux and spit up after feeding. When reflux happens within several minutes of other more dangerous symptoms such as drop in heart rate, apnea, coughing or gagging, arching of the back, incessant crying, and wheezing, physicians may suspect gastric reflux disease, or GERD. "Since the baby can't tell us what they are feeling, we use this association between the reflux event and these other symptoms and signs of discomfort to help diagnose reflux disease," says senior author on the study, Zubair H Aghai, M.D., Professor, director of neonatology research at Thomas Jefferson University, and attending neonatologist with Nemours duPont Pediatrics at Jefferson Hospital. "However, our study demonstrates that these symptoms may not be associated with reflux and should not necessarily indicate treatment." Instead of relying on clinical symptoms, some of which can be either underreported or over reported by nurses or family members, the researchers used a more definitive approach. The researchers compiled the data of 58 infants. Based on their symptoms all of these patients were suspected to have GERD by their doctors. However, the researchers showed that when a gold standard test for gastric disease called the multichannel intraluminal impedance study (or the MII-pH) was performed, only 6 patients, or 10 percent, actually had GERD. The results were recently published in Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Treatment for GERD in infants includes two types of drugs. The first are drugs such as ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and lansoprazole (Prevacid), which reduce acid in the stomach. However, research suggests acid is not a major factor in infant reflux and use of antacid in infants can lead to increased risk for infection. The second type is called metoclopramide or reglan, which has a black box warning for the risk of causing permanent damage to child's brain leading to movement disorders. A third option is surgery to tighten the sphincter at the top of the stomach. All of these interventions come with risks for the infant, and are often prescribed on the basis of symptom association alone. "The study suggests that doctors who suspect infants of having GERD should use the MII-pH to confirm the diagnosis before treating with medications or surgery," says Dr. Aghai. Unfortunately, says Dr. Aghai, the reason the test isn't done more often is that it can require advanced training and expertise that isn't available at all institutions. Other than providing medication when it's not needed, misdiagnosing GERD in infants also masks the real cause of the problem. "When the MII-pH comes back negative, we have to do a better job of investigating the root causes of the symptoms we're seeing," says Dr. Aghai. ### The authors report no conflicts of interest. Article reference: A. Funderburk, et al., "Temporal Association Between Reflux-like Behaviors and Gastroesophageal Reflux in Preterm and Term Infants," J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr., DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000000968, 2016. For more information, contact Edyta Zielinska, 215-955-5291, edyta.zielinska@jefferson.edu. About Jefferson Our newly formed organization, Jefferson, encompasses Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, representing our academic and clinical entities. Together, the people of Jefferson, 19,000 strong, provide the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educate the health professionals of tomorrow, and discover new treatments and therapies that will define the future of health care. Jefferson Health comprises five hospitals, 17 outpatient and urgent care locations, as well as physician practices and everywhere we deliver care throughout the city and suburbs across Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Pa., and Camden County in New Jersey. Together, these facilities serve nearly 73,000 inpatients, 239,000 emergency patients and 1.7 million outpatient visits annually. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is the largest freestanding academic medical center in Philadelphia. Abington Hospital is the largest community teaching hospital in Montgomery or Bucks counties. Other hospitals include Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience in Center City Philadelphia; Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia; and Abington-Lansdale Hospital in Hatfield Township. Thomas Jefferson University enrolls more than 3,800 future physicians, scientists, nurses and healthcare professionals in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC), Jefferson Colleges of Biomedical Sciences, Health Professions, Nursing, Pharmacy, Population Health and is home of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. For more information and a complete listing of Jefferson services and locations, visit http://www.jefferson.edu. COLUMBIA, Mo. - Research has shown the significance of social relationships in influencing adult human behavior and health; however, little is known about how children's perception of their social networks correlates with stress and how it may influence development. Now, a University of Missouri research team has determined that children and adolescents physically react to their social networks and the stress those networks may cause. Scientists believe that the quality and size of the social relationships nurtured in childhood may have important physiological consequences for physical and mental health for youth. Cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase are secreted in response to outside pressure or tension. A part of the autonomic nervous system, release of cortisol in the system is quick, unconscious and can be measured in saliva; therefore, measuring cortisol is a good indicator of stress in the body, said Mark V. Flinn, professor of biomedical anthropology and chair of the Department of Anthropology in the MU College of Arts and Science. "The typical physiological response to stress is the release of hormones like cortisol into the system," Flinn said. "In this study, we wanted to explore the association between children's personal social networks, as well as perceived social network size and density with biomarkers like cortisol and alpha-amylase that can indicate levels of stress in youth. Our goal was to determine if children experience stress because they perceive their networks to be inferior compared to their peers. Determining if social relationships cause stress in children is important because stress can influence human behavior and health later in life." Flinn and his team, including Davide Ponzi, a post-doctoral fellow who is now with the University of Utah, have been conducting a one-of-a-kind project on an island in the Caribbean. For the study, the team has been using data collected over more than two decades from a small village on the east coast of Dominica. For years, Flinn has integrated himself within the culture, documenting socioeconomic, demographic, and health data as well as relationship data within a small community of about 500 residents. "Over the years, we've collected data on grandparents, parents and their children; I've observed real kids in their communities, not in a controlled laboratory setting, so the data is unique and highly useful," Flinn said. "Using this wealth of knowledge, we were interested in learning how the kids physically responded to the social networks they cultivate." For this focused study, Ponzi and Flinn chose a sample of 40 children ranging in ages from 5 to 12 and who represented about 80 percent of the total children in the village. Each child was asked a series of questions about their friends to measure their perceived density and closeness of their social networks. Three samples of saliva were collected before, during and after the interview and cortisol and alpha-amylase levels were measured. "We found that, using the data we collected from the one-on-one interviews, children who were stressed about the size and density of their perceived social networks had elevated anticipatory cortisol levels, and responded by secreting more alpha-amylase," Flinn said. "Our study was in line with past research on stress, loneliness and social support in adults, but we strengthened past research by applying it to children. Future research should consider a multi-system approach like this one to study cognitive and biological mechanisms underlying children's perception." ### The study, "Cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase and children's perceptions of their social networks," was recently published in Social Neuroscience, with funding from the National Science Foundation (Grant 0640442). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agency. David Geary, Curators Professor of Psychological Sciences at MU also contributed to the study. ANN ARBOR -- Cybersecurity researchers at the University of Michigan were able to hack into the leading "smart home" automation system and essentially get the PIN code to a home's front door. Their "lock-pick malware app" was one of four attacks that the cybersecurity researchers leveled at an experimental set-up of Samsung's SmartThings, a top-selling Internet of Things platform for consumers. The work is believed to be the first platform-wide study of a real-world connected home system. The researchers didn't like what they saw. "At least today, with the one public IoT software platform we looked at, which has been around for several years, there are significant design vulnerabilities from a security perspective," said Atul Prakash, U-M professor of computer science and engineering. "I would say it's okay to use as a hobby right now, but I wouldn't use it where security is paramount." Earlence Fernandes, a doctoral student in computer science and engineering who led the study, said that "letting it control your window shades is probably fine." "One way to think about it is if you'd hand over control of the connected devices in your home to someone you don't trust and then imagine the worst they could do with that and consider whether you're okay with someone having that level of control," he said. Regardless of how safe individual devices are or claim to be, new vulnerabilities form when hardware like electronic locks, thermostats, ovens, sprinklers, lights and motion sensors are networked and set up to be controlled remotely. That's the convenience these systems offer. And consumers are interested in that. As a testament to SmartThings' growing use, its Android companion app that lets you manage your connected home devices remotely has been downloaded more than 100,000 times. SmartThings' app store, where third-party developers can contribute SmartApps that run in the platform's cloud and let users customize functions, holds more than 500 apps. The researchers performed a security analysis of the SmartThings' programming framework and to show the impact of the flaws they found, they conducted four successful proof-of-concept attacks. They demonstrated a SmartApp that eavesdropped on someone setting a new PIN code for a door lock, and then sent that PIN in a text message to a potential hacker. The SmartApp, which they called a "lock-pick malware app" was disguised as a battery level monitor and only expressed the need for that capability in its code. As an example, they showed that an existing, highly rated SmartApp could be remotely exploited to virtually make a spare door key by programming an additional PIN into the electronic lock. The exploited SmartApp was not originally designed to program PIN codes into locks. They showed that one SmartApp could turn off "vacation mode" in a separate app that lets you program the timing of lights, blinds, etc., while you're away to help secure the home. They demonstrated that a fire alarm could be made to go off by any SmartApp injecting false messages. How is all this possible? The security loopholes the researchers uncovered fall into a few categories. One common problem is that the platform grants its SmartApps too much access to devices and to the messages those devices generate. The researchers call this "over-privilege." "The access SmartThings grants by default is at a full device level, rather than any narrower," Prakash said. "As an analogy, say you give someone permission to change the lightbulb in your office, but the person also ends up getting access to your entire office, including the contents of your filing cabinets." More than 40 percent of the nearly 500 apps they examined were granted capabilities the developers did not specify in their code. That's how the researchers could eavesdrop on setting of lock PIN codes. The researchers also found that it is possible for app developers to deploy an authentication method called OAuth incorrectly. This flaw, in combination with SmartApps being over-privileged, allowed the hackers to program their own PIN code into the lock--to make their own secret spare key. Finally, the "event subsystem" on the platform is insecure. This is the stream of messages devices generate as they're programmed and carry out those instructions. The researchers were able to inject erroneous events to trick devices. That's how they managed the fire alarm and flipped the switch on vacation mode. These results have implications for all smart home systems, and even the broader Internet of Things. "The bottom line is that it's not easy to secure these systems" Prakash said. "There are multiple layers in the software stack and we found vulnerabilities across them, making fixes difficult." The researchers told SmartThings about these issues in December 2015 and the company is working on fixes. The researchers rechecked a few weeks ago if a lock's PIN code could still be snooped and reprogrammed by a potential hacker, and it still could. In a statement, SmartThings officials say they're continuing to explore "long-term, automated, defensive capabilities to address these vulnerabilities." They're also analyzing old and new apps in an effort to ensure that appropriate authentication is put in place, among other steps. Jaeyeon Jung, with Microsoft Research, also contributed to this work. The researchers will present a paper on the findings, titled "Security Analysis of Emerging Smart Home Applications," May 24 at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy in San Jose. ### IoT Security Atul Prakash Earlence Fernandes As world leaders convene in Washington, DC this week for the Climate Action 2016 summit, a new report by Maryland public health leaders, the Maryland Climate and Health Profile report, details the impacts of climate change on the health of Marylanders now and in the future. Developed by the University of Maryland School of Public Health's Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the report examines the relationship between exposure to extreme weather events and risk of selected health outcomes including food and waterborne illnesses (caused by Salmonella and Campylobacter), hospitalization for heart attacks and asthma, and motor vehicle accidents. Using historical climate data along with health data, researchers were able to describe relationships between exposure to extreme events and risk of these selected diseases. These data, along with the climate projections, were used to calculate health burdens among Marylanders in future decades. In addition, the report recommends actions that individuals, families and communities can take to minimize the negative health burdens. It describes how the negative health burdens are not equally distributed across race/ethnicity or geographical areas of Maryland. The report concludes that local and state level strategies to build healthy and resilient communities must take into account these differential burdens. Key findings of the Maryland Climate and Health Profile report include: -Extreme weather is on the rise: Summertime extreme heat events more than doubled in Maryland during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s compared to the 1960s and 1970s. -Extreme weather increases risk of foodborne illnesses: Both extreme heat and extreme precipitation events significantly increase the risk of Salmonella infections in Maryland. The increases in risk associated with extreme weather events is considerably higher among coastal communities compared to more inland communities. -Extreme heat raises heart attack risk: Exposure to summertime extreme heat events increases the risk of hospitalization for heart attack in Maryland. Non-Hispanic blacks have a much higher risk compared to non-Hispanic whites. -Extreme heat and precipitation raise severe asthma attack risk: Exposure to summertime extreme heat and precipitation events increase the risk of hospitalization for asthma in Maryland. -Extreme precipitation raises accident risk: Exposure to extreme precipitation events increases the risk of motor vehicle accidents, particularly during the fall and summer months. According to the report, the increases in frequency of extreme weather events during summer months in the future (2040) are projected to result in higher rates of asthma and heart attack hospitalization as well as Salmonella infections. The magnitude of these increases will likely vary considerably across the 24 counties in Maryland. ### Download the Maryland Climate and Health Profile Report: http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OEHFP/EH/Shared%20Documents/Reports/MD_climate_and_health_FullReport_04182016%20Final.pdf Highlights from the Maryland Climate and Health Profile Report: https://sph.umd.edu/sites/default/files/images/Dean's%20Office/MD_climate_and_health_highlights.pdf Climate Change and Public Health Resources on the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website: http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OEHFP/EH/Pages/about_climate.aspx The Maryland Climate and Health Profile report is based on and developed in conjunction with the DHMH Maryland Public Health Strategy for Climate Change project, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of its Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative. Research studies led by Dr. Amir Sapkota in the UMD School of Public Health informed many of the report's key findings. This Climate and Health Profile report summarizes a collaborative effort between the DHMH, local health departments, and the University of Maryland School of Public Health's Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health. The report utilized the CDC's Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework to identify vulnerable populations and use this data to inform interventions and increase resilience. COLUMBIA, Mo. - People living with mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. It is estimated that 1 million people with mental illnesses are arrested and booked in the U.S. each year. As such, interventions to help this population, such as mental health courts, are becoming popular in communities across the country. New research from the University of Missouri finds that for mental health courts to be successful, every professional engaged in the process should be aware of the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and participant engagement within the system and connect participants with comprehensive treatment and services as early as possible. Mental health courts seek to address underlying problems that contribute to criminal behavior by linking criminal offenders who have mental illnesses to needed services and treatment. Mental health courts provide a voluntary option for criminal offenders that incorporates mental health assessments, treatment plans and ongoing monitoring to address the health needs of offenders in an effort to keep them out of jail, while also ensuring public safety. "We know that mental health courts are able to provide tools to decrease criminal recidivism, however, little is really known about the factors that facilitate or impede participant success in such programs," said Kelli Canada, assistant professor in the School of Social Work. "With mental illness, people tend to think of the primary disorder at the exclusion of other symptoms that have yet to reach a diagnosable level. Those additional psychiatric symptoms can have a significant impact on a participant's success within mental health courts. For example, a participant with schizophrenia may have mild depressive symptoms that are not accounted for in the treatment plan. The depressive symptoms, not the psychosis, could cause them to sleep through a meeting with a probation officer." Canada analyzed the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and mental health court engagement by looking at treatment adherence, substance use, days spent in jail, probation violations and retention during a six month follow up period. She found that symptoms of depression, anxiety and guilt were more severe for those participants incarcerated during their follow up period. The results speak to the importance of providing quality mental health and substance use treatment that addresses all of the participant's health needs. "We found that for mental health courts to be the most successful, they must find a way to account for mental illness variation and incorporate this variation into treatment planning and decision making regarding the use of sanctions in order to support program engagement," Canada said. "We know that for people dealing with substance abuse, slip-ups can occur. The same holds true for mental illness recovery. Recovery set-backs and psychiatric symptom exacerbation can impact a participant's engagement within the program; if that is not accounted for, it could and often does impact success." ### Canada's study, "Psychiatric Symptoms and Mental Health Court Engagement," recently was published in Psychology, Crime and Law. Greg Markway with the Missouri Department of Mental Health and David Albright with the University of Alabama were co-authors of the study. The School of Social Work is part of the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences. MIAMI -- In a new study, University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science researchers found that the limestone that forms the foundation of coral reefs along the Florida Reef Tract is dissolving during the fall and winter months on many reefs in the Florida Keys. The research showed that the upper Florida Keys were the most impacted by the annual loss of reef. Each year the oceans absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and become more acidic, a process called ocean acidification. Projections, based largely on laboratory studies, led scientists to predict that ocean pH would not fall low enough to cause reefs to start dissolving until 2050-2060. For two years, the researchers collected water samples along the 200-kilometer (124-mile) stretch of the Florida Reef Tract north of Biscayne National Park to the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. The data provide a snapshot on the health of the reefs, and establish a baseline from which future changes can be judged. The results showed that reef dissolution is a significant problem on reefs in the upper Keys with the loss of limestone exceeding the amount the corals are able to produce on an annual basis. As a result these reefs are expected to begin wasting away leaving less habitat for commercial and recreationally important fish species. Florida Keys' reefs have an estimated asset value of $7.6 billion. In the natural scheme of things in the spring and summer months, environmental conditions in the ocean, such as water temperature, light and seagrass growth, are favorable for the growth of coral limestone. While, during the fall and winter, low light and temperature conditions along with the annual decomposition of seagrass, result in a slowing, or small-scale loss of reef growth. However, as atmospheric CO2 is absorbed by seawater, ocean pH declines. The result is that the natural summer growth cycle of coral is no longer large enough to offset the effects of dissolution from ocean acidification. "We don't have as much time as we previously thought," said Chris Langdon, UM Rosenstiel School professor of marine biology and ecology, and a senior author of the study. "The reefs are beginning to dissolve away." "This is one more reason why we need to get serious about reducing carbon dioxide emission sooner rather than later," said Langdon. The data for the study were collected in 2009-2010. The researchers suggest that a more recent analysis should be conducted to see how the reefs are faring today. "The worst bleaching years on record in the Florida Keys were 2014-2015, so there's a chance the reefs could be worse now," said Langdon. ### VIDEO: https://youtu.be/yNfZ_MfdtXA The study, titled "Dynamics of carbonate chemistry, production and calcification of the Florida Reef Tract (2009-2010): evidence for seasonal dissolution," was published in the May 2, 2016 issue of the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles. The co-authors include Langdon, UM Rosenstiel School alumnae Nancy Muehllehner and Alyson Venti, and David Kadko, now at Florida International University. National Science Foundation funded the study. About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu. Tampa, Fla. (May 2, 2016) - At the 23rd Annual Conference of the American Society of Neural Therapy and Repair (ASNTR), held April 28-30, 2016 in Clearwater Beach, Florida, ASNTR awarded The 2016 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair to Marina E. Emborg, MD, PhD, an associate professor of medical physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ASNTR also presented The Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award to Eng H. Lo, PhD, professor of neurology and radiology at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital. The 2016 Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair The 2016 award was presented to Dr. Emborg in recognition of her significant research contributions to research in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in Parkinson's disease, in developing safe neuroprotective strategies to prevent, slow down or stop brain cell death using stem cells as model systems and cell-based strategies. Dr. Emborg, who is the director of the Preclinical Parkinson's Research Program at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, uses advanced neuroimaging techniques to investigate non-invasive techniques in preclinical research such as real-time intra-cerebral targeting and infusion monitoring for gene therapy procedures. Her preclinical work includes creating animal models and experimental paradigms that better reflect clinical conditions and applying advance imaging techniques to for data collection and creating new clinical applications. She received both her MD (1988) and her PhD (1993) in neurobiology from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has been at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2004. "Dr. Emborg has made outstanding contributions using non-human primate models that have advanced cell and drug therapy approaches forward for Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Clive Svendsen, professor of medicine and biomedicine and director the Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute. The award is named for Bernard Sanberg, father of Dr. Paul Sanberg (University of South Florida), a co-founder of the ASNTR. After Bernard Sanberg died of a stroke in 1999, the award bearing his name was established and is presented by the ASNTR annually to an individual who has made outstanding research contributions in the field of neural therapy and repair. The award, first presented in 2000, is presented every year at ASNTR's Annual Meeting. Recent past winners of the Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award for Brain Repair include: John D. Elsworth, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, Douglas Kondziolka, MD, NYU Langone Medical Center; Mike Modo, PhD, University of Pittsburgh; Timothy Collier, PhD, Michigan State University; Donald Eugene Redmond, MD, Yale University; Shinn-Zong Lin, MD, PhD, China Medical University; Howard J. Federoff, MD, PhD, Georgetown University. The Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award The Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award is presented periodically by the ASNTR to an outstanding scientist who has made a significant contribution to the field of brain repair. In recognition of his significant contributions to the field of brain repair, the Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award was presented to Dr. Lo for his work using in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cell death following stroke. In his lab, Dr. Lo employs imaging, pharmacology and molecular cell biology to investigate neurovascular dysfunction in brain injury and neurodegeneration. Dr. Lo received his BS in electrical engineering from Yale University and his PhD in biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley. He moved to Massachusetts General Hospital in 1991, and is currently the Head of the Neuroprotection Research Lab, and Professor of Neuroscience in Harvard Medical School. "The neurovascular unit is key to brain function and is principally altered in stroke and offers a novel treatment for stroke, this line of research is championed by Eng Lo," said Dr. Cesar Borlongan, Director, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair at the University of South Florida. Past recipients of The Molly and Bernard Sanberg Memorial Award include: Cesar V. Borlongan, PhD, University of South Florida; Sean Savitz, MD, University of Texas Medical School at Houston; Steven Dunnett, PhD, Cardiff University; Barry Hoffer, PhD, NIDA/NIH; and Patrik Brundin, MD, PhD, Lund University - Wallenburg Neuroscience Center. ### ASNTR's 24th Annual Conference April 27-29, 2017 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. For more information, email Donna Morrison dmorriso@health.usf.edu or visit the ASNTR website http://www.ASNTR.org ASNTR is a society for basic and clinical neuroscientists using a variety of technologies to better understand how the nervous system functions and establish new procedures for its repair in response to trauma or neurodegenerative disease. Member scientists employ stem/neural cell transplantation, gene therapy, trophic factor and neuroprotective compound administration and other approaches. Researchers mapped a reef system in the most unlikely area of the Brazilian coast; River plume affects sunlight, pH, temperature and salinity; chemosynthesizing microorganisms support the ecosystem -- oil and gas companies operate close to the reefs The changes that the Amazon River promotes in the tropical North Atlantic ocean water make an unfavorable environment for reef development. Every second, 175 million liters of water mixed with sediments are brought to the ocean. The result is low sunlight penetration, variability in nutrient concentration, salinity and pH, extensive moody bottoms and significant changes in temperature and oxygenation levels towards the bottom - conditions not associated with reefs. The plume generated by the Amazon River has 1.3 million km2 and flows mostly to the North, reaching areas as far as the Caribbean Sea. Against all the odds, 39 scientists from nine Brazilian and one North-American universities mobilized two expeditions to the mouth of the river in other to map the bottom of the ocean in the outer shelf. Two previous studies - from the 1970s and 1980s - reported the findings of single samples of carbonatic structures. None suggested the existence of a reef system underneath the river plume. Surprisingly, the researchers found reefs in a complex as extensive as 1,000 km, in depths from 10 to 120 meters, with rhodolith beds, live calcareous algae, sponges, corals and hydrocorals colonies formed from 13,000 years ago till the present. The system is an habitat for 73 species of fishes and six species of lobsters. The article in which the novelty is described was published in Science Advances, on April 22. (An extensive reef system at the Amazon River mouth). It includes results from geophysical and physical-chemical surveys, radiocarbon dating and petrographic characterization of reef samples, biogeochemical tracers and microbial metagenomics. OIL DRILLING The Amazon reefs are already considered at risk despite being a recent discovery. In 2013, auctions defined the oil companies responsible for 80 exploratory blocks at the same area of the study - 20 are in current production. Whether the companies knew about the reefs, they didn't publish the information broadly, according to the senior author Fabiano L. Thompson, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He classifies this large-scale industrial activity as a major environmental challenge that can threaten the existence of the reef system. Researchers ask for a more complete social-ecological assessment of the system before "impacts become extensive and conflicts among the stakeholders escalate". LOCATION The reefs are located as a continuity of Manuel Luiz reefs, in the Maranhao state (Northeast Region of Brazil), forming an unique carbonate system that pass in front of Para and Amapa states (North of Brazil), and reach French Guiana. It fills a major gap thought to exist in Western Atlantic reefs, occupying 10,000 km2. Some structures have lengths of up to 300 meters and heights of up to 30 meters. "It is a paradigm shift in Geology, Ecology and Biology. In Paleogeology, we have to review ancient areas where we assumed there could not be a river mouth because of fossil reefs. These two elements cannot be considered excluding anymore", Michel Mahiques, geologist and professor at the Oceanographic Institute at University of Sao Paulo (IO-USP) says. He lead the team responsible for mapping the bottom topography. The maps were processed from data generated from two side scan sonars. The sonars emit acoustic signals to the left and to the right side towards the bottom. The intensity of the echo and the time it takes to reach the sonar indicate the distance to the bottom, its topography and whether it comes back from hitting a smooth or a hard structure. Eduardo Siegle and Rodolfo J. S. Dias, professor and master student from IO-USP, also participated on mapping and characterization of the bottom. NORTHERN, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SECTORS Three sectors were differentiated by the height of the plume layer (higher in the Northern sector); the characteristics of rhodolith beds and carbonate structure (larger rhodolith beds in the Northern sector, rhodoliths more populated by live algae in the Southern sector, carbonate mineralization by rhodoliths in the Central sector, carbonate mineralization by rhodoliths and corals in the Southern sector); the variety of coral species (more species in the Southern sector); the date of the sampled formations (from 13,000 years in the Northern sector to 4,500 years in the Central sector and 150 years in the Southern sector); the reefs' topography (ridge-like structures in the Southern sector); and the presence of mud (abundant in the Northern sector, almost absent on the benthic casts of the Central and Southern sectors), among other characteristics. DIFFERENTIAL: CHEMOSYNTHESIS The Amazon reefs defy the traditional knowledge about the ecological balance of a reef environment. Reefs are usually found in warm see water with constant salinity, high light penetration level and generation of oxygen and biomass by photosynthesizers. The system at the Amazon river mouth lives under a plume layer thanks to chemosynthesizing microorganisms capable of transforming nitrates and other minerals into compounds that can be used as food by the benthic organisms. The chemosynthesizers support a relatively complex ecosystem in low light levels and anoxic or suboxic conditions in the Northern and Central sectors. Some sponges can also tolerate these conditions for several days and have broader tolerance to acidification and temperature anomalies than corals and coralline algae. Authors indicate that molecular and genetic analysis will likely identify new microorganisms or sponges species in this reef system. CLIMATE CHANGES Coral reefs are in rapid decline and register biodiversity losses due to pollution, overfishing, temperature anomalies and ocean acidification. The Amazon system, though, has survived for thousand years now under severe conditions that can be compared to climate change predicted scenarios. It may give important insights on coral reefs' trajectories in the next decades. The sponge dominance in the Central sector of the Amazon reefs, for example, points towards a phase-shift from coral domination to sponge domination in coral reefs. ### Contact: USP Scientific Outreach Unity - University of Sao Paulo Ana Paula Chinelli and Fabiana Mariz (+55 11) 3091-3242 / 3282 divulgacaocientifica@usp.br divulgaca ocientificausp@gmail.com The Oceanographic Institute at University of Sao Paulo (IO-USP) is focused on providing scientific information to broaden comprehension about the complex marine ecosystem from the extensive Brazilian coast. Other aims are understanding water, heat and material circulation patterns in the Atlantic Ocean; monitoring coastal ecosystems and planning sustainable usage of all natural resources. The largest-ever study to sequence the whole genomes of breast cancers has uncovered five new genes associated with the disease and 13 new mutational signatures that influence tumour development. The results of two papers published in Nature and Nature Communications also reveal what genetic variations exist in breast cancers and where they occur in the genome. Dr Serena Nik-Zainal of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute led analysis of 560 breast cancer genomes; 556 from women and four from men. This international collaboration included breast cancer patients from around the world, including the USA, Europe and Asia. The results reveal more about the causes of breast tumours and provide evidence that breast cancer genomes are highly individual. Each person's cancer genome is a complete historical account of the genetic changes that they have acquired throughout life. As a person develops from a fertilised egg into adulthood, the DNA in their cells gather genetic changes along the way. This is because human DNA is constantly being damaged by things in the environment or simply from wear and tear in the cell. These mutations form patterns, or mutational signatures, that we can detect and they give us clues about the causes of cancer. Dr Nik-Zainal's team hunted for mutations that encourage cancers to grow and looked for mutational signatures in each patient's tumour. They found that women who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, and so have increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, had whole cancer genome profiles that were highly distinctive from each other and were also very different to other breast cancers. This discovery could be used to classify patients more accurately for treatment. Dr Nik-Zainal said: "In the future, we'd like to be able to profile individual cancer genomes so that we can identify the treatment most likely to be successful for a woman or man diagnosed with breast cancer. It is a step closer to personalised healthcare for cancer." Exactly where mutations occur in breast cancer genomes is important too. Collaborator Dr Ewan Birney, from the European Bioinformatics Institute, used computational techniques to analyse the sequence of genetic information held in each of the sample genomes. He said: "We know genetic changes and their position in the cancer genome influence how a person responds to a cancer therapy. For years we have been trying to figure out if parts of DNA that don't code for anything specific have a role in driving cancer development. This study both gave us the first large scale view of the rest of the genome, uncovering some new reasons why breast cancer arises, and gave us an unexpected way to characterize the types of mutations that happen in certain breast cancers." Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: "All cancers are due to mutations that occur in all of us in the DNA of our cells during the course of our lifetimes. Finding these mutations is crucial to understanding the causes of cancer and to developing improved therapies. This huge study, examining in great detail the many thousands of mutations present in each of the genomes of 560 cases brings us much closer to a complete description of the changes in DNA in breast cancer and thus to a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the disease and the opportunities for new treatments." ### Publications Nik-Zainal S et al. Landscape of somatic mutations in 560 breast cancer whole genome sequencesis published in Nature 2016 published on 2 May doi: 10.1038/nature17676 Morganella S et al. The topography of mutational processes in breast cancer genomes is published in Nature Communications 2016 on 2 May doi: 10.1038/10.1038/NCOMMS11383 Funding The work for both papers has been funded through the ICGC Breast Cancer Working group by the Breast Cancer Somatic Genetics Study (BASIS), a European research project funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2010-2014) under the grant agreement number 242006; the Triple Negative project funded by the Wellcome Trust (grant reference 077012/Z/05/Z) and the HER2+ project funded by Institut National du Cancer (INCa) in France (Grants N 226-2009, 02-2011, 41-2012, 144-2008, 06-2012). The ICGC Asian Breast Cancer Project was funded through a grant of the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (A111218-SC01). Websites EMBL-EBI The European Bioinformatics Institute is part of EMBL, and is a global leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. EMBL-EBI helps scientists realize the potential of 'big data' by enhancing their ability to exploit complex information to make discoveries that benefit mankind. It is a non-profit, intergovernmental organization funded by EMBL's 21 member states and two associate member states. Its 570 staff hail from 57 countries, and work with a regular stream of visiting scientists throughout the year. EMBL-EBI is located on the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton, Cambridge in the United Kingdom. http://www.ebi.ac.uk The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is one of the world's leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease. http://www.sanger.ac.uk The Wellcome Trust The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health. We support bright minds in science, the humanities and the social sciences, as well as education, public engagement and the application of research to medicine. Our investment portfolio gives us the independence to support such transformative work as the sequencing and understanding of the human genome, research that established front-line drugs for malaria, and Wellcome Collection, our free venue for the incurably curious that explores medicine, life and art. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk I wrote here the other day about UK developmental psychologist Nathalia Gjersoe who supports reeducating kids as young as five years old to reject promiscuous teleology that is, the intuition that life reflects purpose and design (Evolution in Kindergarten). She drew on the research of Deborah Kelemen at Boston University who published a promising, child-friendly intervention: illustrated storybooks about natural selection. Now your taxpayer dollars will be going toward research on preconditioning young minds to accept evolution. The National Science Foundation (NSF) just awarded Boston University a grant of just under $1.5 million for their project, Evolving Minds in Early Elementary School: Foundations for a Learning Sequence on Natural Selection Using Stories.Yes, the principal investigator is Deborah Kelemen. This research focuses on students in grades K-2. The NSF abstract for the study notes: Research shows that world-wide, despite its importance to the life sciences, natural selection remains one of the most widely misunderstood processes in biology. Specifically, studies reveal that scientific misconceptions about natural selection not only persist among high school students and undergraduates who are usual targets of instruction on evolution by natural selection, but, disturbingly, also among many of the teachers trained to teach them. Research further reveals that the origin of many of these misconceptions can be traced to intuitive cognitive biases found at the elementary school level. This project will address this problem by building and testing a learning sequence on natural selection at the early elementary grades before intuitive theoretical misconceptions are likely to have become entrenched. This effort will expand existing infrastructure for research and education currently supported through a university, to school partnership involving elementary educators, curriculum developers, professional development providers, interdisciplinary academic researchers and cognitive development expert consultants. The two central aims will be to: (1) develop the core architecture and explore the feasibility of an expanded elementary school learning sequence on natural selection; (2) examine the educative professional development benefits to elementary school teachers of the developed story-based intervention materials.Materials and products (storybooks, animations and assessment tools) will directly benefit schools, teachers, children and parents in the State of Massachusetts and nationally. Wow. One-sided promotion of neo-Darwinism, to disrupt natural human biases in K-2 students, with effects at least in one state if not across the country. Whats wrong with that? First, this research project ignores ongoing scientific debate about the creative limits of natural selection acting on random mutations. The controversy is not limited to advocates of intelligent design. Very mainstream scientists associated with The Third Way of Evolution reject ID, but question the ability of natural selection and random mutations to generate diverse biological species. The late biologist and member of the National Academy of Sciences Lynn Margulis stated, New mutations dont create new species; they create offspring that are impaired. Over 950 PhD scientists have signed the Scientific Dissent from Darwinism list, affirming that they are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutations and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. For a summary of weaknesses along with links to scientific articles challenging the major mechanisms of neo-Darwinism, read Casey Luskins article, The Top Ten Scientific Problems with Biological and Chemical Evolution. Second, the idea of interfering with childrens thinking processes to inculcate a pre-determined opinion is disturbing. Kelemen would like to disrupt childrens understanding of teleology and essentialism before they have coalesced into a coherent theoretical framework that gets in the way of contradictory scientific explanations. Her previous research used a storybook, aimed at kids between ages 5-8, to describe a fictional animal and its evolution. The story has to do with the survival of those of the species with thin trunks that, as a result, can gain access to an underground food source. While Kelemens book about the made-up Pilosas touched just on microevolution, this research goes further. The NSF notes, Six interventions will be conductedto explore the viability of mechanistically teaching K-2 children about within- and between-species adaptation by natural selection. Indoctrinating young children with macroevolution? This seems like a group with an agenda to push. No matter which side of the debate youre on, its important to have an accurate understanding of the scientific evidence. There may indeed be teachers who do not fully understand that evidence. However, if you dont completely buy into evolution, that doesnt mean you are the victim of false representations of the theory. Many thoughtful adults are skeptical precisely because theyve looked into the subject so carefully. To train a new generation of thinkers, evolution must be taught objectively, presenting both its scientific strengths and weaknesses. This approach helps students to practice scientific inquiry to think critically and examine the evidence. Yes, that carries the risk that a student might emerge from her studies as an evolution skeptic. Thats the way it goes when you think for yourself. As the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences document Science for All Americans notes: In science classrooms, it should be the normal practice for teachers to raise such questions as: How do we know? What is the evidence? What is the argument that interprets the evidence? Are there alternative explanations or other ways of solving the problem that could be better? The aim should be to get students into the habit of posing such questions and framing answers. Avoid Dogmatism Students should experience science as a process for extending understanding, not as unalterable truth. This means that teachers take care not to convey the impression that they themselves or the textbooks are absolute authorities whose conclusions are always correct. By dealing with the credibility of scientific claims, the overturn of accepted scientific beliefs, and what to make out of disagreement among scientists, science teachers can help students to balance the necessity for accepting a great deal of science on faith against the importance of keeping an open mind. The AAAS generally does not extend its emphasis on scientific inquiry to neo-Darwinism. They should reconsider. Dogmatic teaching of evolution and brainwashing young children doesnt foster scientific literacy. Americas future scientists must be able to examine data and come to informed conclusions. To propel our technology and engineering industries and to fuel medical advancement, we need innovators. That means being willing to question the status quo. When it comes to evolution, promoting inquiry-based methods not funding research into preconditioning K-2 students to reach a favored conclusion is a good place to start. Interested in educating yourself and your children more on the scientific debate over evolution? Resources that may be helpful include Investigating Evolution DVD and Icons of Evolution study guide, and A Parents Guide to Intelligent Design. Image: 2016 GraphicStock.com. Hello, I am a New Zealand citizen and have been married to my South African husband for almost 7 years. We also have two children together, aged 4 and 6 years and live in New Zealand. We are considering our options of going to live in South Africa. I am hoping someone can please advise what the best visa/permit is for me to apply for? It all seems very confusing with different Spouse Visas and Permanent Residency Permits etc. From what I can read on the official website is that I would not qualify for Permanent Residency because I do not have a the 'in need' skills or qualifications. Is this correct, or are there different requirements for a Spouse of a SA Citizen? I really just want to go down the easiest road with this - I have read all kinds of things about not being able to work in SA until I have applied for a Work Endorsement? I'm sure that will make it more difficult in finding a job given that an employer would not be too keen to have to go through that long drawn out process. I'm hoping that since we have been married for over 5yrs that I can just go straight to applying for Permanent Residency without having any work restrictions. Any advise would be greatly appreciated! A new visa has been announced to attract entrepreneurs to New Zealand to establish their ventures and create new jobs.The Global Impact Visa (GIV) will be available as a four year pilot programme delivered by Immigration New Zealand and in partnership with the private sector.It will be limited to just 400 visas over the four years and aims to attract individual investors and entrepreneurs who want to live and work in New Zealand while launching their business."Last year the Government committed to considering a new Global Impact Visa to cater for high impact entrepreneurs, investors and start up teams to launch global ventures from New Zealand," said Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse."Now we are delivering on that commitment and aim to attract younger, highly talented, successful and well-connected entrepreneurs who are at the start of their entrepreneurial career and able to establish their ventures in New Zealand," he explained."GIVs will help meet the Government's Business Growth Agenda's innovation and investment objectives by lifting innovation in New Zealand. It will also help expand the pool of smart capital by attracting individual investors and entrepreneurs to live here in New Zealand," he added.He also pointed out that the successful implementation of GIVs will create new jobs through the establishment of new ventures, attraction of smart capital and access to global networks.The private sector partner for the visa programme will be selected through an open procurement process and will manage the attraction, selection and integration of the migrant entrepreneurs in New Zealand. The procurement process for selecting the private partner is due to begin next month.But some in the industry believe that the visa is not be enough to attract high calibre entrepreneurs from around the world. "There isn't really a technology plan that's unique to New Zealand that exploits a new digitally connected world," said Rod Drury, chief executive officer of Xero, a financial technology firm based in Wellington that is expanding in the US market."Because we're such a small market and we're the furthest country away from any other trading partner, then it's so much more important for us," he added. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Antonio-based nonprofit business lender LiftFund reported Monday it lent more than $104.4 million in Texas between 2010 and 2015, $23.3 million of that in San Antonio, helping create jobs and boost economic activity. LiftFund, once known as Accion Texas, is a microlender that also offers small-business loans of up to $1 million. The loan amounts during the six-year period resulted in 10,758 jobs in Texas, 2,147 of them in San Antonio, according to a report released Monday that was complied by Steven Nivin, chief economist at SABER Research. San Antonio was No. 1 in Texas for LiftFund lending, the organization having its roots in the city. Houston led the state in jobs created by LiftFund loans, 2,416. The difference stems from the different types of businesses being created or expanding in the cities, Nivin said in the report. The average annual wage of the Texas jobs was $45,109. The wages varied across the metropolitan areas with only the jobs created through LiftFund activities having higher wages relative to all jobs in the metropolitan areas in Laredo and McAllen, while being slightly lower in the other metropolitan areas, Nivin wrote in the report. The lender started in San Antonio in 1994 and now operates in 13 states. The report issued Monday concentrated on economic effects in Texas and Louisiana. The lender expects to issue $28 million in loans in 2016 across its 13-state market. Local and state governments benefited from LiftFund lending. The five-year estimate in Nivins report is that tax revenue from companies receiving loans, and their employees, totaled $66.6 million, about $10.1 million of that in the San Antonio area. The top five industries, in terms of job creation, receiving LiftFund loans during the six-year period were full-service restaurants, janitorial services, home health care firms, local trucking and child day care operations. Other job categories were chemical wholesalers, temporary help services, long-distance trucking, mobile food services and caterers. Across Texas, LiftFund had a total economic impact of $1.4 billion. The amount includes spending by LiftFund borrowers for supplies and services and also the spending by the companies employees. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. That is equal to a total economic impact of $13.21 for each dollar lent by LiftFund, up from 61 cents per dollar in 2001, the last time the organization conducted an economic effect report, LiftFund CEO and President Janie Barrera said. The difference comes from the larger loan sizes LiftFund can now make, Barrera said. The total economic impact in San Antonio during the six-year period was $248 million, the third most in Texas behind Houston at $376 million and Dallas at $271 million. The economic multiplier software used for the report was IMPLAN, Impact Analysis for Planning. LiftFund specializes in loans for companies that normally do not qualify for loans from for-profit lenders such as commercial banks. Commercial banks are among the donors of funds to LiftFund for its loan pool. dhendricks@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LOS ANGELES The Takata Corp. air bag recall has become so massive that vehicle owners might wait months for repairs, which leaves many struggling to figure out how to get around in the meantime. Dealerships are paying for rental cars, but some need to be pushed into offering them, customers complain. And drivers under age 25 or with weak insurance coverage or credit say they are encountering snags when they get to the rental counter. The Takata air bag problem is one that owners cant ignore. Takata air bag inflaters in 28.8 million cars can propel metal shrapnel into drivers and passengers. Ten people in the United States have died from such explosions, and more than 100 have been injured. The largest automotive recall in U.S. history may expand even more by 85 million cars, trucks and SUVs if Takata cant prove that the inflaters in those cars are safe, regulators said last month. Vehicles produced for model years 2000 through 2015 by 16 automotive brands are among those affected by the initial recalls and the potential expansion. Amanda Biers-Melcher contacted her Honda dealership after receiving a notice in March that her 2012 Fit was part of the Takata recall. Biers-Melcher said she briefly thought about borrowing her mothers seldom used Saab until she found that it, too, had faulty Takata air bags. Biers-Melcher said she was stunned when a dealership employee told her she could keep driving her car. The letter I got said I could be killed driving it, so that wasnt happening, she said. Biers-Melcher said she called up some of her old New York feistiness and eventually got a referral to a rental car agency, but the process left her upset. The first letter about this problem arrived the Friday before Easter, she said. Why did it take so long to tell us? They should be proactively reaching out to customers and making this as easy as possible. Steve Elster said his 16-year-old son, Eli, was denied a rental car even though the familys 2012 Honda Fit, which the son drives, was on the recall list. Rental car companies often wont rent to drivers under age 25 or do so with special surcharges. Elster said he tried out several proposals, including a loaner for his son from the dealerships inventory, but got nowhere. Its very frustrating, Elster said, we bought a car. We are entitled to a car without a defective air bag, and its incumbent upon Honda to fix the problem and make sure that my son has a safe car to drive. American Honda spokesman Chris Martin said the companys dealers are authorized to provide loaners cars to teen drivers, but only to the registered owners of the recalled vehicles. Elsters son wasnt the registered owner of the problem Fit. After much negotiating, the Elsters were able to rent an SUV that only the parents are allowed to drive, and Eli will borrow his mothers beloved, non-recalled RAV4. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Still other drivers have complained that theyre required by rental car companies to put down a security deposit, which comes directly out of their bank accounts if they use debit cards; people with low credit limits might run into difficulties with a chunk of that amount tied up by the rental car company. Many owners also are griping about being pressured to pay for insurance if their own policies dont cover damage to rental cars. Consumer advocates have watched the still-developing Takata recall with growing and widespread dissatisfaction. Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said the recall is a disgrace for the automakers and for the U.S. government. Also, the severity of a parts shortage depends on a drivers car and location. Moreover, regulators have set up a complicated pecking order on who gets their air bags replaced first. The four priority groups are based on the vehicles age, bag failure rate and the amount of time it has spent in areas of high absolute humidity. High humidity makes the air bags more likely to fail in a potentially deadly way. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When bacon was abundant, it was everywhere: in your jam, on seemingly every burger, even flavoring bourbon. So if history is any guide, this years food trend is extra cheese. The reason is the U.S. is sitting on more butter and cheese than it knows what to do with, and the Europeans are to blame. Exports from the European Union have climbed so far this year and last, even after the blocs once-largest customer, Russia, banned trade in retaliation for sanctions over its incursion in Ukraine. A glut of milk, plunging prices and a weakening euro mean the EU has been able to grab customers in Asia and the Middle East, while U.S. sales have fallen. European dairy products are so cheap right now that the United States itself has become the new No. 1 customer for some products imports of EU butter doubled last year and rose 17 percent for cheese, according to the European Commission. All that excess supply is building up in U.S. refrigerators, especially as American dairy production heads to a record this year. Statistics from the U.S. Agriculture Department show cheese inventories at the end of March were the highest for the date since 1984, the year Princes Purple Rain was released. More than half the supply is American cheese, while Swiss accounts for about 2 percent, and the rest the government classifies as other. Its been difficult for them to export, given the strong dollar, and theyre sucking in imports, said Kevin Bellamy, a global dairy market strategist at Rabobank International in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Where the U.S. has lost out on business, Europe has gained. This year, the EU has boosted butter exports by 27 percent while cheese shipments rose 13 percent, the European Commission reports. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Though sales increased, things still are pretty dire for European dairy farmers, whove warned for months that rock-bottom prices risk putting them out of business. Average raw milk prices in the EU have slumped to the lowest levels since 2010. U.S. prices also have started falling, with cheddar on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange trading last week at a five-year low. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONG BEACH, Miss. At first glance, Joe Flemings neat home in Long Beach seems like pretty much any other ranch-style house. But take a look in that cabinet in the dining room. And that one and that one in the living room. And that one in the den. Theyre full of miniature liquor bottles, the kind you find in displays at the counter of package stores, on flights or sometimes in hotel mini-bars. Hmm. Whats in this one? Exotica such as Admiral Nelson Spiced Rum, Agwa De Bolivia Coca Herbal Liqueur, Caribbean Rum Runner, 1921 Tequila, Bird Dog Peach Whiskey. It goes on and on, and thats just one display cabinet. This is my only dedicated cabinet, and its all Scotch whisky, Fleming said, indicating a nearby china cabinet bereft of china. Instead, scores of true Scotch whisky bottles fill the shelves. Lots of little liquor bottles Altogether, Fleming now has in excess of 5,600 little (50-milliliter) liquor bottles in his home. And theres not a duplicate in the bunch. Well, not anymore. He recently had a potluck party where friends were invited over to polish off some 300 unintentional duplicates. Its understandable. After all, if you have more than 5,000 bottles at home and a slight obsession with collecting, youre bound to forget you already have one or two or 300. His guests, many of whom had not seen the collection, were astounded and fascinated and more than happy to help him pare down the extras. Just how dedicated to his collection is Fleming? As they fill up, I get another cabinet, he said. Ive been accused not collecting liquor bottles as much as collecting cabinets. Its not just cabinets. Take a look at this, Fleming said, leading to the closet in the foyer. He opened the door to reveal row after row of shelves in the closet. Behind the expected coats and other such closet residents, the shelves hold you guessed it more bottles. They (the shelves) go down to the floor. Catalog system A bedroom holds more displays as well as his carefully maintained cataloging system. Each bottle has its own printed index card, which bears a color photo of the bottle as well as its price, date of acquisition, manufacturer and, perhaps most important, where its located. He has a numeric system which tells him the cabinet the bottle is in, as well as the shelf and location on the shelf. The system also is on his computer, giving faster access. Where it all started It all began decades ago. Ive been collecting since August 1971, Fleming said. He was on a business-related trip in Europe, and at the end of his trip, he was in London. As he was walking down the street, he was wondering what souvenir he wanted to take back. I had three criteria, he said. It had to not cost a lot of money, it could not weigh a lot, and it couldnt take up a lot of space. Just then, he walked by a store with a display of miniature liquor bottles. It was his aha moment. On the next trip, he did the same, then the next and the next. It all started with that one bottle. Fleming consulted his catalog and pulled out the bottle, a miniature of Drioli, a marachino liqueur. Lots of vodka Vodka, he said, is probably the most common mini bottle variety. Its in vogue right now, he said. Seven or eight years ago, they began to flavor vodka. Now, theres in excess of 200 flavors of vodka. But rum is definitely making a push now. Theyre starting to flavor that, too. Among the more unusual beverages in his collection, Fleming said, is a bottle of bison grass vodka, which, yes, is flavored with bison grass. In Poland, its known as Zubrowka. Washington whiskey Fleming is especially proud of a miniature bottle and shot glass presentation set that has its roots in the nations first president. This, he said, opening a small square box, is George Washington Vatted American Whiskey. He first learned of the brew when he was traveling through Virginia and saw a catalog listing it on a stores counter. It was the right size bottle; the problem was, the store didnt carry it. Nor did store after store he contacted. Finally, he was told he could order it. Well, yes, but it couldnt be shipped to him. He would have to go pick it up in person from the source, which was the gift shop at Mt. Vernon, Washingtons historic home which he did. Is there one that Fleming is still trying to find, that elusive bottle that will complete his collection? I dont know. Ill know it when I see it, he said with a smile. HUNTSVILLE Jack Harry Smith spent most of his 78 years behind bars, much of it on death row, so it only seemed right that when the time came, he would spend eternity close to the world he knew best. Smith, his body unclaimed by family or friend after he died earlier this month, was buried last week in the Texas Department of Criminal Justices Joe Byrd Cemetery, joining more than 2,000 former prisoners who drew their last breaths in custody, some of them as far back as the late 1800s. Prison chaplain David Collier said a few words before Smith and three others were placed in recently dug holes near the bottom of a gentle slope on Peckerwood Hill. Seven prison trustys were the sole mourners. Until he passed on April 8, Smith was the oldest inmate alive on Texas death row Collier had the advantage of having known Smith when he served as chaplain of the Polunsky Unit where he was housed. But in truth, he didnt know all that much about the man he was burying. He was a Christian and of the Pentecostal faith, Collier said. Jack always was talkative, unless he was having a bad day. We all have bad days. But he often wanted something to read and Id take it over to him. A stepsister had met with Collier briefly last Thursday morning at a nearby church, standard practice for inmates who are to be buried at state expense. However, she chose not to come to the cemetery. By custom in such cases, all the inmates to be buried are set side by side and given a brief collective prayer and send-off. What I say is really for the benefit of the living who are there, Collier said, referring to the group of trustys, most of whom will be released in the near future. I remind them that they dont want to be buried here someday. He touched each casket, recited each of the deceaseds names and age and cause of death, then spoke to the men who had prepared the graves about the story of David and Bathsheba, reminding them that God does not forsake even those who have greatly sinned. If nothing else gives you heart, that should, Collier said. There is nothing you can do that God will forsake you. He will never walk away only you can. He turned away toward the top of the hill where a handful of relatives stood. If mourners show up, Collier always does right by them with a broader acknowledgment of the departed, and a longer prayer. In the great majority of deaths of those in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice there were 432 in all units in 2015 relatives take the remains for private burial. But 100 or so a year are left with the agency to dispose of. Most end up buried at Joe Byrd, as has been the case for more than a century. Smith entered death row in 1978 following his conviction for the killing of Roy Deputter during the robbery of a Pasadena convenience store. Before that, he had served 17 years of a life sentence received because of a robbery and assault. He was paroled in 1977 but soon resumed his criminal ways. He was out of prison for only one year before the murder that earned him a death sentence. But in an ironic twist, health problems complicated Smiths early years on death row, and he never got a date with the executioner. It was thought, instead, that he would die of natural causes. A heart operation worked and he lingered on through years of appeals, though others connected to the case were not so lucky. Two of his lawyers and the judge overseeing the case died, putting Smith in limbo. His case essentially fell through the cracks as he grew older. In 2001 and already into his 60s, Smith expressed anger that nothing was happening in his appeal. I feel that the system is waiting for me to pass away of old age, Smith said in an interview with the Associated Press. Im angry at the justice system, at the courts for wasting taxpayers money, for giving me this hospitality. It may have been a false anger. Collier suggested that Smith was pretty much resigned to his fate, knowing he would never go to the execution chamber. Although the Harris County District Attorneys office maintained that Smiths case was still active officially in truth both sides mostly were going through the motions. Smiths last lawyer, David Dow, said in 2014 there was no way the DAs office would push for an execution date, knowing that even if it were successful, the sight of an octogenarian prisoner being wheeled into the death chamber would make for bad PR. And one of Smiths former prosecutors agreed. An accomplice had been given a life sentence. By sheer fortune, Smith had ended up with one, too. Nobody seemed to mind all that much that he had cheated the hangman. Relatives of the victim were not clamoring for action. And Smith was far from the worst of death rows murderers. He would just keep getting older until the day arrived when he wouldnt. His grave will be marked with a small, simple headstone bearing his name, prison ID number, and his date of death. Whether anyone ever will show up on Peckerwood Hill with flowers cant be known, but its not likely. Most of the gravers here are bereft of any such loving remembrances. Decades of erosion have stripped some of the headstones of all markings, and they no longer even carry the name of those whose remains lie below. More than most cemeteries, Joe Byrd is a place of the forgotten, and in many cases, the unmourned. Jack Harry Smith, number 615, now rests among them. mike.tolson@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate At least three generations of Boy Scouts turned out Sunday afternoon to celebrate the 100th birthday of Troop 10, the oldest continuously running troop west of the Mississippi. Scouts, former and current, observed the milestone during a celebration at VFW Post 76 downtown, which, chartered in 1917, is just a year shy of its own centennial. Robert Elizondo Mr. E as many of his Scouts called him has been the scoutmaster of Troop 10 for more than 30 years, and does Scouting three nights a week. They joke around saying, Mr. Es the founder, he joined in 1911. I must be old! he said. Many in the room had stories of their time in his troop. You get to learn things you dont learn growing up in the city. Wed go camping and itd be the boys who cooked the dinner; we made fajitas, rice, beans, Mr. Es peach cobbler, said Michael Uresti. There were three generations of Urestis in attendance: state Sen. Carlos Uresti, his son and two grandsons. This Boy Scout troop is a year older than the oldest post in Texas! That says a lot about the values of the Scouts and their role here in the community, the elder Uresti said. Only around 6 percent of Boy Scouts in the country make it to Eagle Scout, and of those, 1 percent are Hispanic. I really feel like its an accomplishment, said George Matthew Cantu, the troops most recent Eagle Scout. Im very proud that hes still going, said his father, Jorge Cantu. Now he wants to give back. At the other end of the table from Jorge and George Cantu, former Scouts now in their 60s, 70s and 80s reminisced about camping trips and boyhood mischief. Some of the things we used to do to Mr. Carter he was all smile, no rattle, Clifford Newman remembered with a grin. You thought you were getting away with things but you realize looking back, it was out of love. They were letting us be boys, Joe Lewis agreed. You never forget that. It helped teach me to be forgiving and understanding in my own life. While many in the room had roots in Bexar County stretching back generations, Jericho Talusan, who represented the Alamo Area Council of the Boy Scouts, had a very different type of story. He started Scouting more than 8,000 miles from San Antonio, as a Cub Scout in the Philippines, and kept at it when he moved to Tennessee at age 10. In some ways, it was how I learned to be American, he said. Talusan was not the only one who found that Scouting played a formative role in the person hed become. James Carter, a former scoutmaster honored as the oldest Scout in attendance, credited Scouting with setting him on the path to his career as a geoscientist. The Boy Scouts have been around 100 years, and myself, I go back about 70 years, Carter said. He wants to build an exhibit at Harlandale United Methodist Church, home of the troop, to tell the story of Scoutings impact on boys lives. He hopes an exhibit can help keep alive all that Scouts learn. All that life experience, how it helps mold who you are when youre gone, what good does that knowledge do if you cant pass it on? he said. Carter and his wife were unable to have children, but his Scouts became family. In a certain sense, my Scouts were my children, and I helped them in any way I can, he said. For many, the bonds last all the way to the end. My dad died of cancer some years back. He was a scoutmaster. And you know what? All six of his pallbearers were Boy Scouts, said Buddy Ginn. fioannou@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Waiting for a bus on West Avenue last week, Wally Mata had no idea that a pair of hotly contested initiatives in Saturdays election might affect his daily commutes with VIA Metropolitan Transit within weeks. Voters in Castle Hills will decide whether the city will keep funding VIA with a half-cent-per-dollar sales tax and whether to create a metropolitan development district that would instead use the tax for, as the ballot puts it, financing development projects beneficial to the district. If voters keep VIA, the second measure is moot and the district wont be created, even if voters approve it, the ballot says. I hadnt heard about it, said Mata, 44 and a Castle Hills resident. But he said he doesnt follow politics or vote and that if VIA service ends, hell take a taxi. Other riders saw cause for concern about bus schedules being altered if the city redirects the nearly $500,000 in sales tax VIA now gets to instead address extensive drainage and street needs. Theyre going to what? asked Claren Dennis, 29. That dont sound too good. Jarrett Williams, like Dennis, catches a bus daily in Castle Hills but lives in San Antonio. I hope they dont stop the bus service because I need it every day to get to work, said Williams, 37. VIA calls this small city of about 4,900 residents a valued partner in its regional transportation network that covers more than 1,200 square miles and includes 12 other cities. If Castle Hills withholds the money, VIA officials say, state law dictates that bus service there must end the day after the election results are canvassed, which is tentatively set for May 16. Most stops along Lockhill Selma Road, Northwest Military Drive, Jackson-Keller Road and Blanco Road would be closed, they said. Some routes would be changed, and some buses would pass through Castle Hills as normal but without stopping. Proponents of cutting VIA funding dismiss as exaggerated the agencys prediction of service cutbacks, noting that most local thoroughfares served by buses technically belong to San Antonio, so the agency has an obligation to serve them. Should Castle Hills voters elect to opt out of VIA service, we will utilize our numerous existing communications channels to ensure riders are alerted to route and service changes, VIA said Friday. Rick Tamez, manager of the H-E-B at 6000 West Ave. in Castle Hills, said eliminating the VIA stop there would cause problems for many of his customers. Bus service is very important to our shoppers, he said, pointing to a shopping cart corral installed adjacent to the bus stop bordering the store parking lot. VIA picked up an average of 900 riders daily in Castle Hills in 2015 and dropped off 847 at the 79 stops in the city, agency officials said, while VIATrans, a specialty service, made more than 2,100 pickups and drop-offs there last year. Those figures are viewed with skepticism by John Hernden, who is campaigning to end VIA services and create the development district. There is very low ridership in Castle Hills, and we could use the money for the betterment of our roads and flood control, said Hernden, who contends that VIA is fudging figures to sway the vote in its favor. VIA brass say they respect the right of local residents to vote whether to opt out, as 11 other area cities have done over the years. We enjoy a strong working relationship with the city of Castle Hills and believe we are providing important services to residents and visitors at a good value, VIA President and CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. The agency reported that it cost nearly $1 million more to serve Castle Hills last year than the $642,451 it received in fares and sales taxes here. VIA has advised the city that, regardless of the election outcome, the city is expected to pay its share of VIA debt incurred since they partnered in 1976. That amounts to an estimated $810,000 to help retire $55 million in debt, for which the local sales taxes apparently will continue to flow. Hernden questions why VIA would want to continue losing money in Castle Hills and contends that residents shouldnt share the agencys debt burden since they didnt get a vote on incurring it. Nothing they say adds up, said Hernden, who printed and distributed more than 100 campaign signs that say Keep Our Money Vote No VIA City leaders are united about the need to tackle major drainage and street projects that reportedly exceed $30 million, but they are split on whether redirecting funds from VIA is the best option. They explored that route after local voters twice in the past decade defeated bond proposals, most recently a $13 million plan in 2013. Using sales taxes is seen as more palatable to some than raising the property tax rate to pay bond debt. The entire City Council supported putting the issues before voters. Mayor Tim Howell says eliminating VIA service would turn Castle Hills into a transportation island. The VIA system brings workers to town to support our businesses. Its part of the fabric of our economic stability, he said. He said the proposed municipal development district would be restricted on how it can spend the $500,000 in annual sales taxes that would be freed up which he called too little to make a dent in local infrastructure needs anyway. It can only be used for things that enhance or promote business development, he said. It cant be directly used for (routine) maintenance or repairs. The referendum has figured prominently in some candidates campaigns for two council seats that also are at stake Saturday. No one dislikes VIA, but the money now going to it could be put to better use by the city, said one, incumbent Douglas Gregory. He expects bus service to continue on nearby roads owned by San Antonio or the state even if city funding is cut, saying West Avenue is the only Castle Hills-owned road now served by VIA. His opponent, former Mayor Bruce Smiley-Kaliff, backs keeping VIA and calls the fix-the-streets plan a totally manufactured political argument. Doing away with public transportation in our city is a fatal error in public policy, he said. The race to succeed Alderman Lesley Wenger pits Margo Pena against J.R. Trevino. Pena said no one has raised the VIA vote with her on the campaign trail and that she has yet to decide how she feels about it. Trevino said people are asking about it and that he favors keeping VIA. We have an obligation to people who rely on VIA, including VIATrans, to provide them with transportation services, he said. Wenger says political passions are unduly inflamed over the two proposals. Every other city that has gotten out (of VIA) has done it for the same reason, to reallocate the sales tax to something they had no other way of paying for, she said. No fuss was made about that. Now, all of a sudden because its Castle Hills, everybody has gone hysterical. zeke@express-news.net Feature Your Listing! Get better results! Make your listing stand out from the crowd! Improve your position and response with our premium listing. The new Chairman of EU co-operative Copa & Cogeca's Food Chain Working Party has made tackling unfair trading practices in the food chain top priority. Chairman Joe Healy said: "Farmers incomes across Europe are being constantly squeezed to unsustainable levels. "There is a big imbalance of power between the different actors in the food chain. "This, combined with perpetual unfair trading practices puts farmers the weakest link in this chain in an extremely difficult situation where, quite often, farm-gate prices do not even cover farmers production costs. "A top priority for me is to bring balance in the food chain and ensure fair margins for producers. "The recent Commission report on unfair trading practices from January failed to recommend action at EU level for problems found in all Member States. "We need to have legislation at EU level that combined with voluntary codes of practice can redress the balance and ensure fairness and transparency in the functioning of the food supply chain. "The recent vote in European Parliaments IMCO Committee calls for legislation at EU level to be introduced to curb these unfair trading practices. "It is vital to have a change in business ethics. It is not acceptable that people can gain financially from unethical and unfair action. "I will fight for what I believe is fair for farmers and right for society. "I will continue the work of my predecessor Eddie Downey and will work with the working party to convince the European Institutions and other stakeholders of the importance of having a fair, transparent and functioning food supply chain for the benefit of the consumers and farmers alike. "It is crucial to work on this so that we can see some real returns for farmers on the ground." Mr Healy is a dairy and cattle farmer from Athenry, Co. Galway and new President of the Irish Farmers Association IFA. He will be supported by Gabriel Trenzado from the Spanish Cooperative Association and Ruth Mason from the National Farmers Union of England and Wales who were elected last week as the Vice Chairpersons of the Working Party. Mr Gabriel Trenzado is the Director for EU affairs with the Spanish Agri-Food cooperatives and has been directly involved with the activities that led to the introduction of legislation on the food chain into Spanish law as well as the Code of Good Practices agreed with all the food chain stakeholders. Ms Ruth Mason is NFUs Chief Food Chain advisor with much experience both in the agricultural and retail sectors. By Julie Thelen Agricultural production methods around the world are very diverse and comprise many different technologies, but what we sometimes fail to recall is how innovative and exciting agricultural practices are across the United States. Whether a 4-H project or the largest ranch in the United States, there are similarities and differences in production practices. Michigan State University Extension offers a glimpse into agriculture throughout the United States in this news article series. Lets take a look at the Silver State, Nevada. With Las Vegas being the home to more than 70 percent of the states residents, it should be no surprise that Nevada is the nations most urban state. What may be surprising is that despite being the driest state in the nation, receiving an average annual rainfall of 7 inches, agriculture is one of Nevadas most important industries. In fact, according to 2010 data, the economic impact of the agricultural cluster was estimated to be $5.3 billion. Nevada continues to meet local and state needs with growing emphasis in local food production and niche-agriculture marketing. This article will focus more closely at the traditional impact including beef production, alfalfa production, water use and 4-H. Beef production Although tourism leads the economic impact on Nevada, making the largest contribution within the agricultural sector is beef production. The 420,322 cattle and calves produced in Nevada rank the state 37th in production, with cow-calf operations being the most common. These cattle contribute to 62.5 percent of farm receipts totaling $732,883,000 according to the Nevada Department of Agriculture in 2011. Nevada tends to have less farms or ranches than we may see in the Midwest, however, those farms are larger in size as Nevada ranks third in the nation in ranch size, averaging 3,500 acres. If visiting Nevada, you would find some of the largest cattle ranches located in the northern half of the state. Also differing vastly from the Midwest, cattle and most other livestock are raised in range systems. The majority of the land in Nevada is owned by the federal government, thus grazing rights continue to be a challenge for livestock producers. Alfalfa production With the use of irrigation, the process of applying water directly to the crops, alfalfa is Nevadas leading cash crop. Alfalfa is a protein rich legume that is grown mostly through flood irrigation in Nevada and serves as a major feed source for cattle. Alfalfa is the most common hay crop with about 40 percent of U.S. production occurring in 11 western states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. In Nevada specifically, alfalfa seeds and hay make a measureable impact on the economy. Alfalfa is often sold as hay, cubes or compressed bales depending on its intended use domestically or internationally. Water use Like Michigan, Nevada farmers are charged with the responsibility to be good stewards of the land and manage our natural resources, particularly water. All water above and below ground within the Nevada state lines is owned by the public. Additionally, water laws exist as a way to allow Nevada to have flexibility to grow while also protecting the supply for those who have used the water previously, specifically a positive for those involved in agricultural pursuits. Although residents tend to be very careful about their water use, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension realized the need to increase the education available for residents and offers information for various audiences on efficient use of water through their Living with Drought program efforts. To address the water concerns, farms and Extension continue to think outside the box. Nevada has and continues to conduct research on low-water-use crops such as teff and hops. Additionally, improving irrigation efficiency continues to be studied and implemented. Nevada 4-H The University of Nevada, Reno is the home to University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and 4-H. Nevada 4-H engages over 49,000 youth ages 5-19 in 4-H programs across the state. Programs are overarching and look at the big picture of life and skill development versus a single fair or 4-H project. Specifically, Nevada bases their programs upon three mission mandates: science, engineering and technology; healthy living; and citizenship. According to the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, the priority 4-H programming areas are 4-H Afterschool; Ambassadors; Collegiate 4-H; Cloverbuds; Healthful Living; Military; Shooting Sports; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Like Nevada, Michigan 4-H looks at the larger picture, offering programs to fit the needs of youth in our communities. Michigan 4-H currently engages over 181,000 youth in programs throughout the state. This is only a small snapshot of Nevada agriculture. For more information about Nevada agriculture, visit the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension or plan a trip to the Silver State to witness it firsthand. Is Wawa coming to Fayetteville? Heres what we know. Wawa, a Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain that residents have long clamored for, could be coming to the area. Key Energy Services Inc. said Thursday the Justice Department informed the company that it has closed its FCPA investigation and wont bring an enforcement action. Houston-based Key Energy said in 2014 it was investigating allegations of possible bribery involving its Mexico operations. The company also said Thursday it is negotiating with the SEC enforcement division to settle the agencys investigation. Key has reached an agreement in principle with the staff on the terms of a proposed offer of settlement, which must be presented to the Commission for approval, Key Energy said. In connection with the offer of settlement, the company said, Key has accrued a liability in the amount of $5 million. Key Energy provides onshore energy production services. It self disclosed the bribery allegations and its investigation to the SEC and the Justice Department in May 2014. It also said then the SEC was investigating potential FCPA violations involving its Russia business. The company employs about 8,000 people worldwide. It has customers in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, the Middle East, and Russia. Key Energy Services Inc. trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol KEG. * * * The FCPA disclosure in Key Energys Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016 said: As previously disclosed, Key Energy Services, Inc. (Key or the Company) has been cooperating with investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission into possible violations by Key of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Key has been informed by the Department of Justice that the Department has closed its investigation and that it has decided to decline prosecution of the Company. In addition, Key has been engaged in negotiations with the staff of the Division of Enforcement of the SEC in an effort to reach a resolution of the staffs investigation related to these same matters. Key has reached an agreement in principle with the staff on the terms of a proposed offer of settlement, which must be presented to the Commission for approval. While there is no assurance that the offer of settlement will be accepted by the Commission, Key is optimistic that the proposed resolution will become final in the second quarter of 2016. In connection with the offer of settlement, Key has accrued a liability in the amount of $5 million. ____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. He can be contacted here. U.S. Navy Captain Michael Vannak Khem MisiewiczA U.S. Navy Captain was sentenced Friday to 78 months in prison for taking cash, travel expenses, concert and theater tickets, and the services of prostitutes from a Singapore-based defense contractor. In exchange for the bribes, Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, 49, gave the contractor Glenn Defense Marine Asia classified U.S. Navy information, including ship schedules with information about the Navys ballistic missile defense operations in the Pacific. Misiewicz, 49, of San Diego, had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of bribery. Federal Judge Janis Sammartino of the Southern District of California also fined Misiewicz $100,000 and ordered him to forfeit $95,000 in bribes. While Misiewicz served as deputy director of operations for the Navys 7th Fleet, he gave the classified information to Leonard Glenn Francis, the CEO and owner of Glenn Defense Marine Asia or GDMA. GDMA provided food, fuel, and cleaning services to U.S. Navy ships and submarines at ports throughout the Pacific. Francis a Malaysian citizen known as Fat Leonard gave Misiewicz cash, paid for luxury travel at least eight times, gave his wife a designer handbag, and supplied Misiewicz with prostitutes. The gifts included tickets to a Lady Gaga concert in Thailand and a theater performance of The Lion King in Japan. The Washington Post described the relationship between Misiewicz and Fat Leonard this way: They called each other Big Bro and Little Bro, which summed things up in more ways than one. Francis, the elder by a few years, is a giant of a man, standing over 6 feet tall and weighing 350 pounds. Misiewicz looks about half his size. Both were married, middle-aged men with young children at home. But they loved to go clubbing together at port cities throughout Asia, staying out until dawn as they conspired how to avoid detection for their carousing and their crimes. Misiewicz is one of ten individuals charged in the case. Nine of them have now pleaded guilty. They include U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel Dusek, Lieutenant Commander Todd Malaki, NCIS Special Agent John Beliveau, Commander Jose Luis Sanchez, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Dan Layug. Former Department of Defense civilian employee Paul Simpkins awaits trial. In January this year, Layug was sentenced to 27 months in prison and Malaki was sentenced to 40 months in prison. In March, Alex Wisidagama, a Singaporean who worked for GDMA, was sentenced to 63 months and ordered to pay $34.8 million in restitution to the Navy. Also in March, Capt. Dusek was sentenced to 46 months in prison. The others await sentencing. Three rear admirals including the commander of naval forces in Japan announced their retirements in early 2015 after the Secretary of the Navy censured them for the bribery scandal. _____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. He can be contacted here. Image courtesy of KBROil and gas services firm KBR said in its quarterly report Friday that the DOJ has contacted the company in connection with an investigation of Unaoil. The Huffington Post/Fairfax Media reported a month ago that Monaco-based Unaoil acted as an intermediary to pay bribes for big international companies, mainly from the oil and gas sector. The report cited information in files allegedly leaked from Unaoil. Police in Monaco raided Unaoils offices after the report appeared. Unaoil has denied the bribery allegations. Citing leaked documents, the Huffington Post said KBR hired Unaoil to help it win oil and gas contracts in Kazakhstan. In 2009, KBR and its former parent Halliburton paid $579 million to the DOJ and SEC to resolve FCPA offenses in Nigeria. The settlement still ranks as the third biggest FCPA enforcement action ever. Houston-based KBR admitted paying Nigerian officials at least $182 million in bribes for contracts awarded between 1995 and 2004 to build liquefied natural gas facilities on Bonny Island, Nigeria. The contracts won by a KBR-led international joint venture were worth more than $6 billion. KBRs former CEO, Albert Jack Stanley, pleaded guilty in September 2008 to conspiring to violate the FCPA. He was sentenced to thirty months in prison. The HuffPo reported in late March that while the DOJ investigated the Nigeria bribes, a KBR employee emailed Unaoil to warn [that] the American company was tightening anti-corruption controls in response to the federal probe. Despite this, KBR continued to pay Unaoil for work in Kazakhstan for years afterward, the story said. KBR has denied wrongdoing, the HuffPo said. * * * The disclosure in KBR Inc.s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016 said: Recently, there have been news reports related to Unaoil, a Monaco based company, and activities Unaoil may have engaged in related to international projects involving several global companies, including KBR. It has also been reported that the U.S. DOJ is conducting an investigation of Unaoil related to the information reported in these news articles. The DOJ has contacted the Company in connection with that investigation and the Company is cooperating with its requests for information. _____ Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. He can be contacted here. The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman This collection takes its name from an essay about the authors experience at the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony. Comprising 60 pieces of non-fiction, penned in his distinctive style, Gaiman explores a wide range of subjects from dreams, myths and fairytales to comics, bookshops and libraries, to music, travel, ghosts and much more. It's a collection of my nonfiction. It's not every speech, introduction or article I've written, but it's all the speeches that seemed important, all the articles I was still proud of, all the introductions that seemed to be about something bigger than just telling people about the book or author they were going to read, wrote Gaiman on his blog. We can barely wait till the end of the month. Release date: May 31, 2016 Global e-commerce major Amazon plans to boost investment in its Indian arm which is seen as closing in on market leader Flipkart.Amazon's chief financial officer Brian Olsavsky, speaking at an investor call after the company's first quarter results last week, said the company is making large investments in India."We're very excited about what we see and we will continue to invest heavily in India," he said.Amazon has already invested more than Rs 15,000 crore in its e-commerce operations in India so far.India is Amazon's second biggest investment market, after the US, and the company expects India to overtake Japan, Germany and the UK to become its largest overseas market in the next few years. Olsavsky who had recently visited India, spent a week with Amazon teams in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. "I had a chance to see firsthand the level of invention going on with both customers and sellers...it's a very exciting time in India and again, the invention is off the charts. We are inventing things in India that do not exist in other parts of the world. And the team there is one of our best," he said. Olsavsky said that for the second year in a row, customers selected Amazon India as the company's "most trusted" online shopping brand. He noted that in the last quarter, Amazon India rolled out the Tatkal programme, a studio-on-wheels that goes to sellers to help them sign up. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Online retail delivery volumes were up 12.7 per cent year-on-year in March (12 per cent on February) in the UK, according to the IMRG MetaPack UK Delivery Index.IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group),the voice of e-retail in the UK said in a press release that the first quarter (Q1) of the year was completed in line with its growth forecast of 12 per cent.. Online retail delivery volumes were up 12.7 per cent year-on-year in March (12 per cent on February) in the UK, according to the IMRG MetaPack UK Delivery Index. IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group),the voice of e-retail in the UK said in a press release that the first quarter (Q1) of the year was completed in line with its growth forecast of# After the online retail sales slowdown in Q1 last year, 2016 has got off to a more steady start with a number of key measures performing as expected including the proportion of orders going cross-border matching 2015 so far this year and the percentage of 'on-time' delivery remaining consistent with both March 2014 and 2015 at 94 per cent.The two areas witnessing a shift in trend this year are average parcel order values which were up almost 21 per cent on the same month last year and the proportion of orders despatched using 'specified day/next day' delivery services in March. At just below 35 per cent of all volume, these services have not accounted for a share this high at this time of year since March 2012, the release said.Andrew Starkey, Head of E-Logistics, IMRG, said, It's been a fairly unremarkable start to the year in terms of order patterns so far, which is perhaps no bad thing after the unpredictable performance in Q1 last year when there was an unexpected slowdown in online sales. Last year it's possible that the general election had an impact on shopper confidence and there are some potentially disruptive influences to come in 2016 in terms of the EU referendum and US election, as well as big sporting events such as the Olympics and European tournament, the early impact of which we will be monitoring closely.Kees de Vos, Chief Product Officer at MetaPack said, The growth in average parcel order values and orders being delivered via specific or next day delivery, only highlights the growing trend for consumers to use a variety of delivery options that suit their lifestyles. The adoption of sophisticated personalisation engines that really took off in 2015 is reaping dividends for retailers whose customers can choose exactly when and how their deliveries are made.The MetaPack Group provides e-commerce and multi-channel delivery technology to leading retailers. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Clothing exports could create more and better jobs in Bangladesh if the country makes improvements in productivity, product quality and reliability, and by enforcing better safety conditions and other compliance policies, according to a World Bank report said.The report titled Stitches to Riches: Apparel Employment, Trade and Economic Development says Bangladesh has the largest apparel export industry in South Asia and, at 6.4 per cent, the largest market share of global apparel exports among South Asian countries. Clothing exports could create more and better jobs in Bangladesh if the country makes improvements in productivity, product quality and reliability, and by enforcing better safety conditions and other compliance policies, according to a World Bank report said. The report titled Stitches to Riches: Apparel Employment, Trade and Economic Development # Bangladesh has steadily increased its share of global apparel trade above the world average and greater than China but lower than that of the Southeast Asian countries.The report highlights that Bangladesh needs to improve performance on non-cost factors important to global buyers. Successfully implementing reforms will help Bangladesh increase exports and capture more jobs from China's gradual exit from the clothing market and compete with Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia. For the US market, a 10 per cent increase in Chinese apparel prices would increase apparel employment in Bangladesh by 4.22 per cent.The apparels sector in Bangladesh tells a remarkable story of women's empowerment by significantly increasing female participation in the labor force, said Qimiao Fan, the World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. The apparel industry is extremely important to Bangladesh's economy, accounting for 83 per cent of total exports. The potential decrease in Chinese exports presents a huge opportunity for Bangladesh, if it can meet global buyers' requirements for cost, quality, lead time, reliability and compliance with safety standards and other policies.In Bangladesh, the industry is dominated by local firms, but foreign direct investment played a central role in launching the industry, providing linkages to foreign buyers, technology, and knowledge transfer. Its apparel firms produce large quantities of clothing at low costs, largely due to its low wage rates. Firms mostly specialize in low-value and mid-market price segment apparels trousers, knit and woven shirts, sweaters/sweatshirts and have not penetrated the high-end clothing markets so far.Competition is increasing in the global apparels market with buyers moving towards greater consolidation in sourcing decisions and the impending approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, said Gladys Lopez-Acevedo, report co-author and a Lead Economist for the World Bank. Bangladesh should capitalize on its position as regional leader and implement policies to improve the quality of its product. Bangladesh should focus on sustaining the creation and expansion of good jobs, bringing more women into the work force and diversifying its products and end markets to increase skills and value. London-based Koovs has raised 21.9 million pounds (about Rs 212.4 crore) to expand operations in the coming e-commerce market in India.Koovs, the parent company of Indian lifestyle e-commerce venture of the same name, is listed on the London Stock Exchange. London-based Koovs has raised 21.9 million pounds (about Rs 212.4 crore) to expand operations in the coming e-commerce market in India. Koovs, the parent company of Indian lifestyle e-commerce venture of the same name, is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company which focuses on the western wear category in India, has seen registered# The company which focuses on the western wear category in India, has seen registered userbase growing to one million. This is an increase of 226 per cent over the last year.The latest fund raising involves an issue of 87.6 million new ordinary shares at a price of 25 pence per ordinary share.This capital raising includes investments from both existing shareholders and new institutional investors, including Ruffer LLP."India's online fashion market is expected to increase five-fold by 2020 to 1.5 billion pounds (about Rs 14,559 crore) and we have a clear strategy to accelerate Koovs' growth in this market," Koovs CEO Mary Turner said in a statement.The capital raising demonstrates the confidence of both new and existing investors in the company's strategy and provides further investment to scale the business, she added.Koovs aims to become India's number one western fashion destination by 2020 and today's announcement marks a next significant step towards that goal, she added.Besides, Koovs has authority to raise up to an additional 8.1 million pounds (about Rs 78.5 crore) prior to June 30, 2016."In addition, some funds will be used to acquire the remaining 38.6 per cent stake in Koovs Marketing Consulting (Koovs India), as a result of which Koovs will own 100 per cent of its subsidiary," the statement said.The shares, being bought from Infotel E-Commerce (a company controlled by Anant Nahata) will be purchased for a total cash consideration of 9 million pounds.According to the Koovs annual financial statements, its Indian arm suffered a pre-taxation loss of Rs 63.25 crore (6.4 million pounds) for the year ended March 31, 2015.Turner had recently said the company expects to see a three-fold growth in business this year. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India For years, Amravati in Mahasrashtra has been infamous for farmers' suicides. Now, in a bid to change Amravati's depressing profile, the Maharashtra government plans to develop it as a textiles city to promote this industry in cotton-growing areas of Vidarbha region."The state government is promoting textile industries in suicide-prone region of Vidarbha to give a value addition and alternate market linkage to the cotton growers of the region on the lines of sugarcane belt of Western Maharashtra to prevent farmers' suicide in the cotton-growing region of western part of Vidarbha," Fadnavis said after laying the foundation stone for a Raymond's manufacturing facility near Amravati. For years, Amravati in Mahasrashtra has been infamous for farmers' suicides. Now, in a bid to change Amravati's depressing profile, the Maharashtra government plans to develop it as a textiles city to promote this industry in cotton-growing areas of Vidarbha region. "The state government is promoting textile industries in suicide-prone region# Cotton cultivators, often with small land holdings can thrive only if they have an assured market. The government wants to adopt the western Maharashtra model where sugar mills and sugar cane cultivators are inter-linked and inter-dependent.The Chief Minister said the Nandgaon industrial estate would be developed as textile park and Amravati would soon be recognised as a textiles city.The Maharashtra government had signed an MoU with Raymond Group of Companies for a textile park and manufacturing hub worth Rs 1,400 crore, during the Make In India Week in February.Raymond Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Gautam Singhania said his company will invest Rs 1,400 crore and the unit will provide job opportunities to about 8,000 persons.Raymond is targeting production by March 31, 2017. The textile major has a unit in Yavatmal and cotton growers will benefit from the second unit in Amravati, Fadnavis said. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Spinexpo, an international trade exhibition for fibres, yarns, knitwear, and knitted fabrics, expands in Europe with the launch of Spinexpo Paris, to be held from July 6-7. Spinexpo Paris will bring products from international specialists closer to European buyers. The two-day event will present collections from the leading spinning mills and knitwear manufacturers addressing the active, knitwear, weaving, embroidery and lace sectors as well as any other outlet using yarns. Spinexpo, an international trade exhibition for fibres, yarns, knitwear, and knitted fabrics, expands in Europe with the launch of Spinexpo Paris, to be held from July 6-7. Spinexpo Paris will bring products from international specialists closer to European buyers.The two-day event will present collections from the leading spinning mills and knitwear manufac# Targeting 75 exhibitors for its first session with product offerings from selected international top-level companies in the spinning and knitwear sectors, Spinexpo Paris will unveil Autumn/Winter 2017-18 collections of the participants. The 8th edition of Spinexpo New York will be held on July 19-21, and the 28th edition of Spinexpo Shanghai will be held from August 30 to September 1. (HO) Spinexpo Hello peeps! The Indian Premier League 2016, has been entertaining the whole country every single day since three weeks, and all the teams are vigorously fighting with each other to win the title. Bollywood celebrities, own a few IPL teams, and some owners have also hired actresses as brand ambassadors of their teams. The Royal Challengers Bangalore, had hired Katrina Kaif as the brand ambassador from 2007 to 2010, and Katrina was seen supporting RCB at various venues. Check out pictures of Katrina Kaif & Siddharth Mallya here! Katrina Kaif, was an eye candy of the spectactors, and people just loved it whenever the cameras focused on Katrina Kaif sitting on the stands sporting a Royal Challengers Bangalore jersey. The actress, cheered every boundary and was all tensed whenever the match was close and thrilling. 30 Rare & Unseen Pictures Of Bipasha Basu From Her Teenage Days! The Fitoor actress, had also quoted a confident line about RCB saying "It's not over until its over". Which means the Royal Challengers Bangalore, will fight tooth and nail until the last ball to win every match. Siddharth Mallya and Katrina Kaif, shared a special bond of friendship, and showed utmost respect whenever the two were together. Both Siddharth Mallya and Katrina Kaif, jumped with joy whenever the ball went to the boundary and cheered for their favourite team RCB. Funny Wedding Pictures of Bipasha Basu & Karan Singh Grover Clicked When They Were Not Ready! Katrina Kaif, apart from being present at the stadiums, also took to the field to give out trophies for the 'post match presentations' and congratulated the players for performing well. However, in 2011, Katrina Kaif stepped down from being the brand ambassador of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team citing work committments. Unseen Pictures Of Bipasha Basu & Akshay Kumar! It has been almost a month since the actress Pratyusha Banerjee committed suicide and the truth is yet to come out. Her boyfriend, Rahul Raj Singh is booked for abetment of suicide, but is out on (anticipatory) bail. It has to be recalled that Neeraj Gupta, who claimed to be Rahul's ex-lawyer, backed out of the case, on 'humanitarian ground'! The lawyer had also revealed some of the shocking facts,with evidences against Rahul in a press conference. But, Rahul's father revealed that Neeraj was never appointed to fight the case. Now, Rahul has decided to file a case against Neeraj. Rahul was quoted by a leading daily as saying, "I want people to know the truth. We will be filing a case against Neeraj in the Bar Council. First, he told everyone that he was my lawyer, which he never was, and then he went against me." He further added, "Out of nowhere, he started talking to the media on my behalf. My lawyer is Aabad Paunda. Lawyers are not supposed to talk to the media. I will file a case against Neeraj on Monday. Then I will file a case against everyone who spoke against me when I was in the hospital." The latest on this case is the recording of Pratyusha's last telephonic conversation with her boyfriend, Rahul, which was heard by the judge of Bombay High Court. Rahul was given an anticipatory bail, as he was yet to be charged with murder. Stay locked to this space for the latest updates... The start of 2016 has seen no let up in Chinese President Xi Jinpings three-year-old crackdown on graft, with the countrys financial sector put sharply in the spotlight since last summers market meltdowns. Xis pledge was to target big tigers leaders and decision-makers in the Communist Party and the private sector - as well as small flies who cause irritation at grass-roots level. A number of high-ranking regulators and executives at big securities houses had come under scrutiny since the market turmoil last summer that sent the benchmark Shanghai index plunging 43%. Some were being investigated for alleged malicious short-selling, insider trading or leaking inside information as the huge falls triggered an intensified clampdown on financial irregularities in an effort to smoke out malpractice and purify the market. In October, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection the countrys top anti-graft watchdog, led by Wang Qishan, Chinas anti-corruption tsar and Xis lieutenant also kicked off a broad review of the countrys financial industry. It sent inspection teams to various financial entities, including the Peoples Bank of China, the big four state-owned banks, as well as the banking, securities and insurance regulators to weed out potential financial wrongdoing and corruption. The statistics show the extent of Xis graft crackdown: more than 54,000 officials were investigated by prosecutors for corruption, dereliction of duty and other duty-related crimes, and 336,000 were punished for violating discipline in 2015, according to Wangs work report. Imagine a campaign in the US that took down the White House chief of staff, state governors, city mayors, heads of federal regulatory agencies, the chief executives of Fortune 100 companies, and possibly Warren Buffet and you have some idea of the scale of Xis crackdown. Below is a list of top Chinese financial regulators, bankers, brokerage and corporate executives who have been detained, mysteriously disappeared, or died under a cloud since last year: Xu Xiang The former Zexi Investment general manager, dubbed Chinas Carl Icahn, was formally arrested for insider trading and manipulating stocks prices, official news agency Xinhua reported on April 29, citing law enforcement agencies in Qingdao. He was dramatically detained by police on Hangzhou Bay Bridge in November 2015. His was the first case against a private securities manager since Beijing stepped up scrutiny of financial institutions last year. Cheng Boming and other Citic Securities executives Cheng, president of Chinas largest brokerage by assets, was taken away by police for alleged insider trading and leaking inside information in September 2015, making him the highest-ranking brokerage official investigated since Beijing intensified a clampdown on market malpractice. He and two other Citic Securities executives, Liu Jun and Xu Jun, were formally arrested on criminal charges, Xinhua reported on April 29. Yang Zezhu The former head of mid-sized brokerage Changjiang Securities plunged to his death in January while under investigation for suspected disciplinary violations Zhang Yun The most senior banker caught up in the campaign, Zhang left his role as head of the Agricultural Bank of China in December after his detention as part of a probe in November. Guo Guangchang The billionaire head of Fosun International sparked speculation when he went missing in December. After his release, Chinas biggest privately owned conglomerate later clarified Guo was helping judicial authorities with an unspecified investigation. Yim Fung The chairman and CEO of Guotai Junan Securities Hong Kong unit disappeared for several weeks in November. Yim returned to work in late December after assisting investigations by Chinese authorities, the company said in a filing to the Hong Kong exchange. Yao Gang One of four vice-chairmen at the securities regulator, Yao was placed under investigation by Chinas anti-graft watchdog for suspected serious breaches of discipline, its terminology for suspected corruption, in mid November. Yao is the most senior securities official snared. Zhang Yujun and Liu Shufan Zhang, former CSRC assistant chairman overseeing brokers and fundhouses, was investigates for serious violations of discipline in September. Liu, a former CSRC division head and reportedly Yaos ex-secretary, made a televised confession to bribery and insider trading the same month. Chen Hongqiao The head of Guosen Securities, a large Chinese brokerage, was found hanged on the balcony of his Shenzhen home in October after he was reportedly tied into an investigation into Zhang Yujun, former CSRC assistant chairman, and banned from leaving the country. Chen had been Zhangs deputy when the latter ran the Shenzhen bourse. Mao Xiaofeng The president of China Minsheng Bank was detained in January 2015 to assist in a corruption investigation into Ling Jihua, the top aide to former Chinese president Hu Jintao, according to a Caixin report. Minsheng announced in a stock exchange filing Mao, 43, stepped down for personal reasons. Lei Jie Founder Securities reported on January 22, 2015, that it had been unable to contact Lei, who chaired both Founder and its securities joint venture with Credit Suisse, for three days. He had asked for a weeks sick leave on January 12. Bloomberg reported Lei was released from police custody in November after helping with an unspecified probe. The worlds biggest commodity companies are still hurting. And Chinas miners are watching them hungrily, looking to pick up major assets. China Molybdenum Co, also known as CMOC, has been one of the first to pounce. On Thursday it announced that it had acquired Anglo American's Brazil-based niobium and phosphates mining businesses for $1.5 billion. For Hong Kong and Shanghai-listed CMOC it is an opportunistic purchase. Anglo American has embarked on a clear-out of non-essential assets as it seeks to raise $5 billion to $10 billion to cut its net debt from $12.9 billion at the end of 2015. Moodys cut its credit rating to junk status in February, citing Anglo American's gross-debt-to-Ebitda ratio at the end of 2015 of around 4.2 times. It's not the only humbled commodity player looking to sell. And CMOC is unlikely to be the only eager acquirer from China. Switzerland-based Glencore, which mines 90 commodities, reported an Ebitda of $8.69 billion at the end of December, 32% down on the previous year. Worse still, the company was carrying $25.89 billion in debt. It announced a $10 billion debt-reduction plan in September. Freeport McMoRan is in a similar position; the US mining company also had its rating cut to junk by Moody's in late January, with the ratings firm predicting a debt-to-equity ratio of as much as six times by the end of 2016. Around the same time Freeport McMoRan, the world's largest copper miner, said it would seek to cut $5 billion to $10 billion in debt through asset sales. Mining companies have been feeling pain for a long time and when the prices came off everybody was trying to hold onto what they had and survive, said a banker familiar with the Anglo American sale. But prices havent improved, so these mining companies are having to fundamentally restructure themselves and sell larger assets that Chinese investors are interested in. The markets viewed Anglo Americans Brazilian mines sale as a positive for the company, lifting its London-listed shares by 4.6% on the day of the announcement. Double the output The balance sheet pressure being experienced by the world's leading diversified miners offers an excellent opportunity for their aspiring Chinese counterparts to grab some large assets. With respect to prices, the market view is that we are at the bottom or about to reach [the] bottom of the commodity market, the banker told FinanceAsia. And it's a good opportunity for China when this steep fall in prices has led major commodity companies to sell assets. He added that Chinese companies were particularly interested in buying large copper assets, if they become available. Anglo American's Brazilian mines sale certainly offered CMOC a unique opportunity. The niobium mine is the second-largest out of three major producers of the metal in the world. Niobium, like molybdenum, is a metal used in the steel-making process to help harden the metal. Phosphates, meanwhile, are used in the production of fertilisers. CMOC ended up buying the mines after winning a competitive auction process in which it was the only Chinese bidder. According to the banker, the company originally approached Anglo American in September, setting of an auction process around November. CMOC was then short-listed in February, made a final bid on April 20, and was issued a sales and purchase agreement on April 27. "That's different to what you see with many Chinese [state-owned enterprises]. This company is commercially savvy, the banker said, referring to the speed with which CMOC had acted. He partly put that down to the fact that while CMOC's largest shareholder is state-owned Luoyang Mining Group, with a 31.56% stake, the company is effectively run by Cathay Fortune, a private equity hedge fund with a 29.79% holding in the company. As a result, it takes a more commercial eye to business opportunities than most SOE-linked companies. The estimated valuation of the mines, at approximately 10 times 2015 Ebitda, doesnt look cheap mining and fertiliser assets tend to sell in the high single digits. But it looks more reasonable once a recent overhaul of the mine is taken into account, the banker said. This is expected to double its annual output of niobium to 9,000 tonnes. A potential doubling of the companys Ebitda would make the ratio paid much more appealing. China Molybdenum has been eager to expand and diversify itself through acquisitions. In 2013 it bought Rio Tinto's majority stake in the Northparkes copper mine for $820 million, during an earlier attempt by the Anglo-Australian company to cut costs by offloading assets. Buying a phosphate mining business during this latest purchase helps to expand CMOC's product array. Steel and copper are more industrial commodities but the [Chinese] economy has moved more to a consumption phase of development than a construction or infrastructure phase, the banker said. Phosphate is linked to consumer demand; it helps to grow crops like soya beans and can be used to help feed cows. Calculated risks While Chinese mining companies have the desire and financial heft to snap up big assets from struggling global players, questions linger about the sagacity of the strategy. China's demand for commodities in the 2000s was behind much of the surge in prices, while its slowing growth is in large part to blame for the slump of the past few years. Given these poor conditions, it's risky to buy more assets in this market, no matter how cheaply valued. However, observers argue that such acquisitions fit in with China's overall strategy. The country is seeking greater global influence and its largest companies have been able to rely on large amounts of cheap loans from state banks as they head offshore to buy assets. They are also typically under less shareholder pressure to deliver quick returns, and instead often look to 10 years or more for an asset to deliver value. That heady cocktail gives Chinese companies a big financial advantage over international rivals when it comes to buying assets. But as FinanceAsia has argued previously, it also exacerbates the high levels of debt risk in China's banking sector and could spread the dangers of any debt crisis to foreign companies that have been acquired by Chinese peers. China's mining companies in particular are gambling that their cheap credit lines will remain secure, potentially for years, while they await a market turnaround. It could prove to be an astute gamble. But there are sizeable risks too. Barclays and Deutsche Bank were the financial advisers for China Molybdenum, while Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley advised Anglo American on the disposal of the mines. This article has been changed to reflect the fact Barclays was one of the buyside financial advisers. HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam - The Next Global Apparel Destination Denimsandjeans.com, the creator of denims show in Bangladesh, is now bringing the first-ever denim show in Vietnam with more than 30 exhibitors from Vietnam and different regions of the world including some major global denim mills to bring more focus and attention to this important sector. The denim supply chain show will hit the floor on 16th June, 2016 at Gem Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/802397) Globally recognised denim experts and many reputed denim veterans as well as international denim buyers are expected to visit the trade show and will also share their knowledge during series of seminars and panel discussions. The objective of the show is to bring international mills, local vendors, top brands, retailers and supply chain partners together at the same platform. Denim is an important part of apparel exports from China and Bangladesh. Vietnam also is increasing its strengths in denim and is expected to become important player in this sector. Recession has shaken the entire global apparel industry for the last few years but Vietnam has witnessed a constant growth even in this distressing phase. Growing approximately at 19 per cent compared to 2013, Vietnam's textile and garment exports have crossed US$ 24 billion in 2014, says the largest textile group in Vietnam - Vinatex. Vietnam offers huge potential economic opportunities from future free trade agreements. The Vietnamese textile industry, with more than 3,800 companies, is the country's leading export sector. The country ranks fifth worldwide in textile and apparel exports and has a labor force in that sector of more than 2 million people, of whom 1.3 million are working directly in the industry. According to the recent imports figures, US apparel imports from Vietnam grew by 38.1% in February, 2016. Many textile and garment companies in the region have already begun to move production to Vietnam. Major U.S. retailers such as Sara Lee, JC Penney, Express, the Gap, Macy's, Nordstrom's, Mast Industries and American Eagle source a sizeable portion of their imports from Vietnam. Most of these companies source the imports through their Asian head offices in Hong Kong. The entry to the Denimsandjeans.com Vietnam show is by 'Invitation only' and only for denim professionals. To get the official invitation, visitors need to register on http://www.vmshow.denimsandjeans.com/invite.php For more information, visit http://www.vmshow.denimsandjeans.com/ Media Contact Mr. Sandeep Agarwal mktg@balajiinternational.com +91-11-42828050 PHOENIX (dpa-AFX) - Apollo Education Group Inc. (APOL) said that it has received a revised offer from a consortium of investors including The Vistria Group, LLC, funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC and the Najafi Companies. As per the revised terms, which represent a best and final offer, the consortium has increased the price at which it would acquire the company to $10.00 per share in cash for both Class A and Class B shares. The final offer price represents a 52 percent premium over the closing price on Jan. 8, 2016, immediately prior to the announcement that the Board of Directors was pursuing strategic alternatives, and a 29 percent premium over Apollo Education Group's 30-day volume weighted average stock price for the period ended Apr. 29, 2016. Apollo Education noted that its board evaluated the revised offer and reiterates its recommendation that shareholders vote FOR the adoption of the merger agreement. 'We are delighted that the increased purchase price will provide our shareholders with $10.00 per share in cash at closing. The Board believes that the increased offer clearly makes this transaction an excellent outcome for shareholders, particularly given the headwinds facing the company,' said Greg Cappelli, Chief Executive Officer of Apollo Education Group. At the April 28 Special Meeting of Shareholders, nearly 58 percent of the Class A votes cast were FOR the proposed transaction, with approximately 80 percent of the outstanding shares voted to date. However, the votes to date in favor of the transaction do not yet constitute a majority of the outstanding shares. As previously announced, the Special Meeting of Shareholders to vote on the revised proposal is scheduled for May 6, 2016. In February 2016, Apollo Education Group announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by a consortium of investors including The Vistria Group, LLC, funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (APO), and Najafi Companies for $9.50 per share in cash. Upon completion of the deal, Apollo Education Group will be privately held. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de North Media Aviser has sold a number of editions of Sndagsavisen and its equity interest in A/S Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade for a total selling price of DKK 41.75 million to Sjllandske Medier. The proceeds, the prospective editorial and sales related collaboration and a focused digital investment will strengthen the remaining newspaper activities which with a total weekly circulation of more than 1.25 million newspapers still is Denmark's absolutely largest advertising medium and thus a strong base for national chains and other advertisers. 2 May 2016Company announcement no 04-16Today, North Media A/S ("North Media") has signed an agreement with Sjllandske Medier A/S ("Sjllandske Medier") for the latter's acquisition of Sndagsavisen's editions covering Nstved, Vordingborg, Falster, Ringsted, Holbk as well as Taastrup, Kge Bugt and Vestegnen. These six editions of Sndagsavisen represent a weekly circulation of just below 300,000 households out of Sndagsavisen's total circulation of 1.22 million households.In addition, an agreement has been signed today for Sjllandske Medier A/S' acquisition of North Media's 50% stake in A/S Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade ("Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade"), which publishes Uge-Nyt, Sklskr Avis and Korsr Posten in addition to Sndagsavisen in Slagelse. With this acquisition Sjllandske Medier achieves 100% ownership of Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade.Sndagsavisen maintains its position as Denmark's largest advertising medium"As a result of the divestment and the intensified collaboration with Sjllandske Medier, Sndagsavisen as a brand will now be able to offer the major advertisers an even more powerful product as many parts of Zealand Sndagsavisen's readership will have Sndagsavisen's consumer and family-oriented material supplemented with the very strong local coverage that Sjllandske Medier's weeklies are known for," says Arne Ullum, CEO of North Media Aviser. "Being able at the same time to strengthen the capital base of our other newspapers is only positive," Arne Ullum proceeds and states that Sndagsavisen is in the process of entering into agreements with local partners to deliver local material to the editions of Sndagsavisen still published by North Media Aviser.North Media Aviser A/S ("North Media Aviser") will continue to issue the Sndagsavisen editions in Roskilde, North Zealand, including Herlev and Frederikssund, in Copenhagen, Amager, Funen and the Triangle Region in Jutland. Also, the publication of eight local newspapers in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, Helsingr Dagblad and Lokalavisen Nordsjlland will continue. These represent a total circulation of 1.25 million copies a week. This will maintain Sndagsavisen's position as Denmark's by far largest advertising medium and the only one where the largest advertisers may reach more than one million households.As part of the acquisition of the mentioned editions of Sndagsavisen, North Media Aviser and Sjllandske Medier sign a collaboration agreement on editorial content and key account sales and sales of job advertisements to the acquired Sndagsavisen editions. Sjllandske Medier will also take over a small group of staff primarily occupied with regional sales.Consolidation strengthens focus and financial resources"The printed newspapers market is changing, which is why it is natural to consolidate the market. A few years ago, we acquired eight local newspapers in Copenhagen because we could realise some economies of scale and synergies. In turn, we now sell some editions of Sndagsavisen to a long-time business partner, Sjllandske Medier, who may equally realise economies of scale and synergies because Sjllandske Medier is already publishing newspapers in the areas included in the agreement. As a newspaper publisher, offhand you would prefer to up your circulation, but if the Danish newspaper market is to be consolidated, this also calls for being ready to sell newspapers. It is obvious in this context that the six editions of Sndagsavisen and the newspapers published by Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade are now in the hands of an owner who, because of their strong position in a geographical area, has the best qualifications for strengthening and developing the newspapers for the benefit of readers and advertisers," Arne Ullum closes.The equity interest in Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade is acquired effective from 1 May 2016, and acquisition of the editions of Sndagsavisen will take place regularly from 15 May 2016 to 15 June 2016.The Sndagsavisen editions sold represented annual revenue of about DKK 27.9 million in 2015. In 2015, the Group's share of profit from the associate Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade was DKK 1.2 million.The selling price of the newspaper activities sold and the equity interest in Veststjllandske Distriktsblade totals DKK 41.75 million. The editions of Sndagsavisen are sold as activities, and the equity interest in Vestsjllandske Distriktsblade is sold on a debt-free basis. The selling prices are settled in cash.Adjustment of expectations for 2016North Media expects a total net profit from the sale of approx DKK 40 million, which will be presented partly as profit from associates, partly as special item.North Media's provisional results for Q 1 2016 shows, that the Group in the period had a revenue in the range of DKK 215 million and a loss (EBIT) before special items in the range of a negative DKK 10 million.As a result of the divestment of the above mentioned editions and the development in Q 1 the 2016 revenue expectations for North Media Aviser are revised to now range from DKK 185 million to DKK 195 million compared to previously between DKK 200 million and DKK 210 million. North Media Aviser EBIT before special items for 2016 is now expected to range between a negative DKK 35 million and a negative DKK 30 million compared to previously between a negative DKK 30 million and a negative DKK 25 million.The Group's revenue expectations now range between DKK 865 million and DKK 915 million, and Group EBIT before special items is expected to range between a negative DKK 55 million and a negative DKK 25 million.The Group's Interim Management Statement for Q 1 will be published on 4 May 2016.The strategy of North Media Aviser remains unchangedThe continued publication of newspapers means that the synergy effects with FK Distribution remain unchanged. It is also estimated that current market developments will open up new opportunities for North Media Aviser activities. This is why the strategy of North Media Aviser remains unchanged, and focus is on boosting sales to large national chains which have had difficulties in reaching a sufficiently wide community due to the development in the increasing number of No Ads, Please households. Also, the efforts of increasing sales at new digital platforms, including sondagsavisen.dk and testuniverset.dk, will continue.For further information about the Group's newspaper operations, please refer to North Media's Annual Report 2015, including the business description on pages 26-29.For further details, please contact Group Executive Director & CFO Kare Wigh at +45 25 65 21 45 or CEO of North Media Aviser Arne Ullum at +45 21 63 22 27.Yours faithfullyNorth Media A/SKare WighGroup Executive Director & CFOThis Company announcement no 04-16 has been prepared in Danish and English. The Danish text shall be the governing text for all purposes and in case of any discrepancy the Danish wording shall be applicable. Be'ah, Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, awards contract to Veolia and Omani partner Al Ramooz National Regulatory News: Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, be'ah, has just awarded Veolia (Paris:VIE), through its subsidiary Veolia Middle East, and its Omani partner Al Ramooz National LLC, a contract for waste management in the Sultanate of Oman. The seven year contract will focus on establishing the required services across the Governorates of Al-Dhahirah and Al Buraimi, restructure the municipal waste collection services and improve public awareness of waste management. The contract will include collection, transportation, and landfilling for the North West region of Oman for municipal waste and will benefit more than 250,000 inhabitants. Veolia will act as the technical leader of the contract and will operate two landfills, whereas Al Ramooz will be in charge of the waste collection and the development of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). This waste management contract in the Sultanate of Oman is a milestone for Veolia, its first ever contract for this activity in Oman. This contract shows how seeking complementary local expertise can be a driver of growth. In line with the development ambition of Veolia in the region, partnership with local players is pivotal for creating value in the territories and for the communities. Xavier Joseph, CEO Veolia Middle East said, "Together with our Omani partner Al Ramooz National, Veolia looks forward to supporting Oman and its people with the best-in-class expertise in waste management. Our key focus for this contract will be to contribute to the implementation of the best standards for the waste management operations in the Sultanate, as well as support the Omani economy through in-country value." Tariq Ali Al-Amri, Chief Executive Officer of be'ah, Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, said: "We are pleased to award the contract in line with our strategy and sector takeover plan, and with our aim to provide high level services in association with an experienced international company like Veolia, which has operations around the globe." He continued: "At be'ah, our main goals are to structure the waste sector in a sustainable manner as well as to eliminate the environmental damage incurred during traditional waste dumping processes and to support the economy." Veolia has been present in Oman since 2006. The Group employs 150 people and is involved in a number of projects in the Sultanate: it recently announced the extension of the Sur desalination plant, located 160 km southwest of Muscat, is now 85% complete. Once finished, the plant will supply drinking water to almost 600,000 residents. About be'ah- Oman Environmental Services Holding Company S.A.O.C "be'ah" was established in 2007. In 2009, Royal Decree No. 46/2009, granted be'ah the mandate and the legal status as the entity responsible for solid waste management in the Sultanate of Oman. be'ah strives towards a vision to conserve the environment of a beautiful Oman for future generations. be'ah's main objectives are to control environmental damage incurred during traditional waste dumping processes; structure the waste sector and its related services in a sustainable manner; develop the industry; and support the economy. Within this umbrella, be'ah works on moving towards sustainable waste management practices as per the international standards by establishing the required infrastructure, restructure the municipal waste collection services and improve public awareness of waste management. About Veolia Veolia groupis the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 174 000 employees worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them. In 2015, the Veolia group supplied 100 million people with drinking water and 63 million people with wastewater service, produced 63 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 42.9 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia Environnement (listed on Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of 25 billion ($30.3 billion) in 2015. www.veolia.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005477/en/ Contacts: Veolia Africa Middle East Media Relations Helene Toury, Tel.: +33 6 14 86 36 08 helene.toury@veolia.com or Veolia Group Media Relations Laurent Obadia Sandrine Guendoul Stephane Galfre Marie Bouvet Tel.: +33 (0)1 71 75 12 52 sandrine.guendoul@veolia.com or Analysts & Investor Relations Ronald Wasylec Ariane de Lamaze Tel. + 33 1 71 75 12 23 06 00 Terri Anne Powers (USA) Tel.: 1 312 552 2890 WASHINGTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --In an unprecedented global call to action,more than 50countries have agreed to co-sponsor one or more of the proposals to nominate all species of thresher shark, the silky shark, and all species of mobula ray for protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361956 April 27th marked the deadline for countries to add their names in support of Appendix II listing proposals submitted earlier this year. Those listings would require that all continuing trade in these species be sustainable. Co-sponsors include a wide range of countries in Africa, the host region for this year's CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP17) meeting, along with the European Union and its 28 member nations, and many other countries from all around the world. "It's clear that CITES member governments have again put a priority onprotecting shark and ray species that continue to be threatened with extinction because ofwidespread, unsustainable international trade in fins and gills," said Luke Warwick, director of The Pew Charitable Trusts' global shark conservation campaign. "The global support we are witnessing far surpasses that seen for previous Appendix II listings proposals and confirms the key role that CITES now plays in protecting the world's sharks and rays." CITESis recognized globally as one of the most effective and best-enforced international conservation agreements. It provides protection to more than 30,000 species around the world and has been instrumental in preventing the extinction of many plants and animals. Votes on the proposed listings for thresher and silky sharks and mobula rays will take place at the CITES meeting in Johannesburg in September. In recent decades, silky and thresher shark populations have declined more than 70 percent, while mobula rays have suffered similar reductions. That qualifies each for listing on CITES Appendix II. The declines have been driven largely by the international demand for fins and gills. Before the last CITES conference four years ago, the international trade of sharks and shark products was essentially unregulated. That meeting produced landmark Appendix II listings for five species of sharks and all manta rays, meaning that for the first time, countries had to prove that any catch of these species was sustainable before engaging in trade. The 2013 listings have helped protect and better manage these species globally; however, that translates into regulation of only about 10 percent of the global shark fin trade. Many types of sharks and rays are listed as threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, though they do not have adequate protection from unsustainable catch and trade. Recognizing the value and importance of healthy shark and ray populations to their marine ecosystems and national economies, the governments of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Fiji are seeking to build on the momentum created by the 2013 listings. In January, Sri Lanka submitted a proposal to protect three species of thresher sharks, the Maldives submitted one for silky sharks, and Fiji submitted one for all species of mobula ray. The proposals have received strong support from governments around the world. "With more than 100 million sharks killed every year around the world, and 25 percent of all shark and ray species now assessed by the IUCN as threatened with extinction, we as a global community need to act urgently to help the most vulnerable populations," said Abdulla Naseer, Ph.D., senior policy executive for the Maldives' Ministry of Environment and Energy. The implementation of the 2013 shark and ray listings has been widely hailed as a success. Dozens of governments all over the world have put domestic measures in place, and many have hosted training workshops for fisheries, customs, and environment officials on how best to create full protections or sustainable export limits, as well as the customs checks needed to prevent illegal trade. "Numerous capacity development workshops have taken place to provide governments with the necessary information and tools to regulate the global shark fin and mobulid gill plate trade," said Sumith Pilapitiya, Ph.D., director general of Sri Lanka's Department of Wildlife Conservation. "To prepare for the new CITES listings, which will be adopted at CoP17, updated identification and training tools have been made available for countries to use once again." Eleni Tokaduadua, principal environment officer for Fiji's Environment Ministry, said leaders around the world recognize the need for action. "Key governments from each continent, whether they have established shark sanctuaries or still record large shark and ray landings, have noted population declines,' Tokaduadua said. "They have chosen to add their support to these proposals to grant global protections and ensure only sustainable trade continues for these species that have been targeted by largely unmanaged fisheries." Said Warwick, "The rest of the world now has the opportunity to give these species the protections they need and list them on Appendix II of CITES, an act that could make the difference between extinction and recovery." The full list of countries cosponsoring one or more proposal:Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Netherlands, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, The Bahamas, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA. The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Learn more atwww.pewtrusts.org. Contact: Barb Cvrkel, 202-540-6535,bcvrkel@pewtrusts.org BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 3:15 am ET Monday, the Federal Statistical Office releases Swiss retail sales for March. Sales had fallen 0.2 percent year-on-year in February. Ahead of the data, the franc declined against its major rivals. The franc was worth 1.0995 against the euro, 1.4044 against the pound, 111.00 against the yen and 0.9596 against the greenback as of 3:10 am ET. 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. Core One Labs News: Kommt jetzt tatsachlich die Ubernahme? Anzeige FOLSOM, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/02/16 -- AgreeYa Solutions -- a global provider of software, solutions and services -- will be attending the NARCA 2016 Spring Conference May 4-7, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Chicago, Ill. During the nation's leading credit conference comprised of creditors' rights attorneys, creditors and industry professionals, AgreeYa experts will be available to discuss in detail about the most comprehensive collections and case management software available in the marketplace, AgreeYa's Cogent, designed from the ground up and tailored specifically for the unique demands of Creditors' Rights law firms, accounts receivable and collection agencies. "As an organization, we are always on the lookout for opportunities to connect with customers, industry thought leaders and friends in the accounts receivable management and collection industry," says Ajay Kaul, managing partner of AgreeYa Solutions. "We look forward to engaging with attendees and sharing our Cogent success stories in hopes to solve the business challenges facing the industry including regulatory, governance and cost containment. Cogent brings extraordinary capabilities for organizations looking to control, manage, govern and automate their collection and case management -- end-to-end." A highly scalable collection and case management software, Cogent is designed with creditors' rights and compliance in mind. Cogent consistently simplifies the management of intricate collection and legal processes, accelerate cash flow and reduce collection cost with advanced workflows and through automated collection and case management processes. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a hands-on review of Cogent, and learn how this "intelligent" collection and case management software can provide greater efficiency, analytical capability and operational synergies for firms that concentrate in the area of accounts receivable collection and creditors rights. In addition, the company will be raffling an iPad pro to attendees who register for a 15-minute meeting with AgreeYa at the conference. The National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys, also known as NARCA, currently works with over 3,000 lawyers specializing in creditor's rights at 594 law firms and other creditor's rights organizations in 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. About AgreeYa Solutions: AgreeYa is a global provider of software, solutions, and services focused on deploying business-driven, technology-enabled solutions that create next-generation competitive advantages for customers. Headquartered in Folsom, Calif., AgreeYa employs more than 1,400 professionals across its 15 offices in eight countries. Over the last 16 years, AgreeYa has worked with 200+ organizations ranging from public sector, Fortune 100 firms to small and large businesses across industries. AgreeYa's software portfolio includes SocialXtend (intranet and enterprise social collaboration), VDIXtend (desktop-on-cloud), Onvelop (unified enterprise collaboration and communication suite for mobile), Edvelop (single window collaboration and communication solution on mobile for 21st century learning), Cogent (comprehensive end-to-end case management solution for collections agencies and law firms), QuickApps (award winning suite of SharePoint web parts and pre-built templates) and BeatBlip (test automation solution). As part of its solutions and services offerings, AgreeYa provides portal, content management, and collaboration on SharePoint, cloud and infrastructure, enterprise mobility, business intelligence and big data analytics, product engineering, application development and management, independent software testing, and staffing (IT and risk/compliance) solutions. For more information, visit www.agreeya.com. Leslie Licano (949) 733-8679 ext. 101 leslie@beyondfifteen.com PANAMA (dpa-AFX) - In yet another historic milestone in the improving bilateral relations between the United States and Cuba, a cruise ship set sail from Miami to Havana, marking the first time in over 50 years that Cuban-born individuals are able to sail to their motherland. Carnival Corporation had announced its new Fathom brand was accepting bookings to Cuba from all travelers, including Cuba-born passengers, for the company's week-long voyages to Cuba. Fathom's 704-passenger Adonia luxury cruise ship left Miami port at about 4:24 pm Eastern Time (ET) Sunday. During the 7-day voyage, Fathom will visit three ports of call for which Carnival Corporation has obtained berthing approval - Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. Travelers aboard the Adonia can choose to partake in onboard experiences, including Cuban- and Caribbean-inspired food and films, music and dancing, along with conversational Spanish lessons. Seven-day itineraries on Carnival Corporation's Fathom brand depart from Port Miami on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. ET. The ship will arrive at its first destination, Havana, the following morning at 11 a.m. ET. The Adonia returns to its homeport, PortMiami, at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at $1,800 per person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses. Prices will vary by season. Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation, said the company has already seen tremendous interest in the incredible Cuba journey. The cruise comes after Cuba loosened its policy banning Cuban-born people from arriving to the country by sea. The Cuban government implemented prohibitions when Cuban exiles were launching attacks by sea after the first Cuban revolution. 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. Speculation about the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym of the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, may have been finally put to an end. According to a blog post, Australian entrepreneur Craig Steven Wright claimed he is Nakamoto. Reports said that in a meeting with BBC, the Economist and GQ Magazine, Mr Wright provided technical proof of hic claim confirmed by The Bitcoin community and core development team members. Wright published his evidences in a post on his blog here. According to Wikipedia, Craig Steven Wright was born in Brisbane, Australia, in October 1970. He graduated high school in 1987 from Padua College in Brisbane, was an adjunct lecturer in computer science and researcher at Charles Sturt University, completed 18 SANS Institute courses and received GIAC certification in Compliance and Audits. Wrights PhD is in theology. He also authored or co-authored several books, including The IT Regulatory and Standards Compliance Handbook: How to Survive Information Systems Audit and Assessments. FinSMEs 02/05/2016 I find it difficult to describe Satyajit Ray. He resists assessment with an all-encompassing grip on Bengali consciousness, even on his 95th birth anniversary. How do you traverse fields of the subconscious? My friend and Alipurduar College professor Somesh Roy calls him a "A creative genius whose talent found a way to manifest itself regardless of the medium. A Renaissance Man". Evidently. Ray revolutionsed Indian cinema and is rightly celebrated for it. But his brilliance as a filmmaker often eclipses the fact that like paras pathar (philosopher's stone), he turned into gold every facet of life that he even casually touched. While working for 13 years with British advertising agency D.J. Keymer, Ray transformed contemporary commercial art as an illustrator and graphic designer, introducing new calligraphic elements weaned from different parts of the country which he had travelled as an art student. He was also a book jacket designer and did numerous covers for poetries, short stories, biographies, religious texts. In all of these he introduced his own calligraphic style and oriental elements, duly elevating the art form. Covers for Sondesh, the monthly children's magazine which was founded by his grandfather Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury of which he later became the editor, are true collectibles. Satyajit's creative rays touched typography, an area he was extremely interested in, mostly because he was dissatisfied with the prevalent metallic typefaces. He created four Roman fonts (Ray Bizarre, Ray Roman, Holiday Script and Daphnis) and as the first and most innovative creator of Bengali typefaces, designed innumerable new fonts. He created posters for his own films and there too, his creative genius elevated the mundane medium. He brought his calligraphic skills, broad brush strokes and motifs into play and the publicity materials became works of phenomenal art. In his films, he was the scriptwriter, composer, costume designer and director. And with the pen in his hand, he was a writer, editor and litterateur nonpareil. And all this was done at consummate ease, almost with the freedom that one reserves for doodling in middle of a boring lecture. None of all this, however, can even remotely capture the connect every Bengali has with Ray. It is an intensely personal relationship which undergoes several revisions as she/he grows up and with each revision the umbilical cord becomes tighter. Most of us first habitually meet Ray through his writings which were mostly aimed at kids and young adults when Ray was trying to revive Sondesh. I gorged on Feluda, the eponymous private detective, stories of Professor Shonku, the innovator and scientist, his translation of Aurthur Conan Doyle's works and short stories and all the while, remained blissfully unaware of his genius. If Feluda, the detective whom Ray apparently fashioned keeping Soumitra Chatterjee in mind, kept me captivated, Professor Shonku whose diary was found while the man remained untraced under mysterious circumstances liberated my mind through its fantastic storylines and plots that pushed the borders of science fiction. In between, Brazil er Kalo Bagh (a translation of Arthur Conan Doyle's work) thrilled me to bits, Bonkubabu'r Bondhu took me to a different world, Khagam's suspense gave me goosebumps while Tarini Khuro spooked me nice and proper. And movies for kids. The thing about Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne or Hirak Rajar Deshe is, while it provoked laughter and fun, growing up meant discovering a whole lot of subtext and it is only then that I, like many others, began to appreciate the vastness of his talent. Stepping into adulthood initiated the next level. By this time, Ray's writings still held sway, but attention was also drawn to his body of work in celluloid. Among the cult classics including Apu Trilogy, however, the Calcutta Trilogy remains a personal favourite. Without going into pedantic discussions about Ray as a filmmaker, suffice to say that Pratidwandi (The Adversary, 1970), Seemabaddha (Company Limited, 1971) and Jana Aranya (The Middleman, 1976) changed the way I looked at life. Can't be said about most filmmakers. Like my friend Somesh, I am not particularly fond of his last few works. Along with Feluda films, Apu Triplogy and treble on Calcutta, Kanchanjangha (1962), Nayak (The Hero, 1966) and Mahanagar (The Big City, 1963) have merited many revisiting. And of course Paras Pathar (The Philosopher's Stone, 1958) where Ray showed how Bengali film industry failed to harness the genius of actor Tulsi Chakrabarti. Ray married occidental with the oriental and transcended the borders of watertight definitions that we use to define men whose genius we cannot comprehend. It is through the prism of his works that we must define him and yet, every time we attempt to do that, we are destined to fall short by many a mile. It is bloody hard to describe Ray's sway over me, over us Bengalis. The spectre of rotting grains has hit media headlines once again. What most have not stated overtly is that this may not be just another case of mismanagement. This could be nothing short of fraud. It could be an attempt on the part of grain procurement officers to destroy evidence that could implicate them in a financial scam. But to set the context right, one needs to go back to September 2010, when the Supreme Court was forced to intervene. It asked the then government to give the grain away for free to people instead of leaving it to be devoured by pests or allowing it to rot in the open. When Sharad Pawar, the then agriculture minister, tried to dismiss the Supreme Courts remarks as merely a suggestion, the apex court promptly retorted that it was an order, not just a suggestion. Then consider the remarks made by most agronomists including Ashok Gulati that the government was trying to procure more grain that was warranted. Gulati had been literally crying himself hoarse denouncing the governments procurement policy. In one of this articles he has clearly stated: As on 1 July 2013, the government had 74 million tonnes (mt) of stocks of wheat and rice, and a year before on 1 July 2012, 80 mt, against a buffer stock norm of only 31.9 mt. India already has covered storage of 57.7 million tonnes if one takes the capacities of all the three parties collectively the state warehousing corporations(SWCs), the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) And you now have media reports talking of two problems that seem to have afflicted the Food Corporation of India (FCI) Crime #1: The FCI has allowed 46,658 tonnes of foodgrain to rot in its 1,889 warehouses across the country in three years. Crime #2: The FCI has allowed another 143.74 tonnes to go missing. Together, as some media reports stated, this could have fed nearly 8 lakh people from priority families under the National Food Security Act for an entire year. The FCI chairman and managing director Yogendra Tripati, is on record stating, "If you look at it, a majority of foodgrains wasted in 2015-16 was due to natural calamities like cyclone. A major storage issue was seen in the 1990s and there was a problem in 2013, but we've more or less overcome the issues and are also going to augment our storage capacity in coming years." The sad truth is that India already has enough storage. Yes, these storage areas could be upgraded from capped to covered (see chart). But as Gulati has pointed out, the present storage capacity is adequate. So why do we procure more than what is needed? There are two reasons for this. First, Indian politics is invariably driven by the demands of farmers in the North much more than those of the South. As a result, the rest of India pays for the avaricious demands of the North. Second, because the entire procurement policy of the government is aimed only at rice, wheat and sugarcane. These crops are protected, nurtured and exploited by some of the most powerful political groups in the country. They are allowed to waste water, electricity, fertilizer and even FCIs money. Much of this is done in collusion with Indias policymakers. Consider for instance, how Haryana is known to change the Fair Acceptable Quality (FAQ) norms for wheat, each time the crop is of inferior quality. By changing the norms, the state procurement authorities pay the farmers grade A prices for grade B wheat. When the wheat goes to the millers for being ground into wheat flour, the millers (who are also elected leaders with various political bodies in the state) raise a hue and cry over the prices at which they must purchase the wheat, and are then given a subsidy. All this is eventually financed by the taxpayer. Take a third instance. True, FCIs officials have gone on record to explain how they have been trying to reduce buffer stocks year after year. Instead, all they have to do is to take the entire buffer stock and sell it in the commodity markets. True, there will be a discount in the pricing when larege quantities of grain is offloaded. But remember, getting one-fourth of the price is better than getting no price at all when it is devoured by rodents or let to rot. Solutions exist, but the FCI does not want to accept them. Selling them through auctions would invite the attention of assayers, who would then have to certify the quality of grain being sold. Once the quality of grain is certified, FCI officials would have a difficult time explaining why Grade A prices were paid for grain that was Grade C. It is better to destroy the evidence, than have auditors baying for their blood. The problem has already surfaced with the RBI demanding explanations for the missing grain. It has refused to let banks pay to the farmers the Cash Credit Limits (CCL) worth around Rs.20,000 crore. This is the amount that the Prakash Singh Badal government has sought for wheat procurement. Modis government is a political ally of Badals party. . Hence the need to bail him out is crucially important. But the stench of a scam is what keeps people wrinkling up their noses. And do remember that the FCI procures only around 20% of the total grain. The rest is left to state procurement agencies, which then resell the grain to the FCI. In the midst of all this hue and cry, someone has already floated a rumour the RBI has yet to confirm this that the government is willing to invoke sovereign guarantee for the CCL money, thus saving banks for notching up more bad debts than before. A sovereign guarantee for a scam? Thats a good one! The irony is that Noth Indian farmers have already sought compensation for damaged crop on account of unseasonal rains. Now they want money for missing grain. And soon they will ask for Grade A payments for Grade C grain. It is a triple whammy. All eyes are on the Modi government to see how he handles this one. The Government data on the income tax payments, released last week, throws light on one of the key problems India facespainfully low number of income taxpayers as a percentage of total population. In other words, it shows a picture where tax evasion by individuals is so huge that it can create major impediments to a country, which strives to offer a social security net to its citizens, build quality public infrastructure and eradicate poverty. The government has made public the income tax data for last 16 years. If one looks at the 2014-15 figure, just about 4.87 crore people filed tax returns, making it less than 4 per cent of the population (considering population at 125 crore). In the years before that, the number of those who paid taxes is even less. In 2012-13, the figure was close to only about 1 percent of the population. To be sure, the number of those who filed returns does not necessarily indicate the the number of actual taxpayers, since many of them would be below the threshold. What these figures effectively telling us is that the domestic tax evasion is an even bigger concern for India than chasing the black money stashed abroad. It doesnt make sense for any government to chase a magic treasure hidden somewhere in foreign lands when there is massive scale of income tax evasion happening right under its nose. To put this in another way, the data is the testimony of Indias failure to broaden the tax net even though two decades have passed after the economic liberalization. There is a clear evidence here that a significant number of people who are liable to pay taxes arent doing so. For instance, going by the government data, only about 11 lakhs people have admitted to have annual salary income of above Rs10 lakhsclearly an absurd number. This spells out the big task Modi-government at this juncturetake steps to broaden the tax net rather than merely increasing the tax rates. Because, every time the government hikes the income tax rates but doesnt bother to broaden the tax base, the burden falls on the chosen few, which is clearly unfair policy for any government to follow. Tax base can be broadened only by a slew of steps including bringing awareness and monitoring compliance at state-level. According to the published data, just two states, Maharashtra and Delhi, contributes more than half of Indias income tax payments. The very low levels of tax compliance should worry the government since there is no akshayapatra for it to source funds for its development work except the tax paid by its citizens and revenues mobilized from state-resources. While the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) will largely take care of the task of broadening the tax base on the sales of goods and services, increasing compliance on the income tax front, is a challenge. The government has been taking measures to address this issue by proposing to deduct tax at source, using analytics to identify taxpayers and making PAN number mandatory, said Alok Agarwal, senior director, tax practice at Deloitte. The government has realized that income tax cannot be solely relied upon. The increase shown in the sales tax revenue is a proof of this, Agarwal said. To put it in simple words, India still has several citizens who go out and buy expensive cars and jewellery but are not willing to pay the taxes to government on the income they earn. They, who would still seek more government-sponsored free-services and subsidies, do not spare time to think of how will the government actually raise resources to do all these. The bottomline is this: we are all more than aware about what is due to us as the privileged citizens of this country, but conveniently forget what we owe to the state. The sad fact is that all of use are too used to the freebies. It would be ideal if the awareness come from the citizens rather than imposed by the state--particularly in a scenario, when the state exchequer is in deficit mode. (Data Support from Kishor Kadam) Bengaluru: In a shocking incident caught on CCTV camera, a Manipuri woman was abducted while she was standing outside her PG residence, by an unidentified person, who allegedly tried to molest her, with no passerby coming to her rescue. In the video, the woman is seen speaking on her mobile phone, when an unidentified man grabs her from behind and carries her off. He then took her to an under-construction building in an adjacent road, where he allegedly tried to molest her. Several people were seen walking on the street, but none tried to help her. The incident happened on the night of 23 April at Kathriguppe, a residential locality in south Bengaluru, but came to light only today. Recounting her ordeal, the woman said "I started shouting, he tried to close my mouth, then I bit him to rescue myself. Reacting to it he hit me, then I fell unconscious due to fear." He then fled from the scene leaving her lying unconscious. "I was unconscious for about five minutes, by then he was not there. My bag and phone was still there," she said. She said the police came and enquired with her about the incident after the CCTV footage emerged. Manjula Manasa, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, assured all assistance to the victim. "Senior police officials should and will have to take action," she said. The woman said she felt the man's intentions were to sexually assault her, as he did not try to steal any of her belongings. "I feel this because I had a bag, purse and mobile with me and he did not target it. I think his intention was to sexually assault me," she said. Asked about police response, she said police asked her to file a case, but the owners of her paying guest suggested against it, saying it may cause problems for her. "I think they did that fearing bad name for their PG," she said. Nobody came forward to help me, I was screaming for help: Victim, Bengaluru kidnapping case pic.twitter.com/ZwRZqOJC6f ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2016 Police said they have obtained the CCTV footage, and would nab the culprit soon. DCP (South) Lokesh Kumar said he only got to know about the incident after it was reported in a TV channel, adding that investigation was now underway. Police response to the case was also being inquired into and action would taken if there were any lapses, he said. "The PG owner has now filed a complaint. In his complaint he has said that the woman had stated that she will decide on filing the complaint after discussing with her dear ones," Kumar said. The woman had left her PG room the next day and the owner was under the impression she would have filed the complaint. He came forward to file one after getting know that none had been made so far, the DCP said. New Delhi: The ban on plying of 27,000 diesel-run taxis in Delhi came into force on Sunday, with the authorities launching a crackdown against violators, impounding errant vehicles. The impact of shortage of taxis will be felt on Monday, the first working day after the Supreme Court on Saturday refused to extend the deadline for converting diesel-run taxis into CNG-mode. As Traffic Police and Delhi Government's transport department launched a crackdown against the violators, commuters found it difficult to book taxis through app-based aggregators Ola and Uber. Amid the shortage of taxis, Uber brought back controversial surge pricing, a day after the odd-even car rationing scheme came to an end. The Delhi government had proscribed surge pricing during the 'odd-even period' and later announced that the ban will continue even after the 15-day period of the road-rationing scheme has ended. "We have today launched an intensive crackdown against diesel-run taxis plying in Delhi-NCR following the Supreme Court's order. The crackdown was launched in the morning which continued late in the night," said a senior government official. The official said that the transport department has impounded hundreds of diesel-run taxis in the Delhi-NCR. "Instructions have been issued to authorities concerned, including transport department, to impound diesel-run taxis plying in Delhi-NCR," another senior government official said. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital of which 27,000 run on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months. The SC order is not applicable to cabs having All-India Permits but most of the diesel taxis ply on local routes. The ban will essentially bring down the availability of cabs in the capital. "As per rule, taxis having All-India permit are required to cover a minimum distance of 200 km. Taxis having All India permits cannot ply from one point to other point inside Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad," official further said. As Uber brought back surge pricing in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned the operators of "strong action". Uber had introduced the provision during odd-even scheme, which was objected to by commuters and Kejriwal had asserted that such demand-linked hikes would be banned permanently. A day after the second phase of odd-even scheme ended, commuters across the city, who availed the services of the app-based aggregator, found surge pricing, where fares are raised when demand exceeds supply, was back. When contacted, an Uber spokesperson confirmed the development, saying that suspension of surge pricing was only a "temporary" measure. Uber's move came on a day the ban on diesel-run cabs came into effect in Delhi, further inconveniencing the commuters. "Some taxis have started charging surge. Surge not allowed under law. They r warned that strong action will be taken against them," Kejriwal tweeted. A senior Delhi government official said action will be taken against these companies based on complaints. "We will impound their cabs," the official said. A representative of Ola, another app-based service, refused to confirm if it would also follow suit and adopt the surge pricing model. Its app displayed a message saying peak time charges may be applicable during high demand hours and will be conveyed during the booking which "enables us to make more cabs available to you". Ola displayed the disclaimer during the odd-even period as well although it did not invoke peak-pricing till Saturday. Dehradun: Alleging that the sting operation and the CBI probe into it were part of a "criminal conspiracy" by BJP to topple an elected government, Harish Rawat dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah to put him in jail if he is found in the wrong. "If any evidence is found against me, like me offering money or post to anybody, hang me at the Clock Tower," Rawat, who had so far been insisting that the sting was "fake", said while addressing party workers at a programme held by Uttarakhand Congress to mark the Labour Day here. "Why should anyone spend Rs 15 crore for me. The man (journalist) was saying something meaningless to while away my time and I said something to while away his. How does it matter? We keep saying things like this on a daily basis. Does that mean they should be used against us," Rawat said, adding, his fight to "save democracy" will go on, "come what may". "Is meeting a journalist a crime? If one of the MLAs who had not been technically disqualified by that time talked to me...how does it matter? Do we block any channels in politics," Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of the programme. Claiming innocence, Rawat said, if anything in the CD showed he made an offer in cash or kind in exchange for the support of disgruntled MLAs, he was ready to be hanged in public. "I have kept my doors open. I present myself to be sent to jail (in the sting CD case) if that is what Modi baba (PM Narendra Modi) and Amit Shah are up to," he said. The sting CD made by the editor-in-chief of a private news channel and circulated by the nine Congress rebels who created a political crisis in the state by siding with opposition BJP in the state Assembly, purportedly shows Rawat negotiating a money deal with the journalist to buy the support of MLAs who had revolted against him. Training his guns at the Modi-Shah duo, Rawat alleged, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah could "not tolerate" a non-BJP government performing and therefore "toppled" it by hatching a "criminal conspiracy". They have been "conspiring" to "systematically bring down" governments in states where BJP is not in power, he said. Ever since Modi government came to power, it has been "neglecting" Uttarakhand and when it failed to bring down the state dispensation by "money or muscle power," it "resorted to President's rule" to dislodge it, he alleged. Asserting that he was prepared to "bear even a heavier atrocity" if found in the wrong in the sting case, he said, he would not hesitate to face any challenge in his struggle for the development of the people of the state. Earlier, addressing party workers at the programme, Rawat said the commitment with which the Congress had worked for the poor and the working class was "exemplary". Citing an instance, he said, it was the Congress which had introduced a novel and revolutionary scheme like MNREGA. Rawat also highlighted steps taken by his own government in the state to provide social security to the poor and the working class. People of Uttarakhand will teach them (BJP) a fitting lesson for creating political uncertainty in the state and derailing its development, he claimed Jamshedpur: The Jharkhand government plans to develop the mineral-rich state as a power hub by 2019, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said, while launching an electricity reforms programme, RAPDRP. A joint venture by the Jharkhand Electricity Board and NTPC, it will produce 4000 MW here and the entire state will have electricity by 2019, Das said after launching the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme here on Sunday. Directing officials to develop the state electricity board as a professional body, the chief minister said that it was the responsibility of the junior and executive engineers to collect bills equivalent to the cost of power generation and distribution from a transformer. Das said recruitment process of 600 linemen would begin by 15 June, which would help solve problems of the people to some extent. Distribution of electricity under Dindayal Upadhyay scheme was going on as per the set timeframe, he added. It has been a long wait for Valerian Santos. On 20 October, 2011, Keenan Santos, Valerian Santos' son, and Reuben Fernandez were hanging out with their friends in a restaurant in Amboli. When they stepped out of the restaurant, a group of drunk men started harassing the girls in their group. Keenan and Reuben jumped to their defence. Keenan's girlfriend Priyanka Fernandez, who was a witness to the horror that followed, had later told NDTV that the goons came back armed and repeatedly stabbed Reuben and Keenan. Many eyewitnesses were around, but no one came to their rescue. Priyanka kept calling the cops as Keenan and Reuben battled for their lives, but no one answered her calls. While Keenan died on the same day, Reuben succumbed to his injuries 10 days later. Five years on, Valerian Santos is still waiting for justice. The verdict on the case was initially expected on Monday, but later postponed to 5 May. He has been posting updates on the case on a Facebook public group called Keenan Santos. On Sunday, he posted, "Humbly with folded hands I ask you all to keep on praying for the verdict so as to get justice for our bravehearts Keenan and Reuben." The accused Jitesha Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival, were arrested the next day and have been in jail since then. Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told The Times Of India, there are 28 witnesses in the case and there is direct evidence showing that the accused were molesting the girls. "It was premeditated murder," said Nikam. The grieving father had expressed his disappointment with the court proceedings as hearings were postponed on numerous occasions. He had told DNA that there were instances when none of the defence lawyers were present in court and at times, the accused were not brought to court. Valerian Santos has even received threats from the relatives of the accused. Despite the public outrage, social media activism and assurances from the then Maharashtra government, the charges were filed only a year after the incident and was shifted to a fast-track court. It was later shifted to a woman's court as of the complainants had pointed out that many of the witnesses in the case were women. Valerian Santos told The Times Of India that like his son, he will fight against sexual harassment. He hopes that the judgement will be a lesson to all those who think they will get away with molesting women on the street. On Monday, Valerian said that all he wants is a judgement, not capital punishment, but nothing less than life imprisonment. All that I want is a good judgment, nothing less than life imprisonment until death: Keenans father Valerian Santos pic.twitter.com/SJxnH3bAMB ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2016 I would not ask for capital punishment because I know it's not rarest of rare case (Keenan-Reuben murder), I understand law: Valerian Santos ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2016 Aditya Paul and Ankita Verma, who work with the Zero Tolerance Group that was formed after the brutal murders, feel that much has changed since 2011. They told The Indian Express, although there is no stigma attached to sexual harassment in the city, the real victory will be when justice is served. In its ambition to earn brownie points with the people of Delhi, it seems that the Kejriwal government inadvertently made false claims about the recent rollback of the hiked fees in the capital. Advertorials paid for by the government in leading Delhi newspapers on Sunday claimed that, For the first time, private schools roll back fee; four schools roll back fees in 15 days. However, this is not the first time that private schools in Delhi have been ordered to roll back fees. Earlier, the Justice Anil Dev Singh Committee, constituted in August 2011 by the Delhi High Court to "examine the records and accounts etc of all unaided private recognised schools of Delhi to justify the fee hike by each school while implementing the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission, had submitted nine reports by 2015, recommending a refund of fee unjustly hiked in several private schools. The claim made in newspapers about the rollback of the hiked fees is not correct. Its not the first time that any action has been taken against the schools for hiking fees. Earlier, Justice Anil Dev Singh committee had asked several schools to refund the excess fees it found unjustified," said Ashok K Pandey, chairperson, National Progressive Schools Conference (NPSC). "The panel also went through the records, balance sheets of many schools, and after finding irregularities, refund of hiked fees was recommended, Pandey said. Following up on the recommendations, the Delhi High Court had in August 2014 pulled up the Delhi government for non-compliance of the Committees order. The NPSC, a 43-year old association of senior secondary schools across the country, has also objected to the claim made in the Delhi governments advertisement that private schools cannot hike fees without the permission of the state government. Referring to Clause 17 of the Delhi School Education Act & Rule, 1973, Pandey said, Private schools are empowered to raise fees and the decision is taken by a duly recognized 17-member managing committee including two government representatives and two parents representatives. The school has to inform the Directorate of Education about the hike before the academic session begins. Theres no mention of Approval/Permission per se in the Act. However, things changed in January this year, when Delhi HC said that the schools built on land allotted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) cannot hike the fee without taking prior permission from the Delhi government. The judgment came folowing a PIL filed by an NGO Justice For All based on DDAs land allotment letter to schools. The Action Committee of Unaided Private Schools has moved Court and the matter is sub-judice. Moreover, the way Delhi government has given advertisements related to fee roll back in newspapers under the garb of non-partisan reportage that looks like an actual news item is wrong," a private school principal told Firstpost. "A common man fails to distinguish between an advertisement and news. In an attempt to blow its own trumpet, the Delhi government is sending incorrect message amongst public, the principal said. The private unaided schools feel that the autonomy guaranteed to them by the Supreme Court and the Constitution is being infringed upon. Autonomy guaranteed to the schools is sacrosanct. Private unaided schools under the Constitution have been given certain autonomy. A HC judgment mentions that autonomy of private schools guaranteed under the Constitution is the schools fundamental right, added Pandey. However, the action taken by the Delhi government asking a few schools in Delhi to roll back the excess fees has brought cheers to a large number of parents, and is being considered as a 'bold step'. Its a bold and benevolent step taken by the Kejriwal government by asking Kalka Public School (KPS) and a few others to roll back the hiked fee. The hike in fee was very high in the case of KPS and the prompt action by government compelled the school authorities to roll back the hike. But, this process should continue as the private schools arbitrarily hike fees every year, said Tejinder Singh, a parent. Ahmedabad: Amid a row surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications, Congress on Monday alleged "discrepancies" in his date of birth. It also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modi's MA degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. "In students' register of M N College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Sri Narendra Modi's date of birth is mentioned as 29 August, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950," senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters. He showed a copy of the purported school register which mentioned the PM's name as Narendrakumar Damodardas Modi, along with his date of birth. "We want to know what is the reason behind different dates of birth, what is the date of birth on his (Modi's) passport, on the PAN card and on other documents? And what is the reason behind different dates of birth?" Gohil said. "Modi, in his affidavit filed before the returning officer in 2014 (Lok Sabha polls), had stated that he pursued his BA from Delhi University and MA from Gujarat University. In the same affidavit, he, for the first time, revealed his marital status as married to Jasodaben," he said. Taking a swipe at Modi over his "56-inch chest" remarks, the senior Congress leader said, "The country does not have much interest in knowing PM's 56-inch chest, but public has interest in knowing his date of birth...where he got his BA degree from, when, and at least names of 10 students who studied with him". Gujarat University today shared details of Modi's MA degree, saying he scored 62.3 per cent as an external student of the varsity after Central Information Commission directed it to provide the same to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who had recently criticised the functioning of the transparency panel. Questioning the timing of the disclosure by the varsity, Gohil said, "Till today, at least 70 RTIs were filed in GU seeking the same information, but the reply was always 'information is secret, can't be revealed'. After CIC asked GU to give reply, overnight it turned vibrant, progressive, and instead of calling it secret, it decided to give information along with marks." "How come GU does not have details of his (Modi's) BA degree? Because while getting admission in MA, he should have given his BA details. If you migrated from DU to GU, your migration certificate should also be there with the GU," he said. New Delhi: The government and the opposition parties on Monday, blamed each other for disrupting the functioning of the ongoing Parliament session by politicising and raking up the issue of the AgustaWestland chopper scam. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the government wants to bring out the facts related to the issue so that people will get to know the truth. This issue should not be politicised. Facts must be brought to the fore and people must get to know the truth. Government is ready, we need not hide anything nor are we hiding any facts. We are talking about it openly, Naidu said, talking to reporters outside Parliament House. Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, who is member of the Rajya Sabha, said that the government must discuss the issue on the floor of the house so that everyone gets to know the details of it. Our party believes that the BJP, Congress and TMC are obstructing the functioning of the house on this chopper scam. The government must take the issue seriously and it must be discussed on the floor of the house. The government should see that the house functions properly, Mayawati said talking to reporters here. On the other side, the Congress has accused the BJP of using the issue to defame it so that the BJP may take an advantage of it in the ongoing assembly polls in four states. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said it was his party which had ordered a CBI inquiry into the issue to bring out the truth. Had we been scared, we would not have issued a CBI inquiry. Because we had involved the CBI in the investigation, this shows our government was serious to bring out the facts, Kharge said talking to reporters outside parliament. But what this government is doing is politically motivated. They do not want to catch the real culprits. They just want to use this issue to defame the Congress and take an advantage in the ongoing state polls, he added. Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader K.C. Tyagi said his party wants the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete the investigation so that judicial proceedings do not get hampered. We want the investigation to complete. Both CBI and ED (Enforcement Directorate) are involved in the investigation of this issue. But BJP is populating and propagating the results before the investigation gets completed. They have made it a political issue which may also obstruct the judicial proceedings, he said. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has already said he will speak on the AgustaWestland chopper deal in parliament on Wednesday, and give a detailed chronology of the events. He has said that the Congress needs to answer on its inaction on the CBI probe in the deal that involved bribes given in India. The issue has become major political affair in the country after a court in Milan, Italy, jailed AgustaWestland's former head Bruno Spagnolini on the charges of false accounting and corruption in the sale of the firm's 12 VVIP choppers to India. Some documents submitted to the court contain the names of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her political adviser Ahmad Patel and former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi. New Delhi: Opposition on Monday attacked the government in Rajya Sabha, alleging "selective leaks" of sensitive documents related to the controversial AgustaWestland helicopter deal and sought a probe into the matter. It alleged that the government was "misleading" through "selective leaks" and expressed concern over the credibility of the sensitive agencies Defence Ministry, Air force Headquarter, CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED). "The government must answer: A subject which has been bullentined for discussion on (May) 4th, individuals, various TV channels, journalists have been given sensitive documents of the CBI, ED and Defence Ministry...Who gave the documents? There should be an inquiry," Deputy Leader of Congress Anand Sharma said in the Upper House. "The government is selectively leaking," Sharma said, adding, "If the government is not. Then who else is leaking? We demand the governmnent to do an inquiry." This is happening despite there being an Official Secrets Act, the Congress leader said. Alleging that this is "dirty tricks" of the departments which are "coordinated centrallly" in this government, Sharma charged that the government misused the office as he questioned the credibility of the agencies. "It is a question of how they are misleading through selective leaks of sensitive information. Which government, if it is not complacent at the highest level, will have this scenario where every docuement is given," he said. Supporting a notice for breach of privilege motion given by Congress MP Shantaram Naik, Sharma said, "Ministers in this government are making statements on the PIB website and not coming to the House but the selective leaks." "When the House was in session, what prevented the Defence Minister to come in the House and give the statement here? Sir, what is happening?" he asked. Before initiating debate on a bill to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, Naik raised a point of order on ministers making statement in the PIB on AgustaWestland deal when Parliament is in session. "I have given a breach of privilege notice. I pray that the notice be admitted and refer to the Privileges Committee (of Parliament) and action be taken as per the report," he said. Naik said he was shocked to see Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley issuing a statement on the second day on the PIB on the same topic. "I ask if Parrikar is the Defence Minister or Jaitley? That clarification also be made," he asked. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien asked, "What is the harm in minister giving a statement? I am not able to understand. If it is a policy matter, then the government should restrain." He added that "If the subject is slated for discussion in the House, the government should come to the House and reply." While Naik insisted that the Chair should give a ruling if ministers can give a statement during Parliament session, Sharma said, "This is as close as that. How do you differentiate between the two?" Sharma said there are past precedents that when the House is in session, the government cannot make statement on any important matter. Kurien said the topic has been slated for discussion on Wednesday and he can raise all concerns on that day. New Delhi: A Delhi court has dismissed a corruption complaint against an AAP MLA, saying though it had prima facie found that he had breached the cap for poll expenses during 2013 Assembly election, he cannot be charged under Prevention of Corruption Act as he was not a public servant at that time. "I have gone through the complaint and the documents thoroughly from which, it prima facie appears that respondent 1 (Tripathi) incurred more election expense than prescribed limit. However, in my prima facie opinion the same was incurred when he was only a contesting candidate for the post of MLA and not a public servant," Special Judge Hemani Malhotra said. The court's order came on a complaint filed against Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, MLA from Model Town in Delhi, for allegedly spending over the prescribed limit of Rs 14 lakh in the 2013 election campaign. The judge further said, "The act/conduct of Tripathi by submitting accounts after he became an MLA to explain the expenditure incurred by him before he was elected as MLA is not an offence committed under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act as when the election expenses were incurred, he was not a public servant." The court also said that the remedy/action against a candidate's misconduct lies under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 which may result in disqualification of an elected candidate. The court also referred to a Supreme Court verdict in which it had said under the Election Rules if an account is found to be incorrect or untrue by Election Commission after enquiry, the Election Commission may disqualify the said person. The complaint filed by activist and lawyer Vivek Garg had also sought FIR against some officials of Election Commission (ECI), Delhi Chief Electoral Office (CEO) here and some officials of Delhi government, for allegedly colluding with Tripathi to manipulate the account of expenditure incurred by him. The court, while dismissing the plea, also noted that a sanction to prosecute the officials of ECI, CEO and Delhi government was missing and referred to a Supreme Court judgement saying the court cannot take notice of private complaint against a public servant without a sanction order. "Court cannot lose sight of the fact that the complainant has also impleaded responsible officials of the Election Commission of India and of government of Delhi who are public servants, as proposed accused under PC Act," it said Referring to an apex court judgement, the judge said, "It has been categorically held that Special Judge could not have taken notice of the private complaint against the public servant unless the same was accompanied by a sanction order." The judge, however, agreed with the contention of the complainant that no sanction was needed to prosecute an MLA. The complaint had alleged that the maximum expenditure limit for Delhi Assembly Election 2013 was Rs 14 lakh whereas the MLA understated the statement of expenditure by Rs 8.93 lakh. "The alleged offence was committed to win the election by manipulating the records of election expenditure," it claimed adding that the public servants allegedly saved Tripathi by conniving with him and stating that the expense incurred by him in the campaign was within prescribed limit. Garg claimed that he had approached Special Commissioner, Crime Branch for registration of FIR against Tripathi, but to no avail. He also filed complaints against the respondents before various other forums, but no action was taken, his complaint had said. The complaint had sought registration of FIR against Tripathi and some unnamed ECI, CEO and Delhi govt officials for offences under sections 477A (falsification of accounts), 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 171H (illegal payment in connection with election), 171I (failure to keep election account) and 120B(criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and various provisions of Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988. Bengaluru: Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Sunday said before the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar places detailed chronology about the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal in Parliament on 4 May, the Minister should first answer why the Narendra Modi government and he "undo the blacklisting" of the company. "Does Modiji and Parrikarji not realise they are in power? Is CBI not with Central government? Is Enforce Directorate not with Central government? Why has the Modi government undone the blacklisting of AugustaWestland? Why Manohar Parrikarkji is not answering," he told reporters in Bengaluru. Parrikar also should answer why within 40 days of banning the company, he passed an order re-permitting the company to participate through a sub-contractor. "The Defence Ministry banned the company (AugustaWestland) on 3rd July, 2014. Within 40 days, on 22nd August 2014, the Defence Minister passed an order permitting it to participate again through a vendor or a sub-contractor. Will Parrikarji answer why he did that?," Surjewala said. In Panaji, Parrikar on Sunday said all facts along with the detailed chronology about the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal before Parliament on 4 May. Parrikar, in countering the allegations levelled by Congress, questioned why the company was not blacklisted by then UPA government and why no action was taken against it till 2014? Surjewala alleged that the Foreign Investment Promotion Board once again gave permission even after the company was banned, which was informed through a press release issued by the Defence Ministry on October 2015. "All these questions should be answered by Prime Minister. Manohar Parrikarji cannot brush this aside. Generally the Prime Minister speaks on every issue. Why is he now maintaining a staid silence," he said. "Mudslinging and muck-raking has been the character of the Modi government. Mudslinging and muck-raking is not a substitute for truth because the truth will always stand. Please show an iota of evidence. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley completely denies on the floor of the Parliament. He says we have not been able to identify anyone," he argued. "Outside the Parliament, however, the BJP and their spokespersons indulge in mud-slinging, muck-raking, false allegations and unfounded facts. You can't have a media trial. That's why we said let lasting truth prevail, not leaking lies" he said. Surjewala said levelling allegations against Congress leadership is reprehensible and condemnable, and mudslinging and muck-raising has become BJP's character. Ahmedabad: Amid a row surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications, Congress on Sunday alleged "discrepancies" in his date of birth. It also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modi's MA degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. "In students' register of MN College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Sri Narendra Modi's date of birth is mentioned as August 29, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950," senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters. He showed a copy of the purported school register which mentioned the PM's name as Narendrakumar Damodardas Modi, along with his date of birth. "We want to know what is the reason behind different dates of birth, what is the date of birth on his (Modi's) passport, on the PAN card and on other documents? And what is the reason behind different dates of birth?" Gohil said. "Modi, in his affidavit filed before the returning officer in 2014 (Lok Sabha polls), had stated that he pursued his BA from Delhi University and MA from Gujarat University. In the same affidavit, he, for the first time, revealed his marital status as married to Jasodaben," he said. Taking a swipe at Modi over his "56-inch chest" remarks, the senior Congress leader said, "The country does not have much interest in knowing PM's 56-inch chest, but public has interest in knowing his date of birth...where he got his BA degree from, when, and at least names of 10 students who studied with him." Gujarat University on Sunday shared details of Modi's MA degree, saying he scored 62.3 percent as an external student of the varsity after Central Information Commission directed it to provide the same to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who had recently criticised the functioning of the transparency panel. Questioning the timing of the disclosure by the varsity, Gohil said, "Till today, at least 70 RTIs were filed in GU seeking the same information, but the reply was always 'information is secret, can't be revealed'. After CIC asked GU to give reply, overnight it turned vibrant, progressive, and instead of calling it secret, it decided to give information along with marks." "How come GU does not have details of his (Modi's) BA degree? Because while getting admission in MA, he should have given his BA details. If you migrated from DU to GU, your migration certificate should also be there with the GU," he said. Arent we more confused about Mr. Modis academic performances after all these announcements and pieces of scrappy paper which have been flung around? I saw that photo of a scribbled name in a register and I guess in the pre-computer age the records looked like that. Scruffy is the word that comes to mind. His academic ranking has absolutely no significance because the ledger doesnt show any mark-sheet. While no one doubts Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor M N Patel and his painstaking statements of the exact marks Mr. Modi got in his first class Masters degree, why not share the documents that prove it instead of just saying it sans proof? There is no marksheet, and while Delhi University is still acting coy over the bachelors degree, so far no paper has emerged to indicate or confirm that certificate one gets (whats it calledthat fancy thingee with a seal and that calligraphy on the borders and that odd English?) All the hush hush dealings about is only creating more murkiness and giving folks like Mr. Kejriwal an opportunity to grandstand over an issue that is almost passe. But old Kejriwal and his agenda aside, why is it ballooning into such a major controversy? The Prime Minister must have put forward his educational qualifications when he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He must have done the same when he stood for Prime Minister. Surely, if common folks have to get their certificates verified and stamped and confirmed and reconfirmed for jobs, visas, applications to jobs abroad and passports and stuff, the need to keep it a state secret seems excessive, even if Mr. Modi is not obligated to respond to every demand. But the Prime Minister of India has to be judged by a different measure. Didnt he attach the educational material when he wanted to go to the States and his visa was rejected? The Times of India, Ahmedabad is being widely quoted as having solved the mystery. Until we see the marksheet, my dear Watson, the mystery stays just that. What could be easier than simply showing it instead of setting the nation this mathematical puzzle of 237/400 and 262/400 with an aggregate of 499/800 and end this matter. The quixotic Chief Minister than can turn his attention to his glass house where his former service the Indian Revenue Service has dressed him down for saying he was an IT commissioner. Liar,liar pants on fire. Of course, one is compelled to write like this, seeing as how leaders insist on clowning. Read the letter from the revenue reps as quoted extensively by the media. "Contrary to your claims, you have never worked as Commissioner and your batch has still not been promoted to (the rank of) Commissioners of Income Tax." Kejriwals comment: "As Commissioner, I could have made crores and traveled in a car fitted with a beacon light. But I left the service and decided to serve the nation". Reaction: "The statements being attributed to you cast aspersions on the whole of the department. "The association wishes to remind you that no department or organisation is corrupt or honest, it is the individuals who may be so.". "In these circumstances, we request you to desist from making such statements in public and in the print and electronic media, otherwise we will be constrained to take steps to protect our image." Hey, Arvind, you just cheated all your colleagues, man, what were you thinking? New Delhi: The government is working to bring faster trains with more facilities while trying to meet the diverse expectations of the society, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Monday as he announced several initiatives like a 'National Plan for Railways' for infrastructure development. Prabhu told the Rajya Sabha that Railways faces a "paradox" like situation where it is expected to provide services like concessional travel and meet social objectives like a government enterprise but at the same time expected to perform like a commercial company. The railways, he said, is trying to meet these diverse expectations as he mentioned seven missions including the 'Mission to have zero accidents', 'Mission on Speed' and 'Mission on accounting reform' etc. He was replying to a debate on the Railways Appropriation Bill which was later approved by the Upper House. The Lok Sabha has already passed it. Talking about efforts to bring faster trains, the Minister said a Spanish company has been involved in a project to reduce by 5 hours the time taken on the Delhi-Mumbai route. The Spanish company Talgo would bring its trains on an experimental basis for the project, he said. The Railway minister also mentioned that to meet the demands of various sections, different types of faster trains like Antoday, Humsafar, Tejas, Mahamana, Gatimaan etc are being brought in. Earlier some opposition members had raised questions about the 'Bullet train' project. Ranee Narah of Congress said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is from Gujarat and Rail Minister from Mumbai, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route had been chosen for the project. Prabhu said efforts are being made to provide free water which has undergone quality checks and also provide better e-catering facilities. He announced initiatives like setting up a dedicated body for research and development in railways and creating a 'National Plan for Railways' regarding infrastructure development. He added that despite having to meet Pay Commission liability and Bonus Act liability, the Railways still has managed a modest operating ratio. Prabhu also emphasised that the Infrastructure investment in Railways has gone up considerably and it has touched 1 lakh 31 thousand crore in 2016-17. He said attempt should be made to increase Capital Expenditure to boost our economy. Prabhu also said that in the coming years entire rail network in North East will be shifted to broad gauge. Some opposition members had claimed that Railways was ignoring the North East. Referring to the plan to create a R&D body for Railways, Prabhu said NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat would present a report in this regard soon. The Railway minister also said the amount allocated for doubling work had grown from Rs 3,881 crore to Rs 25,191 crore in two years. He also claimed that the allocation towards development of railways in various states has been increased. It has also been decided to create in-cabin toilets for locopilots in trains, he said. The Railway minister also said that a substantial number of backlog of vacancies of SCs and STs had also been filled up. Prabhu also talked about the plan to transform 400 railway stations into PPP mode and said the first such contract had been given for the Habibganj station in Bhopal. He also said that the ministry is working with states to reduce delays because of stoppages. Earlier, participating in the debate, several members like Vishambhar Prasad Nishad of SP and Ripin Bora (Cong) raised questions about the conditions of railway stations. Congress members from North east Ranee Narah and Bora had also sought more attention towards the North East. Narah questioned if there will be no development of the rail network in North East just because there has been no railway minister from the region. She claimed her party leaders, including former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, had paid a lot of attention to development of railways in the Northeast. During the debate, Lal Singh Vadodia (BJP) said reservation for railway seats should be provided to former Parliamentarians as well. Several MPs were seen supporting this demand. 'Tis the season for poll promises. It's that time of the year again, when politicians are busy making promises for the people before the elections, some of which are productive, some counter-productive and some downright outlandish. From promising freebies like mobile phones to promising the return of the controversial bull-taming sport Jallikattu, political parties in Tamil Nadu have left no stone unturned in their attempt to please the voters. Here are the significant and not-so-significant-but-absurd poll promises made by the major political parties for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election 2016: BJP's promise of return of Jallikattu What is the one thing you will not expect from a party that is so obsessed with protection of cows that a large number of its party leaders want a nationwide ban on cow slaughter and beef is banned in many of the states ruled by that party? BJP defined irony when it promised the return of the bull-taming sport Jallikattu from next year. According to PETA, terrified bulls during Jallikattu are often deliberately disoriented by being given substances like alcohol, having their tails twisted and bitten, being stabbed and jabbed by sickles, spears, knives or sticks and being punched, jumped on and dragged to the ground. It seems BJP has adopted this perspective when it comes to Jallikattu: Prohibition One of the biggest issues of Tamil Nadu elections 2016 is prohibition of the sale of alcohol. Most of the major parties have promised complete prohibition in the state. In fact, DMK has promised prohibition in one go if it comes to power in the state. "What is that gradual prohibition? We dont accept that. We are for total prohibition," The Hindu quoted DMK chief M Karunanidhi as saying. AIADMK also announced prohibition in the state, though in a phased manner, PTI had reported. As expected, DMK ally Congress also said that it would implement prohibition. To realise how important the issue of prohibition actually is in Tamil Nadu, remember the fact that the following video (which uses images of Charlie Chaplin quite frequently) is an entire song making fun of Jayalalithaa on the issue of prohibition which had gone viral recently: The curious case of Captain Vijayakanth DMDK chief Vijayaraj Naidu aka Captain Vijayakanth's promises are so entertaining that we decided to devote an entire section to them. Vijayakanth has promised a week's celebration for the Pongal festival with public holiday for all schools and government sets-up. He also showed his promising command over economics when he claimed that prices of petroleum products among other things will be brought down, with petrol's fixed at Rs 45 and that of diesel Rs 35. And why bring technology and experts to India to assist farmers? The Captain has also claimed that at least 5,000 farmers will be sent abroad every year to learn latest techniques in farming. The income of a family of each of the 12,620 villages will be increased to Rs 25,000 per month. How? Well, the Captain aims to build a total of 1,120 theaters and 1,12,000 shops across the state to achieve that number. In short, the great Captain's mind-blowing leadership skills can be described in this way: Freebies, waivers Elections in India won't be half as entertaining if the politicians did not promise a few good ol' freebies! The DMK manifesto has promised waiver of education loans, tablets and laptops with 3G/4G connections and 10 GB per month download option for 16 lakh students, according to The Hindu. It also promised smart phones for poor families. Because, of course, that is what poor families need the most. The party has also promised a 20 kg free rice per month scheme in the state. This is not the first time, though, that the DMK is making promises of such outlandish freebies. According to The Indian Express, DMK had in 2006 made promises to provide free colour television sets to the people. Among the PWF manifesto's highlights is the promise of two acres of land to beneficiaries, including landless farmers and poor people. Waiver of loans taken by farmers from cooperative and nationalised banks was among the highlights of the Congress manifesto. The same promise was also made by the BJP. The BJP has also promised freebies of eight gram gold to eligible women in Below Poverty Line category for marriage. Jayalalithaa's promise of separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka Taking her attempt to please Tamils abroad a bit too far, CM Jayalalithaa has promised her party would take "continuous steps" to attain a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka and demand that the Centre grant dual citizenship for refugees from the island nation living in the state. "So as to enable Sri lankan Tamils live with full freedom and self-respect and to attain a separate Eelam, continuous steps will be taken," PTI had quoted her as saying. "We will urge the central government to confer dual citizenship on Sri Lankan Tamils living here so that they can easily get job opportunities," she had said. Noting that Sri Lankan Tamils have for long been living in and outside camps in Tamil Nadu, she had said her regime was giving them all facilities. PWF has also promised that Sri Lankan Tamils living in Tamil Nadu would not be repatriated without their consent. With inputs from PTI Patna: On Monday, a youth allegedly tried to fling his chappal towards Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public interaction programme in Patna but was arrested by the police. The incident occurred when the youth, who incidentally goes by the name of Nitish Kumar, came to meet the CM and hand over his request at 'Janata ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri' programme. As the accused, a resident of Arwal district bent down to take off his chappal, he was immediately caught by a posse of security men. Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told reporters the youth has been arrested and taken to Sachivalaya police station for detailed questioning, the SSP said. At 'Janata ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri' programme at the Chief Minister's residence people present their grievances and the CM directs officials to initiate action. It emerged that the youth had created ugly scenes earlier too at the 'Janata Darbar' programme of senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi recently. The grievance of the youth was not very clear but officials said he was apparently angry over the state government's recent advisory against use of fire for cooking and hawan etc between 9 am to 6 pm to curb increasing incidents of fire. Cairo: Egypt's journalists' syndicate called for the dismissal of the interior minister and an immediate sit-in at its headquarters in downtown Cairo to protest the police detention of two journalists on its premises. After an emergency meeting in the early hours of May 2, the group called for the "open-ended" sit-in to run through a general assembly meeting and World Press Freedom day on May 3. On the morning of May 2, dozens gathered at the steps of the building, chanting "journalists are not terrorists." They plan for a larger demonstration this afternoon. The syndicate described the police's entry into the building as a "raid by security forces whose blatant barbarism and aggression on the dignity of the press and journalists and their syndicate has surprised the journalistic community and the Egyptian people." Some syndicate members have said the raid was heavy-handed, involving dozens of officers and resulted in a security guard being injured. Police denied they entered the building by force and said only eight officers were involved, who they said were acting on an arrest warrant for the two journalists accused of organizing protests to destabilize the country. Unauthorised demonstrations in Egypt are banned, and demonstrators subject to arrest. "The Ministry of Interior affirms that it did not raid the syndicate or use any kind of force in arresting the two, who turned themselves in as soon as they were told of the arrest warrant," the ministry said in a statement. The two journalists, Amr Badr and Mahmoud el-Sakka, are government critics who work for a website known as January Gate, also critical of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government. It was unclear what size any sit-in at the syndicate could achieve. Police, backed by army troops had initially barricaded the entire area and prevented people from approaching the building, but they eventually lifted the blockade. Still hundreds of uniformed and undercover police were deployed across central Cairo in order to prevent any protests. On May 1, police prevented hundreds of workers from holding a meeting at the building to commemorate International Workers' Day, prompting independent trade union leaders to urge the government to allow them freedom of assembly. Seoul: South Korea warned on Monday there is a risk of its citizens being abducted by Pyongyang in retaliation for the defection of a dozen North Korean staff at a restaurant in China. Twelve women working at the restaurant in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo defected to the South with their manager last month. Seoul said they came voluntarily while the North insists they were tricked into defecting by South Korean spies who effectively "kidnapped" them. The South's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, said overseas missions had been advised to heighten their vigilance. "We are closely watching out for multiple possibilities, including abduction or terrorism ... by the North," said ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee. "We are trying to ensure the safety of our nationals," he told reporters. Seoul's Hankook Ilbo daily reported Monday that Pyongyang was plotting to abduct South Koreans to trade for the 13 defectors. "They set the target of 120 people including expats, soldiers and officials," the newspaper said, citing an official source familiar with North Korean affairs. Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have, over the decades, fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. But group defections are rare, especially by overseas restaurant staff who are generally hand-picked from families that are "loyal" to the regime. Pyongyang has proposed sending the women's parents to Seoul to meet their daughters and has released a video of them tearfully demanding their return. North Korea has a track record when it comes to abductions. In the most high-profile case, late leader Kim Jong-Il had a famed South Korean film director and his actress wife kidnapped in Hong Kong in 1978, in order to make films in the North. The couple escaped in 1986. In 2002, North Korea admitted it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and customs. The wait is finally over for patient investors of General Electric (GE 4.07%): The company has now officially applied to the U.S. Government to remove GE Capital's status as a Systemically Important Financial Institution. At last, at long last, we can look forward to ... more waiting. The wheels of government turn slowly.. And this de-designation, if granted, would represent the first time the FSOC has voluntarily granted such a request (although MetLife recently went to court to demand de-designation, and won). Here's what investors can expect as the process lurches forward. The story so far: A long wait The Financial Stability Oversight Council, the Treasury Department agency tasked with overseeing SIFI designations, gave GE Capital its SIFI status in 2013. Since then, GE has made a lot of changes to GE Capital, including selling billions of dollars of lending and leasing businesses and spinning off its private-label credit card company as Synchrony Financial (SYF 2.69%). The company plans to retain only those businesses directly related to its industrial operations -- for example, its aviation services financing arm. GE has some excellent arguments as to why the new, leaner GE Capital should no longer be viewed as a SIFI. They're summed up quite well in this chart: GE Capital's current liabilities (the dark blue bars) are much lower than they were in 2012 (the light blue bars), the year before the company was designated a SIFI. Further, of the company's non-cash, non-insurance-related assets, less than one-third are located in the United States. But the Financial Stability Oversight Council isn't just going to de-designate GE Capital in the blink of an eye. Instead, it explains: "For each company that has been designated, the FSOC is required by statute to reevaluate the designation annually, and the FSOC's reevaluation process considers whether any material changes at the company justify a rescission of the designation." GE Capital may believe it has made the requisite "material changes." But at its annual reevaluations, the FSOC has thus far declined to remove the designation. And then we wait some more Luckily for GE, there's another way it can proceed: "As explained in its final rule and interpretive guidance, the FSOC may also consider a request from a company for a reevaluation before the next required annual reevaluation in the case of an extraordinary change that materially decreases the threat the nonbank financial company could pose to U.S. financial stability." And that's exactly what it's doing -- playing up the "complete transformation" of the company and claiming that it "does not pose any conceivable threat to U.S. financial stability." However, the one thing that's missing from the FSOC guidelines is an estimated response time. According to the FSOC: "As part of each reevaluation, the company is provided an opportunity to meet with FSOC staff to discuss the scope and process for the review and to present information regarding any change that may be relevant to the threat the company could pose to financial stability, including a company restructuring, regulatory developments, market changes, or other factors." GE is clearly prepared to discuss these topics and has plenty of information to present. But as of yet, no meeting or hearing has been publicly scheduled. About all we can assume is that it will take place sometime this year. GE needs to shed its SIFI designation before Jan. 1, 2018, because that's when more stringent regulations will go into effect for the company, including stress tests and capital planning requirements. The good news is, even if the FSOC drags its feet, it will almost certainly issue a ruling by then. And many analysts believe that GE makes a very strong case. And, of course, if it's denied, it can still follow MetLife's example and head to court. The payoff So it's not particularly glamorous, but there is light at the end of the tunnel for patient (very patient) GE investors. And let's be honest, investors should be patient investors and look at a three- to five-year time horizon, at least, when evaluating stocks. The era of the giant GE Capital, and its outsize effects on the company, has come to a close. Investors will receive a nice boost thanks to the $35 billion in share repurchases that the SIFI de-designation will make possible. GE will be able to get back to the business of manufacturing industrial products that change the world and make all our lives better. The sun will shine and all will be right with the world. Except if it isn't. It would be almost inconceivable for the government to deny GE's request for rescission of its SIFI status, considering how much of the company's former assets are now elsewhere. I haven't seen anyone, anywhere, try to make the argument that GE somehow still deserves its SIFI status. But there's still the possibility, however remote, that the government could maintain GE's designation as a SIFI, and that even if GE went to court, it could lose. Which would definitely affect the stock price, as well as GE's plans to reward shareholders. But that's a pretty far-fetched scenario. You should feel confident that GE's days as a SIFI are numbered. What the exact number is, though, is anyone's guess. If you own a certain breed of dog, you may have a harder time getting homeowners insurance. Insurers balk at breeds and mixes that they believe are more likely to bite and cause injuries than other dogs. Save on Your Home Insurance -- Compare Quotes From Reputable Insurers! Einhorn Insurance, a San Diego agency specializing in dog liability insurance, has compiled a list of the 10 breeds most often deemed dangerous by insurance companies. Einhorn stresses that it doesn't agree with these opinions and helps responsible dog owners find carriers that don't discriminate. See which dogs insurers consider the riskiest. copyright Lenkadan/Shutterstock.com 1. Pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers Pit bull attacks frequently make the news. A report in early 2014 said a 10-year-old boy in Newark, N.J., was hospitalized in critical condition after his father's two pit bulls repeatedly bit him. The term "pit bull" encompasses both the American pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier. The breeds have a reputation for being unpredictable and dangerous; advocates from The Humane Society of the United States and other groups say the dogs are unfairly demonized. copyright Purino/Shutterstock.com 2. Doberman pinschers Doberman attacks spiked in the 1970s, when the breed's popularity grew. But in 2008, an 8-month-old baby was killed by his family's pet Doberman in Brooklyn, N.Y. Neighbors said that while the child was lying on a blanket, the dog pounced and clamped his jaws around the boy's tiny head. The baby's grandmother couldn't pry the dog off the child. The American Kennel Club, or AKC, says Dobermans can be affectionate, obedient and loyal. copyright Tomas Picka/Shutterstock.com 3. Rottweilers The AKC says rottweilers make good police dogs, herders or service or therapy dogs and are very protective of their territory. But North East Rottweiler Rescue and Referral in Portsmouth, R.I., notes that the dogs need obedience training, socialization and daily exercise and should always be kept under control. Two roaming rottweilers ambushed an Atlanta high school student on school grounds in the fall 2013. The girl's facial injuries required reconstructive surgery. copyright Bokstaz/Shutterstock.com 4. Chow chows In 2012, a chow chow was euthanized after attacking an 8-year-old boy on a bicycle in York, S.C. The boy, who reportedly played with the neighbor dog regularly, needed stitches and staples for the facial injuries he suffered. This breed, known for its scowling expression, black tongue and thick coat, likes to hunt, herd, protect and pull. AnimalPlanet.com says the breed's need to protect its human family and other pets can make the chow chow aggressive toward outside dogs. copyright NikDubrovin/Shutterstock.com 5. Great Danes Many people associate Great Danes with the lovable Marmaduke from the comic pages and the 2010 movie. Yet an incident in Fletcher, N.C., shows that the breed can have a not-so-cuddly side. Police said two Great Danes critically mauled a woman when she entered the dogs' kennel. Because a Great Dane can weigh upward of 100 pounds, veterinary website Vetstreet.com recommends early training against jumping or acting aggressively. copyright kazenouta/Shutterstock.com 6. Perro de Presa Canario The Presa Canario has become somewhat notorious because of a 2001 case in San Francisco. A woman who kept two of the massive dogs is serving 15 years to life in prison because of their actions. The dogs fatally mauled a neighbor, who suffered more than 75 bite wounds when she was attacked in an apartment building hallway. In places with breed bans, the Perro de Presa Canario often makes the list. copyright f8grapher/Shutterstock.com 7. Akitas Popular show dogs, Akitas have strong guarding instincts and temperaments that range from calm to aggressive, so the AKC says they should always be supervised around small children and other animals. In 2013, an Akita on a leash in a Murrieta, Calif., home improvement store reportedly lashed out at a 3-year-old boy who was petting him, biting the child on the jaw, neck and forehead, and below the right eye. His wounds required 50 stitches. copyright L.F/Shutterstock.com 8. Alaskan malamutes Originally bred as sled dogs for work in the Arctic, Alaskan malamutes have become popular as family pets. Known for strength, endurance, intelligence and ability to learn quickly, the breed also can be strong-willed. The Alaskan Malamute Club of Canada says the dogs want to fight and may require constant behavior training. Police in Britain seized a pet malamute in early 2014 after the dog was suspected of killing a 6-day-old infant. copyright Jarry/Shutterstock.com 9. German shepherds The AKC says the German shepherd is the world's leading police, guard and military dog. The breed also is "highly represented in biting incidents," according to a range of studies cited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. An 8-year-old girl from New Athens, Ill., was mauled in 2013 by two German shepherds owned by the town's former police chief. The girl was bitten on her left leg, chest and back. copyright Sbolotova/Shutterstock.com 10. Siberian huskies Not all dog-bite incidents involve humans. In 2012, a Siberian husky was accused of killing a Chihuahua at a dog park in South Euclid, Ohio. Other park patrons said the woman with the husky had no control over him. The dog was declared vicious under a city ordinance, requiring the owner to buy insurance, muzzle the dog in public, post a warning sign on her property and have the dog microchipped. copyright vvvita/Shutterstock.com Also: Wolf hybrids (wolf dogs) Perhaps the most controversial entry on the Einhorn Insurance list, wolf hybrids -- or wolf dogs -- are technically not a breed but are the animals that result from mating a wolf with a dog. While staunch supporters say wolf dogs make good pets, critics argue that the animals are dangerous and unpredictable. In 2002 in Ballard County, Ky., a wolf hybrid killed a 5-year-old boy. The owner pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. Copyright 2016, Bankrate Inc. Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) executive Charlie Munger still isnt pleased with Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:VRX), despite billionaire investor Bill Ackmans urging to change his mind on the company. At the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Munger, who called the drug company a sewer, said he is sticking to his comments. Theres been a complaint about my saying that Valeant is a sewer, but I thought the complaint would come from the sewers, Munger told the FOX Business Networks Liz Claman. It never occurred to me that anybody would be defending Valeant. Munger then took it a step further saying he believes sewer is too light of a word for Valeants behavior. The main thing that Valeant did that was unbelievably clever was to pay the consumers part of the deductible for the drugs they were selling, he said. That is totally illegalcriminal under the Medicare laws. But, that doesnt apply under the state laws. And they saw that loophole and so they did it with all the drugs that werent covered by Medicare they paid the consumer share of the deductible and they tried to pretend that it was a charitable contribution, when really it was the functional equivalent of bribing the other fellows purchasing agent. More on this... Buffett, Gates talk tech at Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting Despite the criticism of the company, Munger had kinder words for Valeant investor Bill Ackman. He certainly made a brilliant investment in General Growth Properties and hes totally right about Herbalife. Hes very articulate and intelligent and hes a fellow Harvard man, so hes not all bad, he said. Ackman has publically accused Herbalife of being a pyramid scheme in a battle that has been widely chronicled on Wall Street. Theres no doubt that millennials are one of the most entrepreneurial generations. A millennial (Mark Zuckerberg) invented the worlds most popular social networking site Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), while another millennial Matt Salzberg founded one of the most popular food delivery companies, Blue Apron. Despite criticisms of the generation, millennials have an entrepreneurial spirit that runs deep. Whether its in financial services, ecommerce or social media, millennials are starting businesses faster than any other generation. BNP Paribas has redefined the group, affectionately naming them millenipreneurs, in their 2016 global entrepreneur report, saying that millennial entrepreneurs as a category differ greatly from generation X or baby boomer entrepreneurs. Millennial entrepreneurs are starting earlier according to BNP which found that millennial entrepreneurs on average are 27 years old, as opposed to 35 years for baby boomers. And compared to their predecessors, they start more businesses, an average of seven, compared to three for boomers. One benefit that millennial entrepreneurs have is that most likely their parents have been entrepreneurs. BNP found that almost half of baby boomers were first generation entrepreneurs, as opposed to only 22% of millennials. But millennials could be seen as more ambitious, as the survey found that their target gross profit margin is 32.6%, compared to 27.5% for boomers. And within that group, female millennipreneurs have higher profit expectations than their male counterparts, according to BNP. Spanning across a number of industries including food and beverage, hospitality, financial services and media, millennial entrepreneurs have started businesses in all sectors. Some have launched companies while theyre still in college, while others have worked at established firms, obtained MBAs and then ventured into entrepreneurship. FOXBusiness.com talks to these millennial entrepreneurs to find out what makes them different from their predecessors and what inspires them. Theyll talk about theyve learned from mistakes and share advice for fellow entrepreneurs. Follow along on FOXBusiness.com with Power Millennials as we highlight the most impressive millennial entrepreneurs. 1-800-Flowers CEO Jim McCann says that despite the companys efforts to utilize domestic flower growers, the growers in certain states are considering growing marijuana as a potentially more profitable option. We have been pushing for domestic production of flowers hard for the last 10 years and having real good success, McCann told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo. But McCann noted that many flower growers are now tempted by the huge potential revenue boost from growing cannabis instead. There are a few states now, I havent seen it impact us yet, but we are concerned because some growers with enormous greenhouse facilities in California or Colorado or perhaps in Oregon are saying, Is this the best crop I can grow, these flowers for all these florists around the country? Maybe I can switch to cannabis and get 10 times on the revenue line. Thats a big concern of ours. Even though it has not had an effect on the company yet, McCann says many growers are close to a decision on the potential shift in their business. We havent seen it manifest itself yet, but a lot of people are on the precipice of making a decision, McCann said. Adding to the concern for the 1-800-Flowers CEO, McCann says the states where it is legal to grow cannabis are also the best for flower production. The only places that we know of are legal states, so thats where were seeing it but they also happen to be our best flower producing states. On growers potential switch from flowers to cannabis hurting his companys supply, McCann said, Thats a concern we have, so were working with them all the time to make sure we do the right analysis. Were more for rose production than we are for cannabis production. Cybersecurity stocks have fallen out of favor over the past year, despite the ongoing escalation of data breaches worldwide. The PureFunds ISE Cyber Security ETF, which owns a basket of top cybersecurity stocks, has lost over 20% of its value over the past 12 months, presumably due to concerns regarding the sector's profitability, valuation, and competition from tech giants like Cisco. Image source: Pixabay. However, I recently started a position in Israeli cybersecurity firm CyberArk , which has declined nearly 40% over the past 12 months. Here are my top four reasons for doing so. 1. "Best in breed" protectionCyberArk specializes in the protection of privileged accounts, which are often accessed by hackers to gain access to restricted networks. If an account is compromised, CyberArk's software isolates the threat to prevent it from spreading across networks. Verizon's annual Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that nearly 8% of data breachesin 2015 were caused by the misuse of privileged accounts -- which CyberArk specializes in containing. CyberArk's clients currently include 40% of the Fortune 100 companies and 17 of the 20 biggest banks in the world. The company's privileged account security platform is also the only one approved by the U.S. Department of Defense. The strength of CyberArk's customer base boosted its revenue 42% annually to $51.5 million last quarter. Last year, the number of personal records exposed in data breaches worldwide nearly doubled to 169 million, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. 40% of those breaches occurred in businesses, 36% in healthcare facilities, 9% in banks, 8% in the government, and 7% in education. CyberArk has a strong presence across all those markets, and demand will likely rise as attacks become more sophisticated. 2. Forming a "Justice League"A common bearish argument against CyberArk is that larger rivals like firewall provider Palo Alto Networksand Cisco will strengthen their privileged account abilities and undercut CyberArk with cheaper bundles. That's why CyberArk recently launched theC3 Alliance, a group of companies which have agreed to integrate privileged account security into their own products. Early members of the alliance, which Infosecurity Magazine calls the "Justice League for privileged account protection", include major tech players like Intel, threat prevention leader FireEye, and antivirus software maker Symantec. This move, along with its massive enterprise footprint and DoD certification, significantly widens its moat against bigger rivals. 3. Solid fundamentalsMany of CyberArk's cybersecurity peers, including Palo Alto and FireEye, are unprofitable on a GAAP basis. Yet CyberArk is profitable by both non-GAAP and GAAP measures, thanks to its more disciplined spending strategies. Last quarter, CyberArk's GAAP net income rose 48% annually to $9.9 million, while non-GAAP net income jumped 92% to $13.8 million. Looking ahead, analysts expect CyberArk to post 25% annual earnings growth over the next five years. That makes its forward P/E of 37 look a bit high, but it's much lower than Palo Alto's forward P/E of 58. CyberArk's trailing 12-month EV/FCF ratio of 20 is also much lower than Palo Alto's ratio of 29, indicating that it's cheaper relative to its free cash flow growth. 4. Buyout potentialCyberArk dominates a niche cybersecurity market, is profitable, has a decent valuation and no debt -- making it an ideal takeover target for bigger tech companies looking to add privileged account protection to their security portfolios. CyberArk's enterprise value of $970 million also makes it a fairly affordable purchase. Firewall provider CheckPoint Software held talks to buy CyberArk in January, according to TheMarker, but there haven't been any new developments since then. Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Shaul Eyal noted that the smaller size of CheckPoint's recent cybersecurity acquisitions, which were under $200 million, indicated that there was a "low probability" that it would buy CyberArk. Nonetheless, CheckPoint can still afford to pay -- it finished last quarter with $3.7 billion in cash, marketable securities, and short-term deposits. Time to nibble on this volatile stockI plan to average into CyberArk over the next year by buying the stock two or three more times, since it's been prone to wild price swings. CyberArk will report its first quarter earnings on May 5, and a big swing either way could represent another buying opportunity -- provided that the business remains in solid shape. The article 4 Reasons I Bought CyberArk Software Ltd. originally appeared on Fool.com. Leo Sun owns shares of CyberArk Software and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Check Point Software Technologies, FireEye, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool recommends Cisco Systems, CyberArk Software, Intel, and Palo Alto Networks. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Delta Air Lines has been interested in Bombardier's revolutionary CSeries jet for at least six years. But the airline giant never pulled the trigger, due in large part to Bombardier's high asking price. However, after several years filled with development delays, cost overruns, and not many orders, Bombardier has become a lot more aggressive on pricing. That allowed it to finally reel in a big order from Delta last week. A great airplane with an uncertain marketIn a two-class configuration, Bombardier's CSeries models -- the CS100 and CS300 -- hold 108 and 130 seats, respectively. This puts the CSeries at the low end of the mainline market. The CSeries jets compete at the lower end of the market for mainline planes. Image source: Bombardier. The CSeries thus competes with the smallest jets made by aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus (the 737-700 and A319) as well as their upcoming replacements (the 737 MAX 7 and A319neo). It also goes head to head with Embraer's largest models (the E190 and E195), and their upcoming replacements (the E190-E2 and E195-E2). However, only the CSeries is a brand-new plane designed from the ground up in the past decade. It also benefits from being optimized for the 110- to 130-seat market, unlike the competing Boeing and Airbus models. Bombardier claims that this will give the CSeries jets huge operating cost advantages over their rivals. Unfortunately, the market has moved away from Bombardier since it began designing the CSeries. Airlines are opting for larger planes to reduce unit costs. Boeing and Airbus both have thousands of single-aisle jet orders in their firm backlogs, but the 737 MAX 7 and A319neo have just a few dozen orders each. This sales weakness has extended to the CSeries. At the end of March, Bombardier had just 243 firm orders on the books: 53 for the smaller CS100 and 190 for the larger CS300. That includes 40 orders from bankrupt regional airline Republic Airways that will be canceled, as well as a number of other shaky orders. Delta to the rescue -- sort ofEarlier this year, Air Canada committed to buy 45 CS300 jets, which will offset the lost Republic Airways orders. However, this still left Bombardier in a precarious position. With a small backlog, there was a risk that it would run out of orders just as production was starting to turn profitable. Furthermore, the lack of a marquee order made some potential customers nervous about buying CSeries jets. That's why landing a big order from Delta was such a priority for Bombardier. Delta has placed a firm order for 75 CS100 jets, with another 50 options. It also has conversion rights to upgrade to the CS300. Delta will receive its first CS100 jets in 2018. Image source: Delta Air Lines. Bombardier now has its flagship order. However, Delta drove a hard bargain. It appears to be getting a 65%-70% discount off the list price, whereas 50% discounts are more typical. As a result, Bombardier will book a $500 million "onerous contract" charge next quarter. (The charge also covers the Air Canada order and a smaller order from Air Baltic.) This indicates that it sold these jets below cost. Can Bombardier succeed?Selling the CSeries at a loss to early customers was a necessary risk for Bombardier. Part of the reason why the CSeries doesn't have many orders is that the previous management team was averse to giving big discounts. Airbus and Boeing were more than happy to cut their prices to offset the CSeries' performance advantages in order to retain their customers. The idea of offering big discounts to customers like Delta is that production costs decline over time. If Delta's commitment helps get other airlines off the fence, it will allow Bombardier to extend the CSeries production run with higher-margin sales. However, Boeing and Airbus are eager to keep Bombardier out of their market. They remain willing to offer huge discounts when necessary to keep customers from buying the CSeries. This means that margins may be lower across the board than what Bombardier was hoping for. Boeing and Airbus have offered big discounts to steal sales from Bombardier. Image source: Boeing. This makes it especially critical for Bombardier to meet its cost reduction goals. Boeing has been able to withstand huge production cost overruns on the Dreamliner program due to its other highly profitable aircraft programs. By contrast, Bombardier needs the CSeries to stand on its own two feet by 2020, even in the current competitive pricing environment. What it means for DeltaFor Delta, the CS100 will fulfill two missions. First, it will allow Delta to retire more of the cramped, fuel-guzzling 50-seat jets in its regional fleet. The CS100 will be much cheaper to operate on a per-seat basis and much more pleasant for customers. Second, it will help Delta replace its fleet of aging MD-88s. While the CS100 is much smaller than the 149-seat MD-88, Delta has also ordered a lot of Boeing 737-900ERs and Airbus A321s -- which have 180 and 192 seats, respectively -- in the past few years. The idea seems to be to replace the MD-88s with a combination of larger and smaller aircraft. The CS100's unbeatable cost performance will enable Delta to better match supply to demand on domestic routes without driving up unit costs. In the long run, that should lead to higher profit margins. The article Delta Finally Orders Bombardier's Game-Changing CSeries Jet originally appeared on Fool.com. Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira and The Boeing Company and is long July 2016 $25 calls on Embraer-Empresa Brasileira and long Jan. 2017 $40 calls on Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool recommends Embraer-Empresa Brasileira. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image Source: Howard Hughes Corp. Howard Hughes got a big boost this quarter from an asset sale, which catapulted its first-quarter earnings. However, that sale was only part of the story this quarter, with the real estate developer also benefiting from strong condo pre-sales, land sales within its master planned communities, and income from its recently completed commercial properties. Howard Hughes results: The raw numbers Q1 2016 Actuals Q1 2015 Actuals Growth (YOY) Adjusted Net Income $128.9 million $16.8 million 667.3% Net Operating Income from Operating Assets $31.5 million $27.1 million 16.2% Adjusted EPS $3.04 $0.43 607% Data source: Howard Hughes Corp. What happened with Howard Hughes Corp this quarter?An asset sale provided a big boost to Howard Hughes this quarter: Adjusted net income skyrocketed as a result of the sale of the company's 80 South Street Assemblage. The company, which created the Assemblage from a series of transactions over the past two years, sold the property for $390 million in the first quarter. That resulted in a pre-tax gain of $140.5 million and net cash proceeds of $378.3 million. The company also enjoyed strong double digit growth in net operating income from its income-producing operating assets. This growth was driven by the the ongoing stabilization of its retail and office developments that were opened last year. Even the company's Master Planned Community sales were strong, jumping 32.1% to $59.2 million. That's after the company completed a $40 million residential sale to a home builder at its Summerlin community as well as closing two commercial sales at its Woodlands community to medical-related entities. Howard Hughes also saw an increase in condominium rights and unit sales in Hawaii during the quarter compared to the year-ago period. Further, it was able to recognize more revenue from its Anaha project under the percentage of completion method of accounting. What management had to sayCEO David Weinreb,commenting on the company's results, said: Howard Hughes benefited from four drivers during the quarter: The Assemblage sale, condo sales in Hawaii, stronger Master Planned Community land sales, and the stabilization of its income producing properties. Of the quartet, the stabilization of the income producing properties is noteworthy because these are properties that were either built or bought to generate consistent income for the company to help it mute some of the impact of the rest of its real estate developments, which provide lumpier results because they rely on asset sales to drive income. The reason that segment is important is because while Howard Hughes might have enjoyed strong asset sales in the first quarter, they can't always be counted on. Looking forwardThat being said, the company does still have a lot running room in Hawaii. While its Waiea and Anaha towers are selling out fast, with 85.8% and 81%, respectively, of total residential square feet under contract, the company has two more towers in the pipeline to drive future sales. It's Ae'o tower began construction during the first quarter and now has 40.4% of its residential square footage under contract. In addition to that the Hawaii Real Estate Commission approved the marketing for sales at its Ke Kilohana tower in March and 90% of the units are under pre-sale contracts already. Given that the company uses a percentage of completion accounting method, it will be recognizing the income from these sales for quite some time, which will provide a nice base for earnings growth in the future. The article Howard Hughes Corp. Cashes in on an Asset Sale originally appeared on Fool.com. Matt DiLallo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Howard Hughes. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne will also become the luxury carmaker's chief executive after Amedeo Felisa's decision to retire, the company said in a statement on Monday. Felisa's departure was expected for months after sources told Reuters last August that the executive born in 1946 was getting ready to retire. Felisa, who previously headed product development at Alfa Romeo, joined Ferrari in 1990 and became its CEO in 2008. Marchionne will assume the CEO responsibilities at the Italian luxury group while retaining his current role as chairman. Felisa will continue to serve on the board of directors as technical advisor to the company. (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; editing by Francesca Landini) Now that's a big truck! Image source: Teck Resources. Teck Resources Ltd. posted adjusted earnings of $0.03 a share in the first quarter, down from last year's $0.11. However, it was much better than the $0.04 loss analysts had been calling for. Revenues of nearly $1.7 billion, meanwhile, were just a touch under the $1.73 billion analyst forecast. So it was hardly a good quarter, yet not as bad as it could have been. But those are just the headline stats. There were some interesting things going on underneath those numbers that you'll want to know about. A tough marketThere's no question that the first quarter was a continuation of the difficult commodity market environment that's been punishing Teck and its mining peers. Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX), for example, just posted an adjusted loss of $0.16 a share. The big problem for both companies remains low commodity prices. Teck's main products -- steelmaking coal, copper, and zinc -- saw prices fall 29%, 20%, and 19%, respectively, year over year. Freeport, which is focused on copper, gold, and oil, saw copper prices decline 20% and oil prices drop 45%, more than offsetting a roughly 3.5% increase in the price of gold. So it's easy to see why Teck's revenues and earnings both fell and to see that this isn't unusual int he mining space. What's a little more impressive, however, is that Teck managed to trim expenses enough to turn a slight profit -- a feat that analysts weren't expecting it to pull off, and a better outcome than some competitors were able to manage. Putting some numbers on that, Teck managed to trim its coal costs by nearly 18% year over year. In fact, all but one of the company's mining operations was cash flow-positive in the quarter. So there really is some good news hidden in the mix. A brighter futureThere are also some hints of silver appearing on the clouds that have dotted the horizon since the commodity downturn started in 2011. Case in point -- the pricing of coal is up nearly 4% sequentially from the first quarter as the second quarter gets under way. So the second quarter could be even better than the first. Is that a rainbow forming on the horizon? Image source: Teck Resources. Teck is also benefiting from low oil prices and a strong U.S. dollar. On the oil front, the miner is seeing low costs for all the diesel fuel it burns. That helps to keep operating expenses low, a welcome blessing. And since much of the company's expenses are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar (the big one is the Canadian dollar) and what it sells is priced in U.S. dollars, Teck benefits from the opposite of what's hurting so many U.S. companies with big foreign businesses. Basically, it's turning U.S. dollars into more of its home currency while U.S. companies often have to turn foreign currencies into fewer U.S. dollars. Then there's the company's investment in an oil sands project that's around 55% complete. This is a big-ticket item, with roughly a billion dollars more spending to go for Teck before it's done. The project is progressing on plan, which is good. But the better news is that Teck has $1.3 billion in cash and around $3 billion available on a credit facility. In other words, it has the money to keep building. Longer term, this project will add a new, and long-lived, commodity to the company's portfolio. Although the low price of oil today has led many to suggest an oil sands investment is a mistake, if oil prices head higher again this "mistake" could quickly start to look like a brilliant move. Mixed bagIt would be hard to call the first quarter good. But it would be equally hard to say it was all bad. So let's cut the middle and say it was "mixed." The really exciting takeaway from the three-month span, however, is that there are a number of bright spots appearing on the horizon. It's way too soon to sound the all-clear, but if you're a contrarian looking for a mining turnaround story, Teck's tale is starting to sound more and more compelling. The article Teck Resources Ltd.'s Q1 Hints at a Brighter Future originally appeared on Fool.com. Reuben Brewer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold,. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. When electric-car maker Tesla Motors unveiled the production version of Model X last September, there were a number of unexpected features, including the largest front windshield in production and self-presenting doors. But arguably the most surprising new feature was the SUV's "bioweapon defense mode." Tesla CEO shows air filters in Model X. Image source: Tesla Motors. "The net effect of the air filtration system is that you have air cleanliness levels which are comparable to a hospital operating room in the car," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said when he unveiled the feature. But some have questioned whether the feature was the real deal, or just a marketing gimmick. Model X in a biohazard bubbleIn a new blog post, Tesla is asserting that it wasn't kidding about the air filtration system's capabilities. First, the company emphasized that air pollution really is a serious problem and deserves attention. While the automaker had already put the system to the test in real-world environments including busy freeways, landfills, smelly marshes, cow pastures, and major cities in China, Tesla wanted to "take things a step further." Model X in biohazard bubble. Image source: Tesla Motors. The test, which apparently involved humans, was a success. Chart source: Tesla Motors. And Tesla isn't done with its air system. According to the company, subsequent filters, which current owners will be able to install as replacements in the future, will make it even better. The company is continuing to work to "improve the micro-geometry and chemical passivation defenses in the primary and secondary filters." Indeed, Tesla said in the blog post that it's open to suggestions on ways to improve the system. Although bioweapon defense mode debuted in the Model X, the company recently added the feature to Model S as part of a slight redesign, which included a total makeover to the vehicle's nose cone. As Tesla matures as an auto company, it's increasingly clear that one of its goals is to be a standard-setter when it comes to safety. The Model S received a 5-star rating in every category from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the company has said it expects the Model X and Model 3 will receive the same ratings when they are tested. Further, Tesla's autopilot safety features, including side collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, and more, come standard on all of its vehicles. The article Tesla Motors Inc.: Bioweapon Defense Mode is Real originally appeared on Fool.com. Daniel Sparks owns shares of Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Tesla Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Pixabay. Despite the excitement of earnings season, at times it may feel overwhelming -- as if you're drowning in a flood of facts and figures. Let's take a moment to slow down and wade through what American Water Works will probably discuss when it reports earnings after the market closes on May 4.Growing togetherAmerican Water Works is the largest publicly traded water utility, and it will probably remain so for the foreseeable future. One of the company's competitive advantages is its superior abilityto grow through acquisition. For example, in 2015 the company added 42,000 customers through acquisition -- 78.6% of its growth. As of the Q4 2015 earnings report, the company has a total of 14 pending acquisitions. Should all of these transactions be realized, it will add approximately 9,000 -- water and wastewater -- customers to its books. This doesn't include the recent acquisition of the Scranton Sewer Authority. Valued at $195 million, the acquisition will yield about 31,000 customers and is expected to close by Sept. 30.Because the company seeks acquisitions that are in proximity to its established operations, the greater its geographic footprint expands, the more opportunity it has to expand further. And its opportunity already is extensive. Currently, the company serves more than 15 million people in 47 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Ontario. The company's closest competitor, Aqua America , serves only 3 million people in seven states.Of the five states where American Water Works has pending acquisitions, two of them -- Illinois and New Jersey -- are locations where Aqua America also has a presence. Should American Water Works complete the acquisitions, it would expand its market share in states where it directly competes with Aqua America and compromise its main competitor's ability to likewise grow through acquisition.Are the tides still rising?Guiding for earnings growth between 7% and 10%, management has been clear about its EPS forecast from 2016 to 2020. Achieving this target seems plausible. Building on comparable success, it reported diluted EPS of $2.64 -- a 10.5% increase over the $2.39 it reported in FY 2014. Image source: American Water Works corporate website. During the previous earnings report, management confirmed its EPS guidance -- $2.75 to $2.85 -- for FY 2016. Look for management to confirm it again, since it recently raised its quarterly dividend -- a sign that its earnings growth is on track.Growing approximately 10% from $0.34 to $0.375 per share, the quarterly dividend, according to management, is closely linked to earnings growth, so the confirmation of guidance seems likely. Management is conservative with its dividend; it has stated its desire to keep its payout ratio between 50% and 60%. Currently, the payout ratio -- the proportion of earnings paid in dividends to shareholders -- is a little over 50%. Aqua America, by comparison, equals about 60%.Improving operationsFinally, expect to see an improvement in the company's operations and maintenance (O&M) efficiency ratio. A non-GAAP measure, which approximates the operating margin, the ratio has steadily improved from 44.2% for FY 2010 to 35.9% for FY 2015. Management's long-term goal is to achieve an O&M efficiency ratio of 34% by 2020.In addition to acquisitions, streamlining its operations is a crucial strategy in the company's long-term growth strategy. Though the water business is as old as civilization itself, American Water Works is keeping it current byemphasizingautomatic meter reading and a transition to an advanced metering infrastructure. The company is partnering with General Electric, who is leveraging its expertise in the Industrial Internet of Things, American Water Works will help to pioneer innovative strategies for improving operations in the water industry. According to GE's press release, the collaboration will help to "develop the next generation of software and data analytics solutions to help the industry reduce the environmental impacts and operating costs associated with water production, treatment, transportation, and delivery."The takeawayInvesting in American Water Works may not be akin to a whitewater rafting trip, but at the end of the day, it shouldn't matter where the earnings flow from. Based on management's ability to consistently meet its guidance and the recent dividend raise, I suspect that the earnings report will be more smooth sailing for this industry leader. The article What to Expect When American Water Works Reports Earnings originally appeared on Fool.com. Scott Levine has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of General Electric Company. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: iStock/Thinkstock. Even though Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is one of the nation's most successful bank investors, the 85-year-old chairman said at this year's annual meeting that he wouldn't invest in 90% of the world's biggest banks. "If you take the 50 largest banks in the world, we wouldn't even think about probably 45 of them," Buffett said while talking about the dangers that lurk in large derivative portfolios. "There can be enormous gaps in things that you thought were fully protected by collateral, or netting arrangements and that sort of thing. So I regard very large derivative positions as dangerous." This may seem odd given that roughly a third of Berkshire Hathaway's $140 billion equity portfolio consists of bank stocks, such as Wells Fargo , U.S. Bancorp, and M&T Bank, among others. And this doesn't include Berkshire's $5 billion position in Bank of America's preferred stock, which gives Berkshire the option to purchase 700 million shares of Bank of America common stock for $7.14 a share by 2021. Importantly, however, most of the banks Berkshire has invested in are only minor players in the derivatives market. You can get a sense for this by comparing the notional amount of derivatives Wells Fargo has on its books relative to JPMorgan Chase , Bank of America, and Citigroup . Data source: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. JPMorgan Chase leads the way with $50.7 trillion in derivatives, followed by Citigroup and Bank of America with $48 trillion and $42.2 trillion, respectively. Wells Fargo brings up the rear with only $5.7 trillion in notional exposure to derivatives. These figures include derivatives that are offset by other derivatives, reducing the net exposure to a more manageable level. However, to Buffett's point, it's reasonable to assume that even the most sophisticated banks don't have a complete grasp on their derivatives portfolios, both because derivatives can be complicated, and because it's impossible to predict what will happen to the assets or events they're tied to. We saw this at AIG during the 2008-09 financial crisis. The operating unit that amassed AIG's near-fatal derivatives exposure was one of the most sophisticated groups on Wall Street. The same was true at Long-Term Capital Management in 1998, a hedge fund that imploded after its highly leveraged bet on derivatives tied to foreign exchange rates went awry as a result of the Russian Ruble crisis. We saw this even more recently at JPMorgan Chase. The nation's biggest bank by assets lost more than $6 billion three years ago after a trader's derivatives-based bet tied to the health of large American corporations went against the bank. The trader responsible for the loss was known among hedge funds as the "London whale." Berkshire Hathaway's position in Bank of America is the exception to Buffett's aversion to banks with huge derivatives exposure. However, the structure of Berkshire's stake in Bank of America is unique, given that it doesn't own the bank's common stock outright. It instead owns preferred shares and was given the warrants to purchase common stock for free, essentially as consideration for Berkshire Hathaway's endorsement at what was then the peak of Bank of America's post-crisis travails. This aside, the point is that Buffett thinks banks with big derivatives portfolios are too risky for his money. Given the source, this is probably worth considering for anyone who invests in big bank stocks. The article Why Warren Buffett Wouldn't Invest in 90% of Big Banks originally appeared on Fool.com. John Maxfield owns shares of Bank of America, U.S. Bancorp, and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool has the following options: short May 2016 $52 puts on Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool recommends Bank of America. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The parents of a three-month-old boy in China are seeking help for their son, who was born with 31 fingers and toes. Hong Hong, who lives in Chinas Hunan Province, was born with polydactylism a congenital condition in which the individual has extra fingers and toes and has two palms, but no thumbs on either hand, Central European News (CEN) reported. The boys mother also has the abnormality and was born with one extra finger and toe on each of her hands and feet. The couple was worried that their child would inherit the condition, but doctors found no birth defects during prenatal scans. When the boy was born, he had seven fingers on his right hand and eight on his left, along with eight toes on each of his feet. Zou Chenglin, Hong Hongs father, said the family has visited multiple hospitals and learned that their son can be operated on between six months and one year of age, which could cure the abnormality. However, the family are migrant workers and are unable to raise the $15,548 to $77,740 needed to cover the procedure, CEN reported. Theyre now reaching out to local charities and hoping the public will help give their son a more normal childhood. One difficulty is that the boys condition is not life-threatening and therefore not perceived as a priority, compared to the condtion of those suffering from more severe diseases, CEN reported. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Two weeks before Christmas 2013, Paulette Leaphart said a message from God woke her up in the middle of the night. That incident led to her eventual breast cancer diagnosis and on April 30, Leaphart set off on a 1,000-mile walk to raise awareness for and engagement about the disease. For her walk from Biloxi, Miss., to Washington D.C., shes decided to walk topless. She wants spectators and those she meets to see her double mastectomy scars as she shares her story about life as a single mother who went from financially comfortable to struggling to care for her four biological and four adopted children. Its a gigantic adventure, Leaphart, of New Orleans, told FoxNews.com. Recently, Leaphart appeared in Beyonces much-hyped visual album, Lemonade. In the section titled Hope, shes bare-chested; she also appears in Freedom. When she met the superstar, she asked if shed join her for a block of her walk, but Beyonce proposed a mile instead, Business Insider reported. Leaphart is aiming to reach the capitol by her 50th birthday on June 27. Shell be accompanied by filmmaker Emily MacKenzie, 30, and her four youngest daughters, who range in age from 8 to 15. MacKenzie and producer Sasha Solodukhina are making a documentary, Scar Story, which they hope to have completed in time for Octobers Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When shes completed her journey, Leaphart plans to start a foundation supporting single mothers who face illness and has started a GoFundMe page. She hopes to open homes through the foundation to house women without the financial and emotional support to take care of them and their children through treatment. Had I been able to have that one place I could go with my kids for six months and focus on my healing, oh my gosh, she said. Thats my dream, my focus, my goal. Thats what God placed on my heart. We want to hold stuff in Leapharts journey with breast cancer began on that December 2013 night, when she jumped out of bed after hearing what she believes was Gods voice. He whispered in my sleep that I had cancer, she said. I have a very close relationship with God. Were tight. Leaphart then went to a surgeon who didnt find anything abnormal, but asked when shed last had a mammogram, given her familys history her mother, grandmother, and first cousin all had breast cancer. Leaphart had never undergone the procedure. He looked at me like I was crazy, she said of the doctor, who wrote her a prescription. I had the money, but I have eight kids, my world centered around my children. Id spend [the money] for them to go to the doctor at the drop of a hat, but would never do it for myself. Thats just how a single mom thinks. In June 2013, Leaphart was with her first cousin, Monique, when she died from breast cancer. The 32-year-old single mother kept her diagnosis to herself until right before she died and by then the tumor was painfully large and had spread to her bones and brain. Breast cancer wasnt something her family talked about. I was so angry at the fact that we, especially as black women, we want to hold stuff in and dont want people to know our business and we feel ashamed, like we did something wrong, Leaphart said. Weve got to stop that. Though Leapharts mammogram came out normal, she didnt believe the results and got a prescription for an ultrasound. Thats when they found a stage 3 estrogen-positive ductal carcinoma in her right breast. Her doctor recommended removing both breasts, even though the tumor was small, because of her family history. I already knew I was going to live God didnt wake me up to let me die, she said. When Leaphart went to a reconstructive doctor to look at options, he informed her that she wasnt a good candidate because she had Factor V Leiden, an inherited disorder that can increase the risk of abnormal blood clots, and was already on blood thinners. The drugs put her at risk to bleed behind breast implants, which would require more surgery. She was offered the option of prostheses to wear under her clothes. Leaphart had a double mastectomy on February 12, 2014. Her surgeon also took out eight lymph nodes, two of which were positive for cancer. I accepted the fact that I was going to be breast-less for the rest of my life after God came to me, Leaphart said. The spirit of God was all over the beach that day Though Leaphart didnt have health insurance, she had a enough income from running her own daycare center, her ex-husbands military retirement and child support for three of her daughters. I could take care of us comfortably and had a good amount saved up, thank God I did. I took all of that to pay for my surgery, my appointments with all the specialists, medication, Leaphart said. The family moved from Florida to Texas, shuttling between family members homes until Leaphart married an old flame and moved to Seattle. At that point, she recalled, she felt like a burden to her family and moving seemed like a solution. She sporadically received chemotherapy when she could afford it. When the marriage failed, Leaphart picked up her daughters at their fathers home in Virginia and moved to Atlanta. Before the school year started, they took a trip to Biloxi for a beach weekend. Though Leaphart had accepted that she would be breast-less, she said the Holy Spirit came to her while she was at the beach and told her take off her shirt and take pictures. She was puzzled, but promised herself she wouldnt disobey after what she went through with her recent marriage. She gave her daughter Destiny, now 13, her phone, kept her head up, and posed. It was such a powerful moment, she said. I saw people around with tears in their eyes. When she finished, a few women came up and told her it was the most beautiful thing theyd ever seen, when they realized she didnt have any breasts. That let me know the spirit of God was all over the beach that day, she said. I knew in that moment my chest was touching people. Her daughters put the photo on Facebook in September 2014 and within minutes, she had thousands of likes. Viewers posted their thanks and emailed their stories. To date, the post has gained over 1.3K views and 196 comments. Thats when Leaphart knew what God wanted her to do, she said to walk 1,000 miles baring her scars. The walk from her hometown of Buloxi to D.C. is almost exactly that distance. These are my war scars A scan three months ago revealed that Leaphart is clear of cancer. Her port was taken out in March and all of her specialists gave their approval for the walk. She moved to New Orleans in January 2015 and has been training for the walk for one year -- even when she was weak and sick -- and is down to only two medications. She walks 20 miles per day and works out three hours every other day. Im physically fit, healthy; they took me off all my heart and blood pressure medications, Leaphart said. God just healed me. Leaphart is aiming to walk 30 miles per day, which would get her to D.C. in three months. Shell be traveling with her youngest daughters Thaltiel, 15, Alexis, 14, Destiny, 13, and Madeline, 8 when theyre out of school and the film crew and theyll stay in two RVs. Once she arrives in D.C., Leaphart plans to climb the steps of the United States Capitol and advocate for government support of middle-class individuals facing life-threatening diseases. As a new breast cancer advocate, pink ribbon campaigns and save the ta-tas messaging dont connect with her, Leaphart said. I think my scars are pretty but aint nothing pretty about breast cancer, she said. Im walking to have people refocus on the reality of what cancer is and what it does. In addition to reminding women that they need to take care of themselves, Leaphart hopes her campaign shows women that they can still be beautiful without breasts; that forgoing treatment to save their breasts isnt always the best solution. Im breast-less, but baby Im still sexy, I still turn heads, she said. I have these scars across my chest, but that tells everybody that Im one tough cookie. If I can kick cancer in the a--, cant nothing else mess with me. These are my war scars. Its my story. For people with recurring depression, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may be more helpful than other treatments, according to a new analysis. Cognitive therapy focuses on substituting constructive patterns of thinking for maladaptive thought processes. Mindfulness meditation focuses on being aware of incoming thoughts and feelings and accepting them without reacting to them. Combining mindfulness techniques with cognitive therapy should be an option for patients, according to study leader Willem Kuyken of the University of Oxford in the UK. "It is about choice for patients and adding another choice for people at high risk of depressive relapse to stay well in the long-term," Kuyken told Reuters Health in an email. "When mindfulness is combined with cognitive therapy, one of the things we see is people being trained to regard their thoughts as just thoughts and not to get ensnared by them," said Richard Davidson, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study. The research team analyzed data on 1,258 participants from nine randomized controlled trials that compared mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to other treatments for recurring depression among people who were fully or partially in remission. Overall, people receiving MBCT were about 31 percent less likely to have depression again after 60 weeks, compared to people who received other treatments, including self help. After excluding self help, the researchers found that people who received MBCT were still 21 percent less likely to have depression again after 60 weeks, compared to people on other treatments. MBCT worked equally well regardless of age, sex, education, relationship status, age at onset of depression and previous episodes. However, in people with more severe depressive symptoms, MBCT worked especially well, compared to other treatments. "Depression is a recurrent illness," said Davidson, of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Relapse is a very significant problem with depression, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may be particularly valuable in reducing the risk of relapse." The researchers write in JAMA Psychiatry April 27 that MBCT teaches skills that help people with recurrent depression to stay well. Davidson said there is no one-size-fits-all approach to depression. MBCT may be a good choice for some people, but not all. "We need to better understand it and that's one of the important tasks of future research," he told Reuters Health. JAMA Psychiatry 2016. A new review confirms that smoking has bad effects on a man's semen. Using the most up-to-date definition of abnormal sperm from the World Health Organization, the researchers found that smokers have lower sperm counts, poorer sperm movement, and more irregularly shaped sperm than nonsmokers. Ashok Agarwal of the American Center for Reproductive Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and colleagues reviewed 20 studies including almost 6,000 participants. Men exposed to cigarette smoke had notably fewer sperm per ejaculate, fewer mobile sperm and more irregularly shaped sperm, the researchers reported in European Urology. The extent to which male fertility is affected by smoking isn't clear yet, Agarwal told Reuters Health by email. "However, accumulating data indicate that the ability of the sperm to fertilize and subsequently enable the development of a normal fetus is dependent on many other co-factors in addition to the basic semen parameters," like DNA breakage and genetic changes in the sperm, which cannot be diagnosed in a simple semen analysis, he said. None of the studies in this review evaluated what happened to semen quality when a man quit smoking, he said. "We can say clearly that smoking alters male fertility," he said. "Hence smoking cessation must be strongly advised to couples seeking fertility." Laypeople think of smoking as causing lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease, but likely do not link it to fertility, said Ajay K. Nangia of the urology department at the University of Kansas Hospital and Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, who was not part of the new review. Chemicals in tar and nicotine enter the blood and travel down into semen and can affect sperm, Nangia told Reuters Health by phone. Smoking can also cause erectile dysfunction in young men, he said. "Even the risk of heart attack is less important than erectile dysfunction for some men," Nangia said. Semen characteristics may improve after quitting smoking, but neither heart disease nor erectile dysfunction will go away, he said. "If you don't have good erections, that's a component of fertility," he said. "As caregivers, we always say that smoking is harmful in general and it negatively impacts fertility in particular," Agarwal said. "Smoking adversely impacts all bodily systems and it is well known serious hazard to health." Most people don't need to fast overnight before getting their blood drawn for a cholesterol test, according to a group of experts. Cholesterol test results obtained one to six hours after a meal were not significantly different from results obtained after a fast, researchers found. "It could be implemented tomorrow with no problems at all," said lead author Dr. Borge Nordestgaard, of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. "Today, the key players for keeping the fasting procedure are the laboratories drawing the blood. They simply could change the procedure tomorrow, and then nobody would fast anymore. That is what we did in Denmark - and patients, clinicians and laboratories were all happy with the change." Nordestgaard told Reuters Health in an email that doctors essentially just always had patients fast before a cholesterol test. "So people got used to it without questioning the fasting procedure," he said. Typically, blood is drawn for a cholesterol test - known as a lipid panel - after a person has fasted for at least eight hours, the researchers write in the European Heart Journal. In 2009, Denmark began using non-fasting cholesterol tests. One advantage, the researchers say, is that forgoing fasting simplifies the process for patients, doctors and laboratories. Also, patients are more likely to get the test. For the new analysis, the international team of researchers met twice in person to look at data from a number of large studies, such as the Nurses' Health Study, the Copenhagen General Population Study and the Heart Protection Study. The researchers found that not fasting, compared to fasting, didn't significantly change the levels of substances typically measured during a cholesterol test, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL (or bad) cholesterol and HDL (or good) cholesterol. "To improve patient compliance with lipid testing, we therefore recommend the routine use of non-fasting lipid profiles," the researchers write. "These recommendations represent a joint consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society and European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine involving 21 World medical experts from Europe, Australia and the US," said Nordestgaard. The research team cautions that fasting cholesterol tests may be needed if a person has high triglycerides (or blood fats), is recovering from pancreatitis or is starting certain medications that can cause high triglycerides. Nordestgaard said people should "stop fasting before a lipid profile test, or even better push their local laboratory to stop the requirement for fasting before cholesterol and triglyceride testing." Some specialists may resist, but "that also happened in Denmark, although very few were against the change," Nordestgaard said. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Rateb Samour sees 250 patients a day whose complaints range from hair loss to cerebral palsy and cancer. But he is not a doctor and has never worked in a hospital. Samour inherited the skill of bee-sting therapy from his father, who used to raise bees. Then in 2003, the agricultural engineer started to dedicate all his time to studying and developing the alternative medicine treatment of apitherapy, which uses all bee-related products, including honey, propolis - or bee glue used to build hives - and venom. "I am treating serious and chronic diseases which have no cure in regular medicine, I have achieved excellent results," said Samour, an Egyptian-educated specialist in entomology and bees in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave. "We speak about chondritis in the neck and spine, migraine, loss of hair, alopecia areata, skin diseases, cerebral palsy, autism and cancer," he said inside an apartment packed with patients on the edge of a beach refugee camp in Gaza City. The 58-year-old Palestinian said he makes bees sting patients at certain points in their bodies that he has carefully studied. A bee dies after being made to sting. "I have been subjected to doubts, but bee-sting therapy has proven itself as an excellent alternative medicine," he told Reuters. "Some doctors, who value the apitherapy for certain illnesses, are among my patients." The Islamist-ruled Gaza is under blockade by neighboring Egypt and Israel, which restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of the territory. So Gaza lacks sophisticated medical equipment and has patchy access to medicines. Seriously ill patients must travel to Israel, Egypt or beyond for specialist medical treatment. Inside Samour's home, men and women wait their turn in separate rooms. Alya Al-Ghafari, 10, has been suffering from facial palsy for over two years. Mainstream medicine was both expensive and less efficient than apitherapy, according to her father. "Treatment by bee stings has been more effective than treatment by regular medicine but you need to be patient," said Saeed Al-Ghafari, a government employee. His daughter has been receiving treatment from Samour for nearly nine months. "At the beginning my daughter felt pain but as time passed Alya felt she became better," said Ghafari. "Her face has become better and now she is the one who reminds us of the therapy sessions." Muneera Al-Baba said her son Anas, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has made much more progress in a year and a half than he ever did using mainstream medicine, which also cost twice as much. "Communication between me and him was disconnected," the 44-year-old mother told Reuters. "He lived in a world of his own, now he responds to me." Every Monday, Fox News contributor Karl Rove wraps up the last week in politics and offers an inside look at the week ahead. Bending the trend line Donald Trump won Tuesdays Acela primary with 110 delegates, seven more than Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com forecast were necessary to put him on a path to a 1,237 first-ballot victory and 16 more than the path to 1,155-1,159 on the first ballot. Bending it back How important is Indiana on Tuesday? So critical that even Ted Cruz admitted in a fundraising email on Friday that if Trump wins, the nomination battle will be over. Not only must Cruz win Indiana, but he must win it big enough to bend the arc of the race back to a contested convention. The size of Trumps Acela haul suggests Cruz has to win Indianas 27 winner-take-all delegates and 15 to 18 more delegates by carrying five or six of Indianas nine congressional districts, leaving Trump with nine to 12 Indiana delegates. Self-funding or payback? Donald Trump boasts hes self-funding his campaign, but if thats true, why do his Federal Election Commission reports show he has personally loaned his campaign $35,926,174 and donated only $317,471? Is he expecting Republicans to repay him if he wins the GOP nomination? And while he has $9,234,831 in un-itemized contributions (many likely for purchases of campaign swag), he also has $3,010,066 in itemized donations (many of them in round amounts and therefore unlikely to be hat purchases). If hes serious about self-funding, maybe he could return the contributions and ask the donors to give the money to the GOP? And for the Democrats When Trump attacked Hillary Clinton, saying if she were a man, I dont think shed get 5 percent of the vote, she responded with Mr. Trump accused me of playing the woman card. Well, if fighting for womens health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in. That seemed to me like an answer for the Democratic primary, not the general election. First, her too-cute new phrase, Deal me in, invokes the image of a blackjack dealer, with green eyeshade and cigarette dangling from one corner of her sneer. Second, why play into Trumps argument? She should have broadened the argument to all his insults with a slap back Thats the kind of demeaning insults weve gotten far too many of from Mr. Trump and moved on. In 2008, then-Sen. Barack Obama never explicitly emphasized he would be the first African-American president. Why didnt Hillary follow his model? The Democratic Partys House of Lords has spoken The New York Times reports that as of Sunday, 520 of the Democratic superdelegates are for Clinton, and 39 are for Sanders. Thats 93 percent to 7 percent. Sounds vaguely reminiscent of an Eastern European election result in the 1980s. WDBW? Clinton will win the nomination, but an interesting question is: What Does Bernie Want? He cant claim to have started a political revolution and then let it die. So what does he extract as a price for party unity? Maybe he demands the end of superdelegates or platform planks binding the party to some of his Democratic-Socialist world view. Or does he and his movement go away? Inquiring minds want to know. There is something a bit unsettling about watching violent, foul-mouthed protesters waving the Mexican flag on American soil. Over the weekend, Hispanic children lined the streets in Fort Wayne, Indiana hurling filthy insults at Donald Trump supporters. Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a must-read for Conservatives! F*** you, the youngsters shouted as they flipped off passerby. F*** you. Video captured images of the angry protesters wearing sombreros and holding signs that read, Brown Pride. What kind of a parent would allow their child to behave that way in public? A similar protest turned violent last week in Southern California as a horde of illegals and their supporters violently attacked Trump supporters, police and even a horse. Yes, a horse. Cole Bartiromo, identified by local media as a Trump supporter, needed a half-dozen stiches after the mob bashed open his head. Suddenly, out of nowhere I felt this thud in the front of my head, Bartiromo told CBLA.com. I started panicking getting scared, thinking, When are they going to stop? Are they going to kill me? I mean, these arent rational people. The California mob spilled into the streets blocking roadways and smashing police cars. They intended to shut down a Trump rally. They intended to silence Mr. Trump and his supporters. They were angry about the wall he plans to build to secure our border from the invading **horde** of illegals. They were angry about Mr. Trump speaking the truth about how illegals are killing Americans on American soil. One of the most disturbing images in recent days came from California a small child holding a sign. It read, Make America Mexico Again. There was a time in this nations history when having 13 million people breach your border would have been considered an invasion. We used to fight wars over such a hostile act. But these days instead of repelling the invaders, the Obama administration gave them food stamps, free health care, and a voter registration card. Weve been invaded and our government has provided aid and comfort to the enemy. In both Indiana and California the protesters tried to bully and intimidate law-abiding Americans into silent submission. They tried but they failed. You see, the illegals need to understand something We the People will no longer be silent. We will not allow our sovereignty to be violated anymore. The American taxpayers have reached a boiling point. We are tired of illegals taking American jobs. We are tired of illegals living off our tax dollars. We are tired of illegals causing mayhem in our streets. And more than anything, we are tired of lawmakers who refuse to defend American sovereignty. The truth is we dont know who or what has been coming across our southern border. We dont know what dangers lurk in our neighborhoods. And we want a president who will put American lives first. We want a president who will do whatever it takes to keep our families safe. We want a president who will defend our sovereignty. And if I see one more foul-mouthed protester waving a Mexican flag on American soil Ill personally donate a pile of bricks to help build Mr. Trumps wall. Editors note: The following oped is adapted from America: Turning a Nation to God by Dr. Tony Evans. Evans is honorary chairman of the National Day of Prayer on May 5 and chief organizer of The Gathering, a national solemn assembly of Christian leaders in the Dallas area Sept. 21. Every four years, the eyes of America become riveted on the national election returns. But Gods first concern during any political season is not the same as our first concern it is not about what is happening, or going to happen, in the White House. Gods first concern is what is happening, or not happening, in His house. On Thursday, May 5, the National Day of Prayer, my prayer will be that the Church live up to its responsibilities. Our nations ills are not merely the result of corrupt politicians, greedy businessmen and religious extremists. Our problems can be traced directly to ineffective Christians. The Church has failed to be a positive influence for good in our nation and our world. When I discuss this topic, one of the first questions I hear is, What about the separation of church and state? Although this term does not appear in our Constitution, many people believe that it does. Thomas Jefferson actually used the phrase "separation of church and state" in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802, but he was referring to the government infringing on the rights and freedoms of the religious, and not the other way around. America was never officially a Christian nation since neither Jesus Christ nor the Bible are mentioned in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. But theres no denying the influence Christianity has had on our country. In fact, it was because of a need for freedom of religion, by Protestants fleeing Europe, that many early colonists settled America. It was also because of the promotion of freedom and equality for all, in large part through the Church, that African-Americans achieved civil rights. In both cases, the Church went against the grain of what was commonly accepted. The Church should be the conscience of the culture, and it has never been needed more than it is today, with our land facing a myriad of problems ranging from family breakdowns to the immigration crisis to the abiding racial divide. Tragically, as the fabric of our country unravels, we fail to see the spiritual problems that are at the root of our national malaise. God is trying to get our attention. Many people want God bless America, but they dont want One Nation under God. The problem is you cant have one without the other. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton is appealing to African-American voters to prevent the progress achieved under Barack Obama's presidency from being "torn away" if her Republican counterpart is elected to the White House. Speaking to thousands at an NAACP dinner in Detroit on Sunday, Clinton pointed to Donald Trump's "insidious" role in the birther movement that questioned Obama's citizenship and his refusal to immediately denounce white supremacist David Duke. Clinton says "we cannot let Barack Obama's legacy fall into Donald Trump's hands." The former secretary of state, senator and first lady says "let's not endanger the promise, the potential, the dream of our country by giving in to these voices of hatred." Clinton says bringing the country together is more urgent than ever with Obama's presidency ending. Energy Independent Vermont claims businesses are joining the call for a carbon tax, but some business owners say they are being misrepresented by the environmentalist coalition. On Earth Day, business leaders from across Vermont met at the Statehouse to show their support for a carbon tax. Leaders discussed threats businesses face from changes in climate, and the organizer unveiled a list of more than 500 Vermont companies that want a tax on gas, heating oil, propane and other fossil fuels to fight global warming. A partial list of carbon tax supporters appears on Energy Independent Vermonts website. However, when Watchdog.org independently reached out to companies on the list, some business owners were surprised to learn that they were part of the groups campaign. I said I didnt support carbon taxes, James Bissonette, owner the Dutch Mill Restaurant in Shelburne, told Vermont Watchdog. It would kill our business if we did that, not the way we run things. Wed have to raise soda prices and everything. Click for more from Watchdog.org. Californias Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democratic lawmakers appear to be on a collision course over a new round of gun control measures. Newsom, claiming lawmakers are dragging their feet, is collecting thousands of signatures in pursuit of a gun initiative ballot measure in November. But lawmakers say theyre planning to address these issues via legislation, and the initiative could hurt what theyre doing. Critics also say the proposed California ballot initiative contains a wide variety of restrictive, costly and unreasonable gun and ammunition control measures. The proposed Safety for All As of 2016 initiative has 600,000 signatures from California residents, nearly double the number required to be included on the November ballot, Newsom told the Los Angeles Times. He added that what the initiative proposals have in common is that over the past number of years they have suffered the fate of either being watered down or rejected by the Legislature. The signatures still must be validated. But leading lawmakers, including Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon, say they are working to address these issues legislatively. In addition, the mandate is extremely difficult to change and will be the subject of a hearing at the Capitol in Sacramento Tuesday. California's legislative leaders are busy considering crime bills, while Newsom is circumventing them, said Michele Hanisee, president of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys, in a written statement and interview with FoxNews.com. The only way we're going to make progress against violence is through a cooperative effort of law enforcement, legislators, the private sector, and individual citizens who can take some responsibility for their own safety. Self-serving political schemes like Newsom's initiative will only set us back. The initiative carries multiple proposals that were either killed by the Legislature as not workable or vetoed by the governor, Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, told the LA Times. Newsom has collected failed policy issues from the Legislature and put them up as an initiative. Its going to be a massive effort to defeat him, Paredes said. Local law enforcement, including Hanisee and the California Sheriffs Association, claim law-abiding gun owners and law enforcement will suffer if the initiative passes, while criminals will be empowered. California's law enforcement officers and prosecutors responsible for fighting criminals and terrorists need more tools to fight crime. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom's new ballot initiative gives us less, Hanisee said, adding the proposal is a rehashed patchwork of impractical, tried and failed ideas that will not help law enforcement to combat crime or terrorists. Last year, crime in Los Angeles rose by more than 12 percent, and while law-abiding citizens are limited in protecting their families, the lieutenant governor travels with armed bodyguards, Hanisee noted. California already has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, but Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, told FoxNews.com that California lawmakers appear to be in a contest to determine who can be the most anti-gun rights. California Democrats will not be happy until there is total firearm prohibition," Gottlieb said. The ballot initiative, according to its website, would make five major changes in Californias gun laws if approved by voters. These include prohibiting possession of large-capacity military style magazines. But Hanisee said the only way to enforce this law is by pulling police from the streets and putting them into the homes of people who pose no threat. The initiative would also require ammunition sales to be treated like gun sales, requiring the seller to conduct background checks for all ammunition purchases. The centerpiece of Newsom's proposal would require a license to sell, and a background check just to buy, a box of ammunition, Hanisee said. This would require the creation of another complicated, expensive and inevitably flawed database, which California officials will be unable to effectively maintain. New York already tried this approach, abandoning it after wasting millions of public dollars. Dr. John R. Lott, Jr., an economist and world recognized expert on guns and crime who founded and heads the Crime Prevention Research Center, a research and education organization dedicated to conducting academic quality research on the relationship between laws regulating the ownership or use of guns, crime, and public safety, called the initiative racist. The question is who are you stopping from owning a firearm or getting hold of ammunition in this case it is law-abiding, poor blacks and Hispanics who wont be able to afford the cost of ammunition, which will rise with the cost associated with required background checks for ammunition purchases. Another provision would require law enforcement to collect firearms from those who were convicted of felonies or violent misdemeanors, and to share data with the federal systems related to anyone prohibited from owning a firearm. And yet another provision requires lawful gun owners to report their lost or stolen guns. Evan Westrup, spokesman for Gov. Jerry Brown, maintained the governor has not taken a position on this initiative and generally doesnt comment on pending ballot measures. But in 2013 the governor vetoed a proposed reporting of stolen or lost firearms, saying he was not convinced that criminalizing the failure to report a lost or stolen firearm would improve identification of gun traffickers or help law enforcement disarm people prohibited from possessing guns. Brown added, I continue to believe that responsible people report the loss or theft of a firearm and irresponsible people do not." Lott said many of the claims by Newsom and the Safety for All ballot initiative website are inaccurate, something that also drew the attention of Politifact, the independent fact-checking organization that won a Pulitzer Prize for calling out politicians' false claims. Politifact called Newsom's rhetoric "mostly false and said he used pseudo data that is out of context and is done in a way which is calculated to cause confusion, Hanisee said. Many campaign organizers claim Newsom is heading up the effort because of political ambition. "Newsom has resurrected failed policy initiatives in a too-obvious resume-builder for his governor's campaign, said Willes Lee, president of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies. But Newsom maintains on the initiatives website that changes are needed to keep Californians safe. "With 150 school shootings since Newtown and many more mass shootings devastating communities across our state and nation, it is time to say enough is enough," Newsom wrote. "The Safety for All initiative will save lives by making it much harder for dangerous people to get guns and ammunition in California." CIA Director John Brennan said Sunday that 28 classified pages of a bipartisan commission's report on the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks contains "uncorroborated, unvetted information" that some could seize upon to claim Saudi Arabian involvement in the attacks. Brennan, speaking on NBC's "Meet The Press," said such claims would be "very, very inaccurate." The Obama administration may soon release at least part of the secret chapter, which some believe shows a Saudi connection to the Al Qaeda attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. A groundswell to declassify the documents began last month, when former Florida Sen. Bob Graham told CBS' "60 Minutes" he believed the 19 hijackers "substantially" received support from officials in Saudi Arabia's government and prominent members of society. "There are a lot of rocks out there that have been purposefully tamped down, that if were they turned over, would give us a more expansive view of the Saudi role," Graham said at the time. The 28 pages were withheld from the 838-page report on the orders of then-President George W. Bush, who said the release could divulge intelligence sources and methods. In mid-April, the White House told Graham that it would decide whether to declassify the material within 60 days. Brennan said Sunday that the pages were classified because "of concerns about sensitive methods, investigative actions, and the investigation of 9/11 was still under way in 2002." Brennan added that he believed the pages contain "a combination of things that are accurate and inaccurate." He said the 9/11 Commission followed up on the preliminary information in the 28 pages and made "a very clear judgment" there was no evidence indicating "the Saudi government as an institution or Saudi officials individually" financially backed Al Qaeda." Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government says it has been "wrongfully and morbidly accused of complicity" in the attacks, is fighting extremists and working to clamp down on their funding channels. Still, the Saudis have long said that they would welcome declassification of the 28 pages because it would "allow us to respond to any allegations in a clear and credible manner." Brennan's comments came as lawmakers are considering a bill that would permit terrorism victims to sue foreign states that helped fund or otherwise support attacks in the U.S. The legislation is opposed by the Obama administration and the Saudi government has threatened to sell off hundreds of billions of dollars in American assets if it passes. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Usama bin Laden was just found in a third-floor room and killed over the weekend at least, thats what you might think if you were following the CIA on Twitter. The CIA raised eyebrows for its decision to live tweet on Sunday the daring SEAL Team 6 raid on bin Ladens Pakistani compound a mission that occurred five years ago. The agency, which has engendered at-best mixed reactions to some of its previous social media ploys, tweeted its intentions twice, including at 1:22 p.m. ET on Sunday. To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 But subsequent tweets were only marked with the hashtag #UBLRaid and no marker to indicate the historical nature of the blow-by-blow account. One tweet at 1:51 p.m. said: Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan #UBLRaid. Sundays Twitter campaign comprised 13 tweets over the course of about six hours. The tweet announcing the terrorist leader's (belated) death received the most retweets of the group. 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Some Twitter users expressed admiration for the agencys work in finding and killing the worlds most wanted man on May 1, 2011. Others were confused, and questioned whether this was a sound use of social media. @CIA You've lost the plot mate Luke O'Neil (@lukeoneil47) May 1, 2016 @CIA @mattdpearce Really?!?!? Does the @CIA not have anything better to do today? Steven St Jean (@stevestjean) May 1, 2016 BuzzFeed fired off a mock tweet at the CIA's expense. And other users took the opportunity to question the entire chain of events and posit conspiracy theories. The takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time, CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani told ABC News. History has been a key element of CIAs social media efforts. On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honor all those who had a hand in this achievement. Trapani said the agency has similarly used social media to mark other anniversaries. The CIA previously has been questioned for some of its flippant posts. We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet, the inaugural CIA account tweet in June 2014 said. Another in July 2014 read, No, we dont know where Tupac is. #Twitterversary, referencing popular conspiracy myths that dead rapper Tupac Shakur is living in secret somewhere. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz significantly trail the front-runners in their respective Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, but both said Sunday they will stay in their races until the end, even amid bad news about the Indiana primary on Tuesday. We intend to fight for every vote and every delegate remaining, Sanders said at a press conference in Washington, D.C., before heading to campaign events in Indiana. The Vermont senator said Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton winning enough pledged delegates in the remaining state contests to secure the nomination before the July convention would be virtually impossible. So his only path to the nomination will be to flip superdelegates, the party insiders who can back either candidate and are overwhelmingly behind Clinton. In other words, the convention will be a contested contest, Sanders said. Clinton is still 91 percent of the way to the nomination, according to the Associated Press. She is 218 delegates away from winning the 2,383 need to clinch the nomination. Sanders remarks came at about the same time an NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll showed him trailing Clinton in Indiana 46-to-50 percent, roughly the same margin as in other recent polls. The poll also shows Cruz trailing GOP front-runner Donald Trump in Indiana 49-to-34 percent, despite Cruz essentially putting all of his efforts into winning the state and stopping Trumps six-state roll. (The poll also showed Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the third GOP primary candidate, with 13 percent.) Cruz said Sunday he hoped to do well in Indiana. However, he said on ABCs This Week that We are going the distance. We are competing the entire distance. The Texas senator spent little time campaigning in the six Northeast states that Trump handily won and instead spent much of his time in Indiana. He also cut a deal with Kasich that would allow him to compete head-to-head with Trump in Indiana. And last week he named former primary rival Carly Fiorina as his running mate and announced the endorsement of Indiana GOP Gov. Mike Pence. I have faith in Hoosiers -- in the common sense good judgment of the men and women of this great state, Cruz said Sunday at a rally in Lafayette, Ind. And if we unite, were going win this nomination. Cruz has gone back and forth on whether Indiana will be a make-or-break contest for him, even telling California Republicans on Saturday that their June 7 primary will decide the GOP race. Trump leads in the delegate count with 996, followed by Cruz with 565 and Kasich with 153, with 1,237 needed to secure the nomination before the July convention. Clinton has 2,165, compared to 1,357 for Sanders. Republicans will compete for 57 pledged delegates in Indiana, and Democrats will compete for 81. Trump, Clinton and Sanders also had events Sunday in Indiana, with Clinton also scheduled to deliver a speech to the NAACP in Detroit. At a rally in Fort Wayne, Trump focused his attack on Cruz, saying he has no road to victory and is the first person in the history of the United States who picked a running mate when he has no chance to win. Earlier in the day, he repeated his argument that Clinton has so far had a successful campaign largely because she is a female candidate. The only card she has is the woman card, Trump told Fox News Sunday. Even women dont like her. If she were not a woman, she would not even be in this race. Former President Bill Clinton drew boos and shouts from the crowd as he made a campaign stop in Logan, W.V., on his wife's behalf, ahead of the state's May 10 presidential primary. And Supporters of Sanders and Trump gathered outside the school as Clinton spoke Sunday. According to WVNS-TV, a letter written on behalf of Logan officials told Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's staff in an email that the Clintons "are simply not welcome in our town." Hillary Clinton, who planned to campaign in Williamson on Monday, has been criticized for comments that her policies would put coal miners and companies out of business. Clinton said later she was mistaken and that she's committed to coalfield communities. Sanders has brought in about $26 million in April in his primary challenge to Clinton, a steep decline from the $46 million he raised in March, raising questions about whether he can sustain his powerful online money machine as his path to the nomination has substantially narrowed against Clinton. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Hillary Clinton, even if she can secure the Democratic nomination in the coming weeks, will have to do more than just make peace with Bernie Sanders supporters. Shell need to persuade his true believers they share the same goals -- and to go out and vote for her. Exit polls consistently show swaths of the Sanders base, at least right now, are uneasy about the idea of supporting Clinton in November. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News Hannity, went so far Monday as to claim Sanders young supporters are going to come over to my side because they want jobs. Trump cited common ground with Sanders on trade. Whether anti-Clinton supporters of the democratic socialist senator really would gravitate toward the billionaire businessman -- or simply stay home -- is an open question. But anticipating some bad blood, Clinton has taken the first steps toward reconciliation with Sanders supporters in recent weeks. Whether you support Senator Sanders or you support me, theres much more that unites us than divides us, Clinton said last week after winning four out of five state primaries. The front-running Clinton devoted nearly half her victory speech to highlighting such shared goals as increasing wages, expanding Social Security and defending the rights of women and minorities. So in this election, we will work together and work hard to prevail against candidates on the other side who would threaten those rights, said Clinton, who will try to add to her wins Tuesday in Indiana, one of 11 remaining state contests. The extent to which Clinton can break through with Sanders devoted supporters, though, may depend on Sanders. He needs to set the tone. If he backs her like Clinton backed Obama in their 2008 race, then it will be more than enough to tip the scales, said Democratic strategist Douglas Smith, a partner at Kent Strategies. He said the two candidates indeed have shared goals for the country, despite taking different paths to reach them. But there are hold-outs among Sanders' supporters. Fox News exit polls in the April 26 primaries showed the depth of the divide. In Connecticut, 17 percent of Democrats said they would not back Clinton if shes the nominee. Among Sanders supporters, the number shot up to 90 percent. In Maryland, 13 percent of Democrats said they would not back Clinton in November, while 79 percent of Sanders' supporters made the same vow. The Clinton campaign did not respond to questions Monday about whether Clinton has indeed started to woo Sanders voters as she prepares for a possible general election race. Shes getting closer to the nomination, having collected 2,165 of the 2,383 delegates -- or roughly 90 percent -- needed to secure the nomination before the partys July convention. However, the exit polls and other signs suggest Clinton -- a former secretary of state, senator and first lady -- will have to convince anti-establishment Sanders supporters, including many young voters, that she is trustworthy and neither a Washington insider nor a Wall Street supporter. Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said Monday the best way for Clinton to try to woo Sanders supporters would be to contrast her views with those of the Republican candidates, beyond trying to explain shared concerns and goals. On policy issues, the divide between Sanders and Clinton is almost infinitesimal, compared to the wide gulf between Clinton and Donald Trump or Ted Cruz, said Levinson, whose focuses include election law. Clinton has and must continue to make the case that she is the only viable candidate in the race who has and will address those concerns. Clinton has tried. During a debate in February hosted by MSNBC, she told Sanders that she was thrilled at the numbers of people, and particularly young people, who are coming to support your campaign and that she hoped to earn their support. They may not support me now, but I support them and we'll work together, she said. However, those supporters bristled last month when Clinton was overheard saying she was sick of the Sanders camp lying about her record on fossil fuel, then said she felt sorry sometimes for young people who believe this and suggested they dont do their own research. Caleb Weaver, a College Students for Bernie member at Georgetown University, said Monday that the Sanders supporters with whom he works suspect Clinton is truly opposed to the policies they support. We have seen Bill Clinton mocking us with the claim that we want to shoot every third person on Wall Street. And we have seen Hillary herself insisting that a $15 minimum wage is too high, he said. If this perception goes unchallenged, (Clinton) will struggle to pick up Sanders supporters who genuinely believe in these proposals. Weaver said Clinton and her surrogates also need to immediate abandon the line of attack that support for Sanders is a manifestation of white privilege or male privilege. In my experience, nothing turns people off from Secretary Clinton faster than the feeling that they are being accused of racism and/or sexism merely for supporting Bernie. It's deeply insulting and not at all an effective way to reach out to people already hesitant to support Secretary Clinton, he said. Ted Cruz, having abandoned his alliance with John Kasich, having whacked John Boehner for calling him Lucifer, has played his veep card. For the moment, at least, Carly Fiorina doesnt seem to be doing much good for a candidate who may never be in the position to name a running mate. But Hillary Clinton undoubtedly willand she is playing the veepstakes game with great gusto. The press, for its part, is happy to play along, having an insatiable appetite for this sort of guesswork. It began with an authorized leak to the New York Times. The paper reported that Hillary Clintons advisers and allies have begun extensive discussions about who should be her running mate, seeking to compile a list of 15 to 20 potential picks for her team to start vetting by late spring. Now that may be true, but usually these things are conducted quietly, at least at this early stage. But the Clinton camp wants this out there. The obvious implication is that if shes vetting running mates, shes looking past the Bernie battle, which positions her as the de facto nominee. And Hillary and Bill were looking at specific names: Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Labor Secretary Tom Perez. When campaigns do this sort of thing, they are trying to flatter certain politicians who have little chance of actually being picked. But they are also playing to constituency groups: Hispanics in the case of Perez, a little-known Cabinet secretary, and blacks in the case of Patrick. The campaign let it be known that Mrs. Clinton is also open to a woman, and top honcho John Podesta told the Boston Globe tthere is no question that there will be women on that list. This, of course, unleashed a wave of media chatter about Elizabeth Warren, as the campaign knew it would. And that was intended not only to tap into Warrens popularity with the liberal base but as a lure for Sanders supporters who oppose Clinton or at best feel lukewarm about her. Columnists were quick to pounce. Why Elizabeth Warren Would Have More Clout As Hillary Clintons VP, said the Huffington Post. The Washington Posts Gene Robinson wrote that as Clintons running mate, Warren could erase [her] potential weakness with the Democratic base. She has spent her Senate career becoming known as the scourge of Wall Street. No political figure is more closely identified with efforts to curb the excesses of the financial system. The move strikes me as unlikelyWarren is a freshman senator with no foreign policy experience who has not endorsed Clintonbut whether its real is beside the point. Hillary can use the press to reap the benefits of appearing to seriously consider Warren, whether she is or not. Still, why stop there? Other pundits threw HUD Secretary Julian Castro and Sen. Amy Klobuchar into the mix. Politico weighed in with The Case for Vice President Al Franken. Not to be outdone, Fiscal Times floats 18 possible names, including Martin OMalley (who so electrified voters during his time in the race). All fun and games, but when it comes to these Clinton leaks, its a quadrennial ritual with a serious purpose: to buttress her candidacy months before she actually makes the pick. Footnote: Donald Trump is involved in a sort of reverse veepstakes, with the New York Times reporting that some prominent Republicans are refusing even to be considered as his running mate. But I bet he has no trouble finding a suitable candidate. Defense Secretary Ash Carter gave his support to Iraq's embattled prime minister Haider al-Abadi, telling reporters the Iraqi leader "seems to be in a very strong position" despite anti-government protests that saw protesters storm Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone over the weekend. "Prime Minister Abadi stands for and has been a partner in all of the things that are important to Iraq's future," Carter said Monday. "He's had considerable success on the battlefield, obviously Ramadi, Hit, and so forth." U.S. airstrikes helped Iraqi troops clear Islamic State fighters out of wartorn Ramadi in early-January. But on Saturday, hundreds of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr tore down walls and poured into the zone that is home to the seat of the Iraqi government and most foreign embassies. Loudspeaker announcements on Sunday evening urged protesters to leave peacefully. When the call came, hundreds calmly packed up and left, carrying flags and overnight bags away with them. Carter spoke on his way to a series of counter-ISIS meetings with European counterparts in Germany. He also said NATO was considering a move to add more troops in Eastern Europe, on top of the armored brigade the Pentagon announced it was sending in late March. "There are discussions going on within NATO about how others can do the same thing," he added. The Green Zone, surrounded by thick blast walls topped with razor wire, is off-limits to most Iraqis because of security procedures that require multiple checks and specific documentation to enter. It has long been the focus of al-Sadr's criticism that the government is detached from the people. Supporters of al-Sadr have been holding demonstrations and sit-ins for months to demand an overhaul of the political system put in place by the U.S. after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Last summer, demonstrations demanding better government services mobilized millions across Iraq and pressured al-Abadi to submit his first package of reform proposals. However, months of stalled progress followed, and in recent months al-Sadr's well organized supporters took over the protest movement. Despite the subdued end to the latest protest, Iraqi officials fear the precedent set by the Green Zone breach will continue to undermine the country's security. While ISIS has suffered a number of territorial defeats in the past year, the group still controls significant pockets of territory in Iraq's north and west, including the country's second largest city of Mosul, estimated to still be home to more than 1 million civilians. Al-Sadr's office in Baghdad denied that the demonstration was jeopardizing the fight against ISIS, but conceded that the decision to disband Sunday was made partly for security reasons. Organizers decided to end the protest now because of an annual Shiite pilgrimage to the shrine of an eighth century imam in Baghdad that is expected to attract thousands from across the country, said Sadiq al-Hashemi, a representative of al-Sadr's office in Baghdad who was present at the protests. The protests will resume after the pilgrimage ends this week, al-Hashemi said, adding that the al-Sadr movement would also give Iraqi lawmakers one more chance to vote in new reforms. "We have achieved something here. We got our message out from the Iraqi street," Al-Hashemi said. But lawmakers and Iraqi security officials say Sadr's show of force is undermining the country's leadership at a critical time and sets a dangerous precedent. "They could just do it again," said lawmaker Hanan al-Fatlawi, referring to the Green Zone breach. "This is not a real solution. They showed no respect for the rule of law." Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric against Chinese trade policy Sunday night, saying "we can't continue to allow China to rape our country." Trump has long accused China of manipulating its currency to boost the country's exports. However, his remarks in Fort Wayne, Ind., Sunday mark a graphic escalation in his language. While he's compared the policy to sexual assault before, this is the first time he's done so as a presidential candidate. The real estate mogul also called the U.S. the "the piggy bank that's being robbed" as a result of its trade deficit with China, which reached an all-time high of $365.7 billion at the end of last year. The trade deficit measures the value of American goods exported to China, as well as the value of goods imported from China. Trump's comments are certain to stir controversy following his claim that Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's success is dependent on her gender. The only card she has is the woman card, Trump told Fox News Sunday. Even women dont like her. If she were not a woman, she would not even be in this race. While both Clinton and Trumps favorability ratings among women are low, Trumps are worse, especially among female general election voters. However, Trump argued Sunday that his numbers will improve if and when he faces Clinton in the general election. Once I start on Hillary, the numbers will change, he said. Watch what happens with Hillary. Watch what happens with her numbers. Trump was speaking two days ahead of the Republican primary in Indiana, where the latest polls show him holding a double-digit lead over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. At a rally in La Porte Sunday night, Cruz urged Indiana voters to help him deny Trump the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination prior to the Republican convention. "I believe in the men and women gathered here and the goodness of the American people that we will not give into evil," Cruz said at one point. "All across this country, millions of Americans right now are praying for you. Youre being lifted up in prayer right now." Any solemnity the occasion had was interrupted by a young boy who heckled Cruz repeatedly, including with the phrase, "You suck!" "One of the things that hopefully someone has told you is that children should actually speak with respect, Cruz said as police escorted the boy out. "Imagine what a different world it would be if someone had told Donald Trump that years ago." Fox News' Dan Gallo contributed to this report. Virginia Republicans are vowing a legal challenge to Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe's move allowing an estimated 200,000 freed felons to vote in November. State GOP lawmakers said they have hired an attorney and intend to file a lawsuit against the governors April 22 executive order that will allow the felons -- including rapists and murders -- to vote, run for elected office and sit on a jury. They argue McAuliffe overstepped his constitutional authority in a politically-motived move to help long-time friend and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton win the swing state, if she reaches the general election. "Gov. McAuliffe's flagrant disregard for the Constitution of Virginia ... must not go unchecked," Senate Republican Leader Thomas Norment said in a statement. GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump is also questioning McAuliffes move. "You allow 200,000 serious criminals to vote, he said recently. They're going to vote Democrat, and that throws off the balance totally. McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, said he made the decision after consulting with state Attorney General Mark Herring and other constitutional experts. However, Norment said previous attorneys general have concluded the governor lacks the power to issue blanket restorations. McAuliffe, whose move circumvented the GOP-led state legislature, said in announcing the change that too often politicians have used their authority to restrict people's ability to participate in our democracy. Today we are reversing that disturbing trend." The Virginia Republican Party said in the hours after McAuliffes announcement that such efforts are long overdue but that the governor went too far by including violent offenders and suggested the move was politically motivated. Few if any disagree that those who have paid their debts to society should be allowed full participation in that society. But there are limits, party Chairman John Whitbeck said. Gov. McAuliffe could easily have excluded those who have committed heinous acts of violence His decision doesnt speak of mercy. Rather, it speaks of political opportunism." The Washington-based Sentencing Project estimates that nearly 6 million Americans are barred from voting because of laws disenfranchising former felons. Maine and Vermont are the only states that don't restrict the voting rights of convicted felons. Roughly 20 states have over the past two decades purportedly attempted to ease voting restrictions on freed felons. The governor's spokesman didn't immediately return a message Monday seeking comment. The governor's order enables every Virginia felon to vote, run for public office, serve on a jury and become a notary public if they have completed their sentence and finished any supervised release, parole or probation requirements as of April 22. Republicans have hired Attorney Charles J. Cooper and said they will begin examining their legal options. They didn't say when they would file the lawsuit. Cooper worked as an assistant attorney general under President Ronald Reagan and has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. They said they will not be using taxpayer dollars to pay for the lawsuit. Fox News Doug McKelway and The Associated Press contributed to this story. Marine archaeologists say they have likely found HMS Endeavour, which Capt. Cook sailed on when he discovered Australia, at the bottom of Newport Harbor. The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) says that Endeavour, which was renamed Lord Sandwich, is one of 13 ships scuttled in Newport Harbor in 1778. Lord Sandwich had been used to transport troops during the American Revolution and was scuttled in the days leading up to the Battle of Rhode Island. The vessel was a bark, or three-masted sailing ship. Related: Home long thought to be Monroe's turns out to be guest house RIMAP used a grant from the Australian National Maritime Museum to locate documents in London that identify the groups of ships in the 13-vessel fleet, and where each group was scuttled. One group of 5 ships included the Lord Sandwich transport, formerly Capt. James Cook's Endeavour Bark, said RIMAP, on its website. RIMAP says that it knows the general area of Newport Harbor where the five ships were scuttled and has already mapped four of the sites there. A recent analysis of remote sensing data suggests that the 5th site may still exist, too, the group explained. That means the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project now has an 80 to 100% chance that the Lord Sandwich is still in Newport Harbor. A RIMAP spokesman told FoxNews.com that the group will provide more details of its plans to confirm the fifth shipwreck at a meeting on May 4. RIMAP will also outline what needs to be done to confirm which ships are in which locations. Related: Titanic treasures sold at UK auction The next phase of the archaeological investigation will require a more intense study of each vessel's structure and its related artifacts, explains RIMAP, on its website. However, before that next phase may begin, there must be a proper facility in place to conserve, manage, display, and store the waterlogged material removed from the archaeological sites. May 4 marks Rhode Islands 240th birthday. For RIMAP to be closing in one of the most important shipwrecks in world history, for that ship to be found in Newport, and for it to have an international reputation, should be an intriguing birthday gift for all of Rhode Island, explains RIMAP, on its website. Related: The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay in pictures Marine archaeologists have made a number of fascinating finds in recent years. Last year, for example, treasure said to belong to the infamous pirate Captain Kidd was found by divers in the waters of the Indian Ocean off Madagascar. Earlier this year the 500-year old wreck of a Portuguese ship piloted by an uncle of explorer Vasco da Gama was found off the coast of Oman. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Mona Lisa is two-faced. At least that's what a self-proclaimed Italian art detective says. Silvani Vinceti says his research shows that Leonardo da Vinci used two modelsone female and one maleto create the famous 16th-century portrait that hangs at the Louvre, the Guardian reports. "I believe that this goes with a long-time fascination of Leonardos, that is, the subject of androgyny," he says, adding that, for da Vinci, the "perfect person was a combination of a man and a woman." Vinceti says he examined the painting"arguably the world's most famous," per the Telegraphusing infrared technology. In the first layer, he says, the Mona Lisa's face looks "melancholic and sad," with no trace of a smile. So who were the models? The female, many historians agree, was Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine silk merchant. More from Newser Historian: $500M Treasure Hides in Old Nazi Bunker Ancient Proof of Mother's Love Unearthed in Taiwan The male, according to Vinceti, is likely da Vinci's longtime assistant Gian Giacomo Caprotti (aka Salai, or Little Devil), who was da Vinci's "supposed main male squeeze," per the New York Post. His conclusion is based on comparisons of the Mona Lisa's face with other paintings for which Caprotti served as the model, including St. John the Baptist. Caprotti is discernible, "particularly in Mona Lisas nose, her forehead, and her smile," Vinceti tells the Telegraph. Not everyone is convinced. "The infra-red images do nothing to support the idea," says art historian Martin Kemp, adding that Vinceti's theory is "a mish-mash of known things, semi-known things, and complete fantasy." The Mona Lisa has long been the subject of various theories, including, per the Telegraph, that a lost original depicted her naked. (Two historians think they have IDed da Vinci's living relatives.) This article originally appeared on Newser: Da Vinci May Have Used Male Model for Mona Lisa Solar Impulse 2 has taken off from California on the tenth leg of its record-breaking solar-powered journey around the world. The plane took off from Moffett Airfield at 8:03 a.m. ET Monday, starting its trek across the U.S. Piloted by Andre Borschberg, Solar Impulse 2 is expected to arrive at Phoenix Goodyear Airport around 12:00 a.m. ET Tuesday after a 16-hour, 720-mile flight. After Phoenix, the aircraft will make two stops in the Midwest before flying to New York. The Solar Impulse team wants to reach New York as soon as possible, according to a statement released on Monday. However, the planes Midwestern stops have not yet been confirmed. The team is examining a wide range of potential destinations in the mainland to leave a maximum flexibility for route planning, explained Solar Impulse, in its statement. Related: Solar-powered plane lands in California, completing risky trip across Pacific From New York, the plane will fly across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. The final leg of the odyssey is from Europe to Abu Dhabi, where Solar Impulse 2 began its circumnavigation last year. The plane is the brainchild of explorer and Solar Impulse Chairman Piccard, who is taking it in turns with his fellow Swiss pilot Borschberg to fly the aircraft on its journey across the globe. Piccard piloted the plane on the last leg of its journey a risky, three-day flight across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii. #Si2 is back in the air over the continental United States, follow every step on https://t.co/JIj9tHK6hl pic.twitter.com/VCvfV3AuQT SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse) May 2, 2016 Solar Impulse 2, a larger version of a single-seat prototype that first flew six years ago, is made of carbon fiber and has 17,248 solar cells built into the wing that supply the plane with renewable energy, via four motors. The solar cells recharge four lithium polymer batteries, which provide power for night flying. Related: From high above the Pacific, Solar Impulse 2 pilot spreads Earth Day message The aircraft typically flies between 30 mph and 40 mph, although this can increase and decrease significantly depending on wind speed. Borschberg piloted Solar Impulse 2 on the eighth leg of its journey, landing in Hawaii on July 3 2015 after an incredible 4,480-mile, five -day flight from Japan. The 118-hour journey shattered the record for longest solar-powered flight in terms of distance and duration, easily surpassing the 1,491-mile, 44-hour record Borschberg set when flying from China to Japan on the prior leg of the trip. Borschberg also broke the record for longest non-stop solo flight without refueling, which previously stood at 76 hours and 45 minutes. Related: Solar Impulse 2s epic journey in pictures The aircraft then had a nine-month layover in Hawaii while the Solar Impulse team fixed damage that occurred during the flight from Japan. A huge inflatable mobile hangar that can be quickly assembled and disassembled is being used to shelter Solar Impulse 2 on its journey around the world. During the last leg of the trip Piccard told FoxNews.com that the planes journey is a massive logistical undertaking. Its tremendous work, he said. When you see the plane flying silently with no pollution, you think its magic, but there are 150 people on the team. The incredible solar-powered trek began in March 2015 when the plane flew from Abu Dhabi to Oman. Solar Impulse 2 then flew to India, Myanmar and Nanjing, China, en route to an unscheduled stop in Nagoya, Japan. The plane originally left Nanjing for Hawaii, but diverted to Japan because of unfavorable weather. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers The Associated Press contributed to this report. Delta Air Lines will soon become the first U.S. airline to use the baggage tracking technology called Radio Frequency Identification on all baggage - 120 million bags a year - the airline announced Friday, according to Mashable. Delta anticipates the airline will be using the technology, also known as RFID, by the end of 2016, the airline told Mashable. After years of scanning barcodes to track baggage, the airline told Mashable that the transition is "historic." With this new technology, scanners use radio waves to capture highly accurate and consistent data stored on an RFID chip embedded in the luggage tag, driving superior tracking and increased transparency, Delta said. More from TravelPulse Tour Insights: Cuba Fever in the USA No, A Cruise Line Didn't Just Leave Kids Onboard Without Their Family Dispatch: In Search of the Big 15 in the Galapagos 4 Over-the-Top Hotel Welcome Amenities for Kids Celebrate the Life of Prince in his Minneapolis Hometown The technology will be a $50 million investment, Mashable reported. "We aim to reliably deliver every bag on every flight," Delta's senior vice president of airport customer service and cargo operations Bill Lentsch said in a statement obtained by Mashable. "This innovative application of technology gives us greater data and more precise information throughout the bag's journey." Its been just over a month since SeaWorld announced that it had stopped its controversial orca breeding program. Now the struggling theme park is fulfilling its promise to promote messages of aquatic conservation by partnering with marine biologist and wildlife artist Guy Harvey to educate visitors on shark preservation efforts around the world. Sea Worlds new Mako coaster, named for the oceans fastest shark, will serve as one of the focal points on shark education in the park. While guests wait in line, digital, interactive displays will showcase facts about sharks in the wild and guests can learn about whats currently being done to save them in a video hosted by Harvey. SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby says that the new partnership will stress the message of conservation the brand is actively focused on promoting. "We're committed as an organization to use our platform of 20,000 employees and also 20 million guests that come to our park to better educate people about the plight of animals in the wild," Manby told the Sun Sentinel. "Unfortunately, the statistics are not good for sharks in the wild." When it launches, Mako will be Orlando's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster. The attraction will live in the parks redesigned Shark Wreck Reef area, which includes a Shark Encounter, Sharks Underwater Grill, shops and educational experiences dedicated to several shark species. According to Sea World, about a third of all sharks are on the endangered species list and about 100 million sharks are killed every year, 73 million of them to fund and supply a global shark-finning trade. Members of SeaWorlds animal care team recently joined a Guy Harvey Research Institute shark tagging expedition off the coast of Mexico, tagging six Mako sharks over the course of four days. SeaWorld visitors will be able to follow those sharks at one of the parks interactive exhibits. The animals are also being monitored by students and researchers at Guy Harveys Institute at Nova Southeastern University. As part of the partnership, Harvey will make appearances at the theme park in Orlando. He will also paint a signature Mako mural for the attraction's launch. Visitors who want to own some special shark merch will have the opportunity to purchase paintings and apparel by Harvey, which will be available only at the Orlando park. SeaWorld says it will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Harvey's items directly to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, which funds scientific research and educational programs that encourage global ocean conservation. The two men who staged the biggest art heist in history 25 years ago by posing as cops answering a disturbance call and making off with Old World masterpieces worth $500 million have taken their secrets about how they did it to the grave. Two years ago investigators said they knew who pulled off the 1990 robbery at Bostons Isabella Steward Gardner Museum without naming the individuals or providing elaboration. Now the FBI has settled the lingering mystery of why no one was ever charged: The suspects are dead. The focus of the investigation for many years was: Who did this heist? And we have through the great investigative work identified who did this heist, and both those individuals are deceased," Boston FBI head Peter Kowenhoven told The Associated Press Friday in an interview. "So now the focus of the investigation is the recovery of the art." He still wasnt willing to identify the suspects. On Thursday federal agents probing the notorious heist released surveillance video Thursday that apparently shows a "dry run," with a security guard improperly letting a grainy figure in through the same door the crooks used a day later to pull off the $500-million theft of masterpieces by such luminaries as Manet, Degas and Vermeer. The low-resolution surveillance video from March 17, 1990, exactly 24 hours before the heist, could provide the biggest clue yet to who was behind the caper that shook the art world. The newly released video shows a car that matches the description of one previously linked to the robbery pulling up at 12:49 a.m. to the museum's rear entrance, where an unidentified man gets out and is allowed in through the door. A day later, at almost the exact same time, two men posing as Boston police officers entered through the same door executed the heist with Oceans 11 precision. The same cameras were trained on the scene the next day when the robbery went down, but the thieves grabbed the film as they made their getaway. The thieves told a security guard they were there to investigate a disturbance, and were allowed to enter, according to the FBI. When the guard let them in, the men subdued him and another security officer, handcuffed them and put them in remote areas of the basement. No weapons were used. Rick Abath, the security guard who allowed them to enter, recalled his interaction with the robbers in a March interview with NPR. "That night two cops rang the doorbell. They had hats, badges, they looked like cops, and I let them in. They said, 'Are you here alone?' And I said, 'I have a partner that's out on a round.' They said, 'Call him down.' And they said, 'Gentlemen this is a robbery.' " He was handcuffed to an electrical box for seven hours and sang Bob Dylans I Shall Be Released to stay calm. Stephen Kurkjian, author of "Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled off the World's Greatest Art Heist," called the video release the most significant development to occur in the case in the past 25 years. "I think it is remarkable, and raises a whole lot more questions," he told FoxNews.com. "About Richard Abath, [and] why it took so long for this footage to be released." A source close to the investigation identified the second individual seen in the newly released video as Abath, The Boston Globe reported. Abath has long denied any role in the heist. The FBI has chased thousands of leads around the world in the investigation into the theft of works worth an estimated $500 million, including Rembrandt's "Storm on the Sea of Galilee." The 13 pieces of art also included paintings by Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas and Johannes Vermeer. The paintings have never been found and nobody has been charged in the robbery. "Today we are releasing video images from the night before the theft-images which have not previously been seen by the public-with the hope of identifying an unauthorized visitor to the museum, Carmen Ortiz, a U.S. prosecutor. "With the public's help, we may be able to develop new information that could lead to the recovery of these invaluable works of art." A $5 million reward has been offered by the museum for information that leads to the recovery of the stolen items in good condition. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 It was a day of sadness for Orthodox worshippers who celebrated Easter at a historic church in Manhattan on Sunday, just hours before it was destroyed in a raging fire that sent plumes of smoke billowing into the skyline. Authorities reported one minor injury in the blaze that started just before 7 p.m. at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava in Manhattan. Three hours later the main body of the fire was knocked down, but firefighters still were putting out small pockets of flames, officials said. Authorities did not say what caused the fire. Fire officials said the church's caretaker ran inside the church to try to put out the blaze but suffered minor smoke inhalation and had to be rescued. "I feel like I'm in a nightmare right now," said church priest, Father Djokan Majstorovic as he tried to get to the fire scene that was blocked off by firefighters. Alex Velic, 31, the caretaker's stepson, told the Daily News he lives next door. He said he smelled smoke and came outside and saw the church on fire. "Once the fire caught the wood there was flames coming out of the top of the church. That's when people were going crazy," Velic said. "I'm in shock. I don't know what to say. It's sad." The fire completely destroyed the roof of the Gothic Revival style building. It broke out on the same day Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter. The church website listed services that morning and an Easter luncheon at 1 p.m. Dex Pipovic, who said he had been going to the church for seven years, told PIX11 News the fire had left him heartbroken. "I was just inside that building three hours ago," he said. The church was designed by architect Richard M. Upjohn and was built in the early 1850s. One of its earlier congregants was novelist Edith Wharton, who wrote "The Age of Innocence." She was married in the church in 1885. The Serbian Orthodox Church purchased the building from the Episcopal Diocese in New York in 1943. The building was designated a city landmark in 1968. Todays kidpreneurs venture far beyond the lemonade stand. They manage staffs, meet celebrities and are moguls in the making. Such hustle can be a sign of good things to come. After all, Warren Buffett sold chewing gum door-to-door at the tender age of six while Richard Branson founded a magazine at just 16. Think about that the next time your little one bugs you to help her springboard her own business. Weve compiled a list with 10 reasons to take her seriously. 1. The Bee-Stung Beverage Queen Me & The Bees Lemonade Mikaila Ulmer Age: 11 Founder: Me & the Bees Lemonade Twitter: @MikailasBees For Mikaila Ulmer, it all started with a bee sting. Make that two. Encouraged by her parents and teachers, the Austin, Texas, native signed up for two entrepreneurship contests when she was just four and a half years old. At that same time, I got stung by two bees in one week, she tells Entrepreneur. What are the chances?! To help ease Mikailas resulting fear of bees, her great-granny Helen sent her a 1940s cookbook that contained her favorite recipe for flaxseed lemonade. Then I did some research on bees and found out how important they are to our ecosystem and that theyre dying, so I created a product that would help save them. Related: Every Scalable Business Has These 10 Things In Common: Lessons From the Circular Summit That product is Me & the Bees Lemonade, a flaxseed- and mint-infused beverage that is sweetened mainly with honey from local honeybees. For each bottle sold, Mikaila, who prefers the title queen bee over CEO, donates a percentage of the profits to organizations working to ease the plight of the bees, including her home states beekeepers association. Mikaila originally sold her lemonade at a local pizzeria when she first started in 2009. She later showcased her naturally sweet wares at local Whole Foods store, where she held workshops on saving bees. Eventually, she was asked to sell her lemonade at the high-end grocery store. Now, thanks in part to Mikailas charming but nerve-citing appearance on Shark Tank, she says, Whole Foods carries Me & the Bees Lemonade throughout its southeast region. Mikailas favorite part of being a kidpreneur: Being able to meet awesome people is the most fun part. I love being able to go to different events and presentations to share my story, and to teach people about bees and how we can help them. Mikailas advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Be a social entrepreneur. Do something to help solve problems in the world. Dont go into business to make a lot of money. Create a business that you see the that world is missing, solve a problem with it and do something you have a passion for. Because the more passionate you are about what you do, the more fun you have while doing it! 2. The Dropout Democratizing Education Keely Brennan Erik Finman Age: 17 Founder: Botangle Twitter: @erikfinman As a child, Erik Finman bounced from school to school and was often bullied, both emotionally and physically. A particularly mean teacher reportedly joined in, advising the Idaho native to drop out and work at McDonalds because [hed] never amount to anything. Erik eventually did drop out of school, but not his education. He built his own learning environment from home, using a computer and an Internet connection, and called it Botangle (a combination of robotics and angle). I created this side project to kind of save myself, he said before a crowd at a WIRED event for young innovators last year. Its mission is to replace the public education system because of my really terrible experiences in it. Related: How a Teenage Entrepreneur Built a Startup on Bitcoin Riches When the robotics prodigy was 15, he took his side project to the next level, launching it at as fee-based online video tutoring service. He bootstrapped the startup on his own, using $100,000 hed cashed-out from a very lucky early Bitcoin investment. Today, he oversees a team of programmers, not only for Botangle, but for several other promising projects. Keep your eyes open for Eriks next exciting venture, a virtual reality-based personal computer. Its a way for people to learn through the web, your phone, in virtual reality and in person, he tells Entrepreneur. Eriks favorite part of being a kidpreneur: The most fun thing is to not have to go to school. I get the freedom to travel, hang out with the most important people in every industry and work on what I love. Eriks advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: Be selfish. I think [the word] 'selfish' is just a tainted word for self-leadership. Lead yourself through life, do what you love, build what you want to build, go where you want to go. 3. The Driven-to-Drive Designer Origami Owl Bella Weems Age: 19 Founder: Origami Owl Twitter: @OrigamiOwl When Bella Weems was 14, she turned her passion for handcrafting locket necklaces and bracelets into a moneymaker. She started the business as a way to save up for a car after her parents said they wouldnt buy her one and told her to earn it. She sure did, and then some. By the time she turned 16, the driven teens Chandler, Ariz.-based custom jewelry startup had exploded into a multi-million-dollar direct-sales machine. Origami Owls flagship product, the Living Locket, allows customers to build their own jewelry by mixing and matching the chains, charms and lockets themselves, some of which come adorned with Swarovski crystals. The lockets are transparent and showcase tiny metal charms that represent the wearers personality and hobbies. The company also sells earrings, bracelets and other accessories. Related: How This Teenager Turned Her Childhood Hobby Into a Global Business Alongside her mom, company president Chrissy Weems, the teen millionaire leads a team of hundreds of employees and thousands of independent jewelry designers the world over. Shes incredibly busy these days, but not too busy to give back. Through her inspiring Owlettes initiative, Bella personally mentors aspiring entrepreneurs ages 12 through 17. She shares with them the practical business and leadership skills she picked up on her fast track to success. Bellas favorite part of being a kidpreneur: The best part about being a kidpreneur is being able to encourage kids of all ages to not be afraid to reach for their dreams and never let anyone tell them theyre not good enough or their idea isnt good enough. Bellas advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: Take a leap of faith, surround yourself with people who believe in you, follow your heart and always remember you are never too young to achieve a big dream. Also, a positive attitude is a must. Remember things dont always go as planned, and thats okay, but, no matter what, keep on smiling and enjoy the journey. 4. The Branson-Inspired Merchant and Mentor Ollie Forsyth Ollie Forsyth Age: 18 Founder: Ollies Shop and The Budding Entrepreneur Magazine Twitter: @ollieforsyth Richard Branson inspired Ollie Forsyth to take the entrepreneurial leap at the age of 13. Thats three years younger than the billionaire Virgin Group founder was when he braved his first venture. Much like Branson, Ollie struggled in school. He was often bullied and cast off as lazy. The Northamptonshire, U.K. native later learned that he is dyslexic, also like Branson. One day, while watching YouTube, he had a breakthrough. There was Branson in an inspirational clip, discussing how he turned his dyslexia, something often misinterpreted as a weakness, into his biggest strength. Related: How a Bullied, Dyslexic 16-Year-Old Entrepreneur Fought Back and Found His Way Right then I was determined to become like him, Ollie tells Entrepreneur. His first step: embracing his learning difference. His second: proving the people who said hed never amount to anything wrong with the launch of Ollies Shop. The online gift boutique sells trendy fashion accessories, including bracelets, cufflinks and belts. Ollie handcrafts some of his wares himself at home. Others are sourced from China. Ollie is motivated to become a millionaire before age 20, and ecommerce isnt the only enterprise he has his hands in. He also has his own subscription-based online magazine, fittingly called The Budding Entrepreneur, and hes spearheading a networking group for fellow British entrepreneurs. Succeeding in spite of the naysayers feels incredibly good, Ollie says. But nothing quite compares to the thrill he felt when he finally met his hero, Sir Richard Branson. I met him at a Virgin Unite conference last year, he says. I was not going to leave the building until I met him. Hes the nicest person Ive ever met. He even has the pic to prove that he did. Ollies favorite part of being a kidpreneur: You get to meet some fascinating people, but, most importantly, you get some incredible opportunities from those connections made. Ollies advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: You have to do what you love and, if you have a business idea in mind, just try it and see what happens. I see too many people with great ideas, but they do not pursue them as they are afraid to. Just get on and do it! 5. The Dentists Best Friend Zollipops Alina Morse Age: 10 Founder: Zollipops Twitter: @Zollipops Alina Morse is one lucky girl. She has visited the White House not once but twice, and never as a tourist. Each time, she was an official guest, personally invited by none other than First Lady Michelle Obama The enterprising Wolverine Lake, Mich., native presented the one and only candy at this years White House Easter Egg Roll -- a special treat she invented when she was just seven, with help from her dad, Tom (the co-creator of 5-Hour Energy). Related: 4 Tips for Successfully Launching a New Product From the Co-Founder of 5-Hour Energy Her sweets are fruit-flavored lollipops that her little sister, Lola, named Zollipops. Theres something unusual about them: Theyre sweetened with a blend of xylitol, maltitol syrup, beetroot juice and stevia -- not with sugar. I love candy, Alina tells Entrepreneur, but I always knew it was bad for my teeth so that's why I created Zollipops. So I asked, Why cant we make a lollipop thats delicious and good for your teeth? She did just that in 2014, when she started up her company using $7,500 of savings from her grandparents. Soon, she took to the road to promote her candy creation, available in-store at Whole Foods and SuperValu and online on Amazon. Shes even pitched Shark Tank celeb investor Daymond John on Good Morning America and appeared on NBC News. Related: 9-Year-Old Entrepreneur Launches Teeth-Friendly Lollipop Company On a roll ever since, the fifth-grader introduced her second product, Zolli Drops sugar-free peppermints, earlier this year. On top of providing a teeth-friendly alternative to sugary suckers, Alina donates more than 10 percent of her profits to organizations dedicated to reducing the impact of childhood tooth decay. Now thats something sweet to smile about. Alinas favorite part of being a kidpreneur: The most fun thing about being a kidpreneur and working on Zollipops is that I get to travel, meet lots of people and see lots of places. All around the world, we share Zollipops with many people and brighten their smiles! Alinas advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: Always keep asking questions. You can do anything if you work hard, try and believe in yourself and never give up! 6. The Sartorial Scholar David Heisler Isabella Rose Taylor Age: 15 Founder: Isabella Rose Taylor Twitter: @isabellartaylor By the age of 12, Isabella Rose Taylor had already sewn up an impressive accomplishment. It was one that even some of the most seasoned fashion designers would covet -- selling her own collection at Nordstrom. The Austin, Texas, natives pieces range from crop tops to graphic tees, mostly in black, white and grey. Those that feature patterns are inspired by her love of art. Many depict sketches of hands or splashes of paint, all in an abstract style. Soon after Isabella Rose became the youngest designer ever to market a clothing line at the Seattle-based upscale retailer, the artistic young fashionista checked off another incredible accomplishment: showing off her hippie-chic designs at New York Fashion Week. Related: This 13-Year-Old Entrepreneur Just Debuted Her Clothing Line at New York Fashion Week Homeschooled and encouraged by her parents, Isabella Rose was bitten by the fashion bug when she was only eight. From a young age, my parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams, Isabella Rose tells Entrepreneur. They told me I didnt have to wait until I was older to be my own boss and do what I love. It wasnt long before she stitched her entrepreneurial dreams into reality. As an early college student, accomplished painter and poet, Mensa member and Davidson Young Scholar, were not at all surprised by the prodigys speedy ascent. Isabella Roses favorite part of being a kidpreneur: Like most entrepreneurs, I get to build a company around something I am passionate about, and then I get to watch it grow. I have also enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life. As an entrepreneur, networking is very important, and Ive met people whove inspired me and I think I may have inspired others." Isabella Roses advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: "Starting a business is a lot of hard work. Dont start a business unless you love what you do. Do a lot of research and planning to make sure there is a market for your product." 7. The Motivational Speaker Who Wears His Positivity JYoungin Education Jeremiah Jones Age: 15 Founder: JYoungin Education Twitter: @Jyoungin4kids When he was 8 years old, Jeremiah JYoungin Jones had a vision to start his own fashion brand, JYoungin Education. I saw my dad printing up promotional T-shirts and giving them away to get his own business going and I thought, Why not me? he tells Entrepreneur. Why not let me inspire my own peers and kids of all ages to be great? The teen motivational speaker, currently the youth commissioner of his home city of Long Beach, Calif., launched his clothing line in 2009. But it almost never happened. He said in his TEDx Talk that his dad didnt want to help him make his business idea a reality. For two years, he tried to sell him on the concept. He didnt believe in me as much as I believed in myself, he said in his talk. Just because were so young, and I know we dont run things around here, but, hey, we still have big dreams as well as you guys do. Related: This 5-Year-Old Photographer With 160,000 Instagram Followers Just Kickstarted His Own Book His father eventually came around to supporting his entrepreneurial dream, even making the ultimate sacrifice and moving his family out of their house and into an apartment. The brand has taken off ever since. First came the online store, then the brick-and-mortar location, and the sales have kept them both going and growing. Today, Jeremiah also runs his own nonprofit organization to encourage area kids to excel in academics, sports, business and character development. This way I can gain larger partnerships and donations to help me expand the overall goal of going global with the plan of motivating others everywhere. Jeremiahs favorite part of being a kidpreneur: I like inspiring my own peers and seeing them actually take what I say and put it into action. I also get the chance to be boss, and my parents work for me. Jeremiahs advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: Never let anyone discourage you or try to talk down on you and never give up. Follow your passion and you'll love what you do! 8. The Varsity Athlete Who Needed Tougher Equipment Rachel Zeitz Rachel Zietz Age: 15 Founder: Gladiator Lacrosse Twitter: @GladiatorLaX If you cant find the product you need, invent it. Thats what Rachel Zietz did. The result: Gladiator Lacrosse, the ambitious Boca Raton, Fla., teens premium line of durable lacrosse equipment. Its never too young to start, she tells Entrepreneur. I started when I was 13, and it was successful. Most people are afraid, but if youre passionate about it, youre never too young. The varsity athlete and high school sophomore honors student launched her sporty startup in 2013, largely out of frustration. Despite searching in stores and online, she was unable to get her hands on lacrosse gear that was sturdy enough to withstand rigorous practice on repeat. Related: How This 14-Year-Old Is Making Adults Question Their Life Choices by Being Ridiculously Awesome For me, if there's a problem, there's also an opportunity," she told the Sun Sentinel. Rachels parents and younger brother are also entrepreneurs, so she scored in business right out of the gate. In her first year, she racked up $200,000 in revenue. A year later, she was on track to bank $1 million in earnings. Look out for the talented Young Entrepreneurs Academy graduate when she faces the Sharks on ABCs Shark Tank, May 13 at 9 p.m. ET. You bet well be watching -- and pulling for her. Rachels favorite part of being a kidpreneur: I believe the best part is that I am able to pursue something that I love [business] and can inspire others that you are never too young to accomplish your dream. Also, it is amazing to run the day-to-day operations of the company and it is great to see the looks on peoples faces when they realize who is running the company! Rachels advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: My advice to any aspiring young entrepreneurs is to make sure whatever you do, you are passionate about it. Passion is the key to success and it is what drives you to work through obstacles and challenges in your way. 9. The Beachgoer Bent on Making Sandals FishFlops Madison Robinson Age: 18 Founder: FishFlops Twitter: @FishFlops Sometimes all it takes is one moment in time to change your fortune forever. For Madison Robinson, it was one trade show. The first time the young Houston-based inventor exhibited her sea-creature-themed flip-flops at a retail trade show, sales went gangbusters -- 37 different stores placed orders for the funky footwear. Madison, who's always enjoyed kicking back at the beach, came up with the idea for the light-up sandals when she was eight years old after a trip to the shore. Inspired by fond memories of Galveston Island, her seaside birthplace, she drew the original designs for the sandals. Then her father, Dan, helped make them into a reality. Not exactly right away, though. Related: 8 Entrepreneurial Skills You Should Teach Your Kids After three years of me bugging him, asking him, Daddy, make my FishFlops! he finally decided to help me make some prototypes, Madison told Steve Harvey when she guest-starred on the entertainers talk show. To date, millions of pairs of FishFlops have sold, first at Nordstrom and now on several ecommerce sites, such as Amazon and Madisons own online store. The colorful line now includes sturdy rain boots, plush slippers and canvas boat shoes. Additionally, her footwear is available at several U.S. Association of Zoos and Aquariums zoos in support of the organizations Saving Animals From Extinction initiative. Madison says she believes in sharing the blessings of her success with others less fortunate. To walk the walk, shes donated more than 20,000 pairs of FishFlops to several charities, including Shoes for Orphan Souls and Texas Childrens Hospital. Madisons favorite part of being a kidpreneur: "I enjoy encouraging and inspiring others to think about creating their own business. TV interviews are fun and exciting, but having my hair and makeup professionally done before the interview is the best. Madisons advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: You have to take the first step on your own, be patient, persistent and never give up. Write down their idea, share the information with family and friends and get their opinions. Make sure you balance your time and enjoy life while working. 10. The Teen Adding Texture to Texting Lisa Henderson Mercer Henderson Age: 13 Founder: Audiots Twitter: @audiotsemojis Like most teens, Mercer Henderson uses a flurry of emojis when texting with friends -- but she uses them a tad differently than most people. She adds sounds, turning the expressive visual icons into what she calls soundmojis. One day, the tech-savvy San Francisco teen was making her own soundmojis when the entrepreneurial lightbulb went off. It was something I had fun doing already, Mercer tells Entrepreneur. So why not put the two together? And the seed for her Audiots iOS app was planted. Related: These High-School Students Found a Way to Make Any Headphones Wireless The app, put forth by Mercers new company, 4 Girls Tech LLC, features 50-plus noisy emojis. Among them is a kissy-face emoji that makes smooching sounds, a broken heart emoji that audibly shatters and a poop emoji that, uh...well just stop there, k? To take Audiots from concept to downloadable reality, Mercer got a decent leg-up from her mother, Lisa, a product marketing exec at Salesforce. Her uncle, a LucasArts sound engineer, also pitched in on sound-mixing. Not a bad startup support team, right? Up next for the budding young tech-preneur is adding more soundmojis to the app, as well as the ability for Audiots users to record their own talkative emojis. In the meantime, shes hoping to partner with big-name brands like Adidas and pop stars like Taylor Swift. Shes also working on integrating the app with email and Facebook. All of this, of course, after her homework is done. Mercers favorite part of being a kidpreneur: The most fun part for me is the emails I get from people telling me they like the app! One girl told me it is the only app she has ever downloaded! I try to email everyone back after I do my homework and stuff. Also, being on TV was fun. Mercers advice for aspiring kidpreneurs: My advice is if there is something you like to do, think about if other people like it too. Then try to create a more fun or simple way to do it. Nearly all of Detroit's public schools were closed Monday after the teachers union urged members to call out sick following a weekend announcement that the district wouldn't be able to pay its teachers starting this summer. District spokeswoman Michelle Zdrodowski said in an email Monday morning that 94 of the district's 97 schools would be closed for the day. About 46,000 students are enrolled in the district's schools. The move by the Detroit Federation of Teachers was announced Sunday, a day after Detroit Public Schools' transition manager said the district would have no money to continue paying teachers this summer without further funding from the state. "There's a basic agreement in America: When you put in a day's work, you'll receive a day's pay," Detroit Federation of Teachers Interim President Ivy Bailey said in a statement. "DPS is breaking that deal. Teachers want to be in the classroom giving children a chance to learn and reach their potential. "Unfortunately, by refusing to guarantee that we will be paid for our work, DPS is effectively locking our members out of the classrooms." In March, Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law emergency funding that is keeping the district operating through the end of the school year as the state Legislature considers a $720 million restructuring plan that would pay off the district's enormous debt. Former bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes, who was appointed this year to oversee the district, also said Saturday that DPS would be unable to fund summer school or special education programs after June 30. On Sunday night, he said in a statement that the union's "choice for a drastic call to action was not necessary" and said that a sickout is "counterproductive and detrimental" to the efforts of those trying to help the school district. "I understand the frustration and anger that our teachers feel," Rhodes said. "I am, however, confident that the Legislature will support the request that will guarantee that teachers will receive the pay that is owed to them." Teacher strikes are illegal under Michigan law. Sick-outs earlier this year caused tens of thousands of students to miss class. A young paramedic in South Dakota was surprised enough to see a police car pulling her over -- but even more surprised when the officer got down on one knee. Rapid City Police posted the dashcam video to Facebook, under the title, "In pursuit of the perfect proposal." At first, 22-year-old Sarah Stewart didn't seem to know what was going on. Senior Officer Dan Anderson walked up to her minivan and asked her to step outside. But as she walked toward the patrol car, her eyes lit up. Her then-boyfriend, 23-year-old Officer Nick Allender, approached her and took the ring box from Anderson. She said yes. They shared a hug. Allender told ABC News he wanted the moment to be "unique, and something that I could do that was different than anyone else." His fiancee, who works for the Rapid City Fire Dept., said she was in "total shock." When Nathanial White was asked whether his French teacher actually spoke French, he replied, yes but with a caveat. Bonjour, but everybody knows that, White told KHOU. Albert Moyer, a French teacher at Houston Independent School Districts Energy Institute High School, is under fire for not actually speaking the language he teaches. Moyer told KHOU his experience includes just a year of high school French. Moyer was hired after the schools longtime French instructor, Jean Cius, was removed in December following a dispute. Cius said he now just monitors the halls at another Houston school. I feel so bad for the taxpayers because theyre paying me for not doing anything at all, Cius said. White said if students now have a question about their French studies they have to search the answer on Google. It can often become a difficult task to find certified foreign language teachers, in the middle of the academic school year, to fill the needs of the district, HISD said in a statement to KHOU. Effective French teachers are especially hard to come by. However, the district continues its efforts to hire talented foreign language teachers to instruct HISD students. A video sting from students at a Chicago-area high school appeared to show a staff member stealing from a students locker but when students tried to identify the culprit last week, at least one was punished. Police were looking into the video, which apparently was recorded with a cell phone from inside a locker at Evanstown Township High School, The Chicago Tribune reported. A statement from the school said appropriate actions would be taken as more details become available. But so far, the only actions taken have come against one of the sleuthing students. Noah McKay, 17-year-old junior, said he and friends organized a protest to try to get the staff member fired. Police did not identify the worker. Me and my friend were pretty upset and we stayed on the phone until 3 a.m. last night trying to figure out what to do, so we made a flier a picture of the guy in the video taking stuff, McKay told the Tribune. The reward for catching the crook? A one-day in-school suspension, according to 17-year-old junior Malachi Clark. He said the school also threatened to cancel senior activities, such as prom, for other students involved. They said they were suspending me for distribution of harassing materials something along those lines because of the flier I created and distributed with my friends, Clark said. I also got in trouble for cyber bullying because of a lack of an indictment (against the staff member allegedly involved). Evanston Police Cmdr. Joe Dugan said the video appears authentic, and police know the identity of the person allegedly shown taking money. But Dugan said the person who took the video needs to come forward for charges to be pressed. Were talking about a criminal investigation, Dugan said. Clark said somebody previously had stolen cash from his locker as well, and the issue has long plagued the school. I know probably around 10 or 15 people who have had money or other items taken from their lockers that were lockedits been freshman year to junior year, its been a wide array of occurrences thats been going on for awhile, Clark said. McKay said the schools response has been underwhelming. People have been complaining and reporting their stuff stolen and really the security officers will say, Did you lock your locker or this and that, or just tell us theyll do anything they can to get out stuff back, but that hasnt happened, McKay said. The Marine Corps says it has begun investigating whether it mistakenly identified one of the men shown raising the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima in one of the iconic images of World War II after two amateur history buffs began raising questions about the picture. The Marines announced its inquiry more than a year after Eric Krelle, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Stephen Foley, of Wexford, Ireland, began raising doubts about the identity of one man. In November 2014, the Omaha World-Herald published an extensive story about their claims and Saturday was the first to report the Marines were looking into the matter. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal shot the photo on Feb. 23, 1945, on Mount Suribachi, amid an intense battle with the Japanese. Rosenthal didn't get the names of the men, but the photo immediately was celebrated in the U.S. and President Franklin Roosevelt told the military to identify the men. After some confusion, the Marines identified the men as John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Harlon Block, Michael Strank and Franklin Sousley. All were Marines except Bradley, who was a Navy corpsman. Block, Strank and Sousley were killed in fighting at Iwo Jima before the photo was distributed in the U.S. On Monday, the Marines issued a statement saying, "The Marine Corps is examining information provided by a private organization related (to) Joe Rosenthal's Associated Press photograph of the second flag raising on Iwo Jima. "Rosenthal's photo captured a single moment in the 36-day battle during which more than 6,500 US servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation and it is representative of the more than 70,000 US Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Coast Guardsmen that took part in the battle. We are humbled by the service and sacrifice of all who fought on Iwo Jima." Iwo Jima, a tiny island 660 miles south of Tokyo, was the site of an intense 36-day battle that began Feb. 19, 1945, between about 70,000 Marines and 18,000 Japanese soldiers. Capturing Iwo Jima was deemed essential to the U.S. war effort because Japanese fighter planes were taking off from the island and intercepting American bomber planes. Hal Buell, a retired AP executive news photo editor, had long discussions with Rosenthal about the flag-raising picture and in 2006 wrote a book about the famous image. It's hard to understand the photo's power in 1945 to Americans, who were weary of the war and horrified by the incredible number of deaths by servicemen, especially in locations of Asia most had never heard of, Buell said. "People were just tired of the war, and all of a sudden out of nowhere came this picture that encapsulated everything," Buell said. "It showed that victory was ultimately possible." Buell said after Rosenthal shot the photo, the flag-raisers quickly moved onto other tasks, and it was impossible for him to get their names. That task was left to the Marines after the picture prompted an overwhelming response and the government decided to use the image in an upcoming sale of war bonds to finance the continued fighting. Rosenthal died in 2006. The identification of the six servicemen has been accepted for decades, but the World-Herald reported that while recovering from an operation Foley had lots of time on his hands and began noticing possible discrepancies in the picture. He enlisted the help of Krelle, who maintains a website dedicated to the Marines' 5th Division. After examining the famous photo along with other pictures taken that day of the men, they concluded that the man identified as Sousley was actually Harold Henry Schultz, a private first class from Detroit. Schultz died in 1995. They also contend that the figure initially identified as Bradley was Sousley, which if true means Bradley wasn't in the photo. Krelle declined to comment on the Marine's investigation, telling the World-Herald he had signed a confidentiality agreement with a third party. A message left by the AP at a phone number listed to Krelle wasn't immediately returned. In 2014, Krelle had told the newspaper, "People can hold onto what they have always known in the past. But to me, the photos are the truth." Discrepancies identified by Krelle and Foley included: -- Bradley wore uncuffed pants in the famous photo but other pictures shot that day shows in him tightly cuffed pants. -- The bill of a cap is visible beneath the helmet in the flag-raising picture but not in other images of Bradley made that day. -- The man identified as Bradley is wearing a cartridge belt with ammunition pouches, and a pair of wire cutters hangs off the belt. But as a Navy corpsman, Bradley would typically be armed with a sidearm, not an M-1 rifle, and he'd have no need for wire cutters. Other photos that day show him wearing what appears to be a pistol belt with no ammo pouches. Bradley's son, James Bradley, wrote a best-selling book about the flag raisers, "Flags of Our Fathers," which was later made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. Bradley told the AP he was shocked to hear the Marines were investigating the identity of the men. "This is unbelievable," said Bradley, who interviewed the surviving Marines and Rosenthal before writing his book. "I'm interested in facts and truths, so that's fine, but I don't know what's happening," he added. The Marines didn't give a timeline for its investigation. A man's planned explosive attack on a South Florida Jewish center was thwarted by the FBI through an undercover operation involving a dummy bomb, authorities said Monday. James Medina is accused of trying to blow up the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center during Passover services. Officials portrayed Medina as being anti-Semitic. "MEDINA explained that if he would conduct an attack he would want to do it at a synagogue because Jewish people are the ones causing the world's war and conflicts," the complaint against Medina said. A 17-page FBI affidavit unsealed Monday includes numerous comments allegedly made by Medina about his plan, which initially envisioned use of AK-47-style weapons to shoot up the Jewish center. Several of these conversations were recorded by an informant identified only as a "confidential human source" in the document. According to the FBI, Medina wanted to create a leaflet to be left at the scene in which he would claim the attack was traced to the Islamic State terror group. There's no evidence the group was actually linked to Medina, but he told the informant that leaflet would "make it look like it's ISIS here in America. Just like that." The plot, Medina said in one conversation, would be to "strike back at the Jews, by going to a synagogue and just spraying everybody ... It's a war man and it's, like, it's time to strike back here in America." Later, Medina called the plan "my call of duty." "When I'm doing this, I feel that I'm doing it for a good cause for Allah," he is quoted as saying. Another undercover FBI employee several times asked Medina whether he really wanted to go through with the plot, which might include killing women and children. "I'm up for it. I really am. This is no joke. This is serious, dog," Medina said on an FBI recording. He allegedly discussed planting a bomb as close to the door of the synagogue as possible or leave it in a bathroom. "I mean though, whatever, whatever it is, it's just gonna go off," Medina reportedly said. "I wanna see damage happen to their ass." Medina allegedly said he wanted to go through with the plot because he has "a lot of love for Allah." Medina reportedly believed the Jewish holiday he would be disrupting was Yom Kippur and said he wanted to "let them realize that their Yom Kippur's going down." Medina is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami and is slated to appear in court Monday afternoon to be charged with a weapons of mass destruction offense. The leadership of our congregation has been briefed by law enforcement and Jewish community security officials about this situation, the synagogue said in a statement on its Facebook page attributed to Rabbi Jonathan Berkun and Executive Director Elliot Karp. They assured us that the synagogue and school were never at risk at any time during the investigation and arrest, and that there are no credible threats directed against us at the present time. Aventura is a 30-minute drive north of Miami. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Minnesota National Guard is experiencing a suicide crisis, and communities and experts are scrambling to figure out why. For family members left behind, there is soul-crushing sorrow and, as in all suicides, the haunting question: Could I have done more? The Minnesota guard is the 10th largest state guard by size, but second to only one other states guard Pennsylvania in the number of suicides. Minnesota has experienced 27 National Guard suicides in the last five years. Twenty-seven members of the larger community are all dead by their own hand, after their willingness to serve and defend this nation. What is going on? It is possible that changes in recordkeeping have driven the numbers higher, Minnesota Guard leaders told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Also, there can be a contagion effect, where suicide is somehow regarded as more acceptable the more it happens. With each suicide, you have an increased risk pool of suicide, Melissa Heinen, suicide prevention coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Health, told the Star Tribune. The more suicides you have, the more that becomes a more normalized option. "We have a really good National Guard they are deployed more often than what our state's obligation is. I'm not sure why that is," Paul Riedner, executive director of Minnesota's Veteran Resilience Project, told LifeZette. "That has something to do with it." Suicides among the National Guard is a complex issue with no easy answers. Enlisted men and women often come home very changed people. They may suffer from PTSD, from a myriad of physical challenges, and from "moral injury" having to make decisions on the battlefield that test their moral code. In the National Guard, military service is limited to several days a month, and the rest of the month service members may find themselves isolated from their communities and their families by their own unique combat experiences, their own issues and a lack of community outreach. "Being in the military used to be so valued back in the two world wars. Servicemen were really heroes," said one veteran in his early 80s from Reading, Massachusetts. "Now, people are too busy to think about veterans other than in passing, or when they actually see one. Even the numbers at Veteran's Day parades around the country have dwindled. Can you imagine not having an hour to attend a parade?" Why the North Star State is dealing with such a high rate of suicide among National Guard members is a multi-layered and pressing question, but the nexus seems to be a community's relationship, or lack thereof, with its veterans and service members. "The situation where the National Guard is isolated from the community is a dangerous one, and that is the situation in Minnesota and other areas, too," said Riedner. "Any time you isolate one unit or element from the larger system that isn't good." Major Ron Jarvi, program manager of the Minnesota National Guard Resilience, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention Office, corroborated this. "We see our soldiers two days out of the month, but the community, the churches, their employers they get to see them the other 28 days out of the month," he told the Star Tribune. Fewer than half the Minnesota National Guard members who committed suicide were ever deployed or ever saw combat. "It is surprising, and presents a better picture of how complex the situation is," said Riedner of that statistic. The military's presence may also not be felt among Minnesota communities. "The veteran population in Minnesota is not like where I served in Virginia. There, all you see are Navy, Army, Marine, and Air Force uniforms, all day, every day. There is no ignoring or pretending that we're not at war," said Riedner. "In Minnesota and a lot of other places, however, when you have a National Guard that only trains those two days a month, and then they're back in the civilian population again, there's a disconnect." He continued, "It's hard when there is no visual evidence of war. It was disturbing to me that I could come back home from the desert, and it was like nothing ever happened. It's the idea that nobody cares, which is a false belief, but I felt it. It's not that soldiers worry if anyone cares we don't serve to get recognition but that means we're doing our best to deal with it on our own." The way we categorize vets and their challenges needs to change, said Reidner. We need to broaden our concerns from just the mental health of the nation's veterans to their spiritual health and social health, and examine how they are fitting in to our communities. This "whole person" consideration is so vital, he said, that he rarely thinks of veterans issues as mental health-related. Shame and guilt also play a role in a veteran's thinking. These hidden emotions are difficult for the community at large to recognize and understand. Riedner offered the scenario of an enlisted person's experience of a convoy hit by a roadside bomb. The service member wonders if he could have done more to save lives. Or perhaps the service member made a serious but honest mistake, with devastating consequences. "Shame tells us we are not worthy of love and connection to others. It's very damaging when we already feel different and isolated," said Riedner. "You come back to a population that doesn't understand what you've been through and all you've learned. It's a hard divide to bridge." He stressed his appreciation of the community at large. "I don't want to be hard on the community. [People] do care, but they don't know how to show it. How do you approach a veteran? Most people don't have experience with this. But Minnesota is full of caring people." Communities can change the way they look at veterans and active military and act on that change. "Most people assume, 'We have a [Veterans Affairs] system to take care of those who go to war. It's their responsibility,'" said Reidner. "But the VA can't do everything, and it has its own issues." The Veteran Resilience Project is dedicated to helping Minnesota veterans connect with their communities, share with each other the tools that help with healing, and gain access to therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). That therapy has been effective in the treatment of PTSD but is not actively promoted by the VA. For those of us who are not veterans or active military, we need to accept our shared responsibility of taking care of those who take care of us at great personal cost. "We have neighbors, cousins, dads, moms, that we've sent to war, and war is a collective decision. We sent them, so we need to be there when they return," said Riedner. "There needs to be community accountability." A joyful celebration quickly turned into panic when a wedding guest shot a groom in the head, apparently by mistake, in an incident caught on video. Warning: Video may be considered disturbing. #WATCH: Groom injured in celebratory firing during a wedding ceremony in Haryana's Hisar (28.4.16).https://t.co/iOOBggZsaO ANI (@ANI_news) April 30, 2016 Fortunately, the groom survived, but was seriously hurt. Officials called off Thursday's wedding ceremony in northern India before it could finish, ANI reports. The video showed the groom falling to the ground in a cloud of smoke after the shot rang out. Celebratory gunfire at weddings is banned in India, according to the Hindustan Times. The dramatic scene unfolded in the city of Hisar, 100 miles northwest of New Delhi. Police said they would launch an investigation based on the information they received from the groom's father. Six Venezuelan army officers were arrested Sunday after allegedly stealing goats from a nearby farm because they were hungry, the PanAm Post reports. The soldiers were arrested in the central region of Lara after investigators spotted an unmarked van carrying dead animals. The army officers told local law enforcement they had no choice but to steal, kill and eat the animals because their army base, Fort Manaure, had almost run out of food. The owner of the stolen goats told police he saw the theft when it happened. Local farmers claim this was not the first time somebody stole their animals. Instead of protecting us, they come to kill our animals, farmer Jaime de Dios Verde Lameda told police, according to local media. I began to yell, Whats going on? And they said nothing. Lameda said he did not fight back against the soldiers because he was afraid they might shoot him. The food shortage has crippled industries across Venezuela. Last weekend, there were reports of mass lootings of pharmacies, shopping malls, supermarkets and food trucks, PanAm reports. As a result, Venezuelas Chamber of Commerce has declared most businesses now only have enough inventory to last the next 15 days. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Japan's foreign minister has announced a multi-billion dollar initiative to promote development in the Mekong region, which encompasses parts of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand through which the river flows. In a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Monday, Fumio Kishida affirmed the importance of Southeast Asia's economic prosperity to Japan. He pledged 750 billion yen ($7 billion) in funding during the next three years to support development and growth in the region. Kishida also renewed his call for the establishment of a code of conduct in the South China Sea and that prosperity can only achieved if there is peace and stability in the region. The visit to Thailand is part of his regional tour that includes stops in China, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Kim Jong Un is now playing the role of wedding spoiler. The North Korean dictator banned all weddings and funerals for the coming week as the reclusive country gears up to anoint him as their official leader at the first Workers' Party of Korea Congress in 36 years, Britains Sunday Times reports. Thousands of delegates and security forces from across North Korea are expected to travel to Pyongyang to pay their respects to Kim during the Congress, which starts on May 6 and is expected to last several days. Weddings and funerals have been canceled for security reasons, the newspaper reported, without elaborating. "Strengthening security can be seen as a measure to prevent mishaps over the party congress," said Cheong Joon-hee, a spokesman at South Korea's Unification Ministry, according to The Mirror. North Korean authorities also have ordered citizens to spruce up the capital before the celebrations, the Daily NK reports. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 2 p.m. A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross says a humanitarian convoy has delivered aid to 12,000 families trapped in a government-besieged area north of the central Syrian city of Homs. Pawel Krzysiek said Monday that a convoy of 13 ICRC trucks and 3 trucks from the Syrian Arab Crescent are delivering food, hygiene items, diapers, and school books to the besieged town of Talbiseh. The town's population has doubled to 60,000 with the influx of displaced residents form other areas, according to the ICRC. Pawell says the joint ICRC and SARC team will assess medical, water, and sewage infrastructure in Talbiseh and neighboring villages. ___ 1:30 p.m. Syria's state news agency says the military has extended its cease-fire around Damascus and opposition strongholds in the eastern suburbs for another 48 hours. The Monday report said that President Bashar Assad's army would extend the cessation of hostilities that was declared Friday around the capital and the coastal Latakia region, following two weeks of escalating violence around the country. The truce excludes Aleppo, Syria's largest city and a major battleground between rebels and pro-government forces. Russia's Tass news agency quoted Russian Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, head of the Russian coordination center in Syria, as saying that talks are continuing about a cease-fire for Aleppo. He says the Damascus area cease-fire was brokered by the Russia and the U.S., "in agreement with the Syrian leadership and the moderate opposition." A drone strike in Syria killed a married American couple who'd pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terror group and worked to recruit new jihadis overseas and online, ISIS-linked social media accounts revealed on Saturday. The husband and wife were identified as Abu Issa Al-Amriki and Umm Issa Al-Amrikiah. They did not reveal their birth names. The terror group frequently uses the name "Al-Amriki" to refer to Americans. The drone strike took place in late-April, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor. Analysts say the wife was especially eager to make the terror group seem appealing to women. One post appeared to show her holding a suicide belt, claiming she hoped she could use it herself to kill "infidels." Another post reportedly read, "My account is for sisters only, so unless you menstruate do not message me." Islamic law puts strict limits on socializing between men and women who aren't related. More than 150 Americans have traveled, or have tried to travel, to Syria to join terror cells, National Counterterrorism Center director Nicholas Rasmussen said last year. The husband and wife "were hit in their house by the airstrikes and they both attained shahadah [martyrdom]," one pro-ISIS account read. It's unclear who carried out the drone strike. A U.S. strike in Syria killed the British terror operative known as Jihadi John in November. Islamic State and the Assad regime in Syria have been colluding with each other in deals on the battleground, Sky News can reveal. Our exclusive investigation into leaked secret IS files suggests one piece of co-operation was over the ancient city of Palmyra. The files also show that the militant group has been training foreign fighters to attack Western targets for much longer than security services had suspected. The revelations underscore fears in the United States that a network of sleeper cells is spread across Europe, avoiding detection, and is planning further Paris- and Brussels-style assaults. IS defectors, meanwhile, have told Sky News that Palmyra was handed back to government forces by Islamic State as part of a series of cooperation agreements going back years. New letters obtained by Sky News, in addition to the massive haul of 22,000 files handed over last month, appear to confirm this. They show: :: An agreement with the Syrian regime to withdraw IS weapons from Palmyra. :: A deal between IS and Syria to trade oil for fertiliser and; :: Arrangements to evacuate some areas by Islamic State forces BEFORE the Syrian army attacked. All appear to be pre-agreed deals and suggest direct evidence of collusion between the Syrian regime and Islamic State chiefs. For the past 18 months Sky News has maintained contacts with a Free Syrian Army group originally from Islamic State's headquarters in Raqqa, but now living across the border in Turkey. The group operates a network to smuggle defectors away from IS. Some of the defectors openly admit their prior allegiance to the terror group and acknowledge that they only left because of internal disagreements with some of the IS leadership. In reality they remain wedded to the basic tenets of Islamic State: strict Sharia law, a caliphate and on-going war against anyone deemed to be an enemy. The authenticity of the latest documents is impossible to verify, but all previous leaks of material funnelled through this group have proved to be genuine. The new documents are copies of handwritten orders sent from Islamic State's headquarters. One document requests safe passage for a driver through IS checkpoints "until he reaches the border with the Syrian regime to exchange oil for fertiliser". The defectors claim that this is a trade agreement between the two sides that has been going on for years. Another letter contains instructions for a commander to "transfer all equipment and weapons to the agreed evacuation point. We have received intelligence that al Qasr and its surroundings will be bombed on 24th November, 2013". The defectors claim this was a withdrawal agreed between Syria and Islamic State. The most interesting document was written shortly before the Syrian army recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra, after months of occupation by IS. "Withdraw all heavy artillery and anti-aircraft machine guns from in and around Palmyra to Raqqa province," the document says. I asked one of the defectors if Islamic State was coordinating movement of its fighters and leaving areas they previously controlled, in direct coordination with the Syrian army and even the Russian airforce. His answer was simple. "Of course," he said. Click for more from Sky News. An Islamic State fanboy who idolized Jihadi John and gushed on Twitter about how his machete was looking sick was thrown in jail for five years for encouraging others to engage in terrorism. Mohammed Moshin Ameen jailed for 5 years for sending approximately 8,000 tweets supporting #Daesh #IS #London pic.twitter.com/Pr9TqqUITS Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) April 28, 2016 Between March and October of last year, Mohammed Moshin Ameen, a 23-year-old security guard from the London suburb of Dagenham, posted some 8,000 tweets on 42 different accounts, Metro reported Friday. In one post, he referred to the September 11 attackers as the magnificent 19, a court heard. He also posted a picture of Jihadi John, ISIS infamous masked executioner who reportedly was killed in a drone strike. Another post showed Ameen holding a weapon with the caption underneath reading Machete looks sick, Metro reports. Ameen pleaded guilty in March on five counts of encouraging acts of terrorism on social media, inviting support for the Islamic State and disseminating a terrorist publication. His lawyer said Ameen has below average intelligence and was exposed to radicalization. Counter-terror officials said they stopped him from traveling to Syria after they found a one-way ticket to Turkey at his home in 2013. Click for more from Metro. Israel, Egypt, and Hamas agree on at least one thing: their mission to prevent the Islamic State terrorist group from expanding its grasp. They chose to form an unlikely alliance against a ruthless ISIS affiliate that wreaked havoc on Egypts Sinai Peninsula and claimed responsibility for downing a Russian plane in the region last year, The Washington Post reported Saturday. Hamas two weeks ago sent several hundred fighters to Gazas border as part of a deal with Egypt to keep the extremists from entering the coastal territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised his countrys decision to erect a new barrier between Israel and Egypt, warning that we would have been overflowed by thousands of ISIS fighters from Sinai, The Washington Post reports. The ISIS affiliate known as Wilayat Sinai frequently has attacked Egyptian soldiers and military posts. Egypt said it had the Sinai Peninsula under its control, claiming in statements that it captured or killed several terrorists. But the statements have been difficult to verify since journalists are barred from the region. Egypts western allies are growing increasingly concerned about its ability to contain the ISIS outbreak, fearing it could threaten a multinational peacekeeping effort between Egypt and Israel along the Sinai border, The Washington Post adds. Click for more from The Washington Post. Important Cookie Information We collect information from our users this is for administration and contact purposes in connection with contributions you may wish to make to the site or your use of certain site features such as newsletter subscriptions and property enquiries. Dwyer Group Acquires Locatec in Germany, Expands European Presence May 02, 2016 // Franchising.com // WACO, Texas The Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the worlds largest franchising companies of trade service brands, has acquired Germany-based Locatec, growing Dwyer Groups global presence. This latest acquisition supports the companys 2016 international initiative to expand presence in European countries where Dwyer Group service brands currently operate. Right now is a very exciting time for international growth at Dwyer Group. We are thrilled to add Locatec to the extensive list of trusted Dwyer Group service brands, said Mike Bidwell, president and CEO of Dwyer Group. Locatec is a leak detection business in Germany and Austria, which will pair well with Dwyer Groups Rainbow International operation already making strides in the German market. Locatec currently has 60 franchise locations operating with 120 service vehicles, providing complete coverage of both markets. While we are always on the lookout for companies whose core business compliments those of our family of brands, we do not take acquisitions lightly, said Bidwell. Locatec aligns with our business model and values, and is ripe for growth. They have a proven track record of success and the potential to really grow as part of the Dwyer Group family of brands. Under the direction of Hartwig Finger, president of European operations at Dwyer Group, the company plans to operate Locatec in a way that will permit German franchisees to accelerate their growth, improve market penetration, and allow Locatec to expand into other countries. For more information about Dwyer Groups service brands visit www.dwyergroup.com. About Dwyer Group Dwyer Group, based in Waco, Texas, is a holding company of 12 franchise businesses, each selling and supporting a different franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv, Glass Doctor, The Grounds Guys, Five Star Painting, Molly Maid, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Handyman, Mr. Rooter (Drain Doctor in the UK), ProTect Painters, Rainbow International, and Locatec. Collectively, these independent franchise concepts offer customers worldwide a broad base of residential and commercial services. In addition, Dwyer Group operates glass shops in New England under the Portland Glass brand name. Dwyer Group is a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm. The firms international portfolio includes more than 75 companies. More information on Dwyer Group, or its franchise concepts, is available at www.dwyergroup.com. Dwyer Group is also on Twitter at @DwyerGroup. SOURCE Dwyer Group Contact: Monica Feid BizCom Associates (972) 490-8053 MonicaFeid@BizComPr.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus RICHMONDVirginia has become home to thousands of children fleeing violence in Central America in recent years, but the level of support services they receive when they step into a classroom varies widely depending on where they live. Since the fall of 2013, the federal government has placed nearly 7,300 unaccompanied minors with adult sponsors in communities across Virginia, where they are expected to attend school while they await an immigration court hearing. Only Texas, California, Florida, New York and Maryland have accepted more migrant youth than Virginia. Many of the children arriving from war-torn countries have suffered emotional trauma and face unique educational challenges. But while some Virginia schools have made connecting immigrant children with social services a priority, more needs to be done to aid these vulnerable students, advocates say. Understandably, schools feel this is a huge challenge but I think these kids are incredibly resilient and resourceful and smart and it can be a great opportunity if a school does it right, said Becky Wolozin, an attorney who assists immigrant children with educational challenges. She is an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Legal Aid Justice Center. The federal government has placed more nearly 104,000 unaccompanied minors in communities nationwide since 2013, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Most of the children that have been placed in Virginia are living in the states northern communities of Washington. In Alexandria, where 440 unaccompanied youth have been placed, school officials have created a special program that integrates students English language studies into their normal coursework. At the International Academy at T.C. Williams High School, which has more than 500 students, psychologists and social workers also work with the children and their families to ensure both the emotional and educational needs of the student are being met, school officials say. The model is just very supportive of immigrant students, in particular during this time we had that surge that everyone experienced of unaccompanied minors, said Bethany Nickerson, executive director of the Office of English Language Learner Services for the district. Its unclear how many of the unaccompanied minors are attending public school in Alexandria because school officials said they dont distinguish between them and other children. Harrisonburg City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Kizner said he has made a big push to improve the services for children whove experienced trauma by hiring more mental health counselors, psychologists and social workers. But he said he believes the federal government should be assisting schools with the added cost of serving these students. I love having these kids, Kizner said. And Ill never criticize these kids for being here. The teacher crisis is real, and were not going to work our way out of it simply by making it easier to hire teachers. FIS FedFis Digital Prospector Helps FinTech Firms Save Financial Institutions A group of banking experts in Austin, Texas, is helping FinTech firms by speeding up and simplifying digital adoption with an easy-to-use tool. -- FIS FedFis has announced the launch of FedFis Digital Prospector, a new tool that will help FinTech companies connect with financial institutions going digital. With the new products, FinTech firms will have access to blended financial institution data and analysis that facilitate FinTech and banking FinTegration. FinTech can save financial institutions by bridging the gap between in-demand, convenient, cost-effective digital frameworks and the know-how needed to successfully implement them, and FedFis Digital Prospector delivers the ultimate conduit to do so. There is a digital revolution changing customer behaviors, and banks are trying hard to adapt. Oftentimes, FinTech companies are more knowledgeable about the digital framework but lack an understanding of the existing institution's ecosystem and how to illustrate their products financial impact. Knowing the core, online, and mobile is the starting point to qualifying a prospect. Using score calculations of FI acquisition risk/reward, contract profitability, and overall bank health, FedFis Digital Prospector determines anoverall prospect FI rating. Combining financial institution data and FinTech data, it delivers a robust built-in ROI model. Packed with key financial data and ecosystem data like core processor, internet banking vendor, and mobile, FIS FedFis is delivering a one-stop hub for critical data and more. According to Dave Mayo, CEO at FIS FedFis, "FinTech will stop the destruction of banks, not cause it, if they understand Bank financial culture. Digital Prospector creates the first FinTech ecosystem by blending digital products and bank financial data that actually helps both sides with FinTegration." About FIS FedFis - FIS FedFis is a partner to the banking industry and serves the largest financial services firms around the world with comprehensive financial data analysis products, news, and the company's latest product, FedFis Digital Prospector - a blend of FiinTech and banking data to facilitate Fintegration. Additional details can be found at http://fedfis.com. For more information about us, please visit http://www.fedfis.com Contact Info: Name: Dave Mayo Organization: FIS FedFis Address: PO Box 1235 Austin, TX Phone: 800 726 6140 Release ID: 112610 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Feather Brow Couture Launch New Website Feather Brow Couture have just gone live with their new website showcasing the comprehensive range of microblade eyebrow tattooing, lash lift, tint and extension services available at their Sydney clinic. -- The new website reflects their commitment to stay at the leading edge of technology as well as to keep in touch with their clients via regular newsletters and special promotional offerings. Ursula Cervellone, Founder and Principal of Feather Brow Couture said, "Existing clients were surveyed to arrive at a website solution that suited the array of individual client needs. She went on to say; "We found that the clients had broad requirements from education on microblading and eyebrow cares through to the desire to book appointments with ease online. We needed to take all of this feedback into consideration in our new website design solution" Feather Brow Couture is one of Sydney's recognized experts in Microblading, 'micro-pigmentation' also known as '3D eyebrow feathering.' This is an ancient technique that uses a fine blade known as a 'micro blade' rather than a tattoo gun. The micro blade is a row of micro-needles that is delicately etched into the epidermis layer of the skin using natural pigments. This technique creates fine, crisp, natural hair strokes within the skin. Every brow is individually designed by hand, to mimic the existing brow-hairs creatively tailored to suit the clients' face. Ursula Cervellone said, "The new website needed to be a reflection of the delicate and beautiful micro blading work we do. I am extremely pleased with the web designers ability to have captured this in the look and feel of the website. We are very encouraged by the feedback already received from customers visiting the website since its launch." Visit the website to learn more about the company here: http://featherbrowcouture.com.au About Feather Brow Couture Feather Brow Couture is Sydney NSW Australia based and recognized experts in Microblading, 'micro-pigmentation' also known as '3D eyebrow feathering.' Other eye beauty services include eye lash lift, tint and extensions. For more information about us, please visit http://featherbrowcouture.com.au/ Contact Info: Name: Ursula Cervellone Organization: Feather Brow Couture Address: Shop 2, 1623 Botany Rd, Botany, Sydney NSW Australia 2019 Phone: +61 0452 554 660 Release ID: 113121 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Thermalabs Back Applicator Goes Global Thermalabs back applicator mitt for lotions, the Deluxe, goes global. -- Back Applicator Deluxe is one of the latest launches by cosmetics firm Thermalabs. The product, which was launched less than two months ago, is now available to customers outside the United States. Thermalabs traditionally sells its products through Amazon.com, the leading e-commerce marketplace in the United States. The company also takes steps to make sure that it's best performing products also listed on both online and local marketplaces where they can be easily accessed by customers from Europe, Canada, and other parts of the world. Thermalabs Back Applicator Deluxe, which has performed quite well in the US, is now available to customers in the UK, France, and Germany. Efforts are also underway to list the product in Canada, and many other countries. Thermalabs appears keen to leverage a truly global audience for its offering. Thermalabs is an increasingly solid player in the cosmetics industry. The company was launched in 2013 during an event held in New York. Registered as a company in the United States, Thermalabs operates a number of production facilities in other parts of the world, including its main center in Israel's Galilee region. Thermalabs story started long before its launch in 2013. Over the last one decade, scientists have been voicing concern about the harmful effects of relying on sunlight in order to attain a beautiful tan. Prolonged exposure of the skin to the sun is one of the known causes of skin cancer, which affects millions of people every year in the US alone. Thermalabs team of young founders, determined to contribute to a skin cancer-free world, saw the need to provide alternative tanning products that would get excellent results within the confines of healthy. That dream was realized in 2013, when the company finally hit the ground and introduced it's much hyped about Original Self Tanner, Glow2Go, Ultimitt and other popular products that were meant for the self-tanning market. Since its inception, Thermalabs has furnished the market with at least two dozen creative innovations. In recent times, Back Applicator Deluxe was created as a product that made it super-easy for consumers to apply lotion on their back and other hard-to-reach areas. Also known as the folding lotion applicator set, this product comes in a great color and accessory design. It works easily so that users don't have to rely on their partners, friends or other people to have lotion applied on their back. The Applicator Deluxe is shipped with four replaceable sponges that absorb little amounts of the lotion, as well as a free, velvet carry pouch. Denise L., a customer who bought Thermalabs Applicator Deluxe, reviewed, "I love this product! It could not have arrived at a better time, just in time for summer. I am extremely fair and self-tanning is a must for me as I have also had skin cancer and normal sun exposure is not an option for me. In the past, I have always had to have another person assist me in applying both sunscreen and self-tanner to my back. This amazing product allows me to do both without assistance! It comes with 4 sponges so I can designate certain sponges for different needs. The sponges are very porous so you don't lose a lot of the product to 'sponge absorption'! When using the applicator make sure and "snap" it into the lock position before using. I also discovered that the applicator is great for applying the product to legs and arms as well! Finally, the applicator comes with a great travel bag which makes it very convenient for travel! So now I can take it on vacation and not worry about having someone with me to help me apply sunscreen or self-tanner! I love this product and would highly recommend it to anyone who is an avid user of moisturizer, sunscreen, or self-tanner!" For more information about us, please visit http://www.thermalabs.com Contact Info: Name: Joyce Organization: Thermalabs Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-gBGXC2aPg Source: http://marketersmedia.com/thermalabs-back-applicator-goes-global/113072 Release ID: 113072 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Majority Companies Propelled in Acetylsalicylic Acid Industry to Go Without Patent Protections: Radiant Insights New Market Research Reports Title "Global and Chinese Acetylsalicylic acid Industry, 2015 Market Research Report" Has Been Added to Radiant Insights, Inc Report database -- Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) Market is also referred to as aspirin market. It is a medicine and helps in managing fevers, minor to medium aches, and inflammation. ASA is used for long-term treatments, in smaller amounts, to avoid blood clots, strokes, & cardiac arrests. Low aspirin amounts can be administered to people immediately following their cardiac arrests. This lowers 'heart tissue' deaths and prevents another heart attack. Wide prevalence of fever, pain, inflammation, cardiac arrests, blood clots, strokes, etc favor the global and Chinese acetylsalicylic acid market. Millions around the globe suffer from these health issues. Thus, burgeoning worldwide populace promotes aspirin use and augurs well for the market. ASA is effective for preventing various cancers. Its adoption in 'colorectal cancer' prevention also drives the market. Read Complete Research Report @ http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-and-chinese-acetylsalicylic-acid-industry-2015-market-research-report Common side-effects from 'aspirin consumption' comprise stomach bleeding, gastric ulcers, and ear-ringing. However, these generally occur in case of greater doses. While daily ASA should prevent clot-strokes, it could also augment the chances of hemorrhagic strokes. In teenagers & young kids, the medicine is not advised for viral or flu indications. Aspirin also helps in combating common cold and 'arthritis' swelling. The aforementioned ASA advantages bode well for the market and assist the latter in making profits. On the other hand, side-effects of the medicine may hinder market progress in the near future. Salicylic acid is a key constituent of aspirin. Apart from the diseases mentioned, ASA aids in treating pericarditis, rheumatic fever, and Kawasaki disease. Bristol Myers Company, Sterling Drug Company, and American Home Products Corporation were three diversified & huge companies of the market in the past. Robust escalation in their earnings affected their end products. All ASA is acetylsalicylic acid, a composite first made in 1853, to mimic 'willow bark' healing properties. To request a free sample of this report, visit here: http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-and-chinese-acetylsalicylic-acid-industry-2015-market-research-report#tabs-4 The same propelled majority of the companies in the global and Chinese acetylsalicylic acid market to go without patent protections (in benefitting from the anticipated sales hike). Several aspirin products mixed with other substances are unsuitable for preventing cardiac arrests. This is another significant factor, restraining market flow. Presence of substitutes (having lesser side-effects) could also decrease market incomes. The medicine is available in the forms of capsules, tablets, syrups, ointment, gels, creams, injections, or liquids. About Radiant Insight Radiant Insights is a platform for companies looking to meet their market research and business intelligence requirements. It assist and facilitate organizations and individuals procure market research reports, helping them in the decision making process. The Organization has a comprehensive collection of reports, covering over 40 key industries and a host of micro markets. For more information about us, please visit http://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-and-chinese-acetylsalicylic-acid-industry-2015-market-research-report Contact Info: Name: Michelle Thoras Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Organization: Radiant Insights, Inc Address: 28 2nd Street, Suite 3036 Phone: 4153490054 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/majority-companies-propelled-in-acetylsalicylic-acid-industry-to-go-without-patent-protections-radiant-insights/113179 Release ID: 113179 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Wright Concrete and Asphalt Construction expanding services to Chattanooga TN Wright Concrete and Asphalt Construction company expanding services to include Chattanooga TN. New office opens April 25th 2016 managed by Brandon Wright. Leveraging 24 years experience of the existing three offices of Memphis TN, Nashville TN and Birmingham AL -- Wright Concrete Construction Company announcing opening a new office location in Chattanooga Tn. Leveraging their success for over 24 years serving the three cities of Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee and Birmingham Alabama they are expanding their operations to include Chattanooga Tn. Heading up the new office and project management will be Brandon Wright. In course of the past years, the company has earned a reputation for excellence in the safe and timely deliverable of superior quality concrete and asphalt projects always keeping within their commitments. Wright Concrete and Asphalt Co. expanding services to Chattanooga TN The new Wright Concrete and Asphalt Chattanooga office will align it's service offerings much in the same manner as the current offices offer, keeping consistent and in step with engineering design and project implementation experience of a senior staff of construction engineers and project management expertise of the staff located in Memphis TN. The company will continue to take pride in maintaining all safety standards and safe guards across its projects. Licensed in states throughout the Mid-South, Wright Construction has had an impeccable track record of superior performance across all its projects and the same standards of excellence will be held by the Chattanooga office deliverables. It's an exciting time for Wright Concrete and Asphalt Company to demonstrate it's continued success by expanding services to more cities and counties across the Mid South. "When your good at what you do and deliver your product with integrity and quality like Wright Concrete Construction does, there will always be a demand for your services" states Mark Jenkins, a partner in one of the leading real estate development firms in the Mid South. As concrete and asphalt contractors,Wright Construction has developed a strong industry knowledge base and technical expertise. Thus specializing in demolition, slab repair, structural concrete, pavement and joint repair, epoxy repair, dock pit installation, concrete foundations, drainage design and repair trench drains, ADA accessibility and pipe bollards. Another important fact is they also specialize in ADA compliance building and conversion. Wright Construction has worked in the areas of Barrier Removal, creating Accessible Paths, Curb Ramps, Signage, Hand Rails and Curb Cuts in Sidewalks & Entrances always working diligently to remain within the budget allocated while delivering high quality standards. Companies choosing to work with Wright Construction, thanks to their 24 years of industry knowledge, assists them in assuring their projects fall within the Government codes in ADA, which are continually being updated. With the main focus being concrete and concrete restoration and asphalt paving, the new Chattanooga office management will continue the tradition of evaluating client needs, assisting in design, and completing projects while minimizing impact on the client's ongoing daily work activities. They will also continue the accountability, customer service quality and competitive project pricing. Wright Construction continuous to be an environmentally- conscious organization and has been involved with multiple LEED recognized projects which is an exciting element of services to bring to the Chattanooga market . As the operations manager of the new Chattanooga office, Brandon Wright is committed to work with each client in every aspect of their projects, be it in ADA compliance, Asphalt and Paving, Facility Management and Repair, Site Concrete, Slabs, Foundations and Structures. He will leverage his company's success record in applying the latest technology and their two decades plus years of expertise in serving clients with excellence thus creating another referral base of satisfied customers in Chattanooga TN and surrounding cities of East Ridge, Red Bank, East Brainerd, Middle Valley, Soddy Daisy, Cleveland TN, Dalton GA and Calhoun GA. As of April 25th, 2016 the new office of Wright Concrete and Asphalt Construction Company of Chattanooga is officially open for business. Please contact Brandon Wright at 423 402 6242 or visit: http://www.wrightconstructioninc.com/wcc-chattanoo... for more information. For more information about us, please visit http://www.wrightconstructioninc.com Contact Info: Name: Brandon Wright Email: Bwright@wcc-chatt.com Organization: Wright Concrete and Asphalt Construction Address: 1611 Auburndale Dr Chattanooga TN 37415 Phone: 423 402 6242 Release ID: 113008 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Training on the safe use of tractors Farm Safety Foundation Young farmers continue to take unnecessary risks on farm despite knowing their actions are unsafe, new research shows. Many young farmers believe their attitudes towards farm safety have changed thanks to industry initiatives such as Farm Safety Week (4 8 July) and the Farm Safety Foundations Yellow Wellies campaign. But although 96% agreed they were increasingly well informed about how to stay safe on farms, many said they continued to take risks. For the research, carried out by the Farm Safety Foundation, 250 young farmers aged 18 to 40, based in the UK, were surveyed about their attitudes to farm safety. When asked specifically about certain ways of working on farm, the responses to the survey suggest an increase in unsafe behaviour. See also: 10 shortcuts that could kill you at harvest Of those polled, 44% agreed slightly and 13% agreed strongly that they were prepared to take risks when doing jobs around the farm. Nearly one-third (29%) agreed slightly and 8% agreed strongly that they cut corners even if they know it makes jobs unsafe. And 34% agreed slightly and 20% agreed strongly that they sometimes tackle repair jobs themselves to save money, even if outside their skill-set. In addition, 16% agreed slightly and 4% agreed strongly that they follow unsafe orders from someone even if I know its not safe. The majority of farmers admitted they climbed on to roofs, even if they were unsafe; climbed ladders that were not properly secured or damaged; and worked when they were tired. However, the survey found that positive behaviour towards farm safety was widespread, but far from universal. For example, 79% wear safety gear when necessary, 74% usually use restraining/handling facilities for animals, and 77% check for potential hazards. But 13% said they worked unsafely with slurry and 11% admitted they did not check tractors or machinery before use. The survey also found that near misses and minor accidents remain common on farms, especially concerning slips and trips, livestock handling, transport and farm machinery. More noise needed to tackle poor attitudes Stephanie Berkeley, the farm safety campaign specialist at the Farm Safety Foundation, said: Currently, risky behaviours remain something that young farmers admit to do. This needs to change. The greater noise being created must be used to address attitudes, encouraging a dialogue about why risky behaviour will eventually lead to an accident. Ms Berkeley added that a lot more could be done to help young farmers work safely at all times. As the next generation of farmers, young people with a solid knowledge of safe working practices will have a greater capability to make informed and safe decisions, which can only be good for the future of the industry. About half of the under 30s surveyed were members of young farmers clubs, which remains a key channel to reach this age group. James Eckley, chief officer of the National Federation of Young Farmers Club (NFYFC), said the organisation was fully committed to promoting farm safety among members. He added: We are keenly aware that more work needs to be done to change the behaviour of young people working on farms. Future plans include working closely with the Yellow Wellies campaign, the Farm Safety Partnership and the HSE to address this. MARRIED FOR 75 YEARS! James & Bernice Coggins celebrated their 75th Anniversary with a Sunday dinner at New Heights Baptist Church on October 16. The couple was married on Oct. 12, 1947. They have... Haunted house Buffalo VFD Haunted House Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department, home of the casket drop, will host its annual Haunted House from Oct. 24-31. This is the VFDs 25th straight year of... Breast Cancer Awareness Month Program planned at Shady Grove Shady Grove Baptist Church will observe October Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Sunday, October 30 during the 11 a.m. worship service. Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Talley will speak on the... Marines to celebrate The United States Marine Corps will turn 247 years old on November 10 and a group of area Marines have planned a celebration to honor their long and storied history.... Samsung Galaxy Note 6 Release Date, Features, News & Update: New Phablet Will Have Two Models? This early, talks about a Samsung Galaxy Note 6 impending release has already started to circulate online. With numerous tech junkies waiting to get their hands on the South Korean brand's newest phablet, what can users exactly expect from the latest gadget? According to reports, the new Note will have be IP68 certified. This means, the Note 5's successor will actually be dustproof and waterproof. Apart from this exciting new feature, reports are also claiming that the new phablet will put a premium on security by adding an iris scan cam. As of writing, release date speculations have been rife online, claiming that a July/August 2016 launch could be in place. As Forbes noted, Samsung could be preparing to launch two new models for the Note 6 as well- a flat screened Note 6 and a curved edge variant. These offerings have already been made available to the public when the Galaxy S7 was launched recently. With the success the two S7 variants has brought to the South Korean tech giant, experts are claiming that it is highly possible for them to repeat its success by releasing a Samsung Galaxy Note 6 and Note 6 Edge. Apart from its design, users are also looking forward to the new phablet's improved battery life. As Forbes' Gordon Kelly mentioned, "The Note range has always been known for its excellent battery life, but that took a double hit last year when Samsung reduced the capacity of the Note 5 battery as well as making it non-removable." "The latter is unlikely to return, but its capacity is said to jump from 3,000mAh to a whopping 4,000mAh," he added. "That should be enough to make it one of the longest lasting phones around." Meanwhile, the newest device will also have updates on its camera with a 12MP DualPixel sensor on the rear and an aperture of f/1.7 with a rumored Timeless Photo/Vivid Photo technology, News Everyday reported. The front cam will reportedly get a boost as it will have a better aperture of f/1.7, but will maintain the same resolution of 5MP. There was one on First Street and Jackson Avenue. And another over on Madison Avenue. And another in front of the Fred Meyer on Kings Boulevard. In fact, there were lemonade stands popping up all across Corvallis Sunday as part of Lemonade Day, an event held locally for the first time that is intended to teach children how to be entrepreneurs. The Corvallis Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the local event, said kids had planned lemonade stands at more than a dozen locations as part of the event. Heather Bodenhamer, who organized Lemonade Day for the chamber, said the event, which is done throughout the country, is a way to promote business education, one of the chambers missions. We believe that by creating a platform for youth to learn entrepreneurial skills that they dont necessarily get in the classroom, it will inspire them to be our communitys business leaders of the future, she said. Ava Kalmar, a 10-year-old Adams Elementary School student, said she started planning her stand six weeks before opening it, developing a business plan for her stand using guidelines from the organizers. You can learn how to be an entrepreneur and start your own business, she said. Ava said she thought it was good for kids to learn these skills. When you are a kid you get to learn good habits for when youre a grown up, she said. She added that she learned to be a good salesperson offering lemonade to passers by. Her advice to other kids was to be really nice to customers. Avas dad Mark Kalmar said he heard about the idea from a friend in the Corvallis Rotary and told Ava about it. Ava decided to donate all the proceeds from her stand to the Chintimini Wildlife Center. Ava and her dad made the lemonade from scratch and made signs for their stand at Fred Meyer. Emma Burgess, a 5-year-old from Corvallis, opened a stand on Madison Avenue near Fourth Street. Her business model was to donate 10 percent of proceeds to Community Outreach Inc., and keep the rest to save up to go to an amusement park. I wanted to make money for those things, she said. Emma also used reusable cups at her stand to reduce waste. Kendal Norcoss, a Wilson Elementary fourth-grader, opened a stand at First Street and Jackson where she sold regular lemonade, blueberry lemonade, and strawberry lemonade cookies. She and her dad also custom built a stand. It takes a lot of work to start a business, said Kendal, who hadnt yet picked what to do with the money she made, but she was considering donating some of it to SafeHaven Humane Society. She also thought it was good for kids to get some experience starting a business. When they get older, if they want to start their own business they actually know how to do it, she said. Corvallis man on dean's list Northwest Nazarene University has announced that 667 students were named to its fall semester deans list. Nathan Maupin of Corvallis made the list. To be eligible for the academic honor, a student must earn a 3.5 grade-point average while taking at least 12 graded credit hours of classes at the undergraduate level or six graded credit hours at the graduate level. PHS students place in contest Approximately 220 students from 21 Oregon high schools, from as far away as Baker City, competed in the annual High School Industrial Skills Contest held March 3 at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany. Students competed in contests for computer-aided drafting and design, machine tool milling and turning, and several types of welding technology. Winners were announced at an awards ceremony following the competition. Jacob Morris of Philomath High School placed second in gas tungsten arc welding. Justin Thompson, also of PHS, placed third in oxyacetylene welding. Award recipients announced The annual Corvallis Area Alumna Panhellenic Recognition and Award Brunch took place Feb. 28 at the Clubhouse at Adair. Oregon State University President Ed Ray gave opening remarks. Alpha Omicron Pi International President Gayle Fitzpatrick, named one of the top 100 graduates of OSU, gave a motivating talk, Managing Your Personal Brand. The program featured highlights from three sororities national philanthropic endeavors. The Dr. Jo Anne Trow Scholarship was awarded to Karli Gabica, a collegiate member of Alpha Gamma Delta, for her academic achievement, service and campus and fraternity leadership. The Resident Advisor Award went to Jenny Van Nice, house director of Kappa Alpha Theta. Sandra Jameson of Alpha Gamma Delta received the Alumna of the Year Award. Scholastic achievement for highest sorority chapter average for winter/spring/fall 2015 went to Kappa Alpha Theta (3.31 grade-point average). Recognition of sororities with GPAs above OSU all-womens average were one term, Sigma Kappa; two terms, Alpha Gamma Delta; and three terms, Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta and Kappa Kappa Gamma. More than 25 roses were distributed to women who have been involved in a sorority for 50 years or more. Counterfeit money : Cases have more than doubled Bonn Bonn police have registered a big hike in cases of counterfeit money. The Darknet makes tracking it very difficult. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Money in your pocket? Are you sure its real? Bonn police report that the number of cases involving counterfeit 20 and 50 euro bills has gone way up. It has doubled from 243 cases to 597 cases this past year and there are no signs of a reverse trend. In 2015, there were 152 cases of counterfeit 20 euro notes compared to only 60 in 2014. The number of counterfeit 50 euro notes actually tripled from 61 cases in 2014 to 198 cases in 2015. Rainer Krist of the counterfeit crime unit explained that the reason there are more counterfeit notes of the 20 and 50 euro denomination is because the bigger bills such as the 500 euro notes are only accepted with greater caution. Businesses generally check the larger denominations before taking them in. Still, he says it is difficult to explain the steep rise in counterfeit money. It could be that some criminals are trying to get rid of their old 20 euro notes since a new note has been introduced. Another reason might be the boom of the so-called Darknet, where more and more counterfeit bills are bought and sold. The Darknet doesnt show up under normal search engines; and it runs with mostly anonymous networks. All the information is encrypted and criminals can do their work without anyone knowing what theyre up to - whether it be the sale of drugs, weapons or counterfeit money. This is exactly what makes it so difficult for law enforcement authorities to track. Welcome May : May festivals fill town squares Foto: Alfred Schmelzeisen Bad Godesberg/Wachtberg A warm feeling came over many small towns and communities as locals gathered to welcome in the month of May. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken May trees were erected and plenty of Maibowle consumed on the weekend. Maibowle is a special kind of punch for May celebrations, normally containing white wine and the fragrant herb woodruff. Local communities organized small festivals to welcome in the month of May with trees, music, drink and good cheer. The first May tree was already standing Saturday afternoon in Oberbachem. Frank Adam, from the Fire Department in Pech, reported that they had landed a 17-meter birch tree from Kottenforst, a forested area near Bonn. Children from Pech decorated the May tree with colorful ribbons and the elementary school provided music from the choir. Farmers used finesse to put the tree up in exactly the right place using their heavy machinery. A small festival in Berkum took place with local musicians providing music at the Fire Station. An especially beautiful May tree was put up there, and workers at the Fire Department provided food and drink for the evening, making for an enjoyable village festival. Not far away in Gimmersdorf, a hen named Ella stood in the village square admiring the May tree. She wasnt alone. The group Gimmersdorf Aktiv provided around 40 helpers, big and small to put up the tree and make it look lovely with decorations. High winds blew off some of the tree decorations from the May tree in Lieem, but the President of the Festival Committee climbed a high ladder to personally put everything, including the tree back into place. A mens choir sang in Villip while the new May royal couple was celebrated. Putting up the tree in Friesdorf was a rather professional affair, running very smoothly and followed with food and beverages. Mehlem and Plittersdorf also celebrated May with singing at the Schaumburger Hof, a church choir from St. Evergislus and trumpeters from the Protestant churches. An audience of around 100 people listened to long-time mens choir member Werner Spotte and Gereon Lindler. On the market square in Mehlem, it was a motorbike club that erected the May tree. It seems every town across Bonn had their own special way of welcoming in the month of May. 'Feels Like Home Season 2' offers something real and tangible to think about; takes home a pertinent point - if your intentions are good, there is nothing in life that isn't achievable. Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 1, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted two strikes in Syria: -- Near Mar'a, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq Rocket artillery, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted 26 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL mortar system and five ISIL bed down locations. -- Near Al Qaim, a strike struck an ISIL vehicle bomb facility. -- Near Albu Hayat, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions. -- Near Bayji, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Fallujah, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL supply cache, and an ISIL frontend loader. -- Near Hit, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL anti-air artillery system, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL unmanned aircraft site, an ISIL bunker, an ISIL tunnel entrance, and an ISIL vehicle bomb storage facility and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Kirkuk, two strikes struck two separate large ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, four ISIL assembly areas, five ISIL vehicles, two ISIL vehicle bombs, two ISIL mortar positions, an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL supply cache. -- Near Kisik, a strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Mosul, six strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL mortar systems, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL weapons cache. -- Near Ramadi, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, five ISIL heavy machine guns, four ISIL mortar systems, and an ISIL assembly area. -- Near Tal Afar, a strike immobilized two ISIL excavators. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan patrol boats sail for disputed waters ROC Central News Agency 2016/05/01 14:24:14 Kaohsiung, May 1 (CNA) Two patrol boats deployed by the government embarked Sunday from Kaohsiung for international waters near a Japan- controlled atoll in the Western Pacific to protect Taiwan fishing boats operating in the area. In response to a directive issued by President Ma Ying-jeou (), a nearly 2,000-ton Coast Guard Administration (CGA) vessel and a ship belonging to the Fishery Agency under the Council of Agriculture (COA) departed from the southern port city for waters near Okinotori atoll to protect Taiwan fishing ships operating there. The move came after a Taiwan fishing boat, the "Tung Sheng Chi No. 16," was seized April 25 by the Japanese coast guard while operating in waters some 150 nautical miles from Okinotori. The boat and its crew were released April 26 only after the owner of the boat paid 6 million Japanese yen (US$54,442) as a deposit demanded by the Japanese. Japan claims a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the tiny atoll, but Taiwan argues that Okinotori is a reef rather than an island -- as Japan defines it -- and therefore is not entitled to anything more than a 500-meter "security zone" around it. Taiwan lodged a strong protest with Japan, and Ma instructed relevant government agencies to step up protection for local fishermen operating in waters near the atoll. Okinotori is about 860 nautical miles east of Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan. The CGA announced Sunday at a pre-depature press conference that it will adopt the principles of no evasion, no confrontation and no provocation in its protection of Taiwan fishing boats operating in the area. However, CGA Deputy Director-General Yao Chou-tien () said that Taiwan will take responsive measures should Japan use water cannons or take unfriendly action against Taiwanese fishing vessels, and he expressed hope that fishing rights protection can be enforced peacefully and rationally. The CGA vessel is equipped with automatic cannon and machine guns. According to Yao, the move is in conformity with the principle of freedom of fishing on the high seas stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and is part of the CGA's routine patrol missions. The two patrol boats with an LED display board showing a scrolling text message "We are exercising the freedom of fishing. Do not disturb," in Chinese, English and Japanese, will take 3-5 days to make the 863-nautical-mile journey to the atoll. Yao said the fishery protection program, devised to guarantee the safety of Taiwanese fishing boats in a peaceful and rational manner, will last for one month. There are 100-200 fishing boats from Su'ao in Yilan, Donggang and Xiaoliuqiu in Pingtung operating in the area, according to Lin Ding-rong (), director of the Fisheries Agency's Deep Sea Fisheries Division. (By Liu Chien-pang, Wang Shwu-fen, Elaine Hou, Flor Wang and Evelyn Kao) ENDITEM/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 15 Somali soldiers killed in Shabab attack: Military sources Iran Press TV Sun May 1, 2016 1:48PM At least 15 Somali soldiers have lost their lives in a car bomb attack by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants northeast of Somalia's capital, military sources say. According to the sources, the incident occurred on Sunday morning in the town of Runirgood, about 180 kilometers to the northeast of the country's capital, Mogadishu. Major Abdullahi Omar, a Somali army officer, said the group used an explosive-laden car to smash into a military base. Fierce fighting followed when gunmen stormed the base, he said, adding that at least 15 soldiers died. "The soldiers (at the base) were few and there were no AMISOM or other military nearby for reinforcement. We killed more than 10 militants in fighting on Saturday and Sunday," Omar said, referring to the African Union Mission to Somalia. The residents of Runirgood said they had seen dead bodies of both al-Shabaab militants and Somali government soldiers in the town. A spokesman with the Takfiri group, however, claimed they had killed 32 Somali soldiers and captured three vehicles in the area. He also claimed that the militant group managed to recapture the town of Runirgood just one day after it had been retaken by government forces. Somalia has been the scene of militancy by al-Shabab since 2006. The Takfiri terrorist group has been pushed out of Mogadishu and other major cities by government forces and AMISOM, which is largely made up of troops from Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Kenya. Al-Shabab pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2012. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni Gov't Refuses to Continue Direct Negotiations With Houthis in Kuwait Sputnik News 21:18 01.05.2016 The direct talks between official Yemeni government and Houthi rebels were postponed due to the governmental delegation's decision to suspend its participation in the direct dialogue, according to a source close to the ongoing negotiations. KUWAIT CITY (Sputnik) Intra-Yemeni talks in Kuwait on the country's reconciliation returned to the format of proximity talks after Sanaa refused to continue holding talks with Houthi rebels amid their attack on a governmental military base, a source close to the ongoing negotiations told Sputnik on Sunday. On Saturday, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed held a trilateral meeting with parties to the Yemeni conflict in the framework of the new round of UN-backed peace talks, which began on April 21 in Kuwait. "The special envoy is now holding separate meetings with Houthi delegations and supporters of the General People's Congress party [loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh]. The direct talks were scheduled for the evening, but they was postponed indefinitely due to the governmental delegation's decision to suspend its participation in the direct dialogue," the source said. He added that Sanaa had exited the direct negotiations in protest against the attack of Yemen's main opposition force on the governmental military facility in the Yemeni province of Amran earlier in the day. Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Houthi rebels, which have been supported by army units loyal to the former Yemeni president. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No More BFFs: Germany Reconsiders Automatic Support for Israel Sputnik News 19:05 01.05.2016(updated 19:49 01.05.2016) Germany may have consistently been one of Israel's strongest allies in the EU, but that could be about to change as the European nation's unequivocal support for Israel becomes equivocal. According to a story in the German weekly Der Spiegel, a number of members inside the German Chancellery and the Foreign Ministry want to rethink Berlin's relationship with Israel as a result of its settlement policy and and the belief that Netanyahu is perpetually disinclined to act on the Palestinian issue. The article headlined "Skepticism of German-Israeli Friendship Growing in Berlin," is only the latest in a number of reports emerging in recent years that have detailed tension between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Netanyahu. Some have suggested that Israel has been taking advantage of "automatic" support from Germany and that no longer sits well. "The perception has been growing in the German government that Netanyahu is instrumentalizing our friendship," the magazine quoted Rolf Mutzenich, deputy floor leader for the Social Democrats (SPD) in parliament, as saying. Some even questioned Israel's overall policy regarding Palestine and regional and domestic affairs. "Israel's current policies are not contributing to the country remaining Jewish and democratic," argued Norbert Rottgen, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag and a member of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, The German magazine argued that the debate was fueled during Netanyahu's Berlin visit. Senior cabinet advisers were infuriated when the Israel publication Hayom published a story on the meeting with the headline: "Merkel: This Isn't the Time for Two States." The article argued Netanyahu had "twisted her words," making it appear that she backed his policies. "In fact, though, Merkel had repeatedly made it clear to Netanyahu that she believes the effects of Israeli settlement construction in the occupied territories are disastrous," they explained. "The settlement policy, she believes, makes it unlikely that a viable Palestinian state can be established in accordance with plans aimed at a two-state solution." However, the article noted that, while the future relationship may be murky, plenty officials believe Germany's support will remain unwavering. "The relations between Israel and Germany are, and will continue to be, close and good," an unnamed senior official was quoted as saying. "It seems these statements are an internal German attempt to attack Merkel for her close relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Karabakh Conflict Escalates as Regional Soldier Shot by Azeri Forces Sputnik News 11:37 01.05.2016(updated 11:52 01.05.2016) Karabakh Defense Ministry stated that one of its army servicemen was killed in shelling by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on Sunday. YEREVAN (Sputnik) Defense Ministry of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic said on Sunday that one of its army servicemen was killed in shelling from the Azerbaijani side. "The Karabakh Defense Army's servicemandied as a result of the enemy's violations of the ceasefire in the east (Martuni region)," the ministry's press service said. The latest wave of violence in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, mostly inhabited by Armenians, intensified on April 2, leading to multiple casualties before Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a shaky ceasefire deal three days later, which has been followed by near-daily reports of truce violations. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988, when the autonomous region sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. The region proclaimed independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The move triggered a war that lasted until a Russia-brokered ceasefire was signed in 1994. Azerbaijan insists on maintaining its territorial integrity, while Armenia is defending the interests of the self-proclaimed NKR, which has not been part of the peace talks conducted since 1992. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 22 Somali Soldiers Killed in Al-Shabab Attack by Abdulaziz Osman May 01, 2016 Militant group al-Shabab attacked and recaptured a town in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region early Sunday morning, killing 22 Somali soldiers, an official told VOA on condition of anonymity. The militants claimed that they had killed more than 32 soldiers including a senior military officer in the town of Runirgood, a day after the town had fallen to government forces. The commander of Somalia's 12th sector, Mohamed Mohamud Sanay told VOA his soldiers were ambushed and eight of them were killed, while his forces killed 12 al-Shabab militants. The commander said a senior officer was wounded and is now missing. A Somali official who asked not to be named told VOA the death toll among soldiers was 22 and 10 others were missing and feared to be captured by the militants. Suicide car bomb Witnesses say the militants used a suicide car bomb in the assault and seized at least three military vehicles. The Somali commander Mohamed Mohamud Sanay said his forces managed to caputre Runirgood Saturday without the help from AMISOM, the African Union troops in Somalia. He said the plan was "his forces take the town and AMISOM forces come with reinforcement", but that reinforcement did not come. "AMISOM and the top Somali military commanders bear the responsibility for today's failure, because there is lack of cooperation between the two forces," he said. In 2011, AMISOM and Somali national Army forced al-Shabab out of areas south of Mogadishu, but the militants still control some rural areas and carry out deadly attacks in the capital and other areas in central and southern Somalia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 2, 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 the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, ground-attack and fighter aircraft conducted seven strikes in Syria: -- Near Hawl, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Shadaddi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL staging areas and two ISIL vehicles. -- Near Raqqah, a strike destroyed an ISIL crane. -- Near Mara, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions. Strikes in Iraq Attack, ground-attack and fighter aircraft conducted 18 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Baghdadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Fallujah, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units, destroying two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL weapons cache, five ISIL tunnel entrances and four ISIL bunkers, and denying ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Habbaniyah, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL bunker, 12 ISIL boats an ISIL fuel truck and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Hit, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL mortar system. -- Near Kirkuk, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units, destroying three ISIL vehicles, two ISIL tunnel systems, three ISIL assembly areas and an ISIL command-and-control node and deniying ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Kisik, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL tunnel system and two ISIL mortar systems. -- Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL financial center, destroying an ISIL mortar system and suppressing an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike destroyed two ISIL machine guns and two ISIL mortar systems. 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. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations 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, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan asserts 'sovereign rights' over two border areas near the Red Sea Iran Press TV Mon May 2, 2016 5:7PM A senior Sudanese official has reiterated Khartoum's "sovereign rights" over two border areas near the Red Sea which have been the subject of a long-standing dispute with Egypt. Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told parliament on Monday that Sudan would take legal measures to assert its rights over the ownership of the contested Halayeb and Shalatin border territories. "We will not let go of our sovereign rights on the Halayeb triangle," the minister told the lawmakers, adding, "We have adopted legal and political measures to assert our rights in the Halayeb triangle." Sudan and Egypt have long disputed the ownership of the two border areas. Khartoum has always protested Cairo's administration of the border areas, considering them part of its sovereign territory since shortly after Sudan's independence in 1956. Elsewhere in his remarks, Ghandour said the Sudanese government was also attempting to get a copy of a recent agreement between Cairo and Riyadh on Egypt's transfer of two islands in the Straits of Tiran to Saudi Arabia. "We need to gauge the impact of this agreement on our maritime borders." This comes after Egypt announced last month that it was transferring the sovereignty of the strategic Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia. Egypt is reportedly receiving USD 20 billion in aid from Riyadh in return for the islands. Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi has come under increasing fire over his controversial decision to transfer the two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. In recent weeks, thousands of Egyptians have protested in the capital and other cities against the decision. On April 15, more than 1,000 angry protesters rallied in Cairo demanding "the fall of the regime." A large number of people in Egypt have also taken to social media websites over the past few days to show their anger at the government decision. Tiran Island is located in the entrance of the Straits of Tiran, which separates the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aqaba. Sanafir Island is located to the east of Tiran Island. The two islands control entry to the Gulf of Aqaba and Jordan. Israel took over the two Islands in 1967 during the Six Day War. The ownership of the two islands was handed back to Egypt when Tel Aviv and Cairo signed the so-called Camp David peace accords. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US forces arrive in southern Yemen: Report Iran Press TV Mon May 2, 2016 9:53AM A report says US Special Forces have arrived in Yemen to fight alongside Emirati forces in alleged operations against al-Qaeda militants in the country's south. Yemen's al-Masirah television channel on Sunday quoted Tom Bawman, the National Public Radio's Pentagon reporter, as saying that the troops had arrived in Yemen on April 25. Saudi Arabia and the UAE last year provided financial and military support to militants to confront Houthis and the Yemeni army units that had taken over the security of the country after president Abd Rabbuh Manur Hadi resigned. US deployment of troops comes a year after the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen. On March 21, 2015, the US evacuated its remaining forces out of al-Anad airbase in southern Yemen "due to the deteriorating security situation" a day after al-Qaeda captured the nearby city of al-Houta. Al-Qaeda has become stronger in Yemen taking advantage of the chaos created by the Saudi military campaign against Houthis more than a year ago. Lately, Riyadh and its allies have announced an offensive against al-Qaeda in a decision seen by analysts as an attempt to ward off international criticism of the Saudi intervention in Yemen. Last month, forces loyal to Hadi and Emirati troops reportedly overran Mukalla after al-Qaeda militants left the seaport in southeast Yemen. Back then, the official Saudi news agency SPA claimed that more than 800 al-Qaeda members had been killed in the operation. But residents said al-Qaeda withdrew quietly westward to neighboring Shabwa province after negotiations with local clerics and tribesmen. They also said there was no fighting after Saudi-backed units mobilized their forces at Mukalla's suburbs. Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since late March last year. At least 9,400 people, including 4,000 women and children, have been killed, and over 16,000 others injured since the onset of the aggression on Yemen aimed at shoring up the former regime of Hadi. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, India discussing ways to curb Chinese submarines Iran Press TV Mon May 2, 2016 8:58AM The United States and India are exploring ways to help each other track Chinese submarines, a move that could further tighten their military alliance against the Chinese navy's growing influence in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Last month, New Delhi agreed to allow Washington to use its military bases in exchange for weapons technology to help India narrow the gap with China. The two sides indicated that their navies will hold talks on anti-submarine warfare (ASW), an area of sensitive military technology and joint tactics that only allies share. "These types of basic engagements will be the building blocks for an enduring Navy-to-Navy relationship that we hope will grow over time into a shared ASW capability," an unnamed US official familiar with India-US military cooperation was quoted as saying by Reuters on Monday. Indian navy officials have reported sighting Chinese submarines four times every three months on an average basis, with most of the sightings being registered near India's Andamans and Nicobar islands in the vicinity of the Malacca Straits. More than 80 percent of China's fuel supplies pass through this entry to the South China Sea. As part of their new naval cooperation against Chinese subs, America and India are flying the new version of the US P-8 spy aircraft, which is the Pentagon's most effective submarine hunting weapon. The P-8 or Poseidon is capable of using torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and other weapons. Indian navy officials have reported sighting Chinese submarines four times every three months on an average basis, with most of the sightings being registered near India's Andamans and Nicobar islands in the vicinity of the Malacca Straits. More than 80 percent of China's fuel supplies pass through this entry to the South China Sea. As part of their new naval cooperation against Chinese subs, America and India are flying the new version of the US P-8 spy aircraft, which is the Pentagon's most effective submarine hunting weapon. The P-8 or Poseidon is capable of using torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and other weapons. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Central Asian Land And China May 02, 2016 by Bruce Pannier One topic guaranteed to inflame passions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan is land and China. China has taken land from Central Asia and farmers from China are already working rented fields in Central Asia and that has not sat well with locals. It's playing a role in the recent widespread protests in Kazakhstan. Personally I'm inclined to agree with those who see Kazakhstan as a simmering pot at the moment. There are many issues right now that are causing discontent in Kazakhstan. The issue of privatization of land and suggestion Chinese might acquire, even temporarily, some of that land just turned up the heat a bit under the simmering pot. Which makes it the more surprising that Kazakhstan's government, faced with its worst economic crisis in some 20 years, would choose at this time to bring up land privatization and not make crystal clear from word one that foreigners, including Chinese, could not own any of Kazakhstan's land. Officials are paying for that and now are working overtime to explain the privatization plan and soothe the tensions that erupted when rumors spread that Chinese workers would be coming for Kazakhstan's farmland. Such concerns on the part of people in Kazakhstan, and in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also, are not without foundation. And to see why, we need to go back some 20 years to an agreement aimed at easing tensions. In late April 1996, the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan met in Shanghai to sign an agreement to pull back military forces from the former Sino-Soviet, now Sino-CIS border. It was a confidence-building gesture. The deal was cemented with a decision to form the Shanghai Five, which five years later and with the addition of Uzbekistan, became the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Many Central Asian analysts have noted the SCO became China's vehicle for entering Central Asia economically and now China is at least a, if not the, leading trade partner of all five Central Asian states. The Shanghai Five agreement also opened the door for China to make claims on land along its borders with Central Asia. The 1996 deal essentially scrapped the line that was the Sino-Soviet border and necessitated new demarcations. Then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in July 1996 to discuss the delimitation. Jiang skipped Tajikistan, which was three years into its civil war at the time. By early 1999, Kazakhstan was prepared to cede nearly half of the 34,000 square kilometers of what China claimed was disputed territory. It was a very unpopular decision in Kazakhstan. There were legitimate opposition deputies in parliament back then, and there were also social movements and an independent media that, compared to today, had far more room to maneuver. These groups criticized the move. State media repeatedly focused on the fact Kazakhstan had received "56.9 percent" of the disputed territory but critics pointed out that the remaining 43.1 percent had been Kazakhstan's land until the new deal with China. The Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, passed the border treaty with China on February 3, 1999; the Senate passed it on March 10 and President Nursultan Nazarbaev signed it on March 24. The Sino-Kyrgyz border agreement was more complicated. The deal for Kyrgyzstan to hand over 1,250 square kilometers of its land to China was signed in 1999. There was ample, vocal opposition at the time, including calls to impeach then-President Askar Akaev, and it lasted for several years. The demarcation process started in June 2001. Within days the parliament's Legislative Assembly, the lower house (Kyrgyzstan had a bicameral parliament then), voted to stop demarcation and then prepared a draft law denouncing the agreement. It was not until late May 2002 that President Akaev finally had an agreement to sign and he left the next month to China to formalize it with Chinese officials. Even as late as February 2003 some Kyrgyz parliament deputies were demanding the agreement be rescinded. Tajik Disputes Tajikistan and China also signed a border-demarcation agreement in 1999, but it was not until 2002 that Tajikistan acknowledged it was prepared to cede some 1,122 square kilometers of disputed territory to China. As was the case in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, there were many opponents to the agreement in Tajikistan, including people in Tajikistan's eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The land to be given to China was in Gorno-Badakhshan and the region's autonomous status technically demanded local approval of the deal. Tajikistan's parliament did not finally approve the deal until January 2011 amid renewed criticism, particularly from the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), which still had two seats in parliament at the time. IRPT Deputy Chairman Saidimir Husayni said at the time that "there should have been a referendum on the issue, as this area has never belonged to China. Tajikistan is recognized as an independent country by the UN." As for China's claim, Husayni dismissed it. "Such claims exist all over the world and they cannot be regarded as proof." Local authorities in Gorno-Badakhshan were not consulted. The issue resurfaced in April 2013, when the leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, Rahmatullo Zoirov, gave an interview to Iran's Radio Khorasan and said the Tajik government had given up more land than it admitted. The Tajik government rejected Zoirov's statements, but then canceled the accreditation of three Radio Khorasan correspondents. Less than one week after Tajikistan's parliament approved the controversial demarcation agreement with China, the Tajik government had other news. Some 2,000 hectares of land in the Khatlon region, vacated by migrant laborers who headed to Russia, was to be leased to Chinese farmers. 'Renting' No Better And that brings us back to Kazakhstan and the possibility of Chinese farmers tilling Kazakhstan's soil. At the end of 2009, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev said China had requested renting up to 1 million hectares of land. That idea sparked protests and Kazakh officials spent the next many months denying Kazakhstan planned to "give" land to China. So Kazakh officials should have known what would happen when land privatization was brought up in 2016. Qualifying the proposal by saying foreigners could only rent the land for up to 25 years is unlikely to assuage the population's fears that China intends to devour Kazakh lands. Why would that work when China has already acquired 16,000 square kilometers of what was once Central Asian land in just the last 15 years? RFE/RL's Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik services contributed to this report Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/central-asian-land-and-china/27711366.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 Violence Increases as Burundi Talks Delayed by Mohammed Yusuf May 02, 2016 There was hope the appointment of a new regional mediator for Burundi, former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, would jumpstart the peace process; but, talks that were scheduled to start Monday in Arusha have been delayed until later this month. Meantime, arrests, grenade attacks and assassinations continue, and dialogue grows more complicated by the day. Political mediation for Burundi, scheduled to start Monday, has been postponed. Officials cited the need to consult more with the government and its opponents. A previous mediation effort led by Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni failed to make progress. In March, the East African Community (EAC) bloc appointed former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa to lead the talks and help find a solution to the country's yearlong political crisis. According to officials familiar with the talks, the government is reluctant to meet with opposition groups who they say are behind attacks on government and security officials. Government spokesman Willy Nyamitwe said the talks should expand to include opposition groups in exile. "Political talks are going on in the country because we have a commission that is dealing with inter-Burundian dialogue, but we are willing to continue this dialogue from inside to outside, so we have to go outside and meet other Burundians who cannot make their trip to Burundi," he said. The opposition group CNARED, whose members are mostly in exile, have accused the government of blocking them from taking part in the political dialogue. Amnesty International deputy regional director Sarah Jackson said the delays affect the country's stability. "We have seen talks delayed time and time again. As it is delayed, it is ordinary Burundians who are suffering, suffering from the economic situation, from increasing polarization and from these high profile assassinations," she said. Jackson said violence and human rights abuses are on the rise. "The last year has been marked by killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and what we have seen in the last couple of weeks is an increase in targeted assassinations or attacks on high-level people from all sides." Last week, gunmen killed a top brigadier general along with his wife and bodyguard, an act condemned by President Pierre Nkurunziza. The head of the CORENABU political movement, Dieudonne Birahinduka, says Burundi needs a change in leadership. "We do not believe that these are the best people to lead the country. They do not have clean hands. Some of them have got blood in their hands. We believe the country should be in the hands of a new generation of politicians with the help of the International community," said Birahinduka. The crisis began last year when President Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term, a move his critics said was unconstitutional. Nkurunziza won re-election in July, but only after a coup attempt and violent protests. The United Nations says more than 400 people have been killed and more than 250,000 have fled the country since the crisis began. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Brutal Bangladesh Killings Raise Worries About Secular Traditions by Anjana Pasricha May 02, 2016 A series of brutal killings of liberals, academics, bloggers, foreigners and religious minorities in Bangladesh has spread deep fear in the country and raised worrying questions about whether the secular traditions of a moderate Muslim country are under threat from extremist Islamic groups. April was the deadliest month in the South Asian country: five grisly murders have targeted a Hindu man accused of insulting Prophet Mohammad, two gay rights activists, a university professor and a law student who criticized religious extremism on his Facebook page. The killings, often by machete-wielding assailants, began with the hacking of a blogger in 2013. Affiliates of Islamic State and al-Qaida have claimed responsibility for almost all the attacks, but the government says these groups have no presence in the country and points the finger at homegrown militant groups. Killings unresolved But with most of the killings unsolved, there are no clear pointers to those behind the increasingly bold attacks. Although some low-level militant operatives have been arrested, police have made no headway in identifying those planning the attacks. Families of victims complain of slow and ineffective police investigations. "We are in uncertain terrain and we are in a confused state of mind, whom to believe. The government is not giving any credible answer," said Ataur Rahman, the head of Bangladesh's Political Science Association. 'Radicalization' Although most security analysts are skeptical about global jihadi groups making inroads in the Muslim country of 160 million people, they warn that Bangladesh has become a fertile ground for extremist Islamist groups to flourish as its political climate becomes deeply polarized. "We see a big attempt in Bangladesh of radicalization. Those Islamist groups try to convince the remote area people in the name of religion, and try to motivate them to pursue the religious lifestyle," said retired army Major General Abdur Rashid, the Executive Director of the Institute of Conflict, Law and Development Studies in Dhaka. He said the attacks by local militant groups are aimed at creating panic. Crackdown on opposition Several analysts link the series of killings to a controversial war crimes tribunal that during the last three years has convicted top leaders of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party for alleged atrocities in the country's 1971 war of independence. Four senior opposition politicians, including three of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been executed, triggering huge anger in its cadres. Rashid said among the local groups under scrutiny for the killings is the student group of the Jammat-e-Islami party, the Islami Chhatra Shibir. "This application of violence was not new to their political philosophy. How much ideological motivation they have, I have my doubt," he said, pointing out that most of the targets have not been high profile, but ordinary people with little protection and easy to pick out. The Jamaat-e-Islami is not the only one marginalized. The country's main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has also been sidelined since 2014 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held on to power following an opposition boycott of the elections. Many opposition leaders were later arrested. Ataur Rahman urged the government to give political space to the opposition. Otherwise he said, "we see very ominous signs now that this militants will occupy the space, fill up the vacuum. There is strong authoritarian rule under democratic facade, and the liberal politics Bangladesh enjoyed for three decades, that is now non-functional." 'Undermining culture of tolerance' Besides crushing the opposition, critics accuse the government of undermining the country's culture of tolerance by not coming out strongly in defense of the liberal and moderate values of those targeted by the Islamic extremists. While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the killings, she has also said that people should watch what they write and speak, and that they have no right to speak out against religious beliefs. Other officials have blamed blogger victims for writing about religion. Srinath Raghavan at New Delhi's Center for Policy Research, who has written a book on Bangladesh, pointed out that such a line was definitely not in sync with the country's secular constitution. "That strikes me as a peculiarly wrong thing to say in this context because it more or less licenses the kind of behavior that we see playing out right now. All of it seems to me to be both muddying the waters and diluting the principles which are at stake," he said. In a country with a healthy tradition of tolerating religious minorities and allowing space for liberal values, some of the killings have led to street protests, but the climate of fear has prompted a few civil society activists to say they will be cautious in the days ahead. Security analysts admit there are growing worries that Bangladesh could emerge as a new battleground for radical international Islamist groups as extremism rises in the country. They point out that Islamic State wrote an article titled "Revival of jihad in Bengal" in its online publication last year and in 2014, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri gave a call to bring Bangladesh into the Islamist fold. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CIA Chief: 'No Evidence' of Saudi Backing of 9/11 Attacks by Ken Schwartz May 01, 2016 U.S. intelligence chief John Brennan says there is "no evidence" indicating that Saudi Arabia gave backing to al-Qaida for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Speculation that the Saudis were involved has some in Congress demanding that 28 pages of a congressional probe into 9/11 be released. Those 28 pages focus on Saudi Arabia and its alleged involvement. Brennan, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told NBC television's Meet the Press Sunday that the information on those pages "was not corroborated, not vetted, and not deemed to be accurate." He said the congressional panels "came out with a very clear judgment that there was no evidence indicating that the Saudi government as an institution, or Saudi officials individually, had provided financial support to al-Qaida." Brennan said those 28 pages were withheld from the public because of the sensitive sources used in the investigation. He spoke a day before the fifth anniversary of a U.S. special forces operation in Pakistan that hunted down and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. In an interview taped for broadcast Monday, President Barack Obama told CNN television that he ordered the raid when he did because "if we did not take action, [bin Laden] might slip away and it might take years before he resurfaces." Bin Laden was the world's most wanted criminal and the leader of al-Qaida, whose terrorist followers flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon near Washington, killing 3,000 people. A third hijacked jet also was likely headed for Washington before passengers overwhelmed the terrorists and crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania. Just seconds before bin Laden was shot dead by U.S special forces, Obama said "hopefully, at that moment, [bin Laden] understood that the American people hadn't forgotten the some 3,000 people who he killed." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic State Claims Killing of Hindu in Bangladesh by Maaz Hussain May 01, 2016 A Bangladeshi newspaper reports three people have been detained in connection with the hacking death of a 50-year-old Hindu tailor. The Daily Star said Sunday one of the detainees had sued Nikhil Chandra Joardar in 2012 for his "derogatory comments" about the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the tailor in central Bangladesh, the U.S.-based monitoring organization SITE Intelligence Group said. At least two machete-wielding assailants appeared in front of Joardar's tailoring shop in Tangail district's Dubail village and attacked him around noon Saturday, authorities said. The men fled on a motorbike. According to SITE, IS claimed to have killed Joardar because he had "blasphemed" The Prophet Muhammad. In 2012, Joardar was beaten up by local Muslims who alleged he had abused the prophet in a comment. "Following complaint from Muslims, Joardar was arrested and spent about a month in jail. The attack on him with machetes resembles the previous killings of the [secular] bloggers and activists," Aslam Khan, a local police official, told VOA by phone. "We are going to investigate if his killing had any connection with the incidents of 2012." Police have not confirmed if any militant group was involved in this killing, Khan added. Joardar's killing Saturday marks Bangladesh's fifth fatal hacking case in April in which Islamist extremists are suspected to have been involved. After a law student known for his secular views was hacked to death in early April, a university teacher was killed in a machete attack. On Monday, two LGBT rights activists, one of whom was a U.S. embassy employee, were murdered in Dhaka by a machete-wielding gang. IS claim refuted IS has claimed responsibility following several killings of secular bloggers and activists. Authorities in Bangladesh, however, have maintained that the Sunni terrorist group has no foothold in the country and local home-grown militants engineered all of the killings. Saturday, Bangladesh's home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, said the IS's claim it killed Joardar was baseless. "Home-grown militants are the killers here. The claim that Islamic State is behind such killings is a part of conspiracy," Kamal said. Earlier in the week, referring to the series of killings, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that they were being engineered by the opposition alliance led by Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally, Jamaat-e-Islami. Top leaders of BNP, however, have dismissed the charge by Sheikh Hasina. "For political reasons, the (Hasina-led) government is shielding the criminals behind these killings and slapping the blame on the opposition alliance. BNP has no connection with terrorism and such killings," Nazrul Islam Khan, a national standing committee member of BNP, told VOA. Former university professor Ajoy Roy, father of Bangladeshi-American secular blogger Avijit Roy who was hacked to death by Islamist militants in Dhaka last year, alleged that the government is not aggressively investigating the cases of the past killings. Fern Robinson contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Calls to Consider North Korean Proposal on Nuclear Program Sputnik News 01:12 01.05.2016(updated 02:14 01.05.2016) The Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Liu Jieyi has called for consideration of the North Korean proposal to stop its nuclear testing program in exchange of cessation of joint military exercises by the US and South Korea. According to Liu Jieyi, "anything, anything, any proposal, no matter where the proposal comes from, so long it is conducive to a negotiated solution that will contribute to denuclearization and to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula should be studied very carefully." According to Jieyi, sanctions and military exercises won't reduce tensions with North Korea. It would take a wider, "multidimensional" approach, if the parties are to resolve the issue. Earlier, Pyongyang proposed stopping its nuclear test if the US and South Korea cancel their joint military exercises. The proposal has been denied by President Obama, who said that Pyongyang would "have to do better than that". The exercise, called Foal Eagle and dating from 1997, has been resumed this year, after a two-year hiatus. North Korea conducted a successful hydrogen bomb test this January, and launched a ballistic missile capable of delivering nuclear warheads from a submarine this month. The People's Republic of China has also repeatedly criticized the West for their presence in the South China Sea. While the US and allied countries seek to maintain what they call a "freedom of navigation and overflight" in the sea, China sees it as a military threat to their national security. This conflict has lead to a subsequent militarization of the region from both sides. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India's First Conventional Submarine to Join Navy After Successful Test Sputnik News 15:46 01.05.2016 India's first conventional submarine, Kalvari, will be commissioned into the Indian Navy after a successful test, according to Indian Navy spokesman. NEW DELHI (Sputnik) India's first conventional submarine, Kalvari, will join the country's naval fleet after its trial was termed as "successful" by the defense ministry, Indian Navy spokesman told Sputnik. Kalvari went on a sea trial earlier on Sunday at the Mumbai harbor. "The trial was successful. It [Kalvari] will soon be commissioned into the Indian Navy," D K Sharma said. Kalvari is a part of Project 75, under which six submarines are to be inducted into the Indian Navy by 2020. The submarine was scheduled to have joined the Indian Navy by 2012, but the date has been moved to September this year. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi protesters temporarily end demo, leave Green Zone Iran Press TV Sun May 1, 2016 5:34PM Iraqi protesters have temporarily ended their demonstrations in the government complex of Green Zone and began leaving the area. Hundreds of protesters disbanded their move on Sunday, withdrawing from a restricted area which houses the country's key government institutions, peacefully. They, however, vowed to return by the end of the week to go ahead with their demands for political reforms. "The protest organizing committee announces the withdrawal of the demonstrators from the Green Zone," the protesters said in a statement distributed by the office of prominent cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. This came a day after protesters broke into the heavily-fortified area and stormed the parliament. The move came after lawmakers failed to reach a quorum to discuss a cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Many of the protesters were supporters of al-Sadr. The protesters left the parliament late Saturday, but they were camping outside the parliament when organizers asked them to leave. The protesters issued a number of demands, including the resignation of the president, the prime minister and the parliament speaker and a parliamentary vote on a technocrat government. A spokeswoman for the protesters said they would resort to "all legitimate means" including civil disobedience if their demands are not met. This came after Abadi held an emergency meeting with Iraq's president and parliament speaker and a number of political leaders. They said they will hold more meetings in coming days to "ensure radical reforms of the political process." On Saturday, Abadi toured the parliament building and walked past damaged furniture. He ordered authorities to arrest protesters who attacked lawmakers and security forces and damaged state properties. But no arrest has so far been made. Iraq has been the scene of a political turmoil in the past weeks over Abadi's efforts to form a new cabinet. On April 26, the parliament finally endorsed six new ministers proposed by Abadi despite attempts to block the chamber meeting by about 100 deputies who are reportedly close to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and have opposed Abadi and parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 38 killed, 86 injured in twin car bombs in Iraq Iran Press TV Sun May 1, 2016 11:29AM At least 38 people are killed and 86 others injured in two car bombs in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, security and medical officials say. A police official said the first explosion took place around midday Sunday near government offices in the center of Samawa, while the second blast occurred minutes later at a bus station in an open-air area. "The hospitals have received 33 dead," AFP quoted a senior official in the Muthanna health department, which covers Samawa, as saying. Samawa, a Shia-dominated city, is located some 370km south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The official also noted that the death toll from both blasts is expected to rise. A medical official also confirmed the number of casualties. Online photographs showed huge plumes of smoke rising above buildings and a number of burnt out cars and bodies lying on the ground at the site of the first attack. The Takfiri group Daesh claimed responsibility for both attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Double Car Bombings Strike Southern Iraq May 01, 2016 by RFE/RL Double car bombings claimed by the extremist Islamic State (IS) group have killed at least 33 people and injured more than 70 others in southern Iraq, security and medical officials said on May 1. The first explosion happened around midday near a bus station in the center of the southern Iraqi city of Samawa. The second bomb exploded about five minutes later, 400 meters from the spot of the first explosion. Unverified photographs posted online showed a large plume of smoke above the buildings as well as burnt-out cars and bodies lying on the ground site of one of the blasts, including those of several children. Police and rescue workers carried victims on stretchers and in their arms. IS militants said in a statement published on social media that two suicide attackers detonated car bombs targeting members of the security forces in Samawa, 230 kilometers south of Iraq's capital, Baghdad. Samawa is the capital of Muthanna province set deep in Iraq's Shi'ite heartland. IS militants mostly controls parts of the Sunni areas in the north and west. Attacks in the mainly Shi'ite southern provinces are relatively rare. AFP cited a health department official and a security officer in the Muthanna province as saying that hospitals had received 33 dead. The death toll from the attacks was expected to rise. A car bomb just outside of Baghdad killed at least 23 people on April 30. The United Nations issued a monthly report on May 1 saying that at least 741 Iraqis were killed in April due to ongoing violence, a sharp decline from the previous month. The report put the number of civilians killed last month at 410, while the rest were members of the country's security forces. A total of 1,374 Iraqis were wounded in April, the report added. The previous month' s report said that 1,119 people were killed and 1,561 wounded in March. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/double-car-bombing/27709689.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 Baghdad Teetering on Edge as Iraq Plunges Into Political Chaos by Sharon Behn May 01, 2016 Baghdad teetered on the edge of political chaos Sunday. The city is in a state of emergency, protesters have occupied parts of the once-secure International Zone (IZ), lawmakers have run away and the military is on high alert. Early Sunday protesters led by Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in front of the country's now-empty Parliament before moving into what is known as the Zone's "Celebration Square." By Sunday evening, the protesters temporarily ended their demonstration and started to withdraw from the area. A statement from Sadr's office said the move was made out of respect for a major Shi'ite pilgrimage Lawmakers fled Saturday after protestors stormed into the parliament. About 60 lawmakers, mostly from the minority Kurdish and Sunni parties, flew out of the capital for Irbil and Suleymania, in the northern autonomous Kurdish region. "It was dangerous for all of us," one parliament official told VOA, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation. Some lawmakers were beaten, he said. The official said thousands of protesters were still in the so-called International Zone Sunday, parked outside the major government buildings. Normally only those with special badges are allowed into the secured area, which is also home to many foreign embassies and the United Nations. "It is dangerous," the parliament official said. "At any time, the protesters could attack any embassy, any institution they want, or abuse anybody passing by. "It seems al-Sadr wants to keep them inside the IZ so he can force the government to do what he wants," the official said. Political unrest The parliament takeover was the culmination of weeks of political wrangling and increasing instability, and came just days after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Baghdad. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the visit was a good indication of U.S. continued support for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's efforts to unify Iraq and confront the Islamic State (IS) group. But the visit was not enough to stave off the deepening political crisis. Sadr has been demanding a new government of technocrats. Abadi, who had also promised reform, had been unable to deliver any real change as political parties, unwilling to let go of their political power, blocked the majority of his list of candidates. The prime minister on Sunday walked through the ransacked parliament building, and called on Interior Minister Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban to bring the attackers "to justice." Deadly violence also continued in Iraq Sunday, with Islamic State claiming responsibility for bombings that killed more than 30 people in the southern city of Samawah Unrest growing But even as political blocs have fought to maintain their positions and all the trappings of power, the anger in the Iraqi street has been growing for the past year over the lack of basic services, security, and the vast government corruption and political patronage. Sadr, a firebrand cleric sometimes described as a Shi'ite nationalist, has managed to capitalize on that anger and frustration. "Al-Sadr has the power of the people. One speech and he can deliver thousands of people to do what he wants. It is the power of the populace," the parliament official said. "Al-Sadr is capable of running and leading the anger within each Iraqi person." One high-ranking Iraqi military official, also speaking to VOA on condition of anonymity, said that Sadr had many young Iraqis, including Sunnis and Christians, on his side. The Institute for the Study of War describes Sadr's power grab as a de facto political coup. But the military official said Prime Minister Abadi was still in control of the Iraqi military and running the country. Rival Shi'ite powers Yet, the military official warned that powerful rival Shi'ite powers in Baghdad were not comfortable with Sadr's attempted power grab. He said members of the notorious Badr Brigade militia, which is strongly allied with Iran, were beginning to converge on the capital's center. The possibility for intra-Shi'ite violence in Baghdad is high, and Baghdad residents said they are unsure of what will happen next. There is also concern that IS could take advantage of the turmoil to ramp up its attacks. Iraqi security forces closed off all entrances to the city Saturday. Resident Mahdi Makhmour, who lives outside the IZ, said the city streets were empty Sunday morning and many roads were still blocked, partly because of the start of a three-day Shi'ite religious celebration in the capital. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moqtada al-Sadr Resumes High-Profile Role in Iraqi Political Cauldron by Lou Lorscheider May 01, 2016 Iraqi firebrand Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose followers stormed Baghdad's heavily fortified International Zone Saturday to shut down parliament, has in recent months mounted an increasingly visible campaign to pressure the government to move forward with promised reforms. In March, Sadr first called on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to act on promises to address government corruption and cronyism by replacing current ministers with technocrats - experienced leaders without political affiliation. So far, Abadi has been unable to gain sufficient legislative support for his reform measures, prompting Sadr's followers to stage weekly rallies to pressure the Abadi government into action. On Saturday, protesters vented their rage, climbing over blast walls to rampage through the parliament building's main chamber. Sadr, the 42-year-old charismatic scion of one of Iraq's most prominent Shi'ite families, was himself a victim of sectarian violence, as Saddam Hussein sought in the 1990s to fortify his Ba'ath Party's hold on Iraqi daily life. Sadr's revered father, Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, and two of his three brothers were assassinated in 1999. Saddam denied responsibility. The younger Sadr first gained international visibility as an outspoken critic of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam. His so-called Army of the Mahdi was subsequently linked to repeated sectarian violence in the capital, which only began to wane as U.S. officials announced plans to withdraw U.S. combat forces from the country in 2011. Washington Post reporter Liz Sly, who witnessed Saturday's confrontations, described Sadr's outward goals as part of a push to stop graft and bring good government to the divided country, widely seen as rife with political corruption. But she also noted, in comments to U.S. public television, that Sadr, who has maintained a low profile in recent years, is competing for power among other militias as general elections loom in 2018. She said "most people are putting [Saturday's events] into the context of a bit of early election campaigning." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tense Calm in Baghdad After Anti-government Protests by Sharon Behn May 02, 2016 There was a tense calm Monday in Baghdad. Protesters who stormed into the International Zone on Saturday largely toned down their demonstration and drifted out to celebrate a Shi'ite religious festival commemorating 8th century Imam Moussa al-Khadhim. Protest leader Moqtada al-Sadr vowed he would return to the area, home of the nation's parliament and various foreign embassies and international organizations, this Friday to pressure the government to change or call snap elections. Most of the country's lawmakers fled the area over the weekend when Sadr's followers charged into parliament, demanding a new government. It is not clear if and when they intend to return. Lawmaker Serwan Sereni told VOA that an emergency meeting between Iraqi President Fuad Masum, Prime Minister Haider al Abadi and militia leaders failed to reach agreement on a way forward. The leader of the Sadr bloc in parliament Dhiaa al-Assadi confirmed to VOA that political meetings held Monday between the president and the prime minister and different political parties about a solution to the current problem had not produced any solutions. But he brushed off any suggestion that the political crisis was affecting the fight against Islamic state. "There are so many brigades and divisions fighting against Islamic State, including Sadr brigades, still in their positions, and other militias under control of other parties also fighting," Assadi said. "We can differentiate between the political process in Baghdad and the fight against Daesh (Islamic State)." Cronies versus technocrats Sadr, a powerful Shi'ite nationalist cleric who made his name by fighting U.S. forces in Iraq, has a strong following in the country, capitalizing on deep public frustration with government corruption, political patronage and inefficiency. The protest was the first to seriously breach the International Zone security cordon, yet was bloodless, which "suggests that the security forces in the targeted area were sympathetic, or were ordered to stand down; likely both are true," notes the Soufan Group, which provides security and risk management analyses. Even if there was no serious violence, Sereni, a member of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Iraq's parliament, said considerable damage had been done to the political process. "We are totally against what happened in Baghdad. We will not allow anyone to humiliate our members, or decide on our behalf. We have our rights in Baghdad," he told VOA. "Sadr's party only has 34 seats (in parliament) and they want to dictate... the new Cabinet." Sadr has demanded that a government of technocrats replace the current leadership, but, entrenched political parties rejected Prime Minister Abadi's attempts to replace their ministers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nazarbaev Warns Of Ukraine-Style Turmoil As Kazakh Land Protests Spread May 01, 2016 by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has evoked the Ukraine conflict as protests continued over the Central Asian government's decision to privatize large tracts of state-owned agricultural land. Nazarbaev on May 1 warned of the dangers of national disunity, citing political, social, and economic turbulence in Ukraine, where a pro-Western government has fought Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country following Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory in 2014. "Ukraine, the second-biggest ex-Soviet state, today has an economy which is half the size of Kazakhstan's," he said in a speech on the occasion of the country's National Unity Day holiday. "Because there is no unity, no sense of purpose, no tasks are being solved, [people] are busy with other things: fighting, killing, brawling," added Nazarbaev, who has ruled Kazakhstan since the fall of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, protesters in the cities of Kyzylorda and Zhanaozen on May 1 staged demonstrations against government plans to auction off public land to private owners beginning on July 1. Witnesses said several protesters in Kyzylorda were detained by police, though several of the protesters were invited to air their grievances to local officials at a theater in the city. The activists told Serik Kozhaniyazov, deputy head of the Kyzylorda region, that citizens deserved a say in how state-owned land is managed. Kozhaniyazov replied that the planned privatization is legally sound and necessary because those managing the lands are not caring for them properly. In Zhanaozen, a witness told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that dozens of protesters rallied in the southwestern city's central square on May 1, chanting: "No land sales." The woman, who identified herself only as Tilektes, said the city's mayor, prosecutor, and police officers arrived on the scene and warned the demonstrators that their rally was unauthorized. Zhanaozen was the site of deadly protests in December 2011, when police shot dead at least 16 people and injured more than 100 others during a crackdown on demonstrators after a more than one-month long strike by oil workers. Hundreds of Kazakhs in several cities since April 24 have rallied against the privatization plan amid rumors that foreigners would be allowed to purchase the land. The government says foreigners will only be allowed to lease agricultural land, and authorities have warned that it is a crime to spread "false information about land privatization." On April 26, Nazarbaev vowed to "punish provocateurs" who are disrupting social order by spreading disinformation about pending land sales. He has defended the plan, insisting that foreigners will only be allowed to rent agricultural land under 10- to 25-year leases. Nazarbaev has kept a tight lid on dissent during his reign over the country, which is the second-largest exporter of hydrocarbons in the former Soviet Union after Russia. Slumping oil prices, however, have triggered a slide in the country's currency, sparking public protests over the past year both in Astana and the Central Asian nation's economic hub and largest city, Almaty. With reporting by Reuters Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/nazarbaev-warns- ukraine-style-turmoil/27709970.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 Work under way to agree regime of silence in Aleppo: Russia Iran Press TV Sun May 1, 2016 1:4PM Russia says talks are under way for agreement on a freeze in fighting in the northwestern Aleppo Province where deadly militant attacks have escalated over the past few days. Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, head of Moscow's coordination center in Syria, said on Sunday that the "calm" around Damascus has also been extended for another 24 hours. "Currently active negotiations are underway to establish a 'regime of silence' in Aleppo Province," Kuralenko said. Meanwhile, the Syrian Armed Forces Command in a statement on Sunday announced "silence regime" extension in Damascus region for 24 hours. Syria started enforcing a "silent period" in parts of Latakia and Damascus regions from 1:00 a.m. (2200 GMT) on April 30. "The established 'silence regime' in Damascus and eastern suburbs has been extended for additional 24 hours," the statement said. Syria's offensive in Aleppo is based on a UN Security Council resolution which accepts Syria's right to fighting terrorists. Syria's official SANA news agency said on Saturday that at least 25 people were killed in militant rocket attacks on the two residential neighborhoods of Neel and Hamadaniyeh over the past 24 hours. The Takfiri Daesh militants and al-Nusra Front are excluded from a "cessation of the hostilities" agreement reached in late February as an attempt for facilitating peace talks. The truce, which is sponsored by the United States and Russia, is still officially in place in many parts of Syria despite surging violence in Aleppo, which has been a flashpoint over the past weeks. Aleppo has been divided between the government forces and militants since 2012, a year after the conflict broke out in the Arab country. Dozens have been killed in renewed clashes over the past few days as warnings are high that a human tragedy may unfold in the city. Since March 2011, the United States and its regional allies, in particular Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, have been conducting a proxy war against Syria. According to a February report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond Syria's borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Says Talks Under Way To Include Aleppo In Syria's 'Regime Of Calm' May 01, 2016 by RFE/RL Russia said on May 1 that talks are under way to include Syria's Aleppo province in a temporary cease-fire. "At present, there is an active negotiation process taking place to establish a regime of calm also in Aleppo Province," said General Sergei Kuralenko, the head of Russia's cease-fire monitoring center in Syria. His comments indicated a shift in Moscow's position a day after Russia said it would not urge Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces to halt aerial bombings on Aleppo, saying they were targeting jihadist groups not covered by the cease-fire that took effect in late February. More than a week of fighting in Aleppo has killed several hundred civilians and darkened the prospects of a UN-backed peace process. The Syrian army announced a "regime of calm" late on April 29 in the province of Latakia and the Damascus suburbs. Aleppo, Syria's largest city, was excluded from the plan, and heavy fighting continued in the city. The Syrian army confirmed a Russian announcement on May 1 that a "regime of calm" around Damascus has been extended for another 24 hours, but did not mention Aleppo, state television reported. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was to arrive in Geneva on May 1 to discuss Syria with his counterparts from Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and with Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was not expected to be in Geneva. In separate April 30 calls to De Mistura and the lead Syrian opposition negotiator, Kerry voiced "deep concern" about Aleppo. He made clear that ending the violence in the war-ravaged city is a priority, State Department spokesman John Kirby said. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and Interfax Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/article/27709752.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 Nusra Front Shelled Syrian Settlements, Tried to Seize Towns Sputnik News 21:35 01.05.2016(updated 21:50 01.05.2016) The Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeymim airbase registered a total of five violations of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian city of Aleppo in the past 24 hours, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Nusra Front terrorist group shelled the Syrian settlement of Handrat and Aleppo's district of Sheikh Maqsood as well as tried to seize control of Ayn Daqnah and Mennah towns, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Sunday. "Militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group [banned in Russia] were shelling the settlements of Handrat and Sheikh Maqsood district in the city of Aleppo. In addition, to establish control over the road connecting the cities of Aleppo and Azaz, the terrorists of Jabhat al-Nusra attempted to capture the settlements of Ayn Daqnah and Mennah but after suffering losses in the course of the battle, retreated to their original positions," the statement said. The Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeymim airbase registered a total of five violations of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian city of Aleppo in the past 24 hours, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. "The cessation of hostilities in Syria has been respected in most of the Syrian provinces. However, a total of five violations [of the ceasefire regime] by the groups considering themselves opposition, have been registered in the city of Aleppo," the bulletin said. The ceasefire in Syria, worked out by Russia and the United States, took effect on February 27, but does not include groups that have been designated as terrorist by the United Nations, including the Islamic State and the Nusra Front. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kerry in Geneva in Bid to Bolster Syria Cease-fire by Luis Ramirez May 01, 2016 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Geneva Sunday in an urgent bid to revive a U.S.-Russian brokered cease-fire that has all but fallen apart as Syrian government forces intensified their attacks, especially in Syria's largest city, Aleppo, over the last 10 days. U.S. officials said Kerry's top priority is to end the violence in Aleppo and return the whole of Syria to a durable cessation of hostilities that will enable the peace process to resume. To achieve that, the top U.S. diplomat has called for Russia's help to persuade the Assad government to stop the attacks. "These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation, and we obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond," Kerry said as he went straight from the Geneva airport into a meeting with Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. "The hope is we can make some progress," Kerry said at the start of the meeting. The Syrian military on Friday said it would impose a temporary "regime of calm" in the areas around Damascus and in northwestern Syria's Latakia province, but the order did not include Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said attacks on Saturday continued to take a heavy toll on civilians in the city, where activists say nearly 250 people have been killed in the past 10 days. On Sunday, the group said 859 civilians have been among the 3,116 people documented killed in the conflict during the month of April. It said 410 of those died in raids by Syrian and Russian warplanes and helicopter gunships. Reports from Syria said fighting appeared to subside in much of the country Sunday. Kerry is pushing for Syrian forces to stop their attacks on Aleppo altogether, in keeping with the terms of the cease-fire. In telephone calls to U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and the leader of the Syrian Opposition High Negotiations Committee, Riyad Hijab, Kerry said the cease-fire must include Aleppo. The Assad government has sought to justify its attacks on the city, saying they target rebels of the terrorist al-Nusra front who have been hitting government-controlled areas with rocket and artillery fire. U.S. officials dismiss the Assad government's claims as false, saying the attacks have predominantly targeted innocent civilians and moderate groups, all in violation of the cease-fire. Proximity talks to end the 5-year conflict ground to a halt last week, prompting de Mistura to call for the United States and Russia to intervene. Russian officials have backed the Syrian military's claim that the attacks on Aleppo are an anti-terrorist operation. Kerry said he is outraged by the air strikes, including one Wednesday at a hospital supported by the group Doctors Without Borders, where children and medical staff were among those killed. "Russia has an urgent responsibility to press the regime in Syria to abide fully by the cessation of hostilities," Kerry tweeted last week. In a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kerry called for Moscow to help contain and reduce the violence. State Department officials say they are working on "specific initiatives" to de-escalate the fighting and hope to make progress on them soon. Analysts say proposals could include establishing safe zones within Aleppo. Kerry's efforts are complicated by the fact that Lavrov is not scheduled to be in Geneva to meet with him. Russian General Sergei Kuralenko told Russian news agencies that talks are under way to halt the Syrian bombardment of rebel strongholds in Aleppo. Kerry was due to meet with his Saudi counterpart and de Mistura on Monday before returning to Washington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian war 'in many ways out of control' now: Kerry Iran Press TV Mon May 2, 2016 3:5PM US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused the Syrian Arab Army of deliberately targeting hospitals, adding the five-year-old war is now "in many ways out of control." After meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Geneva on Monday, Kerry said the conflict was "in many ways out of control and deeply disturbing to everybody in the world, I hope." "The attack on this hospital is unconscionable," he said, adding that the government of President Bashar al-Assad deliberately attacked three clinics and a major hospital last week. "And it has to stop." Washington on Thursday expressed outrage over an airstrike on a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo, leveling accusations against Damascus and Moscow, which were flatly dismissed by both as unfounded. Russia and Syria rejected allegations that their warplanes had targeted the hospital in the northwestern Syrian city, with Moscow suggesting that the US-led coalition was instead responsible for the incident. Earlier on Monday, the Syrian army said a "regime of calm" around the capital Damascus has been extended for another 48 hours. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, head of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria, said on Monday that talks were underway on declaring a "regime of calm" in Syria's Aleppo province. In recent months, the Syrian army, backed by the Russian air power, has been making major gains against Takfiri groups, recapturing several strategic areas from their grip, particularly in the strategic northern province of Aleppo. Syria's ongoing offensive against foreign-backed militants in Aleppo is based on a UN Security Council resolution which accepts Syria's right to fighting terrorists. A temporary truce agreement engineered by Russia and the United States, which came into force across Syria on February 27, has been holding despite reports of violations by the warring sides. "What is happening in Aleppo is an outrage. It's a violation of all humanitarian laws. It's a crime," said the Saudi foreign minister after he met Kerry in Geneva on Monday. "It's a violation of all the understandings that were reached," he added, accusing Damascus and Moscow of violating international peace agreements. Since March 2011, the United States and its regional allies, in particular Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, have been conducting a proxy war against Syria. UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has furthermore displaced over half of Syria's pre-war population of about 23 million. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kerry: Syrian Cease-Fire 'Understanding' Closer, But Work To Do May 02, 2016 by RFE/RL U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on May 2 that talks with Russia and anti-Islamic State coalition partners were "getting closer to a place of understanding" to reestablish a cease-fire in Syria -- including the area around Aleppo. But Kerry told reporters in Geneva ahead of talks with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir that there was still "some work to do." Speaking after those talks with Jubeir, Kerry said Syria was still "in many ways out of control." He said legitimate political talks on Syria cannot take place unless government forces and rebels both sign up to a cease-fire deal. Jubeir condemned an escalation of fighting in and around Aleppo in the midst of a cease-fire as a "violation of all humanitarian laws." He blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for air strikes that have killed hundreds there during the past week, saying Assad would have to either step down in a political deal or be forced from power. Russia said at the weekend that it would not urge Assad's forces to halt air strikes on Aleppo. Moscow claimed they were targeting Islamic militants not covered by an internationally brokered cease-fire. Kerry arrived in Geneva for talks with Arab counterparts and Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, and said Washington is looking to Moscow for cooperation. "The hope is we can make some progress," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Jordan's foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, shortly after his arrival. "These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation, and we obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond." Fighting in the city of Aleppo -- which is 360 kilometers north of the capital, Damascus -- on May 1 left six dead and more than 40 wounded. Opposition forces in control of part of Aleppo shelled government-held positions while Syrian forces reportedly also carried out at least one dozen bombing raids. More than a week of fighting in Aleppo has killed several hundred civilians and darkened the prospects of a UN-backed peace process. Russia appeared to shift its position earlier on May 1. "At present, there is an active negotiation process taking place to establish a regime of calm also in Aleppo province," said General Sergei Kuralenko, the head of Russia's cease-fire monitoring center in Syria. While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was not slated to arrive in Geneva for the talks, Kerry said that "we are talking directly to the Russians, even now." The Kremlin announced on May 2 that Lavrov would meet de Mistura for talks on Syria in Moscow on May 3. The Syrian Army announced a "regime of calm" late on April 29 in the province of Latakia and Damascus suburbs. Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, was excluded from the plan, and heavy fighting continued in the city even after the truce was signed. The Syrian Army confirmed a Russian announcement on May 1 that a "regime of calm" around Damascus has been extended for another 24 hours, but did not mention Aleppo, state television reported. This pertains mainly to the Eastern Ghouta, suburbs of Damascus. The U.S. State Department said Washington wanted Moscow to pressure Assad to end what it calls indiscriminate aerial attacks in Aleppo, which has long been divided between government- and opposition-held areas of control. The Britain-based the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of monitors inside Syria, says both sides have bombarded residential areas for more than a week, killing more than 250 people including at least 40 children. "I hope that in the course of the conversations I have here tonight, tomorrow, and the work that the teams are doing, [we can] zero in and pin down the modalities of reaffirming the cessation," Kerry said. Judeh described called the situation around Aleppo "quite alarming" and said halting hostilities was crucial for the resumption of Syrian peace talks and humanitarian aid deliveries. "We have to address the situation on the ground today asserting a nationwide cessation of hostilities that will lead to a better and more conducive environment for the political track," Judeh said. The UN says more than 250,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011. Millions of others have been displaced or have sought refuge outside of the country. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and Interfax Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kerry-critical-hours- halt-carnage-syria-aleppo/27710668.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 Kerry Looks to Stop Widening Violence in Syria by Luis Ramirez May 02, 2016 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up a hastily planned 20-hour visit to Geneva Monday, saying the United States and its partners are discussing "several proposals" to stop the spiraling violence in Syria. The U.S. diplomat did not say what the proposals are. But his aim has been to restore a partial truce and stop the attacks by Russian-backed Syrian government forces that have killed hundreds in Aleppo over the past 11 days. News agencies quoted U.S. officials who requested anonymity as saying the United States is considering mapping out "safe zones" marked by "hard lines" that would provide refuge for civilians and members of the moderate opposition. No help from Russia Getting Russia's support has been key but elusive for Kerry, who has called for Moscow's help in getting Assad's forces to stop their assault on rebel-held parts of Syria's largest city. "There are several proposals that are now going back to key players to sign off," Kerry said after his meetings Monday with his Saudi counterpart, Adel Al-Jubeir, and the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. "We are hopeful but we are not there yet," Kerry said, adding the U.S. and its partners "are going to work very hard in the next 24 hours, 48 hours to get there." Kerry said an agreement on Aleppo could be announced in the coming days. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not attend the talks, complicating Kerry's efforts in Geneva. Kerry said he would speak by telephone with Lavrov. De Mistura was due to go to Moscow on Tuesday. For the United States, it is important to show it has not given up on resolving the five-year-old conflict, but there are questions on whether a low level of U.S. commitment has resulted in a Russian victory in the region as the Russian-backed Syrian government forces retake large swaths of land. "We're in a kind of phase in the conflict where there are ongoing battles for advantage happening," David Butter, a Middle East analyst at Chatham House in London, told VOA. "Of course, the momentum is very much on the Assad regime." Key battle The battle for Aleppo is key at a time when the conflict has become a test of U.S. commitment in the region. Kerry arranged the trip after it became clear the humanitarian situation in the city was deteriorating rapidly and as proximity talks between the Assad government and the moderate opposition failed. Scenes of escalating violence and atrocities committed against civilians are an opportunity for the United States to demonstrate a leadership role in resolving the conflict, analysts say. As Syrian forces prepared the latest assault on Aleppo two weeks ago, Russia had successfully portrayed the efforts as a counter-terrorist operation to strike at the al-Nusra Front, which the United States and Russia consider a terrorist group. Analysts note that U.S. officials, intentionally or not, were interpreted as being unopposed to the Aleppo operation before it began. U.S. military officials were quoted as saying the al-Nusra front was a major dominant force in the city and "not part" of the cease-fire. The perception changed when an airstrike hit Aleppo's al Quds hospital, a facility supported by the group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, killing several children and medical staff, including one of the city's remaining pediatricians. The incident outraged Kerry and analysts say it was an opportunity for the U.S. to step up its efforts to change any perception that it was not taking an active enough role in resolving the Syrian conflict. US needs to show commitment Demonstrating the U.S. administration's commitment to fulfill promises remains a major task for Kerry. "(President) Obama set the tone by talking quite a big game on Syria, but not having any strategic commitments. Because the U.S. hasn't really invested, it's got much to lose except as a non-actor," said analyst David Butter. Jasmine Gani, an analyst at the Center for Syrian Studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, told VOA that perceptions of U.S. legitimacy in the region hang in the balance as a result of what she calls a "mismatched rhetoric and policy." She says Washington raised expectations by calling for Assad's exit early in the conflict and then failed to provide the support needed to carry out that aim. With Russia now figuring strongly in the equation, Gani said the U.S. "has to be a lot more careful as to what it puts its commitment to. In the past, it was not such a problem, but the shift of dynamics in global power means there is greater scrutiny on the United States to fulfill its promises." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwanese suspects sent to China undermines Taiwan: premier-designate ROC Central News Agency 2016/05/01 17:40:15 Taipei, May 1 (CNA) The two sides of the Taiwan Strait need more comprehensive communication on joint crime-fighting efforts, since the recent incidents of Taiwanese fraud suspects being sent to China by a third country undermine Taiwan's judicial power, Premier-designate Lin Chuan () said Sunday. A mechanism of full communication and cooperation between Taiwan and China is needed to address challenges regarding telecom fraud schemes involving suspects and victims from both sides, Lin said. The incoming Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, which is set to take office May 20, will seek to talk to the Chinese authorities about the issue of Taiwanese fraud suspects caught in a third country being sent to China instead of Taiwan. Lin made the remarks after Malaysia deported 32 Taiwanese nationals arrested for an alleged fraud scheme targeting mainly Chinese citizens, sending them to China rather than Taiwan a day earlier. The deportations took place after Taiwan and China reached an agreement April 21 to jointly investigate alleged fraud rings busted both in Kenya and Malaysia, after the African country deported Taiwanese fraud suspects to China in early April. The 32 Taiwanese sent to China Saturday were among a group of 52 who were arrested in the Southeast Asian country March 25. The 20 others were brought back to Taiwan April 15. Lin said he is not sure whether the 32 Taiwanese suspects were sent to China because the 20 that returned to Taiwan were originally released after police questioning. Even if that was the reason behind Saturday's deportation of Taiwanese to China, he said Taiwan is a country that follows rule of law and nothing much can be done to suspects without sufficient evidence. On April 21, however, the Taichung District Court granted a request by prosecutors to detain 18 of the 20 suspects sent back from Malaysia, after the Malaysian authorities provided evidence against the suspects. The premier-designate said he hopes both Taiwan and China can show good faith in addressing the issue in order to achieve developments in joint efforts to fight crime. Chiu Tai-san (), who has been named as minister of justice in the incoming administration, said during a team-building camp for the DPP government Sunday that he supports the joint efforts across the Taiwan Strait to fight crime. Taiwan and China signed the Cross-Strait Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement in April 2009 under the outgoing government under President Ma Ying-jeou (). Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council pointed out in an April 26 statement that both sides have worked together to crack down on fraud schemes based in Southeast Asia since the signing of the agreement. (By Lu Hsin-hui and Kay Liu) ENDITEM/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan welcomes Beijing's invitation over telecom fraud cases ROC Central News Agency 2016/05/01 16:31:14 Taipei, May 1 (CNA) The Cabinet expressed welcome Sunday for China's invitation of a delegation to the mainland for talks concerning Taiwanese nationals detained there, after 32 Taiwanese fraud suspects were deported from Malaysia to China the previous day. Cabinet spokesman Sun Lih-chyun () said that the Chinese side has formally invited Taiwan to send a delegation to the mainland for the talks on the Taiwanese deported from Malaysia, as well as 45 deported from Kenya in early April, for their alleged involvement in telecommunications fraud targeting people in China. Taiwan regards the invitation, which meets a cross-Taiwan Strait agreement on the joint fight against crime and mutual legal assistance, in a positive light, Sun said. The government expressed strong protest a day earlier after the Malaysian authorities deported the 32 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move has seriously damaged relations between Taiwan and Malaysia, and it has lodged a formal protest with the Malaysian government. The incident came in the wake of the deportation of 45 Taiwanese fraud suspects from Kenya to China last month. In response, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said Sunday that it will ask the district prosecutors' offices in Taichung and Taoyuan -- which are responsible for the cases -- to jointly outline an investigation plan and send officers to join the delegation, which will be jointly organized by the MOJ, the Mainland Affairs Council and the Criminal Investigation Bureau. It has contacted the Chinese authorities on the date and itinerary of the proposed visit, the MOJ said, noting that the group is expected to depart in about a week. The 32 Taiwanese deported from Malaysia to China Saturday are being held at two detention centers in Guangzhou Province, according to the MOJ. They were among a group of 52 Taiwanese who were arrested in Malaysia March 25 for telecom fraud against people in China. The 20 others were brought back to Taiwan April 15, 18 of whom have been placed in detention, while the other two have been barred from leaving the country pending their possible indictments and trials. Asked by reporters about the deportations, Vice President Wu Den-yih () suggested Sunday that the relevant authorities handle the issue in two ways simultaneously -- imposing the necessary punishments on those convicted of fraud on the one hand, and upholding the human rights of Taiwanese nationals on the other. Wu said that the judicial system should impose proper penalties for fraud, and should not free "the cross-border fraudsters who shame the Taiwanese people." For the Taiwanese suspects detained in China, "we should urge the mainland to send them back (to Taiwan) for trial based on the cross-strait Joint Fight Against Crime and Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement," he said. (By Paige Tsai, Kuan Ruei-ping and Elizabeth Hsu) ENDITEM/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Separate PKK attacks leave 4 Turkish soldiers dead Iran Press TV Sun May 1, 2016 7:46AM At least four Turkish soldiers have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) launched two separate attacks against government forces in the embattled southeastern provinces of Mardin and Gaziantep. Security sources, requesting anonymity, said Kurdish PKK militants lobbed a barrage at army troopers as the latter were conducting a military operation in the city of Nusaybin, situated 792 kilometers (492 miles) east of the capital, Ankara, on Sunday. Three Turkish soldiers were killed in the attack and 14 others wounded. Separately, two police officers was killed and 22 others, mostly police officers, were wounded when PKK forces detonated a car rigged with explosives in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, situated 685 kilometers (425 miles) southeast of the capital, Ankara. Provincial governor, Ali Yerlikaya, said those injured in the blast at the entrance of the police station included at least 19 policemen. The development came only a day after a Turkish army captain was shot dead by a PKK sniper during a counter-terrorism operation in Nusaybin. A ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015 and attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this month that 355 members of the Turkish security forces and over 5,000 Kurdish militants have been killed in operations against the outlawed group. Ankara has been engaged in a large-scale campaign against the PKK in its southern border region in the past few months. The Turkish military has also been conducting offensives against the positions of the group in northern Iraq and Syria. The operations began in the wake of a deadly July 2015 bombing in the southern Turkish town of Suruc. More than 30 people died in the attack, which the Turkish government blamed on the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. After the bombing, the PKK militants, who accuse the government in Ankara of supporting Daesh, engaged in a series of supposed reprisal attacks against Turkish police and security forces, in turn prompting the Turkish military operations. Shelling from Syria injures two in Turkey In another development on Sunday, two people sustained injuries when projectiles coming from territories controlled by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in neighboring Syria slammed into the border town of Kilis, which is located approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) north of the border with Syria Turkey has been accused of supporting militant groups fighting to topple the Syrian government since March 2011. It also stands accused of being involved in illegal oil trade with Takfiri Daesh terrorists. In late May 2015, Turkish-language Cumhuriyet newspaper posted on its website footage showing trucks belonging to Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) allegedly carrying weapons for Takfiri groups in neighboring Syria. Ankara denied the allegations in return, saying the trucks had been carrying humanitarian aid to Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three killed in renewed Ukraine violence Iran Press TV Sun May 1, 2016 4:10PM One Ukrainian soldier and two pro-Russia fighters have been killed in renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine over the weekend. Both sides claimed on Sunday that despite a renewed truce, corresponding with Orthodox Easter and Labor Day, the opposite side had resumed fighting, violating the ceasefire. Pro-Russia fighters said the Ukrainian military violated the ceasefire, killing two forces from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). "As a result of shelling by Ukrainian hit squads, two servicemen of the DPR army were killed and another four suffered injuries during Easter night," senior commander Eduard Basurin told reporters. Pro-Russia forces also accused the Ukrainian military of shooting at territory held by the pro-Russians 160 times. The Ukrainian side, however, claimed that one soldier was killed near the town of Svitlodarsk in the Donetsk region while seven others were wounded near the village of Avdiivka and near the city of Mariupol in fire from the opposite side. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a Ukrainian military spokesman, said that despite the new ceasefire, pro-Russia fighters had ramped up attacks near their stronghold of Donetsk, using grenades. The latest casualties came as the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russia forces on Friday agreed on a new truce in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, which began at midnight on the same day. The agreement is aimed at reinforcing a deal co-signed by France and Germany in February 2015 after an upsurge in violence in the industrial east of Ukraine. It also came ahead of the Orthodox Easter Sunday and covers holidays that include Labor Day on May 1 and the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War II marked on May 9. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had warned that the ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine had reached its highest level in months. Around 9,300 people have died and more than 21,000 have been injured in two years since Ukraine's predominantly Russian-speaking east made efforts to gain greater autonomy against the country's pro-Western leadership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Crimean Blockade Organizer Vows Creation of 'Crimean Tatar Army' Sputnik News 21:44 01.05.2016(updated 21:58 01.05.2016) Reacting to the Crimean Supreme Court's decision to ban the Mejlis movement in Russia, 'Crimean blockade' organizer Lenur Islyamov said that now may be the time to create a 'Crimean Tatar army'. Last week, the Crimean Supreme Court ruled that the Mejlis, which claims to represent Crimean Tatars, is an extremist organization, and banned its activities in Russia. Crimean Attorney General Natalia Poklonskaya, advocating the ban, underscored that the group "exists only to fuel hatred and hostility." The ruling follows an earlier Justice Ministry move to suspend the group's activities after it was accused of having links to international terror groups including Hizbut-Tahrir and the Turkish neo-fascist 'Grey Wolves' organization. Reacting to the ban, Lenur Islyamov, one of the troika of Ukraine-based Tatar politicians responsible for organizing the so-called food and electricity 'blockades' of Crimea late last year, told Radio Free Europe's 'Krym.Realii' internet portal that the present may be the perfect moment for ethnic Crimean Tatars to create their own army, Ukraine's Vesti online newspaper reports. "Perhaps now, the Crimean Tatar people will finally understand the need to create their own army. We have the political strength, we have the deputies in the Verkhovna Rada [Ukraine's parliament], but we do not have our own army. Therefore, we must make it so that we have our own army, within Ukraine," the nationalist organizer said. Islyamov is known for his braggadocios style, and his tendency to exaggerate. Late last year, he bragged that the Turkish defense ministry had promised to provide his group with assistance to form a 560-man 'volunteer battalion', to be comprised of Crimean Tatar nationalist volunteers. That plan, apparently, has come to naught. In January, Islyamov announced that 'activists' were preparing a 'naval blockade' of the Crimean peninsula. That plan too seems to have fallen through, presumably because it was set to be organized in Russian territorial waters. Russian border services had previously indicated that they would not tolerate any attempts to sabotage the free movement of ships through the Kerch Strait, which connects Crimea to Russia's Krasnodar Region to the east. In 2014, after Crimea's return to Russia, President Putin signed a decree aimed at ensuring the Crimean Tatar community's political and socio-economic rehabilitation, meant to right the wrongs committed against the group under Joseph Stalin, who deported the minority en masse to Central Asia during the Second World War. The Tatar language has been made an official state language on the peninsula, and the minority now has guarantees to government representation, as well as a number of preferences aimed at preserving and respecting their culture, including making Muslim holidays state holidays and providing subsidies for pilgrimages to Mecca. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swedish English One of Betsson subsidiaries has on April 28, for the brand Triobet, received a gaming license to operate in Latvia. Recently Betsson Group also received a license in Ireland. Betsson now owns operations with local licenses in Malta, Denmark, UK, Ireland, Italy, Estonia, Georgia and Latvia. When outdated legal structures and old monopolies are dismantled great favorable conditions for long-term profitable growth are created. Our strategy is to increase the proportion of sustainable revenue by participating in local licensing procedures as well as increasing strong growth both organically and by acquiring companies in local regulated markets. The gaming tax in Latvia is 10 percent on gross gaming revenue which is a level that guarantees high channeling and a sustainable system, Ulrik Bengtsson President and CEO of Betsson AB, said. For further information, please contact: Malin Sparf Rydberg, Director of Communications, Betsson AB (publ), telephone: +46 (0)8 506 403 00, malin.sparfrydberg@betssonab.com A 31-year-old Dry Fork man was killed in a single-vehicle wreck Sunday evening. Virginia State Police Trooper B. S. Draper is investigating the fatal crash that occurred around 8 p.m. on Whitmell School Road in Pittsylvania County, according to a news release. A 2004 Ford F-250 driven by Ronald William Curtis was traveling north on Whitmell School Road south of Beverly Road when it ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a utility pole and overturned, police said. Curtis, who was wearing his seatbelt, died at the scene, and speed was a factor in the crash, according to the release. The crash remains under investigation, according to the release. To the editor: After reading the recent news regarding Gov. Terry McAuliffe signing executive action restoring voting rights to convicted felons, I felt compelled to comment. This incredibly stupid and preposterous decision by our liberal Democratic governor a longtime Clinton ally to reinstate the voting rights of more than 200,000 convicted felons could certainly have an effect on the upcoming presidential election. One has to realize that this is his main objective in signing this executive action as hes always had close ties to the Queen of Lies Hillary Clinton, so this liberal, contemptible action comes just in time to gain favor of a huge core voting bloc of Democrats. This move by McAuliffe is both absurd and outrageous, but albeit, sad to say, predictable. Its much too obvious to ignore, as I think hes planned on doing this all along and we all shouldve realized it. McAuliffe has time and time again proven that hes a very liberal and misguided leader of the commonwealth of Virginia. Another couple of critical facts that we cant ignore McAuliffe served as chairman of Hillary Clintons failed 2008 presidential campaign. He is a former chairman of the Democratic National Convention. McAuliffe was quoted as saying this past week on Twitter; We will ensure everyone with freedom to live in our communities has the right to participate in the democratic process. Damn, give me a break. Hes got nothing better to do but comment on Twitter about this critical issue? These felons dont deserve this right. Ive always thought that a felon was always a felon and not ever to have any voting rights. Thats a right you give up when convicted of a felony, not to mention losing several other rights when a person is a convicted felon. When is this liberal b------- going to stop? Our great country is headed down the toilet with the liberalism and political correctness we have to experience almost every day. Just a thought to ponder, did McAuliffe take the time to look at each one of the more than 200,000 felony cases in detail before this mindless decision was made or did he just pull out his magic pen and stroke his signature on the dotted line for them all? McAuliffe has become just as blatant, carefree and deliberate as President Barack Obama with his executive actions and liberal, mindless decisions. Im certain McAuliffe and Queen Hillary had gotten together and set this ludicrous plan into action so that he could help her campaign for the White House in getting as many felon voters as possible on her side. Im certain shes undoubtedly promised him a key appointment to her cabinet should she be elected President. God help us. Perish the thought! DARYL RIGNEY Danville TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 02, 2016) - Verde Potash (TSX: NPK) ("Verde" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that on Thursday, April 28th, a public audience was held in the city of SAo Gotardo, Minas Gerais, to discuss its application for an environmental license to mine Verde's potassium silicate rock. The public audience is an important step of the process to obtain an environmental license in Brazil. The public audience was requested by the Syndicate of Mineral Industry of the State of Minas Gerais ("SINDIEXTRA") and by the National Forum of Civil Society in the Basin Committees ("FONASC"). The event was chaired by Mr Franco Cristiano Alvos, who is the head of the Regional Superintendencies of Environmental Regulation ("SUPRAM") of Triangulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaiba, and attended by several authorities and different stakeholders. The public hearing on the environmental licensing gives stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions and express opinions about the project. It also serves as an opportunity for the Company and its environmental consultants to present the project and its social and environmental impact. SUPRAM, when deciding on the preliminary license, considers all concerns and comments expressed by stakeholders at the public audience. The public audience was held between 7:00pm and 9:19pm BRT, and attended by approximately 100 people, including the mayor of SAo Gotardo, Mr Seiji Sekita, city councilors, representatives from SUPRAM, members of civil associations, religious communities, social organizations, the business community, public servants, union representatives and residents of SAo Gotardo and neighboring towns. Former Minister of Agriculture and Verde's director, Mr Alysson Paolinelli, was responsible for Verde's opening remarks. Mr Paolinelli stressed the importance for Brazilian farmers to use agriculture products better suited for tropical agriculture. He regarded Verde's project to be innovative as it combines technology and sustainability, offering the agricultural market natural and chemical-free products. The former Minister expressed his enthusiasm for the agronomic test results the Company and its partners have been obtaining over the past few years. Mr Paolinelli's participation in the event was instrumental because, when Minister of Agriculture, he was responsible for the early development of agriculture for the Cerrado region (wherein SAo Gotardo is located) and, when state Secretary of Agriculture, he chose SAo Gotardo as the first area to receive a project converting barren Cerrado into highly productive agriculture farms. "It is widely agreed that Mr Paolinelli is Brazil's most important agriculture leader because he was responsible for some of the greatest achievements in tropical agriculture that have allowed Brazil to become the world's farming powerhouse," commented President & CEO, Cristiano Veloso. Mr Luiz Marcos, a former state Secretary of Mines and Energy and director of SINDIEXTRA, voiced support for the project by stressing that it combines two of Brazil's strengths, agriculture and mining. Mr Marcos regards the project to be very significant for the country, as it will enable Brazil to produce food more sustainably in order to feed the growing global population. Mr Antonio Geraldo, a representative of an environmental NGO, commented on the need for mining companies to be responsible in their management of water resources and try to add value to its mined products locally. He praised the project's importance for agriculture, the high quality of the environmental assessment work undertaken by the Company, and the transparency and openness when dealing with Verde's team throughout the process. Cristiano Veloso commented, "We were all very pleased with the high level of support received for the project and the constructive criticism received. The Company was asked to remain committed to mitigating environmental impacts and continue supporting local communities. We have successfully reached an important mark in a highly complex and time consuming process to obtaining an environmental license in Minas Gerais State; a State in Brazil where myself, all our board members and our employees are proud to come from." In Brazil, environmental licensing is regulated by a federal law, but the law is interpreted and implemented autonomously by each state. The State of Minas Gerais, where the Company's project is located, the task is performed by SUPRAM, which has a team of highly qualified and motivated professionals but suffers from underfunding and excessive demand. The State has the largest number of applications for environmental licenses in the mining sector because the State has Brazil's longest mining history and hosts most of the country's mines. This has been compounded by the budgetary constraints, which led to a series of strikes by government employees that have increased the backlog of environmental applications awaiting analyses. Moreover, in the last six months since the environmental tragedy caused by the collapse of a huge tailings dam in the state of Minas Gerais, environmental permitting has become even more stringent and time consuming. The environmental licensing process has three stages, the preliminary license ("LP,"), the installation license ("LI"), and the license to operate ("LO"). The application for an LP is accompanied by an environmental impact assessment report. The LP is often regarded as the most important of the stages as it outlines all the basic parameters of the project that have to be accepted by all the parties involved. The Company's proposed mine pit occupies a relatively small amount of land, has very little overburden, and the operation will be without any waste by-product. Given its small footprint and minimal environmental impact, the project is classified by Brazilian environmental authorities as Class III, which allows the Company to apply for the LP and the LI simultaneously. Next Steps The Company believes the public hearing was another important advance towards receipt of an environmental license. Verde will continue to cooperate promptly with SUPRAM in order to help expedite its analysis and the approval. In parallel, Verde continues the elaborate and laborious efforts of market development for its three agriculture products, TK47 , SGS and Alpha. As soon as all permits are granted, the Company expects to start production relying solely on subcontractors, which will drastically minimize capex and expedite cashflow. About Verde Potash Verde Potash is an agri-tech company promoting sustainable and profitable agriculture through the development of its Cerrado Verde Project. Cerrado Verde, located in the heart of Brazil's largest agricultural market, is the source of a potassium-rich deposit from which the Company intends to produce solutions for crop nutrition, crop protection, soil improvement and increased sustainability. The Company's portfolio includes TK47 , Super Greensand and Alpha. Cautionary Language and Forward Looking Statements NEITHER THE TSX EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS CERTAIN "FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS", WHICH INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, STATEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE FUTURE FINANCIAL OR OPERATING PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND ITS PROJECTS, AND STATEMENTS REGARDING USE OF PROCEEDS. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN GENERALLY BE IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF WORDS SUCH AS "PLANS", "EXPECTS", OR "DOES NOT EXPECT" OR "IS EXPECTED", "ANTICIPATES" OR "DOES NOT ANTICIPATE", OR "BELIEVES", "INTENDS", "FORECASTS", "BUDGET", "SCHEDULED", "ESTIMATES" OR VARIATIONS OF SUCH WORDS OR PHRASES OR STATE THAT CERTAIN ACTIONS, EVENT, OR RESULTS "MAY", "COULD", "WOULD", "MIGHT", OR "WILL BE TAKEN", "OCCUR" OR "BE ACHIEVED". FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COMPANY TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SAID STATEMENTS. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCES THAT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WILL PROVE TO BE ACCURATE, AS ACTUAL RESULTS AND FUTURE EVENTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN SAID STATEMENTS. ACCORDINGLY, READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. Readers are cautioned not to rely solely on the summary of such information contained in this release and are directed to the complete set of drill results posted on Verde's website (www.verdepotash.com) and filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and any future amendments to such. Readers are also directed to the cautionary notices and disclaimers contained herein. Reno, Nevada (FSCwire) - Scandium International Mining Corp.. (TSX:SCY) (Scandium International or the Company) is pleased to announce that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been filed with the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment, (the Department) in support of the planned development of the Nyngan Scandium Project. The EIS was prepared by R.W. Corkery & Co. Pty. Limited, on behalf of EMC Metals Australia Pty Ltd (EMC Australia) to support an application for Development Consent for the Nyngan Scandium Project, located approximately 20km west-southwest of the town of Nyngan in Western NSW, Australia. The EIS is a complete document, including a Specialist Consultants Study Compendium, and was submitted to the Department on Friday, April 29, 2016. The EIS will receive a compulsory adequacy review by Department staff and other relevant government agencies as a condition to formal acceptance and public availability. The EIS was submitted by EMC Australia, the Companys 80% owned Australian subsidiary. EMC Australia holds 100% of the Nyngan Scandium Project. EIS HIGHLIGHTS: The EIS finds residual environmental impacts represent negligible risk, The proposed development design achieves sustainable environmental outcomes, The EIS finds net-positive social and economic outcomes for the community, Nine independent environmental consulting groups conducted analysis over five years, and contributed report findings to the EIS, The Nyngan Project development is estimated to contribute A$12.4M to the local and regional economies, and A$39M to the State and Federal economies, annually. The EIS is fully aligned with a Feasibility Study, recently announced by SCY. CONCLUSION STATEMENT IN THE EIS: In light of the conclusions included throughout this Environmental Impact Statement, it is assessed that the Proposal could be constructed and operated in a manner that would satisfy all relevant statutory goals and criteria, environmental objectives and reasonable community expectations. George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented: Completion and filing of this EIS achieves another important milestone towards our goal of building and operating the worlds first primary scandium mine and large scale scandium processing facility. This step continues a process with governmental regulators that culminates in a license to build our business and produce scandium product for waiting markets. Filing this EIS, in concert with our recent feasibility study completion, also signals to those waiting markets that real progress related to adequate commercial supply of scandium is happening, specifically with regard to the Nyngan Project. DISCUSSION The EIS is the foundation document submitted by a developer intending to build a mine facility in Australia. The Nyngan Project is considered a State Significant Project, in that capital cost exceeds A$30million, which means State agencies are designated to manage the investigation and approval process for granting a Development Consent, from the Minister of Planning and Environment. The Ministers Department manages the review of the Proposal through a number of State and local governmental agencies. The EIS is a self-contained set of documents used to seek a Development Consent. It is, however, supported in many ways by the Feasibility Study, recently completed and announced by SCY, for filing shortly on SEDAR. Once the Development Consent is granted, there are a number of operating licenses and approvals that are required from various regulatory agencies to construct and operate a mining operation in NSW. The key license approvals are: An Environment Protection Licence, A Mining Lease, Water Supply Works and Use Approval and Water Access Licence, A Section 138 Permit issued by the Bogan Shire Council, for construction of the intersection of the Site Access Road and Gilgai Road, An approval from the NSW Dams Safety Committee for the design and construction of the Residue Storage Facility, and A high voltage connection agreement with Essential Energy. The EIS represents the cornerstone of all of these approvals and licenses, along with the multi-interagency review that precedes the approval authorization for a Development Consent. The timeframe for completion of these reviews and granting of licenses is not fixed, and is dependent on the results of the adequacy review of the EIS including the extent of the questions that may arise from the project review, and the available resources in government to address the review itself. General estimates of the development review and approval process time frame range from 6-9 months, with some proposals taking longer, particularly larger proposals, or proposals with more community and environmental impacts to consider. The Company intends to follow and support the progress of governmental agency reviews in coming months, and will be conducting a second Town Hall meeting with residents of the Nyngan community in May. The EIS is expected to go on public exhibition sometime in late May or early June 2016. At that time an executive summary of the EIS will also be made available on SCYs website for download. QUALIFIED PERSONS AND NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company. ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. The Company is focused on developing the Nyngan Scandium Project into the worlds first scandium-only producing mine. The Company owns an 80% interest in both the Nyngan Scandium Project, and the adjacent Honeybugle Scandium Property, in New South Wales, Australia, and is manager of both projects. Our joint venture partner, Scandium Investments LLC, owns the remaining 20% in both projects, along with an option to convert those direct project interests into SCY common shares, based on market values, prior to construction. The Company filed an amended NI 43-101 technical report in 2015 on a preliminary economic assessment of the Nyngan Scandium Project, based on extensive metallurgical test work on the resource. The Company has recently announced results of a feasibility study of the Nyngan Scandium Project, and expects to file a NI43-101 technical report on SEDAR within the next 30 days. In addition to the two lateritic scandium properties in Australia, SCY owns a 100% interest in the Trdal Scandium/REE property in southern Norway, where we continue our exploration efforts, specifically for scandium and REE minerals. For further information, please contact: George Putnam, President and CEO. Tel: 925-208-1775 Email: info@scandiummining.com This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to the timing and outcome of a review of the EIS, the ability to obtain required approvals, permits and licenses, and the Companys intentions to place the Nyngan Scandium Project into production. . The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation risks related to uncertainty in the demand for Scandium and pricing assumptions; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the project in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the possibility that required approvals and permits may not be obtained on a timely manner or at all; risks related to projected project economics, recovery rates, and other factors identified in the Company's SEC filings and its filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change. To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/ScandiumMay22016.pdfSource: Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX:SCY) www.scandiummining.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2016 Filing Services Canada Inc. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 2, 2016) - Nevada Exploration Inc. ("NGE" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:NGE)(OTCQX:NVDEF) is pleased to announce that it has added 76 new claims covering 550 hectares (1,360 acres) to its land position in Nevada's prolific Kelly Creek Basin to secure the growing target defined by NGE`s updated 3D geologic model. The Kelly Creek Basin is located along the Battle Mountain - Eureka Gold Trend, and is bounded by multi-million-ounce gold deposits to the north (Twin Creeks, Getchell, Turquoise Ridge, and Pinson) and south (Lone Tree, Marigold, Trenton Canyon, Converse, Buffalo Valley, Copper Basin, and Phoenix) - together representing more than 70 million ounces of gold along the periphery of the Basin. Despite its close proximity to world-class mineralization, the interior of the Kelly Creek Basin has seen limited systematic exploration activity to date because its bedrock is largely covered by syn- to post-mineral volcanic units and post-mineral alluvium. Recognizing the potential to find significant gold mineralization within the Kelly Creek Basin, dozens of major and junior explorers have spent tens of millions of dollars to follow the prospective geology seen in and proximal to the exposed bedrock in the surrounding mountain ranges beneath the sands and gravels covering the Basin. Within the areas controlled by NGE, this activity has included: Santa Fe Pacific completing wide-spaced bedrock mapping drilling in the 1990s; BHP completing an extensive soil auger geochemistry program through the late 1990s; and Placer Dome completing a reconnaissance-scale reverse circulation program in the early 2000s. Other companies that either now hold or have held claims in the immediate area include Newmont, Barrick, AngloGold, Hemlo, Homestake, and Kennecott. The efforts of each company have added valuable information about the geology of the Basin; however, without a cost effective tool to conduct basin-scale exploration beneath the valley cover, the exploration programs to date in the Kelly Creek Basin have predominantly consisted of unsystematic and uncoordinated efforts focused on relatively small areas. NGE has developed its groundwater chemistry exploration technology specifically to complete large-scale exploration for gold in Nevada`s covered basins. NGE is now using this technology to map the elevated concentrations of gold in groundwater along the major structural corridor beneath the Kelly Creek Basin that connects the multi-million-ounce gold deposits to the north and to the south. Since establishing its initial holdings in the Kelly Creek Basin, NGE and its exploration partners have completed major work programs, building a comprehensive exploration dataset to understand the geology beneath the Basin. This exploration dataset now includes: - 1,000 km2 (390 mi2) regional magnetic geophysical survey data; - 670 km2 (260 mi2) detailed air magnetic geophysical survey data; - 1,000 km2 (390 mi2) regional gravity geophysical survey data; - 100 km2 (40 mi2) detailed gravity geophysical survey data; - 33 line-km (21 line-mi) of CSAMT geophysical survey data; - 49 line-km (30 line-mi) 3D reflection seismic survey lines; and - Drilling database containing 31 drill holes from NGE and its exploration partners, plus 114 historic drill holes, representing more than 29,000 metres (95,000 feet) of drilling, including assay results for more than 5,000 drill intervals representing more than 10,000 metres (32,000 feet) of drill assay data. With this unparalleled exploration dataset for the Kelly Creek Basin, NGE is applying the latest in 3D modelling software to build a comprehensive geologic model focused on the central portion of the Basin where NGE has demonstrated the presence of high levels of gold in the groundwater associated with the structural trend connecting the major gold mineralization to the north and south. NGE is now using this updated 3D geologic model to target additional acquisitions along this important trend. With the addition of NGE's new claims, NGE now controls more than 3,100 hectares (7,680 acres) within the Kelly Creek Basin. About Nevada Exploration Inc. NGE is an exploration company focused on gold in Nevada. NGE is led by an experienced management team that has been involved with the discovery of more than 30 million ounces of gold in Nevada. NGE is aggressively applying the latest technology in covered deposit exploration to identify, acquire, and advance new exploration properties in Nevada's highly prospective yet underexplored covered basins. NGE has developed proprietary hydrogeochemistry (groundwater chemistry) exploration technology to explore for gold in Nevada's covered basins where traditional exploration techniques are challenged. Using its industry-leading exploration technology, NGE has assembled a large portfolio of new gold projects, and has established itself as a major player in this world-class jurisdiction. NGE's business model is to leverage its properties and technology to create shareholder value through generative exploration and development. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Wade A. Hodges, CEO & Director, Nevada Exploration Inc., is the Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, and has prepared the technical and scientific information contained in this News Release. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans, and objectives regarding projects, potential transactions, and ventures discussed in this release. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things, the assumption the Company will continue as a going concern and will continue to be able to access the capital required to advance its projects and continue operations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are the risks inherent in mineral exploration, the need to obtain additional financing, environmental permits, the availability of needed personnel and equipment for exploration and development, fluctuations in the price of minerals, and general economic conditions. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2016) - Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. (TSX: XTG) (OTCQB: XTGRF) ("Xtra- Gold" or the "Company") announces that it intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement financing of up to $1,000,000 through the sale of up to 2,500,000 units at $0.40 per Unit, subject to regulatory approval. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half (1/2) of a common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share for $0.65 for a period of 15 months from closing. All securities issued in conjunction with the offering will be subject to applicable hold periods. Finders' fees may be paid in connection with this transaction. This transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Proceeds of the financing will be used for continued exploration on the Company's properties and for general corporate and working capital purposes. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption therefrom. About Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. Xtra-Gold is a gold exploration company with a significant land position in the Kibi greenstone belt ("Kibi Gold Belt") located in Ghana, West Africa. Our main assets comprise of 5 mining leases totaling 55,905 acres. Forward-Looking Statements The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Contact Information For further information please contact: James Longshore Chief Executive Officer 416-366-4227 E-mail: info@xtragold.com Website: www.xtragold.com NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today announced it has reached an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) that will help improve the competitiveness of its Intalco smelter. As a result, the smelter will not curtail at the end of the second quarter as previously announced by the Company. The amendment to the power contract is effective July 1, 2016 through Feb. 14, 2018 and provides for additional access to market power during this period. This short-term amendment with BPA, combined with the state of Washingtons $3 million budget proviso for workforce training, are key factors in helping Intalco remain competitive. Alcoa thanks Governor Inslee; its federal delegation led by Senators Murray and Cantwell, and Representatives DelBene and Larsen; the state legislative delegation led by Senators Ranker and Ericksen; and BPA for their support. Intalco Works, located in Washington State, has a capacity of 279,000 metric tons per year. About Alcoa A global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and manufacturing, Alcoa innovates multi-material solutions that advance our world. Our technologies enhance transportation, from automotive and commercial transport to air and space travel, and improve industrial and consumer electronics products. We enable smart buildings, sustainable food and beverage packaging, high performance defense vehicles across air, land and sea, deeper oil and gas drilling and more efficient power generation. We pioneered the aluminum industry over 125 years ago, and today, our approximately 58,000 people in 30 countries deliver value-add products made of titanium, nickel and aluminum, and produce best-in-class bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum products. For more information, visit www.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoa and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa. Forward Looking Statements This release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as estimates, expects, goal, plans, should, target, will, would, or other words of similar meaning. All statements that reflect Alcoas expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the competitiveness of the Intalco smelter. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, and are not guarantees of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: (a) material adverse changes in aluminum industry conditions, including global supply and demand conditions and fluctuations in London Metal Exchange-based prices and premiums, as applicable, for primary aluminum, alumina, and other products, and fluctuations in indexed-based and spot prices for alumina; (b) Alcoas inability to successfully realize goals established in each of its business segments, at the levels or by the dates targeted for such goals (including moving its alumina and aluminum businesses down on the industry cost curves and increasing revenues and improving margins in its value-add businesses); (c) Alcoas inability to realize expected benefits, in each case as planned and by targeted completion dates, from acquisitions, divestitures, facility closures, curtailments, or expansions, or international joint ventures; (d) political, economic, and regulatory risks in the countries in which Alcoa operates, including unfavorable changes in laws and governmental policies, tax rates, civil unrest, or other events beyond Alcoas control; (e) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings and environmental remediation; (f) deterioration in global economic and financial market conditions generally; and (g) the other risk factors summarized in Alcoas Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Alcoa disclaims any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160502005899/en/ ./ContentItem/Format Alcoa reaches power agreement to improvement competitiveness of Intalco #aluminum smelter Contact Alcoa Investors Matthew Garth, 212-836-2714 Matthew.Garth@alcoa.com or Media Sofina Mirza-Reid, 212-836-2720 Sofina.Mirza-Reid@alcoa.com Play Video Replay Video Play Video Don't Play The secret to a perfect latte Need a little help steaming your milk? Two-time Australian barista champion Craig Simon reveals the secret to making a perfect latte. Craig Simon is a two-time Australian Barista Champion (2014 and 2012) and the head of research, development and innovation at Veneziano Coffee Roasters in Melbourne. Here are his tips for making a great latte at home. The machine: You can spend anything from about $200 to $6000 on a domestic espresso machine. ''Work out how much money you are prepared to spend on an espresso machine and then learn how to make the most of it," says Simon. Factor a good grinder into your budget also. When it comes to milk-based coffees, it's worth splashing out on a machine that has separate boilers for the coffee and for the steam; you'll be able to switch straight from making your espresso shot to texturing your milk and you're less likely to get a watery milk from the steam wand. Wet steam, a common problem with inferior machines, increases the volume of the milk without adding texture (creaminess) so you just get lots of hot milk. Barista Craig Simon pours the perfect latte. Photo: Cal Wood The beans: While the quality and freshness of your beans is important, Craig Simon says it's vital you grind the beans just prior to making your latte. "Once coffee is ground it oxidises and begins to lose flavour." Espresso recipe: To make a great espresso shot you need to control the speed that it pours. You do this by accurately measuring the correct weight of coffee grinds; a good starting point is 20 grams. You then control the speed of the flow with the grind size. The aim is to extract 30mls of espresso in 30 seconds and this is controlled by adjusting the grind size. The finer you grind your beans, the slower the espresso shot will pour. The coarser you grind your beans, the faster the espresso shot will pour. The espresso shot is the flavour of the coffee. Taking the time to make the espresso shot taste good will make your espresso taste better. The milk: Fresh full cream milk straight from the fridge is best. Craig Simon prefers commercial style brands (e.g: Pura) to boutique milks, which he finds overpower the coffee flavour. "I like a nice, creamy milk so the coffee is the hero." Full cream is best. It has more fat and is more elastic and will texture better when steamed. The fat proteins in full cream milk bind with the air to create that lovely latte texture. All milks can be textured, but the proteins in skinny, soy and nut milks tend to fall apart more easily and can result in your latte "splitting". Craig Simon from Veneziano Coffee, Melbourne, is a two-time Australia barista champion. Photo: Cal Wood Texturing (or steaming) the milk: Texturing is when air binds with the milk for a creamy texture. Firstly, make sure you're using an appropriate milk jug; a single or double-cup jug for home should suffice. Now, begin texturing by placing the steam wand into the milk just below the surface. Turn on the steam wand. The milk should begin to spin (a bit like a whirlpool) and you should hear a fine, hissing sound. As the air is incorporated into the milk the volume will expand. Slowly keep lowering the milk just to keep the steam wand at the same level relative to the surface of the milk. Continue spinning until the milk reaches 40 degrees (just more than body temperature warm). Then, lower the wand deeper into the jug to heat the milk a further 20 degrees. The milk is at about 60 degrees when the side of the jug feels almost too hot to touch. This is the right temperature for your latte. Advertisement Pouring: Craig Simon uses a 150ml latte cup because he likes a slightly stronger latte. But most baristas would use a 170-190ml cup or glass. Of this, 30mls should be espresso. In a latte, the top 1cm should be textured milk and the rest hot milk. (During competition Craig actually weighs his milk and uses 135-145 grams of milk per latte.) A latte should be immediately consumable. It's too cold if it tastes overly dairy and fatty. If it's too hot it may taste bitter and you might get a tingling sensation on your tongue. Bitter coffees are more often the result of over-heated milk than of coffee running too slowly through the espresso machine. Latte art? See video above, or this video from Sydney's Grounds of Alexandria. The devil is in the details: How to make a great latte at home. Photo: Cal Wood Lattes versus cappuccinos: Traditionally in Italy a cappuccino just referred to a small cup (ie: lattes were just bigger.) Now in Australia a cappuccino means a 240ml cup, lots of foam and chocolate sprinkles. The sprinkles were traditionally used to cover up the taste of a poorly-made coffee. While you wait: Peter Lew and Nicole Galloway in their new restaurant, Fei Jai Next Door, in Potts Point. Photo: Janie Barrett Fei Jai Next Door opens this week, and you'd be forgiven for thinking its cocktails and dumplings are designed exclusively for customers at its older sibling Fei Jai given it's, well, right next door. "Its actually for the whole area. The idea of it is Potts Point has so many great restaurants but nowhere to go if you're waiting for a table," argues Fei Jai co-owner Peter Lew. Fei Jai Next Door has squeezed into the former Challis Street digs of The Sardine Room, dishing up dumplings, pork belly, tuna tartare spring rolls as well as cocktails. Lew and his team have had a busy month, closing their Bayswater Road Mexican restaurant, Barrio Chino, last week and sliding a burger pop-up in its place. They've also done a deal to look after the food menu at Darlo Country Club on Victoria Street in Darlinghurst. And the culinary direction? "It's very LA country club," the restaurateur says. Market Lane Coffee has opened a cafe at the Paris end of Collins Street. Photo: Simon Schluter Market Lane Coffee's latest cafe has opened in Collins Street with eucalyptus-green walls, copper-trimmed bar, moody lighting, dark timber booth seating and a cake coup they're the first wholesale customer for North Melbourne bakery star Beatrix. Market Lane co-owner Fleur Studd says she has been pursuing Beatrix's Natalie Paull for five years; Paull has come around just in time, supplying lamingtons, yo-yos, fruit crumbles and almond jaws shortbread sandwiches filled with soft caramel. The cafe also has pastries from Noisette. Coffee is the Market Lane seasonal blend for Schulz Organic milk-based espressos, a daily single origin for black espresso and three or four dedicated singles for filter brews, which, with the usual Market Lane attention to the tactile, are served in hand-made mugs by Japanese ceramicist Yumiko Iihoshi. Beatrix is supplying Market Lane Cafe with its lamingtons. Photo: Simon Schluter The new venue, in Portland House at the Parliament end of Collins Street, is Market Lane's most sit-downable: as well as the leather-cushioned booths, wire-frame Trent Jansen Tidal chairs and tables are set, Paris-style, on the Paris end footpath (with soft woollen throws to cushion bony Melbourne bottoms). Open Mon-Fri 7am-3pm. 8 Collins Street, Melbourne, marketlane.com.au Just how important is the ice in an iced drink? That question is now up for debate, as a woman has filed suit against Starbucks, claiming that the coffee chain is "underfilling" its cold beverages, duping customers and serving drinks that contain less coffee than advertised. "Starbucks is misleading customers who expect to receive the advertised amount of fluid ounces," states the class-action lawsuit, which was filed last week in federal court. "For example, if a gallon of gas is advertised as costing three dollars, and a customer pays three dollars and pumps gas, that customer is expecting to receive a gallon of gas - not approximately half a gallon." Starbucks has been under fire for the level of taxes it pays on income. Photo: Adrian Brown The plaintiff who filed the suit, Stacy Pincus, alleges that those who purchase cold beverages at Starbucks receive far less coffee than advertised. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, notes that the claims also apply to iced tea and other cold beverages prepared by Starbucks employees. "We are aware of the plaintiff's claims, which we fully believe to be without merit," Starbucks spokeswoman Jaime Riley said in a statement on Monday. "Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any 'iced' beverage. If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it." On its menus, Starbucks advertises "tall" drinks as 12 fluid ounces (350 mls) ; "grande" drinks as 16 fluid ounces (473 mls) ; "venti"-sized cold drinks as 24 fluid ounces (710 mls); and its "trenta" cold drinks as 30 fluid ounces (887 mls). However, the lawsuit claims, Starbucks baristas pour a smaller amount of coffee into the beverage, then fill the rest with ice. That practice leaves the consumer with less coffee than they pay for, according to the suit. For example, a Starbucks customer who orders a "venti" cold drink gets about 414 mls of the beverage, not 710 mls, the lawsuit claims. "In essence, Starbucks is advertising the size of its cold drink cups on its menu, rather than the amount of fluid a customer will receive when they purchase a cold drink - and deceiving its customers in the process," the lawsuit states. An email sent to Pincus's attorney was not immediately returned. The lawsuit follows controversy involving the sandwich chain Subway, which was sued over "footlong" subs that allegedly didn't quite reach their advertised length. In the wake of those incidents, Subway told the website Eater in a statement that it had "redoubled our efforts to ensure consistency and correct length in every sandwich we serve." "The amount of fluid ounces in a cold drink is a material fact that a reasonable consumer would consider important," the lawsuit against Starbucks states. "Had Plaintiff and the Class known that the cold drinks contained significantly less fluid ounces than represented by Starbucks, they would have not paid as much, if anything, for the cold drinks." The Washington Post SHARE Grocery shoppers can help food banks Grocery shoppers at Albertsons can make a difference by participating in the General Mills Outnumber Hunger campaign. Specially marked products are labeled with promotion codes that can be entered into a website. For every code entered online by Jan. 31, 2017, General Mills will donate 45 cents to Feeding America enough to secure five meals through local food banks in San Angelo and other United Family store locations. Feeding America is the leading domestic hunger-relief organization, reaching out to an estimated 50 million people in the United States. In addition to Albertsons stores, United operates Market Street and Amigos in West Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth and New Mexico, and United Supermarkets in Brownwood and locations north into the panhandle. The San Angelo store is at 3121 Sunset Dr. Homeless coalition updates directory The Concho Valley Homeless Planning Coalition has released its 2016 updated Concho Valley Directory of Social Services, listing organizations, programs and opportunities including employment, health and transportation. The ready-for-print list is available at http://cvhpc.org/resources. Part of the CVHPC mission is to plan and develop a system of activities and projects for the most effective and efficient use of resources to help eliminate homelessness in the Concho Valley. Meetings are held monthly at varying locations around town and are open to the public. For more information check out cvhpc.org or call President Floyd Crider at 325-374-7202. Eat, drink and learn how to network The Young Professionals of San Angelo is hosting a gastronomic networking event for skill-building over four courses. "Mentor Table for 4" will be held May 12 in partnership with the Angelo State University Alumni Association at the LeGrand Alumni & Visitors Center, 1620 University Ave. Cocktails will be served from 5 to 6 p.m. and dinner from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The YPSA describes the networking method: Sit down with strangers. Eat a fantastic course. Utilize your networking skills. Repeat! The event is for members only and is free of charge. To join the organization or to RSVP, email membership@ypsanangelo.org. Seminar to cover basics of startups Ready to turn that business idea into a reality? The Angelo State University Small Business Development Center is hosting "Ready ... Set ... Go ... Essentials to Business Startup" at 6 p.m. Tuesday at no cost. The seminar is designed to present a comprehensive look at the basics of starting a new business, for entrepreneurs and new business owners. "We will help answer your basic business startup questions and share resources that will help you along the way," said training coordinator Dezaray Johnson. "You will learn the basics of writing a business plan, how to estimate startup costs, contacts and resources you will need, and more." Included is an "Essentials of Starting a New Business" workbook, a "Starting a Business in San Angelo" guide and a business plan summary. Advance registration is requested by calling 325-942-2098 or at www.sbdc.angelo.edu. The event will be held at the ASU-SBDC offices downtown at 69 N. Chadbourne St. Energy industry targets hopefuls AUSTIN The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers is launching a new educational program to increase the pool of talent in the oil and gas industry. The "e-Internship" program provides college students the opportunity to complete an internship online without the need for significant travel or time away from their home campus which might be geographically remote from an oil patch. "The oil and gas industry is losing workers at an alarming rate, with more than 80,000 jobs lost in Texas since the downturn began," said Bob Osborne, chairman of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers and vice president of Cobra Oil & Gas Corp.ation. "We know from the past that many of these workers will never return to the oil field. With this new e-Internship program, the alliance is once again going above and beyond to assist our youngest members our student members as well as providing a service to the industry as a whole by preparing a future workforce of educated, qualified oil and gas employees, who will be ready and able to step in once the market improves." The inaugural e-Internship has been awarded to Logan Lewis, a petroleum engineering undergraduate student at the University of Kansas and 2016 recipient of the Joseph King McMahon Petroleum Engineering Scholarship, a scholarship facilitated by the alliance. Lewis will complete his online internship with alliance Executive Vice President John Tintera. The e-Internship program entails weekly professional, online meetings and routine assignments specifically tailored to students' field of study or interest. The program will also include regular evaluations and reviews, as with any traditional internship. It will eventually be incorporated into the alliance's student membership program, the only one of its kind among Texas oil and gas trade associations. The program has more than 70 collegiate student members at approximately 10 universities across the state. The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers is the largest state independent oil and gas trade association in the nation, representing more than 3,000 member companies. For more information, visit www.texasalliance.org. SHARE Jack's building 2nd convenience store Tuesday the San Angelo City Council will discuss zoning for a planned Chick-fil-A to be constructed at 1609 Knickerbocker Road, according to a building permit application submitted to the city in March. The building, at Knickerbocker Road and South Jackson Street, previously housed a bank. The permit application indicates the bank building will be demolished, and a freestanding restaurant with drive-thru lanes and parking will be constructed in its place. The project is valued at $850,000, according to the application. When asked to comment on the planned location, Carrie Kurlander, vice president of Chick-fil-A Inc.'s public relations, said in an email to the Standard-Times, "We are always evaluating potential new locations in the hopes of serving existing and new customers great food with remarkable service. While we hope to serve the San Angelo community in the future, we do not currently have any locations to confirm." The fast-food chicken eatery currently has three locations in San Angelo: on the Angelo State University campus, inside Sunset Mall and the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 2288 and Sherwood Way. The FM 2288 location opened in late 2014 after its location across the street, near Walmart, closed. At the time, the new Chick-fil-A was the only one in Texas to have three drive-thru lanes. According to Chick-fil-A's website, they have restaurants in 42 states and Washington, D.C., with more than 300 locations in Texas. The company's website states: "Chick-fil-A opens a limited number of restaurants each year. The Chick-fil-A Inc. Real Estate Department selects these locations based on corporate goals for expansion in specifically targeted markets and other relevant business factors." Jack's building 2nd convenience store Jack's Convenience Stores has plans to construct another retail store and car wash in San Angelo, at 4515 Knickerbocker Road. According to a building permit application submitted in February to the city of San Angelo's Permits & Inspections Department, Jack's plans to demolish the existing building an Exxon station and build a convenience store with retail items and food, as well as a fuel station and car wash. The project's price tag is estimated at $2 million, according to information on the application. Jack's first opened in San Angelo last year, at 2 N. Koenigheim St. It later opened a car wash and lube center on adjacent property, at 14 N. Koenigheim St. According to the convenience store chain's website, Jack's brand is known for being one of quality. Its convenience stores carry GameGuard attire and Oma's Choice food including beef jerky and pies. Jack's operates other locations in Midland, Fort Stockton and Abilene. SHARE By Staff Report The American Hospital Association on Monday presented Dan Stultz, M.D., past president and CEO of the Texas Hospital Association, with its Honorary Life Membership Award in recognition of his contributions to hospitals and health care in America. The award recognizes individuals who have made important contributions to the health care field and who share the mission, values and goals of the AHA. Stultz received the award at a ceremony at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C. Before his leadership role with THA, Stultz was CEO of Shannon Health System in San Angelo for 13 years. Stultz participated in AHA's policy-making process and served on AHA's Committee on Nominations; Committee on Clinical Leadership; Physician Leadership Forum Advisory Committee; Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence National Leadership Council; Advisory Committee on Physician-Hospital Relationship Strategy; and Expert Advisory Group on Clinical Integration. He was a member of the AHAPAC Steering Committee and the Allied Hospital Association Advisory Group on Health Reform Implementation. "I am so pleased that the AHA has recognized Dan for his contributions to the health care industry not just in Texas but across the nation," said Ted Shaw, president and CEO of the Texas Hospital Association. Stultz earned a bachelor's of science degree at the Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and doctor of medicine at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. In addition, he completed the CompHealth Scholars Program for management in health care at the Kenan-Flagler Business School of University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. SHARE By Ngan Ho of the San Angelo Standard-Times Tuesday is the last day to vote early before the May 7 city elections. Registered voters who wish to cast a paper ballot must vote early, as all voting on election day is done electronically. Tom Green County has two polling places open for early voting the main election office on the first floor of the Edd B. Keyes Building, 113 W. Beauregard Ave., and Wall Brethren Church, 7921 Loop 570 South, for Wall residents. Voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. "I've been pleasantly surprised that we've had a good turnout so far," said Vona Hudson, county elections administrator. "(It) has been a little bit higher than I anticipated, but I'm really happy about that." Hudson said more than 600 people came to vote during the first two days of early voting, which began April 25. Hudson said the second voting branch outside of San Angelo was opened at the request of Wall Independent School District, which is conducting elections for board trustees and a bond election, and only Wall residents are eligible to vote in those elections. In San Angelo, elections are being held to decide the police chief race and three City Council positions. San Angelo Police Chief Tim Vasquez is running for re-election, and faces challengers Mike Hernandez, Jeff Davis and Frank Carter. The police chief serves a four-year term. For San Angelo City Council: SMD 1: Bill Richardson faces Trinidad Aguirre Jr. SMD 3: Daniel "Danny" Cardenas faces Harold "Harry" Thomas SMD 5:, incumbent Councilwoman Elizabeth Miller Grindstaff faces challengers Lane Carter, R.A. Cantrell and Martin W. Guinn. Council members are elected to three-year terms. "This election we have the chief of police which seems to be drawing a lot more interest than maybe it has be in the past," Hudson said. "Since people are kind of interested in the chief of police I think that's why we're seeing a better turnout this year." Hudson stressed that people must go to one of the 20 polling locations throughout town to vote on election day. The election office is not open for voting on election day. "In the primary we had about 400 people that tried to come vote here," she said. "If you want to vote on election day you have to go to one of those 20 locations." One of the voting centers, at St. Paul Presbyterian Church, has been relocated to MHMR Services at 1501 W. Beauregard Ave., Hudson said. "Oftentimes you see the turnout based on what the issues are, what the interest is," she said. "I'm actually pleased that voters are coming out and I hope they continue to do so." The deadline to register or update voter information for the May 24 Primary Runoff election was April 26. Ballot by mail applications for the May 7 election must be received in the election office by May 7. Voting schedules, polling place locations as well as sample ballots may be found on the election website: www.votetomgreencounty.org. For more information, contact the election office at 325-659-6541 or via email: elections@co.tom-green.tx.us. SHARE By Staff Report The Grape Creek Volunteer Fire Department will hold a 24-hour food drive from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. The drive will benefit the Grape Creek community food pantry and the Grape Creek Firefighters' trip to Texas A&M annual Fire School in College Station. While a barbecue and bake sale will help pay for the firefighters' travel and lodging expenses in relation to the trip, firefighters will also accept nonperishable food items for the food pantry in the parking lot of Grape Creek ISD administration building, at 8207 U.S. Hwy 87 N. Monetary donations will also be accepted. For more information, call 325-763-8721. photos by Luke Franke/Naples (Fla.) Daily News Re-creating a moment from 1966: Dennis Puleo (from left), Tom Hanks, Bob DeVenezia (kneeling), and Bob Falk met on Cinnamon Beach pose in Palm Coast, Fla. The original photo was taken when the four Marines were stationed at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego. SHARE Luke Franke/Naples (Fla.) Daily News The four former Marines load up to head to Cinnamon Beach in Palm Coast, Fla., as Bob Falk squeezes the surfboard, essential to the recreation of the photo, onto the elevator April 23, 2016. The group hadn't all been in he same place since being shipped off to fight in the Vietnam War, nearly 50 years ago. Luke Franke/Naples (Fla.) Daily News After re-creating the photo on Cinnamon Beach, Dennis Puleo, Puleo's wife, Joanne, Bob Falk, Bob DeVenezia and Tom Hanks (not pictured) all went out to lunch to tell old war stories and to catch up on each other's lives April 23, 2016, in Palm Coast, Fla. Puleo (from left), Hanks, Falk and DeVenezia view the photograph that was taken nearly 50 years earlier during their weapons training in Oceanside, Calif., to memorize and re-create the scene on Cinnamon Beach. By Jacob Carpenter, Naples (Fla.) Daily News PALM COAST, Fla. They wanted the picture to be just right, to look as close as possible to the one they'd taken together 50 years ago, back when their memories hadn't yet been clouded by the images of war. So Saturday morning, on the sun-drenched Atlantic shore of Cinnamon Beach on Florida's northeast coast, four U.S. Marine veterans gathered around a yellow longboard turned upright, trying to re-create a moment from five decades earlier. Bob Falk, 71, wearing a mirror-image blue-and-white striped shirt, leaned against the longboard's left side, resting his spare hand on his hip. Dennis Puleo, 69, removed his shoes, revealing the feet scarred by shrapnel, and pulled off his shirt, flanking the longboard on the right, mugging a wide smile for the camera with his arms extended. Tom Hanks (not that one), 69, stepped in front of the board and took in a long, deep breath, flexing his still-thick upper chest and sucking in his now-paunchy belly. Finally, Bob DeVenezia, 70, crouched down in front of Hanks, resting his elbows on his knobby knees, feeling Hanks' hands placed on his back. The picture couldn't be a perfect copy. They had gray hair and wrinkled skin and undefined stomachs now. But it didn't matter. For the first time in five decades, they were together, trying to get it right. DeVenezia sat at the kitchen table in his East Naples condominium last week, trying to explain why it'd been 50 years since he'd been in the same room as three of his closest Marine Corps friends. He became quiet for a second, searching for the right words. "We just broke up," DeVenezia said. "Life is funny like that. I didn't keep in touch with any of them. There was something about the Vietnam War and the negativity we kept hearing." In 1966, the four U.S. Marines were stationed together in Camp Pendleton, outside San Diego. The Vietnam War was ramping up, and together, they were part of a weapons platoon three machine gunners and one anti-tank man getting ready to ship off to East Asia. Over the next two years, they'd train together and deploy together. Once in Vietnam, they'd separate, enduring many of the same horrendous conditions, if not the same action. And then, once their tours were over, each lasting no more than 13 months, they went their own ways. They would all build successful careers DeVenezia in construction in New Jersey; Falk in retail management in Florida; Hanks in investment banking in Atlanta; Puleo in home security, some in the Northeast and some in Florida. They would all marry a couple of them twice and raise six children among them. About five years ago, Falk stumbled across an online memorial that Hanks created for a fallen comrade they all knew. That started a chain of events that put the four back in touch. For a while, the four would reunite in fits and starts, a few gathering at a time, but never all at once. Then, when Hanks was flipping through an old photo album, he spotted a picture of the four together on a beach as young Marines. It had been nearly 50 years since the photograph was taken. He got an idea. Nobody can remember the precise date when the picture was taken. Sometime in May 1966. Probably early in the month. What they can agree on is that the snapshot captured a memorable time for the young men ranging from age 19 to 21. They were fresh out of eight will-busting weeks of basic training in Parris Island, now stationed in San Diego's Camp Pendleton, brothers in the weapons platoon of Bravo Company. How did they, of all the Marines in Pendleton, get together? "Nobody knows," DeVenezia said. "We were all on the same boat, we were all on the same weapons platoon, we all knew we were going to be cannon fodder, bodies for Vietnam. And you just hook up." Jacob Musich (center) in court Wednesday. Photo by Michelle Villarreal, www.caller.com SHARE By Michelle Villarreal, Www.Caller.Com CORPUS CHRISTI ? The first of three teens accused of kidnapping and raping an 11-year-old girl pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child Wednesday. In July, Visiting Judge Jack Hunter ruled Jacob Musich, 19, would be tried separately from Colton Visor, 18, and Eric Dimick, 17, who will be tried together. A trial date has not been set for them. A jury will decide Musich punishment, which could range is 5 to 99 years in prison. The three teens were indicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault in the Dec. 27 abduction of a girl in the 6900 block of Braesvalley Drive. The indictment accuses Musich of sexually assaulting her and Dimick and Visor of helping. Musich, Dimick and Visor were arrested about 4 a.m. Dec. 30. Last month prosecutors filed a document detailing Musich's history that speak to his character. The offenses include that Musich admitted to thinking about children when he masturbated, according to court records. They also say he hunted possums and stabbed them with knives, he has an October 2012 theft charge as well as a September 2011 possession of marijuana charge, and he went to a drug rehabilitation facility in October 2012 but relapsed and continued to use drugs, according to court records. According to the Texas Penal Code, additional evidence may be offered during the sentencing phase of the trial, which includes prior criminal history, his general reputation, his character, an opinion regarding his character and the circumstances of the offense for which he is being tried. Prosecutors could call to testify Corpus Christi Independent School District employees, Corpus Christi police, employees from Driscoll Children's Hospital and Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab and Musich's mother, according to court documents. A gag order was imposed that prevents attorneys and involved parties from talking to the media or the public. During an August hearing, Dimick's attorney, Kenneth Botary, read sections of Musich's police interview during a hearing last month that detailed the incident. Police asked Musich if anyone tried to stop the sexual assault. Musich told police the teens each planned to have sex with the girl, but after Musich stopped the sexual assault, Visor and Dimick no longer wanted to. The 11-year-old girl rode her bicycle alongside her 13-year-old brother and a dog when she was pulled into the passenger side of a Chevy Suburban and blindfolded. She told police a man poured a gel between her legs, and she described a sexual assault that caused pain, according to an arrest affidavit. The girl was released about an hour later on a Padre Island beach and walked to the area of Sea Pines Drive and Park Road 22, where she flagged down a driver, police said. Visor drove the van, Dimick grabbed the girl and Musich assaulted her, according to Musich's interview. They each are being held in the Nueces County Jail on $1 million bail. SHARE Who were the meanest men and women in Texas? Who were among the top 10? Picking the top 10 of anything is almost impossible, but an attorney and an Oklahoma newspaperman have come up with the characters that can fill the role of the most terrible in Texas. A Louisiana firm, Pelican Publishing Co. of Gretna, has come out with an excellent book titled Ten Deadly Texans, written by Laurence Yadon and Dan Anderson and edited by Robert Barr Smith. My review copy, containing 334 pages with photos and index in soft cover, has provided some great reading these hot summer nights. It was a welcome escape from more than two weeks of the Michael Jackson saga and all the debate over health care reform. Yadon and Anderson have done a good job of retelling some of the stories of our states toughest bad men. Long known for their colorful characters, including both good guys and bad guys, the authors have loaded their latest book with well-researched material that takes away the chaff between truth and legend, myth and folklore. The books host of characters range from the Civil War days to the Great Depression, from cow ponies and six-shooters to speedy Ford V8s and tommy guns. Yadon, an attorney, mediator, arbitrator and speaker on legal matters and American history, and Anderson, an award-winning newspaper reporter-photographer, have done a remarkable job of finding new material on some of the folks riding the hoot owl trail. I had read the pairs earlier books on Oklahoma outlaws and lawmen and Texas 200 most-bloodied shootists, so I was looking forward to this latest effort. The wait was worth it. The men say in the books preface that their selection of the 10 Worst Texas Outlaws may be controversial to some. I do not see any reason for them to apologize because they examined the many gunfighters involved and the notoriety of their misdeeds. The book covers a fairly lengthy time period, starting in 1835 with the reconstruction and notorious outlaw Cullen Montgomery Baker and proceeding through 1935 when the Barrow gang members Joe Palmer and Ray Hamilton were executed in Texas Old Sparky electric chair in Huntsville. Many of the outlaws included in the narrative have been featured in other books and magazines, but several have been overlooked by storytellers, including Baker; train robber Joel Berry, an associate of Sam Bass; Mannen Clements Sr., a cousin of John Wesley Hardin; and Marshal Ratliff, better known as the Santa Claus robber. Ratliffs bloody trail from a Cisco bank in 1927 led to the Texas Bankers Association putting a bounty on bank robbers, paying $5,000 dead or alive preferably dead. Ratliff eventually would be lynched about two years later after a failed escape attempt. For an entertaining read about Texans who chose a deadly path filled with spilled blood, high drama and pure excitement, this books for you. Thought for the week: Your best friend is the one who is a friend without expecting anything. Ill be seeing you Out Yonder. Ross McSwain can be contacted at yonder11@suddenlink.net, or by checking his Web site www.rossmcswain.com. The Obama administration released a new set of rules last week for managed care plans under Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The document, clocking in at 1,425 pages, mostly strengthens and modernizes existing rules. But there are some sweeping changes.Perhaps most notably, states now must set maximum time and distance standards to ensure that there are enough doctors in the right places. What the maximum time and distance will be is left up to the individual states to decide.This has the potential to be a game-changer for rural areas, which have more Medicaid patients but far fewer doctors than urban areas. While 21 percent of rural residents are on Medicaid -- compared with 16 percent in urban areas -- only 10 percent of doctors are located in rural areas.Health officials, though, wonder -- and worry about -- how these standards will be executed.How does a state like Nevada write such a standard when most people live in one area? said Maggie Elehwany, government affairs and policy vice president for the National Rural Health Association. The sparsely populated state has a high concentration of people in the southern part, which could make it difficult to create a standard to serve all residents. "We know what CMS [the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid] is trying to do, so were happy about it because there is such a workforce shortage. But it is really hard right now to see what states are going to do."What wouldnt be helpful, according to Elehwany, is for states to simply set high time and distance maximums -- like three hours and 100 miles. That wont ensure or improve access to care and will just be another regulation for states to follow, she said.Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, said the new regulations have been well-received from officials he's talked to, but "it's going to take a lot of energy and resources to come into compliance, and health officials need to start thinking: How do you roll this out in a way that makes sense? Whats the right way -- not easiest -- to measure access to care?As officials digest all 1,400 pages of the new rules, Elehwany hopes the federal government will back the new regulations with funding for programs.There are a great community-based services that could be launched or ramped up that could reduce health disparities," she said. "Rural areas have a tremendous need not only for care but for community health workers who understand the culture. Those are the people best positioned to encourage these populations to stay healthy."Many states have already made attempts to address the doctor shortage in rural areas. Alaska, for example , works with the state university to disperse mental health providers in the most far-flung areas; more than half the states encourage the use of telemedicine ; Missouri lets medical school graduates practice in rural areas without completing a residency; and roughly a dozen states have formed a pact that makes it easier for doctors to practice in multiple states.Despite all of these attempts, the drought of medical help remains for much of rural America. The first officially reported death Friday in the United States from Zika-related complications, a 70-year-old man in Puerto Rico, intensified a partisan battle on Capitol Hill over $1.9 billion in emergency funds blocked for two months by Republicans.With Florida claiming the highest number of cases of the deadly virus, lawmakers from the Sunshine State pushed GOP leaders to take up the appropriations supplemental bill that President Barrack Obama sent to Congress two months ago."The death of an American citizen should serve as a wake-up call to all those in Congress who continue to block our efforts to stop the spread of this virus," Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said. "While this may be the first Zika-related death in our country, it won't be the last if Congress does not start taking this virus seriously."Nelson last week filed legislation to provide the $1.9 billion in emergency funds for Zika research, most of which would go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Benjamin Haynes, a spokesman for the CDC, said Friday that the Puerto Rican man, from the metro area of the U.S. territory's capital of San Juan, died earlier this year."He had Zika, the Zika had cleared, but shortly after, he started bleeding internally," Haynes told McClatchy. "He went to hospital. That's when he died."The unidentified man's death was first documented in the CDC's weekly report on the mosquito-borne virus. The official cause of death was thrombocytopenia, a severe drop in the number of platelets that can lead to severe bleeding."I'm saddened to learn that we have already suffered our first death from the Zika virus, and my thoughts are with the victim's family," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., said. "As I've said for months, this is an unfolding public health crisis in Florida and Puerto Rico and, soon, other parts of the nation."Wasserman Schultz, who is chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, added: "We need House Republicans to stop dragging their feet on emergency supplemental funding for Zika and join President Obama and congressional Democrats by taking immediate action to arrest this burgeoning health crisis."While the Zika virus is spread primarily by two types of mosquitoes, Wasserman Schultz cited recent evidence that it can also be sexually transmitted.Wasserman Schultz earlier this week introduced legislation to provide the $1.9 billion. She was joined by Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.Puerto Rico has 599 cases of Zika, according to CDC data, far more than any other state or territory. Florida has 93 cases and New York has 77, which combined represents 40 percent of all cases nationwide.The biggest health threat from Zika is to pregnant women and their newborn children.One of the most serious effects of the virus is microcephaly, which causes babies' heads to be much smaller than normal. Zika can also cause brain damage, seizures, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, feeding problems, hearing loss and vision problems in infants.Female Democratic senators spoke out forcefully Thursday in a prolonged partisan fight over the emergency Zika funding on the Senate floor, among them Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Patty Murray of Washington state.Sen. Marco Rubio, the failed 2016 GOP White House candidate, broke with other GOP senators in a passionate plea for the emergency funds.On a recent trip back home, the Florida Republican said, he met with local and state public health officials and representatives of Florida's 1 million-strong Puerto Rican community, the nation's largest."I met with doctors who live in Miami-Dade County and also officials in Miami-Dade County," Rubio said. "They are freaked out about the Zika thing. I don't know any other term to use. If they are freaked out, then I am very concerned about it as well."Rubio warned that with a large number of Zika cases already documented in Brazil, tens of thousands of people potentially exposed to the virus will travel through Florida and other states to and from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro."It is the obligation of the federal government to keep our people safe, and this is an imminent and real threat to the public safety and security of our nation and our people," Rubio said. "So the money is going to be spent. The question is: Do we do it now, before this has become a crisis, or do we wait for it to become a crisis?"Senate Republicans, however, said that emergency funding was not needed. They said previously appropriated money to combat the Ebola virus, which first broke out in West Africa almost three years ago, could be shifted for Zika research and treatment.If additional Zika funds are needed, they said, the money could be provided through the normal appropriations process now underway in Congress.Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, noted that Ebola turned out to be less of a threat than originally predicted in suggesting that the current concern over Zika could be overblown."Our (Democratic) friends across the aisle have requested a $1.9 billion blank check, and they haven't told us what the plan is for the use of the funds," Cornyn said.Saying the emergency funds would be "deficit spending that adds to the debt," Cornyn said: "The (Nelson) legislation completely lacks any sort of accountability that would only come through a regular appropriations process where we consider this in a deliberate sort of way."CDC spokesman Haynes, however, said the supplemental money is needed now."There's a lot of work that needs to be done to help in this outbreak of the Zika virus with surveillance and trying to find a vaccine," he said. "The biggest threat is to pregnant women. All of our efforts are focused on trying to fight this outbreak and protect pregnant women." Texas can continue enforcing its voter ID law while a lower court considers its constitutionality, the U.S. Supreme Court said Friday, a win for Republican state officials that nonetheless came with a time limit.The high court's brief order acknowledged the looming November general election and invited the law's opponents to renew efforts to block the voter ID law if the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delayed its ruling beyond July 20.The 5th Circuit will hear oral arguments on the case May 24 in New Orleans.The state law, passed in 2011 with strong support from Republicans and opposition by Democrats, requires Texans to present an approved form of photo ID before casting a ballot. Acceptable documents include a Texas driver's license, Texas-issued license to carry a handgun, U.S. military ID and U.S. passport.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other Republican officials praised the Supreme Court's order, saying the voter ID law is essential to combat fraud at the ballot box."Texas enacted a common-sense law to provide simple protections to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process in our state," Paxton said.Voters and elected Democratic officials challenged the law, saying it improperly limits the voting rights of minority, lower-income and older Texans who are less likely to have approved forms of photo identification. Opponents also say the law is unnecessary because voter fraud is exceedingly rare."The hostility that Gov. Abbott and other Texas leaders hold against Hispanics, African-Americans, the very young and very old in Texas is defined by their relentless drive to enforce a discriminatory voter ID law," said Matt Angle, director of the Lone Star Project, a liberal political advocacy group.The Texas secretary of state's office estimated in 2011 that about 605,500 registered Texas voters might lack a state-issued license or ID.Opponents won an early victory when a federal district judge ruled that the law was created with a racially discriminatory purpose.That ruling was partially upheld last year by a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court, which ruled that Texas' voter ID law violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting procedures that discriminate on the basis of race, skin color or ethnicity.But at the urging of Paxton, the entire 5th Circuit stepped in last March, blocking the panel's ruling so all 15 active judges can decide whether the law was constitutional.That ruling was generally considered to be favorable to supporters of the law because Republican presidents have appointed 10 of the court's 15 judges. A top Los Angeles County sheriff's official has resigned amid mounting criticism over emails he sent mocking Muslims, blacks, Latinos, women and others from his work account during his previous job with the Burbank Police Department, the Sheriff's Department announced Sunday.After previously saying that he had no immediate plans to discipline his chief of staff, Sheriff Jim McDonnell said in a statement that he had accepted Tom Angel's resignation and intended to turn the controversy into a "learning opportunity" for his department employees."This incident is one that I find deeply troubling," McDonnell said. "Despite the Sheriff's Department's many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do."McDonnell said he would introduce random audits of employee email accounts and would meet with community groups to "share thoughts and ideas about improving our understanding of the varied cultures and orientations and deepening our appreciation of the many ethnicities and religions that are part of the vibrant fabric of the population we serve." The department would also examine its training and existing policies for "ensuring accountability and enhancing cultural and ethnic sensitivity," he said.Angel's resignation came after The Times published emails obtained under the state's open records act. The forwarded emails prompted numerous civil rights advocates to call on the sheriff to discipline his chief of staff. By Sunday, the consensus was that Angel should step down or be fired.Angel did not respond to messages seeking comment. He previously told The Times that he did not mean to embarrass or demean anyone. He said it was unfortunate that his work emails could be obtained by the public under the state's records laws.It is unclear what lasting effect, if any, the controversy will have on McDonnell's standing among local civil rights advocates.McDonnell was elected in November 2014 as an outsider promising to steer the agency past an era in which some deputies beat jail inmates and others were found to have singled out African Americans and Latinos in the Antelope Valley for harassment. He brought Angel, a veteran sheriff's official, back from Burbank as a key member of his reform administration.Angel's resignation was welcomed by many of the civil rights advocates who had called on McDonnell to act, though some said the sheriff should have done more sooner. McDonnell had previously said he was disappointed by the emails but didn't have plans to take action because Angel sent the messages while working for Burbank.Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said Angel's resignation was not a moment to rejoice but to "roll up our sleeves and help the sheriff develop a culture of partnership and accountability and transparency within his office."Haroon Manjlai, a spokesman for the greater L.A. chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the sheriff's decision to accept his chief of staff's resignation sent an important message going forward."Hopefully now, if incidents like these happen again, the precedent is to step down or be dismissed," Manjlai said. "It promotes zero tolerance when it comes to any kind of xenophobic or insensitive behavior to any community."Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, said the sheriff should have acted against Angel rather than wait for public criticism to build."You're not doing anything if your initial reaction is, 'That's horrible, that's terrible, but there's nothing I can do or nothing I intend to do,'" Hutchinson said. "This is your department. You are the man at the top, you set the direction, the tempo, the climate for the department. If you don't take action, what you're saying is the department doesn't care."Hutchinson, who last week called for an audit of all sheriff's employee emails, said he plans to monitor the email audits and push to make sure the results are made public.Esther Lim, director of the Jails Project at the ACLU of Southern California, called McDonnell's initial reaction "a little passive.""When you have someone high up in the administration sending off inappropriate emails, and the sheriff is slow to respond, that communicates to the line staff that it's a behavior that's OK, when it's not," Lim said.The uproar echoes recent controversies in other cities. In San Francisco and Ferguson, Mo., police officials who sent racially derogatory emails or text messages were placed on leave or fired.Angel's emails were sent in 2012 and 2013 when he was the No. 2 police official in Burbank. There, too, he had been brought in to reform an agency reeling from misconduct in its ranks, including allegations of brutality, racism and sexual harassment."I took my Biology exam last Friday," said one of the emails, which The Times obtained from the city of Burbank under the state's public records law. "I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently 'Blacks' and 'Mexicans' were NOT the correct answers."Another email ridiculed concerns about the racial profiling of Muslims as terrorism suspects. A third included the subject line "How dumb is dumb?" and listed 20 reasons "Muslim Terrorists are so quick to commit suicide," including "Towels for hats," "Constant wailing from some idiot in a tower" and "You can't wash off the smell of donkey."Four of the emails contained strings of jokes that Angel received and then forwarded. A city spokesman said the other senders and recipients were redacted because they did not work for the city, and releasing their identities would be an invasion of privacy.A fifth email was a short dialogue between Angel and another Burbank police official in which Angel asked what he called a trivia question: "How many virgins do Muslims get in heaven?"Some who worked with Angel in Burbank defended him, calling him a respectful leader who comfortably interacted with different ethnic groups."I saw nothing but the highest levels of conduct," said Burbank City Councilman David Gordon.Angel's departure will be a big loss for the sheriff, who as an outsider relied on him as a right-hand man to help sort out the 18,000-member department's inner workings."Tom Angel's career within the Sheriff's Department was extraordinary," said Brian Moriguchi, president of the union that represents sheriff's supervisors. "He came back to help the sheriff rebuild from the previous administration's corruption and other problems, and he was well-intentioned and well-respected. But that doesn't excuse his conduct, either." Last year, the city of St. Paul, Minn., won a$175,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to hire a so-called 8-80 Vitality Fellow, a first-of-its-kind position in local government. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman got the idea for the fellowship from urbanist Gil Penalosa, a former parks commissioner in Bogota, Colombia, who argues that cities should be safe and welcoming to citizens of all backgrounds and ages (fromyears old).In 2014, Coleman invested $40 millionin a package of infrastructure projects that would further his goal of making St. Paul an 8-80 city. The money covers street improvements, the acquisition of land for parks, the renovation of a historic theater and the addition of bike lanes. With the Knight Foundation grant, Coleman's office hired Margaret Jones, the city's first 8-80 Vitality Fellow, to support the projects and ensure that the 8-80 principles inform the work of every city agency. Much of the job involves going out into the community, making presentations, hosting events and building relationships with residents who want to help make the city a more fun and equitable place to live and work.In April, Jones spoke withabout her 18-month fellowship. The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.The main thing I do is look across the departments and make connections between people in the community and in city departments. A big thing in the job description was silo-busting -- getting people to work across departments. Although, I have found that its not just getting people to work across departments butdepartments.Im bringing in speakers almost on a monthly basis, and weve been successful in getting a variety of people to listen to these talks. Weve had people in the audience from the city, from the county, from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, from nonprofits and from downtown business associations. Its getting people from within the city and across departments to start talking to one another.I dont know of any. I dont know that I would continue calling the position an 8-80 fellow. Its kind of a fun title because people are like, Whats that? But I dont think it's necessarily useful in terms of talking with other cities. We usually have to explain it, so I think one of the things I would recommend is crafting a new title.I was the executive director for a neighborhood nonprofit community council. Within that neighborhood, I had been working on issues with different people in the city, in different departments -- police, public works, parks -- and in local businesses. I had an understanding of the role that the community plays and the role the community thinks it should play. When I was in the community, I would hear this idea of The City, this entity thats sort of out there. So one of the things Ive been trying to do since Ive been here is put a face on the city, so its not just this idea of this huge government entity that can be perceived as an obstacle. More often than not, I think its just that people dont realize all of the workings of the city. I feel like I am a face in the city that people can identify and call. I think thats huge for any place.If not an 8-80 Vitality Fellow, then I still think there should be some position that is trying to do the kinds of things that Im doing. I definitely think theres been a value added, for sure.One of the things Ive been asked to do is write a report and make recommendations. So my first recommendation will be that they keep me on. [Laughs] But in all seriousness, I do think that there is a place for me. Because of the role that I have now and the role that I had before this job, I know a lot of people in the community. I get calls from the strangest places and from people all across different disciplines, and theyre calling to ask me to help them get something going. Theyre asking me to help make a connection. (TNS) -- Popular peer-to-peer payment service Venmo is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission in connection with possible unfair and deceptive practices.Its the latest sign of increased regulatory scrutiny of emerging financial technology firms, and at least the second time Venmo may have run afoul of regulators.Venmos parent, San Jose payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc., disclosed the investigation Thursday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.The FTC, which enforces consumer protection and antitrust laws, in March demanded documents and other information from PayPal to determine whether we, through our Venmo service, have been or are engaged in deceptive or unfair practices in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the company reported.FTC spokesman Jay Mayfield confirmed the company is under investigation but declined to provide additional details.PayPal spokeswoman Amanda Miller said the company is cooperating with the commission.We are completely aligned with regulators in their efforts to ensure that consumers have positive experiences when using our services, Miller said in an emailed statement. We consult and collaborate with regulators and work hard to comply with laws and regulations in the markets where we do business, around the world.The Federal Trade Commission Act generally prohibits unfair and deceptive practices across a wide range of industries. Often, violations of the act amount to a lack of disclosure about fees or other practices.In the case of Venmo, theres little indication of what the commission could be looking for.The service, which allows users to send money to each other using a smartphone app, is free for users who link their Venmo accounts to bank accounts or most debit cards. Venmo charges a 3 percent fee to transfer money from credit cards and some debit cards.The investigation comes as California and federal regulators, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees banks, have taken a more active interest in financial technology firms.Though much of regulators focus so far has been on online lenders, Venmo has attracted regulatory scrutiny before. In 2014, the company was reprimanded by the California Department of Business Oversight in connection with consumer privacy issues and fraud-prevention practices.Venmo is one of PayPals fastest-growing business lines, with the volume of money transferred through the service hitting $3.2 billion in the first three months of this year up more than 150 percent from the same period in 2015.But PayPal brings in relatively little revenue from Venmo, given that many users pay no fees. The company reported that the FTC investigation could lead to substantial costs in the form of legal fees, fines and other expenses. 7 Reasons You Should Care if the United Kingdom (UK) Leaves the European Union (EU) World-class wind All-day energy Mixed winds Lobbying money (TNS) -- Towering turbines in Maine and New York -- and off the Atlantic Coast -- could ease a looming energy crunch in Massachusetts, and wind energy companies want the state to support their budding industry.Lawmakers are discussing plans to force utilities to enter long-term contracts with clean energy providers to replace the energy created by retiring nuclear and coal-fired power plants, while cutting carbon emissions and potentially lowering electricity prices.The outcome of those talks could affect the state's energy production and electricity costs for decades.Environmentalists want wind -- in addition to solar and hydropower -- to play a major part in the renewable energy mix."We want to see the offshore wind industry launched at scale in our state," said Josh Craft, program director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts, one of several groups pushing the state to expand its use of clean energy. "Harnessing this natural resource will help us meet energy needs while creating jobs and reducing carbon emissions."The demand for new sources of electricity is drawing some of the world's biggest wind companies to the region, and a range of projects are in various stages of development to feed power-hungry Southern New England.Denmark-based Dong Energy has leased 187,000 acres of federal waters off Martha's Vineyard where it wants to build a wind farm with capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts - enough to power 1 million homes. The project 15 miles off the coast is called Bay State Wind.Denmark gets nearly half of its electricity from wind power and boasts some of the lowest energy prices in Europe. Dong Energy has built 14 offshore wind farms in northern Europe, including the worlds largest in the Thames Estuary.Thomas Brostrm, Dong's general manager for North American operations, said strong winds off the Southern New England coast are similar to those of the areas of Europes North Sea, where the company developed several large-scale offshore wind farms.We see a lot of potential in the Massachusetts market," he said. "And there's is a big demand for renewable energy."The area off Martha's Vineyard was one of several leased by the U.S. Interior Department to developers for offshore wind farms.By the end of the year, Rhode Island-based Deepwater Wind plans to flip the switch on the country's first offshore wind farm in state-owned waters near Martha's Vineyard.Its 30-megawatt project, with an estimated price tag of $300 million, consists of five, 600-foot offshore wind turbines that will provide ample electricity to nearby Block Island and the Rhode Island mainland.Deepwater Wind has signed a 20-year contract with National Grid to sell the power, starting at 24 cents per kilowatt hour."The Northeast is perfect for this industry because we have world-class winds," said Jeff Grybowski, CEO of Deepwater Wind.Because wind is stronger on the ocean, developers can use larger turbines that spin more rapidly and efficiently, he said.Deepwater Wind has also leased 250 square miles from the feds for a much larger project about 20 miles into the Atlantic Ocean."That area has the capacity to install a few hundred turbines to supply energy to Massachusetts," Grybowski said.Nationally, wind generation rose 5.1 percent last year, driven by federal tax credits that saved developers millions of dollars. Congress has renewed the tax credits until the end of this year.Overall, the wind industry employs more than 70,000 people in 43 states, most in Texas and California, the two biggest wind power markets, according to the American Wind Energy Association.Like solar energy, the prices of wind energy have plummeted in recent years, which has stirred consumer interest.The average long-term contract price for wind power paid by utilities has dropped 60 percent since 2009, falling to about $25 per megawatt hour, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.Within Massachusetts, wind companies say large-scale onshore projects aren't feasible for many reasons - mostly because of the state's geography, low winds over land and safety concerns from installing turbines near homes.That hasn't stopped companies from figuring out how to harness wind power in places where turbines are more easily erected, and moving the energy across state lines.Wakefield-based Anbaric Transmission and National Grid, one of the regions largest utilities, are pursuing a pair of projects that would link onshore wind farms in Maine and Vermont, along with Canadian hydropower, to provide electricity in Southern New England.Ed Krapels, Anbarics CEO, said the mix will produce clean energy all day -- not just when the wind blows."The combination of wind and hydropower is really best way to reliably meet our clean energy goals and diversify our energy portfolio," said Krapels, a native of the Netherlands who lives in Andover. "The potential for these projects is huge."The company's Maine Green Line project would carry about 1,000-megawatts of hydro- and wind-generated electricity through an underwater cable, along the floor of the Gulf of Maine, to Greater Boston.Its Vermont Green Line would provide about 400-megawatts to the region from wind farms in upstate New York, and hydropower from Hydro-Quebec, through a line under Lake Champlain.Combined, the projects would provide enough electricity to power nearly 1 million homes, Krapels said.Cities and towns also see promise in onshore wind energy. Some -- including Gloucester, Newburyport, Lynn and Revere -- have put up turbines on former landfills or tracts of open space to offset their energy costs and generate revenue.Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said those wind projects are more suitable for coastal communities or those in high elevations. Most cities and towns that build a clean energy portfolio, he said, tap large-scale solar farms."Solar power has a much more broader application than wind in most communities," he said. "It really depends on the location."Massachusetts has a mixed record with wind energy. The Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound, which faced legal challenges and opposition from residents of Cape Cod and the islands, foundered last year when its backers couldn't meet financing deadlines.And the Legislature has previously failed to agree on wind energy policies.As part of a new energy bill, lawmakers are seeking a special carve-out for offshore wind that would require the state's publicly regulated utilities to enter into purchase agreements with companies such as Deepwater Wind and Dong Energy.Wind developers with rights to offshore tracts would compete against each other to fill the state's energy quotas.Wind companies say a regulatory framework is crucial for the industry."One of things we've always lacked is a long-term vision for how to build out the wind industry," Grybowski said. "Like most new industries, it needs a clear, consistent set of guidelines from the government as to how to proceed."Lending political clout to the effort is Rep. Patricia Haddad, D-Somerset, the House Speaker Pro-tem and a wind energy proponent.House Speaker Robert DeLeo has also expressed his support for wind energy, telling the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce in a speech last month that yet-to-be-filed energy legislation will include provisions supporting offshore wind development.Project developers will have to demonstrate cost benefits, feasibility and a guarantee that their power will be delivered during critical times, like the terrible winter we experienced last year, said DeLeo, who offered few specifics about the bill.Gov. Charlie Baker also wants to pursue a mix of renewable energy to offset the expected loss of 10,000 megawatts from coal- and oil-burning plants while cutting the state's carbon output. His plan, which hinges on lawmakers' approval, calls on the state's utilities to import at least 1,200 megawatts of hydropower per year, supplemented by wind and solar energy.Companies that could get a piece of the action are lobbying lawmakers.Offshore Wind Massachusetts, an advocacy group founded last year by several wind power companies, spent $197,500 last year lobbying Beacon Hill, according to filings with the secretary of state. Dong Energy spent $55,000 on lobbying last year, according to the filings.Still, the projects face myriad federal and state regulatory hurdles, as well as opposition from business groups and power generators who strongly oppose government carve-outs and subsidies for clean energy.Likewise, wind farm projects in New York and Maine face opposition from those unhappy that the intrusive developments are benefiting other states."We don't want to become a wind plantation for Southern New England," said Chris O'Neil, a member of the nonprofit group Friends of Maine's Mountains. "If they need more energy, they should be investing in their own infrastructure." Frustration with TCEQ Undermining state authority City inspections allowed (TNS) -- The Texas Supreme Court on Friday struck down Houston's air quality ordinances, ruling the city overstepped its authority to police polluters and handing industry advocates a major victory.In an 8-1 decision, the justices ruled that ordinances requiring businesses to pay registration fees and allowing criminal sanctions for emissions violations were inconsistent with state law.The Business Coalition for Clean Air Appeal Group, which includes giants such as Exxon Mobil and Dow Chemical Company, accused the city in a 2008 lawsuit of creating an "enforcement regime" that goes beyond its role permitted under state law.In 2014, about 2,800 businesses were registered with the city, which collected nearly $1.5 million through the program that year."What the city is trying to do is not consistent with what the Legislature has decided," said Evan Young, an attorney for the coalition. "This ruling sends the message that clear, evenhanded statewide regulation is something the Texas Supreme Court takes seriously."City Attorney Donna Edmundson issued a statement saying the court's decision "will not dampen the city's efforts" to assist the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality with the enforcement of environmental laws. The statement said the city will employ "other legal mechanisms" allowed under state law to monitor and take action against polluters. A spokeswoman said the city hadn't decided whether to appeal.Adrian Shelley, executive director of the advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, said the decision was "not the least bit surprising" but dismaying nonetheless."It's pretty in-keeping with both previous judicial decisions and the direction in which our state government is moving," he said.He cited the state Legislature's passage of a bill last session that caps the amount local governments can collect through environmental lawsuits, Gov. Greg Abbott's filing of a brief in support of the industry advocates in this case, and a prior legal case that made its way to the Texas Supreme Court."There will be more polluters who pollute with impunity," Shelley said. "There will be a little poorer public health in the city as a result."Houston battled smoggy skies for decades and has failed to comply with federal ozone standards. The 10-county area includes the largest petrochemical complex in the country, hundreds of chemical plants and a bustling port.Under the ordinances, the city collects registration fees from companies in order to investigate potential violations of air pollution laws.City officials have defended the ordinances since their passage in 2007, arguing they helped fill an enforcement gap created by understaffing at TCEQ, the state agency responsible for monitoring and punishing polluters.The city said legal mechanisms it could use against polluters include requesting that TCEQ investigate suspected polluters, seeking injunctive relief and penalties in civil court against suspected violators and notifying TCEQ of violations deemed to be criminal in nature.Former Mayor Bill White pushed for the ordinances after growing frustrated with TCEQ. He and City Council members voted to amend a 1992 ordinance and start requiring businesses to pay registration fees based on their size and emissions. The fees range from $130 for a dry cleaning plant with fewer than six employees to $3,200 for plants emitting more than 10 tons annually of airborne contaminants.The ordinances also authorized city health officers to seek civil, administrative and criminal sanctions for violations that can be prosecuted in municipal court, with fines of up to $2,000 per day for repeat violators.For years, industry groups have argued that the city ordinances interfere with TCEQ's enforcement authority.A Harris County district court judge sided with industry advocates and enjoined the city from enforcing the ordinance in March 2011. The city appealed, and in 2013, the First District Court of Appeals overturned the lower court's decision.Abbott filed a brief in August in support of the industry group, saying the city's ordinance interferes with TCEQ's enforcement powers and could harm mom-and-pop businesses like dry cleaners.The justices wrote in their opinion Friday that if the TCEQ chose not to take enforcement action against a company, it did not give the city the legal authority to step in."By authorizing criminal prosecution even when the TCEQ determines an administrative or civil remedy -- or even no penalty at all -- to be the appropriate remedy, the city effectively moots the TCEQ's discretion and the TCEQ's authority to select an enforcement mechanism," the opinion states. "This is impermissible."Similar ordinances are in place elsewhere in the state, including in San Antonio.Even without the city ordinances, state law allows city personnel to enter and inspect facilities, Young added. Cities also can contract with TCEQ to help with enforcement under its supervision.Local governments also can sue polluters in civil district courts, but only with approval of the local governing body and if TCEQ joins as a party.Young said the industry group "has never tried to undermine the importance of state environmental law.""What matters," he said, is that enforcement is "done in a safe, efficient, clear, evenhanded way." (TNS) -- WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann is convinced that crushing terrorist groups like ISIS will not only involve defeating them on the battlefield, it will mean beating them in the propaganda war, too."We need to use every tool in our arsenal," the Ooltewah Republican said.One of the most potent tools in that arsenal, he believes, are the words of people have been involved in these organizations, impressionable men and women who have taken up their cause, observed the groups from the inside, fought alongside their fighters and then have become disillusioned by what they've seen.Fleischmann is pushing legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to use testimonials from former extremists and defectors to counter-message the propaganda that groups like ISIS offer up in their recruitment efforts.The legislation, which the House approved Tuesday night on a 322-79 vote, is in part a response to last summer's shootings at two military institutions in Chattanooga that killed five servicemen. The FBI has said the gunman, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, was inspired by foreign terrorist organizations.No one will ever know for sure what causes people like Abdulazeez, who grew up in a middle-class neighborhood just a few miles from Chattanooga and led a mostly trouble-free life, to buy into the radical ideology that groups like ISIS are peddling, Fleischmann said.But, "if we can we can prevent one person from going down that horrific path toward ISIS by using a bill like mine and other measures that are available to us, we need to have an all-out war to combat ISIS and their horrible ideology," said Fleischmann, whose congressional district includes Chattanooga."ISIS is spewing a very dangerous message to some people who are sadly impressionable and have taken the bait," he said. "We want to make sure that bait is poison."ISIS runs a sophisticated social media and online network to spread its message and recruit young people to its cause. Besides producing slick videos, the group has also used hip hop music and video games as part of its recruitment tools.Fleischmann's bill would enable Homeland Security to fight back by using TV, radio, social media any means available to circulate the first-hand accounts of former jihadists who can provide insight into "the corruption, the violence, the absolute horrific nature of ISIS," Fleischmann said.The State Department already is doing some of that counter-messaging in foreign countries. Fleischmann's bill would permit that messaging domestically to reach young Americans who might be susceptible to the terrorists' propaganda.In the United States, the principal threat of terrorism comes from home-grown, ISIS-inspired actors like Abdulazeez, counterterrorism experts told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in mid-April.The FBI has said it has open counterterrorism investigations in all 50 states, and most of them are ISIS-related. More than 250 Americans also reportedly have traveled to Iraq and Syria or have at least tried to join ISIS fighters."Many of these individuals were pulled in by terrorist propaganda," Fleischmann said. "ISIS is luring Americans with empty and false promises that do not reflect the true reality on the ground in places like Syria and Iraq. The true reality centers on fear, suffering and the murder of innocent people throughout the region and around the world."While Fleischmann's bill passed the House with strong bipartisan support, some Democrats objected because it did not address domestic terrorists who kill Americans and are a threat to the homeland."Domestic terror groups, just like foreign terrorist organizations, recruit and spread propaganda through social media and online platforms," said Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee.Fleischmann said there's nothing in the bill that would prevent the targeting of domestic terrorists. But he said he didn't explicitly include such language in the legislation because it is "an anti-ISIS bill."The bill now heads to the Senate, where Fleischmann said he expects it to have support among Republicans and Democrats. (TNS) -- Washington -- The Central Intelligence Agency's unusual decision to "live tweet" the 2011 raid in which Osama bin Laden was killed "as if it were happening today," was mocked and criticized on Twitter.The al-Qaeda leader was killed on May 2, 2011, by US Navy Seals in his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.The CIA used a series of tweets on Sunday, using the hashtag #UBLRaid, saying: "To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today."The tweets included images of the compound that bin Laden was hiding in, as well as a now-famous photograph of the scene in the White House when the news came in.That picture, released at the time by the White House, shows US President Barack Obama sitting to the left of the Situation Room conference table staring at a monitor providing a live feed of the raid. Hillary Clinton, then secretary of state, is holding her hand over her mouth with an expression of shock on her face.After this photo, the CIA tweeted: "3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed #UBLRaid".And later: "7:01 pm EDT - @POTUS receives confirmation of high probability of positive identification of Usama Bin Ladin #UBLRaid."Before the blow-by-blow account of the raid, the CIA posted on Twitter: "Success of mission was culmination of years of complex, thorough & highly advanced intel ops & analyses led by CIA w support of IC."The jokes, memes and criticism followed, with some on Twitter describing the CIA move as "grotesque," others posting that the agency "had lost the plot."The popular Daily Show tweeted: "If you live tweet the Bay of Pigs invasion, call us. Otherwise, stop it. #UBLRaid"One journalist noted: "Shouldn't the @cia call its anniversary tweeting of the Osama Bin Laden raid a "dead-tweet" instead of a "live-tweet"?"The CIA has 1.33 million followers on Twitter, and 1,662 tweets. Oops! There was a problem! Sorry, but we can't find what you were looking for right now. The content may have been removed, or is temporarily unavailable. GreatAndhra.com powered by India Brains Infotech, LLC, its owners, associates and employees are not responsible for any errors, omissions or representations on any of our pages or on any links on any of our pages. We do not endorse in anyway any advertisers on our web pages, links to personal pages, official pages, or commercial pages. We have no control of the content of external information. Please verify the veracity of all information on your own before undertaking any reliance. 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In his blog post, Kommineni said he had remained silent all these days despite receiving several SMS and mails over his sudden disappearance from the live show on NTV only because he thought things would become normal after some time. It was true that my show was stopped under political pressure. People in power did not like my straightforwardness and tried to arm-twist the channel management. I did not want to create any trouble for the management and hence, I opted out of the channel and went to Canada with the knowledge of the management. I thought things would become normal after some time, but it did not happen, he explained. Kommineni said he always wondered whether the government would be scared of a journalist. I was aware of such incidents in the past, but I did not expect it would happen in my case, because I never considered myself such a powerful journalist. I know how the NTV management had to suffer when the AP government blocked the channel in the state for a few months. I did not want to create further troubles to the channel and hence, I came out though the management did not want to lose me, he said. In any case, the entire episode had given Kommineni a lot of credibility, though not all sections of people might not have liked his show. He may or may not get job elsewhere, but he enjoys the highest satisfaction of shaking the Chandrababu Naidu government! KCR Gives Project Shock To Jagan YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's decision to launch a three-day deeksha in the third week of May in Kurnool in protest against the construction of Palamuru-Dindi projects by the Telangana government is going to prove a shocker to him. The party, which has its nominal presence in Telangana with one MP and one MLA from Khammam Ponguleti Srinivasulu Reddy and Payam Venkateshwarlu, is going to be wound up on Tuesday, with both of them deciding to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Ponguleti happens to be the president of the YSR Congress party in Telangasna. Apparently, TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is agitated over the way Jagan decided to oppose the irrigation projects in Telangana to get political mileage in Andhra Pradesh. Hitherto, KCR has been adopting a soft stand towards the YSR Congress party president, who was also reciprocating in the same manner. The party has cooperated with the TRS in all the earlier elections held in the last two years. But, with Jagan taking anti-TRS government stand, KCR is upset. That is precisely why he used his Operation Akarsh weapon at the remaining YSRC leaders. Though there have been reports that Ponguleti and Payam might defect to the TRS long ago, they did not do so because of the understanding between KCR and Jagan. Now that Jagan is going all out against Telangana interests, the two party leaders have decided to take a plunge officially, thereby virtually winding up the party in Telangana. Bosch has opened a new innovation center in Lund, Sweden. The engineers there are working on new software and hardware in areas such as vehicle connectivity, automotive security systems, and motorized two-wheelers. In addition, they are developing cross-domain solutions for connecting mobility with, for example, energy and building technology over the IoT. By bringing together development activities for a number of different areas at a single location, Bosch hopes to facilitate mutual inspiration. Sweden is on the global vanguard when it comes to fields of research including information and communications technology. This is exactly the kind of environment we want for our new engineering center. Were pinning our hopes on Lunds talented software and IT experts. Dr. Dirk Hoheisel, a member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH Boschs new engineering center is located on one level of an office building in Lunds Ideon Science Park. The approximately 2,700 people employed in the science park include developers working for established companies and start-ups, as well as entrepreneurs. The University of Lund borders the park directly. Incubators and regular conferences foster and create synergies both among different areas of business and with the university. The focus is on the service sector, culture, and the creative industries, as well as start-ups and the internet of things. In addition to being a university town (around a third of the more than 80,000 inhabitants are university students), Lund is also the birthplace of several major technological advancements for the connected world, including Bluetooth technology and biometric fingerprint scanners. While battery electric vehicles have the obvious advantage of zero tail-pipe emissions, they are not equally advantaged when it comes to non-exhaust emissions. Accordingly, there have been a number of recent studies working to assess the impact of non-exhaust emissions from EVs and suggesting a regulatory or policy response (e.g., earlier post ). Regulatory regimes seeking to reduce emissions from transport have largely focused on tailpipe emissionsi.e., the criteria pollutants and CO 2 that emerge with the exhaust from the tailpipe. However, there is more than 15 years of research showing that the contribution of non-exhaust primary particles to the total traffic generated primary particles is significant in urban areas. Non-exhaust PM factors include tire wear, brake wear, road surface wear and resuspension of road dust. Further, a 2013 review by Denier van der Gon et al., 2013 found that the ratio of non-exhaust to exhaust particles is strongly increasing in the last two decades, due to exhaust emission reductions. Tires generate particles both through the wear of the rubber and through the wear of road surfaces. These processes may depend on tire type, size, and age, vehicle speed and weight, road surface properties, and meteorological conditions (temperature, road wetness, etc.). Tire wear contributes to PM 10 even though most of the wear results in larger particles. Brake wear is due to large frictional heat generation by brake linings. Detailed laboratory tests have shown that 50% of the total wear is emitted as airborne material; the other half directly deposits on the (road) surface and the wheel of the car. Wear of the road surface varies significantly based on the properties of the asphalt as well as tire type, vehicle type, and speed, as well as road surface conditions. Key properties of the pavement are the Road wearpavement-derived PM 10 mainly consists of small mineral fragments and therefore is dominated by crustal elements like Si, Ca, K, Fe, and Al. The composition therefore differs depending on the rock material used. There is a clear lack of data in the field of road transport wear and suspension emissions to conclusively assess its importance for air quality and the impact on human health. It is uncertain how the problem of non-exhaust relates to exhaust in a relative sense, in terms of both emissions and air quality and in terms of human health. Although generalized mass fractions are available for non-exhaust and exhaust road transport PM emissions, the regional, spatial, and temporal patterns of the former are least known, while the role of suspension versus primary wear emissions is even less characterized. As the trend toward cleaner technologies with reduced exhaust emissions continues through the use of catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters (DPF), and improved fuels and engines, non-exhaust PM will soon surpass exhaust emissions and may well become dominant by 2020 both in terms of emissions and contributions to air quality. The majority of the experts participating in the workshop (55%) ranked the importance of wear and suspension emission compared to exhaust emissions in the future (2020 and beyond) as dominating in terms of PM mass. Participants agreed that we need to improve our knowledge about emission, exposure, and health effect of wear particles since this fraction of PM cannot be neglected and its relative and absolute importance is still increasing. It is important to stress to regulators and policymakers that road transport emissions continue to be an issue for health and air quality, despite the encouraging rapid decrease of tailpipe exhaust emissions. van der Gon et al. The pan-European team of van der Gonreported in their paper on a policy workshop convened in 2011 on the relevance of traffic-related wear emissions for air quality policy development, with the focus on non-exhaust PM emissions.The participants in the 2011 workshop concluded: A 2014 study by Weinbruch et al. in Germany quantified the contribution of the three traffic-related components of exhaust, abrasion, and resuspension to curbside and urban background PM 10 and PM 1 levels based on the analysis of individual particles by scanning electron microscopy. They collected 160 samples on 38 days between February and September 2009 at a curbside and an urban background station in the urban/industrial Ruhr area. They then classified 111,003 particles studied in detail based on size, morphology, chemical composition and stability 14 particle classes: traffic/exhaust; traffic/abrasion; traffic/resuspension; carbonaceous/organic; industry/metallurgy; industry/power plants; secondary particles; (aged) sea salt; silicates; Ca sulfates; carbonates; Fe oxides/hydroxides; biological particles; and other particles. The traffic/exhaust component consisted predominantly of externally mixed soot particles and soot internally mixed with secondary particles. The traffic/abrasion component contained all particles with characteristic tracer elements (Fe, Cu, Ba, Sb, Zn) for brake and tire abrasion. The traffic/resuspension component was defined by the mixing state and comprises all internally mixed particles with a high proportion of silicates or Fe oxides/hydroxides which contain soot or abrasion particles as minor constituent. In addition, silicates and Fe oxides/hydroxides internally mixed with chlorine and sulfur-containing particles were also assigned to the traffic/resuspension component. The total contribution of traffic to PM 10 was found to be 27% at the urban background station and 48% at the curbside station;the corresponding values for PM 1 were 15% and 39%. The relative share of the different traffic components for PM 10 at the curbside station was 27% exhaust, 15% abrasion, and 58% resuspension (38%, 8%, 54% for PM 1 ). For the urban background, the following relative shares were obtained forPM 10 : 22% exhaust, 22% abrasion and 56% resuspension (40%, 27%, 33% for PM 1 ). Compared to earlier studies, Weinbruch et al.observed a significantly lower portion of exhaust particles and a significantly higher portion of resuspension particles. The high abundance of resuspension particles underlines their significance for the observed adverse health effects of traffic emissions and for mitigation measures. The role of EVs. As reported earlier here (earlier post) a recent literature review by a team from the University of Edinburgh (Timmers et al.) concluded that, when factoring in the additional weight and non-exhaust PM factors, total PM 10 emissions from electric vehicles (EVs) are equal to those of modern internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs); for PM 2.5 emissions, EVs deliver only a negligible reduction in emissions. A new Rotterdam-specific study by a pan-European team (Tobollik et al.) used Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to quantify co-benefits of GHG mitigation policies in Rotterdam. The effects of two separate interventions (10% reduction of private vehicle kilometers and a share of 50% electric-powered private vehicle kilometers) on particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), elemental carbon (EC) and noise (engine noise and tire noise) were assessed using Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Years Lived with Disability (YLD). The baseline was 2010 and the end of the assessment 2020. The team found that both interventions were associated with a decreased exposure to noise, with the effects of 50% electric-powered car being slightly higher. However, they found that the two interventions had marginal effects on air pollution, because already implemented traffic policies will reduce PM 2.5 and EC by around 40% and 60% respectively, from 2010 to 2020. Another new approach to the problem comes from the team of Hooftman et al. in Belgium. They reported in an open-access paper in the journal energies on their analysis of non-exhaust emissions of passenger vehicles, both conventional (diesel and gasoline) or electric, on air quality levels in an urban environment in Belgium. Hooftman et al. took a broader viewthey proposed a method to compare the air quality impact of different vehicle technologies on a larger scale than solely based on regulated emission, addressing the most important un-regulated pollutants as well as non-exhaust emissions. Specifically, they proposed a method to assess the contribution of EVs to urban air quality in Belgium, compared to conventional vehicles of the same weight class; they modeled the effect on human toxicity (HT), photochemical ozone formation (POF) and particulate matter formation (PMF). In addition, they simulated disability adjusted life years (DALY) to assess the healthy years lost due to poor urban air quality. The scope of the study was thus not limited to the use-phase of a vehicle. Unregulated non-exhaust emissions have significant and dominant impacts throughout the analyzed categories. EVs were the best alternative to diesel and gasoline vehicles across all categories. EVs have no exhaust emissions and reduced non-exhaust pollutants as well as low electricity generation associated emissions. Hooftman et al. concluded that EVs tend to emit up to eight times less non-exhaust PM than diesel vehicles and at least two times less than gasoline powertrainsfindings at opposition with some of the earlier studies on the topic. Non-exhaust emissions require active regulation. Either this is achieved by using alternative materials during production of both tires, brakes and pavements, or by introducing alternative technologies such as regenerative braking in ICEs to reduce braking wear. Tires should be subject to technological pushes in order to mitigate wear and tire composition. Policy makers should enforce further stringent regulations in the transportation sector regarding emissions as well as promote the usage of alternative means of passenger transport. Such a change would highlight the benefits, both environmental, economic and social of these alternative means (such as human powered and electric two-wheelers). Among their main conclusions were: Resources From what I've read about the proposed comedy called "Reagan," I am happy that actor Will Ferrell has backed away from the project. Reagan family members had plenty of reason to worry about how President Ronald Reagan was going to be portrayed. A comedy about a man slipping into Alzheimer's? I don't see any material for laughs in that. And the setting the White House during Reagan's second term seems to be playing loose with the facts. It may be a popular theory that Reagan was "losing it" before he left office, but I'm not aware that's substantiated with actual evidence. I am, however, a bit reluctant to agree with John Fund, writing in National Review, that this is just another of many efforts by the liberal establishment to denigrate Reagan's memory. After all, didn't National Review just last fall publish a scathing article by George Will discrediting the veracity of Bill O'Reilly's book, "Killing Reagan," in which O'Reilly and his co-author make similar claims about Reagan? O'Reilly is no liberal. He's just out to make a buck with a sensational story line. As an important historical figure, Reagan is subject to all kinds of poking and prodding. Movies take liberties with the facts, unless I'm wrong about "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." We shouldn't believe everything we see on the screen. Or don't see. The Guilford County Democratic Party convention passed 27 resolutions reaffirming its commitment to the rights and dignity of all persons. One failed. It called for ending the use of municipal water to impose fluoride dental treatment on everyone who drinks water, cooks with water, bathes, swims and patronizes restaurants. Maybe a quarter of the convention supported the resolution, but the majority opposed it. Think about it. When was the last time voters decided that you should be taking aspirin or your child should have ADHD medication? Fluoridation is not seen as a civil rights issue because weve heard all our lives that its safe and a legitimate substitute for professional dental care for poor people. Most dentists have never investigated the evidence for themselves. Those who do discover both claims are false. But true or false, everyone can get fluoride treatment with toothpaste or mouthwash. The votes for ending fluoridation represent people who dont want fluoride or shouldnt have it. Those people pay their water bills yet are denied equal access because they cant use fluoridated water for many things. Municipal water is for everyone. Fluoride treatments are not. See momsagainstfluoridation.org and tell your City Council to end fluoridation. Janet Nagel Greensboro HARTFORD-It was a $900 deal. But it left an area man near death and his two oxycodone suppliers facing up to 20 years in federal prison. Ryan Looney, 19 and Tahir Farid, 22, both of Hamden recently pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of oxycodone. They face up to 20 years in prison when they are sentenced in August by U.S. District Judge Robert A. Chatigny. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Spector is prosecuting the pair. A U.S. Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation determined that Looney supplied Farid with a quantity of oxycodone. On Jan. 3, 2016, Farid sold 30 40-miligram oxycodone pills to the 22-year-old male victim for $900, according to court documents. Two days later that man was found unconscious and unresponsive in a friends home in Weston. He remains unresponsive, and according to medical personnel, is in a persistent vegetative state, according to Thomas Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys office. In addition to the DEA and their New Haven Tactical Division Squad which includes police from Greenwich, Shelton and Wilton, the U.S. Marshals Service along with Monroe and Weston Police participated in the probe. The investigation is part of U.S. Attorney Deirdre Dalys ongoing crackdown on heroin, fentanyl and opiod dealer who sell drugs that result in serious injuries or death to their customers. On some thin ice. Maybe Starbuckss next drink should just be called the Goldilocks? One month after someone sued the coffee chain for allegedly underfilling lattes, another person in Illinois has filed a lawsuit claiming Starbucks overfills its cold drinks with so much ice that liquid only accounts for about half the promised drink size. Stacy Pincus charges that the word beverage is defined as a drinkable liquid, and since nobody thinks ice is a beverage by definition, she alleges Starbucks is purposefully loading drinks up with ice so it can charge customers more for less product. Shes also seeking class-action status all customers who bought iced drinks from the company in the last ten years. A little-known secret is that the black horizontal lines on the sides of Starbuckss cold cups are actually fill lines for the barista. They hit midway up the cup, meaning the rest of what gets the beverage to the brim is ice. According to Pincuss lawsuit, the math works out to 14 actual ounces of drinkable liquid in a venti (versus the 24 ounces that are advertised) and 12 ounces in a grande (supposedly 16 ounces). The suit also points out that Starbucks charges more money for iced coffee than it does for hot coffee $2.65 versus $2.10 for a grande which it says means the chain is not only underfilling its Cold Drinks compared to how they are advertised, but it is charging a premium price for them as well. (Its worth noting that the price disparity between Starbuckss iced and hot coffee partly accounts for the fact that iced coffee comes lightly sweetened.) A Starbucks spokesperson said the company was aware of the suit, and it believes it to be without merit, adding, Customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any iced beverage. The lawsuit is asking for at least $5 million in damages, and also says Starbucks should switch to way bigger cups that can hold the advertised amount of liquid, so if the plaintiffs prevail, get ready for a lot more of this. [NBC, BuzzFeed] Meh. Photo: Javed Tanveer/AFP/Getty Images Some common ground you might have with the Taliban: McDonalds just opened up its first location in the Pakistani city of Quetta, reputedly home base for the Talibans ruling council, and a spokesperson for the militant group told NBC that the food is terrible. Heres the gem of a quote senior militant commander Ehsanullah Ehsan gave two reporters he managed to get ha printed back-to-back four times, possibly a first for a network news article: Hahahaha, so you are asking me about McDonalds food, the TTP-JA fighter said. Yes, I know McDonalds and its food but we will never eat it. We dont even consider it as a food. He added that because theyre fighters who live in rough, tough mountainous areas, they need energy and power to fight against the enemy. McDonalds does not provide the energy or the power necessary for such a struggle, so theyll just be sticking with their mutton and rice, thank you very much. The Taliban apparently couldnt care less that everything on the Quetta menu is halal, or that in addition to Big Macs and McNuggets, theres also some kind of shawarma wrap called the McArabia. Another senior Taliban member admitted he sees himself stopping by the restaurant in Quettas big Millennium Mall sometime to just hang out, but he has no plans of ordering anything. He recalled trying McDonalds food once when he was in the Pakistani city of Karachi and said the stuff was tasteless and too expensive. [NBC] A Samsung phone carrying model number SM-J210F has been spotted on GeekBench, revealing some of its key specs. As per the listing, the device - which is probably to be the next-gen Galaxy J2 - is powered by Spreadtrum SC8830 SoC with quad-core 1.5 GHz processor. Other specs that were revealed include 1.5GB RAM and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. If you recall, the Galaxy J2 (2016) was also spotted on India's import/export website Zauba a couple of months ago, revealing a price-tag broadly similar to its predecessor. There's still no information on the availability front. Via Haiti - Politic : Prime Minister celebrates May 1st in Jacmel Sunday, May 1st as part of Labor Day and agriculture, Premier Enex Jean-Charles, in the absence of the Head of State prevented for health reasons https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17327-haiti-flash-privert-has-not-traveled-to-jacmel-because-of-his-health.html , saluted at Jacmel Convention Centre, the labor and creativity of Southeast farmers and artisans and declared "I congratulate the farmers for advancing agriculture. The celebration of May 1st should lead us to reflect on the work of the land. We are what we consume and produce." In his remarks, addressed the crucial issue of the elections and the political crisis in the country, the Prime Minister reiterated that "the Government is committed to guarantee a safe environment conducive to the holding of elections. We are determined to extirpate our society of this continuing political crisis," adding about jobs in Haiti "My Government is working to create jobs, to improve living conditions. We will create jobs in the watershed protection and agricultural and urban infrastructure https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16948-haiti-environment-action-project-against-desertification.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16084-haiti-agriculture-$42m-from-the-idb-for-watershed-protection.html " before concluding "I present my compliments to the workers for the tenacity they showed in the performance of their duties. Happy Labor Day to all Haitians." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Jamaica : Seizure of 300 kg of narcotic for Haiti Sunday, the maritime police officers of Jamaica have seized 300 kilograms of marijuana that were found in plastic bags in the sea near Pelicano Cayo, at the eastern end of Jamaica (the goods had been spotted Saturday in the afternoon). In addition to the drugs, agents also found at sea 15 fuel cans. According to the Jamaican authorities, 3 men were arrested including one Haitian suspected of involvement in this trafficking. Investigators from the Narcotics Division said the cargo should have been picked up by a boat as a destination Haiti, within the framework of exchange of weapons against drug between bands from both countries. This operation represents "another blow to drug trafficking against weapons between Jamaica and Haiti," declared the police of Jamaica. Members of the Jamaican Coast Guard, took part in an operation to try to find the ship that should collect the drugs, but searches were unsuccessful. Note that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana in the Caribbean. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Quebec : 2nd economic Exploratory Mission Entrepren'Elle It is under the theme "Towards a successful alliance... to the feminine !" that will take place the second edition of the Economic exploratory mission Entrepren'Elle (M3E) will be in Haiti from 4 to 11 May 2016 in search of sustainable economic alliances between young entrepreneurs of Montreal and their Haitian counterparts. The program includes practical workshops, a panel of exchanges, conferences, an evening of networking and of Haitian business visits. Luckny Guerrier, Young-Delegate of the Diaspora of Youth Government of Haiti (GJH) residing in Montreal, instigator and Head of Mission for the second year, recalled that the mission aims to enable rapprochements between Quebec entrepreneurs and develop partnerships with Haitian businesses, advocating values based on integrity, openness and mutual growth. Mission members: Vanessa Moise : Executive Coordinator, Human Resources and Linguistics Bachelor ; Sarah Jean Baptiste : Consultant in business startup health, wellness and beauty, "Arbonne International" ; Sophonia Pierre : Consultant Business Analyst and System ; Ismertha Lovely Racius : Founding President of "Beaute Nefertiti Coiffure" ; Donna Siverne : Founding President of "Mademoiselle D" and specialist in management and thematic travel planning ; Cindy Placide : Coordinator of the event logistics and touristic ; Sylberte Desrosiers : Communications consultant and public relations and professional writer. Founding President of "Destinee Communication" et co-fondatrice de Sophysti-K , une agence evenementielle ; Deborah Cherenfant : Founder of "Mots dElles", a webzine for promotion and mentoring of business women and "Colore Design", President of the Board of Directors of the Company "F, entrepreneurship" ; Rachel Jean-Jacques : Consultant specialized lingerie, President of the company "C'est la classe" specializing in the manufacture of lingerie ; specializing in the manufacture of lingerie ; Yrina Janvier : Social Entrepreneur, Founder of "Zafe", a fashion accessories eCommerce and ethnic design handmade in Haiti. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14646-haiti-quebec-exploratory-economic-mission-of-businesswomen.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16685-icihaiti-diaspora-towards-a-prosperous-women-alliance.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping politics... Manifestation of Famni Lavalas Fanmi Lavalas has announced "a demonstration Wednesday, May 4 in support to the Independent Commission for Evaluation and Verification Electoral... he people want the truth about the elections of August 9 and October 25, 2015..." Jude Celestin does not fear the Commission Jude Celestin, candidate for the presidency under the banner of LAPEH party, qualified for the second round affirmed having no fear about the verifications of the Commission, but warns the members of the Commission, against any prefabricated report. According to him, there is need for the findings of this structure are the result of a serious investigation, and it must it work faster to achieve the organization of elections. May 1, words of Martelly Sunday on the occasion of the Feast of Agriculture and Labour, former President Martelly declared "the accompaniment to peasants and farmers, as remote they may be on the national territory, constitutes a major challenge within the framework of a long-term approach to stimulate domestic production. Let's makes ours this pressing need !" PM at the patronal feast of Jacmel Sunday, Prime Minister Jean-Charles Enex accompanied by several members of the provisional government and parliamentarians attended the patronal Mass of Saint-Jacques and Saint-Philippe of Jacmel, which coincides with Labor Day and agriculture. However President a.i. Privert, could not get to Jacmel because of his health https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17327-haiti-flash-privert-has-not-traveled-to-jacmel-because-of-his-health.html A former of "Pitit Dessalin" Spokesman of the Presidency The citizen Eddy Jackson Alexis was appointed Deputy Spokesman of the President a.i. Privert. Eddy Jackson Alexis was responsible for Communication of the Platform "Pitit Dessalin" before becoming a member since February 14, of the particular Office of the President a.i. Jocelerme Privert. Fanmi Lavalas careful on the Commission Shiller Louidor, Fanmi Lavalas Party spokesman indicated about the Commission of Verification "We will not accept all the recommendations of the Verification Commission," suggesting that Fanmi Lavalas, will refuses decisions not allowing its presidential candidate, Maryse Narcisse, to access to the second round... HL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 13:40, 24 OCT 2022 Carlos Mencia will perform a comedy show Saturday, June 4 at the Babcock Theatre in downtown Billings. Reserved-seating tickets for the 8 p.m., all-ages event are $39.50 and the show is intended for mature audiences. Mencia began his career doing stand-up on amateur night at the world-renowned comedy club, Laugh Factory. He later showcased at The Comedy Store and became a regular, performing nightly. After finding success on the Los Angeles comedy circuit, Mencia was named "International Comedy Grand Champion" from Buscando Estrellas the Latino version of the TV talent competition "Star Search." This led to guest appearances on In Living Color, The Arsenio Hall Show, Moesha, An Evening at the Improv," before starring in his own Comedy Central series, "Mind of Mencia," which ran for three seasons. Mencia also starred opposite Ben Stiller and Michelle Monaghan in the Farrelly Brothers feature film, The Heartbreak Kid, as well as Our Family Wedding" alongside America Ferrara and Forrest Whitaker. In 2007, Mencia embarked on a USO tour to the Persian Gulf to entertain the troops. For his 2008 trip, Mencia visited Kuwait alongside Jessica Simpson and The Pussycat Dolls; the appearance was filmed and aired on FX in April 2008. Mencias 2009 USO tour had stops in Turkey, Kirkuk, Iraq, Baghdad, Qatar, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Most recently, Mencia has gone back to his comedic roots by performing at a number of comedy venues, allowing him to share his newest material with a more intimate audience. His current tour, called the C 4 Urself Tour, has been making stops all around the country, performing to eager audiences. Montana Audubon will hold its 17th annual Wings Across the Big Sky bird festival in Missoula June 3-5 at the Holiday Inn Downtown. Keynote speaker Erik Greene will talk on Friday evening about his research into songbird communication and on Saturday hell discuss his work with ospreys and how it relates to the ecological health of the Clark Fork River watershed. In addition, nearly 30 field trips will take participants to locations like Browns Lake, the Clearwater River and the Big Hole Valley in search of birds and providing an opportunity to learn about local natural history. In addition to a silent auction and informational displays, other presenters will include raptor photographer Kate Davis to discuss the educational work of her organization, Raptors of the Rockies. Author and ornithologist Jeff Marks will give a talk on the distribution of Montanas birds over the past century and his new book, "Birds of Montana." A representative from American Prairie Reserve a 3.5-million-acre conservation project in northeastern Montana will discuss the progress of the grassland wildlife reserve. For a full schedule and registration information, visit the Outreach section of Audubon's website at: www.mtaudubon.org or phone 406-443-3949. A Billings attorney disbarred last year for mishandling a clients $300,000 settlement is now facing federal fraud charges from the case. Appearing for arraignment in U.S. District Court on April 29, Randy Scott Laedeke pleaded not guilty to two charges of wire fraud. An indictment accuses Laedeke of embezzling about $65,497 for personal expenses from a client who had received a $300,000 settlement over the death of her husband. The fraud ran for six years, from 2008 until Dec. 31, 2014, the indictment said. Prosecutor Colin Rubich alleged that Laedeke was hired to represent the estate of W.N., who was killed in a car crash in 2005, and settled the case for $300,000. The heirs included the deceaseds wife and daughter. Laedeke, under the terms of his contract, deducted $184,599 for his fee and legal expenses, leaving $115,401 to distribute among the heirs. He dispersed $49,903 to W.N.s wife, leaving $65,497 that should have been distributed among the other heirs, Rubich said. Instead, Laedeke used the money for personal expenses, the prosecutor said. Last year, the Montana Supreme Court disbarred Laedeke over his handling of the case, in which W.N. was identified as William Newberg. Laedeke had been on an indefinite suspension since January 2015 for another complaint and had requested an additional suspension, not disbarment. The court said no. The Supreme Court justices, in their ruling, agreed with the recommendations from the Commission on Practice, which said Laedekes actions reflect blatant disregard of his obligations as an attorney, and bring disrespect to the profession as well as harm the public. Disbarment is not permanent in Montana. A lawyer can petition the Commission for reinstatement after five years of disbarment. If convicted of wire fraud, Laedeke faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Ostby continued Laedekes release pending trial. In an unrelated matter in 2005, a federal jury found that Billings police officers did not violate Laedekes civil rights when they used force to arrest him while responding to a fight downtown at bar closing time. Laedeke had sued the police department seeking $547,832 in damages, claiming the officers arrested him without probable cause and used excessive force in this 1999 arrest on misdemeanor charges. While the Fair Work Commission is currently considering a raft of changes to penalty rates, including slashing Sunday penalties, Labor is facing pressure from unions to enshrine penalty rates in legislation if it gets into government at the next election. Labor says it will make a submission to the Fair Work Commissions case on penalty rates, arguing that Sunday rates be left unchanged, but has not said whether it will abide by the tribunal's decision, AFR reported. Last Friday workplace relations spokesman Brendan O'Connor announced that a Labor government would make a further submission to the FWC in favour of retaining penalty rates. OConner told AFR the two sides of politics had clear differences on this policy. This stance is also Labors effort to mollify the union movement after Shorten stated earlier in April that if he won government he would abide by the decision of the Commission to cut some Sunday penalty rates across certain industries. During an interview on Melbourne radio station 3AW about whether he would accept the FWCs decision on penalty rates, Shorten replied: "Yes ... I said I'd accept the independent tribunal and that makes a big difference between us and the Liberals." This was not well received from union officials, as the AFR reports unions in Victoria say they would push for penalty rates to become legislation if Labor takes government at the next federal election. While speaking to unions in Brisbane last Friday, O'Connor stated that Labor in government would make a further intervention in the case. "In Opposition, Labor has already taken the unprecedented step of making a submission to the FWC arguing that penalty rates must not be cut, OConnor says. "This is in sharp contrast with the Abbott-Turnbull Government which has made it clear penalty rates should be cut, through the Productivity Commission's report. "Labor understands that penalty rates are not a luxury; they are what pays the bills and puts food on the table for the 4.5 million Australians that rely on them. OConnor says the the Commonwealth Government last made a submission in favour of penalty rates during the two-year review of modern awards when Labor was in power. "Labor also made changes to the Fair Work Act in 2013 to ensure that the Fair Work Commission took into account the need to provide additional remuneration for employees working outside normal hours, including weekends, he says. Adult Services Expo at Boone Mall on Friday THE 14TH ANNUAL ADULT SERVICES EXPO WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY May 6th, 2016 FROM 9:00 AM TIL 2:00 PM AT THE BOONE MALL. This event is held under the auspices of the Adult Services Coalition of Watauga County and is free to the general public. The purpose of this event is to help educate the community on available services; to identify and address needed unavailable services; as well as to develop a networking system for citizens and agencies in the community. This Expo will feature public, private, non-profit and for-profit agencies that offer services in our community. At noon Celebration of living Awards will be presented and these will include Caregiver of the Year, Centurion of the Year, Facility Resident of the Year, Individual with Disabilities of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. These awards are the highlight of this event and awards can be submitted by anyone in the community. Please call Jen Teague at 265-8090 to nominate someone before April 22nd. Door prizes will be awarded every hour during the event. For more information, please contact Project on Aging at 265-8090 Childrens Council Party with a Purpose: May 15 at Crestwood Join us for music, champagne, appetizers and a silent live auction. Get in the door for just $30 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Childrens Council of Watauga County. The fun will take place from 2-5 p.m. on May 15 at the Inn at Crestwood, 1236 Shulls Mill Road in Boone. Click here to get your tickets. Kiddo Fishing Derby at Beech: June 4 On Saturday, June 4th the Town of Beech Mountain will host its Annual Kiddo Fishing Derby. Ages 12 and under are welcome to come and compete at Lake Coffey from 9:00AM 12:00PM . There will be special prizes for: Biggest Fish, Most Fish, Smallest Fish, and many more. No fishing license is required for this event, and the best part is its FREE! So grab your rod and tackle and come on down to Lake Coffey to catch some fish! Dont have a fishing rod? No need to worry, Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation has you coveredbut hurry, supplies are limited. Please leave pets home for this event. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Amanda Smithson at 828-387-3003 or email at [email protected] townofbeechmountain.com Position Announcement: AppHealthCare to Hire Innovative Approaches Coordinator DATE: April 28, 2016 POSITION: Innovative Approaches Coordinator 100% Time Contracted position through the NC Alliance of Public Health Agencies LOCATION: AppHealthCare (Appalachian District Health Department), Boone, NC HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:45 pm. Some early morning or evening work required on occasion. SALARY: Starting salary based on qualifications. DESCRIPTION: This position will be responsible for coordination, implementation, and evaluation of the Innovative Approaches grant. This project will be focused on improving outcomes through system-level changes that support children with special healthcare needs and their families. Work will include leadership of an interdisciplinary steering committee and collaboration across community agencies at the local and state levels. The work for this position covers Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany Counties with an office based in Boone, NC. This position is funded through a grant and will be available through May, 2019 with the potential for extension in this or other public health projects. Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from a four-year college or university and three years experience in a community, business, or government program, preferable in the fields of education, social work, public health, or public relations: or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Preferred Qualifications: Masters degree in public health and two years of experience in a health related program. Or, Masters degree in the human service field and four years of experience in a health related program. Experience with community system change or community development and experience in management and supervision of multi-faceted health related programs is strongly preferred. Additional requirements: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ BUSINESS OFFICE ALLEGHANY CO. HEALTH DEPT. ASHE CO. HEALTH DEPT. WATAUGA CO. HEALTH DEPT. PO Box 309 157 Health Services Road PO Box 208 126 Poplar Grove Connector Sparta, NC 28675 Sparta, NC 28675 Jefferson, NC 28640 Boone, NC 28607 336-372- 8813 336-372- 5641 336-246- 9449 828-264- 6635 336-372- 7793 Fax 336-372- 7793 Fax 336-246- 8163 Fax 828-264- 4997 Fax Applicant must be able to demonstrate understanding of systems level change as this position is not for direct service delivery to families. Strong leadership and communication skills, attention to detail, and personal demeanor that will support the collaborative nature of this project are musts. Experience in system level change work in a health related field is preferred. Applicant must have a comfortable working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs such as PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Publisher, and have basic email skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for this position. This position will require the ability to work in a community partnership and recognize that this work/and position will be highly visible at the local, state, and national level. Other Requirements: Due to the nature of this position, a dependable vehicle and valid drivers license is required for regular travel within the District and other state required meetings as assigned. CLOSING DATE: Posting is open until position is filled. TO APPLY: Submit an application on the North Carolina Alliance of Public Health Agencies website (http://www.ncapha.org/) for the Innovative Approaches Coordinator job listing. Upload a cover letter and resume in one single file through the online application. Contact Maria Julian, Health Promotion Program Manager at AppHealthCare, with questions about the position: [email protected] This institution is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Events This Week at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Summer Exhibition Celebration this Thursday, May 5th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Three times a yearwinter, summer, and fallon Thursdayevenings from 5:30 7:00 p.m., the Museum hosts receptions to celebrate its latest changeover of exhibitions in the galleries. These events are free and open to the community. Refreshments and live music are provided. Admission is free for all attendees. Members receive a free beverage and a cash bar will be available to the public. Featured Exhibitions: The Art of Native Plants Celebrating our plant diversity, the North Carolina Native Plant Society has sponsored and partnered with the Museum to showcase works by contemporary artists inspired by our native plants. Nearly 100 works of art created using a wide variety of media were submitted by 75 artists, and over 40 works are being featured in the juried exhibition, The Art of Native Plants. Ralph Burns: A Persistence of Vision The photographs in A Persistence of Vision illuminate Burnss concerns and interactions: an Elvis fan seemingly keeping vigil over a blanket-covered, bed-ridden Elvis icon in Memphis; a penitent in Mexico carrying the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, strapped awkwardly to his back; a man staring hard into the distance while being prayed over for healing at a Marion apparition site in Georgia; a woman in agonized ecstasy struggling with being baptized in the Jordan River in Israel. Elliot Daingerfield: Selections from the Collection Complimenting the Museums permanent display of Elliott Daingerfield paintings and drawings, Elliott Daingerfield: Collectedfeatures Daingerfield paintings from eight private collections across the east coast. The exhibition features many Daingerfields that have not yet exhibited outside their collectors homes. Several collections are accompanied by personal reflections and stories from the collectors themselves, inviting viewers to see into the collectors perspective of a Daingerfield. A History of the Horse Show Horse sporting events have been prominent throughout the history of Blowing Rock. Before the town became the Blowing Rock we know today, it was divided into two villagesthe Village of Blowing Rock and the Village of Green Parkand the villages considered themselves fierce rivals. Celebrating this, a horse race was organized. Today, the show brings thousands of visitors to the town of Blowing Rock and raises funds for a variety of nonprofit organizations in the region. Joby Bell to Inaugurate 2016 Organ Recital Series and Evensong May 8 Noted local organist Dr. Joby Bell will perform the first in this years series of recitals showcasing the Lively-Fulcher organ at St. Mary of the Hills. The recital precedes the service of Evensong this Sunday, May 8th, in the nave of the church on Main Street in Blowing Rock. The recital begins at 3 pm and Evensong follows immediately at 3:30. Dr. Bell is on the faculty at Appalachian State University where he teaches organ and church music and maintains a lively discussion of these topics on his blog www.jobybell.org. For this recital, he will perform Brahms spectacular Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24. Service music for Evensong will be the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis by Gibbons (Short Service) and the Clucas Preces and Responses; the introit is Come thou Holy Spirit, come by Ralph Tilden, and the anthem will be Titcombs I will not leave you comfortless. The choir of St. Marys sings Evensong one Sunday each month through October, and everyone is welcome. Youre also invited to talk to Dr. Bell, and to choir members, at a small reception in the Parish Hall after the service. For more information on this service, please contact St. Mary of the Hills at 828.295.7323. Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Co. Short List Tuesday, 05/03/16-Oyster Roast featuring Oysters from Bodie Island. Wednesday, 05/04/16-Trivia at 7pm. Thursday, 05/05/16- College Night featuring Live Music with Bailey Igoe and Kelly Hollar. Friday, 05/06/16-Live Music: The Worthless Son-In-Laws at 7:30pm. Saturday, 05/07/16-Live Music: The Paper Crowns at 7:30pm. Tuesday, 05/10/16-Oyster Roast. Wednesday, 05/11/16-Trivia with at 7pm. Thursday, 05/12/2016-College Night featuring Live Music. Monday May 2 Family Night-Buy any regularly priced pizza and receive one free kids meal. Tuesday May 3 Oyster Roast. $12 gets you a bucket of one dozen oysters and house made saltine crackers. Featuring oysters from Bodie Island, NC. Wednesday May 4 Off Beer and Wine Specials. 7pm-9pm Trivia Night: Beginning at 7pm, Lost Province will be hosting Trivia Night. Compete on your own or on a team! The competition gets started at 7pm so come a little early for a pizza and a pint and get your seat! Thursday May 5 $3.00 Thursday-$3.00 pints on all Lost Province brewed beers (except high gravity). College Night 7:00pm-Live Music with Bailey Igoe and Kelly Hollar. Bailey Igoe and Kelly Hollar are both performing a chill acoustic set of oirginals and covers. Bailey is from Winston-Salem, NC and Kelly is from Ocean Isle, NC. They actually met this year and play in a Boone band together called Cig Culture (like us on facebook!) It will be a combo of heartfelt and honest originals and chill jammy covers! Friday May 6 Tapped at 5pm, we feature something fun and new every Friday. Get it while it lasts; there is only a limited amount! 7:30pm-Closing Live Music: The Worthless Son-In-Laws. Alt.indie-rock from the mountains of Western North Carolina. Pastoral daydream soundtracks and melody-laden rockers layered with stories of working life, eco-revenge, love, nostalgia, old television sets, letters, and plain-spoken pocketknives. Saturday May 7 7:30pm-Closing Live Music: The Paper Crowns. The Paper Crowns make two-piece acoustic music sound huge! They are stomping on drums while they are plucking strings and singing harmonies often all at the same time! Theres nobody doing it like The Paper Crowns are doing it. Its hard to find a truly unique bandon top of that its hard to find a band that delivers the emotional spectrum from sweet and heartbreaking earnest ballads to barn burning gypsy raving conga frenzied sweaty dance tunes. The Paper Crowns will bring you all that and then some! The Paper Crowns are solid players on their instruments.see this amazing band live! They pride their sets on improvisation mixed with fine compositions and great lyrics. Most of all, The Paper Crowns want you to feel good and feel recharged when you listen to their music.its full of heart and soul and all of the good old spirit thats still roaming the land. Sunday May 8 Lost Province Sunday: Residents of The Lost Province (Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany) receive 10% off food with verification of residency. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket A Billings man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he raped three children. Levi Logan Heydon, 25, was in District Court on Monday morning charged with four felony sex crimes including two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two charges of sexual assault. Heydon pleaded not guilty to all counts. Court documents state that Heydon sexually abused three children, all currently younger than 11. Heydon pleaded not guilty to having sex with two girls and a boy and forcing children to perform sex acts on each other. Officials began investigating Heydon after a child reported the abuse to a counselor in Nebraska. The child said the incident occurred about six years ago. Further investigation revealed two more potential victims. Yellowstone County District Court Judge Russell Fagg continued Heydon's bond at $50,000. During the 2016-17 fiscal year, the city of Billings plans to spend about $329.6 million while taking in a projected $311.8 million. Budget officials, including City Administrator Tina Volek and Finance Director Pat Weber, said the proposed budget is based on all 109 mills being levied. If the city council approves that recommendation, it can delay seeking a public safety mill levy election until spring 2020. The city council will hold its first budget session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers at City Hall, 220 N. 29th St. A budget overview will be followed by more in-depth presentations on proposed police and library budgets. The reason for the nearly $18 million projected deficit during the 2017 fiscal year is more than $76 million in planned capital improvement projects $65 million for a mandated new water treatment plant, $3.8 million for work on Grand Avenue from Shiloh to 56th Street West, about $5.5 million for a new 911 Center and a $2 million upgrade at Billings Logan International Airport. The budget includes proposed fee increases for a number of city services, including water and wastewater, arterial and street maintenance fees, storm sewer, solid waste and parking. Under the plan, 5.5 employees will be added five police officers and a half-time administrative position in code enforcement. At about $22.1 million, the proposed police budget is about $773,000, or 3.6 percent, higher than the current year budget. Eighty percent of the planned spending will go into personal services. Police Chief Rich St. John said his department faces at least four significant challenges headed into the next fiscal year: sustainable funding, increased demand for service, recruitment and retention, and succession. Presenting the final budget of his career, Library Director Bill Cochran detailed a number of highlights during the 2014-15 fiscal year, the most recent year figures are available: program attendance was up 26 percent, circulation up 4 percent, visits up 9 percent and technology usage up 11 percent. Among Montanas seven largest libraries, Billings had the lowest number of full-time employees per 1,000 residents. Four libraries Bozeman, Missoula, Butte and Helena had about twice the ratio the Billings Public Library maintained. If one adds up the value of all the books, audiobooks, movies and other services including computer use, at $12 per hour the library provides more than $11 million worth of services annually, according to Cochran. The projected operating budget at the library is expected to balance, with planned revenue and spending at about $3.5 million. Personal services makes up 64 percent of the budget. Mondays budget session will be preceded, at 4:30 p.m., by a closed session for the city council to discuss litigation strategy with city staff. On May 10, the city council will hear budget presentations on airport and transit, human resources and finance, municipal court and the city attorneys office. Scheduled presentations on May 16 include the Downtown Business Improvement District, planning and community services, fire and administration. On May 24, council members will hear presentations on the Tourism Business Improvement District; Parks, Recreation and Public Lands; and Public Works. On June 13, the city council is scheduled to set its four budget resolutions for the general and public safety funds, internal service funds, enterprise funds and all other funds. As part of that process, the city council will also set the mill levy requirement for the budget it approves. 'Forgotten' no more: HonorAir expands to Korean War veterans Jeff Miller describes Blue Ridge Honor Flight's new initiatve to honor Korean War veterans. HonorAir, the Hendersonville-based organization that has flown 170,000 World War II veterans to see the National World War II Memorial, is embarking on new chapter to honor Korean War veterans. Returning to the airport where it all started 10 years ago, HonorAir founder Jeff Miller called on supporters to make sure that those who fought the forgotten war are not themselves forgotten by a nation that has always invested more emotion in the two wars that bookend it. I dont know if anyones tried to find information on the Korea War, via documentary or whatever, Miller told media members, HonorAir organizers and others gathered for the announcement at the Asheville Regional Airport on Monday. Lots on World War II, lots on Vietnam but very little on the Korean War. It is appropriately named the forgotten war. For that reason, HonorAir wants to increase efforts to educate people on the sacrifices that this wonderful generation lived through to fight for freedom in a very cold part of the war and also protected us. Honor is building on the success of its World War II effort, which spread coast to coast after Miller chartered two US Airways jets full of the aging warriors in September 2016. We flew over 2,000 from this airport. Thats remarkable within itself, he said. Active in advocating for veterans, HonorAir also has worked on ending veterans homelessness, job training, winter coats and other services. Its in 42 states and 132 hubs. Its flown more than 170,000 veterans to see the World War II Memorial. Under the revised brand of Blue Ridge Honor Flight, the organization will push off on Sept. 24 and again on Oct. 29 from AVL with planeloads of Korean War veterans. Hilliard Staton, a Korean War veteran, speaks.Forgotten War, said Hilliard Staton, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War. Well, there are those who have not forgotten. There are those who were there. They were the Koreans, and I can assure you the Koreans have not forgotten that particular war. They are the most grateful nation you can imagine. It is an honor to participate with this group, he added. I hope that all Korean veterans still alive are able to make this trip, to visit this hallowed ground, to reflect and to remember and honor those of who did not come back. Staton was among Korean War veterans who returned to Seoul in 2015 for a ceremony honoring U.S. soldiers. The general tells us, Youve been in a lot of wars in a lot of different countries but were the only country that still says thanks. They do, he said. Theyre very appreciative. Wearing a pin that said Freedom Is Not Free, retired Brig. Gen. Frank Blazey praised the new effort. A freshly minted graduate of West Point, Blazey deployed in 1950 as a 1st lieutenant and came home as a major. I look back on Korea as an accomplishment, Blazey said. We spent over two years there, one in combat, in all of 1950, a very difficult time. Im sorry to say it but I still dont like the Chinese. They gave me a pretty tough battle but we won that one, too. Brig. Gen. Frank Blazey (ret.) speaks to the media.We went back again about six years later on the line that exists today. We still have 21,000 U.S. Army troops on the demarcation line that was established by Eisenhower in 1953. Theyre there as a warning to the North that if you start something we dont have to talk to the White House. We have authority to shoot back. Miller also emphasized that two other veteran cohorts would still be welcomed on the flights any WWII veteran the organization has missed and terminally ill veterans. If theres anyone we missed and I dont know how we did but it happens we want you to know that well take you with us on these first trips, he said. We know there are veterans from Vietnam War, even Desert Storm, that have very serious life-limiting illnesses that most likely will prevent them from seeing the memorial by themselves. Were going to open our flights up and accept applications from any veteran with a serious life-limiting illness. HonorAir has already offered the flights called TLC, for Their Last Chance to terminally ill veterans. Its solid opportunity to do something for somebody that faces a really difficult phase, he said. Bob Haggard, a Hendersonville attorney who was active in the effort by Western North Carolina Rotary clubs to sponsor WWII veterans, was on hand to say that the civic club would again sponsor flights. The Oct. 29 flight is expected to be filled primarily with Korea veterans from Buncombe County. Ten years ago, when we started this little idea and all of us were all circling the wagons, we knew if we got it right the effort would grow, Miller said. Its amazing to me. This war is truly the forgotten war and our goal is to make sure they are not the forgotten veterans. More than 30,000 voters have cast ballots so far in school elections that close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. About 27,300 people have cast ballots on a School District 2 elementary levy for about $1.28 million about $8.50 per year on a $100,000 home. About 32,500 people voted on an SD2 high school levy for about $855,000 about $4.25 per year on a $100,000 home. The difference between high school and elementary figures accounts for independent elementary districts whose students attend SD2 high schools. Several of those districts are offering their own elementary levies. About 57,200 ballots were issued. Ballots need to be in possession of election officials by 8 p.m. Tuesday; mailing them on Tuesday wont get them in on time. Ballots can be dropped off directly at the elections office, 217 N. 27th St., Room 101, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. They can be dropped in a slot near the north doors of the courthouse before those hours. This is also the first year for late voter registration for school elections. With valid identification, people can register and vote at the elections office Tuesday. Senior figures in the National Maternity Hospital are exploring a range of possible sites for its relocation as the row over a move to the campus of St Vincent's Hospital deepened. The executives in the hospital, which is currently located in an outdated building in Holles Street, are now spreading the net to examine other sites where it can construct a modern premises. However, it is understood that the Department of Health remains of the view that building a new maternity hospital on the grounds of St Vincent's is still the best option. It is ultimately a matter for the department to decide where the 150m of exchequer funding set aside in the capital plan will be used to construct the new hospital. A decision on whether to abandon the plan to move to St Vincent's and review other locations will be one of the first items on the agenda of the next Minister for Health. St Vincent's Healthcare Group is adamant it must have control of the corporate governance of the new maternity facility, but this is being resisted by the maternity hospital board. The St Vincent's board is embroiled in the row over corporate governance at a time when its public hospital emergency department is facing dangerous levels of overcrowding and has recently had to close its doors to new patients with skin cancer. Impasse Health Minister Leo Varadkar reiterated yesterday that his preference is for the maternity hospital to retain its independence as part of a co-location structure. "Clinical care at Vincent's has clearly benefited from having its own independent board, and there is every reason that the same independence should be retained at the maternity hospital," he said. Dr Peter Boylan, chair of the Institute of Obstetricians, warned yesterday that any more delays will leave pregnant women at a disadvantage as they give birth in out-of-date and cramped conditions. "The outcomes are good, but they could be an awful lot better," Dr Boylan said. "There is a need for a modern maternity hospital to be co-located with an acute hospital, where seriously ill women have access to intensive care and interventional radiology which provides the least invasive way of diagnosing and treating disease." He added integration with an acute hospital would not work, insisting separate governance and budgets are needed. "Even if the maternity hospital was to be represented on an all-embracing board, it would be down the priority list," he added. "The three maternity hospitals in Dublin are overcrowded and they need to be relocated. It is time to get on with it." A spokesman for the national maternity hospital said: "We are committed to seeking a resolution of the current impasse and developing a world-class hospital for women and infants at the St Vincent's site. "We don't want to speculate on other options at this stage." Five men suspected of being involved in the Regency Hotel murder are still being sought by the Kinahan cartel - despite the individuals being either in prison, out of the country or in hiding. The criminals, who are all associated with the Hutch mob, are suspected of being directly involved in the gun attack which left gangland figure David Byrne (33) fatally wounded. The hit squad included three men dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by the elite Emergency Response Unit (ERU), as well as a shooter disguised as a woman and a heavy-set gunman wearing a flat cap. Serious One young criminal suspected of being one of those carrying an AK-47 is currently on remand facing serious charges. Meanwhile, the man suspected of being 'Flat Cap' has been hiding out in Northern Ireland, having fled to his hometown in Co Tyrone in the immediate aftermath of the Regency Hotel hit. His home address was recently raided and he is a close associate of Michael Barr (35), a dissident republican who was gunned down in Summerhill last Monday night as part of the deadly feud. Another Regency Hotel suspect has fled the jurisdiction following an attempt on his life. Senior gardai recently revealed how "preventative measures" had been taken in recent weeks as part of an attempted hit. Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahony, in charge of Crime and Security for An Garda Siochana, added that the intended target "will probably never know" about the foiled hit. The two other men, one suspected of being the man in drag and the other a fake ERU officer, are still believed to be in the greater Dublin area - but have been keeping a relatively low profile. The suspected cross-dressing hitman was a close associate of feud murder victim Gary Hutch, and has been warned that he is under active threat from the Kinahan cartel due to his suspected involvement in the murder. Armed gardai previously raided the home address of the other hitman dressed as an ERU officer. However, the man aged in his 20s was not arrested during the raid. The criminal issued a stark warning to detectives searching his home, saying that the feud wouldn't end until Daniel Kinahan was killed. Botched The Herald previously revealed how he was targeted in a botched gangland hit after being set up by an associate. However, the feared criminal fled the scene after becoming aware of the planned hit. Sources previously revealed how one of the AK-47 shooters still in the jurisdiction has been carrying out "inquiries" in an attempt to track down the chief suspect in a feud murder. Gangland killer Gary Campion has come out of a coma after being found unresponsive last week in his cell in Mountjoy Prison. Campion (32), who was caught with 73 bags of heroin in Limerick Prison nine years ago, woke up at the Mater Hospital on Saturday morning "better than when he went in", a prison source said. Sentences Campion, from Moyross, is serving two life sentences, for the 2002 murder of innocent nightclub security doorman Brian Fitzgerald and the 2006 gangland murder of 'Fat Frankie' Ryan. He was rushed by ambulance to the Mater Hospital from Mountjoy last Thursday morning. A garda probe and a separate prison investigation will be launched into the circumstances that led to Campion nearly dying. An Irish Prison Service source said Campion was under special observation when he collapsed in the cell. "We believe he received a package earlier in the week on a visit. It was either hidden about his person or he ingested it," the source said. "We believe a bag of drugs may have burst inside him." The source said Campion, who has more than 40 previous convictions, was being held in a "close supervision cell" when he lost consciousness. The killer, who was the first person in Ireland to be convicted of two gangland murders, arrived at hospital in a critical condition and placed in an induced coma. Sources at Mountjoy said they were shocked when Campion woke up "apparently feeling refreshed". "He was on his last legs. It looked so bad for him that his family were immediately notified that they may be facing his imminent departure," the source said. Feuding Until he was jailed for murder, the father-of-two was a hitman for hire for feuding criminal gangs in Limerick. He was found guilty of murdering nightclub doorman Brian Fitzgerald on November 15, 2007, and received another life sentence on May 28, 2009, for the murder of Ryan. In 2009 he was given a four-year sentence at Limerick Circuit Court after he was convicted of having 73 ready-for-sale bags of heroin in his cell in Limerick Prison. Montana agriculture has benefited greatly from having strong relationships with our overseas trading partners. Ease of trade is vital to farmers in this great state, and exports are essential to a strong agricultural economy. Wheat is the most export-dependent grain commodity in the United States, and the No. 1 agricultural export from Montana. With Southeast Asia being a key area of growth, Montana is especially poised to benefit from the Trans Pacific Partnership. The USDA projects wheat imports by key Southeast Asian markets to increase by nearly 50 percent by 2025. Australia currently has free trade agreements with virtually the entire region. Without TPP, Australia will be the sole preferential supplier in those growing markets. A level playing field is an absolute necessity; even a 5 percent tariff at current prices puts U.S. supplies at $12-$15 per ton higher compared to Australia, Canada, and the Black Sea. TPP allows Japan, an important Montana trading partner, to create new tariff-rate quotas for wheat and wheat products, and eliminate existing tariffs for processed products such as cookies and crackers. Additionally, Malaysia and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs on wheat and wheat products. TPP makes significant progress in non-tariff provisions as well, including biotechnology, sanitary-phytosanitary requirements, and environmental and worker protections. TPP is fundamentally different from past bilateral trade agreements, in that it is a platform that should expand in future years. The expansion of TPP would benefit wheat and other ag commodities significantly, especially as populations and economies continue to grow in the Pacific Rim. A good example of what happens to agriculture when the United States falls behind on trade agreements is Colombia. While a U.S. agreement with them was stalled, Canada passed their own trade pact and it completely decimated U.S. market share, with long-term average U.S. wheat exports falling from over 55 percent down to 27 percent. It is vital to Montana grain producers to both maintain and expand market access, and free trade agreements provide that framework. TPP will boost demand for U.S. farm products among nearly 500 million consumers in 11 countries across the Asia-Pacific region; end harmful tariffs which decrease U.S. competitiveness; and establish high-standard trade rules, which will allow the U.S. to become a leader in market-driven and science-based avenues of trade, directly improving the U.S. food and agriculture industry. With over 12,000 Montana jobs supported by agricultural exports, and $1.6 billion in agricultural export value to the state, TPP will benefit not only wheat farmers, but every person throughout the extensive supply chain. From the implement dealer to the country elevator manager to the longshoreman loading vessels at the port, this 21st century trade agreement guarantees huge benefits to Montana agriculture. A woman accused in the 2014 death of another person denied manslaughter charges in federal court in Billings. Tawnya Bearcomesout, 39 of Lame Deer, pleaded not guilty on April 28 to charges of voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter in the Nov. 22, 2014, death in Lame Deer of a person identified in court records as B.B. An indictment alleges in the voluntary manslaughter count that Bearcomesout killed B.B. while in a sudden quarrel or heat of passion and with extreme disregard for human life. The involuntary manslaughter charge alleges she killed B.B. with a reckless disregard for human life. If convicted, Bearcomesout faces a maximum 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the voluntary manslaughter charge. U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Ostby ordered Bearcomesout to remain in custody. The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters. DILLON A planned expansion of a horsemanship center in Dillon will include a $2 million arena that will benefit the community as well as the University of Montana-Western. The Montana Center for Horsemanship, 2 miles south of Dillon, partners with UMW, most notably for the school's Natural Horsemanship program. Cost of the improvements comes entirely from donations, said William Kriegel, a native of France and now an American citizen. Kriegel founded the nonprofit center. He is also the face behind La Cense Montana, an 88,000-acre cattle ranch and natural-horsemanship education center. The Montana Center for Horsemanship boasts an indoor and outdoor arena, three round pens, 84 stalls, and a maintenance barn. But after a two-phase expansion project, the center will add, among other updates, 44 additional pens and a 67,500-square-foot indoor arena, which alone will cost $2 million. Kriegel said the center's donors are people with a passion for education and natural horsemanship a form of training based on understanding equine behavior. And it appears university students are passionate about natural horsemanship, too. Rainier Butler, the college's public-relations representative, said UMW is the only university in the U.S. to offer a degree in natural horsemanship. He added that students from across the country come to study in the program and its concentrations in management, psychology, science and instruction. "It brings a great sense of diversity to the university," he said, adding that there is a waiting list to get into the program. According to the Center for Horsemanship's website, the university had to turn away students in 2015 because there was not enough space to accommodate them and their animals. For this reason, Kriegel maintained, the expansion is important for students, the university and the city of Dillon. "It's a contribution to the town and the community," he said, reflecting on the center's ability to aid in economic development Kriegel pointed out that the program boasts 120 students, who make up 10 percent of the student body. Many of these students, he said, come from out of state and spend money to maintain their horses, which means out-of-state dollars are circulating within the community. Butler also see the center as an asset. "We wouldn't be able to offer this program without the center," said Butler, describing how students pay for boarding at the center as part of their tuition. "It allows student to keep their horses on site." As for Kriegel, he says Montana will always be a special place for him because of the people and their values. "I loved the West," said Kriegel describing what drew him to the area. "I find Montana to be a beautiful state." Mystified Outer Banks tourists witnessed a bizarre act of nature Friday, Oct. 14, as fish began flinging themselves onto the beach at Ocracoke Island. Multiple videos shared on social media show the ocean appeared to boil with fish as they tumbled over each other in the surf. The so-called bluefish blitz concluded with thousands of dying fish piled on the sand, flopping up and down as ... Halloween is coming! Here's when to trick or treat in your town CASPER, Wyo. Natrona Countys exceedingly high rate of involuntary commitments for mental disorders has made it the prime candidate for a pilot program to test Wyomings new "gatekeeper" program. Passed in the Wyoming Legislature's last session as a way to reduce costs and improve treatment, the gatekeeper program evaluates up front what level of care a person needs when he is suspected by authorities of having a psychological disorder. Natrona County has the most involuntary hospitalization orders in the state. At a projected 120 commitments in 2016, its numbers are nearly double to Sweetwater County, the next highest on the charts. Over half of Wyomings 23 counties record fewer than 20 commitments a year, with many in the single digits. The cause of the high numbers, however, was a question at a recent meeting of the Legislatures Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee in Casper, and finding answers was one of the reasons the Wyoming Department of Health chose Natrona County for a pilot program, which will start in July. There was speculation that Caspers central location, and it being home to the Wyoming Behavioral Institute one of the few in-patient treatment centers in the state was bringing in people from other counties. Department of Health Director Tom Forslund, however, said the numbers for Natrona County reflected only local residents. Even so, local officials questioned the data. We wonder how like (neighboring) Converse County has zero, said Natrona County Commissioner Rob Hendry. They say that they take those out but I am wondering if there are some that slip through the cracks. Last year, the Casper Police Department received 30,800 calls related to mental health issues, said Brandon Wardell, acting director of the Central Wyoming Counseling Center. Of those, 646 were logged as related to suicide, with 413 resulting in detention. Wardell, speaking on behalf of many health care providers in the county, said a significant part of the problem is the lack of middle-ground treatment options. All we have is the option of either going inpatient, or releasing individuals, Wardell said. So what does that do? That inherently drives up the inpatient admits we realize this is a systemic problem (in the state). Efforts are underway, however, to identify other options, including ones the gatekeeper program could incorporate. What were doing now is developing processes to make sure there is coordination of care amongst all providers from the very initial stage of engagement with (law enforcement), to the ER evaluations, to that 24-hour hold hearing, to also providing those services that would give options other than just inpatient treatments, Wardell told the committee. Committee member Sen. Charlie Scott noted the problem in his home county, while voicing support for more flexible care options. Clearly that thing is eating our lunch, Scott said of the local numbers. I think it is sending people to a very restrictive environment that probably dont need to go that far, and thats a serious problem. And, with the financial pressures were under, weve got to do something about it. The issue is high on the Natrona County commissioners' priority list, as well. Under state law, counties are responsible to provide the first 72 hours of care. In Natrona County, that cost actually lands on the Wyoming Medical Center, which leases the county-owned hospital for a dollar annually in exchange for providing indigent care for local residents, including involuntary commitments. The center is anticipating indigent care expenses of $25.6 million this year. Involuntary commitments costs which is combined with prisoner care are projected at $2 million. It is not only the counties, however, that bear the expense, as the state picks up the bill after the initial 72 hours at a cost of some $900 per day in hospitalization fees. Costs are still growing at a significant rate, said the Department of Health's Stefan Johannson. We are projecting at least $18 million of expenditures for the (two-year budget cycle), and Title 25 with a $4.4 million operating budget, were getting a shortfall of anywhere from $13-$15 million projected, he said. Wyoming will likely have a "light to normal" fire season this year, according to the state's forester. "We will have fire activity, it will dry out in July and August and we will see some fires, but we're not expecting to see a huge fire season," said Bill Crapser, Wyoming's state forester. "Im always nervous making that kind of prediction, but from predictive services and the weather forecasters, that is our best guess." Wyoming's last severe fire season was 2012, when fires began by early May and ultimately burned about 600,000 acres across the state, costing almost $43 million. But even during a normal year, wildfires can be destructive. The Cole Creek Fire in 2015 near Casper consumed more than 10,000 acres and destroyed 14 homes. The upcoming wildfire season across the U.S. is not expected to be as bad as last year, when a record 15,800 square miles burned, the nation's top wildland firefighting official said recently. But parts of the nation should expect a rough season after a warm, dry winter or because of long-term drought, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said. Southern California, other parts of the Southwest, and Alaska and Montana are all vulnerable, he said. California is vulnerable because much of the state remains in a drought, despite an El Nino weather system that brought near-average snowfall to its northern mountains. Wildfires have already broken out in Alaska after a warm winter with below-average precipitation. Slightly more than half the land scorched by wildfires last year was in Alaska, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates firefighting nationwide. Washington and Oregon accounted for 18 percent. The Forest Service, the nation's primary firefighting agency, spent a record $1.72 billion on firefighting last year. The overall bill for wildfires, including prevention programs and the cost of putting crews, equipment and aircraft on fire lines, is consuming a growing share of the Forest Service budget. That has forced cuts in forestry research, campground and trail maintenance and other areas, Tidwell said. The Obama administration has been pressing Congress to pay the cost of fighting the worst fires from natural disaster funds, rather than the Forest Service budget. Tidwell said the largest 1 or 2 percent of wildfires account for about 30 percent of the costs. Congress has not agreed to the change, but it did approve an additional $520 million for fighting fires this season, Tidwell said. He said climate change is making wildfires worse, heating up the air, drying out forests and extending the wildfire season by an average of 78 days since 1998. A growing number of homes at the forest's edge, which firefighters call the wildland-urban interface, also drives up costs by forcing managers to concentrate crews and equipment to protect communities, he said. Tidwell said state and federal agencies need to thin those forests to a more natural state to prevent fires and make them easier to fight. Researchers say decades of over-aggressive firefighting have left forests dense with living and dead trees and more prone to deadly mega-fires. But Tidwell defended Smokey Bear, his agency's memorable mascot, from allegations of making things worse by portraying fire as evil instead of part of the natural cycle that kept forests healthy. Smokey's original message, "Only you can prevent forest fires," has been updated to "Only you can prevent wildfires." "Really, Smokey was just talking about those human-caused fires, which actually occur at the wrong time of the year, not where the natural fire occurs," Tidwell said. Those are the fires that the Forest Service still wants to stop, he said. "Smokey Bear gets no blame for the situation we have today," he said. Sheila Schafer, for decades the grand dame of Medora, will have some of her ashes spread at 2,855 feet, the highest point in nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park. As it turns out, the woman, whose great love for the park and Medora ended only with her death in March, would rest in view of a refinery proposed to be built three miles from the national park boundary. Ed Schafer, former governor, currently chairman of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and son of Medoras developer, Harold Schafer, confirmed that Buck Hill is one place where his stepmother requested her ashes be spread. How she would feel about a refinery being visible from there, I dont know and of course, she cant tell us, Schafer said. He said he, personally, doesnt know how he feels about it either, but said he hopes that officials and regulators will be talking about such issues like the visual line of sight from the park to the refinery. Is this the proper location? I would think that all those conversations are going to take place, Schafer said. The parks view shed analysis shows that the proposed 55,000 barrel per day refinery by Meridian Energy will be visible both from Buck Hill, a popular 360-degree viewing hill, and from 630 acres of the park along the eastern rim. The Davis Refinery will be on the agenda today when the Billings County Commission meets in Medora. At 10 a.m., the commission will take up a recommendation to approve zoning for the 715-acre site forwarded from the planning board on April 21. The project will also need a very restrictive Class 1 air quality permit from the State Health Department. Park superintendent Wendy Ross said several people ask to have ashes spread in the park, and Buck Hill, along with Painted Canyon and Wind Canyon, are most often requested. Her own fathers ashes are on Buck Hill, she said. Ross said shes hopeful the parks opposition to a refinery so near the entrance and visible from Buck Hill will be echoed by others today. She was pretty much the lone ranger at the zoning meeting, where most were in favor of jobs and development. People are just starting to wrap their minds around the details of what the refinery would mean and where it would be located. So many people had no idea and are really surprised, she said. Wally Owen, whose family is in banking in Medora, said the park would have more local supporters if park employees were more involved in the Medora community. He said he supports the refinery, but not without reservations. The location is the question. Its not just the refinery, its the byproducts that come with it, the chemicals and the fertilizer. There were not three options, or even two options, but this is the only option. I support it, but not in that location, Owen said. Doug Tescher, a Medora rancher and cabin outfitter, said he thinks his generation is more accepting of the park than were those when the park was developed in the 1930s and 1940s. But that acceptance only goes so far. The fact that its government, I think thats a lot of it. It goes back to private property and too much control, with wetlands and sage grouse. Its not so much the park as government overall, Tescher said. Ross said shes aware of the perception Tescher expresses. There can be an emotional response that we are overreaching our jurisdiction, she said. Its those intangible resources the air quality, the water, the scenery that all contribute to the visitor experience, she said. She said park visitation is up 35 percent from last year at this time, possibly in response to popular press, including being named the New York Times top five of 50 destinations for 2016. Schafer said the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation his fathers legacy and creation does not take positions on such issues. We trust the locals, the regulators will do with their jobs. Were not going to weigh in, but we do have a mission of protection and preserving the area in the best possible manner, he said. Small fire extinguished on river bottoms near Heart River in Mandan A small fire was extinguished Sunday afternoon on the river bottoms of the Heart River near the train trolley track in Mandan, said Mandan Rural Fire Chief Lynn Gustin. Gustin said 15 firefighters responded at about 4:45 p.m. to the call about a fire between the trolley and the river. The fire is believed have been caused by a campfire that wasn't properly extinguished, he said. No people or animals were injured, and no structures were damaged. Because the property was inaccessible by fire trucks and ATVs, firefighters wore special vests containing water and walked to the fire. The blaze took about a half-hour to contain, Gustin said. She did not have information about how much land burned, but described the damage as small. She said wind conditions were low at the time the fire was reported. Man found dead after vehicle rollover north of Devils Lake NEAR GARSKE -- A man was killed in a rollover crash north of Devils Lake on Sunday. The man, whose name has not yet been released, rolled a Toyota 4Runner several times on Highway 20, about 17 miles north of Devils Lake. According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the 29-year-old man was driving to his home northeast of Garske on Highway 20. His vehicle left the roadway and entered the east ditch. The driver then overcorrected and slid across the roadway, where it entered the west ditch and rolled several times. A media release said the man was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. He was found dead at the scene. The vehicle, which had to be towed away, came to rest facing west. The crash is still under investigation. It's not known when the crash happened, but the 911 call was received at 8:45 a.m. Sunday. Starkweather rural fire and rescue and the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department assisted the highway patrol with the crash. -- Forum News Service Man who fled Fargo halfway house reaches plea agreement FARGO (AP) A Minnesota man who walked away from a Fargo halfway house has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Chad Sumner is charged in federal court with escape. Authorities say he was serving the last few months of a three-year sentence for child endangerment when he fled from Centre Inc. on Jan 16. He had been scheduled to be released from custody March 2. Court documents show Sumner cut the strap from his electronic monitoring device and threw it into a garbage bin at a Fargo gas station. He was arrested Feb. 8 in Red Lake, Minn. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The plea deal calls for the government to recommend a sentence at the low end of the guideline range. Minot looks to hire an engineering firm for levee work MINOT (AP) Minot officials want to hire an engineering firm to help bring the city's flood levees up to federal standards. The city's Public Works and Safety Committee is recommending the city council enter an agreement with Houston Engineering for $352,500. Public Works Director Dan Jonasson said Minot's levees are deficient in places under standards recently updated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Jonasson said the improvements include tree removal and erosion repairs. Historic Old Armory in Williston celebrating its centennial WILLISTON (AP) Williston's historic Old Armory is celebrating its centennial. The armory's primary purpose back in 1916 was to be the home and training facility for Company E of the North Dakota National Guard, 1st North Dakota Infantry. The armory was officially retired from military service in the late 1950s. Since then, it has served as the home for many organizations. Old Armory board member Diane Hagen said it's important to preserve the history of some of the city's old buildings. The area outside the Governors Office will fill with song and prayer at noon Thursday as voices from North Dakotas National Day of Prayer celebration permeate the open hall. It is significant we are able to have this event at the Memorial Hall at the state Capitol, said Secretary of State Al Jaeger. We have the freedom to pray at a government building. Jaeger will lead a prayer for government at the event and will be joined by others offering prayers for education, business, military, family, media and the church. National Day of Prayer events are held in all 50 states the first Thursday of May. This years theme is Wake Up America. A house divided against itself cannot stand, said the Rev. Larry Jahnke, an organizer of the event at the Capitol in Bismarck, in a nod to Abraham Lincoln. We want to pray God unifies America again. In this presidential election year, no party alone can solve Americas problems, he said. And the name-calling from the candidates seeking the nations top office doesnt help. We are looking for a president that is going to have character and integrity, values that are going to lead our country, Jahnke said. The system is broke. We need to call to God to intervene. Jason Naas, a financial adviser with Edward Jones, will deliver the prayer for business. He said people often make the mistake of identifying themselves with where they work or what they do. Im going to pray its not just a job and not just a career, but its a calling, he said. A senior at Century High School will offer the prayer for family. Kourtney Selensky was asked to participate in the National Day of Prayer after delivering a moving speech at a recent Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast. Her prayer will encourage families to support one another through times of struggle and triumph. Whether its your Christian family, your school family, your work family or your personal family, those are the people you need to help along, she said. Whatever family youre a part of should be your focus. The Rev. Scott Bauman of Charity Lutheran Church will carry on the theme of unity in his prayer for the church. For so long churches have sought to, at times, work in competition with each other, he said. I think it is important that we come together in unity. We have one lord that we come together to worship, to cry out to. And hes the only one that can answer our prayer. What you need to know about Powerball and the $610 million jackpot The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a virus consisting of more than 100 different types. The most visible symptoms of HPV are warts. HPV types 1, 2 and 4 are commonly associated with plantar and common warts. Non-genital warts occur in 10 percent of children between 12 and 16 years. HPV types 6 and 11 are most commonly associated with genital warts. HPV types 16 and 18 are commonly associated with cancer. It has been linked to different kinds of cancer, including cervical, penile, anal, vaginal, vulvar, laryngeal and oral cancers. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Some forms of HPV are spread from skin-to-skin contact and result in common warts. Genital warts are primarily transmitted sexually, either from genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital or oral-anal contact. A person who becomes sexually active at a young age or has sex with many partners has a greater risk of acquiring HPV infection. Having sex with someone who has had many partners in the past also can increase the risk of HPV. Statistically, a third of teenagers by the age of 16 are sexually active in the United States. It is important for women age 21 and older to obtain a pelvic exam with cervical cell testing to detect HPV. Gardasil, an HPV vaccine, is administered as a series of three injections over a six-month period. For the vaccine to be most effective, the first dose should be given before the person becomes sexually active or is exposed to HPV. Gardasil is recommended by the CDC in males and females ages 13-26 who did not receive the vaccine when they were younger or did not complete the vaccination series. Gardasil can be given between the ages of 9 and 26. The American Cancer Society recommends the HPV vaccination should be routinely offered to ages 11 to 12. The most common side effects from the vaccination include a local site reaction, including pain, redness and swelling, headache, fevers, nausea and dizziness. The HPV vaccine offers effective protection against an HPV infection. Studies have shown that among those not yet exposed to the virus, the vaccine was 97-100 percent effective. For those already with HPV, the effectiveness dropped from 44 percent to 60 percent. This is why it is important to vaccinate prior to exposure to HPV. A man walked away from the Missouri River Correctional Center early Monday morning. Officials realized Leroy Hollman was gone at 3:30 a.m. and contacted highway patrol and locked down the facility, the release stated. Hollman, who is serving time for drug possession, theft, and giving false information to law enforcement, was expected to get out of prison in June 2017, according to a news release from the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. MRCC is an unfenced, minimum-security facility for inmates at the end of their sentences, which is located in Bismarck. Anyone with information about Hollman's location should contact their local law enforcement agency. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ A year after its Lok Sabha victory, a BJP leader asked a question in a private conversation: Is there any chance, however remote, of Mayawati and Mulayam coming together? The BJP, he went on, would win in UP if the two did not unite. But it would become difficult for the party, if, say, the SP and BSP were to make common cause. His other observation was even more interesting: The more the Samajwadi Party feels it can make it again on its own, the better it would be for us. The BJP need have no fears on the score of Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav coming together. As for the Samajwadi Party, on the defensive on the law and order front, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has of late tried to counter his partys rough-and-ready image by appropriating development as his core agenda going for expressways, stadia, a metro, hospitals, womens helpline, cycle tracks, power projects, a nutrition mission, etc. Today, people in UP tell you: Bhaiyya (Akhilesh Yadav) is good. But ... READ: Nehru was Indias best prime minister: Mulayam Singh Their but refers to an unhappiness with the party on the law and order front. What has also not helped is the way Mulayam has upbraided Akhilesh and his ministers publicly. It may have been netajis way of assuaging the chacha-tau brigades angst at the nephews new-found assertion, but it has done nothing for the party or the government in the run-up to the critical elections. The Muslims in UP, who favoured the SP, Congress and the BSP, in that order of preference, are today increasingly unhappy with Mulayam. They blame him for not supporting them when the Jat-Muslim violence took place in Muzaffarnagar in 2013, suspecting a tacit understanding between the SP chief and the BJP, and they felt let down when Mulayam broke up the Janata parivar in the midst of the Bihar elections and urged the people to vote for anyone but Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad. READ: BSP chief Mayawati appears as Goddess Kali in posters in UP The two years of the BJP rule have fuelled Muslim fears to such an extent that they are increasingly voting more strategically to defeat whoever can take on the BJP. Could Mayawati, who is on the upswing in UP, be the chief gainer of this sentiment? However, there are Muslims who fear that she could go with the saffron party in the event of a hung assembly, as she had done in the past. She has decided on tickets for around 100 Muslims, mostly in western UP. With a Dalit-Muslim combination, she could sweep in western UP, which accounts for 120 seats (going up to Bareilly). Essentially, Mayawatis appeal lies in her perceived ability to set right the law and order situation. People have begun to say that if she comes to power, she will fix things. Curiously, they do not expect that she will curb corruption, or create jobs, or bring succour to farmers. Then there is the sudden cooling off of Ajit Singhs RLD for a merger with the JD(U). The idea was a tie-up between the unified party and the Congress, and poll whizz kid Prashant Kishore had suggested that Priyanka Vadra be the face of this alliance in UP. But the RLD seems more inclined to go with the BJP today. Ajit Singh will undoubtedly get a ministerial berth in New Delhi; the RLD workers are also more enthusiastic about going with an ascendant force. The BJP will gain by consolidating its Jat support in western UP, dented by the recent Jat stir in Haryana, and by driving a wedge in the opposition ranks. The RLD, by itself, does not add up to much but by turning its face away from the Nitish-Congress initiative, it may ensure that the Congress remains a non-starter in UP. READ: JDU, RLD and others set to join forces in view of 2017 assembly elections The Congress story might have been different had it managed to tie up with the BSP. This would have helped the BSP by firming up the Muslim support behind such an alliance. It is not for nothing that the BJP has seized every opportunity to bring the debate on nationalism centre stage because this is an issue that can polarise the situation in the Ganga belt, and the party gained richly from the polarisation in the 2014 elections, notching up 71 seats. It can be expected to keep the issue alive in one form or another and party president Amit Shah has exhorted party persons to keep the focus on nationalism. The party may not go for communal clashes of the Muzaffarnagar variety this time because of a calculation that the floating voter after all, Modi moved from an 18% hardcore support to 31% because of these voters gets uncomfortable with repeated violence. The usual Pakistan bashing will also be less convincing, with the PM having made special overtures to Pakistan. Ayodhya seems to be a spent issue electorally, though the party is keeping the mandir up its sleeve. Unlike the issue of Rohith Vemula, which worried the BJP the Dalit vote for the BJP had doubled in 2014 JNU came in handy for the party, enabling it to flog nationalism, which has many takers. READ: Grand alliance in mind, Nitish to hold rally in Varanasi on April 10 The UP polls are almost a year away. And yet parties are already positioning themselves for the mother of all battles. It will be a particularly high-stakes election for the BJP, expected either to give it the adrenaline it needs for 2019 or to hasten its decline. Remember, the party could not have got a majority on its own but for UP. Neerja Chowdhury is a senior journalist and political commentator The views expressed are personal A lawmaker running for governor has questioned the response to a performance audit of the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands. Rep. Marvin Nelson, D-Rolla, said results of the departments performance audit by its board, which was reviewed last month by an interim committee he sits on, were troubling. He also expressed concerns over some energy impact grants being given to ineligible groups and said an attorney generals opinion should have been requested to address any questions over eligibility. Nelson pointed to examples in the audit that entities, including schools and fire departments, received funds through the Oil and Gas Impact Grant Fund and said he didnt know what to call it other than a misappropriation of funds. The Fargo Forum reported some of the projects flagged included new locks at a public school and baseball fields relocated to a different side of a highway because of safety concerns about children crossing the road. It needs to be known just which and how many grants are affected, Nelson said. I think the first thing is what does the law say? Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who sits on the land board and is a Republican candidate for governor, in a statement called Nelsons claim of grants being ineligible premature. Rep. Nelson has put the cart ahead of the horse in regards to the status of the grants in question. We will be working to clarify the state of existing grants including a possible independent legal opinion, Stenehjem said. The board will address any changes needed. The impact funds in question address critical infrastructure needs within our communities and are important to the health and safety of our citizens. We are committed to implementing the program in full compliance with the law and to the greatest benefit of the people of North Dakota. Nelson said an outside group also should be hired to review the grants and those who were ineligible should return the money. Next session, he said the Legislature should tighten up language governing the fund. State Land Commissioner Lance Gaebe was told last week by Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who chairs the five-member land board, to address the audit recommendations whether the department agrees with them or not. Doug Burgum, another gubernatorial candidate, told the Fargo Forum Monday he sees Dalrymples directive to Gaebe to implement all 59 recommendations from the three audits as really good direction, but that the departments processes need a very tight look. Gaebe said that process is underway: Our focus is on addressing the recommendations." Gaebe said the advisory committees created to review and recommend grant awards to the land board have been as thorough as possible. He feels discretion was provided by the Legislature to make the call on what to recommend for approval. It comes down to a judgement call, Gaebe said, adding the department will work to see how it can better improve its process for grant approval. Nelson said the audits are meant to improve the function of state government, not to create a gotcha moment and put departments on the spot. Its something we need to do more of, Nelson said, adding that increasing the budget of the auditors office in order to more frequently do performance audits of state agencies would ensure problems within agencies dont linger. The performance audit also found multiple mineral tracts were assigned to the wrong trust; the issue was due to a clerical error from 1943. When you go in and catch an error from 1943, what a catch, Nelson said. Gaebe said issues of eligibility and process will be fixed. He said its also the responsibility of the Legislature to review the fund itself when it appropriates money. They look at it every session as they should, Gaebe said. The oil impact grant fund dates back to the 1980s and for years had a few million dollars per year in appropriations. For the 2011-13 biennium the program expanded dramatically due to increased oil activity, with $135 million appropriated between the regular legislative session and a special session that fall. In 2013-15 that number jumped to $240 million. Lawmakers approved $140 million for the fund for the 2015-17 biennium; due to declining revenues only an estimated $28.6 million is available for the biennium. Information on the fund can be found at www.land.nd.gov. Kangana Ranaut will receive her third National Award from the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on Tuesday. The ceremony will be held in Delhi. However, the actor travelled to the city on Monday evening to attend a party that was hosted by her friend. Her sister, Rangoli Chandel, also attended the bash. Read: National Awards: Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Baahubali win big Kanganas close friend, Kalyani Chawla, threw a bash for the actor in the capital last night. She wanted to celebrate her win for her hit, Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015). She has wanted to host a party for Kangana for a long time but she couldnt do it because of the actors busy schedule, says a source. She has been busy shooting for Vishal Bhardwajs next. Kangana Ranaut played double role in Tanu Weds Manu Returns. (YouTube grab) Apparently, it was a close-knit affair. Kangana really enjoyed the party, says the insider, adding, After the ceremony today, Kangana will go on a vacation for a few days to unwind. Despite repeated attempts, Kangana couldnt be reached for a comment. Read: My contemporaries planted stories against me: Kangana Ranaut Watch Kangana Ranauts stellar performance in Tanu Weds Manu Returns SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A lot of delay and drama went into Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut recording her statement with the police on Saturday, alleged Hrithik Roshans legal team on Sunday. The two stars are locked in a public and legal tussle ever since Kangana termed Hrithik her silly ex in a January interview. We welcome the move. It has taken so long for them to take this basic first step. Recording of statement is the first step in any investigative process. A lot of delay and drama has happened before this first step. Its not for them to say if police is happy with them or not, let that come from the investigative agencies. Lets not try and confuse the matter further with various statements. Let the investigation speak for itself, said Hrithiks lawyers in a statement. Kanganas lawyer Rizwan Siddique hit back with claims of slut shaming on Hrithiks part. He also said she is fully convinced that there is no impostor, who sent the emails as Hrithik claims. On Sunday, Hrithik had tweeted to his fans, advising them not to damn someones character, It is characterless to judge another. Whatever may be the case. Strangle d anger. channelize love. Read: Hrithik slams Characterless Kangana Twitter trend Siddique said, My client Kangana Ranaut shall never succumb to any pressure..... The world including people from the film industry need to learn that in todays changing time, no woman is scared of anything if she is fiercely determined, and has the truth by her side. Some common people who had intervened had a fixed agenda of only scaring my client and hiding the truth, which could not happen. The lawyer accused the Bang Bang star of slut shaming Kangana to strengthen his case. To have an edge over my client he has tried everything within his means including slut-shaming, changing his public relations team, obtaining private cyber report which was paid for by him and also by changing his lawyer. However nothing is going to help as Hrithik Roshan cannot change the facts of the matter. Read: Cops extremely happy with Kangana statement My client knows and is fully convinced that there is no impostor as had there really been one, than Hrithik himself would have immediately acted on my clients sister complaint which he received on his correct email id on May 25, 2014, he said, adding His own acts of commissions and omissions after receipt of the said emails from my clients sister, coupled with his blatant lies from time to time, speak volumes of his conduct. A lot of things will soon unfold in due course of time, he added. Irrfan Khan stepped into his vanity van in Madh Island to check on us at regular intervals, but he told us that he would start the interview only when he had enough time to spare. The actor was busy shooting for an ad. When he finally did get started, his love for storytelling became evident. Over an hour-long chat, the actor discussed Hollywood and his initial years in Indian television. You have been working in Hollywood for over a decade now. How would you describe your journey? Ten years ago, if somebody told me that I would go on to work with Ang Lee (film-maker), or with all the directors Ive worked with, I wouldnt have believed the person. It just happened. Asifs (Kapadia, film-maker) film, The Warrior (2001), gave birth to me, as an actor. I was in an incubation period before that; I was working for TV, and it was not enjoyable. TV was more about trying to hone your craft. Then Asifs movie happened, and it changed my life. I never thought Ill have a parallel career in Hollywood. Read: Irrfan Khans work ethic proves hes the most amazing of them all You worked extensively on television initially. Do you miss that? No, I was in pain when I was doing fiction television. When you are working on a TV series, you are not allowed to invest [in it]. They (the makers) expect that once they have given you the lines, you will just mouth them as they are, and go home. You are not allowed to think too much, or experiment with your looks. So, the actor becomes like a machine, producing similar emotions again and again. And thats why even though Chandrakanta (TV show) was so popular, I had to leave it because I was bored to death. I left it, and got some respite. But after 50 episodes, they wanted me back. So they brought me back with a different name. Having said that, working on television was a learning experience. Read: Irrfan Khans work ethic proves hes the most amazing of them all Dont you agree that there are some stories that cannot be told on celluloid and need TV as a platform? Television has its own merits. Its a very powerful medium. In the US, if artistes want to work in a certain way, they can do that through TV, unlike Hollywood films, which are controlled by studios. Thats why we are not getting to see as much interesting content in cinema, as compared to TV. Our TV has to evolve. It has to bring in different audiences. Right now, its a numbers game. So, they are catering to the lowest common denominator. They are engaging only a particular class. Im specifically talking about fiction TV. Watch Jungle Book trailer here: Internationally, you are getting more substantial roles now. Has your image changed globally? Thats what you do as an actor. You create an image for yourself, and you dont do it consciously. This image is created through your roles. People start perceiving you on the basis of the roles you do. Very few actors invest a lot of time and energy in creating an image and then in nurturing it. Read: Irrfan Khan says Baloo from The Jungle Book is like him on steroids You have done well in India and also internationally. Whats the secret? I always look for a good story. Thats where my whole attention has always been. There was a time when I was doing Hollywood films and I was not getting enough offers in India. Back then, even though I was doing multimillion-dollar films in Hollywood, I was happy to sign a Hindi film that has a budget of even `2 crore to `3 crore, as long as it allowed me to tell my kind of story. I wasnt bothered about becoming an actor whose films are made on a `100 crore or `200 crore budget. I am glad that now things are finally falling in place. You dubbed for the Hindi version of a recently released film thats based on Rudyard Kiplings book. How was the experience? They offered me Shere Khan, but then I said let me watch the film first. After watching it, I decided to do Baloos voice. They had told me it would require time, so I said Id work it out. I didnt realise that the movie would become so huge, and the Hindi one would become bigger than the English version. What Hollywood does with these franchise films is that they make them to engage the kids, but they become movies for the whole family. Read: Irrfan Khan says Baloo from The Jungle Book is like him on steroids Purab Kohli has been rather busy of late. He recently finished shooting for his upcoming Bollywood film. He has also been working on an international web series in Italy. Currently, he is back in India to complete work on his new home in Goa. Next, he will start shooting for a new television series, which is being directed by Bollywood film-maker Nikhil Advani. But, before the shoot begins, he will travel to Italy with his fiancee, Lucy Payton, and daughter Inaya, for a vacation. Read: Purab Kohli to tie the knot with fiancee Lucy? A source says, When Purab was working in Italy, he was invited by a close friend there to join him and his family for a getaway at their villa, which is about two hours away from Rome. Purab will be leaving for Italy on May 6 for a 10-day holiday, and will spend some quality time with his family there. Purab says, The shoot of my TV series will start soon, and it will be a long schedule. Also, I have been working continuously since October last year. So, I really want to make the most of this vacation. Read: Purab Kohli has entire crew of American series Sense8 hooked to cricket Veteran actor Manoj Kumar is travelling from Mumbai to Delhi to receive his Dadasaheb Phalke Award in person today. The septuagenarian who was in the hospital till some time back recently shared, My movements are restricted due to acute health issues. After a thorough medical checkup, my doctors advised me to travel to New Delhi by train. I will be present to receive the award but cannot move around too much. The highest award for excellence and contributions to cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke Award has been bestowed on stalwarts since the early 70s. Yet, a study shows it has been given to a number of cine personalities at a time when they were too unwell. Read: Its a pleasant surprise, says Manoj Kumar on Dadasaheb Phalke award Raj Kapoor was wearing an oxygen mask and gasping for breath when he was awarded. Tapan Sinha was restricted to movements on a wheelchair. The same holds true for Pran and Shashi Kapoor. Actor Raj Kapoor was wearing an oxygen mask when he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Its astonishing as to why Shashi, Tapanda and Pransaab were awarded when they were so sick. Each of them deserved it duly. They could have been given this award when they were physically fit and able to move. Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and even Lata Mangeshkar were fit enough to be present and receive their awards, says Manoj Kumar. The 77-year-old Shashi Kapoor could not travel to New Delhi because of ill health. (AFP) Read: Shashi Kapoor receives Dadasaheb Phalke award at star-studded event Another recipient, Mrinal Sen supports the argument. Due recognition should be given to deserving people when they are fit as a fiddle, he says, adding: I was present to receive my award and not sick. Read: I could not believe it, says Manoj Kumar on winning Dadasaheb Phalke award When a stalwart is recognised and awarded at the fag end of his or her career it appears more like a consolation prize. As Adoor Gopalkrishan rightly says, If a talented artist is awarded at his peak, it is more meaningful. Three months after Vijay Mallya left India with Rs 9,000 crore in unpaid loans to banks and move to auction Kingfisher Airlines office complex and corporate brands failed to find any takers, lenders are gearing up to pursue recovery of their money to the last drop. Though there may not be any immediate reduction in each of the reserve prices, banks are likely to look at potential entities that could make good the brand, or tweak the price to suit any interested buyer. On Saturday, bankers found no bidders for the online auction of the Kingfisher brand, trademarks and logos, priced at Rs 366.7 crore, less than one-tenth of the brand valuation of about Rs 4,000 crore done in 2010. The reserve price may have been a tad high going by the current status of Kingfisher (Airlines)... There could be some airline firm or any interested entity or businessman wishing to enter the aviation industry, who can make good, resurrect or turnaround the image of this famous brandAfter all, Kingfisher was a much-loved airline once, said a senior public sector banker on the condition of anonymity. The legal process is going on and we have waited long. We can wait more to extract the most till such time the legal process is on. Last month, the auction of the airlines 17,000-sq-feet headquarter, Kingfisher House, situated in Mumbai, also failed to attract bidders. Read: Auction for Kingfisher Airlines brands fails as no bidder turns up Earlier, United Breweries, the maker of Kingfisher beer, had warned banks in an official statement that a buyer could use the logo only to set up another airline and for nothing else, and anybody buying it for any other purpose would be legally challenged as it held exclusive rights to the brand. With banks holding debt and interest of Rs 9,000 crore, and Mallya still in the UK, lenders are unwilling to relax their stand. State Bank of India (SBI), United Bank of India, IDBI Bank and Punjab National Bank have already declared Mallya wilful defaulter. We dont read much of what he (Mallya) says to others. We are treating the loan account like any other loan account for recoveryWe have provided enough towards the loan accountThe courts are hearing and we want that to continue till a decision is arrived at, another banker said. The 17-lender consortium led by SBI scrapped Mallyas earlier offer of a settlement made to banks last month, after the matter reached the Supreme Court. Bankers are being criticised for laxity with a widespread belief that proper due-diligence was not done when loans were given out. According to reports, banks have so far recovered only around Rs 1,240 crore, and a similar amount has been encashed through the selling of pledged shares in group companies. But the money is held up in various court cases. Apart from legal agencies, including the Supreme Court, CBI and Debt Recovery Tribunals investigating the case, the Enforcement Directorate has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Mallya in a money-laundering case. His diplomatic passport has also been revoked. Finance minister Arun Jaitley recently said in Parliament that banks were seeking to recover every penny from Mallya. Read: Mallya resigns from Rajya Sabha, a day before ethics committee meeting SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Airlines want a ban on the sale of liquor in the security hold area (SHA) at domestic terminals of airports as they say drunk passengers on board can be a safety threat and inconvenience co-passengers and the crew. Sale of liquor is permitted both at shops and pubs inside the SHA at airports after passengers have checked-in and have undergone the security check. The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and GoAir and raised the issue first, has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to intervene as this resulted in huge flight delays and inconvenienced other travelling passengers and airline staff. Several domestic airports in India have outlets in the SHA (domestic sector) selling alcohol thus allowing passengers to consume prohibited alcoholic drinks after they have checked-in and have undergone security check at the domestic terminal, the FIA has said in a letter to the aviation regulator. It pointed out to the Indian Aircraft Rules, 1937, which prohibits any intoxicated person from entering a aircraft. In view of the safety concern and to avoid any inconvenience to the travelling passengers, FIA requests you to kindly review the policy allowing sale of alcoholic drinks in the SHA at the airports and prohibit the same, it said. Airlines have pointed out that it was difficult to identify drunk passengers during the boarding process due to limited time available for scrutiny, which could lead to an unsafe situation in case the passenger becomes unruly on board. We will be taking up the matter again with DGCA as no action has yet been taken, said an FIA official. Aviation experts, however, have opposed the move. Liquor is served on international flights to and from India. The new integrated terminals that we have at Delhi and Mumbai serve both domestic and international flights. Do we stop liquor sale there as well? Rajji Rai, former head of Travel Agents Association of India, asked. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Global Fashion Group (GFG), the parent company of online fashion portal Jabong, has secured a funding of 300 million euros (about Rs 2,282 crore) . While the German tech startup investor Rocket Internet will underwrite around 100 million euros (about Rs 760.7 crore) of the financing, it will invest around 85 million euros (about Rs 646.7 crore), including the conversion of an existing investment at the terms of the financing. The transaction values GFG at 1 billion euros post the transactions, Rocket Internet said in a statement. The financing will provide GFG with the necessary capital to continue to execute its strategy of building out its leading position in the online fashion sector in emerging markets, GFG Chief Executive Officer Romain Voog said. During the first quarter of 2016, GFG reduced loss from operations meaningfully compared to the year-ago period, resulting in an improvement of the adjusted EBITDA margin by over 10 percentage points. This is in line with GFGs plan to deliver an accelerated path to profitability across its regional businesses, while continuing to capture the significant market opportunity available, he said. Founded in 2014, GFG combines six regional brands --Dafiti in Latin America, Lamoda in Russia and CIS, Namshi in the Middle East, The Iconic in Australia, Jabong in India and Zalora in South-East Asia. We continue to be very excited about the prospects of GFG, which has successfully built out leading market positions in key emerging markets. We are looking forward to continuing to work with the GFG team as well as Kinnevik and the other GFG shareholders to support GFG, Rocket Internet CEO Oliver Samwer said. Rocket Internet also has investment in Food Panda in India. Jabong MD and CEO Sanjeev Mohanty said the funding will help the firm enhance business operations. We have had success over the past few months, with Jabong recently recording its best month in terms of revenue... GFG sees good progress with Jabong in India and this trust will help us strengthen our operations in the country, he added. Jabong narrowed down its gross loss to Rs 46.7 crore for 2015 on the back of lower level of discounts from Rs 159.5 crore in 2014. In India, fashion is one of the largest and fiercely contested categories in e-commerce space. Launched in 2011, Jabong offers more than four lakh products. It was merged with GFG in 2014. The first major bid for Tata Steels UK assets will be placed on the table this week after commodities firm Liberty House headed by Sanjeev Gupta confirmed it will submit a Letter of Intent for all the holdings, including the giant Port Talbot plant in Wales. Over 60 international companies and consortiums are said to be examining the sale documents. A management buyout at Port Talbot with likely assistance from the UK and Wales governments is also being considered. The bid led by Gupta will seek to convert existing blast furnaces considered unviable to electric arc furnaces to recycle steel from scrap rather than produce steel from iron ore and coal. Successful conversion of all furnaces is expected to prevent redundancies. More clarity on bids by Gupta and others is expected on Tuesday after the bank holiday weekend. We can confirm that Liberty will submit a letter of intent to Tata Steel on Tuesday and has put in place a strong internal transaction team and panel of leading external advisers to take the bid forward, a Liberty House spokesman said over the weekend. Libertys bid reportedly includes participation by State Bank of India and Australian bank Macquarie. Former senior Tata Steel executives are said to be advising Gupta in putting together the bid. Business secretary Sajid Javid said last week that potential buyers of Tata Steels UK assets were unwilling to take on the liabilities of the companys pension fund that has a deficit of 485 million. However, the sale of UK assets is expected to be facilitated by the government taking a maximum of 25% stake in the new business. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dying to watch the latest Rajnikanth starrer Kabali at a theatre near you in Delhi? You are not in a minority. Regional movies are increasingly performing well in terms of revenue, and are getting more viewership in their non-traditional markets. According to analysts at KPMG, the domestic movie collections grew 8.5% in 2015 to reach Rs. 101 billion and this was mainly driven by non-bollywood movies, as the growth of bollywood was almost flat. For instance, Baahubali, a Telugu movie that earned more than Rs 6 biilion worldwide, was shown in about 2,000 screens in northern India, and they contributed to 25 per cent to its overall domestic collections. In the July to September 2015 period, about 29% revenue of PVR, one of the largest multiplex chains in India, was from regional. We see the revenues from regional movies are growing at 15 to 20% in the last two years, said Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures and Chief of Strategy for PVR Ltd. He said that increase in number of screens, strong stories and good marketing are driving this. PVR also saw a lesser-budget tamil movie like O Kadhal Kanmani performing well, when shown with English subtitles, in markets like Bombay, Delhi and Gujrat. It is not just south Indian movies. KPMG says Marathi, Punjabi and Guajarati movies also do well. Marathi movies grew by 45 - 50% in 2015, to reach around Rs 1.5 billion. The number of Marathi films releasing every year has risen to 70-80 from just 10-15 a decade ago. According to A FICCI- KPMG report, Indian film industry is expected to grow 10.5 % to Rs 227 billion by 2020. When Marina Fathallah walked to school with her sister, she said they never thought they would reach the building. She said shootings usually started at that time, and bombs could also be heard more than once on any given day. Fathallah is a 20-year-old Bismarck State College student. She grew up in Mosul, Iraq, a city now occupied by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. I didnt even go outside a lot, Fathallah said. It was dangerous, so I used to stay home. When Fathallah was 15 years old, her dad decided the family needed to move. If he died, his daughters and wife would be left without a place to live in Iraq. The family relocated to Turkey for a couple of months before resettlement in the United States. Fathallahs aunt lived in Bismarck and was able to help her family adjust. Fathallah said the day her family arrived, they were greeted at the airport by her aunt, who cooked her family supper that night. There was also a representative from Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota present. Jessica Thomasson, the CEO of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, said the state has been a welcoming place for refugees to resettle and start their new lives. Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota is the only federally recognized resettlement organization in the state. The organization has worked with refugees in North Dakota since 1946. We help people who are displaced by conflict find a safe place to begin rebuilding their lives, Thomasson said. The families that we work with are so eager to begin building their lives again. North Dakota receives about 400 refugees each year, according to Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. The largest resettlement groups are Bhutanese and Iraqis, but there is also presence from Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia. Thomasson said the purpose of refugee resettlement is not to resolve world conflict. There are certainly larger geopolitical issues that go well beyond the world of refugee resettlement, which is a humanitarian effort, Thomasson said. There is a huge conversation that has to go on about how to resolve conflict in countries around the world. Sen. John Hoeven said bringing refugees to the country will not solve any problems. Specifically, Hoeven mentioned Syrian refugees, who have been fleeing Syria since the civil war began in 2011. We need to set up safe zones and take actions in the region with our allies, Hoeven said. We cannot solve the problem for the Syrian refugees by just having them all come to the United States. Hoeven stressed the need to work with other countries to defeat conflict on a military basis. We have to think in terms of solving problems, not creating additional problems, Hoeven said. To avoid the creation of potential terrorist activity, several background checks are conducted on every refugee prior to their admittance to the United States. In addition, there are checks run by the FBI, CIA, Security Advisory Opinions, Consular Lookout and Support System and the Inter Agency Check. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is on the Homeland Security Committee and said refugees are the most vetted people who come into the country. One of the topics the committee discusses is radicalization of people who are transitioning to the United States. Heitkamp said problems occur when people feel isolated and devalued because of their religion or skin color. We need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to integrate, communicate, continue to work with those populations, Heitkamp said. We dont make it safer by demonizing a whole religion. Integrating successfully into the new communities is specifically what the refugee resettlement programs work is, Thomasson said. We help people get connected with English language classes, with employment, with education, with health care, Thomasson said. We help make sure they have a place to live when they move to the community. Fathallah said she learned basic English words in Iraq, but, when she came to the United States, she said she felt like she had never learned English before. Everything was different, Fathallah said. It was hard because school looked different. They looked different. Some of the differences Fathallah noted were things such as students not wearing uniforms and having colors such as purple and green in their hair. Thomasson also said that, upon arrival into their new communities, refugees go through extensive orientation on what it means to live in an American community. I didnt know what freedom really is, and I never experienced it in my life, Fathallah said. Sometimes, I feel like my life got harder than before, because I never had to worry about driving a car or working in a store. Freedom for Fathallah is choosing s career and driving a car to school each day. Fathallah said that she would like to go back to Iraq some time, but not until the danger is gone. It was during a conversation with his partners Suhas Misra, Neeraj Biyani and James Nuttall over home-made aam panna a thirst-quencher made from raw mangoes that Neeraj Kakkar, the CEO of Gurgaon-based Hector Beverages, had an inspiration to make Paper Boat drinks. No wonder that Kakkar says more than half of Paper Boats drinks is from the heart. Kakkar, a former Coca-Cola employee, founded Hector Beverages in 2010, along with two of his colleagues at the US-based company, Suhas Misra and Neeraj Biyani, and Wharton University batchmate, James Nuttall. The company had launched energy drink, Tzinga, but the sales were moderate. And then the four of them decided to launch Paper Boat in 2013. The same year, Suhas Misra and James Nuttall quit the company. Sold in sleek and squashy bottles Paper Boat drinks are available in a number of variants from aam paana and jal jeera (cumin water) to kokum (mangosteen juice) and neer more (Tamlands chaas). Theres also chilli guava, golgappe and panakam. But Kakkar is not going to produce anymore of this south Indian jaggery and dry ginger-based temple drink, once summer come to pass this year. Spoiler Alert! Next summer, Paper Boat will offer the panakam in three variants to consumers in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, each with its own unique flavour. In some ways, it is also the DNA of Paper Boat to seek and nail recipes that can live up to its tagline: Drinks and Memories. The company has some 40-odd panelists, comprising chefs from star hotels to moms and grand-moms, who share and tick-off recipes that live up to traditional taste buds. However, its a long-drawn process. Any given flavour takes up to 18 months from ideation to rolling out the final product and no less than `70 lakh to `1 crore in development cost. Discovering original recipes in many cases comes from the companys employees informally called protectors of the recipe. This inside-out approach to developing new flavours has worked well for Paper Boat, but also had its share of disasters. In 2014, the company tried its hand at sattu, a chickpea-based drink from Bihar. It was launched on IndiGo flights, but the taste did not go well, and customers started to demand their money back. For kanji, Kakkar and his team could not find sufficient volume of purple carrot needed to make it to make the drink, which had its origins in Haryana. A trip to Turkey helped in bringing the seeds for the purple carrot, and a deal with a farmer in Tamil Nadu to grow it for the company saved the day for Paper Boat. Kakkar plans to release one new flavour of Paper Boat every month in 2016. It is April, and four new flavours are already in the market And he has more reasons to smile. The company has already raised close to `250 crore in funds from a clutch of investors, including the likes of Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy. It is giving century-plus old food players, such as, Dabur, tough competition in the traditional drinks market. In fact, Dabur recently launched its Hajmola Yoodley brand in a packaging similar to Paper Boat. Kakkar is eyeing a 160% growth in 2016-17 over the previous fiscal. And theres a tremendous oppurtunity, considering the $5.2-billion size of the Indian non-alcoholic beverages market. In a letter to Hindustan Times last week, a reader complained about the uninspiring museum scene in Delhi. He had travelled to Washington, Los Angeles, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Marseille and found museums mesmerising in each of these cities. One could spend the whole day... in full comfort. Thats what I miss in India. Other than some beautiful palaces, which are museums in themselves, there really is nothing else to see about our history, our great people and leaders... nothing else worth remembering except, may be, the National Museum on Janpath, he wrote in the letter. He couldnt have made his point at a more appropriate time. Just three days later, Delhis National Museum of Natural History (NMHM) was lost to a late-night blaze. Apart from charred manuscripts, burnt down specimens of endangered birds, reptiles and mammals and fossils dating back to as far as 160 million years, the museum left behind a story of how to kill our heritage. After six years of curation, the museum opened in 1978. Most old-timers remember the building for its giant dinosaur figure in its front lawn. Visible from a distance, it was a city landmark. The museum was on the must-do list of most children during their summer vacation. But last Tuesday when the building caught fire, one was surprised to realise how little Delhi residents remembered of this city icon. Not without reason. A parliamentary panel report in 2012 stated that it was short of mockery to call it a national museum. There were no audio-visual aids or school loan kits at the museum. The exhibits remained the same for decades and current environmental concerns such as global warming, deforestation, pollution control found no reflection is any of the displays. The ministry of environment that ran the museum defended the lack of upgrade, saying the museum was soon to be shifted out of its rented premises to a sprawling building in Pragati Maidan. But now, with nearly 70% of the exhibits lost to the fire, one wonders what the new set up, however plush, will inherit. Being the national capital, Delhi gets to claim the best of art, artefacts and natural history specimens. Its own rich history makes it a repository of precious material. The National Museum displays artefacts from 5,000 years of history, the Gallery of Modern Art has the best collection of paintings in India, the National Rail Museum displays 90 vintage locomotives and wagons and Shankars International Museum has a collection of 6,500 dolls from 85 countries. Purana Qila has a museum right on the excavation site. The Delhi government website lists out 22 government-run museums in the city. Many of these museums routinely undergo renovations, but for a few exceptions, most visitors still find the places run down and uninspiring. Most city museums have fallen off the tourist map. Their exhibitions are rarely a talking point even among Delhites. Across the world, many vibrant cities are proud of their museums. It is not merely about timely restoration of displays but about connecting with people. At the British Museum, the sleepovers give children the chance to spend a night exploring some galleries after dark, and take part in activities such as storytelling, music and dance workshops, re-enactments and craft activities. The American Museum of Natural history offers the same experience for adults. The overnight adventure includes a champagne reception and up-close experience with the African mammals, the 65-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex and chance to curl up under the 94-foot blue whale. At Londons Victoria and Albert Museum, the worlds largest on art and design, a retrospective of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen last year was the most visited exhibition ever. For the final two weekends, the museum opened through the night for the first time in its history to accommodate visitors, the Guardian reported. These museums are becoming increasingly aware that they need the best of ideas to draw visitors. In India, the management of museums is still a sarkari domain. The 2012 parliamentary report had recommended that the government set up a panel of museologists, environmentalists and educationists to revisit the concept of curating. It may be too late for the NMHM. The others could use that thought. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Constitution of India was created by the honest for the innocent. Those honest men and women (290 and nine, respectively) are now a fresco. They may fade, they will not change. Their honesty is forever. But what of us for whom that document was and is intended? We the people cannot and will not fade. We are perennial. But by god, have we changed ! Over the last 67 years we have moved from innocence to experience. And we have worked our experience into the Constitution. Not into its foundations or its facade, but in its interior design. Amendment by amendment, a full one hundred of them, we have aligned that document to our changing times, our realities. Apart from constitutional amendments passed by Parliament, a great many judgments of our Supreme Court, passed by its constitution bench have given to the original text fresh meanings, new impetus. Old innocence had not conceived the possibility of ruling parties losing their majorities by large-scale defections from one party to another or to new groupings . In fact and this seems incredible it had not conceived of parties at all. The phrase political party did not figure in the Constitution. But new experience showed new skills at work, including very specially, that of engineering defections and decoctions. So very wisely, very sagaciously, in 1985, anti-defection provisions were brought into the Constitution. And the word party entered the Constitution for the first time by the coy side door of a new Schedule Ten. Likewise, the idealistic assumptions of the Constitutions founders had not imagined that its provisions for the promulgation of an emergency under Article 356 would be crassly manipulated as they were in 1975. But the trauma of that experience led to the clauses being drastically altered in 1977, to protect democracy from a supremacists whimsy. Read | Presidents rule, too powerful for comfort The innocence about political intentions is now history. The Constitution is wiser now if also sadder for its bitter wisdoms. There is however one feature in the Constitution that has not only not changed but has entrenched itself. And that is about god. God? In the Constitution of India? Curiously, yes. Unlike many constitutions of the world, ours did not mention god either. Not in its body. Our Constituent Assembly comprised, in the main, of believers. One might say that most of them were, in their hearts, pious. Yet, despite their beliefs, they did not think it necessary or right to bring the Almighty into the text. They kept god out of the formulations. We were, after all, to be a secular nation. The speeches of Gandhi outside of the Constituent Assembly and of Nehru and Ambedkar in the Assembly made it clear that the State was the State, religion was religion, and the two were not to mix. But god is god. He is omnipresent. Almost in spite of the framers of the Constitution, god tiptoed ever so gently into the Constitution of India. But what a footprint he has made! So, how does he come into the Constitution? Right through the front door, right royally. And yet invisibly. He is in a Schedule, Schedule Three. What is in a Schedule is Scheduled. And so, like a Scheduled subject in the Union, State or Concurrent lists of subjects, like a Scheduled State or a Scheduled language, god, too, is Scheduled in our Constitution as a Scheduled Oath. Only a constitution amendment can deprive him of that position now. The form of oath prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Constitution , gives our MPs, MLAs and a host of functionaries and judges of the Supreme Court and high courts entering their high office this option: They can either swear in the name of God, or solemnly affirm that they will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and the law. Our president, vice-president and prime minister are also given the same option, in separate Articles of the Constitution. If they value god over their solemn word they can all come into office in gods name. And they are doing so now, in steadily increasing numbers. So are we becoming more and more godly? Or just more and more superstitious? Our Constitutions Preamble, needless to say, did not does not invoke god. The Preamble to the Constitution of Pakistan does: Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him. Pakistan is a theocratic state. Our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and our first law minister, Dr BR Ambedkar, did not swear in the name of god, they solemnly affirmed. That was their personal and right choice but why, as the Constituent Assemblys leading lights, did they let the Constitution give anyone that choice? Was it because that option was in keeping with standard international practice? Or did the format of a mere form creep in by oversight? All the 16 Lok Sabhas seem to be happy to have the choice. The number of MPs and MLAs placing god above a solemn word has been rising steadily. More and more are now swearing in the name of god. In the current Lok Sabha, out of 513 MPs who were sworn in on 4 June 2014, as many as 474 swore in the name of god, and only 39 affirmed, Sonia Gandhi being one of those 39. The same goes with our Presidents. Is god, then, stealing a march over the solemn word? Undoubtedly, yes. But what does that god represent? Faith or fear? Belief or superstition? Is the oath an appeal for Grace or for protection, security? For inspiration or indemnity? An oath or affirmation is but a way of saying Believe me, Trust me. That solemn word should be enough, more than enough. Trustworthiness can be put to the test by us, godliness only by God. Gopalkrishna Gandhi is distinguished professor in history and politics, Ashoka University The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court banned plying of diesel taxis in New Delhi and NCR with effect from May 2. Twitter users seethed in anger after the national capital was cut off from NCR for more than two hours on Monday morning because of traffic snarls caused by taxi drivers protesting against the ban. The Delhi traffic police took to Twitter to caution commuters about the jam on the Delhi-Gurgaon border. Obstruction in traffic in both carriageways from Dhaula Kuan towards Gurgaon due to demonstration by taxi drivers near Rajokari Border. Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) 2 May 2016 Thousands of commuters were forced to endure long tailbacks on the Delhi-NCR border, from as early as eight in the morning. The red zone is all what Delhi-Gurgaon traffic is all about. Thanks SC n Diesel owners, I'm stuck past 2hrs. pic.twitter.com/9jyT2hs9fY Rainasaurus (@sid_raina) 2 May 2016 With no end in sight, people took to Twitter to vent out their frustration with pictures and videos. #RidlrDEL Major traffic jam in NH8 towards Gurgaon. pic.twitter.com/sRux7GnrwO Dipto Sankar Basu (@DiptoS) 2 May 2016 State of NH8 at Delhi Gurgaon border after agitating drivers bring traffic to standstill. #dieselban pic.twitter.com/Rlxi0wNBX9 Rajat Gupta (@rajatg_iimcal) 2 May 2016 #mondaymotivation has gone into drain due to huge traffic jam at NH8 #Gurgaon coz of banning of diesel taxis. What a start to Monday! Vivek Sharma (@TheVivekSharma) 2 May 2016 Around Delhi-Gurgaon in 80 days. Stuck in traffic for the past 2 hours #Gurgaon Neha Gupta (@nehagupta2918) 2 May 2016 Vaibhav Aggarwal, a victim of the jam, missed his flight. Damn my bro missed flight due to traffic on gurgaon route @ArvindKejriwal @bharat_builder Vaibhav Aggarwal (@Vaibhav_CFA) 2 May 2016 Major traffic obstructions were also reported from Akshardham, Mayur Vihar-2, Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram intersection, Subroto Park, Palam Airport Road and Rao Tula Ram Marg in New Delhi. Senior traffic officials said that maximum deployment was made around borders, to stop the diesel-run taxis from entering the city. Our focus was to stop any diesel-run cab from entering the city. Over the day we will divert our deployment within the city, a senior traffic official said. Stuck in the great-Monday-Gurgaon-jam. Megha (@Omeghaa_) 2 May 2016 Getting cabs and autos through aggregator services was also challenging on Monday morning. Services such as Ola and Uber hardly had any cabs or autos available during the morning peak hours. Some even issued advisories to others. Avoid Stretch From Dhaula Kuan towards #Gurgaon due to demonstration by taxi drivers near Rajokri Border. #NH8 pic.twitter.com/77QFWV6kUN Sourav Taneja (@souravhtaneja) 2 May 2016 Bobins V Abraham was thankful it was his day-off from work. Thank God, it is a Monday and I don't have to go to office. #GurgaonTraffic #DelhiCabProtest Bobins V. Abraham (@BeingJournalist) 2 May 2016 The Delhi government launched a helpline on Monday for citizens to report about taxi operators overcharging under surge pricing, a day after aggregator Uber brought back the practice in the National Capital Region. Transport minister Gopal Rai tweeted that residents of the national capital can use the number 011-42400400 to register their complaints and said strict action will be taken against those following surge pricing. Surge pricing is a business model in which companies charge higher rates than normal to encourage more drivers to offer rides when demand for taxis outstrips supply. Ubers announcement on Sunday, the day a ban on diesel-run cabs came into effect in the NCR, prompted chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to warn the operator of a strong action. Some taxis hv started charging surge. Surge not allowed under law. They r warned that strong action will be taken against them, Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday. The chief minister had earlier described Ola and Ubers business model as daylight robbery. A day after the second phase of the odd-even scheme aimed at curbing air pollution ended on April 30, commuters across the city who availed of the services of the app-based cab firm found that surge pricing was back. When contacted, an Uber spokesperson confirmed the development, saying that suspension of surge pricing was only a temporary measure. The move came even as the ban on diesel-run cabs affected nearly 27,000 vehicles. Uber had introduced the provision during the second phase of the odd-even road rationing system, and the move was objected to by commuters. Kejriwal had asserted that such demand-linked hikes would be banned permanently. A senior Delhi government official said action will be taken against these companies based on complaints. We will impound their cabs, the official said. While an immediate confirmation could not be obtained from Ola, another app-based service, its app displayed a message saying peak time charges may be applicable during high demand hours and will be conveyed during the booking which enables us to make more cabs available to you. Ola displayed the disclaimer during the odd-even period as well, although it did not invoke peak-pricing till Saturday. Uber and Ola hiked rates by at least three times during odd-even, and commuters complained they had to pay astronomical rates because of surge pricing. They had to withdraw the move after the governments threat to cancel licences and impound cabs. A 21-year-old man was stabbed to death outside his house in Madangir, near Sangam Vihar, South-East Delhi on Friday night. Police said Deepak was stabbed 42 times by four youths with whom he had a tiff some months ago. Deepaks father, Kalu Ram, who works as a labourer in the area heard his son scream. When he went out of the house, he saw Deepak lying in pool of blood, a senior police officer said. There were several stab wounds on his thighs, chest, stomach and a deep cut close to the heart. He saw a few persons fleeing the spot. He informed police control room and rushed him to the hospital. Deepak died on the spot, the officer said. Preliminary investigation revealed Deepak had a quarrel with four of his friends following which he stopped visiting them. His father told police that he had stopped Deepak from going out with his friends because they were into drugs. On Friday night, Deepak got a call from his friends who asked him to step out to settle the dispute. Initially Deepak did not take their call. But he answered the phone and they convinced him to come out. It appears that Deepak had a financial dispute with his friends. He knew one of the youths, a juvenile, from when he worked at a parking lot in Gurgaon It appears the youth wanted Deepak to accompany him and take drugs with them but since he refused, their ego was hurt, said a senior police officer. A murder charge was registered at the Sangam Vihar police station. The police have recorded statements of 25 people and accessed CCTV footage of the area to identify the youths. Deepaks phone was also seized to identify the number of the youth he last spoke to. Sources said that juvenile in the crime was identified. A team went to the residence of the juvenile but he is absconding. His mobile phone is also switched off. We sought help from the local intelligence to trace youth. Raids were conducted at several locations but police are yet to make any arrests. The deceased Deepak was a twelfth standard student from open school, a senior police officer said. Termite infested and exhibits crumbling, a small and lesser known childrens science museum in a corporation school building in south Delhis RK Puram Sector 6 is on its way to becoming a relic itself. The Childrens Resource Centre Museum was inaugurated in 1987 by then Union education minister. In February 2013, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) renamed it Nirbhaya Museum in honour of the December 16 braveheart. In shambles then too, the civic agency promised to earmark Rs 20 crore for its renovation. Three years later, the museums condition reveals a tale of empty promises. An old model of a Tyrannosaurus at the entrance leads one to the dingy and shabby six rooms. The rooms are divided into sections Body and Health, Transportation, History of Man, Ecology, Indias Energy Resources and Earth and Origin of Life. Nearly all displays look archaic and in need of a major overhaul. The empty reception is also in shambles. The staff covers up the spots on the walls damaged by termites. The roof has lost patches at many places. On February 6, 2013, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation announced it will name its science museum for children in RK Puram after my daughter. We were called to the civic centre and announcement about the renaming and developing the museum was made. However, nothing has happened, said Badrinath Singh, Nirbhayas father. A childrens science museum in south Delhi is on its way to becoming a relic. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) He said Delhis three mayors also promised a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each. We have not received a single penny from them, Singh said. With the promised sum not coming in, the staff is preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) to woo government agencies and corporate for funds. Ever since upgrade has been proposed, museum activities have increasedCorporates and government agencies will fund only if it (DPR) is there. We have also approached ONGC and Indian Oil. I have also done presentations on the revamp road map, said museums assistant curator Dhruv Prasad Soni. Leader of the House in the SDMC, Subhash Arya, said releasing the funds was taking time. We will approach Union ministers for funding this project through corporate social responsibility, he said. On the assured compensation not being given to the gangrape victims family, Arya said, I will look into the records of whether the compensation has been given or not. If not, we will go and give the money to the family, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Traffic was thrown out-of-gear in areas around National Highway 8 on Monday morning as hundreds of cab drivers blocked both carriageways near the Rajokri toll booth in southwest Delhi on the key road protesting against the Supreme Courts decision to ban diesel taxis in the city. Traffic jam at Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) toll plaza on May 2. (Sunil Ghosh/ Hindustan Times) The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, linked by NH-8, and the traffic helpline was bombarded with calls from distressed commuters. Dhaulakuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli were some of the areas where traffic crawled for hours and a long tailback stretching over a kilometer was witnessed near the Rajokri flyover around 9am, a traffic official said. A scene of traffic jam at a road near DND toll-plaza on May 02. (Sunil Ghosh/ Hindustan Times) The taxi drivers on Monday morning blocked both the carraigeways on Rajokri flyover near the old Delhi toll booth on Gurgaon to Dhaula Kuan road, a traffic police official said. The chaotic situation stretched beyond 11am and traffic personnel had to be pressed into service in the area, the official added. Diesel taxi operators block traffic NH-8 at the Delhi - Gurgaon border on May 2. (Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times) After extending the deadline twice, the apex court had on Saturday refused to give more time to cab operators to convert to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital of which 27,000 run on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months. Vehicles were stuck for hours in a traffic Jam on National Highway-8, in New Delhi. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo) Taxi drivers blocked traffic on the NH8 at the Delhi-Gurgaon border. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) The red zone is all what Delhi-Gurgaon traffic is all about. Thanks SC n Diesel owners, I'm stuck past 2hrs. pic.twitter.com/9jyT2hs9fY Rainasaurus (@sid_raina) 2 May 2016 Damn my bro missed flight due to traffic on gurgaon route @ArvindKejriwal @bharat_builder Vaibhav Aggarwal (@Vaibhav_CFA) 2 May 2016 State of NH8 at Delhi Gurgaon border after agitating drivers bring traffic to standstill. #dieselban pic.twitter.com/Rlxi0wNBX9 Rajat Gupta (@rajatg_iimcal) 2 May 2016 Vehicles were stuck in the traffic Jam at NH8 on the Gurgaon Delhi border. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) #RidlrDEL Major traffic jam in NH8 towards Gurgaon. pic.twitter.com/sRux7GnrwO Dipto Sankar Basu (@DiptoS) 2 May 2016 Taxi drivers blocked the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway after the Supreme Court banned plying of Diesel cabs in the Delhi-NCR region from May 1. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) The red zone is all what Delhi-Gurgaon traffic is all about. Thanks SC n Diesel owners, Im stuck past 2hrs.Damn my bro missed flight due to traffic on gurgaon route @ArvindKejriwal @bharat_builderState of NH8 at Delhi Gurgaon border after agitating drivers bring traffic to standstill. #dieselban#RidlrDEL Major traffic jam in NH8 towards Gurgaon.@TimesNow @timesofindia @htTweets Unprecedented traffic towards GGN right till GGN toll gate.@abpnewstv @aajtak With inputs from Agencies I have no work at the moment. There is no money coming in to fund my childrens education and pay rent, says Sushil Kumar, son of Rohtas, who was the darling of Delhi Universitys St Stephens College. Rohtas used to sell samosas, nimbu paani and gulab jaamun in what was popularly known as the Dhaba. It has been almost three months since Rohtas passed away, owing to tuberculosis and pneumonia. Since then the eatery has remained closed. The dhaba has always been popular among students and the alumni of the college. When Rohtas died, college alumni, including Ramachandra Guha and chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian, wanted to hold a prayer meeting. But they were stopped by the then college principal, Valson Thampu. Thampu stirred up a controversy, calling Rohtas samosa wala. He reportedly implied that Rohtas also supplied drugs to students. In 2012, Thampu tried to close the dhaba, but students put up a strong resistance. Now, Sushil has to wait for an approval from new principal, John Varghese, who took over on March 2. Read more: Stephens principal Thampu criticises alumni They are yet to decide on whether or not to allow the dhaba to run. The dhaba has been an important part of the identity of the college. It has forged and sustained so many relationships. But look at the current state. Almost a century-long association with the college does not have to end this way, he said. The familys association with the college started in 1922 when his grandfather, Sukhiya, started selling some food items. Rohtas followed his fathers footsteps and became an iconic figure for several students and teachers. In the last few years, Sushil helped him at the dhaba. The teacher and the student community of the college have already drafted petitions, requesting the administration to allow the reopening of the dhaba. Rohtas and his family have been part of St. Stephens for many years. Generations of Stephanians have related to the dhaba and made a beeline for it. It is important to reopen it as quickly as possible. The students are missing it. There is absolutely no reason that his son should not continue in his place, said Nandita Narain, mathematics teacher at the college. A college student, on condition of anonymity, said, I think they are not keen on bringing Sushil back to college. Varghese did not comment on the matter. IIT students can look forward to some cool accommodation, as all new hostels will be centrally air-conditioned. The human resource ministry, which recently ordered a fee hike at Indian Institutes of Technology, planned to modernise hostels including air-conditioned common areas and stateof-the-art kitchens, sources said. At the countrys top engineering schools, which also enjoy a good standing worldwide, students have to live in hostels. Currently, around 80,000 students are enrolled in 18 IITs, a majority of them are in areas where summer in harsh. Five more colleges are in the pipeline. HRD minister Smriti Irani paid a surprise visit to two hostels at IIT Delhi on Friday. She inspected the kitchen, halls and talked to the students. After interacting with the officials and students, the minister decided on an overhaul of the hostels, sources said. At the centre of various student agitations recently, the ministry has announced a string of measures for universities and engineering colleges. IIT Delhi is first off the block. All rooms will get air-coolers. Water coolers will be installed on every floor and the kitchen and dining areas upgraded. They were not allowed coolers in the room, which was problem during summer, some students had told Irani. The minister wants IITs to invest money to improve hostels as students spend a lot of time there. Funds for this will be allocated and a proposal regarding this will be discussed soon, the official said. Recently, I IT Kharagpur students had protested the fee revision, forcing the ministry to clarify that the hike was for new students only. The annual fee for undergraduate courses has been raised from `90,000 to ` 2 lakh from the new academic session. Students belonging to the SC, ST and differently abled categories get a full tuition-fee waiver. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It is not very often that a leader like Doug Burgum enters the political realm, and I couldn't be more excited to vote for him in June. Burgum loves North Dakota and his record shows it. After getting his MBA from Stanford, located in the heart of the Silicon Valley, Burgum did the unthinkable he returned to North Dakota to launch a software company. North Dakota wasn't exactly a hub of technology startups at the time, but that did not matter to Burgum he believed that anything was possible in North Dakota. Under his leadership, Great Plains Software grew into a massive economic engine for the state and became one of the Red River Valley's largest employers. Microsoft's presence continues to have an enormous impact on the Fargo community. After leaving Microsoft, Burgum could have simply chosen to retire as a wealthy man, but he was not done giving back to the community. Burgum committed himself to revitalizing downtown Fargo, launched ventures aimed at supporting North Dakota entrepreneurs, and served as a mentor to countless individuals looking for guidance. Now, Burgum is offering his services to the people of North Dakota. He has experience, leadership skills, integrity and new ideas that North Dakota needs in a governor at this critical point. We're lucky to have the chance to choose a leader like Doug Burgum on June 14. Uttar Pradeshs Special Task Force has traced the roots of a conspiracy to leak, solve and sell the paper of All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) case to Bihar aspirants. The kingpin, Nilesh Singh, had hatched the conspiracy to leak competitive exam paper in other states from different examinations centres of Varanasi, police said. Read more: Amid tight security, more than 6.60 lakh aspirants sit for NEET A total of eight people, including three from Bihar, were arrested on Sunday from outside RS Convent school (Ledhupur), located in Sarnath area of Varanasi. According to the STF, those who were arrested were identified as Abhimanyu Kumar (44), a resident of Noorani Bagh Colony under Alamganj police station of Patna city, Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha, a resident of BMP road under Airport police station and Priyanka Thakur of Pusa in Samastipur, while five others hail from UP. Read more: Phone jammers, fingerprint scanners to prevent AIPMT cheating racket Police recovered three luxury vehicles, including one with Bihar registration license plate, 12 cell phones, electronic devices, a pistol, three live cartridges, Rs 2 lakh cash and a motorcycle from their possession. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The prestigious Hindu College in the Capital will not admit students to its new girls hostel this year after protests engulfed the accommodation over high fees and rules such as a mandatory dress code. The college administration ignored the students demand to revoke the discriminatory rules for those willing stay at the 200-seat hostel. Instead, a circular issued by principal Anju Srivastava on Friday said: There will be no admission to the girls hostel. Students who have taken the prospectus may return the same and get their prospectus fee refunded. The prospectus says students must dress according to the normal norm of society in the common areas of the colleges first hostel for girls. It also mentions a night curfew, saying the students must be in by 8.30pm and mark her attendance in a register. They will not be allowed to watch TV in the common room beyond 10.30pm and cannot move around on the hostel premises after 11pm. As a concession, the students will be allowed a night out till 10pm twice a month. But they cannot stay the whole night away more than once a month and for that they must submit a letter from their parents or guardians for the wardens approval. Besides the rules that the students described as bizarre, sexist and discriminatory, what triggered the protests was the high annual hostel fee three times more than the boys pay. Hindu College boys pay Rs 47,000 as hostel fees while the girls were expected to shell out more than Rs 82,000. Principal Srivastava had tried to justify the amount, saying the fees were high because the facility will be for girl students. The hostel was built along with the academic block at a cost of Rs 16.50 crore. The clarification raised frayed tempers as more students joined the protest led by Pinjra Tod, a campaign to fight the discriminatory rules. They warned on Sunday that their protest will continue despite the college deciding not to open the hostel this year. We will keep a close watch on the Hindu administration and continue our protests to ensure that the exorbitant womens hostel fee is revoked, and the regressive rules and regulations removed, said a protester who didnt wish to be named. College teachers too have criticised the decision. Instead of having a dialogue with the students, the governing body decided to take such a step. It was built with so much money collected through donations they cannot lock it now, a teacher said. The National Commission for Women (NCW) had taken suo moto cognizance of the rules and issued a notice to the college. It asked the college to explain how the rules were set. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than 11,000 medical aspirants took the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) at 22 examination centres in Kota on Sunday amid security and complying with the CBSE dress code. The Supreme Court on April 28 gave the green signal to the CBSE to hold the NEET common entrance exams for undergraduate medical and dental courses in two phases. The second phase has been scheduled for July 24. NEET replaced the AIPMT (All-India Pre-Medical Test) held by the board. In the absence of a common entrance test, students seeking admission to the MBBS or BDS course had to make multiple applications and take scores of tests conducted by states. CBSEs Kota coordinator Pradeep Singh Gaur said the NEET-1 was held peacefully. Out of the total 11,759 aspirants, around 248 skipped the examinations; so 11,511 aspirants appeared for NEET today, said Gaur. Candidates were frisked and made to pass through metal detectors at the centres. Mobile jammers were installed at the examination centers in Kota to avert any possibility of cheating, he said. Aspirants in prescribed dress code were allowed to enter the centres. The candidates were required to wear light clothes with half sleeves with small buttons so that they wont be able to hide instruments or communication devices. Students were allowed to wear sandals or slippers. They were asked to deposit accessories such as necklace and earrings outside examination rooms. Aspirants, allowed entry with admit cards and passport- and postcard-size photos, were given pens at the centres. Manmeet Singh (17), an aspirant, told HT that torches were used to check ears of candidates for detection of hidden Bluetooth devices. The examination started at 10am and aspirants were allowed entry into centres between 7.30am and 9.30am. I belong to Jhalawar and my mother was hospitalised, so I reached the examination centre around 2 minutes late. I was not allowed to take the examination, said Priyanka Singh (17). Manmeet said she found the biology part easier than physics and chemistry. Mansi Nahar (17) said, Physics had more calculations, so I found it a little tougher than biology and chemistry. The results for the two phases of NEET will be announced on August 17. The admission process, based on the single test, will be over by September 30. Many students, who appeared for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) Phase 1 in Jaipur on Sunday, said the physics section was difficult and described the biology section as a cakewalk. The question paper was not lengthy therefore I was able to attempt all the questions. Biology was the easiest portion for me, Mukesh Kumar, an applicant, said. Many students said that the numerical questions in the physics section were tedious in the question paper carrying a total 720 marks with 240 marks each for biology, physics and chemistry. For me, physics was the most difficult as I struggled with the numericals but overall my paper was good, Sarvagya Sharma, another applicant, said. The first phase of the common entrance test for medical and dental courses was held in 65 centres across Jaipur amid stringent security measures deployed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to deter wrongdoings during the exam. Read more: AIPMT 2016 easier than last year, claim tricity students The education board prohibited entry of outsiders inside the school campus and frisked students using metal detectors and light torches. The measures come in the wake of a cheating scam during the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) test last year. Applicants were not allowed to carry bag, pen, pencil, eraser, pencil box, earrings, amulet, scarf, handkerchief, calculator or any electronic/Bluetooth devices inside the centre. Applicants were asked to bring only their admit cards and a passport photograph. Students were also asked to appear in half sleeves shirts and slippers. Many parents waiting for their children to complete the paper, had no respite from the severe heat and complained about the lack of space for them to take shelter from the scorching sun. Read more: Amid tight security, more than 6.60 lakh aspirants sit for NEET There is so much shade and shelter inside the school campus but parents have been forced to wait outside the main gate for three hours under the scorching sun. CBSE officials should have done something about it, Bhanwar Meena, a parent waiting outside Maharani Gayatri Devi School, said. The Supreme Court had refused to amend its day-old order last week and reiterated the common entrance test for all medical colleges would take place in two phases despite the Centres U-turn on holding the exam. The apex court said the AIPMT, held on Sunday, would be the first phase of the NEET. The second phase of the nationwide common medical entrance test will be held on July 24. Many students said their friends who had not opted for the AIPMT and were writing NEET Phase 2 were at an advantage as they would have more time to prepare. The CBSE had clarified that students who had opted for the AIPMT would not be allowed to write NEET Phase 2 if they were absent for the Sundays test. The Supreme Court on Tuesday commenced the crucial hearing in the pleas of state governments, private medical colleges and minority institutions like CMC Vellore and Ludhiana seeking nod to hold pre-scheduled separate entrance exams for MBBS and BDS courses which was opposed by Medical Council of India. The apex court, which took note of the peaceful holding of the first phase of the a single common entrance test through NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test on May 1, said there was no urgency in passing the order on the fresh pleas and would give the decision after hearing all the stake holders. It asked the Centre and CBSE to give wide publicity about holding of the second phase of NEET on July 24 through press notes and internet so that those who were unable to take the May test can try their luck. Before commencing the hearing, the top court asked the Centre and CBSE to provide it with the data about the number of candidates appearing in the first phase of the NEET from each state. It also took note of the contention raised by various state governments about the language issue, i.e. use of vernacular languages by asking Gujarat Government to place before it the question papers of last two years. Just before the hearing, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana cited special constitutional provisions to contend that only the state can have the say in holding examination for MBBS and BDS courses. Jammu and Kashmir government cited constitutional provision of Article 370 read with Article 35 A and section 6 of the J&K constitution to contend that it is the state which is entitled to conduct the test and the students cannot be admitted to these courses from outside the state through NEET. Further, on the educational aspect, only the state government has the legislative competence and Centre cannot interfere in it. While a bench comprising Justices A R Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and A K Goel, was formulating modalities of the hearing, senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the MCI, opposed the contention of vernacular language, saying that the MBBS and BDS course across the country is being taught in English. Read more: Experts point out errors in NEET-1 paper, ask for bonus marks The days hearing saw Karnataka Private Medical and Dental College Association, Christian Medical College, Vellore and Christian Medical College, Ludhiana along with Tamil Nadu Government seeking exemption from the NEET citing various reasons. Senior advocate KK Venugopal said that the entrance exam in Karnataka is designed to cater to the rural masses and private agency like TCS has been engaged for smoothly conducting the exams at 154 centres across the country and the candidates have been charged Rs 1000 for it. The submission evoked a reaction from the bench which said so many states are conducting separate tests and they must be demanding separate fees. The parents and the students have to move from one place to another for taking up exams, the bench said. Senior advocate L Nageshwar Rao sought exemption for CMC Vellore from NEET saying that the minority character of the institution has to be kept in mind so that there should not any compromise with its autonomy and the same argument was taken by CMC Ludhiana with its counsel saying that it has unique system of entrance in which special paper is on Bible to identify the Christian minority. Rao also argued for Tamil Nadu government contending that the NEET cannot be imposed as the state law for reserving 85% seats and the admission through the marks of class XII has been validated by the Madras High Court. Rao also claimed that majority of students in Tamil Nadu do not take up the NEET and they prefer to appear in the exam conducted by the state. The states, opposing NEET, alleged that there are marked differences in syllabus for the state entrance tests and the NEET. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat, said the state per se was not against the NEET but would be tragic for the students, preparing for the state tests, will have to take up NEET in such a short span of time. The similar plea was raised by the counsel for states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and few others. The court would resume hearing in the matter on Thursday at 2 PM and asked the Centre, CBSE and the MCI to either file their responses to various pleas in the registry before the hearing or hand over the same in the court. The apex court did not restrain any states or private medical colleges from conducting their tests and said that it would pass order after hearing all the parties. Read more: Medical aspirants say two-phased NEET is unfair During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the CBSE, said that the first phase of NEET was conducted without any glitch and around 6.5 lakh students took up the test. On Monday, the bench headed by the CJI had said that the fresh pleas of states and private medical colleges for permission to hold their separate tests would be heard on Tuesday. The apex court had on April 29, said that the entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17 will be held as per the schedule through the two-phased common entrance test NEET on May 1 and July 24. On April 28, the court had rejected opposition for holding NEET by states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges, besides minority institutions like CMC, Vellore. The apex court order had implied that all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET and those examinations which have already taken place or slated to be conducted separately stand scrapped. It had also revived the governments December 21, 2010 notification for holding a single common entrance test through NEET with a clarification that any challenge on the issue would directly come before it and no high court can interfere. The human resource development (HRD) ministry has directed all central universities to put up large boards on the campus informing students about anti-discrimination officers. The boards will carry contact details of the officers as well as the internal complaints committee so that students are aware where to lodge complaints when the new academic session starts this year. The move assumes significance in the wake of students agitations, which a number of higher education institutions are witnessing with the latest being NIT-Srinagar. A decision regarding this was taken at a meeting of all the vice-chancellors chaired by HRD minister Smriti Irani in February this year. One of the complaints that we usually get from students is lack of knowledge of a redressal mechanism in case of harassment. This move will help the students in a big way, said a senior HRD official. Read more: Govt plans to make 20 educational institutions world-class All the 40-odd central universities have been asked to send a compliance report to the ministry. Besides, all universities have been asked to provide information to students about the prevention of sexual harassment committee. A number of new students will join this academic year and many are not aware if such committees exist. That is why, we have decided to start this initiative from this year so that students have easy access to such grievance mechanism, said a senior HRD official. Suicide by Rohith Vemula, a dalit PhD student of Hyderabad University, had sparked protests across the country that led to the HRD ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) deciding on holding sensitisation programmes for academic administrators and taking steps to ensure there is no discrimination on the campus. During the vice-chancellors conference it was decided to put in place a transparent proactive mechanism for grievance redressal of the university community, including students, staff and faculty. It was also decided to appoint an anti-discrimination officer. In March, the UGC had also asked all universities and colleges to have a special page on their website wherein students can register complaints of caste discrimination. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Even as private cab aggregators claimed that they remained unaffected by the recent Supreme Court order to ban diesel vehicles, commuters had difficulties finding cabs during peak morning and evening hours on Monday. A number of people had to reschedule their trips to the national capital because of non-availability of taxis, especially plying to Delhi and other parts of NCR. I cancelled my meeting in Delhi since I could not find any cabs in the morning. Public transport is inadequate and the metro trains are flooded during peak hours, said Anuradha Lamba, an HR head in a city-based firm. Several airport-goers were left stranded as cab drivers refused to cross the Delhi border. People had to either wait for another taxi or use the hardly available, Haryana roadways buses. There are no cabs available to go to the airport. I have a flight in three hours and have no idea how I will reach there. I will try a few more times to book a cab and if I dont find anything, I will take the metro, said Rakesh Patel of Gurgaon. While Ola informed its commuters that cabs were not available, Uber surged its prices during peak hours. The hike was around 3 to 5 times more the normal rate. Uber was charging me 3.5 times more to go to Green Park in the morning. The surge is back and is causing a lot of inconvenience to people from Delhi-NCR. I cant shell three times the money for a ride to work, said Pratiksha Singh. Even employees of private firms had difficulties in reaching office after their office cabs did not pick them up. My cab did not turn up to pick me up. By the time I reached office, I was late by over two hours. The company has a tie-up with a Gurgaon-based cab operator and he did not have enough CNG cars to provide us transport. I saw news reports on long traffic snarls on roads leading to Delhi and I feel happy that I chose to travel via the Delhi metro to commute to office. At least I was not stuck in traffic jams, said Vandana Singh, a commuter. A number of firms have tie-ups with small as well as big cab operators to pick and drop employees, however, after the Supreme Court order to ban diesel cabs, available cabs have reduced to half or less than that. An official from the transport department of a city-based firm said, We have tie-ups with local cab operators as they are less expensive. However, after the ruling by the apex court, the company received a message that the operator will not be able to ply cabs on Monday. The company had no option but to allow all employees to work from home. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON There is just no stopping Priyanka Chopra. After winning the Oscar red carpet earlier this year, the Bollywood star headed to the White House for a Correspondents Dinner hosted by the Obamas on Sunday and slayed it too. What was the similarity between the two appearances of the Baywatch star? Both her dresses were made by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad who is known for use of nude shades and sexy designs. Priyanka Chopra, in black and white: The star at White House Correspondents dinner and her look at the Oscars. Read: Priyanka Chopra goes full glam at Obamas White House dinner If Oscars saw her in a white gown with daring sheers, delicate detailing and a sexy sweetheart neckline, White House dinner had Priyanka donning a black gown which had interplay of sheer panels. The 33-year-old actress looked sexy and glamorous in the deep-cut nude black ruffled and sheer-paneled gown with sparkling details. She showed off her decolletage in the low-cut gown that was spectacular and fit her shapely figure like a glove. Lovely to meet the very funny and charming @barackobama and the beautiful @michelleobama . Thank you for a lovely evening. Cannot wait to start working on your girls education program #whitehousecorrespondentdinner A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Apr 30, 2016 at 8:48pm PDT While designers have termed both her looks win-win, tell us which of her looks did you like better in the comment section below Wondering what Priyanka Chopra discussed with US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Sunday? Well, the Bollywood star who is busy filming her Hollywood debut Baywatch has spilled the beans. The 33-year-old actress, who found global recognition with her character Alex Parrish in the American TV series Quantico, shared a photograph of herself along with the two. Lovely to meet the very funny and charming Barack Obama and the beautiful Michelle Obama, Priyanka captioned the photograph. Lovely to meet the very funny and charming @barackobama and the beautiful @michelleobama . Thank you for a lovely evening. Cannot wait to start working on your girls education program #whitehousecorrespondentdinner A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Apr 30, 2016 at 8:48pm PDT The US President looked dapper in a black suit and crisp white shirt which he teamed with a black bow tie, while Michelle looked lovely in an embellished beige gown. Thank you for a lovely evening. Cannot wait to start working on your girls education program, Priyanka added. Read: Priyanka Chopra goes full glam at Obamas White House dinner The education programme that Priyanka alluded to is Michelles initiative and is called Let Girls Learn. It aims to empower 62 million girls worldwide, who at present do not go to school, so that they can get their education. The US President is also a passionate supporter of the cause. Launched in 2015, it funds community girls education projects like girls leadership camps and school bathrooms; educating girls in conflict zones; and address poverty, HIV, and other issues that keep girls out of school. The 2016 White House Correspondents dinner, which was President Obamas last in office, was hosted by comedian Larry Wilmore. The annual fund-raising gathering of White House correspondents and their guests was also attended by the likes of Hollywood stars Kerry Washington, Emma Watson, Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett, Michelle Dockery and Kendall Jenner. To justify the funny tag that Priyanka gave to Obama, heres a list of the funniest jokes from US comic-in-chief for the evening On Republican frontrunner Trump The Republican establishment is incredulous that hes their most likely nominee. They say Donald lacks the foreign policy experience to be president. But in fairness he has spent years meeting with leaders from around the world: Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan. On Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton, referring to her highly-paid speeches to Goldman Sachs Here we are, my eighth and final address at this unique event, and I am excited. If this material works well, Im going to use it for Goldman Sachs. On Aunt Hillary He also called her Aunt Hillary, as at one point he virtually endorsed her candidature. Next year someone else will be here, guess who she will be? he said amidst laughter. Clinton is the only women contender in the race to the White House. He ended his gig by dropping the mic and saying: Obama out. Aam Aadmi Party founder member and former MP Ilyas Azmi on Monday quit the party citing lack of inner democracy in the organisation and convener Arvind Kejriwals autocratic style of functioning, almost a week after he was dropped from partys top decision-making bodies. Azmi accused Kejriwal of indulging in caste and community-based politics and of ignoring Muslims and people from backward classes. There is no inner democracy in the party. It has been reduced to one mans property, Azmi said. Also, Muslims and people from backward classes are completely being ignored. There is hardly any Muslim representation in AAP. Kejriwal is appointing people of his own community to key posts in the government. He is openly giving preference to people of his own community in the party too, he claimed. He said he was also against the removal of lawyer Prashant Bhushan and psephologist-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav from the party. Asserting that AAP was founded on principles which were against caste and community politics, Azmi said, But now AAP itself is indulging in community politics even more than Mulayam Singh Yadav so I stopped participating in partys activities. A former BSP MP, Azmi was one of the founder members of the party. In a rejig, Azmi was dropped from both the National Executive and Political Affairs Committee of the party. He also alleged that rules were not followed during the rejig and decisions on appointments were made well in advance. I had left Mayawatis BSP because she was running it like a one-person party but then here even Kejriwal is doing the same. So I have no other option but to leave it, he said. Azmi also attacked the BJP-led central government likening it to the Nazi regime, and said, Today, a condition is being created in the country similar to what Hitler had created in Germany in 1934-35. Earlier, the governments were being run from 7, Race Course, they are now operated from Nagpur. Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kejriwal, Azmi said, dictatorship cannot be replaced by another dictatorship. Azmi, however, was full of praise for JD(U) leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. I have reached a conclusion that at this point of time Nitish Kumar is the only person in the country who believes in democracy and human values, he said. As young boys plunge into a murky dam to escape the blistering afternoon sun, guards armed with guns stand vigil at one of the few remaining water bodies in a state hit hard by Indias crippling drought. Desperate farmers from a neighbouring state regularly attempt to steal water from the Barighat dam, forcing authorities in central Madhya Pradesh to protect it with armed guards to ensure supplies. India is officially in the grip of its worst water crisis in years, with the government saying that about 330 million people or a quarter of the population are suffering from drought after the last two monsoons failed. Armed men have been securing the Barighat dam for months against water thefts by desperate farmers from neighbouring states. (AFP Photo) Water is more precious than gold in this area, Purshotam Sirohi, who was hired by the local municipality to protect the stop-dam, located in Tikamgarh district, told AFP. We are protecting the dam round the clock. But the security measures cannot stop the drought from ravaging the dam in the parched Bundelkhand region, with officials saying it holds just one month of reserves. Four reservoirs in Madhya Pradesh have already dried up, leaving more than a million people with inadequate water and forcing authorities to truck in supplies. A child swims in a water reservoir in Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh. (AFP Photo) Almost a hundred thousand residents in Tikamgarh get piped water for just two hours every fourth day, while municipal authorities have ordered new bore wells to be dug to meet the demand. But it may not be enough, with officials saying the groundwater level has receded more than 100 feet (30 metres) owing to less than half the average annual rainfall in the past few years. The situation is really critical, but we are trying to provide water to everyone, Laxmi Giri Goswami, chairperson of Tikamgarh municipality, told AFP. We pray to rain gods for mercy, she said. In the nearby village of Dargai Khurd, only one of 17 wells has water. A villager walks between the rocks as he crosses a water reservoir in Tikamgarh/ (AFP Photo) With temperatures hovering around 45 degrees Celsius, its 850 residents fear they may soon be left thirsty. If it dries up, we wont have a drop of water to drink, Santosh Kumar, a local villager told AFP. Farmers hard-hit Farmers across India rely on the monsoon -- a four-month rainy season which starts in June -- to cultivate their crops, as the country lacks a robust irrigation system. Read | Drought triggers migration, distress sale of cattle in Telangana, Andhra Two weak monsoons have resulted in severe water shortages and crop losses in as many as 10 states, prompting extreme measures including curfews near water sources and water trains sent to the worst-affected regions. Tikamgarh is part of Bundelkhand region -- consisting of 13 districts -- which is reeling from years of below-par monsoon rains. (AFP Photo) Many dejected farmers are now moving to cities and towns to work as daily wage labourers to overcome their financial losses and support their families. At a scruffy, makeshift camp in north Mumbai, in one of the worst-affected states, dozens of migrants who have fled their drought-stricken villages queue to fill plastic containers with water. Migrants from rural areas usually come to the city in January or February to get jobs on construction sites, but in March and April the number of arrivals kept increasing. A woman pulls out a steel pot from a well in the village of Dargai Khurd in Mohanganj area on the outskirts of Tikamgarh district. (AFP Photo) There are some 300-350 families here. Thats a total of more than 1,000 people, said Sudhir Rane, a volunteer running the camp in Mumbais Ghatkopar suburb. There is a drought and there is no water back home so more families have come here this year, he told AFP. Babies cling to mothers lined up to register with officials. They are allocated a small space in the dusty wasteland, where wooden posts combine with tarpaulin sheets to make rickety tented homes. We had no choice but to come here. There was no water, no grain, no work. There was nothing to eat and drink. What could we do? 70-year-old Manubai Patole told AFP. Read | 116 farmers committed suicide in 2016; 10 states reeling under drought We starved for five days. At least here we are getting food. Better to break stones Weather forecasters in New Delhi this month predicted an above-average monsoon, offering a ray of hope for the countrys millions of farmers and their families. But many, like Gassiram Meharwal from Bangaye village in Madhya Pradesh, are not optimistic as they struggle to cultivate their crops. Meharwals two-acre farm has suffered three wheat crop failures in as many years, leading him to lose an estimated Rs 1 lakh. Our fields are doomed, they have almost turned into concrete, he said. Gassiram Meharwal, 32, stands in his field in the village of Bangaye on the outskirts of Tikamgarh district. (AFP Photo) Thousands of acres of land in his village go uncultivated and fears are mounting for the cattle, which face a shortage of fodder. Desperate for income, 32-year-old Meharwal, who supports eight members of his family including his children and younger brothers, left to work as a labourer in the city of Gwalior, four hours away. There is no guarantee that it will rain this year. Predictions are fine but no one comes to your help when the crops fail, he said. It is better to use your energy breaking stones. Officials say the ground water level has receded more than 100 feet in past few years as the area has been receiving less than half of the average annual rains. (AFP Photo) Read | Dead storage level: Only 3% water left in drought-hit Marathwada dams The BJP is mounting offensive against the Congress on the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper bribery case. BJPs Mumbai North East MP Kirit Somaiya has written a letter to the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the links between Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, his aide Kanishka Singh and chopper deal middleman Guido Haschke who has been named in the CBI FIR. In a letter to chief of the two agencies, Somaiya said Haschke is/was the director in Emmar MGF, a company formed by Kanishka Singhs family. The company was embroiled in a controversy over alleged irregularities in preparation of the Commonwealth Games, Somaiya alleged. I had brought to your notice that Mr Haschke is common in both the scams. He is connected with Mr Michel who is involved in helicopter scam, Somaiya wrote in the April 30 letter to the two agencies. Singh rejected the allegations saying, Mr Somaiya has been making these false allegations with malafide intent since February 2013. In a statement, he clarified that he has absolutely nothing to do with the matter and expressed the hope that parties, including AgustaWestland, Hashke and Emaar-MGF, if found guilty, be punished in the harshest possible way. He urged Somaiya to provide material at the earliest to the government and its agencies to facilitate investigation and enable prosecution of the guilty. A youth, who flung a slipper at Bihars chief minister Nitish Kumar at the Janata durbar here on Monday, was arrested by the police. The youth, also called Nitish Kumar, hailing from Arwal district, 60 kms south-west of Patna, was angry that the chief minister had banned havans (offerings with fire to gods) between 9 am and 6 pm. The Bihar government banned such oblations and ceremonies due to hundreds of fire outbreaks in the state due to severe heat, which has crossed the 44 degree centigrade mark in recent times. How can he as a Hindu proclaim a ban on religious ceremonies? Kumar told the police soon after he was arrested. Senior superintendent of police, Patna, Manu Maharaaj, said, We are investigating the background of the youth and whether he was a part of a larger conspiracy. Kumar came with a memorandum to give the chief minister against the ban order but chose to throw the slipper, when the CM was going around talking to people over their grievances at the Janata key durbar mein mukhyamantri-a weekly public grievance redressal programme. He has been arrested for obstructing government work and creating ruckus Maharaaj said. Police and administrative officials are also verifying his memorandum. The chief minister, however, advised the police to let him go free saying he had forgiven him. If sources are to be believed, Kumar had also created a scene at the Janata darbar of BJP leader and former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, some time ago. Kalvari (Tiger Shark), the first of the six French Scorpene class submarines being built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders for the Indian navy, went to sea for the first time on Sunday. The submarine sailed out at about 10 am under her own propulsion for her first sea trial, off the Mumbai coast. During the sortie, a number of number of preliminary tests on the propulsion system, auxiliary equipment and systems, navigation aids, communication equipment and steering gear were performed, the official said, adding various standard operating procedures were also validated for this new class of submarines before she returned to harbour in the evening. Over the next few months, the submarine will undergo a barrage of sea, surface, diving, weapons, noise trials, etc testing her to the extremes of its intended operating envelop. Later, she will be commissioned into the Indian Navy, giving a major boost to the Make In India initiative of the government. She is part of the ongoing project for constructing six Scorpene class submarines, in collaboration with DCNS of France, which will include transfer of technology to MDL. In April 2015, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had directed that all-out efforts be made to complete the project on schedule after which teams from MDL, Indian Navy and DCNS worked round-the-clock on it. The submarine was undocked on pontoon on April 6, 2015 in Parrikkars presence, underwent vacuum tests and battery loading at Naval Dockyard before returning to the MDL for completion of the basin trials and harbour acceptance trials phase. The state-of-art features of Scorpene include suerpior stealth to launch a crippling attack on enemies with precision-guided weaponry, including torpedoes, tube-launched anti-ship missiles both underwater and on surface. The Scorpene submarines are designed to operate in all areas including the tropics, and encompass all means and communications to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. They can undertake multifarious missions like anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance, etc. The submarine class are built from special steel capable of withstanding high-yield stress with high tensile strength that allows them to bear high hydrostatic force and enable deep diving for enhanced stealth. She was built according to modular construction principle, which divides it into a number of sections and building them in parallel. The complexity of the task can be gauged from the fact that it involves laying around 60 km cables and 11 km pipes in extremely congested and limited spaces inside the submarine. The Scorpene is equipped with weapons launching tubes (WLT), and its weapons can be easily reloaded at sea with special handling and loading equipment. The array of weapons and complex sensors fitted on board the Scorpene are managed by a high technology combat management system. India joined the elite submarine building nations on February 7, 1992 with the commissioning of the first indigenously-built sub, INS Shalki at the MDL. It is still in service. The MDL has constructed different types of warships including Leander and Godavari class frigates, Khukri class corvettes, Delhi and Kolkata class destroyers, Shivalik class stealth frigates, 1241 RE Missiles boats, Shalki class subs, P-15B class destroyers, the first of which was launched in April 2015, and the P-17A class stealth frigates, a follow-up on the P-17 stealth frigates. The Bombay high court, while ordering demolition of the multi-storeyed Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai, has blamed its members for conspiring with politicians and bureaucrats to grab a plot which was not in existence in the development plan as a residential area. It was carved out by eating into a road, it said. Members of the Society happened to be close relatives of highly-placed bureaucrats and or related to politicians or ministers, said a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Rajesh Ketkar in the 223 page-judgement which became available on Monday. On April 29, the HC had sought criminal proceedings against politicians and bureaucrats for misuse of powers. We are more than satisfied that the allotment was not made in a transparent manner and it clearly smacks of favouritism and/or nepotism, the judgement said. It cannot be disputed that bureaucrats and ministers are the custodians of government property....People repose confidence in them that the government property is safe in the hands of bureaucrats and ministers. Prima facie, they have dishonestly disposed of the property in violation of law, the bench observed. ...the bureaucrats and the ministers are guilty of various offences in acquiring the plot as also misuse and/or abuse of powers. We hereby direct the state government to consider initiating appropriate civil/criminal proceedings against the concerned bureaucrats, ministers and politicians, the judges further said. The lower courts will, however, decide the cases as per the merit and evidence, uninfluenced by HCs observations, it added. The judges also directed the state government and the Centre to consider departmental inquiry against the officials. It also directed the Ministry of Defence to hold an in-depth inquiry to find out the lapses or reasons on the part of its officers for not filing a writ petition in the matter at the earliest. The court asked the Defence Ministry to hold an inquiry to find out whether the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) between 1999 and July 13, 2010, namely, Maj General A R Kumar, Maj General V S Yadav, Maj General T K Kaul, Maj General Tejinder Singh and Maj General R K Hooda compromised the security of CMS (Colaba Military Station) in return for allotment of flats in Adarsh. The bench drew on the report of Justice J A Patil Commission, appointed by the state government to probe the role of senior bureaucrats and politicians including former Chief Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan, in the judgement. On whether clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) was required, the HC said that considering the object of Environment Protection Act and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications of 12.11.1997, the clearance of MoEF or authorities at state level was needed. On April 10, 2002, the state government reduced the width of Captain Prakash Pethe Marg from 60.97 metres to 18.40 metres. The area so deleted was included partly in residential among others (for Adarsh Society), the judgement said. Without obtaining prior approval of Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), the state government could not have changed the reservation from road to residential. The high court refused to accept the Societys contention that a letter sent by MoEF to the state Urban Development Department (UDD) on March 11, 2003, can be held as a clearance for construction from the union ministry. The letter dated March 15, 2003, written by P V Deshmukh, then Deputy Secretary of state UDD, to Adarsh Society stating that MoEF had given clearance for construction was totally uncalled for and this letter was issued a few days before Deshmukh himself applied for membership in the society, the court noted. The adjoining BEST plot and the land on which the Adarsh building was constructed were two separate plots, hence the Society cannot use the FSI from the BEST plot, the HC said. Petitioners have not obtained environmental clearance either from MoEF or from state-level agency and we have held that the recommendations of MCZMA are mandatory and environmental clearance is also necessary, HC said. We have come across cases where people by using money or muscle power as also political influence try to secure allotment of land. This case goes one step further, the court observed The CBI was examining former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi on Monday in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Tyagi arrived at the CBI headquarters at 10am for questioning. Naming former air chief SP Tyagi among 15 suspects, the CBI had in 2013 formally launched a probe into the VVIP helicopter deal. The agency also named Tyagis three cousins, three alleged middlemen and four companies among others in the probe into allegations of kickbacks in securing the 12 luxury chopper deal with England-based AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica. Some middlemen influenced the deal in favour of AgustaWestland and Finmeccanica paid commission worth several millions of euros to the middlemen, the CBI alleged. Read: Chopper scam: 5 questions over IAF ex-chief Tyagis alleged involvement Tyagi is the second former services chief to face a CBI probe. Former naval chief admiral Sushil Kumar was named in a case involving alleged kickbacks in the purchase of Barak missiles in early 2000. The probe is pending. Middlemen and family connections AgustaWestland representatives stopped at nothing to reach Tyagi and swing the chopper deal in the companys favour, documents filed by Italian prosecutors in the case in 2013 had said. The investigation report quoted key middleman asserting that he met Tyagi 6/7 times, which included meetings at the offices of the former air chiefs cousins and at the Bangalore airshow when Tyagi was still in office. This contradicted Tyagis claim that he met a middleman just once -- and that too after he retired. Tyagis cousins Julie, Dosca and Sandeep were identified by the Italian prosecutors as the key go-betweens who helped Finmeccanica win the contract to supply 12 helicopters to the Indian Air Force. AgustaWestland is a unit of defence group Finmeccanica. The money was put in the hands of Julie in cash during frequent trips to India, a middleman identified by the prosecutors only as ADR was quoted as saying. The relationship between the Tyagis and the go-betweens used by AgustaWestland started in 2001, when Carlo Gerosa one of the middlemen met Julie at a wedding in Lugano, Italy. It was in 2000-2001 that the IAF talked about the need for the VVIP choppers. Between 2005 and 2007, the middlemen met Tyagi at least six times: twice at the offices of his cousins, and at least once at the Bangalore airshow which is held every two years. He was still in uniform and came to visit the Finmeccanica booth, ADR is quoted as saying. Read: UPA never blacklisted Italian chopper firm: Jaitley on Agusta scam I have met Carlo in my cousins place but when you say you have contact with him, then the answer is no. What connection could I have with him? I want to tell you that the whole process started after I retired... the entire process of evaluation, trials, contracts took place in 2010, Tyagi had said after the charges against him. Asked if he had changed any specifications for the contract to favour Finmeccanica, Tyagi said the staff qualitative requirements for the VVIP choppers were frozen in 2003, much before I assumed the office of Chief of Air Staff, and the IAF did not change any requirements after that. Asked about his relations with three alleged middlemen for the deal including one former IAF officer Captain Tyagi, the former Chief said he was his cousin but their relationship did not go beyond this. Asked about the alleged involvement of three of his relatives, he said, The fact is they are related to me. But there are no business links (as alleged) with them....We were really not in touch when I was in service. A day after Tyagi claimed that the purchase conditions of 12 VVIP helicopters were modified long before he became the air chief, the defence ministry said in a press statement that the changes in the Rs 3,600-crore tender were made when Tyagi was in the hot seat in 2005-06. Tyagi was air chief from December 31, 2004, to March 31, 2007. A 22-year-old woman from North-East was kidnapped at a residential area in Bengaluru by an unidentified man who allegedly tried to molest her, as bystanders watched passively. The incident was caught on a CCTV camera in which the woman is seen being physically lifted and carried away by the man from behind as she was speaking on her mobile phone in front of her paying guest (PG) accommodation. The complainant alleged that the accused took her to a desolate underconstruction building in the adjacent alley and assaulted her. Read | Man arrested in Bengaluru abduction case Watch: Man abducts 22-year-old woman in Bengaluru Several people were seen walking on the street but none helped her when the incident happened on the night of April 23 at Kathriguppe in south Bengaluru which came to light only on Monday. I started shouting, he tried to close my mouth, then I bit him to rescue myself, reacting to it he hit me, then I fell unconsious due to fear, the complainant told reporters. The accused later abandoned her and fled. I was unconscious for about five minutes, by then he was not there. My bag and phone was there. Demanding the assailants arrest, the woman alleged that the mans intention was to sexually assault her. Asked about the police response, the woman said police came and asked her to file a case, but her PG owners advised her against it, saying it may cause problem to her. I think they did that fearing bad name for their PG, she added. Police said they have obtained the CCTV footage, and will nab the culprit soon. DCP (South) Lokesh Kumar said he only got to know about the incident after the news appeared on TV channels. He said investigation about the incident was on and added that Police response to the case was also being enquired into. If there are any lapses found, action will be taken. Kumar said. The PG owner had filed a complaint in which he claimed the woman had stated that she will decide on filing the complaint after discussing the issue with her family. The woman had left the PG next day and the owner thought that she would have filed the complaint. City police commissioner NS Megharikh said suo motu complaints in such cases become difficult because the girl has to go hospital for medical examination; she has to go to a magistrate to record her statement. Sometimes women do not want to be exposed. However, today we have called the PG owner and obtained the complaint. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began questioning former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi on Monday in connection with its probe into alleged corruption in the AgustaWestland (AW) choppers deal. Tyagi was summoned for allegedly receiving bribes from the United Kingdom-based AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, to help change technical requirements that enabled the firm to bag the Indian deal in 2010. Read more: VVIP chopper deal: CBI questions former IAF chief SP Tyagi The deal, which was cancelled two years ago, was for the supply of 12 VVIP AW-101 choppers for a price of Rs 3,727 crore. AgustaWestland allegedly approached Tyagi through three of his cousins during his stint as air chief in 2005-2007. The four Tyagis, who were named in the First Information Report of the CBI and Enforcement Department in the case, deny the allegations. Tyagi was questioned twice after the CBI had registered the case FIR in March 2013. Tyagi will be questioned again following revelations over his role by former air force deputy chief JS Gujral to the CBI last week. Here are five issues that Tyagi needs to explain to CBI interrogators. 1) Media reports allege that a key mandatory operational requirement, a service ceiling of 6,000 metres, which is the optimum height at which a chopper can fly, was reduced to 4500 metres. This change was made after a March 2005 meeting by the then national security adviser during Tyagis stint as air chief. This helped AW as its chopper was disqualified in 2002 by the air force on grounds it could only fly at 4500 metres and its subsequent representations for a re-consideration of its case was rejected as well. 2) A meeting on March 7, 2005 on the service ceiling issue, which occurred at the air force headquarters and was attended by several stakeholders, agreed to reduce the required service ceiling from 6,000 metres to 4500 metres. The Air forces decision was in contrast to its earlier consistent stand opposing the service ceilings reduction. Later, a fresh comparative test was introduced as that was related to how the chopper might cope with a non-functioning engine. For AW, with its three engines, this test was a gift. 3) The Air forcein January 2004 sent a note to the then defence secretary saying a service ceiling of 6,000 metres was required, because VVIPs needed to travel to high-altitude places, such as the Siachen glacier. Again, in November 2004, the air force reiterated its stand on the issue in a meeting held by the then defence secretary. The stand was reversed in March 2005 under Tyagis watch. 4) Tyagi will have to explain to the CBI if there was any alleged link to his acceptance of the service ceilings reduction in March 2005 to payments of 3.26 lakh to his cousins as consultancy charges by a Tunisian firm, Gordian Services, Sarl. The payments were made between May 2004 AND to February 2005 by the Tunisian firm controlled by two case accused--AWs European middlemen Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. The payments, in fact, began barely a month after the air force had decided in April 2004 that the AW chopper was not suited for ferrying VVIPs including the President and the Prime Minister. 5) Tyagi will be asked if he met AWs three alleged European middlemen--Haschke, Gerosa and Christian Michel--up to seven times. Tyagi will be asked if he had allegedly received cash payments from these middlemen as part of the bribery transactions AW allegedly undertook in India to manipulate technical specifications that disqualified its chopper. Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doctoring his date of birth and educational qualifications and threatened to reveal the facts on Tuesday. Party leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil would be addressing a press conference on Tuesday on the issue. On Sunday, vice-chancellor of Gujarat University M N Patel said that Modi had completed his post-graduation in political science in 1983 and had scored 62.3% as an external student of the varsity. Patel revealed the information days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Central Information Commission (CIC) of covering up the Prime Ministers educational qualifications. Congress had on Sunday alleged discrepancies in Modis date of birth. In students register of MN College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Narendra Modis date of birth is mentioned as August 29, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950, Gohil had said in Ahmedabad. Gohil had also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modis Masters degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. Hundreds of workers from Manika in Jharkhand on Sunday came up with a novel way of registering their protest against the meagre hike of Rs 5 granted by the Union government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). The workers on the occasion of Labour Day sent over a hundred envelopes with five-rupee notes enclosed in them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that they could do without the governments generosity. In view of the ongoing drought, the Centre had increased the wages of workers in Jharkhand from Rs 162 to Rs 167. However, this failed impress the beneficiaries, given that the minimum wage for labour and non-NREGA work in the state comes up to Rs 212. A report in The Telegraph said the envelopes were accompanied by a sarcastic thank-you note to Modi, in which the workers said they felt lucky to be considered eligible for the raise at all. It sounds like NREGA workers in Odisha are very well-off because their wages were left untouched, it said. Read: Step up efforts to help drought-hit: Activists, writers, actors to govt The note went on to express concern for the Centres financial plight. Actually, we are very concerned. The government must be really short of money as it is unable to raise NREGA wages, and that too when one-third of the rural population is affected by drought, it said, expressing hope that the money returned would keep the Prime Ministers corporate friends and government employees happy. The government has probably done us a big favour by increasing the wages. In some other states, I am told, the increase is not even that... But we cannot accept such a raise. So we are sending the money back to the Prime Minister... Maybe hell have some use for it, Kamlesh Oraon, a 65-year-old marginal farmer, was quoted by NDTV as saying. The workers took out a protest rally under the banner of the Grameen Swaraj Mazdoor Sangh in Manika block, where slogans denouncing the meager hike were shouted. Members of other organisations, such as the Jharkhand Jan Sangram Morcha, Dalit Adhikar Suraksha Manch and the CPI(ML), were also present. (With agency inputs) Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., toured Fort Yates Hospital on the Standing Rock Reservation Monday to "check in" on North Dakota Indian Health Services facilities. Heitkamp's tour of Fort Yates Hospital follows a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing in February which found service disruptions including emergency room closures, inadequate staffing, unsafe and unsterile conditions and regulatory violations at IHS hospitals in the Great Plains, particularly in South Dakota. Great Plains Area IHS received citations from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding deficiencies at two hospitals in South Dakota, Rosebud and Pine Ridge, as well as a hospital in Winnebago, Neb. Heitkamp also met with IHS Acting Director Mary Smith last month urging her to maintain quality health care at IHS facilities in North Dakota while the "agency invests attention and resources to fix severe shortcomings at health facilities in South Dakota," according to a press release. "Touring Fort Yates Hospital today was an opportunity to check in on North Dakota IHS facilities and make sure the Standing Rock community is receiving the care it deserves," Heitkamp wrote in a press release. "As IHS works to fix unacceptable problems across the Great Plains, I'm fighting to guarantee that our North Dakota hospitals receive the attention and resources they need to deliver the quality care Native communities deserve." The Great Plains Area facilities provide health services to 122,000 tribal members in North Dakota South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska. Hundreds of forest fires blazing across north India for over a week spread to a prominent boarding school in Himachal Pradeshs Kasauli on Monday afternoon, triggering panicked evacuation of students. Television visuals showed children being taken out of the premises of the Pinegrove School as fire trucks rushed to the campus. News channel NDTV reported the blaze was put out in an hour but thick black smoke engulfing the entire town. Fire also spread to Lawrence school in Kasauli, 5 km from Pinegrove school, as students evacuated in a hurry with columns of smoke descending on the complex. The fire at Lawrence school was brought under control before it could cause damage, said R Chauhan, a teacher at Lawrence school. The fire broke out in forests in Kasauli areas and forests surrounding the Sanawar School were also affected but the school complex was fully safe and fires have been extinguished, said Rakesh Kanwar, deputy commissioner, Solan. Blazes were reported from 12 new places in the forests around Shimla with chief minister Virbhadra Singh saying a rise in temperature caused the fire in Shimla rural forest division that gutted 50 hectares. It is nothing new. Fire break out in forest areas is due to rise in temperature, Singh told reporters in Rampur on Sunday. Read | Natures act or foul play? 5 burning questions on Uttarakhand fires Officials reported 378 incidents of fire in grasslands and forests, mainly in the low hills, which has destroyed flora and fauna in over 3,000 hectares. The sudden rise in mercury and the prolonged dry spell are mainly the reasons for these forest fires. Most of the fire-related cases are from the Shivalik ranges in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Solan and Sirmaur districts and a majority of them are ground fires, principal chief forest conservator S P Vasudeva told IANS. Records of the forest department said a quarter of the total forest area in the state is fire-prone. A majority of the fires were reported from the pine forests since during summer, the trees shed pine needles that are highly inflammable due to the rich content of turpentine oil. The pine forest is found up to an altitude of 5,500 feet. Read | More forest fires in 4 months this year than in 2015: Javadekar Billowing smoke from the hills of Shimla, Kasauli, Chail, Dharampur and Nahan towns have become common these days. A huge track of forest in the Tara Devi hills (overlooking Shimla town) was ravaged in the past two days, local villager Ramesh Chand told IANS. He said there was also an extensive damage to the wildlife and blamed the fires on local residents setting small tracts of land on fire to retrieve softer grass after the rain. The fires hit rural life with villagers battling dense smoke as water supply systems broke down. Forests in Patiyud, Dashala, Anandpur villages, around 20 to 25 kilometre from Shimla town, have been burning for last two-three days. I think 50-60 hectares of area is affected ... Several incidents of fire from different areas have been reported after a rise in temperature, Shimla divisional forest officer (DFO) Raman Sharma told ANI. In Uttarakhand, officials said forest fires were doused in over 70% of the affected areas with over 130 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed to tackle the massive blaze. Over 10,000 personnel of different departments are helping the NDRF to douse the fires in Uttarakhand forests. The Centre has also deployed three MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force along with state police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), forest staff, home guards and local volunteers to battle the forest fire. Read | We are given away as fire offerings: Men fighting Uttarakhand inferno (With Agency Inputs) They are moths pushed to the flame. The 6,000-strong forest department personnel deployed to beat back forest fires are going about their job without fire suits, medicines, extinguishers and water. And the casualty so far is: three dead and 14 burnt. Forester (Gohri range)Ramesh Kothiyal said, The department is giving us away as fire offerings. He added: We dont have fire-fighting uniforms that could save us from blaze. Over 2,900 hectares of forest have been gutted in a reported 1,323 fire incidents. Garhwal is the worst hit region with 1,200 hectares burnt, followed by 1,100 hectares in Kumaon. The department has a corpus of Rs 8 lakh from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and state government and has sought Rs 79 crore from the Centre to buy water tankers and fire fighting equipment as well as for two choppers for aerial monitoring. However, no steps have been taken to provide fire suits and insurance to the personnel. We havent provided fire-fighting uniform to the personnel. However, we are seeking funds to provide them salaries and other infrastructure, principal chief conservator of forest (planning and finance) Jai Raj said. Field workers believe the number of injured persons is much higher as officials arent keen to report accidents suffered by staff. Every day, at least one of our staff or a daily wager gets injured in the forest fire. But officers arent reporting it... I feel the human rights commission should charge the officials for their careless attitude towards the personnel, forest guards association general secretary RR Painuly told HT. The department is so aggressive to save green cover that they have made no emergency preparations for us. We move around the forest without medicines and even drinking water, said MS Negi from Chamoli. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The drought-like situation in 11 states has led to concerns about food security in the country. In an interview with Hindustan Times, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, however, dismissed them, suggesting there was enough stock of grains and there would be no shortage. Excerpts: How serious is the drought situation across India? In spite of the bad monsoon in the last two years, the agricultural production is set to increase this year. Due to the governments proactive approach, policy coordination and swift response from states, a crisis in the offing has been dealt with successfully. Will there be any shortfall of grains this year? The IMD predicted a bad monsoon in 2015. We prepared an elaborate corrective scheme to mitigate the effects of a prospective drought. Around 600 districts were chosen and emergency schemes were launched to strengthen seed and water supply chain. As a result, according to second advance estimates, crop production in 2015-16 is expected to cross that in 2014-15. There is no shortage of grains. Any such prediction is totally misplaced. Why hasnt the government been able to deal with the situation in Marathwada? This problem was built over time. During UPA rule, Maharashtra got several dam projects. But most of them were built to cater to the sugar industry, not farmers. These dams, built with public money, served just 10% of the population. I hope someday there will be a discussion on who took those decisions and at whose behest. How are states being assisted to deal with the situation? Allocation under the State Disaster Response Fund has almost doubled to over Rs 61,000 crore for the next five years. Over Rs 2,500 crore for 10 drought-affected states have already been released from SDRF. The Centre released Rs 9,000 crore more than what states asked to cope with natural calamities in 2014-15. Income tax officials have searched 18 premises used by a defence dealer who is on the radar of the government over the unusually high growth of his business in recent years. The dealer, Sanjay Bhandari, who set up his flagship company Offset India Solutions (OIS) in 2008 with a paid-up capital of Rs 1 lakh, is now at the helm of a multi-crore group comprising at least seven firms that offer defence consultancy and liaison services. One of these companies, OIS-Advanced Technology, recently signed a joint venture agreement with French defence manufacturer Rafaut to supply components for 38 combat aircraft India is buying from Dassault Aviation. No details were immediately available on the searches carried out by the directorate general of income tax investigation on Wednesday, but a Hindustan Times investigation has found that Bhandari received Rs 69.38 crore from 35 shell companies between 2009 and 2014. When the NDA government took over in May 2014, it sought a report from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) about Bhandaris dealings. The bureau filed its report in July 2014, alleging OIS was engaged by Swiss firm Pilatus for a controversial Rs 4,000-crore basic trainer aircraft deal. In January 2015, defence ministrys finance wing red-flagged the deal for its in-built flaws. The South Korean government in 2012 had lodged an official protest with the defence ministry over the selection of Pilatus as the lowest bidder. Korea Aerospace Industries, Kai, was in the race for the same contract. Bhandari received 1 million Swiss francs in 2012 from an undisclosed source, according to filings with the registrar of companies (RoC). HT investigation has found that Sanjay Bhandaris Offset India Solutions (OIS) received one million Swiss franc (CHF) from Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG- SPA. OIS Standard Chartered bank account no: 52105058250 received this amount in two tranches -- 2,50,000 CHF on 25 August 2010 and 7,50,000 CHF on 6 October 2010. This was two years before Indian Air Force placed an order for 75 Basic Trainer Aircrafts for Rs 4000 crore in 2012.Neither Pilatus nor Bhandari responded to email queries and telephone calls. The website of OIS describes it as a liaison between the foreign entities, respective government ministries and the local industries for successful completion of projects. Offset in defence industry parlance means an agreement between a defence contractor and the buyer government to procure goods or services from the buyer countryin this case India. The defence procurement policy 2006 made it mandatory for foreign defence firms to tie up with an Indian partner for 35% of total contract value. HT randomly picked out 10 of the 35 companies from which Bhandaris group firms received payments and found that their office addresses listed with the registrar of companies (RoC) were fake. The transactions started in August 2009 when one of Bhandaris companies SB Hospitality & Services Pvt Ltd received Rs 1.6 crore in 13 tranches from two entities: Mystic Fashion Pvt Ltd and Jasmine Software Solutions registered in Delhis Laxmi Nagar and Shakarpur, respectively. Both addresses were found to be fake, a review of RoC filings and field visits show. Two months later, on November 11, the same firm received Rs 1.2 crore from three companies, two registered in Rohini and a third, Amarjeet Motors Pvt Ltd, not listed with the RoC. In five years, SB Hospitality received Rs 31.67 crore from 35 entities. HT found multiple transactions on the same day a known modus operandi of hawala operators who split amounts into small tranches to avoid detection by monitoring agencies. Cash deposits were made into the accounts of fake companies and later transferred to companies of Bhandari, according to bank statements reviewed by HT. The investors in the seven group companies were the same. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An Italian marine accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012 could return home as an international tribunal asked New Delhi and Rome to approach the Supreme Court of India to relax his bail conditions. In an interim ruling that is to be officially announced on Tuesday, the UNs Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that Sergeant Salvatore Girone be allowed to return home until the dispute is resolved through arbitration. Girone is out on bail but lives in the Italian embassy in New Delhi because of travel restrictions. Government sources initially denied the report on Monday, saying Italy was misrepresenting the order. Foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop, however, confirmed the court order later. The tribunal unanimously prescribed that India and Italy would approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of bail conditions of Sergeant Girone. While remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, he may return to Italy for the duration of the present arbitration, he said. The tribunal also held that Italy must return him in case India gets jurisdiction over the marine, he said. Girone and fellow marine Massimiliano Latorre are accused of shooting the fishermen off the Kerala coast while protecting an Italian oil tanker. Latorre was allowed to go back to Italy in 2014 after he suffered a stroke, but Girone was barred from leaving India till a dispute between New Delhi and Rome over which country has jurisdiction in the case is resolved. Italy referred the row to the UN tribunal after repeated delays of the trial in India. For his return to his homeland, the tribunal suggested conditions such as Girone surrendering his passport so that he doesnt travel abroad and reporting his presence to an Italian authority designated by the Indian top court. The order is binding for both countries as there is no appeal process in the UN tribunal. Technically, the Supreme Court has the power to keep the accused marine in India till the tribunal delivers its verdict in the jurisdiction case. Even as airlines across the globe did well in reducing the number of checked-in bags lost in transit, data from the civil aviation ministry showed that the misplaced luggage continued to be one of the top three fliers complaints against domestic airlines in India. Globally, 6.5 bags per thousand passengers got misplaced in 2015 according to an annual baggage report by Geneva-based technology service provider SITA. This was the lowest since 2003 when the company which provides technical assistance to select Indian carriers and airports introduced the yearly audit. But data from the civil aviation ministry showed that 22.4% complaints recorded by domestic airlines in March accounted for grouses about misplaced baggage. At least one of the five complaints received by the ministry in January and February were also related to missing bags, the data added. Safe baggage delivery is one of the basic functions of an airline. It is high time the airline sector in India wakes up to this reality , said a former senior official with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requesting anonymity. According to the SIT A report close to 80% bags misplaced last year were delivered to passengers late. The average delay time was close to two days, the report added. The recovery time of lost bags becomes all the more important when checked- i n bags contain essential fliers belongings, said industry experts. For instance, Bandra resident Afia Modaks missing bag from a Goa-Mumbai SpiceJet flight in February contained her fiancees passport among other essentials such as her engagement ring. While the bag was finally traced back to Jammu airport close to a month after it went missing, her fiancee had to run pillar to post to get a get a new copy of his passport as an important business trip was soon lined up. Globally misplaced baggage is expected to become a forgotten worry courtesy the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) resolution 753 which promises a better baggage delivery record by June 2018. It means that passengers will be able track their bag, just like a parcel, which will reduce anxiety and allow them to take fast action if flights are disrupted and their bags are delayed, Francesco Violante, chief executive officer, SITA. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The bunch of officers on special duty (OSDs) and advisers deployed in the office of Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar are in for some pruning. Khattar has almost a dozen such political appointees, mostly from the RSS stable, as his aides and advisers. Since most of them owe their entry into the chief ministers office to their RSS or connections in the BJP central leadership, there was a question on their loyalty quotient towards the chief minister. Also, there have been complaints from MLAs, who accused them of interfering in posting and transfers while a couple of the aides were learnt to be in close touch with real estate developers and corporate sector. First blood The latest casualty has been Vijay Sharma, an Indian Railways Accounts Service (IRAS) official who was brought on deputation to state as Khattars OSD in June 2015. Sharma got into the chief ministers office (CMO) after the RSS and party in-charge of Haryana Anil Jain pushed his case. However, he has now been sent packing back to the ministry of railways rather unceremoniously. Indications of his ouster were palpable after the IRAS officer pushed for revision of his terms and conditions. The new set of terms and conditions issued by the chief secretary on March 19, 2016 stipulated that his period of deputation will be five years or earlier as decided by the state government. This was quite contrary to the initial terms and conditions issued in July 2015 which said that his term of deputation will be for five years from the date he assumed charge - June 6, 2015. Eyebrows were also raised when Sharma got himself sanctioned two official vehicles - one from the chief secretarys establishment and the second from the excise and taxation department. Only chief secretary and principal secretary to the chief minister are entitled to two official vehicles. Besides, Sharma also availed a sumptuary allowance of Rs 10,000 per month, a remuneration only meant for politicians. Long list of aides While Jawahar Yadav was officially the first one to be moved out of the chief ministers office (CMO), he was accommodated as chairman of Haryana Housing Board. Top BJP sources said Khattar is likely to move out some of the other OSDs and advisers out of Chandigarh. These include OSDs Capt Bhupinder and Bhupeshwar Dayal, who could be relocated to Hisar and Sonepat respectively. OSD (media) Raj Kumar Bhardwaj is also learnt to be on the chopping block. Another unofficial aide of the chief minister, Arun Sangwan, who operates from the chief ministers residence, could be moved out to Haryana Bhawan in New Delhi. Sangwan is the brother of Haryana additional advocate general (AAG) Alok Sangwan. Alok incidentally also remained AAG during the Congress rule. Once they are relocated, their meddling in day to day affairs becomes negligible. Thats what the idea seems to be in moving them out, said a party source. New entrants While a staunch Khattar loyalist, Neeraj Daftuar has already made entry into the chief ministers office as principal OSD, the services of a Delhi Andaman Nicobar Island Police Service (DANIPS) officer, Rajneesh Garg has been sought by the Haryana government. Garg,who is presently posted in Delhi as deputy commissioner of police, economic offences wing, will be appointed as OSD in Haryana chief ministers office. Sources said that he will be entrusted with the task of overseeing the various police investigations into cases pertaining to the tenure of the Congress government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bollywood actor and 1993 serial bomb blasts convict Sanjay Dutts presence at the function at Dindoshi in suburban Mumbai evoked critical comments from sections in the opposition Congress, a party with which the 56-year-old actors family has close association. This is a classic case of anti-nationalism, which is not new to the saffron party . It is nothing bizarre. Giving and taking protection from such elements has been in the DNA of the party. This had to happen one day, said Nizamuddin Raeen, spokesperson of the Mumbai Congress. The event at Dindoshi was organised by BJPs youth wing leader Mohit Kamboj, where Dutt and others made an appeal to voters to elect Kamboj in the next assembly elections. Ironically, many in the BJP were critical of repeated paroles and furloughs granted to Dutt while he was serving the sentence at Yerwada jail in Pune. Dutt, who was granted remission and released in February, donned an orange Maharashtrian pagdi, spoke in filmi style and pledged to do everything for his friend Kamboj. Shiv Sena leader and former mayor of Mumbai Sunil Prabhu, who defeated Kamboj in the 2014 assembly polls, said Had they (BJP leaders) loved Maharashtra truly, then they would not have even thought of inviting Dutt to the event. The critics also recalled the long association of Sanjays father Sunil Dutt and sister Priya Dutt with the Congress, both of whom were elected to the Lok Sabha on party tickets. Dutts parents Sunil Dutt, mother Nargis Dutt and sister Priya Dutt have been staunch Congress loyalists who stood by the party through all odds, but why and under what circumstances, Sanjay Dutt shifted his loyalty, only he knows, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said. When contacted, Kamboj said, I have a long and friendly association with Dutt. I wanted to invite him and got permission from senior BJP leaders. And what is wrong, if I invited him to be part of the Maharashtra Day celebrations. Seeking to play down the issue, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said: Dutt had attended the Maharashtra Day celebrations at the invitation of Kamboj. It should not be seen politically. Nursing political ambitions, Dutt had initially flirted with the Shiv Sena and then joined Samajwadi Party in 2009 as its state general secretary but quit the party after two years. Uttarakhands forests began smouldering in February and turned into a full-fledged inferno as the temperature rose. Though this is not the first time the state is battling forest fires, officials are concerned by the fact that 2,300 hectares of forested land across 13 districts have already been gutted until now reportedly killing three people and taking a heavy toll on wildlife. The fires usually start in March and end in July, with the advent of the monsoon season. The disaster has also affected the regions overall environment, with local DELETE residents saying that the temperature is 3-4 degrees above normal. Many parts of the state have come under smog cover, causing respiratory problems among residents. Hindustan Times sheds light on the most prominent questions being raised: 1) Where have the fire lines gone? Fires usually occur when the vegetation in forested areas dries up. To control its spread, the British established fire lines by removing dry vegetation along the boundaries of forest compartments (distinctly demarcated units of land) and then burning it in a controlled manner. However, sources say the administration hasnt taken adequate steps to maintain these lines which do not allow the fire to spread from one compartment to another for nearly four decades. The Uttar Pradesh government (before the creation of Uttarakhand on November 9,2000) curtailed funding for creating the fire lines way back in the 70s, says retired IAS officer SS Pangti. Read: Uttarakhand looks to rain gods for dousing raging forest fires 2) Are local residents setting forests on fire? Setting forests on fire is a crime, but villagers do it to spur the growth of fresh vegetation. Nearly 45-50% of the forests in Uttarakhand are populated by pine trees. They shed pine needles, called perul in local parlance, which cover the ground and prevent new plants from growing. Villagers tend to set dry grass on fire to allow new growth. However, such fires occasionally get out of control and spread through the forest, says forest conservator (Garhwal division) G Sonar. Jagmohan Singh, a social activist from Pauri Garhwal, regularly asks villagers to refrain from setting dry vegetation on fire. 3) Can we blame it on natural causes? Natural factors such as lightning strikes or friction caused by dry timber rubbing against each other can also lead to forest fires. But Ajoy Eric Lal, a Kumaon-based ecology expert, does not believe this is the reason for the raging inferno this year. The very scale of the destruction is enough to show that humans are responsible, he says. Read: We are given away as fire offerings: Men fighting Uttarakhand inferno 4) How much has the weather contributed to the disaster? Retired Army major VS Thapa, who has served in the states fire fighting unit, says hot weather and dry vegetation could turn out to be quite a potent combination as far as forest fires are concerned. According to him, tourists and trekkers add to this by littering forested areas with glass objects (such as bottles) that double as convex lens capable of igniting fires. Glass is capable of concentrating the suns rays onto dry vegetation, causing it to burn, says major Thapa. Besides this, the extended dry spell in the state has sucked the humidity out of the forest surface, making it highly inflammable. 4) How much has the weather contributed to the disaster? Retired Army major VS Thapa, who served in the states fire fighting unit, says hot weather and dry vegetation are a potent combination for forest fires are concerned. According to him, tourists and trekkers dump glass objects such as bottles in forested areas. Glass is capable of concentrating the suns rays onto dry vegetation, causing it to burn, says Major Thapa. The extended dry spell in the state has sucked the humidity out of the forest surface, making it highly inflammable. 5) Is the timber mafia responsible? This is the most prominent question being posed by environmentalists. Uttarakhands forests populated by commercially-viable trees such as the evergreen oak, conifer, sal and acacia have always been eyed by the timber mafia. But how does starting forest fires benefit them? In case of pine trees, only the first few metres of a tree usually get burnt and the timber above remains useful, says Ajoy. Members of the timber mafia later collect this wood on the pretense of cleaning the area. Village children also light fires because rising temperature causes pine trees to produce more resin which they collect and sell in the market. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress has moved a motion to discuss the controversial AgustaWestland helicopter deal in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, signalling a widening rift in the opposition camp. Till now, the AgustaWestland had been essentially a tussle between Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Trinamools bid to fish in the troubled waters may jeopardise the equations in the opposition camp, spoiling the larger non-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unity, to start with. The party could have chosen to raise the issue to give it back to the Congress which has joined hands with the Left in the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal. Ground reports from the state suggest that the alliance has posed a tough challenge to Banerjee in many areas. Trinamool gives notice in RS for suspension of all business today & immediately take up discussion on #AgustaWestland, an official tweet of Trinamool Congress said on Monday morning. Read: TMC gives notice in Rajya Sabha over chopper deal The controversy over the deal resurfaced earlier in April after the names of five Congress leaders, including party chief Sonia Gandhi, and UPA II functionaries figured in a judgement by an Italian court. AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, allegedly paid Rs 375 crore as bribe to secure a Rs 3,727-crore contract to supply 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force. The previous UPA government scrapped the deal over charges of kickbacks to Indian agents in 2014. The move to raise the issue in the Upper House could hurt the opposition unity. The government is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha but it might aim to gain some political space in case of a widening difference between the opposition parties. Last week, Congress demanded an apology from BJP chief Amit Shah for his politics of deceit and attempts to create a smokescreen to befool the people in the AgustaWestland deal. For its part, the BJP fired a fresh salvo at the Congress chief, alleging that Gandhi had overridden then defence minister AK Antonys objection to the tainted manufacturer conducting field trials abroad for the helicopter. Who in the UPA government or who in the Congress other than Sonia Gandhi and her adviser Ahmad Patel has the authority to override Antony? The only one who could tell him to keep quiet, who could silence him was Sonia Gandhi, party spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said. The Congress remained unfazed and asked if the Narendra Modi governments defence procurement procedure doesnt provide that trial can be carried out abroad. In Thiruvananthapuram, Antony dared the BJP-led government to take strong action against bribe givers and takers if there is any evidence. As the BJP tried to drag Gandhi into the controversy, the main opposition party accused the NDA government of allowing Finmeccanica, the Italian parent company of AgustaWestland, to participate in 2015 Aero India show. Congress asked why companies related to AgustaWestland were allowed to take part in Prime Minister Modis Make in India projects. Read: UPA 2s AgustaWestland probe moved at a snails pace WARREN, Minn. -- Ever since Jose Paz Pruneda Jr. was born, he's divided his school year between Mexico, North Dakota and Minnesota. The son of Mexican migrant parents who travel for agricultural work, Pruneda works on school almost every month of the year, whether it's for a Manvel-based migrant program or school in Warren, Minn., and in Mexico. If he's not in class, he's working on the farm with his family, he said. Then he starts the cycle all over again. His dedication to school despite frequent interruption throughout the year has paid off: He was recently named the 2016 National PASS Student of the Year. PASS, which stands for Portable Assisted Study Sequence, is a national instructional program designed for children of migrant farm workers and used by North Dakota students. Pruneda has always showed he wants to get ahead, and the award will give him $1,000 toward college. But as the third national winner from the Manvel program, his honor represents a bigger trend -- more migrant students are dedicated to academic achievement, educators said. Mary Sorvig, a school principal and co-director of the migrant program, said more students realize they can graduate and are committed to it. "They do it because they can," she said. "Because we can help them." Sorvig said students really benefit from Manvel's migrant program, one of two in North Dakota, though the numbers have been dwindling. At one point, 200 students attended the program, but now about half that are registering and about 60 to 65 attend, she said. Improvements to farm machinery and chemicals have resulted in fewer job opportunities for migrant families, she said. Further, within the last few years, state funding for the program has declined in accordance to need, requiring schools to help finance the program, she said. Pruneda graduates in May. He plans to follow the path of his sister by attending University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, where he'll possibly major in mechanical engineering, he said. He recently flew to San Diego to be recognized for the award. He was chosen from thousands of students nationwide based on an essay he wrote about how the program helped him. Sorvig, who accompanied him, said the speech he gave before 1,500 attendees was about gratitude. "He mentioned his parents, the school in Warren, he mentioned our school," she said. "It was all about being grateful for what he's received." Standout student Pruneda has credited the migrant program for its help, but he provides a lot of help as well. Described as a shy, humble guy, Pruneda has learned how to switch from speaking Spanish to fluent English and translates for other students when they need it. He's consistently worked ahead to complete his academic requirements early, and he's also a paid paraprofessional at his school in Warren, about 29 miles west of Manvel, where he provides tutoring and helps with special education students. Pruneda said his parents have long prioritized education for their children. "My parents have always told me, if you have something to do at school first finish up your school, because your education is more important," he said. "For them, it's more important for me to finish up my education and then work." His life is divided between work and school. At home in Los Ramones, located in west central Mexico, it's the same -- he goes to school and when he gets home, he helps his parents with whatever they need, he said. Pruneda is an exceptional student, educators said. His work ethic stands out from the culture in which he was raised, one where students are now slowly starting to realize the importance of education, they said. Frequently moving between locations, as well as the transition from speaking Spanish to English can be difficult for students. Education can also take a backseat to helping their family with work, educators said. But students who attend the program appreciate it. The program helps them catch up with credits and gives them access to home-schooling if they need it, said Sandra Fetsch, a longtime program teacher. "I want people to know what a great program this is for kids," she said. "They try to do whatever they can to get their credits and they're always so appreciative." An Early Head Start and Head Start migrant program based in Crookston, Minn., provides comprehensive services for younger students and also serves pregnant women. Similar to the migrant program, the program has seen declining attendance, mostly in northwest Minnesota. Over the past decade, registration at its East Grand Forks, Minn., location, which serves several migrant families in the area, has decreased from 80 children to 20 this year, said director Laurie Coleman. Sorvig said she hasn't given up hope and the program isn't losing money. "Sometimes, you have to get a little creative with it to offer what we should, and it's worked," she said. "You have to be here to know how wonderful it is for students." In a shocking incident, two children died of thirst while walking through a forest in Telanganas Adilabad district. Bodies of 12-year-old Madhu and eight-year-old Ashok were found in a forest area near Muddaram village of Chennur mandal on Monday, police said. The childrens mother, who had gone in search of water, was found unconscious in another place. She is said to be critical. The woman and her children were on their way to another village, Muddaram, to attend a marriage on Sunday. They were walking through the forest when the children collapsed due to severe heat and thirst. The mother ran around searching for water but she too collapsed in the heat. Six people were killed and at least seven injured when crude bombs exploded in a house used for making bombs in Baishnabnagar in Malda district. The incident took place around 2am on Monday at Jainpur village in Baishnabnagar, about 350km from Kolkata. Among those who died was Kalam Sheikh, a Trinamool member of the gram panchayat. The others were Israel Sheikh, Sukhu Sheikh and Shimu Sheikh, all local Trinamool workers. Kalam was a notorious criminal, also an expert in making bombs. Two policemen, one sub-inspector and a constable, also succumbed to their injuries late on Monday night. They were among the three CID officials who were injured when some unexploded crude bombs went off while they were inspecting the site. The house was used for making bombs, police officers told HT. No one lived in it. There were at least 15 men at the spot when the mishap occurred. We are yet to trace the rest, said an officer of the Baishnabnagar police station. Primary investigation suggests the persons were making bombs. Police went to the village after the explosion. The owner of the house is missing after the incident, said Malda police super Syed W Reja. Five of the injured were admitted to a local nursing home and one to state-run Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) in a critical condition. Sohel Rana, Kalams nephew, said, Congress-backed goons attacked my uncle and some other Trinamool activists after the elections. I think my uncle was making bombs with other Trinamool men to strike back. However. I have no idea how the bombs went off. But later he said, I dont know whether my uncle was making bombs. Documentary evidence in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal reveals that the then defence minister, AK Antony, approved a ban on procurement from all companies, including the Finmeccanica group, only on the last day of polling of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Antonys last-minute action of May 12, 2014 came days before a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took over in New Delhi and five months after the contract to purchase a dozen AW101 helicopters was terminated on January 1, 2014. The Central Bureau of Investigation had filed its First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the deal on March 12, 2013. The order banning procurement was issued on July 3, 2014 by then defence minister Arun Jaitley. The preceding UPA government signed the 556.26-million-euro helicopter contract on February 8, 2010, with an advance component of 45%, or 250.32 million euro. Between reports of an Italian probe into graft charges against Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland, and the CBIs first report of March 2013, the company supplied three helicopters which lie mothballed with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to this day. This delay, also attributable to a secrecy clause and legal stonewalling in Italy, led to the recovery of only 199.7 million euros of the advance after the contract was cancelled. One of the documents accessed by HT that bears then defence minister AK Antonys signature. Top defence ministry sources told Hindustan Times that 50.7 million euros are still being held back by the company as part of proportionate payment for the three helicopters supplied. Apart from the advance money, only three guarantees worth 55 million euros held by three banks on behalf of the manufacturer have been recovered. Read | Parrikar to place VVIP chopper deal facts in Parliament on May 4 The Congress has rejected the accusations. Congress leader and former Union minister Anand Sharma told mediapersons last week: Action was taken by the UPA government. AK Antony, the then defence minister had made a statement in Parliament and AgustaWestland was blacklisted. A probe was ordered by the UPA government both by the ED and the CBI. Sharma went on to say that instead of putting the probe on the fast track, the Modi government had removed AgustaWestland from the blacklisted category so that it could bid for some projects of Navy as part of the Prime Ministers Make in India programme. What prompted the BJP government to reverse the decision of blacklisting? he asked, insisting that the UPA government had been proactive in the probe once it came to know that some corruption was involved. We took the matter to the Milan court, to the Naples prosecutor, he said. On Saturday, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: There is no magic wand. We were the ones who had started the process of blacklisting. Read | Jaitley denies Antonys claim on AgustaWestlands blacklisting Documents accessed by Hindustan Times show, however, that the UPA government was stirred into action only by the February 12, 2013 arrest of Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi in Italy. Delays continued to plague the governments reaction. Even after the CBI filed its first FIR, it did not immediately forward the report to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) despite it being mandated by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) that a similar report be filed by the ED for investigations. In fact, the ED wrote to the CBI on June 18, 2013, asking for the bureaus FIR. The ED got the report only on December 11, 2013; again there was no apparent action from the directorate till the Modi government assumed office. A case in the helicopter deal under the PMLA was registered by the ED only in July 2014. Read | AgustaWestland chopper deal: ED summons air force ex-chief SP Tyagi The ED got into action on September 22, 2014 with a raid on businessman and lawyer Gautam Khaitan, suspected to be the main actor in the laundering and routing of kickbacks in the deal. He was arrested a day later. The provisional attachment of properties was started: property valued at Rs 14.70 crore of Gautam Khaitan and his company; Rs 6.21 crore of the co-accused Tyagi brothers, and Rs 1.11 crore of alleged middleman Christian Michel James in India was attached till March 19, 2015. Letters of request for conducting investigations have been sent to seven countries and three more are in process. An extradition request was sent to the UK for Christian Michel James, allegedly the main conduit for the kickbacks, on January 4, 2016. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar pulled up the IAF this month for failing to provide to the ED property details of eight of 13 senior officers said to be involved in the decision-making process that selected AugustaWestland helicopters. Read | BJP refutes Congresss charge of slowdown in AgustaWestland probe SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Pranab Mukherjee expressed concern on Monday over the forest fires in Uttarakhand that gutted vast Himalayan jungles as police arrested four villagers for allegedly starting blazes. Mukherjees letter triggered swift action from governor KK Paul who first briefed the President, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finally environment minister Prakash Javadekar on the steps taken to douse around 100 fires across 13 districts blazing for over a week. The hill state is under Presidents Rule at present. Uttarakhand additional chief secretary S Ramaswami said cases were registered against locals under the Indian Forest Act and the Indian Penal Code for burning forests as fire-fighting personnel struggled to control the blazes ravaging wildlife and vegetation in the hill state. In the states Chamoli district, a 25-year-old police constable was killed while dousing a forest when a rock fell on him. Police were also asked to investigate the possibility of the timber mafia setting forests deliberately on fire. We are investigating all possible reasons, including the timber mafias involvement, a police officer said. NDRF personnel try to douse the flames that have engulfed the forest land in Pauri Garhwal district. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo) The blazes have razed over 2,900 hectares of lush Himalayan forestland in the past three months and killed at least four people, besides inflicting injuries on countless fire-fighting personnel. Vast tracts of the badly hit Garhwal region are engulfed in thick smoke. Uttarakhand HC also questioned the state forest department on preparations for controlling the calamity. Under section 30 of the forest act, persons found guilty of burning forests can be sentenced 7 years imprisonment or penalty of over Rs 1 lakh. Villagers are culprits, cases have been lodged against them, BP Gupta, chief conservator of forest (CCF) and nodal officer, told HT. Water being sprayed on a forest in Uttarakhand from a helicopter. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo) More than 6,100 personnel and three IAF choppers have been deployed in Uttarakhand to extinguish hundreds of forest fires. But many local personnel have complained they were pressed into service without adequate gear, resulting in mounting injuries. The department is giving us away as fire offering. We dont have fire fighting uniforms that could save us from blaze, said Ramesh Kothiyal, forester Gohri range. Summer forest fires, sometimes deliberate, are not uncommon as local residents start blazes to have new vegetation after the rains. But villagers may have started the fires early this year weeks before the mid-May predicted rainfall because of a forest fodder shortage triggered by drought conditions in 11 districts, including Pauri and Pithoragarh that are the worst-hit regions. State disaster management department said the situation will be brought under control soon as firefighting is taking place on a war footing. Officials said an IAF MI17 helicopter carrying 5,000 litres of water made 25 sorties on Sunday and Monday to douse fires in Almora and Srinagar areas. The fire also spread to J-K and Himachal Pradesh, where summer blazes in grasslands and forests caused 378 incidents, mainly in the low hills, and destroyed flora and fauna in over 3,000 hectares. As per the latest information, fire has been contained. Situation is under control now, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju told reporters in Delhi. (With inputs from agencies) As Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh struggle to contain massive forest fires, incidents of wildfires were reported from Bathuni and Gambhir areas of Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Sunday. While the fire has been raging in over 2000 hectares of forest area in Uttarakhand for several days now, it was reported from 12 new places in the forests around Shimla in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. The raging fires have claimed at least seven lives in Uttarakhand till now. According to latest satellite imageries, of the 427 forest fires in Uttarakhand, it has been doused in over 70% of the affected areas with over 130 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed to tackle the massive blaze. Over 10,000 personnel of different departments are helping the NDRF to douse the fires in Uttarakhand forests. The Centre has also deployed three MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force along with state police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), forest staff, home guards and local volunteers to battle the forest fire. People are seen outside their home as a forest fire rages in Buakhal in Pauri. (Arvind Moudgil / Hindustan Times) Read: Uttarakhand: Fire doused in 70% of the affected areas, says NDRF Union home minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the Uttarakhand forest fire situation on Sunday during his meeting with the states chief secretary and concerned officers in his ministry. Singh has instructed officials to closely monitor the situation and provide all assistance in controlling the fire. The home minister has also spoken with Uttarakhand governor KK Paul on the phone and assured him of providing all necessary assistance to control the fire. PMO,NDRF,IAF working in unison, I'm sure #UttarakhandForestFire will be extinguished in 3-4 days-Prakash Javadekar pic.twitter.com/eZeYwkGGf9 ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2016 Rising temperature behind Shimla forest fire Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh has said a rise in temperature is the reason behind the fire in Shimla rural forest division, which has left over 50 hectares of forest land destroyed. It is nothing new. Fire break out in forest areas is due to rise in temperature, Singh told reporters in Rampur on Sunday. The fires have not only damaged forest wealth but have also hit rural life. Villagers have been battling dense smoke with water supply being hit in some villages too. Forests in Patiyud, Dashala, Anandpur villages, around 20 to 25 kilometre from Shimla town, have been under the grip of forest fire over the last two-three days. I think 50-60 hectares of area is affected ... Several incidents of fire from different areas have been reported after a rise in temperature, Shimla divisional forest officer (DFO) Raman Sharma told ANI. Principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) SP Vasudeva said the forest department had taken all measures to save the forest wealth from the fire. It happens every year but we have been containing the fire as soon as possible. So far over 330 cases have been reported across the state, damaging property worth Rs 25 lakh, Vasudeva told HT. According to reports, around 22% covering 8,267 sq km of the total forest area in the state is fire prone. A majority of fire incidents are reported from the pine forests during summers every year when pine trees shed their dry needles, which are highly inflammable. Severe drought in Marathwada over the past year has brought crop production across its eight districts down by nearly 70%, figures compiled by the Aurangabad divisional office show. This is one of the biggest slumps faced by farmers in this central Maharashtra region in recent years, and their claims having no earnings over the past one year are ringing true. As farmers deal with agricultural slump, the bigger challenge for the administration is tackling the shortage of water in the region until the monsoon begins, with the total water stock in Marathwadas dams now down to just 2% . The administration will now only focus on supplying drinking water for all in the region, senior officials said. The live water storage - or the amount of water that can be used - in its three big dams is down to 116 million cubic metre (mcum), down from the 134.28 mcum last week. The remaining eight dams are on dead storage level . Kharif crops such as pulses, followed by cereals and oil seeds have taken a hit. The production of urad, moong and tur dal per hectare has come down by 78% , 79% and 64%, compared to the average production of these pulses in the region in the last five years. Soyabean is down by 68% and groundnut by 58%; cereals jowari and bajari have also come down by 72% and 66% respectively. The yield of the regions biggest cash crop - cotton - in a good year brings money to farmers, but this has come down to 2.74 quintals a hectare. The last five-year average of cotton production worked out to 7.15 quintals a hectare. As Marathwada leads in the production of pulses in the state, this slump is expected to bring down overall supply in the market and jack up prices in the coming months. The overall decline in foodgrains so far, according to the third estimate sent by the state to the Centre includes 41% reduction in cereals and 19% for oilseeds. The rabi crop output in Marathwada is likely to throw up similar losses of up to 70%, if not more. The kharif crop compilation done recently, comparing the average of the last five years, shows an overall loss in the range of 65-70%. The farmers in the region have technically lost their last two kharif and rabi crops, said PD Lonare, superintending agriculture officer, Aurangabad division. On water scarcity, divisional commissioner Umakant Dangat said, We will have to manage ourselves with the available water in dams, dead storage and ground water in requisitioned wells and borewells. Appropriate decisions [regarding further cuts] will be taken as per local conditions to ensure drinking water to all. Last year, in this week, the region was battling drought, but the water storage level in all dams stood at 12% . Today, the water storage across Marathwadas big and small dams is 2%. Only three of its big dams Lower Dudhana, Vishnupuri and Yeldari have live water storage. With evaporation losses up to 35% , it is likely that Vishnupuri that supplies water to Nanded city may also go dry. Currently, Vishnupuri has live water storage of 4%, with just 3 mcum water. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The BKC cyber cell on Friday registered a case of impersonation wherein an unknown person created a fake website of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The police are yet to ascertain the motive. According to the cyber cell sources, the BSE officials approached them through an assistant commissioner of police, following which the officials were asked to report to their BKC office to lodge a complaint. An officer requesting anonymity said, After the BSE officials saw the fake website, they approached us through an ACP and then they reported to our office on Friday evening. The police claimed there could be many reasons for creating a fake version of one of the popular websites in the industry, but so far, none of the traders has approached the cops complaining of hoodwink through the fake BSE website. We cannot tell the motive till the time we arrest the accused but we suspect that this could be a case of some individual wishing to make quick money after getting maximum page visits by creating a fake version of the BSE. We are trying to find out the Internet Protocol (IP) address using which the accused committed the crime and have wrote to the service provider to give us the information regarding the same, said an officer. After the complaint was lodged, the cops have blocked the fake website. The BSE gets one of the maximum page visits because of its popularity among online traders. Online traders usually log onto the BSE website a number of times throughout the day. So, after creating a fake version of the BSE, the accused would have bought a premium space on Google. If anyone searches the BSE website, the fake one would get equal prominence on the Google search engine, said an officer. Following which, the traders would surf the website according to their convenience without knowing the authenticity of the website, as the features and the contents of the fake one is that of the original website. The culprit could have then claimed money from Google by selling space on its website, which by then had recorded thousands of page visits. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Cash-strapped and drought-hit, Maharashtra has now approached the Centre for money to complete its irrigation projects. The state needs Rs89,900 crore more to complete 380 projects small, medium and big whose cost is today estimated at Rs1,56,216 crore. It has sought 90% financial assistance for 219 projects that will cost Rs28,500 crore to complete. These fall in 179 drought-prone talukas that often see suicides by farmers. The state has also sought soft loans or grants from the Centre for 22 of its large irrigation projects, aimed to be completed by 2019, when the government completes its five-year term. Union water resources minister Uma Bharti will chair a meeting to discuss the issue in Mumbai on Tuesday that will be attended by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state irrigation minister Girish Mahajan. This follows a letter Fadnavis wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharati two months ago. Gadkari, who is the seniormost minister from Maharashtra in the Union Cabinet, said, Our thrust would be on maximum central funds to the irrigation projects as their completion means a lot for the drought hit state. The state wants the maximum share under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), under which the Central government has earmarked Rs80,000 crore to be released in the next four years for 89 large irrigation projects across the country; 26 of them are in Maharashtra. In its 2016-17 budget, the state, which is facing a cash crunch, set apart Rs7850 crore for the irrigation projects, which officers in the water resources department say is less than 10% of what is needed. Besides, the government state gets very little choice to select the projects as a major chunk goes towards the matching grants for the projects undertaken under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana Once all 380 projects are completed, some 43,05,451 hectares can be irrigated. Of the projects, 246 have got all clearances including land acquisition, rehabilitation and environment. The state has set a target of completing them in next four years -- 41 in 2016-17, 68 each in the two years after that and 69 in 2019- An official in the water resources department said that generally, the Centre provides 60% of the funding for projects under the Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) and that the state had identified 132 projects under the DPAP and another 87 in farmer suicides hit districts. The accumulated cost of these projects was Rs 28,500 crore, of which 10% could be borne by the state government, the official said. The backlog of irrigation projects is a fallout of the scam unearthed four years ago involving irregularities running into thousands of crores. The 2012 Economic Survey of Maharashtra had stated that the states irrigation potential increased by only 0.1% even after spending Rs70,000 crore in a decade between 1999 and 2009. Twoo former water resources ministers Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare are under the scanner in connection with the irrigation scam. It would be good news if we get the funds demanded by the state, but the identification of the projects should be done judiciously. The projects that have been pointed at as unwarranted and full of irregularities by the Special Task Force that probed the irrigation scam should be excluded from the list, said Pradeep Purandare, retired associate professor, Water and Land Management Institute expert and a whistleblower in irrigation scam. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after AAP leader HS Phoolka claimed that Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor contacted him to seek suggestions on the issue of justice to Sikhs, a messy social media war erupted over the issue. Phoolka on Monday released on Facebook and Twitter SMS proof of the messages he received from the alleged mediator -- one Dr Bipin Jha -- who was trying to fix a meeting between him and Kishor. Here is proof of Prashant Kishore approaching thru UK links & screenshots of SMS asking suggestions on #Carnage84.https://t.co/ZJYGREHAA4 H S Phoolka (@hsphoolka) May 2, 2016 Jha reacted on Facebook saying his message had been misread by Phoolka. Kishor reacted through his organisation I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee) on Twitter saying Jha was an AAP supporter and the whole thing was a fixed match. So one who apparently approached & who got approached are both from AAP.Sorry @hsphoolka but ppl are too smart to fall for this Fixed match! I-PAC (@IndianPAC) May 2, 2016 Also read II Prashant Kishor sought my inputs for 2017 manifesto: HS Phoolka Phoolka, who also released the proof with a press statement issued on Monday evening, said he was contacted by UK-based Jha first through Inderpal Singh Shergill, the AAP worker who had organised Phoolkas events during his recent visit to the UK on March 13, requesting for a meeting with him and Kishor. Phoolka says he refused to meet Jha or Kishore. Then according to Phoolka, Jha contacted him directly on April 30 over the phone. Phoolka says he rebuked Jha saying he was not interested in meeting Kishor. Following the conversation over the phone, Phoolka says he received an SMS from Jha that reads: Sir, it was only a request to meet Prashant Kishor and take your views and help him on Sikh justice issue to incorporate into their manifesto rather than anything else. Not about joining Congress, etc. I think my message was not conveyed in that way. My deep regards to you. Dr Bipin Jha. Phoolka says it was after this SMS that he decided to give his suggestions on the subject through the media. Reacting to Phoolkas expose, Jha on his Facebook page has written that he was trying to get in touch with Phoolka to talk on the issues facing Sikhs. The proposal was given at a personal level and the idea was to further discuss these issues with Congress leaders, he explains. I contacted Phoolka again after his video came out in which he was very sad. I wanted to tell him that in case he is not able to contribute through the AAP he should meet Prashant Kishor and discuss his issues with him so that he (Kishor) could help him, he writes. Uploading a selfie-video of Bipin Jha, Kishors company I-PAC tweeted: Please Google Dr Bipin Jha and Aam Aadmi Party to know the truth of HS Phoolkas claim of being approached by PK (Prashant Kishor). The video uploaded with the tweet shows Jha saying that he is proud to be in AAPs team. IPAC then followed this with another tweet that said: So one who apparently approached and who got approached are both from AAP. Sorry HS Phoolka but people are too smart to fall for this fixed match! Later, uploading Jhas Facebook reaction, IPAC demanded an unconditional apology from Phoolka for his allegations. Also read II Im small fry, go to Chhotepur for ticket: Phoolka video highlights cracks in AAP Where is AAP? Despite the fact that Phoolka is a senior AAP leader and has been putting out these claims for two days now, no leader of the AAP has spoken in support of Phoolka. However, his tweets and Facebook messages have been retweeted by some party workers. When contacted, Phoolka said his partys support was not needed. I have been fighting the Congress alone for 32 years. I dont need anyones help to carry the battle forward, he said. Who is Bipin Jha? Bipin Jha is a UK-based medical practitioner. His Facebook page has several pictures of his with a host of political leaders. These include not just AAP but also leaders of the Swaraj party. In a selfie video dated April 23, he says he is not with any political party but is supporting anyone who is doing good work in politics. Even though the UT municipal corporation is trying to make the city open-defecation free, 123 public toilets have been defunct for the past two years. Whats worse, power supply to 43 toilets has been snapped by the electricity department for non-payment of power bills for the past four months. At some places, shopkeepers are going inside the toilets after lighting candles. Surprisingly, the city bagged second position on the list of the cleanest cities in India. The rankings were based on a survey conducted by Quality Council of India, which is associated with the union urban development ministry. Gulshan Kumar, executive engineer and nodal officer for public toilets, said, We floated tenders and two companies applied, but there are some technical hitches, which we will discuss with the MC commissioner on Monday, he said, The toilets in Sectors 18, 19, 34, 35, 36 and 37 have leaking or dry faucets, poor or no water supply and overflowing pots. Some toilets that are functional have been occupied by rickshaw-pullers or labourers. Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman of Federation of Sectors Welfare Association (FOSWAC), said, It is a complete negligence on the part of the civic body as they are not taking the issue seriously. We feel ashamed when they talk of smart city. It is unfortunate that in the past two years the body has failed to maintain the toilets. We will write a letter to the MC commissioner to allow resident welfare associations to run the toilets, he said. Nominated councillor Surinder Bahga said, The matter has been discussed on several occasions but the MC has adopted a lackadaisical attitude. MC defensive over toilets In May, 2014, the MC decided to hand over the public toilets to market welfare associations, but didnt follow up on the decision. Again in July last year, they decided to maintain the toilets on their own, but failed to provide the manpower. In December last year, 40 banks came forward to run the public toilets under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but they backed out as terms and conditions were not to their liking. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BILLINGS, Mont. A 2-year-old child was rescued from the Yellowstone River on Friday morning, after the child and a 5-year-old sibling went missing from their home, said Capt. Bill Michaelis of the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office. The children were reported missing from a home in the 200 block of Buena Vista Avenue at 9:20 a.m. Their home sits about 30 yards away from the Heritage Trail and more than 300 yards from the river's edge. In addition to the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, an ambulance responded and a K-9 unit was brought in to assist with the search. The boys father had driven the childrens mother to work and when he returned, the children were gone. At about 9:43 a.m. Yellowstone County Sheriffs Deputy Adam Lauwers, having followed a bike trail to the river, spotted the two children along the river bank. At about that time, the 2-year-old fell in the river, Michaelis said. Lauwers jumped in and rescued the child. Im glad he risked himself jumping into the river, Michaelis said. The water in the river is about 40 degrees, he said. Were happy with how it turned out, Michaelis said. Neither child was injured in the incident, though Michaelis said the temperature conditions, had things turned out differently, could have resulted in hypothermia or worse. Sgt. Ryan Taylor with the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office said that Lauwers was wet up to his thighs after the rescue and that the child was mostly wet. Taylor said it's unclear how long the children were left unattended but that the incident is still under investigation. "He went in and saved the child's life," Taylor said of Lauwers. "Had he gone a different direction, it would have been a different outcome." Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday said his party would support Sehajdhari Sikhs in seeking a legal recourse against the act enacted by Parliament debarring them from voting in the SGPC election. He said this while addressing a public reception organised by Punjabi NRIs, Southern California, Los Angeles, on Sunday. This is the handiwork of the Badals and they want unopposed continuation of their stranglehold over the SGPC, Amarinder told NRIs. As an individual and a Sikh, he would support any party willing to defeat the Badals, he told the Punjabi diaspora. Punjab has been ruined during the 10-year misrule by the SAD-BJP and another five years of any misadventure would bring the state to its knees, making recovery impossible, he said. He slammed AAP convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for his extravagant advertising media campaigns in Punjab. Amarinder said he had never thought that a state that fed the entire country would come to the brink when its once-prosperous farmers would commit suicides. Reiterating his commitment to enact laws to put an end to the provision of auction of lands of debt-ridden farmers, he promised that if voted to power his government would find a solution to free farmers of their debts. Amarinder said he was in favour of introduction of reservation on economic basis for upper castes within the general category and without disturbing the existing arrangement for those already getting it. Read: HT Explainer: Whats behind excluding Sehajdharis from Sikh body polls? Read: Sukhbir calls on PM, thanks him for CCL, Sehajdhari law In a broad daylight dacoity in the heart of the city on Sunday, two men and a women, all in their 20s, looted a jewellery shop of Rs 14.08 crore in diamond and gold ornaments after locking up owners in a room at gunpoint. The shop, Forever Diamonds, which also goes by the name of Shiva Jewellers, adjoins an outlet of fast-food chain Hot Millions-2 in Sector 17-C and has other top hotels in its lane. Rajneesh Verma (40), the co-owner of the shop, said that the robbers, one of whom had ordered a Rs 3 lakh diamond ring on Saturday, entered the shop around noon. Shocked members of owners families. (Karun Sharma/HT) One of the miscreants insisted that the size of the ring be corrected as he needed it delivered right then. I sent a worker to Sector-35 to get the size corrected. Meanwhile they asked for a ring for the woman, Rajneesh has told the police. He added that as his brother, Vinod Verma, went to the strong-room to get the rings, one of the men put a revolver to his (Rajneeshs) head, asking for all valuables to be packed in a bag, they were carrying, and handed over to them. We were locked in a room adjacent to the strong-room. Finally, we broke open the door and informed the police around 12.45pm, Rajneesh said, adding that the miscreants passed on instructions in English, Punjabi and Hindi. Prima facie, it seems like a well-planned robbery. The robbers arrived before the jewellery and ornaments were put up for display and were still in the strong room. This made it easy for them to carry more booty far more quickly, said a police source. The robbery was over in a few minutes. CCTV cameras disabled Police said the hard-disk of the close-circuit television cameras (CCTV) was missing from the shop. Officials were scanning footage from neighbouring shops to get some leads. An official claimed that the trio was seen in a camera installed at the Ghazal Hotel, but the miscreants were yet to be identified. As part of their investigation, station house officer Udaypal Singh was questioning employees of the shop. A call centre functioning from the shop premises at night has also been asked to furnish details of all its employees. A case under Section 392 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under Sections 25-54-59 of the Arms Act has been registered against unidentified miscreants at the Sector-17 police station. Sketch being readied The sketches of the accused are being readied. Rajneesh has told the police that one of the men was dressed like an NRI and had spiky hair. The other was sporting a small beard, and the girl dressed in a traditional Indian suit. Contradictions emerge The police, however, said contradictions had emerged in the case, as the crime scene, the time of the robbery, and the time the police were informed did not add up. Most of the jewellery items were insured. We are checking records to find out the total loss, said a police source. Police officials said they were trying to reconstruct the crime scene to know the route used by the accused to escape from Sector 17. Devotees visiting Punjabs Golden Temple will now have free Wi-Fi internet access within the temple complex and its peripheral area. The service would not be available inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and the marbled area around the water pond, keeping religious ethics in view, Additional secretary of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Daljit Singh Bedi said in Amritsar on Sunday. The facility would be available in all nearby routes around the periphery of Golden Temple, besides all the guest-houses run by SGPC for pilgrims in the temple complex. He said wi-fi would also be functional in all the offices of SGPC and related offices of Golden Temple, besides Akal Takht. Bedi said the free wi-fi facility will be provided by Videocon. Gangster-cum-politician Jaswinder Singh Rocky, who was murdered at Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday morning, was cremated at his native village in Fazilka on Monday amid the presence of a large number of people and politicians. The body of Rocky, 39, reached his village Chuggian Kesar Singh, 4 km from Fazilka, on Sunday. The funeral procession started from the main market of Fazilka amid raising of pro-Rocky slogans and reached the village cremation ground. UP-based politician Dhananjay Singh, Congress leaders Hans Raj Josan and Mahinder Rinwa and some small-time Akali leaders attended the funeral. People grieved with Harminder Kaur, mother of the deceased, while Japmandeep Kaur, Rockys niece, lit the pyre. Rockys associates demanded stern action against the killers. Read: Driver identifies Jaipal as killer; police launch manhunt Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar said, Its a matter of concern as to how the Akali government had given gunmen to Rocky. The way mobiles and internet are easily accessible to criminals in jail speaks volumes about the state governments sincerity in dealing with them. I am engaged to Anjali, she lives near my home, will get married to her soon, says Salman, his eyes gleaming with pride. All fine, except that he is just 10. The Class-5 boy is one of more than 30 children at the primary school of Rawat village, 10 kilometres from Ludhiana, who are either engaged or married, out of a strength of 93. Even the grandson of the village sarpanch was married off at 14. The parents of these children are cobblers mostly or in straw-item making, scrap dealing, and farm labour. Child marriage is in their tradition, and children are thrown into it as soon as they turn five. In some cases, both husband and wife read in the same class. The village has more girls but many of them are school dropouts. Blame it on custom, poverty, insecurity, illiteracy, or the haste to see the wards settled down soon after they are born, but the villagers are okay with it. The marriages are never registered; it is always a small, informal, family affair. Nothing illegal about it, says Geeta, who got her nephew Karan (10) of Class 5 married off recently. The girl is brought home only after she turns 18. The poor villagers are Sirkiband caste people that migrated from Pakistan. We even marry off children as soon as they learn to take the first step. Its our tradition and we must keep it even if the law doesnt permit, says Geeta. Sunny, who runs a tyre-repair shop also was married at 10 and he brought home his wife when she turned 18. It reduced the burden on my parents, he said. Villager Darshan Singh said: The average age to get engaged is 5 or 6. The tradition, however, is now on the decline. My three children are engaged but we will marry them after they complete higher education. Another villager said this reform had come after the local authorities had raided one or two baraats. Child marriages are now fewer and organised in hiding, he said. Even in the neighbouring Khwajke, many of the students in Class 7 were married. Three days after a former sarpanch of Dhaipai village was let off by his kidnappers as his NRI brother paid Rs 30 lakh in ransom, the Ludhiana-rural police on Monday claimed to have cracked the case with the arrest of three men, including a cousin of the sarpanch who allegedly committed the crime after taking inspiration from a television series to be able to repay a debt. The police said they had also recovered nearly Rs 29 lakh of the ransom paid. Ranjeet Singh had been kidnapped on April 28 and let off the next day. While the police were told of the kidnap, they were not told about the ransom payment until the victim was back home. On Monday, addressing the media, Lok Nath Angra, inspector general of police (IGP), zone-2, Jalandhar, said Ranjeets cousin Mandeep Singh, 33, a resident of Pandori village near Mahal Kalan, was the mastermind. He was arrested along with namesake Mandeep Singh, 36, of Chhapa village in Barnala district, on Monday, while the third accused, Gurjant Singh, 23, also a resident of Pandori, had been arrested from Khamano on Sunday. Gurjant is pursuing BSc besides preparing for the mandatory English test to migrate abroad, while the victims cousin Mandeep has studied up to Class 9. The other Mandeep is reported to be Class-12 qualified but claimed to be a doctor. The trio arranged a Mahindra Scorpio SUV from a relative of Mandeep (the victims cousin), and also had a revolver. The other Mandeep gave injections and used chloroform to make Ranjeet unconscious. He was kept near a pump room near some farmland that his NRI brother Hardeep Singh had recently sold off, said the IGP. They called Hardeep from Ranjeets phone and asked for a ransom of Rs 1.5 crore. Eventually, the deal was struck at Rs 30 lakh, which Hardeeps local manager Baljeet Singh handed over; after which Ranjeet was released, he added. The police have recovered Rs 10 lakh, the Scorpio vehicle (CH-55-E-0833) from victims cousin Mandeep; Rs 9.45 lakh and a motorcycle from Gurjant; and Rs 9.45 lakh from the other Mandeep. We are investigating further and will soon recover the revolver used too, said Angra. Upinderjit Singh Ghuman, senior superintendent of police, Ludhiana-rural, said that the victims family did not inform the cops as they were trying to get him released first. We came to know that family had given the ransom from the victim after he was released, he added. Constable Harpreet Singh was rewarded with Rs 50,000 for his role in cracking the case. Learnt it from TV series During investigation, the three men stated that before committing the crime they had thoroughly studied kidnapping cases from various crime series on television. They carefully studied what tricks police use to catch the criminals and what faults kidnappers commit, said IGP Lok Nath Angra. Two armed men on Sunday robbed a rice broker of Rs 22 lakh on the pretext that his son was in their custody and they would kill him. The incident happened when the victim was in his office at Kaleke road here. The victim, Rajinder Bansal of Baghapurana, in his first information report (FIR) said that he was in his office when two people barged in and put a gun to his head and demanded cash. Robbers threatened me that my son Money was in their custody and would kill him if I dont give them the cash, he stated. Bansal said that he gave them the keys of the locker from where they looted the money and fled from the spot after locking him in the office. He stated that only after the incident he got to know his son was not in their custody and they had narrated a false story of kidnapping. The police said that they were investigating the incident from various angles and soon the robbers would be arrested. We have one CCTV footage from nearby office but no clue has been found so far, he said. Meanwhile, the case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Baghapurana police station. Gangster Jaipal Singh has emerged as the prime suspect in the murder of his rival Jaswinder Singh Rocky, who was shot dead on Saturday at Parwanoo. Police said Rockys driver Parampal Singh alias Pala has identified Jaipal as the person who pulled the trigger, after he was shown picture of the suspect. Who was Rocky? Gangster-politician drove in fast lane of infamy From investigations, it appears that Jaipal was the one who pulled the trigger on Rocky, said a cop. Jaipal heads a gang of highway robbers and is facing about 40 cases of different nature, including murder, kidnapping and robbery. His gang mainly operates in Haryana, Jammu and Rajasthan. Jaipal is said to have owned the responsibility of killing Rocky on a Facebook account and the police are verifying the authenticity of the account. Rocky vs Sekhon: Old gang rivalry to fore again Police investigations suggest that after committing the crime, Jaipal and his accomplice Tirath fled to Rajasthan. The Himachal Police is in touch with its counterparts in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to trace Jaipal, an associate of gangster Gurshahid Singh alias Shera Khubban, who was killed in a police encounter in September 2012. Son of a Punjab Police inspector, Jaipal is also wanted for the murder of a policeman in Ajmer. Circumstantial evidence suggests that it was a well-planned crime, said a cop. There are leads that Jaipal had come to Kasuali a day in advance and waited for Rocky to arrive in Solan. Gangster-politician Rocky killed: Rivals celebrate revenge on Facebook It appears that the number plates of the white Mahindra Xylo SUV that the killers were travelling in were changed frequently to avoid identification, said a police official. Solan superintendent of police Anjum Ara declined to share details, saying it could affect the investigation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Cracking whip on tax evaders, Ludhiana police department have busted a multi-crore rupees bogus billing scam with the arrest of three persons, including owners of two Shimlapuri-based private companies and a techie. Deputy commissioner of police Dhruman Nimbale said, The accused have been identified as Manoj, owner of Pinky Garments Shimlapuri; Manish, owner of Jai Shree Ram Knitwear, who prepared fake bills; and Prince, a techie who hacked passwords and Tax Identification Number (TIN) numbers of other firms for duping the excise department of crores of rupees. The three hacked passwords of other firms with the help of a techie, forged bills and sought value-added tax (VAT) return of more than Rs 10 crore from the excise department. The accused were running two fake companies (unregistered), Nimbale said. Police said they were also investigating whether any insider of the excise department was involved as such a scam could not be executed without any insiders involvement. The accused have been booked under Section 66-C (Punishment for identity theft, fraudulently use password or any other unique identification feature of any other person or firm) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, and Sections 65 (tampering with computer source documents), 379 (theft), 419 (cheating by impersonation) and 420 (cheating inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We are still in the process of investigation and have detained all three accused. Considering the volume of the scam, there are firm chances of bigger names from business circles in Ludhiana cropping up later, said a police official. Division Number 8 station house officer (SHO) Gaurav Toora said, After getting a tip-off, policed started investigation in the case around 25 days ago. We got some clues on April 16 and pursued the matter seriously. First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged in the case and accused have been detained at Shimlapuri police station. It was a clear-cut case of VAT evasion where the accused had forged bills and sought VAT return to the tune of more than Rs 10 crore for the past many years. The investigation is still on and there are possibilities of involvement of chartered accountants in the case. Deputy excise and taxation commissioner (DETC) LK Jain said, This particular case is not in my knowledge. But, there are a number of firms that often indulge in bogus billing scams. We keep a check on such firms through our assistant excise and taxation commissioners of the respective areas. I will check with the area official concerned and take necessary action against the party involved. The local civil hospital, which sees a heavy footfall of patients on a daily basis, is poorly equipped to prevent any fire emergency. The fire-fighting system is in tatters at the hospital. Hosepipes are missing from the fire-fighting equipment at the entrance. The situation has been the same for a long time. In some parts of the hospital, sand is missing from buckets installed to douse flames the traditional way. The existing fire extinguishers are not adequate in number, putting a question mark on whether they would be enough to avert any untoward situation. Mangat Ram, a visitor to the hospital, said, Concrete steps should be taken to ensure safety of patients. Fire-safety is a basic facility that should have been ensured at the hospital. Missing fire-fighting equipment at the civil hospital. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo) As if neglecting safety of patients, their attendants and doctors is not enough, the hospital authorities are not even caring about their convenience. Elevators in the old building do not function properly, and people have to take the stairs or the ramp to reach wards and departments on upper floors. Daljit Singh, who was accompanying a patient to the civil hospital, said: The hospital should pay special attention to providing basic facilities, such as functional elevators, to patients. Also, mock drills should be conducted for fire-safety. Senior medical officer Rajindra Arora said: We have sent a request to the authorities concerned for upgrading the fire-safety equipment. Elevators in the new building are functioning, and we will repair the ones in the other building as well. Danielle Ta'Sheena Finn, 25, of Porcupine, was crowned Miss Indian World 2016 on Saturday at the 33rd Annual Gathering of Nations held at Albuquerque, N.M. It is the most prominent Native American pow wow in the world, said organizers. She was the first enrolled member of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the five tribes from North Dakota to win the title. "It's amazing. ... It doesn't feel real," said Finn. "The girls there were so smart and so great, I didn't think I'd win. It's exciting." She said after winning two categories -- public speaking and best personal interview -- though, she "thought my name could be called." She said there were 20,000 people attending the event at the University of New Mexico, but millions others were watching from all over the world via social media. Finn received the honor out of 24 Native American women representing their different tribes and traditions. Her platform was suicide prevention, higher education and language preservation. She said she will promote those issues when she makes public appearances at multiple venues. Through next April, Finn will travel as Miss Indian World to different native and indigenous communities around the world. Finn particularly wants to relay her platform to schools and community events. "Suicide is the second leading cause of death for our people. I want them to know 'you are extremely important for yourself and your nation.'" Her responsibilities are just starting to sink in. Organizers have let her know what her role is, telling Finn she is one of the "biggest voices of the Indian World." Contestants competed based on their tribal knowledge, dancing ability, public speaking and personality assessment. Finn found the competition an enriching experience. The young women would share their cultures between breaks at the event. One of the other women informed her they didn't sew on Sundays because it was bad luck. Finn during the competitions shared a story and song of the penny dress. She made her own dress adorned with 500 pennies. Lakota women of the early 1900s wore such dresses to symbolize two worlds: Native and Non-Native. Finn also performed a women's northern traditional dance in a buckskin dress. She is attending the Arizona State University College of Law. Finn was allowed by the university to defer her exams during the competition. She will take those exams this week and graduate with her law degree in the fall. "They are working around my schedule," Finn said, noting the event organizers place a high value on education. "She will travel the world, educating others about tribal and cultural traditions, and bring together native and indigenous people," said Melonie Mathews, coordinator of the Miss Indian World Pageant. Finn is a graduate of Century High School in Bismarck, and grew up both in Porcupine and the Bismarck area. Finn is the daughter of Brenda One Hawk Finn and John E. Finn. As Miss Indian World, she will represent all native and indigenous people as a cultural goodwill ambassador for one year. "I want to inspire people to believe in themselves and go after the dreams they always wanted," she said. Shiv Sena (Hindustan) on Sunday announced suspension of its district in-charge Deepak Kamboj, 35, who is in the dock for orchestrating an attack on himself on February 16. The organisation has formed a three-member committee to probe the matter in 15 days. Addressing a press conference, the outfits national president Pawan Kumar Gupta said that if committee found Deepak guilty, he would be expelled from the party. Attack orchestrated on self: Police withdraw security to Shiv Sena leader Gupta, however, said they will meet chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora on May 5, seeking a high-level probe to bring out the truth. He said they will raise some points, which needed in-depth investigations. Gupta also cast aspersions on the motive of some Sikh bodies, which were demanding registration of a case against Deepaks father Vinay Jalandhari, who is outfits national vice-president. Gupta said Deepak and his father joined Shiv Sena (Hindustan) only after the February attack after quitting Shiv Sena (Uttar Bharat). Deepaks father Vinay who was also present at the press conference refuted the allegations against his son, saying Deepak is not able to walk properly due to the bullet injury. Earlier, the police had claimed that to gain publicity and maximum security cover, Deepak got himself injured by asking his two friends to fire at him. Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday cautioned the NRI community against letting the Akali-BJP combine to return to power in Punjab where assembly polls are due early next year. Let me caution you that any vote for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will mean supporting the Akalis, Amarinder, who is on the US tour these days, said in a statement. In 2012, people voted in anger against Akalis for Manpreet Badal and eventually ended up bringing Akalis back to power. Please do not repeat the past mistakes and get carried away by false propaganda, he appealed to the NRIs. Amarinder said it was not the right time to making experiments and that too with those who dont have any experience. NRI delegations from the United States and Canada met Amarinder during his three-day stay in Los Angeles, claimed the release. Want a peaceful vacation amid scenic environs, away from the irritants of mass tourism? We know how it feels to go to a place that has been visited by everyone you know (and dont know). So here we suggest you five alternative hot-spots for a holiday off the beaten track. Bulgaria Veliko Tarnovo in central Bulgaria. (Istock) Like Croatia used to be years ago, Bulgaria is the latest up-and-coming destination in Eastern Europe. Tourists can still enjoy low prices with a bit of savvy planning. A flight to the capital, Sofia, shouldnt break the bank, especially since budget airlines now operate routes from some European cities. Plus, hotel prices are still competitive, which is no doubt why this destinations profile is on the up. With visitor numbers rising year on year, Bulgaria is a once-hidden gem thats well on its way to being discovered. The country offers postcard-perfect landscapes for holidaymakers thanks to Black Sea beaches and a patchwork of typical Balkan villages. Its great for mountain walks and hiking, and offers very pleasant summer temperatures of around 27C. Its sure to be a hit with travelers with a taste for countries like Croatia, Montenegro and Albania. Check out this discreet destination soon as it wont stay secret for much longer. Iran Nasir al-Mulk mosque in Chiraz, Iran. (Istock) International relations with Iran have warmed since last years signing of a nuclear deal. Major airlines are reopening routes to Tehran and international hotel groups are returning to the country as tourists head back to Iran to discover its rich culture and history. While visitors can take in modern Iran in the capital, Tehran, Ispahan makes a great stop on any trip to the country, with stunning sights such as the Sheikh Lotfollah mosque and the Ali Qapu palace. Persepolis is a must for anyone with an interest in history, and budding photographers will love the dazzling colored mosaics of the Nasir al-Mulk mosque in Chiraz. Abkhazia Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia. (Istock) The Black Sea is a seriously hot destination in the travel world right now. On its eastern shore, Abkhazia awaits tourists curious to discover this little-known region between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea. Although technically in Georgia, Abkhazia considers itself an independent state. Its a popular summer destination with Russians, especially in the capital, Soukhoumi, where visitors can enjoy beaches and historical visits. Abkhazia will also please travelers with a taste for nature and the great outdoors thanks to its many mountains and caves, including Krubera Cave, the deepest known on Earth. Cuba Valle De Vinales in Cuba. (Istock) Cuba is a destination on plenty of holidaymakers lips right now. The recent thaw in US relations and Barack Obamas visit back in March have given Cubas tourism industry a serious boost. For a long time, travelers were drawn to the islands image as a nostalgic 1950s time warp, but a huge influx of tourists could see the Republic lose its authenticity. Dont wait too long if you hope to catch a glimpse of the famous Cuban cars, take a peaceful dip in the crystal-clear waters of Maria La Gorda, or wander through Havanas picturesque old town without fighting the hordes. Catch a glimpse of the colorful colonial houses of Trinidad de Cuba before the tourists arrive en masse, and make the most of the many salsa and rumba dance classes and traditional casa particular homestays before theyre overrun. Transylvania Mountainous landscapes in Transylvania. (Istock) Back in Eastern Europe, Transylvania has made its way onto Lonely Planets Best in Travel list of must-visit destinations for 2016. In fact, this region of Romania is the hottest destination of the year, according to the British guide. Situated in the center-west of Romania, Transylvania is a new alternative destination for nature-lovers thanks to its lush, green surroundings and natural border with the Carpathian mountain range. A popular cultural excursion takes visitors in search of Transylvanias legendary Count Dracula. Although its an area rich in castles, Transylvania is best known for Bran Castle, the mythical residence of Bram Stokers fictional vampire. Transylvanian architecture and landscapes give a distinctly Game of Thrones slant to the surroundings, scattered with baroque-style villages like Cluj-Napoca. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more. Republican front-runner Donald Trumps foreign policy will lead to another terrorist attack on the scale of the September 11, 2011 attacks, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham said. Asked on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday about former House speaker John Boehners comments in support of Trump, Graham said they were evidence of a Republican civil war, adding that it was important to defeat Trump because his foreign policy is dangerous. Theres a civil war going on in the Republican Party, obviously. John and I are very close friends, but hes embracing Donald Trump, and I am not. Why? Because I believe Donald Trumps foreign policy is isolationism. It will lead to another 9/11. Graham, a former presidential hopeful himself who endorsed Texas senator Ted Cruz in March, said Tuesdays primary in Indiana is a big test for the anti-Trump movement but that Cruz should stay in the race through the end of the primaries regardless. Im advising Ted, go to the last vote, he said, adding Trumps gotten 40% of the popular vote. That doesnt give you 1,237 delegates. I think you could still stop, even if you lose in Indiana. In a reference to Boehners description of Cruz as Lucifer in the flesh, Graham used the metaphor to say that Trumps brand of politics will get creamed at the ballot box in November. Theres been a lot of talk about Lucifer. I think Lucifer may be the only person Trump could beat in a general election, Graham said, adding But when it comes women and Hispanics, Trump polls like Lucifer. Trump tweeted saying he had watched Grahams interview, and was not impressed. I watched Senator Graham @FaceTheNation. Why dont they say that I ran him out of the race like a little boy, and in the end he had no support? The CIA marked the fifth anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden by live-tweeting the raid by US special forces on the Al Qaeda founders compound in Pakistan as if it were happening on Monday. A series of 13 tweets with the hashtag #UBLRaid summed up the raid on the walled compound located a short distance from the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad but provided very little new information, except for possibly the first confirmation of the exact time of bin Ladens death. To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. #UBLRaid, @CIA said while announcing the tweets. 1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The tweets included the famous picture of President Barack Obama and other US officials watching matters unfold from the White Houses Situation Room. 3:30 pm EDT - @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed #UBLRaid, said the tweet which gave the time of bin Ladens death. This tweet garnered the maximum retweets more than 3,000. 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 With 1.33 million followers on Twitter, the Central Intelligence Agency has put out 1,662 tweets since it joined the platform in February 2014. The accounts bio states: We are the Nations first line of defense. We accomplish what others cannot accomplish and go where others cannot go. Shortly before the tweets on the bin Laden raid, CIA chief John Brennan said taking out Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State, would have a great impact. He also warned that Al Qaeda remained a threat, and that the IS was not just an organisation but a phenomenon. We have destroyed a large part of Al Qaeda. Its not completely eliminated. So we have to stay focused on what it can do, Brennan told NBCs Meet the Press talk show. Now, with the new phenomenon of (IS), this is going to challenge us for years to come. Asked if removing al-Baghdadi from action was as important as the Bin Laden operation, Brennan, who does not often do interviews, was direct. If we got Baghdadi, I think it would have a great impact on the organisation. And it will be felt by them, he said. (With inputs from agencies) Passengers set sail on Sunday from Miami on a historic cruise to Cuba, the first in decades to depart from a US seaport for the communist island nation. Carnival Corps 704-passenger Adonia left port at 4:24pm, bound for Havana. Carnivals Cuba cruises, operating under its Fathom brand, will also visit the ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba on the seven-day outing. Several Cuba-born passengers, among hundreds of others, were aboard, it said. The cruise comes after Cuba loosened its policy banning Cuban-born people from arriving to the country by sea, a rule that threatened to stop the cruises from happening. Restarting the cruises was an important element of a bid by President Barack Obamas administrations to increase tourism to Cuba after the December 17, 2014, decision to restore diplomatic relations and move toward normalisation. The most recent such cruise, from another US port, was in 1978. When it first announced the cruises, Carnival said it would bar Cuban-born passengers due to the governments policy. But the Cuban-American community in Miami complained and filed a discrimination lawsuit in response. After that, the company said it would only sail to Cuba if the policy changed, which Cuba did on April 22. Carnival said the Adonia will cruise every other week from Miami to Cuba. Bookings will start at $1,800 per person and feature an array of cultural and educational activities, including Spanish lessons, Carnivals website says. Seventy-three-year-old passenger Rick Schneider told The Sun-Sentinel that he had waited decades for the chance to make the journey. He bought a Cuban flag for the occasion, which he waved from the deck at protesters who opposed the cruises. He said he once passed up taking a ferry trip to Cuba in 1957, adding the time is now. The cruise is among the many changes in US-Cuban relations since a thaw between the former Cold War foes began in late 2014. The thaw also led to a historic, two-day trip to Cuba in March by Obama, who met with Cuban counterpart Raul Castro and others. The Cuban government says the shift in policy removes prohibitions enacted when Cuban exiles were launching attacks by sea after the first Cuban revolution. On Sunday, Arnold Donald, Carnivals president and CEO, said the company worked and prepared to make the cruises a reality despite the challenges. Times of change often bring out emotions and clearly the histories here are very emotional for a number of people, Donald told reporters. The Miami Herald reported that a boat carrying some activists protesting the trip to Cuba was nearby in Florida waters before the ships departure on Sunday. The report said the boat pulled away before the Adonia set sail with an expected Monday arrival in Havana. Mary Olive Reinhart, a retired parks service ranger, told the paper that she and some friends from the Philadelphia area were drawn to the voyage by the adventure of it all. The Fathom brand said on its website that the trip was authorised under current people-to-people travel guidelines of the US government and would include meetings with artists, musicians, business owners and families along with Cuban shore excursions to traditional sites. Its exciting to go places where were forbidden. For me, I want to be at home in the world the whole world, she added. The first US cruise ship in nearly 40 years crossed the Florida Straits from Miami and docked in Havana on Monday, restarting commercial travel on waters that served as a stage for a half-century of Cold War hostility. Carnival Cruise Lines gleaming white 704-passenger Adonia became the first US cruise ship in Havana since President Jimmy Carter eliminated virtually all restrictions of US travel to Cuba in the late 1970s. Travel limits were restored after Carter left office and US cruises to Cuba only become possible again after Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro declared detente on Dec 17, 2014. People take photos as Adonia leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba. (AP) The Adonias arrival is the first step toward a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most US-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. The straits were blocked by the US during the Cuban Missile Crisis and tens of thousands of Cubans have fled across them to Florida on homemade rafts with untold thousands dying in the process. The number of Cubans trying to cross the straits is at its highest point in eight years and cruises and merchant ships regularly rescue rafters from the straits. The Adonia is one of Carnivals smaller ships roughly half the size of some larger European vessels that already dock in Havana but US cruises are expected to bring Cuba tens of millions of dollars in badly needed foreign hard currency if traffic increases as expected. A member of the police directs a police dog as they sweep the restricted area near Carnival Corp.'s Adonia before it leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba. (AP) More than a dozen lines have announced plans to run US-Cuba cruises and if all actually begin operations Cuba could earn more than $80 million a year, according to the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council said in a report Monday. Most of the money goes directly to the Cuban government, council head John Kavulich said. He estimated that the cruise companies pay the government $500,000 per cruise, while passengers spend about $100 person in each city they visit. Carnival says the Adonia will cruise twice a month from Miami to Havana, where it will start a $1,800 per person seven-day circuit of Cuba with stops in the cities of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. People waving Cuban flags greet passengers on Carnival's Adonia cruise ship as they arrive from Miami in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. (AP) The trips include on-board workshops on Cuban history and culture and tours of the cities that make them qualify as people-to-people educational travel, avoiding a ban on pure tourism that remains part of US law. Optional activities for the Adonias passengers include a walking tour of Old Havanas colonial plazas and a $219 per person trip to the Tropicana cabaret in a classic car. Before the 1959 Cuban revolution, cruise ships regularly travelled from the US to Cuba, with elegant Caribbean cruises departing from New York and $42 overnight weekend jaunts leaving twice a week from Miami, said Michael L. Grace, an amateur cruise ship historian. Rick Schneider of Delray Beach waves a Cuban flag onboard the Adonia as the ship leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba. (AP) New York cruises featured dressy dinners, movies, dancing and betting on horse races in which steward dragged wooden horses around a ballroom track according to rolls of dice that determined how many feet each could move per turn. The United Fruit company operated once-a-week cruise service out of New Orleans, too, he said. Cuba was a very big destination for Americans, just enormous, he said. Cruises dwindled in the years leading up to the Cuban Revolution and ended entirely after Castro overthrew the US-backed government. The protest boat "Democracia" sails pass Carnival Corp.'s Adonia before it leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba. (AP) After Carter dropped limits on Cuba travel, 400 passengers, including musical legend Dizzy Gillespie sailed from New Orleans to Cuba on a 1977 Jazz Cruise aboard the MS Daphne. Like the Adonia, it sailed despite dockside protests by Cuban exiles, and continued protests and bomb threats forced Carras Cruises to cancel additional sailings, Grace said. The following year, however, Daphne made a several cruises from New Orleans to Cuba and other destinations in the Caribbean. Cuba cut back on all cruise tourism in 2005, ending a joint venture with Italian terminal management company Silares Terminales del Caribe and Fidel Castro blasted cruise ships during a 4 hour speech on state television. Floating hotels come, floating restaurants, floating theaters, floating diversions visit countries to leave their trash, their empty cans and papers for a few miserable cents, Castro said. A woman from Cuba waves Adonia leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba. After a half-century of waiting, passengers finally set sail on Sunday from Miami on an historic cruise to Cuba. (AP) Today, the Cuban government sees cruises as an easy source of revenue that can bring thousands more American travelers without placing additional demand on the countrys maxed-out food supplies and overbooked hotels. Before detente, Americans made surreptitious yacht trips to Cuba during Caribbean vacations and the number of Americans coming by boat has climbed since 2014, including passengers on cruise ships registered in third countries and sailing from other ports in the Caribbean. Traffic remains low, however, for a major tourist attraction only 90 miles (145 kilometers) from Florida. Aiming to change that as part of a policy of diplomatic and economic normalization, Obama approved US cruises to Cuba in 2015. The Doral, Florida-based Carnival Cruise Line announced during Obamas historic trip to Cuba in March that it would begin cruises to Cuba starting May 1. Unexpected trouble arose after Cuban-Americans in Miami began complaining that Cuban rules barred them from traveling to the country of their birth by ship. As Carnival considered delaying the first sailing, Cuba announced April 22 it was changing the rule to allow Cubans and Cuban-Americans to travel on cruise ships, merchant vessels and, sometime in the future, yachts and other private boats. Cuban soldiers watch the Carnival Adonia cruise ship arrive from Miami, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 2, 2016. (AP) Norwegian Cruise Line says it is in negotiations with Cuban authorities and hopes to begin cruises from the US to Cuba this year. Cruise traffic is key to the Cuban governments reengineering of the industrial Port of Havana as a tourist attraction. After decades of treating the more than 500-year-old bay as a receptacle for industrial waste, the government is moving container traffic to the Port of Mariel west of the city, tearing out abandoned buildings and slowly renovating decrepit warehouses as breweries and museums connected by waterfront promenades. Cruise dockings will be limited by the ports single cruise terminal, which can handle two ships at a time. India has tightened visa controls for Afghan nationals because of concerns over Afghan passports being found in the possession of citizens of countries neighbouring Afghanistan, foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani has said. He made the remarks after the Meshrano Jirga, or upper house of parliament, summoned him on Sunday to explain visa restrictions imposed by India for Afghan nationals, according to reports in the Afghan media. Rabbani did not name the countries whose citizens had obtained Afghan passports. However, Afghan media reports quoted senators as saying that the move was linked to Indian concerns about Pakistan. The minister of foreign affairs was directly hinting at Pakistan, Asef Sediqi, a senator, was quoted as saying by Tolo News. The senators said they believed India had taken the step to prevent the entry of militants. Regional countries are concerned that suspected militants of Daesh, Taliban and other terrorist groups might enter into their countries from Afghanistan, said Gulalai Akbari, another senator. Rabbani said India is concerned over the easy access to Afghan passports by nationals of neighbouring countries and has urged (the Afghan) government to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, Afghan passports have been seen with citizens of other countries, which is a matter of concern for the Indian embassy in Kabul, he said. Under the new rules, he said Afghans applying for Indian visas have to provide a bank statement and those going to India for medical treatment should present a report from a doctor stating that they cannot be treated in Afghanistan, Rabbani said. This comes months after Afghan citizens faced similar restrictions in obtaining visas from the United Arab Emirates. The issue with UAE also emerged because of concerns that the citizens of other countries had misused Afghan passports, the media reports said. Hundreds of Afghans travel to India every year to meet relatives staying in the country and for medical treatment. British Indian Siddhartha Dhar is known as the new Jihadi John, but a Yazidi teenager who escaped from the Islamic State after being held as a sex slave insists he is Abu Dhar, one of the senior commanders of the terror group. In a British Muslim TV documentary scheduled for Monday evening, Nihad Barakat says she was kidnapped and trafficked by Dhar, also known as Abu Rumaysah. Dhar, a Londoner, is said to have travelled to Syria with his wife and children in 2014. Documentary presenter Joseph Hayat told The Independent he was very confident Barakat knew who she was talking about: From the information I have, Dhar is deemed a leader in Mosul now, and she was very insistent on that name. We asked her later if these were foreigners or ordinary Iraqis and she said they were foreigners. When we showed her pictures of Siddhartha Dhar she recognised them but went very cold. She didnt want to go further and got very agitated. According to Barakat, Dhar has taken a number of Yazidi sex slaves for himself, and played a key role in the capture and trafficking that led to her becoming pregnant with another IS fighters baby. Read: Suspected New Jihadi John Dhar praises Hitler in Islamic State video Barakat was 16 when she and 27 members of her family were kidnapped by IS fighters after the fall of Sinjar in Iraq two years ago. She said the first man she was forced to marry was Australian extremist Abdul Salam Mahmoud. Describing her capture to Hayat, she said: The Isis leaders told us we had to convert to Islam or we will be killed. They separated us into three groups, men, married women and single women, then took the single women and girls to Mosul. Sometimes they would come and take girls for their pleasure. They did everything to the girls. She added, When I was captured near Kirkuk, they took me to another leader from Mosul. His name was Abu DharHe also took Yazidi girls for himself. Every day he would tell me that I had to marry another man. The newspaper reported, It is difficult to verify that the Abu Dhar who kidnapped Barakat is the same man as the most-wanted British jihadi. As well as Dhars legal name and his kunya or nickname Abu Rumaysah, he has also gone by the name Saiful Islam since his conversion in his late teens. Barakat, now 17, reportedly works to raise awareness of her peoples plight with British-based AMAR foundation that runs facilities at Khanke refugee camp in northern Iraq, where she lives with her mother, father and siblings. Two of her sisters and two brothers are still held captive by the IS, the report said. The Indiana Republican primary on Tuesday is really a contest between Donald Trump and those campaigning to stop him, the Never Trump zealots. And Trump has the upper hand for now. A defeat in this midwestern state, experts and analysts said, will break the back of the Never Trump movement, clearing the path for the frontrunner to secure the nomination. In the Democratic race, which is not receiving half as much action, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders in polls by 50% to 43.2% and is expected to extend her lead in delegates.. But Sanders, whose campaign announced countrywide layoffs recently, is not giving up, and has predicted a contested convention, hoping to deny Clinton a clear majority. Its the Republican race to the nomination, however, that has captivated media, experts and voters, with a growing sense of inevitability in the party resignation about Trump. The real-estate mogul is leading Cruz, his main challenger for the nomination, by 15 points in Indiana, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll published on Sunday. In the RealClearPolitics average of polls, Trumps lead is narrower but still outside the margin-of-error range, 41.6% to 33.8%. John Kasich is third with 17.2%. Cruz and Kasich had joined hands to stop Trump in Indiana and the primaries in Oregon and New Mexico by getting out of the way of each, turning them into one-on-one contests. The Republican front-runner is believed to be vulnerable in such situations, but thats a largely an untested proposition. In polls at least, Trump continues to lead in those states. Can Cruz and Kasich transfer their voters, to gang up on Trump? Thats another untested variable. Meanwhile, Cruzs hold over the ground-game, to gather delegates, is wearing thin. The New York Times reported on Monday that after a string of recent defeats, Cruzs support among delegates is softening, threatening his hopes of preventing Trumps nomination. The Times attributed it to a larger shift taking place in the Republican party, brought on by Trumps wins and a desire to move on and unite behind someone for the general election. The never in the Never Trump movement, the Times report concluded, is beginning to look more like a reluctantly. There is still some way to go for For Trump. The Washington Post reported indications of trouble for the Cruz campaign, stemming mostly from enduring misgivings about Cruz as a candidate, some of it prompted by Trump. The report quoted a Cruz campaign volunteer who makes phone calls for the candidate as saying that most voters are concerned with the nickname hes been given Lyin Ted. It was a brutal killing that became an international incident: An Italian graduate student disappeared from the streets of the Egyptian capital in January, his body discovered days later dumped by a roadside, tortured to death. The death of Guilio Regeni quickly poisoned ties between Egypt and Italy, where suspicions were high that the Egyptian police - who have long been accused of using torture and secret detentions - snatched the 28-year-old and killed him. Egyptian officials - as high up as the president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, in a national address - have denied any police role, but in the months since the slayings, the Italian government has hiked the pressure for answers. Then in March came a surprise twist. Egyptian police announced they had killed a gang of five Egyptian men they said specialized in kidnapping and robbing foreigners and, while searching the gang leaders sisters home, came upon Regenis passport. Government media proclaimed that Regenis killers had been found. The claim was immediately dismissed by Italian officials as not credible, with some Italian media calling it an outright cover-up. Even the editor-in-chief of Egypts top government newspaper, Al-Ahram, wrote that Egyptian authorities had to get serious about uncovering the truth and that such naive stories about Regenis death were only hurting the country. Now accounts from witnesses and family members interviewed by The Associated Press raise further questions about the official version of the March 24 shooting in a wealthy suburban enclave outside Cairo. The Interior Ministry said security forces hunting for the gang stopped their minibus and the men opened fire on them, prompting a gunbattle in which all five were killed. But witnesses say the men were unarmed and tried to flee as police fired on them, and that afterward police confiscated footage from security cameras near the scene. The mens relatives say they were house painters merely heading to a job in the suburb, Tagammu al-Khamis, when they were killed. I am accusing the Interior Ministry of trying to cover-up their wrong deeds by killing my family, said Rasha Tareq Saad, whose husband, brother and father were among those killed. I want my familys rights. The AP spoke to six witnesses in Tagammu al-Khamis as well as six relatives and lawyers of the slain men. No video footage from the shooting has emerged, so their accounts could not be independently verified. A number of other family members have been arrested, and their lawyers say they have not been allowed to see investigators reports on the shooting. Asked about their accounts, Interior Ministry spokesman Abu Bakr Abdel-Karim said he was not authorized to comment and referred questions to the prosecutor-general investigating the case. Repeated calls to the prosecutor-generals office went unanswered. A series of visits to the forensic agency, security headquarters in Cairo and the Tagammu al-Khamis police station were also unfruitful: Officers and prosecutors refused to speak to the AP. The shooting adds a new layer to the mystery surrounding Regenis slaying. The Italian Ph.D. student vanished after leaving his apartment on Jan. 25, the anniversary of the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak. It was a tense day: Police were out in force to prevent demonstrations commemorating the day, and in the preceding days dozens of activists had been arrested. Regeni had been researching the labor movement, a sensitive subject in Egypt since labor activists are frequently protest organizers, and security agents are known to monitor activities by foreign researchers. The Interior Ministry has denied that police detained Regeni, and authorities have offered various possible scenarios for his death, including a personal dispute or a robbery. The day Regenis body was found a top police official said he died in a car accident, until investigators reported the extensive signs of torture, including cigarette burns, broken bones and bruises from beatings. The announcement about the gang is the closest that authorities have come to an explanation for Regenis slaying. However, since the Italian reaction - including Rome withdrawing its ambassador from Cairo - Egyptian officials have avoided claiming the culprits have been found. In a speech this month, el-Sissi angrily rejected accusations that police were behind the Italians death but he made no mention of any gang involvement. Abdel-Karim, the Interior Ministry spokesman, has said the gang was a new variable but that Regenis death was still under investigation. There has been no explanation of how the men allegedly obtained Regenis passport if they were not his killers. Two witnesses told the AP the five men were not armed. They said seven police vehicles surrounded the minibus they were riding in and opened fire on it around 6 a.m. As police sprayed the vehicle with bullets, several men jumped out and ran, only to be gunned down in cold blood, one of the witnesses said. Afterward, police confiscated footage from security cameras at nearby houses, said the two witnesses as well as four others who saw the aftermath of the shooting. The bodies were left in the street for around 10 hours, the witnesses said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The slain men included three members of a single family - 62-year-old Tareq Saad, his son Saad and his son-in-law Salah Ali - along with a family friend, Mustafa Bakr and the minibus driver, 26-year-old Ibrahim Farouk. Announcing their deaths, the Interior Ministry said the five had criminal records and claimed their gang had been posing as policemen to abduct and rob foreigners. It listed a string of nine robberies in the past months they were allegedly involved in - though none of the cases were listed as involving kidnappings. Their relatives acknowledge all except the younger Saad had past offenses but nothing involving theft. Tareq Saad and Ali were jailed for two years in the mid-2000s for impersonating police officers, after they were arrested at a checkpoint for carrying a police ID card, said Tareq Saads son, Sameh. Later, he said, the two were jailed for drug possession. Bakr served 15 years in prison for drug offenses, according to his ex-wifes uncle, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Rasha Saad, Alis wife and Tareq Saads daughter, said police were well acquainted with the family and often raided their homes in the lower-class Cairo district of Shubra al-Kheima after the mens release from prison. She said her husband was a house painter and got a call from a client to paint a villa in Tagammu al-Khamis, and she showed the AP photos of past jobs hed done. She said she suspected her husband was secretly having an affair so she asked her father and brother to go with him, along with Bakr, a friend of her father. Sameh Saad, who went to the morgue with his sister to identify the bodies, said he was shocked by the injuries. All five were riddled with bullet wounds and the heads were blown up so much you could see the bones of the skull, he said. Later that day, police searched the house of one of Tareq Saads sisters and said they found Regenis passport, his university ID and other items in a bag decorated with the Italian flag. They arrested Tareq Saads wife, one of his brothers and the sisters, along with her husband and son, on suspicion of hiding stolen goods. Days later, police arrested Bakrs ex-wife and her two sons, witnesses said. Police photos of the bags contents showed a mans black wallet, a womans pocketbook with the word love on it, a watch and several pairs of sunglasses. Rasha Saad said the pocketbook belonged to her mother and the watch to her brother, Sameh. The wallet was her husbands and he carried it at all times, she said, causing her to suspect it was planted along with the other possessions. They took the wallet from his jeans and put it in the bag, she said. The siblings said their father, brother and Ali were in the Nile Delta region of Sharqiya on Jan. 25, the day that Regeni disappeared in Cairo. Choking back tears, Alis mother, Umm al-Hassan, said, the police killed her son and now they are the ones investigating the case. Everything is in their hands. They control everything. It appeared the driver, 26-year-old Farouk, had little connection to the other men. While the authorities quickly announced the identities of the four men, they initially listed the fifth as unknown, until days later when they identified him as a gang member as well. A lawyer for Farouks family, Abdel-Wahab Youssef, told the AP that he had been refused access to forensic reports or investigation documents in the case. The secrecy of the investigation raises suspicions. They tell me these are instructions from the top prosecutor, he said. Pakistani police have booked six men under the countrys controversial blasphemy law for allegedly desecrating the turban of a Sikh man during a scuffle that broke out when he complained about inconvenience he faced during a bus journey. The police in Chichawatni city of Punjab province acted against five employees of a transport company and the owner of a bus terminal Mahinder Paal Singh, 29, filed a complaint, according to a report in the Dawn newspaper on Monday. Singh, a resident of Multan, said he was travelling from Faisalabad to Multan by a bus owned by Kohistan-Faisal Movers when it broke down. Though the driver started the bus again, its speed was very slow and it took five hours to travel the short distance between Dijkot and Chichawatni terminal. At the terminal, Singh and some other passengers complained to the transport companys staff about the slow speed of the bus and demanded a different vehicle for the rest of the journey. This resulted in a scuffle, during which five employees of the transport company and the terminal owner allegedly manhandled the passengers, including Singh. Singh alleged that a bus terminal hawker threw his turban on the ground. He added the turban is considered sacred in the Sikh religious code and throwing it on the ground amounted to desecration. He also told policemen after the incident that the attackers should be booked under the blasphemy law since it was a case of desecration. Police official Khaizer Hayat was quoted as saying said the men who attacked Singh had been booked under sections 295, 148 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Five men had been arrested and police are conducting raids to arrest the terminal owner, Haji Riyasat. Singh alleged some local politicians were backing the suspects and influencing the investigations. He appealed to Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif to ensure justice is done. A Canadian national, who backed the Madhesi movement, was arrested on Monday by Nepal Police for allegedly posting provocative and anti-national comments on social media and visa violations. Robert Penner was arrested from Lalitpur on a request from the department of immigration (DoI), Nepalease media reported. DoI director-general Kedar Neupane said Penner was arrested to probe his posts on social media which are liable to incite social disharmony in the nation. Penner had obtained working visa for a sprout technology company, which was already dissolved in 2012, but worked for Cloud Factory, a foreign outsourcing company, according to the DoI. Penner is also accused of holding multiple visas and overstaying. He obtained visa for working at an IT company but he was found engaged in making provocative statements that may jeopardise national integrity, said Neupane, adding, foreigners are not allowed to engage in such activities. The report said immigration laws bar any foreign national from expressing public comments on internal politics of the host nation. A source at the DoI told MyRepublica that they received complaints that Penner had been engaging in activities that could harm Nepals national integrity. We had to arrest him due to his suspicious activities and for misusing his visa, said the source. Penner has previously tweeted in favour of the Madhes movement. He had also written controversial tweets about the arrest of journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, MyRepublica reported. Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding that Nepals Constitution be amended to include their concerns over inadequate political representation and redrawing of federal boundaries. They had enforced months-long blockade of Nepals all trading points with India, creating huge shortage of essential commodities in the country. One of Saudi Arabias most powerful firms, the Saudi Binladin Group, has laid off 77,000 foreign workers, a Saudi daily reported on Monday, citing an anonymous company official. Saudi Binladin Group confirmed to AFP that some staff have been let go but gave no numbers. The report in Al-Watan newspaper is the latest alleging tens of thousands of layoffs, unpaid salaries and unrest by employees of the firm which built some of the Gulf countrys landmarks. Sources told AFP in March that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues collapsed over the past two years, have left employees of the kingdoms construction giants struggling to survive while they await their salaries. Saudi Binladin Group was also sanctioned by the government after a deadly crane accident in Mecca last September. The size of our workforce is always appropriate to the nature and size of projects and the timeframe they are to be carried out by the group, Yaseen Alattas, a Saudi Binladin Group spokesman, told AFP. He said workforce changes would be normal especially when some projects have ended or are about to end. Most of the jobs eliminated are on specified term contracts for particular projects, Alattas said in an email. We understand that the reduction of the workforce isnt easy on everyone. But the Group will continue to implement its obligations towards everyone including the employees it has let go of. They have received their full dues under the law, said Alattas. The unnamed company official cited by Al-Watan said as of Sunday, 77,000 Binladin Group workers had received exit visas. He added they were among 200,000 expatriates employed by the company, one of the largest builders in the world. In addition, 12,000 of the 17,000 Saudis working for the firm as engineers, administrators and inspectors were expected to be let go, the source said. Burning anger On Friday, Al-Watan reported 50,000 of the groups staff were refusing to leave the country while their salaries remained unpaid after more than four months. Another newspaper, Arab News, on Sunday cited Saudi Binladin Group employees as confirming massive layoffs. An Arab News report on Monday blamed unpaid workers for torching several Binladin Group buses in Mecca over the weekend. Authorities confirmed seven buses were burned but did not give the cause. Egyptians account for a large percentage of Binladin Group employees. Some complained to Egypts labour ministry that their salaries had not been paid for three months, the Arab News reported in March. A well-informed source told AFP in March that because of delays in payments from the government administration, several companies today have problems... paying both their employees and producers. Minister of state Mohammad bin Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh told Bloomberg News in an interview published on April 4 that all or 95 to 98% of all arrears will be paid within two weeks. Saudi Binladin Group was founded more than 80 years ago by the father of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, killed five years ago by US Navy Seals. It developed landmarks including the domed Faisaliah Tower in central Riyadh and the Mecca Royal Clock Tower, one of the worlds tallest buildings. After decades of thriving on lucrative government contracts, the company faced unprecedented scrutiny after one of its cranes working on a major expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islams holiest site, toppled in September. At least 109 people including foreign pilgrims died, leading King Salman to suspend the firm from new public contracts. This has been a factor in the firms economic difficulties, a well-informed source has told AFP. Five Seattle police officers were injured and at least nine people were arrested on Sunday night after unruly demonstrators hurled projectiles and Molotov cocktails and broke windows, authorities said. Protesters gather every year on May 1 to focus attention on labour and immigration issues but demonstrators in cities across the United States also used the occasion to rally against police violence. Mayor Ed Murray blamed the senseless violence in Seattle on a different crowd from those who had attended an earlier peaceful May Day immigration march. It was deeply regrettable that in a city that goes to incredible lengths to respect First Amendment rights, there are some who disregard our values and engage in senseless acts of violence and property destruction, he said later, referring to free speech protected by the US Constitution. In posts on social media website Twitter, the Seattle police department said one officer had suffered a cut to the head as protesters hurled Molotov cocktails, another was hit by a rock, and a third officer was bitten, apparently by a protester. Injuries suffered by two more officers were not detailed. Nobody has been seriously injured, police chief Kathleen OToole said after the unrest subsided, adding, Once assaults started and property damage started, we took action. Its that simple. Police said they made arrests in several places and restrained one group in a parking lot, before allowing some groups to disperse but would maintain a presence in the area. They charged three people with assault, one with destruction of property and five with obstruction of justice. Eight men ranging in age from about 20 to 32 were charged, along with a teen-aged girl. Police used blast balls to disperse a crowd throwing rocks and bottles and breaking windows in a downtown neighbourhood, the Seattle Times newspaper reported, after they used pepper spray several times to break up throngs of demonstrators. The unrest mirrored violence at a Seattle May Day march last year, when crowds threw bottles and wrenches at police, who responded with pepper spray and flash grenades. Sixteen people were arrested and three officers hurt in that violence, which similarly erupted after a day of peaceful demonstrations. Most Britons enjoyed the long sunny bank holiday weekend, but not politicians, who were out on the streets, in television and radio studios, or penning special articles ahead of Thursdays elections using even the July 2005 London bombings for influencing voters. As Boris Johnson said Im off in his last column in The Daily Telegraph on Monday as the London mayor, some flayed Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith for using a photograph of July 2005 bombings in a tabloid article attacking his rival, Labours Sadiq Khan. The article was titled: On Thursday, are we really going to hand the worlds greatest city to a Labour party that thinks terrorists is its friends? It prompted a rebuke from senior Conservative leader Sayeeda Warsi. The holiday weekend also saw a heated televised debate between leaders in Scotland, which also goes to the polls on Thursday. There were clear hints that Scotland could seek another independence referendum if Britain votes to leave the European Union on June 23. Campaigning moved seamlessly between the EU referendum and Thursdays local elections as Prime Minister David Cameron admitted in a magazine interview that Johnsons decision to join the Brexit camp had affected their long friendship going back to Eton and Oxford. It was also frustrating that Justice secretary Michael Gove had also joined the Brexiters, Cameron told Glamour magazine. Im still friends with Boris, just perhaps not such good friendsI think they have made the wrong decision, but theyre politicians and they have to decide. Still trailing Khan in opinion polls despite Labours anti-semitism row, Goldsmith was hard put to burnish his Indian credentials during an interview with RCN TV in which he claimed enthusiasm for Bollywood, but could not name a favourite film or actor. Let me think No Im not going to give you one. I cant think of a favouriteI love almost everything about Bollywood. I love the atmosphere, the colour and I love the excitement. I want as much Bollywood as possible here in London as possible, he said. Criticising Labour leader Ken Livingstones record as London mayor and painting a grim scenario if Labour wins on Thursday, Johnson wrote: It will turn into a war between City Hall and Whitehall of the kind that Ken Livingstone used to love in the 1980s and it will be a fiasco. When I came to City Hall eight years ago, I turfed out a load of semi-Marxists who luxuriated in taxpayer-funded Chateauneuf-du-Pape while specialising in the kind of Lefty grievance politics that divide the city. Whatever Khan may now say, that gang will come back with a Labour victory. If Labour wins on Thursday, I confidently prophesy that Livingstone will be back in City Hall within a week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fifteen migrants are missing after their boat sank on Friday, the second shipwreck that day in the Mediterranean, bringing the number of lives lost to almost 100, the UN said on Sunday. A boat carrying around 120 people had sunk early on Friday, four hours after leaving Libya for Italy, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson, Carlotta Sami, told AFP, adding that some 15 persons went missing. Among the missing were four Nigerians, two people from the Ivory Coast, three from Guinea, two from Sudan and one from Mali, she said. Survivors were being disembarked in Pozzallo, Sicily, she said, adding that eight people had been taken straight to hospital due to serious health conditions, and that two bodies had also been disembarked. The news came a day after the International Organization for Migration said that only 26 people were rescued from an inflatable boat carrying around 110 migrants when it sank off Libya in a separate shipwreck on Friday. Sami said Sunday that 27 people, including four women, were rescued from that boat sinking. Survivors had provided harrowing accounts of the tragedy, both UNHCR and IOM said. Due to the very bad conditions of the sea, some two hours after the departure the small boat started to take on water, just a few miles off shore, Sami said in an email. Boat broke in two IOM spokesperson in Italy, Flavio Di Giacomo, told AFP on Saturday that the vessel had been in a very bad state, was taking on water and many people fell into the water and drowned. The boat in the end broke into two parts throwing all the passengers into the waves, Sami said. Rough seas and waves topping two metres (seven feet) hampered attempts to find any other survivors. Sami said the health conditions of several of the survivors were reportedly serious. Survivors say they lost relatives and friends during the shipwreck, she said. The first hint of the tragedy came early on Saturday when Italys coastguard said an Italian cargo ship had rescued 26 migrants from a flimsy boat sinking off the coast of Libya but voiced fears that dozens more could be missing. The coastguard received a call from a satellite phone late on Friday that helped locate the stricken inflatable and called on the merchant ship to make a detour to the area about four miles (seven kilometres) off the Libyan coast near Sabratha. The migrants rescued were transferred to two coastguard vessel and taken to the Italian island of Lampedusa. Images released by the coastguard showed two women wrapped in shawls and blankets stepping off one of their vessels. Giacomo said five unaccompanied minors aged between 16 and 17 were among those rescued. More than 350,000 people fleeing conflict and poverty have reached Italy on boats from Libya since the start of 2014, as Europe struggles to manage its biggest migration crisis since World War II. The Red Cross also voiced alarm at Fridays tragic boat sinkings, warning that more were likely to come. As warmer weather and calmer seas approach, we can expect more people to attempt this crossing, said Simon Missiri, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies regional director for Europe. We must work together to focus on providing safe routes for people fleeing their homes and seeking sanctuary, he said in a statement. More than 1,260 people have already died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, according to UNHCR numbers. The frantic search for a boy who was reported missing last week in Washington state reached a tragic end Sunday evening when his body was recovered from the area around the Big Four Ice Caves in Verlot, northeast of Seattle. The boy, 6, was reported missing around 6 p.m., according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, prompting rescue teams on both the ground and in helicopter to launch a search for him. After a few hours of searching, the boy was found dead just before 9 p.m. Details about his death are limited, but a preliminary statement issued by the sheriff's office suggests that it did not involve the ice caves. The area in and around the Big Four Ice Caves can be dangerous, and this isn't the first time a death related to the caves has occurred. As evidence, the caves had been closed since July 6 and just reopened on Friday with new warning signs. The caves were closed in July after 34-year-old Anna L. Santana, 34, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died in the popular tourist spot after rock and ice fell and killed her. She was reported missing following the incident and was located at the back of one cave by Snohomish County Sheriff's Office search-and-rescue personnel. Technical rescue personnel who examined the cave reported that the collapse of rock and ice occurred at the back of the cave where officials found her. An autopsy conducted by a local medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was blunt force injuries to the head and torso and that it had been an accident. Five other people were injured during the incident, including Santana's brother who died of his injuries later in October. The Big Four Caves have seen a few changes recently, and prior to the July incident, the U.S. Forest Service warned hikers against entering the Big Four Ice Caves after several sections of the cave collapsed due to unusually warm spring temperatures. "The cave is in a condition that we would normally not see until at least September - large, inviting and collapsing," Lead Field Ranger Matthew Riggen said in May. Three people have died in cave collapses over the past five years. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you want a chance to see a politician in a new light, then simply subscribe to their Twitter account. Unfortunately, fans of one Irish politician got a little more than what they bargained for he used the N-word in a tweet describing "Django Unchained." The controversial statement came Sunday from Gerry Adams, president of Irish republican political party Sinn Fein, when he tweeted: "Watching Django Unchained -- A Ballymurphy N----r!" The tweet provoked a storm of criticism and swiftly deleted. He then issued a follow-up statement, arguing that his use of the word was "ironic" and referencing a series of shootings in 1971 when British soldiers killed civilians in Belfast, stated that "(North Irish) Nationalists were treated like African Americans." Any1 who saw Django would know my tweets&N-word were ironic.Nationalists in Nth were treated like African Americans. Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) May 2, 2016 Facing increasing pressure over the remark, Adams issued a formal statement where he defended his second tweet, saying the use of the word was "not intended to cause any offense whatsoever." "Attempts to suggest that I am a racist are without credibility. I am opposed to racism and have been all my life," the statement read. "The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves." However, the apology fell on deaf ears for the most part and left many underwhelmed. Some called Adams out for being racially insensitive while others noted that his comparison was historically inaccurate. "For anyone to use such a term is unacceptable," said Stewart Dickson, chief whip of Northern Ireland's Alliance Party. "The attempted explanation from him is not only historically inaccurate but deeply offensive to many." Steven Agnew, leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland, tweeted: "The comment was a disgrace but the explanation adds insult to injury. Just say 'sorry'." Clare McConnell from Belfast tweeted, "No white man in a position of privilege gets to decide when he can use that word. Don't compare black oppression to Ireland. Just don't." Comments like these encouraged Adams to issue another statement expressing an apology, but he stuck to his main point about the "parallels of people in struggle." While there are parallels between people in struggle, the tweet was inappropriate" - Gerry Adams https://t.co/0kEyhj9FZd Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) May 2, 2016 As mentioned before, Twitter is a great way for people to see the other sides of politicians. While Adams has experienced some turmoil in the political sphere such as being accused of being a member of the banned Irish Republican Party, as well as him being held for questioning in connection with the 1972 IRA slaying of a mother of 10, his Twitter feed is quite the opposite and fans can usually find him making plenty of colorful comments. The yokes on me! pic.twitter.com/nGJPHmnj8t Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) February 7, 2016 We r 3 little lambs who have lost our way Baa Baa Baa. Little black sheep who have gone astray Baa Baa Baa. pic.twitter.com/AvXEn2nikC Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) March 30, 2016 I never knew Pierce Brosnan was so good looking. Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) January 14, 2016 @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Starwood has announced the signing of Aloft Jakarta Simatupang. Owned by PT. Anugrah Karya Bangsa, the hotel marks the fourth Aloft hotel in Indonesia and the third Aloft in Jakarta. Set to open on 1 January 2020, the hotel will bring its passion for live music and innovation to Indonesia's bustling capital. "We are thrilled to sign another Aloft hotel in Jakarta as we forge ahead with our vigorous expansion plans in Southeast Asia," said Charlie Dang, Regional Vice President, Southeast Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. "A booming area in terms of trade and tourism, Indonesia is a major draw for both leisure and business travelers. Not only are we are strengthening our partnership with PT. Anugrah Karya Bangsa, we are also leveraging their local expertise to bring Aloft's passion for live music, design, and tech-forward mindset to the next generation of travelers in Indonesia." Designed with today's savvy global traveler in mind, Aloft Jakarta Simatupang will feature 180 loft-inspired guestrooms and suites with the brand's signature offerings, including the ultra-comfortable plush signature bed, an oversized showerhead, custom amenities by Bliss Spa, fast and free WiFi, and LCD TVs all to maximize work and play. The hotel will also offer three dining and social spaces for guests to munch, mix, and mingle, including an all-day dining restaurant, rooftop bar, and a grab & go bar. Additionally, Aloft Jakarta Simatupang will boast over 700 square meters of state-of-the-art meeting spaces, including a ballroom, four smaller meeting rooms, and a pre-function area. For guests to recharge and unwind, the hotel will provide its signature Splash swimming pool and Re:charge gym. "We are excited to work with Starwood once again," Francisco Oetama, Managing Director, PT Dua Cahaya Anugrah. "With our local experience and knowledge of property development and Starwood's management expertise, strong brand platform, and powerful guest loyalty rewards program, we look forward to a continued fruitful partnership, bringing to life the many offerings of the Aloft brand." As the largest city in Indonesia, Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with a population of over 10 million. Aloft Jakarta Simatupang will be ideally situated along Jl. T.B. Simatupang at its junction with Jl. Ampera Raya Road in South Jakarta, which currently houses many office buildings. The hotel is located approximately 45 minutes' drive from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. "Indonesia is one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations with tremendous growth opportunities for the hospitality sector and our brands," said Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Development, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific. "We continue to see high demand for hotels across all price points and are thrilled to add the Aloft Jakarta Simatupang to our strong portfolio in the region." Aloft Jakarta Simatupang will mark the third Aloft brand pipeline hotel in Jakarta behind the 140-key Aloft Jakarta Kebon Jeruk (September 2017) and the 160-key Aloft Jakarta Wahid Hasyim (December 2017). Additionally, Starwood is accelerating growth in Indonesia with the recent openings of Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta; Four Points by Sheraton Bandung; Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City Hotel; and The Hermitage, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, which is Southeast Asia's first Tribute Portfolio hotel. The Westin Jakarta is also set to open in the third quarter of 2016. These properties join Starwood's dynamic portfolio that also encompasses the company's Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, The St. Regis, and W Hotels brands. 0 About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,300 properties in some 100 countries and approximately 188,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences under the renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton,Tribute Portfolio, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, and Element, along with an expanded partnership withDesign Hotels. The company also boasts one of the industrys leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). Visit www.starwoodhotels.com for more information and stay connected @starwoodbuzz on Twitterand Instagram and facebook.com/Starwood. It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home The most one-sided exchange of diss tracks in 2015 wasnt Drake vs. Meek Mill. It was Mick Jenkins vs. Vic Spencer. In September, Spencer unexpectedly released a Jenkins diss called Dick Jerkins. Jenkins then quickly dispatched an overmatched Spencer with his rebuttal, HeadAss, waxing bars both exquisite and ferocious. Spencer still sort of won because of the publicity he got by getting lyrically assassinated. But still. The son of a journalist mother, Jenkins, 25, attended college in Alabama before returning to Chicago in 2013 to begin his rap career. He spent a year sharpening his delivery and released The Water[s] in 2014 to universal acclaim. With his technically sound disquisitions on morality and what Emerson called the transparent eyeball, he stands a somewhat singular figure on the hip hop landscape. His anticipated debut album is due out later this year. He may be on the verge of accomplishing something great. Click through the gallery to check out 10 of Jenkins best songs dating back to 2012. Value Village Value Village appeared on 2012s The Mickstape, Jenkins first mixtape ever. (He considers 2013s Trees & Truths his true debut project.) Even before his career officially started, he demonstrated a penchant for wordplay and branded himself as an independent thinker with the tracks sing-song refrain, Dont listen/ save money. Peg Cuff and Pocket Tees Jenkins Instagram account looks a lot like a J. Crew fall catalogue. It appears that hes always been pretty fashion-forward on Peg Cuff and Pocket Tees, his single off the Trees & Truths mixtape he made upon returning to Chicago in 2013, he explains his sartorial philosophy: Peg cuff with the denim so the socks show/ the nigga bout to flood em with the flow. Martyrs Released at the tail end of 2013, Martyrs is the song that first caught the ear of Cinematic Music Group don Jonny Shipes. The video is heavy with imagery related to the songs sample, Nina Simones Blood on the Leaves: a noose around Jenkins neck, Doc Martens swaying in the winter forest. Im just with my niggas hanging. Jazz In Jazz, Jenkins aligns himself with several celebrated jazz musicians in order to proclaim his own virtuosity. Thumping ones chest is a central component of hip hop, Jenkins methods of chest-thumping have always been a bit center of left. Water=truth. Water=Jenkins metaphor for maintaining purity in a world contaminated by bullshit. But in the Jazz video, water becomes a commodity Comfortable feat. NoName Gypsy Jenkins and his team mixed and mastered most of The Water[s] to give it a submerged feel, Comfortable feels like it takes place on a riverside meadow on a sunny morning, with flutes and harps and birds chipping. The song features a verse fromNoName Gypsy, who, like Jenkins, is one of many artists to emerge from the Chicago youth poetry scene. Dehydration feat. theMIND (prod. DJ Dahi) Dehydration features one of several references to ginger ale on The Water[s], but mostly it is about water (truth/inner clarity/enlightenment). From what hed you have you think, Jenkins is guzzling multiple gallons a day (piss aint never been so clear) in contrast to the bulk of the population. Jenkins accompanied Joey on his 2015 World Domination tour. Jerome is heavily indebted to the 90s, with a screaming organ boom bap beat, a Notorious B.I.G. hook, and a slick reference to Jerome, the overconfident ex-pimp in Martin. Ps & Qs (prod. Kaytranada) Ps & Qs is Jenkins answer to Alphabetical Slaughter. Its pure alliteration porn: Im pressed and like pests, Im in every nook and cranny Your pantry, with some patience your panties I got patience, its prevalent in the previous plannings I been on my Ps and Qs, fuck is this? A quiz? Get Up Get Down (prod. Stefan Ponce & ThemPeople) As David Drake wrote in Pitchfork, Jenkins, serious and dignified, wears his voice like a Sunday suit. On Get Up Get Down, he wears his voice more like a sweatsuit. Or maybe it just seems that way because of the music video? Your Love Your Love (prod. Kaytranada) Jenkins wrote Your Love based on a recent relationship presumably, about the courtship phase. In the video, he busts out all the dance moves in his arsenal in the general direction of his would-be lover. She is unimpressed, and ultimately he has no choice but to shoot her with Cupids arrow, drive-by style. Today, one of Torontos biggest schools, Ryerson University, held its 6-cents spring concert. Inspired by Drakes nickname for Toronto, the cost of entry was apparently only six cents for Ryerson students. The concert was hosted by Futures right-hand man, DJ Esco, and the event promised to include special guests. Those who were able to scrounge up enough couch pennies to cover the ticket price were indeed treated to a special performer, as Drake, hot off the release of VIEWS, made a surprise appearance after DJ Escos set. Im just doing this shit to prove to the rest of the world that this is the greatest city in the world, Drake told the crowd of zealous students. His appearance earlier this evening marks the second time this school year that Drake has made a surprise performance at a Ryerson event. During his show tonight, he performed tracks like Jumpman, Energy, and Summer Sixteen, as well as the VIEWS singles One Dance and Pop Style, the latter for the first time ever. Watch footage below. Jumpman Summer Sixteen Energy One Dance Pop Style After performing, Drake told the crowd, Im about to go win this game. Though its unclear how important of a role his courtside antics played in tonights Game 7, he was present for every moment of the Raptors series-clinching victory over the Pacers. He also revealed to his Ryerson fans that he has new music coming soon, despite having just dropped VIEWS. Just because VIEWS came out, it doesnt mean theres not new music on the way, he said before running off to the nearby Air Canada Centre. Drake This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It missed the Spindletop gusher, but the Gulf Publishing Co. was around to document most of the other big moments in the oil industry over the past 100 years. The publishing firm, launched in 1916 as prospectors were finding oil along the newly built Houston Ship Channel, is becoming a Texas company again. A management-led buyout has purchased the company for $18 million from London-based Euromoney Institutional Investor, which had owned the firm since 2001. The publisher will be headquartered in Houston. John Royall, chief executive officer of Gulf Publishing, Russell Denson, a Houston investor who once worked for the company while a college student, and other employees joined with Main Street Capital Corp. to buy the company. Main Street, a Houston private equity firm, provided the financing and took an ownership stake. Royall said the purchasing price of the publishing company, its four magazine brands and online data services would have been higher if the oil industry wasn't struggling with low prices. "This is a good time to buy," Royall said in his corner office on Greenway Plaza as employees were gearing up for the upcoming Offshore Technology Conference. A major hurdle to completing the deal, in the works for six months, was obtaining financing. Royall said that East Coast investment bankers were reluctant to finance the acquisition because they don't know the energy industry, other than the headlines of turmoil they've seen. But Main Street Capital, which is familiar with the ups and downs of the oil market, was much more comfortable with the investment, he said. Royall showed off old bound copies of the journals that spanned the history of the oil industry, from some of the first big gushers in Texas to the growth of oil in Saudi Arabia to the latest in drilling technology. One 1970 "World Oil" issue, for example, featured a spread on the then one-year-old Offshore Technology Confewrence. That conference featured technical sessions on marine geology and platform design, 500 vendor booths and a cocktail party at the downtown Rice Hotel for participants. The company owns four magazine-style publications. In addition to World Oil, which has 44,000 subscribers, it also publishes Hydrocarbon Processing with 30,000 subscribers, Gas Processing with 17,000 and Petroleum Economist with 4,000. The company also provides industry data online, which reaches two to five times more readers than the print publications. The company also hosts industry conferences that focus on technical issues. Plans are in the works to do more, Royall said. He also plans to launch more subscriber-only online databases, expanding current offerings that include a compilation of ongoing petrochemical, refining and gas processing projects around the world. The trade journal business is a good one, he said. Readers who subscribe to the journals are dedicated, want highly technical information about the industry and are willing to pay for it. And manufacturers and suppliers are willing to spend money on advertising to reach the small but important group of engineers, plant managers and other decision-makers who read the journals. Tens of thousands of energy professionals from around the world head to NRG Park on Monday to kick off the 47th Offshore Technology Conference against the backdrop of the worst industry downturn in 30 years. The annual celebration of offshore drilling, 1,000-pound blowout preventers and high-tech robots is expected to be tempered by a focus on cost-cutting and the demands of keeping businesses afloat as many firms face a second year of substantial losses. Cheap oil and a glut of drilling rigs on the market have combined to push offshore industry into one of the most crippling downturns since the 1980s. Several of the most ambitious Arctic drilling ventures have been called off, and major oil companies such as ConocoPhillips have canceled or delayed offshore projects. Baker Hughes, the energy services contractor, estimates that drillers are now operating fewer than 25 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, the center of U.S. offshore activity, compared with more than 50 in 2014, when prices began their slide. Conference organizers say the gathering this year is perhaps more vital than ever as drillers seek new technologies and practices to increase efficiency, lower costs and become more competitive with land-based drillers tapping shale deposits. "Since 1969, the world has come to OTC to make critical decisions, share ideas and develop business partnerships to meet global energy demands," conference chairman Joe Fowler said in a statement. The Offshore Technology Conference occupies a unique position in the industry, reflecting its health and market conditions. Attendance peaked in 2014 with 108,161 showing up at NRG Park. The crowds thinned last year to 94,880 as oil grew cheaper and is expected to slide further this year. Exhibit sales have already fallen off slightly, officials said. Attendees can expect to see somewhat scaled-back displays and less swag as companies face more cost-cutting and layoffs. Panels this year include instructional courses in subsea drilling, technical discussions about well completion technologies and showcases of the systems that hold rigs in place at sea while drilling. Exhibitors include a long list of the largest U.S. offshore drilling companies and the manufacturers that supply them, as well as delegations from abroad. Even with prices rebounding and possible recovery in sight, the future of offshore drilling remains uncertain. Industry executives and most analysts agree that underwater reserves will need to be tapped over the next decade, but few predict that offshore drillers will have the license to drill as they did when oil topped $100 per barrel. In the future, analyst said, each well drilled into the seafloor will have to prove itself a better investment than the shale of Texas and North Dakota. But as bad as conditions are, the OTC has seen worse than $45-per-barrel oil. In 1984, industry conditions were so depressed that the conference wasn't held. The city of Houston's effort to off-load some convention and facilities employees from its pension plan has hit what should have become its end - the Texas Supreme Court. But the city continues to keep these employees off its books long after the court essentially ruled against the practice. At issue is whether the city can avoid millions of dollars in pension obligations by shifting workers from the municipal payroll to that of an employee leasing company. The Houston Municipal Employees System says no, and has gone back to court to force the city to turn over payroll records from the employee leasing firm and make contributions on behalf of these workers. "We won every step of the way," said Travis J. Sales, the lawyer representing the pension board. "I don't think they want to acknowledge it, and they don't want to pay for it." The dispute centers on Houston First, the taxpayer-funded authority that the city created in 2011 to take over its convention and facility management operations, and comes as city's pension plans slide toward insolvency with nearly $5.6 billion in unfunded liabilities. The two major rating agencies, Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's, cited this burden when they lowered the city's credit rating earlier this year. Soon after its creation, Houston First formed a separate employee leasing firm, Convention and Cultural Services Inc., to employ its workers and lease them back to the convention authority. The workers' jobs didn't change, just the name of the organization issuing their paychecks. But, according to the city, they were no longer eligible for municipal pensions. The pension system, however, has argued that the move by Houston First - which is the sole client of Convention and Cultural Services - was an accounting maneuver designed solely to off-load pension obligations. The trial court of Harris County agreed. So did the Texas First Court of Appeals. A year ago, the Texas Supreme Court also sided with the pension system, finding that its trustees have the authority to determine that the "leased" employees belong in the city's pension plan, Well-used practice It's unclear how many employees could be affected, since the city nor Houston First Corp., Convention and Cultural Services refuse to disclose how many employees work for the convention and facilities authority. Initially about 75 employees were denied pension benefits, but Houston First Corp. has grown substantially during the past five years, said Sales, a partner at the Houston law firm Baker Botts. He estimates the city's financial engineering cost former and current employees of the convention authority millions of dollars in pension benefits. Houston First declined comment, referring questions to the city. Janice Evans, spokeswoman for Mayor Sylvester Turner, said in a statement that the city believes the Houston First employees don't belong in the pension system and the pension board's claims are "unfounded and improper." The city and Houston First have used a well-established approach to lowering labor costs. For decades, U.S. corporations have outsourced any number of jobs and operations, often turning to staffing agencies to provide their workers as ways to avoid payroll taxes and benefit costs. In the 1990s, for example, Texas companies used employee leasing firms as a way to lower workers compensation insurance premiums because the new leasing firms didn't have histories of on-the-job accidents that lead to higher rates. Employees were typically fired and then immediately rehired by a leasing company, which became the employer of record. As in the Houston First offices, employees never changed jobs, desks or supervisors. The dispute between the city and the pension board began shortly after the Houston First workers were moved to the employee leasing firm, taking a long and tortured path. A handful of eligible workers contended that since they no longer legally worked for the city, they could start collecting their municipal pensions. The pension system disagreed, arguing that they were, for all intents and purposes, still city employees. The workers sued the pension board, and the city later joined the suit to establish that it was no longer obligated to provide pensions to Houston First employees. The courts, however, ruled in favor of the pension system and its power to determine who qualifies for the benefit. Legal experts say the pension system is now experiencing the same frustrations that many other successful parties have. It's one thing to win a judgement, another to collect on it. In this case, while the courts have sided with the pension board, they provided no specific remedies, such as ordering the city to provide payroll records and make appropriate pension contributions for the Houston First workers. The pension board went back to court to obtain such a ruling, suing the city in June 2015. New legal argument The city has sought to have the suit dismissed by claiming sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that protects governments from lawsuits. When the trial court rejected that claim, the city appealed to the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, where the case is pending. Martin J. Siegel, an appellate lawyer in Houston, noted that city isn't challenging the Supreme Court directly, but trying a new legal argument to avoid paying up. "That position sure seems to violate the spirit of the Supreme Court's decision, if not the letter, and I doubt the Court of Appeals will play along," said Siegel, who is not involved in the case. "The city looks like it's playing whack-a-mole." Houston City Attorney Donna Edmundson did not return a call for comment. Houston hasn't contributed enough to meet its pension obligations for about 15 years, said Josh McGee, vice president of Houston's Laura and John Arnold Foundation, which studies public policy issues, including health care, public education and public finance. Houston would need to contribute 19 percent of the taxes and other revenues to shore up its pension program over the next 30 years, said McGee, co-author of last year's report, "Swamped: How Pension Debt Is Sinking the Bayou City." But the city is contributing only about 15 percent, putting the municipal government - and taxpayers - into a deeper hole. If the city brings Houston First employees into the pension system, the financial impact would be relatively small because the overall deficit is so large, he said. But the bigger question is whether court rulings would derail future efforts by the city to lower pension obligations through similar accounting maneuvers. Former Houston mayoral candidate Bill King, a longtime critic of Houston's chronic pension shortfalls, said he expects the city will try to move more employees off its payrolls to employee leasing firms as the pension system's financial problems mount. "We can't afford these plans," said King. "It will bankrupt the city." I spent nine days as a guest of Germany's foreign trade and inward investment agency to see how that nation has embraced Industry 4.0. That worldwide initiative, conceived in Germany, aims to develop standards and protocols for integrating the Internet of Things with cyber-physical systems, data collection and analysis, machine learning, and the Internet of Services. We visited manufacturers, research institutions, universities and startups in three states; enjoyed demonstrations of smart assembly lines, smart processes and smart devices; and ended up at the Hannover Messe - the largest industrial trade show on earth with more than 5 million square feet of exhibit space, 5,000 exhibitors, and nearly 200,000 visitors (including President Barack Obama) this year. Our first stop was the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Kaiserslautern, the largest AI research center in the world, where we were introduced to some of the technologies that enable Industry 4.0, including radio-frequency identification tags, real-time data collection and analysis, and cyber-physical systems that can make decisions on their own based on that data. In Munich, we were the first journalists invited to tour IBM's brand-new global headquarters for Watson Internet of Things. I challenged Watson to a game of "Jeopardy" but was politely informed that Watson doesn't do games anymore. Today, Watson is a cloud-based cognitive IoT service that can analyze and learn from data collected by all those IoT devices. IBM's Green Horizons initiative is an example of IoT technologies gathering data from monitoring stations, weather satellites and traffic cameras in Beijing. This enables highly accurate pollution forecasts, down to the nearest kilometer, up to 72 hours in advance and allows accurate pollution trend forecasts up to 10 days in the future. Perhaps that's why big businesses like Siemens, John Deere and Fingrid (Finland's main electrical-grid operator) are using Watson IoT to sift through and learn from the petabytes of data collected by smart devices in the field. At the Hannover Messe, the U.S. was the Official Partner Country this year, represented by more than 350 U.S.-based exhibitors including small contingents from Houston, San Antonio and Victoria. I learned a lot and saw how Germany has all its stakeholders on the same page regarding Industry 4.0. They're committed to helping their businesses adopt new techniques and processes, and the result should be higher-quality goods and services with more available options at lower prices. It's a huge and daunting task. As far as I could see, the Germans are not just doing it, they're doing it quite well. Halliburton and Baker Hughes abandoned their merger Sunday after the deal once valued at $35 billion failed to gain the blessing of antitrust officials, setting the stage for more layoffs at the Houston companies as they resume their competition amid the continuing oil slump. The chief executives of both energy services firms called the failure to complete the merger "disappointing." "The challenges in obtaining remaining regulatory approvals and general industry conditions that severely damaged deal economics led to the conclusion that termination is the best course of action," Halliburton CEO Dave Lesar said in a statement. The planned merger was "an extremely complex, global transaction," Baker Hughes CEO Martin Craighead said in his statement. "Ultimately," he said "a solution could not be found to satisfy the antitrust concerns of regulators, both in the United States and abroad." They resume their competition amid the continuing oil slump. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Halliburton will pay Baker Hughes a $3.5 billion breakup fee even as it continues to struggle in the extended oil bust, recently reporting a steep decline in revenues and thousands of job cuts. But Halliburton, which borrowed $7.5 billion to help finance the acquisition, is flush with cash and should have no trouble covering the bill, analysts said. Halliburton is the world's second-largest energy services firm and Baker Hughes is the third. When the companies agreed to merge in November 2014, executives hoped to create a firm with the size and scale to compete with Schlumberger, the world's biggest energy services company. But antitrust officials said the combined company would control too large a share of the market and have too much power over pricing, particularly in the development of North American shale fields. The Justice Department filed suit to block deal on April 6. In a statement, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch hailed the breakup as the end of "duopoly" in energy services and "a victory for the U.S. economy and for all Americans," David Gelfand, deputy assistant attorney general in the antitrust division, said merger "would have raised prices, decreased output and lessened innovation in at least 23 oilfield products and services critical to the nation's energy supply." The decision to give up on the merger was widely anticipated as it grew increasingly clear that the deal would not clear antitrust objections before a deadline Saturday. Both companies began preparing in recent weeks to resume operations as separate companies and competitors, analysts said. In the short term, the collapse of the deal is expected to lead to hundreds more layoffs as the companies shutter businesses and slash operations to reap savings they might have gained through the merger. Halliburton, for example, held onto office support staff - lawyers, accountants and middle managers - and some assets in the field that it would have needed to manage a larger business. Baker Hughes also kept its businesses larger than it would otherwise would have been, estimating that it carried an extra $110 million in costs in the first quarter to comply with the terms of the deal. More Information By the numbers $35 billion: The estimated value of the Halliburton-Baker Hughes merger agreement. $3.5 billion: The breakup fee Halliburton must pay Baker Hughes $7.5 billion: The amount Halliburton borrowed to help finance the acquisition. See More Collapse Analysts expect the companies to soon make cuts in these areas. Halliburton and Baker Hughes are two of Houston's - and the industry's - most storied companies. Their histories reach back to the early days of the Texas oil rush in the first decades of the 20th century, each firm introducing new products, services and innovations that helped make Texas and Houston the energy capital of the world. Halliburton's red coveralls and Baker Hughes' blue ones have been staples in the oil patch for decades. At Halliburton, the company's core businesses were already widely considered to be among the strongest in the industry. The company has spent the past decade building the premier hydraulic fracturing fleet in the U.S., and analysts say it can pump water and sand into shale formations more efficiently than any other in the industry. Baker Hughes doesn't have the same kind of marquee business to lean on, and remains in the unenviable position of being the third in the market. But analysts say the company could invest the breakup fee in fresh equipment to make its fracking business competitive by the time oil prices recover. Baker Hughes might also become a target of a new buyer, analysts said. One major investor, the hedge fund ValueAct Capital Management, has proposed that Baker Hughes break itself up and sell off its various businesses, according to court documents in a lawsuit. Halliburton last Friday delayed its earnings until Tuesday, but reported that its first-quarter revenue fell to $4.2 billion from $7.05 billion from the same period in 2015, and it cut 6,000 jobs in the first three months of the year. Baker Hughes reported its first-quarter revenue plunged more than 40 percent, to $2.7 billion from $4.6 billion in 2015, and its losses widened to $981 million. Both companies have tried to stop the bleeding by cutting costs and jobs as dramatically as revenues have fallen. The information in this column is intended to provide a general understanding of the law, not as legal advice. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances. Q: I think my mother, under duress and having fraudulent representation, was hoodwinked out of her share of her parents' farm in Pennsylvania. Her siblings had her sign certain forms that ended up giving the property to my aunt. What can my mother do? A: Your mother would need to hire an attorney in Pennsylvania. Letters from that lawyer demanding a share of the property probably won't get your mother anywhere, and instead it will likely take a lawsuit if your mother really wants a share of that property. Your mother needs to decide whether she wants to spend a lot of money on this lawsuit. She also needs to decide whether she really wants to sue her siblings. And keep in mind, years from now, after spending many thousands of dollars, your mother might lose. Q: After my father died in 2014, I started paying the mortgage for my mother. She wants me to get the home when she dies. I have three siblings who have no interest in keeping the house. What is the best way to handle this? A: Your mother can sign a Transfer on Death Deed naming you as the sole beneficiary of the home. She can name your siblings as the alternate beneficiaries in case you are not alive when she dies. This form is available for free at texaslawhelp.org. If your mother doesn't want to use that form, she could add a bequest of the home to her will so that it goes to you when she dies. She can give the rest of her property to your siblings (and to you, if she wants). Q: Can a person living in another state (not Texas) be the named trustee in a Texas will? And, can he or she be the named executor also? A: The answer to both questions is yes. The only caveat is that an out-of-state executor is required to name someone in Texas to be the "resident service agent" so that there is someone in Texas to be contacted if the estate is sued. Q: My husband and I own a residence and a rental home. We have some savings and debts. Do we need wills in case something happens to one of us? Do we need wills to leave our assets to our four adult children? A: You and your husband might be able to avoid probate if you have two Transfer on Death Deeds and if all of your accounts are either survivorship or payable on death. Regardless, though, it is often a good idea for spouses to have wills as a backup plan. You can find out for certain what you need by meeting with an attorney. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Global franchise Pita Pit is bringing its healthy fast-food concept to the Houston market after arriving in Texas 10 years ago. Franchisee Nick Bhakta will open the brand's third area location in Deer Park in mid-May, after the recent openings by other operators at 11081 Westheimer near the Energy Corridor and 12020 FM 1960 West in Cypress. An opening is planned at 21147 Texas 249 in August, and another deal is in the works for Katy. The 1,235-square-foot location at 8015 Spencer Highway will serve Mediterranean-American fusion fare. Customers go through a line and pay before taking their food to the table. Customers pick a protein such as chicken or falafel, then select from ingredients such as spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, onions, feta and tzatziki sauce to wrap in a pita or served as a salad. The average price is $6.89 for a pita, and just over $10 including chips and a drink, according to Pita Pit. Like many other franchisees, Bhakta heard of the concept from family members who had eaten there. He worked with the corporate office in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to select the location. "We believe you don't need to sacrifice your health to get a quick, tasty meal," Bhakta said in an email. The Deer Park store will be the 10th location in Texas, with others in the Dallas and San Antonio markets. The chain used to have locations in Austin. Pita Pit is expected to grow to 14 stores in the Houston market over the next five years, said Bill Wilfong, vice president of franchise development for Pita Pit. "People right now are looking for four things: ethnic cuisine, bold and spicy flavors, healthy and fast," Wilfong said. "When you look at those things, we kind of feel like that's our M.O." Since the brand, which started in Canada, opened at Syracuse University in 1999, Pita Pit has grown to more than 250 locations in the U.S. and 620 globally. The restaurants average just over $500,000 in sales annually, with top stores selling more than $1 million, Wilfong said. The stores are similar in size to Subway, which has just over 500 locations in the Houston market. In a 2015 survey, 84 percent of quick service restaurant operators say their customers pay more attention to the nutritional content of their food than they did two years ago, according to the National Restaurant Association. The study also found that 66 percent of customers eat a wider variety of ethnic cuisines than they did five years ago. Pita Pit joins other chains expanding in the area, such as Austin-based Verts Mediterranean Grill and Torchy's Tacos. Verts has grown to 10 area locations, while Torchy's has seven plus another planned in the Baybrook area. A few of the national chains expanding here are Pollo Tropical, El Pollo Loco and PDQ. Houston's retail occupancy is near an all-time high at 98 percent for top spaces and 94 percent overall, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE. "Whoever wants to be here, it's a tough road ahead because there's just no space," said Brian Ashby, a retail broker with CBRE. "You can't just walk in here and do a deal." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Katherine Feser Show More Show Less 2 of 2 handout Show More Show Less Texas posted strong gains in home sales and prices and set a record for low market supply in the first three months of the year despite the negative effect of slumping oil prices in some areas. Home sales shot up 7.8 percent statewide, to 65,265, in the first quarter compared with the same period a year earlier, the Texas Association of Realtors said in a quarterly report issued Monday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Residents who live and work along the newly opened segments of the Grand Parkway won't have to wait long for fire protection or ambulance service if there's an emergency. Since March, the Tomball Fire Department, the Spring Volunteer Fire Department and Cypress Creek EMS have all opened new state-of-the-art stations that will provide a faster emergency response to areas of the Grand Parkway between U.S. 290 and Interstate 69. "The staff is doing very well, and the station is performing better than I expected," said Tomball Fire Chief Randy Parr. "We are finding that with the Grand Parkway, we can move around and get to various parts of our district much fasterthan we could from station two or station one." The Tomball Fire Department began officially operating out of Fire Station No. 5 on March 21. The new station, located on Telge Road three miles south of FM 2920, was built by Harris County Emergency Service District 15 and is being leased to the city of Tomball. The Tomball City Council voted in December to accept a 15-year service agreement with Harris County Emergency Services District 15 that the city has maintained since 2005. As part of the contract, the emergency services district will put $260,000 toward three full-time driver operator positions to staff the new station, Parr said. The station - which will serve the new and growing subdivisions of Willow Creek Ranch Estates, Hayden Lakes, Pine Country and Wildwood at Oakcrest - also will provide a quicker mutual aid response to the Rose Hill Volunteer Fire Department. The first real test for the new station happened during the April 18 floods. "They were horrifically busy during the flooding, and that station was actually used for a bunch of mutual aid calls with Cy-Fire Volunteer Fire Department, Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Klein Volunteer Fire Department," Parr said. "It was very slow going, and the water was highFrom my perspective, (the new station) is working out better than expected for having it open for about six weeks." Meanwhile, the Spring Volunteer Fire Department and Cypress Creek recently hosted the grand opening of their joint emergency services station in Springwoods Village. The 24,000 square-foot facility, which is separated by a fire wall, is occupied by Spring Fire Station No. 70; the ninth station in the Spring Volunteer Fire Department, and Cypress Creek EMS Station No. 513. Since the Spring Volunteer Fire Department and Cypress Creek EMS are both members of two separate emergency service districts, each of the ESD's funded the construction of its respective stations. Spring Fire Station No. 70 is a 19,569 square-feet and include five apparatus bays, living quarters, a training room, work rooms, a decontamination room, turn-out gear room and a physical wellness area, and was built at a cost of $6 million by Emergency Service District 7. Shannon Stryk, district chief for Spring VFD, said the department moved quickly to ensure the new station was fully occupied and fully equipped. "We added some full time (staff) to supplement the volunteers; we purchased a 100-foot tower, a brand new pumper and an all-terrain vehicle that's also housed there," Stryk said. Brad England, executive director for Cypress Creek EMS, said the original plan called for a grand opening in October 2015, but heavy spring rains in 2015 caused delays and a reduction in the budget by Emergency Service District 11, which funded the $1.9 million EMS portion of the project, pushed the opening back several months. "The crews have actually been operating out of there for about a month," England said. "We had the staff in place by last November because it takes several months to train them, and get everyone hiredThe manpower was there, the station just wasn't ready." Cypress Creek EMS No. 513, located at 22310 Springwood Village Parkway, occupies 4,794 square-feet of the station and features two double-deep ambulance bays, living quarters, a work room and storage areas. Cypress Creek EMS covers 177 square miles in north Houston, and provides EMS support to volunteer fire departments in Spring, Klein, Cypress Creek, Champions and is on call to assist other emergency entities when needed. New stations The Tomball Fire Department, the Spring Volunteer Fire Department and Cypress Creek EMS have all opened new stations that will provide a faster response time to areas along the Grand Parkway, and the surrounding area. The stations are located at: Spring Fire Station No. 70 22306 Springwoods Village Parkway, Spring Cypress Creek EMS 513 22310 Springwoods Village Parkway, Spring Tomball FD Station No. 5 Telge Road, Tomball This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With Cinco de Mayo on Thursday, the city of Houston is getting ready to celebrate. Nationally, 10.8 percent of Americans claim Mexican ancestry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But that's child's play compared to the rate in Houston. Space City has the fifth-highest share of Mexican-Americans among the nation's 25 largest metro areas, some 27.7 percent of residents. San Antonio is No. 1, at 48.7 percent. But even San Antonio is nothing compared to the 77011 ZIP Code in the Greater East End. Here, census figures show that 84.7 percent of residents claim Mexican descent. What made this little neighborhood on the city's east side blossom into a diaspora? Well, it didn't happen overnight. "This is a very old neighborhood," said Jessica Hulsey, who lives in the Greater East End. She was born in a border town but has called Houston home for decades. "It's been like this for as long as I can remember." Houston as a whole, she said, has long been known as a great place for immigrants to put down roots. "The majority of our immigrants, they come this way and in this direction because of the access to work," she said. But instead of spreading out evenly across the city, she added, many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have sought out the East End because of affordability. Citywide, monthly rent averages $862, according to the census. But in this specific area, rent is about 24 percent lower, a monthly average of $658. "Once some people move here, more come because of the high concentration of Latinos," Hulsey said. "And I guess this is also very inviting, to be with your own, where you can communicate." For those who aren't certain exactly what Cinco de Mayo celebrates, here's a quick history lesson. The day has turned into a cultural holiday in America, even more so than in Mexico. Here, it's often less about the history and more about the margaritas, much like St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. is about wearing green and throwing back pints of Guinness. Cinco de Mayo is often incorrectly referred to as Mexican Independence Day, but in actuality, it commemorates the anniversary of the Mexican Army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, a symbolic victory during the Franco-Mexican War. KILLEEN - Four U.S. soldiers sat at a folding table across from a man wearing an Afghan National Army uniform as he discussed his unit's work in a rugged area of eastern Afghanistan. The Americans jotted notes in green field books as the Afghan commander, speaking in Dari and through an interpreter, explained his efforts to set up military checkpoints and supply routes for his troops. Hanging on the room's walls were the flag of Afghanistan and a framed photo of Ashraf Ghani, the country's president, and on a nearby table stood a coffee urn filled with tea. All the elements - the conversation topics and interpreter, the decor, even the availability of tea instead of coffee - provided a preview of what awaits the soldiers in Afghanistan. The men, who belong to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment stationed at Fort Hood, will join some 1,000 soldiers from the unit deploying in the next month to the country's mountainous eastern region for a nine-month tour. The four's participation with a dozen other soldiers in the classroom exercise, held on a recent weekday on base, illuminated how the U.S. military has shifted its emphasis in Afghanistan from fighting to talking. Maj. Chauncey Hodge was listening to the faux commander played by a native Afghan who once worked for U.S. forces as an interpreter and later emigrated to America. Hodge, 36, who previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 after a tour in Iraq three years earlier, described the change in purpose and philosophy for American troops. "We're not going there this time to say, 'This is what you have to do,' " he said. "It's their plan, and you're more working to help them follow through." The 3rd Cavalry will make up more than 10 percent of the 9,800 troops in Afghanistan supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. The "train, advise and assist" mission, in military parlance, began last year after President Barack Obama halted major combat operations following the U.S.-led war against the Taliban. The transition to an advisory role coincided with Obama's decision to reduce the number of troops on the ground. The figure will drop to 5,500 next year as the Afghan military, formed in 2002 and forced to grow up under fire, struggles to subdue the Taliban insurgency. Afghan army and police forces have suffered heavy losses since assuming more control of the battle against the Islamist militia, with 16,000 members killed or wounded last year, an increase of 3,500 from 2014. The Taliban has exploited a lack of cohesion among Afghanistan's military branches across the country, including in the capital of Kabul two weeks ago. A suicide attacker detonated a massive truck bomb outside a government intelligence office in the heart of the city's so-called "ring of steel," killing 64 people and wounding nearly 350, most of them civilians. The attack ranked as the deadliest in Kabul since 2011, when militants launched an assault on the U.S. Embassy. The training at Fort Hood involved quieter scenarios that 3rd Cavalry officers can expect to encounter during their tour. They met in small groups with Afghan "commanders," who sought guidance on moving weapons and equipment between bases, evacuating wounded soldiers and improving radio transmissions. The Americans asked questions to learn more details before suggesting solutions, taking care to articulate options rather than commands. "It's not about having them copy the American model," said 1st Lt. Matthew Duarte, 24, who will lead a platoon to advise Afghan combat medics. "We've been in Afghanistan for quite a long time now, and the Afghan forces have come a long way. At this point, we're just trying to help them reach the goal of self-sufficiency." The plot of old oil land in southwest Houston where the University of Texas is planting its flag began to take shape 15 years ago. The more than 300 acres were nearly home to several projects, including a master-planned community, hotels, shops and office space. It wasn't until last summer that another option for the land emerged. The big land sale to UT, which sparked excitement and concern in Houston, happened almost by chance - and nearly didn't happen at all. An architect and a real estate developer spent a decade and a half buying dozens of little connecting parcels, creating one of the largest undeveloped swaths in Houston. Last year they were set to sell some of the desirable land to commercial developers when leaders of the state's largest university system made an offer. "I would have put the odds as very low that this transaction would have happened," said John Kirksey, founder and owner of the Houston-based Kirksey Architecture and a UT alumnus who owned much of the land. "It just seemed like such a big undertaking and a long shot. It's amazing that something so fractured, that the pieces could all come back together again and then for that unified whole to be put in the hands of an institution like the University of Texas. I think it's wonderful that it was able to happen." The deal came together quietly last summer before UT Chancellor William McRaven announced in November that he wanted to expand UT's footprint in Houston by building something "bold" and "innovative." His vague announcement caught many by surprise, and the project continues to be a tough sell to some. A group of state lawmakers last week blasted McRaven for not telling them of his plans before pulling the trigger on the land deal that will cost more than $200 million. Opponents already fear UT will steal top faculty and siphon research funding as the University of Houston strives to become a top-tier university. UH boosters have called the land purchase an "invasion." "I would strongly have recommended that y'all send the balloon up before you did it," state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican, told McRaven at a Senate higher education committee hearing Tuesday in Austin. "No one even saw the balloon on the horizon, so obviously somebody was doing a pretty good job of not talking about that issue." Sen. Kel Seliger, an Amarillo Republican and chairman of the committee, said the move showed a "total lack of transparency." The silence was necessary, those involved in the deal have said. McRaven told the committee that he should have come to them first - admitting it was a mistake he made because he was new to the job - but he argued prices would have skyrocketed on the land if the public knew UT was looking to buy it. In an interview, Kirksey said he had contracts in the works to sell the land to two other buyers and was still working to buy smaller parcels to complete the 300-acre swath. "As I told him, if word was on the street, then it would kill us," Kirksey said. "Our ability to buy all of these outtracts would probably evaporate." UT has acquired 252 acres at a price of about $187 million so far and plans to make adjacent purchases into next year. The price tag for the full swath is $215 million. UT, meanwhile, has formed a task force of prominent Houstonians to decide what to do with the land. McRaven has said he wants it to be an "intellectual hub" with opportunities for collaboration with other Texas universities. UT wants to "create a new model for public higher education" in Houston, said Paul Hobby, co-chair of the task force. But as UT faces pushback from lawmakers and University of Houston leaders, much is at stake, the former chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership said. "Pettiness could defeat the grand vision," Hobby said. "If this is a problem for Houston, there are a lot of other cities that would love this problem - where university systems are fighting to bring new intellectual capacity. It's a good problem to have." Just the place to expand Joel Scott, a principal in TerraMark Ventures, a Houston-based real estate development firm, began buying parcels in the old Pierce Junction oil field in southwest Houston around 2001. Kirksey, his longtime friend and investor, joined him in 2002. Because it was an old oil field, the land was fractured and took years to piece back together." They sold some of the land to developers of apartments in the area. They had plans to develop a mixed-use urban community in the area as far back as 2004, when Scott told the Chronicle that they were attracted to the area because of its proximity to the Texas Medical Center and Reliant Center. The two worked with city officials to get infrastructure in place as well, and formed a municipal management district. But 12 years later, much of the land is still vacant. When Les Allison, a UT alumnus and Houston developer, ran into Kirksey last summer and asked about the project, he was shocked to hear that Kirksey and Scott had pulled together hundreds of acres. Allison, who serves on the UT Chancellor's Circle Executive Committee, knew McRaven had a lot of interest in Houston. Allison said he, the chancellor and others in Houston were in "very loose conversations" last year about being on the lookout for land here. McRaven wrote a blog post about a luncheon Allison hosted in Houston, noting that he was interested in "planting a larger UT flag in Houston." Kirksey's land - close to the medical center, with a rail stop - could be just the place for UT to expand, Allison thought. McRaven agreed. "With its proximity to the Texas Medical Center and downtown Houston, we believed it was the perfect location to begin to chart a vision for the future, in the same way that the TMC was created over time, to provide extraordinary opportunities for new and unprecedented collaborations, initiatives and innovation," McRaven said in a statement this week. But when Allison went back to Kirksey later last summer, he learned Kirksey was close to closing two contracts to sell some of the land to a hotel developer and an office building developer. Allison told Kirksey he had a big potential buyer, but was short on details - he didn't say UT was interested. "He said how hard will it be to get you to sit still on those contracts," Kirksey said. "That was a difficult decision to make, because the proverbial bird in hand." But Kirksey held off, a decision that he said he felt much more comfortable with once it became clear who was looking to buy the property. McRaven toured the land in August, meeting with Kirksey for the first time. In the fall, UT Regent Jeffrey Hildebrand, the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Houston's Hilcorp Energy Company, asked his friend Walt Mischer, Jr., a partner a Houston-based Mischer Investments, L.P., to take a look at the land, too. Within weeks a deal was struck. The UT Board of Regents approved the land acquisition in November, days before McRaven announced the university's plans to buy the land. 'Great, magnificent city' Tension began to build between McRaven, state lawmakers and University of Houston leaders almost immediately after the chancellor announced last fall UT would buy the land. The tension was on full display during the Senate higher education committee hearing last week when McRaven, sitting next to UH Chancellor Renu Khator before the panel, defended his plans against a volley of concerns raised by the senators. Seliger questioned whether UT was losing sight of its core mission of education. Sen. Kirk Watson, an Austin Democrat, wondered if UT's money might be better spent on its flagship campus in Austin. "This is what I would hope you would expect a great university to do, which is to take bold initiatives and do things that are innovative," McRaven responded. "Sometimes you have to invest in that, even when things are tight." Houston, he said, is the right place to expand. "My responsibility as the chancellor of the University of Texas is to the state of Texas, first and foremost," he said. "When we look at the state of Texas, not taking an opportunity to look at Houston - that great, magnificent city that has such great sectors in medical and business and energy and transportation - I think that would be egregious." McRaven convened the local task force to draft a plan of specifics for how to use the land. The chancellor has insisted that he has no secret ideas for how the land should be used and wants his panel to tell him how it could best serve the city and the state. The 18-member panel includes representatives from Texas Southern University and Rice University. UT offered UH a spot on the task force, but UH officials declined in a January 28 email obtained by the Chronicle. McRaven has stepped aside and is letting the group do the planning, said Carin Barth, the other co-chair of the task force. The group is looking globally for ideas, said Barth, president and co-founder of LB Capital and former Texas Tech regent. She said the land should be used for collaboration, as McRaven has stressed. And Barth said members of the group have made it clear they do not want to duplicate any effective education or research programs in Houston or across the state. The group has approached the planning by looking at what would benefit Houston and the state rather than any one university, she said. "I don't see someone putting the TSU hat on. I don't see someone putting the Rice hat on. I see people bringing what they've learned from being engaged in the city of Houston," Barth said. "I got involved because I saw it as a way to elevate the intellectual capacity of the city, the state and beyond...I feel like the University of Texas coming to the city in a different capacity - it obviously wants to elevate everybody's game." Kirksey, who said he is a big supporter of UH, also said he is confident the city will be better off with UT owning his land. Whatever UT puts together, he said, will be far better than what was on the table for the old oil land before last summer. "What we probably would have developed out there is another pound of something Houston has 5,000 pounds of already - residential, commercial," Kirksey said. "If you put all that land into the hands of an institution like the University of Texas, which has the money and can take the long-term view it has the potential to be something far, far greater for the city of Houston." HYDERABAD, India - It is a balmy spring morning in this hilly southern India capital of some 7 million. Once a cultural and gem trading center known as the City of Pearls, it is now better known as the home of the high-technology hub dubbed "Cyberabad." Google, Microsoft and other tech giants have built gleaming campuses here. Some of India's largest outsourcing companies, which provide skilled Indian tech workers within the country and abroad, have set up shop here as well. All are tapping into India's growing population of young IT and engineering talent, whose members flock here by the thousands seeking work. But thousands of workers here have a higher goal: To obtain a guest worker visa that will allow them to take their high-tech talents to America. As the sun rises, hundreds circle an ancient temple on the outskirts of the city, praying to the Hindu deity Balaji for specialty-occupation visa, familiarly known as an H-1B. Those who receive them can spend three to six years working in the U.S. - a ticket, they believe, to a better, more financially secure future. The odds are far from in their favor: Worker must be chosen from among thousands of hopefuls by a company in need of certain skills. An application in his behalf must be made, at a cost of thousands of dollars, and approved by U.S. officials. And, for the past several years, getting that far means having perhaps a 1-in-4 chance of success in a lottery among the huge number of applications. Those who are successful face other concerns: Navigating a system in which their employer controls their visa, and thus their legal status, leaving some feeling like indentured servants with no power over working hours or conditions. Having wages sometimes shaved through fees assessed by sponsoring companies, who may contract them out for other work. And increasingly, being pointed to by critics of the H-1B program, including GOP presidential candgidates Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, as a threat to U.S. workers. Raja Ram Mohan, 31, a computer engineer, seems unconcerned with the growing H-1B debate, his thoughts only on the possibilities before him. This morning, he took 2 hours to circle the temple more than 100 times - an act of gratitude to the deity for his success in obtaining an H-1B. His wife, praying for a visa for herself, accompanied him. "We've never been to America," Mohan said. "I hear the Texas weather is somewhat like here? Maybe we can go there." Overwhelming demand More Information About this project The international reporting for this story was made possible through a crowdfunding effort supported by Beacon, a journalism- funding startup in the East Bay. More than 200 San Francisco Chronicle readers helped raise a total of $15,000 to put toward our reporting, photography, video production and graphic design. The Chronicle will continue to report on issues raised by the H-1B visa system here in the United States. See More Collapse Since 1990, the H-1B visa program has allowed U.S. companies to hire foreign workers with special skills, including physicians, engineers, accountants, even fashion models. Increasingly, the program has been dominated by U.S. technology companies seeking software analysts, engineers and other IT workers. Applications for the visas increased by 90 percent from 2013 to 2016, when a record 236,000 requests were submitted within days of the April 1 opening of the application period. Need for the visas is urgent in Houston, with its oil and biomedical sectors. Employers here requested nearly 13,000 H-1B visas in 2013, the most in the country after New York City, according to an analysis of federal data. Nearly 6,000 of those were approved that year, a Brookings analysis found. Since 2004, the cap on these visas has been set at 85,000 annually - 65,000 for foreign workers with at least a bachelor's degree, another 20,000 reserved for those with advanced degrees from U.S. universities. Trade agreements reserve up to 6,800 of those visas for skilled Chilean and Singaporean workers. Exempt from the cap are skilled workers employed in higher education, nonprofit research or government research. Also not counted in the cap are extensions of an H-1B for a second three-year term. Indian companies, including Tata Consulting Services, Wipro and Infosys, submit tens of thousands of visa requests on behalf of U.S. clients each year. Critics say they are effectively gaming the computerized lottery to dole out visas - depriving smaller companies of the chance to fairly compete for H-1Bs and taking visas that could go to more highly skilled, higher-paid workers for low-level, lower-paid programmers. According to Department of Labor data, the top four Indian outsourcing companies successfully filed about 66,000 Labor Condition Applications in 2015, which is the first step toward obtaining an H-1B visa. While many Silicon Valley companies such as Apple and Intel tend to hire more highly skilled workers and pay six-figure salaries, the bulk of H-1B jobs go to lower-level IT workers who are often paid close to the minimum allowed by the visa program, about $60,000, says Ronil Hira, a Howard University public policy professor and researcher at the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank focused on labor issues. Hira, like others critical of the H-1B program, says most U.S. companies are not using the H-1B visa "as a way to alleviate a shortage of STEM-educated U.S. workers; they use it to primarily cut labor costs." Others argue that the proliferation of outsourcing via H-1B, especially in the case of India, is leading to the export of skills acquired in the U.S., as guest workers' visas run out and they move back to jobs overseas. U.S. companies also have been hit for allegedly replacing American workers with lower-paid foreigners. Disney was sued last year after some 250 IT jobs were eliminated and the work given to Indian tech workers on H-1Bs. The U.S. Justice Department investigated Southern California Edison in 2015 after the utility company laid off 500 IT workers while having some of them train H-1B workers, but said it found no violations of labor laws or discrimination against American workers. Fraud, worker abuse Fraud and alleged abuse of workers also have been issues in the H-1B program. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initiated more than 200 fraud investigations into H-1B and related H and L visas, and made more than 110 criminal arrests from 2013 to 2015. Lawsuits and prosecutions also have occurred over guest workers reportedly being underpaid or forced to kick back some of their earnings to their sponsoring companies, which have control of their visas. Daniel Showalter, a group supervisor with Homeland Security investigations in Southern California, said that the way the H-1B program has developed, with the huge staffing firms flooding the system with applications, has "taken it away from the intent of the visa itself." Showalter says the system as it is now opens the door to fraud schemes and worker abuse. The most vocal critics of the H-1B program argue that the program deprives Americans of jobs and needs to be reformed. The most recent action: an increase in the cost of the visa application for major staffing companies like Tata and Infosys. A provision slipped into the 2015 omnibus federal spending bill doubled the fee to $4,000 for such companies. Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin, a strong immigration supporter, have teamed on a bill that would forbid the replacement of a domestic worker by an H-1B visa holder and prioritize visa allocations to foreigners holding advanced degrees. Major hit expected While Infosys and Tata refused to comment on visa-related queries for this story, it is clear the Indian IT industry has been unnerved by these changes. Nasscom, the primary trade association of India's IT and software services industry, estimated that the visa fee increase could cost the sector hundreds of millions of dollars annually. More than 80 percent of the industry's $120 billion in annual revenue is from IT service exports, including H-1B workers, said R. Chandrasekhar, Nasscom's president. The U.S. actions are "discriminatory to India," he said. "At a time when both countries are targeting trade of $500 billion, and are striving to work together, it can hurt economic policy between the two countries," he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns about the bill with President Barack Obama after it was passed late last year. Then in early March, India took its complaints to the World Trade Organization. If the U.S. and India can't negotiate a settlement of the complaint, India can ask the WTO to review the situation. "It is a trade issue," Chandrasekhar said. "We see the restrictions sought to be imposed that will create barriers for Indian industry. It is quite worrisome." Last fiscal year, more than two-thirds of H-1B visa holders came from India. Some 15 percent of those guest workers came from Hyderabad alone. So many visa applications have come from the city as the tech and outsourcing industries have expanded there that the U.S. opened a Hyderabad consulate in 2008, which has issued 130,000 H-1Bs since, said consul chief Jamie Fouss. "The volume is as much as New Delhi now," he said. Still, thousands of other workers seeking the visa miss out. While the large outsourcing firms grab the majority of visas, it can often take workers for an Indian company or an India-based branch of a U.S. company up to five years of service before being considered as an H-1B candidate. A 30-year-old Hyderabad management consultant is a typical example of would-be H-1B workers: he is a graduate of a top Indian business school who works for the Indian arm of a large U.S. consulting firm. He has lived and worked in the city for more than three years, but his apartment looks as if he just moved in: There's little furniture, and the living room is a jumble of moving boxes. Each year since he arrived, he has gone into the H-1B lottery. Each year he has missed out. This year, the man, who asked to speak anonymously to avoid angering his company, is trying again. "I didn't buy even the sofa in this flat," he said. "I just came with a suitcase." He quotes statistics to explain his bad luck. His first application went out in 2013, the year the number of applications started spiraling out of control. The year before, he says, everyone sponsored by his firm received an H-1B. "In 2013, there was 82 percent conversion," he said. "Last year, it was 24 to 30 percent." Of 65 new business school graduates to be hired by his company, he is the only one still in India. Why is he so determined to get to the U.S.? "You learn much more when you're directly interacting with your client," he said. "If you don't get to do that, in the long run you will lose out to your peers, who will be much more informed. They will understand the U.S. market much better compared to me, who's sitting offshore and learning through reports or emails." Going abroad also means more money: Salaries with U.S. companies are at least three to four times what can be earned in India. The man has an education loan he is still paying off. "All my friends who went to the U.S. paid it off in the first year," he says. It will be at least another month before he learns whether his application made it through the lottery this year. Though he still hopes he'll get one, so much has changed since he first tried that he feels distanced from it, he said. "I don't think much of the visa these days," he said. "I was very, very hopeful the first time, and very, very disappointed the second time. Since then, I have gotten married. My life has changed. Now I think differently." His wife wants him to go to the Balaji temple to pray for help. "But I won't," he says. "Suppose this time I get the visa? Then you will unnecessarily attribute it to God. If I get it, the credit should be all mine." Fear of missing out Mohan, the young engineer who is awaiting his H-1B assignment, is thrilled about finally seeing the American tourist sites he has seen in movies. He and his wife want to visit the Hollywood sign and Disneyland, a destination on almost every guest worker's must-see list. "I also want to see that - what is that thing where everyone dresses up and goes out? Oh yes, Halloween. I want to see Halloween," he said. Bharath Kumar, a programmer from Hyderabad, also recently received his H-1B visa, after almost a year of waiting. He and his wife are ardent believers in the power of God, he said, and have made their pilgrimage to the temple. Now, he said, he can finally compete with all the vacation photos friends who have made it to the U.S. already have posted online. "Why can't I have that life?" he said, expressing the anxiety common among millennials known as FOMO - fear of missing out. "From childhood I have seen people go overseas. It is what I have thought about for a long time," he said, sitting in a small apartment in Hyderabad full of rented furniture and a small shrine in a corner. "It is like you haven't done much if you haven't been there." San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Carolyn Lochhead and Joaquin Palomino contributed to this report. Padmaparna Ghosh is a reporter based in India. AUSTIN - The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, facing a growing budget crisis as it continues its expensive legal fight over the state's takeover of the Alamo, now is confronted with an uncertain future for the storied French Legation museum here. The Legation, the only building still existing in Austin from when Texas was its own country, was purchased by the state in 1948, and has been operated as a museum by the Daughters group since 1956 under a custodial contract. Houston resident Betty Edwards, the president-general of the Daughters, said her organization has been unable to raise enough funds to perform routine maintenance and make much-needed renovations to the one-story frame house just east of downtown. Edwards said the house needs about $1.9 million in renovations and repairs, and the group has asked the state to pick up the tab. "Without state money at this point in time, our concern is what's going to happen to the house, to the status of the house," Edwards said. In recent weeks, group officials confirmed, the Legation's operational budget was cut from about $100,000 to just $22,000, a move that has left the museum without full-time staff. According to an email in February apprising its members of the dilemma, Lucretia McReynolds, a district representative of the Daughters, conceded the lack of funding was critical. She blamed the funding shortfall, in part, on the Daughters' continuing legal fight with the state over ownership of the Alamo Library and documents collection in San Antonio. A copy of the internal message was obtained by the Chronicle. "The FLM is a very old, state historical property which makes it very expensive to maintain and preserve; add staff salaries to that and it becomes a huge financial endeavor," the message states. In reviewing the issue, "it became clear we may have to choose between OUR own properties and a state owned property; chose between our children and a foster child! "Another solution, with our sincere apology, return the custodianship of the FLM to the State of Texas," the message continues. "If the State could provide the funding, DRT members would be glad to continue to provide oversight and management." The house was built in 1841 as the official residence for Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, the French charge de affairs who was assigned to Austin after France recognized the Republic of Texas as a country. The Legation was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, and it is listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, two designations that underscore the historical significance of the site. Built on 21 acres purchased in 1840 from Anson Jones, a future president of the Republic, the house was built of loblolly pine wood hauled in from Bastrop in a design that is a mix of Greek Revival and Mississippi Valley French architecture. According to the Handbook of Texas, Saligny likely never lived in the house. While he was living at a Congress Avenue inn as the house was being built, Saligny engaged in a nasty snit with the owner after his pigs destroyed Saligny's belongings in 1841, an event that became known as the Pig War. Saligny left Austin for New Orleans, and the house was sold to Jean Marie Odin, the bishop of Galveston, and then Moseley Baker, a general in the Texas Revolutionary War, before Dr. Joseph Robertson bought it in 1848. The state bought it from Robertson's heirs in the 1940s, and the property was placed in the custody of the Daughters, which restored the house to its 1840 appearance and made extensive improvements to the grounds. The Daughters operated the Alamo starting in 1905 under a similar custodial arrangement. Not 'highest priority' In early 2015, the state took control of the Alamo from the Daughters after lingering disputes over maintenance and capital improvements that had been delayed because of a lack of funds. While the group has asked the Texas Facilities Commission for help in funding the Legation's renovations, executive director Harvey Hilderbrand said he is considering seeking funding from the Legislature next year, but noted the Legation "is not our highest priority." "Staff members were very receptive and supportive of those requests and kind of share the concern," Hilderbrand said, adding that the request remains under "serious consideration." Even if it is approved by the Legislature in early 2017, in a budget year when state funds are expected to be tight, additional funding for the Legation likely would not be available until September 2017, leaving open the question of who will pay for operations until then. Hildebrand said the commission has no plans to operate the property. State Rep. Ryan Guillen, a Rio Grande City Democrat who chairs the House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee that oversees historic sites, said he is concerned about the Legation's future. "The French Legation house holds immense historic value, not only for its status as one of the oldest in the state, but for its diplomatic significance in the story of the Republic of Texas," he said. "Maintaining the building and its legacy will be something to explore as we prepare for next session." Kenneth Howell, history professor at Blinn College and executive director of Central Texas Historical Association, said the museum is one of the most important pieces of history remaining from the Republic of Texas. "The French Legation is important to early Texas history, so it would be a museum very worthy of preserving," he said. Since the Texas General Land Office took over operations of the Alamo in 2015, the Daughters sued the agency to retain custody of a historical library and collection. A hearing in that case is set for May 5. Edwards said the Daughters have spent upwards of $275,000 in legal costs so far. That has forced the group to cut the operations budget at the Legation, said Jim Suydam, a spokesperson for the Daughters. "(The Daughters) would have $200,000 more had they not had to fight with the state over the ownership of their library," he said. General Land Office officials declined comment, saying the agency has no connection to the Legation. Legation's income Edwards said the $22,000 that remains to cover operational costs at the Legation - money that will be used to pay part-time employees with volunteers covering other roles - could be increased if the legal costs abate. Edwards said the group also is working to move some of its Alamo library for display at Texas A&M University at San Antonio, at a cost between $35,000 and $50,000, plus another $235,000 for purchasing display materials. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas oversees operations of six properties, including its headquarters. Edwards said the group's other properties are not having financial problems, but the Legation is not "economically stable." The Legation sees about 18,000 visitors per year, she said, but the museum has problems "earning enough money on its own." Conrad Burns, a onetime cattle auctioneer who parlayed his down-home appeal into three terms as a Republican senator from Montana, reaping federal dollars for his state as well as criticism for his impolitic, at times offensive, off-the-cuff remarks, died April 28 at his home in Billings, Mont. He was 81. The cause was complications from a stroke in 2009, said a daughter, Keely Godwin. Burns served from 1989 to 2007 in the Senate, where he made "weighty speeches on foreign policy and the future of the Internet," it was observed in the Almanac of American Politics, even while cutting "the figure of a stereotypical Westerner, picking his teeth with a pocketknife, chewing tobacco, telling deadpan jokes." He lost his seat in 2006 to a Democratic challenger, then-state Senate President Jon Tester, after revelations that Burns had received $150,000 in campaign contributions - among the highest amounts of any member of Congress - from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates. The son of Missouri ranchers, Burns had established himself in Billings as a livestock auctioneer, then built a network of 29 radio and six television stations devoted to agricultural news. He was elected Yellowstone County commissioner in 1986 and two years later defeated an incumbent Democrat, John Melcher, for a seat in the Senate. Burns came to Washington promising never to "take a chew under the Capitol dome." He did not come to the Senate "deeply steeped in politics and governance," Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said in an interview, adding that Burns had some "rough edges." But "I liked him because he was very unpretentious," Ornstein said. "He knew who he was." Burns obtained a seat on the Commerce Committee, chairing the subcommittee on communications, and on the powerful Appropriations Committee, where he led the Interior subcommittee. On the former, he supported deregulation and the cultivation of online commerce. On the latter, he helped direct federal funds to Montana. Especially as his seniority increased, he became known as an effective advocate for his constituents. When drought hit farmers, Burns lobbied for federal relief similar to the funds given to victims of floods and hurricanes. But Burns also drew the ire of many in his state and elsewhere over his stream of gaffes insulting groups including but not limited to African-Americans, Arabs and immigrants. "I can self-destruct in one sentence," Burns once said. "Sometimes in one word." In 1991, after the passage of a civil rights bill, Burns invited a mixed-race group of lobbyists to an auction. When the prospective guests inquired what goods were to be sold, he responded, "Slaves." Burns later clarified that his phrasing referred to volunteers who agreed to do chores or other jobs for a charitable cause. During his re-election campaign in 1994, he relayed to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle a meeting with a Montana rancher who asked him how he managed to live in Washington with "all those (expletive)," using a racial slur for African-Americans. By his account, Burns replied that it was a "hell of a challenge." The senator later apologized, saying that the episode represented "views which I do not condone and do not share." He also remarked that "it's always a challenge when you bring different cultures and beliefs together." On another occasion, he referred to Arabs as "ragheads." During his final re-election campaign, Burns faced withering scrutiny over his ties to Abramoff, who pleaded guilty in January 2006 to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe officials. As chairman of the Interior subcommittee, Burns oversaw legislation involving Indian affairs. Abramoff, who admitted to defrauding Indian tribes he represented, told Vanity Fair magazine that his clients received "every appropriation we wanted" from Burns's subcommittee. Burns said that he did not personally know Abramoff and that he had not realized the lobbyist's relationship with tribes that donated to his campaign. In 2008, the Justice Department closed an investigation of Burns' involvement without bringing criminal charges. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, the Phyllis, of Billings; two children, Keely Godwin of Durham, N.C., and Garrett Burns of Alexandria, Va.; a sister; and three grandchildren. Even as Donald Trump trounced him from New Hampshire to Florida to Arizona, Sen. Ted Cruz could reassure himself with one crucial advantage: He was beating Trump in the obscure, internecine delegate fights that could end up deciding the Republican nomination for president. "This is how elections are won in America," Cruz gloated after walking away with the most delegates in Wyoming. But it turns out that delegates - like ordinary voters - are susceptible to shifts in public opinion. And as the gravitational pull of Trump's recent primary landslides draws more Republicans toward him, Cruz's support among the party's 2,472 convention delegates is softening, threatening his hopes of preventing Trump's nomination by overtaking him in a floor fight. With each delegate Trump claims, he gets closer to the 1,237 he needs to clinch the nomination outright, and Cruz's chances of stopping him - even if he pulls out a victory in Tuesday's Indiana primary - shrink. Before Trump's crushing victory in Pennsylvania last week, Cruz's campaign boasted that it had 69 people devoted to acquiring as many as possible of the state's 54 unbound delegates - who are free to vote as they please on the first ballot, making them potentially decisive players in a contested convention. Cruz won only three. In North Dakota, where the Cruz campaign declared victory after the state Republican convention on April 3 and declared that it had won "a vast majority" of the state's 28 unbound delegates, Cruz's support appears to be weakening. In interviews, delegates said he really had only about a dozen firm commitments to begin with, and some of them appear to be wavering as he falls farther behind Trump. And in states across the South, which was supposed to be Cruz's bulwark, some delegates are now echoing a growing sentiment inside the Republican Party: a sense of resignation to the idea that Trump will be their standard-bearer. "Honestly, we didn't think he could get this far. And he did," Jonathan Barnett, the Republican national committeeman for Arkansas, said of Trump. Barnett, who supported former Gov. Mike Huckabee's failed campaign, said his focus had shifted to winning in November, even if that meant unhappily falling in behind Trump. The changes of heart have little to do with any epiphany about Trump's electability or his campaign's recent efforts to cast him in a more serious light. Instead, delegates and party officials said, they are ready to move on and unite behind someone so that Republicans are not hopelessly divided heading into the general election. And many delegates cite concerns about whether Cruz is really a better choice. "There's just as many people that would question whether they could get behind Cruz," Barnett said. This gradual acquiescence points up a larger flaw with Cruz's strategy of being the last non-Trump candidate standing in a field that began at 17: It was never as much about him as about Republicans grasping for a more palatable alternative to Trump. But the "never" in the "Never Trump" movement is beginning to look more like a "reluctantly." "I'm not in the anybody-but-Trump campaign," said Jim Poolman, a delegate from North Dakota. "I'm in the anybody-but-Hillary campaign." Poolman said he still planned to vote for Cruz on the first ballot, which he told the campaign he would do. But he said his decision was not set in stone. "I'm trying to hold on to my commitment but still be pragmatic," he said. "There's a lot of stuff that could happen before Cleveland. And I know that makes me sound squishy, but I don't mean it that way." Delegates like Poolman are emblematic of the Cruz campaign's larger problems holding on to votes at a contested convention. Poolman initially favored Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who withdrew from the race in March. While Poolman was looking for another candidate, he said, local Cruz volunteers asked if they could add his name to the list of delegate candidates supporting Cruz at the state convention. He said Cruz's wife, Heidi, called him and gave him her cellphone number, saying he would always have "a direct line to the campaign." And he was elected a delegate. But now, Poolman said, he worries about party disunity and what it could mean for Republicans in November. "My goal, personally," he said, "is to not let our convention become a circus." The chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, Kelly Armstrong, said Cruz's appeal remained strong there, but put his support among the state's 28 unbound delegates at "at least 10" - not quite the "vast majority" the Cruz campaign had claimed. Armstrong, who has not taken sides, said delegates also had to consider how denying the nomination to Trump might look to his supporters, who have followed his lead in denouncing as corrupt any outcome other than a Trump victory. "We can't have a bunch of people really, really upset about the process and then think we're going to be able to gain their support in November," Armstrong said. The results in Pennsylvania were most troubling for Cruz. He had dominated the delegate fights in Colorado and Wyoming, contests that were influenced by the kinds of party activists Cruz tends to attract. Yet Trump appeared to win at least 40 of Pennsylvania's 54 unbound delegates. "There's not going to be a second ballot," said Ash Khare, who was elected last Tuesday as an unbound Pennsylvania delegate. Khare declined to support any candidate before the election, though Cruz, Trump and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio all came calling, he said. "I was promised a photo, a private meeting. Forget about it," Khare said, adding that he only ever intended to vote for the candidate who won in his district. That would be Trump. Khare said he was not especially drawn to anything about Trump or his ideas. "Whether he will succeed or not, I don't know," he said. But he said he could not deny the will of so many voters. "There is a revolution going on here," he added. Voters, too, may be starting to share Trump's reasoning that he would deserve the nomination even if he fell short of 1,237 delegates. A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that more than 6 in 10 Republicans believe the nominee should be the candidate with the most votes even if he does not have the support of the majority of delegates. Still, Trump's campaign is moving to nail down the delegate commitments he would need to get a majority, asking unbound delegates to sign pledges to vote for him. With the Indiana primary potentially a make-or-break moment for stopping Trump, Cruz can only hope the campaign once again takes an unexpected turn. "Trump is very popular in our state," said Alec L. Poitevint II, a longtime Republican leader in Georgia and previously a Rubio supporter, but now uncommitted. He will be a bound delegate on the first ballot, but he has not yet been assigned to a presidential candidate. And if he is required to vote for Trump, who won Georgia with 39 percent of the vote? "Fine with me," he said. AUSTIN -- The Obama administration has agreed to continue pumping billions of extra dollars into the Texas Medicaid program for 15 more months, a short-term extension that will give the state time to try to get a longer deal despite its refusal to expand eligibility. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services informed Texas on Sunday that it will grant the extension of the so-called 1115 Waiver, which the state requested April 7, as it became clear the two entities would not reach an agreement before the initially-approved funds were set to run out in September. The extension will be welcome news to Texas hospitals and other health care providers, who have come to depend on the roughly $3.1 billion annually to offset the cost of treating patients without health insurance and to support innovative projects to supplement access. State officials called it "a big win for Texas." "We're pleased these innovative programs will have the opportunity to continue," Texas health executive commissioner Chris Traylor said in a news release. "These programs are improving health care for Texas' Medicaid clients and creating cost-savings for taxpayers." The waiver first was approved in 2011 as part of a nationwide effort. In Texas, it was a five-year program with $29 billion in combined funding from the federal government and state and local sources that has paid providers for "uncompensated care" and supported 1,451 of projects. The Obama administration has indicated that it may not reauthorize all of the funding for states that do not expand Medicaid under the president's signature health care law, however. The administration's reasoning is that it believes that expansion would significantly reduce the number of uninsured patients, thus lessening the need for uncompensated care dollars. Texas officials have strongly opposed Medicaid expansion, saying it would be unwise to spend state money to expand what they call a broken system, even if it would unlock far more in federal funding. Florida, which also has declined to expand Medicaid, recently received its own short-term extension of its version of the 1115 waiver, but it came at a much lower rate. The extension given to Texas will allow the money to keep flowing at the same rate. However, if the state cannot reach a longer-term deal with the federal government, it will lose 25 percent of the funding at the end of 2017, and an additional 25 percentage points every year thereafter, according to a letter sent to the federal government. Texas advocates said they viewed the 15-month extension as a sign that the federal government would not budge on its desire for states to expand Medicaid before continuing to receive the money. Anne Dunkelberg, associate director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a liberal-leaning think tank based in Austin, urged state officials to use the time to find a compromise that would expand Medicaid, as some other Republican states have done. "Our hospitals and their patients can both come out ahead -- even with the upcoming loss of federal funding for uncompensated care -- if the Legislature and Governor use these 15 months to craft a plan to insure more Texans so they can pay their hospital bills and stay healthy," Dunkelberg said. Hospital officials focused on the news at hand. "Failure to extend the 1115 waiver would have resulted in near catastrophic consequences for the state's most vulnerable populations," said Ted Shaw, president of the Texas Hospital Association, in a statement. "The waiver has been absolutely critical for increasing access to quality health care. And it has done so with an efficiency that has saved Texas and the federal government more than $8 billion over the five years of its implementation." More deaths? Regarding "The face of ACA" (Page A16, Friday), when the Supreme Court ruled on the legality of the Affordable Care Act in June 2012, it gave each state the right to choose whether to implement the portion of the law that expanded Medicaid coverage. The Texas Legislature, along with several other GOP-led states, chose not to expand Medicaid and to deny government-paid health insurance to millions of Americans. Even though the Medicaid expansion would benefit American families, provide financial support to hospitals and reduce property taxes, the legislators made a conscious decision to reject the billions of dollars in federal monies simply because of their political beliefs. When hard-working Americans like Mark die, we can only wonder whether they would have been helped if Texas had expanded Medicaid. There is no doubt, however, that Mark's chances for living a longer life would have increased with health insurance. The legislators deprived Mark of that chance for a longer life simply because of their political ideology. Our elected officials should not be working against the millions of Americans like Mark. They should be doing everything they can to remove barriers that prevent all of us from living healthy, productive lives. The ACA was passed into law in 2010; how many Marks have died since then because they were denied health insurance by our legislators? Bill Meyer, Kingwood The economy Regarding "Why has economic output slowed? (Page A1, Friday), even though it tries to portray itself as a predictable discipline, economics remains a social science, with all of the inherent uncertainties that come with the title. Productivity is one of the defining characteristics of an economy, yet look at how difficult it is to measure. Depending whether one is an optimist or a pessimist, the outlook can vary widely, causing hand-wringing or celebration. As far as I can see, most economic predictions are as reliable as horoscopes, without fun. Bob Gayle, Houston Election season Regarding "Cruz picks stirs up GOP race" (Page A1, Thursday), as one who has been a resident of Houston for almost 35 years and has witnessed the seismic political shift here since 1981, I can say unequivocally that the spectre of a President Ted Cruz is terrifying. That the senator has come as far as he has is testimony to one of the strangest elections on record. Tom Brownfield, Nassau Bay Underpasses Regarding "High-water rescues abound as area struggles to recover" (Page A1, April 20), the priority in a flood is reducing fatalities. At least eight people drowned, including one died in her car in a flooded underpass. We need a warning system at flood-prone underpasses, with features resembling freeway traffic advisories and railroad crossing barriers. Two blocks before a motorist reaches a flooded underpass, there should be a sign that flashes the message: Underpass flooded, turn around. One block from the underpass, a second sign should flash the same message. Half a block from the underpass, a road barrier resembling a train crossing barrier should be activated. Thomas C. Williams, Houston. Housing Secretary Julian Castro, a surrogate for Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, took aim at Bernie Sanders record on immigration during the senators former elected capacity as an Independent member of the U.S. House from 1991 to 2007. Sanders "voted with Republicans to protect the Minutemen, a hate group that used military tactics against our community," Castro, a former San Antonio mayor, said in a statement rolled out by the Clinton camp March 8, 2016, the day that Sen. Sanders of Vermont won an upset victory in the partys Michigan presidential primary. Clinton leveled a similar claim about Sanders and the Minutemen at a Democratic debate in Miami the next day; PolitiFact found her statement Mostly True. Unlike Castro, she did not call the Minuteman Project a hate group. Democrats tend to support comprehensive immigration reform including possible citizenship for residents living in the country without legal permission. Sanders, an Independent, caucused with Democrats in the House and later in the Senate. So its arguably not helpful at the polls for him to be seen as supporting the Minuteman Project, which came into the spotlight in 2005 when its founders organized a volunteer stakeout of parts of the Arizona-Mexico border for the month of April. One of the co-founders of the Minuteman Project, Chris Simcox, parted ways with the project and established the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps in 2005. The remaining founder, Jim Gilchrist, was fired from the Minuteman Project in 2007, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The groups spawned a network of chapters over the years, driven by a combination of growth and internal conflict over finances and other issues. Some chapters were not close to the border and focused on anti-immigration advocacy, while others voluntarily patrolled the U.S.-side of the border with Mexico. Those patrols and confrontation with undocumented immigrants prompted then-President George W. Bush to disparage them as "vigilantes" and a former Mexican president to call them "immigrant hunters," the Washington Post reported in 2005 . But the Minuteman Project and Minuteman Civil Defense Corps websites in 2005 and 2006 explicitly described their cause as "peaceful" and urged members to follow the letter of the law while patrolling the border, or risk discrediting their cause. In the claim, Castro, like Clinton, was referencing a vote on an amendment to a 2006 appropriations bill. The amendment was proposed by Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia in response to rumors that the U.S. Border Patrol had been telling the Mexican government where vigilante civilian border groups were stationed. The 2006 CQ Almanac described it as follows : "Kingston, R-Ga., amendment that would bar the use of funds in the bill to provide a foreign government with information that relates to the operations or location of the Minutemen or other private volunteer border patrol groups along the U.S.-Mexican border, unless the information sharing is required by an international treaty." On the House floor, Kingston explained , "What this amendment does is it clarifies Congress' position on a Border Patrol practice or a practice of the U.S. Government that tips off illegal immigrants as to where citizen patrols may be located. ... What my amendment does is simply says that the U.S. Government cannot tip off the Mexican officials as to where these folks are located." At the time, Rep. Martin Olav Sabo, D-Minn., said he didnt oppose it because it essentially restated existing Customs and Border Patrol policy. PolitiFact found that Clinton got Sanders vote right he did vote with the GOP for the amendment, House records show but downplayed what had been a bipartisan vote where 76 Democrats joined 216 Republicans in support. But unlike Clinton, Castro described the Minuteman Project as "a hate group." So, is the Minuteman Project a hate group and did Sanders vote really protect them? Requests for clarification from Castro led to Josh Schwerin, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, reaching out via email and directing us to the Southern Poverty Law Centers list of nativist extremist groups . The SPLC was established in 1971 and is listed as an outreach partner by the FBI, according to the agencys website. The SPLC list doesnt designate the Minuteman Project a hate group, unlike some other groups on their list of nativist extremists, which are marked with an asterisk to denote that they are both nativist extremist and hate groups. We wondered what moves a group into hate-group territory. By phone, Mark Potok, a center expert, told us "the nativist extremist groups are a step towards the center." "Basically, those are the groups which go beyond merely disagreeing with immigration policy and confront, personally, suspected illegal immigrants, or people who would help or hire them," he said, adding: "We don't list a group just for saying they think immigration levels ought to be lower." Potok continued, "the thing to understand about our hate group listing is it's not based on criminality or violence. Its based on the ideology expressed by the group, on its website or by its leaders. We ask, does it demonize an entire group? Those are the hardest line groups we cover." The SPLCs website defines hate groups as those that "have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics." Potok said that in 2006, the year the vote Castro referenced took place, nativist extremist groups were on the rise after beginning to emerge around 2005. Activity peaked in 2010, he said, when the center tallied 319 groups. In 2015, the SPLC counted only 17 such groups. "A lot of these [extremist nativist groups] were spinoffs of the Minutemen groups," Potok said, "but not all." Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, said in a phone interview that Jim Gilchrist, one of the co-founders of the Minuteman Project, was receptive when Levin approached him to deal with neo-Nazi elements in the organization, and that differences of opinion on how to handle that issue contributed to the fissure creating the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. "Certainly there were entities in the border movement that were clearly racist hate groups, and certainly there were people who were in the Minuteman Project at the time who were, but I can tell you that [Jim] Gilchrist wanted those people excluded, and after I informed him, he took measures to do," he said. In our research, we found that coverage of the projects offshoots has been dominated by several high-profile criminal cases that happened in the years between 2006 and today. In 2009, a former member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps murdered a Latino man and his 9-year-old daughter after breaking into their home, CNN reported . In 2013, Minuteman Project and Minuteman Civil Defense Corps co-founder Chris Simcox was arrested for child sexual molestation, according to Univision . These incidents have taken a toll on the reputation of the groups (for instance, in 2010, the NAACP referred to the Minuteman Project as "a nativist organization that has in the past been associated with the murder of migrant Mexican workers as part of its vigilante "border operations"). But it doesn't make sense to judge Sanders House vote on incidents that came after it occurred. So what information on the project was available at the time of the vote? A report from the Congressional Research Service, dated April 7, 2006, cited many potential problems that could arise with civilian border patrols, but also said that "apart from the widely reported incident involving Ranch Rescue [an extremist anti-immigration group that dressed in military gear and went looking for armed drug smugglers in 2002], there have been no credible reports of civilian border patrol organizations engaging in violence against migrants." Some scholars of the Minuteman Project, like Leo Chavez, an anthropologist at UC Irvine who has written about the group, have suggested that press coverage and creating a spectacle were central to the groups purpose ("Although monitoring the U.S.- Mexico border was Gilchrists immediate objective, the larger goal was to use the "citizen patrols" on the border to draw attention to Gilchrists larger aim of influencing public opinion and federal immigration policy," he wrote). Christopher J. Walker, an associate professor of law at Ohio States Moritz College of Law, echoed this view in an article in the Harvard Latino Law Review, writing , "More than anything else, the Minutemen seek media attention." Todd Gutnick, communications director for the Anti-Defamation League, told us by email, "We have always referred to the Minutemen Project (of that period) as anti-immigrant extremists, who had racists/haters in their rank and file, but not specifically a hate group," when asked about the ADLs view of the Project circa 2006. Sanders campaign policy director Warren Gunnels told us by email that Sanders "did not vote to protect the minuteman. This amendment simply stated what was already law at that time. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has never shared information with the Mexican government except when required by treaty." Although Sabo said it didnt reflect a change in existing law, 106 out of 201 Democrats at the time still voted against it; 19 did not vote. We reached out to Kingston for his perspective on the amendment. "It wasnt an extremist group, they werent violent, they werent making threats, it wasnt anything like that at all," he said by phone. "It passed overwhelmingly. I may have spoken to Bernie about it at the time, I dont remember, but it wasnt an extremist position. To me, it was common sense." "It was a minor vote. Ive gotten calls from a few other reporters that started a few months ago. I didnt even remember the thing itself until they started asking me about it," he said. Our attempts to reach the Minuteman Project by phone and via its website proved unsuccessful. Our ruling Castro, a surrogate for the Clinton campaign, said: "Bernie Sanders voted with Republicans to protect the Minutemen, a hate group that used military tactics against our community." Sanders, then an Independent in the House, voted with 75 Democrats to restrict the U.S. from alerting Mexico to Minutemen operations on the border. However, we didnt see any evidence that this since-weakened extremist group was designated a "hate group." On balance, we rate this claim as Half True. HALF TRUE The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context. It has been a tough few months for Republicans who wanted a more moderate voice as their presidential nominee this year. They might have seen Ted Cruz and Donald Trump as too extreme, and that was fine when there were among 16 candidates in the race. Now, theyre looking at the prospect that Trump could be on the verge of sewing up the GOP nomination before the convention. Think of those Republicans as former backers of Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who left the race last month after a poor showing in his home state. Toward the end of his run, still claiming that he could win Florida, Rubio was the sole candidate who really landed some punches on Trump in the televised debates. That didnt work so well for the Cuban-American senator. Rubio may have dropped out after Florida, but he continued his effort to convince his former supporters and maybe himself that Trump was not going to be the partys nominee. My, how times have changed. Last week, Rubio told the Washington Examiner that while he has well-defined differences with Trump, he would support the Republican nominee. Thats especially true now that its apparent that Hillary Clinton is going to be the Democratic nominee, he told the Examiner. There was no hint that Rubio was on the anti-Trump train that is trying to keep chugging along, led by Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. After all, Rubio has said before that he will not endorse in the primary. Then came an interview Rubio did with the Palm Beach Post on Friday, in which he seemed to be coming around to Trump as the nominee. Rubio said Trumps performance has improved significantly, according to the Post. Its easier than ever for Rubio to toe the party line. He has only to continue saying that hell support whomever leaves the convention victorious, so that when he hits the trail in the summer and fall he wont be supporting a candidate he chose but one that the party chose. Marco has significant political capital: his delegates, the delegates he won and those delegates who would show up at the convention and, when unbound from another candidate, would listen to what Rubio would say, one Rubio insider told Politico. That matters, especially, for someone who wants a future in the GOP beyond 2016. Rubio still is incredibly young by political standards, and while he had a rough go at it this year, in his home state no less, voters short memories can only help him in four years. Everybody loves a comeback story, right? And the American voters, including the Reagan army of yore, certainly are not opposed to giving a candidate a second chance. Consider Rubios future in the context of what has become a major nugget of conventional wisdom: Republicans are going to nominate either Cruz or Trump, both of whom many Republicans believe will lose to Clinton in a general election. So, the question becomes, who do you want to lose with so you maybe can win in 2020, when a President Hillary Clinton would be facing the daunting task of carrying Democrats to four consecutive terms. If Rubio supports the Republican nominee only to see them lose to Clinton, then he can be declared a good sport and be first in line for the next time we do this. This week at the Capitol, two of my priority pieces of legislation have made significant advancements. My Senate bill relating to workers compensation insurance premiums for volunteer firefighters was third read and passed in the Senate, and my legislation regarding parole officer standards for violation reporting moved ahead in the House committee hearing process. Senate Bill 613 would modify certain provisions of workers compensation agreements for volunteer firefighters across the state. This bill would allow departments to apply to the State Fire Marshal for funding grants to cover insurance premiums, giving our brave volunteer public safety servants the financial assistance and support they deserve. The men and women of Missouris many volunteer fire departments face grave physical danger every day as they protect our communities from life-threatening emergencies. Our state needs to be doing more to ensure these heroes are well supported should they ever come to harm during their duties. I want to thank Representative Robert Ross, R-Yukon, for his help in furthering this legislation in the Missouri House, and senators Schaefer and Wasson for co-sponsoring SB 613 with me in the Senate. Your state legislators have an inherent responsibility to better the lives of the citizens they represent, and few members of the public require our gratitude and support more than volunteer firefighters. I am very pleased that I am able to help support the men and women of Missouris volunteer fire departments. I am confident that this legislation will be approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor for the betterment of our selfless civil servants. Senate Bill 681 is the second piece of legislation I would like to update you on this week. This bill would require a probation officer to notify the prosecutor if he or she has probable cause to believe a probationer has violated a condition of their probation. The purpose of this bill is simply to bring certain antiquated practices in the states probation system up to more modern standards. This issue was brought to my attention by Ozark County Sherriff Darrin Reed and Prosecuting Attorney Tom Kline, who both recognized a need for an efficiency update within the system. By requiring officers to proactively notify prosecutors about violations, our probations and parole operations can run much more smoothly. In todays world where we have instant access to records and documents through digital technologies, some more traditional methods of judiciary practice are becoming outmoded. Targeted reforms like this bill work together to improve the efficiency of the system as a whole. Senate Bill 681 will continue to work through the committee hearing process before returning to the Senate for debate and final passage. Mike Cunningham is a Republican member of the Missouri State Senate, representing District 33. Contact him at 573-751-1882 or www.senate.mo.gov/cunningham The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of South Central Missouri will host its second annual Texas County Justice IS Served! fundraiser event from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Friday (May 6) in the community building at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds. The theme this year will be Buckles and Spurs! Dinner will be prepared by the Gentry Residential Treatment Center of Cabool, and served by local law enforcement officers. There will also be a silent auction, music provided by the STARS Foundation and an old west photo booth. LEIGH ANN SIGMAN In 2015, the Missouri 25th Judicial Circuit CASA served 167 children in foster care We have children on the waiting list to receive a CASA volunteer, said CASA board treasurer Emma Brent. We need more volunteers. Sponsorships are currently being solicited for the Justice IS Served! event (the main fundraiser for the not-for-profit organization). A wide range of ticket options are available, from individual to corporate level. Businesses or individuals may also sponsor a table. CASA is a national organization of volunteers appointed by judges to speak for the safety and well-being of abused and neglected children. CASA of South Central Missouri was founded in 2005 and has since served more than 700 children. In 2015, 167 children were served by 59 CASA of South Central Missouri volunteers in the 25th Judicial Circuit (which covers Texas, Phelps, Pulaski and Maries counties). Volunteers contributed over 1,296 hours in direct contact with the children and 4,219 hours of casework, and there is a projected increase for 2016. I just want to make a difference in a childs life and I know that happens with CASA, said volunteer Bob McClain. I first heard about CASA eight years ago when I met a fellow patient in the hospital who told me how valuable CASA really is. McClain has been a CASA volunteer for about 18 months. The training was excellent, he said. When we moved back to Rolla, the first person I met at church was a CASA volunteer. I knew that was where I could contribute and it has been extremely rewarding. For more information about Justice IS Served! sponsorships, reservations or donations, call CASA volunteer coordinator Leigh Ann Sigman at 573-426-5437 or email casavol@fidmail.com. CASAs web address is www.casascmo.org. The Houston R-1 School District will hold a public forum Tuesday to discuss the future of the Fine Arts Building. The meeting is 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, inside the high school/middle school cafeteria. The public is encouraged to attend. The district is considering options for the facility that was vacated in 2008. The school board approved seeking demolition bids at its January meeting. Since then, Houston citizen John Impey has appeared at three consecutive board meetings to campaign to restore the building. Texas County school districts would see a potential loss of nearly $2.3 million if the Missouri Legislature changes the way it calculates aid, according to projections from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Missouri General Assembly is pondering cuts in the calculations to fully fund Missouris K-12 foundation formula by approximately $418 million. The projections from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education show the amount districts would receive annually under full funding of the current formula compared to the amount they would receive under the lowered target called for by Senate Bill 586. The cuts for Texas County school districts are projected to be: Cabool, $461,660; Houston, $566,352; Licking, $505,404; Plato, $324,806; Raymondville, $122,168; Summersville, $237,869; and Plato, $324,806. These projections demonstrate in stark detail the negative impact this bill would have on school districts across the state, said Gov. Jay Nixon. From Belton and Branson to Poplar Bluff and Pleasant Hill, Senate Bill 586 would cut the target for fully funding the formula by millions of dollars increasing the burden on local taxpayers and opening the door to more special interest giveaways. Im troubled that members of the legislature would renege on their commitment to the foundation formula, while at the same time working to pass special interest tax breaks for everything from deer urine to yoga. The governors budget for fiscal year 2017 included an increase of $150 million for local public schools, including $85 million for the K-12 foundation formula. This would have represented an increase of $400 million over the amount that was invested in the K-12 formula in 2009. PDF: School district projections Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The CIA "live tweeted" the Osama Bin Laden raid Sunday afternoon to mark the fifth anniversary of the May 1, 2011, operation that killed the al Qaeda leader. The CIA twitter account said the step-by-step tweets would represent the raid at Bin Laden's Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound "as if it were happening today." Here are some of the tweets posted Sunday as the CIA recounted the helicopter landing, the famous situation room photo and the positive ID: 3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:53 pm EDT - @POTUS receives tentative confirmation of positive identification of Usama Bin Ladin#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 4:10 pm EDT Backup helicopter picks up remaining team members & materials & leaves Abbottabad#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. By any measure, religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault since the release of our commissions last Annual Report in 2015, says the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). From the plight of new and longstanding prisoners of conscience, to the dramatic rise in the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, to the continued acts of bigotry against Jews and Muslims in Europe, and to the other abuses detailed in this report, there was no shortage of attendant suffering worldwide. In the USIRFs 2016 report, which the State Department released earlier today, the commission notes that the incarceration of prisoners of conscience remains astonishingly widespread, occurring in country after country, and underscores the impact of the laws and policies that led to their imprisonment. The report highlights numerous examples of state-sponsored persecution of Christians, such as that occurring in the East African country of Eritrea: In Eritrea, where 1,200 to 3,000 people are imprisoned on religious grounds, there reportedly were new arrests this past year. Religious prisoners routinely are sent to the harshest prisons and receive the cruelest punishments. In 2006, the government deposed Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Antonios, who protested government interference in his churchs affairs. Besides being stripped of his church position, he has been held incommunicado since 2007 and reportedly denied medical care. Eritreas dictatorship controls the internal affairs of the state-registered Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities and also bans public activities of non-registered groups. Religious freedom conditions are grave especially for Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians and Jehovahs Witnesses. You can read more from the report here. Sharrie Marleen Ray, 67, passed away Friday, April 29, 2016, at Mercy Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born May 25, 1948, in Ferdale, Mich., daughter of Alexander Sauleiko and Jessie Pardeo. She and Bill Ray were married June 29, 1990. She was a member of Midvale Church and attended as long as her health permitted. She enjoyed the womens ministry on Sunday afternoons each month and was a faithful prayer warrior. She was employed as an EMT and supervisor at the Houston Sheltered Workshop until her health no longer allowed her to work. She enjoyed reading and working puzzles and visiting with friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant daughter, Becky. Survivors include her husband, Bill Ray of Raymondville, and many friends. Services were Tuesday, May 3, at Bradford Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Bradford officiating. Burial was in Midvale Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at bradfordfuneralhome.net. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Freedom House Declares Free Newspaper a Threat to Free Press in Israel | Main | Under Fire for Bias, Haaretz Editor Aluf Benn Lashes Out, Errs on Facts May 01, 2016 Exposing Iranian Exploitation and Weakness An article appearing inthe Washington Times, Iran touts Israel invasion to recruit teenage boys to fight in Syria, on the Iranian government's efforts to recruit fighters for the war in Syria, offers evidence of the lack of domestic enthusiasm for the regime's regional ambitions. The article describes how the regime has resorted to targeting teenagers in their recruitment effort and quotes a source identifying most of the current "Iranian" fighters in Syria as members of a disadvantaged migrant community, the Hazaras. The Iranian regime displays the worst form of exploitation by recruiting displaced and impoverished refugees to fight and die on its behalf. Will the so-called human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch rail against the regime for this abuse with anywhere near the same fervor that they pursue Israel for what they allege are acts of impunity toward Palestinians? The report shows the limited appeal to the Iranian population for the regime's adventurism. The direct Iranian military commitment in Syria is still quite limited, no more than a few thousand fighters out of a population of nearly 80 million. And yet, the regime already finds it necessary to resort to enticing teenagers from impoverished ethnic minorities. This suggests that the regime can't even find enough Revolutionary Guards personnel to send into battle. Posted by SS at May 1, 2016 09:46 AM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment Getty Images Closeup young man hands holding credit card and using cell, smart phone for online shopping or reporting lost card, fraudulent transaction A scammer swindled a Burnaby, B.C. woman out of $8,000 with a very strange request this week. She got a call from a man claiming to be with the Canada Revenue Agency, and he told her shed be put in jail if she didnt pay $8,000 in iTunes gift cards, Burnaby Now reported. She bought 16 cards, each for $500, and gave the caller the activation codes over the phone. The call came from a 613 Ottawa area code, RCMP said. Its sad to say that people are taking advantage of other peoples goodwill, RCMP Staff Sgt. Maj. John Buis told Burnaby Now. Advertisement Earlier in April, a Calgary woman was duped out of $20,000 in a similar scam involving iTunes gift cards the CBC reported. And in Saskatchewan, more than 200 people complained to Battlefords RCMP that they were receiving phone calls from fake CRA representatives. In Ontario, York Regional Police warned residents about the same scam. Cops never arrest people over unpaid taxes and missing immigration forms, the force said on Twitter Wednesday. If a caller threatens arrest or says a family member will be held in jail until money is paid, its definitely a scam, they said. They also warn that the CRA doesn't ask for payment in the form of gift cards or pre-paid credit cards. The latest CRA phone scam has the caller ordering people to pay their back taxes in @iTunes gift cards. pic.twitter.com/QK25HC3WXs York Regional Police (@YRP) April 27, 2016 Advertisement The CRA also warns Canadians that they should check with the agency if they receive suspicious requests for information or money. CP Amanda Lindhout lived 15 months of her life in captivity. Canadians learned horrific details of the daily abuse the Alberta freelance journalist experienced after being kidnapped in Somalia in 2008. She published her award-winning memoir "A House in the Sky," five years after she was first taken hostage. One person who was also subject to the horrors Lindhout endured was her mother, Lorinda Stewart. Living in Alberta, she was contacted by her daughter's captors shortly after the kidnapping. It was Stewart who tried for over a year to negotiate Lindhout's release. Advertisement The two women shared many phone calls throughout the nightmarish ordeal. A select number of calls are now being released to the public for the first time. 'Things have changed' The "worst" call happened about a year after Lindhout was kidnapped, according to CBC News. On the phone, Lindhout begs her mother for the $1 million her captors demanded. Stewart is heard trying to calm her down, assuring she was doing all that she could. That call was aired Monday during an interview with CBC Radio host Anna Maria Tremonti and Lindhout and Stewart. It touched on the issue of Canada's stance of not paying ransoms for nationals kidnapped abroad. The topic re-entered the national conversation after Canadian John Ridsdel was killed by hostage-takers in the Philippines in late April. Advertisement After Ridsdel's death, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated the government's position that Canada "does not and will not" pay ransom to terrorists, either directly or indirectly. Listen to Lindhout and Stewart's call below, via CBC. WARNING: The content may be disturbing to some readers Lindhout said the call took place after she was assaulted for three days. "OK, things have changed here, mom. You need to pay the money now," she says, sobbing during the call. Her voice shatters as Stewart repeatedly says her name in an effort to get her to listen. "You need to pay the million dollars now because they've started to torture me." Lindhout's book revealed how her family, as well as that of Australian colleague Nigel Brennan who was also kidnapped, gave up on Canadian and Australian governments and co-ordinated the pair's release themselves. "You need to pay the million dollars now because they've started to torture me." About $600,000 went to the kidnappers as ransom. The two families split the bill evenly. While Brennan's family was more well off, public donations helped Lindhout's parents come up with their half. Advertisement Lindhout says both the Canadian and Australian governments made the kidnappers an offer of $250,000. It was categorized as "expense" money to maintain official government policies of not paying ransoms. It was rejected. Despite the trouble her mother went through to raise the money, Lindhout says that she agrees governments shouldn't start paying ransoms. In a piece for the National Post published Sunday, Lindhout writes about how she is "not comfortable with the fact that those who abducted me profited from it," but argues that families should be allowed to fundraise privately to pay ransoms. A former hostage negotiator told Global News Sunday if governments start a precedence of paying for ransoms, more people will be kidnapped. Advertisement Amanda Lindhout was held hostage in Somalia for 15 months and released in 2009. (Photo: The Canadian Press) The government paying ransoms "would make the world an even-more dangerous place for Canadians working and travelling abroad, increasing the chance they could be targeted for kidnapping," Lindhout wrote. She says she knows she and Ridsel could have shared the same fate. "As we mourn the terrible outcome of Ridsdels hostage-taking, we need to work together families and government to reduce the risks for Canadians abroad and stamp out terror forever," she wrote. "That is how we honour his memory." With files from The Canadian Press Also On HuffPost: CP The heads of Bell and MTS deny it, but consumer advocates fear the merger of the two companies will mean higher prices in Manitoba and an end to hopes of four major wireless carriers nationwide. And at least one industry analyst says the deal poses enough of a threat to consumers to have a hard time getting government approval. Advertisement BCE Inc. on Monday announced a $3.9-billion buyout of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS), that provinces fourth wireless carrier. As The Huffington Post Canada has previously reported, Manitoba is one of a handful of provinces along with Quebec and Saskatchewan where wireless prices are considerably lower than in other parts of the country. Those three provinces have a fourth major wireless carrier, on top of Bell, Rogers and Telus. MTS has been critical to creating a more competitive wireless market in the province, wrote Michael Geist, the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. The deal appears to kill the hope of four carriers in each market and will likely mean sharply increased prices for Manitoba consumers. Advertisement A similar sentiment was echoed on social media in the hours after the deal went public. I, for one, am looking forward to a reduction in service and increase in price. #bellMTS Symptom Of Society (@SymptomOSociety) May 2, 2016 If the #CRTC approves this Bell buyout of MTS, they will prove that they don't represent the interests of consumers. #TalkBroadband Parallax Abstraction (@PXAbstraction) May 2, 2016 Big question for me on MTS sale is how many good paying jobs in MB are going to be lost as Bell consolidates services. #mbpoli Matt McLean (@MattMcLean1919) May 2, 2016 But the heads of BCE and MTS argue the deal will benefit consumers. MTS President and CEO Jay Forbes said he doesnt expect much to change in the wake of the deal. "We've had a very competitive marketplace here in Manitoba, and I don't see that changing," he said, as quoted at CBC News. Advertisement In a side deal, Bell agreed to hand over one-third of MTSs customer base to Telus. The move is likely an effort to assuage regulators concerns that too much of Manitobas wireless market will be concentrated in Bells hands. MTS has 51 per cent of Manitoba's wireless subscribers, while Bell has 6 per cent, its lowest share in any province. The details of how and which customers will be ported to Telus have yet to be worked out, but Bell CEO George Cope says the agreement is good news for Manitoba consumers. "You would expect, I think, the market to continue to be as competitive as it [has been], and if not maybe even more as a result." Advertisement Government approval not guaranteed Investors were happy with the news of the buyout. Shares in MTS jumped more than 15 per cent by mid-day Monday, to $37.87 a share. But analysts say this is hardly a done deal. The buyout has to be approved by Canadas telecom watchdog, the CRTC, as well as by the Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). We do not believe regulatory approval will be automatic, Maher Yaghi, an analyst at Desjardins, said in a client note Monday. The transaction will take a four-way wireless market in Manitoba and bring it down to three. We showed in a recent note that a four-way market where four strong wireless companies compete (Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) currently presents consumers with wireless prices that are 20 to 40 per cent lower vs. provinces with only three strong competitors. Hence, we suspect regulatory scrutiny could be as high as that on the Astral takeover, given we are now dealing with retail consumer-related services. Advertisement The previous Conservative government established a goal of four major wireless carriers in each region of Canada. Its unclear whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal government will continue to pursue that strategy. Some consumer advocates have criticized what they see as a cozy relationship between the Liberals and Bell. Even prior to the Bell-MTS announcement, some groups warned that this relationship could be harmful to consumers. Also on HuffPost Exposing Iranian Exploitation and Weakness | Main | Iran Recruiting Its Children for War in Syriato Prepare to Invade Israel As reported last month, CAMERA's work exposing the distorted translations in Haaretz's English edition has become a topic of public concern in Israel. Haaretz editor Aluf Benn addressed the issue again in yet another media interview today, this time on Army Radio. CAMERA's translation of the relevant section of the broadcast (approximately 18 minutes into the show) follows: Roey Idan: Haaretz has two entities. The paper here and the English version. Benn: What is the difference? Idan: The differences in the headlines are significant. Benn: Really. Wait, wait. Did you check this? Or are you only quoting CAMERA's research which selectively cites headlines. It's not that they checked all the headlines. -- Eral Segal interrupts: I enjoy -- Benn: When was the last time you read Haaretz in English to compare the headlines? Idan: I always compare the headlines. Benn: Ok, there is an organization which was established in order to find errors in Haaretz, which tries to persuade that Haaretz in English is a paper of extremist leftists who work against the state. They found, according to them, five errors in headlines in the course of a year. Part of them were factual and in many cases we are not ashamed to correct. When they claim that to write occupation is a mistake because there is no such thing, that is not correct. Idan: Here, I am with you. I am not talking about that. . . . . . . [Aluf signed off] . . . Segal: Too bad I didn't speak with him earlier. Hanan Amiur of Presspectiva writes to me that regarding Aluf Benn's statement that they found only five changes, Haaretz corrected 12 times because of our work in the last year alone. We found scores more disparities between the Hebrew and English. You are invited to follow on Twitter. Idan: It's important to note we're not only talking about factual errors. We are talking also about tendentious headlines in English. In short, Haaretz in English is the fuel of BDS and antisemitism. It is now illegal for Berlin homeowners to rent out entire properties to Airbnb users and other homesharing services. The Independent reports that new legislation, called Zweckentfremdungsverbot, bans owners from renting out entire apartments to tourists without city permits. Advertisement Breaking the law, which was passed in 2014 but went into effect May 1, could get homeowners up to 100,000 (almost C$144,000) in fines. The Airbnb legislation, passed in 2014, became law as of May. (Getty Images) Those without city permits will be able to rent out only rooms. Listings on Airbnb for Berlin dropped by 40 per cent in April, according to The Independent. Andreas Geisel, Berlins head of urban development, called the law is a "sensible instrument" in tackling the city's housing shortage, reports The Guardian. The law is aimed at maintaining a supply of available properties and keeping rental rates low. Advertisement "I am absolutely determined to return such misappropriated apartments to the people of Berlin and to newcomers," Geisel said. City authorities are also hoping residents will notify officials of any owners who break the law. But that request isn't sitting well with some. A 48-year-old woman who has rented her properties through the popular website told The Guardian in Germany, of all places, maybe we should reconsider this kind of thing." 'Simple rules' needed: Airbnb A spokesperson for Airbnb told the Independent that "Berliners want clear and simple rules for home sharing" and that the company "will continue to encourage Berlin policy-makers to listen to their citizens." This isn't the first time the online service has landed in hot water over rental rates. In New York, it was accused of "exacerbating the housing crisis," according to The Verge. Advertisement In Vancouver, to come up with regulations for services like Airbnb, city staff are collecting data for a study on short-term rentals and their effects, CBC News reports. Last month, Toronto-based MaRS Solutions Lab released a report suggesting tougher regulatory measures be put in place to limit what kinds of homes can be rented in the sharing economy. Also on HuffPost Say hello to one of Australias biggest babies! Baby Ziad Kadic was born at Perths Joondalup Health Campus on Saturday via caesarean section. Weighing an impressive 13.2 pounds and measuring 57 cm long, he is possibly the biggest baby born in Western Australia and likely the whole country, Perth Now reports. (However, this has not yet been confirmed.) Young Perth mum Breanna Sykes gives birth to 5.9kg baby, one of the biggest in Australia: https://t.co/ZskXY9aQGBpic.twitter.com/kJYOjCZsrB PerthNow (@perthnow) May 2, 2016 First-time mom Breanna Sykes was surprised by her newborns size. Originally doctors estimated baby Ziad would be eight or nine pounds. However, when Sykes went into labour, she was in a lot of pain and doctors feared the baby was too big to deliver naturally. Advertisement They said he is just not going to fit. If I try and push the baby he could break my pelvis so I had to get a caesarian, unfortunately, Sykes told Australian Network News. The hospital staff was just as stunned as Sykes when her baby boy was born. Everyone's talking about it, the big, giant baby, the new mom said. According to KMOV, baby Ziad was born the size of a three-month-old. He now holds the record for biggest baby born at Perths Joondalup Health Campus in 15 years. Advertisement Although big in size, Ziad is perfectly healthy and doing well. The mom described her son to the Daily Mail saying, Hes just so chunky, beautiful, very chubby, cuddly and sleepy. The baby boy and his mom will be sent home from the hospital on Tuesday. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average birthweight in Australia is 3.35 kilograms, or 7.3 pounds. In comparison, the average birthweight of babies born in Canada is between 5.5 to 9.9 pounds. This isnt the first big baby weve heard of this year. In March, a Nova Scotia mom welcomed one of the biggest babies ever born in Cape Breton. The infant girl weighed a whopping 13.3 pounds. ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Finance Minister Bill Morneau evidently thinks Conservatives would do well to get past this "whole balanced budget thing." Morneau made the remark in question period Monday, sparking an eruption of laughter and mock applause from the Tory benches. Advertisement Tory MP Lisa Raitt and Finance Minister Bill Morneau are shown in the House of Commons. (Photo: The Canadian Press) For months now, Tories have pressed the Liberal government to admit it inherited a surplus. Interim Tory Leader Rona Ambrose urged Morneau to concede that "undeniable fact" Monday, days after the Finance Department released a report showing Ottawa ran a surplus of $7.5-billion over the first 11 months of the fiscal year. The Parliamentary Budget Officer also projected last month that the federal government will run a small budgetary surplus in 2015-2016. Advertisement Morneau shot back that his department informed him the feds will be in a deficit position this year, but said Liberals were "focusing on things that really matter to Canadians" rather than balancing the budget at all costs. But the minister's exchange with Conservative finance critic Lisa Raitt was perhaps more memorable. Tory MP to Morneau: How are you sleeping these days? Raitt, who is rumoured to be mulling a run for the Tory leadership, rose to accuse Morneau of dismissing his own department's report and "misleading Canadians" on the real fiscal situation. The finance minister said Canadians made the right choice last October, hiring Liberals to "invest" in the economy. "Clearly the members from the other side are still stuck in this whole balanced budget thing," he said, dismissively. Raitt then charged that Liberals seek to stick Canadians with "billions and billions of dollars in debt." Advertisement "Clearly the members from the other side are still stuck in this whole balanced budget thing." Finance Minister Bill Morneau Then she tried to use his own words against him. "Interestingly enough, Mr. Speaker, the finance minister wrote a book. And in his book he said the following: Debt prevents you from doing things, such as sleeping well at night,'" she said. "So my question for the finance minister is this: how's he sleeping at night?" Morneau said he's catching plenty of Z's, thanks. "I'm sleeping well at night knowing that what we're doing is we're making my children and my grandchildren better off," he said, pointing to investments in infrastructure and an "innovative economy." With a file from The Canadian Press ALSO ON HUFFPOST: A teen in India has died after accidentally shooting himself in the head while taking a selfie. Ramandeep Singh, 15, died in a Ludhiana hospital Sunday after the Friday night incident, according to The Indian Express. Singh was pointing the .32 bore revolver at his head while trying to take a selfie on his phone, according to Pathankot Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar, when the weapon went off. Advertisement The bullet was still lodged in the teen's head when he was taken to hospital, where he later died, according to NDTV. The weapon belonged to Singh's father, who is a property dealer. Recently-released statistics show India accounted for almost 40 per cent of selfie-related deaths in the past three years, according to CNN. The country accounted for 19 of the 49 deaths. Police in Mumbai set up no-selfie zones in February after the spate of accidents, The Guardian reported. Areas without barriers near waterways are among those off-limits for selfies. Advertisement Also on HuffPost One day, Canadians will gather around campfire holograms and tell the grand story of Justin Beaver Canada's comeback kid. Advertisement Justin Beaver was found thin and dehydrated in December. (Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary/Facebook) The rodent's tale began in December, when it was found severely dehydrated and underweight in an Ottawa backyard, according to CBC News. Justin was "not behaving normally the way a beaver should behave," Heather Badenoch, a volunteer with the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary said at the time. The centre asked for a Good Samaritan to drive the beaver to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, a treatment centre four hours away in Rosseau, Ont. The centre had the facilities the beaver needed for a full recovery. Less than an hour after their public plea, the #BeaverTaxi hashtag gained traction and a driver, Mary Herbert, found. Advertisement Justin made it to the centre and made his recovery over almost five months there. He was given his cheeky new name at the sanctuary, according to the Ottawa Citizen. And on Saturday, he made his triumphant return to nature. Justin got a lift from Rosseau to Ottawa with Stuart Musson. The drive was a slow and quiet one, Musson told the Citizen. I was 80 km/h and letting everyone pass me, he said. Justin Beaver needed a drive last year for medical care. He's coming back to the wild TODAY at 4! #ottnewspic.twitter.com/l7indMkagl Rideau Wildlife (@rideauwildlife) April 30, 2016 The beaver eventually made it to the shore of the Rideau River, where he would begin his new life. Hes healthy, hes happy, hes old enough to be on his own, Badenoch said. He was thin and dehydrated when found in Osgoode backyard in December. He is healthy now #ottnewspic.twitter.com/e40Dr3emrx Chloe Fedio (@cfedio) April 30, 2016 We'll update this post when this story inevitably becomes a Heritage Minute. Also on HuffPost Adorable Beavers See Gallery Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau broke some very big news for his family: they got a puppy! Along with an adorable photo of two-year-old Hadrien playing with the new dog, Trudeau tweeted: "#tbt to the little one meeting our newest arrival a few months ago. Say hello to Kenzie." #tbt to the little one meeting our newest arrival a few months ago. Say hello to Kenzie. pic.twitter.com/G0wuoP9JCe Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 28, 2016 Of course, the Canadian public was quick to react to this overload of cuteness. Many on Twitter wanted to know: what kind of dog is it? Advertisement The Prime Minister's press secretary has confirmed to Huffington Post Canada that the little fluff ball is an 11-week-old, female Portuguese water dog -- the same breed as President Barack Obama's dogs, Bo and Sunny. (Maybe that trip to the White House in March had an influence on the Trudeaus' choice.) From my family to yours, Happy Easter, and we wish everyone celebrating a blessed and joyful day. pic.twitter.com/fNvcihSmYB President Obama (@POTUS) March 27, 2016 When Trudeau became Canada's Prime Minister in October of last year, his family of five didn't have any pets. There was some speculation around whether or not the family would get an animal, since pets can make politicians more "relatable" to the public. However, the Trudeaus aren't in short supply of approachability. Selfie, anyone? Advertisement And just look at these kids. Not all leaders have chosen dogs as pets, either. Remember Stephen Harper's chinchella, Charlie? And Bill Clinton's famous cat, Socks? But now the prime minister and his family have joined the ranks of many world leaders with their new addition. And if past political pets are any indication, Kenzie is sure to get a lot of attention. Just take a look at this media scrum around Obama's dogs. We're definitely looking forward to many more photos of Kenzie. ALSO ON HUFFPOST: As my first pregnancy progressed, so did the conversation surrounding whether my husband and I would have our son circumcised. My husband being from the U.K. where foreskin is the norm was troubled by the idea of "snipping his son's manhood." Recent figures estimate that only about 3.8 per cent of male children are circumcised by age 15 in the U.K. Advertisement But we were living in New York City, building our lives in North America. And we were under the impression that the majority of baby boys in our culture were being circumcised. We didn't want our little guy to be in the minority. So we decided our son would have the procedure, too. But we were still apprehensive. And like no decision before it, friends and family weighed in with their opinions. Comments such as, "You're not going to snip, are you? His penis will be ugly" and "How barbaric and awful to take a knife to a baby" trickled in. It reminded me of when we surveyed friends and family about potential names for the baby. People held very strong opinions about each name and expressed their thoughts freely. But now we were talking about a surgery that, practically speaking, was strictly cosmetic. We aren't part of a religion that requires it, and it wasn't medically necessary. Circumcision is only insured by OHIP when deemed medically necessary not when performed for "ritual, cultural, religious or cosmetic reasons." And the Canadian Pediatric Society does not recommend routine circumcision for every newborn boy. However, they have updated their position on the issue, noting that there are potential benefits for circumcision. For example, circumcised boys are less likely to get UTIs, develop (rare) penile cancer, or contract an STI (HIV, HSV and HPV in particular). Advertisement Nevertheless, there are still risks associated with the procedure. Last year in Ontario, the circumcision debate was reignited after a newborn bled to death from a circumcision gone wrong. The parents of the boy reportedly didn't want the baby circumcised, but were advised to by their family physician. Although this was an incredibly rare occurrence, and blame cannot be placed wholly on this physician, his advice to circumcise was for "medical reasons." This was a healthy baby boy with no established medical condition. In North America, circumcising is still viewed by many as the "normal" thing to do. This view led one father to take his son's mother to court, in order to circumcise their 4-year-old son. The mother refused to sign a consent form, even though she had initially signed off on the procedure in a parenting agreement years earlier. She was jailed for nine days and eventually consented to the procedure. My husband and I were not so heated in our debate. He was willing to conform to what we thought were North America's cultural ways, and I was content with my son fitting in. That was until we stopped a midwife in the hallway of a hospital and asked her how many circumcisions she'd witnessed in the last year. "Nowadays, definitely less than half," she said firmly. My husband's eyebrows shot up. She continued, "It's just not medically necessary. Regardless of what the father has had done, parents are starting to lean towards not circumcising, it seems." From that point on, our discussion about whether we were going to circumcise shifted to a question of why we ever would. My husband was now comforted knowing that our son (and now three sons) would not look different in the locker room, and I was happy to avoid what seemed like a harsh procedure for cosmetic reasons. Advertisement As a society, we get accustom to certain ideas and eventually they are deemed "normal." Circumcisions have been performed for more than 4000 years and for many it is completely conventional. How a little piece of skin became such a topic of religious, medical and cosmetic debate is fascinating. Regardless of what people deem as unnecessary or attractive or compulsory, parents must remember that as long as we are informed, cultural perceptions should never drive our parenting decisions. Also on HuffPost One Starbucks customer has no chill about how much ice is being served in her cold drinks. A federal class action lawsuit filed in Illinois last week claims that the company has been stiffing people on the beverage content of its iced drinks for a decade. Advertisement Plaintiff Stacy Pincus, who is acting on behalf of Starbucks customers, said the company misleads people when it says that its venti-sized cold drinks have 24 fluid ounces. Baristas, she claimed, are only filling venti cups up to 14 ounces and topping them up with ice. The filing came with pictures showing how much cups are actually filled up, according to Pincus, as well as how much ice is left over when they're finished. The lawsuit is seeking damages of US$5 million. But Starbucks doesn't believe it has any merit. "Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any 'iced' beverage," spokesperson Jaime Riley told The Associated Press. Advertisement "If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it." Also on HuffPost Keith Wood via Getty Images Worker turning valve on geothermal pipeline, silhouetted against dusk Listening to official commentary about using oil to pave the way for alternative energy, it sometimes sounds as though pipeline proponents are the true environmentalists among us. Commentary in favour of the pipelines has followed suit with generous explanations of our current needs and the realities of energy consumption. They ask: are opponents of the pipelines in denial about our current reliance on fossil fuels? Do the greens believe that our formidable energy usage can be easily offloaded to wind farms and hydro plants? And if these bleeding hearts do admit that we do need fossil fuels to power our country, are they comfortable importing Saudi oil forever? Advertisement I believe that such questions willfully miss the point. Our spirited national debate is not actually about our use of fossil fuels. On the contrary, we are debating whether we want to structure more of the Canadian economy around the production and sale of these fuels. That we will continue to burn fossil fuels for the foreseeable future will come as no surprise to anyone. I don't believe that even the most radical environmentalist expects that any alternative is possible in the medium-term. Does this, in itself, justify the pipelines? No. We all know that jets use jet fuel, that container ships burn bunker fuel and that the use of both is on a steady rise. Most trucks use diesel and most cars use gas and this is a present reality we can't easily escape. Whether we are headed for new innovations in alternative energy or continue on as one of the worst polluting nations on Earth, we will burn fossil fuels to get there. Does this, in itself, justify the pipelines? No. Conveniently, the vast majority of our oil imports come from the United States (only about 8.5 per cent are from the Middle East). They arrive by tanker on our east coast. Advertisement Even more conveniently, essentially all of our oil exports are being bought by the United States, only on the West Coast. We are their biggest foreign supplier by a wide margin. Between our two countries, oil flows efficiently to both sides of the continent. The pipelines are not about meeting our own energy needs, as extraordinary as they are, but about bringing more oil to the global marketplace. Trudeau is being upfront about this when he claims he will use the money to pay for clean energy. Only he will actually use the money to effectively pay down a $30-billion deficit and save the currency from further depreciation. Given the overhead investment, how can the pipelines project be seen as anything but a determined shift away from a green economy? Regardless of where the stimulus package is applied, however, it must be clear that the pipeline projects are not about energy for Canada but about money for Canada, and the national debate is about how and where we should be making our money. Having said this, it seems unlikely that the pipelines will pave the way for a green economy -- or any economy, for that matter, that challenges the continued use of a new and very expensive pipeline infrastructure. Advertisement A country whose economic prosperity and even survival is fully leveraged on oil and gas will not be the one to ramp down production in favour of energy alternatives. Given the overhead investment, how can the pipelines project be seen as anything but a determined shift away from a green economy? Once the infrastructure is in place, it will be used. And when the price of oil collapses again, we will again rally around big oil as our sacred cow. Production will have to be protected because too much will be at stake, and government subsidies to Canadian oil companies, currently at $1.7 billion, will grow and grow. Pipeline approval will mean decades of working toward and executing a massive upshift in oil production and export. It will mean becoming an oil country for the rest of the world. And at home, our full dependence on the world's continued use of fossil fuels will inevitably shape our allegiances in the struggle for a greener planet. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: mauro grigollo via Getty Images I come from a long line of smokers on both sides of my family. When I grew up it wasn't uncommon for parents to smoke in the house, on long car rides and, of course, in restaurants. Cigarettes were omnipresent, and by the time I was 15 years old I was a smoker myself, happily inhaling smoke into a pair of lungs that had been exposed to second-hand smoke since childhood. For 24 years I was a smoker. That's nearly a quarter century of inhaling smoke into lungs that are probably black by now. But I loved it. I'd start the day with a smoke and a coffee, and I'd have that last cigarette at the end of my day. Advertisement I just couldn't find the will power. And then, finally, I found something that helped me quit for good. When my partner and I were expecting our first-born, I finally made the decision that I was ready to stop smoking. I had tried a few different strategies by this point but nothing did the trick. I was still a smoker when my son arrived, and remained one until he was a year old. I just couldn't find the will power. And then, finally, I found something that helped me quit for good. No more need for cigarettes with my coffee, or that last smoke at the end of the day. Vaporizers have been around for a few years now. The nicotine delivery system is a harm reduction strategy, found to be 95 per cent less harmful than actual cigarettes according to most scientific research. There are only four ingredients -- vegetable glycerin, artificial flavor, propylene glycol and nicotine. By comparison, cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals, 43 of which are cancer-causing compounds and another 400 are considered toxic. Advertisement Put simply, there really is no basis to compare the two products except to say that both are inhaled by the consumer. Oh, one other thing: governments across North America are passing legislation that equates the two as both being a public health hazard for its citizens. In Ontario, the Kathleen Wynne government has passed Bill 45, a measure that places vaping on par with smoking, despite the obvious differences between the two. Thousands of people across the country have credited vaporizers for helping them kick the habit, yet legislation like this ignores the obvious benefits and fictionalizes the science in order to ban vaping in public wherever cigarettes are banned. I'm not one to use the phrase "nanny state," but I can't think of a more appropriate phrase to describe a government who insists on ignoring science so it can ban a product that has successfully helped more people to stop drawing smoke into their lungs than any other cessation strategy in history. Groups like Vapor Advocates of Ontario are currently engaged in an ongoing battle, challenging the government to take cues from the British Royal College of Physicians who are encouraging smokers to use vaping as a way to successfully quit smoking. Instead, as Kathleen Wynne promotes the semi-privatization of alcohol distribution, a substance known to kill tens of thousands of people a year, the Ontario government is stubbornly insisting that vaporizing is exactly the same thing as smoking, despite the building consensus among the scientific community that vaping could eventually be credited as saving thousands of lives annually. One has to ask what the motives are for governments to behave this way. Some ministry lawyers have cited odd theories such as vaporizers being considered a gateway product that will eventually cause children to start smoking cigarettes. Advertisement Unfortunately for those peddling this theory, smoking among teens continues to plummet. Other government officials will cite studies that have long been refuted, an odd way of trying to provide citizens with legitimate reasons for banning something that is not in the public good to ban. Last month a friend of mine attended a protest at Queen's Park, demanding the Wynne government abandon its stubborn legislation against vaping. While there she met countless ex-smokers, young and old, who universally heralded this new technology as "life-saving." Most of them cannot understand how a government can merely ignore the testimonials from ex-smokers. Since that protest articles have come out exposing the link between tobacco lobbyists and government fundraisers, as well as Wall Street documents that connect rising tobacco stocks with legislation banning vaporizers in public, similar to the legislation passed by the Wynne government. And yet, the Ontario government remains unconvinced. But politics aside, my partner couldn't be happier. I can feel the difference physically, too. I have been a non-smoker for nine months. I can breathe in deeply, I don't cough as much, my clothes and hands don't reek of cigarette smoke, and my son will never know what his daddy looks like with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Also, I have lessened the levels of nicotine and expect to be vaporizer-free within the next year. By that time my second child, a daughter, will be born. Both of my children will be the first generation in our family to be born without a parent who smokes cigarettes. Honestly, what's more important than that at the end of the day? Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: ASSOCIATED PRESS Bangladeshi Muslims carry the body of Xulhaz Mannan who was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants for his funeral in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. The banned group Ansar-al Islam, the Bangladeshi branch of al-Qaida on the Indian subcontinent, has claimed responsibility for the killings of gay rights activist Mannan and his friend in the capital, Dhaka. (AP Photo) A Bangladeshi LGBT rights activist, Xulhaz Mannan, and his friend were brutally hacked to death by an extremist group for "promoting homosexuality." The funeral picture showed local community members and Muslims offering his funeral prayers. This clearly draws the line between those who see religion as a supremacist ideology and those for whom it is about being a better human being. However, it also indicates that it is indoctrination against blasphemy, apostasy and homosexuality that instigates young men to justify murder. Advertisement This necessitates that Muslim community leaders will have to intensify efforts to destroy the poison of medieval supremacist doctrines that are touted by zealots addressing their hollow identity crisis. Such efforts are warranted, as death threats against LGBT Muslim activists have been issued even in places like Denmark. A harrowing article showed how the loved ones of LGBT Muslim activist Michael Sinan suggested that he stop participating in interviews and programs for his own safety. Sinan mentioned that despite getting three death threats, not much was done by the local police or the LGBT organizations. This is extremely unfortunate, for apart from experiencing homophobia, LGBT Muslims also have to contend with anti-Muslim bigotry. Such prejudice is rampant, as evidenced from the many negative comments and messages such activists receive online. Despite theological differences, there is no room in Islam to so poorly treat our LGBT Muslim brothers and sisters. Sinan also mentioned receiving acceptance and inclusion in many Muslim communities; however, it is crucial that such support be made public to send out a strong message that Muslims have zero tolerance for bullying, abuse and discrimination against some of the most vulnerable members of their community. Lives are at stake. This much is clear from the murders in Bangladesh. One death is far too many. The big organizations of Muslims can really send out a strong and powerful message that despite theological differences, there is no room in Islam to so poorly treat our LGBT Muslim brothers and sisters. Indeed, it is time that false analogies of vulnerable LGBT Muslims with the people of Lot are put to an end. There is absolutely no equation between the lives of our children, our faith-based brothers and sisters, our own flesh and blood, with Lot's people, who displayed obscene conduct of inhospitality, coercion and exploitation. Centuries have passed by with the perpetuation of such false constructs, but now that we are able to better understand human existence, that must end by revisiting the eternal core kernels of faith -- mercy, justice, compassion and love. The life of Xulhaz Mannan cannot be returned, but his legacy can and should be kept alive. Similarly, against the backdrop of death threats and demeaning messages, we can all band together to stand by Michael Sinan and other marginalized LGBT Muslim activists in this hour. Advertisement The following Muslim leaders, along with their allies, have banded together to offer words of wisdom and comfort, to recognize the ultimate price paid by Xulhaz Mannan, and to tell Michael Sinan and other LGBT Muslim activists to continue to stand tall and assert their truth (haqq): "The bravery shown by the work of Xulhaz, a man who had access to Western support and could have migrated but who decided to work in his home country, is the kind of dedication that leads to change. The violence against us is a way to instill fear and is meant to stop our progress. Our lives matter. Every single one of us is important. Yet, we must always move forward, continuing our movement with the understanding that such violence might occur."--Imam Daayiee Abdullah, Executive Director of the MECCA Institute "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our queer Muslim family and mourn the loss of our brave leaders like Xulhaz Mannan, who is the real martyr, having risked his life for the good of humanity."--Shahla Khan Salter, Director, Universalist Muslims "Discrimination against any members of a community threatens the security of all. Since all human beings are created b'tselem Elohim -- in the Divine image -- we each carry some of G-d's holiness within us. Michael, you have a lot of support in the broader community. Be strong."--Karen Gall, Jewish ally "Michael, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong... some of us will never give up supporting you."--Suroor Ali, Muslim ally "You are not alone, Michael. Sending Lots of love and support!"--Kelly Wentworth, Secretary, Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), President, MPV Atlanta "The heart of Islam is compassion and mercy. If we are not promoting a compassionate and merciful Islam, we are promoting a harsh and dictatorial Islam. Our Islam cannot be both."--Frank Parmir, Director, MPV Columbus "By living your life with pride and courage as you do, and making sajda (prostration) to no one except Allah (swt), you offer a great example of how to be a Muslim."--Mark Brustman, writer and activist "Michael and friends, in these difficult times I hope you'll find strength and courage to stay true to yourself. You are in our thoughts and prayers."--Dr. Adis Duderija, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne "While the people who commit violence are to blame for their own actions those who support contempt bear a part of the responsibility. And that is the true lesson of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah."--John Allenson, Jewish ally "We don't need LGBT martyrs; we need actual, alive role models to whom people can look up to and get inspiration, courage and determination to be who they are. And we can make that happen by standing up for those who are already on the picket lines fighting the right fight or just too afraid to speak out. This is our salvation, our sadaq e jariya (perpetual charity)."--Hadi Hussain, writer and activist Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: Kamil Krzaczynski / Reuters U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S., May 1, 2016. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski Donald Trump is not a man who is known to mince his words. When he says things, they are not just straight-forward. They are bombastic and most often outlandish. This is not the case when it comes to his opinion on Canada. After being asked by CBC's Meagan Fitzpatrick, the reality TV star turned-U.S. Republican presidential candidate recently answered "I love Canada..." and unlike his plans for Mexico, he said "I would not build a wall on the Canadian border." Advertisement Trump, a profound nationalist, is often described as an isolationist with regards to his foreign policies, namely his strong opposition to NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). This in particular would greatly affect Canada in terms of trade policy, jobs, unions, a large part of the Canadian economy, even the exchange rate if he were to actually win in the general election this November. Let's face it, everything Canada stands for, especially under a Liberal government, is exactly what Mr. Trump speaks out against. Trump has repeatedly stated he believes NAFTA to be a "disaster" and said he would renegotiate it if he does get elected. He has also said he would enact tariffs specifically against companies such as Ford. "Let's say Ford moves to Mexico. If they want to sell that car in the United States, they pay a tax." When Scott Pelley pointed out to Trump that "there's the North American Free Trade Agreement" in his interview on 60 Minutes last September, Trump promptly affirmed his stance when he said "...and there shouldn't be!.." Donald Trump states he wouldn't deal with it but would either renegotiate it or he would break it. He clearly states that NAFTA is not fair and has been quoted saying every agreement has a default clause. The GOP presidential candidate believes the United States is being defrauded by many countries, further stating free trade is not fair trade and trade must be fair. Advertisement Let's face it, everything Canada stands for, especially under a Liberal government, is exactly what Mr. Trump speaks out against. The new Canadian government speaks loudly of diversity and admitting refugees in from countries like Syria. Trump never speaks well of immigrants and has even described them as rapists and drug dealers, not acknowledging they contribute to society. The outspoken real estate mogul has repeatedly responded to questions regarding foreign policy and about the United States' place on the world stage in general with vague rhetoric that has had him repeat "...putting America first again" in almost every answer he gives. His answers have also included punishing other countries where he feels American interests have been compromised. While Mexico and China have been in his crosshairs, he has mentioned numerous other countries where he believes the United States has not gotten the fair end of the deal and that even includes countries like Canada, involved in free trade through NAFTA. Let's be clear. Trump speaks from a chest-pumping pro-U.S. and isolationist point of view, much more radical than any past Republican Canadians have been used to hearing. He is imposing and that is exactly the opposite reputation of his neighbours to the north. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Hemera Technologies via Getty Images Man jogging on beach The legendary humourist Mark Twain once lamented that the only way to stay healthy is, "to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not." His tongue in cheek remarks are something to keep in mind when the temptations of rich food, salty snacks and sugary drinks can prove difficult to resist. Advertisement But the fact is we don't have to give up all our guilty pleasures to be healthy. By focussing on wellness and becoming our own health advocates, we can enjoy all of what life has to offer, the idea being that disease prevention is easier than treatment. A few years ago, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health conducted public hearings to look at tackling the growing burden of chronic disease in this country. In its report, the Committee cited testimony from experts who said that "90% of type 2 diabetes, 80% of coronary heart disease, and one third of cancers could be prevented by healthy eating, regular exercise, and by not smoking." Health experts know that we need to start thinking about chronic disease prevention early. The Committee found that "only 7% of Canadian children meet the daily physical activity guidelines and even fewer teenagers meet them." Advertisement It was also told that as many as "25 chronic diseases are directly linked to physical inactivity and that an inactive person will spend 38% more days in hospital, use 5.5% more family physician visits, 13% more specialist services, and 12% more nurse visits compared to an active person." Chronic disease also takes its toll on our economy. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, chronic disease consumes "67% of all direct healthcare costs, and costs the Canadian economy $190 billion annually - $68 billion of which is attributed to treatment and the remainder to lost productivity." That's why chronic disease prevention and the promotion of wellness in the workplace are becoming a concern for more and more employers. Sanofi Canada's 2015 Healthcare Survey found that 45% of employees reported that they'd been diagnosed with a chronic disease such as diabetes, arthritis and depression. When high blood pressure and high cholesterol were included, the number rose to 56%. Among those 55 and older, a staggering 78% reported a chronic disease. In the report, employers are urged to make the wellness of workers a strategic goal, "focusing on education and behaviour at all levels of the organization and aiming to improve the worker, the workplace and the employer." Advertisement The fact is that there are some very common sense things we can do to make wellness and health a personal priority. Canadian Cancer Society President Pamela Fralick advises that by quitting smoking, being more active and eating the right foods, we can lower our cancer risk. Early detection and family history are also important factors to consider. However, when illness strikes and medication is required, it's of vital importance to follow the treatment regime as prescribed by a healthcare professional. As the former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop once said: "Drugs don't work in people who don't take them." Studies have shown the value of adherence in reducing hospitalization and improving outcomes for patients. A new generation of patient-friendly tools is now available to help patients take their medication safely and appropriately, including MyMedRec and many other mobile health apps. There has never been a better time to become our own health care advocate. If so, with apologies to Mark Twain, we can have our cake and eat it too. In moderation, of course. Advertisement sigurcamp via Getty Images Israel and palestinian flags face to face, symbol for the relationship between the two countries. In recent months, the Israel lobby and its allies in Canada's political establishment have waged a full-fledged assault on the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. This culminated in the anti-BDS motion that passed with enormous support in the House of Commons. What is the purpose of this massive mobilization of resources against a non-violent civil society movement? Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Israel lobby group Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)--a major proponent of this anti-BDS motion-- claims that BDS has been an "absolute failure" (22:42) at pressuring Israel economically. Advertisement Yet BDS has been cited as a primary cause for the nearly 50% drop in Foreign Direct Investment into Israel in 2015. And, more importantly, BDS challenges Israel's dominant narrative, which has been a fixture of Western societies for generations. Israel lobby groups see that this threatens the way Canadians view this issue. In a recent HuffPost commentary, Fogel chose to lambaste Palestinians' right of return in an apparent effort to justify the government's censure of Canadians who support BDS. Fogel denied both that Palestinians are entitled to this right, and that Canada supports it officially. Not only is the Palestinian right of return to their homes and properties enshrined in numerous bodies of international law, but Canada's official policy is that concerned parties must come to a solution that "should respect the rights of the refugees, in accordance with international law." How can Fogel claim so boldly that Palestinians -- those who were born in current-day Israel or whose parents and grandparents were born there, and whose ancestors lived there for countless generations-- should be forbidden to ever return, while a Jewish person who may have no familial connection to the land should be granted automatic citizenship? Fogel claims "a 'return' of these refugees ... would demographically overwhelm Israel, destroy the Jewish state and turn it into another Arab-majority state." Advertisement It seems odd, and even racist, to describe the right of Arabs to return to their homes as intrinsically destructive. There is no doubt that respecting refugees' rights would lead to the return of some individuals to their ancestral homeland (not all refugees wish to return), and would ultimately transform Israel into a state that treats Jews and non-Jews as equals. Israel is already an Arab-majority state; 52% of Israelis are Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, most coming from Arab countries. One of the leading organizations promoting the rights of Arab Jews even calls itself "Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa." A further 20.2% of Israel's citizens are Palestinian. Yet, rather than embracing the diversity of Jewish identities and cultures from around the world, the European-dominated Zionist movement has opted for a parochial form of ultra-nationalism which suppresses Arab identity as "backward" and "primitive." It also regards the native Arab population (Palestinians) as invisible, while Jewish people from all corners of the earth -- including recent converts to the Jewish faith -- are regarded as "indigenous" to the land. Seeing Arabs in this light has obvious repercussions for Israel's non-Jewish Arab population. Israel's Minister of Education proclaimed "I've killed lots of Arabs in my life. There's nothing wrong with that." Advertisement And Israel's Deputy Minister of Defense described Palestinians as being "like animals. They aren't human." Such incitement against Palestinians from Israeli cabinet ministers has become commonplace. This racism isn't restricted to Palestinians; African asylum seekers are widely loathed, as well. Haaretznotes "Israel is the least moral country in the world when it comes to awarding asylum to people who deserve it, according to the United Nations Refugee Convention." The consequences have been severe: "Interviews with former Holot prison inmates reveal that many who departed Israel in [the] past two years have been subjected to torture, imprisonment and persecution after returning home." Jewish people should understand better than anyone the importance of granting asylum to persecuted peoples. But in Israel's obsession with engineering and maintaining a Jewish demographic majority--in a land where Jews were a tiny minority until very recently in modern history--the country has shirked its responsibilities under international law with regard to refugees. Surely, this is not the Jewish way. In demanding that Palestinians and the international community accept Israel as a "Jewish state," Israel and its lobby groups like CIJA are in fact conflating the behaviour of this state with all Jewish people. Many Jews, like myself, see this conflation of Jewish people with militant Zionism as actually endangering Jews, both inside and outside of Israel. This is compounded by the fact that those who challenge Israel's brutal mistreatment of non-Jews under its control are frequently labeled as "anti-Semites." Advertisement CIJA is clear: it holds that anti-Zionism--an ideology opposed to the dispossession of Palestinians, institutional discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel, and Israel's apartheid policies--is inherently anti-Semitic. In Fogel's own words, "[University] Administrations ... are finally waking up and recognizing that this anti-Zionism, however it's expressed--whether it's BDS, or Israel Apartheid Week, or some of the programs or activities that anti-Israel forces have on campus--actually does constitute anti-Semitism." (27:01) CIJA's Director of Communications, Steve McDonald, agrees. In response to concerns about a growing hatred of Jews based merely on the fact that they're Jewish (real anti-Semitism), he said: "I think that the bigger challenge really is ... that anti-Zionism has become the new acceptable form of anti-Semitism in certain left wing and academic circles. So I don't see the classic white supremacist anti-Semitism as in any way rising in North America." (21:23) Many self-identifying Zionists, including Bernie Farber, former CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress (which dissolved and was replaced by the far less democratic CIJA), reject the equation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. Farber said, in response to the allegation that the United Church's Unsettling Goods campaign is anti-Semitic, "I wouldn't wave the anti-Semitism flag [here], because I think when the Jewish community does that all the time, it confuses people and turns them off. It confuses true Jew-hatred from anti-Zionism...." Accusing Palestinians of being anti-Semitic for strongly opposing the Zionist project--responsible for the dispossession of their homeland and the erasure of their civilization-- is at best naive, and at worst terribly racist. And many Jews--ranging from very religious to secular--have always opposed political Zionism. Does CIJA honestly believe that all these people are anti-Semites, or are motivated by a deep-seated hatred of Jews? It's important to recognize that not all supporters of the tactic of BDS are anti-Zionists. Increasing numbers of Zionists are waking up to the fact that Israel's ongoing colonization of what little remains of Palestine must be challenged with external non-violent pressure. Advertisement The vilification of BDS activists by Israel and its lobby groups abroad (and the successful criminalization of BDS in certain jurisdictions) must no longer be tolerated, lest someone get hurt. Israeli transportation Minister Yisrael Katz recently called for a "targeted civil eliminations" effort aimed at BDS leaders--singling out the movement's founder, Omar Barghouti. Rather than confront the increasingly racist and violent tendencies of Jewish-Israeli society, Israel lobby groups--purporting to represent Canada's diverse Jewish communities-- prefer to bury their heads in the sand. These lobby groups would serve Israel's long-term interests far better by demanding Israel treat all those living under its control with dignity, freedom and equality. Manipulating the term "anti-Semitism" in an effort to silence dissent, and propagating timeworn myths about a "Jewish and democratic state," are mere distractions from reality. They will only lead us further astray from a just and lasting peace. If there are five stages of grief then we should all get started with the process now. After months of nervous laughter and disbelief it looks like Donald Trump will get the nomination. He'll be one step closer to the presidency. And with it, one step closer to making good on promises like building a Great Wall of Mexico. This is his big idea to stop people crossing the border into the United States. At 65ft high and counting it's now taller than the lie that he's a self-made billionaire. But for many on both sides of the Atlantic it's simply not long enough (no penis jokes from the presidential candidates please). There's probably a fair few that would want Trump to be more ambitious; a big ask for a man who thinks he had a chance to sleep with Princess Diana. After all, the US needs protecting from criminals and rapists. And Europe needs defending from tired, hungry and war-torn refugees. Though they're all the same thing if you read certain sections of the press. For many Europeans on the other side of the political spectrum the US election has been a disturbing spectacle. We've all watched a little too smugly at Trump's ranting and raving. The idea of walling off the USA's southern border seems so preposterous. The problem is we've been so obsessed rolling our eyes at America (Europe's favourite past time) that we've failed to see our own reflection staring back at us. The fact is, Europe will soon have more physical barriers on our national borders than during the Cold War. From Sweden to Serbia we've been very busy with bricks, cement and barbed wire. All in the name of solving the refugee crisis. Yet we think America's the one with the problem. We're like a neighbour tutting at plans for a new fence as we peer over the bricks and mortar we've already put up the year before. Remember when Europe used to cheer when walls that divided us fell? No longer. Advertisement Ask people about the walls we're building now and those that actually have an inkling of what's going on will claim it's different. They'll say the iron curtain was a prison. That it kept people trapped, poor and persecuted under Soviet oppression. The walls we're building now are to keep people out, they'll argue. But think about it for just a moment; it all depends on being lucky enough to face the right side of the barrier. Walls can imprison people outside or in, it really doesn't matter either way. If you're trying to escape the Soviet Union or Syria, a wall is a wall, blocking your escape from whatever terror is upon you. Why are people so quick to say it's different now? Draw your own conclusions. Although a lot of people no doubt agree with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban - Putin's very own 'Mini-Me' in the heart of Europe. He's quite clear on the issue. Europe needs to keep out Muslims, he said, to keep the continent Christian. Presumably that means most of my friends and I are about to be kicked over every wall between here and the Balkans and will be refused re-entry, for being agnostic, atheist and at best, apathetic? But then they do say that whenever God closes a door somewhere He opens a window. So perhaps we could sneak back in that way? Forget morality for a moment though. Building barriers to keep people in or out solves very little. "Show me a 50-foot wall and I'll show you a 51-foot ladder" said former US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Whether it's immigration, drugs or terrorism, walls rarely work. They're one of the bluntest tools in geopolitics; big, ugly monuments to failure. Like any tool, they have their place, but by and large walls are failed policies designed to address a failure of policy. Advertisement Take the current refugee crisis. You may think this problem starts and ends in Syria. But as human rights organisations like Waging Peace have been saying for years, we've happily let other crises slip under the radar. Mention Darfur and Sudan to almost anyone and they'll tell you the problems ended years ago. They don't see that the wars and persecution have continued. Or that they've spread to other parts of the country. Little wonder that numbers of Sudanese families on refugee lists have ranked high for years, making Sudan consistently one of the top-five sources of refugees worldwide according to the UNHCR. Despite this, the UK government and its European partners have recently decided to give money direct to the government, despite its responsibility for most of the violence people are fleeing. This won't work, because it doesn't address the problems which force people to come. For the same reason, walls won't stops them arriving on European shores. In tackling diversity in STEM, it's men who need the confidence boost This month sees the celebration of Girls in ICT Day on 28 April - the theme of which is "expanding horizons and changing attitudes". There are a number of interventions which are key to tackling the underrepresentation of women in STEM that days such as this seek to highlight. Advertisement Of these, boosting girls' confidence is often mentioned . There is no question that building a career in STEM, which remains male dominated, is intimidating. We need to ensure that girls have the self-confidence to be able to make that leap. Time to get controversial. However, we also need to consider another group whose confidence is perhaps in even greater need of a boost - men. When it comes to the changes in attitude Girls in ICT Day seeks to encourage, re-assessing how much importance we place on men's confidence is an important place to start. In particular, men in industry need to have the confidence to break free of the habitual biases which prevent the diverse workforce and enabling workplace that everyone in STEM deserves being created. Confidence is needed for men to feel comfortable with making a difference in their own sphere of influence without fear of offending others in the process, 'lowering the bar' or feeling isolated and under threat. This lesson has been learnt the hard way by men such as American technology entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa, who was publicly hounded for speaking out against Silicon Valley's frat boy culture. Why should men publicly advocate for more women in STEM? Men's voices are needed to be part of the chorus which inspires the next generation of women in STEM; allowing young women to know that they are needed and welcomed by a diversity of people in the industry - not just women. Men remain in the majority in STEM workplaces, and are therefore able to set and influence the tone in their work environments. It is crucial that they set good examples of inclusive practice and not be bystanders to sexism - blatant or subtle. Crucially, men need to hear this from fellow men, as much as from female leaders. Advertisement When breaking down the influences which may nudge a girl towards exploring a STEM career, male voices and perspectives rank fairly high. Fathers, brothers, uncles, teachers and men across industry play a role in guiding the educational choices of young women. To have men absent from efforts to encourage more girls into STEM is to lose a vital tool in addressing this challenge. If the conversation about the need to inspire more girls into STEM misses the voices of men, it risks missing the point and not having the desired impact on girls' career choices. Making men's voices heard Mindful of this, Stemettes seeks to connect the girls we work with to inspiring men in STEM as well as women. For example, there is always a male panellist at our panel events. We recognise that girls will relate to people for different reasons, and so want to expose them to as diverse a range of inspiring people in STEM as possible. Similarly, this International Women's Day, we decided to take our own advice. Instead of profiling women doing amazing work in STEM, we instead chose to feature men who are passionate about tackling gender inequality in the industry. In particular, we asked them why they wanted to inspire more girls in STEM, and why they would encourage other men to do the same. Advertisement Men on why they support the Stemettes - for International Women's Day 2016 See gallery For senior software engineer Nigel Stirzaker, it was the promise of a brighter future for his daughter and her peers which motivated him: "I want my daughter and her generation to create a new future, not just for herself, but for everyone". Huffington Post blogger, strategist and speaker Jay Shetty's response was similarly-forward-looking. "I'm passionate about inspiring young women into STEM because it promises not just a range of exciting opportunities for them, but also a better, more dynamic future for us all." If the response these and other quotes received on social media is anything to go by, the message is clear. In the same way in which we tackle the gender stereotypes which discourage women from entering STEM, we need to address those which prevent men from meaningfully working towards a more diverse workforce. Want to promote diversity in STEM? Here's what you can do today. Tackling fear or increasing confidence can be done in many ways. Albert Bandura cured patients with snake phobias using guided mastery. Showing them pictures of a snake, then exposing them to snakes from a safe distance, were the beginning steps in allowing them to live a life free of snake fear. Similarly, giving men the confidence to make their environments inclusive requires taking practical steps. Advertisement 5 actions anyone (male or female) in the industry can take today to address the lack of women in STEM: Actively seek out people different to you at events, and at work, and engage with them. They have great perspectives and you can always learn from them. This means not just approaching people like you during networking sessions. It means making sure you listen to the voices of all in the committees you're a part of. It means striking up conversations with unique people in the rooms you enter. Invite people different to you to the table in meetings, external engagements and to do business. They have great ideas, and you'll be ahead of the curve in discovering the next big idea. If your colleagues and partners run non-diverse events, meetings or rounds, challenge them. It's not only incredibly backward, it also makes poor business sense - a diversity of views means more successful outcomes. In meetings, when told that a woman is a leader or subject matter expert, don't look to her male colleagues for advice or interactions. Ask her questions directly, make direct eye contact and listen when she speaks. The same goes for anyone you might come across in your meetings. Sometimes the men in your network can benefit from knowing women you've met and vice versa. Don't just introduce the women in your network to women you meet. Never, ever let yourself become lazy and habitual in your decision making processes. As inclusion and equality become the norm, failing to adapt promises to send your career the way of the Kodak. Don't allow yourself to become outdated or irrelevant with poor decisions and a non-diverse network. As long as men in STEM continue to unconsciously perpetuate poor workplace habits through lack of confidence we'll have a big problem on our hands. A diverse workforce is maintained by a combination of retention, attraction and hiring of diverse talent. Improving men's willingness and ability to challenge these norms, and redefine the status quo, will help to ensure that we have a comprehensive solution. Boosting the confidence of women in tech, both existing and aspiring, is a critical intervention. But our efforts to do so will continue to be undermined until we boost men's too. Advertisement This column was co-authored by Jo Cruse, Stemettes' Communications Lead. My generation is caught in a vicious circle. For the most part, we are disillusioned with a political system that constantly lets us down, but of course when that disillusionment unsurprisingly translates in to less engagement, it gives the system free license to neglect or even actively discriminate against us all the more. Too often the focus is on an 'apathetic' youth, with little care being taken to examine the systemic ways in which we are disenfranchised from a society that is increasingly run in the interests of a few. Austerity under the Conservatives has been a textbook example of this. It is the young, the black and the poor that have suffered the most from the implemented cuts, demographics that just happen to be those least represented at the ballot box. Youth services have been cut to the tune of 259 million since 2010, translating to a loss of 2,000 youth workers and the closure of 350 youth centres and children's charities too have seen a disproportional reduction in their funding. Cuts have been made to EMA, disabled students' allowances, further education colleges and maintenance grants. Worst of all, mental health spending for young people has been slashed at a time when demand is skyrocketing. It is where we are ignored as well as when we are directly attacked that highlights the politics of disenfranchisement too. Osborne's 'living wage' farce has been the focus of ire from many camps, but the most damaging criticism of it concerns those it does not apply to- the under 25's. Why, exactly, does George feel I, as a 23-year-old, am any less deserving of a better wage than someone 18 months older than me? Why, for that matter, have we seen it fit to pay 16-year olds less money for the same work for years? Advertisement If it's because the older person will have more experience or education, surely if that's actually relevant to the job that should be part of the person specification? In this situation age-differentials wouldn't be needed because you'd be weeding out anyone unsuitable for the job, no matter how old they are. If this isn't what we're doing then we're either allowing 16-year-olds to do the work (but paying them less) when they are not adequately skilled or qualified to do so and therefore comprising on quality and/or safety, or the extra experience and/or education isn't really relevant, in which case we're simply using it as a smokescreen to be able to hire unreasonably cheap labour. Age as a measure of competence is at best an indirect measure of experience and knowledge, themselves indirect measures of the ability to do a given job- hardly a morally or economically sound way to run a business. Even the official explanation of the government, that higher wages for young people leads to higher youth unemployment (used as an argument against higher wages in general, not to mention against allowing women into the workforce and introducing a minimum wage), stands on shaky theoretical (and empirical) ground. Another argument Gov.uk troops out is that lower wages for younger people encourages them to stay in education which helps their earning power in later life- give them points for the sheer audacity it takes just to write that down. Thanks to tripled tuition fees and the slow erosion of public funding of universities not only have the government successfully transferred a gigantic amount of debt onto those unable to pay it, but they've introduced vicious market forces on a sector wholly unsuited to such a culture. We're paying more to be able go to university than any other generation at a time when academia is being radically undermined. Are we really meant to accept this benevolent paternalism, whose actual result is that you end up earning less both when you're 17 and 27, thanks to discriminatory wage differentials and an insane educational debt burden? The immorality of such a design is matched only by the idiocy. Advertisement Of course, the youngest workers are limited in what they can do about it, even if they wanted to, because we don't let them vote. Despite considerable campaigning, 16 and 17-year-olds are still denied suffrage- yet no one seems to be able to explain why we are denying a democratic right that is at the heart of our society to 1.5million citizens. Surely the assumption should be that everyone has a right to vote, unless an incredibly good reason can be suggested for why they shouldn't? Yet when the notion was dismissed for the EU referendum, all that was said was that we shouldn't depart from the 'tried and tested Westminster model'. I'm not sure what they've been testing exactly, but its clear something isn't working. A three-year -ld shouldn't be able to vote because they simply don't have the cognitive abilities to understand simple economic concepts, and would struggle with any moral arguments much more nuanced than 'Mummy said so'. I've yet to see any evidence, however, of how a 16-year-old differs substantially from an 18-year-old, on any developmental index. 16 is the age when we allow individuals a range of choices- to join the army, to get married, to leave school... Why not the vote? If we don't have an airtight reason (and we don't) what right have we to deny them the vote? Tradition and complacency are shackles, not reasons. Imagine if someone was paid less or refused the right to vote because of their religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation and nothing else. Why is age any more of an acceptable reason for discrimination and unfair treatment? We face a more insecure future than our parents because we're an easy target- Cameron and his cabinet have had to push through cuts to feed the needs of an ironically bankrupt ideology, so they have chosen to focus them where there will be the least political fallout for them, brewing up a lethal cocktail of disillusionment and neglect that society will reap further down the line. This is then compounded by discrimination in the jobs market and a jealously guarded suffrage system that excludes those it also betrays. SeaWorld has at last announced it will be phasing out its captive killer whale shows. The brand was originally built off the back of Shamu - a captive orca - in the late 1960s. Shamu wasn't bred in captivity - she was wild caught. Yanked out of the water, away from her family and the ocean and kept in a tank to perform for humans at SeaWorld San Diego. She was the fourth killer whale ever captured, and the second female. She was captured in October 1965 and died in August 1971 after about six years in captivity. Advertisement Since then many, many more killer whales have lived and performed at SeaWorld parks and dozens have been bred at the parks - never knowing the freedom of the open ocean, and being forced to perform tricks for the delight of the paying crowds. SeaWorld hasn't caught orcas from the wild for many years - all theirs are now captive bred, but that doesn't mean an end to the trade in wild killer whales. In 2014 two were captured in Nikolaya Gulf, in the southwestern Sea of Okhotsk, in the Russian Far East. Seven killer whales have been taken in the Sea of Okhotsk since late 2012. The overall total since 2002 currently stands at 15 orcas. (Source: http://uk.whales.org/blog/2014/08/two-orcas-taken-in-illegal-capture-in-russia) It's believed that many of these Russian caught orcas have been sold to theme parks in China. (Source: http://www.orcahome.de/chimelong.pdf) There are currently a total of 56 orcas held in captivity (23 wild-captured plus 33 captive-born) in at least 12 marine parks in eight different countries. (Source: http://us.whales.org/wdc-in-action/fate-of-captive-orcas) Advertisement Although this proves that globally we still have a long way to go, it is cheering to see that SeaWorld is recognising that this is an outdated, unethical practice and has announced it will end its 'Shamu Shows' and its orca breeding programmes. This means that the last generation is now in SeaWorld's care: 29 killer whales from one to 51 years old. The company has announced all the remaining animals will be able to live out their years serving in "new, inspiring natural orca encounters, rather than theatrical shows, as part of its ongoing commitment to education, marine science research, and rescue of marine animals. These programs will focus on orca enrichment, exercise, and overall health. This change will start in its San Diego park next year, followed by San Antonio and then Orlando in 2019." Exactly what new, inspiring natural orca encounters" means isn't clear yet. SeaWorld's decision represents a move forward in our attitude towards the rights of animals. It wasn't that long ago, perhaps only a decade, that ending these shows would have been unthinkable. People loved them, they flocked to them, and they made companies like SeaWorld millions of dollars. But now there is a definite shift. In 2015 there were only two zoos (Chester Zoo and ZSL London Zoo) in the top 25 of most visited attractions in the UK. (Source: http://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423) The number of circuses with wild animals and the number of wild animals used by circuses have declined in recent years - but the government has yet to agree a total ban. This is despite a ban on wild animals in travelling circuses being a manifesto pledge of the current Conservative government. Unfortunately, it doesn't look likely that the Conservatives will keep this manifesto promise. I recently wrote to David Cameron asking for a ban and this was the response: Advertisement Dear Ms Cooke, Circus Animals Thank you for your email of 5 March to the Prime minister about the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. This has been passed to Defra as the department responsible for this policy area and I have been asked to reply. A ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses is a manifesto commitment and the Government is committed to introducing a bill when parliamentary time allows. Currently, the ban stands to impact on a small number of travelling circuses that operate with wild animals in England. During the last circus touring season, which ended in November, two travelling circuses were licensed under Defra's interim Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 to use 18 wild animals. All circuses licensed by Defra are subject to regular announced and unannounced welfare inspections. The licensing scheme will stay in place to ensure that any wild animals used in travelling circuses continue to be kept to a high welfare standard until a ban comes into force. Yours sincerely, Gary Haynes Defra - Customer Contact Unit "Not all Zionists are Jews. Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler, for example, were both Zionists - the former because he greatly admired Jews and believed that they had as much right to their own state as any other people, the latter because he believed they were subversive parasites who should be thrown out of Germany." Of course, what Ken Livingstone and Nick Griffin said is substantively worlds apart, even though both statements are absolutely, unacceptably inaccurate historically. Ken Livingstone was speaking while being a member of a political party that sees itself as democratic and anti-racist. Meanwhile Nick Griffin for over a decade led a party that was infested with vile neo-Nazism. Ken Livingstone qualified his statement, acknowleged and condemned the despicable, genocidal nature of Hitler's anti-Semitism. Nick Griffin did not do so in his "in-depth" report. But does the fact that there are certain linguistic similarities between the comments made by a prominent hard-left politician and those made by an unequivocally far-right one bode well for democractic values? Or does it perhaps suggest that under the deceptive guise of anti-Zionism, anti-Semitic, extreme-right narratives have been able gain a dangerous foothold among those gullible and naive people on the political left who would never knowingly use them if they were able to recognise them for what they are? I was recently speaking with a health entrepreneur in Israel who compared the NHS to a gorilla - 'it's big, messy and I can't work out which part is which'. The choice of metaphor notwithstanding, her description is more accurate than perhaps some people realise. Innovation is hard. The NHS is under pressure, be it efficiency demands, financial supply, or operational performance. Add to this the common challenges healthcare innovators are facing; from system fragmentation to stakeholder navigation, complex procurement to prolonged regulation; it's hardly surprising that some may be turned off. This combination of barriers is what causes healthcare globally to lag behind other sectors when it comes to disruptive technology. The digital revolution has transformed the way people live and work in so many ways: Advertisement Hotels: AirBnB is a collaborative consumption platform for booking accommodation that now has more purchases than Hilton or Marriot hotels Travel: Uber, an app many of us use, is now available in over 50 countries, with over 1 million rides per day; broadly the same number of daily users as the NHS Banking: we use our mobile phones to make over 18 million banking transactions per week. Stripe, established in 2011, built the digital payment software that's used by Facebook, Twitter and ApplePay, amongst other platforms Dating: Tinder, a date matching app, has over 1.6 billion swipes a day, and has made over 9 billion matches Advertisement Each of these didn't exist at the start of the decade, each is based on startup technology, and each is consumer-focused. When the value of just three of these solutions are combined, it equates to almost the entire annual NHS spend. There are key lessons we can learn from these startups: 1.Speed matters: five years is enough to disrupt an entire sector 2.Fail fast, fail often: many startup technologies fail but some are revolutionary; the statistics speak for themselves. Only when we support enough innovators will we see disruptive transformation 3.Consumer driven: startups rapidly iterate based upon user expectations, we need to enable and accelerate this in healthcare through complementary system changes Are disruptive solutions present in health? Yes, but they have not been widely adopted. For example, agency staff cost the health service over 3 billion a year, with a hefty sum going to the healthy wallets of agency companies. The issue is that most of them are outmoded. When I practice as a doctor, I receive sporadic text messages and phone calls, asking me whether I'm available to do a hospital temp-shift three days before it's due. Hardly an efficient consumer experience. Startups are now automating and digitalising the process, using on-demand Uber-like apps to match nurses and doctors to available staffing shifts at a fraction of the overhead. However, only a fraction of our providers are using them. The health service cannot afford to turn off innovators with these types of solutions anymore. There are at least six reasons why startups find the NHS challenging: 1.Limited rewards for prevention: innovations providing a means of cost-avoidance, or those preventing the onset of long-term-conditions are not always captured or reimbursed by current commissioning, stifling traction. This can be due to fragmented pools of funding, or cycles unable to reimburse innovations delivering savings in more than a year's time. Mechanisms are required that permit such benefits to be appropriately rewarded. Advertisement 2.Culture and perception: amidst growing operational pressures, change and innovation are seen as nice-to-have rather than must-have. This causes innovation to be peripheral to, rather than core to delivery of efficiency savings and the means by which these are achieved. If we are to build a sustainable NHS over the next five years, this perception must change. 3.Challenging deployment of of self-care: there are numerous apps and digital platforms that enable patients to manage their own health, accompanied by robust evidence and evaluations. However, capabilities are needed to support deployment of these platforms such as the prescribing, and reimbursing of apps, if they are to be used. 4.Siloed best practice: examples of best practice when it comes to collaborating with startups are rarely celebrated or shared across the NHS, resulting in pockets of innovation, rather than nationwide quality improvement. We need to identify and spread such examples - products that are highly cost-effective, and platforms that allow for efficient procurement and adoption. 5.Firm information & technology architecture: lack of interoperability between IT systems and complex information governance varying between providers can decelerate traction. We need a fully interoperable system coupled with slick IG that enables startups, users and consumers to benefit from new technology. 6.Lack of a financial case: startups can forget that while they may have a viable product, they also need robust evaluation and the development of a watertight financial case; a proposal that speaks clearly to NHS commissioners and providers. The evaluation required for this however can require significant investment. High-potential startups need to be better supported in building their case, for their businesses, for the NHS providers who'll use them, and ultimately for patients who'll benefit. Advertisement To try to address some of these challenges, we designed the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) last year. Like many ideas it was taken from another sector. Accelerators aim to support the growth and spread of technologies, in the past developing solutions such as AirBnB and Dropbox. Microsoft, IBM and MIT all have accelerators, and now we do too. Its ambition is to work with innovators to drive the spread of their innovations, identifying system barriers to be unblocked, addressing some of the abovementioned challenges head-on. In July we launched our first cohort of 17 innovators in the programme. Their innovations ranged from apps and digital platforms, to devices and new models of care. Crucially, they had already been tried-and-tested, and had already shown to be cost-effective. A support package was designed and led by UCLPartners, the Health Foundation and the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs), including mentorship, funding, regional partnership, and national backing. Although early, our 17 innovators have seen promising results: In just over 6 months, over 3 million patients have benefitted from NIA innovations 40+ deals signed Real rollout with over 60 NHS organisations now using our technologies Funding raised equivalent to over 50-times NHS England's investment Two fifths of innovators reporting a revenue increase up to or over 50% since starting the programme For example, HealthUnlocked, a healthcare social network allowing patients, caregivers and health advocates to connect to others with similar conditions, has grown to more than 500 user-generated specialised communities, receiving over 4 million visits per month. Nervecentre, a platform that digitalises patient monitoring and task management in hospitals was shown to halve the number of deaths and serious harm taking place in hospitals out-of-hours, also ranking 14th in Deloitte's fastest growing UK start-ups list. It's now being used in over 30 Trusts across England. Advertisement Joint Dementia Research, which aims to match researchers with members of the public willing to take part in studies, has recruited 15,330 people with over 4,000 now enrolled in clinical trials across 60 studies. These swift results demonstrate that the NHS has the potential to be agile and adoptive, working with innovators to embrace disruption rather than stifle it. We must now think about how to expand beyond early adopters, and grow from a cohort of 17, to 1700 to 17,000. The real challenge will be cultural. There's a story currently on the Independent's Indy100 site which has been tweeted and retweeted from their account countless times over the past week. The article, entitled "Everything that's wrong with celebrity culture -- in one 10 second video of Kylie Jenner", features a video uploaded to Instagram by Rob Kardashian of his 18-year-old half-sister Kylie taking selfies. The clip shows Rob repeatedly saying "Yo" as Kylie takes selfies, ignoring her older brother. The article's intro is as follows: "This generation created the 'selfie'-- a trend of narcissism particularly favoured by people who appear on TV just because why not? Advertisement "It should come as no surprise then, that the Kardashian clan -- specifically Kylie Jenner -- has struck again to destroy what little faith there remained in the future of humanity." Now, I love the Independent, but I have never eye-rolled this much since I saw an Old Street station shop advertisement telling me not to let my eggs age another day. No, Kylie Jenner taking a selfie is not endangering the future of humanity. Neither is her big sister Kim taking a naked picture, or posing with a champagne glass balanced on her backside. I reckon politicians banning 3,000 refugee children from the country, or taking away free healthcare, is more likely to endanger humanity, but that's just me. Advertisement The Kardashians and Jenners have become a dartboard for over-30s, "serious" people, those who are clearly better people and more intelligent than a family famous for reality TV and selfies. Even President Barack Obama couldn't help but question "what exactly Kendall Jenner does" at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, before joking that his Twitter mentions were about to go through the roof. And on Facebook, I've seen countless people sharing memes reading: "Give us Prince and Bowie back, God, take the Kardashians." Never mind the fact that the family have managed to become insanely rich by capitalising on a then-burgeoning market, reality TV. In any other arena, that would be considered good business but nope, airheads. Kim Kardashian has become a one-woman brand, first capitalising on the betrayal of a man to make millions on a sex tape. She then patented an app which has made a ridiculous sum of money, started a fashion line with her sisters, and started a conversation on feminism, sexuality and slut-shaming by simply posing for a naked selfie censored with black bars. Advertisement Meanwhile, her younger sister Kylie, who is just 18 years old, has become one of the most famous people on the planet by using the teen market's interest in her selfies to get ahead. She realised teens wanted her lips, so started her own Lip Kit range of lip liners and liquid lipsticks. Everytime Kylie restocks her range, available only online, it sells out in minutes. Perhaps when she was ignoring her brother Rob in that Instagram video, she was thinking that this selfie where I'm wearing my own lip brand is going to get thousands of likes and further my career, as always. And on the flipside, Kylie also uses her Instagram page to fight bullying, sharing the stories of others with the #IAmMoreThan hashtag. Meanwhile, Kendall is a supermodel who has taken her role on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and has transferred it to the runways of Chanel and the billboards of Calvin Klein and Estee Lauder. Advertisement But whatever, they're all vapid and clearly not businesswomen, right? Fair enough, there's other artists with talents in singing, acting, modelling, make-up that are having their lights dimmed by the beacon of brand Kardashian. But when did creating an empire become something easy, that is done by people with no talent, no smarts, no business acumen? Selfies are their bread and butter. While a businessman may go to a meeting and discuss spreadsheets and profits, the Kardashians - amongst countless other celebrities - take a selfie, adding more promotion to the brand that keeps money flowing into their empire. Don't try and kid yourself into thinking that this family is stupid when they've managed to take over pretty much every industry in a decade without even rousing suspicion. If you rewind to the mid-Noughties, Kim was just a lackey to woman of the hour, Paris Hilton. Now, Kim is one of the world's most recognised people, while Paris has gone on to become a billionaire all on her own, without her Hilton trust fund which, by the way, was donated to charity. Don't be silly enough to think that reality stars, in particular the Kardashians, are dumb and narcissistic and are ruining generations with their selfies. Advertisement The fact is that teens look up to them, and I can think of far worse people to look up to. Yes, there are issues, as with everybody, but what is the issue with a teen model who is telling fans to vote, a la Kendall? Or Kim, who tells her 44million followers about the history of the Armenian genocide? The new generation like selfies. They like social media. They Snapchat every element of their lives. That is what is happening, and that's not the fault of the Kardashians. Journalists might be annoyed that young people are using Snapchat and Instagram more than ever and leaving certain areas of the industry flagging. But the Kardashians are making an empire from it. Replace with men in suits who don't know what contouring is in any other industry, and you would be praising them as geniuses. During our Easter holidays staying at Hacienda Dzibikak, we were a little spoilt for choice when it came to deciding on how to while away our time. Should we swim in a sacred cenote? Marvel at flamingos gathered at a nature reserve? Boogie on down to a white sand beach with our boogie board? Or simply swing back into a hammock and recharge in the luxurious tropical hacienda. One morning we set off out to Indian Jones our way around the ancient Maya city of Uxmal. Just one hour from Merida, the complex of Uxmal offers a wondrous and easy day trip to those with kids, as well as those without. Considering we were visiting during the school holidays, the queue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site was short, and once we had our tickets punched we were away from other visitors and were away with our imagination. Advertisement Suddenly, we found ourselves standing in front of the 100-foot 'Pyramid of the Magician', spellbound. Dusted with enchanting legends, the miraculous pyramid is said to have been constructed by a magician-god, Itzamna, in one night. The entire city was built in alignment with the positions of the planets, and the stairwell of the pyramid is oriented to face the setting of the summer solstice sun. The mysticism of the 'Pyramid of the Magician' combined with its physical heft, its dominance, commands you to acknowledge its stature, its importance as the Uxmal ceremonial centre. It demands you to bear the weight of its history. Maya. It was somewhat surprising that this incredible pyramid, the tallest structure of this Maya city, was the first ancient building of the complex to greet our eyes and souls, but Uxmal is so much more than this one magnificent pyramid. The 'Nunnery', the Spaniardised name for the fascinating area, was used as a school for training priests, shamans, mathematicians, astronomers and healers. Each building in the quadrangle presents ornate facades, each unique in its artwork. The 'Palace of the Governor' provided a respite from the glaring sun as we were drawn to study the bold carvings only to sit in the cool enclaves in the company of some like-minded iguanas. As talk from the youngsters started to move off of Mayan friezes and on to the topic of freezing chocolate, we decided to move towards 'The Great Pyramid'. The children, worn out, sat by some rocks 'iguana-watching'. The adults, in turn, climbed to the top of 'The Great Pyramid' to inhale deeply, whether through exhaustion or through inspiration, and to revere the panoramic, tree-horizoned views. The Maya built pyramids to serve as temples and tombs, to honour gods and royalty. Today, these stunning structures continue to serve, they are our stepping stones, leading us steeply to ancient heavens, guiding us to honour an ancient people. Maya. Advertisement Directly across the road from the Uxmal archeological site is Choco-Story, a museum of chocolate. This was why the kids had been talking of freezing chocolate. After the pyramids, we promised, we'd enjoy a cooling chocolate drink. Where better to indulge in a dark drink, designed for the gods, than in a museum dedicated to telling the story of cacao bean, from pod to artesanal sweet treats? A museum within walking distance to a Mayan temple, possibly, devoted to the gods the drink was destined for? A museum in the land which introduced xocoatl, chocolate, to the world? We were definitely in the right place! The chocolate frio was divinely delicious. It was rich, thick, dark and cool. It was perfect. Were we expecting anything less? We took our drinks down the cacao bean trail. The design of the museum/eco-park leads you down paths through tropical flora and fauna to reach a 'maya hut' filled with interesting and interactive displays. The kids loved it, as did the adults. The hut where chocolate was prepared using ancient recipes was a highlight, though the hot concoction itself was very bitter tasting. I choose to prepare mine with the achiote spice, just as the Maya would have after the use of human blood was banned by the Spanish colonialists. The kids choose to add cinnamon to theirs. Something that really caught my attention and made me giggle was the Victorian hot chocolate cup collection, complete with porcelain moustache guards to keep those whiskers chocolate free. Hipster friends, there's an idea for you! Advertisement Peckish, we headed a few kilometres south to British-owned restaurant, 'The Pickled Onion', which was recommended to us by our British hacienda owner. The restaurant was warmly decorated and the food was delicious. It made the perfect restoration stop for tourists visiting not only Uxmal, but also the other Mayan sites closeby. The Labour party has always championed itself on being a progressive force in British politics but with events that have surfaced in recent weeks and months, it seems the party has now become a platform for regressive thinking. This is biggest test that Jeremy Corbyn has faced so far and he must show real leadership to make sure that the party puts an end to this behaviour. However, by suggesting there is "no crisis", it doesn't yet look like he has fully grasped the problem. If we look at the recent events, there is one key lesson to take. Swift suspension of any individual who seems to be preaching or giving credence to any form of anti-semitism. For example, how was Vicki Kirby allowed swiftly back into the party after claiming that Jews had "big noses"? She was quickly readmitted after a short suspension and then appointed vice-chair of the Labour's Woking branch, giving a proven anti-semite another platform for her horrendous views. Again, as soon Naz Shah's offensive and anti-semitic comments started to appear she should have been immediately suspended, instead it took over 30 hours for this to happen. No ifs or buts are needed, if any whiff of anti-semitism is linked to any individual in the party they should be immediately suspended pending investigation. The quicker the party suspends the individual, the quicker the platform for this vile thinking is shut down. But this thinking is not just limited to individuals, it's rooted in some grassroots of the party. Advertisement There is a growing swath of anti-semitic thoughts coming from the young in left-wing movements, just look at the problems at Oxford University Labour society. This has largely grown out of a confusion between rights for a Palestinian state and blaming people of the Jewish faith all over the world for some of the actions by the Israeli government. For example in the space of a month in July 2014, support for Palestinian causes grew by 10% throughout the British population according to YouGov. I am supporter of Palestinian self-determination and the need for an internationally recognised state but that does mean I need to be anti-semitic. I have criticisms of the Israeli government, but that doesn't mean I need every single person of the Jewish faith to defend these actions. One government does not represent the views of every person in a global religious group. This kind of thinking can not just be sorted out by suspensions, there needs to be education and a completely different way of thinking introduced. This problem is across every level of the party not just high profile individuals and when a problem is that endemic, serious education is the only way to really counteract the issue. Of course, suspensions and expulsions are necessary but a way of thinking needs to be changed so that this problem does not continue on into the future. The recently announced 2 month independent investigation into the problem by Shami Chakrabarti is a good to step towards identifying the true scale of the problem and how best to tackle it. This leads me to my next question, is Jeremy Corbyn the most appropriate person to lead this move away from anti-semitism? With his previously shared platforms of Hamas supporters, it does seem possible that Mr Corbyn himself is part of the problem. He did speak and attend a rally in 2009, where Azzam Tamimi stated that "Today we are all Hamas". Now, I voted for Corbyn in the leadership election and I would have not done so if I believed him to be anti-semitic. However, I do believe he needs to denounce some of the platforms he has once shared to help repair a broken Labour party. In the end of the day, the Jewish community does not deserve this abuse especially from a party that has benefited so greatly from people of the Jewish faith. Advertisement Therefore, the Labour party needs to act swiftly and effectively to make sure it is no longer a platform for the vile behaviour that is anti-semitism. If it does not do so, how can it justify its position as a progressive party in the future? You might have seen on social media some positive bits, thank-you, about my new Lean Gains Bodybuilding Ebook, shortly coming out in bound book form. The Lean Gains guide is all about helping men and women develop and tone their physique, ostensibly as part of a life improver but probably more with looking fantastic on the beach in a few months time As has been said many times in both this column, as well as other similar ones - to order to achieve the right tone and physique you want, you have to lift. Advertisement Nothing commands respect in the gym like a heavy deadlift with impeccable form. But even more importantly, the deadlift is one of the most powerful full body muscle builders on the planet. If you've got a strong deadlift in your locker, chances are you're already a pretty big dude. The best way to improve your deadlift probably won't surprise you. Do more deadlifts. Just like the best way to improve as a guitar player is to play more guitar, the best way to improve as a deadlifter is to do more deadlifts. Rocket science, it is not. However, deadlifts take a long time to recover from and can be very taxing on the central nervous system, especially when you go heavy. So for most people, it's just not practical to be deadlifting 3 times each week. Advertisement As a result, it's important to fill your programme with the right complimentary exercises that will build strength in all the key muscle groups involved in a deadlift. This way, every time you're faced with a barbell on the floor in front of you, you can continue to make progress without getting beat up. As a general rule, deadlift heavy every 7 - 10 days. Schedule these days into your programme, and aim to PR in every session. Whether that's an extra rep or extra weight on the bar, try and do more than you did last time. Always schedule a day of rest after your deadlift day. Your CNS will need time to recover, even if your muscles aren't that sore. Then, during the rest of the time between your next deadlift, flood your programme with these six exercises. They'll help you build the strength and power you need to go even heavier next time around. #1 - Kettlebell Swings Kettlebell swings are one of the best exercises for building explosive power in the hips, recruiting the glutes, hamstrings and abdominals. In a 2012 study by the American Journal of Strength and Conditioning research, just six weeks of kettlebell training resulted in an average 19.8% increase in explosive power in healthy men. Take advantage of it, as this explosive power will translate directly to greater lifting numbers on your deadlift. Advertisement istock Kettlebell swings also involve the very same hip hinge as the top of a deadlift. Performing them regularly will help develop the same neuro-muscular pathways as used in a deadlift, which will help you increase the load when it really matters. Kettlebell swings are best kept in higher rep ranges, anywhere between 15 and 25 reps per set. Flex your hips and squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement, before letting the kettlebell drop down between your legs. The movement should be fluid throughout, with no stopping at any point. You can also use kettlebell swings as a conditioning exercise, used on their own or as part of a circuit. #2 - Farmers' walks Also known as the 'walking deadlift', getting strong on a farmers' walk will almost certainly translate to bigger numbers on the conventional deadlift. Farmers' walks are a great 'functional' exercise that recruit the legs, arms (especially forearms) and core. They're also a killer move for building formidable grip strength. Advertisement They couldn't be simpler, either. Simply grab something heavy, walk for a distance of 50 - 100 yards, then put it back down. Farmers walks are a great finisher exercise, or used as part of a high intensity circuit (they pair perfectly with kettlebell swings). If possible, perform this exercise with a hex bar to recruit the traps and rhomboids more effectively. If this isn't possible, heavy dumbbells are the next best thing. #3 - Barbell Hip Thrusts Contrary to popular belief, this exercise isn't just for the ladies. If you want a heavy deadlift you're going to need a set of strong, powerful glutes. And one of the best exercises for developing this muscle group is the barbell hip thrust. To perform the barbell hip thrust, lie with your head resting on a bench or swiss ball, and your legs out in front of you. Rest a barbell just above the pelvis, with a mat on your lap to support the weight. Now, thrust your hips up into the air with your feet rooted firmly onto the ground, until your hips are parallel with your torso. Squeeze your glutes hard at the top of the movement. Lower the bar back down with control. This is one rep. Advertisement istock Many people go too heavy on hip thrusts, and end up over-working their hips and not targeting their glutes efficiently. Keep the weight low until you have mastered the technique, and only then look to slowly increase the weight. The glutes respond well to high volume, so work in the 10 - 15 rep range with this exercise. Drop sets are also very effective. #4 - Deficit Deadlifts Stand on a plate or rubber step, with the bar on the floor. Set yourself tight, then lift the bar with a conventional deadlift pattern, and visualise drilling your feet through the floor as you do so. This will help improve the base of your deadlift, teaching a strong and long leg drive and improving tension off the floor. The beauty of deficit deadlifts is that they make conventional deadlifts feel like a walk in the park. Keep these in the 8 - 10 rep range so as not to burn out your CNS ahead of your heavy deadlift day. Squeeze the bar hard throughout to increase forearm tension and improve grip strength. Advertisement #5 - Romanian Deadlift (RDL) The Romanian Deadlift, often referred to as the RDL, is great for building strength in the glutes and hamstrings by focusing on the concentric component of the movement, rather than the eccentric. It's also an awesome exercise for improving grip strength, which starts to come into its own as you increase the numbers on your conventional deadlift. To perform an RDL, start with the bar on the floor and lift it exactly as you would a conventional deadlift. The difference here is that once the bar is off the ground, it shouldn't touch the floor until the end of your set. Keeping your hamstrings straight but with a very slight bend in your knees, lower the bar to the ground slowly, keeping the bar grazing your shins as you do so. This part of the movement should be slow and controlled, taking at least 3 seconds to fully lower the bar. At the bottom of the movement, explode upwards, squeezing your glutes as you do so. You can then repeat the movement for 8 - 10 reps, going down slowly and coming up explosively. Note that you won't be able to reach numbers anywhere near your conventional deadlift with this movement. Put your ego to one side, and focus on mastering the technique. The results will be worth it next time you're hitting the full deadlift. Advertisement #6 - Rack Pulls Deficit deadlifts are great for improving the base of your deadlift, whilst rack pulls are key for teaching an aggressive lockout, strengthening the top part of the movement. They're also a great way to move some heavy weight without creating too much of a recovery demand. One major mistake of the rack pull is setting the pin too high, which ends up working your ego far more than any of the major muscle groups that this exercise should be improving. The pin should be just below the knees, so that you can benefit from a good range of motion whilst still focusing on the lockout. If like most people, the top of your deadlift is the weakest part, you can add resistance bands or chains to the rack pull to maximise the tension at the top of the movement. This strength will be invaluable when you're going for your next PR on a conventional deadlift. So what are you waiting for? Add these six exercises to your programme, and get ready to take your deadlift to new heights. Please send us your questions and any comments you would like to make, via our social media channels. Plus if you feel informed by what you have read, please share the information using #JHHF #JHFitness #jHTraining #JHLeanGains #JHBodyBuilding #rugbyfit Advertisement Twitter - @jameshaskellhf Who would've thought it? Ken Livingstone has finally been suspended from the Labour Party for anti-Semitic comments. Not by Tony Blair, who always considered Livingstone a royal pain in the behind, nor by Ed Miliband, Labour's first Jewish leader, but instead by his close friend and political ally, Jeremy Corbyn. The response from many of the left-wing Labour members has been predictable: "Antisemitism? In our party? Never!" You only have to scroll through the comments on Owen Jones' Facebook status explaining why Corbyn was a man who has said "a real anti-Semite doesn't just hate the Jews in Israel, they hate their Jewish neighbour in Golders Green or in Stoke Newington", and argued that it is over the top to consider anti-Semitism and racism the same thing. Ken has a history of ill-considered comments and actions. He said that a reporter who was questioning him was reminiscent of a concentration camp guard, even after being told that the reporter was Jewish. He told two Iranian-Jewish businessmen to "go back to Iran and see if they can do better under the ayatollahs." He claimed, in a leaked letter to Ed Miliband, that Jews wouldn't vote for him because they were all rich. Advertisement But anti-Semitism isn't the only reason Ken has been reprimanded by the Labour higher-ups: several months ago he said that Kevan Jones, a Labour MP with depression, "might need some psychiatric help. He's obviously very depressed and disturbed." He's also been accused of homophobia, saying that gay Labour MPs had all come out publicly because "if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job", but that most gay Conservative MPs were still closeted, even though the Tories were "riddled" with homosexuals. But the thing that has got Ken in the most trouble is his disconcerting comments about Hitler's views on Zionism. Now, it's worth pointing out that even if everything Ken had said (that Hitler was a supporter of Zionism in 1932) were accurate, it would have been in horrible taste, given that this was in defence of Labour MP Naz Shah's support of the idea that the Holocaust was legal and that the "Jews are rallying". Ken Livingstone has refused to apologise for his comments on the grounds that his assertions were correct, but he is actually completely wrong. What Ken refers to, when he talks about Hitler's support of Zionism, is the NSDAP's original "solution to the Jewish question", which was the forced emigration of Jews out of Germany, rather than their "Final Solution", which was the murder of all Jews. The basis for this proposed solution was not Hitler's keenness on the idea of the Jewish people having their own state, as is implied by Ken's suggestions, but rather the desire for a mass exodus of Jews, firmly rooted in anti-Semitism. At first, the Nazis toyed with the idea of forcibly expelling all Jews to Madagascar. However, after this was concluded to be untenable, the Nazis made an agreement (The Haavara agreement) with the Zionist organisation to allow Jews to emigrate to Palestine more easily. To imply that this agreement had its roots in Hitler's support of Zionism and Jewish self-determination rather than a deep-seated hatred of Jews contradicts what Hitler himself had already written in Mein Kampf: "while the Zionists try to make the rest of the world believe that the national consciousness of the Jew finds its satisfaction in the creation of a Palestinian state, the Jews again slyly dupe the dumb Goyim. It doesn't even enter their heads to build up a Jewish state in Palestine for the purpose of living there; all they want is a central organisation for their international world swindle." When he wrote this, according to Ken Livingstone, Hitler was a supporter of Zionism who had not yet "gone mad". Advertisement Despite all of this, the Corbynista "Twitterati" have decidedly declared themselves "Team Ken". Abuse is hurled at everyone from Owen Jones to Nick Cohen to Jonathan Freedland; anyone who says that Ken has gone too far, regardless of their political persuasion, is fair game. Although there is certainly a degree of truth behind it, the idea that you can be critical of the Israeli government and Zionism without being anti-Semitic is becoming something of a disclaimer in the vein of "I'm not racist but..." and "Islamophobia isn't racism because Islam isn't a race". CIA via Twitter This is bizarre. America's premier spy agency, the CIA, has decided to mark five years since the killing of Osama Bin Laden by 'live tweeting' details of the special forces night mission. The al-Qaeda leader was descended upon by U.S. Special Forces in 2011 in "one of the greatest intelligence operations of all time," according to CIA director John Brennan. Advertisement The raid was the culmination of years of intelligence gathering, a "masterpiece of planning and execution" and, on Monday, the spy agency decided to relive it "as if it were happening today". To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The 'live tweeting' began at 3am AEST and... well, you can read the rest: 1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.#UBLRaidpic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Advertisement 3:30 pm EDT - @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaidpic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Daring #UBLRaid was an IC team effort & in close collaboration with our military partners.https://t.co/rklCIRLlgFpic.twitter.com/xZObdGeqPR CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 On the fifth anniversary of the raid, the CIA's unusual move has largely been lambasted by some on social media as "grotesque" and in bad taste. @CIA This is grotesque and embarrassing. You should fire your web team. Hank Single (@Hanksingle) May 1, 2016 Advertisement Others thought differently. "There is nothing grotesque about celebrating a victory over the kind of terrorism that still haunts the world," one person tweeted. 5th Anniversary of #UBLRaid. We continue to remember & commend the hard work & sacrifice of our .@us_navyseals .@CIApic.twitter.com/qcOCs0GHoF NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) May 2, 2016 Henry Hyeongrae Kim via Getty Images Korean traditional dishes with seasoned raw crab at Korean traditional restaurant. On Monday evening at The Star in Sydney the cream rose to the top of Aussie dining. The winners of Australia's Top Restaurants awards hosted by The Australian Financial Review were revealed, with Attica in Melbourne taking out the top spot. Ben Shewry has built Attica into a unique and personal experience that celebrates all that Australian dining excellence is about. With its passion for just-picked and wild plants, an intuitive use of native produce, and exceptionally warm, sincere service, it deserves every accolade and award it wins -- especially this one," said Co-Director of the Awards Terry Durack in a statement. Advertisement Huge congratulations to @atticamelbourne voted Top Restaurant in Australia 2016 #afrtoprestaurants A photo posted by Australia's Top Restaurants (@afrrestaurants) on May 2, 2016 at 3:51am PDT Now in its second year, the AFR-hosted awards remain the only national restaurant awards program of its kind decided solely by peer voting. While the full list of 500 restaurants is compiled by an Australia-wide panel of Good Food Guide editors, reviewers and industry experts, the Top 100 is decided by the chefs and restaurateurs themselves. The top 10 were almost all in NSW. Counting down, they were: 10. Franklin, Hobart 9. Automata, Sydney 8. Rockpool Est. 1989, Sydney 7. Bennelong, Sydney 6. Sixpenny, Sydney 5. Ester, Sydney 4. Quay, Sydney 3. Sepia, Sydney 2. Brae, Victoria 1. Attica, Melbourne Sepia also took home the award for the best service, while Dan Hunter from Brae was named 2016 Chef of the Year. Advertisement Ron Davis, best known for helping to spearhead the Human Genome project, posts a selfie where he's wearing a cape and a pair of briefs over his regular clothing. Hands on hips in the manner of superheroes everywhere, Davis mugs for the camera, happy to be ridiculous - for a cause. Davis is the Board Director at the Open Medicine Foundation, a nonprofit set up to raise funds for the research he does with a team (including three Nobel laureates) at the Stanford Genome Technology Center. The Open Medicine Foundation has raised 4 million dollars since 2012 to help combat modern illnesses with elusive etiologies and challengingly complex presentations, such as Lyme, fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis. His interest in studying myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS is to save his son Whitney's life. "ME/CFS symptoms include but are not limited to severe post-exertional fatigue, sleep dysfunction, cognitive impairments, and muscle/joint pain," explained Stacy Hodges, a 32-year-old who is an advocate and activist for awareness of her condition. "After countless doctors' appointments, many individuals with ME/CFS quickly deplete their life savings but remain unable to work. There is very little hope for a cure, due to the government's lack of commitment to the disease, which results in almost no funding dedicated to medical or scientific research." Advertisement In a public plea in December of 2015, Davis wrote, "My son Whitney woke me this morning to inform me that he is dying. He did not say he is dying - he cannot speak. He did not write he is dying - he cannot write. He used scrabble tiles to spell out his message." Whitney Dafoe's story broke into the mainstream media after Ron Davis, his wife Janet Dafoe, and their daughter Ashley Davis held fundraisers to raise money to fund Ron's research after his grant applications to the National Institute of Health were denied. "This tells me I am running out of time," Ron went on to say. "I must find out soon what is causing the disease and how to cure it. I know I'm not the only one working on this disease, but there are too few researchers, too few medical specialists, too little research funds and too many patients." An idea for a protest began to form, and Hodges started to articulate what that would look like. "Understandably, the idea of a protest was met with some initial resistance and hesitation because many patients are just way too sick to get out of bed, much less attend a protest," said Hodges in an email interview. "The co-founders of #MEAction supported the idea of activism and together we launched the first step of many: our protest in Washington, D.C." Advertisement As the group began planning, and posting about the protest on social media, the idea for a #MillionsMissing campaign started to form. "#MillionsMissing speaks to the invisible nature of our illness," said Hodges. "Millions of patients are missing from their careers, schools, social lives and families due to the debilitating symptoms of this disease." There are also millions missing in funds to research the disease, and millions of healthcare workers lacking proper medical training about ME/CFS. On May 25th, several groups across the nation will stand (or sit in wheelchairs, lie on stretchers or the ground, depending on their severity of the disease) outside Departments of Human and Health Services to protest a lack of funding to research their disease. So far, there are protests taking place in Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, and London, England. The combined efforts, fronted by Hodges, have been incredible. Many patients participate in several conference calls a week, sometimes using up their energy reserves to talk, plan, organize, and formulate the protest's demands. Understanding that many patients with ME/CFS won't be able to attend the protests in person due to being house- or bed-bound, there are several virtual protest options listed on their website. People around the world can mail a pair of shoes to represent one of the millions who are missing from their once-active lives. On the day of the protest, supporters are also encouraged to place a pair of shoes on their front stoop or driveway with a sign explaining who they represent. "At the protest, we will be displaying many pairs of empty shoes sent in from sick and disabled patients around the world, many homebound and bedridden," added Hodges. "The haunting display of empty shoes will represent the #MillionsMissing who make up our ME/CFS community." Hodges reached out to The Blue Ribbon Foundation, the nonprofit behind the documentary Forgotten Plague, which features the Davis-Dafoes, showing a rare glimpse into the room where Whitney has lived for over three years. Advertisement The Blue Ribbon Foundation offered a special Congressional DVD Pack through the Forgotten Plague website, and joined efforts to attend the protest in D.C.. "Real change is about engaging with the institutions in society that hold the power," said Ryan Prior, who wrote and co-directed the film. "We need policymakers to watch a film that conveys the human struggle, scandalous politics, and world-changing science of the ME/CFS story. By using the film and the protest to build an increasingly unified front on Capitol Hill we can tell our story in a way we've never done before to the audience we need most." The focal point in each of these campaigns, protests, and fundraisers aligns with Ron Davis's sentiment: a search for 'what I can do to start a movement.' It's a movement towards recognition, for people to see how many people are suffering at home in dark rooms, behind closed doors, imprisoned in a body that can no longer function enough to perform daily self-care tasks. "Many patients have no caregivers at all, and they are struggling to get food in their refrigerators or just get to the doctor," said Hodges. "Many patients are too sick to fight for themselves. Something has to be done, because the status quo is unacceptable. The patients can not live like this. I hope the public recognizes that this is a growing movement." It's a movement with a groundswell of fundraising, advocacy, and groundbreaking medical research that has the potential to help ME/CFS patients find their feet. The Measurement According to its website, "The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas." Its mandate to test was included in the original No Child Left Behind legislation. NAEP tests are given to a representative sampling of about 30,000 private and public school students every two years in Grades 4, 8 and 12. NAEP, which is administered by a federal agency that is part of the national Department of Education, periodically tests students in math, reading, science, the arts, civics, geography, U.S. history, and technical literacy. The NAEP started testing students in 1969-1970, but the design of the tests used today dates to 1992. Its current testing "partners" include the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), one of the groups behind the national Common Core Standards, Educational Testing Service, which markets and administers the GRE and Praxis exams, and Pearson, which has a contract with NAEP to "prepare and package the assessment and all auxiliary materials; to distribute assessment booklets and materials to the test administrators for each school; to process completed student and teacher assessment materials returned from the field; to develop training and scoring materials; and to score all assessments." Advertisement The Standard The Common Core Standards were intended to define the reading and math skills that students should be able to do at each grade level. Development started in 2008. The 2016 high school graduating class was in fourth grade. The Common Core Standards were officially launched in 2009. The 2016 high school graduating class was in fifth grade. In June 2010 the final Common Core Standards were released to the public and state education agencies. The 2016 high school graduating class was in sixth grade. By December 2013, 45 states and Washington DC, under pressure from the Obama administration's Race to the Top initiative, had adopted the Common Core Standards for ELA/literacy and math. The 2016 high school graduating class was in tenth grade. Advertisement By the 2014-15 academic year, every state was required to have in place Common Core aligned assessments to ensure that students were "college- and career-ready." The 2016 high school graduating class was in eleventh grade. The Results In Fall 2015 the NAEP tested a representative sample of high school seniors in the 2016 graduating class. After seven years of Common Core curriculum and assessment, the NAEP tests showed: The average performance of high school seniors dropped in math and failed to improve in reading from 2013 to 2015. Performance was also down on both tests from 1992, the first year that similar tests were used. There was a decline in the percentage of students in both public and private schools that are rated as prepared for college-level work in reading and math. In 2013, 39% of students were considered ready for college math and 38% were prepared for college-level reading. But in 2015, only 37% were prepared for college. Worse, while scores improved for students in the highest percentile group in reading, they dropped in reading and math for students in the lower percentiles. The number of students scoring below "basic" in both subjects also increased from 2013. These were the students that Common Core and the high-stakes testing regime were supposedly designed to support the most. Advertisement Test scores for students in 4th and 8th grade who have been trapped in Common Core classrooms with Common Core curriculum for pretty much their entire school careers showed a similar decline in math. Terry Mazany, the chairman of the governing board for the test, called these results "worrisome." The Conclusion These tests, as U.S. Secretary of Education John King concedes, are basically designed so that 70% of students will fail, with a much higher percentage among students with disabilities, English Language learners, and children who live in poverty. Fairfield University Professor and Network for Public Education Board member Yohuru Williams argues these tests, which are manifestly unfair to the neediest children, feeds into racial determinism in American society while closing doors of opportunity for Black and Latino children. Despite claims that the new federal ESSA law reduces emphasis on high-stakes testing, companies are scrabbling to make money off of the Common Core tests. The latest big entries seeking to profit from the testing bonanza are the SAT and ACT testing companies. Thirteen states are either currently using, planning to use, or considering using these tests to satisfy ESSA mandates. Scott Marion, the executive director of the Center for Assessment, a nonprofit organization that helps states design and evaluate tests, accuses the SAT and ACT of a "land grab." He describes what is happening as a "little like the Gold Rush." Common Core is little more than another combination miracle reading program (e.g. Hooked on Phonics, Success for All, Pearson's Reading Street) and "new math" fad that companies have been pushing in the American education market since the 1960s. None of these programs radically changes education in the United States because they do not address the fundamental problems that undermine student performance, poverty, parental unemployment or the need to work multiple jobs, substandard housing and ghettoization, school segregation, and a local funding system that channels greater dollars to schools in affluent communities. They are technical excuses not to address social and educational inequality. Black woman in handcuffs There seems to be an international push these days toward making the purchase of sex (but not its sale) illegal. In the 16 years since Sweden criminalized buyers of commercial sex, Norway, Denmark, Canada and most recently, northern Ireland have followed suit. And now England is considering similar legislation, according to VICE. What adherents to this approach don't understand is that such laws only make working conditions much more dangerous for sex workers and do very little to curb the demand for commercial sex. As I illustrate in my book, Getting Screwed: Sex Workers and the Law, many sex workers are careful to screen clients before they meet with them, asking for detailed information about who they are and where they work. As Maddy, a high-end escort in Washington, D.C. whose clients are corporate executives and top government officials, told me, " I never see clients I haven't screened. I find out where they work, and I can verify that they actually are who they say they are." Advertisement As Maddy and other sex workers note, laws criminalizing buyers would make such screening much more difficult -- what buyer is going to readily divulge such culpable information -- and thus jeopardize their ability to work safely. And indeed, that appears to be what has happened in Sweden. Since 2000, studies show, sex workers there have a much more difficult time negotiating safe sex (i.e. sex with condoms) and assessing dangerous clients. They've also lost many low-risk clients, leaving them exposed to more violent clientele -- both on the streets and indoors. The irony is that Sweden's approach has actually increased the overall number of sex workers in that country and did not reduce trafficking in the region at all, according to the Swedish government's own reports. By contrast, countries that have decriminalized sex work and regulated it to some degree (such as the Netherlands and New Zealand) report no increase in the sex trafficking of minors and illegal immigrants. At the same time, sex workers in those countries are better able to protect themselves -- from physical harm and sexually transmitted diseases. Because they don't fear being arrested, they have more time to negotiate safe sex and they are more comfortable working with police to target traffickers and abusive clients. In decriminalized environments, sex workers are also able to work with colleagues who know where they're going and who they're meeting with, an important safeguard -- without fear of being arrested. As I blogged about before, police in the United States often arrest sex workers who work together and charge them with trafficking each other, even when they are working together by choice. Advertisement As one British researcher told VICE, the current push in the United Kingdom to criminalize buyers is reminiscent of the solicitation laws passed there in the late 19th century, which resulted in the convictions of 7,415 sex workers but only 165 pimps. As Julia Laite,a lecturer in British history at Birkbeck, University of London, said: What really bothers me is that these people present the idea of criminalizing buyers as a brand-new, feminist, revolutionary idea. Really, the idea is very old. It wasn't originally considered feminist; it was far more connected to the moral reform movement. "The world's favorite season is the spring.All things seem possible in May."- Edwin Way Teale May is a time for Spring, Flowers, Memorial Day Cookouts, and most importantly... May is Mental Health Month May is time to share our triumphs, our struggles, our compassion, and our fight to end stigma together. How will you take care of YOU this month? (And every month?) May is a time for Spring, Flowers, Memorial Day Cookouts, and most importantly... Celebrating Mental Health Mental Health America is an amazing organization helping everyone celebrate Mental Health every month, and I couldn't be prouder to be performing and presenting Gutless and Grateful as part of their annual conference next month! "For over 65 years, Mental Health America and our affiliates across the country have led the observance of May is Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings." How can you get involved? Use a hashtag! #mentalillnessfeelslike "This year's theme for Mental Health Month is - Life with a Mental Illness - and will call on individuals to share what life with a mental illness feels like for them in words, pictures and video by tagging their social media posts with #mentalillnessfeelslike. Posting with the hashtag will allow people to speak up about their own experiences, to share their point of view with individuals who may be struggling to explain what they are going through--and help others figure out if they too are showing signs of a mental illness. Sharing is the key to breaking down the discrimination and stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and to show others that they are not alone in their feelings and their symptoms." How a Hashtag Brings Us Together: Using Social Media to Share and Support Nothing feels as scary when each of us raises our voices. So use the hashtag #mentalillnessfeelslike for Mental Health Month. This way, we know we're not alone! Mental Health America also has wonderful resources for mental health awareness this month. You can download their comprehensive toolkit here. Advertisement Gutless & Grateful at Mental Health America I'm also sharing #mentalillnessfeelslike at Mental Health America's conference this year and I couldn't be prouder. I discovered storytelling as a way to gain control over uncertain times, and ultimately to transform obstacles into opportunities. Sharing my story helped me fight stigma and find community - everything that Mental Health Month is about. That's why I couldn't be prouder to be presenting at the on June 7th to 9th in Alexandria, D.C. Learn more about the conference Want more ways to get involved with Mental Health this month? See www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may for ideas. Remember, take care of the light inside you, because no matter how dark life gets... With an empowered approach to mental health, anyone can be surprised by the strength of the human spirit. What Does Mental Illness Feel Like For Me? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be rough. My PTSD was an outgrowth of ten years of medical trauma as well as sexual abuse.It's something I still struggle with. It can feel like a struggle to speak about difficult times. It's hard to open up. But we NEED to. Why keep those memories locked up inside? When we keep things in, we become numb. Everything is easier when you know you're not alone. That's why I'm encouraging you to post #mentalillnessfeelslike on social media and share your story. You're strong enough, no matter what. Sometimes difficult times can take us on the most beautiful detour of our lives. I call my "post-traumatic growth" my beautiful detour. The blessings I've received just because these unfortunate events happened in my life are too large to quantify...or even start listing! The best part? That I'm still here to talk about it, and to share my story. Sharing is healthy. What are you sharing this month? All artwork was created by Amy on her detour. Watch Amy's TEDx talk on April 16th, learn about her speaking, or catch her touring Gutless & Grateful, her one woman musical, to theatres, colleges, conferences and organizations nationwide. Learn about her mental health advocacy programs for students, and find out how to take part in the #LoveMyDetour movement, and see where she'll be next. Advertisement ___________________ Dear Governor McCrory, I'm writing to commend you and your Republican colleagues in the state legislature for your courage in passing HB2 into law. This was not an easy position for me to arrive at, since I'm transgender, and this law regulates among other things the public performance of my bodily functions. But after extensive inquiry and much soul searching, I came to appreciate the public spirit that prompted y'all (if I may), and am anxious for news of the startling scientific breakthrough underwriting the law to break, and vindicate you. Allow me to share my personal journey with you. I recently had the opportunity to pass through your beautiful state on my way to and from a wedding in South Carolina. My sister and I met in the Charlotte airport going, and parted ways there on our return trip. Because we had a long layover on the way down, we decided to have a couple of beers at one of the airport's bars. I knew about the recent passage of HB2, so imagine my dilemma when I found myself needing to pee before we boarded our connecting flight (alcohol, of course, being a diuretic). Now I'm a firm believer in the rule of law, as I think most of my trans sisters and brothers are. Because we're members of a vulnerable minority, frequently singled out for discrimination and even violence by people motivated by bigotry, fear, and/or ignorance, we look to laws to protect us. And as a believer, I'm willing to sacrifice my individual druthers for the common weal when necessary. Advertisement These weighty considerations were in my mind as I hopped off my bar stool. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in a stall in the nearest women's room peeing. Please believe me when I say that I didn't intend to break your new law. Seeing no police presence outside the door, I acted out of habit - since I've been using women's facilities for years - as well as pressing need. (As you're a human being who shares this bodily function, let alone an informed expert on the subject, I'm assuming no elaboration of that latter reason is needed). This experience got me thinking about the difficulties that this new law must be confronting you with. I don't mean the strong and widespread pushback you're receiving - the immediate legal challenge, and the travel bans to and flight of businesses from your state. Heck, even Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace recently opined that laws like yours seem to be "a solution in search of a problem." I mean instead the logistical challenges of enforcing the law. Several such challenges occurred to me, how to pay for enforcement being prominent among them, but the stickiest of the sticking points, it seemed to me, was how to tell when a trans person enters the "wrong" restroom. It's not like all of us trans women - because it seems clear that you don't really care about trans men: an unfair double standard, I think, but let it pass - it's not, I'm afraid, like our appearance always screams dude-in-a-dress. My own experience is a case in point. No one as far as I could tell raised an eyebrow when I entered the restroom that first time - or either of the subsequent two times (long layover c/w powerful diuretic: nuff said). Advertisement Since the eye test is no guarantee - even if that eye is highly trained in trans spotting - I thought maybe you could have every woman who enters a public restroom expose her private parts to an attendant to demonstrate her incontrovertible womanhood. But here too, I'm afraid, obvious difficulties arose. In the first place, as all America knows, the male sex organ can be surgically altered to resemble a female one. Second, I worried that the lines to enter women's rooms during busy times, already long (as your research has doubtless revealed), would be greatly lengthened by the processing delay, let's call it, as each woman paused to pull down her pants or hike up her dress and submit to the attendant's inspection. Instituting any policy that further slows the movement of the bathroom queue, believe me, would not be popular with your female constituents. Even if such searches were limited to women who look "suspicious," there was the likelihood that some cisgender women would be mistakenly stopped. And I worried at least a few of these gals would be unable or unwilling to accept that being asked to show a stranger their vaginas was for the greater good, and would view the procedure as perhaps a little too invasive of their privacy. Given your avowed desire to protect the privacy rights of women, this scenario would, I'm sure you'll agree, represent a most unfortunate irony. I could go on. It would be interesting, for example, to consider creative measures like having a chip like those that dog owners use implanted in trans women, or requiring us to wear a distinguishing patch or armband - say, one the color of the trans flag - on the model of that modern state that more than any other raised citizen diversity management to a science, Nazi Germany. But I trust enough has been said already to enable us to agree that the logistical hurdles confronting your poor little law are formidable indeed. Advertisement Having progressed this far in my reflections, I hit a snag. It was clear to me from the Saint Vitus' Dance so many red-state Republican legislators are doing over these "bathroom bills" that there must be some pressing need for them. Where there's smoke (and not merely hot air), as the old saying goes. But since, as we both know, there's no credible evidence whatsoever that transgender women pose a threat to cisgender women and girls in bathrooms, I found myself, along with Chris Wallace, struggling to imagine what that need was. What clear and present menace would prompt conscientious public servants like you and your Republican colleagues to spend over $40,000 of taxpayer money on a special session, and to stand by your action after it has so adversely affected your state's economy and sullied its reputation, not to mention bringing so much opprobrium down on your own heads? I pondered on this question for some time until late the other night, after a few drinks, I had an a-ha moment on the toilet. I admit that at first the idea seemed farfetched to me; but the more I considered it, the more it answered the questions I had, at least in the absence of any firmer rationale. I'm sure that if I'm missing the mark, you'll laugh at me when I share it with you. Since, however, my greatest wish is to verify that the sacrifice I and my trans sisters are being called on to make is more than a bigot's chimera, I'm willing to take that chance. Here, then, is what I came up with: Listening to my urine stream emerge from me and impact with the water in the toilet bowl, I realized that there must me some subtle difference between the sound of trans women's peeing and the peeing of cis women - a difference uncovered only recently by secret Republican-funded research. I reasoned that this difference was due to the fact, undocumented until now, that our urinary tract has a slightly wider diameter, which gives the sound of our peeing a marginally deeper, and thus more "manly," resonance. This anatomical difference presumably develops during puberty, when testosterone spurs many similar changes in the body. Such a subtle difference in and of itself hardly warrants the sweeping response that these bills seek to enact, of course. So I postulated that this secret research must have also revealed significant health risks associated with exposure to what I'll call the "tranny whoosh." These risks, I'm guessing, affect cis women and girls after even one visit to a ladies' room being used by a trans woman, and include chronic anxiety and, with repeated exposure, an aversion to men. That the nation's breeding stock might become thus afflicted surely accounts for the rising interest in bathrooms among public-spirited Republican males. Advertisement I should confirm here that I'm not talking about the far more obvious sonic disparity between women peeing seated and men peeing standing. As you surely know, having interested yourself so extensively in our bodily functions, few if any of us pee standing up for the simple reason that we're not (as those less well versed than you erroneously assert) men. A further difficulty arose at this point: why would you and other Republican lawmakers continue to hide behind hoary fictions and pseudo-religious hate-speech instead of simply revealing to a skeptical world these striking new findings? But then the answer to that question is obvious, isn't it? The research must be reproduced in line with standard scientific practice before it can be unveiled. Given the cavalier stance many Republican legislators have taken on other, arguably weightier issues like climate change, I confess the thought that they would be so concerned to get the science of my pissing right warms my heart. It also inspires me to follow your example and submit to the findings of rigorous scientific inquiry, even if those findings run contrary to my own prejudices. I look forward, then, to the appearance of this groundbreaking research, surely imminent, and to its vetting by the greater scientific community. And I profess myself willing to hold it the next time I find myself in the Charlotte airport, or to refrain from contributing to your state's economy if those beers will render me incapable of holding it, or to sacrifice my dignity, and risk my personal safety, and use a men's room, or even to pee my pants or dress while waiting at my gate, rather than expose the ears of even one of the cisgender women and girls living in or passing through your beautiful state to my traumatizing whoosh. (NB: If I choose the final option, no worries: I'll leave a note on the seat for the maintenance staff.) After two years of taking little notice of Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists' actual demands, let alone implementing them, President Obama has now lambasted the movement for simply "yelling" about the issue. The insulting insinuation is that BLM activists are mindless blowhards who lack specific near- and longer-term solutions to endemic police racism and violence. Obama insisted that activists should be eager to meet with politicians, presumably to "dialogue" and convince them to change their ways. Are we really to believe such forced naivete from someone at the pinnacle of the cynical U.S. political system? Advertisement "One of the things I caution young people about though, that I don't think is effective, is you've highlighted an issue and brought it to people's attention ... and elected officials are ready to sit down with you, then you can't just keep yelling at them," the President said April 23rd in London. "And you can't refuse to meet because that would compromise the purity of your position." Obama conveniently overlooked that most of the politicians some BLM activists have refused to meet with are almost all Democrats - the leaders of big cities. Exhibit A is his own former chief of staff, the Karl Rove fixer of the Democratic Party, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who infamously suppressed a dashcam video showing the police murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald so he could win a close-fought reelection campaign. Why should BLM activists allow themselves to be used as props in photo ops with such a despicable character? For the President's political allies to begin addressing many of the immediate BLM demands doesn't require negotiations or penetrating studies - just following the government's own laws concerning murder, assault, perjury and conspiracy - when said offenses are committed by police. It would require them to behave towards police at least half as harshly as most employers do towards employees who commit such offenses. Should it really take years to fire violent sociopaths? The problems highlighted by BLM activists are so glaring and long-standing, they should not have required protest to highlight them. It's instructive that politicians, including two-term President Obama, began speaking about racist police violence in fits and starts only after BLM protesters forced the issue onto the national dialogue. Advertisement "To tell mothers, fathers, family members and friends who have lost their loves ones to police violence that their screams and yells for justice need to be more pragmatic and quiet, is to deny the enormity of human devastation and pain that is the root of this movement," said Aislinn Pulley, a leader in Chicago's BLM movement who in February refused to participate in a White House photo op with the President. "When every 28 hours a black person is extra-judicially killed by police or vigilantes, the absolute last thing we need is to be quiet. We need to be so loud that we make it impossible to ever accept as normal the extrajudicial killing and brutality of anyone." Obama's own solutions announced shortly after unrest over the police killing of unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, were rightly denounced by BLM activists as wholly inadequate. His proposal to rein in the growing militarization of local police forces with cast-off military hardware was shot full of loopholes. His federal funding of body cameras for police was a technocratic "fix" to a social problem - the racist devaluing of black lives. This devaluing, which spawned the phrase "Black Lives Matter," means that police are far more likely to use deadly force again black people in situations where no force or less than lethal force are warranted. And as shown by the legal aftermath of the videos of the police killing of New York's Eric Garner, and a generation before him, the police beating of LA's Rodney King, stone cold video evidence of illegal police violence doesn't guarantee an appropriate response from a justice system shot through with racism and pro-police bias. Advertisement Here in Chicago, BLM activists have spent years trying to get even their most basic demands addressed - struggling to get cops fired even when civil juries have already found them guilty of wrongfully killed black people and awarded the surviving families millions of dollars in restitution. It is this official inaction, where month after month, killer cops collect taxpayer funded salaries and pensions, that infuriates BLM activists. In this context, "Obama's comments reflect the detached bureaucracy of pomp and circumstance that masquerades itself as accomplishing something, but in reality is at best little more than political theater, at worst a designed distraction," said Pulley. But the reality on the federal level is probably worse that just ineffectual dithering and PR stunts. Thanks to years' worth of diligent work by activists and civil rights attorneys, we now know that the police spying, infiltration and mis-use of the law used against the Occupy Movement in localities around the nation was not a coincidence. It was in fact a nationally coordinated campaign by President Obama's Justice Department to illegally shut down the movement. Likewise, there is already plenty of evidence [2] of local police working with the FBI to spy against BLM activists in many cities. It is not conspiracy-mongering to suspect that federal actions are being taken against BLM activists, just as they were again used the Occupy movement before it. This is, after all, an administration that has already proven itself prone to widespread invasive monitoring of legal 1st Amendment activities, as was the administration before it. Advertisement In taking these anti-civil rights actions against the black lives matter movement, President Obama is not being a black president or even necessarily a Democratic Party one. He is simply being a United States president, and as such, borrowing Dr. King's phrase, ringmaster of the U.S. government, "the biggest purveyor of violence in the world today." Young BLM activists' typically embrace more controversial views than their elders in and out of the political establishment. They write and speak frequently about a world without police and prisons. They speak about resources currently wasted on police and prisons, instead being spent on supporting viable black futures with massive funding for jobs, affordable housing, education, and mental and physical health. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2015. I share my learning that jolted me back on the track to a new life. This is my third posting. My Pink Notes for Inner Wisdom I have many wise friends. Kenny has helped me make sense of all things 'alternative.' You only have one choice; love or fear', he keeps reminding me. It's that simple. We are all much wiser than we realize. Our intuition and our bodies give us signals that we often ignore. I wanted to access my inner knowledge to help my healing process. But how should I do it? I turned to Kenny for advice and being practical as always, he told me to buy a notebook. I found a pink one that I liked. Advertisement -Center yourself and then ask. Kenny was clear in his instruction. -Ask what? -What you want to know? I wanted to know what I had learned during the two weeks since my diagnosis. I will never forget the answers: I cannot do it all alone Planning is over-rated! I am surrounded by love Energy-stealing people are dangerous to me I have a wonderful life I read what I had written and I knew it was my truth, but the truth was fragile. I read my new discoveries out loud to all my visitors during these weeks. By telling people about what I had written, I could integrate my internal and external truth. My 'Pink Notes' became a guide going forwards. I laughed out load reading my insight on planning -- 'it is over-rated.' For years, I have with a full calendar and have dutifully rushed to the next appointment when my iPhone beeped to remind me. But having a good life has little to do with planning. This summer with breast cancer was the ultimate example of that. Advertisement We must be in the now to be happy. What is the point of all the beauty surrounding you if you cannot enjoy it? Being busy is no excuse. My boss who has a more demanding schedule than anyone I know, still has 'time' to publish a photo on Facebook of the beautiful Stockholm summer evening. The cancer demanded that I lived in the 'now'. I had always imagined the 'now' as bliss, being content, calm and happy. But my 'now' was centered on resting. Avoiding the Energy Thieves I have always been perceptive to the energies of people around me. I was well aware that I needed to avoid contact with people who drained me. Yet, I was shocked to experience how strongly some people literally exhausted me. It was enough to have them in my thoughts. My normal defense mechanisms were completely out of function. It is important to me to remember this learning. Regardless of health situation, energy-draining people will affect me if I do not put up my boundaries. My Pink Notes had revealed very important truths that I carried inside. My life was indeed wonderful, despite the illness. On good days, I felt like I sailed in an ocean of love that kept pouring into my life, I enjoyed my beautiful apartment, my financial freedom, the most wonderful son in the world... I felt blessed. Advertisement But there are other moments. For those, there are tools. Champagne as a Life Savor There is something about this bobbly drink that brings along a bigger world. A promise of scandalous enjoyment and memories that can make you blush. You do not want to be without that during cancer. At least, that was my decision. Being luckier than most, I have my own champagne crew: The Lanson Ladies. Being new in Stockholm and in a new job, I was surprised and grateful for the attention and care from my new colleagues. Several times a week they came visiting, always with a bottle of champagne. These women run one of Sweden's largest companies. They have responsibilities that exceed what most people think of as 'too much'. In order to book a meeting with them, you need very good connections to their personal assistants. Jannike, Helene and Henriette were a constant presence during my fight and struggle to understand what had happened to me. They made me feel included, valued and cheered me on. I had to concentrate on getting well and I could not worry about work. I had an excellent co-worker who was acting for me, and I did not want to interfere with his decisions. I kept away from e-mails and did not attend meetings. Advertisement But I love my job and wanted to be in touch with the exciting things happening. It was wonderful to discuss job related opportunities and ideas over a glass of champagne with the Lanson Ladies. This created a sense belonging that was very valuable to me. Arik Bjorn - Photo Credit: John A. Carlos II This post was originally published on www.blackandwordy.com Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) is infamous for shouting "you lie" to President Obama during the president's 2009 State of the Union address. Wilson has held his post as South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District representative since 2001 and has never been opposed by a genuinely progressive Democrat -- that is, until now. "I remember sitting in the booth, and looking at the ballot and seeing 'Joe Wilson unopposed'," said Arik Bjorn, Joe Wilson's progressive challenger. "Nobody has the right to waltz off to Washington on my watch." But before Bjorn can directly challenge Joe Wilson in the general election November 8, he must first defeat Phil Black in the South Carolina 2nd Congressional District Primary June 14. Black, who is running as a Democrat and unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Republican against Joe Wilson in 2008, 2010, and again in 2012, is what Bjorn calls a "fake Democrat." Advertisement Those familiar with South Carolina's politics will recognize the term "fake Democrat" as Republican who runs for office as a Democrat to avoid losing to a stronger Republican during a primary election. South Carolina voters do not have to declare any political party affiliation when they register to vote, which means that any voter of any political persuasion can vote in any party's primary. Bjorn, a librarian and vocal Bernie Sanders supporter who was recently endorsed by the South Carolina American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), was inspired to run for Congress after he heard Bernie Sanders speak during a town hall held at the Medallion Center in Columbia, South Carolina. "Bernie said, 'there is nothing that together we can not accomplish;' and in that moment I told myself, 'I must take a stand.' I was inspired by Bernie Sanders to run," said Bjorn. Bjorn's candidacy is a response to criticism from the left and from the right as to how progressives plan to legislate liberal principles at the state and local levels without creating a chasm (a la the Tea Party and Republicans) in the Democratic party between Bernie Sanders supporters and Hillary Clinton supporters. "If you only believe what's on your news feed, you'd think that everyone who votes for Bernie Sanders will never support Hillary, but, of course, that's not how you approach running for Congress," said Bjorn. Bjorn learned that government can function across party lines during his tenure managing South Carolina's SmartState Program, a $2 billion economic development program that used state lottery revenue to invest in research centers and major research institutions. The program was established in 2002 by the South Carolina State Assembly with bipartisan support. Advertisement In 2012, under Bjorn's management, the SmartState Program turned into an economic boon for the state, and created over 8,000 jobs, many of which were high-paying, knowledge-economy positions. The program was also responsible for more than $1.4 billion in non-state investment in the South Carolina economy -- a seven-to-one return on the state's $180 million investment. "The program demonstrated how industry and academia can work side-by-side, so a community can prosper," said Bjorn. "I'm not running for Congress as a 'Berniecrat'. I'm running for Congress as a resident of South Carolina's Second Congressional District. The challenge is for us to find a way, beyond being liberal and being conservative to create a just and prosperous society." Bjorn, if elected, plans to reach across the political aisle to work with Republicans and centrist Democrats to get things done, but he does not mince words when it comes to his support for progressive values, or in his criticism of his potential Republican colleagues. "There is blood on the hands of Governor Haley, and the other governors who won't expand Medicaid. Healthcare is a human right. End of story," said Bjorn. In 2013, Joe Wilson cosponsored H.R.2682 -- "Defund Obamacare Act of 2013," and Wilson has been an opponent of the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, a popular Republican has not expanded Medicare even though the ACA, also known as "Obamacare," would have allowed her to do so. Advertisement By declining federal dollars to facilitate such an expansion, Gov. Haley, with the support of most if not all of her fellow South Carolina Republican elected officials declined to expand free healthcare to hundreds of thousands South Carolinians living below the poverty line. Bjorn is unequivocal in his support for the LGTBQ community, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement, saying: "Black lives matter. Period. There is nothing else to say other than that." The congressional hopeful strongly opposes state Senator Lee Bright's (R-S.C.) bill, S.1203, which mirrors North Carolina's anti-LGBTQ bill HB2, also known as the "Bathroom Bill." "The legislation is barbaric, and I'd rather share a bathroom with a transgender person than share a bathroom with a barbaric legislator like Lee Bright," said Bjorn. "We need to end this culture of enemy-making. We need to stop alienating the LGBTQ community, and we need to stop threatening Muslims." Bjorn plans to end what he describes as "the culture of enemy-making" through what he calls his "legislative formula." It's a quasi-algebraic formula that he believes will be key for making effective progress toward legislating progressive principles such as universal healthcare, and equal access to higher education and academic resources. Advertisement "I will always legislate from a place of what do we want, minus what we have, equals what we need to get there," said Bjorn. "I want to be a legislative explorer. I want to be a legislative uniter." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, left, Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, right, arrive to attend funeral prayers for army officer Seckin Cil, who was killed in Sur, Diyarbakir Wednesday, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. Six soldiers were killed after PKK rebels detonated a bomb on the road linking the cities of Diyarbakir and Bingol in southeastern Turkey as their vehicle was passing by, according to Turkeyas state-run Anadolu Agency. The deaths come a day after a suicide bombing claimed the lives of at least 28 people and wounded dozens of others.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) The rift between President Erdogan of Turkey and PM Davutoglu which wasn't a secret before has now become apparent. What made the conflict between the two so clear was Erdogan's recent attempt to terminate Davutoglu's control over the executive board of the Justice and Development Party (AKP in Turkish). Advertisement Due to the very strict and disciplined party system in Turkey, presidents of political parties have almost entire control over the party structure. Erdogan's recent coup attempt against PM Davutoglu has led to the end of Davutoglu's control over his party, which eventually may also end his premiership in the Turkish Government soon. Many in the AKP believe that it was a response from the President Erdogan to Davutoglu for successfully arranging an appointment with President Obama during his upcoming official visit to the US early in May after a request to the White House. After the recent developments in AKP, however, sources in Washington say that the meeting has been postponed to an unknown future. Advertisement PM Davutoglu actually was aware of the fact that President Erdogan's obsession to become the executive president of Turkey would eventually end his premiership in the government. Even though, presidents are not allowed to intervene party politics in Turkey, Erdogan violated the Turkish constitution many times in the past, stating even that he doesn't recognize it. Now, PM Davutoglu has two options ahead. First, he may avoid challenging Erdogan and leave the office soon. If he does so, Davutoglu would lose all his powers and allow Erdogan to ruin his reputation and political life. However, if he resists and decides to challenge Erdogan, he would have a chance to prove his leadership not only over the party but over Turkey as well. Even though it would be very troubling and complicated for Davutoglu to resist Erdogan, he should try. Even if Davutoglu obeys Erdogan after the new development in the Party, he wouldn't be able to change Erdogan's attitude against him, due to the vindictive and malicious personality traits of Erdogan. The President would eventually terminate him whether he would obey or not. From this point of view, Davutoglu has only one chance actually. Even though the Turkish Military is sidelined from Turkish politics, there are some indications that they are not sided with Erdogan. In the Turkish political system, the commander in chief of the Turkish Military is under the command of the PM. In that case, there are signs that Turkish Military would prefer to work with PM Davutoglu instead of Erdogan. Advertisement The head of Turkish Intelligence Service, Hakan Fidan as well, is under the command of PM Davutoglu. Last year, the resignation of Turkey's powerful spy chief Hakan Fidan to run for parliament on the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) without the approval of President Erdogan, indicated that his assumed loyalty to Erdogan is not absolute. Thus, comparing with the power of the other dictators in the region, Erdogan's power is not fully consolidated yet but it's still on the formation. Erdogan has a powerful media machine, which he uses as a propaganda machine and for political character assassinations. Davutoglu has, on the other hand, two newspapers, Yeni Yuzyil and Karar as well. Now, many believe that recent developments in AKP imply the end Davutoglu's political life. If Davutoglu could manage to use the powerful instruments in his hands, Turkish Military and Turkish Intelligence Service, MIT, he could have a chance to survive. Davutoglu should find ways to cut off Erdogan's illegal link to several courts he uses against his rivals. Davutoglu is aware of the fact that, in a global spectrum, Erdogan has angered the U.S, European Union and Russian Federation at the same time indicating that things may not evolve as Erdogan expected, either. The arrest of the Iranian-born Turkish citizen Reza Zarrab last month in Florida by U.S. authorities on charges to conspire to conduct hundreds of millions of dollars in financial transactions through Turkish and Emirati companies that helped Iranian Government to evade U.S. sanctions may have some unexpected consequences for Erdogan as well. Advertisement During the gold for oil trade scheme between Iran and Turkey, some $14 billion were vaporized as bribes and commissions in Turkey. Starting from 2009, Treasury Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, David Cohen, cautioned Turkish government and banking officials many times about the consequences of evading sanctions against Iran. For example, in 2009, Cohen expressed concern about delays in Turkey's compliance with the UNSC 1267 and 1373 designation process and the low level of money laundering or terror finance prosecutions. As Cohen noted Turkey's progress on reforming its customer due diligence, but said Turkey must strengthen its efforts to fight terrorism finance. David S. Cohen was sworn in as the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on February 9, 2015. This assignment is definitely an important indication how President Obama takes money laundering and financial crimes seriously across the globe even if it would complicate bilateral relations with some ally countries. Erdogan's second weakness, comparing with Davutoglu, is his alleged relations with ISIS that particularly Russian Federation brings to the agenda of UNSC. Advertisement In 1969, when a major oil spill took place off the coast of Santa Barbara, Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin was inspired to build public awareness about the impact we humans were having on the environment. This was an era of protests against the Vietnam War and music festivals like Woodstock, so Nelson put forth an idea to create a "national teach-in on the environment." The next year, April 22 was selected as the first Earth Day - scheduled to take place for students after their spring break, but before their final exams. Amazingly, over 20 million people responded from coast to coast, rallying in streets and parks to protest for a sustainable environment. Ever since then "Earth Day" has been observed annually. Photos by Lana Wong/Education Commission For many of us, our daily lives revolve around the scheduled setting of school, work, and home. For millions caught in conflict and emergencies, life is in constant change caused by the uncertainty of shell fire and forces beyond our control. For them and millions more who've been pushed into poverty, life is at a standstill, stuck in the deprivation of food insecurity and injustices of other forms. Humanity Lost These are the disparities of our world and the realities experienced by children and families in countries like Nepal, Nigeria, and Syria, places so distant, yet home - or once were - to people so dear to those of us who care about humanity beyond our borders and doorsteps. A year after the earthquake, it's difficult to digest that nearly a million Nepalis are now in poverty and a million children are out of school, prone to and lured by senseless traffickers and profiteers willing to push their vulnerable human kin - women, girls, and boys - into prostitution and forced labor. Advertisement After two years and little apparent success to bring back our girls of Chibok, Nigeria, it's easy to come to the conclusion that our cries and call-to-actions go unheard. For Boko Haram - who've abandoned their humanness and become blind to the dignity of the young girls they hold captive and innocent lives they threaten - this is the case. It's easy to loose hope after five years and a seemingly unending civil war which has reduced Syria's economy to ruble, resulted in an exodus of migrants out of the country, and led to the heart-breaking death of Aylan Kurdi and nameless others. ISIS, who's become numb to the teachings of peace is extorting peace from a world which strives for cooperation and compassion. From Nepal to Nigeria to Syria and elsewhere, children and there families are fighting against terror and turmoil to attain basic needs and wants such as food, the opportunity to read and write, and the freedom to life. For them and their efforts to survive and hopes to thrive, let's not revert to silence and indifference. Advertisement Convening to Make a Difference In fact, countless people at all levels and sectors of society are hard at work to return Nepalese children into the safety of schools, bring our Chibok sisters back to their parents, and deliver critical relief to Syrian refugees. For most of us, prayer is all we can contribute to these efforts, and powerful prayer is. For a few, power joins prayer. Empowered and inspired, a group of world leaders, including former prime ministers and presidents, nobel laureates and leaders in business, academics and artists, have joined to create a powerful case - an agenda for action - for investment in education aimed to ensure all young people have access to quality learning that will open countless opportunities for them, their family, community, and country. Why is this important? Because, beyond Nepal, Nigeria, and Syria, there's more than 120 million children and adolescents who aren't in school, while 250 million that are in school are not meeting basic proficiency in literacy and math. The cost of inaction on these 250 million alone is estimated at $129 billion annually. Action, on the other hand, to ensure universal pre-primary, primary, and secondary education will cost $39 billion a year. This group, the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity or the Education Commission, has an equally empowered and inspired youth panel comprised of young advocates, acclaimed activists, students, and social entrepreneurs, a group of which I am energized to be a part of. As a panelist, I was given the opportunity to join the commissioners for their third meeting at the World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C. this past April 2016. Advertisement There, the Commission's research team and partners presented a working report addressing the latest knowledge and trends on education and learning - in context and connection to health, technology, and finance, the digital revolution and innovation economy, among other issue areas - affecting students, schools, and society. Robust and candid discussions allowed us to probe into the "what" and "how": what evidence is needed to make a strong case for long-term investment, and how will we advance that case forward, from the grassroots to the high-level and vice-versa. Inspired Leaders During breaks, I was able to speak with a few commissioners and ask who's inspired them to pursue their activism on behalf of children and education worldwide. Yuriko Koike of Japan thanks her mother who told her: "Choose whatever you want in your life..." Kristin Clemet of Norway spoke fondly of her teacher: "She was both my teacher and was like a mother..." Teopista Mayanja of Uganda attributed her work today to her physical education teacher: "...learning through play and investing into sports, not only as an education aspect, but as a tool to mobilize for education..." Advertisement Toward Opportunity Why are they, their colleagues, and my fellow youth panelists and I all so committed? Because education for us is personal and has and continues to drive and define the purpose of our lives. And because we know the impact education and learning opportunities have for people and the planet. Education, in broader terms, supports our collective humanity: reduces child marriage and early births, leads to better health for mothers and children, increases job opportunities for women and men, enables economic growth, builds tolerance among persons, peoples, and nations, and creates a more inclusive, sustainable international development. Given that education undergirds this very development, of which nations have agreed to more fully realize by 2030, our work comes with an sense of urgency. This urgency is taken with high regard, because we're not only talking about investing in education, we are talking about investing in children and young people - especially the impoverished and marginalized - members of our human family who have so much potential to do good in this world. When children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care, it's because a decision has been made that their parents are currently unable to take care of them or unable to keep them safe. But even though those children are relocated to a safer environment with a foster family, imagine the trauma such an event entails - and the questions a child may ask: Will I ever be able to go home again? When will I see my parents? How long will I stay where I am until it's time to pack up and move to a new foster family? Child Success New York City, an innovative program launched by New York City and implemented by several foster care agencies, aims to improve those children's lives, by providing greater stability while they're in foster care and a greater likelihood that they'll be able to return to their natural families. To date, this program has shown very promising results and could prove to be a model for the future. Here's how the system has worked traditionally: A 10-year-old child - let's call him Tom- would have been removed from his home when it was discovered that his mother, who was a drug addict, was leaving him alone with nothing to eat for long periods of time. Tom would be placed in a foster home, enrolled in school, taken care of by that foster family and looked in on from time to time by a caseworker. After a time, though, that family might find itself no longer able to keep Tom and he'd have to be reassigned to a new foster home, maybe in a different neighborhood, and have to adapt to a new home, a new family and a new school. Advertisement The City's Administration for Children's Services (ACS) wanted to see if they could do better and unveiled 'Child Success NYC' an evidence-based model for working with children in foster care, their foster parents and their biological parents, to improve outcomes for the children. To be considered evidence-based, a program must have a minimum of two high-quality, rigorous scientific evaluations, a positive impact sustained for a minimum of 12 months, and independent replication. Child Success NYC is modeled off a program that was originally developed by the Oregon Social Learning Center and represents the first time ACS has applied evidence-based practices to foster care in New York City. As part of this program, we work intensively with children, parents and foster parents and track which methods are most effective. We work with birth parents to cultivate the parenting skills to become effective parents for their children. At the same time, a social worker is helping the child's birth parents address their own challenges and struggles (e.g., substance abuse and mental health, housing and employment). We also support foster parents; increasing the likelihood a child will enjoy greater stability and fewer transfers and reassignments to different foster homes over time, which takes a tremendous toll. Under a program like Child Success NYC, Tom's mother would receive support from staff using evidence-based strategies to improve her parenting and be much more likely to be able to take care of him in the future. At the same time, the foster family taking care of Tom would receive more evidence-based parenting support, making it less likely that Tom would have to be moved to another home. Thus far, the program has shown compelling results. A test group of 2,000 children who participated in Child Success NYC were 11% more likely to return home compared to their peers who received traditional services. That means there are many more children than usual who are back with their families, or in a permanent home who otherwise might be continuing in foster care. Advertisement Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event in the courtyard of Philadelphia's City Hall on the eve of the Pennsylvania primary, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller It's been roughly three months since Hillary Clinton promised, during her Feb. 4 debate with Bernie Sanders on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, to "look into" releasing the transcripts of her paid speeches to Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street investment houses. If you're a stickler for details and would like to know precisely how long Clinton has delayed on fulfilling her pledge or exactly how much cash she has raked in for her speaking gigs and from whom, you don't have to spend hours scouring the Internet. You can simply log onto two sites created by a 40-year-old Sanders supporter and web developer named Jed McChesney of Olathe, Kan. Advertisement The first site-- iwilllookintoit.com--is a computerized digital clock that ticks off the elapsed time in bold red print, listing the number of days, hours and seconds. The other offers a searchable chart, published at citizenuprising.com, of 91 paid, private talks given by the Democratic front-runner from April 2013 to March 2015. All told, according to McChesney's meticulous research, Clinton pulled in a whopping $21.7 million in speaking fees for the two-year period. Of this amount, $3,260,000 came from 14 speeches delivered directly to financial-sector interests, including Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and, above all, Goldman, which remitted a tidy $675,000 for no less than three chin-wags. "I was watching the debate ... when she said she would look into [releasing the speeches]," McChesney told me in an interview I conducted with him last week via email, as his phone was down as a result of a north Kansas thunderstorm. "I just knew it was a complete blow-off answer. "I find it to be completely disqualifying," he continued, regarding Clinton's presidential bid. "It says a lot about our system when such brazen bribery is wholly accepted. So about ... an hour or so after the debate, it just hit me to start a clock to hold her accountable." Advertisement In terms of web traffic, the venture was an immediate success. On Feb. 19, after the Sanders campaign got wind of McChesney's clock and tweeted out the URL to some 1.5 million followers, the website was featured on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show. Within 20 minutes, the site drew 160,000 visitors, causing it to crash and forcing McChesney to switch to a larger server. Since then, he estimates, the page views have numbered in the millions. Holding Clinton accountable, however, has proven elusive. Like countless rank-and-file Bernie backers across the country, McChesney is irate and disappointed--but by no means surprised--that she continues to keep a lid on her talks. "This wouldn't be acceptable behavior in a banana republic," he wrote me, "and the fact that the media and Democrats turn a blind eye is astounding." It may indeed be too late for accountability or, for that matter, to derail Clinton's march to the Democratic nomination. But it's never too late to tell the truth. The fact is that instead of producing the transcripts, Clinton and her surrogates have unleashed a cascade of excuses, obfuscations, false equivalents and evasions to justify her intransigence. I lack McChesney's computer and math skills, but I know how to spot slipshod arguments when I see them. To date, the Clinton camp has failed to put forward a single convincing defense of its refusal to release the Wall Street speeches, much less of the wisdom of delivering the speeches in the first place. And as the minutes and seconds on McChesney's clock continue to tick away, the defenses have only grown more dubious. Among the first excuses was one floated not by Clinton herself but by reporter Rachel Stockman, the daughter of Reagan-era budget director David Stockman. In a post published on the New York website LawNewz.com just one week after Clinton made her look-into-it pledge, Stockman quoted financial "industry insiders" who said that high-profile corporate speakers like Clinton are often barred from revealing the content of their speeches by nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. Advertisement If accurate, the nondisclosure defense would mean "game over" for anyone seeking transparency from Clinton. Trouble is, Clinton has never voiced support for the defense, and for good reason: It isn't viable. Even before Clinton uttered her look-into-it promise, word had leaked that her standard speaking appearance contracts, negotiated by the prestigious Harry Walker Agency, include provisions that prohibit all press coverage of her talks, as well as audio- or videotaping. However, other typical provisions, some of which were reproduced in a Feb. 7 BuzzFeed article, require that stenographic transcripts be made and that Clinton be accorded sole ownership and control of the transcripts. The decision to release the speeches apparently is hers and hers alone. Much the same can be said of the presumptive Democratic nominee's initial claim, made in a televised February town hall moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper, that in 2013, when she began her speaking tour after resigning as secretary of state, she "didn't know" she would be running for president in 2016. Because she had no firm ambitions for high office, she told Cooper, she saw no conflicts in accepting whatever Goldman and the other firms offered to pay her. While it's true that Clinton did not formally announce her candidacy until April 2015--after the long line of engagements chronicled by McChesney had ended--she had been publicly mulling a second presidential run as long as two years earlier. As a Yale-educated lawyer, a skilled litigator and polished politician, surely she knew that her Wall Street confabs would at a minimum create the appearance of impropriety if she once again threw her hat in the ring. Any contention to the contrary is the stuff of "Saturday Night Live" comedy that can't pass the straight-face test. Advertisement Equally unpersuasive are Clinton's three other basic excuses: that she did nothing more than other former high-ranking government officials have done in signing lucrative speaking deals; that she should be held to the same standard as other presidential candidates and will release her speech transcripts only when they do; and that there is no "quid pro quo" proof she ever has been influenced by Wall Street money. The first claim is eerily reminiscent of the smokescreen Clinton concocted in defense of her use of a private email server during her stint as secretary of state--namely, that her immediate predecessors, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, also conducted official business by means of private email. Neither Powell nor Rice, however, went so far as to set up their own personal Internet systems in their homes, free from government oversight and beyond the reach of the Freedom of Information Act. Additionally, while Powell, Rice and other former officials may have cashed in on the motivational speaking gravy train, they're not running for president. Clinton is. Any claim of equivalence rings hollow. False equivalence also undermines Clinton's plea that she be held to the same standard as other candidates. Sanders, her only remaining Democratic rival, has no Wall Street speeches to divulge. And Donald Trump, her narcissistic, racist and misogynist GOP counterpart, offers no standards she should seek to emulate under any circumstances. As the editorial board of The New York Times--normally, a strong Clinton ally--admonished in an op-ed published Feb. 25: "Public interest in these speeches is legitimate, and it is the public -- not the candidate -- who decides how much disclosure is enough. By stonewalling on these transcripts Mrs. Clinton plays into the hands of those who say she's not trustworthy and makes her own rules." Advertisement But of all the excuses Clinton and her acolytes have concocted, none approaches her "quid pro quo" contention for sheer chutzpah and duplicity. The stunted idea that the only form of political corruption lies in outright quid-pro-quo bribery--campaign contributions in exchange for votes or executive actions--lies at the heart of the Supreme Court's infamous 2010 Citizens United decision, which gutted existing campaign finance law and paved the way for the corrosive emergence of super PACs. In reality, of course, political corruption extends beyond the crass exchange of money for votes and favors. It embraces, as Harvard Law School professor and erstwhile presidential hopeful Lawrence Lessig has instructed, "an economy of influence that leads any sane soul to the fair belief that private influence has affected public policy." Even if there is no smoking quid-pro-quo gun in Hillary's history, there is plenty to suggest Lessig's economy of influence. From her lackluster record in the Senate as an advocate of the poor and middle class to her intervention in 2009 as secretary of state to stave off criminal prosecution of the Swiss banking giant UBS, the fundraising shenanigans of her family foundation that has netted $2 billion in donations from American corporations and foreign governments, and the millions raised by her super PACs in the current election cycle, Clinton has fostered the widespread perception that she's become part of the oligarchy that is destroying American democracy. Producing the transcripts of her Wall Street speeches could transform that perception into certainty. It's easy to understand, therefore, why Clinton is stalling on her look-into-it promise. Still, the longer Clinton waits, the greater the risk she incurs of permanently alienating a critical mass of Sanders voters, including McChesney, whose backing she will sorely need as November approaches. As McChesney put it in our interview, "If she can't show her real constituents simply what she said ... she will never get my vote. Ever." Advertisement In North Carolina, the re-convening of the General Assembly for its short session on Monday was a conspicuous day in the fight over House Bill 2. It marked the culmination of a month of protest against the bill and featured Democratic-sponsored legislation to repeal the law (HB965), the presentation of signatures against the bill, and the coupling of anti-HB2 protests with North Carolina's Moral Mondays. The combination of these events, along with a pro-HB2 rally, attracted much-deserved national attention. However, a month out, we can also now identify the weaknesses in the HB2 coverage. One of those weaknesses has been the lack of discussion about a series of important decisions made by the legislative bodies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the flagship university of the UNC system. Just last week, the alleged transphobic actions of the UNC College Republicans quickly drew negative national press. Yet, at the same time, a couple of resolutions passed by UNC's legislative bodies failed even to reach our own news organs, despite there being reporters present. As a result, no one has tied these decisions together and considered their significance in the discussion of HB2 (though, see Pam Kelley's related and astute piece in The News & Observer). Here's what you may have missed: apart from any action taken by the University's administration and the president of the University system, all of the legislative bodies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have responded to House Bill 2. Most of these bodies have condemned the bill and called for its repeal. All of them have re-affirmed the University's existing non-discrimination policies, which, beyond the categories included in House Bill 2, prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation and veteran status. Advertisement Thus, on March 29, Student Congress unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming the University's existing anti-discrimination policies and calling for the repeal of the bill. On April 6, the UNC Employee Forum discussed the effects of House Bill 2 and re-affirmed the University's non-discrimination policies. On April 12, the Graduate & Professional Student Federation Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning the bill, reaffirming the protections provided by the current University policies, and calling for the General Assembly to institute protections for all categories included in those policies. And, on April 15, the Faculty Council unanimously passed a resolution affirming the University's non-discrimination policy and calling for the repeal of House Bill 2. So what? Are these not just additional groups we can affix to the list of those protesting the bill? No. While every stance made against House Bill 2 marks a vital contribution in the movement against an unjust and discriminatory law, the calls by the representative bodies of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are qualitatively different from those of businesses and private institutions. These calls emanate from within the walls of the system, coming from the constituents of a body named in both the legislation and the pending litigation. These calls are from the community of Joaquin Carcano and other brave trans Tar Heels who have risen to lead the movement by telling their stories. And, our representative bodies, in their unanimity, have made it clear that the people who study, live and work at this University join with these fellow Tar Heels and fundamentally reject the General Assembly's legislation as contravening basic constitutional rights of a group of people who have historically been discriminated against and as impinging, not only on individuals' rights and self-identities, but on how our 40,000-member community has chosen to define itself -- as an open, welcome and diverse community. Medardus, Suicide Squadrons of Space--Recomposed Giambattista Tiepolo, Olymp, 1764, 2014, Oil on canvas, 69 x 43 in. (175 x 110 cm). Courtesy Joerg Heitsch Gallery. This year, expanding from Miami, CONTEXT New York will premiere on Pier 94 alongside its sister fair, Art New York, which looks like a visual double whammy of emerging, mid-career and established blue chip talent representing 1,200 artists at more than 150 distinguished galleries from fifty countries around the world. The Manhattan piers have a rich and dynamic history, including tracing back to the 1800s when immigrants landed en route to Ellis Island. Located on the West Side, the wharves had a glorious past as passenger ship terminals, home to the White Star and Cunard Lines among others, which inspired the name "Luxury Liner Row." With the invention of jet planes, the elongated parking spots for huge boats became obsolete, but with the silver lining of a more practical use as event and exhibition space. Now these mighty docks make an exceptional showcase for memorable events and exhibitions. Advertisement In this inaugural year for CONTEXT New York, presented by Art Miami, the preeminent producer of leading contemporary and modern art fairs, the quality of works on exhibit that I was able to preview in advance are part of a distinguished and memorable line-up with plenty of surprises included. Here is a 'top picks' list from my point of view as space permits, offered with images of the most engaging and interesting works: Medardus' fascinating portrayal of the old and the new (pictured above), is an intriguing composition of rocketeers blasting through space and in and around heavenly clouds occupied by Baroque-looking semi-clad figures, some with wings attached. These are strange and somewhat ambivalent spaces and places where humanoids, animals and futuristic machines seem to fuse into timeless views. Joerg Heitsch Galerie (Munich, Germany): Heitsch Galerie Doug Argue, New York City, 2016, Oil on canvas, 78 x 54 in. Courtesy Waterhouse & Dodd. Doug Argue has developed a singular pictorial language that literally incorporates letter forms and mysterious word equations stretching inventively in all directions, like a professional contortionist who seems comfortable pushing boundaries. The foundation of this recent series of letterscapes is an endless, meandering puzzle-like spiral of thick colorful lines, reminiscent of early Brice Marden's sensibility with a twist of Christopher Wool. In the work illustrated here, which has the spirit of a subway map gone wild, Argue cleverly incorporates text that reflects a New York state of mind accented with the curvy names of boroughs, streets, spaces and places, and a little sex thrown in for good measure. Waterhouse & Dodd (New York and London): Waterhouse & Dodd Fidia Falaschetti, Freaky Mouse (fuchsia), Resin, aluminum painted, 43 x 36 x 12 in. Courtesy Fabien Castanier Gallery. Advertisement Fidia Falaschetti is an Italian artist who started out as an illustrator and graphic designer, later incorporating his skills into replicating recognizable brands and objects, often with shiny surfaces that seem to reflect an exterior that Jeff Koons has explored extensively. In this series, the artist's world is a kind of surrealistic society made up of bizarre iconic characters that you might find parading around Times Square looking for a handout. In the cast sculpture Freaky Mouse, arms are substituted for legs, feet become hands, and a smile embellishes the pants with a message. I'm all ears. Fabien Castanier Gallery (Los Angeles and Bogota): Castanier Gallery Lisa Wright, The Silent Room, Oil on canvas, 36 x 25 cm. Image Lisa Wright courtesy Coates & Scarry. Lisa Wright experiments with provocative compositions utilizing a central figure that can express loneliness or despair, and shift to mystery and intrigue. In much of her work, figures are reduced down to monochromatic color schemes, which act as a dreamlike backdrop where some become transparent or seem to be levitating. In The Silent Room, Wright repeats her penchant for isolating a figure in space, here surrounded by a Matisse-like wallpaper that may be hiding a secret clue. Coates & Scarry (London): Coates and Scarry Salustiano, I'll be there, 2016, Natural pigments and acrylic resin on canvas, 125 x 90 cm. Courtesy Galeria Lucia Mendoza. Salustiano was born in Seville, Spain, where apparently he assimilated the great history of native figurative painters such as El Greco, Velazquez and Goya. The artist has a unique aptitude for isolating a single or double figure on a stark background, often in pure red tones or black. In this painting, titled I'll be there, a portrait of a contemplative little girl is set in front of a provocative black background. She seems to be submerged in a black liquid that helps center and cement this beautiful portrait. Galeria Lucia Mendoza (Madrid, Spain): Lucia Mendoza Theodoros Stamos, Infinity Field, Lefkada Series, 1979-80, Acrylic on canvas, 67 x 76 in. Courtesy Hollis Taggart Galleries Advertisement Theodoros Stamos was one of the original and youngest Abstract Expressionist artists working in New York City in the 1940s and 50s. He grew up on the Lower East Side, where he became acquainted with the work of Arthur Dove and Georgia O'Keeffe, and by the time he was twenty-one, the legendary gallerist, Betty Parsons, gave him a solo exhibition as part of her remarkable stable of artists. In the late 1940s, Stamos became a member of the Irascible Eighteen, a group of abstract painters that included de Kooning, Gottlieb, Pollock and Motherwell, who protested The Met's policy towards excluding American painting. In this rare work titled Infinity Field (Lefkada Series), the raw talent and sense of superb minimalist composition is obvious. Hollis Taggart Galleries (New York): http://www.hollistaggart.com/ Juliane Hundertmark, Breakfast 3, 2016, Oil and mixed media on canvas, 55 x 62 in. (140 x 160 cm). Courtesy Knight Webb Gallery. Juliane Hundertmark has invented a cast of hysterically funny characters that could serve as substitutes for some of the creatures in the movie "Men in Black." In the work Breakfast 3, the artist presents a bizarre and motley crew seated at a table cringing over each others' jokes. The participants may have inherited the DNA from artists like Dubuffet, who delighted in the strange world of outsiders in often freakish circumstances like this one, where even the poster on the wall has a nutty slant. These works are consistently recognizable from an idiosyncratic self-taught style that makes for serious fun. Knight Webb Gallery (London): Knight Webb Gallery Vladimir Semenskiy, Vision, 2016, Oil on canvas, 65 x 120 cm. Courtesy 11.12 Gallery. Vladimir Semenskiy's Vision happens to be my favorite painting in the fair. The biggest problem I encountered in selecting a great image as I did research on this article, was sifting through a treasure trove of superb and masterful artworks, all amazingly consistent with a virtually brilliant style of picture making that not only is a fresh breath of air, but for my money, solid investments that one could enjoy every day. What's the big deal? Answer: This is a remarkably talented and particularly skilled artist, a painter's painter who is obviously aware of art history and has the subtle harmonious touch influenced by other artists as varied as Richard Diebenkorn, Franz Kline, Eric Fischl, de Kooning, Tony Scherman, Francis Bacon, Thomas Eakins, Adolph Menzel, Mary Cassatt and Wayne Thiebaud. This is extremely high caliber work that gives credence to a critic's argument that if you look hard enough and long enough, there are great discoveries out there to relish. 11.12 Gallery (Moscow and Singapore): http://www.11-12gallery.com/ Advertisement Last month I had a chance encounter with Florida Governor Rick Scott at a coffee shop. I was looking at my computer and glanced up to see him standing at the counter about to order coffee. I knew immediately that I needed to take this opportunity to talk with him about the impacts of HB1411, the anti-reproductive health care bill he had recently signed into law. I have been to the Florida capital before and was denied meetings with the governor. This was a once in a lifetime chance to talk with a man who shuns public engagement and is commonly guarded by an entourage of staff. I took a breath and said "Governor Scott?" Advertisement Initially the conversation was calm, but it quickly became heated as he refused to answer the simple questions I posed, in fact he detoured the conversation from talking about reproductive health care access to his record on jobs. He ran away from our conversation, leaving so quickly he didn't even order his coffee! The subsequent video of me saying "shame on you" as he ran away, went viral. It has now been seen by millions of people. Some have accused me of acting inappropriately. Perhaps my opponents expect myself and others hurt by unjust laws to just write letters, go to the polls, and politely ask for change. But what do we do when those things aren't enough? Historically, what is proven to effect change the most is use of all the tools in the box - from diplomacy to disruption. And in this case, confrontation and disruption worked. It started a conversation, perhaps more importantly, a debate. Advertisement Our state is literally sinking as the oceans rise, the medically needy go without care and the working poor are refused an increase in the minimum wage. Black people are gunned down in the streets by the police while people in prisons, including youth, are brutally killed by guards. Does the man who sits at the helm of our sinking state deserve my best manners? Should I have chosen decorum over disgust? Does the man who sits at the helm of our sinking state deserve my best manners? Rather than bow down to etiquette, I chose to stand up to power. In confronting the Governor I took inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement and DREAMers of the youth immigrant rights movement whose bold direct actions have ushered in a new era of political engagement. These activist leaders have called out police and politicians, using their voices and bodies to stop families from being torn apart. They stand at the forefront of social change by taking risks because lives and communities depend on it. And what was Governor's Scott's response to my attempt to talk with him about abortion access and Medicaid expansion in public? He released an attack ad. A tactic normally reserved for those running for office was used against me, a private citizen. This attempt to discredit his critics and intimidate others from speaking out has backfired. Instead of being a deterrent, his video has inspired people to speak out. His response proves that there is inspiration, power and effectiveness in taking direct action. It reminds us that politicians are terrified of an informed and emboldened public. We must recognize the corrupting role of money in our political system. Corporate interests such as Walmart, U.S. Sugar, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce fund Governor Scott's PAC which put out the attack ad*. Advertisement This struggle is not about Governor Scott and me, it is about issues that affect millions of people. In 2015 alone, Scott collected $4.5 million for his PAC. How do we respond when an elected official wields power recklessly? And most importantly, what would happen if many more people publicly spoke out against this corporate driven right wing push we are seeing across the country? Governor Scott travels to California this week, and is using the trip to broadcast his opposition to the living wage recently approved in the Golden state. Scott says the Florida minimum wage of $8.05 is plenty and invites Californians to abandon their fair paying jobs and move here. Welcome to Florida, where half of our residents don't earn enough to pay for basic necessities. This struggle is not about Governor Scott and me, it is about issues that affect millions of people. Maybe friends in the Golden state will be next to run into Scott at a coffee shop and have the chance to tell him we all deserve a living wage, or that we all deserve access to quality healthcare. Our dignity demands that we continue to organize and act against the politicians who do not care if we live or die, so long as they stay rich and powerful. We are not voiceless, but we go mostly unheard. Perhaps, we must turn up the volume. Wild tusked female elephant with family, Kenya, Africa, 2013. Credit: Carl Safina Back in February when Swaziland sold 17 formerly free-living African elephants to three U.S. zoos (Dallas, Omaha and Wichita), I made a phone call to the president of one of the United States' better zoos--a zoo not involved in this deal--asking if he thought it was OK to still be catching wild elephants for zoos. Considering elephants' family bonds and the ivory-slaughter and encroaching farming shrink-wrapping elephants' world, the obvious answer to my question would be--no. But the Swazi government claimed that those 17 elephants would either have been "culled"--killed because the amount of land was judged insufficient--or sold to zoos. But how could I judge the Swazi government's claim? And couldn't they have been donated to a country whose own elephants had been massacred? Those questions prompted my phone call. My friend the zoo president said, "It's important that governments not see export of threatened and endangered species as simply an available money-making strategy." (He spoke on the record but this topic is so touchy that sharing his remark is better than sharing his identity.) He implied that if this is a one-time thing, they are probably telling the truth. If it gets to be a habit, the government is simply looking for an excuse to make money selling off its wildlife. Advertisement We have an answer. Swaziland is now trying to sell rhino horns. Swaziland's anti-poaching body wants to sell the country's stockpile (about 700-lbs) of horns from rhinos that died and horns confiscated from poachers. It estimates it could make $10 million. (Though made of the same stuff as your fingernails, rhino horn is sold as a cure to cancer and other ailments, at nearly $14,000 a pound.) The government claims the money could help protect rhinos from poachers. White rhino family, Africa, 2015. Credit: Carl Safina Sounds good but--. Any trade in rhino horn, elephant tusks (ivory), sturgeon eggs (caviar) or any insanely-priced animal parts creates temptation to corruption. A government that can make $14,000 a pound from something confiscated from poachers, has incentive to give poachers a slap on the wrist and send them right out again. If you're a wealthy wildlife criminal, you might bribe a guard with a key to the national stockpile. That's how elephant tusks from the national stockpiles of other countries find their way back into circulation. More than once, the exact same tusks that were found again in the hands of wildlife traffickers had previously been "safely" locked in government vaults. As a child, I'd been thrilled by elephants at the Bronx Zoo. A city kid with no access to nature but strongly drawn to animals, we'd go to the zoo, the aquarium, the circus, and the natural history museum. Decades later I've had the rare privilege of time in the presence of wild elephants, with the world's greatest elephant researchers and conservationists. I've seen how enchanting elephants are, how deep their emotional bonds to family members. I've written about it in my recent book, Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel. Advertisement So I couldn't bear the thought of capturing elephants who for many years--the Swazi captives range from 6 to 25 years old--had freely ranged their vast natal landscape with their family, other families, and friends. The basic unit of elephant society is the family. It's painful to even think about the disorientation and stress they would feel at finding themselves split up and cut off from one another among three different facilities. Free-living elephants have two serious problems that are shrinking their ranges and numbers: they are being murdered for their tusks and they are being pushed out of their homes by expanding human settlements and farms. Where there get to be "too many" elephants for the shrinking pieces of land they're increasingly confined to, they are often killed by farmers or wildlife managers. Is it better for them to be killed or taken from their families into a life of confinement? It's a horrible choice. Just before I started working on Beyond Words, I spent several days at a zoo whose head elephant manager said that the elephant-keeping standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are set "low enough for circuses." He was disgusted by that. Famed elephant researcher Joyce Poole calls the AZA standards "lousy." Dr. Poole wrote to me, "I have visited a lot of zoos and have yet to see a zoo that I felt met elephants' social, physical and cognitive needs. Even the most modern 'habitats' are awful and elephants stand around looking bored and sad and engaged in stereotypic behavior such as constant rocking." Advertisement The AZA elephant standards for captivity facilities include the following: Indoor space must provide "adequate room to lie down." Indoor space must be only 400 square feet per elephant. (That's 20 by 20 feet.) Outdoor enclosures should have at least 1,800 square feet (30 by 60 feet) for the first elephant and another 900 square feet for each additional elephant. It is "recommended" that the space per elephant should be "even greater." And yet, "institutions can petition for a variance from the current minimum indoor or outdoor space standards... Accreditation inspectors will take a holistic approach to accreditation inspections, rather than focusing on specific size measurements." And though the basic unit of elephant society is the female-led family, AZA standards say only, "Zoos should make every effort to maintain elephants in social groupings." And that's just a recommendation too, not a requirement. In nature female elephants live with their mothers for their entire lives, and males stay until they are teen-agers. Yet the AZA standards say, "The minimum age offspring must remain with their mothers is three years." So much for the AZA standards. They're--yes--lousy. Dr. Poole says, "The recent permission granted by USFWS for the import of the Swazi elephants will drive forward the continued capture and export of wild elephants to China and elsewhere in Asia. Bottom line is that elephants should remain in the wild." Wild elephants, Kenya, Africa, 2013. Credit: Carl Safina Africa's elephant population has fallen by perhaps half in the last decade--a catastrophe for the most magnificent, most long-loving creature on land. African elephants have lost about 90 percent of their natural range and about 99 percent of their numbers since Europeans first set foot in Africa. For Asian elephants the situation is worse. We should not be catching elephants or killing elephants. We should be protecting what is left of them and their world. Our task now must be to stabilize their horrors and their future. Governments should be cooperating in all ways possible to protect elephants. Advertisement There is a lot to do. What elephants need from people now is kindness. Kindness in the form of fierce, determined protection. What we don't need, and what elephants cannot afford, are more ways to drain them from the world. With so many elephants now in captivity and with free-living elephants now facing such difficulties, maybe one way to think of it is this: elephants belong where they are born. And wherever they are born, our job must be to help them, as best we can. Support organizations like WildlifeDirect, Save the Elephants, Amboseli Trust, Elephant Voices, WildAid, BigLife, and many others. That's something you can do. # # # Wild tusked mother elephant and calf, Kenya, Africa, 2013. Credit: Carl Safina On April 30, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta lit a fire in Nairobi National Park that would ultimately consume one hundred tons of elephant tusks. In an editorial, President Kenyatta wrote that his intent was to, "do my part to destroy any possibility that poachers and their accomplices might benefit from the slaughter of Kenya's elephants." His thinking is right on target. One hundred tons; 7,000 elephants. Not just 7,000 murdered elephants, but the turmoil of their families and the suffering of orphans slowly starving. Few crimes are more egregious in their destructiveness and cruelty. "Let me also be perfectly clear," Kenyatta continued, "We impose some of the toughest penalties anywhere on earth for wildlife and natural heritage crimes." Advertisement When I was in Kenya in 2013 working on my book Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel, poachers were constantly killing elephants even in national parks and reserves. I saw it up close and it was enormously disturbing. Penalties for elephant killing and other wildlife crime in Kenya have in fact increased dramatically in the last three years. But even many people who support drastic penalties don't understand why burning can help. They think it's a waste. After all, the elephants are already dead. One objection to burning goes like this: destroying so much of the world supply will make prices go through the roof. If this thinking is correct, it only proves how porous and corrupt the practice of stockpiling ivory is, because stockpiled ivory is not supposed to be part of the world supply. Kenya's stockpile for example is from illegally killed elephants -- tusks confiscated from poachers -- and is supposed to be locked away. Recent history shows that the only thing that works to suppress elephant killing is a total ban on ivory sale. In 1990 the world body that regulates trade in animal parts under the Convention on Traded in Endangered Species (CITES) enacted a total ban on ivory. Prices plummeted, killing plummeted, and elephant populations slowly began recovering. The current poaching epidemic started a few years ago when the ban was relaxed to allow very limited sale of government-stockpiled ivory confiscated from poachers. The problem is, any legal ivory is a channel for any and all illegal ivory. Allowing "limited" sale to China opened the floodgates and within months killing skyrocketed out of control and elephant populations plummeted across the continent as poachers killed an average of one elephant every 15 minutes, several hundred thousand elephants killed in the last eight years, causing massive declines in the elephant populations of several regions, and untold emotional suffering for elephants watching family members under attack, losing their mothers, and walking away with wounds that fester into often-fatal infections. Advertisement Young elephants orphaned by poaching at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Kenya, Africa, 2013. Credit: Carl Safina Any legal ivory (or rhino) trade is also an invitation for official corruption. The temptations are two: Catch a poacher, take his ivory, sell it, give him a slap and send him back out so you can catch him again, so you can take his ivory, sell it. The other temptation is for traffickers to bribe individuals with the keys. As Paula Kahumbu of WildlifeDirect in Kenya observed, "If you're a dealer and you need a ton of ivory... bribing the guy who has the key, that's going to be the fastest way." Kahumbu's group has documented how the very same tusks that had been "safely" locked in the government stockpile have been seized again from traffickers. And the fastest way to stop elephant killing? Destroy all the ivory, ban its sale. Its been done before and it worked. Simple as that. # # # On May 29, 2016, on Philadelphia's Main Line, I had the opportunity of attending a dazzling show of artist Ann La Borie's most recent work. La Borie is showing her lyrical mono-prints at the St. Asaph Gallery in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. La Borie, a mother of two talented grown offspring has never given up on her identity of being an independent woman with talent as an artist which she was driven to express. After the cooking, cleaning,childcaring, it was time for La Borie's creativity. What a treat for us all! An inspiration. Her many years as an interior designer in an architectural office are reflected in her art. Using these experiences she creates exciting compositions by combining organic and geometric lines and the skillful use of pattern and color. When La Borie lived in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton, she created books of photography of the plant life that surrounded her cottage. Here, inspired by nature, she began drawing on mylar. She used a straight edge or other drafting tool for geometric objects.The line was fluid and less predictable when she drew an organic shape such as a tree or vine. Using an exacta-knife she cut into the mylar to make a stencil when the drawing was complete. By placing the stencil over ink coated plexiglass only the ink was transferred onto paper. The emerging mono-print was the mirror image of what was on the plexiglass. And Voila! A distance was opened for possibilities of invention. Advertisement La Borie uses other mediums such as charcoal, colored pencils, ink, soft and oil pastel on the new print. For instance the image of a vine or a window may remain or it may become an abstracted part of a pattern or rhythm. La Borie's work in clay, mixed media, collage, pastels, charcoal and conte crayon on mylar has been shown at: The Muse Gallery, The Plastic Club, The Main Line Art Center, The Schuylkill Center, Saint Joseph's University, The Clay Studio, Post Open Studio Tours and The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Most recently La Borie embellishes her work by sewing or weaving in thread or yarn. Surprise is a welcome by product of this mixed media and can lead to unanticipated results. Just as La Borie's life may be an unanticipated result of a life well led. She is a role model for women who have married, had children and not given up on their own creative muse. Life goes on for women at all stages of life and Ann La Borie is living proof of this. Brava to Georgia O'Keeffe, Picasso's mistress Francoise Gilot, and Ann La Borie. Coworkers in meeting discussing architecture project details I walked out into the middle of the street without looking both ways, forgot to pay parking tickets, lost debit and credit cards regularly and, when I became self-employed, convinced myself everything would just work out. My "I'll just make it" mentality is characteristic of my generation: Millennials are more optimistic about our futures than any other generation ever has been. Among millennials who say they're not earning enough, 89% think they will in the future, according to Pew Research Center. Yet we're making less on average than our parents ever did. Advertisement If success isn't falling in your lap, don't give up hope (seriously: pessimism impairs job performance). But it may be time to prioritize an underrated personality trait: Convinced by the benefits of conscientiousness, I set out to master it. One of my New Year's resolutions was "finishing, details, polish." In my research, however, I found that conscientiousness is far more than fastidiousness. In fact, acting "Type A" only has a weak correlation with conscientiousness. In the broadest sense, conscientious people have a knack for avoiding behaviors that will damage their long-term happiness and success. Here are seven things they don't do: 1. Buy stuff on a whim. Conscientious people anticipate what they need and the future consequences of what they buy. (It's called a budget.) Conscientiousness people are less likely to exceed their credit limit, miss a bill payment or cheat on their taxes. They're also less likely to make an unplanned purchase under time pressure or be convinced to buy something based on promotions or sales tactics. Advertisement Next time you're tempted toward an impulsive purchase, raise the stakes on yourself. Ask, "Do I want to earn more, have better relationships and live longer?" If "yes", take a week to think on it. 2. Take mental notes. Conscientious people know they won't remember. So they plan, decide and draft on paper. They write down important dates. Highly successful people, like Richard Branson, carry a notebook in their pockets at all times. Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis told Forbes contributor Kevin Kruse, "Writing it down will make you act upon it. If you don't write it down, you will forget it. THAT is a million-dollar lesson they don't teach you in business school!" Likewise, Harvard Medical School suggests making daily plans and using reminder tools or apps to keep you on track. Next time you think "Ooh, I want to remember that", don't trust yourself. Write it down-anywhere. Once, when Richard Branson didn't have his notepad with him, he wrote an idea down in his passport! 3. Slouch. Conscientious people stand up straight. Their posture is a reflection of their attitude: they care about others' perceptions of them, want to do things the right way and have high self-esteem. Because conscientious people do good work, they report high self-efficacy which is, in turn, positively correlated with work performance. How are you showing up in your day-to-day life? Literally. How do you show up to work? To dinner? To your workouts? Research consistently shows that how you act influences how you feel. Bad posture, for example, can make you stressed, sad and afraid. Is that how you want to approach your life? Advertisement 4. Binge. Conscientious people know that small things add up. Every pound and every minute matters. Not surprisingly, conscientious people have a lower risk of obesity and are more likely to lose weight than those with lower levels of conscientiousness. Less conscientious people watch more television, oversleep and are more likely to engage in risky health-related behaviors like smoking and heavy drinking. Conscientiousness, on the other hand, is associated with good health for both you and your partner. Dr. Jennifer Lodi-Smith, a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Vital Longevity, explained, "Being conscientious predicts good health because the conscientious individual is actually going to go out and do the things their doctor says they should be doing to stay healthy." Instead of binging on what you know is bad for you, take small, deliberate, scheduled actions to improve your wellbeing. 5. Break promises. Conscientious people are dependable. They're much less likely than others to back out of, miss or forget appointments. They rarely show up late. Conscientious people know that succumbing to convenience kills long-term goals; that good things take time and hard work. Perhaps this is why conscientiousness is linked to honesty and integrity. Not breaking promises requires fully understanding what you're able to commit to. Next time you're tempted to say "yes" to something ask yourself, "Am I certain I'll be able to keep this promise?" Framing even a small "yeah, sure" as a promise can help you internalize its weight, uphold your commitments and build trust in your relationships. 6. Quit. Conscientious people have grit. They're more likely to continue solving a problem even after failing and work extra hard to make sure stuff is done right. Conscientious people may not execute better than anyone else, but they keep executing better than anyone else. "Highly conscientious employees do a series of things better than the rest of us," explains University of Illinois psychologist Brent Roberts. University of Pennsylvania psychologist Angela Duckworth found that a strong combination of passion and perseverance is, in fact, more important to children's scholarly success than IQ. Advertisement Duckworth believes there are four components of grit that all of us can cultivate: interest in the subject matter, a desire to understand; the capacity to deliver consistent practice, making something a daily habit; purpose, a conviction that what you do everyday is meaningful and beneficial to other people; and hope. 7. Ignore problems. Conscientious people pick up after their dogs' poop. They display high levels of autonomy and perceived internal locus of control; in other words, they take responsibility for what goes wrong in work and life and fix it. Unsurprisingly, those with an internal locus of control report higher levels of life satisfaction and perform better at work. Conscientious people pay attention so well that they often anticipate problems before they arise: "By being conscientious, people sidestep stress they'd otherwise create for themselves," Drake Baer writes for Inc. If you're like me, you've spent a lot of your life realizing, "[xyz] is kind of an issue. This is a small problem. I should probably deal with this." Problems don't solve themselves. Small things become bigger things. Save yourself the headaches by scheduling time in your calendar every week to deal with the little stuff. After all my research on conscientious people, I can sum them up in five words: they know they're not invincible. For millennials struggling to adapt to the real world, as I did, embodying this trait could be the key to a successful, happy adulthood. It doesn't have to be a radical transition. I started small; I now make my bed every morning, pick up after myself and collect home office expense receipts for my taxes. And it's not too late to change: Research shows that conscientiousness continues to develop even into old age. Advertisement If you're waiting for your cue, this was it. Ready to develop the habits you need to succeed? Sign up for my weekly newsletter. Most people know Goodwill as the community place to bring used clothing and wares to be sold in stores and online. What you may not know is that Goodwill can also help boost your career. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that unemployment is the lowest since March 1973, but many are still looking for work or interested in upping their career game to avoid being underemployed. Elise Gould, an economist for the Economic Policy Institute -- a think tank affiliated with the labor movement -- noted that, "Despite companies adding jobs, in the United States, there are still 14 job seekers for every 10 openings." Advertisement In every career field, competitive job candidates need skills and competencies that will empower them to land an opportunity and thrive in a new role. Closing the skills gap requires a commitment to retraining and educating the workforce on a multi-generational scope -- from students to Baby Boomers and beyond. Goodwill is a resource for credentialing and training in the community and has helped connect people to jobs since 1902. As North America's leading nonprofit provider of job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs, Goodwill is helping people overcome challenges that prevent them from finding and keeping good jobs. As part of this ongoing effort, 164 Goodwill organizations around the United States and Canada will celebrate Goodwill Industries Week May 1 - 7 with career fairs and employment placement services. "Goodwill has been assisting people to obtain and maintain work opportunities for 114 years," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "The sale of donated items from Goodwill stores helps fund job placement, skills training, and community strengthening services in communities across North America." Today, many are balancing the demands of raising families, while finding a job or trying to upgrade their career situations. Designed to complement the Goodwill in-person career services to give individuals a competitive edge, the career navigation website, GoodProspects, helps individuals search for jobs, connect with mentors, and earn micro-credentials to become career ready. Advertisement GoodProspects' members can also communicate with each other through the site's industry-focused message boards where users can share career resources, and ask and answer questions. The website profiles 11 high-growth career industries to maximize success in a supply-and-demand-driven job market. Job seekers get information about careers that are paying well and have high job growth potential. I had the great pleasure of interviewing Beth Perell, vice president of communications and information management at Goodwill Industries International, on my podcast, Your Working Life. She shared great insight about the resources provided by Goodwill. Check out that podcast here. Last year, Goodwill placed 312,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 35 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills. To learn more, visit goodwill.org. Spread the word about the amazing resources provided by Goodwill and celebrate Goodwill Industries Week May 1-7. The sale of donated goods in stores and online helps to fund job placement and training services in your community. You can make a difference by donating, buying, or spreading the word about the extraordinary work of Goodwill to those who could benefit from a career jumpstart. This weekend the new bad boy of German politics, Alternative for Germany (Alternative fur Deutschland, AfD), held its party congress in Stuttgart. In many ways it was the German equivalent of a Donald Trump rally in the United States: outside lines of excited supporters as well as (violent) "anti-fascist" protesters, and inside chaos and Islamophobia. The party congress was to be a test for Frauke Petry, who had taken over the party from one of the founders, Bernd Lucke, at the congress last year. Petry had shifted the AfD to the right, slowly but steadily transforming it from a conservative anti-Euro party into something between a neoliberal populist party, like Nigel Farage's United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), and a nativist populist party, like Marine Le Pen's National Front (FN) in France or Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands. The Stuttgart congress was widely expected to solidify the party as the latter, i.e. a populist radical right party, putting nativism, authoritarianism, and populism at the core of the party ideology. In this aspect, it did not disappoint. The party's first "Program of Principles" (Grundsatzprogramm) reads like a populist radical right classic, albeit with some remnants of the party's more conservative origins. Its motto is: "Courage for Germany. Free Citizens, Not Subjects." The preamble then states, "We are liberals and conservatives. We are free citizens (freie Burger) of our country. We are convinced democrats." This seems both a remnant of the bourgeois-conservative (burgerlich-konservativ) origins of the party and a message to the state that they are not "hostile to the constitutional" (Verfassungsfeindlich) - which could lead to a party ban in Germany, as the extreme right National Democratic Party of Germany (Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands, NPD) is currently (again) facing. Advertisement However, the mostly national-conservative preamble is followed by a clearly populist radical right program with a particular emphasis on Islamophobia. Nativism is at the core of the program, as the AfD has replaced the Euro with Islam as its new main enemy. Article 7.6.1 states: "Islam does not belong in Germany." Geert Wilders couldn't have said it clearer - even if the rest of that article is more moderate, seemingly targeting Islamism rather than Islam. The party also wants a ban on the burqa and niqab as well as a French-inspired ban on the veil (art. 7.6.5). The earlier "subtlety" on Islam is undermined a bit further in the program, however, where the program states: "As long as Islam has not gone through a real reformation, we demand the closing of Quran schools (Koranschulen) because of the uncontrollable danger of radical indoctrination that is hostile to the constitution" (art. 8.2.7). But while the congress produced a populist radical right party program, it did so with considerable trouble. Party elites and members remained divided between each other and themselves over the future direction of the party. For example, vice-chairman and party spokesman Alexander Gauland had to refer to the famous German conservative statesman Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) to convince rebellious party members that Germany should stay in NATO ""Bismarck would have wanted it."). The party also failed to reach consensus on health care and climate policies - the latter a result of fierce resistance by "climate change sceptics." Although the original conservative anti-Euro wing has been almost completely marginalized - Lucke has tried a restart with the so far unsuccessful Alliance for Progress and Renewal (Allianz fur Fortschritt und Aufbruch, ALFA) - the populist radical right majority is still challenged by a more conservative-neoliberal wing and a more extreme right wing. The former is mainly represented in the party leadership, by people like Gauland and Beate von Storch, the Member of European Parliament (MEP) who joined UKIP's Europe for Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) political group after the conservative Eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists (ERC) threatened to kick AfD MEPs out - the other remaining AfD MEP, Marcus Pretzell, joined the radical right Europe of Nations and Freedoms (ENL) of FN and PVV instead. The extreme right wing is particularly strong in the (new) membership, but has a voice in the leadership through people like Bjorn Hocke, who has, for example, made barely veiled racist remarks about African immigrants. Advertisement Consequently, AfD's Stuttgart Congress is quite similar to Die Republikaner's Siegburger Congress of 1985. That meeting solidified the radical right turn of The Republicans (REP), which like AfD had emerged from within the political mainstream (i.e. the Bavarian Christian Democrats, CSU), but left the struggle between the radical and extreme right camps undecided. While the Siegburger Manifest was the start for the REP's short-lived electoral boom, at the end of the 1980s, its inability to marginalize extreme right elements would inevitably lead to the party's downfall shortly after. At this point in time, AfD is much more similar to the REP in the late 1980s than to the FN and PVV today. The FN is an almost 45-year-old political party, which has largely sorted its internal divisions, and can depend on a nationwide network of well-established branches with hundreds of professional politicians and thousands of experienced volunteers. In sharp contrast, the PVV is a one-man party, which can distance itself from anyone (except of Wilders himself) without any electoral damage. The AfD is a new, unorganized, strongly divided party in still the most hostile social and political climate in Europe. So far it has profited from the ambiguity of its character, i.e. at the borderline of the political mainstream, but the Stuttgart Congress has decided that issue. American voters are awakening to the hard reality that U.S. presidents are not elected by "We the People..." or direct vote. The United States is a Democratic Republic as established by our Founding Fathers, land and slave owners, to ensure their plutocracy would remain in control via a constrained democracy. The addition of the Electoral College to the U.S. Constitution ensured popular vote can be trumped at any time. The last time popular vote lost out was the Gore vs. Bush election in 2000, aided by a controversial Supreme Court ruling. Advertisement Though anti-democratic provisions in the U.S. Constitution restricting voting rights have been largely amended, we've yet to break free from the influence of plutocrats. A joint Princeton and Northwestern University study offers empirical data concluding that the United States is presently an oligarchy. Was America's newly formed Republic the most enlightened politics of its day? Has our model of democracy served as a beacon of light and hope around the world over the course of two hundred years or so? Despite glaring short-comings, the United States' influence has been instrumental in making the world a better place. In a repeat of history, our influence turned into abuse of power at some point, and oh, the painful backslide. If we wish to, "Restore this country to greatness," as one presidential candidate campaigns, let's be honest about when and how we left greatness. After all the 20th century hard-fought modest gains in human rights, the end of last century saw them once again systematically eroded by special interest groups and their politicians. Necessary social safety nets and regulation continue to be under attack. Have we not learned anything? Advertisement Just as taking care of our veterans during and after service to our country must be included in the cost of war, so too must social responsibility be included as the human cost of doing business within an imperfect economic system. Moral compasses tend to slip in direct proportion to skyrocketing profits. Global trade agreements further allow the U.S. to find itself complicit in human rights violations, taking advantage of lower wages and leaner standards in struggling nations. Meanwhile, quality of life and the wages of the average American are falling behind other nations. Marketers continue to tout we are the greatest country on Earth despite the failure of American-style capitalism to trickle-down prosperity and equal opportunity. Sadly, citizens who distrust government and feel alienated from society are at higher risk of turning violent, acting out their frustration. Six years ago, protesting corruption and injustice, Tunisian street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire in front of Tunisian municipal headquarters. The uprising resulted in the toppling of iron-fisted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, igniting a revolution that spread around the Arab world known as the Arab Spring. A country so distant, so small, yet parallels exist between our two nations that are remarkable enough to take notice. And as we imagine ourselves to be intelligent and sophisticated enough to keep from setting ourselves on fire to make a point, evidently we're willing to vote in a political candidate into office more than willing to do it for us. Advertisement Pew Research says 75% of Americans share the same concerns. Where Americans are divided is how much government should play a role in alleviating poverty, injustice, and corruption. Government is neither the problem, nor the solution, but does play a vital role in regulating fairness and equality when individual and corporate moral compasses lose their way. The truth is the ripple effect of Bouazizi's actions continues to reverberate around the world, including the U.S. as rage boiling over. The disenfranchised and those who've always suspected their vote doesn't count for much are determined to have their say. But, friends, can we do it from a warm heart instead of a cold one? As awakened leaders, it's imperative we are vigilantly mindful that our choices, directly and indirectly, serve all of humanity beyond personal interests and short-term victories. Let us not allow fear and anger to inform our decisions. After Tunisia displaced their 23-year hardliner, it appears we may have two hardliners of our own to choose from this November. In the middle of our political spring, let us pause for a moment. By working together peacefully to create political change, we demonstrate we are mature enough to handle direct democracy. As the world watches, the next six months will be very telling. Are you ready for it? Most observers dumped all over Donald Trump's foreign policy speech last week, in part because whatever Trump says is taken as wrong by the many who fear his hate-strewn bombastic presidential primary campaign. Lots of the criticism, from both Republicans and Democrats, focused on the supposed incoherence of Trump's ideas, as if coherence has been a hallmark of American foreign policy for the past 20 years. Oddly enough, what Trump said seemed to me to be mostly conventional stuff that would fit not only mainstream Republican Party thought but also Democratic Party orthodoxy, as exemplified by Hillary Clinton. Advertisement For instance: Putting America First. I mean, who doesn't want that? Destroying the Islamic State. Isn't that what Obama wants to do? Getting NATO to increase its defense expenditures. It was NATO itself, in a 2014 meeting in Wales, which set a 2 percent minimum, even if hardly anyone has reached that objective. Support for allies. Well, Trump certainly flipped on that one after basically telling NATO to bug off. Now he's all okay with working with allies, including in Asia. America is weaker militarily. The usual boilerplate for whatever party is out of the White House. Remember John F. Kennedy's missile gap? Deal with China and Russia from a position of strength. Sounds like Diplomacy 101. Speaking of conventionality, Trump also dropped one of his more sound, if not really new, ideas: that when involved in Israel-Palestinian negotiations, the US should remain neutral. In past bipartisan language of US Middle East policy, neutrality meant being an "honest broker." Nowadays, such a concept is taken as being too tough on Israel. Advertisement If you need more evidence of Trump's copy-cat approach toward Israel policy, see his March 21 speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) speech. Trump also provided the usual list of Republican criticisms of Obama's foreign policy: The deal with Iran is bad; Obama has let China and North Korea run amok; Obama hates traditional US allies; No one respects us; Raul Castro didn't even meet Obama at Havana airport!! But Trump set himself apart from Republicans and Democrats in one broad, telling area. He declared 1990 as a beginning of the period when, he thinks, US foreign policy went off the rails. He thereby lumped the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama administrations together with the Republican reign of George W. Bush as the source of current foreign policy ills. Trump attacked the roles of Obama, and especially Hillary, in the careless Libya intervention, but he also scorned Bush's nation-building, global-wide democratizing pretensions. He didn't try, unlike many Republicans, to pretend that Bush's 2007 military surge permanently fixed Iraq and that Obama let it go all down the drain. Rather than nation-building or dabbling in other country's problems, Trump prioritized a need to bolster Western values at home rather than export them abroad. "Instead of trying to spread 'universal values' that not everyone shares, we should understand that strengthening and promoting Western civilization and its accomplishments will do more to inspire positive reforms around the world than military interventions," he said. Advertisement Trump linked this approach to a hyper-nationalistic critique of free trade and the globalized economy: "We will no longer surrender this country, or its people, to the false song of globalism The nation-state remains the true foundation for happiness and harmony. I am skeptical of international unions that tie us up and bring America down, and will never enter America into any agreement that reduces our ability to control our own affairs." In short, Trump's divergence from the norm centers on his embrace of a nationalism unadulterated by adventures abroad and multinational economic tie-ups. Of course, Trump offered few hints as to how he would actually manage foreign policy to suit this vision. It was all vague: "America is going to be strong again...a reliable friend and ally again....have a coherent foreign policy based upon American interests, and the shared interests of our allies...out of the nation-building business...instead, focusing on creating stability in the world. So. What kind of military action will he take against the Islamic State? What does he mean by fixing relations with Russia-cave into the annexation of Crimea? And with China-accept its occupation of South China Sea islands? Pull out of NATO if cash-strapped countries don't meet military spending quotas? And what about not-so-wealthy Asian allies? Will he really put America's Tel Aviv embassy in Jerusalem, as he promised AIPAC? And is Trump going to withdraw from NAFTA, other trade agreements, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank--all agents of globalization? Advertisement sen. hillary clinton speaks at ... At this stage in the 2016 race for President, Hillary Clinton is not just in a better position than Donald Trump according to polling data, but also because her primary battle is over, and his isn't. Given her insurmountable delegate lead over Bernie Sanders, Clinton is flying faster than the speed of light towards the Democratic Party's nomination. Having raked-in roughly 90% of the needed delegates, it's plausible that she could lose every state moving forward and still be crowned as the Democratic Party's nominee. Advertisement Trump, on the other hand, is in a significantly weaker position. Short of Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropping out of the race, he still needs to secure close to 47% of the remaining GOP delegates to clinch the Republican Party's nomination. That means Trump has to legitimately compete all the way to California. Meanwhile, Trump has to find a way to marry the warring factions within the GOP and fuse together a cohesive coalition among Trump supporters, Cruz loyalists, Washington GOP elites, Tea Party activists, evangelicals, the anybody-but-Trump alliance and others. This won't be an easy undertaking by any measure. The more that this reality sets in, the more that the political chattering class is making the assumption that Clinton will handily defeat the expected GOP nominee, Donald Trump, in November. President Barack Obama even implied such this past weekend during his remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. It's indisputable that Clinton is a far more seasoned campaigner than Trump, and at this point, basically every poll to date shows that she pummels him at the ballot box. Advertisement Despite her sturdy position in the race over Trump and her virtual guarantee of becoming the Democrats' standard bearer, Clinton ought to take advantage of this ripe opportunity to grapple with and attempt to dismantle her vulnerabilities before the race becomes a one-on-one match-up. Why? Because as we've seen throughout this unpredictable and mind-blowing election that is full of surprises, anything can happen. Clinton can and should build up her defenses by limiting her liabilities and fortifying her assets. Prior to Sanders' entrance into the nomination battle, Clinton was riding high, polling with strong net favorables. Now, while not nearly as low as Trump's, her poll numbers are under water, hovering at double-digit unfavorables. Much of this is due to the prolonged trench warfare between Sanders and Clinton and the extended period of mudslinging that raised her negatives. Sanders, like Trump, campaigned in the primary on an outsider versus insider platform, portraying Clinton as part of the problem with Washington. It didn't work for Sanders among party faithful Democrats, but he did make some inroads with independents and working-class voters-- groups that Trump will certainly target in the general election. Both Sanders and Trump vilified Clinton-backed free trade deals, demonized big-monied special interests and their control over Washington, and criticized her judgement and trustworthiness. With the general election on the horizon, Trump is gearing up to capitalize on attacks lobbed by Sanders against Clinton. He's already openly elaborating about his general election playbook, making public about how he plans to focus like a laser on these issues, glue Clinton to them, and exacerbate the rift between Sanders' supporters and the predicted Democratic nominee. Advertisement Considering that she has a lock on the Democratic Party's nomination, Clinton should use this moment in the campaign to rehabilitate her image and minimize her baggage for the looming November contest. How? First, she must confront her Achilles heel, which is voters' concerns over her trustworthiness. A lot of this has been driven by the onslaught of attacks from the Republican Party's political machine. And, without bluntly stating that Clinton can't be trusted, Sanders used this issue for political gain by weaving innuendos about her into his narrative. In an attempt to fan the flames, he also raised questions about Clinton's honesty by making a case that she's hiding something by not releasing the transcripts of her paid speeches to Wall Street firms. Most political strategists will acknowledge that a candidate being perceived as untrustworthy is a worse issue than a perception that a candidate is too cozy with Wall Street. The solution? Clinton should take a preemptive strike against the notion that she's not trustworthy. To begin the cleansing process, Clinton ought to publicly release her transcripts to show that she's not hiding anything and that she's willing to be upfront and transparent about what she's said behind closed doors. Such a move will help to calm the nerves of skeptical voters, many of which may have previously sided with Sanders. Now that the primary is essentially over for Clinton, the worse case scenario is that if the transcripts reveal a warm and fuzzy relationship with the financial industry, she'll need to put the issue in perspective by illustrating the Grand Canyon sized gap between herself and Trump when it comes to finance issues. Clinton's job will be to contrast whatever she said to Wall Street against Trump's shoddy business record, which is full of fraudulent practices, bankruptcies and deceptive scams like Trump University. Advertisement Beyond publicly disclosing the transcripts to rinse herself of the perception that she's not trustworthy or that she's hiding something, Clinton will have the upper hand in making the case in a general election that Trump is concealing his true colors by not divulging his taxes to the American people. It's an issue that plagued Mitt Romney against President Obama in the 2012 election and can have a similar negative affect on Trump. Just as important for Clinton to tackle the honesty issue will be to deal with working class voters' animosity towards free trade. Sanders won several rustbelt states like Michigan and Wisconsin in large part because he has railed against a free trade system he's claimed is rigged in favor of the wealthy and which ships homegrown American jobs oversees. It's a message that has resonated with American workers who feel marginalized and that such policies work against their interests. Invoking a similar theme, Trump has condemned free trade on the stump just like Sanders. He's also using it a justification for how he can shake up the electoral map in a general election and put traditionally blue states like Michigan and Pennsylvania in play for the GOP. To combat a barrage of attacks Trump will no doubt aim towards Clinton on the trade issue, somehow, some way, she needs to make a compelling case to disenfranchised working-class voters that she will stand against any free trade deal that puts their jobs at risk. Perhaps it's candidly calling the TPP deal a mistake instead of the "gold standard," like Clinton did of NAFTA, in 2008. Otherwise, she could potentially put forward an alternative fair trade proposal that better safeguards American jobs. Either way, Clinton will need to convey a convincing argument to these voters that she'll be better for them than Trump, particularly given his duplicity on trade as he's reaped millions in profits by shipping Trump clothing manufacturing, and thus jobs, overseas. Advertisement Although there's much to praise in the Young Vic-Joshua Andrews co-production of Tennessee Wiliams's superb A Street Car Named Desire, now transported to St. Ann's Warehouse, the laurels go mostly to the cast. About other prominent aspects, there's much to question. Indeed, the off-kilter impression begins not when the play, directed with obvious confusion by Benedict Andrews, begins. It commences as the patrons enter to be seated on four sides and get a lengthy gander at the set. (FYI: The Young Vic is constructed as theater-in-the-round.) What patrons see, designed by Magda Willi to conjure the dilapidated Elysian Fields enclave in late 1940s New Orleans, is a large steel frame housing a pristine, predominantly white abode looking not unlike a luxury studio in a contemporary Upper East Side Manhattan high-rise. Advertisement It could be more than one ticket buyer eyed the minimalist flat and thought, "I wish I could find a place like that." Certainly, when Blanche DuBois (Gillian Anderson) arrives to visit married younger sister Stella DuBois Kowalski (Vanessa Kirby) and starts deriding the cozy home, spectators have to be wondering why she's carrying on so. And say, what's that cordless landline telephone doing there. Huh? No computer?! Ticket buyers also have to be wondering about Blanche's immaculate appearance. She's gussied up in a tailored suit of the sort many workingwomen might be wearing to Madison Avenue offices this spring. (Victoria Behr is the costume designer.) Blanche surely doesn't look like someone who, as Williams stipulates, has been traveling all day in sweltering heat and has alighted that streetcar named Desire pretty much having slid down her tether nearly to its end but is still able to fall back on her long-mastered, desperate survival tactics. The misconception affects Blanche's earlier scenes as Anderson plays them. Announcing to Stella that their beloved Belle Reve home has been lost, she's aggressively argumentative about the sad development rather than broken and defensive in her wily manner. This goes some way towards making the compulsively dissembling, self-absorbed Blanche into someone even more unsympathetic to audience members than she should be. Before learning further about the performances, however, readers need to be alerted that the set in the round goes literally round. During the first act it moves clockwise, mostly slowly but sometimes more quickly as tension builds. In the second act, it starts going counter-clockwise--as if attempting to reverse the events of the first act. The clinical merry-go-round eventually goes clockwise again and then counter-clockwise and so on and so forth. Advertisement As it rotates, everyone watching gets to see or not see the actors' fronts or backs, as, for instance, Stella sits on the bathroom toilet while having a chat with Blanche. This, by the way, doesn't appear to be one of Wiliams's stage directions, whereas Blanche crooning "It's Only a Paper Moon" (which is about the appeal of illusion, of course) is definitely stipulated by the playwright. Actually, this Blanche honks the old standard. Incidentally, the question during the toilet scene becomes, Is Blanche the kind of person who gabs casually with someone, even a sister, who's responding to nature's call? No, the showily fussy Blanche isn't that kind. Lacking any other recourse, she clings tenaciously to accepted manners. As for songs provided, Williams doesn't request "You Always Hurt the One You Love," which sound designer Paul Arditti (at Andrews's command?) pipes in when the proceedings get underway. That's hardly the most off-putting aural insertion. Between scenes Arditti forces clashing, crashing, deafening music. Even worse, when Blanche is recalling the past and falling prey to it, he floats in eerily cliche music to let viewers who might be slow on the uptake know just how bonkers she's becoming. Luckily, the cast members, also under Andrews's direction, of course, behave for the most part as if they're in circumstances not compromised by the physical attributes provided here. The more Anderson moves into the action the more she relates--or properly loses the ability to relate--to the others. She's extremely good at Blanche's flirtations, a mixture of traditional Southern coquettishness and inborn calculation. She also knows how to pull off a drunk scene. Then, when all Blanche's marbles have rolled away, she real rolls. It may be that no other actor has to confront the memory of a previous performance than an actor succeeding Marlon Brando as the brutish but unfailingly perceptive Stanley. The physically compact, muscular Foster stands up to it solidly. Tattooed according to today's ink esthetics, he's Stanley as not only intuitively smart but noticeably intelligent. That he puts up with Blanche as long as he does becomes a credit to him, although this Stanley's rape is no more acceptable than Williams would allow. "She's been asking for it" remains a misguided rationale. Advertisement Kirby's blond Stella is appealing and absolutely right for its being so natural. She's fallen in love with a man she knows is different from the men she was raised to admire, but she understands that those class differences are only superficial. Williams has written her as a battered wife, but whether she recognizes the situation or how long it will take her to do something about it is up in the air. Kirby's Stella is a woman weighing the pros and cons and continuing to favor the pros. Corey Johnson is an immensely likable Mitch. He confidently depicts Mitch's love for his mother and his deference to Blanche until he learns the truth she's hidden about herself. (In one of Williams's most trenchant lines Blanche insists that she only tells "what ought to be the truth.") Johnson blends the momma's boy and the man's man elements well. Also making strong impressions are Sarah-Jane Potts and Mark Letheren as the upstairs battling Eunice and Steve Hubbell. Lachele Carl is the Mexican Woman who walks around the revolving set from time to time symbolizing something or other. GULFPORT, Mississippi -- A 19-year-old Gulfport resident has been charged with murdering another Gulfport man inside a home Sunday morning. According to Gulfport police Sgt. Damon McDaniel, officers responded to a report of a shooting at a residents in the 8000 block of 34th Avenue around 10:34 a.m. Sunday. Upon entering the residents, police found a male subject, deceased from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The victim has been identified as 63-year-old Aaron Wilson. He had been originally found inside the home by his cousins, who notified police. Investigators learned that Wilson and 19-hear-old Warren Jevon Perkins had been inside Wilson's residence and at some point Perkins brandished an unknown caliber handgun and shot Wilson. Perkins fled the scene on foot, but Wilson's home surveillance system captured footage of Perkins leaving. Based on evidence, a warrant was issued for Perkins arrest and he was taken into custody at his home without incident. He was charged with 2nd degree murder and is being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center under a $1 million bond. Often times, I tell my friends and family back at home that I am venturing off to Vietnam & Cambodia for a few days, or I am going to try backpacking through Myanmar (Burma) for some odd number of weeks, or that I have decided to run away to Thailand to see every city from Chiang Mai in the North to Ko Phi Phi in the South. And believe it or not, the questions are always the same; Where is (insert destination here)?What's there to do in (insert different exotic destination here)? Why don't you just go someplace closer? Isn't that too long of a flight? Is it safe? Whom are you going with? And while the people I may be telling are a bit biased Americans who have not left the country much, nor have much of a desire to travel, it never fails that I end up answering these questions more than I should. But that's more then alright, because to me part of the fun of traveling to these exotic destinations is being able to talk about all these exciting places I am jet-setting off to with my friends and family. I enjoy getting to share all of my experiences I incur on my travels, and always come back with a plethora of unprecedented stories. But more often than not, I am heading off to a lot of these exotic destinations alone, and people are genuinely concerned about my safety and well-being traveling to countries they've barely even learned about in school. However, I am not writing this blog post to discourage you from traveling, I am actually trying to do the opposite. You see, I have spent a greater portion of the last few months backpacking around various destinations in Asia alone, and within the last two years I've backpacked through five continents, alone. Within the last couple of months or so, I've been to Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam- alone. As in completely alone. And since I fly for an airline and generally use my staff travel passes, that usually means I'm not just doing this alone but also on a standby basis. So in other words, if there is an extra seat on the aircraft I get to go, and if not I have to wait for the next flight, which is sometimes a day or two later, so my travel plans have to be extremely flexible. Actually in reality, flexible is an understatement. Advertisement However the point of this post is not to explain to you the joyous life of flying standby, I am writing this to convince you that you also, can do it alone. More and more, I'm starting to notice a bunch of millennials that are doing this. Millennials that are around the same age as me, which would be twenty-three years old in case you are wondering, who have just decided to up and leave their lives at home, to see a bit more of the world. And while it is rare that I see an American in Southeast Asia that has had this revelation, the amount of Europeans, Australians, and even Brazilians I have seen is immense. A bunch of young kids in their twenties that just want to have a good time, see everything that the world has to offer, and ultimately settle down where ever they please when they are finished. So why do it alone, you may be wondering? For starters, it is really hard to get some one to do it with you. It is extremely hard to get a friend that has little or no life commitments at this very moment in time. Unfortunately most of us are all so busy working to live, and most of our friends have careers, families, university, or something else that ties them down from just abandoning their life and joining you. In reality, you would be surprised at how easy traveling is for a "solo traveler" as we're known, and how hostels are ideally set up with us in mind. I've met more people over drinks in the hostel bar during happy hour than I have from any other environment, and these turn out to be genuine people who most likely have the same interests as you. Most of us want to see the sights, trek off somewhere exotic outside the city, enjoy some beers from the pubs, and even check out the local nightlife scene. Which you would actually be surprised how vibrant of a nightlife scene South East Asia has. Advertisement There are a multitude of people who are in the same situation as you, that have close or similar itineraries to yours, and would not mind some company while completing their checklist items. What is even better about this is sharing the information you both have about the city, and learning about things you had not even heard of before. Sometimes you will even meet people who are traveling for quite some time, with flexible plans similar to yours, and you can travel to destinations together. I just recently met two friends that said they met only a few weeks ago in Chiang Mai, and had decided to change their plans a bit and travel around together. And even though it seemed as if they were best friends and had known each other forever, they just met a few weeks ago. But I still haven't quite hit the nail on the head so to speak, about why you should travel alone. And oddly enough, it's just one of those things that's enormously hard to put into writing. A lot of people live there entire lives thinking 'what if'? What if I would have done this or that, would my life be different now? And they spend what seems like an eternity questioning if they have made the right decision. You see, if you keep waiting for what may seem like the right moment to go abroad and travel, chances are you will keep finding excuses of why you should not go. Something in your life will always stop from you from jet-setting off, and you will eventually fall complacent to the idea of never being able to do what have always dreamed of doing. It is through the more I travel that I really understand and learn about the world in different contexts then you would expect. I have found that the more I travel, the more I understand and become more tolerant of different cultures. The more I learn to adapt to unique situations that arise, which has helped me tremendously with problem solving skills, especially at work. It is through this type of solo travel that I have enhanced my own education in ways that studying at university and reading from textbooks could not have taught me. Traveling alone has made me an extremely independent person as well. I have noticed that while I do enjoy my time hanging out with my friends, that I also enjoy my time with myself. I no longer mind doing activities alone that I may have once thought were weird for people to do alone, such as going to dinner or seeing a movie. I have discovered that I am no longer going to allow being alone as an excuse for not doing something that I want to do. Additionally I have noticed that I am enjoying my everyday life more, and I am generally more happy knowing that I have the flexibility and freedom to do what I want to do alone, and I am not scared. Advertisement Interestingly enough, lately I have read a few news articles online about employers who prefer hiring potential candidates who are well-traveled versus their peers. Employers understand that traveling is one of the best ways to understand cultures and customs, improve your multitasking skills, and enhance your problem solving skills. Simultaneously it shows that you are willing and able to take initiative if need be, which is a strong desirable trait in potential job candidates. So ultimately if you are worried about up and leaving your job for some time, just know that the opportunities for finding a new one are available and enhanced when you decide to settle down. I am not saying that traveling alone is not going to be hard at times because that would be a lie. But I will say that every time I have traveled to these destinations solo, I have always made friends extremely fast, and usually never feel truly alone. Some of the greatest friends that I have now I made from traveling solo. You will notice that most people are truly kind and when you are alone you are setting yourself up to really meet people from all different parts of the word. When you travel as a group of two or more you tend to isolate yourselves to just each other or your group, and often times you miss the cultural aspect of traveling. You are so involved with your friend or group of friends that you do not actually separate from them and have a chance to meet the locals or other travelers. It is honestly from traveling the world alone that has helped to shape the person I am today. I have learned essential life skills, which help me in my everyday life. I have experienced strange and exotic cultures that have allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world, and have learned how to interact and communicate with people better. They say that a person is defined by their character, and I believe that there is truly no better way to define your character then to see the world. After all, Mark Twain once said "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Advertisement Until next time, XoXo. https://thenycwanderer.com/2016/05/01/why-you-need-to-travel-alone-now/ Also on HuffPost: Senior mature older gay couple on vacation or honeymoon in European or American city smiling affectionately at each other You can't control getting older, but you can influence the quality of life. Does your retirement plan provide for the cost of Long Term Care? More importantly would you like it to? Financial Planner David Rae outlines the ins and out of aging well for the Gay Community. By David Rae CFP, AIF I was just at a big charity fundraiser filled with "power gays" (as one guest put it), well-off gentlemen of a certain age who are heavily involved in philanthropy and business within the LGBT community. The topic of aging came up with several people voicing concern about what is in store for our soon-to-be-elderly LGBT population. Advertisement We as a community need to talk about this. On the one hand, there's a lot of denial going with our emphasis on youth in gay male culture. On the other, there was a whole generation of gay men who perished during the AIDS crisis meaning that today's Boomers and Gen-Xers don't necessarily have a road map to follow (or the ability to learn from the mistakes) from those who came before us. Furthermore, with marriage equality comes a whole new paradigm meaning that we're making it up as we go along. Living in context American LGBT Baby Boomers who are beginning to enter retirement age now helped advance the gay rights movement in this country. During their adult lives, they saw homosexuality change from being classified as a mental or criminal disorder to winning marriage equality both in the courts and at the ballot box. To be sure, health care and aging will be a challenge for all Boomers - nobody, but nobody has save or invested near enough to cover the costs -- but LGBT boomers face a few extra challenges. These may include gay-specific issues such as homophobia in nursing homes or by health care providers of the Kim Davis persuasion. And as a community that still has more single people than coupled ones, we are more vulnerable to increased costs of Long Term Care incurred by single and/or childless seniors. Also a concern for many is the long term effect of treatment of HIV. Once an assumed death sentence, HIV has become much more of a chronic illness that can be managed. That said, current treatments are still terribly hard on the body, strict diligence is absolutely necessary and a cure remains elusive. How years of these treatments will change the quality of retirements for people living with HIV has yet to be seen. Ins and Outs of Long Term Care (LTC) the LGBT Community LTC is defined as the assistance or supervision that a person who is physically or cognitively impaired needs to get through the day. With few exceptions, no federal or state program will pay for custodial assistance over an extended period of time. Quite often, and traditionally, much of this care may be given by children or family members. With so many in the LGBT community less likely to be partnered or parents, they are at greater risk not necessarily having family relations in place to help with this care. Advertisement Repeat after me: Long Term Care is one of the biggest expenses in retirement. According the US department of Health and Human Services about 70 percent of people 65 and over will need some form of Long Term Care during their lives. The prices are shocking, and they're certain continue to rise exponentially between now and when you actually need care. For example, currently in Florida a semi-private nursing home room costs around $78,000 per year, while a private room in New York will run a whopping $131,000 per year. The average Boomer has nowhere near that amount saved, let alone set aside enough to cover health care expenses. In fact, only one seventh of Boomers, gay or straight, have purchased any LTC insurance at all. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about how LTC will be paid for. People may expect Medicare or their health insurance to cover these costs but guess what? They won't. Since a majority of people who purchase LTC coverage are married couples, it follows that so far the LGBT community, much of which is single, is less covered than the population as a whole. But there is good news for married gay couples. The calculations used to quality for Medicare coverage are often more advantageous for a married pair versus two "single" individuals. Plus, all married couples will have fewer hurdles to jump through to avoid tax problems when one spouse is paying for care for the other. All Up to You Single people are at more risk of needing to pay for care since they don't have a spouse other to provide it. Advertisement But whether married or single most of the responsibility for cost and care will fall on the individual, or individually purchased insurance. Similarly, people without children are also at a greater risk of sky high medical bills. You may have heard about the sandwich generation, providing care or support for aging parents, while still raising kids. But who will be taking care of the childless Baby Boomers when they need help . . . especially if they have used funds they needed for their own retirement to pay for their own aging parents' care. What should you do now? Should You Buy LTC Insurance? Make sure your retirement plan is on track, and takes into account potential future health care expenses. Also consider purchasing a Long Term Care Policy, Hybrid Long Term Care Policy or a Life Insurance Policy with Living benefits that can cover LTC needs. A Certified Financial Planner can be invaluable in helping clarify your options. I often recommend purchasing (if appropriate) the insurance sooner than later, to avoid the risk of being uninsurable due to pre-existing conditions, and may lower monthly premiums. Things are looking up for the LGBT community as we grow up, and indeed, find new ways of enjoying full and rewarding lives up to and including our later years. We are living longer, happier and healthier than ever. We keep moving closer to equal rights as well social and political parity, even in the hinterland (we're not there yet, but we're getting there.) As time passes, homophobia issues in nursing homes will hopefully decrease too. What you can do for yourself now is prepare for the future by making sure you have a plan prepared for both the fun and challenges ahead. DAVID RAE Certified Financial Planner, Accredited Investment Fiduciary is a Los Angeles Retirement Planner with Trilogy Financial Services, focusing on helping the LGBT Community become more Fiscally Fabulous for over a decade. Advertisement Article Originally published in the Advocate Magazine [Education Dept. investigator Powers] performed a "Google" search of HHC and noted that it had no Internet web presence. He then checked the address on Google Maps, and the street view showed a residential block, not a commercial area... Mr. Powers also performed a "Google" search of DTH and noted that it had limited Internet web presence.... He then checked the address on Google Maps, and the street view showed a vacant lot.... CSI's factual defense is predicated upon the claim that CSI lacked knowledge that the two identified employers were fictitious. It has not claimed that the employers were legitimate, and that students who claimed they did not receive jobs from these grifters were responsible for lying to the Department.... [T]he Department believes that CSI either knew, or should have known, that what it was representing to the Department and its accrediting agency contained untrue information. For example, while CSI states that the Department did not "provide any indication that any of the students interviewed complained to CSI," ... in an interview conducted by Agent Ewert on April 5, 2016, with Alyssa Weel, CSI Career Development Coordinator from April 2013 to January 2016, Ms. Weel affirmed that students came to the small office space she shared with four other Career Development Coordinators in late 2013 to complain about the lack of meaningful employment they received from Mr. Quinn and HHC.... As such, CSI had knowledge, long before the Department's program review, and the supposed conduct of its own internal investigation in mid-2014, that employers it was using to inflate its placement rate were suspect.... CSI' s marketing materials, provided to the program reviewers while onsite ... were aggressively targeting a potential student base.... Advertisements set forth in bold headlines: "NO DIPLOMA, NO PROBLEM!" The students' declarations convey that they took these words quite literally, and those who failed to possess a high school diploma or a GED did not know until they began their job searches that the lack of these credentials alone hamstrung them in their ability to find employment in their fields of study. This constitutes evidence of yet another possible misrepresentation by CSI to its students. CSI paid bonuses to the Career Development staff based on the numbers of placement verifications they could complete.... As with the scourge of abusive practices that resulted from the payments of incentives to recruiters of students, promises of extra financial remuneration for additional employment verifications creates an environment conducive for the sort of fraudulent misrepresentation that occurred in CSI' s practices. Second, CSI maintained the remarkable practice of allowing employers to verify placements on the first day a student was hired, and even sometimes permitted verifications before a student had actually graduated! Perhaps most important, the Department's grueling investigation would have been largely unnecessary had CSI promptly told the Department what it claims it found out about the falsity of the two "employers." And it had an absolute legal obligation to do so. Today on her television show, in honor of the upcoming Mother's Day, Ellen DeGeneres gave a $25,000 college scholarship to Courtney, an Oklahoma stay-at-home mom who wants to be an ultrasound technician. That's fantastic. Except that the scholarship is to attend the for-profit University of Phoenix, which even with a $25,000 scholarship could turn out to be a bad deal for Courtney. The University of Phoenix is currently the subject of investigations by multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies. And Department of Education data has shown that the University of Phoenix's graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is about 16 percent; that graduation rate for the school's online programs is about 4 percent. DeGeneres's award of the scholarship was clearly a paid promotion, highlighted not only on TV but also her show's website home page and special University of Phoenix page, as well as its Instagram page. DeGeneres announced in the same breath that the University of Phoenix would be giving out 10 full-tuition scholarships. Advertisement [UPDATE 05-04-16: By late yesterday, the posts about the award of the University of Phoenix scholarship had been deleted from the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"'s Instagram and Twitter, as well as from the front page of her website. No explanation as to why. The page on Ellen's site promoting the scholarships is still up. Student advocates had raised concerns publicly, and Marketwatch wrote about the controversy yesterday.] The University of Phoenix, which has been getting $2 billion to nearly $4 billion a year in taxpayer funds, has a troubling record of spending too little on instruction, charging high prices, and leaving many students worse off than when they enrolled. After an investigative media report last June highlighted troubling, potentially unlawful recruiting practices by the University of Phoenix directed at military service members, the Defense Department in October put the school on probation, kicking the school's recruiters off bases and suspending student tuition assistance to the company. The report found that the University of Phoenix, which is owned by Apollo Education Group, paid the military for exclusive access to bases through sponsoring concerts and other events, sidestepping President Obama's 2012 executive order aimed at preventing for-profit colleges from gaining preferential access to U.S. troops. The school also reportedly held "resume workshops" for troops that seemed to serve as recruiting sessions, and it handed out "challenge coins" that included University of Phoenix logos on one side and, without the required permission, military branch insignias on the other side. Advertisement In January, following an aggressive public push to lift this ban by Senate armed services committee chairman John McCain (R), the Pentagon reversed course, ending the probation, and simply put the school on "heightened compliance review" for a year. But while some students do well at the University of Phoenix, and the school has some fine instructors, the institution, especially in the past fifteen years, has left many other students worse off. As John Murphy, co-founder of the company, explained in a 2013 book, the University of Phoenix lost its way when it moved beyond its mission of training and credentialing working adults. Instead, lured by too-easy federal aid money, the company joined other predatory companies in seeking to enroll recent high school graduates, low-income single parents, and young service members and veterans, into programs that often were not strong enough to help those students succeed. The 2012 comprehensive report on for-profit colleges by then-Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) found that the University of Phoenix spent $892 per student on instruction in 2009, compared to $2,225 per student on marketing, and $2,535 per student on profit. "This," the report found "is one of the lowest amounts spent on instruction per student of any company analyzed." Around 25 percent of University of Phoenix students default on their loans within three years of leaving school. Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, has said that the University of Phoenix has been the "worst by far" for-profit college in terms of taking advantage of the vets who are members of his organization. A letter sent last fall to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter from more than 30 veterans, civil rights, and consumer organizations supported the Pentagon's investigation and cited, as support, the complaints of hundreds service members and veterans "who experienced deceptive recruiting" by the University of Phoenix. Advertisement At the time of the Pentagon suspension action last fall, four state attorneys general, along with Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Securities and Exchange Commission were all already investigating or suing the University of Phoenix for fraud and other misconduct. The school's parent company, Apollo, is in turmoil right now, desperately trying to reinvent its image with the public and ramp up revenues as it seeks to sell itself to a group of private equity firms. Ellen DeGeneres is not the first celebrity to shill for the troubled University of Phoenix -- Suze Orman, Al Sharpton, and others have taken turns. (The University of Phoenix was the lead sponsor of Education Nation, an event hosted for years by NBC, whose owned-and-operated local stations have a syndication deal with DeGeneres's show.) Vendy Plaza is opening for the 2016 season at East Harlem's historic open-air market place, featuring local street chefs and celebrating New York City's diverse food culture. In addition to supporting new food entrepreneurs, Vendy Plaza is part of an effort to breathe life back into the market space at 116th Street and Park Avenue, La Marqueta, a cultural and commercial center in East Harlem for nearly 100 years. Vendy Plaza is organized by the Street Vendor Project (streetvendor.org), the same group behind the Vendy Awards, which have determined New York City's top street chef for over 10 years, and have become one of the most beloved and widely-anticipated food events in New York and across the country. There are as many as 20,000 street vendors in New York City -- hot dog vendors, flower vendors, t-shirt vendors, street artists, fancy food trucks, and many others. These entrepreneurs are mostly immigrants and people of color and many are US military veterans. In recent years, vendors have been denied access to street vending licenses from the city, resulting in a black market for licenses in addition to many other hurdles they must face in order to make ends meet. The emerging "gig" or sharing economy is generating considerable debate in legal, business and culture circles in Silicon Valley and elsewhere. Start-up companies in ride sharing, delivery, personal services and other sectors are disrupting established industries and firms while generating investor excitement about the economic potential of these new organizations. They are also testing conventional views of how labor is organized to provide services and meet the needs and interests of today's workforce. The organizational foundation of these companies rests on worker relationships that are, in many respects, new and novel but potentially at odds, in fundamental ways, with traditional employer-worker relationships. Labor policy in the United States has promoted a relationship between employers and their employees based on wage and hour regulation, requirements of workplace and worker protection, protection of governmental taxation system, A great deal of this government policy was enacted in the 1930s over fears of exploitation of workers, including child labor, and the articulated need to protect income taxation systems. The introduction of new models of workplace relationships has resulted in lawsuits to determine if the workers are employees who are protected by these workplace laws or independent workers who are contracting with companies to provide services on a fee for hire basis. Uber is an example of a venture that utilizes a new relationship with its workforce and is facing lawsuits in which some drivers claim they have been improperly treated as contractors rather than employees. Uber and Lyft, another ride-sharing service, recently settled two of their class action lawsuits with the drivers agreeing to remain classified as contractors. Advertisement One of the underlying constraints that the new model firms face is the rigidity of the labor laws that force the relationship between firms and their workers into one of only two classifications--employees or independent contractors. Recently, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued a restatement of its policies on classification of workers as employees and independent contractors. The report largely rehashes existing policies on when workers are to be classified as employees and receive the full range of benefits provided by company human resources offices. The Department of Labor report was issued because of its view that there were too many instances of "misclassification" of workers as contractors and, somewhat ominously, articulates its view that "most workers are employees" under federal labor laws. While the traditional employer-employee relationship may be the norm, it doesn't necessarily follow that most workers benefit from being treated as employees under federal and state law. Indeed, there are strong incentives for workers to choose an alternative relationship within which to perform work - flexibility, chief among them -- and similarly strong incentives for new economy companies to match those workers' interests with the companies' business plan. Complicating matters further, the DOL's restatement of its binary classification is just one of many similar tests imposed by a labyrinth of federal and state agencies. For example, the IRS uses a 27 factor test to determine the classification of a worker. The Department of Labor uses an "economic realities" test of many factors while the Employee Retirement Income Security Act uses a "common law agency" test. All fifty states have employee definition tests for unemployment compensation and workers' compensation benefits. There is no comparable maze of definitions for the only alternative--independent contractors--other than they are the opposite of being an employee. Recently, efforts have been made to use entrepreneurial initiative and incentives to demark the distinction between employees (who are considered not to possess such incentives) and independent contractors (who do possess this initiative or purpose). The courts considering whether sharing economy workers are "controlled" by the companies they work for or if the "economic reality" is that they are employed by the companies have been struggling to articulate a thoughtful analysis and, as a result, there are inconsistent outcomes in court cases. Advertisement In the current situation involving demand economy workers the workers select their own working hours and often provide the instrumentality or tools for performing the work (e.g., their own automobiles) which would indicate they are independent contractors. However, opponents of this viewpoint argue that the employer has the right to evaluate the driver's performance and to terminate the driver for failure to adequately perform his duties, factors that they claim make the drivers employees and not contractors. Last week the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEOO) released its annual report on the state of higher education finances. It shows that spending has increased moderately at the state and local levels and on a per capita student basis. In the Chronicle of Higher Education, Eric Kelderman notes that the report demonstrates the impact that "the long shadow of the Great Recession has cast over public higher education." He further determines that "beneath the national figures are wide variations in both increases and cuts in state money for public colleges, and evidence that many states have taken up what looks like a permanent residence at the bottom of the list." While the report shows mixed results, there is some good news. Forty states have increased spending, representing a 5.2 percent increase from the previous year. This is the third consecutive annual increase in per-student appropriations, augmented by almost a 2 percent decrease in the number of full-time equivalent students since 2010. More generally, enrollment is still almost nine percent higher than it was before the Great Recession, matched by healthy increases in the number of students earning degrees and new credentials. Advertisement There is bad news. While state spending has increased, it is still 15 percent less per student than before the economic slowdown. Only five states are spending more per student than they were in 2008. In 22 states, tuition accounts for more than half of the per student revenues at public colleges. It's important to set the SHEOO finding in context. Most sectors of the American economy that receive state and federal support took a funding hit as the economy tanked and subsequently sputtered along. In an important way, however, the story is not really about funding. It's more a chilling tale of the failure of current planning to match better to state and federal economic, social and cultural priorities. Is America still able to draw a line in the sand to lay continuing claim that it produces well-educated citizens who form the best and most productive workforce in the global economy? If you follow the money, the answer is "no." The current crop of political candidates seems to argue that fundamental questions of income inequality and college affordability can be solved by new programs like free public community college tuition. It's an "ice cream for everyone" moment determined by anecdote and polling. Advertisement The problem is that we need to move beyond what polling can tell us. We must imagine how to use oversight and funding to shape an American future that produces better coherence, consistency and predictability. It starts with an understanding of the complexity of American higher education. And the principle should be "do no damage." Vice President Biden was right when he argued recently that America was still a place where great things can get done. But it's unwise to propose a band-aid solution when research, like the SHEOO annual study, suggests that complex funding strategies at the state and federal level are now at best incremental changes that support the cultural inertia built on the status quo. If a well-educated citizenry and workforce is a national priority, it should be funded accordingly. If America is going to educate a global workforce, it must figure out a better way to fund a decentralized higher education system already under stress without wrecking it. It's less about winners and losers and more about how the chaos of scattered puzzle pieces fit together into a comprehensive plan. Part of the puzzle is to determine how to fund higher education better, including public higher education. Make no mistake about it. America's colleges and universities - public and private and at all levels - must be accountable. But the solution is bigger than whether to use the carrot or the stick. It's about how best to change incremental funding at the state and federal levels into a longer-term investment strategy. This will require cooperation at all levels, including better definition at the state and federal levels as to what each other's funding responsibilities should be. Advertisement There's a lesson to be taken from the mindset that shapes much of the public campaigns defining cutting edge health research on disease. It's almost a square-jawed, teeth-clenching determination to beat whatever horrific cancer is under study. In a sense, it's kind of a "Manhattan Project" approach. Higher education needs to make the same case as global labor force changes shape new needs. Federal and state officials can be criticized for a bureaucratic, baby step response to the funding of American higher education. Funding on an annual appropriations cycle ignores critical data, good and imaginative ideas, and the capacity of governments working together to invest in the future of their citizens. A sound investment strategy requires broad sustainable cooperation between local, state and federal governments based upon research and a prioritized set of national education goals that do no harm while doing good. Twenty years ago, I unsettled the notoriously secretive college admissions process with the publication of my first book, A is for Admission, which caused something of a scandal upon its release. For years, the Ivies and top colleges had been denying that they used any kind of formula and were anything but forthcoming about their admissions process. My intent was, and still is, to make the admission process more transparent and accessible to students of all backgrounds. Much to the chagrin of the admissions old guard, I disclosed the secret formula they had been using for years, the Academic Index, and walked readers step-by-step through how every applicant's file is read. This calculator is now available on my website as a free resource for anyone who wishes to see how the Ivies have been evaluating students. Since publishing A is for Admission, I cofounded TopTierAdmissions.com with Mimi Doe, an education and parenting expert, to expand my platform and work directly with students and their families to demystify the admissions process and help students get into the school of their dreams. The next step was to distill our insider knowledge and help rising seniors create college applications that respond to the rubrics of admissions officers. Twelve years ago, we again disrupted admissions and launched the first ever College Application Boot Camp, a 4-day program designed to fast-track students into their top choice college and help them complete all their applications in an accelerated time frame. We have run our Boot Camps every summer since 2004 to wide acclaim from students and their families from around the world. Over 50% of our students are siblings or friends of past participants and we fill up every year. Our results speak for themselves. Top Tier's Class of 2020 boasts 43 acceptances to the Ivies/Stanford. The Environmental Protection Agency's "Clean Power Plan" unleashed a firestorm of criticism -- but New York has been well ahead of the debate by setting out the most ambitious environmental targets in the country. In fact, Governor Andrew Cuomo has staked his reputation on achieving "50 by 30," meaning that by 2030 the state would get half of its electricity from renewable energy sources. This is a bold but achievable goal. If it were embraced by today's presidential candidates and then embraced nationally, the United States would make a huge contribution to preventing climate change. "If" is the key word, unfortunately. Generating sufficient electricity with clean energy is a big lift. It requires having the attitude John Kennedy manifested about going to the moon: "we do this not because it's easy; we do it because it is hard." To make it even harder, in addition to the 50 by 30 commitment, Governor Cuomo has said no to fracking and wants to close one nuclear plant (Indian Point) while keeping others open with new subsidies. Indian Point is a huge source of zero carbon electricity, so shuttering it commits the state to an even more ambitious program of clean energy resources and infrastructure development. We've examined how the state could meet its 50 by 30 goal. Large quantities of clean power can be achieved by combining wind, solar and stored power, of which large-scale hydro is by far the most economical. Because the New York grid, like others in the region, was essentially built for coal, oil and gas-fired generators, these bundles of wind-and-hydro power will be delivered to market via new and enhanced delivery infrastructure. Advertisement This clean power future is feasible. It's within our grasp. Renewable energy is all around us, in the breezes we feel and the sunshine we enjoy. Hydro to firm up these intermittent resources already exists in New York and more can be imported from Canada. Once all these terrestrial resources have been tapped, New York can turn to offshore wind, which also has immense potential. Clean energy commitments have become more attractive politically for two reasons. First, developing wind and solar within the state of New York promotes economic development in the north and west of the state, where such development is essential. Second, thanks to sustained technological progress, clean energy supply as well as more efficient energy demand are more and more economical. "Outsourcing" power production to natural gas is no longer necessary: gas prices are inevitably volatile, so while natural gas is cheap today, it will not always be cheap. Wind and solar and hydro generation, once built, rely only on "fuels from heaven" -- the free wind and solar and hydro resources that are all around us. So New York's clean energy commitment is a great economic strategy, a fact that's not lost on Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, both of whom are committed to national Clean Power Plan implementation. However, it's likely that, if elected, both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will scrap the Clean Power Plan because, in Senator Cruz's words, "The scientific evidence doesn't support global warming." Yet in a multitude of polls, that point of view is not held by the majority of New Yorkers. So as an energy policy, scrapping the Clean Power Plan -- federal or state version -- is a loser of an idea. Here's the truth: Developing this kind of new grid for clean power should not be a political wedge issue. Advertisement Driving home from work last week it was surreal to listen to local news coverage of the live press conference in Chanhassen, MN, knowing that the whole world was tuning in to my home town. Local law enforcement was addressing the public outside of Paisley Park, home of the rock legend Prince who, of course, had just died. The grief for us Minnesotans is unique and multilayered because Prince, while being an intensely private man, was also deeply embedded in his Minneapolis community and its suburbs where he was born and raised. After the renovation of the Minneapolis fixture the Uptown Theater, a local movie critic mentioned in passing that Prince occasionally slipped in to watch a film. (It became my habit after that to scan the audience to see if he and I had the same cinematic taste.) He had his own private table at the Dakota Jazz Club downtown. Some of my friends live a few doors down from one of his rental properties. I had even heard that he would once in a while do some door to door evangelizing for his small church located in St. Louis Park just minutes from my own home. But nothing has made Prince's humanity more real to me personally than my recent discovery that Prince and then-wife Mayte Garcia lost a child to a rare and incurable disease in 1996. Prince was virtually silent on the subject, but I read Matye's words with complete understanding as she talked of how the death of their son, Boy, contributed to the collapse of her marriage. "I believe a child dying between a couple either makes you stronger or it doesn't. For me, it was very, very hard to move forward and for us as a couple I think it probably broke us." When my own daughter died I walked the same path. My husband and I were lucky. We made it. But there were ugly, ugly moments, Mayte. And we didn't have the pressures of fame and public scrutiny that you and Prince had to shoulder. Advertisement The tributes to Prince are numerous and I have smiled at some of the wittier recollections of people like Liz Meriwether who had the privilege of working directly with him on an episode of New Girl. But these pieces, as lovely as they are, also remind me that fame is isolating. My own personal journey taught me that grief is isolating and Prince had to deal with both. I don't know how much of Prince's personal loss contributed to his need for privacy, but I feel a deep sadness thinking that perhaps his fame made it that much harder for him to grieve for the loss of his child. I wonder if all of the hype and idolizing of him obscured the fact to his associates that at end of the day each and every one of us have this in common; we all suffer. I also don't know anything about how Prince grieved. It never occurred to me to expect a Prince sighting in the Minneapolis cemetery where my own daughter is buried. I don't know when he finally got the courage to take down the swing set in the yard one of his backup dancers said he put up in anticipation of the birth of his child. I don't know if he could bear to eventually change the play room he showed Oprah into a room with a functional purpose. I don't know if he ever wondered on Boy's birthday what life would have been like if he had lived. I don't know any of these things, but I hope that he found some way to be a parent to his child or at the very least hold Boy's memory in a sacred place inside him. Jackson County will once again hold a National Day of Prayer service on the steps of the county courthouse in Pascagoula Thursday. The cities of Ocean Springs and Gautier will also have ceremonies in front of their respective city halls. All of the ceremonies begin at noon. (File photo/Gulflive.com) PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County will once again participate in the National Day of Prayer with an extensive program on the steps of the county courthouse in Pascagoula. The Continental Congress proclaimed the first National Day of Prayer in 1775. Observances ended at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. In 1952, the National Day of Prayer was re-instituted, making this year's observance the 64th annual. The theme of this year's National Day of Prayer is "Wake Up, America." The Pascagoula program will feature remarks and an prayer for government and military by Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering. Others scheduled to offer prayers for various groups and causes include Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, Dr. Jay Cook of First Baptist Church, Rev. Larry Hawkins of Unity Baptist Church, Jamey Foster of First Methodist Church, Steve Jordan, owner of Turf Masters and Noah Britt of WPMO radio. Frank Corder, chairman for the county's National Day of Prayer, will deliver the 2016 national message, with Rev. Eric Camp delivering the benediction. The Oasis Worship Team will sing two hymns during the program. The ceremony begins at noon. The cities of Ocean Springs and Gautier will simultaneously hold National Day of Prayer ceremonies at noon in front of their respective city halls. As Black America begins to tap into a new consciousness of our identity, much of that is owed to Africa. We haven't had much conversation about our cross-continental relationship with the Motherland as a collective unit, and that baffles me. Still in 2016, much of the misperceptions of African life and our ancestry still runs rampant. While the political climate of American sees deep divides within ideologies, ethnicities, gender, and class -- I could not help but think about the African diaspora and what this all means for my future. Recently, I had the opportunity to reconnect with a mentor and scholar whose cross-cultural wisdom of the Motherland reshaped my purpose in invoking it into my everyday consciousness. Advertisement Dr. Kingsley Fletcher is a humanitarian, businessman, scholar and Ghanaian leader who's devoted his life to reshaping the narratives that deter progress and reconnection amongst displaced souls in the diaspora. In the midst of this highly competitive national election, I couldn't help but take my mind off politics for a second and think about Africa. I got the opportunity to speak with Dr. Fletcher earlier this month about his experiences and words of advice to Black Americans who are consciously committed to revitalizing their understanding of Africa. Here's some of the brilliant messages that I learned from that conversation: 1) "Africa doesn't need handouts, it needs partnerships." Since birth, I can't begin to recount how many times I saw Africa depicted as a needy continent desperate for international welfare. "People come, volunteer temporarily, and leave," Fletcher says. "That isn't sustainable or helping the problem at all." He's right. So much of the "voluntourism" that has plagued the continent has not eradicated many of the issues are still affecting the continent. In fact, some have argued that it has now become more exploitative, than beneficial. "You want to help Africa, invest in it," Fletcher recommends. "Build smart business relationships with industries in the countries that resonate with you." And if you're not necessarily an entrepreneur or venture capitalist, you can still contribute your support by purchasing and promoting 100% African owned businesses worldwide. Advertisement 2) "To know Africa is to be Africa." My first trip to Africa forever taught me the true difference of being black in America. The experience would forever shape the way I thought about the continent and my contributions to it. "Many black America see Africa as another place outside of them...little do they know there's a mutual desire to connect," Fletcher says. As I watch many of my friends plan their summer travel, I can't help but push them to explore a country in a continent I now consider my second home. "If one really wants to understand themselves and know what it's like to see their heritage, Africa is the first start," Fletcher says. "Why travel another continent where you're the minority, come see what it's like to feel included." 3) "One should not rely on European validation to embrace their African heritage." The discussion of cultural appropriation has run rampant in recent years as much of white pop culture has been under the microscope of taking blackness and positioning it as its own. "It surprises me how much people are now talking about because white people are trying to take it," Fletcher says. "We have always been great, intellectual, talented, and beautiful...one doesn't need the new colonial efforts of European ideals to tell us that." He makes a solid point. Our African heritage and blackness shouldn't only be celebrated in times of contention with culture vultures. "We should feel our black even when others aren't looking," Fletcher says. "It is a reflection of our values, of ourselves." 4) "Africa could teach America a thing or two about interfaith political relations." As the political climate of the presidential campaign build up in America, the religious divides have taken its toll as well. An unqualified GOP candidate who doesn't deserved to be named has suggested that Muslims be banned from entering the country. Across the political aisle, there has been new legislation that has ignored the religious inclusion of many others outside of Christianity. "If you look at how Africa has been set up, we have always been a place that has embraced Muslims, Christians and many others in politics," Fletcher says. "Countries like Nigeria has had Muslim leaders succeed while Christians have been accepting of that...America needs to reconsider their position on this issue in front of the world." When hearing him speak of this, it's truly hard to imagine having nationally elected Muslims in office with the current political climate. For a nation that prides itself on the First Amendment right of freedom of religion, it could be more interfaith in its political representation. 5) "Blackness shouldn't be looked at as a statement, but a lifestyle." Iraqi detainees rest their hands on razor wires as they watch a group of freed prisoners leaving the Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad, 16 September 2004. Some 108 detainees were released from the notorious Abu Ghraib prison home to 2500 detainees, including foreigners. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD / AFP / JEWEL SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) "Jo, that one should knock them out." Laughter. That is what happens at the end of a video showing five Spanish soldiers kicking and beating two prisoners in a Spanish military base in Iraq in 2004. The images are chilling. A soldier asks one of the prisoners to get up, as the others stomp on him and position him in a way that gives them clearer shots. How would these soldiers justify their actions? What could have been going through their minds that would compel them to do something like this? Advertisement In this torture case, detainee records have vanished, witnesses have retracted their accounts, and the courts have decided not to consider certain testimonies -- all this sounds like something out of a horror movie. But what took place in the Spanish base in Al Diwaniyah, Iraq, in 2004 -- and the following years -- was fact, not fiction. Early on, we started to suspect that there was misconduct. But at that time, it was mere suspicion. By 2013, we had approached Minister of Defense, Pedro Morenes, and expressed our concerns over the violence depicted in the video, and asked for an exhaustive and independent investigation into these events to take place in civilian courts, not military courts. In late 2015, something happened that was key to our investigation: We gained access to wiretap transcripts, testimonies, and photographs of the alleged perpetrators in the brutal beating. Soon, our suspicions were confirmed: The torture investigation was replete with irregularities. For example, there were two witnesses who had recognized the soldiers responsible for the beating. One of them (the person who had filmed the incident) later renounced his claims and said that he knew nothing about the incident and that he had been confused. The suspicions were deepened by the fact that there was a parallel investigation into threats that had been made against that witness. The testimony of the other witness, who watched an unpixelated version of the video, simply wasn't taken into account in the military court investigation. Just like that. Advertisement Another example: The prisoner registry, which would have allowed for the victims to be identified, vanished. Its disappearance was not investigated. In addition, some of the information on detainees in the Spanish base was provided by a report prepared by the staff of Spanish army. In this document, there are names, passport numbers, addresses and other information about the detainees. But in that case, again, the military courts did not ask the detainees if they were the ones who appeared in the video. These examples, and others, continue as we chronicle in the report "Tortures Committed by Spanish Soldiers in Iraq: 12 Years Without Justice," published in April 2016. All these irregularities reaffirm a deeper, more general concern at Amnesty International: Investigations into human rights violations should not be carried out in military courts; they should be investigated in ordinary courts. Within this worrisome picture, there are two positive aspects to consider: The fact that the investigation has been filed "provisionally," and not definitively; and the willingness of the Attorney General to provide information to Amnesty International. There is still a chance to reopen the investigation if, for example, the evidence showing these irregularities is taken into account, or if other evidence emerges. Advertisement Recently, Amnesty International launched a campaign directed at the Attorney General to transfer the case to civilian courts. A torture case like this one cannot go unpunished. I imagine that many people will share my sentiments: What kind of person can laugh as they beat someone up? It doesn't make me laugh. Protesters shout slogans on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul on April 27, 2016, during a protest against a call for the country to adopt a religious constitution.Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu vowed on April 27 that Turkey's draft constitution would guarantee secularism, after calls for a religious charter sparked controversy in the predominantly Muslim country. The call led to protests in major cities where police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators in Ankara and Istanbul. The separation of religion from state affairs is one of the fault lines in Turkish society. The founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, based the post-Ottoman republic on a strict separation between religion and state. / AFP / BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images) Finally, after over a decade in power, the true face of Turkey's governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is surfacing. The speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Ismail Kahraman, said that the new constitution that the AKP is preparing will have no reference to secularism. AKP officials quickly denied the intention but many Turks felt as if an idea was planted in their brain -- an idea they would have to get used to. Fearing a secularism-free constitution would be the first step towards introducing Shariah law in their republic, secularist Turks immediately started defending secularism fiercely. Apparently, they do not realize that this secularism got them in trouble in the first place. Advertisement From the very first day the AKP won its first elections in 2011, many Turks feared that the AKP, rooted in Islamist parties that were banned by the Constitutional Court for undermining the secular order, would "Islamize" Turkey. Turks feared the AKP's initial democratic reforms were no more than a cloth to cover their hidden agenda: to introduce Shariah law in Turkey. Over the last couple of years, that fear has been overshadowed by another fear, or more precisely, by another reality: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, party leader and prime minister in the first years of AKP rule and president since 2014, became an increasingly authoritarian leader. Instead of Turkey turning into another Iran, it started to resemble Putin's Russia. Turkey refuses to transform its 'secularism' to serve all citizens. With the suggestion that the new constitution will no longer have any references to secularism, the "Iran fear" is back. And so is the old divide in the Turkish political debate: Islamism versus secularism. The slogan "Turkey is secular and will remain secular" is heard again. The slogan was extremely popular in 2007, when Erdogan's predecessor, Abdullah Gul, one of the AKP's founders, was about to become president. Secular Turks feared that the combination of one-party AKP rule and a president of the same denomination would undermine the secular state's foundations. In those days, tens of thousands of people gathered in cities like Izmir and Ankara to defend Turkey's secularism. There as a journalist, I saw hardcore Turkish nationalism, with king-size (easily 100 meters long) Turkish flags and countless portraits of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Many attendees were working for state institutions like the army and the judiciary and were actually sent to the rallies by their employers. These state institutions considered themselves the guards of Turkish secularism and feared takeover by the new religious powers. That fear has become a reality in the last couple of years. The army was discredited with a huge trial based on concocted evidence, and generals who were not loyal to the government were forced to resign. The judiciary has been brought under full government control, with the help of constitutional reform; this intensified after corruption charges emerged against government officials up to the highest echelons in 2013. The AKP is appointing and replacing prosecutors and judges as it pleases and ordering political trials against its opponents -- be it Kurds, leftists, followers of the U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen or just average citizens who dare to "insult" the president. Advertisement Turks who now speak out for secularism apparently don't see that it is exactly this Turkish form of 'secularism' that put their country in this situation in the first place. The interesting fact is that the AKP didn't have to alter the foundations of the state to shape Turkey to its current form. In fact, the AKP has not touched the secular basis of the republic in any way. Instead, it used existing structures to give religion a greater role in society. One of the key institutions that is at the AKP's disposal is Diyanet, the directorate for religious affairs. It was once installed by Ataturk to control the influence of religion. If you define secularism as the separation of state and religion, which is the most common definition, Turkey isn't secular at all. From the early years of the republic, state and mosque have been closely intertwined. All mosques are state-owned, all imams are state-employed and for decades, the Friday sermons were centrally written and distributed. The religious curriculum at primary and secondary schools is obligatory and defined by the state. It focuses solely on the state's preferred version of Sunni Islam, thus getting children of parents of another faith or atheist parents in trouble. Houses of worship of other religions or of other sects of Islam, like churches or cemevis (the prayer houses of Alevis), don't benefit from state support like Diyanet mosques do and are thus discriminated against. The European Court of Human Rights has spoken out against these practices on numerous occasions, including last week, but Turkey refuses to transform its "secularism" to serve all citizens. Turkey's non-secular secularism will continue to be used by anybody in power to suppress other groups in society. By using state institutions to give Sunni Islam a greater role in society, the AKP has also served the interest of its voter base and thus actually broadened the rights of pious Turks. For example, the discrimination against headscarved women has ended, enabling pious Islamic women to attend universities and to have seats in Parliament. This expansion of religious freedom has, however, infringed on the rights of secular Turks. For example, it has become harder to find a school for their children that matches their ideology, they are faced with more restrictions on the purchase and use of alcohol and they risk prosecution for criticizing the president. Turks who now speak out for secularism apparently don't see that it is exactly this Turkish form of "secularism" that put their country in this situation in the first place. Without Turkey's non-secular secularism, there would be no way to impose the conservative Islamic values of the AKP on school children. Without Turkey's non-secular secularism, imams wouldn't be on Erdogan's side. Without Turkey's non-secular secularism, no mosques would be built with state funds in villages mainly inhabited by Alevis. Turkey does need a new constitution. It needs a constitution that finally gets rid off Turkey's non-secular secularism, which will continue to be used by anybody in power to suppress other groups in society. Of course, the non-secular secularism shouldn't be replaced by an even more religious constitution as Kahraman suggested, but by a pluralist legal system that enables freedom and equality for all who live in Turkey and that gives every Turkish citizen the right to be who he or she wants. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin speaks during Milwaukee County GOP's 'Wisconsin Decides 2016' presidential candidate event at the American Serb Banquet Hall in Milwaukee April 1, 2016. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski With 7 out of 10 women rejecting Donald Trump, will the misogynist-in-chief try to salvage his chances by selecting a female running mate? In keeping with opponents Ted Cruz and Carly "Look at that Face" Fiorina, he may indeed play the "woman card" that has given this country so many female presidents and vice presidents since 1789. Trump will most definitely get schlonged if he continues to repel female voters with such astounding success, but the question remains: what candidate would actually accept the job? Madeleine Albright may believe there's a special place in hell for women who don't support women, but surely there's a very special place in hell for women who support Donald J. Trump. The options are quite limited due to the presumptive nominee's staggering heights of chauvinism, but here's a short list of female contenders that could conceivably say yes: Advertisement Ann Coulter The notorious commentator would be an ideal selection for Trump for several reasons; her galling use of racial epithets--she has called for the profiling of "suspicious looking swarthy males"--as well as that critical, hard-to-find trait among female contenders: a dependable level of sexism matching Donald's. This is a woman who said with a straight face that "it would be a much better country if women did not vote." Mr. Trump should be so lucky. Sarah Palin A Trump-Palin ticket has the distinct advantage of positioning The Donald as a foreign policy scholar in relation to the other half of the team. His vice presidential pick would stand strong with our North Korean allies and refudiate all who would oppose us. The Palin doctrine ensures that the spotlight remains exactly where it should: on the veep, rather than on Trump's amorphous political agenda. He'd get some much-needed breathing room. Michele Bachmann The options are dwindling for Donald, but there's still one last contender remaining. This former congresswoman and Tea Party spokesperson shares Trump's incredulity of climate change, or as she calls it, "voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax." Her strengths as a candidate don't end there; she taps into racism and xenophobia like a champ. In true Trumpian fashion, she has exclaimed that the president is "pro the goals of Islamic Jihad." Such staid comments could prove too moderate for the Trump campaign, but at this point the pickings are slim. Coulter, Palin and Bachmann each fit the bill for that elusive Trump woman card, and they're 3 of the 4 people on the planet that might actually accept the offer. Christie, keep your fingers crossed that they don't pick up the phone. Advertisement In my years as an agent I have booked hundreds of models for 26 fashion week seasons and have seen countless runway shows by designers both known and unknown. Some of these unknown designers have risen to fame. Some of the known fashion houses have been sold, rebranded in order to regain acclaim and financial stability or, in some cases, entirely perished. This everlasting shuffle of fashion's musical chairs always intrigued me. What makes a designer or a label appealing? What makes a label survive in such a competitive market crowded by fast fashion knock-offs? I recently turned my attention back to the Brazilian label UMA, which set up shop in New York upon the arrival of its 20th anniversary. UMA had not crossed my mind in more than five years, as I have been mostly removed from the South American fashion scene. As soon as I heard about this new shop on Bleecker Street my ears perked. I was transported back to the days when I used to fight for a spot in UMA's show for the models I represented. For a model, there was a certain coolness that was added to their image by being associated with this brand. Historically, UMA (which in portuguese means unique) has never joined the herd, they were the black sheep in a market that craves for celebrities, top models and trends. The minimalist designs paired with muted color palettes, bold lines and asymmetrical features crafted by Raquel Davidowicz are the main attraction, but definitely not what makes this brand shine. If UMA has acquired a cult following, comparable to labels such as Comme des Garcons or Maison Martin Margiela, it's because of it's commitment to beautiful aesthetics that incorporate art and fashion in symbiotic manner. Advertisement The art scene, a monster in its own right, has now more than ever gotten in bed with fashion. Art has found in fashion a way to expand its domains. Brands like the established Rodarte, or the young Eckhaus Latta for instance, repeatedly collaborate with artists and museums, generating a crossover and a hype that comes from breaking boundaries. Like art, fashion is supposed to provoke something in the individual, it's supposed to be a part of their expression and personality. Fashion has been a struggle for most of my life. It wasn't until I learned who I am that I began to dress in a way that made me feel 100% comfortable and yet presentable. Particularly, fashion communicates a part of me that may not be immediately obvious, it's that identity that resides in my core, not set to a trend or a moment in time. Davidowicz understands this about her customer. She makes clothes for a person who knows where they stand in their own life. She makes clothes for those who go from work to an art opening or the movies and don't feel pressured to put on a "look". Raquel and Roberto Davidowicz, founders of the label, have played with that relationship long before it became a fad; the duo has always maintained an interesting collaboration with the artists they work with. Geova Rodrigues, a long time friend of the brand, has crafted unique embroideries for a limited run of cardigans this season, but the friendship with this artist goes deeper. When Geova launched himself into the fashion business as a designer, UMA sponsored and supported his work, making his launch known to the industry. This type of intimate connection is not rare for the Davidowicz's. One of their most regarded partnerships is with the iconic artist Lygia Clark. Initially, Clark's work was merely a source of inspiration for sketches, out of the notion that this artist had an angst to reach the viewer and to connect their life with art, just as Raquel did. As the designer dove into her work she felt the need to connect more intimately with Clark's soul and that's when she reached out to the estate. Their initial encounter expanded and moved on to art installations on the runway of UMA's shows, to art pieces at the store, and the creation of prints for the clothing line. Ultimately, replicas of Clark's "Bichos" series were made and sold at Uma's shops, reverting all profits towards the Clark Arts Center, which benefits underprivileged communities in Rio de Janeiro. Advertisement Whether UMA takes dance troupes to their runway, or utilizes poetry to illustrate clothing items, their relationship is as effortless as what they create. This year the brand is sponsoring movies that are participating in New York's Tribeca Film Festival and thus bringing together another sector of the arts. The way this label is positioning itself in this new market makes a case for smart branding. Instead of hiring celebrities to attend their store opening or collection launch parties, UMA is sticking to its core values and making itself present in the cultural scene, capturing the attention of a specific audience. It is not the first time this is done, and nor will it be the last. United Talent Agency has caught up with this tendency and recently launched an entire department in order to marry art and commerce in seemingly organic partnerships. Whether they are placing artwork by up and coming artists at a car company's new showroom, attempting to make the brand cooler; inviting a performance art group to be in a TV commercial for a soda company, or having a fashion label sponsor an art show, the opportunities are being created at large. Now, more than ever, brands see that their audience is not necessarily impressed only by the latest bag spun by a Kardashian. These black-sheep fashion labels are more concerned with selling clothes to people who are self-aware and who don't follow a group. These are the people who much like the labels they wear, succeed in their plights because they are true to who they are and their beliefs. These are people who have grown up observing the times and the world around them. Like these people, UMA is a label that is mature but remains playful, thriving in it's unconventional creativity, making clothes that stand the test of time. When the clothes stand the test of time, then so does the label, and this is where the answer to the initial question lays. Cans of Pepsi and Coke are shown in a news stand refrigerator display rack in New York Friday, April 22, 2005. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) They say all politics is local. It's not quite that simple. Successful politics is about astute marketing. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are cleaning up in the primaries and for good reason. Each is out-marketing their opponents. Advertisement Great marketing starts with a strong message that appeals to more consumers than does your opponent's message. By that measure, Bernie Sanders was woefully out-marketed. As of this writing before the Indiana primary, Clinton has 2165 delegates (includes 520 superdelegates) to Bernie Sanders 1,357 delegates (includes only 39 superdelegates). Clinton knows her base, many of whom want the status quo, policy-wise. They want her to continue to fight for equality for women and minorities domestically, but not to veer too far off course internationally. Basically, it means sticking to what President Obama started. This appeals to a great majority of the Democratic base. Sanders' marketing pitch is far weaker. His message about free college education and broader anti-business, socialist sentiment tends to appeal to a narrower target audience. That accounts for the abundance of 18 to 21-year-old consumers who surround him at rallies (Yes, I know I'm using the term consumers instead of constituents, and that's the point). While he tries to paint Clinton as being in the pocket of big business, that message is virtually meaningless to the Democratic base. That's an attack that works against Republicans who often side with business interests, not Democrats. Thus, he is targeting too narrow an audience for starters, and he uses an attack message that simply doesn't ring true. Bernie Sanders never had a chance, marketing-wise. Estimates vary, but one source claims he spent $60 million on television advertising compared to Clinton's $53 million. It's not the money, Bernie, it's the size of your audience and the power of your message. Just ask Procter & Gamble. Advertisement Donald Trump has out-marketed his Republican challengers at every turn. As of this writing before the Indiana primary, he has 996 delegates to Ted Cruz's 565 delegates and John Kasich's 153. First, Trump had stronger brand name recognition. Whoever heard of Cruz and Kasich before the primaries? No one, unless you lived in their states. It's not impossible to gain recognition fast, like that achieved at the 2004 Democratic National Convention by then Senator Barack Obama who nailed the keynote address. But neither Cruz nor Kasich had an Obama moment. And while other contenders had name recognition, such as Jeb Bush, a lot of consumers have grown tired of "establishment" politicians, fueled in great part by the way Trump "negatively positions" sitting statesmen. Outsiders = good. Insiders = Bad. That is masterful re-positioning. But it's Trump's bigger messaging that dominates. His populous message of "Make America Great Again" speaks to a large swath of Americans who believe that America has fallen both domestically and internationally. That message is simple and easy to comprehend, and fits nicely on the bumper sticker of the mind. Nike says "Just Do It". Apple says "Think Different". McDonald's says "I'm Lovin' It". L'Oreal says "Because You're Worth It". Obama promised "Hope and Change". And Trump wants to "Make America Great Again". I often laugh at pundits who dispel Trump as being short on specifics. News flash; many consumers care less about exactly how their needs are satisfied; many just care that they are satisfied. To them, Trump's tenacity is proof enough that he will somehow get it done. That's why the policy wonk candidates fell short; they were long on specifics that consumers did not care about and short on a powerful, universal message that they craved. One report claims that Jeb Bush spent $77 million on television advertisements. Trump spent about $17 million. How did he pull that off? His message is so simple and controversial, that the news media carried it for him for free! That's a marketer's dream. When talking heads on television shows would chide Trump for disparaging Hispanics, his growing supporters instead heard "I'll fix the immigration problem and you'll have more jobs for yourself." Advertisement So now, it is all but inevitable that Clinton and Trump will battle for the most powerful job in the world. This is a marketing battle of two brands, no more or less than Coke vs. Pepsi. I don't mean to trivialize the importance of the issues involved by calling attention to the marketing aspects of the battle, but the marketing campaigns will determine whose vision of America will reign. Importantly, each of our final candidates has a marketing strength and weakness that will ultimately determine the outcome of the battle. Trump has the BIG, universally appealing message to Make America Great Again. It has universal appeal because consumers read into it what they want. Make America Great means a job for the jobless and respect abroad for those who want greater respect. That gives Trump an advantage, message-wise. Clinton has not created a consistent, universal message on which to rely. Her anti-Trump rhetoric is not persuasive enough because it does not rely on a big message that solves a universal problem. Instead, she has smaller segmented messages. Her website is currently peppered with the phrase "woman card". How does that message benefit an African America father of two who lost his job? It doesn't. Trump also promises change, which reflects what many Americans want, and that message tends to "re-position" Clinton as wanting the status quo. That's dangerous for Clinton, because wanting to stay the course is not often a good message when most people feel that they have lost ground. But she can't really challenge the current state of affairs too much because those reflect years when she and Obama were in power. If there's a problem with America, why didn't they fix it already? Trump gets to paint her as part of the problem. Trump has the big message, but his weakness is in marketing segmentation. His rhetoric and some policies weaken him among Hispanics, Blacks, women, and the LGBT community. All marketers know that a grand message isn't good enough by itself; you also need to make meaningful policies for each segment that fulfill on the promise of the grand message. While Clinton has yet to create an over-arching message as powerful as Make America Great Again, she is masterful at creating messages that appeal to these segments, while at the same time "re-positioning" Trump as not good for these segments. Advertisement And name-calling is done for a reason. It works. When Trump calls Clinton "Crooked Hillary" and Trump gets painted as dangerous and a racist, they are added bumper stickers for the mind. That's the marketing battle. Trump has the big universal message, but Clinton has the demographic segments. Trump needs to explain to those segments how America being great will directly benefit them. Clinton needs to create a message as universally appealing as Make America Great Again, one that does not rest on the status quo nor on simply being anti-Trump. By Barbara Friedberg, Finance Writer With President Barack Obama's recent visit to Cuba, the media is ablaze with hopes that the U.S. embargo on the country will be lifted. There are dreams of cheap rum and Cuban cigars flooding the shelves of U.S. shops. Although the embargo on Cuba seems to be mired in congress, Obama recently stated that the U.S. would lessen restrictions on trade and travel. With that in mind, many Americans wonder what they can hope to buy from Cuba, and how this could impact prices on existing goods and services. The U.S. can now import some Cuban goods, and American companies can also hire Cuban workers if they fall within Cuba's guidelines. From there, the basic tenets of supply and demand will drive the impact that Cuban imports to the U.S. will have on prices. Here's a look at how prices on certain goods and services could be impacted if the U.S. lifts its embargo of Cuba. Advertisement 1. Cuban Rum Currently, several spirit distributors are prepared for the embargo to be lifted so that delicious Cuban rum can flow into the U.S. However, the company that imports it must comply with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulations, obtain the necessary permits and pay the required taxes and tariffs. Once that happens, it's possible that the price of rum might drop somewhat as more of the liquor enters the marketplace. The increase in supply, with a steady demand for rum, would tend to drive rum prices down. For now, Americans who visit Cuba can bring home up to $100 worth of tobacco and alcohol. A one-liter bottle of Havana Club rum purchased in Cuba starts at $5, according to Esquire.com. 2. Cuban Cigars Cuban cigars are considered to be among the best in the world. Currently, Americans can bring $100 worth of tobacco products into the U.S. A box of Cuban cigars purchased in Cuba can run between $150 and $775 plus currency exchange fees, according to Fortune.com. Advertisement But if further Cuban cigar restrictions are lifted, and more of these delectable treats for smoking aficionados come into the market, their prices might fall. Yet if greater availability causes the demand for Cuban cigars to grow and outpace supply, prices might remain high. In fact, some experts predict prices will go up, according to Fortune.com. Only time will tell how the availability of Cuban cigars will impact the price. 3. Cuban Computer Programmers Cuba has relaxed requirements on its service-oriented entrepreneurs. This Cuban policy change, combined with the opening of trade with the U.S., is opening the door for many Cuban services imports. Because computer programmers often can work from anywhere, this could make Cuba an option for U.S. companies who are hiring remote workers. To figure out how additional computer programming work imported into the U.S. might impact prices, take a look at the cost of living in Cuba. Rent is 67 percent lower than in the U.S.; excluding rent, the cost of living is 27 percent lower than in the U.S. The U.S. median computer programmer is paid $38.24 hourly, according to the most recent pay scale data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, the BLS predicts an 8 percent decline in demand for U.S. computer programmers between 2014 and 2024, exactly because their work can be easily performed by workers in lower cost-of-living countries such as Cuba. Therefore, the entrance of Cuban programmers in the U.S. market might further depress the price of computer programming services. 4. Cuban Bookkeeping Services Similar to computer programmers, bookkeepers can work from anywhere. Importing bookkeeping services -- but not accounting services -- from Cuba can be beneficial as it brings more work to Cubans. Advertisement This could also have a ripple effect in the U.S. If bookkeeping service pricing declines, the hiring firm can either lower prices on its products or keep them the same, which would benefit U.S. consumers. 5. Used Cars Cuba's roads are filled with what people in the U.S. consider "vintage cars." This means that Cuban demand for newer vehicles might impact prices on used cars in the southeast regions of the U.S. Mike Arman previously exported U.S. cars to St. Maarten. Arman, who is currently in another line of work, said that with the pent-up Cuban demand for newer cars on the tiny island, it's likely that the prices on later-model, good condition used cars in southern Florida and the surrounding states will skyrocket. As the demand by Cubans for U.S. cars grows, the existing prices of these vehicles, already on the upswing, would trend upward unless more used cars come on the market. 6. Cuban Translators At $38,000 per year, Spanish translator salaries are currently lower than 34 percent of job postings nationwide, according to job search website Indeed.com. If the U.S. relaxes its embargo on Cuba, those salaries are likely to fall. Cuban entrepreneurs are allowed to offer document translation services by their government. Thus, with Cuba's lower cost of living and relaxed trade barriers, companies can hire lower-priced Cuban-English speaking translators to cut costs. Should this trend grow, it would place further downward pressure on the already low-salaried translator jobs. Advertisement 7. Cuban Tourism Americans are already drifting into Cuba via Canada, Mexico, Europe and other countries. If it were easier to visit Cuba from the U.S. via cruise ships, airline flights and travel packages, this tourism opportunity might afford adventurous U.S. citizens with greater low-cost vacation options. Cuba is only 90 miles off the coast of Florida, a short boat or plane ride. With Cuba's low prices and beautiful scenery, U.S. tour companies could profit handsomely by marketing visits to the island. Closer to the U.S. than the expensive island of Hawaii, U.S. tourists stand to benefit from lower-priced exotic vacation opportunities to visit Cuba. 8. Vacation Homes Anyone who's tuned in to watch HGTV network's "Caribbean Life" or "Beachfront Bargain Hunts" understands there is demand for a vacation home in an exotic location. If buyers who ordinarily would have sprung for a lower-cost beachfront home on the Texas panhandle or Florida coast choose a lower-priced option in Cuba, that could cost a sale on U.S. beachfront property. Although not technically an import, the additional supply of beachfront homes in Cuba might put downward pressure on comparable U.S. beachfront vacation homes. 9. Cuban Sugar Today, raw sugar is one of Cuba's largest exports. However, if Cuban sugar is imported by the U.S., consumers might not see much price benefit. Advertisement Sugar prices have been falling for years, and are currently as low as they were in the 1980s. As of January 2016, U.S. producers receive 25.76 cents per pound for unrefined sugar. From 2010 to 2013, U.S. raw sugar prices fell 50 percent due to the influx of sugar imports from Mexico flooding the marketplace. This led to a surplus ratio of 20 percent. Should Cuban sugar enter the U.S. marketplace, this will hurt the U.S. sugar producers who will be forced to compete with additional cheaper sugar imports. Although U.S. sugar producers would experience declining profits if the trend continues, U.S. consumers likely won't feel the benefit of the lower sugar prices, as grocers and food manufacturers rarely pass along their price savings. 10. U.S. Food Currently, Cuba imports approximately 80 percent of its food. With the lifting of the U.S. embargo on Cuba, U.S. food sellers will have access to a new market. Increased exporting of U.S. food to Cuba could have a financial impact on U.S. consumers. In fact, in 2013, American companies sold $348 million worth of agricultural products to Cuba. The top products were frozen chicken, soybean meal and corn. Farmers in the southeastern U.S. have the most to gain from the looser trade restrictions. This change could increase demand for U.S. products and potentially encourage greater production. Time will tell how these exports will have an impact on consumer prices of the related exported foods. Advertisement What's it like to live in Louisville, Kentucky with one of the shortest lifespans in the U.S.? This fact may be unknown to most but it is frightening those whose lives are needlessly cut short. Longevity and the number of years of healthy life here in the state of Kentucky, the city of Louisville, and particularly neighborhoods like West Louisville are among the shortest in the nation. Strongly associated with this these shortened lives is that these places have some of the worst air pollution in the country. Across America, indeed, states with cleaner air have citizens who live longer. The Centers for Disease Control show that in real numbers: the 53,000 Kentuckians who are 65 and over are sicker than the national average. The healthiest Seniors in the U.S. are in the similar size state of Oregon where its 94,000 elders are healthier than Kentucky seniors. For the nation as a whole 73% of citizens self-report that they are "healthy" at age 65, but that number decreases to, 62% in highly polluted Kentucky. Sixty-five-year-olds in Oregon, a state with strong environmental regulations including clean air protections, rate themselves the healthiest at 78%. Senior blacks in Kentucky (56%) are even less healthy. Louisville is also ranked as having one of the shortest lifespans for poor men in the nation. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the lives of poor men in Louisville are about 1,643 days or four and half years shorter than those in Santa Barbara which has some of the cleanest air, water and soil in the nation. In Louisville, for example, differences in life expectancy can be as much as 13 years from one West Louisville neighborhood compared to East Louisville according to a report "Building a Healthier Louisville" by the Greater Louisville Project. Our analysis using the same data finds a ten-year difference between East and West neighborhoods. Our city leaders, foundations, and industry have betrayed us with junk science that is a cover up for the causes of these shortened lives. Why didn't the prominent foundations of Louisville, which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, hire a team from the School of Public Health and Center for Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods at the University of Louisville? Instead they chose to produce an unscientific study to cover up how industrial pollution is shortening lives. The leader of the Greater Louisville Project, which has strong ties to the Mayor's Office and Chamber of Commerce, has no medical degree or Ph.D., just a Master's degree in business from a local college. The Greater Louisville Project broke another scientific rule by refusing to share their data with University of Louisville investigators. Echoing activities from the infamous Watergate debacle, the data were leaked to us for further study. Advertisement Louisville provides a powerful case study of the uses and misuses of statistical analysis in arguments about how "place" shapes lives. According to Greater Louisville Project analyses, low levels of individual educational attainment appear to be the single best predictor of premature death, an even stronger determinant than income or exposure to environmental contaminants. The problem is that the Louisville study overlooked a basic fact all first-year statistics students learn: correlation is not causation. When the study was released, the media touted the idea that lack of education is the primary explanation for neighborhood gaps in premature death rates. The Louisville Courier Journal made it front page news and even produced a short video stating the solution to a longer life was riding in a "yellow school bus." But consider the odd logic: Do health officials really mean that high school or college degrees are the prescribed remedy for cancer, lung and heart disease? Common sense - and sound science - reveal that two people breathing the same amount of toxic air are going to be similarly affected, even if one is a high-school dropout and the other has earned a PhD degree. People with advanced degrees are not immune from toxic fumes in the water, soil, and air. The point they might be making is that higher education enables people to live in cleaner areas or they might make smarter decisions of where to live away from pollution. But moving all residents from West Louisville is hardly a policy option. Another major problem is the report's emphasis on lack of access to medical care as a major contributor to premature deaths. In fact, residents of Louisville neighborhoods with high premature death rates live about half as far away from the city's major medical center as other residents typically do. This statistical fallacy is like claiming that hospitals are bad for you since so many people die there. The Louisville study claims that environmental factors have a minimal effect on premature death rates giving it a measly weight of just 10%. Our research suggests they are a far more powerful factor. We examined Louisville neighborhoods, using two different measures of environmental degradation. One refers to the location of "brownfield sites" in which dangerous toxins were abandoned on formerly industrial sites primarily in poor and black neighborhoods of West Louisville; and the second refers to proximity to chemical factories in a neighborhood known as "Rubbertown." Advertisement Using standard statistical techniques, we found that such environmental contaminates constitute a major cause of shortened lives in Louisville. Once the high concentration of brownfields and toxic stew of chemical companies are taken into account we found, as we reported at the 2014/2016 Annual Conference of the Urban Affairs Association, in a policy brief published by Harvard's Scholars Strategy Network and an article in the scholarly Journal of Urbanism, that environmental pollutants equal the impact of racial and income disadvantage. But it is race and income that shapes where we live in hyper-segregated Louisville with blacks and the poor not being able to escape from these pollutants. Beyond bats, bourbon, and horses, Louisville has the well-deserved reputation as the junk science capital of the world starting with the fraudulent smoking studies in the 1960's. Louisville already has enough blood on its hands with these erroneous studies. Now we have a new set of studies repeating these methodological and statistical errors that ignore the hard science on the subject. But we don't have a pollution problem just here in Louisville or in Flint, but in hundreds of cities where air, water, and soil pollution sit next door to mostly poor and minority neighborhoods. There is another word for this: environmental racism. Frustratingly, saving lives and cleaning the air require bucking politics where elections are routinely won by politicians who decry environmental protections as "job killers." But the real "killer" is pollution. Effective environmental protection, not junk science, can reduce the disparity between healthy living in Louisville and most of the rest of the nation. John I. Gilderbloom recently accepted a position as Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Louisville while he still Directs the Center for Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods. http://sun.louisville.edu. Advertisement WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 1: Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) speaks during a news conference at the National Press Club, May 1, 2016, in Washington, DC. Sanders' April fundraising numbers, which were released on Sunday, show he raised $25.8 million, down 40 percent from the previous month. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Bernie Sanders will become Democratic nominee, primarily because Hillary Clinton is a brilliant individual, and far too intelligent to simply use a private server for "convenience." While a former U.S. attorney general has already made the case for Clinton indictments, every defense from "legal scholars" ignores one obvious fact: Clinton didn't own the server merely for convenience. There was a political motive, and the same experience in politics lauded by supporters ensures that circumventing U.S. government networks had a specific purpose. Furthermore, the Espionage Act has a clause stating "gross negligence" (President Obama stated there was "carelessness" involved) is enough to prosecute anyone mishandling state secrets. Advertisement If you combine the fact that Clinton's excuse of convenience is most likely an overt lie, along with the "gross negligence" clause, then it's easy to see why Democrats must rally around Bernie Sanders. I explain to Hillary supporters why this email fiasco is very simple to understand in the following YouTube segment. These issues are straightforward, not difficult to comprehend, and I also highlight why Clinton likely faces indictments in this YouTube segment. If you want a great summary from an IT perspective, Tim Black of Tim Black TV has a brilliant segment titled Hillary Clinton's Email Investigation Just Went Thermonuclear. The actual Espionage Act "gross negligence" passage is worded in the following manner: (f)Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information, relating to the national defense, (1) through gross negligence permits the same to be removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, or (2) having knowledge that the same has been illegally removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of its trust, or lost, or stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, and fails to make prompt report of such loss, theft, abstraction, or destruction to his superior officer-- Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. Every defense of Clinton's emails assumes that there was no intent, or motive, to circumvent U.S. government computer networks. In reality, Hillary Clinton is too intelligent to simply claim "convenience." Clinton intended to circumvent government networks, for the purpose of hiding information, knowing that Top Secret data shouldn't be anywhere else other than government servers. Most importantly, "gross negligence" or carelessness isn't a defense. It's the basis for prosecution. Also, there were 31,830 deleted emails, that Clinton's team destroyed. This too, falls under the Espionage Act, since as it's written, classified intelligence can't be "lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed" through "gross negligence." If only one government document was deleted, guess what happens? Last year, the reasons Clinton could face Espionage Act indictments were highlighted in great detail within a Huffington Post piece titled How Hillary Clinton Could Be Targeted Under The Espionage Act: The relevant section of the law says that it is a crime to retain classified material. Clinton, for her part, said Tuesday that she did not send classified information from the personal address, and that the server she used was protected by the secret service and suffered no security breaches. The Justice Department leveled just that charge against NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake and James Hitselberger, a former Navy linguist who sent classified documents to an archive at the Hoover Institution. ...There are two big hurdles to making such a determination in Clinton's case, said Steven Aftergood, who heads the Federation of Americans Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy. Officials have said it does not appear as if Clinton discussed classified matters over email, and the secretary of state has broad latitude to decide what is classified. While American whistleblowers are sent to jail, Clinton likely broke the same laws. First, we now know that Clinton had 22 Top Secret emails stored on her private server. Second, we know that hackers in foreign nations already tried to hack into her server. Third, we know a Romanian hacker ("Guccifer") was recently extradited to the U.S. and successfully hacked into the email of Clinton's confidant. Fourth, and most importantly, Clinton communicated with the White House, and President Obama, via her private server. As explained in POLITICO, "As State Department releases the latest batch, the White House is trying to hold back the release of Clinton's emails with Obama." For all of these reasons, and more, I explain in this YouTube segment why the FBI's reputation is at stake with Clinton's emails. While Bryan Pagliano was recently granted immunity, "Guccifer" should also be given immunity if he can help with this investigation. Guccifer's role in this scandal is highlighted in a POLITICO piece titled Trial set for suspect who allegedly hacked Bush family, Sidney Blumenthal: Advertisement Marcel Lazar, alleged to be the hacker known as "Guccifer," entered a not guilty plea... Lazar's actions may have resulted in the first public disclosure of Clinton's private email address in 2013, when the hacker using the name "Guccifer" obtained access to an AOL account used by Sidney Blumenthal, a former White House adviser to President Bill Clinton who frequently traded back-channel intelligence, diplomatic messages and political gossip with Hillary Clinton during her tenure as secretary of state. ...He did apparently obtain access to Blumenthal's account, leaking some of his exchanges with Clinton and prompting her to change her email address. It's feasible that a hacker could have gained access to Clinton's account, via the email of a close confidant. Remember, as stated in POLITICO, others "traded back-channel intelligence, diplomatic messages and political gossip with Hillary Clinton during her tenure as secretary of state." But how was Clinton to know that a hacker would hack into a friend's email account, thus posing a risk to U.S. national security? Again, gross negligence, or carelessness, isn't an excuse. Under the law, if you're Secretary of State and you're so careless, that you allow state secrets to be compromised, then you could face repercussions from the Espionage Act. Furthermore, Clinton knowingly sent and received classified information, as Secretary of State. First, did Hillary Clinton really believe she'd never receive Top Secret intelligence, on her private server? It would be impossible to perform the tasks of Secretary of State. Second, the NSA denied her request for a secure Blackberry. This state of affairs is described in a CBS article titled Emails show NSA rejected Hillary Clinton's request for secure smartphone: Advertisement WASHINGTON -- Newly released emails show a 2009 request to issue a secure government smartphone to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was denied by the National Security Agency. ... "We began examining options for (Secretary Clinton) with respect to secure 'BlackBerry-like' communications," wrote Donald R. Reid, the department's assistant director for security infrastructure. "The current state of the art is not too user friendly, has no infrastructure at State, and is very expensive." Reid wrote that each time they asked the NSA what solution they had worked up to provide a mobile device to Obama, "we were politely told to shut up and color." Thus, the NSA didn't want Clinton to use a Blackberry. When the NSA says you can't use a device, and you use the device anyway, then you've knowingly jeopardized classified data. Of course, according to CBS News, "The following month, in March 2009, Clinton began using private email accounts accessed through her BlackBerry to exchange messages with her top aides." Hillary Clinton used a Blackberry without NSA approval. What could go wrong? Since we don't know the real reasons Clinton had the server, it's only logical that Bernie Sanders is the true Democratic front-runner, regardless of delegate count. In the 2016 Democratic Primary, it's never been about delegate count; it's the fact Bernie Sanders has created a progressive political revolution, and isn't linked to an FBI investigation. As for the Espionage Act, the Top Secret data and deleted emails constitute not only carelessness, but "gross negligence" and perhaps far more. Ultimately, the great thing about Bernie Sanders is that he beats Trump by a much wider margin than Clinton, as I explain on CNN International and CNN New Day. He can also type an email without scandal, which is why Democrats must rally around Vermont's Senator sooner than later. Small businesses play an important role in the United States by creating over 50% of the private jobs and by infusing hundreds of millions of dollars into our country's economy. And while several small businesses are being honored this week during the Small Business Administration (SBA) National Small Business Week for their achievements and great contributions to their respective communities, the truth is a significant amount of small business owners are facing challenges that seem insurmountable and many are struggling to make good decisions for their businesses to survive. Lack of capital is often cited as the main reason for a small business failing. While cash is vital for success, from my interactions with small businesses across the country in my workshops, one-on-one meetings and keynotes, many small business owners are unsure how to handle tough problems because they lack vision and do not have a written plan on achieving their business goal. With free and low cost resources as shown in the list below, small businesses can obtain assistance in creating cash flow projections, developing growth plans, receive training or simply request a retired executive to lend an ear and practical advice. Advertisement To encourage those small business owners to continue to reach for their dreams (#DreamSmallBiz) by tapping available help, below are the top seven resources to help conquer small business problems and grow Small Business Administration - The SBA is a no cost and valuable resource which is funded through your federal tax dollars. Under the leadership of Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, the SBA has elevated its game in providing information on how to obtain financing, in educational development and with one-on-one counseling. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. Chambers of Commerce - Chambers of commerce have been around for centuries and started in the United States in the mid 1700's. Chambers are comprised of large to small businesses and have a focus on developing and promoting the interest of their business members. There are chambers of commerce for women owned businesses, for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender owned business, Asian owned businesses and for many more types of businesses. Chambers offer a wealth of information, business connections and other benefits for small businesses. To locate a chamber of commerce in your area, visit www.officialusa.com/stateguides/chambers/ Peer-to-peer Learning Programs like the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses offer small business owners with a safe environment to share and get ideas on tackling problems and creating a written 3-year growth plan with a clear vision to propel small businesses to next level. This is a proven model that has shifted many small businesses from the brink and this program provides a plethora of networking with other Goldman Sachs 10,000 small business cohorts across the U.S. For more information, visit www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/US/ Advertisement Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) - When corporations like ConstantContact.com started and eventually grew their business by learning from the resources of retired experts and then developed a strategic partnership with SCORE then it behooves other small business owners lacking the understanding on the components of business to use this valuable resource to help mold your small business's success plan. For more information, visit score.org. Three other resources include the following: Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC), Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) , and you can contact your local City and State Small Business Departments for assistance in tackling problems. In Houston, small businesses can visit the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity Solutions Center. NASA has selected 20 small satellites from 12 states to fly as auxiliary payloads aboard rockets planned to launch in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Launch opportunities will be available via existing launch services of government payloads, as well as dedicated CubeSat launches from the newly selected Venture Class Launch Services contracts. The proposed CubeSats come from educational institutions, universities (including Rowan University), non-profit organizations and NASA field centers. CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. The cube-shaped satellites measure about 4 inches on each side, have a volume of about 1 quart and weigh less than 3 pounds each. The selections are part of the seventh round of the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative. After launch, the satellites will conduct technology demonstrations, educational research or science missions. The selected spacecraft are eligible for placement on a launch manifest after final negotiations, depending on the availability of a flight opportunity. The organizations sponsoring satellites are: Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates, Boulder, Colo. -Scintillation Observations and Response of The Ionosphere to Electrodynamics (SORTIE) CubeSat is a scientific investigation mission to advance understanding of ionospheric irregularities and the roles of various drivers in their formation in order to improve predictive capabilities. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah - Passive Inspection CubeSat (PICS) is a technology demonstration mission of a spacecraft capable of performing inspection, maintenance and assembly on another spacecraft. It will demonstrate ultrafast booting and power-up operation of system electronics and the low-risk inspection of the exterior of a spacecraft by a passive, flyaway probe. The two flight systems deployed simultaneously will enable the collection of image data from each other as well as the parent spacecraft. California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo - EXOCUBE is a technology demonstration mission of a mass spectrometer sensor suite, EXOS, into low-Earth orbit to measure neutral and ionized species in the exosphere and thermosphere. Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter models are essential in Earth system science and upper atmosphere composition. Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis. - Canopy Near-IR Observing Project (CaNOP) is a science Investigation mission to develop a CubeSat-based remote sensing platform for performing multispectral imaging of global forests to help understand large-scale biomass production and carbon uptake in both mature and harvested forests. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. - CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS) is a technology demonstration mission of three key infrared (IR) sensing and cryogenic technologies designed to reduce the size and cost of future space-borne IR remote-sensing instruments. It will advance the technology readiness level of the High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector, Coaxial Micro Pulse Tube CyroCooler and the Mid-Wavelength Infrared Radiance Grating Spectrometer to a seven. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. - RainCube is a technology validation mission to demonstrate the operation and performance of a miniaturized Ka-band Atmospheric Radar for CubeSats (miniKaAR-C) in the space environment on a low-cost, quick-turnaround platform. This mission will validate a new architecture for Ka-band radars and an ultra-compact deployable Ka-band antenna in a space environment. This new instrument will enable constellation missions and potentially transform climate science and weather forecasting. MIT Lincoln Labs, Lexington, Mass. - Micro-size Microwave Atmospheric Satellite CubeSat (MicroMAS-2b) is a technology demonstration mission that will validate new ultra-compact and low-power technology for CubeSat-sized microwave radiometers and validate operational high-performance cross-track scanner technology and CubeSat attitude control and stabilization. It will raise the technology readiness level of the radiometer and scanner from five to seven. Michigan Technological University, Houghton - The Stratus CubeSat mission is a science investigation to deploy and demonstrate a low-cost CubeSat platform capable of measuring cloud fraction, cloud top height and cloud top wind with performance comparable to the best data obtained from NASA's flagship Earth-observing spacecraft. Cloud properties are important for the energy budget of the Earth, as both incoming sunlight and outgoing thermal radiation are sensitive to cloud variables. NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. - The Global Network of Swarms (GNS) is a technology demonstration mission of swarm-networking algorithms using eight small, chip-based spacecraft called Basic Electronic Elements or BEEs provided by Swarm Technologies LLC. These flat, single-board spacecraft are fully autonomous and capable of forming radio frequency networked nodes in space. Swarms or constellations of BEEs can relay data in real time and can create global, space-based relay networks for scientific, industrial and government applications. NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. - Shields-1 CubeSat is a technology demonstration of environmentally durable space hardware to increase the technology readiness level of new commercial hardware through performance validation in the relevant space environment. It incorporates three experiments: vault electronics, charge dissipation film resistance and vault shielding development that will provide radiation and operational data from the inner proton and outer electron belt regions. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces - Ionospheric Neutron Content Analyzer (INCA) is a scientific investigation mission that will study the latitude and time dependencies of the neutron spectrum in low-Earth orbit for the first time to improve current space weather models and mitigate threats to space and airborne assets. The measurements will come from a new directional neutron spectrometer, which is being developed in conjunction with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of New Hampshire. North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, Rathdrum - DaVinci is an educational mission that will teach students about radio waves, aeronautical engineering, space propulsion and geography by sending a communication signal to schools around the world. Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, Idaho - MakerSat-0 is a technology demonstration mission of a 3-D printed CubeSat, which contains common satellite power, control, computing and radio communication tasks connected to four science boards. Eventually, the MakerSat system will allow students to do open-source design and programming of space science experiments from their own MakerSpace and load them onto generic MakerSat science boards aboard the space station for later deployment. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio - CubeSat Radiometer Radio Frequency Interface Technology (CubeRRT) is a technology demonstration mission that will validate advanced technologies for Earth remote sensing in space by conducting radiometer radio frequency interference technology validation. It is a space-borne technology readiness level seven demonstration of real-time mitigation of radio frequency interference. Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J. - MemSat is a technology demonstration to fly a memristor evaluation payload to characterize and compare the behavior of memristor memory devices against standard, silicon-based memory technologies to determine potential advantages and/or disadvantages of memristors for space applications. Memristors are electronic devices in which information is stored in the resistance state of the device and can be retained during power-off modes, allowing for energy efficient power shutoff as well as system resiliency in power failures. SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif. - The Ionospheric Scintillation Explorer (ISX) is a space weather investigation to better understand the physics of naturally occurring Equatorial Spread F ionospheric irregularities by deploying a passive ultra-high frequency radio scintillation receiver. Plasma irregularities are naturally occurring ionospheric structures that can significantly degrade the performance of satellite-based communication and navigation systems. United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. - RSat is part of a technology demonstration mission to provide an in-orbit mobile platform to survey and possibly repair a much larger, conventional spacecraft. This component of the system comprises a 3U CubeSat with two 60 cm, 7 degree-of-freedom robotic arms fitted with claws and is intended to demonstrate diagnostic and repair capabilities by validating five robotic functions in orbit. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, La. - The Cajun Advanced Picosatellite Experiment (CAPE-3) is an educational mission that will fly the Smartphone CubeSat Classroom, which allows anyone with a smartphone to set up a ground station with a kit. Interactive educational activities will give students the ability to interact with the CubeSat via an app on their smartphone and use their smartphone to design their own CubeSat experiments. Utah State University, Logan, Utah - Compact Infrared Radiometer in Space (CIRiS) is a technology demonstration mission of an imaging radiometer instrument for the 7 to 13 um infrared wavelength range. It will raise the technology readiness level of the new uncooled detector and carbon nanotube source from level 5 to 6, enabling future reduced cost missions to study the hydrologic cycle, characterization of ocean/atmosphere interactions vegetation and land use management. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. - RadFXSat-2 is a technology demonstration mission to advance the state of the art in understanding the effects of space radiation on electronic components. It will demonstrate a short interval, cost-effective, on-orbit platform for enhanced qualification of components for space flight. The data collected will be used to validate and improve computer models used to predict radiation tolerance of integrated circuits. To date, the CubeSat Launch Initiative has selected 125 CubeSats from 32 states and has launched 43 CubeSats as part of the agency's Launch Services Program's Educational Launch of Nanosatellite (ELaNa) Missions. This past year, five separate ELaNa missions ferried 13 CubeSats to orbit, including the first CubeSat from the state of Alaska; the first CubeSat built by a tribal college, Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont.; and the first CubeSat built by an elementary school, St. Thomas More Cathedral School of Arlington, Va. This year, the agency made selections from New Jersey and Idaho, two states that had not previously been selected by the CubeSat Launch Initiative. For more information on NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative, visit go.nasa.gov/CubeSat_initiative. It is easy to fall in love with Charlotte. Charlotte is a captivating place; a modern and a quiet urban city with a solid financial network of banks and well-preserved historical neighborhoods. It seems to have been pulled out from a children's book. However, the book is including a new chapter to its story. The story is now embracing the growing community of Latinos which is not only changing demographically, but it is also changing the town's view on bilingualism. Having been able to travel to Charlotte almost every month in the last four years, I have been able to see how much the Latino community has grown. It used to be very difficult to find someone of my own ethnicity, but today I have seen how the city has been evolving shyly but steadily into a multicultural place. According to researchers, Hispanics are an important ethnic group in rural places of North Carolina. Moreover, they are increasingly moving from rural to urban areas. The highest percentages of Hispanics are overly represented in small towns and cities across the state. Advertisement 'I suspect without Hispanic in-migration many of these small towns would be emptying out, losing population. Hispanics play an important role in many economic needs of rural N.C. statewide,' pointed out John Chesser, a researcher and author of 'Hispanics in N.C.: Big numbers in small towns'. As we can acknowledge, Latinos are not just exploring new job opportunities in Charlotte, but they are also discovering a safe environment to resettle and raise their families. This rapid growth of a new ethnic group within the community has forced them to re-evaluate their current education curriculum. Recently, I have been surprised by a new heading that The Charlotte Observer newspaper published in their article last week,"Bilingual Learning of Latino Children Grows". Despite of whether we agree or not , the whole concept about "bilingualism" in this community lacks substance. I couldn't be happier to realize that the story supports my own thesis that Charlotte is becoming a more multiracial community, thus forcing the board of education to take action upon their multiracial students. It has been prognosticated that in less than a decade, Charlotte will be overflowing with multi ethnicity groups. Advertisement As a result, education is becoming a true challenge for Charlotte authorities, especially in Mecklenburg. This county has the highest numbers of immigrants that come mostly from Mexico. According to The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School has nearly 17,000 of its students coming from a household whose primary language is Spanish. "Most of the students were born in the United States, but their parents weren't," stated Marc Price, The Charlotte Observer reporter. Some programs and nonprofit organizations have identified the need and the priority to help Hispanic families achieve a better integration within the school system and cope with other social structures as well. However, the task is not easy for those groups pursuing the initiatives. One of the first obstacles they are facing is the immigrants' fears. A significant number of Latinos are living in the shadows with no legal status in the country, thus struggling everyday with a strenuous issue like deportation. Hoping that with time things might be better for them, immigrants are currently enjoying programs that have been oriented to their needs. La Escuelita at The Church of the Holy Comforter has launched a Spanish-English immersion program for English and Spanish speaking preschoolers that will allow them to learn together in both languages, maintained The Charlotte Observer. Advertisement Another innovative project is Creciendo Juntos (Growing Together) -- launched last January at Charlotte Bilingual Preschool-- a series of parenting classes for Latinos whose children are too young for preschool. 'The program is also working to bring Latino parents out of the shadows and into the broader community. In doing so, Creciendo Juntos intends to prepare them for the challenges of an English speaking school system,' emphasized The Charlotte Observer. Joanne Stratton Tate, head of Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, explained to the newspaper, that this approach is much needed in order to deal with the growing of Latino parents wanting to enroll their children in school. US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, California, April 29, 2016. Hundreds of protesters jostled with police in riot gear outside a California hotel where Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was to give a speech, forcing the candidate to duck into a back entrance. / AFP / GABRIELLE LURIE (Photo credit should read GABRIELLE LURIE/AFP/Getty Images) The suffering of extremely religious therapists whose faith calls upon them to turn away LGBT clients keeps too many of us awake at night. Seriously, though, this is what Republicans, in Tennessee at least, think they should be spending their time on? Tennessee's not alone either. Mississippi and North Carolina have also passed laws recently that--in the guise of addressing such pressing issues as the freedom of wedding cake bakers and the supposed rash of bathroom gender impersonators--further demonstrate the Republican Party's obsession with discriminating against the gays. House Republicans, at least those on the Armed Services Committee, don't want to be left out of the fun either. One locality, however, takes the proverbial gay wedding cake. Oxford, Alabama will now punish an adult (other than one accompanying a small child) who goes into the "wrong" bathroom with either a $500 fine or six months in jail. Advertisement Here's the thing: Those policies are far from the top of the list of priorities our politicians should be addressing, at least according to the American people--and that includes conservatives. Gallup does a monthly, open-ended poll asking: "What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" The issue of religious liberty doesn't register at all, and the broader category of "religious decline"--even with Gallup lumping it together with "moral and ethical decline" (the latter of which could certainly include progressives and others who would recoil at anti-LGBT discrimination)--averaged only a few percent between January and April. How about the question of how important the positions of the presidential candidates are to voters? Gallup tackled that one as well earlier this year, listing 15 issues and asking voters whether they considered them either extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important. For Republicans specifically, "social issues such as abortion and gay rights" scored second from the bottom. Only climate change scored lower, but that's an issue for another day. Finally, another Gallup poll from this January found that 60 percent of Americans--including a majority (54 percent) of Republicans--are either very or somewhat satisfied with the "acceptance of gays and lesbians in the nation." That overall rate of satisfaction is up from 41 percent to 60 percent in just the last four years. This poll, remember, was conducted before the most recent spate of anti-LGBT laws, and thus reflects the environment after the Supreme Court decision recognizing marriage equality as a constitutional right. Yet somehow, in state after state, Republican elected officials are pushing hard in the opposite direction, a direction even those voters participating in the GOP nomination contest seem to reject. That's what I've been thinking about this week, after Tennessee stepped up to protect the right of therapists to abandon all compassion. Advertisement As important as the passage of that law was, the biggest political story of the week was Donald Trump's dominant performance on Tuesday night--his victories in five out of five states and his capture of virtually all the delegates therefrom. So, is Mr. Trump in sync with the Republican-run governments of Tennessee, Mississippi, and North Carolina on anti-LGBT discrimination? Nope. Late last week, Trump criticized the North Carolina law specifically, and characterized it as "discriminatory." He later added that the country had bigger problems to face and, although he called the matter something to be addressed by "local communities and states" rather than the federal government, he didn't change his personal take that the law was a bad idea. Ted Cruz, on the other hand, thought he saw an opening, and attacked. He put up an ad that asks: "Should a grown man pretending to be a woman be allowed to use the women's restroom? The same restroom used by your daughter? Your wife? Donald Trump thinks so." It then plays a clip of Trump on the North Carolina law: "People go -- they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate." Then the ad hits Trump again: "It's not appropriate. It's not safe. It's PC nonsense that's destroying America. Donald Trump won't take on the PC police. He's one of them." Let's not touch the absurdity of calling Donald Trump politically correct. Moving on, Cruz apparently couldn't resist going further, offering the following last Sunday: "If Donald Trump dresses up as Hillary Clinton, he still can't go to the girls' bathroom." It's doubtful America's stand up comics are quaking in fear over their newest competitor for laughs. Cruz has been making "religious liberty" an issue for a while now. He is advised by a "Religious Liberty Advisory Council," which helped him craft a 15-point plan chock full of goodies that essentially enshrine into law the fundamentalist Christian viewpoints on LGBT and women's rights. Advertisement For example, echoing the North Carolina and Mississippi laws that allow discrimination, the Cruz plan would "rescind Executive Order 13672 -- an order that requires certain federal contractors to not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity." In the name of religious liberty, he proposes to all but establish conservative Christian doctrine as our state religion. How has Cruz's focus on sticking it to gay people worked out in the past few weeks? Oh yeah, he's had his clock cleaned six states in a row, while Donald Trump may well have locked up the Republican nomination. Nevertheless, Cruz is keeping this attack up in Indiana, where a Trump victory would likely seal the deal completely. Make no mistake, Donald Trump is a dangerous man. I've called him a fascist. Saying that his views on LGBT discrimination are better than those of Ted Cruz is an awfully low bar to clear. My point is that he is winning the race for the Republican nomination because -- whether the GOP establishment wants to admit it or not -- he is the candidate most directly addressing the issues that Republican primary voters care about. Of course, his solutions -- from immigration to trade to terrorism and on down the line -- range from incoherent to horrifically destructive. I hesitated for a while before writing this. I thought what I am going to say here maybe nothing new. Nonetheless, I am writing this with a belief that recalling some facts which may have been forgotten or misunderstood would be necessary at this juncture. Regarding Japan, several things are said: Japan is a free rider and not paying sufficient dues in defense. Japan is actually bearing a major part of the U.S. forces stationing cost which would amount to nearly 2 billion dollars yearly. I presume the figure would be by far the No.1 in the world. Advertisement The fact that Japan is not required to defend the U.S. whereas the U.S. is obliged to defend Japan is not fair. In return for the U.S. obligation to defend Japan, under mutually agreed security arrangements, the U.S. is granted the use of facilities and areas in Japan for the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East. Moreover, the interpretation of the constitution was recently changed so that Japan can exercise the right of collective self-defense. Japan introduced new security legislation last year to this effect. The US should take an ambiguous attitude if Japanese Senkaku islands are attacked by other countries. Strategic ambiguity means not to give assurances to two sides so as to keep both sides from taking adventurous steps. The U.S. is said to be taking such stance regarding Taiwan situation. But alliance is a totally different issue. It is based on the notion that clear commitments would deter opponents to take offensive actions. Any ambiguity would undermine the credibility of the alliance. Japan appreciates the fact that bipartisan commitment by the U.S. consecutive administrations has been expressed unequivocally regarding the security of these islands. Japan is determined to continue its defense-oriented security policy as long as the US remains a credible partner. The Japanese market is closed to American products such as automobiles and the US is accumulating deficit from trade with Japan. Advertisement These are arguments often heard in the 80s. Back then, 70 percent of the US trade deficit came from trade with Japan. Now it's below 10 percent. Japanese industries have changed their policies and started to manufacture products in the U.S. They are hiring more than 700,000 employees directly in the States. It is true that not too many big American cars are seen in Japan. But smaller European cars are sought after as they fit narrow streets of Japanese cities. It is not a trade barrier issue. It is a market demand issue. Having pointed about above facts, let me underline that we in Japan have great respect for the American role in the world after WWII. Your founding fathers' philosophy such as freedom, democracy and human rights are now accepted in many quarters of the world as common values. We fervently adhere to these principles. The U.S. has been bravely leading the fight against terrorism. You have our support and admiration. Japan was helped immensely by Americans during the disaster 5 years ago. I know that because I was in DC and was a channel between two countries. Advertisement More than 70 percent of Japanese think the U.S. is a credible partner and the same portion of Americans feel affinity towards Japan. We have built up such incredible trust relations in the last 70 years. In its report on a Denver judge's decision to allow U.S. Senate candidate Jon Keyser on the Republican primary ballot, after the Secretary of State had rejected his petitions, The Denver Post's John Frank and Mark Matthews reported: Once considered a favorite in the race, Keyser must now overcome other challenges that are injecting questions into this campaign -- not least among them, the fact he needed a court ruling to keep his campaign alive. [BigMedia emphasis] It's unclear just how much of a liability Keyser's signature-gathering fiasco will be, but the reporters were correct to write that it raises questions--as yet unexplored in detail by journalists--about whether Keyser's short stint on the campaign trail and in public service has shown him to be competent not only to run a campaign but to be an effective U.S. Senator, to replace Democrat Michael Bennet. Advertisement Keyser's Republican colleague in the Colorado State House, Rep. Justin Everett of Littleton, jumped on Facebook last week to write that Keyser "isn't ready for prime time," as evidenced by Keyer's fundraing troubles and other bungles. Everett: Not to say he won't cure, suers gonna sue. But what's interesting here is how close he was in Congressional District 1 (20 signatures), in heavily Republican CD5 (a mere 76 signatures), and CD 6 (75 signatures). If another candidate were to contest the validity of those Congressional Districts, he may be deemed insufficient in other areas. Not to mention his announcement claim that he had $3 million pledged to his campaign but only raised $200K, while contributing $100K of his own money. After serving with him for a mere year in the legislature, it is still pretty clear he isn't ready for prime time... Everett was a serious backer of one of Keyser's opponents, State. Sen. Tim Neville, also of Littleton, who was rejected by Republicans last week. Still, in saying,"After serving with [Keyser] for a mere year in the legislature, it is still pretty clear he isn't ready for prime time," Everett is leveling a serious accusation. Advertisement With this year's college graduation ceremonies on the near horizon, employers are once again tuning in to how best to attract and retain the new workforce generation. Guy Berger, PhD, Economist at LinkedIn, and Gloria Yang, Senior Associate of Business Operations Analytics at LinkedIn, recently evaluated LinkedIn user data and extrapolated that "job-hopping" is increasing steadily over time. This particular analysis of millennial retention speaks to a larger issue: employers must adjust corporate values, workplace environment, and team structures to stay competitive. Integrating corporate education into a company's strategic goals is the way to enact these needed changes and create and maintain an agile business. Advertisement By investing in corporate learning, employers have the power to address millennial retention in three key areas: talent attraction; job readiness; and culture change. Corporate Learning for Talent Attraction PwC's major survey of millennials in the workplace investigated what this population seeks in a job. Apart from opportunities for advancement and competitive compensation, the survey pointed to one top priority: training and development. Corporate learning has been critically under-leveraged in the race to attract millennial talent. Millennials want to know whether they will have the opportunity to develop a strong set of competencies and transferable skills that can not only be useful now, for their current employer, but in the future, as well, as their careers advance. They are considering their future career trajectories and committing to working now for companies that will support that priority--whether they end up staying or leaving. In my book, Learning to Succeed: Rethinking Corporate Education in a World of Unrelenting Change, I profile Melissa, a 27-year-old computer programmer with multiple Ivy League degrees. With her education, experience, and skill set, she was highly sought-after as a prospective employee. Advertisement The primary question in Melissa's mind when searching for opportunities was whether her new employer would help her learn what she needed to know to be prepared for a position in senior management; would she have access to training that enhanced her leadership, negotiations and communications skills so that she could progress in her career? She compared reputational values to make her choice: which companies had strong rankings in terms of developing people? Which were featured in the media or in journals? What did her network think about specific organizations? She chose a tech/media company reputed to be strong in training and learning, and has to date stayed there for five years. Corporate Learning for Job Readiness Moreover, high turnover hurts attraction and retention. Job cultures that have a reputation for extracting the best from their employees, only to replace them with more highly skilled and developed workers later, are perceived as far less attractive than those that have a reputation for injecting the best in transferrable skills and career development direction for their pool on a consistent basis. A second example from Learning to Succeed speaks to the importance of corporate learning for job readiness, for the benefit of both employer and employee. Jeff was an administrative assistant for a partner in a Chicago-based national accounting firm. His division experienced tremendous growth, and so part of Jeff's added responsibility in expanding the firm was to source job applicants. Jeff's responsibility with the recruiting effort escalated beyond the intended scope. Since his experience and skills with the leading social media applications was limited, Jeff struggled to source, sort, analyze, and communicate with the pool. He proved to be less than effective with the hiring project and, in the process, sacrificed quality on his baseline projects and responsibilities as well. Jeff was replaced. The impact on Jeff was clearly devastating. The impact on the organization was more significant than expected, given the time involved to onboard a new person into a complex and nuanced culture. If Jeff's older firm had helped Jeff develop a new skillset at the outset of this process, a proper course of training would have been assessed and implemented to support the strategic recruiting effort--and Jeff would have stayed in his job. Advertisement Corporate Learning for Culture Change Corporate learning not only addresses the hard skills--it can also address culture. Corporate learning guides people, particularly people of different generations, to work better together. And corporate learning can guide company culture to become a more attractive place to work. Take an example of a startup that, at first, failed to curate its cross-generational teams, then enacted a culture-focused workshop that helped right the ship. This software startup launched a next generation messaging app. To increase the security of its messaging platform, its leadership agreed to merge with a well-established encryption company. The average age of the engineers at the start-up was only 23, while the average age of the engineers at the encryption company was nearly 40. This created an unanticipated culture gap between the two sets of engineers, which interfered with the integration of the units. Each unit had age-linked differences in approaches to time management, collaboration, strategic goals, and work habits. It became apparent that the two engineering teams were having difficulty working together. As a result, productivity suffered. The learning professional in the encryption company proposed a three-day offsite workshop designed to address the culture gap by encouraging a focus on shared interests, goals, and commitment to results. After the session, there was a notable improvement in cooperation and morale that led to increased productivity. The investment in the logistics of the workshop, a concrete cost, and the lost time in the office of key staff members, a less concrete cost, paid off. The effort integrated both teams into one engineering department and facilitated the design of secure, new products. More and more women who, after taking two or more years off of work to stay at-home to raise their kids, were contacting me seeking support to re-enter the workforce. Their reasons varied: their kids were in school, their marriage was on unsteady ground and they wanted financial security, work was a core part of their identity and they missed the collaboration for a higher purpose, and so on. A woman's prolonged transition back into the workplace was often not easy, and it took its toll on her self-esteem. Many female clients and mom-friends were facing massive pay and title reductions while others struggled to even get interviews. Technological advancement had outpaced seasoned experience for many. Kerry Dolan, Founder of OptIn (www.OptBackIn.com) experienced these set-backs first-hand. She started Optin in California a couple of years ago after facing her own career transition challenges. OptIn is a multi-platform start-up resource for women looking for support as they navigate the challenges when re-entering the workplace. Advertisement "When he met me, I was a high-power executive. By the time I thought to go back to work, I had no resources, I had self esteem issues and I'd lost my sense of self. It [work] turned out to be a very big part of who I was. I had lost a big part of me." - Kerry Dolan, Founder, OptIn Dolan, herself a mom and former successful Manhattan executive in the tech start-up industry for over 15 years, got married and gave up her career a year-and-a-half later when her doctor gave her an ultimatum: "Go on bedrest or your babies are going to die," she says. Dolan spent the next 8 months tending to her delicate identical fetuses, who are now healthy 12 year-old girls. Work was on the back of her mind even as she nursed her then newborns, but Dolan says, "I couldn't keep my foot in the door at the rate I was used to working. I was used to giving 115% and at the time, it wasn't going to be possible." So she stayed home full-time while her husband worked full-time. The couple went on to have a third child. "I felt totally trapped. I had even considered taking a job as a dental assistant. My husband reasoned that it wouldn't even pay for the gas and dry-cleaning bills. My self-esteem took a big hit," Dolan boldly acknowledges. Eventually, she and her husband started having marital issues and sought the support of a therapist. Her "aha" moment came when the therapist asked what the conversation around career and staying at home had been like. She realized then there had never been a conversation. After giving birth, she says, "I just kind of fell into being a full-time mom." Advertisement Dolan and her husband are now divorced. She contends her not going back to work ruined her marriage. "When he met me, I was a high-power executive. By the time I thought to go back to work, I had no resources. I had self esteem issues and I'd lost my sense of self. It [work] turned out to be a very big part of who I was. I had lost a big part of me." With two girls of her own, Dolan says she wanted them to know women needed to be independent and financially secure for themselves. Her bigger life's purpose today is to be what she calls a mother's advocate. She envisions a cultural shift around the perceptions of working moms, one state at a time. And this is what she says she hopes to achieve with OptIn, to help women find their way back to work and, for some, their selves. Optin offers a 6 week workshop including interview prep, self-esteem courses and connection to other women like themselves. Dolan notes many of the women are well-educated women who were feeling down on themselves. She says they were grateful for the opportunity to stay at home, but many were not fulfilled the way they had once been in their careers. Alysia Pearson, a former full-time CNN news employee-turned Master Gardner in Atlanta, Georgia opted for a different approach when she and her husband decided to have children over a decade ago. She said since she and her husband (a fellow CNN employee) were financially stable, they agreed Alysia would stay at home with the kids and, Pearson says, "We agreed if it didn't work, we could figure it out." Pearson was at home full-time for a year and a half after their first child was born before she realized she wanted to return to work. She said she found full-time mommy-hood isolating, so Pearson picked up freelance writing and producing. She notes she was grateful for the opportunity and that it was a good transition back into the workforce while still being at home with her then-toddler. Eventually Pearson decided to go back to work part-time and the couple gave birth to their second child. Pearson acknowledges her peeling back to part-time impacted her career. She was now doing less challenging work and for lower pay. But she also says she has no regrets. "It was a conscious choice. My kids and Bryan (Pearson's husband) were my first priority and still are." And she adds, "The only thing I would have done differently is maybe gone back to work part-time sooner. I found it was really good for my 'mommy-brain'...the social aspect outside of the home was key for me." Advertisement Jen Levinson, a LA-based online mommy blogger for over 20,000 families throughout the Los Angeles region says she doesn't know if she would have been able to go back to traditional work from a financial position after having her first set of twins. (Now she and her husband have a total of five children.) Levinson notes that when she birthed her first set of twins, like Dolan, she was placed on bedrest for almost 5 months. It was there she founded Jen's List (www.JensList.com). Levinson says the blog started more as a way to keep her mind busy. "Then my girlfriends started emailing me, so I started creating a group. It went from 5 to 1,0000 in four years without pay. Then I started getting advertisers and now I've been running it for 10 years." Levinson says she thinks that women do experience difficulty with being a mom and balancing work. "What I see a lot, if the woman does go back to work, they still feel responsible for the home. I take care of all the bills, school, after school stuff...and I still have a job," Levinson says. She adds, "If I didn't have Jen's list, I would not have wanted to go back to work. I am fortunate to be able to work from home and to be my own boss." She says she knows this isn't the case for everyone. And for those women, Dolan believes she has the answer. "I do believe that a woman, or man, can go back to work 9-3." She says she was working much longer than she was getting paid for when she went back to work before starting Optin. She says she got into the officer earlier and never took an hour to eat or talk at the water cooler like the younger culture did. "That's their social," Dolan says. "I went in, did my task and left. I realized how much more I accomplished in that time than they did." Dolan acknowledges she must create a whole cultural mind-shift. She says she believes the idea of women in high-ranking positions bringing their kids to the office puts a lot of pressure on women who don't share the same resources. "I didn't have the option to bring my twins and a nanny. That's not what the average woman gets." Advertisement Still, Dolan believes that in time, she can pioneer more room for transitional moms. "I spoke to a large male-oriented real estate company in LA and I was surprised how responsive they were. All the projects that need to get done, the current workforce is not staying later to get it done or they get trained and leave the company for more money. Companies are looking to hire some of my mom clients to get these projects done and to stick around. This is where flexibility helps." While there remains no one right answer for all women today, Levinson notes, if she could have one wish, it would be that we, as a society, would stop judging women for whatever decision they choose about work and motherhood. She says, "Being a good parent is hard enough. I wish more people would just embrace what's right for them and not expect it to be right for everyone." To that end, I salute all primary caregivers this week with the rest of the country. If you want to treat yourself or your mom with a relaxing and fun gift, check out a few of these affordable ideas for Mothers' Day specials/gifts found in your own neighborhood: 1. beGlammed (www.beGlammed.com) offers 10% on hair and makeup services on-demand in 20 cities nationwide and Toronto. Use promo code MothersDayGlam15 upon checkout. 2. SkinLaundry (www.SkinLaundry.com) offer facials and more. First-timers get a free 15-minute service, with moms getting an anti-aging mask using MOM16 promo code. Advertisement 3. Birchbox (www.Birchbox.com/gift) is a great way to treat mom year-round with beauty and skin care products delivered straight to her home each month. 4. Soothe (www.soothe.com) offers safe, in-home massages for hard-working ladies and men. 5. ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/americas-10-coolest-mothers-day-brunches) collected some of the best places in metropolitan cities across the country to treat mom to brunch. May 1 is the decision deadline by which many high school seniors need to select their colleges. Some of these choices will be institutions founded by women! As stated in the 1848 Declaration of Sentiments (the document issued at the first women's rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York), women were denied an education and it was up to the women to establish institutions where they would be welcome and receive an education comparable to that available to men. Match the woman (all of whom have been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame) with her accomplishment: ____ 1. Her school, established in 1904 in Daytona Beach, Florida with $1.50 is today a coeducational university that carries her name. ____ 2. The founder of Mount Holyoke College. Famous for her saying "Go where no one else will go. Do what no one else will do." ____ 3. She established what became Xavier University, the only black and Catholic university in the U.S. ____ 4. Her bequest established a college that today is her namesake. A. Mary Lyon B. Sophia Smith C. Mary McLeod Bethune D. Saint Katharine Drexel At a time when women did not speak in public, Mary Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke, did something even more daring - she asked for money so that she could start a school to educate girls. In the middle of a severe economic depression, Lyon was successful and Mount Holyoke Female Seminary opened in the fall of 1837. At that time, there were 120 colleges for men and 0 for women. Demand for the limited spots at Mount Holyoke far outstripped the supply. An educational pioneer, Lyon had proven that women were deserving of and capable of an education equal to that offered to men. The first of the Seven Sisters to exist as an educational institution, Mount Holyoke (which is located in Massachusetts) received its collegiate charter in 1888 and became Mount Holyoke College in 1893. Mount Holyoke students still live by Mary Lyon's mantra "Go where no one else will go. Do what no one else will do." Advertisement One of seven siblings, Sophia Smith became very wealthy when the last of her siblings died. Having lost her hearing by the time she was 40, Smith considered establishing a school for the deaf with her inheritance. However, a school for the deaf was endowed upon the death of someone else and she viewed that need as taken care of. Aware that Mount Holyoke Seminary (not yet a college) was in operation neaerby and that educational opportunities for women at the collegiate level were non-existent, Smith decided to leave her funds for "the establishment and maintenance of an Institution for the higher education of young women, with the design to furnish for my own sex means and facilities for education equal to those which are afforded now in our Colleges to young men." She died in 1870. Smith College, one of the Seven Sisters, was chartered in 1871 (in Massachusetts) and the first students entered in 1875. Considered the most influential black woman in the U.S. for more than thirty years, Mary McLeod Bethune was determined to provide educational opportunities for all blacks, especially women. Born of freed slaves, Bethune attended Scotia Seminary (today Barber-Scotia College) and began teaching. She moved to Daytona Beach, Florida and established her school in 1904 with $1.50. Her initial student population was six students - five girls and her son. By 1923, the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute had grown to 300 female students and 25 faculty. In 1929, it became Bethune-Cookman College when it merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, becoming coeducational in the process. Today, Bethune-Cookman University is a tribute to the dedication of Mary McLeod Bethune. Advertisement Born in the Philadelphia area, Saint Katharine Drexel learned about philanthropy at an early age. After a meeting in Rome with the Pope, she decided to establish a missionary order that could staff educational institutions that she was funding, primarily for Native Americans and African Americans. In 1891, she founded an order that today is known as the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1894, she headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico to establish a school for Native Americans. The secondary school that she established in New Orleans in 1915 would become Xavier University. By the time of her death, the Sisters had established 49 elementary schools and 12 high schools. Xavier University is the only historical black college or university that is also Catholic. Learn about more she-roes and celebrate amazing women. These women all understood the importance of education and are among the more than 850 women profiled in the book Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America. I am grateful for their efforts and proud to stand on their shoulders. Gold Butte Culture Walk See Gallery Before the sun has risen, a line of vehicles crosses rural Nevada's Virgin River heading to a gravel parking area at the head of narrow and winding New Gold Butte Road. Coinciding with Earth Day, the indigenous Moapa Band of Paiute along with local environmental protection groups have organized an 11-mile Culture Walk to raise awareness of the damage being done to the culturally important and environmentally sensitive area of Gold Butte. There is still an early morning chill in the air as flag standards are lined up representing the Moapa Band of Paiute, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Shivwits Band and Paiute Indian Tribes of Utah. The Maori Tino Rangatiratanga flag from Aotearoa (New Zealand) is also present in support, along with a kiwi contingent. After a dawn prayer, former Moapa Band Chairman William Anderson speaks of the importance of the Gold Butte area, previously inhabited by the Paiute's nomadic ancestors, the Tudinu, known as the Desert People. The indigenous name for the area is Mah'ha ga doo, (Many Bushes) due to the abundant vegetation found there. Amongst the towering sandstone formations are numerous examples of ancient petroglyphs, telling stories of a deep spiritual connection with the land. Advertisement The area is currently in the hands of the Bureau of Land Management, but in part due to disputes over land use and an intimidation campaign of BLM staff, the environment is under threat on numerous fronts. Petroglyphs have been graffitied and used as target practice, with some sections cut out and removed altogether. Burial sites have been violated and delicate vegetation on the desert floor crushed by off-road vehicles. Armed with images showing both the natural beauty of the area, and the damage being done to its cultural sites, Senator Harry Reid is using the Antiquities Act to petition President Obama to designate National Monument status. Certainly, change has been unmistakable. We have women on the Supreme Court, female Presidential candidates, women CEOs in the Fortune 500 -- well, all 21 of them, anyway -- and a rising generation of female tech wizards. Since 2010, women have outpaced men in graduating from college and even earned more doctoral degrees. Never mind studies that show women face stiffer wage penalties than men when mounting costs force students to drop out of college to look for work. That means women opt to stay in school even as loan and interest payments balloon, making crippling student debt a particular woman's issue. Still, all those degrees have been a nifty woman's first. Advertisement It gets complicated The problem is that the pace of change remains glacial. Women continue to earn less than men in all ten fields monitored by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2015, including management, professional, service and farming sectors. Admittedly, little about this issue is easy. Many entwined threads weave the complicated tapestry of women's entrance into business and executive suites, including the demands of family and childcare, deep-rooted social conventions, women's comfort levels and sense of identity, male legislative and economic power and all the other stuff. But when you pull the root thread of that tapestry, the real culprit for the never-ending gender pay gap turns out to be labor policies established during World War II, which unintentionally sanctioned treating women as second-class citizens. Over time, women's lower status became entrenched and institutionalized. Unintentional consequences of WWII It began with a federal directive designed to do just the opposite. The National War Labor Board, made up of representatives from labor, government and management, was formed in January 1942 to smooth any industry problems that might slow war production. Women were streaming onto factory floors to replace men who had been called up to serve. Advertisement By the mid-1940s, the workforce consisted of 45% women, up from 24% in the century's early years. Images of patriotic "We Can Do It" Rosie the Riveter flooded wartime culture, but those women earned only about 60% of what men did for the same jobs. In response, and bowing to union concerns that paying women lower wages would permanently undercut salaries for returning men, in November 1942, the NWLB came up with a mandate that reverberates to this day: "Equal pay for equal work" for women workers who replaced men. Cue "Equal Pay for Equal Work" However, then came the kicker of a caveat. Presumably playing to the tenor of the times and trying to be equitable, the Board stipulated an exception: "Where the plant management, in order to meet the necessity of replacing men by women, has rearranged or lightened the job, perhaps with the employment of helpers to do heavy lifting or the like, a study of job content and job evaluation should afford the basis for setting 'proportionate rates for proportionate work.'" Such "evaluations" were left to employer discretion. So, from the get-go, employers had an unregulated loophole they could drive a truck through -- one that allowed them to create lower-paying and de facto "female tracks." Over time, that loophole solidified into institutionalized justification for women's unequal pay. Debut the "female track" After the war, federal and civilian policies permitted employers to fire women to ensure that returning veterans had jobs to support their families. With that dispensation, many companies reinstated prewar policies and refused to hire women, whether out of flag-waving, discomfort or both. Companies that continued to hire women just reclassified jobs, dropped the pay permanently and never looked back. Advertisement Two decades after Rosie the Riveter flexed her muscles, women accounted for 37% of the workforce and still earned only 59 cents to every male dollar. By then, "proportionate" terminology had segued into "comparable pay for comparable work" -- and that's been the slippery slope down which equal pay has slid ever since. What exactly is "comparable work"? No one seems to know. Later legislation moved in the right direction but passed only as compromise measures. That includes the 1963 Equal Pay Act (actually only an amendment to another labor bill because the business community protested supposed new costs, like women's restrooms) and the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which banned sex discrimination. Since women's large-scale entry into the workforce in the 1940s, and after 75 years of progress, only 21 more cents, on average, has been added to that "comparable pay" for women, or 80 cents to the male dollar, for white women. Not so much for women of color. In fact, we seem to have hit the wall: That ceiling has been in place since the 1990s. Establishing girl ghetto industries One of the most popular explanations for the pay gap, put forward by opponents every time they vote down the Paycheck Fairness Act, is that women simply work in lower-paying fields, such as social work and education. But Harvard labor economist Claudia Goldin has found that female financial specialists earn 66% of what male counterparts do. For female doctors, it's 71%, and notches up to 82% for female lawyers and judges. The gender pay gap is hardly a chimera of women's "softer" work. Advertisement Over time, whenever a field becomes female-dominated, say nursing or teaching or that social work example, salary levels typically drop. That industry turns into a "girl ghetto," like the World War II "female" jobs. At that point, it's not only women who are being shortchanged. "A persistent wage gap not only cheats women and their families out of the earnings they deserve, but artificially constrains the purchasing power of women, and therefore hampers the American economy as a whole," reports a recent Congressional report overseen by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), called "Invest in Women, Invest in America." The Hypocrisy of Democracy or When the Glue Comes Undone As an artist, satirist and activist, I am very fortunate that I live in America. My freedom is never taken for granted and I cherish my rights to criticize the misuse of power. I'm well aware of what happens to people who live in other countries where there is no tolerance for dissent. Not that this is a perfect country... If it were, I would be out of a career! I read an article by Andrew Sullivan called "Democracies end when they are too democratic", published May 1, 2016, in New York Magazine and I think it's worth sharing. The messages are vital to our democracy. This article led me to want to share a short story I like to tell every time there's an election. This was told to me by Lew Jain, an old cowboy who lived in Northern Idaho. I met him in 1965, when I spent a summer painting landscapes near Lake Coeur dAlene. Advertisement Once upon a time, a very long time ago -- way before people existed -- the world was populated only by dogs. It was very difficult being a dog, because all they did was fight amongst themselves. Consequently, there were homeless dogs; hungry dogs; sick, suffering and dying dogs. Big dogs picked on little dogs. Little dogs picked on littler dogs. It was, in essence, a dog-eat-dog world. So, after what seemed like an eternity of turmoil, the dogs gradually realized they better do something to change their world. They decided to have a Bow Wow and put an end to their problems by electing a leader. One dog barked, "I think we should elect for our leader the French Poodle, the smartest dog!" A French Poodle seconded the motion, but another dog yipped, "Wait! Just because the French Poodle is a smart dog, he's not a tough dog. He's not as tough as the Doberman or the Pit Bull or the German Shepherd. I say we should elect the German Shepherd as our leader." "Woof woof," barked a German Shepherd, seconding the motion. "Grrrrr," said another dog. "Just because the German Shepherd is a tough dog, he's not as fast as the Whippet or the Saluki or the Greyhound. I say we should elect the Greyhound, the fastest dog, as our leader." "Bow wow!" said a Greyhound seconding the motion. "You gotta be kidding me," howled another dog, "Just because the Greyhound is the fastest dog, he can't pull the sled like the Huskey." "Wait," said another dog, "He can't swim like the Labrador, he can't smell like the Bloodhound, or do tricks like the Border Collie." And the vicious fighting started all over again. Advertisement It seemed none of them could ever agree about who should be their leader. Finally, one little mutt, with a long wet nose, floppy ears and a bushy tail said, "Wait! I know who should be our leader!" All the dogs stopped their fighting, raised their ears and wagged their tails, looking at him as he proclaimed, "We should elect the dog whose asshole smells the sweetest!" All the dogs barked in agreement and began sniffing each other's butts, looking for their leader. This tradition continues to this day, which is why dogs sniff butts. They're still looking for the asshole that smells the sweetest. And this explains how I've always felt about politics. This article can also be found on my Art of the Prank blog at http://artoftheprank.com/2016/05/02/when-dogs-ruled-the-world/. For information about ART OF THE PRANK, the new feature documentary film by Andrea Marini about my work, visit http://artoftheprank-themovie.com. For more, visit http://joeyskaggs.com. The first mistake we must not make in fighting ISIS is to assume the task is simple. The challenge is stupefying in its complexity, involving, among other things, the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims, a bitter history of Western interventions including blowback from America's war in Iraq, overlapping power struggles today among at least six nations, the ongoing political chaos of the Middle East, unrelenting poverty and social and political decay throughout the region, and the power of an ISIS vision that welcomes dying in an apocalyptic battle. Defeating ISIS demands an approach that is patient, highly sophisticated, and multi-pronged, one tightly focused on their vulnerabilities, and a thorough knowledge of the group's history, intentions, motivations and strategies. ISIS relies much more on the power of its ideas than on the power of its guns. Their leaders have created a core ideology, mission and message that have been enormously successful in attracting recruits, ongoing fealty and financial support. That ideology combines two of the most powerful yet contradictory ideas in Islam--the return of the 7th century Islamic Empire--and the end of the world. Understanding these two elements is vital to Western strategies. Advertisement By tradition, ISIS can credibly declare a rebirth of the Islamic Empire only by holding physical territory governed by a supreme ruler, a caliph--an office that began with Muhammad but had not existed since the last Ottomans in 1924. When ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed himself caliph after the capture of Mosul in June 2014, he was declaring himself the legitimate successor to the Prophet, qualified to demand the allegiance of all Muslims everywhere, Sunni and Shia alike. Anyone who refuses to give their allegiance to Abu Bakr is subject to death, according to ISIS' strict interpretation of Islamic law. For disenfranchised, desperate Sunni Muslims in the Middle East, this was an earthshaking event. Thousands flocked to join the new caliphate they had only dreamed about, and which not even Osama bin Laden had been rash enough to proclaim. "Rash" because bin Laden knew that the decision to try to control physical territory (as opposed to operating in hidden, mobile small bands as Al Qaeda does) would not only divert scarce resources to the tasks of running hospitals, repairing roads, and managing an economy, it would also make their operations far more vulnerable to airstrikes. ISIS has chosen to take the path of ancient prophecy rather than this-world practicality. Their apocalyptic narrative goes something like this: the military fortunes of the Islamic State grow and grow, using military ground forces, sleeper cells in Europe--perhaps even stolen nuclear weapons. Terrorist attacks and refugee streams drive a hard wedge between Muslim and infidel populations around the world, so that the Muslims worldwide will have no choice but to join ISIS and become their army, overthrowing local governments. All of this draws infidel armies into a climactic battle at Dabiq in Northern Syria in 2025. The West is defeated and the caliphate is global. But it does not last long. New gods, Gog and Magog, appear and the entire planet is destroyed while all true believers are raptured to heaven. Game over. Advertisement It may sound crazy to us, but this vision is enthralling to many young Sunni men who have nothing to lose and are desperate for something great to believe in. They are buying it, signing on for the lead-up operations, and eager for the final battle that will erase the infidels and this earth while they make it to well-earned paradise. We have to take this vision seriously and plan our strategies accordingly. A core aim of ISIS is to goad the West into putting boots on their ground for the final battle. We must not bite. Our military choices must be subtle and constrained. We need a stiletto, not a broadsword. Certainly "shock and awe" air attacks or a massive ground invasion in Syria and Iraq would be huge mistakes, and not just because of the intense blowback from the inevitable collateral damage. Such action would be stepping into the ISIS plan, and would provide a big boost to their recruiting as they could say the prophecy was playing out. Recent reverses on the ground in Syria and Iraq may have set back their timetable for the apocalypse. After losing the symbolic prize of Kobani last year in northeastern Syria, and then the Iraqi city of Tikrit, ISIS has more recently lost large stretches of crucial Syrian territory along the Turkish border to Kurdish fighters backed by American airstrikes. Its hold on Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, has been weakened. But ISIS is clever and flexible in its tactics. These reverses on desert battlefields have prompted more attacks on soft targets such those that were so powerful in Paris and Brussels, and also the extension of its global reach with new strategic footholds in Libya and West Africa. Western anger at these attacks, coupled with alarm over the huge movement of Muslim refugees into western nations, both feed the ISIS narrative. The more that "infidels" fear Muslims in their midst and react against them, the more young Muslims turn to the enticements of ISIS. And the closer we get to the final battle. Advertisement Strategic partnerships with other anti-ISIS fighters on the ground are a risky course, given that there are dozens of armed groups in Syria and Iraq of every ideological stripe. The US has already demonstrated a limited ability to pick winners. Still there seems to be a workable option in careful, constantly monitored alliances that supply arms and limited training by US special forces to more or less proven allies such as the Kurds. Fortunately for the West, ISIS has two significant military vulnerabilities. The first is their open, desert terrain--perfect for Western air attacks against their troop concentrations, military infrastructure, oilfields and transport. The second is their need to physically hold territory as a caliphate--a decision absolutely central to its mission and messages even if it presents a serious military liability. If ISIS loses their grip on the territory they now control in Syria and Iraq, there is no caliphate. Take away their command of territory, and no one owes allegiance to the caliph. There would still be freelance jihadists who could and would continue to attack in the West and behead their enemies. But the propaganda power of the caliphate would disappear, and with it the demanded religious duty to immigrate and serve it. ISIS would lose its power. Western and, to some extent, Russian airstrikes are successfully exploiting the bombing vulnerabilities. Remember the Gulf War scenes of absolute carnage when American warplanes caught fleeing columns of Saddam Hussein's troops in the open? Any significant massings of ISIS fighters would suffer the same fate, so their ability to maneuver is severely constrained. Advertisement Bombing has real costs for the West. Airstrikes have to be reconnoitered and technology has its limits, as evidenced in errant drone strikes. We need a limited number of our own special forces troops to help pick targets and guide the bombs. One of them has already been killed and there will be more. The costs of a caliphate. By capturing towns and cities, ISIS takes on significant expenses. They must pay the costs of maintaining minimum infrastructure to avoid massive defections of the people living under their control. And since they don't have nearly enough qualified personnel in their own ranks to staff hospitals, city halls and the like, they must call for experienced people to do the jobs--and pay them. But that call has come up short, according to people who have fled their territory. ISIS is struggling to find people able to run oil equipment, fix electricity networks and provide medical care. ISIS has been largely paying its bills with loot stolen from banks in the towns and cities they've conquered. But that can't last forever. Increasingly ISIS is dependent on revenues from oil pumped from the fields in their territory and sold to smugglers based in Turkey and elsewhere. But that oil can only be moved from wellheads by slow-moving trucks--easy targets for Western warplanes. The caliphate project is now in some distress, according to interviews with people who have recently fled. Under pressure from airstrikes by several countries, and new ground offensives by Kurdish and Shiite militias, ISIS is beginning to show the strain. Some of their fighters have taken pay cuts, while others have quit and slipped away. Important services have been failing because of poor maintenance. And as its oil business has suffered under air attacks, ISIS has resorted to ever-increasing taxes and tolls imposed on its squeezed citizens. Given everything we know about the Islamic State, continuing to slowly bleed ISIS through airstrikes and proxy warfare appears the best military option. Neither the Kurds nor the Shia will ever subdue and control the whole Sunni heartland of Syria and Iraq--they are hated there, and they have no appetite for such an adventure anyway. But they can help us keep ISIS from fulfilling its mission to expand. And with every month that it fails to expand, it resembles less the conquering state of the Prophet Muhammad than yet another Middle Eastern government failing to bring prosperity to its people. Advertisement Economic options. The West must do more to shut down all revenue streams to ISIS. Bombing oil trucks and wellheads is part of it, but non-military options are at least equally important. We need to demand that the Turks, our NATO allies, clamp down on smuggled oil by closing their porous border with ISIS-held areas in Syria, stopping the flow of that ISIS oil onto the black market. We need to call out any nations who buy smuggled ISIS oil and use whatever diplomatic and economic levers we have to force them to stop it. Reportedly this list could include some of our friends, but if that is the case then so be it. The stakes are too high now to back away from calling out allies who need to get with the program. We need to increase pressure on the Saudis and other Gulf Arabs to crack down on any of their citizens who send money to ISIS. If this pressuring did happen during President Obama's recent visit, it happened behind very tightly closed doors. We need to work with the international financial community to identify and shut down all financial channels used by ISIS, the smugglers who move ISIS oil, and the buyers of that oil. The more we can limit the mediums of exchange available to ISIS, the more difficult it becomes for them to pay their bills.Cyberwar options. The Pentagon has now thrown the full weight of its cyberwar capabilities into the fight against ISIS, joining NSA and the other civilian agencies already busy at that task. Clever online messaging is absolutely key to ISIS extending its siren song to Muslims everywhere, seeking recruits and support. The more we can undermine that messaging, the harder it gets for ISIS to survive. Advertisement A final thought. The worst mistake we can make in fighting ISIS is to overreact to the threat, clouding our strategic judgment overseas and undermining civil liberties at home. Overreacting builds a climate of fear that threatens our own way of life--which is what ISIS wants to do. There have been only 38 Americans killed in the U.S. by Islamic terrorists since 9/11. Drunk drivers in 2012 alone killed more than 10,000. The last paper I have written, Revision of the Bill of Rights, part III, has garner interesting opinions and perspectives on the matter. Yet, I think there were details that have been missed, which is not surprising. They were very tiny details that can easily be unacknowledged. When I wrote, "impose," it was a matter of a balancing act between different people's rights. For example, if you press yourself onto a wall, there is only a certain amount of force a wall can hold. This is imposing one's self onto that wall. As civilian self-defense imposes on a fair trial because civilian self-defense is not in the Bill of Rights, but fair trial is in the Bill of Rights. Civilian Defense is in common law, which means it is to the States to decide a few questions, "What is a Civilian? Are there cases where self-defense does not impose on fair-trial?" Then the important thing to note is that the Fifth Amendment gives military, naval, and militias the right to override the balancing act between the two. The passage reads as such, "...except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger..." Whereas, there is nothing written on civilian self-defense in the Bill of Rights. Therefore, there are more questions to ask, "Does retired people from the military, naval, and militias have the right given by the Fifth Amendment to carry and still protect? Why is there this specifications between civilian defense and non-civilian defense?" These are the questions one must think about and think of any other questions that may arise. Advertisement Moreover, the Constitution was not the first document of the United States. The Articles of Confederation were before the Constitution. George Washington wanted to retire, grow his crops, and become a farmer. Yet, the prior documents were not keeping the States together. So, the Founding Fathers of America drafted the Constitution. The Constitution is a guiding principle of how States should operate together, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union..." Thus, the purpose of the last article I written was to introduce new ideas to the conversation, so people can think and debate. Last, the paper was adding to the debate between Originalism and Living Constitution. It is a debate on how to read the Constitution. Do we read it as the words stated in it (Originalism)? Or does it morph through time (Living Constitution)? I have debated for Originalism because if we leave all laws to the emotions and sociality norms of our time. We may lose the founding principles of the Constitution to populist opinions. How often do we muse about how wonderful life would be if there were no confusion and doubt! And all the while, we know the solution to the problem, because whenever we are inspired from within, it cannot be contested, only heeded, for that is the heart's language. It is magical, a veil lifts, a vision is adjusted, and hope breathes fresh life, conveying an assurance of what is possible. Such inspired moments always carry a great promise: if we act upon the inspiration it will be transformational. It can only do us good, for that is the heart's promise. You and I have felt it all our lives. We can wait for that inner inspiration to come or we can actively cultivate it. The choice is ours. Choosing to actively cultivate the inner inspiration of the heart is heartfulness. Advertisement Let's say I want to make a meaningful decision at work or in my family. If I impose that decision on others it will be like a child who is forced to eat rather than cajoled with affection, a teenager forcibly disciplined by a parent, or a caring boss trying to convey something. We resist external suggestions, however logical they may be, and we end up with enforced discipline, rules and policies, which have not arisen naturally. As a result, the child refuses, the teenager rebels, and the boss gives up wanting to help. Making and abiding by decisions becomes a matter of following rules rather than allowing the heart's intrinsic goodness to inspire and lead. The possibility of living in a society where the innate precept is "just do the right thing," is perhaps a far off thing, or is it? Are we responsible for keeping that golden era at bay? There are many issues at play. The most powerful arise when we ignore the intrinsic goodness and the intrinsic peace that exist in all of us. These are our core inner qualities, so one does not have to think to be good or at peace. They simply happen, because that is our underlying nature. Yet we frequently go against our underlying nature. How do we compromise our intrinsic goodness? Knowingly or unknowingly, we tend to color every living moment, as our awareness scans the world, by judging, with constant chatter inside our minds: "I like this," "I do not like this." Slowly, the eventual game of our lives is played out in response to the conscious and subconscious inventory of likes and dislikes we build within ourselves. Advertisement This fickle inventory of likes and dislikes plays, pauses, stops, rewinds, fast forwards and slows, and not always in that order! The result is that we often stand perplexed at the crossroads of likes and dislikes, this or that, instead of heeding the heart. How many times have we asked: "Is this good for me or not?" or "Should I do this or not?" How does the heart speak? There is an even more mundane construct: "Is this decision from my mind or my heart?" When we analyze how we make decisions, we witness the interplay of the heart and mind. We observe that the heart protests loudly when we choose something not so good for us, whereas when we make the right decision the same heart remains silent and at peace. That's how the heart speaks; there are no loud signals when we do the right thing. Why is this so? To do the right thing requires little effort from within. For example, to convey my name and position in life correctly to someone I meet demands no effort or serious thought, but if I boast of what I am not the heart quibbles! It becomes heavier, doesn't it? That's how the heart speaks. To breathe, hear and see normally is natural. My heart does not congratulate me for that. It is precisely when something is wrong that a feeling, spreading out from my core, signals that it is time to visit my physician. That's how the heart speaks. In reassuring silence and in timely vigilance the heart speaks. When we heed the heart, there are only confident decisions instead of disabling doubt and confusion. Easing the burden: the play of heart and mind. Habitually we are caught between the play of mind and heart: mindfulness versus heartfulness! We create this polarity within. Is it possible to reconcile? Advertisement When the heart is right, there will always be an unquestioning agreement between the mind and the heart. In fact, a perfect synchronicity exists between them and they function as one. Integrating these two principal players in our life eases our burden of existence. By ignoring either one, we cannot move ahead purposefully in life. How to integrate the heart and mind? Still the mind in meditation and you will witness the heart's signals and its inspired thoughts. For 20 to 30 minutes every day, capture inspired moments of heartfulness. It is in the stillness of the mind that we perceive the heart with clarity. By constantly observing the inner weather, we steer through life wisely, steadfastly, sans regrets. Effective meditation must lead the meditator to the heights of the infinite sky of superconsciousness and facilitate the plunge into the deepest ocean of subconsciousness, and emerge the wiser. This way our consciousness evolves. To lead a life simply going through the motions, reacting to whatever life brings, is one thing. An altogether different experience is to lead it with responsive heartfulness - with the heart's most loving and magisterial guidance. Whatever activity you are engaged in, take a detour by the heart. After all, who can resist the heart's signals! Advertisement I was in Montreal for weekend and met up with my two oldest friends for Sunday brunch. Since we are Hebes we begin meal not with wine, but with whining. We were talking about our upcoming annual vacation to South Beach and our subsequent food and sun fest. Marla spoke first and said she would probably be eating way too much; Gayle said something similar and I; allowing my competitive spirit to kick in announced that I have been bingeing with food since I was fourteen and would enjoy more of the same for the duration of our holiday. I had never shared my out of control eating with these girls, but my competitive spirit kicked in and my secret shame became something here that I could be proud of. Last night after watching the premiere of season 12 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' (Yes, I am a fan!) I lit some candles and sat in contemplation. I asked myself this question. Do I really want to be Queen of the Fucked? And the answer was: While being Queen of anything has a certain soigne charm, I feel the need to re-prioritize. I shall begin today to make food my fuel, and not my friend. Lately, I have struggled with eating mindfully and I have been wavering in my desire to do the work necessary to become whole and healthy. Advertisement I feel so much better when I am eating mindfully and healthily. I have been wanting to go to this yoga class for seniors that meets every Monday for months now; but not even the luminous white haired teacher has been incentive enough. I have to reprioritize and try to drag my round and resistant bum to that class today. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and then stop turning to food for comfort. I have always felt as if I have won the trifecta of the damned. Born disabled to dysfunctional parents with the added bonus of a mean spirited sister; I have felt entitled to my addiction; food was my reward and my protection; for if I eat myself into a stupor I don't have to feel. Anything. Ever. The nature of my disability affected my tongue and mouth. I was born without the ability to suck; the nurses had to feed me out of a dropper. I literally could not take in nourishment. My ADHD mother checked out early on and left me first in the hospital and then with a series of nanny/nurses. By the time I was 6 months old I was out of the hospital and able to eat normally but my driver to eat as if my life depended on it has never left me. Food has always been my drug of choice; my best friend, lover , sister and mother all. Food has never hurt me, never ridiculed me and never left me alone. For over forty years food has been my go to for every feeling; happy -- sad, glad, mad, alone, terrified. I am so much better than I used to be back when I would binge all day until 11:59 that evening because I knew, I just knew that tomorrow would be another day and I would stop hurting myself and could begin again. Advertisement For the most part I do eat mindfully, trying my best to cut back on sugars/fats/soft drinks, and I often say to myself "Katharine, you got this!" and I let myself feel proud of where I have come from. Sadly these moments, days and sometimes weeks where I am aligned body/mind/spirit always come to an abrupt end. First of all, I must eat; everyone must eat, so I can not for example "just say no" to food or I will die. Secondly, while I am doing my best to be with my feelings and just allow them to pass through my body, sometimes the pain becomes too much and I collapse into the pure relief of overeating . My dining room table is now clean, for most of my adult life was table was filled with bags of chips, opened cans of peas or corn, half eaten bowls of cereal along with books and magazines. I could never just eat the food; I always had to read as I ate. I try now to be present with my food, to be grateful that I have "Made It Through the Rain," to quote Barry Manilow. I am trying really hard to relinquish my crown, but this is so difficult for me to do because even though I am Queen of the Fucked; I am still Queen of Something; which still sounds better than the alternative: Queen of Nothing. Perhaps I can be the Princess of Love. What a wonderful place that would be to live and to reign. Right now this Princess getting off her duff and off to yoga class. I'll be taking my crown with me for support! Protesters shout slogans and hold placards reading 'We will resist for secularism' on April 26, 2016 at kadikoy district in Istanbul, during a protest against a call for the country to adopt a religious constitution.Turkish police today fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who had gathered outside parliament to protest a call for the country to adopt a religious constitution. Police broke up a group of more than 100 protesters, preventing them from making a press declaration outside the parliament in Ankara, an AFP photographer reported. / AFP / OZAN KOSE (Photo credit should read OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images) ISTANBUL -- In September 2011, Turkey's then prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was greeted at Cairo airport by members of the Muslim Brotherhood who cheered him as his cortege moved along a road covered by billboards with his image. While there, Erdogan gave a speech at the Cairo Opera House in which he talked about his vision of the Middle East. "Now, in this transitional phase in Egypt, as well as in what comes after it, I believe that the Egyptians will establish democracy very well, and they will see that a 'secular state' does not mean 'an irreligious state,'" he said during an interview with Mona El-Shazly on Dream TV. "Rather it means respect for all the religions and giving all individuals the freedom to practice religion as they please." Advertisement At the time Erdogan's words sent shockwaves among Muslim Brotherhood figures who were opposed to the separation of state and religion. Brotherhood figures expressed anger at the promotion of Turkey's secular system and even issued a statement in which they characterized Erdogan's speech as "interference" in Egypt's local issues. The idea of a secularism-free constitution brought out many of the fears and anxieties among Turks and produced a somewhat awkward consensus among Turkey's much divided civil society. Five years on, Erdogan's words have gathered new significance. Last week, the Turkish parliamentary speaker told a crowd in Istanbul about how he would like his new Turkish constitution: one that does not name-check secularism and has more religious content -- a religious constitution. The speaker's recommendation of removing the word "secularism" from the Turkish constitution produced the same amount of anger Erdogan's recommendation of including secularism in the Egyptian constitution had created in Cairo. A committee is currently drafting a new constitution in Ankara. The idea of a secularism-free constitution brought out many of the fears and anxieties among Turks and produced a somewhat awkward consensus among Turkey's much divided civil society about the necessity of keeping the word "secularism" in the constitution. Advertisement Secularism is, after all, firstly a word. Its meaning has changed over time. It is a word with numerous connotations in Turkey, and with a fascinating, protean history. Turks have admired and critiqued secularism in equal measure. Often the greatest supporters of secularism have been those who critiqued it the most. Just take Turkey's Alevi groups: mostly associated with left-wing movements, Alevis, a religious minority in the country, say the Turkish state has never been truly secular and that through its directorate of religious affairs, it has supported and promoted a Sunni version of Islam, which is not becoming of a truly secular state. And Turkey's atheists? Well, they have also found numerous faults with Turkish secularism. Many are opposed to the existence of the declaration of one's religion on Turkish identity cards, which for decades have been formatted to note one's gender and religion. Atheists also complain about facing death threats and discrimination, which they see as related to this imperative to publicly declare their beliefs about religion. Turkish Jews and Christians will tell you how a so-called "wealth tax" had been levied on them in 1942, at the height of Turkey's single party rule. While Muslims paid 5 percent tax, Turkish Jews paid 179 percent and Christian Armenians 232 percent. And that happened when secularism was a somewhat sacred concept whose critique was unthinkable. Erdogan delivers a speech in the Cairo Opera House in Egypt on Sept. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Sunni Turks also don't have good things to say about Turkish secularism. Talk to a middle-aged headscarved Sunni woman today and she will most probably tell you how the Turkish state had interfered with their right to education and how it had kept them away from the public sphere. Less than a decade ago headscarved girls were not allowed into universities, when this was seen as a violation of secularism. Advertisement All these criticisms were set aside after the speaker's speech when people rushed to the defense of secularism as a concept. Secularism means different things for different people; the iteration of the word brings out hopes and disappointments, passionate defenses and stories of trauma. And yet the word itself provides the door that leads into this debate that had been going on for the past 150 years. "The new constitution needs to be a declaration of a transition from the French type of militant laicism to a more libertarian British type of secularism," Turkish anthropologist Ali Murat Yel wrote in an op-ed last week. "In other words, the Turkish state should provide its citizens with a freedom to believe or not believe whatever they like instead of dictating only one form of religion." Secularism means different things for different people; the iteration of the word brings out hopes and disappointments, passionate defenses and stories of trauma. As religion became much more visible in the public sphere over the past few years, dictating one form of religion became increasingly impossible. These days on the streets of Istanbul you come across religious festivities of not just Sunni Muslims but also Turkish Jews and Christian Armenians. From Greek Orthodox celebrations of the Feast of the Epiphany, where Orthodox Christians dive into the cold waters of Istanbul's Golden Horn to retrieve the wooden cross tossed there to commemorate Jesus Christ's baptism to the Hanukkah celebration by Turkish Jews that was held publicly for the first time last year, the public visibility of religion has become less of an issue. In February this year, Turkey's minister for EU Affairs, Volkan Bozkr, announced that Turkey would be removing the "religion" category from its new identity cards, in line with its EU visa liberalization deal. "In the new constitution which we are preparing, the principle of secularism will be included as one guaranteeing individuals' freedom of religion and faith, and the state's equal distance to all faith groups," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a speech last week. Turkey has passionately debated what the word secularism means, should and shouldn't mean over the past century and keeping the word in the new constitution will be a reminder of its legacy from late Ottoman modernization to the postmodern politics of our own day. Nowadays, Turkey is going through a difficult period, and there is a growing sense of public anxiety following attacks by militants from the self-proclaimed Islamic State and the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. But the current political climate, with its heated debates about big issues like secularism, is not unique in Turkey's history: the country has been here before. In the mid-nineteenth century, Ahmed Cevdet Pasa -- father of the novelist Fatma Aliye, seen today as an Ottoman Jane Austen -- created Mecelle, a civil code applied in the secular courts. Secular schools and laws were implemented in the nineteenth century empire and the last Ottoman caliph Abdulmecid was a painter. While she faced major challenges, from the rise of nationalism and modernity in Europe to the difficulty of fulfilling the needs of numerous religious groups, the empire confidently pressed on with human-centered reforms. Today's debate about secularism is no doubt part of this long and fascinating history of Ottoman modernization. Earlier on WorldPost: "In the last 48 hours, we have had an average of one Syrian killed every 25 minutes, one Syrian wounded every 13 minutes." That's the carnage that is happening in Syria right now, says the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura. Advertisement So if you thought the war in Syria was pretty much over, it looks like you were wrong. A hospital for kids was bombed. An airstrike turned a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, into rubble. And it wasn't any ordinary hospital: 1. It was a pediatric hospital. The 27 people killed there include kids and doctors--including one of the only remaining pediatricians in Aleppo. "My baby's doctor died." Strikes on a hospital in Aleppo killed one of the area's last remaining pediatricians https://t.co/XLP7czOdHw The New York Times (@nytimes) April 28, 2016 Advertisement BREAKING: Aid group says 14 patients, staff among those killed in MSF-backed hospital in Syria's Aleppo. The Associated Press (@AP) April 28, 2016 2. It was being supported by two humanitarian organizations: Doctors Without Borders, known as MSF (the acronym for its name in French, Medecins Sans Frontieres), and the International Committee of the Red Cross. These organizations have been providing medical care, clean water, and medicine. We condemn the destruction of the Al Quds hospital in #Aleppo, depriving people of essential healthcare. Hospitals are #notatarget, #Syria MSF International (@MSF) April 28, 2016 The frequency of @MSF-hospital-bombings over last year is one of the more repugnant trends. https://t.co/sQNFjTsxDk https://t.co/BnMM5TZJfy Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 28, 2016 International Red Cross says Syrian city of #Aleppo is "being pushed to brink of humanitarian disaster" after a week of escalating violence Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) April 28, 2016 Advertisement The government has been bombing Aleppo for days. That children's hospital isn't the only target: the Syrian government has been assaulting Aleppo for about a week now, killing about 150 ordinary citizens. Wave of airstrikes killed over 60 people in less than 24 hours in the Syrian city of Aleppo https://t.co/MShSdBFv5q pic.twitter.com/AIJMEoBu4K Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) April 28, 2016 The ICRC says everyone in Aleppo fears for their lives, as there is constant bombing and shelling in every neighborhood in their city. https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/725392797679775744 The bombings might keep aid from reaching Syrian people. Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria, says the bombing in Aleppo and also in Homs has gotten so bad in the past few days that the UN may not be able to deliver aid to people and places in Syria who seriously need it. Deputy Spokesperson @Toner_Mark comments on Monday's aerial strikes on a Syrian Civil Defense Station#Syria https://t.co/pXMNw9Un00 Department of State (@StateDept) April 27, 2016 Advertisement Syrians in these areas really depend on aid. #Syria: 778,175 people have been reached with aid in besieged, priority, and hard to reach areas in 2016 pic.twitter.com/LuGpfkeyEK UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) April 28, 2016 The ceasefire in Syria could be over. A bombing in Aleppo, Syria in 2014. (FreedomHouse/Flickr) Back in February, a ceasefire was agreed upon in Syria, with help from the United Nations and the leadership of other countries that have been involved in the Syrian civil war, like the US and Russia. But all of this bombing in Aleppo makes it pretty clear that ceasefire isn't holding. In pictures: Death rains down on Syria as ceasefire wobbles https://t.co/XijwLoMNQK pic.twitter.com/mfBFpoH2bc Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 28, 2016 The UN believes the ceasefire is "hanging by a thread." Thousands of innocent people have been killed in Syria this year. And Aleppo isn't alone--there's major fighting going on elsewhere in Syria too. VIDEO: #ISIS releases footage of them destroying 3 Turkish tanks with ATGM on Turkey-Syria border - @DrPartizan_ pic.twitter.com/xitO5eZVw8 Conflict News (@Conflicts) April 28, 2016 Obama is sending more US troops to Syria. A few days ago, President Obama said he is sending up to 250 extra US troops to Syria to help rebels who are fighting ISIS there. That means there will be 300 US forces in Syria. Advertisement These are special forces, not combat troops, there to provide support. Sending more troops to Syria should indicate "dismantling" ISIS is a priority, @POTUS says: https://t.co/zi6mx6qKa2 https://t.co/4enAqWjwje CBSN (@CBSNLive) April 25, 2016 (The war in Syria is tangled, with the government fighting rebels, and both fighting ISIS and other terrorists who have taken advantage of the situation there. Plus, the US supports the rebels, while Russia supports the government.) Meanwhile, many Syrian refugees are being blocked from coming to the US. Your own government bombing the hell out of your city, including a children's hospital: This is the horror of life in northern Syria. If this was your reality, would you stay in your country, if you could get out? This is why there are so many Syrians fleeing--and why there are so many Syrian refugees who need help. Yet Republican governors in numerous states are blocking Syrians. I remember that when I was in 3rd grade, people started talking. I heard that class sizes were going to have to increase because we didn't have the money to pay as many teachers anymore. They said we may even have up to 22 students in one class, like that was some crazy number. The adults were all concerned that we wouldn't be able to learn as much if we had that many students in a classroom at the same time. Fast forward. I am now in 10th grade, and several of my classes have around 30 students in them. We don't have enough desks for every student; a couple students in each class have to share a desk, sit on the floor, or sit at the teacher's desk while he or she is teaching. We don't have tissues in the classrooms for when we have to blow our noses; much less textbooks that are in adequate shape to be used in a learning environment. I feel as though I do more fundraising than I do homework. We've had to cut the remainder of the school year, causing us to cram all our tests and reviews into a few very short weeks. This is what the Oklahoma education crisis is. In 2008, we were concerned about having 22 students in a classroom. In 2016, we don't even have enough desks for students to sit at, much less enough teachers. The Oklahoma government has failed to provide me, along with every other public school student in the state, with an education that will prepare me for college and the rest of my life. PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK - APRIL 11: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton talks during a conversation on gun violence at the Landmark Theater on April 11, 2016 in Port Washington, New York. The New York Democratic primary is scheduled for April 19th. (Photo by Andrew Theodorakis/Getty Images) While I am still open to Bernie Sanders pulling off a miracle upset to win the Democratic nomination, I am coming to the point where I realize I must do something very hard in the general election that I think is in the best interests of our nation. If Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, I will vote for her. My vote should not be viewed as enthusiastic support for Clinton or her policies, but as a protest of all that Donald Trump's campaign has been and will be in the coming months. I ask myself: who is the worst person for the job? The answer, obviously, is Trump and I will vote to make sure he does not come to power as President of the United States. I have written at length about the Clintons' record and history of policy blunders while in the public eye. I have nearly no confidence in Hillary Clinton's judgment based on her vote to support war in Iraq. The fact that she made speeches to Wall Street for six figure sums knowing financial regulation would be a major subject of discussion in the upcoming presidential election is further evidence of a lack of proper judgment. I find her pandering approach to addressing Black and Brown issues to be dishonest and manipulative considering the fate of many Black and Brown people during her husband's administration and after. And, it is still fresh in my memory how she reacted to being upstaged by Barack Obama with Black voters in 2008. Advertisement So, when I say that I am going to vote for Clinton, believe me when I say that I do not take the matter lightly. I almost feel like I am compromising my principles. However, the reason I know my principles are in tact is because I realize the clear and present danger represented by Donald Trump. Trump would be much worse than a bad president. Sure, his grasp of policy is air thin. His recent foreign policy speech exposed him as a lightweight. The actual policies he does support, like his call for a ban on Muslims entering the country, are sometimes unconstitutional. He has been racist toward Mexicans and Black people. He is snide and nasty with several women. He gives his opponents insulting nicknames. He is about as unpresidential as you can get. But, worse than that we would be sending a message to two groups of people in the world. To the nation's conspiracy minded, xenophobic band of intolerant conservatives we would be saying that your views are validated in present day America. And, to the rest of the world we will be saying that we are represented by the total fiasco that is Donald Trump. We can not send those messages and staying home on election day, writing in a candidate or actually voting for Donald Trump are all options that will be like lighting simultaneous beacons--one for the nation's political outcasts and another to the rest of the world. So, don't be fooled into thinking doing anything but voting for the Democratic nominee is a prudent decision. Even though the Democrats revealed an unbeatable coalition in 2008 and 2012, Trump can win in 2016. The recipe for a Trump victory is that he wins Independent voters, reasonable Republicans decide Hillary is a worse option than him and Bernie voters do not turn out for Hillary. I am sure Trump's campaign is hoping many Democratic voters are turned off by Hillary and stay home on election day. In fact, I bet they are planning on it. Advertisement Editor's Note A HuffPost article that previously existed at this URL has been removed. Dear Mr. Leamer, I read what you wrote in The Huffington Post last week. I have not read your book The Price of Justice: A True Story of Greed and Corruption in Coal Country, but as a native West Virginian I feel as though I know what it says. Growing up in Hurricane and unaffiliated with the mining community, I read the Gazette every morning at breakfast. Another meth lab bust and another polluted body of water. Flash floods and two trailers washed away with a family of seven and their dogs. Crazed addicts. Unemployment. The natural dam didn't hold. The new elected official had a long history in industry. Nepotism. An ever-shrinking population. Just when I thought it couldn't be any worse, the ever-present twist proved truth is stranger than fiction. I couldn't wait to leave. As an environmentalist who accepted the fact of climate change, as a nature-lover who realized the destruction of the landscape by the coal industry, as a young person who felt limited by the attitude of the people, I knew my future wasn't here. Death and desperateness was here. I studied at WVU. I studied international development. I saw what poverty did, and what it begat. I would rather devote my efforts elsewhere, not in a place plagued with apparent apathy. I went, travelled, lived elsewhere. I would describe my home state to outsiders as full of kind people, largely impoverished, lacking a future. West Virginia was a "developing" state in the United States. This analogy was embittered with my idea that it was full of people that wouldn't help themselves. West Virginians' stoic resoluteness was a source of pride and a curse. Their ability to support coal, no matter what, was to me unfathomable and unshakeable. I felt too impotent to try. All of this changed when three weeks ago the New York Times headlines appeared on my phone: Don Blankenship was sentenced the maximum of one year to prison for the Upper Big Branch disaster. I was elated and saddened. One year for the deaths of 29 men. My frustrations for West Virginia, after five years away, came back full force. My fury mirrored the montages of a protagonist who trained for years in some distant place to suddenly and surprisingly decide to return and throw down. The UBB deaths are only the wretched tip of the tragedies. You know as well as I do the innumerous injustices that West Virginia has had to endure. I had had a realization, the people did not have a voice. West Virginians' desperateness paired with long-time industry influence in politics made them so powerless as to lose their ability to speak out. They were disempowered. There was no one listening. Very few people had their best interests in mind when decisions were made. The Making One Year Count letter-writing campaign was formed. The goal was to write one letter a day to Don Blankenship when he was in prison. We couldn't change the law, not for him anyways, but we could make that one year more meaningful. The notion of writing a letter to a villain so above the law, making him accessible, resonated with people. We are three weeks into the campaign and have 80 letters. A network has been formed full of West Virginia writers, teachers, families of UBB miners, and fellow WVU alum who have likewise left the state. The campaign has been a conduit, lowering the cost of speaking out. We hope the campaign will help in some way. In the last paragraph of your piece, you write, "the people in West Virginia are waking up." I wanted to write to you Mr. Leamer and let you know that I have woken up. I want to help wake up others. Making One Year Count (facebook.com/MakingOneYearCount) is about the everyday person speaking out about the injustice of Upper Big Branch, but it has the potential to be more than that. I am writing to ask you for your help, to spread the message of the campaign and to contribute a letter yourself. Honestly, this is a shot in the dark, but we could use any help we can get. Thanks very much for your time, Ann Bybee-Finley Will Ferrell won't be portraying a declining Ronald Reagan in the political comedy "Reagan" after all. Following reports last week that the comic actor had signed on to produce and star in the film -- followed swiftly by outcry from the Reagan family and others blasting the film for what they say is insensitivity -- Ferrell is backing away from the project, the New York Posts' Page Six is reporting , citing a representative for the actor. "The 'Reagan' script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered," the rep is quoted as saying. "While it is by no means an 'Alzheimer's comedy' as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project." Written by Mike Rosolio, "Reagan" focuses on a White House intern tasked with convincing the president and former actor -- who is portrayed as already being in decline at the film's start, which picks up at the beginning of his second term -- that he is merely playing the part of the commander-in-chief in a movie. While the film has garnered enough interest in Hollywood to land it near the top of the 2015 Black List, an annual ranking of the best unproduced screenplays in town, it has also prompted no small amount of outrage. That includes from Reagan's daughter Patti Davis, who said Alzheimer's is no laughing matter. "Perhaps if you knew more, you would not find the subject humorous," Davis wrote last week in an open letter to Ferrell on her website. "Alzheimer's doesn't care if you are President of the United States or a dockworker. It steals what is most precious to a human being memories, connections, the familiar landmarks of a lifetime that we all come to rely on to hold our place secure in this world and keep us linked to those we have come to know and love. I watched as fear invaded my father's eyes this man who was never afraid of anything. I heard his voice tremble as he stood in the living room and said, 'I don't know where I am.' I watched helplessly as he reached for memories, for words, that were suddenly out of reach and moving farther away. For ten long years he drifted past the memories that marked his life, past all that was familiar...and mercifully, finally past the fear "There was laughter in those years, but there was never humor." Will Ferrell as declining Reagan: Good fun or poor taste? The political comedy 'Reagan' will tell the story of an intern tasked with convincing the 40th president that his is an actor playing a role. Among those expressing pleasure over Ferrell's departure from the film were the Alzheimer's Foundation of America as well as Reagan's son Michael Reagan, who said via his Twitter account , "Thank you for taking the right path." A former actor, Ronald Reagan was America's 40 th president, serving from 1981 to 1989. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease eight years later, in 1994. "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life," he said in an emotional speech announcing his diagnosis. Reagan, who is celebrated as an icon of conservative ideals, died in 2004 at the age of 93. What do you think about Will Ferrell's 'Reagan'? Now that is my kind of movie. It could go either way. The subject matter is touchy, but it could work if it's done right. I'll wait until the movie comes before judging it. There is nothing at all funny about dementia. The makers of this film should reconsider. Ronald Reagan is an American icon. Shame on Hollywood for trying to besmirch his image. I have another answer, which I will add to the comments stream below. Vote This post is dedicated to mamas who do what it takes to help their children have the best lives possible. It's for moms who are perfectly imperfect and don't always get it right. It's for mothers who stand by their children and remind them that they are loved, even when the world around them tries to diminish their worth. It's for anyone who plays the role of mother in the life of a young person and helps them find their greatness. The following notes from transgender and gay activists express love and gratitude for three of these women. I hope they touch your hearts as they have mine. To Alicia Tapia "She is the one that showed me that my true value was defined by none other than myself". Rexy Amaral Tapia Mi querida mama , Tu superpoder es amor. Your superpower is love. Ever since I was little there was one person who showed me unconditional love. She showed me how be strong and how to properly flip a tortilla. She did everything possible to keep a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, clothes on our backs, and love in our hearts. Advertisement She showed me the importance of remembering where you come from. Every step of the way she was there for me, at times when I was lost she was there for me even tho she might have been as lost as me. She made an effort to try to support me, she went to find an education that was kept away from her. She learned what LGBT is and she showed me. I remember having long talks in the kitchen where she went over new things that she learned whether it was a new word in English or a new term in LGBT. I am proud of you mama. The one who never gave up, the one who always was willing to learn and educate. The one that was a beacon of hope and light for other parents who were lost in the darkness of ignorance. She is the one that showed me that my true value was defined by none other than myself. You are that person mami, eres tu la persona que me inspira a ser la mejor persona que pudiera ser, me ensenaste ser fuerte y poderosa. Y por eso siempre vas a vivir en mi corazon. You inspired me to be the best person I could be, you taught me to be strong and powerful. And for that you will always live in my heart. Thank you mami. I love you too much. Rexy Rexy Amaral Tapia is a 19-year-old Latina transwoman, Her biggest hero is her mother Alicia. To Brenda Joyce Williams "What I cherish is how you've never allowed me out of your sight without filling me up with guidance." Ken Williams Dear Ma, I imagine that raising a kid like me didn't always feel comfortable. You were a 32-year-old professional woman with a husband and daughter already, and being the mother of a soon to be black gay boy was the farthest from your plan. I recognize I came with no instructions. As a child I watched you defend me when your instincts hadn't provided you with the language to do so; falling into the social melodrama of being a mother of an unusually sensitive son, you protected me always. There were times I thought you deserved to be frustrated with always having to "figure it out", yet it was also in those times when you appeared most compassionate. I see you as a renaissance warrior. It takes a hero of a woman to raise a child in the best care her circumstances can afford and you reared me in a full-bosomed, nurturing kinda way--there was a bounty of love in every scolding you gave and for 3 meals a day you gave me wisdom on each plate. What I cherish is how you've never allowed me out of your sight without filling me up with guidance. How you've always given your best even when in struggle. You were forced to make a decision about how to love a gay child of color in America when raising a black man was already pressure enough and you were triumphant, Ma. How you found the capacity to love me, I will never know. But I am grateful that you did. Amen to you, Brenda Joyce Williams. I exalt you. Ken Ken Williams is an HIV Activist and award-winning video blogger Ken Like Barbie. To Marsha Aizumi " I love you for always reminding me that I am loved no matter what."Aiden Taiko Aizumi Dear Mammo, Happy Mother's Day! I have the greatest fortune of being your son and getting to experience your love. I have watched you become an amazing voice in the LGBTQ community and to see you fight for me so that I can have the best life possible. There aren't enough ways to say how grateful I am for that. I know that I don't always say, "I love you," but I want you to know that even when I don't say it out loud that I do. Advertisement I love you for holding my hand when I was feeling anxious. I love you for standing by me when I came out as trans and taking care of me after top surgery. I love you for always reminding me that I am loved no matter what. And even though you do all these awesome LGBTQ things that I also love you for, I love you for just being my mom. I don't know where I would be without the love and support you have given me. You are always there to support me in the times that I struggle, and are there to celebrate the times where I succeed. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. I love you the most! Your loving son, Aiden Aiden Takeo Aizumi is a Japanese American transgender activist and graduate student in the Educational Counseling Program at the University of La Verne. For information and resources for parents, caregivers, providers, educators, and youth, see Out Proud Families. Steven Epp as Long John Silver and John Babbo as Jim Hawkins in Mary Zimmerman's adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's tale. Photos by Kevin Berne Who could possibly dream of trotting out another version of a story that has been adapted for film and TV more than 50 times, in addition to spawning a host of prequels, sequels and stage treatments? The ever-inventive Mary Zimmerman, that's who. The story is Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson's enduring swashbuckler. And it's a high-energy knockout in Berkeley. Jointly produced by Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre and Berkeley Rep, the tale of adventure, loyalty, treachery, greed and mayhem is like nothing that Zimmerman has fashioned before. She earned her status in contemporary theater by creating unique enchantments from exotic and frequently ancient sources, among them the Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece, Ovid's Metamorphoses, The Arabian Nights and a pair of Chinese legends. As in those productions, she serves as director as well as adapter of this latest show. Advertisement With Treasure Island, she put aside any urge toward the fantastical and tells the story straight, with its principal characters and events intact. Doing that takes about two-and-a-half hours, and may leave some viewers wishing she had taken still more time to flesh out incidents that are rich with detail and tension in the 1883 novel. If you blink, you just might miss a significant transition. The story takes place in the mid-1700s, in locales that range from English taverns to a ship at sea to the island where honorable Brits and savage cutthroats pursue buried treasure. The vessel -- the schooner Hispaniola -- is the centerpiece of the Berkeley set. Suspended from heavy rigging that looks thoroughly seaworthy, it occupies most of the Peet's Theatre's thrust stage, and at times rocks perilously as if in tumultuous seas. When the action moves off the ship, it requires a hearty suspension of disbelief to "see" the other venues. But that's a trivial matter in the context of the story-telling by Zimmerman and her cast of 14, who fill more than 20 roles with vitality and passion. Those performers include two who appear purely as musicians and two more who double as actors and instrumentalists, in the latter role adding subtle and effective underscoring. At the adventure's center is the pre-teen Jim Hawkins (John Babbo), who endures threats to life and integrity from the tale's first moments to its last, forever displaying the spunk expected of a well-raised English boy in Victorian times, when the novel was written. Babbo, who originated the role in Chicago, delivers a performance of astonishing range and depth. Advertisement Even pirates can laugh: From left, Kasey Foster, Demetrios Troy, Steven Epp, Travis Delgado, Anthony Irons and Christopher Donahue The show's most memorable role, predictably, belongs to the peg-legged Long John Silver, who morphs from amiable sea cook to murderous pirate and shrewd conspirator. Berkeley veteran Steven Epp dispatches it with extravagant leers, laughs and screams, commanding the stage at every appropriate moment, and perhaps even at a few when more restraint might have worked better. Kasey Foster has the tale's most sympathetic role as Jim's widowed mother, who operates the Admiral Benbow Inn with her son. Reflecting her times, she accepts Jim's departure to sea with stoicism and only a hint of sadness. He has in effect been drafted into the treasure hunt by local aristocrats, and dutifully joins their quest; she has no choice but to acquiesce. Foster later returns, in beard and male attire, as a chattery pirate. She also contributes a haunting vocal solo in the early going. Christopher Donahue, Steve Pickering and Anthony Irons quickly establish the pirates as vengeful nasties: Donahue as Billy Bones, who possesses the treasure map and fears for his life; Pickering and Irons as Billy's malevolent ex-shipmates, pursuing him. All are impeccably dressed in the scruffiest, patchiest costumes imaginable, wonderfully designed by Ana Kuzmanic. Piracy has never looked so gritty. As noted above, the story unfolds swiftly, without embellishment. If you plan to attend, you might want to download and at least skim the novel, which is available free online. A quick read will enrich what is already a hearty theatrical feast. Advertisement A labourer walks on the steel bars at a steel and iron factory in Changzhi, Shanxi province January 11, 2010. China's imports of iron ore hit 62.16 million tonnes in December, the second highest monthly volume ever, as a revival of steel prices helped the trade rebound for a second month, Customs data showed on Sunday. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT) CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA Forged with the despicable dividend of stolen trade secrets, priced with monopoly collusion, then traded with fraudulent labeling to dodge U.S. duties, steel from China violates every principle of capitalism. Thats in addition to defying both U.S. and international trade laws. Its outlaw steel. And last week, U.S. Steel Corp. asked the U.S. government to outlaw its import. U.S. Steel requested this unusual intervention after China hacked into its computers, ripped off trade secrets, then used those secrets to directly compete with U.S. Steel in the American market. China is flooding the international market with excess, government-subsidized steel. That is closing mills and killing jobs from South Africa to Great Britain to North America. The United States can choose to ignore this. It can become a weakling, reliant on other nations for steel, including some, like China, that clearly are not allies. Or, the United States can act now, as U.S. Steel demands, to secure Americas industrial strength and independence. Advertisement Graph showing Chinese steel exports rising while prices declining. Source: U.S. Steel pleading U.S. Steel is the largest integrated steel company headquartered in the United States. Integrated means that it does everything from mine ore, convert iron to steel and finish steel into sheets and plates and beams. Last year, it lost $1.5 billion, even as it slashed costs by closing operations in Fairfield, Ala.; Gary, Ind.; Keewatin, Minn.; and Granite City, Ill., and furloughing more than 5,000 blue and white-collar workers. As U.S. Steels petition to outlaw steel imports from China explains, theres no amount of cost-cutting American steel companies could do to keep up with the illegal activity thats supporting the steel industry in China. The petition puts the racketeering in three categories. Theres price fixing conducted through a government-established cartel called the China Iron and Steel Association. There was the theft of trade secrets that took U.S. Steel a decade to develop. And there is a scheme to duck U.S. trade duties imposed on Chinese steel involving shipping the steel to another country, such as Malaysia, and claiming it was produced there. The petition to outlaw imports starts to read like a spy novel when it gets to the part describing the scam that Chinese steel distributors established to elude American duty payments. Advertisement Investigators knew something was fishy with Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam because steel shipments from these countries spiked after 2009 when the United States imposed duties on a certain type of steel pipe, Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) from China. In 2009, none of these countries shipped more than 5,000 metric tons of OCTG to the United States. But the following year, Taiwan suddenly sent 50,000 metric tons. By 2012, Vietnam shipped 200,000 metric tons. Straw buyers started talking to distributors of steel from China and got some fascinating responses. Its all documented in the U.S. Steel pleading to the U.S. International Trade Commission. The straw buyers asked the steel distributor for a price, then expressed concern that the quote was too high. The distributor would then offer to lower the price by duping U.S. customs officials by routing the steel through a country like Indonesia or Malaysia or Thailand, where the steel would be marked as made there sometimes without ever leaving the original ship. That was the cheapest option. The straw buyer would ask for documentation that the steel actually was produced by a specific company in China. The distributor often would offer to email the straw buyer a certificate from the company in China. That, U.S. Steel asserts, means the companies in China were in on the scam. Advertisement U.S. Steels petition includes copies of the email offers. Heres a sample: We load the casings from China mainland, and deliver to port Klang, Malaysia. Then our agent will reloaded the casing into new containers, to transport to H[o]uston. Meanwhile, they will change the documents in the name of one exporting company in Malaysia. Also they will issue the certificate of origin to certify the casings are from Malaysia origin. Thus, there will no high anti dumping duty for the customer. Its not just one example. This is not a piddling case. The document includes nine instances of distributors offering to falsify documents and trans-ship for some of the largest steel companies in China including Baosteel, Hebei, Ansteel, Shandong, Wuhan, Shougang and Benxi. The largest of these companies operate with the benefit of state-imposed collusion. The U.S. Steel petition describes how the government established the China Iron and Steel Association and required the biggest companies to participate. Its purpose is to help companies control the price of raw materials, share cost and capacity information and regulate prices, including prices of products exported to the United States. All of this, of course, enables them to destroy competitors. If this sounds like a bunch of U.S. railroad and oil magnates sitting in smoke-filled rooms establishing monopolies before the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890, thats exactly what its like. And thats exactly why U.S. Steel says Chinas monopoly steel should be blocked at the border. Commodities manufactured in connection with a Sherman Act conspiracy may be denied entry into the United States. Chart shows allegations in U.S. Steel filing against specific Chinese companies. Then, of course, theres the outright theft of trade secrets from U.S. Steel by the government of China. Throughout 2010, the Chinese government subjected U.S. Steel to cyber-attacks. Then in 2011, government hackers in China hijacked information from U.S. Steel on advanced high-strength steel used in the auto industry. Advertisement Companies in China had been unable to develop this technology and were under pressure from their domestic car companies to get it. So their government stole it for them. After the theft, one of the largest steel companies in China, Baosteel, used the trade secrets to produce the specialized steel and export it to the United States in direct competition with U.S. Steel. Two years ago, the U.S. government criminally charged five Chinese military officials with economic espionage and other offenses for hacking into the computers at U.S. Steel. In addition, the government indicted the Chinese military officials with stealing trade secrets from the computers of the United Steelworkers (USW), Allegheny Technologies, Alcoa, Westinghouse Electric and SolarWorld. Thirty-two years ago we opened the doors of our daycare center in Queens, New York, with the aim of providing a safe haven and a quality education to our neighborhood's children, including our own. We called it A Child's Place and it began with just eight kids in a converted basement. Now, three decades later, we serve 250 children in our own building and employ 65 staff members. Our business became our family's lifelong passion. Now, as members of the Baby Boomer generation, we are looking to retire. We are far from alone. What has been dubbed a "silver tsunami" is sweeping through the United States economy. One study at the University of California, San Diego, showed every year some 150,000 to 300,000 businesses owned at least in part by Boomers have owners that hit retirement age. Together they employ millions of Americans. Advertisement Like many other retiring Boomers, we worried A Child's Place might be downsized by a new owner or have to close. Those looking to buy our business could not guarantee it would continue as a daycare. So we decided to solve the problem in a way we never dreamed possible. We would sell A Child's Place to the very people we knew would take care of it best: the staff who worked there. Now A Child's Place is set to become a worker-owned business. Aided by a loan from The Working World, the current staff -- including our two children -- will buy the business and continue to do the work they love. Only now they will also be the owners as well as the workers. The future of A Child's Place will be in their hands. Three generations of the Coles family. The advantages for us, as owners, of converting to a worker-owned business are obvious. Like many Boomer business owners looking for a succession strategy, we were concerned new owners would not preserve the values and community legacy of our life's work. By selling the business to the people who already work there, and share in our mission, we have solved that problem. There are also advantages for the staff of A Child's Place. They are going to be worker-owners, sharing in the profits of their work once the loan is paid back. Their jobs will also be secure; something rarely said about workers in a business sold to a new owner. Advertisement A report released this week by the Surdna Foundation, called Ours to Share, shows worker-owned businesses pay better wages, have more generous benefits and are better able to survive economic downturns than traditionally-owned companies. At the same time, they are often just as or more productive. But it is about much more than just material benefit. Being worker-owned represents a fundamental shift in workers' relationship to their workplace. It offers a third way to either working for someone else or working for yourself; instead you work for your colleagues at the same time as they work for you. Worker-owned businesses offer their staff clearer paths for advancement and skill building. They bring democracy and participation into the workplace in ways that ensure workers are deeply invested in the future of their company. For us, converting into a worker-owned enterprise also goes deeper than that. Inequality is perhaps the most pressing issue in America today and now A Child's Place will help fight that. The staff will eventually see their wages significantly rise at a time when earnings for the working and middle classes have beenstagnant for decades. The daycare industry, which is a sector marked by low wages, is also dominated by women and people of color who have faced historic discrimination when it comes to economic opportunities. By selling A Child's Place to its staff -- many of whom are African American women -- we are helping correct that imbalance. Our decision will also ripple out into the wider community. We are keeping a viable business local and anchoring wealth in the neighborhood for people who already live there. As gentrification sweeps through New York, the new worker-owners of A Child's Place will be well placed to resist some of its impact in terms of displacing lower income residents and communities of color. Hepatitis Awareness Month is observed the entire month of May. Unlike HIV or breast cancer, hepatitis B and C are the awkward diseases that comedians joke about, but few understand the seriousness of these problems. Viral hepatitis desperately needs every bit of awareness and subsequent intervention and prevention it can muster. Consider hepatitis C, the more prevalent of the two chronic forms of viral hepatitis. Beginning in 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the number of deaths associated with hepatitis C surpassed all 59 other notifiable infectious conditions. Despite the high mortality rate, funding for viral hepatitis-related services is paltry. Currently, there is no money for a nationally coordinated chronic viral hepatitis surveillance system. The CDC conservatively estimates that there are 3.4 to 5.3 million people with chronic hepatitis B and C in the US. Between 2010 and 2013, new hep C infection rates increased by 151 percent, largely because of opioid use. For the first time since 1990, the number of acute hepatitis B cases has increased. Advertisement The majority of people living with chronic viral hepatitis do not know they have it. Hepatitis Awareness Month isn't reaching them. Viral hepatitis doesn't have its own postage stamp or national spokesperson. Hepatitis organizations can't even agree on the color of its awareness ribbons. Are they red, yellow, red and yellow, or red and blue? What we can agree on is that viral hepatitis is a huge problem and if we don't act now, the death rate will continue to rise. Although viral hepatitis does have an entire month devoted to awareness, the campaign pales in comparison to an entire month of pink everything in October. Women dying from breast cancer is an awful reality, one that we as a nation can get behind. However, the American public isn't sympathetic to hepatitis C sufferers, a disease that that is deeply stigmatized because of its sometimes-association with injection drug use. And while I am comparing diseases, let's look at HIV. It can be tricky comparing the two, because people living with HIV fought mightily for the services they finally got, and they need every penny of funding they have. AIDS day on December 1 is a powerful reminder of how precious everyone is, and why we need to find a cure for HIV. But more people are dying from hepatitis C than from HIV, and obviously Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19 is not getting the attention it needs. Stigma plays a large part in keeping hepatitis C in the shadows. Between its association with injection drug use and the fact that it is infectious, it makes it hard to walk into the doctor's office and request a test. The majority of those who are infected do not know it, and baby boomers bear the lion's share of this silent disease. Nearly 75 percent of Americans with hepatitis C are baby boomers; the CDC recommends testing all people born from 1945 through 1965. Advertisement What if we had a world without baby boomers? Or a world without musicians and other remarkable people with hepatitis C? We already know what it feels like to live in a world without Lou Reed, Natalie Cole, Ken Kesey, Etta James, Danny Kaye, and Allen Ginsberg. Then there are the ones you don't know about, the many patients and friends I lost to hepatitis C. This virus could have also taken David Crosby, Greg Allman, and Naomi Judd but medicine intervened. Medical intervention spared the lives of my friends Karen, Chris, Jack, Lynn, Jane, Mike, Teresa, Rick and others. I am also on the spared list. Now cured, I lived with hepatitis C for 25 years. And although I am grateful to be virus-free, it's not enough. It's hard to be a survivor when others are needlessly dying from a curable and preventable disease. Hepatitis C is treatable, but many don't have access to treatment. Therein lays the problem. Only about 6 percent of those with hepatitis C have been treated and cured. In the meantime, Australia is on track to treat everyone with hepatitis C. Europe also has a plan to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. The U.S. is not as far along, but experts are considering the notion that we have the tools to eliminate hepatitis B and C. Sunday, May 1 marked the beginning of Asian Pacific Heritage Month. And 2016 is the fiftieth anniversary of University of California sociologist, Thomas Petersen, coining the pernicious term "model minority" in the New York Times Magazine. What better way to commemorate Asian Pacific Heritage this month than to end once and for all use of this label on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), which has been employed countless times by major media outlets like Time, Newsweek, and the Los Angeles Times since 1966? Academic scholars and AAPI community-based organizations like my own have fought against the myth of the model minority for decades. The term, which may seem a compliment to some, has been used to define our broader community as uniquely intelligent and universally hard-working and financially successful, especially when compared with other communities of color. In Petersen's article, he specifically compared the economic attainment of Japanese Americans to that of less economically successful groups, whom he described as "problem minorities," not only because of their lack of upward mobility, but also because of their need of "Great Society" anti-poverty programs and their demand for increased civil rights. Beyond the harm of labeling an ethnic group a "model" minority, the tag is simply inaccurate when it comes to describing the AAPI community as a whole. The Color of Wealth in Los Angeles, a joint publication of Duke University, The New School, UCLA and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, which was released on March 10, examines the economic disparities faced by several ethnic communities in the Southland and found that a number of Asian American communities have much lower income and net worth than White Americans. For example, the median total assets possessed by Korean Americans in the Southland is only $28,000 and $40,000 for Vietnamese Americans. White Americans in Los Angeles, by contrast, have a median total assets exceeding $350,000. Similarly, the per capita income in Los Angeles for some AAPIs is significantly lower than for Whites; the per capita income for Tongans is a mere $8,146, for Cambodians, $14,276, and for Bangladeshis $18,909 while the income for Whites is $47,503, according to the 2006-2010 American Community Survey. Advertisement Despite this evidence, the model minority myth continues to be perpetuated in mainstream media. In his October 10, 2015 column in the New York Times, Nicholas Kristof discussed the "Asian Advantage," describing Asian Americans as "disproportionately stars in American schools and even in American society as a whole." Similarly, at the February 28 Academy Awards, Chris Rock brought three AAPI kids onto the stage as the apparent accountants responsible for tallying the votes (read: Asian kids are so good at math, they can do the job of adults). To be sure, some segments of the Asian American population are doing quite well financially. The median net worth of American households of Indian and Chinese descent are among the highest of any groups in Los Angeles, exceeding $450,000 and $400,000 respectively. But what most media outlets fail to recognize is that a majority of those immigrants welcomed to the United States after passage of the 1965 Immigration Act were well-educated professionals who possessed higher levels of wealth than the average American prior to entering the U.S., as noted by the Color of Wealth authors. AAPIs are a diverse population. Treating them as a monolith fails to account for differences between AAPI communities, especially in terms of their immigration pathways and socioeconomic origins. Moreover, assigning them a label that assumes generalized wealth or educational success prevents government resources and philanthropic investments from being distributed equitably across all Southland communities; and it leaves tens of thousands of low-income and frequently limited-English proficient Tongans, Cambodians, Bangladeshis, Koreans and Vietnamese in Los Angeles without access to necessary medical services, affordable housing and adequate wages. Advertisement Acknowledging the community's complexity is a step in the right direction. Members of the California Assembly and Senate with Governor Brown should take that first step by enacting AB 1726 to collect and disaggregate data for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in publicly-funded colleges and universities and a number of state Departments. State and local policymakers and foundations can then begin to allocate resources more equitably and develop appropriate responses to meet the challenges experienced by individual AAPI communities. LISTEN HERE: Underestimating Trump, Shrum/Christie/Green prognosticate again post-primaries: Will great persona + viral message be ticket for future presidents? Will reactionary GOP reconstitute after realigning loss? Will Trump put bully Christie in VP pulpit or go nuclear with Knight? Should no-drama Hillary choose a guy to help with guys or win with Warren? Presumptive Trump? Bob and Ron agree that unless Cruz thinks of something even more head-turning than Fiorina -- maybe nominating a successor to Scalia's seat? -- the GOP race and #nevertrump are effectively over. It's kneel Zod time. Can Trump be "sooo presidential," as he promised? Based on his foreign policy address this week, the panel doubts it. They agree with Charles Krauthammer that his scripted, tele-prompted speech was as wandering, hollow and confused as his off-the-cuff rants. Advertisement Can his repeated technique of "assertion" that persuades credulous people by creating reality -- we'll destroy ISIS! Obama-Clinton a weak disaster! great trade deals! -- convince not only 40 percent of Republican primary voters but also some Independents and Democrats in the Fall? Bob and Ron laugh. "He thinks being unpredictable is a good way to work with our allies? And how'd that work for Nixon in Vietnam after 1968?" His Veep? Might he just "go it alone" as Gene Robinson joked? Ron predicts that choosing Kasich would be smart but his friend the Governor would never do it. Then he speculates about Rubio, Haley, CChristie. Shrum says most credible Rs would shun him knowing s/he would be on a ticket to nowhere. Last, would this time the GOP seriously reevaluate its strategies after losing the popular vote for the 6th out of seven tries? Ron hopes so because the party's survival depends on it, but he doubts it. "The had eight years under Obama to reach out to minorities and woman and didn't. He wants his party to start dealing again with Democrats to get things done but can't suggest how since today any compromise assures a Tea Party primary opponent. Shrum concurs that the GOP is sharply divided into ideologues and realists, with the former having the upper hand. How'd that happen -- Obama Derangement Syndrome, Right-Wing Talk Radio, a party weighed down by Southern 'lost causists'? He explains all that with JFK's famous Inaugural metaphor, "He who rides the back of tiger ends up inside." Party leaders rode the Tea Party to off-year wins in 20 and 2014 but are now being devoured by them. Advertisement Host: This is a party with the fringe on the bottom. For a longer analysis what that means for November and the next decade, see last chapter of BrightInfiniteFuture.net -- "Economy & Democracy: The Progressive Majority vs. The Fringe Fourth" -- coming out the first week of May. Presumptive Clinton? Why did Clinton end up prevailing only 55-45 over Sanders in voters and delegates when the opening line was more like 75-25? There's agreement again -- that his message really penetrated and she made unforced errors, like her email server and Wall Street speeches. Bob lauds her primary night remarks in turn lauding Sanders and his voters as a smart way of getting 90 percent of her party to support her ticket. But given Trump's campaign of insults and apostasy, Bob doubts that the GOP will even get to 80 percent of Republicans. We discuss how Clinton would be smart to combine her victory with much of Sanders's program. Bob assumes that she could choose Senator Warren as VP but it's unlikely given he need to shrink the opposition of angry white men. Where will Millennials -- who are more numerous than Boomers and who voted for Sanders 80-20 and for Obama 75-25 in 2012 -- go? Christie praises a Paul Ryan town hall of Millennials at his school Georgetown and thinks they're open to a GOP message on entitlements and spending. But Shrum is confidant that they'll swing hard to the Democratic ticket when faced with Trump's craziness and party's anti-gay stance. Host: Earlier election cycles lead to new strategies and candidates, like McGovern's mailing list, Carter's border southern appeal, Dean's use of the internet. But the astounding success of Trump's personality in his party and Sanders's viral message raising scores of millions may re-shape POTUS politics for a generation. Can say some dynamic professor, author, athlete, TV broadcaster with a sticky message leap over the usual cadre of governors and senators to compete and win? Maddow vs. Scarborough in 2024? Photo: Lynn Rosen Lynn Rosen has lived in the Midwest, on the East Coast, and in Japan. After earning three graduate degrees at the University of Rochester, she served on its faculty. She was the Dean of Liberal Arts at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. Her literary work has appeared in The Texas Quarterly and Caprice. A Man of Genius is her literary debut novel, which she completed after 15 years of writing, and had published at age 84. A Man of Genius centers on Samuel Grafton-Hall, an architect whose work is revered the world over. Arthur Dolinger--Grafton-Hall's lawyer and the executor of his estate--tries to piece together a mystery prompted by a strange codicil to the architect's will. Reading the novel, the reader is made privy to the mind and misdeeds of a genius who revels in his cynicism and disdain, a man who leaves colleagues, lovers, and friends deeply scarred for having known him. There is also the matter of a murder: who committed it, and the conundrum of who actually died; and what the answers to those questions mean for those left behind. Samuel Grafton-Hall is an extraordinary character. Tell us a bit about him. The novel is really driven by the backstory of Samuel Grafton-Hall. As a character, he raises many questions I think apply to today's world. Samuel's story and his character traits drove me to look at how we pick our idols, authority figures, and those we trust or follow. Advertisement The media are so instrumental in anointing authority figures, and we often blindly trust and follow these people without question. Once something occurs which forces us to examine these leaders, do we allow ourselves to forgive them for being human and fallible? Samuel Grafton-Hall is so flawed, and if we look at him in the context of comparing him to those in whom we, in our real lives, vest authority, what does it say about us and our own moral obligations? The flaws in Samuel's character are so compelling, they drove me to keep writing this novel, which took a very long time. From my perspective, these questions transcend the book. How long did it take to write the novel? It took a span of fifteen years, nine of which were taken up by writing draft after draft. I lacked faith in myself since I had never before attempted to write a novel. One famous writer I knew told me my attempts to write a Gothic novel while leaving loose ends were ill-advised, so I wrote and re-wrote. Finally, after so many years, a friend looked at a draft and said, 'Finish it your way.' Advertisement So that's exactly what I did. A Man of Genius is told through the words of Grafton-Hall's attorney, Arthur Dolinger, an unreliable narrator. What thoughts do you have about such narrators? I think all narrative voices are unreliable. The truth is, we all struggle with narration. In fact, none of our memories are pure. They become distorted over time, and while we may think we're reliable narrators, we really provide our own versions of what happened in the past. My narrator, Arthur Dolinger, says at the outset that he can't be sure of his facts and he struggles with some parts of his narration. That's part of what I liked about him. He says early on in the novel, 'You may not be able to trust everything I say but I'll do my best.' That's exactly it. He recognized the universal tendency for memory of long-ago events to be terribly unreliable. In A Man of Genius, Grafton-Hall's first wife, Catherine, makes significant--but not publically acknowledged--contributions to his work. Tell us about the barriers women experience in relation to achievement. I lived them. As you said, I have three graduate degrees and personally experienced a great deal of resistance and many barriers. I'll give you two examples. After getting my Master's degree in English, I applied for the Ph.D. program in the Gothic novel at the University of Rochester. I was already teaching concurrently with my course work, and had graduated with honors. During my interview for the Ph.D. program, the chairman of the department told me if I persisted on pursuing admission, they would seat me 'under the seminar table.' That's an exact quote. This was well before Title IX was enacted and they weren't accepting women. A dean who had come over from Columbia suggested I get a doctorate in higher education, which is what I did. But I suffered by that compromise because I really wanted that doctorate in the Gothic novel. When I was in public relations, I had major clients--Rod Serling, Peter Lorre, and others. Yet, my credit card wasn't accepted at restaurants when I took those clients to lunch or dinner. In some places, I couldn't sit at a table waiting for a client because a woman seated alone was not acceptable. I must tell you, my sadness isn't that it occurred; it's that young woman today don't have a sense of what we went through. Advertisement At age eighty-four, your debut novel has been published. What made you undertake writing a novel beginning at age seventy? I don't consider myself a writer. I'm a storyteller. Some stories just stay with me--not in pure form because our memories don't retain events as they actually happened. They've been reconfigured. A certain story stayed with me--one concerning my 1949 visit to Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's home in Wisconsin. I'd read a great deal about him and his architecture. I was privileged to have Mrs. Frank Lloyd Wright take me on a personal tour of Taliesin and invite me to have tea with her. During our conversation, the question I wanted to ask was, 'Mrs. Wright, did your husband really kill his mistress?' Of course, I didn't pose that question to her. There had been stories about the relationship between Mamah Borthwick Cheney and Frank Lloyd Wright, which ended when she was murdered. Stories circulated that he had arranged the murder because he was looking at a prison term on morals charges. The story of Wright, his mistress and wife stayed with me. And then, other notions materialized--about idolatry and authority--and became reconfigured in my mind. So, I finally began to write it as a novel. The writing style of A Man of Genius is reminiscent of Daphne Du Maurier and Emily Bronte, with its evocative literary quality. Talk about your writing style and literary influences. My writing style is simply the voice in my head. I write down what that voice tells me. I'm very interested in Gothic literature for its sublime elements and psychology. For me, the creative and performing arts involve transcendence beyond the moment. Gothic literature pushes you toward that state. I'm engrossed by the question of how we access art and process our feelings about it, and that informs my writing. I admire Du Maurier, but I don't write the way I do in a purposeful way. It's simply a result of how I think. As for my literary influences, I'm an enormous admirer of Laurence Stern and Tristram Shandy. The plot manipulations in that novel are mind-blowing. Advertisement What's coming next from Lynn Rosen? I have several ideas bubbling in my mind. They all derive from experiences--little vignettes from my life that have stayed with me. Congratulations on penning A Man of Genius a lyrical contemporary novel with Gothic elements addressing themes of morality, memory, guilt, and hubris while providing unremitting suspense for the reader. Happy May Day! Let's light bonfires on hilltops and celebrate Life: old and new. The decayed compost nourishes fresh offspring. Aged wisdom and young blood commune in heart-felt exchange. Steady warmth and flames of inspiration encourage us to create in mindful cooperation. Hug a tree, embrace a friend, revel in the beauty of Nature, immerse yourself in dance to the sounds of human speech and live acoustic music. Allow your Spirit to be on fire; nurture the warmth of your body. Yellows and reds blend into expansive orange, the color of inspired living. We inhale the cosmic ideas of the future, and exhale the joyful creations in the present. Breathe in and breathe out. Live. Air moves through the body; move the air in space with your bodies. Life is expansion and contraction, the never ending, always changing relation between you and me, the harmonious movement of the Universe. Advertisement Planets and stars shine, tones and vowels and consonants sound, and I am danced in harmony. My bones sing, my feelings move. The overgrown skin falls away. The self-imposed cocoon cracks open. Mercury in retrograde grants additional three weeks this year to let go of the worn-out attire and create a fresh one in vibrant colors. The first buds on the branches of the river birch and the oak in the backyard were small reddish bursts of early spring. And now, the vibrant green leaves are pushing through them. The initial breakthroughs from within have become too narrow for the exuberant growth ahead. The weaving of the Summer garments is in full sway. Growing up in Slovenia, Europe, I looked forward to two occasions when bonfires were lit on the rolling hills surrounding my hometown: May 1 and June 23. May 1 is the Labor Day in Europe: a new title for the ancient pagan festival of Beltane. Time to forgo the daily routine of work and obligations. A night to gather outdoors and dance. Mhm, yes, and to mate. The blossoms of fruit bearing trees are merrily blanketing the grass with soft white and pink petals for you. Sink into the fragrant carpet with grateful abandon. It's wonderful to make love with another person, but don't forget to love yourself first. Advertisement Beltane and the beginning of May are about the Cosmic Union. May Day as My Day. The Sacred Marriage of your earthly self with your Highest Self, who is at home in the Universe. You can change her/his name to Muse or Cosmic Beloved, if you wish. You are invited to enter into the harmonious flow of the Earth and the Sky anew. We are to discover the cosmic dance of weeks and seasons, of stars and planets, of vowels and consonants and sounds of music. We are to embody the abstract sacred geometry of Life in breathing creations and movement that is alive. Rudolf Steiner gave indications how each verse in the Calendar of the Soul is to be moved in eurythmy, the art of harmonious movement. His verse that inspired these week's sparks, holds a special place in my heart: with four of my classmates, we performed it in July of 2014 in Dornach, Switzerland, at the gathering of the graduates from eurythmy schools world-wide. The Steiner's form is a harmonious co-existence of a square, a triangle, circles, six-pointed and five-pointed stars. The costumes are white silk gowns with red, yellow, and purple thin silk veils. No orange on the physical plane for this choreography: the orange emerges on the cosmic etheric plane in the opposing field of purple and yellow, and through the attraction of yellow and red. The words, forms, gestures, and colors bring to life an understanding of the world as an intricate interlacing of creativity, breathing, and deep spiritual truths. Over to you, dear Soulful Reader: How do you celebrate the Mid-Spring at the beginning of May? BROOKLYN, NY, UNITED STATES - 2016/05/04: Hillary Clinton speaks at Hillary Town Hall with Congresswomen Yvette Clarke and First lady of New York City Chirlane McCray. (Photo by Louise Wateridge/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) Years before the 2016 presidential campaign got underway, pundits and the public alike were debating "Clinton fatigue." Back in 2007, the Wall Street Journal even invented "Clinton Book Fatigue," to go along with the regular variety. The updated version from Keep the Promise I, a PAC backing Ted Cruz, debuted in a video in August of 2015. It depicted a hospital ward full of barely-alive patients suffering from the "disease" of Clinton Fatigue. Agony and attack ads notwithstanding, it seemed a legitimate question: was it desirable or even right to concede the presidency to a political royal family once again? And if so, should a candidate share credit or blame for the past sins and successes of a family member in the White House? Advertisement Now that the choice is here, it's no longer a theoretical issue. But it's moved beyond mere association, and into the realm of personal responsibility for one's political forebears. Donald Trump was first in the ring months ago -- charging Hillary Clinton with being an "enabler" to Bill's sexual shenanigans while in office. In the past few days he has reprised the accusation, no doubt hoping to keep it alive for the general election. (Trump also blamed the late Jeb Bush for his bro's big boo-boo in Iraq.) Fair or not fair? Clearly not fair when it comes to the enabler charge. We don't know what Hillary knew and when she knew it. We do know she held her head high and she tried to minimize the damage to save her husband's career and probably their marriage to boot. It's a path countless women have taken for centuries under similar circumstances. And "by the way" (as Trump is fond of saying) there's more than a little sexism here. Betty Ford had a drug and alcohol problem when Gerald Ford was in the White House. No one ever called him an enabler. But that's all really beside the point. Bill Clinton is not running--Hillary Clinton is. Besides being irrelevant to her campaign, his wandering eye is irrelevant to his record in matters of governing and the country's well being. If sexual escapades count, we'd have to downgrade the presidencies of at least half the guys who have served, from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower to JFK -- and that's just the 20th century. So maybe Eleanor, Mamie, Jackie and Hillary can all be blamed for picking imperfect partners, but surely not for their husbands' successes or failures at leading the country. When asked in a public forum right after Trump's initial "enabler" attack, Bernie Sanders put it best. "Look, Hillary Clinton is not Bill Clinton. What Bill Clinton did, I think we can all acknowledge, was totally, totally, totally disgraceful and unacceptable," the Vermont senator told a crowd at an Iowa town hall. "But I am running against Hillary Clinton. I'm not running against Bill Clinton. I believe what we need to do as a nation is focusing on issues facing this country. So what I am doing is contrasting my record with Hillary Clinton's record, and they are very, very different records. . ." Advertisement Sanders is right. Hillary is woman enough to take credit or blame on her own record, which is extensive. She's not running for Bill Clinton's third term. She's running for her first term, and even though he campaigns for her, neither of them touts his resume as a reason to vote for her. Hillary has been straightforward about what she's for, what she's against, and why she has changed her mind on such matters as her vote for the Iraq war and support for the Trans Pacific Partnership. It's certainly fair to accept or reject both her record and her explanations, as we do for all other candidates. Back in the 1990s, the British anthropologist Robin Dunbar noticed a remarkable correlation between primate brain size and the social groups they formed. This correlation was simple: the bigger their brains, the larger their social groups. And the explanation seemed reasonable: animals with bigger brains can remember, and therefore interact meaningfully with, more of their peers. That led Dunbar to a famous prediction. By plotting the correlation and extrapolating the curve to the size of the human brain, he predicted that humans could have no more than about 150 people in their social sphere. He and many others have gone on to find much evidence for Dunbars number in the sizes of hunter-gatherer societies, Roman legions, and effective businesses. Dunbars number has even been shown to hold on modern social networks. Humans really do seem to have a natural limit to the number of meaningful relationships they can have. And this number is about 150. In recent years, Dunbar has taken his idea further by taking into account the emotional closeness between individuals. This has led him to the idea of Dunbar layers: that an individuals group of 150 contacts is layered according to the strength of emotional ties. Individuals, he says, generally have up to five people in the closest layer. The next closest layer contains an additional 10, the one beyond that an extra 35, and the final group another 100. So cumulatively, the layers contain five, 15, 50, and 150 people. However, the evidence for this kind of layering in social groups has been hard to gather. Today, Dunbar, who is at the University of Oxford in the U.K., and a few pals, say they have found evidence of Dunbar layers in a massive data set of mobile phone calls. And the numbers provide a curious insight into the nature of human social contact. The new data set consists of some six billion calls made by 35 million people in an unnamed European country throughout 2007. The team assumes that the frequency of calls between two individuals is a measure of the strength of their relationship. To screen out business calls and casual calls, Dunbar and co include only individuals who make reciprocated calls and focus on individuals who call at least 100 other people. That screens out people who do not regularly use mobile phones to call social contacts. That leaves some 27,000 people who call on average 130 other people. Each of these people make 3,500 calls per year, about 10 a day. The team says that the individual who made the highest number of calls to another person called over 15,000 times. On average, thats more than 40 calls a day for a whole year. Thats surely close to an upper limit. The team also point out that 2007 is a good year to look for Dunbar layers because it predates the widespread use of smartphones and social networks like Facebook. These provide other avenues for social contact that would have made the study much harder. The teams method is straightforward. Dunbar and co mine this data by counting the number of calls that each individual makes to his or her contacts and using clustering algorithms to look for patterns within the results. But the results make for interesting reading. Different clustering methods give slightly different results, but nevertheless, the team says the average cumulative layer turns out to hold 4.1, 11.0, 29.8, and 128.9 users. These numbers are a little smaller than the conventional numbers for Dunbar layers, but within their natural range of variation, they say. The numbers could be smaller because mobile phone data captures only a portion of a persons total social interactions. The team also finds some evidence of an extra layer among some people. This could, for example, mean introverts and extroverts have a different number of layers of friends, they suggest. But interestingly, extroverts, while having more friends, still have a similar number of layers. In total, the study shows good evidence for the existence of the innermost and outermost layers but with some variability for the size of the intermediate layers. The clustering yields results that match well with previous studies for the innermost and outermost layers, but for layers in between we observe large variability, they say. Interesting stuff. Perhaps next theyll look to see whether similar evidence emerges from the study of online social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and so on that could allow more nuanced studies. Ref: arxiv.org/abs/1604.02400 : Calling Dunbars Numbers https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601369/your-brain-limits-you-to-just-five-bffs/ With the 2016 presidential election now appearing to be a match-up between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, many Democrats are breathing a deep sigh of relief, or better yet, laughing uncontrollably. After all, polling suggests Donald Trump is the most unpopular general election candidate in modern history. However, to write off the election as a done deal for Clinton now would be foolish. Clinton has her own flaws as a candidate. Therein lies an opening for Trump to use his populist, outsider persona to do what many have called impossible, win the presidency. Here are the 4 keys to a Trump victory in November. 1. Contrast with Hillary: Donald Trump will have one big thing going for him as the Republican nominee. That is Hillary Clinton's undeniable, personal unpopularity and lack of trustworthiness among the American people. Advertisement Trump has his flaws, but he is a natural foil to Clinton in many ways on this issue. If Trump synthesizes his "tell it like it is" attitude into an all-out assault on political correctness and the progressive left, he will inspire those who came out for him in the primaries to bring their friends and family out in the general election. The image of Trump jabbing Clinton as the epitome of a bought out career politician could turn one of his perceived flaws, a lack of poise and formal training as a candidate for public office, into an asset during televised debates. Trump's own flip flopping on several issues along with his history of donating money to Democrats including Clinton would provide one possible counter-punch to this strategy for the former Secretary of State. 2. Continue to utilize fear of ISIS: Trump has already realized one thing he can do to garner support, stoke fear of terrorism. Trump's decision to publicly advocate ceasing all Muslim immigration to the United States was a carefully calculated and crafted move to win over a large swath of the Republican base. Advertisement Trump's challenge for the general election will be finding a way to continue displaying strength on the issue of terrorism having already gone so far to the right. What Trump ought to do is show why Clinton is weak on the issue and contrast himself as the alternative that will keep the country safe. The 2012 Benghazi attacks and President Obama's heavily criticized counter-terror strategy give Trump some background for attacks on Clinton's record as Secretary of State. If Trump wants to win this election, he needs to make sure terrorism is the number one issue on the minds of voters as they head to polls in November 3. Outreach to Minorities with economic message (and some actual empathy): The death knell of Trump's campaign may very well be his tremendous unpopularity with minorities and women. There are two obvious ways for Trump to try and make up ground with these voters. Trump's background as a successful businessman could allow him to send a message of economic empowerment to black and Latino Americans. Both of these minority groups are more economically disadvantaged than white Americans and may find Trump more credible on the economy than Clinton as someone who has run a large business in the private sector vs. someone who has made several paid speeches to Wall Street insiders and hasn't had a job outside of Washington in 25 years. If Trump can conjure up a coherent, populist plan to address income inequality, he can contrast himself with Clinton on yet another issue in a way that may appeal to minorities and women. Throughout this process Trump would be required to do something he has failed to do up to this point. That is to show some genuine empathy for minorities and women that contrasts many his previous controversial remarks throughout the primary season. Advertisement If anything ever required a candidate to make the kind of dramatic apology that Paul Ryan made earlier this year about his past rhetoric on economic issues, it would be Trump's highly incendiary remarks about Latino's, Muslims and women. 4. Keep Bernie voters home: Bernie Sanders voters are not Trump voters. That is an undeniable fact. Yes, both of these groups are disenfranchised, anti-establishment members of their respective party's bases, but that's where the similarities end. Trump will not be able to absorb much of the socialist septuagenarian's support, but he can keep them from coming out to support Hillary Clinton, whom they are already skeptical of. Trump would do well to speak highly of Bernie for his honesty and integrity, once again contrasting himself with Clinton via the spirit of the Vermont Senator's own populist campaign. There are several factors from Clinton's past that would allow Trump to do this, including the aforementioned Wall-Street speeches. If Trump can convince the economically frustrated whites that made up so much of Sander's support that Clinton is merely pandering to them, they may very well stay home or vote third party. It's almost impossible to imagine Trump winning the votes of Sanders voters after his lurch to the right on social issues during the Republican primaries, but every vote he can keep from Clinton will bring him one step closer to the Whitehouse. Advertisement An earlier version of this article originally appeared on the WideNet Blog. Click here for the original post. Recently,famed entrepreneur and snapchatter, Gary Vaynerchuk, wrote a great article about non-profit marketing in which he gives some valuable insights on content creation and audience communication (if you run or work with a non-profit, we highly suggest you check it out). This article struck a chord with us at WideNet. There are over 600 non-profits within a 40 mile radius of our office; so, as you can imagine, we do a lot of work these types of organizations. And like so many businesses in the for-profit world, a lot of non-profits are behind the curve when it comes to modern marketing and advertising. Advertisement While Gary's piece provides some good information and advice, he doesn't get too specific on what exactly a non-profit can do to better market themselves. So we put together a list of four (affordable) ways non-profits can utilize the digital world to spread the word about their cause. Facebook Ad Event Promotion When it comes to your fundraising events, Facebook is a great way to raise awareness and invite people to attend. But did you know there is an ad option for promoting an event? Most Facebook event pages are limited by the number of people you invite and the amount of engagement they get. And unless you're having a private fundraiser with a specifically selected list of attendees, advertising your event is a great way to reach people who aren't connected to your Facebook page. The process is relatively simple, even for those new to Facebook advertising. It's also pretty affordable! You can get a full rundown on how to set up Event Promotions here. Advertisement And speaking of fundraisers... Use Snapchat and Other Real-Time Apps for Live Updates on Projects and Events Earlier this year, we wrote about why businesses should pay more attention to Snapchat, and the same can be said about non-profits. People who give to non-profits want to know their money is being put to good use. So besides educating people about your cause, your marketing should aim to show donors and contributors the work that's being done--and you can do that through Snapchat. When you're working on a project--whether it's building a home, providing a service to children, rescuing animals, or whatever--snap the progress to your followers. Let them see the action in real time. And don't think you have to limit yourself JUST to Snapchat. If you don't have a huge Snapchat audience, then you can utilize Instagram and Facebook live streaming for the same thing. Sign Up for Google for Nonprofits Google, in their eternal quest for total omnipotence over the Internet, has an entire program dedicated to nonprofits. It's called Google for Nonprofits. Advertisement By signing up, you gain access to all sorts of online resources to help promote and grow your organization. Even better, many of these resources are aimed at helping you cut costs and save money. For example, Google Apps provides you with free access to the productivity suite, which includes Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and more. You can also sign up for Google Ad Grants, which gives you free AdWords advertising, and you get access to YouTube Nonprofit Program, which helps you maximize your organization's impact on YouTube. There are a few exclusions, however. You must be a registered 501(c)(3), and certain types of organizations are not allowed to join. These include: government entities and organizations, hospitals and healthcare organizations, schools, child care centers, academic institutions, and universities (philanthropic arms of educational organizations are eligible however). To learn more about Google for Nonprofits, their products, and how to apply here. Target Influencers on Social Media Influencer Marketing through social media is huge right now--and it just keeps growing. In case you're unaware, a social media influencer is simply someone with a large, dedicated following on a particular social media platform. Influencers have a TON of value with their followers, which is why many businesses have started marketing to them instead of focusing solely on a targeted audience. Advertisement Part of the reason influencers are so effective is because people are tired of advertisements. Banner ads, billboards, commercials, radio ads, etc. aren't as effective as they once were. However, when a trusted influencer endorses a product or advocates a cause, their followers are more likely to get on board. Keep in mind that an effective influencer doesn't necessarily mean someone with a billion Instagram followers. For small or local non-profits, focus on targeting community leaders, local business owners, council members, county commissioners, or board executives. Pay attention to which local leaders have a large, engaging social media following, and then reach out to them about promoting your nonprofit. (Once again, Gary V has some good advice about targeting social media influencers ,which you can check out here.) Targeting influencers might take a little time, but the payoff is more than worth it. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Pam Vogel is the education program director of the nonprofit Media Matters. She has been with Media Matters since August 2015. Her previous experience includes four months in 2014 as an intern in the office of Vice President Joe Biden. For another six months in 2014, Vogel interned at the Clinton Foundation. Vogel graduated from Whitesboro High School (NY) in 2008; Vasser College in 2012, and Teachers College in 2014. On April 27, 2016, Vogel published this piece for Media Matters, entitled, "Here Are The Corporations And Right-Wing Funders Backing The Education Reform Movement: A Guide To The Funders Behind A Tangled Network Of Advocacy, Research, Media, And Profiteering That's Taking Over Public Education." Now, from the title, it sounds like Vogel's piece is exhaustive -- "a guide to the funders." However, as one continues reading, one finds this summation: Advertisement Media Matters outlines the many overlapping connections in an echo chamber of education privatization advocacy groups, think tanks, and media outlets that are increasingly funded by a handful of conservative billionaires and for-profit education companies -- often without proper disclosure. Interestingly enough, Vogel's "many overlapping connections" fails to include the Big Three corporate-reform-purchasing philanthropies: Gates, Walton, and Broad. Amazing. But she does include such notable names as the Scaife Foundations, Thomas A Roe Foundation, and Adolph Coors Foundation. (Tongue in cheek, my friends. Tongue in cheek.) Also remarkable is that Vogel includes the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, which has received to date $2.6 million from the Gates Foundation just to remain in existence (i.e., for "general operating support"). She also includes Stand for Children (to date, $17 million from Gates). Still, Vogel omits Gates. Advertisement What else is noteworthy is that Vogel includes Campbell Brown's The 74 but omits Peter Cunningham's Education Post (which is really Results in Education Foundation, or RIEF). These two peas share a pod, with Ed Post carrying articles originally from The 74 and The 74 offering the disclaimer, "Disclosure: The 74 sometimes partners with Education Post to share content." The 74's funders include the Walton Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies, same as RIEF-uh- Ed Post. In Vogel's report, The 74 is shamed and Ed Post escapes. In addition, Vogel makes no mention of the corporate reform money and proselyte funnel, Teach for America (TFA), which is Walton-Broad-Gates-funded ($5 million from Walton in 2015; between $1 million and $5 million from Broad in 2015, and $761,000 from Gates in 2015- and $11 million from Gates since 2007), nor does she mention the election-purchasing Democrats for Education Reform (DFER). Why omit the likes of Walton, Gates, Broad, Ed Post/RIEF, TFA, and DFER from a report that supposedly exposes the corporate reform agenda "increasingly funded by a handful of conservative billionaires..."? Well. We already know that Vogel is connected to both the Clintons and the Obama administration. And therein lies the answer. Advertisement Media Matters is a nonprofit chaired by David Brock, who happens to be Hillary Clinton's controversial campaign manager. Here's a bit of the Brock-antagonized, Clinton campaign controversy: Hillary Clinton's campaign recently sunk to a new low by allowing political operative David Brock to file ethics lawsuits on their behalf against Bernie Sanders' campaign. Despite vocally advocating for campaign finance reform, Ms. Clinton has received millions of dollars in contributions through her joint super PAC with the Democratic National Committee--the Hillary Victory Fund--and several other super PACs lobbying on her behalf. One of them, the American Democracy Legal Fund (ADLF), had the audacity to file three ethics complaints with the Federal Election Commission alleging Mr. Sanders--who does not have a super PAC--received too much money from individual donors, and accused the National Nurses Union of operating as a super PAC. The ADLF is run by Brad Woodhouse, president of the pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, Correct The Record. Mr. Brock is the founder of ADLF, and is also involved with Correct the Record as well as another Clinton super PAC, American Bridge--where he simultaneously advises Ms. Clinton's campaign and helps their super PACs raise millions of dollars from wealthy contributors. And still, Brock runs Media Matters, which advertises the following mission on its 2013 990 tax form: Media Matters for America is a web-based not-for-profit progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing and correcting conservative misinformation in the US media... Media Matters for America works to notify activists, journalists, pundits and the general public about instances of misinformation, providing them with the resources to rebut false claims and take direct action against offending media institutions. Hmm. I guess in trying to pass its April 27, 2016, slanted funders report as trustworthy, Media Matters needs to write a report about themselves and the Don't Connect to Obama or Clinton game they play with that "many connections" half truth. Media Matters also plays a game by tossing in the term "conservative misinformation." When it comes to privatizing reform, there is little distinction between the liberal- and conservative-billionaire cash toss. But there are reasons why the Vogel report glaringly omits mention of Gates, Walton, Broad, DFER, and Ed Post, and it has to do with the White House- both who is there now and who hopes to be there soon. Obama and Clinton, respectively. Both Democrats. In February 2016, Alice Walton donated $353,400 to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. And why not? Hillary Clinton served on the Walmart board from 1986 to 1992. (Sam Walton was under pressure to put a woman on the board of the Arkansas-based company, and Bill Clinton was governor, and Clinton's wife was a lawyer, and she was a woman....) Advertisement Though Clinton apparently returned $5,000 in Walton super PAC money in 2005, in 2016, she seems fine with accepting Alice Walton's contribution. Still, Clinton does not publicly disclose her Republican, anti-union, Walton history. Moving on. After Bill Clinton reassured Eli Broad in late 2015 that Hillary really does support charter schools, Broad opened his wallet to a Clinton-friendly super PAC. (Hillary Clinton was once Broad's lawyer.) It seems that this reassurance also brought DFER on board as a Hillary Clinton supporter. Another notable Clinton supporter is the Chicago-based Pritzker family. The Pritzkers are connected to Obama; Penny Pritzker is now part of the Obama administration: For the past two years, Ms. Pritzker served the Obama Administration as a member of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board which formulated and evaluated economic policy. She was National Finance Chair of the Barack Obama for President campaign and co-chair of the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee. The Pritzker Group has contributed $2.8 million to the Hillary Clinton campaign. Given that Ed Post is really the nonprofit RIEF, and given that RIEF has many ties to Obama's White House (including that Pritzker connection via one of RIEF's funders), it seems only right that Ed Post should be excluded from that Vogel report. Advertisement As for Vogel's TFA omission: How could she include a corporate reform incubator to which Obama himself sent a congratulatory message during the TFA 25th Anniversary shindig? Here's an excerpt: Wendy [Kopp]'s dream to get great teachers into our classrooms has fundamentally changed our country. Media Matters expose TFA? No way. So, there we have it: Media Matters: Selectively exposing corporate reform while trying not to implicate or offend the current or potentially-future Democratic White House. That's about right. *** Originally posted 04-30-16 at deutsch29.wordpress.com Schneider is a southern Louisiana native, career teacher, trained researcher, and author of the ed reform whistle blower, A Chronicle of Echoes: Who's Who In the Implosion of American Public Education. Our first challenge is to obtain a suitable definition of the term "chronic disease." The World Health Organization asserts that the term is synonymous with "noncommunicable diseases," noting that they are of long duration and generally slow progression. WHO further identifies the four main types as cardiovascular diseases; cancers; chronic respiratory diseases; and diabetes. Given this roster, it is hardly surprising that chronic disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide -- representing 60 percent of all deaths. The CDC's list is slightly different, and includes obesity and arthritis. According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, a chronic disease is one lasting three months or more. In general, they cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear. Let's go with that one. Inasmuch as 88 percent of Americans over 65 have at least one chronic condition, it is easy enough to blame these afflictions on aging. However, plenty of younger folks engage in unhealthy practices such as tobacco use, lack of physical activity, and poor eating habits; and plenty of people much younger than 65 have chronic conditions, as well. Advertisement Unfortunately, too many seniors are discovering that following the conventional precepts of a healthy lifestyle hardly guarantees that they will be exempt. Perhaps the best known example is the death (1998) -- at age 56 -- of Linda McCartney. As a strict vegetarian, wealthy enough to embrace whatever aspects of a healthy lifestyle she could conjure up, she nonetheless contracted metastatic breast cancer. Reaction at the time ranged from astonishment (but, she did everything right!) to bizarre rumors and fan theories. Closer to home, a high school classmate who always kept in shape lamented that she too did everything right, and especially liked dancing. Apparently, she became quite the devotee of Zumba and was rewarded with... a hip replacement. In her case, the standard shopworn reply from the experts is that she is still better off because of the cardiovascular benefits. Maybe, except this sort of "tolerable side effects" rationalization is beginning to wear thin. Indeed, the notion that nearly all drug side effects are acceptable, as long as they are disclosed, is truly a sick joke. Some would argue that chronic illnesses will never be cured, since there is much more money to be made in their lifelong treatment. Even if you don't accept that premise, you will likely acknowledge that a lifetime of taking meds -- with all their side effects -- is surely not a benign course of action. Advertisement Others will argue that the answer to chronic illness is for people to take ownership of their health, be proactive, and get informed. Fair enough, but given the amount of available resources, discerning what might be safe and effective -- for you -- is no simple task. One useful shortcut is to be wary of those who promote their approach as some sort of universal cure. Which brings us to the Cynefin Framework, a knowledge management tool, which allows decision-makers to see things from new viewpoints, assimilate complex concepts, and address real-world problems and opportunities. In the original article on Cynefin (a Welsh word that signifies the multiple factors in our environment and our experience that influence us in ways we can never understand), authors David Snowden and Mary Boone stated that: All too often, managers rely on common leadership approaches that work well in one set of circumstances but fall short in others. Why do these approaches fail even when logic indicates they should prevail? The answer lies in a fundamental assumption of organizational theory and practice: that a certain level of predictability and order exists in the world. This assumption, grounded in the Newtonian science that underlies scientific management, encourages simplifications that are useful in ordered circumstances. Circumstances change, however, and as they become more complex, the simplifications can fail. Good leadership is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Cynefin speaks of four domains: Commentator Robert Paterson observes that, "Modern Medicine lives in the right hand quadrant but our chronic illness lives in the left hand side." Advertisement Paterson suggests that since medicine's greatest successes have been based on simple answers, it is now geared to see only local cause and effect. He predicts that it will continue to fail in treating chronic illness -- a complex problem brought on by interactions between your ancestry, the food you eat, what you do with your body, how much time you spend outdoors, your social status and how much sleep you have. There is no one cause. There are only many variables interacting over long periods of time that result in emergence of disease that in turn result in the emergence of more disease. "Modern medicine," he says, "is a linear world where the payoff is in the sale of a drug, a test, or a procedure such as an operation or a Botox shot. No one gets paid to work with complexity. So no one does." The time has come to start looking seriously at what a Trump presidency would entail. The surprise: when you poke beneath the surface it may not be anything like what we expect. The President does not govern alone. Just like two hundred years ago when life in Washington was much simpler, the vast workings of the government apparatus are run by civil servants -- thousands of civil servants. Those folks will remain. They will continue to do their jobs. Most of the "government" will just keep on trucking. The President sets policy and tone. The President makes speeches and through his personal involvement indicates priorities. BUT, it is the President's political appointees who need to carry that messaging to the civil service rank and file. And, here is the rub -- President Donald is going to have a very hard time filling those political appointments. The troops will go on doing their "thing" because there will be no new political layer above them to influence change. Advertisement President Donald has two key problems in getting his political appointees: 1) suitable candidates and 2) Congressional approval. There are few qualified prospects for Cabinet and sub-Cabinet jobs who are willing to work for "President Narcissist" who makes no errors, lives on soundbites, and sets impossible goals for those around him. Those who pass that gauntlet must then survive a hostile confirmation process from a Congress which will be dominated by anti-Trump politicians from both sides of the aisle. A recent New York Times article highlighted the resistance amongst the qualified to the idea of sharing the presidential ticket with Trump. That resistance is negligible compared with that felt by sitting governors, mayors, congressmen and their ilk who will be asked to subsume their own expansive egos in servitude to the demands of the Donald. President Trump will take 110% of the credit for anything that goes right and promises to send you off with 300% of the blame if anything goes wrong. Always watching out for those fateful words: "you're fired." What an appealing job description. NOT. Which means the actual nominees will be, by definition, either unknown or less than stellar. And they will be men (or at least self-identified gender category: man). The Donald makes it very difficult for a female to agree to work for him -- and maintain her self-respect. Unless, in the not yet seen pivot, the Donald announces that Megan Kelly will be his Chief of Staff. When the only prominent female willing to speak up for the Donald is his daughter, presidential events in the USA will start to resemble those in North Korea -- endless unnamed men in black suits all glorifying a leader with bad hair. It then becomes the job of the Congress to screen and approve the nominees. 2017 is shaping up to be the year when for the first time EVER Congress will reject the vast majority of the nominees sent its way. Remember we have precedent, there is this judge named Garland ... Hearings will focus on both qualifications and how the nominee proposes to deal with the demands of the Donald. How will the nominee balance the powers lawfully vested in her/his proposed office with the "it's all me all the time" focus of a President Trump? When the phone rings in the middle of the night (or more likely when the President decides to tweet instructions in the middle of the night) how will the nominee respond? Advertisement In another first, America will find these hearings spellbinding. C-SPAN will have a shot, for a while at least, of winning the ratings game. NOW and its ilk will be out in force at every hearing -- complaining about the lack of women appointees, and thereby assuring the hearings of the daytime TV audience. President the Donald will brag about the strength of the ratings while at the same time complaining that the media "is not doing its job" -- after all the focus is supposed to be on the Donald not on his minions. The priority of the 115th Congress (the one that starts next year) will be to fix the mess that gave us President Donald. This will be the one task that Democrats and Republicans alike will agree upon. For the sake of making the possibility of a repeat performance impossible, differences will be put aside and reform will pass. It will need a two-thirds vote to survive the Donald's veto, so it will be bi-partisan. That experience may give rise to further pro-the-Donald versus anti-the Donald coalitions. Paul Ryan may invite Nancy Pelosi to be the majority leader of the new "America First" coalition. Our government will look more and more like England's every day. President the Donald will be a ferociously active monarch. Appearing everywhere. Taking credit for everything. But, as in any constitutional monarchy, able to get next to nothing done. Subtlety is not the Donald's way. We should not be surprised if he tries to hire ex-King Juan Carlos of Spain to advise him and, in a brilliant PR coup, ex-queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. President the Donald will, of course, reject their advice -- but remember he only hires "the best." By contrast to our new monarch, the Government will be busy. Civil servants will be able to do what they are supposed to -- free of political interference since the political appointees normally above them will be absent. Congress will keep finding ways to get two-thirds votes (anything to show up the Donald). Our aging Supreme Court Justices will find new vigor -- they will not take responsibility for dying and allowing the Donald a court seat. Our fear of President Donald is based on his talk -- his "role playing." If that talk could be put into action .... the prospects horrify. But, the actual prospect of President Donald may not be anywhere near as bad. Our Founding Fathers displayed much wisdom in insisting on a government with checks and balances. Trump's own personality will create the necessary checks -- would YOU agree to work for the man? The appall of the political class will create the balance. Advertisement April 22nd is annually celebrated as "Earth Day" and what a better way to celebrate this wonderful day then with the signing of the Paris Agreement. This treaty, which will ultimately reduce global warming in our lifetime, was signed by more than 177 UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) members at the UN on Earth Day. The ultimate goal of the Paris Agreement is to change the policy of climate change globally. It's setting the bar for an ambitious goal of limiting warming to well below 2 degree celsius. This would mean the entire world would need to get off fossil fuels in this century. This is a very revolutionary request of the UNFCCC but they have high hopes, even North Korea is interested in joining the party. Leonardo DiCaprio U.N. Messenger of Peace, also an outspoken activist for the Paris Agreement, still believes that the agreement was nowhere near enough to save the planet. "Our planet cannot be saved unless we leave fossil fuels in the ground, where they belong," Leonardo went on to say, "An upheaval and massive change is required, now. One that leads to a new collective consciousness. A new collective evolution of the human race, inspired and enabled by a sense of urgency from all of you." True and thoughtful words from the same man who talked about climate change during his Oscar acceptance speech. (See: "Leonardo DiCaprio - Best Actor & Best Humanitarian Award?") Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signed the Paris Agreement at the UN while his granddaughter sat on his lap. This treaty will ensure her a cleaner earth to live on in the future. Before the ceremony had started Kerry had this to say: "The power of this agreement is the opportunity that it creates. The power is the message that it sends to the marketplace. It is the unmistakable signal that innovation ... is what we now know definitely is what is going to define the new energy future, a future that is already being defined but even yet to be discovered. None of what we have to achieve is beyond our capacity technologically. The only question is whether it is beyond our collective resolve." Some countries are already taking the second step to ratify the agreement and came to the signing with high hopes to join the agreement in full force. The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, said that "the people of Tuvalu are so committed to the Paris Agreement that our own parliament has already agreed to ratify." The Prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, said "Climate change will test our intelligence, our compassion, and our will, but we are all equal to that challenge, In every possible sense we are all in this together. Together we will make ours a better world." Very promising and forward thinking words spoken by the Prime Minister. Written by: Kareem Yaghnam, Senior at MSU, Studying Communication and Media Arts. @Bigsexykerm Before my first trip there, I had no idea what to pack for a winter week in Iceland. It just looks so cold, but it was actually the same temperature as Ireland (home for me) the week I went in January. I flit about Dublin all winter (and summer for that matter) in just a leather jacket, so practicality isn't my strong suit. Would I need thermals and a base layer? Specialist boots for snow and ice? Ski clothes for snowshoeing? Fancy stuff for going out at night in Reykjavik? I hadn't a clue. Now, I'm much more confident and ready to share my tips about what to pack for a winter week in Iceland. I spent some time in the Westfjords, the most remote part of Iceland and arriving at Isafjordur airport, I quickly realised my leather boots weren't going to cut it, as even the runway wasn't cleared from ice and slush. In panic preparation packing mode, I'd made a big order from Helly Hansen, the Norwegian ski and sail brand before I left and proper snow boots were first on my list. I think I was about the only tourist in the town, so the last thing I needed was to be sliding all over the place showing myself up. Walking became a lot easier when I switched to my Helly Hansen boots. A post shared by Nadia daily s'elf travels (@nadia_dailyself) on Feb 27, 2016 at 6:29am PST Advertisement The Isafjorder hotel cleared the pavement in front of the entrance, but pretty much everywhere else was covered in deep snow or ice, even right up to the door of the (one open) bar and the bakery in town, so in my opinion good quality snow boots for a winter week in Iceland should be your top priority. If you really don't want to invest (although you should because they're insulated and 100% waterproof) then you should at least buy the clip on grips for your shoes, Amazon has loads of options like these or these. Either way, you need something above calf height if you're anywhere in Iceland in winter that isn't built up i.e. where the snow hasn't been cleared. A post shared by Nadia daily s'elf travels (@nadia_dailyself) on Feb 29, 2016 at 2:23am PST Everyone, bar some toughened locals, wears gloves at all times outdoors, they must be used to it because I couldn't feel my fingers after taking my gloves off for just a minute to use my camera. If you want to be able to use your devices, then go for something like Helly Hansen's Smart Gloves. If it's just warmth you require, then I like the Thinsulate brand. You can even get heated gloves like this pair Advertisement Keeping with accessories, you'll want at least a hat and probably a scarf too, but I noticed lots of people were wearing Buff neck warmers which you can wear loads of different ways and they sell them everywhere in Iceland. If you get too warm you can just wrap it around your wrist. When I got back to Reykjavik, I realised everyone was wearing less practical but more fancy furries. Decide which is more important to you, I chose comfort and practicality, sprinkled with a little bit of decoration. For sunglasses, polarised are your best best as the glare of the bright white snow can be very tiring on your eyes, especially if you're driving. When it comes to clothes, here's what not to wear: ripped jeans. Yeah, I know, obvious. I don't know what I was thinking, but I didn't know what to pack for a winter week in Iceland, so just don't make the same mistake as me. They were fine for a bar crawl in Reykjavik, but not so much in knee-deep snow at Heydalur in the Westfjords frolicking with the Icelandic horses. If you follow my Snapchat story (nadia_dailyself), you will have seen me drying both my jeans and my knees with the hairdryer back at the cabin. Moral of the story? Do as I say, not as I do. A post shared by Nadia daily s'elf travels (@nadia_dailyself) on Feb 25, 2016 at 7:24am PST For outdoorsy stuff, I went for Helly Hansen's slim fit ski pants. I wore them snow shoeing, sea kayaking and on the Golden Circle tour where you were pretty exposed to the elements and they kept me warm and dry on all occasions. They aren't the type that hideously cover your boots in a sort of dodgy flare that adds five inches to each leg look, they're more like water-resistant thick black leggings that you can tuck in, ideal. A post shared by Nadia daily s'elf travels (@nadia_dailyself) on Feb 26, 2016 at 1:27pm PST Advertisement What about thermals and stuff? If you've got the right coat and accessories, they're not an essential. Of course it can get much colder than when I was there (hovering around zero celsius or a couple below), but speaking to lots of locals the temp never drops to crazy lows like you'd find in Canada or even New York. In fact, during my snowshoe trek, I had to stop to peel off a layer. Even though we were rising in altitude, the activities really warm you up, especially if it's sunny. You want to have something ready to throw on if you're stationary or the sun's not out though. Back in the city, normal clothes and shoes are fine if you're just going out downtown but you'll still want to be wearing your big coat, plus gloves and maybe a hat. Some paths or sidewalks can be slippy, so consider this when choosing your footwear, almost no one wears heels. If you're venturing out at night to chase the Northern Lights or if you're going on a tour to Geysir or National Park where there's more of an open landscape, then that's when you really want to wrap up and wear all your layers. To summarise, here's a list of what to pack for a winter week in Iceland: Clothes and shoes Snow boots and/or snow grips for normal shoes Warm, thick, long socks (bring more than you think you need) Gloves x 2 (for different activities, in case one pair gets wet) Warm, water resistant pants Hat Scarf or buff Trainers or leather shoes for non-snowy areas Layers - cotton t-shirts and wickable fabric base layers Wind and waterproof coat with hood and lots of pockets Jeans - without ripped knees Sleepwear depending on accommodation, most will be heated in winter so nothing too warm Other Camera, memory card and spare batteries - batteries can drain faster in cold weather Dry bag if you're doing any activities on water and want to bring electronics Polarised sunglasses Backpack with waterproof cover Advertisement Nake M. Kamrany, University of Southern California, Ghaffar Mughal, Qatar University, Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathew Jackson, University of Montana and member of the Global Income Convergence Group, Jessica Greenhalgh, Global Income Convergence Group and Sam Kosydar, Global Income Convergence Group The recent surge in immigration is caused because more bombs being dropped, millions are dead, and millions more march to perceived safety, or in many cases internment camps in Europe. And all the while America still does nothing except to threaten massive deportation of some 11+ million who have lived in the U.S. for years. Although President Barrack Obama may have tried to avoid getting more in the Middle East war of entanglement, but he is presiding over one of the largest humanitarian disasters of this century. To be fair, Obama's hands have been tied. No American president of the modern era, with the exception of perhaps FDR in last term, has faced a Congress as obstructionist or as intent on undermining the legislative policies of its chief executive. Even if Obama moved to take in more refugees or send ground forces into Syria, would Congress allow him? The answer would most likely be a resounding no. And while criticism can be leveled at both parties, Robert Kagan's assertion that the current Republican Party is suffering from a "racially tinged derangement syndrome" is starting to gain credence with a lot of Americans, particularly young Americans. More importantly, American leadership has not expressed no interest in giving PEACE a chance as an alternative. Advertisement This frustration has funneled itself into what has to be one of the most anti-establishment, 'let's burn the house down' style presidential campaigns of the last sixty years. Trumped with anger, popular discontent has once again found its willing historical victim: immigrants. Particularly, the 11 million undocumented immigrants who call America home have been singled out. The bluster and braggadocio of the primary season alone, in which we have heard assertions of building walls and mass deportations have rendered the once storied words, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free" all but hollow. Immigration issues in the United States transcends those of Europeans, although the root causes are substantially different. U.S. immigration issue consists of some 11+ million non-documented due to economic disparity. Europeans receive a flood of people who are seeking both economic equity, personal safety and political asylum as refugees. Immigration consists of peoples' movement for resettlement from sending countries to receiving countries due to (1) political and social repressions in the home country or political immigration caused by dictatorial home governments such as the Syrian exodus. And, (2) economic immigration due to wage/income differentials between the sending and receiving countries who are motivated by economic incentives. Historically the world has experienced several waves of non-documented immigration, mostly motivated by economic incentives and opportunities, and they have largely proven favorable for both the receiving and sending countries just the same as the mutual benefits of un-impinged free international trade. All parties have gained by international trade and immigration. Sending countries have gained from the annual remittances of the immigrants who have send billions of dollars annually to their home countries. Advertisement Concurrently, the receiving countries have benefited by the availability of cheaper labor than the prevailing labor cost. However, in the current wave of immigration into Europe, the receiving countries confront the European Migration Crisis and are overwhelmed with political refugees which have overwhelmed the infrastructure and socio/political /economic capacity of the receiving countries. The United States is confronted with millions of undocumented immigrants who must conform to U.S. Immigration laws. However, the current immigration issue in the United States election is the existence of an alleged 11+ non-documented immigrants that candidate Donald Trump has singled out for deportation and to build a tall wall between Mexico and the U.S. borders. Although these measures may have some impact to stemming the flow of non-documents into the U.S., however, these measures do not augur well with the public. Donald Trump has highlighted the issue of immigration in the forefront of the U.S. 2016 presidential election. However, a majority of the American public would opt a humanitarian approach for those non-documents who have lived in the U.S., have held jobs, have paid taxes, have raised families, are law abiding individuals and are productive individuals the same as productive citizens. Equity demands a fair and humanitarian treatment. In a recent survey conducted by USC Dornsife /Los Angeles Times statewide poll found that 62% of the voters said that they believed illegal immigrants in California is at least a major problem while 36% believed the issue was a small problem. Or not a problem at all. However, the state voters rejected the measures proposed by presidential front runner Donald Trump's mass deportation proposal. More than three- fourth of the voters expressed the view that immigrants who are already in the U.S. be granted permission and allowed to stay and apply for U.S. citizenship. By 2 to 1 voters opposed building a wall along the southern U.S. border to prevent immigrants entering the U.S. without proper legal documentation. The young voters in the state of California, which is housing the largest non-documented immigrants in the U.S. have taken a nuanced approach in contrast to older voters who are more likely to favor mass deportation of illegals. President Obama has submitted a bill to Congress designed to grant millions of non-documents to avoid deportation from the United States. The issue is being challenged by some states on grounds of jurisdiction issue over immigration subject of the federal government vs. the state governments. During the Supreme Court initial deliberation on April 20, 2016 the prospect vote ostensibly will be on ideological line rather than on the merit of the subject which means the lower federal ruling will prevail in view of 4-4 split in the Supreme Court. FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTION TO IMMIGRATION Walls and deportations have been tried before and they are not effective in addressing the issue of immigration as long as political repression and economic disparity prevail on global scale. The solution to immigration issue is to single out the above two problems and devise and apply an effective global approach. With respect to political repression, most notably tribal, religious, and sectarian divide must be countered through democracy, education, communication, and technology. Measures of domestic, political, social and economic indicators as they apply to repression must be established for troubled countries and followed over time under the auspices of the World Bank/IMF. Positive and negative incentives must be applied to encourage progression over time. With respect to economic immigration the response to stem it must be to stimulate economic development and employment opportunities in the home countries. The target should be 4% annual growth of the GDP and an unemployment rate of less than 6%. The affected countries and the international community of the rich countries must work together to increase the per capita income and wage level and employment opportunity of the sending countries. When these indicators reach some proximity to development standard, then the flow of emigration due to economic incentives will subside. There exist an innate desire for a majority of the people to remain in their homes and villages. Whenever emigration from sending countries reach equilibrium the issue will subside or get resolved. This approach will require transfer of substantial amount of investment funds from the rich to low income countries. However, resources are scarce everywhere. However, the sources of these funds could be tapped by re-allocating the military budget in the rich countries and apply it for reducing economic and political immigration in the low income countries. This process may continue until the income and wage level in the sending countries reach a level of income that would stem emigration. In the past the rich countries had agreed to allocate up to 1% of their GDP for economic development in LDCs, but it never materialized due to former cold-war - East-West completion. It is, frankly speaking, depressing. The Grand Old Party is about to nominate a grand old fraud. The misogynist, congenitally uninformed, race-baiting birther and tweeter-in-chief, Donald Trump. What went wrong? Even the post-mortems are depressing. The conventional view is that the Republicans are now reaping the whirlwind they have been sowing for over forty years. Going back to Nixon's tough-on-crime appeals to the silent (and mostly white) majority, through George H.W. Bush's turning Willie Horton into a poster child for liberalism's ostensible idiocy, to Romney's trope on the 47% who believe they are "victims" "dependent on government" (we all know who they are), the dog whistles on race have, it is said, come home to roost. The party of Lincoln has been reduced to a rump caucus where (mostly) angry, un- or under-employed white men easily swallow the Trump lie that illegal immigrants, affirmative action, feminists, foreigners and minorities (including the current President) are responsible for their plight. There is a lot of truth to this view. But there is also a lot about it that is false. Because it lets the GOP elites off the hook . . . Way too easily. The plain fact is that opposing Donald Trump should have been a no-brainer for any Republican office-holder in this country. The list of disqualifiers was so long that none of them needed to wait much longer than a nano-second before declaring their opposition. Whether you focused on Trump's support for the birthers (a truly psychotic bunch who spent years questioning Obama's birthright citizenship), his misogynistic comments on women ("fat pigs," "dogs," "disgusting animals"), his racism (undocumented Mexican immigrants as "rapists" and "criminals"), his equivocation on David Duke (who everyone knows is a white supremacist but about whom Trump professed ignorance), his modern day brown-shirtism (telling supporters to "punch the crap out of" protesters; he'll pay the legal fees if the "punchers" are charged), or his ignorance on fundamental issues of policy (as in what constitutes the nuclear triad or whether, after seventy years of bi-partisan non-proliferation, we should be encouraging any country to go nuclear), Trump offered an almost daily-reason to say "be gone." Advertisement And even if none of the Republican elite, being politicians, needed to analyze the necessity of disavowing Trump much before seeing the poll numbers he was generating last year in the run up to the primaries and caucuses, the responsibility to get rid of him -- or at least try very hard -- became unavoidable once he started winning. But the vast majority of them sat on their hands . . . And are still doing so. The latest equivocator is Indiana Governor Mike Pence. He announced yesterday that he thought Trump was "great" but would vote in the next week's Indiana primary for Cruz. This was considered an endorsement for Cruz. In truth, however, it was more in the nature of a "who cares." It's as if a German in the summer of 1932 said "I'm voting for the Centre Party but congrats to Adolf, who sure is telling the post-Versailles world -- and all those bankers -- a thing or two." Lindsey Graham lauded Pence for "standing up for conservatism" in endorsing Cruz. But Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post was right when he called Pence's "stand" more of a "crouch." Pence's approach, however, has been pretty typical. Just before the Pennsylvania primary last week, that state's incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey announced that he too was voting for Cruz. Advertisement Others have not been even that forthright. New Hampshire's top Republican (and Senator), Kelly Ayotte, has remained neutral in the Presidential contest, as has Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Both are up for re-election this year. Though only ten members of the Republican caucus in the House have endorsed Trump, of the remaining 236 GOP members, 233 of them have been silent on the choice that remains. The other thirty-three have endorsed Cruz, who has thirty-two supporters, or Kasich, who has one (to go along with his long list of former members endorsing him). On the Senate side, of the fifty-four Republican Senators, six have endorsed Cruz, two have endorsed Kasich, and one has endorsed Trump. That means forty-three GOP Senators remain neutral. These people should be embarrassed. For years, the whole group of them has regularly criticized Obama for ostensibly "leading from behind" (which, to them, means "not at all"). In their world, the current President has taken a back seat to Islamic fundamentalism (and its terrorist results), refusing to credibly engage while allowing or encouraging power vacuums and issuing false threats . The charge is false; in fact, what Obama has done -- in the face of a reality that renders American ground troops ineffective in what are now civil religious wars in Mesopotamia -- is lead through persuasion and diplomatic initiative, something the neo-cons decided to put on the shelf over a decade ago, much to our everlasting chagrin, but which has created (albeit slowly) measurably positive results (e.g., the nuclear deal with Iran, and the multi-lateral (and largely local) pushback against ISIS). To the GOP, this is all still a failure. Nevertheless, you would think that a group hell bent for leadership would at least have seized the obvious opportunity to exhibit some as a fraud like Trump hijacked their presidential nomination. Because . . . If those 233 GOP members of the House of Representatives and forty-three GOP Senators had collectively led the fight to rid their party of Trump, there was at least a reasonable chance he would not be the GOP's presumptive nominee today. Advertisement Dante is reported to have said that "The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality." In fact, he didn't say it. Instead, President Kennedy attributed the quote to him, as have many others using variations on the theme. Never mind. JFK's Dante was right. And today he is looking at all those Republican office holders . . . Sitting on the sidelines . . . Will Coley is many things. He's a small businessman--he sells silver coins and other free-market Milton Friedman type shwag at various Libertarian events across the country--he's a father of 7, with 1 on the way, and he is a political activist. He's also a devout Muslim, and has been for a decade. Will is a staple of the Libertarian community, and national director of Muslims4Liberty. He hosts a nationally broadcast libertarian radio program, speaks at national conventions, and rubs shoulders with Libertarian heavyweights. Like Vermin Supreme, pictured (with Mr. Coley) above. Vermin's a perennial protest candidate and a performance artist perhaps best known for running for president in 2012 on a Zombie-Apocalypse preparedness ticket. Advertisement If you just thought these Libertarians are so fringe it's kinda hard to take the whole thing seriously, you'd be right. And Will Coley is about as fringe as they come. He is the wingnut used to fasten the other wingnuts in place. He is an unheard of idealist existing in the far outer reaches of American political thought. And now he's on the Libertarian ballot, and contesting the 2016 Presidential Election. Sort of. Through a fluke of Libertarian Presidential politics, Will is running for Vice-President as the preferred running mate of Darryl W. Perry--a Libertarian Presidential candidate, and a character all unto himself. There is an unnecessarily confusing reason behind this, not worth discussing when we as a nation can barely understand the nominating processes of those parties which might actually win the Presidency--but the point remains. Will Coley is a Muslim, and he's on the ballot of an official American political party. This is, in it's own obscure and odd way--a historic first. In fact, obscure third parties have a history of presaging our future politics. In 1904, George Edwin Taylor became the first African-American to run for president on the National Negro Liberty Party ticket. And while Mr. Taylor never had snowball's chance in a Mississippi summer, he inspired a generation of black leaders who inspired a generation of black leaders who inspired a generation of Americans who elected Barack Obama. Advertisement And to my very liberal chagrin, this wouldn't be the first time the Libertarian Party themselves have broken political ground the rest of the country wouldn't consider stepping on until decades later. In 1972 John Hospers and his running mate, Tonie Nathan, simultaneously became the first openly gay man--and the first woman--to receive a vote in the electoral college. They did this when Roger MacBride, a Republican delegate, defected from the GOP and endorsed the Libertarian ticket over his own party's nominee--Richard M. Nixon. The Libertarians would reward Mr. MacBride for his startling decision with their party nomination four years later. Will Mr. Coley become the first Muslim Vice-President of the United States? No. He will not. But will his official place on that official ballot in an official election serve to cut the very beginnings of a path for some future political aspirant--like George Edwin Taylor, or Tonie Nathan? Advertisement Perhaps so. Enough of a shot to warrant these 600 words and the hours worth of reading I had to do to discover who the hell Darryl W. Perry is. And while I'll never consider myself a libertarian--I like public schools too much for that--I can get behind a person whose candidacy breaks down barriers and fosters understanding across political lines. Shine on you crazy diamond, Mr. Coley. Hailing from the Republic of Slovenia, a European country rich in history and culture, Melania Trump is well prepared to represent the United States of America as First Lady with grace and wisdom. Her elegant presence, global work experience, international mentality, deep appreciation and great love for America are strong assets in the modern diplomatic role of First Lady. She brings a particular personal understanding of a complicated region in the world which historically has a significant bearing on the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the turbulent Middle East. Mrs. Trump's dedication to her primary role as devoted wife and "Mother First" is inspirational to mothers who often feel the pressure to place career goals before family. Melania Trump knows her priorities and clearly communicates the importance of imparting "virtues and values" to our children as the number one priority of parents, just as she learned from her mother and father, married for more than four decades. Mrs. Trump brings to the White House a unique perspective. She has lived in a once communist-socialist state of the former Yugoslavia and she knows first-hand the merits of life in a free, capitalist, entrepreneurial America. Mrs. Trump will be an exceptional American First Lady for the world stage. Tale of Two Worlds and Where Dreams Do Come True! Melanija Knavs was born in 1970 in Sevnica, a charming village-city, when it was still part of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Slovenia has been inhabited since pre-historic times. The history of Slovene territory dates back to 5th Century B.C. until present. Once upon a time it was in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, then the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and later ruled under the Hapsburg Monarchy. The Slovenes, mainly of Slavic background, maintained cultural autonomy throughout their long complex history. Although Melanija Knavs personal story began with a humble origin, the picturesque setting of her hometown's historic Sevnica Castle, a favorite stop for tourists, looks like a scene from "The Sound of Music" or an enchanting fairytale. Slovenia on the north borders Austria and has also experienced German influence including being occupied by the Third Reich in World War II. Sarajevo in another nearby former Yugoslavia state was the site where Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated, triggering World War I. Slovenia's western border is Italy and it was once part of the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Predominately Roman Catholic, there are also Lutherans and Orthodox Serbian Christians, Muslims and a small Jewish community as well as reportedly a growing number of atheists in this interesting to visit nation. Advertisement Every young girl dreams of meeting her Prince Charming and being swept off her feet to a castle. Melanija Knavs became the successful fashion model Melania Knauss, fulfilling one exciting chapter in her life. But it was meeting and marrying her "true love" that made her dreams come true. She became his "Princess Bride" and he her romantic and adventurous Wesley. She became Mrs. Donald J. Trump in 2005 at The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, with the expressed mission: "to experience the clear and strong presence of God, and to understand and spread Christ's teachings through collective worship, learning, and service." Her desire is to "love and serve," first as a loving wife and mother of their son Barron. And if chosen, "to love and serve" the American people as First Lady of the United States of America. Her blessed life was complete with her happy marriage, but her full destiny is yet to be revealed. Humble beginnings with an independent professional background, combined with the inimitable exposure and life-style of being married to the extremely successful New York Real Estate Developer Donald Trump, helps Melania Trump relate to people of all demographics and life stories. On The Road of Wars and Peace It was in 1970 as a teenager that my best-friend Bobbie and I visited central Slovenia and Sevnica, a special place in "The Green Heart of Europe," with lush hills on the Sava River-the greatest tributary of the Danube. We travelled to Ljubljana and drove throughout the entire seven states of the former Yugoslavia. Being from California, the magnificent Adriatic Coast reminded us of Pacific Coast Highway 1. We visited Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Macedonia on our way to Greece, Turkey and finally Israel. I can recall how it seemed that everyone of different ethnicities and religions at that time in former Yugoslavia seemed to get along, although the economic conditions were severely strained. When Tito passed away in 1980, so passed any semblance of unity. Marshall Tito, President for Life, ruled with an iron fist and purportedly kept all factions in line and cooperating, albeit under a failed economic system. Yugoslavia was more open than the Soviet-controlled countries we visited. On a subsequent visit to this war-torn region in 2001, I discovered Medjugorje, a special peaceful place on a "holy hill" where "Our Lady of Peace" appears to villagers in apparitions and miracles abound since 1981, shortly after Tito died, promising peace and good when there is more prayer and love of God in the world. Advertisement Some analysts would argue that the Middle East, other than Israel, should be governed similar to the former Yugoslavia. That a "benevolent" dictator (if ever achievable) is necessary to protect the rights of minorities. It goes counter to our American Constitutional principles of freedom and democracy which guarantees the people the right to decide, but so does Sharia Law counter basic freedoms. Hail Mary in Slovenia and The U.S.A. May is the month of Mothers. For Catholics, May is dedicated to Mary, Mother of Jesus and Queen of Peace. It is interesting to note, Holy Mother Mary is the Patroness of America and Slovenia. Our Lady of Brezje, "Marija Pomagai (Mary, help me)", is venerated at The Basilica of St. Mary, Help of Christians. This sacred place is located just over an hour from Sevnica near Bled. Many miracles have been attributed to Our Lady of Brezje since 1863. In Washington D.C., at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, there is a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Brezje with the image of the original painting found in the National Marian Shrine of Slovenia. "Slovenian" has the word "love" within it and "American" has "can." Perhaps, the graceful "Slovenian-American" Mrs. Melania Trump, will be the First Lady of "Love Can, conquer all, bring us together and Make America Great Again." Born on April 26, appropriately the Feast-day of Our Lady of Good Counsel, lovely Melania Trump can lead us in "The Hail Mary" prayer to help our nation unite for peace, good and prosperity. Advertisement Zdrava Marija, milosti polna, Gospod je s teboj, blagoslovljena si med zenami in blagoslovljen je sad tvojega telesa, Jezus. Sveta Marija, Mati Bozja, prosiza nas gresnike, zdaj in obnasi smrtni uri. Amen Hail Mary, full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Labor Day and the anniversary of Poland's entry into the European Union, Polish Flag Day, and the anniversary of the May 3rd Constitution; from Sunday to Tuesday (May 1-3) Poland celebrates these three important holidays. These days on the streets of Gdansk white-red flags are displayed along the streets and in private home windows, and the city itself is illuminated in white and red. Photo: J. Pinkas This special night illumination has already become Gdansk tradition. During the long weekend in May the city residents and guests are greeted by white-red illuminated Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers, some more spectacular bridges and the King John III Sobieski monument in the city center. It's a 12th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Community. Benefits of our membership in the Union are of a political, economic and social nature, and greatly outweigh any possible losses. The integration allowed the citizens to travel freely(without border controls), settling and working in different member states, export our products and invest abroad. Through a substantial increase of imports and foreign investment, it has improved the quality of life and an opportunity to get closer to the European standards in the field of internal security, labor, health and education. Advertisement Photo: J. Pinkas 2nd of May marks the relatively new holiday - a Day of Polish Flag. A national holiday but not a public holiday. Why on that day? There is a reason. During the communist times all cities were decorated with red and white flags for the celebration of 1st May. But there is a Constitution holiday on 3rd May which was not accepted by the communists and for many years it was banned. That was why all the flags for 1st May celebrations had to be taken down by 3rd May. Leaving a flag up that day could bring serious trouble. This holiday has been re-instated and was declared official in February 2004 by the Polish Sejm. It awakens patriotism among the Poles and in Gdansk is marked by patriotic concerts and shows. This year marks the 225 anniversary of the Constitution of May 3. The Polish Constitution of May 3rd, or the Government Act of 3rd of May - adopted on 3 May 1791, is generally accepted as first in Europe and second in the world (after the American Constitution of 1787). It was designed to eliminate the long-standing defects based on free elections and nobility-based political system of the Republic of Two Nations (Poland and Lithuania). The Constitution changed the country's political system to a constitutional monarchy. Beloved by Poles, it was forbidden during the socialist period (1945-1989). However, even in those times, the democratic opposition activists illegally summoned independently-thinking crowds to the King Sobieski Monument. There we sang songs, delivered and listened to speeches, prayed together. Today the same songs will be heard as those, which accompanied these May meetings for decades. Here are the words of a well-known May hymn: Meet Joni Ernst. Could she be Donald Trump's choice for Vice President? The main attributes of a vice president are to balance the ticket, help raise money and then step back for four/eight years until it is her turn to run. You want someone good, but not too good, especially if you have an ego the size of Trump's. And with Hillary Clinton as the likely Democratic nominee, a woman VP on the Republican ticket would be no small advantage. Ernst is the first woman to represent Iowa in the United States Congress and the first female veteran to serve -- from any state -- in the Senate. Those kinds of things will pull a lot of the air out of Hillary's calls to empower women in politics. The Washington Post calls Joni Ernst, currently the Republican senator from Iowa, "a breakout star of the 2014 midterm election with her plain-spoken populism." That matches some of Trump's appeal, and plays well to the populism that fuels the Sanders campaign. Advertisement Ernst has been critical of Trump's comments about women, which could be a smart way to make Trump appear more open-minded, and pull in additional female votes. He could also use Ernst's criticism to soften his comments going forward, explaining she has helped him better see the error of his ways. Ernst also aligns well with Trump and Republican positions. She's proposed eliminating the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency to cut federal spending. She wants to eliminate the Department of Education "not just because it would save taxpayer dollars, but because I do believe our children are better educated when it's coming from the state." She is also no friend of Planned Parenthood, another signature Republican issue. In 2014, Ernst delivered the official GOP rebuttal to President Obama's State of the Union Address. And a bonus -- Ernst is a good friend of the Koch Brothers, and her being on the ticket could help them feel better about a President Trump. A lot of Koch money flowed into Ernst's Senate campaign via the Koch-backed consulting firm Aegis Strategic. The brothers are known to be wary of Trump, and having one of their own people in the White House would go a long way to garnering their support. Keep an eye on Joni Ernst. She might make for some very smart politics by a guy who says he knows a good deal when he sees one. As we clock the second year anniversary of the abduction of 276 girls from their school in Chibok, Nigeria, how can we explain the lack of international response to the expansion of Boko Haram? As a British-Nigerian-American attorney and activist, I have learned a thing or two about the strength of foreign currency. My diverse background informs my worldview on the delicate dance between two of the monetary super powers that be: the Almighty American Dollar and the British Pound Sterling. As it stands, the exchange rate for the American dollar to the British pound is 1=0.68, while the Nigerian Naira touts a deflated 1=N200 exchange rate. Similar calculations plague the FOREX market when highlighting the disparate value of currency in the developed versus developing world. This reality, coupled with my worldview, has led me to conclude that the value of human life is often determined, not by its sanctity, but by the strength of a country's currency exchange rate on the global market. Justice, for those left dangling on the "developing" end of this matrix, is therefore often fluctuating and convertible. Advertisement As a Nigerian, I have watched tens of thousands slaughtered like sacrificial lambs in an unrelenting "holy war" against Africa's most populous nation. Like other insidious terrorist organizations that preceded it, Boko Haram has brazenly inflicted a deplorable indictment against the Nigerian government for its alleged chorusing of western education. Its agenda is to render Nigeria an Islamic state and it is clear that both death and life embody its aberrant definition of victory. It has declared a caliphate (Islamic government) in portions of North-East Nigeria and in April 2014, abducted 276 girls from their school in Chibok, many of whom it is now feared are being used as "suicide bombers." Its brutal attack in Baga, Nigeria in January 2015 is reported to have eliminated 2,000 human lives, thus rendering the attack the group's most deadly and widely coordinated. The insurgency has left more than 2.1 million people displaced within Nigeria while hundreds of thousands now bear refugee status in neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Although the Baga massacre occurred in the same week as France's Charlie Hebdo January 2015 attack, minimal international news coverage dignified the lives of the slain in Nigeria. Boko Haram has been declared the world's deadliest terror group. While the United States designated Boko Haram a terrorist organization in 2013 and has provided the Nigerian government with intelligence and some anti-terror training, it has reportedly not placed boots on Nigerian soil because American interests or assets have not been jeopardized. However, it is hypocritical to take this position, which dispenses a selective dose of justice on one matter or people, and does not consistently maintain it across the board. Yes, we are to understand that the insidious dance between big money and political decisions is...well, complicated. So while America perfects her plie, thousands perish at the hands of a group that has also uttered direct threats against her. Great Britain, on the other hand, proudly contends that Nigerians living there can be proud of her support for Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram. According to its Foreign Office Minister, it has contributed to global efforts headed by the UN to address the threatening insurgency and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and has expanded its resident training and advisory teams to Nigeria. However, like the United States, it has yet to utilize targeted military force as has been the case in Syria or Iraq in that fight against Islamic State. Again, the situation is...well, complicated. Advertisement Complicated...a word that profoundly describes the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the self proclaimed "Giant of Africa." It currently boasts the largest economy in Africa and reportedly allocated $6 billion to its national defense in 2014, the same year the Chibok Girls were kidnapped. The foregoing begs the question of why then Nigeria has not independently come to her own rescue. Experts theorize that corruption and/or poor governance have led to her abject failures and impotence in the fight to overcome and eliminate Boko Haram. An interesting phenomenon, however, starts to develop when one has repeatedly been valued, not by her humanity, but by the weakness of her currency in the foreign market. Similar to the lingering effects of colonialism, the West's disparate value of human life has inevitably provided a prism via which Nigeria's leadership views her own people. In other words, blinded by greed, Nigeria has adopted the West's prevailing view that the overwhelming majority of her own citizens, particularly her women and girls, bear the value allocated by the West. This mindset explains why, two years later, the rallying cry to #BringBackOurGirls appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Regardless of Nigeria's "complications," the war against Boko Haram remains Nigeria's fight to lead. The unfortunate reality is that on a global scale, the strength of one's currency parallels what you bring to the table (assuming you were invited) and what portion of the tablecloth you ostensibly control. In other words, based on U.S. conversion rates, one Western life maintains the same value as 200 Nigerian lives, 927 Congolese lives and 2,875 Ugandan lives. A poignant example of this reality was the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Just weeks in, only two Westerners had received a potentially life saving drug while thousands of Africans were being infected as the death toll ultimately surpassed 11,000. Irritating and irascible, the subject of the documentary short, Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah, the French intellectual writer and filmmaker, Claude Lanzmann, could be charming, and cunning as he got his desired interviews. His epic-length Shoah (1985) went farthest to document the Holocaust, the most cataclysmic and defining event of the twentieth century, even as some deny it ever happened. In Spectres of the Shoah, to air on HBO on May 2, Adam Benzine, interviews the interviewer at age 90; the result is essential viewing for understanding Shoah's remarkable backstory. A lover of Simone de Beauvoir and friend of Jean-Paul Sartre, Lanzmann's life meshed with those of other French intellectuals. As an interviewer, Claude Lanzmann knew what he was after. The film shows a younger Lanzmann chain-smoking in trendy sunglasses, finding one subject in Queens, a Holocaust survivor who cut the hair of Jews on their way to be gassed. "You know we both have to tell this story," he speaks gently to the man as emotion builds on Abraham's face. In the 9-hours of Shoah, this man is memorable as he tells of women he knew, naked, stripped of dignity and hope, coming into the room. How easily the imagination fills in the horrific aftermath, even as the barber's words transfix. The problem with a short documentary with so fascinating a subject as Claude Lanzmann, it leaves you wanting more, especially as his art dovetails with history. See his astounding memoir, The Patagonian Hare (2012), opening with an extended explanation of the power of beheadings. After Lanzmann filmed survivors for Shoah, he teased out several interviews from the 200 hours of interview footage he amassed for stand-alone films. In 2013, he released The Last of the Unjust, focused on Benjamin Murmelstein, third and last president of the Jewish Council of the Thereseinstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia, who fought with Adolf Eichmann on matters of liquidating the Jews, and how best to complete the final solution. Advertisement For him, Hannah Arendt's summation of Eichmann's "banality of evil," is pure rubbish; Eichmann was no bureaucrat, but a particularly inventive murderer. Claiming to have saved lives, Murmelstein, an erudite former rabbi from Vienna, was a controversial figure after liberation, accused of being a collaborator, but freed of these charges. What Claude Lanzmann has said about his film Shoah works for his treatment of Benjamin Murmelstein, his other film subjects, and his world view: "I am not here to judge." HAVANA, CUBA - MAY 2: A Cuban woman waves with a flag symbolizing the 26-7 Moncada movement of Revolution leader Fidel Castro Cubans as Cubans welcome the arrival of the cruise ship Adonia, the first US cruise ship in nearly forty years to arrive in Cuba, on May 2, 2016, in Havana, Cuba. The Adonia, belonging to the Carnival group, carried some 700 passengers on its sail from Miami to Havana, officially re-establishing the US cruise business in Cuba.(Photo by Sven Creutzmann/Mambo photo/Getty Images) I am pleased that the first U.S. cruise ship to make a voyage to Cuba in almost 40 years arrived in Havana, Cuba, yesterday morning carrying 700 passengers, including Cuban Americans on board. This is an exciting development since my historic trip with President Barack Obama who led a small bipartisan delegation to the Island Nation. The last sitting U.S. President to visit Cuba before the Cold War was Calvin Coolidge in 1928, two years before I was born. I would have never imagined in 1995 when Fidel Castro visited Harlem that I would be traveling to Cuba with my President to meet with his brother, President Raul Castro. We reaffirmed our efforts to cement our new ties and push for ending the embargo. I am confident that both of our nations and citizens will benefit through the exchange of people, goods, and ideas. Advertisement I was fortunate to witness the excitement on the streets of Havana in December 2014, when President Obama first announced his plan to chart a new course in our diplomatic relationship with Cuba. As the sponsor of the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act, I had originally traveled to Havana with few other congressmen to explore how the United States could gain access to a miraculous drug that could cure ulcers. Because I had stayed an extra few days, I was able to report through multiple television interviews from Havana to the American audience how Cubans embraced the news of rekindling our ties. The recent landmark visit by President Obama, which also included American entrepreneurs coupled with the Administration's New Course in Cuba policy, has compelled us to take more concrete actions towards removing outdated barriers that are currently limiting opportunities for our country and people. As President Obama acknowledged, it is up to the U.S. Congress to lift the embargo which was first imposed in February 1962, and currently maintained through five statutes, including the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996, and most recently the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000. The current embargo is the most enduring trade embargo in modern history and shortchanges the American people from pursuing business opportunities in Cuba. In 2014, the United States was the eighth largest exporter to Cuba, accounting for just 3% of Cuba imports. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that the embargo costs our economy $1.2 billion per year in lost sales and exports, I have long recognized that the embargo has proved futile. I first introduced my Free Trade with Cuba Act in 1993, and since have repeatedly introduced bills and pushed for policies that would end it. Through numerous discussions with people, businesses, and organizations, and it is abundantly clear to me that economic relaxation affords many American firms to increase their services to the people in Cuba, which includes the hospitality industry, agriculture industries, and any number of other American businesses and it creates a climate for successful American investments. For example, we know that Cuba imports about seventy to eighty percent of its food supply, representing a market estimated to exceed over $1 billion per year for U.S. agriculture exports. Through 2008, U.S. rice exporters shipped over 12,000 metric tons with an estimated farm gate value to our economy of $7 million. Since 2008, due our trade restrictions and corresponding inability to provide competitive credit terms, we lost this Cuba market to Vietnam, Brazil, and others. If we were to lift the embargo, the global advocate for the U.S. rice industry, the USA Rice Federation estimates within two years, we could regain 20 to 30 percent of the Cuban import market, worth nearly $70 million and in five years 50 percent of the market, about 300,000 metric tons worth about $153 million to the US economy. Not to mention the increased jobs in the rice growing, milling, and shipping industries associated with the increased exports. Advertisement Furthermore, allowing trade with Cuba will not only generate revenue for our economy, but will also enable us to exchange American culture and ideals that can help foster democratic principles in Cuba. After the President left, I remained in Havana with a delegation from the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce consisting of 21 key professionals in the fields of art, culture, education, engineering, health, law and business. Together we met with senior ministers of the Cuban government to finalize the first annual 'Havana in Harlem Cultural Festival' which will be launched in August 2016 in our own backyard in Harlem. The Festival will then take place annually during the summer in Harlem and during the winter in Havana. It will focus on the Harlem-Havana Afro-Cuban exchange of performing arts, fine arts, and cultural seminars. With New York City's shared African and Cuban roots, the annual festival is expected to initially attract thousands of visitors from around the world annually to Harlem and to Havana and continue to grow. Through such people-to-people exchanges and culture, we can promote peace, democracy and human rights. The owner of the Chobani yogurt company, Hamdi Ulukaya, made news last week when he announced that he will give his 2,000 employees a 10 percent ownership share when the company is sold. The average stake will be worth $150,000. Several of America's largest corporations also made news by canceling events in North Carolina, to protest that state's discriminatory new laws against transgender people. And a few retail corporations, like Costco and Trader Joes, have calculated that paying far above minimum wages is actually a good business decision as well as common decency. Even Walmart, which continues its disgraceful record when it comes to worker pay, is something of a leader in shifting to greener products. Advertisement Is there a larger trend here? Are some corporations becoming allies of progressive reform -- or does it just look that way because most of the corporate elite and the Republican Party are now so far to the right? The interesting phenomenon here is the CEO who plays against type. Hamedi Ulukaya didn't have to decide to share his anticipated windfall with the employees who helped build Chobani. As an immigrant who came to America with almost nothing, he just decided that this was the right thing to do. Most founders of companies, alas, just take it all for themselves when a start-up goes public. And most corporate executives exercise a conservatizing influence on politics and ideology. But the exceptions are instructive. Consider my friend James Stone, a former regulatory official who became a wealthy man by founding a successful company, the Plymouth Rock group of insurance companies. Stone is in the sector that produces relentless advice from CEOs to cut taxes and spending, reduce regulation, privatize government. Advertisement If you read the pronouncements of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation on the fiscal catastrophe headed our way, most of the signatories have backgrounds exactly like Stone's. But Stone takes a very different view. In his newly published book, Five Easy Theses, Stone calls for restoring fiscal balance. But by fiscal balance he means something very different than what the austerity crowd demands. For instance, he proposes increasing tax revenues by getting rid of the tax deduction for interest paid. That would increase government revenues and also reduce tax subsidies to the wealthy -- as well as killing a lot of corporate takeovers that enrich insiders but make no sense but for the interest deduction. He also calls for shoring up Social Security by adjusting the program to demographic realities rather than privatizing it. Stone's arguments reveal that there is more than one path fiscal balance. Stone also calls for a far more equal society. "An overly concentrated democracy will not only hurt democracy," he writes. It will also undermine prosperity." He calls not only for more progressive taxation for more and better investment in education as well as infrastructure. And he advocates movement towards a single payer health system, just on equity grounds but on efficiency grounds. Advertisement Perhaps Stone's most interesting and illuminating chapter is on financial reform. He's been there, both as a financial company CEO and before that as the second chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and before that as Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner. His view of the financial system is well informed and straightforward. Immense banks, hedge funds, trading in derivatives -- "None of these are valuable for the country's growth, it's wealth distribution, or its commercial economy -- and none of them are in any way necessary." And he provides persuasive detail to make his case. Wow! It's one thing for lefties to argue that the financial sector is a bloated mess, another for a prominent business leader who has had a ringside seat. Why do we not have more corporate leaders like James Stone? A few years ago, Ralph Nader wrote a fantasy novel titled, Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us. What if the richest and most powerful people in American, Nader wondered, got serious about applying their insight and influence to solving national problems? What if they developed, of all things, compassion? Advertisement Alas, the peer culture of today's financial elite causes most of America's business moguls to buy Milton Friedman's dictum that the only duty of a corporation is to make as much money as possible for its shareholders (and CEO's.) And to the extent that many financial leaders, such as Pete Peterson, profess concern for the broader common good, that common good usually gets defined in ways that benefit the same financial elite and the broader public only incidentally if at all. Stone's purpose in writing Five Easy Theses was to present policy solutions to seemingly intractable problems and see whether a new consensus might be formed. His book has some nice blurbs from Paul Volcker on the right and writer Steven Kinzer on the left, among others. Most such efforts tend to be pretty rightwing. Not this one. But attaining a new consensus will be much harder than describing it. At one point, Stone and I were going to write this book together. After several fascinating discussions, we decided that we disagreed on a handful of details and that it would be best if he wrote his own book. I'm glad he wrote this one, which deserves a wide audience. It's all the more persuasive for the fact that it's written by a financial executive. Advertisement What an irony that Donald Trump, who represents the worst in America and the worst in the corporate culture, is running for president as a successful businessman. Some of America's corporate elite are distancing themselves from Trump by invoking the values and policies of the traditional Republican Party -- shabby values that look enlightened only by comparison to Trump. James Stone, and entrepreneurs like Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani, demonstrate that business leaders can sometimes be national leaders. But we need a lot more of them. -- Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect and professor at Brandeis University's Heller School. His latest book is Debtors' Prison: The Politics of Austerity Versus Possibility. Sparks Fly at Expats panel: Pen World Voices Festival (April 27, 2016) Saying the word expats to educated Americans of a certain age evokes images of neighborhood bistros in Paris with lace curtains and smoky, book-lined literary salons where Gertrude Stein presided over soirees with an astonishing community of American expatriates including Ernest Hemingway and Ezra Pound. Stein was far from her birthplace in the Allegheny West neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, but as Kwame Anthony Appiah, a panelist on the Pen World Voices Festival Expats session and a professor of law and philosophy at New York University, reminded the audience on April 27th at Instituto Cervantes, Stein understood what to hold on to: "There isn't much use to roots, if you can't take them with you," she once said. Moderator Eric Banks, Director of the New York Institute for the Humanities and former Editor-in-Chief of Book Forum, launched the evening with a barb thrown directly at the panelists, Jamaica Kinkaid, Marlon James, Colin McCann, Valeria Luiselli and Kwame Anthony Appiah, but also directed at the audience. Banks confessed that he cannot stand the term expats which "says too much and too little at the same time." He described the term as overburdened, "just too pat, closing off other ways that identities are created." And, as if he had not been critical enough, he added that the ex part is also a problem. "Do you share in my discomfort?" he asked the panelists. The question unleashed a torrent of emotion. Appiah jumped in first, describing the expats who came to Ghana, his birthplace, as folks who replaced the missionaries. "They were not committed to the place," he said. Kincaid was even less kind. "The way I became familiar with the word was from these rancid people from England. They were always going back there but they never did." Kinkaid called them "privileged and incredibly lazy." Then, she added, "I came to America from Antigua but I don't think of myself that way. A black person is not an expat." Advertisement We were not quite ten minutes into the discussion and the temperature had already risen by more than ten degrees. These writers clearly did not see themselves as expats. Marlon James described the expats that he knew in Jamaica as "mediocre people from abroad who could not hack it in their own country." Reflecting on the term, Colum McCann said that the word "has the tingle of ice in a glass" while Valeria Luiselli described it as very Anglo-Saxon. "I don't have a relationship with any country," said the novelist who writes in Spanish and English. "I have not lived in any place for more than a few years." When the discussion shifted to their own experiences, to the ways that they were received in America, McCann was the most positive. "I don't feel foreign here at all," he said, arguing that one of the things that is brave in the American literary establishment is that it allows foreigners to come here. "It doesn't strip away the citizenship of where you come from." McCann described America as offering a "radical welcoming. I could not have come here if I had to say goodbye to my country Ireland," he said. Luiselli, who has spent the last eight years living in Harlem in New York City, said that the theme of foreigners is tolerated here, although she did not quite feel welcome in a place where stadiums of people are shouting about building walls to keep immigrants out. "Mexicans work underground. They are so invisible," she said. Advertisement Appiah, who came to the United States in his late twenties, found two things that were particularly welcoming in America. First, that when he tells people he is an American, people don't laugh. "Here," he said, "Citizenship is all." Second, that African Americans welcomed him into their midst as a brother. Kincaid and James held harsher views. "It's easy for you," Kinkaid said, nodding to McCann. "You are a white man and you have a distinguished Irish history." Then, with a half-smile, she added, "I'm glad that white guys enjoy themselves so much." James, echoed Kincaid, although he spoke in softer language. "My first novel was rejected by about 80 people," he said. "Here there is lip service to diversity and the melting pot. I'm allowed to be an antiseptic Jamaican." Photo courtesy Rumni Saha Governor LePage of Maine recently made some unfortunate comments about immigrants. To me this reeked of ignorance. I was not offended simply because of my Indian heritage; the governor was merely stating a fact. Of course there are many Indians who are hard to understand just like there are many New Englanders, including the governor himself, who if they moved to old England, would probably have to enroll in English classes, with an emphasis on diction. (Also let's not forget that it is doubly difficult to understand the governor because of his constant petulance of speaking with his foot in his mouth). What bothered me instead was his comment about Indians being "lovely people". Indians are NOT all "lovely people" just like all men from Maine are NOT yahoos. There is good and bad in every place and in every race and to say that an entire ethnicity is bad (or for that matter good) is, simply put, shallow. What the uninformed governor probably does not get is that by making such a cliche comment about Indian accents, he essentially engaged in stereotyping; there is nothing more dangerous than this for it was labeling such as this that resulted in the annihilation of 6 million Jews not so long ago. The governor's comments also appear to be xenophobic. How often has he come across an Indian worker at a restaurant who needs an "interpreter"? Quite frankly even I would have an issue with an employee, Indian or not, who cannot be understood but I wouldn't be angry with him for not being able to communicate fluently. I would be annoyed with those who hired him because obviously, I am missing something that his employers see. What makes him more qualified for this particular position than other Mainers -- I wonder? Is it that these businesses are not willing to pay their workers well? Is it that hard-working immigrants are the only ones willing to do the work without mooching off of the taxpayers? (And by the way, if someone has a problem understanding an Indian at an Indian restaurant, perhaps he should stay away from ethnic gastronomical delights and eat at a more refined restaurant where it is easier to understand the accent -- say for example the governor's mother tongue -- French). Advertisement Unfortunately, the governor's insensitive remarks spiral back to the color of one's skin. This is the same man who refused to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day and defiantly mocked the NAACP by asking the civil rights group to "kiss my butt". This is the same guy who made racist comments about those supposedly responsible for bringing in heroin to Maine: "These are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty -- these types of guys -- they come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home... Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road." This is also the same person who concluded that, asylum-seekers are the "biggest problem in our state" because "what happens is that you get Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, AIDS, HIV, the ziki fly, all these other foreign type of diseases that find a way to our land." By "ziki fly" I think he was referring to the Aedes mosquito, whose bite is known to cause the Zika virus. I must say that I would like my governor to be a little more educated and a bit more literate than that, accent or not. And let me add one more choice word to the list provided -- codswallop. Advertisement The governor also appears to suffer from selective memory loss. How easily he forgot that he is one of 18 kids of an impoverished immigrant family who moved to America looking for a better life. Was it the color of the fair skin that made it acceptable for his parents to migrate to this country? After all, his father worked as a daily laborer all his life and his parents did not speak any English. Also, how does the governor not remember that he himself was rejected as a young man by a local college because of his poor SAT scores since English was not his first language? May I also politely remind the governor that the majority of Indians move to America not just to make a better life for themselves but to enrich the life of others by way of their invaluable contributions in the field of engineering, technology, medicine and the arts. Most are also highly educated, smart and can communicate in English better than many native speakers. Uncovering the governor's background also revealed rampant duplicity and hypocrisy. Where does he (and others like him) get the audacity to make a statement demeaning something so trivial as someone's accent? Drawing attention to something so insignificant is tasteless, petty, unnecessary and sends the chilling message to those who lack judgment, that it is okay to indulge in condescending rhetoric which in turn leads to bigger (and sicker) expressions of hate. After carefully reviewing the governor's executive (functioning) decisions, this is what I, a proud immigrant, have to say: Governor LePage -- I love the state you represent. Exactly a year ago when I camped in Maine with my dear family and some loving friends, I was so smitten by its pristine beauty that I vowed to return every year. My experience was spectacular -- thanks to many people I met -- some of them immigrants. I felt like I had found heaven (and peace) on earth. Don't tarnish the natural beauty of your state by injecting hostility, fostering animosity and interpolating thoughtless, vile ideas. Accents are easier to get rid of than indignity. There is no glory in a false sense of superiority, governor. Advertisement Let the wooing begin. After her latest primary win, Secretary Hillary Clinton has shifted her focus to the general election. And with that comes the task of uniting the party and wooing the Bernie Sanders supporters to her side. It won't be easy - her pro-interventionist track record or Goldman Sachs speaking fees may be deal-breakers for some, but in a contest with Donald Trump there are voting blocs that she can win over if she meets them halfway. The Iranian American community is one such group. There is no disputing the fact that Senator Sanders has outperformed expectations and that his message has shown particular resonance with young voters and Americans of Middle Eastern descent, including Iranian Americans. Sanders had a commanding lead in a recent poll of supporters of the largest grassroots Iranian-American organization, NIAC Action. Sanders won 62% support to Clinton's 19%. This is a significant gap and Secretary Clinton should take note. Clearly, Iranian Americans who have gravitated towards Sanders have largely done so for the same reasons as other Sanders supporters - because of a distrust of the Washington establishment, anti-war and anti-interventionist sentiments, disillusion with incrementalist political change and concerns about increased economic injustice. Advertisement But Clinton's approach toward Iran is also a major reason why she lagged behind Sanders among Iranian Americans. What it comes down to is this: President Barack Obama, against all odds and the scorn of the Washington foreign policy establishment, pursued patient and committed diplomacy and managed to score an amazing win with the Iran nuclear deal. In one stroke, two disasters were avoided: The disaster of an Iranian nuclear bomb and the disaster of war with Iran. The deal also carried the added benefit of reducing US dependency on Saudi Arabia, whose support for radical Wahhabi ideology has helped destabilize the region and threaten the West. The question Iranian Americans ask themselves is: If diplomacy could resolve the toughest issue between the US and Iran - the nuclear dispute - what else can be resolved if America continues on Obama's path of sophisticated diplomacy? If Iran and the US can't be friends, can they at least stop being enemies? Can diplomacy be used to address Iran's deplorable human rights record? Can diplomacy that includes Iran finally put an end to the carnage in Syria? And can increased US-Iran cooperation enhance America's maneuverability vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia and counter Riyadh's destabilizing activities? The message from Sanders has been clear: Not only would he continue Obama's path of diplomacy, he would work to widen the window of opportunity with Iran. The message received from Clinton has been more muddled. She supports the nuclear accord, but signals minimal desire to built upon that success. Rather than being the floor of potential US-Iran cooperation, the nuclear deal could be it's ceiling under a Clinton Administration. Advertisement Additionally, while Sanders has signaled a willingness to challenge the conventional Washington wisdom on Iran by indicating that the U.S. should pursue normalization, Clinton has attacked him for that statement and accused him of naivete. To many, the dispute reflected the debate eight years ago when Clinton, along with other candidates, attacked Obama for his statement that he would sit down with hostile nations, including Iran, without preconditions. According to foreign policy advisor Ben Rhodes, on the day the Iran deal was agreed upon the President traced the historic agreement all the way back to the question submitted to the candidates during the YouTube debate in 2007, showing how important campaigns can be in shaping the direction of Presidencies. Clinton's stance toward further Iran negotiations might not ultimately be that different than Sanders, but her attacks on normalization send a worrying signal that engagement would be the exception rather than the rule. This runs counter to the lessons of the nuclear accord. When the U.S. doubled down on isolation at the expense of negotiations, Iran's nuclear program moved steadily forward in response. When the Obama administration demonstrated seriousness in reaching an accord, however, it succeeded in freezing Iran's nuclear program and then significantly rolling it back. Why not signal greater openness toward addressing the full spectrum of differences with Iran? By rejecting normalization at the outset, Clinton only succeeds in shrinking the range of diplomatic possibilities during her potential Presidency. Even if Clinton does seek a further reduction in tensions, there is a fear that her hawkish language could help close the window of opportunity with Iran. Clinton's statement in the very first Democratic debate that she was proud to list the Iranians among her enemies remains a major source of contention for Iranian Americans. Of course, Clinton was referring to the Iranian government and not its people, but she never clarified the off-the-cuff statement. The episode suggested to many that she was more comfortable maintaining animosity at the expense of exploring conflict resolution and areas of mutual interest. When President Obama began on the path of diplomacy, the first thing he changed was America's language on Iran. Recognizing that the hawkish and threatening language of George W. Bush rendered diplomacy next to impossible, President Obama adopted a much more sophisticated language on Iran to create an atmosphere conducive to the success of diplomacy. Obama never hesitated to criticize Iran, but he always did so while stressing that relations can change and that the U.S. is pursuing a relationship of mutual respect. If Clinton wants to score points with Iranian Americans, she could start by adopting rhetoric that sounds more like President Obama instead of a return to the saber rattling of President Bush. Advertisement Of course, the poll also shows that the inflammatory message of Donald Trump has not been well received by the Iranian-American community. Indeed, it's difficult to imagine that a large number of Iranian or Middle Eastern Americans will shift to Trump, mindful of his willingness to stoke fear and racism for political gain. But some may choose to sit out this election unless Clinton shows that she values their votes and that she is interested in building on Obama's opening toward Iran. So you may have read that a team of negotiators hashing out regulations for the Every Student Succeeds Act did not reach an agreement about supplement-not-supplant language. Thats shorthand for the requirement that federal aid to low-income students supplement, and not take the place of, state and local money. One reason those talks broke down was because some negotiators said the U.S. Department of Educations proposed regulations would be very complicated and expensive to comply with. So has anyone put a price tag on the proposed regulations, or at least similar proposals? The answer is yesat least twice in the past five years, in fact. First, lets quickly go over a few background details. In its initial proposal to the negotiating committee, the department floated the following requirement for complying with supplement-not-supplant: Districts would have to show that per-pupil spending in Title I schools (those with a high share of poor students) is at least equal to the average per-pupil spending figure in their non-Title I schools. Supporters of this idea on the committee when it met over the past month, including those from the civil rights community, argued that the language would constitute a true test of whether districts were using Title I money in a supplemental fashion. They urged the department to have robust regulations on this front last week . But state and district leaders vigorously objected. Among other reasons, they argued it was an unfair, backdoor maneuver the department was using to change a different part of the federal law known as comparability, which requires equitable local spending between Title I and non-Title I schools. Two Studies, Two Similar Answers Lets look at the first price tag of two put on this idea recently. In 2012, the Center for American Progress put out a report on hypothetically changing the portion of federal law about teacher-pay comparability. According to some, the fact that federal law allows staff salary schedules to be used, instead of actual teacher salaries, means the law has a notable loophole. Keep this in mind, however: Others, including many district leaders, dont agree at all that this is really a loophole at all. (More on that below.) And also remember that because educator compensation makes up a majority of districts costs, how its handled in calculations of district spending, and therefore supplement-not-supplant, is crucial. Using 2011 data collected by the U.S. Department of Education about school-level expenditures , CAP looked at how much it would cost to close the loophole and require actual disparities in teacher salaries between schools to be equalized. The price tag came out to $6.83 billion in new state and local funds that would be required. At the time, that constituted just under 4 percent of state and local spending on schools, according to the report. That calculation assumed that if the loophole were closed, states and districts would increase per-student spending for Title I schools in order to comply. An aside: The CAP reports author is Ary Amerikaner, whos now a deputy assistant secretary at the Education Department. She served as the departments point person during ESSA negotiated-rulemaking committee discussions on supplement-not-supplant. At CAP, Amerikaner analyzed two scenarios. In the first one, $6.83 billion in new cash was pumped into an unchanged system with no fix. In the second, the same cash was put in, but the so-called loophole was closed. Then she looked at how it would impact various student groups and types of schools. Heres are two examples of what she found: Amerikaner reported that at the time, this change would have impacted about 3,390 districts where approximately 77 percent of U.S. students attended school. We know, in short, that allowing the comparability loophole to remain is a recipe for disaster, especially as minority students become an ever-larger part of our nations school population, Amerikaner wrote in her report. Unlike so many social science problems, this one comes with a fairly obvious policy lever to pull. One final thing to remember: When Amerikaner proposes using actual teacher salaries in school-to-school spending comparisons, this change would not completely equalize the funding playing field between rich and poor schools within districts. After all, there are other district costs and spending decisions at work. Lets go back a bit further to 2011, when the Education Department put out its own policy brief on the matter. It examined the impact of closing the loophole and looking at actual school expenditure requirements if you assumed either 1) an infusion of additional cash, or 2) no additional cash, as well as how to measure whether districts were in compliance with the teacher-pay comparability portion of federal law, which back then was No Child Left Behind. Heres what the report found for the projected cost of compliance, as a share of existing state and local spending: So both reports essentially say that closing the loophole in comparability law would incur a 3-4 percent increase state and local spending. Thats assuming thered be additional money provided to schools. The cost of compliance would drop by about half if only existing money were used, according to the Education Departments 2011 analysis. One other important point: Depending on how you calculate spending levels between schools, the Education Departments 2011 report estimated that between 18 to 28 percent of districts would not be in compliance with a non-loophole world. Not an Easy Task? In her 2012 report, Amerikaner ultimately recommended gradually increasing spending for funding systems in a non-loophole worldin one scenario, she proposed a ramping-up period of four years, under certain conditions. Nationwide, state education funding has increased gradually in recent years in the wake of the Great Recession. But many stress that schools costs are going up and that regardless, these state spending increases havent kept pace, or even matched pre-recession spending levels in many states. And state funding is a factor districts dont control. Roughly speaking, Washington provides 10 percent of public school funding, while districts and states split the remaining tab for K-12. But the impact of the change on a district-by-district basis could vary dramatically. Some districts might not have much trouble getting the additional funds from the state or local taxpayers. Others might struggle mightily to come up with the additional funds. Either way, its a big mistake to breezily assume that getting a roughly 4 percent hike in state and local spending to address intra-district spending inequities would be an easy task, said Noelle Ellerson of AASA, the School Administrators Association. And thats true, she added, even if the increased spending is phased in. Thats just one problem with the planjust one among many others, Ellerson argued, is that the proposal endangers many local collective bargaining agreements. And it squashes the decisionmaking power of administrators as well in a way that simply isnt fair, she added. Its not good policy, Ellerson said. However, Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. has argued that teacher transfers arent automatically the only way districts could comply with the departments proposed supplement-not-supplant language. And when he defended the proposed language to Congress, he stressed that the use of the average spending figure in non-Title I schools in supplement-not-supplant calculations would give districts some leeway. We asked the Education Department last week if it had come up with its own cost estimate, or it could point to any recent cost estimate, tied to its supplement-not-supplant regulatory proposal. Well update this post if we hear back. Remember the important caveats when considering the current state of debate: Congress did not change teacher-pay comparability when it approved ESSA, and comparability was technically not a subject for recent rulemaking negotiations. Also keep in mind that the teacher-pay comparability issue also touches on the debate of whether a teachers salary is generally commensurate with that teachers effectiveness. Possible Next Steps With the talks having broken down, the department can now go ahead and write its own regulations. We dont know yet whether the departments proposal will be included in the supplement-not-supplant regulations it comes up with. But theres clearly a strong interest at the department in using per-pupil spending figures in rich and poor schools as a key metric. However, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. and the chairman of the Senate education committee, wont stand for that . He made it very clear to King earlier this month that if the departments proposal to make per-pupil spending in Title I schools at least equal to the average per-pupil expenditure in non-Title I schools is included in their regulations, hell use the federal budget process to try to overturn it, and encourage others to sue the department if it wont back down. It remains to be seen, however, if Alexander would be successful in stripping out any regulatory language he doesnt like, assuming that any such regulatory language from the department includes the controversial supplement-not-supplant language. So what do you think? Do the cost scenarios laid out in the 2011 and 2012 sound reasonable and fair for poor students, or prohibitively expensive and unworkable? Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Sergiy Taran is the Director of the Kiev-based International Democracy Institute think tank, and the head of the Board of the Center of Sociological and Political Researches "Sotsiovimir". Taran is also an activist and political scientist specializing in post-Communist Ukrainian politics. His opinions on Ukrainian politics have appeared in numerous leading Western publications like the Financial Times, BBC, and The Guardian. Taran shared his thoughts with me about the current political turmoil in Ukraine via Skype in April 2016. The transcript of our interview is below: Arseniy Yatsenyuk recently resigned as Ukraine's Prime Minister. His resignation was widely expected due to public dissatisfaction with his anti-corruption efforts; but why do you think he decided to resign now? Sergiy Taran: Yatsenyuk had very low popular support, and the parliament decided to do something about it. The parliament decided to reshape the formation of the coalition. As a result, Yatsenyuk resigned. In my opinion, Yatsenyuk had a mixed legacy. He moved Ukraine on the path towards a balanced budget, but he had to increase taxes to do that, which made him unpopular. Improving Ukraine's fiscal position was vital for talks with the IMF to begin. Another positive contribution was stopping Ukraine's economic dependence on Russian gas. Every Ukrainian government has had to negotiate with Russia over gas prices. And these negotiations were more about politics than economics; Ukraine had to make concessions. Ukraine still buys Russian gas; but Russian gas is no longer critical. Advertisement In the process, he eliminated the corruption associated with dealing with Russia, and pivoted Ukraine towards Europe, which was necessary in a time of war with Moscow. He also succeeded in small-scale reforms, like the creation of a new police force. Under Yanukovych, the Ukrainian police was one of the least trusted institutions; now it is one of the most trusted. Ukrainian government tenders also developed an electronic procurement system; which rooted out the corruption associated with inter-personal interactions in banking. Despite these successes, Yatsenyuk did not move Ukraine towards deregulation. Excessive regulations still complicate the tax code and business registration. More progress needs to be made in liberalizing the economy; there are a lot of state enterprises, which are highly corrupt. Yatsenyuk was seen as responsible for failing to take on state businesses. He also did not communicate well with the people about reforms. The Ukrainian people did not see the reforms as tangible. Yatsenyuk failed to set optimistic, but viable targets that people could understand. He would have been more popular if he convinced the Ukrainian people that the country was progressing in the right direction. Volodymyr Groysman was appointed as the new Prime Minister after Yatsenyuk's resignation. Do you think he will be more successful than Yatsenyuk or fall prey to the same problems that his predecessor faced? Sergiy Taran: We cannot expect a miracle from Groysman as the reforms that Ukraine needs took 7-10 years to be implemented in other parts of Eastern Europe. But I think his plans could be more successful than Yatsenyuk's. Internet registration of businesses so people can circumvent the bureaucracy associated with visiting offices is a good thing. Groysman is likely to reform the tax code and will be a better communicator than Yatsenyuk. He won't produce miracles, but he also won't repeat Yatsenyuk's mistakes. Advertisement Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was implicated in the Panama Papers over his creation of an offshore account. How damaging will that be to his authority as president; and do you think that he could face impeachment proceedings over these actions as some have speculated? Sergiy Taran: The offshore scandal is bad for Poroshenko but not something that can break his career. He was a businessman and he made a connection with an offshore company, because up until two years ago, Ukraine was a very bad place to do business or invest in companies. Extensive regulations in the Ukrainian economy did not attract businesspeople. So some people here can understand the rationale for his offshore company. The majority of people do not even understand how an offshore company works. Journalists, members of parliament and experts understand it; but the masses will not grasp the severity of the problem. If Poroshenko can make the relationship between business and government more transparent, he will survive the scandal. There was a recent debate in the Atlantic Council about the possibility of Ukraine holding earlier than expected parliamentary elections. Do you think this would be a good idea or a destabilizing action? Sergiy Taran: As of now, the earliest Ukraine can viably have elections, is in one year. For fall elections to take place; the government needs to fall in the next 1 or 2 months, right after the government was appointed. That would be unrealistic. The earliest date for early elections would be spring 2017. I don't think that early elections are a good idea for the Ukrainian parliament right now, but for them to happen, it would require Groysman's government to lose public support. Right now, the Poroshenko Bloc and Yatsenyuk's Popular Front dominate the parliament. As populist and opposition forces gain momentum; that might change. But early elections will not likely have catastrophic consequences (even though I am not in favor of them). Mikhail Saakashvili has recently gained a lot of attention due to his populist rhetoric, and there is speculation that he might run for the Ukrainian presidency. Do you think he is a viable political contender? Advertisement Sergiy Taran: Saakashvili is very appealing to a group of people in Ukraine who expect quick changes. These people now vote for radical parties and they might see Saakashvili as a better alternative. By drawing on his Georgian experience, Saakashvili can also flip the coin and say he is not really a populist. Right now, he draws support extensively from progressives, staunch advocates of European integration, and human rights activists. But his reforms in Georgia required a large concentration of power, and he enacted very radical reforms without taking into account opposition rights. This can be very effective but also anti-democratic. It is unclear whether Ukraine can accept this kind of model. Most Ukrainians who support Saakashvili have little knowledge about his policies in Georgia. Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin recently resigned, after facing widespread criticism for his reluctance to prosecute high-level criminals from the Yanukovych-era. Do you think these corrupt and human rights violating officials will be tried eventually? And how can confidence in the Ukrainian court system be restored? Sergiy Taran: The Prosecutor General's office has declined in importance. Two new institutions have been created under Poroshenko: the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and the Anti-Corruption Bureau. These institutions have taken on new responsibilitie that the Prosecutor-General once had, but I agree that Shokin did not make adequate reforms. The courts and prosecution office need reform as many officials in place have been in power for 15 years through the Yanukovych-era. The police reforms could be a model for the courts to replicate. Last year, Ihor Kolomoyski retreated from direct political involvement, prompting Poroshenko to claim that he was going to crack down on Ukrainian oligarchs. How successful has his de-oligarchization policy been? Sergiy Taran: The de-oligarchization policy is moving slowly. The role of Ukrainian oligarchs in politics has declined but the people want more radical changes. The influence of Ukrainian oligarchs over the parliament explains the slow pace of reforms. If Poroshenko cracks down on oligarchs, he automatically loses 2 factions of the Ukrainian parliament. Parliament officials rising to power as a result of oligarch support will not back Poroshenko. Populist parties like Samopomich are resisting Poroshenko. Leaders like Yulia Tymoshenko are criticizing unpopular reforms and insinuating that Ukraine doesn't need to work with the IMF because they want early elections. The pro-Russian Opposition bloc is also complicating the situation. In light of this delicate political balance, Poroshenko's best way to confront oligarch influence is to liberalize the economy and break up monopolies. Advertisement Turning to foreign policy, the Dutch public overwhelmingly rejected a recent referendum over Ukraine's EU association agreement plans. Do you think this is a sign European leaders are losing patience with the slow pace of reforms under Poroshenko? Sergiy Taran: This referendum was not about Ukraine at all. It was about the special relationship between Dutch institutions and Brussels. Ukraine was the focus of a struggle between Netherlands and the EU. The turnout was only 32%. Dutch politicians are only going to approach Ukraine after a lengthy period of compromise with the EU and amongst their own political leaders. I think the referendum will not change the EU-Ukraine relationship. But it provides some lessons. First of all, it shows that Ukraine needs to more active in promoting favorable information about its policies abroad. Second, the rise of Euro-skepticism is dangerous for Ukraine and all of Europe. Another controversial issue affecting Ukraine today is the unresolved problem of external debt. Many have speculated that this could be harmful for Ukraine's relations with the IMF, EU and Germany, in particular. How do you think Ukraine's struggles with the IMF can be resolved? Sergiy Taran: Relations between Ukraine and the IMF are going to be the same. Unfortunately, at the moment there is little that can be done to improve the situation until Ukraine's economy starts growing for 3-4 years. Once that happens, then Ukraine can revive the relationship with the IMF it had a number of years ago. I believe closer ties with the IMF can be an option for the future, but not for now. The IMF does not care too much about the debt default to Russia; it is almost treated as a kind of private debt. The IMF considers numerous extenuating political and economic arguments, which will preclude a halt in cooperation with Ukraine over the Russian debt issue. Advertisement Finally, the situation in Eastern Ukraine had shifted decidedly towards a frozen conflict and the Minsk Accords looked to be making serious progress. But there was a recent re-inflammation by Russia in Donbas. Do you think that the current relative peace is a mere lull in Russian aggression or do you think that the status quo will be maintained in the long run? Sergiy Taran: The most likely outcome for Ukraine is still a frozen conflict. Russia cannot remove its military forces from Ukraine because there would be a huge political backlash. Every other outcome would be problematic for both Russia and Ukraine. Dear Fellow Survivors, If you're reading this it means you're somewhere safe where there aren't airstrikes going on in the background or drone attacks -- or maybe there are shots fired and there is still a secure wifi connection -- either way I am thankful for the internet. It's easy to often lose sight of that first letter in the alphabet. Because we often forget the first things we learn as we proceed to move on to learn greater and more complex things. But every word in the alphabet matters, and words can only be created when we use the full alphabet. Likewise every city affected by conflict matters. One such example is Aleppo in Syria -- where a few days ago, Dr. Mohammed Wassem Maaz, one of the last paediatricians in Aleppo, was killed in an attack on Al Quds Hospital. He was so devoted to his patients that he stayed in Aleppo even after his family left for Turkey. According to MSF (Doctors Without Borders), in 2015 alone, there were 94 attacks against 63 hospitals that they supported in Syria. In this year alone, they have had 11 attacks against hospitals that they have supported. So clearly there's no distinction being made whatsoever between what should be protected under International Humanitarian Law as a medical facility, and what would be a legitimate target to attack in war. Advertisement It's easy to often think that superheroes only wear capes. Because the human brain likes easy. But fortunately enough it doesn't learn through easy. It learns through difficulty and challenges as new neural circuits are formed every second -- as we proceed from one task to another and learn a skill or recall some information or connect some dots that we couldn't link together before. One such example are doctors and nurses. They don't wear capes but they wear scrubs and cease to have a life to save the lives of others. Because that's what heroes do. Against all odds they decide to dedicate themselves to the services of others. After spending tireless days and nights and years learning body parts they can't even pronounce, to healing them whilst being on call they make a choice to live this superhero lifestyle with minimal sleep and maximal healing -- for the rest of their lives. But that is the beauty of medicine -- getting a chance to make this choice of healing over harming. And so even though the hours are long and the days are tough, the adrenaline rush kicks in when they see that heart monitor working again and the patient's vitals restoring or when they realize that they made the right incision in time or delivered your breach baby or when they see that child smile and hug them after dental treatment -- because they have created a bit of magic in this muggle world. But in this world if you are a medical student, an intern, a doctor or any other healthcare professional -- although you are known to be a wizard for your expertise, you are often not consulted on anything outside your domain. Because how could a doctor influence the world at large, right? Wrong. Advertisement Well that's not how magic works. Because being human far supersedes political and geographic borders. And because being a doctor is primarily about being a human -- just with some extra knowledge on fixing the human body -- fixing people and lives. Whether it be as a junior doctor in the NHS fighting for fairer treatment at the hands of domestic politics or a doctor in a conflict zone carrying babies in incubators to safety during shelling in a hospital at the hands of international politics. You still wear the same scrubs and you are still the same superhero. If you are a medical professional --know that your voice matters outside the operating theatre and into the cinema theatre and beyond. Imagine this. "At the bed of the first injured child, the female doctor explains, "Both her legs and her hands are injured. There is a fragment inside her brain. She had surgery, and now she is in the intensive care." "Her situation is very dangerous," an older nurse says. "She could be dead any minute." "In another bed, the third child (a three year old)'s head is wrapped in bandaging. Her case is critical, Ali tells me. She lies still, her only movement from the mechanical ventilator." You don't need to imagine this. It really happened. Voldemort(s) are as present in the muggle world as they are in the wizarding world. But as survivors, lucky enough to be alive -- you have the power of life. And with that comes your active citizenship responsibility. You have the power to use your voice to influence the headlines on timelines that cease to make media headlines. You have the audacity to call out the UN Security Council and its permanent member states who are involved in these heinous attacks to uphold the International Humanitarian Law without cartoonizing their existing veto power. You have the freedom to express your voices on platforms and arenas that are available to you at the click of a finger. Advertisement Because you survived. You are a boy or girl who lived. Such attacks that go unheard or unnoticed such as attacks on health facilities and the denial of healthcare services as well as medical equipment are not only a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law, but deprive families and communities of essential health care when they need it most. The type of services you take for granted everyday because you have survived. After all, in this muggle world -- we can decide to be either wizards or death eaters. And making that choice depends on if you can trump love with hate. Because tiny boys and girls in conflict zones may live because of the strength of your love that is translated into action by moving -- shaking and -- creating chaos for change from No. 10 Downing Street to Tahir square. Because the strength of love for humanity has powers that defy the unforgivable curses of loss of willpower, torture or killing. We need armies of peace (both online and offline) who use soft power around roughened edges. We need Gandhis and Mandelas who blog and snapchat with bulletproof vests lined in compassion and empathy. Those individuals can be any of you. And upon resistance, we need to kill with kindness. Because I know you know that peace heals -- always. So use every word in the alphabet to create sentences that matter. Start with the first letter in the alphabet. It's A for Aleppo. From a Dental Student, Peace, The month of May will be filled with "goodbyes:" to teachers, professors, friends, and the college campus that has been your home. And it is also an incredible time for "hello's." New experiences, job opportunities and connections are waiting for you out in the "real world." As an experienced world traveler and business woman, I have some insights on ways to take your next meaningful steps. Research your next steps: Whether you are taking a gap year, going to graduate school, moving to a new city, or starting your career, understand the next step. Take time to understand yourself, what you want in your career and in your personal life, and the steps you need to take to get there. Make Decisions: Recent research shows that your twenties are an exciting time in your life but not your happiest. Happiness actually peaks in your late 50's and increases through your 80's. Although these years may not be your happiest, your twenties will define you more than any other decade. For example, getting a job in a certain industry may reveal it's not for you. That happened to me with "the law." Moving to a new city may present you with opportunities you never believed were possible. Don't just think about all the ways you can grow and the things you want to accomplish. Get out there and make it happen. You have time and flexibility to meet people, change paths, and gain experience in all different facets of life. Advertisement Make Connections: Whatever your next steps may be, start building your relationships and network. Reach out to professionals in your field for informational interviews. Sit down with professors at potential schools. Apply for internships across the world and create friendships wherever you may find yourself. Be sure to bulk up your LinkedIn profile. Clean up your Social Media profiles as these are reviewed during recruiting. Start Saving Now: Having fewer responsibilities allows you to save your money. Your first job will generally have a 401k matching program. Start saving as soon as possible to help build your savings from an early age. The founder and editor-in-chief of The College Investor website, Robert Farrington advises; "The younger you are when you start, the more powerful compounding interest works for you. By starting at 22 versus 30, you could add hundreds of thousands of dollars more to your retirement account." Put your best foot forward: Your undergraduate degree has come to a close and now it is time to figure out how to secure your dream job. Refine your resume, adapt your cover letter, and invest in a quality suit to make the best impression during job interviews. Use our interview tips to help you get your dream job when the time comes. Be a lifelong learner: Continuous learning reaps rewards. Read titles such as the "Defining Decade," to help you make the most of this time. Learn about investing and budgeting early on to help you in the future. Explore new areas! Now's the time to learn a new language or give rock climbing a go. Advertisement Take some time: If you aren't sure what your next steps are, take some time to figure it out. Get some global experience. Work in a position that intrigues you to gauge your interest. Taking some time to travel at this point in your life can also help you to decide what you want, gain some perspective and blow off some steam after your laborious college career. Find your passion: This is the first time in your life where you are free to explore independently, personally and professionally. Take time to volunteer for different causes such as Nature Conservancy, the Peace Corps or International Volunteer Headquarters, do informational interviews with professionals in all fields, and find your own voice. We just held our fifth week of the Hacking for Defense class. This week the teams passed the half way mark in the class. They've collectively talked to over 550 beneficiaries (users, program managers, stakeholders, etc.) Their focus for this week was to figure out how to get products rapidly deployed into their sponsors organization. Our advanced lecture explained how to get buy-in for your solution by creating an insurgency among your supporters and advocates. (This post is a continuation of the series. See all the H4D posts here (and also read Pete Newell's weekly class summaries here.) Because of the embedded presentations this post is best viewed on the website.) This is not a typical class If you've been reading these weekly blogs, you've seen by now this is not a typical class. Advertisement The class is a combination of theory and intensive practice. First and foremost, it is experiential and hands-on. The teams live and die by the Lean Startup credo: "There are no facts inside the building so get the hell outside." That's why, just halfway through the class, they've already talked to 550 beneficiaries (users, program managers, stakeholders, etc.) The Lean Methodology requires teams to abandon their preconceived notions of how one builds startups and solve problems - The class is designed to break students out of that all too common mindset that they understand customer's problems, can design a solution and want to get right to work on building it - all without contact with the stakeholders, users, decision makers, etc. After decades of teaching I have found that getting students to really change these beliefs cannot be done with reading, case studies or in-class simulations - at least not in the short time we have them in the class. If we really want them to understand how to efficiently and rapidly understand and solve customer problems, we needed to immerse them with customers on day one. And if we want them to understand what life outside the classroom in an early stage venture will look like, then they need to experience chaos, conflicting data, uncertainty and good-enough decision making for 10 confusing weeks. Advertisement We start by pushing the teams incredibly hard to set the pace (and wash out any of those who can't work at this pace.) Teams hit the class running. Before the first class, each team has already spoken to 10 customers, and they are challenged to present their mission model canvases within 20 minutes of walking through the classroom door. Within 5 minutes from the first time a team starts to present, they get hit with "relentlessly direct" critiques. If you can't see the presentation click here. But by week 5, (this week) the teams have either embraced the Lean process or we're not going to get through to them. So at this point in the class we begin to dial down the tone and tenor of the comments, and over the next four weeks become their cheerleaders rather than their taskmasters. In week 9 we'll stop and use the week and class for "reflection". We've found that getting the teams off the customer discovery treadmill at this point helps them to look back and reflect on what they've really learned, not just about their product/customers but more importantly about the lean processes, themselves, and team work. Team Presentations: Week 5 This week the teams were primarily trying to answer how products get from demo to deployment in their sponsors agency. In all team presentations, note that their new learnings each week are highlighted on their Mission Model canvas in red. Advertisement Sentinel initially started by trying to use low-cost sensors to monitor surface ships in a A2/AD environment. The team has found that their mission value is really to enable more efficient and informed strategic decisions by filling in intelligence gaps about surface ships from heterogeneous data. Slides 4-27 is one of the best illustrations (actually an animation) of how all the beneficiaries work and interact. Slide 29-33 is their detailed drill-down on how their solution could get acquired and deployed in the Navy. Slide 34 summarizes their current Mission Model canvas. Notice that each beneficiary has a matching value proposition. These relationships are expanded in detail on slides 35-38. If you can't see the presentation click here NarrativeMind is developing tools that will optimize discovery and investigation of adversary communication trends on social media, allowing the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) and others to efficiently respond and mitigate threats posed by enemy messaging. Advertisement This week, in slide 3, the team further refined where ARCYBER sat in the org chart of who owned the problem within the DOD/IC and the acquisition process. They learned about getting rapid funding of R&D and prototypes through a funding mechanism called Other Transactional Authority in slide 4. They further refined their Minimal Viable Product to product/market fit in Slides 7 and 8. Their Mission Model canvas in slide 9 has an updated set of beneficiaries now refined in the Value Proposition canvases in slides 10 - 17. If you can't see the presentation click here. Guardian is trying to counter asymmetric threats from commercial drones. This week the team worked to understand a day-in-the-life of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) documenting the roles of the captain, lieutenant and a private on a guard tower (slides 5 and 6). They worked on understanding how they would get a counter drone solution deployed through the Army's Asymmetric Warfare Group (slides 7-9). Advertisement If you can't see the presentation click here. Fishreel is combating Catfishing, the practice of impersonating an individual for malicious purposes, threatening security, privacy, and trust. Their solution will use publicly available social media data to assess whether a given userID refers to a real person, a real person acting under a false persona, or a bot. Last week we were concerned that the team was too focused on building MVPs and not enough on understanding their sponsor organization and how they buy and deploy products. The team really rose to the occasion. Slides 3-6, show their first-pass reconstruction of the sponsor organization and its procurement and acquisition process. Slide 7-13 is an excellent discussion in figuring out the relationship of their Minimal Viable Product to product/market fit and a version 1.0 product. Fishreel's Mission Model canvas (slide 15) and the detailed Value Proposition canvases (slides 16-21) are case studies on how to get to true understanding of the problems of all the beneficiaries and stakeholders in an organization. If you can't see the presentation click here. Skynet is using drones to to provide ground troops with situational awareness - helping prevent battlefield fatalities by pinpointing friendly and enemy positions. The team validated several critical hypotheses about technology and acquisition (slide 2), further refined their Minimum Viable Product (slide 3) and really dug into the path of getting a solution acquired and deployed in the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in slides 4 - 9. Their summary of their learning is highlighted on their Mission Model canvas on Slide 10. Like Fishreel's analysis, Skynet's detailed Value Proposition canvases (slides 11 - 16) are also case studies on how to get to a deep understanding of the problems of all the beneficiaries and stakeholders in an organization. Advertisement If you can't see the presentation click here. Capella Space is launching a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites into space to provide real-time radar imaging. Capella Space is pivoting towards commercial customers based on consistent feedback from the government. They're finding that the government doesn't want to pay for launch and sustainment, but instead would rather be users of commercial data. One of the previous weeks' hypotheses was that the Coast Guard would want and need synthetic aperture radar images and data (slide 5.) The team did extensive customer discovery at the Coast Guard 11th district command center and seemed find that the problem was not all that acute. Depressing - but great learning. They continue to believe that the National Geospatial Agency may be a potential DOD customer (slide 9), but are struggling to find the people to talk to. Advertisement If you can't see the presentation click here. Aqualink started the class working to give Navy divers a system of wearable devices that records data critical to diver health and safety and makes the data actionable through real-time alerts and post-dive analytics. Their customer discovery helped them to understand that there were three beneficiaries (slide 2): the operators (SEAL divers), medical officers and medical researchers. Slides 4 and slide 5 show their decision process to focus on the more immediate problem - underwater geolocation. Slides 6 and 7 describe the organization of SOCOM and how products get deployed to the divers. Slide 8, their mission model canvas, highlights their new learnings about deployment and beneficiaries in red. Slides 15-17 diagrams their understanding of the product acquisition and deployment process. If you can't see the presentation click here. Right of Boom is trying to help foreign military explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams better accomplish their mission. Now they are developing systems, workflows, and incentives for allied foreign militaries with the goal of improved intelligence fidelity. This week their customer discovery got them to the current lead in Iraq for the Joint iED Defeat Agency (JIDA) (slide 2). This helped them refine their map of how IED information flows (slide 6). They mapped how to get a product deployed in JIDA in slide 9. This is leading them to a Minimal Viable Product neither they nor JIDA expected in slide 15. Advertisement If you can't see the presentation click here. Advanced Presentation Supporters and Advocates- Creating an Insurgency The advanced lecture for this week explained how to create "buy-in" among all the beneficiaries. Pete Newell described how to use anecdotes, artifacts and story-telling to create an insurgency among the advocates for your solution. If you can't see the presentation click here. Team Learning Updates A few of the teams independently starting writing weekly one-page status reports to their sponsors and mentors. This was a great idea. It keeps the sponsors and mentors informed and makes them feel they're part of the team. Hacking for Defense Goes National This week three Universities announced their intention to offer Hacking For Defense this fall - The University of California at San Diego (UCSD), the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Rochester/ Rochester Institute for Technology. As we scale the program, the DOD/IC sponsors have requested they have a single point of contact for the soliciting and validating the problems. So we'll have a single site acting as the "sponsor challenge clearinghouse" for the schools that will be teaching the course. Advertisement We'll have more to say about scaling the program, funding and the Hacking for Defense educators course in later blog posts. Lessons Learned The teams are learning what it takes to turn a demo into a deployable solution that gets to the field The teams and sponsors are both learning how to accurately define the problem(s) This learning will save time, money and lives For academics, the month of May signifies the end of the year, a time to assess the work of your students, and the start of revising courses for the next academic year. Here at Columbia, this is reinforced by the transformation of our town center, "College Walk," into a small stadium with bleachers, platforms, big screen TVs and a sound system suitable for a rock concert. I always use this time to take stock of the accomplishments of our students, and to think hard about what we are teaching them and our responsibility as educators. Education is always about choice and perspective, no matter how technical and complex your subject. A teacher always asks: What do I choose to present? What do I leave out in order to focus more on what I leave in? What are the boundaries of my subject matter? When a subject is new, in the enthusiasm of new knowledge, we sometimes don't mention skeptics and contrary perspectives. After things settle down, a good teacher remembers to mention that his or her view of reality is not the only one. Since I teach sustainability management, my teaching needs to include dissenting views, if only to explain why many organizations do not adhere to those principles. I direct two sustainability master's programs at Columbia; one is an intensive full-time, year-long program at the School of International and Public Affairs (MPA in Environmental Science and Policy), and the other is a largely part-time program in the School of Professional Studies (MS in Sustainability Management). Both programs are designed to prepare professional sustainability managers and both are taught by full-time academics and by practitioner adjunct faculty. The adjuncts all hold full-time jobs in addition to their teaching duties. Among the practitioners I find an underlying optimism about the degree to which the sustainability perspective is influencing their work world. Among the academics I find a mix of optimism and dire pessimism. It's a recurring theme--can we build an economic life that can preserve the planet, or is it already too late? My responsibility is to ensure that our students hear both perspectives. Advertisement My colleagues in environmental and ecological sciences are the most prone to despair. They see the trend lines and are deeply worried about sea level rise and species destruction. They also believe that we've known these facts for some time, have not solved the problem, and so the proper response for the ethical and responsible scientist is to issue dire warnings in the clearest possible language. I have colleagues who tell me I should sell my bungalow by the ocean because it will someday be underwater and who are grateful that Columbia's Morningside Heights campus is many feet above sea level. Well, I'm not selling my summer home and I note that Columbia's new campus is right next to the Hudson River and has been designed for climate resiliency. Don't mistake my intent here. I am deeply concerned about the future of the planet. I know that our current path is not sustainable. But I believe we have already begun to chart a new path. After World War II, U.S. GDP and population rose constantly, along with our pollutant levels. In response, we saw the growth of the environmental movement, the creation of EPA in 1970, and a comprehensive array of environmental laws enacted through the 1970s. By 1980, GDP and population continued to grow, and the absolute level of pollution started to decline. With the exception of the Great Recession, GDP and population in this country have increased every year since 1980 and pollution has continued to decline. This is not to say that we have "solved" the problem of environmental pollution, but we have made it less bad. Places like Los Angeles and Pittsburgh are no longer known for their air pollution (that's now Beijing's reputation). We have made tremendous progress and there is more to come. In the case of climate change, 2015 was an important year in the U.S.; our GDP grew, but greenhouse gas emissions fell. We have demonstrated that we can grow the economy while reducing greenhouse gases. We have a very, very long way to go, but the turn around has begun. That's my view, but it is far from universal. Advertisement Scientists, like journalists, have learned that bad news attracts more attention than good news. The old tabloid expression was, "if it bleeds, it leads." Watching the local evening news, it sometimes appears as if everyone in the world has smashed their car, been robbed, or shot. Traffic slows down as drivers rubber-neck to get a look at a traffic wreck. Progress and success gets less attention than failure and destruction. While too much of the world remains desperately poor, two hundred years ago most of the world's population lived in poverty and today most of the world does not. Human ingenuity has created a powerful world economy that is capable of providing everyone with food, clothing and shelter, but is also capable of destroying the ecosystems that we all rely on. Presenting that fact with a sense of balance is a challenge to educators. Most of us teach one part of the story and it is easy to despair that problems will outpace progress. As educators, our job is to present our own views, but to also ensure the legitimacy of the views of other analysts and scholars. In the case of climate science, the issue has become so politicized that it is difficult to do. The facts of the planet's heating over the past century are simply facts that cannot be argued. The arguments are over how to model the future and especially the amount of time we have to make the transition to a fossil fuel-free economy. This is compounded by the role played by some fossil fuel companies in trying to influence those analyses and their communication. I worry less than some about the fossil fuel companies and believe their influence is vastly overrated, but I worry about the actual facts of ecosystem damage and how the future will unfold. All models are simply estimates, and as near as I can tell, no one can predict the future. We can, however, seek to understand the present world that we live in. We can teach our students about our understanding of that world and, more importantly, teach them to engage in dialogue about how the world works. The problem with focusing only on either optimistic or pessimistic views of the world is that either is a form of propaganda, rather than education. How we feel about the future inevitably influences our choice of topics, reading materials and themes in the classroom. An educator needs to understand the views he or she holds and the way those views are reflected in the courses we teach. But then we need to open our perspective to choice and to an open thought process. In a management course that is relatively easy to do. Each week I teach a case study or two and I ask my students to answer some version of the same question: What should the manager do? I always stress that unlike a multiple-choice exam, there is no right or wrong answer. Each answer presents a distinct set of costs, benefits and impacts. They are asked to identify and discuss those impacts. Advertisement The U.S. has been slow to embrace climate change as a reality and slower to embrace climate action as a policy priority. Environmentalism more broadly struggled to take hold until the later half of the 20th century, with the publishing of major works like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in 1962 heralding it into the public conversation. Some presidential administrations took some action in response to the public outcry, with President Nixon, for example, founding both the EPA and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The Carter administration issued the first comprehensive report on global environmental challenges and listed global man-made climate change as one of the key issues. However, theirs and subsequent administrations and congresses produced few, if any, policies to address it. One of the key legislative developments, however, occurred in the Energy Policy Act of 1992: the production tax credit (PTC), which provides a federal tax break of 2.3 cents/kilowatt-hour for wind and geothermal energy sources. Unfortunately, the PTC has been subject to several expirations and hesitant extensions, leading to a "boom and bust" cycle of production in the wind industry. In immediate years following expiration, installations would drop 76-93 percent with corresponding job losses for wind workers. Although Bush did sign the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law, which continued subsidies for renewables, the administration prioritized subsidies for carbon-emitting ethanol to a far greater degree. The Bush administration did little to advance renewable energy development and even withdrew the U.S.'s non-binding signature from the Kyoto Protocol. Advertisement Before the Obama administration, no president made addressing climate change a leading priority in his administration. Obama has been keen to break that trend. During the 2008 campaign he said he would aim to reduce overall carbon emissions by at least 20 percent by 2020 and 60 percent by 2050, compared to 2005 levels. Right after he was sworn into office he addressed the "violent conflict, terrible storms [and] shrinking coastlines" that result from climate change, saying the "planet [is] in peril" and that "the time for denial is over." Appointing Clinton era EPA Administrator Carol Browner as his "climate czar" and Dr. John P. Holdren as the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology signaled the administration intended to follow through on his campaign promises. While his climate policies may not have unfolded in the way he initially intended, i.e. through making compromises with Congress, Obama's various executive actions and international negotiations have put the U.S. in a prime position to be a worldwide climate leader. His policies and rhetoric promoting renewable energy and smart energy policies have been key in establishing this field as a central topic in American politics and policy. Obama was initially very keen to push a climate agenda through legislative means. With Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, the administration had a strong chance of pursuing a legislative strategy. In 2009, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), chairman of a key subcommittee, introduced the American Clean Energy and Security Act on May 15. Nicknamed the "Waxman-Markey Bill," it would have established a cap-and-trade program that would aim to reduce emissions 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and have revenues from permits go towards research and development on clean energy. However, a significant number of Democrats, who represented coal and rust belt districts, refused to support the bill. Because their states could be hit with deep costs, these lawmakers understood that supporting the bill could have resulted in the loss of their seats. When the bill went to the floor, about 183 congressional members supported it, and it would need about 35 more to pass. While the administration declined to vocally endorse the bill, Obama personally telephoned undecided representatives to vote in favor, helping make compromises with those concerned Democrats. On June 26, the House passed the bill 219-212, with 44 Democrats voting no and 8 Republicans voting yes. Despite this narrow victory, the Senate did not build upon the House vote. Despite a few Democratic-led Senate committees pushing legislative proposals that included a cap-and-trade system, Majority Leader Harry Reid did not include that measure in the comprehensive energy bill the Senate was developing, noting the lack of bipartisan support for cap-and-trade. The Waxman-Markey bill thus never made it to the Senate for a vote. Advertisement Instead of pursuing broad national action unilaterally, Obama, in addition to promoting a legislative agenda, ensured federal regulations considered climate and environmental concerns in their operations. A 2009 executive order required federal agencies to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water conservation, and improve waste management. Other than this, however, in his first-term Obama mostly pursued relatively fruitless legislative strategies instead of executive action to encourage renewable energy development. This may have been strategic: at the time, excluding concerns among most Democrats, global warming ranked among the last of American concerns, and the administration wouldn't risk pursuing executive action on such a generally unpalatable issue, especially during the 2012 election. I noted back then that neither the President nor Mitt Romney even mentioned climate change in the foreign policy debate, marking the first time in decades it was omitted in this particular forum. Its absence was likely due to the country's growing partisan chasm that made global warming resonate almost solely with Democratic voters and unpalatable to the average voter. That is not an excuse for downplaying the issue during the election, but it is understandable why the President wouldn't bring it up too often on the campaign trail. However, in the first June of his new term, Obama laid out an in-depth and long term strategy in a Georgetown University speech on how his administration would take unilateral steps to address climate change. He broke new policy ground by proposing to incentivize all states to actively work towards reducing America's emissions. In declaring his goal, he used the precedent set by the Supreme Court in the 2009 case EPA v. Massachusetts, which required the agency to regulate carbon gases under the provisions of the Clean Air Act. The Clean Power Plan (CPP) is the first policy of its kind, providing nationwide incentives for all states to develop renewable and clean technologies and setting up carbon reduction standards. It also directs the EPA to provide mechanisms for states to cooperate in developing energy and reducing individual state spending; emissions trading is one of these proposed mechanisms, a system by which power plants can buy and trade permits to emit carbon, similar to a cap-and-trade program. This creates a relatively low cost financial incentive to decrease emissions and gives clean energy plants a key market advantage. Unlike previous administrations, Obama did not simply propose some vague reductions goal to tout at the next UNFCCC meeting. He took further steps to craft the policy infrastructure for the U.S. to be a climate leader. He is, essentially, the first president to demonstrate decisive leadership in this field. At the international level, he vocally encouraged others to do their part. His bilateral negotiations and agreements with China saw both countries setting carbon goals and committing to develop renewables, sending a signal to both developed and developing nations to do the same. Although he took time making the decision, Obama vetoed the Keystone XL Pipeline. While it would have emitted a marginal amount of carbon compared to the whole of current emissions, the refusal to partake in the development of the environmentally disastrous Alberta Tar Sands signaled a new environmentally conscious approach in a president's decision-making. Environmentalists have bemoaned, however, how his administration has ushered in the fracking boom (both in the US and abroad). While producing overall fewer emissions than coal or oil, natural gas production indeed has severe environmental and health risks. Regardless of where you stand on fracking, however, Obama clearly aimed to present the natural gas boom as a two-pronged win for reducing emissions and the American energy industry. Rhetorically at least, he wanted to paint it as a step forward for the climate cause, helping prove emissions could be reduced (even if only marginally) at the same time as increased economic growth. He has also repeatedly voiced his concern about climate change in his touting of natural gas as a "stepping stone" fuel while increasing renewable capabilities. And there are signs he is pursuing more regulation on the industry. Recently, for example, he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to reduce methane emissions from natural gas pipelines, a crucial measure, as methane gas has 80 times the potential of carbon dioxide to trap atmospheric heat. Obama's success is intricately tied to the energy landscape he entered as president, in which renewables have surged in the market. In 2007 cumulative wind energy production was 16,702 MW and gradually rose to be 65,879 MW in 2014. In 2007, the US installed just 160 MW worth of solar PV. With a variety of innovations in rooftop solar and large-scale plants, the number rose to 7,260 MW installed in 2015. The renewable appetite is clearly in the populace, and Obama has taken note, offering a variety of loan guarantees and other incentives to boost the industry's development. The President has used the issue of addressing climate change as an economic incentive, encouraging the development of tens of thousands of jobs in the building and maintenance of renewable energy plants, debunking the myth that economic development and environmental protection must remain diametrically opposed. He has even touted home-generated solar power as an issue that unites environmentalists and Tea Partiers, as the latter group strives for independence from large-scale utilities, an independence that is created by generating power at home. Advertisement Obama and the broader climate movement's successes are evident in recent congressional developments. On April 20th the Senate passed the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which is slated to promote renewable energy, improve the energy efficiency of buildings, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and speed the export of domestically produced natural gas. The act united Democrats and Republicans, with a landslide vote of 85-12. However, the Senate passed this act by avoiding mentioning "climate change" explicitly, concentrating on the economic benefits more than on any environmental concerns. Yet, its passage helps prove that Obama's economic argument on renewables is politically palatable and can result in legislative breakthroughs. Maryland's governor made history last week by enacting the Orange Ribbon Bill for Healthy School Hours, the nation's first legislation to help schools implement later, safer, healthier class times. The bipartisan legislation - D, Montgomery County) - sponsored by Delegate Aruna Miller, with a companion bill cross-filed by Senator Bryan Simonaire (R, Anne Arundel County) - becomes effective July 1st of this year and keeps Maryland on course as a national leader the Start School Later Movement. Hundreds of thousands of Maryland students stand to benefit from this incentive program, which encourages school districts to work with their communities to find feasible ways to run schools at times that allow for healthy sleep. The requirements for recognition are based on the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Advertisement An Innovative Approach to a Longstanding Problem This bill is an innovative way to address a longstanding public health problem: extremely early, unhealthy, and counterproductive school hours that many communities haven't been able to address on their own. While health professionals have been calling for later start times since the early 1990s, many Maryland public high schools still begin before 7:30 a.m., some waiting at bus stops before 5:30 a.m. These hours conflict with 40 years of scientific research and the recent recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that no middle or high school start before 8:30 a.m. for reasons of health, safety, and learning. The only two other school start time bills passed by states involved studying the issue, the first one in the Maryland (2014) and the second in New Jersey (2015). New Jersey's study is currently underway, with hearings being held this week. The Orange Ribbon incentive program picks up on recommendations made in Maryland's study, which was completed in December 2014. "I am pleased that Maryland continues to set the standard for academic excellence," said Danielle Brooks, an Annapolis mother of three who leads Start School Later's legislative efforts in Maryland. "I am proud to have my children in Maryland public schools." Advertisement No-Cost, Voluntary, Incentive Program Proponents of later school start times throughout Maryland are optimistic that this no-cost, voluntary, incentive program will finally break the logjam that has obstructed districts from delaying bell times for two decades. What this program will do," Paul Katula of the Maryland State Department of Education's Department of Assessment, Accountability, and Data Systems observed, "is to give school leaders something to work toward, a small token, that tells their students and communities that they have brought their fortitude, creativity, and leadership to bear in creating a better school climate." Katula added that this recognition program would encourage school systems to "do the right thing for kids" in a way that would cut costs and minimize impact on the community. Deb Jung, a Howard County, MD attorney and a Start School Later chapter leader, is hopeful that this incentive program will help turn years of well-meaning studies and efforts - including last week's decision in her district to delay bell times by 2017-18 - into actual bell time change. "Parents want this change. Almost 80% of the parents surveyed last year in Howard County stated they wanted to see school start times for high school students begin after 8:00 a.m." Andra Williams Broadwater, chapter leader of Start School Later Baltimore County, agreed. "This legislation gives Baltimore County Public Schools a firm goal and recognition for moving its school start times to ones that are healthier for our students," she said. Advertisement Three Levels of Recognition Rather than requiring districts to change bell times, the Orange Ribbon Program establishes three levels of recognition, with the top level of award reserved for districts where middle or high schools start class no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and elementary schools no earlier than 8 a.m. unless bus runs start after 7 a.m. At least four school systems in Maryland are tentatively eligible for recognition should they choose to seek it: Anne Arundel, Garrett, Howard, and Montgomery Counties. According to Lisa VanBuskirk, leader of Anne Arundel County, MD's Start School Later chapter, her district is currently eligible for the lowest level of recognition, which is awarded to districts studying the issue and conducting outreach efforts to community stakeholders. "We look forward to working with the Board of Education to progressively acquire additional recognition levels as the school system successfully implements healthier and safer school hours over the next few years," she said. Districts like Montgomery County, which moved its high school bell time by 20 minutes last year (from 7:25 to 7:45 a.m.) may be eligible for the next level of recognition. Ann Gallagher, a founding member of Montgomery County's Start School Later chapter, said that parents hoping for continued progress there and around the state are pleased that state legislators understood the need for state-level support for county school systems struggling to address this issue. "Montgomery County's multi-year, full-county effort to change start times, supported by over 80% of county parents, resulted in only a small step toward healthful start times," she said. "Our supporters of healthy school hours hope the Orange Ribbon legislation will make it easier for other Maryland counties to establish appropriate start times for students' health." Editor's note: This article is part of our collaboration with Point Taken, a new program from WGBH that will next air on Tuesday, May 3 on PBS and online at pbs.org. The show features fact-based debate on major issues of the day, without the shouting. Pay transparency is all the rage these days. President Obama has taken action to increase pay transparency among federal contractors. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces laws prohibiting employment discrimination, recently issued a regulation requiring large companies to disclose aggregate salary information in their annual informational filing. And states have been taking action as well, with California and New York enacting legislation to support pay transparency efforts. WGBH Their primary goal is to eliminate the gender wage gap. Currently, in the United States, women earn approximately 21 percent less than men. The gap between men's and women's wages remains even when taking into account factors such as career choice (e.g., college-educated women become teachers more often than men do, and teachers are paid less than many other jobs requiring a degree), experience and education. One study found that 10 years after graduation, women earned 12 percent less than men after accounting for all other factors that could affect pay. Advertisement Pay transparency laws represent the latest effort to close the gap, which has remained stubbornly in place for decades. But will they be effective? The answer depends in part on whether employees are willing to disclose their salaries and how employers address the concerns that are likely to arise when a salary gap is revealed. No salary disclosure required Part of the problem is that with one exception -- government employees -- the laws currently in place to promote pay transparency do not actually require disclosure of individual salary information. Advertisement For example, the federal regulation that has been touted as a pay transparency law only prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who disclose their own salary. California's and New York's laws are essentially the same. The idea behind these anti-retaliation laws is to allow employees to disclose their pay without repercussion, eliminating pay secrecy policies and customs. For these laws to create actual pay transparency, however, employees must be willing to share salary information. And while there appears to be a trend toward employee willingness to do so, it is at odds with the longstanding social norm against discussing pay. Rebecca Cook/Reuters Finding a link to pay equity In the absence of a legal requirement to disclose wages, an increasing number of companies are making salary information transparent on their own. Different companies have taken varying approaches to this. For example, Whole Foods allows workers to check their colleagues' salaries, while social media scheduler Buffer publicly discloses the formula it uses to determine employees' salaries. At the extreme end of transparency, many governmental employees' salaries are publicly available, depending on the state. One could argue, and many do, that increased pay transparency decreases the gender pay gap. The argument has logic: if employers disclose salaries, they will also be disclosing any gender pay gap that exists, and this will lead to efforts to eliminate it. This is precisely what happened at Buffer, which, after disclosing employee salaries, found a wage gap and changed its compensation system and hiring priorities to eliminate it. Advertisement Pay transparency in the federal workforce can also be seen as support for the argument that pay transparency helps eliminate the gender wage gap. It is significantly lower in the federal workforce -- in which salaries are publicly available online -- than in the private sector. Assessing pay transparency's impact Despite this anecdotal evidence of the effect of pay transparency, a note of caution is warranted. First, there appears to be no empirical study of the effect of pay transparency on the gender wage gap. Specifically, there is no systematic research of what happens to the gap when companies shift from withholding to disclosing employee pay. Nor is there research comparing the gender wage gap in companies that keep salaries secret with companies that disclose employee pay. While there is research comparing the federal workforce's gender wage gap with that in the private sector, it does not show whether pay transparency is a factor. And, in fact, it is quite probable that the most important factor explaining the smaller federal wage gap is the government's highly structured pay and promotion system. Second, when one looks closer at the anecdotal evidence, what it suggests is that pay transparency is only one piece at play. Comparing the experiences of Buffer, the example that appears to be most popular in the press, with Salesforce illustrates this. At Buffer, the company disclosed salaries then took concrete steps to eliminate the gender wage gap that was revealed. In contrast, Salesforce conducted an internal review but did not disclose salaries. On the basis of the review, the company adjusted the pay of six percent of its employees to eliminate the gender wage gap. Advertisement The common link in these approaches is not pay transparency but recognition of a gap between men's and women's pay and a commitment to close it. Thus, pay transparency can assist in pushing companies toward recognition of a problem, but it isn't an essential component to eliminating it. Robert Galbraith/Reuters Corporate attitude Indeed, a company's attitude toward the wage gap and its causes may be more significant in eliminating it than putting in place a transparent pay policy. Consider the fact that differences in an employee's initial salary contributes to the gender wage gap. Is this caused by differences in previous salary? Or that men are usually rewarded for negotiating a better salary -- while women are penalized for doing the same? Pay transparency would reveal a gap in starting salary, but the company could decide that it is not due to gender but "market forces" -- e.g., the man had to be paid more to take the job in order to avoid a wage cut -- or because of his negotiating ability. That would make it less likely that the company would take action. Advertisement To take another example, women take off more time than men do after the birth of a child. A "gender neutral" policy of basing raises on seniority will result in women having lower salaries over time than men do. Pay transparency will reveal this difference. Yet seniority is generally considered a neutral, nongendered reason for a wage gap, and a company can explain away any differences based on this, claiming that it has nothing to do with sex. But isn't a pay gap based on gender if it is caused by the fact that women have babies or that they stay home with sick children more often than men? Companies have to be willing to reconsider many such components of compensation to eliminate gender disparities in pay. Pregnant worker via www.shutterstock.com Negative consequences Taking a step back and accepting that pay transparency would at least allow differences to be revealed, which could lead to a decrease in the gender pay gap, one must also consider the negative repercussions. Advertisement One downside to pay transparency is the effect on employee morale. A fascinating study on the effect of revealing salaries of University of California employees showed that employees below the median salary for their position had decreased job satisfaction and an increase in desire to change jobs. This was not offset by improvements in employee morale among those who were paid higher than the median salary. Thus, there was a net overall decrease in employee morale. On the other hand, a recent PayScale survey suggests that transparency has the opposite effect, encouraging retention, because employees tend to think they're more underpaid than they actually are. To avoid negative consequences, the Society for Human Resource Management recommends that employers be prepared to explain any reasons for pay disparities that are revealed. This also suggests that how an employer handles a pay gap matters more than the disclosure of it. Putting this all together, pay transparency in and of itself doesn't necessarily help close the gender pay gap. It creates opportunities for employers to reconsider their current compensation systems but doesn't mean they'll necessarily do anything about it. Advertisement So while pay transparency is a good idea, on its own it probably won't be able to eliminate the persistent pay disparities between men and women. When asked to choose between the candidacies of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, remarked, It's like being shot or poisoned. What does it really matter? But, in fact, it really does matter for the Republican Party. REUTERS/Brian C. Frank Based on a survey taken before the Iowa caucus, voters see Cruz as the most orthodox neoconservative candidate on issues such as trade liberalization, taxes and shrinking the role of government. Simultaneously, he represents a slightly less authoritarian choice. By contrast, Trump is seen as taking a more moderate economic stance on trade and taxes, but a more extreme position on authoritarian values. Most importantly for the electoral fortunes of the GOP, both candidates are located some distance away from the position of the median American voter. Advertisement Clearly, candidate positions evolve. Nominated candidates usually pivot toward the center in the general election. Nevertheless, candidates are often unable to ditch the image about their positions which were first formed in the public mind during the primary season. If there is a contested Republican convention - a prospect which looks increasingly unlikely - delegates will probably support a candidate based on their positions and who is regarded as the least-bad electoral risk. Two rival interpretations about the basis of support for the candidates are commonly heard. Let's consider both: Interpretation #1: It's the economy Numerous commentators regard both Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as economic populists with strongest support among those who are economically struggling and dissatisfied with growing social inequality. Advertisement Economists like Dani Rodrik blame globalization for rising populism and the politics of anger. In this thesis, blue collar and less educated voters have grown weary of growing income disparities, stagnant or falling wages, lack of corporate accountability for the 2008 financial crisis and the continued exodus of manufacturing jobs overseas. Researchers at The Hamilton Project found that American men without a college degree, in particular, have fared poorly in loss of real wages since 1990. Washington Post reporters Max Ehrenfreund and Scott Clement found that Republicans worried about maintaining their economic situation are more likely to support Trump. It is thought that anti-establishment pitchforks are directed against both parties because Congress is perceived to continually promise job growth and rising living standards while in practice kowtowing to corporate donors, favoring trade liberalization and expanding tax loopholes for the rich. From this perspective, Cruz provides an extreme version of Reaganesque economic orthodoxy on free trade, while Trump has trampled upon these neoconservative nostrums, such as by suggesting taxes on Chinese imports. Likewise among Democrats. Sanders' appeal to white, younger voters is often attributed to his progressive economic mantra of tackling income inequality, cleaning up campaign finance, reducing student debt and taking on Wall Street. His campaign has been a one-note angry shout for the "have-nots" against the "haves." Hillary Clinton's speeches have gradually tacked closer to Sanders on these issues, although she is saddled with her husband's legacy of NAFTA. Interpretation #2: It's cultural backlash The alternative argument suggests that popular support for Trump taps most deeply into a cultural backlash, rather than any economic issue. In this view, authoritarian populism in the U.S. and other Western democracies has been driven most strongly by cultural values. Trump's rhetoric stirs up a potent mix of racial resentment, intolerance, American First nationalism and isolationism. It emphasizes mistrust of outsiders, misogyny and sexism, attack-dog politics, and racial and anti-Muslim animus. Advertisement Racial politics are clearly part of this witch's brew. Nat Cohn found that support for Trump was strongest in areas with measures of racial animosity. Survey data point toward the same conclusions. Jason McDaniel and Sean McElwee have shown that racial animosity is a critical driver in Trump's support. But American racial attitudes are arguably part of a broader phenomenon. My book comparing support for the radical right in many countries found that authoritarian populists typically scapegoat outsiders. Populists favor nationalism, social conformity, order and strong leaders. Taking up this broader theme, Matthew MacWilliams in his research found that support for authoritarian values was one of the best predictors of Trump's support. Trump's willingness to trample upon "political correctness" is thought to be catnip for less educated, older, blue collar Americans. This group finds themselves stranded like fish losing oxygen in a shrinking pool on the losing side of cultural tides, powerless to push back against long-term social evolution transforming the diversity of peoples and values in the United States. Meanwhile, Trump's speech is anathema to civil discourse among educated liberals and establishment Republicans like Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney. Survey on favorability For evidence of which interpretation is right, we can dive into the American National Election Study, conducted in January 2016, just before the first votes were cast in the Iowa caucus. Advertisement The survey of 1,200 American citizens monitored candidate preferences by asking "Regardless of whether you will vote in the Democratic primary this year, which Democratic candidate do you prefer?" An equivalent question was asked for Republican contenders. This does not imply that sympathizers necessarily cast a primary ballot for these candidates. Rather, the questions tap into overall favorability toward the candidates before the first vote was cast. The position of the candidates can be assumed to reflect that of their sympathizers. These positions can then be compared with the median voter. Economic values What does the NES survey say about the economic issues interpretation of candidates' appeal? Author provided The chart above shows two classic indicators of these positions in the survey, including where supporters of each candidate placed themselves on the liberal-conservatism scale and whether they favored less or more government services and spending. The evidence suggests that among Democrats, both Clinton and Sanders sympathizers saw themselves as liberal and favoring an expansion of government services and spending. Surprisingly, Clinton supporters were slightly more left wing than Sanders supporters. Advertisement Among Republicans, those most favorable toward Jeb Bush placed themselves remarkably close to the Democrats. Supporters of the other Republican candidates were all on the right of the median voter. Most supporters of the GOP candidates were fairly close to the median voter - with the exception of those most sympathetic toward Trump and Cruz. Cruz supporters were the most extreme and farthest from the average American on economic issues. Cultural backlash? What does the evidence say about the appeal of authoritarian values in America? Author provided The chart above taps into social tolerance (how favorably respondents felt toward Muslims) and attitudes toward authority (how favorably they felt about the police). The results provide a perfect snapshot of the range of choices on cultural values in the 2016 primary campaign. As expected, Sanders sympathizers show least support for authoritarian values. They are followed by Clinton supporters, who were closest to the mainstream position of the average American. By contrast, supporters of most of the Republican candidates clustered together as more favorable toward these authoritarian populist values. Bush sympathizers were predictably more liberal than those of Cruz. The most striking outlier concerns supporters of Trump, who displayed the strongest sympathy toward authoritarian populist values. This reinforces the notion that his distinctive brand of populism strikes a chord among less educated and older voters, who regard social diversity as a threat to traditional American values. Advertisement These factors continue to predict favorability toward Cruz and Trump even after controlling for other factors associated with political attitudes and electoral choices, including the age, gender, race, education and income of voters. With Trump versus Cruz, the GOP faces a Hobson's choice between two types of extremes. Which is the riskier bet for the future of the party - and indeed for America and the world? Cruz's support now appears to be lagging, while Trump has surged in recent primaries, so Trump may get a majority of delegates in the first round at the Republican convention. If the contest goes into a second round, however, the answer for Republican delegates probably depends upon whether they are most fearful of the dangers of authoritarian populism or neoconservatism. Pippa Norris, ARC Laureate Fellow, Professor of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney and McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Harvard University We are always in constant need of caffeine: Our working week revolves around endless trips to Starbucks. Every day, we get through cup after cup after cup of hot or iced beverages, and they almost always come from that ever-busy Starbucks on the corner of the block. But this unstoppable, totally natural caffeine-addiction isn't a cheap one. Our need for caffeine and our lack of money are clashing horribly, but don't worry, these six money-saving hacks are here to help. Bring a Cup If you bring a reusable cup or a paper cup from another coffee shop, Starbucks will take 10 cents off the price of your order. It may not seem like much, but it requires almost no effort on your part, and all those dimes will add up to something more substantial if you save them carefully. DIY Iced Latte Skip ordering a standard iced latte, and make your own with this simple, money-saving trick. Ask for two espresso shots, served over ice (in whatever size cup you prefer), and then add milk and sweetener at the condiments bar. It's not quite a latte, but it is a cheaper alternative that is just as tasty as an iced latte. Advertisement Don't Buy Bottled Water Resist reaching for that bottle of water while you're waiting in line, and ask for a glass of tap water instead. This water will be free, and is filtered anyway, so is just as good (if not better) than its bottled counterpart. Get a Refill Sometimes one drink just isn't enough. At any point during the day, and with any size cup, as long you're on the same visit, you can pay 50 cents to have your cup refilled with brewed or iced coffee or tea. Take a break in the store while you enjoy your first drink, get your refill, and then make your way back to your desk. Order a Short You may not know it, and it may not appear on the menu, but there is a size smaller than a tall, and it's called a short. As the short is smaller, it's obviously less expensive than a tall, but if you order an espresso-based drink, such as a latte, cappuccino, or americano, then you're getting the same amount of caffeine in your paper cup. Split a Venti A North Carolina non-profit that received about $35 million in competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education through the Obama administrations Investing in Innovation program announced last week that it had closed. The news was first reported by WRAL, an NBC affiliate in the Tarheel State . North Carolina New Schoolswhich had recently changed its name to Breakthrough Learningpartnered with more than 100 public schools to help high school students take advantage of college coursework. The 13-year old non-profit was the first i3 grantee to go from the validation levelfor programs with some evidence to back them up, to the Scale Up, for proven approaches ready to go big. It received its $15 million validation grant in 2011, and its $20 million Scale Up grant in 2014. New Schools also received a congratulatory visit from then-U.S. Secretary of Education in 2014. And we profiled the program , which was in the process of helping spread its success early college high school approach beyond North Carolina, to rural districts in Mississippi, South Carolina, Illinois, and Indiana. So what happened to North Carolina New Schools? Apparently, New Schools expansion happened too rapidly for sustainability. We ran into cash flow problems that were directly related to growth and the speed of growth, Jeffrey Corbett, the president of the organizations board of directors told the Raleigh News & Observer. It was very, very unfortunate. The Education Department is closely monitoring this situation, and [has] taken immediate actions to limit North Carolina New Schools access to federal grant funds, said Dorie Nolt, a spokeswoman, in an email. As we learn more details about this matter, we will take additional steps as necessary to protect federal funds and the interests of students and families. Credit: Wikimedia Commons By: Paola Crespo Ypsilanti, Michigan was a safe place to live in the peace and free love era of the 1960s--until the bodies started piling up. Over the course of three years, a serial killer referred to as the "Ypsilanti Ripper" (pronounced Ip-sih-lan-tee) tortured, killed, and mutilated half a dozen victims. All were female college students; all were missing one or more limbs. But what was most terrifying was the discovery of the killer's identity: an all-American boy, who wasn't at all what he seemed. Advertisement In The Michigan Murders, Edward Keyes gives the enthralling true account of the savage murders that tormented a Midwestern town. READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE TRUE CRIME BOOK BELOW. At midafternoon on Friday, in the sparsely inhabited northeast section of Ann Arbor, two construction workers became aware of something odd. It was a muggy, hot day, and the men were taking a five-minute water break from the sapping toil of excavating storm drains for a new subdivision off Glacier Way. Slouched along the edge of the trench, their bare torsos running with sweat, breathing deep, they were silent until one, Tony Cola, cocked his head a moment, then said to the other: "There must be something dead around here." Caleb Freeman groaned, "There sure is. And I'm sitting on it." "No, really," Cola insisted. His nose lifted again, testing the air. "Smell... Do you smell it?" Freeman sniffed and his face began to pinch up. "Christ! Did you lay one?" "Up yours." Cola got to his feet. "I tell you, there's a dead thing around here someplace." He started prowling tentatively through the high browned-out grass and weeds along the shoulder of Glacier Way. Freeman, bemused, tagged behind. Advertisement READ MORE: THE UNSOLVED KILLING OF GEORGETTE BAUERDORF After a dozen yards, Cola halted stiffly. When he turned back to the other, his features were contorted. He pointed toward a clump of growth a few feet ahead of him. Freeman couldn't make out anything at first. He moved closer, and then he saw it: part of a bare arm protruding from the grass, elbow bent at an awkward angle, skin grayish, slack, lifeless. Freeman edged past Cola to the spot. The arm was part of a body, which appeared to be nude. The stench was awful, but Freeman made himself bend and part some of the tall grasses. Almost instantly he had to recoil. It was a woman. It was hard to tell how old, because not only was much of the thin, pale body slashed and caked with blood but from the bosom and upper arms to the head the skin was black, peeling with rot. Where the face would have been was a fearsome charcoal death mask, the mouth frozen open in a wide, silent scream, the teeth huge and sneering like a skeleton's because the lips were gone; the sunken eyes were also open, showing only blank whites. Freeman and Cola ran to find their foreman, back down the road. Lane Beasley, who for a brief recent period had tried his hand as an Ann Arbor police officer, listened to the two panting men with some curiosity. Were they pulling his leg? He saw soon enough that it was no joke. Beasley examined the scene with what he hoped was the care learned as a policeman. The dead woman's muddy clothing was bunched around her neck--white undergarments and a blue dress of some type--like some grotesque clown's collar. The body lay on its right side, arms thrown out from the trunk. The face was horrible, unrecognizable. In the black, swollen left ear lobe was a round golden earring. Beasley noticed that some of the damp grass around the corpse appeared to have been trampled, indicating that some other person or persons had been there recently. Yet, though the body was mottled with dried blood, there were no traces of blood on the grass or ground. Advertisement Beasley rose, faintly sick from the sight and the smell, and said to Freeman and Cola, who had held back: "You stick by and don't let anybody near. I'll go call the police." The Michigan Murders is available on Amazon. "In the coming days and weeks," writes Weis, "voters in Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, California and Washington, DC have a chance to write their names into the history books as protectors of the flame of the political revolution." Bernie's difficult path to the nomination just got a little rockier, but it's still three months to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. If there's anything I've learned from my years in presidential politics, it is to expect the unexpected, and that three months is an eternity in a political campaign. Anything can happen. As they have tried to do throughout this campaign, the corporate media and political establishment are once again trying to coronate the Clintons before the votes are counted. In an affront to the democratic process, some are even calling for Bernie to get out of the race. This a slap in the face to millions of voters in ten states, three U.S. territories and the District of Columbia who have not yet had their say in who the Democratic nominee should be. Sanders surrogate Tim Robbins said it best at a campaign rally in Wisconsin: Advertisement "We are no longer surprised. We get it. You want Bernie to go away. You want your anointed candidate to win." Well, Bernie is not going away. Bernie is going all the way. Sanders currently trails Clinton by about 330 pledged delegates. To overtake her, he needs to win 65% of the remaining 1083 pledged delegates (California has 475), a steep, but not impossible, climb. Even more unlikely, though, is for Clinton to reach a majority of convention delegates with pledged delegates alone. This means we're headed for a contested convention in Philadelphia, where it will be decided which candidate is the Democratic Party's best hope to win the White House in November. There, convention delegates will have to weigh the fact that Senator Sanders, not Secretary Clinton, consistently polls the strongest against Mr. 1%, Donald Trump. They will also have to weigh Hillary's likeability and trust liabilities against Bernie's unprecedented popularity with young voters, Independents (42% of Americans), and even Republicans. The outcome will hinge as much on politics as on math. I have nothing personal against Hillary Clinton, but I do have a problem with entrusting our future to an establishment politician who got it so predictably wrong on the Iraq War; who supported trade agreements that destroyed millions of good-paying American jobs; who made it her job as Secretary of State to sell dangerous fracking to the world; and whose campaign is funded by Wall Street billionaires and super PACs (to the tune of $3.25 million from fossil fuel interests). Advertisement As to that last point, maybe you saw Hillary's response to a perfectly reasonable question asked by a climate activist in a rope line at one of her campaign events: "Thank you for tackling climate change. Will you act on your words and reject future fossil fuel money in your campaign?" Instead of answering, Hillary repeatedly jabbed her finger at the young woman (who works for Greenpeace, not the Sanders campaign) and angrily snapped: "I am so sick, I am so sick of the Sanders campaign lying about me. I'm sick of it!" For a presidential candidate to lash out like this at a young person who has so much more at stake (like potentially her own long-term survival) than the candidate in how things turn out over the next half century is just wrong. Days later on "Meet the Press," Hillary insulted millions of young Sanders supporters by speaking condescendingly about those who don't trust her to lead on climate: "I feel sorry sometimes for the young people who, you know, believe this; they don't do their own research." Well, some friends and I did a little research of our own and this is what we found: Hillary represents timid incrementalism at a time when the people are restless for bold transformational change, and at a time when such dramatic change is needed to ensure our survival as a species. Fortunately, we have another choice. Consider what Bernie had to say about the climate emergency at the last Democratic debate: Advertisement "On climate change... we have a global crisis. Pope Francis reminded us that we are on a suicide course. We have got to stand up and say right now, as we would if we were attacked by some military force, we have got to move... urgently and boldly... in 1941, under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, we moved within three years... to rebuild our economy to defeat Nazism and Japanese imperialism. That is exactly the kind of approach we need right now." Because we have waited so long to act, a Sanders administration-led national mobilization may be our last best chance to get it right. We are already breaching the dangerous heating threshold 196 nations just agreed in Paris not to breach. We don't have the luxury of appeasing the fossil industry for four more years. Maybe that brave little bird who flew onto Bernie's podium in Portland knows something the rest of us don't. This much I do know: the stakes in this election could not be higher for humanity and for all life on Earth. When our children look back at this chapter in America's history, how will the story end? Will they mourn our tragic embrace of more of the same that failed to avert climate catastrophe? Or will they celebrate the success of a once-in-a-lifetime president who, against all odds, sparked a political revolution that rallied America to heroically respond to the gravest threat humanity has ever faced? In the coming days and weeks, voters in Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, California and Washington, DC have a chance to write their names into the history books as protectors of the flame of the political revolution. Which side of history do you want to be on? Cross-posted with Common Dreams A new survey of almost 2,000 U.S. teachers revealed that the 2016 presidential campaign might be having a negative impact on students' well-being and interactions with each other. For example, educators have seen an increase in bullying and harassment of students whose racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds have been attacked during the campaign. They also report that some campaign rhetoric is triggering fear and anxiety in children of color: While the survey did not identify candidates, more than 1,000 comments mentioned Donald Trump by name. In contrast, a total of fewer than 200 contained the names Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders, or Hillary Clinton. More than 500 comments contained the words fear, scared, afraid, anxious, or terrified to describe the campaign's impact on minority students. Teaching Tolerance admits that their survey--titled The Trump Effect: The Impact of the Presidential Campaign on Our Nation's Schools--establishes correlation, but only hints at causation: We can't really know for sure if the rhetoric is actually causing the increase in identity-based bullying. It was also unscientific: They sent it only to their members, as well as members of other groups with similar missions. This is a self-selected group of teachers who most likely emphasize the value of diversity, equality, equity, and connection in their classrooms, which creates a bias. A stronger study would have recruited a randomized sample of educators. But even accounting for those weaknesses--and regardless of one's political leanings--we need to pay attention to this report. When educators--whether it's two or 2,000--report that students do not feel safe in their schools (or in their country, for that matter) and are hurling discriminatory insults at each other, this is no longer a political issue. It's a human one--and a call to action for educators. What pits students against each other? Children need to feel safe to learn. Period. And a crucial part of cultivating that sense of safety is creating a school climate where everyone--staff and students alike--feels they belong, have value, and matter. Advertisement In today's political climate, this can be tricky given that every school will have people who fall everywhere on the political spectrum (schools are a slice of humanity after all). But as the adults committed to the well-being of all of our students, we need to set aside our differences and work together to stop students from calling another student "criminals" or "terrorist" or "loser" or "deadbeat" because of their cultural and racial identities. These are words we've heard used in this year's presidential debates, which are never okay to use against another human being. Indeed, research on school connectedness has found that when students believe that both the adults and their peers care about them as individuals, they are more likely to succeed academically and engage in behaviors that increase their physical and mental well-being. And, pertinent to Teaching Tolerance's report, having friends from several different social groups that integrate gender and race increases students' sense of connection. When many teachers and administrators are already doing so much to instill values of inclusiveness in their students, it can be alarming to see them suddenly behave in such a way. One educator wrote, "Any unity developed by Mix It Up at lunchtime [a program that encourages students to connect with someone new] has flown out the window." Obviously, students are copying the behavior of the adults they see running for president on TV; extensive research corroborates that the modeling of behavior is a powerful tool for learning. But for students to adopt such shocking behavior--which many of them probably know at their core to be wrong--it's possible that something deeper than just the mimicking of adults is going on. While the human psyche is very complex and difficult to understand, one clue may come from what renowned Stanford psychologist Albert Bandura calls moral disengagement. In his recent book on this topic, Bandura theorizes that people stop themselves from engaging in immoral acts because they want to maintain a sense of self-worth and uphold their moral standards. However, when faced with pressure from either the situation or others around them to act in ways that go against their moral standards--such as bullying or name-calling--people use various methods for justifying their choices that, at the same time, maintain their moral integrity. Advertisement Bandura describes eight ways we morally disengage. For instance, we might blame the victim ("it's the woman's fault that she got raped because of the way she was dressed"), or minimize personal responsibility (CEOs who claim not to have known about the unlawful actions of their employees), or we might ignore, distort, minimize, or disbelieve the effects of our harmful behavior (using weapon technology that increases the facelessness of the enemy). Yet moral disengagement isn't limited to large societal issues; it also occurs in our daily lives, including in our schools. Several studies have found that school bullies score higher than non-bullies on moral disengagement and justify their actions through strategies such as dehumanization of their victim and moral justification (bullying to fulfill a higher moral or social goal, such as "weeding out the weak"). Could it be that the presidential campaign is creating an atmosphere that incentivizes bullying, by modeling the idea that victim-blaming, name-calling, and overpowering minorities is justified and the way to get ahead? We can't say for sure. We only know that students' interactions with each other are suddenly changing, but not in a positive direction. Whatever the cause, it behooves all of us in education--even if we can't control what is happening on the political stage or people's responses to the drama--to increase our efforts at making sure all our students feel safe and welcome in our schools. Here are some research-based ways to start. 1. Help students see the impact of harmful words Bandura suggests that it's easier to suppress our built-in empathic mechanisms that keep us from behaving in unkind ways when we can't see how our actions affect others. Unfortunately, politicians don't see the effect their words are having on students. But the teachers are seeing it. Advertisement "We heard about students from second grade to high school crying in class [and]....a California art teacher described a fifth-grader who had begun having 'full-blown panic attacks,'" the report states. Students, too, need to see the effects of their harmful slurs. Those on the receiving end may be too scared or shocked to reply in the moment and perhaps too confused to know whether or how to respond later. Thus, educators need to take the matter into their own hands and provide opportunities for students to share their experiences with each other. SEL and mindfulness expert Linda Lantieri tells a story of how an activity she calls the "Social Barometer" helped one group of European-American students see the impact of racism on their African-American classmates. In this activity, students respond to questions by placing themselves physically on a continuum that ranges from "1--It doesn't bother me" to "3--I don't know how I feel" to "5--I feel really, really upset." "When students were asked to move to how you feel when you're called a name that has to do with your background," explains Lantieri, "the responses were divided by race. The African-American students all went to 4 or 5 on the continuum, whereas the European-American students were all at 1." The students were then invited to say why they were standing where they were or to ask others about their choice. "The European-American students were confused about why the African-American students were all standing on 4 or 5, so they asked them why," says Lantieri. "The students told them, 'because this happens to us almost every week.' The other students were able to visually see and hear the impact of racism on their classmates and that was what was so powerful." Advertisement 2. Encourage students to find their "Shared Identity" As stated above, schoolyard bullies often stifle their moral inclinations by "dehumanizing" their victims, or viewing them as sub-human without any feelings or concerns--a practice, according to researchers, used to engage people in genocide or in everyday divisive in-group/out-group ethnic, racial, and religious conflicts and one that has been found to correlate with the belief that some groups should maintain dominance over others. To help students "humanize" each other, have them complete the Shared Identity practice found on Greater Good in Action: Think of a person in your life who seems to be very different from you in every way that you can imagine. They might have different interests, different religious or political beliefs, or different life experiences. They may belong to a group that has been in conflict with a group to which you belong. Next, make a list of all of the things that you most likely share in common with this person. Perhaps you go to the same school or like the same sport. At the broadest level, you both belong to the human species, which means that you share 99.9 percent of your DNA. Review this list of commonalities. How do they make you see this person in a new light? Instead of simply seeing this person as someone unfamiliar to you, or as a member of an out-group, now try to see this person as an individual, one whose tastes and experiences might overlap with yours in certain ways. By listing all the things they might have in common with someone who looks different than they do or who may have different beliefs, students can overcome their fear and distrust of that person through the simple reminder of their shared identities. As a result, they may be more inclined to show compassion and cooperation towards that person. Advertisement 3. Bring out students' innate kindness Bandura reminds us that even while many people may morally disengage, there is "equally striking evidence that most people refuse to behave cruelly." Indeed, much research exists showing that, even at a very young age, our capacity for altruism and compassion may be greater than that for selfishness and cruelty. So, rather than focusing on the ugly side of ourselves that separates us from each other and causes undue harm, offer students opportunities to demonstrate kindness, respect, and compassion for one another. One of my favorite examples of this is The Breakfast Club--a group of students at a middle school who performed anonymous acts of kindness for the entire school, students and staff alike, transforming the climate of the school in the process. Another powerful method might be to ask the students how they would address this campaign's critical issues such as immigration and income inequality with compassion for everyone involved. Indeed, research has found that students who are directly taught to consider an issue from each party's viewpoint are better able to devise solutions that benefit all concerned groups. When summing up his thoughts on why we morally disengage from what we know in ourselves to be the right behavior, Bandura states in an interview: "The difference is who do you include in your category of humanity and who do you exclude from your category of humanity." Advertisement If you're like me, you've probably never seen that word. If you have, you probably haven't read or heard it in awhile. However, bad trends have a way of coming back, literally. On May 1st, Old Navy trended on Twitter for most of the day, and not for a good reason. When I saw why it was trending, I grabbed my dictionary, sang the alphabet song, and found what I was looking for. Miscegenation is defined as the interbreeding of people from different racial backgrounds. It was mostly used before and during the Civil Rights Movement in the context of anti-miscegenation laws; laws that prohibited interracial couples to marry. It wasn't Old Navy who taught me this word, but a cyber mob of Twitter users attacking Old Navy. Why did so many people feel the need to attack an All-American clothing retailer? Advertisement Old Navy tweeted this ad. Oh, happy day! Our #ThankYouEvent is finally here. Take 30% off your entire purchase: https://t.co/nGQ9Pji1pN pic.twitter.com/vq4mIczm6A Old Navy Official (@OldNavy) April 29, 2016 This is a beautiful, fake family, one that resembles many real American families today. It's something that many people scroll through without noticing race, at least that's what I thought. Like most people, I know that racism still exists. However, I was foolish in thinking that 58 years after Mildred and Robert Loving were arrested for miscegenation and successfully battled their case in the Supreme Court, people accepted marriages without thinking of race. Had I done my research, I wouldn't have been so shocked. The last state to overturn such a law was Alabama in 2000. That's right, laws prohibiting people of different races to marry were not abolished in the United States until the 21st century. That's not even an entire generation ago. Advertisement So, I started thinking about racism in the U.S. on a deeper level, something I've been doing more and more since the beginning of the primary election season. Now, candidates like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and their rhetorics are not to blame for negative race relations in the U.S. In fact, they may have done us a favor. They exposed the hidden racism and bigotry that still exists in the U.S. Their hate speech has allowed generations of Americans to come out of the bushes, Americans who still believe in white supremacy. The same Americans who attacked Old Navy for their ad. Here are the top comments under Old Navy's tweet - Is racism in the U.S. dead? Obviously not. But if it was only 16 years ago that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were completely abolished, we shouldn't expect it to be. Racism is alive and well, people were just better at hiding it in the 21st century until Donald Trump made it okay. I mention Donald Trump because most of the commenters (there's a lot of them) were Trump supporters. His angry rhetoric has given people the confidence and approval to be openly racist. It's almost sad to think the progressive America we're proud of could be a mere facade. However, there is a silver lining. Even though many every-day Americans may still hold these terrible values, many famous American companies like Old Navy have recently begun providing a more accepting and realistic image of 2016 America. They don't just include interracial families either, but also depict Muslim families, families with same-sex parents, and mixed families. These are some of the commercials that made headlines: Cheerios HoneyMaid Campbell's Coca-Cola Cheerios received the most backlash for their commercial, which speaks to how deep racism in America runs. A mixed family having breakfast shouldn't have caused an uproar, much like Old Navy's tweet shouldn't have. But they did, and that's because acknowledgment and representation are different. Advertisement Representation is everything. The only people who complain about representation are the ones that already have it. Seeing these ads pop-up on social media, televisions, and billboards make every American feel like they have a place in this nation. The negative side to that is it could possibly give us false hope. Maybe progressive commercials will be enough to expel racism from the U.S., or maybe stronger intervention is necessary. It's hard to come up with a simple solution, but it's not hard to see that racism in the 21st century has catapulted to a whole new level. This is evident by the fact that a term that hasn't been used in everyday language since the Civil Rights Movement, has resurfaced. When I told my 17-year-old brother what the word meant, his response was, "That shouldn't even be a word". Until yesterday, that's exactly what the word miscegenation was to many people - nonexistent. To give this concept a word means we see marriage as something other than universal, regardless of our skin colors. Which begs the question - what does it say about the place we're in as a nation if we're reverting back to these words and ideas? Me and Boyfriend General at the Concrete "Wall" Chapter 15 Excerpt THE DAY I HIT THE WALL I didn't remember selecting "Concrete Wall" from the list I'd been given when choosing activities for my customized itinerary. And a concrete wall certainly didn't sound like something that would normally have piqued my interest (akin to choosing "watch paint dry"). But it was on our agenda for the day after the DMZ, and quite frankly it sounded better than some of the other shit I'd been dragged around to (can you say, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum?), so it felt like a win. For a minute it seemed like Fresh Handler was trying to talk me out of visiting the Concrete Wall--not that I was dying to visit it, or even had any idea what the Concrete Wall was, aside from the obvious. FRESH HANDLER: You want go Concrete Wall? ME: I don't know. What's the Concrete Wall? FRESH HANDLER: It's a concrete wall. ME: I don't understand. It's just a concrete wall? FRESH HANDLER: Yes. ME: Why would we go look at a concrete wall? FRESH HANDLER, giggling, shrugging shoulders while making a face that says, "You got me...I don't know why we'd go look at a concrete wall": You can't see wall. Advertisement ME: What do you mean we can't see the wall? I don't understand. I thought you said we were going to see a concrete wall? FRESH HANDLER: Wall is very far. You can't see it. You look at wall through hole. ME: What do you mean we look at wall through hole? FRESH HANDLER, giggling, covering her mouth with her hand while looking to the sky for the right word: Ahh, wall is very far away. You look through, ahh... ME: Binoculars? FRESH HANDLER, delighted: Yes! You look through binoculars to see wall. But can't see wall. Okay, got it. We look through binoculars to see a concrete wall that we can't see. I'm so happy I understand her that I momentarily forget I don't understand her. ME: So we're going to look at a concrete wall that you can only see through binoculars, but you still can't see it? Advertisement FRESH HANDLER, motioning with her hand to indicate something close to "Yes...I told you this was a stupid idea.": Sort of. She looked a little embarrassed. Sensing that my current line of questioning was likely to end up with Fresh Handler in tears, I changed tack. "Is it close to where we are now?" We were still at the DMZ. FRESH HANDLER: Ohhh, nooo. Very far. More than one-hour drive back to Kaesong, and then one-hour drive back to wall. And road is very bumpy. Road not so good. This was sounding fricking awesome. "So we drive from here all the way back to Kaesong, then we drive another hour on a bad, bumpy road to a concrete wall that we can only see by looking through binoculars? But we can't see it. So what do we see?" FRESH HANDLER: Just wall. She smile-giggle-shrugged. I was in, and we were off. By Mat Schaffer, for WhereTraveler.com (Banyan's Cha Yen Thiy tallow-washed rum drink) Is there a fat-washed cocktail coming to a bar near you? Inventive local mixologists have been experimenting with adding fats to their drinks because 1) fat tastes good, and 2) why not? At Banyan Bar+Refuge in the South End, bar director Jon Kochis makes a high-octane Thai iced tea libation he calls "Cha Yen Thiy." The main ingredient is tallow-washed Old Monk Rum. That's rum infused with the fat from beef suet. Kochis first heats the suet to melt it down, then freezes the mixture to separate the fat from any impurities. He skims off the cold fat as you'd skim off frozen chicken soup, reheats it and pours it through a chinois sieve into the rum. The rum goes into the freezer for 45 minutes and then is strained through a coffee filter. Advertisement Voila, tallow-washed rum. Old Monk is aged black rum that's been produced in India for more than 50 years. A side-by-side tasting of the original versus Banyan's tallow-washed version shows the tallow rum is smoother, with more of a full-bodied mouth feel. It's also slightly darker in color and has more pronounced vanilla and caramel notes than unadulterated Old Monk. Kochis' "Cha Yen Thiy" is made with the tallow-washed Old Monk, brewed Thai iced tea and creamy coconut milk, and then garnished with a sprinkle of crushed cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. "I look for layers of flavor," Kochis says. Bring on the fat. Other Fat-Washed Cocktails That'll Do: Smoked pigtail-infused scotch, Dolin Rouge vermouth, maple liqueur and absinthe. Bar manager Seth Freidus developed the cocktail to use the smoked, pig's-tail bones left over from the kitchen's popular roasted clam and smoked pig's tail entree. Alden & Harlow, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA, 617.864.2100 Summer Nog: Devised by bar director Todd Maul as a year-round alternative to eggnog (and it's vegetarian). It's made with pineapple juice, Zaya rum and homemade coconut butter extracted from coconut milk using a centrifuge. Cafe ArtScience, 650 E. Kendall St., Cambridge, MA, 857.999.2193 Advertisement Grabthar's Hammer: Bartender Adam (AJ) Bauer combines house-made, bone marrow-infused, over-proof, white whiskey with simple syrup, lemon, Peychaud's and Mole bitters. It is an homage to the character Dr. Lazarus (portrayed by Alan Rickman) in the movie "Galaxy Quest." The Kirkland Tap & Trotter, 425 Washington St., Somerville, MA, 857.269.6585 Ward 8 Bloody: Jazz up your bloody mary by choosing bacon-infused vodka, made by steeping browned, double-smoked bacon in vodka. It's garnished (of course) with a crisp, bacon strip. Ward 8, 90 N. Washington St., Boston, MA, 617.823.4478 (Grabthar's Hammer at The Kirkland Tap & Trotter) For more that you might like: Author Mat Schaffer is a contributor for Where. US Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz addresses the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, California on Saturday, April 30, 2016. / AFP / GABRIELLE LURIE (Photo credit should read GABRIELLE LURIE/AFP/Getty Images) Donald Trump gave what was billed as a "major foreign policy speech" last week, with the aim of demonstrating that he has the knowledge, judgment, and temperament to be Commander-in-Chief. Trump failed the test. The first thing one has to do in evaluating any statement of Donald Trump's is to look at his history. His racist policy proposals - from building a wall on the Mexican border to keep out people he claims are potential "rapists" and "criminals" to barring all Muslims from entering the United States on the theory that they could be terrorists - should be enough to disqualify him from being president of the United States. Add to that the fact that most of his major factual assertions are false, and it should be case closed. This man cannot be allowed to be our next president. Advertisement Because he has yet to pay a political price for being wrong, many of us have stopped keeping track of how often Donald Trump misstates the facts, or simply makes things up. An analysis of key Trump statements by the fact-checking organization Politifact found that over three-quarters of the statements they looked at were either false, mostly false, or "pants on fire." And only three percent of the Trump statements they analyzed were judged to be fully true. So anything Trump says has to be taken with an ocean of salt. This holds as true for his foreign policy pronouncements as for anything else he has to say. That being said, it's still worth looking at Trump's foreign policy speech, simply because of the sobering fact that he may become the nominee for president of one of our two major political parties. In addition, many of his statements are damaging in their own right, regardless of how he follows up on them. The first thing that jumps out from the Trump speech is that it is a bundle of contradictions. For example, after saying that "America First" would be his watchword, Trump proceeds to praise the efforts of the "greatest generation" in beating back the "Nazis and Japanese imperialists" during World War II. But as Michael Crowley of Politico was one of the first to point out, one of the most potent movements aimed at keeping the United States out of that war was organized under the slogan "America First." The Anti-Defamation League urged Trump to drop the term, noting the "undercurrents of anti-Semitism and bigotry that characterized the America First movement." And in an opinion piece for CNN, Susan Dunn of Williams College pointed to the following quote by America First spokesperson Charles Lindbergh to underscore the same point: Advertisement "The British and Jewish races, for reasons which are not American, wish to involve us in the war . . . Their greatest danger to this country lies in their large ownership and influence on our motion pictures, our press, our radio, and our government." Is Donald Trump unaware of the history of the America First movement, does he support its ideology, or does he simply not care? In another bit of twisted logic, Trump argues that "our friends are beginning to think they can't depend on us." But he also threatens to leave our European allies to their own devices if they don't spend more on their military forces. And he said in last week's speech that he would work closely with "our Arab allies," but he failed to explain how his proposal to bar Muslims from the United States, and his past pledges to engage in torture of terror suspects and kill family members of suspected terrorists would make any Arab nation want to work with him. Trump has since backtracked on his statements about torturing suspects and killing family members of terrorists, but the fact that he said these things at all is telling. And Trump being Trump, there's no guarantee that he won't say them again. On the topic of not working well with others, Trump also threatens to rip up the Iran nuclear deal, which was concluded after a complex set of negotiations that involved the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, three of America's closest allies. The agreement also involved Russia and China, evidence that engagement with these nations can yield results even at a time of tension on other issues. And contrary to Trump's claim, the deal is working, as evidenced by the fact that Tehran has already destroyed 12,000 nuclear centrifuges, disabled a reactor that would have been capable of producing fuel that could have been used to build a nuclear bomb, and shipped 98 percent of its highly enriched uranium out of the country. In the face of these realities, Trump's claim that he can negotiate a "better deal" rings hollow. Advertisement The Iran deal isn't the only issue of nuclear weapons policy that Trump gets wrong. He argued in last week's speech that "our nuclear weapons arsenal . . . has been allowed to atrophy and is desperately in need of modernization and renewal." Apparently he is unaware that the Pentagon is already in the midst of developing a new generation of nuclear-armed bombers, submarines, and ballistic missiles, not to mention a dangerous and destabilizing new nuclear cruise missile, all at a cost of $1 trillion over the next three decades. This buildup is unaffordable, provocative, and unnecessary, but the fact that Trump doesn't even know that it exists - alongside a plan to pour hundreds of billions into building new facilities to build and maintain nuclear warheads - is yet another example of his lack of seriousness on vital national security issues. Then of course there is Trump's off-the-cuff suggestion that Japan and South Korea should get nuclear weapons, put forward in the same forum in which he assured us that he's opposed to nuclear proliferation. Trump also buys into the claims of military hawks that the changes in the size of the U.S. military since the end of the Cold War are a sign of weakness, even though, as vice-chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva has noted, the United States has "the most powerful military on the planet." And Trump isn't saying whether his statements mean he is going to play the numbers game by dramatically increasing troop levels, massively expanding the Navy, or otherwise reversing what he sees as a problem of a military that is too small. If so he will contradict his pledge to do "more with less" in expanding U.S. military power. Advertisement And then there is Trump's secret plan to get rid of ISIS. He won't tell us what it is; we'll just have to trust him on this one. But as Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies has noted, "secret plans" can make things worse - much worse - as in Richard Nixon's secret plan to end the Vietnam War. Trump should be pressed to at least provide an outline of how he would proceed against ISIS. How different would his approach be? What would it cost? Is he going to try to bomb ISIS into submission, or send more troops, or offer them some prime real estate if they behave themselves? Voters deserve answers to these questions. Alongside his aggressive, contradictory positions on a wide range of national security issues, Trump also tried to use the speech to soften his image by giving a nod to diplomacy, claiming he would work with Russia and China, and excoriating the damage done by interventions like the Bush administration's invasion of Iraq. But can he be believed when he says these things? For example, despite Donald Trump's repeated claims that he opposed going into Iraq, veteran journalist and national security expert James Fallows found no evidence of such opposition until well after the war had started. His conclusion was simple and to the point. Trump is "making it up" when he claims that he was an early opponent of the war. Or to put a finer point on it, Fallows says that "Trump. Is. Lying. About. Having. Publicly. Opposed. The. Iraq. War." But as bad as Donald Trump's jumbled foreign policy views are, Ted Cruz's may be even worse. From his assertion that he would use carpet bombing and see if "sand can glow in the dark" in the fight against ISIS to his pledge to mindlessly lavish 4 percent of our Gross Domestic Product on the Pentagon, Cruz is arguably even more reckless than Donald Trump. Threatening to carpet bomb Iraq or Syria, with the massive civilian casualties and devastating human and environmental consequences that would entail, is not worthy of a major presidential candidate - or any candidate. And the notion of "making the sand glow" suggests that Cruz may have been referring to the use of nuclear weapons, an issue he has never clarified. The fact that Cruz made the remark in a flippant fashion with a smile on his face makes it all the worse. Advertisement And Cruz's plan to throw 4 percent of the United States' economic resources at the Pentagon would be both costly and counterproductive. Benjamin Friedman of the Cato Institute estimates that Cruz's proposal would add another $1 trillion to the Pentagon's budget in his first term alone, money that could have a huge impact if spent on health, education, infrastructure and other essential needs. And in a report commissioned by the National Taxpayers Union, Matthew Fay of the Niskanen Center dismantles the argument for spending four percent of GDP for defense, noting that linking defense spending to GDP is "neither fiscally responsible nor strategically coherent." Fay's analysis is worth reading in its entirety, but the basic point is clear - spending on the Pentagon should be tied to a strategy to address the actual threats facing the country, not to an arbitrary number. Cruz's recklessness extends to his choice of foreign policy advisors. His chief advisor is none other than Frank Gaffney, an uncritical booster of Star Wars anti-missile systems and a major league Islamophobe who has suggested that President Obama himself may be a Muslim, and that the president has some sort of secret plan to undermine America from within (there go those secret plans again). The fact that any candidate would take any advice on any subject from Frank Gaffney is troubling in the extreme. temptations lab A company in the US has built a collar that will help cats communicate their world domination plans better to their human caretakers. The collar developed by the company, The Temptation Lab, has digital sensors to detect what a meow means. They are 3D printed and coated by the rubber lacquer for the comfort of the cats. It also has a set of LED light to indicate that the collar is active. Advertisement Owners can choose from a range of voices to have pre-recorded phrases spoken to them when the cat meows. The language processing has been developed by an English ad agency. "An adult cat's meow is their way to communicate with humans, and by investing in this prototype device we can start to improve understanding between them both," said Oliver Down of Temptations to Stuff New Zealand. Advertisement The company claims that they are fascinated with cats and wanted to understand them better. So they analyzed a lot of meows to understand what cats are trying to say to us. In 2007, there was a device called Meowlingual as well which claimed to understand the cat language. There have been attempts at understanding dog woofs as well. Now, temptations is a cat food company. So is it just an ad for their food or there is truly a technology which helps us finally unveil the mysteries of the cat world, we have to see. The prototypes have been launched in the US and New Zealand. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India SAUL LOEB via Getty Images The logo of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is seen at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, April 13, 2016. / AFP / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) On 1 May, 2011, US special forces carried out an operation to attack the residence of then Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. They succeeded in killing the terrorist mastermind, bringing to an end a decade-long man-hunt. On the fifth anniversary of this raid, the CIA took the controversial step of live-tweeting the entire raid, reconstructing it tweet by tweet as if it were happening in real time. Advertisement To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The raid started with the approval of top officials, including the President of the United States. 1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.#UBLRaidpic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Two helicopters left Afghanistan, but one of them crashed. The operation still continued. 3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaidpic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 The CIA tweeted other details, including pictures, maps and the plan of the house Bin Laden was staying in. Daring #UBLRaid was an IC team effort & in close collaboration with our military partners.https://t.co/rklCIRLlgFpic.twitter.com/xZObdGeqPR CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Features High walls/barbed wire Double entry gates No internet/phone connection Trash burned not collected#UBLRaidpic.twitter.com/KyPIFPxA4d CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 While the capturing of Osama Bin Ladens compound was touted as a proud moments for the US, a lot of Twitter users rolled their eyes at the re-enactment. Any spy agency worth its salt doesn't brag or seek attention. Retrolive tweeting a raid seems to be opposite the mission. #UBLRaid@cia Mat Chavez (@matchavez) May 2, 2016 @CIA This is grotesque and embarrassing. You should fire your web team. Hank Single (@Hanksingle) May 1, 2016 In 2011, a resident of Abbottabad named Shoaib Athar (@ReallyVirtual) unknowingly live-tweeted the raid in a series of tweets that went viral all over the world. The IT consultant was tweeting about rather unusual activities that were taking place in the town that night. In 2012, a Hollywood movie based on the raid was released; Zero Dark Thirty earned positive reviews in general. Advertisement piccerella via Getty Images Shut up With the police failing to identify the culprits who raped and brutally murdered a 30-year-old Dalit woman at her residence in Kerala even five days after the incident, the opposition attacked the state government for 'inaction' in the case. Police said Ernakulam Range IG Mahipal Yadav is supervising the probe by a team of officials, headed by Perumbavoor Dy SP after it was reported that 30-year-old Jisha was subjected to rape and fatal assault at her small wayside home in Kuruppampadi police limit. Advertisement Jisha was found dead in a pool of blood at 8 PM by her mentally challenged mother when she reached her single-room house after her daily menial job. "It was a brutal murder. There were stab injuries on her body. We suspect she was subjected to smothering and strangulation," Yadav said. He, however, refused to share details about the investigation. Police said whether the woman was subjected to sexual assault before or after the murder would be clear only from the postmortem report. The perpetrator could have been inside the house for a long time considering the number of wounds and the manner in which the victim was assaulted, her friends told India Today. Advertisement Meanwhile, with the state assembly polls approaching fast, the CPI-M latched onto the murder which occurred on April 28 to accuse the Congress-led UDF government. "Police have failed to get any lead about the culprits even five days after the incident," CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said in Thiruvananthapuram. Rejecting the charge, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said a "scientific" probe was being conducted into the incident and asserted that the culprits would be brought to book. (With PTI inputs) Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also See On HuffPost: Teacher protests shut down nearly all of Detroits public schools Monday amid concerns that the district wont be able to pay any of its employees this summer. In all, 94 of 97 schools closed as a result of a coordinated sickout called for by leaders of the teachers union. The protest comes in response to an announcement by Detroit schools Emergency Manager Steven Rhodes that the district will run out of money at the end of June when its emergency aid expires. That means some teachers who elect to have their checks spread out over the entire year, rather than just during the school year, wont be paid for work theyve already done. Overall, the district is saddled with more than $500 million in debt . Rhodes has said he would not ask Detroit schools employees to continue working without pay if the district couldnt pay them. But, during this weekends announcement, he also warned that a walkout would harm his efforts to convince state lawmakers to approve a $715 million plan to rescue the 46,000-student school district from financial collapse. The Detroit schools reform plan was approved in late March by the state Senate and is awaiting action in the state House. The coordinated sickouts , where teachers call in sick en masse, began in November and have grown in size and scope since then as the frustrated educators continue to protest pay and benefit concessions, large class sizes, and building conditions that have left dozens of schools in disrepair . Public school teacher strikes are illegal in Michigan. The series of sickouts in Detroit have had some state lawmakers searching for ways to tighten the definition of what constitutes a strike . Google MUMBAI -- Keeping with its tradition of honouring noted personalities from across the globe, Google on Monday dedicated their special 'doodle' to one of the most renowned Indian cartoonists, Mario de Miranda, on his 90th birth anniversary. Miranda, who developed his an independent style of creating cartoons and characters, is remembered for his portrayal of the bustling cityscape of Mumbai, featuring complex, multi-layered scenes. His works were primarily featured in The Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly of India among other newspapers, periodicals and books. Advertisement Cartoonist Mario Miranda (right) with his close friend Policarpo Vaz during the release of a book. Guest doodler Aaron Renier, another comic artist known for portraying large crowds told Google, I approached Marios work by pretending I was drawing with him. I chose his most popular style, very flat with criss-crossing interactions. In this homage to Miranda, one can see a rich cacophony of people, each unique in their perspective. That is what I liked most about his work, Renier explained. Trying to pick out who knows who, who's watching who, who's annoyed by who, who's enamoured by who. Hopefully people will see something of Miranda's spirit in it, Renier said. Miranda passed away on 11 December, 2011 at his ancestral home in Goa. Miranda's friend and curator of Mario Gallery, Gerard da Cunha, will release a book today titled The Life Of Mario - 1949, the latest in a series which include 1950 and 1951. Advertisement Miranda held solo exhibitions in over 22 countries including the US, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, France, Yugoslavia, and Portugal, among others, reported Mid-Day. Miranda is also featured in the famous video Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, which included of India's notable personalities from the arts, cinema, literature, music, and sports, among others. Mario was conferred the Padmashri and posthumously, the Padma Vibhushan, by the government. Here's a glimpse of the legendary artist's work: Mario Miranda Artwork See Gallery Advertisement HuffPost Staff One of India's most loved watch manufacturers, Hindustan Machine Tools Ltd (HMT), shut their gates on the last factory in Tumkur, Karnataka, on International Labour Day. The move triggered nostalgia among the few HMT workers who decided to come to bid their workplace a final adieu. The factory unit, which once manufactured wristwatches for brands such as Sangam, Utsav, Elegance and Pilot, among others, had about 120 workers on board as of now, reported The Times of India. Advertisement The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had in January announced closure of HMT Watches Ltd, along with HMT Chinar Watches Ltd and HMT Bearings Ltd. General secretary of the workers' union S Chandrashekhariah told The Hindu, In some ways, it was all our fault. When the losses started, the management didnt care, and the government kept giving loans without any intention of reviving the factory. This process should have been done some time ago." Interestingly, none of the HMT employees have more than eight years of service left and are on the verge of retirement, as the last person recruited by HMT Watches Ltd was almost three decades ago in 1987. But on a positive note, many of the employees were happy with the factory shutting down, as they would get their salaries and arrears, which have been due for over a year, said a report in The New Indian Express. Advertisement All the four HMT units three in Karnataka (including Tumkur) and on in Uttarakhand were shut on the same day. Contact HuffPost India Also On HuffPost: Danish Ishmail / Reuters Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, (R) Chairman of Kashmir's moderate faction of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference (APHC), and Syed Ali Shah Geelani Chairman of the hardliner faction of APHC hug on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr in Srinagar October 1, 2008. Thousands of Kashmiri Muslims attend special prayers in Eidgah during Eid-al-Fitr, which is celebrated at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Danish Ismail (INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR) NEW DELHI -- Kashmiri separatist leaders are "Indian citizens" who can speak with Pakistani officials if they so choose, the Modi government quietly informed Parliament on April 28th. In the din around the AgustaWestland scam, which consumed the second part of the Budget Session, last week, this rollback by the Modi government of its thumb rule on conducting talks with Pakistan, went unnoticed. Advertisement The Times of India reported today that V.K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, submitted a written answer to Parliament in which he said that it was okay for leaders of the Hurriyat Conference to speak with Pakistanis, but their interaction had no role in bilateral talks. "Since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so-called Kashmiri 'leaders' are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India," Singh said in his answer to Parliament, last week. "India has consistently maintained that there is no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan as per the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. India's displeasure at Pakistan's attempts to interfere in India's internal affairs has been repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan," he added. Singh's answer was in the context of Kashmiri separatists attending Pakistan Day celebrations in March. Advertisement In August 2014, the Modi government cancelled Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan after a meeting between Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit and separatist leader Shabir Shah. In August 2015, National Security Advisor-level talks were once again derailed after Islamabad refused to accept "preconditions" which ruled out its officials meeting with Kashmiri separatists when visiting India. While some welcomed the Modi government's tough approach, others felt that it was unnecessary since Pakistani officials had always met Hurriyat leaders when they visited India, and a hardline stance was not conducive if any headway had to be made in the difficult talks. The Centre's erratic dealings with Pakistan, which have swung from one extreme to another over the past two years, have been intensely scrutinised and criticised. After months of New Delhi berating Islamabad over violating the ceasefire, which led to deadly border skirmishes in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore on Christmas Day. It also happened to be Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's birthday. Advertisement Modi's bold move was hailed as a breakthrough by his party, and it was welcomed by several foreign policy experts at the time, but his political rivals regarded it as a mistake in light of Islamabad's failure to respond to India's long-standing demand of prosecuting the terrorists behind the 2008 Mumbai Attacks, who are living in Pakistan. At the time, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, "More than grand gestures we need consistency." Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also on HuffPost India: Bloomberg via Getty Images Auto-rickshaws kick up dust as they travel near the Delhi city boundary in Faridabad, Haryana, India, on Friday, April 8, 2106. The odd-even car rationing plan is scheduled to return on April 15 as Delhi Supreme Court is also set to hold a hearing regarding the large vehicle diesel ban. Both measures are aimed at curbing emissions in the world's most polluted city, according to a 2014 World Health Organization database. Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg via Getty Images With pollution levels rising in India, especially in New Delhi, which is ranked number one on a WHO list of cities with the foulest air, there comes a breather. A Canadian company is all set to sell in India fresh air bottled from a national park in Alberta from this year May, according to a report in the Hindustan Times. The Edmonton-based start-up -- Vitality Air -- will sell the product available in 3-litre and 8-litre cans, with twin-packs costing between Rs 1,450 and Rs 2,800. Advertisement Earlier this month, Delhi government rolled out the Odd-Even II rule scheme to cut down the pollution levels in the national capital. In a second attempt to bring down the pollution levels in New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Saturday also refused to extend the deadline for conversion of diesel taxis into CNG. Last year, in a desperate bid to cut pollution levels in the national capital, the apex court had banned registration of luxury diesel cars until March 31, 2016. The company made headlines in Canada in 2015 after it launched its product in China, where smog levels are quite high. It had a huge demand in the Chinese market with its cans of mountain air. Vitality Airs founder Moses Lam said he found a distributor in China and now covers seven cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, and has shipped nearly 12,000 pieces to that country. Advertisement "The product consists of compressed air, breathed in through a mask, and comes in two flavours Banff and Lake Louise. Banff in Alberta is a national park and a popular resort", Lam said. We suck up all the air in Banff, about 150,000 litres every time and it takes about 40 hours, Lam told Hindustan Times. The users of bottled air included pregnant mothers, corporate executives, and even students preparing for examinations. And now they are waiting for the product to hit the markets of pollution-hit India and if the concept will be a success or not. The test marketing of a hundred bottles of the air will start soon, including setting up kiosks in malls, said company official Justin Dhaliwal. Here's their website -- vitalityair Advertisement The product: We're hopeful. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also On HuffPost: ebay The Morning Wrap is HuffPost India's selection of interesting news and opinion from the day's newspapers. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox each weekday morning. Essential HuffPost Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that he would present the detailed chronology of the AgustaWestland chopper deal before Parliament on Wednesday. The controversy over the chopper deal has escalated in the past few weeks, with Parrikar seeking a clarification from the former UPA regime on who received the alleged kickbacks in the deal. Advertisement A video by a daughter of an army officer who died in the 1999 Kargil war is going viral on social media. The daughter tries to explain why it is important to know the difference that it wasn't Pakistani's or Muslims that killed her father it was war. Using simple placards and slight background music, the video sends out a powerful message and makes all the 'haters' on both the sides of the border think about the issue. A mobile shopkeeper in Ludhiana committed suicide by jumping under a running train, after posting a suicide note on his Facebook page, accusing the police of harassing him in their hunt for a notorious gangster. Prince Harry and the Obamas have been engaging in some high level trash talking ahead of the Invictus Games in Florida this year and even Queen Elizabeth II got involved by challenging, "Oh really, please!" Main News Forest fire that blighted around 1,900 hectares of forests in Uttarakhand, has gone out in over 70 per cent of the affected areas, as the NDRF had deployed over 135 personnel to tackle the massive blaze. Latest satellite images show that the effective area under fire has come down to 110-115 locations from the earlier 427. The authorities also added that it was expected that these figures would be brought down to 50-60 over the next few days. Advertisement Congress party's poll strategist Prashant Kishor has reportedly suggested that the party vice president Rahul Gandhi be made the campaign's face in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017. However, if Rahul does not agree to the proposal, Priyanka may be made the party's face in UP, the report suggests. Indian fighter pilots in their Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar jets are all set to take on American top guns in the high-voltage Red Flag exercise at Eielson USAF airbase in Alaska from 3 May. The IAF pilots will hone their combat skills in the exercise with thousands of targets, realistic threat systems and an opposing enemy force. This is the second time IAF is participating in the Red Flag exercise, having earlier taken part in the intense combat manoeuvres at the Nellis airbase in Nevada in 2008. Off The Front Page The HMT watch factory unit in Tumkur, Karnataka, which once manufactured the premier brand of wristwatches such as Sangam, Utsav, Elegance and Pilot, among others, was finally shut down and pink slips were handed out to their 120 employees. Ironically, the employees got their pink slips on 1 May, which is also celebrated as International Labour Day. To save stray animals from being mowed down by cars on roads, a non-profit organisation in Chennai has come up with an initiative to fit these animals with reflective collars. On Sunday, around 300 dogs and cattle were fit with these 'magic collars,' made of a reflective cloth stuck on a nylon tape. The collars have reportedly been successfully tested and used for dogs in Bengaluru, Pune and Jamshedpur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on a tour of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, took a break from his hectic schedule on Sunday by taking a ride on the newly-launched e-boat on the river Ganga. Advertisement Opinion Around 48 million people filed income tax returns in fiscal year 2015; the effective number is perhaps even less given the fact that many of them had zero tax liabilities. Now, compare the number of taxpayers with the 814 million people eligible to vote in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. This means that there is one taxpayer for every 16 votersan asymmetry that has profound consequences for national policy, says an editorial in Mint. "The result has been a political system that quite naturally cares more about spending to buy votes rather than building a more effective tax system that will spur economic growth," says the article. The problem with the judiciary is ironically the very thing it is revered for: transparency and accountability. Judges cannot be beyond accountability especially when they show the mirror to all and sundry, writes Suhel Seth in Mumbai Mirror. "Today, we have a situation where the pace of decisionmaking in the lower courts is not only slow but riddled, many a time, with acute corruption and while we do see industrialists and politicians being sent to jail, very rarely do we judicial officers being sent to prison for their misdemeanours," he says. Last week, when the Delhis National Museum of Natural History (NMHM) caught fire, one was surprised to realise how little Delhi residents remembered of this city icon. Apart from charred manuscripts, burnt down specimens of endangered birds, reptiles and mammals and fossils dating back to as far as 160 million years, the museum left behind a story of how to kill our heritage, says Shivani Singh in Hindustan Times. "Across the world, many vibrant cities are proud of their museums. It is not merely about timely restoration of displays but about connecting with people.... These museums are becoming increasingly aware that they need the best of ideas to draw visitors. In India, the management of museums is still a sarkari domain. The 2012 parliamentary report had recommended that the government set up a panel of museologists, environmentalists and educationists to revisit the concept of curating. It may be too late for the NMHM. The others could use that thought," she says. Advertisement Hindustan Times via Getty Images UTTARAKHAND, INDIA - MAY 1: Forest fire approaching very close to the residential area at Buakhal near Pauri on Saturday night, on May 1, 2016 in Uttarakhand, India. Two Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers began spraying water over the burning forests in Uttarakhand on Sunday morning. Major forest fires raged across Uttarakhand even as two Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers have begun spraying water to extinguish the flames. Presently, some 5,000 workers -- including 3,000 daily wagers -- are engaged in putting out the fire. More than 2300 hectares of forest have been gutted in the fire since it was first reported in February this year. Dry winters and soaring temperatures are blamed for the fire that has affected all 13 districts of the state. (Photo by Arvind Moudgil/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has said he has asked to deploy more than 10,000 employees to put out the Uttarakhand forest fire in three-four days. "More than 6,000 employees are already on the job, while DG (Forest) is leading and coordinating the operation from the front for the past two days," he said, adding that t6he government has already sanctioned the required amount. Advertisement "The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Indian Air Force are working in tandem, and I am sure that the fire will be put out in three-four days," he added. We have been informed that fresh images from satellite has shown that the effective area under fire in Uttarakhand has come down to 110-115 locations from the earlier about 427. Speaking about the reason behind the fire, he said extreme dry weather with no humidity was the reason behind the massive fire. Latest satellite imageries of Uttarakhand have reported that the forest fire has gone out in over 70 per cent of the affected areas, even as the NDRF has deployed over 130 personnel to tackle the massive blaze. Advertisement "We have been informed that fresh images from satellite has shown that the effective area under fire in Uttarakhand has come down to 110-115 locations from the earlier about 427. "It is expected that these figures will be brought down to 50-60 in the next few days by the combined forces fighting to douse the jungle fire," NDRF Director General O P Singh told PTI. He said the images from the sky were taken on April 29-30 and this has now given hope to all the agencies combating the fire that it will be contained soon. The Director General said the NDRF men are also working to save animals who could have been trapped in the blazing fire. Advertisement A squad of over 135 personnel of this special force are deployed in Uttarakhand as part of multiple firefighting teams to combat the fire that has destroyed about 2,269 hectares of jungles in several districts and claimed at least seven lives till now. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have spread out in 13 affected areas of three districts of Pauri Garhwal, Almora and Chamoli with fire fighting equipment to tackle the massive blaze. "Our teams are working in 13 sectors in coordination with the officials and personnel of the state fire and forest department. The teams have been instructed to adopt the conventional method of cutting the fire line and containing the fire. We are using fire beaters and green bushes to cut the fire from spreading. About 135 personnel as part of multiple teams are working in Uttarakhand at present," Singh said. He said in Chamoli the NDRF is working in Pakhi and Gopeshwar areas, while in Almora the teams are working in areas like Binsar, Someshwar, Bikisen, Siplakhet and Dhauladevi. Advertisement Each team is covering an area of 8-10 sq km, he said, adding, additional NDRF teams have been kept on standby at its camp in Ghaziabad. The force also saved a house from getting engulfed in the fire in the hilly jungle area of Mehlchori in Pauri district in which a family of four members lived. Singh said he is in constant touch with his team leaders working in the state. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also on HuffPost: Immigrant children living in the United States as unaccompanied minors have been blocked or discouraged from registering for school in at least 35 districts in 14 states, an Associated Press investigation has found . In the past three years, the federal government has placed more than 100,000 unaccompanied minors with adult guardians in communities nationwide; the children, many of whom are English-language learners from Central American countries, are expected to attend school while they seek legal status in immigration court. Under federal law, all children, regardless of their immigration status, have the right to enroll in public schools, but even when enrolled some of these students are pressured into what advocates and attorneys argue are separate but unequal alternative programs, the Associated Press investigation found. Social workers and immigration attorneys in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina told the Associated Press that migrant students were barred from enrolling in K-12 schools, kept out of class for months, or sent to alternative programs that are deemed inferior. A 2015 report from the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute found that unaccompanied minors have vastly different educational experiences depending on where they settle. The students, almost all of them from Central America and many with yearlong gaps in their formal education, represented a new challenge for the schools Many school districts have struggled to meet the educational needs of these students , who often have gaps in their formal education and suffer from emotional trauma. In fall 2014, the U.S. departments of Education and Justice issued joint guidance reminding districts that states cannot deny children a public education, regardless of immigration status . Districts found to have broken the law can be forced to change their enrollment policies, but it often requires intervention from law enforcement. In New York, investigators found that a number of districts, despite repeated warnings from federal and state law enforcement agencies, continued to bar children from enrolling based solely on their immigration status . Last February, the state attorney general announced that 20 school districts in the state agreed to develop new enrollment policies after investigations unearthed a pattern of illegal enrollment requirements , including schools that made students or their guardians present Social Security cards. Despite those efforts, the state is still listed among those with school systems that have shortchanged unaccompanied minors. To determine where children were barred or discouraged from enrolling in school , the Associated Press analyzed federal data to identify areas where the number of migrant children was relatively large when compared to public school enrollment, along with the number of students formally learning English. Related Stories Will Schools Be Prepared for Latest Surge of Unaccompanied Minors? Surge of Unaccompanied Minors Crossing Borders Presents Education Challenges Los Angeles Unified Lawyers to Represent Students Facing Deportation Photo credit: Candelario Jimon Alonzo, 16, is shown at his home in Memphis, Tenn. The teen came to the United States after fleeing Guatemala dreaming of going to high school and becoming more than what he saw along the rutted roads of his hometown. Instead, local school officials have kept Candelario out of the classroom since he tried to enroll in January. --Karen Pulfer Focht/AP Photo credit: High school teacher Dennis Caindec, right, talks with a student during a 12th-grade senior seminar class at San Francisco International High School in San Francisco. While some districts in numerous states have discouraged migrant minors from Central America from enrolling in their schools, San Francisco International High School accommodated its youths by rewriting young-adult novels at a basic level to spark the newcomers interest in reading. --Jeff Chiu/AP DA plans new diversion program for first-time felony drug possession Change in law that allows Community Correction officers to oversee cases of those placed on diversion makes program possible. Note: This weeks guest-blogger is Mike McShane, director of education policy at the Show-Me Institute in Missouri. Over the past year, Ive seen a whole lot of the great state of Missouri as Ive travelled around researching the states education system and talking with various groups about improving Missouris schools. Just since January, Ive talked to the Branson Daybreakers Rotary club, which meets at the Golden Corral at 7:00 on Thursday mornings. Ive spoken at the Discussion Club, a speakers series that has been going on in St. Louis since the 1950s. I sat on a panel for Kansas City Public Television with the Mayor of Kansas Citythere was a civility bell just in case talk got too heated. I testified before both the House and Senate in Jefferson City. All told, Google Maps tells me Ive driven more than 3,600 miles across the state since the first of the year, and I talked to anyone who was willing about making our schools better. I say this because before moving back to my hometown to work on education issues, I worked for three years in DC. I attended many a confab and sat on a whole bunch of panels talking about what seemed to be the pressing issues facing education today. The folks I spoke with were good people who cared deeply about students. They were convinced that the issues they cared about were the ones that mattered to our communities. The crowd at the Golden Corral might disagree. Now, misunderstanding people who live in a different place or might think differently from us isnt just an education phenomenonits a broader problem of our politics. In a fascinating paper , Douglas Ahler and Guarav Sood found that when a representative sample of Democrats was surveyed, they thought that 38% of Republicans earned more than $250,000 per year. In reality, its 2%. Republicans werent much better. They thought that 32% of Democrats identified as LGBT. Its 6%. Incredibly, the researchers found that perceptions were positively correlated with interest in politics. Yes, the more people care about politics, the less they know about people who think differently than them. In education policy, those who participate in debates at a national level tend to follow politics pretty closely. They might think that their opinions are all the more informed because of their engagement, but they could be dead wrong about that. The issues they care about might not be the issues that resonate with everyday people across the country. Here are a couple examples. Some issues we routinely overlook are critically important to large swaths of the population that were trying to serve. For example, here in Missouri, almost 400,000 students attend rural schools. On average they are poorer than their urban and suburban peers, they score lower on the ACT, and they have access to fewer higher-level courses. Sixty-two percent of Missouris rural school districts did not have a single student take an AP class last year. Fifty-six percent had no students take calculus, 47 percent had no students take physics, and 23 percent had no students take chemistry. (I recently released a deep-dive into these issues . To say it was eye-opening would be a serious understatement.) This is outrageous, but for some reason these kids seem to evoke less sympathy than their urban and suburban peers, and they get precious little national attention. There are other issues that we do talk about but misread the fault lines. With respect to school choice, for example, many of the most fervent and effective opponents today are not teachers unions or those with an entrenched interest in the status quo, as you might read on a blog somewhere. Instead they are private school leaders who worry that if they get in bed with the government theyll lose their autonomy and destroy what is unique about their schools. If you go to an education research conference or attend a panel discussion about school finance, youll see that conservatives are routinely characterized as being wholly against spending more money on schools. But if you looked at Missouris recent local school tax levy elections, numerous deep-red communities voted to tax themselves more to provide more money for their schools. The world is a lot more complicated than it appears from thousands of miles away. If we actually take the time to understand people who think differently than we do, and dont just lump them hastily into a pile with all of the other people with whom we disagree, we would do a better job advancing the causes we care about. Im still learning, and later this week I hope to share several other insights Ive picked up recently. I also want to talk about how they intersect with some cool new projects I have coming out in the near future, not the least of which is the new book Rick Hess and I wrote, Educational Entrepreneurship Today . --Mike McShane ADVERTISE Hypebot & MusicThinkTank With the internet and digital technologies driving rapid change within the music industry, articles about new releases and who has been hired and fired are no longer enough. Our up to the minute industry news alongside insightful commentary helps our readers sift through the rumors and developments to find the information they need to keep their businesses moving forward. Hypebot is read daily by more than 30,000 music industry professionals including executives and senior staff of music related tech firms, internet based music sites, every major label group and most indies as well as many managers, artists and members of the live music community: Contact us for the latesst stats, ad rates and sponosorship opportunites. We also offer combined rates with MusicThinkTank. A member of the House of Representatives has called for the resignation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency director as well as a full-scale Congressional investigation into the National Flood Insurance Program.Using strong language, New Jersey Republican Tom MacArthur criticized FEMA for its performance following Hurricane Sandy and cited new revelations from whistleblowers that the agencys efforts to re-examine claims from the Storm following allegations of fraud had itself become subject to fraud.The investigation looked into complaints that engineering companies had altered reports on property claims to eliminate flooding as the primary cause of damage.I have seen doctored engineering reports with my own eyes, MacArthur said Thursday. I have seen doctored adjusters reports with my own eyes, where an adjuster wrote something was caused by flood and somebody else inserted the word not caused by flood.MacArthur said he had been provided by three affidavits outlining the accusation, written by people who had worked on the review process set up by FEMA, one of whom joined him during his congressional address.An experienced claims adjuster, Jeff Coolidge reviewed roughly 1,000 flood claims while working as a contractor for FEMA last fall. Coolidge said that despite his findings, he was required to either deny or underpay nearly all of those claims.I left the Sandy review process because it is a sham, Mr. Coolidge said. I was literally losing sleep because I didnt want to be a part of that fraud anymore.Nearly 142,000 homeowners filed claims with FEMA following the 2012 storm. Though FEMA denied deliberate wrongdoing, it did say its handling of the claims may have been flawed and announced a new review for affected property owners.Now, MacArthur wants more.I called for the resignation of the FEMA director, and I call for it again today not because I want a scalp but because there has to be accountability, he said. There has to be. Somebody has to answer for this.MacArthur also pushed for a House or Senate investigation into NFIP something New York Senator Chuck Schumer echoed.[These are] very serious allegations of fraud and criminal activity, Schumer said. I think FEMA has an obligation to get to the bottom of them quickly and take strong action.And though FEMA stressed it had absolutely no incentive to cheat homeowners on their claims, several lawmakers have supported a reform to NFIP even one that would include removing private insurance companies from the program.Theyre still on the job in these places, said Schumer, who claimed private insurers were in cahoots with assessors. And thats a disgrace. The experience mod is critical for employers who must manage it below a given level to bid on jobs. The experience mod is still a piece of the workers comp premium calculation. This means that even if the carrier is pricing to target, you can still measure the impact of an individual injury on the experience mod and on their costs. We cant see the insurance companies internal models, so the experience mod remains the best way we have to keep score on an employers performance in workers compensation. Preston DiamondThere has been some chatter online recently regarding the waning importance of experience rating and the increased use of predictive modeling by insurance companies. The argument is that because large insurance companies are beginning to track more and more data and are pushing for their pricing to match what their global models want, rather than simply measuring the experience of a single employer, the experience mod is largely an out of date tool and should not be of much concern to employers.While there is no doubt that many insurance companies are making efforts to leverage big data and we hear increasing reports from agents about companies pricing to target, there are a few things that have not changed, such as:The experience mod is the sum of an employers payroll and their history of employee injuries. It measures a business against the average of other businesses like theirs.Individual results still matter. An employer who is classified correctly, has a recovery at work program, a physician relationship, and all the other critical components of a successful workers comp program will have better experience, which will translate into a lower experience mod. That lower experience mod will almost always lead to an employer paying less for their workers compensation than a comparable employer who has an elevated experience mod.Bottom line: The experience mod is showing no signs of becoming less important in workers compensation. If anything, with the advent of businesses using the experience mod as a proxy for safety performance, it could be argued that the mod is more important than it has ever been.There may be a day in the future where rating bureaus and the entire concept of experience rating becomes obsolete.But that time just isnt here yet. Insurance company underwriters will always be interested in writing profitable business and until the companies start sharing their models with us (spoiler alert: they wont), the experience mod is the most effective tool that agents and employers have to measure the performance of an employer.Preston Diamond is the founding member and current Managing Director of The Institute of WorkComp Professionals, which educates, certifies, and mentors insurance agents in Workers Compensation insurance. During his long career, Preston has taught insurance at a California Community College, chaired a week long insurance agency management school for six years, presented more than 300 times at seminars and workshops and has consulted with more than 400 insurance agencies. For more information visit www.workcompprofessionals.com Advocates Continue to Push on Williamstown Preschool Program WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Four members of the Williamstown School Committee on Thursday again explained their reasons for supporting a fiscal 2017 budget that includes a reduction to the school's popular preschool program. At a special meeting originally rescheduled from April 13, the committee members explained why they did not oppose the school administration's decision to eliminate the full-day option for Side-By-Side. Superintendent Douglas Dias, acting in consultation with the district's director of pupil personnel services, decided this year that the special education population Side-By-Side was designed to serve can have its needs met in two half-day sessions. Traditionally, the program has offered half-day and full-day classes for both the special needs population and the non-special needs population both "sides" referred to in the program's name. Since Dias announced that decision in February, the program's teachers, parents, parents of former Side-By-Side students and other community members have alternately lobbied and demanded that the full-day option be restored. At the latest in a series of contentious meetings on Thursday, Dias said he erred by casting the Side-By-Side reduction as being driven by fiscal concerns. In fact, for him, it is more a matter of evaluating the program's place in the district's educational program. "My biggest regret was, early on, I did present it as a budgetary matter," Dias said. " It really wasn't a budgetary matter. It came to my attention in October or November when I was looking at the budget. But as I delved more deeply and identified the needs of the kids, I realized it was not a budgetary matter. "My first concern has always been for the students in this building. And I know this change is drastic, but that's part of my job. Part of my job is to shine light into corners that sometimes we don't want to look at and to make recommendations to you and make decisions that are not popular. I didn't get into this career to be popular. I got into this job to help our kids get the best education possible, and they will." One by one, the School Committee members explained that they believed Dias was acting in the school's best interest and trusted his assessment that the half-day programming will meet the needs of children. "To me, that's largely where the discussion ends," Chairman Dan Caplinger said in a meeting telecast on the town's community access television station, WilliNet. "In my role as a School Committee member, there are two things I have direct control over: hiring a superintendent to administer the district and overseeing the budget to fund the superintendent's programs. That's my justification for having supported the budget as presented." Committee member Catherine Keating said she likes the idea of a full-day preschool program, but she did not like the ideas floated by Side-By-Side's proponents for using the preschool program to generate revenue. "I don't think tuitioning in more children or even raising tuition to make the program a revenue source for the school is the answer or even very appropriate," Keating said. "I think that would undermine what the program is actually about in terms of having classroom diversity and being a program that is congruent with the philosophy of a public school. "I think to lower tuition and make the program more affordable to everyone living in this town actually makes more sense. Doing so would increase the cost of the program." She also said that she does not believe the administration would cut a program if it believed the cut would negatively impact education as some in the community have alleged. "We are two points away from being named a Level 1 School District," Keating said. " I don't think the administration of this school would do anything to undermine all this work. If changing the structure of Side-By-Side would have a detrimental effect on the long term achievement of children with special needs, that would completely undermine much of the other work being done at this school." Committee member Joseph Johnson agreed. "Clearly, Side-by-Side, when Dr. Dias decided to do what he did, is a big skunk to poke," Johnson said. "This affects a lot of people. To my mind, that is all the more reason to believe Dr. Dias has the best of intentions. He wouldn't do this lightly. "I don't think the School Committee should hold up the budget based on one item in it. I do think the School Committee hires and fires the superintendent. I think the superintendent, any superintendent, has the right to move resources around in the school in the way feels best affects all students." Committee member John Skavlem said he abhors change but applauds those who have the courage to make change when they see a need to do so. "As with any program, Side-By-Side should be evaluated every year," Skavlem said. "And our new superintendent and his administration are doing what perhaps was lacking in the past. "This year with the benefit of fresh thinking and new eyes on it, we have the opportunity to consider the best way to allocate our resources." Committee member Richard Reynolds did not attend Thursday's meeting. It is unlikely any of those arguments swayed the nine residents who spoke in favor of restoring the full-day preschool in a 20-minute public comment period at the beginning of Thursday's meeting. In fact, after the committee members discussed the issue, members of the public asked for an opportunity to make a rebuttal. Caplinger declined to give them that chance, telling the group that their comments were heard and taken into consideration but the public comment part of the meeting was over. During the public comment, the committee heard from veteran preschool teacher Fern Murtagh, who told the panel that two half-day sessions cannot take the place of a full-day preschool experience for children who need it. "When I think about the prospect of the full-day Side-By-Side being eliminated, I don't think of the program," Murtagh said. "I see the faces of individual children with [individual education programs] who are in my class and the faces of their parents who sat with me at team meetings not even a year ago, where we decided a cohesive full-day program was what their child needed. "You are making a decision that will change the future of children I teach every day." Three of the nine residents who spoke during the public comment period are running in a five-person race along with the incumbent Caplinger for two seats on the School Committee. Joseph Bergeron, Liam Brody and Maura McCarthy Lawson each used the two minutes allotted them to argue for restoration of the program. Another resident made a thinly veiled threat that the Side By Side issue could be used to defeat the school budget at the May 17 annual town meeting. "I hope the administration and the School Committee will shed some light on this [decision] today," David Irwin said. However, many in the community disagree with the administration and the School Committee. If that's the case, that's fine. We can move on and discuss this at the town meeting." Town meeting will be asked to approve an omnibus budget, basically saying yea or nay to the bottom line figure. Town meeting will not have the option of reopening the budget and directing the district how to spend its money. After Caplinger denied the request for a second public comment period, the majority of the audience left the school library. One could be overheard by the committee to say the decision not to continue the discussion "speaks more volumes than I can," which drew an angry retort from Skavlem. "I'd like to make a point that most of the audience just left, and, clearly, the rest of the school's business is not of their interest," he said. "And I find that very shameful. That's indicative to me. That's shameful." In other business, the School Committee decided to form a finance subcommittee, following the model at Mount Greylock, where the subcommittee meets regularly with the superintendent and business manager to review the budget in more detail and reports out to the full committee at its monthly meetings. Caplinger said he had received a letter from the chairman of the town's Finance Committee encouraging some sort of advisory body for the School Committee. But Caplinger noted that the committee had discussed the formation of a subcommittee long before his appearance before the Finance Committee last month. Although the School Committee's subcommittee could have the option of asking outside experts to participate in its meetings, the committee and the superintendent agreed it was best to limit subcommittee membership to members of the School Committee itself. "One of the advantages of having it be a committee of elected officials is we're aware of the legalities, and familiar with the confidentiality requirements and have been trained to deal with them," Caplinger said. The committee decided not to fill the two subcommittee spots but rather wait until after the May 10 town election and the committee's subsequent reorganization meeting. The committee did decide to add Williamstown Elementary's name to the list of districts signing resolutions calling for maintenance of the current charter school cap and implementation of the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. Dias explained to the School Committee his plans for two community forums this spring to look at long-range planning for the school. Caplinger told his colleagues that he, his counterparts at Lanesborough Elementary School and Mount Greylock and Dias met with the School Committee chairs in New Ashford, Hancock and Richmond for a preliminary discussion as the Shaker Mountain Union No. 70 looks at the possibility of a shared services agreement for administration. And the panel discussed the procedure for its upcoming evaluation of Dias and the possibility of a Tri-District School Committee daylong work session sometime this summer. Dias said he hoped that in addition to talking about issues that affect the Williamstown and Lanesborough elementary schools and Mount Greylock, the daylong meeting would be a chance to receive training for all three committees from a consultant with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Pittsfield Airport Fence Revision Will Curb Deer Incursion PITTSFIELD, Mass. About three to five deer a day are among visitors to Pittsfield's municipal airport each day. It's a form of unwanted traffic the airport is looking to curtail, with the systematic repair or replacement of several significant sections of its perimeter fence The city's Conservation Commission on Thursday looked favorably on a proposal to conduct "in kind" replacement of existing fencing sections near and within wetlands there, a project that is due to be completed by the end of June. One of the key sections eyed for replacement is an 688-foot piece of fencing that was not upgraded during a previous installation project, and measures only 6 feet high. This is 2 feet shy of Federal Aviation Authority regulations for perimeter fencing, and has also presented a measurable challenge from uninvited four-legged guests. "What we've found is that deer are jumping it without any problem," said Randy Christianson of Stantech Consulting Services, representing the Pittsfield Airport Commission. "We continuously have three, and sometimes up to five, deer on the airport property, requiring a lot of wildlife management on the part of the very limited operations staff that are at the airport." A portion of this section runs into the wetlands buffer zone, while other sections slated for overhaul have poles located within wetlands sections. Christianson said "there's no net change" and no wetlands impact, because they will just be replacing existing fencing. Commissioner Tom Sakshaug asked about the possibility of moving poles back out of where they're located in wetlands portions, "at least as much as possible, without encroaching on airspace." Christianson said this may not be possible, as with the FAA regulations on airspace, there's little leeway for moving the perimeter fence in closer. "As long as it doesn't interfere with airspace, the engineers can absolutely make an effort to do that," he offered. Commissioner Jonathan Lothrop added the stipulation that the consultants report back to the city conservation officer on whether they are able to do this, as a condition of approval. With this amendment, the commission voted unanimously to issue a negative determination of applicability of the Wetlands Protection Act for the project. In other business, the commission also reviewed several other projects before them: The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is preparing to commence reconstruction work on the Lulu Pond Dam at Pittsfield State Forest. Attorney Christine Baker, speaking on behalf of Mass DCR, called this "a limited project" aimed at replacing the spillway and slide gate at the aging dam. The three-month project is expected to begin sometime in fall 2016 or spring 2017. The application was incomplete for the full permitting needed to proceed, and the commission tabled action on this to the May 18 meeting to allow the state to complete the application process. The commission voted approvingly on a notice of intent for work to be done at the Pittsfield Wastewater Management Plant on land bordering a flooding area. The plant intends to replace a portion of sewage main at the Holmes Road plant. It also reacted favorably to planned improvements at the Riverview Homes housing complex at 341 West St. These include new sewer lines, as well as driveway repair and alterations to existing walkways. A playground renovation is also called for in the plans, and new plantings to offset the green space impact of a new walkway being added. The complex will add 50 new shrubs, consisting of a diverse array of wildlife-friendly native berry species. Downing to Give Keynote Address at 56th BCC Commencement PITTSFIELD, Mass. State Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, will be the keynote speaker at Berkshire Community College's 56th Commencement Exercises to be held June 3 at Tanglewood in Lenox. Downing was first elected in 2006 at the age of 24. During his decade of service, Downing, who recently announced that he will not seek a sixth term, has represented 52 communities of the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden District, the largest Senate district in the commonwealth. "Throughout his decade of service, Senator Downing has been a familiar face at our institution always supportive and willing to help. He has been a true friend not only to BCC, but to so many important institutions and causes in the communities he represents," said BCC President Ellen Kennedy. "He's a shining example for our students of the best qualities of public service integrity, compassion and the clarity of purpose and commitment. We are thrilled that he will serve as our keynote speaker during his last term." Downing's priorities have included clean energy, the environment, expanding broadband Internet access, the expansion of transgender rights and mitigating poverty. An advocate for higher education, he has worked to secure investments in higher education including the multimillion dollar Center for Science and Innovation at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He chairs the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy and the Senate Committee on Redistricting; vice chairs committees on tourism and on audit and oversight; and is a member of the influential Ways and Means Committee. Before his election to the Senate, Downing worked for U.S. Reps. William Delahunt, Richard Neal and John Olver. A Pittsfield native, his family has a long history of public service. He is the son of Pamela Downing and the late Berkshire District Attorney Gerard D. Downing. We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector Boston Get ready to hear a whole lot more about grit. Angela Duckworth, the University of Pennsylvania psychology professor and 2013 MacArthur genius grant winner, released a new book on Monday that explores and explains her research on grit, which she defines as the ability to develop and sustain passion and commitment to achieving long-term goals. Duckworth has captured much attention from educators and policymakers in recent years for her findings that high levels of grit correlate with success in many areas of life, from college completion to making it to the final rounds at the National Spelling Bee. In her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Duckworth explains her idea by exploring the life stories and philosophies of people she calls paragons of grit, including the Seattle Seahawks, West Point Cadets, and successful business leaders. Where is it that we find the ability or the inclination to sustain our interest so that we are pointing in the same direction day after day and to motivate ourselves through big setbacks or the little setbacks that happen every day? Duckworth said, summarizing her research for an audience at the Education Writers Association national seminar Monday. Duckworths book delves into her own personal story. As a child, her father would remind her: You know, youre no genius! If she could go back in time, the Harvard graduate and genius award winner, writes, she would tell her father that raw talent and intelligence arent the sole drivers of success: I would say, 'Dad, you claim I'm no genius. I won't argue with that. You know plenty of people who are smarter than I am.' I can imagine his head nodding in sober agreement. 'But let me tell you something. I'm going to grow up to love my work as much as you love yours. I won't just have a job; I'll have a calling. I'll challenge myself every day. When I get knocked down, I'll get back up. I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I'll strive to be the grittiest.' And if he was still listening: 'In the long run, Dad, grit may matter more than talent.' " Grit Is Not Unfamiliar to Educators That notion wont be unfamiliar to many educators, whove embraced the grit concept in recent years along with a wave of research and policy centered on a variety of non cognitive traits and social-emotional skills, like growth mindset, self control, empathy, and healthy relationship skills. Perhaps most interesting for educators, the book asserts that grit can be developed both by individuals within themselves and by outside forces who help them feel challenged and supported. For schools, that means giving students opportunities for deliberate practice so they can learn what its like to face a challenge and persist through it, developing the skill like a muscle, Duckworth said. Teachers should ask themselves: Is there a clear learning goal thats very specific and do my students really know it? Do they have a clear strategy to remove distractions so they can focus 100 percent? Duckworth said. And they should offer frequent feedback, she said. They should ask themselves, Am I encouraging repetition and refinement, or, as when I hand back your term paper or your test, is it over? That advice is similar to advice researchers have given to promote a growth mindset, an idea popularized by Stanford University researcher Carol Dweck. If students learn that they can persist through challenges and eventually succeed, they will begin to define themselves by that persistence and not by momentary failures or challenges, Duckworth said. Schools can also create supportive cultures and climates where students feel inspired to incorporate effort and persistence into their core identity, the book says. If youre a leader, and you want the people in your organization to be grittier, create a gritty culture. For example, both the Superbowl-winning Seahawks and the KIPP network of charter schools have promoted common language, behaviors, and norms that encourage effort and persistence, the book says. And it wouldnt be a book with education applications if it didnt mention the oft-praised nation of Finland. But, instead of focusing on international test scores or student-teacher ratios, Duckworth hones in on the Finnish word sisu, a version of gritrefined by long, dark winter daysthat many people there consider a part of their national identity. As one Finn told the New York Times: A typical Finn is an obstinate sort of fellow who believes in getting the better of bad fortune by proving that he can stand worse. That norm-setting is important, Duckworth writes: First, thinking of yourself as someone who is able to overcome tremendous adversity often leads to behavior that confirms that self-conception. If you're a Finn with that 'sisu spirit,' you get up again no matter what. Likewise, if you're a Seattle Seahawk, you're a competitor. You have what it takes to succeed. You don't let setbacks hold you back. Grit is who you are. Second, even if the idea of an actual inner energy source is preposterous, the metaphor couldn't be more apt. It sometimes feels like we have nothing left to give, and yet, in those dark and desperate moments, we find that if we just keep putting one foot in front of the other, there is a way to accomplish what all reason seems to argue against." Clearing Up Misconceptions About Grit Importantly, Duckworth told the EWA audience that she has not yet developed a curriculum package that interested schools can use to develop the character trait in their students. But that hasnt stopped schools and occasional third-party providers from promoting sometimes shallow or poor applications of her research, she said. She told a story of a school principal who said her school was celebrating Grit Week by requiring its students to set goals for their growth in their scores on a standardized test they would take later that month. Raising your standardized test scores next week would not be the goal I would pick for 17,000 reasons, Duckworth said. The notion of grit has faced criticisms that educators who buy into the concept will ignore systemic problems, saddling poor and disadvantaged students with the full burden of their academic success by saying theyre just not gritty enough when they fail. Some students who face normalized trauma have to display a hefty amount of grit just to make it to the classroom every day, such critics say. Author Paul Tough said in another address at EWA that the brains response to trauma can cause some students to appear disengaged or lacking in grit. In response to audience questions Monday, Duckworth acknowledged that criticism and said schools shouldnt use her research as a scapegoat to excuse themselves from responsibility for students success. None of these things are scapegoats because the whole point of the grownups in the room is that its our responsibility to get kids where they need to be, she said. Related reading on grit: Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox. Misdemeanors Are an Obstacle to Employment in Many States A misdemeanor on your criminal record is not a bar to most types of employment, or it should not be, and many states have laws that govern how or if employers can consider these. Despite that, a new study reveals that in many states across the country a minor offense presents a major obstacle to licensing and certification for certain jobs. Although 40 states have laws governing the consideration of criminal records in employment, the problem is reportedly widespread. According to the study by the National Employment Law Project, reported in The Wall Street Journal, the majority of state licensing boards do consider criminal records to deny people licenses to work in healthcare and education. Isn't That Good? Maybe this doesn't sound too bad to you -- why should people with criminal pasts be allowed to care for kids or sick people or the most vulnerable among us? But the reason the revelations are disconcerting is that they show the collateral consequences of an encounter with the criminal justice system, consequences that are not intended by the authorities and which are often inappropriate. In Georgia, for example, a person may be denied a license based on a mere arrest, according to The Wall Street Journal. This is problematic because an arrest is not a conviction: it is an officer's suspicion that an offense has occurred. Why should a person who was ultimately not convicted -- or perhaps not even charged -- be barred from an occupation for a lifetime based on the unfounded suspicion of an officer long ago? Some states, like Minnesota, will not allow consideration of an unrelated criminal record and also considers time passed since a conviction, as well as any evidence of rehabilitation. This more nuanced approach allows individuals whose charges do not reflect on the type of work they plan to do, or who have since proven to be reliable members of society, to get work. Economic Impact According to The Wall Street Journal, the findings are a cause for economic concern for all of us. One in four jobs requires a license or certification and one in three Americans has had an encounter with the criminal justice system. That might leave very few people eligible for employment in areas that pay reasonably well. Then there is also the question of basic fairness. The criminal justice system punishes people for their actions and when they have paid the price, the debt to society should be considered fulfilled. What this study reveals is that for some the stain of a mistake in the past -- sometimes not even their own error -- will haunt them all their lives. Talk to a Lawyer If you have been accused of a crime, or have a crime on your record you hope to get expunged, speak to a lawyer. Many criminal defense attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to discuss your situation. Related Resources: Can I Sue for Injury Due to an Allergic Reaction? This is not a safe world, especially if you are allergic to things in it. You can't always find someone to blame for your pain. But sometimes you can do exactly that -- if another person or entity acted negligently then you can certainly sue from an injury associated with an allergy to a product. Just as in any other negligence claim, you will have to prove all of the elements, and an allergic reaction alone won't suffice. Let's look at allergic reactions and negligence. Failure to Warn No one is actually liable for your allergies. But with so much attention given to food allergies in particular lately there is a lot more awareness of the prevalence of allergies in people. Still, food and other products do not have to all be hypo-allergenic as a result. But what does have to happen is that food producers do have a duty to warn customers about allergens. The Food Allergen and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 ensures that food that contains "a major food allergen" -- such as peanuts -- must clearly declare its presence. Cosmetics and other manufacturers also have allergen labeling requirements. Some states require restaurants to do the same, or even put the responsibility on allergic customers to warn the chef, which makes sense. In Massachusetts, for example, the restaurant menus all state, "Before placing your order, please inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy." Restaurants there must also have at least one certified food protection manager who has undergone the state's allergen awareness training. Negligence Negligence occurs when someone with a duty owed to another breaches that duty and causes the other harm. So, using the above example of restaurants in states that must warn of allergens, let's look at how a negligence claim might go. Restaurants that have a duty to warn of allergen presence and fail to do so could get sued if someone with a severe nut allergy ends up in the hospital because no one mentioned the pistachios in the pie before the item was ordered. In that situation the restaurant breached its duty to warn, the breach caused an injury, the injury was foreseeable and the harm can be quantified and compensated. Chances are good then that under these facts you could recover for an allergic reaction. But if you're in Massachusetts, say, and you order the pie with the nuts without warning the server that you're allergic, then you too have breached your duty of care to the restaurant and now recovery is not as obvious. Talk to a Lawyer If you were injured due to an allergic reaction to a food or product, talk to a lawyer. Many personal injury attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to assess your case. Related Resources: Imperial Valley News Center Johns Hopkins Joins Effort to Teach Math, Science Through Music Baltimore, Maryland - Music can make you want to dance, sing and clap your hands, but can it also make you want to learn math? A Johns Hopkins University professor of applied mathematics hopes so. This summer, professor Daniel Q. Naiman will offer a course on the Mathematics of Music, part of a national effort to use music to teach the STEM disciplines science, technology, engineering and math from elementary school through college. The four-week course created by Naiman is being unveiled in conjunction with the 5th observance of International Jazz Day on Saturday, April 30, organized by UNESCO the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, based in Washington, D.C. Some of the materials to be used in Naimans classroom course will be posted online for the general public to view. These materials along with others created by professors across the country will be offered as part of the UNESCO-Monk Institute Math, Science & Music project. The effort will be discussed in a forum on Tuesday, April 26 at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington. Naiman is scheduled to be there, along with faculty members from Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Massachusetts, University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco State and New York University. We want to open the door to science and math to students who might not otherwise be interested in math, said Naiman, who is also an amateur saxophone and bass guitar player. For those who find the abstraction of math hard to grasp, he said it often helps to tie mathematical concepts to a practical application. In this case, students will be learning to apply mathematical principles to musical questions: What is harmony? What is an octave? What does it mean to tune an instrument? What makes music sound good? His three-credit course will be open to up to 25 high school and college students who have completed some high school mathematics. Lectures will be conducted four days a week from June 27 through July 29. Students can use the credits toward their college graduation. The classroom and online teaching materials represent a culmination of years of effort that began with an idea hatched by Grammy-award winning jazz musician and composer Herbie Hancock. Hancock, who took some electrical engineering courses while studying for his undergraduate degree in music at Grinnell College, explained in an interview that he became concerned both about students in the United States falling behind in STEM fields, and about diminishing arts education. Why not, he thought, blend the two and try to appeal to students through their musical enthusiasm? What are young people interested in? asked Hancock, who is chairman of the Monk Institute, and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Why are they wearing their Beats headphones all the time? The connection between music and math is plain, said Hancock. Consider the arithmetic values of beats per measure, of knowing which note gets one beat, of the numerical relationships underlying chord theory. Naimans 3-credit course builds on this fundamental relationship to draw music enthusiasts into stronger grasp of math. Naimans students will learn how to use number theory to solve problems dealing with aspects of rhythm and harmony. Theories of probability and random processes will be engaged to understand how spontaneity works in music. Students will learn how to use software to analyze the elements of musical signal, including amplitude and frequency modulation. If we see that young people are showing more interest in science through programs stimulated from a musical formulation, said Hancock, I think we can safely say its a successful direction. Imperial Valley News Center American Psychological Association Marks Mental Health Awareness Month with Focus on Barriers to Care Washington, DC - The American Psychological Association will engage a variety of audiences during Mental Health Awareness Month in May with the following activities: Thursday, May 5: APA Hosts Discussion Focusing on Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day APA Capitol View Conference Center, 750 First St., N.E., Washington, D.C., 6 p.m. (EDT) APA's Office on Children, Youth and Families will host a discussion and viewing of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day webcast. Families, service providers from community-based organizations focused on childrens mental health and other members of the public will discuss the barriers families encounter accessing childrens mental health care and ways to overcome those barriers. RSVP via email. Friday, May 13: Speaking of Psychology Podcast Surviving a relationship with a narcissist Narcissists can be found in our offices, politics or even in our own homes. Narcissism is a psychological disorder but it can be hard to know exactly how to recognize it and build a relationship with a narcissist. In this episode, psychologist and author Ramani Durvasula, PhD, talks about how social media is shining a light on narcissism and offers insight and research into how to survive a relationship with someone who suffers from the disorder. May 16-22: Older Adult Mental Health Week APAs Office on Aging will work with the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging to bring attention to the mental health needs of older adults. Useful resources for providers and the public include: What Mental Health Providers Should Know About Working with Older Adults, APA Family Caregivers Briefcase and blog posts on aging issues. May is also Older Americans Month. Tuesday, May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia Focusing on mental health and well-being, APAs Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Concerns will recognize International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia with social media posts highlighting its various resources on issues related to the mental health of LGBT communities. Tuesday, May 24: Congressional Briefing on Psychologys Role in Eliminating Health Disparities Among Boys and Men Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-369, 12-2 p.m. (EDT) Boys and men in lower socioeconomic and ethnic/minority communities have some of the worst health outcomes in the country. Psychology can help in addressing these health disparities and the needs of underrepresented boys and men. This briefing will focus on key findings of the APA Working Group on Health Disparities in Boys and Men, including incidences of violence, trauma and substance use. Participants will also discuss public policy recommendations, including legislation and research. The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 117,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives. This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A brother and sister have inherited a disease that will stop them from ever sleeping again - and which will eventually kill them. Lachlan and Hayley Webb from Queensland, Australia, suffer from a rare hereditary disease called Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI). They do not know when it will strike. Affecting less than 10 million people worldwide, there it no known treatment or cure for the illness. It prevents sufferers from achieving deep sleep, leading to speedy mental and physical deterioration. Lachlan, 28, and Hayley, 30, first became aware of the genetic disorder when their grandmother became ill when they were teenagers, Nine News reports. Their mother died from FFI aged 61, while their aunt died at the age of 42. The siblings' uncle, their mother's brother, also died from FFI aged only 20. How much should you sleep? FFI damages nerve cells which leads to sponge-like holes in the part of the brain that regulates sleep - the thalamus. This then prevents the body from rejuvenating and makes it feel like the sufferer is awake for the last six months of their life. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty Ms Webb, a Nine News reporter, said: "In my early teens I remember becoming aware of it, aware we had this family curse. "My grandma started getting sick and dying. Her eyesight went, she had signs of dementia, she was hallucinating and couldn't talk. "Eventually she was diagnosed with FFI, that was the first time the family even knew that FFI existed." Lachlan Webb, 28, participating in a study at the University of California looking for a cure (Nine News) Ms Webb added: "I remember leaving for work to my new post on the Sunshine Coast and mum saying 'have a great day, I'm so proud of you' and then later that week coming back and she was calling me Jillian and she thought I was the housekeeper. "It was incredibly aggressive. "Your body is not allowing you to rejuvenate at all so it's like being awake for the last six months of your life." The pair have been participating in a pioneering study at the University of California led by Eric Minikel and Sonia Vallabah, who are trying to find a cure. Wisconsin Polling of Jury During Trial Leads to Mistrial A criminal defendant is entitled to a polling of the jury after a verdict has been reached and announced. But one slip of how the polling is done could basically necessitate a whole new trial. And this is exactly what happened in a Wisconsin federal district court. The case below discusses interesting aspects of the Fifth Amendment's "overly coercive" doctrine. Trial and Mis-Polling A criminal defendant was convicted by a Milwaukee jury and the defense counsel exercised the defendant's right to a polling of the jurors. Each of the jurors was individually asked "Was this and is this your verdict with regard to the defendant, Lemurel E. Williams?" The first juror said "No." It appeared that the presiding judge did not hear juror one and continued to ask all the other jurors who all agreed "Yes." A re-polling of the jurors revealed the same answers and the lawyers requested a sidebar. The judge ordered the jurors to re-deliberate. When they returned a verdict of guilty to the judge again, he declared the verdict "cured" of any misunderstanding of the earlier question that juror one claimed to be confused over. Appeal followed. Unconstitutional Coercion Coercion, the circuit concluded, occurs when any one of the jurors surrenders his or her honest opinion for the purpose of returning a verdict. The court worried that in this case, the one juror who had revealed that she did not believe the defendant was guilty was essentially put in the spotlight as being the only dissenting juror in the entire group, thus persuading her to change her personal vote. Two major points were clarified in this opinion. First, it is always reversible error to ask a divided jury to reveal its numerical division, but polling a jury that is believed to be unanimous is is different as the latter's purpose is to confirm unanimity. Here, since the verdict here required a unanimous vote, it was pointless for the judge to continue hearing the later votes. This brought the circuit to the second point: it did not believe that the judge continued in bad faith. Rather it believed that the judge did not hear juror 1 respond in the negative. But the intent of the judge was actually irrelevant. What mattered was that juror 1 revealed herself to be the sole dissenter which could have impermissibly coerced her into later changing her vote to reach a verdict. Since this was contrary to justice, a mistrial was the proper finding. Related Resources: For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Why are we talking about this now? Negotiations over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership have been turbocharged by US President Barack Obamas visit to Europe. Obama is trying to push through the biggest transatlantic trade deal in history before the end of his time in the White House. Opponents of the deal say that TTIP will destroy the NHS as we know it by making the UK Government powerless to stop privatisation, or at least make it impossible to reverse privatisation. Are they right? Unite the Union cites legal advice from Michael Bowsher QC, a former chair of the Bar Councils EU law committee, that TTIP will pose a real and serious risk to the future ability of the [UK Government] to regulate the NHS. EU has said that it will include a tried-and-tested system to make sure that TTIP doesnt affect EU governments freedoms to organise public services like the NHS. Because TTIP negotiations are conducted in secret, theres no way of knowing what that system will look like until the agreement is signed. But trade deals like this one are designed to remove barriers to trade. During his visit, Obama called them regulatory and bureaucratic irritants and blockages to trade. Giving free access to private companies means abolishing state-run services like the NHS, unless the NHS is removed from the treaty altogether. Could the NHS be removed from the treaty? Opponents of the deal are campaigning for the NHS to be exempt from TTIP altogether. Michael Bowsher QC said in his legal advice: The solution to the problems which TTIP poses to the NHS is for the NHS to be excluded from the agreement, by way of a blanket exception contained within the main text of TTIP. Would an exemption be enough? The EU has said that its existing draft treaty with Canada would be a model for the TTIP deal. That includes an exemption for health services that are provided by the government. But what that actually covers is unclear. IT services and non-health services might not be covered by the term health services. Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year. In the event of a dispute, any cases arising from this would be referred to international courts called the Investor-State Dispute Settlement, which give companies special rights to sue governments if a trade treaty has been breached. If the ISDS ruled that the company had been subject to unlawful nationalisation, they would have a right to seek compensation. When will we know for sure? We wont really know the implications of TTIP on the NHS until the deal is signed. All EU member countries are expected to have a say on whether the agreement passes, which would in theory mean the UK government would be able to delay it. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Now that Malia Obama is planning to take a gap year after high school and before starting college at Harvard University in 2017, some questions arise: What exactly do students do while on a gap year? What do colleges think of them? The answers are: There are myriad options for students who have the resources to take a gap year though they do not have to be expensive. And some colleges actually encourage admitted students to take a gap year including Harvard. What exactly is a gap year? Laura R. Hosid, an expert on gap years at the Vinik Educational Placement Services in Bethesda, told me in an interview some time ago that a gap year typically describes a year off between high school and college. They have long been popular in Britain and other countries, she said, but have been gaining popularity in this country, too, in recent years. They offer students with means an opportunity to travel, explore different interests, and gain experience and maturity before beginning college. There are no solid statistics on how many students take gap years in the United States, according to the American Gap Association, but anecdotal evidence shows that students benefit significantly from taking time off. A study by the dean of admissions at Middlebury College found that the average GPA for Middlebury students who had taken a gap year was consistently higher than those who had not. In 2012, Harvards website noted that 50 to 70 students take gap years before entering as freshman. The website today says: Harvard College encourages admitted students to defer enrollment for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work, or spend time in another meaningful way provided they do not enroll in a degree-granting program at another college. Deferrals for two-year obligatory military service are also granted. Each year, between 80 and 110 students defer their matriculation to the College. The top 10 universities in the world Show all 10 1 /10 The top 10 universities in the world The top 10 universities in the world 1. California Institute of Technology The top 10 universities in the world 2. University of Oxford The top 10 universities in the world 3. Stanford University The top 10 universities in the world 4. University of Cambridge The top 10 universities in the world 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology The top 10 universities in the world 6. Harvard University The top 10 universities in the world 7. Princeton University The top 10 universities in the world 8. Imperial College London The top 10 universities in the world 9. ETH Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich The top 10 universities in the world 10. University of Chicago Also on the website is an article titled, Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation, describes how pressured K-12 schooling has become, noting that training for college scholarships or professional contracts begins early, even in grammar school. It says: Faced with the fast pace of growing up today, some students are clearly distressed, engaging in binge drinking and other self-destructive behaviors. Counseling services of secondary schools and colleges have expanded in response to greatly increased demand. It is common to encounter even the most successful students, who have won all the prizes, stepping back and wondering if it was all worth it. Professionals in their thirties and forties physicians, lawyers, academics, business people and others sometimes give the impression that they are dazed survivors of some bewildering life-long boot-camp. Some say they ended up in their profession because of someone elses expectations, or that they simply drifted into it without pausing to think whether they really loved their work. Often they say they missed their youth entirely, never living in the present, always pursuing some ill-defined future goal. Some early remedies What can we do to help? Fortunately this young fast-track generation itself offers ideas that can reduce stress and prevent burnout. In college application essays and interviews, in conversations and counseling sessions with current college students, and in discussions with alumni/ae, many current students perceive the value of taking time out. Such a time out can take many forms. It can be very brief or last for a year or more. It can be structured or unstructured, and directed toward career, academic or purely personal pursuits. Most fundamentally, it is a time to step back and reflect, to gain perspective on personal values and goals, or to gain needed life experience in a setting separate from and independent of ones accustomed pressures and expectations. Recommended Read more The 7 best ways to save up for a gap year abroad Other schools encourage gap years, as well. For example, Princeton University offers the Bridge Year Program, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has Global Gap Year Fellowship Program. Students who wish to take a gap year are supposed to apply to college and, once accepted, present a plan to the university for why they want to defer. Many colleges will be happy to comply. For those students who dont apply to college, hoping that activities undertaken during a gap year will enhance their admissions profile, Hosid said a gap year cant compensate for deficiencies in your high school record. She also said in the earlier interview: Q) What kinds of things do students do on their gap years? Many students choose to spend their gap year in structured programs volunteering abroad or in the United States. There are also many opportunities to explore interests in the environment, arts, and other cultures. Taking courses to improve academic skills is another option. Within these broad categories, there are a myriad of options, ranging from studying at the International Culinary Center in New York, to performing musical stage performances in multiple countries while living with host families with Up With People, to building trails in state parks with the Student Conservation Association. One thing to keep in mind is that gap years need not be expensive or involve international travel. City Year, part of AmeriCorps, provides a stipend and scholarship for 10 months of service in inner-city schools. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms offers meals and housing in exchange for farming work. A gap year also does not need to be one full-year program. Students often piece together different options to explore a range of interests or can work for a few months to fund a shorter opportunity. Short-term options can range from three weeks at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa with BroadReach to a month studying French at Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota. Q) How do families get help planning one? There are several good books available, including The Complete Guide to the Gap Year by Kristin M. White and The Gap-Year Advantage by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson. Websites such as Teen Life offer listings of gap-year programs by type many private high schools and colleges also have lists available online. In addition, USA Gap Year Fairs offer over 30 different fairs throughout the country. Finally, there are a small number of educational consultants who focus on gap-year advising and can help students figure out what they want to do and help identify specific programs that would be a good match. Washington Post Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Schoolchildren will stage their very first strike action on Tuesday in protest over SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) for six and seven-year-olds. A petition started by the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign has been signed by nearly 40,000 people calling on teachers to boycott SATs tests for children at the end of Year 2. SAT exams test a childs progress in English, Maths and Science and are conducted at the end of infant school, primary school and in Year 9 across England. But campaigners say the focus on testing has left their children "over-tested, over-worked and in a school system that places more importance on test results and league tables than children's happiness and joy of learning". The petition said: We're a group of Year 2 parents who've had enough... enough of endless testing, enough of teachers not being trusted to teach, enough of an Ofsted driven, dull, dry curriculum aimed solely at passing National Curriculum Tests (SATs). We want our kids to be kids again and enjoy learning for learning's sake not for Ofsted results or league table figures. Bring back the creativity and the fun - say goodbye to repetition and boredom! It said six and seven-year-olds were now expected to sit a whole weeks worth of exams focused on comprehension and arithmetic. Outdoor learning has decreased, childhood anxiety has increased, games have been replaced with grammar, playing with punctuation," it added. Recommended Read more Thousands of parents to boycott school over exams It is currently unknown how many children will go on strike but the campaign has put a form up on its website asking parents to record their participation. In an open letter to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan on their website, the campaign said it represented "the voice of parents across the country who want an end to the exam regime now. It said: "Please take a long, hard look at this. "Do you want your legacy to be the confident cancellation of unneeded and unnecessary SATs, showing you are listening to your electorate and the teachers you claim to support ... or the overseeing of a shambolic testing regime desperately unwanted by millions of people to the point that this country saw its first open parent revolt? "You have the power to stop these tests. NOW. Our children, our teachers and our schools deserve better than this." In a speech on Saturday, Ms Morgan warned that missing school for even a day would be "harmful" and called the campaign "damaging". She said: "To those who say we should let our children be creative, imaginative, and happy - of course I agree, both as a parent and as the Education Secretary. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 Britain's former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Conservative MP, Rishi Sunak leaves from an office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA "But I would ask them this: how creative can a child be if they struggle to understand the words on the page in front of them? They certainly can't enjoy them. Schools Minister Nick Gibb added: "These tests are vital in helping schools to ensure that young children are learning to read, write and add up well. "The truth is if they don't master literacy and numeracy early on, they risk being held behind and struggling for the rest of their lives. "Children should only ever be taken out of school in exceptional circumstances and we'd urge the organisers of this campaign to drop their plans because it simply isn't fair on children to deprive them of a day of their education". For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Gerry Adams has apologised for using the word n****r in a tweet. After initially defending the use of the word by saying it was used in an ironic way to draw comparisons between the way Irish nationalists and African- Americans have been treated, the leader of Sinn Fein has now apologised for any offence. Speaking at Connolly House in Belfast, the 67-year-old said: "I have acknowledged that the use of the n-word was inappropriate. That is why I deleted the tweet. I apologise for any offence caused. The republican said however that he stands by the context and main point of the tweet which was the parallels between people in struggle. Like African Americans, Irish nationalists were denied basic rights, he said. [] This changed because we stood up for ourselves. We need to continue to do that. The civil rights movement here, of which I was a founding member, was inspired and based its approach on the civil rights campaign in the USA. People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015. I have long been inspired by Harriet Tubman; Frederick Douglas; Rosa Parks; Martin Luther King and Malcolm X who stood up for themselves and for justice. Adams received criticism after he sent a tweet to his 111,000 followers on Sunday evening while watching the Quentin Tarantino-directed film about an emancipated slave in the US. The tweet said: Watching Django Unchained - A Ballymurphy N****r! He soon deleted the tweet and later issued a statement defending it, saying: If anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Gerry Adams has defended a tweet where he used a racially offensive word claiming the context of the tweet was misunderstood as he was attempting to draw comparisons with the way Irish nationalists and African Americans have been treated. The leader of the Sinn Fein party received criticism after sending a tweet on Sunday night which used the word n****r while he was watching the 2012 film Django Unchained. The Quentin Tarantino-directed film documents an emancipated slave (played by Jamie Foxx) who embarks on a journey. Mr Adams has now said his used of the word was ironic and quashed any suggestion of racism, instead proposing that nationalists in northern Ireland were treated in a similar manner to African-Americans in the US. People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015. On Sunday night Mr Adams wrote to his 111,000 followers: Watching Django Unchained A Ballymurphy N****r! Ballymurphy refers to the killing of 10 civilians by a British army Parachute regiment in 1971 in the Belfast area. After many social media users criticised the tweet and decried the use of the word, Mr Adams deleted the tweet. In a statement he said: My tweets about the film Django have triggered a lot of interest, Anyone who has seen the film, as I did last evening, and who is familiar with the plight of nationalists in the north until recently, would know that my tweets about the film and the use of the N-word were ironic and not intended to cause any offence whatsoever. Attempts to suggest that I am a racist are without credibility. I am opposed to racism and have been all my life. The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves. If anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used. For this reason I deleted the tweets. The Independent has contacted a spokesperson for Mr Adams for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Princess Charlotte of Cambridge has received a more lavish array of gifts in her first year than most of us will receive in our drawn out lifetime. In a year, the regal toddler has already received presents from three Prime Ministers, two Presidents, one King and one Queen. But alas the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges daughter, who is celebrating her first birthday today, must be careful with her generous offerings. While most rattles are made of garish pliable plastic, the one gifted to Princess Charlotte from the President of Mexico and Senora Angelica Rivera is made of (non-chewable) silver. Princess Charlotte, who has already topped Tatler's list of "The People Who Really Matter", has been showered with gifts from as far afield as Armenia and Zambia. Princess Charlotte's first birthday Show all 4 1 /4 Princess Charlotte's first birthday Princess Charlotte's first birthday Princess Charlotte in pictures taken by her mother HRH The Duchess of Cambridge 2016 Princess Charlotte's first birthday Prince Charlotte at Anmer Hall in Norfolk in April HRH The Duchess of Cambridge 2016 Princess Charlotte's first birthday Prince Charlotte at Anmer Hall in Norfolk in April HRH The Duchess of Cambridge 2016 Princess Charlotte's first birthday Princess Charlotte in the garden in Anmer Hall in Norfolk in April HRH The Duchess of Cambridge 2016 A list released by Kensington Palace reveals some of the presents the Princess has received. While the Prime Minister of New Zealand gave her an array of teddy bears, baby blankets and bootees, all made from the finest Stansborough wool, the King and Queen of Bhutan gave her a coat. The Australian Government sent an embroidered cot blanket made from Tasmanian merino wool sourced from Launcestons eminent Waverley Woollen Mills and contributed AUS$10,000 to the Healesville Sanctuary. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, bestowed the one-year-old with a snowsuit, a book, and made a $100,000 donation to Immunize Canada, a vaccination charity. Barack Obama and the First Lady of the USA gave Princess Charlotte a children's rocking chair and baby blanket after she was born. While David Cameron gave her a copy of Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales. Of course, these are just some of the gifts bequeathed to the Princess. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for all the letters, gifts and good wishes they have been fortunate to receive in the year since Princess Charlotte was born. Princess Charlotte, whose full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, is fourth in line to succeed her paternal great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, after her paternal grandfather, father, and elder brother Prince George. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Some 1,300 pounds of bronze Roman coins dating to the 3rd and 4th centuries have been unearthed by construction workers digging ditches in Spain. The find, in 19 amphoras storage containers is unique not only because of the volume of coins but because the coins appear to have never been in circulation, making them almost pristine by comparison with other discoveries. Workers in the city of Tomares, in Andalusia, were working on installing a water line to a park in the city of 24,000, according to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, when they noticed irregular terrain inside a ditch about a meter below ground level. Some of the containers were broken, with the coins spilling out of them, while others were intact. They show an emperor, Maximian or Constantine on one side and Roman allegories on the other, researchers told reporters. Experts are speculating that the coins were meant to pay taxes or support legions of the Roman armies in Spain at the time. We have a team looking into the discovery right now. We believe it is hugely important and will have more information very soon, a spokesman at Andalusias Ministry of Culture in Seville told The Local on Thursday. Ana Navarro, head of Sevilles Archeology Museum, offered no precise estimate for the value of the haul, saying only that the coins were worth certainly several million euros. This photo made available by the City Council of Tomares on Friday, April 29, 2016, shows some of the bronze and silver-coated coins dating from the end of the 4th century. The majority were newly minted and some of them probably were bathed in silver, not just bronze, Navarro told reporters. I could not give you an economic value, because the value they really have is historical and you cant calculate that. The Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 206 B.C. and stayed for about 700 years, turning Andalusia into one of the empires richest colonies. Copyright Washington Post Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A woman has lambasted Jeremy Hunt for attempting to destroy and discredit NHS staff after her daughter died in hospital, hours after the conclusion of the latest junior doctors strike. Julie Ann Lovells daughter, Karen, died at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester at 9pm on Wednesday; just four hours after the strike over proposed doctors contracts came to an end. The 33-year-old had been in critical care for several weeks following a heart operation. In a Facebook post addressed to Mr Hunt, Ms Lovell said she fully support[s] the junior doctors actions, saying her daughter did not die due to this strike. The 51-year-old said she would not accept her daughters death being included in any statistics aimed at demeaning striking doctors, praising the staff at Wythenshawe Hospital for their care and attention. (Facebook ) (Facebook) The Health Secretary warned last week's strike action, which was the first all-out stoppage to include NHS emergency medical care, would create an unacceptable risk of patient deaths and labelled the strike as a very, very bleak day for the NHS. Ms Lovell's post, which has been shared over 53,000 times, reads: Jeremy Hunt. How dare you! My darling daughter passed away at 9pm Wednesday evening in Wythenshawe hospital at the end of the two day strike by the young doctors whom I fully support. She did not die due to this strike and I will NOT accept her name included in any statistics saying it was. Every member of the doctors and nurses who looked after and worked tirelessly for the 4 weeks she was in there were and remain amazing people. How dare you Mr Hunt. I challenge you to sit quietly in intensive care and watch the staff treat patients with so much care and attention. Both nurses and doctors at all levels. 12 hour shifts 16 hour shifts and more. Leading Junior Doctor quits live on air Our NHS is amazing and deserves to be supported and saved. My daughter Karen had many procedures some surgical and Mr Hunt even on Sundays! How dare you Mr Hunt! Karen and every other patient in that Critical Care Unit received expert care and treatment day and night and 7 days a week despite your attempt to destroy and discredit these wonderful people who I know did everything in their power to save my beautiful daughter. How dare YOU Mr Hunt. And thank you everyone at Wythenshawe. In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Doctor in acute medicine, Melissa Haskins, holds up a 'I ain't afraid of no Hunt' sign whilst striking with other junior doctors outside her hospital, St Thomas' Hospital in London Getty Images In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Accident and emergency junior doctor, Jennifer Hulse, holds a homemade placard outside St Thomas' Hospital as she strikes with colleagues in London Getty Images In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Demonstrators and Junior doctors hold placards as they protest outside the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, in Basingstoke during a strike by junior doctors Getty Images In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Demonstrators and Junior doctors hold placards as they protest outside the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, in Basingstoke during a strike by junior doctors Getty Images In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike A supporter displays a slogan on her bag during a junior doctors' strike outside St Thomas' Hospital in London Reuters In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike The picket line outside King's College Hospital in London PA In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike The picket line outside King's College Hospital in London, as thousands of junior doctors begun the first all-out strike in the history of the NHS after the Health Secretary said the Government would not be "blackmailed" into dropping its manifesto pledge for a seven-day health service PA In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Junior doctors and supporters take part in a strike outside the Royal United Hospital in Bath Getty Images In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Doctor in acute medicine, Melissa Haskins, holds up a 'I ain't afraid of no Hunt' sign whilst striking with other junior doctors outside her hospital, St Thomas' Hospital in London Getty Images In pictures: Junior doctors first all-out strike Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary visits a British Medical Association picket line at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, to show support for striking junior doctors on the second day of the union's annual health conference PA A survey for the Independent found a majority of people supported last weeks all-out strike by junior doctors, with 58 per cent of the pubic agreeing doctors were right to strike over the Governments decision to impose a new contract on them. Three in 10 people (31 per cent) disagreed with this statement, while 11 per cent replied dont know. Doctors say the new contract will harm patient safety by incentivising unsafe shift rosters. The Government says it will help improve care at the weekends. A Department of Health spokesman said monthly and weekly death statistics would be published online as usual, however there is no indication data specific to the doctors strikes would be gathered. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Four major UK parties have unexpectedly joined forces in an effort to put forward the environmental case for Britain to remain in the EU. In a rare show of solidarity across the Labour Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats and Green Party, a document has been released exemplifying the European Unions central role in helping Britain to battle climate change. The document, published by Britain Stronger in Europe and composed by Ed Miliband, Liz Truss, Ed Davey and Caroline Lucas, contains a list of 10 ways the EU supports Britains efforts to help the environment: Keeping our oceans clean and protects ocean wildlife; Taking action to improve our air quality; Investing in renewable energy, helping us ensure a more sustainable future; Leading the fight against climate change; Leading the way on global climate agreements for thirty years; Providing vital protections for Britain's nature and wildlife; Standing up against the killing of endangered species and for animal rights worldwide; Providing environmental expertise and information to Britain from across Europe. What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Show all 5 1 /5 What's the European Parliament ever done for us? What's the European Parliament ever done for us? A cap on the amount of hours an employer can make you work The Working Time directive provides legal standards to ensure the health and safety of employees in Europe. Among the many rules are a working week of a maximum 48 hours, including overtime, a daily rest period of 11 hours in every 24, a break if a person works for six hours or more, and one day off in every seven. It also includes provisions for paid annual leave of at least four weeks every year Getty Images What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping the people of Britain to avoid smoking In 2014 MEPs passed the Tobacco Products Directive strengthening existing rules on the manufacture, production and presentation of tobacco products. This includes things like reduced branding, restrictions on products containing flavoured tobacco, health warnings on cigarette packets and provisions for e-cigarettes to ensure they are safe What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping you to make the right choices with your food Thanks to the European Parliament, UK consumers have access to more information than ever about their food and drink. This includes amount of fat, and how much of it is saturated, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and so on. It also includes portion sizes and guideline daily amount information so people can make informed choices about their diet. All facts must be clear and easy to understand What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Two year guarantees and 14-day returns policy for all products Consumers across the EU have access to a number of rights, from things which are potentially very useful, to things which used to be annoying. For example, shoppers in the UK receive a two-year guarantee on all products, and a 14-day period to change their minds and return a purchase, these things are useful www.PeopleImages.com-licence restrictions apply What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Keeping your air nice and fresh (and safe) Believe it or not, although the situation is improving, some areas of the UK have appalling air quality. A report by the Royal College of Physicians released on 23 February says 40,000 deaths are caused by outdoor air pollution in the UK every year. Air pollution is linked to a number of illnesses and conditions, from Asthma to diabetes and dementia. The report estimates the costs to British business and the health service add up to 20 billion every year In the report, the four politicians said: "Being in Europe magnifies Britains voice in the world on the issues that will define our future. Climate change and the future of our environment is a defining issue of our generation. "Our environment at home is a source of joy and wellbeing for many, but also a vital resource. Its multiple habitats, features and species must be protected. "Our global climate must be safeguarded to prevent against further global warming, and collective action is the only solution to rising seas and rising temperatures. "The European Union is central to both these challenges." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tony Blair has reportedly warned dissenting Labour MPs that it would be impossible to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of a future leadership contest. The former Labour Prime Minister told rebellious MPs plotting a coup that even if they were initially successful in keeping Mr Corbyn out of the contest, the National Executive Committee would likely intervene to hand him a place on the ticket. According to the Times, Mr Blair made the comments at the end of 2015, adding Mr Corbyns popularity would mean he would be re-elected by the party members. The intervention emerged as the newspaper revealed that Labour frontbenchers are issuing threats to the leadership with resignations over the handling of antisemitism accusations in the party. Mr Blairs comments come after Diane Abbott, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, branded the idea that the Labour Party has a problem with antisemtism as a smear. In an interview with the Guardian, Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite, said that some rebellious MPs had been nothing short of treacherous and set stupid traps for Mr Corbyn by claiming the party should win a certain number of seats. We have had Michael Dugher saying Jeremy has 99 days to prove himself and suddenly 5 May becomes a litmus test on Corbyns ability to lead the party, he said. Diane Abbott: Smear against Labour We have had Liz Kendall saying we should win 400 council seats. This is the woman who got 4.5% of the vote in the leadership election. We wont be taking lectures off people like that who are interested in setting false traps. A poll carried out as the controversy unfolded gave the Conservatives an eight-point lead, and experts tip Labour to lose up to 150 council seats in England and face a hard night in elections to the Scottish and Welsh governments. However, Sadiq Khan, Labours candidate for London Mayor, is widely expected to win the contest in the capital. The elections across the UK will be the first nationwide test of Mr Corbyns leadership since winning a significant mandate from Labour Party members in September 2015. Mon State Hluttaw (Photo MNA) Mon State Hluttaw (Photo MNA) Concerning the petition letters, committee members will visit project locations and meet with companies. Based on the gathered data, the committee will report to the State Hluttaw and then to state government. Thus far, we have received 25 letters. We prioritize matters of natural resource management and public related cases. Personal matters, matters that police shall resolve and unjust matters will be transferred to respective departments, said U Aung Kyaw, chairman of analyzing Committee for Petition, Appeal, Submission and General matters. U Aung Kyaw added that public reasoning for submitting the letters is reduced to the absence of transparency and responsibility from companies carrying out their respective projects. This view is also backed up by the Committee for Petition, Appeal, Submission and General matters. Among the petition letters, the committee considered to prioritize the cement factory in Kyaikmayaw Township and mining projects in Oukthanthar Village, Paung Township. We have policy in place for how to petition, what kind of matter can be petitioned and what kind of matters shall be handled. The committee will then go to the location or meet with the companies that have been petitioned, said U Zaw Zaw Htoo, member of analyzing committee for Petition, Appeal, Submission and General matters. There are 11 members of the analyzing committee for Petition, Appeal, Submission and General matters that gather for a weekly meeting. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} John McDonnell has been forced to try and dispel rumours of a rift with Jeremy Corbyn, amid reports he was planning an organised takeover in the event of a coup by dissenting Labour MPs. It comes after several turbulent days for the Labour leader, who has been forced to suspend three councillors, an MP and the former Labour Mayor as the row over anti-Semitism within the partys ranks intensified. An article printed in the Daily Telegraph on Monday said the Labour leaders handling of the furore had led to claims Mr McDonnell is waiting for an organised takeover as leader if MPs stage a coup. An editorial in the newspaper added: So shambolic, so offensive has Jeremy Corbyns leadership of the Labour Party become that the shadow Chancellor John McDonnell is thought to be planning a putsch to unseat him. Mr McDonnell, who appeared to take aim at the newspaper, said: Media and right-wing dirty tricks and lies trying to divide me and Jeremy. They should know it only unites us even more and makes us stronger. A source close to the shadow Chancellor, speaking to The Independent, dismissed the ludicrous nonsense printed about the pair in the press, adding that Mr McDonnell and Mr Corbyn were best of friends. It is absurd to suggest otherwise, the source added. On Monday the Labour Party acted swiftly to suspend Ilyas Aziz, a Nottingham City councillor, and Salim Mulla, a councillor in Blackburn, over controversial social media posts highlighted on the Guido Fawkes website. A third councillor, Shah Hussain, who represents Burnley's Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward, made comments attacking Israel's foreign policy made on Twitter in 2014. When approached by the Press Association, Mr Hussain said he would "most definitely" fight the suspension. On his Facebook page Mr Aziz appeared to liken the actions of Israel against the Palestinians to those of the Nazis against the Jewish population. In a post, from 2014, Mr Mulla also shared a post allegedly showing footage of a Palestinian boy being arrested with a comment from the councillor saying: "Apartheid at its best. Zionist Jews are a disgrace to humanity." Diane Abbott: Smear against Labour Last week the Labour leader was forced to suspend his long-time ally Ken Livingstone, the former London Mayor, and Labour MP Naz Shah. When approached by The Independent, Mr Livingstone said he would be making no further comments before the London Mayoral election later this week. The two high-profile suspensions led Mr Corbyn to announce that the party had set up an independent inquiry led by the former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti tasked with tackling antisemitism in Labour. A code of conduct will also "make explicitly clear for the first time that Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, in the party" and provide guidance on acceptable language. Meanwhile, the general secretary of Unite Labours biggest union donor Len McCluskey took aim at dissenting MPs on Monday. In an interview with The Guardian the union chief said that some rebellious politicians had been nothing short of treacherous and set stupid traps for Mr Corbyn by claiming the party should win a certain number of seats at the elections later this week. Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Show all 14 1 /14 Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Israel and Palestine The simple fact in all of this is that Naz made these comments at a time when there was another brutal Israeli attack on the Palestinians; and theres one stark fact that virtually no one in the British media ever reports, in almost all these conflicts the death toll is usually between 60 and 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli. Now, any other country doing that would be accused of war crimes but its like we have a double standard about the policies of the Israeli government Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Antisemitism in the Labour Party As Ive said, Ive never heard anybody say anything antisemitism-Semitic, but theres been a very well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticises Israeli policy as antisemitic. I had to put up with 35 years of this Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Naz Shah Its completely over-the-top and rude, but who am I to denounce anyone with all of that. It was wrong. I dont think she is antisemitic, it was incredibly rude but I dont believe she is an antisemite. When the NEC investigation is finished they'll say it was rude and over the top but they wont find any evidence that she actually hates Jews. Weve got to investigate all these charges and the context in which they are made. If she is antisemitic like the other three or four members weve found who are antisemitic, shell be expelled Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On other alleged antisemites in Labour That is part of the classic antisemitic thing about an international Jewish conspiracy that is the reason we need to have an investigation. Ive got an open mind. Ive seen nothing to suggest to me that she is antisemitic. I wouldnt have supported her if I [thought] she was antisemitic Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On whether what Hitler did was legal, as stated by Naz Shah Thats a statement of fact Hitler, Im sure, passed all those laws that allowed him to do that its history literally, Hitler was completely mad, he killed six million Jews. Shes not saying its legal to kill six million Jews: what they were doing in that country allowed them not just to kill six million Jews, kill all the communists, kill all the leftists like me, my father almost died when a Nazi sub sank his boat. I have no sympathy with Hitler Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On another alleged antisemite in Labour No, that is, and thats why shes been suspended or expelled. What Ive said is that in 47 years of the party in all the meetings Ive been in Ive never heard anyone say anything antisemitic. There are bound to be in a party of half a million people youll have a handful of antisemites, youll have a handful of racists. Youve managed to dig out virtually every antisemitic comment that Labour members have made out of half a million people. Ive never met any of these people. Theres not a problem. Youre talking about a handful of people in a party of half a million people. Jeremy Corbyn has moved rapidly to deal with them Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Jeremy Corbyns response to the allegations He met with Naz and she agreed she would stand down while the investigation is going on. He called her in to see her. Theres been a huge investigation of virtually everything that anybody put on the internet many of these people are quite new and recent members of the party that joined in the big influx. 300,000 new people came in Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On his meeting a man accused of antisemitism in London This is the man who called for Muslims around the world to donate blood after the attacks of 9/11 when he came to London I went with him to the Regents Park mosque where he said no man should hit a woman and you should not discriminate against homosexuals. So I cant equate what I heard him say he made no antisemitic statement while he was here in London. I dont investigate people. Ive simply said what I believe to be true which is that Naz was not antisemitic. She was completely over the top, very rude, but that does not make her an antisemite Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Manns comments He went completely over the top. I was actually doing a radio interview at the time that he was bellowing that Im a racist antisemite in my ear. Ive had that with John Mann before a few weeks ago screaming that I was a bigot down the phone. Im not an apologist for anyone who makes antisemitic statements. What Im saying is dont confuse antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government policy Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard whilst Mayor of London I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On claims about Hitler and Zionism I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Mann Id simply say to John Mann go back and check. Is what I say true, or is it not? The BBC, youve got a huge team of researchers, it will take just an hour or two to go back and confirm. I was asked a question, I answered it. I have never in 45 years since I won my first election, I have never lied. I have always answered the question Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On raising the issue if Hitler It lays you open to people smearing and lying about you. Ive always answered the questions put to me and that simple fact is weve had a handful of people saying antisemitic things in the Labour Party, theyve been suspended, some of them are on their way to being expelled, some of them have been expelled already Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On people calling for him to be suspended All my usual critics but the simple fact is I agree with them; there is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. For them to suggest I am antisemitic is a bit bizarre considering we worked with Jewish groups and put on exhibitions about the scale of the holocaust, we worked with Jewish groups to tackling the scale of antisemitism back in the 1970s. Ive always opposed every form of racism whether its against black people or Jews. Im going to stay in the Labour party and continue to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination as I have my entire life We have had Michael Dugher saying Jeremy has 99 days to prove himself and suddenly 5 May becomes a litmus test on Corbyns ability to lead the party, he said. We have had Liz Kendall saying we should win 400 council seats. This is the woman who got 4.5 per cent of the vote in the leadership election. We wont be taking lectures off people like that who are interested in setting false traps. A poll carried out as the controversy unfolded gave the Conservatives an eight-point lead, and experts tip Labour to lose up to 150 council seats in England and face a hard night in elections to the Scottish and Welsh governments. However, Sadiq Khan, Labours candidate for London Mayor, is widely expected to win the contest in the capital. The elections across the UK will be the first nationwide test of Mr Corbyns leadership since winning a significant mandate from Labour Party members in September 2015. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Labour has acted swiftly to suspend two councillors after social media posts emerged of them suggesting Israel should be relocated to the United States and describing Zionist Jews as a disgrace to humanity. Ilyas Aziz, a Nottingham City councillor, has been suspended pending an investigation in the latest row over controversial comments to hit the party. Mr Aziz also appeared to liken the actions of Israel against the Palestinians to those of the Nazis against the Jews. Shortly after a second councillor for Blackburn, Salim Mulla, became the second elected politician on Monday to be suspended after controversial comments emerged on his Facebook feed. In a post, from 2014, Mr Mulla shared footage allegedly showing footage of a Palestinian boy being arrested with a comment from the councillor saying: "Apartheid at its best. Zionist Jews are a disgrace to humanity." A Labour spokeswoman confirmed that both councillors have been supsended pending investigation. It comes after Jeremy Corbyn insisted the party is "united" in opposing antisemitism in the wake of a turbulent week which has also seen the suspension of MP Naz Shah and former London mayor Ken Livingstone. "Ilyas Aziz has been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation," A Labour spokeswoman said. Among Facebook posts from Mr Aziz's account highlighted on the Guido Fawkes website was a comment saying: "Jews and Muslims lived together in the Middle East, in peace pre 1948. Perhaps it would have been wiser to create Israel in America it's big enough. They could relocate even now." Screengrab of Ilyas Aziz's Facebook page (PA) On Sunday Diane Abbott, the shadow International Development Secretary and one of Mr Corbyns closest allies in Westminster, dismissed claims that the Labour Party has a problem with antisemitism as smears. "It's something of a smear against ordinary party members, it is, it is a smear to say the Labour party has a problem with antisemitism, Ms Abbott said on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show. Diane Abbott: Smear against Labour Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite and Labour's biggest donor, added that Mr Corbyn was the victim of "a cynical attempt to manipulate antisemitism for political aims". "The idea that there is an antisemitic crisis within the Labour Party is absolutely offensive but it is being used in order to challenge Jeremy Corbyn," he told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Once the mood music of antisemitism dies down, then next week and the week after there will be another subject. It is an issue that comes up because somebody says something stupid and then immediately it becomes a crisis." Screengrab of Salim Mulla's Facebook page (PA) The row had been "got up by the right-wing press aided and abetted by Labour MPs" and party grandees who "get out of their wheelchair and toss a few hand grenades in", the union chief added. According to Press Association, after his suspension had been announced, Mr Aziz said: I have no comment at all. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Serious failings in the Governments privatisation of the probation services have been exposed in a damning report amid warnings that David Camerons half-baked and reckless policies have left the criminal justice system in a mess. The report by the independent Parliamentary spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, warns the Government has no way of knowing how well companies responsible for running the countrys probation services are performing due to a failure to collect accurate information. It also says some of the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) may be manipulating or withholding data from government agencies while others are putting financial profit above public safety by ignoring difficult offenders who require the most help because it costs them too much money to treat them. Recommended Read more Government quietly announces plan to privatise another agency The disclosures have sparked fears that companies are not subject to adequate oversight or scrutiny and led to calls for an urgent investigation into the rushed policy of selling off parts of the probation service en masse. Andrew Neilson, from the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the report raises serious questions of whether companies were protecting financial profits rather than public safety. He told The Independent: This clearly is not safe. A lack of reliable data means this report stops short of entirely condemning [the privatisation scheme], but the major problems it identifies suggests that the programme is a mess. This is an inauspicious start for untested reforms that could have disastrous consequences if they fail. Shadow Justice Secretary Charlie Falconer called for an immediate inquiry into the reports findings: This important independent report from the National Audit Office adds to the growing criticism of David Camerons half-baked and reckless privatisation of the probation service. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 Britain's former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Conservative MP, Rishi Sunak leaves from an office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA With prisons in crisis and now the probation system seemingly failing to effectively rehabilitate offenders, we need a serious study of how private companies running prisons or probation reports their success or failure to the public. They should be open, transparent and should publish fully accurate and reliable data on reoffending whenever possible. Any suggestion that CRCs are withholding information from the National Probation Service should be investigated thoroughly. The report itself states that the Ministry [of Justice] should as a matter of urgency ensure data are available to support the contract, noting that under current provisions no data will emerge until late 2017, meaning there will be no accurate way of assessing the private companies performance until then. Privatisation of probation services began in 2014, with responsibility for low- and medium-risk cases being outsourced to CRCs held in public ownership, before the scheme suddenly extended shortly before the general election in February 2015 to apply to commercial companies in the private sector. But the sudden rolling out of the proposals means the Government did not wait to find out the results of its own pilot scheme to test whether privatisation was appropriate for the probation service. The rushed nature of the scheme also meant that Ministry of Justice staff struggled to cope with the demands: Ministry teams appeared stretched in dealing with so many bidders with relatively junior staff sometimes fielding complex commercial, operational or legal questions, the report outlines. A number of the companies that were awarded contracts had no experience of the sector at all and a number of others were set up shortly before being awarded contracts, meaning that they had no track record from which they could be assessed for their suitability. The report also states that the Government has no way of knowing how well the CRCs are performing after failing to collect accurate data required to assess them. It adds that the Government has no data or insufficiently robust data in a variety of assessment criteria, concluding: Performance of CRCs remains unclear given limitations around data quality and availability. The reports authors also express concerns that the private companies may be manipulating data, warning: In the four CRCs we visited only three provided initial caseload data and these were presented as an average, which masks any variation within and across CRCs. It also notes that many junior staff in the National Probation Service thought that their CRC contracts were often not providing them with necessary information. These revelations led to accusations that the CRCs are putting commercial profit above quality of services and public safety, as many junior staff in the National Probation Service thought their CRC contacts had become too focused on their commercial interests as opposed to the best interests of the offenders. The report also describes how the companies are paid per task they perform rather than whether reoffending rates go down, raising concerns that they are engaged in a box-ticking exercise rather than producing real results which reduce reoffending and protect the public. Concerns have been raised that privatisation carries an inherent risk that private companies may avoid working with some offenders who need the most support because this could cost them more money and carry the risk that they will miss performance targets and subsequently incur financial penalties, despite the fact that working with difficult cases is necessary for public safety. Probation services are responsible for monitoring and engaging with offenders once they are released from prison in order to reduce reoffending rates and ensure public safety. In February of last year, a privatisation scheme introduced under the coalition government saw responsibility for low- and medium-risk offenders sold off to CRCs, while responsibility for high risk offenders remains in state control through the National Probation Service (NPS). Around 80 per cent of probation work is now the responsibility of CRCs, costing the taxpayer some 450m per year. Serious concerns have also been revealed regarding the NPS, which remains a state agency and manages high-risk offenders. The NPS has been found to have little awareness of how it operates or what contracts it holds. It only has copies of around 30 per cent of its contracts and does not know exactly what it spends on good and services its best estimate being 60m. The NPS has been described as having no proper storage of records, instead using a chaotic system relying on information on older cases coming from staff who had been working there for long periods remembering the case details. The system has been described as having extensive miscalculation and mis-recording of allocation decisions about offenders. A spokesperson for The Ministry of Justice told The Independent: "Major transitions in public services are always challenging but figures show the performance of the new probation system which was introduced only a year ago, is continually improving. As the report notes, the majority of offenders found that services had remained stable or improved since our reforms. Thanks to these reforms, offenders in prisons for less than 12 months are now receiving support from the probation service for the very first time. "However we are not complacent and have been addressing the problems which have been identified. Public protection is our top priority and we will continue to support staff to deliver these important changes." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The UK government has launched a secret propaganda campaign to stop young British Muslims from joining extremist groups, it has been revealed. A Home Office unit has been set up called the Research, Information and Communications Unit (Ricu) which uses local community groups to spread counter-extremist messages to vulnerable young people who are at risk of being seduced by the slick online propaganda of Isis. The programme, which was set up in 2007, has focused on Isis for the past two years following the group's declaration of a caliphate in its territories in Syria and Iraq. The programme is inspired by a similar scheme set up to fight Communism during the Cold War. The messages are overwhelmingly targeted at Muslims, particularly males, between the ages of 15 and 39. But some Muslims have expressed dismay over its techniques, which they say risk undermining the existing Prevent counter-radicalisation programme and alienating some groups. Insiders told the Guardian Ricu is working at an industrial pace and scale to combat the active propaganda machine run by Isis, and rarely uses government branding. One initiative, called Help for Syria, advertises itself as a campaign providing advice on how to help raise money for Syrian refugees. It attends university freshers fairs to talk to hundreds of students face-to-face. It also delivered leaflets to 760,000 UK homes using the same campaign. The scheme has focused on tackling the slick propaganda released by Isis Much of its work is outsourced to a London communications company called Breakthrough Media Network which has produced dozens of websites, leaflets, videos and social media campaigns with titles such as The Truth About Isis and Help for Syria. Breakthrough organises events at schools and universities and works with a number of Muslim organisations to help spread its message. Ricu has also set up a PR company to sell stories to national newspapers. The countries most impacted by global terrorism Show all 11 1 /11 The countries most impacted by global terrorism The countries most impacted by global terrorism Thailand Thailand The countries most impacted by global terrorism Libya Libya The countries most impacted by global terrorism Somalia Somalia The countries most impacted by global terrorism Yemen Yemen The countries most impacted by global terrorism India India The countries most impacted by global terrorism Syria Syria The countries most impacted by global terrorism Pakistan Pakistan The countries most impacted by global terrorism Nigeria Nigeria The countries most impacted by global terrorism Afghanistan Afghanistan The countries most impacted by global terrorism Iraq Iraq The countries most impacted by global terrorism France The community groups have said they use Ricu to help them get their message to a wider audience and retain editorial control over what they disseminate, but documents seen by the Guardian show that the programme privately says it has ultimate control over the projects. The Home Office acknowledged there was a propaganda programme but defended its conduct saying: All were trying to do is stop people becoming suicide bombers. Westminsters intelligence and security committee, which oversees the governments counter-terrorism work, has said it supports the Ricu initiative. One former minister told the Guardian it was naive to assume the Government could openly release counter-extremist propaganda but another said although the supported the project overall hiding the source of the messages could damage trust between the Muslim community and the Government. Human rights lawyer Imran Khan said:If the government wants its Muslim citizens to listen to it, it needs to be trusted. And to be trusted, it needs to be honest. What is happening here is not honest, its deeply deceptive. Furthermore, this government needs to stop thinking of young British Muslims as some sort of fifth column that it needs to deal with. Breakthrough says their relationship with Ricu is not covert and it is up to the individual community groups to decide if they want to disclose the governments support. A Home Office spokesperson said: "The battle against terrorism and extremism must be fought on several fronts including countering its twisted narrative online and in our communities. The need for this work is recognised at a national and international level. "This work can involve sensitive issues, vulnerable communities and hard to reach audiences and it has been important to build relationships out of the media glare. We respect the bravery of individuals and organisations who choose to speak out against violence and extremism and it is right that we support, empower and protect them. "Our guiding principle has to be whether or not any organisation we work with is itself happy to talk publicly about what they do. At the same time we are as open as possible about RICUs operating model, and have referenced the role of RICU in a number of publications and in Parliament. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Healthcare, the Edinburgh schools' fiasco and the shipyards on Glasgows river Clyde all proved topics of contention during the final TV debate of the Holyrood election campaign, but it was the issue of Scottish independence that dominated clashes between the countrys five main parties. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was accused of keeping [a] wound open with talk of a second referendum, as she argued, along with Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens, that opportunity to continue the debate is still there if the Scottish people want it. Held at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, the often fractious BBC Scotland debate came just days before the Scottish Parliament election on Thursday. Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon (PA) Alongside Ms Sturgeon and Mr Harvie, the hour-long debate also featured Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, all three of whom dubbed suggestions of another referendum as undemocratic. Ms Sturgeon argued that if there is clear and sustained evidence that independence has become the preference of a majority of people in Scotland then no politician has the right to stand in the way of the democratic wishes of the Scottish people. The First Minister added: The question for other politicians on this platform is, What is it they think gives them the right to stand in the way of a majority? Scotland will only become independent if a majority backs that, that is democracy and none of us should fear the democratic wishes of the people of this country." "I believe in something, I have convictions, I have principles, I will continue to try to persuade people. But whether I succeed or not will be down to the strength of the arguments I put forward and ultimately down to the wishes of the Scottish people." Scottish Conservative leader Ms Davidson retaliated saying: "As First Minister she has responsibilities, and her responsibilities are to all of Scotland not just the SNP. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson (PA) "Her responsibilities mean she shouldn't be keeping this wound open, it's not good for our country, it's not good for our economy, it's not good for encouraging jobs and growth and all the things we want to see." In light of Labours proposed increase to Scottish income taxes, Ms Dugdale said: "So many people just want to move on from that referendum. We have substantial new tax and welfare powers coming to the Scottish Parliament, wouldn't it be great if we just used them to talk about the future, how we will improve our schools and the NHS, create opportunities for young people and build the Scotland we all want to see." Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Mr Rennie claimed the SNP was being "anti-democratic" in its continued arguments for independence, demanding that nationalists "respect the result" of the 2014 Scottish Referendum. But Ms Sturgeons views were backed by Scottish Greens Mr Harvie, who argued: "Respecting the result means respecting the fact that a substantial number of Scottish voters did vote for independence. Respecting the result doesn't mean we all have to crawl away and shut up about it. The opportunity to continue to debate this is still there." Ms Davidson faced tough questions over the NHS, following proposals from the Scottish Conservatives saying they would reintroduce prescription charges north of the border, in order to bring in 65 million for the NHS per year. The Tory leader said her party was "looking at increasing GP services" claiming the proportion of the NHS budget spent on primary care has been cut by the SNP. Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie (PA) But Mr Harvie challenged her, saying: "If we went down Ruth's line what would be next, charges to visit your GP?" The shipyards on Glasgow's River Clyde proved a fierce point of contention in the debate, after union leaders raised concerns a contract for the yards to build new Type 26 frigates for the Navy has been delayed. Ms Davidson said UK Government ministers had "categorically assured" her the work would go ahead, accusing Ms Sturgeon of "shameful" scaremongering, adding: "If you had had your way 14 months ago none of these frigates would have been built." Ms Dugdale accused Ms Davidson of "having told a porkie" when she said there was no change to the Ministry of Defence order. Additional reporting by Press Association Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Oxford University student refused to tip a waitress in South Africa until white residents in the country "return the land" to black residents. Ntokozo Qwabe, who is a law student at Oxford, was criticised for the incident in which he appeared to mock a waitress whom his friend refused to tip to make a point about racial repression. Both friends, the other named as Wandile Dlamini by Mr Qwabe, are reportedly part of the Rhodes Must Fall movement which campaigned for the removal of a statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes from Oxford's Oriel College. But their actions at a cafe in Cape Town, which Mr Qwabe recounted in a post on Facebook, have led to more than $4,000 being raised for waitress Asheigh Schultz on a Gofundme page. The scale of the response led some commenters to suggest an equivalent outpouring of emotion for a black person would have been unlikely. Mr Qwabe wrote in his post, now deleted after his Facebook account was suspended, that he was "unable to stop smiling" after the incident. The Facebook post which appears to be written by Ntokozo Qwabe. He says later 'go to your fellow white people and mobilise for them to give us our land back.' (Gofundme.org) He said his friend wrote on the receipt "We will give a tip when you return the land." "The waitress comes to us with a card machine for the bill to be sorted out. She sees the note and starts shaking," he wrote. "She leaves us and bursts into typical white tears (like why are you crying when all we've done is make a kind request? lol)." Mr Qwabe said the act had brought "the pressing issue of land onto the agenda" by causing other restaurant staff to come and speak with them. He said: "The part where we take up arms hasn't even come and y'all are already our here drowning us in your white tears? Really white people. Wow [...] "Moral of the story: the time has come when no white person will be absolved. We are tired of 'not all white people' and all other bulls***. We are here, and we want the stolen land back." The controversial statue of Cecil Rhodes on the front of Oriel College, Oxford (Rex) Amid criticism for the act, one Facebook commenter questioned the nature of the media and popular response. "Firstly, what Qwabe and his friend did was deplorable [...] so doing because the server is white, and then mocking her on social media, is reprehensible," said Orlole Friedemann. "Secondly [...] many black servers deal with macro and microagressions on a daily basis, and no social media storm results. "This is not to say that a reaction to the mistreatment of the server was wrong, but it does throw into strong relief the different responses to white and black pain." As prime minister of the Cape of Good Hope, Cecil Rhodes passed laws which historians say laid the foundations for apartheid. The Independent has approached Oxford University and Mr Qwabe for comment. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Honduran authorities have arrested four men linked to the March assassination of environmental activist and indigenous leader Berta Caceres. Police made the arrests based on scientific evidence that support the allegations presented, according to a statement released by prosecutors. Two of the suspects, who were taken into custody on Monday, reportedly have ties to Desarrollos Energeticos SA (DESA), the company building the hydroelectric dam that had been at the centre of Caceres more recent activism. Recommended Read more Hondurian activist killed in own home over opposition to electric dam Sergio Ramon Orellana worked as an engineer for DESA, while Douglas Geovanny Bustillo served as the companys head of security. The other two suspects, Mariano Diaz Chavez and Atilio Edilson Duarte Meza, both have ties to Honduras armed forces, La Prensa Honduras reports. Two men broke into Caceres La Esperanza home on 3 March and shot her to death, sparking international outrage and large-scale protests in Honduras. She had previously reported Mr Orellana for threatening her life - in addition to more than 30 other reports - according to the Guardian. The US ambassador to Honduras, James D Nealon, issued a statement expressing support for the arrests. From the very beginning, we have called for a thorough investigation into Caceres murder - one that followed the evidence and that would lead to those who committed the crime, including the intellectual authors, Mr Nealon wrote. Caceres won the Goldman Environmental Prize for her activist work against the Agua Zarca dam, which DESA was building on indigenous land. Despite the arrests, Caceres family and colleagues are condemning the investigation. They had demanded the state to hire independent investigators - who they say took 11 days to finally approach DESA for questioning - as Honduras is too closely linked to the activists assassination. Prior suspects reportedly interviewed by Honduran authorities belonged to the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), the group to which Caceres belonged. If it wasnt for our struggle and international pressure for justice, my mothers murder would already be extinct, Laura Caceres, 23, told the Guardian. We have woken up to this news [of the arrests] but it doesnt change our demands for an international investigation. Honduras is widely considered to be one of the deadliest countries in the world for environmental activists. According to Global Witness, at least 109 activists were killed in the Latin American country between 2010 and 2015. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The CIA has been ridiculed after 'live tweeting' the special forces operation to kill Osama Bin Laden to mark the fifth anniversary of the raid. Having spent the previous 10 years as the world's most wanted man, the al-Qaeda terror chief was shot dead at the compound where he was holed up in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. The assault, carried out by 23 US Navy SEALs, saw two helicopters descend on the compound but one crashed on landing. The raid continued regardless and Bin Laden, who is thought to have ordered the 9/11 attacks on the US and Washington in 2001, was found on the third floor and shot a number of times. Bin Laden's body and a number of materials were removed from the compound while the damaged helicopter was destroyed. At the time of announcing Bin Laden's death, President Barack Obama said it was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda." But the reaction to the US intelligence agency's decision to recount the operation as it happened was largely negative, with users calling it utterly tasteless and completely inappropriate. To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. #UBLRaid, the Central Intelligence Agency tweeted. A series of tweets went on the describe the events of the day, from the moment one of the helicopters crashing on arrival, to Bin Laden being found on third floor and killed, to a picture of President Barack Obama sat in the Situation Room watching the events unfold. The tweets recounting the events have each been 'liked' and retweeted hundreds of times, some thousands, but many on Twitter criticised the decision to mark the operation in this way. One user tweeted a screengrab of them reporting the CIA for being abusive or harmful, while many posted pictures of celebrities showing shock or disbelief. Pictures of Bin Laden's body have never been publicly released. Officials from the Pentagon said at the time that he was buried at sea after a Muslim funeral was carried out on board an aircraft carrier. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} More than 90 Detroit schools are shut down due to a massive teacher "sickout" that resulted following word that the district lacks the funds to pay them after 30 June. The Detroit Federation of Teachers called for the districts 2,600 teachers to call in sick to work - which will affect 94 of the districts 97 schools for the citys 46,000 students. According to the Detroit Free Press, the citys emergency manager, Judge Steven Rhodes, told the labour union that the district does not have the money to honour the teachers already-earned salaries beyond the 30 June date. The district would also have to cancel summer school and special education services, unless state representatives approve a $715m education reform package. State senators already approved the package in March, the Free Press reports. I urge our legislators to act thoughtfully, but with the urgency that this situation demands, Mr Rhodes said in a statement. Michigan Gov Rick Snyder - who is embroiled in controversy surrounding the Flint water supply - signed a bill in March that sent $48.7m to Detroit Public Schools in order to keep them open through the month of June. Teachers said that they were ensured that the money would cover the two-thirds of teachers who opted for reduced salary every two-weeks - or a 26-week pay cycle - in order to receive paychecks over the summer. We just received information that this is not the case and we are outraged, union interim President Ivy Bailey told members in a Saturday email. The district has enough cash to make payroll through June 30, 2016 for all employees, but after that point, the district will not be able to continue paying employees unless our advocacy to secure the funds through legislation is successful. The lack of funds raises questions for teachers of whether or not the teachers who on the 26-week cycle were factored into the $48.7m emergency funding. A 21-year veteran music teacher at the Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art told the Free Press that he finds it hard to believe these people - who are smart people failed to consider the year-round payments. It just baffles me, actually, it just angers me, Mr Patton said. It sounds as if we are being used as pawns. It seems theres no accountability. Detroit teachers staged a similar sickout in January that closed 83 schools, during a visit by President Barack Obama. They wanted to bring attention to the school system's poor funding and unstable infrastructure. The teachers union plans to hold a rally Monday morning. Representatives of the Detroit Federation of Teachers were not immediately available to respond to request for comment. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Federal authorities have arrested a man after they thwarted an attempt to bomb a South Florida synagogue. The FBI apprehended the suspect, identified as Joseph Medina, 40, on Friday. He is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction on the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center. Recommended Read more Sikh man detained on bus after being falsely accused of bomb threat Miami US attorneys office spokesperson Sarah Schall confirmed that a national security-related had been made on Friday, in an email to The Independent. Ms Schall added that there is no current threat to public safety associated with this arrest. More information will be released after the suspect makes his initial appearance before a Miami federal judge Monday afternoon. Leaders of the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center thanked law enforcement in a statement posted to their Facebook page. They said they are working with security contractor to evaluate their security protocols. We all share in the responsibility for our congregations and communitys security, the statement read. We urge you to always and immediately report any suspicious activity, persons or objects to synagogue staff or the police. In other words, If You See Something, Say Something. The Miami Herald says Mr Medina has had minor brushes with the law in the past. But in 2012, he was reportedly charged with aggravated stalking after repeatedly sending threatening texts to a south Florida family and their church. Despite a temporary order of protection, Mr Medina had sent the family at least 50 texts - one of which included a threat to bomb them and "rampage" the church. Mr Medina was described as anti-Semitic by police officials following his Friday arrest. Florida congresswoman and head of the chair of the Democratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents the southern district of the state, said that the thwarted attack is a harsh reminder of bigotry and violence. As a community and a nation, she said, we must work together to confront this kind of hatred." A state judge in the Brazilian state of Sergipe has ordered all mobile phone operators in the country to block Facebook-owned WhatsApp for 72 hours, nationwide. Those five telecom providers put the ban into effect today, and it affects about 100 million people. In Brazil, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app. No reason for the order was released, because of legal secrecy surrounding an ongoing case in the Sergipe state court. WhatsApp today said the company is "disappointed at the decision" after doing its best to cooperate with this and other tribunals in Brazil. In those cases, the US-based technology company has been asked to provide user data to Brazilian authorities. The Sergipe state decision to block WhatsApp "punishes more than 100 million users who depend upon us to communicate themselves, run their business and more, just to force us hand over information that we don't have," the statement said, without further elaboration. At The Intercept, Glenn Greenwald predicts the move will reverberate far beyond Brazil, in the growing number of global conflicts between governments and the technology community around encryption, security, and privacy online. Greenwald is based in Brazil. The ruling, issued on April 26, became public today when it was served on mobile service providers. It took effect at 2 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET); as of that time, people in Brazil who tried to use the service could not connect, nor could they send or receive any messages. Failure to comply will subject the service providers to a fine of 500,000 reals per day ($142,000 per day). WhatsApp is the most-used app in Brazil, a country of 200 million people (it is now owned by Facebook, the country's second-most used app). An estimated 91 percent of Brazilian mobile users nationwide more than 100 million individuals use WhatsApp to communicate with one another for free (it has 900 million active daily users around the world). Brazilians spent this morning, in the hours before the block took effect, frantically sending each other messages on WhatsApp warning that the service was going down for three days. This ruling comes from the same judge, Marcel Maia Montalvao, of a small town in Sergipe state, who two months ago ordered Facebook's vice president for Latin America, Diego Dzodan, to be detained over WhatsApp's failure to cooperate with a subpoena issued as part of a criminal investigation. The judge said the arrest was justified by Facebook's "repeatedly failing to comply with judicial orders" in a drug-trafficking case. Pursuant to that order, Dzodan was arrested by federal police and held in custody for a full day, until an appellate court overturned the order. The Committee to Protect Journalists was one of a number of groups that condemned the ban. "Journalists in Brazil regularly rely on WhatsApp for their reporting," CPJ said in a statement. "Blocking access to such a widely used platform is an overreach that violates the open nature of the Internet and disproportionally damages the free flow of information." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The first cruise ship to Cuba from a US port in almost 40 years has arrived at Havana harbour, launching a new era of commercial travel between the two countries after half a century of Cold War opposition. The Adonia, which left Miami on Sunday en route for Havana with about 700 passengers onboard, was seen off amid both celebrations and protests. We will never forget this day as we enter the city, said Captain David Box as the Adonia pulled into the harbour. This is an awesome event for our travellers and crew, he added, citing the historical significance of the voyage. Restarting the cruises was part of President Barack Obama's hopes to increase tourism to Cuba after he visited the country in a bid to restore diplomatic relations providing opportunity for economic growth to the island nation. US cruises to Cuba could generate some $80m of much-needed revenue for the Caribbean country, according to estimates from the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. The historic cruise also comes after Cuba loosened its policy banning Cuban-born people from arriving to the country by sea a prohibition first put in place when Cuban exiles used to launch attacks from the water following the Cuban revolution. Arnold Donald, the of Carnival, the cruise firm of the Adonia, said it was a poignant moment for many. "Times of change often bring out emotions and clearly the histories here are very emotional for a number of people," he said. Yet a boat carrying activists protesting against the cruise set sail, reportedly from nearby waters in Florida, before the ship's departure on Sunday. They were carrying signs addressed to Raul Castro, the country's President, saying "Castro why do you ask Cubans for a Visa to visit their own country?" in reference to travel restrictions on residents. Many Cubans have left their country for the US, lured in part by a policy specific to Cubans that they will be granted residency if they reach its shores. Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Show all 20 1 /20 Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Pictures of everyday life in Cuba A man rides his modified bicycle past a vintage American car in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba A taxi sits parked by Ancon Beach waiting for returning bathers in Trinidad Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Afrocuban carnival group "Los componedores de batea" performing in the streets of La Habana Vieja Rex Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Pastel colours for an ice-cream place and a vintage American car in Cienfuegos after sunset Rex Pictures of everyday life in Cuba A man on the phone in a bookshop in Old Havana (Habana Vieja) selling books and displaying propaganda poster of the Cuban Revolution Rex Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Street Musicians in Santiago De Cuba Rex Pictures of everyday life in Cuba A man works to repair his classic American car after it broke down along the Prado, a wide avenue that runs from Parque Central to the Malecon seafront highway, in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Members of the 'Ladies in White,' a group founded by the partners and relatives of jailed dissidents that regularly protests against the Cuban government, demonstrate on the streets of Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Street vegetables vendor in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba The sun setting through the palm trees and creates long shadows on the pool deck at this resort in Cuba Varadero Rex Pictures of everyday life in Cuba General view of a street in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba A girls plays on a street in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Girls walk past graffiti art along the Paseo de Marti, the wide boulevard that runs through the heart of the historic Old Havana neighborhood in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba A woman smokes her Havana cigar Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba A man harvests tobacco leaves for drying at a tobacco drying house on a co-op plantation in Pinar del Rio Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Men play chess on a street in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Locals take part in a gay parade in Havana Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Scene of the Memories Paraiso Azul resort in Santa Maria Key Getty Images Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Beach on the Bay of Pigs, Zapata Peninsula Pictures of everyday life in Cuba Divers swimming above coral reef in Caribbean Sea Rex The 704-passenger ship will also visit the ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba on the seven-day trip, which is the first of its kind since 1978. It is expected to arrive in Havana on 9 May. The cruise is among the many changes in US-Cuban relations since a thaw between the former Cold War foes began in late 2014. It follows years of strained relations involving US intervention in the country and Fidel Castro's communist reforms beginning in 1959. Since then, his brother Raul has eased restrictions on Cubans wishing to leave the country, although some still exist. Mary Olive Reinhart, a retired parks service ranger, told the Miami Herald that she and some friends from Philadelphia were drawn to the voyage by the sense of adventure. "It's exciting to go places where we're forbidden. For me, I want to be at home in the world the whole world," she said. Additional reporting from Press Association and Miami Sun-Sentinal Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tom Angel, a top official with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, resigned on Sunday after after he was caught sharing racist emails at his previous job. Angel served as the chief of staff for Sheriff Jim McDonnell since 2014, and forwarded emails that contained stereotypes offensive to women, Muslims, blacks and Latinos while working as the number two official at the Burbank Police Department in 2012 and 2013. "I took my Biology exam last Friday," one of the forwarded emails reads, "I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently 'Blacks' and 'Mexicans' were NOT the correct answers. Several emails attempted to justify the racial profiling of Muslims as terrorism suspects, the Los Angeles Times reports, and listed 20 reasons Muslim Terrorists are so quick to commit suicide. Sheriff McDonnell accepted Angels resignation on Sunday, calling the revelation deeply disturbing. Despite the Sheriffs Departments many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do, McDonnell said in a statement. I intend to turn this situation into a learning opportunity for all LASD personnel. Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, previously called for Sheriff McDonnell to force Angels resignation after the racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic emails came to light. "Sheriff Jim McDonnell has a reputation for building bridges across all of Los Angeles communities, Al-Marayati said in a statement. Holding Mr. Angel accountable for his actions by demonstrating a zero tolerance policy for hate and bigotry is critical for the LA Sheriffs Department to maintain public trust, especially in the face of the growing climate of bigotry and racism we are witnessing across the country. Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, criticized Sheriff McDonnell for waiting to act until public criticism grew against Angel. Youre not doing anything if your initial reaction is, 'Thats horrible, thats terrible, but theres nothing I can do or nothing I intend to do,' Hutchinson told the LA Times. This is your department. You are the man at the top, you set the direction, the tempo, the climate for the department. If you don t take action, what youre saying is the department doesnt care. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump never fails to take an opportunity to rail against the Obama administration or the deals it cuts with other nations. But his language reached a new level over the weekend when he accused China of raping the United States through its trade policy. Campaigning in Indiana ahead of a primary contest on Tuesday, he told supporters that China was responsible for the greatest theft in the history of the world. He said its manipulation of its currency to make its exports cheaper, was damaging American workers and businesses. Mr Trump was speaking in Fort Wayne (AP) We cant continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what we're doing, he told the campaign rally on Sunday. Were going to turn it around, and we have the cards, don't forget it. We have a lot of power with China. Speaking in Fort Wayne, Mr Trump said he was not angry at China, but with US leaders who he said were grossly incompetent. Mr Trump, in his campaign manifesto, has pledged to cut a better deal with China that helps American businesses and workers compete. He set out four goals that include immediately declaring China a currency manipulator and putting an end to China's illegal export subsidies and lax labour and environmental standards. Latest figures from the US government show the trade deficit with China reached an all-time high of $365.7bn ast year. By February this year, it had already reached $57bn, the BBC reported. There was no immediate response from Beijing to Mr Trumps comments. Ted Cruz has said he has to win in Indiana (Gabrielle Lurie/Getty) Last week, the US Treasury placed China and others on a currency watchlist, after pressure on the US government to be more robust in combating any currency manipulation by trading partners. The Treasury stated that none of its large trading partners had engaged in currency manipulation in the past year, but indicated it was concerned about growing imbalances with some of those partners, including China. Mr Trumps use of the rape analogy come as Trump is under fire for remarks he made about Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton that critics have said were sexist and for boasting about the endorsement of boxer Mike Tyson, who was convicted of rape in Indiana. This is the first time Mr Trump has used the word rape in the context of China and trade, but his campaign for the Republican Party's presidential nomination has been punctuated by inflammatory comments. He was confronted by hundreds of protesters in California on Friday before giving a speech to the state's Republican convention. Mr Trump was forced to enter the building by the back entrance. Protesters were angry at his views on immigration: he has advocated building a border wall with Mexico, and has also referred to Mexicans as rapists and murderers and criminals responsible for bringing illegal drugs into the US. Polls suggest Mr Trump is several points ahead of his nearest rival, Ted Cruz, in Tuesday's primary. Mr Trump has said - and Mr Cruz has effectively concded - that the Republican race is over, if he wins here. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It has become his catchphrase, a slogan that glides from his lips, and which adorns the red caps worn by his supporters - "Make America great Again". On the eve of the primary contest in Indiana, an election the polls suggest could hand him a decisive victory, Donald Trump was hitting the line again. We are so embarrassing, he told an audience of cheering supporters in Carmel, north of Indianapolis, denouncing the Obama administration. Mr Trump said the 'race was over' if he wins Indiana (AP) We are going to make our country so great again. We are not going to be embarrassed again. One thing the New York tycoon has never made clear is when, precisely, he believed his country was truly great, a paradise that he alone can restore. Was it in the 1970s when he was making a name for himself as a playboy and celebrity, in the 1980s when he established casinos in Atlantic City that would eventually go bust, or in the 1990s when he married his second wife, Marla Maples, and divorced his first, Ivana? On Monday evening, speaking with no small energy inside the ornate Palladium at the Centre for the Performing Arts, he offered a few clues. He condemned a situation in which American jobs had been allowed to leave America for countries such as China, Mexico and India, and he vowed to bring them back. He also promised he would enact an overhaul in the USs military prowess. Decisions - such as the US's withdrawal from Iraq - would not be announced in advance, and certainly not to the enemy, he said. We have to be unpredictable, especially when it comes to the military. And he said the days of making deals with the likes of Iran were over. Were going to take care of people, but its America first now, he said, to more roars and applause. Those gathered to see him, and those unable get inside the 1,600-seat performance centre and listening outside on speakers, said they believed Mr Trump was the only candidate ready to shake things up. He was an outsider, they insisted, and it needed an outsider to shake up the politics-as-usual that had engulfed America. I made my mind up to support him six months ago, said Doug Schaeffer, a financial trader. I lost a good friend because of my decision to support him. Hes a liberal. And when, in Mr Schaeffers opinion, was America last great, and why? It ended with Obamas first term in office. He has been a disaster for the country, he said. Pamela Sasse said she thought Mr Trump would be like Ronald Reagan (Andrew Buncombe ) (Andrew Buncombe) Janet Logan said she believed the US had last been a great nation during the two terms of Ronald Reagan. The economy was good, the military was strong and America was looked up to, she said. Now we give it all away. Walter Maruin, a retired software engineer who had driven almost four hours from Kentucky to see Mr Trump, said America had changed after World War II, but that it had really suffered during the 1990s. Russ Beale, 63, said he believed America had been great in the 1960s but that it had changed during the administration of Lyndon Johnson, who served from 1963 to 1969 and who introduced the so-called war on poverty. We spent millions and what did we do? he said. Pamela Sasse, an optician from Indianapolis, said she was also someone who believed the Reagan years represented the good times. He brought things around, she said. And I think that Trump is going to be the same. Her friend, Peggy Yoerger, a retired teacher, said she also admired the way George W Bush, had sought to rally the country after the attacks of 9/11. He did a good job. He stood up for what he believed in, she said. Mr Trump oozed confidence and he missed no opportunity to take a dig at Senator Ted Cruz, who is trailing the tycoon by several points. He said Mr Cruz could not stop lying about him, and he mocked his way of speaking. Why is everything like Shakespeare, he said, to loud laughs. Mr Cruz is desperately trying to stop Mr Trump securing the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination ahead of the partys convention in July. Mr Trump currently stands on 996, more than 400 clear of Mr Cruz on 565. Mr Trump will not be able to pass that total until the final primary, California, in June. But most observers believe that Indiana, with its haul of 57 delegates, is the last chance for Mr Cruz to stop Mr Trump. If the 69-year-old wins here on Tuesday, most experts believe he is almost certain of securing the nomination. Mr Trump certainly believes so. If we win Indiana its all over, he declared on Monday night. We have a very easy path. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Heidi Cruz has endured more than a few challenges as her husband has run for the White House. First, Donald Trump retweeted an unflattering photograph of her alongside a glamorous shot of his former model wife. Then there was the insult of tabloid allegations - loudly denied - that her husband of 15 years had engaged in extra marital affairs. And just last week, there was fresh indignity when the former Speaker of the House, likened her husband to the devil. If any of this gets to her, she has not let it show, as she campaigns across Indiana, sometimes at his side, and sometimes in the company of Mr Cruzs newly-minted running mate, Carly Fiorina. Mr Cruz has said he is determined to stop Mr Trump (Gabrielle Lurie/Getty) On Sunday night, Ms Cruz and Ms Fiorina were shaking hands and trying to win hearts at the Almost Home restaurant in the town of Greencastle, an hour from Indianapolis. I can personalise Ted, and talk about him as a husband and a parent, she told The Independent, when asked what she believed she brought to the campaign trail. People like a principled president. She claimed people had been responding strongly to the the message she was pitching - that the Texas senator would deliver on jobs, conservative values and national security. He will also unite our party, she said. Mr Cruz needs all the help he can get as he battles to beat Mr Trump, the Republican frontrunner, in Indianas primary election on Tuesday. The senator has admitted to supporters that it is vital he win, if he is to succeed in stopping the New York tycoon from securing the nomination ahead of the partys convention in July. Most polls suggest he is trailing Mr Trump by four of five points, despite his campaign securing an agreement from Ohio Governor John Kasich not to campaign here. Ms Cruz and Ms Fiorina spoke to supporters in the town of Greencastle (Andrew Buncombe ) (Andrew Buncombe) I cant emphasise enough how important the vote in Indiana is going to be and, frankly, it could be the deciding factor, he wrote last week. Make no mistake, Indiana is absolutely pivotal. The bad news is that if Trump wins all the delegates in Indiana, his nomination could be all but determined. Ms Cruz and Ms Fiorina both spoke in front of a colourful quilt hanging from the wall of the restaurant, and a modest, nodding crowd. Ms Cruz said her husband had proved he was a man of word. We need a president who is running on a mandate from you, she said. The current president is running against you. If we have a president running on a mandate from you, we will be able to get things done. Mr Cruz is a devout Christian who has been seeking to reach out to Indianas social conservatives. One of the ways he has tried to do this is by making an issue of controversy raging in several states as to whether transgender people should be able to use the toilet designated for the gender of their birth, rather than how they identify. A number of states have passed laws on this issue. Mr Cruz has been telling voters he supports the measures and is seeking to contrast himself with Mr Trump. (As it was, the Almost Home restaurant only had a single lavatory, to be used by everyone.) Mr Cruz has said he must win Indiana if he is to stop Donald Trump (Andrew Buncombe ) (Andrew Buncombe) Ms Fiorina, who Mr Cruz announced as his vice presidential choice only last week, said the senator was someone people could trust. She said he would simplify the tax code, get rid of red tape and delegate more power to individual states. We need a president who is thoughtful, not someone who spends all day on their Twitter feed, she said, delivering a jab at the frequently tweeting Mr Trump. Donald Trump invested in Hillary Clintons campaign seven times. Guess what folks - you cant count on him. He wont challenge the system because he is the system. Jack Billman, 81, a retired airline captain and the chair of a local chapter of the Tea Party, sat and listened and approved of what the two women said. We dont need an establishment Republican, he said. He said Mr Cruz would protect both free speech and gun rights, which he said were enshrined by the first and second amendments to the US constitution. He is a principled man, he added. Keith and Susan Parsons said they were also going to vote for Mr Cruz. They said there were some things they admired about Mr Trump, but they were not certain he was a genuine conservative. Mr Parsons, a business analyst, said: [Mr Cruz] is very conservative when it comes to keeping the constitution and maintaining our freedoms. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The consequences of the Zika virus could be far worse than previously thought, with microcephaly in newborns merely the most immediately visible effect, scientists in the US and Brazil have said. The mosquito-borne virus, which began a major outbreak in Brazil last year, may be responsible for birth defects and other harmful neurological conditions in the babies of more than 20 per cent of infected pregnant women. The medical community agrees a Zika infection during pregnancy can lead to microcephaly, which restricts brain development in babies, causing them to be born with unusually small heads. The condition is estimated to affect the children of 1 per cent of pregnant women with Zika. The virus has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal disorder that causes the immune system to attack the nerve system, leading to paralysis. But a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 29 per cent of pre-natal scans of women infected with Zika showed abnormalities in the womb, a result its authors described as worrisome. On Sunday, at a meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in Baltimore, Dr Sonja Rasmussen from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said: The microcephaly and other birth defects we have been seeing could be the tip of the iceberg. Meanwhile, doctors in Brazil have said around a fifth of pregnancies affected by Zika result in some form of brain damage to the child. The country has already seen at least 2,844 cases of the virus in pregnant women, but infection rates in some regions have been hindered by health education efforts. Experts have said the epidemic is likely to have abated in Rio de Janeiro by the time the Olympics are held in the city in August, in the depths of Brazils winter. Much is still unknown about the long-term consequences of Zika infection. One Rio doctor told the BBC he had seen an increase in several neurological conditions in babies, including ventriculomegaly, damage of the posterior fossa, craniocynostosis and cerebral calcification. Dr Renato Sa, an obstetrician, said the conditions were difficult to spot in newborns and often became evident later in a childs development, with convulsions or other tell-tale signs. Newborns with microcephaly act similarly to other infants, but go on to develop learning, vision, hearing and/or physical disabilities. The condition has no cure. We really dont know what will happen with these kids long-term, Dr Rasmussen told NBC News. Scientists in several countries including the US, Brazil and France are working on almost two dozen different projects to develop a Zika vaccine. Meanwhile, areas of southern Europe and the US are being told to prepare for the possibility of outbreaks during the warm summer months, when Zika-transmitting mosquitoes could arrive in US states such as Florida, and Mediterranean countries including Spain, Italy and Greece. Last week a 70-year-old man in Puerto Rico died from complications due to Zika, the first US death caused by the virus. Almost 700 people in the island territory have been found to have traces of the infection. So far there have been no cases of infection from local mosquito bites on the mainland US, but more than 400 people have been infected abroad and diagnosed upon their return to the country. Congress is currently considering a $2bn (1.4bn) emergency funding package to tackle the disease. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Weddings and funerals have been banned and Pyongyang is in lockdown as preparations for a once-in-a-generation party congress get underway in North Korea. The ruling Workers Party of Korea, headed by the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, is due to stage the first gathering of its kind for 36 years on Friday. Free movement in and out of the capital has also been forbidden and there has been an increase in inspections and property searches, according to Daily NK, which claims to have sources in the country. Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Show all 30 1 /30 Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Farmer works in a field Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Women soldier walk on the street Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A female soldier guards railway Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of platform of Pyongyang Railway Station Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Students stage a protest against South Korea and the US in Pyongyang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Students rehearsal for celebrating the 70th birthday of Workers' Party of Korea Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone People enjoy the cool at the carriage door Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of countryside Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Korean People's Army soldier rest on the rail 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A little boy begs food on the platform in Hamhung Railway Station in Hamhung 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Children swim in a river in noon Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone People cross a railway crossing 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A boy collects corn cob beside a railway Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A customs officer is seen on the train No.100 from Moscow to Pyongyang at Tumangang railway station in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A customs officer checks a passenger's mobile device on the train to Pyongyang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A railway station in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of the railway station in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Kids pass by Tumanggang railway station in Tumanggang 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of Tumangang - a small town located at North Korea and Russia border Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A train carriage on it's way to Pyongyang is delayed for a day and half due to military transportation in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A customs officers talks to a passenger at Tumanggang railway station in Tumanggang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A little girl walks on the street in Tumanggang 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone An elderly man is seen in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Kids go to school in morning in Tumangang 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone The temporary measures are said to be an attempt to minimise the risk of mishaps at the event, according to Cheong Joon-hee, a spokesman at South Koreas Unification Ministry. The last party congress was held in 1980, during which Kim Jong-uns father - Kim Jong-il - was confirmed as the successor to the states founder, Kim Il-sung. Kim, 33, who is already the countrys supreme leader, is expected to use the congress to cement his leadership, declare North Korea a nuclear state and outline his vision for the nations economic and military future. The partys official newspaper, said: The [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] proudly joined the ranks of advanced nuclear and space powers while demonstrating the might of the invincible politico-ideological, military and youth power and is now dashing ahead toward to a socialist economic power and highly civilised nation. In March, the UN Security Council approved its toughest sanctions yet on the nation, with an aim to withhold funds being used to finance the states nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, following a series of military tests this year. The sanctions have added to the socialist dynastys economic turmoil. Following the vote, US ambassador Samantha Power explained, Virtually all of the DPRK's resources are channelled into its reckless and relentless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Speaking in New York ahead of a UN climate change conference, North Koreas foreign minister Ri Su-yong told reporters the economy remained at the forefront of the congress. He said: One of the most important things through this party congress is to show to the entire world the union of our people. I'm sure our country will be even more vibrant after the party congress to build up a more prosperous and powerful, economically sound nation. The first thing is to advance the pace of economic building for a powerful nation. The second is to improve the people's living standards and to find the best, optimum ways to improve the people's living standards under these circumstances, and the third, to strengthen our national defence capabilities. The real source of power in our country isn't nuclear weapons or any other military means, but the single-minded unity of the people and the leader. This power of unity we have is the real source of power that leads our country into victory." North Korea propaganda video depicts imagined attack on Washington The congress is likely to last four or five days. It follows a 70-day loyalty drive which has seen members of the countrys workforce put in extra hours to increase productivity and show their devotion to the leader and the Workers Party of Korea. Reuters and AP contributed to this report. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Mothers from an Indian tribe who revere the natural world as part of their religion have explained why they breastfeed deer alongside their children. The Bishnoi religious group in the northern state of Rajasthan place a strong emphasis on the importance of protecting nature and treat deer, such as black bucks, as sacred animals. Orphaned or injured fawns are taken in by women who are breastfeeding infants and nursed to health as part of their religious duty to protect animals. "They are not orphans when they have us around, they have new mothers like me who offer them a mother's feed for a healthy life," Roshini Bishnoi told the MailOnline. A woman who follows the Bishnois religion in Rajasthan nurses an orphaned fawn (YouTube) The Bishnois religion, which is more than 500 years old and has about one million followers, was founded by Guru Jambheshwar who preached the worship of Hindu god Lord Vishnu and said divine power existed in all creatures equally. One of the religion's most important tenets is "praan daya", which equates to compassion for all living things. They also set up a conservation group, the Bishnoi Tiger Force, which has reportedly been instrumental in preventing poachers from killing animals in the region. Ms Bishnoi added: "I have grown up with these little deers. Critically endangered species Show all 10 1 /10 Critically endangered species Critically endangered species Yangtze Finless Porpoise There are as few as 1,000 of this highly intelligent dolphin from the Chinese river of Yangtze. Wikmedia Critically endangered species Cross River Gorilla There are around 200-300 left in the wild. Wikmedia Critically endangered species The Amur Leopard There are only around 30 left, exclusively in the Russian Far East. Wikmedia Critically endangered species Black Rhino Improving numbers, but with fewer than 5,000 left in central Africa, it is critically endangered. Wikmedia Critically endangered species Hawskbill Sea Turtle Mostly threatened by wildlife trade; their shells highly valued. Wikmedia Critically endangered species Javan Rhino The most threatened rhino species - there are as few as 35 in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia. Wikmedia Critically endangered species Leatherback Turtle Having lost many of its habitable beaches, and impacted by fishing operations, this seaturtle is considered by WWF to be 'critically endangered'. Wikmedia Critically endangered species South China Tiger It is believed to be 'functionally extinct', with none of the species left in the wild. Wikmedia Critically endangered species Sumatran Elephant There are between 2,400 - 2,800 of this elephant native to Borneo and Sumatra. Wikmedia Critically endangered species Sumatran Orangutan There are an est. 7,300 but the gradual deforestation of their Sumatran habitat may threaten further. Wikmedia "It is our responsibility to keep them healthy and help them grow." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An executive of British-based firm Reckitt Benckiser has been slapped by a protester as he offered a public apology for selling a deadly disinfectant that killed at least 100 people in South Korea. Ataur Safdar, head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea and Japan, was shouted at and physically attacked during a news conference at a Seoul hotel, which marked the first public acceptance of responsibility by the firm for its role in selling the disinfectant, called Oxy Ssak Ssak. Reckitt Benckiser was ordered to withdraw its product from the market in 2011 after South Korean authorities suggested a link between chemicals in the disinfectant used to sterilise home humidifiers and lung conditions. The company has promised to compensate all those who died as well as hundreds of others injured, setting up a multimillion dollar "humanitarian fund" last month. Many of the victims were children and pregnant women. The company had previously been condemned for refusing to take responsibility. Mr Safdar said the company now accepted responsibility and wanted to make amends. Today's apology was about acceptance of responsibility for the harm that Oxy HS [humidifier sterilizers)] has caused," said Mr Safdar. Atar Safdar, the head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea, bows during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul (AFP) "This is the first time we are accepting the fullest responsibility, and we are offering a complete and full apology. "We were late, five years have passed, we are also apologising far too late. This is what we are apologising about." During his speech a man stepped on stage, shouting and slapping Mr Safdar on the back of the neck. "This is heartbreaking," Mr Safdar said. "I apologise again. I would request that I am allowed to finish my statement, please." In response, another man who took to the stage shouted: "It's too late. Another protestor approached the stage wearing a green oxygen tank. In a press conference outside the prosecutors' office, victims and campaigners lined up the products made by Reckitt Benckiser and asked the public to boycott them. The apology came as South Korean prosecutors investigate Reckitt Benckiser and around a dozen other companies for selling or manufacturing unsafe disinfectants. Around 500 people are believed to have died or been injured after coming into contact with the toxic chemicals used in humidifier disinfectants manufactured and sold in South Korea between 2001 and 2011. South Korea is understood to be the only country where the products were sold, according to a government official. Civic groups representing the victims said they planned to file a complaint against Rakesh Kapoor, the British company's chief executive officer, and the company's seven other board members for failing to conduct safety tests before the disinfectant's launch in 2001 and until sales were discontinued in 2011. The victims have already filed a complaint against 10 disinfectant manufacturers and 19 companies that sold the products. An Australian court recently ordered Reckitt Benckiser to pay 1.7 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) in penalties after ruling the company misled consumers about the effectiveness of a popular painkiller. Reckitt Benckiser's global brands include Dettol antiseptic wash and Durex condoms. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A widow has spent the past few years openly defying the Taliban's strict rules designed to control women's appearance and behaviour. Gul Jima, a mother-of-six, has lived in South Waziristan in Pakistan for ten years after fleeing from her native Afghanistan. But she seemingly refuses to obey the strict rules imposed by the Taliban rebels - who had control of the province between 2007 and 2009 - which forbid women from going out in public without a male relative and a burqa. Ms Jima is spotted near every day sitting at a village market in Wacha Khawarah and telling stories about her past to anyone who stops to listen and give her some loose change, the Daily Pakistan reports. This is despite the Taliban continuing its insurgency after being overthrown and repeatedly threatening women who do not obey their commands. Men with Kalashnikovs patrol the streets but seem to pay no attention to the elderly woman sitting and telling her stories. Some locals say she is mentally ill and call her names, but she is regarded as a lovable feature of the town. Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Show all 7 1 /7 Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Kabul attack An relative of one of the victims who was killed in a suicide bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, 19 April 2016. (EPA) EPA Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Kabul attack An injured girl is carried to safety following the blast in Kabul (EPA) EPA Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Kabul attack A man stands inside his damaged shop near the scene of a bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan, 19 April 2016 (EPA) EPA Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Kabul attack Afghan quick reaction forces arrive at the site of a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan April 19, 2016 (Reuters) Reuters Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Kabul attack Afghan security forces carry an injured security personnel after a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan April 19, 2016. (Reuters) Reuters Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Kabul attack Afghan security forces inspect the site of a Taliban-claimed attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 19, 2016. (AP) AP Taliban attacks Kabul security compound - in pictures Kabul attack Relatives and loved ones carry the coffin of a victim killed in the April 19 Taliban truck bomb attack, at a funeral in Kabul on April 20, 2016. (AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images The Pakistan Express Tribune reports that people say she reminds them of a time before the Taliban arrived where women could move freely and work in the fields in peace. Ms Jima lives in the region where education activist Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head for campaigning for young girls right to go to school in 2012. The Taliban has blown up several schools across the Peshawar region including the massacre of 141 people, including 132 schoolchildren, at a military-run school in 2014. She had been writing and campaigning on the importance of girls education in the Swat Valley since 2009 and was shot by Taliban insurgents while on a bus with her school friends. After several months in intensive care in the UK, Ms Yousafzai recovered and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her work campaigning for girls education. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The parents of a murdered six-year-old boy have been charged with his death, 19 years after he was declared missing. Peter Kema Sr and Jaylin Kema have been arrested by Hawaii police and charged by a grand jury with second-degree murder. Their son, "Peter Boy" Kema, disappeared from his Hawaii home in 1997 and while his body was never found, police had concluded he was murdered. Peter Boy was not reported missing until January 1998, months after he was last seen alive. His parents have denied wrongdoing. In 2015, his younger sister Lina Acol called on her mother to "say something", Hawaii News Now reports. She said: "Just come out already. It's time to come out. "We all want to know what happened." 'Peter Boy' Kema went missing from his Hawaii home in 1997 and his body was never found (AP) The parents of Peter Boy had long been suspects but prosecutors say they had not had enough evidence until now. Hawaii County deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville said the charges had been "a long time coming". Peter Kema Sr., right, appears Friday, April 29, 2016, for arraignment in Hilo Circuit Court in Hilo, Hawaii (AP) He added: "Peter Boy, this Sunday, would have been 25 years old. "We'd like to thank the members of the community ... civilians that came forward over the years and helped move this case forward. "Even the community didn't forget." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A second refugee has set herself on fire on the island of Nauru just days after the first died in hospital of his injuries from a similar incident. The 21-year-old Somali woman, known as Hadon, is being treated for severe burns in a hospital on the island. Last week, a 23-year-old Iranian refugee named Omid died in a Brisbane hospital after setting himself on fire crying: This is how tired we are, this action will prove how exhausted we are. I cannot take it anymore, during a visit by UN officials to the Nibok settlement where he was being held. It comes amid an attempt by the Australian immigration to shift detainees out of mainland facilities. Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has said that no one who attempts to travel to Australia illegally by boat would be allowed to settle in the country. Several sources on Nauru - which is an independent country but hosts several Australian immigration removal centres in exchange for aid - told Guardian Australia that she is currently being treated on the island by Australian trauma specialists. The source said: The situation is much worse than Omid. Other refugees have asked for her to be transferred to the mainland for treatment. Hadon is one of three detainees who were forcibly returned to Nauru last week after receiving medical care in Australia for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident late last year. In a statement the government of Nauru said it was distressed that refugees are attempting such dreadful acts in order to attempt to influence the Australian Governments immigration policies. The island of Nauru where refugees are being increasily taken following a crackdown on the mainland (Getty Images) It told ABC Australia: "These actions are purely and simply being taken because they believe that political protests will influence the Australian Government and possibly help them gain entry to Australia. "The Government of Nauru calls on all who care about these people to work with us in sending the message to refugees on Nauru that such drastic actions will not work, and to refrain from such protests." It comes as Australias immigration policy was struck by a major blow last week after Papua New Guineas supreme court ruled that the detention of more than 900 current and former refugees on Manus Island is illegal. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. The Papua New Guinean government has now said it will remove the refugees from the centres and could be liable to pay compensation to each detainee. The spokeswoman for UNHCRs Regional Representation in Australia,Catherine Stubberfield, said there was no doubt that the current policy of offshore processing and prolonged detention is immensely harmful. There are approximately 2,000 very vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. These people have already been through a great deal, many have fled war and persecution, some have already suffered trauma. Despite commendable efforts by the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Nauru, arrangements in both countries have proved completely untenable. She said the principal concern was to get refugees moved into more humane conditions with adequate support and services to prevent further unnecessary suffering. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Members of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) have backed an election manifesto that says Islam is not compatible with the constitution and calls for a ban on minarets and the burqa. Set up three years ago, the AfD has been buoyed by Europe's migrant crisis, which saw the arrival of more than one million, mostly Muslim migrants, in Germany last year. The party has no lawmakers in the federal parliament in Berlin but has members in half of Germany's 16 regional state assemblies. Opinion polls give AfD support of up to 14 per cent, presenting a serious challenge to Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and other established parties ahead of the 2017 federal election. They rule out any coalition with the .In a raucous debate on the second day of a party congress, many of the 2,000 members cheered calls from the podium for measures against "Islamic symbols of power" and jeered a plea for dialogue with Germany's Muslims. "Islam is foreign to us and for that reason it cannot invoke the principle of religious freedom to the same degree as Christianity," said Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, an AfD lawmaker from the state of Saxony-Anhalt, to loud applause. Merkel has said freedom of religion for all is guaranteed by Germany's constitution and has said on many occasions that Islam belongs to Germany. Up to 2,000 left-wing demonstrators clashed with police on Saturday as they tried to break up the first full AfD conference. About 500 people were briefly detained and 10 police officers were lightly injured, a police spokesman said. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The chapter of the AfD manifesto concerning Muslims is entitled "Islam is not a part of Germany". The manifesto demands a ban to minarets - the towers of a mosque from where the call to Muslim prayer is made - and the burqa, the all-encompassing body garment worn by some conservative Muslim women. Germany is home to nearly four million Muslims, about five percent of the total population. Many of the longer established Muslim community in Germany came from Turkey to find work, but those who have arrived over the past year have mostly been fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Last month the head of Germany's Central Council of Muslims likened the AfD's attitude towards his community to that of Adolf Hitler's Nazis towards the Jews. Although the AfD aimed to broaden its political agenda during the congress, members hardly debated on domestic issues, such as taxation and social welfare. The party's leadership has proposed the introduction of an income tax bracket system and the abolition of inheritance taxes, which experts say would benefit high earners. The head of Germany's DGB confederation of trade unions, Reiner Hoffmann, sharply criticised the AfD's programme. "Their alternatives are nothing but simple, dull and inconsistent," Hoffmann said in a speech at an DGB event in Stuttgart to mark Labour Day. He said the AfD was not only conducting a hate campaign against refugees, but also aiming for a tax policy that was against the interests of workers. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of Frances most successful and decorated police detectives has gone on trial for allegedly sharing in the ill-gotten gains of the criminals who he was supposed to catch. The long-awaited trial of Michel Neyret is expected to lift the veil on a long-standing but forbidden French police practice of paying off informers with parts of intercepted drugs shipments. The 60-year-old, who has a style more akin to a TV or film detective, denies all charges. He admits making mistakes in getting too close to organised criminals but says that his sole ambition was to enforce the law. In the course of a three week long trial in Paris, the prosecution will allege that ex-Commissioner Neyret accepted stays in luxury hotels in Morocco, Cannes and the Lyon area, expensive watches and 40,000 (31,000) worth of clothes. He also, it will be alleged, opened a joint off-shore bank account with two convicted criminals to receive millions of euros obtained by defrauding the European system of carbon pollution taxes. At the time of his arrest in 2011, Mr Neyret was deputy head of detectives in Lyon and reputed to be the best-informed policeman in France on the activities of drug traffickers and other organised criminals. In 2004, he was awarded the Legion dHonneur by Nicolas Sarkozy, then interior minister, for his exceptional service to the French state. Mr Neyret is charged with corruption, associating with criminals, violating professional secrecy, receipt of stolen goods, drug-trafficking and money-laundering. His wife Nicole, 67, three other former police officers, a former lawyer and an alleged criminal are also appearing in court on related charges. A second alleged criminal is on the run. The former detectives lawyer Gabriel Versini-Bullara, said: Michel Neyret was determined to go to the limit in gathering intelligence, to the point of teaming up with certain wrong-doers. His objective was to allow the police to make spectacular arrests of a kind that otherwise dont fall from the sky. Mr Neyret is alleged, amongst other things, to have raided police stores of seized drugs to pay-off informants. He is also alleged to have allowed favoured criminals to keep part of intercepted drugs shipments in return for information on their associates. The court will be told that this was a long-standing means used by police in France to pay off their tontons (literally uncles or snouts). The practice was officially banned in 2004 but the court is expected to hear evidence that it is still commonly used. The prosecution will allege, however, that Mr Neyrets relationship with one convicted criminal, Gilles Benichou, went much further. According to the prosecution case, the detective accepted gifts and money from Mr Benichou in return for tip-offs on police activity and intervening to suppress minor prosecutions. In a bugged phone conversation, whose transcript was leaked to Le Monde, Mr Neyrets, wife Nicole, was allegedly heard complaing to Mr Benichou that he had turned her husband rotten. Ever since you started giving him money, hes not the same man, Nicole Neyret was allegedly recorded as saying. Hes blowing it all on champagne, on nights out. Please dont give him money, or he will go to the casinos and hand it to floozies. Youve turned Michel rotten. Now hes a bigger crook than any of you. Hes obsessed with dosh, dosh, dosh. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Producers of foie gras have said they will lose millions of euros as France introduces a three-month ban on production. The measure, which has been prompted by a bird flu scare, means breeders in 18 departments in south west France will not be allowed to have any ducks or geese in their slaughterhouses until August. Foie gras - or fattened duck or goose liver - is considered a delicacy by some but is denounced as cruel by animal rights campaigners due the practice of force-feeding. Breeder Florence Lasserre told the France Info news channel that her gavage room - meaning the room where the birds are forced fed - was currently empty. She said: "Usually it's full here, and it feels a bit lonely now, but the main thing is that the virus doesn't return." A highly virulent strain of the H5N1 virus was identified at a chicken farm in Dordogne in November last year triggering an investigation by a watchdog. H5N1 is highly lethal for birds but humans are typically only infected when they come into close contact with the animals. Peta protesting against foie gras production in Paris in 2012 (Getty Images) The Ministry of Agriculture has said it will compensate the breeders for their estimated 130m (102m) loss but a spokeswoman for the breeders federation, Cifog, said around 4,000 jobs could be lost. Marie Pierre Pe told Le Figaro: "This interruption to our business will cause cash flow problems, additional wage costs linked to the temporary unemployment of around 4,000 workers, and fixed costs that will have to be paid despite us not having any income". There will also be nine million fewer ducks on the market and the price of foie gras will inevitably go up, she added. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty France produces around 75 per cent of the world supply of foie gras, exporting nearly 5,000 tonnes in 2014, the Local reports. Force feeding - which involved put pipes down the throats of the birds - is illegal in many countries, including the UK, but legal in France. Animal rights group, Peta, has called the practice cruel and said the birds livers can swell up to 10 times their nature size. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A French man has told a labour tribunal that his former employer had "bored" him out of a job. Frederic Desnard, 44, said that he had fallen ill in 2014 not because of burn out but because of bore out months of being given nothing to do at work. He claimed that this was a deliberate strategy on the part of his employer to get rid of him while avoiding severance pay. He was seeking 150,000 (117,600) in damages from Interparfums, a company which markets luxury perfumes under leading fashion brand names. Mr Desnard was also claiming compensation for missed pay, which included holiday pay - bringing the total claim to around 360,000 (282,000). Mr Desnard told Agence France Presse that he had been shoved in a back room and suffered a descent into hell, a nightmare after the company lost a big contract and needed to restructure. After working for the company for eight years as logistics manager, he found himself ostracised, he said. I was given no more work to doMy friends became my enemies. People were only concerned about saving their own jobs. As a result of this treatment, he claimed, he suffered serious health problems including an ulcer, depression and insomnia. After seven months sick leave, he was fired without compensation. I was depressed. I was ashamed because I was doing nothing, he said. His lawyer, Montasser Charni, said: Frederic Desnard was clearly the victim of a deliberate side-lining by his former employer with one sole objective: to be able to fire him without having to pay compensation. The company rejected the allegations. It pointed out that in December 2015 a court had ruled against Mr Desnard for defaming the company, with Mr Desnard judged by the court to have a personal animosity towards Interparfums. Initially, the company claimed, Mr Desnard had brought a case for burn out but then switched to bore out. Under French law, deliberate side-lining and silent treatment of an employee or placardisation (putting into a cuboard) is regarded as a form of bullying. Judgement was delayed. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The German government is reconsidering its support for Israel due to growing frustrations over the country's construction of settlements in occupied territories, it has been reported. Advisors to Chancellor Angela Merkel were furious about an article published in Israel following a meeting in Berlin in February between the German leader and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to German magazine Der Spiegel. The article, which appeared in pro-Netanyahu newspaper Israel Hayom, had the headline Merkel: Now is not the time for 2-state solution, which the advisors felt had twisted the Chancellors words to suggest she agreed with Mr Netanyahus policies. Instead, advisors said Mrs Merkel had actually reiterated her belief that a peaceful coexistence was ultimately built on a two-state solution. The Chancellor has always maintained the building of Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territory is counterproductive to establishing a peaceful and lasting two-state solution in the region. And senior government officials in Germany are now said to be less inclined to continue the country's unconditional support of Israel, according to Der Spiegel. They are increasingly concerned Mr Netanyahu is exploiting Germanys friendship with Israel for his own political gains and are becoming sceptical of the relationship, the magazine said. A German government official sought to dismiss the report, saying: The guidelines of German Middle East policy have not changed. Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Show all 20 1 /20 Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau The main gate entering the Nazi Auschwitz death camp Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A warning sign is seen in front of a watch tower of the former Auschwitz concentration camp held by the Nazis in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Visitors walk between barbed wire fences at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Guard towers and barbed wire fences stand at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp on the night prior to commemoration events marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the camp on 26 January 2015 in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Holocaust survivor Mordechai Ronen (C) from the US is comforted by his son as he is overcome by emotion standing next to President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder (2nd R) as he arrives at the former Auschwitz concentration camp in Oswiecim on 26 January 2015 Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Auschwitz and Belsen concentration camp survivor Eva Behar shows her number tattoo in her home in London Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A wall with historic photos is pictured at the memorial site of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A general view of the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau The 'wall of death' at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau General view of wooden bunks inside a destroyed barracks at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau near Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau View of the barracks of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau View of the barracks of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Empty Zyklon B canisters are displayed at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Prosthetic limbs confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners lie in an exhibtion display at the former Auschwitz I concentration camp, which today is a museum, in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Eyeglasses confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners lie in an exhibtion display at the former Auschwitz I concentration camp, which today is a museum, in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Children's shoes confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners lie in an exhibtion display at the former Auschwitz I concentration camp, which today is a museum, in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Suitcases confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Enamel bowls used by Auschwitz prisoners Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Visitor are seen walking behind barbed-wire fences at the memorial site of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A cargo wagon is parked at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau near Oswiecim An Israeli official also responded to the claims, telling Israel Hayom: The relationship between Israel and Germany is strong and good, and remains that way. It seems that these comments are an internal German effort to take a swipe at Merkel's close relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu." Norbert Roerrgen, a member of Mrs Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and chair of the Bundestags (parliament's) Foreign Affairs Committee, told Der Spiegel: Israel's current policies are not contributing to the country remaining Jewish and democratic. We must express this concern more clearly to Israel. Meanwhile, a member of the Socialist Democrats - the CDUs junior coalition partner Rolf Muetzenich, told the publication: The perception has been growing in the German government that Netanyahu is instrumentalising our friendship. In the past Mrs Merkel has spoken about a special obligation to support Israel. The European country has felt duty bound to support the Middle Eastern state due to Nazi Germanys murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust during Second World War. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Pope Francis has used his weekly Sunday message to denounce paedophilia, following the emergence of new details surrounding the alleged rape and murder of an Italian girl in 2014. This is a tragedy. We should not tolerate the abuse of minors, said Pope Francis, in his message and blessing to St Peters Square. We must protect our minors and severely punish abusers. The Popes comments followed new revelations in the case of a six-year-old girl who died in June 2014, after allegedly being thrown from an eighth-story balcony in Naples. A 43-year-old man is being held in a prison in Rome charged with throwing the girl from a housing block in a deprived area of the city after raping her, following a re-opening of the case. He has denied the charges. Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Live and let live.' GETTY IMAGES Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Proceed calmly" in life' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Be giving of yourself to others' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Even though many parents work long hours, they must set aside time to play with their children' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Sunday is for family' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Respect and take care of nature' OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Stop being negative' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: Respect others' beliefs' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive' FP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness AFP/Getty Images The case has dominated Italian media coverage in recent days and on Saturday, Italian President Sergio Mattarella called for an ample, rapid and severe judicial process during the case. For decades, the Catholic Church has been shaken by its own abuse scandals and has been reluctant to admit culpability in the widespread abuse by priests in its orders. Scandals have been discovered around the world and tens of millions of dollars have been paid in compensation. The film Spotlight, which won the 2016 Oscar for Best Picture, focuses on the investigation by journalists at the Boston Globe in 2002, which exposed a cover up of sexual abuse by local church authorities. The Pope has vowed a zero tolerance for abusers in the Church, however victims groups have accused him of not doing enough. In March, Cardinal George Pell, the Vaticans treasurer and the highest-ranking official called the violation of more than 50 children by one priest a subject that wasnt of much interest to him, while testifying in an Australian inquiry into historic child abuse within the clergy. The Australian Cardinal was a priest in the city of Ballarat in the early 1970s and was questioned on his knowledge of widespread sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy in the area over a period of decades. Additional reporting by Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of leaked pages from the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) show that the deal could be about to collapse, according to campaigners. The huge leak which gives the first full insight into the negotiations shows that the relationship between Europe and the US are weaker than had been thought and that major divisions remain on some of the agreements most central provisions. The talks have been held almost entirely in secret, and most information that is known in public has come out from unofficial leaks. But the new pages, leaked by Greenpeace, represent the first major look at how the highly confidential talks are progressing. The leaks could be enough to destabilise the deal completely, according to campaigners who have claimed that the agreement couldn't survive the leaks. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2022 Number 12 Company Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, central London, before commencing their first Guard Mount at Buckingham Palace PA "Now that we can see the actual texts, the EU negotiators have nowhere left to hide," John Hilary, the executive director of War on Want, told The Independent. "The gloves are off, and they know they are in for a proper fight." They indicate that the US is looking strongly to change regulation in Europe to lessen the protections on the environment, consumer rights and other positions that the EU affords to its citizens. Representatives for each side appear to have found that they have run into irreconcilable differences that could undermine the signing of the landmark and highly controversial trade deal, campaigners say. For instance, the papers show that the US is looking to weaken the EUs precautionary principle that governs how potentially harmful products are sold, Greenpeace says. The US has much weaker regulation that aims to minimise rather than avoid risks, and that same less strict regime could come to the UK and Europe under the deal. What is TTIP? If the EU made further changes to similar regulations, it would have to inform the US and corporations based there, according to the documents. American companies would then be able to have the same input into EU regulation as European ones do. There are also notable missing parts of the agreement. None of the texts includes any reference to the global effort to cut CO2 emissions agreed in Paris last year, according to Greenpeace, despite a commitment from the European Commission that it would make environmental sustainability a key part of any deal. Those who support TTIP argue that it represents an important step that will allow the US and EU to work together more closely and that it will support business in both regions. But parts of the deal and the secrecy that surrounds it have led campaigners to argue that it could include dangerous changes to the consumer protections that are guaranteed by the EU. Poverty, environmental and other campaigners have claimed that the new leak could be enough to undermine those already controversial talks. "The TTIP negotiations will never survive this leak, said John Hilary. The only way that the European Commission has managed to keep the negotiations going so far is through complete secrecy as to the actual details of the deal under negotiation. Now we can see the details for ourselves, and they are truly shocking. This is surely the beginning of the end for this much hated deal." Other campaigners criticised the fact that the only public information that has emerged about TTIP has come from leaks. TTIP is being cooked up behind closed doors because when ordinary people find out about the threat it poses to democracy and consumer protections, they are of course opposed to it, said Guy Taylor, trade campaigner at Global Justice Now. Its no secret that the negotiations have been on increasingly shaky ground. Millions of people across Europe have signed petitions against TTIP, and hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to call for an end to the negotiations. "These leaks should be seen as another nail in the coffin of a toxic trade deal that corporate power is unsuccessfully trying to impose on ordinary people and our democracies. But campaigners said that the leak of the agreement wouldn't be enough to kill it in itself. But it may be embarrassing enough for national governments that they will pull out. "EU leaders will now have to assess the political fallout from the leak and decide whether they can still afford to be associated with this toxic deal," said Mr Hilary. "The French and German governments, both of which are preparing for general elections next year, have already signalled that they might pull the plug on TTIP. Today's revelations bring that possibility a great deal closer." Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for Global Justice Now, told The Independent that those who oppose TTIP would have to continue fighting it if it is to be dropped. "However on the ropes that TTIP might seem to be, its critical that concerned citizens and campaign groups dont rest on their laurels, but instead use this moment to escalate their opposition and make sure that this outrageous corporate power grab is seen off once and for all," he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The five women crowded together around the kitchen table in New Jersey, their eyes fixed on a laptop screen. It was 7 a.m., and none of them had slept well the night before; they were too anxious and excited for this moment. Jess Katz logged into Skype as her mother and three sisters watched. A face flickered into view: their cousin, the son of a long-missing uncle, the family they thought they had lost forever in the Holocaust. On the other side of the screen, on the other side of the world, Evgeny Belzhitsky sat with his daughter, his granddaughter and a translator in his home on Sakhalin Island, Russia. The eight family members smiled at each other, speechless. Then, Katz recalls, they all started to cry. What do you say to someone youve been searching for your whole life? Katz says. More than 70 years had passed since Katzs grandfather, Abram Belz, first tried to find his younger brother, Chaim. Abram last saw Chaim in 1939, the year their family was relocated along with thousands of other Polish Jews to the Piotrkow Trybunalski ghetto at the start of World War II. The brothers died without seeing each other again, but on April 20 their families had been joyfully reunited. [These researchers used Holocaust survivors memories to track how our brains process gratitude] The young men were separated soon after the family was forced into the ghetto following the Nazi invasion of Poland. Abrams mother had begged her two sons to escape and save themselves, Katz says. My grandfather, because he was the oldest son, felt an obligation to stay, she says. But it was important to their mom that Chaim try to escape. With his mothers help, Chaim slipped through a gap in the ghetto wall and fled across the border to the Soviet Union. The family knew he made it there, Katz says, because he sent letters and packages to his family. But then the letters and packages stopped coming. Abram described what happened next in a 1990 testimonial for Steven Spielbergs USC Shoah Foundation project: Less than a year after we moved into the ghetto, my grandfather dropped dead in the house. Two weeks later, my 24-year-old sister died of tuberculosis. My uncle who was 26 years old was shot, his wife and baby were sent to Treblinka where they were gassed to death by the Nazis. The rest of my family was exterminated. My parents were sent to Treblinka and were killed in the gas chambers. Of more than 60 relatives, Abram and one of his cousins were the lone survivors of the concentration camps. Abram was liberated from the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in 1945, and eventually resettled in Brooklyn, NY. He never stopped looking for Chaim. When Abram moved to the U.S. after the war, he wrote to the Polish government and sought the help of nonprofits that worked to connect survivors to their families. In the 1980s, his daughter Katzs mother, Michelle Belz Katz penned letters to the Red Cross, Yad Vashem (Israels Holocaust Remembrance Center), and Russian and Polish officials, to no avail. I cant find anything about my brother who escaped to Russia, Abram wrote in the final lines of in his 1990 testimonial. My daughter wrote all kinds of letters to try to find him. We cant find him. Last month, Katz a tech-savvy 25-year-old who works for a software company in New York City and has blogged about her familys Jewish roots had extra time on her hands as she recovered from minor surgery at home. She decided to take up the search. After decades of tedious research and letter-writing, it took Katz two weeks to find Chaims son. It was a success born of an improbable alchemy: the serendipity of social media, the generosity of helpful strangers, and access to technology that allowed distant relatives to bridge thousands of miles, a 14-hour time difference and a language barrier. With the help of a Jewish heritage website, JewishGen.org, Katz contacted a genealogist who quickly tracked down Russian military documents with Chaims name and army unit, dated 1942. Katz shared the documents in a Jewish Facebook group, where she was directed to another Russian forum, where with the help of Google Translate Katzs post caught the attention of an Israeli woman who matched Chaims last name to a man on a Russian social networking site called Classmates. That man, it turned out, was Evgeny Belzhitsky. Katz created an account on Classmates and sent Belzhitsky a message. He responded right away: He said I dont have the words to explain my emotions right now, but I want to send you a picture of my father. Do you see any resemblance? Katz says. My sisters and my mom are sitting on the bed together, and my mom just screams, because he looks just like my grandfather. But her family wanted to be certain, so they asked Belzhitsky what his fathers birth date was. He answered with the correct date: Nov. 17, 1918. We were shaking, we were crying, we couldnt believe it, Katz says. The next morning, she says, the family met for the first time over Skype, and spent two hours talking about their families and their shared history, about Abram and Chaim. On different continents, the lives of the two brothers followed remarkably similar paths: both became successful tailors after the war. Both married women eight years younger. Both were gentle, doting fathers. And each had searched for the other, writing letter after letter, hoping his sibling had somehow survived. Neither lived to see last months reunion. Abram died five years ago at age 95; Chaim succumbed to a brain tumor at 51. Belzhitsky showed his American relatives a photograph of his fathers grave. It was so much to process, Katz says family lost and found, all at once. Her mother was especially moved by the bittersweet reconnection. Its difficult for her to know that her dad never got to find his brother, Katz says. Its difficult to think that this is all my grandpa would have wanted to have his brother, to have a nephew and Im sure Chaim also would have wanted that. So its a blessing, but theres also a lot of pain. Since their first Skype session, the newfound relatives have been in touch daily. They send messages to each other over Facebook, sharing stories and photos. They are trying to make up for so much lost time, Katz says, and they hope to arrange a visit as soon as they can. And they want other people, those who are still hoping and hunting for lost relatives, to know that a miracle is always possible. Since I shared the post, Ive gotten a lot of messages from families who are also still searching and asking how I did it, Katz says. We want to show that there are these different tools that technology can offer now these Facebook groups, Google Translate and that can really help in finding relatives. We want to give hope to families who are still searching for loved ones. The reunion came at a particularly poignant moment, she says: this year, Holocaust Remembrance Day falls on the May 5 anniversary of Abrams liberation from Mauthausen, the beginning of his long search for his sibling. I wish he was here to see this, Katz says. I cant even imagine the love and joy he would have felt to have found his brother. But there were so many lucky turns that led her to find Chaim so quickly, she says so many people who helped her at precisely the right moment. She likes to think the brothers might have had something to do with that. I feel like they somehow orchestrated it, she says, and they are beaming down with happiness now. Copyright Washington Post 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A senior British jihadi who boasted of recruiting hundreds of Britons for Isis has reportedly been killed in Syria. Raphael Hostey, also known as Abu Qaqa al-Britani, left Manchester to join Isis in 2013. The 23-year-old became a key recruiter of British fighters and jihadi brides for the terror group and was also heavily involved in its propaganda. Amarnath Amarasingam, a post-doctoral researcher at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, told The Independent he had been informed of the death by several fighters in the region. Mr Amarasingam said he understood he was killed in a drone strike, adding that he was trying to confirm the death of at least three other British jihadis. Hostey was heavily involved in Isis propaganda and is believed to have been instrumental in attracting Britons to Syria. Shiraz Maher, a war studies lecturer from King's College London, said the death of the British jihadi was "huge". He said Hostey was the last survivor of a hugely important group of Isis fighters from Manchester and Portsmouth who were responsible for the flow of Britons to Isis. Hostey was also heavily involved in Isis propaganda, he added, and probably helped produce the group's recruitment magazine Dabiq. "The death of Abu Qaqa represents the end of another era of British fascism," he said. In pictures: The rise of Isis Show all 74 1 /74 In pictures: The rise of Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters of the Islamic State wave the group's flag from a damaged display of a government fighter jet following the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from Islamic State group sit on their tank during a parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from the Islamic State group pray at the Tabqa air base after capturing it from the Syrian government in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Fighters from extremist Islamic State group parade in Raqqa, Syria AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping A video uploaded to social networks shows men in underwear being marched barefoot along a desert road before being allegedly executed by Isis Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Haruna Yukawa after his capture by Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis kidnapping Khalinda Sharaf Ajour, a Yazidi, says two of her daughters were captured by Isis militants Washington Post In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Spokesperson for Isis Vice News via Youtube In pictures: The rise of Isis A pro-Isis leaflet A pro-Isis leaflet handed out on Oxford Street In London Ghaffar Hussain In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters Isis Jihadists burn their passports In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A man collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid A woman collecting aid administered by Isis in Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis controls Syrian Aid Local civilians queue for aid administered by Isis. Since it declared a caliphate the group has increasingly been delivering services such as healthcare, and distributing aid and free fuel In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces detain men suspected of being militants of the Isis group in Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Mourners carry the coffin of a Shi'ite volunteer from the brigades of peace, who joined the Iraqi army and was killed during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Samarra, during his funeral in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Shiite Turkmen family fleeing the violence in the Iraqi city of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, arrives at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Arbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi A photograph made from a video by the jihadist affiliated group Furqan Media via their twitter account allegedly showing Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at a mosque in Mosul. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamist caliphate in the territory under the group's control in Iraq and Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq Smoke and debris go up in the air as Shiite's Al-Qubba Husseiniya mosque explodes in Mosul. Images posted online show that Islamic extremists have destroyed at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory - the city of Mosul and the town of Tal Afar - they have seized in northern Iraq in recent weeks In pictures: The rise of Isis Islamic extremists destroying mosques in Iraq A bulldozer destroys Sunni's Ahmed al-Rifai shrine and tomb in Mahlabiya district outside of Tal Afar In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces celebrate after clashes with followers of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi, in front of his home in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi at his home after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces arrest a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A vehicle burns in front of a home of a follower of Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi after clashes with his followers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman holds her exhausted son as over 1000 Iraqis who have fled fighting in and around the city of Mosul and Tal Afar wait at a Kurdish checkpoint in the hopes of entering a temporary displacement camp in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees Displaced Iraqi women hold pots as they queue to receive food during the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, at an encampment for displaced Iraqis who fled from Mosul and other towns, in the Khazer area outside Irbil, north Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A militant Islamist fighter waving a flag, cheers as he takes part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa. The fighters held the parade to celebrate their declaration of an Islamic "caliphate" after the group captured territory in neighbouring Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters wave flags as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters travel in a vehicle as they take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade with a missile in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from an al-Qaida splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Fighters from the Isis group during a parade in Raqqa, Syria. Militants from the splinter group held a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria, displaying U.S.-made Humvees, heavy machine guns, and missiles captured from the Iraqi army for the first time since taking over large parts of the Iraq-Syria border In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters hold a military parade in their stronghold in northeastern Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria Isis fighters during a parade in Raqqa, Syria In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Syria A member loyal to the Isis waves an Isis flag in Raqqa In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi anti-government gunmen from Sunni tribes in the western Anbar province march during a protest in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. The United Nations warned that Iraq is at a "crossroads" and appealed for restraint, as a bloody four-day wave of violence killed 195 people. The violence is the deadliest so far linked to demonstrations that broke out in Sunni areas of the Shiite-majority country more than four months ago, raising fears of a return to all-out sectarian conflict In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi security forces hold up a flag of the Isis group they captured during an operation to regain control of Dallah Abbas north of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq's Diyala province, 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Isis fighters parade in the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Isis group, demonstrate their skills during a graduation ceremony after completing their field training in Najaf In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Kurdish Peshmerga troops fire a cannon during clashes with militants of the Isis group in Jalawla, Diyala province In pictures: The rise of Isis Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference Iraqi Prime Minister's security spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta speaks during a press conference about the latest military development in Iraq, in the capital Baghdad. Iraqi forces pressed a campaign to retake militant-held Tikrit, clashing with jihadist-led Sunni militants nearby and pounding positions inside the city with air strikes in their biggest counter-offensive so far In pictures: The rise of Isis A police station building destroyed by Isis fighters An exterior view of a police station building destroyed by gunmen in Mosul city, northern Iraq. Iraq's new parliament is expected to convene to start the process of setting up a new government, despite deepening political rifts and an ongoing Islamist-led insurgency. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani issued a decree inviting the new House of Representatives to meet and form a new government In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq Smoke billows from an area controlled by the Isis between the Iraqi towns of Naojul and Tuz Khurmatu, both located north of the capital Baghdad, as Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces take part in an operation to repel the Sunni militants In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An elderly Iraqi woman is helped into a temporary displacement camp for Iraqis caught-up in the fighting in and around the city of Mosul in Khazair In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi Christian woman fleeing the violence in the village of Qaraqush, about 30 kms east of the northern province of Nineveh, cries upon her arrival at a community center in the Kurdish city of Arbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraqi refugees An Iraqi woman, who fled with her family from the northern city of Mosul, prays with a copy of the Quran AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Isis fighters in Iraq The body of an Isis militant killed during clashes with Iraqi security forces on the outskirts of the city of Samarra Reuters In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Iraqi civilians inspect the damage at a market after an air strike by the Iraqi army in central Mosul EPA In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Members of the Al-Abbas brigades, who volunteered to protect the Shiite Muslim holy sites in Karbala against Sunni militants fighting the Baghdad government, parade in the streets of the city AP In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis Shia tribesmen gather in Baghdad to take up arms against Sunni insurgents marching on the capital. Thousands have volunteered to bolster defences AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq crisis A van carrying volunteers joining Iraqi security forces against Jihadist militants. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the Iraqi government would arm and equip civilians who volunteered to fight AFP/Getty In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters of the Isis group parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armored vehicle down a main road at the northern city of Mosul In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An Islamist fighter, identified as Abu Muthanna al-Yemeni from Britain (R), speaks in this still image taken undated video shot at an unknown location and uploaded to a social media website. Five Islamist fighters identified as Australian and British nationals have called on Muslims to join the wars in Syria and Iraq, in the new video released by the Isis In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Al-Qaida inspired militants stand with captured Iraqi Army Humvee at a checkpoint belonging to Iraqi Army outside Beiji refinery some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad. The fighting at Beiji comes as Iraq has asked the U.S. for airstrikes targeting the militants from the Isis group. While U.S. President Barack Obama has not fully ruled out the possibility of launching airstrikes, such action is not imminent in part because intelligence agencies have been unable to identify clear targets on the ground, officials said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants attacked Iraq's main oil refinein Baiji as they pressed an offensive that has seen them capture swathes of territory, a manager and a refinery employee said In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants from the Isis group parading with their weapons in the northern city of Baiji in the in Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A smoke rises after an attack by Isis militants on the country's largest oil refinery in Beiji, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security forces battled insurgents targeting the country's main oil refinery and said they regained partial control of a city near the Syrian border, trying to blunt an offensive by Sunni militants who diplomats fear may have also seized some 100 foreign workers In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group stand next to captured vehicles left behind by Iraqi security forces at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province. For militant groups, the fight over public perception can be even more important than actual combat, turning military losses into propaganda victories and battlefield successes into powerful tools to build support for the cause In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq An injured fighter (C) from the Isis group after a battle with Iraqi soldiers at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis aiming at advancing Iraqi troops at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group taking position at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Fighters from the Isis group inspecting vehicles of the Iraqi army after they were seized at an undisclosed location near the border between Syria and Iraq In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq One Iraqi captive, a corporal, is reluctant to say the slogan, and has to be shouted at repeatedly before he obeys Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Iraqi captives held by the extremists Sky News In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group force captured Iraqi security forces members to the transport In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group transporting dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members to an unknown location in the Salaheddin province ahead of executing them In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq A major offensive spearheaded by Isis but also involving supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein has overrun all of one province and chunks of three others In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Militants of the Isis group executing dozens of captured Iraqi security forces members at an unknown location in the Salaheddin province In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants taking position at a Iraqi border post on the Syrian-Iraqi border between the Iraqi Nineveh province and the Syrian town of Al-Hasakah In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis rebels show their flag after seizing an army post AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Isis militants waving an Islamist flag after the seizure of an Iraqi army checkpoint in Salahuddin Getty Images In pictures: The rise of Isis Iraq Demonstrators chant slogans as they carry al-Qaida flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad. In the week since it captured Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, a Muslim extremist group has tried to win over residents and has stopped short of widely enforcing its strict brand of Islamic law, residents say. Churches remain unharmed and street cleaners are back at work Hostey used several methods in his recruitment attempts, including providing theological justification for Isis, appealing to video gamers and flirting with potential female recruits, according to the Counter Extremism Project. He had previously boasted of smuggling "hundreds" of people into Syria and also posted several tweets inciting and glorifying acts of violence and beheading. Other posts cheered on those responsible for the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices in January 2015, which killed 12 people. Originally from Moss Side, Manchester, Hostey studied graphic design at John Moores University in Liverpool. He left for Syria in September 2013 with two friends who also studied at John Moores University, Mohammed Javeed and Khalil Raoufi, both 20. Javeed and Raoufi are thought to have been killed fighting in Syria. At least 700 people from the UK have travelled to support or fight for jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, according to police. Around half have since returned and are being monitored by intelligence services. The Foreign Office said they were unable to confirm reports of Hostey's death. Palmyra after Isis Isis recently suffered one of its biggest military defeats in Palmyra, which was seized by regime forces backed by Russian air strikes. Last month, US President Barack Obama said Isis fighters were coming to "realise their cause is lost". Mr Obama said the size of the group's army was at its lowest level for two years and that it had lost 40 per cent of its territory in Iraq and 10 per cent in Syria. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Iraqis bursting into the Green Zone in Baghdad over the weekend were able to see for the first time the palatial homes and offices of the corrupt and dysfunctional Iraqi leadership that has misgoverned the country for the last 13 years. As the security forces stood aside, protesters toppled a section of the 15-foot-high blast walls and poured through the gap into this well-fortified and exclusive enclave on the banks of the Tigris and in the centre of the Iraqi capital. After taking over the parliament building, the crowd chanted the name of the Shia populist nationalist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, to whose movement many of the protesters belong, and denounced the failures of the present government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. The Green Zone, with its fountains and well-watered lawns, has long been a hated symbol of the isolation of the rulers of Iraq who never experience the harsh living conditions and shortages endured by ordinary Iraqis. By breaching its walls, the demonstrators who splashed in the fountains and took pictures of themselves on the lawns showed that the Iraqi elite is more vulnerable than in the past to expressions of popular anger. Mr Sadrs stated aims are reform rather than revolution: he does not want Mr Abadi to resign, but he does want him to appoint a cabinet of technocrats and to end the quota system by which the sectarian or ethnically based parties appoint loyalists regardless of their abilities. This is opposed by existing parties, which operate extensive client and patronage systems. At least 8,000 of Iraqs bureaucrats some put the figure as high as 25,000 are political appointees who are notorious for their corruption and incompetence. Mr Sadrs purpose may be to strengthen the Iraqi state and make it more effective and honest. But the very ease with which the Sadrists and their supporters penetrated the Green Zone and took over parliament without resistance from the security forces makes the state look even more weak and ineffectual. Though the Sadrists say that many of the protesters do not belong to their movement, they appeared to have the eruption into the Green Zone very much under control from the beginning. Sadrist stewards prevented equipment in parliament being smashed and say they cleaned up the parliamentary chamber on leaving. The well-disciplined exodus of protesters from the zone on Sunday without any looting shows the degree to which the action was organised by the Sadrist movement. Iraqi PM calls for arrest of parliament protesters The people are saying that if the government does not appoint a government they will be back [to take over the Green Zone again], a Sadrist leader, who did not want his name published, told The Independent. He believed that the other political parties had been hoping that the protests would get out of hand and lead to the ransacking and looting of the Green Zone which would have provided an excuse for the Iraqi security forces to use force against the demonstrators. The parties hoped for chaos so the army would clear away the protesters, he said. He did not think that the other Shia movements were in a position to use their militias against protests that have mass support. There is deep anger among most Iraqis of all classes against a ruling elite that is seen as having stolen much of Iraqs oil revenues since 2003. The sense of crisis was exacerbated by the disintegration of the large and expensively equipped Iraqi army in 2014 when it was attacked by much smaller Isis forces. But the alarm today is less to do with Isis, which has been losing ground, and more to do with the fall in the price of oil, which means the government is fast running out of money. The state is by far the biggest employer in Iraq, paying some seven million people out of a population of 33 million as employees or pensioners. This costs $4bn (2.73bn) a month but oil revenues have been running closer to $2bn. There is deep anger among most Iraqis of all classes against a ruling elite that is seen as having stolen much of Iraqs oil revenues since 2003 (REUTERS) The Sadrist leader said that Mr Sadr was aware of the difficulty of reforming the corrupt Iraqi administration. He said that we cant change hundreds of director generals and thousands of officials, but we have to start somewhere. He added that independent ministers could push for changes in important financial institutions like the Central Bank, where those in charge were often only acting officials connected to the ruling Dawa Party, though they should have been approved by parliament under the Iraqi constitution. Mr Sadr, who comes from a clerical family famous for its opposition to Saddam Hussein, has a devoted following among the Shia poor. He led his Mehdi Army militia against the US occupation in 2004, fighting two battles against US troops in the Shia holy city of Najaf, but he later dissolved the Mehdi Army amid accusations that it was centrally involved in the murder of Sunni during the sectarian killings of 2006-7 when tens thousands were killed. In an interview with The Independent in the Shia holy city of Najaf in 2013, Mr Sadr forecast that the near future of Iraq is dark, saying that the unity and independence of the country was endangered by Sunni-Shia hostility. He warned against the marginalisation of the Sunni and said that the danger was that because of sectarianism the Iraqi people will disintegrate and it will be easy for external powers to control the country. He remains adamantly opposed to intervention from the US, UK, Iran, Turkey or Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, asserting that they always make the crisis in Iraq worse. The protesters who stormed the Green Zone at the weekend shouted both anti-American and anti-Iranian slogans. Mr Sadr comes across as politically astute and cautious about what he says and does, quite contrary to his image in the West a few years ago when he was portrayed as a firebrand cleric. He said that the problem in Iraq is that the Iraqis generally have been traumatised by the last half a century, during which there has been a constant cycle of violence: Saddam, occupation, war after war, first Gulf war, then second Gulf war, then the occupation war, then the resistance this would lead to a change in the psychology of Iraqis. Patrick Cockburn is the author of Muqtada: Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia Revival, and the Struggle for Iraq, published by Scribner (US) and Faber and Faber (UK). For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When the former London mayor Ken Livingstone said in an interview that Hitler was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews, he was quickly suspended from the Labour Party, which was already in the throes of a painful row over anti-semitism. But while Livingstones tone-deaf comments came at a very politically sensitive moment, the historical error at their heart is all too familiar. Claims that Hitler was a Zionist, or supported Zionism, before his anti-Jewish policies turned into murder and extermination flare up at regular intervals. They usually cite the controversial Haavara Agreement (Transfer Agreement) of August 1933 as the most potent evidence of a wilful cooperation between Hitler and the Zionist movement. When viewed in a certain way, this deal does superficially seem to show that Hitlers government endorsed Zionism but just because it was a mechanism to help German Jews relocate to Palestine it does not imply it was Zionist. The Haavara Agreement was the only formal contract signed between Nazi Germany and a Zionist organisation. The signatories were the Reich Ministry of Economics, the Zionistische Vereinigung fur Deutschland (Zionist Federation of Germany) and the Anglo-Palestine Bank (then under the directive of the Jewish Agency for Palestine). Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Show all 14 1 /14 Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Israel and Palestine The simple fact in all of this is that Naz made these comments at a time when there was another brutal Israeli attack on the Palestinians; and theres one stark fact that virtually no one in the British media ever reports, in almost all these conflicts the death toll is usually between 60 and 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli. Now, any other country doing that would be accused of war crimes but its like we have a double standard about the policies of the Israeli government Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Antisemitism in the Labour Party As Ive said, Ive never heard anybody say anything antisemitism-Semitic, but theres been a very well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticises Israeli policy as antisemitic. I had to put up with 35 years of this Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Naz Shah Its completely over-the-top and rude, but who am I to denounce anyone with all of that. It was wrong. I dont think she is antisemitic, it was incredibly rude but I dont believe she is an antisemite. When the NEC investigation is finished they'll say it was rude and over the top but they wont find any evidence that she actually hates Jews. Weve got to investigate all these charges and the context in which they are made. If she is antisemitic like the other three or four members weve found who are antisemitic, shell be expelled Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On other alleged antisemites in Labour That is part of the classic antisemitic thing about an international Jewish conspiracy that is the reason we need to have an investigation. Ive got an open mind. Ive seen nothing to suggest to me that she is antisemitic. I wouldnt have supported her if I [thought] she was antisemitic Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On whether what Hitler did was legal, as stated by Naz Shah Thats a statement of fact Hitler, Im sure, passed all those laws that allowed him to do that its history literally, Hitler was completely mad, he killed six million Jews. Shes not saying its legal to kill six million Jews: what they were doing in that country allowed them not just to kill six million Jews, kill all the communists, kill all the leftists like me, my father almost died when a Nazi sub sank his boat. I have no sympathy with Hitler Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On another alleged antisemite in Labour No, that is, and thats why shes been suspended or expelled. What Ive said is that in 47 years of the party in all the meetings Ive been in Ive never heard anyone say anything antisemitic. There are bound to be in a party of half a million people youll have a handful of antisemites, youll have a handful of racists. Youve managed to dig out virtually every antisemitic comment that Labour members have made out of half a million people. Ive never met any of these people. Theres not a problem. Youre talking about a handful of people in a party of half a million people. Jeremy Corbyn has moved rapidly to deal with them Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Jeremy Corbyns response to the allegations He met with Naz and she agreed she would stand down while the investigation is going on. He called her in to see her. Theres been a huge investigation of virtually everything that anybody put on the internet many of these people are quite new and recent members of the party that joined in the big influx. 300,000 new people came in Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On his meeting a man accused of antisemitism in London This is the man who called for Muslims around the world to donate blood after the attacks of 9/11 when he came to London I went with him to the Regents Park mosque where he said no man should hit a woman and you should not discriminate against homosexuals. So I cant equate what I heard him say he made no antisemitic statement while he was here in London. I dont investigate people. Ive simply said what I believe to be true which is that Naz was not antisemitic. She was completely over the top, very rude, but that does not make her an antisemite Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Manns comments He went completely over the top. I was actually doing a radio interview at the time that he was bellowing that Im a racist antisemite in my ear. Ive had that with John Mann before a few weeks ago screaming that I was a bigot down the phone. Im not an apologist for anyone who makes antisemitic statements. What Im saying is dont confuse antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government policy Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard whilst Mayor of London I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On claims about Hitler and Zionism I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Mann Id simply say to John Mann go back and check. Is what I say true, or is it not? The BBC, youve got a huge team of researchers, it will take just an hour or two to go back and confirm. I was asked a question, I answered it. I have never in 45 years since I won my first election, I have never lied. I have always answered the question Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On raising the issue if Hitler It lays you open to people smearing and lying about you. Ive always answered the questions put to me and that simple fact is weve had a handful of people saying antisemitic things in the Labour Party, theyve been suspended, some of them are on their way to being expelled, some of them have been expelled already Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On people calling for him to be suspended All my usual critics but the simple fact is I agree with them; there is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. For them to suggest I am antisemitic is a bit bizarre considering we worked with Jewish groups and put on exhibitions about the scale of the holocaust, we worked with Jewish groups to tackling the scale of antisemitism back in the 1970s. Ive always opposed every form of racism whether its against black people or Jews. Im going to stay in the Labour party and continue to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination as I have my entire life Under the agreement Jewish emigrants had to hand over their possessions before they left Germany, and the proceeds were used by a company specifically set up for this purpose in Tel Aviv to purchase German goods for sale in Palestine. The proceeds of these sales were then paid in Palestinian currency to the emigrants in Palestine. Recommended Read more Full transcript of what Ken Livingstone said about antisemitism The agreement was immediately criticised from all sides. The Zionist Federation was accused of collaboration with the Nazis, and the Nazi authorities were criticised by fellow Nazis for helping Jews when their official policy was to solve the Jewish question. Still, at this point in time, both sides no doubt saw potential benefits for themselves in such an agreement. For the Zionist Federation, it was a way to save Jews from the claws of an increasingly hostile regime and attract them to Palestine, while for the Nazi state signing an international agreement was further proof of its legitimacy, broke the Jewish movement of boycotting German goods, and helped the recovery of German exports at a time when the German economy was still in the depth of depression. Twisted road The Haavara Agreement does not mean the Nazis were ever Zionists. Instead, it is testament to the fact that Nazi policy towards the Jews was not clear-cut from the beginning, but evolved greatly over the years. The only constants were a fanatical hatred of Jews, the insistence that the Jews were the root cause of all of Germanys problems, and that the Jewish question must be solved once and for all. Claims that Hitler was a Zionist flare up at regular intervals (Hulton/Getty) While this implicitly always suggested murder and extermination, it took time until it became clear how this extermination could be effectively executed and until the Nazi authorities felt that such a radical final solution could be pushed through. In the meantime, the Nazis tried various means of ridding Germany of its Jewish population including encouraging Jews to emigrate, forced relocation, and outright evictions while at the same time pauperising them and confiscating their possessions. The Haavara Agreement is the first example of a Nazi programme of organised Jewish relocation. Other and more radical examples include the mass expulsion of Polish and stateless Jews from Germany to Poland in October 1938, and the so-called Madagascar Plan, the attempt to relocate the Jewish population to the island of Madagascar, then a French colony. The latter plan became unfeasible when Germany was unable to defeat Great Britain in 1940. John Mann MP call Ken Livingstone MP a 'Nazi apologist' But it is crucial to remember that at the same time as these and other forced relocation plans were discussed, Jews were being increasingly marginalised and disenfranchised in Nazi Germany. They were expelled from German civil service and from the professions, their shops and businesses were boycotted and their German citizenship was taken away. Step by step, they were excluded from German political, economic, legal, social and cultural life. And in the aftermath of the night of broken glass pogrom of November 9 1938, widely known as Kristallnacht, more and more Jews were deported to concentration camps. Distorted history These policies do not in any way resemble Zionism. However critical one might be of Zionist policies in action, Zionism was a movement based on the right of self-determination. It originated as a national liberation movement, both mirroring the aims and aspirations of other national movements in 19th-century Europe and responding to the surge of anti-semitism in the newly established European nation-states. The Nazis' plans for concentrating Jews in specific territories, be they Palestine or Madagascar, had nothing whatsoever to do with self-determination. These were expressions of the complete opposite: the use of force to strip Jews of all their rights, property and dignity. As was proved by the establishment of the General Government in central Poland in October 1939, the Nazis were not in the least concerned that the territories where they intended to concentrate Jews were in a position to help their populations sustain themselves. They were looking for dumping grounds for Jews and other undesirables. These people were at best treated as assets to exploit or, later, a stock of slave labour, and at worst simply expected to die of disease and starvation. Any claim that Nazis and Zionists ever shared a common goal is not only cynical and disingenuous, but a distortion of clearly established historical fact. Rainer Schulze is Professor of Modern European History and General Editor "The Holocaust in History and Memory", University of Essex This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Lego-landings The latest unusual destination for British Airways from Heathrow Terminal 5 is Billund in Denmark, adjacent to the original Legoland. This week the airline starts flying 11 times a week to the airport, which also serves the city of Aarhus. Fares are remarkably low even during the school summer holidays, with plenty of availability at 90 return. ba.com App discount Etihad has launched an iPhone app, and to encourage people to use it the Abu Dhabi airline is offering a 10 per cent discount for bookings made with it. You must book before 30 May and travel before 15 December. But the discount does not apply for flights 20 June-20 July and 15 August-15 September. Neither does it apply to taxes, fees and charges. bit.ly/EtihApp Get your bearings Theres life left in paper maps and compasses - and to remind travellers how to use then, Stanfords Bristol is organising an OS Map Reading and Compass Workshop on 25 May as part of the Bristol Walking Festival. An Ordnance Survey expert will explain grid references and compass use. Tickets (4) at bit.ly/MapsChat Barbados plus A new budget link between Florida and Barbados opens up the prospect of a two-centre trip combining the Sunshine State and the island. JetBlue has launched flights from Fort Lauderdale (25 miles north of Miami) to Barbados, with fares as low as $115 (82). Open jaw tickets, flying out from Heathrow to Miami and back from Barbados to Gatwick, are available on either BA or Virgin Atlantic. jetblue.com Safe travels Protect your valuables with the new 5900 Series Portable Safe. Featuring a concealed cable that can be locked to fixed objects, its also water resistant and shock absorbent, making it a good solution for the beach or active holidays. Its compact, but can fit a phone, camera, keys, cash and jewellery inside what looks like an oversize glasses case. 29.99. masterlock.eu Room for two Sands Studio has opened in St Ives. The Scandi-chic self-catering apartment is owned by the same duo behind the towns popular Trevose Harbour House B&B. Its bright and breezy interiors have been inspired by the Cornish coastline: blonde parquet flooring, a white, bespoke kitchen and cheerfully patterned fabrics. With one bedroom, it also comes with sliding doors that open onto a balcony, shower room with towels, local artwork and a private parking space. From 150 per night. sands-studio.co.uk Walk this way The Inca Trails busy summer trekking season is approaching. However, 250 extra permits per day in addition to the current 500 that includes guides and porters have been released for treks via the Sun Gate. Visitors to Peru are expected to incrase with the reintroduction of direct flights from the UK when BA starts flying from Gatwick to Lima on Wednesday. peru.travel Gir Lion Lodge Mane attraction Spend the night with Asiatic lions in central London. The experience is being offered at London Zoos new Gir Lion Lodge, which opens on 25 May. The nine wooden chalets will be available for overnight stays six nights a week in the Land of the Lions development, with dedicated family and adults-only nights. Dinner and breakfast are included, as well as tours at sunset, at night and in the morning and two days access to the zoo. Prices from 378 per couple and 50 per child. zsl.org Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At first glance, Thursdays elections to the Scottish Parliament look far from exciting since there is no threat to the hegemony enjoyed by the Scottish National Party. It has turned failure in the 2014 independence referendum into success. So the Holyrood elections are inevitably being viewed as a close race for second place between Labour and the Conservatives. Jeremy Corbyns election on an anti-austerity ticket last year should have been a springboard for a Labour revival north of the border, but does not appear to have improved its fortunes. Coming third would be another milestone in Labours remarkable decline in a country whose politics it long dominated. Second place would be a coup for Ruth Davidson, the Tories impressive leader in Scotland, a rising star who may soon be asked to shine on the Westminster stage. Labour does not lack boldness. It would use the new powers heading Holyroods way by raising income tax by 1p in the pound and increasing the top rate for incomes over 150,000 to 50p. The Liberal Democrats and Greens would also raise taxes but the SNP has been more cautious and, like the Conservatives, would leave tax rates where they are. Despite a highly personal campaign built around the popular Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP has not had it all its own way. The final leaders TV debate on Sunday night was dominated by lively exchanges between three strident women Labours Kezia Dudgale; Sturgeon and Davidson which often left the two men, Willie Rennie (Lib Dems) and Patrick Harvie (Greens), literally on the sidelines. Before the debate, Sturgeon had said it was more likely than not that a second independence referendum would be held while she is First Minister. But, revealingly, the loudest cheers from the audience came when her opponents argued that it was time for the SNP to move on from the independence debate and get on with the job of improving the country. Of course, if Scotland votes to remain in the EU in June while the UK decides to leave, there would be strong grounds for another independence vote. Without that, even if the SNP achieved its apparent goal of consistent 60 per cent opinion poll support for a breakaway, there could be resistance to another vote so soon after what the Nationalists described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. How long can an insurgent party that has become the ruling establishment in Scotland play the anti-establishment card? The answer, perhaps, is: as long as it can blame Scotlands ills on Westminster and the Tories. But there must and should come a time when the SNP is held accountable for its record, and nine years in power is enough to judge. On some issues, notably education and health, its performance has not lived up to its rhetoric. For the SNP, it is time to deliver over the next five years. In Wales, it is Labours record which is under scrutiny. It has enjoyed 17 years in power since the Cardiff assembly was created, though it had to share it in the past with the Liberal Democrats and later Plaid Cymru. Labours current overall majority is at risk after a drop in support in the polls blamed partly on its performance of the NHS. The threat to steel jobs in South Wales has dominated the campaign. With most fire directed at the Conservative Government, the issue may help Labour. But Labour has a new challenger in the principality Ukip, which could land about six seats under the proportional representation system, as it tries to prove it can win working class votes in Labour heartlands. Although the main opposition party at Westminster would normally expect to do well in mid-term elections, it is Labour which has most to lose in both Scotland and Wales. One benefit of devolution is that voters have a chance to pass judgement on those who deliver services locally; on Thursday, they should take it. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} As Labour slowly eats itself over the antisemitism row, the finger of blame is pointed in an ever increasing number of directions. Ken Livingstones bizarre intervention last week just as the party seemed on the brink of dealing with the Naz Shah episode was explicable only by reference to his own record. Not only does he symbolise the worst excesses of the unreconstructed, 20th century hard left, but Livingstone also has a habit of adding fuel to fires. The one positive is that the Labour Party has been forced into a proper, internal investigation off the back of his comments. Livingstones comments were so strange both in their detail and their apparent intent that no sane voice has been heard in his defence. But then, some things are genuinely indefensible. Even so, Labour is desperate to challenge the narrative that has Livingstone as merely a symptom of a wider problem in the party, one tolerated by its current leadership. The consequence is that we are now hearing some Labourites argue that the criticism of Livingstone, however justified, is primarily being kept up as a means to undermine Jeremy Corbyn a kind of plot between the Tories and a right-leaning media. While people like Diane Abbott are right that most Labour members are not antisemitic, by railing against media smears there is a danger of playing into the hands of those who are and who believe the outrageous conspiracy theories about the world being run by a cabal of Jewish financiers, politicians and newsmakers. Indeed, it is that particular belief which lies at the heart of so much antisemitism, on both the right and the left of the political spectrum, and which is one of the factors which marks out anti-Jewish discrimination from other forms of racism and religious intolerance. The other point which distinguishes antisemitism is the Holocaust. The brutal facts of Hitlers attempts to destroy Europes Jews present a unique set of circumstances because they prove what can happen to virulent racism if left unchecked. It is why antisemitism provokes such unique pangs of anxiety and why Ken Livingstones remarks were so extraordinary. Yet there are plenty who remain committed to dismissing any notion that antisemitism has specific characteristics. At one end of the scale, this can lead to grumbles about not being allowed to criticise Israeli government policies towards the Palestinians for fear of being called an antisemite. (Sure enough those lines are blurry as I know, having defended critiques of Israels military action in Gaza and been roundly condemned for it.) But at the other end of the scale are the conspiracy theorists Ive mentioned and, worst of all, Holocaust deniers. This vile fringe has been given succour by the internet, which allows revisionists to plead free speech in the name of spreading lies and hate. It is a problem for any news outlet which seeks to engage with its audience online and to encourage comments by readers. The space below the line ought to be a forum for genuine debate. But in response to articles about Livingstones outburst, Holocaust deniers suddenly appear with alacrity, just as Islamophobes pop their heads above the parapet any time we write about refugees fleeing Syria. It is enough to make you wonder about the state of humanity. But it also raises practical questions for outlets such as The Independent: do we need to hire dozens of moderators to stem the tide; should we have a longer list of prohibited terms so we can automatically filter out the worst comments; or ought we simply to close comment boards? The more steps we take, the more we will be accused of stifling debate; hold back and ever more bile will slip through. Whatever course we steer, one thing is plain: responsibility for combatting discrimination lies with every right thinking person it isnt a subject for buck-passing. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Today is the third anniversary of my father Mohammed Saleem's brutal Islamophobic murder by neo-Nazi terrorist and mosque bomber Pavlo Lapshyn. I will never forget the day I received the phone call from my sisters whilst I lay on my sofa in my London flat. Those horrifying words remain etched in my mind forever: Dads been stabbed, cried my sister Fazia on the phone. Seconds later came the next call: Dads dead, sobbed my eldest sister Shazia. The shock and horror I felt at the time is still pretty hard to fathom today. I instantly packed my case and headed towards the tube, in tears. I could hardly take in what Id just been told. Within an hour I was driving to Birmingham with Shazia and my brother-in-law Hanif. The journey to Birmingham was spent in complete silence, mainly due to shock, and punctuated with sudden bursts of tears. None of us could understand why this had happened. We arrived at Heartlands Hospital in the early hours of the morning. What happened from then on is all a bit of a blur, but I remember running into the hospital and noting the police presence as my sister explained who we were. We were told to go and wait in a special room inside, as hundreds of our relatives and neighbours had already congregated in the other hospital waiting rooms, hoping for news about Dad. That huge presence was testament to Dads life and personality: he was a kind, loving man who spent most of his time helping family and neighbours alike. After a short amount of time, a surgeon walked into the special room we were gathered in with immediate family. He seemed very distraught. I remember him saying he had never seen such horrific injuries on an elderly man and at that point I couldnt listen to any more. I left the room and sobbed outside the door. We were told by the police that we could not see Dad, even though his body was in the room in front of us, because we could contaminate vital evidence with our breath. Pavlo Lapshyn is now serving 40 years for my fathers murder and three mosque bombings in the West Midlands all acts of terrorism. He was charged under terrorism laws. Yet, to this day, the media, the police and the government have not treated Pavlo as they would if the terrorist was a Muslim. Recommended Read more 15 things I learned about Islam as a gay boy living opposite a mosque Since my fathers passing I have been an active campaigner against racism and Islamophobia, and Ive had the privilege of being invited to speak on many high-profile platforms. But its safe to say that Ive never been given as high up a platform as our prime minister David Cameron, whose message seems very different to what I believe about Muslim victims and integration. Cameron blames Muslim women not learning English for their lack of opportunity and equality. He makes veiled threats that those needing visas extended might be removed if they don't learn the language. His policies have strengthened institutionalised racism. He is further fuelling the Islamophobia which is burning through the world right now. And he is silent on the issue of Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith, who has been criticised for campaigning against Sadiq Khan by referring to him as a radical and saying he has links to people with extremist views. We are still struggling to cope with the tragic loss of our father in my family. We are Muslims and the victims of terrorism. Quite rightly, we do not equate all white people with Pavlo Lapshyn, but we are tired of being treated like potential terrorists by so many white British people ourselves. Zac Goldsmith claims to love Bollywood but fails to name a single actor or film The brutal murder of my father may be one of many. But its important that we pay attention to the killings of Muslims, each and every one of them, and resist the temptation to turn a blind eye. Muslims are enduring intense discrimination in everyday life, at the hands of some sections of the media and through government policy. We should all unite and continue to fight this tide of Islamophobia which will continue to devastate the lives of families like ours until it is brought to an end. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Todays shock leak of the text of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) marks the beginning of the end for the hated EU-US trade deal, and a key moment in the Brexit debate. The unelected negotiators have kept the talks going until now by means of a fanatical level of secrecy, with threats of criminal prosecution for anyone divulging the treatys contents. Now, for the first time, the people of Europe can see for themselves what the European Commission has been doing under cover of darkness - and it is not pretty. The leaked TTIP documents, published by Greenpeace this morning, run to 248 pages and cover 13 of the 17 chapters where the final agreement has begun to take shape. The texts include highly controversial subjects such as EU food safety standards, already known to be at risk from TTIP, as well as details of specific threats such as the US plan to end Europes ban on genetically modified foods. The documents show that US corporations will be granted unprecedented powers over any new public health or safety regulations to be introduced in future. If any European government does dare to bring in laws to raise social or environmental standards, TTIP will grant US investors the right to sue for loss of profits in their own corporate court system that is unavailable to domestic firms, governments or anyone else. For all those who said that we were scaremongering and that the EU would never allow this to happen, we were right and you were wrong. TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed Show all 14 1 /14 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Responding to a Freedom of Information request from an EU watchdog regarding contacts between officials and the tobacco industry, the European Commission released a set of documents that had been so heavily redacted as to be meaningless. In this 14-page letter from British American Tobacco from its London HQ, outlining its serious concerns with the consistency of [redacted], only five per cent of the text was visible. TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 2 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 3 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 4 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 5 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 6 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 7 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 8 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 9 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 10 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 11 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 12 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 13 TTIP controversy: what an FOI request revealed TTIP controversy Page 14 The leaked texts also reveal how the European Commission is preparing to open up the European economy to unfair competition from giant US corporations, despite acknowledging the disastrous consequences this will bring to European producers, who have to meet far higher standards than pertain in the USA. According to official statistics, at least one million jobs will be lost as a direct result of TTIP and twice that many if the full deal is allowed to go through. Yet we can now see that EU negotiators are preparing to trade away whole sectors of our economies in TTIP, with no care for the human consequences. What is TTIP? The European Commission slapped a 30-year ban on public access to the TTIP negotiating texts at the beginning of the talks in 2013, in the full knowledge that they would not be able to survive the outcry if people were given sight of the deal. In response, campaigners called for a Dracula strategy against the agreement: expose the vampire to sunlight and it will die. Today the door has been flung open and the first rays of sunlight shone on TTIP. The EU negotiators will never be able to crawl back into the shadows again. The leak of the TTIP text comes at a time when senior politicians across Europe have already begun to distance themselves from the increasingly toxic deal. President Hollande announced this weekend that France will veto any TTIP agreement that could endanger the countrys agricultural sector. Germanys economy minister Sigmar Gabriel has also spoken publicly of TTIP collapsing, and has pointed the finger at US intransigence as the cause. When politicians start playing the blame game in this way, you know they are already preparing their exit strategies. The writing is on the wall. For those of us in the thick of the EU referendum debate, the contempt shown by the TTIP negotiators to the people of Europe is the most potent reminder of the democratic deficit at the heart of the EU institutions. Todays leak of the TTIP text leaves the leaders of the European Union with a choice. Either they abandon the TTIP negotiations immediately or they risk seeing the entire European project come crashing down about their ears. They have until 23rd June to decide. John Hilary is Executive Director of War on Want and author of 'The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: A Charter for Deregulation, An Attack on Jobs, An End to Democracy', now available in 12 European languages U2 pictured at Dublin Airport before their departure for their tour. L-R: The Edge (David Howell Evans), Adam Clayton, Paul David Hewson (Bono), and Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Mullen, Jr. Pic: Bryan O'Brien, 6/5/93 (Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Colection) Print t-shirts, ill-fitting blazers and faded jeans - yes, it was the nineties. And although some things change, some things don't change at all. Bono's still wearing the shades, The Edge still has his trademark headpiece and Larry Mullen is still rocking that moody look. This blast-from-the-past snap shows U2 in 1993 - six years after their 1987 album 'The Joshua Tree' brought them to a whole new level of fame worldwide. They had come a long way from that first performance of 'Stories for Boys'. The photograph shows (from left to right), The Edge, Adam Clayton, Bono and Larry Mullen. The rock band were pictured at Dublin Airport on May 6 before they departed again for their Zoo TV Tour. U2's worldwide concert tour took place in 1992 and 1993, just after the release of their first album, 'Achtung Baby'. It began in Lakeland, Florida and wrapped up 22 months later in Tokyo, Japan. Critics still regard Zoo TV as one of rock's most memorable tours. Twenty-three years later, Bono and The Edge are still reeling in the gongs. Last month, they won the Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in California. Click here if you're interested in purchasing this exclusive Independent Archives photo The grandson of a leading 1916 rebel who was never awarded a military medal for his role in the Easter Rising says hundreds more have not been officially recognised. Cathal MacSwiney Brugha, a university professor, said he is "not bothered" that his famous grandfather, after whom he is named, was never issued the 1916 medal. But he has called for a national effort to once and for all establish who was involved in both the Rising and the War of Independence. "As far as I know, a lot of people who actually did fight - and a lot of them who got injured couldn't get work subsequently - didn't get any recognition of one kind or another," he said. "I think it is hundreds." Last week, it emerged three household names from the Easter Rising were never awarded with a military medal for their role in the insurrection. They include Cathal Brugha, Countess Markievicz and Sean Russell. The Department of Defence said although the three had "verifiable, historically proven service during Easter Week 1916" they were not honoured because no claim was ever made by them or on their behalf. Dismissing official "definitive" numbers on combatants as wide of the mark, Prof MacSwiney Brugha said the high-profile omissions were only a fraction of those never recognised by the State for their part in the revolutionary period. "I think this is worth looking at," he said. "We are celebrating the fact that people are free, but a lot of the people who participated (in the fight for independence) didn't get properly recognised. "Now is the time to actually gather all the information - a lot of very good books have been written, a lot of family papers are coming out and military records are now becoming available. "Let's have some transparency and let's have the job completed." Files just released into the newly-opened Military Archives show 2,594 recognised veterans were awarded the 1916 medal. Most were issued using records from the military pensions. But Prof MacSwiney Brugha said applications for recognition were often sabotaged in the early years of the Free State, while later governments could not afford to grant pensions to everyone who fought. "The actual list of the people who were all in the different places and the list of people who got recognition - they don't match," he said. The University College Dublin professor said it was not necessarily about issuing medals, but the names of those who took part in the revolutionary period should be recognised by the State. "We could have a national approach ... let's find out for once and for all who was involved, and not just in 1916 but also in the War of Independence," he added. Cathal Brugha was second in command of the rebels stationed at the South Dublin Union garrison - where St James' Hospital stands today - under Eamonn Ceannt. Believed to be the only person outside of the Rising leaders who had a copy of the insurrection plans, he survived despite being shot 25 times and was reportedly found in a pool of blood singing to keep himself conscious. He went on to become a TD and defence minister but was later killed during civil war fighting on O'Connell Street. Gerry Adams said those criticising his tweets either did not understand them or were misrepresenting them Gerry Adams has been forced to apologise for using the N-word in a reference to a Quentin Tarantino film about black slavery in America. The Sinn Fein leader has admitted his controversial tweet - later removed from his Twitter account - was inappropriate but defended his comparison of the treatment of Irish nationalists to African Americans. "I apologise for any offence caused," he said. Mr Adams provoked an angry backlash on Twitter and from political opponents after tweeting on Sunday night about Django Unchained, the Oscar-winning film about slavery in America. It said: "Watching Django Unchained - A Ballymurphy N*****!" He also referred to the main character as "an uppity Fenian". Mr Adams was born in Ballymurphy, a republican heartland of west Belfast. Speaking outside Sinn Fein's Belfast headquarters at a hastily arranged press conference on Monday, he admitted deleting the tweet minutes after posting it. "Django Unchained is a powerful film which highlights the injustices suffered by African Americans through its main character Django," he said. "In my tweets I described him as a 'Ballymurphy n......' and 'an uppity Fenian'. "I have acknowledged that the use of the N-word was inappropriate. "That is why I deleted the tweet." In an earlier statement, Mr Adams had defended his use of the offensive term and said anyone genuinely offended by it either misunderstood him or misrepresented the context. "Like African Americans, Irish nationalists were denied basic rights," he said. "The penal laws, Cromwell's regime, and partition are evidence of that. "In our own time, like African Americans, nationalists in the north (of Ireland), including those from Ballymurphy and west Belfast, were denied the right to vote; the right to work; the right to a home; and were subject to draconian laws. "This changed because we stood up for ourselves. We need to continue to do that." Mr Adams said he has " long been inspired by Harriet Tubman; Frederick Douglass; Rosa Parks; Martin Luther King and Malcolm X who stood up for themselves and for justice". The embarrassing gaffe comes as his party and others face elections later this week for the Northern Ireland Assembly. It also comes just weeks after he was accused of comparing himself to civil rights icon Rosa Parks when he was excluded from a St Patrick's Day celebration at the White House. After being held up at security in Washington, he left and stated: "Sinn Fein will not sit at the back of the bus for anyone." Colum Eastwood, leader of the rival nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party, said Mr Adams' " public use of a racist slur falls well below the standards demanded by us all". "If a similar remark had been made by any other political leader on this island, Sinn Fein would have unleashed an orchestrated wave of angry condemnation," he said. "They would not accept any talk of context or of irony. They should hold themselves to the same standard. "No-one in Ballymurphy or any other area affected by the Troubles will accept this use of language to refer to events here." It is not the first time an Irish political leader has been forced to apologise over the use of the N-word. In 2002, Taoiseach Enda Kenny - then opposition leader - faced calls for his resignation when he recalled at a private function an anecdote about a Moroccan barman "with shiny teeth" in Portugal saying a cocktail called a Lumumba was named after "some n***** who died dans la guerre (in the war)". Patrice Lumumba was the assassinated African nationalist who was the Congo's first democratically elected leader. Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt described Mr Adams' comments as contemptible. "I find it extraordinary that the leader of a political party can even think to utter the words that he did," he said. "To try to liken the fight against slavery to what was happening in Northern Ireland in the 1960s is contemptible. "And then for him to claim that he was one of the founders of the civil rights movement - even (Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister) Martin McGuinness must be rolling his eyes at that one. "The civil rights campaigners wanted to reform Northern Ireland, not destroy it. This is just Gerry Adams trying to re-write history." Mr Nesbitt said the relative silence of other Sinn Fein leaders was deafening and he called on the party's candidates in the imminent election to make clear their positions on the remarks. The Canadian economist Kenneth Galbraith once made a rash statement during one of his legendary broadcasts that Ireland never produced a great economist. He deeply regretted saying so because from behind every bush, from that day on, he was assailed with names and dates of spectacular Irish contributors to the 'dismal science'. However, Galbraith said something else that no Irish person can do anything but endorse. He said poverty can only be solved by emigration or education. In many respects in Ireland we have made an unfortunate business out of emigration but it is a pity we haven't made a bigger business out of education. Our company this morning, Pearson plc, has chosen education as its business and made it a global one. But even noble endeavours like education are not guaranteed consistently high growth performances, as the recent experience of Pearson has shown. Up to last year it was in the newspaper publishing business and the owner of the 'Financial Times' and 'The Economist'. Investors asked if this exit was keeping 'ahead of the curve' or was it a reflection of the willingness of Pearson to be constantly dynamic? Pearson, after all, started life 172 years ago as a construction company. Getting out of newspapers wasn't exactly an abrupt change. It's been a gradual process. It has long controlled the paperback pioneer, Penguin, and three years ago it merged its publication business with the German group, Bertelsmann. The new company, Penguin Random House, publishes more than 15,000 new books annually, producing blockbusters like the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series, among others. Today Pearson is a worldwide education business with a 47pc interest in Penguin Random House. It delivers its educational content in a variety of forms including books and online services. Its products serve governments, institutions and individuals. The services include content, testing, administration and processing for teacher development including software, operating in 70 countries worldwide. The company operates in three segments which it designates as 'North America', 'Core' and 'Growth.' The North American business offers learning from early education through elementary, middle, high school, colleges and universities. The US is the company's largest market with 63pc of sales and also the most profitable segment accounting for almost three-quarters of the group's operating profit. Pearson regards its 'core' markets as Australia and Western Europe which account for almost one fifth of sales and operating profit. Its 'growth' markets notched up sales last year of 700m but was unprofitable. The group's sales of 4.5bn have been buffeted in the last 3 years, declining by almost 1bn with its core and growth segments suffering the most. Operating profits last year were 723m and guidance for this year is 600m but this hinges on cost savings. While the company has benefited from currency movements and the removal of executive bonus payments, the gains have been eroded by trading pressures and reconstruction costs. Unfortunately for investors the shares have dropped from a ten-year high of 15 to 6 at the end of last year. Following a second profit warning it would appear that investors are again warming to Pearson, the shares rising to 8 giving the company a market value of 6.6bn. Unsurprisingly, failure to reach profit targets displeased investors. In addition investors were unhappy with management vagueness about the promise of a return to growth in 2018. To some analyst this is unrealistic. They are, however, pleased that the dividend remains unchanged and that net debt was reduced by 1bn. Overall the outlook for 2016 remains 'challenging' in all of Pearson's major markets. But before investing clarity as to the speed and scales of its savings is essential, so I remain neutral. Nothing in this section should be taken as a recommendation, either explicit or implicit to buy any of the shares mentioned. Britons are to go to the polls on June 23 All eyes will turn to Brussels tomorrow as it releases its spring economic forecast. It will, of course, be interesting to see what it makes of Ireland's stellar recovery in GDP rates. But perhaps more pressing will be the outlook for the region's economic powerhouses, including Germany. Last month, the IMF lowered its global economic forecast by 0.2 percentage points to 3.2pc. It also warned that a Brexit would be potentially damaging to the world economy. There will also be a meeting of the European Central Bank Governing Council tomorrow. Tomorrow also sees the release of Ireland's purchasing managers' index for April for the manufacturing sector released. Data for the services sector will be out on Wednesday. There's a veritable deluge in indicators this week. US trade balance figures will be revealed, as will PMIs from Markit for the EU. There will also be closely-watched Irish retail sales figures for March out on Thursday, which will give a useful indication of just how confident consumers are feeling. Those figures will also incorporate Easter. Recent data from research group Kantar Worldpanel showed that Irish shoppers went on a bit of a splurge for Easter at the nation's supermarket chains. Two high-profile annual general meetings this week too: Insulation maker Kingspan has its AGM on Thursday, while packaging giant Smurfit Kappa holds its meeting on Friday and releases first quarter results the same day. Trading statements are also out this week from a number of UK firms, including retailer Next; insurance firm RSA; and Paddy Power Betfair on Wednesday. Investors will undoubtedly be looking for an update on the continuing integration process at the two gambling firms. On Friday, the deputy British Ambassador to Ireland, Neil Holland, will be among the special guests at an Irish Exporters' Association event in Cork. The association is 65 years in business this month, and will host a lunch there for key exporters and local businesses in the Munster region. Firefighters can be called on to tackle a variety of different emergencies, but evicting a bear burglar must be one of the more unusual. Eagle River Fire Protection District received an early morning call on Saturday to help remove a bear that had broken into a second floor apartment and was raiding a fridge. According to a statement from the fire district, the apartment owner - who locked himself in his bedroom - and the bear were unharmed. Watch the fire crew scare away the bear in the video above. Expand Close Fireman scares the bear in order to drive it out of the building CREDIT: EAGLE RIVER FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT/EAGLE RIVER FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fireman scares the bear in order to drive it out of the building CREDIT: EAGLE RIVER FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT/EAGLE RIVER FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT Video of the Day Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] This debut novel opens with the rather ominous disappearance of four-year-old Georgie. She had been playing hide and seek with her elder sister, Monica, on the disused mining area around their caravan. Twelve-year-old Monica retraces their movements behind oil barrels, giant wheels and old tyres thrown in the scrub. It is 1985 and their parents have moved to the opal-mining town of Akarula in Australia, in search of paradise. But what they found was a one-tree town in the searing outback heat. Monicas uncle Eddie had encouraged his brother to move from England. A bachelor-dreamer, Eddies big project as a property speculator is Akarula and hes obsessed with his brothers wife. The promise of paradise and a fatal attraction persuaded Monicas mother to move. Her dreams of a singing career had died with the birth of her daughters. The family know nothing of the other disappearances, while the villagers search down disused mine shafts for the little girl. Craters of hollow earth remain where the arid bush was ransacked and abandoned by the mining corporation. All the while, Mr M sits beneath the lone gum tree, his aboriginal presence symbolising colonial oppression over indigenous landscape and peoples. The novel is told from four points of view, a daring technique for a debut. Just as the reader is getting comfortable they are abruptly interrupted with a different voice. The most compelling is that of Monica, full of hope and beguiling innocence, despite the behaviour of the three adult characters around her. She is wise beyond her years, with an instinct to survive the unfolding drama of her parents lives. The gum tree remains a spectre throughout each narrative, engaging a troublesome theme of self-destruction. Born in Cheshire, Helen Blackhurst now lives in Ireland. She had an opportunity to meet publishers and agents at the 2015 Greenbean Novel Fair at the Irish Writers Centre which provided up-and-coming writers with an invaluable chance to bypass the slush pile. Swimming on Dry Land is one of many successes to be published over the last three years. Sledgehammers are omnipresent in Jean-Marc Vallee's latest tale of self-help redemption by way of a trite metaphor. In 2014's Wild, the Canadian director shot Reese Witherspoon as a wayward woman finding herself out in 'the wild'. No prizes then for guessing what gets Jake Gyllenhaal's character back on his feet after his wife's death in Demolition. But while some of these sledgehammers are tangible, most are figurative ones wielded by Vallee to push the film's "rip it up and start again" symbolism. The point is laboured, to say the least. Davis (Gyllenhaal) is a dead-on-the-inside Manhattan executive whose young wife dies in a tragic road accident. He seems unable to mourn, which doesn't help his already problematic relationship with father-in-law and boss Phil (Chris Cooper). He writes all this (and anything else his troubled mind excretes) in letters to a troubled customer-service worker called Karen (Naomi Watts). Soon, he has moved in with her and is bonding with her troubled teenage son, Chris (Judah Lewis). You may have noticed that many of Demolition's white middle-class suburbanites are "troubled". Davis and Karen in particular subsist on the kind of navel-gazing, free-associating waffle that New Yorkers love to relay to overpaid therapists. Put simply, hardly a single line sounds like anything uttered by real people in real life, and this makes them difficult to fully relate to. Of course, this isn't real life. This is that America where people in million-dollar glass boxes without financial cares are entitled to totally extricate themselves from society if the happiness boat is rocked. Vallee's 2013 Oscar-winner Dallas Buyers Club hit a note because redemption came at a cost in that film. Here, it's couriered straight to the door along with some pretty cinematography. Atlantic Cert: Club. Now showing at the IFI Rating: 5/5 Review by Aine O'Connor Risteard O'Domhnaill does things so the rest of us don't have to. Or that is sometimes what it feels like as he lays out the effects of capitalism and corruption in a world in which many of us are too daft, scared or worn out to notice. His previous award-winning documentary The Pipe examined the Shell to Sea campaign and his latest documentary makes similarly vital, if somewhat depressing, viewing. Atlantic focuses on three fishing communities - in Ireland, Norway and Newfoundland - each affected by different large interests. When Ireland joined the then EEC in 1973 we handed over control of fish stocks, and each year the member countries are allocated a fishing quota. This means that small Irish fishing operations look on as supertrawlers from other jurisdictions swallow vast quantities of fish from the Irish sea, killing off the indigenous industry and wreaking havoc on North Atlantic fish stocks. It was sweeping measures to counteract a threat to cod stocks that put the fishermen of Newfoundland out of business in the 1990s. They then reinvented themselves for the oil business, but now that is under threat too. In turn, it is oil exploration that threatens the closely protected Arctic fishing industry in Norway. The documentary reveals a cycle of short-sighted measures based on short-term gain that wreak long-term destruction both on the small communities immediately affected and the entire eco-system of the North Atlantic. Video of the Day Well researched and put together, this is important stuff, not least because there is still time. Captain America: Civil War Cert: 12A Rating: 4/5 Review by Aine O'Connor I confess that the prospect of yet more super heroes duelling it out did not fill me with joy - I have a limited capacity for super folk and this year's supply is all but used up. However, this serving of conflicted mega peeps, almost all of the Marvel characters now familiar on the big screen, proved an enjoyable, if overly long, episode in a series that still has a long way to run. Following the destruction wrought in Avengers: Age of Ultron, the UN and the US Secretary of Summat (William Hurt) want the Avengers to either submit to official control or cease and desist all world-saving ops. The issue for the authorities is whether they are heroes or vigilantes, but the issue for Avengers is the quality of the power they will be subject to. Fuelled by guilt and the need to get back in with his girlfriend, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) leads a cohort, including War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson, pictured below), who are keen to agree to regulation. On the other hand, Captain America (Chris Evans), aware that their first task will be to kill the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) - his childhood friend turned ruthless killer - is more conflicted. With him are Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Falcon (Anthony Mackie). The remaining heroes, and a few extra recruits, pick sides and civil war ensues. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo, working from a screenplay by Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely, keep a firm hold of what, with so many characters and so many stars, could have gone badly wrong. They deliver a strong story about friendship and principle that hits the right notes without getting po-faced and has a very different tone to Batman V. Superman, the film that it will inevitably be compared to. There's a light touch, and it is often funny. There are many series in-jokes - the scene where Iron Man recruits Spider-Man (Tom Holland) is a classic example. And the action scenes are outstanding. Son of Saul Cert: 15A Rating: 5/5 Review by Aine O'Connor It is a further measure of the utter insanity of the Nazi regime that when it became obvious that it was losing the war, rather than focus on military efforts it stepped up the extermination rates in the concentration camps. This put pressure on one aspect of the death camps rarely focused upon, the actual system of mass murder. The system required that some inmates, known as Sonderkommando, be chosen to process the ones who were to be killed. These Sonderkommando were kept alive long enough - but not too long - to be able to do all of the work involved in murdering thousands of people each week. In this extraordinary film, Hungarian director Laszlo Nemes, working from a script he co-wrote with Clara Royer, tells a story set over two days in Auschwitz from the point of view of Hungarian Sonderkommando Saul Auslander (Geza Rohrig). The entire film is shot via close-up of Saul, who, at the beginning of the story, sets himself a mission to find a rabbi. This mission overrides almost all other concerns, including at times the escape plans of his co-Sonderkommando. The camera angle is wearing in places but effective in that it expresses the focus the men must have needed in order to do the work demanded of them. They each had a task handling the "pieces", as the SS referred to the bodies, and in the background, out of focus but still present, tasks such as extracting gold teeth from the corpses continued. But life of sorts always goes on, the valuables stolen from the murdered were not always handed over and became currency for other inmates, for food, sex or favours. But Saul's mission to find a rabbi is his personal fight against dehumanisation. It's a rarely expressed side of an oft-told story that proves simple, harrowing and effective. A group of Irish students have come together to make sense of the 2008 economic crash with their short film Crash Crash Bang. Most people probably hadnt heard the phrase mortgage-backed securities until around 2008, when the subprime-mortgage crisis erupted and sent the global financial system into chaos. But what exactly happened? Thats the central question of Crash Crash Bang. It tells the same story as the 2016 Oscar-winning film The Big Short, based on an adaptation of Michael Lewiss 2010 book. For those who haven't seen it, The Big Short is about a handful of Wall Streeters who uncovered the underlying problems in the mortgage market and bet against (or shorted) the securities made up of subprime debt before the great economic meltdown in 2008. The script, narration, shot ideas, and the music found in Crash Crash Bang are original and gives an Irish angle to the crisis. It was created by a group of students from the UCD Smurfit Business School and director Phat Meek has created a film that's fun to watch but based on themes that are frightening to consider. It even gives a cheeky nod to The Big Short's famous bubble bath scene with Margot Robbie right at the end. The Edge poses for a picture with Irish bishop Paul Tighe (right) at the Vatican. Photo: Reuters The Edge has become the first rock star to play in the Sistine Chapel, a venue that he described as "the most beautiful parish hall in the world". The guitarist, whose real name is David Evans, sang four songs on Saturday night for around 200 doctors, researchers and philanthropists attending a conference at the Vatican, called Cellular Horizons on regenerative medicine. Backed by a choir of seven Irish teenagers and wearing his trademark black beanie cap, The Edge played acoustic guitar and sang a cover of Leonard Cohen's 'If it Be Your Will', and versions of U2 songs, including 'Yahweh', 'Ordinary love' and 'Walk On'. The Edge, whose father died last month from cancer and whose daughter has overcome leukaemia, is on the board of foundations that are working for cancer prevention. He joked with his audience, telling them that he was stunned when asked to play in the chapel, which was painted by the Renaissance master Michelangelo in the 16th Century. "When they asked me if I wanted to become the first contemporary artist to play in the Sistine Chapel, I didn't know what to say because usually there's this other guy who sings," the musician said, referring to U2 front man Bono. "Being Irish, you learn very early that if you want to be asked to come back, it's very important to thank the local parish priest for the loan of the hall," he said. He then thanked Pope Francis and other Vatican officials "for allowing us to use the most beautiful parish hall in the world". The Edge dedicated his performance of 'Walk On', written in 2000 for Myanmar democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi when she was under house arrest, to Pope Francis, whom he described as "the people's Pope". "He's doing an amazing job and long may he continue," he added. The rock star sprinkled his address with technical terms, such as biomarkers and angiogenesis. "I can tell this is a really cool audience because normally when I say angiogenesis eyes glaze over," he said. Angiogenesis is the process through which new blood vessels, which tumours need to grow, are formed. Scientists are seeking ways to block tumour angiogenesis. Video of the Day The Vatican conference, which was addressed by the US vice-president Joe Biden on Friday, was organised by the US-based Stem for Life Foundation to share ideas and treatments on the use of adult stem cells to cure rare diseases. Last month, the Edge led mourners at the funeral for his father, Garvin Evans, who died at the age of 84. He paid tribute to his father's "unswerving positivity" in the face of a decade-long battle with illness. An elegiac piece on RTE Radio One's Sunday Miscellany from novelist Julie Parsons imagined the Protestant community in Dun Laoghaire, or Kingstown as it then was, as the murmur of guns on Easter 1916 began a process that changed their world forever, and how that community slowly drifted away from the Republic that followed. Sunday Miscellany is a show that deals in nostalgic evocations of time, family and place, but this - together with another piece by Bryan MacMahon on Timothy Finn, who fought against the British army in the city that day and then died a few years later fighting for it on the Western Front - was a timely reminder that it can deal with more complex subject matter, and that there are many different Irelands. On Tuesday's Newstalk, Moncrieff discussed another complicated issue, that of so-called revenge porn - the posting of sexual images of a former partner online either to humiliate or blackmail them. What was interesting was the way in which the websites which host this material are able to hide behind their "first amendment" right to free speech. The problem, Sean's guest explained, is that the images themselves are not illegal, so countries can do little to shut the sites down unless they're being run in the same jurisdiction, which usually they are not. That same day, an author of a new book about the secret online world of teenage girls spoke to The Anton Savage Show on Today FM, describing the even more disturbing phenomenon of boys and girls as young as 10 sending explicit pictures via smartphones to other users, often as a result of being manipulated or bullied. Sometimes it doesn't even need that. Young people know that provocative pictures on social media attract more "likes", so they're increasingly being lured into a hypersexualised culture from whose clutches they then simply cannot escape. As Nancy Jo Sales put it chillingly, this is nothing more than child pornography, which is meant to be illegal, but it is children themselves who are now producing it. In less than a decade of their existence, she said, smartphones have "completely transformed, some might say completely destroyed, childhood". Talking on the line to Shane Coleman, who was sitting in for George on The Right Hook, Eoghan Harris lifted spirits with a typically feisty analysis on Wednesday of negotiations for the new government, during which he mocked "Fine Gael trots" who thought the threat of another election would get them their own way, when it was they who had most to lose, and lambasted left wing and independent TDs now predicting gloom and doom. Cynicism is an easy stance to adopt, but Harris showed that optimism can be equally infectious as he looked forward to a "good three years of democracy". Drivetime went instead with Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger, who sounded rather miffed for a woman claiming that her political opponents were on the run. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett with a student at the school in Ecuador. Photo: PA/Home of the Mother order Sister Clare Theresa Crockett with a pupil at the Home of the Mother order school in Ecuador. Photo: Home of the Mother order/PA Sister Clare Crockett, who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador. Photo: Family Handout/PA Wire A young Irish nun killed in the earthquake in Ecuador was an inspirational example of womanhood, mourners at her funeral service have been told. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett (33) died when a stairwell collapsed in the school where she was working in Playa Prieta earlier this month. Hundreds of people packed into St Columba's Church close to her family home in the Brandywell area of Londonderry for Requiem Mass. Fr Eamon Graham, who led the service, said: "She was a striking example of Derry womanhood. "Clare asked herself what she could do to make the world a better place and how she could serve God and help the most vulnerable. "And to do that she went to the far end of the earth and she took her goodness with her." More than 480 people were killed and 4,000 others injured in the powerful quake, which had a magnitude of 7.8 - the strongest to hit the country since 1979. The US Geological Survey said the shallow quake which struck on April 17 was centred 16 miles (26km) from Muisne in a sparsely populated area of fishing ports popular with tourists. Sister Clare, a nun in the Home of the Mother order, had been teaching children in a rural part of the country, including guitar lessons. She died alongside a number of local girls in the school. Fr Graham told the congregation that many who met the self-confessed former party girl and budding actress had been inspired to change direction. He added: "She continued to do this in her death. "She enjoyed life and she loved life. "She always said she wanted to be famous - but she gave all that up. But in a way she has achieved fame and that will help her good work continue." As her coffin, adorned with floral bouquets, was carried into the church, a guard of honour was provided by girls from St Cecilia's College where Sister Clare had received their first-ever award for kindness. A large number of Catholic clergy including Bishops Edward Daly and Donal McKeown as well as the high profile Presbyterian minister and former Army chaplain Reverend David Latimer were among those who took part in the ceremony. Some members of Sister Clare's order were also in attendance as were Stormont politicians including Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and SDLP leader Colm Eastwood, both Derry natives. A guitar was among the gifts offered during the service. Outside the church Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown said Sister Clare's family had drawn comfort by the level of support. He said: "I didn't know her but, her smiling face, her guitar, is the way that she will be remembered. "I understand she was found with the guitar cord round her neck, and in many ways that's the image most of us have seen of her over the past few weeks. "I am sure she will be remembered as somebody who was full of energy and full of life and who wanted to give the best that she had for people who were not as well off or as fortunate as she was." Senior figures at the National Maternity Hospital are exploring a range of possible sites for its relocation as the row over a move to the campus of St Vincent's Hospital deepens. The executives in the hospital, which is currently located in an out-dated building on Holles Street and is earmarked to move to the Dublin 4 campus, are now spreading the net to examine other sites where it could construct a modern premises. However, it is understood that the Department of Health remains of the view that building a new maternity hospital on the grounds of St Vincent's is still the best option. It is ultimately a matter for the department to decide where the 150m of Exchequer funding will be used to construct the new hospital. A decision on whether to abandon the planned move to St Vincent's and review other locations will be one of the first items on the agenda of the next health minister. St Vincent's Healthcare Group is adamant that it must have control of the corporate governance of the new hospital but this is being resisted by the maternity hospital's board. Overcrowding The St Vincent's board is embroiled in the row over corporate governance at a time when its public hospital emergency department is facing dangerous levels of overcrowding and it has had to close its doors to new patients with skin cancer. Health Minister Leo Varadkar reiterated yesterday that his preference is for the maternity hospital to retain its independence as part of a co-location structure. "Clinical care at Vincent's has clearly benefited from having its own independent board and there is every reason that the same independence should be retained at the maternity hospital," he said. Dr Peter Boylan, chair of the Institute of Obstetricians, warned yesterday that any more delays would leave pregnant women at a disadvantage as they gave birth in out-of-date and cramped conditions. Even if the maternity hospital is represented on an all-embracing board, it would be down the priority list, he said, adding: "The three maternity hospitals in Dublin are overcrowded and they need to be re-located. It is time to get on with it." A spokesman for the National Maternity Hospital said: "We are committed to seeking a resolution of the current impasse and developing a world-class hospital... at the St Vincent's site. We don't want to speculate on other options at this stage." Intel announced last week it was shedding 12,000 jobs globally due to lack of demand for its PC computer chips. Stock photo: Reuters Thousands of Intel workers are bracing themselves for the worst when they return to work this week amid reports that more than 400 Irish jobs are to be lost. Staff at the computer chip giant's Leixlip plant in Co Kildare, which employs 4,500 people, fear they will bear the brunt of compulsory and voluntary redundancies at its Irish operations. The company also has bases in Shannon and Cork. Intel announced last week it was shedding 12,000 jobs globally due to lack of demand for its PC computer chips. The 'Sunday Business Post' reported that 420 out of 5,500 jobs here will be axed, which the company has dismissed as "speculative". But local councillors in Leixlip and nearby Celbridge said there was a "sense of impending doom" in both communities over the weekend as workers await more information on the job cuts this week. "There are husbands and wives both working there a long time," said Celbridge councillor Ide Cussen. "There is a sense of impending doom, but people didn't see it coming." She said the fact that the company would not tell staff how many jobs were on the line until this week had made people very anxious. "The drip feed of giving people the news has been torture," she said. And it was not just the Intel workers who would be affected but local shops, pubs and other businesses as well, she added. Leixlip councillor Joe Neville said the impending job losses were all his constituents had been talking about, including four of his personal friends who work at Intel. "Everybody is on tenterhooks," he said. "You can feel the tension. People just don't know what to expect." Aside from the immediate job losses, the community fears the plant itself will eventually wind down if Intel can't keep up with rapidly evolving technologies, which would be devastating to everyone, he added. An Irish basket maker has won the battle of the rattles as his simple woven toy was given to Princess Charlotte for her first birthday by her grandfather, the Prince of Wales. Native Galway weaver Ciaran Hogan (34) says he is flattered with all the attention hes received since his simple willow woven rattle was listed among hundreds of presents given to the little princess over the last 12 months to celebrate her birthday on May 2. The simple toy might seem out of place in the royals toy box, which already contains a 40k white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires as well as gifts from a king, two queens, four presidents and three prime ministers, but according to the weaver sometimes the simplest toy is the best. It looks like Im beating the sapphires, joked the 34-year-old craftsman from Joyce Country. Expand Close Princess Charlotte, an image taken by the Duchess of Cambridge at Anmer Hall in Norfolk in April / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Charlotte, an image taken by the Duchess of Cambridge at Anmer Hall in Norfolk in April Children usually like the straightforward toys the most, so Im flattered that my rattle has got the attention it has. Its got seven stones inside to make the noise. Expand Close The woven rattle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The woven rattle These represent the seven deadly sins, so when the child shakes it, theyre banishing them. First presented to Prince Charles last May during his historic visit to Galway, Ciaran said he was surprised that his gift had made its way into the Royal Highness granddaughters toy chest. Expand Close Native Galway weaver Ciaran Hogan (34) says he is flattered with all the attention hes received / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Native Galway weaver Ciaran Hogan (34) says he is flattered with all the attention hes received Its a simple enough design and only takes 10 to 15 minutes to make, so when I heard about the Princes new grandchild I thought it would be an ideal gift to remember his visit to the area. It was very nice to meet him as he was very friendly and did seem to be genuinely interested in the rattle. Expand Close Princess Charlotte poses for a photograph taken by her mother Kate Middleton, who is to appearon the cover of Vogue, inset, for its June centenary issue. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Charlotte poses for a photograph taken by her mother Kate Middleton, who is to appearon the cover of Vogue, inset, for its June centenary issue. Photo: Reuters He added: Im delighted he kept it to be honest. Its very flattering. Ciaran, who followed his father into the weave trade some years ago, said that the majority of his business was making log baskets from willow sourced locally from Loch Na Fooey. Expand Close The young Princess Charlotte Credit: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The young Princess Charlotte Credit: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge "Ive always enjoyed the idea of being able to go out cut and harvest the willow and use it to create something from noting. Theres a pride in that." A list of gifts released by Kensington Palace shows that among the more extravagant presents received by Princess Charlotte over the past 12 months include a silver rattle given to her by the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, and his wife, Senora Angelica Rivera. Even more lavish was an 18k white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires made by the Natural Sapphire Company and valued at 40,000. In total, Princess Charlotte received gifts and letters from 64 countries around the world. John Douglas posted the comments on the Facebook page of a former Tesco worker. Photo: Gerry Mooney General Secretary of Mandate trade union, John Douglas, has accused his own members of having "no balls". Mandate has been representing workers in an ongoing dispute with Tesco, after the supermarket chain announced plans earlier this year to reduce pay and conditions. In an outburst on the Facebook page of a former Tesco worker, the union head hit out at some workers, who he later referred to as "sour grapes". Mr Douglas called the worker whose page he posted on a "solid, solid union member" who "lead from the front" and was leaving Tesco with dignity. But then he launched a salvo against other workers. "Sadly, unlike some others who wish to cover their tracks by blaming their union because they have no balls to admit that their time has come and the price is right," he wrote. He was referring to the voluntary redundancy that was offered by Tesco, which was accepted by about 700 long-term workers, but rejected by about 300. Contacted yesterday, Mr Douglas insisted he stood over the comments on Facebook, but said that he was only talking about a small number of Mandate members. "The union's position is that we are standing and fighting for jobs, but the company opened a redundancy deal," Mr Douglas said. Blaming "There's a couple of people taking it and blaming the union, [saying] that the union couldn't stand and fight for their jobs," he added. "A small number of people, who have taken the redundancy and wish to justify their decision to take [it] by blaming the union, that's all." Asked to explain the phrase "their time has come and the price is right", Mr Douglas highlighted the Tesco redundancy deal. "I mean, they're getting five weeks' pay per year of service, so they're getting nice cheques. So if you could just go with dignity. There's nothing more in it than that," he said. Defence Minister Simon Coveney has admitted that he expects Irish sailors to face "deeply harrowing" scenes in the Mediterranean as more than a million migrants are set to try to reach Europe this year. Mr Coveney was speaking as he inspected the LE Roisin at Haulbowline Naval Base. The patrol ship has become the fourth Irish vessel to be deployed to the Mediterranean to assist with migrant rescues. Two further Irish vessels will be deployed later this year. The LE Roisin, under Lt Cdr Ultan Finegan and with an operational crew of 57, sailed from Haulbowline at noon yesterday, bound for Malta. And among their temporary crew mates are two endangered loggerhead turtles, which will be released back into the wild when the ship arrives in the Mediterranean. The turtles were washed ashore at Barryrow, west Cork, and Cornwall, England during winter storms. They will be released some distance from the LE Roisin by crew members in a rigid inflatable boat when they reach the warm waters east of Gibraltar. As in previous missions, the ship will operate under the direction of the Italian Coast Guard. Two of the crew, Cdr Ken Minihan and Sub Lt David McKenna, served on migrant rescue missions last year. EU chiefs have admitted that migrant numbers this year are expected to far exceed 2015 levels. Some estimate that more than a million people will attempt to enter Europe in 2016. With Turkey now cracking down on migrant movements under a new deal with the EU, there are mounting concerns that the more dangerous north African route will become the main entry point to Europe. Mr Coveney said: "This is not easy work but it is vital work. It will not solve the migration crisis but it will save lives. "But everyone appreciates that this will be harrowing work over the next few weeks." Ireland's notoriously strict defamation laws have been called into question ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. Ireland's notoriously strict defamation laws have been called into question ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The representative body for the national newspaper industry, NewsBrands Ireland, is highlighting the significant challenge posed to freedom of expression by Ireland's defamation regime and, in particular, the level of awards made in defamation cases. Defamation awards are much higher here than the rest of Europe. The decision of the Supreme Court to award 1.25million in a case which it accepted was not the most serious of defamation actions puts Ireland wholly out of kilter with its neighbouring jurisdictions. The award is approximately ten times higher than would have been made in the UK. Ireland is also the only country in Europe where defamation actions are heard before a jury. In Britain, trials are held without a jury unless the Court orders otherwise. The retention of the jury system creates delays and also a lack of certainty for publishers who have no way to ascertain the extent of their potential liability. As a result, many newspapers simply wont take the risk of publishing an article. This has a chilling effect on the medias role as the watchdog of the public and is at odds with the theme of this years World Press Freedom Day Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms: This is your Right. World Press Freedom Day was declared by the UN General Assembly in 1993 and 100 national celebrations take place each year to commemorate it on May 3. The date celebrates the "fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession". This year's World Press Freedom Day will be hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Finland in Helsinki between May 2 and 4. Finland currently holds the top spot of the press freedom index. Ireland is ranked at number nine out of 180 countries. The Netherlands, Denmark, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Sweden and Jamaica finishing up the top 10. Five men suspected of being involved in the Regency Hotel murder are still being sought by the Kinahan cartel - despite the individuals being either in prison, out of the country or in hiding. The criminals, who are all associated with the Hutch mob, are suspected of being directly involved in the gun attack which left gangland figure David Byrne (33) fatally wounded. The hit squad included three men dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by the elite Emergency Response Unit (ERU), as well as a shooter disguised as a woman and a heavy-set gunman wearing a flat cap. Read More Serious One young criminal suspected of being one of those carrying an AK-47 is currently on remand facing serious charges. Meanwhile, the man suspected of being 'Flat Cap' has been hiding out in Northern Ireland, having fled to his hometown in Co Tyrone in the immediate aftermath of the Regency Hotel hit. Read More His home address was recently raided and he is a close associate of Michael Barr (35), a dissident republican who was gunned down in Summerhill last Monday night as part of the deadly feud. Another Regency Hotel suspect has fled the jurisdiction following an attempt on his life. Senior gardai recently revealed how "preventative measures" had been taken in recent weeks as part of an attempted hit. Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahony, in charge of Crime and Security for An Garda Siochana, added that the intended target "will probably never know" about the foiled hit. The two other men, one suspected of being the man in drag and the other a fake ERU officer, are still believed to be in the greater Dublin area - but have been keeping a relatively low profile. The suspected cross-dressing hitman was a close associate of feud murder victim Gary Hutch, and has been warned that he is under active threat from the Kinahan cartel due to his suspected involvement in the murder. Armed gardai previously raided the home address of the other hitman dressed as an ERU officer. However, the man aged in his 20s was not arrested during the raid. The criminal issued a stark warning to detectives searching his home, saying that the feud wouldn't end until Daniel Kinahan was killed. Botched The Herald previously revealed how he was targeted in a botched gangland hit after being set up by an associate. However, the feared criminal fled the scene after becoming aware of the planned hit. Sources previously revealed how one of the AK-47 shooters still in the jurisdiction has been carrying out "inquiries" in an attempt to track down the chief suspect in a feud murder. The 42-year-old said he refused to pay 3,400 (2,700) to an Ivory Coast gang (stock) A married Irish father has spoken out after a gang of cybercrime blackmailers published intimate pictures of him online when he refused to hand over money. The 42-year-old said he refused to pay 3,400 (2,700) to an Ivory Coast gang - and the Facebook fraudsters followed through on their threats to publicly shame him. Upon realising he had been duped by the gang, the man - who wished to be identified only by his first name Robert - said he confessed to his wife about his "stupid" mistake after revealing too much online. "I had a friend request from somebody I don't know on Facebook," he said. "I accepted it, and about five minutes later I received a message through Facebook messenger. "A girl then called me on a video message - basically she stripped off and asked me to show her my bits. "I stupidly done it and the next thing I know they were asking for $4,000 or they were going to send the pictures to everybody on my friends list." Read More After insisting he was unemployed and had no money to send, Robert said the gang swiftly posted the images online, trying to send them to his contacts, including his son and brother. Despite deleting his social media account the images remain online. Robert took screenshots on his phone of the threatening messages but said he believed there was nothing police could do. "When I told my wife she blew up. I don't blame her, I feel stupid. But she doesn't want any of her family knowing about it," he said. "I just wanted to warn other people. I took the only way to get out of it, which was to confess." Reacting to Robert's story, online safety expert Jim Gamble said "sextortion" cases like this were being orchestrated on an "industrial scale" by gangs in Ivory Coast, Nigeria and the Philipines, as well as the United States. He said that the PSNI was investigating many similar cases across Northern Ireland and urged Robert to share any information he could to assist with its investigations. "I think a lot of people get involved in this because they don't see it as a real world betrayal, it's a person far away whom they'll never meet. Lots of men view it as if it's interactive pornography; it's not," he said. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was at the centre of an international storm over the use of a racist slur on social media. Mr Adams' apparent use of the word "n****r" drew condemnation from both side of the Atlantic. Mr Adams has apologised to reporters for using the N-word in a tweet about film Django Unchained in which he compared the struggle against slavery in the US to the plight of Irish nationalists. "I stand over the context and the substance of the point I was making which is the parallel between the plight of people here in Ireland and the struggle of people of African-American extraction," he said. Expand Close 'Click to enlarge' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 'Click to enlarge' Earlier today, the Sinn Fein president defended his use of the word, saying he had either been misunderstood by those who had taken offence at his use of the term, or they were misrepresenting the post. Expand Close Mairia Cahill's tweet this morning / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mairia Cahill's tweet this morning Read More The offending tweet about the Oscar-winning Quentin Tarantino film appeared on his profile late on Sunday night. It said: "Watching Django Unchained - A Ballymurphy N*****!" Although the tweet was removed swiftly it provoked a furious reaction. The republican later issued a statement in which he said attempts to suggest he was a racist were "without credibility". He said: "I am opposed to racism and have been all my life. Read More "The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves. "If anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used. For this reason I deleted the tweets." Mr Adams said that anyone who had seen the film, which stars Jamie Foxx as the emancipated protagonist, Django, and Christoph Waltz as his ally, and was familiar with the plight of nationalists in the north until recently "would understand the tweet was not meant to insult". "My tweets about the film and the use of the N-word were ironic and not intended to cause any offence whatsoever," he said. This morning former Labour Party Senator Mairia Cahill criticised Gerry Adams explanation of the tweet. "My family is from Ballymurphy.There is no comparison with people taken into slavery and there." The controversy began when the Sinn Fein president put the racist phrase on his Twitter account. He quickly deleted the derogatory word after he received a backlash from users of the social media website. But in the intervening period, the comment was picked up by international news outlets. In the US, 'The Washington Times' reported: "The longtime leader of the Irish Republican Army's political wing used the most toxic of all racial slurs Sunday night." The newspaper quoted Michael Brendan Dougherty, an Irish-American columnist, who wrote: "Gerry Adams survived the RUC, the UVF, and British intelligence. This tweet he may not." At 11.27 last night, the Sinn Fein leader tweeted: "Watching Django Unchained - A Ballymurphy N*****r". He added: "Django - an uppity Fenian!" He removed the tweets within minutes. Mr Adams later tweeted: "Time 4 leaba. Oichey oichey", but offered no explanation for his use of the word. Last night Ms Cahill said: "There is something wrong with him. I've said it before, and still he never fails to reinforce the point." She added later: "Four days before an election. Leader of a party tweets that tweet. If the media don't bounce all over Sinn Fein they're not wise." 'Django Unchained' is an extremely violent Quentin Tarantino movie following the plight of a black slave who is seeking to free his wife. Ballymurphy is an area of Belfast. The so-called Ballymurphy massacre refers to the deaths of 11 people allegedly killed by the British Army in 1971. Mr Adams is a frequent visitor to the US, where he lobbies politically and attends Sinn Fein fundraising events. Mr Adams's comment came less than two months after he caused controversy here and in America when he compared himself to American Civil Rights campaigner Rosa Parks after he was excluded from the White House by security personnel when he was forced to wait 90 minutes to attend a St Patrick's Day event. Security staff kept him waiting while they quizzed his documents, prompting him to leave. Taoiseach Enda Kenny was caught up in a racism controversy almost 15 years ago when he used the so-called 'N-word' in an anecdote about about a murdered African liberation hero. Mr Kenny was forced to make an apology for the joke about Patrice Lumumba. Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael leadership ambitions have been damaged by his latest outburst on water charges. The Health Minister attacked Fianna Fail over the deal which sees water bills being suspended. Fianna Fail and Independents have identified Mr Varadkar as a problem within the government talks. The minister's comments went down well with Fine Gael supporters. But party backbenchers are said to be wary of his erratic nature and outspokenness. "The membership don't understand how delicate this whole situation is and he is seen to be a guy who just says what they want to hear," a senior party figure told the Irish Independent. Simon Coveney, who is viewed as Mr Varadkar's main competitor for the party leadership, yesterday dismissed suggestions Taoiseach Enda Kenny will soon be departing as speculation. Meanwhile, Independent TDs will today argue for a retention of the 100 water grant for 360,000 families who already pay for water in group schemes or by having their own wells. TDs in the six-member Independent Alliance believe that rural families risk being discriminated against in the arrangement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail that underpins an emerging minority coalition. Fine Gael negotiators today begin two separate sets of talks with 11 Independent TDs seeking as many votes as possible to have Enda Kenny elected Taoiseach later this week. The Independents will scrutinise the weekend deal between the two big parties on how a minority government can be made work for three Budgets into 2018. They will also examine a general statement on policy matters agreed by both parties. Assuming this is agreeable to the Independents, they will then proceed to work on their demands with the Fine Gael negotiators. These include action on rural development, agriculture supports, housing and mortgage distress, transport - and a speeded-up delivery on rural high-speed broadband. But two members of the Independent Alliance, Michael Fitzmaurice and Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, have confirmed that compensation for rural families funding their own water will be a crucial issue. Both deputies said they will seek retention of the 100 payment - ostensibly "a water conservation grant" - now scrapped as water charges have been put on hold. They said it must be retained for those funding their own water supply. Mr Fitzmaurice said 190,000 families are members of group water schemes and a further 170,000 families provided their own wells and pumps. "If we're giving free water to everyone else we have to some semblance of fair play for these rural dwellers. Let's try to cherish all the children of the nation equally," the Roscommon-Galway TD said. Mr Fitzmaurice said they will also fight for a refund scheme for the six out of 10 households that complied with the law and paid their water charges. Meanwhile Kevin 'Boxer' Moran backed calls for tougher rules on setback distances for wind turbines. Both deputies said this issue was extremely important for many rural communities. Sources close to the process suggested that a compromise on water grants might revolve around reversing cuts to group water scheme supports of 45 per household. However, acting Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney yesterday insisted that households that have not paid their water charges must still be pursued, even though water charges have been shelved. "I think the likely approach that we will take, and certainly the one I will be advocating, is that those who have paid should see others who haven't paid being required to pay. "One of the things in the written document we have hopefully agreed now with Fianna Fail is that people who have paid charges won't be disadvantaged." Independents Day at Leinster House Enda Kennys shaky deal with Fianna Fail depends on securing Independents votes. He must secure the backing of at least six Independents to complete a Fine Gael-led minority coalition and to become Taoiseach. In practice, he needs eight or more to give him stability. A record total of 23 Independents were elected on February 26. These break into specific groups and from the earliest a maximum of 16 Independent TDs appeared open to discussions about backing government. But this number has dwindled over time. Mr Kenny can rely upon the support of former Fine Gael Minister Michael Lowry for his proposed minority administration but he would prefer if Mr Lowrys vote was not the deciding factor. Independent newcomer, Katherine Zappone, is also expected to support a Fine Gael-led minority after becoming one of the first to pledge her support for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach Seven left-leaning Independents have never figured in government formation talks. These are: Seamus Healy Thomas Pringle Catherine Connolly Mick Wallace Clare Daly Joan Collins Tommy Broughan. The Healy-Rae brothers are unlikely to support a deal. Newcomer Danny has ruled it out. Michael Healy-Rae kept his options open but his demands were deemed excessive by Fine Gael. Independent Maureen OSullivan remains undecided but is unlikely to back a deal. In the six-member Independent Alliance, Shane Ross, Kevin Boxer Moran, Finian McGrath, Michael Fitzmaurice, and Sean Canney appear open to striking a deal. Big doubts surround John Halligan, who is seeking guarantees on coronary care services for Waterford University Hospital. There are five Rural Independents. Of these, Denis Naughten and Dr Michael Harty appear ready to deal if conditions are right. Michael Collins and Noel Grealish are undecided. Mattie McGrath appears most unlikely to participate. Forecasts are predicting settled weather and temperatures rising to levels more typical for this time of year in the coming week It could finally be time to banish winter coats to the back of the wardrobe - as forecasts are predicting settled weather and temperatures rising to levels more typical for this time of year in the coming week. However, this comes after the mixed conditions experienced over the May bank holiday - during which we saw gusty winds, hail and sunshine. Although Ireland's monthly weather data won't be released until next week, April is expected to prove one of the coldest on record. But - following the long winter - it seems that after today breezy yet brighter conditions are expected to bring temperatures more normal for the month of May. The last of the rain is forecast to depart from the east coast today, leaving sunny spells and scattered showers, with fresh westerly winds. Similar conditions are expected across the country, although it will be blustery, according to Met Eireann. Maximum temperatures will be 10-12C. Tonight, showers will be confined to north and west coasts, with clear spells developing elsewhere. However, it will turn cold, with a touch of grass frost in inland parts of the south. Less rain and more settled conditions are anticipated for the coming days. "The outlook for the week is a bit better than it has been," said Met Eireann forecaster John Eagleton. "Temperatures will be a bit higher and more towards normal at 13C or 14C. "There is a good sign it will be a bit warmer next weekend, it might be 16C. It's hard to call it for sure, there are signs of it settling, but there are signs of more rain coming up from the south. "One thing we can be pretty certain of is that it will be a lot warmer than the week gone by," he added. Tomorrow, showers will persist in the north and west but many places will be dry and bright with sunny breaks, although still on the cool side. Wednesday will be a milder day, with temperatures in the low to mid-teens. Much of the country will be dry with sunny spells, although there is a likelihood of rain in the west towards the afternoon and evening. On Thursday, apart from a little rain in places, it will be dry with broken cloud. Ireland has no gambling regulator and there are no guidelines governing how bookmakers report suspicious gambling activity here. (stock picture) Ireland has no gambling regulator and there are no guidelines governing how bookmakers report suspicious gambling activity here. Betting companies are required to obtain a licence that governs tax compliance, payment of duties and ensuring that the bookmaker is fit to hold a licence. But no laws have been implemented requiring bookmakers to monitor for suspicious gambling activity, in contrast to industries such as banking and accountancy. In 2013, proposals for the introduction of gambling regulations were drawn up and agreed on - but three years later the law is yet to be signed off. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has refused to comment on the glaring hole in regulation of the gambling industry, despite repeated requests. Her department will ultimately be responsible for regulation, according to the Government. A statement from the Revenue Commissioner said that it collects tax from licensed betting operators, but does not regulate their betting activities. "Revenue has no role in the regulation of licensed betting operations, or in the investigation of suspicious betting activity," it said, adding that the Department of Justice was responsible for policy in the area. A statement from the Department of Justice said that Revenue was responsible for issuing gambling licences. It said that the Government had approved a bill on gambling regulation in July 2013 and that it would provide for a "unified regulatory structure governing all gambling activities," when implemented. "Upon enactment of this legislation, the Minister for Justice, through an office to be located within this department, will assume regulatory responsibility for gambling," it said. One of the biggest gambling companies in the country, Paddy Power Betfair, said any suspicious activity by its Irish customers is actually reported to authorities in the Isle of Man. That's because, in the absence of regulation in Ireland, the company follows UK regulations that oblige it by law to monitor and report suspicious activity such as suspected money laundering. The company's spokesman, Paddy Power, said that as the company was regulated in the Isle Of Man, part of its obligation was to report suspicious activity there, regardless of where it took place. "So even if something suspicious happens in Ireland we'll raise a 'suspicious activity report' with the regulator in the Isle of Man and they have lines of communication with the relevant authorities in Ireland or elsewhere as the case may be," he said. "In terms of responsibility, we are responsible for spotting and reporting suspicious activity and then acting on advice received by the regulator and relevant authorities" he added. The Irish Independent attempted to obtain details of the number of suspicious activity reports for gambling held by the Isle of Man on Irish citizens, but authorities refused to release figures. Steve Brennan, chief executive of the British island's Gambling Supervision Commission, said that it was currently helping international assessors to rate the compliance of the Isle of Man with international anti-money laundering standards. He said that any suspicious gambling activity reports were sent to the island's financial crime unit. However, that unit refused to release figures regarding reports it has on Irish customers. Gardai here also refused to reveal how many cases have been passed on to them from the Isle of Man. It was love at first sight. The moment those saucer-like brown eyes gazed into mine, I was smitten. And I felt this was going to be for life. We met on January 4 this year, the day I arrived in Kampala, full of excitement and trepidation to volunteer with Hospice Africa Uganda, a charity whose mission is to ensure dying and seriously ill people in Africa have a peaceful and pain-free end of life. My plan was to stay in Uganda for four weeks. I didn't bargain on still being here four months later. And I certainly didn't bargain on Pearl, and the way she would look at you, and the fact she would steal my heart. Pearl is almost three years old. She is a tiny imp, bright as a button, and full of personality, mischief and fun. Her mum, Lydia, is 24 and unmarried, typical of so many young women in Uganda. Lydia got pregnant by Pearl's dad a second time last year and gave birth to Liam at the end of January. Again, typical in Uganda, Pearl's father is not around to support them. Until Liam's birth, Lydia worked in the home of the founder of Hospice Africa and Hospice Africa Uganda, Dr Anne Merriman. 2014 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr Anne, who is almost 81, is an inspirational woman. She introduced palliative care to Africa in 1993 and over the last 23 years her charity has ensured that 27,000 people have had a dignified end to their life. Dr Anne's house is full of love and activity. There are 10 dogs, six cats, and lots of visitors passing through. But best of all there is Ryan, aged 6, Vicky, aged 3, and Pearl, children of the girls who work there. Expand Close Miriam Donohoe with the extended family. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Miriam Donohoe with the extended family. I lived with Dr Anne for three months and it was joyful to come home from hospice in the evening - often stressed after a tough day on a home visit to a dying patient - to be met by three cheeky faces waiting to be entertained by "Jaja " Miriam. (Jaja means grandmother in Uganda. I now have them trained to call me "Aunt Miriam" instead) As I settled into life here, I began to learn a lot about the country and the culture. I was shocked to realise that education was not free and I saw first-hand how parents struggled to pay school fees so they could give their children a decent chance in life. For people in low-paid jobs, there are three priorities in life: to provide a roof over the family's head; to feed them; and to get the fees so the children can go to school. The children of the girls who work for Dr Anne are lucky because they have "sponsors" - through Dr Anne's network - who pay their school fees. The girls and their children are part of Dr Anne's extended 'family'. She loves and cherishes each one dearly and takes a huge interest in their welfare and education. One of the issues I struggle with here is the fact that so many women are second-class citizens and they face huge challenges - discrimination, low social status, lack of money, and risk of HIV/AIDS infection. Men expect their women to be docile and subservient. They generally make the decisions and are often proud and boast of the fact that they have cheated on their wives. I have heard how men are unwilling to use condoms and force themselves on their wives or girlfriends. Dreadful in a country where HIV/AIDS is still prevalent. Sadly, many young girls sell sex for economic survival. It is common for girls to become sexually active at a much younger age than men, adding to the incidences of HIV/AIDS. Teenage pregnancy is also high and poses a huge risk to the health of both the mother and the baby. Pearl's mother is a bright, pretty, intelligent woman with a bubbly personality. Lydia has completed a catering course and at one stage worked in the kitchen of an international school. Her mother died when she was very young and she was raised by her dad, a good man who did his best for his family. Lydia has a dream, and that is to bring Pearl and Liam abroad to live. She feels she and her family will have more opportunities there. I was honoured and chuffed to be asked by Lydia to be Pearl's godmother. She had both her children christened at St Denis's Shrine in Munyonyo on April 10 by a wonderful Polish Franciscan priest, Father Adam Mutebi. I knew that, unlike in Ireland, where god-parents don't often play an active role in their god-children's upbringing, being Pearl's godmother meant responsibilities. There is an expectation that I will guide and mentor her, and assist in any way I can with her upbringing. As part of this role, I have decided to pay for Pearl's education. She starts kindergarten in Savannah Nursery School in Makindye, Kampala, in June, when she turns three. I visited the school last week. It's a happy, cheerful place. Financially, it is not going to be a huge drain. Her term fee will be around 120 and I will also pay for her school uniform and books. To put this in context, the most Lydia can expect to earn a month with her current skills is 70. There is no way she could pay for her children's education as well. I will get Pearl's school reports every term and will closely follow her progress, even when I am back in Ireland. I am looking forward to seeing her blossom and do well. I am doing this for several reasons. Not to show off or be praised or to be told I am great. First off, I love Pearl. Secondly, I am lucky that I am in the financial position to be able to pay for her school fees. Thirdly, I would hate to think that Pearl might end up in the situation that so many young women in Uganda fall into. I would love to help her so she gets a decent education and a good chance at life. I am also helping Lydia with fees to do a night course in Tourism and Administration. I know that with the help and guidance, Lydia can make a real go of her life. She has the brains to do it. Pearl is only one of thousands of children in Uganda who would flourish if they got the right start in life. I have already reared my own two children, now aged 26 and 24. They have been very lucky and blessed with their lives and they are very supportive of Pearl, their little "god-sister". The last four months have been life-changing for me. My experience here has put lots of things into perspective. I am proud to be involved with a charity that is giving people the greatest gift of all - that of a peaceful end of life. And I am proud to be taking a little bit of Uganda home in my heart. A little person called Pearl. Hospice Africa Uganda has Give a Chance projects in the UK, Denmark and the USA which support young patients, and children of patients, in their education. It is planning to start Give a Chance in Ireland later this year. If you would like to help email miriamdonohoe@gmail.com Parents are more worried about violence in films than they are about sex and bad language, according to the censor Parents are more worried about violence in films than they are about sex and bad language, according to the censor. They also believe that bad language is harmful to their children, and want new technology to be developed to make it easier to check a film's suitability. Research conducted by the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) also found there were concerns that cinemas were not enforcing age restrictions on movies. According to the IFCO's annual report for 2015, which has been laid before the Oireachtas, the depiction of violence in all forms is the main concern of the parents of secondary school children when it comes to movies. The research also found that sexual content was the second greatest concern, coming slightly higher than Hollywood's depictions of drugs. Acting director of classification Ger Connolly said that this was "slightly surprising", given that children in secondary schools face greater exposure to drug use issues than those in primary schools. Harmful The report also noted that 62pc of those surveyed still regard coarse language to be harmful rather than just unpleasant. But language was the area of least concern, according to the research, which was carried out with the assistance of the National Parents Council (Post-Primary). It also found that the vast majority of parents favoured having IFCO classification at the start of films being shown on television. Parents were also in favour of the development of a film classification app for smartphones, so that they can find out easily if a movie is suitable for their child to watch. Concerns were also expressed about a perceived lack of enforcement of age restrictions in cinemas. The research will be used to inform a review of the IFCO's guidelines taking place this year. The report said the IFCO had certified 371 movies in 2015, down 20 on the previous year. It also certified 4,065 DVDs, an increase of 7pc on 2014. This marked the first annual increase in DVD certifications since 2005. Film distributors paid 1.5m for certification of cinema and DVD releases last year, the report said. Almost half of the movies released here came from the US. Just 22 Irish films were certified for release, and five more were international co-productions involving Ireland. You could be forgiven for thinking that hosting an establishment is a dying art in this country. There is a new breed of shops, restaurants and pubs where the aim seems to be less about making the customer feel comfortable and more about making them feel privileged for being there. There is an increasing number of restaurants that don't take bookings, the idea apparently being that you fit in with their plans rather than them fitting in with yours. In many of these establishments we are invited to pay to come and admire the chefs or proprietors, to treat them as artists. The phenomenon of more and more limited choice has also hit these shores. It seems this new breed of hospitality workers even knows better than us what we should choose to eat. Which is a shame. Because we have always been a nation of great shopkeepers and hosts. There is a reason why you will find Irish people working in some of the greatest hotels in the world, and why Irish hotels are often recognised as being the greatest in the world. There is a reason too why the concept of the Irish pub has been exported all over the world. Our warmth and friendliness and sense of fun is not a myth. If you don't believe me, go to some pubs abroad. And this nation of shopkeepers, of traders, of talkers, still knows how to run an establishment, whether it be a hotel, a pub, a shop or a restaurant. We still know how to make somewhere feel special. This week we publish your choice of the best eating experiences in Ireland. And this week we are also putting out a call for your choice of Ireland's best establishments - the pubs, clubs, shops, eating houses, cafes and hotels that make you feel special, that make you feel at home. We want to know the places that have that special charm, the places where you feel a little bit of magic when you walk in the door, the places where you feel special, where you feel instantly at home, or indeed the places that transport you. Establishments are the texture of Irish life in many ways. Public life is still to some extent lived out in work, in clubs, at Mass, outside Mass or in school and outside school - but more and more we conduct our public lives, and indeed some of our private lives, in commercial establishments. This is where we interact, where we bump into people, where we catch up with old friends, where we gather with our families. And establishments are also part of the daily ritual of our lives. For some people, that small interaction in the shop when they go to buy the paper, that same chat had every day with the barman in their local, that cup of tea in the local cafe that breaks up the morning can be a valued part of the day. In a good establishment, we all connect. We remember that we are all human beings. A good establishment also delights us. It's a treat to go there. It adds a bit of colour to your day, maybe a bit of escapism. In a good establishment they will serve you without being servile. You'll be treated like royalty, but in the most casual way. It could be your local pub or shop, or the hotel you go back to every year, or the place you bring your Granny for afternoon tea once a month where they make her feel special. Equally it could be your local ethnic food shop, a weekly market. It could even be a street food stall. Lots of shopkeepers and restaurateurs and publicans and traders can be the sort of people who are the cornerstones of the local community. So maybe you'll pick an establishment that is the heartbeat of your community, a place that brings people together, a place that has reached out beyond its own doors and become more than just a place. We need your entries in as early as possible in the week. And remember, everyone who sends in a suggestion is a potential winner of our fabulous prize this week. Next week, we will print your guide to Ireland's best establishments. See pages eight and nine for your great eating experiences. Tell us about Ireland's best establishments by emailing GreatLittleCountry@independent.ie, or tweet using the hashtag #Great LittleCountry. Or visit Independent.ie/GreatLittleCountry to submit your entry, or post it to A Great Little Country - Experience It, c/o 27/32, Talbot St, Dublin 1. Decca Aitkenhead is one of the UK's most respected journalists. But when, two years ago, her name appeared across the press in the headline rather than the byline, it was a sign things had gone terribly wrong in her life. She had found herself, like so many people she'd interviewed over the years, as the bewildered and shell-shocked subject of a national news story. Catastrophe struck out of the blue while she and her partner Tony Wilkinson were on holiday in Jamaica with their two young sons. They'd had a stressful few months juggling work, children and the ambitious renovation of a farmhouse in Kent when Decca suggested they return to their favourite holiday spot in the Caribbean. Early one morning, Tony and the couple's eldest son, Jake, went for a beachside stroll, leaving Decca to her yoga stretches. From where she stood outside their hotel room she caught a glimpse of her four-year-old's head bobbing in the surf. He'd been pulled out to sea and his father went in to save him. She raced down to the beach and could see that Tony, who was not a strong swimmer, was struggling to bring Jake to shore. She went in too, and all three were caught in a powerful rip-tide. Decca eventually managed to get to shore with Jake and expected Tony to be right behind her. Instead, as she looked on in horror, he was dragged further out to sea. By the time a rescue team had got to him and pulled him out of the water, it was too late. He died in front of them on the sand. When the unthinkable happens, the journalistic reflex is to provide an account. And so Aitkenhead has done so in her new book, All At Sea. It is a lucid, gripping and heartbreaking memoir of her love story with Tony, and the terrifying and abrupt manner in which she lost him. When he was alive, Tony often badgered her to write about him - he was convinced that his life would make a brilliant book. But it was only after he died that she realised he'd been right. A lot of people in extremis would find it hard to summon the presence of mind to sit still long enough to write, but Aitkenhead didn't struggle to concentrate on the task. She has said the book was written in an agitated burst, like "running over hot coals". It was only afterwards she became aware that the act of writing had been driven by a hidden impulse - one tied up with denial. "At various points, I discovered that I actually, somewhere subconsciously, thought that he was coming back," she says. "One of them, funnily enough, was when I finished writing the book. And I realised when I gave it to the editors and the editors said lots of amazing things about it and they were really happy, and I thought: 'Well, why am I not feeling any sense of achievement? Or why is nothing good coming in with their kind words?' And I realised that somewhere along the line I thought that if I was really good, if I wrote a good enough book, it was going to bring him back." We are in The Groucho Club for lunch. At a glance, Aitkenhead blends in with the well-groomed arts and media crowd here - another tall, glamorous creative professional. But in fact, the thick blonde mane is not her own hair, and the perfectly arched eyebrows are tattoos. Last year, just as she and her sons Jake and Joe were finally starting to emerge from their fog of grief, disaster struck again. She was in the shower when she found a lump in her breast and a biopsy soon after confirmed she had cancer - the same disease that had killed her mother when she was 39, and Decca was just nine. Expand Close Decca Aitkenhead's late partner Tony with their two sons Joe and Jake / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Decca Aitkenhead's late partner Tony with their two sons Joe and Jake It was, quite simply, the worst possible luck. "I've been a compulsive planner all my life," she says now. "I love plans. And I had a fairly clear idea of where I was going to go to university, what I was going to study. I knew I was going to be a journalist when I was about 12 years old." But now, with her family ruptured by tragedy and her body recovering from chemo, the idea of future plans holds little concrete meaning. "It's absolutely bizarre now to be 45 years old and have less idea about where our life is going than I did when I was 15," she says. "And I hate it. I hate it. Because on the one hand I think, 'Instead of just feeling crippled by a sense of loss, how about trying to reinvent the experience as a kind of freedom,'" she says, explaining how she reels from one day to the next, between different, and equally unlikely, possibilities for her family's future, thinking one minute of going to live in San Francisco, or "going to live in a yurt, in a commune and knit yogurt". But in truth, it's about imagining them all into a different reality, anything other than the exquisitely painful one they are living through right now. "Meanwhile, all I'm actually trying to do is get through the day. . . I thought I knew who I was going to be bringing my kids up with, and we'd found the house where it was all going to happen, and then it was a complete illusion," she says. Though she likes order, Aitkenhead has always had little interest in convention. Which explains how she ended up in a relationship with Tony. She was in her early 30s and married to the press photographer Paul Hackett when they first met. She and her husband had moved to a new house in Hackney, and Tony was a neighbour. A tall, commanding, dreadlocked local who knew and chatted to everybody, he lived a few doors down with his Californian wife and their young daughter. For the sake of appearances, he ran a property development company, but in fact he was a career criminal and wholesale cocaine dealer. They started out as friends - Tony would drop in regularly to Decca and Paul for cups of tea and chats. With her reporter's nose and interviewer's skill, she eventually drew out his life story. Born as a mixed-race kid to a white British teenager, he was given up for adoption. He spent a stint in foster homes, where his early experiences were of emotional neglect until, by chance, he was adopted by a stalwart, lower middle-class couple who, despite his increasing delinquency, never wavered in their love for him. Though they always stood by him, the Wilkinsons couldn't control their son. As a teenager, Tony ran away to London and became a Soho hustler. Soon after, when his prostitute girlfriend was abducted by her pimps, he shot them. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison and served five. As her marriage began to flounder, Decca found herself spending more and more time with Tony. As a couple, she admits, they seemed an utterly implausible match. She inhabited arts and media circles, he sold drugs on council estates and was "heavily addicted" to crack cocaine. But there was something about Tony's outsider status that appealed to her. She'd grown up in "genteel poverty", the daughter of radical intellectuals who regarded the cosy certainties and bourgeois values of middle-class life with contempt. "I could never just have quite seen myself living with somebody who got up in the morning, put on a suit and tie and went to work for the London Review of Books and gave speeches at Chatham House in the evening. That person would be really interesting, but I just can't quite see myself in that emphatically middle- class life," she says. "It's so much to do with class. Because I never really belonged to the middle classes. I just couldn't see myself as a fully fledged member. I just couldn't. Whereas Tony's completely heterogeneous approach to the world meant that he was friends with people from all walks of life, and barely noticed that they were from different walks of life. That was part of it. It was in no way contrived on his part whatsoever. Not at all. The only thing he really noticed was race. That was the only category distinction that he noticed between people." Initially, her family were horrified at her new relationship, and for a long time she was estranged from them. But Tony defied both typecasting and expectations, and, after meeting Decca, steered his life through an unexpected plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script. When, after six months together, Decca left him because of his addiction to crack, he went to Narcotics Anonymous and started therapy. He never took crack again. Soon after, he stopped dealing drugs and went back to education, getting his degree and eventually a job with the now-defunct charity Kids Company as an outreach worker, mentoring troubled teenagers. "Lots of people have been very curious about how I could have fallen in love with a man who had a violent history," Decca says today. Especially as she's been a committed pacifist since she was a teenager. "One thing that I would say, and this comes under the context of my difficulties about not really fully belonging to the middle class, one of the things I've always found deeply alienating about the vast majority of middle-class men, and particularly middle-class men who live in London, is that I realise that they are physically scared of men who live on council estates and don't wear suits to work and don't talk like them and don't read the newspapers that they read. . . . And that upsets me so much - that they have a physical fear of them, almost as if they are wild animals or something. I find it really alienating, because I think you can't on the one hand talk a good game about not looking down on the lower classes, you can't claim to be this liberal person who believes that they are no better than everybody else and everyone is equal. That's not true if when you see someone in a hoody on a night-bus, your first instinct is that you get an animal response that that person represents a physical threat to you." For her part, Decca has never been someone much bothered by fear or anxiety - she's got to the age she is now without succumbing to the contemporary tendency to catastrophise. So she was horrified when, in the aftermath of Tony's death, she found herself fearful for the first time ever. "What had happened in the course of my relationship with Tony was that without me noticing, I had become used to there being somebody to protect me. And in the early months after he was gone, I felt absolutely naked and frightened, and I thought 'God, is this going to be who I am? How do you know if this is now a permanent state of affairs or temporary?' And I'm so relieved that it was a temporary state of affairs," she says. It was harder still to witness the crisis of confidence that followed in her sons, particularly the eldest. "I felt towards the end of the first year [after Tony's death] to some extent their fearlessness had come back, and then when I got cancer Jake became very anxious and fearful, and that was unbearable. I thought they can't withstand two disasters and retain their robust fearless relationship with the world, and that's impossible to ask of them. But I have had a sense in the last month or so, with both of them, that they do have some of their old boldness back. And I'm eternally grateful that I'm not still panicking . . . I wouldn't have known who I was. That's someone that I don't ever want to be." The only thing, she says, that she can be hopeful about is that her sons can get through the terrible upheaval without losing confidence in the world. "I'm not Pollyanna-ish. I don't think, 'Ooh, let's look on the bright side.' It's not really in my nature. I think if they've learnt resilience from this, then they're going to be stronger. Because the whole time you are worrying, are they going to be broken? Is this going to define them forever? Or are they going to have a sense of perspective, and empathy and resilience. Of course I pray that it's the latter. But again, it's going to be 20 years before I really know the answer." In the meantime, both she and Jake have been seeing therapists. For Jake, the idea was to help him deal with the survivor's guilt he'd been wrestling with in the aftermath of the accident. In her case, she explains, it was prompted by the huge responsibility she now carries as the single parent of bereaved sons. "If two little children are depending on you, then you can't make them pay the price for anything that's wrong with you, and they will if you don't get it sorted out." She finds it useful to have a professional perspective on how they are managing. "When you live with a partner, or you have a partner, somebody is noticing what you are like. A lot. Because it really makes a difference to them. But if you don't have a partner, even if you see lots of people all the time, you are seeing them for lunch, or for school pickup, these are discrete meetings that you organise, which isn't the same as this open-ended period of exposure. I think we all underestimate our reflex to perform. But nobody can perform for their partner. Or for your children. And so, because I don't have a partner, there now [is no one] who knows what I'm really like, then the only people that will be noticing it are the kids, and they won't be able to tell me. So for them I think it's probably quite helpful if I'm seeing somebody." It's tempting, she admits, especially when shaping life's messy chaos into a narrative, as she did for her book, to succumb to our need to upswing at the end, to tie things off neatly on a positive note. Of course, it is never that simple. But there are, nonetheless small, important signs of green shoots. She's back at work again, and physically, there is improvement every day since she stopped cancer treatment at the end of last year. "Six months ago I felt I had the body of an 80-year-old, and gradually it's coming down by decades," she says. There is a "sense that everything is going in the right direction - nothing is getting worse; my hair is getting longer, my tiredness is receding, my scars are healing." 'All At Sea' is published by Fourth Estate, 22.50. Decca Aitkenhead will appear at the International Literature Festival Dublin on May 22 at 2pm at Smock Alley. See ilfdublin.com Those of you who buy glossy magazines can't have failed to notice the sumptuous advertisements by Gucci, which feature the clashing of retro-like prints on clothes styled into evocative ensembles. Yes, digital print has been around for a while, and designers such as Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto are the most high-profile champions of print. Irish print designer Susannagh Grogan, a Brown Thomas Create veteran, whose work is on sale in the cool and uber-discerning Anthropologie stores in America, sees digital print as being as limitless as fashion itself. "Gucci is making print interesting again with that nerd-chic look they are doing, and the models all wearing headscarves," says Susannagh. "But there is always a customer who loves quality and beauty that is timeless." Susannagh, who is from Wexford originally, but is now Dublin-based, studied design at Chelsea College of Art, London, and then went on to work in design studios there and in New York, before returning to Ireland in 2002. Her prints, which she applies to luxurious silk scarves, wraps and tunics, are mainly floral interpretations, often brightly coloured, and always feminine and pretty. "I do a lot of florals because I love them. They are pretty; they are forgiving," Susannagh says. "I do two collections each year, and I introduce one core new print. This season, I have a ribbon print and, next autumn, a new tile print. But I try to keep my signature, which is floral and colourful. "My son just asked me the other day about what inspires me. In the past, I would have gone out and actively looked for inspiration. But I think as you get more experience, you absorb things, things around you - or little things that I may have picked up along the way then find themselves into what I am working on," she says. "Then sometimes, I will do something really random - like when I see a piece of crockery my mother has in her house - and that will set me off. And I always keep an eye on vogue.com and stay in touch with fashion." Susannagh's collections are in the finest silk fabrics of varying lengths, from cute neckerchief styles that also look lovely wrapped around the wrist, or tied to a bag; to generous wraps. She has just started making tunics, and she is currently developing a kimono collection. She has some leather pieces, too, that are printed with her designs. "I try things, such as printed leather, just for fun," says Susannagh. "I try to contain myself, and do what I do and do it well. It is fun to try new things, try them and see. I am launching men's ties next autumn. But the small neck scarf and the classic neck scarf are the core items." Susannagh Grogan loves her work, creating functional beauty. And above all, she hopes you will love it too. Photography by Emily Quinn Styling by Aisling Farinella Fashion edited by Constance Harris I woke last Sunday preparing to drive the new Ford Mustang Convertible but felt that I had already spent the night with it. I had had this constant dream that we had roared up to our normal coffee stop and left Sam on the back seat. Nothing wrong there. However, the dream turned bizarre when we came out with our supplies and saw a crowd gathered around the Mustang. There was the dog opening and closing the roof. It is fast and easy but what intrigued us and the crowd was the way he was able to not only push buttons but also turn the locking handle. Maybe we have been underestimating him. Predictably, in real life, the Mustang convertible always draws great attention to itself. It looks the part and the fantasy, especially in the race red colour of the test car. The Convertible had the 2.3 Ecoboost engine rather than the V8 in the coupe I was driving a few weeks back. However, some of the brilliant sound has been artificially transferred to the 2.3 although you do feel rather a fraud, especially as I knew Steve McQueen's son was in town at the same time. The texture roof of the convertible means that you will be even more wary of the places you will park the Mustang, but it does mean that it takes a lot less space from the boot. It folds with incredible speed and feels that bit more real. We both loved having the top off and Sam's nose twitches went almost out of control from all the senses that were rushing towards him. Of course the car is still impractical for any more than two adults, despite two large and comfortable seats in the rear. The convertible costs 55,000 but the test car had an additional 2,800 of extras on the top of a really good spec. The last time I wrote about the Mustang, the writer and well-being journalist Edel Cush told me about hiring a Mustang for 100-a-day in Florida. Edel writes, "Best drive and the most fun experience of my holiday. We flew into Orlando, welcomed the newcomer, a Lady red convertible into the family and hit the open road of the Florida Keys, driving down to Cocoa Beach. With the throaty roar we sang along with my crew. My baby turned 18, with tunes of Happy Birthday in the background, the Commitments rendition of Mustang Sally belted foremost on the air waves. Who is the biggest kid? This is one of my dreams to come true. How could the day not be bright with a convertible Mustang for company, and memories of McQueen?". Ride Sally ride TripAdvisor's No.1 ranked Irish hotel offers a special welcome on the shores of Donegal's Lough Eske, says Frank Coughlan. Set the mood There's just something about leaving the stresses of everyday life (bosses, children, dogs) behind and gliding up the gears as the motorway opens up ahead of you. On this occasion, it's the M3 on a Friday afternoon. The SatNav is primed to tell us when we're within decent distance of Harvey's Point, the four-star hotel judged Ireland's best by TripAdvisor now for four years running. Sitting with a certain majesty and discreetness on the shores of south Donegal's tranquil Lough Eske, it's a family establishment which has grown in scale and reputation as if by stealth. The welcome is effusive but authentic rather than invasive or cloying. I like it already. Our roomy suite is lit by a setting sun that's twinkling on the lake outside. You couldn't make it up. Guilty pleasure Expand Close Four-star hotel: Harvey's Point / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Four-star hotel: Harvey's Point I'm a man of simple tastes, but I couldn't resist the Twisted Irish Breakfast starter for dinner in the hotel's Lakeside restaurant: white pudding, spiced sausage, quail egg and bacon ice-cream. Bacon ice-cream! All wrong really, but so, so right. My compliments to the chef, not only for his cheeky talent but his sense of humour too. The hotel's renowned Wine Experience - tastings tutored by a respected connoisseur and the restaurant manager - was not something that I had the opportunity to be guilty about (worse luck), but it does come highly recommended. You've been told. Cheap kick Harvey's Point is worth every one of its four stars, but its bar menu prices could compete very favourably with your uppity local. Mains come in at around 15 or under, and decent wine by the glass is competitively pitched. And while you might come for the nosh or a tipple, chances are you'll stay for the music of Martin Jonathan. Normally the sight of an entertainer hauling his amps is my cue to retire. But not this time. Top tip Expand Close Fransican Abbey near Donegal town / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fransican Abbey near Donegal town The historically curious could do worse than visit the medieval Franciscan Abbey on the shores of the bay in nearby Donegal town. What bloody tales are secreted away in its ruins. Amazing what's under your nose when you look! Insider intel If Donegal sold itself with the same sort of brash self-belief that both West Cork and Kerry do, there would be traffic jams into the place every weekend. But the truth is that even an afternoon leisurely motoring along the county's zig-zaggy share of the Wid Atlantic Way will open a world of breathtaking beauty, both coastal and inland. Rugged and bleakly magnificent, it is still Ireland's best kept secret. Glitches There are a number of options when driving from the east, but the most obvious and direct - through Fermanagh - can be a bumpy irritation. Lough Erne, tracking your journey starboard, has a myriad of inviting pitstops, however. Get me there Driving to South Donegal isn't the long-haul it used to be, and we were pleasantly surprised to have parked a little over three hours after setting out from Dublin on the M50. Two nights' B&B with one dinner at Harvey's Point (074 972-2208; harveyspoint.com) starts from 105pps per night. It also offers weekend getaways including two nights' B&B with dinner from 299pps. For more, see govisitdonegal.com or Uncover Donegal on Facebook. Premium Billy Keane Opinion Even a dash to the Croke Park toilet wasnt enough to get rid of space invader who gave me Covid I did the time, but there was no crime. Banged up I was, under house arrest after two red bars showed up on the Covid test. Im not too bad, thanks for asking. I have it down on a man who was nearly close enough to kiss me at the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Galway. Premium John Downing Opinion Pension reforms are dicey territory but grand plan by minister Heather Humphreys just might win through Pension system changes all across the western world have a great propensity to infuriate those most feared by politicians: the grey brigade. And when the oldies take to the streets, they usually play for keeps. In all the talk about housing, the cost of building is never mentioned. Yes, builders are sitting on land waiting for prices to rise. But in south county Dublin, all along the Luas lines and the M50, there are hundreds of acres of land with planning permission for thousands of houses. I can assure you, these landowners want to build. But Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council struck a levy in 2008 of 70,000 per unit to build a new road from Kilternan to the roundabout at Carrickmines retail park. This was costed at 143m, yet the plan for that road is now abolished and replaced with a smaller, much cheaper road where the ESB cables will go underground. A quote for that was requested last September and there was a meeting in December and March. Still no costings. The landowners have offered the land for the road, in some cases for nothing, and some at a reduced rate. There have been letters, meetings with architects, planning consultants and builders, all to no avail. The council has left the levy in place. The Central Bank is under the impression that a house can be built for 220,000, with no account taken for the levy (70,000 per unit) and 13.5pc VAT. In some cases, the planning has withered and this has cost time and money, but is never mentioned. The Central Bank is so removed from the cost of building, even though they talk about keeping house prices down. Who are these people sitting on land? It costs a lot of money to get planning, who can afford to sit on it? There are many landowners in this area ready to build but can't. It is a total scandal this situation is allowed to continue. Mary Berry Carrickmines, Dublin 18 Beware of electoral groupthink As someone who straddles "old Ireland" (slightly, I hasten to add) and "modern, liberal" Ireland, the incredible vote received by Ronan Mullen in the Senate elections is a cause of some satisfaction. While it is definitely true that the "old Ireland" had many faults, the self-satisfied smugness of "modern, liberal Ireland" has become increasingly irritating and annoying. Cheap, uncontextualised sneering at the past has become a virtual cottage industry among the liberal commentariat. We have been subjected to much of this drivel during the recent 1916 reflections where, for instance, the deep faith of many of the leaders (including the great James Connolly) has been conveniently airbrushed out of the contemporary narratives. It was reminiscent of Stalinist revisionism, where inconvenient truths were similarly erased from "official" history. While one wishes well to those who campaigned for last year's same-sex marriage referendum, the degree of arrogant triumphalism displayed at the time (and continued to be displayed in much media commentary) far surpasses anything associated with the "old Ireland". The vote for Senator Mullen, in my opinion, is a small, though welcome, reminder that not all people are comfortable with the uncritical groupthink which has emerged in Ireland in recent times. Eric Conway Navan, Co Meath Ignoring votes for change The Taoiseach will shortly announce his 11 nominees for the Seanad. Of those, he is expected to select members of Fine Gael who were rejected by the electorate. Why can't our Taoiseach select new professional faces rather than "old" failed politicians? Where is our new politics? Damien Carroll Kingswood, Dublin 24 In the recent election, we voted for change. Yet, we learn that Katherine Zappone is maximising her Dail expenses and Paul Murphy is availing of free legal aid. Sadly, neither of these deputies seems to have a problem taking money from the taxpayer. Can they honestly claim to be in such financial distress? In contrast, Enda Kenny did not accept his teacher's superannuation of 100,000 and took a salary cut of 30pc on his Taoiseach's salary. So we voted for change...change for the worse. Sheila Brennan Coolcullen, Co Carlow Luas drivers push and pull With reference to your article by Alan O'Keeffe (April 29) in which Luas drivers claim to be demonised, I completely agree with the driver Eileen Carolan. Luas drivers do far more than push a lever - they also pull it. Jim Lineen Cork City Paying for politics As a taxpayer of this country, I object vehemently to the news that I as a taxpayer am being forced to finance the Anti-Austerity Alliance Party, a party I might add, I did not vote for in any election. The decision to grant Paul Murphy TD free legal aid is equivalent to handing a cheque from the taxpayers to his party as the decision to give up most of his salary to that party was a personal decision and should be viewed as such. I'm sure Revenue views all his TD salary as income and taxes Mr Murphy accordingly, so why should the judiciary see it any differently? Murphy once again tries to have it both ways, by saying he is on a low income but also expecting hard-pressed taxpayers to fund his own party. To follow that logic, would Murphy be entitled to social welfare payments, medical card or a council house if he gave the rest away? Eugene McGuinness Kilkenny Importance of funding water I voted for Fine Gael and Independents in the election. I am not a Labour supporter. But as a Dublin man living in the west of Ireland, I can see the importance of paying for water. I have been in a group water scheme for the last 12 years. The quality of the water is always excellent because we pay for it. Before it was paid for down here, the fields used to be full of water in areas all around the parish, through leaking hoses that were used to water livestock. Within a matter of weeks of meters being brought in, all those leaking pipes were fixed. Why? Because people were made responsible for the water they use. The whole idea about Irish Water being a dealbreaker or red-line issue is populist crap from the kings of popularity, FF, not to mention SF. Environment Minister Alan Kelly, in his speech to the Dail about the suspension or scrapping of Irish Water, was the best in honesty from a TD to date. It's a pity that Labour did not speak out with such passion in the run-up to the election, or things might have been different. But let's ignore the truth and celebrate this as a victory for the people of Ireland. Anthony Malone Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett has been appointed an United Nations goodwill ambassador. The United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) made the announcement as the Hollywood star returned from a mission to Jordan where she witnessed the ongoing humanitarian operation for people displaced by the conflict in Syria. While there she met Syrian refugee families to hear first-hand about the perilous journeys they had undertaken and their daily plight. Blanchett said: "I am deeply proud to take on this role. There has never been a more crucial time to stand with refugees and show solidarity. We are living through an unprecedented crisis, and there must be shared responsibility worldwide. "It feels like we're at a fork in the road, do we go down the compassionate path or do we go down the path of intolerance? As a mother, I want my children to go down the compassionate path. "There's much more opportunity, there's much more optimism and there is a solution down that path." Prior to her appointment, Blanchett worked closely with UNHCR for more than a year to raise awareness about the forcibly displaced. Usually the possibility of a sex tape has the world rushing to Google search as fast as its collective fingers can type. But with Kris Jenner, who is supposedly following in the footsteps of her most famous daughter, an exception must surely be made. Not on grounds of age - we have a world of respect for dyed hair - and not even on grounds of Kris being faintly reptilian. But we've already seen enough Kardashian flesh to last us several lifetimes. Kris would want to have something seriously different - a fetching 1970s bush perhaps - to shake us awake. The tape was supposedly made with her late ex-husband Robert Kardashian so some retro foliage might still be a possibility. What's unlikely, however, is that Kris would be able to follow Kim in parlaying an on-camera blowjob into a delightful range of home furnishings. Pulling yourself up by your bra straps only works if you're not quite famous yet. Once you've made it to the extent that Kris already has, letting footage of your nocturnal antics into the public domain just seems careless. And that's not a word that could ever be associated with the momager. Still, the Ab Fab movie is out this year, so acting like a bigger teenager than your kids is huge for 2016. And perhaps if the latest episode of Kardashian naughtiness does reach Google, we'll see Kris teaching the younger generation a thing or two. Water fudge upsets our Berlin friends By Pat Fitzpatrick Guten tag Ireland. It has come to our attention here in Berlin that you are on the verge of forming a government. Excellent. The illusion that you are somehow in charge of your own affairs is good for everyone involved. We also note you are planning to suspend water charges for a few years. We have a word for this in German. It is called Nein! Suspending the charges is verboten under Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive, which states you should have had a usage-based charge in place since 2010. Now we will be forced to issue threats and fine your freckled asses for this impertinence. We will probably get some EU lackey from Sweden to make these threats, but everyone will know it is us. Worse again, we note that people who didn't pay any water bill are 100 up because they got something called the conservation grant. This is so bizarre that even we Germans don't have a word for it. As for your idea to form a commission to 'look' at the issue. We told Chancellor Merkel and she started crying. We thought the Greeks were tricky. But it is fair to say that they have nothing on you. Normal service has now resumed By Eilis O'Hanlon There were street parties across the country last week as talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail finally came to a head. It was like Italia '90 all over again. Not. Well, what do politicians want for doing their jobs - a badge? Video of the Day Now attention turns to the really big question: will the new minority government prove to have been worth the wait? Let's accentuate the positives. One: At least it's not Donald Trump. Two: At least it's not Boris Johnson. Three: At least it's not that far right chappie who's just won an election in Austria. Four: At least it's not (insert name of another peculiar foreigner).Five: A FG/FF pact means there won't be another election for a while, especially with new research apparently showing that the Irish have the longest lasting marriages in Europe. Though try telling that to Sinead O'Connor. Six: It will give folk who demanded the two main parties do a deal something to moan about as they now set about predicting it'll all end in tears. Normal service has been resumed. Trump's self-comfort By Christopher Jackson It was revealed recently that in 2004 Senator Ted Cruz, then Texas Solicitor General, defended a ban on sex toys, arguing that people don't have the right to 'stimulate their genitals'. It's a revelation that's sure to have gone down poorly. Of the many things most Republicans oppose, masturbation is usually not one of them. Donald Trump, no stranger to self-love, surely doesn't oppose it. I mean what else is he meant to do when he thinks of himself at night. Trump, much more so than Cruz, opposes things many Republicans get fired up about, like Muslims, Mexicans, uppity blacks and, as Trump as shown time and again, women who talk back. Previously Trump, now the presumptive Republican nominee, didn't have much trouble dealing with such women. He either fired, divorced or, as was the case with Fox News's Megyn Kelly, insulted and ignored them. But in Hilary Clinton he'll face a woman too far. She will undoubtedly crush him in November. Although at least he can take solace that under Clinton, unlike Cruz, he'll still have the right to find some self-comfort in defeat. Beyonce's Broken Heart By Anne Marie Scanlon Depending on which track on Beyonce's new album Lemonade you play backwards, you will hear the words "Paul is dead," "I am the walrus," and "a certain person, far be it from me to mention any names, is a big cheat and broke my heart, and I'm mad as hell, especially about that Becky madam". Who is this Becky who was allegedly hooking up with Bey's man behind her back? And who knew that 'Becky' is actually a derogatory word for white women? One thing Jay Z and B know is how to make a bob or two. Cynics might say the controversy is being generated to shift units - the tills are certainly ringing. Whatever the realities of their marriage, it is a truth universally acknowledged that heartbreak sells, especially if it's a woman singing about it. Adele, Amy, Aretha, Patsy - they loved, lost and made a mint. Why not Bey? And her fella. Vogue Williams has admitted she has been cheated on in the past and said women who choose to see men who are in committed relationships should not be forgiven. The television presenter admitted that she could not forgive a woman who knowingly slept with a man who had a girlfriend or wife. Being with someone in a relationship breaks girl code, Vogue wrote in her column in The Sunday World. If someone didnt know a man was attached and was completely honest in their mistake, then I could personally forgive that girl, not so much the person I was with though. Expand Close Vogue Williams / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vogue Williams The only thing I couldnt forgive is a girl who knows a man is with someone and still chooses to go there anyway, Vogue said. The presenter, who split with her husband Brian McFadden last year, said she still cannot stand the woman who kissed her ex-boyfriend several years ago. I have been cheated on in the past and I still dont speak to the girl who kissed my boyfriend. I bumped into her recently and that feeling of anger came right back after all those years, because one thing I cannot stand is a fake girl. Do not act like my friend when you plan on stabbing me in the back, she said. Vogue recently came under fire after she admitted she is to take a legal high as part of a documentary on RTE. Vogue (30) will take LSD or a similar lawfully obtained substance under medical supervision for her series. Video of the Day LSD, also known as acid, is a psychedelic drug known for its psychological effects, which include altered thinking, hallucinations, synaesthesia, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences. "I'm terrified, it's not something I've ever done before," she told the newspaper on Saturday night. "It was never my thing, but we are going to do it for the show as we are looking at addiction - my mother is going to be delighted I'm sure." Barack Obama, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge plays with Prince George Credit: The White House The Natural Sapphire Company in America has announced that they will be gifting baby Charlotte a whopping $40,000 baby rattle. Credit: The Natural Sapphire Company Ciaran Hogan a basket maker from, Ceardlann, Spiddal presents HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with a hand made rattle 'for the newest addition to the Royal family' during a welcome reception which included traditional music and Irish dancing performances and craft demonstrations at the National University of Ireland Galway .Photo Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2015 Princess Charlotte, an image taken by the Duchess of Cambridge at Anmer Hall in Norfolk in April An Irish basketmaker has been hailed for his simple woven rattle which was given to Princess Charlotte for her first birthday. Co Galway basketmaker Ciaran Hogan presented the woven rattle to the Prince of Wales for his granddaughter and it has been included on a list of gifts which include a 40k 18k white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Princess Charlotte's toy box already contains gifts from a king, two queens, four presidents and three prime ministers, so if the past year is anything to go by, she'll need an extra bedroom for all of her presents when she celebrates her first birthday. Expand Close Ciaran Hogan a basket maker from, Ceardlann, Spiddal presents HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with a hand made rattle 'for the newest addition to the Royal family' during a welcome reception which included traditional music and Irish dancing performances and craft demonstrations at the National University of Ireland Galway .Photo Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2015 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ciaran Hogan a basket maker from, Ceardlann, Spiddal presents HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with a hand made rattle 'for the newest addition to the Royal family' during a welcome reception which included traditional music and Irish dancing performances and craft demonstrations at the National University of Ireland Galway .Photo Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2015 Read More While the William and Kate Middleton apparently want nothing more than a low-key family party, the rest of the world is determined to make a fuss of the royal toddler. A list of gifts released by Kensington Palace shows that among the more extravagant presents she has received over the past 12 months is a silver rattle given to her by the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, and his wife, Senora Angelica Rivera, during their State visit to the UK last year. Expand Close The young Princess Charlotte Credit: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The young Princess Charlotte Credit: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Even more lavish was an 18k white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires made by the Natural Sapphire Company and valued at 40k, but the battle of the rattles is likely to have been won by a simple willow one woven by Mr Hogan, which was given to the Prince of Wales for his granddaughter. The President of China, Xi Jinping, brought Prince Charlotte a set of silk figurines depicting the Dream of the Red Chamber, a classic 19th century Chinese novel, when he came for a State visit in October last year. Expand Close Israeli president Reuven Rivlin has sent the couple a little pink dress / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Israeli president Reuven Rivlin has sent the couple a little pink dress Princess Charlotte may, however, have spent more time playing with her gifts from the US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle . When they met Prince George at Kensington Palace earlier this month, Princess Charlotte was already in bed, but they had not forgotten her birthday. They left her a jigsaw and a cuddly toy version of the Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, suggesting she might have taken a shine to an identical toy the Obamas gave to Prince George a year ago. The Obamas had also given her a childrens rocking chair and a baby blanket when she was born. In total, Princess Charlotte has received gifts and letters from 64 countries around the world, from Armenia to Zambia, meaning that if she ever decides to take up stamp collecting, like her ancestor George V, she will already have an enviable ready-made album. Expand Close Barack Obama, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge plays with Prince George Credit: The White House / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Barack Obama, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge plays with Prince George Credit: The White House Video of the Day Schools, community groups and royalists have sent her blankets, clothes, books, toys and plenty of hand-knitted clothes, including a large supply of bootees. David Cameron demonstrated taste and restraint when he gave Princess Charlotte a copy of Hans Christian Andersens fairy tales when she was born. The then prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was rather more generous, giving her a snowsuit and a book and making a 54,000 donation to Immunize Canada, which aims to eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases in the country. Expand Close New images released by the Duchess of Cambridge celebrate her daughter's first birthday C / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp New images released by the Duchess of Cambridge celebrate her daughter's first birthday C Another snowsuit came from the Wellington Rugby team via Prince Harry when he toured New Zealand last year, together with a New Zealand Rugby sleepsuit, while the countrys Prime Minister, John Key, sent a selection of teddy bears, baby blankets and bootees made from Stansborough wool. One garment the Princess is unlikely to have worn, given the political sensitivities that prevent members of the royal family travelling there, is a pink dress sent by the Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, embroidered with the words From Israel With Love. Princess Charlotte will be able to decide whether she prefers New Zealand wool or Tasmanian merino wool, as the Australian Government sent her a cot blanket sourced from the Waverley Woollen Mills in Launceston, embroidered with the Australian floral emblem, the wattle, by members of the ACT Embroiderers Guild. The Australian Government also contributed 5,200 to the Healesville Sanctuary, part of Zoos Victoria, to support its conservation work for the mountain pygmy-possum. Most recently, both Prince George and Princess Charlotte were given coats by the King and Queen of Bhutan when their parents visited the country this month. Most practical of all of her presents was a set of biodegradable nappies bought by the Duchesss sister Pippa Middleton, made of natural mull cloth and costing 4 each. There are, of course, gifts from another Queen her great-grandmother, known as gan-gan by Prince George. The Duchess said recently that Her Majesty always leaves a little gift or something for Charlotte and George whenever they come to stay at one of her residences. A spokesman for Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for all the letters, gifts and good wishes they have been fortunate to receive in the year since Princess Charlotte was born." The presents * Silver rattle President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico * White gold rattle with diamonds, rubies and sapphires The Natural Sapphire Company * Willow hand-woven rattle Ciaran Hogan, basketmaker * Set of silk figurines depicting Dream of the Red Chamber President Xi Jinping of China * Jigsaw, cuddly toy Bo dog, rocking chair, baby blanket President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama * Hans Christian Andersens fairy tales David Cameron * Snowsuit, book, and 54,000 charity donation Stephen Harper, former Canadian prime minister * Snowsuit Wellington Rugby, New Zealand * Sleepsuit New Zealand Rugby * Teddy bears, baby blankets, bootees made from Stansborough wool Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand * Pink dress embroidered with From Israel With Love President Reuven Rivlin of Israel * Merino wool cot blanket and 5,200 donation to mountain pygmy-possum sanctuary Government of Australia * Bhutanese coat King and Queen of Bhutan * Set of biodegradable nappies Pippa Middleton The CIA has been ridiculed after 'live tweeting' the special forces operation to kill Osama Bin Laden to mark the fifth anniversary of the raid. Having spent the previous 10 years as the world's most wanted man, the al-Qaeda terror chief was shot dead at the compound where he was holed up in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. But the reaction to the US intelligence agency's decision to recount the operation as it happened was largely negative, with users calling it utterly tasteless and completely inappropriate. To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today. #UBLRaid, the Central Intelligence Agency tweeted. A series of tweets went on the describe the events of the day, from the moment one of the helicopters crashing on arrival, to Bin Laden being found on third floor and killed, to a picture of President Barack Obama sat in the Situation Room watching the events unfold. The tweets recounting the events have each been 'liked' and retweeted hundreds of times, some thousands, but many on Twitter criticised the decision to mark the operation in this way. One user tweeted a screengrab of them reporting the CIA for being abusive or harmful, while many posted pictures of celebrities showing shock or disbelief. Colombian police have announced the capture of an alleged dangerous drug lord described as Peru's most-wanted criminal. Gerson Galvez, or "Caracol", was arrested on Saturday at a Medellin shopping centre and deported to Peru less than 24 hours later because he did not have migration papers. Galvez was first spotted in March in Ecuador before being seen in Panama and Colombia. Dubbed by Peruvian media as the "new El Chapo", in reference to Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, Galvez is wanted in connection with 101 killings in Peru, where he is also alleged to have managed large shipments of cocaine from the nation's main seaport in Callao. The head of Peru's police, General Vicente Romero, came personally to Bogota to oversee the deportation of Galvez, who is considered highly dangerous. Peruvian authorities had been offering a $150,000 reward for information leading to his arrest - the largest bounty offered against any Peruvian criminal. Among his many alleged crimes is the 2015 attempted murder of a rival who was attacked while driving by a barrage of gunfire and two grenades. He is also believed to have threatened prosecutors and used his Barrio Kings gang to extort businesses in Callao. "I have the right to be presumed innocent," Galvez shouted to journalists as he was handed over to Peruvian authorities in handcuffs and wearing a bulletproof vest. Authorities said he might have been in Medellin trying to meet with partners in the Office of Envigado crime syndicate or to arrange a visit with his Venezuelan girlfriend. Colombian police said he owned a luxury apartment in the city's El Poblado neighbourhood. The US government says Peru is the world's largest producer of cocaine. If the bill passes, Georgia will become the ninth state to do so. Photo: PA A US state could soon make it legal for students over the age of 21 to take a gun to university. The Governor of Georgia will this week decide whether or not to veto a bill, allowing licensed gun holders carry concealed guns into universities and colleges. If the bill passes, Georgia will become the ninth state to do so. Last August, a student died at Savannah State University in Georgia after being shot on campus. Starbucks is facing legal action in the US over its use of ice Starbucks has been accused in legal action of overfilling its cold drinks with ice instead of using the advertised amount of coffee or other liquid. The lawsuit was filed last week in Chicago on behalf of Stacy Pincus, a local woman who accuses the coffee giant of misleading consumers. The action alleges that an iced beverage advertised at 24 ounces contains about 14 ounces of fluid. Starbucks spokeswoman Jaime Riley said on Monday that the company considers the lawsuit to be without merit. She said customers understand that ice is part of an iced beverage, noting that Starbucks remakes beverages if customers are not satisfied. The lawsuit seeks class-action status, which could allow it to cover customers for the last decade. Among other things, the claimant is seeking damages, restitution and legal fees. A teenager in India has died after he accidentally shot himself in the head while trying to take a selfie. Ramandeep Singh (15) was rushed to hospital at Pathankot in India when he shot himself with his father's gun, police said. The incident happened when the teenager was playing with the licensed gun, which is normally stowed in a wardrobe at home, according to deputy police superintendent Manoj Kumar. The boy's father and family said that he was trying to take a selfie with his gun," he said. "We think that part of the blame obviously goes to the father for not keeping his loaded gun under lock and key at their home." Tragically, the teenager later died of his injuries. Police in Mumbai began an awareness campaign about dangerous selfies, after they identified 16 dangerous selfie spots in the city. A man drowned trying to save a girl who fell into the sea while snapping one, and police requested the local council to put up warning signs and deploy lifeguards. Gerson Galvez shouts at the press as he is escorted by police officers into a Peruvian Air Force plane, in Bogota, Colombia (AP) Colombian police have announced the capture of an alleged dangerous drug lord described as Peru's most-wanted criminal. Gerson Galvez, or "Caracol", was arrested on Saturday at a Medellin shopping centre and deported to Peru less than 24 hours later because he did not have migration papers. Galvez was first spotted in March in Ecuador before being seen in Panama and Colombia. Dubbed by Peruvian media as the "new El Chapo", in reference to Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, Galvez is wanted in connection with 101 killings in Peru, where he is also alleged to have managed large shipments of cocaine from the nation's main seaport in Callao. The head of Peru's police, General Vicente Romero, came personally to Bogota to oversee the deportation of Galvez, who is considered highly dangerous. Peruvian authorities had been offering a 150,000 US dollar (102,000) reward for information leading to his arrest - the largest bounty offered against any Peruvian criminal. Among his many alleged crimes is the 2015 attempted murder of a rival who was attacked while driving by a barrage of gunfire and two grenades. He is also believed to have threatened prosecutors and used his Barrio Kings gang to extort businesses in Callao. "I have the right to be presumed innocent," Galvez shouted to journalists as he was handed over to Peruvian authorities in handcuffs and wearing a bulletproof vest. Authorities said he might have been in Medellin trying to meet with partners in the Office of Envigado crime syndicate or to arrange a visit with his Venezuelan girlfriend. Colombian police said he owned a luxury apartment in the city's El Poblado neighbourhood. The US government says Peru is the world's largest producer of cocaine. Schools are closed across Detroit as teachers call in sick amid a dispute about their pay Most of Detroit's public schools are closed for the day after the teaching union urged members to call in sick following a weekend announcement that the district will not be able to pay school staff from this summer. District spokeswoman Michelle Zdrodowski said in a statement on Monday morning that 87 out of 100 schools will be closed for the day. About 46,000 students are enrolled in the district's schools. The move by the Detroit Federation of Teachers was announced on Sunday, a day after Detroit Public Schools said the district would have no money to continue paying teachers this summer without further funding from the state. "There's a basic agreement in America: When you put in a day's work, you'll receive a day's pay," Detroit Federation of Teachers' interim president Ivy Bailey said in a statement. "DPS is breaking that deal. Teachers want to be in the classroom giving children a chance to learn and reach their potential. "Unfortunately, by refusing to guarantee that we will be paid for our work, DPS is effectively locking our members out of the classrooms." In March, Governor Rick Snyder signed into law emergency funding that is keeping the district operating through the end of the school year as the state legislature considers a 720 million US dollars (490 million) restructuring plan that would pay off the district's enormous debt. Former bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes, who was appointed this year to oversee the district, also said that DPS would be unable to fund summer school or special education programmes after June 30. On Sunday night, he said in a statement that the union's "choice for a drastic call to action was not necessary", and said the action is "counter-productive and detrimental" to the efforts of those trying to help the school district. "I understand the frustration and anger that our teachers feel," Mr Rhodes said. "I am, however, confident that the legislature will support the request that will guarantee that teachers will receive the pay that is owed to them." Teacher strikes are illegal under Michigan law. Hundreds of May Day marchers, including one carrying a Donald Trump, took to the streets of Los Angeles (AP) A Donald Trump pinata has been paraded around Los Angeles as marchers took to the streets on May Day. The demonstrators were calling for improved rights for workers and immigrants and protesting against what they see as hateful presidential campaign rhetoric. It was one of several events in cities across the US calling for higher wages for workers, an end to deportations and support for a government plan to give work permits to immigrants in the country illegally whose children are American citizens. Norberto Guiterrez, a 46-year-old immigrant from Mexico who joined families, union members and students who marched through the city, said: "We want them to hear our voices, to know that we are here and that we want a better life, with jobs." Demonstrators repeatedly called out Mr Trump for his remarks about immigrants, workers and women. The leading Republican presidential contender has called for a wall on the border with Mexico and criticised Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton for playing the "woman card". "In addition to fighting for workers' rights, we are fighting for our dignity this time around, our self-respect," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "We can certainly encourage folks to look at what they're watching, what they're hearing and have them represent themselves and their families - whether they can vote or not - and say, 'We are not the rapists. We are not the criminals you are talking about. And we are quite good for this country.'" In the United States, the May 1 marches have become a rallying point for immigrants and their supporters since massive demonstrations in 2006 against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. Marchers along San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf rallied in support of immigrant and workers' rights and to demand justice for several men fatally shot by city police. About 300 people, including members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, held signs that read "Long Live May Day" and "Stop Police Terror," and chanted "No Justice No Peace! No Racist Police!". Tomas Kennedy, organiser of a rally in Miami, said: "The Trump effect has taken over the media and silenced our voices. "It's time to stand up against the current threat to democracy, freedom, human rights, equality, and the welfare of our country and all our people." A protester carries a backpack bearing a placard reading 'No to the labour law, No thank you!'. Photo: Getty Trade unions and other groups staged rallies around the world to mark International Workers Day with violence breaking out in Paris on the fringes of one protest. Fearing Frances worker protections are under threat, hundreds of angry youths on the sidelines of a rally hurled stones and wood at police in the capital, receiving repeated bursts of tear gas in response. The traditional May Day rallies took on greater weight this year as parliament is debating a bill that would allow longer working hours and let companies lay workers off more easily. The bill has prompted the most violent labour-related protests in a decade, with marches and sit-ins frequently degenerating into clashes with police. Police encircled a few hundred suspected troublemakers on the sidelines of the Paris march yesterday, and frustrated youths threw projectiles. In Marseille, at least five people were arrested after scuffles with riot police. Marchers held banners calling President Francois Hollande a traitor and chanted Everyone together! The Socialist government hopes the relatively modest labour reform will reduce chronically high unemployment and make France more globally competitive, by allowing companies more flexibility. Opponents say it erodes hard-fought worker protections and call it a gift to corporate interests. A teenage girl has died after taking a "MasterCard" ecstasy pill, prompting police to urge anyone else who may have taken the drug to seek urgent medical attention. The youngster's death is being investigated after officers were called at around 5am on Monday to the Victoria Warehouse on Trafford Wharf Road in Trafford, Greater Manchester. The teenager was found suffering an adverse reaction after allegedly taking one "MasterCard" ecstasy pill during a night out. US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Geneva for talks on bringing stability to Syria US Secretary of State John Kerry has said "several proposals" aimed at finding a way to restore at least a partial truce in Syria are being discussed, amid continuing attacks in the city of Aleppo. Speaking after meeting with Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir and the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, in Geneva, Mr Kerry said progress is being made towards an understanding on how to reduce the violence in Aleppo - but more work is needed. "There are several proposals that are now going back to key players to sign off," Mr Kerry said. "We are hopeful but we are not there yet... we are going to work very hard in the next 24 hours, 48 hours to get there." He did not say what the proposals are, adding that he would telephone Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov later on Monday and that Mr de Mistura is heading to Moscow on Tuesday for talks. He said the United States and Russia have agreed that there will be additional personnel stationed in Geneva around the clock to make sure there is more accountability and a better ability to enforce the cessation of hostilities on a day-to-day basis. Speaking later to staff at the US mission in Geneva, Mr Kerry said he hopes an agreement about Aleppo could be announced within the next few days. For Aleppo, the US is considering drawing up with the Russians a detailed map that would lay out "safe zones". Civilians and members of moderate opposition groups covered by the truce could find shelter from persistent attacks by Syrian president Bashar Assad's military, which claims to be targeting terrorists. One U.S. official said "hard lines" would delineate specific areas and neighbourhoods. It was not immediately clear whether Russia would accept such a plan or if Moscow could persuade the Assad government to respect the prospective zones. Some US officials are sceptical of the chances for success, but also note that it is worth a try to at least reduce the violence. US officials also say the safe zones will not be "no-fly zones" per se. However, details, such as the locations of those, have not yet been agreed to and these issues will be discussed by Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov in a phone call later Monday, as well as by Mr Lavrov and Mr de Mistura in Moscow. Earlier, Mr al-Jubeir called the situation in Aleppo with continued air strikes an "outrage" and a criminal violation of humanitarian law. He said Assad would be held accountable for the attacks and would be removed from power either through a political process or by force. "There is only one side that is flying air planes, and that is Bashar al-Assad and his allies, so they are responsible for the massacre of women, children, and the elderly," he said. "They are responsible for the murder of doctors and medical personnel, and this situation, any way you slice it, will not stand. The world is not going to allow them to get away with this." Mr Kerry's meetings in Geneva came as Syria's state news agency said the military has extended its ceasefire around Damascus and opposition strongholds in eastern suburbs for another 48 hours. Mr Kerry said he hoped the truce in these areas would be extended further. But it excludes Aleppo, where more than 250 people have died in shelling and air strikes in the northern city over the last nine days, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Russia's Tass news agency, meanwhile, quoted Russian Lt Gen Sergei Kuralenko, head of the Russian co-ordination centre in Syria, as saying that talks are continuing about a ceasefire for Aleppo. Russia announced yesterday that talks were taking place to include Aleppo in a temporary lull in fighting declared by the Syrian army in some western parts of the country, a sign of intensified efforts to halt the surge of violence in its former commercial capital. The United States said stopping the bloodshed in Aleppo, which has been at the centre of an escalation of violence that all but destroyed a wider ceasefire deal and broke up peace talks in Geneva, was a top priority. Nearly 10 days of bombardments by both the government side and insurgents in the city of Aleppo has killed more than 250 people, a monitoring group says, confounding hopes of an end to five years of war. Moscow and Washington brokered the February 27 ceasefire deal, which applied to western Syria but excluded al Qaeda and Isil fighters. World powers and the United Nations have been trying to salvage that truce. Syria's army announced late on Friday a "regime of calm", or lull in fighting, which applied to Damascus and some of its outskirts, and parts of northwestern coastal province Latakia, but excluded Aleppo. A senior Russian defence ministry official said yesterday that negotiations were taking place to "establish a regime of calm also in Aleppo province", Interfax news agency reported. The official did not say who was negotiating on Aleppo. Fighting He said the lull in fighting had been extended around Damascus for another 24 hours. It had been respected in both Damascus and Latakia, the Russian official said. Syria's army confirmed the extension of the lull around Damascus, but did not mention Aleppo. Late on Saturday a number of rebel groups rejected the partial "regime of calm" in Damascus and Latakia, saying any truce must include all areas where the government and main opposition were fighting, as under the February deal. "We will not accept under any circumstances... regional ceasefires," they said, adding that they would respond as "one bloc" to attacks in any area of the country. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was due to travel to Geneva yesterday to discuss Syria with his Jordanian and Saudi counterparts and the UN's special envoy, said efforts to revive a cessation of hostilities must include Aleppo. The US state department said Washington wanted Russia to put pressure on its ally President Bashar al-Assad to stop "indiscriminate aerial attacks" in Aleppo, which has long been split between government- and opposition-held areas of control. Both sides have bombed residential areas for nearly 10 days, killing more than 250, including at least 40 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitoring group said it had recorded no air strikes or shellings inside the city early yesterday, after some fire overnight. The Imam Mousa al-Kadhim shrine commemorates the anniversary of the Imam's death in Baghdad eight years ago (AP) At least 18 Shiite pilgrims were killed when a car bomb exploded in Baghdad. The pilgrims were commemorating the anniversary of the death of a revered imam, officials said. Shortly after the explosion, the Sunni extremist Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement. It said the assault was carried out by a suicide bomber, but Iraqi officials denied that. IS militants frequently target commercial areas and public spaces in mainly Shiite towns and districts. According to an Iraqi police officer, the car was parked in Baghdad's southwestern Saydiyah district and blew up shortly after midday. The explosion killed at least 18 and wounded 45 people, the officer said. Tens of thousands of Shiite faithful have been making their way this week to the northern Baghdad district of Kadhimiyah, where the 8th century Imam Moussa al-Kadhim is buried. Security forces have blocked major roads in Baghdad in anticipation of attacks against pilgrims who traditionally travel on foot from different parts of Iraq. Monday's attack came a day after two car bombs in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah killed at least 31 people and wounded 52, an attack that was also claimed by the Islamic State. The annual Shiite pilgrimage prompted anti-government protesters on Sunday to disband their demonstration - at least temporarily - in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone that they had stormed a day earlier. While IS has suffered a number of territorial defeats in the past year, the group still controls significant stretches of territory in Iraq's north and west, including the country's second largest city of Mosul, estimated to still be home to more than 1 million civilians. Militants have recently increased attacks inside Baghdad in what officials say is an attempt to distract from their recent battlefield defeats. A solar-powered plane has taken off from California to continue its journey around the world using only energy from the sun. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 left Mountain View south of San Francisco shortly after 5am local time on Monday for an expected 16-hour trip to Phoenix, Arizona. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg is at the helm of the plane, which began its circumnavigation of the globe last year. Mr Borschberg's co-pilot Bertrand Piccard, also from Switzerland, made the three-day trip from Hawaii to the heart of Silicon Valley, where he landed last week. The Solar Impulse 2's wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night. After Phoenix, the plane will make two more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic to Europe or northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey. The two legs to cross the Pacific were the riskiest part of the plane's travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. "We have demonstrated it is feasible to fly many days, many nights, that the technology works," Mr Borschberg, 63, said. He piloted the plane during a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii and kept himself alert by doing yoga poses and meditation. The crew was forced to stay in Oahu for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The single-seat aircraft began its voyage in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Burma, China and Japan. The layovers give the pilots a chance to swap places and engage with local communities along the way so they can explain the project, which is estimated to cost more than 100 million US dollars (68 million) and began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. Donald Trump mocked his Republican rival Ted Cruz as he looked ahead to the main event, most likely against Hillary Clinton, in the autumn (AP) Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are looking beyond their struggling primary-season rivals and focusing on the one-on-one battle to come if they sew up the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations. Mr Trump, campaigning on the eve of Indiana's primary, made clear that he will have more to say about his accusation that Mrs Clinton is playing gender politics: "We're making a list of the many, many times where it's all about her being a woman." The billionaire also told CNN: "I haven't started on Hillary yet," although he has actually been attacking her record for quite some time. For her part, Mrs Clinton told thousands at an NAACP dinner in Detroit on Sunday that US president Barack Obama's legacy cannot be allowed to "fall into Donald Trump's hands" and be consumed by "these voices of hatred". She cited Mr Trump's "insidious" part in the so-called "birther" movement which questioned Mr Obama's citizenship. But the front-runners still have party rivals to dispatch. Mr Trump's next challenge is to beat senator Ted Cruz in Indiana on Tuesday. He has further to go win the prize than Mrs Clinton in her contest with Bernie Sanders. Mr Trump is exuding confidence, telling a cheering crowd in Terre Haute: "If we win here, it's over, OK?" This is not quite the case, as the New York real estate mogul cannot win enough delegates on Tuesday to clinch the Republican nomination. But after his wins in five states last week, Mr Trump no longer needs to win a majority of the remaining delegates in coming races to lock up the Republican nomination. Mr Cruz has no such cushion. Already eliminated from reaching 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination outright, he desperately needs a victory in Indiana to keep Donald Trump from that number and press ahead with his strategy of claiming the nomination at a contested convention in Cleveland this summer. "This whole long, wild ride of an election has all culminated with the entire country with its eyes fixed on the state of Indiana," Mr Cruz said at a late night rally. "The people of this great state, I believe the country is depending on you to pull us back from the brink." The importance of Indiana for Mr Cruz became evident even before he and fellow underdog John Kasich formed an alliance of sorts, with the Ohio governor agreeing to pull his advertising money from Indiana in exchange for Mr Cruz doing the same in Oregon and New Mexico. But that strategy, which appeared to unravel even as it was announced, cannot help either man with the tens of thousands of Indiana voters who had already cast ballots: early voting began in Indiana three weeks before they hatched their plan. It also risks alienating those who have yet to vote, according to veteran Indiana Republican pollster Christine Matthews. She said she believes many have continued to vote for Mr Kasich in Indianapolis and in the wealthy suburbs north of the city. "Indiana voters don't like the idea of a political pact, or being told how to vote," Ms Matthews said. Mr Trump suggested evangelical conservatives have "fallen out of love" with Ted Cruz, and mocked his decision to announce former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina as his running mate. "They're like hanging by their fingertips," he said, mimicking Mr Cruz and Mr Kasich: "Don't let me fall! Don't let me fall!" Mr Trump admitted he is eager to move on to a likely general election race against Mrs Clinton. He said the end game of the primary battle with Ted Cruz is "wasting time" that he could be spending raising money for Republicans running for the Senate. "It would be nice to have the Republican Party come together," Mr Trump told supporters in Fort Wayne. "With that being said, I think I'll win anyway." Fist-fights have taken place in the Turkish parliament for the second time in a number of days A committee of the Turkish parliament has once again erupted in chaos over a contentious ruling party proposal to strip legislators of their immunity from prosecution. Politicians hurled bottled water at each other across the committee room while others engaged in a fist-fight, forcing the committee head to halt proceedings. The committee is discussing a proposed constitutional amendment that could pave the way for the trial of several pro-Kurdish legislators on terror-related charges. The proposal was prepared after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the party of being an arm of the outlawed Kurdish rebels. The move comes amid a surge of violence in Turkey's south-east after a fragile peace process with the rebels collapsed. A fist-fight also broke out during Thursday's committee meeting and five legislators later sought medical help. A relative of a victim complains to Ataur Safdarr, head of Reckitt Benckiser Korea, right (AP) British firm Reckitt Benckiser has apologised and has pledged to compensate hundreds of those killed or injured by deadly disinfectants it sold in South Korea. The move came five years after the government ordered the company to remove the offending products from shelves for health risks. Ataur Safdar, head of Reckitt Benckiser's Korean division, said the company accepted responsibility and wanted to make amends. He spoke at a news conference where he was interrupted by angry and tearful victims and family members who swore and hit him. A teenager using an oxygen tank, and four other people who were apparently victims or their families, walked to the stage to confront Mr Safdar. "Can you save the child? What are you going to do?" said a woman, in a scene broadcast live on television. "Why did it take so long?" a man said. Mr Safdar said the company, based in Slough, Berkshire, will come up with a plan to compensate victims. It will also provide 10 billion won (6 million) to a humanitarian fund for them, including 3m it had previously pledged. He called the day "an important milestone in achieving progress for victims". But the victims and families rejected the apology, appealing to the South Korean public to punish Reckitt Benckiser with a boycott. In a press conference outside the prosecutors' office, victims and campaigners lined up the products made by Reckitt Benckiser and asked the public not to buy them. The apology came as South Korean prosecutors were investigating Reckitt Benckiser and about a dozen other companies for selling or manufacturing unsafe disinfectants. Earlier the company had refused to take responsibility. In a separate statement after the press conference, civic groups representing the victims said they planned to file a complaint against Rakesh Kapoor, the British company's chief executive officer, and the company's seven other board members for failing to conduct safety tests before the disinfectants' launch in 2001 and until sales were discontinued in 2011. The victims have already filed a complaint against 10 disinfectant manufacturers and 19 companies that sold the products. The health risks from the disinfectants came to light in 2011 with mysterious lung ailments that killed pregnant women. Later that year, authorities said the chemicals PHMG and PGH in the disinfectants that many South Korean households used to cleanse humidifiers were to blame. Nearly all households in South Korea use a humidifier during the dry winter season. Most victims were children and pregnant women who had the most exposure to the chemicals emitted by their home humidifiers. South Korea's government said it would compensate 221 confirmed victims, 95 of whom died. Another 309 people were denied government compensation on the grounds they had not proven their sicknesses were linked to the chemicals. Civic groups said the government tally understates the number of victims. They estimate that the disinfectants killed 239 and injured 1,289. Officials are investigating and expect more applications for compensation. Reckitt Benckiser sold millions of bottles of disinfectants containing the harmful chemicals for about a decade. A report posted by the US National Institutes of Health says the chemical PHMG can pose a "impose a critical health hazard when inhaled in the form of droplets". The NIH has also recorded acute toxic effects for both PHMG and PGH The first US cruise ship in nearly 40 years has crossed the Florida Straits from Miami and docked in Havana, restarting commercial travel on waters that served as a stage for a half-century of Cold War hostility. Carnival Cruise Line's Adonia became the first US cruise ship in Havana since president Jimmy Carter eliminated virtually all restrictions of American travel to Cuba in the late 1970s. Travel limits were restored after Mr Carter left office and US cruises to Cuba only become possible again after presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro declared detente on December 17, 2014. Hundreds of workers and passers-by gathered to watch, some cheering, as the gleaming white 704-passenger ship pulled into the dock - the first step towards a future in which thousands of ships a year could cross the Florida Straits, long closed to most US-Cuba traffic due to tensions that once brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. The straits were blocked by the US during the Cuban Missile Crisis and tens of thousands of Cubans have fled across them to Florida on home-made rafts - with untold thousands dying in the process. The number of Cubans trying to cross the straits is at its highest point in eight years and cruises and merchant ships regularly rescue rafters from the straits. The Adonia is one of Carnival's smaller ships - roughly half the size of some larger European vessels that already dock in Havana - but US cruises are expected to bring Cuba tens of millions of dollars in badly needed foreign hard currency if traffic increases as expected. More than a dozen lines have announced plans to run US-Cuba cruises and if all actually begin operations, Cuba could earn more than 80 million US dollars (54.5 million) a year, according to the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. Most of the money goes directly to the Cuban government, council head John Kavulich said. He estimated that the cruise companies pay the government 500,000 US dollars (340,700) per cruise, while passengers spend about 100 US dollars (68) per person in each city they visit. Carnival says the Adonia will cruise twice a month from Miami to Havana, where it will start a seven-day circuit of Cuba with stops in the cities of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. The trips include on-board workshops on Cuban history and culture and tours of the cities that make them qualify as "people-to-people" educational travel, avoiding a ban on pure tourism that remains part of US law. Optional activities for the Adonia's passengers include a walking tour of Old Havana's colonial plazas and a trip to the Tropicana cabaret in a classic car. Before the 1959 Cuban revolution, cruise ships regularly travelled from the US to Cuba, with elegant Caribbean cruises departing from New York and overnight weekend jaunts leaving twice a week from Miami, said Michael Grace, an amateur cruise ship historian. New York cruises featured dressy dinners, movies, dancing and betting on "horse races" in which stewards dragged wooden horses around a ballroom track according to rolls of dice that determined how many feet each could move per turn. The United Fruit company operated once-a-week cruise service out of New Orleans, too, he said. "Cuba was a very big destination for Americans, just enormous," he said. Cruises dwindled in the years leading up to the Cuban Revolution and ended entirely after Castro overthrew the US-backed government. After Mr Carter dropped limits on Cuba travel, 400 passengers, including musical legend Dizzy Gillespie, sailed from New Orleans to Cuba on a 1977 "Jazz Cruise" aboard the MS Daphne. Like the Adonia, it sailed despite dockside protests by Cuban exiles, and continued protests and bomb threats forced Carras Cruises to cancel additional sailings, Mr Grace said. The following year, however, Daphne made several cruises from New Orleans to Cuba and other destinations in the Caribbean. Cuba cut back on all cruise tourism in 2005, ending a joint venture with Italian terminal management company Silares Terminales del Caribe and Fidel Castro blasted cruise ships during a four-and-a-half-hour speech on state television. "Floating hotels come, floating restaurants, floating theatres, floating diversions visit countries to leave their trash, their empty cans and papers for a few miserable cents," Castro said. Today, the Cuban government sees cruises as an easy source of revenue that can bring thousands more American travellers without placing additional demand on the country's maxed-out food supplies and overbooked hotels. Before detente, Americans made surreptitious yacht trips to Cuba during Caribbean holidays and the number of Americans coming by boat has climbed since 2014, including passengers on cruise ships registered in third countries and sailing from other ports in the Caribbean. Traffic remains low, however, for a major tourist attraction only 90 miles from Florida. Aiming to change that as part of a policy of diplomatic and economic normalisation, Mr Obama approved US cruises to Cuba in 2015. The Carnival Cruise Line announced during Mr Obama's historic trip to Cuba in March that it would begin cruises to Cuba starting May 1. SHARE By Mike Ellis of the Independent Mail A man died at AnMed Health Medical Center Sunday morning after being taken there by Anderson Police Department officers who responded to a call about him acting strange, said deputy Anderson County Coroner Don McCown. McCown said Benston Clinkscales, 26, went into cardiac arrest around 12:20 a.m. and an emergency room physician was not able to revive him. Clinkscales was declared dead at 12:51 a.m. Anderson Police Department spokesman Lt. David Creamer said that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was investigating the death. Police Chief Jim Stewart said information from the police department would be limited because of the state investigation. Clinkscales' mother called 911 around 11:15 p.m. Saturday, saying her son was acting strange and had been drinking heavily before putting his arm through a window, McCown said. McCown said police who arrived at the residence found a belligerent man and they used a Taser on him, but the effects didn't last long because Clinkscales removed the prongs from the Taser. McCown said officers eventually were able to give Clinkscales some medical care before an ambulance arrived and he was restrained to a stretcher and taken to the hospital. McCown said Clinkscales continued to be belligerent at the hospital and was restrained there as well. McCown said an autopsy is scheduled for Monday but his preliminary work indicates the restraints were not a factor in Clinkscales' death. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the death because the man was in the custody of Anderson Police Department officers at the time, said Thom Berry, a spokesman for the state agency. Follow Mike Ellis on Twitter @MikeEllis_AIM CONCORD- Coltrane-Webb Elementary School celebrated culture and its students during its El Dia de los Ninos event Thursday evening. Principal Timothy Taylor said El Dia de los Ninos is a traditional Mexican holiday that the school expanded to honor the many different countries represented in Coltrane-Webbs diverse student body. Its a community outreach program. We did some activities during the school day and expanded it this evening to represent all the countries, Taylor said. Its really about celebrating the kids. Sarah Collins, English as a second language teacher, said since this was a first-time event the school expected around 200 RSVPs. Instead they received 600 and families were scrambling for a place to park when they arrived. This is exciting, especially for the students from other places, Collins said. Activities for the evening included lantern-making, traditional dancing and a bike raffle for those in attendance. Several activities were also STEM-related problem solving activities. We just want to get the community in here to participate and have some fun, Taylor said. International and B-Town beauty Priyanka Chopra was over the moon, when she met US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. She recently attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner looking gorgeous and ravishing as ever. Priyanka is currently shooting for her first Hollywood movie 'Baywatch' in US. PC dazzled at the gala event in a deep-cut, black and sheer-stripe gown. That I'm sure made eyes pop out!! This precious moment came to light when, Priyanka took to Twitter to share about her meeting with the Obamas. She said: "Lovely to meet the very funny and charming @barackobama and the beautiful @flotus. Thank you..," she wrote along with a picture. She was draped in a black shimmery frill gown with a plunging neckline, by her current favorite designer Zuhair Murad. The Washington-insider event was attended by journalists, celebrities, politicians and advertisers. Sources say that, Obama did not hold back and he took jibes at Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, CNN`s Jake Tapper among others. As per the latest report from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), that sugar cane production in Zimbabwe will decrease by five percent to 3,180 Million MT in the 2016/17 MY. This will result in a three percent decrease in sugar production to 400,000 MT in the 2016/17 MY. The decrease in sugar production and low stock levels is forecast to result in a 32 percent decrease in exports to 110,000 MT in the 2016/17 MY. USDA forecasts that sugar consumption in Zimbabwe will marginally decrease by less than one percent to 340,000 MT in the 2016/17 MY, from 342,000 MT in the 2015/16 MY due to the prevailing difficult economic conditions, namely, high levels of unemployment, liquidity challenges and low disposable income. USDA forecasts that sugar imports will decrease by eight percent to 35,000 MT in the 2016/17 MY, from 38,028 MT in the 2015/16 MY based on the available stocks and the drive by the industry to address the sugar refining quality issues, and an increase in the local manufacture of bottler grade industrial white sugar in 2016. USDA forecasts that Zimbabwe sugar exports will decrease by 32 percent to 110,000 MT in the 2016/17 MY, from 160,662 MT in the 2015/16 MY, as a result of the low stocks available and the decrease in sugar production. It is forecasted that Zimbabwe will be able to satisfy the 2016/17 MY United States Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) allocation based on the production forecast, and assumption that the TRQ will remain economically viable for Zimbabwe. Powered by Commodity Insights Atos, an international leader in digital services, announced that it has signed an exclusive three-year partnership agreement with ClickFox to improve its managed services through greater use of automation and robotics. With ClickFox, Atos is able to gather evidence-based insights for addressing service enhancement across its global operations by determining highest-value opportunities for robotics process automation. In the new digital world, our focus at Atos is to orchestrate the complexity of legacy technology and digital services under one unified view, supported by service analytics to deliver new levels of quality, agility and savings through automation, said Michel-Alain Proch, Group Senior Executive Vice President, CEO North American Operations. Our partnership with Clickfox is a key foundation in this approach by providing the necessary insight into the customer journey so we can more accurately identify where to automate for the best results. By integrating ClickFox within its managed services business, Atos is able to collect and analyze data across its entire global operations. These digital service journeys provide visibility into previously obscure operational performance dynamics, and thus allows Atos to prescriptively reengineer and automate procedures that deliver maximum impact for its customer base. Clickfox enables us to gather data that is mapped to journeys, which align to key IT and business processes within our Managed Services offerings, said Eric Grall, Head of Managed Services for Atos. This enables us to apply our analytics expertise against these journeys to quickly analyze trends and areas which need improvement. These insights are also used streamline and automate the delivery of our IT solutions and services across multiple channels. It's exciting to see new industries embracing journey sciences as the best vehicle for advanced analytics, said Marco Pacelli, ClickFox CEO. "Atos will leap ahead of its competition by applying advanced data connectivity and journey analytics to its Big Data environments to deliver Service Automation and Intelligence Use Cases to its 2,200+ clients." Amanta Healthcare, said that the company has received the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval for its two products made at its Small Volume Parenterals facility at Kheda. (ET)State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank are among the lenders that have sold their portion of the nearly Rs 3,000- crore loans of Arch Pharma to JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Company at less than half the value, said three people aware of the development. (ET)Lupin is planning to strengthen its branded and specialty business in the US, according to reports. Report says that the company is planning to launch new products, brand acquisitions and even buyout of other specialty companies.Expressing satisfaction on the export performance last year, Rita Teotia, Commerce Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, emphasized that the Indian pharmaceutical sector is strong and has ability to grow to a much larger global market share. The Indian pharmaceutical industry is best placed to take this leap as India offers several advantages such as skilled manpower, large pool of scientists, favorable policy framework and global experience of the industry, she says.Sanofi India Ltd, a subsidiary of French pharma giant Sanofi SA, has announced the financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. The company has posted a net profit of Rs. 80.6 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as compared to Rs. 64.5 crore reported in the same period a year ago.Aurobindo Pharma Limited is pleased to announce that the company has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Lacosamide Tablets, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg.Dr Lal PathLabs, an established brand is provider of diagnostic and healthcare related tests and services in India. The company through its integrated, nationwide network offer a broad range of diagnostic and related healthcare tests and services to patients and healthcare providers for use in core testing, patient diagnosis and the prevention, monitoring and treatment of disease and other health conditions.Government is looking at the financial viability for providing Rs 200 crore each to three new bulk drug manufacturing parks in order to create common minimum facilities, Parliament was informed. (ET) For all the animated talk about Indias rapidly-growing, medical-tourism attracting healthcare sector and projections of it becoming a US$280bn industry by 2020, the fact remains that our health sector is bedevilled by major disparities when it comes to accessibility between urban and rural areas. According to estimates almost 70% of the doctors in India are concentrated in urban centres, serving around 30% of the total Indian population. Urban India enjoys access to almost 65% of the countrys hospital beds despite having less than 30% of the total population. At a time when technology and infrastructure make distances shorter, we still have a long way to go in building the bridges to cover the gaps in rural healthcare. Home to more than 60% of the national population, India can no longer simply dismiss its rural sector as the sick child, and needs to take essential steps in order to steer its healthy recovery. One of the raging issues in the upliftment of health and sanitation in remote areas has been the sheer lack of trained medical professionals to cater to the everyday needs of the habitants, who are thereby deprived of the basic medical facilities necessary for survival. Forget the rural hinterland, remote villages and tribal areas, quality tertiary healthcare is not available even to a bulk of urban population living outside a few glittering metropolitan cities. For example, in north India while Delhi NCR remains a hub of the best multi-specialty hospitals, even a 100 km move outside the region will leave you without a decent tertiary care hospital. This is evident from the fact that the Delhi NCR hospitals are crowded with people coming from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and even West Bengal. A lot of people have to travel long distances to avail of life-saving treatments like dialysis. In the absence of quality cardiac care in smaller towns and villages, many people fail to survive a heart attack as they are required to travel long distances to nearby cities with decent healthcare facilities. At Paras Healthcare, we have closely studied this discrepancy in Indias healthcare delivery. Resultantly, as a healthcare entity, we have planned our expansion keeping in mind this skew. Not only are we working to expand our footprint in smaller towns and cities of India which are bereft of quality healthcare, we are also working on parallel initiatives to fill in the gaps wherever possible. While primary healthcare facilities continue to suffer from shortage of staff and absenteeism, private sector finds little incentive in investing heavily in rural areas. However, through some low cost but effective initiatives, the private sector can play a positive role in helping address the deficit of manpower in rural healthcare to some extent: Telemedicine Centres Telemedicine, as we know, refers to the use of information technology to provide medical consultation in far flung areas. It is intended to overcome geographical barriers, connecting users who are not in the same physical location with an aim to improve health outcomes. Remote populations, which often lack minimal physician presence can benefit to a large degree by telemedicine centres through which physicians can offer basic minimum consultation and medical advice. Notably, communicable diseases are among the leading afflictions affecting rural populations and basic consultation and hygiene advice can also go a long way in treatment and reducing their incidence. Private-Public Partnerships We need more public private partnerships to involve the private sector in rural areas. These partnerships can offer incentives to doctors to offer services in rural areas for a small number of days of a year. With severe shortage of specialized cardiologists, nephrologists, neurologists and gynaecologists, rural populations often have to make with less skilled doctors or worse quacks. PPPs that can take skilled doctors of reputed hospitals to offer services in rural health centres and recommend patient transfer if needed, can play a role in bridging this gap. Turning to smaller centres It is understandable that for a private entity it doesnt make much business sense to open tertiary care hospitals in villages. However, the needs for profit and social benefit can be balanced by opening hospitals in smaller towns and cities which cater to large surrounding populations. With this thought Paras Healthcare has opened the first private tertiary care hospital in Darbhanga, Bihar, a region where private participation in healthcare has been dismal. Through this facility we aim to serve large populations in and around Darbhanga, a bulk of them would be from rural areas who will now not need to travel long distances to Patna, Kolkata or Delhi in search of specialized treatment. Such endeavours also attract doctors who have left their state in search of greener pastures back to their roots. Training local manpower Notably, the deficit in manpower in rural areas is not just about doctors, it is about healthcare providers in toto. Even nurses, radiologists, pathologists and paramedics are hard to find. Launching training programs for nurses and paramedics in smaller centres is another important initiative that can help address manpower shortage to an extent. At Paras HMRI, Patna, we have initiated such training programs. By incorporating locals into the extensive training programmes, the initiative ensures a long term solution to the low manpower in rural healthcare, with a motive to not only provide quick medical assistance by experienced professionals but a broad vision to empower the community. This encouragement to generation of rural employment is no surprise, considering the position of the company as the highest private employer in health industry. The author is MD & CEO, Paras Healthcare The Karnataka governments state-level single window clearance committee (SLSWCC) has cleared TVS Motor Companys INR 310-crore proposal to expand its Mysuru facility, reports a business daily. When expanded, the TVS facility is likely to offer employment to 200 people, says the financial newspaper. SLSWCC also cleared Ruchi Soya Industries' INR 455 crore proposal to set up a new facility at Dakshina Kannada in the food and agri-business sector. The new facility, when ready, will offer employment to 1,700 people. Among the cleared projects by SLSWCC belong to few publicly listed companies proposals, like the INR 69 crore project of South India Paper Mills to expand its facility at Mysuru offering employment to 50 people, INR 38 crore project for the expansion of Jindal Aluminium in Bengaluru rural (offering jobs to 150 people) and the INR 10 crore proposal of Page Industries to expand its facility at Tumakuru (offering employment to 500 people). The SLSWCC meeting held on Saturday cleared 42 projects with a total outlay of INR 3,028 crore and offering employment to 7,114 people, Karnataka Minister for Large & Medium Industries R.V. Deshpande has been quoted as saying. The Karnataka government has also allocated 5 acres to the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET) for setting up an advanced polymer design and development research laboratory at Devanahalli in Bengaluru. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, has today announced that the two largest banks in Myanmar, KBZSC and AYA Trust were able to participate in the historic opening of the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) with two parallel deployments of the TCS BaNCS for Securities Trading and Settlement. The two banks cumulatively process about 80 percent of the countrys total equity transactions. The commencement of stock trading marks a new chapter in the history of Myanmar, and the establishment of its domestic capital markets stands as an important milestone towards fuller participation in the world economy. Commenting on this landmark event, Mr. Rudi Rolles, Managing Director of KBZSC, said TCS is now part of the history of Myanmar I was pleased and impressed by the talent, skill and experience shown by the TCS team in customizing and implementing the trading system within three months. Their dedication to the project and goal-based, action-oriented approaches are much appreciated Mr. David Soe Lin, Managing Director of AYAtrust, commented With only three months to build an entire brokerage, TCS overcame many operational, technical and market structure reforms related challenges to enable us to go live on TCS BaNCS. The functionality and flexibility of TCS BaNCS exceeded our expectations and got us to the finish line. Ajay Wadkar, Regional Director Asia-Pacific, TCS Financial Solutions, remarked: It is not often that we get an opportunity to play such a critical role in the birthing process of a nations capital markets. We are committed to strengthening market infrastructures throughout the region, and we hope that TCS BaNCS can play a role in empowering key players in their important nation-building efforts. KBZ Group, the parent company of KBZ Bank, formed a joint venture with Stirling Coleman Capital Ltd., an independent corporate finance advisory firm based in Singapore. The joint venture, KBZSC, provides broker-dealer and investment advisory services, and also underwrites new company listings on YSX. KBZ Bank was also named as the fund settlement bank for cash settlement on stock trading at YSX. AYA Trust Securities Company, or AYAtrust, the underwriting and broker-dealer business of AYA Bank, provides corporate finance, advisory and underwriting services. AYA Bank, the second-largest bank in Myanmar, has been recognized for its governance and sustainability efforts by World Finance magazine, and since 2012 has been a participant of the United Nations Global Compact corporate sustainability initiative. TCS Financial Solutions will continue to enable the development of Myanmars capital markets and is also working on a hosting option with a local partner to be made available soon. TCS Financial Solutions will also support Myanmar financial institutions with complementary solutions for financial inclusion, insurance and core banking. TCS provides a full range of business consulting services, enabling financial institutions to expand their offerings with new operations based upon the embedded business processes and best practices in the TCS BaNCS solution. The University of Nebraska, globally renowned for quality education and research, and the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute honoured the founder of Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Bhavarlalji (Bhau) Jain for his lifetime achievement. The University of Nebraska (USA) has named their research project as Bhavarlal Hiralal Jain- University of Nebraska Water for Food Collaborative Program, permanently, to honour Bhavarlaljis pioneering efforts starting a new green revolution through his achievements in effective research, sustainable use of natural resources by bringing together farmers, agronomists, scientists, technologists and industrialists for the same noble cause. University of Nebraska has made an announcement that, under this program, the scientists joining the university will be honorably called as B. H. Jain Scholars and the ones who will complete the research successfully will be felicitated as B. H. Jain Fellows.Dr. Hank M. Bonds, President, University of Nebraska, did the honors of making this announcement and handing a memento to Mr. Anil Jain, Managing Director, Jain Irrigation in the ongoing Water for Food Global Conference at Lincoln, Nebraska.In 2012 the University of Nebraska and Jain Irrigation entered into a formal memorandum of agreement, highlighting co-operation in irrigation technology, crop improvement, and strengthening of talent through education and joint research of young Indian and U.S. scientists. The MOU called for the establishment of a Jain Irrigation University of Nebraska inspired by and to carry forward Jain Irrigations path breaking concept and motto: More Crop Per Drop to develop new approaches in India through practical multi-disciplinary research in collaboration with farmers. For effective communication of this work to different audiences and complementary education, outreach and capacity building programs, last year, Jain Irrigation, entered a grant agreement with the University of Nebraska Foundation, donating resource to support scientific research and educational exchange in those priority areas. University of Nebraska honoured Bhavarlalji with following words:Bhau was the first international leader to recognize the importance of the Water for Food Institutes mission and the first to suggest a mutually beneficial collaboration with Nebraska to overcome the global challenges of food and water security. He was known for his commitment to educational access, equity and quality. He founded the Anubhuti Schools, supported by the Jain Charities, now known as Bhavarlal and Kantabai Jain Multipurpose Foundation, serving Indian children from different socio-economic sectors in residential and day school settings. The Anubhuti-2 day school serves indigent, at risk children in Jalgaon. Bhau Jain welcomed University of Nebraska-Lincolns College of Education and Human Sciences into an ongoing relationship that provides UNL students with practical experiences and professional development through teaching and research at Anubhuti-2.The primary relationship between Jain Irrigation and University of Nebraska institutions relates to Life Sciences, Agriculture and Water Resources. Bhau Jain also provided opportunities for University of Nebraska undergraduate students to spend time at Jain Hills in Jalgaon learning about resource management, agriculture and at the Gandhi Research Foundation he founded.University of Nebraska (USA) has set new paradigms in education through their innovative educational programs over past 147 years. It is really a proud moment for India that Bhavarlalji, a son of Indian soil has been honoured by such a globally renowned university. He never spared any effort to brighten the future of Indian agriculture and Indian farmers. He always gave priority to the development of Indian farmers while making MOUs with international universities. Agriculture will surely prosper when if is supported by propagation of agricultural education. Jain Irrigation will always promote agricultural research by taking initiatives in collaborating with various international universities. -Ashok Jain Those who are yet to see Game of Thrones's second episode 'Home' must proceed with caution. This article is dark and full of spoilers. Jon Snow has been resurrected. After that 'breath-taking' Jon Snow shocker - God bless you Melisandre! - fans everywhere failed epically in trying to contain their emotions. They reacted in every possible way imagined and more so because of Kit Harington's (the actor who portrays Jon Snow) apology. hypable During an exclusive interview, the actor said "sorry" for lying about his character's fate on the show. He said, "Sorry! Id like to say sorry for lying to everyone. Im glad that people were upset that he died. I think my biggest fear was that people were not going to care. Or it would just be, 'Fine, Jon Snows dead.' But it seems like people had a, similar to the Red Wedding episode, kind of grief about it. Which means something Im doing or the show is doing is right." A lot happened in 'Home' which deserves discussion, but nothing can come close to Melisandre's abracadabra working its beautiful charm on Jon Snow's lifeless body. Speculations were rife for ten months where fans literally lost their sanity over his possible resurrection. Here's how they broke Twitter after Jon drew that very life-affirming breath. So he just needed his hair washed?#GameofThrones #JonSnow Joe 'Monk' Pardavila (@joepardavila) May 2, 2016 Always remember, there's a big difference between being mostly dead and all dead. #JonSnow #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/bhSQ2xnaTR Minstra (@ViceRoyMinstra) May 2, 2016 Hey Kit, you're a terrible liar. I don't hold it against you, though. You were contractually obliged. #GameofThrones Mandy (@LadyMandyisms) May 2, 2016 I bet she's just pretending to do some magic as an excuse to wipe a wet cloth over #JonSnow's body. I would. #GameofThrones Amber Jamieson (@AmberPickette) May 2, 2016 What do we say to the god of death? Not today. #GameOfThrones Jon Snow (@LordSnow) May 2, 2016 You're forgiven, Kit. There never was even a moment's doubt that you'd come back. And now that you have: KILL OLLY! It's shocking how inhuman human beings can be. 1. Black spotted freshwater turtles are pictured after they were seized in a raid, at Sindh Wildlife Department in Karachi, Pakistan. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro 2. A policeman holds a water bottle with a yellow-crested cockatoo put inside for illegal trade, at the customs office of Tanjung Perak port in East Java. REUTERS/Antara Foto/Risyal Hidayat Police arrested one man traveling by ship from Makassar, Sulawesi, with 22 of the endangered cockatoos held inside water bottles. 3. A wildlife department official holds a Malayan sun bear for the media in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. REUTERS/Olivia Harris It was among other animals estimated to be worth $20,000 including juvenile eagles and a slow loris, seized by the wildlife department during an operation against illegal wildlife traders earlier this month. The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be $8 billion a year worldwide, according to TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network. 4. Cambodian police officers hold a python before handing it to members of the NGO WildAid after it was recovered from smugglers, in Kandal province, outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia. REUTERS/Samrang Pring 5. A baby orangutan lies in a plastic crate, after it was seized from a wildlife trafficking syndicate, at a police office in Pekanbaru, Riau province, Indonesia REUTERS/FB Anggoro/Antara Foto According to local media, police investigators arrested individuals from a wildlife trafficking syndicate who were attempting to smuggle out three orangutan babies, ranging between 6 to 12 months of age, from their forest in Aceh with the intention of selling them to buyers in Pekanbaru for the price of Rp25 million per orangutan. 6. A veterinarian holds a Mexican tarantula which had been rescued with other animals while being trafficked illegally, at the Federal Wildlife Conservation Center on the outskirts of Mexico City. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso 7. A keeper gives a peanut to an orangutan inside a cage shortly after it arrived from Thailand at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta. REUTERS/Beawiharta Fourteen orangutans smuggled into Thailand illegally were sent back to Indonesia, but the operation was not without incident -- one of the powerful apes tore a wildlife officer's finger off when he tried to put them in cages. 8. A turtle is seen as Cambodian police officers hand over wild animals to members of the WildAid NGO after they were recovered from smugglers in Kandal province, outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia. REUTERS/Samrang Pring 9. A plastic bag containing thousands of confiscated elvers (young eels) are shown to media at a cargo terminal in Ninoy Aquino International airport in Manila, Philippines. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo Airport authorities confiscated some two million elvers, weighing around 949 kg and amounting to 22,000 pesos ($524) per kilo. The elvers were supposed to be shipped to Hong Kong, local media reported. According to Philippine law fingerlings are not to be exported unless for scientific or education purposes. 10. An officer holds a baby saltwater crocodile at BKSDA (Natural Resources Conservation Board) office in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. REUTERS/Dwi Oblo The reptile is one of 27 saltwater crocodiles confiscated as they were being smuggled from Central Kalimantan province to Central Java for trade. 11. Long-tailed macaque babies are seen inside a basket as police seized a truck smuggling them from Vietnam to China, in Changsha, Hunan province, China. REUTERS/Stringer 12. Rescued baby iguanas are pictured in a cardboard box, in an office of the Ministry of Environment in San Jose, May 25, 2015. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate Officers from the national police force of Costa Rica rescued 81 iguanas that had been confined to a box at a hotel in San Jose. It is presumed that the captive iguanas were the subject of an exotic pet smuggling, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Public Security. The Ministry of the Environment rehabilitated the iguanas to a natural habitat today. 13. A Mexican coyote that had been rescued with other animals while being trafficked illegally, is seen through the bars of an enclosure at the Federal Wildlife Conservation Center on the outskirts of Mexico City. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso 14. Falcons are seen at the offices of Sindh Wildlife Police after they were seized in Karachi, Pakistan REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro Twenty-two falcons worth one million rupees ($9,600) each were seized by the Rangers paramilitary force after they were discovered during a snap inspection along a toll booth, as they were being smuggled from Peshawar to Karachi. The birds were later handed over to Sindh Wildlife Department, reported local media. 15. Terrapins are seen during a news conference in San Salvador, El Salvador REUTERS/Jose Cabezas More than 90 turtles, monkeys and parrots were found in plastic bags inside a dumpster, ready to be smuggled into Salvadorean territory. 16. A slow loris, seized during an operation against illegal wildlife traders, is carried in a cage by a wildlife department official in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. REUTERS/Olivia Harris 17. A worker holds a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) after unloading it from a truck in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. REUTERS/Murdani Usman Police said they foiled an attempt to smuggle 71 green turtles for food. The turtles, caught in the waters off Sulawesi Island, have an average weight of 100 kilograms (220 pounds). 18. A woman on a flight from Singapore to Melbourne shows the 51 live tropical fish hidden in a specially designed apron under her skirt. REUTERS/Handout/Australian Customs Service Customs officers became suspicious after hearing "flipping" noises coming from the vicinity of her waist, and an examination revealed 15 plastic water-filled bags holding concealed fish. 19. A coati, which had been rescued from a home along with two others of its kind, sits inside its enclosure at the Federal Wildlife Conservation Center on the outskirts of Mexico City. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso 20. A newborn baby pangolin climbs the walls of a cage in Bangkok, Thailand. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj The Thai custom office showed 175 pangolins they found hidden in a truck heading into Bangkok. 21. Tarantulas, shipped by a German national into the United States by mail and confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. REUTERS/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 22. A serpent eagle sits inside its cage after being seized from illegal traders, at Manila's police district, Philippines. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo 23. Spider monkeys that had been found on a bus inside a bag with three dead monkeys, rest in a hammock at the Federal Wildlife Conservation Center on the outskirts of Mexico City. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso 24. A black rattlesnake which had been rescued with other animals while being trafficked illegally, is seen inside a plastic cylinder at the Federal Wildlife Conservation Center on the outskirts of Mexico City. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso 25. African grey parrots rescued from an illegal trader by Ugandan officials at the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border crossing are seen at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe, southwest of the capital Kampala, Uganda. REUTERS/James Akena 26. A Pakistan customs official releases a falcon seized during a raid in Karachi, in Kirthar National Park, Pakistan. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro I myself have surgically rejoined severed neurolinkages. The nerve endings have been fused, the healing process begun, said Dr. Strange as he shows off to Iron Man and Spider-Man. This might become a reality soon enough as Sergio Canavero prepares himself to do what no one has ever imagined doing before. The 51-year-old Italian neurosurgeon recently announced he would be able to do a human head transplant. Making this the first ever human head transplant, ever! kotaku But he does have a fair number of people dismissing the concept. What's the concept? Canavero explains the process would be a two-part procedure. The first part he terms as HEAVEN - a head anastomosis venture. The second, Gemini - a spinal cord fusion Dailymail He already has a volunteer. Canavero already has a volunteer willing to risk his life in return of a better one. A 31-year-old program manager in software development, Valery Spiridonov suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman disease, a terrible muscle-wasting condition that degenerates voluntary muscle movements and respiratory disorders. Apart from the movement being restricted, a patient suffering from this also has severe difficulty in chewing, swallowing and breathing. Spiridonov found out about what Canavero is proposing and has volunteered to be his first patient, in the hope that his life improves manifold. Canavero considers his move to be a bold one. dailymail His detractors say Canavero is "peddling false hope" Many are rubbishing Canavero's claims, calling it fantasy. You can't say they are crazy either, for this does sound too good to be true. One person, in particular - call him Canavero's nemesis if you will - is Arthur Caplan. The founder of the Division of Bioethics at New York University's School of Medicine calls Canavero a "Looney Tune" who's "peddling false hopes. Some are even going to the lengths of calling him modern day's Dr. Frankenstein trying to seek fame at the cost of human life. aqu52 Canavero couldn't care less. Canavero is unperturbed with these comments though, saying it's funny how people first dismiss him in public and then approach him personally to know more about his plans and ideas. He believes when other parts and organs, like heart, kidney, uterus, lungs etc. can be transplanted, why not a human head? losandes.com History of head transplants It dates all the way back to 1970 when an American neurosurgeon called Dr. Robert White conducted the first successful transplant of a head on another body. This was performed on a monkey. The modern day spinal cord fusion technology had not been developed at that point in time. Probably the reason why the animal lived for only a few more days before succumbing to its death. Newsweek The procedure will be a daunting one, no doubt In a paper submitted, Canavero explains the whole procedure at length. It will apparently be a 36-hour-long surgery involving, at the very least, 150 people, including doctors, nurses, technicians, psychologists and virtual reality engineers. The whole process will cost a whopping $20 million or Rs 133 crores approximately. Explaining further, Canavero explains to Newsweek that the specially equipped hospital suite will have two surgical teams working in tandem. One that will just focus on the patient, Spiridonov in this case, and the other that will specifically focus on the donor's body- a brain-dead patient with physical characteristics and immunotype matching the Russian's. Both patients will be anesthetized and connected with breathing tubes. Their heads would then be locked used metal clamps and pins. Electrodes would be attached to their bodies to monitor brain and heart activities of both the patients. Spiridnocv's head would then be completely frozen, brought down to 12 to 15 degree Celsius, making him temporarily brain-dead. The blood would then be drained off his brain and replaced with standard surgery solution instead. A vasculkar surgeon would then connect sleeve-like tubes made out of silicone and plastic, or Silastic as it's commonly known, around the carotid arteries and jugular veins. These tubes would be used to stop and increase blood flow when the head is connected to a new body. The surgeons would then move on to the most crucial part of the whole process. Cleanly chopping through the spinal cord under a microscope with the help of a $200,000 (1.32 crores). diamond nanoblade, making thin and precise incisions. Time would be the key from here on. Once clied out of his original body, Spiridonov's head would have to be attached to his new body and connected to his blood flow, in no longer than an hour's time. Air could create blockages, no air can pass into any of the vessels, so the surgeons would have to make sure that the head is completely sealed when the transplant is happening. Surgeons would then sew the arteries and the veins of the patients head to his new body. The donor's blood flow would then start re-warming Spiridonov's head to a normal temperature within a matter of minutes. East2WestNews But is it ethically wrong? A question that often pops up while talking about such procedures is the question of morality because the chances of survival, for now, even if things go as planed remain extremely slim. So when people posed a question about the ethics of this all to Spiridonov, he retorted with a question of his own - would you like to be in his shoes? Needing help with defacation, urination, and living a life without sex. The audience didn't have an answer. He believes he'd rather risk death than live the quality of life he's living at the moment. We are truly very excited. More about Spiridonov experiencing the simple pleasures of life all over again than anything else. This story was first published by Newsweek. In a bid to save animals from meeting their untimely death, an NGO in Chennai has come up with a brilliant idea. On Sunday, nearly 300 street animals were seen sporting reflective collars to help motorists spot the animals from afar and not mow them down. Hindustan Times The move will definitely decrease the number of hit-and-run accidents claiming the lives of street animals. It will help vehicles to avoid mowing down animals especially at night in areas where street lighting is not up to the mark. TOI These 'magic collars', that were fit onto dogs and cattle, are made of a reflective cloth stuck on a nylon tape. TOI The initiative is the brainchild of People For Cattle in India (PFCI), an NGO that has successfully tested and used the collars for dogs in Bengaluru, Pune ad Jamshedpur. The collars are designed to reflect light from vehicles and motorists thereby preventing animal deaths. A thief behind over a 100 burglaries and robberies in Karnataka and neighbouring states finally gave up his secrets, after he was brought back from the brink of death thanks to the police. timesofindia The Banaswadi police, who made it their mission to catch this elusive thief finally found him on his deathbed suffering with Aids, after an almost eight-year manhunt. They made sure he was nursed back to some semblance of health and then made him tell them about his capers. The result was the recovery of 10 kg of gold and a smile on the faces of 90 of his victims. Born in Thiruvaruru in Tirchi, Murugan decided that a life of burglary and robbery was the one for him, and he literally turned into a menace sans frontiers. He marauded through Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh stealing from hundreds of homes and even looting a few banks along the way. In 2008 the cops finally nabbed the career criminal in Madiwala, but after he was released on bail, Murugan simply picked up from where he had left off. His crime spree continued unabated and the cops were left chasing shadows across state lines. The police scoured CCTV footage from the scenes of his crimes, but no evidence was forthcoming. The hunted remained at large, and the hunters were being frustrated at every turn. Enter Banaswadi police subinspector Mirza Ali. Ali looked at Murugan's case as a personal challenge. Little did he know that in order to apprehend Murugan...he would first have to save his life. In 2008 the cops finally nabbed the career criminal in Madiwala, but after he was released on bail, Murugan simply picked up from where he had left off. His crime spree continued unabated and the cops were left chasing shadows across state lines. The police scoured CCTV footage from the scenes of his crimes, but no evidence was forthcoming. The hunted remained at large, and the hunters were being frustrated at every turn. Enter Banaswadi police subinspector Mirza Ali. Ali looked at Murugan's case as a personal challenge. Little did he know that in order to apprehend Murugan...he would first have to save his life. Tracing shadows Ali mobilized the resources available to the Banaswadi police, and after weeks spent scanning CCTV footage of burglaries, finally managed to find some footage of Murugan in the act. Now they had a time and date. They then began to analyze calls bounced off the local tower during that period and finally got their hands on a phone number. A bit more digging under rocks never turned, and they found the mother lode - Murugan's hometown. Murugan left his home and family and began his life of crime. But early last year, he found out he was HIV positive and his health deteriorated rapidly as he was not under medication. Eventually he couldn't even eat or walk. His condition got so bad that members of his gang took him home, but once there, his family refused to take him in. He was then admitted to hospital where his treatment was basic at best. And it was in this condition that Ali and his fellow officers found him...frail and knocking on death's door. Doctors gave Murugan just eight days to live, but the police were having none of it. Determined to not only document each of Murugan's crimes, they also wanted to track down as much of the loot as they could. The Bengaluru police rushed to a court where they asked that Murugan be released into their care. The assured the court that they would get him on a proper treatment regime and take him back to Bengaluru. The high price of longevity As soon as the police -led by additional Commissioner (East) P Harishekaran; DCP, (East) Satish Kumar; and subdivision ACP Badrinath -brought Murugan to Bengaluru, the first thing they did was book an AC ICU ward and have him admitted. The hospital started treating Murugan to get his physical condition up to some semblance of health, while his HIV was treated at Bowring hospital. It took his doctors a full two months and round-the-clock care, but eventually Murugan began to limp back to health.It also helped that the police convinced his family to come visit him in the hospital.Maybe his conscience had been pricked by all the help the police had given him, either way Murugan started to sing like a bird. He started tell ing the police all they needed to know about the crimes he had committed "We started talking to him and he did too after seeing the kindness of the police," said an officer involved in the case. The bumpy road to recovery As Murugan began spilling the proverbial beans, the police finally realised the state-spanning extent of his sprees. So off they went, with Murugan in tow. They hired an ambulance and nurse and visited all the places Murugan claimed to have plied his trade in. The journey took them from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to the length and breadth of Karnataka. They visited all the places where he had either sold or pledged his ill-gotten gain. Over the course of the trip the Banasawadi police managed to recover nearly 10 kilograms of stolen gold, and in turn they solved over a 100 cases and brought a smile back to the faces of more than 90 of Murugan's victims. Needless to say Murugan snitched on his former partners-in-crime and now they're cooling their heels in jail. The first time the residents of Ghatkunang and Khangav villages saw a bulb light up their homes, they were so moved, they prayed. Thanks to the efforts of four Bengaluru students, these two remote villages of Joida taluk in Uttara Kannada district will no longer be in darkness. bangaloremirror What started out as a project by Sunny Arokia Swamy, Balachandra M Hegde, Kumara Swamy, and Kotresh Veerapura, all students of MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, has become a blessing for the 18 households that now have solar-powered lighting. The idea came to the students while working on a project for a competition. The four wanted to put their engineering skills to good use. They had read about villages in the state that had yet to be electrified and decided to do something about it. The 23-year-olds then approached their head of department for help. bangaloremirror "We first decided to survey the villages," Kotresh said. "We wanted to install our systems where it was really required," he added. In the course of their research, they came across several villages near Joida taluk that had not been electrified ever. They set out on a recce, and soon realised how 'remote' these were. These clusters of houses, located in the Western Ghats, didn't even have proper roads leading up to them. It took them a while to reach there, following a trail, a mud road, to these villages. To get a better understanding of the life the residents lived, the students decided to stay. Sunny said: "We started our journey to the dense forest region on February 5 this year. We had planned to survey the villages for at least two days. We witnessed the life there and interacted with the people. It was unbelievable that a service we take for granted has never found its way into this dense forest. And this was just two hours away from Goa." greenpeace The inhabitants of the village are mainly paddy farmers. When they fall short of money, they go to Goa and work as daily wage labourers. "We took down the details required for designing the system and came back to Bengaluru. We spoke to our department head, Premila Manohar, about the idea. She readily accepted to take up the project. The whole project was funded by our college," said Kumara. How they did it bollywood As there was no infrastructure available for drawing electricity lines, it had to be completely solar-powered. With help from other students, they started working on a system that would suit the climatic conditions of the village. The team met every Saturday and Sunday in the college lab to work on the project. The prototype was tested for durability and reliability in a private lab. Once it was approved, 20 more such systems were made. Each system cost them Rs 20,000. The systems were installed last month in the houses. Each consisted of a 100Wp solar panel, 65Ah battery, 1 tubelight and 3 bulbs. In the absence of electricity, the installation itself was quite the task. They had to use manual drills and work under the light of a torch. The high-power solar panels can light four sources of light for up to 48 hours. The residents were also taught to maintain the system. Local electricians were also trained to tackle any problems. When the first bulb was lit in early April, the smile on their faces was unforgettable, said Balachandra. "Their first reaction was to pray. That moment made us realise how much their lives had changed," he said. Propelled by their success, the students now want to reach out to more such villages, "because there was nothing happier than that smile". Over 10,000 personnel and 3 IAF helicopters (1 ALH and 2 Mi 17) fitted with fitted with aerial firefighting bucket have been deployed to douse the raging Uttarakhand forest. This includes 6,000 personnel of the NDRF, SDRF, state police, forest staff and volunteers. Uttarakhand forest fire: MI-17 helicopter ready to take off, will drop water in affected area to douse flames. pic.twitter.com/sE4xQcBOt4 ANI (@ANI_news) May 1, 2016 WATCH: Latest visuals of #Uttarakhand fire, 5 districts affected as fire spreads across 1900 hectares of forest areahttps://t.co/cn7kviBKr6 ANI (@ANI_news) May 1, 2016 Here's Everything You Need To Know About Forest Fires An assessment team, including Special Director Centre for Fire Explosives K C Wadha and director of Delhi Fire Services G C Misra have reached the state to suggest measures within a week to the Home Ministry. Uttarakhand Forest Fire Claims Five Lives Even As Government Steps Up Effort To Bring It Under Control #WATCH: Aerial view of areas affected by fire in Uttarakhand's Srinagar which has engulfed 2270 ha of forest areahttps://t.co/6hZRRET0aX ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2016 The Centre has already assured the Uttarakhand government of all assistance. The choppers have rained water on forest fires today across Nainital and Pauri districts. According to satellite data, 75% of the affected areas have seen the fire being doused. The fire across forests has killed 7 people, and destroyed 2,269 hectares of forested land, and threatens to spread to sparsely populated remote hill areas. Now 50 Hectares Of Forest Area Has Caught Fire In Himachal Pradesh! If you were anywhere around India in 2012, we are sure you must have heard of the Italian marines who were arrested for killing of two Indian fisherman off the Indian coasts. huffpost The case created lot of ripples back then and it kept cropping up every few months before cooling off. Later, one of the pair, Massimiliano Latorre, returned to Italy with health problems, but India has refused to let the other man, Salvatore Girone, leave the country. Latorre was supposed to be back in January, but he never returned. Now a UN arbitration court has ruled that India should release an Italian marine, who has been detained in Delhi for more than four years, and allow him to return home, according to what the Italian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The case has soured relations between India and Italy, but the two countries agreed last year to move the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decisions. The Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in an initial ruling, the court had decided that Girone should be allowed home. It said it would be in immediate contact with India to try to make sure he would return as soon as possible. The court will continue to review the merits of the case against the two marines. Sources in the Indian government told NDTV that Italy is misrepresenting the UN court's verdict to make it seem as if it has ordered the release of Salvatore Girone. Bringing the conversation around the Odd-Even scheme to an awkward pause a day after the second phase ended, air quality measuring devices have recorded a 23 percent increase in air pollution in New Delhi. ALSO READ: Since The Odd-Even Scheme Began, Delhi Pollution Has Actually Gone Up By 50% The data, put together by a Indiaspend.org with live monitoring through the Central Pollution Control Board, indicates that the scheme cannot be considered as a long-term solution to the Capital's air. Without additional action and better implementation of public transport systems, Delhi's residents will continue to suffer the poor air. During the odd-even period, 7 am was the worst hour in Delhi, based on hourly averages between April 15 and April 29, with PM 2.5 levels indicating poor air-quality levels of 124.3g/m3, a 31% increase (94.67g/m3) in the hourly average recorded at the same time before the rule was implemented from April 1 to April 14. Evening 5 pm was the best hour for Delhi during the odd-even phase, with PM 2.5 levels at 21g/m3, indicating good air quality. Central Pollution Control Board Central Pollution Control Board Despite the fact that there were fewer violators of the odd-even scheme (5,814 during the first 10 days) compared to the last phase, the lack of buses to aid in public transport was among the key reasons that worked against reducing air pollution. Delhi was reported to have more than 8.8 million motor vehicles as on March 31, 2015, registering an increase of more than 6 percent over the previous year. AFP Delhis transport sector produces six times as much greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) as that of Kolkatas, five times as much as Ahmedabads and three times as much as Greater Mumbai and Chennai. The fire at the Bhalaswa landfill in New Delhi could also be considered a contributor to the poor quality of air. ALSO READ: Air Pollution Claims More Lives In Delhi Than Road Accidents Every Year! bccl A study of the biography of Afghanistan's King Shah Shuja Durrani's autobiography reveals how Ranjit Singh tortured his son to make him give up the diamond, writes William Dalrymple. By forming an alliance with the Company, but maintaining the most magnificent and up-to-date indigenous army of its day, Maharaja Ranjit Singh made sure that no Briton could enter the lands of the Khalsa without an invitation. Distinguished visitors like Emily Eden were allowed to see the Maharajah wearing the great jewel on his arm during state banquets, but when he died, he left the Kohinoor in his will not to the Company, nor to the British, nor even to Queen Victoria, but to the Jagannath temple at Puri. But What happened after? Read More to find out Check out what else ruled the headlines today: 1. It Will Take 10,000 People And 48 Hours To Douse The Uttarakhand Forest Fire! 10,000 personnel and three IAF choppers fitted with firefighting water have been deployed in Uttarakhand to douse the forest fire that engulfed large parts of the state. Uttarakhand forest fire: MI-17 helicopter ready to take off, will drop water in affected area to douse flames. pic.twitter.com/sE4xQcBOt4 Here are more details. 2. Yet Another Rhino Killed In Kaziranga, Toll Goes Up To 8 For This Year! Not even a month after the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kaziranga National Park - home to the one-horned rhinoceros, has recorded its second poaching incident which has claimed another rhino. Reuters The royal visit was targeted at increasing awareness for rhino protection at Kaziranga but things seem to be getting out of hand. Read more details here 3. The Men Of Madhya Pradesh Are Guarding Their Water With Guns! In Madhya Pradesh, they guard their water supplies with guns. India is officially in the grip of its worst water crisis in years - 330 million people have been affected after 2 monsoons failed. MP is second worst affected state in a list that includes Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Read more details here. 4. Cops Nurse Dying HIV+ Thief Back To Health, Solve 100 Cases And Recover 10 Kilograms Of Gold! timesofindia Murugan, a thief behind over a 100 burglaries and robberies in Karnataka and neighbouring was nursed back to health by police after they caught him on his deathbed, suffering with Aids, after hunting for him for almost 8 years! Get the hillarious details here. 5. Indian Students Invent Hydrogen Powered Bike That Gives 148 Km For 1 Litre Of Gas! thehindu Engineering students at the RVS School of Engineering and Technology just created a bike that runs on hydrogen. We are not making this up, get the lowdown here. Since #OddEven hasn't been the curative the state government promised in a bid to fight the world's most polluted air, Delhi citizens might literally start importing their air. Canadian startup Vitality Air might soon start shipping fresh air from the Canadian Rockies to Indian consumers this month, soon after they made a debut in China. India will love it Vitality Airs founder Moses Lam told the Hindustan Times: It started as a novelty back in the summer of last year. There were forest fires in Calgary and with all the smoke, people started using our product. The air is sold in 3-litre and 8-litre cans. We suck up all the air in Banff, about 150,000 litres every time and it takes about 40 hours, Lam said. Key clients from the China debut include "pregnant mothers, corporate executives, and even students preparing for examinations", and he's certain India is going to love it. The pollution in India is more than in China, we expect it to be our largest market. Their head of India operations said that they're sending samples to the Canadian high commission in New Delhi, and setting up mall sales activation to hype it up for an audience who needs to buy a breath to catch. According to a report in the Times of India, Vitality Air sold fresh air from two of Canada's lakes, with a bottle of 'premium oxygen' costing between US$15.85 and 18.50 (Rs 1050 and 1230). The company, which started operations in October, claims to have sold out its first batch of 500 bottles in just two months. But who better to sell to Chinese folks than a Chinaman? The popularity of Canada's Vitality Air is nothing compared to the monumental success achieved by Chen Guangbiao, a Chinese multimillionaire, who sold eight million cans of fresh air in China in a ten-day period in February 2013. Each can costs roughly 80 cents (Rs 53), and purportedly contained air from pristine areas of China like Xinjiang and Taiwan. As smog levels in Beijing and nearby areas rose to alarming levels, the sales of the cans soared too. Tightening the noose around Vijay Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are looking at around 40 companies in which he is said to have a stake, directly or indirectly. bccl Most of these companies (TOI has the list) are based abroad, including in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Africa, China and Nepal, and it is being suspected that the money allegedly embezzled by him from bank loans was routed to these companies. Mallya, the ED and the CBI have found, also owns a large number of immovable properties in many countries, which are being investigated. "The worth of properties owned by him, including some palatial houses and his shares in the companies is being estimated," said a source. The ED alone is probing 25 companies where it is suspected that Mallya has either 100 per cent or part stake. "We also have information and details of his movable properties, including his yacht and vehicles in some of these countries. We need to question him about his investments/shareholding in many companies but since he has refused to join the probe,we are gathering evidence through different channels and taking assistance from agencies abroad," said an ED official. At least six countries, sources said, were approached for information. Sources said the Financial Intelligence Unit, which looks into suspected investments by Indians, has gathered information about these companies and has shared it with CBI, ED and the income tax department. Mallya fled to London in March, a move which has irked the government and investigation agencies. The government has since revoked his passport and has officially requested the UK to deport him to India. Both CBI and ED have registered separate cases of cheating and money laundering against Mallya in the Rs 900 crore loan taken by now defunct Kingfisher Airlines from IDBI Bank. As part of its larger probe into non-performing assets of banks, the CBI is probing loans given to Kingfisher Airlines by other public sector banks including UCO Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Vijaya Bank, Bank of Baroda, Corporation Bank, Bank of India, United Bank of India, State Bank of Mysore and Indian Overseas Bank . Shah Shuja Durrani's autobiography is clear on how Ranjit Singh tortured his son to make him give up the diamond, writes William Dalrymple Earlier this month Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the Supreme Court that the Kohinoor was given freely to the British in the mid-19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and had been "neither stolen nor forcibly taken by British rulers". bccl This was by any standards a strikingly unhistorical statement, all the odder because the facts of the case are not really in dispute. In truth, Ranjit Singh jealously guarded both his kingdom and his state jewels, and spent much of his adult life successfully keeping both from the grasping appetites of the militarised East India Company. By forming an alliance with the Company, but maintaining the most magnificent and up-to-date indigenous army of its day, he made sure that no Briton could enter the lands of the Khalsa without an invitation. Distinguished visitors like Emily Eden were allowed to see the Maharajah wearing the great jewel on his arm during state banquets, but when he died, he left the Kohinoor in his will not to the Company, nor to the British, nor even to Queen Victoria, but to the Jagannath temple at Puri. The British got their hands on the jewel only a decade later, after taking advantage of the Sikh divisions and general anarchy which engulfed the Punjab following Ranjit's death. They finally defeated the Khalsa during a series of notably bloody battles in the Second Anglo-Sikh War of 1849. On March 29, 1849, the Kingdom of the Punjab was formally annexed by the Company, and the Last Treaty of Lahore was signed, officially ceding the Kohinoor to the Queen and the Maharaja's other assets to the Company. indianexpress Article III of the treaty read: "The gem called the Koh-i-Noor, which was taken from Shah Sooja ool-Moolk by Maharajah Runjeet Singh, shall be surrendered by the Maharajah of Lahore to the Queen of England." On December 7, 1849, in the presence of the Board of Administration for the affairs of the Punjab, Duleep Singh, the ten-year-old son of Ranjit Singh, was compelled to hand over the great diamond. ibgnews So who should now own the Kohinoor? The case is often made in India that as the Kohinoor was taken by the British at the point of a bayonet, the British must therefore give it back. Yet the reality is more muddy. While the Kohinoor certainly originated in India, most probably in the Kollur mines of Golconda, Persia, Afghanistan and Pakistan also have good claims on the jewel, as it was owned at different times by Nadir Shah of Persia, Ahmed Shah Durrani of Afghanistan, and Ranjit Singh of Lahore. All three countries have at different times claimed the jewel and issued legal action in attempt to get it back. File photo of William Dalrymple from BCCL Moreover, as the third article of the Treaty of Lahore hints, Ranjit Singh also took the jewel by force, just as the British did. In the same way that British sources tend to gloss over the violence inherent in their seizure of the stone, so Sikh ones do likewise. Yet the autobiography of its previous owner Shah Shuja Durrani, which I found in Kabul when I was working on my last book, Return of a King, is explicit about what happened. On arrival in Lahore, to which he had been invited by Ranjit on his fall from power, Shuja was separated from his harem, put under house arrest and told to hand over the diamond: "The ladies of our harem were accommodated in another mansion, to which we had, most vexatiously, no access," wrote Shuja in his Memoirs. "Food and water rations were reduced or arbitrarily cut off." Slowly, Ranjit increased the pressure. At the lowest ebb of his fortunes, Shuja was put in a cage, and according to his own account, his eldest son, Timur Shah, was tortured in front of him until he agreed to part with his most valuable possession. On June , 1813, Ranjit Singh was received by Shuja "with much dignity, and both being seated, a solemn silence ensued for nearly an hour. Ranjit then, getting impatient, whispered to one of his attendants to remind the Shah of the object of his coming. No answer was returned, but the Shah with his eyes made a signal to a eunuch, who retired, and brought in a small roll, which he set down on the carpet at an equal distance between the chiefs. Ranjit Singh desired his eunuch to unfold the roll, and when the diamond was recognized, the Sikh immediately retired with his prize in his hand." timesofindia India's greatest diamonds the Darya Nur, the Hope diamond, the Noor al-Ayn, the Orlov and Pitt-Regent diamond all have exceptionally blood histories, with long litanies of betrayals, blindings, thefts, torture, assassination and murder associated with them. My personal view is that looking into the distant past, and attempting to right wrongs with claims for compensation and restitution, while understandable, is little more than a recipe for conflict and division. History everywhere is full of horrors and where should the accounts stop? Should the British sue Norway for Viking raids and Italy for the gold looted by the Romans? Should the Sri Lankan governments sue India for the destruction of the cities of Polonnoruwa and Anuradhapura by the Cholas in 993, when they invaded Sri Lanka, sacked all the towns, plundered the stupas and destroyed all the temples? According the Culavamsa chronicle: The Cholas violently destroyed here and there all the monasteries, Like blood-sucking yakkhas they took all the treasures of Lanka. They took away all valuables in the treasure house of the King, They plundered what there was to plunder in vihara and the town. The golden image of the Master [Buddha], The two jewels which had been set as eyes in the Prince of Sages, All these they took. They deprived the Island of Lanka of her valuables, Leaving the splendid town in a state as if it had been plundered by yakkhas. Rather than lawsuits, I think money and time would be better spent on proper education in history for all concerned. History is more complex and muddled than most people realise. How many Indians are aware, for example, of the bloody punitive raids the Chola navy made on the cities of Java and Indonesia when the coastal ports were looted and burned down? The British in particular need to learn what they did to pre-Colonial peoples across the world. For the same empire which led to the huge enrichment of Britain, conversely, led to the impoverishment of much of the rest of the non-European world. India and China, which until then had dominated global manufacturing, were two of the biggest losers in this story, along with hundreds of thousands of enslaved sub-Saharan Africans sent off to work in the Plantations. Yet, astonishingly, most British people are by and large completely unaware of the many horrors of their imperial history as it does not appear on any history curriculum taught in British schools. We cannot change what has happened in the past, but we can try to understand and to learn from past errors and to make sure the worst of them are not repeated. For as Edmund Burke, the greatest scourge of the East India Company rightly put it, "those who fail to learn from history are destined always to repeat it." (Dalrymple is the author of 'Return of a King' and co-writing a book on Kohinoor) l Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. China - Preserving Sovereignty or Sliding into Western Sponsored Color Revolutions Washington and its Vassals are demonizing China for Keeping a Check on Foreign NGOs By Peter Koenig May 02, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - On April 28, the New York Times was blasting Clampdown in China Restricts 7,000 Foreign Organizations. A perfect reason for demonizing China for infringing on the liberties of foreign NGOs NGOs that try to help and do good in China. The doing good is a concerted effort by foreign agents, including international and national organizations and NGOs that receive foreign training and funding to influence public opinion and eventually to cause civil unrest. Imagine, foreign agents teaching and influencing students at Chinese universities with western interests of, for example, privatizing Chinas public and social services; or directly interfering in sovereign state affairs, by for instance attempting to rig the Shanghai stock exchange. Lets put this Chinese clampdown in perspective. What would Washington say and do, if thousands of Chinese and Russian NGOs were to infiltrate US territory under all sorts of philanthropic pretexts, but in reality to subvert the US population against their government? Well, there is no need to speculate with the answer. Its very clear, they would simply be banned. So, this is not even a game on equal footing. Its as usual Washington pretends making the rules. When China announced in March 2015 a planned reduction in GDP growth from 12%-14% of the past years to 6%-7% for at least 2016 and possibly beyond, it was a well-calculated move by the Chinese Central Bank. The past more than 10% growth was not sustainable not for Chinese internal equality and stability, nor for the stagnant western export markets. The stock market plunge was made to look like a reaction to a faltering Chinese economy. It peaked at a drop of about 30% in mid-July 2015. The decline had nothing to do with the Chinese economy failing, as western pundits wanted the general public to believe. Something even Forbes journalists argued, the "stock market crash does not indicate a blowout of the Chinese physical economy, but it may indicate a shift from a focus on manufacturing to service industries. After all, a 6% to 7% growth rate is more than any western country can claim. The Shanghai stock crash had much to do with foreign agents, in this case Wall Street banks, some of which have been accredited to the partially liberated Shanghai bourse. A bust in the Chinese stock market meant the Chinese economy is faltering negative propaganda, so much needed these days by Washington and its minions, to boost their own empty glory. The western media were immediately lambasting the Chinese economic model as failure. In order for foreign banks to intervene so drastically, foreign trained and funded local counterparts are necessary. To exacerbate the propaganda message, such prominent financial institutions, as Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and Bank of America warned that Chinas market was a bubble. On 29 June 2015, the market regulator, China Security Regulatory Commission ( CSRC) called out on their Sino Weibo site, There have been people calling out the Chinese economy in an attempt to destabilize faith in the stock market and to disrupt the order of the market. The CSRC wishes investors to act independently of such rumors, not to fall for such claims, and not to follow them blindly. ---- No wonder under these circumstances, and merely observing what is going on around the globe with western interference in national elections, organizing regime change by all possible illegal means, Color Revolutions, parliamentary coups, proxy wars and conflicts, it is but common sense for President Xi Jinping, as reported by the New York Times, to take a major step on Thursday, imposing greater control and limit Western influences on Chinese society, as [the government] passed a new law restricting the work of foreign organizations and their local partners, mainly through police supervision. ---- This affects some good-hearted 7,000-plus NGOs working in the fields of environment, philanthropy, cultural exchanges, and maybe even in business promotion. What a shame. The authoritarian Chinese Government clamps down on those foreign agencies, which attempt to destabilize China by influencing people via the media, universities, industries and by associating with local civil society. Most of these foreign and dissident local groups and individuals are trained and funded by the National Endowment for Democracy - NED, a Washington based, fully State Department sponsored and funded agency, receiving hundreds of millions of dollars for precisely the purse of training and financing local dissidents and NGOs. There are others in the US doing similar work. They are very strong and determined. They set an objective and wont let go. Again, ask yourself what would Washington do, if similar Chinese and Russian trolls were to intrude the US of A with the same objective mobilizing the American public against their government? --- This piece of fragmented and twisted China news reported by the NYT was copied and blasted into the airwaves every hour on the hour by every European mainstream radio and TV station for every European to once more getting the message, China is an oppressive police state. Most of these 7,000 NGOs, if not all, are foreign agents with one purpose destabilizing unaligned, sovereign and autonomous China. Russia is facing the same phenomenon, especially now, shortly before parliamentary elections. Heeding the lessons from the various NGO initiated coup attempts and demonstrations before the 2012 elections, and in foresight of this years elections, Mr. Putin has already put similar laws in place, especially the so-called undesirable organization legislation which he introduced soon after his re-election in 2012. It requires those agencies or NGOs receiving foreign funding to register as foreign agents, who may be surveilled by police and whose finances are subject to government control. In March 2015, Mr. Putin called NGOs a threat to national security. Western special services continue their attempts at using public, non-governmental and politicized organizations to pursue their own objectives, primarily to discredit the authorities and destabilize the internal situation in Russia. They are already planning their actions for the upcoming election campaigns of 2016-18. A similar law limits foreign ownership in Russian media to 20%. Of course, the western media in which neither Russia or China would be allowed to own a single percent, lambasted Russia for censuring freedom of press and freedom of expression. Vladimir Putin was personally accused of stifling dissent. As you know by now, this has nothing to do with censuring freedom of expression. It is just a means of limiting the public damage caused by propaganda-lies propagated by the western media throughout any territory they have access to and want to conquer. Curtailing foreign media influence is what all of sovereign South America should have done long ago, especially Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. Now its (almost) too late. The Washington backyard is nearly cooked, ready for usurping and atrocious consumption. ----- Foreign-funded and trained NGOs and other politicized groups can be extremely dangerous, as many of them are so well camouflaged and integrated into society that they become almost invisible. They may be in a country for several years before they act, pulling the trigger when the right time arrives to launch an act of unrest and destabilization, almost always with the goal of regime change. The new puppet chief of state is usually groomed by Washington, ready to take over at command. The various Arab Springs, were the brainchild of the CIA, prepared during several years and executed by foreign groups and nationals, trained for subversion and funded abroad. The Arab Spring, launched in Tunisia in December 2010, also known as the Tunisian Revolution, spread subsequently and conveniently throughout the Arab League countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and is ongoing, always guided by foreign trained, funded and armed locals; and supported by the secret services of Washington and its allies. It was successful in creating sufficient chaos to justify foreign military intervention - US-CIA, NATO, Mossad, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf States, applying the old principle: divide to conquer a doctrine still valid after hundreds of years and counting. This Washington sponsored, State Department funded around-the-globe destabilization program has been a success story in most cases. One of the most glaring examples in recent history was breaking the tenacity of the Soviet Union, where they, the Masters of the Universe, used heavier artillery than just NGOs with the final financial blow coming from the Washington Consensus FED, IMF, World Bank. The Washington Consensus moved in quickly after the Soviet Unions manufactured collapse, restructuring the new Russia with billions of dollars in loans, as well as privatization of almost the entire state apparatus, leaving behind a country in shambles; a country that was not prepared with legislation to deal with the private market place western-style. The ensuing chaos, corruption and mafia-type crimes have since become legendary. Only with President Putin after 2000 order and control with the appropriate legal framework was re-instated. The destabilization effort continued almost seamlessly to the former Soviet Republics which became the CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States). Internal subversion by foreign sponsored groups early on in their new found identity as free states was necessary for the west, lest these new republics may stay in the Russian orbit, and not allow expansion of NATO closer to Moscow. The German-US promise to never expand NATO eastwards was a farce. Here is what the Spiegel-Online of 26 November 2009 says about the promise: On Feb. 10, 1990, between 4 and 6:30 p.m., Genscher spoke with Shevardnadze [Soviet Foreign Minister]. According to the German record of the conversation, which was only recently declassified, Genscher said: "We are aware that NATO membership for a unified Germany raises complicated questions. For us, however, one thing is certain: NATO will not expand to the east." And because the conversion revolved mainly around East Germany, Genscher added explicitly: "As far as the non-expansion of NATO is concerned, this also applies in general." Shevardnadze replied that he believed "everything the minister (Genscher) said." So much for trusting the West. NATO was expanded in 1999 to Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, followed in 2004 by the Central and East-European countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. In 2009 Albania and Croatia joined. Under debate is now NATO membership of Sweden, Finland and Serbia. At its creation in 1949 NATO had 12 members. At present it has 28members; all in an expansion towards the east, encroaching Russia. Al this goes to say that without the infamous NGOs or foreign trained and funded political inserts into the former Soviet Republics, countries the west needed to convince that NATO was good for their protection, NATO expansion may not have been possible. The convincing was done with massive anti-Russia propaganda, the danger to be absorbed again by expansionist Russia, leading to the so-called Color Revolutions, a western invention, promoting western friendly parties in the country targeted for regime change, with massive displays of brightly colored flags. Secretary of State, John Kerrys sidekick, Victoria Nuland is famous for boasting in a recorded telephone call with US Ambassador Pyatt in Kiev with such infamous words, fuck the EU; we have spent 5 billion dollars for regime change [in Ukraine] and wont let others interfere. She and US Ambassador Pyatt, with the help of CIA and NATO intelligence, instigated the bloody coup in Maidan Square in February 2014. Ukraine, for hundreds of years was part of old and new Russia; today it is a shambles, a bloodbath; corrupted to the bones by a US-NATO installed and maintained pro-western Nazi Government. ------ A Latin formula of Color Revolutions was also conceived to destabilize Washingtons backyard Central and South America also ongoing. Already under US control are Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, and since December 2015 Argentina. Currently thousands of foreign (US) trained destabilizing local politicos are working hard on a parliamentary coup in Brazil. After having turned the Venezuelan Parliament from the left to the extreme right last December, they Washingtons Secret Services, be sure, always with the help of Mossad using their local patsies, have now initiated a referendum with the objective to overthrow President Maduro. There is apparently no way of halting them. And there is no decisive move by affected governments in peril, aka Brazil and Venezuela, to use constitutional legislative forces to stop these illegal coups. Have the leaders of these countries and their families been threatened with their lives? John Perkins Economic Hit Man, the old and the new versions, tell plenty of such stories. This website, albeit incomplete may also give insight. https://wikispooks.com/wiki/US/Foreign_Assassinations_since_1945 ------- In this western instigated moves to subdue non-obedient governments, NGOs and other foreign trained, funded and often also armed groups and individuals, merely prepare the ground. They make sure the time is right and are in constant communication with CIA and other secret services under the Empire of Chaos. Before Washingtons actual move to check-mate, they Washington and its stooges put the appropriately bought local puppets into key positions, using to the extent possible constitutional procedures no matter whether the executioners are crooks, corrupt or even murderers. The empire has no scruples. Why should they? They get away with murder all the time. China has first-hand experience with the student uprising in Hong Kong, the so-called Umbrella Revolution that lasted from 24 September to 15 December 2014, protesting against what they called the Beijing influenced Hong Kong Congress electoral process. After all, Hong Kong is part of China. Although it was clear to most observers that this show of force was foreign funded, instigated and supported throughout, nobody in the western media reported the truth. Every Anglo-Saxon MSM bashed China for using dictatorial means in imposing electoral rules in Hong Kong. The Umbrella Movement failed miserably. Mind you, those swell-sounding NGOs like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Green Peace and more of the sort, they are all majority US-western funded and know very well who is their master. For example, you probably have never seen any Amnesty International Report accusing the United States of America of human rights abuses. Yet, by all accounts the US and its minions are arguably by far the most atrocious human rights abusers on this globe, being responsible for the death of at least ten to twelve million people over the past 60 years by wars and conflicts carried out directly by US-NATO forces, or indirectly by Washington instigated and paid proxy wars and conflicts. Obama boasts about being involved in 7 wars around the globe, let alone the thousands and thousands of drone killings carried out under his personal command. No wonder President Xi and President Putin put measures in place to stop these Washington directed, paid and often armed aggressive and violent separatist groupings, camouflaged as NGOs. The lies, uncomplete and biased reporting have turned the New York Times and similar once-upon-a-time prominent and credible media outlets into a ridiculous farce. Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a former World Bank staff and worked extensively around the world in the fields of environment and water resources. He writes regularly for Global Research, ICH, RT, Sputnik, PressTV, CounterPunch, TeleSur, The Vineyard of The Saker Blog, and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! - Essays from the Resistance . Washington Brings Regime Change To Venezuela By Paul Craig Roberts May 02, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - According to President Obama, the worlds only superpower, the unipower, the exceptional country is threatened by small Venezuela in South America ! In an executive order last year, renewed this year, President Obama declared Venezuela to be an unusual and extraordrinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States and declared a national emergency to counter the Venezuelan threat ( http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/03/03/obama-extends-order-declaring-venezuela-national-security-threat/ ). This manufactured extraordinary threat serves as the Obama regimes excuse for overthrowing President Maduro in Venezuela. It is a Washington tradition to overthrow elected Latin American governments that try to represent the interest of the people, and not the interest of US corporations and banks. I wrote about Washingtons attack on Latin American reformers on April 11 (http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2016/04/11/washington-continues-to-destroy-latin-american-reformers-paul-craig-roberts/) and on April 22 (http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2016/04/22/washington-launches-its-attack-against-brics-paul-craig-roberts/). Decades ago US Marine General Smedley Butler confessed that he was a gangster for capitalism, imposing the will of New York Banks and the United Fruit Company on Latin American countries by force of arms. In his book, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins reports the 1981 assassinations of Panama President Omar Torrijos and Ecuador President Jaime Roldos, both of whom got in the way of US corporate interests. After being duly demonized by the US media, in 2009 Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, who thought that Honduras should be for Hondurans and not for the United Fruit Company, was overthrown in a military coup greenlighted by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The president chosen by the people was replaced with Roberto Micheletti, a tool of US corporations, chosen by Washington. Washington has been conducting economic warfare against Venezuela in order to undermine President Maduros public support. The media is controlled by the elite and blames Maduro for the economic problems caused by Washington. Washington has succeeded in having its agents among the elite regain control of Venezuelas National Assembly. A recall attempt is underway against Maduro. It is possible that confused Venezuelans will cut their own throats by returning to power the elite that has traditionally oppressed them. Washington tried to destabilize Iran with the Washington-funded Green Revolution, but it did not work. Both Russia and China open themselves to destabilization by hosting Washington-funded Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), participating in Western economic institutions, and permitting foreign investment. Washington has had success in entangling Russia and China in Western economic institutions and economic ways of thinking that put the two countries independence at risk. Considering the control freak character of Washington, Russian President Putin should be on his guard against assassination. In the neoconservative drive for US world hegemony, no means are impermissible. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order . Kerry To Negotiate New Ceasefire In Syria - But With His Own Side By Moon Of Alabama May 02, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Moon Of Alabama " - U.S. Secretary of State is in Geneva today to renegotiate a cessation of hostilities between the Syrian government forces and the foreign supported "rebels" in Syria. But there is something very curious going on with these negotiations. Kerry will neither talk with the Syrian government nor with the Russians. The Russian Foreign Minister is not even expected to come. No, Kerry is negotiating with the U.S. allies Jordan and Saudi Arabia who support the same "rebels" that are opposed to the Syrian government that the U.S. itself supported all along. He now asks them to separate their proxy forces in Syria from the terrorist organization al-Qaeda/Jabhat al-Nusra. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday he hoped to make progress in talks in Geneva over the next two days toward renewing a cessation of hostilities agreement throughout Syria and resuming peace talks to end the fighting. "The hope is we can make some progress," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh shortly after arriving in Geneva. ... The Syrian army announced on Friday a "regime of calm", or lull in fighting, which applied to Damascus and some of its outskirts, and parts of northwestern coastal province Latakia. But it excluded Aleppo. Kerry made clear that a ceasefire was needed throughout Syria and he hoped to be able to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities after talks in Geneva. He is due to meet Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and De Mistura on Monday. According to military spokesperson of the U.S. alliance against the Islamic State, Colonel Warren, the "rebel" occupied parts of Aleppo city are under control of al-Qaeda: [I]t's primarily al-Nusra who holds Aleppo, and of course, al-Nusra is not part of the cessation of hostilities. So it's complicated. Two UN Security Council Resolution calls on all UN members to "eradicate" al-Qaeda/al-Nusra. ALL UNSC members agreed to Resolution 2254 which: Reiterates its call in resolution 2249 (2015) for Member States to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh), Al-Nusra Front (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL [...] and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Syria, and notes that the aforementioned ceasefire will not apply to offensive or defensive actions against these individuals, groups, undertakings and entities,... There is simply no basis for Kerry to beg for a ceasefire for "rebel" held areas of Aleppo city when his own military says that these are in the hands of al-Qaeda which the UNSC calls to eradicate. The Russian's have said that much. So here is what Kerry is left to do: Beg the U.S. allies to move away their "Free Syrian Army" proxy groups from al-Qaeda so al-Qaeda can be eradicated by the Syrian Army and its allies. But al-Qaeda is by now an integrated part of those Saudi/Qatar/U.S. paid proxy forces and well accepted by those groups. It gets its weapons and ammunition from the very proxy groups the U.S. now wants to separate from it. Even if the Saudis and Jordanians assert their influence over these groups it is unlikely that the fighters on the ground will follow their directives. The Russian air force is ready to renew its bombing campaign against all opposition forces in Syria that do not agree to a cessation of hostilities. No U.S. propaganda campaign can wave away al-Qaeda's presence in Syria nor the UNSC resolutions the U.S. itself agreed to. Either Kerry manages to pressure Saudi Arabia and Jordan to move their proxies away from al-Qaeda or there will be again an all out Russian campaign to eradicate them. It is unlikely that any of those proxies would survive such a campaign. Kerry is now left to negotiate with U.S allies against al-Qaeda. He now has to argue from the same perspective as the Syrian and Russian government. This is a mess of his own making. How will he escape from it? What Is a Global Citizen, and Can it Save Us? By David Swanson May 02, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Headlines this past week claimed that for the first time ever more than half of poll respondents around the world said they saw themselves more as a global citizen than as a citizen of a country. What did they mean in saying that? Well, first of all, to lower the heart-rate of U.S. readers, we should state that they clearly did not mean that they were aware of a secret global government to which they had sworn loyalty until the Dark Side crushes all light from the Force, or until Mom, apple pie, and sacred national sovereignty expire in the satanic flames of Internationalism. How do I know this? Well, for one thing, something that a majority of the planet is aware of is the opposite of a secret. But, more importantly, what's at issue here is the poll respondents' attitude, not their situation. In many nations, the responses were almost evenly split; half the people weren't wrong, they were just differently minded. Still, what did they mean? In the United States, rather stunningly, 22 percent of respondents supposedly said they strongly agreed that they saw themselves more as a global citizen, while another 21 percent somewhat agreed. How you can somewhat agree with a binary choice I haven't the foggiest idea, but supposedly they did. That's 43 percent total agreeing either strongly or somewhat in the land of flag-waving militarized exceptionalism, if you can believe it -- or if it doesn't actually mean much. Canada is slightly higher at 53 percent. But what does it mean? Were respondents shocked into agreement with a sensible sounding idea they'd never heard mentioned before? Is a strong minority really enlightened beyond the common nationalism? Russia, Germany, Chile, and Mexico had the least identification as global citizens. Should we look down on that? Nigeria, China, Peru, and India had the highest. Should we emulate that? Are people identifying with humanity or against their country or in support of their own desire to emigrate, or against the desires of others to immigrate? Or are people employed by globalized capital actually turning against nationalism? I've always thought that if people would stop speaking in the first person about the crimes of their country's military, and start identifying with all of humanity, we might achieve peace. So I compared the "global citizen" results with the results of a 2014 poll that asked if people would be willing to fight in a war for their country. The results of that poll were also stunningly encouraging, with strong majorities in many countries saying they would not fight in a war. But there does not appear to be a correlation between the two polls. Unless we can find a way to correct for other important factors, it does not seem that being a global citizen and refusing to fight have anything consistently in common. Nationalistic countries are and are not willing to fight in wars. "Global citizen" countries are and are not willing to fight in wars. Of course, the willingness to fight responses are sheer nonsense. The United States has numerous wars up and running, recruitment offices in most towns, and 44% of the country saying it "would" fight if there were a war. (What's stopping them?) And, again, the global citizen responses may be largely nonsense too. Still, Canada does roughly as much better than the United States in each of the two polls. Perhaps they make the sort of sense I'm looking for but only in North America. Asian nations, however, are both biggest on global citizenship and most willing to participate in wars (or to make that claim to a pollster). Whatever it may mean, I take it to be wonderful news that a majority of humanity identifies with the world. It's up to us to now make it mean what it should. We need to develop a belief in world citizenship that begins by recognizing every other human on earth, and other living things in their own way, as sharing in it. A citizen of the globe does not expect to necessarily have much in common with the inhabitants of some far-off corner of the earth, but does certainly understand that no war can be waged against fellow citizens. We don't need clean elections or an end to war profits or the expansion of the ICC to impose the rule of law on countries outside of Africa in order to create world citizenship. We just need our own minds. And if we get it right in our own minds, all of those other things had better get ready to happen. So how do we think like world citizens? Try this. Read an article about a distant place. Think: "That happened to some of us." By "us" mean humanity. Read an article about peace activists protesting war who say aloud "We are bombing innocent people," identifying themselves with the U.S. military. Work at it until you can find such statements incomprehensible. Search online for articles mentioning "enemy." Correct them to reflect the fact that everyone has the same enemies: war, environmental destruction, disease, starvation. Search for "them" and "those people" and change it to us and we humans. This is in fact a massive project, but apparently there are millions of us already identifying with it, and many hands make light work. To receive updates from After Downing Street register at http://afterdowningstreet.org/user/register - To subscribe to other lists go to http://davidswanson.org/node/921 Report says no fewer than nineteen persons have been killed in a cult clash in Idoha and Ulapata communities in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. Correspondents gathered that suspected Iceland and Greenlanders cult groups have been locked in a battle for supremacy in the area which led to the setting up of a vigilante group called Isakaba boys by the paramount ruler of the community to curb the activities of the cult gangs in the area. In a fresh attack, it was revealed that suspected Greenlanders had on saturday wiped out a family of four persons in Idoha community in the same Local Government Area who were later identified as member of the Iceland cult group in the area. A source closed to the community who simply gave his name as NNAMDI told correspondents that suspected Iceland cultists in a reprisal attack early hour of today laid siege to Ulafata community and allegedly killed the terrifying number of fifteen persons. Also confirming the incident to Today FM correspondent, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, GRACE KOKO said that the command was aware of cult related war but that the number of casualties remain unknown for the moment, stressing that the command have started investigation. In the meantime, the Ulapata community has been deserted after the killings following an alleged fresh letter issued to the community by one of the groups engage in another. Meanwhile, also in Agba Ndele community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, a twenty-six year old boy was shot dead early hour of today by unknown gunmen. It was gathered that before the murder of the twenty-six year man, he was a student of Igunatus Ajuru University of Education, year two in the department biology. Source:BreakingTimes Nigerian Workers will join Working People all over the World to mark Workers Day. The event which will be held throughout the country will be attended by all organized workers, professionals, students, market men and women, as well as members of other civil society organisations.It is based on this that INFORMATION NIGERIA has put together the brief history of workers/May day. Working people around the world have always had to struggle to win decent wages, and safe working conditions. In the 1860s they campaigned for shorter working hours in many countries. On May 1, 1886, workers in Canada and the United States, held peaceful strikes and rallies to demand an eight-hour work day. Two days later, Chicago police killed several demonstrators at a clash between workers and scabs in that city. A rally was held in Hay market Square to protest the killings, and when the police tried to forcibly disperse the crowd, a bomb was thrown. Seven policemen were killed; dozens in the crowd were injured. Although, none had thrown the bomb, eight leaders of the Chicago workers movement were charged with the death of the policemen. They were all convicted. Four were executed, one died in custody, and three were given life imprisonment, but were eventually pardoned. In memory of this struggle and the struggle of all workers for better conditions, May 1 was declared an eight-hour holiday in 1889, by the International Workers Congress in Paris. In many countries May 1 is a workers holiday celebrated every year. In Nigeria, May Day as a holiday was first declared by the People Redemption Party (PRP) Government of Kano State in 1980. It became a national holiday on May 1, 1981. US spy agency the CIA has live tweeted the military raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan five years ago, drawing derision and satire from many people on Twitter. Bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seal commandos on May 2, 2011, when they raided his compound in Abbottabad. Several of the tweets included diagrams and maps of the compound, providing a rundown of the operation from the moment US President Barack Obama and intelligence officials approved it until the president received confirmation that bin Laden had been killed.Several social media users criticised the CIAs posts, while others satirised them. Writing on its Twitter account, The Daily Show, a popular US news satire programme, mocked the agency. Speaking to ABC News, CIA spokesperson Ryan Trapani defended the operation, arguing that the takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time. He said: On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honour all those who had a hand in this achievement. As Mary Sia Kombo walks through the trees and shrubs of her familys cocoa farm, images of her father flood her memory. He used to carry me to the farm with him, recalls 23-year-old Kombo. It was a special time spent with my father. I learned a lot. Though her father died in 2007, she remembers how he encouraged her to pursue farming and to work hard at it. He showed me many techniques of farming. Im always missing him, she says. However, the farm her father owned could not be maintained after the devastation of the countrys 11-year civil war. When the war ended in 2002, he father tried to revitalise the farm, but it was difficult. After his death, there was still a lot of work to be done. Despite agriculture accounting for almost half of the countrys gross domestic product, farms neglected owing to the war are common. A project initiated by the German government is hoping to revive the cocoa industry by offering a programme known as the Integrated Farmers Training to youth like Kombo, who has been involved with the programme since its launch in February 2014. The project is implemented by the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ) with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Currently, about 5,000 young people from the eastern districts of Kailahun and Kono are learning about the cocoa farm trade, many of them owning the plantations upon which they learn to farm. So many [farmers] died, and younger generations were not able to take care of plantations. The knowledge was lost and interest was not there, says Ralf Zimmermann, the team leader of the cocoa component of the programme. Aljazeera. The Ondo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the just-concluded local government election as a fraud perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ONSIEC, had declared the PDP winner in all the local government areas following a boycott of the exercise by the APC and majority of other political parties in the state. The Ondo APC Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said if forensic investigation is conducted on the ballot papers used, it will reveal they were thumb-printed by just a few people. Mr. Kekemeke, who spoke during a reception ceremony for PDP members that recently joined the APC, said the figure of over 600,000 released by ONSIEC as the total number of voters in an election reported as having widespread voters apathy, is far from being credible. He wondered why the PDP decided to rig an election in which it was the only contesting party. The APC chairman recalled that during the last governorship election with large voters turnout, the total number of votes amassed by the then leading Labour Party (LP) under which Governor Olusegun Mimiko contested before defecting to the PDP, was a little above 200,000 votes while the combined votes of the LP, the PDP and that of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was just 400,000. Kekemeke, therefore, wondered how the PDP-led government came about 600,000 in local government polls that witnessed very low turn-out of voters. According to him: The polling unit where Mimiko was reported to have voted had only 21 voters, and this number of voters multiplied by the total polling units across the state would give you about 45,000 votes. How do you explain the difference? What we have now in Ondo State is a union of people who can no longer endure the pain and hardship caused by this PDP government. Today is a manifestation of the willingness of Ondo people to change the PDP. I want to assure members that there shall be no imposition of candidate. Kekemeke also cautioned some party members, who he claimed are abusing party aspirants on social media, to desist. The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma, on Monday in Lagos said the agency was working towards providing the best terminals for airport users across the country. Dunoma stated this while speaking with aviation correspondents at the inauguration of the Aviation White House built by Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN). According to Dunoma, a lot has been done to improve on safety of both the airlines and passengers at airports. He said that work had been completed on the air side in some airports which could be attested to by pilots who used the facilities. According to him, passengers will soon start experiencing better facilities as soon as the new terminals are put into use as works have reached advanced stage. On the construction of cargo airports in some designated states, he explained that some equipment for the airports had arrived but work had slowed down due to paucity of funds. Dunoma said that FAAN would commence work by prioritising six of the cargo airports and completing them as soon as funds are available. He said the revenue generated from the airports will be channelled towards completion of others. Reports has it that the accident happened on their way to Kaduna yesterday. Five of the passengers died at the spot while 6 others sustained varying injuries. Members of the Federal Road Safety Corps later arrived the scene with ambulance to take the injured to the hospital. So sad. See graphic photos below; Source: 9ja News Arena An Indian teenager accidently shot himself in the head with his fathers gun while trying to take a selfie photograph, police said Sunday, the latest in a series of such accidents. The 15-year-old is being treated in hospital at Pathankot in Punjab state and is expected to survive, said the citys deputy police superintendent, Manoj Kumar. The accident happened on Friday evening when the schoolboy was playing at home with the licensed revolver which is normally kept in a wardrobe, Kumar told AFP. The boys father and family said that he was trying to take a selfie with his gun, he said. We will speak to the boy when he is declared medically fit. We think that part of the blame obviously goes to the father for not keeping his loaded gun under lock and key at their home. A teenager was run over and killed in the southern Indian city of Chennai in February as he tried to take a selfie in front of an oncoming train. In January police in the western city of Mumbai moved to crack down on dangerous selfies after a man drowned trying to save a girl who fell into the sea while snapping one. Police identified 16 dangerous selfie spots in Mumbai and asked the local council to erect warning signs and deploy lifeguards. A man was seriously injured in April by an elephant when he tried to snap a selfie with the chained animal at a festival in Kerala, according to the Hindustan Times on Sunday. Yahoo! Kate Middleton is the picture of country chic in new photographic portraits released yesterday. The photographic portraits are to be displayed as part of the Vogue 100: A Century of Style exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and are also featured as part of a wider shoot for British Vogues centenary June 2016 issue, which will hit newsstands on May 5. Kate is pictured in her jacket, blouse and hat in a color photos on the cover. This marks the first magazine shoot she has ever consented to. The Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, says the National Assembly will not support the creation of grazing reserves anywhere in the country. Addressing newsmen on Sunday after a meeting of the South East governors and stakeholders in Enugu, Ekweremadu said that there was no bill on the creation of grazing reserves before the National Assembly. There is no such proposal or bill on the creation of grazing reserves either in the Senate or House of Representatives. Nobody is considering it; not even at the executive level. I do not think they are considering it but we will not support it even if it has been considered, he said. Ekweremadu said that the meeting was convened in reaction to the attack on the people of Uzo Uwani by suspected herdsmen. According to him, the meeting reviewed all that happened since then and thanked all stakeholders who had shown sympathy to victims of the attack. Speaking further, the Deputy Senate President said: The South East governors proposed to meet today to review these matters but regrettably, the message did not get to Imo and Anambra governors. So you can see mainly the PDP governors are here. So, they had to review the matter and more importantly, ensure that every governor will be in attendance in the next meeting. The meeting is rescheduled within the week where all the governors are expected to be in attendance, he said. Ekweremadu said that the meeting looked at a more regional approach to curbing the menace of the herdsmen so as to ensure that it did not happen again. We are looking at a concrete and more coordinated approach on how to protect our people from this carnage, he said. Nigeria may soon have access to $480 million (N153.6 billion) looted by fraudulent Nigerians and kept in the United States of America. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, confirmed to Vanguard, weekend, that there had been an appreciable progress between officials of the two nations over the repatriation of the cash to Nigeria. Malami explained that the decision to return the funds followed his recent visit to the US in company of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, during which they met with the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies over the matter. The money that is due for immediate repatriation is $480 million (N95b) and we are confident that we have reached a point that it will be drawn down before long, the minister said. Malami said that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was trying its best to ensure all stolen moneys kepat abroad were repatriated back into the country. I can tell you that the Buhari administration is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that all looted Nigerian funds are retrieved and those found to have aided and abetted same brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to potential looters, Malami said. Punch The Federal Government on Sunday kept mum over the recent demand by the organised labour for a new minimum wage of N56,000. Vanguard The Federal Government has condemned calls by some individuals and groups in the south-east geo political zone for herdsmen to leave the region. Thisday As Nigerians yesterday celebrated Workers Day, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called on the federal government to urgently set up a special and separate account for recovered looted funds and channel such funds to job creation, describing rising unemployment as Nigerias greatest economic crisis at present. The Sun THE Odubu Campaign Organisation yesterday raised the alarm over an assassination attempt on the life of the deputy govern or, Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu, at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat at Auchi on Saturday, April 30, 2016. Daily Times About nine persons were killed in two separate attacks on two communities in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. Guardian The Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Sule Zakari Kazuare, at the weekend disclosed that all orientation camps in the North East, which were closed because of insurgency would be re-opened soon. Daily Trust Jackson Lekan Ojo is a political analyst, who defected from the PDP recently to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview, he speaks on the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), happenings in the APC and the forth-coming PDP national convention among others. Leadership Troops of the Nigerian Army, at the weekend, discovered yet another Boko Haram bomb making factory near the border town of Ngala in Borno State. The Nation The Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has filed a suit against the imposition of levies on pupils in its primary and secondary schools by the Ekiti State government. Tribune Chairman, Association of Fulani Chiefs of South-West of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammed Bambado, in Lagos, at the weekend, called for caution in the way people jump into conclusion that any attack on any community should be traced to Fulani herdsmen. Punch Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, on Sunday narrated how he narrowly escaped death in the hands of suspected assassins in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state. Vanguard Ndigbo Unity Forum, an Igbo socio-cultural group, has given Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo an ultimatum of 60 days to pay workers outstanding salaries and allowances. The Sun The Manager of Yobe Livestock Development Programme, Dr Mustapha Gaidam, on Sunday advised the Federal Government to exploit the potentials in livestock agriculture to reposition Nigerias economy and create employment. Thisday The Nigerian military has vowed to deal decisively with marauding herdsmen that have been terrorising people and killing in different parts of the country, the same way it is dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency, Niger Delta militancy and other acts of criminality. Daily Times The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the government and people of Edo over the demise of the Oba of Benin, Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa. Guardian Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Sunday announced the increment of the National Minimum Wage from N18,000 to N25, 000 with immediate effect, for employees in the State Public Service. Daily Trust A faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Oyo State led by Sule Odumuyiwa yesterday called on the Federal Government to approve a new minimum wage of N96,000 for workers to reflect the economic situation in the country. Odumuyiwa, while addressing his group during the May Day celebration held at the IPMAN Building in Odo-Ona, Ibadan, said considering the loot so far recovered from corrupt politicians by the present administration, the country is buoyant enough to pay the new wage. When Nigerians cry, we feel the pain most. We have been to many countries; we have travelled far and wide and have seen the way other countries are being governed and managing their available resources. But here in Nigeria, reverse is the case. It is on this note that the NLC hereby calls for a minimum wage of N96,000, which will fairly take care of the plight of Nigerian workers, Odumuyiwa said. When asked how feasible for the government of the day to afford this new minimum wage going by the current economic downturn, Odumuyiwa said the government can afford it if it can prioritise its spending. Workers in the state have not been paid any salary this year. Organised Labour at yesterdays May Day celebration, told President Muhammadu Buhari that workers and ordinary Nigerians were beginning to lose faith in the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, were unanimous in condemning increasing poverty, unemployment, insecurity, erratic power supply, fuel scarcity, and called on government at all levels to urgently address the mounting hardship and frustration in the country. Addressing the gathering at Eagle Square in Abuja, factional leader of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, urged the President to provide people-based actions and programmes and not elitist programmes. He said the government should come up with discernible strategies and directions that would tell Nigerians where his government was headed economically. He also implored the federal government to stop further attempts at privatisation, especially of railways, return local refineries to full capacity and invest in new refineries and in, the short-run, sort out the supply bottle-neck that had made product availability difficult in Nigeria. On insecurity, he said: At the beginning of the year, we had cause to assert that on the security front, our armed forces within the year, redeemed their reputation as a resilient fighting force and fought the Boko Haram insurgents, inflicting heavy defeats on them in the North Eastern part of the country. We said that our conviction was that though the war was still on-going, Nigerians now believed that it was only a matter of time before these evil forces are defeated. As workers, who have been direct victims of the violence in the North East, we want to use this May Day to restate our call for Mr. President to combine the military success with a marshal plan for the reconstruction of the devastated infrastructure of the geo-political zone. The ruling APC government in its manifesto, promised to create three million jobs annually. We have waited one year for the government to bring out its blueprints on how it intends to go about achieving this. Congress will seek audience with Mr. President to get more information on this important matter, Wabba said. The other factional leader of the NLC Joe Ajaero who held his own May Day rally in Lagos said It is a shame that we have continued to import petroleum products. It is also a shame that we have also privatised it so that the products have become inaccessible to majority of the citizens, causing serious distortions to our economic processes. Fuel scarcity has persisted far longer than ever, foisting on our people the most horrendous of sufferings ever meted out to them by any ruling elite in our nations history. This has driven the prices of staples far above the reach of the ordinary people. Bread has gone up by 25%; Garri from N300 per paint bucket to N500; rice from N8,000 to N15,000; Milk and Chocolate beverages by about 50% while toiletries and other home products have all skyrocketed beyond the reach of workers and the masses. As a nation, we cannot be seriously thinking of economic development, when we allow our domestic manufacturing capacity to continue to decline. We cannot move forward as a nation, when instead of producing more products internally, we allow the existing ones to fold up. We cannot make progress when our tastes are heavily foreign. We cannot be talking of economic development when we continue to import petroleum products, allowing our local refineries to lie comatose. Has anybody imagined what would happen to the foreign exchange market and the pressure on the Naira if we stop this national insanity of importing petroleum products and refine our products locally? Ajaero asked. Incredible footage shows the moment a former Olympic wrestling champion took on SEVEN police officers trying to arrest him after being bloodied and pepper-sprayed. Vyacheslav Oliynyk, who took home the gold for Ukraine in Atlantas 1996 Summer Olympics, was reportedly pulled over on suspicion of drink-driving in Kiev but argued with the officers. A video released by officials appears to show him lunging towards one and then pushing him, only to be given a face full of pepper spray by a second. Oliynyk later told local media: Im partly guilty because I did not stop and I was ignoring the police. But I am not a criminal. As far as I can see there will be a court hearing and they will punish me somehow because they always do. However the fact that police let me go home on the same day shows I didnt do anything that bad. Source:Dailymirror A 19-year-old boy identified as Gafar Ayoola, who resided at 16, Bridge Road, Otto, Ebute Metta in Lagos Mainland, had been allegedly tortured to death while in detention at Denton Police Station, Lagos. Vanguard gathered that Gafar Ayoola, who was a barber at Okoafo, Badagry Area, was arrested Friday morning by a policeman attached to Denton Divisional Police station, Oyingbo, on his way to board a cab to his work place. It was learned that when news of Gafars arrest got to his parents, they stormed the station demanding to know why he was arrested, but the policemen on duty denied having any suspect with that name in their custody. According to his father, Sulaiman Ayoola, he was arrested by one of the officers at Denton police station named Taye. When the news got to us, we went to the police station but the officers on duty lied that they did not see or know the reason behind Gafars arrest. However, this morning (Saturday) at the police station, one of the police officers was trying to pacify us by disclosing that Gafar was rushed to Dunik Hospital at Kano Street by Bola in Ebute Metta (East) where he breathed his last. An Islamic scholar, Muhammed Ambali Obadina, has allegedly been killed by a soldier, who accused him of snatching his wife in Iberekodo area of Badagry, Lagos State. The cleric before his murder was said to be in charge of the mosque in Iberekodo where he mainly taught Quran. An elder brother to the cleric, Taiwo Obadina, told Lagos Metro: On the day of the incident, my brother had just left the mosque, when he went to Iya Bilikis shop that the two of them could go home together. Iya Biliki was preparing to go home, when the soldier came and asked about the guys who snatched his girlfriend but the woman quickly responded that nobody was in her shop, apart from Alfa. The soldier was said to have enquired about Alfa and asked to see the Islamic scholar, who by then was not in front of the shop, where they were standing. Alfa came out of the shop only for the soldier to start slapping, kicking and punching him. Iya Biliki ran to the neighbourhood to call residents to come and rescue Alfa but the soldier had taken him away, before they arrived. Not even the vigilante members on the area could rescue Alfa from the soldier. Adewale Akinsanya, a cousin to the deceased also explained that it was already late in the night and people could not go to the barracks that night so they concluded that they would go and bail him the following day. When they got to the barracks, the army officials told them that there was nobody with such names in their custody and they even said that nobody was brought in there the previous night. It was later in the afternoon of the following day that they saw his body by the road side, not too far from the barracks. Lagos Metro gathered that the army officials brought out some of their officers and Iya Biliki was able to identify the soldier, who perpetrated the act. The matter was reported at Badagry police station and subsequently taken to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID). The remains of the Islamic scholar was last week buried, after almost a month of trying to conduct an autopsy to ascertain the cause of his death. Attempts to get Iya Biliki, the eyewitness by Lagos Metro were unsuccessful as she was said to have fled the neighbourhood, following persistent harassment by the alleged killer soldiers colleagues, for identifying the culprit. Meanwhile, police at the SCID of the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the death of the deceased and added that investigations were on going. A senior police officer from the SCID, who spoke with Lagos Metro under the condition of anonymity, said that the police were making the necessary documentation to arrest the suspect. You know he is a soldier and we cannot just arrest him at the barracks like that. We want to write to the Army authority for them to hand over the suspect to us for prosecution, the policeman said. Meanwhile the image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos could not be reached as her mobile phone line was switched off as at the time of filing this report. Source: Tribune A man arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command for being a major buyer of stolen mobile phones in Lagos, has confessed to have bought over 4,256 mobile phones from robbers, pickpockets and one chance gangs operating in the state. The suspect, Kazeem Bamidele, 42, who is the Second Vice Chairman of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW), Ajegunle Unit, equally confessed to the RRS Intelligence Team that he has over 52 boys in Lagos State, who steal and sell clean phones to him constantly. Kazeem, popularly known as Elewure in the social circle, was arrested , when the RRS Intelligence Team quizzed two stolen phones users in Kogi State in connection with abduction and robbery cases in Lagos State. The operatives had upon returning from a week long investigation to Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kogi State, swung into actions by arresting Elewure from his shop in Boundary Market, Ajegunle, after he was manipulated to have been the seller of two Blackberry Z10 phones and a CAT phone collected from victims of robbery and abduction incidences in the metropolis. Kazeem said, I have over 52 boys who sell clean stolen mobile phones to me. On the average, I receive 38 clean phones in a week. I have been in the business for more than two years He also confessed that Boundary Market in Ajegunle, where I have office and shop, is where they sell the phones to me and that is where the buyers equally get them. I know they are stolen phones. Nearly every guy in Ajegunle is involved in this kind of runs. It is what they do to survive. I was pushed into the business by family pressure. I have two wives and seven children. I have so many dependants. What I pay as school fees alone is staggering the suspect claimed. Bamidele also stated that I had too many problems in life. My mother gave birth to 13 children for my father. Though both of them are no more, only three of us are left. I am the breadwinner of the family. The Nation. On this day in 2010: Navy seized a Greek-flagged vessel carrying more than eighty (80) tons of stolen crude oil and arrested its crew in a crackdown on a multi-million dollar smuggling racket in Nigeria. Also on this day in 2012: Nigerian soldiers killed one suspected Boko Haram militant during a pre-dawn raid in Kano over weekend attacks against church services that left around twenty (20) people dead. David Joseph Webster was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1945. He became involved in politics while studying at Rhodes University in Grahamstown in South Africa. He studied Anthropology at the University of Grahamstown and later went on to teach the subject at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). While studying at Rhodes University, Webster became involved in politics. He was active in the anti-apartheid movement, especially in the Detainees Parents Support Committee (DPSC). The aim of the committee was to support those who the apartheid government had detained without trial. Webster was gunned down outside his house by Ferdi Barnard on instruction of the Civil Cooperation Bureau, a government agency. In 1992, Wits University named a new hall of residence for students after him. Equally on this day in 1995:President Nelson Mandela of South Africa addressed a May Day rally at Umlazi Stadium. He was escorted from the stadium in an armoured car when shots were fired from a hill. He warned that grants to KwaZulu-Natal may be stopped if it resisted government as Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi had threatened. On this day in 1885: The Congo Free State was established by King Leopold II of Belgium. Congo was a large region in central Africa that had been able to resist European penetration. It occupies most of the Congo River basin and was controlled by the Belgian King. The regions workers were ordered to use a small percentage of land that was not farmed as state property and the population could only sell its developed products. The Congolese were forced to meet quotas of rubber and ivory; when they failed to do so they were tortured and killed by the Belgium guards. Estimates of the number of people that were killed during the rule of Leopold range from 5 million to 22 million. In 1908, the Belgian parliament eventually annexed the Congo, as a colony of Belgium to be run by state rather than the King. In 1960 the region gained its independence. It was renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo. Quick! Name a log analysis service. If the first word that popped out of your mouth was Splunk, youre far from alone. But Splunks success has spurred many others to up their log-analysis game, whether open source or commercial. Here is a slew of contenders that have a lot to offer sysadmins and devops folks alike, from services to open source stacks. Elasticsearch (ELK stack) The acronym LAMP is used to refer to the web stack that comprises Linux, the Apache HTTP web server, the MySQL database, and PHP (or Perl, or Python). Likewise, ELK is used to describe a log analysis stack built from Elasticsearch for search functionality, Logstash for data collection, and Kibana for data visualization. All are open source. Elastic, the company behind the commercial development of the stack, provides all the pieces either as cloud services or as free, open source offerings with support subscriptions. Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana offer the best alternative to Splunk when used together, considering that Splunks strength is in searching and reporting as well as data collection. Morning Cotton Weaker for New Week Barchart - 1 hour ago Cotton futures are heading into the new week with 20 to 60 point losses. Cotton futures traded in a wide 413 point range from +253 to -160 (Dec). At the close the front months were 32 to 173 points in... CTZ22 : 78.37 (-0.96%) CTH23 : 77.90 (-0.83%) CTK23 : 77.53 (-0.79%) Monday Hog Market to Respond to Last Weeks Rally Barchart - 1 hour ago Lean hogs extended their rally into the weekend with another $0.20 to $2.10 gains in the front months. December was up the most on Friday, but is still a $1.40 discount to Feb. Through the week, December... HEZ22 : 87.725 (-1.57%) HEJ23 : 92.800 (-1.12%) KMZ22 : 98.000s (+1.16%) Fridays CoF Report Gets Market Response Barchart - 1 hour ago Cattle added another 62 to 75 cents to the upside on Friday, with December printing a new life of contract high of $152.50. Dec gained a net $4.65 for the week. The weeks cash trade picked up on Thursday... LEV22 : 150.600 (+0.08%) LEZ22 : 153.075 (+0.43%) LEG23 : 155.975 (+0.29%) GFV22 : 175.375 (+0.06%) GFX22 : 179.200 (+0.48%) Wheat Red Into New Week Barchart - 1 hour ago Wheats initially gapped higher out of the weekend, but overnight trading quickly closed the gap and hasnt looked back with morning losses of as much as 6 1/2 cents. CBT SRW futures ended the last trade... ZWZ22 : 839-4 (-1.32%) ZWH23 : 859-0 (-1.21%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.7408 (-1.43%) KEZ22 : 936-6 (-1.21%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.9420 (-1.28%) MWZ22 : 954-0 (-0.78%) Double Digit Weakness for Soy Market Barchart - 1 hour ago Soybean futures are trading with double digit losses so far for the Monday session. Meal and soy oil futures are also weaker so far. The Friday session ended with soybean futures 3 1/4 to 4 cents higher... ZSX22 : 1374-6 (-1.49%) ZSPAUS.CM : 13.2990 (-1.51%) ZSF23 : 1384-0 (-1.46%) ZSH23 : 1392-4 (-1.36%) Nickel Losses into Monday for Corn Barchart - 1 hour ago Corn prices are trading off their overnight lows into Mondays day session, but are still showing 5c losses into the new week of trading. Corn futures firmed up on Friday for a fractionally UNCH close... ZCZ22 : 679-6 (-0.66%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.6893 (-0.66%) ZCH23 : 686-0 (-0.65%) ZCK23 : 685-4 (-0.62%) Chart of the Day: Exxon Mobil - Great Buy Barchart - 1 hour ago The Chart of the Day belongs to the energy company Exxon Mobil (XOM) . I found the stock by sorting Barchart's All Time High list first by the most frequent number of new highs in the last month and having... XOM : 107.06 (+1.13%) Healthcare tech giant Philips scraps 4,000 staff worldwide AP - Mon Oct 24, 4:24AM CDT THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Dutch healthcare technology giant Philips is scrapping 4,000 staff worldwide amid the fallout from a recall of sleep apnea machines and economic headwinds, the company announced... $SPX : 3,784.93 (+0.86%) $DOWI : 31,356.83 (+0.88%) $IUXX : 11,338.69 (+0.25%) Mexicos defense secretary, General Salvador Cienfuegos, recently made a public apology for the human rights abuses committed by soldiers in the countrys armed forces. The apology was a response to a YouTube video released last year showing federal police officers and soldiers torturing a woman by repeatedly placing a plastic bag over her head while threatening to kill her. The problem with General Cienfuegos act of contrition is that he insisted the incident was isolated, perpetrated by a few bad eggs. Unfortunately, this case was far from unique, as Human Rights Watch and other NGOs have documented. As Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said, For a country that is not engaged in a conflict, the estimated figures are simply staggering: 151,233 people killed between December 2006 and August 2015, including thousands of transiting migrants. Thousands of women and girls are sexually assaulted, or become victims of the crime of femicide. And hardly anyone is convicted for the above crimes. Given this horrifying situation, it's good to know that some funders are paying attention to Mexicos widespread human rights abuses. Four big ones that spring to mind are the Hewlett, Ford, and Open Society Foundations, as well as the Sigrid Rausing Trust. In recent years, Ford has been a big backer of various human rights efforts in Mexico, often those related to gender equity. OSF has made grants to the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights, among other grantees. Hewlett has a footprint in this space through its funding to advance government transparency and accountability, with an eye on defending the rights of vulnerable populations. (Hewlett also funds on gender issues.) The foundation has a long history of working in Mexico, although it closed its office there in 2014. Examples of its grantmaking include a recently awarded grant of $230,000 to Article 19 Mexico and Central America. That organization works to advance freedom of expression, access to information, and improved human rights. Another notable funder in this space is the U.K.-based Sigrid Rausing Trust, which names defending human rights in all of its forms as a top priority in its grantmaking. The trust also has a long history of supporting groups fighting for the rights of Mexicos marginalized populations with a particular emphasis on womens rights. Recent examples of related grants include a 35,000 award to the Center for Womens Rights in support of its work defending victims of gender-based violence and enforced disappearances; and a 250,000 grant to Information Group on Reproductive Choice for its work advocating for reproductive rights, with an emphasis on abortion rights, within a human rights framework. These funders are all heavy hitters in the international rights field. But when it comes to Mexico, small funders are also doing some pretty heavy lifting in the human rights space. Heres a quick look at some small, but powerful funders fighting for rights in Mexico: Angelica Foundation Suzanne Gollin, co-founder of the Angelica Foundation, spent a lot of time in Mexico as a child. Main areas of grantmaking interest, here, include the promotion of democracy, increased transparency, womens rights, indigenous peoples rights, drug policy reform, and advanc[ing] humane immigration and economic policies. Angelica has also partnered with Sigrid Rausing Trust for human rights programs and projects in Mexico and around the globe. Peace Development Foundation The Peace and Development Foundation works to address the social, environmental and economic causes of injustice. PDF's Community Organization grants program funds organizations in the U.S., Haiti and Mexico, focusing on building local movements that are advancing social change by exploring the root causes of injustice and connecting local rights and justice issues with the larger need for systematic change. General Service Foundation The General Service Foundation has been around since the mid-1940s, and throughout the decades, it has evolved its grantmaking priorities to reflect the most pervasive social problems of the times. The foundations international rights grantmaking is squarely focused on Mexico. GSF support is largely directed to labor and economic rights groups, many of which, the foundation claims, are led by women who break cultural barriers by stepping into public roles. Grants are awarded through its Human Rights & Economic Justice program, which also cuts checks to both Mexico and U.S.-based rights groups. *** There are other funders that also care about Mexico's human rights situation, but this still is not a very long list. You would think more American foundations would be tuned in to Mexico, given its importance to the United States. See more articles by Sue-Lynn Moses. An active philanthropic couple made one of the largest gifts in recent years toward neuroscience research, a field increasingly known for drawing massive contributions. Here are a few important takeaways. Joan and Sanford Weill, the latter being former CEO of Citigroup, just made a $185 million commitment to the University of California-San Francisco to establish the new Weill Institute for Neurosciences. Its the largest gift UCSF has ever received, and while not the largest the couple has made in a long run of donations to various educational, medical, and arts causes, it does tip their philanthropy past the $1 billion mark. A while back, we named Sandy Weill one of the most generous leaders of the financial sector, noting that he and Joan were parting with big chunks of their wealth through aggressive "giving while living." This latest gift further underscores that fact, and it brings the Weill's impressive philanthropy back into proper focus after last year's debacle of a cancelled naming gift to Paul Smith College. Related: In some ways, this big neuroscience gift is your run-of-the-mill gigantic research institution grant, but there are some interesting dynamics at play. Let's take a look. Its just the latest in a scorching hot field It says something about a field's philanthropic popularity when $185 million can get lost in a salvo of comparable donations, as is the case with funding for neuroscience and neurological disorders. Within the past 10 years or so, weve seen some huge influxes of cash from private sources toward the field. Paul Allen has made brain science his signature issue (although his interests are ever-diversifying) with total giving hitting $500 million, plus additional funds for Alzheimer's research. Big science funders like the Kavli Institute and Simons Foundation have stepped up funding efforts for brain research. And if you widen the scope to research on mental disorders in general, youre looking at billions given just in recent years, including Ted Stanleys $650 million commitment to psychiatric illness. Related: This is due to a combination of factors. For one, the field is booming right now, with brain scanning, microscopy, data analysis, imaging, and genomics advances yielding deeper understanding of the brain. Theres also federal momentum like President Obamas BRAIN Initiative, although on the flipside, NIH cuts have prompted private investments as Band-Aids. Many people are passionate about the topic, some of whom happen to be billionaires. Once again, the gift is highly personal Its not always the case, but very often, we see these mammoth gifts motivated by personal experience. It seems to be especially the case when it comes to brain science. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates neurological disorders like Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and autism spectrum disorders strike 50 million Americans a year. Watching someone experience any serious disease is painful, but when someone you care about suffers from some of these neurological disorders such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons, it can be particularly personal and brutal. While some criticize philanthropy steered by emotion, it plays an undeniable role in delivering surges of much-needed funding. Paul Allens mother suffered from Alzheimzers, Ted and Vada Stanleys son has bipolar disorder. And Sandy Weills's mother also had Alzheimers. Additionally, his father had severe depression, and one of his best friends committed suicide. Sandy Weill is now 83, and the couple have seen friends battle Parkinsons and ALS. That particular combination of life experiences also uniquely influenced this gift. Its about breaking down boundaries Another common thread we see in big university research grants is efforts to unite separate disciplines. Its been a hallmark of grants to areas like biomedical research and data science, for example, with donors collaborating with university leadership to create a setting for creative collaboration. The research topics and neurological issues mentioned above are related, but they dont always live under the same roof when it comes to how they are studied. Related:There's Moore Where That Came From: A Donor's Vast Giving to a Top Science School In the case of the UCSF grant, the couple was interested in bridging psychiatry and neurosciencethe former being rooted in study and treatment of disorders, the latter traditionally basic research of nervous system biology. The Weills particularly wanted to bring psychiatry and neuroscience under one roof, in hopes of removing the stigma associated with mental disorders and recasting them as diseases of the brain. But there are tangible research benefits. For one, the center aims to unify research and patient care, by supporting both labs and patient clinics. Also, the more we learn about the brain, the blurrier the lines between fields get, and the more hope there is for turning neuroscience advances into patient treatmentsomething that has been slow to develop. Those involved in the future center hope to see more interaction between different the arenas. See more articles by Tate Williams. The Voice of America and the Kigali-based digital media company Hooza have signed an agreement making VOAs VOA60 Afurika program in Kinyarwanda available to mobile subscribers on the MTN Rwanda and Airtel Rwanda networks. Increasingly, people are using their mobile phones to access information that is important to them, said VOA Africa Division Director Negussie Mengesha. We are happy to partner with Hooza to give the people of Rwanda the ability to stay abreast of the latest news. The 60-second daily news roundup in Kinyarwanda, produced by VOAs Central Africa Service, will be available to smart and feature phone users by sending the keyword VOA to 2656. Subscribers will receive an SMS alert when new content is added, and when breaking news occurs. Subscribers also will have access to archived content and can engage with the service by leaving comments on the programs they hear. Since 1996, VOAs Central Africa Service has been the only international source of news and information in Kirundi and Kinyarwanda for Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Southern Uganda and Northwest Tanzania. VOA broadcasts have a 36 percent audience share in Rwanda. VOA60 Afurika also is available on the services mobile site and social media. Hooza, Ltd. is a media service provider, and a digital media and communications consultancy. The firm has more than a decade of experience in broadcast programming and management, with expertise in social development, finance, economics and peace building in Africas Great Lakes Region and the East Africa Community. Hoozas mission is to offer innovative media services and a unique communications expertise. The company can be reached at: 250-788-537-894, info@hooza.rw and www.hooza.rw. The Voice of America reaches a global weekly audience of more than 187 million people in more than 40 languages. VOA programs are delivered on satellite, cable, shortwave, FM, medium wave, streaming audio and video, and more than 2,350 media outlets worldwide. VOA is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Since taking the reins as chief investment officer in 2009, Mark Burbach has run the Amstelveen, Netherlandsbased fund manager like a laboratory, with the daring and calculation of a good scientist. Blue Sky Group, which started out managing airline KLMs pension fund, now oversees $19.3 billion for six Dutch pensions and one U.K. plan, with pooled vehicles doing everything from asset-liability management to aiming for real return targets. It looks like we have an all-weather portfolio, but it certainly goes into more-innovative areas, says Burbach, 43. With some 55 percent of Blue Skys assets in fixed income, finding yield requires creativity these days. In 2014, Dutch insurer Aegon and Achmea Investment Management made Burbach an offer he couldnt refuse: funds containing Dutch mortgages offering spreads of 180 to 250 basis points over swap rates, an opportunity created by bank deleveraging. Burbach allocated 4 percent of assets to the mortgage funds. A mortgage should have a bondlike structure, but since we have to mark to market with nominal rates and nominal rates have decreased a lot, we see huge gains while we know there is a constant rental income every month, he explains. In 2012, Blue Sky ventured into private equity, which now accounts for up to 10 percent of the equity allocation for most clients. The firm invested more than $100 million with Hong Kong private equity firm Asia Alternatives Management, which was an early investor in Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi and took a small pre-IPO position in e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding. Those were little successes, but they help, says Burbach. Blue Sky keeps about 35 percent of its total portfolio in equities, with smart-beta approaches like low-volatility indexes making up a fifth of the equity allocation. They actually enhance the risk profile both in an ALM context and in an absolute-return context, Burbach says. The final 10 percent of total assets are tied up in real estate. Under Burbachs leadership Blue Sky has adopted a core-satellite model in which the core real estate portfolio aims to generate stable cash flow from rental income while the remainder seeks private equitylike returns. The 7.6 billion Pensioenfonds KLM, which uses a blended approach representative of Blue Skys aggregate portfolio, had annualized returns of 7.2 percent from 2011 through 2015. Returns like that let Burbachs 50-strong asset management team continue to innovate. Were allowed to deviate from the beaten path as long as we prove it helps make their goals, he says. Return to Europes Money Masters of 2016. 2016 European Money Masters As an investment consultant in Towers Watson & Co.s Dublin office, Paul Droop spent eight years telling Irish pension plans what they should do with their money. Since June 2011 hes been putting his ideas into practice at Bank of Irelands 5.3 billion ($6 billion) pension fund. Droop has taken a risk factorbased approach to diversifying the funds exposures. The aim, he says, is to build a portfolio that is resilient to as many possible things that could happen in the world. To that end, he has tilted the funds 17 percent credit allocation from core Europe to global mandates, grown private equity to 4 percent (with a target of 5 percent) and moved into such new asset classes as loans, infrastructure and reinsurance, including catastrophe bonds. We can feel pretty confident about the resilience of those in the face of a market sell-off of equities, he explains. Another new area is secured income assets, which for Bank of Ireland means a 5 percent allocation to long-lease real estate, which Droop sees as an attractive alternative to bonds. The fund has an additional 10 percent invested in real estate both listed and private and infrastructure. An Australia native, Droop, 51, earned a bachelors in economics from Macquarie University and an MSc from University of Londons Birkbeck college. He worked as an economist at the old County NatWest and at InterContinental Hotels Group before moving into the pension business. Bank of Ireland aims to fully de-risk its pension by 2040. That means evolving into a fully liability-matched portfolio, up from 35 percent today. Droop says the banks so-called Journey Plan seeks to generate strong returns now with an eclectic and opportunistic approach: How would I build a portfolio if I couldnt make any assumptions? Return to Europes Money Masters of 2016. 2016 European Money Masters Private equity firms have typically framed themselves as investment vehicles rather than as actual business managers. But in March, Judge Douglas Woodlock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts upended that idea. In a ruling on the Sun Capital Partners III, LP, Sun Capital Partners III QP, LP, and Sun Capital Partners IV, LP, v. New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund case, Judge Woodlock found that a private equity firm met the test for being considered a trade or business. This decision, which leaves Sun Capital Partners on the hook for retiree pensions at one of its portfolio companies, makes general partners liable for such businesses in many of the same ways that CEOs are. It could also have an impact on pension plans at other private equity firmowned companies. Sun Capital had no comment on the ruling. The Boca Raton, Floridabased company has been fighting in court since 2013 to avoid paying pension liabilities at Scott Brass, a Rhode Island metals manufacturer. Jerome Schlichter, a founding managing partner at the St. Louis law firm Schlichter Bogard & Denton who represents unions in employment benefits cases, says other pensioners could use the case as a model for their own claims. The lesson we should learn from this case is that the court isnt just looking at the form of a private equity transaction, Schlichter notes. Theyre looking at the substance of that deal. To determine who controls a portfolio company, a judge looks at both ownership and who is active in the business; the latter depends on how the deal and the company are structured. Private equity firms have avoided the appearance of being active in portfolio companies by leaving the CEO in place or installing a new one more aligned to the general partners interests. But federal ERISA legislation includes the so-called investment-plus standard: Even if a private equity firm relies on traditional investment fund structures, when it comes to control the court will consider which party is most active, regardless of the structure. When $9.1 billion Sun Capital bought Scott Brass in 2006, the metals maker was required to contribute to the New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension Fund, but it stopped doing so in 2008, triggering a withdrawal liability under federal retirement rules. The Teamsters argued that, as the companys owner, Sun Capital should cover the pension payments. In 2013 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit sided with the union, holding that a private equity firm can be liable as a trade or business for the withdrawal liability of its portfolio company if any of its funds received economic benefits from their investment. The case has been on appeal since then. In March, Judge Woodlock said that the way Sun Capital structured the Scott Brass transaction made it a partnership in fact, which meets the investment-plus test for active control. The basic structure of the investment is common in private equity: Sun Capital spread it across two funds and used a holding company to make the purchase. Beyond the acquisition Sun Capitals funds offset the management fees that they owed to the holding company by taking other fees from Scott Brass. Given that two funds joined forces to look for deals and set up fee offsets, the structure met the investment-plus test, the judge ruled. Because of the possible application of common control principles, direct investors investing together need to be mindful of how they are organized and operate, says Ronald Richman, a New Yorkbased partner and co-head of the employment and employee benefits group at law firm Schulte Roth & Zabel. Common control principles are a legal standard by which courts determine who really owns and controls an entity. GPs should consider all of the implications here, Richman concludes. One major consequence could be a drop in valuations, according to David Fann, president and CEO of TorreyCove Capital Partners, a San Diego, Californiabased private equity consulting firm. When private equity firms look at potential portfolio companies, any pension liability could now be reflected on the balance sheet as a cash flow risk, Fann says. I think deal teams have to consider the risks here, but so do investors, he warns. If the valuation is lower, that will impact returns. The notion that private equity is purely an investment gets harder to support as general partners create internal consulting outfits and advisory groups and become organizations that are in the business of buying and selling companies, Richman observes. It is definitely possible that other courts will use the investment-plus test, or even a more rigorous test, to find that private equity firms are trades or businesses, he says, adding that he wouldnt be surprised to see more such cases, especially in industries under financial stress. Attorney Schlichter agrees: When private equity comes into a distressed company, the active role required of private equity in a turnaround makes it that much easier for the court to say, This is a business, he notes. The Sun Capital ruling also paves the way for a player like the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. to become more aggressive in targeting private equity owners for unpaid pension insurance premiums; likewise, it could help the PBGC to determine who should pay pension liabilities if a general partner has struck a deal similar to the Scott Brass purchase. If the Internal Revenue Service adopts the courts view of private equity, it might change how carried interest is treated in the tax code, which could have material implications for firms and their investors. Broadly speaking, private equity firms market themselves as active investors, TorreyCoves Fann explains. But many of the investment standards in these rules treat investments as purely passive vehicles, so there is a tension there, he says of ERISA and other legislation, predicting that it will get tougher for firms to claim a passive role. Its a symptom of a maturing industry, and the industry may have to change. For many investors, 2016 got off to a rocky start, with the sell-off that started last summer extending into February. Small-cap stocks were one of the few bright spots. After largely underwhelming performance for the past couple of years, U.S. small-cap funds used the drawdown to load up on cheap equities and ride them through the rally that started in March. Thats made the asset class one of the top performers in recent weeks. Cycles like this, in which small-caps outperform in challenging conditions, show why theyre a core part of institutional portfolios, but are they right for individual investors? In a volatile and low-growth market, wealth managers may want to take a closer look. Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel, a $635 million registered investment adviser based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, deals exclusively in small-cap stocks. The sell-off created a lot of opportunities for us in terms of adding to our positions, says partner and portfolio manager Brian Poma. In many cases, investors were selling as part of a macroeconomic panic and not because of fundamentals, Poma contends. According to regulatory filings, Neumeier Poma has a wide-ranging U.S. small-cap portfolio that includes names like St. Louisheadquartered retailer Build-A-Bear Workshop and Kenosha, Wisconsinbased toolmaker Snap-on. Last year the firms small-cap strategy gained 5.61 percent, versus 2.88 percent for its benchmark, the Russell 2000 index. Pomas call that the sell-off wasnt driven by fundamentals turned out to be right: U.S. small-cap funds have largely turned positive for the year, whereas other asset classes remain flat. The S&P SmallCap 600 index is up from its February low, too, by 19.4 percent through April 29, versus 14.1 percent for the S&P 500. The S&P SmallCap 600 is also handily beating its performance for the first four months of 2015, when it was down about 1.8 percent. The rest of the world is paying attention. In a recent global survey of 100 investment managers by Chicago-based Northern Trust Corp., respondents were bullish on U.S. small-cap stocks as an asset class, ranking them third in 14 categories for the first quarter of 2016, one notch above U.S. large-cap equities. Still, small-cap stocks are known for being highly volatile, even when there isnt a major sell-off. That unpredictability and concerns about other risks, like poor governance or investing in young, untested companies, have kept more conservative retail investors away. Meanwhile, thin analyst coverage of small companies makes it tough for wealth managers to gather information beyond the pitches they get from small-cap funds. But David Adams, Boston-based principal and coportfolio manager for small- and midcap at Aristotle Capital Management, thinks those worries may go too far. The risk in small-cap is probably overstated, explains Adams, whose Los Angelesbased RIA manages $11 billion in assets. Not all of these companies are mom-and-pops. Many are well established. Aristotle owns several such stocks, including Atlanta-based childrens clothing maker Carters and delivery service 1-800-Flowers.Com, headquartered in Carle Place, New York. The U.S. small-cap market has consolidated over the past few years as performance waned, Adams says. Many of the riskier names folded, leaving those companies that were strong enough to weather the recent rough patch. Small-cap companies can offer other benefits. More often than not, theyre tied to local economies, have relatively simple business models and lack the big asset flow swings that come from being included in several exchange-traded funds, as many large-cap stocks are. Youre investing in a local store or a local industrial operation, and often local economies are much more stable, says Reid Galas, portfolio manager of the international small-cap strategy at Boston-based, $22.8 billion GW&K Investment Management. Walmarts size, for example, means theyre only going to do as well as the retail sector as a whole. In Galass view, global exposure to small-cap stocks can benefit all types of portfolios in a low-growth environment. Right now, hes focused on Japan. Galas argues that although many investors view the country as an exporter and one plagued by a sluggish economy the small-cap story is more internal. Hes overweight Japanese small-cap consumer companies that have steady local demand. Consumer names drive much of Galass international small-cap universe, which comprises equities from 21 other countries, including Australia, Canada, China and Israel. Small-cap can be a way to get what you actually want from global exposure, he contends. Many investors who allocate globally get tied up in emerging-markets debt or utilities or parts of the export economy, all of which are much more sensitive to changes in the market, Galas adds. If youre investing in a local company, the local consumer is always going to be there, he says. Youre investing in the middle class. When it comes to investing in the U.S., managers like Michael Thomas, senior portfolio manager at $1 billion, San Franciscobased Falcon Point Capital, have taken a shine to the deep-value opportunities that have emerged in small-cap U.S. tech stocks. In that category, Thomas says theres a strong growth story for business services outfits like WageWorks, which provides employee health benefits services. Falcon Point holds the New Yorkbased company, whose stock closed at $53.86 on April 29, up 18.7 percent for the year. Small-cap industrials also rebounded in March and April as worries about a U.S. recession diminished, Thomas notes. For investors who need growth, small-caps can be a consistent source, GW&Ks Galas says. I think investors are struggling with where to find yield, and were all going to have to think about asset management differently going forward, he observes. Small-cap names can be one of the growth drivers in a portfolio, if done well. Aristotles Adams agrees. The key lesson for wealth managers is that small-caps can be uncorrelated to macroeconomic trends, leading to good performance even when other parts of the market are down, he explains. That can be a boon for portfolios in a rocky market. We think that small-cap should be part of the core equities holding, Adams says. We take a long-term view in terms of how we trade these stocks. This content is from: Culture People investing in ESG funds want their money to have an impact. They just dont have a way to ask for that information, says Jason Saul of the Center for Impact Sciences. A widely known and well respected member of the Australian insurance industry has announced he is bowing out after nearly half a century in the business.Accident and Health General Manager Kevin Kinsella will be retiring, effective June 30.The industry veteran, who started out in the accounts department at Royal Insurance Group in the 1960s and worked his way up the corporate ladder from there, said it was time to hand over the reins to the younger generation of industry professionals.The Australian insurance industry has been very good to me over the years and while I am sad to be leaving, I am thrilled the industry is in such safe hands, he said.He said the biggest challenge for the industry over the next few years was its ability to digitally transform but he felt this was already being tackled head on. AHI for example, in the past year has launched its own app and we just launched TeleHealth, an online doctor service for its policy holders, he said.After various roles as operations manager at Royal Insurance, General Manager at GIO and Managing Director at Gerling Insurance in the 1990s, Kinsella joined AHI in 2004 as General Manager and helped grow the business across Australia.AHI CEO Peter Banks said Kevin was well known for his razor-sharp wit and great sense of humour and will be greatly missed by the AHI staff.A regular MC at AHI and industry events, he would often have the audience in stitches, Banks said.But underneath all of that you have an experienced professional who has a strong belief in the power of building relationships in the insurance industry.He has mentored countless staff at AHI, from young recruits right up to AHIs management. The result has been positive, with a large portion of staff being with the company for more than a decade.Banks said Kinsella always encouraged his staff to go the extra mile to underwrite risk, if it made strong business sense.Our reputation as a fearless can-do company has a lot to do with his management over the past decade, Banks said. The states building consulting industry says South Australias domestic building insurance scheme desperately needs fixing.The Association of Building Consultants believes the scheme is struggling to stay feasible and urgently needs revising in order to address deficiencies in consumer protection.ABC spokesperson Chris Short said the states domestic building insurance scheme is struggling under the weight of growing insolvencies as well as gaps in the insurance pool.He puts this down to exemptions from the scheme for public housing and high-rise residential building in addition to property owners who work under an owner builder not being obligated to carry insurance in order to indemnify subsequent purchasers of the property in respect to defects relating to the work they perform.He wants these exemptions removed and owner builders to be treated the same as licensed builders in this respect.Short also said that maximum pay-outs under the scheme need to increase from $80,000 to $200,000, while consumer protection outside of matters relating to insurance should also be improved by extending the regime of certificate of compliance beyond electrical, gas and plumbing to cover other trade contractors.He also wants a licensing regime for building consultants to be introduced.Weve got some fairly big holes in terms to the premium pool its just simply not big enough, he told Sourceable.That coupled with a spate of builder insolvencies which we have had in recent years has seen private insurances decide that it wasnt worth their while and that its just become non-viable for them.He said while its not quite a perfect storm there are still some escape holes in the net, such as some owner builders escaping it completely. Added to that is a declining housing market and a number of builders having gone into liquidation.All of those things collectively serve to reduce the premium pool and it takes away the attraction for private insurers, he said.If high-rise apartments and public housing and owner buildings were all roped into the scheme, it would increase the premium pool. Brokerage has established ambition to grow further in the aerospace sector The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that it does not have jurisdiction in a case brought by an injured nurse that challenged the constitutionality of the entire Florida Workers Compensation system. In the case of Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital, the Court said After further consideration and hearing oral argument in this case, we have determined that we should exercise our discretion and discharge jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss review. On April 6, 2016, Mark Zientz, the attorney for injured worker Daniel Stahl, argued before the court that since the law was first enacted, the legislature has so eroded the available benefits that the law no longer passes constitutional muster. Things have gotten so bad, according to Zientz, that the present law no longer represents the fair exchange intended by the original grand bargain in which workers gave up their right to sue in civil court in exchange for guaranteed benefits. But judging by the questions asked during oral argument by Justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince and James Perry and to a lesser extent by Justice Fred Lewis the Supreme Court seemed to be struggling with whether the court should be hearing the case at all. The Court seemed receptive to the arguments made by their former colleague and current attorney for the defendants, Kenneth Bell, who served on the Court from 2003 through 2008. As the attorney for the employer (Hialeah Hospital) and their insurance company (Sedgewick Claims Management Services), Bell raised a procedural defense highlighting the legal path the Stahl case took to get before the Court. Bell argued that the only route to challenge the entire statute (a facial challenge, as opposed to an as applied challenge) was to seek a declaratory judgment in circuit court. In support of his argument, Bell noted that the Stahl case was on appeal from a lower administrative judge, and the record for review was only about 20 pages. Bell argued that Stahls challenge could only have been made in circuit court. He also maintained that it would be improper for the Court to rule on the constitutionality of such a significant legislative scheme on the basis of such a minimal record. In addition, Bell argued that the 2003 amendments to Floridas Workers Compensations scheme were enacted in response to an insurance crisis in the State of Florida at a time when premiums were the highest in the country. He said there was no evidence that the legislature had acted arbitrarily, capriciously or without a reasonable basis. On behalf of the injured worker, Zientz argued that the exclusivity clause (a provision that prevents injured workers from bringing civil suits against their employers except in very limited situations) is no longer constitutionally permissible because of cumulative reduction in medical and indemnity benefits. Zientz argued that the system has been so diluted over time that workers were no longer getting a fair deal. Specifically, he said that the injured worker no longer has a right to full medical benefits and he pointed to the requirement that after an injured worker reached maximum medical improvement, he was required to make a $10.00 co-pay in order to see a doctor. He also noted that the system allows for apportionment (or carving out a portion of medical benefits related to preexisting conditions), although he conceded that his case did not involve a preexisting condition. The entire categories of wage loss benefits, he said, had been eliminated over the years. Zientz comprehensive argument was dismissed by Bell as being a kitchen sink argument. Nevertheless, several of the justices seemed to be sympathetic to the argument. Justice Pariente stated in her questioning that the inadequacies of the system had been pointed out before specifically mentioning the changes regarding attorneys fees and doctors being chosen by the insurance company and went on to conclude it looks like it has become a very meager amount of compensation for an injured worker . . . and its hard to deny that whats happened over the last 50 years has not been a diminution in workers compensation benefits. The Stahl case is not the only workers compensation case currently pending before the Florida Supreme Court at this time. There are two other cases Castellanos v. Next Door Co., et. al, and Westphal v. City of St. Petersburg that involve constitutional challenges to the workers compensation law, although Stahl is the only one of the three which presents a challenge to the entire statute. The Florida Supreme Court heard Westphal in June of 2014 and Castellanos in November of that same year, yet no decision has been rendered on either case. The workers compensation law was originally enacted in 1935 as part of the grand bargain in which injured workers gave up the right to civil lawsuits in exchange for a no fault system where they receive medical care and wage loss benefits with a goal of returning them to work. In recent years, the Republican-dominated Legislature has focused on keeping insurance premiums down for businesses, while balancing cost-cutting measures with increased efficiencies and anti-fraud measures. Bell argued that the policy concerns raised by the Stahl case were more appropriately resolved by the Legislature, and not the Court. Four justices asked no questions whatsoever, which could indicate they agree with Bell on this point. In his rebuttal, Zientz concluded This is an important issue. This is something that involves tens of thousands of people who are hurt every day, not hurt on the job, but hurt by the system. And this is the court that has to make that decision as to whether or not they continue to get hurt or on whether or not we can stop that. Related: Topics Florida Workers' Compensation A growing number of insurance companies envision a large, robust insurance market for liability and property coverage associated with drone use. However, many insurers currently are proceeding with caution in light of uncertainty about how the drones will be used and regulated and the related risks they represent for owners and operators. According to a white paper prepared by Assurex Global with insurance brokerage Shaw Sabey & Associates and managing general agent Plus Underwriting Managers, businesses and government entities relying on drones face potential liability exposures that may not be covered under standard commercial general liability (CGL) insurance policies. Meanwhile, insurance companies are becoming increasingly concerned about aviation risks the proliferation of drones represents. Indeed, the potential property and liability exposures for drone operators range from theft of the drone and its related equipment to property damage and bodily injury caused by drones, as well as premises liability at sites used for scheduled flights, malicious damage, system hacking and contractual liability. Insurers Cautious According to Assurex Global, larger insurers operating in the U.S. generally have been reluctant to offer specific coverage for drones as they wait for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to finalize and implement the regulatory framework it proposed in 2015. In the interim, several specialty insurers, including many based outside the U.S., have begun offering liability insurance and other commercial coverages for drone-related risks. The FAAs proposed regulations allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems in todays aviation system, while maintaining flexibility to accommodate future technological innovations. The proposed rules address such issues as height restrictions, operator certification and operational limits. The final rules should be announced soon. Last June, a senior FAA official said the agency expects to finalize regulations within the next 12 months. The rule will be in place within a year, FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker said in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Hopefully before June 17, 2016, he added. The FAA has estimated that as many as 30,000 commercial and civil drones could be in the skies in the U.S. by 2020. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) estimates that between 2015 and 2025, the drone industry will create 100,000 jobs and contribute $82 billion to the U.S. economy. A 2015 Munich Re survey of risk managers found that the use of drones could become common practice for almost 40 percent of businesses in fewer than five years. Insurance Market Since last June, insurers have had ISO forms they can use to tailor drone coverage. The ISO options modify coverage under ISOs Commercial General Liability and Commercial Liability Umbrella/Excess programs. Six core options are available under each program (three optional exclusions and three limited-coverage endorsements) and can be used to address a number of potential exposures with respect to bodily injury, property damage, and other potential liability related to drones. According to the Assurex Global paper, the market for drones might expand significantly early on and attract many new insurers; however, it could contract dramatically following any large losses. In the event of such a scenario, underwriters already specializing in aviation risk may have the most staying power on the basis of their experience with these types of exposures. Last June global insurance broker Marsh said that insurance capacity for unmanned aircraft operations is plentiful as insurers seek to to secure an early foothold in the sector, while acknowledging that regulatory uncertainty remains the biggest obstacle to the market reaching its full potential. Meanwhile insurers are doing what they can, according to John Hanslip, senior vice president, Marshs Aviation and Aerospace Practice. Insurers are using their extensive experience of manned aircraft to assess the risks associated with drones and are providing insurance coverage based on size, uses, and values of the aircraft, he said. :Traditional policies for manned aircraft are being brought up to date and many only need tweaks to be usable for drone technology and deployment. Why Buy Insurance As the commercial insurance market for drones evolves, businesses and government entities planning to use drones or to expand their deployment should assess their risks and evaluate available insurance coverage, said Jeffrey McCann, vice president, digital strategy for Shaw Sabey & Associates, a member of The Vertical Insurance Group. The paper by Assurex Global, which is a partnership among commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerages, cites some reasons drone operators should purchase insurance:partnerships Existing policy exclusions. Most insurance company commercial general liability (CGL) policies contain exclusions for aviation exposures, which are likely to apply to drones. Most insurance company commercial general liability (CGL) policies contain exclusions for aviation exposures, which are likely to apply to drones. Contractual requirements. Business customers eventually may require liability insurance as a condition of doing business. Business customers eventually may require liability insurance as a condition of doing business. Legal environment. The plaintiffs bar may be gearing up to bring suits against companies whose drones cause property damage or bodily injury. The plaintiffs bar may be gearing up to bring suits against companies whose drones cause property damage or bodily injury. Reputation. Drone insurance signals prospective customers that the insured firm is professional, thorough and reputable. The Assurex Global authors note that businesses applying for insurance coverage should be prepared to provide extensive details of their drone utilization, including: standard operating procedures; drone operators experience, training and certification; flight and maintenance logs; FAA approval or exemption from regulatory requirements for manned aircraft; flight conditions, including travel routes and times (day or night); and accident history. Related Topics Carriers USA Trends Legislation Aviation Property Market Hackers are likely to get away with about $70 million of Bangladeshs foreign reserves after a brazen cyber-attack against the South Asian nation, according to Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith. The Philippines where most of the funds ended up will probably recover as much as $10 million of the $81 million stolen in February from Bangladeshs account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Muhith said. The rest is hard to track, he said. The way it has been lost, its very difficult to identify the beneficiaries, Muhith said by phone from Dhaka on Friday. It has gone largely into casinos and casino accounts. The attempted theft of almost $1 billion has prompted central banks around the globe to review defenses against hackers looking to loot bountiful foreign reserve accounts. While the Fed blocked most of the transfers, about $81 million ended up in the Philippines. Another $20 million sent to a bank in Sri Lanka was returned. The Philippines is investigating the heist. Muhith said Bangladesh is also conducting a probe, adding that definitely some of our people mustve been involved. He declined to disclose further details. NY Fed Muhith repeated criticism of the NY Feds handling of the money transfers, saying it allowed four transactions to go through without confirmation. That way they become liable for that part of the fraud, Muhith said, referring to the NY Fed. There have been security lapses and the Federal Reserve cannot be excused for some blame in this trouble. The Fed said last month that instructions to make the payments from the account of Bangladeshs central bank followed standard protocols and were authenticated by the SWIFT message system used by financial institutions. Bangladeshs security systems are very vulnerable and consultants are working on improving defenses, Muhith said. A detailed report on the investigation will be completed in about six weeks, he said. Bangladeshs foreign reserves climbed to a record $29 billion this year as a weaker yuan cut the cost of raw materials used in its garment industry. Exports are holding up despite the drop in global demand, Muhith said. He called the crime a very unusual event, adding that the world hasnt seen anything like it in recent memory. Its a large sum of money for Bangladesh, Muhith said. This is a very good warning, a signal to the world to take proper security measures in respect to money transfers. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber New York Several weeks ago I released an article questioning the need for the primary and noncontributory (PNC) requirement found in most construction contracts. I followed that article with a piece stating that the insurance industry should band together to save the little guy (the lower tier contractor). Readers went crazy, both in the sites comments section and in personal emails to me. These posts and emails were on both sides of the issue for and against the requirement. The most passionate were those who felt I threatened their way of life (and the advice they give clients). A few acted as if I had kicked their dog or called their kid ugly it was very entertaining. To be fair, a few were very professional in their responses, which allows for open discussion and debate. As I read the responses sent by those most vehemently opposed to the articles suggestion, it quickly became clear that they were blinded by anger, accusing me of all kinds of ills. I was accused of saying things I never said; improperly defining terms (and when they defined the term, it was the same as I had used); I was even accused of blasphemy OK, maybe Im being a bit facetious with this one. Suffice it to say, many who had a major issue didnt read the article in full or very closely before attacking. However, as a result of those opposing responses, I did learn that there is some bad case law in various states that may actually make the primary and noncontributory requirement necessary. To those who pointed this out thank you. This information was given in a professional manner, free of attacks or accusations; in other words, they didnt take the article personally, but saw it as a chance to have a professional and adult dialogue. Those who responded in favor of the article were just as passionate. Some responses went even further than the article and made some interesting points of their own. Some in favor and supportive of the articles goal even responded directly to the detractors. Again, this became quite entertaining. So obviously we have folks on both sides of this issue. Both sides are very passionate about their personal belief. But is either willing to have a professional discussion without taking it personally? This is business after all. During the recent unpleasantness, several points were made (in public responses and private responses) that were fascinating. The responses called into question the ethics, irony and ridiculousness of the primary and noncontributory contractual requirement. The Ethics of Primary and Noncontributory Requirements The Ethics of the Construction Contract A contract is a formal, private agreement between two or more parties intent on accomplishing a specific task, purpose or goal. The Second Restatement of Contracts further defines a contract as a promise or set of promises for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law in some way recognizes as a duty. Construction contracts are contracts of adhesion. The contract is created by the upper tier contractor and the lower tier rarely, if ever, has the opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract. In short, the contract is offered to the lower tier on a take it or leave it basis. Yes, the lower tier could walk away (leave it), but because of the ubiquity of the PNC requirement the lower tier would go bankrupt. Trade contractors are stuck, with no ability to say no. That is an abuse of power resulting from unequal bargaining positions which is unethical. Although some try to assert the Doctrine of Reasonable Expectation to support the ethicalness of the use of primary and noncontributory requirement, this is a false claim. When first introduced, PNC was not reasonable or expected; only because the lower tiers and the insurance industry caved in did PNC become reasonable and expected. (IMPORTANT SIDENOTE: Most construction contracts specify that the lower tier will show proof of complying with all insurance and contractual risk transfer requirements prior to beginning work. However, the reality of many (not all) construction projects is that the work is begun before the final contract is ever signed meaning the upper tier has violated its own contractual provisions. But even though the upper tier has ignored and violated its own contract, it still holds the lower tier to all the requirements and withholds payment until it does. Lower tiers are stuck. Again, an unethical use of power and maybe in some states a violation of law.) Anti-indemnification Statutes and the Ethics of Primary and Noncontributory Forty-one states have laws prohibiting the use of contractual wording that requires a lower tier contractor to indemnify another party for that partys negligence. Most of these states, 27 in fact, prohibit any contractual provision requiring the lower tier to indemnify the upper tier for ANY of the upper tiers own negligence. These are known as limited transfer states. In limited transfer states, the upper tier cannot require the lower tier to pay for any part of a claim that results from the upper tiers own actions. Basically, the only indemnification allowed is the upper tiers vicarious liability for the actions of the lower tier. If the upper tier is partially or wholly at fault, it must pay for that cost itself. The other 14 anti-indemnification states allow the upper tier to contractually require the lower tier to indemnify it (the transferor / upper tier) for actions the lower tier and the upper tier contribute to jointly. These are intermediate transfer states. In these states, the only liability that cannot be transferred to the lower tier is responsibility for the sole negligence of the upper tier. In the nine remaining states, there are no specific anti-indemnification statutes, but case law may apply. What does all this have to do with the ethics of the primary and noncontributory requirement? Im glad you asked. If the PNC requirement is artfully written, it may (or be an attempt to) circumvent statute. Many anti-indemnification statutes include a phrase similar to this, This section shall not affect an insurance contract, workers compensation, or any other agreement issued by an insurer. Some assert (and some believe) this means a primary and noncontributory endorsement added by the insurer allows broader protection to the additional insured than is allowed in statute. Such interpretation is incorrect; this wording within these statutes applies to the contractual relationship between the insurer and its named insured only not to any additional insured. Although legal standards are lower than ethical standards, the principle is the same. Any attempt to bypass statute is unethical even if pseudo legal. Referring to Another Carrier/Agent and Ethics Well, if your insurance carrier (or agent) wont or cant provide you with a primary and noncontributory endorsement, I will refer you to one who can. This is completely legal, but it is unethical. This is the upper tier being nothing short of self-serving. They certainly dont do this for the benefit of the lower tier or the agent/carrier from whom they are recommending the business be moved. The Irony of the Primary and Noncontributory Requirement Some general contractors play both sides of the fence relative to insurance coverage. For small to mid-sized jobs, the upper tier wants everyone else to be responsible for and provide coverage on a primary and noncontributory basis. For large jobs, they want to provide coverage for everyone under one policy called a Controlled Insurance Program a CIP. Its ironic, in one instance, they dont want to be responsible for anything. In another, the upper tier wants to be responsible for everything. Pick a side! Well, you just dont understand the purpose and benefits of a controlled insurance program. OK, lets take a look. The stated purpose and benefits of a CIP include: Uniform coverage and limits for all participants; Allows the consolidation of insurance policies into one uniform program; Allows for single-entity defense rather than the involvement of many lawyers and carriers; The reduction in insurance costs because the costs are excluded from the lower tiers policies; and The avoidance of cross claims. So for smaller projects, the upper tier is obviously OK with variations in coverage (since the policy language isnt reviewed); the involvement of multiple lawyers in a large claim; and a higher bid cost (because the cost of required endorsements is included in the bid). Seems odd. Why the two ends of the spectrum? I want to control all the coverage. No! Wait; I want you to provide all the coverage and protect me. Isnt the PNC requirement the upper tiers attempt to control the coverage provided by the lower tier while shifting all the cost to the lower tier? And isnt the CIP the upper tiers desire to control all the coverage and lower the cost because its all paid for by them? How ironic. Maybe there should be a primary and subragatory provision in the construction contract stating, We (the upper tier) shall provide coverage on a primary basis for all bodily injury and property damage that occurs while the project is ongoing and after project completion ending upon the expiration of the statutes of limitation and or repose. We wholly reserve and shall fully exercise the right to recover (subrogate) against the at fault party or parties, including the undersigned, causing or contributing to the bodily injury or property damage. Such a provision accomplishes the same thing as a CIP except that it allows the upper tiers insurance carrier to subrogate against and recover from any lower tier that is at fault. There are several benefits to this approach: 1) every party pays for its responsibility; 2) the injured party gets paid quicker without having to wait through all the court battles; 3) only one carrier/lawyer is involved in the initial claim; and 4) no additional endorsements are required for the lower tiers policy making premiums lower and thus bid costs lower (theoretically). Yes, every other contractual risk transfer provision except primary and noncontributory would still apply to the lower tier: Indemnification requirements; Hold harmless requirements (only for the injury or damage caused by the lower); Waiver of subrogation requirements; and Additional insured requirements (maybe). The Ridiculousness of Primary and Noncontributory An upper tier being willing to submit its defense and protection to a lower tier trade contractor seems the most ridiculous part of the primary and noncontributory requirement. It seems ridiculous that a large, multi-million (or billion) dollar general contractor would be comfortable with allowing a three-man electrical contractor, who is barely making ends meet, provide its defense and coverage seems rather strange. The lower tiers attorney is working primarily for its named insured and secondarily for the additional insured. Further, once the limits are exhausted, the insurer walks away. If the primary and noncontributory provision is not self-limiting (limited to the amount of insurance carried), the lower tier could be on the hook for any amounts over the insurance limits (but likely cant pay). Further, if the primary and noncontributory wording is not tied to the breadth of insurance protection provided, the lower tier could be on the hook personally. Does the upper tier really want to depend on this for its risk financing? Transferring risk to one financially less capable of sustaining the loss is false security. Loss allocation, originally, was about assigning loss to the party either responsible for the loss or most capable of sustaining the loss. If an entity wants to better control the financing of its risks then it would want its own limits, be a named insured on its own policies and have primary representation by claims in the event of a loss. Relying on others to protect you is potentially dangerous. A second area of ridiculousness is that few other industries seek to assign responsibility for damages up front. Most make each responsible party make the injured party whole to the level of their fault after the injury or damage has occurred. Oh, but if we did this, there would be more court battles. Maybe initially, but then some attorney would figure out how to get rich by creating and gaining approval in every state an alternative dispute resolution program in the contract that would avoid the time and expense of a lawsuit. Besides, since there will be a primary and subrogatory provision in the contract, who cares the at fault partys insurance carrier will eventually pay. The EndMaybe As I said before, we cant end this conversation here (note I said conversation, not blind rage, unprofessional attacks). Just because weve been doing it that way for years, doesnt mean we should continue down that road. Lets go! Topics Carriers Contractors Construction Consolidating separate legal entities loss experience to develop a common experience modification factor has the potential to cause confusion for the client and sometimes the agent. Clients may view such mixing of loss experience due simply to common majority ownership/interest as less than reasonable, especially if the commonly-owned entities substantially differ with regard to the relative hazard presented (i.e. the owners of a heavy equipment contracting company purchase a marina). Combinability rules do not merely marry the experience of entities that are currently in operation and related via common majority ownership, they also assure that owners do not avoid their historically poor loss records simply by closing down one entity and reopening and operating under another corporate name. Most agents would agree that such a stunt is unethical at best and may be considered fraud. Changing the name of the operation does not change the operational methods of the owner(s). Understanding combinability rules necessitate a basic understanding of the theory and practice behind the calculation of experience modification factors. Following is a brief synopsis of experience modification calculations. Calculating Experience Modification Factors Combinability rules do not merely marry the experience of entities that are currently in operation and related via common majority ownership. Workers compensation loss costs are calculated and charged based on the average expected losses for that particular business classification. All insureds in the same hazard class (based on the assigned code) are charged the same basic loss cost (individual carriers apply conversion factors to these loss costs to develop individual rates). However, not all insureds within a particular hazard class operate in the same manner, nor does each experience the same losses. To adjust for these differences in operation and loss histories, a method had to be created allowing for premium and rate differentiation between the above average, average and below average insureds within any particular hazard class code. Experience modification factors (experience mods) allow such customizing and individualization of the workers compensation premium. Basing the standard premium on the insureds unique loss history allows the classs average rates to remain relatively constant and the subject insured to be rewarded or punished based on its own experience (rather than be subject solely to the experience of the group). Stop loss limits used as part of the experience mod calculation makes loss frequency weightier than loss severity. One large claim will not damage an experience mod factor as drastically as three small claims in a single period. Calculating experience modification factors is far more complicated than presented in three short paragraphs. Modification calculations are a function of expected losses, actual losses, payrolls, class averages, loss limits (medical only versus medical plus indemnity) and formulary factors applied by NCCI (or the applicable rating bureau) to all such collected data. Knowing and understanding that experience modification factor calculations allow for the reward or punishment of individual employers and allow one to more clearly view the need for loss experience combinability. Employers should not be freed of their premium responsibility simply due to legal structure. And rarely are majority-owned entities not interrelated such that employees work for multiple entities even though they appear to be operating for just one employer in the course and scope of their daily duties (combinability avoids some of the problems created by the borrowed servant doctrine). A Case for Combinability Rules Owners theoretically run each and every operation (past and present) in essentially the same manner and with the same attitudes. An employer that is concerned with safety and strives to provide the best equipment and training will likely always act the same with each entity. Likewise, employers looking for the easiest and cheapest way out will likely continue down the same path in the future. Combinability rules are, to some extent, based around the theories: Employers that operate in the supposed best interest of their employees should have all their entities (current and future) rewarded due to such attitude. Commonly-owned operations will likely be managed in the same manner and the same care. Concern is expected to be shown for all employees (regardless of the hazard of the operation). If an employer allows unsafe operations in one entity, it is reasonable to postulate that such attitude will carry over to the new entity and all commonly-owned entities (current and future). Employers not operating (or not appearing to operate) in the best interest of their employees should be subject to their past (or current) experience. Past actions are not a guarantee of future actions, but they stand as a good indicator. To not reward or punish allows employers and owners to act with impunity, knowing that as long as no law is broken, all that is necessary to escape a poor loss history is to kill off of an old and birth a new corporation. Combinability rules do not merely marry the experience of entities that are currently in operation and related via common majority ownership. Without the ability to combine loss histories, workers compensation carriers would potentially be victims of inadequate premiums. Similarly, average and above average risks would be victimized by higher premiums than necessary. The average loss cost balance would be tilted and all employers would likely see an increase in their rates rather than just the ones that earned the increase. Rate predictability and possibly rate adequacy may be compromised without combinability rules. Granted, there are exceptions to every rule as is demonstrated by the employer that had a hiccup in its loss history not indicative of its past. Not every injury can be avoided, even with top-notch safety and training. Bad things sometimes just happen. This is why there is underwriting discretion and the availability of rate credits and debits. A historically above-average employer with a bad year or two in its experience modification calculation can have the debit mod negated by a rate credit. Conversely, an average or below average employer that has been fortunate can be debited to account for the increased hazard presented to the insured. Employers that do not practice or refuse to comply with recommended safety practices, as reported by the loss control department, can see their rates increased by a debit factor in anticipation of the increased potential for employee injury. Combinability Guidelines Common majority interest is the basic rule of combinability. When the same person, group of persons or a corporation owns a majority interest in another entity, the owned entitys loss experience is combined with the owning entity to develop a common (combined) experience modification factor. The combinability concept seems simple enough, however achieving common majority interest can be accomplished in one of several relational constructs: The corporation owns a majority interest in other entities. When Corporation A (a legal person) owns a majority interest (this term will be defined in upcoming paragraphs) in Corporation B, the loss experience of both corporations is pooled to produce a single, combined experience modification factor; When Corporation A (a legal person) owns a majority interest (this term will be defined in upcoming paragraphs) in Corporation B, the loss experience of both corporations is pooled to produce a single, combined experience modification factor; The businesss owner (natural person) individually or collectively maintains majority interest in more than one entity. If John holds majority interest in Corporation A and he individually gains majority interest in Corporation B, the two entities are combined for experience rating. However, if John has majority interest in only one of the two entities, they are not combinable (i.e. John maintains 75 percent interest in Corporation A but only 25 percent in Corporation B). To continue, assume that John and Joe combine to own majority interest in Corporation A and Corporation B; common majority ownership exists and the experience is combinable; If John holds majority interest in Corporation A and he individually gains majority interest in Corporation B, the two entities are combined for experience rating. However, if John has majority interest in only one of the two entities, they are not combinable (i.e. John maintains 75 percent interest in Corporation A but only 25 percent in Corporation B). To continue, assume that John and Joe combine to own majority interest in Corporation A and Corporation B; common majority ownership exists and the experience is combinable; The corporation combines with some or all of its owners to hold a majority interest in another entity. Corporation A maintains 30 percent interest in Corporation B; John and Joe (100 percent owners of Corporation A) hold 25 percent of Corporation B. The combined ownership of the legal person and the natural persons result in common majority ownership (55 percent) of Corporation B making the two entities combinable; or Corporation A maintains 30 percent interest in Corporation B; John and Joe (100 percent owners of Corporation A) hold 25 percent of Corporation B. The combined ownership of the legal person and the natural persons result in common majority ownership (55 percent) of Corporation B making the two entities combinable; or The business owns a majority interest in another entity which, itself, owns or owned a majority interest in a third entity currently operating or which operated in the past five years. This is not an exhaustive list of relationships that can lead to combinability of loss experience, but it is a representation of the most common relationships. These guidelines are subject to NCCI and/or individual state rating bureau interpretations. Agents, brokers and carriers should use these descriptions only for informational purposes as final determination rests in these other advisory bodies. Natural and Legal Persons Common majority interest can be created when a single person or a group of persons combine to hold a majority interest in multiple entities. It matters little whether the owners of other entities are natural persons, legal persons or a combination. Nor does it matter how they combine to create common majority interest between or among two or more entities. Legal persons are generally created by the actions and desires of natural persons. Some legal persons are owned by one or only a few natural persons (a small business) while some are owned by many shareholders (traded on the stock exchanges). Natural and legal persons are defined as follows: Natural person: A flesh and blood human being. In workers compensation, the employer is a natural person(s) in sole proprietorships and partnerships. Managers and members of an LLC are viewed as natural persons in a majority of states making these persons the employers. Legal person (a.k.a. juridical person): A legal fiction, a person created by statute and born with the filing of articles of incorporation. These legal persons are given the right to own property, sue and be sued. Corporations are legal persons, and several states consider LLCs a legal person. Majority Interest Majority interest is created when the same person or group of person(s) combine to own more than 50 percent of an entity. Majority interest can be created in many ways. NCCI lists the following: An entity or persons (as detailed above) owns the majority of the voting stock of another entity; or Both entities share a majority of the same owners (if there is no voting stock). Generally these are natural persons that own multiple entities. If neither of the above applies, majority interest is created if a majority of the board is common between two or among several entities; Participation of each general partner in the profits of the partnership (limited partners are excluded); or When ownership interest is held by an entity as a fiduciary (excludes a debtor in possession, a trustee under an irrevocable trust or a franchisor). Combinability Conclusion Based on and applying the common majority interest rules, the possibility exists for more than one combination of commonly related entities. Deciding which combination of entities applies is based on the following two rules (presented in order of importance): Which combination involves the most entities? If the above does not apply, the combination is based on the group that produces the largest estimated standard premium. Regardless of how a group is created and combined, no entitys experience will be used more than once. Finally, although separate entities may be combinable for experience modification calculation, this does not preclude each from having separate workers compensation policies. Separate legal entities are entitled (and really required) to be written on separate workers compensation policies. Combinability rules exist merely to assure that loss histories are not escaped by the creation of multiple legal entities or the closing of one and opening of a new one. Topics Workers' Compensation Profit Loss Talent An employee of a suburban Chicago furniture warehouse is facing federal arson charges for allegedly starting a fire that destroyed the building. Ruben Ochoa Cruz is charged in the April 21 fire that destroyed The RoomPlace furniture warehouse in Woodridge. The 50 workers in the warehouse were able to escape without injury. No firefighters were injured by the blaze, which caused $70 million in damage. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives investigators said the 20-year-old Cruz had an argument with management over his attendance the day the fire broke out. After returning to his duties, Cruz then allegedly lit a piece of packing slip on fire and dropped it from a raised forklift. It wasnt immediately known if Cruz, who is due in court May 4, has a lawyer. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A pair of California trucking company owners were arrested for cheating their workers compensation insurer out of millions of dollars. Alvin Shin Chen, 54, and Fiona Xilin Chen, 46, both of La Canada Flintridge, Calif., were arrested this week at their home by detectives from the California Department of Insurance and charged with multiple felony counts, including workers comp insurance premium fraud for allegedly cheating their carrier. The Chens, owners of Metro Worldwide Inc. and Pacific Coast Distribution, operate a trucking company in Long Beach and are accused of attempting to reduce their workers comp premiums by providing fraudulent information to their insurer regarding the number of their employees and what work those employees performed. CDI detectives reportedly luncovered evidence indicating the Chens paid cash to employee truck drivers to avoid reporting them to the insurer and reduce their payroll tax obligation. Audits of the Chens records show they underreported their payroll by more than $4.7 million. As a result, the Chens allegedly cheated their insurer out of more than $1.6 million in workers comp premium. Employers that cheat the system through premium fraud and tax evasion create an illegal marketplace advantage that costs Californias economy billions, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in a statement. The Chens were booked into the Century Station in Los Angeles and are held on $950,000 bail each. Arraignment is scheduled for April 29 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Los Angeles District Attorney is prosecuting this case. Topics Carriers California Workers' Compensation Trucking The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the states mandatory attorneys fee schedule for workers compensation cases is unconstitutional under both Floridas and the U.S. constitution as a violation of due process. The states top court also declined to rule in another case challenging the very constitutionality of the states reformed workers compensation system. The attorneys fee schedule ruling came in the case of Marvin Castellanos, an injured employee who sued his employer Next Door Co. and its insurer, Amerisure. The high court noted that the issue has been raised in as many as 18 lower court cases. The Castellanos court ruling said that the schedule, passed in 2009, is invalid because it eliminates the right of a claimant to get a reasonable attorneys fee, a right it says is a critical feature of the workers compensation law. The court said the statute violates due process by installing an irrebuttable presumption that whatever fee the schedule comes up with is reasonable and by not providing any way for a claimant to refute the fee. In the Castellanos case, the attorney fee calculated under the mandatory sliding scale turned out to be $1.53 per hour for 107.2 hours. The claimants attorney had sought a fee of $350 an hour. The ruling upends a lower court ruling and a finding by a Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) that both upheld the schedule and the fee in the case. The high court said that while the Legislature has said it intends the workers compensation system to deliver benefits to injured workers efficiently and quickly, in reality the system has become increasingly complex to the detriment of the claimant, who depends on the assistance of a competent attorney to navigate the thicket. The court said that it is undeniable that without the right to an attorney with a reasonable fee, the workers compensation law can no longer assure the quick and efficient delivery of disability and medical benefits to an injured worker. The court said it found the irrebuttable presumption, or inability of any claimant to challenge the fee, and not the particular fee, to be unconstitutional. Stahl Case The Castellanos ruling came down the same day that the Florida Supreme Court changed its mind and decided it does not have jurisdiction in another closely-watched workers compensation case brought by an injured nurse. The court had earlier said it would rule in the Stahl case that challenged the constitutionality of the entire Florida workers compensation system. The plaintiff questioned whether the workers compensation system has provided an adequate alternative for injured workers since its major overhaul in 2003. More specifically, the case asked if the elimination of a type of partial disability benefits by lawmakers was legal. In the case of Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital, the court today said simply, After further consideration and hearing oral argument in this case, we have determined that we should exercise our discretion and discharge jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss review. The high courts decision to pass on Stahl means the First District Court of Appeals opinion in this matter, which upheld other elements of the workers compensation law, stands, according to state officials. Complete Frustration In the Castellanos decision, the court said the right of an injured worker to recover a reasonable prevailing party attorneys fee has been a key feature of the states workers compensation law since 1941. Through the 2009 enactment of a mandatory fee schedule, however, the Legislature has created an irrebuttable presumption that every fee calculated in accordance with the fee schedule will be reasonable to compensate the attorney for his or her services, the court said. The $1.53 hourly rate in this case clearly demonstrates that not to be true. The court said that it did not view the absolute limitation from the point of view of the attorneys rights because the attorney always has the option to refuse representation. Rather, it viewed the conclusive irrebuttable presumption in the context of the complete frustration of the entire workers compensation scheme designed to provide workers with full medical care and wage-loss payments for total or partial disability regardless of fault and without the delay and uncertainty of tort litigation.' The high court remanded the case to the JCC for entry of a reasonable attorneys fee. According to the Office of Insurance Regulation, until the legislature addresses this decision, attorney fees will be evaluated under the reasonable award standard articulated in the Murray v. Mariner Health decision. Topics Florida Legislation Workers' Compensation Anyone who has had embarrassing photos posted on social media or been deluged with angry messages can attest to the high emotional cost of cyber bullying. But there is also a cost in real dollars for some to clean up their online reputations, including legal fees, security measures and even counseling. For the 40 percent of adult Internet users who are dealing with this issue, according to 2014 Pew Research Center data, and numerous school-age children, there is a new insurance policy to help mitigate the financial repercussions. Chubb Ltd recently began offering optional cyber bullying coverage for its homeowners insurance clients. The coverage is included in the companys Family Protection policy, which costs around $70 a year. It covers up to $60,000 in compensation to clients and their families to pay for services including psychological counseling, lost salary and, in extreme cases, public relations assistance. Its so hard to have complete control online, said Christie Alderman, vice president of client product and services, Chubb personal risk services. We do know that when it does occur it can be really devastating. Nicole Prause, a neuroscientist from California, learned the costs of cyber bullying the hard way. After publishing a 2013 peer-reviewed paper that suggested sex addiction is not a clinical diagnosis, Prause said she was subjected to online insults from people she believes oppose her work. The abuse varied in scope, from repeated claims that she faked her data to comments about her appearance. I had a TED Talk (posted online) and they just filled it with tranny comments, said Prause, who worked at the University of California-Los Angeles at the time the attacks began. They have definitely singled me out. Prause filed a cease-and-desist order against her harassers, and said those persons are no longer allowed to contact her directly. But Prause said she spent around $5,000 to mitigate the damage over the years, hiring an attorney and someone to take screenshots of the abuse lobbed at her online. Rich Matta, the chief executive officer of ReputationDefender (https://www.reputationdefender.com/), an online reputation management firm, says that the average consumer dealing with this problem can spend around a few thousand dollars a year to combat cyber bullying. Its no surprise that remediation of cyber bullying is now insurable, Matta said, referencing the Chubb insurance policy. But some feel that taking out an insurance policy against online harassment is going too far. Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center and a professor of criminal justice at Florida Atlantic University, said insurance for cyber bullying reinforces a victim mentality and is tapping (in to) the fear. You can do a lot on your own to safeguard your reputation, Hinduja said. Experts say it is important for consumers to be proactive in protecting their online reputation, by taking a few simple steps. Here are a few tips to avoid the cyber bully trap: Keep it private Hinduja recommends setting social media profiles to private, to avoid writing posts that are too frequent and opinionated, and to block or mute accounts that go too far. You are going to be a much better advocate for yourself, Hinduja said. Be proactive about your childs online presence While more schools are educating kids about cyber abuse, Matta said parents still need to monitor how their kids use social media. They need to establish some boundaries and rules around when its OK to use technology, he said. Get help when you need it For those who feel overwhelmed managing their online presence, resources like online ReputationDefender can offer a reprieve for a price. ReputationDefender typically charges private clients between $3,000 and $20,000 per year, while Reputation 911 (http://reputation911.com/) offers monthly packages for personal reputation management between $195 and $995. (Editing by Beth Pinsker and Matthew Lewis) Topics Cyber Chubb Legislation that requires health insurers to cover the treatment of children with autism has received final legislative approval in the Oklahoma House. The House voted 65-26 for House Bill 2962 and sent it to Gov. Mary Fallin for her signature. The bill requires coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children younger than 9 years old. Under the measure, children would have access to applied behavior analysis for up to 25 hours a week, with a limit of $25,000 a year. Autism spectrum disorder affects how a person processes sensory information and their ability to interact and relate to others. Oklahoma is one of only seven states in the nation that does not require insurers to cover autism. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Oklahoma In less than an hour early on April 29, more than 7 inches of rain had accumulated at the water treatment plant in Palestine, Texas. The flash-flooding that occurred as a result is blamed for six fatalities. Palestine Mayor Bob Herrington signed an emergency declaration on Saturday, saying that he had not seen so much water rise so fast in the 59 years hed lived there. About 35 homes sustained major damage, businesses in the low-lying areas were flooded, and a railroad track was washed out, Palestine Police Spokesman Nate Smith said. Lisa Asberry Davis said on Saturday that she and her three children waded to safety through water up to their chins after torrential rains in East Texas swamped a cul-de-sac of homes during the night and forced some residents onto rooftops. Firefighters lifted them out of the water at a rescue point but Davis cousin and the womans four great-grandchildren who lived down the street in Palestine, Texas, didnt make it. The bodies of Davis cousin, 64-year-old Lenda Asberry, and her great-grandchildren, 6-year-old Jamonicka Johnson; 7-year-old Von Anthony Johnson Jr.; 8-year-old Devonte Asberry and 9-year-old Venetia Asberry were found in the receding water. The bodies of two of the children were in the front yard of a residence near the street. Asberry and the two other children were found behind the neighborhood, Smith said. Authorities found a sixth body later on Saturday, identified as 30-year-old Giovani Olivas of Palestine, who was swept under the flood waters. Autopsies were being performed on all six victims and results will be known Monday, Smith said. The water got up here extraordinarily quickly. The individuals tried to get out, however, the water was already on the roof of the home, Palestine Police Department Capt. James Muniz said. Merta White was waiting to be rescued from the roof of her house when she saw a bump in the water, the Palestine Herald-Press reported. I thought it was a mailbox, but then I realized what it really was, and I started screaming, she said of seeing the body. City officials used a dump truck to rescue a man from the roof of a home, Muniz said. One neighbor told authorities that he saw the family who were killed but lost sight of them as he waded through water. The water came down the hill, Muniz said. The street was full of mud, so the water just came up. With the enormous amount of rain we had, we had people tell us that within minutes, the water was waist deep. The Red Cross set up a makeshift shelter in Palestine, which is about 100 miles southeast of Dallas and home to about 18,000 residents. Between 20 and 30 people were displaced by the floods, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster. One person, a 30-year-old man, remained missing in rural Anderson County, Smith said. When Davis spoke to AP, she was trying to salvage items from her damp, muddied home, and console her children, who went to the same school as Asberrys great-grandchildren. The two families attended church together. Davis said Asberry had relocated to Palestine from Dallas several years ago. She was just looking for a nice place to raise her kids, she said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Texas Flood The Senate has approved a bill providing $40 million to South Carolina farmers devastated by last falls flooding. Senators voted 33-3 Thursday on legislation allowing farmers in disaster-declared counties to apply for up to $100,000 in grants covering up to 20 percent of crop losses. The amended bill returns to the House, which passed its version 95-6. Agriculture officials say Octobers torrential rains wiped out $330 million worth of crops at harvest time. Farmers lost an additional $45 million because they couldnt plant winter crops in bogs. Supporters say the bill aims to help family farms survive until the next harvest. Gov. Nikki Haley has threatened to veto the bill, saying while she feels badly for farmers, she feels badly for small businesses too, and farmers shouldnt be treated differently. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Agribusiness Politics South Carolina The mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi, has declared a state of emergency because of heavy rain and widespread flooding in the largest city on the states Gulf Coast. Gulfport emergency managers say 5 to 12 inches of rain fell in the city during a thunderstorm Thursday. Mayor Billy Hewes says some storm drains were blocked and several roads were closed. City officials were assessing damage, and the number of flooded homes and businesses was not immediately available. The area was under a flash flood warning most of Thursday, and police asked residents to stay home until water receded. The National Weather Service says hail was reported in several locations along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including parts of Gulfport and Ocean Springs. Half-dollar sized hail was reported in the St. Martin community. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Homeowners Mississippi The Hawaii Legislature has approved a bill that will enable Hawaii drivers to show proof of insurance with their cellphone in a traffic stop. House Bill 1705 will give consumers the choice to use a paper insurance card or use their smartphone to show proof of coverage. The bill is now headed to the desk of the governor, and it has the support of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. Today, people are using their smartphones to do more and more things electronically and this bill gives them the convenience of being able to use them to display their insurance card, Mark Sektnan, PCI vice president, said in a statement. They shop, bank and pay bills from their phone. They even use them to board airplanes. Yet in Hawaii, motorists are still required to carry a physical insurance identification card with them. The vast majority of states give motorists the choice to carry a paper identification card or use the electronic format and we are urging the governor to sign HB 1705, so drivers here will have that option. House Bill 1705 is permissive, meaning it does not require anyone to use a particular format. Additionally, insurers are also not mandated to provide electronic proof of coverage. Under HB 1705, state officials viewing someones smartphone are prohibited from viewing any other information on the phone. This means a motorist does not give up his or her privacy simply by showing someone they have insurance. If HB 1705 is signed by the governor, Hawaii will become the 46th state to enact legislation or regulations allowing electronic proof of coverage, according to PCI. Topics Legislation Panoramica privacy Questo sito web utilizza i cookies per fornire all'utente la miglior esperienza di navigazione possibile. L'informazione dei cookie e memorizzata nel browser dell' utente, svolge funzioni di riconoscimento quando l' utente ritorna nel sito e permette di sapere quali sezioni del sito sono ritenute piu interessanti e utili. Il regime di Bashar al Assad e responsabile dellattacco con gas Sarin compiuto lo scorso 4 aprile a Khan Sheikhun, villaggio della provincia di Idlib. Lo afferma il rapporto della Commissione Onu sui crimini in Siria, secondo cui il raid e stato compiuto da un aereo di fabbricazione russa utilizzato dalle forze militari del presidente siriano Bashar al Assad. Nellattacco rimasero uccisi 84 civili, tra cui molti bambini. Nello stesso rapporto, si criticano gli Usa per non aver preso tutte le precauzioni necessarie per proteggere i civili nel raid contro una moschea di Aleppo lo scorso marzo. Il jaccuse dellOnu contro Damasco arriva nel giorno in cui la Russia ha ufficializzato la vittoria delle truppe governative sullIsis nella battaglia di Dayr az Zor, il cui assedio durava da 3 anni. I terroristi del sedicente Stato Islamico, secondo quanto riferito dal ministero russo della Difesa, hanno quasi completamente distrutto le infrastrutture vitali della citta. Nei distretti cittadini liberati dalle truppe siriane, le infrastrutture vitali sembrano essere state quasi completamente distrutte dai miliziani: tutte le stazioni elettriche e le stazioni di pompaggio dellacqua sono state fatte saltare in aria, gli ospedali, le scuole e le strutture sociali sono state distrutte. Il sistema idrico non funziona, tutte le imprese sono chiuse e prima di lasciare la citta, i miliziani hanno minato abitazioni residenziali, edifici industriali e amministrativi, cosi come le piazze della citta. Il comando delle forze armate di Damasco ha definito la rottura dellassedio di Dayr az Zor una svolta strategica nella guerra al terrorismo, sottolineando che la citta sara usata come un trampolino di lancio per espandere le operazioni militari nella regione. In particolare, presumibilmente, per riprendere il controllo di tutto il territorio lungo il confine con lIraq. Forse proprio come conseguenza dellavanzata delle truppe lealiste siriane nella regione, la Coalizione anti-Isis a guida Usa aveva condotto nelle ultime due settimane una serie di missioni lampo in questarea per recuperare spie e collaboratori infiltrati precedentemente nel Califfato. Australian equity mutual funds provide diversification to a traditional investment portfolio. Investors looking to diversify their portfolios while receiving high dividend yields should consider the AMP Capital Equity Income Generator Fund (40660.AX), the T. Rowe Price Australian Equity Fund (19448.AX), and the Aberdeen Australian Equity Fund (5685.AX). All information presented here was accurate as of March 1, 2022. Key Takeaways Many investors seeking income from their portfolio will look to dividend income. While income mutual funds are well-known in the United States, global markets such as Australia also feature income funds. Here, we consider three high-yielding income funds for Australian investors. 1. AMP Capital Equity Income Generator Fund AMP Capital issued the AMP Capital Equity Income Generator Fund in 2013. The fund aims to provide dividend income that is greater than that of the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index, its benchmark index. The dividend income includes franking credits or credits that return taxes the company paid on corporate profits back to the shareholder. The fund aims to provide an average annual yield of 5.0% over the long term and has an annual management fee of 0.72%. The AMP Capital Equity Income Generator Fund focuses primarily on high dividend-paying sectors. About half of its top holdings are in the financial services sector, and sectors for other fund allocations include real estate, communications services, and consumer cyclical. The fund has a minimum investment of $10,000. 2. T. Rowe Price Australian Equity Fund The T. Rowe Price Australian Equity Fund aims to provide long-term capital appreciation by holding a diversified portfolio of Australian equity securities. The fund has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index, its benchmark index, with an average annual return of 8.48% since its inception in 2012. If investors choose to invest directly with T. Rowe Price, there is no minimum investment requirement. However, if investors do not invest directly with T. Rowe Price, there is a minimum initial investment requirement of AU $500,000, or US $356,320 which is extremely high for the average investor. The fund charges an annual management fee of 0.60%. The T. Rowe Price Australian Equity Fund has total net assets of around AUD $75 million, or US $54.5 million, among its 36 holdings. About a third of the fund's top holdings were in the financial sector, and sectors for other fund allocations include real estate, consumer discretionary, and materials. 3. Aberdeen Australian Equity Fund Although the Aberdeen Australian Equity Fund does not offer yields as high as those of the T. Rowe Price Australian Equity Fund and the AMP Capital Australian Equity Income Fund, it had a distribution yield of over 10% as of March 1, 2022, and charges an expense ratio of 1.53%. Aberdeen Asset Management issued the Aberdeen Australian Equity Fund in 1985. The fund seeks to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation, its benchmark index, over rolling three-year periods. To achieve its investment objective, the fund invests 88.5% of its assets in equities of listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) that have increased earning potential and the potential for capital appreciation. The fund has total net assets of AUD $135.1 million, or US $98.1 million. About a third of the fund's top holdings were in the financial sector, and sectors for other fund allocations include health care, materials, energy, and industrial. China exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a way for investors to geographically diversify their portfolios by owning stakes in a basket of companies based in the worlds second-largest economy. Despite the large number of state-owned Chinese enterprises, there are still many companies there whose shares are publicly traded, including Tencent Holdings Ltd. (700), Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China Ltd. (601318), and China Yangtze Power Co. Ltd. (600900). Certain Chinese stocks were delisted by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after an executive order signed by then-U.S. President Donald Trump in November 2020 banned U.S. investors from investing in Chinese companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military. In May 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden said his administration was reviewing tariffs on China imposed by Trump, with the possibility of dropping them in an effort to lower consumer prices. In late August, Chinese and U.S. regulators announced an agreement to cooperate on inspecting the audit work papers of U.S.- listed Chinese companies. While Chinese companies continue to risk being delisted from U.S. exchanges, this is an important step to resolve ongoing disputes. Chinas gross domestic product (GDP) grew 2.3% in 2020 as the economy began to rebound by the end of the year from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, that growth rate was the lowest in decades. China's GDP rebounded sharply in 2021, growing by 8.1% largely due to strong industrial production. But ongoing COVID-19 concerns and geopolitical issues have hampered the recovery. China's GDP grew by just 0.4% for Q2 2022, with analysts estimating 3.4% growth for the full year. Key Takeaways Chinese equities significantly underperformed the U.S. stock market over the past year. The China exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with the best one-year trailing total returns are CNYA, KBA, and ASHR. The top holding of each of these funds is Class A shares of Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd. There are 17 China ETFs that trade in the United States, excluding inverse and leveraged ETFs as well as funds with less than $50 million in assets under management (AUM). Chinese equities, as measured by the MSCI China Index, have significantly underperformed the U.S. stock market over the past 12 months, posting a total return of -29.9% compared to the S&P 500s total return of -11.0%, as of Sept. 1, 2022. The best-performing China ETF for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022, based on performance over the past year, is the iShares MSCI China A ETF (CNYA). We examine the three best China ETFs below. All numbers below are as of Sept. 2, 2022. In order to focus on the funds' investment strategy, the top holdings listed for each ETF exclude cash holdings and holdings purchased with securities lending proceeds except under unusual cases, such as when the cash portion is exceptionally large. Performance Over One-Year: -21.4% Expense Ratio: 0.60% Annual Dividend Yield: 0.98% Three-Month Average Daily Volume: 167,363 Assets Under Management: $522.9 million Inception Date: June 13, 2016 Issuer: BlackRock Financial Management CNYA tracks the MSCI China A Inclusion Index. The fund holds hundreds of stocks with a broadly diverse basket of names. Financials, consumer staples, and industrials stocks are the top three sectors by portfolio representation, accounting for about half of invested assets. This large-cap fund follows a blended strategy, including both value and growth stocks in its holdings. The top three holdings of CNYA are Class A shares of: Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd. (600519:SHG), a partially state-owned Chinese spirits manufacturer; Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (300750:SHE), a Chinese battery maker and technology company; and China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd. (600036:SHG), a commercial bank. Performance Over One-Year: -21.6% Expense Ratio: 0.56% Annual Dividend Yield: 0.64% Three-Month Average Daily Volume: 342,989 Assets Under Management: $611.4 million Inception Date: March 4, 2014 Issuer: CICC KBA targets the MSCI China A 50 Connect Index, which is comprised of 50 large-cap stocks listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen. The fund includes some of China's largest, most liquid stocks that receive the most foreign interest and inflows, including those that may benefit from increased global investment in Chinas onshore market over the long term. KBA focuses on a blend of value and growth stocks. The top holdings of KBA include Class A shares of Kweichow Moutai, Contemporary Amperex Technology, and LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd. (601012:SHG), a Chinese maker of photovoltaic solar modules. Performance Over One-Year: -22.5% Expense Ratio: 0.65% Annual Dividend Yield: 0.84% Three-Month Average Daily Volume: 6,381,852 Assets Under Management: $1.7 billion Inception Date: Nov. 6, 2013 Issuer: DWS ASHR seeks to track the CSI 300 Index, an index comprising 300 large- and mid-cap China A-Share stocks listed on the Shenzhen or Shanghai Stock Exchange. ASHR is one of the oldest ETFs providing direct exposure to stocks on either of these exchanges, and the sizable trading volume and AUM reflect this. Because its focus is on the Shenzhen and Shanghai exchanges, ASHR does not include stocks listed outside mainland markets, such as companies listed in Hong Kong. Financials, industrials, and consumer staples stocks make up the largest portions of the fund's portfolio. The top holdings of ASHR include Class A shares of Kweichow Moutai, Contemporary Amperex Technology, and Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (601318:SHG), a conglomerate offering insurance, banking, asset management, financial, and other services. The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed herein are for informational purposes only and should not be considered individual investment advice or recommendations to invest in any security or adopt any investment strategy. Though we believe the information provided herein is reliable, we do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. The views and strategies described in our content may not be suitable for all investors. Because market and economic conditions are subject to rapid change, all comments, opinions, and analyses contained within our content are rendered as of the date of the posting and may change without notice. The material is not intended as a complete analysis of every material fact regarding any country, region, market, industry, investment, or strategy. A number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are devoted exclusively to gold, a precious metal valued for its industrial uses and its use as a store of value. The shiny metal is used in jewelry and is a key component in a number of electronics products. Investors have long viewed gold as a hedge against inflation and as a safe haven in times of economic turmoil. Gold ETFs provide investors with a way to take advantage of golds unique investment characteristics, whether by tracking the price of the physical commodity or through shares of companies that mine the metal. Key Takeaways The Bloomberg Gold Subindex has outperformed the broader market over the past 12 months. Two of the four leveraged gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), UGL and DGP, offer 2 daily long leverage. The other two, GLL and DZZ, provide 2 daily short leverage. These ETFs invest in futures contracts to take leveraged positions in gold. Gold investors looking to amplify returns might consider a leveraged ETF. Unlike traditional ETFs, whose portfolios are designed to track an index or commodity price on a one-to-one basis, leveraged ETFs use derivatives and debt to magnify the returns on the portfolio by a factor of two or even three. Though the use of leverage can lead to significantly higher gains, it can also lead to significantly higher losses, making leveraged funds much riskier than traditional ETFs. Some leveraged ETFs amplify gains when the underlying index or commodity falls and amplify losses when the underlying index rises. These instruments are called inverse leveraged ETFs, and their added complexity makes them even riskier than traditional leveraged ETFs. Both leveraged and inverse leveraged ETFs are extremely complex financial instruments and are not meant for beginner investors. Leveraged ETFs can be riskier investments than non-leveraged ETFs given that they respond to daily movements in the underlying securities that they represent, and losses can amplify during adverse price moves. Furthermore, leveraged ETFs are designed to achieve their multiplier on one-day returns, but you should not expect that they will do so on longer-term returns. For example, a 2 ETF may return 2% on a day when its benchmark rises 1%, but you shouldnt expect it to return 20% in a year when its benchmark rises 10%. For more details, see this U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alert. There are four leveraged gold ETFs that trade in the U.S., two offering 2x daily long leverage and two offering 2x daily short leverage. These ETFs provided leveraged exposure to the commodity gold, not stocks of companies that mine for gold. Some of these funds are relatively small, with low assets under management (AUM) and/or low trading volumes. For example, the DB Gold Double Long Exchange Traded Notes (DGP) and the DB Gold Double Short Exchange Traded Notes (DZZ) have extremely low trading volumes, making them relatively illiquid and adding to the overall costs of trading them. Investors also should be aware that the websites of these two funds are no longer operational. These funds are considered extremely risky and should be used only by sophisticated investors. There also used to exist 3 leveraged gold ETFs, such as the VelocityShares 3 Long Gold ETN (UGLD) and the VelocityShares 3 Inverse Gold ETN (DGLD). However, these funds were delisted, with the last trading day of these two funds taking place on July 2, 2020. There are no more gold commodity ETFs trading in the U.S. that offer 3 leverage. The price of gold was volatile throughout 2021, mostly trading sideways. Gold is down sharply from its most recent peak in March 2022. The total return of the Bloomberg Gold Subindex, which is meant to indicate the price of gold, is -5.0% over the past 12 months. By comparison, the total return of the S&P 500 is -8.1%, as of Sept. 12, 2022. However, investors should note that leveraged gold ETFs are not meant to track gold over long time periods. The leverage resets on a daily basis for these funds, which are not intended for long-term, buy-and-hold strategies. The price growth figure cited above is to be used only as a reference illustrating how gold has performed over the past year. All data below is as of Sept. 12, 2022. In order to focus on the funds' investment strategy, the top holdings listed for each ETF exclude cash holdings and holdings purchased with securities lending proceeds except under unusual cases, such as when the cash portion is exceptionally large. The first two ETFs listed below provide 2 daily long leverage to gold, while the second two provide 2 daily short leverage. Each pair is ranked by daily trading volume, a measure of liquidity. Inverse ETFs can be riskier investments than non-inverse ETFs because they are only designed to achieve the inverse of their benchmarks one-day returns. You should not expect that they will do so on longer-term returns. For example, an inverse ETF may return 1% on a day when its benchmark falls -1%, but you shouldnt expect it to return 10% in a year when its benchmark falls -10%. For more details, see this SEC alert. Three-Month Average Daily Volume: 109,686 Performance Over One-Year: -12.2% Expense Ratio: 0.95% Annual Dividend Yield: N/A Assets Under Management: $184.6 million Inception Date: Dec. 1, 2008 Issuer: ProShares UGL is structured as a commodity pool, combining investor contributions to trade futures-based leveraged long positions in gold. The fund offers bullish investors daily investment returns (before fees and expenses), corresponding to 2 the daily performance of the Bloomberg Gold Subindex. Investors should be advised that this ETF resets on a daily basis, so any investments in it should be monitored daily. Significant losses are possible, especially in volatile markets. Three-Month Average Daily Volume: 7,019 Performance Over One-Year: -10.5% Expense Ratio: 0.75% Annual Dividend Yield: N/A Assets Under Management: $75.9 million Inception Date: Feb. 27, 2008 Issuer: Deutsche Bank DGP is structured as an exchange-traded note (ETN), a type of unsecured debt instrument that tracks an underlying index of securities and trades like a stock. ETNs share characteristics similar to those of bonds, but they do not make periodic interest payments. The fund provides 2 daily long leverage to the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index-Optimum Yield Gold. It offers a powerful trading tool for investors looking to take a short-term bullish position in gold futures. DGPs leverage resets on a daily basis, meaning that returns are compounded when held for multiple periods. It is intended for sophisticated investors and not meant for use in a long-term portfolio. ETFs with very low assets under management (AUM), less than $50 million, usually have lower liquidity than larger ETFs. This can result in higher trading costs, which can negate some of your investment gains or increase your losses. Three-Month Average Daily Volume: 78,103 Performance Over One-Year: 2.8% Expense Ratio: 0.95% Annual Dividend Yield: N/A Assets Under Management: $31.7 million Inception Date: Dec. 1, 2008 Issuer: ProShares GLL is an inverse leveraged fund that uses futures contracts to take a leveraged short position in gold. Its structured as a commodity pool. The fund offers daily investment returns (before fees and expenses), corresponding to -2x the daily performance of the Bloomberg Gold Subindex. GLLs leverage resets on a daily basis, resulting in compounded returns when held for multiple periods. This ETF is a powerful tool that can amplify returns and should be used only by sophisticated investors. Investors with low risk tolerance should avoid this fund. Three-Month Average Daily Volume: 14,372 Performance Over One-Year: 7.4% Expense Ratio: 0.75% Annual Dividend Yield: N/A Assets Under Management: $6.0 million Inception Date: Feb. 27, 2008 Issuer: Deutsche Bank DZZ is structured as an ETN and provides 2 daily short leverage to the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index-Optimum Yield Gold. This fund is useful for investors looking to take a bearish short-term bet on gold. It is not meant to be held in a long-term, buy-and-hold portfolio. Also, investors should take note of the fund's extremely low trading volume and AUM, indications that the fund is not heavily traded and thus may be harder to buy and sell. This makes DZZ relatively more risky than GLL, which is already considered a small fund with low trading volume and AUM. The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed herein are for informational purposes only and should not be considered individual investment advice or recommendations to invest in any security or adopt any investment strategy. Though we believe the information provided herein is reliable, we do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. The views and strategies described in our content may not be suitable for all investors. Because market and economic conditions are subject to rapid change, all comments, opinions, and analyses contained within our content are rendered as of the date of the posting and may change without notice. The material is not intended as a complete analysis of every material fact regarding any country, region, market, industry, investment, or strategy. Craig Wright (b.1970) is an Australian computer scientist who claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious inventor of Bitcoin. According to Wright, he was involved in Bitcoins creation along with his friend, the deceased computer security expert Dave Kleiman. He made this claim after Wired magazine and Gizmodo floated the possibility of his being Nakamoto in a December 2015 article. The article quoted from numerous sources, including Wrights email correspondence and chat transcripts with acquaintances, and referenced business dealings to make its case. Wrights claim generated intrigue and skepticism within the Bitcoin community. Some supported his claim. For example, Gavin Andresen, a director of Bitcoin Foundation who corresponded with Nakamoto while doing initial programming work in Bitcoin, said he was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Wright was Satoshi. But critics have largely remained unconvinced about Wrights story and asked for conclusive proof. Security researcher Dan Kaminsky pointed to Wrights botched attempt to prove his story to buttress his claim that the entire exercise was a scam. In 2021, Andresen retracted his earlier claim, saying that it was a mistake. Wright currently works as chief scientist at nChain Inc., a blockchain research and development company. Key Takeaways Craig Wright is a computer scientist and early contributor to the Bitcoin project. Wright has asserted that he is the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym for Bitcoin's otherwise anonymous creator. Despite his claims, most of the cryptocurrency community either rejects or remains highly skeptical of Craig Wright being Satoshi. Early Career and Education Craig Wright was born in Australia in 1970. He graduated from high school in Brisbane in 1987. He claims to have earned several academic degrees and certifications, including masters degrees in quantitative finance (from University of London-SOAS), law (University of Northumbria), statistics (University of Newcastle, Australia), information security systems (Charles Sturt University), network & systems administration (Charles Sturt University), IT management (Charles Sturt University), IS engineering (Sans Technology Institute), and political science (Liberty University). He also claims to have received a doctorate in business administration (from Grand Canyon University) and a Ph.D. (Charles Sturt University), a doctorate in theology (United Theological College). He has been a lecturer and researcher in computer science at Charles Sturt University, authored many articles, academic papers, and books, and has spoken publicly at conferences on IT, security, Bitcoin, and other topics relating to digital currency. Some have called out Wright for either embellishing or lying about his academic credentials. In fact, Charles Sturt University in Sydney, Australia sent Forbes a statement in 2015 stating, "Mr Wright has not been awarded a PhD from CSU." Notable Accomplishments Aside from Bitcoin-related matters, Wright claims that he has personally conducted in excess of 1,200 engagements related to IT security for more than 120 Australian and international organizations in the private and government sectors. Dr. Wright claims to have also held senior executive positions with companies focused on digital currency, digital forensics, and IT security, including holding the title of vice president of the Centre for Strategic Cyberspace and Security Science. He has also worked on technology systems that protected the Australian Stock Exchange, and has trained Australian government and corporate departments in SCADA security, cyber warfare, and cyberdefense, and helped design the architecture for the worlds first online casino (Lasseters Online in Australia). Is Craig Wright Satoshi? Wired magazine and tech news site Gizmodo were the first publications to suggest that Wright invented Bitcoin. Wright also claims to be Satoshi on his personal website. Wired based its claim on an assortment of evidence, from a trove of cached documents to deleted blog posts on Wrights personal site to emails passed onto the editors from his acquaintances. The Case for Wright Being Satoshi According to the publication, Wright used the same email address as Nakamoto for correspondence. Gizmodo also published emails from Wright lobbying for regulatory acceptance of Bitcoin to political figures and government agencies. In the emails, he alluded to the possibility of resuscitating Nakamoto, who disappeared after revealing the existence of Bitcoin, to make a case for the cryptocurrency. Would our Japanese friend have weight coming out of retirement or not? he wrote. Wright is also supposed to have published a blog post announcing Bitcoins launch on January 10, 2009. The post, titled The beta of Bitcoin is live tomorrow, has since been deleted. In another bit of "proof," Wright claimed in a conversation with his tax lawyers that he has been running Bitcoin since 2009. Besides Wrights posts and correspondence, the publications also pointed to his business interests, which resemble those required to run cryptocurrency mining operations. Through his company, Tulip Trading, Wright is said to control the 1.1 million bitcoins held by Nakamoto. Those bitcoins cannot be moved until 2020, according to a trust fund PDF signed by the late Dave Kleiman, Wired stated. The Wired article speculated that Wright may be holding on to the stash for future investment purposes. Tulip Trading was also reported to have made the worlds 17th-fastest supercomputerC01Nthat had a speed of 3.52 Petaflops. (One petaflop is 1,000 teraflops or one trillion floating-point operations per second). Wright also possessed a streak of anti-authoritarianism like Nakamoto. He subscribed to a cypherphunk mailing list that served to fine-tune and evolve standards for cryptocurrencies. Wright is also a libertarian who recommends a return to the gold standard, and a fan of Japanese culture. Verifying Wrights Claims According to cryptography experts, Wright needs to perform either of the following two tasks in order to back up his claim of being Nakamoto. He could conduct a bitcoin transaction using Nakamotos private key. He could cryptographically sign a message using the same set of keys. (A message signed with a private key is cryptographically secure and can only be unlocked with a corresponding public key). Bitcoin Foundations Gavin Andresen met Craig Wright in 2016 at a hotel in London to ascertain proof regarding his claims. During his meeting with Andresen, Wright signed a messageGavins favorite number is elevenwith his initials and a private key from one of the first 50 bitcoin blocks ever mined. Wright signed the message on his own laptop and transferred it onto a brand new computer using a USB stick owned by Andresen. After an initial hiccup, during which Andresen realized they had forgotten to add Wrights initials, the signature was verified by Bitcoins software Electrum. I believe Craig Steven Wright is the person who invented Bitcoin, Andresen proclaimed on his website the following day. However, it was later revealed that Wright likely duped Andresen. The Case Against Wright Being Satoshi But Wrights attempt to publicly prove himself as a creator of Bitcoin failed. The day after his private demonstration with Andresen, Wright posted a message on Bitcoins public blockchain with text from French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. The document was incomplete and signed with a private key that was supposed to extract the full version. Security researcher Dan Kaminsky found that Wrights key extracted to transaction data from 2009, which had Satoshis publicly-available signature from parts of the blockchain. Critics have also analyzed other evidence and found Wright's claim wanting. Wrights PGP keys were created in 2009 and could be traced back to Satoshi Nakamotos email address. Both Wired and Gizmodo claim this as an important part of their case for Wright being Nakamoto. But Motherboard, a Vice publication, debunked that theory. PGP keys can be backdated and also fixed to point to anyones email address. Adding to the murkiness are accusations that Craig Wright misrepresented his academic credentials and lied about his companys partnerships. In an earlier version of his profile on LinkedIn, the job networking site, Wright stated that he had earned a doctorate from Charles Sturt University in Australia. But the University told Forbes that it had not awarded a doctorate to him. Cloudcroft, Wrights company, also claimed to have partnered with Silicon Graphics International, a high-performance computing firm that was subsequently acquired by Hewlett-Packard, to develop two supercomputers that are listed among the worlds top 500. But SGI denied that Cloudcroft was a customer and said it had no record of the C01N supercomputer. In 2021, Craig Wright appeared in court, where he was the defendant in a lawsuit brought by a former business partner claiming that Wright stole intellectual property and also alleged fraud, theft, and breach of fiduciary duty. At stake was 50% of Wright's verified 1.1 million BTC. The jury found Wright guilty only of intellectual property theft and demanded he pay $100 million in damages. He did not, however, have to relinquish any of his bitcoins. How Many Degrees Does Craig Wright Hold? A self-proclaimed "genius," Wright claims to have in excess of 20 academic degrees and certificates. In addition, he holds several more professional certifications and credentials. What Is Craig Wright's Net Worth? Wright has been verified to hold approximately 1.1 million bitcoins, worth roughly $25 billion as of June 2022. Who Sued Craig Wright? Craig Wright was sued by the estate of his former business partner, David Kleinman, who co-ran the company W&K Info Defense Research with Wright. The Kleiman estate sued Wright for half of the bitcoin in the Tulip Trust (an entity that held over 1 million bitcoin), as well as intellectual property. In the end, the court awarded $100 million to the Kleinman estate but allowed Wright to retain all of the bitcoin. The Bottom Line While still claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto, much of the crypto community and media have now decided that these claims are either false or at best unverifiable. Wright furthermore claims that the 'true" bitcoin today is a hard fork of Bitcoin Cash known as Bitcoin SV ("Satoshi's vision"). Even without being Satoshi, it is clear that Wright was an early adopter of Bitcoin and managed to accumulate a substantial amount of it early on. Today, he claims to be a lawyer, banker, economist, pastor, coder, investor, mathematician, stats, and "world-curious". What Is the Government Pension Fund of Norway (GPFN)? The Government Pension Fund of Norway is made up of two separate Norwegian investment funds with different mandates. The first is the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), also known as the Oil Fund. Established in 1990 to invest surplus revenues of the Norwegian petroleum sector, the GPFG is the worlds largest sovereign wealth fund. It also holds real estate and fixed-income investments. The second fund is the Government Pension Fund of Norway (GPFN). Established in 1967 as something of a national insurance fund, it is smaller than the Oil Fund. It is managed separately and limited to domestic and Scandinavian investments. As a result, it is a major shareholder of many consequential Norwegian companies via the Oslo Stock Exchange. Key Takeaways The Government Pension Fund of Norway is made up of two separate Norwegian investment funds: The first is the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), also known as the Oil Fund, and the second fund is the Government Pension Fund of Norway (GPFN). The Government Pension Fund of Norway is managed under the guise of the Ministry of Finance. The stated goal of the Government Pension Fund is to facilitate government savings to account for the rising costs of the public pension program. Understanding the Government Pension Fund of Norway (GPFN) The Government Pension Fund of Norway is managed under the guise of the Ministry of Finance, as laid out by the Act of Parliament and guidelines that include a set of supplementary provisions. The Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which is part of the Norwegian Central Bank, manages the global fund on behalf of the Ministry of Finance. Since 2004, an ethical council has set the parameters for the funds investments. The council has the authority to exclude from the fund firms that take part in activities deemed objectionable. Investment manager Folketrygdfondet manages the domestic fund. The stated goal of the Government Pension Fund is to facilitate government savings to account for the rising costs of the public pension program. It also intends to support long-term considerations related to how the government spends Norways significant petroleum revenues. The Ministry of Finances investment strategy for the Government Pension Fund looks to maximize returns while taking on a moderate level of risk. The strategy is based on assessments of expected return and risk in the long run and is derived from the purpose and distinctive characteristics of the fund, comparative advantages of the asset manager, as well as assumptions regarding the functioning of the financial markets. The ministry attaches considerable weight to financial theory, research, and accumulated experience. Notably, the Government Pension Fund Global may divest its oil and gas holdings in the near future. At the end of 2017, the fund recommended the removal of more than NOK 300 billion (about US $35 billion) worth of oil and gas holdings from the funds equity benchmark index in order to make Norway less vulnerable to a permanent drop in oil and gas prices. After hitting the $1 trillion mark in 2017, the fund divesting from oil and gas investments could have meaningful global investment implications, given the economic importance of the energy sector. Investor attention on Environmental, Social, and Governance Criteria has increased as part of their investment due diligence. The Norwegian government reached a final decision on the proposal in the fall of 2018. Top News - Investor Idea Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Continues Acquisition Path With Purchase of ELMS Assets Including Factory in Mishawaka, IN., Enabling EV Production for Retail and Commercial Vehicle Lines BREA, Calif. - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces the US Bankruptcy Court approval on Oct. 13th, 2022 of its acquisition of electric vehicle company ELMS's (Electric Last Mile Solutions) assets in an all cash purchase. Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Announces the I-GO, New Urban Commercial Electric Delivery Vehicle Available Now for European Markets BREA, Calif. - October 24, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today it has secured exclusive sales, distribution and branding rights to the new compact urban delivery electric vehicle, the I-GO, which is fully EU Standard homologated and certified for sale in select European Markets. Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea EV Stocks Driving Higher: (NASDAQ: $MULN) (NASDAQ: $TSLA) (NYSE: $NIO) (NYSE: $F) Vancouver, Delta, BC - October 20, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering EV and automotive stocks releases a special report featuring Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), covering the continued growth of the EV market as government policy and infrastructure plans sync up with consumer and investor interest in the EV space. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire No trip to Ireland is complete without venturing into the wild, rugged expanses of Connemara. Chances are good that you'll want to stop at Kylemore Abbey, and if your route heads north after that, you're going to run into one of the most beautiful areas in Connemara: Killary Harbor. The harbor is a nine mile (16-kilometer) long fjord that cuts through the rugged mountains between County Galway and County Mayo. The mountain Mweelrea, Connemara's highest, towers over the north side of the fjord while twisting, turning roads weave through rocky hills and pastures filled with sheep and separated by old stone walls built generations ago by the families that still work the land. Killary is deceptively deep 148 feet (45 meters) at its deepest point. That makes it ideal for shellfish farming, and local farmers are constantly bringing in some of the freshest mussels around. Nets strung for miles along the fjord are used to grow the mussels and clams, and keep an eye out for the trucks set up along the beaches selling their wares. They're also suppliers for restaurants and markets throughout the area, so when you stop in Westport chances are good that your shellfish platter came from right around the corner. Regular boat tours coast up and down the fjord, and whether you decide to take a tour or if you stay on the shore, it's also likely that you'll see some of the harbor's most exotic residents. A school of dolphins lives in and around the harbor, and typically comes out to greet boats when they're in the area. Like many places in Ireland, the land around Killary Harbor has its dark past. At one point, the population of Connacht topped more than a million and a half, with people forced westward by the steady march of Cromwell and his armies. Today, you can drive for miles without seeing a home or native soul, but during the first half of the 1800s it was an area known as a Congested District, overburdened with families struggling to survive. Most of the people living around Killary Harbor depended on the humble potato for their livelihood. Look up into the mountains and you can still see the lines and ridges that were made by people who were planting their crops as far up into the mountains as they could, hoping to make use of every piece of arable land that might yield another meal for their families. The area was particularly hard hit during the 1845 famine, and the population still hasn't recovered the numbers lost during the years of hardship and starvation. Spend some time walking along Killary Harbor and you'll find there's still traces of hardship that the rugged people weathered as best they could. The Killary Harbor Famine Walk is a 6-hour trek along a famine relief road known as the Green Road, built only as a famine relief project and still touching on the now-abandoned famine village of Foher. Today, there's still only a few pockets of civilization that dot the landscape around Killary. Leenaun sits at the eastern end of the harbor, and Rossroe is nestled near its mouth where the harbor empties into the fickle Atlantic Ocean. Just outside Rossroe is the post-war home of the Austrian-British philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. Wittgenstein, who had fought on the front lines of World War One and worked in a London hospital during World War Two, retreated to the solitude of Killary to write after the war years. Visiting the area around Killary Harbor today, it's clear why he chose this retreat. At a time when the fast-paced world seems overwhelming at times, Killary Harbor has managed to stay untouched by the relentless march onward that has swept away much of the outside world... and that can be a wonderful thing. What do you think is Ireland's best kept travel secret? Send in your tips to submit@irishcentral.com --- Originally from Attica, NY Debra Kelly is a freelance writer and journalist who has seen most of the U.S. during her travels. Ready for something new, she's now living in the wild hills of Connemara with her husband and plenty of animals. She is a frequent contributor to Urban Ghosts, Listverse and Knowledgenuts. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has been criticized for using a derogatory term for people of color within a tweet last night. Since deleted, the tweet, which contained an uncensored version of the racial epithet read, "Watching Django Unchained -- A Ballymurphy N----r!" He has since claimed that he was comparing the plight of slaves in the United States to that of Irish nationalists. Django Unchained refers to the 2012 Quentin Tarantino movie in which a free slave (Jamie Foxx) attempts to rescue his wife from a plantation. Ballymurphy is an area of Belfast where British soldiers murdered civilians in 1971, an event known as the Ballymurphy massacre. Removing the tweet amid intense criticism, Adams has claimed that he does not have a racist bone in his body and released a statement Monday morning apologizing for any offense caused. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams admits N-word tweet 'was inappropriate' https://t.co/DiWJyW4IY5https://t.co/ZEfE6BWNg3 RTE News (@rtenews) May 2, 2016 He continued, however, to argue that if "anyone is genuinely offended by my use of the N-word they misunderstand or misrepresent the context in which it was used." The Sinn Fein President claimed initially that he used the word ironically and that "Nationalists in (Northern Ireland) were treated like African Americans." The official statement read: "Attempts to suggest that I am a racist are without credibility. I am opposed to racism and have been all my life." "The fact is that nationalists in the north, including those from Ballymurphy, were treated in much the same way as African Americans until we stood up for ourselves." When speaking at a Friends of Sinn Fein 1916 centenary event in New York last week, the Louth TD also spoke about race but contrary to the racist tones shown in last nights tweet, he spoke of the need to ensure that race does not create barriers for citizens of Northern Ireland. Adams explanation left many wanting more, however, with some asking for an apology instead of an attempt at justification. "For anyone to use such a term is unacceptable," said Stewart Dickson, chief whip of Northern Ireland's Alliance Party. "The attempted explanation from him is not only historically inaccurate but deeply offensive to many." Any1 who saw Django would know my tweets&N-word were ironic.Nationalists in Nth were treated like African Americans. Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) May 2, 2016 Adams has since released a further statement in which he apologized but still argued that parallels could be drawn between Irish nationalists and African-American slaves. "I have acknowledged that the use of the n-word was inappropriate, he said. "That is why I deleted the tweet. I apologise for any offence caused. I stand over the context and main point of my tweet about the Django which were the parallels between people in struggle. "Like African-Americans, Irish nationalists were denied basic rights," he continued. "The civil rights movement here, of which I was a founding member, was inspired and based its approach on the civil rights campaign in the USA. I have long been inspired by Harriet Tubman; Frederick Douglas; Rosa Parks; Martin Luther King and Malcolm X who stood up for themselves and for justice." Earlier this year, Adams was also criticized for his understanding of the race struggle in America when he compared himself to Rosa Parks after not being allowed entry into the White Houses St. Patricks Day celebration. The Sinn Fein leader suggested that he would stand up to those who were discriminating against Irish nationalists by delaying in letting him into the exclusive event in the same way that Parks refused to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus because of her race. Critics felt that it was insulting to compare his own situation to that of Parks. The Irish politician is known for his unusual Twitter habits often quoting nursery rhymes, pictures of his teddy bear and a rubber duck, amidst his political statements. A book was recently released of his best tweets and selfies and he has previously mentioned attempts by others in Sinn Fein to restrict his Twitter activity. Gerry Adams tweet was stupid and he used a highly poor choice of words, but he is far from a racist. Liberal types attacking him are clowns Caolan Doherty (@CaolanDoherty) May 2, 2016 By suggesting that US Black suffering is comparable to that of of Irish people in the 20th century, Gerry Adams is helping a racist agenda. J. Guevara (@BocktheRobber) May 2, 2016 Gerry Adams, Conor McGregor and yer da, sitting in the pub, convincing each other that the Irish were the "blacks of Europe". Joey Kavanagh (@JoeyKavanagh_) May 2, 2016 A retired Florida surgeon with early dementia will be sentenced next week for bringing 100,000 worth ($113,843) of cocaine into Dublin Airport after falling for an online phishing scam. Dr Carlos Cruz Soriano, 76, of Cove Circle, Riverview, FL began responding to phishing emails after his retirement, and was in contact with the scammers for a number of years. The scammers told him that long lost relative had died and he was due to inherit $2.3 million. Dublin Circuit Court heard that Soriano, who has early onset dementia, became isolated and depressed following his retirement from a glittering career, and communication with the email scammers became his only contact with the outside world. The scammers, who first contacted Soriano by email three years ago, gained the doctors trust and sent him on a dry run to Hong Kong before flying him to Columbia where he was given the paperwork for his inheritance as well as a gift in a red bag for Irish banking officials who would facilitate the transfer of funds, the Sunday World reports. Soriano pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine valued at 107,000 in the arrivals hall at Dublin Airport on September 1, 2015. He has no previous convictions and since his arrest, has been held in custody in Ireland. Sergeant Fergal Finnegan told the prosecuting lawyer that immigration officials had concerns about Soriano when he arrived in Dublin as he had only $300 and did not have a return ticket to the United States. He had traveled to Ireland from Bogota via Panama and Paris. When questioned, Soriano told customs officials that the red bag he was carrying contained a gift for banking officials which would facilitate the transfer of his inheritance from a relative he had never heard of until recently. The doctor cooperated with the officials, allowing them to X-ray and examine the red bag, in which they found 1.86 kilograms of cocaine in three packets. Sgt Finnegan said that at first police were skeptical that Soriano could have fallen for such a scam, but as the interviews went on they became aware that there were underlying issues. He said police found documentation that Soriano had printed out about other phishing scams. He admitted he knew that they were scams, but he said he was lonely and would respond to them for a little bit of fun. Despite this, said Sgt Finnegan, Soriano remained adamant that he was still due the inheritance. Soriano became excited when he was told he was going to prison because the thought he would now be around people and have a chance to make friends. He told police that he was a surgeon with a practice in Florida until he retired in 2004. Soriano said he had not expected to live so long and all of his savings were gone leaving him and his wife living on social security. He has four children and seven grandchildren. Defending lawyer Caroline Biggs told the court that Soriano had an eminent career as a surgeon, had written a book about his life, published papers and had been honored with keys to the city of St Petersburg, FL. Psychologist Dr Ian Gargan said that Soriano had bipolar and depressive disorder, as well as early onset dementia. He agreed with Biggs that the doctors life had fallen apart after retirement and that he was highly suggestible. He said it was a very extreme and very sad case. Judge Melanie Greally said Soriano's isolation and ailing mental health had contributed to him being susceptible to manipulation by sinister forces, and that she believed he did not appreciate the serious nature of his conduct. She also noted that rather than availing of other options he had chosen to plead guilty early on. Sunday World reports that the judge indicated that she would impose a five year sentence which she would fully suspend on condition Soriano leave the country. She adjourned the case until next week for finalization to allow arrangements be put in place for his return to the United States. Ned Daly was commandant of Dublin's 1st battalion during the Rising. He was the youngest man to hold that rank, and the youngest executed in the aftermath. The Easter Rising, the rebellion which took place over the course of five days in Dublin in 1916 and forever changed the course of Irish history and led to the execution of its leaders. Below, Dermot McEvoy takes an in-depth look at the life of Edward Daly and his contribution to Irish history Read more Irish government announces new permanent exhibition 20th Century History of Ireland Edward Daly Edward (Ned) Daly was born in Limerick City in 1891. He was born into the fiercely nationalist Daly family. His father had taken part in the Rising of 1867 and his uncle, John Daly, was one of the most relentless Fenians of his generation. He was the only boy in a household of nine sisters, one of whom was Kathleen Daly Clarke, which made him the brother-in-law of Tom Clarke. Daly moved to Dublin in 1912 and moved in with the Clarkes. In 1913 he joined the Irish Volunteers and quickly rose to the rank of Commandant of the First Battalion of the Dublin Brigade. He was intimately involved in the landing of guns at Howth in 1914 and in the planning of Jeremiah ODonovan Rossas funeral in 1915. Daly had 260 men under his command and on Easter Monday 1916 his target was the capture of the Four Courts on the Liffey, which he accomplished by noon that day. It was an important position because it was placed strategically between two military bases and the center of Dublin: Royal (now Collins) Barracks to the west and Marlborough Cavalry (now McKee) Barracks to the northwest. His command also extended into North King Street which was to become notorious for the murder of 15 innocent civilians by the British Army during Easter Week. Barricades tightly cordoned off the streets making it a nightmare for the British. The Four Courts also served as a safe haven for Volunteers who were scattered throughout the area. Dalys men burnt the Linenhall Barracks to the ground and captured 25 Dublin Metropolitan Policemen who were hiding in the basement of the Bridewell Police Station near the Four Courts. He assured his prisoners that they would be treated with the rules of civilized warfare. By Wednesday, one Volunteer observed that Daly was beginning to look very tired and haggard. His tunic was torn at the sleeve. I believe that he had not closed his eyes since the outbreak on Monday. He cared nothing for himself or any hardship he endured[and was]at all times solicitous for each and every one of his men. The British officer in charge of the area said, This whole neighborhood was strongly held by the rebels, who had elaborately prepared and fortified it against the military with barricades across the street, and by taking out house windows and sandbagging them, etc. In the North King Street area, the British suffered losses of 16 dead and 31 wounded. Their frustration with the rebels guerrilla street warfare might have been the reason they turned vicious against the innocent civilians of North King Street or as General Maxwell was to say later, the soldiers saw red. Possibly unfortunate incidents, stated General Maxwell after the rebellion, which we should regret now, may have occurred. It did not, perhaps, always follow where shots were fired from a particular house the inmates were always necessarily aware of it or guilty, but how were the soldiers to discriminate? They saw their comrades killed beside them by hidden and treacherous assailants, and it is even possible that under the horrors of this peculiar attack some of them saw red. Translated, this means shoot first, ask questions later. Read more 50 facts about the Easter Rising When Elizabeth OFarrell arrived with the surrender orders from Pearse she found Daly was very cut up about it, but accepted it as a soldier should. A Cumann na mBan woman inside the Four Courts described the scene: It was a terrible, shattering moment. They cried and they wept and they protested and they did their best to destroy their guns. I could see them hacking away at them. But there was no escape for them then. At Richmond Barracks Daly was sorted out by DMP detectives. His crimes, put bluntly, was that he was 1) the brother-in-law of Tom Clarke and 2) his superb defense of the Four Courts and the surrounding neighborhood streets had caused the British much damage. Along with Eamon de Valera and Sean Heuston, Daly had caused the most direct casualties on the British forces. At his court-martial, Daly stated: The reason I pleaded Not guilty was because I had no dealings with any outside forces. I had no knowledge of the insurrection until Monday morning April 24. The officers including myself when we heard the news held a meeting and decided that the whole thing was foolish but that being under orders we had no option but to obey. His penalty would be death. General Maxwell told Prime Minister Asquith: This man was one of the most prominent extremists in the Sinn Fein organization. Dalys statement that he didnt know about the Rising until Easter Monday seems to conflict with what his sister, Kathleen Clarke, wrote in her autobiography, "Revolutionary Woman." Apparently, Pearse was to alert all the commandants of their duties on Easter Sunday, but Ned Daly hadnt heard anything. This alarmed Kathleen and she told her husband: Tom was very annoyed when I told him. He believed Pearse had issued instructions to all Commandants as it had been agreed he should. He could not understand how it was Ned had not received them. He then had a long talk with Ned and explained matters to him. I could see Ned got a bit of a shock. Even though he knew the Rising would take place someday, this was very short notice. As he prepared for his execution Daly said of his men: Such heroes never lived. He added that he was glad and proud to die for his country and that he knew the weeks work would bring new life to Ireland. Kathleen Clarke in her autobiography described the last meeting between her, Ned, and their sisters Madge and Laura: Ned jumped up from the floor where he had been lying without covering. He was in his uniform and looked about eighteen years of age, his figure was so slim and boyish Madge and Laura entered the cell first. I stopped just inside the door, deliberately, to prevent the officers crowing in as they seemed inclined to do. This would give Ned an opportunity to say anything to Madge or Laura he would not wish the officers to hear. The officers remained outside the door; to get in they would have had to push me aside, or further into the cellOnly about fifteen minutes had passed when the officers outside said, Time up, and so far I had not had a word with Ned. I protested, saying that I had got much longer with a prisoner [her husband, Tom] the previous nightMy protest was unheeded; the officers insisted we must go. I had only time to kiss Ned goodbye. He whispered to me. Have you got Toms body? I said, No, but I have made a request for it and have told Madge to make the same request for yours. I thought it strange he should ask that question. He got no time to say more. Ned Daly was shot on May 4 between 4:00 a.m.- 4:30 a.m. Fittingly, he was buried next to his brother-in-law, Tom Clarke, in the patriots ditch in Arbour Hill. --- *Dermot McEvoy is the author of "The 13th Apostle: A Novel of a Dublin Family, Michael Collins, and the Irish Uprising and Irish Miscellany" (Skyhorse Publishing). He may be reached at dermotmcevoy50@gmail.com. Follow him at his website and Facebook page. * Originally published in 2016. IrishCentral History Love Irish history? Share your favorite stories with other history buffs in the IrishCentral History Facebook group. Mr Buffett presided over his 51st Berkshire annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, where he and vice chairman Charlie Munger fielded five hours of questions on such matters as Coca-Colas sugary drinks, lower shipping volumes on the BNSF railroad, risks from derivatives, and who might succeed Mr Buffett as chief executive. Berkshire owns close to 90 businesses in energy, insurance, manufacturing, railroad, retail and other sectors, and invests well over $100bn (87bn) in stocks. Mr Buffett, a staunch supporter of Democrat Hillary Clinton for president, was asked about the regulatory impact on Berkshire if Republican frontrunner Donald Trump wins the 2016 US presidential election. That wont be the main problem, he said to audience laughter. If either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton becomes president, and one of them is very likely to be, I think Berkshire will continue to do fine, he said. The meeting filled a downtown arena and overflow rooms. Mr Buffett suggested that 40,000 people may have shown up for his Woodstock for Capitalists, close to last years record, though the meeting was streamed online for the first time. At the meeting, Mr Buffett and Mr Munger fielded dozens of questions from shareholders, analysts and journalists. A shareholder proposal for more disclosures on the risks to Berkshire on climate change was overwhelmingly rejected. Mr Buffett parried concerns raised by a shareholder, and previously by hedge-fund manager William Ackman, that Berkshire promotes bad health through its roughly 9% in Coca-Cola. Mr Buffett, who consumes 700 calories of Coke a day, said it seemed wrong to blame calories alone for rising obesity levels. He also renewed his defence of Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital, which with Berkshire has a controlling stake in food company Kraft Heinz, where it has built on its reputation as a ruthless cost-cutter. He also emphasised his worry that derivatives could cause major risks for most of the worlds largest banks if markets were disrupted. It is still a potential time bomb, he said, but said he was not in the least troubled by Berkshires big stakes in Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Mark Hughes, a money manager from Ashton, Maryland attending his 25th meeting, said he sees no sign of Mr Buffett and Mr Munger are winding down. Theyre 85 and 92, and look as good as they ever did, he said. n Reuters Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy has won widespread praise for revealing his battles with anxiety and depression, writes Daniel McConnell of the Irish Examiner. Among those to lavish praise on his courage in speaking out today was Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, who described Mr Troy as brave and honest. In an article, Mr Troy detailed his own issues with his condition saying he was reluctant to speak out as politicians are supposed to be resilient go-to people. He wrote: This week after announcing 12m cuts in mental health service, the Government made time available to make statement on Mental Health in the Dail. Having considered speaking on the issue I decided to share some real life experience. I was scared, nervous and anxious about the prospect of speaking out in front of my peers knowing that they would all know my weaknesses and sufferings, he added. I suffer from anxiety and at times minor depression. I find it crippling and all consuming and it makes the smallest challenge seem like an impossible high jump that will ultimately destabilise me. However I crashed hard after the high of the election and I am now struggling to get back my balance since that day, he wrote with admirable candour in a piece for TheJournal.ie. I have been forced to deal with things that I ignored and in the absence of other parts of my life I placed politics, maybe to fill voids maybe in a misjudged pursuit of happiness, he concluded. He spoke too about getting help. What became increasingly apparent to me over the last number of months, as I sought professional help, is the inaccessibility of the crucial services to people who cant afford private treatment. I cant imagine feeling so low and alone and not being able to access help. I cant imagine how you can even begin to gain the strength to deal with these feelings without the right help, he wrote. The article received a huge reaction online in the wake of its publication. One well known Independent Fingal County Councillor, Dr Justin Sinnott, commended Mr Troy's honesty in speaking out about his battles with anxiety and depression. Powerful piece from Robert Troy. Very open, brave and honest, tweeted Dr Sinnott. Mr Troy, who is from Ballynacargy, County Westmeath, bucked the national trend in 2011 to be elected in the Longford-Westmeath constituency. He was appointed Childrens' spokesman for the party by his leader Micheal Martin. An investigation has been launched into the death of a man in Dublin. It is understood he took ill on Trinity Street at about 3am this morning and was rushed to hospital, where he later passed away. This year it fell on April 24, marking how long it has taken the US economy to earn enough tax to pay all its bills for 2016. Running a similar calculation for Ireland gives what may be a surprising result. Our tax freedom day would have fallen on April 16, illustrating that less of our economic output goes in taxes than in the US. Surely some mistake? Despite how it feels, we are not a particularly highly-taxed country. Our income tax rates are high, but the lions share of income tax is paid by a quarter of the workforce. Our VAT rates are also high 23% is among the highest in Europe but it doesnt apply to everything. Most groceries, for instance, dont attract VAT. This has never stopped anyone looking for tax reductions, such as the recent observation by the chief executive of the Irish Stock Exchange, Deirdre Somers. She was widely reported as saying that our tax system acts as a disincentive to entrepreneurs from scaling up their businesses.The tax system does tend to do that. She also suggested that we are less good at growing indigenous Irish business than bringing in foreign direct investment from abroad. Bias in the tax system can be problematic. Tax systems only work well where there are no exceptions to a general set of rules. A corner shop pays corporation tax at the same rate of 12.5% as the bank next door, and at the same rate as the multinational factory down the road. There are both economic reasons and EU law reasons why this should be the case, but should there be different tax rules for companies in the early stages of growth and development? As it happens, there are different rules for at least some of these companies. For example, a number of special tax treatments exist to give entrepreneurs a tax break for capital investment. These incentives known variously as Business Expansion Scheme, Employment and Investment Incentive and Seed Capital Relief have been used over 3,000 times by companies since 2007. This isnt huge in the overall scheme of things it has to be said, and that is because these incentives are riddled with restrictive terms and conditions. Any case for a tax incentive for business development will have to prove that the investment cant be sourced without tax relief. That can be a high hurdle to jump. This is a pity. We know how property incentives which lasted too long distorted the property market, but there are better examples of tax incentive policies. The hospitality sector will point to the effect of the 9% rate of VAT as positive for its industry. It is hard to move away from economic assessments of the effects of tax reliefs because tax is a key component of economic activity. Yet we decry the outcomes of the property reliefs, not so much for their negative economic impact, but for their negative societal impact. Excess tax breaks on residential property come to mind. The social consequence is more important than a mere economic outcome. Many commentators pour derision on our 12.5% rate of corporation tax, claiming that it results in companies not making a sufficient tax contribution. This narrow criticism excludes the very important societal contribution companies make in terms of creating employment. Ireland hasnt the natural resources, climate or population to cut it as a modern economy aspiring to full employment. We have to offer some compelling reasons for foreign investors to locate here. Similarly, the compelling reason for fostering the growth of our indigenous industry should be the social aspiration of having our own people creating employment and growth opportunities for our own people. Im not sure that the tax system should be the primary mechanism to provide such support for the practical reason that emerging industry doesnt make very much money, and therefore has less capacity to use tax reliefs. What emerging industry can use is more support in raising funding and reduced hiring costs. In both of these areas, the tax system could certainly help a bit more than it does at present. Brian Keegan is director of taxation at Chartered Accountants Ireland It may seem perverse for a management team to be tasked with running large international firms in addition to ensuring that they are able to meet quarterly estimates of analysts, but the market can be brutal in its treatment of companies that miss forecasts, even slight misses. Likewise, small beats to guidance can result in significant moves higher in the share price. Ultimately, analysts focus a lot of their attention on short-term fluctuations in quarterly earnings that can overshadow longer-term trends which may be intact. In the majority of cases, companies do beat consensus expectations, but this is usually as a result of those expectations moving lower in the run up the results. The current earnings season has been mixed in that many US companies that are upgrading guidance are doing so because the weak dollar is now working in their favour, rather than seeing a material improvement in the global macro environment. However, the outlook for the world still appears challenging and many companies are happier increasing stock buyback programmes rather than investing in capital expenditure. In some cases, such as Intel, management have sought to reduce staff levels in order to maintain profitability. Few sectors experience the level of volatility associated with earnings seasons than technology. Apple last week reported disappointing guidance, linked to lower shipments of iPhones, and experienced a sharp 6% decline in its shares the following day, exacerbated by the disclosure that Carl Icahn sold his shares in February. Google shares also came under pressure after the company released earnings that were below consensus forecasts. The shares which were trading at $780 before the results are now trading in the region of $710. Countering the challenges experienced by both by Apple and Google, Amazon impressed the market by revealing that it will make an operating profit in the next quarter of $1 billion (873m), twice the expectation of analysts. The result was a 12% increase in the shares, or the creation of $35bn in additional market value. Linkedin also delivered strong results and management tweaked guidance higher or the remainder of 2016. The shares reacted positively, increasing 10%, which is in stark contrast to the drop in the stock earlier in the year. In Ireland, there have also been mixed results and trading statements last week. Irish companies exposed to the food and agriculture markets have provided weaker trading updates in recent days with disappointing results coming from Kerry, Glanbia and Origin Enterprises. Having long been in vogue, the performance of Glanbia, Kerry and Origin has been disappointing so far in 2016, as headwinds build that are likely to persist for the rest of the year. CRH bucked the negative trend, highlighting the groups core geographies are performing in line with expectations and profits continue to be buoyed by a strong US construction market in particular. Upcoming updates from Paddy Power-Betfair, Kingspan and Smurfit Kappa will also be of interest to investors. Paddy Power-Betfair has experienced downgrades to a sell recommendation for the first time in several years. The trading statement and news on the integration of the two companies will be closely watched. Kingspan is likely to be experiencing good trading across many of the companys geographies but there will be the headwind of a strengthening euro. With a very strong balance sheet, management will likely provide an update on further acquisitions. Smurfit Kappa tends to provide a good insight as to how the underlying economy of Europe and, increasingly, the US are performing. The area of challenge for the company is likely to be South America, where Venezuela is experiencing an economic crash - though it accounts for a small part of the group. Earnings season provides an update as to how trading is going relative to earlier forecasts but for investors it is worth bearing in mind that it can be among the most volatile periods of the year. Beating estimates by a small amount can generate windfall performances, while small misses can result in big stock losses. David Holohan is chief investment officer at Merrion Capital MANY things are made possible by the Internet including the sale across Europe of fishing boats made by Murphy Marine Services on the small island of Valentia off the south-west coast of Ireland. Five minutes after we launch a boat we can put the photos on the Internet its like having a shop window. We use Facebook and advertise on findafishingboat.com and probably get more business from online enquiries than anywhere else, says founder and managing director Fionan Murphy. With its online presence, the company now sells to customers in Scotland, England, Norway, Holland, France, Belgium, and also Greece. finalist in this years National Enterprise Awards, Mr Murphy has been building boats on Valentia since 2008. Turning a fit-out and repair business into a manufacturing operation was made possible by the purchase, with the help of Kerry Local Enterprise Office, of a mould tool from well-established UK company Cygnus Marine when it closed. I bought the mould and the rights for the Cyclone, one of Cygnuss most sought after boats, which is synonymous with safety, reliability and efficiency, says Mr Murphy explaining that he saw an opportunity to use this mould to develop a range of boats. Registering the Cygnus trademark and establishing Murphy Marine as a limited company, he engaged the services of an agent in Antwerp and began advertising on the Internet. It was 2008, Ireland was entering recession so his focus was on the UK and mainland Europe. The first sale was to a Belgian customer who bought a Cyclone 30 after seeing it advertised on the web. Over the next few years the company worked on building a reputation for building quality custom-made boats. The Cyclone range now includes six models and continues to be the most popular. But Mr Murphy has also purchased other Cygnus moulds and now offers a range of 12 models on his website. In 2015 we again got help from Kerry Local Enterprise Office to buy the mould for the Cygnus Typhoon which can be built up to 45ft and is now our largest model, says Mr Murphy, adding that work has now commenced on the construction of the companys first Typhoon for a customer in Donegal. Since 2008, Murphy Marine has built 28 boats and is expecting to build six more this year. With assistance from the Leader programme, the company expanded the boatyard in Valentia to 8,500 sq ft in 2013. Now employing a staff of 10, the company is in the process of recruiting two more and expects to have 14 people by the end of the year. Mr Murphy estimates that sales have been growing by 5% to 10% every year. Since the economy improved here, the market has picked up and the Typhoon for Donegal will be its fifth Irish sale. I dont think we could do this to the same scale without the Internet. It would take a massive amount of marketing, says Mr Murphy. He says its success is becuause of the reputation of the Cygnus brand and its ability to produce high-quality and custom-made boats. Not relying solely on the Internet, he and his Belgian sales agent regularly attend trade shows in across the rest of Europe. Plans for the future include growing sales in the French market. Mr Murphy also sees increased opportunities to sell passenger vessels to service the marine tourism sector here and acrss the rest of Europe. Company: Murphy Marine Services Location: Valentia, Co Kerry Managing director: Fionan Murphy Staff: 10 Exports: 70% Business: boat builder Website: cygnusboats.com ITS NOT easy to address a group of people you dont know about your psychosis. But on Wednesday next, 26-year-old Francesca Collard will do just that. The courageous young Bantry woman is joining a panel of medical experts for a public Q&A session to highlight the unusual, but highly successful, techniques which helped her recover. Francesca participated in an innovative Finnish programme now being used to treat mental health problems in Bantry. The Open Dialogue programme is different to the mainstream Irish mental health services it encourages patients to involve loved ones or close friends in their treatment and its also completely transparent, explains Dr Iseult Twamley, senior clinical psychologist with the HSE: All important decisions are made in conjunction with the service-user and any family members they choose to include in the process, she explains, adding that a guiding principal of the programme is Nothing About Me, Without Me. Francesca joined the Open Dialogue clinic some months after its launch in Bantry last September, following the conclusion of a successful three-year pilot programme. She had initially been referred to the mainstream mental health services after experiencing the onset of psychosis in April 2015. This was the first time Id ever experienced anything like this, adds the 26-year-old, who recalls that she was assessed by doctors in the mainstream mental health services and put on medication. By September, Francesca seemed to have made a full recovery so she moved to Cork city and returned to the workplace. But she relapsed, and this time, her GP referred her to the towns newly-launched Open Dialogue clinic. The Open Dialogue approach to treating mental illness had originally been introduced to Bantry on a pilot basis in 2012 following demand for a more inclusive treatment style from service users, family and mental health service staff. About 20 service users participated in that initial programme, which ran until 2015. Feedback from the pilot, says Dr Twamley, was so positive that in September 2015 a mental health clinic using Open Dialogue techniques was established for all new adult referrals from the Bantry area. Francesca attended her first Open Dialogue meeting three months later, in November 2015. I was asked to bring family members or anyone from my support network to the meetings and we were all able to express our needs and concerns, and process what we had been through, she says, adding that the experience was incredibly positive. Being surrounded by a circle of people caring for me in a non- judgemental way and taking my long-term recovery seriously has ended my sense of isolation and made me believe that full recovery is possible, she reflects, adding that the experience was very different to her first interaction with the traditional mental health services months before. At that time, she recalls, she met with a number of different doctors and felt the service was intimidating and impersonal and that my treatment was not in my control. In the Open Dialogue programme, she recalls, her care was consistent and she was listened to and valued as an equal. Its transparent, unlike the mainstream system where the psychiatrist is writing notes while speaking to you and also speaking with other family members about you when youre not present, which, as she points out, is especially distressing for someone experiencing paranoia, a major symptom of psychosis. In Open Dialogue, youre present during every conversation directly about you. No decisions about you are made without you being present, she explains, adding that in the established mental health services, she had the feeling that because she was unwell, her judgment was considered to be impaired and unreliable. Open Dialogue, she says, has brought me hope about my future, allowed me to stay off medication and return to a much better quality of life. Francesca now plans to return to university next autumn to qualify for a career in the mental health services. TO DATE, says Twamley, the results at the Open Dialogue clinic in Bantry are extremely positive. The clinic, which is treating about 40 service users from the area, is currently working with colleagues in the UK and Finland to access the long-term success of the programme, and to look at its feasibility for a future roll-out across Cork and Kerry. Its supporters say the Open Dialogue approach is in line with the official policy of the Irish mental health services that the approach of the mental health service should be more inclusive of service-users and their families. One of the biggest attractions for service-users, Dr Twamley believes, is its strict policy that no decision-making in terms of a service-users treatment takes place in their absence. People find that very important, she says. We write the notes in front of the client and they can amend the notes. They also get copies of any letters or documentations concerning their care. Its very transparent and very open and that is a shift in practice, she says. Our service-users tell us they feel heard, and that they feel listened to. Its one of a number of initiatives the army is currently collaborating on with universities and the private sector to make itself not only more hi-tech but also a revenue generator. The Defence Forces are already the first military force in the world to be awarded the prestigious ISO 50001 for energy efficiency and they are pursuing a host of innovative ideas. The army now forms part of a successful consortium building a remotely-operated mobile system that can detect and collect forensics in the aftermath of a bomb attack while keeping the crews at a safe distance. The project is set to receive 7 million in funding with partners from the National University of Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal also working on it. One of the reasons the army was selected was for its acknowledged expertise in bomb disposal and it runs training course annually on bomb disposal techniques which are attended by military personnel from around the world. Through collaboration with Defence Forces Reservists, who work in high-tech industries, the army has developed the Network Enabled Operations concept for their ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target, acquisition, and reconnaissance) unit which was praised by senior military officers in a number of countries for its innovation. This is an extension of technology which was developed by Irish troops who form some of the most technologically-advanced military units in the EU. Forward ground troop units carrying laptops, cameras on their helmets and webcams can relay instant information about enemy positions to commanders back at headquarters through secure 3G/4G networks. This gives commanders a serious edge in responding to threats and the concept is being advanced with a plan to put cameras on the outside of tanks, armoured vehicles and troop carriers which would allow those inside to get a 360 degree view on their personal visor headsets or computers inside to counter attacks. It is understood the Army is looking at simulation systems would be used to replicate firing ranges, but would save on bullets and they could be enhanced to provide virtual reality scenarios in war games. The Naval Service initially stole an advance on the army with collaborations with the private sector and researchers at IMERC (Irish Maritime Energy Research Cluster), but the army is catching up fast. The Defence Forces have confirmed the army is working with many of the countrys premium research centres. Soon, ringing schemes were up and running in Germany, Hungary, Britain and Scandinavia. The technique, known as banding in America, has been invaluable to bird study but, with millions of rings fitted in over a century, you might expect that little more can be learnt using it. The environment, however, is in constant flux and so are the lives of birds. Ringing remains an indispensable tool. Responding to global warming, some species are moving closer to the poles. Black-tailed godwits, for example, used to return to their Icelandic breeding grounds in May. Now they arrive in April. Does earlier nesting affect a birds breeding success? Are migrants adapting successfully to new, more northerly, environments? How important is temperature at nesting sites? The report on ringing and nest recording in Britain and Ireland during 2014, which has appeared, examines some of these issues. A constant effort ringing method, known as CES, is yielding particularly valuable results. Of seven migratory species studied, only one, the reed warbler, bred more successfully at higher latitudes although, the authors say, there was evidence of local adaptation in six species. Breeding success, however, is not all down to conditions where birds nest. Studies of flycatchers and warblers revealed that carry-over effects of passage regions impacted on the timing of breeding more strongly than climate on the breeding grounds. Redstarts, for example, bred earlier in years with higher rainfall in the Sahel. Over 1m birds were ringed during 2014 and 28,187 rings were recovered, yielding some interesting records. A roseate tern, ringed as a nestling at Rockabill, Co Dublin, travelled to Iceland. Its only the second record of the species there. Roseates go south for the winter; that one flew 1,301km northwards is odd. A bar-tailed godwit, ringed at Dublin Bay in January 2014, was in the extreme northeast of Norway four months later. Only four bar-tails ringed in Ireland or Britain have been recorded there. Rings usually come to light when a bird is found dead but this one was alive and well; its ring number was read in the field. Others were not so lucky. A snipe from Belarus was shot in Monaghan, 2,324km from home. The body of a little tern was found on a ship off Sierra Leone, 4,998km from Kilcoole, where the tern had been ringed as a nestling. A redwing from the Cote dOpale, France, was killed by a car in Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny. Another casualty is especially interesting. A chaffinch, ringed in Lithuania, was killed by a cat, 1,940km away in Gurteen, Co Galway. Chaffinches from mainland Europe visit us in winter but this is the first Lithuanian one known to have travelled to Ireland or Britain. Dunnocks were regarded as dull unadventurous birds until a famous Cambridge study showed what scandalous lives they lead. It was thought also that they didnt travel much. However, one ringed on the Isle of May in September 2013 was trapped by a ringer in Norway the following March. It was caught again, six months later, 129km away by another Norwegian ringer. New longevity records have been set. A black-headed gull, ringed in Worcester and found dead in the Netherlands, was at least 32 years and four months old. A guillemot, ringed as a chick on Canna in the Inner Hebrides in 1978, was 35 years 11 months and 29 days old when re-trapped back there in 2014. Little things tend to have very short lives but a long-tailed tit, weighing the same as a 2 coin, had reached the ripe old age of eight years and 11 months when re-trapped in Wiltshire. Celtic Mist, the 16m ketch which was previously owned by the late former Taoiseach before being renovated by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), sets sail from Fenit, Co, Kerry next Saturday, from where it will travel clockwise around the island of Ireland until the end of July. The IWDG said the sanctuary designation was a seminal moment in the history of whale and dolphin conversation, as up to then there had been very little awareness of the existence of cetaceans off Irelands coast. Since the introduction of the 20% deposit requirement and stricter loan to earnings limits, the Central Bank has come under huge political pressure to relent, but the bank is now insisting the tough rules will remain. As reported in the Irish Examiner on Saturday, a key demand from the Independent Alliance revolves around the issue of mortgages and debt. Finance Minister Michael Noonan has led the political pressure on the bank, saying he thinks a deposit requirement of 10% would suffice, but the bank looks set to defy such pressure. While it says it is collecting data to review the policy later this year, the rules are here to stay. Any changes to the callibration of the rules will require a high evidence threshold, said Cyril Roux, deputy governor for Financial Regulation at the bank. While these rules have attracted much comment, including some spirited criticism, it remains the case that risky lending brought banks and many Irish borrowers into protracted financial difficulties. Mr Roux insisted the Central Bank introduced mortgage lending limits to protect borrowers by reducing the likelihood of them going into arrears and negative equity. He also said they were introduced to help the banks become more resiliant to economic shocks and to prevent bank credit and house price spirals developing. He said it is the duty of the bank to protecting customers and safeguarding the stability of the banking sector. The new rules achieved the effect of cooling the market in Dublin on their introduction which had begun to overheat. However, there have been loud criticisms from younger buyers, who say the rules effectively exclude them from getting on the property ladder. Fianna Fails finance spokesman, Michael McGrath, TD for Cork South Central, has called for rental income to be factored in to banks assessment of prospective mortgage customers, as a clear sign of means. For its part, Fine Gael has proposed to cut the amount of Vat paid on new homes and introduce a Help to Buy scheme as part of efforts to tackle the ongoing housing crisis. A housing paper to be tabled by Fine Gael proposes a range of measures such as temporarily reducing Vat on new homes and apartments from 13.5% to 9%. It is scandalous to be putting short-term profit ahead of moral obligation, he thunders. Moneypoint and the peat-fired stations are massive contributors to our greenhouse-gas emissions. Last year, Irelands greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose by 5.5% in the industrial sector. Why? Moneypoint. The plant increased its electricity-generation significantly. Moneypoint, Co Clare, is the biggest contributor to GHG in Ireland. EPA director general Laura Burke has warned that using it more which we are bound to do under EU market rules, because its the cheapest source of electricity runs counter to the spirit of the 2015 White Paper on Energy. That paper suggests we reduce emissions by 80%-95%. Mr Ryan also argues that, aside from belching 4.5m tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere last year, it is also enormously inefficient, as far more power goes up the chimney than is created for homes. At a certain point, do we not have a moral obligation to choose a sustainable energy future? he asks. There is no denying climate change any longer. But will a need to reduce our emissions carry more weight with electricity customers than cheaper bills? Moneypoint is saving Irish customers 200m a year, according to the ESB. Due to the rise in availability of cheap gas in the US, from fracking, coal prices have dropped, which means lower costs for Moneypoint. Also, carbon prices in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) have never been lower. ESB management say they made major investment in 2008 to reduce emissions at the plant. Earlier this year, Ms Burke warned that we need a stronger incentive to move away from carbon-intensive fuels, like coal, in the short-term. She said change needed to be driven at European level. Reforming the EU ETS, to give a stronger carbon price, would speed up the decarbonisation needed for a carbon neutral economy. Mr Ryan agrees that the EU has been overly generous to energy-intensive industry, but says change must come from home. The Green Party see a mixture of wind, solar, and gas, and improved interconnection with the UK and US, as the keys to us having a clean and secure supply of electricity. Failte Ireland bosses have warned that tourism operators cant get carried away and start hiking prices and being complacent about standards. It is vitally important that everyone in tourism keeps a firm grip on those things we can control, particularly competitiveness and our value for money, said Failte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn. It says tourists are not just heading to Dublin and the other cities, with the Wild Atlantic Way a huge attraction for holidaymakers. Some 75% of tourism businesses reported a strong first quarter, with European and US numbers up. Up to 78% of hotel owners said business was improving year on year, and half noting an increased domestic spend, with a stronger economy meant people had more money to spend on weekend and short breaks. Despite the growth in Airbnb, 63% of guesthouse owners saw more overseas guests in the past quarter compared to last year. Hostels are doing well with 67% reporting better business. Mr Quinn said: After years of retrenchment, accommodation providers have returned to putting money back into their business and are now seeing the rewards. However, he warned that the sector is vulnerable to changes in international economics and politics. As always, when sentiment is upbeat, there is a need for caution to avoid any complacency, he said. Indeed, some operators are acutely aware that things could change quickly and the possible fall-out from Brexit, should it happen, has been raised by some. Several Independents were adamant that such a generous cut to the USC can only be considered if all of their issues are addressed first. Several Fine Gael ministers, speaking yesterday to the Irish Examiner, confirmed that the party won 50 seats on a promise to abolish the USC, while Fianna Fail also sought to have it abolished for earners up to 80,000. The ministers added that it now no longer is seeking the taxs total abolition for everybody but that it would work towards getting rid of it for income earners up to that 80,000 level. One minister said that tax revenues are positive and it is looking like there could be at least 1bn in additional spending for the government come budget day. We won a mandate to reduce USC and that remains our focus and desire. Given the so-called fiscal space has increased from 450m to 900m, we believe there will be enough to deliver on that, the minister said. Fine Gael ministers will convene in Government Buildings today to meet members of the Independent Alliance, with whom they have been engaging with over the weekend. Key ministers such as Simon Coveney, Paschal Donohoe, and Michael Noonan will be available tomorrow to help address concerns raised by the Independents, whose support Fine Gael needs to form a government. However, while there is unanimity on the issue of the USC, some disagreement is emerging between Fine Gael TDs on whether or not water charges will be reimbursed. The party has agreed a three-budget deal with Fianna Fail and is expected to take office as a minority government this week. A vote will be held on Wednesday to elect a Taoiseach. As part of the deal, water charges are being suspended for at least nine months and there are calls within Fine Gael for the fees to be reimbursed to those who paid. Environment Minister Alan Kelly said: If charges are abolished, people are entitled to a refund. However, Fine Gaels Regina Doherty disagreed with reimbursing those who have paid. My mindset is about reintroducing the suspended charges, so my answer would be no, she said. They are law-abiding citizens who abided by the law, and those who did not will be pursued. Ms Doherty said she believed the charges would be back within 12 to 18 months. Fianna Fails stance on refunds is not yet clear. Party negotiator Niall Collins said: All I can say is water charges have been suspended and it will be a matter for Dail Eireann to reinstate water charges if a vote is taken. Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy questioned whether a Fine Gael-led minority government would be stable. He also called for all those who paid water charges to be reimbursed, now that a suspension of at least nine months of charges has been negotiated. We think anybody who paid water charges should now be refunded, he said. Opinion: 10 As talks with the Independent Alliance and the Rural Five recommence this morning, Mr Kenny and his ministers will have to go beyond their desired number of three, if a government is to be formed. It is understood that Katherine Zappone will be in Cabinet, as will one member of the group of Rural TDs. However, the Independent Alliance of six TDs look set to demand two Cabinet seats in return for their support. If Zappone gets one and Denis Naughtens group get one in return for three votes, then if the alliance has six votes, more would be needed, said a source. Several Fine Gael ministers, speaking to the Irish Examiner yesterday, also confirmed they will not veto Independents Shane Ross or Michael Fitzmaurice from becoming Cabinet ministers, should they be selected by their grouping to take office. However, the fate of the alliance was not clear as Waterford TD John Halligan said he needs a deal on cardiac care for the southeast or he will not back a Fine Gael minority Government. If I dont get an agreement, then I am out, said Mr Halligan. However, in a shift in their previous position, Mr Halligan said that should he decide not to enter government, he will not stand in the way of the other five members of the Independent Alliance from signing up to a deal. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Defence Minister Simon Coveney said Fine Gael will try to do all it can to secure Mr Halligans support, but only if it is in line with medical advice. We wont do anything that is inappropriate. It will have to be subject of a review, but we will only act in accordance with on medical advice, he said. Mr Coveney also made a fresh appeal to the Social Democrats and the Green Party to rethink their decision not to enter government. We want as diverse a Cabinet as possible. I would ask them to think again, he said. Mr Coveney said he hoped a deal would be secured by Thursday. However, Mr Fitzmaurice said such a suggestion was overly ambitious. In response to recent criticism from frontline garda supervisors that they werent being briefed on the threat, or trained to deal with Brussels- or Paris-style attacks, assistant commissioner John OMahoney said a network of trained commanders had been put in place nationwide and training exercises held. Giving a rare in-depth interview, the head of garda crime and security said Counter-Terrorism International was being expanded. Absolutely: In numbers, expertise. These are issues. Its a new issue to us, said Mr OMahoney. We have responded to it, but were looking at what is happening, the landscape that is out there. Obviously, we have to look at further expanding on what we have currently. He said many areas were being expanded and that investigative skills was certainly one. He said interviews were ongoing for Counter-Terrorism International, which is part of the Special Detective Unit and under the direction of Security and Intelligence Section at Garda HQ. Concerns have been expressed around the small size of the unit and the reported shortage in security and intelligence of key skills, including dedicated expertise to tackle online radicalisation and recruitment and staff competent in Arabic. Mr OMahoney declined to comment on the units size. Separate sources have previously given differing estimates as to its strength and the Irish Examiner understands it has around 20 members. On monitoring online radicalisation, Mr OMahoney said they did some work on this area, but leveraged very much on Europol, the EU police agency. He added: We see it as a very critical area in relation to our intelligence. He declined to comment on reports that the force was exploring the adoption of software developed by the PSNI to track and analyse social media sites. Mr OMahoney declined to confirm if the unit had people with proficiency in reading or speaking Arabic, but stressed he had adequate linguistic skills. He would not comment on claims at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors conference last month that gardai would run around like headless chickens if there was a Paris/Brussels-style attack. The associations national executive itself highlighted a lack of briefings about the terror threat and called for a skills analysis of members capability to deal with an attack. Mr OMahoney said considerable work had been carried out, particularly since 2015, including: A network of commanders, strategic and operational, have been set up around the country, tasked and trained to respond to any potential attacks; Special training exercises, simulating Paris and Brussels-style attacks, took place last year and this year; Two internal co-ordinating groups have been set up: a strategic group and an operational one, bringing together relevant sections. Mr OMahoney said the threat level here was moderate, meaning an attack was possible, but not likely. First and foremost, this country is a safe environment to work and to live in. Thats not to say we would be in any way complacent, and we prepare, he said He said gardai had briefings with French and Belgian authorities to learn from their attacks. Garda commissioner Noirin OSullivan has strengthened the mandate of 270 garda ethnic liaison officers to reach out to the Muslim community. Travel bible Lonely Planet has singled out the thatched restroom, nestled in the stunning 1,000-acre Co Cork forest park, as one of the planets most stunning lavatories. Its new publication, Toilets: A Spotters Guide, highlights the most memorable outdoor public lavatories in the world, including a remote toilet island in Belize, a waterfall washroom in Taiwan, and an Arctic outhouse in Lapland. Newly elected TD Danny Healy-Rae says he will not be supporting Enda Kenny and says no Independent TD should support a Fine Gael Government. However, his younger brother Michael, a TD for his second term, says the Independents are going to have to support a minority government or its going to be an election. Michael, who achieved the highest vote in the country, adding that he is not mentally, physically, or financially able for another campaign so soon. However, Danny believes looking for Independents to support a minority Government is a cynical move by the bigger parties. He said that, come the next election, it is the Independents who will be the scapegoats, and that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael know the only way they can get stronger at the next election is to do down the Independents. I feel strongly no Independent should support Enda Kenny and Fine Gael, Danny said. In Kerry, the Government lost two TDs, and a lot of people will be very upset and angry about allowing Fine Gael back into Government, he believes. Danny said he cannot forgive Enda Kenny and Fine Gael for what they did to rural Ireland in terms of health, broadband, garda numbers, infrastructure, and every other area. The Independents who offer support will be blamed for anything that goes wrong and all independents will then be tainted come the next election, he added. And he says Fine Gael and Fianna Fail should treat the Independents with more respect out of respect for the people who voted for them. Why do they need the Independents at all we are only the butter in the sandwich, we are not even the meat, and come the next election all Independents will be tainted, Danny said. However, Michael Healy-Rae says there is no prospect of a coalition between the two parties. If the two parties were coalescing it would be different, he says, but independents are needed to form a government. Its fine to say no Independent should vote for Fine Gael but the only alternative then is an election, he said. People are not calling for an election. I dont want an election, and people dont want an election. Michael who it is understood is being earmarked by Rural Affairs said there is no bitterness between the brothers in the difference of opinion. He said members of the Healy-Rae family have taken different positions in the past, without rancour. Most of the areas councillors rounded on the state agency for its failure to attract foreign investment and industry. Councillors from all main parties, along with independents, highlighted concerns about a migration crisis in West Cork due to a lack of jobs. Elected representatives issued an invite to IDA Ireland representatives to address issues with them, in County Hall. Several county councillors insisted IDA Ireland had no interest in bringing industries to West Cork. However, they did accept IDA Ireland recently sought a site to be rezoned in Skibbereen to accommodate a proposed new plastics manufacturing project. An Irish-American family with very strong links to the region approached the county council and the IDA to get a site rezoned from agricultural to industrial in the hope of building a plant which will employ up to 50 people. The family already own 18 factories worldwide and locating one in Skibbereen would be a huge boost for the town, councillors said. The land has now been rezoned by the council and while the IDAs involvement was welcomed in this case, Skibbereen-based Councillor Joe Carroll (FF) said, overall, he didnt believe the IDA was doing its best for West Cork. Down the line well become the outback. They (IDA) could say there is no workforce there (West Cork). There would be a workforce if there was work in Skibbereen, Dunmanway, Bantry and Castletownbere, he said. Christopher OSullivan (FF) agreed with his colleague while Declan Hurley (Ind) said it was great to see a family who had left West Cork years ago offering to provide investment locally. However, he questioned the IDAs willingness to push West Cork. Dunmanway has lost 300 jobs from three major industries in the last 10 years and theres now an outward migration of people to get work elsewhere. We need answers from the IDA, he said. Paul Hayes (SF) said the N71, the main road servicing West Cork, was a major impediment to future development of the region due to it being in such a poor state. We dont want towns in West Cork to turn into commuter towns with people driving out of them to go to Cork City in the morning and only returning at night, he added. Mary Hegarty (FG) said that if IDA Ireland did show more interest in West Cork, there would be pressure on other bodies to improve infrastructure. Mr Halligan said that, should he decide not to enter government, he will not stand in the way of the other five members of the Independent Alliance from signing up to a deal. Several members of the alliance, speaking to the Irish Examiner, insisted they will not simply be rubber-stamping the deal agreed between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail last Friday. The alliance is to meet with Fine Gael ministers today at 10am, but Mr Halligan said he has the support of his other five colleagues despite pressure to support Fine Gael. Mr Halligan said he was told by Health Minister Leo Varadkar that funding for other hospitals would be called into question if issues at University Hospital Waterford were to be addressed to his satisfaction. Fine Gaels agreement with Fianna Fail to form a minority government must now be accompanied by guarantees of support from at least six Independent TDs. Mr Halligan made his comments during an appearance on RTEs The Week In Politics. Fellow Independent Alliance TD Finian McGrath said he will only support a deal if he gets what he needs in terms of his priorities. Michael Fitzmaurice played down the chances of a deal being done this week. He said he did not think it would be possible to finalise their deal before Thursday, as issues such as rural affairs and agriculture remain to be agreed. We paused our talks with Fine Gael. We still have a lot to agree upon. Agriculture alone could take a day, he said. Discussions between some Independents and senior officials have also taken place in conjunction with the face-to-face meeting on Friday with Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Everything from health services, increased spending on services for those with disabilities, and the future of rural post offices have been discussed. Denis Naughten, of the so-called Rural Five group of TDs, is another who could be offered a cabinet seat in exchange for his support. With Mattie McGrath increasing unlikely to support any deal, just three of the group Mr Naughten, Noel Grealish, and Michael Harty could be involved. The Healy-Rae brothers are yet to make up their mind as to what to do. Michael Healy-Rae said: What I am doing is I am keeping my counsel until after that meeting tonight. There is a lot to be considered. Bougainville Technical, Vocational and Trade Education boosted A total of 53 teachers from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville graduated today with Australian recognised Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. The newly upskilled teachers will deliver a range of important vocational training across Bougainville in tourism and hospitality, carpentry and construction, plumbing, agriculture, business administration, and electrical, automotive and metal fabrication trades. The TVET training was delivered by the Australia-Pacific Technical College and Papua New Guinea National Department of Education TVET wing with support from the Bougainville Department of Education. Australian High Commission Counsellor Suzanne Edgecombe said: The Australian Government is proud to support the Bougainville Education Board and the PNG National TVET wing in their aim to introduce nationally certified competency based technical and vocational training. The teachers graduating today will help give their students important practical skills and professional competencies. Ms Edgecombe said it was pleasing that a large number of graduates are women. Australia works closely with the Governments of PNG and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to promote gender equality and social inclusion in the education sector. The teaching of technical and vocational subjects is a traditionally male-dominated area so it is good to see that some 40 percent of the graduate teachers are women, Ms Edgecombe said. The TVET instruction in Bougainville was supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the Governance and Implementation Fund managed by the Governments of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Bougainville and New Zealand. It also emerged that the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) has begun examining alternative sites to the St Vincents Hospital Group site in Ballsbridge including the Beacon Hospital, Cherrywood, and Merrion Rd. The groups chairman, James Menton, informed the Department of Health it would continue its dealings on the proposed development with the department, but would not meet with the joint project committee, describing it as futile and pointless. Mr Menton also said that the offer from SVHG to house the new National Maternity Hospital remains on the table for the time being. He was harshly critical of the NMH in a Sunday newspaper, accusing them of trying to string us along and embarrass us into signing the planning permission. A mediator was brought in between both sides when an impasse arose over SVHGs refusal to allow the project go to An Bord Pleanala until it receives a commitment the NMH will come under its corporate governance. The NMH has pointly refused to cede its control to SVHG. Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said he supports both hospitals retaining their corporate independence, as it is a sound governance model. However, he can not intervene as while both hospitals receive HSE funding, they are privately owned with their own voluntary board. Under plans proposed by St Vincents, the NMH would have two to three directors on the St Vincents board, a chief executive, and a master, but there would be a clinical oversight committee and the master would not sit on it. St Vincents argues the maternity hospital would have full clinical autonomy, but it does not like the master model where one person is both clinical director and CEO. SVHG also warned that there can not be two separate boards if both hospitals are to function effectively on the one site, but NMH wants to stay independent. Former master of the NMH and chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Peter Boylan, sits on the board of the NMH. He has warned that, as a Catholic Church-controlled hospital, there could be potential problems providing elective vasectomies and tubal ligations, IVF, and gender reassignment treatment to patients at the NMH. A retired civil servant was hired to chair mediation talks which halted in advance of the general election and need to re-commence after a new minister for health is appointed. Acting chief executive of St Vincents, Michael Keane, added there would be absolutely no issue with staff carrying out procedure that they are doing now, such as IVF, sterilisation etc. Meanwhile, Mr Menton warned that SVHG did not suddenly change their stance on governance. The board had made this a condition since the very beginning, said Mr Menton, as a single system is needed for the project to be effective . In contrast, the NMH say they were first told of the plan in 2014. However, only a small proportion of complaints were upheld following investigation. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald revealed that a total of 348 Category A complaints were made against prison staff and other prisoners in the past three and a half years. Figures provided by the Irish Prison Service show that just 18 complaints have been validated, while 249 complaints almost three in every four were not upheld. One complaint was not proven while 57 complaints have not yet been fully investigated. A total of 23 complaints were terminated under the Prison Rules whereby a prison governor seeks an explanation why a complaint is withdrawn by a prisoner to ensure it was not as the result of a threat or intimidation. The prison governor must forward a report on the case to the director general of the Irish Prison Service who decides whether the investigation can be terminated or should continue. Allegations of assault account for more than half of all complaints made by prisoners. Racial attacks are the second most common type of complaint with 69 reported incidents, representing a fifth of the total. There were also 42 complaints relating to mistreatment of prisoners as well as 27 classified as sexual. Another 27 complaints were made concerning threats and intimidation. The Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, has recently carried out a review of the prisoners complaint procedure operated by the Irish Prison Service and made a number of recommendations including the possible role for a Prison Ombudsman. In reply to a parliamentary question by Independent TD, Clare Daly, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she and her officials were currently examining the inspectors recommendations. The intention was to have robust procedures in place which would give prisoners access to a credible complaints system that deals with genuine complaints in an open, transparent, and independent way, said Ms Fitzgerald. The system is categorised based on the nature of the complaints with the most serious type such as physical assaults or serious intimidation classified as a Category A case. Category B complaints include allegations of discrimination, verbal abuse by prison officers and inappropriate searches, while Category C complaints relate to cases where prisoners are unhappy with the level of service by prison authorities. Category D complaints are those made against professionals providing services to prisoners such as doctors and dentists. Under legislation, Category A complaints are examined by investigators from outside the Irish Prison Service whose reports are sent to the relevant prison governor as well as the director general of the Irish Prison Service and the Inspector of Prisons. A panel of 22 external investigators were recruited to examine such complaints. Official figures show that Cloverhill Prison has accounted for almost a quarter of all serious complaints by prisoners a total of 86 since November 2012. Prisoners in Mountjoy have made 56 serious complaints over the same period. The literary festival promises a jam-packed programme of events including workshops, readings, storytelling, public performances, panel discussions and art exhibitions. Running from Thursday until Sunday, it kicks off with a childrens event in City Hall before moving on to The Book Centre for a whistlestop tour of James Joyces famous novel in Robert Gogans Strolling Through Ulysses! Journalist and writer Gene Kerrigan will be one of Fridays highlights as he speaks to Waterford historian James Doherty about 1916 and his latest non-fiction book The Scrap. Madeleine Keane will also be in conversation with Carlo Gebler on Friday, who will discuss his book The Projectionist The Story of Ernest Gebler, which tells the story of his estranged fathers life. Writer and presenter of The Book Club, RTE radios Sinead Gleeson will be in Central Library for a free event on Friday night. Perfectly Formed; The Art of the Short Story will also feature Nuala OConnor, Tom Morris and Waterford native Orla Shanaghy. A long-term commemorative tribute to the memory of Waterford writer Sean Dunne will also take place on Friday night with the presentation of the Sean Dunne Young Poets Award 2016. The festival was originally known as the Sean Dunne Writers Festival (1996-2010) before being renamed. However, the Young Poets Award remains an integral part of the Waterford Writers Weekend. A bumper programme of events will take place on Saturday including free storytelling, arts and crafts and workshops for children. An exclusive preview of Little Bones by Sam Blake will take place on Saturday and Waterford native Eibhear Walshe (The Diary of Mary Travers) will also be speaking with Carlo Gebler. The highlight of Saturday is expected to be Amnesty International director Colm OGorman who will speak at the Greyfriars Gallery between 6pm and 7pm. The four-day event is organised and run by Waterford City and County Council Library Services and Arts Offices and is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland. Lucy Aughney from Waterford City and County Library said local people and businesses in the Deise have really got behind the festival. And she said there is a lot of talent in Waterford. We have a local writers group doing a Sunday Miscellany-style evening and weve two local writers running workshops so we do like to support homegrown talent and give them a platform to show off their craft and teach others about it, she said. And as the bid to be crowned European Capital of Culture for Ireland in 2020 heats up, the Three Sisters (Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny) will be hoping to gain momentum as they hold an open mic night in Downes Bar as part of the weekends activities. The night will be facilitated by Waterford-born actress Lynda Gough. The final day of the literary celebration will incorporate a Getting Published Workshop and A Workshop for Your Inner Editor. TV3s Andrea Hayes will also speak at a public event about her book A Pain-Free Life. n For a full list of events, or to book tickets: www.waterfordwritersweekend.ie. LAYLAS VBF is strikingly handsome and exceptionally perceptive. Google is a golden doodle, assistance dog to Layla, who has autism. Mum Edel describes the magic Google brought to Layla, 7, husband Stephen, Karl 19 and Chloe 13. The benefit to Layla of Googles devotion was gradual, says Edel. We got Google at 16 weeks from My Canine Companion in Cork. We socialised him for a year, getting to know and love each other. Socialisation involved bringing Google to supermarkets, on public transport, to restaurants and public places. Edel describes My Canine Companion: It is a national charity founded in 2011 by Cliona ORourke. Everyone with autism needs a dog like Google. These highly-skilled dogs cost on average 8,000. Finance is imperative; there is zero Government or other funding. Google is extraordinarily intuitive, enthuses Edel. He knows what Layla is thinking or about to do almost before she thinks it or he sees any action. See the wall at the gate? We built that to protect Layla. Once, she and Google were barely a minute outside. Google dashed inside, out again, back in... I was puzzled. Glancing out after 10 minutes, I was horrified! Layla had climbed the pillar onto the wall. If Google hadnt alerted me... Edels voice fades away. Googles dedication is obvious. Layla doesnt verbalise her undeniable love. If Google is not instantly visible, she screams, explains Edel. His effect on us is remarkable. A child with autism is highly stressful on the family. Google is soothing and calming. Edel describes the innovative approach of Cliona and husband Niall as inspired. My Canine Companions pioneering concept of the assistance dog living with the recipients family before training is dramatically different to, say, Guide Dogs for the Visually Impaired. Those are socialised by dog-lovers. We had the pleasure of knowing and loving Google in advance. Edel, seven-year-old Layla and her retriever doodle assistance dog named Google. Pictures: Nick Bradshaw EDELS TRAINING IN CORK WITH GOOGLE At 18 months, Googles extensive training commenced. I joined him towards the end, says Edel. They received group training with three parents and their dogs. The sounds, sights and basic commands were familiar to Google because of his socialisation with Edel. All commands are essential, the most significant being Leave it! because Google learned to ignore all distractions: edible treats on the sidewalk, dogs approaching, admiration... any diversion from assisting Layla. We visited hotels, restaurants, public places, climbed stairs, travelled on buses and a train trip. Throughout, the dogs socialised with each other. The training was gruelling. It was nerve-wracking, exhausting, exciting, says Eded. Most of all, it was thrilling. Google took up his royal residence on December 18, 2014. The best Christmas present imaginable. Three sessions of attachment training followed four weeks later. Google, in front, is attached to Laylas belt by a short lead and Edel holds the longer lead, which is attached to Layla. Both walk on Edels left. Google is treated royally hes like another child, smiles Edel. He sleeps in Laylas room but we welcome him with open arms in all our bedrooms. IN-SERVICE TRAINING: Although not compulsory, Edel enjoys monthly in-service training at Liffey Valley. Ten minutes are spent supervising basic commands. Google and I are monitored walking slowly, quickly, beside, behind or in front for 20 minutes. Together with the other handlers, these sessions reinforce and refresh the excellent training. They automatically involve pack training, both with the other assistance dogs and curious canine on-lookers. Then, the cuppa, all dogs at ease. I love going, both for training and comparing notes. Liffey Valley staff are brilliant. Edel doesnt allow visitors to pet Google. He adores attention. Sitting beside Layla at family meals, Google is working and shouldnt seek notice or beg for treats. Everyone gets down and dirty with Google before leaving. Every dog, he rolls over, paws waving, enjoying his tummy and ears being tickled. Googles presence indicates that Layla may behave differently in crowds or around excessive noise. Embarrassment and explanations are now non-issues. Google is a game-changer, says Edel. Laylas sense of touch developed enormously. She puts her arms around his neck, holds him by the ears and constantly lies with her feet on his back. He laps up her love and attention. Layla helps me bathe Google, handing me the shampoo and brushes. She loves his freshly fragrant coat. Not so much the wet doggy coat, but then, who does? laughs Edel. When working, Google excitedly dons his working uniform and steps nobly out. Its surprising these three amigos get anywhere, with the admiration, questions and enthusiasm showered upon them from everyone. Work, work, work... Google adores working and is constantly vigilant. He stops whenever he perceives danger. Edel praises the kindness encountered. Stephen ordered a crane to hoist a hot tub onto the patio. The guy discovered Laylas special needs and refused the fee of 1,000. The family had had no holiday in five years. Weve been to Lanzarotte twice last Christmas and since. exclaims Edel. Aer Lingus was marvellous. Google was the cover boy on the in-flight magazine. Niall, co-founder of My Canine Companion, explains that golden doodles and labradoodles are chosen for their temperament, robustness and stamina. Each child with autism definitely deserves their Google. An essential part of its normal lifecycle was in rats, which it made reckless so that they would be an easy prey for cats. Inside a cat, it could initiate the first stage of its development. So it reproduced itself, rat to cat, cat to rat, saecula saeculorum. That it sometimes ended up in a human was not part of the plan. Unfortunately, having lodged in a human brain, it could steer the host into acts of fatal recklessness, such as running across a highway populated by fast-moving vehicles. This was something the professor, Dr Flegr, often did as a young man, and it was the memory of that insane behaviour that caused him to investigate it when he became a biologist at Charles University in Prague. There, he discovered the virus Toxoplasma gondii (Toxo for short). I said in my article that perhaps criminals should be brain scanned to see if their minds were possessed by the reckless virus, and possibly plead exonerating cause for their behaviour. A surprising 30% to 40% of humans do carry it, but it remains largely inactive in most. Recently, I read of another fascinating and bizarre case of one species invading another and controlling its behaviour. This time, it is a fungus controlling an insect, zombiefying it, if such a word exists. Papa Doc Duvalier who once ruled Haiti was believed to have the power to turn his subjects into zombies if they displeased him. Having turned them into the living dead, he would then have them work as automatons in his gold, copper or diamond mines. Or, he could hand them over to the Ton Ton Macoute, his secret police, who would then make the dead dead, equally exploitable in that the family business included selling Haitian cadavers and body parts to foreign medical schools. Thousands of Haitians were murdered for this purpose, and hundreds of thousands fled the island. After Daddy Doc became dead himself, his son, Baby Doc, aided by his sister, Michelle, held power for a further 15 horrendous years. Jimmy Carter, as US president, managed to exert some restraint, but then Ronald Reagan again cosied up to them because they were (of course) staunchly anti-communist. However, Baby Doc didnt have the alleged zombiefying powers that helped his father rule by fear, and he was deposed by popular revolution in 1986. The aforementioned fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, popularly known as the zombie ant fungus, is a tropical mushroom that invades the body of Camponotus leonardi, a species of ant, and uses it as a vehicle for its self-perpetuation. The way it invades the living ant is sinister, and what follows is bizarre, as other members of the ant colony attempt to save themselves from being similarly zombified. The fungus releases microscopic spores that free-float in the air. One attaches itself to an ant and releases enzymes that eat through the insects external skeleton the shell that supports and protects the body and takes over its central nervous system. The ant becomes a zombie, with no mind of its own. It is living but it is a machine, an automaton entirely in the funguss control. So powerful is that control that it can entirely negate the ants instinctual behaviour and send it wandering away from its colony to search for conditions precisely favourable to the fungus: humidity 94% to 95%, temperature 20C to 30C. Having located this microclimate, the ant is steered to climb to the top leaves of a plant tall high enough to catch air movements, and locking onto the leaf with its powerful mandibles, to hang there, suspended, until it dies. Finally, with the ant dead, the fungus releases its spores over the jungle floor to infect new ants. However, the ants fight back. So vulnerable is the species to the fungus that it has learned to quarantine colony members exhibiting the first symptoms of zombiehood. If it did not, the fungus would take over, and kill, the entire colony. It is surely extraordinary that primitive vegetables and insects has evolved sequential, cause-and-effect strategies. To end on a local note, I see that weeks ago, writing from La Gomera, I said that bluebells would shortly be carpeting the forest floor at home. I was premature. Bluebells are still unusually thin on the ground, as are ramsons. Blackthorn is flowering, and primroses are having a good year. Yesterday, I saw my first tortoiseshell butterfly slowly wakening after its winter-long hibernation. WITH seven weeks to go to the Brexit polling day, in the UK, much can be learned from Irelands frequent referendums on EU treaties. Even the undoubted star power of US President Barack Obama has done little to quell the impression that the UKs Remain campaign is floundering. With the Brexit outcome uncertain, Ireland provides important lessons, which the Remain side would do well to absorb. This will be the first referendum on the European Union held in the UK since 1975. Ireland has held nine EU-related referendums since 1972. The more recent of these have been volatile. Twice the Irish electorate has rejected EU treaties (Nice Treaty, 2001; Lisbon Treaty, 2008), only for those decisions to be emphatically reversed in subsequent polls. Irish referendum results have been heavily influenced by early, consistent, and diverse mobilisation of social forces, encompassing not just political parties, but also cross-sectoral support and strong civil-society engagement. Where there has been broad mobilisation, referendums have passed. Where mobilisation has been weak or haphazard (2001, 2008), referendums have failed. Business organisations, trade unions, and farmers are crucial contributors to EU referendum debates and have the potential to mobilise significant numbers of voters. Their input is typically utilitarian, outlining how a vote to remain or leave will impact directly on the interests and welfare of their sectoral constituents. Political parties do not necessarily have the same resonance or credibility with voters, as they tend to be encumbered by ideology, and ill-will towards politicians pervades contemporary politics. Irish referendums also demonstrate, emphatically, that turnout matters. Low turnout in 2001 and 2008 contributed significantly to the defeat of the Nice and Lisbon referendums. In both cases, the failure to mobilise pro-EU voters in sufficient numbers contrasted with a committed core of staunchly EU-opposed voters. Thus, low turnout is associated with a greater likelihood of the proposition before the voters being defeated; high turnout seems to favour the pro-EU side. Recent polling evidence demonstrates a key weakness of the Remain campaign, namely, the failure (thus far) to engage younger voters. An opinion poll for The Observer newspaper put the Leave side on 43%, four points ahead of Remain, on 39%. Some 18% of voters said they were undecided. But the most worrying finding of the poll was the apathy of younger people. Support for remaining in the EU is strongest among the 18-34 age group, with 53% of this cohort saying they want to stay in, against 29% who want to leave. But only 52% in this age group said they were certain to vote. In contrast, older voters are more likely both to vote, and to vote to Leave, with 55% in favour of leaving and a striking 81% saying they were certain to vote. This hugely significant generation gap may well hold the key to the outcome of the referendum. Put simply, the Remain side must reach out to, engage, and mobilise younger voters, if the UK is to avoid a Brexit. Referendum campaigns matter more than election campaigns and voters are more likely to change their minds during a referendum campaign. Within this context, the mobilisation of voters is the key challenge for both sides. Last years marriage equality referendum, in Ireland, demonstrated conclusively that a bottom-up campaign, led by civil society and cleverly utilising social media platforms, can succeed in mobilising young people in large numbers. Without the support of younger people, the referendum would not have passed. Thus Remain campaigners would do well to pay attention to that campaign and how it succeeded in getting the younger vote out. UK campaigners might also consider that EU referendums in Ireland have been the victim of a broader problem, namely the knowledge vacuum on Europe. This has been a consistent theme around EU referendums in Europe generally. Simply put, the electorate demonstrates profound ignorance of EU institutional structures and decision-making, and this facilitates the persistence of all kinds of mischaracterisations of the EU, what it is, and what it does. Post-referendum research on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, in Ireland, in 2001, demonstrated that 35% of those surveyed said they did not know what the Treaty was all about and only 8% had a good understanding of the issues. This is especially important in the UK, for two reasons. Another recent opinion survey found that British voters have significantly less knowledge, and thus understand significantly less about the European Union, than the citizenry of any other EU state. If voters are to make rational decisions about the choice before them, the Remain campaign will have to emphatically bridge the information and knowledge gaps, and provide voters with sufficient information that they are properly able to understand the issues and what is at stake for the United Kingdom. A second reason relates to the nature of the leadership of the pro and anti-European campaigns. In Ireland, the case for the EU has always been made by a strong consensus among elites within the three main political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the Labour Party. By contrast, in the UK referendum, the Remain campaign is being led by David Cameron and George Osborne, who, throughout their careers, have demonstrated pronounced Eurosceptic leanings. They now argue that the UKs future can only be securely guaranteed from within the EU, but they have spent most of the last 20 years bashing Brussels, railing against alleged EU encroachments on British sovereignty, and thus reinforcing the myriad tabloid myths about the evils of the Brussels bureaucracy. Now, David Cameron has to campaign for the case to Remain and he faces a formidable challenge. Not alone are all the big guns of the Eurosceptic press lined up against him, but his own party is in disarray on the subject. Winning a referendum against this backdrop will be no easy feat. The Irish experience of EU referendums might be notably different from that of the UK, but the lessons learned may nevertheless be remarkably prescient. Mary C Murphy is Jean Monnet professor of European politics at the department of government, University College Cork. John OBrennan is Jean Monnet professor of European integration at the department of sociology, Maynooth University IN THIS year of celebration of nationhood, it is both ironic and shameful that the freedom to govern ourselves ,won at such a cost, should be so lightly regarded by those to whom the people have entrusted power, following Februarys election. The power as well as the responsibility to form a government rests with elected representatives. The people neither get it right nor wrong. They vote as they always do for a multiplicity of reasons. Some voters are well informed, others not at all. They vote to help shape the next government according to their individual preferences, be they whimsical or weighty. What happens afterwards depends on how everyone else has voted. Then it is over to the newly elected parliamentarians, especially those of larger parties, to forge the alliances that will produce a stable administration that reflects, however imperfectly, the will of the people. It is the democracy for which blood was shed. Not a perfect system, just the best there is. How ironic that what was won with blood is now being reduced to pointless, populist squabbling over water. Fianna Fail, in particular, stand apart in their opportunistic obduracy. Safe water is not a gift from heaven, a national birthright, as leftist politicians insist. You can indeed lay claim to all the water that falls into your troughs, buckets, barrels, and butties. But pumps, pipes and treatment plants do not fall from the sky. Fianna Fail should take a responsible position in the matter and support the legislation introduced by Fine Gael and Labour in the last administration rather than ditching in with political players whose radical populism has never been tested with the responsibility of political power. FG TDs disagree on whether to reimburse water charges to those who paid https://t.co/F42Tqk5p6R pic.twitter.com/D8KmXJXkHb Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) May 1, 2016 Attempts to justify their position by leveling charges of bloated bureaucracy at Irish Water are a bit rich coming from a party that surrounded itself by self-aggrandising quangos. A culture that Fine Gael, it must be said, were quite happy to take on board. Despite pledging to abolish quangos in the 2011 election campaign, they have dismally failed to do so. In fact they have added a few of their own including of course Irish Water. Why would anyone expect Irish Water to be an exception to the established way of doing things? At least, they are providing a tangible and necessary service upon which the health and convenience of every family in the country depends, which is more than can be said for the majority of quangos. Fianna Fail should know better. Every country in the EU has water charges under an EU directive. They themselves, when last in power, initiated legislation that would have cost more than current charges. In fact, water charges here are the cheapest in Europe, followed by Bulgaria, a country with a very low cost of living. Water supply and water quality are top of the worldwide ecological and agenda. It has to be paid for and for the sake of conservation the best way of paying is to, in one way or another, link charges to usage. The 30,000-litre cap on charges per household, topped up with 21,000-litre allowance per child under 17 is generous. A typical bill for a two-person adult household is 260 annually. Compare with the annual TV licence of 160 which you are obliged to pay, whether or not you view the national channels, it seems like very good value indeed. The Green Party pointed out, prior to the general election, that 50% of water pumped into the system is lost through leaks and that there is still raw sewage discharged from 44 urban centres. The installation of meters has enabled the water authority to locate and deal with such leaks. We get constant reminders of how broken and obsolete and downright hazardous our water system still is whenever boiling notices are served by local authorities. Over hot summers we have all experienced recurring water stoppages around the country. Sometimes, there is no water to fill a kettle in the morning, depending on how elevated the site of your house is. The problem can be blamed on infrastructure but also on the early riser with the water hose who has doused his roses or his car with abandon. He or she would most likely not be so particular if the cents were flowing with the water. The Green Party, however, has become somewhat guarded on the issue. According to Eamon Ryan, most people use water responsibly. Surely not as responsibly as they would if they were charged for it. If most people were responsible with plastic bags, we would not have needed a supermarket bag levy either, something vigorously and rightly promoted by John Gormley back in 2002 and which has massively reduced their usage. It is not, it must be said, that the Greens have changed their stance on water charges but they have become somewhat a skittish on the issue, citing the need for public investment and generous allowances and calling for a referendum to vest the ownership of water as a national resource in the people of Ireland. A more nonsensical reason for a referendum would be hard to dream up. Populist, costly, and diversionary. The State ultimately controls and regulates the system and few have any problem with that. It is paying for it that is causing the angst along with the established belief that for a new formed quango, water is the new gravy train. With two seats in the new Dail, the Greens cannot be blamed for the current impasse. It is Fianna Fail, too busy settling scores, old and new, with the old enemy who deserve to be water under the bridge if another election is forced. Even if they prop up a minority Fine Gael administration for a while, cat and mouse style, for tactical reasons, they deserve no better. Putting party before country is shameful anytime but at this time of centenary celebration it is more than shameful, it is shameless. However, it does take two to play out the game. Fianna Fail have tabled a killer hand in the high stakes game of political power and Fine Gael in their desperation to hold power have, it appears, decided to see them and finesse away principle and common sense in the desire to scoop the prize. In a few more years, we will have reached the centenary of the Civil War and the divisions that produced both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. What a tribute to the maturity of our politicians and what a gesture to those who secured our independence if, by then, their descendants could have shown that as a country we have grown up to the point where we can make common cause when the national interest requires it. Some people seek fame while others, like Vietnamese-born Kim Phuc Phan Thi, have it thrust upon them. She was barely nine years old when a photo of her running naked from a napalm attack during the Vietnam War caught the worlds attention. Crying, burned, and fleeing with other children away from the attack, she became emblematic of human suffering during the war. Her skin is still blistered from the napalm that hit her body and scorched off her clothes. More than four decades on, she has become a symbol of not just endurance but of the power of the human spirit to rise above adversity. She has used the fame that came with that horrific moment to send a message of peace and forgiveness. Indeed, the two men discussed the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and the people who used to live there. Obama later met opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, who also raised the resettlement of the exiled islanders. Obama was said to have listened sympathetically. While there has as yet been no statement on what was said in the meeting between Obama and Cameron, the US president seems unlikely to have made any objections to the return of the Chagos exiles. This clears the way for Cameron to agree to a pilot settlement scheme, probably on Diego Garcia, the location of a strategically important US base. In 1965, the Chagos archipelago was detached from Mauritius, before its independence in 1968, and transformed into a new UK colony, BIOT. Then, between 1968 and 1973, the UK authorities forcibly removed the 1,500-strong indigenous population of the archipelago on the pretence that they were contract workers to make way for the US base. The islanders were dumped at the quayside in Mauritius or the Seychelles and left to fend them for themselves. Commentators invariably refer to the 1966 deal struck between Harold Wilsons Labour government and Lyndon Johnsons Democrat administration for the use of Diego Garcia as a lease but in fact there is no lease the agreement was simply an exchange of notes between the two governments. However, the agreement runs out at the end of 2016 and an optional 20-year extension has yet to be signed. There is little doubt that this will happen because it is in the perceived interests of both countries to maintain a powerful military and naval base on Diego Garcia in a world of global terrorism and Middle East instability. Since the decision of the UK High Court in 2000 to restore the right of the Chagossians to return to the outer islands in the archipelago, there have been several obstacles put in the way of resettlement, including the worlds largest no take (ie, no fishing) Marine Protected Area (MPA) announced by the then foreign minister David Miliband in 2010. Since its independence, successive Mauritius governments have called for the return of the Chagos archipelago. The government in Port Louis achieved a notable success in its efforts when in March 2015 a UN arbitration tribunal found the MPA to be unlawful and requested Mauritius and the UK to hold discussions to resolve the issues. Over a year later there seems to have been little, if any, progress between the UK and its former colony. Whether sovereignty was discussed at Obama and Camerons meeting remains unclear. But it seems unlikely that the issue would have been ignored at this first meeting between a US president and the British PM at which BIOT was discussed. Meanwhile a few days ago, Henry Smith, Conservative MP for the West Sussex town of Crawley, where it is estimated that around 2,000 Chagossians now reside, stated that US bases around the world are often located alongside civilian populations without compromising security, and implied that the US had a moral obligation to come up with some or all of the money needed for resettlement. While US opposition, defence, security and treaty obligations are no longer deployed by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office as reasons against resettlement, as well as the fact that an independent study carried out by KPMG in 2015 found that resettlement was feasible, the only outstanding question remains funding. Unlike his predecessor, William Hague, and despite pressure from some of his own backbenchers like Smith, current UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond, a small government enthusiast, seems reluctant to commit money to the project. David Snoxell, co-ordinator of the 46 strong Chagos All-Party Parliamentary Group, which has representation from all 10 political parties in Parliament, commented: This is the first time resettlement has been discussed by a British prime minister and a US president. Its the last hurdle. Cost is not the big issue it is made out to be and with help from our US ally there is no longer any reason why resettlement should not be agreed this year. What a perfect legacy for both leaders who will not be standing for election again. In case anyone is in any doubt about the moral implications of the islanders forced removal nearly half a century ago, he added: Lets not forget that the Chagossian exile has lasted longer than the biblical Babylonian exile. Dr Sean Carey is honorary senior research fellow in the School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester Helicopter operator CHC confirmed that the Super Puma had to turn back to Flesland Airport in Bergen last Tuesday when the pilot spotted the indication light. After a part was replaced, a test flight the following day was also aborted and another component changed when the light reappeared. The company said the aircraft completed six commercial flights with no indications of problems on Thursday, the day before the fatal accident. The helicopter was carrying two crew and 11 passengers from the North Sea Gullfaks B oil field, around 120km off the Norwegian coast when it crashed en route to Flesland. Television footage has shown what appears to be a helicopter rotor blade spiralling down minutes before the helicopter crashed. A statement from CHC said: It is correct that the helicopter returned to base on Tuesday 26 April. The pilot had a warning light and returned to Flesland according to procedure. At Flesland the helicopter was inspected, according to procedure, and a part was replaced. Wednesday, the helicopter was taken on a test flight, where the warning light reappeared, the helicopter returned to base, changed another component, the next test drive was completed without any warning light. Thursday, the aircraft completed six commercial flights, all without any indication of problems. None of the changed parts were physically connected to rotor or gearbox. The statement added: These returns to base are essential for flight safety and part of operating in a highly regulated industry. Speculation about the cause of the accident is unhelpful and we must also be careful to respect the feelings of the families who perished in the tragic events of Bergen, it said. The Labour leader joined the crowds at Clerkenwell Green in the capital to mark the international day honouring workers. Corbyn addressed workers from the top of a red London bus and said the Labour movement stood united. We stand in solidarity now against the growth of the Far Right in Europe. His appearance marked the first one by a Labour leader at a May Day rally in 50 years. The rally celebrates what was won by workers campaigning over many years, including the NHS, education, pensions and affordable housing, which organisers claimed were under attack by austerity. With placards brandishing slogans such as Cameron must go, the rally marched to Trafalgar Square where more speakers addressed hundreds of workers. A brass band played as the rally marched through the streets of London, along the Strand, to Trafalgar Square. Workers held placards representing dozens of unions. Many held banners and placards calling for Prime Minister David Cameron to resign. There was a large contingent calling for international solidarity on human rights and trade union rights. Several others held placards in support of junior doctors. At one point the rally was stalled as it passed along the Strand where a group from Unite set off red smoke flares. Junior doctor Yannis Gourtsoyannis told the May Day rally at Trafalgar Square that the NHS would be the site of the last stand against austerity. He pleaded with the rally to not let the NHS fail and to defend the BMA. We need you and you need us, he said. Fr Berrigan died peacefully at Murray-Weigel Hall, a Jesuit healthcare community in New York after a long illness, according to Michael Benigno, a spokesman for the Jesuits USA Northeast Province. Fr Berrigan and his younger brother, the Fr Philip Berrigan, emerged as leaders of the radical anti-war movement in the 1960s. The Berrigan brothers entered a draft board in Catonsville, Maryland, on May 17, 1968, with eight other activists and removed records of young men about to be shipped off to Vietnam. The group took the files outside and burned them in rubbish bins. The Catonsville Nine, as they came to be known, were convicted on federal charges accusing them of destroying US property and interfering with the Selective Service Act of 1967. All were sentenced on November 9, 1968, to prison terms ranging from two to three-and-a-half years. Rev Fr Daniel Berrigan and some friends participating in a fast and vigil to protest the bombing in Cambodia, on the steps of St Patricks Cathedral in New York City. When asked in 2009 by America, a national Catholic magazine, whether he had any regrets, Fr Berrigan replied: I could have done sooner the things I did, like Catonsville. Fr Berrigan, a writer and poet, wrote about the experience in 1970 in a one-act play, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, which was later made into a movie. Fr Berrigan grew up in Syracuse, New York, with his parents and five brothers. He joined the Jesuit order after high school and taught preparatory school in New Jersey before being ordained a priest in 1952. As a seminarian, Fr Berrigan wrote poetry. His work captured the attention of an editor at Macmillan who referred the material to poet Marianne Moore. Her endorsement led to the publication of Berrigans first book of poetry, Time Without Number, which won the Lamont Poetry Prize in 1957. Fr Berrigan credited Dorothy Day, founder of The Catholic Worker newspaper, with introducing him to the pacifist movement and influencing his thinking about war. Much later, while visiting Paris in 1963 on a teaching sabbatical from LeMoyne College, Fr Berrigan met French Jesuits who spoke of the dire situation in Indochina. Soon after that, he and his brother founded the Catholic Peace Fellowship, which helped organise protests against US involvement in Vietnam. Fr Berrigan travelled to North Vietnam in 1968 and returned with three American prisoners of war who were being released as a goodwill gesture. He said that while there, he witnessed some of the destruction and suffering caused by the war. The Berrigan brothers continued to be active in the peace movement long after Catonsville. Together, they began the Plowshares Movement, an anti-nuclear weapons campaign in 1980. Both were arrested that year after entering a General Electric nuclear missile facility in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and damaging nuclear warhead nose cones. Philip Berrigan died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 79. In Russia, tens of thousands of people marched across Moscows Red Square in a pro-Kremlin workers rally. The protesters were carrying the Russian tricolour and balloons. As is typical for rallies organised by the ruling United Russia party, the May Day rally steered clear of criticising President Vladimir Putin or his government for falling living standards. The slogans focused on wages and jobs for young professionals. Left-wing Russian groups held their own rallies. This year the May Day coincided with the Orthodox Easter in Russia. Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov told Russian news agencies ahead of the rally that he celebrates Easter despite the Communist partys history of oppressing the Russian Church. In Turkey, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse dozens of May Day demonstrators in Istanbul. Small scuffles broke out between police and demonstrators trying to reach Istanbuls Taksim Square. Taksim has symbolic meaning as the centre of protests in which 34 people were killed in 1977. In the Istanbul districts of Sisli and Bakirkoy, police fired tear gas and water cannon to scatter other protesters. They also rounded up at least 36 demonstrators, according to Anadolu Agency. The state-run news agency said police deployed around 15,000 officers and 120 water cannons in Istanbul, which has witnessed two suicide bombings this year. May Day marches were held elsewhere in Turkey without incident but were cancelled in the southern city of Gaziantep after a car bomb attack on a police station. In Manila, about 2,000 left-wing protesters scuffled with riot policemen, who used shields and a water cannon to try to prevent the flag-waving demonstrators from getting near the US embassy. Labour leaders said 20 protesters were injured. Some of the protesters managed to break through the police cordon. TV footage in the Philippines showed some of them punching a retreating police officer and using wooden poles to hit a fire truck. Police made no arrests and protesters dispersed after about two hours. May Day rallies were held across the Philippines, with campaigning entering the final week ahead of the May 9 presidential election. Some of the candidates pledged to address labour complaints. In Taipei, Taiwans capital, labour unions took to the streets with a march to call on the government to reduce working hours and increase wages. Many among the Taiwanese public have been concerned that outgoing President Ma Ying-jeous push for closer economic ties with China has benefited just a few. Young Taiwanese have seen wages stagnate and good full-time jobs harder to find as the export-led economy has slowed. Chen Li-jen, a protester with the Taiwan Petroleum Workers Union, said that while companies were seeing their earnings per share grow every year, workers salaries were not rising in tandem. Hardworking labourers are being exploited by consortiums, Chen said. For the past decade, our basic salary has not made any progress, he said. Laborers rights have always been neglected. This is why I hope to take advantage of the May 1 Labour Day protest and tell the government that we are determined to fight for our rights. Asia China Trains Fishing Militia to Sail Into Disputed Waters The fishing fleet in a tiny port town on Hainan island is being turned into a sophisticated fishing militia to sail into the disputed South China Sea. BAIMAJING, China The fishing fleet based in this tiny port town on Hainan island is getting everything from military training and subsidies to even fuel and ice as China creates an increasingly sophisticated fishing militia to sail into the disputed South China Sea. The training and support includes exercises at sea and requests to fishermen to gather information on foreign vessels, provincial government officials, regional diplomats and fishing company executives said in recent interviews. The maritime militia is expanding because of the countrys need for it, and because of the desire of the fishermen to engage in national service, protecting our countrys interests, said an advisor to the Hainan government who did not want to be named. But the fishing militia also raises the risk of conflict with foreign navies in the strategic waterway through which US$5 trillion of trade passes each year, diplomats and naval experts say. The United States has been conducting sea and air patrols near artificial islands China is building in the disputed Spratlys archipelago, including by two B-52 strategic bombers in November. Washington said in February it would increase the freedom of navigation sail-bys around the disputed sea. Basic Military Training The city-level branches of the Peoples Armed Forces Department provide basic military training to fishermen, said the Hainan government advisor. The branches are overseen by both the military and local Communist Party authorities in charge of militia operations nationwide. The training encompasses search and rescue operations, contending with disasters at sea, and safeguarding Chinese sovereignty, said the advisor who focuses on the South China Sea. The training, which includes exercises at sea, takes place between May and August and the government pays fishermen for participating, he said. Government subsidies encourage fishermen to use heavier vessels with steelas opposed to woodenhulls. The government has also provided Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) equipment for at least 50,000 vessels, enabling them to contact the Chinese Coast Guard in maritime emergencies, including encounters with foreign ships, industry executives said. Several Hainan fishermen and diplomats told Reuters some vessels have small arms. When a particular mission in safeguarding sovereignty comes up, government authorities will coordinate with the fishing militia, the advisor said, asking them to gather information on the activities of foreign vessels at sea. Row With Indonesia That coordination was evident in March, when Indonesia attempted to detain a Chinese fishing vessel for fishing near its Natuna Islands in the South China Sea. A Chinese coast guard vessel quickly intervened to prevent the Indonesian Navy from towing away the fishing boat, setting off a diplomatic row. Beijing does not claim the Natunas but said the boats were in traditional Chinese fishing grounds. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei also have conflicting claims over the islets and atolls that constitute the Spratly Archipelago and its rich fishing grounds. State-controlled fishing companies dominate the fleets that go regularly to the Spratlys and are recipients of much of the militia training and subsidies, industry sources said. China has by far the worlds biggest fish industry, but depleted fishery resources close to Chinas shores have made fishing in disputed waters an economic necessity, fishermen and industry executives say. State-owned Hainan South China Sea Modern Fishery Group Company says on its website it is both military and commercial, both soldiers and civilians. One of its aims, the company says, is to let the Chinese flag fly over the Spratlys. Defending sovereignty is primarily the governments concern, said Ye Ning, the companys general manager, in an interview at his office in Haikou. But of course, regular folks being able to fish in their own countries waters should be the norm. That goes for us too. The company provides fishermen who sail to the Spratlys with fuel, water and ice, and then purchases fish from them when they returned, according to a written introduction to the companys work that executives provided to Reuters. A Lot More Risky Its gotten a lot more risky to do this with all kinds of foreign boats out there, said Huang Jing, a local fisherman in the sleepy port town of Baimajing, where a line of massive steel-hulled fishing trawlers stretches as far as the eye can see. But China is strong now, he said. I trust the government to protect us. Chen Rishen, chairman of Hainan Jianghai Group Co. Ltd, says his private but state subsidized company dispatches large fleets of steel-hulled trawlers weighing hundreds of tons to fish near the Spratly Islands. They usually go for months at a time, primarily for commercial reasons, he said. If some foreign fishing boats infringe on our territory and try to prevent us from fishing there Then were put in the role of safeguarding sovereignty, he said in an interview in Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan. China does not use its fishing fleet to help establish sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: This kind of situation does not exist. China had taken measures to ensure the fishing fleets conduct business legally, he told a ministry press briefing last month. Rules of Engagement Chen said his fishermen stop at Woody Island in the Paracel islands, where China recently installed surface-to-air missiles, to refuel and communicate with Chinese Coast Guard vessels. They look forward to using similar facilities China is developing in the Spratly Islands, he said. China has been pouring sand from the seabed onto seven reefs to create artificial islands in the Spratlys. So far, it has built one airstrip with two more under construction on them, with re-fueling and storage facilities. This all points to the need for establishing agreed protocols for ensuring clear and effective communications between civilian and maritime law enforcement vessels of different countries operating in the area, said Michael Vatikiotis, Asia Director of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, which is helping claimant states design such confidence-building measures. A regional agreement on communications and procedures when rival navies meet at sea applies only to naval ships and other military vessels, he said. Asia Foreign Minister Reaffirms Japans Economic Ties to Thailand Japans foreign minister arrived in Bangkok on Sunday to reaffirm economic ties after a slump in Japanese investments in Thailand amid political concerns. BANGKOK Japans foreign minister arrived in Bangkok on Sunday aiming to reaffirm economic ties after Japanese investments in Thailand slumped last year amid political concerns as well as stiff competition emerging from more nimble neighbors. Japan has historically been the largest investor in Thailand, Southeast Asias second biggest economy, which it sees as an important production base. However, Japanese investments in Thailand nosedived by 81 percent last year, according to official data, something analysts say mirrors concern about Thailands economy which continues to struggle under prolonged military rule. Increased competition from the regions newer economies, such as Vietnam and Burma, is posing another threat to foreign investment in Thailand. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a news conference after meeting his Thai counterpart at the beginning of a two-day visit that Thailand remained an important stakeholder. Thailand is a stakeholder that Japan cannot be without as many big and medium-sized Japanese firms from over 4,500 companies are based here, Kishida told reporters. Japan still came top in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand last year, with total investments approved valued at more than 144 billion baht (US$4.13 billion). A senior Japanese diplomat, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Thailands military government was keen to allay Japanese fears on potential political obstacles to investment. Thailand has been ruled by a junta since the military took power in a May 2014 coup. The junta has promised a swift return to democracy but has pushed back a general election now expected to take place in mid-2017. The military government, led by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, has struggled to revive Thailands export-dependent economy. The country has seen a fresh wave of small, anti-junta protests over the past two weeks ahead of an Aug. 7 referendum on a draft constitution that critics say will enshrine military power. Kishidas visit to Bangkok kicks off his tour of the region including Burma, Laos and Vietnam. It follows his visit to Beijing where China and Japan both expressed willingness to improve strained relations over conflicting territorial claims in the East China Sea. Burma Calls for More Women in Peace Process on European Study Tour Leading women from minority and civil society groups advocate more female participation in Burmas peace process and federalism during trainings in Switzerland and Norway. GENEVA, Switzerland Bringing more women into Burmas peace process and construction of a federal state is crucial, several of the countrys female leaders said during a training tour in Europe last month. The women have played various roles in Burmas peace process and were invited to Switzerland and Norway to learn more about federalism, peace and security issues, and womens empowerment. Both European countries are staunch supporters of conflict resolution in Burma. The participants reflected on how a political dialogue could be conducted in Burma and how federalism could enrich the countrys young democracy. Naw Zipporah Sein, the vice chair of the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic armed organization that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government last year, said: A federal system is best-suited to Burma to ensure equality and democratic rights. Our public needs to understand how to share power, resources and tax revenue, she said. Participation from the people in these core aspects of the federal state is essential. Meanwhile, Burmas State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said last Wednesday that the government was planning to hold a 21 century Panglong-style conference within the next two months, referring to a 1947 agreement Suu Kyis father, Gen. Aung San, forged with several major ethnic minorities. [This conference] would be a good venue to talk about federal principles, Zipporah Sein said, adding that she hoped the government creates a space to include all of the countrys ethnic groups, even ones that did not participate in last years ceasefire signing. Zipporah Sein said that the commitment of the Burma Army, also known as the Tatmadaw, would be important to building genuine peace and a federal union. Additionally, there needed to be reforms within both the Tatmadaw and the ethnic armed organizations, she continued. Chin Chin, an ethnic Chin peace negotiator and the director of the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation, agreed that power sharing among the states and the central government was important to creating a truly federal system like the one used in Switzerland. We are now able to talk about federalism, something which had been barred from discussion under the military regime, she said. That makes me satisfied. The delegation is the fourth group to study federalism in Switzerland and was made up of women from ethnic armed organizations, political parties, lawmakers, peace envoys, civil society groups, womens affairs organizations and journalists. Ja Seng Hkawn Maran, a Kachin State parliamentarian from the Kachin State Democracy Party, said that in order to have more women participate in decision-making processes, We have to change our mindset [that only men can lead], which has been deeply ingrained in us. Not just the men, but we women too must change our attitudes so that we can learn and lead, she said. We must cooperate and share responsibilities so that we can achieve equality and basic human rights. Tin Tin Latt, the vice chair of the Myanmar Womens Affairs Federation, said that the knowledge she gained about conflict resolution and federalism during the trip would help her as a participant in Burmas peace process. The information [about federalism] is all new to me, she said. We can take some of these practices and apply them [to building our country]. The Myanmar Womens Affairs Federation (MWAF) is the largest womens organization in Burma and boasts the wives of generals and high-ranking military officers as its leaders. I am now going to share this knowledge with other women in the MWAF, so that they know when building a federal government, collaboration and respecting minority rights are key, Tin Tin Latt said. Switzerland, a federal state, previously hosted three delegations: the Karen National Union (KNU), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and representatives from the Burma Army. Both the KNU and the RCSS signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in October 2015. Last months delegation focused on Switzerlands federalism, the role of the police and the army in state building, power sharing among the central government and regional counterparts, ceasefire processes and minority rights protection under a federal state. Co-organized by SwissPeace and the Burmese NGO Nyein Foundation, and supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the delegation stayed in Switzerland for 10 days and attended two days of seminars in Norway with support from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Editors Note: The author of this story was among the womens delegation visiting Switzerland and Norway. Burma Heavy Winds Hit Mandalay El Nino winds strike Mandalay Division again, damaging homes, causing blackouts, and injuring residents. MANDALAY Heavy winds hit towns in Mandalay Division on Friday, leaving them littered with debris and killing at least one person in Pyawbwe Township. Myint Myint Aye, a 32-year-old Pyawbye resident, died when a tree collapsed on top of her on her way home. The division had no other reported fatalities, but the strong winds ripped the roofs off schools and monasteries and damaged local pagodas. The winds uprooted trees, toppled lampposts and injured three residents in Chanmyathazi and Maha Aung Myay townships, parts of Mandalay city. Areas near Kandawgyi Lake in Chanmyathazi were hit hard. Big trees collapsed and lampposts broke. A tent outside a restaurant blew away and at least three people suffered minor injuries, said an officer from the Mandalay Municipal Department, who was at the scene. The debris blocked roads around Kandawgyi Lake and in Chanmyathazi and Maha Aung Myay townships. Old trees collapsed, damaging power cables and causing severe blackouts. We are trying our best, with the help of the fire brigade and police, to clean the debris, the officer added. Technicians from the electrical department are rushing to repair the power cables to restore electricity to the townships. Moreover, in Tatkon Township, near Burmas capital Naypyidaw, three men were struck by lightning and hospitalized with minor injuries, while three others were injured when their homes collapsed. According to Tatkon locals, about 1,000 homes collapsed, while other buildings sustained damage. The winds also destroyed homes, schools, pagodas and monasteries in Mahlaing, Singu, Madaya, Yamethin and Thazi townships. According to a Department of Meteorology announcement, Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe divisions, along with Kachin, Shan, and Chin states, are expected to receive more heavy winds and rain in the next two days. Independent meteorologist Tun Lwin issued a statement on his website and on social media that the severe weather was a result of El Nino, and warned about future storms as well. Although the country has faced the effects of El Nino, we also need to prepare for La Nina. The weather forecasts show El Nino weather weakening, and ending in June, while there is a 70 percent chance that La Nina will arrive in September, he wrote on his Facebook. Burma KNU, RCSS Meet to Ready for Second Panglong Summit Members of the two largest signatories to the nationwide ceasefire meet to discuss strategy ahead of the Panglong-style summit proposed by Aung San Suu Kyi. CHIANG MAI, Thailand The Karen National Union (KNU) and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) held private talks here over the weekend about a second Panglong-style peace conference, an idea proposed by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi last week. As the state counselor focuses on federalism, we are discussing what this Panglong conference should include, as well as the countrys current political landscape, KNU Maj-Gen Saw Issac Po told reporters in the northern Thai city. Suu Kyi called for a Panglong-style summit to be held within two months, when she addressed the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) in Naypyidaw on Wednesday, a meeting that included representatives from signatories to the so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). That accord was signed on Oct. 15 under Burmas previous quasi-civilian government. The two groups meeting in Chiang Mai talked about the type of federalism that the eight NCA signatories would demand during peace talks, the new governments negotiation team, and Suu Kyis proposed Panglong conference, said RCSS spokesman Lt-Col Sai Hseng Murng. The first Panglong Conference was held on the eve of Burmas independence in 1947 by Suu Kyis father, Gen. Aung San, and leaders from three of the countrys ethnic minority groups. The meeting to determine how the new union of Burma would be constituted is widely praised for the spirit of cooperation that it fostered between the dominant Burman majority and ethnic minorities at the time. The term 21st century Panglong Conference has been used by Suu Kyi. So far, we dont know what [the conference] will be like. We are discussing the sort of federalism that the ethnic groups envision in preparation for the talks, the lieutenant-colonel told the press. The KNU and the RCSS are the two most powerful groups among the eight NCA signatories, as well the leaders of the Ethnic Armed Organizations Peace Process Steering Team (EAO-PPST), which was formed by the signatories to provide leadership during future peace talks. KNU chairman Gen. Mutu Say Poe is the EAO-PPST leader, RCSS chairman Lt-Gen Yawd Serk serves as deputy leader, and other leaders of the NCA signatory groups are team members. Burma Minister Warns Engineers Will Be Jailed for Poor Roads Win Khaing says engineers will be jailed if the roads they construct dont last at least five years, the length of his governments term. RANGOON During a press conference on Saturday about a 100-day plan to reduce road accidents on the Rangoon-Mandalay motorway, Construction Minister Win Khaing said engineers involved in building Burmas new roads will be thrown in jail if the roads do not last at least five years. We firmly guarantee that if the roads dont last the five years of the new governments tenure, well send those engineers [involved in construction] to jail, Win Khaing said. The warning comes amid long-standing public criticism against previous government attempts to construct new roads, many of which are rendered unusable during monsoon season and are in generally poor condition throughout the rest of the year. Win Khaing acknowledged that, on its own, his ministry lacks the budget necessary to repair the entire Rangoon-Mandalay motorway, which spans nearly 400 miles and has become notorious for fatal road accidents since it was opened in 2010. He added that his staff would do their best to repair a 20-mile stretch of the motorway and that he would seek international assistance to repair the rest. We dont have the budget [to repair the entire motorway]. If we divide the budget, we can only allocate about 10 billion kyats [US$8.6 million] for each township. [Therefore] we have to find international development partners [in order to fully repair the motorway], Win Khaing said. The minister stressed that Burma is in desperate need of general infrastructural development, describing improvement to infrastructure as key to citizens socioeconomic development. Its critically important that roads linking villages and districts are fit for purpose so that people can have a better standard of living, he said. From its opening in 2010 to the end of 2014, some 400 people have been killed and more than 1,000 more wounded in road accidents on the Rangoon-Mandalay motorway. According to Win Khaing, the Ministry of Construction is also planning to launch an affordable housing project in the capital Naypyidaw. This new housing is expected to include about 40 apartments, each priced lower than 10 million kyats [$8,605]. Burma Proposed By-Election Changes Aim to Limit Polls Frequency Parliament looks to reduce the frequency with which by-elections are held by banning them in the first and fifth year of parliamentary terms. RANGOON Burmas Union Parliament is looking to modify election laws to reduce the frequency with which by-elections are held by blocking off the first and fifth year of parliamentary terms as periods in which polls to fill empty seats cannot be called, according to a statement issued on Friday. The amendment would be applied to all of the countrys legislative bodiesthe Union Parliaments Upper and Lower houses and 14 regional legislatureswhich currently require by-elections within six months of a chamber seat being vacant, as per modifications made earlier this year. The change would mark the fourth time amendments were made to a set of three election laws that were enacted in 2010. Sai Kyaw Thu, a director from the election department of the Union Election Commission (UEC), expressed support for the modifications, while noting the important role by-elections play in ensuring voters have a voice in legislatures. If a constituency has vacant seats for both chambers of the Parliament or regional parliaments for too long, it will not be good for voters [in those constituencies], he told The Irrawaddy. Election watchdog Thant Zin Aung, who is chairperson of the Forward Institute, agreed with half of the new by-election restrictions, but highlighted the legislative terms first year as critical and suggested that a ban on by-elections in this period would be a mistake. During the first year of a Parliament, representation of lawmakers must be really strong, especially on a path to democracy like [Burmas] current situation, he said. Every seat [in Parliament] should be occupied to raise voters voices. If not, the vacant constituencies will become really weak, he added. The first year of a Parliament is all about proposing new bills, submitting important proposalswhich every lawmaker should be actively involved in. However, Thant Zin Aung said he supported a prohibition on by-elections in the last year of the countrys five-year legislative terms. Holding a by-election in the last year of the Parliament is a waste of money as the legislative body should be already stable and the term will expire in the following year, Thant Zin Aung said. Burma has held just one by-election since its transition to quasi-civilian government began more than five years ago. That by-election, in April 2012, saw the now ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) contest and win dozens of seats, though the party remained an opposition force in the legislature with little power until last years general election, when it won nearly 80 percent of elected seats. The 2012 by-election was called to fill 45 seats in the Union Parliament, many of which were vacated by members of the formerly ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) who took up positions in the cabinet. The NLD has selected fewer of its cabinet members from the national legislature than its USDP predecessor. Nonetheless several other constituencies remain without representation after the UEC decided not to hold elections in some Shan State townships, citing instability caused by conflict, or in the case of the Wa Special Region, the local Wa authorities decision not to allow polls in the semi-autonomous zone. Burma Protesters Push for Peace in Arakan, While Lawmakers Bicker in Rangoon Thousands protest in Arakan State to demand a cessation of hostilities after a recent escalation of violence leaves more than 1,000 displaced and homeless. RANGOON Thousands of people protested throughout northern Arakan State on Sunday demanding that the Burma Army halt operations against the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed organization. Fighting has flared in the restive state since April 16, forcing thousands of villagers to flee their homes. According to local sources, thousands of Arakanese staged peaceful protests in nine townships of northern Arakan State, which borders Bangladesh. Saw Shwe Maung, a police officer in the ancient city of Mrauk-U, said that 1,500 people participated in a protest in the township, which was led by two influential monks. They had received permission from local authorities. The Arakan National Party (ANP) led about 1,000 protesters in the state capital of Sittwe, according to police officer Aye Khin Maung, who said that permission had been granted for the demonstration. Local sources told The Irrawaddy that some protesters held posters that read: Burma Army, get out of Arakan State! An official with the Arakan State government, Min Aung, said that the state administration had discussed how to approach resolving the conflict, but the recent intensification of hostilities had been largely ignored. The Arakan Liberation Party, another ethnic political organization, has accused the Burma Army of war crimes and violating the Geneva Conventions. Min Aung declined to comment on the accusations, saying that it was a military matter. A delegation of lawmakers from across the political spectrum supplied rice and oil to internally displaced people (IDPs) last week. According to the government, more than 1,000 IDPs are now living in monasteries. The Arakan State government does not yet have a resettlement plan for the IDPs, according to Min Aung, who said that the victims are not too far from their homes to return, but we dont have an official count of how many there are. Khine Pyay Soe, vice chairman of the ANP, said his party has donated five million kyats (US$4,265) to those who have found shelter in monasteries. Some villagers were killed by the Burma Army after being forced to be porters, said Ba Gyi Kyaw of Wunlark Development Foundation, which is providing relief efforts, stressing that the states affected civilians eneed more support. Meanwhile, ANP members are trying to generate support in Rangoon. Wai Sein Aung, an ANP parliamentarian in the Upper House, submitted an emergency proposal to call a halt to further hostilities in Arakan. This move received immediate opposition from military appointees in the Upper House, who objected to referring to the ethnic armed organization as the Arakan Army, rather than the Arakan Armed Group, which the military prefers. Upper House Speaker Mhan Win Khaing Than said that the term Arakan Armed Group will be used in the proposal, which is expected to generate heated debate tomorrow. We mainly proposed two things, the ANPs Wai Sein Aung said. We want to stop deadly clashes and invite the AA to join peace discussions. Burma Ruling Party Members Meet Powerful UWSA in Panghsang Three members of the National League for Democracy meet United Wa State Army leaders as the new government begins delving into Burmas fractious peace process. RANGOON Three members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) met leaders from the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Burmas largest ethnic armed group, at the latters Panghsang headquarters last week, according to a source along the Sino-Burmese border, as the new government begins delving into the countrys fractious peace process. Kyi Myint, a spokesperson for the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the two sides discussed how they will cooperate in the new governments work for peace and development of the country. Kyi Myint is close to UWSA leaders and his armed group has an informal alliance with the Wa. Xiao Ming Liang, vice chairman of the UWSA, and other senior leaders from the group met the three NLD members on April 28 in Panghsang, capital of the Wa Special Region in northeastern Shan State. According to Kyi Myint, the three NLD membersSoe Htay, Than Lwin, and Myint Kyiwere not visiting Panghsang as official envoys of the new government. As I understand, they did not go as a delegation from the government. They visited there in a personal capacity. This group was not sent by Daw Suu [NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi], said Kyi Myint. UWSA leaders, Kyi Myint added, warmly welcomed the delegation and believed that the three NLD members would convey the meetings takeaways to Suu Kyi and her government despite the informal nature of their visit. Soe Htay is an elected Lower House lawmaker representing Kawkareik Township in Karen State. Than Lwin is an NLD parliamentary communications officer, while Myint Kyi is a member of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association. Both the NLD and UWSA have appeared reluctant to discuss the meeting. Zhao Gaoan, a spokesperson for the UWSA, refused to offer comment when contacted by The Irrawaddy by phone. Tun Tun Hein, an NLD central executive committee member, said he had not heard anything about his party sending the three men to Panghsang. Last week Suu Kyi, the NLD chairwoman and Burmas state counselor, met delegations from the eight non-state armed groups that signed a so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement in October, along with members of the Burma Army. The UWSA is not among the ceasefire signatories, though a 1989 truce between the group and successive central governments has held strong over the years. Kyi Myint said his NDAA and UWSA leaders had agreed to participate in the coming NLD-led peace negotiations with the aim of furthering the countrys development. Terre Haute, IN (47809) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. A developer got the idea to install Windows 95 on an Apple Watch so that all those fans of the old Microsoft operating system can enjoy experiencing it again on Apple's wearable gadget. According to The Verge, developer Nick Lee announced in a blog post that Windows 95 can run on an Apple Watch. He also posted a video on YouTube showing how Windows 95 looks like on Apple's device. The old operating system is functional but slow. It makes sense that the Apple Watch should be capable to run Windows 95 since the wearable gadget's specs are well above those of a typical computer running Microsoft's old OS. The Apple Watch comes with 8GB of storage. It features a 520 MHz processor and 512MB of RAM -- specs that are well above the original minimum specs Microsoft recommended for Windows 95. However, there are quite a few challenges to install Windows 95 on an Apple Watch. Among them are including the fact that the Apple has not vetted the app and it does not provide a way to install new operating systems on its wearable tech. According to the same publication, in order to get Windows 95 running, Lee modified Apple's development software. A loophole within the WatchKit SDK allows developers to run their own code rather than Apple's. This way, Lee was able to emulate an environment for the Microsoft operating system to run on and to finally turn Windows 95 into a Watch app. Another issue Lee also had to deal with is the fact that the Apple Watch's screen is programmed to turn off when it is not in use. In order to prevent the watch's screen from falling asleep, the developer set up a device that constantly turns the Watch's crown every few seconds. According to Digital Trends, Tenigi Insights' Nick Lee is the same developer who gained notoriety in 2010 for sneaking onto the App Store a flashlight app with a hidden tethering feature. After the press publicized his efforts, Apple discovered Lee's handiwork and removed the app just after a few days of sticking it to mobile phone carriers. Verizon has warned that data breaches are on rapid ascent despite organisations repeatedly told that they are at risk and then failing to implement even basic defences and training. iTWires Peter Dinham has covered the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) that is one of the most anticipated each year as there are few others that match its integrity, depth, and scientific rigor. The DBIR report independently analyses and highlights common attack patterns using data from 67 companies worldwide it identifies how often an attack vector results in a successful breach. Many organisations look to incorporate DBIR findings into their security programs. Tenable Network Securitys Cris Thomas has responded with some insights into how to make the Verizon DBIR report actionable. In this years report, the year-over-year trends in the breach data have not shown many distinct revelations or changes. Despite what many vendors on the RSA Conference show floor were saying, the report clearly shows that most attacks are still coming from outside of the organisation. The two top motivators for attackers remain money and espionage - the recent increase in ransomware attacks may have contributed to those numbers. It is also somewhat shocking to see that internal discovery [or mean time to discovery] of a breach continues to decline. What this says about the industry is that organisations still dont have a handle on the traffic flowing through their networks. Its important to remember that despite this globally reaching report, the DBIR is only a subset of data, and many breaches still go unreported, and many have yet to be discovered by their victims. In fact, none of the problems detailed in the DBIR are new issues, which is why the tried and true methods of good security hygiene remain the most effective ways to protect against modern attackers. From vulnerability mitigation and proper patch management to credential control and continuous monitoring, the goal should always be to aim for continuous visibility and a comprehensive solution that eliminates blind spots and proactively reduces risk. Phishing/Credential Stealing One theme within the DBIR is clear - attackers are becoming smarter. They know how to leverage multi-pronged, financially motivated attacks, which is why [socially engineered] Phishing continues to be one of the biggest threats. The DBIR combined the results of over eight million phishing tests in 2015 from multiple security awareness vendors and found that the mean time from the start of phishing campaign to first click is 3 minutes and 45 seconds. Thats less than 4 minutes from an attacker targeting your organisation until they have a foothold on your network. Attackers also take advantage of weak passwords and steal credentials because they know it is much easier to simply log into a service than to attempt to find an exploit that works against it. In fact, the Verizon DBIR revealed that 63% of breaches used weak, default or stolen credentials. The best way to outsmart attackers is to go back to the basics: segment your network, continuously monitor your environment, enable two-factor authentication and keep track of which credentials are used where, when and by whom, and then flag and investigate any anomalies. This will go a long way in helping to eliminate any blind spots, tighten up security and mitigate the potential losses from a phishing attack. Exploits/Vulnerabilities The median time to exploitation in the wild after a vulnerability has been published is around 30 days. Vulnerabilities in Adobe products see the shortest time from publication to exploitation with the mean time to exploitation being around ten days. This means that attackers are exploiting vulnerabilities extremely quickly, leaving the defender precious little time to apply patches or mitigations. According to the 2015 DBIR, 99.9% of the exploited vulnerabilities were compromised more than a year after the CVE was published, and we continue to see this trend in the 2016 DBIR. Older and well-known vulnerabilities continue to be the source of most attacks, with the top 10 known vulnerabilities accounting for 85% of successful exploits. However, the other 15% is made up of over 900 vulnerabilities. The DBIR recommends vulnerability scanning as a way to help identify new devices, services and changed configurations. The key to any scanning program is to reduce or eliminate your between-scan blindness. Simply running a quarterly, monthly or even weekly scan will not be sufficient. Active scanning must be combined with passive network traffic scanning to enable discovery of new devices and services in near-real time. Thats why a comprehensive security assurance program, including vulnerability management and continuous monitoring, is far more effective at preventing data breaches than fire drills focused on the threat of the day. Mobile/IoT Just as in last years report, the 2016 DBIR still shows no significant data on breaches involving mobile or IoT. This could be sample bias, or it could be that these areas just arent as big of a threat as many corporate marketing departments would lead you to believe. However, that does not mean that mobile and IoT should not be included in an organisations risk assessment strategy and security program. The threat environment continues to evolve, so its a good practice to monitor and secure all devices, be they desktops or mobile, to make it more difficult for attackers to gain entry in the future. Just be sure that you assess the risk from mobile and IoT appropriately for your environment. Make the Verizon 2016 DBIR actionable for your organization The Verizon 2016 DBIR is loaded with statistics and analysis about the threats, vulnerabilities, and actions that lead to security incidents. However, the process of gathering and analyzing the data needed to act on Verizons recommendations is an iterative, challenging, and time-consuming process. Most organizations simply dont have the time to manually extract data from different parts of the business and iteratively filter and convert the information into security monitoring and an actionable program. Use Tenable dashboards to gain visibility, context, and actionable intelligence from the DBIR findings Tenable has created easy-to-use Verizon DBIR dashboards that collect contextual information about attack patterns based on several sections of the 2015 DBIR to give you the visibility, context, and actionable intelligence you need to apply DBIR information to your networks. Emerchants announced on Monday it had agreed to the acquisition from SFS which is a leading provider of prepaid stored value programs in the USA and Canada, with closed-loop shopping mall card programs representing 85% of funds loaded and evenly split between the two countries. The acquisition will be fully funded through an A$58.5 million placement of 40.35 million shares to investors at $1.45 per share and an A$11.7 million equity placement to the vendors at $1.45 per share. The managing director of the ASX-listed Emerchants, Tom Cregan said SFS has been profitable since 2009 and the acquisition will be immediately EBITDA accretive for Emerchants. Cregan said in the first 12 months post-acquisition, Emerchants anticipates SFS will generate revenues of AU$33.3 million and contribute AU$4.7 million in EBITDA to the groups results.According to Cregan, there is a compelling strategic rationale for Emerchants acquisition of SFS and the company has been actively focused on a platform in North America for the past six months.He said the acquisition provides Emerchants with an established, profitable business in North America that has a track record of success, long-term customer relationships, low concentration risk amongst its customer base and has been EBITDA positive since 2009.And, Cregan says the deal expands Emerchants service offering to the largest prepaid market in the world with loads in the USA projected to exceed US$715 billion per annum across a range of reloadable and non-reloadable segments.He said the Canadian market is also a significant market in its own right, with prepaid volumes expected to exceed CA$19 billion by 2017.In the past 18 months Emerchants has transformed itself from a company operating in Australia, with revenues in FY12 of $3m and with 90% of revenue concentration in one key customer, into a company operating in 11 countries with our largest customer representing no more than 10-15% of revenues, Cregan said.In that time we have demonstrated that we have been able to seamlessly integrate the UK/EU business and with the recent announcement of bet365 in the United Kingdom, that we can leverage our technology and solutions to other markets and offer shareholders exposure to markets with significant long term growth.We believe this acquisition will generate similar long term benefits for our shareholders. It provides the Company with access to the market in the USA, the largest prepaid market in the world, and another significant prepaid market in Canada. In the process, we will grow the business and diversify the risk profile of the business, by operating in 13 countries, in 5 currencies and where the largest single customer will represent no more than 5% of revenues.Cregan said the Board of Emerchants has established clear approval requirement for acquisitions, notably that they provide an expansion in EBITDA as our most important measure, and that they provide us with access to additional geographic markets and/or access to new technologies that we can translate into other markets. The Board believes that this acquisition meets those criteria and (thus) is in approval of the acquisition.Emerchants lists SFS key customers in the US and Canada markets as including Lenovo, T-Mobile, AT&T, HYLA Mobile and Cadillac Fairview, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Shell Canada and US Bank. BlackBerrys PRIV on Android now runs Android Marshmallow 6.0 a great update to an interesting, secure smartphone. iTWire has reviewed this unique handset and calls it a 'Wolf in Android' clothing. It is pretty goo - not perfect - but it is secure and possibly the only choice for absolutely private communications. PRIV with Android M is now available on ShopBlackBerry.com, and coming soon to all major carriers offering the smartphone. Existing PRIV users will be able to upgrade to Android M by downloading the software update on their device. Android Marshmallow on PRIV brings users more ways to improve their mobile security by providing new opportunities to monitor and control privacy with its unique DTEK app. Users will obtain greater productivity through enhancements to the BlackBerry keyboard, Hub, launcher, Camera and battery performance. PRIV by BlackBerry is the most secure Android device in the market and we continue to find ways to further enhance users security and privacy by adding new features with the Marshmallow operating system update, said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO, BlackBerry. Features include: Raising the Standard for Privacy and Security Building on BlackBerrys legacy of security and keeping customer data private, DTEK by BlackBerry has been updated to empower users with more ways to monitor and control their privacy better protecting PRIV from malware, hacks and data breaches. Customised Personal Data Permissions Apps demand access to personal data, even when its not necessary for the app to function properly. DTEK gives the power back to users to control what to share and when. Turn permissions off at any time and still continue to use the app. Improved Notification Settings Users will only be shown notification controls for sensors that a given app has specifically requested access to. For example, if an application does not request microphone it will not appear in the list. S/MIME Support The new S/MIME feature in BlackBerry Hub adds another level of security by allowing users to digitally sign and encrypt their emails. Enhanced BlackBerry Keyboard The BlackBerry Keyboard has been updated to provide better predictive typing, accuracy, and control. More Emoji Users now have access to over 200 new and updated emojis. New Gesture Typing The new swipe capability allows users to slide their fingers from key to key to enter words on the virtual and/or physical keyboard. Enhanced Word Prediction Better word predictions anticipate the next word based on where users place their fingers on keys. Predictive typing now also learns words with numbers and provides better name suggestions based on a users contacts. Better Cursor Control Activate Cursor Control mode on the physical keyboard for easier positioning and control. Tapping a key on the physical keyboard more accurately places the focus cursor on screen. Know What You Want, When You Want Customised notifications to better organise apps and manage productivity with a touch of a button. Mute Indicator Users can now see the phones mute status at a glance via the floating phone indicator that appears when a call is active. Green for when call is active and not muted, yellow for when a call is active and currently muted. New Apps in BlackBerry Hub Staying connected with friends has never been simpler. Now view notifications from app favorites Instagram, Skype, Slack and Pinterest directly in BlackBerry Hub to easily manage all messages in one place. Updated BlackBerry Launcher Better organise apps and widgets into Recent, Personal, and Work sections. Pop-up Widgets are now turned on by default for new users. Set a default home screen, delete a home screen, and remove apps with a flick. More Battery Life Get even more out of PRIV with updates to further improve the battery life. When PRIV is at rest, Doze automatically puts the device into a sleep state to increase standby battery life. The App Standby feature will keep infrequently used apps from impacting the battery life. Engage Your Creative Side Added tools help customers capture the perfect image with ease and add their own creative flair. Capture Professional and Cinematic Quality Videos Record videos at 24fps in 4k, 1080p or 720p, for high-quality footage to share on social media. Slow Motion Video* Capture smooth slow motion video with the PRIVs camera thats up to four times slower. Capture video at 120 fps, which plays back smoothly at 30 fps. The slow motion effect can be applied after taking the video and can be applied to all or any portion of the video. *Audio is not enabled for slow-motion video at this time. For more information on PRIV, go to BlackBerry.com/PRIV. Follow all updates to PRIV on the Inside BlackBerry blog (blogs.BlackBerry.com). A full list of Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates can be found at: https://www.android.com/intl/en_ca/versions/marshmallow-6-0/ Most IT departments have project road maps that will require open-source skills, but finding recent college grads with open source talent can be challenging. Whether your company is planning an open-source-based big data implementation, installing an open-platform file manager, or adopting an open approach to customer relationship management, experts say traditional computer science departments might not be turning out students you need. We still see that the status quo in computer science is very much missing an open-source component, says Tom Callaway, team lead for Red Hats University Outreach program. Therefore, hiring managers and recruiters should look to non-traditional schools that have committed coursework and even degree programs to open source. Colleges and universities need to be doing more than just having students use open-source applications or platforms; they need to be teaching them about the culture of open source and how to collaborate within the , he says. Here are six academic institutions and instructors immersing students in the open-source community. 1. New York Institute of Technology Richard Simpson, associate professor, School of Engineering and Computing Sciences In his three years at New York Institute of Technology, Richard Simpson has relied heavily on open-source as a key engineering and computer sciences teaching tool. The thing we always struggle with at a university level is having the latest and greatest version of an application, he says. Proprietary applications such as computer-aided design software require time to gain purchasing approval and to integrate with classwork. And students can quickly fall behind the industry standard. Our priority has always been graduating students ready for work, he says. Open-source applications and platforms provide students instant access to the updated versions and new features. Open source helps us prepare students for the cutting edge and can demonstrate to employers they are familiar with the latest technology, he says. He adds that open source offers students a comprehensive package vs. the lite version of applications universities usually license. This allows students to do things in class that are more realistic and ambitious than before, he says. For instance, a recent class developed a job search application with open-source tools such as the Eclipse and NetBeans integrated development environments and managed and synchronized their code development using GitHub. The students used real open-source tools to build a real open-source application with the same open-source process theyll use when they step into a job, he says. With those fundamentals, they can learn anything. 2. Rochester Institute of Technology Stephen Jacobs Stephen Jacobs, professor and associate director of the MAGIC (media, arts, games, interaction, creativity) center In the fall of 2014, Rochester Institute of Technology introduced its minor in free and open-source software and free culture, teaching students the intricacies of the open-source movement. The minors required courses focus on history, becoming a member of a community and contributing, and the impacts of different licenses and FOSS and free culture business practices, according to Jacobs. The electives come from degree programs across campus to allow students to bring what theyve learned back to their specialty and to the other students and faculty in their major community, he says. Some students might be hired on (either for coop or post-graduation) in engineering roles. Others, he says, need to know about open source to be business consultants or to hold other broader roles. At the end of the day, open source in and of itself is about process and community, not about specific technical skills, he says. Joshua Pearce Joshua Pearce, associate professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Joshua Pearce went to open source as a primary tool for his 3-D printing class after his go-to proprietary gateway vendor was bought out and the product was canceled. Pearce had built an entire research program on that software and vowed never to get stuck like that again. I was left with a paperweight, Pearce says. Today his students use open source modeling languages such as OpenSCAD and the RepRap open source 3-D printing community to build and enhance an open-source 3-D printer. All students are asked to make some significant improvement to the printer itself, he says. His open-source, hands-on approach is appealing to local employers such as Ford and GM, which look to hire his students into additive manufacturing jobs. The concern within industry is that things taught in universities are too pie in the sky and not applicable. We have a longstanding reputation of creating bloody-knuckled tech engineers who dive into the code, he says, adding the school has strong industry-university partnerships. Sabine Brunswicker Sabine Brunswicker, associate professor for Innovation and director of the Research Center for Open Digital Innovation When Sabine Brunswicker came to Purdue University in 2013, she brought with her the notion that open source should be a priority. It took effort to expose students to the principles of open source and open innovation, she says. Open source plays an integral role in her research and classroom instruction. Her students dont just focus on coding, she says. They also learn how to act in the open-source community and how to make contributions. Open source needs to be embedded in the skill sets of all individuals so they can understand its implications for the organization. Sabine Brunswicker, associate professor for Innovation and director of the Research Center for Open Digital Innovation Anyone who works in a technology-related area, in her opinion, should know how to work with open source. Open source is important for software engineers and developers but also the managerial levels, she says. She points to those making purchasing decisions in an organization, lawyers and project managers as examples of non-technical positions that should understand the principles of open source. + ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD: + Her researchers, who used to use proprietary statistics programs, also depend on open-source alternatives such as R. Open source needs to be embedded in the skill sets of all individuals so they can understand its implications for the organization, she says. To prepare future leaders, system designers, and engineers for working the open source way, she was instrumental in the creation of a new masters program in the area of open and digital innovation. 5. Western New England University Heidi Ellis Heidi Ellis, professor in the Computer Science and Information Technology department Heidi Ellis is not a fan of sink or swim so she goes to great lengths to ease her students into the open-source community. Each semester, she helps them select a project that is open to student involvement and identifies areas where they could make contributions. Ellis introduces her students to the online community, explains that they are working in 15-week terms, and shares the goal of their participation. For instance, one class contributed written installation instructions to OpenMRS, a global open-source electronic medical record system platform. By doing this, she says, she helps students avoid getting off on the wrong foot with existing contributors and can observe how they handle themselves in the collaborative environment. A smaller university like Western New England, she says, provides the unique opportunity to nurture these talents. Trying to do this with a class of 50 students would be a difficult task; doing it with 15 students is more achievable, she says. She teaches students the importance of soft skills such as business and process in the world of open source, helping them navigate tricky aspects of the coding world, including proving your abilities. Students can start with bug verification and bug fixes and then move on to contribute code. By the time they complete their Computer Science or Information Technology degree, which includes open source, Ellis says they are able to step into an open-source job. Contributions to open source hold huge potential for elevating students above the crowd with respect to hiring, she says. Ellis is vocal with local business partners about her students knowledge of open source, making it easier for them to identify prospective job candidates. Our partners understand that our students have the ability to produce something the community wants in the way they want it. Thats a huge positive, she says. 6. University at Albany Patrick Masson Patrick Masson, instructor in Informatics in the College of Computer Engineering and Applied Sciences Patrick Masson is firm in teaching students that they shouldnt wait until everything is perfect to post a key tenet of the open-source development community. Release early and release often is a good development practice because it is easier to identify and fix small changes rather than the whole program, he says. Masson, who also is general manager and director for the Open Source Initiative, an organization devoted to managing and promoting and protecting open source, says open source has revolutionized teaching. Students can post their work and get feedback directly from the open-source community, he says. We can foster key principles around collaboration and transparency. He shares examples of open-source communities with his students, lets them pick one and then gives them questions they can only find answers to by engaging directly with those communities. Masson says its essential for teachers to immerse students in these communities because the model of how organizations identify talent is drastically changing. Companies are going directly to the communities and engaging with contributors, he says, so academic institutions must prepare students accordingly. Gittlen is a freelance writer. She can be reached at sgittlen@verizon.net. Solar Impulse 2, a pioneering solar-powered aircraft attempting to fly around the world without burning a single drop of fuel, set off early Monday for the U.S. coast-to-coast leg of its flight. The aircraft departed Moffett Field in Silicon Valley at 5:30 a.m. local time bound for Phoenix, where it is expected to land at around 9 p.m. Solar Impulse 2 had been in California for just over a week after arriving from Hawaii. The goal of the flight is to highlight and promote clean energy. The aircraft is powered by solar energy, gathered from thousands of solar panels that blanket the top of the aircraft. They charge up four batteries with enough power to keep the aircraft in the air day or night. Theoretically, it could stay aloft for months at a time, but the needs of the human pilot mean flights are limited to no more than a couple of days. On the journey from Hawaii to California, pilot Bertrand Piccard flew Solar Impulse 2 for almost three straight days, catching 20-minute naps in the cramped cabin during the flight. The journey began in Abu Dhabi last summer and has seen the aircraft traverse Asia and across the Pacific to Hawaii. A problem with the battery charging system delayed its departure from Hawaii and, by the time it was fixed, the team decided to wait until the better spring weather to resume the flight. From Phoenix, the aircraft will fly across the U.S. to New York, making stops at cities on a route yet to be determined. From New York, it will cross the Atlantic to either southern Europe or northern Africa before arriving back in Abu Dhabi sometime in the middle of 2016. EMC is going back to basics -- but for a new generation of users -- on the first day of EMC World on Monday. This years annual user conference will be the last for EMC as an independent company, assuming Dell's pending US$67 billion acquisition goes through later this year as planned. Michael Dell will join EMC's Chairman and CEO on stage during the Monday keynote session. But EMCs core storage business is likely to stay much the same in the short term, because it complements Dell, said Enterprise Strategy Group analyst Mark Peters. Clearly, Dell is buying a bigger and better storage company, Peters said. EMC, a diverse federation of businesses, is kicking off the conference with a new backup offering and a storage array priced for mid-sized enterprises. Backup and arrays have been EMCs bread and butter for years. The modern twists here are cloud and flash. The company is launching Virtustream Storage Cloud, a service designed for seamless backup and data tiering from EMC gear in enterprises. Its meant as an alternative to public-cloud storage services such as Amazon S3. The advantage of Virtustream Storage Cloud is that EMC users could take advantage of it without buying a cloud gateway from another vendor and signing a contract with yet a third company, the service provider, said Jeremy Burton, EMCs president of products and marketing. EMC would supply the gear on premises, the backup software, the cloud storage and the service and support. Enterprises could back up older data from their own arrays to the service or just make the cloud a less expensive tier for cold data in primary storage. Less-used data on arrays at the customer site would automatically migrate to the cloud. Theres a lineup of EMC products that are ready to work with the Virtustream cloud. They include the EMC Data Domain and EMC Data Protection Suite backup systems and the VMax, XtremIO and newly announced Unity arrays. EMC Isilon NAS (network-attached storage) can archive less-used data based on Isilon Cloud Pools policies. Also on Monday, the company is unveiling EMC Unity, an all-flash array designed primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises and departments. Flash storage can save enterprises space, power and cooling compared with using spinning hard disks, but theres still a cost premium for flash that makes it more attractive to bigger enterprises than to smaller companies. EMC says it wants to attract smaller customers to flash. An all-flash Unity system with 2.2TB of capacity will cost about US$18,000, EMC says. (Hybrid configurations will start below $10,000.) The all-flash pricing may well determine the systems success, analyst Peters said. Most smaller enterprises dont actually need the added performance of all-flash storage, but they might jump on the shiny new technology for the right price, he said. EMC sees Unity as the eventual replacement for its VNX arrays, and its name is fitting. The VNX line has evolved over the past several years and is now available in all-flash configurations, but at heart its an aging platform that combines two even older systems: EMCs Clariion SAN (storage area network) technology and Celerra NAS controller. Starting fresh with a new design, Unity will be faster than VNX and take up less space. That 2.2TB all-flash configuration will be two rack units high (1.75 inches, or 44.5mm) versus 7U for VNX, Burton said. This article has been corrected to show that the entry-level Unity array has 2.2TB of capacity. The U.S. government has indicted a Virginia couple for running an H-1B visa-for-sale scheme the government said generated about $20 million. Raju Kosuri and Smriti Jharia of Ashburn, Va., along with four co-conspirators, were indicted last week by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The scheme involved, in part, setting up a network of shell companies and the filing of H-1B visas applications for non-existent job vacancies. Workers were required to pay their own visa processing fees and were treated as hourly contractors, the DOJ alleged. Treating H-1B workers as hourly contractors is in violation of the program rules, the government said. More than 800 H-1B visa petitions were submitted over a period of nearly 15 years, according to court documents. The six people indicted in the case face prison time of anywhere from 10 to 30 years if convicted. Neither Kosuri nor Jharia could be reached immediately for comment. The H-1B program may be susceptible to fraud. In 2008, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service reported that a review of 246 randomly selected petitions filed in 2005 and 2006 revealed a fraud rate of just over 13%. The government's analysis found forged documents, fake degrees and shell companies with fake locations. Jail time is a risk for people convicted of H-1B fraud, although it's difficult to know how many have actually been sent to prison for it. One H-1B fraud case that may involve a prison sentence is pending in Texas. A U.S. District Court judge in Dallas is scheduled to consider sentencing, as early as this week, for brothers Atul Nanda and Jiten "Jay" Nanda, for visa fraud following a jury verdict last November. They face up to 20 years in prison for using the visa program to create an on-demand workforce, the government alleged. Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO of Chobani, met with his workers on Thursday at the company's Twin Falls plant, and announced that he will give around 2,000 full-time employees ownership stakes representing about 10 percent in his privately held company. The amount that each of these workers will receive will be based on their time with the company, but the median will likely be around $150,000. But for those who have been working for Chobani for a long time that could be over $1 million. "This isn't a gift. It's a mutual promise to work together with a shared purpose and responsibility," Ulukaya said. The meteoric rise of Chobani started in a dilapidated Kraft yogurt manufacturing plant in New York. Ulukaya's experience in the dairy industry was his mother's delicious strained yogurt made in his Turkey hometown. Ten years later, his company has gobbled up $1 billion in annual sales. Chobani now currently operates two plants with 2,000 employees and an estimated company value of $3 billion. He is still the majority owner of the company and told his employees to think of the grants as a pledge to keep on expanding the company even more. "We used to work together; now we are partners," he told workers at the company's New Berlin, N.Y. factory. When employee ownership is made available to company workers, whether through a stock program or an ESOP, it can have a powerful impact on worker culture, said Corey Rosen of the National Center for Employee Ownership. Workers' performance improves and they build wealth much, much faster, added Rosen. The CEO of Chobani is vocal about corporate civic duty. Ten percent of his company's profits are given to charity, one third of his workers are refugees, and this employee ownership grant has always been a part of his dream plan. Puma has developed an amazing gadget that can help track and field athletes train better. Called BeatBot, it goes beyond the conventional wearables that were available in the past years. This device is propped up with wheels, shaped like a box and is designed to race against track runners so that they can improve their times. An accelerometer is integrated in the device together with a front-facing camera from GoPro, plus infrared sensors for following track lines, and lastly an Arduino microcontroller. Together, all these features make BeatBot able to count the number of times the wheels revolve to compute the speed of the runner and the distance he has already travelled. And best of all, it can be set so that a runner can beat the speed of 27.7 miles per hour, the rate at which Usain Bolt set his record in 2009. According to Puma, BeatBot is able to make as much as 100 adjustments per second, depending on the data it gathers regarding the distance and speed covered. Thus, it can help runners push their limits in fast sprints. But it can also help runners negotiate long distances. Currently, the globally popular shoe brand is negotiating a shoe deal with Usain Bolt. But Bolt can't certainly beat BeatBot because it can race up to 28.993 mph, or 44.66 kilometers per hour (much faster than his record of 27.7 mph). Shaped like a Puma shoebox, the price of BeatBox is not yet certain since the company didn't volunteer any information in that regard. However, it said that it is expensive and is strictly for the use of athletes that the company sponsors. An advertiser, J. Walter Thompson New York is working with the company on this project and a video shared by the company displays its amazing features. Apparently, SpaceX founder Elon Musk may have even bigger plans for its Mars 2018 goal. The company recently partnered with NASA for the project. Quartz reported that the private-owned company's well-funded and veteran engineers combined with its dreams of a Mars landing in the next two years is definitely a unique mix. Moreover, SpaceX has a "stealthier goal," too. Last month, the company was successfully able to land a rocket at sea. This is believed to be a step forward with regards to being able to land on Martian soil without parachutes, airbags or "skycranes" but with rockets alone. The publication added that SpaceX faces a different challenge in making a rocket successfully land on Mars. The Red Planet's gravity is more than twice as strong as the Moon's. This means that a spacecraft needs more help decelerating after it breaches the planet's atmosphere. Moreover, Mars's atmosphere is much, much thinner than Earth's. SpaceX would need to address that problem and be able to produce a spacecraft that can land safely on the Red Planet. "The idea, essentially, is to skip the parachute and go right to the rocket," San Martin, a senior engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, said. It was said that adding a heat shield to the Dragon space capsule's engines could be used to slow down its high-speed entry to a safe landing on the surface. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed News reported that NASA has requested Congress for $1.3 billion for the development of its "next jumbo rocket." The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the request and even added an extra $995 million to build it. The space rocket is named the Space Launch System (SLS). There are no plans to send astronauts to space yet, until 2023. It also does not have a destination yet. "The point is to spend money and create jobs the way the Soviet Union did on its rocket design bureaus," NASA Watch's Keith Cowing told the publication. He also deemed the SLS as "a rocket to nowhere." The Verizon strike 2016 could cost union members to lose their jobs. The protests have continued from Apr. 13 until now. According to The Wall Street Journal, Denny Strigl, who ran the company's wireless operations until 2009, urged wireless employees to not join a union. It was said that he rushed to Boston after the 2000 merger that formed Verizon Communications Inc. "We fought it tooth and nail," Strigl said. "There's a mentality that builds up in a unionized workforce that pits the union against its management. And that's not the kind of culture that you want in a new startup."' This was one of several episodes where Verizon had to keep unions from getting in on its fast-growing wireless business. In turn, this resulted to the company being able to avoid work stoppages and generated about 33 percent of its $132 billion revenue last year. It was previously reported that the Verizon strike 2016 saw more than 35,000 employees going on strike. It was caused by contract disputes. Employees' protests and picket lines stretched across the Northeast. Out of the thousands of Verizon employees who went on strike, though, only about 160 were part of the company's wireless unit. Now, as its landline business shrinks, the union may also be losing its influence on the company. Verizon has already presented a revised and final contract proposal to the unions that represent about 40,000 workers who are on strike. The company has offered a wage increase of 7.5 percent over the term of a new contract. According to a former employee, if it weren't for a union, it could take years before workers can earn a meaningful wage increase. Bianca Cunningham was fired in September on her "failure to be honest and forthcoming" during an investigation. Cunningham believed that it was because she helped organize a union with the workers. "We were just trying to fight for ourselves and see some changes," she admitted. Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. Land and Space Journal Sentinel business reporter Tom Daykin talks about commercial real estate and development. SHARE By of the The development firm that wants to build a new Festival Foods supermarket in Hales Corners is seeking village funds to help finance that project. Green Bay-based Commercial Horizons Inc. is seeking $1.65 million to help pay for demolishing a former Kmart store, and doing an environmental cleanup to make way for the new supermarket, said Mike Weber, village administrator. Those funds would be repaid to the village through new property taxes generated by the proposed 78,000-square-foot Festival Foods. It would be built at 5600 S. 108th St., and would cost $12.8 million, Weber said. The village funds would take an estimated 15 years to be paid back, he said. That would occur through a tax incremental financing district that the village would create. That district would encompass the former Kmart, and other nearby retail buildings, east of S. 108th St. between W. Grange and W. Scharles avenues. That district, which needs Village Board approval, will be the subject of a Plan Commission hearing scheduled for May 16. Commercial Horizons would likely begin demolishing the former Kmart in early 2017 if the project and financing district receive village approval, Weber said. The Festival Foods would be completed by early 2018, he said. Outlook Development Group, which would sell the former Kmart to Commercial Horizons, is considering renovations to the remaining retail buildings it owns within the proposed tax financing district, Weber said. Onalaska-based Festival Foods operates stores throughout Wisconsin, and lately been expanding into the state's southeastern portion. Its closest store to Milwaukee is in the Racine County community of Mount Pleasant. Land and Space Journal Sentinel business reporter Tom Daykin talks about commercial real estate and development. SHARE By of the Life sciences firm Dohmen Co. has purchased a Historic Third Ward office building, the latest in a series of expansions for the Milwaukee company's operations. Dohmen announced Monday it has bought a five-story office building at 215 N. Water St. for an undisclosed price. The company's corporate headquarters team will operate there, "focusing on bringing new capabilities to the life science and health markets," according to a company statement. Dohmen's services include obtaining regulatory approval on new drugs, designing new technology for health care providers, and working with drug manufacturers to provide care for people with rare diseases. Also, the firm's investment group, and Dohmen Co. Foundation, will operate from the newly purchased building. Dohmen has been leasing the third and fourth floors of the 27,000-square-foot building since 2009. The company will continue to share the building's space with its first-floor retail tenants, and other businesses. The company has been based at 190 N. Milwaukee St. since 2015, when it moved its headquarters to that renovated 42,000-square-foot Third Ward building from Menomonee Falls. In February, Dohmen began renovating a nearby 12,000-square-foot building, at 200 N. Jefferson St., for its Red Arrow Labs software development firm. The company has around 200 employees in the Third Ward. All Politics Blog From Milwaukee, Madison and beyond, a daily dose of political news and glimpses behind the scenes SHARE By of the Madison -- A group backed by the Koch brothers is spending $2 million on ads featuring a Department of Veterans Affairs whistleblower criticizing former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold over a scandal at the department's Tomah clinic. But the spot doesn't mention the same whistleblower, Ryan Honl, has also criticized U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson over the issue. The ad centers on a 2009 memo about problems at the facility. Feingold and the author of the memo contend Feingold didn't receive that memo at the time. Johnson unseated Feingold in 2010 and the two are having a rematch this fall. Johnson is a Republican and Feingold a Democrat. The spot was produced by the Freedom Partners Action Fund, a group funded by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch. It features Honl sitting at a dining room table discussing falsified records and other problems at the clinic. Inspectors in 2014 found doctors at the Tomah medical center were prescribing high amounts of opiate pain pills to patients. The deaths of three people who were treated there are being investigated. In the ad, Honl says Feingold received a copy of a 2009 memo detailing harm to veterans -- a claim Feingold denies. "Russ Feingold ignored veterans' concerns, while veterans were dying at the facility," he says. "I just want the voters to know the real story." But the ad doesn't include Honl's past criticism of Johnson on the same issue. Honl filed complaints in the fall of 2014 with Johnson's office. An aide there forwarded them to Johnson aides assigned to the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Contracting Oversight. No further action happened at that point. A Johnson spokeswoman has said the staff didn't appreciate the severity of the problems at the clinic and didn't bring them to Johnson's attention. Honl last year said "all three offices have egg on their face" over the Tomah clinic, referring to Johnson, Feingold and Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. But he has also said Johnson has been the most responsive since news broke about the clinic. He praised him in an interview Monday for holding a hearing on problems there. The ad refers to a memo one union official sent to another that says it was also delivered to Feingold's office. Feingold has said there is no record of his office receiving the memo. The union official who wrote the memo, Lin Ellinghuysen, has also said it was not delievered to Feingold and was improperly marked as having been sent to him. On Monday, Honl said he didn't believe the memo wasn't delivered, calling that claim "convenient." "Feingold knew," Honl said. "Of course he knew." Honl said members of Congress should take bold action by allowing veterans to access use their health care benefits at private hospitals. He said they should also abolish unions for federal workers. "You dismantle the unions at the federal level; that's how you take care of it," he said of fixing problems at veterans facilities. Feingold spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement Johnson and his allies had politicized a tragedy. "Sen. Johnson knows for a fact that this attack is false," Tyler's statement said. Here's the ad: Epic Systems trainer Amanda Haase conducts a class for customers in December. Epic requires nondisclosure agreements that protect the companys confidential information. Credit: Mark Hoffman By of the In June 2014, Epic Systems Corp. in Verona received an email that no software company can ignore: Employees of a company working for one of its customers had gained unauthorized access to a restricted website and may have stolen documents that contained trade secrets. Within four months, Epic, which designs systems for electronic health records, sued the contractor, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., a company based in Mumbai, India, and its U.S. affiliate. Last month, after a 10-day trial in federal court in Madison, a jury awarded Epic $940 million in damages, including $700 million in punitive damages one of the largest awards ever in a trade-secrets case in the United States and the largest in Wisconsin's history. Tata Consultancy, which has denied the allegations, plans to appeal, and the judge indicated he is likely to reduce the award. But the speed with which Epic moved and the size of the award make plain that for many companies in today's economy, their ideas are their biggest assets. "The value of their business is really in trade secrets of different types," said Robert Gomulkiewicz, a professor who specializes in intellectual property at the University of Washington School of Law and a former associate general counsel for Microsoft Corp. The lawsuit stems from work that Tata Consultancy did in testing Epic's software for Kaiser Permanente, one of the country's largest health systems and one of Epic's largest customers. In all, Epic alleged that Tata Consultancy employees downloaded 1,687 files containing 6,477 documents. Tata Consultancy contends the documents were user guides and training manuals. But 36 of the files allegedly contained trade secrets. Those files could save Tata Consultancy tens of millions of dollars in improving its own system for electronic health records that it sells in India and plans to sell in other countries in the developing world. Epic doesn't allege that Tata Consultancy stole the so-called source code at the core of the system. That's copyrighted. But some of the documents allegedly stolen outline the design of parts of Epic's system, and that can have more value than the code itself. "If you talk to software designers, they will say that the greater value is in the design and ideas that went into the design," Gomulkiewicz said. "If you just got the design without the source code, you may have most valuable thing right there." That is what can save time and millions of dollars. "It is telling you how to write the code in the most effective way possible," he said. In an opinion and order before the jury determined damages, William Conley, the federal judge in the lawsuit, said there was a "complete lack of proof of any specific use of Epic's confidential information in the development or improvement" of Tata Consultancy's software. But Conley also noted that determining the value of the stolen documents and proving damages was difficult partly because of Tata Consultancy's "failure both to preserve certain evidence and to produce other evidence timely." Epic's attorneys repeatedly had to ask the court to order Tata Consultancy to produce information requested through the legal discovery process, and Conley and Federal Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker, who heard most of the disputes involving discovery, were straightforward about their mounting impatience with Tata Consultancy. "If Judge Conley thinks that he has been gamed or that a party has not met its discovery obligations, the consequences will be notoriously bad for the side he finds to be in defiance of the court's order," Crocker warned Tata Consultancy's attorneys in an October hearing. Conley reportedly indicated after the jury verdict that he is inclined to impose sanctions on Tata Consultancy. Tata Consultancy is an information technology company that had $15.5 billion in revenue last year and employs more than 325,000 people, including 27,000 in the United States, according to court documents. It is part of the Tata Group, an Indian conglomerate founded in 1868 that through its various companies owns Land Rover, Jaguar and Eight O'Clock Coffee. Tata Consultancy is a public company but is 73% owned by Tata Sons Ltd., which in turn is 66% owned by philanthropic trusts. Epic employs about 9,600 people, almost all of them on its campus in Verona, and had revenue of about $2 billion last year. The privately held company sells software for electronic health records, billing and other tasks for large health systems, large hospitals and large physician practices. It is known for being fiercely protective of its products. Its licensing agreement, for instance, prohibits customers from allowing photos to be taken of its software on a computer screen. Tata Consultancy is developing its own system, known as Med Mantra, for electronic health records in India, but the company contends that it and a similar product that it is developing are not suitable for the U.S. market because of the differences in the U.S. and Indian health care systems. However, the company has explored customizing parts of the system to meet specific requirements of customers in the United States, and it is working with DaVita HealthCare Partners, which operates dialysis centers, to develop a laboratory information and management system, according to court documents. Epic moves quickly After receiving the email alleging that Tata Consultancy employees had gained unauthorized access to certain documents on its system, Epic quickly hired Jenner & Block, a law firm known for its expertise in complex litigation. Tata Consultancy acknowledged that some of its employees improperly downloaded Epic documents. But it contended that the employees needed the documents to do their work and that the information was not used in the development of its own system for electronic health records. It also contended that Kaiser Permanente repeatedly asked Epic to make the documents and other information available to Tata Consultancy employees. In addition, Tata Consultancy filed a counterclaim alleging antitrust violations and contending that Epic interfered with Tata Consultancy's business. The counterclaim will be dealt with later by the court. Epic has not commented on the lawsuit, and most of the filings with the court are sealed. But publicly available filings provide a general outline of the lawsuit. They also provide a glimpse into the steps that companies take to protect trade secrets. Epic requires customers and their consultants as well as their employees to agree to nondisclosure agreements that protect the company's confidential information. It also maintains confidential information on its computer systems that can be accessed only by authorized users through what it is known as its UserWeb portal. Only a portion of the UserWeb portal typically is available to consultants working with a customer. In the case of Tata Consultancy, access was never granted because of Epic's wariness about working with a company that was developing its own system for electronic health records. Tata Consultancy which had about 1,000 people working on the Kaiser contract in the United States and in two cities in India instead had to rely on a "workaround" set up by Kaiser Permanente. The insider In June 2014, Philippe Guionnet, a Tata Consultancy manager on the Kaiser Permanente account, told Epic of his suspicion of illegal activity and fraud involving access to Epic's portal by Tata Consultancy employees to benefit their company's electronic health records system. Guionnet, who was later put on leave by the company, previously had sought a promotion and increased responsibilities. In one order and opinion, Conley described him as a disgruntled employee. Guionnet's email to Epic led to the company's discovering that an account associated with Ramesh Gajaram, a Tata Consultancy employee who worked on the Kaiser Permanente account, had downloaded thousands of documents from the UserWeb portal. Epic later determined that his credentials were used by at least a dozen Tata Consultancy employees in the United States and India. The downloaded files included information on training, setup, support and operation, and details on the features and configuration of Epic's software. Epic also offered evidence that someone using Gajaram's credentials downloaded documents relating to Epic's laboratory module, "Beaker," in September 2012 from India and that these documents could not have been used for Tata Consultancy's work for Kaiser Permanente, which doesn't use that particular Epic product. The documents were downloaded at a time when Tata Consultancy was working on developing a laboratory information and management system for DaVita. Conley issued a worldwide injunction against Tata Consultancy making use of the information that the jury determined was stolen. That could be hard to enforce. But Tata Consultancy already has paid a price: Kaiser Permanente fired the company after the lawsuit was filed. It also is unlikely to win contracts with other health systems that use Epic's system. And though the appeals could take years, if nothing else, Epic has made clear to other contractors that it will move swiftly and forcibly when it believes the ideas that went into designing its software have been stolen. Tony Grandson holds his spot in line as he waits for Ikea to open its first Miami-Dade store to customers in Sweetwater, Fla., in 2014. Ikea has selected roughly 30 acres west of I-94 and north of W. Drexel Ave., according to a source. Credit: Associated Press By of the Ikea is planning its first Wisconsin store for a large site along I-94 in Oak Creek. The Swedish furniture and home goods chain, which has been considering the Milwaukee area for nearly a decade, has selected roughly 30 acres west of I-94 and north of W. Drexel Ave., according to a source. That source, who characterized it as "a done deal," said the announcement is scheduled for Thursday. A major announcement is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at City Hall, according to Gary Billington, a former Oak Creek Community Development Authority board member. Billington was invited to the announcement, but said he has no idea what it involves. He did say there have been rumors about Ikea and other large retail chains that might be interested in the Drexel Ave. site. Mayor Steve Scaffidi could not be reached Monday for comment. Ikea spokesman Joseph Roth said plans for a possible Milwaukee-area store haven't received internal approval. The future Ikea store is part of a larger site, with more than 100 acres, that has long been owned by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. Inc. Northwestern Mutual in January said it was considering a possible mixed-use development at the Oak Creek site, revising a plan the company first discussed around five years ago. The company operates its Franklin campus north of W. Drexel Ave. and west of S. 27th St., west of the future Ikea store. A Northwestern Mutual spokeswoman declined to comment on whether Ikea will be part of the Oak Creek project. "Because our suburban campus straddles the borders of Franklin and Oak Creek, we support economic development in both locations. We will continue to work with the local communities to identify the best use of the property we own," said Betsy Hoylman, corporate communications director, in a statement. The Ikea location will take advantage of its position near the I-94/Drexel Ave. interchange, which opened in 2012. The city paid for half the costs of that interchange, which helped encourage the development of Drexel Town Square, a $162 million project that includes apartments, stores, restaurants, a hotel, a health care facility and a new City Hall and Oak Creek Public Library. Drexel Town Square is being built on 85 acres south of W. Drexel Ave. and west of S. Howell Ave. Ikea has been considering the Milwaukee area since 2007, including a Wauwatosa site west of Highway 45/I-41 and north of W. Watertown Plank Road. The retail chain operates stores throughout the world, including the Chicago area. Ikea stores often range upward of 300,000 square feet, and include such features as a supervised play area for children and in-house restaurant. An Ikea store in Oak Creek would draw more interest from developers to the S. 27th St. commercial corridor that is the border between that city and Franklin, according to Franklin Mayor Steve Olson. Facebook: facebook.com/JSBusiness Twitter: twitter.com/TomDaykin By of the Nine proposed Milwaukee apartment developments, including five on the city's north side and two downtown locations, are receiving federal tax credits to help finance their construction. Those Milwaukee proposals, which total 470 apartments, are among 28 projects statewide, totaling 1,307 apartments, that are receiving the credits through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. The authority distributes the tax credits through an annual competition. Developers sell the credits to raise equity cash to help finance apartment buildings. In turn, the developers provide apartments at below-market rents to people earning no more than 60% of the local median income. Monday's 2016 allocation announcement by Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and the authority included an unusually large number of Milwaukee developments. Five of those local developments will be on the city's north side. They are: Chicago-based VeriGreen Development LLC's 64-unit development at the former Blommer Ice Cream Co., 1500-1504 W. North Ave., and a parking lot west of that building. A duplex between the two properties would be razed. The three-story building, built in 1910 and now used for storage, would be converted into apartments, with a new three-story building and townhomes constructed on the empty lot. VeriGreen is partnering with Milwaukee-based Legacy Midwest Renewal Corp. on the proposal. Oregon, Wis.-based Gorman & Co.'s Washington Park Townhomes, to build 40 two-story townhouse-style apartments on the former Esser Paint factory site, south of W. Galena St. and east of N. 32nd St. Gorman also would develop a community center for Washington Park Partners, a neighborhood improvement group. Gorman's redevelopment of the former Fifth Street School, 2770 N. 5th St., into a 48-unit apartment building for seniors. Gorman initially planned to create apartments for families with children. But that would have competed with two similar nearby proposed developments, including The Griot. Maures Development Group LLC's The Griot, a four-story, 41-unit building to be constructed just north of the former Garfield Avenue Elementary School, 2215 N. 4th St. Milwaukee-based Maures also has plans to convert the former school into space for cultural and arts activities, along with roughly 35 apartments, in a future phase of The Griot, a word that references the West African storytelling tradition. The 51-unit CityPlace, which Institutional Housing Inc. and Vangard Group, both of Milwaukee, plan to build between W. Vine, W. Walnut, N. 5th and N. 6th streets. It would feature a four-story building, and townhomes. The other Milwaukee developments are in downtown, Walker's Point and northwest side. They are: Oshkosh-based Keystone Development LLC's creation of 50 apartments on four upper floors of the eight-story Century Building, 808 N. Old World Third St. The 110,000-square-foot building has offices on its upper floors and street-level retail. Keystone would keep the retail and some office space, while adding apartments to the building. Chicago-based Heartland Housing Inc.'s conversion of a former community corrections facility, 1004 N. 10th St., into the 60-unit St. Anthony's Apartments. The five-story building would provide supportive housing. Milwaukee-based Rule Enterprises LLC's four-story, 56-unit 704 Place Apartments, 704 W. National Ave. That site now has an older industrial building, owned by El Rey Enterprises LLP, which would be demolished to make way for 704 Place. The city Housing Authority's Victory Manor, a 60-unit development that is part of the Westlawn housing project's redevelopment, bordered by W. Silver Spring Drive, Lincoln Creek, N. 60th St. and N. 68th St. The Housing Authority's application for tax credits to help finance another 30 units was placed on hold. Facebook: facebook.com/JSBusiness Twitter: twitter.com/TomDaykin Development database To track this project and others, check out the Land & Space Development Database, at jsonline.com/business SHARE By of the An 18-year-old Milwaukee man was wounded Monday morning in a shooting on Milwaukee's north side. The shooting happened around 10:15 a.m. in the 3200 block of N. 25th St., Milwaukee police said in a news release. The circumstances weren't immediately clear, but the victim is expected to survive. Police are seeking suspects. Columbia County Sheriff Dennis Richards speaks during a news conference at the Wisconsin State Patrol's DeForest Post. Credit: M.P. King / Wisconsin State Journal SHARE Investigators respond to the scene of a fatal shooting Sunday in the 2300 block of S. 92nd St. in West Allis. The suspect was later shot and arrested by authorities on I-94 in Dane County. Rick Romell Police vehicles on the scene of a shooting that shut down a stretch of Interstate 39-90-94 in both directions for several hours Sunday. Columbia County Sheriffs deputies shot an armed man who was linked to an earlier homicide in West Allis on the highway near DeForest. Jeff Glaze / Wisconsin State Journal By of the An Illinois family heading home after spending the weekend visiting Wisconsin Dells was caught up in the string of shootings Sunday that ended when a 20-year-old West Allis man accused of killing his neighbor was shot by deputies in Dane County. The West Allis man was wanted in the fatal shooting of his downstairs neighbor, 42-year-old Gabriel Sanchez, Sunday morning, according to the Dane County Sheriff's Office. Somehow the West Allis man ended up on Interstate90/94 near Wisconsin Dells, shot a woman in what authorities believe was a random act, and then continued for several miles speeding on the highway until he was shot by deputies. A 43-year-old Illinois man, his 44-year-old wife and their two minor children were traveling home when they passed the 1998 Chevy S10 Blazer driven by the 20-year-old West Allis man. As they passed, the West Allis man rolled down his window and fired three shots into the family's vehicle, officials said. The first round lodged in the passenger side door, the second shot struck the neck of the wife as her horrified family watched. The third round struck the vehicle's hood. "All of our thoughts and prayers are with this family who are traveling back to their home state after enjoying our beautiful surroundings here in Wisconsin," Dane County Sheriff David J. Mahoney said. "As this victim struggles and that family struggles, our thoughts and prayers are with them." The woman was first taken to a hospital in Baraboo before being transferred to the University of Wisconsin Hospital, where she was in critical condition Monday. Authorities declined to release the family's names or hometown. The chain of events began shortly before 7 a.m. Sunday when someone called 911 to report a man had forced his way into two apartments in the 2300 block of S. 92nd St. in West Allis. When police arrived, they found Sanchez suffering a gunshot wound. His front door had been kicked in. West Allis firefighters tried unsuccessfully to save his life. West Allis police sent out information about the homicide to law enforcement agencies throughout the state. Epikos Church in Milwaukee canceled its 5:30 p.m. service because authorities said the 20-year-old West Allis man had made threats against a church member. Epikos Church officials did not respond to inquiries Monday. While West Allis police were searching for the suspect and sending out alerts to other law enforcement agencies in the state, the suspect fired at the Illinois family. At some point he also fired at a Nissan sedan that was struck by at least one round, but the Florida woman driving the car was not hit. At 2:58 p.m. Columbia County sheriff's emergency dispatchers received a call about two vehicles traveling very fast eastbound on I-90/94 and shortly after learned from Sauk County dispatchers of the drive-by shooting near mile marker 95. A witness who saw the shooting began following the Chevy Blazer, and at 3:03 p.m., Columbia County dispatchers were given the vehicle description and license plate number, Columbia County Sheriff Dennis Richards said. Troopers from the Wisconsin State Patrol, a state Department of Natural Resources warden, a Lodi police officer and deputies from the Columbia County and Dane County sheriff's offices responded to try to intercept the SUV. By 3:10 p.m. a Columbia County deputy and DNR warden had spotted the Chevy Blazer and began following it. They were joined two minutes later by another Columbia County deputy. Meanwhile, Dane County deputies quickly moved eastbound traffic to the side as they deployed stop strips. At 3:20 p.m. the Chevy Blazer ran over the strips as it crossed into Dane County and slowed to a halt, air escaping from its tires. Deputies shoot suspect At 3:22 p.m. the 20-year-old West Allis man got out of his vehicle and began walking toward authorities holding a firearm. They yelled at him to drop the gun but the man refused. One minute later dispatchers were notified that the suspect was down shot in the shoulder by two Columbia County deputies who are now on paid leave, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting. When asked if the public was in danger, Mahoney said, "any time you have an individual shooting at vehicles traveling on a highway at highway speeds, 70 mph, there's always that potential of great danger. That's why we're all taking this investigation very seriously." The man, whose identity has not been released, was taken by helicopter to UW Hospital. He was still being treated at the hospital Monday afternoon. Authorities declined to reveal his condition other than to say he's in custody and being cared for. Two male passengers inside the SUV, ages 30 and 34, believed to be the suspect's brothers, were arrested and taken to the Dane County jail. One was booked on a tentative charge of being a felon in possession of a gun, while the other faces a tentative charge of expelling bodily fluids on a law enforcement officer. Authorities are seeking witnesses who may have seen the Chevy Blazer driving erratically on I-90/94 Sunday afternoon. Traffic was backed up for miles on the busy stretch of interstate north of Madison. The chase took about 12 minutes and lasted less than 15 miles, Mahoney said. "Traffic was fairly heavy. It was a Sunday," Mahoney said. "Many, many people were traveling back south after vacationing in the Dells." West Allis police on Monday declined to release information about a possible motive in the fatal shooting and what relationship, if any, the suspect had with Sanchez before the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation. Shooting shocks neighbor Dianne Buchenauer has lived next door to the apartment where Sanchez was slain for 13 years. She knew the 20-year-old suspect and his 30-year-old brother, who moved in around three years ago. Buchenauer, who uses a cane, remembered the suspect and his brother as nice young men who occasionally helped her. "I've never had a problem with them. It was always 'Hello, neighbor.' They often shoveled the snow or helped carry in my groceries," said Buchenauer, who works third shift and returned home about 7:30 a.m. Sunday to see barricades barring traffic leading to her apartment. Buchenauer talked to a neighbor who lived upstairs from Sanchez and across the hall from the suspect. Sanchez moved in to the ground floor apartment of the four-unit building a short time ago. "She said she heard shouting, then a crash, and (someone shouting) 'Open the door,' and then gunshots," Buchenauer said. Buchenauer did not know of any problems between the two brothers and Sanchez or what could have motivated the 20-year-old to kill Sanchez. She said the 20-year-old suspect moved in with his brother while he was still a teenager and they had worked jobs in waste management. She said the older brother was in a traffic accident and lost his job because he no longer had a car. "I have to say right now I don't feel afraid of them. I'm just shocked by the whole thing," Buchenauer said. SHARE By of the A 27-year-old man wanted in the fatal shooting of a teenager last month was arrested after Milwaukee police officers noticed something unusual about a vehicle. Fifth District officers were on duty in the 2200 block of W. Capitol Drive shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday when they saw a small SUV with an out-of-state license plate that did not list to the vehicle, according to a news release. The officers stopped the vehicle and the driver was identified as a 27-year-old man who is a suspect in the homicide of 17-year-old Kemone J. Love, police said. The man, whose name has not been released, was arrested and officers confiscated more than three grams of cocaine and several cellphones from the vehicle, according to the release. The passenger in the car, a 19-year-old man, was arrested on several municipal warrants and in connection with possessing a narcotic drug, police said. The case will be referred to prosecutors for possible charges, police said. Love was shot about 3 p.m. April 11 and was driven away from the shooting scene before being found dead at N. 19th St. and W. Capitol Drive, according to police. The shooting occurred in the area of N. Green Bay Ave. and W. Capitol Drive. In the week after his slaying, his family and Common Council members Milele Coggs and Ashanti Hamilton urged those with information to come forward. The council members said the teen was "yet another victim of the kind of tragedy that has become all too common." Grief-stricken relatives told WITI-TV that Love was in the "wrong place at the wrong time" and had recently left Lincoln Hills School for Boys in connection with a weapons charge. Members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Faculty Senate listen to a debate on a no-confidence vote Monday. Credit: JOHN HART / Wisconsin State Journal By of the Madison Faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison overwhelmingly voted Monday to protest UW System President Ray Cross and the Board of Regents, saying they had no confidence in their support for the system's guiding principle. The UW-Milwaukee faculty is expected to discuss a similar resolution next week, and professors at campuses across the state are also looking at expressing their dissatisfaction with recent budget cuts and new tenure policies. Monday's voice vote was taken by UW-Madison's Faculty Senate, which consists of 220 senators representing more than 2,200 faculty members. Supporters of the measure argued UW System leaders should have fought GOP Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers harder to mitigate $250 million in cuts over two years. They also opposed a budget provision that weakened some of the strongest job protections in the country. Sociology professor Chad Alan Goldberg wrote the no-confidence resolution for UW-Madison, which stated the actions of Cross and the regents "give the UW-Madison Faculty Senate no confidence in their commitment to defending the Wisconsin Idea, extending the benefits of the university to every citizen in the state." The measure urged Cross and the regents to work toward making college more affordable and embracing shared governance, in which faculty and staff participate in planning and decision making. In a statement, Cross said he respected the right of faculty to speak up but disagreed with their resolution. He said he takes seriously his duty to work with faculty, lawmakers and other stakeholders. "This state and its people are counting on us, working together, to help improve and expand quality of life and economic prosperity," his statement said. Regina Millner, president of the Board of Regents, in a statement called the resolution an overreaction to a new tenure policy that she said is fair, more accountable and in keeping with the ones other major university systems have. Even before the vote, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank warned a no-confidence vote could lead to a backlash from state lawmakers, noting discussions are about to begin for the next two-year budget cycle. Blank presided over Monday's debate but did not weigh in on the issue during the meeting. Goldberg rejected the idea that the vote would hurt the faculty's relationship with UW officials, saying that relationship is already damaged. "Colleagues, if fear of political reprisal...prevents us from speaking our minds, then our academic freedom is already lost," he said in arguing for the resolution. Republican lawmakers removed tenure from state law last year and gave chancellors more flexibility to lay off staff. A policy adopted by the regents in March would allow layoffs if an academic program were discontinued. Previously, faculty could be dismissed only in a campuswide financial emergency or for just cause. Some faculty pushed for removing the phrase "no confidence" from the resolution, in part because of concerns of how UW officials, lawmakers and the general public would react. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) called the vote counterproductive. "The Legislature's goal is to continue to keep UW-Madison as a premier higher education institution while responding to the requests of our constituencies who cannot afford ever-increasing tuition costs," Steineke said in a statement. Milwaukee Ald. Nik Kovac, who had been chairman of the councils powerful finance committee, acknowledges that backing several of his colleagues opponents in the April 5 election may have cost him politically. Credit: Rick Wood SHARE By of the Rumors have been flying since this spring's election that several members of Milwaukee's Common Council were aiming to punish Ald. Nik Kovac for backing challengers against other aldermen. Those rumors only intensified after Ald. Michael Murphy, widely viewed as a close ally of Kovac, was ousted as council president. And when Murphy's successor, Ald. Ashanti Hamilton, released committee assignments last week, Kovac's name was notably missing from the list of committee chairs. Kovac, who had been chairman of the council's powerful finance committee, acknowledges that backing several of his colleagues' opponents in the April 5 election may have cost him politically. "I've heard that rumor. I don't know if that rumor is true, but a lot of people are speculating that it might be true," Kovac said in an interview. "Clearly, if the rumor is true, I put my principles ahead of my own political gain, and I certainly put my principles ahead of protecting incumbents for the sake of it. And I'll do it again." But Kovac says that while he'll miss serving as finance chair, he doesn't think he did anything wrong supporting the candidates who took on Aldermen Bob Donovan, Tony Zielinski and Mark Borkowski. Kovac, who has represented the east side, Riverwest and north downtown since 2008, specifically criticized Donovan's comments about African-Americans in the wake of a 2011 incident near State Fair Park. In a news release shortly after the incident, Donovan linked the violence to "a deteriorating African-American culture in our city," comments Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also slammed during this year's mayoral race between him and the longtime south side alderman. Barrett defeated Donovan by a wide margin in that race, but Donovan held onto his council seat after defeating his challenger by 161 votes. "Blaming the culture of nearly half of our city I think is unacceptable and out of bounds," Kovac said. "I thought so when he first said it, still think so today. It's not consistent with my principles to support someone who says things like that." Kovac also criticized Borkowski's comments about the conduct of police officers leading to a $5 million settlement with 74 African-American residents who say they were subjected to illegal strip searches and body cavity searches. When the Milwaukee Common Council voted in January to approve the settlement, Borkowski raised concerns about the "wimpification of police" and railed against the plaintiffs and their attorneys, calling them "ambulance chasers." "Alderman Borkowski has defended the police officers who committed felonious assaults, committed crimes, raped people in their custody," Kovac said. "And cost the city $5 million. And he defended them." Kovac also raised concerns about Zielinski's record, saying the alderman has opposed affordable housing projects in Bay View. And he criticized the three aldermen, as well as former Ald. Joe Davis, for repeating "proven false" statements that the Milwaukee streetcar project would take money from police and public schools. "I believe very strongly in the principles of racial justice, I believe very strongly in investments in public transportation, and I believe very strongly in honest budgeting. And all three of them violated all three of those principles," Kovac said. "And so I supported their opponents because I was staying true to my principles, and the principles of most of the people in this city." But Zielinski said Kovac is a "bully" who has been targeting people opposed to the streetcar project. "He did not have any problems with me until I told him I would not support the streetcar," Zielinski. "When I told him I wasn't supporting the streetcar, he blew up and he said he's going 'to make it hurt.' And that's when our relationship took a downward turn." Zielinski accused Kovac of disruptive behavior. "What he's trying to do is bully people on the council to do what he wants, and he wants to help get people elected that he can control," Zielinski said. "He's been attempting to bully people and it backfired on him. He's been a very disruptive force on the council." For his part, Kovac still said he trusts that Hamilton will be a good leader. "Personally, yeah, of course I'm disappointed," Kovac said when asked about the committee assignments. "But, you know, I voted for Ashanti. It was 15-0 vote, and I've known Ashanti for a long time. He's an effective colleague. He's a good friend. And when you vote for somebody for president, implicit in that vote is a trust that they'll make the decisions that they think are in the best interests of the city. So I'm sure he did that with his committee assignments." Kovac also praised Ald. Milele Coggs, who will replace him as chair of the finance committee. Hamilton didn't directly address the rumors floating around the council. "We have people on the council who have strong opinions across the board. And we have members of the council who have a wealth of legislative experience," Hamilton said. "This is an opportunity for people who didn't get tasked with chairing a committee to show their leadership in a different way." Kovac will not serve as chairman or even vice chairman of any of the Common Council's committees for this term, but will serve on both public works and zoning, neighborhoods and development committees. Murphy and Donovan declined to comment. Borkowski could not be reached for comment. Ed Schultz, formerly of MSNBC, now works for a network connected to the Russian propaganda machine. Credit: Journal Sentinel files SHARE By Like most people, I never paid much attention to Ed Schultz. A loud, bullying, meaty man in the even meatier middle of the distribution when it comes to smarts, Schultz was your classic "lunch pail populist" as host of MSNBC's "The Ed Show." During his six-year run on the network, I don't think anyone ever asked, "Did you hear what Ed Schultz said?" save when he uttered something ridiculous enough to make smart or decent liberals wince. Still, I always thought he meant what he was saying. Sure, he exaggerated and was prone to hyperbole. But that was his shtick. It's clear now I thought too highly of him. Politico Magazine's Michael Crowley has a fascinating story about how Vladimir Putin supports Donald Trump. This isn't all that shocking for anybody who's been attacked by the Twitter division of Putin's Ministry of Propaganda. But there's more significant evidence, including the much reported "bromance" between Putin and Trump and the fact that one of Trump's top consigliere, Paul Manafort, was previously a one-man brain trust for Viktor Yanukovych, the Putin stooge and kelptocrat who until recently ran Ukraine. Crowley begins and ends his piece with a close study of none other than Schultz. You see, when Schultz lost his show at MSNBC, he cast about for a new broadcast job. He found it on Russia Today's American channel RT America, the newsy facade of Russia's global propaganda machine. At MSNBC, there was no praise of Hillary Clinton too effusive and no slander of Republicans that was too extreme. Schultz often spent his days spewing out such statements as, "This is what the Republican Party stands for, though: racism. I think Donald Trump is a racist." In 2011, when Trump was reportedly thinking of running for president (again), Schultz wrote in The Huffington Post, "When it comes down to the devil in the detail of dealing with the issues and making real change, Trump, you don't have it. You've never had it. Money is not a measure of a man's character or success in the arena of public service." Now I happen to agree with that second bit. The interesting thing is, Schultz doesn't anymore. The man who once mocked Putin, now cashes his checks, as a pundit on his network, lending aid and comfort to the Kremlin's pro-Trump PR campaign. Schultz recently told Larry King, his RT colleague, that Trump was like Ronald Reagan (he meant it in a good way). Trump, Schultz explained, "certainly has shaken up the Republican establishment, and I think he's done it by talking about things that people care about." Schultz now says Trump is a great and decisive decision-maker. So what explains the transformation? I don't like speculating about peoples' motives in part because 99% of the time, I find those who try to guess mine are wrong (Former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke recently attacked me on Twitter for being a Zionist stooge for opposing Donald Trump). Still, one possibility is that Schultz is simply sincere. A more obvious explanation is that he's doing it for the paycheck. Both of those things are possible. But there's a third possibility: Some people need to be on TV or some other public arena. As with Trump himself, the money comes second to celebrity. Russia Today was likely the only broadcaster offering to keep Schultz on TV and that offer perhaps came with strings attached. I don't know Schultz personally, so maybe none or all of these explanations apply. But I do know that some people get addicted to being recognized at airports and speaking into a TV or microphone. I've seen it for more than 20 years. Heck, poor Larry King is a bit like Richard Gere in "An Officer and a Gentleman": he's got nowhere else to go. But King is different from Schultz and other pundits on the left and the right. King's job is to ask questions, not opine on what is right and wrong, politically, analytically or even morally. That's the life Schultz chose for himself, and in the era of Trump, it is interesting and dismaying, to see who thinks the limelight by which I mean ratings, popularity, celebrity and relevance is more important than long-held principles, or basic truth-telling. Schultz's case is interesting because of the Russia connection. Sadly, if I'm right about his motives, Schultz's case is not unique. Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior editor of National Review. Email goldbergcolumn@gmail.com Twitter: @JonahNRO SHARE Remembering Manesis The recent passage of Dale Manesis has closed another chapter in the long history of Milwaukee area nostalgia merchants ("News buff was eager to share clippings," April 8). Before the dawn of computers, eBay and dreaded price guides, Manesis was the godfather to all lovers of nostalgic collectibles who flocked to his Gold Old Days shop not only to dive through piles of Timely Comics, Weird Tales pulp, stacks of vintage movie posters, rows of slot machines and tons of vintage newspapers, but also to just talk, hang out and, every once in a while, share a nip or two with the always talkative owner. Manesis' love of all things nostalgia soon spawned a new group of young collectors who quickly picked up his passion for all things past and soon Ronnie Gillian, Jeff Parker, Artie Rickun, Kenny Schmitz, Mr. Mike and others dotted Milwaukee with The Turning Page, Polaris Comics, Collector's Edge, Noah's Ark and other way cool nostalgia and comic book stores. Manesis was one of my idols, and I also followed in his footsteps, spending 20 years plus in the nostalgia business trying as hard as I could to capture that magic that was the Good Old Days. But there was and will only be one Dale Manesis he was truly one of a kind and just a great, great guy. Thanks for those Good Old Days, Dale, and for all those fabulous memories! Marc Belich West Allis Catch and release for muskies Journal Sentinel outdoor editor Paul Smith's column offered an excellent insight into the shortage of muskies in Wisconsin ("Club makes large musky deposit," April 28). I have a suggestion. Let's turn Okauchee Lake into a mandatory 100% "catch and release" lake for muskies, not allowing trolling with live suckers, and also requiring debarbing of treble hooks. Look at the catch-and-release program for bass on Chequamegon Bay in Ashland. Fishermen now travel all the way from Texas to catch and release the now plentiful four- to five-pound bass. Can't we learn that the shortage of Wisconsin's walleyes and muskies has driven many to skip fishing in Wisconsin and head to Canada, especially to the catch-and-release lakes? William J. Carney Wauwatosa Bizarro wasn't funny I usually find the Bizarro comic funny. On April 28, however, it was extremely offensive to suggest that animals from a shelter be used for restaurant food. With all the cruelty that some animals have to go through at the hands of humans, for Dan Piraro to draw this is insensitive and just very uncaring. That the Journal Sentinel did not review this before it was printed was poor oversight. If this was reviewed, then it was very poor judgment to print it. I believe an apology should be printed by the Journal Sentinel and possibly a donation made to the Wisconsin Humane Society. Jeannie Crowley Wauwatosa Pick on Facebook, not mourners I just wanted to share my understanding and yet complete disagreement with Christian Schneider about the tendency toward public grieving ("Sad about Prince? No one cares," Opinions, April 28). People now have more tools than ever to express themselves, and more platforms to do so, and I imagine it might be overwhelming to see all of these displays. Perhaps Schneider needs to rail against Facebook for introducing live video or social media in general instead of at the people who are only marking their loss. That's one choice. Another: unplug a bit. Matthew Frets Franklin Speaker of the House Paul Ryan should worry less about ideas and more about process as the Trump nomination appears to be inevitable. Credit: Getty Images SHARE By From my perspective, the Wisconsin establishment should have supported Donald Trump in the Wisconsin primary. It did not. That is OK, but I still think Trump is the best available candidate, and I still think he is going to be the first ballot nominee. So if that proposition is true, what should the Wisconsin establishment do? How should it move forward to minimize the political damage to itself, advance the state's interests and turn what might taste like a lemon into lemonade? First, something must be done about the fact that Reid Ribble, a retiring congressman from the Green Bay area, is simultaneously the chair of this year's GOP state convention and a leading "never Trump" spokesman. By all accounts, Ribble is a nice man, and it is too bad he crossed the line on this one. But politics is a rough game. It is disrespectful to Trump, the future GOP nominee, as well as millions of Trump voters in this and other states, to have Ribble (a figure from the past) occupy such a prominent place at the state GOP convention which is geared to the future. Furthermore, Ribble would be foolish to end his distinguished career by making a "never Trump" spectacle of himself at the convention. Ribble needs to either muster up the courage to say "I was wrong" and say he will join the Trump train if Trump is the nominee or find someplace else to be during the convention weekend, and then, like an old soldier, "fade away." Second, the slate of delegates the Wisconsin GOP is sending to the national convention contains some Cruz supporters, some Kasich supporters, but no Trump supporters. Of course, since Wisconsin delegates are much more tightly bound than delegates from other states, and there is not going to be a contested convention (Trump will win on the first ballot barring incredibly strange circumstances), it doesn't really matter whether Wisconsin delegates are Cruz, Kasich or Trump supporters except for the political optics generated by the composition of the delegation. Wouldn't it make sense to include a few Trump supporters in the delegation just as a gesture of good will and reconciliation from the establishment in Wisconsin to the future POTUS? Failure to initiate such conciliatory gestures appears (whether intentional or not) spiteful and petty. Trump, as well as the voters, have an eye for detail and this is the sort of thing that might get noticed. Why poke a stick at the future president when you can extend an olive branch? Third, Wisconsin GOP establishment figures need to stop waiting for Trump to reach out to them (he has already done so by saying things like "Walker might make a nice VP pick") and instead say nice, unprompted things about Trump, the presumptive nominee. It might be appropriate for Paul Ryan to focus on the process aspects of his role as House speaker, and spend less time attempting to generate a platform for the nominee to adopt. In our current situation, the nominee will be the ideas man and Ryan will be the process guy who does the heavy lifting necessary to move legislation (like a budget) in the House of Representatives. Division of labor is a wonderful thing and the speaker of the House is a process job. If Ryan stopped worrying about ideas so much (and left that job to Trump, the GOP presidential nominee) he could, perhaps, perform more efficiently and effectively at his current process job. Fourth, while it is of course a free country and Wisconsin's radio talkers can say whatever they like, responsible GOP figures should either 1) persuade the radio talkers to at minimum abandon the "never Trump" rhetoric or 2) distance themselves from radio talkers who are attempting to undermine the party's nominee and prevent the emergence of party unity. If they continue along their current trajectory, their choice should be recognized and denounced by the state GOP . There is no doubt that the rise of Trump has obliterated many plans. But Trump is probably going to win and, from my perspective (and the perspective of most GOP primary voters nationwide, if not in this state), he should win. He is the best available candidate. It will be better for the establishment GOP figures in this state, as well as the interests of the party and state as a whole, if all Republicans make peace among ourselves sooner rather than later. Together, we will make America great again. Van Mobley is president of the village of Thiensville. His blog, "The Wealth of Nations" is at jsonline.com Members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War stand at attention Sunday in Brookfield's Pioneer Cemetery, at the stone memorializing Joseph and Andrew Wright and their mother, Margarett. Credit: Rick Romell SHARE By of the Brookfield Tribute was paid Sunday at a chest-high stone that stands as testimony to service to the nation, the suffering of war and a mother's grief. At the edge of Pioneer Cemetery, just past a row of tall evergreens and separated from North Ave. traffic by a split-rail fence, the stone bears the name WRIGHT. That's for Joseph H. Wright; his brother, Andrew; and their mother, Margarett. So tightly are their deaths linked that it is appropriate they be marked by a single memorial. Residents of Waukesha County, Joseph and Andrew enlisted in the Union Army in 1861, joining the 7th Independent Battery, a light-artillery unit organized at Racine. For more than two years, the battery saw relatively little fighting. It served in the fortifications at New Madrid, Mo., and guarded railroad lines in Tennessee. But in June 1864, the 7th Independent was part of a Union force that was defeated by Confederate cavalry wizard and former slave trader Nathan Bedford Forrest in the Battle of Brice's Crossroads in northeastern Mississippi. With all their horses shot and half of their soldiers dead or wounded, the battery surrendered. The survivors, including the Wright brothers, were sent to Andersonville, the notorious Confederate military prison in Georgia. The place was a nightmare of hunger, sickness and filth. By August, 33,000 men were penned in a stockade meant for 10,000. Almost 13,000 died there. "Both boys starved and contracted disease," H. Craig Wheeler said Sunday as he and other members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War gathered at Pioneer Cemetery to honor the Wrights. "Andrew succumbed to it," Wheeler told the group. "He was buried in the camp cemetery with only a small wooden marker for his resting place." The marker disintegrated and all sign of Andrew's remains was lost, Wheeler said. Joseph made it out of Andersonville when he was so ill and starved that he clearly could no longer fight and the Confederacy allowed Margarett to get him and take him home to Wisconsin. There, she tended to her son until Jan. 17, 1865, when he died. Three weeks later, Margarett was dead too. She had "watched day & night by the bedside of her starved & dying son," the now-faded inscription on her tombstone says. But with him finally gone, it says, "she sank down from fatigue & grief & died." She isn't counted among the more than 600,000 who died fighting in the war that kept America together as one nation, but perhaps, as a mother "who nobly gave her sons to her Country's cause," as the stone says, she should be. The Sons of Union Veterans is the successor organization to the Grand Army of the Republic, founded in 1866 to support veterans of the Union forces. Besides honoring the Wrights, and five other Civil War veterans buried in Pioneer Cemetery, Sunday's ceremony commemorated the Grand Army's 150th anniversary. Leaning against the Wright family stone was a soldier's worn knapsack and a Lorenz rifle fixed with a long, shining bayonet. Two small flags were planted in front of the stone, and wreaths were placed at its sides. Seven members of the Sons, dressed in Union blues, fired three volleys in salute. A bugler played taps. Then the group of a few dozen melted away. Left at the cemetery was what Wheeler called "only a mute stone" commemorating the Wrights. But he said, it also stands as a reminder. It is, he said, a memorial "to their sacrifice, and to the society that we all here now today inhabit." SHARE By of the A Wisconsin National Guard unit is preparing to deploy to Cuba this spring. Around 120 soldiers of the 32nd Military Police Co. are deploying to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for detention operations as part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo. The Milwaukee-based unit began preparing for the mission in 2014, and about 60% of the company will go to Cuba. The unit of around 200 soldiers is part of the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. The 32nd Military Police Co. previously deployed to Iraq twice, in 2003-'04 and 2009-'10, to Kosovo in 2011-'12 and also to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In January, 65 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers left the state for Iraq as part of the 101st Airborne Division Multi-Component Unit. And the Wisconsin Air National Guard 128th Air Refueling Wing recently completed a series of air refueling operations in the Middle East. A motorist retrieved this big box of blood from the middle of a Madison street on Sunday. Credit: Madison police SHARE By of the The incident Sunday afternoon on Zeier Road in Madison could have gotten bloody fast. Instead, thanks to a quick-thinking motorist, a misplaced box of donated human blood was retrieved from the middle of the street and eventually returned to the American Red Cross. "The good news is it was not struck by a car or truck, and was undamaged: good to go," Madison police said in their online incident report. The driver, a 68-year-old Stoughton man, spotted the large box in the street near the East Towne Mall around 2:30 p.m. Sunday. He stopped and got out to inspect it and found the words "HUMAN BLOOD" on the box. The man put the box in his trunk and quickly flagged down an officer, yelling that he had just found a "big box of blood, human blood," the incident report said. On closer inspection they saw the box belonged to the Red Cross, which asked that it be brought to its Sheboygan Ave. location. How did the box end up in the street? A lab technician told police that a volunteer who was transporting six boxes from a satellite location likely left one of the boxes on a car, and it ended up in the street. But ultimately, no harm done. Police notified the driver that "his potentially life-saving find had arrived 'safely' at the Red Cross." By of the Welcome a new week. Welcome a new month. Latino Arts in the United Community Center, 1028 S. Ninth St., presents Tropicalisimo by photographer John Sevigny. The photographs capture conditions that cause things and people to fall apartheat, humidity, and impoverishmentand asks whats to come in places that seem to be about to collapse. What won't they put in beer? The Brass Tap, 7808 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield, offers up two tastes of summer with a Ballast Point tasting of Pineapple Sculpin India Pale Ale and Watermelon Dorado, a double IPA with watermelon. Tastings start at 5 p.m., according to the event page on Facebook. Attorney Steve Kohn and Thomas M. Justice appear in Waukesha County Circuit Court. Credit: Rick Wood By of the Waukesha West Bend's recently resigned city administrator asked a court commissioner Monday if he could use the internet to look for a new job. Thomas M. "T.J." Justice, 49, was charged last month with two felonies after investigators say he solicited a 16-year-old girl for sex, offering as much as $500, during a yearlong series of text messages. He appeared in court Monday with attorney Steve Kohn of Milwaukee, who said that because the prosecutor assigned to the case has been out of town, Kohn had been unable to discuss matters in the case. The court set another status hearing for May 20. Kohn indicated to the court that a preliminary hearing may not be an issue, which suggests he hopes to work out a plea deal. Justice did not speak during the hearing or to reporters afterward. Justice has been free on bail. One condition is that he have no contact with minor females. Kohn asked for clarification that the order did not include teens he might encounter working at a store's cash register or service counter. Such incidental contact, Court Commissioner Thomas Pieper said, would not be considered a violation. A second condition of Justice's bail was that he use the internet only as required as part of his job as West Bend administrator. But since he resigned from the position last week, he now needs to use the internet on his own to search for new employment, Kohn said. Assistant District Attorney Lesli Boese objected to any unmonitored use of the internet, but the court allowed it for the limited use requested, and for any employment-related work if Justice secures a new job that would require him to use the internet, but only while at work. According to the criminal complaint, the mother of Justice's victim found messages on her daughter's phone and contacted police, who then posed as the girl on her phone and continued an often salacious text dialogue with Justice, who seemed bent on having sex with the girl even after he learned she was only 16. Police arrested Justice April 21 in Muskego near a Dairy Queen where an officer, posing as the girl, suggested they finally meet. Police found a prescription bottle of Viagra in Justice's car, according to the criminal complaint. A week later, Justice resigned from his position in West Bend, effective May 13. He is on paid administrative leave until then. Justice posted his $5,000 bail and signed a $20,000 bond on April 25. Police later served a search warrant at his home in West Bend, as well as his city office. Reddit Email 0 Shares Christopher R. Hill | Project Syndicate | DENVER US President Barack Obama supposedly cleared the air with Saudi King Salman before the latest meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital. Given how strained the bilateral relationship is a situation long in the making that was probably the best outcome that could reasonably be expected. But it is not enough. Americas relationship with Saudi Arabia is based on a pragmatic give-and-take approach aimed at advancing mutual interests, the most important of which is maintaining relative peace and security in a volatile region that is vital to the global economy. But this approach is fast becoming passe. Indeed, we have entered a new age of ideology, in which the case for pragmatism, rather than shared values, is increasingly difficult to make. Against this background, it should perhaps not be surprising that cracks in the bilateral relationship have begun to show. In a recent interview, Obama described the Saudis (as well as other US allies) as free riders on American foreign policy. That sparked discussion not only about whether it is true (the Saudis purchase huge amounts of military hardware from the US), but also about whether it should have been said out loud. After all, in politics as in life, not everything a person believes needs to be shared publicly. But Obama did not stop there. In the same interview, he declared that Saudi Arabia needs to learn to share the Middle East with its archrival Iran. And he has been openly critical of the Kingdoms treatment of women, arguing that a country cannot function in the modern world when it is repressing half of its population. Overall, however, US officials remain meek in discussing Saudi Arabia. When they acknowledge differences with Saudi Arabia concerning how and where to fight terrorism, they sound like they are describing a disagreement between Roosevelt and Churchill about where precisely the Allies should strike Nazi Germany. In fact, the differences are huge, and many are rooted in the Kingdoms internal attitudes and policies. Consider, for example, Saudi Arabias approach to the Islamic State (ISIS) and, more broadly, to Sunni radicalism throughout the Arab world. It is often alleged that the Saudis export terrorism. They dont. But what they have done is encourage their own radicals a natural byproduct of Wahhabism, Saudi Arabias fundamentalist brand of Islam to commit their terrorist acts elsewhere. As the radicals leave, so does Saudi money, which funds their violent activities. During President George W. Bushs administration, the US worked with the Saudis to track financial flows to radical groups and thus weaken such groups operations throughout the region, including in western Iraq. Their efforts brought some results. In fact, instead of congratulating itself for the supposed success of the US troop surge in Iraq in 2007, perhaps the Bush administration should have been touting the impact of that funding-focused initiative. Unfortunately, the effort to interdict financial flows from Saudi Arabia weakened substantially after 2011, when parts of North Africa and the Middle East became engulfed in the so-called Arab Spring (a moniker that surely will be replaced with something both less cheerful and more accurate). The chaos that ensued fueled the spread of radical Sunnism a trend to which Saudi inattentiveness surely contributed. And Saudi Arabia is unlikely to start paying attention now, when it is facing a perfect storm of problems, beginning with rock-bottom oil prices. Then there is conflict over the royal succession process, with King Salmans effort to consolidate power in the hands of his aggressive and talented but not particularly popular 30-year-old son causing considerable upset within the extended royal family. Iraq poses another problem for the Kingdom, as it sets an example of Shia consolidating political power. That example, the Saudis fear, could sustain political unrest in the Kingdoms Shia-majority Eastern Province, where most of the countrys oil production is based. If Iraqs government deepens ties with Iran, the risk to stability could be heightened further. For Saudi Arabia, these challenges are a higher priority than defeating ISIS, which accounts for the countrys virtual disappearance from the fight. Indeed, while many Saudis (not necessarily the elites) view ISIS as a barbaric movement with the potential eventually to harm their own country, they are willing, for the time being, to allow ISIS to continue its violent campaign. After all, for all the horrors seen in Paris, Brussels, and San Bernardino, the victims of ISIS have been, by and large, Shia. Christopher R. Hill, former US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia, was US Ambassador to Iraq, South Korea, Macedonia, and Poland, a US special envoy for Kosovo, a negotiator of the Dayton Peace Accords, and the chief US negotiator with North Korea from 2005-2009. He is currently Dean of the Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, and the author of Outpost. Via Project Syndicate - Related video added by Juan Cole: CNN from last week: Uncomfortable tensions during Obama Saudi Arabia visit Reddit Email 160 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | The US government has never understood insurgency for the most part. Smart USG officials with whom Ive interacted have had a firm belief that leadership is a rare quality and that you can attrite an organization by killing its leaders. This theory is patently false. It moreover gives false hope to counter-insurgency officials and fools them into thinking simple tactical steps will be effective. When Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, on whom the Pentagon rather ridiculously blamed 80% of the violence in Iraq in 2005, was killed from the air in spring of 2006, many observers thought that al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, his guerrilla group, was doomed. But his successor, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, renamed it the Islamic State of Iraq and decided to experiment with holding territory in Diyala and other provinces under the noses of the US military. Then in 2011 President Obama appears to have had Usama Bin Laden assassinated (there is nothing in the public record to suggest that at any point there was any order to capture him alive). Al-Qaeda was fading at that point. But Ayman al-Zawahiri, the no. 2 man, just took over the operation. Al-Qaeda and its local ally, the Haqqani group, continued to hit the US in Afghanistan, sometimes quite hard, and sought to destabilize Pakistan. The Yemeni affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, remained vigorous. The Iraqi affiliate had run into some roadblocks. When Abu Omar was killed in Iraq 2010, again some thought that the group was over with. But Ibrahim Samarrai took over, called himself Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and took the fight so Syria, renaming the group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or in Arabic Daesh). It went on to conquer most of al-Raqqa and Deir al-Zor provinces in Eastern Syria. In 2013, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi came into an internal conflict with ally Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, and this al-Qaeda branch in Syria split into the Nusra Front (al-Qaeda proper, reporting to Ayman al-Zawahiri), and Daesh. The Nusra Front or al-Qaeda in Syria became the best rebel fighting group against the Baath government of Bashar al-Assad. Since the US backs remnants of the Free Syrian Army (mostly de fact Muslim Brotherhood factions) who have tactical alliances with al-Qaeda on the battlefield, the US became allied with the allies of al-Qaeda, repeating all the mistakes of the Reagan administration in Afghanistan in the 1980s. US weapons given to the rebels often end up in al-Qaedas hands, and the few victories the rebels have had, as in Idlib, were spearheaded by al-Qaeda, so that the US-backed rebels cant be convinced to abandon the alliance of convenience. As for Daesh, in 2014, al-Baghdadis group took over 40% of the land area of Iraq. It could not have done that if the Sunni Arab population of Iraq were not outraged at the sectarian, Shiite fundamentalist government that the Bush administration installed in Baghdad, and which Washington continues to back to the hilt. (Theres nothing wrong with the Shiite majority coming to power at the ballot box; but democracy involves avoiding a tyranny of the majority, which Iraqs Shiite parties have not avoided). In 2015 Saudi Arabia launched a war on Yemen to beat back the victorious Houthi Zaidi militia. It ignored al-Qaeda in the south, which promptly took the major port of Mukala and also several other cities. Only in the past month have Saudi Arabia and its allies bothered to try to deal with AQAP, the most deadly of the al-Qaeda affiliates aside from Daesh). Al-Qaeda has withdrawan from Mukala, but there are rumors that it was allowed simply to walk away (the Saudis claim to have killed 800 in fierce fighting but this allegation cannot be substantiated). Saudi Arabia has virtually ignored Daesh in Iraq and some think it is happy enough to see a champion arise for Iraqi Sunnis that ties down the Shiite government in Baghdad, which the current government in Riyadh despises. So I think we may conclude that the decapitation strategy of dealing with al-Qaeda does not work and has never worked. Moreover, al-Qaeda has meant different things to different people, and its appeal has changed over time. Zawahiri was hoping it would become the reining ideology in Egypt and Saudi Arabi, the heartlands of Islam. Instead, Egyptians have gone in for a nationalism that despises Muslim fundamentalism. And Saudis have largely remained loyal to the royal family, and opinion polling suggests that if they could have a change, it wouldnt be in the direction of even greater puritanism. Instead, al-Qaeda and its affiliates and offshoots have become what Maoism was to peasant revolutionaries of the 1950s and 1960s an ideological franchise you could pick up and beat the Establishment with where the Establishment was intolerably overbearing. Al-Qaeda is modular, in the sense of offering a model and tool kit. Thus, the al-Qaeda-allied Taliban Movement of Pakistan represented the poorer villagers in places like the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Swat Valley, places either neglected or bossed around by the authorities in Islamabad. The Sunnis of Iraqi experimented with the Daesh version of al-Qaeda when they felt oppressed by the Shiite fundamentalist government in Baghdad. Syrian rural and small-town Sunnis experimented with Nusra (al-Qaeda in Syria) and Daesh when they felt oppressed by the one-party Baath socialist state and its high officials (many of them Alawi Shiites). Some of the appeal of AQAP seems to map onto Sunni discontents in south Yemen; there is no al-Qaeda in the north of the country. In Sinai, neglected and discriminated-against rural clans are fighting the Egyptian army. But these disparate, largely rural insurgencies also face extreme challenges. They depend on government being weak. Even a slight assertion of Saudi power against AQAP in Mukalla caused it to be rolled up there almost immediately. Daesh has lost enormous territory to Shiite militias and Kurdish guerrillas where those two stood and fought. The Russian intervention in Syria has pushed back al-Qaeda in Syra/ Nusra on several fronts, virtually wiping it out in Idlib and along the Lebanese border. AQAP and Daesh have attempted to recruit Europeans by pulling off the attacks last year in Paris. But their terrorism focuses on soft targets and has little obvious benefit to them, and has made NATO and Russia de facto allies again, in Syria. The strategy of holding territory and yet engaging in long-distance terrorism against a powerful foe is epically stupid. The only advantage of a terrorist group is that it doesnt have an obvious return address. The current al-Qaeda affiliates all defied Bin Ladens advice not to give the enemy a clear target. So they are all in the process of being rolled up. Al-Qaeda in its various permutations cant be defeated on the battleground. It cant be defeated by decapitating leaders (leadership, contrary to what the Pentagon thinks, isnt that unusual or special). That is, insurgencies are not mindless nihilism that can be wiped out with some drone strikes or aerial bombardment, some assassinations or regime change. They are manifestations of forms of class struggle (though the class may be inflected by sectarian or ethnic identity). Where there is great inequality and injustice, and where the state is weak, there will be spaces for insurgency, and often such uprisings see a benefit in franchising, signing on to the discourse, techniques and prestige of an umbrella rebellion. Obamas killing of Usama wasnt the end of anything precisely because the US has not known how to, or has not always even wanted to, promote social justice in the Middle East. The bizarre and embarrassing commitment of the US government to helping the Israelis keep 4.5 million Palestinians stateless and without rights is an example of this blindness. But so too was Ronald Reagans alliance with Saddam Hussein and the Baath Party against the Shiites of Iraq and Iran (the latter having rebelled against decades of heavy-handed US hegemony and a coup that put a megalomaniacal monarch back in power in Tehran). George W. Bush reversed Reagans policy, siding with Iraqi Shiites against Saddam and the Baath, which only created new inequities and led to the rise of Daesh. The Obama administrations acquiescence in the praetorian brutality of the current Egyptian government (in the Sinai and elsewhere) has also not been helpful. Rather, just as Maoist peasant insurgencies were often best forestalled or foiled by land reform, which turned the peasants into rural middle classes and gave them a stake in the status quo, so rural al-Qaeda insurgencies would be best addressed by fostering social justice policies. Pakistan and Afghanistan never had land reform (pre-modern landholding patterns are typically extremely unequal). FATA in Pakistan needs to receive more investment from the center and should be made a province, with a provincial legislature and prerogatives. In Iraq and Syria the land is not perhaps as important as government services and government investment in communities, which has often been done on a sectarian basis and very unequally. Egyptian policies in the Sinai are so opaque it is even difficult to know exactly what drove so many there into insurgency, but that someone is making a lot of money with Sinai resources and locals are being kept down and excluded is almost certainly part of it. The US does not always have good levers to push reform (though it did militarily occupy Iraq for 8.5 years, so youd think they could have accomplished something). It also has leverage with Pakistan and Egypt. Where it does not, Washington shouldnt fool itself that taking X out is an equally good option, or that targeted assassinations will do more than call forth more resistance to an unbearable and unjust status quo. - Related video: CCTV Africa: Fifth year anniversary of the killing of Osama Bin Laden Ana Kasparian & John Iadarola | (The Young Turks) | Donald Trumps favorability, or lack thereof, continues to plummet among female voters. Even Republican women are turning away from the candidate. Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola, hosts of The Young Turks, break it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below. For the Republican women who have spent the past few years working to broaden the appeal of the Grand Old Party, Donald Trump arrived on the scene like a wrecking ball, tearing down the foundations they had laid over the past few years to try to create a more diverse and open party. With his penchant for bluster and disdain for political correctness, there are few slices of the American electorate the billionaire businessman has yet to offend. But one group in particular poses a real problem for Trump, should he become the nominee, and for the party, should it win the presidency and keep control of Congress in November and that group happens to make up 51% of the population. General election women voters think hes abhorrent, said Katie Packer, the chairwoman of Our Principles Pac, which opposes Trump. They think hes a sexist. They think he doesnt respect women, and doesnt really view women in any real way beyond their physical appearance. If the party leadership embraces Donald Trumpas the general election nominee than I think it will damage our party for a generation. Reddit Email 0 Shares Maan News Agency | BETHLEHEM (Maan) Israels punitive ban on cement imports into the Gaza Strip has prevented hundreds of families from rebuilding their homes devastated by the 2014 war, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a press release Thursday. As a result of the debilitating cement scarcity and price increases, organizations providing assistance have had to suspend cash assistance for house repairs to over 1,370 families, OCHA reported. In addition, payment to 1,550 families scheduled to start reconstruction are being delayed due to the lack of available cement. Construction site in Shujaiyeh, Gaza Strip, March 2016. Photo credit: UNOCHA The current shortage of cement has also suspended jobs for some 40,000 construction workers in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Contractors Union. The Israeli authorities implemented the ban on April 3, following the discovery of a tunnel passing from the Gaza Strip into Israel the first to be found since Israels devastating military offensive on the coastal enclave in 2014 and accused Hamas of diverting construction materials from its intended legitimate beneficiaries. Israeli authorities have previously accused the Gaza Strips de facto ruling party Hamas of stealing reconstruction material to sell on the black market and use to build tunnels. However, according to OCHA, Most of the previously entered shelter repair and reconstruction material has already been sold to beneficiaries. A spokesperson for Israels Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) told Maan last week the entry of construction materials into Gaza would be suspended until the issue is addressed. COGAT did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding new developments towards lifting the crippling ban. Shipments of cement to international organizations has continued despite the private sector ban, with international projects receiving 2,000 tons of cement last week. However, this shipment pales in comparison to the average of 75,000 tons of cement that entered the Gaza Strip every month since October 2015, toward reconstruction of more than 171,000 units that were damaged or destroyed in the war. According to the UN, 75,000 Palestinians remain homeless in the blockaded Gaza Strip nearly two years after Israels last devastating offensive. OAKVILLE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 2, 2016) - Giyani Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:WDG) (the "Company" or "Giyani") was in technical default of the provisions of NI 51-102 requiring the Company to file its Audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 ("Annual Financial Statements") and MD&A by March 30, 2016 resulting from its listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ("JSE"). The Company remedied this default by filing its Annual Financial Statements and MD&A on April 29, 2016. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Gold Corp. Duane Parnham, Executive Chairman Forward Looking Statements This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Giyani believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Giyani's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Giyani undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. May 2, 2016 / TheNewswire / Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia - Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: BGM) ("Barkerville") and Williams Creek Gold Limited ("Williams Creek") (TSXV: WCX) are pleased to announce that the companies have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement dated April 29, 2016 (the "Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Barkerville has agreed to issue an aggregate of 6,800,000 common shares of Barkerville in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Williams Creek held by Williams Creek shareholders (the "Transaction"). Upon completion of the Transaction, Williams Creek will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Barkerville and former shareholders of Williams Creek will hold approximately 2.27% of the shares of Barkerville on an outstanding basis. The Transaction will be implemented by way of plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The Arrangement must be approved by two-thirds of the votes cast by shareholders present and voting at the special meeting of Williams Creek shareholders called to consider the Arrangement. Tom Obradovich, CEO of Barkerville commented "The board of directors of Barkerville believes the proposed transaction will add an important central land package within our dominant land position in the Barkerville camp. This acquisition fits with our strategic focus on finding and mining high-grade gold deposits across British Columbia's highly celebrated and prospective Cariboo gold district." Stephen Leahy, CEO of Williams Creek commented: "This business combination offers Williams Creek shareholders the opportunity to maximize the potential value of their main assets by accessing Barkerville's more extensive technical and financial resources which are needed to explore and advance our project area. This transaction provides our shareholders exposure to Barkerville's much larger land base that includes more advanced stage gold targets with defined resources. In our view, the proposal offers shareholders of the combined company the potential for enhanced value appreciation with exposure to a larger asset base in B.C.'s prolific historic Cariboo gold district." Elaine Ellingham, Chairman of Williams Creek commented: "Our board of directors believes that our shareholder base will benefit from this combination of companies. We are pleased by the premium that shareholders are receiving from Barkerville and the benefits of greater trading liquidity and access to capital. Barkerville's management team has a solid track record of adding value to exploration projects and has the funding capacity and technical team to unlock the project's potential with minimal dilution to its shareholder base." Summary of Proposed Transaction Currently, Barkerville has 293,035,668 common shares outstanding and Williams Creek has 109,057,249 common shares outstanding. The board of directors of each of the companies have approved the Arrangement. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Williams Creek shareholders will receive 0.062353 common shares of Barkerville for each one common share of Williams Creek held, representing a value of approximately $0.0355 per share based on the closing price of Barkerville on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") on April 29, 2016. This represents a 65% premium using the 20-day volume weighted average pricing and represents an aggregate value to Williams Creek shareholders of $3.876 million. Pursuant to the Agreement, Barkerville has agreed to advance Williams Creek an aggregate amount of up to CDN$500,000, available in multiple draws bearing interest at an effective annual rate of 5% per annum (the "Loan") evidenced by a grid promissory note. The Loan will be secured against the assets of Williams Creek. Subject to the approval of the TSXV, Barkerville shall have the right, at its option, at any time following the termination of the Agreement under the terms and conditions thereof, to convert the Loan into common shares of Williams Creek at a conversion price equal to $0.02. The parties further agreed that Williams Creek will not give effect to any conversion, if, after giving effect to such conversion, Barkerville would own or exercise control or direction over greater than 19.9% of the total outstanding common shares of Williams Creek immediately after giving effect to such conversion The Arrangement is subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and all applicable regulatory authorities, including the TSXV and the conditions set out in the Agreement. Barkerville and Williams Creek expect to close the transaction on or about August 5, 2016. The Arrangement includes customary provisions, including fiduciary-out provisions, covenants not to solicit other acquisition proposals and the right to match any superior proposal. Upon completion of the Transaction, Williams Creek's common shares will be de-listed from the TSXV and it is expected that Barkerville will apply to cause Williams Creek to cease being a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws. A copy of the Agreement will be filed on SEDAR and will be available for viewing under the respective profiles of Barkerville and Williams Creek at www.sedar.com. Advisors & Counsel Irwin Lowy LLP is acting as legal counsel to Barkerville. Morton Law LLP is acting as legal counsel to Williams Creek. Primary Capital Inc. has provided a verbal fairness opinion to Williams Creek's Board of Directors that, as of the date thereof and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of Williams Creek. About Barkerville: Barkerville is focused on developing its extensive land package located in the historical Cariboo Mining District of central British Columbia. Barkerville's mineral tenures cover 1,164 square kilometres along a strike length of 60 kilometres which includes several past producing hard rock mines of the historic Barkerville Gold Mining Camp near the town of Wells, British Columbia. The QR Project, located approximately 110 kilometres by highway and all weather road from Wells was acquired by Barkerville in 2010 and boasts a fully permitted 900 tonne/day gold milling and tailings facility. Test mining of the Bonanza Ledge open pit was completed in March of this year with 91,489 tonnes of ore milled producing 25,464 ounces of gold. Barkerville has completed a number of drilling and exploration programs over the past 20 years and is currently compiling this data with all historical information in order to develop geologic models which will assist new management and provide the framework to continue to explore the Cariboo Gold Project. An extensive drill program is currently underway with the goal of delineating additional high grade gold mineralization. For further information on Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd., please contact: Tom Obradovich Chief Executive Officer (416) 361-2511 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For further information on Williams Creek Gold Limited, please contact: Stephen Leahy Chief Executive Officer 604-729-4573 Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has in no way passed upon the merits of the Arrangement and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer of securities in the United States. The securities issuable in the transaction have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless exemptions from such registration requirements are available Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Arrangement, any information released or received with respect to the Arrangement may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Williams Creek or Barkerville should be considered highly speculative. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The information in this news release has been prepared as at May 2, 2016. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expected", "may", "will" or similar terms. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Barkerville and Williams Creek as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: anticipated benefits of the Transaction to Barkerville and Williams Creek and their respective securityholders; the pro rata shareholdings of the current shareholders of Williams Creek in Barkerville; the timing and receipt of required securityholder, court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals for the Transaction; the ability of Barkerville and Williams Creek to satisfy the other conditions to, and to complete, the Transaction;; the closing of the Transaction. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions to closing of the Transaction including, without limitation, receipt of all necessary securityholder, court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals or consents and lack of material changes with respect to the parties and their respective businesses; the synergies expected from the Transaction not being realized; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macro-economic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets and the market price of Barkerville's shares; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency. Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - May 2, 2016) - GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (TSX:GMX)(FRANKFURT:G1M)(STUTTGART:G1M)(BERLIN:G1M)(MUNICH:G1M)(XETRA:G1M)(OTCQX:GLBXF) is pleased to inform shareholders that it has acquired three lithium projects located in LaCorne and Figuery Townships, Quebec between the towns of Amos and Val D'Or. The projects called the Chubb, Bouvier and McNeely properties all have recorded spodumene (lithium mineral) occurrences in surface showings, trenches and drill holes. In all properties, multiple spodumene bearing pegmatite dykes are reported with spodumene content of up to 20% reported in some dykes. Globex acquired 100% interest in the properties in exchange for undertaking the renewal of certain claims and reserving a one percent (1%) Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) for the vendor which may be purchased by Globex at any time for $200,000. Chubb Property, LaCorne Township Spodumene bearing pegmatite dykes varying from 1.6 to 6 m width Spodumene content varying up to 15% and tested to a depth of 100 m and length of 300 m Most recent drill holes 1.68 Li0 2 wt % over 3.72 m and 1.25 Li0 2 wt % over 2.38 m Bouvier Property, Figuery Township Spodumene bearing pegmatite dykes varying from 5 to 14 m width Spodumene content varying up to 25% and tested along a strike length of 183 m by drilling and trenching Source: Technical Report and Recommendations on three Li-Mo properties associated with the Preissac-Lacorne Batholith in the Abitibi Sub-province, Quebec, Canada: The Chubb, International and Athona properties" written on February 5, 2010. McNeely Property, LaCorne & Landrienne Townships Spodumene bearing pegmatite dykes Drill holes up to 1.0% Li over 2.44 m Geological similarity to the Quebec Lithium Mine Source: Sigeom Examine Quebec government Internet Site 32C/05-0018 This press release was written by Jack Stoch, P. Geo., President and CEO of Globex in his capacity as a Qualified Person (Q.P.) under NI 43-101. We Seek Safe Harbour. Foreign Private Issuer 12g3 - 2(b) CUSIP Number 379900 50 9 Forward Looking Statements: A detailed discussion of the risks is available in the "Annual Information Form" filed by Globex on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 44,797,706 shares issued and outstanding VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 02, 2016) - North Arrow Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: NAR) announces it has signed a binding letter of intent with Athabasca Nuclear Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ASC) to sell mineral claims covering two northern Canadian lithium prospects. Under terms of the letter of intent, North Arrow will sell its 100% interest in the Torp Lake, Nunavut and Phoenix, Northwest Territories mineral claims for 2,500,000 common shares of Athabasca at a deemed value of $0.08 per common share. As additional consideration, North Arrow will also receive 1,000,000 common share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling North Arrow to purchase one common share of Athabasca for $0.20 for a period of two years from the date of closing the transaction. Closing of the transaction is subject to the completion of definitive documentation and any required regulatory approvals. About North Arrow Minerals North Arrow is a Canadian based exploration company focused on the identification and evaluation of diamond exploration opportunities in Canada. North Arrow's management, board of directors and advisors have significant successful experience in the Canadian diamond industry. North Arrow is currently evaluating each of the Pikoo (SK), Qilalugaq (NU), Redemption (NT), Lac de Gras (NT), Mel (NU), Luxx (NU) and Timiskaming (ON/QC) Diamond Projects. North Arrow's diamond exploration programs are conducted under the direction of Kenneth Armstrong, P.Geo., President and CEO of North Arrow and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Armstrong has reviewed the contents of this press release. North Arrow Minerals Inc. /s/ "Kenneth A. Armstrong" Kenneth Armstrong President and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to statements with respect to North Arrow's plans, the estimation of a mineral resource and the success of exploration activities. Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to general economic and market conditions; closing of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in mineral resources or grade; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations. Although North Arrow has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. North Arrow undertakes no obligation or responsibility to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law. TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. ("Sulliden" or the "Company") (TSX: SMC) has entered into an option arrangement with First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum") to acquire the past-producing Troilus Mine, located in the Abitibi mining region of Quebec, Canada. Justin Reid, CEO and director of Sulliden, commented, "This agreement is a step towards our strategy of building a portfolio of mining projects alongside our portfolio of investments. For over two years, we have been actively evaluating and visiting projects in the Americas in search of the right opportunity, and we believe there to be potential value in the Troilus Project." Peter Tagliamonte, Executive Director of Sulliden, commented, "We have been reviewing the potential of the Troilus project and after thorough due diligence by our technical team, we look forward to moving ahead with more detailed engineering studies. It is our belief that this project has good mine development potential and exploration potential in a friendly mining jurisdiction." Sulliden has engaged Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. ("RPA") to complete an updated mineral resource estimate for Troilus based on the high quality historical drill data of the project. The Company looks forward to announcing these results within the coming month, before moving ahead with engineering and technical studies to evaluate the economic viability of the project. Option Agreement A wholly owned subsidiary of Sulliden has entered into a two-year option agreement with First Quantum with respect to the Troilus Mine. As a result of the arrangements, Sulliden will hold a two-year option to purchase a 100% interest in the Troilus Mine. To exercise the option under the First Quantum agreement, a minimum of $1,000,000 must be spent on engineering and technical studies to evaluate the economic viability of the project. Upon signing, an initial cash payment of C$100,000 was made to First Quantum. In order to exercise the option and acquire the Troilus Mine, an additional cash payment of C$100,000 will be made to First Quantum on the first anniversary of the Agreement, and a final cash payment of C$100,000 will be made on the date of exercise of the Option. Additionally, a variable Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) of 1.5% or 2.5% depending of the gold price being more or less than $1,250/oz during the reference period will be granted to First Quantum. Sulliden intends to enter into a subsequent option agreement with 251 Ontario Ltd ("251") whereby 251 would be able to acquire 40% of the Troilus mine and all associated properties with Sulliden retaining the remaining 60% ("Joint-Venture"). Troilus Project Description & History From 1997 to 2010 Inmet Mining Corporation ("Inmet") operated the Troilus Mine, which produced in excess of 2,000,000 ounces of gold and 70,000 tonnes of copper. The Troilus property is located approximately 175 km by road from the town of Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada. The property consists of 81 mineral claims and one surveyed mining lease that collectively cover approximately 4,700 hectares. The acquisition will include all infrastructure such as roads, power lines, camp buildings, permitted tailings pond, and associated water treatment facilities. The mill was sold and removed during the first phase of reclamation. Inmet commissioned the Troilus mill in 1996 and achieved commercial production in April 1997 at a rate of 10,000 tonnes per day with recoveries of 86% gold and 90% copper and a concentrate grade of 18% copper, eventually reaching a production milestone of 18,000 tonnes per day. First Quantum acquired the Troilus property through its acquisition of Inmet in 2013. About Sulliden Mining Capital Sulliden is a Canadian venture capital company focused on the acquisition and development of quality mining projects in the Americas, in addition to identifying opportunities for active investments. Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. On behalf of the Board "Justin Reid" Chief Executive Officer & Director Caution regarding forward-looking information: This press release contains "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and includes plans regarding the Troilus project, timetable to possible mineral resource estimate, and the positive exercise of the option agreement. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; other risks of the mining industry and the risks described in the public disclosure documents of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE Sulliden Mining Capital We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Kiplinger's spoke with Karlene Hunter, 63, cofounder and CEO of Native American Natural Foods Inc. (opens in new tab), a natural food company located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota, about how she got her company off the ground. Here's an excerpt from our interview: What's your connection with Pine Ridge? I'm Oglala Sioux, and while growing up in Denver I visited my grandmother here. I met and married my husband here, and we raised our family on Pine Ridge. I earned my master's degree from Oglala Lakota College and worked in education and economic development. The reservation has a 70% unemployment rate, and the average per capita income is $5,600. We're isolated, and creating a business here isnt easy. To change things, we have to create opportunities from within. In 1996, I cofounded Lakota Express, a direct-marketing company, with my business partner Mark Tilsen. It's still going strong. How did you get into the food business? At local chamber of commerce meetings, Mark and I heard local buffalo producers say they wanted new avenues to sell their products. Being marketers, we said, What if we created a value-added product? We thought of a traditional food called wasna, a combination of buffalo and berries packed into buffalo horns and carried by Native American runners and hunters. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up How did you develop the product? We worked with food scientists at the University of South Dakota to make wasna in bar form. We wanted to call it the Red Power Bar, but our youth said that was "so '70s." They named it Tanka, which means "Huge!" We found two food processors that could make the bars to our specifications. We launched in 2007, and we were the first meat protein power bar. What was your marketing plan? Online and 800-number sales kept us alive until the economy stabilized and large distributors were willing to take new products. We associated ourselves with the natural/specialty sales division of Acosta [a national sales, marketing and merchandising company], which took us under its wing. Now we're in Whole Foods, REI and Costco. We also have a division to get healthy products into native lands, which are often food deserts. How did you finance the start-up? It took us about $1.2 million to get to the large retailers. We took a loan of about $800,000 that was federally guaranteed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Later, we took a line of credit from a Native American community development financial institution. A CDFI is like a credit union that lends in depressed areas. We've had investors from native organizations and some foundations, too. They own about 30% of the company. Where do you get your ingredients? Last year we secured about 25% of our raw ingredients from native producers -- buffalo from many tribes, cranberries from Wisconsin and wild rice from Minnesota. How's business? We project $7 million in sales in 2016. Are you making a living? Yes. No one else would work for what Mark and I pay ourselves, but we pay our staff well -- nobody works for minimum wage. Last year, we gave 5% of the company to our 22 employees so they could have ownership in what they're building. We want to create career-path jobs and help Native American people build assets. Kiplinger's spoke with Annamaria Lusardi (pictured at left), the director of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at the George Washington University School of Business about a recent study she coauthored, How Financially Literate Are Women?, which looks at financial literacy in the U.S., Germany and the Netherlands. Here's an excerpt from our interview: You say your study turned up some "striking findings." Please elaborate. In all three countries -- and, in fact, in all 15 countries to which we have extended this researchwomen are less likely than men to answer the financial literacy questions correctly. And they are disproportionately more likely to answer "do not know." There is a clear gender difference, and it exists regardless of age, income, education or marital status. Why the gap? I think it's due to access. If financial literacy isn't taught in school, you acquire it through experience and through others around you -- for example, your parents or colleagues. Women are at a disadvantage if parents don't talk to girls about finance in the same way they talk to boys. And women are more likely to be surrounded by other women at work or socially, so theres less opportunity to learn. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up You say language is also an issue. I think we have made the language of finance foreign to women. For example, we call a mutual fund "aggressive growth," which we know indicates a type of risk, but those words are unfamiliar to women. One thing we ask in our survey is whether it's safer to invest in an individual stock or in a stock mutual fund, and thats a question with many technical terms. If we asked instead, "Would you spread your money over a lot of investments," my impression is that we'd have a different answer. What are the implications for financial decisions? In a follow-up study, we asked the same financial literacy questions, but we didn't give the option of saying "do not know" and forced respondents to answer. Women tended to be right, but expressed less confidence in their answers. In yet other research, we show that women are less likely to plan for retirement, and lack of confidence is a big component of that. Their caution is probably a good feature in making financial decisions. But we need a targeted approach to give women knowledge and confidence. What's the solution? Women are an ideal audience for financial education programs, and they feel more comfortable when there is a peer group they can rely on. All of the financial programs we have conducted have been attended mostly by women, and women are more likely to change their behavior. For example, after attending a seminar on retirement goals, they're more likely to increase their planned retirement age and adjust their saving behavior. We see that when they get the information, they can do quite well. Then: High school economics teacher Brett Burkey (pictured at left) appeared in our July 2006 issue when he asked the Portfolio Doctor (a monthly feature at the time) about his stock market strategy. Burkey, then 45, was doing well by accumulating shares of blue-chip growth stocks and letting them ride. He wanted reassurance that bucking the common wisdom to rely on mutual funds in general and index funds in particular was okay. Now: Ten years later, Burkey is still teaching at Spanish River Community High School, in Boca Raton, Fla., and hes still partial to investing in individual stocks. And, he tells us, hes prospering. Even though he got beat up like everyone else, he wisely stayed in the market through the collapse of 2007 and 2008. I assumed it to be a temporary thing, and I did some buying all along. As he gets closer to leaving the classroom and taking his teachers pensionhes in his 32nd year as an instructorBurkey has shifted his holdings from growth stocks to stocks that pay generous dividends, such as Realty Income (O (opens in new tab)), AT&T (T (opens in new tab)) and Southern Company (SO (opens in new tab)). One thing that hasnt changed, however, is his dedication to buying shares of solid businesses and not looking at their stock prices from day to day. Hes satisfied to receive steadily rising dividends, which he almost always reinvests in additional shares. Burkey and his wife, Diana, a commercial banker, are looking forward to a debt-free, active retirement with a dividend bounty to help support it. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up In addition to cultivating his own portfolio, Burkey has incorporated his sideline interest in finance into his profession. He has developed a popular course in personal finance for freshmen at his high school. Six sections of 30 teenagers each get a semesters grounding in financial literacy, starting with the basics of credit and banking and moving on to how to buy a car and pay for college. And yes, he issues each student $50,000 of virtual money so the students can simulate stock portfolios. Burkey is also working to persuade other educators in Florida to make personal finance a high school requirement. He has testified in front of the state legislature in Tallahassee and gives workshops at Florida Atlantic University for public school teachers who would like to introduce personal finance content into their classesa gig he plans to continue after he retires. Managing money and investing wisely are critical survival skills for teachers as well as rising generations of students, says Burkey, because younger teachers arent assured of long careers and a secure pension. Consider a pair of twins who grow up together, have the same talents and education, nurture the same desire to raise a family, and embrace the same ambitions for their career. But in adulthood, one twin consistently earns less than the other, has a spottier work record and gets stuck further down the career ladder. That twin reaches retirement age with a smaller cache of savings, less guaranteed income and a real risk of running out of money later in life. The difference between the siblings? Gender. In this parable of fraternal twins, the female twin earns 79 cents for every dollar the male twin earns. She takes more breaks from the workforce to care for children and other family members, and consequently has less access to employer-sponsored savings plans, such as a 401(k). She also has a smaller Social Security benefit, based on her reduced earnings. And heres the real kicker: Because she has a longer life expectancy than her twin (a 65-year-old woman can expect to live to 85, on average, compared with 83 for a 65-year-old man), she will have to stretch her resources that much further. Like all parables, this one is based in fact: the gender gap that has long put women at an economic disadvantage. The good news is that the gap is closing. Women now graduate from college in higher numbers than men and hold more masters degrees. They represent almost two-thirds of the workforce, according to a report by U.S. Bancorp. The pay gap narrows considerably (often to the point of disappearing) for men and women with similar educational backgrounds and jobs. And to a large extent, differences in income and economic circumstances reflect womens decisions about which jobs to hold and their choices (made with their families) about who stays home to care for kids or elderly relatives. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up But those circumstances are no less real, and the decisions women make about managing their money, staying in the workforce, and saving and planning for retirement can make all the difference. No one can turn the ship around alone. But whatever your stage of life, you can chart a course to financial security. (In the interest of equity, well point out that the advice that follows can apply to men, too.) (Image credit: Anna Knott) 1. Stay in the Game Erin Williams of Ossining, N.Y., planned to return to her job as a clinical trial coordinator after the birth of her daughter, Lucy. But once Lucy arrived, Williams realized she would clear only $100 a week after paying for child care. I wanted to be with her. It wasnt worth it to work full-time, she says. Williams and her husband, Kyle Fortin, agreed that she would stay home and earn money through writing and other projects. A year and a half later, Williams is cofounder, with blogger Jordan Reid, of GlamCamp.co, an online store featuring original work by women artists, and she writes a blog, Goosecamp.co. She and Reid recently signed a deal with Penguin Random House for a book about pregnancy. Williams, 33, has been able to arrange her schedule around Lucys by taking her career in a new direction. For other women, however, child care or caregiving can lead to career atrophy. Rather than let that happen, consider working part-time, says Catherine Collinson, president of the TransAmerica Center for Retirement Studies. Keeping your foot in the door makes it that much easier to reenter the workforce full-time when youre ready. Negotiating for fewer hours is easiest if youre already a valued employee, says Collinson. But if a part-time arrangement isnt in the cards, stay marketable by taking classes at a local college, volunteering and networking. Thats what Evelyn Ross did after being a stay-at-home mom. Ross, who lives in Silver Spring, Md., took business classes, worked on a local mayoral campaign and, with the help of connected friends, landed a job in the mayors office after her candidate won. Relationships pay off, she says. [page break] 2. Be Involved in the Finances Ross may have been savvy about how to reenter the workforce, which coincided with her divorce, but she describes herself as ignorant about finances. Oh, God, I didnt know anything. Money scared me, she says. No surprise there. Women control 80% of all household spending, but when it comes to investing and other financial decisions, usually its the man who steps up, says Angie OLeary, senior vice president at US Bank. Ceding financial responsibilities can be disastrous for wives, especially because they are likely to outlive their spouses. For the most part, all this wealth is going to them, says OLeary. They really need to understand what to do with it. (Men and women often speak different languages when it comes to money.) One way to close the knowledge gap is simply to communicate with your spouse. A 2015 Fidelity survey on couples and their finances showed that more than 40% of couples didnt even know how much each spouse earned, and 36% disagreed on their joint investable assets. Cluing each other in and deciding on goals together can make both spouses financially more secure and avoid leaving one spouse in the dark after a death or divorce. Another strategy is to consult a financial planner. If youre married, go togetherbut whether youre married or single, find a planner youre comfortable with. A recent study by the Insured Retirement Institute showed that women find it much more important than men to work with a planner who listens and is responsive. Not surprisingly, they also seek advisers who address them and not just their spouse. For Ross, discovering a sympathetic adviser in Marguerita Cheng, a certified financial planner in the Washington, D.C., metro area, was a blessing, she says. We would sit at my kitchen table and discuss my finances over tea or coffee. If not for Rita, I dont know where Id be. (Image credit: Anna Knott) 3. Save, Save, Save Patricia Glosner says her attitudes toward money were shaped by her parents separation, which left her stay-at-home mother with few resources of her own. One of my goals when I went into the workforce was to always be financially secure and financially independent, says Glosner, 48, who lives in Chicago. A clinical pharmacist with Pfizer, she always contributed the maximum to her 401(k) plan, as did her husband, Scott, who also works for Pfizer. They usually maxed out their plans by September or October; after that, they continued to make after-tax contributions. They also contributed to 529 college-savings plans for their two children. As a result, Glosner has achieved her goal of retiring early. She may go back to work at some point, possibly in the field of health and wellness. In the meantime, she has taken over management of the household finances and has become more involved in making decisions about the couples investment portfolio. In the past, Scott managed the money, and taking over that responsibility was an eye-opener, Patricia says. I really got a clear idea of what we were spending. Thats becoming more common among women her age and younger, says Glosners adviser, Pamela Wise, a certified financial planner with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Because many of them have been high earners, says Wise, this generation of women want a seat at the table. Whether you plan to retire at 50 or 70, theres a good chance youll live into your nineties, so you need to save accordingly, by contributing the maximum to your 401(k) or other workplace plan (see Retire Rich). If youre self-employed, as many women are, or you have a side business, as many women do, you can save even more in a tax-advantaged plan. With a SEP-IRA, for example, you can put aside up to $53,000 a year. And because you can look forward to such a long time in retirement, you may need to invest a larger percentage of your portfolio in stocks than your husband does, says Kevin Meehan, a certified financial planner in Itasca, Ill. (see The Secrets of Women Investors). If your investments are too conservative, you risk running out of money before you run out of breath. Plus, women investors may need stocks not just to benefit from potential growth but also to outpace inflation, Meehan says. 4. Cover Your Bases You and your spouse should have a will. Otherwise, the courts will divide up your assets based on your states intestacy laws. The surviving spouse, likely the woman, may receive only half of the estate, with the rest divided among your children (or if your spouse was married before, any children from that marriage, which could get really messy). You both also need end-of-life documents. A durable power of attorney allows a family member or designated agent to make financial decisions and transactions, such as paying the bills, on your behalf if you become incapacitated. A durable power of attorney for health care gives someone the authority to make medical decisions. A living will specifies the kind of end-of-life medical treatment you want. Many married couples give each other power of attorney for finances and health care. If you outlive your husband, be sure to update these documents so that someone else you trust can assume those responsibilities. Its critical to check the beneficiary designations on your retirement plans, IRAs and insurance policies to make sure theyre up-to-date, and ask your spouse to do the same. In most cases, beneficiary designations take precedence over the will, so its important to review them after a major life change, such as marriage, divorce or death of a spouse. You dont want the assets going to your mother-in-law, your spouses ex-wife or children from a previous marriage unless you have agreed to such an arrangement. [page break] 5. Set Retirement Goals Couples nearing retirement will have to make key decisions about where and how to live, as well as how to ensure that any pension or annuity payments go to the survivorusually the wifeand how to maximize Social Security for both of you when one spouseusually the husbandis the high earner. (Image credit: Anna Knott) For many women, working longer is often the best solution to a shortfall, not only because it bolsters your savings but also because it helps you delay taking Social Security. Youll get an 8% boost in benefits for every year you delay past full retirement age, until age 70. And Social Security benefits adjust with inflation. Trying to buy an annuity with similar benefits in todays marketplace would be extremely expensive, says Diane Oakley, executive director of the National Institute on Retirement Security. If youre planning to work longer anyway, try to switch to a job with a pension, advises Oakley. Rare in the private sector, traditional defined-benefit plans are still common at jobs in health care, education and public administration, and many vest after five years. Adding that income to other resources will go a lot further than trying to catch up on savings when youre close to retirement, says Oakley. Your house is also a great resource if you can tap the equity through a reverse mortgage (see Reverse Mortgages Get a Makeover) or continue to live there after paying off the mortgage. Kathryn Siebert, 59, has a more creative idea. She loves her job at a nonprofit in Portland, Ore., and has no plans to retire soon, but she also has to repair her finances after a divorce. She kept the family homea Craftsman-style houseand, for now, rents out a room to help cover monthly costs. When she retires, she will either sell the house and reap the considerable profit or invite her sons, Emil, 26, and Austin, 22, to move in. My boys cant afford to live in this town, but they could afford to live in the house and take over the mortgage while I travel the world, says Siebert. Ultimately, shed like to come back home and enjoy a multigenerational household, as she did growing up. 6. Anticipate Health Costs Health care costs can jeopardize your retirement security. Fidelity Investments estimates that a 65-year-old couple who retired in 2015 will spend $245,000 on health care throughout retirement. Thats up 29% since 2005, reflecting rising medical costs and longer life expectancies. If youve been saving for retirement, youve already put aside funds for health care costs. And if youre healthy, you may not need that much. Still, as you approach retirement, its a good idea to calculate premiums and deductibles for Medicare Part B (which covers doctor visits and outpatient care), along with supplemental insurance, such as Part D for prescription drugs and a medigap policy to cover out-of-pocket expenses. If you have an eligible high-deductible health insurance policy, you can open a health savings account and put aside money to cover your out-of-pocket health care costs. An HSA gives you a triple tax break: contributions are tax-deductible (or pretax if you make them through your employer), the money grows tax-deferred, and it can be used tax-free for medical expenses. You can let the account grow until you retire, when you can use tax-free withdrawals to pay the premiums for Medicare parts B and D, Medicare Advantage or other health costs. Once you turn 65, you can even use the money for non-medical expenses without paying a 20% penalty, but youll pay taxes on the withdrawals. Because women live longer, they are more likely to spend time in an assisted-living residence or require home care. Long-term-care insurance can help cover the costs, but premiums are pricey, especially for women. If youre married, you can reduce premiums by purchasing a shared-benefit policy that provides a pool of benefits both spouses can use. Another option is a hybrid policy that combines long-term-care coverage with life insurance. Thats what Rose Swanger, a certified financial planner in Knoxville, Tenn., purchased after her husband, Stephen, was diagnosed with atypical Parkinsons disease at age 49. Stephens illness makes him ineligible to buy his own policy, but if Rose dies first, hell receive a lump-sum payment that he can use for medical expenses. If Rose outlives her husband, shell use the coverage for her own long-term care. We have three boys, she says, and we want them to chase their dreams and not be burdened by caring for us. As long as you have an eligible high-deductible health insurance plan, you can open a health savings account with many banks and brokerage firms. Caveat: If your employer limits payroll deduction of your HSA contributions to its recommended HSA provider, use that account so that your contributions avoid the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes and to ensure you get any company match. Once youve taken advantage of those benefits, though, you can transfer your funds to another HSA. Great Deals on Practically Everything Consider these deals for different types of HSA savers: Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up For long-term goals If you use money outside of the HSA to pay medical bills now, you can build up cash tax-free in your HSA for future medical expenses, such as health care in retirement. HSA Bank offers a large menu of mutual funds and other investments through TD Ameritrade. The monthly account-maintenance fee of $2.50 is waived if you maintain a balance of $5,000 or more. For near-term expenses Credit unions offer the most-competitive rates. For example, Lake Michigan Credit Union (opens in new tab), which is open to anyone who donates $5 or more to the West Michigan chapter of the ALS Association, is paying 1.5% or 2% on savings of $5,000 and up. For a complete list of rates on HSAs, go to www.hsarates.com. The public symposium of ZAK focuses on flight, mobility, and residence. (Photo: Gabi Zachmann/KIT) The public symposium Unterwegs. Nirgends daheim? (On the way. Nowhere at home) of ZAK I Center for Applied Cultural and General Studies of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will take place on April 22 and 23, 2016, and focuses on the current situation of refugees in Germany and worldwide as well as on historic dimensions of migration and residence. The public symposium will be opened on Friday, April 22, 2016, 19.30 hrs, at the Karlsruhe city hall by an evening lecture of Professor Ernst Ulrich von Weizsacker, Co-President of the Club of Rome. [] Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Innovative telecommunication products result from a competition of ideas on the market. Here, the Optonaut 3D photo app with community interface made by KIT students is shown. (Photo: KIT) Smartphones and tablets come from Asia and the USA, German and European industry is far behind. The causes are dealt with by a study of KIT published in the journal Telecommunications Policy. According to this study, risk aversion made the companies offer own data services at a high price instead of using the open internet. Competitive pressure by Europe-wide granting of mobile telephone licenses or the deregulation of the radio spectrum might improve the situation. Computers protected against the manipulation of data also open up market chances. While US companies, such as Apple and Google, dominate the consumer market, European companies in the information and communication technologies sector, such as Nokia or Siemens Communications, are irrelevant today, co-author Arnd Weber of KITs Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) says. According to the study, this loss of relevance was caused by repeated attempts of European suppliers to oligopolistically market communication capacities in closed environments instead of using the open internet, as it is done by US companies. In the mid-1980s, for instance, manufacturers and network operators tried to push the closed system Bildschirmtext (videotex) with a payment per page. US modems, by means of which any server could be accessed, were excluded from the market. This strategy was continued in the late 90s: Already when the mobile internet emerged, did European companies try to sell expensive services, such as SMS, MMS, and applications of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Furthermore, the authors of the study criticize the establishment of a competition-reduced market in Europe. It exclusively relied on the GSM mobile radio standard developed by European companies and ignored cheaper technologies, such as the PHS standard applied in Japan and China at that time. A monopolistic tradition regularly blocked innovations in Europe, with expensive technologies being marketed instead. This strategy did not only go at the expense of the customers, but ended up in the decline of European information and communication technologies (ICT) suppliers in the long term. Willingness to search for new, cheaper or more flexible technologies was lacking, Weber summarizes. Another reason for the decline is the fact that Europe is lacking the capacity to search for new ICT markets and to commercialize large series of new products. This does not only apply to smartphones. PCs with graphic user interfaces might have been a European product already. First devices of this type were manufactured in Switzerland in 1980, four years before Apples Macintosh. But the banks were afraid of investing in production. European investors did not only sleep through new developments, as is pointed out in particular by UK and US media. It is even worse. For more than 20 years, they have known novel, attractive products, but did not take the risk of investing in their manufacture. Instead of offering the open internet and high-performance computers, they supported the attempt to sell individual, more or less attractive data services and relatively simple end devices at high costs, Weber says. The result: Contrary to automotive industry, where strong competitors have established and flexibly react to the Japanese market leader Toyota with high investments, European manufacturers of computers and mobile phones are now irrelevant. More Competition, More Innovation In the opinion of the authors of the study, recovery of European manufacturers would require investors and managers with a feeling for successful innovations. As in other branches, competitors are needed which surprise each other. There are still many competences in the ICT sector in Europe, and also much capital, co-author Daniel Scuka, mobile communications expert of the Japanese consulting company Mobikyo, says. Competition might be enhanced by granting Europe-wide licenses to mobile operators. In this way, internationally competitive companies would be given more power than manufacturers of mobile devices. This power could then be used to market new services, such as cost-free communication over large distances through improved WiFi, or to launch something completely new and not even thought of now, Scuka says. Another market opportunity lies in eavesdropping-proof and complete communication between computers and smartphones. If there were legal regulations and standards for highly secure computers without any loopholes similar to safety regulations for airplane construction or in medicine, this might be advantageous for Europe. Security made in Germany might then be in demand worldwide. In the past years, media reported a lot about the hacking of company servers, Arnd Weber explains. Here, countermeasures may be taken and profitable markets might be created for ICT companies. The USA have already started doing this by using unhackable computers for military purposes. Publication: Arnd Weber, Daniel Scuka: Operators at crossroads: market protection or innovation? Telecommunications Policy, April 2016, doi:10.1016/j.telpol.2015.11.009 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596115001962 More on the Optonaut app made by KIT students: http://optonaut.co Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Adam Sawasy, co-owner and chef at the Butcher & Baker Provisions in Port Gamble, fills lunch orders Friday. The restaurant is in the old gas station on Highway 104. SHARE The Butcher & Baker Provisions in Port Gamble took over the spot where a barbecue restaurant had been. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN A hamburger at the Butcher & Baker Provisions in Port Gamble. Shannon Mead (right), of Kingston, has lunch Friday at the Butcher & Baker Provisions in Port Gamble with friend Megan House. By Tad Sooter of the Kitsap Sun PORT GAMBLE The butcher and the baker arrive at 5 a.m. The lights go up before dawn at a former service station on Highway 104 in Port Gamble. The butcher, Adam Sawasy, begins breaking down beef or stuffing sausage casings. Patricia Horton, the baker, preps pastries, pies and cakes. The pair work steadily through the day and remain in the kitchen until well after dark. They repeat the routine seven days a week. Butchering and baking demand long hours, but Sawasy and Horton are determined to start off their first restaurant on the right hoof. "When you love what you do, it doesn't feel so rough," Sawasy said of the long days. The fruits of their labor line counters and fill plates at Butcher & Baker Provisions, a market and "farmhouse restaurant." The business opened in April, taking over a space vacated by Mike's Four Star BBQ. Diners order from the counter and seat themselves at heavy wooden tables. Shelves surrounding the dining area are stocked with eggs, fruit, preserves and other provisions. Baked treats and cuts of meat are displayed in a glass case. Sawasy and Horton hope the shop will capture the atmosphere of a European market cafe, where the locally sourced ingredients used to build the menu also are available for sale. "As you're eating, you see that same great pasta on the shelf that's on your plate," Sawasy said. "Or the sausage hash you can buy out of the case." An all-day menu offers dishes fit for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Diners can start off their morning with a chorizo burrito, stop in midday for a goat-cheese burger and a bottle of beer, or round out their evening with a plate of fettuccine topped with a poached egg. That was on the menu one week anyway. "Our menu will be changing frequently," Horton said. The entrees and provisions offered at Butcher & Baker reflect the diverse talents of the two chefs. Sawasy, 35, began his career busing tables in California restaurants, gradually earning his way into the kitchen. He attended culinary school in San Francisco and worked in Napa Valley before "migrating north" to Kitsap. Sawasy said he became fascinated by butchering and curing meats and has devoted time to studying the trade. "I have a huge passion for it," he said. Horton, 48, attended culinary school in New York and cooked in restaurants in San Francisco for more than a decade, eventually gravitating toward baking. Sawasy and Horton joined forces at a local restaurant and began planning a venture that would combine their butchering and baking interests. They saw the historic Port Gamble service station as a unique setting for their unique shop. "We loved the building," Sawasy said. "It was a great location." The Butcher & Baker chefs say they want their fare to complement what's available at Port Gamble General Store's expanded cafe and bar. Sawasy believes having more dining options available will help entice more visitors to the old mill town. "The hope is it becomes a really cool food destination for people," he said. Butcher & Baker Provisions What: A market and "farm fresh" cafe Where: 4719 NE Highway 104 in Port Gamble When: 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday More info: Go to www.butcherandbakerprovisions.co, call 360-297-9500 or find the business on Facebook Teen suspected of robbery at Central Kitsap High found with gun after second search Peter Dunne has announced: A $303 million overhaul of New Zealands fire services will create an organisation fit for the 21st century, the Government says and your insurance could cost more to help pay for it. The NZ Fire Service, mainly responsible for urban parts of the country, will merge with the National Rural Fire Authority and more than 40 other rural fire services to create a single organisation Fire and Emergency New Zealand. This is a very good thing, as finally there will be one fire authority for NZ. The status quo has seen silos with professional firefighters, volunteer firefighters and rural firefighters. Announcing the merger to firefighter representatives, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne described it as the single biggest change to happen to our fire service in around 70 years. There was a recognition that we needed to have a fire service that was fit for purpose for the 21st century, that was flexible, modern and efficient. Were not grafting one bit on to another were building a completely new organisation. The changes would put the countrys 12,000 volunteer firefighters in a direct relationship with the main organisation for the first time, while recognising the increased medical and emergency work being carried out by firefighters. In the past the professional firefighters union (and some officers) have basically hated the volunteer firefighters as they see them as unpaid scabs or the like. 20 years ago the relationships were toxic. While there are still challenges, my understanding is that relationships are far better today. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr SHARE Crye-Leike puts regional headquarters in Knoxville Memphis-based Crye-Leike has opened a East Tennessee regional headquarters at 9539 Kingston Pike. The 6,000-square-foot building will feature office space for 40 agents and includes commercial, property management and relocation services. Realty Title also will occupy the renovated space. Crye-Leike's East Tennessee operations experienced a 29.3 percent increase in sales volume in 2015. Crye-Leike, which employs 140 agents in East Tennessee, plans to open branch offices in Farragut and Oak Ridge in 2016. Melonie Carideo will serve as office manager over the Kingston Pike office. Crye-Leike is the fifth largest real estate company in the U.S. Dover Development renovates Farragut Hotel Rick Dover, president of Dover Development, announced that the historic Farragut Hotel, currently undergoing $22 million in renovations, will re-open in summer 2017 as Hyatt Place. The city of Knoxville approved a $7.7 million, 25-year PILOT deal, or payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, for the project. The Hyatt Place concept, geared for business and leisure travelers, won an award as highest in customer satisfaction among upscale hotel brands in 2015. The Farragut Hotel originally opened in 1919. Dover said he plans to use documents from the East Tennessee Historical Society to guide the restoration efforts. White Lodging of Merrillville, Ind., will manage the hotel. The nine-story, 165-room hotel at 530 S. Gay Street will include a cocktail bar, meeting and event space, fitness center and rooftop venue. Gannett Co. acquires Journal Media Group Gannett Co. Inc., of McLean, Va., completed the acquisition of Journal Media Group's publishing assets, including the Knoxville News Sentinel, for $280 million. Gannett owns USA Today and 92 additional daily publications across the U.S. and Guam, including six newspapers in Tennessee. The News Sentinel, which was founded in 1886 as The Sentinel, was owned by The E.W. Scripps Co. until it spun off its newspaper division into the Journal Media Group, an independent, publicly traded company, in April 2015. Shareholders of Journal Media Group approved the deal on March 1. They will receive $12 per share in cash. Scripps Networks donates $10 million to ETCH Scripps Networks Interactive made a $10 million donation to East Tennessee Children's Hospital, the largest donation in the hospital's history, to accelerate their planned $75 million expansion. The donation will go toward completion of the Scripps Networks Tower, a 245,000-square-foot building that will house a neonatal intensive care unit, computerized pediatric simulation lab for training health care providers in the intricacies of treating emergency medical situations in children, an inpatient/outpatient surgery center and a family lounge and resource center. The tower is expected to be completed this fall. Ken Lowe, chairman, president and CEO of Scripps Networks Interactive, said "East Tennessee Children's Hospital has been instrumental in the well-being of so many families' lives here in our headquarters location of Knoxville, and this new partnership will help secure its success for people across the region." Del Conca USA announces Loudon expansion Del Conca USA announced plans to expand its 320,000-square-foot Loudon manufacturing plant and hire 40 workers to increase production of its Italian-designed porcelain tiles. Ceramica del Conca of San Clemente, Italy, the parent company of Del Conca USA, opened the Loudon plant in 2014 and invested $30 million in state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. Hobby Lobby will open shop in Oak Ridge in September Hobby Lobby has signed a 15-year lease for a 628,000-square-foot former Kroger grocery store site along Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. The company will begin renovations in June. It announced plans to hire 35 to 50 people by the time of the projected opening in September. Hobby Lobby is a national retailer of arts and craft supplies and home decor. US Chamber of Commerce cites four area businesses The U.S. Chamber of Commerce chose four Knoxville-area small businesses to receive 2016 Blue Ribbon awards, an honor that measures a company's success in strategic planning, employee development, customer service and community involvement. Analysis and Measurement Services Corp., a nuclear engineering consulting firm, won a Blue Ribbon award for the fifth year in a row. Other area winners include All Occasions Party Rentals, a full-service event rental company; Proton Power, a company based in Lenoir City that uses biomass material to create renewable energy; and All Occasions Catering, a Knoxville-based catering company. The Blue Ribbon award winners will be recognized at the 12th annual America's Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C., on June 13-15. One honoree will be chosen as the Dream Big Small Business of the Year, and will receive a $10,000 cash prize. Clayton Homes purchases River Birch Homes Clayton Homes acquired manufactured home-builder River Birch Homes of Hackleburg, Ala. River Birch Homes employs 240 people in northwest Alabama and makes single- and multi-section homes, which it markets in nine states throughout the Southeast. Clayton Homes now operates 37 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. The Maryville-based company, which became a component company of Berkshire Hathaway in 2003, specializes in site-built homes, modular homes, apartment complexes, manufactured housing and "tiny" homes. They built more than 34,000 homes in 2015. First Tennessee Bank establishes community fund First Tennessee Bank has established a $50 million Community Development Fund to assist citizens with low to moderate incomes to obtain affordable housing. The fund also will help support local organizations involved in home repair, foreclosure prevention services and financial literacy services. The fund will award $3 million each year in grants to nonprofits and community organizations in First Tennessee markets. Joshalyn Hundley has been named regional community development manager for the Community Development Fund for the Knoxville region. SHARE Frank Munger The Uranium Processing Facility is obviously the big-ticket item on the horizon at the Y-12 National Security Complex. It has a projected price tag of $6.5 billion, which speaks for itself. But there are other projects under development at the Oak Ridge plant, including plans for a new Emergency Operations Center. According to a recently released report by staff of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, the National Nuclear Security Administration has approved Critical Decision-1 for the new emergency center at Y-12. "The new facility will replace Y-12's Plant Shift Superintendent's Office, Technical Support Center and the Fire Department alarm room," the March 4 report said. The safety board report reiterated that the new EOC will not replace the current one, which is located several miles away at the East Tennessee Technology Park. "The emergency response capabilities that will be relocated into the new facility are currently housed in facilities that were built in the mid-1940s and do not meet modern DOE requirements for seismic performance and habitability," the report stated. The report also said the preliminary "execution plan" indicates that the new emergency center due to become operational in early 2021 will be "designed to current code requirements for facilities with emergency response capabilities." The National Nuclear Security Administration, a semi-independent part of the U.S. Department of Energy that oversees the nuclear weapons complex, declined to comment on the CD-1 milestone. In federal lingo, CD-1 is the approval stage in which one of the alternatives is chosen, along with the project's cost range. According to budget documents, the new Emergency Operations Center at Y-12 has a cost range of $20.4 million to $33.6 million. Consolidated Nuclear Security, the government's managing contractor at Y-12, last December solicited expressions of interest from companies wanting to design the EOC. The Y-12 contractor later acknowledged that it received interest from 12 companies. The Emergency Operations Center reportedly will be between 8,000 and 12,000 square feet on a single story, with more details to become available once the qualified bidders have been selected. The facility will provide offices and meetings rooms for daily operations for about 20 people and have emergency operations space for about 50 people, with special electronic capabilities and other advanced technologies. Better as One: When the National Nuclear Security Administration awarded a giant-sized contract that combined the management of two nuclear weapons plants Y-12 in Oak Ridge and Pantex in Amarillo, Texas the goal was to make operations more efficient, eliminate redundancies and save taxpayer dollars by the truckload. In a recent posting on its website, Consolidated Nuclear Security the Bechtel-led contractor team at Y-12 and Pantex cited work on the B61-12 life extension project (which consolidates multiple versions of the nuclear bomb and replaces aged parts) as an example of a collaborative work environment and gains made by combining the management of the two facilities. Under the heading of "Becoming one team, better together," CNS said it had synchronized weapons baseline schedules for Y-12 and Pantex. and reworked a number of project activities. "The team also consolidated the Earned Value Management System the method used to plan and measure the cost and progress of large projects on both unclassified and classified platforms," CNS said. James Fine, the CNS senior director of enterprise planning and controls, characterized the results to date as a success. SHARE Bunch Katherine Clark Steve Cruze Jerry L. Epps Covenant Health has announced that David Bunch, chief executive officer of Community Health System's Heritage Medical Center in Middle Tennessee, has been named president and chief administrative officer at Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville. He succeeds Jeremy Biggs, whom Covenant recently named as president and CAO of Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. Bunch will assume his new responsibilities April 25. Katherine Clark has joined Rheumatology Associates of East Tennessee, a Summit Medical Group practice, as a physician assistant. Steve Cruze has been named chief operating officer of Premier Surgical Associates. Cruze previously worked as practice manager for Premier's Fort Sanders Regional office. UT Medical Center announced that Dr. Jerry Epps has been named senior vice president and chief medical officer. Epps most recently served as chair of the department of anesthesiology with the medical center and UT Graduate School of Medicine. Physiatrist and pain management physician Dr. Bruce Hairston has joined Blount Memorial's active medical staff, and will see patients at East Tennessee Medical Group, located at 266 Joule St. in Alcoa. He recently worked at MedManagement, Inc., in Franklin. Dr. Nicole Kissane-Lee has joined UT Medical Center as a bariatric and general surgeon as well as an educator teaching surgical education and medical simulation. Dr. Lynn Massingale has been named to Modern Healthcare Magazine's list of "50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders" for 2016. Todd M. Peters, M.D., of Summit Medical Group's Norwood Family Medicine, received the second-highest patient satisfaction score out of 12,000 providers nationwide in the first quarter of 2016. The scores are determined by patient polls conducted for Summit Medical Group and other provider groups by SurveyVitals. Jean Sanford, meeting planner for TeamHealth, has achieved the distinguished Certificate in Meeting Management, the business standard of excellence for meeting and travel professionals. Tennova Healthcare has named Steve Simpson as chief executive officer of Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown, effective April 18. Simpson has been serving as interim chief executive officer at the hospital since March 14. He replaces Clyde Wood, who was recently named chief executive officer at North Knoxville Medical Center. Orthopaedic trauma surgeon Dr. Kostas Triantafillou recently joined University Orthopaedic Surgeons located at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. GREATER KNOXVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL FILE PHOTO The main foyer of Holston Middle School has the lights turned off to conserve energy. The lights are on in the office and a hallway leading to administrative offices because employees are working in those areas of the school. By Mamie Kuykendall of the Knoxville News Sentinel It may seem strange that a business reliant on sales would encourage people to use less of their product, but that's exactly what the Tennessee Valley Authority is doing. The TVA, which provides electricity in seven states, is offering incentives in exchange for energy-efficient utility upgrades through its EnergyRight Solutions program. Founded in 2008, the program offers $0.3 to $0.8 per kilowatt hour saved for pre-approved projects, such as lighting, HVAC, and door and window upgrades. Because the program encourages lessened power usage, many wonder why the TVA is so focused on reducing its bread and butter, according to Tom Irwin, program manager for the Northeast region. "The TVA is investing in the future efficiency of the valley's major employers," Irwin said. "It's good to help to save energy, because you help sustain the future and keep jobs in the valley. In essence, if we pay someone to lower their utility bill, we're investing in the future of all the jobs that employer is giving to the valley. "To me, it ties right into our mission. It's about energy, environment, and economic development." This tactic makes even more sense considering the world-wide competition that large, East Tennessee companies face, according to Irwin. "It's a very competitive environment," he said. "To the extent they can be efficient, I think we can help them win." Standard rebates are offered for set changes, like variable speed drives on cooling towers and window films that reduce solar gain, while a catch-all customer incentive can be used for almost anything that verifiably saves energy. The plan has been effective. In the Northeastern region, businesses and industries collectively save about 30 million kilowatt-hours each year through the program, according to Irwin. These figures do not include residential savings. "At 10 cents per kilowatt hour, that's a big chunk," Irwin said. "We're getting a lot of traction on the residential side as well, through home audits and self audits." The Knoxville Utility Board has been a big supporter, according to Irwin, who said KUB customers saved more than seven million kilowatt hours last year. Local businesses and schools have thrown themselves into the process. "We've worked for several years with the folks for the University of Tennessee," Irwin said. "They're looking at everything over there. I'm working hand-in-hand with them to reduce total energy consumption." The TVA has paid about $10,000 in incentives to the university, and another $6,000 is on the way, according to Irwin. "(Those incentives) were for lighting conversions, we changed from florescent to LED lighting," said Derek Bailey, general superintendent of UT Facilities Services' STAR Team. "We chose the older buildings that took the most power on campus, and started with those." The school paid $48,000 for the project. More changes are planned for the not-so-distant future. Students voted to put a portion of tuition environmental fees aside and create a revolving loan fund for efficiency projects, a fund which has grown to $450,000. The money will be used for lighting and HVAC upgrades, expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year, according to Bailey. UT also buys green power through TVA's Green Switch Program, which made up one-third of the school's energy needs last year. Knox County Schools also has been a heavy hitter. Nearly all facilities have been upgraded through an energy service contract with Trane, a heating and cooling equipment supplier that funded the upgrades. The schools are saving more than three million kilowatt hours per year, according to Irwin. Trane also is working with the Knox County government, which has around 60 efficiency projects in the works that will save an estimated 3.5 million kilowatt hours each year. A program powerhouse on the business side is Weigel's, which has made light and refrigeration upgrades throughout East Tennessee. After projects are completed, the gas station chain is expected to save more than 2.1 million kilowatt hours annually, garnering more than $80,000 in incentives through the TVA program. "Headquartered right here in Knoxville, it's another great story to tell," Irwin said. The TVA has other conservation processes in the works, contracting a demand response service through EnerNOC, which requests local businesses to reduce power usage when needed. UT, Knox County Schools and the Knoxville Convention Center are among participating responders. "If the temperature is 100 degrees outside, the demand on TVA is so great," said Jason Bourgoyne, director of event services and operations for the convention center. "Instead of TVA starting up a new electrical plant to meet the demand, (we) will shut down or reduce demand on the grid, which lowers the demand to TVA." The menu topper By Mary Constantine of the Knoxville News Sentinel Rumor has it that Chef Matt Gallaher will officially open his new Italian restaurant, Emilia, on Tuesday, May 3. But so far it's only a rumor as the chef has yet to make the official announcement. He did, however, explain in a text message how he chose the restaurant's name. "My first restaurant job was at 9 years old in my mom's catering business, Miss Emily's. It was named for my grandmother, Emily Jackson, and my younger sister, Emily Cowan. Several months ago I was reading one of the 60 Italian cookbooks that I've collected over the last couple of years, and Emilia-Romagna kept coming up over and over. It's the region where so many quintessential Italian ingredients are produced Parmesan, pecorino, prosciutto, balsamic, etc. "Simple food requires great ingredients so it's a region that spoke to me, and then it clicked. Emilia is the Italian form of Emily, and the idea of bridging simple, honest Italian ingredients and dishes with the grace and hospitality that I grew up with is exactly what I want to offer at Emilia," he wrote. Over the weekend, Gallaher and his staff held a soft opening at the 16 Market Square location previously occupied by Latitude 35. But there is little resemblance to the former operation. Gone are the televisions that hung from the black-tiled ceiling. There is not a hint of orange or white. And the staircase has totally disappeared, leaving in its place brick flooring surrounded by the original acid-washed concrete flooring. The former red brick walls have been whitewashed and the ceiling tiles replaced with white, which gives the space a brighter, more open feel. There is bench seating on the left side of the dining area with movable two-top tables that can be easily adjusted for larger parties. Four-top tables are positioned in the center of the dining area and to the right. A simple gray shelving unit is at the center of the room for guests to check-in. And to the back is the bar with an industrial-look shelving unit. There is also a menu that features the pasta dishes of the day. During Saturday's soft opening those included lobster risotto, polenta and meatballs Pomodoro and agnolotti primavera. All the pasta is made in-house. The drinks menu offers three draft beers including Blackberry Farm's classic saison and Fanatic blonde, and nonlocal bottled beers such as Good People oatmeal-coffee and YeeHaw pale ale. Featured wines available in bottle or by glass include selections from Italy, California, Washington State and France. Prices average $7 or $8 per antipasti dish; $5 for side dishes; and $13-$34 for main courses. Hours listed on the OpenTable reservation system website states that the eatery will operate 5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 4-9 p.m. Sunday. To keep up with what's happening at Emilia follow it on Instagram at Emilia_Knoxville Georgiana Vines Columnist SHARE Thailand's minister of natural resources and environment Gen. Surasak Karnjanarat, left, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash are pictured last week at Sugarlands Visitors Center. Karnjanarat signed the Paris Climate Control Agreement at the United Nations on April 22 and then visited the Smokies. (DANA SOEHN/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE) Tobias Miller, trails program manager at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, center, explains Chimney Tops trail improvements to the Thai minister of natural resources and environment, Gen. Surasak Karnjanarat. Smokies Superintendent Cassius Cash is partially obscured at right. Songtam Suksawang, department of natural parks inspector, is at left. The Thailand delegation visited the Smokies from April 23-25. Karnjanarat was in the U.S. to sign the Paris Climate Control Agreement at the United Nations on April 22 and then visited the Smokies with his delegation. (DANA SOEHN/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE) Georgiana Vines Thailand's minister of natural resources and environment, Gen. Surasak Karnjanarat, joined U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and nearly 170 representatives of other countries to sign the Paris climate agreement in New York on April 22, and the next day he came to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in East Tennessee. Thailand and the U.S. have more in common than an interest in limiting global warming and carbon emissions. They have national parks that are similar and agreements in which Smoky Mountains park officials will provide technical know-how on wastewater issues and trail sustainability to Thailand's sister park, Khao Yai National Park. Karnjanarat led an eight-person delegation to be briefed on what happens next between the two parks, said Smoky Mountains park spokeswoman Dana Soehn. Staff information exchanges have transpired since 2013. "While not exactly twins, our two parks share similar resources and challenges as the most visited national parks in our countries," Smoky Mountains park Superintendent Cassius Cash said. "In particular, we have provided technical guidance on improving trail accessibility and sustainability and waste water management that will enable Khao Yai to be a national park leader in environmental stewardship. We were thrilled to be able to take the delegation in the field to show them first hand some examples of best practices. Through the field visit, we were able to truly showcase the possibilities and opportunities of working together to solve similar challenges." Judging by the schedule from when the delegation arrived on April 23 until departing on April 25, it was a whirlwind trip. The group included the Thai park superintendent, Kanchit Srinopawan. They went on the Chimney Tops Trail to see restorative efforts as explained by trails manager Tobias Miller and backcountry specialist Christine Hoyer. They also toured the Cades Cove Loop, where most visitors go to see bears and deer. The Thais got to enjoy the scenery, too, but after lunch at the visitors center, they went to the campground and toured the water treatment and wastewater system there, with explanations from public health service environmental engineer Steve Sauer and facility management specialist Alan Sumeriski. Deputy Superintendent Clay Jordan was part of that conversation, too. Former Smoky Mountains park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson, who helped draft the agreement with the sister park in 2013, also met with the group. His interest in Khao Yai began nearly 20 years ago, early in his park service career, when he was at Harper's Ferry training center and a delegation came for training in interpretation, he said. Ditmanson knew four members of the delegation from previous visits to the Thai park, more recently in a program for retirees, called Global Parks, which is supported by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation. The parks are similar in their physical shape, he said. "Biodiversity is huge. Their mammals are a little larger than ours," he said laughingly, referring to elephants. "The flora-fauna-bird population is similar." Also meeting with the delegation were retired Deputy Superintendent Kevin FitzGerald, who has visited the Thai park with Ditmanson; Jim Hart, Friends of the Smokies president, and Laurel Rematore, Great Smoky Mountains Association executive director. When leaving the area Tuesday evening, the Thailand delegation went to Washington for meetings with U.S. officials, ambassadors and congressional delegates, Soehn said. "They did make a trip to the Statue of Liberty and also hoped to see the monuments in D.C.," she said. Cash is scheduled to lead a delegation to Khao Yai in late October. Others going are Hoyer, Miller and Sauer. SHARE Michael Anthony Benanti, of Lake Harmony, Pa. (KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE) Brian Witham, 45, of Waterville, Maine. (FBI/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL) By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel If the federal government has its way, the alleged ringleader in a plot to rob banks by holding executives and their families hostage will die behind bars. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lewen has obtained from a federal grand jury an enhanced 23-count indictment against Michael Anthony Benanti that ensures with its 13 gun charges alone the Pennsylvania man will face hundreds of years in prison if convicted. In addition to the gun charges, Benanti is accused of crimes including conspiracy to commit bank robbery via extortion, carjackings, kidnappings and robberies. Benanti and Brian Scott Witham were initially indicted in December on a 15-count indictment based on three bank extortions involving the kidnapping of families in East Tennessee two in Knoxville and one in Elizabethton. But Witham, 45, of Maine, struck a deal in March to plead guilty, laying out for prosecutors the entirety of the pair's alleged crime sprees since their meeting in a federal prison years before. Lewen late last month then sought a superseding indictment against Benanti, who was arraigned by U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley and a Nov. 7 trial date set before Chief U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan. Witham faces a minimum 42-year prison term as part of his plea deal. The new indictment against Benanti and the plea agreement filed in Witham's case, detail an elaborate, exacting and violent plan to hold bank executives' families hostage to force the executives to effectively rob their own banks. The pair, both robbers, met in federal prison. When Benanti was freed, he launched a venture known as Prisoner Assistant, in which he convinced prison inmates to pay him a fee and give him power of attorney over their finances and he, in turn, would provide them with banking and investing services. He later hired a freed Witham. The Wall Street Journal reported on the business, which operated from Benanti's Pennsylvania basement, in 2014. The venture was a sham, prosecutors said, and the operation began to unravel as Benanti and Witham squandered the inmates' money. So, Lewen alleged, Benanti hatched a plan for quick cash using identity theft, but it proved too much trouble for the return. In September 2014, the pair turned to a carefully planned robbery of the Peoples Security Bank and Trust in Clarks Summit, Pa., prosecutors said. They bought a series of cars to use and then burn, stockpiled guns, food and water and spent days dressed in camouflage with a camera and binoculars to surveil the comings and goings of bank employees before executing the robbery, Lewen has said. Prosecutors said Benanti and Witham then decided to target bank executives and their families, using Facebook and LinkedIn to identify targets and to learn all about the families. Witham's job was to hide outside the families' homes and surveil them. He spent hours at that task, even bagging his excrement to avoid detection. The pair targeted families in Connecticut, Oak Ridge, Knoxville and Elizabethton, holding a toddler and a baby at gunpoint, strapping a fake bomb on a man's chest and using elaborate disguises, one of which was designed to convince authorities there was a third female suspect, Lewen wrote. They allegedly had plans to continue their hostage-taking down the coast when they were nabbed in North Carolina after a chase and crash in November. Mountain View Youth Development Center (HAYES HICKMAN/NEWS SENTINEL) By Hayes Hickman of the Knoxville News Sentinel DANDRIDGE Six Mountain View Youth Development Center staffers were injured in an incident the day after a new management team arrived in the wake of the superintendent's firing last week. Tennessee Department of Children's Services officials Monday would not speak specifically to a number of staff-related incidents reported at the state facility in Jefferson County that preceded the firing of superintendent Tommy Francis on Friday. A team of DCS management staff arrived to take over the facility after Francis, who had been on the job for about 90 days and was accused of using a racial epithet against a student, was terminated. It was the latest in a series of staff issues at the facility for male juvenile felony offenders. As of Monday, the facility had 46 inmates with a cap of 48. DCS administrators would not cite any specific reason for Francis' departure, describing it as a mutual decision to end his contract. No other staffers were fired, officials said. "We weren't seeing that leadership to turn this program around," said DCS Commissioner Bonnie Hommrich during a news conference at Mountain View on Monday. "There were a variety of issues that arose. Some of those, because of (Human Resources) rules, we really cannot go into. You all are well aware of the variety of issues that have occurred here in recent months." On April 11, a former Mountain View guard, 25-year-old Breanna Rose Garber, was indicted on charges of statutory rape by an authority figure, two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, two counts of sexual contact with an inmate, two counts of official misconduct and bringing alcohol into the facility. In January, former nurse Rita Anette Dalton, 41, was indicted on six counts of sexual contact with an inmate and seven counts of official misconduct in connection with several alleged incidents in 2014. Misty Neeley, DCS director of residential operations, was named acting superintendent at Mountain View on Friday. Among the new staff joining Neeley at Mountain View are Dave Anderson, a DCS internal affairs officer who's expected to be on site at least one day a week, and a new interim security manager, Neeley said. On Saturday, the day after the new team's arrival, there was an incident in which at least one guard was assaulted, Neeley said. Three staff members were taken to a local emergency room "as a precautionary measure," said Neeley, who would not discuss details of the incident, citing federal medical privacy laws. "It lasted about 20 minutes and the staff handled it very well," Neeley said. "It was not a riot." She said she witnessed the incident and no local law enforcement was called to the facility. Dandridge Police Chief Carson Williams said after the news conference he heard unofficial reports that the incident involved six staffers, including one who was transported by ambulance. "But no reports have been filed with us," Williams said. DCS spokesman Rob Johnson later said, "Three (staffers) went to the hospital and three others received first aid and finished their shifts. People were afforded the opportunity to get checked out." Johnson added that law enforcement is not called to disturbances at the center unless "we feel we need their assistance. "If an employee wanted to file charges that would be between the employee and law enforcement." DCS administrators on Monday would not confirm another recent report that several Mountain View staff members had beaten handcuffed students in an area of the facility not monitored by security cameras. "It was investigated and action was taken," said Debbie Miller, DCS deputy commissioner of juvenile justice. "I can't share the outcome. Appropriate corrective action was taken." DCS currently is seeking accreditation for its three youth development centers across the state from the Council on Accreditation, a nonprofit accrediting organization for a variety of social services agencies. Tennessee would be the first state to receive COA accreditation for its juvenile "hardware security facilities." As part of the process, DCS is implementing a new "incentive/reward" behavior modification program that moves away from a more traditional youth correctional model, Miller said. "There are always going to be fights," Miller said. "Kids are going to fight, kids are going to pick up a chair and throw it across the room if they get angry or frustrated. "The issue is do the staff react appropriately? Do the staff handle that situation appropriately so that you're minimizing any injuries to youth or injuries to staff and how are you handling those?" SHARE Travis Worley By News Sentinel Staff A second South Knoxville man has been arrested in a string of car burglaries at several South Knox County churches. Travis Lynn Worley, 42, has been charged with aggravated burglary, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office. According to arrest documents, Worley admitted to climbing through an open window at a residence in the 900 block of Valley Drive and taking a Remington .22 caliber rifle and a toolbox. He told authorities where he sold the items, and they were recovered, records show. Charles Lee White, 39, of South Knoxville was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon after a brief foot chase and was charged with one count of felony vandalism in the damaging of a vehicle on April 17 at Stock Creek Baptist Church. The Sheriff's Office announced Monday that White has also been charged with five counts of vehicle burglaries and evading arrest. According to arrest documents, White admitted to authorities that he broke into cars in the parking lots of Valley Grove Baptist Church, Galilee Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church, New Hopewell Baptist Church and Ye Olde Steak House. He is being held at the Knox County jail on a $25,000 bond. SHARE McKinley Lane Cody, charged with first-degree felony murder, robbery, second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the death of 42-year-old Lora Costner of Newport who went missing on Jan. 7, 2016. Her remains were discovered near Lane Drive in Cocke County on March 10. (TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION) By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel A teenager accused in the killing of a Cocke County woman who went missing earlier this year was arraigned Monday. McKinley Lane Cody, 19, was arraigned before Cocke County Circuit Court Judge Ben Hooper II in the death of Lora Hale Costner, 42. Cody is charged with felony murder and an underlying charge of robbery in addition to a lesser charge of second-degree murder under an alternate theory by the state of the slaying of Costner. He also is charged with abuse of a corpse. Hooper set a July 12 plea deadline in the case. Attorney Nick Kear was appointed to represent Cody. Costner went missing Jan. 7. Her remains were discovered March 10 buried on the property of Jerry Cody, who is McKinley Cody's grandfather, near Lane Drive between Newport and Cosby. Cody was indicted by a Cocke County grand jury last week after an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Cocke County Sheriff's Office. Authorities have said Costner died from blows to the back of her head. Cody is accused of killing Costner while robbing her of prescription painkillers, according to a release issued in the case last week. Three days before Costner's remains were discovered, McKinley Cody and his mother, Kathy Cody Williams, as well as two other people were charged with conspiracy to introduce Suboxone pills, a prescription drug used to relieve opiate cravings, into the Cocke County Jail. The quartet is to appear in court Wednesday in that case. Williams was fired in 2013 from her job as Cocke County's E-911 director following her indictment on a charge of official misconduct by using the Tennessee driver's license database for personal use. McKinley Cody remained jailed Tuesday in lieu of $1 million bond. A trial date in the slaying case against him was not immediately available Monday. SHARE Billy Jason Carson (Scott County Sheriff's Office) By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel The widow of an Indiana monster truck driver killed after he tried to stop an angry, drugged motorist's vehicular rampage through a crowd of patrons at a country music concert in Scott County is suing the campground that hosted the "Full Throttle" holiday festival and the event vendor now charged in the death. Cheryl Farrell has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Trails End Campground on River Road in Huntsville, Tenn., and Cleveland, Tenn., resident Billy Jason Carson, a food vendor at the campground's 2015 Memorial Day weekend festival. The lawsuit, drafted by Indiana attorneys David Craig and Scott Faultless and filed locally by Knoxville attorney Tasha C. Blakney, involves the May 23, 2015, death of Cheryl Farrell's husband, Tony Farrell, 50, of North Vernon, Ind., and the injury of the couple's son, Ethan Farrell. Carson, 43, faces a 15-count indictment in what authorities alleged was an angry rampage by a drugged-out Carson, who took umbrage when his drunken friend was punched and twice drove his Toyota SUV into a crowd of patrons and fired a gun into the same crowd as a Trace Adkins concert came to a close. Carson faces charges including vehicular homicide, reckless homicide, a gun count, six counts of reckless endangerment, four counts of aggravated assault and felony vandalism. He was scheduled to appear Monday in Scott County Circuit Court for a motions hearing in that case. Defense attorney James Logan did not return a phone message seeking comment. A representative of the campground could not be reached Monday. According to the lawsuit, prior court testimony and state court records, Tony Farrell, a well-known monster truck driver in Indiana, his wife and their two sons were attending a festival hosted by the Trails End Campground dubbed "Full Throttle," that included a monster truck show and a concert by Adkins. Carson was peddling food as a vendor at the event. At some point, Carson's friend, Josh Baulcom, showed up, got drunk and began "touching, grabbing and harassing women," the lawsuit stated. Someone at the event punched Baulcom, and that sent Carson into a rage, according to prior court testimony and the lawsuit. With Baulcom in the passenger seat, Carson allegedly began driving his SUV "at an excessive speed and in a reckless manner while yelling profanities and holding a firearm near patrons who were attempting to leave the concert venue," the lawsuit stated. An arrest warrant also alleged he fired the gun during the vehicular rampage. Carson's vehicle hit Ethan Farrell and Michael Roysden of Georgia before fleeing, records stated. A short time later, Carson returned in the SUV, and Tony Farrell tried to stop him by reaching into the Toyota and pulling the key from the ignition, the lawsuit stated. "Billy Jason Carson continued to operate the Toyota in a reckless manner by driving around the field at a high rate of speed with Tony Farrell hanging from the Toyota, causing Tony Farrell to be thrown to the ground," the lawsuit stated. "Billy Jason Carson then ran over Tony Farrell while he was on the ground and caused serious injuries, all of which was witnessed with shock, horror, distress, anger, worry and fright by (his wife and sons)." He later died. A patron "finally stopped" Carson by ramming his vehicle into Carson's Toyota and pointing a gun at him, according to the lawsuit. A blood test later revealed the presence of Xanax, a prescription sedative in Carson's system, but no alcohol, although Carson allegedly told a detective with the Scott County Sheriff's Office he had been drinking, according to prior court testimony. The lawsuit accuses campground owners of negligence in allowing Carson to work as a vendor, failing to eject Baulcom from the event, doing nothing to stop Carson's alleged attack and failing to render Tony Farrell medical aid. A specific amount of damages sought is not listed in the lawsuit. Laura Ann Buckingham, 29, Kingston woman charged with criminal intent to commit first-degree murder for allegedly planning a murder-for-hire scheme to kill her ex-spouse, Bradley Sutherland of New Albany, Ind. According to authorities, Buckingham repeatedly asked her boyfriend, Joseph Chamblin, if he could make her ex-spouse "go away." Chamblin is one of four Marines filmed urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters in a 2011 incident in Afghanistan that gained him nationwide notoriety. (ROANE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE) By News Sentinel Staff KINGSTON The case of a pregnant suspect in a murder-for-hire plot goes before the Roane County grand jury next month, and the defendant is free on $150,000 bail posted by a bonding company and her brother, authorities said. Laura Ann Buckingham, 30, is accused of trying to at first coerce her live-in boyfriend into killing her ex-boyfriend over a custody dispute involving their 3-year-old son. The current boyfriend, Joseph Chamblin, is a former Marine sniper infamous for a YouTube video where he and other Marines are seen urinating on dead Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in 2011. After Buckingham repeatedly asked Chamblin details about how former boyfriend Bradley Sutherland of New Albany, Ind., could be killed, Chamblin became concerned, secretly recorded Buckingham, and provided those digital recordings to a Roane County deputy and an investigator. A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent posing as a hit man met with Buckingham and recorded on audio and video "many conversations" with Buckingham, according to court records. Buckingham, also a former Marine who was stationed in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, was arrested Feb. 24 and charged with attempted first-degree murder. Related: Baker accused of murder plot tested limits The state at first filed a motion for an increased bond, contending that Buckingham, who had moved to Kingston from Indiana two months earlier, had no local connections. The motion also cited Buckingham's "unique military training and experience, coupled with reported historical mental health concerns," in seeking a higher bond. The state and Buckingham, who had earlier waived her right to an attorney, came to an agreement in March after prosecutors became aware of her pregnancy that she could be released on the $150,000 bond. A pregnant inmate is "always an issue for the jail from an expense and medical liability standpoint," District Attorney General Russell Johnson said Monday. Under the agreement, Buckingham must wear a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet and she must remain in Tennessee for now. The option to live with her father out of state could be reconsidered "if good cause is shown," a court order states. Buckingham on Friday waived her right to a preliminary hearing, and her case goes before the grand jury June 20. The public defender's office was appointed to represent her. The case has spurred national media attention. The defendant, who stands 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds, reportedly boxed in high school, rejected a modeling career in favor of the military, and owned a cafe and bakery in New Albany. Chamblin wrote a book about his wartime exploits titled "Into Infamy." Heavy storms caused a tree to fall onto Knoxville City Councilman Duane Grieve's home in Sequoyah Hills on Monday. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) By News Sentinel staff Luckily, the worst damage Knoxville Vice Mayor Duane Grieve's West Knoxville home suffered from a fallen tree was the crushing of some azalea bushes and shrubbery. "Which is really too bad, but it could have been a lot worse," he said. On Monday, after a line of thunderstorms went through East Tennessee, Grieve arrived home to find a tree had fallen on his house. The tree hit the back of the house and rolled off. One small area needed to be covered by a tarp, he said, but no water got into the home. "We're really lucky," he said, noting that other trees blocked the falling one from cause more damage to the house. "It could have caused a lot of damage as far as water on the inside. It broke the plaster and cracked the plaster, but there's no water on the inside." The National Weather Service in Morristown said a line of thunderstorms that developed ahead of a cold front was the culprit Monday evening. "There were one or two of those storms that reached severe levels and they remained a good chunk of the late afternoon and early evening hours," said meteorologist Mary Black. "We had reports as it was moving through of several trees down across the area and including some large hail." Related: Preliminary storm reports Black said the storms dropped quarter-sized to ping-pong ball sized hail. And there was at least one report of golf-ball sized hail in the Farragut area, she said. "Most of the storms along that line pretty much did not cause any significant situations," Black said. "But there were one or two storms they were definitely putting out some strong winds and some hail." The amount of rain that fell at McGhee Tyson Airport was about 0.27 inches, but Black said some areas may have seen up to 2 inches. While some showers may appear Tuesday morning, the main band of storms and heavy rains have moved out of the area. "In the morning hours we could still some of that lingering stuff but that should be quite minimal," she said. "Most people are going to see a dry morning and we go into the afternoon with a little bit of sunshine we might see some isolated thunderstorms develop but again we're not looking for anything significant. "They should just be scattered, hit or miss kind of showers." High temperatures are expected between 70 and 75 degrees. Superintendent Jim McIntyre, left, chats with Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen at Green Magnet Math & Science Academy on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. (ADAM LAU/NEWS SENTINEL) By Jason Gonzales, USA TODAY NETWORK, The Tennessean Tennessee officials knew of concerns about Measurement Inc.'s ability to fulfill its five-year, $108 million contract to administer the new online TNReady standardized test even before this year's failed rollout, according to documents and interviews with education officials in other states. During the state's contract vetting process, the company's ability to oversee online testing at the level required by Tennessee was a concern. Measurement Inc.s online system was relatively untested at the scale the state was asking, the records and interviews show. Concerns about the company existed in at least one other state. Connecticut officials in a 2014 Tennessee reference check first raised issues about the companys online testing platform known as Measurement Incorporated Secure Testing, or MIST. "Their online test delivery system, MIST, has not been top notch," according to the documents used to vet the company in the contract selection process. "MIST has not been easily responsive to changes and additions, especially for innovative tests types or test accommodations." Continue reading at The Tennessean, a News Sentinel partner. SHARE Last week Gov. Bill Haslam signed House Bill 1840 into law. Often called Hate Bill 1840 or the counseling discrimination bill, it states that a counselor or therapist can deny services and refer a client based on their strongly held personal beliefs. In short, this bill represents legalized discrimination that specifically targets lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, and it places both LGBT youths and clients in rural areas at particular risk. Proponents of Hate Bill 1840 argue that the bill is necessary to protect the rights of the counselors. They further claim that therapy is a service like any other business, and that the "freedom of the marketplace" should allow businesses to sell what they want and consumers to purchase exactly what they desire. By this reasoning, shouldn't we require all counselors to explicitly stipulate the issues they eschew on their professional websites, business cards and other public relations materials? Imagine the scenario drawn out: Disagree with the LGBT lifestyle? Say it loud and proud on your homepage. Disagree with war? Hang a sign in your window indicating that you cannot and will not help veterans. Any counseling professional can imagine the chaos that would surely ensue and the damage that would incur. The overarching problem with this framework is that therapy is not a typical business transaction. The well-being and safety of the clients, not profit, is the primary concern. Which is precisely why the ethical standards of counselors do not discriminate between types of counseling: counseling equals counseling equals counseling. Whether counseling issues of the heart, the mind or the body, the code of ethics is universal in order to protect the clients. In counseling, the relationship is the fundamental mechanism of change. HB 1840 would upend this fundamental assumption and jeopardize the health of the clients. Under existing Tennessee counselor licensure law and the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics, both the client and the counselor are protected. Counselors are already allowed to provide an appropriate referral of a client to another counselor or therapist. Further, the existing law stipulates that counselors must inform their clients of their theoretical orientation, so that the clients are able to make an informed decision about their own treatment. The right to refuse service is given to the client first, rather than the counselor. The difference between the protections offered through Tennessee counselor licensure law and Hate Bill 1840 is that this bill would permit counselors to deny services based on quick, rash judgments without fear of professional repercussions, resulting in detrimental consequences for the client and their health. Hate Bill 1840 is, fundamentally, in opposition to the primary goal of counselors and therapists alike: the protection of our clients. Leticia Flores is a licensed psychologist based in Knoxville and is the director of the University of Tennessee's Psychological Clinic, which trains doctoral students to provide culturally competent therapy and assessment services. The views expressed in this column are those of the writer and not the university. SHARE The announcement last week that the Tennessee Valley Authority would move out of its headquarters and into a new building could be a catalyst for further growth in downtown Knoxville. First and foremost, TVA management's decision which would need to be approved by its board of directors renews the federal utility's commitment to keep its headquarters and employees in the city. Second, the move opens up redevelopment possibilities for the twin towers that have been TVA's home since 1976. TVA President and CEO Bill Johnson said the utility plans to sell the towers and the Summer Place office building and garage just west of the headquarters. The deal would require the new owner to build a headquarters on the Summer Place location to TVA's specifications. The developer would be able to renovate or replace the 12-story towers. TVA has retained the CBRE Inc. global commercial real estate group to handle marketing of the property and plans to go before its board with a proposal later this year. Congress established TVA in 1933. Initially its headquarters was in Muscle Shoals, Ala., but it soon moved to Knoxville. In 1981 the state of Alabama lost a legal battle seeking the return of the headquarters to Muscle Shoals. TVA made its decision as part of an agency-wide review of its real estate holdings. Officials say their primary focus is on buildings with low occupancy rates and those in poor condition. The move across Walnut Street makes sense for TVA. The utility occupies only about 40 percent of the towers, and the number of TVA employees downtown has shrunk from about 5,000 in the mid-1970s to 740 today. Though TVA's workforce is smaller, keeping its headquarters downtown, where it has been since the late 1930s, is important for the city. "We are very encouraged that TVA wants to stay downtown and is committed to keeping its headquarters here," Jesse Fox Mayshark, the city's director of communications, said. "We look forward to working with them to assist in the development or redevelopment of the property." TVA had considered selling the headquarters buildings in 2004, but market conditions weren't favorable. In the past dozen years, however, downtown has seen a dramatic revival and the towers' prime location on north edge of historic Market Square should generate interest. A developer would have manifold options. Renovating the towers, which have a combined 620,000 square feet of space, would seem to make sense only if the demand for Class A office space is strong or a major tenant lined up ahead of time. The possibility of replacing the towers with a mixed-use building or buildings more in keeping with the historic character of Market Square would be ideal if the new owner could make it financially feasible. TVA is part of the fabric of the city, and keeping the federal utility's headquarters here is of vital importance. The possible redevelopment of a prominent downtown property is an added bonus. The plan has the potential to benefit both TVA and the city of Knoxville. SHARE I respect Tom Humphrey, and through the years, I have agreed with about 95 percent of his opinions about the state Legislature. His comments relative to "corporate welfare," however, are in the 5 percent with which I differ. If state and local governments do not offer incentives to new and expanding industries, new companies will locate in states that do offer incentives. The upside of offering incentives and securing additional jobs and capital investment from new industries (and expanding resident companies) is more than any governor or legislator can oppose. Almost everyone understands that new companies and expanding resident industries in our state help all of us. It is even more difficult for local and state officials to deny resident companies incentives. Existing companies frequently threaten to leave and expand in states and communities that do extend incentives. Few local and state officials are going to call a threatening company's bluff and risk losing the jobs and tax base. In addition, those jobs would create salaries for employees who in turn would have income to buy goods and services that generate sales taxes to fund Tennessee and local governments, not to mention property taxes paid at the local level. It is unrealistic to expect local and state officials not to offer incentives to meet the competition. It is also unrealistic to expect American companies not to ask for incentives. They are in a fight to survive and compete with foreign companies that do not have the tax, environmental and regulatory burdens that are imposed in America. If incentives are offered to domestic industries, companies from outside the country demand them, too. No one is enamored with incentives, but they are a necessary evil. Until every state and community refuses to offer them, and do so at the same time (which is highly unlikely), incentives will continue. Jack Hammontree, Knoxville GM Korea, the local unit of U.S. automaker General Motors Co., will recall 3,987 units of its Aveo subcompact for problems with their headlights, the transport ministry said Monday. The headlamps of the model were found to be tilted at a higher angle than what local car safety regulations allow, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The problem has been detected in 3,987 Aveo subcompacts produced between Aug. 10, 2015, and Dec. 19, 2015. Free repair services will be available starting Tuesday at GM Korea service centers throughout the country. The ministry also said Nissan Korea Co. will call back 395 Maxima luxury sedans produced between Nov. 25, 2015, and Feb. 12, 2016, for defects in their brake actuators. Toyota Motor Korea Co. will also recall 229 units of Lexus-branded ES350 sedans manufactured between Sept. 10, 2015, and Feb. 18, 2016, for the same problems. (Yonhap) South Korea's top cosmetics maker AmorePacific said Monday its first-quarter earnings jumped 33.1 percent on-year thanks to a strong performance in overseas markets. Net profit came to 325 billion won ($284 million) in the January-March period on a consolidated basis, compared with a profit of 244 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Operating income rose 31 percent on-year to 419 billion won during the cited period, while sales gained 22 percent to 1.75 trillion won, it said. The company said global sales showed faster growth as its products enjoyed popularity in China, its largest export destination. Sales from the global and domestic markets jumped 46 percent and 14 percent, respectively, in the first three months of this year. "The overseas market drove profitability through the expansion of distribution channels online and offline," a company official said. Revenue from the North American region continued to grow on the back of the expanded distribution channels, with luxury brand Sulhwasoo and casual lineup Laneige logging solid sales. In contrast, the European market showed sluggish performance due to an economic slowdown, it said. Among brands, Innisfree, a natural-themed budget line, marked the highest growth of 31 percent, while Etude House, a color makeup line, recovered from last year's slump to advance 16 percent during the period, the company said. (Yonhap) [Reporter's Notebook] By Choi Sung-jin The tug-of-war between the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Korea over how to finance the restructuring of shipping and shipbuilding industries appeared to end as BOK Governor Lee Ju-yeol backed down on Monday. The Park Geun-hye administration has asked the central bank to print money to replenish the capital base of the state-run banks holding the equities of companies in trouble, in what financial officials describe as "Korean-style quantitative easing." The BOK opposed the move, saying the government should finance its economic policy with the budget instead of trying to use the central bank as a tool and hurting the latter's independence. "They are attempting to cushion the shock of failed policy with more government-dictated financing," the BOK union said. In principle, the BOK is right. The primary role of any central bank is to stabilize the value of money, and printing more weakens the value of the national currency, including money held by ordinary people. And many economists think the situation is not grave enough to justify the means of last resort. But government officials say the situation is so urgent that they can hardly wait for the National Assembly to approve such a move. Moreover, increasing fiscal spending directly increases taxpayers' financial burden, they say. In any case -- whether the central bank prints more money or the government formulates an extra budget -- it is people, mainly taxpayers, who will foot the bill for bailing out troubled industries and companies. The financial authorities, or the government, and the central bank are just playing drop-the-handkerchief to pass the final buck to each other. So it is high time to discuss who should take the biggest responsibility for the industrial and corporate failures, and the rap, if for no other purpose than preventing a repetition of similar industrial fiascos. First and foremost, large shareholders and top managers of the two large shipping companies and three shipbuilders have to hold themselves accountable for mismanagement by, for instance, selling non-essential subsidiaries and even private assets. It was ethically unforgivable in this regard for the largest shareholder of Hanjin Shipping and her family to sell their shares just before the company began a corporate work-out program with creditors. Some labor aristocrats are not completely free from responsibility, because they have demanded wages more than twice the national average during the boom while trying to ensure jobs even for their children and shifting the hardest work to in-house subcontract workers. The two government-run banks -- the Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea -- should be responsible for their poor supervision of the businesses into which an enormous amount of taxpayer money has already been invested. These state-run lenders instead were bent on sending their retiring officials to the shipping and shipbuilding companies, who could not, and would not, check these companies' important management decisions, let alone their day-to-day operations. At the top of this chain of responsibility are the government's policymakers. These know-all technocrats weakened the competitiveness of shipping companies by forcing them to keep debt ratios suitable for other sectors while encouraging shipyards to jump into offshore plant business when oil prices reached a peak only to see the prices slump in a few years. Successive presidents and their parties also filled the top posts of state lenders with their confidants and unsuccessful election candidates. When these industries and companies return to normal, either thanks to successful restructuring and the return of a boom or both, most of those who should take responsibility will likely remain at their posts, having cost taxpayers' several dozens of trillions of won. How long must Koreans endure this exploitation under the pretext of restructuring? By Lee Hyo-sik Korean companies are rushing to capitalize on lucrative opportunities in Iran, which has emerged as a new El Dorado for local builders, shipbuilders and other struggling manufacturers desperate to prop up their slowing businesses, according to industry analysts Monday. Automakers and other consumer goods producers are also betting high on Iran, with its 80 million consumers having shown a growing appetite for a wide range of made-in-Korea products, after the United States and other Western economies lifted sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation in January. Reflecting high expectations among Korean business communities, 236 CEOs of large and small companies, including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo, are accompanying President Park Geun-hye who is now in Tehran for a three-day state visit to discuss an array of issues with Iranian leaders. The business delegation is the largest ever when President Park went to the United States last October, she was accompanied by 166 CEOs. During Park's visit, local construction firms are widely expected to sign multiple deals to build ports, railways, refining plants and other infrastructure-related facilities in Iran. Shipbuilders will also likely secure new orders to construct container and LNG ships, while shipping firms will boost cooperation with their Iranian counterparts. Electronics makers, carmakers, banks and trading firms are also hoping that the President's visit will help them expand or set up a presence there. "The largest-ever business delegation is accompanying the President to Iran, which shows domestic companies are desperate to find new opportunities amid the prolonged global economic slump," said Kim Yong-tae, a director at the Korea International Trade Association. "Iran has the world's fourth-largest crude oil reserves and the second-largest natural gas reserves. The nation will also provide a boon to local consumer goods makers as its 80 million people have become wealthier on the back of strong growth." Kim said construction firms will be the biggest beneficiary of Iran's return to the global community as the country needs to upgrade its aging infrastructure under decades-long international sanctions. "Iran needs to improve roads, railways, ports and other urban infrastructure, as well as enhance refining plants and other industrial facilities," the director said. "Park's visit will also help domestic consumer goods makers enter Iran. Hallyu, the Korean cultural wave, has significantly improved Iranians' view of Koreans and Korean products." According to SK Group, Chairman Chey is accompanying President Park to seek new business opportunities in the areas of refining and construction. SK Innovation plans to import more crude oil from Iran and ship back more refinery products. GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo went to Iran with the President to help GS Energy secure exploration rights for crude oil and natural gas from the Iranian government. The company is competing fiercely with Shell, Total, British Petroleum and other oil majors. POSCO Chairman Kwon Oh-joon is also in Iran to facilitate the steelmaker's project to build a FINEX plant, capable of producing 1.6 million tons of steel annually, while Korean Air sent its president Chi Chang-hoon ahead of the beginning of regular flights between Seoul and Tehran. KT&G, which opened a cigarette plant in Iran in 2009, is considering expanding its production capacity to increase its market share. Hyundai Motor, South Korea's leading carmaker, said Monday that its sales in April dropped 5.5 percent from a year earlier on weaker demand both at home and abroad. Hyundai Motor said in a press release that it sold 412,626 vehicles in April, compared with 436,742 units a year before. Domestic sales fell 5.7 percent on-year to 59,465 units, with its sales in overseas markets also retreating 5.5 percent to 353,161. During the first four months of the year, its cumulative sales came to 1,520,288 units, down 6.2 percent from the same period a year earlier, the company said. (Yonhap) GM Korea, the local unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors, said Monday that its sales in April dipped 4.1 percent from a year earlier on a lackluster overseas performance. The carmaker said in a press release that it sold 50,580 units last month, compared with 52,746 units a year earlier. Its domestic sales expanded 10.2 percent on-year to 13,978 units, with the Spark city car and Impala midsize sedan leading the way. The company's overseas shipments, however, shrank 8.6 percent to 36,602 units. During the first four months of the year, its cumulative sales grew 1.3 percent to 200,528 units, the company said. (Yonhap) By Jhoo Dong-chan AmorePacific's operating profit surged 21.5 percent to 337.8 billion won ($297 million) in the first quarter, as sales of its affiliated cosmetic brands including Sulwhasoo were successfully expanded to the global market, the company said in a press release. The sales reached 1.48 trillion won while net profit recorded 262.9 billion won, each 23.3 and 24.4 percent up from the previous year's figure. The nation's leading cosmetics and beauty brand said that strong demand in overseas markets led to the sales success. Its overseas business surged 46 percent in sales and 37 percent in operating profit. Of them, sales growth jumped by 50 percent in the Asian market to 378.7 billion won in the first quarter. "The company's five global brands Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Mamonde, Innisfree and Etude have received favorable demand especially in the Asian market, leading the company's growth," said a company official. AmorePacific also continued its sales growth by 24 percent in the North American market. Also, the company's luxury brands Sulwhasoo and Laneige were reportedly leading the drive. Due to shrinking consumption in Europe, however, the company saw a 6.4 percent decrease in sales in the period. Thanks to AmorePacific's positive sales report for the first quarter, the shares surged 0.86 percent to 411,000 won Monday, up 3,500 won from the previous day. Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Kim Soo-an / Courtesy of DAUM Movie By Bahk Eun-ji The thriller "Train to Busan" has been invited to screen at the 69th Cannes Film Festival, the film's distributor NEW said on Monday. Actors Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Kim Soo-an and director Yeon Sang-ho will attend the world premiere there and the red carpet event. The film is about people trying to flee from Seoul to Busan by train. It is the director's second invitation to the festival. Yeon was invited to the 65th festival for his animated film "The King of Pigs" in 2011. This year's festival will be held from May 11-22. Park Hae-jin / Courtesy of Mountain Movement By Bahk Eun-ji Actor Park Hae-jin will be a guest on popular Chinese talk show "Fei Chang Jing Juli," Mountain Movement agency said Monday. The show is one of the oldest talk shows in China and special guests have included many Asian stars, such as Andy Lau, Yang Mi and Berlin Chen. Park will share his experiences while shooting the popular Korean romance drama "Cheese in the Trap" on tvN. The episode of the Chinese talk show in which Park appears will go to air early next month. Park will hold fan meetings in Beijing on May 20, Taiwan on June 9 and Thailand on July 31. By Kim Da-hee The Dongwon Group will help victims of the earthquake that struck Ecuador on April 16, the group announced Monday. Lee Myung-woo, CEO of Dongwon Industries, Korea's largest deep-sea fishing company, met Oscar Herrera Gilbert, the Ecuadorian Ambassador to Korea in Seoul on Monday. Lee said the company would donate $50,000 and send food and other goods worth about $100,000. "The group feels deeply sorry about the earthquake in Ecuador, which offered aid to Korea during the Korean War," the group said. "[The group] also want to help the victims because Dongwon's subsidiary StarKist Co. runs factories in Ecuador." The 7.8-magnitude earthquake has left hundreds dead and thousands injured. By Kim Da-hee Police have nabbed more than 20 Korean-Chinese workers for using of illegal drugs, Goyang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province said Thursday. The police arrested 13 workers and booked 10 without detention for violating drug laws. Police said some of the suspects smuggled drugs from China and sold them for $440 per gram from Feb 1 to Apr 22. Police confiscated 15 grams of methamphetamine and 1.5 million won ($1,300). The workers told the police they took drugs "to forget loneliness and the difficulty of living in Korea," according to Kyunghyang Shimmun. Police said they would crack down on drug trafficking among Korean-Chinese here. Lee Jin-seog, director general of the education ministry's academic research affairs and financial aid bureau, looks at press release papers about the ministry's inspection of admissions to the nation's 25 law schools during a media briefing at the Government Complex in Sejong, Monday, as he faced difficult questions from reporters critical of the "poor" inspection results. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun An investigation by the education authorities into allegations of admissions fraud at the nation's law schools has finished without any meaningful findings, failing to uncover evidence of children of high-ranking legal professionals being given preferential treatment. The Ministry of Education said Monday that it uncovered fraud in only five cases of admissions out of 6,000 students at 25 law schools across the country from 2014 to 2016. The results came after months of investigation into the schools following suspicions that children of former and incumbent high-profile legal professionals entered them unfairly by highlighting their family backgrounds in their self-introduction essays, one of the key admission requirements, as their parents have ties with professors. According to the investigation, there were 24 cases in which students who had been accepted had disclosed the jobs of their parents or relatives in their essays. Among them, the ministry found five in which the applicants wrote about their parents' jobs in detail such that the schools could identify their parents or relatives in high-ranking positions. "One applicant wrote that his father was the head of a district court, while another wrote that his father was the head of a law firm," Lee Jin-seog, director general of the ministry's academic research affairs and financial aid bureau, said during a briefing at the Government Complex in Sejong. However, the ministry did not disclose the names of the parents and their institutions "due to concerns of privacy." But only one out of the five violated admissions regulations, because the school had stated that applicants were banned from writing personal details about their parents and relatives in their essays, while the other four had not, the ministry said. It added that it could not make the schools cancel admissions of those students who wrote about the work of their parents and relatives, as it was unable to determine whether their parents' jobs were the decisive factor in their admission. "The students are evaluated based on various factors such as legal education eligibility test (LEET) scores, undergraduate GPA, English scores and interview performances," Lee said. However, most of the schools do not disclose the percentage of each factor in the evaluation. Instead of cancelling admissions, the ministry imposed warnings on the schools, adding that this will be reflected later when the ministry evaluates the schools for financial support or license renewal. Top schools such as Seoul National, Yonsei and Korea University were included among the schools that did not state that applicants were banned from disclosing job titles of family members. The ministry ordered all 25 schools to ban this from the introductory essays and disqualify applicants who violate it. Since the law school system was adopted in 2009, there have been rumors about children of high ranking officials being granted "special" admissions. The latest suspicion was raised by a book by Shin Pyeong, a professor at Kyung Pook National University's law school, published in March. According to the book, a professor at the law school lobbied fellow professors to accept an applicant whose father was a lawyer and also an acquaintance of his. Many parents in the legal profession, call professors at the law schools requesting that their children be admitted with the promise of hiring the school's graduates, Shin said in the book. /Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Jin-a Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency will launch a crackdown on taxi and van drivers who overcharge foreigners near Incheon Airport and Incheon Harbor. Police will clamp down on drivers without a taxi license or a taximeter, who overcharge customers, tout on streets or issue false receipts. The police will distribute report cards in English, Chinese and Japanese at taxi ranks near the airport and harbor, because the offences mainly occur during the ride. Passengers who believe they have experienced any of the offences can fill in a report card and file the report with police. The police agency will also create a Facebook page on which foreigners can file reports. "Even though the police regularly clamp down on drivers, overcharging or touting on streets has not decreased," said a police agency official. "We are worried that Korea's image is being damaged. Please call 112 if you experienced or witnessed illegal actions by drivers." Ataur Rashid Safdar, head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, bows as he apologizes to the victims of the company's toxic humidifier disinfectants and sterilizers, and their families during a press conference at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in central Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Reckitt Benckiser short of details on compensation By Kim Se-jeong The head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (RB) apologized Monday to victims of the company's humidifier disinfectant and sterilizer products that were allegedly responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people. The company said it would set up a panel by July to negotiate individual compensation. However, the belated apology five years after the products were found to be responsible for the deaths and lung problems drew howls of protest and criticism from the victims. They claimed the company apologized only because it faces an investigation by the prosecution and a massive boycott campaign. Critics also said the company fell short of disclosing details on how to compensate victims and its responsibility. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, Ataur Rashid Safdar, a company director, said the company will negotiate first with family members of victims who died, and people who developed serious lung problems according to government classifications. He said the company will take care of other victims. "OXY RB accepts responsibility for the role that Oxy products played and the delay in providing an adequate remedy," Safdar said. He said he is representing both the Korean unit and the British head office of Reckitt Benckiser. He vowed several times before the camera and several victims at the press conference. "I would like to offer a heartfelt and sincere apology to all victims and their families who have suffered as a result of the humidifier disinfectant issue." Ataur Rashid Safdar, right, head of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, is interrupted by relatives of victims of the company's toxic humidifier disinfectants and sterilizers, during a press conference held at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in central Seoul as he was delivering an apology, Monday. / Yonhap Oxy's product was one of more than 10 brands sold in Korea until August 2011. Government-confirmed deaths from the products have reached 146, and 103 among them were Oxy consumers. Among all 530 victims, both dead and alive, 403 said they had used Oxy products. Safdar did not elaborate on who will form the panel and how it will operate. He also didn't answer about the estimated amount of compensation. "I cannot give the amount, as the panel has to decide that," he said. He firmly denied the company's knowledge about the toxicity of the chemical used in the products, known as PHMG. "What I can tell you is we never, ever knowingly sell a product that might be harmful. We'd also like to know the outcome of the investigation," he said. Safdar said that if the prosecution's investigation discloses any evidence that the company's employees were aware of the harmfulness in advance, "We will take swift and immediate action." A much delayed apology was not enough to console victims. Some of the bereaved family members interrupted him in the middle of the speech and attempted to physically attack him during the nationally-televised conference. They also cursed at the director out loud. Choi Seung-woon, a father who lost his child because of the use of the Oxy product, refused to accept the apology. "It is just a show for Oxy to influence the prosecution's investigation and allay mounting pressure," he said after taking the microphone at the end of the press conference. "Do you know how often I called your office? You never answered me. Now, you say you're sorry before all these cameras. How am I to believe that you're sincerely sorry?" After the conference, the Asian Citizen's Center for Environment and Health, an NGO helping the victims, also filed a complaint with the prosecution against eight employees of Reckitt Benckiser's headquarters for allegedly knowingly letting the Korean branch sell toxic products. U.S. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is willing to strengthen relations with allies, even though he will seek to have them pay more for American defense support, a foreign policy adviser was quoted as saying Sunday. Walid Phares, an expert on terrorism and Middle Eastern affairs who served as a foreign affairs adviser for former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, made the remark in an interview with the Jiji Press, according to the Japan Times. Trump "would like to strengthen" the alliance, Phares was quoted as saying. In a major foreign policy speech last week, Trump said that allies are not paying their fair share for U.S. defense support, and the U.S. must be prepared to "let these countries defend themselves" unless they foot more of the bill for defense. Though the real-estate tycoon made no mention of South Korea, the remark spurred concern that if elected, he could seek to pull the 28,500 American troops from the Asian ally unless Seoul agrees to pay more. Trump made the case again on Sunday, "Look, we're defending Germany, we're defending Japan, South Korea, we're defending Saudi Arabia with all of that money, and we're not getting properly reimbursed," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "We're like the policeman to the world. What's going on is crazy." He also said that foreign countries are concerned about him because they feel he's very strong, and that he will have much more respect than Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton from foreign leaders. Phares said that strengthening alliances is one thing and renegotiating cost-sharing is another. "When it comes to the defense matters and spending, spending is one track and the alliance is another track," he said in the interview. "Our commitment to allies ... is going to be permanent," Phares was quoted as saying. "This is part of our policy. If there are intentions by hostile forces against our allies, we will actually be standing with our allies." Phares said Trump's apparent threat to pull American troops from allies could be "a theoretical scenario," but that does not in any way mean he is going to abandon the alliances. Trump's remarks mean that he's serious about negotiating cost-sharing. Phares described Trump's controversial suggestion that South Korea and Japan could be allowed to develop nuclear weapons for self-defense as "extreme scenarios," adding that Trump prefers to have all options on the table. (Yonhap) Kuwait's Prime Minister Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah will visit Seoul this week for talks with high-level South Korean government officials and business leaders to bolster bilateral economic cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. Jaber will arrive here on Sunday for a four-day visit on the invitation of South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn. Korea is the fourth leg of his five-nation trip to Asia that includes Bangladesh, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan. During his stay here, he is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Park Geun-hye, hold talks with his South Korean counterpart Hwang and meet with leaders of major firms and medical facilities here, the ministry said in a press release. It was his first visit to South Korea since he took office in December 2011. He is to be accompanied by the Middle Eastern country's ministers in charge of oil, education, housing, foreign affairs and healthcare, the ministry said. "Since President Park visited Kuwait in March 2015, the two countries have continued bilateral exchanges among high-level officials. Despite a fall in oil prices, our enterprises have actively advanced into Kuwait's market," the ministry said. "We hope that Prime Minister Jaber's visit this time would serve as an opportunity to further deepen and expand such cooperative ties between the two countries." The trade volume between the two countries was tallied at $9.89 billion last year, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association. (Yonhap) Argentine Vice President Gabriela Michetti will visit South Korea next week for a series of high-level meetings as the two nations seek to expand bilateral ties, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. Michetti, who doubles as president of the Argentine National Senate, will arrive in Seoul on Sunday at the invitation of Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and stay here for three days, the ministry said in a press release. She is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Park Geun-hye, hold talks with Hwang and meet with National Assembly speaker Chung Ui-hwa. "Vice President Michetti's visit is expected to contribute to the expansion and development of practical cooperation based on the two countries' friendly ties," the ministry said. Michetti is also scheduled to receive an honorary doctoral degree at the Catholic University of Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Argentina is the third largest economy in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Last year, two-way trade between South Korea and Argentina reached $1.75 billion, with the Asian country exporting $1.05 billion worth of cell phones, cars and other goods to the South American nation, according to official data. Argentina, which is rich in natural resources such as copper and lithium, has adopted pro-market, pro-West policies under President Mauricio Macri, who took office in December. (Yonhap) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hands President Park Geun-hye his microphone after her mike failed during a joint press conference held after their summit at Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Monday. / Yonhap Korea urged to seek balancing role between Saudi, Iran By Yi Whan-woo South Korea needs to pursue balanced diplomacy in the Middle East, said analysts Monday with President Park Geun-hye currently in Tehran amid escalating rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It's hoped that Park's visit to Tehran will result not only in huge economic benefits for Seoul, but will also be a help in dealing with North Korea. However, it could put Korea's ties with Saudi Arabia and other friendly nations to the test. "We should join the rush to Iran while bolstering ties with Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations led by Sunni Muslims," said In Nam-sik, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. "Park's visit to Iran could be wrongly interpreted as South Korea turning its back on Saudi Arabia. Korea should seek understanding from this and continue to enhance economic cooperation with the country." Park is the first South Korean leader to visit Iran since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1962. But they have only been engaged in limited trading activities and had no political ties due to the now-scrapped U.S.-led international sanctions against Tehran for its nuclear ambitions. North Korea and Iran have, in general, had positive relations over the past decades, with suspicions that they may have cooperated on their respective nuclear programs. Both countries were once branded as the "axis of evil" countries by former U.S. President George W. Bush in 2002 for their pursuance of weapons of mass destruction. And a landmark agreement between Iran and the U.S., China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and Germany leaves North Korea as the only country under U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions for continuing to seek nuclear arms. South Korea and Iran agreed Monday to promote partnerships in science and technology, riding on President Park Geun-hye's landmark visit to Tehran. The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning here said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran's Ministry of Science Research and Technology on "various research cooperation" in both the basic and applied science fields. The two sides plan to launch a joint science-technology committee next year to discussion the details, it added. The ministry will also update an MOU with Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for closer ties. South Korea signed the accord with Iran in 1990 before joining international sanctions against Tehran for its nuclear program. "In the ICT sector, in particular, Iran was South Korea's key cooperation partner in the region before the economic sanctions," South Korea's ICT Minister Choi Yang-hee said. The ministry will try to actively use Park's trip as an opportunity for South Korean advanced technology and ICT firms to tap into Iran, he added. Iran's ICT market was valued at US$17.9 billion in 2014 and it's expected to grow to $29.8 billion in 2020. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute of South Korea inked a separate accord with TEM Invest Co., a top Iranian firm specializing in ICT investment, on strategic partnerships. The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology also agreed to push for joint research projects with the University of Tehran. South Korea's major mobile carriers such as KT Corp. and SK Telecom Co are also seeking to strengthen cooperation with their local peers on mobile phone and broadband services. (Yonhap) Kim Kyung-jae, new president of the conservative civic group Korea Freedom Federation (KFF), holds an interview with The Korea Times at the KFF headquarters in central Seoul on April 25. / Korea Times photo by Jun Ji-hye By Jun Ji-hye The new president of the conservative civic group, Korea Freedom Federation (KFF), said the group, which has some 5 million members nationwide, will lead the preparations for the unification of the two Koreas. During a recent interview with The Korea Times, Kim Kyung-jae, who was inaugurated on April 28, said he will do his best to attract centrists as well as conservatives to help push the KFF's initiatives. Kim's election as the president of the far-right civic group on Feb. 25 for a three-year term came as a surprise, given that he was one of the closest confidants of late liberal President Kim Dae-jung. The 73-year-old served as a two-term lawmaker from 1996 to 2004, representing the liberal Suncheon district in South Jeolla Province. The group usually holds the inauguration ceremony around March 10, but Kim postponed it to April 28 this year, out of concern that the ceremony, which invites a number of influential politicians, may affect the April 13 general elections. "I think I was elected as the president because the KFF wanted a change," he said. "I want the KFF to embrace a broad range of forces, from conservatives to centrists." He said he decided to run for the presidency of the KFF with the belief that the conservative forces would not be enough to achieve the national task of the unification of South and North Korea. He believes his background as a former aide to the liberal president could considerably help the KFF, which was established in June 1954 with the initial aim of rejecting communism, expand its horizons and move toward national integration. "Progressive forces can also be integrated once they strip their bloc of North Korean sympathizers," he said, noting that the recent political trend, in which the conservative party recruits liberal leaders and vice versa, seems to be a good idea. To overcome ideological divide As part of efforts to overcome the deepening division between ideologies, which Kim cited as a major obstacle to the unification, Kim called for erecting statues of four former Presidents Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. This is an artist's conception of the statues of four former Presidents, from left, Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung, which Korea Freedom Federation President Kim Kyung-jae wants to erect at Gwanghwamun Square in an effort to address an ideological divide in Korean society. / Graphic by Cho Sang-won "Syngman Rhee founded the country, and Park Chung-hee achieved industrialization and spectacular economic growth, while the two Kims contributed a lot to achieving the nation's democracy," he said. "Today's Republic of Korea would have never existed without the four. The people should embrace them all." Kim said the lower portion of the statues should be attached to each other in order to prevent critics from destroying the statue of the president whom they do not respect. "When all the statues are attached, the people will have to show respect to all of them even if they want to do so to only one," he said. "By doing so, Gwanghwamun Plaza will be a place that brings national harmony." Kim made the proposal because the conservative Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee have been criticized by liberals for holding back democracy, while Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung have been cited as symbols of the nation's struggle for democratization. Despite the criticisms against Rhee and Park, the father of incumbent President Park Geun-hye, Kim stressed that their respective roles in laying the constitutional and economic foundations of the country should never be ignored. Kim said achieving national harmony first in South Korea will help lay the ground work for the unification of the Korean Peninsula, and eventually give freedom to the people of North Korea. "The terrible living conditions of North Korean people are unimaginable. We are focusing on unification to alleviate their sufferings as soon as possible," he said. "A dictator like Kim Jong-un never existed in the past and will never exist in the future. He has viciously killed his people." He also believes a big change in the North Korean regime will happen in three or four years, as complaints among its people have been significantly increasing. Kim said he was once a supporter of the so-called "Sunshine Policy" of late President Kim Dae-jung that called for active engagement and reconciliation with the North. However, his thoughts changed after he visited the communist state as the then president's secret emissary. "I visited the North for eight days. At the time, Kim Jong-un's father, Kim Jong-il, was in power. I was treated really well there," he said. "During the visit, I wanted to check whether the enormous amount of rice that the Kim administration sent to the regime was delivered to the ordinary people, but the North did not allow me to do so." Kim said he thought the rice was not sent to the people, but to the North Korean People's Army, noting that he asked the late president to make a change in his Sunshine Policy in accordance with the situation, rather than providing whatever the regime wanted. "I was so angry and asked the president, What kind of country starves its people?'" he said. "My thoughts about the North changed at this time, and I decided to do something to save those people." He recalled how his decision to join the presidential campaign of the conservative Saenuri Party's Park Geun-hye in 2012 surprised the public. "Park called and asked me to help her in the lead-up to the presidential election," he said. "I told her my ideas regarding North Korean policy and said I was going to partner with her if she agreed with my ideas. And she did." Among the ideas Kim suggested was constructing a peace park in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a four-kilometer-wide arms-free buffer running between the two Koreas, which have been under a cease-fire since after the 1950-1953 Korean War. President Park has been indeed pushing for the project since her inauguration, saying it will serve as the first step toward inter-Korean rapprochement. "The unification of the two Koreas should not be a topic in which only the government is interested," said Kim, who became a special aide to President Park in 2015. "It should become a national topic, and all people should unite." By Doug Bandow North Korea without doubt is unique. If nothing else, its claimed accomplishments rival the faux Russian achievements cited by Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek. Yet only the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has established a Communist monarchy, now reaching the third generation. The real question for Kim Jong-un is whether he, like his father and grandfather, will follow the Ottoman practice of producing multiple children from multiple consorts. That always makes a succession fight much more interesting. Even so, royal baby sightings still are rare in the DPRK. But the North Korean regime has gone a step further in claiming that Great Leader Kim Il-sung, grandfather to Cute Leader Kim Jong-un, as I call the latter, is not only god, but recognized as such by America's legendary evangelist Billy Graham. On Kim Il-sung's recent birthday, reported Adam Taylor in the Washington Post, the DPRK paper Rodong Sinmun stated that Graham, who traveled several times to North Korea, praised the senior Kim's rule. Indeed, "said" Graham: "Having observed the Supreme Leader Kim Il-sung's unique political leadership, I can only think that he is God." Moreover, "if God is the leader of another world, savior and ruler of the past and future life that exists in our imagination, I acknowledge the Supreme Leader Kim Il-sung is the God who rules today's human world." The man who raised the Bible at thousands of crusades then "said," according to the Rodong Sinmun, "Kim is this world's God. Why would a country like this need the Holy Bible?" Graham is long retired, in ill health, and out of public view. Officials at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association dismissed the claims as not reflecting "Mr. Graham's theology or his language." Certainly there's no evidence that in thrall of the Great Leader the evangelist tossed aside his life's calling to worship the modern equivalent of Baal. Kim offered the faith no favors. To the contrary, he became one of the last century's great religious persecutors. And Kim's pernicious policies continued under his son and grandson. If anything, the repression has worsened. While most North Korean refugees returned to the DPRK are treated atrociously, the greatest punishment is inflicted on those thought to have fallen under the sway of foreign Christians. The Kim dynasty is premised on loyalty to the top leader, who long has been treated with reverence and said to be capable of super-human feats. Indeed, the biography of Kim Jong-il, father of the Cute Leader, was rearranged to have the former born on sacred Mt. Paektu rather than in Siberia. That buttressed Kim's claim to semi-divinity as well. Presumably the son of a god also is a god. And the latter's son as well. Yet it would behoove the North Koreans to be careful before so cavalierly claiming divine status. One of the great Old Testament face-offs came during the reign of Ahab, not one of Israel's more benighted rulers. The prophet Elijah challenged 50 advocates of Baal, rather like the retainers surrounding the Kims today. Both sides prepared a bull for sacrifice on Mount Carmel. Baal's prophets danced, shouted, and "slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom," but still there was no response. Then Elijah called upon the one true God and "the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil." At Elijah's instruction, the people seized the false prophets and slaughtered them. (1 Kings 18: 19-40) Then there was King Herod, his hands washed in the blood of John the Baptist. Herod spoke to the people of Sidon and Tyre, who were seeking to reconcile with the king. They responded: "This is the voice of a god, not of a man.' Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." (Acts 12:21-23) It seems there is a price to be paid for claiming to be a god. Christianity once flourished in the north as well as in the south of the Korean peninsula. Despite extraordinary persecution under the Kim dynasty, the faith survived. Its continued existence challenges the current Kim's rule. Perhaps he believes that he can bolster the regime's credibility by claiming an improbable endorsement from Graham. But that's not likely to work. Too much information passes over the DPRK's borders for anyone any longer to believe the fantasies propagated in Pyongyang. Moreover, North Korean officials should beware of what happened to past prophets of Baal. A little fire from heaven just might be in store. Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and former Special assistant to President Ronald Reagan. /Courtesy of Korea Military Academy By Lee Han-soo Army, Navy and the Air Force cadets can now drink alcohol and wear non-military clothes outside the academy. Although the changes were made in March last year, the military announced them only recently. "We revised our cadet rules in all three academies last March," a military official told TV news outlet SBS. However, the rules do not mean cadets can get drunk. The rules also do not apply to cadets who are under age. The official said cadets were still forbidden to smoke cigarettes, but were now allowed to get married. Previously, cadets were not allowed to drink, smoke or marry. The rules, introduced in 1951 when the Korea Military Academy (KMA) was founded, were criticized in 2013 for violating basic human rights. /Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-soo North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has banned all weddings and funerals as the nation prepares to anoint him as its leader, according to Britain's Sunday Times newspaper. With thousands of delegates expected to travel to Pyongyang to congratulate Kim, weddings and funerals have been canceled for security reasons. Security forces in provinces across the military state have been brought into the capital Pyongyang. At the congress, which is expected last four-five days from May 6, Kim will make his leadership official and praise the nation's recent nuclear and missile tests. The Workers' Party of Korea Congress will be the first in 36 years. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani suggested Monday that his country is opposed to North Korea's nuclear weapons program. "We want changes on the Korean Peninsula and we are, in principle, opposed to any nuclear development," Rouhani said in a joint news conference with South Korean President Park Geun-hye. (Yonhap) Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee remains in stable condition, as he is to mark the second anniversary of being hospitalized for a heart attack, which falls on May 11, company sources said Monday. The sources said Lee has remained in the Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul and is currently awake 15 to 19 hours a day. Lee was hospitalized on May 10, 2014, after suffering a heart attack. He was transferred to the Samsung Medical Center the next morning, where he underwent a procedure to widen his blood vessels. The business tycoon has since remained there. The medical team said in November 2014 that Lee's physical functions were normal, adding he was going through rehabilitation including sitting in a wheelchair. Samsung and medical sources said Lee's condition has not changed significantly since. Other sources said Lee has been responding stronger to stimulation including music, but it has not been confirmed. Samsung and its medical team have declined to provide details on Lee's health citing privacy. Lee's wife Hong Ra-hee and their son and daughters make frequent visits to the hospital, sources said. Since Lee's hospitalization, Samsung has been rolling out various restructuring efforts, in an apparent bid to pave the way for managerial succession to his son, Jae-yong. Last year, Samsung C&T was formed out of a merger between then-Samsung C&T and then-Cheil Industries to become the group's de facto holding firm. Samsung also offloaded chemical businesses to Lotte Group, selling Samsung SDI Co.'s chemical arm, along with Samsung Fine Chemicals Co. and Samsung BP Chemicals Co. Earlier, it also offloaded four of its defense and chemical units to Hanwha Group. (Yonhap) By Patrick M. Guilfoyle Thomas Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in "Pathways to Perfection" said: "Some are young people who don't know who they are, what they can be or even want to be. They are afraid, but they don't know of what. They are angry, but they don't know at whom. They are rejected and they don't know why. All they want is to be somebody. " I have been teaching in Busan, South Korea since 1996. During the last twenty years, I have been blessed to have taught some bright students at very good schools. However, by far the best students I have ever taught are the students I have been teaching at Pusan Foreign Language High School since 2012. From 2012 to 2015, I taught my students in TOEFL and English conversation. In 2015, my dream finally came true when my Toastmasters training and experience paid off as I started teaching "English Presentation Skills" to my students. In addition to teaching my students essential skills such as impromptu speaking, interview English readiness, essay writing and presentation skills, APA citation skills, effective body language and gestures, voice modulation and evaluation skills, I have taught a multitude of special classes. I have had the honor of teaching APA European History, APA Political Science, Debating and Communication and leadership classes. Teaching at Pusan Foreign Language High School is the next best thing to teaching at a foreign school or a school back in Newfoundland, Canada. During my past four years teaching at Pusan Foreign Language High School, I have come to appreciate how challenging the lives of my students truly are. They are literally in school 16 hours a day if you include their travel time to school. I don't know how they manage. When my students, especially freshmen, are preparing for their exams, I can sometimes see the look of desperation in their eyes. Getting to know my students, I realize they sometimes don't know who they are or where they are going. Sometimes I can see anxiety or anger in their eyes. I don't blame them when you consider how much pressure they endure: the pressure of getting good grades, the pressure of entering a good university and the pressure of not letting their parents down. As Thomas Monson said, "All they want is to be somebody." In the spring of 2013, having been a member of Toastmasters for less than six months, I decided to help my students be "somebody." The Pusan Foreign Language High School Gavel Club, the only official Gavel Club in Korea, was chartered on June 30, 2013. Since its chartering, it has been a great honor to be the mentor of the Pusan Foreign Language High School Gavel Club. It has been a privilege presiding over five Gavel Club speech contests as a chief Judge. Importantly, I feel honored knowing that my students are using the skills that they picked up in the Gavel Club. One of the greatest affirmations that I have ever received regarding my service as a mentor came from Lily, one of my former students and a Gavel Club member just before she graduated high school. In the note she gave me she said: "Teacher, thank you for sharing a little light during my first two years of high school." As a teacher, as a Toastmaster, I feel Lily's note is what it is all about. My experience as the mentor of the Pusan Foreign Language High School Gavel Club reminds me of the four core values of Toastmasters: integrity, respect, service and excellence. Why do I do what I do? In the words of Clint Eastwood, "It's not about you. It's about them." Patrick Guilfoyle teaches at Pusan Foreign Language High School. He has been a member of Toastmasters since 2012. He is the founding member of Korea Carpe Diem Toastmasters Club and TIFO Toastmasters Club. By Doug Bandow America's political silly season will rush toward a close with the November presidential election. Both party conventions are likely to be lively. But these spectacles will fall short of the pageantry expected at the communist party congress in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. For the first time in 36 years, before current leader Kim Jong-un was born, the Korean Workers Party is gathering. We still don't know the exact date that delegates will convene some observers speculate May 5. But North Koreans only just finished a 70-day campaign to prepare for the grand event. In the DPRK appearances are everything. Although the masses reportedly are marching as one behind the "Young Marshall," the regime helpfully provides slogans as encouragement. When I visited years ago there were slogans in buildings, on buildings, over streets, on billboards, and more. One of the current slogans, reported Anna Fifield of the Washington Post, is "Let us all become honorary victors in the '70-day campaign' of loyalty." Turn your life over to others and feel good about yourself! Of course, the regime isn't quite so crass. It says the campaign is to "defend the leadership authority" of the KWP and resist the "U.S. imperialists." At least Kim Jong-un has emphasized economic development; his father, "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il, pushed a "military-first" policy. The question for the U.S. and South Korea is why the congress? It is only the seventh in the DPRK's 68-year-history. At the latter "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung inaugurated a system of monarchical communism when he announced that his son would succeed him. The more than 3000 delegates also affirmed Kim's philosophy of "Juche," or self-reliance. In succeeding years the party seemed to lose relevance. Kim instituted the rule of one, eventually augmented by the rise of Kim Jong-il. After the latter took over he shifted power toward the military and away from the KWP. A party congress would have been almost superfluous. No longer, however. Since Kim Jong-un took over after his father's death in December 2011, Kim fils has been reshaping Pyongyang's power structure. He turfed out most of the top officials appointed by and loyal to his father and ruthlessly eliminated any challenge to his power. Moreover, Kim moved decision-making back to the KWP. The party congress will emphatically reestablish the authority of the party, with Kim at the helm. The gathering also will solidify the rise of Kim's new generation of officials. Although he looks secure from challenge, his promiscuous resort to execution suggests he feels otherwise. Indeed, Kim's rule might need bolstering. This month his regime suffered embarrassment from a raft of defections. Moreover, Kim may use the congress to ratify his more reformist economic policies. The younger Kim appears committed to economic development, whether to improve the lot of his people or strengthen the nation which he rules. The changes are dramatic enougha proliferation of marketsas to require a more formal framework. Kim likely will use the congress to formalize his new economic initiatives. Ruediger Frank of the University of Vienna observed: "all major reforms of state socialismbe it in China under Deng Xiaoping, the Soviet Union under Gorbachev or Vietnam under the slogan of doi moihave been announced at such regular party congresses or related events." A more robust and systematic program of economic reform may be the best hope for the North. Such a strategy obviously offers the greatest opportunity for the nation to escape from immiserating poverty. Economic reform also creates the possibility of political liberalization. China has demonstrated that moving toward markets does not automatically deliver democracy. But the PRC today is far freer in every way than during the rule of Mao Zedong. This may be why Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, resisted Chinese-style economic reforms. Since nothing else yet has worked, Washington should greet the congress by expressing a willingness to talk to Pyongyang, and not only about nuclear weapons, which almost is certainly a dead-end with the Kim dynasty. With war the worst of all possibilities and sanctions able to hurt but not transform, the U.S. needs to explore other options. America's political conventions will be consequential since they will determine who takes over the helm in Washington. But the DPRK's political meet-up will offer the ultimate in political choreography. It also could ratify a change of direction in Pyongyang. The U.S. and Seoul should encourage such a possibility. While the chance of success might be small, that would be better than continuing today's dead-end approach. Doug Bandow is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He is author of Tripwire: Korea and U.S. "Foreign Policy in a Changed World" and co-author of "The Korean Conundrum: America's Troubled Relations with North and South Korea." Dictatorships thrive on the silence of people who are scared by or are ignorant of their ruthless use of brute power. Korea has had more than its share of iron-fisted rule by strongmen. Jurgen Hinzpeter, a German journalist, refused to turn a blind eye when democracy was usurped by an Army general. Although his Korean colleagues kept mum, he rose to the occasion and went into the thick of the action. That was how the world came to know of the May 18, 1980, Gwangju Uprising, when citizens were shot and beaten by paratroopers on the orders of Chun Doo-hwan, the Army general who grabbed power in a coup and became president through a rubber-stamp "gymnasium election." His report first made it onto his German television station and then to the rest of the world, breaking the silence and forcing the dictatorship to take a step back. This brave German will come back to Gwangju to rest in spirit ahead of the anniversary of this tragic event, according to his will. A memorial for him will be dedicated with an urn containing clippings of nail and strands of hair he left in the city's cemetery where hundreds of victims from the popular struggle rest in peace. He died in January at the age of 79 and was buried in his fatherland, according to the wishes of his family. It remains to be guessed how many lives his heroic action saved in Gwangju. But there are plenty of hints which he had indeed helped to hasten the advent of democracy. In 1986, the German came to Seoul to cover protests against President Chun and was beaten severely by what was believed to be a group of plain-clothes policemen. The following year, Chun and his "coup mate," Roh Tae-woo, agreed to accept the popular demand of direct presidential vote. Both Chun and Roh were imprisoned by President Kim Young-sam. Park, the strongman before Chun, was in power for 16 years, compared with Chun's eight-year rule. Perhaps on a smaller note for the people in his line of work he is a shining example that journalism is the fourth estate that should refuse to be coaxed or coerced by power and play the role of salt to keep the absolute form of it from going bad. One man did it and we hope that his surviving colleagues can do it as well as Hinzpeter did. We remember him and welcome him for coming back to his second home. May God be with him. Tech giants from home and abroad are battling to garner a larger slice of the South Korean market for cloud computing solutions, industry watchers said Monday, as local demand for the services is expected to grow sharply down the road. The South Korean market for cloud computing solutions is expected to reach $1.2 billion in 2019, up from the $540 million posted in 2014, according to the data compiled by industry tracker Gartner. Cloud computing solutions allow users to access their photos, documents and other content saved on servers through smartphones and PCs. The service has been gaining popularity around the globe, especially at the office, as it cuts down on costs. In January, U.S. tech giant Oracle Corp. held a large-scale cloud computing conference in Seoul to tap into the fast-growing South Korean market. Oracle currently has around 70 million users through its clients in its cloud computing segment around the globe. Microsoft Corp. also plans to kick off a cloud computing conference in Seoul next month, inviting developers and engineers to share their experiences related with the technologies. Amid the influx of overseas players eying the South Korean market, local firms are also rolling out full-fledged efforts to take the lead in securing the new growth engine, with some even eying overseas markets. KT Corp., the country's top fixed-line network operator, kicked off a data center in Los Angeles in February. The company plans to open one more in the U.S. during the second half of 2016. SK C&C also plans to open its cloud computing service dubbed "Cloud Z" next month in South Korea. The company said it plans to forge ties with overseas players, including IBM. LG CNS Co., an IT affiliate of LG Group, is also operating data centers not only in South Korea but in the U.S., Europe and China as well. "As the local market for cloud computing services is beginning its full-fledge growth following the influx of global players, the competition will also intensify," an industry insider said. "Accordingly, local players must focus on their distinctive services for survival." (Yonhap) By Lee Min-hyung The nation's media watchdogs plan to revise a law that will allow Android users to delete Google's "non-removable" preinstalled apps. The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) and the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) voiced a consensus that legal measures were necessary to stop customers from falling victim to such monopolistic schemes. "The KCC is in talks with the MSIP over completing the revision no later than July," said an official. "There are guidelines for the same issue, but they have been under no legal compulsion. Some business operators have not followed the guidelines, hurting users' rights." The MSIP previously issued the guideline to make non-essential apps that come bundled with the phone removable. The number of preinstalled apps has been scaled back over the past two years since the measure took effect in January 2014, according to the MSIP. But the regulator said this has failed to "completely root out" the so-called "bloatware." Most such apps have become user-removable due to the guidelines, but still some 10 Google apps remain uninstallable. The KCC official added the EU's recent decision over Google is another major reason for the law revision. Last month, the European Commission (EC) issued a statement of objection, saying the company has imposed restrictions on Android device manufacturers, a clear breach of the EU's antitrust rules. At that time, the MSIP said the Korean government will also step up its monitoring of Google to take additional regulatory measures. "The KCC and the MSIP have considered adopting some legal measures to end the antitrust controversy, even before the EU statement was released," said the official. "But we cannot deny that the EU decision has significantly influenced our recent decision." In response to the EU statement, Google headquarters previously issued a statement that it is open to talks with the EC over resolving the issue. But the world's largest portal operator did not specify that it will make the controversial irremovable apps "removable." Google Senior Vice President Kent Walker said in a statement that the company will do its best to demonstrate its Android model was designed in a way to foster constructive competition and consumer benefit. The MSIP was also on par with the KCC's stance. An MSIP official said, "We are going to take comprehensive measures not just on Google, but other Android business operators involved in the preinstalled app controversy." This includes mobile carriers, handset manufacturers and Internet service operators, according to the official. "At the moment, we need to gather opinions from experts over deciding which apps should be removable or not," he said. "For example, we are in dilemma over such apps as Google Play Store. Some experts argue the app should remain irremovable for some elderly users who are not accustomed to using smartphones." The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Sheriff Jim McDonnell announced Sunday that he had accepted the resignation of his chief of staff, Tom Angel, over racist email jokes he forwarded while with the Burbank Police Department in 2012-13. Since the Los Angeles Times published the emails last week, criticism of Angel and McDonnell had been growing. The emails that Angel forwarded mocked blacks, Mexicans, Muslims and women but apparently he didn't find funny any jokes about white men or cops. When confronted by the Times, Angel's apology wasn't very apologetic: "Anybody in the workplace unfortunately forwards emails from time to time that they probably shouldn't have forwarded," Angel said. "I apologize if I offended anybody, but the intent was not for the public to have seen these jokes." Angel was a key part of McDonnell's team as a longtime insider who could help push the outsider sheriff's reform agenda in a department badly in need of a shakeout, and McDonnell tried to save him. "Everybody's got their own take on humor. This was divisive and nonproductive," McDonnell told the Times. "It's a shame the whole thing happened at all." But the pressure continued to mount from minority communities and Muslim groups, and on Sunday McDonnell said, "This incident is one that I find deeply troubling. Despite the Sheriffs Departments many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do. McDonnell said he would introduce random audits of employee email accounts and would meet with community groups to share thoughts and ideas about improving our understanding of the varied cultures and orientations and deepening our appreciation of the many ethnicities and religions that are part of the vibrant fabric of the population we serve. The department would also examine its training and existing policies for ensuring accountability and enhancing cultural and ethnic sensitivity, he said. [skip] Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said Angels resignation was not a moment to rejoice but to roll up our sleeves and help the sheriff develop a culture of partnership and accountability and transparency within his office. Haroon Manjlai, a spokesman for the greater L.A. chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the sheriff's decision to accept his chief of staff's resignation sent an important message going forward. Hopefully now, if incidents like these happen again, the precedent is to step down or be dismissed, Manjlai said. It promotes zero tolerance when it comes to any kind of xenophobic or insensitive behavior to any community. Added: The ACLU released a statement praising the move. "The ACLU SoCal is heartened to see that Tom Angel has stepped down in light of the racist, sexist, anti-Muslim emails he sent while at the Burbank Police Department. We hope Sheriff Jim McDonnell will seize this opportunity to reaffirm his pledge to reform the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and demonstrate that he will take a zero tolerance stance in addressing misconduct, bias and other behavior that undermines the public's trust in LASD." Coverage by the Daily News, CNN. Also noted: Terri McDonald, the veteran state corrections official who joined the LASD a few years to clean up the jails, announced last week that she is leaving the department to go home to Sacramento. Clover POS systems are a great solution if you want to streamline your internal services and want to replace an old kit like cash registers, payment terminals and other equipment. Clovers point of sale solution allows you to get rid of all that and replace it with a more integrated system with state of the Harrison Scott discovered the Ridge Route in 1955. Then 18, he was out freewheeling in a brand new Ford hed bought with a loan from his parents. The sinuous route, an engineering marvel that tamed the San Gabriel Mountains through the highway corridor that is now known as the Grapevine, was already a relic. Opened in 1915, and credited by historians with uniting the economies of Northern and Southern California, the notoriously slow and dangerous roadway had been superseded in 1933 by Highway 99, itself to be replaced in 1970 by the 5 Freeway. Advertisement Scott liked the abandoned motorway, but did not return to the route until exploring it again in 1991, this time on a road trip with his son. Spurred by the boys interest, and retired from a long career with Pacific Telephone, Scott became an amateur historian and began collecting photos and stories of the highway. He learned it had once been dotted with gas stations, diners, nightclubs and hotels that hosted gangsters and Hollywood stars. Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Bugsy Siegel visited places such as Kellys Halfway Inn set dead center in the 12-hour automobile journey between Bakersfield and Los Angeles and Sandbergs Summit Hotel, which had a sign by the front door that said, No Dogs or Truck Drivers Allowed. The inns were long gone, but the roadway was intact. Scott began what has been a quixotic campaign to secure historic preservation status for the highway, and perhaps bring tourists back. Sixty years after first driving the Ridge Route, Scott surveys it from a high bluff midway between Castaic and Gorman. He ran a hand over his sandy hair and said: I didnt think when I started this that I was going to die on this mountain. But now I do. :: The Ridge Route was born after engineering crews operating horse-drawn scrapers carved a narrow two-lane passage between Castaic and Grapevine, shaving 24 miles off the previous route. The new road included 697 curves and climbed to more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Fully paved by 1919, it was considered a construction triumph. Though it featured dangerous curves and a speed limit of only 15 mph, the route was soon home to commercial enterprises. Queen Nells Castle sold gasoline and cold soda. The National Forest Inn and Garage fed motorists home-cooked meals and fixed their broken flivvers. The shorter drive attracted truck traffic and tourists. Its success helped quiet voices that had been calling for California to be cut in half. The Ridge Route made it possible for commerce and traffic and tourism to get between the two parts of California, said Alan Pollock, president of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. This road united the two halves of the state. But in some ways, the route was too successful. The increased traffic demonstrated the need for a better, safer thoroughfare. Using newer construction techniques that allowed for a straighter route, Highway 99 opened in 1933 and cut an additional 10 miles off the trip. The quaint Ridge Route began losing its businesses. The cafes and gas stations were gradually shuttered, many of them in the 1940s and 50s. Sandbergs was destroyed in a 1961 fire. The once-grand but fading Hotel Lebec was torn down three years later. The Gorman Hotel was demolished in 1972. Working with government officials, Scott succeeded in 1997 in getting the highway listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He wrote a book about the road, formed the nonprofit Ridge Route Preservation Organization to raise funds to maintain it, and organized volunteer work crews to ensure it was safe for driving, biking and hiking. He hoped to have the route named a National Scenic Byway, like the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Appalachians, or the Natchez Trace Parkway, which runs through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. That would have qualified the Ridge Route for federal money, Scott said, for signage, guardrails, vista pullouts and other improvements. He had the written support of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and now-former Rep. Howard Buck McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), and there were precedents: Highway 1, through Big Sur, was given the same title in 1996, as later was the Arroyo Seco Scenic Parkway, a stretch of the 110 Freeway, in 2002. But Scott gradually found his proposal snarled in red tape. In 2005, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors elected to vacate the Ridge Route, giving up their control of the mountain motorway and ceding stewardship to the U.S. Forest Service, over whose land the road had always traveled. That should have helped Scotts cause, until massive rainstorms in 2005 forced the Ridge Routes closure. The Forest Service, without sufficient funds to repair storm damage to the road, erected huge metal gateways, and shut off access to all but the utilities and energy companies whose gas pipes or power lines still follow the Ridge Route. Worse, the transfer of control of the roadway also relinquished easements onto it. Suddenly, access to the northern and southern ends of the Ridge Route, already gated, was in the hands of homeowners. Scott began to believe he had been wasting his time. A scenic view of Interstate 5 from Old Ridge Route. Harrison Scott, executive director of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization, has tried for 25 years to preserve the old highway that connected Los Angeles County and the San Joaquin Valley. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) :: Today, despite Scotts persistence, the stalemate continues. The Forest Service confirmed that it had given up the easements in question, and that the public Ridge Route is now landlocked by private citizens. The easements were not transferred, said Sherry Rollman, the Forest Services public and legislative affairs officer. The southern gate to the roadway is a 12.5-acre parcel owned by retired graphic artist Greg Olson, who said he has lived on the property for 26 years. Olson said he had several conversations with Forest Service officials and Scotts Ridge Route Preservation Organization about granting right of passage, and was prepared to give it to them free of charge. But those conversations ended in 2008 and never resumed. Olson, who has plans to develop the property, is no longer willing to reopen the road to full-time traffic. Scott charges that the Forest Service has abrogated its responsibility to maintain the road for public use. This is our land! he said, waving his arms at a remote stretch of the motorway. The road was open for damn near 100 years. Its a prescriptive right of way. The Forest Service cant just close it. But it didnt, Rollman said. Its not closed to the public, she said. Its open for hiking, and biking, if you walk in. You just cant drive there right now. SIGN UP for the free California Inc. business newsletter >> Some who contend hes wrong to expect the Forest Service to restore the road admire Scotts single-minded commitment to it. Harrison does have the passion, and his heart is in the right place, said Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel, a local hiking enthusiast who specializes in proposing wilderness legislation. But the road is in bad shape, and its on Forest property, and theres no funding. Even landowner Olson sympathizes with Scotts frustration. I really like Scotty, and I like what hes trying to do, said Olson, who added he might support a limited opening of the road for a month or two a year. Im kind of in his way, even though I dont want to be. Today, Scott, as founder of the Ridge Route nonprofit, is one of only a few private citizens with keys to the gates that block the historic roadway. Standing on a windy hill, he extolled the joys of early motor travel and the legacy of the old hotels and cafes their ruins marked with plaques that Scott was instrumental in helping fund and install. Many have been vandalized, stolen or destroyed. Upon one bluff are a crumbling stone archway and wall partly rebuilt by Scott and his volunteers that are the remains of the Tumble Inn, which boasted rooms, a restaurant and a Richfield filling station. Scott said recently that the Forest Service may agree to let him and his work crew do light maintenance work again, for the first time in years. Now 79, and having spent 25 years trying to save the road, Scott wonders whether the Ridge Route would still be open if he hadnt begun the lobbying that led to its transfer to the Forest Service. It would have been better, I hate to say this, if I wouldve done nothing, he said. charles.fleming@latimes.com Twitter: @misterfleming ALSO Junk bond king Michael Milken looms large in L.A. finance industry Hulu is developing a cable-like package of channels Record number of firearms uncovered at nations airports Hulu is preparing a cable-like digital service that would stream feeds of broadcast and cable TV channels, a move that highlights how major media companies are grappling with the so-called cord-cutters who are ditching high-cost subscriptions. The Santa Monica streaming service, which has long been a source to catch episodes of broadcast television shows the day after theyve aired, is planning to create a more full-bodied online rival to pay-TV providers that would stream entire broadcast and cable channels to consumers for a monthly fee, said a person familiar with the matter who was unauthorized to discuss the talks. Hulu, a joint venture of major TV network owners 21st Century Fox, Walt Disney Co. and Comcasts NBCUniversal, is the latest media company to get into the skinny bundle business, which refers to the idea of creating slimmer TV packages with fewer channels that are cheaper than standard cable or satellite services. Advertisement Hulu is in active negotiations with Disney, Fox and NBCUniversal for access to their broadcast and cable networks, which include ESPN, Disney Channel, Fox News, FX and others. The proposed new service is significant because it means those powerful media companies dont want to get left behind as consumers shed or pare cable packages that can include hundreds of channels they never watch. All the big network-owning companies realize that its impossible in an over-the-top world to stop the eventual creation of smaller, more flexible consumer video offerings, said Todd Juenger, an analyst with Bernstein. They all want to proactively be a part of these offerings. The move gives Hulu, which boasts nearly 10 million subscribers, another leg up in courting cost-conscious consumers and others who live in the 10 million homes in the U.S. without a pay-TV subscription. Twenty-four percent of Americans do not subscribe to a cable or satellite TV service in their homes, according to a December survey from the Pew Research Center 15% have canceled their cable or satellite subscription and 9% have never had a cable or satellite subscription. A Hulu spokesperson declined to comment. But the news comes just days before Hulu is set to appear before advertisers in New York on Wednesday, where the venture could be officially announced. The unnamed service would let customers watch live streams of participating channels, and would also include a DVR-like functionality to let users watch shows on their own time. Hulu has been making aggressive efforts to distinguish itself in the increasingly competitive digital TV market, particularly against streaming rivals Netflix and Amazon. Hulu has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into buying or making original shows and landing high-powered licensing pacts with TV studios, including its deal to acquire streaming rights to the entire Seinfeld library. We believe the important takeaway is that this is a way for programmers to take more control of their destiny in a fragmented pay TV ecosystem with heightened risk of skinny bundle inclusion/exclusion, wrote Steven Cahall, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, in a research note Monday. Hulu is planning to introduce the new service early next year for about $40 a month. Hulu currently has two options for its subscription service: an ad-supported version that costs $7.99 a month and an ad-free version, which it introduced last fall, that costs $11.99 a month. Finalizing licensing deals has proved problematic for those looking to enter the space. Apple was said to be announcing a similar service for its Apple TV set-top box last year, but efforts to license programming at rates that would not negatively affect the retail price of the technology have stalled its efforts. Other media companies, including HBO and CBS Corp., also have launched digital services targeting cord-cutters. Even so, TV networks must tread carefully so they do not jeopardize their relationships with pay-TV operators that provide a lucrative source of revenue via carriage fees. Thats especially true for NBCUniversal parent Comcast, which owns both a leading cable service and a broadcast network. A spokesperson for NBCUniversal declined to comment. Hulus new service would be similar to the slimmed-down packages of broadcast and cable TV networks offered over the Internet by Dish Networks SlingTV, available for $20 a month, and Sony Corp.'s PlayStation Vue, which starts at about $40 a month. Hulu, however, would benefit from greater name recognition. Analyst Juenger pointed out that although Hulus offering would give TV companies the chance to capitalize on the push toward more tailored bundles, its too soon to tell how considerable the disruption will be and whether it will yield significant cost reductions for consumers. Whats really hard to do is to get a skinny bundle that has a low-enough price to be interesting to consumers and has enough networks its a hard needle to thread, Juenger said. We dont even know what networks are involved yet. Hulus initiative could prompt the networks left out of the new offering to band together to create their own lower-cost challenger. I think whatever companies or networks are left out of this Hulu service must be expected to get together and be part of some over-the-top service of their own. News of the service was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com Hollywood veteran Brad Weston will step down as president and chief executive of New Regency, the Los Angeles film production company behind The Revenant and Birdman. Westons impending departure from the company, which hes led for the last five years, was unexpected and it is unclear why Weston is leaving the firm founded by Israeli billionaire Arnon Milchan. In a statement released Monday, New Regency said Weston would leave with the support of Milchan. The company has not named a replacement, and did not say what Westons next move would be. His departure date also has not been revealed. Advertisement New Regency has boasted a strong run of awards season contenders in recent years. It put up most of the money for The Revenant, which was nominated for the best picture Oscar this year and grossed $526 million worldwide. Birdman won four Oscars in 2015, including the top prize. The companys upcoming film slate includes Warren Beattys Howard Hughes biopic, the video game adaptation Assassins Creed and an untitled Gore Verbinski thriller. New Regency recently teamed with Hunger Games studio Lionsgate on a television joint venture to produce and distribute shows. Media conglomerate 21st Century Fox holds a 20% stake in New Regency, and Fox has a deal with the production company to release its movies. New Regency co-finances some of its movies with Fox and fully finances others. Weston has long been a player in the studio system. Before joining New Regency, he served as Paramount Pictures production president until 2009, when he was fired by studio chairman Brad Grey in a broader shakeup. Much like the reading of names of the dead at a small-town Memorial Day service, J.K. Rowling continues to remember the deaths of Harry Potter characters in her own special way. Specifically, by apologizing. But first, some background information. Fans of the Harry Potter books will know that May 2 is the anniversary of the final battle of the series, in which the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters bloodily fought until Voldemort was vanquished and his followers conquered. For people who arent fans of the book: In the last of the seven Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the good guys and the bad guys face off and the good guys, including Harry Potter, win. People who are fans of the book take these events very seriously and remember May 2 as the day all of this took place. Advertisement Beginning last year, J.K. Rowling decided that she should start apologizing for killing characters off during this final confrontation to try to assuage the hurt of a legion of fans who werent aware that their favorite tertiary character could die because, apparently, theyd never read Little Women. Last year, Rowling recognized the (fictional) sacrifice of (a character she created) Fred Weasley, brother of Ron and Ginny, twin of George. This year, shes directed the apology train at Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Remus Lupin, who was killed by a Death Eater at the Battle of Hogwarts. For her part, Rowling seems increasingly disenfranchised with the act of apologizing for killing off characters that belonged to her, as this years apology seems pretty half-hearted. Once again, it's the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts so, as promised, I shall apologise for a death. This year: Remus Lupin. J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016 Perhaps even a bit defensive? He had to die, okay? I didnt enjoy doing it. Im not a monster, Rowling seems to say, even as she apologizes for making Lupins infant son, Teddy, an orphan. Rowling herself has been resistant to letting the Harry Potter universe die its own respectful death or, at the very least, exist quietly in its published form, as the author seems very invested in clarifying any and all lingering questions about the book series, despite the final book being published nine years ago. Thats how we know the name of other wizarding schools and why Harry named his son after Severus Snape and that Dumbledore was actually gay, despite that none of the revelations really add anything substantial to the body of work shes created. It seems the reason Rowling continues to apologize to fans is because she struggles with the idea that a piece of art can be many things to many people, no matter what the artists vision may have been. If she can tackle that notion, shed be able to dispense with the explanations and apologies and let the dead rest in peace. Follow me on Twitter @midwestspitfire ALSO: Harry Potter henchman becomes MMA fighter What to know about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter J.K. Rowling reveals two rejection letters she got for The Cuckoos Calling Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone to screen with a live orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl My goodness, Good-Wife-ers! I cant believe its almost the end. Theres only one episode left in our favorite law procedural, and it doesnt feel like it. Things dont feel like theyre tying up, and now Im afraid the finale will end on an enormous, disappointing cliffhanger. But theyre not guilty yet. Lets talk about the episode at hand first. So we finally meet the infamous Lloyd Garber and its a bit anticlimactic. Hes on the stand, testifying against Peter, his supposed friend, but its clear Connor Fox trained him on what to say to inflict the most damage. Diane does her best to represent Peter, especially with Judge Cuesta (David Paymer) on the bench and everyone knowing he doesnt like Peter. Its a bit surprising that he would be chosen to preside over this case when his opinion of Peter seems common knowledge. But hes obliged to be professional and not show any bias. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >> Advertisement Fox makes another plea-deal offer to Alicia: eight years in prison (what happened to the three years they were talking about before?). He knows Peter is guilty, and tells Alicia so, but she insists that he prove it. What a concept! It doesnt matter what you think you know, wheres the proof? Hard as they try, its not quite there yet. But Fox says he has a secret witness. This terrifying new witness is Geneva Pine (Renee Elise Goldsberry, taking a break from Broadways Hamilton). What could she know that is so damning? Apparently, her coworkers signed affidavits claiming that she and Peter had a very long affair, and that shes now out to get Peter because he broke up with her. Pitiful. I am amazed that people are taking this at face value. How can they believe it? I know Peter has a terrible reputation, especially where women are concerned, but this seems preposterous to me. I think there would have been some hint or tiny indication at some point if there were even the slightest bit of truth to it, but the only thing weve seen while he was her boss is animosity, and I dont see that turning into sexual tension. Plus, she had been sleeping with that detective back when Cary was on trial. Shes also too strong, too awesome a character to play the part of the spurned lover. Louis Canning, looking out for his client, Cary, tells Alicia that Geneva is lying. This again goes against Genevas character: What could she possibly gain from committing perjury? The defense team tries to prove the falseness of her testimony by going after her motive, but Peters reputation is too damaged. Diane asks Kurt to take the stand and explain his preliminary findings. He hesitantly agrees, and Lucca cross-examines him. But Fox retaliates by putting Kurts sexy blond student, Holly Westfall, on the stand to destroy Kurts testimony. Diane and Lucca object on the grounds of hearsay, because Holly wasnt there, but the judge allows it. Makes no sense to me. Lucca asks Holly another question that clears Kurt of wrongdoing, but Diane regrets putting Kurt through it and later begs his forgiveness. Uncharacteristic weakness from Diane. The major fallout from Hollys testimony is that it makes Cary a scapegoat, something the defense promised not to do. He and Canning are angry about it, and tell the jury as much, though I dont think its really the defenses fault. It feels more to me like the writers needed a reason for Cary to be in the episode. Hes been mostly absent this whole season. I still dont get why Fox is so hellbent on taking Peter down. Im probably too naive and too trusting, but I believe Peter when he says he learned from being in prison and wants to do his best to run a clean office, be it as states attorney or as governor. Thats why it also seems like a no-brainer when Peter insists that Diane put him on the stand. The evidence against him sounded strong last week too, until they asked Peter what happened. His explanation makes perfect sense to me. I have no reason to think he would lie, and I believe hes learned from serving time. As the case goes on, Alicia plays the dutiful wife, holding Peters hand and doing her best to convince the watching, judging jury that shes standing by him. This doesnt sit well with Jason, whether he admits it or not. He does a little work for Alicia at her request, but then feels he needs to stop and will see her after the case. Lucca tries to get Jason to admit that hes in love with Alicia, but he wont. Jason also thinks that if Peter is convicted, Alicia will never divorce him and that Jason will lose her. Yet he also wont admit that he wants her. He really needs to make a decision and, as Lucca says, stop playing it cool. Meanwhile, David Lee is back, listening to Gilbert and Sullivan again (bringing back an old reference with a telling song choice) and being a general nuisance, as usual. After a ridiculously surreal incident in which construction workers tear apart the offices, mistaking them for the expanding 18th-floor law firm, Diane decides to enlarge her new women-partnered firm and David threatens to sue her for discrimination. I still dont understand why he agreed to vote with Diane on the firm in the first place. Is it just me or has the writing gotten a little sloppy with situations like this? As Alicia and Peter discuss the case, Peter seriously considers taking Foxs latest plea deal: two years. Hes afraid his reputation will destroy him, despite his impressive turn on the witness stand. But before he can fully decide, the jury is back. Aaaaand, fade to black. No answer for us yet! Of course. So what do you think, Good Wife-ers? Could Peter go to jail again? And if he does, will it mean Alicia wont divorce him, as Jason thinks? Could Jason and Alicia have a happy ending? Or will the series come full circle, with Alicia standing by her man despite her own happiness? I dont see that happening, but you never know. MORE The Good Wife recap: A homecoming family reunion party The Good Wife recap: Everything old is new again The Good Wife recap: The not-so-good wife? Tricked into believing an expectant mother and her unborn child are in distress, the Abigail crew responds with empathy and is repaid with treachery on Blood in the Streets, Episode 204 of AMCs Fear the Walking Dead. Chris Manawa (Lorenzo James Henrie) and Ofelia Salazar (Mercedes Mason) are on deck when they see a raft approaching. Onboard are two men and a pregnant woman. She screams that somethings wrong with the baby! Should I shoot? Chris nervously asks. Before he can act, the newcomers scramble onto the yacht, claiming they drifted for days. Advertisement While Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) tries to help, her daughter Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey) recognizes a voice. It belongs to Jack (Daniel Zovatto), a young man she befriended over the CB radio. With him are Vanessa (Veronica Diaz) and Reed (Jesse McCartney). Now that Jack is identified, the visitors reveal their sinister intent by overpowering the yacht crew. Youre making a mistake, warns Chris father, Travis (Cliff Curtis). No, I think your son made the mistake, Reed replies, mocking Chris for wondering if he should open fire. Piece of advice, Reed offers. If you have to ask the question, somebody should already be dead. During the commotion, Abigail skipper Victor Strand (Colman Domingo) flees on a raft and is shot at by Reed. If bullets dont finish Strand, he could die from hypothermia in the cold Pacific. Speaking of Strand, viewers learn about his shady past via a flashback to 2005 just after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Hes at a bar with real estate speculator Thomas Abigail (Dougray Scott), a parasite who turns tragedy into treasure. When theres blood in the streets, buy land, Thomas advises his new acquaintance. I bought before the storm, Strand bitterly admits. Im bankrupt. Strand isnt broke for long, however, because he steals Thomas credit cards and takes out $36,000 in cash advances. Thomas and his assistant Luis Flores (Arturo del Puerto) confront Strand the next morning. Their conversation is surprisingly cordial. Thank you, for the pardon, Strand says, promising to repay the stolen money with interest. I didnt pardon you, Thomas explains. I obligated you. A business and sexual relationship ensues. Back on Abigail, Alicia uses her feminine charms to win over Jack, who follows a mysterious leader named Conner (Mark Kelly). Im gonna stick my neck out for you, Jack tells Alicia. However, Conner doesnt invite just anyone to live at his base and tap its precious resources. I can be with you, Alicia says seductively, but you have to protect my family. Before long, Conner arrives to inspect the yacht, calling it a gorgeous vessel. Then he abducts Alicia and Travis and speeds away with Jack and Vanessa. Guards Red (Sarah McCreanor) and Ben (Josh Wingate) are left behind. Big heart, strong mind, weak stomach is how Reed describes Conner. And now that sadistic Reed is in charge, the yacht crew is in grave danger. Racing to the rescue are Maddies son Nick (Frank Dillane) and Luis, who rendezvoused at a gated coastal community Strand and Thomas developed. Hey, theres people onboard, man, Nick exclaims, peering through binoculars. They have guns! Luis, an expert marksman, is also armed. He takes out Red and Ben with head shots while Maddie breaks free and stabs Reed in the back. So wheres Strand? Because no ones crossing into Mexico where a mansion in Baja awaits unless his boss is present, Luis insists. Strand floated in the ocean all this time, turns out, and Maddie pulls him to safety. But what about Alicia and Travis? Are they safe with Conner and company? Thats the big question. MORE: Fear the Walking Dead is renewed by AMC for a third season Game of Thrones recap: Jon Snows fate is revealed Hulu is developing a cable-like package of channels The Walking Deads Melissa McBride on Caryl -- the chemistry between Carol and Daryl HBOs Game of Thrones is famous -- perhaps infamous -- for killing its stars. This includes well-known actor Sean Bean, whose Ned Stark character lost his head in a Season 1 shocker. Now this lethal trend is temporarily reversed in Home (Episode 52). Because Neds son, Jon Snow (Kit Harington), lord commander of the Nights Watch, returns from the dead. Its joyous news for Jon fans worldwide. At the end of last season, treasonous Nights Watch crows led by Alliser Thorne (Owen Teale) murdered Jon because he made peace with the hated Wildlings. Advertisement In danger of being murdered this season are Jons friends, notably Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham). They stand watch over Jons corpse while his direwolf Ghost growls nearby. Lay down your arms, Thorne offers, and no one else will die. Hes a liar, of course, for his men have their crossbows at the ready. Ive never been much of a fighter, Davos admits while drawing his sword. Apologies for what youre about to see. What they see is rescuer Edd Tollett (Ben Crompton), who slipped out of Castle Black and returned with Wildling reinforcements. They include red-haired Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) and an actual giant who brushes off arrows like hes swatting flies. Thorne and his fellow conspirators are soon captured or killed. While Tormund prepares a funeral pyre for Jon, Davos beseeches Lord of Light priestess Melisandre (Carice van Houten) to raise Jon from the dead. There are some with this power, Melisandre says. But not her, for shes filled with self-doubt. Everything I believed, the great victory I saw in the flames, all of it was a lie, Melisandre sadly tells Davos. You were right all along. The Lord never spoke to me. Im not asking the Lord of Light for help, Davos clarifies. Im asking the woman who showed me that miracles exist. So Melisandre bathes Jons body, drops hair cuttings into a fire and recites incantations. All to no avail, it seems, until Ghost awakens. And then Jon awakens, bolting upright and gasping for air. Here are some other key developments: Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) hones his warg abilities under the tutelage of that Three-Eyed Raven (Max von Sydow) after it assumes human form. They travel back in time to see Brans father, Ned (Sebastian Croft), as a lad. They also see massive Hodor, whose real name is Wyllis (Sam Coleman), when he was a stable boy. At Kings Landing, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) is prevented from attending the funeral of her daughter, Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free). Its for Cerseis protection, since the High Sparrow (Jonathon Pryce) and his religious zealots are out in full force. In Braavos, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) may not be blind for much longer. Her shape-shifting mentor, Jaqen Hghar (Tom Wlaschiha), promises to restore her sight. Aryas sister Sansa (Sophie Turner) heads north to Castle Black, believing her half-brother Jon is alive. Well, suddenly he is, thanks to Melisandre. Sansas husband, Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon), adds patricide and infanticide to his list of heinous crimes. Lord Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) and his wife, Walda (Elizabeth Webster), just had a son. And because Ramsay is a bastard, his new half-brother could one day rule House Bolton. So Ramsay stabs his father and feeds Walda and baby to the dogs. Finally, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) befriends Rhaegal and Viserion, the fearsome dragon brothers that havent eaten since their mother Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) fled Meereen. Tyrion gingerly frees the dragons from their chains. Next time I have an idea like that, Tyrion tells Lord Varys (Conleth Hill), punch me in the mouth! MORE RECAPS: The Good Wife recap: Is there any defense against reputation? Fear the Walking Dead recap: Good deed punished with treachery Outlander recap: Claire and Jamie stop being polite and start getting real Florida Gov. Rick Scott is back, and he is again gunning for Californias businesses. On Sunday, Scott arrived in Los Angeles, where he will spend three days trying to persuade companies and regular Californians to pack up and head for Florida. He made a similar trip last year, to entice shipping companies to move goods through Floridas ports. Now he says he has extra leverage: Californias pending minimum wage hike. Advertisement My goal, one-hundred percent, is to get individuals and companies to move to Florida, Scott said in an interview. By raising the minimum wage in California, 700,000 people are going to lose their jobs, there are a lot of opportunities for companies to prosper in Florida and compete here and thats what Im going after. On Monday, California Gov. Jerry Brown sent a letter to Gov. Scott suggesting that his fixation on California is misguided. Were competing with nations like Brazil and France, not states like Florida, Brown wrote. He also sent Gov. Scott a report with research on the effect of climate change on Floridas coastline, and urged the Governor to stop the silly political stunts and start doing something about climate change. An arm of Floridas government released a radio ad that aired in L.A. and San Francisco last week criticizing the $15 minimum wage, which goes into full effect in seven years, warning of layoffs and job-stealing robots. Californias current minimum wage is $10 an hour. Floridas is $8.05 an hour. This place is beautiful, but you just cant afford to live here, the spot warned. Gov. Browns office has defended itself against Scotts persistent jabs by pointing out that California seems to be doing just fine, job-wise. As one of the millions of tourists flocking to the Golden State this time of year, wed like to extend a warm welcome to the governor, said Evan Westrup, Browns press secretary. Since his last 2,000-mile cross-country jaunt, California has added twice as many jobs as Florida. California employers have added new 420,800 new jobs since March 2015, compared with 234,300 added in Florida. Jobs have grown by 2.6% in California, and by 2.9% in Florida. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> It is not yet clear how raising the wage floor gradually through 2023 will affect employment. American Apparel and other garment manufacturers have indicated that the wage increase may induce them to shift their production out of the L.A. area. Scotts estimate of 700,000 jobs comes from a study that is not based on data about California, and some economists say that projection is off-base. Its way outside the consensus of economists, says Michael Reich, an economist at UC Berkeley. Reich led a 2015 study on the impact of a $15 minimum wage in Los Angeles, and found that giving people more money to spend would balance out any negative effect of more expensive labor, even after factoring in price increases and automation. That study found no net job loss in the city. Whats more, Reich said, the industries that will feel the strain of higher wages most are ones that are least likely to move. About a third of workers who will get a pay bump with the new law are working in stores or restaurants. A restaurant isnt going to move to Florida to serve California customers, same with retail, Reich said. Scott said that hes fixated on getting people, not just businesses, from California to move to Florida, with the aim of boosting the states income base. The Tax Foundation, a conservative group, has gathered data from the IRS that it says show people with incomes totaling a net $105 billion moved to Florida from other states between 1993 and 2010. California saw a net $51 billion migrate out of the state during that period, according to the data. However, census data show that more people moved from Florida to California than the other way around in 2014. Twitter: @NatalieKitro ALSO Rising confidence in Californias economy is a challenge for GOP presidential candidates When it comes to paying taxes, California is Bernie Sanders kind of state Top L.A. County sheriffs official resigns over emails mocking Muslims and others I have been a longtime reader of the Times Travel section, but I might have to stop reading it one day in the near future because it has become the fee-whiner section, and its getting more annoying each week [Rental Owners Displeased With Fees, On the Spot by Catharine Hamm, April 10]. Businesses must charge a fee because they need to stay in business and hopefully make a profit. Most things in life are not free. However, many things appear to be free: The buffet on a cruise ship is free. Meals and alcohol on most international flights are free. Some hotels provide free Wi-Fi and free breakfast. Many rental car companies give free upgrades and free unlimited mileage. Advertisement Marketing costs are expensive, and consumers have been paying for them since the beginning of marketing. Whether its a car, a smartphone or a can of soda, the price you pay includes the costs of marketing that product to you. Many consumers are oblivious about paying for fees and costs that are built into the pricing structures of products or services. But when the fee is made transparent, naive consumers scream, Why is there a fee? Rob Lam Orange This Guinness is for you, really I hope readers of A Short but Sweet Stroll Through Dublin [April 10] wont be put off by Diane Haithmans description of her first pint of Guinness (It was still nasty). This Southern Californian tasted her first Guinness, poured in a pub in Kilkenny, on Day 1 of my two-week driving trip through Ireland. I found it to be a smooth, malty ale, with almost a melting chocolate creaminess to it. I drank Guinness with almost every meal, and Jameson at the end of every day. The Irish really have wonderful national drinks. (On a fun note, I happened to arrive in Ireland on Arthurs Day, an unofficial national holiday when Arthur Guinness birthday is celebrated.) Ann Stice San Diego Cruisers missing the boat on seeing the real city The best off-ship trip is one that doesnt involve a ship [Comparing Off-Ship Trips by Rosemary McClure, April 17]. Cruise-ship travelers would be far better off choosing one island on which to stay or one area to visit, rather than deluding themselves into thinking they are seeing Barcelona, Rome or Venice, or getting to know seven Caribbean islands, with one- or at most two-day stays in port. Those who think theyre seeing the world on a cruise with excursion trips are the ones who are missing the boat. They are missing out on seeing the real city or island, on getting to know an area so well that they dont feel they need to see it again for many years. Cruises should be reserved for those with health or energy issues who just cant do it on their own. Those who are afraid of venturing into the world without disembarking from a cruise ship would be surprised to learn how safe and easy travel on their own can be. Although it helps to speak a few phrases in the local language, almost everyone in the tourist industry speaks passable English, and it just isnt that hard to travel on ones own these days. Daniel Fink Beverly Hills The Navy is putting the fleet back in San Diego Fleet Week. The Sea n Air Parade will return to San Diego Bay this September, restoring one of San Diego Fleet Weeks signature events. About half a dozen U.S. Navy warships will parade around the bay Sept. 10, in addition to Navy and Marine Corps aircraft demonstrations. The U.S. Coast Guard and the navies of Canada and Mexico have been invited to participate. Advertisement U.S. ships will also be available for public tours at downtown San Diego piers, officials said. We are delighted its back, said Larry Blumberg, a retired Navy captain who is chairman of the parade committee. The annual parade was canceled in 2001 because of security concerns after the Sept. 11 attacks. It returned from 2002 to 2008, but the event was again nixed in 2009 because of the demand for Navy warships around the world and the start of tighter defense budgets, officials said. Blumberg, like others, credited Vice Adm. Nora Tyson, the commander of the San Diego-based U.S. 3rd Fleet, with green-lighting the ship parades return this year. She didnt understand why San Diego isnt like all the rest of the fleet weeks, Blumberg said. In short, for several years, San Diego ships have traveled to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle for those cities fleet week events. Sailors in dress uniforms hit the town and raise awareness of the sea service. But the Navy hasnt spared any San Diego hulls to assume a dramatic, starring role in their citys own annual celebration of the Navy and Marine Corps. Ships were only made available for pier-based public tours. Meanwhile, the Miramar Air Show became the de facto marquis event of San Diego Fleet Week, drawing the biggest crowds of any air show in the nation. All these other places [Navy ships] went to, and here where they are all home-ported we didnt have it, said Brian Sack, executive director of the nonprofit Fleet Week San Diego Foundation. We couldnt be more excited to bring back this signature event, Sack said. jeanette.steele@sduniontribune.com Steele writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Thousands of people took to the streets in the annual May Day marches in downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights on Sunday to advocate for immigration reform, police accountability and an end to racism. The diverse array of protesters shared one thing in common: all were offended by something Donald Trump had said. The Republican presidential candidate literally loomed over one of the rallies in the form of a giant balloon effigy carrying a Ku Klux Klan hood. Hes plastic, he doesnt have a heart, he doesnt have a brain, organizer Francisco Moreno said, as he gestured at the swaying effigy. Were not going to vote for Trump! Advertisement Even small children were shouting anti-Trump slogans as protesters assembled in two groups in downtown Los Angeles at noon. They marched parallel routes that ended at Grand Park and Olvera Street, blowing horns, riding bicycles and waving signs supporting various causes. One banner seemed to sum up the rallies many fronts. The International Workers May Day march and rally and the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition march and rally were held in downtown L.A. on Sunday. Stand with immigrants, black lives, Muslims, LGBTQ people and low-wage workers! Elmer Deleon, a 37-year-old mechanic from Huntington Park, was one of the many immigrant protesters who said they were galvanized into marching by Trumps campaign for president. Deleon said he experienced a political awakening this year as he listened to Trumps criticisms of immigrants. He brought his wife and three children to the march to show solidarity with other immigrants who have yet to gain work papers an experience, he said, that changed his life. All we want to do is work, Deleon said. We start from the bottom and try to build something. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> To Gloria Carrasco, an undocumented house-cleaner from Los Alamitos, Trump represented a fundamental challenge to immigrants rights and her status as an American. On Sunday, she tied an American flag scarf around her neck, climbed up on a truck festooned in red, white and blue and told her story in Spanish. Im not a drug addict, Im none of what [Trump] says, Carrasco shouted. I want immigration reform. Carrasco came to the U.S. 27 years ago to find a better life for her family. When her father died seven years ago, she couldnt return to Mexico to see him because she was afraid she wouldnt make it back without papers. Things would only get worse for her with Trump as president, Carrasco said. As the marchers passed the Los Angeles Police Department detention center, dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters called on the crowd to chant the name of Wakiesha Wilson, a 36-year-old mother who died in police custody at the facility in March. No group is omitted from police brutality, said Hirashio Wilson, 29, as he lifted a yellow banner that read D.A. Lacy file charges now. Tim Vanco, a white UCLA student who identified himself as gay, marched to demand a living wage. His friend Angel Contreras, a Mexican American, was worried about how a Trump presidency would affect his family. They were joined by Grace Nsavu, a 22-year-old Congolese immigrant who said Trump was magnifying racism, bigotry and hatred with his rhetoric. It doesnt matter what you are supporting politically, said Vanco, 20, a Chicago native. As long as you are fighting for progressive causes and human rights. Below a thicket of wagging Mexican and American flags, Eydee Rivera held her daughter, Arlette Martinez, tight in her arms. Rivera, who is from Puerto Rico, dressed her daughter in the colors of the Mexican flag to acknowledge her roots. Arlettes father is a Mexican immigrant in the U.S. illegally. A Trump victory, Rivera fears, would mean a family split and broken by deportation. She called the possibility of a Trump presidency a disaster for the United States. Hes ignorant, Rivera said of the candidate. Were human beings. Los Angeles police made no arrests at Sundays rallies, which included another march through Boyle Heights that ended at Mariachi Plaza. It was a peaceful 1st Amendment exercise, with no incidents, said Sgt. Barry Montgomery, an LAPD spokesman. Authorities wrote 129 parking citations and impounded 59 cars improperly parked in downtown along the march routes, Montgomery said. Sundays marches drew a significantly smaller crowd than in previous years. Police did not provide official crowd estimates, but organizers at both downtown rallies estimated that 6,000 people had turned out. :: Ten years ago, did you march in the biggest protests California has ever seen? Share your story for a project the Los Angeles Times is doing on the legacy of the marches. Fill out this form or text march to (213) 296-0214. brittny.mejia@latimes.com garrett.therolf@latimes.com angel.jennings@latimes.com Times staff writer Frank Shyong contributed to this report. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> ALSO On his Santa Monica mountaintop, a billionaire envisions lofty thoughts on politics and culture Why most of the freight engines that Metrolink is leasing to improve safety are sitting idle Top L.A. County sheriffs official resigns over emails mocking Muslims and others The two families gathered in a cramped apartment in Highland Park, sharing stories and tears about two boys whose bodies were pulled from a river that, even in drought, never stops running. Gustavo Ramirez, 15, and Carlos Daniel Jovel, 16, were best friends, Carlos mother, Reina Ardon, said Monday from inside her home, where the walls are lined with photos of her smiling son, the youngest of her two children. Police said the pair may have ended up in the Los Angeles River after one fell in and his friend tried to save him, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Frank Preciado said Monday, based on accounts from two other teenagers who were with them at the time. Advertisement The teenagers told police they were hanging out Friday evening along the river behind their school the Sotomayor Learning Academies complex when Gustavo fell in the water, Preciado said. Carlos jumped in after him, he said, but neither surfaced. The two friends panicked, Preciado said. One called 911 and said someone was in the river, Preciado said. But the teens didnt stay, he said. When the 911 operator tried to call back for more information, the phone was off. See the most-read stories this hour >> Three helicopters two from the Fire Department and one from the LAPD flew over the river and the area behind the school, Preciado said, but didnt see anything. The same night, the teenagers families went to police to report the two missing, worried because neither had returned home. At the time, the detectives did not connect the missing boys to those reported in the river, Preciado said. Los Angeles experienced a remarkably dry winter, extending a severe drought that has lasted four years. But even during dry periods, the river still flows. It runs at a somewhat steady flow year-round, fed by a continuous supply of water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in the Sepulveda Basin, which dumps 23 million gallons of reclaimed water a day into the river. In 2006, a 14-year-old boy fell into the river while fishing with his friends in Glassell Park and drowned, according to a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power newsletter at the time. One of the teens dropped his pole into the water and as the 14-year-old tried to get it, he fell into the water and disappeared. His body was found submerged downriver two hours after the incident was reported. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Carlos had told his parents Friday that he was going to play basketball near the school with a group of friends, including Gustavo, his mother said. The 16-year-old knew he needed to be home by 4 p.m. to pack for a weekend camping trip with his father. It shocked me when the time passed and he wasnt home yet, said Juan Carlos Jovel. He was so excited. The two planned to leave at 6 p.m., but Carlos never returned. The family searched for the teenagers, optimistic, even as days passed, that they would find them, said Ardon, Carlos mother. We never lost hope. I never lost hope, Ardon said, as she began to cry, putting a hand over her face. But I was so scared. On Sunday morning, Preciado said, the two teenagers who had been with Jovel and Ramirez told their parents that their friends had fallen into the water. After the parents called police, Preciado said, detectives spoke to the two teenagers, who directed them to the very specific area where Gustavo and Carlos were last seen. The soil under the moss-covered concrete bank had eroded, leaving a hollow area and a stream of water about 12 feet deep, Preciado said. On Sunday, a sonar-equipped boat was launched to scan the area and detected a few spots for a dive team to examine further. As the sonar equipment was pulled from the water, Preciado said, a cable caught one of the bodies. Divers found the second body about 45 minutes later. Gustavo Ramirez, center, participates in a rap battle with friends. Gustavo, 15, and 16-year-old Carlos Daniel Jovel went missing Friday. Their bodies were discovered in the L.A. River Sunday. I had the hope wed find them alive, Macario Ramirez, Gustavos father, said Monday, as he clutched a tissue in his right hand, sitting at a table in the apartment with his 19-year-old daughter and Carlos parents. He began to cry. I had the hope until the last minute that it wasnt them, Gustavos mother, Antonia Ramirez, said. That the ones they took out of the river werent them. Throughout Monday morning, loved ones descended on the apartment, offering condolences and a warm embrace to each set of parents. Both boys had been happy and entertaining, always joking around with their parents, siblings and with each other, the families said. When Carlos would tell his mother a joke, it would make her laugh so much she would have him tell it repeatedly, Ardon said. Mom, Im not a recorder, he would say. Ardon smiled as she recalled what her son known to his family as Titos would tell her. He was the kind of person that you didnt have to try and you were laughing, his 18-year-old sister Sandra Jovel said. Gustavo was known as Smiley to his soccer teammates because of the smile he always had on his face. And the only trouble Gustavo would get into in school would be for interrupting class with his laughter, his mother said. He always made his two older sisters laugh, Antonia Ramirez said nodding toward her 19-year-old daughter Griselda Ramirez, who began to cry. Gustavo had told Griselda Ramirez on Friday that he was going to play basketball and she told him not to be home later than 6 p.m. He just said bye and he left, she said tearfully. He never came back. Times staff writers Doug Smith, Veronica Rocha and Matt Hamilton contributed to this report. Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia Twitter: @katemather ALSO 12 rescued from sinking boat near Marina del Rey Police shoot, kill knife-wielding man after Panorama City domestic dispute Granada Hills Charter High Schools national Academic Decathlon champions to be honored at rally The Orange County district attorney filed charges Monday against a 19-year-old man who was arrested during the demonstrations that turned violent after a Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa. Luis Fernando Alarcon, a car detailer, was charged with one felony count of vandalism causing damage of $400 or more and one misdemeanor count of inciting a riot, according to a criminal complaint. TRAIL GUIDE: All the latest news on the 2016 presidential campaign >> Advertisement Alarcon, a resident of Anaheim, was demonstrating Thursday night when he and several protesters marched south on Newport Boulevard toward the entrance of the 55 Freeway. A California Highway Patrol officer in a cruiser managed to gain access to the entrance to block the crowd from entering the freeway while a second officer responded to the area. Prosecutors say Alarcon walked about 12 to 15 feet of the second officers vehicle, yelled an obscenity and hurled what appeared to be a rock or roof tile at the cruiser, causing damage. The demonstrations outside the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa blocked traffic and caused tense moments. Some protesters performed screeching burnouts in their cars or did doughnuts at intersections. Others kicked at and punched approaching vehicles, shouting expletives. Ranchera and hip-hop music was blasted throughout the streets. At least 17 people were arrested. Charges against the others are still pending. Alarcon, who pleaded not guilty, remains in Orange County jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, according to jail records. Trump also faced large and hostile demonstrations at the Burlingame hotel, where he delivered a speech to the California Republican Convention on Friday. The billionaire businessman is leading in several polls of California Republican voters. But his outspoken comments about people in the country illegally and his advocacy for a border wall have sparked a backlash by younger Latinos. Twitter: @LATvives ALSO Teacher falls in Eaton Canyon and ends up stabbed in the back with her pencil Rivals for Knabe seat face off in Torrance forum Teens tell police two friends died in L.A. River after one fell in, other tried to save him U.S. Rep. Janice Hahn said Monday that if elected to the seat being vacated by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, she would consider dipping into the countys rainy day fund to pay for initiatives to reduce homelessness. The comment, at a candidates forum in Torrance, drew quick criticism from one of Hahns rivals in the race for Knabes seat. Knabe, who has been on the Board of Supervisors for two decades, will be pushed out by term limits at the end of the year. He is one of two Republicans on the five member board. Advertisement Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> Hahn (D-San Pedro), a former Los Angeles City Council member and the daughter of former longtime supervisor Kenneth Hahn, is giving up her congressional seat to run for a spot on the low-profile but powerful county board. She is runing against Knabe aide and former Manhattan Beach Councilman Steve Napolitano and Whittier school board member and pastor Ralph Pacheco. Mondays forum, hosted by the Torrance Chamber of Commerce, provided a rare chance to see the three candidates face off on issues including public safety, transportation and balancing the countys $28-billion budget. In response to a question about the best way to manage the countys $338-million rainy day reserve fund, Hahn said, Currently, I would think homelessness has become a crisis. I would consider using or looking at that, whether that can be leveraged to provide some resources toward this emerging crisis. The countys homeless population has swelled to more than 44,000, and the city and county of Los Angeles have been grappling with how to pay to address it, including considering asking voters for a tax increase. Napolitano took issue with the suggestion that reserve funds should be put toward the problem, saying that the county needs to leave the fund untouched in case of another economic downturn. The thing about homelessness is, its not going to be solved tomorrow, he said. Its taken a long time to get to where it is. Its going to take a long time to solve it.... Rainy day funds are one-time funds. Homelessness is going to be an ongoing cost to the county. Asked to elaborate on the use of the rainy day fund after the forum, Hahn said she thought the fund should generally be reserved for an emergency, but that county leaders should look at whether homelessness has risen to the level of an emergency. If we had a natural disaster that caused this many people to be living on the streets, we would look at it differently, she said. Hahn is widely seen by political observers as the front-runner in the race. Her election would tilt the county board further to the left. Napolitano, the lone Republican in the race, and Pacheco, sought to portray themselves as careful fiscal stewards. While in elected office, Ive passed balanced budgets for 29 consecutive years and have coalesced over half a billion dollars to the communities I represent, Pacheco said. Honestly, no other person standing on this stage can make the same claim. Napolitano pointed to the countys record of fiscal restraint, which allowed it to get through the recession without major cuts. The county did not lay off or furlough a single employee, compared to the city of L.A. and others, which laid off many ... because they gave away too much to begin with, he said. The candidates also differed on the question of mandatory paid sick leave. The Los Angeles City Council has moved toward implementing a law that would require employers to give workers six days of paid sick leave a year. The county has not taken up that question for unincorporated areas. Napolitano said he thought the economic impacts should be studied before the county takes any action. Hahn said she would back a sick day policy like the one the city is pursuing. I think if we have happy, healthy employees, I think ultimately thats better for our businesses and better for our economy, she said, The candidates largely agreed on other issues, including the need for more public safety resources and support for an amendment to the states prison realignment, which shifted responsibility for jailing and supervising lower-level felons from the state to the county. They were also united in criticizing the allocation of regional transportation funding, which many in the smaller cities of Los Angeles County see as unfairly benefitting the city of Los Angeles over other areas. Napolitano referred to the sucking sound of the city of Los Angeles taking all those dollars and putting them toward the subway to the sea and to their projects. Hahn said she would push to extend the Metro Green Line train to the terminals at Los Angeles International Airport. In addition to the race for Knabes seat, the seat currently held by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich is up for grabs. The field running for Antonovichs seat is more crowded, with eight candidates who have qualified for the ballot. Twitter: @sewella ALSO Anti-Trump protester charged with trashing CHP cruiser, urging others to vandalize Teens tell police two friends died in L.A. River after one fell in, other tried to save him California suburbs growing fast as many are priced out of cities, data show Traffic congestion and safety conflicts among vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians continue to plague traveling conditions along Orange Countys portion of Pacific Coast Highway, according to a newly published transportation study. The nearly $400,000 report, released last month and conducted by the Orange County Transportation Authority and the California Department of Transportation, examined the iconic but aging 37-mile highway from Seal Beach to San Clemente. The studys goal was to provide cities with strategies to make traveling the state highway safer and more efficient. It began in 2013 at the behest of local municipalities. Advertisement Improvements to traffic flow and safety were cited as universal needs. But as OCTA Chairwoman Lori Donchak said in a statement, Each city has its own priorities and its own needs. Our job now is to brief each city on the studys finding so we can figure out what improving PCH will look like for them. In Newport Beach, the study pinpoints 11 areas for improvement. Some of the major issues stem from heavy volumes of pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic through Mariners Mile and in west Newport Beach, especially at Prospect Street, Orange Street and Superior Avenue. The combination of significant traffic, narrow roadways, pedestrian activity, bicyclists and on-street parking also delays travelers along East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. Bicyclists on East Coast Highway in the Newport Coast area also face safety hazards because of traffic using the right turn lanes onto Newport Coast Drive, the study shows. Newport Beach Public Works Director Dave Webb said the city has long been aware of the conflicts along its portions of Coast Highway. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> However, the study provides an opportunity for cities to move forward in solving their problems and seeking grant funding to do so, he said. The city and OCTA have already started moving forward with improvements at 27 traffic signals along a nine-mile stretch of the highway between west Newport Beach and Newport Coast. The City Council this month approved an agreement with OCTA to install signal equipment and fiber optic cable, update signal timing and install closed-circuit television cameras along Coast Highway at Superior, Riverside Avenue and Dover Drive. The project is expected to enhance traffic signal coordination. Much of the estimated $2.25-million project will be funded by a county grant. Newport Beach has agreed to chip in $450,000. In Huntington Beach, the study identifies 11 points for improvement, including peak-hour traffic congestion along PCH at Warner Avenue and traffic backup as a result of signal timing problems citywide. It also names traffic delays caused by pedestrians who cross at major intersections along PCH, particularly between Main and Huntington streets and between Huntington and Beach Boulevard. Bicycle safety is a problem between Warner and Goldenwest Street, the study says, as are cyclists traveling between parked cars and vehicles traveling along PCH between Goldenwest and 6th Street. In Laguna Beach, the combination of traffic, limited street capacity, pedestrians and parking issues delays travelers along Coast Highway between Broadway and Cress streets, the study says. Sections of the highway with narrow or missing sidewalks pose problems for pedestrians in South Laguna, according to the study. The report highlights possible solutions, including improving sidewalks, installing illuminated pedestrian crossings and adding bike lanes, street striping and signage to improve traffic flow and safety. In an email, Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig called the studys suggestions good ideas, but said removing lanes or parking along Coast Highway or reducing lanes on Glenneyre Street to fit in some bike lines will require significant consideration to better understand the impacts to traffic flow, parking, bicycles, businesses and neighborhoods. OCTA officials are expected to present their findings to local city councils over the next several months. It will be up to the cities to take the next steps on the projects, OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik said. This includes prioritizing and securing funding for projects, developing them, handling environmental review, design and implementation. Competitive funding would potentially be available from local, state and federal sources. hannah.fry@latimes.com Fry writes for Times Community News. Times Community News writer Bryce Alderton contributed to this report. ALSO Man and his dog die in suspicious Seal Beach duplex fire Drink up! Mesa Water District relaxes outdoor watering rules starting Sunday Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County; 17 arrested, police car smashed The defense attorney representing convicted murderer Daniel Wozniak argued in court last week that he needs access to any secret records kept by Orange County Sheriffs Department deputies who worked with jailhouse informants. Public defender Scott Sanders said the documents could be crucial to a motion hes crafting asking an Orange County judge to grant Wozniak a new trial or throw out the death sentence recommended by jurors. Wozniak, a 31-year-old community theater actor from Costa Mesa, was convicted last year of a gruesome double murder and bizarre attempted coverup in 2010. Advertisement Jurors convicted Wozniak of fatally shooting Army veteran Sam Herr, 26, and Juri Julie Kibuishi, 23. After the killings, Wozniak tried to throw police off his trail by staging Kibuishis body to look as if Herr had sexually assaulted her and fled, according to prosecutors. He then tried to dispose of Herrs body by dismembering it and leaving some of the limbs in a Long Beach park, authorities said. After finding Wozniak guilty, jurors took about an hour of deliberation to decide he deserved the death penalty. For the sentence to be finalized, a judge must confirm it at a hearing scheduled for next month. Sanders, however, has crusaded against capital punishment for his client, arguing its impossible for death-penalty defendants to receive a fair trial in Orange County because, he alleges, law enforcement and prosecutors routinely fail to turn over evidence to defendants that theyre entitled to see. Most of his allegations focus on the use of informants in the jails. The county district attorneys office has said that any failure to hand over evidence was incidental and unintentional. Most recently, Sanders issued two subpoenas seeking any notes kept by sheriffs deputies about their interactions with jailhouse informants. In court papers, Elizabeth Pejeau, deputy county counsel representing the Sheriffs Department, called Sanders request overly broad and irrelevant to the Wozniak proceedings. She has asked Superior Court Judge John Conley to quash the subpoenas for any records not related to the Wozniak case. Sanders and Pejeau are scheduled to present their sides to Conley on Tuesday. A jailhouse informant did speak to Wozniak while he was behind bars, according to court records, but prosecutors say they immediately ruled out using any evidence gleaned from informants. In the courts view, the issue of informants was off the table before I ever got the case, Conley said during Fridays hearing. If the notes prove to be important, Conley said, hes open to delaying Wozniaks May 20 sentencing date so Sanders can argue his point. But what happens depends on the contents of the documents Sanders has subpoenaed. This could be a bombshell or it could be a dud. We dont know, Conley said. jeremiah.dobruck2@latimes.com Dobruck writes for Times Community News. ALSO 12 rescued from sinking boat near Marina del Rey After removing the rotting whale carcass from beach, crews decontaminate sand Top L.A. County sheriffs official resigns over emails mocking Muslims and others The Republican candidates for president have campaigned all over the country lamenting the rough recovery from the recession and condemning President Obama and by extension Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton as failures when it comes to jobs and the nations well-being. Then they come to California, where the states unemployment rate is 5.4%, more than eight percentage points below what it was when Democrat Jerry Brown took over from a Republican governor less than six years ago. At the weekend state Republican convention, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tied himself in rhetorical knots when he tailored his pitch to California. Advertisement Yall are a hardy bunch, he told Republican delegates. You are used to adversity and you have seen the absolute disaster, the absolute train wreck that is out-of-control liberalism. See the most-read stories this hour >> But a few minutes later, he doubled back to deliver a backhanded acknowledgment of the states rising economy. Thats the mighty California spirit that built this state into such an incredible economic engine that you have survived and thrived in the face of Democratic mismanagement year after year after year, he said. Its a basic rule of politics: Economic booms are often the result of outside forces, like a national upswing, but they accrue to the advantage of the incumbent party, just as economic downturns hurt the party in power. One of the challenges facing Republicans this year as they seek to regain the White House is increasing confidence in the recovery nationally and in places such as California. The recovery has been spotty enough that economic troubles remain. The loss of manufacturing jobs and stagnant wages have been prime topics in the Republican and the Democratic presidential contests this year. But in California, the notable improvement has forced the Republican pitch onto more nuanced and less politically potent ground: Things are OK, but they could be better. As new voters equate better economic times with Democratic rule, the GOPs efforts to rebuild here become even more difficult. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | April 26 primary election results | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter To be sure, GOP candidates have a somewhat easier time convincing their own voters of the need for improvement. Republican voters are far more sour on the economy than Democrats, a fact that rests on their views of government and taxes and their powerfully partisan sentiments. This is how hyper-partisan and polarized weve become, said Dan Schnur, director of USCs Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics. It used to be that voters based their political allegiances on real-world experience. Now they view the real world through the lens of their partisan allegiances. Just as there were many Democrats who refused to accept any positive outcome if George Bush or Ronald Reagan had anything to do with it, these Republicans simply cant handle the idea that the economy has improved under Obama and Brown. An April Field Poll found that California voters, by 52% to 42%, felt that the state was going in the right direction. When Brown took over for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, only 10% felt that the state was going in the right direction. Underneath the current numbers was the sharp partisan divide. Among Democrats, 71% felt the state was doing well. But among Republicans, only 21% did. Nonpartisan voters, the much-sought-after and growing electorate group, were closer to Democrats at 54%. The state is still in the throes of recovery, another April Field Poll made clear. Asked whether the economy was enjoying good times or bad, 46% said bad, to 39% for good. Although not upbeat on its face, the finding represented the fourth straight year in which the percentage saying times were good had grown and the negative percentage had dropped. In 2010, the year Brown was elected, 93% of California voters said the state was experiencing bad times. Those numbers, too, have a partisan tilt, but state job figures show improvement even in strongly Republican areas. In Orange County, the states most populous Republican area, the jobless rate in March was 4%, down from 9.1% when Brown took over. In Kern County, a GOP stronghold, it dropped from 16% to 11.6% despite job losses because of the drought. Even in the tiny farm town of Mendota, signs of improvement are evident. In her 2010 race for the U.S. Senate, Republican Carly Fiorina dared incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer to meet her in Mendota, whose unemployment rate was approaching 50%. Fiorina blamed environmental measures backed by Boxer. Fiorina raised the towns woes again this weekend at the state GOP convention. Yet while Mendota continues to have problems, its circumstances have changed: the jobless rate in March was 20.6%. Republicans point to difficulties that transcend the jobless rate: taxes, regulations, even the troubled schools. Mariam Noujain of Placerville attended the convention as a guest. The 62-year-old DMV employee said shes supporting Republican presidential front-runner and businessman Donald Trump in part because America was built on business; it wasnt built on government. She used to own a cafe in Sacramento that sold sandwiches and juices, but closed it in 1999 because of the onerous burdens posed by government. She said: The regulations kill you. California, she said, should be booming.... OK, were not underwater. We could do so much better if the private sector could flourish. Claire Chiara, 21, a delegate from Berkeley and a candidate for state Assembly, said that some very minor changes have been made in Sacramento in recent years, but at the end of the day, we have issues. Even in the face of oppressive government systems that Republicans dont like, she said, I think California still finds a way to thrive. cathleen.decker@latimes.com Twitter: @cathleendecker seema.mehta@latimes.com Twitter: @LATseema Times staff writer John Myers contributed to this report. ALSO Cruz campaign focuses on the only way he can win: Convention delegates Bernie Sanders supporters strategizing to build a lasting progressive movement Trump, Kasich and Cruz make their cases to California GOP: On unity, electability and fish The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday ruled that state law overrides local efforts to limit hydraulic fracturing, dealing a setback to opponents of oil and gas development but potentially adding momentum to a broader fight that could play out at the ballot box this fall. The ruling rejected as invalid and unenforceable measures that were approved by voters in two cities north of Denver, an area where hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, surged for many years before low oil prices prompted a steep slowdown. In 2012, residents of Longmont voted to ban fracking within the city limits. The following year, voters in Fort Collins approved of a five-year moratorium there. Advertisement The oil industry and the state took both cities to court, arguing that the power to regulate the industry belonged to the state. Lower courts agreed, but the cities appealed, eventually sending the case to the states highest court. The industry praised Mondays decision, with a lawyer for the Colorado Oil and Gas Assn. telling reporters that the ruling drew a bright line affirming state authority. Opponents said it would motivate activists who are collecting signatures to put several anti-fracking measures on the state ballot this fall. The measures, which would change state law, include giving regulatory power to local governments and requiring fracking activity to be substantially farther away from homes, schools and churches than is currently allowed. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> The trend has been to prioritize oil and gas profits over the rights of people to protect our communities, said Lauren Petrie, the Rocky Mountain regional director for Food and Water Watch. The industry and the state are just shoving it down peoples throats. The group is supporting Initiative 75, which would give local governments the right to ban fracking to protect public health and safety. The initiative needs nearly 100,000 signatures by August to qualify for the November ballot. Its going to be the biggest environmental fight in the country, Petrie said. Michael Freeman, a lawyer for Earthjustice, says that in Colorado the oil and gas industry operates under legal precedents that do not properly factor in the rise of new fracking technology and its expansion into urban and suburban areas. Case law has not really evolved to recognize the reality of drilling in 2016, he said. Other cities and counties nationwide have passed resolutions, bans or moratoriums on fracking. State leaders in Vermont and New York have banned fracking, and in some states, including Texas, lawmakers or courts have in effect imposed bans. Dan Haley, president and chief executive of the Colorado Oil and Gas Assn., told reporters in a conference call Monday that a ballot fight over fracking would disrupt Colorados economy and shred the private property rights of Colorado citizens. ALSO Woman files lawsuit claiming Starbucks overfills cold drinks with ice Anti-Trump protester charged with trashing CHP cruiser, urging others to vandalize In a down-on-its-luck Oregon mill town, the savior theyre waiting for is Donald Trump He used to wake her up nights, shouting out his terror in the dark, his tattooed biceps continuing their clench-and-spasm dance long after a shift feeding cedar logs into the endless maw of the lumber mill. In his nightmare, Keven Jones pushed the logs into neat rows, but as he dreamed, the logs started to tumble. They swung down, log after rolling log, bouncing off his rib cage, burying him. He would wake, eyes wide, mouth agape. Only seconds later did he hear himself screaming. Carol was used to her husbands unconscious thrashing. The nightmares were once the price he paid for a good job. But the Rough & Ready mill that employed Jones all of his adult life closed in early February, and now what Carol Jones often wakes to in the middle of the night is her husband sitting alone in the living room with a bottle of Jack Daniels. Advertisement Hes all wired up, nothing to do with that energy, she says. Before, when he was working, hed pull extra shifts and come home tired, really tired. Now hes got just time. Keven Jones, 36, blames a band saw for the two fingers he lost years ago on his right hand. For the quiet panic hes in now, for the over-regulating that hes convinced shut down the mill and threw 63 people out of work, that, he figures, was the governments fault. We have what we need to stay in business right here, Jones says, pointing to the lush pine and cedar forests that surround this town of 1,800 people on the northwest slope of the Siskiyou mountain range. But we cant get out there to cut it down because one agency wont talk to another one, or the environmentalists tie it up in court. When Jones thinks about what kind of president might be able to do something, he looks at the one who seems to him least like a politician: Donald Trump. Oregons politics are dominated by the Democratic Party machine in Portland and Salem the state hasnt elected a Republican to statewide office since 2002. But this mountainous corner of southwest Oregon, just up the Redwood Highway from the California border, has always leaned Republican. And even as GOP voters across the state have waffled ahead of the May 17 primary, drifting from retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich before leaning toward Trump, the New York real estate magnates support in Josephine County has never wavered. ------------ FOR THE RECORD 6:13 a.m.: An earlier version of this article stated that the Oregon primary is scheduled for May 19. It is is set for May 17. ------------ A regular smokes outside Sportsman Tavern in Cave Junction, a small town in Oregons economically distressed Illinois Valley. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Here, people talk about electing a president who will stop immigrants in the country illegally from flooding in and taking jobs, wholl be tough on Americas rivals abroad, who knows enough about business to keep the country from going further into debt. Trump is like choosing the least-bad STD, you know what I mean? Jones says. Hes going to do the least bad, the least governing, and he knows how to delegate, he adds. I dont expect him to know how to fight the wars or rebuild the economy. But hes a CEO. Hell hire the right people to do that. *** From Oregons earliest days, the seemingly unending supply of timber from the coastal rainforest made the local lumber barons rich men. For more than a century, demand for the boards produced by Cave Junctions mills led to massive tree cutting and soaring profits. Jones and his friends grew up planning to stay in town and raise families. Hed known Carol from childhood. When he was 18 and she was 16, she told him she was pregnant, and he got hired as a saw filer at Rough & Ready. They raised their children in rooms built from wood planed at the mill. Keven Jones greets daughter Emilee upon his return home from a trip to town. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Then a series of environmental lawsuits in the 1980s and early 1990s brought new federal restrictions on logging from public lands. To keep timber-dependent counties afloat, the federal government offered money to replace the taxes they lost, until they could develop new industries. But the payments have dwindled and are scheduled to expire next year. People here are waiting to hear whether Washington will provide job training to laid-off timber workers via the federal Trade Act. If the money is approved, Jones hopes he can send Carol to nursing school; shed earn four times what he was making at the mill. If the federal money comes through, town leaders keep saying, Cave Junction just might make it. Jones roams his house, restless, doing laundry and the dishes, trying and failing to avoid thinking about the Trade Act money. Once again, Jones finds himself at the mercy of the government. Carol Jones learns about health coverage options while her husband, a saw filer, is on unemployment. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Needing something from the government is the last place Jones wants to be in. He doesnt trust Obamacare, so he and his family have gone without health insurance since the mill closed. He doesnt believe the state has the right to require vehicle insurance, so he has been cited multiple times for driving uninsured. Still, it was the federal government most people turned to the last time the mill closed, eight hours into a nine-hour shift in 2013. That time, 85 people were out of a job. Two committed suicide. Trade Act money helped Jones start classes to earn a commercial truck drivers license. Then the mill owners came back with a promise: The mill was reopening, and if he dropped the truck driver training and came back to work, they would guarantee him five years of employment. So I dropped it, Jones recalls. The mill didnt make it to a second anniversary, much less five years. *** Carol Jones crunches to a halt in the parking lot of Rogue Community College under the lazy drifting petals of a just-blooming lavender dogwood. She looks into the back seat, where two 10-year-old girls sit, her daughter Emilee and her niece, Alicia. The family adopted Alicia seven years ago when Carols brother, driving drunk, had a crash that killed his other child. His wife ended up in a mental asylum. Alicia moved in while her father was in prison. I already know all the bad words, Alicia begins. Fart, booger Carol leads the two girls like a pair of chittering ducklings across the campus, silent and abandoned during spring break. Coming back to school for Carol is a calculated investment. College costs $500 a semester, plus $400 for books and the gas it will take to drive 40 minutes each way to school from Cave Junction. Keven is getting $470 every two weeks in unemployment, and the math is giving her a dull ache behind her eyes. She leads the kids through the double doors of a low-slung stone building with a sign that reads ADMINISTRATION. Inside, they settle into a narrow waiting room. She shifts in her seat and runs more numbers in her head: The college opened at 10 a.m. and the woman on the phone told her she would need to wait at least 20 minutes for an academic counselor, but Carol has to get Alicia to a doctors appointment for a broken pinkie at 11. If the wait drags on, shell have to reschedule the doctors appointment and drive the 28 miles twice. That takes at least four gallons of gas, which will cost $8 more than she has this week. Carol is worried that the Trade Act money wont come through, but she also worries what happens if it does. She will have to upend her life again, switching her job as a pharmacy technician to part time, juggling the schedules of four children and her schoolwork. Twenty minutes pass, then forty. No one emerges from the counseling office. Keven Jones talks with his former boss, mill owner Linc Phillippi, a month after being let go. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) A slumped young man in a gray hoodie skulks through the double doors and collapses into a chair across the room. His iPhone lights up and plays the brief, loud sound of what seems like a political speech as he scrambles to silence it. Carol fixes him with a stare, then looks down. I already know all the bad words, Alicia continues. Fart, booger and Donald Trump. Carol giggles despite herself. Her husbands choice of a New York billionaire to be president still confuses her. But everybody seems to be talking about Trump these days now her kids are too. Where did you hear that? she asks. Carol checks her phones clock again. 10:50 a.m., just 10 minutes to get to Alicias doctor. She stands and stretches and tells the girls to follow her. Community college, Trade Act money, all of it will have to wait another day. *** The timber payments are nearly over, but money for most public services ran out long ago anyway. Candy wrappers and dirty yellow earplugs drift in lonely puddles outside the silent mill. The Cave Junction public library is only open for three half-days each week. The sheriffs office answers the phone weekdays until 5 p.m., then hands off to the lone Oregon State Police trooper who patrols hundreds of miles of interstate. Keven Jones, left, takes a shot of whiskey with brother Dave Frokemke at Sportsman Tavern. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) The town pays a police officer from nearby Grants Pass to patrol on weekdays, but residents complain he only sits in his car, eyeballing us from behind his window, as one man puts it, waiting to ticket them for speeding. A small group of volunteers have taken it upon themselves to patrol Cave Junction. Most nights, theyre the only semblance of law enforcement. But Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniels worries when they try to take things into their own hands, confronting suspected meth dealers and burglary suspects. Someones going to get hurt, Daniels said. In March, a $4,000 radio went missing from a Rogue River Fire Department fire engine, and an anonymous caller said the radio might be returned for the right amount of money. The fire chief said he wasnt going to respond to extortion. With the unemployment rate now exceeding 7.2% in Josephine County, the biggest issue in this years election here is who can put people back to work. Many are betting its the businessman in the race, even if hes a brash real estate mogul from New York whose chief previous contact with lumber was the veneered reception desks in his swank hotels. Cave Junction residents on volunteer patrol check an abandoned home where meth users have taken up residence. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Southwest Oregon is not a natural fit for a billionaire East Coaster, but neither are any of the other GOP candidates, particularly those running on a religious platform; Oregon is among the nations least church-going states. Trumps conviction that global trade deals are selling Americans short plays well with the independent streak that runs through Oregon Republican politics. Trump, many here believe, would never put up with letting the Western timber industry falter to protect endangered birds and owls. Its a part of the world that sees itself as having been abandoned, said Jim Moore, a political scientist at Pacific University outside Portland. These were not Mitt Romney people; they did not vote for George W. Bush. Theyve latched on to Trump as they have latched on to other outside candidates. The difference is, hes winning. *** What is left of the Rough & Ready workforce gathers slowly in a tiny meeting room at the mill on a sunny spring afternoon. A couple of teenagers in sweatshirts thumb through their phones. A gray-haired health insurance agent stands in front next to a whiteboard, handing out packets titled What am I likely eligible for? Carol arrives two minutes before 3 p.m. and takes a seat near the front. She traces her finger over the front page of the packet, which lists monetary amounts for public assistance programs, including health insurance, based on family size. A representative of Rogue Workforce Development, the local unemployment office, tells the assembled workers not to wait for the Trade Act or think of it as their only hope. Dont hesitate, he says. If you see something in another sector, take it. Jimmy Evans patrols a neighborhood in Cave Junction, which cant afford its own police force. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) But the jobs they are qualified for, without new training, are few. Mill employees are a specialized workforce, Kevens brother Dave Frokemke explains. They are masters of the craft of turning logs into boards. After that, someone else has to make the boards into stuff. As a saw filer, Keven was trained to keep the band saws sized to an exact standard; done incorrectly, it could cost other men their lives. But who needs this now? The two brothers have come ambling into the meeting room 10 minutes late, grinning, in cut-off T-shirts. Keven shakes hands with the mills owners, Jennifer and Linc Phillippi, and lowers himself into a seat near the whiteboard. The insurance presentation drones on. Carol is carefully taking notes. Keven spies a small pile of Ghirardelli chocolates, picks off two and begins loudly unwrapping them. The teenagers at the back of the room smirk. Insurance agent Mary Reynolds tells them about health insurance options, including the pricey insurance available under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, offered to workers who have lost or changed jobs. Finally, its time for questions. Keven raises his meaty, maimed right hand. Hows anybody supposed to pay for COBRA? he asks. Well, its just the first option, Reynolds replies. Jones stands. He tells the room, in three well-chosen words, what he thinks of their offers of help. Dave rises too. They walk out together, followed by the teenagers in the back. Five middle-aged former millworkers exchange uneasy glances. Carol ignores the commotion and continues taking notes. You guys are missing the point about help, Reynolds calls after them. Health insurance people are full of ..., Jones shouts back as he makes his way down the hallway. Several seconds of silence ensue. Then the five middle-aged millworkers stand up and leave. Follow Nigel Duara on Twitter. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE Rising confidence in Californias economy is a challenge for GOP presidential candidates Skelton: When it comes to paying taxes, California is Bernie Sanders kind of state Obama drops the mic at his last White House Correspondents Dinner as president Im Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I dont want you to miss today. TOP STORIES Two Sides of Trump Nation Advertisement In Laredo, Texas, Patti Magnon knows shes in the minority as a Donald Trump supporter who grew up in Mexico. But shes also not alone. Meanwhile, in the timber town of Cave Junction, Ore., Keven Jones has struggled after the lumber mill went under. He too supports the New York billionaire, but is a bit more philosophical: Trump is like choosing the least-bad STD, you know what I mean? Theyre featured in the latest installments of our continuing look at Trump Nation. Cruzs Last Stand? Indiana will go to the polls on Tuesday in whats shaping up to be a turning point in the Republican race. Its being billed as Ted Cruzs last chance to block Trumps momentum, and the first time in a generation that so much attention has been paid to the Hoosier State. So what do voters think of the commotion? Its what Iowans experience all the time, said one. Read on to see the varied approaches the candidates took in Indiana after this weekends GOP convention in California. Emails That Were No Joke The emails mocked Muslims, blacks, Latinos, women and others. They were sent from Tom Angels Burbank police work account in 2012 and 2013. Now, Angel has resigned as chief of staff for L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. And after initially saying he had no immediate plans to discipline Angel, McDonnell will use the incident as a learning opportunity for the department. Was the response appropriate? Read on for reaction from community leaders and to read the emails. Californias Road Less Traveled Before there was the Golden State Freeway or Highway 99, there was the Ridge Route -- a winding highway that connected Northern and Southern California and once had gas stations, diners, nightclubs and hotels that drew gangsters and Hollywood stars. For Harrison Scott, its historic preservation has been a passion project. But is this the end of the road? Lord Ganesh Is One Skype Away It seems as if you can get anything online these days. For busy and devoted Hindus, that includes religious services known as pujas, part of a burgeoning e-worship sector in India. People want to keep traditions alive but no one has time to keep up, especially if you are far away from home, says one site operator. OUR MUST-READS FROM THE WEEKEND -- The government wants your fingerprint to unlock your phone. Should that be allowed? -- Why most of the freight engines that Metrolink is leasing to improve safety are sitting idle. -- A parallel Chinese-language Internet helps immigrants navigate life in America. -- Latino activists vow more Trump protests as tensions heighten. -- Steve Lopez: President Trump and California is a beautiful union. Believe me. -- A 113-year-old Japanese American newspaper in L.A. must get 10,000 subscribers by years end or else close its doors. -- Luke Walton says the Lakers coaching job was an opportunity he couldnt pass up. -- Bill Maher outlasts others in an industry that eats its young. CALIFORNIA -- Donald Trump acts as a unifying force for May Day marchers in downtown L.A. -- Rising confidence in the states economy is a challenge for GOP presidential candidates. -- The state wont celebrate John Wayne Day; one lawmaker calls the actors views on race disturbing. -- George Skelton: When it comes to paying taxes, California is Bernie Sanders kind of state. NATION-WORLD -- China has a bold gambit to cement trade with Europe ... along the ancient Silk Road. -- As Russian planes bombard Syrian rebels, the debate over anti-aircraft missiles returns. -- President Obama drops the mic at his last White House Correspondents Dinner as president; Al Sharpton says Larry Wilmores calling Obama the N-word was in bad taste. -- A weeping miracle icon is drawing thousands of pilgrims to an Illinois church. -- Malia Obama will take a gap year, then attend Harvard in 2017. HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS -- The Stagecoach festival in Indio has a cross-country-music appeal. -- Can Stephen Colbert get his Late Night groove back? -- Will Ferrell is no longer attached to a Ronald Reagan film after a backlash. -- The Hamilton effect: The hit re-shapes Broadways Tony season. -- For artist Betye Saar, theres no dwelling on the past; at 90, she has too much future to think about. -- Foxs Houdini & Doyle: The game is afoot in turn-of-the-last-century London. -- Album review: Contradictions abound on Drakes bitter but sensual Views. BUSINESS -- Junk bond king Michael Milken looms large in the L.A. finance industry. -- How Chobanis CEO ensures that employees will share in the companys success. SPORTS -- Dominguez High freshman multi-sport standout Sean Harlston stays true to his Compton school. -- Ben Bolch: Doc Rivers shouldnt even think about breaking up the Clippers core. OPINION -- Why has there been an exodus of black residents from West Coast liberal hubs? -- Dont judge me for my Jesus memes. WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING -- A startup in Florida quietly looks to lead the way in virtual reality. (Wired) -- Look sharp: the messages behind the style of African American dandyism. (PrimeMind) -- More cheese, please? The U.S. has its largest stockpile of cheese since 1984. (Bloomberg) ONLY IN L.A. Nicolas Berggruen was once known as the homeless billionaire, staying in hotels as he jetted around the globe. But with his 2-month-old babies -- a brother and sister born from one egg donor and two surrogates -- hes put down stakes in West Hollywood. Nearby, he wants to build the headquarters for his think tank, the Berggruen Institute. Read on to see why hes picked the eastern Santa Monica Mountains for a secular monastery. Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj. Despite Donald Trumps recent primary victories, Republicans may yet be headed toward a brokered party convention this summer in Cleveland. In an earlier era, that would have been business as usual. Today, its considered a crisis. Americans cling to the notion that the people alone can and must choose their own leaders. By that logic, direct election through primaries is the only legitimate way to pick presidential candidates. (Delegates deliberating at a party convention are seen as fundamentally undemocratic.) When things go smoothly, this notion flatters our self-importance. But when the voice of the people is garbled and no majority emerges, as may happen this year, we are left with no legitimate way forward. In the early years of the American republic, presidential candidates were selected by fellow politicians. But the professionals got sidelined over time by successive waves of reform. Legislative caucuses were supplanted by national conventions in the early 19th century. Then at the turn of the 20th century some states began to bind convention delegates based on the outcomes of state primaries. But politicians and party leaders still held significant sway until 1968. Advertisement Exclusive reliance on popular votes to select our candidates isnt just a harmless bit of idealism. Theres reason to worry that it has saddled us with less capable presidents. That year, delegates at the Democratic convention nominated Hubert Humphrey, who had not even run in the presidential primaries. Disgruntled young Democrats and police clashed violently in the streets of Chicago and Humphrey went down to defeat in November. Afterward both parties reformed their nominating processes, replacing the remaining state conventions (and most caucuses) with additional primary elections. A Democratic Party reform commission declared that popular control of the Democratic Party is necessary for its survival. Americans enthusiasm for greater popular control as the solution to every political problem reflects their faith in what we call the folk theory of democracy: the notion that ordinary citizens can, somehow, steer the ship of state from the voting booth. Scientific evidence and political experience suggest this faith is misplaced. The verdict of ordinary citizens in a presidential election is essentially random not quite a coin flip, but strongly influenced by idiosyncratic factors such as whether the economy was growing in the months before Election Day. Why, then, would primaries and caucuses spread over five months and involving a dozen candidates be expected to arrive at a clear choice, much less a wise one? When party delegates were prominent political figures in their own right, selected as a significant matter of party business, their deliberations at a convention had substantial legitimacy. Perhaps not enough to justify nominating Humphrey, but enough to credibly swing the nomination to a contender who fell short of a popular majority. Not so today. Deliberation has fallen out of public favor. As a result, delegate selection has become an arcane, largely invisible process that, in most election cycles, decides nothing more important than who will get a trip to the convention to cast a symbolic vote for the winner of a states primary. A candidate sufficiently organized to manipulate the complex state-specific rules for selecting delegates (read: Ted Cruz) might be able to prevail in a brokered convention. But it would most certainly infuriate the party rank-and-file. Ironically, given the Democratic Partys stated commitment to popular control, its nomination rules retain a layer of professional oversight. Having been stung by the improbable nominations of outsiders George McGovern and Jimmy Carter, Democrats since the 1980s have reserved a block of votes at their convention for superdelegates top party leaders and elected officials who can choose whom to support. This year, about 15% of the delegates at the Democratic convention will be superdelegates, and they tilt sharply toward Hillary Clinton. That too is causing grousing among those in the thrall of the folk theory. Bernie Sanders supporters call superdelegates at home urging them to respect the will of the people. Political commentators charge that it is outrageous and thoroughly undemocratic to give so much power to party elites. Yet is it really so far-fetched that professional politicians many of whom know Clinton and Sanders, and whose careers hinge on the partys performance in November might have valuable opinions about the candidates aptitude for the presidency? Exclusive reliance on popular votes to select our candidates isnt just a harmless bit of idealism. Theres reason to worry that it has saddled us with less capable presidents. As rated by historians, the average quality of presidents has been distinctly lower in the 40 years since the party reforms of the early 1970s than in the 40 years before. By this rough test at least, the folk theory of democracy has entailed real costs. American government is founded on checks and balances. But our unchecked enthusiasm for voting in primaries, with no balancing counterweight of considered deliberation by professionals, bears considerable blame for the GOPs potential debacle in Cleveland. Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels are political scientists at Princeton University and Vanderbilt University, respectively, and the authors of Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook One of the curiosities of Americas current presidential campaign is that the Republican front-runner is a self-confessed serial adulterer, yet few conservative voters seem to care. In The Art of the Comeback, Donald Trump bragged about his sexual experiences with seemingly very happily married and important women. That so many people arent holding it against him suggests a tolerance that should be better reflected in our laws and policies. Adultery is illegal in 21 states, including New York, where Trump lives. In 2008, the issue came briefly to popular attention when the states governor, David Paterson, acknowledged at a news conference that he had had several extramarital relationships but claimed that he didnt break the law. A follow-up story in the New York Times began Well, actually. Adultery, it turns out, is a misdemeanor in New York, punishable by a fine of $500 or 90 days in jail. Adultery is rarely prosecuted as a criminal offense, but when it is, the arbitrariness of enforcement erodes confidence in the rule of law and unfairly singles out those blindsided by the charge. When a 2004 affair ended badly in Virginia, one of the states where infidelity is still illegal, the other woman went to the police. Her lover pleaded guilty. He cleared his record with community service, but he lost his job. In defending the charges, the prosecutor claimed, Were not out beating the bushes and certainly were not peeking in windows. However, in this case, it was thrown in our face. Advertisement More common than criminal prosecutions for adultery are job terminations, sanctions or demotions. The military can discharge or prosecute soldiers for infidelity, and courts have permitted dismissals or discipline of police officers, librarians, fire department employees, and FBI trainees based on marital infidelity that had no demonstrable connection to their job performance. Adultery also figures as a factor in allocating property and custody in divorce cases, although it isnt necessarily relevant to parental fitness or financial need. A few states even permit aggrieved spouses to sue paramours for alienation of affection. Youve got to be kidding me, said a 61-year-old Chicago man sued on that ground. Is this thing for real? In another celebrated 2010 case, a jury ordered a woman who had broken up a long-standing marriage to pay $9 million in damages. There is no evidence that a decline in legal sanctions would result in an increase in adultery. According to the best available research, somewhere between 19% and 23% of men, and 14% to 19% of women report being unfaithful at some point in their marriage, a rate substantially lower than in 1950 when Alfred Kinsey conducted the first studies. Legal prohibitions persist largely for symbolic reasons. Most Americans -- typically between two-thirds and three-quarters of those surveyed -- dont think adultery should be a crime... The law needs to catch up. As legal scholar Thurmond Arnold observed three-quarters of a century ago, Most unenforced criminal laws survive in order to satisfy moral objections to our established modes of conduct. They are unenforced because we want to continue our conduct, and unrepealed because we want to preserve our morals. Two decades ago, opponents of decriminalization in Connecticut claimed it would turn the state into a moral wasteland. In 2009, the executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research opposed repeal of the states criminal statute saying such an action would diminish the harmful effects of adultery. Yet no evidence suggests that repealing prohibitions on marital infidelity in Connecticut (in 1991) or in New Hampshire (in 2014) has had the corrosive consequences that opponents have predicted. At the same time that legal sanctions for adultery have declined, social disapproval has increased. In 2013, over 80% of Americans said that adultery is always wrong, compared with 70% in 1979. Despite this strong condemnation, however, most Americans typically between two-thirds and three-quarters of those surveyed dont think adultery should be a crime. Nor do they think it disqualifies a person from being president (72%), a CEO (72%), a member of Congress (66%) or a military general (64%). The law needs to catch up. There are, to be sure, strong reasons to disapprove of adultery. It can have devastating consequences for spouses and children. But the steady recurrence of infidelity suggests the ineffectiveness of trying to use legal sanctions and workplace penalties to prevent infidelity. Legislatures should repeal criminal prohibitions and alienation of affection statutes, and where legislatures decline to act, courts should strike down adultery penalties as an infringement of constitutionally protected rights of privacy. There are better ways to signal respect for marriage and better uses of resources than policing private consensual sexual activity. A time-honored joke recounts how Moses came down from his mountain meeting with God and announced, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I bargained him down to only 10 commandments. The bad news is that adultery stays in. For centuries, law sought to shore up that commandment with criminal and civil penalties. It is now an anachronistic, intrusive and misdirected effort. Deborah L. Rhode is a professor of law at Stanford University and the author of Adultery: Infidelity and the Law. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter@latimesopinion and Facebook When it was announced that Donald Trump would be giving a major foreign policy speech, I imagined he might actually have something to say or at least that whoever may be advising him about international relations would be writing a speech for the candidate to read that would lend coherence to the random notions that he has expressed throughout the early and middle stages of the 2016 presidential campaign. Silly me. Last weeks speech was no more than a somewhat formalized regurgitation of the proudly ignorant and potentially dangerous ideas the Republican front-runner has been spouting for months. Reviews of the speech from the voices of serious journalism were not kind. The New York Times said the speech did not exhibit much grasp of the complexity of the world, understanding of the balance or exercise of power, or even a careful reading of history. The Economist said Trumps description of statecraft as a series of deals, brokered in eyeball-to-eyeball negotiations with foreign powers, bears no resemblance to real diplomacy. The Wall Street Journal said, For prepared remarks, or for that matter even an after-dinner talk, Mr. Trumps speech was especially rife with contradictions. Advertisement Among those contradictions: Trump said he would give unflinching support to American allies, even as he denigrated NATO and said he would demand that U.S. strategic partners, from Europe to Japan, cough up more cash to pay the defense bill or else suffer certain unnamed consequences. He pledged to destroy Islamic State but gave no clue as to how he would do it or betray any complex understanding of the underlying forces that gave rise to ISIS. He insisted he wants friendly relations with China while condemning President Clinton for letting the Chinese into the World Trade Organization. Trump could not resist straying from the script to dip into his trademark riffs about things that are tremendous and beautiful or people who dont know what they are doing. The truth is, Trump does not appear to know what he is doing, especially when it comes to foreign policy. Disturbingly, though, he evidences no awareness about how much he doesnt know, instead indicating that his own self-described brilliance puts him at a level of qualification higher than anyone who has spent a career studying and working within the complex realm of international policy. Although Vladimir Putin has expressed admiration of Trump either because he sees Trump as a kindred spirit or as a guy he can easily bamboozle the rest of the world, and American allies in particular, are appalled that, by November, there might actually be a majority of Americans confused enough to put this braggart in charge of the world. Average Americans have never been especially savvy about international policy, ignoring events in foreign lands until they are called upon to send their sons and daughters into battle to crush the latest threat from abroad. Voters generally prefer candidates who talk tough and keep things as clear cut as an action movie. Even though we have the recent example of George W. Bush whose bold talk and simple thinking got the country into costly, tragic trouble overseas, we never seem to learn. Most people will not have heard or read Trumps foreign policy address. Those who are inclined to support him will merely take note that Trump read some big words about foreign affairs in front of an audience of gray-haired guys in suits and they will hear chatter on cable news that this performance makes Trump look more presidential. That will be enough to confirm that he is their guy and all will be right with the world. If only it were that simple. Ted Cruz, in his outsiders bid for the White House, has depended heavily on the largesse of just three wealthy donors to establish credibility and stay afloat amid a chaotic nominating process that killed off most of his rivals. Now, at perhaps the most desperate moment in his quest to win the Republican nomination, Cruz is learning the perils of relying on strong-willed magnates who carry their own agendas and have demanded an unprecedented level of control in how their money is spent. One of the three primary donors to Cruzs presidential efforts, a private equity manager who recruited the other two top donors, has refrained from spending the vast majority of his $10 million contribution to bolster the Cruz campaign. He is instead fighting openly with the top strategist for the super PACs that were set up to spend the money. Advertisement The man at the center of the fight, Toby Neugebauer, is a close friend of Cruz and his wife, Heidi. Neugebauer and his own wife have vacationed with the Cruzes, and he still counts himself a major supporter. But he has refused to spend $9 million of the $10 million he put into a super PAC. He was going to go up with ads in October or November. That came and went, and then he said hes saving it for Super Tuesday, said Kellyanne Conway, who oversees a network of super PACs supporting Cruz. I dont know if hes having a $10 million party in Cleveland, or what. It became apparent almost immediately that his money wasnt really there. Neugebauer, though, said he was alarmed by the profligate spending of other super PACs that spent vast sums on candidates who flamed out. He said he is relieved to have set up a strategy where he and two other major donors dictate how their money is spent. How we set up in these big PACs was a response to how unhappy people were in 2012, he said in an interview. Trust me, all the other big donors wish their PACs were set up the same way. After Citizens United and other court decisions opened the door to nearly unlimited campaign donations, many donors became frustrated with the control they surrendered to campaign consultants, who blew through millions of dollars on TV ads in a fruitless effort to elect Mitt Romney in 2012. This year, an outside group supporting former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush spent more than $100 million from big donors in a disastrous endeavor that saw Bush falter as soon as the first primary voters went to the polls. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> To counter the risk of a repeat of 2012, Neugebauer, the son of Texas Rep. Randy Neugebauer, helped set up three super PACs last year to support Cruz, each using a variation of the name Keep the Promise one for each major donor. The groups, forbidden by law to communicate with the Cruz campaign, planned to divvy up responsibilities for aiding his candidacy. But that strategy proved unwieldy, and the super PACs united in early March under the name Trusted Leadership PAC to raise more money. Neugebauer, however, has yet to come aboard. He complained that the political consultants remain addicted to buying negative television ads, a strategy that has proven particularly ineffective against the star power of front-runner Donald Trump. Neugebauer said he has instead pressed for positive ads placed in social media, but has been rebuffed. There were some political consultants, especially the establishments favorites, who didnt know they were extinct, Neugebauer said. People are going to be looking for a completely fresh set of talent. Neugebauer said he would not start spending money on Trump during the primary but declined to disparage Trumps credentials for office, as many other Cruz backers have done. Ted and I are close friends. I am going to support the nominee. Im not Never Trump, he said, referring to the effort among some Republicans to deny Trump the nomination. I think all that talk is just disgusting and shows a complete lack of understanding of what the middle class is going through in America. I want those voters for Ted in November. If the other two donors are frustrated that the man who helped recruit them to the effort appears to be bailing on it, they have not said so publicly. Neither Robert Mercer, who has donated $13.5 million to help Cruz, nor Farris Wilks, who along with his family donated $15 million, agreed to be interviewed or responded to written questions submitted to their representatives. The Cruz campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Conway said the division of labor among the funders was baked in the cake from the beginning and that Neugebauer knew his money was to be used for television ads. The other super PACs, she said, were concentrating on contacting voters directly, sending direct mail, radio ads and digital advertising campaigns. The guy could be a hero, Conway said. He could be a white knight right now. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter The separate super PACs raised eyebrows from political consultants and other campaigns, who wondered whether it made sense to hand over so much control to donors. But Cruz former communications advisor Rick Tyler said the $38 million infusion from the big three was critical to establishing Cruzs bona-fides as a serious presidential contender, disproving early doubts that he could compete with establishment candidates. One of them was Cruz might be able to raise grass-roots money, but hell never be able to raise big money, Tyler said. It was important for people to understand this was a well-funded campaign, and it was balanced. Yet the power and lifestyles of the Cruz mega-donors have also highlighted the wide gulf between Cruzs populist critiques of crony capitalism, and the relationships he maintains with the ultra-wealthy to fuel that message. Ten donors have given a total of $48 million to his super PACs, more than three-fourths of the money he has raised from outside groups. Many of them made their money in oil and gas, industries that have received strong support from Cruz. They make an eclectic group. Neugebauer, for example, lives in Puerto Rico with his family among a community of mega-wealthy Americans who are taking advantage of the islands generous income tax breaks. Farris Wilks and his brother Dan founded Frac Tech, which provided equipment and services for hydraulic fracking; they sold the company, of which they owned a majority, for more than $3 billion in 2011. Wilks serves as a pastor in Assembly of Yahweh, a church that forbids the celebration of Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Wilks has called climate change Gods will and condemned homosexuality as a perversion tantamount to bestiality, pedophilia and incest, according to recordings of sermons reviewed by Reuters. Mercer, a hedge fund executive, is a strong advocate for returning to the gold standard who has funded groups that have cast doubt on the science of climate change. Cruz also has criticized the consensus scientific view of climate change, and has suggested he too would welcome a return to the gold standard, an idea that has little backing among mainstream economists. The Fed should get out of the business of trying to juice our economy and simply be focused on sound money and monetary stability, ideally tied to gold, Cruz said last year during a debate. Neugebauer said he and the other donors were not motivated by personal issues or gain, nor do all of them necessarily agree with Cruzs sharply conservative views on social issues. Rather, he said, they are united by a concern for the countrys debt. I know it sounds crazy, he said. We are anti-establishment and we all think the country is on the precipice of insolvency. With Neugebauer on the sidelines, the other super PACs have begun spending money on television ads. In Indiana, where Cruz desperately needs an upset Tuesday to slow Trumps rise, the super PAC is spending nearly $2 million. Strangely, the biggest chunk, $1.3 million, is going toward a television ad attacking John Kasich for his support of Obamacare; after the money was spent, Cruz and Kasich announced a deal where Kasich would not compete in Indiana. Neugebauer said he still is weighing whether to spend money in California before its June 7 primary. There have been a lot of opportunities to waste money this political cycle, he said in an email. Staff writers Maloy Moore and Anthony Pesce contributed to this report. Twitter: @noahbierman, @jtanfani ALSO As Cruz (once again) secures more delegates, Trump camp (once again) calls process unfair Rising confidence in Californias economy is a challenge for GOP presidential candidates Bernie Sanders supporters strategizing to build a lasting progressive movement Cruz appeals to Indiana voters Midwestern values on eve of primary Once again, Sen. Ted Cruz is relying on a dose of Midwestern niceness to boost his flagging campaign prospects. I could not be more gratified, I could not be more encouraged that this primary is coming down to the Midwestern common sense, to the good judgment of Hoosiers, Cruz said at a Monday night rally at the Indianapolis fairgrounds, capping off a frenetic day barnstorming the state before Tuesdays pivotal Republican primary. Cruz has been buoyed by the region before; his victory in Wisconsin last month surged the Texas senators momentum and put the GOP front-runner Donald Trump on the defensive. Now, after a series of losses on the East Coast, Cruz is trying to re-create that Midwestern magic. To do so, he played up the qualities most likely to appeal to his conservative, religious and generally mild-mannered audience: truthfulness, respect, humility. He encouraged the crowd -- which filled up about two-thirds of a cavernous pavilion -- to find online an exchange he had earlier in the day with a Trump supporter, who heckled him outside a meet-and-greet at a cafe. Most candidates would let the protesters go do their thing. I made a different decision, Cruz said. Cruz described his end of the conversation as respectful and civil, contrasting it with the Trump fans insults and cursing. I was glad to see he was channeling the candidate he was supporting, Cruz said. Cruz described the exchange as a futile attempt to engage on policy issues with his sparring partner. Instead, he just began yelling, Cruz said. Still, Cruz said, he walked across the street to confront the protester because Im campaigning to be everybodys president. Cruzs message of wholesome values makes sense when courting voters like Karen Roorbach, a university administrator from Marion. Roorbach, who was at Cruzs cafe visit earlier in the morning, said she hoped in the Indiana primary the states Hoosier values would be apparent. How would she describe those values? Faith and family. Education, Roorbach said. And working hard. Hoosiers are known as hard workers. Im Christina Bellantoni. Lets get started. It was supposed to be a snoozer of a state party convention. Then the presidential race came to California. And the events in Burlingame Friday through Sunday gave a little taste of what the next five weeks could be like on the Republican side. It started Friday when Donald Trump attracted angry protesters who forced him to traipse through a field to get into the convention site, then dismissed them during his brief speech to California Republican activists. He declared the race was close to over. Advertisement I think its going to come to an end very soon, Trump said. And really, Im speaking to the people in this room, because there has to be unity in our party. Sen. Ted Cruz went after Trump for donating to Democrats, and his new running mate Carly Fiorina offered a feisty stump speech to delegates Saturday night, taking sharp jabs at Trump and those who oppose Cruz. She pointedly said she would rather have a friend like Cruz backer Utah Sen. Mike Lee than former House Speaker John Boehner, who compared the senator to Lucifer in the flesh. You can find every minute of our convention coverage on our Essential Politics news feed, from intense video of the first protesters crashing the barricades to Ralph Reeds promise the partys divisions would heal. In her Sunday column, Cathleen Decker writes that the weekend seemed to lean toward Trumps inevitability; no giant groundswell rose on behalf of Cruz, despite his red-meat speech that touched on the environment, immigration and the 2nd Amendment, or for Ohio Gov. John Kasichs more laid-back approach. The convention came after Thursday nights raucous Trump rally in Costa Mesa. We covered every push and shove here. Trumps focus on immigration is one reason for the backlash that has given rise to newly energized Latino activists, but also risks collateral damage to a California state party that has worked to distance itself from the immigration wars of two decades ago, Decker writes. His opponents clashed in the streets with police in an eerie reminder of the mass protests in 1994 that greeted the campaign surrounding Proposition 187, the measure to bar state services for immigrants here without papers, she writes. Although the proposition passed, the backlash toward those who supported it has been a leading cause of a precipitous decline in the number of Republicans registered in California. The guy synonymous with Prop 187 Pete Wilson endorsed Cruz this weekend. Kasich suggested his rivals are scaring Hispanics and continued to play the nice-guy routine as he proclaimed his love for the Big Sur. SO CAN TRUMP BE STOPPED? As the overt campaigning was happening in California, a more complicated math game was happening behind the scenes in a suburb of Phoenix. Melanie Mason takes you inside, detailing how Cruz was able to win 35 of 55 Arizona delegates, despite Trumps 22-point win in the state in March. They are bound to the billionaire businessman on the first ballot at the convention, but all bets are off if it gets to a second ballot. Mason and Seema Mehta explain what the dual strategies mean for Cruzs prospects. Track the delegate race in real time. A super PAC backing Kasich warned donors that they have but two choices: fund its effort in California or watch Trump win the nomination in the states primary. We have five weeks to stop Trump. If there was ever an Alamo in presidential politics, this is it, says a letter sent to donors by the New Day for America Super PAC, Mehta reports. Mehta also learned that Our Principles PAC, which spent $16 million on anti-Trump efforts in a handful of states, including Iowa, Florida and Wisconsin, is joining forces with Victory California, a group founded by three veteran GOP operatives in Sacramento. WHERE DOES SANDERS MOVEMENT GO FROM HERE? An eclectic mix of labor loyalists, gay rights advocates, antiwar protesters and political neophytes may never have united if it werent for Sen. Bernie Sanders. As the prospect of the democratic socialist they adore winning the White House rapidly fades, Sanders supporters are scrambling to keep the movement he has built from fading like earlier liberal efforts have, Joseph Tanfani and Evan Halper report. Will the Sanders phenomenon end up as more of a moment than a movement? BILL CLINTON RETURNS TO GOLDEN STATE The former president is campaigning for his wife Wednesday in San Diego and Los Angeles. Hell also headline a $1,000-per-person Friday evening fundraiser at the Los Angeles home of Laura and Sanford Michelman, co-chaired by Teresa and Sean Burton. For $10,000, a co-host can attend a reception with Clinton. PRESIDENT BIDS FAREWELL TO ANNUAL DINNER President Obama seemed to relish his eighth, and final, address to the White House Correspondents Assn. at its annual dinner Saturday night, taking digs at himself, potential replacements in the Oval Office and even Britains little Prince George, in addition to the partisan rancor that has pervaded his time in Washington. When he finished, he literally dropped the mic. Sarah Wire rounded up the best lines from the night. The room of 2,700 journalists, politicians and celebrities seemed overall pleased with the presidents performance, even as many panned comedian Larry Wilmore for his scathing routine that left no one unharmed. Al Sharpton told Stephen Battaglio he was not amused by Wilmores use of the N-word, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright sat stonefaced through the Nightly Show hosts routine. PODCAST: SLEEPER SENATE RACE Last weeks first debate in the race for Californias open U.S. Senate seat was also the first time many voters may have heard about the contest in weeks. Or longer. On this weeks California Politics Podcast, John Myers leads a discussion about the potential outcomes in this sleepiest of statewide elections. In another testament to the lack of interest in the race, just a handful of convention attendees bothered to listen to the GOP Senate candidates Sunday afternoon, Phil Willon reports. TODAYS ESSENTIALS -- George Skelton writes in his Monday column that Sanders may say the richest 1% should pay their fair share, but no one can argue they arent already in California, at least in state taxes. In fact, theyre forking over more than their fair share to Gov. Jerry Browns regime, he writes. -- Sanders fundraising dropped in April. -- Steve Lopez explains why Trump and California are a great match, the greatest match. -- The latest in our Trump Nation series takes readers through Oregon. -- ICYMI, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has collected 600,000 signatures of California voters, more than enough to qualify a gun control initiative for the November ballot. Were there, Newsom told Patrick McGreevy. -- Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin made her choice in the presidential race. -- Meet one congressional candidate who showed up at the convention this weekend. -- What do you think of Trump? Readers can weigh in with our quick survey. LOGISTICS Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Political tension ramps up at legislative hearing on Newsoms gun control initiative Backers of a gun control initiative proposed for the November ballot argued during a legislative forum Tuesday that it is needed to make California safer, while opponents said it will unfairly harm law-abiding gun owners and is primarily aimed at getting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom elected governor. Newsom turned in 600,000 signatures last week for an initiative that would require background checks for ammunition purchasers, ban large-capacity magazines, make gun thefts a felony and require those convicted of serious crimes to give up their firearms within 14 days. The Assembly and Senate Public Safety committees held a joint hearing on the proposal Tuesday in anticipation of the measure qualifying. Craig DeLuz, head of the Firearms Policy Coalition, told lawmakers that most of the provisions in the initiative have been rejected by the Legislature or the governor as too extreme or unworkable. He said the real purpose of the initiative is to get Newsom elected as governor in 2018. Its for one individual to get his name in the paper so he can run for higher office, DeLuz told the lawmakers. That drew a rubuke from state Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), chair of the Senate panel. I do take offense at the personal attacks on the proponents of the intiative, Hancock said during the hearing. Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) responded, saying the initiative is unnecessary. I am equally offended that the person who came up with this initiative isnt here today to address this body, she said. Thats incredibly disrespectful. Newsom, who has fueded with legislative leaders who are pursuing their own gun control bills, did not attend the hearing, instead participating in a memorial service held for California Highway Patrol officers, a representative said. Attorneys for the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which co-wrote the initiative, told lawmakers it will plug serious loopholes in Californias tough gun laws. We believe reasonably that more can and should be done to protect California families and keep lethal weapons out of dangerous hands, added Ari Freilich, a staff attorney at the center. The initiative was criticized by Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Michele Hanisee, president of the Assn. of Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles, who predicted many people will not obey the new laws requiring them to get rid of high-capacity magazines. The initiative places additional burdens on an already overburdened court system, she added. None of the lawmakers at the hearing commited to endorsing the initiative. Lawmakers raised questions about the cost of enforcing the initiative, but the Legislative Analysts Office said the bulk of costs may be recovered by fees authorized by the measure. Hancock said she is interested in alternative approaches to addressing gun violence, including a look at improving mental health services. Bernie Sanders wags his finger and shouts that the richest 1% should pay their fair share. No one can argue they arent already in California, at least in state taxes. In fact, theyre forking over more than their fair share to Gov. Jerry Browns regime. The latest figures have just been released, and the top 1% paid nearly half 48% of the states personal income taxes in 2014. Advertisement Thats pretty generous sharing. The other roughly half of the revenue came from 99% of the taxpayers. Well, not exactly all of them. The bottom 60% were good for only 2% of the taxes. But the highest 10% contributed 79%, according to the state Franchise Tax Board. OK, but the top 1% earned the most, right? Right. They earned about 24% of the income, but paid 48% of the taxes. All but a few right-wingers support a progressive tax structure, with the rates rising as income climbs. But Californias tax goes beyond progressive. Its almost perpendicular. Brown may be embarrassed to remember this, but he ran for president in 1992 touting a federal flat tax with everyone paying the same 13% rate, regardless of income. Californias governor turned 180 degrees 20 years later and won voter approval of a sock-the-rich plan that raised the highest state tax rates from 10.3% to 13.3%. The current top federal income tax rate is 39.6%. Sanders has advocated lifting it to 54%. Nationally, the richest 1% pay 35% of federal income taxes. In California, to reach the loftiest 1% requires an adjusted gross income of at least $556,638. Earnings of about $149,000 get you in the top 10%. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> So whats wrong with Californias top 1% paying half the tax? That is, besides ticking them off, prodding them to take their money and head for a more friendly state? Many claim thats a myth. But a lot of us know people who have hit the road. Heres the real answer: Its lousy fiscal policy. The problem isnt about fairness. Its about stability mainly the stability of programs that benefit the poor, such as healthcare and welfare. It also jeopardizes services for everyone: education and public safety. When the inevitable recession circles back, its the flow of revenue from the rich that slows most. Their capital gains no longer soar, they sour. California government leans heavily on capital gains, taxing them as ordinary income. Thats also what Sanders advocates for the federal government. The feds tax them at a lower rate. In Sacramento, about 70% of the general fund revenue is projected to come from the state income tax in the next fiscal year. Thats way too much dependence on one levy. In 1950, the income tax generated only 10% of the general fund. Californias economy has shifted from mainly manufacturing to service. But the tax code hasnt kept up. The sales tax still applies mostly only to retail goods (for example, auto parts) and not service (auto repair labor). Consequently, the sales tax is projected to produce only about 22% of the general fund revenue next year. In 1950, it supplied 60%. Heres an example of the result: In 2008, as the economy began tanking, Californias gross domestic product fell by 3.7%. But tax revenue plummeted 23%. Sacramento was forced to butcher programs that still havent recovered. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter A Brown-sponsored rainy day fund approved by voters in 2014 should help slightly by committing some capital gains revenue to a budget reserve. But thats just a very temporary, tiny patch. Whats sorely needed is a thoughtful, thorough restructuring of the tax code: less reliance on the super-rich with their iffy incomes and extension of the sales tax to popular services. And perhaps some tweaking heaven forbid of the sacrosanct commercial property tax. When you tax the rich with the most progressive system, what youre going to get is not just progressivity but volatility, says state Controller Betty Yee, who created a study group that intends to issue a report soon. It makes fiscal management very, very difficult. We need a system thats more sustainable, more predictable, more fair. State Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) also has been preaching reform. Ive got one issue: How do we fix the zig and zag and create a stable, growing tax base thats aligned with the economy, he says. One thing he suggests is a consumption tax that nails non-Californians who do business here. But other than Yee and Hertzberg, theres little political courage for any of this. I dont see the path forward, Brown said last year. It may be logical [to] some green-eyeshade accountants, but I dont know from a political point of view that its very viable. In fact, Democrats not necessarily Brown are being pushed in the opposite direction by the California Teachers Assn. Its planning a November ballot initiative to extend Browns higher tax rates. Theyre slated to expire at the end of 2018. The tax hike was sold to voters as temporary, youll recall. Its advertised purpose was to tide schools over until the economy recovered. But public employee unions and thus, Democrats got addicted to the money: currently around $7.6 billion a year. Sanders would love it. California seems more suited for the senator than Vermont. There, the highest state income tax rate is 8.95%, only roughly two-thirds of Californias. Maybe Sanders should focus on making fellow Vermonters pay their fair share before trying to reform the country. george.skelton@latimes.com Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter ALSO Workers wonder whether Bernie Sanders fight for them will really help them compete A truce between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton? Not so fast. Updates from Sacramento Over the last two decades, California and the federal government have faced harsh criticism for failing to take stronger actions to stop a highly contagious disease that has killed millions of trees along coastal regions from Big Sur to portions of Oregon. Now, a new computer modeling study suggests that the sudden oak death epidemic, which emerged in 1995, has grown too big and is spreading too fast to eradicate statewide. The analysis is the first to integrate knowledge of the pathogen with topography, weather and resources like government budgets to predict the likely effects of various management strategies over such a large area -- in this case, Californias 163,707 square miles of land. Advertisement See the most-read stories in Science this hour >> The results are somewhat hopeful: Because the epidemics growth rate increases with its size, focusing on restoring and treating small, local forests is now the most practical and cost-effective option for managing the destructive fungus, Phytophthora ramorum. The findings were published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. At this point, were going to have to learn to live with it, and try to slow its spread with local management efforts and lots of experimenting, said UC Davis ecologist Richard C. Cobb, who worked on the study with colleagues from North Carolina State University and the University of Cambridge in England. We wont be able to avoid much of the ecological impacts of losing all these trees, he said. But there is still time to avoid the worst possible outcomes of this epidemic by prioritizing trees that are most at risk, and taking steps to protect them. The teams computer models predict that sudden oak death will accelerate in California after 2020. This will be driven by the pathogen reaching the northwestern coast [of the state], where large regions of continuous host and suitable weather conditions facilitate spread, they wrote in the study. Billions of tanoak and oak trees spread over 50 million acres of land are at risk, they added. The only treatment shown to be effective in reducing pathogen prevalence at the landscape scale is removal of host species, according to the study. This strategy has been used in the United Kingdom but is rarely used in North America. The only exceptions are attempts in Humboldt County, Calif., and Curry County, Ore., Cobb said. The fungus, which is related to organisms that caused the Irish potato blight in the 1840s, was first identified in California in 2000, after a group of Mill Valley homeowners asked horticulturalists for help in determining why dozens of tanoaks on their properties had suddenly died. Unlike other tree diseases with symptoms that begin with a branch or limb and then spread, sudden oak death immediately involves the whole tree. Young shoot tips of branches wilt, leaves and twigs die and a dark red sap bleeds from the lower portion of the trunk. New suckers grow from the trunks of some trees, but fail to survive. Weakened by the fungus, stricken trees are finished off by infestations of tiny ambrosia and oak bark beetles. Particularly susceptible are tanoaks, trees revered by Native American tribes for their acorns, and once a major source of tannin used for processing leather. But tanoaks hold little commercial value for foresters because of their crooked growth and porous wood grain -- a major reason why the disease didnt attract more attention when it was first detected. In 2002, UC scientists confirmed that two of Californias most commercially valuable trees -- coast redwoods and Douglas firs -- had been infected with the fungus. That raised the stakes for the timber industry significantly. Government funds were increased to fight the disease statewide, and the two types of trees were made subject to state and federal quarantine rules governing the movement of plants and tree products affected by sudden oak death. At that time, according to the modeling study, the disease was perceived to be a potentially serious threat, but there was sufficient data available about the pathogen and its spread to contain it. However, the cost in 2002 would have been very high, and practical implementation would have required unprecedented cooperation among agencies and landowners, the researchers wrote. By 2014, the epidemic had grown too big and was spreading too fast to control, according to the study. A version of the model has been calibrated to help devise strategies for managing the disease in the United Kingdom, where it is ravaging stands of larch trees. UC Davis ecologist David M. Rizzo, who also worked on the study, said the results of the analysis are crystal clear. When it comes to the arrival of new diseases, our computer modeling conveys a powerful message, he said. Jump in with both feet, or face the consequences later on. Follow me @LouisSahagun for more fascinating stories. MORE SCIENCE NEWS Even with no brain, slime molds quickly learn bitter lessons Scientists discover coral reef near the mouth of the Amazon River Three Earth-sized planets orbiting a dim, red sun: Best target yet in the search for life? Four Hindu priests sat cross-legged on the floor in front of silver trays of rice, flowers and vermillion powder, chanting in low baritones that reverberated off the bare walls of the old brick temple. An iPhone propped on a chair captured the service known as a puja and beamed it via Skype to a home in San Francisco, where a middle-aged woman wearing a red bindi and a head scarf watched intently. Every so often, the priests peered into the screen and instructed her to mimic a gesture or repeat an invocation. Advertisement In Hinduism, the dominant religion among Indias 1.2 billion people, there are elaborate pujas for virtually every life event and now there are virtual pujas too, along with last rites and other religious ceremonies being sold over the Internet. This digital twist on a mystical, ancient faith is a growing part of Indias multibillion-dollar spirituality market. E-commerce sites also have popped up for Indian Muslims as well as minority Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. Offering their services anywhere in the world, the companies are capitalizing not only on improved Internet connectivity throughout India but also on a growing diaspora as more citizens emigrate for higher education and employment, leaving behind their families and spiritual networks. According to a 2011 census, 11.4 million Indian citizens lived overseas. There are more than 3 million people of Indian origin living in the United States. Among the companies cashing in is Shubhpuja.com. The idea for selling religious services online came to Saumya Vardhan when she was living in London. A friends father died in New Delhi and his widow struggled to manage the extensive rituals of the traditional 13-day mourning period on her own. Leaving her career as a management consultant, Vardhan moved back to India to start the company in 2013 with her father, Harsh Vardhan, a retired bureaucrat and aviation expert who practices Vedic astrology on the side. The company now employs five priests, all with advanced degrees from Hindu religious institutions. It has equipped a decades-old temple in New Delhis Noida suburb with high-definition cameras and hard drives to record pujas for out-of-town clients. Each month, the priests conduct hundreds of pujas and consultations, mainly for Indian customers but also for a growing roster of Hindu clients in the U.S., Europe and the Far East. People want to keep traditions alive but no one has time to keep up, especially if you are far away from home, Vardhan said. The company offers 151 pujas covering much of the human experience extramarital affairs, bad grades, business setbacks, criminal cases, distractedness, studying abroad, stomach problems and being unpopular. Prices start at $10 and go up to nearly $500 for the full wedding package. The San Francisco client wanted to resolve problems in her romantic life. Her service was custom-designed based on discussions with the priests and an astrological reading by Harsh Vardhan. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> The priests began the ceremony by summoning Ganesh, the Hindu elephant god and remover of obstacles. It ended a little more than an hour later with an arti a ceremonial offering to the gods of light from a fire before each person in the room turned 360 degrees to mimic Earths rotation. But can an online puja work as well as having the devotee in the room? The most important thing in a puja is the vibrations, said Narayan Shastri, one of the dhoti-clad priests. As long as she is following the actions with her own hand and saying the mantras, the sound travels the same whether its through the air or through a mobile phone. At least some customers report good results. One, who grew up in New Delhi and now lives in Northern California, turned to Shubhpuja more than a year ago when he felt he wasnt advancing in his job as a program manager. Ankit, who did not want his full name used so as to protect his privacy, said several telephone and Skype sessions convinced him that his rough career patch was due to a temporary planetary alignment. He stuck with the job and soon received a promotion. Though he was not very religious growing up, he said the professionalism of the priests reconnected him to the family pujas of his childhood. The day before a Skype session, he would receive a list of instructions: Dont eat meat, dont drink alcohol, wear light colors and find a quiet place in your house to sit. Then you just log in at the appointed time and follow along, he said. Its way more convenient, to be honest. It fits with our lifestyle. In a faith laden with complicated rituals and unscrupulous gurus, many of the new companies pride themselves on the transparency that comes with publishing a menu of services and a price list online. Rahul Chotia was running a Web development company in suburban Mumbai a few years ago when his father complained that priests in Gaya a pilgrimage site in northern India had taken advantage of him during a ritual for a deceased relative. So Chotia traveled to Gaya, hired a few trusted priests and a technician to stream services over the Internet and started Gayapahunchao.com. Five or 10 years ago, we couldnt have done this, said 30-year-old Chotia, who runs the company from his apartment. But the 3G network is there across India now, so there is no problem at all. Even when Hindu priests are available in person, some Indians have come to prefer the online variety. After her mother back in India was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Babita Lakhanpal turned to Hindu priests near her home in the Bay Area, where she works for a semiconductor company. But she grew disillusioned when they charged her thousands of dollars and provided scant proof that the rituals had been performed. She eventually hired the priests at Shubhpuja to conduct a monthlong puja at the temple in Noida. It was performed entirely offline, but when it was over Lakhanpal received a parcel in the mail containing photos of the ceremony and holy food known as prasad. She said she believes the puja brought her mother some relief, though she remains ill. Her brother in the Bay Area has since done a Shubhpuja service over Skype in hopes of reducing the pain from a chronic eye ailment. Pujas give solace, and I believe in the powers of prayers, Lakhanpal said. That the company was based in India was a extra source of comfort. They have access to the best priests and they can use all the traditional materials, she said. And they know Sanskrit. Its a feeling of authenticity. Join the conversation on Facebook >> ALSO As Russian planes bombard Syrian rebels, debate over anti-aircraft missiles returns Hindu tailor hacked to death in Bangladesh The Donald Trump of Asia? Brash, unrepentant mayor leads Philippine presidential race The Israeli justice minister has said she wants to extend civil laws to Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a move that critics say would put the country at odds with the international community. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked told a forum of right-wing lawyers shes pushing a policy that would ensure that all legislation passed by parliament, the Knesset, would automatically be applied to settlements in the West Bank. The land has been under Israeli control since the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians want to form an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. My goal is that, within a year, for every law passed by the Knesset, there will be a team that will translate it in Judea and Samaria, Shaked said Sunday, using the biblical names for the West Bank. Advertisement Shakeds right-wing Jewish Home party is a junior partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition government. Its unclear whether Netanyahu would support such a policy because it would undercut his declarations of support for negotiations to create a Palestinian state and could deepen Israels international isolation on such issues. Opposition politicians and legal critics said Shakeds proposal would enhance the legal disparity between 370,000 Israelis living in West Bank settlements and 2.6 million Palestinians living in cities and villages. Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, said such a policy would hurt Israels international standing and would likely be struck down by Israels Supreme Court. Can two people live at a distance of 30 meters, and one person will have one law and the other will have another law? he said in an interview with Israel Army Radio. Its an unfounded proposal. Theres no legal logic. Its not legal internationally or under Israeli law. It wont happen. See the most-read stories this hour >> Since capturing territories from Arab neighbors in the 1967 war, Israeli governments have taken steps to extend Israels laws to the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem and offer permanent residency to Arabs living there, but have avoided a similar move in the West Bank even though it has expanded settlements criticized by Palestinians as a land grab. Shakeds comments are in line with a more explicit annexation supported by her party and are a political play for Netanyahus voters, said Gilead Sher, a former legal advisor to Israeli government negotiating teams. Theres no way to state that the direction that this government is going leads to a two-state reality when you have this kind of initiative and policymaking within the government, he said. Mitnick is a special correspondent. All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. Donald Trump has sprinted out to a huge 27-point lead in the California Republican primary, attracting more overall support than his two remaining rivals combined. A Fox News poll now shows Trump with 49 percent of the vote, compared to 22 percent for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and 20 percent for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Trump Leads Among Virtually Every Demographic As the June 7, primary date draws closer, pollsters found Trump leading by wide margins among virtually every demographic, including women, young voters, college grads and those who self-identify as very conservative. Up until now, all those are groups Trump has struggled mightily with as he battles to secure the GOP nomination prior to the republican convention scheduled for Ohio later this summer. Indeed, a deeper analysis of the data reveals Trump still has much work to do. Pollsters found only 53 percent of Cruz and Kasich supporters admit they would support Trump in a general election and more than four in 10 GOP voters insist they will consider a third-party candidate. Data shows Cruz only fares slightly better than Trump in terms of keeping the party faithful should he emerge as the face of the GOP. Pollsters found in a match-up of Cruz vs. democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, 40 percent of non-Cruz supporters insist they would vote against him. Clinton Leads Among Democrats On the democratic side, pollsters found Clinton leading Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders just 48 percent to 46 percent. Data shows of those who insist they "definitely" plan to vote, her leads jumps to a more comfortable six percent. Among Hispanics, Sanders holds a 19 point edge, building on a trend that also saw him capture that voting bloc in Nevada and Illinois. Overall, the issue of immigration continues to be one of the most hotly debated in California, with voters favoring some sort of reform legislation over deportation by a 75 to 17 percent margin. By comparison, GOP voters favor a path of legalization by a 59 percent to 30 percent count. Based on a recent Washington Post-Univision Poll, Republicans have much work to do with Hispanic voters, 80 percent of which revealed they have a negative view of party front-runner Trump. Sanders' also continues to poll well with young people, leading Clinton by a whopping 56 points among voters under age 35. Meanwhile, Clinton leads among seniors by 37 points. Protesters from across the country took to the streets on May 1, in observance of annual May Day demonstrations that were heightened this year by rising concerns about immigration. In Los Angeles, chanting protesters walked side by side in a march designed to call attention to immigrant and worker rights. Many demonstrators also hoisted signs and at least one carried a Donald Trump pinata. Trump a Primary The Republican front-runner for the 2016 presidential nomination was at the center of many of the protests with demonstrators calling for an end to his stated plan to deport as many as 11 million immigrants and build a wall along the Mexican border if he is elected as President Obama's successor. "We want them to hear our voices, to know that we are here and that we want a better life, with jobs," said 46-year-old Mexican immigrant Norberto Guiterrez, who was also among those expressing support for Obama's plan to grant work permits to immigrants who have children that are legal American citizens. Demonstrators also took exception with remarks made by Trump regarding workers and women, including his recent claim that Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton was playing the "woman card." "In addition to fighting for workers' rights, we are fighting for our dignity this time around, our self-respect," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Seattle Protest Marred by Violence In Seattle, nine people were arrested and five officers were reported hurt after violence broke out that ended with police using pepper spray on a group of anti-capitalist protesters dressed in black. Authorities claimed the group hurled rocks, bricks, flares and Molotov cocktails at officers. Earlier in the day, large throngs of immigrants and workers peacefully marched across the city. Around the globe, union members have traditionally marked May 1, as a time for advocating the rights of workers. Here in the U.S., the day has also become synonymous with rallying for the rights of immigrants. With the issue building in steam this election season, some crowds were even larger and much passionate this time around. In Oakland, nearly 1,000 demonstrators descended on the Fruitvale district to largely denounce Trump and call further attention to the issues of immigration, workers and housing rights. A total of eight marijuana growers in Oregon have been given licenses by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The agency has the responsibility to oversee Oregon's recreational marijuana market. The OLCC chair, Rob Patridge, said the licenses reflect the pioneering spirit of Oregon. Patridge added that these cannabis growers came from different backgrounds and possess different entrepreneurial spirit of the industry as per OPB. The OLCC has granted licenses to growers in Lane, Washington, Tillamook, Jackson, Clackamas and Josephine countries with a variety of mix medium and large scale indoor and outdoor cultivation growers. The agency said these growers can start their operations the moment they pay their annual licensing fee. Mark Pettinger, the spokesperson of the OLCC said that the agency's main agenda is to approve growers first in order for them to establish the supply chain before they can approve the dispensing. The dispensing license though will be approved by October this year. According to KDRV, dispensaries under the Oregon Health Authority's medical marijuana program can make sales to persons 21 years old and older. The provision though will expire at the end of this year. The agency has already scheduled to approve several more for the coming weeks. The agency expects to approve 850 applications by the end of the year. As reported by the Statesman Journal, among the first licensed marijuana flower or bud producers is Terra Master, a Clackamas County company which is partly owned by Antonio Harvey, a radio analyst for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. Harvey said in an interview that his company is on the leading edge of Legal Cannabis in the state of Oregon. The OLCC has already received more than 900 applications for licenses in the recreational marijuana industry. The agency will assume full control of the state's regulation of the recreational marijuana industry by the end of the year. OLCC has already noted 300 dispensaries that are participating in the early sales of recreational marijuana in Oregon. A high school teacher from Tennessee was given a suspension for letting the students watch the graphic horror movie, "Human Centipede 2". The movie which contains gore, torture and violence earned complaints from the students and parents. The Jackson-Madison County School System conducted an investigation regarding a teacher who screened the movie "Human Centipede 2" during a class period, The Wrap reported. "Upon learning of an alleged movie viewing, the district immediately launched an internal investigation regarding the alleged viewing of an inappropriate film at Jackson-Central Merry High School," the school stated. The teacher will still be suspended pending the outcome of the probe. Tom Six, the writer and the director of the said movie, found out about the news and he seems he not against the idea. Six took on his twitter saying, "It should be mandatory to watch THC2 in school classes. It deals with a character that is bullied and what to do!" The movie tells a story of a mentally ill surgeon, who was intending to create human centipede by kidnapping people and sewing them up together. The students of Jackson Central-Merry High complained about watching the said horror movie. International Business Times reported that it was not disclosed on why the teacher showed the film to the students. Six, who was delighted on the teacher's initiative, said he will send a copy of the movie with his autograph. It is still unclear if the teacher will face charges regarding the issue. The Human Centipede 2 Full Sequence movie was shortly banned from showing in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand due to its excessive gore and violent content. It was also criticized as torture porn, Fox7 cited. Despite receiving negative reviews in its story, nature of content, the franchise has proven incredibly popular. A third film was made in 2015 involving a 500-person human centipede. May 1, 2016, 5:00pm ET VW discusses ambitious brand realignment for US market The long-term strategy would develop the brand for the \"aspirational middle class.\" Despite woes stemming from the emissions cheating scandal that it's currently mired in, Volkswagen is embarking on an ambitious new product strategy for the US, its most market in the long term. "We believe that the USA has in fact the greatest potential for Volkswagen worldwide in the next decade," said Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess at a press conference in Germany. It was reported on by Automotive News, who calls the plan a far-fetched "miracle view." Diess then continued, "We didn't succeed in giving the brand a clear profile and consistent product portfolio that could allow us to expand step by step in the market." However, the long-term strategy goes well beyond balancing out a sedan-centric lineup with upcoming products like midsize crossover and a long-wheelbase Tiguan. Instead, Diess wants VW to target a demographic he's calling the "aspirational middle class." This includes those who harbor positive feelings about iconic cars like the original Beetle and Microbus. However, Diess's team is still waiting on a strategy from the parent company on how to prevent that from stepping on the toes of brands such as Audi. In the meantime, though, Volkswagen is still dealing with a massive blow to its brand image. Diess was starkly aware of this, adding, "naturally not in the near future, since we are starting from zero in the U.S." A Bethlehem Township man is accused of fighting four Allentown officers as they tried to arrest him, including putting one officer in a headlock. Malcolm Woolridge's legal problems only worsened Saturday, after police say he then accidentally dumped cocaine in a holding cell as he tried to get rid of it. Woolridge, 26, of the 3800 block of Cypress Lane, is charged with two counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment, as well as resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Woolridge was sent to Lehigh County Jail, where he remained Monday in lieu of $75,000 bail. Allentown police said they were called about 2:45 a.m. Saturday to a home in the 300 block of Hickory Lane. They found the home's front door wide open and the dining room ransacked. An officer asked Woolridge for identification, which he refused to provide, police said. Woolridge then dropped the clothes he was holding, took off a book bag and assumed a fighting stance with an officer, police said. Woolridge then yelled at his girlfriend, balled his hands into fists and walked toward her before an officer got between them, according to police. Woolridge grabbed an officer by the waist, pinned him to a couch and started swinging, police said. As other officers tried to restrain Woolridge, he grabbed a sergeant and put the officer in a headlock, police said. It took four officers to wrestle Woolridge to the ground and handcuff him, authorities said. Even after being handcuffed, Woolridge allegedly kept trying to kick officers. While in a holding cell, Woolridge took out a plastic baggie of what was later determined to be cocaine, and dumped the powder on the cell floor as he tried to get rid of it, police said. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Historic Bethlehem Tour with Hostesses on 5.14.1948.jpg A look at a reception at the Historic Bethlehem Tour on May 14, 1948, where hostesses, Mrs. Allen W. Stephens is pouring tea, and Mrs. William Bewley is serving sugar cake. (Special to Lehighvalleylive.com) Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is gearing up for the May 14 unveiling of the "Bethlehem Back When" exhibition, a selection of photos displayed on the second floor of the Luckenbach Mill. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a members' reception slated for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This is the first-ever exhibition dedicated to showcasing the photo collection, which spans decades and captures moments, big and small, in the lives of Bethlehem residents. A snapshot from 1893 of the Lehigh River boat landing on Memorial Day on Calypso Island, now known as Sand Island. (Special to lehighvalleylive.com) The project began as a community driven effort to digitize and catalogue a collection of over 8,000 photographs that were taken for Bethlehem Steel and catalogued prior to being donated to Historic Bethlehem in 1980. Volunteers from Bethlehem Historic District Association met weekly to scan and record the condition of the photographs. Snapshots taken by Bethlehem Steel photographers encompass portraits, street views, landscapes and the occasional oddball: like a man in tights or a woman on a donkey. Other photos include: a snapshot from 1893 of the Lehigh River boat landing on Memorial Day on Calypso Island, now known as Sand Island, as well as a look at a reception at the Historic Bethlehem Tour on May 14, 1948, where hostesses, Mrs. Allen W. Stephens is pouring tea, and Mrs. William Bewley is serving sugar cake. The "Bethlehem Back When" exhibit will run May 14 to Nov. 1 in the newly renovated Luckenbach Mill Learning Center. The Luckenbach Mill hasn't been home to an exhibition or open to the public in over 10 years, making "Bethlehem Back When" its inauguration. Beginning May 15, hours of operation for the Luckenbach Mill will be Friday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In upcoming months, portions of the collection will be accessible to the public through an online catalogue, which will serve as a window back in time to the daily lives of the Bethlehem residents throughout history. The photos will also be available to order as print copies. For information, call 610-360-TOUR. For volunteering information, contact Lindsey Jancay, curator, at 610-868-6868 ext. 63 or LJancay@historicbethlehem.org. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. High school lockdown to be lifted, classes to resume as usual A lockdown put in place May 2, 2016, Emmaus High School over the discovery of bullets in a boys' bathroom is scheduled to be lifted May 3, 2016, East Penn School District officials said. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Monday's lockdown at Emmaus High School is scheduled to be lifted Tuesday, when classes are set to resume as normal, the East Penn School District announced. Emmaus police and district administrators continued Monday night to investigate the incident in which two .22-caliber bullets were found in a boys' lavatory at the 500 Macungie Ave. school, East Penn spokeswoman Laura Groh said. The lockdown began shortly after 8 a.m., and officials appealed to students to assist in the probe. A .22-caliber Long Rifle bullet is a rimfire cartridge, whose projectile can travel up to a mile. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Investigators as of mid-morning said they had identified who was responsible for placing the bullets and found there was no threat. They were believed to have been left in the restroom in an effort to spur an early dismissal Monday. Students were allowed to move within the building and attend classes once authorities had identified the culprit. The Stinger, the school's student newspaper, kept the school community and public apprised during the lockdown on its Twitter account. [&amp;lt;a href="//storify.com/lehighvalley/emmaus-high-school-newspaper-live-tweets-lockdown" target="_blank"&amp;gt;View the story "Emmaus High School newspaper live-tweets lockdown" on Storify&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;]&amp;lt;h1&amp;gt;Emmaus High School newspaper live-tweets lockdown&amp;lt;/h1&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h2&amp;gt;The Stinger, the student newspaper at Emmaus High School, kept the school community and public apprised during a lockdown May 2, 2016, caused by .22-caliber bullets left in a bathroom.&amp;lt;/h2&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Storified by &amp;lt;a href="https://storify.com/lehighvalley"&amp;gt;lehighvalleylive.com&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;amp;middot; Mon, May 02 2016 21:41:56 &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;EHS goes into exterior threat lockdown around 7:45 AM, nearly six months after bullets incident forced school closure.The Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Administrators announce lockdown to continue after two 22-caliber bullets found in boys bathroom in science wing; ask for students' help.The Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Lockdown continues into first of four lunches as students stay in rooms. Those in AP testing take break; others tweet they need bathrooms.The Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Students attempt to entertain themselves during a nearly 3-hour lockdown; still stuck in 1st period classrooms. https://t.co/cre1bCTzIFThe Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Lockdown continues into period 2 as students remain in 1st period classes, all while some take Advanced Placement testing.The Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Emmaus police remain on the scene as investigators continue to search for suspect or suspects in bullets drop as lockdown continues.The Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;External lockdown to remain but classes to resume at 10:35. Admins found student responsible, citing intent was to cause early dismissal.The Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;News crews remain @EHS; admin says no weapons/additional bullets found. School ruled safe; classes resume as usual. https://t.co/9EhaQtBiSBThe Stinger&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Two missionaries who worked for a Lower Macungie Township organization that does religious outreach in Jamaica were killed over the weekend, the organization said on Facebook. "On Saturday... Harold Nichols and Randy Hentzel ... were murdered," TEAMS for Medical Missions, which is based at 6201 Hamilton Blvd., said on Facebook. "We do not know who would do this or what their motivation was. These men greatly loved the people of Jamaica and were greatly loved in return." The men were found in separate areas in what the Associated Press called a rural area of the island "that has long struggled with high rates of violent crime." The men and their families did evangelism and Bible ministry and built homes, the Associated Press said. US missionaries Randy Hentzel & Harold Nichols killed in Jamaica #caribbean - https://t.co/sXS0GUmkpN pic.twitter.com/CMgnQ6PhW1 Headline Hound (@headline_hound) May 2, 2016 Fellow missionary Merlin H. Pratt said on Facebook that the men were "on their way to check on the foundation of a house soon to be built for Jamaica's Poorest of the Poor." Hentzel was originally from Donnellson, Iowa, his Facebook page said. It wasn't immediately clear where Nichols lived prior to Jamaica. "Tragically, one of our own missionary partners, Randy Hentzel, was killed in Jamaica Saturday morning. From what we currently know, he and his co-worker, Harold Nichols, were out on a motorcycle ride and were attacked and murdered," according to the First Family Church's Facebook page. TEAMS for Medical Missions, which "is a mission organization that seeks to link the Church in America with the Church in Jamaica by means of full-time missionaries and short-term teams," will continue its work, according to its Facebook page. "TEAMS for Medical Missions remains committed to serving the people of Jamaica and demonstrating the unconditional love of Christ," the Lehigh County organization said. "Our T4MM family is grieving and we covet your prayers. We serve an amazing God who is able to bring beauty from ashes and it is in Him that we put our trust." Hentzel, 48, who lived in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, was married with three children, while Nichols, 53, was married and lived in Huddersfield, Jamaica, according to Facebook. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. In the fall, the federal government will lift the cap on the number of hourly takeoffs and landings at Newark-Liberty International Airport. The reclassification, from a Level 3 airport to a Level 2 facility, will open up Newark to more carriers -- potentially low-cost airlines -- that were previously kept out by Newark's flight restrictions. JetBlue has already jumped onboard, announcing Thursday it would add six roundtrip flights to Florida; others may soon follow suit. But what will it mean for fliers? Cheaper fares? More flight options? Or could it lead to longer lines and departure delays? First, it's important to understand what the changes mean. What are airport levels? Airlines pay for takeoff and landing slots at airports. The guidelines for allocating those slots are set by an organization called the International Air Transport Association, a trade group made up of about 260 airlines. The IATA breaks down airport designations like this in its Worldwide Slot Guidelines: Level 1 : Airports where the capacity of the airport infrastructure is generally adequate to meet the demands of airport users at all times. Level 2 : Airports where there is potential for congestion during some periods of the day, week, or season which can be resolved by schedule adjustments mutually agreed between the airlines and facilitator. A facilitator is appointed to facilitate the planned operations of airlines using or planning to use the airport. Level 3 : Airports where capacity providers have not developed sufficient infrastructure, or where governments have imposed conditions that make it impossible to meet demand. A coordinator is appointed to allocate slots to airlines and other aircraft operators using or planning to use the airport as a means of managing the declared capacity. Newark was a Level 3 airport and was restricted to 81 slots per hour. It's moving to a Level 2 in the fall, meaning those restrictions will be lifted. Other Level 2 airports in the United States are located in Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Francisco. Will ticket prices drop? The FAA says so. Officials say they believe the reclassification will increase competition at the airport, where United accounts for more than 70 percent of flights. While JetBlue didn't specify pricing for its added flights, its vice president of network planning, Dave Clark, said the airlines will bring "more choice and more lower fares" to Newark. "This will be very good for New Jersey," he said. "Lifting arbitrary slot restrictions means greater competition at our airports and lower prices for passengers," said Joe Sitt of Global Gateway Alliance, an advocacy group. But Douglas Kidd, executive director at the National Association of Airline Passengers, disagrees. "It remains to be seen what effect, if any, increased competition will have on ticket prices," said Kidd. "The real benefit to passengers, I expect, will be a great choice of flights and destinations, as United apparently has not made the fullest use of the slots they have. " In addition to JetBlue, two low-cost carriers, Spirit and Alaska airlines, have both told NJ Advance Media that they are considering putting in for additional service at Newark. What about the lines? Experts say that it may take longer to get through security, but the TSA remains optimistic. In March, the TSA told fliers to make sure they arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight because officials expected delays. Since then, there have a been a number of reports of screening lines snaking through terminals, causing longer than normal wait times. "It's still six months out and we will work closely with airlines and partners to prepare," said Mike McCarthy, a spokesman for the TSA. Passenger advocacy groups aren't as optimistic. Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org, the largest airline passenger advocacy group in the country, told NJ Advance Media "there's going be delays." "There's only so much in the [TSA] budget and people available," he said. "There is room for increased capacity, but the FAA and TSA have to make smart decisions so delays and security lines don't get even worse," said Sitt said, of Global Gateway Alliance. Will there be more flight delays? Possibly, according to experts. The reclassification will remove the current cap of 81 flights per hour at Newark, which was put in place in 2008 to decrease delays, an issue the FAA said the airport has improved. Global Gateway Alliance calls these caps arbitrary and wants to remove them from LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports as well, though Hudson said "delays will probably get worse." "The risk is that were going to have more congestion [in air]," Hudson said. Hudson said that the airlines should utilize larger planes and reduce the number of flights. The New York City skies are a "big bottleneck" for flights, he said. The FAA hasn't said what increase in flights per hour, if any, it expects after the reclassification. Air travel rose 5 percent year-over-year in 2015. What about the noise and pollution? "More volume equates to more noise and pollution," Rover Belzer of the NJ Coalition Against Aircraft Noise. "We expect more noise because of the designation." The FAA expects an increase in pollution, but said it will have limited effect on the environment. Belzer, who has also asked for details from the FAA on expected volume, told NJ Advance Media that the amount of noise and pollution will ultimately depend on the total number of flights at the airport. Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A North Catasauqua police officer will not face misdemeanor charges in connection with shooting an injured cat he believed was a danger to the community, Northampton County's district attorney said Monday. District Attorney John Morganelli during a news conference said he decided after a lengthy investigation that Officer Leighton Pursell should receive a summary citation for cruelty to animals but nothing more serious than that. "It was a tough call," Morganelli said of the Dec. 6 incident. "I did not find Officer Pursell acted with any malice or maliciously." However, the district attorney concluded the animal should have not been killed without more of an effort to isolate the animal, and perhaps offer veterinary care. Pursell's attorney Gary Asteak said his client will fight the summary charge. He said Pursell was a part-time officer on the North Catasauqua force at the time of the shooting, but declined to comment on his most recent employment status. "He came upon an attack in violation of the borough ordinance with an animal that had no tags; no sign of ownership; was injured," Asteak said. "In accordance with borough police regulations, he did what was required of him under the regulations and in his judgment at the time. He did not have an animal control officer to call upon and consequently he was required to use force." Asteak said Pursell considered the cat a threat. "He viewed the animal as injured, snarling and a threat to public safety on a private property owner's property who wanted it gone," Asteak said. "He had no choice but do do what he did under his code of conduct." When the cat, Sugar, got out on Dec. 6, owner Tom Newhart got worried the cat could be injured and a neighbor who eventually found the cat on his property called police. Pursell responded to the call and reportedly found the cat several houses away on Mike Lienert's property. Sugar was hiding under a grill and, besides hissing at Pursell, showed no signs of aggression, attorney Jenna Fliszar, who represented Newhart, had said. The officer poked and prodded Sugar but made no other effort to capture the cat or call for help from animal control, according to Fliszar. Pursell shot Sugar in the neck, killing the animal. The shooting prompted an online petition with several thousand signatures for prosecutors to file animal cruelty charges against Pursell, Morganelli said. 'Meticulous, detailed investigation' An investigation into Pursell's actions began after Fliszar on Dec. 21 requested a probe as to whether Pursell did the right thing in shooting the animal under the Pennsylvania Crime Code's cruelty to animals section. Morganelli described the probe, conducted by Northampton County Detective John Casciano, as "meticulous" and "detailed." The investigation included interviews with Fliszar, North Catasauqua Police Chief Kim Moyer, Lienert, a veterinarian and a state dog warden. Various documents were obtained, as well as photographs from the scene of the shooting, X-ray images of Sugar and the 911 call made by Lienert. Letters from the community were reviewed, as well as a review of two studies about stray animals in the county, Morganelli said. "Municipalities do not legislatively regulate cats, which means that police officers, animal control officers and dog wardens are not picking up stray cats, despite their large population," Morganelli said. "In fact, most states do not regulate the control of stray cats ... there are more stray cats in the public than stray dogs." Dog warden Kathy Andrews provided data showing the county does not provide services for injured, sick or stray cats. Police departments also have no provisions dealing with such animals. "Essentially, she said, no one will take them," according to Morganelli. Officer cited Despite Newhart claiming the cat was not injured, Morganelli said the cat was indeed injured when Pursell arrived. The 911 call from Lienert also described an injured cat. The animal showed signs of mange, hair loss and was bleeding from the back area, as well as walking with an "exaggerated limp," Morganelli said. "At this time, it was not known to the police officer that a domestic cat was missing in the jurisdiction," Morganelli said, noting the cat was not wearing a collar. There also was a rabies concern in December, with five cases that month and seven cases reported in November. The North Catasauqua Police Department's use of force policy allows an officer to discharge a firearm if an animal "represents a threat to public safety" and as a "humanitarian measure when the animal is seriously injured," Morganelli said. Fliszar said she was disappointed Pursell wasn't charged with a misdemeanor for his actions and her client disputes any claim of the animal being injured when found by Pursell. "The objective veterinarian evidence showed that's not the case," she said. "The story has changed. I feel like he (Morganelli) blamed the victim here and that's Mr. Newhart." Asteak said charging Pursell with the summary offense will have an effect on police officers who are asked to address stray animals in municipalities that don't employ animal control officers. "It is not their job to deal with stray dogs and cats and skunks," Asteak said. "They're only going to get in trouble if they follow what they are trained to do. "We plan to defend this case to the very end." Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. school bus 2.png To make the school bus, some students need to be at their stops at 6:30 a.m. or earlier. ( Express-TImes file photo) Two years ago the American Academy of Pediatrics told us something we already knew: It takes kids, especially teen-agers, a long time to get their brains in gear after getting up to make an early school bus. To be in top form in class, students need 81/2 to 91/2 hours of sleep; first period shouldn't begin until 8:30 or later. Those who get by with inadequate sleep are more susceptible to obesity, depression and distracted driving, the academy said. None of that was entirely earth-shaking, but New Jersey agreed the physicians' warnings were worth a second look. State education officials are asking for people's opinions about it. Public hearings are being held this week. Anyone who wants to contribute observations and recommendations can do so online by sending an email to laterstarttime@doe.state.nj.us, until May 20. That input probably will determine whether Gov. Chris Christie and the Legislature decide to approve a pilot program, allowing students at selected schools to sleep in. Or at least sleep a little longer. Part of the state's study is polling administrators to ask how later starts would affect school bus scheduled, after-school activities, parents' work issues, child care, etc. What do you think? Should school begin later for the middle and upper grades? Is 8:30 a.m. doable -- or likely to create more havoc than it's worth? What's your experience with the current start times? Have a say in our informal poll, and feel free to join the conversation in the comments section. A man aged in his thirties charged in connection with the false imprisonment of an 11-year-old girl in the Cullohill area has denied that he tried to abduct her. A man aged in his thirties charged in connection with the false imprisonment of an 11-year-old girl in the Cullohill area has denied that he tried to abduct her. Last Friday, March 6, before a special sitting of the Portlaoise District Court, Michael Martin (35), with an address listed at 3 Shandon Court, Yellow Road, Waterford, was charged with false imprisonment. Garda Declan Quinlan gave evidence that there were two charges against Mr Martin. Garda Quinlan said that when he cautioned the accused, Mr Martin replied: I did not abduct anyone. Defence, Ms Anne Manning told the court she had been instructed to seek bail, but the gardai objected to bail on a number of grounds. Mr Martin, dressed in a grey hoody and dark grey tracksuit bottoms, took the witness box to say he would appear in court to meet the charge. However, Judge Catherine Staines said it was one of the most serious charges to come before the court and she refused bail. Mr Martin was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court this Friday, March 13. Ms Manning said she had serious concerns over the accuseds psychiatric state. Judge Staines ordered a psychiatric report on Mr Martin. As Mr Martin was led from Portlaoise Courthouse last Friday, there was a considerable garda presence on the street outside the court, where a crowd had gathered. Some members of the public shouted remarks as Mr Martin was being put into a waiting garda car. The arrest came after a nationwide alert following the incident in Cullohill on March 4, in which a man is alleged to have tried to put an 11-year-old girl into his jeep. She is understood to have been playing with her young brother near the family home at the time. The gardai in Portlaoise appealed to the public in assisting them to trace the whereabouts of a silver Nissan X-Trail 4x4 vehicle which was believed to have been involved in the incident in Cullohill on March 4 at approximately 11am. This 4x4 was reported stolen in the Kilkenny area on March 3. The male driver of the vehicle was described as approximately 62 of thin build with grey hair. The vehicle was seen acting suspiciously in the area prior to the incident. A local text alert was put out in the community following the incident, and the principal of Cullohill National School, Ms Anne-Marie Bowe texted all parents requesting them to collect their children after school. We did send out a text to all their parents and asked them to pick their children up promptly and they were accompanied by class teachers to the gate, she said. Gardai subsequently arrested a man in Castlecomer, Kilkenny in connection with the attempted abduction and the stolen vehicle was located and recovered by the gardai. Seriously, Im not joking. See for yourself. A snapshot of the audience reaction to Willie Rennie #leadersdebate https://t.co/3HZRKyV7kU pic.twitter.com/WSHc1G2uyt The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) May 1, 2016 I thought he would do well, but I wasnt quite expecting cheering, and rapturous applause for him. On this occasion, it was his answer to a question on a second independence referendum which got the audience on his side. He said that the Parliament and Government needed to concentrate on the neglected issues like health and education, to concentrate on making Scotland the best country in the world again. You cant do that, he said, while having a groundhog debate about independence. He told Nicola that she was the one being anti-democratic by refusing to accept the result of the poll just 20 months ago. When you dont get the result you want, you just want to do it all again. he shouted in an exasperated tone that had the audience with him. I somehow managed to pass the BBCs rigorous selection test, which consisted not just of an online questionnaire but also a phone interview. Here I am, on the right, in the blue dress, behind moderator Sarah Smith as she introduces the debate, captured on my friend Jades tv. The debate was, rather bizarrely, held in the opulent surroundings of Hopetoun House in South Queensferry. From there, you can just about see where Willie Rennie rocked the political establishment by winning the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election in 2006. I arrived to discover that there was no internet signal. Being offline for four whole hours during waking hours is almost unheard of for me, but I somehow managed. Unfortunately there wasnt enough signal to tweet that for some reason the BBC didnt trust us to walk a few feet from the place where we registered to the ballroom where the debate was being held. They hired a bus to take us over. I kid you not. You could walk it in less than a minute. The ballroom is more used to hosting weddings than political theatre. There was certainly plenty of drama. Tory leader Ruth Davidson has been making a big push to replace Labours Kezia Dugdale as Leader of the Opposition. Handily, the BBC put her right next to Nicola Sturgeon so they could spend the hour picking fights with each other, panto style. The thought of that happening every Thursday at noon at First Ministers Questions is not appealing. It was all a bit unedifying. Ruth really struggled, though, on the issue of the delays to the building of Royal Navy frigates at the Govan shipyards. She tried to make out she had a direct line to the Defence Secretary and that it was all going to be fine, but nobody believed her. Willies answer to a question about the long-term future of the yards was the most forward-looking and thoughtful. He alone talked about the need for diversification into things like renewables, before giving Ruth yet more pain by reminding the audience how the Tories had cut the support for the renewables sector. He managed to get all the key points about his positive vision for Scotland investment in education, improvements in mental health care, protecting civil liberties and the environment. He showed himself to be sincere, knowledgable, reasonable and passionate about making Scotland the best. He did a very good job of reinforcing the points hed been making through the campaign. And he certainly nailed the Tory lie that we had dropped our opposition to independence. Nobody could be in any doubt of that. People were coming up to him afterwards and telling him they were going to vote Liberal Democrat for the first time. This has been happening all over Scotland, even in places where you would traditionally find only one Lib Dem in the county, let alone the village. Id say Kezia Dugdale, the most talented Labour leader in a long time, came second. She doesnt get into the scraps, but shes sincere, authentic and reasonable. Her contributions were thoughtful and practical. You can always tell when someone does well, because the cybernats get a bit overheated. The Greens co-convener, Patrick Harvie was, as ever, high on rhetoric but low on practical detail. Here are Willies best bits: And you can watch the debate in full here. Here are a few snippets of what people were saying on Twitter about Willies performance: Looks like Willie Rennie won #Scotsleadersdebate tonight if takes momentum into Thursday Lib Dems might win a few seats Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday94) May 1, 2016 Great job from @willie_rennie tonight, reasoned and focused on policies not the silly shouting down of opponents #leadersdebate Dreams by day (@matt_s_andrews) May 1, 2016 Willie Rennie just told us his "face went red" when he got that wild applause. He's not used to it, he says. Jamie Ross (@JamieRoss7) May 1, 2016 But you cant please everybody @thommo_g Well when Willie Rennie gets rousing applause, you KNOW the audience is umballanced Moreida Lord (@Leadinglady0609) May 1, 2016 * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings LifeStyle The best LifeStyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel LifeStyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Deb Hutton and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. Get Foxtel Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. May 1, 2016, 11 PM Lyricist Lorenz Hart is commemorated on this 33 stamp issued Sept. 21, 1999, in the Broadway Songwriters set in the American Music series (Scott 3347). By Michael Baadke Lyricist Lorenz Hart was born May 2, 1895, in Harlem in New York City. He met musician Richard Rodgers in 1918, and the two formed a songwriting partnership, collaborating on amateur productions at Columbia University, where Hart was studying journalism. In 1925, their show The Garrick Gaieties opened on Broadway with the popular hit Manhattan, which has since been performed in numerous films and television programs. Harts lyrical sophistication contributed to the duos success. His struggles with depression were sometimes reflected in a poignant undercurrent of the songs he wrote with Rodgers. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Their Broadway success led to a series of films in the 1930s. They returned to New York and produced more top musicals including Babes in Arms (which produced the hits The Lady is a Tramp and My Funny Valentine) and Pal Joey (including the songs I Could Write a Book and Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered). Lorenz Hart died of pneumonia in 1943. Richard Rodgers collaborated with new partner Oscar Hammerstein II on huge hits, including Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music. Hart was commemorated on a 33 stamp issued Sept. 21, 1999, in the Broadway Songwriters set in the American Music series (Scott 3347). Only one word can describe Francesco Yates, wow. He was the opening act for Carly Rae Jepsen and Hedley on Friday at the Air Canada Centre, a Live Nation presentation, and I was impressed not only with his vocal abilities but his stamina on stage. Francesco was jumping around on stage while singing notes that seasoned professionals would have a hard time hitting. I was disappointed that not more people in the audience got to hear him because they missed out for sure, but, the ones that were in attendance screamed and enjoyed every second of his set. The last song of his performance was Purple Rainby Prince, which, just about everyone has done in the past couple weeks. This became quite a somber moment and Francesco performed this song with the utmost respect it deserves. When Justin Timberlake tweets about Francesco summer jam of 2014 it is time to take notice of this 18 year old. This is one person I will be happy to see again on a headlining tour. Carly Rae Miss Call Me Maybe graced the stage after Francesco Yates at the Air Canada Centre, she came out wearing a pair of black leather shorts and a white jacket, sporting a brand new pixie hair cut which suits her perfectly. She started her set with Run Away With Me and after the 3rd song she had had enough of everyone sitting down and asked everyone to get up and sing along. This petit little lady managed to fill this huge stage with her voice easily. During her song Good Time the crowd finally got into the spirit and danced or should I say bounced to the beat of the music. She exclaimed she is on the all boys tour. Carly Rae Jepsen of course sang Call Me Maybe unto which the crowd went bonkers as to be expected. Hedley now bounded into the stage and I now know what thousands of screaming girls sound like and wow are they loud. They started off the show with Hello which is quite the appropriate song to begin a concert. Jacob was on stage running back and forth making sure he sang to everyone, including the people in the farthest corners and in the rafters of the Air Canada Centre. I wish I could bottle his energy and sell it, I would make millions. I did get a kick out of Jacobs stage presence, hamming it up for everyone. This being said Dave Rosin definitely made himself known as well, he came to the edges of the stage and made sure people knew he was there. He has quite the dance moves and facial expressions down pat while playing the guitar with ease. I had the privilege of being part of an interview with Hedley for Live In Limbo earlier this year with Jacob and Dave and I was surprised at how down to earth they really are. I am sure the interview process has to be daunting at times but if they dont like doing them they didnt make it known, they were cracking jokes and just looked like they were having a great time. Hedley slowed their set down a bit and played Cant Slow Down and Gunnin and I am pretty sure the whole band at this point in the night took the welcome break, and rightfully so, they have been running around like maniacs on stage since the second they started. The Air Canada Centre lit up like a Christmas tree during Gunnin after Jacob asked everyone to raise their cell phones and the thousands of fans obliged the request, this will never get old to me, I personally love seeing this. Jacob sitting at a grand piano made quite the crack at the audience asking them to sing along during For The Nights then stopped after the first line and said that didnt sound like singing that sounded like mumbling and texting That sounded like Ottawa That got quite the boo from the Toronto fans. He restarted For the Nights and everyone in unison sang at the top of their lungs, Jacob seemed pleased and continued the song and stated God, I love you Toronto there was no lack of audience participation at this concert, they completely took over the chorus to Perfect which also happened to be the ending of the laid back portion of the evening. Hedley has come a long way from Idol performing to millions of people all over the world and he made mention of this and his appreciation of his fans more than once during their concert stating as long as you are there for us we will always be there for you. Thank you. With no problem at all Hedley got everyone back on their feet and I could actually feel the floor vibrating under my chair. The running gag for the evening was every time Jacob said Toronto On-tar-i the whole audience screamed at the top of their lungs O this went on for 90% of the show every chance they got. As they have in previous performances Jacob decided it was time to take a young ladys cell phone (Alex) and scroll through her contact list making sure the audience knew the names of these contacts. Jacob decided to ask Alex who Andrew was. The entire audience laughed when Jacob said it was her ex boyfriend and said maybe we should call him. Of course the fans egged him on and the phone call was placed much to the chagrin of Alex. The cell phone was held up to the microphone so we all could hear what Andrew was saying. After Andrew decided this phone call was real and not a prank Jacob told Andrew heard you broke up with her, that was a f**k up dude you gave away a great catch Alex was mortified but was invited up on stage for a selfie with the band to prove to Andrew this was real. There is no lack of showmanship or musicianship in Hedley, they all play off each other and put on a show that not many of the thousands of screaming ladies in the audience will forget. Once again I must thank the crew because without them there is no show! Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Yellowstone Volcano Observatory always pooh-pooh these worrisome memes, but that doesn't mean researchers are ignoring the possible consequences of a supereruption. Along with forecasting the damage, scientists constantly monitor the region for signs of molten rock tunneling underground. Scientists scrutinize past supereruptions, as well as smaller volcanic blasts, to predict what would happen if the Yellowstone Volcano did blow. Here's a deeper look at whether Yellowstone's volcano would fire up a global catastrophe. Probing Yellowstone's past Most of Yellowstone National Park sits inside three overlapping calderas. The shallow, bowl-shaped depressions formed when an underground magma chamber erupted at Yellowstone. Each time, so much material spewed out that the ground collapsed downward, creating a caldera. The massive blasts struck 2.1 million, 1.3 million and 640,000 years ago. These past eruptions serve as clues to understanding what would happen if there was another Yellowstone megaexplosion. [Yellowstone and Yosemite: Two of the World's Oldest National Parks (Photos)] An example of the possible ashfall from a month-long Yellowstone supereruption. (Image credit: USGS) If a future supereruption resembles its predecessors, then flowing lava won't be much of a threat. The older Yellowstone lava flows never traveled much farther than the park boundaries, according to the USGS. For volcanologists, the biggest worry is wind-flung ash. Imagine a circle about 500 miles (800 kilometers) across surrounding Yellowstone; studies suggest the region inside this circle might see more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of ash on the ground, scientists reported Aug. 27, 2014, in the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. The ash would be pretty devastating for the United States, scientists predict. The fallout would include short-term destruction of Midwest agriculture, and rivers and streams would be clogged by gray muck. People living in the Pacific Northwest might also be choking on Yellowstone's fallout. "People who live upwind from eruptions need to be concerned about the big ones," said Larry Mastin, a USGS volcanologist and lead author of the 2014 ash study. Big eruptions often spawn giant umbrella clouds that push ash upwind across half the continent, Mastin said. These clouds get their name because the broad, flat cloud hovering over the volcano resembles an umbrella. "An umbrella cloud fundamentally changes how ash is distributed," Mastin said. But California and Florida, which grow most of the country's fruits and vegetables, would see only a dusting of ash. A smelly climate shift Yellowstone Volcano's next supereruption is likely to spew vast quantities of gases such as sulfur dioxide, which forms a sulfur aerosol that absorbs sunlight and reflects some of it back to space. The resulting climate cooling could last up to a decade. The temporary climate shift could alter rainfall patterns, and, along with severe frosts, cause widespread crop losses and famine. The walls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone are made up predominantly of lava and rocks from a supereruption some 500,000 years ago. (Image credit: USGS) But a Yellowstone megablast would not wipe out life on Earth. There were no extinctions after its last three enormous eruptions, nor have other supereruptions triggered extinctions in the last few million years. [Wipeout: History's 7 Most Mysterious Extinctions] "Are we all going to die if Yellowstone erupts? Almost certainly the answer is no," said Jamie Farrell, a Yellowstone expert and assistant research professor at the University of Utah. "There have been quite a few supereruptions in the past couple million years, and we're still around." However, scientists agree there is still much to learn about the global effects of supereruptions. The problem is that these massive outbursts are rare, striking somewhere on Earth only once or twice every million years, one study found (opens in new tab). "We know from the geologic evidence that these were huge eruptions, but most of them occurred long enough in the past that we don't have much detail on what their consequences were," Mastin said. "These events have been so infrequent that our advice has been not to worry about it." A far more likely damage scenario comes from the less predictable hazards large earthquakes and hydrothermal blasts in the areas where tourists roam. "These pose a huge hazard and could have a huge impact on people," Farrell said. Supereruption reports are exaggerated Human civilization will surely survive a supereruption, so let's bust another myth. There is no pool of molten rock churning beneath Yellowstone's iconic geysers and mud pots. The Earth's crust and mantle beneath Yellowstone are indeed hot, but they are mostly solid, with small pockets of molten rock scattered throughout, like water inside a sponge. About 9 percent of the hot blob is molten, and the rest is solid, scientists reported on May 15, 2015, in the journal Science. This magma chamber rests between 3 to 6 miles (5 to 10 km) beneath the park. Estimates vary, but a magma chamber may need to reach about 50 percent melt before molten rock collects and forces its way out. "It doesn't look like at this point that the [Yellowstone] magma reservoir is ready for an eruption," said Farrell, co-author of the 2015 study in the journal Science. [Can You Outrun a Supervolcano? Maybe, Study Finds] How do researchers measure the magma? Seismic waves travel more slowly through hot or partially molten rock than they do through normal rock, so scientists can see where the magma is stored, and how much is there, by mapping out where seismic waves travel more slowly, Farrell said. The magma storage region is not growing in size, either, at least for as long as scientists have monitored the park's underground. "It's always been this size, it's just we're getting better at seeing it," Farrell said. Hot springs in Yellowstone National Park are just one of the types of thermal features that result from volcanic activity. (Image credit: Dolce Vita/Shutterstock) Watch out for little eruptions As with magma mapping, the science of forecasting volcanic eruptions is always improving. Most scientists think that magma buildup would be detectable for weeks, maybe years, preceding a major Yellowstone eruption. Warning signs would include distinctive earthquake swarms, gas emissions and rapid ground deformation. Someone who knows about these warning signals might look at the park today and think, "Whoa, something weird is going on!" Yellowstone is a living volcano, and there are always small earthquakes causing tremors, and gas seeping from the ground. The volcano even breathes the ground surface swells and sinks as gases and fluids move around the volcanic "plumbing" system beneath the park. But the day-to-day shaking in the park does not portend doom. The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory has never seen warning signs of an impending eruption at the park, according to the USGS. What are scientists looking for? For one, the distinctive earthquakes triggered by moving molten rock. Magma tunneling underground sets off seismic signals that are different from those generated by slipping fault lines. "We would see earthquakes moving in a pattern and getting shallower and shallower," Farrell said. To learn about the earthquake patterns to look for, revisit the 2014 eruption of Bardarbunga Volcano in Iceland. Both amateurs and experts "watched" Bardarbunga's magma rise underground by tracking earthquakes. The eventual surface breakthrough was almost immediately announced on Twitter and other social media. As with Iceland, all of Yellowstone's seismic data is publicly available through the U.S. Geological Survey's Yellowstone Volcano Observatory and the University of Utah. "We would have a good idea that magma is moving up into the shallow depths," Farrell said. "The bottom line is, we don't know when or if it will erupt again, but we would have adequate warning." Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. In Mediterranean waters, off the coast of France, a diver recently visited the shipwreck La Lune a vesssel in King Louis XIV's fleet which lay untouched and unexplored on the ocean bottom since it sank in 1664. But the wreck's first nonaquatic visitor in centuries wasn't human it was a robot. Dubbed "OceanOne," the bright orange diving robot resembles a mecha-mermaid. It measures about 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length and has a partly human form: a torso, a head with stereoscopic vision and articulated arms. Its lower section holds its computer "brain," a power supply, and an array of eight multidirectional thrusters. Guided by a computer scientist from a boat, using a set of joysticks, OceanOne combined artificial intelligence, sensory feedback and dexterous mechanical construction to perform delicate tasks underwater, such as retrieving a fragile artifact from the wreckage and placing it in a box so it could be brought to the surface. [In Images: A 'Robo-Mermaid' Embarks on Its Maiden Dive] A virtual diver Remotely operated vehicles (ROV) are commonly used in ocean exploration. But OceanOne's creators designed a new kind of diving robot that can not only investigate parts of the ocean that are less accessible to people, but can do so with the flexibility and dexterity of a human diver. The engineers also created an interface that allows a person to not only control the robot, but to actually "feel" what the robot is touching, using force sensors and haptic feedback in OceanOne's articulated hands. "The intent here is to have a human diving virtually," said Oussama Khatib, who piloted OceanOne on its La Lune visit. Khatib, a professor of computer science at Stanford University in California, explained in a statement that the experience of guiding the robot is almost like being the diver. You can feel exactly what the robot is doing, Khatib said. OceanOne is also capable of interpreting and responding to its environment autonomously, detecting whether its hands-on work requires a lighter touch and when it needs to adjust its momentum to stay in place or change direction. The team behind OceanOne conceived of the robot as a means for studying Red Sea coral reefs at depths that were inaccessible to a human diver. OceanOne's flexible digits would allow it to conduct underwater research manipulated by a scientist on the surface without damaging the reef or its inhabitants. Rise of the machines While we may not have quite reached the point where robots that resemble people are on every street corner, OceanOne isn't the only humanoid robot in town. A two-legged, humanoid disaster-response robot named "Atlas" made its public debut in 2013. Designed by the robotics design company Boston Dynamics to navigate challenging, outdoor terrain, Atlas stands 6 feet 2 inches tall (1.9 meters) and weighs 330 pounds (150 kilograms). Recent videos of Atlas demonstrated that the robot could keep its balance over uneven surfaces, navigate around trees, and even recover after it had been pushed. And another bipedal bot designed to detect and put out fires may soon help Navy firefighters extinguish blazes at sea. The Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR) is 5 feet 10 inches (1.8 meters) tall and weighs about 140 lbs. (64 kilograms). It can withstand exposure to smoke and heat and is capable of wielding a hose with its mechanical "hands." Diver down For now, these groundbreaking robots including OceanOne are still one-of-a-kind protoypes. But OceanOne's engineers are eager to build more of these mechanical divers, in order to test their prototype's ability to work as part of a team of diving units. Robotic divers would be a promising alternative for tackling underwater environments that might be too dangerous for humans, but the sensitivity of the computer interface would still allow a human "presence" during the dive that can't be achieved with traditional submersibles. The robots' manual dexterity would also enable these machines to perform tasks that formerly only people could carry out. "The two bring together an amazing synergy," Khatib said in a statement. "The human and robot can do things in areas too dangerous for a human, while the human is still there." Follow Mindy Weisberger on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. A French jet ski champion has set a new world record for the longest hoverboard flight, far surpassing the previous record. Franky Zapata flew a hoverboard 7,388 feet (2,252 meters) from a height of 164 feet (50 m), according to Guinness World Records. The daredevil set the new record on the Flyboard Air, a futuristic craft developed by his company, Zapata Racing. Previous world record holder Catalin Alexandru Duru piloted a hoverboard prototype of his own design that flew 905 feet, 2 inches (275.9 m). [Hyperloop, Jetpacks & More: 9 Futuristic Transit Ideas] The "Flyboard Air" hoverboard was developed by Zapata Racing. (Image credit: Guinness World Records) The hoverboard is essentially a flying skateboard, similar to the one that Marty McFly famously rode in the 1989 classic movie "Back to the Future Part II." Though the board from that film was only a piece of movie magic, a number of functional prototypes have been introduced in recent years. Zapatas record-breaking flight, which flew more than eight times the distance of Durus, was staged off the coast of Sausset-les-Pins, in the south of France, on April 30. Followed by a fleet of boats and jet skis, Zapata can be seen piloting his Flyboard Air over the water in a video of the event that Zapata Racing shared recently. On site to confirm the record-setting distance, Guinness World Records adjudicator Sofia Grenache said in the video that the flight as a phenomenal sight to see. Prior to the Guinness World Record attempt, Zapata Racing had shared footage from a test flight of the Flyboard Air that went viral. The company has developed a range of other devices, including the original Flyboard, which connects to a watercraft turbine via a long hose. In comparison, the Flyboard Air is powered by an "Independent Propulsion Unit" to fly hose-free for up to 10 minutes, according to Zapata Racing. The company also claims that the hoverboard can reach a height of 10,000 feet (3,048 m), with a maximum speed of 93 miles per hour (150 km/h). The Flyboard Airs technology took four years to develop, reported The Verge. The board has four 250-horsepower turbo engines, fueled by Jet A1 kerosene carried in a tank strapped to its rider's back. There are also two engines for stabilization on each side of the board. Its extremely hard to stabilize its not only my balance, Zapata told The Verge. For example, we use, like, the same kind of electronics like you use on a drone to stabilize. The problem is to create the algorithms, the right algorithms, to combine the intelligence in the board and in your brain. Follow Kacey Deamer @KaceyDeamer. Follow Live Science @livescience, on Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. The U.S. Space Force has been established to keep a keen military eye on the space domain that is congested and contested by numbers of nations. Here on Earth, the air, land, and sea are zones of conflict, clashes and combat. There is a growing perception that next up is the ocean of space , transformed into an arena for warfare. There is ongoing chatter regarding military use of space by various nations. The freshly established U.S. Space Force , for instance, is busily shaping how best to protect U.S. and allied interests in the increasingly contested and congested space domain. What conditions could lead to clashes in space? Is such a situation a given, or can conflicts be short-circuited ahead of time ? Could nations "slip into" off-planet muscle-flexing, quarreling and actual warfighting in space that might spark confrontation here on terra firma? Space.com contacted several leading military space and security experts, asking for their opinions on the current status of the militarization of space. Related: The most dangerous space weapons ever Pass interference The term " warfare in space " could entail things that are already taking place, said Mark Gubrud, an adjunct assistant professor in the Curriculum in Peace, War & Defense at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He pointed to jamming satellite communications, laser dazzling of photo-snapping satellites, hacking systems to selectively block or eavesdrop on phone or data streams, and probing systems to see if they can be hacked. "While the full extent of such activities may not be known, they appear to occur sporadically up to now," Gubrud said. According to some reports, he said, the U.S. and perhaps others have made extensive use of the ability to intercept and interfere with commercial telecom traffic, though this is an asymmetric capability of major powers that presents little risk of escalation. Gubrud said that all of these forms of harmful interference could potentially lead to escalation risks as they are more widely and commonly practiced and as adversaries develop reciprocal capabilities. "Therefore, we should build on the United Nations Outer Space Treaty with a further treaty that bans all forms of harmful interference and weapons for causing interference," he said. Absence of binding commitments The greatest danger will arise from a massive proliferation of Earth-based anti-satellite systems that are able to affect spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit and beyond, or the pre-deployment of various types of such weapons in space that would allow them to reach their targets within minutes or seconds, rather than hours, Gubrud said. "Here the potential for rapid escalation becomes a severe threat to nuclear stability, as the main confronting powers would almost certainly be the US, Russia and China," he said. The only good news here is that this hasn't happened yet, he added, probably because there is enough recognition of how dangerous it would be. "So really, the path to war in space is a space arms race , one that has long been postponed but that is only made more imminent and potentially explosive as technology advances in the absence of binding commitments to space arms control," Gubrud concluded. Tailgating Space is already weaponized by dual-use robotic spacecraft serving as weapons to disable our satellites , said Brian Chow, an independent policy analyst with over 25 years' experience as a senior physical scientist specializing in space and national security. "Because their peaceful uses are important to space prosperity, they should not be banned," Chow said. "Actually, we can accept some rules and measures so that we can enjoy the benefits of these spacecraft and prevent them from harming our satellites at the same time." Chow senses that the present problem is that the international community has not prohibited spacecraft, whether peaceful or hostile, from staying arbitrarily close to satellites operated by another nation. An adversary is not prevented from placing its dual-use spacecraft close to our satellites in peacetime. "Once these spacecraft are in place, mounting attacks from such a close range would give us insufficient warning time to fashion a defense and save our targeted satellites," Chow told Space.com. The international community is ambiguous about whether a nation is allowed to tailgate another country's satellites, Chow said. Also, the current U.S. national security space strategy is ambiguous about preemptive self-defense, including when it faces a threat from space stalkers, he said. Related: 2 Russian satellites are stalking a US spysat in orbit, and the Space Force is watching The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a constellation of satellites that provides position, navigation and timing data to military and civilian users globally. Next-generation satellites are designed to thwart jamming and signal-spoofing by aggressors (Image credit: Lockheed Martin and U.S. Space Force) Dangerous ambiguities The uncertainties surrounding preemption and stalking are dangerous, Chow said. For instance, China could reason that space stalkers would be the best type of anti-satellite system, because it would present the United States with two bad choices. "First, the United States could preemptively destroy the space stalkers to save the targeted satellites so as to maintain space support to military operations during crisis and war," Chow said. "However, without discussing and resolving these two ambiguities with the international community in peacetime, the United States could be condemned as the aggressor who fired the first shot, which led to a war in space possibly spreading to Earth something both sides tried to avoid," Chow said. Secondly, Chow said that the United States may not be able to fight effectively without the support of some critical satellites. "Facing these two bad choices, the United States might end up not intervening at all. This would be the perfect outcome for China, as it prevented U.S. intervention without firing a single shot," Chow said. "If we keep using the current space policy without necessary and needed changes, the U.S. and other nations could 'stumble into' such conflicts." Related: Military Space: Spacecraft, weapons and tech Lose-lose proposition "I'm not a huge believer in inevitability," said Wendy Whitman Cobb, an associate professor of Strategy and Security Studies at the U.S. Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. "Analysts have constantly been saying that attacks and weapons in space are inevitable and right around the corner since the 1960s." It has long been recognized, said Whitman Cobb, that one country attacking a satellite of another is a lose-lose proposition for those concerned. "Not only would the space environment be cluttered with debris making it harder to operate there, but it would be open season on all satellites including their own," she said. "Because of the stability that monitoring from space gave to the nuclear arms race, it was just better to allow satellites to freely operate rather than threaten your own strategic position." In 2019, India tested an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon. The target of the Mission Shakti test was the country's Microsatellite-R satellite, specifically built to be destroyed as it replicated the size of a typical adversary's defense spacecraft. China, Russia and the United States have also seriously researched ASAT technology. (Image credit: India Defense Research & Development Organization) Economic repercussions The flourishing commercialization of space and the global economy's reliance on space-based systems makes open conflict in space very costly, as Whitman Cobb points out in her recent book, "Privatizing Peace: How Commerce Can Reduce Conflict in Space" (Routledge, 2020). "It only takes one piece of debris to take down a satellite through which financial transactions and key communications are routed. The wrong satellite could have significant economic repercussions that would not be isolated to one country alone," Whitman Cobb said. "Thus there should be both strategic and economic considerations that restrain countries in their use of weapons in space." That said, Whitman Cobb added that it is still possible for states either to stumble into conflict or to have conflict be initiated by rogue states like North Korea or Iran. The electromagnetic pulse from a detonating nuclear device, for example, would quite quickly and easily take out all satellites in the vicinity. "It's certainly a non-discriminatory weapon, but, backed into a corner, it's not far out of the realm of possibility for North Korea or Iran," she said. Because of the dual nature of space technology and the inherent secrecy involved, there's a significant chance of misperception, Whitman Cobb said, stressing that misunderstandings of not just technology but also intent could easily lead to conflict. (Her views are her own, based on open source, unclassified information and are not representative of the Department of the Defense or the Air Force.) Chest thumping There is a lot of talk that space is now weaponized, so the attitude in certain quarters is that the U.S. would be remiss to not "keep up," said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. "Dual-use technology has meant that there have been 'potential' space weapons around for at least a decade, but now we are moving, if not running, toward the overt weaponization of space," Johnson-Freese said. She thinks what might be going on relates to putting some parameters around the Space Force mission to organize, train and equip. "That can be broadly defined as the Trump Administration seemed inclined to do or reined in a bit to abate some of the chest-thumping, warfare-fighting connotations given to its creation, some of which Space Force has since perpetuated," Johnson-Freese added, noting that her views are her own and not those of the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, nor the Naval War College. Perhaps the Biden Administration will tone down the chest-thumping rhetoric. But should technology development and war fighting plans continue? "Yes, I think that's inevitable. I also think, however, that without some measure of accompanying space diplomacy, there is a distinct danger of space war of some sort being a self-fulfilling prophecy," said Johnson-Freese. "I would like to see a major effort by this new administration in space diplomacy, specifically toward transparency and confidence building measures." Leonard David is author of "Moon Rush: The New Space Race (opens in new tab)," which was published by National Geographic in May 2019. A longtime writer for Space.com, David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. There was a widespread sense of sadness in the Kenagh area recently as word spread that well known local man Peter Carberry had passed away at the age of 92. Known far and wide for his mastery of the uilleann pipes, Peter had been a patron of the uilleann pipers' association, Na Piobairi Uilleann, for two decades. His love for the instrument stretched right back to his childhood, when as a young boy he saw the travelling musician Johnny Doran performing outside the gates of Pearse Park in 1937. It was the first time the young Peter saw the instrument being played and from that moment he was hooked. When learning the pipes, Peter obtained his first instrument from the renowned pipe-maker James Mulcrone, who was himself a native of Carrickedmond. As he did not have the money to hand, his father gave him a heifer to rear and once he had done this its sale covered the cost. Together with his late brother Kevin, who was a noted banjo player, one of Peter's first forays into live performance came as a tin whistle player with The Rising of the Moon ceili band, which was put together by Michael 'Black Mick' McGann. With that group, the Carberry brothers played alongside fiddle players Sean Egan and Larry Kelly, accordionist Michael McGann (no relation to the band's founder), flautist Michael Geraghty, and drummer Pat Higgins. Peter would go on to play with many other leading traditional musicians such as Jimmy Donlon and Jimmy Hanley an uncle of Sean Keane of The Chieftans and among the regular visitors to sessions at the Carberry household throughout the 1950s and '60s was Dr Noel Browne. It was also around this time Peter joined Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, with whom he toured extensively, performing as far afield as the United Kingdom, Portugal, USA, Canada, Brazil, and Libya where he played to an audience which included Colonel Gaddafi. Aside from music, Peter also turned out for his local GAA team in his younger days and was also known to feature for Longford Minors. He worked for Bord na Mona for 46 years, operating the company's 'bagger' turf cutting machines in the boglands of south Longford and often worked nights at the height of the peat harvest. He married Patricia Rogers from Ardagh in 1946 and the couple went on to have six children. Peter died peacefully on Thursday, April 14. A proud Kenagh native and Irishman, the tricolour was flown at half mast outside Peter's home while he was waked. His remains were removed to the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Newtowncashel on Saturday, April 16, where Funeral Mass was celebrated. Burial took place afterwards at Clonbonny Cemetery. He is predeceased by his son Brendan and is survived by his wife Patricia; sons Noel and Peadar; daughters Kitty, Mairead, and Patricia; grandchildren, brothers and sisters, extended family and friend. May he Rest in Peace. Family & Parenting, School & Education, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: May 02 2016 The New York State Education Department announced today in conjunction with Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan and Assembly Assistant Speaker Felix W. Ortiz that it will work with organizations that promote organ and tissue ... Albany, NY - April 28, 2016 - The New York State Education Department announced today in conjunction with Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan and Assembly Assistant Speaker Felix W. Ortiz that it will work with organizations that promote organ and tissue donation to develop model curriculum, exemplar lesson plans and best practice instructional resources on the importance and value of organ and tissue donation. These materials will be made available free for every school district in the state starting in September at the start of the school year. Thousands of New Yorkers are waiting for organ and tissue donations right now, Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa said. These tools will help school districts teach students that people of all ages and medical history can donate organs and tissue and help save lives. Its a valuable lesson in good citizenship; helping others in need. NYSED will issue guidance to every district statewide to inform them that these materials are available for use in the classroom. The State Education Department is committed to making sure this lifesaving information gets to as many students as possible, State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said. These materials can be used in a number of ways, such as part of drivers education courses. As young people get their drivers licenses, they will also get information on the need for organ and tissue donation. That little heart printed on their drivers license will be a sign of their compassion and caring. I want to thank Senator Flanagan and Assistant Speaker Ortiz for their leadership and for working with the Department on a sensible approach to this important issue. Education is key to increasing the number of New Yorkers enrolled to be organ donors and increasing the number of lives that are saved with organ transplants across the state each year, Regent James Cottrell said. By giving districts tools like model curriculum and lesson plans, we are ensuring that students have the information they need to make what could be a lifesaving decision. This is a great day for the thousands of New Yorkers in need of life-saving transplants, Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan said. I applaud the State Education Department and Commissioner Elia for collaborating with organizations that promote donation on our recently passed legislation so that young people can become better educated about the many benefits of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation. High school students will be able to make informed decisions about whether to become donors and, by getting the word out on the importance of registering when they become eligible, we can increase participation in donor programs that give more people a chance at living longer, healthier lives. The State Education Department's new effort to create instructional materials on the importance and value of organ, tissue and blood donations for high school students will improve donation consent rates among the next generation of New Yorkers, Assistant Speaker Felix W. Ortiz said. As the sponsor of Laurens Law that created the Donate Life Registry through DMV applications, I am pleased to announce this next step to help educate young New Yorkers about the importance of organ donations. I look forward to seeing our states consent rates rise as a result of it. The New York State School Boards Association applauds the states efforts to educate students on organ donation without imposing another curriculum mandate, said New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer. We thank Chancellor Rosa, Commissioner Elia, Majority Leader Flanagan and Assistant Speaker Ortiz for their leadership in providing this information. In addition to producing guidance materials, NYSED will remind districts about the materials each year in April as part of Organ Donation Awareness Month. Pets & Animal, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: May 02 2016 Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta is most appreciative of the support he received from the residents who donated to his pet food drive to benefit Baxters Pet Pantry at Long Island Cares. Smithtown, NY - April 29, 2016 - Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta is most appreciative of the support he received from the residents who donated to his pet food drive to benefit Baxters Pet Pantry at Long Island Cares. In addition, many customers at the IGA Markets in Fort Salonga and East Northport contributed items to the bins stationed at the stores, as well as from Splash and Dash Pet Grooming in St. James. Everyone was incredibly generous in donating cat and dog food/treats and bird seed, as well as other items for the pet pantry at LI Cares. I am thrilled that we collected 435 pounds, as well as a donation of $100 from a local resident, said Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta. Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- Hillary Clinton wants you to know she's in on the joke. The Democratic presidential candidate praised President Obama for his remarks at his final White Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, even acknowledging the digs he made about her. "Nice job last night. Aunt Hillary approves," Clinton tweeted Sunday. (The tweet was signed "-H," meaning it's from Clinton herself.) Obama teased Clinton for her difficulty appealing to younger voters at the dinner. "Look, I've said how much I admire Hillary's toughness, her smarts, her policy chops, her experience," Obama told the crowd of politicians, celebrities and journalists. "Youve got to admit it though: Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a little bit like your relative who just signed up for Facebook. "'Dear America, did you get my poke?'" he continued, impersonating Clinton. "'Is it appearing on your wall? Im not sure I am using this right. Love, Aunt Hillary.' "It's not entirely persuasive," Obama concluded. Clinton did not attend the annual dinner. Her rival for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders, however, was there, as well as some of Clinton's top staffers, including campaign manager Robby Mook and vice chair Huma Abedin. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Starting around eight years ago, browsers could be tapped by websites to provide an approximate to exact notion of where you are. Fortunately, from nearly the beginning, there was an understanding by those developing standards and implementations that such information should require affirmative permissionopt-in! From the advent, in nearly every case, youve been prompted whether or not you wanted to give a site your current location, often with some limitations. Its very handy to offer up your whereabouts to, say, a retail chain or bank site, where it can automatically show the nearest locations without you having to type in a zip code. Were used to this convenience in mobile devices, and iOS has extremely granular app-based location controls. But in a mobile browser, as long as the browser can use location, any site you visit can request position; the permission granted is unique to each site. However, once youve provided your location, it gets trickier. Do you want to opt in for all eternity? Every major browser has a different way of handling your initial and subsequent choices and how to change forever decisions you made in the past. Google just improved one underlying security weakness, which prompted this column, but also makes me wonder whether other browser makers will step up. Cloak and decloak Desktop versions of Safari, Chrome, and Firefox each have a different approach in the permission you can initially grant to a site. Safari first relies on system-wide location permissions, something that Firefox and Chrome bypass, even though youd think that should be forbidden? You can disable all app-based location privacy at a go, or prevent Safari from even asking. In the Security & Privacy system preference pane, click Privacy, and then click the lock in the lower-left corner and enter your password. You can now uncheck Enable Location Services or scroll through the list and uncheck Safari. You can also set a variety of limits within Safari. In Preferences > Privacy, you can disable all location prompts by choosing Deny Without Prompting. I have mine set to Prompt for each website once each day. Oddly, even with that choice, Safaris prompt when a site requests your location leaves the checkbox Remember my decision for one day unselected. (The results of this interaction arent totally clear.) If you choose Prompt for each website one time only in Safaris preferences and leave Remember my decision for one day unchecked, Apple doesnt provide a suggestion about deleting this choice except for selecting Safari > Clear History, which wipes cookies, location, cache, and history. (Hold down the Option key and it just deletes browsing history.) Safari in OS X (left) and iOS prompt in the same way, but you cant delete individual choices in iOS. However, I found an undocumented feature. In Preferences > Privacy, click Details below Remove all website data (it may take a moment for the Details button to appear), then search on a site for which you want to remove your location preference. Delete the entry by clicking Remove. In my testing, this resets the preference. Chrome will prompt by default if a site requests your location, but you can only opt in or outnot for a period of time. Once youve made that choice, you can modify it. Visiting chrome://settings/content lets you scroll down to Location and click Manage Exceptions where you can see all the sites you allowed and denied to track. Chrome lets you set your sharing preference for all sites, and then edit individual choices later. You can also make changes while visiting a site. Firefox has a bit of the worst of both Safari and Chrome. It lacks an option to share your location for a day or other period, asking only whether you want to allow or not, and doesnt let you edit these permissions without visiting a site. Its a bit problematic and paradoxical that you have to visit a site you no longer want to allow to track you in order to disable that sites ability to track you. (On a given page, use Tools > Page Info, click the Permissions tab, and modify the settings for Access Your Location.) Firefox has a somewhat florid prompt. You can change permissions for a site only by revisiting it. In iOS, Safari will prompt you just as it does in the desktop version. However, while you can disable Safari location awareness entirely (Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Safari Websites), you cant remove or change settings for an individual site. You can reset all site preferences via Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data, which is a nuclear option and, if youre signed into the same iCloud account on multiple iOS devices and Macs, wipes all that information from every copy of Safari on those pieces of hardware. Broadcasting from a secure location Websites have always been able to place someone approximately using the Internet protocol (IP) address thats part of the browsers connection to a Web server. If you use anonymizing services (like Tor) or virtual private network (VPNs) tunnels, this can obscure where you are to a site. Outside of that, you cant outright prevent sites from guessing about where you are. Browser-based geolocation is a lot more private, though, and the long-imposed safeguards that require a browser asks permission are a nice exception in a digital world that doesnt seem to value our privacy over the interests of advertisers and marketing. There remains one outstanding security weakness, however, that Google just addressed after months of alerting website developers to the change. As of Chrome version 50, the browser only provides a location response if the connection is secured. As Googles developers blog neatly explains, If the users location is available from a non-secure context, attackers on the network will be able to know where that user is. This seriously compromises user privacy. Because the information could be sent in the clear, an attacker could be at any position in the network, from a public Wi-Fi network through intervening network connections and backbones to a data center. Thats a big area of risk. Safari and Firefox, however, worked just fine with a number of sites that request location using unencrypted http connections instead of https. Its probably past time that all browsers enforce this same policy. Marie Claire newsletter Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Thank you for signing up to . You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over. Jennifer Lawrence opens up on her lack of preparation for new Hunger Games Catching Fire movie Jennifer Lawrence talks preparation, or lack of, for Hunger Games Catching Fire film. She may be starring in one of the biggest movie franchise's around, but Jennifer Lawrence has revealed that she isn't losing any sleep over playing Katniss Everdeen again. JENNIFER LAWRENCE CAREER IN PICTURES The 22-year-old actress recently opened up about her preparation for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in Total Films Future 100 issue, saying: 'If possible, there was even less preparation because I was like, Ive done this before. 'We had a lot of the same crew. Josh [Hutcherson] and Liam [Hemsworth] were there. Normally, when I do a movie, Im meeting people for the first time, so it was amazing to be able to have the same group of people. It was so fun,' she added. Yesterday the Hollywood beauty- wearing a black maxi dress, hat and sunglasses- jetted out of LAX to Montreal where she will begin filming her upcoming project X-Men: Days of Future Past. LATEST JENNIFER LAWRENCE NEWS LATEST CELEBRITY NEWS Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad (opens in new tab), Kindle (opens in new tab) (just search the store for 'Marie Claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus (opens in new tab). Nordic American Tankers Limited ("NAT" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire four existing Suezmax sister vessels built in Japan at a world-class shipyard. The aggregate price is $106 million. NAT expects the vessels to be delivered during May, June and July 2016. Between July 2014 and January 2017 a total of 10 vessels have been added to the NAT fleet, including the previously announced two newbuildings due for delivery in August 2016 and in January 2017. Going forward, this total of a 50% fleet increase within a short time span can be expected to produce significantly increased cash flows and solid dividends compared with a smaller fleet. The seller is a well-respected group that has owned the four more or less identical sister vessels since they were built. The fact that they are sister vessels is a positive factor of significance. Two were built in 2004, one in 2003 and one in 2000. Shipbuilding technology for crude oil tankers has not changed much over the last 20 years, so whether a ship has been around five years or fifteen years or longer does not matter anywhere near as much as the quality of the ship itself. We would note, that renewal of our fleet is a natural element on our agenda going forward. Our vessels remain first-class, and these four additional tankers only enhance our fleet's reputation for safety and dependability. We are particularly confident about the technical quality of the vessels. Members of NAT management, staff and board have comprehensive experience from Japan, having concluded business with several of its high quality shipbuilders over decades. The Company noted that the acquisition represents a natural step in the further development of Nordic American. By adding four more ships to 30 units we increase the dividend capacity and bolster our earnings potential. Our well-defined and transparent operating model, including one type of ships, dividend policy, strong balance sheet, are elements supporting the competitive position of the Company. Danelec Marine informs it has supplied new-generation Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) for three U.K. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Bay-Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD) vessels. The three ships, RFA Lyme Bay, RFA Mounts Bay and RFA Cardigan Bay, have been fitted with Danelec DM100 VDRs, replacing the existing VDRs which are no longer supported by the manufacturer. The type-approved Danelec DM100s bring the ships into compliance with the new IMO performance standards, which came into force in 2014. The orders for the RFA ships were taken by Radio Holland U.K., which was responsible for overseeing the installation and commissioning of the VDRs on the three ships. Radio Holland UK is also providing worldwide service and support for the VDRs, including mandatory annual performance tests, as well as full life-cycle management of the full suite of bridge electronics on the vessels. The RFA installations are the latest manifestation of our excellent working relationship with Radio Holland, said Hans Ottosen, CEO of Danelec Marine. Radio Holland has been a valued distributor and global service partner for Danelec Marine products since 2005. The Bay-Class ships, which entered service in 2006-2007 are multi-mission craft designed for a wide range of sealift, amphibious and relief operations. International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol said on Sunday that oil prices may have bottomed but that would depend on global economic growth. Asked if oil prices had reached a bottom, Birol told Reuters: "It may well be the case, but it depends on economic growth." He expected global oil demand to grow by 1.2 million barrels per day this year while non-OPEC oil production would fall by more than 700,000 bpd. (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section has announced the recipients of its annual student bursaries programme for 2015-2016. In total, 7,500 was awarded to seven students attending Aberdeen, Robert Gordon, Dundee, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde universities. Almost 100 applications were received and for the first time this year, the shortlisted finalists were invited to present one of their answers from their bursary application to a panel of judges before the final recipients were selected. Two bursaries of 2,500, were awarded to Andrew MacDonald, MEng Mechanical and Offshore Engineering student at Robert Gordon University, and Mohammed Mehdi Walji, MSc Petroleum Engineering student at Heriot Watt University. Mr MacDonalds chosen topic was entitled: How can innovation from other industries improve efficiency in the energy sector?, whilst Mr Walji presented: Recruitment/apprenticeships are often impacted by industry downturns - what would you suggest are the best ideas for graduates to distinguish themselves or outshine others? A further 500 was awarded to five other students to help with their studies: Adam Zalewski, MSc Petroleum Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Edris Joonaki, PhD Petroleum Engineering, Heriot Watt University, Alexandra Kuznetsova, PhD Petroleum Engineering, Heriot Watt University, Rachael Hunter, PhD Applied Geoscience, Heriot Watt University and Naroshinii Annaselam, MEng Naval Architecture with Ocean Engineering, University of Strathclyde. All students were awarded their bursaries by Katy Heidenreich, Student Development Committee Co-Chair, at the SPE Aberdeen Section evening meeting in March where Mr MacDonald and Mr Walji also gave their winning presentations. On receiving his award, Mr MacDonald explained: I applied for this bursary because as an international student, I dont receive financial support from the government or university and tuition fees can be expensive. The bursary grant will allow me to complete my Masters degree and concentrate on producing quality research by covering my academic expenses and other costs associated with attending university. Mr Walji added: It is truly an honour to receive such an award, and I plan to use it to deliver two of my aims. Firstly, I would like to develop my own technical skills and enhance my programming skills. Secondly, I intend to create an online platform for high school students thinking of pursuing a career in the industry. As a home student, whilst in high school, there was very little information on what UK positions were available within the industry and I hope to address this for the next generation." SPE Aberdeen chairman, Ian Phillips, said: We are particularly proud of our annual student bursary scheme and were delighted to receive so many applications at such a high standard. It is vital now more than ever that we continue to support the young people keen to enter our industry. The support which our events receive from the industry and the commitment from our volunteers makes our bursary scheme possible and enables us to continue inspiring the next generation. I would like to congratulate all the winners and wish them well in their future careers in the industry. The funding was awarded to those studying a degree relevant to the oil and gas industry, at an under-graduate, post-graduate or PhD level. Students were required to demonstrate an intention of working in the oil and gas industry on completion of their studies, as well as academic merit and active involvement in the SPE. SPE Aberdeens Student Development Committee, which is responsible for awarding the annual bursaries, consists of industry professionals, representatives of SPE Aberdeen student chapters and academic sponsors. The committee provides opportunities for Scottish university students to enhance their technical knowledge and professional competence through industry events and specialised conferences, as well as more informal meetings. Damen and Expedition Voyage Consultants team up to develop globally capable expedition ship. In response to interest from clients in the fast-growing expedition cruise market, Damen has teamed up with Expedition Voyage Consultants Ltd. to develop a specialist Damen cruise ship, with capacity for around 100 passengers. The cruise ship combines Expedition Voyage Consultants unmatched operational experience with Damens shipbuilding excellence, providing unforgettable experiences in luxury travel to destinations from Polynesia to the Northwest Passage. Henk Grunstra, Damen Product Director says: This expedition ship will be a significant advance in the market, making it possible for expedition companies to deliver their customers the best expedition experience. This ship will be able to offer innovative and exciting itineraries with a higher level of safety, economy and comfort. Capable of visiting virtually any destination, the design will offer cruise lines the option of including activities such as helicopter operations and submersible diving alongside traditional small boat landings and watersports. Innovative design features for smooth operations and an immersive guest experience will be incorporated from the experience of Expedition Voyage Consultants. The move is driven by the fast growing expedition cruise sector, which has seen unprecedented expansion into remote destinations. Mr. Grunstra explains, Expedition cruising requires small, comfortable and highly capable vessels that customers can be confident in, no matter if they are cruising Polynesia or the Northwest Passage. With the existing tonnage aging and environmental regulations tightening, it is important that operators have vessels they can rely onwell into the future. This partnership follows a successful cooperation with Expedition Voyage Consultants sister company, EYOS Expeditions,which resulted in Damen developing the worlds first Polar Code compliant expedition yacht the SeaXplorer. Ben Lyons, Chief Executive Officer of Expedition Voyage Consultants Ltd. and EYOS Expeditions says: This vessel will be capable of taking expedition cruise passengers beyond the usual range in terms of both geography and experience. The vessels high ice capability and endurance make her globally capable, and she will be equally at home in the tropics or polar waters. She is designed to be a multi-functional platform equipped with all of the tools an operator mightneed. Expedition Voyage Consultants Ltd. will infuse the design with the lessons learned during their teams collectives 100+ years of experience in the expedition cruise business. During that time, the team has sailed aboard a wide range of commercial expedition vessels ranging from icebreakers to luxury cruise ships. Capability matters An expedition vessel should be able to reach remote destinations safely and deliver a super experience in often challenging conditions. Because the ships design effects the experience of the guests, whether that be how quickly they can reach shore or how safely operations can be run in all types of weather, capability matters. Well take our collective experience, gained from a wide variety of vessels, and apply the best features weve seen to this design. Combining that operational knowledge with Damens expertisewill create a highly functional and reliable vessel purpose built for expedition cruising, and it is very exciting to be able to incorporate these operational elements into the design from the first line,explains Mr. Lyons. Mr. Grunstra adds, This partnership brings two industry leaders together; Damen has unparalleled experience from building over 5500 vessels, including complex vessels such as passenger ships, offshore patrol vessels, sail training vessels and superyachts. EVC has decades of expedition knowledge operating voyages from the polar regions to the remotest tropical islands. Combining this will create an exceptional product. The final design will be unveiled in the Autumn. A cruise ship is sailing to Cuba from the U.S. for the first time in more than 50 years. The Bermuda-flagged Adonia sailed from the port of Miami carrying some 700 passengers on Sunday. Cruise firm Carnival's Adonia left Miami bound for Havana and will also visit the ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba on the seven-day trip. To be a part of truly making history and preparing for an even more positive future for everyone is one of the greatest honors any company can have, Carnival Corporation chief executive Arnold Donald said. The cruise, which sails for Carnival's Fathom "impact travel" brand, comes after Cuba loosened its policy banning Cuban-born people from arriving to the country by sea, a rule that threatened to stop the cruises from happening. According Carnival, the Adonia will cruise every other week from Miami to Cuba, with promises to engage passengers "in an ongoing cultural exchange program that gives you the opportunity to interact with the Cuban people." The voyage is the first of what Carnival says will become weeklong cruises to Cuba twice a month, with the goal of promoting cultural exchange between the two countries following a warming of ties that began in December 2014 and culminated last year with the restoration of full diplomatic ties. Cyberhawk Innovations, the world leader in aerial inspection and survey using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), is set to boost its international credentials with the launch of a Houston office in the USA. The new office comes as a result of increasing demand from existing oil and gas customers who recognise the significant cost and time savings on offer from UAV inspection and want to utilise Cyberhawks expertise for their USA operations. Cyberhawk has already undertaken oil and gas inspection work in North America, for operators in Canada, and has a number of projects lined up with oil and gas supermajors in the US over the coming months. The company has also made significant progress in other sectors in the US over the last nine months since the launch of its Asset Management Partnership (AMP) programme. AMP is aimed towards powerline, wind and rail industries and combines Cyberhawks cutting edge asset management software, iHawk, with local, on-the-ground skills and experience. Multiple projects have already been completed with selected partners in the USA. The new Houston office will further bolster these efforts in the US by focusing predominantly on the onshore and offshore oil and gas industry. The launch follows Cyberhawks recent funding injection from Clydesdale Bank, which not only supports international growth plans but also the continued development of Cyberhawks pioneering work in asset management software. Craig Roberts, CEO at Cyberhawk, said: The feedback we have received over the last 12 months has confirmed our understanding, that although there are many UAV operators in the US, few have either the depth or the range of experience and expertise offered by Cyberhawks proven oil and gas inspection solutions. We have, for example, completed significantly more than 200 live flare inspections on and offshore in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and North America. Clients who have worked with us know that they can trust our highly trained teams to safely capture data and deliver powerful inspection reports. Our qualified inspection engineers are also able to have peer to peer conversations with the clients inspection professionals before leaving the site, a service which our clients advise us is invaluable. Over the coming months, we expect to see significant uptake with operators who are looking for more efficient and cost effective inspection solutions, particularly during this challenging period for the oil and gas industry. Cyberhawks operations director, Chris Fleming, has spent the last three months in the US undertaking market research and will relocate to Houston permanently, to become general manager for America. The coming months will see Cyberhawk increase staff numbers in the region through a combination of recruitment and mobilisation of UK-based personnel. Headquartered in Livingston, Scotland, Cyberhawk adds the new Houston base to its existing international offices in the Middle East and SE Asia. The company carried out the very first ROAV industrial inspection in 2009 and since then, has completed more than 25 world firsts to date, with blue-chip customers in more than 20 countries on four continents. Cyberhawk is exhibiting at OTC this week on stand 2063/04, Scottish Pavilion stand number 11. TEKEVER will present at Xponential/AUVSI its new vessel detection capabilities for its UAS product lines. Available for TEKEVERs AR3 and AR4 product lines, the new capabilities allow for an increased effectiveness of the systems in multiple types of maritime missions. Automatically detecting vessels from visual images at sea presents multiple technical and operational challenges, such as highly dynamic background, sun reflections and even dealing with the sky/sea contrast. Although the presence of a small vessel can usually be seen in an image, clearly differentiating it from other patterns, like foam or reflections, can be challenging, especially in rough sea and wind conditions, and require higher computational resources than the ones usually available in small UAVs. Following an intensive R&D effort on the development of maritime domain capabilities, such as automatic vessel detection, classification and tracking, TEKEVER is now making them available in its AR3 and AR4 UAS product lines. These shipborne UAS can now play an even more effective role as range extenders for maritime patrol vessels. Pedro Sinogas, TEKEVER CEO, said, Vessel tracking is a very demanding operation, that we can now offer even in our most compact and flexible systems, such as the AR4 Light Ray. TGS announces the expansion of its multi-client library offshore Eastern Canada with plans to acquire more than 36,000 km of 2D seismic data, in partnership with PGS, utilizing two vessels during the 2016 acquisition season. The M/V Sanco Spirit and M/V Atlantic Explorer, utilizing the PGS GeoStreamer technology, will acquire seismic and gravity data in the Labrador Sea, Newfoundland Orphan-Flemish Pass basins and Grand Banks areas. Data acquisition will commence during late May 2016. Pre-processing of the initial GeoStreamer signal will be performed by PGS following which TGS will perform data processing with final data available to clients in Q3 2017. This new data will complement the existing TGS-PGS joint venture library which already comprises over 112,000 km of modern 2D data and 9,172 km2 of 3D data in addition to 83,700 km of TGS vintage data. TGS also offers an expansive well log library and advanced multi-client interpretation products that will improve play, trend and prospect delineation in this region. "Offshore Newfoundland and Labrador has been an area of high interest from exploration companies in an otherwise challenging market as evidenced by the successful licensing round in November 2015. This will be our sixth consecutive season acquiring data in partnership with PGS in this highly prospective region, targeting expected Areas of Interest (AOIs) to be released under the scheduled land tenure system," commented Kristian Johansen, CEO for TGS. This project is supported by industry funding. The first shipment of a core kit for Russias Yamal LNG project has set sail for northern Russia from the Chinese port of Qingdao. China's first batch of two air cooled condensing modules of LNG project are the biggest and heaviest kits being used for the project. They are set to arrive at the construction site in late June, says China Central Television. Yamal is a liquefied natural gas project located deep in the Russian Arctic. It is expected to start operating next year. 85 percent of the liquefied natural gas will be transported to the Asia Pacific market. It is China's first export of LNG core modules, indicating that China has entered into the international high-end oil and gas equipment market. The semi-sub vessel carrying the modules weighing of more than 1,000 tons will travel 13,000 nautical miles and is expected to arrive at the port of Sabetta in the North Pole by the end of June. The modules are the two of the six such modules contracted for by the Wuchang Shipbuilding Group Co., ltd. The other four are in the process of building and are expected to be completed by the end of July. It is also the first time a Chinese company-- the China Offshore Oil Engineering Corporation-- will install equipment for such a project by implementing its own technologies for liquefied natural gas production. PetroChina is the second largest shareholder of the project. 3 million tons of liquefied natural gas will be transported to China annually. Decom North Sea (DNS), the representative body for the offshore decommissioning industry, which promotes and facilitates collaboration and cost reduction, today appointed a new chief executive. Roger Esson brings over 20 years highly relevant experience as DNS continues to play a critical part in the development of the UK decommissioning sector. Having held a variety of leadership positions within companies ranging from SMEs to tier 1 contactors, his previous roles have included time with Stork Technical Services and Amec Foster Wheelers decommissioning division. He has played an active role in the execution of several of the UKs most significant decommissioning projects - including the MCP01, North West Hutton and Brent Delta installations - and is widely recognised for his stewardship of the oil and gas sector, not least through his participation on a number of industry boards and forums. Commenting on the appointment, DNS chairman Callum Falconer said: We are exceptionally pleased to welcome Roger to this position. Decom North Sea has no doubt that his combination of knowledge and experience will prove invaluable in addressing the challenges inherent in this fledgling industry - ensuring that our members, as well as those in the wider oil and gas industry and beyond, have the ability to grasp the opportunities within decommissioning. On behalf of Decom North Sea, sincere thanks go to interim chief executive, Karen Seath, and the wider operational team for the work they have undertaken during the past six months. They have successfully built upon our key objective to deliver value to our members, whilst working collaboratively with our strategic partners to ensure that an effective and sustainable supply chain addresses the requirements of this emerging sector. Roger Esson added: I am delighted to join Decom North Sea and look forward to applying my knowledge and experience to the role. This is a challenging time for the North Sea industry and it is vital that we focus upon helping our members understand and prepare for the opportunities that are available. For example, DNS has long recognised the critical effect late life asset management has upon the success of the decommissioning process - as well as the vast number of opportunities it presents. With our members requirements firmly at the forefront of our minds, DNS has created the Late Life Planning Portal (L2P2), a trailblazing toolkit designed to encourage the all-important sharing of knowledge and the opportunities available within this phase. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Monday he was committed to building all of a new Australian submarine fleet in Australia, apparently contradicting the French contractor who said last week the deal would create jobs in France. Valls stopped off in Australia while headed to New Zealand for a scheduled visit, just days after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said France had beaten out Japan and Germany for the A$50 billion ($38 billion) contract. Valls said he would personally oversee the drafting of the contract, one of the world's biggest defence deals, between France's state-owned naval contractor DCNS Group and Australia over the next few months. "We would like to conclude as soon as possible this contract," Valls told reporters through an interpreter after meeting Turnbull. "We will now deliver on all of our commitments .. the choice of the Australian contract was to have the 12 submarines built in Australia and that was the basis of our agreement." Comments by DCNS chief Herve Guillou last week that the deal would create about 4,000 jobs in French shipyards caused consternation in Australia, where the contract was heavily sold as a local build. The deal will likely play a critical role in Australia's general election due on July 2, with it expected to shore up support for the ruling Liberal Party-led coalition in the state of South Australia where the bulk of benefits will flow. The victory for DCNS underscored France's strengths in developing a compelling military-industrial bid, and was a blow for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to develop defence export capabilities as part of his security agenda. Japan, with its Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries boat, had been seen as the early frontrunner, but their inexperience in global defence deals and an initial reluctance to say they would build in Australia saw them slip behind DCNS and Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG. "Right from the beginning it was supposed to be a partnership that would create jobs right from the beginning, so it is a win-win partnership," Valls said. DCNS' share of the overall contract to build 12 submarines will amount to about 8 billion euros ($9.02 billion), according to sources with knowledge of the deal. Turnbull said the potential to transition the fleet into a nuclear-powered one was not a factor in the decision. Australia is increasing defence spending, seeking to protect interests in the Asia-Pacific as the United States and its allies grapple with China's rising power. By Jane Wardell The U.S. Coast Guard will conduct a second round of public hearings May 16-27 for the Marine Board of Investigation into the loss of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship El Caro, and its 33 crewmembers. The second round of hearings, to be held in Jacksonville, Fla., will focus on shipboard operations, cargo loading, lashing and stowage operations for the accident voyage while also examining the vessel's analysis of stability and weather conditions forecasted and encountered, the Coast Guard said. In addition, the regulatory oversight for the El Faro will be examined to determine and potential implications of that oversight on the accident voyage. The Coast Guard completed its first round of hearings in February 2016.The second round of hearings, to be held in Jacksonville, Fla., will focus on shipboard operations, cargo loading, lashing and stowage operations for the accident voyage while also examining the vessel's analysis of stability and weather conditions forecasted and encountered, the Coast Guard said. In addition, the regulatory oversight for the El Faro will be examined to determine and potential implications of that oversight on the accident voyage. A third hearing (date to be determined) will examine additional elements of the investigation including crew witnesses, TOTE company officials and contents of the El Faro's Voyage Data Recorder , if it can be recovered and analyzed. The 790-foot, U.S.-flagged, cargo ship El Faro sank October 1, 2015, during The National Transportation Safety Board, is conducting its own investigation, and will fully participate in the Marine Board of Investigation hearings.The 790-foot, U.S.-flagged, cargo ship El Faro sank October 1, 2015, during Hurricane Joaquin while sailing from Jacksonville, Fla. to San Juan, Puerto Rico. All 33 crewmembers aboard were lost in the accident. According to the Coast Guard, the investigation aims to determine as closely as possible the factors that contributed to the accident; whether there is evidence that any act of misconduct, inattention to duty, negligence or willful violation of the law on the part of any licensed or certificated person contributed to the casualty; and whether there is evidence that any Coast Guard personnel or any representative or employee of any other government agency or any other person caused or contributed to the casualty. Cruise ship MV Adonia sailed into Havana this morning, completing the first leg of its historic inaugural voyage to Cuba that began on May 1, 2016, from Miami, marking the first time in over 50 years that a U.S. cruise line has sailed from the U.S. to Cuba. The Bermuda-flagged ship Adonia, operated by U.S. based Fathom, the 10th and newest brand of Carnival Corporation & plc., was greeted in the Port of Havana by fanfare and a festive celebration. Havana is the first of three destinations that guests will visit as part of the Fathoms seven-night voyages to Cuba. Following this weeks inaugural trip to Cuba, Fathoms 704-passenger Adonia luxury cruise ship will begin operating its weeklong itineraries to Cuba every other week. The ships entry into Havana also marked the first time in decades that Cuban-born individuals have been able to travel by sea to or from Cuba. Our arrival today in Havana is a special moment in history that contributes to a more positive future, and we congratulate our colleague Arnie Perez on being the first person born in Cuba to step ashore under Cuba's new policy, said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. 1863 - During the Civil War, the steam screw sloop Sacramento, commanded by Captain Charles S. Boggs, seizes the British blockade-runner Wanderer off Murrells Inlet, N.C. 1896 - A landing party of 15 Marines and 19 Seaman from USS Alert arrive at Corinto, Nicaragua, to protect American lives and property during a period of political unrest. 1942 - USS Drum (SS 228) sinks Japanese seaplane carrier, and USS Trout (SS 202) sinks a Japanese freighter off the southeast coast of Honshu. 1945 - USS Springer (SS 414) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese frigate in the Yellow Sea and then sinks a Japanese coastal defense ship the next day. 1945 - Hospital Apprentice Robert E. Bush administers aid to a wounded Marine officer and fires back at the Japanese at the same time, earning the Medal of Honor. 1992 - USS Anzio (CG 68) is commissioned at her homeport of Norfolk, Va. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser is named for the Italian allied amphibious assault in May 1944 during World War II. 2011 - President Barack Obama announces Navy SEALs raided Osama bin Ladens compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed America's most wanted terrorist during Operation Neptune Spear. (Source: By Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division) Ten Indonesian tugboat crewmen held by the Abu Sayyaf terror gang in the southern Philippines were freed unharmed Sunday. The sailors arrived in Jakarta late on Sunday night, hours after they were released from captivity. They arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, East Jakarta, at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday using Jet Victoria News aircraft. Indonesia paid no ransom to free the sailors taken hostage, with efforts relying on negotiations, the lead Indonesian negotiator claimed on Monday. They were welcomed by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and the National Armed Forces Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo. All crew members will be taken to hospital for medical examination, Retno said Sunday, May 1, 2016 before adding that the victims would be returned to their family after the examination. The Indonesians said their captors hadnt harmed them and believed that they had been released because of stepped-up pressure being applied by the Philippine military. The militant group had demanded a ransom of $1 million from the Indonesian government in exchange for releasing the 10 seamen held captive since March 26, setting an initial deadline of April 8. However, the government paid no money to the terror group, according to retired army general Kivlan Zein, who led the Indonesian team of negotiators in the release efforts. President Joko Widodo of Indonesia said during a televised address in his country on Sunday night that the sailors were in good condition and would be flown to Jakarta immediately. He thanked the Philippine government and said that Jakarta would continue working for the release of four other Indonesian mariners seized in a separate incident. India will join US and Japan conduct joint naval exercises in the northern waters of the Philippine Sea, an area close to the East and South China Seas where Beijing is locked in an increasingly tense standoff with other countries. The multinational maritime exercise in the strategically important South China Sea, which will also have the Japan, Russia, Australia and China along with other countries as participants. IANS quoted an official statement said it is part of the Indian Navys endeavour to "enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific". The exercise is a multinational exercise on maritime security and counterterrorism under the aegis of ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, or ADMM Plus consortium. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat has already reached Brunei. The participants of the exercise, to be held in Brunei, include Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and South Korea. It is being held at the South China Sea. The current edition will commence at Brunei and culminate at Singapore, with various drills and exercises in the South China Sea. "Indian Navy and the navies of ASEAN countries have a mutual interest in promoting peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific, given our shared maritime security interests," the statement said. The statement added the exercise is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding with respect to maritime security issues and streamlining drills on counter-terrorism operations at sea. Damen Shipyards Group has announced the opening of a new branch office in Houston, Texas. This expansion, under the name of Damen North America, meets the increasing demand for Damens shipbuilding concepts and repair and conversion services. The branch office representing the Damen Shipyards Newbuild, and Damen Shiprepair & Conversion businesses across North America and Canada has decided to open offices in the heart of the Energy Corridor of Houston. Arnout Damen, Chief Commercial Officer, said, In this difficult economical climate, we are of the opinion that it is important to support the oil and gas market and are thrilled to expand our business to customers across North America and Canada. We seek to provide our customers the best quality, proven designs, short delivery times, low maintenance and excellent resale value and trustworthy repair and conversion solutions, combined with our commitment that we will deliver an unrivaled service to the highest safety and reliability standards. Establishing an office out of Houston demonstrates the power of the Damen global presence for mutually beneficial and cost effective solutions, said Jan van Hogerwou, Manager U.S.A. and Canada for New Buildings. I look forward to working closely together with both ship operators as well as shipyards to maximize the value of having a local presence with the use of proven designs, high quality craftsmanship and low Total Cost of Ownership. We expect a lot from our new License to Build program in which we offer our ship designs and our construction expertise to any shipyard in the U.S. Our standardized shipbuilding approach, known as The Damen Standard, has become one of our fundamental core values. It gives us the ability to offer our customers well-proven, innovative vessels and/or designs for competitive prices. Ruud Haneveer, Market Development Executive for Damen Shiprepair & Conversion, said, The new office demonstrates our ever-expanding focus on customers needs. Through this local office, we are closer to our customers in the region. We value our customers feedback and the contribution it makes to advancing our ambition to improve our performance continuously and to set new standards in the repair and conversion of ships. The repair and conversion services represented by us are related to the groups Shiprepair and Conversion shipyards located outside the United States of America. Abu Dhabis RoRo volumes up 31 percent; general and bulk cargo increases 13 percent; container cargo edges up 5 percent Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) in the Emirate, has attained double-digit growth in two major cargo sectors during the first quarter of 2016. Roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) traffic at Khalifa Port witnessed a 31 percent increase with 33,687 vehicles, up from 25,709 vehicles in the same period in 2015. The trend highlights Khalifa Ports growing status as a premier RoRo hub in the region with its yard and facilities that could cater to the growing demand. Meanwhile, general and bulk cargo across Abu Dhabi Ports saw a 13 percent upturn, and stood at 3.98 million freight metric-tons (FT), as compared to 3.5 million FT registered in the first quarter of 2015. The increased volume of general and bulk cargo indicates vigorous import and export activities related to the industrial and infrastructure development projects in the Emirate. Increased business activities of companies operating across the Emirate, especially in Kizad and Musaffah industrial area, have also contributed to this growth. The first quarter results for Khalifa Port Container Terminal, which is operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, showed that it handled five percent more containers compared with the same period in 2015. The terminal moved 316,996 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units/containers), up from 302,151 TEUs in the first quarter of 2015. Continuing the last years upward trend, the container cargo volumes indicate increasing demands from the Abu Dhabi market. Commenting on the business growth, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: These achievements demonstrate Abu Dhabi Ports commitment to its strategy of sustaining performance and growth across all its operations. With the guidance of our leadership coupled with the support from our stakeholders and the UAEs economic stability, we are able to witness such success. We aim to continue investing in innovative technologies and solutions, remaining customer focused in our service offerings and in building the capabilities of our national workforce, Al Shamisi added. Khalifa Industrial Zone also witnessed increased business activities during the first quarter of 2016. Four prominent companies, including KSB Service LLC and Polysys Additive Technologies Middle East (PAT ME), commenced operations from within the industrial zone and National Food Products Company (NFPC) and Gulf Printing and Packaging Company, started construction of their facilities. Kizad has a total of more than 90 national and international investors, and 13 million square metres of land leased that represent a total investment of more than AED 55 billion. Schlumberger announced today the launch of the MaxPull high-pull wireline conveyance system that can pull from 18,000 lbf to 30,000 lbf in wells 40,000 ft [12,192 m] deep or more. The MaxPull systems engineered integration of wireline conveyance components brings efficiency, reliability and sticking avoidance to complex well trajectories that were not previously wireline accessible. With the industrys highest-pull wireline conveyance system, drillers can expect drillpipe-free wireline operations in any environment with vertical well efficiency and minimum sticking risk, said Hinda Gharbi, president, Wireline, Schlumberger. In addition, our customers can mitigate operational risk and save time during comprehensive data acquisition by eliminating the use of conventional drillpipe conveyance. The MaxPull system can pull up to 30,000-lbf line tension, which is 43% higher than previously possible. Pairing the system with wireline tractors further improves well access in complex well trajectories while minimizing the number of logging runs. The system has been tested in a wide variety of well environments and trajectories in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, West Africa, and North and South America. A customer deployed the MaxPull 30000 system in a deepwater Gulf of Mexico well where job modeling indicated logging tension of 20,900 lbf. The existing highest-pull system of 21,000 lbf did not provide an overpull capability in the event of tool sticking. By using the MaxPull 30000 system, the customer had the safety margin of 9,000 lbf of additional pull. A sticking incident occurred during a reservoir fluid sampling station. A pull in excess of 29,300 lbf was applied to free the toolstring, avoiding a four-day fishing operation and the loss of valuable reservoir fluid data, and saving more than $3 million. Ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist Optimarin has signed a contract with Saga Shipholding for the provision of three of its Optimarin Ballast Systems (OBS). The order marks a new chapter in the working relationship between the two, with Saga originally purchasing an initial 26 systems from Optimarin in 2012. According to Nils Otto Bjorhovde, Saga Shipholdings Hong Kong-based Technical Manager, its the performance of those systems to date that persuaded the firm to return for more: We spent 2011 evaluating the entire BWT market, Bjorhovde said. At that time Optimarins simple technological solution, their professional approach and commitment to developing a totally compliant system gave us the confidence we needed to make a significant fleet wide investment. Four years of operation, with every system operational from its very first day of installation, has shown the wisdom of that choice. The technology is proven, and the team are as hardworking, open and honest as they were on day one. The choice this time round was much easier. The three new 2,000 m3 BWT units will be installed on newbuild open hatch vessels currently under construction at Oshima Shipbuilding in Japan. Like the majority of the firms 32 current ships, the new additions will predominantly carry pulp from South America to markets in Europe and the Far East. Bjorhovde also sees a likelihood for trades in U.S. water, making OBS upcoming USCG approval, expected in the second half of the year, of critical importance. Were a global shipping firm and we need global compliance to be as flexible as our customers demand us to be, he states. USCGs standards are obviously more stringent than those imposed by IMO, and I think Optimarin have been very wise to commit to them. That gives us complete confidence that the systems on-board our vessels will comply with regulations now, and into the future, and thats vitally important for a responsible shipowner such as Saga. Optimarin said it has seen its best ever start to a year in 2016, signing deals with, amongst others, Atlantis Tankers for 10 systems, Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group for nine, and Carisbrooke - a fleet agreement with the potential to encompass retrofits on 46 bulk and multipurpose vessels. The Saga contract pushes the number of systems sold by Optimarin towards the 450 mark. Despite the success with the new names, Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen is keen to highlight the importance of repeat business with customers such as Saga. This really is the best endorsement for our proven BWT solution, he said. When customers like Saga, who use the system day-in day-out, across entire fleets, come back for more it cements our position as a preferred partner for responsible ship companies who require performance, reliability and compliance. With BWM ratification now upon us, this sends a very clear message to shipowners everywhere we are tested, trusted and ready to talk. We can give them the same quality service, carefree operation, and compliant technology that Saga has experienced for the last four years. Of the 26 systems currently installed on Saga vessels, seven were newbuildings and the rest retrofits. Optimarin, together with its global engineering partners Goltens and Zeppelin, has now installed more than 70 units on existing vessels, and more than 200 on newbuilds. Its flexible, modular and simple solution allows it to make the most of limited space on vessels, making it perfect for retrofit tasks. Alongside Saga, Optimarin customers include names such as MOL, Grieg Shipping Group, Gulf Offshore, Farstad Shipping, NYK, Nor Line, and Evergreen Marine Corp, amongst others. The OBS is certified through DNV GL, Lloyds, Bureau Veritas, MLIT Japan, and American Bureau of Shipping. Together with its upcoming USCG approval, it is also fully IMO compliant. Unfamiliar specifications and processes often result in rework, delays and misunderstandings, and are adding thousands of engineering hours to the design and construction of offshore oil and gas installations. Cost savings are delivered by addressing variations in owner, operator, and regulatory requirements during engineering and construction phases. Phase one, led by DNV GL, established new proposed international standards for offshore oil and gas projects and a second phase is now underway to further develop the proposed standards named Integrated Offshore Standard Specifications (IOSS) and to test its application. Initiated in 2015, the Korea-based JIP aims to develop common, globally accepted, best practices for standardized offshore components and equipment in a recommended practice. The first phase successfully focused on the constructability viewpoint and addressed items for structures, piping, and E&I. Phase two will extend the scope to include equipment packages, documentation requirements, and procedures. The IOSS will be developed with the aim to be applied and tested against upcoming offshore development projects. In the current climate of low oil prices it is often difficult to sanction projects, says Peter Bjerager, Executive Vice President, DNV GL - Oil & Gas Region Americas. These new standards will contribute to lowering the cost of projects and ensuring that work moves forward. This JIP represents a new approach to standardization and is truly a global effort in the oil and gas industry. Phase one provided promising results that if successfully applied will push forward projects that may otherwise be put on hold." In all, phase two of the JIP will include a global constellation of about fifteen partners, of which the majority operates in the Americas. These partners include oil majors, fabricators, classifications societies, ship yards, and engineering companies. A signing ceremony for the second phase of this project will take place at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) on Wednesday, May 4 in Houston, Texas. Technical seminars on the sharing of information for the JIP will be held within the Korean Pavilion. Designers, yards, and suppliers work more efficiently when projects apply standards with which all players are experienced, said Petter Ellingsen, Group Leader Offshore Risk Advisory - Korea, DNV GL - Oil & Gas. Our ambition is to establish a standard for oil and gas projects that builds on a well-established approach for classification. Industry estimates for potential cost savings on construction of installations range well into double-figure percentages, he continues. Turkey has launched the building phase of its amphibious landing platform dock (LPD) warship for the Turkish Naval Forces with a ceremony on April 30, says Hurriyet. Last year, the Turkish government announced it signed a nearly $ 1 billion deal with a local shipyard to produce the country's first LPD. Turkey's procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), said SSM and Sedef, a Turkish shipyard, agreed to pen the deal after contract negotiations. Turkish companies, including Aselsan and Havelsan, will produce and install several parts of the ships components, including armaments, electronics and communications systems. A Spanish company, Navantia, will help in designing the ship. The 231-meter-long ship will be capable of carrying over 1,000 personnel and transporting helicopters, army vehicles and equipment. The new craft will be the biggest landing dock in the naval forces inventory and also have a hospital. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: Turkeys defense industry needs to be 100 percent self-sufficient at a time of increased threats. Our goal is to be totally self-sufficient by 2023." Kalvari (Tiger Shark), the first of the Scorpene-class submarines, went to sea for the first time on Sunday marking the commencement of sea trials. The submarine sailed out at about 10 am under her own propulsion for the first sea trial, off the Mumbai coast. Kalvari is the first of the India's six Scorpene-class submarines being built under the much-delayed Project 75. The vessels are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) Mumbai in collaboration with French company DCNS. She is part of the ongoing project for constructing six Scorpene class submarines, in collaboration with DCNS, which will include transfer of technology to MDL. Kalvari is expected to be commissioned by the end of September. It is 67-metres long and 6.2-metres wide and displaces 1500 tons. The Kalvari carries torpedoes and missiles which it can use to bring down enemy ships. Over the next few months, the Kalvari will undergo a barrage of sea, surface, diving, weapons, noise trials, etc., so the submarine can be tested thoroughly to ensure it meets the stringent standards required of it. The Kalvari is stealthier than nuclear subs as it can work without needing to surface or send up a snorkel for oxygen thanks to the use of Air-independent propulsion system found on the Scorpene subs that can help it stay underwater for up to 21 days at a stretch. The commissioning of INS Kalvari will take place by the end of 2016, following the completion of all the trials. This is expected to be a major boost to the current government's "Make in India" initiative. Two Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members approached a table covered in gear, weapons and laptops, grinning from ear to ear. One of them began to speak to the contractor standing at the table. The other pulled out a cell phone and recorded the interaction. The contractor showed the service members how to use his system, which is essentially a tactical game of laser tag. The system tracks the marksmanship of each player through a laptop, which then records the results. A CD is given to the command to discuss their after-action report. The laser tag simulator was part of Marine Corps Installations Pacifics semi-annual Training Expo here, April 29. The event also included the Supporting Arms Visual Trainer, Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, Combat Convoy Simulator. Herbert Gray Sr., the director of the MCIPAC Tactical Training and Simulation Support Center, said this event allowed units to explore the tools available to them for training and improve their unit readiness. Gray said training expos are held semi-annually because service members on Okinawa are always coming and going, especially Marines with unit deployment program battalions, which rotate every six months. Gray said that the key part of Marines training is developing muscle memory. He thinks Marines should get to the point where they automatically react, based on repeated rehearsals of realistic combat scenarios. He uses the example of when Captain Chelsey Sully Sullenberg landed the American Airways flight 1549 safely on the Hudson River. In an interview with CBS, Sullenberg said, One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education and training. And on (Jan. 15, 2009) the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal." Gray said some of these simulators are multi-million-dollar systems, but added that the overall savings of manpower, fuel, live fire and ranges outweigh the price of the expensive gear. Its better to drop bombs in a simulated environment than to drop bombs on a range all over the place, said Gray. It saves us a lot of money. Simulators may soon play an even greater role in training for Marines stationed in Okinawa. Gray said MCIPAC is trying to construct a two-story building on Camp Hansen containing all, or most, of the simulator systems. The two-story building would save space by consolidating all the different stations of simulator systems spread throughout Camp Hansen. The consolidation is part of a larger project that reduces the Marine Corps footprint on Okinawa, returning land to local citizens. Decoding the Uighur Puzzle Yes, it was embarrassing for the part of the Indian government to first approve the e-Visa of Dolkun Isa and then cancel the same. An Uighur activist rallying for the cause of the largely suppressed 10 million odd Uighur Muslims in Chinas supposedly autonomous region of Xinjiang, was supposed to attend a conference in India on democracy in China at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.The cancellation of the visa burst the dam of a plethora of criticisms ranging from the ruling governments toothless foreign policy to their larger indecisiveness on matters related to terrorism and national security. Perhaps, it was all unwarranted. As stated earlier, it is surely embarrassing, but certainly not highly deplorable because rationally speaking India cannot be thrashed for Chinas weaknesses! The Uighurs of Xinjiang are a living mystery. The Uighur Muslims of China, which have Turkic roots, are largely ring-fenced by the Chinese regime from the rest of the world. There is very little that you can learn about their literature, art, history, language, and existence per se. Seems like very little has been preserved by the Chinese regime or allowed to be preserved. In reality, the Dragon has used grossly draconian measures to control potential unrest in the restive resource-rich region of Xinjiang. Since 2009, some Xinjiang cities have witnessed some deadly clashes with the Han Chinese and the Chinese security personnel stationed in the region. Beijing has been vocal about the Uighur separatists that are allegedly trained in Afghanistans Nuristan and Pakistans lawless Pasthun-dominated tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. The Chinese government has accused these separatist groups of fanning the religious and sectarian strife in the otherwise peaceful region, which have led to some knife attacks at train stations and markets. As a matter of fact to a very large extent the reasons for the violence is the heavy-handed policies imposed by Beijing on the Uighur Muslims. Xinjiang became a part of the Communist China in 1949 as a result of the Chinese military conquest. After the conquest the Communist regime officially begun the tinkering of the regions demographics. The Han Chinese which constituted just 6% of the population in Xinjiang in 1949 are over 40% in present day Xinjiang! The Communist regime in China ferried scores of Han Chinese from other parts of the country to Xinjiang to manipulate the regional demographics. While around 80% of Uighur work on farms the Han Chinese have built businesses and have occupied high paying private sector jobs or lucrative public sector vacancies. For instance, the capital Urumqi, a city of skyscrapers has 75% Han Chinese population, which is a glaring manifestation of how the demographics of the region have been artificially tinkered by the Chinese regime. Some of the other draconian measures are the monetary motivation for interfaith marriages between the ethnic Uighurs and Han Chinese. According to James Leibold a political scientist at Australias La Trobe University, the Chinese government has announced an annual payout of 10,000 Yuan (over $1,600) for five years. Undoubtedly, the ethnic Uighurs are perceiving it as an unwelcome interference in their ethnic and religious affairs. Astonishingly, Ramadan fasting is prohibited in Xinjiang at the same is perceived by the Communist regime as a form of radicalization that needs to be curtailed! Also, the Chinese have already begun to bulldoze the Old city of Kashghar that once was at the heart of the fabled Silk Road travelers. The Old city of ancient mosques and mud houses that once offered much needed respite to the exhausted traders has been bulldozed to pave the way for more skyscrapers and special economic zones. The government also demolishing the old bazaars and localities with narrow streets and lanes for bigger gated community-like apartments. The Uighurs are seeing their hundreds of years of houses and bazaars being demolished for more modern amenities, which they had never requested for. As an Indian, imagine our government thinking about doing the same in Old Hyderabad or Purani Delhi! Its an attack on the ancient credentials of the place and tantamount to gross violation of history and cultural heritage! Another way the Chinese government manipulates the demographics in Xinjiang is through, the hukou system. Unlike India migrating to a new city in China is a very complex affair. If someone wishes to shift into a different and a larger city within China, the migrants are required to have advanced degrees, should be skilled, or must secure a job at a well-known private company or a government establishment. Without these the migrants wouldnt be eligible for the hukou, or household registration and other state-level entitlements like access to education, healthcare and social insurance. However, in the case of Xinjiang, the hukou is available without any professional qualifications or required skill set, whatsoever! An Anxious and Insecure China The Chinese manipulation of the Uighur demographics and the vocal criticism of India for entertaining the idea of granting a visa to an Uighur activist manifests Chinas own weakness. Interestingly, in Kashmir, which is Indias equivalent of Chinas Xinjiang, India has done a remarkable job by protecting the demographics, culture, language, and unique identity of the Kashmiri population. Today, a lot of tourists, both domestic and international visit Kashmir for leisure and religious pilgrimage. A lot of local Kashmiri newspapers report local incidents freely. Indian media personnel can freely cover events in the Jammu and Kashmir. This reflects the confidence of India in her liberal and secular credentials! On the contrary, Xinjiang is being ring-fenced from the world, where no foreign journalists and tourists are allowed to enter without the government approval! This unsurprisingly reflects Chinas lack of confidence in her supposedly progressive activities in the Xinjiang region. Besides, the Chinese support for the Pakistani terror assets is a manifestation of their fears related to their territorial integrity, concerning Xinjiang. The Chinese Politburo is counting on the Pakistani intelligence-Military-Terror Assets nexus to neutralize the Uighur militia allegedly thriving in Nuristan & the tribal areas of Pakistan. While I agree that Indias move of denying a visa to the Uighur activist was grossly upsetting, however, Chinese reliance on Pakistans dubious terror assets exposes Chinas lack of self belief in her ability to deal with the Uighur separatists, independently. Despite of Chinas flamboyant exhibition of her military might a bunch of Knife wielding Uighurs are forcing China to cut deals with failed states & failed individuals who have not just failed themselves but their larger & progressive Ummah, too. While Indias weaknesses are largely overblown theres little talk about Chinas lack of self belief! Does it really make sense to thrash the Indian government for Chinas lack of self-belief? While its true that we could have allowed Dolkun Isa to deliver that speech in India, but, as a country, are we really that strong a global power to become the voice of the oppressed and suppressed people all over the world? Is India really prepared for it? U.S. Military Drafting Women Means Equality in Slavery Last week the House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requiring women to register with Selective Service. This means that if Congress ever brings back the draft, women will be forcibly sent to war. The amendment is a response to the Pentagon's decision to allow women to serve in combat. Supporters of drafting women point out that the ban on women in combat was the reason the Supreme Court upheld a male-only draft. Therefore, they argue, it is only logical to now force women to register for Selective Service. Besides, supporters of extending the draft point out, not all draftees are sent into combat. Most of those who opposed drafting women did so because they disagreed with women being eligible for combat positions, not because they opposed the military draft. Few, if any, in Congress are questioning the morality, constitutionality, and necessity of Selective Service registration. Thus, this debate is just another example of how few of our so-called "representatives" actually care about our liberty. Some proponents of a military draft justify it as "payback" for the freedom the government provides its citizens. Those who make this argument are embracing the collectivist premise that since our rights come from government, the government can take away those rights whether it suits their purposes. Thus supporters of the draft are turning their backs on the Declaration of Independence. While opposition to the draft is seen as a progressive or libertarian position, many conservatives, including Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater, and Robert Taft, where outspoken opponents of conscription. Unfortunately, the militarism that has led so many conservatives astray in foreign policy has also turned many of them into supporters of mandatory Selective Service registration. Yet many of these same conservatives strongly and correctly oppose mandatory gun registration. In a free society you should never have to register your child or your gun. Sadly, some opponents of the warfare state, including some libertarians, support the draft on the grounds that a draft would cause a mass uprising against the warfare state. Proponents of this view point to the draft's role in galvanizing opposition to the Vietnam War. This argument ignores that fact that it took several years and the deaths of thousands of American draftees for the anti-Vietnam War movement to succeed. A variation on this argument is that drafting women will cause an antiwar backlash as Americans recoil form the idea of forcing mothers into combat. But does anyone think the government would draft mothers with young children? Reinstating the draft will not diminish the war party's influence as long as the people continue to believe the war propaganda fed to them by the military-industrial complex's media echo chamber. Changing the people's attitude toward the warfare state and its propaganda organs is the only way to return to a foreign policy of peace and commerce with all. Even if the draft could serve as a check on the warfare state, those who support individual liberty should still oppose it. Libertarians who support violating individual rights to achieve a political goal, even a goal as noble as peace, undermine their arguments against non-aggression and thus discredit both our movement, and, more importantly, our philosophy. A military draft is one of -- if not the -- worst violations of individual rights committed by modern governments. The draft can also facilitate the growth of the warfare state by lowing the cost of militarism. All those who value peace, prosperity, and liberty must place opposition to the draft at the top of their agenda. Dr. Ron Paul Project Freedom Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill. Dr. Ron Paul Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. How Brexit Could Help All of Europe Ferghane Azihari writes: The United Kingdom (UK) is about to hold a referendum on June 23rd on whether it should leave or remain within the European Union (EU). Once unthinkable, the "Brexit" is becoming more and more plausible. It is seen by the mainstream media as a factor of uncertainty in Europe. For its critics, Brexit would lead to increasing nationalism and protectionism. Nevertheless, those same critics forget the European Union is not a free-trade area. On the contrary, Brexit could open new perspectives for the old continent, not by bringing more protectionism but by bringing more competition between governments. Europe Needs More Institutional Competition Europe has a very long intellectual tradition in favor of institutional competition. One of the first modern thinkers concerned about it is the French philosopher Montesquieu. While comparing the European with the Asian political system, he notes in "L'Esprit des lois": In Asia one has always seen great empires; in Europe they were never able to continue to exist. ... Therefore, power should always be despotic in Asia. For if the servitude there were not extreme, there would immediately be a division that the nature of the country cannot endure. In Europe, the natural divisions form many medium-sized states in which the government of laws is not incompatible with the maintenance of the state; on the other hand, they are so favorable to this that without laws this state falls into decadence and becomes inferior to all the others. This is what has formed a genius for liberty, which makes it very difficult to subjugate each part and to put it under a foreign force other than by laws and by what is useful to its commerce. This European political fragmentation leads toward a jurisdictional, fiscal, and regulatory pluralism which is itself useful in opposing laws that are especially damaging to commerce. In the presence of burdensome laws, citizens may be prompted to "vote with their feet" by taking their capital and industriousness to a place where individual rights are better protected. This is a vital mechanism in order to increase general prosperity. Many economists and historians have shown institutional competition was one of the key factors of Europe's accumulation of wealth. The historian Paul Kennedy wrote in his book The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: The political and social consequences of this decentralized, largely unsupervised growth of commerce and markets were of the greatest significance. In the first place, there was no way in which such economic developments could be fully suppressed. There existed no uniform authority in Europe which could effectively halt this or that commercial development; no central government whose change in priorities could cause the rise and fall of a particular industry; no systematic and universal plundering of businessmen and entrepreneurs by tax gatherers. In Europe there were always some princes and local lords willing to tolerate merchants and their ways even when others plundered and expelled them. This is exactly why the European centralization process is harmful. The European political integration is indeed a project against jurisdictional competition. Like many international organizations, the EU is a way for governments to mutualize their respective sovereignties and to cartelize their powers in order to increase their control over individuals. The problem is this kind of cartelization tends to increase the burden of public policy. In the long run, the consequence of this lack of competition can only be less freedom, and therefore less prosperity. Under these circumstances, the Brexit would be a positive development. It would weaken the political cartelization of the continent and stimulate indispensable competition in Europe. Brexit Does Not Threaten Free-Trade in Europe The "In" campaigners' arguments are contradictory. The Economist, for instance, has on one hand warned in several articles a Brexit could undermine free-trade across Europe. But on the other hand, one of the arguments used against those complaining about EU regulation for member states is that any country which wants to trade with the European Union must comply with them. Even though this last argument is partly incorrect, it amounts to an admission that the EU is more a protectionist alliance than a free-trade area. A genuine free-trade area would not impose regulatory barriers to impede international competition. After all, as George Stigler showed in his famous article "The Theory of Economic Regulation," government regulations are a way to satisfy rent-seeking special interests which try to impede free enterprise and competition to enhance state-granted monopoly power. The EU: A Force for Regulated Trade, Not Free Trade The European Union is a powerful regulatory power and should not be underestimated. Brussels didn't become the second world capital of lobbying after Washington D.C by accident. Brexit is unlikely to undermine free-trade in Europe any more than the EU already does. Leaving the European Union does not necessarily mean less international trade and more protectionism. In fact, Brexit is an opportunity for British people to get rid of the EUs regulatory burdens, the EU common tariff and trade policies, and the highly protectionist common agricultural policy. The UK might then be free to favor a genuine free-trade with Europe and the entire world. This is particularly true when one considers free-trade does not require any intergovernmental agreement. Free-trader schools of thought have always been categorical on that matter. As Vilfredo Pareto stated in the article "Traites de commerce of the Nouveau Dictionnaire dEconomie Politique" (1901) : If we accept free trade, treaties of commerce have no reason to exist as a goal. There is no need to have them since what they are meant to fix does not exist anymore, each nation letting come and go freely any commodity at its borders. This was the doctrine of J.B. Say and of all the French economic school until Michel Chevalier. It is the exact model Leon Say recently adopted. It was also the doctrine of the English economic school until Cobden. Free-trade is a domestic issue which consists in abolishing unilaterally every kind of tariff and non-tariff barriers against products wherever they come from. Brexit's Symbolic Reach The European Union pretends to be a rational and inevitable project. Its legitimacy derives from the idea that globalization requires large political entities to guarantee high standards of living and to address modern issues. A Brexit would undermine this Euro-constructivist ideology by increasing the number of small and wealthy countries in Europe and in the world. It would increase the regionalist and localist pressures at the European level, but also within the nation-states themselves if one considers the case of Scotland, Catalonia, Corsica, Flanders or some northern Italian regions. One might be skeptical about this perspective given the fact European regionalist and secessionist movements are not always liberty-friendly. They remain indeed often collectivist and nationalist. Many Euro-skeptic movements are part of the far right. The European Free Alliance, for example the political party which contains several regionalist movements across Europe sits with the European Greens at the European Parliament. But, the fact remains that the more institutional competition there is in a geographical area, the more political leaders are constrained and the less they can adopt statist policies in the medium and long term. In their book How the West Grew Rich published in 1987, Rosenberg and Birdzell wrote: "It may be that a prerequisite to sustained economic growth is an economy trading across a geographical area divided among a number of rival states, each too small to dream of imperial wars and too fearful of the economic competition of other states to impose massive exactions on its own economic sphere." While Europe is facing what is perceived as a long and unresolvable economic and social crisis, the British people by exiting the EU could help the old continent to restore the institutions which made its historical prestige and prosperity possible. By Ferghane Azihari Ferghane Azihari is a 21-year-old law student in Paris at Universite Paris-Est Creteil. He is currently an intern at the Institut Coppet, a think tank which aims to promote the French classical liberal school and its inheritors. He is also Local Coordinator for European Students for Liberty and president of the Parisian Group. Twitter: ;@AzihariF. Blog: Autogestion. http://mises.org 2016 Copyright Ferghane Azihari - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. RICHMOND Republican leaders in the Virginia General Assembly have hired a top conservative lawyer to guide an expected lawsuit against Gov. Terry McAuliffes executive order that restored voting rights for 206,000 felons. Charles J. Cooper a former assistant attorney general under President Ronald Reagan who was once named Republican lawyer of the year will lead the effort to challenge the Democratic governors order, GOP leaders announced Monday. It is the obligation of the legislative and judicial branches to serve as a check on overreaches of executive power, House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, said in a news release. To that end, we are prepared to uphold the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law by challenging Governor McAuliffes order in court. Cooper, who defended Californias ban on same-sex marriage before the United States Supreme Court in 2013, is a former partner in the D.C. office of McGuireWoods. He practices civil litigation at Cooper & Kirk PLLC, a Washington-based firm he helped found in 1996. We have retained Mr. Cooper to examine the legal options to remedy this Washington-style overreach by the executive branch, said Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment , R-James City. Mr. Cooper is an extremely qualified attorney and we have every confidence he will proceed prudently, judiciously and expeditiously. Taxpayer funds will not be used to fund a lawsuit, Republicans said. McAuliffe has said he has the legal and constitutional authority to restore voting and civil rights for all felons who had completed their sentences, probation and parole by April 22. McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said Monday that the governor is disappointed that Republicans would go to such lengths to continue locking people who have served their time out of their democracy. These Virginians are qualified to vote and they deserve a voice, not more partisan schemes to disenfranchise them, Coy said. The specific plan of attack against the order is unclear. Two key issues will be finding a plaintiff and determining the proper legal venue. A challenge would likely focus on whether McAuliffe has the authority to go further than previous governors by restoring rights for nonviolent and violent felons en masse rather than doing so on an individual, case-by-case basis. McAuliffe has highlighted language in the Virginia Constitution granting the governor power to remove political disabilities for felony convictions. Constitutional expert A.E. Dick Howard has backed McAuliffe, saying the executive branch has unqualified authority on the matter. To argue the governor must follow a more individualized process, a legal challenge could point to other constitutional language saying no person convicted of a felony can vote unless his civil rights have been restored. An advisory committee convened by then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli reported in 2013 that governors lack the power to enact automatic, self-executing restoration of rights for all felons. While the Constitution of Virginia does confer on the governor the power to remove political disabilities consequent upon conviction for offenses, a court likely would find it difficult to sustain a governors exercise of this clemency power in so sweeping a manner that the Constitutions general policy of disenfranchisement of felons is voided, the committee wrote in its report. McAuliffes order does not create an automatic restoration of rights. Going forward, he plans to sign similar orders monthly to restore rights for those transitioning out of the criminal justice system. Republicans have argued McAuliffe overstepped by issuing a blanket order that applies to all ex-offenders regardless of whether they submitted an application. Coming in a presidential election year, Republicans have accused McAuliffe of playing politics by adding thousands of likely Democratic voters to the rolls as a boost to longtime McAuliffe friend Hillary Clinton. McAuliffes order has received national acclaim in progressive circles. Supporters have applauded the order as a bold move that does away with a restriction that disproportionately impacts African-Americans and brings Virginia more in line with policies of other states. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly. The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com SPRINGFIELD -- At many stores these days, customers can have a hard time getting a meat cutter to trim a steak or roast just they way they want it. But not at 90 Meat Outlet, which has its own custom cutting counter. "We'll trim it just the way the customer likes it, right in front of the customer," said owner Jim Vallides. "None of this taking something in the back and then coming back out with it. You watch us do it." And customers looking at many stores for something a little out of the ordinary for that ethnic dish -- think beef tongue, oxtail or hog maw made from a pig's stomach -- at a chain store are more likely to come away frustrated, not satisfied. "We have all that type of things," said Vallides. "We do a tremendous business with ethnic food. We sell lamb. We sell a lot of goat." Vallides and his 90 Meat Outlet staff will celebrate a grand-re-opening at the store May 12, 13 and 14 following a large-scale renovation project that saw the store expand from 3,000-square feet of display space to more than 7,000-square feet. The new space opened around Thanksgiving time. Vallides founded 90 Meat Outlet out of a few small coolers in the front of the building in 1998. At the time, he had a company across the street that made breaded chicken like cutlets and nuggets. Today, 90 Meat now has 50 employees. And it is the center of a three family-run and family-owned businesses. His daughter, Alexis, is the manager at Armata's Market in Longmeadow. "It is a very different operation," Vallides said. "But we do custom cut at the butcher counter there, too." His son Michael manages Latino Food Distributors which brings in and distributes foods and brands popular in Puerto Rico like Titan-brand frozen foods. Latino Foods Distributors manufactures its own Puerto Rican sofrito, a type of seasoning flavored with cilantro, which is popular in Latino cooking. Since the new space became available in November, Vallides said he's spent the past few months rearranging things, making sure the products are displayed in a logical order and that foot traffic flows nicely through the store. "People like it better. They were in here elbow-to-elbow," he said. "They don't feel like they are being pushed along by the flow of foot traffic." The new layout also gives more space for that custom cutting counter and might allow more space for new products. It also allowed Vallides to move and expand the cutting room in back where his employees prepare meat for sale. "They are back here all day, every day we're open," he said. At one station, workers fed cuts of beef through a tenderizing machine to make cube steaks. At another station, employees cut pigs feet to the proper size with a saw. One worker carefully rolled steaks in a seasoning rub. The store transitions every spring from meat cuts used in soups and stews -- like oxtail -- to cuts for grilling. "We sell a lot of chicken," Vallides said. Meat cutters Jose Gonzales and Diego Marte cut beef short ribs into thin-sliced flanken, a favorite of ethnic cuisines in the of Asia and Latin America. "The Brazilians love them," Vallides said. "A lot of ethnic groups love them in stews and soups.They are big in Korean cooking, too. But you can't get them." One customer comes to Springfield from Worcester to buy flanken, Vallides said. The prices at 90 Meat outlet draw in a lot of out-of-towners. People from the Albany, New York, area come to buy meat by the freezer full. "My big thing has always been 'buy direct and save.'" Vallides said. "I work directly with the packing houses in the Midwest, the chicken distributors. The potatoes come from Hadley." In April, he got a call from an egg distributor who was oversupplied and looking to move inventory. Was 90 Meat outlet interested? "I normally don't carry eggs," Vallides said. "But it was something I was able to bring it at a reasonable price and offer to people as an opportunity buy. You aren't going to see them that cheap anywhere else." On this day, he had them stacked in the store priced at 99 cents a dozen. One woman stopped and picked up six dozen eggs. UHaulLogoMedium1.jpg EAST LONGMEADOW -- U-Haul Company of Massachusetts and Ohio, Inc.has announced that that Colonial Auto has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve East Longmeadow. Colonial Auto at 631 N. Main St. will offer U-Haul trucks, towing equipment, support rental items and in-store pick-up for boxes. Colonial Auto partners Daniel and Brian Murray are proud to team with the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage to better meet the demands of Hampden County. U-Haul and Colonial Auto are striving to benefit the environment through sustainability initiatives. Every U-Haul truck placed in a community helps keep 19 personally owned large-capacity vehicles, pickups, SUVs and vans off the road. Fewer vehicles means less traffic congestion, less pollution, less fuel burned and cleaner air. transgender flag.png The transgender flag, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. (Wikimedia Commons) This post was been updated on May 5: After reviewing photographs, organizers of the flag-raising now say Worcester actually beat Boston in raising a transgender flag. More available here. _____________________ BOSTON - Mayor Marty Walsh, Senate President Stan Rosenberg and transgender advocates huddled under City Hall's concrete overhang as they celebrated the city raising the transgender flag. The rainy day flag-raising came as Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing a bill aimed at creating anti-discrimination protections for transgender people, allowing them to enter a bathroom based on their gender identity. The Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted to approve two bills they say do that, and the Senate version is scheduled for a debate in the state Senate on May 12. Supporters call the bills civil rights measures and say they are needed to close a gap for transgender people under anti-discrimination laws covering public places. Opponents say the legislation would open the door to privacy violations in women's bathrooms. The Massachusetts Family Institute's Jonathan Alexandre told the Associated Press that the House version of the bill "is essentially the same as it still offers no protections to women and children who don't want to be eyed by or exposed to naked men in locker rooms or other intimate spaces." Boston on Monday became another municipality in Massachusetts, after Worcester, to hoist up the transgender flag, and the fourth one in the United States, according to organizers. "I've been an advocate for transgender rights for over ten years now, and this is the first time I actually get to see it raised, and that means more than I can possibly explain," said Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. The city of Boston has had anti-discrimination protections in place for transgender people, similar to the proposed legislation on Beacon Hill, since 2002. "We've proven there's nothing to fear from being inclusive," Walsh said. "Quite the opposite. We are safer, we are stronger when everyone enjoys the same protections." Here's how they voted: Transgender anti-discrimination bills clear Massachusetts State House committee Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said with passage of the transgender bill, "we'll send a message that we are not Mississippi, we are not Georgia, we are not North Carolina," he said. Rosenberg said in an interview with The Republican/MassLive.com earlier on Monday that the Senate put the transgender public accommodations bill on its agenda in June of 2015, and he is "ecstatic" that the bill finally got out of the Judiciary Committee. "This anti-discrimination language is really critical," Rosenberg said. "People run into very painful and challenging situations and the sooner we end it the better." Rosenberg said he has had enough votes to pass the bill in the Senate for nearly a year. "It's about time," he said. But state Rep. Jim Lyons, R-Andover, a member of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee and an opponent of the bill, said the legislation has "nothing to do with discrimination." "It is important to emphasize this bill removes protection for our children in public rest rooms and segregated locker facilities," Lyons said in a recent Facebook post. "The Supreme Court of Massachusetts has already determined that transgender people are protected under existing law," he added. House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, has said he supports the legislation, while Gov. Charlie Baker, R-Swampscott, has declined to say whether he would sign the bill if it reaches his desk. Republican reporter Shira Schoenberg contributed to this report. The Boston Common will be filled with bubbles big and small later this month during the first-ever Boston Bubble Festival. The afternoon event's activities will include "make your own bubbles" stations, employees from the Museum of Science Boston discussing the science of bubbles and an appearance by Terry Murray, better know as The Inventor Mentor. "Children have always loved playing with the bubbles at our festivals in Franklin Park so we decided to dedicate a day to this fun activity and bring it downtown to Boston Common," Boston Parks Commissioner Chris Cook said. In addition to bubble-themed activities, the festival will feature music, children's fitness activities, and performances by a magician and a juggler. The event will be held around Parkman Bandstand at 167 Tremont St. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 14. It is presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department with the following sponsors: Uncle Bubble, Massachusetts WIC Nutrition Program, Fisher College, HP Hood LLC, Disney's "Alice Through The Looking Glass," Disney-Pixar's "Finding Dory," Columbia Pictures' "The Angry Birds," and partners Magic 106.7, WERS-FM, and Jim Dichter. ROWLEY Two men were shot at, one was wounded, in a wooded area behind a shopping center in Rowley Sunday. IN a written statement, Rowley police said they received 911 call reporting shots fired in the area of the Market Basket supermarket on the Newburyport Turnpike at about 5:15 p.m. Responded officers were met by an 18-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injury and released. Meanwhile, a second young man arrived at the Rowley Police Department and told police he, too, was shot at in the same area as the first victim. However, he was not injured. Authorities said they are searching for a known individual for questioning. Police did not say if the attacks on the two people are related. Police did say they believe that the attacks were not random and the public is not in danger. Earlier in the afternoon, a victim was shot and wounded on Lowell Street in Somerville. Police described the victim as a young male. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment of what police said was a non-life-threatening injury, the the Boston Globe reported. Somerville Police said the incident remains under investigation. There is no word on the shooter in the second incident. BOSTON - A Roxbury man was furious when he found out his new refrigerator was the wrong size, so he aimed a rifle at the men delivering it, police allege. John Mahoney, 48, was arrested Saturday morning at his home on Folsom Avenue in Roxbury. He's charged with assault with a deadly weapon, along with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Police said two appliance store employees delivered a refrigerator to Mahoney's house at around 10:30 a.m. He and another resident allegedly became upset when they found out the new refrigerator was not the same size as the old one. "One of the male residents then emerged from a room with what was described to officers as an 'AK-47 style assault rifle,' pointed and racked the firearm at the delivery men, and yelled at them to get out of the house," police said in a news release. Police also said the model of the weapon is actually "unknown." Officers searched the house and found a rifle, two revolvers and 67 rounds of ammunition. move that block indy start.JPG Polesitter and IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti (10), of Scotland leads the pack at the start of the MoveThatBlock.com 225 Indy 225 auto race, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011, in Loudon, N.H. IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay went on to win the race. (The Associated Press) BOSTON - First, Boston's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics collapsed last July, and the show moved on to Los Angeles as recriminations over who killed the bid played out in the press. Just a few days ago, there were echoes of last summer: IndyCar ditched its plans for a Grand Prix race in Boston's Seaport District, dumping the news as people headed home for the weekend. John Casey, president of the event, told the Boston Globe that the relationship with the city had become "untenable," and said the effort to bring the race to Boston had become "ridiculous." A top aide to Mayor Marty Walsh, Patrick Brophy, fired back in a statement calling Grand Prix organizers "unwilling or unable to meet the necessary requirements to hold an event of this size." Walsh told reporters on Monday he had first learned about IndyCar's decision to pull out of Boston through the media. The news is starting to spawn thinkpieces on what it means for the city, with former Boston City Councilor Michael Ross penning a column titled, "Boston, I love you but you're bringing me down," while a former state transportation secretary, Jim Aloisi asked, "Whither Boston?" Asked on Monday whether Boston is becoming the city that often says "no," Walsh said the Olympics and the Grand Prix were "two very different events," since the Olympics would have taken years of planning and the event itself would've lasted a month. "I think there were a lot of questions that were unanswered and I think that when we got the announcement that we were going to potentially host the 2024 games, a lot of people jumped on it and had a lot of questions," Walsh said. "And they didn't get the answers they wanted right away." IndyCar was to be a much smaller affair, a three-day event that would have taken place around Labor Day weekend, according to the mayor, who called himself a "big advocate" for the proposal. "It's unfortunate that it went the way it went," Walsh said. "But I think that, again, we have to make sure everything we do is right by the taxpayers and everything we do is done properly." Martin Walsh Walsh said he was still working on finding out "where the breakdown" was with IndyCar. "I want to see if there's a breakdown on our part," Walsh told reporters. "You know, there were certainly some questions unanswered on IndyCar's part that we were asking on Friday." Walsh pointed to city and state officials convincing General Electric to re-locate its world headquarters to Boston from Connecticut, and Verizon moving ahead with plans to replace a copper-based system with a fiber-optic network to compete with Comcast. "We've pulled off a lot of big things," Walsh said. umm.jpg University of Massachusetts Amherst Police released a photograph from a surveillance camera showing three burglary suspects in Washington Hall. (University of Massachusetts photograph) (University of Massachusetts photograph) Updates a story posted at 10:54 a.m. Monday. AMHERST - Two of the three men charged in connection with an armed burglary at the University of Massachusetts Sunday denied charges in Eastern Hampshire District Court Monday and have been released on $2,000 bail and ordered to stay away from the university. The third is expected to be released on $5,000 bail later Monday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown. UMass student Damien G. Earp, 19, of Lynn, and fellow Lynn resident Kyle Morrill, 18, were released on bail following their arraignments Monday. Morrill is not a student at the university. Both men were ordered to stay away from UMass and observe a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. UMass student Garrett B. Johnston, 20, of Belle Mead, New Jersey is expected to be released later Monday on the higher bail, according to Northwestern District Attorney spokeswoman Mary Carey. Johnston reportedly lived in the dorm, according to a witness. All three are charged with two counts of armed burglary, larceny under $250, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. Police said the three masked men were trying to break into rooms in Washington Hall at around 4:45 a.m. Sunday. The two students, Earp and Johnston, were arrested as they tried to escape from responding officers, police said. Morrill later called police after he returned home, and admitted he was with Johnston and Earp, according to police records. According to police records, responding officers came upon a man later identified as Earp who was holding a knife with the blade exposed and a pillowcase "that later was found to contain a pair of shoes belonging to a victim." Earp attempted to fight with the officers, police said. The officers told him to stop and get on the ground, but Earp and Johnston continued running down the hallway. Earp was later found hiding in a laundry room on the building's eighth floor. Both Earp and Johnston allegedly fought with officers during the incident, striking officer Jason Minich, according to police records. Earp and Morrill are due back in court June 2. Both Morrill and Earp were signed into the dorm together, according to records. On his Twitter account, Johnston describes himself as an "extreme sport enthusiast" and member of the UMass class of 2018. Earp on his Facebook page lists himself as a 2015 Lynn Classical High School graduate. Amherst police SUV.jpg Amherst police arrest 3 on drunk driving over the weekend. (Republican file ) AMHERST - Police arrested three men on drunk driving over the weekend, two of which were involved in crashes. At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, police arrested Mathew D. Burns, 53, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol, second offense, and operating a motor vehicle to endanger after allegedly crashing his 2015 Toyota Prius into another car on South Pleasant and Amity streets. Just before the crash, a caller reported observing a Prius weaving all over the road before turning onto South Pleasant Street. No one was injured in the collision, police said. At 1:32 a.m. Monday, police arrested Conor P. Doherty, 23, of Woburn for operating under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle to endanger- negligent and marked lines violations after he allegedly struck a utility pole at 45 S. Pleasant St. He as not injured and no wires were taken down, according to police. At 12:09 a.m. Sunday, police arrested Alexander J. Booth, 22, of North Andover for operating under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle to endanger- negligent and a lights violation after he was stopped on Main and Shumway streets. All three are expected to be arraigned Monday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown. umass.jpg University of Massachusetts Amherst Police released a photograph from a surveillance camera showing three burglary suspects in Washington Hall. (University of Massachusetts photograph) AMHERST - Three suspects arrested in connection with an armed burglary early Sunday morning have been identified and are facing arraignment Monday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown. Damien G. Earp, 19, Lynn, and Garrett B. Johnston, 20, of Belle Mead, New Jersey are listed as UMass students. The third man, Kyle Morrill, 18, also of Lynn, is not a student at the university. All three are charged with two counts of armed burglary, larceny under $250, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. A university spokesman declined to release the suspect's names Sunday. The incident, listing the names and charges, appeared in the police department's daily crime log. Police say victims reported three masked men trying to break into rooms in Washington Hall at around 4:45 a.m. Sunday. The two students were arrested as they tried to escape from responding officers, according to police. On his Twitter account, Johnston describes himself as an "extreme sport enthusiast" and member of the UMass class of 2018. Earp on his Facebook page lists himself as a 2015 Lynn Classical High School graduate. This is a developing story that will be updated after further reporting. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, April 29, 2016 This week timed to make a splash before next weeks digital video Newfronts the Video Advertising Bureau released a research report that proposes the adoption of average audience per minute as a common currency for evaluating audience claims across television and digital media. The metric combines three measurements applicable across media: Unique audience is multiplied by average minutes viewed, then divided by the total minutes in the time period being evaluated. According to the VAB, a trade association of broadcast and cable networks and MVPDs, when this apples to apples method is used, it reveals exaggerated audience claims for Internet platforms and non-TV devices. VAB reports that TVs audience per minute averages 45.4 million versus just 12.7 million for smartphones and 9 million for PCs, and that in any given minute, TV accounts for 95% of video consumption among adults overall (and 88% among Millennials). It also offers specific examples showing TV beating competitive platforms, including Facebook (by a factor of 7 to 1), Pandora (15 to 1) and YouTube (15 to 1). advertisement advertisement Audience Buying Insider asked three respected media research analysts for their takes on the VABs proposal. Foster: All Impressions Not The Same VAB is right on the mark in underlining that we not only need cross-platform measurement, we also need to evaluate this idea that all impressions are equal, says Frank Foster, a consultant who most recently served as SVP, general manager for TiVo Research and Analytics. I would posit that they are not equal that an impression associated with a 30-second ad with a $2-million production budget thats viewed within premium content, on a 70-inch TV screen, is worth more than an impression associated with a low-quality video ad viewed on a 4-inch phone screen. That said, Foster adds, we do need standards but theres no rush. Until a couple of years ago, we had no cross-platform measurement. I would prefer an open approach, where we dont necessarily default to the dominant providers, but also give new companies with new ideas a chance to devise solutions. Lets spend a few years trying secondary metrics with secondary guarantees associated with a variety of approaches in the real world. Spend the money, share the results, and let buyers and sellers determine and negotiate what works, rather than trying to figure it all out in three days behind closed doors. Feldinger:Buyers And Sellers Will Likely Decide Without a doubt, there is ease of use in adopting a uniform metric to measure content consumption on all screens, says Sheryl Feldinger, a media measurement and market research specialist who served in several executive positions at NBCUniversal, most recently SVP strategic marketing and metrics. And when the content is of the same duration, mathematically, that works. Hence the interest in pure program ratings that remove the ad load which often varies in duration by platform so that the same exact content can be measured in VOD, linear and other formats. I would add that I agree with a point made recently by [veteran media researcher] Bruce Goerlich: Using the same metrics to count platforms doesnt mean that they will be valued in the same way, Feldinger says. I also think that the metrics will most likely be sorted out by buyers and sellers. But she cites one factor likely to pose challenges. Having worked for large media publishers, I know that they distribute content on all platforms, she says. And theres a huge amount of digital content available in apps and online, beyond whats available on television. If I own a major media brand, I want to know how many consumers are touching my brand, in reach and average minute audience terms. That extends beyond the accumulation of consumption of the long-form video content that was televised. And that raises a question that Im not sure VABs proposal addresses: If I spend a few minutes every morning visiting WeatherChannel.com, will my visit contribute to an average audience for the morning day part, or how would that be counted toward total brand consumption? Harvey: Good To Go Back To Basics Media research consultant Bill Harvey points out that while averaging TV audiences by minute is the dominant approach, audiences can also be averaged on a by-second basis, which provides more precision when commercials are shorter than a minute. (The TRA viewership/buying habits matching system, which he co-founded part of TiVo Research since 2012 aggregates set-top box data by second.) That aside, he says, This average-minute approach that VAB is proposing for cross-media comparison is very sensible, because it puts everything on a level playing field. And that debunks myths, like the myth of Facebook having bigger viewership than television, which have resulted from people not using a comparable yardstick. Its a good idea to go back to basics. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, May 2, 2016 Six years after calorie labeling on menus was mandated as part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the Food and Drug Administration has released final guidance on implementing the regulation. Compliance and enforcement will kick in a year from now, in early May 2017. The requirements apply to chain restaurants, supermarkets and other foodservice venues with 20 or more locations. The National Restaurant Association stopped opposing menu labeling in 2009. McDonalds set a high-profile precedent by posting calorie counts on U.S. menu boards in 2012; Panera Bread was among those that followed. Subway (shown) said it did the same as of last month. advertisement advertisement But pizza chains and some other restaurant chains along with grocery and convenience store retailers have maintained that application of the FDAs guidelines in their businesses would be burdensome, expensive and confusing for retailers and consumers. Most recently, they backed the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015, which would allow posting calories on Web sites instead of in-store menu boards, among other changes to the FDA draft guidance that was released last September. The Disclosure Act was passed in the House in February, and backers are still pushing for its passage in the Senate. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, which began advocating calorie disclosure on menus in 2003, said in a statement that it believes the bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate. It also noted that since 2006, when New York City overcame a court challenge by the restaurant industry to become the first jurisdiction to require calorie counts on chain menus, California, Seattle and about 20 other jurisdictions have passed similar legislation. Food Marketing Institute president and CEO Leslie Sarasin says that the final guidance fails to provide the supermarket industry with enough flexibility for practical implementation of labeling in stores. The supermarket industry still seeks flexibility from FDA, she said in a statement. The FDA said that its committed to working flexibly and cooperatively with establishments covered by the menu labeling final rule and to providing educational and technical assistance for state, local, and tribal regulatory partners to support consistent compliance nationwide. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 2, 2016 University of California, San Diego bioengineers have created what they believe to be the first online search engine for functional genomics data. Dubbed GeNemo, the engine allows researchers to search for genomic data from online data repositories. Since functional genomics data records the diverse activities of every piece of an organism's genome and is directly relevant to health and disease, engineers hope the search engine will help researchers uncover the functional aspects in specific parts of genomes that are associated with normal physiology or disease of specific organs and tissues. Rather than searching by text, the engine allows researchers to search inside functional data, which many seem similar to deep linking in apps and across the Web. For example, someone might search for binding patterns similar to a novel transcription. The work from the Sheng Zhong bioengineering lab at UC San Diego was published online by the journal Nucleic Acids Research. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, May 2, 2016 Earlier this year, Clear Channel unveiled a new outdoor advertising initiative that involves telling marketers whether their stores are visited by consumers who have viewed ads on billboards. Clear Channel's new program reportedly draws on location and demographic data from at least three other companies: AT&T, PlaceIQ (which uses location data from apps) and Placed (which pays customers to track them). Clear Channel told The New York Times that the data, which is anonymous and aggregated, doesn't identify individual customers. When the program rolled out, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota) criticized Clear Channel for failing to clearly explain its plans to consumers. "Given the sensitive nature of location data, all parties involved in Clear Channel's Radar service should provide clear and comprehensive privacy policies and should disclose detailed information about their data-sharing relationships with other companies," Franken said in a letter sent to the company in March. "Unfortunately, as currently written, Clear Channel's privacy policy, which appears to apply to all of its products and services, leaves consumers largely in the dark." advertisement advertisement Clear Channel answered Franken, but the company's response has yet to be made public. Franken told the Minnesota Post last month that he appreciates "Clear Channels willingness to provide detailed information" and will "continue to keep the dialogue open between my office and the company." Now, a second lawmaker is raising concerns about Clear Channel's program. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) is urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Clear Channel's "spying billboards" are an unfair or deceptive practice. "Clear Channel Outdoor has tens of thousands of mobile and digital billboards across the United States and plans to provide advertisers with data on individuals who pass its billboards -- some of which are equipped with small cameras that collect information," Schumer says in a letter to the FTC. "Using the data and analytics, Clear Channel can amass a collection of information, such as the average age and gender, about individuals who view a particular billboard, in a certain place, at any given time. I am worried about the way this data will be collected for so many unsuspecting individuals." He wants the FTC to investigate whether Clear Channel "is acting transparently in this initiative," and whether consumers should be able to opt out of the sale of their data. For its part, Clear Channel suggests that people have misunderstood the initiative. The company has reportedly denied that its billboards are equipped with cameras that capture information about consumers. Instead, a spokesperson says it purchases "aggregated and anonymized statistical reports" from third parties. The spokesperson also says that the companies compiling those reports either allow consumers to opt out or obtain their opt-in consent. "This type of campaign planning, attribution and measurement solution has existed for years in other media and is now being applied to out-of-home media, the spokesperson says. Clear Channel can hardly blame people for not understanding the program, given its vague explanations of the initiative. The company said in a Feb. 29 announcement that it uses "mobile-derived, location-based data." While Clear Channel said the data came from AT&T, Placed and PlaceIQ, it didn't explain what precise information came from which company, or how the data was analyzed. Although Clear Channel says the data is anonymous, that conclusion isn't especially helpful, given that policymakers and courts about what kind of information is "anonymous." Last week, FTC consumer protection head Jessica Rich blogged that the agency considers data personally identifiable when it can be "reasonably linked" to a computer or device. "In many cases, persistent identifiers such as device identifiers, MAC addresses, static IP addresses, or cookies meet this test," she wrote. Location data often is seen as especially sensitive. Consider, on Friday a federal appellate court ruled that Gannett may have transmitted personally identifiable information by allegedly sending users' device identifiers and GPS coordinates to Adobe. Jules Polonetsky, CEO of the think tank Future of Privacy Forum, tells MediaPost that Clear Channel would do a service to consumers by providing more information about how its program works. "It may not be deceptive, but it's certainly not transparent -- which is driving the concerns," he says. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 2, 2016 Search agency Resolution Media, part of Omnicom Media Group, has expanded rapidly since the firm was acquired by the holding company a little more than a decade ago. Back then it was 35-person shop in Chicago. Todaythanks in part to a consolidation of Omnicom search agencies under the Resolution umbrella a few years back-- it employs 2,000 people in 50 markets around the world and manages $2 billion (and counting) in media spend. Its also no longer just a search agency but has branched out to offer social, mobile, email, ecommerce and other services. Just as the company is opening its sixth U.S. office (in Dallas) it has also appointed a new presidentGeorge Manas, previously the firms Chief Strategy Officer. He succeeds Alan Osetek who left to become CEO of programmatic operation Digilant in March. advertisement advertisement Manas joined Resolution Media in 2012 as Director of Services & Platforms. He was promoted to CSO a year ago. Hes credited with the driving the expansion of many of Resolutions services beyond the search domain. He helped architect the firms suite of social activation services known as Current@Resolution as well as the StoryConnect@Omnicom platform which integrates data-driven strategy, creative, media, and analytic services globally. Going forward Manas is tasked with overseeing the design and implementation of the agencys core and emerging services and managing key partnerships across publishers, technologies and the Omnicom Network. In addition to its own set of clients, accounting for about 40% of its business, Resolution provides search and social services across the OMG client roster and also works with a number of the holding companys creative agencies. For clients, says Manas, job one is helping them engage audiences as the media landscape gets more complex. Search has become the center of so much that it has changed the digital world, he said, noting that search and social combined account for about 70% of digital ad investment. The Dallas office opening was a pretty big deal strategically, Manas says. In the U.S., the agency has offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Charlotte. We were lacking a Southwest presence, he says. Not only does Dallas fill the gap, it does so as a fast growing city with a great talent pool, an entrepreneurial culture and rapidly expanding health and technology-related sectors. According to Manas, the firm has delivered rapid and for the most part organic growth over the past five years, much of it due to the expansion of the product offering. Now, he says the challenge is to create consistency and global scalability with our capabilities. More and more clients are looking at that, Manas adds, noting that the firm has over a dozen global clients, including Unilever, which the firm won last year in a joint pitch with sibling agency PHD. And with the world so anchored to Google, Facebook and a handful of other tech giants, creating a global platform for all biddable media is critical to competing effectively in the agency space says Manas. He thinks Resolution is well positioned for the future. Given that its expanding product line has grown from within, driving a seamless and globally scaled offering, while challenging, will be less difficult than integrating a sack full of bolt-on acquisitions. A team working in the field of warfighter performance suggests gut microbes may hold the key to curing or preventing post-traumatic stress disorder and mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Share on Pinterest Gut microbes may play a strong role in peoples ability to deal with stressful situations. Researchers from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, came to this conclusion about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after reviewing recent experimental and clinical data. From research on laboratory mice, the team found imbalances in the animals gut bacteria seriously affected their mood and demeanor. The researchers also found that stressed mice became calmer when they fed them live bacteria from fecal material collected from calm mice. The research is part of a project sponsored by the Warfighter Performance Department in the Office of Naval Research, headquartered in Arlington, VA. ONR Program Officer Dr. Linda Chrisey comments on the teams work: This is extremely important work for United States warfighters because it suggests that gut microbes play a strong role in the bodys response to stressful situations, as well as in who might be susceptible to conditions like PTSD. Our digestive tract holds trillions of microbes, without which we could not digest food, defend effectively against disease, and even transmit signals to the brain that affect mood and behavior. Collectively known as the gut microbiome, they form an integral part of the biology that keeps us alive and well. Improper functioning of the mitochondria, a cell's source of energy, may help account for the fact that African-American men with prostate cancer respond poorly to the same conventional therapies provided to Caucasian-American men, according to research led by Dhyan Chandra, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). The study was published online ahead of print in the British Journal of Cancer. "In an earlier study, we provided the first evidence that African-American men possess reduced levels of mitochondrial genetic material in healthy prostate tissues, compared to Caucasian-American men. This new study highlights the importance of mitochondrial dysfunction as one of the main reasons for prostate cancer health disparities," says Dr. Chandra. "We conclude that the presence of severe mitochondrial dysfunction in African-American men with prostate cancer, compared with Caucasian men with the disease, would be one of the potential reasons for the increased cancer resistance to chemotherapy and the recurrence of disease." Mitochondrial dysfunction is strongly linked to chemotherapeutic resistance leading to relapse of prostate cancer, but its effects can sometimes be overcome by treatment with the small molecule dichloroacetate. In prostate cancer cells from African-American men, dichloroacetate did not restore mitochondrial function to required levels. This mitochondrial dysfunction within prostate cancer cells appears to make African-American men more resistant to current chemotherapy, putting them at greater risk for disease spread. The identification of new anticancer agents that would restore mitochondrial activity may result in better disease control, the researchers emphasize. "These findings may provide an explanation for the higher incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer among African-American men. African-American patients might get more positive outcomes after major restoration of mitochondrial function, which could improve the anticancer effects of therapy," adds Dr. Chandra. "Although these findings are extremely insightful, more basic and clinical studies are needed to understand their impact in reaching our goal of eliminating the racial disparities in prostate cancer mortality," says co-author Willie Underwood, III, MD, MS, MPH, Associate Professor in the Department of Urology at Roswell Park. This research was supported, in part, by grants from the National Cancer Institute (awards R01CA160685 and P30CA016056), American Cancer Society (RSG-12-214-01), Department of Defense (awards W81XWH-14-1-0013 and W81XWH-12-1-0406) and the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Georgia. A modified surgical technique may provide a simpler approach to the surgical treatment for one type of chronic headache, according to an "Ideas and Innovations" paper in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Using an incision originally designed for another purpose, surgeons can gain direct access to the nerves involved in some types of chronic temporal headache, according to the report by ASPS Member Surgeon Dr. Ziv M. Peled of Peled Plastic Surgery, San Francisco. He hopes his new technique will "lower the bar to adoption" of effective surgical treatment for patients with this debilitating headache condition. Efficient Approach to Surgery for Chronic Temporal Headache In recent years, surgery has emerged as an effective treatment option for selected patients with chronic, severe headaches. Developed by plastic surgeons who noticed that some migraine patients had fewer headaches after cosmetic forehead-lift, these procedures address "trigger sites" linked to certain headache patterns. Severe temporal headaches can result from muscle spasms or enlarged blood vessels putting pressure on specific nerves located on the side of the head--specifically, the zygomaticotemporal branch of the trigeminal nerve (ZTBTN) and sometimes the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN). During these operative procedures, surgeons seek to relieve pressure on these nerves or to disconnect the nerves in order to prevent them from triggering future headaches. The technique is a new use of an approach that many surgeons are already familiar with: the Gillies incision, used for surgical repair of cheekbone fractures. Dr. Peled found that this short incision, placed in the temple behind the hairline, provides direct access to the ZTBTN and ATN. He describes his initial experience with the new approach in 19 patients. All patients had chronic temporal headaches that did not improve with medications. They also had a positive result on preoperative testing--either injection of botulinum toxin (Botox) to temporarily block muscle activity, or local anesthetics to temporarily block the involved nerve. Before and after surgery, headache symptoms were assessed using a standard score, the Migraine Headache Index (MHI). As in previous studies, surgery provided significant relief from chronic temporal headaches. Average MHI score decreased from about 132 points before surgery to 52 points afterward. Of the 19 patients, 16 had at least a 50 percent reduction in headache symptoms. It's unclear why the three remaining patients didn't have good improvement, although Dr. Peled notes that two of the three had had temporal headaches for decades before surgery. None of the patients experienced complications, and there was little or no visible scarring. The experience supports a growing body of research showing good outcomes with surgery for chronic temporal headaches. Most recently, a study in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery reported similar results whether the nerve is decompressed or disconnected. However, previous studies have used technically more complex approaches to access the ZTBTN. The simplified approach using the Gillies incision combines the advantages of other approaches to chronic temporal headache surgery while minimizing the disadvantages, Dr. Peled believes. He comments, "This is a straightforward technique and effective procedure that may make it easier for plastic surgeons to adopt and offer surgical options for patients with this debilitating condition." A Novel Surgical Approach to Chronic Temporal Headaches. Peled, Ziv M. M.D. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. DOI:10.1097/PRS.0000000000002051. Published online May 2016 - Volume 137 - Issue 5 - p 1597-1600. RINVOQ is now approved as the first and only oral JAK inhibitor for adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) RINVOQ is the first and only JAK inhibitor approved for both active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and ... Advertisement Umbilical cord infections are more prevalent in Africa and Asia, where there are more births at home typically done using unsterile objects, such as dung ash, for the umbilical cord stump.The gel will be mainly sold at a not-for-profit price. It is designed to hold up both hot and humid conditions without needing much refrigeration as both continents endure such weather condition.Dr. Pauline Williams, a senior GSK scientist at GSK's UK research and development center in Stevenage initiated the efforts in coming up with the gel which took four years to develop.In a report by the United Nations in 2012, chlorhexidine was identified as a forgotten "life-saving commodity".The report stated that chlorhexidine had the potential to save baby lives if made available across poor parts of Africa and Asia.Dr Williams realized that Chlorhexidine was being used in GSK's mouthwash brand Corsodyl."It's been a great example of bringing together expertise and resources from across the company to work on something that can make a big difference to public health," said Dr Williams.Umbipro received approval from the European Medicines Agency on April 29. This breakthrough is one of the first approvals for any medical drug to reach the developing countries.However, the antiseptic gel is yet to be approved by the local regulators in all the countries where the company intends to serve its drug. GSK is confident though that it could pass these local approvals.Source: Medindia Advertisement The study involved 722 babies in New Zealand, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States undergoing hernia repair.The effects of a general and a spinal (local) anesthetic on long-term cognition, memory, and motor skills were compared.Most of the anesthetists are nervous about spinal anesthesia in babies.Prof Davidson acknowledged there had been a criticism of the study, and researchers were following up the children three years later to ensure there were no effects that took longer to show up. However, he did not think that would be the case."Because at 2 years there was absolutely no skerrick of a difference, the chances of there being much at 5 years is pretty small.''Prof Davidson said he was involved in a new study to test for effects from longer exposure."Most of the procedures that kids get are fairly short procedures.''Infants recovered more quickly from a local than a general anesthesia."If you have a general anesthetic, the babies were more likely to have temporary breathing problems afterward.''Anesthetists had to be confident in their ability to do the procedure to perform a spinal anesthesia."To put it in, you need to scrunch the baby up and put a little needle in their back until you get a drop of cerebral spinal fluid.""Not all anesthetists are happy doing spinals. It's a technique that you need to learn to do,'' said Prof Davidson.Source: Medindia Dengue fever is a disease caused by mosquitoes infected by the dengue virus and is prevalent in the tropical regions of the world. It is a painful, disabling disease, with the severity of pain similar to that of bones breaking - hence it is also known as Breakbone fever. Dengue fever affects close to 400 million people worldwide each year, with about 40% of the worlds population being at risk of exposure and infection. Since dengue fever is caused by a virus, it cannot be cured by antibiotics.(1 Trusted Source Dengue Go to source) The major symptoms of dengue fever include sudden high fever (as high as 40 C or 104 F), chills, severe headache (usually behind the eyes), muscle ache and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, flushed skin and in some cases, a skin rash similar to measles. Dengue fever symptoms may be mild initially and mistaken for a flu, cold or a viral infection. In rare cases, dengue fever may develop into a more life threatening form known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which results in bleeding, decreased blood platelet count or thrombocytopenia, blood plasma leakage or the more fatal dengue shock syndrome, which causes dangerously low blood pressure.(2 Trusted Source Dengue Fever Go to source) Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever spread from human-to-mosquito-to-human by the bite of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus. The dengue virus belongs to a group known as Flavivirus and can be typically divided into four viral serotypes, DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4, which are closely related but differ in their antigens. Many species of mosquitoes under the genus Aedes transmit dengue; in particular, the Aedes aegypti species is most commonly associated with it and the major cause of dengue transmission. This species of mosquito breeds in stagnant waters and usually bites during daylight hours. The virus circulates in the blood for 2-7 days after a person is infected, during which time a mosquito biting the person would acquire it and in turn bites and infects another person. The symptoms typically develop anywhere between 3 to 14 days, but usually start within 4 to 7 days of infection, and may last from 7 or 10 days. The dengue virus doesnt have any detrimental effect on the mosquito that carries it, and the mosquito remains infected for life. Dengue disease is spread when a mosquito bites an infected person and becomes a carrier of the dengue virus. The mosquito then bites another healthy person and thus spreads the disease causing a possible epidemic breakout. A person infected with a single type of dengue virus serotype out of the four, develops resistance to only that particular virus. However, they become much more susceptible to infection by the other three serotypes.(3 Trusted Source Dengue Fever: A Wikipedia Clinical Review Go to source) Advertisement Dengue fever may sometimes develop into more dangerous forms such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which may lead to the development of life-threatening symptoms. Some of the complications caused by the disease include: Severe dehydration Continuous bleeding Low platelets, due to which clotting of blood doesnt occur Blood pressure may go dangerously low Bradycardia (heart beating less than 60 counts per minute) Damage to the brain due to bleeding, seizures or encephalitis Damage to the immune system Enlargement of liver and liver damage Diagnosis of dengue is considered when sudden high fever is accompanied by severe body, muscle or joint pain. It is important to be evaluated when a person develops fever within two weeks of being in the tropics or sub-tropics. Dengue often causes symptoms that are similar to other diseases such as flu, measles, and typhoid fever etc. Hence investigations are always performed to exclude other disease conditions. Usually, the blood of the patient is tested for the presence of antibodies and virus. Diagnosis of dengue infection can be done by the following methods: Isolating the virus by collecting serum sample from patients within 5 days of appearance of symptoms. Detection of specific antibodies can be done by collecting serum within 6 days after onset of symptoms. The serum is tested for specific anti-dengue antibodies by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Titres of IgM and IgG antibodies increase four-fold in serum sample. Using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for detecting viral genomic sequence from Serum or Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) samples collected from the patient, which is more expensive and complicated. In the case of more serious complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever, the following diagnosis must be performed: A tourniquet test is to be conducted, where a tourniquet is tied to the arm and if blood blotches tend to appear beyond the tourniquet, the patient may be suffering from increased bleeding, which may indicate dengue hemorrhagic fever A decrease in platelet count, also known as thrombocytopenia occurs when platelet count falls below 100,000. Normal platelet counts are between 150,000 to 400,000. A decreased platelet count may be due to dengue fever. An increase in hematocrit i.e., the volume percentage of red blood cells (RBCs), by 20% could be another indicator as it occurs due to a rise in the vascular permeability of the plasma. Signs of plasma leakage appear as increased fluid accumulation in the chest and abdominal cavity known as pleural effusion or ascites respectively.( Trusted Source Dengue Fever Test Go to source Trusted Source Since there are no known antiviral drugs or injections available for the cure of the disease, dengue fever treatment or management mainly involves plenty of supportive care that would eventually help save the patients life. Dengue is characterized by fever and intense body ache. Dengue treatment comprises of reducing the fever with antipyretic drugs such as paracetamol and the body ache with analgesics that help relieve the pain. Drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen should be avoided as they may increase the risk of hemorrhage. The patient can also be treated with natural home remedies such as papaya leaves, kiwi and other food items that have been proven to help in the increase of platelet count, which becomes lower during dengue. In the case of more severe forms of dengue, such as dengue hemorrhagic disease or dengue shock syndrome, the patient must be admitted to a hospital immediately and given proper care. The mortality rate of a dengue patient without hospitalization is higher by about 50 percent. Treatments such as intravenous fluid replacement should be administered to these patients to prevent shock. Patients should drink plenty of fluids, as dehydration is common among those affected with Dengue.(5 Trusted Source RNAi: Antiviral Therapy against Dengue Virus Go to source) The world's first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia or CYD-TDV) developed by Sanofi Pasteur was approved for use in Mexico, Philippines and Brazil in December 2015 for the prevention of the deadly mosquito borne disease in people living in dengue endemic areas. Advertisement According to Dengue Vaccine: WHO position paper - July 2016, WHO says that countries should consider introducing the CYD-TDV in areas where there is epidemiological data suggesting a high incidence of dengue. The discovery of CYD-TDV marks a major advance in the field of medicine. CYD-TDV is a prophylactic viral vaccine approved for use in people between the ages of 9 - 45 years. It is a triple-dose vaccine administered on a 0/6/12 month schedule via the subcutaneous route. It contains all 4 serotypes (1, 2, 3 and 4) of the dengue viruses. CYD-TDV demonstrated protection against severe dengue cases in its phase 3 trials conducted in Asia and Latin America. However, there were limitations in its overall efficacy which was affected by factor like serotype, serostatus at vaccination (whether the person has had a prior infection or not), region or country and age. New dengue vaccines TV003/TV005 have been developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. They produce antibodies to all 4 dengue virus serotypes. In earlier trials, a single dose of either of the vaccines was able to elicit a robust antibody and cellular immune response. A Phase 3 trial of TV003 has begun in January 2016 in Sao Paulo to test how effective the vaccine is in preventing dengue and to test its safety. Early indications of its efficacy may be seen in less than two years. Another vaccine developed by Takeda called the Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine (TDV) has also entered its Phase 3 trials early in 2016 in Latin America and Asia. Data from its Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials indicate that it is safe, well tolerated and immunogenic. The Phase 3 trial will check if the vaccine protects individuals at risk for symptomatic dengue across geography, irrespective of their serostatus.(6 Trusted Source Dengue Vaccine: Global Development Update Go to source, 7 Trusted Source Dengue Vaccine Enters Phase 3 Trial in Brazil Go to source) Following certain basic steps is really the most effective way to prevent and fight dengue. Since the only way to get dengue is from a mosquito bite, the best way to prevent it is to avoid mosquitoes and prevent from mosquito bites. This is particularly important if a dengue epidemic is underway in your city or town. Some ways to prevent dengue are described below: Mosquito breeds in stagnant water. Hence it is advisable to avoid stagnant water and pools on the ground, in flowerpots, buckets, barrels etc., in and around the neighborhood and the house. Water should always be stored in closed containers. Stagnant pools of water on the floor should be mopped up. Bleaching powder may be used in water sources that are not meant for drinking, as it will prevent the development of mosquito eggs. Avoid being bitten by the mosquitoes in the first place. Mosquitoes bite us as they require the protein present in human blood to produce eggs. To prevent being bitten, keep mosquitoes away by using mosquito repellents, mosquito repellent plants whether indoors or outdoors. To avoid mosquitoes, it is best to live inside a well screened or air conditioned house. If this is not possible, mosquito nets should be attached to all windows. In response to the massive attack of the Syrian regime and its allies on the city of Aleppo in the last few days, in which over 200 people have already been killed, Shi'ite Lebanese journalist Hannan Al-Sabbar penned a scathing article in which she renounced Hizbullah as well as the Shi'ite sect that follows it blindly. Al-Sabbar, who is known for her criticism of Hizbullah, especially since it joined the war in Syria, wrote on the news website newlebanon.info that Hizbullah was an "immoral and murderous" organization that was deviating from God's path and from the path of the fathers of the Shi'a. She compared the events in Aleppo to the battle of Karbala in 680 CE, between the supporters of the Prophet's grandson, Hussein bin 'Ali, and the supporters of the first Umayyad caliph, Yazid I, which is a seminal event in the history of Shi'ite Islam. The following are excerpts from her article: "I am a Shi'ite from South [Lebanon, the stronghold] of the resistance [i.e., Hizbullah], and I used to be proud of this. [In the past] I never thought that the resistance was wrong or would ever be wrong, and I staunchly defended the beliefs of my society and my surroundings. I did not know that a day [would come] when I would renounce [my] society, my blind sect and the party [Hizbullah,] which I have condemned since it became involved in the Syrian crisis. "Today I asked myself: where is the conscience of the 'resistance' when it comes to the children [of Aleppo]? How can we be the party of God [Hizbullah] when we do not obey God's directives? Every morning, I went over the reports [from Aleppo], trying to find even one piece of proof that Assad has the right to do what he is doing - but I found only words filled with sadness and grief over loved ones killed in the airstrikes. I found only the tears of an old man calling on Muhammad's nation to help him, and a young man who insists on his honor and declares, 'we stay here. This is our land, not the Russians' or the Americans.' "This loyalty to the land, despite the crisis these residents of Aleppo are experiencing, filled me with embarrassment and caused me to wonder what was the source of this loyalty to a city that is nearly in ruins... [At that point] I finally decided to revolt and take off the false mantle of Shi'ism, for my Zainab[1] would not allow the women of Aleppo to become the Zainabs of this age, and my Imams, 'Ali and Hussein,[2] would not want the children of Aleppo to become the 'Abdallah al-Radhi' of this age.[3] "If [the battle of] Karbala is being waged all over again by those who hide behind a mantle of piety, then [Hizbullah] is immoral and murderous and I cannot but say: Aleppo, I feel shame towards you and I hereby renounce the Shi'a and the party [Hizbullah] that supports the one who is destroying you.'" Endnotes: JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) A New Jersey mall Easter bunny who got into a scuffle with a father last month has had a criminal charge against him downgraded. NJ.com reports (http://bit.ly/21jO9eB ) a Hudson County judge Wednesday downgraded the aggravated assault charge against Kassim Charles to the disorderly persons offense of simple assault. The case also was sent to the Jersey City Municipal Court. Charles is from Jersey City. He had been playing the role of the Easter bunny. Authorities say Juan Jimenez-Guerrero attacked Charles when his toddler daughter slipped from a chair while getting her photo taken. A video posted online shows them exchanging punches at the Newport Centre. Charles' defense attorney says they look forward to vindicating "the bunny." An update on an aggravated assault charge against Jimenez-Guerrero is unavailable. Jimenez-Guerrero's wife says he was trying to protect their child. The city's tourism agency, NYC & Company, has announced that the sewer-dwelling reptiles will star in ads to encourage families to explore New York. Agency CEO Fred Dixon says the turtles are "the perfect guides to help families discover the vibrancy and excitement throughout the five boroughs." The crime-fighting ninja turtles Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael started out in comic books in the 1980s before branching out to TV and film. The latest movie came out in 2014 and a sequel is set for release in June. They succeed Dora the Explorer, who served as last year's ambassador. SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (AP) It literally was a whale of a job. Crews on Friday finished removing the 60,000-ton carcass of a rotting whale from a Southern California beach. A contractor working for the state parks department spent two days using an excavator to cut up the 40-foot whale, which was hauled off to a San Diego County landfill. The end of the two-day, $30,000 project included skimming the top layer of sand off the Lower Trestles, a surfing beach near San Clemente where the whale washed ashore on Sunday. That was to eliminate any sand contaminated by the whale's body fluids. "As they started to dismember the carcass, they said it was messy but it wasn't as messy as it could have been," Rich Haydon, area state parks superintendent, told the Orange County Register (http://bit.ly/1XYwAPb ). "It's to be expected there will be a little bit of a smell down there for a while," he said, "but I think we dodged a bullet." The whale was a tourist attraction for a few days. Despite an overpowering stench, some people skipped work or school to snap photos with the towering carcass. However, few people were on hand Friday for the finish. Nick Lind of Newport Beach and Matthew Howell of San Clemente were surfing as the last remnants of the whale were being removed. "It did have an interesting stench to it, sort of like a rotten baked potato," Lind said. "It was overpowering when we were near shore." Lind said he wasn't worried about sharks that might have been attracted by the whale's remains. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has ordered the military to teach the lessons learned from the Kunduz airstrike that destroyed a hospital and killed at least 42 to all units before they deploy, with an emphasis on what to do when their technology breaks down. "I am committed to ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future," Carter said in a memo to the service secretaries and combatant commanders that went out last Friday after the release of the 3,000-page U.S. Central Command investigation of the tragic incident in the early morning hours last Oct. 3. Carter called on leaders to "incorporate the Kunduz scenario into pre-deployment training as an example of the complex environment into which units are deploying." He also ordered them to "establish a standard operating procedure to address contingencies when systems fail." Related story: Punishments but No Criminal Charges in US Attack on Hospital Related story: 'Fog of War' Led to Deadly Kunduz Airstrike Related story: Aircrew Had Doubts in Kunduz Airstrike; Ground Team Said 'Engage' Carter's directive urged the leadership to "identify incompatible technological systems and generate solutions to enhance interoperability among operational forces." In a Pentagon briefing last Friday on the investigation, Army Gen. Joseph Votel, the new CentCom commander, said, "The investigation ultimately concluded that this tragic incident was caused by a combination of human errors, compounded by process and equipment failures," that resulted in the devastating attack on the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) Trauma Center. The 3,000-page investigative report itself called the 30-minute and eight second attack a "disproportional response to a threat that didn't exist." Votel singled out the failure of the TV sensor aboard the AC-130U gunship which carried out the airstrike on the north-central Afghan city. The sensor was supposed to transmit and receive images of the target for relay to the JTAC (Joint Tactical Air Controller) and the ground forces commander with the Special Forces team calling for the strike. "This was a failure at that point of this -- this specific radio system and antenna that is designed to receive data and transmit data to the ground," Votel said. "They were absolutely trying to do the right thing," Votel said of the aircrew and the Special Forces team. "There was no intention on any of their parts to take a short cut, or to violate any rules that were laid out for them." "Unfortunately, they made a wrong judgment in this particular case, and ended up targeting this Doctors Without Borders facility," Votel said. The actual target was an Afghan National Directorate of Security building about 400 meters away from the MSF compound that had been taken over by the Taliban. "The first equipment failure we talked about was the radio system, the antenna system that prevented them from receiving digital information that would have told them of no strike areas and other things, and then would have been able -- allowed them to send a picture to the ground," Votel said. The result was that "there was not complete situational awareness on the ground with what the aircraft was seeing. There was not complete situational awareness from the aircraft with what was happening with the ground force," Votel said. The confusion led to a series of back and forth communications between the aircrew and the JTAC, and among the aircrew members themselves, the investigation showed. Just before the gunship started firing, the aircrew's navigator and Fire Control Officer (FCO) had a brief discussion: FCO: "I don't want to tell you how to do your job but ..." Navigator: "Only slightly confusing. I feel like -- lets get on the same page for what target of opportunity means to you and what target of opportunity means to me." FCO: "I mean when I hear target of opportunity like that, I'm thinking (redacted) you're going out, you find bad things and you shoot them." In his memo, Carter suggested that the Kunduz failure was indicative of communications problems across the military. He ordered the military to review its policies and rules of engagement to "clarify conflicting or confusing directives." He also cited "problematic guidance" from top commands and problems with "hierarchies of competing policies and authorities." The possibility of the failure of the various GPS, communications and computer systems, and their vulnerability to being hacked by an enemy, has been a growing concern for the Pentagon. Last year, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, brought back courses in celestial navigation after a hiatus of nearly two decades. "We went away from celestial navigation because computers are great," Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Rogers, deputy chairman of the academy's Department of Seamanship and Navigation, told the Annapolis Capital Gazette. "The problem is, there's no backup." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com. Retired Military Officials Are Finding High-Paying Jobs With the Saudi Government and Can Make 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... The Central Intelligence Agency on Monday defended "live-tweeting" the U.S. military raid that killed Osama bin Laden to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the covert mission. The Langley, Virginia-based agency the day before had posted a series of tweets chronicling key moments during the May 2, 2011, raid by Navy SEALs on the terrorist leader's home in Abbottabad, Pakistan. "1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad," it tweeted, referring to the local time the go-ahead was given by President Barack Obama, then-CIA Director Leon Panetta and then-Joint Special Operations Commander Navy Adm. William McRaven. The agency's decision to do so came under fire from many observers on Twitter and other social media sites. One of those was Phillip Carter, a former Army officer who served in Iraq and now works as a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank in Washington, D.C., where he directs the organization's military, veterans and society research program. "I get @CIA desire to take victory lap but tweeting #UBLRaid seems contrary to Intel Community ethos & good judgment," Carter tweeted. But the intelligence agency defended the move. "The takedown of bin Ladin stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time," Glenn Miller, a spokesman for the CIA, said in an emailed statement to Military.com, using a different spelling for bin Laden. "History has been a key element of CIA's social media efforts. On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honor all those who had a hand in this achievement." Miller added, "In the past we have done postings to note other historical events including the Glomar operation, Argo, U-2 shootdown, and the evacuation of Saigon." In an interview that aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" show, CIA Director John Brennan said the raid on bin Laden's compound less than a mile from Pakistan's prestigious military academy represented "the culmination of a lot of very hard work by some very good people at CIA and other agencies." He added, "We have destroyed a large part of al-Qaeda. It is not completely eliminated, so we have to stay focused on what it can do. But now with this new phenomenon of ISIL, this is going to continue to challenge us in the counterterrorism community for years to come." He was referring to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, which overtook large parts of both countries following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in late 2011 and the start of civilian uprisings in Syria against the regime of President Bashar al Assad. Brennan said killing bin Laden was an important victory for the U.S. in both a symbolic and strategic sense, given that he was the founder of the terrorist group and a key player in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. "It was important after 9/11 that we remove the person responsible for that," he said. While Brennan said eliminating ISIS' leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, "would have a great impact on the organization," he also called the al-Qaeda offshoot a "phenomenon" that appeals to tens of thousands of followers in not only Syria and Iraq, but also Libya, Nigeria and elsewhere in part because of endemic corruption and a lack of governance and economic opportunity in those regions. "Although the counterterrorism community has an important obligation to try to prevent these attacks, we need to give the diplomats and other government officials both here in this country and other countries the time and space they need to address some of these underlying factors and conditions that facilitate and contribute to the growth of these organizations," he said. Brennan also pushed back against a recommendation from former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, a Democrat from Florida who helped lead a congressional inquiry into the 9/11 attacks, to release a 28-page chapter from the investigation that may help determine whether the attackers received Saudi support. "I think there's a combination of things that are accurate and inaccurate," Brennan said of information in the pages in question. "I think that the 9/11 Commission took that joint inquiry and those 28 pages or so and followed through on the investigation and they came out with a very clear judgment that there was no evidence that indicated that the Saudi government as an institution or Saudi officials individually had provided financial support to al Qaeda." -- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry. Everything You Need to Know About the Amazon Military Discount, Tips and Tricks The Amazon military discount is a promotion Amazon.com has given around Veterans Day for its Amazon Prime service. The no-trade protection in Ryan Brauns contract allows the star outfielder to block a deal to every team besides the Angels, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Giants, Marlins and Padres, FOX Sports Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link). Like most players with partial no-trade clauses, Braun has the ability to change the teams on his no-trade list each year; last season, the Angels, Dodgers, Marlins, Nationals and Rays were the only clubs that escaped Brauns veto power. Braun is in his first season of a five-year, $105MM extension that he signed way back in 2011, when he still had almost five full years remaining on his previous extension with the Brewers. Its been a roller-coaster for Braun and the Brewers ever since superstar seasons in 2011 and 2012, a 65-game suspension in 2013 for his role in the Biogenesis scandal and some recurring injuries, particularly to his thumb. Braun rebounded for a very productive year in 2015, though his future salary commitments have made him a possible trade chip now that the Brewers are rebuilding. That same contract, as well as Brauns age (32) and PED history, could also just as easily limit his trade market unless the Brewers ate some salary in a trade or took on another big contract. There are any number of reasons why a player could include or omit a team on a no-trade list, though in Brauns case, geography could be a factor. Braun was born and raised in the Los Angeles suburbs and he went to school at the University of Miami, which could explain why the Angels, Dodgers and Marlins didnt appear on either no-trade list. The Dodgers and Marlins are rather unlikely trade partners, however, given that both teams are already set for corner outfielders. The Angels have a big vacancy in left field, though they may not be a fit for Braun for a variety of other reasons, as Rosenthal explained yesterday. Brauns southern California roots may also explain why he wouldnt block a trade to the relatively-nearby DBacks, Padres or Giants. It generally appears as though Braun would prefer to stay in the National League, as the Angels are the only AL team on his current veto list. If the Brewers worked out a trade that would send Braun to a team on his no-trade list, of course, that doesnt necessarily mean the former NL MVP would choose to remain in Milwaukee. He could decide to join a contender rather than stick it out through the Brewers rebuilding process. Like other players with no-trade protection, Braun could ask for more financial incentive in order to allow a deal to be consummated. Brauns deal contains a $15MM mutual option for the 2021 season that can be bought out for $4MM, so its possible he could ask to have that option year guaranteed to allow a trade to happen, though that would be a tough ask to give him another $11MM in his age-37 season. ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Ann Arbor City Council is expected to reconsider a recent controversial vote when it meets Monday night. At its last meeting, the council voted 6-5 against a $37,549 contract to design a new foot bridge over Malletts Creek in the Lansdowne neighborhood. The new bridge between Delaware Drive and Morehead Court would replace a foot bridge the city removed years ago from the same spot due to structural deficiencies. The City Council has voted multiple times in the last five years to set aside funds to design a new bridge, leading residents to believe it was going to happen, but the council changed course at its last meeting, prompting outcry from neighbors. In an email to fellow council members on Friday, Mayor Christopher Taylor, who has taken some criticism for voting against the project, said he's done some thinking and he believes it's wise for the council to revisit its decision. Taylor said his thinking has been influenced by resident communication, multiple conversations with Council Member Graydon Krapohl, D-4th Ward, and several documents provided by city staff regarding conversations between the city and the neighborhood going back several years. Council Member Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward, explained in her constituent newsletter over the weekend that council members have learned since their last vote that a written commitment to replace the bridge was made in 2009. Briere, who last month supported following through on the city's commitment to replace the Lansdowne bridge, said funding for the design and engineering was included in the city's 2012-13 budget. "As a result of these and other factors, the mayor has indicated that he will be seeking reconsideration of the vote," Briere wrote in her newsletter. The City Council approved a $120,000 funding allocation in September 2011 to cover the cost for design of a replacement bridge. That went through 9-1 at the time with only Tony Derezinski dissenting, even though the city was struggling to come out of the recession and had just eliminated 20 positions in the police and fire departments, among other budget cuts. The approved resolution from September 2011, co-sponsored by former 4th Ward Council Members Marcia Higgins and Margie Teall, directed staff to include capital funds for the bridge construction in the 2012-13 budget. But the project was delayed to accommodate the need to restore weirs owned by Lans Basin Inc., an association made up of property owners adjacent to the creek, and that's apparently resolved now. The association reports it spent close to $100,000 to make weir repairs in anticipation of a new bridge being installed by the city. Council Member Jack Eaton, D-4th Ward, has tried to get the project moving forward again, but it's been the subject of much debate. "I'm pleased that the other members of council are taking a second look at this," Eaton said on Monday, adding it's always been his understanding the city told neighbors if they fixed the weirs, then the city would replace the bridge. "We paid close to $100,000 to repair all three weirs, though most of that went to the first and largest weir, where the bridge should be located," said Michael Psarouthakis, a representative for the Lans Basin neighborhood association. "The association paid the entire amount, collected over a few years from assessments made on all members of the association." Council members opposed to the bridge project at the last meeting included Taylor, Zachary Ackerman, Julie Grand, Chip Smith, Chuck Warpehoski and Kirk Westphal. Some of them have made the argument that the city's commitment to replace the missing bridge is numerically ranked last among 32 alternative transportation projects in the city's Capital Improvements Plan in terms of community need, so they couldn't support it. The city's top priority on that list is building a new Amtrak train station, which is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars. Other projects on the list include the Connector light rail project, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and various non-motorized projects, including new sidewalks and crosswalk repairs. Supporters of the Lansdowne bridge project argue a lone pedestrian bridge in a corner of the city is always going to score low when ranked against bigger projects and new initiatives, but the city still has an obligation to remedy the situation given that it was an existing city asset. Taylor said he plans to call for both a reconsideration and postponement Monday night, and he has support for his approach from Grand, who joined Taylor in opposing the project last time, and Krapohl and Eaton. At the last meeting, Grand was one of the co-sponsors of a resolution to defund the bridge project and redirect the money to different priorities, including $288,000 for installing more flashing crosswalk beacons in the city and $150,000 for conducting a study in cooperation with Western Michigan University to look into how to affect driver behavior at pedestrian crosswalks. That resolution to redirect funding away from the bridge project was postponed last time and is back on the council's agenda Monday night. Taylor said he's going to propose an amendment to remove references to redirecting $288,000 for flashing crosswalk signals. Instead, he said, he's going to ask city staff to engage in discussions with neighborhood residents to determine how to achieve a solution that meets their aspirations and the city's duty to conserve its resources. "I believe that this approach will: i) serve as follow-through on the city's undertaking to restore bridge functionality; ii) improve pedestrian safety throughout Ann Arbor by means of the Driving Culture Study; and iii) recognize the consensus that the $450K price tag exceeds all parties' expectations and comfort level," Taylor wrote to his council colleagues. The $450,000 figure Taylor cited is an initial cost estimate the city staff provided for replacing the bridge, a figure many believe is unreasonably high. Some residents have taken it upon themselves to solicit price quotes from different companies, arguing a bridge could be installed for a much cheaper price. The Ann Arbor News requested records under the Freedom of Information Act showing the cost of two pedestrian bridges installed along the Argo Cascades in recent years. The city provided the records last week. One document shows the pedestrian bridge at the entrance to the Cascades cost $82,800, plus $21,505 for design work. There are smaller, miscellaneous costs, including permit fees, shown on the document, though it's unclear if they're directly related to the bridge work. Another document shows $147,000 in costs for the pedestrian bridge further downstream at the other end of the Cascades, including new abutments, box culvert work and concrete deck. Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. Jewish Community Center in Ann Arbor The Jewish Community Center in Ann Arbor, located at 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, Ann Arbor. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News ANN ARBOR, MI -- An unknown person called in a bomb threat to the The Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor Monday morning, police say. David Shtulman, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Ann Arbor, said an unidentified person called the center at 10:13 a.m. May 2 and said a bomb in a locker would explode in 30 minutes. The center, 2935 Birch Hollow Drive, is home to the Jewish Federation and the Hebrew Day School. Staff immediately evacuated the building and students, Shtulman said. Ann Arbor police responded to the center within minutes, he said, and called several bomb-sniffing dogs to the scene to search inside and out. Within an hour, police declared the building safe and students returned. Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Earle Fox said they've started an investigation to find out who made the call and why. "We handle all these calls seriously," he said. "At this point, we have not located any devices or anything that would be a threat to the school." Shtulman said the Hebrew Day School regularly drills for active shooters, missing children and tornadoes, but Monday was the first time they did a drill under real circumstances. "The Ann Arbor Police were absolutely excellent," Shtulman said. "You can't take safety for granted in Jewish Communities these days." University of Michigan police, Eastern Michigan University police and Macomb County Sheriff's deputies also responded to center. Lindsay Knake is a cops and courts reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Follow her on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com. UPDATE: Organizers notified MLive at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that the food collection drive has been cancelled. No date has been set to reschedule it. ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel is collecting food donations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 3 to help feed Ann Arbor children through the summer. Nonperishable food items can be dropped off at a bus in the parking lot at Pioneer High School. The items will be delivered to the Food Gatherers Ann Arbor to help feed children who don't have access to school meals in the summer. "People are generous with donations to food banks during fall and into the holiday season, but not necessarily at other times of the year," said Mark Guastella, MARSP executive director, in a press release. "Our goal is to help stock the food banks of Ann Arbor this spring so that children don't have to miss meals when school is out for summer." The collection is part of MARSP's "Summ're Hungry" campaign, a collaboration between MARSP, the Food Bank Council of Michigan, the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, Michigan Association of School Administrators, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Durham School Services and other districts across the state that host their own food drives. BAY CITY, MI -- Already imprisoned for a rash of burglaries, a Bay City man has had more years tacked onto his stay for breaking into a house and stealing a gun while on parole. Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran Monday, May 2, sentenced 42-year-old Michael J. Gorski to prison terms of 38 months to five years and a flat two years. The terms are consecutive to one another, but concurrent to other terms for which Gorski is already incarcerated, Sheeran said. Sheeran did not give him any credit for time served. The shackled Gorski, with two Michigan Department of Corrections officers beside him, made no bones about his crimes. "Um, there ain't no excuse, so there ain't nothing I can really say," he said when the judge gave him the opportunity to speak. "It just all happened at the same time. Again, that ain't no excuse. Whatever you give me, I gotta accept." Gorski's most recent sentences stem from the break-in of a house on Bay City's West Side on Jan. 17, 2015. The victim, a 65-year-old woman, told police she arrived home and saw her house's rear window was open. She called 911 and did not enter her home until police arrived, court records show. Police entered the home and found no one present. The window had its screen cut and bent outward, and the glass was broken. Inside, a kitchen door was partially broken off its hinges and its jamb was damaged as well, court records show. Throughout the house, drawers had been pulled out and rummaged through, court records show. The resident told police about $1,700 in cash was missing, as was a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, court records show. A report from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab dated Sept. 29 indicates some of the broken window glass featured three latent fingerprints from Gorski. Authorities issued a warrant for Gorski on Jan. 26 and he was arraigned in Bay County District Court on March 8. Gorski later pleaded guilty to single counts of felony firearm and larceny of a firearm. Gorski's past Monday's hearing marked the second time this year Sheeran sentenced Gorski to prison. On Jan. 11, the judge sentenced Gorski to concurrent terms of five to 15 years and five to 10 years in prison on convictions of second-degree home invasion and breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny, respectively. Those convictions stem from police on the night of Aug. 29 responding to a home in the 200 block of Stanton Street for a strong-arm robbery. The victim told officers that Gorski had stopped by her house to see his 20-year-old daughter. During the visit, the daughter gave the woman some cash and asked her to buy a Slurpee and some cigarettes for her, the woman told police. The woman and Gorski then left the residence to walk to a nearby store, she told officers, according to court records. At some point, Gorski asked the woman how much money his daughter gave her, court records show. The woman then counted $70 in front of Gorski, she told police, according to court records. "Michael looked at me and said something like, 'You don't have $70, I have $70' and pushed me to the ground," the woman told police, according to court records. "He grabbed the money from me and started kicking me. After several kicks, I heard him running away." The woman said she went home and she and her husband drove around looking for Gorski, but the search proved fruitless, according to court records. Nearly a month later, in the wee hours of Sept. 23, police responded to a burglar alarm at Jamie's Dairies, 603 Columbus Ave. They arrived to find a broken window with blood on the sill, on an ice cooler and on a grocery bag hanging halfway inside the window, court records show. They also found a half-empty 20-ounce bottle of Minute Maid lemonade on a counter inside, police reports state. A neighbor appeared and told police he was in his apartment when he heard glass break, then went outside and saw a man enter the business and remain inside for a while. When the alleged burglar exited, he looked at the witness, said, "Gotta go, bro," then took off running, the witness told police. The witness provided officers with a description of the culprit. While officers were at the scene, a resident in the 700 block of North Grant Street called Bay County Central Dispatch to report a possible home invasion in progress after hearing someone banging on her door. Officers responded to the home and found a basement window smashed out, court records show. Entering the basement, they found Gorski hiding behind a water heater and arrested him without incident. He matched the description of the Jamie's burglar and had small cuts on his arms, legs, and left pinky finger, court records show. "I'm kind of glad you got me," Gorski told police as they arrested him, according to officers' reports contained in court records. "It is finally over. This has been going on way too long." Gorski has a substantial criminal record, serving time behind bars for larceny of a firearm, receiving stolen property, larceny in a building and home invasion, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. The MDOC's website says he absconded from parole Sept. 1, but does not state when he was paroled. A record number of students came to Bay City Central High School April 30 for Michigan History Day competition. Of the nearly 500 elementary, middle school and high school students who attended, 153 got top honors at the state finals, an educational program of the Historical Society of Michigan. Finalists in the junior and senior divisions will go to the National History Day in June in College Park, Maryland. Students work with a theme, and use writing, art, literature, music, drama and visual communications to convey their message of history. "This year's theme--Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History--challenged the students to really think outside the box," said Andrea Lorion, Michigan History Day state coordinator in a written statement. "As a result, there are many outstanding and diverse entries in all five categories--performances, exhibits, papers, websites and documentaries." Main sponsors of Michigan History Day 2016 include Meijer, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Amway and Bay City Public Schools. MIDLAND, MI -- Two years after she was sentenced to prison for her part in the multi-county Ponzi scheme of Joel I. Wilson, a Bay City woman has been ordered by a court to pay more than a half-million dollars in restitution. Midland County Circuit Judge Stephen P. Carras Friday, April 29, ordered Shawn K. Dicken, 42, to pay $663,531.48 in restitution. A jury in March 2014 found Dicken guilty of seven counts of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000, and single counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult between $50,000 and $100,000 and racketeering. The jury acquitted her of securities-fraudulent sales, a 10-year felony. Carras in June 2014 sentenced Dicken to 140 months to 20 years in prison, exceeding the guidelines of 51 to 85 months. He gave her credit for 36 days already served and ordered she pay $742 in fines and costs. Dicken's legal woes stem from her role in defrauding senior citizens out of more than $2 million in a scheme orchestrated by the Wilson-owned The Diversified Group Advisory Firm LLC, a former Bay City-based company that employed Dicken as a saleswoman. Diversified's business model involved buying and rehabilitating homes in the Saginaw and Bay City areas and selling them on land contracts. "This woman broke the trust she was given and in the process broke the law," said Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, whose office prosecuted Dicken. "She is serving jail time and now this order forces her to take responsibility for the life savings she stole from Michigan seniors." Schuette added that due to Dicken's prison stint, it's unclear when the restitution will be repaid. Dicken's earliest possible release date is Jan. 13, 2026. During her trial, Schuette's office argued that during her time with Diversified, Dicken misrepresented the investments she marketed to investors, saying investments offered by Diversified were without risk, completely liquid, and featuring a guaranteed rate of return of between 9.5 and 10.44 percent. "Dicken failed to disclose the risks associated with the actual investment in question -- a highly leveraged real estate investment that could result in the loss of all of the investors' money," Schuette's office said in a press release. "Many investors, including senior citizens, risked their life savings. Dicken swindled investors out of more than $2 million and investigation revealed she took an 8 percent commission, pocketing approximately $160,000 for herself." Dicken was represented by the Bay City law firm Gower Reddick. Attorney Jason P. Gower maintains Dicken is innocent and that she received "an unjust and unfair sentence." He added she's filed an appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court. After Dicken's trial and conviction, Wilson went before a jury in Bay County in March 2015. That jury found him guilty of all six counts he faced -- two counts each of fraudulent sale of securities and sale of unregistered securities and single counts of continuing a criminal enterprise or racketeering and larceny by conversion $20,000 or more. During Wilson's trial, Assistant Michigan Attorney General Norm Donker argued Wilson used Diversified to pilfer millions from investors. Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran in April 2015 sentenced the 32-year-old Wilson to concurrent terms of 105 months to 20 years and five terms of 80 months to 10 years, getting less time than Dicken. The judge gave Wilson credit for 462 days already served and ordered he pay $6.5 million in restitution, plus $11,000 to the Attorney General's Office for the costs of having to extradite him from Germany so he could face his criminal charges. In January 2016, Wilson faced a bench trial before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Janet M. Boes. The judge found Wilson guilty of fraudulent sale of securities, sale of unregistered securities and larceny of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 by conversion. The following month, Boes sentenced Wilson to six years and 33 months to 10 years in prison. A third person involved with The Diversified Group, saleswoman Mary Faher, in July 2014 was charged in Berrien County and pleaded no contest to four counts of securities fraud. She testified for the prosecution in Wilson's trial and days later was sentenced to 23 months to 10 years in prison. Her sentencing judge ordered Faher to pay $2.59 million in restitution. Update: Teachers shut down road in protest amid fears of not being paid DETROIT, MI -- With the school district unsure whether there will be enough money to pay teachers in May and June as it awaits a decision from the state legislature on debt relief, protests shut down at least 94 schools Monday. Teachers employed "sick-out" protests earlier this year to bring attention top poor school conditions, shutting down dozens of schools on a number of occasions by calling in sick. The demonstrations continued Monday. This time, because school administrators can't guarantee they'll be paid, with operating funds dwindling while lawmakers mull a $720-million plan to dissolve the debt-burdened district and and relaunch it with a clean slate. Three differences between House, Senate plans to fix Detroit Public Schools "There's a basic agreement in America: When you put in a day's work, you'll receive a day's pay," Detroit Federation of Teachers Interim President Ivy Bailey said in a statement. "DPS is breaking that deal. Teachers want to be in the classroom giving children a chance to learn and reach their potential. Unfortunately, by refusing to guarantee that we will be paid for our work, DPS is effectively locking our members out of the classrooms." Teachers planned to demonstrate outside district headquarters at Detroit's Fisher Building at 10 a.m. "It is unfortunate that the DFT has chosen to make a statement in this way," said Detroit Public Schools Transition Manager Judge Steven Rhodes, the fifth state-appointee to run the district since emergency management began in 2009. "I am on record as saying that I cannot in good conscience ask anyone to work without pay. Wages that are owed to teachers should be paid. I understand the frustration and anger that our teachers feel. I am, however, confident that the legislature will support the request that will guarantee that teachers will receive the pay that is owed to them. The DFT's choice for a drastic call to action was not necessary." The full list of closed schools as of 7 a.m. is below: A.L. Holmes Academy of Americas Ann Arbor Trail Bagley Bates Ben Carson Bennett Blackwell Bow Breithaupt Brewer Bunche Burton International Carleton Carstens Carver Cass Technical High School Charles Drew Transition Center Charles Wright Academy Chrysler Clark Clippert Cody APL Cody DIT Cody: MCH Coleman Young Communication Media Arts Cooke Crockett CTC Davis Aersospace Davison Detroit College Prep Detroit International Academy Detroit Lions Academy Detroit School of Arts Dixon Dossin Douglass Academy Duke Ellington Durfee Earhart East English Village Edison Emerson Fisher Lower Fisher Upper Fleming FLICS Gardner Golightly Golightly CTC Gompers Greenfield Union Harms Henderson Hutchinson J.R. King Jerry L. White Keidan Ludington Mackenzie Mann Marcus Garvey Mark Twain Marquette ML King High School Mason Maybury Moses Field Center Munger Neinas Nichols Noble Osborn College Prep Osborn Evergreen Osborn Mathematics and Science Palmer Park Pasteur Paul Robeson Priest Pulaski Randolph HS/CTC Renaissance Roberto Clemente Ronald Brown Sampson Schulze Spain Thirkell Thurgood Marshall Vernor Wayne Elementary Western International Westside Academy DETROIT, MI -- A mother and daughter who entered the U.S. from Mexico illegally in 2001 won a reprieve from deportation and the possible breakup of their family last week. They had one-way flights booked to Mexico and were scheduled to leave Friday, but the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a temporary stay about 5 p.m. Thursday, said Brad Thomson, the Ann Arbor-based immigration attorney who is fighting for Susana Bernabe-Ramirez, 39, and her 16-year-old daughter, Sayra Hernandez, to remain in the U.S. Thomson on Wednesday filed a formal request asking the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen their case requesting political asylum and the Board expedited its response. "So what that means is Susana and her daughter will not be deported until we have a decision ... about whether they are going to reopen the case," Thomson said. "If we lose the motion to reopen, then they'll enforce removal." If they win the motion to reopen the case, the case will go back to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more testimony about why the mother and daughter deserve to be granted asylum. Thomson expects a ruling on the motion to reopen within the next few months. If asylum is denied, they must wait at least a decade before being allowed back into the country. Bernabe-Ramirez admits she came into the U.S. illegally with her daughter in 2001 and settled in Ypsilanti. She then gave birth to her second daughter, Isabella, who is now a legal U.S. citizen. The mother said she nearly had to make the difficult decision to leave her youngest daughter with grandparents in the U.S. if she and her eldest daughter were deported. "I would decide to leave my youngest daughter here, even though it is very painful to do so," Bernabe-Ramirez told MLive at an immigration hearing in Detroit last Wednesday. "She needs constant medical treatment. She has epilepsy, and so I wouldn't take her to a place where she would be exposed to other dangers. "Getting the right medicine, getting enough medicine ... and getting a doctor there would be very difficult because she is not part of the social security system of Mexico." Sayra and Isabella's father was deported in 2010. Sayra told The Guardian during a protest in Washington D.C. last month her father committed no crimes in the U.S. and was deported "unfairly." Bernabe-Ramirez and the father of her children are estranged. Had the mother and her children remained in the U.S. continually since 2001, they wouldn't likely be targeted for deportation, but they did not. Bernabe-Ramirez and her daughters returned to Mexico between 2010 and December 2014 to care for Bernabe-Ramirez's sick mother. She returned to the U.S. with Sayra in 2014 -- Isabella returned separately -- and rather than enter illegally again, requested political asylum at the border in Tijuana, their attorney says. "Susana Bernabe-Ramirez, a citizen of Mexico, was enrolled in U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Alternatives to Detention program in January 2015, shortly after illegally entering at the southwest border," ICE officials in Detroit told MLive by email Wednesday. "She has since remained free from custody. "Ms. Bernabe-Ramirez is an ICE enforcement priority as a recent border entrant and because she was ordered removed by an immigration judge after January 2014." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in November in 2014 issued a memo establishing three levels of priority for deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Homeland Security memo Based on ICE statements, it appears they regard Bernabe-Ramirez and her daughter as the second highest priority for deportation. Those who entered the U.S. illegally or who have been detained subsequent to January 2014 are the second highest priority for removal. Thomson, however, disagrees with the ICE claims that Bernabe-Ramirez and Sayra entered the U.S. illegally when they returned. "Susana and Sayra did not illegally enter the (U.S.) in 2015," he told MLive in an email. "They went to the Tijuana border crossing and requested asylum and were paroled into the" U.S. "ICE officials have repeatedly stated that they illegally entered in 2015. This is an important distinction because it changes them from a Priority 2 for deportation to a Priority 3 for deportation." During her four years spent back in Mexico, Bernabe-Ramirez says she sold beauty products, children's clothing and other items from a roadside cart. This is when she claims members of drug cartels extorted money from her, sometimes as much as 75 percent of her earnings, according to Thomson. "I sold things in the street," Bernabe-Ramirez said. "People would come -- sometimes the same person, sometimes a different person -- with hats and sunglasses, and they would say, 'You have to give me this amount of money in order to keep working.'" Extortion is not an offense for which the U.S. government grants asylum. Thomson says public statements made by Bernabe-Ramirez and her daughter -- including MLive, the New York Daily Post and the Guardian -- "significantly increase" the risk of harm to them and should qualify them for political asylum. Thomson also cites an April 18 Board of Appeals ruling stating single, working mothers may deserve additional asylum consideration. Motion to reopen the request for asylum: DETROIT (AP) -- The union that represents Detroit's public school teachers is urging members to call in sick Monday. The move by the Detroit Federation of Teachers was announced at a press conference Sunday. It comes a day after the district's transition manager said DPS will have no money to continue paying teachers this summer without further funding from the state. In March, Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law emergency funding that is keeping the district operating through the end of the school year as the state Legislature considers a $720 million restructuring plan. Sick-outs earlier this year shut down schools, causing tens of thousands of students to miss class. District spokeswoman Michelle Zdrodowski said in a statement that the district had not yet closed any schools for Monday. DETROIT, MI -- At least two investigations into what caused Detroit demolition prices to skyrocket last year are still underway. Detroit Auditor General Mark Lockridge said the Special Inspector for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) submitted a subpoena Thursday requesting documentation from January 2014 to present related to the Detroit blight program. The subpoena calls for records of more than $100 million received from the Department of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund. The Detroit Free Press first reported on the federal subpoena Sunday. The city has so far used the Hardest Hit money to demolish more than 7,700 abandoned homes deemed unsalvageable. Erica Ward Gerson, the chair of the Board for the Detroit Land Bank Authority, said she welcomes any investigation into the demolition process. The state Housing Development Authority already "came in and took a look and gave us a clean bill of health," Gerson said Monday. Craig Fahle, Director of Public Affairs for the Detroit Land Bank Authority, said trucking and fill dirt costs, elevated due to significant MDOT construction projects last year, contributed to a sharp increase in per-house demolition costs. Mayor Mike Duggan's office also blamed tighter asbestos abatement standards and the high-volume and expedited pace of demolitions when facing scrutiny over the rise in prices last year. Some questions raised last year surrounded contracts awarded to three companies -- Adamo, Homrich and MCM Management -- who were "handpicked" to attend "pre-bid meetings" and received nearly 72 percent of $51.5 million awarded between March 2014 and January, the Free Press reported. The city spent about $9,500 per demolition between March 2014 and January 2015, but the cost increased nearly 60 percent to over $15,000 per demolition during the second batch of Hardest Hit Fund demolitions contracted between May 2015 and March 2016, according to contract data on the city's website. Fahle said the average is down to about $12,700 per demo this year. Detroit Land Bank Authority demolition contracts Detroit is currently competing for a portion of another $324 million awarded to Michigan in February. Duggan said he believes the city's demolition strategy will stand up to federal scrutiny. The Detroit Office of the Inspector General, an office created by the 2012 City Charter to root out waste and fraud, began conducting its own investigation in late 2015. Deputy Inspector Kamau Marable said the investigation is nearly complete. The findings will be presented to the affected departments allowing them an opportunity to respond. He expects to have a report ready for public viewing in about three weeks. Gerson said the the Land Bank Authority hired Plante Moran to perform its own audit last year and they "again found nothing." The fact that SIGTARP is conducting its own investigation "doesn't bother me in the slightest," Gerson said. Billy Chambers FLINT, MI - A federal appeals court rejected a Flint man's claim that he was racially profiled by police when they stopped him for walking in the middle of a city street. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday, April 27, that it would not overturn a lower court's decision allowing a gun discovered during a Michigan State Police stop to be used in the federal prosecution of Billy Chambers. Chambers claimed the police stop was inappropriate and that he was the target of an alleged state police policy targeting black men in the city. The state police have denied such a policy exists and denies that race plays a factor in stops from troopers. Chambers pleaded guilty Feb. 3, 2015, in Flint U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm after he was arrested Aug. 31, 2013, while walking in the middle of Bonbright Street. State police troopers stopped Chambers around 10:05 p.m. for failing to use the provided sidewalks, according to court records. Chambers told police during the stop that he did not have anything illegal on him, according to court records. The troopers asked if they could pat down Chambers and he agreed. Troopers discovered a .38-caliber pistol in Chambers' left-front pants pocket during the search. Troopers said Chambers told them that he found the gun on the street and kept it, hoping to trade it for crack cocaine. Chambers, who has three previous felony convictions on drug-related charges, was arrested and indicted in Flint U.S. District Court on a single charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Attorney Richard Korn, who represented Chambers in the case, argued state police had no authority to stop Chambers for illegally walking in the street because the poor condition of sidewalks in the area forced him onto the roadway. However, the appeals court upheld the lower court's ruling that troopers had the authority to stop Chambers. State law requires pedestrians to walk on sidewalks where they are provided. When they are not provided, pedestrians are required to walk on the left side of the highway facing passing traffic. The appeals court also upheld the lower court's ruling that Chambers consented to the pat down. Korn initially argued in his appeal that the state police instituted a policy of stopping people - primarily black men - in the streets even where sidewalks were impassible. However, the court declined to hear the claim after Korn failed to address it or produce evidence of the alleged policy. Chambers was sentenced in May 2015 to one year and one day in federal prison. FLINT, MI -- Now that he is back on U.S. soil, Gov. Rick Snyder said has resumed his daily intake of Flint water. Taking sips of ice water from a glass at Blackstone's Pub & Grill during a stop in Flint on Monday, Snyder said his vow to use Flint water for 30 days never included the time overseas during his recent European trade mission trip. "No and I never intended to. I said very clearly when I said I was drinking Flint water I was going to drink it at home and at work," he said, after filling up water jugs at the restaurant where water results are posted for customers to see like many businesses in the city have done over recent months. The 30-day promise was made by Snyder during an April 18 visit to a Brookside Drive home in Flint where gallons of water were collected out of Cheryl Hill and Todd Canty's filtered kitchen faucet. Snyder embarked on the trade mission trip to Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands less than one week later. Gov. Rick Snyder fills up four one-gallon jugs with Flint water from a bar dispenser at Blackstone's Pub & Grill on Monday, May 2, 2016 in downtown Flint, which he says he is drinking while at work and home. Snyder has requested some face-to-face time with President Obama during his May 4 visit to Flint to get a firsthand look at the city's ongoing water crisis. Jake May | MLive.com "You weren't going to be able to take gallons of water through airport security in the U.S., let alone internationally," he said. "The way I viewed it is with the trip coming I'll just extend the amount of time I'm drinking Flint water. It's pretty straightforward." The governor chatted with Blackstone's employees while filling up one-gallon jugs with water from a dispenser behind the bar, noting while speaking with general manager Spencer Ruegsegger that it was a much easier method than through an at-home filter. He also emphasized the flushing program in which residents have been asked to run cold water unfiltered in their tub and kitchen faucets for five minutes at a time for a 14-day period during May. Testing is expected to take place later this month or early next month to determine if the water quality has improved after the period, Snyder said, while continue to push for lead service line replacements. "The research shows that drinking filtered water is safe," he said, encouraging people to visit Flint businesses. "That's why I'm trying to be a person showing that can work effectively." Snyder said better testing protocols need to take place statewide, adding "That's why we came out with the recommendation to replace the dumb, or to supplement the dumb and dangerous federal lead and copper rule. "We should have a higher standard here in Michigan and hopefully nationally," he said, while avoiding a timeline on when the water crisis may be over when prodded by reporters. A formal request has been by Snyder to sit down with President Obama and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver during the president's scheduled May 4 visit to the city, but there had been no response as of Monday morning. Barack Obama FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2016 file photo, President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. The president said Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016, he'll raise human rights issues and other U.S. concerns with Cuban President Raul Castro during a history-making visit to the communist island nation. The brief visit in mid-March will mark a watershed moment in relations between the U.S. and Cuba, making Obama the first sitting U.S. president to set foot on the island in nearly seven decades. While in the country, Obama plans to meet with groups advocating for change in Cuba, a condition the president had laid out publicly for such a trip. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) (Carolyn Kaster) FLINT, MI -- President Obama has no plans to publicly drink Flint's water during his May 4 visit to the city. The Hill reported Monday, May 2 that White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said "I'm not aware of any photo ops that involve the president's consumption of the water." Gov. Rick Snyder was in Flint Monday morning to discuss a Medicaid program from people 21 and under impacted by the water crisis and to fill up water jugs as part of a 30-day promise to drink filtered water coming from taps the city. He'd made the pledge during an April 18 visit to a home in Flint's College Cultural neighborhood. Obama's visit comes after he received a letter from 8-year-old Amariyanna Copeny, who urged him to stop in Flint to get a feeling of the impact on the city and its residents. Earnest said he was glad to see the governor's schedule cleared up for a sit-down with the president, according to The Hill's report, and has been invited to greet the president at the airport. Snyder told reporters in Flint Monday that he never said his schedule was too busy to meet with the president following previous media report, but that he could not confirm if or when Obama was going to be in the city. FLINT, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder has requested some face-to-face time with President Obama during president's planned May 4 visit to Flint to get a firsthand look at the city's ongoing water crisis. Snyder made the remarks during a May 2 press conference at Blackstone's Pub & Grill in downtown Flint ahead of which he took time to fill up four, one-gallon jugs with water from a dispenser behind the bar. "Hopefully I'm going to have an opportunity to sit down with the president and Mayor Weaver," he said, while addressing the flushing program that began May 1. "(I) made a request to have a meeting, so we can talk about how we can work in a bipartisan fashion to support Flint." Snyder said he has not heard from the White House on whether or not the president will meet with him. "Still waiting to hear back on that request," said Snyder. Obama is set to visit with 8-year-old Amariyanna Copeny, the girl who sent him a letter and has become an international name upon the president's acceptance with media requests and stories circling the globe. The president signed off twice on a federal emergency declaration, providing government oversight and some funding, but a request for a federal disaster in Flint has been rejected on more than one occasion. When asked about what he would ask or discuss with the president, Snyder said "It's really a question of how we can work together," including a Medicaid program that expected to move through the state Senate this week to provide care for people 21 and under in the city. "It's really to have a dialogue about saying there's major challenges here given the water crisis," he continued. "There were significant challenges in Flint prior to that. How can we all work together to make Flint a stronger better community and address the water questions as much as possible?" Details about the president's visit have yet been released by the White House. montcrash.png A Grand Rapids couple was killed in a head-on crash with an oncoming car that was passing other vehicles, Montcalm County sheriff's deputies say. (Courtesy photo Montcalm County Sheriff's Department) MONTCALM COUNTY, MI - A Grand Rapids couple was killed Sunday, May 1, in a head-on crash with an oncoming vehicle that had been passing multiple vehicles, police said. Raymond J. Wrona, and his wife, Mary Wrona, both 88, died in the crash in Montcalm County's Belvidere Township. The other driver, Joel Ibarra, 26, of Wyoming, and his passenger, Maria Mancha, 28, of Comstock Park, were hospitalized. The crash occurred around 7:20 p.m. on M-66 near Schmeid Road. Sheriff's deputies said the victims' 1999 Buick LeSabre was headed south on M-66 as Ibarra's northbound 2012 Audi S4 attempted to pass multiple vehicles. Ibarra was not able to complete the pass. Both drivers swerved their vehicles to the west shoulder to avoid crashing but collided head-on, police said. Mary Wrona died at the scene. Her husband was taken to Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital in Lakeview, where he later died. Both Ibarra and his passenger were treated at Kelsey for their injuries, police said. All of those involved used seat belts, police said. The crash remains under investigation. Belvidere Township Fire Department, Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services, and state police assisted at the scene. John Agar covers crime and other issues for MLiveE-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The former leader of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting children. Derek Bailey was convicted at separate trials of two counts of first-degree criminal-sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal-sexual conduct. He was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison on the first-degree convictions in Grand Traverse County, and 10 to 25 years for the second-degree convictions in Leelanau County. The sentences will run concurrently. The assaults occurred while he served as tribal chairman from 2008 to 2012. He denied that any of the attacks happened, reports said. Bailey ran as a Democrat in bids for the state House of Representatives and U.S. House of Representatives. He was serving on the tribal council when he was arrested nearly a year ago. John Agar covers crime and other issues for MLiveE-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar EMPIRE, MI - More than 1.5 million visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore last year spent an estimated $163 million on food, lodging, gas and other items in communities near the Northern Michigan landmark, according to a new report from the National Park Service. The tally of the park's 2015 financial impact showed the tourism spending supported 2,586 jobs in the area surrounding the park. Its overall benefit to the local economy? $205.8 million. "Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world," Acting Superintendent Tom Ulrich said in a news release. "We also feature the park as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers. "National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the NPS, and it's a big factor in our local economy as well." Overall, the analysis conducted by economists with the park service and the U.S. Geological Survey found $16.9 billion being spent by 307 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. The National Park Service this year marks its 100th anniversary, and some of its Michigan sites have announced special programming to celebrate the milestone. Sleeping Bear Dunes, which will get a new superintendent this summer, is hosting a bevy of star parties and other sky events in the coming months. For information on the park, click here. A little farther north, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is offering a hiking challenge with a special gift for those who log 50 or 100 miles on its trails. OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - A gay man who allegedly made signs implying that area churches support same-sex marriage is being sued. Attorneys for Jenison Bible Church claim that Daniel Vanderley did not have permission to put the church's name on a sign that was used at a June 2015 demonstration outside an event featuring the anti-gay owner of the Dieseltec auto body shop. In the context of the pro-gay demonstration outside the event, the sign intentionally distorted the church's belief about same-sex marriage, according to a lawsuit filed Monday, May 2, in Kent County Circuit Court. The suit states that the church's ministry was harmed because the sign suggested the church is "opposed to the biblical definition of marriage and in favor of 'same-sex marriage.'" The complaint seeks a public apology from Vanderley. "Jenison Bible Church, and any other church for that matter, has the right to teach and hold fast to its Biblical beliefs and teaching and to defend against having those beliefs intentionally and falsely misrepresented to the public," said Jim Wierenga, an attorney for the church. "Vanderley tried to bully Jenison Bible Church, and other local churches, by threatening that, if they did not hold a sign conveying that their church believes in so-called 'same sex marriage,' that he would make sure that someone of his choosing held such a sign and misrepresented the church's position to the media and the public at large. Vanderley knew that he did not have Jenison Bible's permission to associate the church with his message. Yet he did so anyway." RELATED: Anti-gay auto shop supporters, protestors spar at 'God and Country' talk The demonstration occurred outside the Jenison Center for the Arts which hosted a "God and Country" event organized by Dieseltec owner Brian Klawiter, who previously caused a stir by saying he'd refuse to serve openly gay customers at his business. Prior to the event, Vanderley put churches on notice that he would use their name on a "Church Name Stands for Love" sign, and pay someone to hold it for media publicity, unless they contacted him to say no, according to documents in the lawsuit. Vanderley, who earlier last year organized a small protest outside a Zeeland church, urged churches to stand against the talk of Bradlee Dean, a speaker who appeared at the event. RELATED: Pastor's comparison between gays, axe murderers prompts protest, call for apology The Jenison Bible suit states the church believes the definition of sin includes homosexual practice, and that Vanderley's sign instead communicated "a pro-homosexuality message in violation of their sincerely held biblical beliefs." Vanderley declined comment on the lawsuit Monday. "Jenison Bible believes that the gospel, when received and believed through faith, breaks the bondage of sin and changes all sinners into new creatures, who are clean in God's sight," the suit states. "(Vanderley) has harmed Jenison Bible's position in and ministry to the community by falsely implying the church supports homosexuality and believes it is not sin. "Any intentional and public distortion of Jenison Bible's position on marriage or sexual immorality negatively impacts Jenison Bible's ability to effectively share the gospel." In a June 2015 email copied to MLive, the pastor of Georgetown United Methodist Church, who took part in the demonstration, criticized Vanderley for how he handled communication with the churches. "I do not find your tactics particularly helpful," the Rev. William Bills wrote. "One's means must be a pure as one's desired ends. I am sure that you feel strongly about this matter, as do I, but that doesn't mean that you are entitled to bully or otherwise chastise pastors or churches who choose not to be involved." Wierenga, a Georgetown Township trustee, is one of two candidates seeking the Republican nomination to township supervisor in the Aug. 2 primary election. Co-counsel for the church, Jeffrey W. Johnson, is one of six candidates running for the GOP nomination to a Michigan House 86th District seat representing parts of Kent and Ionia counties. A court worker said the suit was improperly filed in Kent County and will be sent back to Wierenga for filing in Ottawa County, where the June 2015 incident occurred. Wierenga said the suit will be filed in Ottawa on Tuesday. RELATED: Former school board member convicted of larceny now running for Michigan House Matt Vande Bunte writes about government and other issues on MLive. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Recent restrictions on importing vehicles and machinery into Myanmar from China and Thailand are causing headaches for leasing and logistics companies. The government has made it far harder for firms to bring vehicles and machinery across the countrys land borders in recent months. The restrictions started around four months ago, partly in response to huge volumes of trucks and other types of machinery entering Myanmar from China, said businesspeople in the automobile, leading and logistics industries. It got to the point where it was bedlam and there was no control over it, said John Hamilton, country manager for CEA Project Logistics. This sheer volume of imports made regulation difficult, resulting in unregistered imports and tax manipulation, said industry figures. Last December the government closed Kachin States Kan Pike Tee border trading station to vehicle and machinery imports, following allegations that illegally imported heavy machinery was being used at the jade mines in Hpakant, resulting in a spike in deadly landslides. Regulating trade at some Thai border crossings has also been problematic, said U Khin Tun, managing director of Capital Automotive the sole dealer of Ford vehicles in Myanmar. The governments response was to make it much more difficult to import vehicles and industrial machinery at those border points, industry figures said. Businesspeople with a Myanmar Investment Commission licence to import a specific project have not been affected, and farmers can still import tractors although not large machinery. But leasing and logistics firms are facing severe problems. Mr Hamilton said before the border restrictions he could have asked a trading company to buy a forklift in Bangkok and within four days secured a permit to bring it across the border. But the Muse and Myawaddy border points the main trading points with China and Thailand are now shut to most kinds of heavy machinery and vehicles, he said. Now everything has stopped. Ive just bought a trailer which will be ready in June, so I need to figure out how Im going to bring it in [to Myanmar], he said. Logistics and leasing companies do not have import licences, which means they rely on trading companies or dealers with showroom licences to import vehicles and machinery. Imports can still come through ports in Yangon, but the government has also tightened restrictions on import permits limiting logistics and leasing firms to only 10 of a particular type of vehicle or machine. And although dealers with showroom licences can still import equipment and vehicles, there are not many of these. We have a trailer in Thailand [thats been there] since the end of January, which we cant bring in because we cant find anyone with a showroom licence to import it, said Allan Davidson, general manager at leasing firm Yoma Fleet. Industry figures could only point to only two truck dealers with showroom licences Scandia Trucks dealer Scandia Myanmar and Mercedes dealer Cycle & Carriage Automobile Myanmar. The biggest issue is trucks, said Mr Davidson, adding that for pick-up trucks and smaller cars shortage was less of an issue. Fords dealer Capital Automotive has a good stock of cars and has been managing its business well, he added. Mitsubishi, which has a partnership with Yoma Strategic Holdings, recently received a showroom licence and an import order has arrived at Yangons port, he added. Suzuki has a manufacturing plant in Myanmar, which means vehicles can be delivered to Yangon in just five days, he added. We just cleaned them [Mitsubishi] out of white vehicles, Mr Davidson said. We placed an order with Toyota [this week] for delivery in July, but customers want things yesterday. U Khin Tun, Capital Automotives managing director, said stricter border controls had not affected his business because his firm imports its vehicles by sea to Yangon port. That route is also cheaper, he added, although the process of getting imports offloaded and though customs can be time-consuming. Not all logistics firms are affected by the import restrictions, which are primarily an issue for companies looking to import specialist, high-quality or specific branded equipment. When it comes to basic-level trucks and trailers the local logistics market is in fact oversupplied, said U Ni Moe Aung, general manager for Kerry Logistics Myanmar office. He described the oversupply as a seasonal trend. Firms were eager to secure imports before Chinese New Year in February and the Myanmar New Year holiday in April, while government enterprises are typically keen to use up their budgets before the end of the fiscal year on March 31. But for more sophisticated projects for example those requiring transporting very heavy cargo machinery and vehicles are hard to secure. It is for these projects that border restrictions are an issue, he said. Its true the local logistics market is completely oversupplied, said Yoma Fleets Mr Davidson. But although the restrictions are mainly affecting firms hoping to import best-quality equipment, they could also begin to correct some of the oversupply if they continue long enough, he added. U Ni Moe Aung said that although the new governments policy on border imports is not yet clear, he expects it to relax the restrictions and show some degree of flexibility. Former deputy minister of finance U Maung Maung Thein has resigned from his position as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar and the Insurance Business Regulatory Board. He will not take on a new role in government but will focus instead on teaching and writing, he told The Myanmar Times. I have put out my resignation letters. I want to give financial space to the new generation. I am going back to my first love, teaching and writing. I want to impart my knowledge and experience, he said. He will continue to offer support to the insurance and finance sectors if his expertise is needed, he added. He did not know who would replace him in either role, saying, The process of choosing a new chair is still some time away. The Securities and Exchange Commission could not be reached for comment yesterday. U Maung Maung Thein held several senior positions under the former government, including deputy finance minister and chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) working committee. He said yesterday that the committee had been disbanded. There is no official EITI team at the moment, he said. He told state media on April 30 that he had served duties to establish the Yangon Stock Exchange [YSX] and encourage private companies to enter the countrys insurance market. Now you can see these markets are implemented although they are not very developed. So it is time to transfer [the] duty to others, he said. The YSX opened last December and First Myanmar Investment became the first company to list in March. Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Public, the developer of a special economic zone to the south of Yangon, is expected to become the second company to list on the exchange in mid-May. U Maung Maung Thein had spoken optimistically to media about the future of the exchange. Kensuke Yazu, Myanmar representative for the Japan Exchange Group, which co-owns the bourse, said yesterday that U Maung Maung Theins resignation was unexpected. The YSX did not receive any information about it. We were surprised to learn the news, he said. In the insurance sector, U Maung Maung Thein ran state-owned Myanma Insurance until he was tasked with liberalising the industry in 2012 and set up the Insurance Business Regulatory Board. Two years later, industry sources complained that outdated policies, uncompetitive premiums and restrictive procedures imposed by the IBSB were hindering efforts by new insurance firms to find their feet. Foreign insurers have since been allowed to operate in the Thilawa SEZ, but the market remains imbalanced and highly controlled, with state-owned Myanma Insurance the dominant player, according to a report published earlier this year by research firm Oxford Business Group. Translation by Khant Lin Oo If you like Ngapali, youre going to love Gaw Yan Gyi Island or so local residents hope. The village, located in Nant Thar Pu village, Ngapudaw township, Ayeyarwady Region, is becoming quietly more popular among domestic tourists thanks to the beauty of its beaches and surrounding scenery. Because of the shortage of good accommodation, most visitors stay in villagers homes and eat home cooking. One sign of future popularity is the fact that most beachfront sites have been bought up by out-of-town businesspeople at prices that have doubled over the past three years. Local people are said to be in favour of the development of their community as a tourist resort, along the lines of Nwge Saung beach, and it was their opposition that blocked a plan to build a coal-fired power plant nearby. U Saw Mya Thein, minister for electricity and transport in the Ayeyarwady Region government, confirmed to The Myanmar Times that the regional government cancelled the project last year because of local resistance. U Ye Htut, administrator of Nant Thar Pu village, said, We didnt want the kind of damage that would have been inflicted on our island by a coal-fired plant. We believe the island will develop in future and it will be better than Ngwe Saung beach. He said large Myanmar companies and some individuals had been buying beachfront property to build hotels. Land prices have reached at least K50 million per acre, he said. First, though, something has to be done about the road from Pathein. The town will never develop unless the government or the hoteliers repair the road, he said. Even local fishermen are prepared to change their ways to allow development in nearby Nga Yoke Kaung town. When the beach starts to look nice, well move our boats somewhere else, said fisherman U Aung Soe. Gaw Yan Gyi Island is located 25 miles (40 kilometres) south of Chaung Tha and Ngwe Saung beach and is celebrated for its elusive charm. Nearby Nga Yoke Kaung town can be reached by express bus for a K10,000 ticket, then on by motorbike to the island, where a visitor can stay at a guest house for K2000 a night. Group bookings are available by prior arrangement with residents, who will make available their homes for K20,000. Most trips are arranged by tour companies, with about 100 visitors arriving every weekend. We provide tents for foreigners who want to camp by the beach, and other visitors prefer to stay in guest houses, said a spokesperson for Get up & Go travel and tours. The company offers a US$100 package for foreign guests and K79,000 for domestic tourists. Among the attractions is Myawaddy Pagoda, for those willing to climb its 400 steps. After swimming, visitors can go to see the cobras. They dont bite, said Nga Yoke Kaung resident U Sit Aye. Meals are provided by local residents on request. Most of the 21 people confirmed drowned when a boat carrying Muslim IDPs sank off Rakhine State last month were ethnic Kaman and not Rohingya as widely reported, according to relatives and survivors who say they are forgotten victims of religious persecution in Myanmar. The loss of life in rough seas on April 19 after the sinking of a boat carrying 40 to 60 people from Sin Tet Maw in Pauktaw township soon hit social media and then international headlines. A US embassy statement expressed deep concern, using the controversial name Rohingya to describe the victims. That wording prompted protests outside the US embassy in Yangon on April 28 from nationalists who vehemently object to the term and insist that they be called by their official label of Bengalis. But a Myanmar Times investigation reveals that most on board were internally displaced persons IDPs who originally came from Kyaukphyu and were of Kaman ethnicity. Their families and community are angry that more people, locally and internationally, do not defend their rights and recognise they are different from the Rohingya. People should not call us Rohingya. We are Kaman and we have rights, said U Khin Maung Hla, leader at Sin Tet Maw IDP camp. Of the 21 people known to have died it remains unclear if some people are still missing nine were Kaman from his camp, U Khin Maung Hla said. Three were residents of a nearby Muslim village, its leader U Ka Luu said. The other nine were based in IDP camps around Sittwe and returning there from Sin Tet Maw. According to relatives and neighbours, most if not all of those were also originally from Kyaukphyu. Medical staff at Tet Kae Pyin village near Sittwe, where five survivors and three bodies were taken, confirmed all those they treated were also Kaman. I dont know of anyone on board who was Rohingya, U Khin Maung Hla said. With the exception of around 200 people from Myebon, most of the 2272 residents of Sin Tet Maw were Kaman from the Kyaukphyu area further south along the coast, he said. The various reasons they made the fateful journey that day underscores how government policy of keeping communities in isolated camps where they receive internationally funded rations is pushing not only the Rohingya but also other Muslim people into taking major risks to survive and support their families. Restrictions and human rights violations against the stateless Rohingya minority have been widely condemned by the international community. But Kaman Muslims who are recognised as an ethnic group in Myanmar and often have citizenship rights were also caught up in the enforced segregation introduced after communal violence broke out between Muslims and ethnic Rakhine in 2012, displacing over 120,000 people. Many Kaman who fled the violence lost their ID papers as their houses burned and now remain trapped in camps facing restriction of movement, despite having citizenship or residency rights. My three grandchildren drowned when the boat sank, but even though they found their bodies I could not go to see them because of the restrictions, said Ma Khin Hla at Sin Tet Maw camp. My daughter and son-in-law were taking them to Thae Chaung because they had fevers and they couldnt get medical care [in the camp]. When I first heard the children had all died I lay awake all night crying and when morning came I tried to throw myself into the sea, but my neighbour stopped me, she said. Her grandchildren were aged 11, seven and one. Many who died were women and children travelling to get medical care or food. Others were visiting relatives from whom they were separated during the 2012 violence and ended up in different camps. My 70-year-old mother drowned coming back from visiting us. It was the first time we had seen her since the violence, said Ma Khin Cho, 40. I have been going out of my mind. All I can think about is my mother and that it is the first time she made the journey and then the boat sank. Geography dictates that most travel to and from the coastal camp of Sin Tet Maw is by boat. But residents say government restrictions on IDP movements meant they were forced to take the dangerous sea route to Thae Chaung, a Muslim village outside the state capital, rather than the safer crossing to Sittwe itself, from which they are banned, or to the nearer market town of Min Gan. Four boats have sunk in the last three years crossing to Thae Chaung, said Ma Khin Lay Than, 38, a neighbour of victims. Now theyve banned us from travelling to Thae Chaung too since the accident. I have asked the government administrator if we can travel to Min Gan instead. Otherwise I dont know how we will get food. While camp residents are expected to remain where they are registered, a number of people from Sin Thet Maw have in effect moved to Thae Chaung for work, where there is more opportunity to fish, or to be with relatives and get better access to food or treatment. However, according to the camp administrator, most who move to camps around Thae Chaung are not allowed to transfer their rations, meaning it is not practical to take their families. So they regularly have to return to Sin Tet Maw to see relations and claim rations. Such passengers were also among the victims. Others, with very few options of earning a living in an IDP camp, make the dangerous K8000-to-K10,000 crossing to buy produce to sell to those in Sin Tet Maw who cannot travel themselves. Kaman families and representatives want the international community to recognise they are not Rohingya. The Rohingya people spread the news about things on social media, so people hear about them and what happened, and they get a lot of attention. But there are also things happening to the Kaman that people just say happened to the Rohingya instead, and it is very difficult for us to speak out, said U Hla Maung, a resident of Tet Kae Pyin. Eleven of those on the boat were residents of the original Muslim village of Sin Thet Maw, close to the camp. The village leader there says they identify neither as Rohingya nor Bengali but simply as Muslim ethnicity. Three of them died: a woman over 60, a four-year-old boy, and a baby girl of 18 months. I saw bodies floating around me. I thought I was going to die, recalls Muhammed, 26, who swam for over an hour to reach shore, holding on to an empty water barrel with an 11-year-old boy clinging to his back. The Kaman IDPs say deaths would not happen if they were allowed to return to Kyaukphyu. They say the government told them in 2012 they would be safe in Sin Tet Maw so they got in their boats and fled the mayhem. They have not been allowed to go back. We just want to go home, said Ma Khin Hla. But dreams of taking her grandchildren back to their family land have now gone forever. This article has been updated to correct an earlier misspelling of the ethnic name Kaman. The Myanmar Times regrets the error. Ousted Union Solidarity and Development Party leader Thura U Shwe Mann and his allies are still battling their expulsion, demanding an emergency meeting at the end of the month. In a letter sent to USDP members on April 29, Thura U Shwe Mann called for the annual committee meeting to be held in accordance with party principles. The letter suggested the meeting be held on May 28 and 29, following from last years annual convention on May 30, 2015. According to the partys charter, an emergency conference can be convened if more than one-third of the central committee members agree it is necessary. U Zaw Myint Pe, a former central executive committee member who was expelled from the party along with Thura U Shwe Mann, said that already 136 of the 219 central committee members have added their signatures to the call for an emergency conference. Its inevitable that the central committee will heed the call to hold the party conference where all party matters can be decided, he said. On April 22, just one day after former President U Thein Sein resumed leadership of the party, 17 USDP members received a notice of their expulsion. The notice reportedly provided no official reason, but purged many of the same people who were ousted from senior party posts during an internal party coup in August last year. The expulsion of long-time rival Thura U Shwe Mann and his camp was U Thein Seins first move since resuming party work after his presidential term ended. Once the number-three general under the former military junta, Thura U Shwe Mann earned the ire of some within his party and within the military for his close working relationship with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, going so far as to back her partys proposals to revise the 2008 constitution. Some of the expelled USDP members have accused U Thein Sein of behaving like a dictator in handling the purge. Thura U Shwe Mann has vowed to fight the decision but also said he has no intentions of setting up a rival party. We are going to do things according to the decision of the central committee, he said at a press conference on April 29. U Zaw Myint Pe said the former ruling party must uphold a sense of dignity and set an example as a strong opposition party. This isnt about personal feelings, this is about solving party issues according to the partys basic principles We are asking to keep the party from deteriorating, he said. It cannot be called a multi-party system if only one party is very strong. There must be another strong party there [for checks and balances]. If a formerly strong party deteriorates, it could have an impact on the people and members of the party, U Zaw Myint Pe added. While Thura U Shwe Mann and his allies claim to hold the numbers needed to force a party conference, it remains unclear what U Thein Seins next move will be and whether he will accept the demand. When The Myanmar Times called USDP officials about their response to Thura U Shwe Manns request, no one could be reached for comment. If they deny our party rights, they will be in the wrong, said U Zaw Myint Pe. Political analysts have expressed doubts that the USDPs continued feuding will have much impact beyond those involved in the squabbling, as the public does not support either Thura U Shwe Mann or the USDP. No one is interested in their issues, said political commentator U Sithu Aung Myint. He added that internal fighting could reflect negatively on the USDPs future however, as both party members and the electorate will have trouble trusting the party. Myanmar's most powerful ethnic armed group, the United Wa State Army, has set out its demands for the peace process including Chinas participation following talks with a delegation from the National League for Democracy. U Soe Htay, a former senior military officer elected last year as NLD MP for Kawkareik township in Kayin State, confirmed yesterday that he had led a delegation of observers to the Wa stronghold of Panghsang in Shan State on the border with China from April 26 to 28. The MP, a member of parliaments peace and ethnic affairs committee, said he had served in the Wa area as a Tatmadaw commander and had friendly relations with the chief commander of the UWSA. U Soe Htay said his visit was aimed at understanding the region. We are going to the Wa region to observe the ethnic area for peace-building but were not assigned by the president or the state counsellor, he said. He added that he had urged the UWSA to take part in a conference of all ethnic armed groups which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi called last week to be held within two months. The UWSA maintains close ties to China and runs what amounts to a quasi-autonomous enclave serving as a conduit for jade and narcotics smuggled out of Myanmar. It refused to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement along with other major armed groups, leaving Myanmar government and military officials convinced that China was behind the boycott. Chinese media at the weekend carried an eight-point statement by Xiao Mingliang, deputy chair of the UWSA administration, in which he said the Wa region looked forward to cooperating with the new government and that it respected the results of last Novembers elections boycotted by the UWSA. He then stated that the UWSA called on the government to hold a peace conference with the participation of the United Nations and China as witnesses to urgently resolve the conflicts in northern Myanmar. Such a conference would include the federal government, parliament, the military and all ethnic armed groups, Mr Xiao said. Separately he called on the government to set up liaison mechanisms with ethnic armed groups. When conditions were ready, he said, then the government should embark on constitutional changes which should be neither wholesale nor minor. One change he appeared to endorse was removing the ban on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi serving as president. Reflecting the UWSAs close ties to China, the statement urged the NLD government in pursuing its economic policies to take advantage of Chinas One belt, one road strategy of major infrastructure projects linking its near neighbours to markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The new government should also stick to a non-aligned foreign policy, the statement concluded. U Tun Tun Hain, an NLD central executive committee member, said he had not known about U Soe Htays talks with the UWSA and that his visit had not been commissioned by the party or members of parliament. However a senior member of the NLD, who asked not to be named, told The Myanmar Times that U Soe Htay may have gone on the instructions of U Tin Myo Win, personal doctor to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who said last week said he would take on a liaison role with ethnic groups. U Soe Htay said the most important aspect of peace-building was to build reliable trust and strong relationships with leaders of the ethnic armed groups. Clashes were reported to have resumed yesterday between two ethnic armies in northern Shan State following a pause of several weeks. The Taang National Liberation Army said fighting had erupted with the Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS) near Sai Lain village in Mine Ton/ Mong Ton township. Fighting started at 8:50am. According to reports from on the ground, minor clashes continued until evening. The fighting area was far away from local people, said Mong Aik Kyaw, a TNLA spokeperson. Tatmadaw troops had withdrawn from some positions in northern Shan State early in April so fighting had subsided compared to the previous month, he said. The Tatmadaw deployed reinforcements as clashes between the two ethnic armies flared up, he added. The RCSS, which signed last years nationwide ceasefire agreement, has denied accusations by the TNLA that it is collaborating with the Tatmadaw in a bid for territorial expansion in northern Shan. Clashes that began last year led to the displacement of several thousand civilians, many of whom have since returned to their homes. On the night of April 25 fighting also occurred in Mine Ton township between the Tatmadaw and TNLA troops. There were injuries on both sides but neither released any official numbers. On the same day a brief, 15-minute skirmish between the RCSS and TNLA was reported in Namhsan township in the Palaung Self-administered Zone. The government is delaying elections for Yangon City Development Committee, calling for amendments that would allow far more people to vote. The first YCDC election in 50 years was held in December 2014. Only 401,000 out of 5.2 million residents were allowed to participate in the December 27 poll under the election act, which granted one vote to each household that possessed government residency documents. The limited participation in the municipal election was widely criticised by regional hluttaw MPs, election monitors, civil society organisations and the media. The law also bars political parties from contesting municipal elections and does not specify limits for campaign financing. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein is demanding the election law be changed to grant voting rights to everyone over 18 years old. He told The Myanmar Times that the government will amend the election law before the next ballots are cast. We will discuss with our government members and parliament too. This section needs to be amended for all the people, he said. The chief minister also said that he and the mayor would select four YCDC members who are not elected by popular vote in accordance with the election law and that the election dates would be announced when the government is ready. U Nyi Nyi, secretary of YCDC, said while the Yangon Region government has not yet issued any instructions related to the election, YCDC would cooperate. YCDC has always followed rules and regulations under each government and will continue to do so, U Nyi Nyi said. YCDC member U Khin Maung Tint said that he expects details about the YCDC election will be announced this week after the Yangon Hluttaw convenes. In the previous election, to be eligible to stand for election to YCDCs central body or its township and district committees, candidates had to be Myanmar citizens and their parents also both had to be Myanmar citizens. The candidates must have lived in the relevant area for at least 10 years, be a resident when they submit their candidacy, have basic knowledge about urban planning, and be loyal to the country and its citizens. Those standing for YCDC must be aged between 45 and 65, while those standing for district positions must be between 40 and 60. Township-level candidates must be between 35 and 55 years old, according to the election rules. Nearly 300 candidates contested the previous election. The heat wave is bearing down on elderly Yangon residents and claiming lives, according to the Free Funeral Service Society. Every year the organisation gets an increase of clients needing their services during hot season. While the total deaths the society has assisted with this year is not as high as last year, 895 compared to 899, the group attributes the difference to other organisations helping to provide funeral services this year. Elderly residents in Yangon are particularly vulnerable to the heat, with disease or underlying health issues exacerbated by the high temperatures, according to Ko Ye Thwin Tun, a spokesperson for the FFSS. He told The Myanmar Times the service has been providing hearses to carry about 40 coffins to burial or cremation sites around Yangon each day. The FFSS was founded as an NGO in 2001 by film director Thukha and is headed by many prominent entertainers, including actor Kyaw Thu. The FFSS has helped fund more than 158,655 funerals since it first started. Today we already received 20 coffins to carry between 8am to 10am. Every day we are receiving 40 bodies to carry to a funeral. Most of the deceased are over 60 years old and died of diseases made worse by the heat, said Ko Ye Thein Tun. One of most intense heat waves to hit Southeast Asia has caused record-breaking temperatures across Myanmar. In several cities the mercury has been threatening to break the all-time heat record for Myanmar of 47.2 Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit), which was set in Myinmu, Sagaing Region, on May 14, 2010. Dr Myint Oo, owner of the Win clinic in Kyeemyindaing township, said the number of patients coming for heat-related problems like heat exhaustion has been increasing since March. Around 60 percent of my patients are suffering from heat exhaustion. Most are elderly and some are children with heat rash, he said. Medical superintendent of Yangon General Hospital Dr Aye Ko Ko said there were two heat-shock patients at the hospital April, and no heat-related deaths. He added that the heat can be problematic for patients with heart problems, diabetes and hypertension. I am seeing more heat-related problems this year, he said. According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrologys April 29 announcement, in addition to the extreme heat, the UV levels are high enough to pose an elevated risk of causing harm. The department has recorded levels of 9.7 in Nay Pyi Taw, 9.1 in Yangon and 9.5 in Mandalay. According to the US Environmental Protection Association, a level between 8 and 10 means that there is a very high risk of harm with unprotected sun exposure, which should be minimised between 10am and 4pm. When I first lived in Thailand, almost two decades ago, the prevailing attitude toward Myanmar was predictably dismissive. Myanmar was considered backward, destitute and despotic. Thai school textbooks dwelt on old battles between mainland Southeast Asias duelling Buddhist civilisations. Young students quickly got the message about the wickedness of Myanmar kings and the brutality of their armies. There was little sympathy for the neighbours 20th-century woes. Back then, Pama was still used as a schoolyard put-down. In Thai society, where hierarchy is prized above all else, Myanmar people were at the bottom of the pecking order, even lower than Khmer or Lao. Where I lived, the only Myanmar people we ever met laboured on rubber plantations or as household staff. Others, of course, crewed fishing boats or did the hard work of tending prawn farms. Myanmar workers were also starting to arrive in large numbers to do the factory jobs that Thais were reluctant to take on. Back then, Thailand was riding high reasonably democratic, effectively governed and primed for another surge of economic success. When you put Myanmar and Thailand side-by-side there was, at least superficially, almost no comparison. Under the State Peace and Development Council, Myanmar was rightly derided for its disastrous human rights record and economic paralysis. The news about Myanmar that drifted across the national frontier to Thailand was always negative. Most stories picked up common themes of drugs, war and dystopia. In response, the Thai authorities kept a steady watch on their mountainous border, an interested party to the long-running conflicts of the Mon, Kayin, Kayah and Shan. For most Thais, the rest of Myanmar was a mystery, shrouded behind language and cultural differences that felt insurmountable. In those days, Thailand was considered Southeast Asias great democratic beacon. Its 1997 constitution set a framework for government that was the envy of activists elsewhere in the region. Thais were proud that it looked as though their meddling military was back in the barracks for good. What many people tended to ignore in the Thai case was the way that the influence of the military and the palace would persist long after regular elections were held. In the past decade there have been two military coups in Bangkok. The countrys status as a democratic model for the region is now long forgotten. In its stead there is a greater understanding than ever for the unflinching commitment of the armed forces to secure its own interests and those of its backers in the royal family. Thailands experience of democratic unravelling offers stark lessons in what can go wrong if elite powerbrokers elevate their own judgements above a popular vote. The economy is now sputtering, struggling for new momentum. Some analysts even talk of a lost decade from which a once-vibrant and energetic society will struggle to fully recover. Today, the Thai people watch their words carefully, fretful about being branded subversive. Websites are blocked. Activists are kept on their toes. Those who find themselves on the wrong side of the political divide are invited in for questioning. In the toughest cases, re-education is prescribed. These strictures are grimly familiar to those who suffered over recent decades under military rule in Myanmar. How quickly things change. For a long time, Thailand provided safe haven and support to Myanmars democrats. The backstreets of Chiang Mai, Mae Sot and Mae Sai long echoed with Myanmar voices plotting a better future back home. What is incredible about the recent reversal of political fortunes is that Myanmar is now significantly more democratic and transparent than Thailand. It just goes to show that political conditions are not set in stone. In a region of great flux and tension we need to keep an open mind about alternative futures. In Thailands case, the people are waiting for the end of King Bhumibol Adulyadejs historic reign. He has been on the throne for almost 70 years and there is some trepidation about what happens next. Of course, the plotters of the 2014 coup will seek to exert their disciplining influence over the palace succession, but it is never easy to replace such a towering figure. For Myanmars new democratically elected government there is a further lesson from Thailands turbulence. Put bluntly, even when democracy appears like it is consolidated, there is still a risk that the military will step back in. Nobody in Myanmar wants to consider this scenario right now. Why should they? But the track record of failed democratic flirtation across the vastness of Asia suggests that only rarely do militaries remove themselves completely from the political fray. In most cases they retain some involvement, poised to re-assert themselves if conditions warrant. Right now, Myanmar is Southeast Asias best democratic bet. It is an increasingly exciting place for ideas, business and culture. Such a happy situation is not inevitable. Just look at Thailands bleak prognosis and consider how it can all go so badly wrong. New Mandala Nicholas Farrelly is director of the Myanmar Research Centre at the Australian National University and the co-founder of New Mandala. His column appears each Monday. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Accra, 30th April: Thirty young women eagerly absorbed important lessons from leading women in the broadcast industry, including Bridget Otoo and Berla Mundi among others, as part of a new initiative from Anita Erskine Media and Brand Woman Africa titled Conversations Leading Change Through Young Women in an Evolving Africa, held at the Oak Plaza Hotel today. I believe our young women have so much incredible potential to create the kind of social change Ghana urgently needs, but sometimes its just a matter of finding the right motivation to push you in the direction of success, said award-winning television and radio host Anita Erskine, who organized the event. I created Conversations which will be a quarterly event covering a range of sectors, to give young women an opportunity to interact with and have real conversations with experts on how to build a successful career within a particular industry. Conversations for Change The following speakers were in attendance to share a range of experiences and advice on topics across the broadcast industry in Ghana and show the audience what powerful women are capable achieving within the media: - Bridget Otoo: Presenter, TV3 - Berla Mundi: Radio & TV Presenter, LiveFM and 4Syte TV - Chantelle Asante: TV Presenter & Producer, Viasat 1 - Akua Boatemaa: Video and Photography Director - Owusua Dacosta: TV Presenter & Producer, Discovery +233 - AJ Sarpong: Radio & TV Presenter / Producer, StarrFM and GH One TV - Akosua Hanson: Radio & TV Presenter, LiveFM & Celebrity Fanzone on Viasat 1 - Caroline Sampson: Radio & TV Presenter Inspiring Global Progress The program, designed to educate and inspire young women from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, the African University College of Communication and NAFTI, gave aspiring females the chance to connect, communicate and network with industry experts including Anita Erskine. After listening to each of the broadcast industry experts tell their stories, the students were spilt into small groups to provide more intimate conversations between the students and the professionals. Key parts of the program focused on broadcasting online via Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and how it can encourage wider participation and reach a global audience. The event served as the first installment of a recurring program designed to encourage the next generation of female leaders across a variety of industries. Sponsors including Oak Plaza, EcoBank, the Vodafone Ghana Foundation, Microsoft and Lux are thrilled to have taken part in such a positive experience focused on growing a new generation of empowered female entrepreneurs. 02.05.2016 LISTEN Sunday, May 1, 2016 Folks, there is no gainsaying the fact that Akufo-Addo lost Elections 2008 and 2012, not because he didnt have any message for Ghanaians to hang on to but because he lacked the personal appeal that the voters needed to assuage all doubts and apprehensions that he would provide a better administration of affairs to make Ghana habitable by them. In effect Akufo-Addos approach to politics scared the voters more than needed. No amount of massaging of feelings after-the-fact could save him from electoral doom. Thus, he lost Election 2008 in the run-off, clearly because those why were expected top partner with him saw through the veil and thought otherwise. None of the mushroom anti-NDC parties that partnered Kufuor to win the 2000 run-off joined arms with him even though he had a slight edge of 49 point something per cent over the late Atta Mills. Thereafter, events didnt work well for him. The consequences? Election 2012 saw him in the ditch again on account of his lack of appeal and many other factors that worked well for President Mahama. All that whiloe4, he was riding on the crest of the NPPs strategic choice of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (a northerner and Muslim) to relive the Alhaji Aliu Mahama memory. Truth be told, Dr. Bawumia had little to offer the NPP. He still has little to do so even after re-engineering himself as the political-opponent-in-chief of a fellow Northerner in the person of President John Dramani Mahama. In his bid to paint President Mahama as bad for Northern Ghana, Dr. Bawumia is burning steam and unwittingly playing himself into the hands of Fate. He has said a lot to damn the Mahama-led administration that has turned out to have a boomerang effect on his own integrity and to jeopardize the very cause for which he is being used. The vicissitudes of the useless petition hearing that continue to haunt him are glaring. He played a yeomans role that hasnt redounded to his own political quests of those of the Akufo-Addo hiding in the shadows to manipulate him just because he claims to be an economist and was the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (under whom the Kufuor government did surreptitious things, including the redenomination of the Ghanaians Cedi, which is one of the major contentions dogging him. How much the government spent on that exercise i9s still being kept secret while the rush to sentimentalism about the slumping of the Cedi is has become the NPPs anti-Mahama gig. In this sense, Dr. Bawumia hasnt yet passed the credibility test, which pegs him on a horrible pedestal when it comes to truthfulness in national affairs. Is such a person really worthy of being entrusted with the affairs of state?). To worsen his credibility problem, he is going around the country, especially the northern sector, playing the tribal card. As already known, he is on record as having urged his siblings and others of the Great Naa Gbewaa origin to root for him against President Mahama because he is also a northerner. This recourse to the tribal card goes against the grain that Ms. Dzifa Ativor of the NDC is accused of sowing. She is on record as urging the electorate of the Volta Region (Ewes) to retain the Mahama-led NDC administration in power if she is not to be jailed by an Akufo-Addo-led NPP government. Forget5 about the narrow-selfish personal interest behind her appeal to concentrate on larger-level issues of tribal politics, which brings in Dr. Bawumia too. He has made two terribly spurious moves that constitute nothing but a drawback on the Akufo-Addo move. Here they are: 1. Speaking at Nyohini, in the Tamale South Constituency, Dr. Bawumia said many things wrapped around tribal politics, even if he set out to undermine President Mahama as a failure. Here are his own words as reported in the news: My elders, my brothers, my sisters, in 2008 and 2012, we were told by the NDC that because John Mahama was a Northerner, we should vote for him. Indeed, John Mahama himself asked the people of the North to vote for him because he was from the North My elders and siblings, if John Mahama is claiming that you should vote for him because he is a northerner, then I would like to remind you that I am also from the North as a grandson of Na Gbewaa and I am asking for you to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo and myself (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Mahama-has-failed-Bawumia-435227). 2. Addressing supporters of the New Patriotic Party in the Sissala East district of the Upper West region Dr. Bawumia stated that the Presidency is religiously skewed against Muslims, which does not adequately reflect one part of the two dominant religious groupings in the country. He, therefore, urged the residents to vote for the NPP in the upcoming elections in order to bring religious balance to the presidency.(See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Flagstaff-House-religiously-skewed-Bawumia-435154). Abject political mediocrity and dishonesty to the truth. Complete childishness. Is Ghana a theocracy to warrant this kind of nonsense? By going this way, Dr. Bawumia is charting a path to be wary of. Records reveal that all Ghanaians of all religious faiths are doing government business all over the country, not only at the Flagstaff House because Ghana is a secular state. President Mahama has on several occasions made it clear that Ghanas secular stateness wont permit it to do anything to favour any particular sect. Dr. Bawumia should have known better than going this way. So, what is he doing, after all? Playing the religious card in addition to the tribal one that he has played in Tamale? And claims to be a grandson of the Naa Gbewaa? Truly, with characters like him, any crisis emanating from ethnic or religious conflicts/misunderstandings cannot be resolved as long as they pull strings. And to say that he was on a pilgrimage last year to seek the face of Allah is a farce. Allah upholds peace among all nation, contrary to what Dr. Bawumia upholds in his political quests. A bad omen already!! Folks, we can say with all confidence that what has been unleashed by Dr. Bawumia at this point in his electioneering campaign bid raises more worries than he and Akufo-Addo can contain. He has added more woes to the plate and should be prepared for the consequences. Before the NPP power brokers even step in to question him on his choice of political mobilization strategy, suffice it for me to conclude that he has done nothing but add more spokes to Akufo-Addos wheel. The man himself is still struggling to solve his personal credibility problems. Why add more from a wo9der dimension to it? I shall return 02.05.2016 LISTEN Sunday, May 1, 2016 Because it is confident that the voters will be more swayed by their own living conditions to vote against President Mahama than anything else. But is that enough to win it Election 2016? Folks, in assessing the electioneering campaign strategies of the political parties toward Election 2016, it is clear that even though we are not yet in the main season, a lot is happening to tell us how the tide flows. The Mahama-led administration insists that it has laid a solid foundation by satisfying the electorate with development projects and tackling longstanding major national problems such as Dumsor to warrant its being retained in power so it an turn attention to other aspects of governance. As President Mahama has put it, a further four-year term for him will enable him to ensure that money is put in the pockets of Ghanaians. Whatever that claim portends, it suggests that President Mahama feels his government has done enough in broad terms and will use its next tenure to concentrate on policies and programmes to enrich the lives of Ghanaians. It means doing what will reduce the cost of living or give the people the means to cope with it. Those opposed to his bid for a second term have so far not given us anything new with which to assess the situation. They have remained fixated on abject criticism, outright peddling of rumours, scaremongering, and tribal politics disguised as a campaign of fellow-feeling. They are no more making copious promises but are insistent on being given the mandate because of their self-serving claims that President Mahama is incompetent or has failed. So far, nothing new has come from the NPP front to make the difference in how it wants to approach Election 2016. If it is not confronting the EC or denigrating the NDC administration, then, it is flexing muscle to engage in a useless wordy warfare. There is still preference for their favoured political strategyissuing threats, intimidating opponents, physically attacking opponents or property of opposing political parties, and many others. On his part, Dr. Nduom and his PPP continue to tout their own worthiness, even as nothing exists to prove that they are firm on the ground. Its all a campaign of wishful thinking on the basis of an individuals success in business management and expansion of his private economic concerns. The misconception here is that success in business can be automatically translated into success in politics and the management of Ghanas affairs. Deceptive!! The CPP front has Ivor Greenstreet in the saddle but isnt going anywhere because it has no traction. No constituency in the country exists for it. So, all the noise coming from Greenstreet reaches nowhere to woo voters. I have nothing specifically relevant from the other mushroom parties (the PNC and its Dr. Edward Mahama, Nana Konadu and her NDP) and any other that exists in the imagination of its leader or in the media for whatever noise it makes just to prove that it still remains a legal entity, registered and acknowledged as such by the EC. Where am I heading toward? I want to say that politicking toward Election 2016 seems to be offering Ghanaians nothing new. All that is doing the rounds has already been heard before. Those who lost Elections 2008 and 2012 havent changed their tune (After all, retaining the losers means getting nothing new from them to change the equation, clearly because they havent learnt any lesson from previous elections to add value to themselves). In that sense, should we be surprised that they have no convincing campaign message for the electorate? Well, it may be so. But certain opinions suggest that they dont need any message because the voters themselves already know what they need to know to inform their electoral decision. In clear terms, the position is that he who feels it, knows it (as the Jamaican reggae musician puts it). Thus, the electorate will not need any message to decide how to vote. They will be informed by their living conditions under President Mahamas watch. This stance seems to fit into the NPPs message for Election 2000 (Hwe wasetena mo na tu aba pa), which didnt win Kufuor the elections outright. But for the support of the mushroom parties, he couldnt have won the run-off. So, now that the same tune seems to be on air, what next? Will the voters simply write off President Mahama in favour of Akufo-Addo? Or will this feeling that President Mahama is incompetent be enough of a campaign message? To make the matter more pointed, I reproduce verbatim a comment at ModernGhana.com by a reader of my opinion piece (So soon, a victory ram for President Mahama) that speaks a lot to why the NPP may not want to hinge its campaign on any specific message: Dr Borkor, I know you are an NDC supporter, so am I. The difference between the two of us is that I have now gone off Mahama because he is so INCOMPETENT. What is more, you live in the USA but I live in Ghana and as such can SEE first-hand the damage Mahama is doing to the country. The bottom line is Mahama is NOT a CLEVER person and as such he does not know how to move the country forward. I want Mahama to LOSE on November 7 to give the country a chance to breathe and to recover. Mahama would be better off teaching English Literature at University of Ghana, Legon. Better still, he had said in the past that he would be a cocoa farmer when he was no longer in politics. Let us give John Dramani Mahama the chance on November 7 to become a cocoa farmer. Maybe he will make a better cocoa farmer than he is president. He is NOT cut out to be president; I am not saying Akufo-Addo is either! If Ghanaians make the mistake of voting for Mahama on November 7, it will mean Ghanaians will be in the doldrums for another FOUR, PAINFUL WASTEFUL years. Mahama is just not doing anything tangible to HELP this country for the simple reason that he is at a DEAD END as far as his abilities are concerned. The kind of politics required to move Ghana forward is a BOLD one, and Mahama is NOT a bold person. He is hiding behind IMF's politics and economics (political economy), which is detrimental to a developing country such as Ghana. We Ghanaians must show POLITICAL MATURITY on November 7 by trying someone new. Here is the deal. Ghanaians should take a good look at Ivor Greenstreet and Kwesi Nduom to see if we can take a risk with one of them. (The GBC should organise US-style presidential debates for the NDC, NPP, CPP and PPP so that we can take a CLOSER look at these candidates.) If the prospect of Greenstreet or Nduom is too risky, then we must take a chance with the NPP; anything is BETTER than Mahama. The plus side for electing the NPP will be that Bawumia, who in my books is cleverer than Mahama, might help MOVE the country forward. The negative side will be the NPP might move the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the tax haven of Panama for their convenience! This is a risk we must be prepared to take. Another FOUR years of Mahama will COLLAPSE the country! Ghana is at the "point of inflection"; it needs bold and drastic measures. The Ghanaian electorate is not sophisticated; therefore, it is likely Mahama can manipulate it and win on November 7. However, that will be a HALLOW victory because it is not a question of winning power, but whether the power can be put to good use. Accra, not to mention Tema and Kumasi, has become so SHABBY and DIRTY that it is only someone as BENIGHTED as Mahama who cannot see the significance of keeping a clean environment! He never talks about how he plans to remove the dirt and sludge, which is in almost every gutter in Accra, and how he plans to clean the filth that is ENGULFING our major towns and cities and the wider environment. A monkey would do a better job than Mahama. A monkey would have enough intelligence to know that we need to CLEAN our environment and BUILD our shattered roads. Some of the roads in Accra are so ineffably shattered that I do not know why Mahama keeps BOASTING about building roads. (See http://members.modernghana.com/GhanaHome/columnist/admin/listblogs.asp?saction=comments&id=689169#comments). Folks, the comment is really loaded and reflects the thinking of someone who has his own beef against President Mahama. I dont intend to unpack it, even if I want to fault the writer for being so intemperate and misguided in his attitude toward the President. He seems not to know what a President is constitutionally mandated to do or not. On environmental hygiene, for instance, I dont think that it is the responsibility of the President to clean our gutters or living spaces. Why was the National Sanitation Day launched by President Mahama? So he will physically clean the country or so the citizens will be responsible enough to do so themselves? A lot of food-for-thought here. I have already written an opinion piece to say that President Mahama is not Ghanas problems and that Ghanaians are their own (and their countrys) problem. Anybody thinking otherwise will only be helping his opponents fail to hit the campaign trail with messages to woo the electorate. Is the NPP falling into this trap? I shall return 02.05.2016 LISTEN One of the loudest and most fruitless political disputes in Washington has been about climate change. If youre even vaguely concerned about climate change, take note: The political climate itself may be changing. Capitalism to the rescue! Many progressives consider climate change an existential threat to humanity and the environment. They have been stymied by proposing a solution that would impose punitive costs on, well, voters ... such as a carbon tax. As polling by Pew consistently shows, climate change continually ranks near the bottom of voter concerns. The economy ranks at the top. Republicans, of course, have been fiercely resistant to imposing the economically punitive measures many progressives endorse. Deadlock. Over many years of this partisan impasse the magic of free markets, behind the scenes, has begun to change the political calculus. Emerging technologies are reducing energy costs dramatically, using emission-free energy sources such as sunshine and wind. In recently working on a research project funded by the Grace Richardson Foundation I encountered compelling evidence that the emergence of inexpensive, emission-free, energy is fast approaching. There are opportunities to accelerate these good things, not by subsidies, through targeted tax rate cuts and removal of arbitrary regulatory barriers. Follow along. We confront the possibility of energy and climate policy becoming what academics call a valence (consensus) rather than a "values" (polarizing) issue. Conservatives do not champion climate change. We are unpersuaded that it threatens to be as catastrophic as many progressives believe. We also are unpersuaded that the proposed costs of addressing it, which are excruciating, pass a cost-benefit analysis. But we are not deniers. It would be reckless to dismiss the possibility that climate change could have catastrophic consequences. Conservatives aren't reckless. Dr. Joseph Romm, formerly acting assistant secretary of energy for energy efficiency and renewable energy for the U.S. Department of Energy, now a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress, recently published an impressive book written for the intelligent layman. It lucidly presents the case both for deep concern and and optimism): Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know . As described by the publisher, Oxford University Press: Climate change will have a bigger impact on humanity than the Internet has had. The last decades spate of superstorms, wildfires, heat waves, and droughts has accelerated the public discourse on this topic and lent credence to climatologist Lonnie Thomsons 2010 statement that climate change represents a clear and present danger to civilization. In June 2015, the Pope declared that action on climate change is a moral issue. This book offers the most up-to-date examination of climate changes foundational science, its implications for our future, and the core clean energy solutions. Romm presents worrisome, even potentially apocalyptic, scenarios. Most dramatic, if the global temperature gets high enough to trigger it. might be the potentially dire further climate impact from release of methane from melting permafrost. But he counsels hope, and action, not despair. He lucidly analyzes the many emerging technologies that could (and already are beginning to) reduce the emission of CO2. Romm provides a lay reader a consistently fascinating guide, qualifying some, and disqualifying other, technologies. He observes: I personally have become more optimistic about humanitys chances in the last year. Another hopeful sign is that the key technologies needed to avert catastrophic warming solar power, wind, energy-efficient lighting, advanced batteries have seen a steady and in some cases remarkable drop in prices. This price drop has been matched by a steady improvement in performance. Maybe at some point in the past you could believe that climate action was too expensive, but not any more. The nations top scientists, energy experts, and governments have all spelled out in great detail that even the strongest climate action is super cheap. Super cheap? This would be a transformational development. What evidence is there that we might be reaching an inflection point in developing emission-free energy sources cheaper than fossil-fuels? The evidence is abundant. Futurist Ramez Naam blogging in Scientific American , on March 16, 2011: Over the last 30 years, researchers have watched as the price of capturing solar energy has dropped exponentially. Theres now frequent talk of a Moores law in solar energy. In computing, Moores law dictates that the number of components that can be placed on a chip doubles every 18 months. More practically speaking, the amount of computing power you can buy for a dollar has roughly doubled every 18 months, for decades. Thats the reason that the phone in your pocket has thousands of times as much memory and ten times as much processing power as a famed Cray 1 supercomputer, while weighing ounces compared to the Crays 10,000 lb bulk, fitting in your pocket rather than a large room, and costing tens or hundreds of dollars rather than tens of millions. If similar dynamics worked in solar power technology, then we would eventually have the solar equivalent of an iPhone incredibly cheap, mass distributed energy technology that was many times more effective than the giant and centralized technologies it was born from. Technological progress is going much faster than even the techno-optimistic Naam believed. As New York Magazines Jonathan Chait wrote last year in The Sunniest Climate-Change Story Youve Ever Read : Four years later, in the spring of this year, Naam revisited his post and admitted his prediction had been wrong. It was far too conservative. The price of solar power had already hit the 50-cent threshold. In the sunniest locations in the world, building a new solar-power plant now costs less than coal or natural gas, even without subsidies, and within six years, this will be true of places with average sunlight, too. Taller turbines, with longer and more powerful blades, have made wind power competitive in a growing swath of the country (the windy parts). By 2023, new wind power is expected to cost less than new power plants burning natural gas. To compensate for the variability of solar and wind, storage mechanisms are required. Bloomberg News reports, in a recent article entitled Wind and Solar Are Crushing Fossil Fuels: "Whats more, the price of batteries to store solar power when the sun isnt shining is falling in a similarly stunning arc." These developments have not been lost upon advocates for free market policy. Among the leading lights of the right are Tea Party Patriots board member and co-founder Debbie Dooley, head of Conservatives for Energy Freedom , and entrepreneur Jay Faison, founder and CEO of Clear Path Foundation . Faison has committed $175 million of his own money to persuade Republicans to take climate change seriously and to use free market policies to end it. There has been encouraging openness within The American Spectator and a blog on his own site by its senior editor Quin Hillyer, entitled Supply-Side Clean Energy . There has been consistent effort by Grace Richardson Foundation president Rod Richardson, a thought leader in applying free market principles in this sector, to forge coalition between the right and the left. There is still much to be done. Solar and wind power, while growing by leaps and bounds, now make up a tiny fraction of our energy supply. There is good reason to accelerate the process of the development and adoption of cheap, emission-free, energy by cutting tax rates. Doing so would deliver the goods, goods held dear by Republicans lower cost energy for consumers and by Democrats reducing, and then eliminating, carbon dioxide emissions. Using conservative means to advance progressive ends isnt really so odd. (Communism and socialism struggled for a century materially to improve the lot of working people. Using romantic, rather than realistic, means they failed in a big way.) China, adopting free market policies (euphemistically called socialism with Chinese characteristics") under the great supply-sider Deng Xiaoping and his successors brought almost a billion people out of subsistence and into affluence so quickly that Karl Marx spins in his grave. When Russia adopted a low-rate flat tax its economy took off like a rocket. (Bernie Sanders, take note!) I previously cited here the moving words of NASA climatologist and retired astronaut Dr. Piers J. Sellers from his Jan. 16, 2016 piece on climate change in The New York Times Sunday Review : These engineers and industrialists are fully up to the job, given the right incentives and investments. You have only to look at what they achieved during World War II: American technology and production catapulted over what would have taken decades to do under ordinary conditions and presented us with a world in 1945 that was completely different from the late 1930s. Key words: given the right incentives and investments. The free market is developing, producing, and adopting cheaper and cheaper, emission-free energy. This depends on enterprising men and women focused on technological development and deployment. Technologies are governed by different laws than commodities. By credible estimates such ventures soon will start becoming profitable without subsidy. Do you wish your electricity bills, or CO2 emissions, or both, to go down? Then it makes compelling sense to reduce marginal tax rates on, and to eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers. Let the free market work its magic to bring on inexpensive, emission-free, energy. Capitalism to the rescue, Happy Earth Day to you! Originating at Forbes.com Colonel Ferron Williams returned back to the island this weekend with a delegation of Accompong Maroons whom he had led to the Kingdom of Ashanti, Ghana, for a historical meeting with the Asantehene. Maroon delegation from left to right: Timothy McPherson, Toni-Ann Williams, Cassandra Wall, Col. Ferron Williams, Opal Dickson-Clarke, Novadean Newsome, Julette Osbourne The Maroon delegation was invited as the Asantehenes guests of honour during the Akwasidae Festival, which is the Kingdoms most important celebration. The King of Ashanti, Otumfou Osei Tutu II, described the meeting as being a very important spiritual re-unification particularly because the Maroons in Accompong trace their ancestry back to the Akan and Ashanti people. These are my people, they have come back home, he said when introducing the delegation. In addition to meeting with the King, the Maroon delegation was also welcomed by President John Mahama. Colonel Ferron Williams has described the trip as a major milestone in African and Caribbean relations, highlighting the important role that traditional leaders can and must play in achieving an African Renaissance. Accompongs Colonel Ferron Williams (left) meeting Ghanas President John Mahama During the three-day official visit, the Accompong Maroon delegation enjoyed several sites, among which was a tour of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum as well as the Cape Coast Slave Castle. In addition to the cultural re-unification between the Accompong Maroons and the Kingdom of Ashanti, the visit also ventured into the economic sphere. Accompongs Minister of Finance, Timothy Elisha McPherson Jr., signed a trade agreement with the Kingdom of Ashanti that would establish a new era of pan-African cooperation on various fronts, particularly in the area of climate change mitigation and renewable energy finance. Minister McPherson said, Accompongs climate change initiative has become the driving force behind all of our current activities. We created the Central Solar Reserve Bank of Accompong as a unique and modern institution to facilitate renewable energy finance, and now through this trade agreement we will be granted access to our ancestral land of Ghana as well as the whole ECOWAS region. So this is truly a great step for Accompong both on the economic and cultural front. Colonel Ferron Williams described the trade agreement as a landmark event not only for the Accompong Maroons but for the whole Diaspora. He said, we are oldest sovereign Africans in the Western hemisphere, and it is very appropriate that this agreement be established with us. We do this in honour of our ancestors who fought for our freedom. Established in 1738-9 through its peace treaty with the British, the Accompong Maroons are the only Maroons in Jamaica who still have full sovereignty. The community is committed to a transformation from a cultural historic relic into an economic force within the pan-African Renaissance. 02.05.2016 LISTEN The Ghanaian worker has never been so pushed to the wall by government-inflicted economic circumstances. He has been so impoverished that he soliloquises when no one is looking at him a newfound trait symptomatic of stress and near hopelessness. The tariff hikes and the now unannounced fuel price increases worsen his plight by the day. Some of his colleagues, unable to withstand the challenges, have embraced alcoholism as others take the abominable route of suicide. The rate at which people are taking this abominable route as well as spousal murders is alarming, both attributable to the difficulties flowing from the economic hardships. Social interventions introduced by the previous government to cushion him from the economic challenges imposed by external forces have faded into insignificance. Yesterday was May Day. We wish to congratulate the Ghanaian worker and to plead with him to take heart and pray for better times ahead. There is still hope for Ghana; her human resource base and natural wealth extractive and agricultural still in abundance but only waiting for better and visionary managers. Let him not lose hope and take to abominable decisions which only expose his family to very serious consequences. . As a routine, those whose stewardship of the state has led us to where we are now have spoken, painting a very beautiful picture of an economy seen by them only. They think that it is in their interest to live in denial about the reality of the economy, continuously presenting it as resilient and robust. The truth of the matter is that the economy is in a dire state and requires occasional treatment in the form of increased taxation as in the almost fortnight increment in the price of petroleum products. Many of his colleagues in the private sector have lost their jobs, their employers unable to withstand harsh tax regime dictated by the government which is suffering the uncontrollable effect of self-inflicted bad economic decisions and corruption. This year's May Day is worryingly significant. Taking place in an election year, government in a bid to have more Ghanaians vote for it will definitely engage in reckless expenditure, the effects of which would be transferred to the already indisposed economy, with the Ghanaian absorbing the brunt. Paradoxically, government has already said it would not engage in the aforementioned economic anomaly associated with an election year. We have taken this with a pinch of salt: no government with a penchant for this alternative would say otherwise. We congratulate the Ghanaian worker on enduring the difficult times this far. It is an election year and in a country democratic in nature, you have the power to alter your circumstances. Even as the political parties go about canvassing for your vote, you are in a better position to compare their records with a view to making informed choices. A faux pas in the choice of a political leadership can lead to rather regrettable consequences. The choice is yours. The General Secretary of the Public Utility Workers Union, Ato Bondzie Quaye has commended president Mahama for assuring workers the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) would not be privatised. Speaking at this year's May Day celebrations in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, President Mahama stated that, ECG is and will remain a wholly state enterprise. However, in an exclusive interview with Joy News, Ato Bonzie Quaye said they hope that President Mahama will walk his talk this time round. It is not the first time we have heard this, but if he is saying it we have heard it and we believe it is so, then there will be peace for us, otherwise, those who have been contracted need to meet with the workers and iron out the little little things that we are not clear of, Mr. Quaye said. He said the President has listened to them and was categorical that the Company won't be sold, but the rate at which bidders are pushing the agenda of concession is mind-boggling. Workers want to know what is the concession that is being talked about regarding a takeover, he said, citing the management contract government did with Ghana Water Company which failed. According to him, the President has repeatedly denied plans by government to privatize ECG and yet the posture and actions of government showed otherwise. When asked what they want government to do, Mr. Quaye told Joy News reporter Rafiq Salam that, they want everything to be suspended as Ghanaians are very capable of managing it. Whoever is managing it that we find fault with were appointed by them [government]. If you think they are not performing well, change them, Mr. Quaye stated. -myjoyonline The National Democratic Party (NDP) has confirmed former first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings as the party's presidential candidate for the November election. The confirmation was made at a congress held in Accra on Saturday, April 30 at the International Trade Fair Centre. The party also elected new executives ahead of the presidential and parliamentary polls. The former first lady after her confirmation called on Ghanaians to demand accountability from government. She said, I believe that the role of a democratic government is to protect and strengthen liberties and redress the balance between powerful and weak, between the rich and poor through a government which invests in people but at the same time is prepared to be accountable to the people for their actions and omissions. We can only redress the imbalance if we identify the weakness and emphasize on structural changes which will go a long way to block the loopholes which allow the injustices to be perpetrated in the first place, she added. Mrs. Rawlings urged Ghanaians to vote for a visionary leader. It is our responsibility to build a country that gives each individual an equal opportunity. It is our responsibility to give power to leaders who have a vision and the common goal of Ghanaians at heart, Mrs. Rawlings said. The former president Jerry John Rawlings and two of his daughters were at the congress to support the former first lady. -myjoyonline The National Peace Council has condemned as irresponsible, a statement made by NPP Vice-Presidential candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, suggesting the Flagstaff House is religiously skewed. Addressing New Patriotic Party supporters last week at a village in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region, Dr. Bawumia said, another major issue that I want to bring to the attention of the people is that; if we look at the flagstaff house today, it does not reflect the people of Ghana in terms of religion. He said, In this country, we are living peacefully and nicely Muslims and Christians. So we believe in the NPP that Christians and Muslims should work together and that is why whenever we pick a president as a Christian, we pick a Muslim as a vice. "And when we come and pick a Muslim as a president, we will pick a Christian as a vice. So if, Insha Allah, Nana Akufo-Addo becomes president, he will swear with the Bible and enter the Flagstaff House and I will swear with the Qur'an and enter the flagstaff House. But in a statement signed by its Chairman, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, the Peace Council said, "We find this statement unfortunate, irresponsible, unwarranted, and a recipe for chaos if allowed to go without condemnation." Please see the full statement below: BAWUMIA ON POTENTIALLY INFLAMMATORY RELIGIOUS COMMENTS It has come to the attention of the National Peace Council that the running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made statements calling for Muslims to support him because he is a Muslim, while addressing his party supporters at the Sissala East District of the Upper East Region. He was quoted as saying, another major issue that I want to bring to the attention of the people is that; if we look at the flagstaff house today, it does not reflect the people of Ghana in terms of religion. We find this statement unfortunate, irresponsible, unwarranted, and a recipe for chaos if allowed to go without condemnation. Elections are contested and won at the polling stations when Ghanaians are convinced with superior policy alternatives. The national constitution did not prescribe the religion to which the occupants of the seat of government must belong. We find it rather unfortunate that a running mate of the caliber of Dr. Bawumia would stoop this low in inciting religious sentiments in a country where religious sects had peacefully coexisted. As we head into this years elections, we want to urge politicians to be circumspect in their utterances, focus on the challenges facing this country and put forward how they intend to resolve them if given the mandate. We, therefore, cringe at the careless resort to religious association, rather than policy quality, by Dr Bawumia as a basis for which he should be voted for. If voters begin to be incentivised by their religious association, the consequences of defeat can be dire since they may consider their rejection as rejection of their religion. By this statement we are calling on all Ghanaians to avoid all political activists who mobilise them along religious lines. Let us jealously guard our national peace. Thank you. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Chairman, National Peace Council. On 27th April 2016, the German Federal Cabinet approved the signing of the Economic PartnershipAgreement (EPA) of the European Union with the SADC member states. The Agreement will guarantee permanent tax and quota free access to the European market forproducts from Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland. South Africa, as the mostdeveloped country in the region, will receive extended market access to the European market. Inreturn, the above mentioned countries are supposed to open their markets for about 80% ofEuropean products over the course of 12 years. As already practiced in other EPAs, products thatare locally produced or have added value for the local economy, will remain permanently protected. As an additional protection mechanism, the SADC-EPA countries may defer the liberalization ofspecific products or increase customs duties, if noticeable damage of the local industry is looming. Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Muller said: Thisagreement will create new opportunities for economically and socially sustainable development inSouthern Africa. Trade barriers will be reduced. This will, for example, make it easier for SouthAfrican or Namibian farmers to offer their agricultural products to the EU market. The same appliesto processed products. Thus we create the conditions for added value in these countries. Only 17%of trade is inner-African while inside the EU it is 45%. We want to help our African partnercountries to become more competitive, so that they can participate successfully in the world'smarkets. This is an important requirement for a region in Africa whose economy is growingdynamically. In addition to the reduction of trade barriers, the agreement contains binding environmental andsocial standards and gives the European Commission the possibility to demand certain human rightsstandards. The agreement is therefore an important instrument in development cooperation for thefurther cooperation with SADC-EPA countries. The signing by the EU is planned during the sessionof the Foreign Affairs Council on the 23rd of May 2016 in Brussels and by SADC on the 10th ofJune 2016 in Gaborone. When the signing process is completed, the EPA will be presented to theGerman Federal Parliament for approval. Thus, the German Federal Government has done all that isnecessary for the agreement to come into force in all SADC member states. The Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rationalized comments made by the party's vice-presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, condemned as inflammatory. Nana Akomea on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Monday, said the Vice Presidential Candidate of the party was making a case for balance and inclusion in the national political leadership of the country. Addressing party supporters in the Sissala East constituency in the Upper West Region over the weekend, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said the seat of the current NDC government does not adequately mirror the two dominant religious groups in Ghana. He then urged them to vote for the NPP in the upcoming elections to bring religious balance to the presidency. ...In this country, we are living peacefully and nicely Muslims and Christians. So we believe in the NPP that Christians and Muslims should work together and that is why whenever we pick a president as a Christian, we pick a Muslim as a vice." "And when we come and pick a Muslim as a president, we will pick a Christian as a vice. So if Insha Allah, Nana Akufo-Addo becomes president, he will swear with the Bible and enter the Flagstaff and I will swear with the Quran and enter the flagstaff House, "So that when we combine the Quran and the Bible, Ghana will be the major beneficiary. The blessings of God will be upon Ghana if we have the two religions are in the castle," he ended. His comments have since aroused condemnation from the general public. But Nana Akomea insists the intention of the comments of the vice presidential candidate is to promote religious balance at the presidency. "Bawumia didn't say don't vote for somebody because he is not a Muslim. He is saying that if we have a balanced ticket in terms of religion, he thinks it will be better for the country." "He may have said something that may arouse legal sentiments and if that is the case then we are all learning as we move forward but all of us talk about having ethnic balance in our political appointments, don't we?" Mr Akomea quizzed. But the National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress, Kofi Adams, said Dr Bawumia's remarks are "silly" and must be condemned. He said the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana is short of messages for Ghanaians and is, therefore, resorting religious politics. "All his economic theories, following President Mahama's Accounting to the People's tour [have] been thrown off so he has no message again when it comes to the economy so he must move to these other areas which will not help him," he indicated. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com| Akosua Asiedua| [email protected] Notions are that water is one medium through which pathogenic organisms are spread. The substantiation is that sachet or packaged water, which is the major means of drinking water in Nigeria, is not exempted of deadly organisms, due to its microbial substance. Unsafe water supply and laughable sanitation are fingered as the cause of over 70 percent diseases in the developing countries. A-case-in-point is Miss Eruchi Chinda, a resident of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, who is fond of drinking chilled sachet water. She starts experiencing symptoms of fever. She visits her doctor and is diagnosed of typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi and related illnesses. Professor Amobi Ilika, the Director of Community and Public Medicine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State, in March 2013, when in a civic presentation, cautioned that sachet water exposed to heat is capable of exposing the drinkers to cancerous materials. Many wont listen! Chindas doctor informed her that the typhoid fever was unconnected to drinking impure water. The doctor touched sachet or packaged water as the causative factor, cases of people having diseases like cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, typhoid fever, and so many others, abound today. How sachet water gets contaminated Professor Ilika was of the view that polythene bags made of synthetic petroleum deteriorates water in them, because the polythene bags are weather-susceptible. He averred that some of the sun ray or heat, melt some of the synthetic petroleum into the water. He enthused that the materials that will drop into the water are called carcinogenic. Not only that, the polythene bags also build-up germs and micro organisms. Chindas doctor confirmed that the diseases occur, because of the presence of bacterial features such as Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Streptococcus sp., and oocysts of Cryptosporidia sp., which have been traced to be present in sachet water. There are also traces of other microbial pathogens connected with water pollution which include Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Cryptosporidium and Giardiaspecies, according to the experts, and they are not farfetched in this type of water. The highlight of this is that vendors of the sachet water are not technically and scientifically grounded on handling and producing sachet water through storage and handling. Why Nigerians drink sachet water Water, which is essential to human being, has recorded immeasurable years of neglect in Nigeria by the successive governments, hence leaving the supply of drinking water in the country in undependable hands of sachet water producers. The populace loves this brand of water, which comes in sizes ranging from 60 mL to 2 L, due to its portability. However, many citizens are oblivious of the health hazards that it portends. The citizens may not be blamed, since they need ways to douse their urge for water. And it is cheap to purchase a sachet. But that is not the least. As a viable business in Nigeria, the sellers of sachet water protested in some parts of the country in February 2016, due to the economic downturn that the country experienced. Their anger was that a bag of the product, with habitually 20 sachets that was sold at N100, had skyrocketed for N150. A sachet that was sold for N10, jumped for N20. The failure to provide safe, pipe-borne water for human consummation by the successive governments, led to the production of sachet water in Nigeria. The governments ineptitude geared the sale of such water by individuals, with many of the producers not having in-depth knowledge of producing quality water. Re-Certification of sachet water producers The authorities, having earful of complaints on the dangers associated to sachet water proposed a bill in the recent past, to ban this type of water in the country. But the bill later bit the dust. The Director of Special Duties, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh of National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on February 10 2014, said the agency, in cooperation with the Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, and the Senate Committee on Health, had put every modality in place towards the re-certification and examining of sachet water producers in the country, with effect from March of the year in quote. His words were that the agency spurred for the monitoring, because it had newly acquired mobile laboratory kit just like a van, well equipped with latest ultra-modern testing kit. What was intended to be done was for the agency to be moving with the vehicle from one factory to another. That was coming after January, 2014, the Federal Ministry of Environment mouthed its plan to phase out light weight non-biodegradable plastics in the country, having collaborated with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, in December 2013, in a workshop, to put Nigerians on notice. Their gesture was that countries like China and South Africa had placed outright ban on light weight plastic bags, likewise some other countries. Environmental Degradation Sachet water packs are known as major sources of environmental degradation in the country. On June 5 2013, the authorities made known their plans to ban the use of plastic bags in the country, beginning by January 2014. The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, disclosed this then, during the 2013 World Environment Day celebration in Abuja. The statement has not hold water as used sachet packs liter everywhere across the country. In some states of the federation, upon the introduction of waste banks, buy-back programme, to checkmate the nuisance of used sachet packs, orderliness is still elusive. The country is in a big problem, as synthetic, black bags, polythene bags have crowded the ecosystem, constituting about 70% of Nigerias non-biodegradable waste. There are indications that it takes over 20 years for a sachet water bag to get wholly decayed inside the soil. Its presence decreases the quality of soil texture. The fear among experts is that these bags are in the landscape. And they are not bio-degradable, comprising a pain-in-the-neck. The mockery is that the country is in dearth of framework to address the issue. The wastes block drains, gutters and canals. Not only that, they cause odiferous atmosphere. A new time comer to metropolis and urban centres in the country is greeted with the foul odour. To the residents, the offensive smell has become part of their life. It means nothing to them. Apart from the foul odour, sachet packs gathered by flood during the rain, do not allow easy flow of water, hence causing overflow of erosion into residences. Seeing this, the states government often introduces levies to residents to help dispose them of their wastes, but this does yield little or no result. Suggestions: How to get out of the puzzle Checks revealed that waterborne disease outbreaks can be checkmated by the provision of portable water, which is often regulated to keep public health, owing to the fact that drinking water is an important environmental determinant of health. In order to rearrange the system, water treatment plants should be provided, such with a capacity over 5,000 m3/d, based on the population, but should be handled by trained personnel. Specialists intoned that poor operation and lack of maintenance that led to the breakdown of the water systems should be reviewed. This will enable the citizens not to rely on unreliable wells, unprocessed water from rivers and streams used in producing sachet water. Odimegwu Onwumere is a Rivers State-based poet, writer and consultant and winner, in the digital category, Nordica Media Merits Awards 2016. Tel: +2348057778358. Email: [email protected] 02.05.2016 LISTEN We have observed keenly as group the unpopular manner to which the Ashanti Regional Police and Chairman Wontumi have acted in this short time Voter registration. We find their actions as distasteful and we clearly see that it smacks a conspiracy and a real plan to frustrate the grounds of us in the NDC. We just cannot understand why the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP can boldly gather and call for the arrest of sympathizers of us in the NDC who tries to stop them in their attempt to register minors and bus people to strength their numbers in their weaker zones in the region. A clear example is what happened at Asawase Constituency, where Chairman Wontumi can gather and call for the arrest of NDC faithful who refuse to allow the NPP to under carry this agenda. Its shocking to find a party in power been treated in this manner and all our regional Executives can do is fold their arms and watch this happening. The NPP has conspired with the Security agencies and are having no resistance to under carry such unacceptable acts in the limited registration. The NPP is registering virtually every child who knows his name and what we see our Regional Executives do is look ajar. It hurts badly, because we find these actions have detrimental effects on our fortunes in the Region It will be of our interest as a party to stop them now. Lets stop the continual registration of minors and further bussing of people to their (NPP) weaker zones. We want the Regional Executives of the NDC and Kojo Bonsu to act for once in order to prevent the NPP through this plan. We dont want to believe that, they are only in the party to enrich themselves as people claim. It is so sad to see their ill commitment to the party. Also, the Regional Police Councils actions against us the NDC clearly confirms our earlier call on the president to reassign Kofi Boakye. We find him clearly in bed with the NPP and his presence in the Region would never help the NDC achieve its one million vote target from the Ashanti Region. We therefore call on the president to step in because; all has not been well for us as a party in this limited registration. We also, want the regional executives of our party, the NDC to possibly act in the interest of the party in the region. Signed. Abdul Musa Rashid 0244253232 Victory for Mahama, 2016 02.05.2016 LISTEN President John Dramani Mahama cut sod for the commencement of the Offshore Cape Three Points Integrated Oil and Gas Project at Sanzule in the Ellembele District of the Western Region on Saturday, 30th April 2016. Speaking at the ceremony, President Mahama said this marks the beginning of his vision to make Ghana a petroleum hub with the creation of a petrol-chemical industry in the western region of Ghana. " This is a project that will transform the western region and the country. This is a project that will change the lives of Ghanaians ", he said. He said Western region should therefore be proud and that happy that the two major gas projects; the Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo and Sanzule Offshore Gas project are both located here in the region. " And Am going to be back here many more times to cut sod for the commencement of the Lonrho Oil and Gas Free Port" "I will be back here to cut sod for the b:490 and Liquid Exported Facility at Bonyere and Domunli, I also be back here to cut sod Power Farm Plant at Bonyere and Domunli and come again to cut sod for the commencement of Power Pack at Domunli enclave", President Mahama stressed. President Mahama therefore challenged the youth to be acquired training skills so that they can take advantage of the facilities springing in the region. ENI Ghana Exploration and Production Ltd is the operator of the Offshore Cape Three Points Integrated Oil and Gas Project with Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation as partners. The Offshore Cape Three Points Integrated Oil and Gas Project will produce dry gas of 180 million standard cubic feet per day for a period of not less than 20 years. The Gas Receiving Facility will also be tied-in to the Ghana Gas Pipeline to deliver gas to Aboadze and the Tema enclave. The project is expected to produce its first gas in the first quarter of 2018 and facility will generate 1000 megawatts of electricity. 02.05.2016 LISTEN We have as many motivational books as the speakers feeding us with maxims and principles daily. As Stonebwoy puts it in his Bhim Nation, dem say this dem say that ooo as principles. One of the dem say this dem say that ooo principles is imitation is limitation. In fact, I think I came across a motivational book with that title. I have forgotten who authored it though. Of course, I have not read the book. I guess many of my friends did in our university days. Some bandied the maxim about in the name of motivation. I agree it is not good to evaluate a book by its cover. But when the title is intrinsically categorical, we can at least attempt evaluating it as such. So I am focusing on the maxim as the title. And that would be done against the background of China and Nigeria on the World and Africa stage respectively. First, let us start with the human species in general. MAN AND NATURE No creature imitates others and processes in nature than the human species. When bats, sharks and whales among others were using sound in long distance navigation in their habitats, man had no idea of sound navigation ranging, SONAR. When the avian creatures were using the air as means of transportation, man was still glued to the land. When plants and others animals were producing poisonous substances to kill any invading creature, man had no idea of medicine curing sickness. Technically, medicine poisons any invading organism to defend the host. But today, man had imitated the locomotive modalities of the creatures of air and how they do it. The outcome is flying crafts of all kinds. Not only can we fly today, we can even fly to space; places that the avian creatures who started or were naturally equipped to make use of the air will never dream of, let alone reach. We mastered SONAR as well in our ships, submarines and other technologies in and on the water bodies. We explored, imitated and understood the mechanism of poisons as medicines, hence can use plants, and even extract the main ingredient and multiply them in our laboratories for curative and treatment purposes. In sum, our technological prowess is mostly bionics, imitation of nature. Some of them better than we can find in nature, others very close and others too crude to compare to that of nature. Given that Nature is an interactive place Man is the only animal that imitates with the potentiality of becoming better at it, best in it and eventually innovative and creative with it. So the question must be asked is imitation really limitation for man? How do you think our world would look like today without man imitating other creatures and processes in Nature and becoming better at it, best in it and creative with it? CHINA AND THE WORLD Every nation has its primitive technology anchored on the knowledge base of the time. Yet when the developed Western nations were revolutionizing their economy via the use of science and technology culminating into industrialization, China was just populating the world. When they were into the space race, China was grappling with how to provide for the population at home. As these Western nations were extending and stamping their influences beyond their immediate borders and all the way to Africa, China had no such influence even beyond its immediate borders. Today everyone knows the story. China had not only joined these Western powers economically to improve upon the living standards of her citizens; she has equaled them in almost every corner of influence that matters in world politics. Chinas influence in Africa now is challenging if not eliminating that of some Western powers. Unable to join the internationally collaborative heavenly laboratory of man, International Space Station, ISS, China is literally building its own Space Station that will soon dock in space around 2022. China does not only announce its readiness for space exploration by launching satellites up there, it also put a Chinese astronaut in space, the third nation to do so after US and Russia. And this is happening at a time that funding for NASA from US Congress is declining. This simply means China is likely to overtake US in space exploration, research and technology. The sudden boom in the economy, which is traceable to information technology, reflects the importance of space technology. Space technology is essentially information technology. Chinese military is no longer solely number dependent as their movies depicts in the past, it is now technology dependent with all the modern sophistications. So as we marvel at the Chinese achievements, let us also ask how they did it. HOW CHINA COULD HAVE DONE IT They did it by leaning from, and imitating the doers. They enrolled in their universities to acquire the analytic intelligence necessary to fire the synthetic intelligence into action. With this knowledge acquired, they came down in their numbers to build China. They begin to restructure the educational system with emphasis on science, technology, mathematics and engineering. Education becomes practical, meaningful to many. It begins to bring the needed visible positive change. The capacity to feed the industries with not only natural resources but Chinese human resources with the necessary knowledge for the actualization of the dream became obvious. The politicians understood the dream. They pumped in the necessary investment. Industry and education corporate than compete in prosecuting the dream, which is to develop China. Whether they achieve the dream via originality or imitation, which is never exclusive to any individual or nation, does not matter. What matters is Chinas development. As far as knowledge is concerned, development is essentially an amalgamation of originality and imitation. China is simply doing that. When Ghanaians hear of Chinese products, we literally say it is of low quality at best. What we forget is that whether it is of low quality or not, it means they learnt and imitate how to make the product since they were not the first to make it. Industrialization begins with knowing how to manufacture something. Chinese now knows how to make almost all electronic products as well as non-electronic ones. They even came to Ghana to learn and imitate our traditional symbols at our blind side. Later, they will imprint these symbols cloths as designs and sell to us at affordable price. We can continue calling their products low quality, and they will continue making them, strengthening their economy with the manufacturing knowledge via the exportation of the products. Meanwhile China is penetrating even the Western nations with their manufactured goods. This means China exports the quality of manufactured goods that Asia, African, US and European markets can afford to such markets. So what we can afford is the low quality one we are having. Every market that affords products of low, high or highest quality is useful to the manufacturer. Is imitation really limitation for man, hence a nation? NIGERIA IN AFRICA When looked at from the angle of whether imitation is really limitation, the story of Nigeria is not different from China. Similarly, most of the arguments for China equally hold for Nigeria. After all, Ghanaians treat Nigerian products with the same suspicion and contempt. When South Africa was leading Africa economically and therefore probably scientifically and technology and in service delivery, Nigeria was just populating the continent. When South Africa was engaging in space program by launching satellites into space and even thought of becoming a nuclear armed state, Nigeria was struggling how to take care of its growing population. Yet today, Nigeria has become a force to reckon on the continent. Like China, Nigeria had imitated the doers scientifically and technologically. They also learnt how to manufacture, the foundation of their industrialization. Not only is Nigerias space program doing well by launching satellites into space, when all things go well Nigeria will send astronaut to space before 2016 ends. That is Nigeria announcing its readiness to join the space race, which means information technology research, exploration and use. And it seems that despite the increasing corruption bedeviling the nation, the politicians at least understood the importance of science and technology to sustain fueling the economy from the manufacturing therefore service delivery perspective. Like China, when Nigeria goods flood the Ghanaian market, we say that is low quality product. Again, what we forget is that they have learnt how to manufacture these products. With the exception of few charlatans bent on making money out of nothing, fake or low quality products do not mean fake knowledge. Affordability determines what your market can get. When the Ghanaian movie industry was leading Africa, Nollywood was nowhere near. What did they do? They came to Ghana to learn and imitate. Today, we have to ask where the Ghanaian movie industry is on even the African map. Nigerias Nollywood has imitated and innovatively handled the acquired knowledge in ways that the imitation is virtually overshadowed. Nollywood movies industry is not only dominating Africa markets, it is penetrating the world after Hollywood of US and Bollywood of India. Is imitation limitation for man, hence a nation? CONCLUSION Though not exhaustive accounts, the above journey from how man is imitating Nature in all his technology and how China and Nigeria are imitating others who took the lead and today they are doing well as far as development is concerned shows that imitation is not limitation. If anything at all, imitation is just the beginning to unveiling our own potentialities especially if we have clear dreams as individuals and nations. A robust and functional higher education educational system is the crucible of originality, and imitation of others for the development of a nation. Today the developed Western nations are afraid of Chinese proficiency in imitating information that no week passes with them accusing China of espionage. It is now obvious that what makes a nation super-power and sustain it is not necessarily the form of political governance system but the robust and functional higher education educational system anchored on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Ghana can replicate the same feats as China and Nigeria are doing. Let us be weary of that age-old mantra that we are the first sub-Sahara African nation to do this or that. Others are developing, yet when we open our mouth, we say we are the first sub-Sahara nation to do this or that. Either we are convinced that imitation is limitation or pride is chaining us down from learning and imitating the best means of ensuring appreciable development from others. Imitation is not limitation. Email: [email protected] Whatsapp: 0248412308 FB: Seshie Stanley A former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, on Saturday received an overwhelming endorsement to lead the National Democratic Party (NDP) into the 2016 elections as the party's flag bearer. While accepting the endorsement, Nana Konadu said progressive leadership entailed reclaiming the meaning of true citizens' democracy where there was equity in governance participation and national development. The former First Lady was endorsed through acclamation at the second national delegates conference of the party held at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre in Accra. The congress, on the theme: 'United for Change; Probity and Accountability', also saw the acclamation of a nine- member national executive to steer the affairs of the party into the 2016 elections and beyond. The colourful event, which had been expected to start at 8 a.m., began at 11 a.m., even though most of the delegates had arrived at the venue earlier. But the party faithful, particularly the exuberant youth, took advantage of the delay to dance to popular Ghanaian dance hall tunes and the party's anthem. Some of the delegates took the opportunity to make some extra money by selling party paraphernalia. Former President Jerry John Rawlings and two of his daughters were at the congress to support Nana Konadu. The former President, as usual, stole the show with his entry to the conference ground at exactly 12:30 p.m. He was received with thunderous cheering, amid drumming and dancing. Data available at the registration desk indicated that more than 2,000 delegates drawn from the 10 regions of the country had attended the conference. Background The NDP, which broke away from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), went to congress in Kumasi on October 13 2012 to elect its presidential candidate just in time to meet the Electoral Commission's (EC's) October 17-18, 2012 deadline for the filing of nominations for the presidential and parliamentary elections. Nana Konadu was overwhelmingly endorsed as the standard bearer of the party in Kumasi but she was not successful in filing her candidature to contest that year's elections.. Progressive leadership After receiving the overwhelming acclamation from the NDP faithful, Nana Konadu called on the citizenry to demand accountability from the government as part of their civic responsibilities. To her, citizens' democracy included 'harnessing less fanciful ideas for governance at the community level, instead of the current top-to-down model of governance that had deprived our communities of freedom of self-actualisation''. She said the greatest unexploited national resource was not the mineral resource, the oil find or the cocoa but rather the human resource which formed the building blocks of the country. According to her, the NDP understood the need for participatory democracy necessary for national development and, therefore, the party had been built on the principle of inclusiveness. Ideals ''The NDP is founded on the ideals of former President Rawlings, which are probity, accountability and selfless devotion to duty which place people and the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian at the centre of national development,' she said. She said the role of a democratic government was to protect and strengthen liberties and redress the imbalance between the powerful and the weak, as well as the rich and the poor. Nana Konadu said those imbalances could be redressed through a government which focused on investing in its human resource and, at the same time, was prepared to be accountable to the people for their actions and omissions. 'We can only redress the imbalance if we identify the weakness and emphasise structural changes which would go a long way to plug the loopholes which allow the injustices to be perpetrated in the first place,' she added. Former President Former President Rawlings urged political parties to preach unity to signify that multi-party democracy had come of age in the country. He explained that the parties ought to demonstrate that they had matured by eschewing divisiveness, animosity, tribalism and acrimony. He said political parties should rather embrace unity as a vehicle of development and creative energy for the service of the country. The former President explained that it was through unity that the best of the people could be brought together for the rapid development of the country. He called for a level playing field that would ensure free and fair elections to ensure peace and stability during and after the elections, stressing that there would be no peace and stability in the country if the elections were not free and fair. He called on all stakeholders, particularly the Electoral Commission (EC), to discharge their mandates diligently and transparently without compromise in order to safeguard the peace of the country. Probity and accountability Dr Richard Amoako-Baah, a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), commended the leadership of the NDP for selecting probity and accountability as the theme for the conference. He explained that the open-door policy of the party which allowed newcomers into the fold was putting in practice the principles of probity and accountability. Dr Amoako-Baah said some political parties in the country were so corrupt that they had closed their doors to newcomers and new ideas, fearing that their nefarious activities would be exposed. He stressed that there could be no peace without justice and no progress without unity. He, therefore, called on the EC to structure its operations well and ensure that all lapses were addressed ahead of the 2016 elections. 'If a tradition is becoming non-beneficial and not working too well, it has to be changed,' he said, adding, 'We often hold on too tight to tradition and that is hindering progress.' In their solidarity messages, representatives of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) called on all opposition parties to work together to vote out the ruling NDC and commended the NDP for the near-perfect organisation of the event, although it was a relatively young party. The national executives elected unopposed at the convention were: National Chairman, Dr Asare Bediako; Vice-Chairman, Mr Anthony Kusi; General Secretary, Mr Mohammed Frimpong; Deputy General Secretary, Mrs Betty Akufo Amoabeng; Women's Leader, Mrs Peace Aryee; Deputy Women's Leader, Hajia Salah; Director of Communications, Maame Yaa Edusei; Deputy Director of Communications, Ernest Owusu Bempah; Youth Leader, Dr David Sunu; Deputy Youth Leader, Charles Opoku, and Treasurer, Mrs Margaret Appiah The Government of Japan welcomes that the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) of the Republic of South Sudan has been established in South Sudan on the 29th of April, 2016, based on the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan signed in August 2015. The Government of Japan also highly appreciates the efforts that the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and the countries concerned exerted in bringing about this establishment of the TGoNU. The Government of Japan hopes that all the parties cooperate in tackling various challenges such as the improvement of the humanitarian situation, restoration of security, and reconstruction of a sound economy, so that the people of South Sudan can enjoy peace and stability as soon as possible. The Government of Japan intends to continue supporting South Sudan's efforts toward peace and stability in coordination with the international community. 02.05.2016 LISTEN By Samuel Osei-Frempong, GNA Tema, May 2, GNA - The MTN Ghana Foundation, the corporate social responsibility wing of MTN, has donated Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) to pregnant and nursing mothers at the Tema General Hospital. According to Mr Samuel Koranteng,the Acting Corporate Executive, the donation was made to commemorate this year's World Malaria Day under the foundation's "Save a Life" initiative. "To mark the day, MTN staff volunteers are distributing more than 300 ITNs to pregnant and nursing mothers in selected hospitals in Accra, Bolgatanga,Takoradi, and Cape Coast. He said the objective to suppport the nationwide campaign for children and mothers sleeping under treated nets is because they are at a higher risk of being infected by malaria. "Once we reduce malaria infections, we would have reduced the pressure on our health facilities. We will also spend less resources to drive malaria elimination campaigns and the importation of malaria drugs." Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei,Medical Director of the Hospital, thanked the Foundation for the gesture and appealed to government to provide the Tema Metropolis with a well-resourced Regional Hospital to meet the needs of residents. GNA An AU High Level delegation visited the Nordic Countries of Sweden, Finland and Denmark from 23-29 April 2016. The delegation was composed of the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, and the AU High Representative for Mali and the Sahel and Head of the AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), former President of Burundi, H.E Pierre Buyoya. In Sweden, the delegation held consultations with the State Secretary to the Minister of Defense, Mr. Jan Salestrand; Swedish Supreme Commander , General Micael Byden; Ms. Ulrika Modeer, State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation and the Director General of the Folke Bernadotte Academy, Mr. Sven-Eric Soder. The consultations between the two delegations were hailed as timely as the Swedish Government is in the process of developing a five year strategic plan for sub-sahara Africa that could take into account joint priorities of the AUC and the Swedish government. In Finland, the delegation met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Timo Soini, and his Special Representative on Mediation, Mr. Pekka Haaviso and held discussions with Finland's Former President Martti Ahtisaari who is currently the Chairman of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). In Denmark, the delegation met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kristian Jensen and interacted with members of the Danish Parliament and other senior officials from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs and the Danish international development cooperation (DANIDA). The delegation also had an opportunity to interact with students of the National Defense University of Finland and the Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen. In all three countries, the discussions focused primarily on enhancing the partnership between the AU Commission and the Nordic countries in the areas of conflict prevention. They also exchanged views on the the latest developments in Mali, Libya, the Sahel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Chad Basin, South Sudan, Somalia and AMISOM. The delegation also discussed the AU's efforts to address violent extremism and radicalization in the framework of the Nouakchott and Djibouti processes meant to enhance regional security cooperation in the Sahel and East Africa. The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security also briefed on the AU efforts to ensure sustainable and predictable funding for AU-led peace operations; noting that the urgency was to bridge the gap for AMISOM stipends following the EU's decision to reduce support by 20 percent. The Commissioner highlighted that as part of its long-term strategy, the AU has appointed the High Representative for the Peace Fund, Dr Donald Kaberuka and that he is working around the clock to find sustainable solutions. All three countries expressed interest in the work undertaken by the Commission on women, gender peace and security and the AU zero tolerance stance on sexual exploitation and abuse in peace operations and the upcoming AU Summit on Maritime Security, Safety and Development to be held in Lome, Togo in October 2016. Khartoum (AFP) - Sudan insisted on Monday it had "sovereign rights" over two border territories whose ownership has been the subject of a long-standing dispute between Cairo and Khartoum. Sudan has regularly protested at Egypt's administration of Halayeb and Shalatin near the Red Sea, saying they are part of its sovereign territory since shortly after independence in 1956. Since April, Khartoum has stepped up its claim to the territories after Egypt transferred two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia in a move that triggered street protests in Cairo. "We will not let go of our sovereign rights on the Halayeb triangle," Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told parliament on Monday. "We have adopted legal and political measures to assert our rights in the Halayeb triangle." Ghandour said Khartoum was also trying to get a copy of the agreement between Cairo and Riyadh on the transfer of the two islands in the Straits of Tiran. "We need to gauge the impact of this agreement on our maritime borders," he told lawmakers. Cairo's transfer of the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia became a key factor behind street protests in the Egyptian capital last month. More than 1,000 demonstrators rallied on April 15 in Cairo demanding "the fall of the regime" in the largest challenge to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's regime in two years. 02.05.2016 LISTEN Groupe Nduom is continuing its commitment to long term investments in the Ghanaian economy. The Upper West Region, will in this coming week, witness the launch of massive Groupe Nduom investments in a region considered to be the poorest in the country. It is the single largest private sector investment commitment by a Ghanaian business, truly unprecedented in the region. Groupe Nduom is all set to outdoor some of its variety of companies in Wa and other parts of the Upper West Region throughout next week. The companies are those in the Financial Industry: GN Bank and GN Life Assurance; Media, First Digital Television (which includes over 30 channels); Manufacturing, Fresh Pak and GN Electronics; Technology, Qualtek; Real Estate, Yorke Properties. This visit will mark the beginning of the construction of a hotel and affordable homes in the Wa area by Groupe Nduom. These companies are all housed in a newly-built Groupe Nduom Regional Office situated in Wa. A statement signed by GN Corporate Affairs Manager, Richmond Duke Keelson said the official launch of the Regional Office will be done by Groupe President and Chairman, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom on Wednesday, May 4th 2016. Senior management personnel of the Groupe, including Senior Vice President, Mrs Yvonne Nduom and others will participate in this event. Before the commissioning, the Groupe Nduom team will pay a courtesy call on the Catholic Bishop of Wa. Groupe Nduom has a policy of investing in areas in need of development and starved of investment capital. The Upper West investments are living proof of Dr. Nduom's call to Ghanaians to invest and support creation of local jobs. In the estimation of Groupe Nduom directors, investing in businesses outside the mainstream cities and towns is meant to encourage others to do their part to create value and contribute towards the improvement of lives of people in a region tagged as the poorest in the country. According to Dr Nduom, with a well thought-out poverty alleviation programme, no region in the country should earn the derogatory description as poorest. Dr Nduom will also commission newly constructed offices of GN Bank in some locations in the Upper West region. They include Bamahu, Loggu, Bulenga and Tumu. The others are Funsie, Busie, Charia and Nadowli.GN Bank is well established in Upper West towns like Hamle, Nandom, Jirapa, Lawra, Lambusie and Gwollu. Dr Nduom will end his tour of the Upper West Region by attending the ordination of the new Catholic Bishop of Wa on Saturday, May 7th 2016. Story by Ghana/Myjoyonline.com The Security and Intelligence Committee of the Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP), has appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the National Peace Council and all security agencies in the country to call upon the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region to halt their "disruptive and truancy" ways that was hurting the peaceful nature of the NPP. The NPP said it has had to restrain its law-abiding supporters whose patience was running out from retaliating in attacks and insults mounted on them by their opponents, adding that 'we are getting to our wits end. Our patience are running out'. Addressing the media in Kumasi, Col Serebuor Ababio, the coordinator of the Regional Security and Intelligence Committee of the NPP enumerated some of the acts of the NDC to include the following. He pointed to the alleged invasion of the studios of Fox FM in Kumasi and the subsequent arrest and detention of their Communications Director, Dr Kwesi Kyei who he said knew nothing about the invasion; as well as the destruction of election materials and equipment by NDC thugs at the Gyenyase registration centre. He also said that at Appiadu, NDC thugs invaded the registration centre, led by the chief executive officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Kojo Bonsu, and the Deputy Chief of Staff, My Jonny Osei Kofi who he said also invoked deities to curse the people of Kumasi. He added that at Asokore Mampong, the MCE, Mr Nuredeen Amidan led a group to destroy registration materials in the full glare of the police who refused to arrest the perpetrators, and added that the thugs were also wielding pistols and displayed state-owned communication gadgets. Col Serebuor said the last straw that broke the camel's back was the threat by the police to arrest the NPP Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, a move he described as an attempt to frustrate the NPP and push the NDC's agenda on achieving one million votes in the region. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. you are here: business Maruti to launch LCV in H1FY17; eyes annual sales of 30k units While Maruti confirmed to CNBC TV18 that the proposed LCV will be launched in the first half of the current fiscal, it declined any further details. current-affairs-trends Bankruptcy Code will be a game-changer, workmen to benefit This code takes the dues outstanding to workmen for two years dating back from the time insolvency proceedings are initiated against the defaulting company, says Lalit Kumar, Partner, JSA. The Tenant who lost Rs 1 crore by buying an apartment May 02, 2016 Kerry To Negotiate New Ceasefire In Syria - But With His Own Side U.S. Secretary of State is in Geneva today to renegotiate a cessation of hostilities between the Syrian government forces and the foreign supported "rebels" in Syria. But there is something very curious going on with these negotiations. Kerry will neither talk with the Syrian government nor with the Russians. The Russian Foreign Minister is not even expected to come. No, Kerry is negotiating with the U.S. allies Jordan and Saudi Arabia who support the same "rebels" that are opposed to the Syrian government that the U.S. itself supported all along. He now asks them to separate their proxy forces in Syria from the terrorist organization al-Qaeda/Jabhat al-Nusra. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday he hoped to make progress in talks in Geneva over the next two days toward renewing a cessation of hostilities agreement throughout Syria and resuming peace talks to end the fighting. "The hope is we can make some progress," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh shortly after arriving in Geneva. ... The Syrian army announced on Friday a "regime of calm", or lull in fighting, which applied to Damascus and some of its outskirts, and parts of northwestern coastal province Latakia. But it excluded Aleppo. Kerry made clear that a ceasefire was needed throughout Syria and he hoped to be able to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities after talks in Geneva. He is due to meet Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and De Mistura on Monday. According to military spokesperson of the U.S. alliance against the Islamic State, Colonel Warren, the "rebel" occupied parts of Aleppo city are under control of al-Qaeda: [I]t's primarily al-Nusra who holds Aleppo, and of course, al-Nusra is not part of the cessation of hostilities. So it's complicated. Two UN Security Council Resolution calls on all UN members to "eradicate" al-Qaeda/al-Nusra. ALL UNSC members agreed to Resolution 2254 which: Reiterates its call in resolution 2249 (2015) for Member States to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh), Al-Nusra Front (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL [...] and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Syria, and notes that the aforementioned ceasefire will not apply to offensive or defensive actions against these individuals, groups, undertakings and entities,... There is simply no basis for Kerry to beg for a ceasefire for "rebel" held areas of Aleppo city when his own military says that these are in the hands of al-Qaeda which the UNSC calls to eradicate. The Russian's have said that much. So here is what Kerry is left to do: Beg the U.S. allies to move away their "Free Syrian Army" proxy groups from al-Qaeda so al-Qaeda can be eradicated by the Syrian Army and its allies. But al-Qaeda is by now an integrated part of those Saudi/Qatar/U.S. paid proxy forces and well accepted by those groups. It gets its weapons and ammunition from the very proxy groups the U.S. now wants to separate from it. Even if the Saudis and Jordanians assert their influence over these groups it is unlikely that the fighters on the ground will follow their directives. The Russian air force is ready to renew its bombing campaign against all opposition forces in Syria that do not agree to a cessation of hostilities. No U.S. propaganda campaign can wave away al-Qaeda's presence in Syria nor the UNSC resolutions the U.S. itself agreed to. Either Kerry manages to pressure Saudi Arabia and Jordan to move their proxies away from al-Qaeda or there will be again an all out Russian campaign to eradicate them. It is unlikely that any of those proxies would survive such a campaign. Kerry is now left to negotiate with U.S allies against al-Qaeda. He now has to argue from the same perspective as the Syrian and Russian government. This is a mess of his own making. How will he escape from it? Posted by b on May 2, 2016 at 11:00 UTC | Permalink Comments The Registrar of Mortgage Brokers has suspended the license of a sub-broker after he allegedly took a real estate examination in place of another professional.Indeep Singh (Ted) Aulak, a registered BC submortgage broker with Dominion Lending Centres Mountain View, has been accused by the BC Registrar of Mortgage Brokers of taking a real estate examination for another individual.On April 15, 2016, the Real Estate Council of British Columbia contacted (Registrar of Mortgage Brokers) and advised that on January 20, 2016, Mr. Aulak may have written the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Examination in place of Mr. Ryan Gurinder Rana, the Registrar said in a suspension order, signed by Carolyn Rogers, CEO of FICOM.According to the suspension order, the photographs supplied with Ranas RET exam ticket did not match the headshots on his website.An investigation of Ranas social media also found that Rana and Aulak are friends. The Council hired a private investigator who compared the submitted exam photos and Aulaks social media photos and determined the two photos are likely a match.After reviewing all of the photographs of both Mr. Aulak and Mr. Rana, (the Registrar of Mortgage Brokers) is of the opinion that the Submitted Rana Photographs are that of Mr. Aulak and not Mr. Rana, the Registrar said.The Registrar found Alauk unsuitable for registration and suspended him from acting a submortgage broker in British Columbia until a final penalty is decided upon. I started volunteering at the Midland Soup Kitchen on Jan. 5, 1999, after reading about it in the Midland Reporter-Telegram. That October, I began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to provide homes for the poor. I spend about four hours at the soup kitchen each Tuesday and Thursday helping the Midland Soup Kitchen serve lunch. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I help Habitat for Humanity build homes as a member of the Grumpy Old Men group. Why did you choose Midland Soup Kitchen and Habitat for Humanity as the places to donate your time? I heard they needed help, so I showed up and have never left. At the soup kitchen Ive helped serve meals, wash and dry trays, and pick up donations from local stores. I regularly go to H-E-B to pick up donations and then come back to the soup kitchen to slice up the cakes. Through Habitat Ive done everything I can to work on homes for those who cannot afford them. Why is volunteering important to you? Its something to do to help people, and it beats lying around the house. I am able to establish and maintain friendships with people I likely never would have met otherwise. I dont have much of an opportunity to talk with the people we serve, but I have made great friendships with the other volunteers. Volunteering keeps me busy and alive. Im 90 years old and if you stay busy, you live longer. I know so many people who retired, sat down and died. A lot of people dont want to volunteer and they die. What advice would you give to those interested in volunteering? Make sure its something you want to do. If you arent interested in it, youll only show up once and wont ever come back. Find somewhere that you truly want to spend your time. How long has Midland been your home, and why have you stayed? I worked as a chemical salesman for Exxon in the oilfield and moved to Midland on Jan. 6, 1986. I enjoy serving my community and feel Midland is a great place to live. The new magic number in the oil industry is $50. BP Plc, rig-owner Nabors Industries Ltd. and explorer Pioneer Natural Resources Co. all said in the past 24 hours that prices above $50 will encourage more drilling or provide the needed boost to cash flow. With oil bouncing close to $45 a barrel, an industry that has been shaving costs to stay competitive is ready for signs of stability at a price level less than half of 2014s average. At an average price of $53 per barrel of oil means the worlds 50 biggest publicly traded companies in the industry can stop bleeding cash, according to oilfield consultant Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Nabors, which owns the worlds largest fleet of onshore drilling rigs, said it has already been talking with several large customers about plans to boost work in the second half of the year if prices rise comfortably above $50. Its not just about touching $50, Fraser McKay, vice president of corporate analysis at Wood Mackenzie in Houston, said Tuesday in a phone interview. Its about touching, maintaining and having the perception of future prices above $50 a barrel before you start sanctioning projects that are economic at $50 a barrel. The global oil industry slashed more than $100 billion in spending last year and is in the midst of further cuts this year to survive what Schlumberger Ltd. has called the industrys worst-ever financial crisis. In North America alone, spending is expected to drop by half from last year. Prices have rebounded by about two-thirds from a 12-year low, with Brent, the international crude benchmark, trading above $45 a barrel Tuesday. The rally has explorers from BP to Pioneer looking ahead to an eventual recovery as they release first quarter earnings this week. Next year, BP will be able to balance cash flow with shareholder payouts and capital spending at an oil price of $50 to $55 a barrel, down from a previous estimate of $60, the London-based explorer said. Pioneer expects to add as many as 10 horizontal drilling rigs when oil reaches $50 and the outlook for supply and demand of crude is positive, the company said Monday in its earnings statement. For every $5 that oil prices climb, above a baseline of $37, Continental Resources Inc. adds another roughly $200 million in revenue, Chief Operating Officer Jack Stark said last month in an interview in New Orleans. By the time oil prices reach $52, the Oklahoma City-based explorer would probably look at adding more rigs, he said. We wont chase price spikes, Stark said. Were committed to being patient. Yet even talk of ramping up again is bringing a stinging reminder of last years failed attempt to restart activity too quickly after oil prices rose. We got out ahead of ourselves bit of a head fake there, Tony Petrello, chief executive at Nabors, told analysts and investors Tuesday on a conference call. Were going to be a little more guarded here. Exactly when oil prices hit that level and how long they need to stay there is a question no one can say for sure. Nabors said the activity could start up in the middle of the third quarter or into the final three months of this year. Continental estimated that supply and demand could be nearing balance later this year and be absolutely in balance or in need of more oil next year. The absolute timing may be off a bit, Stark said, but ultimately its going to happen. Hillary Clinton needs to drop her anti-hydraulic fracturing rhetoric if she's serious about fighting climate change. To her credit, she never talked about an outright ban like her opponent Bernie Sanders, she just promised to smother it in regulations. By the time we get through all of my conditions, I do not think there will be many places in America where fracturing will continue to take place, she promised during a presidential debate last month. But now that she's won the primaries in Pennsylvania and New York, where anti-fracturing movements are strong, she should acknowledge that fracturing has done more to lower America's carbon emissions than any environmental regulation. Banning it would hasten global warming, which ironically, she says is the biggest threat to the world today. This will come as a shock to green-minded progressives because activists who want to ban fossil fuels have played fast and loose with the facts to manufacture unrighteous outrage. Take, for example, the Carroll County Concerned Citizens of Carrollton, Ohio. This not-in-my-backyard group hired researchers at the University of Cincinnati Department of Geology to drill up the dirt on fracturing. When researchers came back with no evidence that it hurts the environment, the Concerned Citizens quashed the report. I am really sad to say this, but some of our funders, the groups that had given us funding in the past, were a little disappointed in our results, said Amy Townsend-Small, the lead researcher, explaining in a video posted to YouTube why she cannot release the report. Like any energy source, fracturing does raise some environmental concerns, but some simple regulations can address the biggest problems. Americans need to first understand the engineering and tune out the hyperbole. All wells can potentially contaminate groundwater because they begin with a drill bit cutting thousands of feet into the earth and passing through the water table. To protect groundwater, which is within the first 1,000 feet, drillers are required to pour cement around the pipe so that oil and gas don't flow up the hole and mix with the water. In conventional wells, the oil and gas flows up the pipe by itself. But to release the oil and gas from shale, operators must pressurize an immense amount of water mixed with sand and chemicals to break the rock at the bottom, 5,000 to 8,000 feet down. Anti-fracturing activists complain about gas getting into well water, insidiously suggesting that the broken rock 8,000 feet down somehow contaminated the water at 1,000 feet. But peer-reviewed research shows drillers don't pour the cement properly in 1 percent to 3 percent of all wells and that causes the contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency last year found no evidence that hydraulic fracturing causes widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water. States can solve the decades-old contamination problem by requiring well operators to use a special tool that inspects the cement before the driller accesses the oil or gas. Activists also like to blame earthquakes on the fractured rock, but scientists again point to another culprit: wastewater disposal wells. Oily water has always been a byproduct of drilling, and operators have disposed of it in old wells for decades. But because fracturing produces millions of gallons of wastewater, disposal companies have injected it under pressure into some old wells that are near fault lines, triggering earthquakes. When the disposals stop, so do the earthquakes. Requiring operators to clean and recycle the water would end the temblors and address complaints about water consumption. Lastly, numerous studies have shown that drilling natural gas wells releases large quantities of methane into the atmosphere. Again, responsible operators are already sealing up those leaks, and the EPA is generating rules to make it a requirement in the future. Solve those problems, and the benefit of cheap natural gas is indisputable. Widespread fracturing began in 2008, when natural gas prices were $9 for a million British thermal units, and U.S. wells produced about 2 trillion cubic feet. The U.S. produced 15 trillion cubic feet in 2015, and the price this year is below $2, a major achievement championed by the Obama administration. That low price triggered huge investment in gas-fueled power stations that will generate more electricity than coal in the U.S. for the first time in decades. As a result, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions dropped to a 27-year low last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A fracturing ban would cut U.S. gas production by 30 percent, drive the price up to at least $6 and make coal cost-efficient again, Rice University researchers Ken Medlock and Peter Hartley found. A return to coal would boost greenhouse gas emissions. When Clinton was secretary of state in 2012, she encouraged other countries with shale gas to adopt fracturing to replace coal. Candidate Clinton needs to put party politics behind her and promote fracturing at home. --- Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A public policy manager for Uber was asked point-blank if the company would respond to the new vehicle for hire ordinance by leaving the city, and he answered no. He also said, the devil is in the details, and he hadnt had the time to view the ordinance line-by-line. The amended vehicle-for-hire ordinance the council approved on first reading this past Thursday was being tweaked up until a few minutes before the council met, so not everyone was able to review all its details. This was partly the reason for the one vote against it by Mayor Glen Robertson, who said a change as sweeping as this requires more thoroughness and discussion with the companies it effects. The vote was the first of two needed for the amended ordinance to pass. So for the next two weeks ahead of the next meeting, Chris Miller of Uber and the members of the council said theyll review the ordinance for more discussion ahead of the second vote. Councilwoman Karen Gibson, whod been working on the amended ordinance since mid-2014, said she met with the stakeholders -- police, attorneys and representatives from taxi, limousine and transportation networking companies -- throughout the entire process to make sure its in everyones interest and to make sure Uber stays. She also said she met with Miller Thursday morning to go over it one more time. The council heard from a number of Uber supporters Thursday, including drivers, citizens and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. Alex DeRossi, who was recently elected external vice president for Texas Techs Student Government Association, also spoke to the council on the importance of Uber. It would be detrimental to students if Uber were to leave, he told A-J Media Friday. The general consensus is that Uber reduces drunk driving by a significant margin in many cities. Lots of students use it. Im in the Energy Commerce department at Texas Tech and were very close with all our professors, and even they use it. Gibson calls her ordinance a blanket solution that both legalizes transportation networking companies while also deregulating traditional transportation companies to create what she said is fair competition. I believe our job as elected officials is to maintain a safe and open transportation marketplace, free of excessive government regulation, that allows all manner of transportation-for-hire services to prosper based on the quality of their service, she said. The new vehicle-for-hire ordinance is broken down into two sections: one for traditional operating vehicles such as taxis and limousines (which are currently regulated) and one for new transportation network companies. The amended ordinance calls for Uber and Lyft to go through the process similar to that required of taxi companies -- to purchase a permit, ensure each vehicle has passed a state-authorized inspection and drivers have insurance that meets the minimum requirements for vehicles under state law. Gibson said the company will basically check a box to make sure its completing these requirements, and is subject to audits if the city finds it necessary. The city holds the authority to suspend or revoke a companys permit. Miller told the city council Uber uses a national, accredited third-party vendor to conduct its background checks, and its insurance requirements meet the states requirements. In short, he said, this ordinance will require nothing new for both the company or the drivers. In limiting regulation on taxi companies, the updated ordinance no longer sets their rates, no longer places restrictions on the number of vehicles in a fleet and no longer requires rate meters if electronic pay is available. There will also no longer be vehicle inspections conducted by the city and drivers do not need their own chauffeurs permit. Tommy Weatherford, owner of Checker Cab Company, said Uber so far has not had to go through any of the requirements placed on traditional companies -- having a city permit, an airport permit, city-conducted vehicle inspections and city-approved background checks. Weatherford, who said hes been in the taxi business for almost two decades, brought up one incident where one of his applicants failed the background check and then he saw him driving for Uber shortly after. Its not fair for us having to go through all of this and them not do anything, he said. Speaking on the ordinance, Weatherford said hes in favor of what he called de-regulations and making Uber legal so long as its enforced. Theyre trying to make differences and they can make all the laws in the world, but if they do not enforce them, it makes no difference, he said. Robertson, who said he had time to look over the ordinance Friday morning, said theres still some things in it hes not in favor of. One is if a taxi company uses technology at all, such as a website, theyll need a transportation networking company permit. I still feel like its critical, he said, that if youre going to make sweeping changes to public ordinance, you need a work session devoted exclusively to go through the ordinance line-by-line and make sure that what you think youre doing in an attempt to help everybody long-term isnt hurting them. Robertson said hes considering putting a work session on the agenda ahead of the next meeting to discuss the ordinance before the final vote. --- Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Midland Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP) would like to congratulate the Educate Midland board on the time and efforts its members have made to include all stakeholders in the process of improving education in Midland. They have named board members from businesses, nonprofits and foundations. They have held four community meetings, including one in Spanish. They have made parental surveys widely available. They have been sensitive to teachers, who asked to be included in the process. Where does MARSP -- the local unit of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) -- fit in? We include all retired school personnel -- certified teachers, administrators, librarians, counselors and non-certified teachers aides, nurses, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and others. The sole purpose of TRTA is to protect the interests of retired educators, especially their pensions and health insurance. Most educators in Texas do not get Social Security. They are dependent solely upon their pensions from the Texas Retirement System. Many people think that everybody gets Social Security, and the TRS pension is icing on top of the Social Security cake. Not so. Some people worked at other jobs before -- or even during -- their teaching careers, and thus may be eligible for Social Security. But because of federal regulations (the Windfall Elimination Provision), even they are not allowed to collect full Social Security benefits in addition to their TRS pension. So the purpose of MARSP is to work to ensure a secure retirement and thus attract teachers, librarians, counselors and other educators to Midland. Midland and other West Texas communities have to compete with larger districts that are often more attractive to beginning teachers. And school districts have to compete with other employers who may offer more attractive working conditions, salaries or benefits. MARSP tries to promise a secure retirement that is not dependent on individual savings or investments (although many educators try to add to their pensions with various kinds of individual savings). So our primary role in Educate Midland is to help attract star college students into the teaching profession with the promise of a reasonable retirement with a pension and health benefits. MARSP members may also be willing to serve Educate Midland in various volunteer roles. Some of us are tutors or mentors to teachers. Not all of us are able or willing to volunteer in schools, especially on a long-term basis. But we might be willing to serve on ad hoc committees. Some of us can edit or proofread documents. We can research resources. Some of us are excellent public speakers. We belong to many other organizations -- from bridge clubs and book clubs to churches and civic organizations -- and we can support Educate Midland through word-of-mouth (a potent source of support). On a personal note, as president of MARSP and a retired teacher (19 years) and central office administrator (15 years), I believe that the first element of the collective impact statement is the most important: All participants have a common agenda for change, including a shared understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving it through agreed-upon actions. This statement may sound obvious, but it is not always evident in practice. I once participated in a change process in which the superintendent hired an expensive consultant to guide the district curriculum leaders to develop a plan for increasing academic success. After many days of discussion, the plan was developed. However, the superintendent never came to a meeting and was eventually unwilling to commit any additional resources -- money, time, district involvement -- to the plan. It was a very frustrating experience. Even the consultant was surprised -- and discouraged. We didnt have a common agenda with the superintendent, we didnt have a shared understanding of the problem, and we certainly didnt have a joint approach to solving it. So I believe that the Educate Midland collaboration must have an agenda, an understanding of the problem, and a solution that is shared by all stakeholders -- parents, students, teachers, Educate Midland board members, MISD administrators, community organizations, civic groups, employers and local colleges. Success is more likely if were all on the same team throughout the whole game. I am looking forward to seeing the Educate Midland alliance draw in more support from various stakeholders, including students. The Midland Association of Retired School Personnel will certainly do our part to ensure success. HOBBS, N.M. (AP) Hobbs police has started another hiring push despite an oil downturn in eastern New Mexico. The Hobbs News-Sun reports (http://goo.gl/dltxgk) that the Hobbs Police Department has launched a new hiring campaign as the agency is experiencing a shortage in officers. Central Florida activists are now fighting to get a local elephant out of her cage and into a sanctuary, just like the recently-retired Ringling Bros. elephants. Nosey the elephant is at a petting zoo in Kissimmee Animal activists say Nosey is being mistreated FWC says Nosey is OK, although there have been citations over the years Nosey the elephant is 34 years old. Her owners say she loves eating hay and posing for pictures. For Cathalina Liebel, Nosey the elephant is like family. I actually learned to walk holding her trunk. I held her trunk, took my first steps I cant make this up, Cathalina said. Nosey and her circus family travel all over. Right now she is at a petting zoo behind the Gator Motel along U.S. 192 in Kissimmee, where she gives rides. But some believe Nosey should be free. Kissimmee resident Malinda Burian went from starting a petition online called Save Nosey the Elephant, to protesting on the streets. Lets put you in a cage. I wanna ride on your back then, $5, Burian said. Protesters like her claim Nosey is mistreated. The United States Department of Agriculture said they dont have any open investigations into Noseys license at the moment. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it has conducted several unannounced inspections, the most recent one being two weeks ago. FWC said Nosey was deemed to be in good physical condition. However, through the years the Liebels have received a number of citations for things like rusted metal bars and overgrown toenails. Citations are small things like a little bit of rust on an outer perimeter fence, not even where she is, Cathalina explained. Its just a small thing that the inspector sees. Its not really a problem but they would like to have fixed in the future. In 2011, the Leibels were fined $7,500 by the USDA for violating the Animal Welfare Act with regard to Nosey. Nonetheless animal activists say Nosey deserves better. So not only is it animal cruelty, its just immoral, said protester Kai Rivers. This is not the first time protesters have rallied for Nosey. A group of activists protested in Port Richey, Pasco County back in January. They say Nosey is old, sick and mistreated. Nosey's owner, Hugo Leibel, said Nosey was an orphan the family had raised -- and Leibel was used to protesters. Meanwhile, after 145 years, the Ringling Brothers elephants performed their last act Sunday. The elephants of the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed for the final time in Providence, Rhode Island. The elephants will retire to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Polk County. A high school principal has left her position two weeks after singling out black students' poor test scores over the school's intercom system. The Everman Independent School District announced Kathy Culbertson's departure in a Tuesday statement. It said her comments had overshadowed district achievements. During an address on the first day of classes at Everman High School, Culbertson said black students who failed math on the state's accountability test had caused the high school to be rated unacceptable. The remarks set off a racially charged debate at the suburban Fort Worth campus, which is about 59 percent black. "Neither the district nor Ms. Culbertson believes in the isolation of any student group or that students are solely to blame for campus performance," the district said in a statement. "Nevertheless, Ms. Culbertson believes the best way for Everman High School to move beyond the distraction caused by the announcement is for Ms. Culbertson to relinquish her assignment as the principal." Low math and science scores among black students on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills reduced the school's rating to academically unacceptable this year. About 33 percent of black students passed math, and 32 percent passed science. Under the state's accountability system, a school fails if any subgroup of students, by race or ethnicity or those who are economically disadvantaged, does not meet standards. Culbertson, a 29-year educator who was starting her fourth year as the Everman High principal, said she announced over the intercom that eight more black students needed to pass math for the school to meet state standards. "I was trying to use it as a motivational factor to let the kids know that we were so close," she said. "It was not derogatory in any way. It was not racial. It was just common knowledge of the TAKS breakdown." Culbertson apologized to the school four days after her comments. Superintendent Jeri Pfeifer said Culbertson's remarks were true, but shouldn't have been made over the PA system. "The first order of business is to restore the students' confidence," Pfeifer said. "I want them to know how capable they are." Netia Tunson, the parent of a high school student, said Culbertson should have resigned immediately. "You can't put this school's performance on one race," Ms. Tunson said. "I think she should have worked with her staff (on the test scores). It starts with the staff." Lester Bell, a 16-year-old junior, said he wasn't offended. "I know I passed my tests," he said. "If it was us, it was us. I can't be offended." ___ Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.dfw.com QUITAQUE -- Come join in all the fun activities at Caprock Canyons State Park during the month of May. --On May 7, Much Lovin From a Dutch Oven at 2 p.m. We will discuss the techniques in using a Dutch oven and pass along our favorite recipe for biscuits in this fun demonstration. Later in the evening at 9:15 p.m., join us for Constellations in the Canyons for some astronomy underneath one of the darkest night skies in Texas with Arthur Schneider and his large telescopes. Please bring a comfortable lawn chair and flashlight with you. Program is subject to cancellation due to weather. --On May 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., join us for our Sixth Annual Frontier Days. Visit 19th century encampments of buffalo hunters, Native Americans, pioneer women and much more. This year, Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight will even be here. View authentic artifacts and visit with our living history re-enactors where were bringing history to life! This is an all-day event and its free with your paid park entrance fee, so dont miss it. --On May 21, join us for a Beginners Photography Workshop at 1 p.m. If you love photography, professional photographer Derrick Birdsall will show you some of the best techniques for nature photography right here in Caprock Canyons State Park where nature abounds! An optional hike later on in the day will follow where Derrick will take you out to put those techniques to practice so be sure to bring your camera. Our evening will end with a Full Moon Hike beginning at 8:45 p.m. Our newest program is all for the birds. Join Texas Master Naturalist Drew Harvey on the kickoff day of our first Monthly Bird Walks. Meet up with Drew in the Visitors Center Parking Lot at 9 a.m. to spot some of our feathered friends in the park. Later on in the evening beginning at 8 p.m., join photographer Melany Serafis for a Light Painting Workshop. But, dont bring a paintbrush, bring your camera. Melany will show you a technique for taking pictures illuminated in light. A DSLR camera is required for this program. Participants will need a wide angle lens with an F2.8 aperture, a tripod, intervalometer, and headlamp with a red light. May is a great month for night sky viewing and Arthur Schneider will return for Constellations in the Canyons on May 28. Enjoy viewing some constellations, planets, stars and more with Arthurs large telescopes beginning at 9:30 p.m. Bring some comfortable lawn chairs with you. Program is free and is subject to cancellation due to weather. Our last program for the month of May will end up bugging you. Literally. Join scientist Barry Lombardini on May 29 at 8:45 p.m. as he enlightens us on the wonderful world of moths and butterflies! His presentation, The Butterflies of West Texas & a bit of West Texas History, will discuss some of the species you are likely to see here in our area. Park admission: adults, $4; seniors, $2; children 12 and under, free. Camping is available, along with hiking, biking, fishing, and many other outdoor and recreational opportunities. All programs are free with paid park entrance fee. For more information, please call 806-455-1492. Dr. Paul Armes sits comfortably at the small conference table in the corner of his third-floor office in Gates Hall. The Kenneth Wyatt original House Call hangs above the table. The grandfather clock, donated to the university in memory of his mother, sings its hourly song. Dr. Armes is leaving, but not for a few more weeks. There is still work to be done. Plenty of paperwork is piled on his desk and his day planner is open and full. The bookshelf is packed with books and crawling with frogs - a favorite collectible. The 12th president of Wayland Baptist University, looks around his office. Its time, he says. Not one to talk about himself or his accomplishments, its difficult for Dr. Armes when he reflects on his time at Wayland, but he knows that time has come to an end and he is comfortable and secure in that decision. Nothing here is in any way pushing us away. No one has ever encouraged us to do this. Everyone has been extraordinarily gracious and kind in their response to us, he said. But its time. Dr. Armes will retire effective June 30, leaving behind the university he has served for the last 15 years. His last official duty as president will be to conduct graduation ceremonies on May 7, but he will continue to work through June to accomplish a few personal goals and fulfill some commitments to which he feels obligated. Wayland has grown under Armes leadership. Since being named president in 2001, Waylands budget has grown from $25 million to $65 million. Enrollment reached a record high of 6,834 students in 2012. Davis Hall, Jimmy Dean Hall and the Laney Student Activities Center all opened. Wayland developed a Mission Center and began offering courses and a religion degree in the African nation of Kenya. The School of Music reached All-Steinway School status. Numerous academic programs have been added to the curriculum, including the Doctor of Management degree that Wayland will begin teaching later this year. Knowing, however, that it took a lot of work from a lot of people, Armes is slow to take credit for any of it. The thing I would say that I will always remember about my 15 years at Wayland is that I was surrounded by wonderful folks who worked really hard, he said. And together as a team, as a family, including the entire university family, we took some really positive steps in really positive directions. When looking back, Armes said it is the people that will always be his fondest memories. Not just the ones he worked with, but the ones he came in contact with throughout the last 15 years. I remember early in my tenure, going to Sierra Vista to participate in commencement, he said. I was the speaker that day. After the ceremony, Dr. Armes was approached by a new graduate named Paula who asked about the medallion he wore. The question sparked a conversation that resulted in Paula telling him her story. As a non-traditional student, she didnt want to attend Wayland because she would be required to take six hours of Biblical history in order to graduate. Waylands price and schedule, however, were the best fit for her so she reluctantly registered to attend. Little did she expect the effect those two Bible courses would have on her life. She really came to the point of understanding that what she considered to be faith in her life wasnt, Armes said. At the end of the New Testament class, [campus dean Jeff Barnes] prayed with her, and she prayed to receive Christ. As a result of her decision, she witnessed to her family and both of her children made commitments to Christ and her husband made a recommitment of his life to Christ. After telling her story, Paula told Dr. Armes to never stop requiring those six hours of Biblical history. Thats really who and what we are, Armes said. That is the unique element of Wayland that you cant always find at other locations and in other schools. Those types of stories are what have fueled the man who never expected to work in higher education. He surrendered to the ministry as a teenager and never saw his career taking him out of the pastorate - especially not into a role in higher education. I was not a stellar student in college, he said. I did OK, but not exceptional. That changed when he entered seminary. Seeing the proverbial writing on the wall, Armes understood that to be a better pastor he should be a teaching pastor. To that end, he sought a Ph.D. at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. The pastorate eventually led him to First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi. While there, he served on the board for San Marcos Baptist Academy, a preparatory boarding school affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and accredited by the Southern Associate of Colleges and Schools, the same agency that accredits Wayland. As the president of San Marcos Academy prepared to retire, several members of the board approached Dr. Armes, asking him to resign so they could consider him for the presidents position. I did resign, Armes said. I wanted to give them a fair opportunity to consider me and I wanted a fair opportunity to consider the possibility. Dr. Armes said he and his wife, Duanea, loved the church in Corpus, where they had served for 8 1/2 years, and they were not looking to leave. As they prayed about the decision, they did not feel led to pursue the position at San Marcos. But the board was persistent, returning two more times to talk to him. We decided we hadnt prayed quite enough about it, he said. As we prayed and thought and reflected it became clear to use that it was exactly what God wanted us to do. Dr. Armes accepted the position and five years later, he was approached by the Wayland Board of Trustees and asked to interview for the presidents position at the Wayland campus. At that time, Dr. Wallace Davis was moving into a chancellors position to oversee the Wayland system. The presidents position would oversee the operations of the Plainview campus. Dr. Armes accepted the position in 2001. A year later, Davis retired and the Board of Trustees opted to return to a system in which the president oversees the entire Wayland system. It was in 2002 when Dr. Armes moved to his corner office on the third floor. In a way, all of this has kind of been a surprise to me, he said. I never sought to be an educator. Im still a pastor at heart. Dr. Armes leadership style was similar to how he would lead a large congregation, giving some clear direction when needed, but trying always to care about the people who are part of the family. Looking back on the last 15 years, there are some things Armes wishes he could have done differently. He wishes he could have raised another $50 million for the university and seen the completion of a new Flores Bible Building. He also wishes he would have done more to celebrate the successes of the university family throughout the years. Im not sure Ive always celebrated the good things that we have done as a university -- not me, but the university - maybe as dramatically or as significantly as we needed to, he said. Im just aware of the fact that everything I have done has been dynamically linked to very special people who have walked beside. Who have given so much of their lives to this university. Who have done superb work that I am proud of. But there are times as a university that you ought to celebrated. When good things happen, you need to acknowledge those. As retirement grows closer, Dr. and Mrs. Armes have already begun making plans . . . and most of those plans revolve around their five grandchildren. I would just like to be a part of their lives. I would like to be able to interact with them, and Duanea would, too, he said. Duanea is such a wonderful grandmother. She is better at her job than I am at mine. Dr. Armes credits much of his success to his wife, and he gets emotional talking about how their relationship has grown over the past 15 years. The delight of the love that we have for each other and the dependence that we have on each other and on the Lord in this journey, particularly at Wayland, has been something that we have learned and experienced together, he said. We are closer now than we have ever been. If you had asked if that would have been possible 25 years ago I would have said absolutely not. But we have grown together. Dr. Armes said they plan to travel in retirement, visit the Grand Canyon and all the national parks in Utah. But the first planned trip may be to Germany to visit their granddaughter . . . and her parents, of course. The Armes daughter, Ashley, works with the military and is currently at a military base in Germany. Their other daughter, Sarah, is a nurse in Lubbock. Along with traveling and grandkids, Dr. Armes hopes to have the opportunity to preach more in retirement. He says it is still a very important part of his calling to ministry and it is a part that he hasnt been able to exercise quite as much as he would have liked. As for Wayland, he feels that the university is on the verge of a prosperous period. New programs targeting Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees and Dr. Clinton Lowins Kaleo project in religion are just a few of the areas where Dr. Armes feels the university has real opportunity to grow. He also expects Wayland to remain a beacon for Christian higher education. This is a place where life-changing conversations happen, he said. Not just about knowledge, but about the spiritual dynamic of life. About a persons relationship with Christ. About what Gods plan is for life. Those conversations happen every day in classrooms, the cafeteria and other locations. Im proud of that fact. San Antonio TV personality Cassandra Lazenby was bitten by the broadcast bug as far back as kindergarten, when Albert Flores came to her class to demonstrate how to do the weather. "I fell in love with everything television and wanted to be part of it," she said. Dear Mr. Premack: I have an issue that I thought was unique, but am discovering is more common than I thought. I am alone. I do not have any family who can look out for me if I become ill or if I die. I do have friends, but the closest ones are older than I am and the others are more in the acquaintance category. What options do people like me, who have no close relatives, have for doing our legal planning? RM When you are alone, your options include: The Money Management Program, a volunteer organization run locally by Catholic Charities and funded partially by the taxpayers. To qualify, you must be 55 or older, live in Bexar County, and be low income. A volunteer will be arranged to help with a budget and to help pay bills. Clearly this is limited and does not meet all the needs presented, nor is everyone able to use this service. Calling upon an Accountant. You can ask your CPA or other accounting professional if their office provides a bill paying service. They would charge a fee for their service, and it would very likely not include helping in the event of a medical crisis. Guardianship. If you make no plans at all, when you become disabled the courts may appoint a volunteer Guardian. You do not want this to happen, as it is expensive and you will never have met the person who becomes your Guardian. Using a Bank Trust Department with a Standby Trust arrangement. With a Standby Trust your attorney helps by drafting a Trust and a Power of Attorney. The Trust remains "unfunded," receiving only a token amount of money so it can exist legally. You give the Power of Attorney and Trust to the bank with instructions to gather the rest of your assets together if you become disabled. The bank has no powers while you are well. If you are disabled, the bank must act quickly to provide you with assistance. If you become disabled, then you must have someone who will contact the bank, but the bank will handle the details of your finances. If you pass away before the bank has time to gather your assets, then your Will must go to probate. This is not an ideal solution, but it is a workable solution for those who are alone and have adequate financial resources to pay the bank's fee. Using a Bank Trust Department with a fully funded Living Trust. A fully funded Living Trust, on the other hand, becomes owner of all your assets when you create it. You give it title to your home, your savings and your investments. You name yourself as manager of the assets, and the bank as alternate. They wait to charge a fee until you are disabled. However, when they do take over, the Living Trust already possesses your resources. If the fully funded Living Trust is established correctly, care is provided to you and probate is avoided. As such, I generally recommend fully funded living trusts instead of standby trusts. Medical decision-making is much more difficult to delegate when you are alone. Your doctor cannot be appointed as your medical decision-maker as there is a conflict of interest. A bank or an accountant will not, generally, agree to be your medical surrogate. You may, however, feel more open to asking friends to take this duty as you will have already made other arrangements for your financial management. Your friends would not be handling your money, just communicating your medical preferences to your physician. Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Apple has created more than 2,000 new jobs in Austin since 2012 and is on track to meet the area hiring goals it promised in exchange for millions of dollars in public incentives, according to documents filed with the city. The technology giant is set to receive $35 million in tax incentives over the next several years from the city of Austin, Travis County and the state of Texas for an expansion of its operations in central Texas, the Austin American-Statesman reported (http://bit.ly/1NMgvvD ). Under the terms of the incentives package, which was signed in March 2012, Apple Inc. agreed to create more than 3,600 new full-time jobs in Austin in 10 years while retaining at least 3,100 existing full-time jobs year over year. According to the agreement, the average wage for those new jobs is to be $54,000 a year in the first year of the expansion and will stretch to $73,500 in the 10th year. More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday Apple said last year that it was well ahead of hiring projections. A more recent report filed in March by Terry Ryan, Apple's senior tax manager indicated that the company continues to outpace the requirements. As of Dec. 31, the total number of full-time Apple jobs in Austin was 5,102, according to the company's report. That includes 2,089 new jobs created since 2012, according to the report an average of more than 550 a year. The agreement calls for Apple to create 300 new jobs by the end of 2016. Also, report says there were 904 contract employees as of the last day of 2015. If Apple reaches its hiring goals, it will become the second-largest technology employer in Central Texas, behind only Dell Inc. In a written statement, Apple said: "We're incredibly proud that Apple's innovation supports tens of thousands of jobs across a wide range of industries in Texas." Jon Hockenyos, an Austin economist, said the types of jobs Apple is creating at the campus are a key component to the region's economy. "They provide solid middle-class incomes that sustain families," he said. "They're the kind of jobs any city wants to see being created." ___ Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In its third year, the Big Give SA a 24-hour online giving campaign that began at midnight has once again set its sights higher. When it began in 2014, the goal was $1 million raised for San Antonio area nonprofits, all from donations over the course of one day. The event brought in twice the goal $2 million. Last year, a whopping $4.3 million flowed in for more than 800 charitable organizations. This year, by 11:59 tonight, the campaign part of a nationwide effort called Give Local America wants to raise $6 million for 1,000 participating nonprofits in Bexar and 13 other counties. We expanded the number of counties this year and were really excited about that, said Kate Edwards, director of communications and marketing for the San Antonio Area Foundation, one of the sponsoring groups. Were hoping to get 45,000 donors, and we know with the help of the entire community, we will reach our goal. More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday Edwards said that in addition to donations, more than $400,000 in prize money, given by area businesses and private foundations, will be awarded to nonprofits that reach certain goals. Were going to be giving away $1,000 every hour to the nonprofit that has the most number of unique donors, she said. And were giving a $15,000 grand prize to the nonprofit that raises the most money overall, and another $15,000 to the group with the most individual donors. The way it works: Donors go online to thebiggivesa.org and select from the participating nonprofits listed there. They represent a wide range of categories, from education to arts to health care and more. Donors can search by name or charitable cause area, or they can also give to multiple organizations in one transaction on the home page. There is no maximum amount, and the minimum gift is $10. Some nonprofits are planning special events and performances around the day of giving, including SAMMinistries, which provides housing and services to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming so. Houseless, Not Homeless, a performance art piece, will take place at 11:45 a.m. today at Main Plaza to depict the struggle of homelessness in San Antonio, where some 20,000 children are without homes every night, according to a SAMMinistries news release. At Stinson Municipal Airport today, military veterans who served in various wars will receive dream flights in a 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane, courtesy of the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring seniors and military veterans. Donations to that group will go toward the purchase of a fourth biplane that would be based in San Antonio. Another local nonprofit that already knows where its donations will go is Say Si, a San Antonio youth arts program. The group aims to raise $10,000 toward the purchase of a van. Transportation is one of the biggest challenges for our students, and with a van we can pick them up after school and bring them here, said Stephen Guzman, communications manager. We also take students on field trips through the year, to visit studios and galleries, to give them a chance to connect to the artistic community. We also take our theater productions outside the San Antonio community, as far as Dallas. Edwards said donors who dont have a computer or Internet access can bring their debit or credit card to the San Antonio Area Foundation office at 303 Pearl Parkway, Suite 114, during the 24-hour period and volunteers will walk them through the process. Those who dont have credit or debit cards can still participate, she said. Even if you cant give online, we still encourage donors to write checks directly to the nonprofit of their choice, she said. mstoeltje@express-news.net SAN ANTONIO A San Antonio police officer was hospitalized Monday morning after his patrol car was rear ended while stopped on Interstate 10 on the Northwest Side. San Antonio Police Department Sgt. Mark Graf said the officer, a man who has not been identified, pulled up a few hundred yards behind another officer who had stopped near Wurzbach Road to help a stranded motorist just before the crash around 9:45 a.m. SAN ANTONIO This years Fiesta celebration saw a slight uptick in DWI arrests over last year, according to the San Antonio Police Department. SAPD officers made a total of 233 arrests for driving while intoxicated from April 20 through April 30. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate State and local law enforcement agencies near Fort Hood nabbed six men during a four-day sting operation last week targeting suspected online child predators. RELATED: Report: South Texas man arrested in prostitution sting has ties to Catholic Diocese The suspects, ages 22 to 36, were trying to solicit minors online and travel to them with the intent of committing sex crimes, the Texas Attorney General's office announced in a news release Friday. "Six individuals have been arrested and no longer pose a threat to the children of Texas," Attorney General Ken Paxton said in the release. "I am grateful for the individuals working in our Child Exploitation Unit and the dedicated law enforcement officials they work with to bring individuals like these to justice." More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday RELATED: Police: 12 men, 2 women arrested in South Texas prostitution sting The attorney general's office and Copperas Cove Police Department arrested the individuals at a predetermined meeting place in Copperas Cove, where the suspects believed they would engage in sexual contact with minors. All six suspects drew charges of online solicitation of a minor. The charge is a third-degree felony punishable by a maximum 10 year prison sentence unless the victim is younger than 14 years old. In that instance, the charge becomes a second-degree felony, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years upon conviction. RELATED: 17 arrested in Texas in national underage sex sting One suspect Brock Alan Monson, a 22-year-old China Springs man also drew five counts of possession of child pornography, jfechter@mySA.com Twitter: @JFreports This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 By Filipa Ioannou, Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 3 By Filipa Ioannou, Express-News Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A man who was shot late Sunday morning and drove to the parking lot of a West Side H-E-B has died, police said. San Antonio police found the man around 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Las Palmas Mall H-E-B at 721 Castroville Road. He was taken to University Hospital where he later died from his injuries. The man has not yet been identified. SAN ANTONIO A suspect accused of fatally shooting a man from a moving car on the West Side Sunday morning has been charged with murder, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Matthew Zavala, 27, was taken into custody shortly after the shooting, which happened near General McMullen Drive and Castroville Road around 11:30 a.m. An arrest warrant affidavit said Zavala was involved in a fight with Jeremy Rabago and three of his friends at an apartment complex in the 1900 block of Jamar just before the shooting. RELATED: Shooting on the West Side leaves one dead More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday After the fight, Rabago got into a black Cadillac with his friends and headed north on General McMullen. As the group drove down the street, a gold Toyota pulled up alongside them. The document said Zavala sat on the passenger side of the car and opened fire at the group over the vehicle. Police said Zavala fired multiple rounds at the car, one of which hit Rabago in the head. After the car Zavala was riding in stopped chasing the Cadillac, the driver pulled into an H-E-B in the area to get help. Emergency crews arrived and took Rabago to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. mdwilson@express-news.net Twitter: @MDWilsonSA Some politicians are known for throwing a punch. Ted Cruz has developed a knack for becoming a punch line. Cruzs critics including everyone from media commentators to late-night talk show hosts are ridiculing the Texas senator for picking Carly Fiorina as a running mate despite the fact that Republican voters have yet to pick him as their nominee. One of the best digs came from Conan OBrien, who quipped that since Cruz recently lost a string of primaries Fiorina was now a heartbeat away from never being president. At the very least, many political observers agreed, the gesture was desperate and cynical. It was neither. In fact, it was brilliant. Anyone who doesnt see that is missing something. Make that several things. Cruz clearly knows how to change the subject after a series of losses and get the medias attention focused back on him. Its a skill that the senator might have picked up from Donald Trump, who always managed to change the script whenever he lost a primary to Cruz. Fiorina has attributes that make her a strong pick. She is a gifted communicator, understands business and nullifies the canard that Republicans are anti-women. She could also help Cruz win votes in the crucially important state of California, where she used to live and where she won a GOP Senate primary in 2010. While its true that Fiorina dropped out of the race because she lacked the support to stay in, the same thing can be said of 13 other GOP presidential hopefuls all of whom are men. And yet this wouldnt prevent them from being mentioned as viable running mates. In fact, some have been. The senator is good at the nuts and bolts of politics. He put together a strong ground game to win Iowa and many other contests. Its one reason he has survived this long in the GOPs version of Game of Thrones. Cruz has a long-term strategy. He is focused not on polls but on what happens at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. If he can deny Trump the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination on the first ballot, he has a shot at convincing enough Trump delegates to defect for him to win on the second. Fiorina could help, if those delegates like the idea of to borrow a phrase getting two for the price of one. In a campaign that has been steeped in narcissism, voters might like the idea of electing a team. Now that Cruz has chosen his running mate, perhaps he should introduce voters to his picks for the top four Cabinet positions: secretary of state, defense secretary, treasury secretary and attorney general. Its obvious that Fiorina gets under Trumps skin, as have other strong women. Hillary Clinton gets to Trump, who recently said that the likely Democratic nominee was shouting. And Fiorina has the same effect on Trump, who last fall attacked the former Hewlett-Packard CEO on her looks. Cruz likely remembers how that particular skirmish did not go well for Trump. Fiorina crushed the front-runner in a GOP debate with a stinging 36-word response that demonstrated strength, restraint and class. Polls taken afterward showed that most Republicans thought Fiorina won the matchup. And finally, there is a very real possibility that, with Fiorina back in the picture and taking frequent shots at Trump, the billionaire blowhard will be distracted and pulled off his game. Maybe hell become newly obsessed with attacking Fiorina. Or maybe hell make more boneheaded statements as he did recently when he accused Clinton of playing the womans card and insisted that the only reason that she is doing well in this election is because of her gender. Cruzs campaign slogan insists that voters can TrusTed. With his latest move, his supporters should trust that he knows what he is doing. If the objective is to flip the script and flummox the front-runner, Fiorina is a smart choice at the right moment. ruben@rubennavarrette.com Since President Barack Obama nominated career diplomat Roberta Jacobson to be the U.S. ambassador to Mexico in June, the presidential campaign has been rife with talk of a wall and enhanced border security. A new influx of Central American refugees has swarmed across the border. And Mexicos war with the cartels, which are still saturating the U.S. with drugs, continues to threaten the stability of a key ally. Her confirmation by the Senate on Thursday was welcome, but how long it took to get there should prompt some introspection about the ability of one senator to place a hold on such a vital post. 16e. Heaven/Eternal Bliss: The fifth line of the six-line Greco-Roman narrative we are in the process of deconstructing has all those who believe that by suffering on the cross Jesus placated the wrath of God on their behalf, going to heaven after death. While some believe that their physical bodies are resurrected as spiritual bodies fit for heaven at the moment of death, most hold that while their bodies remain behind, the souls of deceased believers wing their way to their eternal home in heaven there to be forever with their Lord. This is where platonic notions begin producing folkloric notions of spiritual existence much superior to life connected with human bodies. How wonderful it will be to leave materiality behind! Quiet music forms the backdrop to the many family reunions continually taking place in the spirit. And the souls of departed loved ones keep an eye out for beloved former earthlings crossing the Jordon to join them in their spiritual home. Beyond family gatherings, most of their time is taken up in a perpetual worship service praising God for bringing them here instead of letting them languish in hell. Ironically, such spiritual existence does not diminish visions of heavens street being paved with gold nor of individual mansions of unimaginable opulence in which the blessed will reside. For true believers death is not real; just an opening door into eternal bliss where they will keep the coffee hot while they wait for loved ones to join them. The Bible gives no license for such a sellout to platonic imagination. Jesus did promise the thief on the cross that after his death he would meet him in paradise. Paul was sure this would happen to him as well. Beyond that we enter the realm of mystery. At best, life immediately after death is a disembodied existence in which we are at rest and present with the Lord in an interim state while we await the resurrection. In his book, Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright offers some helpful insight. He declares that the ultimate biblical hope of early Christians was to keep body and soul together; hence, the new heaven and the new earth inaugurated at the end of time is not a far-off spiritual place. In fact, the parousia is not about being whisked away but about Christ appearing to dwell with us who now have resurrected bodies. Our ultimate state will be to live with Christ in a world in which our life-long prayer, They Kingdom come, they will be done; on earth as it is in heaven will finally have been answered. The two verses used to promote a rapture theology (I Thessalonians 4:16-17) should be read as a non-literal expression of the many other biblical passages that speak of Christ reappearing to bring to fruition the cosmic redemption promised throughout scripture. All this means that we have to leave a lot of what precisely happens after death to mystery, not to the kind of certainty many Christians demand. 16f. Hell/Eternal Damnation: Perhaps the most troubling line of the six-line narrative we are questioning is the last one in which all the ungodly spend eternity in conscious, eternal torment in hell. From a platonic perspective, this ultimate reality for 95 percent of the people who ever lived, such damnation makes perfect sense. The perfect God, Theos, would prefer to destroy the reprobate but is unable to do so because these souls are incurably immortal. Brain McLaren picks up the story in, A New Kind Of Christianity: Theos has no choice, really; this tainted universe and all it contains must be destroyed, which will leave the eternal essences of the unredeemed all undressed with no place to go. So they are banished to hell the Greek Hades, intensified and decorated with plenty of borrowings from its Zoroastrian counterpart and seasoned liberally with imagery misappropriated from Jesuss parables and sermons. And what is hell? It must be a state, since no story can ever exist in a universe purged of change and becoming. Thats why nobody can ever repent and leave it (44). As I have often said, this version of ultimate reality terrorized me as a youngster and it continues to be the biggest impediment for thoughtful and sensitive people to embrace the Christian faith. Of course I cannot do justice to this topic here. But I recommend Brad Jersaks book, Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hope, Hell, and the New Jerusalem as the most thoroughly academic and yet accessible book on the subject I have come across. I never cease to be amazed that for many sincere Christians, hell is the cornerstone of their faith. That is what salvation is all about; providing a way to escape this horrible destination where most people are headed. For them, the gospel declaration is three-fold: Everyone deserves to go to hell. There is a way of escape if you jump through the right hoops. However most people wont do so and therefore will suffer consciously for all eternity. I am aware that if you start with a platonic worldview, there are certain biblical passages that can be made to support such a perspective. But to do so is to leave off many passages that speak of a much broader and more holistic salvation; for example, We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe (I Timothy 4:10). I realize that the hope of cosmic redemption needs further reflection such as I did in a series of essays a few years back. But I am not alone. There are an increasing number of Christian thinkers and writers who are moving away from the notion of conscious, eternal torment in hell. That is the way of the future and the only way to finally bury the six-line Greco-Roman narrative that has distorted our vision of a beautiful gospel for too long. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. TPP/TTiP/TISA Barack Obama Readies For Final TPP Push, Which Could Benefit Presidential Library Donors [Business Insider]. Ka-ching. A salient goal of TTIP is to shadow the Investor-State Dispute Settlement system (ISDS), an instrument of public international law granting firms the right to raise an action in a tribunal on the basis that a states policies have harmed their commercial interests [London Review of Books]. The implications for national governments seeking to regulate capitalism in the public interest are obvious. Leaked TTIP documents cast doubt on EU-US trade deal [Guardian]. The Greenpeace document dump. TTIP could cause an NHS sell-off and UK Parliament would be powerless to stop it, says leading union [Independent] 2016 Policy Donald Trumps Foreign Policy: Implications for Asia [The Diplomat]. The question of whose finger you want on the red button is not a bad one. However, as the New York Times shows, Clintons bias is toward action. Does that translate to an itchy trigger finger? Why Zalmay Khalilzad Is Taking Donald Trump Seriously [Slate]. I think intellectually he is not the least capable person who would become president. Money [Clinton] says shes raising big checks to help state committees, but theyve gotten to keep only 1 percent of the $60 million raised [Politico]. Remember when all the Clintons supporters were busting Sanders chops because he wouldnt participate in that effort? Surprise! It was a Clinton scam, and a shameless one, too. Time Warners cable news network has more than doubled target prime-time audience this year and continues to raise ad rates [Wall Street Journal, CNN Enjoys Outsize Ratings Boost From Presidential Race]. When CNN President Jeff Zucker saw the ratings for Fox Newss first Republican debate last Augusta staggering 24 million viewershe immediately called up his head of advertising sales and told her to raise prices, by a lot. Welll, that explains a lot. Corruption Canadian Partnership Shielded Identities of Donors to Clinton Foundation [New York Times]. Aides to former President Bill Clinton helped start a Canadian charity that effectively shielded the identities of donors who gave more than $33 million that went to his foundation, despite a pledge of transparency when Hillary Rodham Clinton became secretary of state. And: But the [Clinton Foundation] statement did not make clear whether parallel organizations like the Canadian entity would be allowed to accept donations from governments that the foundation itself would not take. Say, from the Saudis? The Voters UPDATE Some positive feedback for Andrew Sullivan: These 3 paragraphs. Everything I have seen, and all I have tried to write/photograhp in last year. By @sullydish pic.twitter.com/6CxNCP0Qeh Chris Arnade (@Chris_arnade) May 2, 2016 UPDATE Clinton Campaign Has Astounding Record Of Smugness Toward Young Voters [Shadowproof]. A fine compilation. The Trail Trump Said to Lack Plan for Fundraising, Running Mate Vetting [Bloomberg]. Leave The Donald alone! Hes done pretty well so far. UPDATE Mr. Trump has seen his support grow in a broad range of places, but has seen particular sharp growth in dense suburban areas [Wall Street Journal, How Suburban Voters Put Donald Trump Back on Track]. Before the April 19 New York primary, Mr. Trump was winning about 37% of the vote coming from the urban suburbs. But after New York and Mr. Trumps five-state sweep on Tuesday, he saw that number jump to about 42%. It is virtually impossible for Hillary Clinton to reach a majority of convention delegates by June 14, which is the last day a primary will be held, with pledged delegates alone, [Sanders] added. She will need superdelegates to take her over the top at the convention in Philadelphia' [Guardian]. Again, in 2008, Clinton fought to the last delegate in 2008, and then cut a deal with Obama in Denver. So, what the faction of the political class that is calling for Sanders to quit really wants is for Sanders not to have the same power. And one might ask why. UPDATE Clinton compromising on Sanders policy demands: We cant do it, the [Clinton] ally said. But theres going to be a place for him to weigh in on the campaign and at the convention and he should have the satisfaction that he raised some issues that have been a part of the conversation [The Hill]. Conversation is one of those Democratic nomenklatura words you should always watch out for. Because the nice thing about conversations is that they dont have power relations. UPDATE Bernie Sanders rips Carrier execs: They have no shame' [Indianapolis Star]. UPDATE Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has withdrawn his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee, putting an end to an intraparty dispute over unauthorized access to proprietary data belonging to rival Hillary Clintons presidential campaign [Wall Street Journal, Sanders Campaign Withdraws Suit in Intraparty Fight]. A smallish olive branch? UPDATE The complete transcript of Larry Wilmores 2016 White House correspondents dinner speech [WaPo]. Stats Watch PMI Manufacturing Index, April 2016: The manufacturing sector has started out the second quarter completely flat, based at least on the April PMI which fell 7 tenths to 50.8. New orders did rise modestly in the month but thats the only good news in the report [Econoday]. And manufacturers continue to work down inventories as much as possible. Prices for raw materials, reflecting higher costs for oil-related products, did rise but not selling prices which are decreasing further. ISM Mfg Index, April 2016: Aprils 50.8 for the ISM manufacturing index may be moderately below expectations for 51.5 but details in the report are positive [Econoday]. New orders did slow by 2.5 points but the level at 55.8 still points to a very solid rate of growth. One gets the feeling that if the index exceeded expectations theyd go mad with joy. PMI isnt closely watched but ISM is. And: [The ISM is] in expansion for the second month after 5 months in contraction however it declined and is barely positive. The key internals likewise declined and remained positive [Econintersect]. And: Another worse than expected report, and now its been over a year since it all started going bad, even as analysts continue to find reasons to be optimistic that have yet to pan out [Mosler Economics]. Construction Spending, March 2016: Construction spending did inch 0.3 percent higher in March, which is lower than expected, but February is now revised sharply higher [Econoday]. Year-on-year, total construction spending is up 8.0 percent, which includes a 7.8 percent gain on the residential side and a 9.3 percent gain on the non-residential side. These are down from 10 percent rates in prior reports but are still very hard to match anywhere else in the economy. And: The headlines say construction spending improved but slightly below expectations. The backward revisions make this series wacky but the rolling averages declined [Econintersect]. GDP Q1 (April 29): The initial Q1 GDP estimate shows economic growth as a stagnant 0.5%. Consumer spending was all services consumption. Private investment just walloped the economy as both nonresidential fixed investment and the changes in private inventories contracted. Exports also receded [Economic Populist]. The Mohamed A. El-Erian interview: How bad a slowdown do you need as a wake-up call? [Business Insider]. This is a couple weeks old and Yves linked to it, but the elites do seem to have a bad case of the jitters. As venture capital dries up, tech start-ups discover frugality [Los Angeles Times]. So startup culture depended on J-Yels gusher of free money. Im shocked. What Good Are Hedge Funds? [David Dayen, The American Prospect]. Todays Fear & Greed Index: 68, Greed (previous close: 64, Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 70 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated May 2 at 1:12pm. All well at the club on Sunday afternoon. The 420 But Schedule I is different: It lumps together every controlled substance that has no approved medical use, regardless of dangerousness. Distinctions between the degree of risk were ignored by the crafters of the scheduling system because they assumed that if there were no medically approved uses, there was no reason to make fine regulatory judgments concerning who is allowed to manufacture, prescribe and research a drug and who is not [WaPo]. Walgreens wants to talk weed [MarketWatch]. How Pot Can Save Big Tobaccos Future [Bloomberg]. Great. Black Injustice Tipping Point Formation-inspired protest blocks streets in Chicago [Rolling Out]. Water Brita Unveils New In-Throat Water Filters [The Onion]. You laugh! The Jackpot 3 ways AI could help save the planet [Business Insider]. Class Warfare UPDATE Warren Buffetts mobile home empire preys on the poor [Public Integrity]. Money, Race and Success: How Your School District Compares [New York Times]. The Emerging Wealthy White Male Donor Class: A Chicago Case Study [The American Prospect]. Emerging? The WHCA Gave Even Less Money to Scholarships in 2014 and 2015 [Washingtonian]. News of the Wired Are these cats the answer to Chicagos rat problem? [MarketWatch]. How many legs do the rats have? Excerpts from How Not to Network a Nation: The Uneasy History of the Soviet Internet [First Monday]. Who invented the cash machine? I did and all I earned was 10 [Guardian]. And the PIN. Bankers: Thanks. Well take it from here. * * * I think I fixed my fershuggeneh contact form below. Just to keep the NC comment section clean, will only those who already have my email address tell me if they have issues, using email? Thank you! Readers, feel free to contact me with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, and (c) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. And heres todays plant (Keith E): Keith writes: A custom bred camillia, developed by my ex-wifes grandfather. Gorgeous! * * * Readers, Water Cooler will not exist without your regular support. Your tip will be welcome today, and indeed any day. If you enjoy what youre reading, please click the hat! Lambert here: This piece, given that its in essence an argument from the authority of a model that incorporates new trade theoretic features, is perhaps best situated in the ramping up of trade deal propaganda weve taken notice of lately. Notice the blithe, technocratic dismissal of the electoral process in paragraph two. It does, however, bookend todays TTiP piece neatly. (Oddly, the second reference, to Baker, Dean in 2016, contains a broken link. Here is a working one.) By Peter A. Petri, Carl J. Shapiro Professor of International Finance, Brandeis International Business School, and Michael Plummer, Director, SAIS Europe. Originally published at VoxEU. The Trans-Pacific Partnership faces serious a political challenge in the US, with some viewing it as primarily benefitting the wealthy. This column argues that it will slightly favour middle- and low-income US households, while also generating substantial benefits for poorer developing countries. As with any trade agreement, the gains and losses will be asymmetrically distributed, but the gains should permit ample support for individuals adversely affected. In the fog of the 2016 presidential elections, the US appears to be abandoning 70 years of support for international economic integration. Whether due to a bout of populism, the trauma of the recent economic crisis, or the amplified reach of anti-trade lobbies through social networks, immigration and trade have become prominent political targets. The debate has also taken a toll on the prospects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, inopportunely concluded at this politically charged moment (Menon 2015). More constructively, the debate has raised legitimate concerns about how TPP would affect vulnerable groups. We explore this issue by collecting results from recent work on TPP by us and other researchers. Much of this work is based on a global computable general equilibrium (CGE) model1 that incorporates new trade theoretic features, including monopolistic competition and productivity-heterogeneous firms, extensive detail on trade barriers and trade agreements, and on linkages between them. On the whole, the results show significant benefits from TPP. We project member-country incomes to rise by $465 billion (1.1%) and exports by $1,025 billion (11.5%) annually by 2030, when the agreement is nearly fully implemented. The US will gain the most in absolute terms ($131 billion), led by a 9.1% increase in exports, and Vietnam will gain the most in relative terms, with an 8.1% increase in real incomes. But other members will also benefit, with substantial gains estimated for Japan, Malaysia, and Canada. The model suggests modest trade-diversion, with effects on non-members ranging from slightly positive for the EU to slightly negative for China.2 Despite potentially widespread gains, the ratification of TPP is not assured. In the US, opposition has coalesced around purportedly negative employment and income distribution effects. In fact, our results and work by Lawrence and Moran (2016) suggests that TPP will: Not significantly affect general employment levels; Raise productivity and wages for both skilled and unskilled labour; Displace some workers during implementation but also make it possible to compensate them generously from national gains; Improve the US income distribution slightly, by raising wages relative to capital returns and lowering prices particularly for low-income households; Prevent a race to the bottom in labour standards and improve labour rights in several economies; and Disproportionately benefit poor countries and labour within them. Effects on Employment: Short- and Long-Run Considerations Employment effects are prominent in the TPP debate, even though economists do not usually expect trade policy to change employment levels significantly (Krugman 1993). Rather, trade agreements both add high-productivity jobs in export-related firms and eliminate low-productivity jobs in import-competing firms. However, supporters of the agreement often claim employment gains, while those opposed expect unemployment. Our results project no significant general employment effects. In the long run, we assume that employment converges to normal trends with or without the TPP agreement. In the short run, macroeconomic shocks are of course possible, but the results suggest that significant US shocks via trade policy are unlikely. At the same time, they indicate that some workers will have to change jobs during the implementation of the agreement, and some may suffer unemployment and other significant adjustment costs. These costs have an important bearing on policy and will be discussed below. Since trade agreements are implemented graduallymany changes under TPP will take ten years, and some as long as 30 yearsour analysis is mainly conducted in a long-term modelling framework. In the long run, if the economys normal adjustment processes work, shocks encountered during implementation will fade away and employment and savings (which determine trade balances) will converge to fundamental trends. Critics have argued, however, that mechanisms that may have once restored equilibrium are no longer working in the aftermath of the financial crisis (Baker 2016). That view is not supported by data (from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Since the exceptionally severe shocks of 2008, the US economy has recovered steadily and has now added 13 million jobs, reaching levels exceeding pre-crisis years. The unemployment rate and a broader variant (U6) that includes part-time and discouraged workers are again at or near levels in pre-crisis, non-recession years. Macroeconomic shocks due to TPP could generate employment effects in the short run, along the implementation path. For example, if changes in exports and imports failed to offset each other along a segment of the path, they would generate net positive or negative shocks in aggregate demand. But the scale of such effects is likely to be very small in the US. Exports and imports are projected to change by 9% each by 2030, or about 1.3% of GDP. If these changes occur gradually, they would imply annual changes of around 0.1% of GDP. Even these small export and import changes will tend to be balanced by policy design and by exchange rate and other equilibrating forces. Remaining net imbalances are not likely to have perceptible demand effects. Although general employment effects are unlikely in either the long or short run, structural changes due to the TPP will imply adjustment and transitional unemployment. Research warns that these adjustments can weigh heavily on some workers (Autor et al. 2014). We estimate that the number of jobs affectedin the sense of jobs lost in import-impacted industries and gained in export-impacted industriescould range from 18,900 to 160,700 jobs per year, depending on assumptions about how far structural adjustments extend beyond directly affected firms into other sectors of the economy. Lawrence and Moran (2016), using somewhat different methods, estimate a range of 23,800 to 169,000 jobs. These numbers increase the ongoing flow of employment changes in the US labour market, or job churn. Given 55.5 million job changes in 2014, a typical number for non-recession years, mid-point estimates of the effects of the TPP would increase job churn by less than 0.1%. Based on worker experiences following layoffs (e.g. Reed 2013), Lawrence and Moran (2016) estimate the cost of employment dislocations due to TPP at 1.4 years of the salaries of affected workers, representing both periods of unemployment and lower wages in new jobs as job-specific human capital is sacrificed. Using this estimate and the national gains derived in our study, they calculate benefit-cost ratios for TPP ranging from about 3:1 to 20:1 (depending on the displacement scenario used) during the agreements most intense implementation period. The ratio rises to 100:1 over the full 2015-2030 projection period. However, US experience with adjustment assistance has been spotty, and better policies are needed to improve the fairness and flexibility of labour market outcomes given accelerating change in technology and globalisation. An important class of such policies involves wage insurance (Brainard et. al. 2005). Effects on Real Wages and Income Distribution As already noted, our modelling incorporates new trade theoretic features such as productivity gains associated with scale economies, shifts in output toward more productive firms, and gains from access to wider varieties of products. Thus, factor return results are not restricted to the famous Stolper-Samuelson prediction that more trade leads to lower wages in countries like the US. Rather, as TPP increases productivity, it raises returns for all three factors (skilled labour by 0.63%, capital by 0.39%, and unskilled labour by 0.37%). In the US skilled wages make up 60% of labour income and wages overall increase relative to capital returns. Lawrence and Moran (2016) trace the effects of changes in factor returns and product prices to household quintiles in order to examine changes in the US income distribution. They find that households in all quintiles benefit from TPP by similar percentages, but the middle three quintiles benefit slightly more than the lowest and highest quintiles. On the expenditure side, low-income households spend more on TPP-imported products than high-income households (the lowest quintile spends 8% more than the top quintile). Overall, they conclude that TPP will have a marginally positive effect on the US income distribution. Implications for Labour in Developing Partner Countries Fostering growth and reducing poverty in developing countries through market-oriented reforms has been a long-standing global priority for the US and other developed countries. Nowhere has this policy approach been more successful than in the Asia-Pacific, with results that have lifted more than a billion people from poverty. Curiously, however, the role of the TPP in sustaining integration has received virtually no attention in the US, even from some prominent international and development economists. Their commentary, fuelling the criticism of the TPP, has focused almost entirely on current US interests. This is short-sighted, even from a strictly US perspective. Our results suggest that the agreement will strongly benefit its poorest members, including Vietnam, with income gains of 8.1% of GDP, Malaysia with 7.6%, and Peru with 2.6%. (Effects on non-members, which are negative in some cases, are small compared to these gains.) Several economies also see TPP as a tool for strengthening internal reforms. In addition, as Table 1 shows, in all of TPPs developing economies unskilled labour would gain the most among all factors of production. In Vietnam, for example, 93% of garment and textile production is semi-skilled- or unskilled-labour intensive, and 52% of unskilled workers are female (see Plummer et al. 2014 and the 2010 National Labour Market Survey of Vietnam). The expansion of such sectors is particularly advantageous in reducing poverty. Table 1. Changes in factor returns due to TPP (%) Source: Authors calculations. See: www.asiapacifictrade.org The labour chapter of TPP represents the state of the art in free trade agreements between developed and developing economies. The agreement commits parties to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles of Rights at Work, guaranteeing freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the prohibition of forced labour, child labour, and discrimination. The labour provisions are actionable and their implementation is spelled out in side letters between the US and Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, respectively. Such provisions are understandably controversial in developing countries, but they will benefit workers in the long run and, most importantly, enable trade relations to deepen despite rising expectations for labour standards in developed markets. Conclusion As are all modern trade agreements, TPP is controversial. But recent opposition in the US has grown especially strong, with concerns focused on the economic effects of TPP on vulnerable groups. Our analysis is reassuring in this regard. The gains from TPP appear to be fairly distributedlabour will gain relative to capital, and cost reductions will favour low-income households. Some workers will need to change jobs, but they constitute a small fraction of normal job churn in any given year, and the national benefits argue for generous compensation for their adjustment costs. The agreement will also benefit workers in TPPs poorest member countries. Still, the distribution of gains and losses will be unequal, as is often the case for efficiency-enhancing policies and innovations. This is not an argument against TPPthe ratio of benefits to costs is highly favourablebut underscores the need to manage it. TPP crystallises a central challenge of contemporary economic life; various current labour market outcomes are unfair and, absent more effective policy responses, undermine support for economic integration even in traditionally market-oriented economies like the US. References Autor, DH, D Dorn, and GH Hanson. 2014. The China Syndrome: Local Labor Market Effects of Import Competition in the United States. American Economic Review.. Baker, Dean. 2016. Peterson Institute Study Shows TPP Will Lead to $357 Billion Increase in Annual Imports. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/ . Brainard, Lael, Robert E. Litan, and Nicholas Warren. 2005. Insuring Americas Workers in the New Era of Off-shoring. Brookings Policy Brief no. 143. Washington: Brookings Institution. European Commission. 2012. 20 Years of the European Single Market. Brussels: European Commission. Menon, J. (2015), TPP unveiled, VoxEU.org, 10 January Krugman, Paul R. 1993. What Do Undergrads Need to Know About Trade? American Economic Review 2 (May): 2326. Lawrence, Robert Z., and Tyler Moran. 2016. Adjustment and Income Distribution Impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, PIIE Working Paper 16-5, March. Petri, Peter A., Michael G. Plummer and Fan Zhai. 2012. The Trans-Pacific Partnership and Asia-Pacific Integration: A Quantitative Assessment. Washington, DC, DC: Peterson Institute for International Economics. Petri, Peter A., and Michael G. Plummer. 2016. The Economic Effects of the Transpacific Partnership: New Estimates, Ch. 1 in PIIE Briefing 16-1, Assessing the Transpacific Partnership: Volume 1, Market Access and Sectoral Issues (Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington), February 2016, pp. 6-30 Plummer, Michael G., Peter A. Petri and Fan Zhai. 2014. Assessing the Effects of ASEAN Economic Integration on Labor Markets, ILO Asia-Pacific Working Paper Series, September, pp. 1-54. Walker, W. Reed. 2013. The Transitional Costs of Sectoral Reallocation: Evidence from the Clean Air Act and the Workforce. Quarterly Journal of Economics 128, no. 4: 1787835. Zhai, Fan. 2008. Armington Meets Melitz: Introducing Firm Heterogeneity in a Global CGE Model of Trade. Journal of Economic Integration 23 (3): 575604. Endnotes [1] See Petri et al. (2012) and most recently Petri and Plummer (2016). The model was developed by Zhai (2008) and is based in part on GTAP data. Additional information is available on www.asiapacifictrade.org. [2] The simulations assume that 20% of non-tariff barrier reductions are on a non-preferential basis, as in several studies of by the European Commission (2012), often with a higher spillover factor. The rationale is that some agreement provisionsfor example, intellectual-property protection, regulatory transparency, trade facilitationcannot be restricted to members alone. Elephants perform for final time at Ringling Bros. AP (Furzy Mouse). Fading risks of global recession Gavyn Davies, FT Fed may need more powers to support securities firms during crises: Dudley Reuters. Like access to the discount window. Freddie Mac may need another taxpayer bailout next week MarketWatch. Why are we hearing about this only now? Fiscal and monetary policy can be uneasy bedfellows FT Half of leading investors ignoring climate change: study Reuters The Latest: Berkshire investors reject climate change report AP The Right Time for Climate Action Project Syndicate Oil Bulls Bet the Waning U.S. Shale Boom Will Curb Global Glut Bloomberg Halliburton and Baker Hughes to Call Off $35 Billion Mega Oil Merger Fortune Taking the Temperature of U.S. Jobs and Global Manufacturing WSJ Asias factories stay sluggish, stimulus lacks traction Reuters Buffett Says Hedge Funds Get Unbelievable Fees for Bad Results Bloomberg. Yves: Piling on when it is cheap to do so. This is the finance news version of a momentum trade. Goldman targets mass affluent borrowers with unusual lending plan Reuters Lousy 401(k) plans may spark more lawsuits CNBC Deutsche Bank continues to be plagued by legal uncertainty FT China Lending Inflates Real Estate, Stocks, Even Egg Futures NYT TTIP Documents Revealed Suddeutsche Zeitung (MR). According to the documents, Washington is threatening to prevent the easing of exports for the European car industry in order to force Europe to buy more U.S. agricultural products. The U.S. government concurrently has criticized the fundamental prevention principal of the EU Consumer Centre which protects 500 million Europeans from consuming genetically modified food and hormone-treated meat. The documents further reveal the fact that the U.S. has blocked the urgent European call to replace the controversial private arbitration tribunals, responsible for corporative lawsuits, with a public State model; instead, Washington has made a suggestion on the matter that had hitherto not been disclosed to the public. Syraqistan Black Injustice Tipping Point 2016 Democracies end when they are too democratic Andrew Sullivan, New York Magazine. Im so old I remember when Sully endorsing Obama was a big deal. America Becomes What Its Founders Feared The National Interest America now has nearly 5 PR people for every reporter, double the rate from a decade ago Muck Rack Class Warfare CIAs Recounting of Bin Laden Raid Gets Mixed Reaction Voice of America. Oddly, or not, the story doesnt mention Seymour Hershs new book. Antidote du jour: See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. SoapFest weekend includes a boat ride with the stars on the Marco Island Princess yacht for the afternoon Cruisin' Boozin' & Schmoozin.' Submitted SHARE By Submitted SoapFest returns for its annual weekend festival featuring daytime celebrity actors and signature events that raise funds for local children's charities. Tickets are now on sale for the 17th annual Southwest Florida Soapfest Charity Weekend May 27-30. "This year's SoapFest children's beneficiaries include Camp Able and the Island Theater Company Kids Camp," said SoapFest founder Pat Berry. Camp Able provides a program for local special needs children and the three week summer theatre camp teaches children aged 8-18 about all aspects of the theatre with an emphasis on props, costumes, lighting and sound. "You don't have to be a soap fan to have a great time and lend your support to the kids," said Berry. "SoapFest is a great weekend that showcases Marco Island's innate hospitality amid its white sandy beaches and waterways nearby the Gulf of Mexico to daytime drama actors and fans from around the world," she added. A dozen actors from treasured daytimes shows such as "General Hospital," "Young and the Restless" and "Guiding Light" are expected to attend, many for return visits. "These actors generously donate their time and talents to raise money for our kids," said Berry. The three days of nonstop festivities include favorites such as "A Night of Stars," "Cruisin', Boozin' and Schmoozin' with the Stars," "Celebrity Karaoke Bar Bash", and "Brunch with the Boys." A partial list of celebrities scheduled to appear include ... "General Hospital's" Brytni Sarpy, Ryan Peavey, Donnell Turner and Robert Watkins. "The Young and The Restless' " Sean Carrigan, Kate Linder, John Driscoll, Jeff Branson and Christian LeBlanc. "Guiding Light's" Tom Pelphrey. "Days of Our Lives" and "One Life To Live's" Melissa Archer. SoapFest Charity Weekend kicks off at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28 with "A Night of Stars," held at the Marco Island Yacht Club. This VIP event, catered by Chef Bob, will offer several opportunities for up close and personal time with the actors. There will also be a chance for autograph signings, photos, Q and A, and live auctions. "A Night of Stars" tickets (including dinner) cost $125 per person. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $200 and guarantees VIP seating with your favorite celebrity guest. The fun continues on Sunday, May 29 aboard the Marco Island Princess yacht for the afternoon "Cruisin' Boozin' & Schmoozin with the Stars," to be held noon until 3 p.m., departing from Marco River Marina. The 3-hour boat ride is a perfect opportunity to mix and mingle with your favorite soap celebrity, while sightseeing Marco Island's coastal beauty as dolphins frolic in the water. Guests meet with actors for additional photographs and autographs. Auctions and raffles will be held for one-of-a-kind daytime drama memorabilia (signed scripts, iconic clothing, jewelry, among others). Tickets limited to 130 and cost $130 per person including a luncheon buffet. The annual Celebrity Karaoke Bar Bash takes place at 9 o'clock until closing Sunday evening at Chad's Martini Bar, located at 695 Bald Eagle Drive. This cherished event features daytime actors singing favorite tunes while pouring drinks to raise money. Featuring DJ Jared. Tickets cost $75 per person. SoapFest concludes on Monday, May 30 with a VIP brunch. Planning for this exclusive, one-of-a-kind event is underway with a very limited number of tickets available. Tickets for all events, updates to schedules, including current actor attendees, can be found at theatreonmarco.com/soapiest. Tickets may also be purchased by phone by calling 239-394-0080. SHARE 1. Tuesday: Indigenous residents lecture Marco Islanders and visitors alike often confuse the Seminoles with our early indigenous residents, the Calusa and the Muspa. Two award-winning authors and historians John and Mary Lou Missall, will be at Rose Auditorium at 7 p.m., May 3, at Rose History Auditorium to explain the differences, the arrival of the Seminoles on the scene in the early 18th century and their resultant violent history. The Missalls are the editors of the official State of Florida Seminole Wars Heritage Trail Guide. Their lecture, A Seminole Wars Tour of Florida, will highlight places around the state where visitors can go to learn about the Seminole Wars. They also are the authors of several award winning books about the Seminoles including "The Seminole Wars: America's longest Indian Conflict, Hollow Victory" (winner of the 2012 Patrick D. Smith Award from the Florida Historical Society), Elizabeth's War (winner of the 2016 Patrick Smith Award) and This Torn Land. This lecture, sponsored by the Marco Island Historical Society, is free to members of the Society and $5 for nonmembers. Rose History Auditorium is located at 180 S. Heathwood Drive. Information: 239-389-6447 or theMIHS.org. 2. This weekend: Talk Derby To Me Upon A Star Foundation's 10 Annual Talk Derby To Me fundraiser will be Saturday, May 7, at the Marco Island Brewery. VIP seating from 3 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. General admission starts at 4 p. m. There will be live and silent auctions, best hat contests, games and more. Benefits Upon A Star and Marco Island Charter Middle School. Information: 239-272-3090. 3. Mother/Daughter Mad Hatter Tea Party The city of Marco Island Parks and Recreation Department invites all mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, nieces, and friends to the annual Mad Hatter Tea Party at Mackle Park. The Mad Hatter and all the usual characters will celebrate Mother's Day on Saturday, May 7. Mad Hatter tea time is 10 a.m. until noon. There will be delightful delicacies, tea sandwiches, scones and various teas; games and crafts. Cost is $20. Registration deadline is Thursday, May 5. Rasha Zamamiri, left, portrays Zarina and Rajesh Bose portrays her father, Afzal, in the Gulfshore Playhouse's production of the play "The Who and the What?" at the Norris Community Center in Naples, FL on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. (Photo by Gregg Pachkowski/Special to the Daily News) SHARE Lipica Shah portraying Mahwish, front, and Rasha Zamamiri portraying Zarina perform during the Gulfshore Playhouse's tech rehearsal of the play "The Who and the What?" at the Norris Community Center in Naples, FL on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. (Photo by Gregg Pachkowski/Special to the Daily News) By Harriet Howard Heithaus of the Naples Daily News Let's dispense with the fact the Gulfshore Playhouse offering, "The Who and the What," is about a Muslim family. There are no veils in sight; sleeveless dresses and jeggings are in its women's closets. We hear recollections of Graceland trips and nights at the movies. It's possible to imagine many broad-base religions Roman Catholic, Mormon, Jewish, Hindu providing the theological tinder for the fires that start in Ayad Akhtar's story of painful realizations our children were not necessarily created in our image. The real flashpoints in "The Who and the What" come from an entire thicket of differences in approach to culture, faith, gender, generation. Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Ayad Akhtar's story will offer everyone opportunities to wince, weep and laugh. In "The Who and the What," the heat is in the family of Afzal, an overbearing, well-set Pakistani-American patriarch with two daughters: the academic, independent Zarina and the compliant, if conflicted, Mahwish. (She is tellingly nicknamed "Wish.") Akhtar' s familial issues smolder like the conflicts of "Fiddler on the Roof," with 33-year-old Zarina's resistance to her father's matchmaking, and Afzal's puffer fish stances on his daughters' independence. Variants of "I should have been sterner" are shot through the play, a lament many of us rolled our eyes through as children. But their fights are forest fires, spreading to everyone around them. After Mahwish allies with her angry father, who discovers Zarina has written a book that makes the prophet Mohammed sensually human, Zarina blurts out the secret of her sister's long-running sexual abdication to her boyfriend. For Eli, defying his father-in-law's insistence that "women must be broken" prompts Afzal's suggestion that Eli is a choice on the rebound for Zarina, whose Irish Catholic boyfriend was denied Afzal's permission to marry her. Still, love is life-giving water to the flames, at the most unexpected moment. Even in his most intransigent, Afzal frets about his daughter's safety if she publishes her story: "In Pakistan, she would be killed for this." That is well ahead of what the fallout will be among the employees of his cab company. And on the heels of a fight with his wife, Eli still shouts down his father-in-law's objections to her book. It's a story that requires quick and strong character development, and director Emily N. Wells has a cast equal to it. Rasha Zamamiri adroitly develops the headstrong Zarina, with her own conflicts has she really given up that sweet Catholic boy? and why, in her stance on women's rights, did she bow to her father's insistence that any husband must be of her religion? Likewise, Lipica Shah handles the role of "yes" daughter Mahwish with fingers crossed and heart in constant angst as she marries a man whom she admits only brings anger to her mind. Her character-setting first-scene lines could use a little slower delivery and more projection for comprehension, however. Rajesh Bose comes barreling in as Afzal, clearly a person who expects to be heard as the owner of Atlanta's largest cab company and the sole parent, after his wife's death, to his two daughters. He loves them dearly in his own, as he concedes to Zarina, "lying, manipulative" way. Only Eric Clem gets a slow start but to an eloquent finish as Eli, the white Muslim cleric who has answered Afzal's phony muslimlove.com ads to find an acceptable spouse for his older daughter. His low-key, nonchalant case made his status as a cleric a stretch, even in a social-justice contingent, and it didn't help to be wearing a kufi, or skullcap, in a distractingly bright white. The flexible set from David Arsenault morphs nicely into two different kitchens, a park bench and a bedroom, a good deal of that thanks to a partnership with lighting designer Michael Barnett. We'd skip the entr'acte music, which doesn't enhance the mood. But we love that this play is done without intermission. "The Who and the What" is a roller-coaster ride that demands you hang on for dear life straight through, thanks to Gulfshore Playhouse's strong, sensitive production. 'The Who and the What' What: Gulfshore Playhouse production of family drama by American Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar Where: Norris Community Center, 755 8th Ave S., Naples When: Tuesdays through Sundays through May 15; times vary Tickets: $20 to $64 To buy: 866-811-4111 or gulfshoreplayhouse.org A 26-year-old woman was arrested at an East Naples hotel Wednesday night, after Collier County Sheriff's officials said she was caught in an undercover prostitution sting. According to Sheriff's Office reports, on Wednesday at around 7 p.m., an undercover detective with the Sheriff's Office Vice and Narcotics Bureau called a number advertising ?escorts' in Naples. The detective spoke with a man going by the name of Sergio, who reports said told the detective he ran the escort service. The undercover detective then told the man he would be interested in seeing 'Valery' from the service's online ad, according to reports. In response, Sergio set up a meeting between 'Valery' and the detective at a hotel on Bedzel Circle in East Naples, according to reports . At approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, reports said the detective arrived at the unnamed hotel and told via a phone in which room to meet 'Valery.' Once in the room, the woman -- who later identified as Veronika Gorcikova by her passport -- agreed to perform a sexual act on the undercover detective in exchange for money. Gorcikova, whose address was unknown, was arrested and was charged with prostitution or offering to commit/ engage on prostitution. As of Friday afternoon Gorcikova remained in jail on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold. Pity the endangered smalltooth sawfish, swimming anonymously around Southwest Florida except for the occasional accidental snaring by a fisherman's net or hook. They are not furry or huggable. They don't have their own Florida license plate like the endangered panther or manatee. But a plan to restore the smalltooth sawfish population is raising hopes among researchers that the first marine fish to land a spot on the federal endangered species list will finally find a soft spot in the public's consciousness. 'It's these chance encounters with the public that are the most crucial (to sawfish recovery),' said Colin Simpfendorfer, a sawfish researcher at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. Southwest Florida is the last stronghold of the odd-looking creature, which shares a branch of the animal kingdom tree with sharks and rays. Smalltooth sawfish once ranged from New Jersey to Central America. Some experts guess there might be 2,000 smalltooth sawfish left. Habitat degradation and gill-netting are blamed for their decline. The Ocean Conservancy petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to list the fish as endangered in 1999. It was listed in 2003. Until Oct. 23, NMFS is taking public comment on a recovery plan that focuses on public education, protecting, research and habitat restoration. The plan estimates it could be 100 years before the smalltooth sawfish can be taken off the endangered species list. 'This (the recovery plan) is a really important step on the way,' said Sonja Fordham, director of the shark conservation program at The Ocean Conservancy. Simpfendorfer said work already has been done to help the sawfish, starting with Florida's ban on gillnets in 1994. It has been illegal to possess a sawfish in Florida since 1992. The biggest hurdles to sawfish recovery rest with the sawfish itself. They grow slowly, taking 10 years to mature. They produce 15 to 20 pups at a time. And then there's that pesky saw. Sawfish use it to stir up the bottom to find food or to stun or injure fish before making a meal out of them. But the saw also makes it easy to get tangled in nets. Simpfendorfer said the key to untangling a sawfish is patience. The fish should be kept in the water as much as possible and the net cut off. If a fishermen hooks a sawfish, the line should be cut as close as possible to the hook and the fish released, he said. NMFS is working on educational videos to show to commercial fishermen, brochures to distribute to recreational anglers and signs to post at busy boat ramps, Simpfendorfer said. The fish is of little commercial value as food, but collectors are thought to pay more than $1,000 per foot for a sawfish. Trophy hunters also can't resist cutting off the saw for a souvenir. In January, eBay banned the sale of smalltooth sawfish parts at the online auction site 'If we can let people know how important it is to get this animal back into the water safely, I think we can go a long way to recover the species,' Simpfendorfer said. Finding out more about where sawfish spend their time also is key to protecting them, said John Carlson, a research biologist with NMFS in Panama City. 'The smalltooth sawfish has kind of been under the radar screen for quite a while and we really don't know much about these animals at all,' he said. Mote research on the Caloosahatchee River, for example, has shown that smalltooth sawfish like moderate salinities that can be upset by too much freshwater being emptied from Lake Okeechobee, Simpfendorfer said. Tagging studies have found that juvenile sawfish find refuge in mangrove roots and are highly loyal to the same shallow mud flats for days, or longer, at a time, Simpfendorfer said. Everglades National Park is an important piece of the sawfish recovery puzzle. Preliminary analysis shows that sawfish abundance increased by about 3 percent to 6 percent per year between 1989 and 2002. Further strides will require a long-term commitment and enough public support to move Congress to fund the recovery plan, Fordham, at The Ocean Conservancy, said. 'Sawfish don't really have a champion,' she said. 'They don't have the congressional appropriations that other cuddly species get.' ??? ? To report a sighting of a smalltooth sawfish, call Mote Marine Laboratory at 1-800-691-6683 or send an e-mail to sawfish@mote.org. ? To get the proposed recovery plan for the smalltooth sawfish, go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm. Information about how to comment is available by calling 727-824-5312 or by e-mail to Shelley.Norton@noaa.gov. Peter Thomas served in World War II with the 1st Infantry Division and went in as a replacement soldier the day after D-Day. "During that war you went in as teenager and you came out as a man," Thomas said. "It was a war where you made friends like you'll never make again and had experiences like you'll never have again." Veteran World War II By Jay Schlichter of the Naples Daily News The man may be gone, but the voice is eternal. Peter Thomas, 91, a voice-over icon and World War II veteran, died Saturday, nearly two years after he lost his wife and high school sweetheart, Stella Barrineau Thomas. His distinctive vocal cords made him a part of Americana, but locally Peter Thomas became famous for his humanitarian heart. "He was loved by so many people," said Peter Thomas Jr., the 65-year-old son who was by his father's side in Naples when he passed, along with Peter Thomas's two other children, Doug Thomas and Elizabeth Joyoprayitno. During a career that spanned seven decades, Peter Thomas lent his smooth and silky baritone to everything from commercials to documentaries, his most well-known work being the narrator of "Forensic Files." He was a radio announcer, a newspaper reporter, television anchor for CBS New York and finally, a voice-over actor. A family man Born in Pensacola to a Presbyterian minister, Peter Thomas had a strict upbringing, but he credited it as instrumental to his future career. In a 2014 interview, Peter Thomas said his Welsh father required him to read and memorize Bible passages, and encouraged him to paint mental pictures of words while speaking. In high school, Peter Thomas started reading poetry and news on the local radio station. That's when he met Stella. After spotting her at a school dance, he began to woo Stella by dedicating a song and poem to her on his show. They began dating. Stella and Peter Thomas were married on June 29, 1946, and raised three children together in Greenwich, Connecticut. The couple purchased a home in Naples in 1966 on a whim during a vacation, but they didn't move to Southwest Florida permanently until 1985, as Peter Thomas continued to travel extensively for his career. Peter Thomas Jr. and Joyoprayitno both mentioned that one of their most cherished memories was being taken to numerous Broadway shows by their parents, who wanted their children to have an appreciation for the arts. "He was a very caring person and very caring father," Joyoprayitno said. "He would do anything at all that you asked of him. You didn't have to ask him twice. He cared so much for other people." The love of performance art was definitely a trait that was passed on, as both Peter Thomas Jr. and Doug Thomas have also worked as voice-over actors, as well as one of Peter Thomas's seven grandchildren. The couple also had two great-grandchildren. Serving his country In 1943, Peter Thomas volunteered for the Army and was shipped out to Europe that December. Several months later, he was on the shores of Normandy, France replacing soldiers killed the day before in the D-Day invasion. "I was 19 when I joined the war. My parents were immigrants who did their part during the First World War. Being an immigrant child, my parents inculcated in me a love of this country," Peter Thomas said in a 2007 Naples Daily News interview. "They would say to me, 'Remember you are living in the greatest country in the world with opportunities and a chance to do any thing you want.' They said that to me with an expectation that I'd give back to my country." "My parents lost so many people in the First World War. I grew up hearing all these stories about my family in that war. You know, my Uncle Bill was in the trenches of France in World War I. I had to go and do my part as well," he continued. "I think that was a general feeling all the way through America at that time. Everybody wanted to go. Not like today." While overseas, he fought through France, Belgium and crossed the Rhine into Germany while serving with the First Infantry Division. In addition to Normandy, he was in four other major campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge and was issued a Battle Star for each of the five campaigns as well as the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Unit French Croix de Guerre and Belgian Fourragere. Using his God-given talent Upon returning to the states, Peter Thomas traveled to New York and fell right back into voice work there. He connected with Walter Cronkite to produce "The Jack Paar Show." "I did that for eight years. They offered me a chance to do the 11 o'clock news. But then corporate sent these contracts over saying I couldn't do anything but CBS news programs," Peter Thomas said. "I wanted to do documentaries and commercials as well and didn't want to limit myself. It wasn't for me. Later, Walter told me I made the right decision. He said, 'They made me retire at 65.' And, I said, 'I'm still going as long as the voice holds up.'" That is exactly what Peter Thomas did, working until almost the end of his life. Along with narrating all 403 episodes of "Forensic Files" during its 17-season run, the legendary voice-over actor has a body of work too numerous to list. He also won innumerable awards, but the one he was most proud of was receiving an Oscar for "One Survivor Remembers," an HBO documentary about concentration camp survivor Gerda Weissman Klein. While Peter Thomas was most known for his serious voice on documentaries, he also had quite a funny bone. That was shown in multiple commercials, particularly in one he did for Cool Whip. "The images you are about to see may be difficult to look at," Peter Thomas says in his unique pensive tone for the commercial, as images of limp, sad-looking cakes are shown. "Sadly, every year millions of innocent cakes are mangled, mistreated and hurt, but there is something you can do. Go to the freezer section and pick up new Cool Whip frosting." While the mention of his name didn't always evoke recognition, Peter Thomas's voice was one millions of people worldwide immediately recognized. That wasn't surprising, seeing as how it could be heard pretty much everywhere one looked. As he was being recognized at the 2014 Marine Corps League of Naples Honor the Free Press event, a speaker reminded the audience that Peter Thomas was the one responsible for the famous "Don't leave home without it" line in the American Express commercials. He's also the man who was asked to record instructions for Philips's HeartStart automated external defibrillator (AED) devices, because as Peter Thomas put it, "they wanted a voice that wouldn't scare people." Thanks to his calm, reassuring tone, the devices have helped save many lives. "I had somebody on a plane tell me, 'You saved my life,'" Thomas said in an 2014 interview. "There happened to be an AED machine and they followed the instructions. He said if the machine hadn't been there, he wouldn't have been there. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you're doing something that is contributing to mankind." "(His voice) still amazes me," said Peter Thomas Jr. "Dad has piles of fan mail from all over the world. He was known internationally because of 'Forensic Files'." The executive producer of that show, Paul Dowling, understands that better than most. "It got to the point quickly where Peter not only became a part of the show, it was where we gave him no direction," Dowling said, because Peter Thomas was known for always being extremely prepared and knowledgeable about the subject matter. While Dowling said he has been encouraged many times to bring "Forensic Files" back, the producer doesn't think it will be possible. The show's reruns are broadcast in the U.S. on the HLN network and syndicated internationally. "He can't be replaced," Dowling said. "He was that great at it. I don't want to water it down or change it." Caring for his community and others Peter Thomas was known for his love of veterans. He contributed his time, voice and more to the cause close to his heart, working on various committees and organizations whose goals were to honor and recognize those who fought for this nation's freedom, like himself. "When I see American soldiers, I think, 'That's the greatest thing we have in this country the American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are the same kind of guys, with the same kind of courage, that we had in the Second World War,'" Peter Thomas said in 2007. "They need to know, they are beloved." Many years after returning from WWII, Peter Thomas wrote a poem about that and titled "Omaha Beach." He would later go on to recite it during a 2013 Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Amy Snyder, the executive director of the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida, said Peter Thomas "was a giant of a man a true gentleman and a humble servant." "Because of his role in WWII as a liberator of the Nordhausen concentration camp, Peter wanted to make certain the story continued to be told," she said. "He supported the Holocaust Museum in many ways from narrating the museum's original audio tour and documentary, to sharing his WWII experience with high school students. Peter was always gracious with his time and the students learned so much from him. He will be greatly missed, but has left a lasting legacy for future generations." Failing health Stella and Peter Thomas were a love story come to life. She meant more to him than many people realize, family and friends said. "They were a team. They supported each other in everything they did," Joyoprayitno said on Monday from the couple's 10th Avenue South home in Naples. "But (Peter) gave Stella the credit for everything he did." Therefore, losing her was a major blow to Peter Thomas's life, and particularly his health, his children said. She passed away on June 16, 2014. "This past year and a half were very difficult without Stella," Joyoprayitno said, adding that a recent infection after visiting a dermatologist was causing her father a lot of pain. With his children flying in to be by his side, Peter Thomas seemed to finally be at peace. "We were encouraging him to let go," his daughter said. "It seemed to happen in the most beautiful way. We witnessed him making the conscious decision to let go of this life. We're very happy that he is no longer suffering. "It's the end of an era. The Peter and Stella era. It's bittersweet," she said. The family is finalizing funeral arrangements with the pastor of Naples Community Church where the couple attended, but plan to open the service to the public. Gulf Coast Town Center on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. (David Albers/Staff) By Patricia Borns, The News-Press Less than two years ago Gulf Coast Town Center was coming out of the recession like gangbusters, on its way to being a Southwest Florida mecca of dining and retail. Now south Lee County's commercial epicenter is stunning the region with news its going on the auction block as a result of a $212.7 million foreclosure - the largest stand-alone foreclosure in Lee County history. No one thought it would come to this when Wells Fargo Bank sued the malls owners last year for defaulting on their $191 million loan. The owners, The Richard E. Jacobs group of Cleveland, and CBL & Associates Properties Inc. of Chattanooga, were considered fiscally healthy. Realtors called the lawsuit a negotiating tactic. If so, it didnt work. The online foreclosure sale is set for May 18. CRE Consultants partner Stan Stouder said the turn of events is surprising, but not troubling. When I look at the fundamentals, they couldnt be better: minutes to the interstate, extremely good anchors, a great tenant mix, and the product has curb appeal, Stouder said. Anchored by Bass Pro, SuperTarget and a 16-screen Regal Cinema, the 100-store mall is minutes from I-75, an expanding Florida Gulf Coast University and Southwest Florida International Airport. Outwardly, you wouldnt guess theres a problem. It has more to do with the owners situation than with the south Lee County market, local experts agree. The income wasnt paying the debt. Thats the issue in these situations, real estate asset management advisor Ed Bonkowski said. CBL is one of the largest mall REITs in the country, but its had a string of defaults, according to media reports. Lenders took over two CBL malls in South Carolina and one in Ohio in 2014, while this year the company demanded an unsecured $4 million loan from the City of Wausau, Wis. to save Wausau Center mall from foreclosure. What happens next The mall is being managed by Dick Wilscher, who works for receiver McKinley based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Wilscher said he has a capital budget to do some marketing and maintain the property to keep the tenants in place. The tenants wont have a hugely different experience than theyre having now, Stouder said. From a public view, it wont be evident whether John or Jeff owns the center. Commercial real estate consultant Paige Rausch calls the mall a blue ribbon for whoever becomes its owner. Theres always going to be demand for high quality assets in prime locations surrounded by new high-end housing, Rausch said. The online foreclosure sale starts at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 18,. The case number is 15-CA-051063. Peter Thomas speaks to the audience during the Honor the Free Press event at the Hilton Naples on Wednesday, April 9, 2014. (Photo by JAY SCHLICHTER/STAFF) By Naples Daily News Editorial Board Southwest Florida lost a beloved patriot, gentleman and humanitarian this weekend when Peter Thomas of Naples died. He was 91. If you didn't know the man, chances are you knew the voice. Thomas gave to his country. A Florida native from Pensacola, he joined the Army in 1943 at age 19, earning the Bronze Star, five battle stars and the Purple Heart for his participation in the Battle of the Bulge. In his World War II service, he fought through France, Belgium and crossed the Rhine into Germany. As part of the 1st Infantry Division, he also was a replacement soldier the day after D-Day. Thomas gave to his family. He and his wife of 68 years, Stella, who preceded him in death, came to Naples in 1966. During their visit, to the community's good fortune, they bought a home. They raised three children together. Thomas gave to his audience. He was a radio announcer, news reporter and television anchor for CBS New York. His smooth baritone became widely sought nationally, landing him work from commercials to documentaries. He narrated films on the Holocaust, notably the 1995 Academy Award-winning documentary "One Survivor Remembers," a short film chronicling six years of Nazi persecution. His voice was heard on commercials for Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil and major car companies, among others. Thomas gave to his community. He served on the board of the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida and the National D-Day Memorial Foundation. His talents benefited the then-Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples (now Artis-Naples), Collier County United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, St. Matthew's House homeless and recovery shelter, Humane Society Naples, the NCH Healthcare System, the Collier County Historical Society, the Freedom Memorial and others. His many local accolades included Humanitarian of the Year from then-International College (now Hodges University). One community icon earns that honor every year. It fittingly went in 2004 to one patriot, one gentleman and one humanitarian Peter Thomas who became Southwest Florida's gain in 1966 and its loss 50 years later. SHARE Mary Jo Kittle, Arlington, Va. Gulfshore Opera Brava to Steffanie Pearce, director of Gulfshore Opera, for the spectacular production of Gaetano Donizetti's comic opera, "L'elisir d'amore," which I attended at ArtisNaples on April 21 and in Punta Gorda on April 15. (Full disclosure opera is my favorite music genre.) Opera lovers in Southwest Florida were treated to two most delightful performances of "L'elisir" and the voices of four extremely talented soloists: Nemorino, sung by Anthony Kearns; Adina, sung by Danielle Talamantes; Dr. Dulcamara, sung by Musa Ngqungwana, and Sgt. Belcore, sung by Wes Mason. Clearly, the company worked very hard to make these such excellent performances. From the masterful conducting of the Naples Philharmonic by Ryan McAdams, and creative stage direction by Edwin Cahill, to the lovely village scenery designed by Samuel Vasquez, and period costumes designed and sewn by Ena Gleeson and her volunteer seamstresses, the four principles and chorus members enchanted us with Donizetti's beautiful music, and amused us with his humor. Kearns has previously sung in several operas in Naples. In "L'elisir," he has found the real metier of roles for his beautiful voice. With great use of his prop, the bottle of "elixir," he showed more talent for acting than I have seen him display in five previous opera roles. His exquisite "Una furtive lagrima" reminded me of Luciano Pavarotti's rendition and brought most in the audience to their feet in applause and bravos. I had not heard the rich, full voice of Talamantes' before, and was much impressed. I hope to hear her voice again. Ngqungwana has a fine, full voice, and a flair for comedy. Mason also has a strong voice, making a fine rival to Nemorino for the affection of Adina. Thank you, Gulfshore Opera, for the wonderful experience. Ian derails Murder Mystery Dinner Train: Owners promise return soon The popular Fort Myers attraction will be closed until mid-November. Damage caused to the railway by Hurricane Ian has put the operation on hiatus. Lets be real most people dont know to commemorate the Mexican armys unlikely 1862 victory over the French at the battle of Puebla on May 5. They do know great deals on delicious food and drink from south of the border are worthy of a holiday. In that spirit, Fathoms Restaurant & Bar invites Southwest Floridas residents and visitors to Cinco de Drinko. If its five oclock somewhere, make it 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 5 for the start of some major chippin, dippin and margarita sippin and unique surprises. Enjoy specials on refreshing margaritas, authentic recipes that some of Fathoms kitchen staff will share from their home country and an extraordinary performance of traditional Mexican Indian dance from Danza Azteca Guadalupana, happening at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, May 8, treat mom to a scenic waterfront Mothers Day feast, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Enjoy sumptuous selections from Fathoms extensive menu, from New Zealand lamb lollipops, to a Caribbean lobster roll with avocado, mango and chipotle mayo and chayote slaw, to 12 varieties of signature gourmet pizzas or Fathoms famous Bourbon Street seafood mac and cheese. Chefs Fabrice Deletrain and Benjamin Voisin are also planning some extra special Mothers Day specials featuring creative applications of traditional techniques, colorful presentations and fresh meats, seafoods and locally sourced seasonal produce. A new summer cocktail menu featuring handmade infused liquers is now available, too. And what Mothers Day would be complete without chocolates? Every mom is sure to feel appreciated with a complimentary work of edible art from Norman Love Confections. With decades of experience, Hoffman Group Holdings LLC is a hospitality company that owns Fathoms Restaurant & Bar and The French Press at Cape Harbour Marina. With the creation of Black Salt, acclaimed French chefs Fabrice Deletrain and Benjamin Voisin offer their engaging personalities, creative synergy and unique artistry to elevate every occasion. The mission of HGH is to continue to grow as one of the most competitive and performance driven companies, with respect and support to the Cape Coral and Southwest Florida community. Timothy and Meredith Hoffman, in partnership with Chef Benjamin Voisin and Valeria Zanella Voisin, are the leading minds behind a group of highly acclaimed eating establishments. Timothy and Meredith own also Montpelier Plantation & Beach, a Relais & Chateaux property in Nevis, West Indies. Visit www.thefrenchpressfl.com and fathomsrestaurant.com for info. Key players in 2022-23 Silly Season Can you hear it? Just listen. That is the sound of the NASCAR rumor mill starting up, and there are plenty of questions to answer for 2023. A federal judge approved Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s $272 million settlement with investors who claimed the bank misled them about the safety of billions of dollars worth of residential mortgage-backed securities. U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska in Manhattan on Monday allowed the settlement, reached in August, to go forward, finding it is fair, adequate and reasonable. The bank was sued in 2008 by pension funds led by NECA-IBEW Health & Welfare Fund of Illinois. The investors claimed Goldman Sachs provided inaccurate information about the appraisals and credit quality of home loans underlying the securities, whose value collapsed in the 2008 financial crisis. Goldman denied wrongdoing and claimed it acted properly at all times. The settlement was among the last of a group of investor class actions against banks tied to the credit crisis. They had been triggered by home loan failures and the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Goldman Sachs in 2014 agreed to buy back almost $3.2 billion in mortgage bonds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to settle claims by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which sued on behalf of the government lenders. Capitalism good, capitalism bad? Badges of honor (NaturalNews) Anytime a mainstream media outlet gets an opportunity to take cheap shots at an alternative media rival, especially one that is extremely influential, profitable and popular, they'll do it. And that's what happened last week, when Bloomberg decided that a single, mentally unstable source would make a great basis for a hit piece against a financial news rival,Full disclosure: We here athave often usedand the analysis by its team of writers as sources for our own stories, because the site has proven time and again to be accurate and up-front about its positions. But apparently the editors atthink that kind of reliability is a threat, and so,Following a productive, personally profitable and topsy-turvy year as one of the writers using the pseudonym "Tyler Durden," a.k.a. Brad Pitt's character in the cult classic "Fight Club," Colin Lokey who said he was paid $6,000 a month and a $50,000 bonus at year's end in 2015 decided to "out" his shadowy co-writers and the site's creator: Daniel Ivandjiiski, 37, the Bulgarian-born former analyst long reputed to be behind the site, and Tim Backshall, 45, a well-known credit derivatives strategist.Ivandjiiski, long thought to have been's creator, was named in ahit piece on the site in 2009, following his correct prediction that Goldman Sachs employees were plotting to manipulate the stock market in ways that would make them personally wealthy. But Backshall was a surprise to many; all three, according to Lokey, wrote under the "Durden" pseudonym.In "outing" the site to, Lokey said:-- The publishing schedule is too hectic and ultimately led to his being hospitalized;-- The site (which is very profitable) isfocused on profit;-- Too much political bias on the site;-- Too much pro-Russia;-- The founders are hypocrites because,, and they're supposed to be speaking for the masses by railing against the (financial) machine.In defending the site, himself and Backshall to, Ivandjiiski said that first and foremost there was never ato fool readers into thinking profit motives didn't exist.Further, he noted (and then provided proof in the form of text message screenshots), that Lokey himself thanked Ivandjiiski for literally "saving his life" by giving him a job, despite his own very checkered past which included, by Lokey's admission (according to the screenshots), alcohol abuse (big time) and being a one-time large-scale coke dealer while in college."To an extent we were surprised, because while much of the 'information' Bloomberg claims it reveals could have been discovered by anyone with a cursory 30 second google search, this time the accusation lobbed at Zero Hedge by Bloomberg was a new one: that we are capitalists who seek to generate profits and who have expectations from our employees," one of the Durdens wrote in response to thepiece."This comes from a media organization which caters to Wall Street and is run by one of the wealthiest people in the world."The site's creators said that Lokey was hired after begging for a job when he was fired from another website,, for fighting with a co-worker. While describing him as "a good writer, covering topics ranging from finance to economics to politics," therebuttal noted that Lokey had no problem with capitalism when he was being so well-compensated for his work there.And just two months ago, as the site showed through text screenshots, Lokey pleaded with the site creators to keep him on as he began having drinking problems and other issues, because he did not want to "[screw] it up."There is a lot more, and you can read the full rebuttal here . But suffice it to say that's sole antagonist for their story was a demonstrably unstable person who, for some reason, had a falling out with his employer and had an axe to grind and he wanted to do it in public. When independent media sources are few in number and have checkered pasts, we are pilloried by the mainstream media's superiority complex.The only thingreally accomplished here was to demonstrate once again that the mainstream media is a desperate, dying entity willing to do anything to lash out at its successful, more trusted indy media competition. What is mysterious to us is that MSM editors and reporters, said (by themselves) to be the better, smarter, more savvy media operators, are so clueless to the fact that every time they bash us, it'scredibility that takes a hit, not our own.That's why we wear such attacks as badges of honor. Double trouble for diabetes medicines A team led by molecular toxicologist Donna Zhang at the University of Arizona in Tucson has now taken a different tack. With colleagues in China, she focused on a protein called NRF2. It regulates a cellular defense response that helps protect cells from oxidative damage caused by environmental toxins or carcinogens. Although NRF2 has many benefits, loss of NRF2 regulation leads to high levels in certain cancer cells, such as some lung cancers, and it may help them migrate, Zhang says. Antioxidants "like petting" tumors (NaturalNews) Most people who are attuned to heathier living have long known that substances called antioxidants, which come in supplements but are more effectively found in superfoods like blueberries and broccoli, are major cancer fighters, and that, in general, the more of them consumed, the better protected we are.But there are new hints that this health food dogma may not be completely accurate and, as noted by the journal, in some cases they may even help cancersAnd what's more, a new study now adds some fuel to that growing fire: Researchers believe that a pair of commonly prescribed diabetes drugs that contain antioxidant properties can also boost metastasis at least in mice, the journal reported. Now whether this will actually apply to humans is a mystery at this point, but if proven true, it means that, once again, Big Pharma may have done more harm than good.For years and years, scientists have known that reactive oxygen species otherwise known as free radicals have the ability to cause serious damage to cells and can even trigger some cancers. Antioxidants, research suggests, can neutralize those effects. Ashas reported, recent genetic testing has demonstrated that antioxidants can prevent and treat cancers.But several recent studies indicate that there may be some negative outcomes associated with antioxidants as well. For instance, according to researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reported last fall , if cancer is already present in the body, then antioxidants can boost the process by which those cells also grow and spread,noted.Martin Bergo, a cancer biologist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, suspects that though free radicals can harm healthy cells, they can also be toxic to cells that are already cancerous. So that may mean if antioxidants curb free radicals they may also be of benefit to cancer cells rather than hurting them (once the cells are present).reported further:And as it happens, some diabetes drugs also activate NRF2 as a side effect, explains Zhang.People who have type 2 diabetes are already at an increased risk of cancer, so what they will do with this new information regarding antioxidants "is a dilemma," said Zhang, adding that she believes diabetes patients with cancer should not take drugs that activate NRF2, just to be on the safe side.Dr. David Nathan, director of the diabetes center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, toldin an email that "what is ironic here is that [free radicals are] generally thought to be bad in human diabetes," because they can cause dysfunction in cells that manufacture insulin, as well as lead to vascular complications. As such, antioxidant treatment has been touted as necessary, especially given the results of prior research indicating that such treatment is effective against cancer."Giving an antioxidant to a tumor cell is like petting it," Bergo says. "Groups all over the world are starting to find this [and] this paper really adds to the urgency." FDA commissioner bribed Hillary for nomination to the post, says lawsuit Hillary's long history of influence-peddling (NaturalNews) Although the story has received scant attention in the mainstream media , a racketeering lawsuit has been filed against departing FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg and among the charges listed in the complaint is the claim that she bribed both Hillary Clinton and President Obama to gain her appointment as head of the agency.The lawsuit alleges that Hamburg, her hedge fund executive husband David Hamburg, and the FDA conspired to cover up the health dangers of the drug Levaquin a drug that may have killed more than 5,000 people, and one which David Hamburg had a financial interest in, due to his position as a major shareholder of Johnson & Johnson stock, the company that manufactured Levaquin.The Hamburgs failed to disclose the "clear-cut" conflict of interest regarding the hundreds of millions invested in Johnson & Johnson stock by David Hamburg's hedge fund, Renaissance Technologies, L.L.C.Along with the racketeering charges, the lawsuit revealed that:"Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg was nominated as a result of huge political and other gratuities to Hillary Clinton and The Clinton Foundation, and at Mrs. Clinton's recommendation. ..."Defendant Hamburg, on behalf of all of the Defendants as part of this racketeering conspiracy, gave political contributions and gratuities to Hillary Clinton in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 to induce Mrs. Clinton to recommend and push for Defendant Hamburg to be nominated by President Obama."This revelation will come as no surprise to those already aware of Clinton's track record as a "politician-for-hire" to anyone who coughs up enough cash in campaign fund contributions.As Mike Adams, founder and editor ofand author of the new book Food Forensics wrote:"From what we now know about the Clinton Foundation's deep financial ties to Big Pharma and Wall Street hedge funds, none of this comes as any sort of surprise. In fact, while these allegations may have been easily dismissed as a 'conspiracy theory' in 2008, so much more awakening has happened among the American public that they are now likely to be understood as an 'actual conspiracy' being carried out among the political and financial elite."If Hillary Clinton is elected president, we can expect to see a huge increase of influence-buying activity in Washington. Her record shows numerous examples of influence-peddling on her part, stretching back to her career in the U.S. Senate.From Hillary Rodham Clinton's efforts to provide favors to major donors to her husband's global charity or her own political career stretch back far earlier than her tenure as America's top diplomat, dating to the time she served as a U.S. senator and had the power to earmark federal funds and influence legislation, records show."For instance, Mrs. Clinton introduced a bill when she was New York's junior senator that allowed a donor to the Clinton Foundation to use tax-exempt bonds to build a shopping center in Syracuse, New York, public records show."She also went to bat for Freddie Mac, working to defeat legislation that would have subjected the mortgage giant to tougher regulations before the housing bubble burst and led to a major recession. That same year, Freddie Mac donated $50,000 to $100,000 to her husband's charity, originally called the William J. Clinton Foundation records show."And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Her refusal to disclose the transcripts of paid speeches made to Goldman Sachs and other large banks, her acceptance of contributions from foreign nations, and her campaigning abroad on behalf of the fracking industry , are just a few examples of her shady dealings with powerful special interests.Electing Hillary Clinton will be tantamount to painting a big "For Sale" sign on the doors of every federal agency in Washington.Is that really what this nation wants or deserves? 'Average age is 67' Available arable land going unused (NaturalNews) It isn't something that many people talk about or are even aware of, but the day of the robot is coming . And when it finally arrives, hundreds of millions of people will no longer be able to earn a living at least not in the "old-fashioned way." That's because robots are coming to take them.Robots may be pricey at first, but those costs will quickly be recouped as industries most conducive to them realize unheard offrom not having to have a mostly human workforce.Businesses and factories won't have to deal with sick days (when employees really aren't sick); drama (from life's little problems); theft; Obamacare-mandated health insurance; government labor rules and regulations; and outsized minimum wage requirements to name just a few things.For farmers especially large operations that rely on illegal immigrant labor no more hassles with federal and state governments.Farming? Yes, even farming is at risk of becoming fully automated thanks to advances in robotics. As reported by , Japan's next generation of farmers may actually be robots.Spurred by the reality that farmers the world over are aging, retirement for them looms ever larger, and fewer people are turning to the profession, Japanese engineers have turned to robots and driverless tractors to solve the problem.As Bloomberg reported further:The concept is also rooted in the reality that, without farmers, most of the world won't eat.U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has even warned that, if the problem is allowed to continue, aging farmers will die or retire without replacements, threatening global food security and stability.In developed countries the average age of a farmer is about 60, according to data gathered by the United Nations. Japan plans to spend tens of millions per year to speed development of autonomous farming equipment in helping to develop 20 kinds of robots, including one that separates over-ripe peaches during harvest time."There are no other options for farmers but to rely on technologies developed by companies if they want to raise productivity while they are graying," Makiko Tsugata, senior analyst at Mizuho Securities Co. in Tokyo, said, as reported by. "The government should help them adopt new technologies."The meeting will also be attended by agriculture ministers and officials from other countries, including Germany, Italy and Canada. At the beginning of a bilateral meeting with Vilsack, Moriyama said that he would be serving Kobe beef, which Tokyo wants to promote internationally.Already in water-locked Japan , available land for cultivation is going unused. In fact,reported, unused land has doubled over the past 20 years, reaching 420,000 hectares (about 1 million acres) in 2015, as farmers have retired and not been replaced by younger ones, Japanese data shows. Of the remaining farmers, about 65 percent of them are 65 years old or older.As the dearth of younger farmers widens, there are growing concerns that Japan will have to rely more on food imports in the future. Already Japan gets about 60 percent of its food supplies from outside the country."Aging farmers are threatening the sustainability of agricultural communities in Japan as the population globally is expanding and raising the need to boost food production to meet demand," Moriyama said in his opening remarks to the seven-member meeting. "We, as the members of the Group of Seven nations, share common problems and want to discuss them together for a solution."In the U.S. and California, especially, which grows the bulk of food for our country seasonal farming jobs are just about the only income for millions of illegal alien laborers. A robotic revolution in farming, especially, may be all the "immigration reform" we'll need to solveproblem.As for the future of human labor, here is one prediction . It isn't pretty. Massive protest China jailing vaccine protesters U.S. is heading in the same direction (NaturalNews) Recently, a massive vaccine scandal in China exposed the weakness of government efforts to build up China's immunization program. It uncovered the system's flaws regarding the way in which vaccines are distributed, and revealed close links between vendors and government clinics.Although the vaccines were made by licensed manufacturers, they were transported and stored without any refrigeration, and then sold by unlicensed distributors. Improper storing conditions may have ruined the vaccines , leaving children unprotected and at risk of disabilities and death.According to Li Guoqing, who is in charge of drug supervision, investigators revealed how government clinics have been selling expired or near-expired vaccines to vendors on the cheap, who in turn have been selling them to other government clinics in remote areas where there is no oversight.Authorities were well aware of these practices, and let an illegal vaccine shop continue its operations, thereby poisoning thousands of its citizens, especially young children.Chinese parents have lost all confidence in the government and government clinics, and are demanding answers.People across the country have gathered and joined forces in a nationwide protest over the vaccine scam. Dozens of Chinese parents have filed a lawsuit demanding justice for the children who have been harmed by these tainted, improperly stored vaccines, amid reports of child and infant deaths and illnesses following such immunizations."Everybody gathered outside the National Health and Family Planning Commission today, and then we all marched to their complaints department in the Xizhimen district," parent activist Liu Lixin told(RFA)."We are calling for a vaccines law, because there is no legislation covering vaccinations right now, and families who have been victims of this disaster have no judicial redress," he said."Our children have suffered varying degrees of harm and disability as a result of immunization injections," the lawsuit reads. "Some have even lost the ability to live independently."The impact of the scandal couldn't be brushed under the carpet, so the Chinese government announced that 357 officials have been dismissed or demoted for "poor performance," and has promised to take further actions to ensure better storage and distribution methods.However, the reality seems a bit different. As many as 2,000 people gathered outside the Health and Family Planning Commission in Beijing, among them many parents whose children have been affected.The authorities took large numbers of people participating in the protests or lawsuits to an out-of-town unofficial detention center, and some were put under 24-hour surveillance at their homes."I had planned to take part [in the Beijing protests and lawsuits], but I was forcibly escorted home by officials from my hometown on April 13," parent activist Wang Liangqing said. "Now they are watching us 24 hours a day, so we weren't able to go." Wang called on the government to take the victims of tainted vaccines seriously.This incident is a perfect example of how governments collude with Big Pharma , and the U.S. isn't doing any better.Soon, we will have no say when it comes to our own health. The CDC has set up a " police state" registry system to identify and track areas of so-called "under vaccination," and while this may seem like innocent data gathering, in the future people will be pushed to follow national vaccination guidelines against their own will.Pro-vaccine activist and fanatics, such as Dr. David Gorski, are doing everything in their power to promote vaccines and conventional drugs and discredit all that is natural and holistic And, just as in China, key people in the U.S. government are involved. Last year, California's vaccine mandate bill SB277 was halted by the public. Unfortunately, the vaccine mafia's henchmen came out to play, and helped replace seats on the committee with pro-vaccine activists to vote in favor of stripping Californians of their vaccine exemption rights. Economic boom of GM cotton short-lived as quality of fiber worsens over time High hopes for Monsanto's Bt cotton fade to disappointment (NaturalNews) The 10th largest cotton producer in the world is giving up on Monsanto's genetically modified Bt cotton . Burkina Faso, Africa's top cotton producer, has been having some serious problems with the quality of the cotton being produced from Monsanto's GM seed. The strands of cotton being produced are far too short, making them unworkable for spinning applications. The yarn produced from GM cotton is weaker and takes longer to spin. The entire region is now planning "tactical withdrawal" of Monsanto's transgenic cotton. The sub-par GM product is proving to be economically unviable.Burkina Faso's biggest cotton company, Sofitex, along with the national cotton farmers' union and the rest of the country's main producers are now shifting toward "100 percent conventional" production to save their agricultural economy.Experimental GM cotton planting began in Burkina Faso in 2003. Promising to be an economic boom, Monsanto's GM cotton seed passed all field trials and was launched on a large scale in 2007. This was the first time GMOs had taken root on a wide scale basis in the great continent of Africa. Right off the bat, it produced higher yields. Within two years, 80 percent of the country's cotton crop was taken over by transgenic seed. Now, millions of people are economically dependent on its production. Transgenic cotton quickly replaced gold as Burkina's top export product.But the boom was short-lived. Over time, the quality of the cotton deteriorated. Burkina Faso's new President Roch Marc Christian Kabore told media sources, "The cotton fibre we are producing today is short."Shorter strands negatively affect the strength of yarns and the speeds at which it can be spun. Longer fibers from natural cotton plants produce a stronger yarn because they can be spun around one another more numerously and more quickly.GM seeds have produced inferior cotton fiber. As the value of the fiber goes down, Burkina Faso's president sees economic troubles for everyone in the sector. "In market terms it's an activity which is no longer very attractive for us," the president commented. In the interview with, he said Burkina's authorities are "pursuing talks with Monsanto ," as producers in the region start to demand redress for their lost income.Between 2011 and 2016, even after all the government subsidies and price controls were used to jump start GM cotton, its production started to falter due to quality issues. During those years, producers lost some $82.4 million. Now the producers are demanding that Monsanto compensate them for the losses.One genetician, Jean-Didier Zongo, is accusing Monsanto of "criminal" acts. "The principal of precaution was not respected," he says, pointing out that Monsanto failed to provide sufficiently tested seed varieties.Producers were sold on Monsanto's high hopes, after they promised up to 90 percent increase in yields. Per hectare profits were scheduled to go through the roof. As it was being introduced to the country, GM cotton was praised as the answer to the continent's most pervasive pest, the African bollworm. Monsanto's transgenic Bt cotton was engineered to produce its own insecticide from within, promising reduced use of insecticides that no longer worked on the highly resistant bollworms anyway.It turns out that the genetic changes also elicit anChristian Legay of the national council of organic food processors wholeheartedly supports Burkina Faso's five to 10 year "tactical withdrawal" from Monsanto's transgenic cotton. He says, "It's a battle won," and "a timely warning for other African countries." Skeptical activists cruise together to collaborate Wiki takeover 'Pseudoscience debunker' lacks background in science! Using skepticism as a weapon Overdosing on herbs (NaturalNews) Last week, exposed the utter and total takeove r of the free online encyclopedia, which we have now learned is being orchestrated by a community strangely referring to themselves as "skeptical activists," of which pro-vaccine troll and Karmanos breast cancer surgeon David Gorski is a member.Trusted sources confirmed Gorski has administrative privileges onwhere he writes and edits content under the username "MastCell." Under these administrative controls, Gorski and his team of skeptics are thought to have penned a defamatory review of Andrew Wakefield's documentary, a film instrumental in widening the discussion on vaccine safety Skeptical activists have taken it upon themselves to debunk and control information viaon a variety of topics including vaccine safety, alternative medicine, natural health , homeopathy, cancer treatments, the paranormal, astrology and psychic mediums.In other words, if a topic does not fit inside mainstream science's limited paradigm, skeptical activists will go to great lengths to discredit and stifle discussions on topics they consider "quackery."A genuinely weird and pathetic bunch, skeptical activists routinely gather at conferences, host "psychic stings," conduct protests and even take cruises together.In 1996, magician James Randi founded a nonprofit organization called the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) aimed at "educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims."From this organization was born the Amaz!ng Meeting, an annual conference where skeptics gather to purportedly discuss "science, skepticism, and critical thinking," according to the meeting'sentry, which isWhat these so-called skeptics are really doing is organizing an international effort to smear and discredit anything they consider to be "pseudoscience." This type of collaborated effort is characterized by a pattern of racketeering, as skeptical activists write, edit and promote biased profiles onto generate income, notoriety and legitimacy.At the center of it all is seasonededitor Susan Gerbic, who just so happens to be a close friend of Gorski. Gerbic, we've learned, has played a critical role in the infiltration ofThough she has absolutely no qualifications to do so (her educational background includes a B.A. degree in social history), Gerbic has grown obsessed with "debunking" pseudoscience.Gerbic is the co-founder of Monterey County Skeptics and leader of "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia" (GSoW), whose self-described mission is to "improve skeptical content on Wikipedia..., providing noteworthy citations, and removing the unsourced claims from paranormal and pseudoscientific pages [emphasis added]."This is why healthy food advocates like Mike Adams have false and defamatorypages.Gerbic and other skeptics have capitalized on the fact that people viewas a "neutral" place to get information, which is why they've hijacked it to promote their agenda. Not only do Gerbic and her allies trash opposing viewpoints, but they "improve" Wiki pages for skeptical spokespeople; in other words, they alter the pages to favor their twisted, cult-like community.When skeptical spokespeople are in the public eye, "their Wikipedia page views are going to spike... we want to make sure they are getting great information," says Gerbic. And by "great information," she of course means information favorable to the "skeptic" community.Gerbic has been accused of promoting biased pages, deleting hundreds of articles, and banning thousands of contributors on Gerbic admittedly takes pride in her and her team's ability to "frustrate editors with opposing views to the extent that editors have given up editing Wikipedia."Rupert Sheldrake, a biochemist and plant physiologist trained at Cambridge University accuses Gerbic of propagating "scientific materialism.""Scepticism is a normal, healthy attitude of doubt. Unfortunately it can also be used as a weapon to attack opponents. In scientific and medical contexts, organized skepticism is a crusade to propagate scientific materialism," Sheldrake wrote in his blog "Most materialists believe that the mind is nothing more than the physical activity of the brain, psychic phenomena are illusory, and complementary and alternative medical systems are fraudulent, or at best produce placebo effects," he says, adding that most materialists are also atheists."The Guerrilla Skeptics have carried the crusading zeal of organized skepticism into the realm of Wikipedia, and use it as a soapbox to propagate their beliefs."Gerbic and her fellow skeptics have engaged in some pretty bizarre behavior, such as overdosing on homeopathic tablets. Gerbic says she took "80 pellets" of belladonna , a plant with potentially poisonous properties that's used for Parkinson's disease, colic and motion sickness, and as a pain killer.On another occasion, during one of their peculiar gatherings, more than 100 skeptical activists overdosed on coffea cruda, a homeopathic remedy used to induce sleep.When they're not overdosing on homeopathic medicine , skeptical activists are actively recruiting. The GSoW website states: "We train We mentor Join us." I don't know about you, but that phrase alone is enough to send chills up and down my spine.Stay tuned as Natural News continues to go down the rabbit hole with skeptical activists and their plan to control science-related conversations on. We've already been tipped off that their agenda is much more sinister than we've documented here. Dole Food Company, Inc. is being investigated by the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning a deadly Listeria outbreak in Canada and the United States. The DOJ contacted the company regarding the outbreak, The Wall Street Journal and other media reported last week. Westlake Village, California-based Dole said it would cooperate with the DOJ, which declined to comment to the Journal on the probe. The multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (listeriosis) was traced to packaged salads produced at Doles processing facility in Springfield, Ohio. Nineteen people in nine states were infected and one person from Michigan died from listeriosis. The same outbreak was linked to illnesses in Canada, where 14 people fell ill and three died. On Jan. 27, Dole voluntarily recalled all salad mixes produced in the Springfield, Ohio processing facility. Dole revealed the probe after Food Safety News reported that the company found positive results for Listeria contamination at its facility several times in 2014 and 2015, but continued to produce salads there. In July 2014, Dole performed swab tests of surfaces in the Springfield plant, which revealed positive results for Listeria, and Doles internal tests showed Listeria contamination at least five more times in 2014 and three times in late 2015, the article said, citing FDA inspection reports that were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Dole, whose roots track back to the 1800s, said it has corrected" issues raised in the FDA observation reports. We have been working in collaboration with the FDA and other authorities to implement ongoing improved testing, sanitation and procedure enhancements, which have resulted in the recent reopening of our Springfield salad plant," the company said in an April 29 statement. The DOJ has investigated and prosecuted a number of companies in recent years in response to outbreaks of foodborne illness. Thousands of tusks from illegally killed elephants and rhinos will be set in flames in Nairobi National Park to highlight the plight of the world's iconic endangered species. "For the past week, several dozen men have circled a site in Nairobi National Park, unloading elephant tusks from shipping containers -- many of them so big it takes two men to carry one tusk -- and building them into towers of ivory up to 10 feet tall and 20 feet across," CNN reports History dubs it as the biggest destruction of wildlife goods and the last-ditch effort to control a poaching trade that kills 35,000 elephants and thousands of Rhinos a year. Burning confiscated ivory is the greatest symbol, pronouncing the country's struggle to save the elephants from extinction. By doing so, illegal trade in the black markets where raw tusks sell for around $1,000 per kilo will be stomped out. In an interview with CNN, Wildlife trade expert Esmond Bradley Martin said the illicit wildlife goods would be worth more than $172 million; that's 105 tonnes of elephant ivory and 1.5 tonnes of rhino horn. Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta made a speech at the inaugural Giant Club Summit held Friday, affirming a total ban on trade in ivory to prevent the extinction of elephants in the wild. "To lose our elephants would be to lose a key part of the heritage that we hold in trust. Quite simply, we will not allow it," his statement read. Savetherhino.org said by the end of 2015, the number of African rhinos killed by poachers had increased for the sixth year in a row. Meanwhile, it is estimated up to 36,000 elephants are killed annually, that's one life lost every 15 minutes. African governments are fighting the illegal trade in wildlife goods, but they have long puzzled over what to do with confiscated ivory and horn. The Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) allows for the trade of ivory under certain circumstances, such as those ivory and horn that has been confiscated from illegal poachers. In 2008, stockpiled ivory gathered in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana was auctioned. A total of $15 million generated from the bidding has been used for elephant conservation initiatives. Kenya first burned ivory in 1989, under president Daniel Arap Moi. This Saturday's ivory burn is Kenya's fourth, and the largest one in history by a large margin. The Guardian reports the ceremonial burningwill be attended by Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta, heads of state including Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, high-ranking United Nations and US officials, and charities. Depression is a serious psychological illness that affects millions of Americans. If not treated right away, depression can lead to suicide. With this in mind, researchers from University of Oxford conducted a study to know if Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can serve as an effective alternative treatment to help prevent the relapse risk of recurring depression. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is designed to help people who suffer repeated bouts of depression and chronic unhappiness by combining the ideas of cognitive therapy with meditative practices and attitudes based on the cultivation of mindfulness. "Depression is a recurrent illness," Richard Davidson of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison told Reuters. "Relapse is a very significant problem with depression, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may be particularly valuable in reducing the risk of relapse." For the study, researchers analyzed the data from nine randomized control trials consisting of 1,258 participants comparing MBCT to other treatments of recurring depression among people with full or partial remission. After crunching the data, researchers discovered that people who underwent MBCT have 31 percent decreased risk of having depression again after 60 weeks, compared to other people who did not receive MBCT. They also found out that people who received MBCT and discontinued the use of antidepressant medications were 21 percent less likely to relapse compared to those people who stopped MBCT and continued taking antidepressants. Other factors such as age, sex, level of education and how long the person has had depression did not have any significant influence on the effectiveness of MBCT. However, the study reveals that MBCT is more effective in people with more severe depressive symptoms. The study shows that MBCT can be an effective choice for battling recurring depression, but it may not be for everyone. There is still no best treatment for depression, but an addition of a safe and effective option in the table can be of great help. "It offers people a safe and empowering treatment choice alongside other mainstay approaches such as cognitive-behavioural therapy and maintenance antidepressants," said Lead author, Willem Kuyken, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, in a statement. The findings of the stuyd was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. A Stone Age fossil of a mother holding a baby were found by archeologists in Taiwan. They claim it could be the earliest sign of human activity found in central Taiwan. According to reports, the mother was just 160 cm tall, or 5 foot 2 inches, while the infant is 50 cm - just over a foot-and-a-half. The fossil of the mother and her baby is just one of the 48 sets of remains unearthed in graves in the Taichung area, Reuters reports. The excavation of the site began in May 2014 and took a year to complete. "When it was unearthed, all of the archaeologists and staff members were shocked. Why? Because the mother was looking down at the baby in her hands," Chu Whei-lee, a curator in the Anthropology Department at Taiwan's National Museum of Natural Science, said in a statement. Using carbon dating, the archeologists said the remains date back to 4,800 years ago. "They date to the Neolithic period. Other evidence of humans in Taiwan from around this period have been found in more coastal areas. This includes the Dapenkeng culture, which emerged between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago in northern Taiwan," notes Ibtimes UK. Citing People's Daily Online, Daily Mail writes this is not the first time such a notable discovery has been made, "Chinese archaeologists unearthed the interlocked skeletons of a mother and child last year from an early Bronze Age archaeological site branded the 'Pompeii of the East.'" Around the world, archeologists have been making outstanding discoveries that could help trace back the origins of the human species. Recently, an ancient human skull has been discovered in Sangiran. According to Jakarta post, the skull of a Homo erectus has been unearthed after the absence of any discoveries of ancient human fossils for 80 years. "This archaic skull fossil adds to around 100 ancient human skulls we have. For the archaic type, we now have two fossils. The first fossil was found in 1936 and the second is the one we found in February 2016," said Sukronedi, head of the Ancient Human Site Conservation Agency ( BPSMP ) Sangiran, told the paper. Authorities in Hawaii reportedly arrested a 19-year-old man after footage of him beating a pregnant, endangered monk seal made rounds on the Internet. On Tuesday, witnesses of the brutal incident called the County officials to inform them about the attack which happened at the Salt Pond Beach in Kauai. The police then brought the issue to the State Department of Land and Natural Resources and NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement. The 18-second long clip allegedly shows the local Shylo Akuna, repeatedly throwing blows at the marine mammal as it tries to crawl back into the water to avoid the hits, Carbonated TV reports. Wildlife officials identified the seal as RK3 who is well known in town as she is easily recognized because of the shark bites and evident scar around her neck caused by a fish line entanglement. "She's a well-known adult here on Kauai for being a survivor as well as being an excellent mother," said Jammie Thomton, Kauai's marine mammal response coordinator for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association told Hawaiinews. The seal, roughly 17 years old, is nearing the end of her seventh pregnancy, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser. National Geographic calls Hawaiian monk seal as a "rare tropical exception," as most seals live in frigid countries. While they spend most of their time at sea, they often go ashore to rest. Hawaiian monk seals are endangered and their numbers are believed to have fallen more than ten percent per year since 1989, the article ntoes. Since the attack, onlookers claim they have seen RK30 "resting comfortably" on the same beach with no visible injuries. However, the attack still poses a concern for wildlife officials. Akuna faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 if convicted of harassing the monk seal, which is protected under the Endangered Species Act. Huffingtonpost notes that this is not the first time a seal monk has been abused. In December 2014, a female pup was found bludgeoned to death along Kauai's eastern coast. And in 2009, a 78-year-old man was sentenced to 90 days in jail after shooting a pregnant monk seal to death. Kauai County Mayor Bernard Carvalho, who has also seen the clip already made a statement saying that the behavior is unacceptable and illegal and that everyone should strive hard to protect the Hawaiian monk which is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. China has proven once again that they have the ability to excel in the field of robotics. They recently launched a robot called Jia Jia, which eerily resembles a real human being. But aside from the physical aspect, Jia Jia is capable of having a conversation with humans. The robot responds to questions and converses properly. The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefie just presented their new innovation, Jia Jia, according to a report by CCTV America. Jia Jia, who looks like a realistic robot, can speak both Mandarin and the English language. CCTV America quoted Jia Jia during the press conference when she said, "Hello everyone, I'm Jia Jia. Welcome!" on April 15, 2016. A new interactive robot named Jia Jia was unveiled Friday by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province. Because of Jia Jia's beautiful features, she was even dubbed as the "Robot Goddess" according to a report by Daily Mail. The report added that "The humanoid is programmed to recognize human/machine interaction, has autonomous position, navigation and offers services based on cloud technology." When asked by the developer, the news reported that Jia Jia immediately replied, "Yes, my lord, what can I do for you?". The team of developers took three years to build a realistic robot which can talk to its owner. Aside from its ability to talk, Jia Jia is also capable of showing minute facial expressions. The robot's lips can move as stated by Chen Xiaoping, the teams' Lead Director. According to Engadget, this is to make sure that the lips and eyeballs are moving in seemingly natural way. The developers said that as compared to the older robots, Jia Jia's eyeballs can roll in sync with its speech, making the robot seem more realistic. Audiences from the launch were able to get Jia Jia to even look at the camera for a selfie. New research shows that other technologically advanced civilizations apart from our planet may have existed in our universe, but they are most likely extinct or were young to have had communication with us. Many scientists are still reluctant to acknowledge extraterrestrial life, but researchers from the University from Rochester reveals that the probability of highly-advanced aliens is still high. Using a simplified from of Frank Drake's Drake Equation, researchers tried to calculate the odds of the existence of life in the universe by incorporating the observations of exoplanets with habitable zones made by NASA's Kepler satellite and other planetary searches. According to the study, published in the journal Astrobiology, human civilization is likely to be unique in the universe only if the odds of a civilization developing on a habitable planet are less than about one in 10 billion trillion, or one part in 1022. "One in 10 billion trillion is incredibly small," said Adam Frank, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester and co-author of the paper, said in a statement. "To me, this implies that other intelligent, technology producing species very likely have evolved before us. Think of it this way. Before our result you'd be considered a pessimist if you imagined the probability of evolving a civilization on a habitable planet were, say, one in a trillion. But even that guess, one chance in a trillion, implies that what has happened here on Earth with humanity has in fact happened about a 10 billion other times over cosmic history!" Frank added. On the other hand, the odds of another technological planet to exist our galaxy, the Milky Way, are better than one chance in 60 billion. "The universe is more than 13 billion years old," noted Woodruff Sullivan of the astronomy department and astrobiology program at the University of Washington and co-author of the study. "That means that even if there have been a thousand civilizations in our own galaxy, if they live only as long as we have been around-roughly ten thousand years-then all of them are likely already extinct. And others won't evolve until we are long gone. For us to have much chance of success in finding another "contemporary" active technological civilization, on average they must last much longer than our present lifetime." Sullivan explained. According to the authors, their study is not simple to determine if life beyond earth is still probable, but also to help other researchers better understand the sustainability and climate change crisis we are currently experiencing. "Our results imply that our evolution has not been unique and has probably happened many times before. The other cases are likely to include many energy intensive civilizations dealing with their feedbacks onto their planets as their civilizations grow. That means we can begin exploring the problem using simulations to get a sense of what leads to long lived civilizations and what doesn't," the authors concluded. According to Telegraph UK, new research found out that the elderly, who are suffering with worsening symptoms of depression, have a high risk of developing dementia, a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties of thinking. Depression is a mental disorder that affects countless individuals. Symptoms include depressed mood, loss of interest in any activities, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, sleeping problems, low energy, and difficulty focusing. A group of scientists at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, who conducted a recent study, tracked 3,325 people over 21 years. After tracking the people, they discovered that those who had experienced depression for more than three years were over a fifth more likely to have dementia. However, people who recovered from episodes of depression were not at a greater risk. According to BBC, research published at The Lancet Psychiatry that followed more than 3,000 adults aged 55 and over living in the Netherlands, showed all of them had depression but no symptoms of dementia during the start of the study. However, Dr M Arfan Ikram of the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam said that depressive symptoms that increase over time appear to be a predictor of dementia. "There are a number of potential explanations, including that depression and dementia may both be symptoms of a common underlying cause, or that increasing depressive symptoms are on the starting end of a dementia continuum in older adults," he said. Meanwhile, another study related to depression reveals that excessive use of social media networks may cause depression among users. Forbes reports that a group of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine led by Brian A. Primack, M.D., Ph.D., a senior author of the research project and the director of Pitt's Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health, conducted a study about the effects of social media habits on the moods of users. The research team polled 1,787 adults (ages 19 to 32) in the United States. They gave questionnaires that requested some details about the social media usage of the chosen participants and the answers of the participants were coordinated with a depression assessment tool. Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Google Plus, Tumblr, and Youtube were the social media platforms analyzed in the questionnaires. "Because social media has become such an integrated component of human interaction, it is important for clinicians interacting with young adults to recognize the balance to be struck in encouraging potential positive use, while redirecting from problematic use," said Primack. The participants of this study spent 61 minutes per day on social media and that they visited different social media accounts is 30 times per week. The overall results of the study shows that young adults who spend more time on social media are more likely to be depressed. Astronomers recently discovered a unique, tailless comet that could provide important clues and answers to questions about the formation and evolution of our solar system. In a paper published in the journal Science Advances, observations done with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and the Canada France Hawai'i Telescope revealed a comet called C/2014 S3. Because of the comet's lack of the characteristic tail that they usually have when approaching close to the Sun, the newly discovered space object is dubbed a "Manx" comet, after the breed of cats without tails. Usually, as comets approach the Sun, the ice vaporizing gleam and reflect due to the sunlight. But when the Manx comet was spotted, it was very dark, like an asteroid. Reuters reported that the C/2014 S3 was discovered in 2014 using the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, or Pan-STARRS. This device is a network of telescopes that looks out for fast-moving comets, asteroids and other celestial objects in the night sky. This comet has also an interesting composition. It is made up of rocky materials, rather than the usual ice. Researchers believe that the Manx comet was formed in our solar system, around the same time as the Earth itself. However, they concluded that it was booted out of our system at an early stage, just as the planets were jostling around and getting to its current positions. The study said it has been preserved in the Oort cloud for billions of years and is now making a comeback to our solar system. Lead author Karen Meech of the University of Hawai'i said in a press release that this is the "first uncooked asteroid" that astronomers could study. She said, "It has been preserved in the best freezer there is." This new discovery can lead to other stems of studies on our solar system. However, there isn't much time to dilly-dally. New Scientist reported that the team hopes to find 100 more similar Manx objects, but they have to ask fast. It was only 18 months after the discovery of the C/2014 S3 that they were able to observe it under a full moon. Soon after their observations, the sun blocked it from view. It cannot be seen for another 860 years. Millenial parents can spend more time for bedtime stories with their kids even they are distance apart. This made possible by Samsung's Bedtime VR Stories. Bedtime stories with parents are one of the greatest parts of the childhood. This activity make the bonding of parents and their kids tighter. However, due to the hectic schedule of parents' job that requires traveling across the globe, they can't find a time to spend storytelling with their kids. Virtual reality is defined as an artificial world that includes images or graphics and sounds.To explore the virtual reality world, Samsung has created a technology that will connect parents and their kids, According to The Verge, Samsung's Bedtime VR Stories is currently a prototype app and in development, but it has been tested to some families in United Kingdom. Samsung released a video on Apr. 27 that introduced their new technology Bedtime VR Stories. In the video, a mom wears a Gear VR and her child wears a Google Cardboard headset. Both of them enter the same virtual world. As they enter the virtual world, the mother starts to narrate the story "Most Wonderful Place to Be." Both of them see and traveling the "magical places" of the story while they are sitting in their beds. According to the source, the app only works with Galaxy S7 Edge and the Gear VR headset. Samsung has not confirmed if they will release the app to a wider audience. An acid-fuel-like toxic hot spring between Ethiopia and Eritrea has been unveiled during a three-day journey in April. "After mineral and geochemical characterization, we will know what kind of materials and bacteria are present and be able to identify the most interesting sites for astrobiology purposes. We are now starting the analysis of our samples and are planning a follow-up trip in a few months time," said Gomez, according to Popular Science. The expedition headed by Felipe Gomez Gomez, an astrobiologist from Centro de Astrobiologia, Madrid from April 5th to 7th set out to discover life in places near hydrothermal springs. They measure pH, temperature, humidity and oxygen to help identify if life on other planets could possibly exist in spite of the environment which is beyond human tolerance. Danakil Depression lies along Dallol Volcano to Lake Assal in Ethiopia. With its 107 degree-Fahrenheit temperature, burning smell of sulfur and chlorine, they found Danakil Depression in Ethiopia as the perfect location for their study. Underground magma heats up the mixture of salt water and rain forming heat-filled bubbles rising up to the surface which makes the spring appear as though it is boiling, which technically is true as the spring warmth is near boiling point. An alien place for many, this hydrothermal system appeared to be very peculiar that it did not immediately became a subject for scientific studies. Things have changed however after the expedition as this toxic hot spring has now become of great interest to astrobiologists, as per Gizmodo. As Tadias reported, the trip was just the first part of the series of expedition and studies astrobiologists plan to conduct over the place. Danakil Depression's toxic hot spring may appear to be one of the weirdest and most inhospitable places on earth, but the rich information and wider amount of discovery it can reveal may pave the way for bigger science explorations. Take a trip over the toxic hot spring through this video. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the Puerto Rico Department of Health, announced last week that a man from Puerto Rico died from complications of the Zika virus in February. CNN reported that the center declared this to be the first case in the U.S. and its territories that Zika infection has been linked to a death. The unidentified Puerto Rican man is 70 years old and lived in the San Juan metro area. He was reportedly treated for symptoms of Zika that lasted less than a week. But after his recovery, he returned to the hospital due to a bleeding disorder. The man was then diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, said Tyler Sharp, an epidemiologist with CDC based in Puerto Rico. With the disorder, the affected immune system attacks the blood cells that allow clotting. New York Daily News reported that the man died of internal bleeding, less than 24 hours after seeking help at the health center. Sharp added that this is the ninth reported case of bleeding linked with the Zika virus, but they are still uncertain if contracting the Zika virus would make the patient more susceptible to the disorder. If that is the case, it might be similar to the association between the Zika virus and the Guillain-Barre Syndrome, in which the immune system attacks the nerves. Deaths related to the Zika virus are rare. Reported cases are often associated with microcephaly in babies of infected pregnant women. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, is currently battling an outbreak, with more than 700 reported Zika cases. Across the 50 continental states, there have been 426 recorded cases. These have all been associated with traveling to areas where there is an outbreak. In U.S. territories, the CDC recorded 599 cases of the Zika virus. Since Zika can also be transmitted through sexual contact, New York City has decided to send a million condoms to Puerto Rico, where the outbreak is at its worse in all of the U.S. Dubbed "NYC Condoms," these will be donated to the island nation through the local health department, as per the NY Daily News. While there is still no vaccine to combat the virus, some preventive measures can be done, such as keeping the environment clean to prevent mosquitos from breeding in the area and using insect repellent or bug spray. CDC also advises against traveling to countries and areas where there is a Zika virus epidemic, such as Brazil, Venezuela and areas in The Caribbean and the Pacific Islands. One woman and her four grandchildren died after flood waters swept them away on Saturday at Palestine, Texas. CNN reports that Lenda Asberry, 64 and her grandchildren Jamonicka Johnson, 6; Von Anthony Johnson Jr., 7; Devonte Asberry, 8; and Venetia Asberry, 9 tried to escape the rapidly increasing floodwater in the middle heavy rain fall and dark night. A heavy rain creating quite a lot inches in less than an hour resulted in the hasty floodwater rise. Waters were already up to the roof of their low-lying house near the creek when the family managed to flee, which turned out to be a late escape. "The water came up extremely quickly. The people tried to get out, but before they could get out, the water was already at the roof of the house," said James Muniz, police spokesperson. Doniell Hudnall, Lenda Asberry's son suspects that his mother got weak after taking so many steps which resulted in her tragic death. The bodies of the five victims were recovered three hours after the incident when the water finally receded. They have been turned over to Palestinian police for autopsy, according to The Guardian. Meanwhile, a temporary shelter has been set up in Palestine by the Red Cross, 100 miles southeast of Dallas to house the 18,000 residents affected by the flood. An emergency declaration has been signed by Bob Herrington, Palestine mayor saying that this is the first time in his 59 years of living in the city that he saw such amount of rain in such a short period of time. Another body was recovered on the incident known as Giovani Olivas, 30. She was discovered by Merta White, one Palestine resident. "I thought it was a mailbox, but then I realized what it really was, and I started screaming," said White, as per SF Gate. This video gives a glimpse on the actual site of the flash flood. News / Africa by Sapa The leader of South Africa's opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has launched his party's campaign for the upcoming local elections, promising to rescue citizens from poverty, unemployment and corrupt government.Around 40,000 people turned up at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday displaying massive support for fiery EFF leader Julius Malema's promises to seize white-owned land without compensation and nationalise the banks.The huge turnout was a shot across the bows of the ANC, which failed to fill a similar stadium during the launch of its own manifesto in the coastal city of East London two weeks ago. "We're not chasing the whites away. We're saying you have too much land. We want you here in South Africa, but 80 percent of the land belongs to us," Malema told the crowd.The white minority still holds the vast majority of farmland as well as a disproportionate share of the country's wealth. The EFF is capitalising on black discontent over the perceived lack of change under the ANC government since the end of apartheid 22 years ago.Malema, clad in the EFF's signature red overalls and beret, made many promises from free land, water and electricity for the poor to flushing toilets in all homes as he campaigned ahead of municipal elections in August."We want black communities to be like white communities," he told the enthusiastic crowd. The ANC, which has ruled since its iconic leader Nelson Mandela took power in 1994, showed in 2014 national elections that it still had overwhelming support.However, it has been hard hit by a series of scandals involving President Jacob Zuma and some commentators predict it could lose a couple of major municipalities in the upcoming vote. The EFF was founded 2013 by Malema after he was thrown out as the leader of the ANC's youth wing.In national elections less than a year later it won more than a million votes, taking 25 seats in parliament and becoming the third largest party behind the centrist Democratic Alliance, which holds 89 seats.This will be the first time the EFF has contested local elections, where issues such as housing, service delivery, poverty and unemployment rank high on voters' lists of complaints.Meanwhile, Malema says there are only two parties that should contest the elections in South Africa the ANC and EFF. "Everyone else is wasting time," Malema said to loud applause. "We don't compete against anyone else but the ANC." Malema said the EFF was already winning, as they had managed to fill Orlando Stadium. He said people were still fighting outside to get in while he was speaking."ANC failed to fill Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. We've beaten them. We're contesting against the ANC and no one else. Not any other Mickey Mouse party. Bring it on, we're ready for you. We're not scared of you," he said to another round of cheers and ululations. "We're reclaiming the legacy of Winnie Mandela, Robert Sobukwe. The black nation must be proud. This is for the poor people. This is for you, Africa."Malema said people should accept that they could never defeat the black nation. He maintained that his party was being funded by black people and that no white person was pulling strings in the background."This is a party for black people. This is a socialist party that's unstoppable," said Malema. Earlier, he took a jab at the DA, mentioning a banner that it had flown over the stadium. "This is a real banner," he said, in reference to an EFF banner at the stadium, "not that Mickey Mouse banner that was flying here".While the DA banner was flying above the stadium, an SMS reportedly from the DA was distributed around the country. It read: "EFF wants to bring back violence and chaos. They're too extreme to be trusted to govern SA."Earlier on Saturday that DA issued a statement calling on Malema to apologise during his manifesto launch for various controversial statements made in the past."I today challenge Malema, to use the opportunity of live coverage to apologise to South Africa as a whole for his radical and hateful statements which have over many years sought to divide South Africa," Democratic Alliance spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme said in a statement. A big-rig caught fire and is blocking multiple lanes of traffic on eastbound Interstate Highway 580, according to a California Highway Patrol officer. The accident, which occured this afternoon, is reported in Alameda County east of Livermore. According to CHP Officer Kevin Bartlett, a fire was reported shortly before noon near the North Flynn Road off-ramp, and was blocking three right, eastbound lanes until about 12:30 p.m. Bartlett reported that the driver suffered burn injuries, but the extent of these injuries were not known. "The flames spread to nearby grass and fire crews are at the scene to extinguish the blaze," he said. According to Bartlett, an estimate for when the three lanes will reopen is not known at this time. More than one-third of Bay Area residents want to get out of the beautiful but pricey region in the next few years, citing high housing costs and traffic as their biggest reasons, according to a poll released Monday. Of the 1,000 people polled by the Bay Area Council, 34 percent said they are considering leaving. Those who have lived here five years or less are the most likely to want to leave. In terms of transportation, 34 percent of those surveyed said it was "somewhat harder to get around than a year ago." And 20 percent said it was "much harder" to get around than a year ago. In terms of housing, 74 percent of those surveyed said it was harder to find housing than a year ago. And it certainly isn't cheap to leave here. The Economic Policy Institute statistics shows that it costs a family of four about $84,000 to live in San Francisco a year, about $79,000 a year to live in San Jose and Sunnyvale, and about $75,000 a year to live in Oakland and Fremont. The poll was first reported by the Bay Area News Group. "This is our canary in a coal mine," said Jim Wunderman, president of the Bay Area Council told the newspaper. "Residents are screaming for solutions." In addition, this year's poll found that 40 percent of respondents felt the Bay Area was on the wrong track, the newspaper reported. Just 37 percent of Santa Clara County residents believe the Bay Area is headed in the right direction, and only 33 percent of San Francisco residents think the region is on the right track. And, 52 percent of San Francisco residents say the Bay Area is on the wrong track, the poll showed. "This survey underscores that we have a choice," Carl Guardino, president of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, told the newspaper. "We can be enraged, or we can be engaged. We can engage the broader community on solutions that actually tackle these seemingly insurmountable problems." The Solar Impulse 2 will be leaving the Bay Area Monday morning following an extended stay in the Bay Area due to weather concerns. The solar plane, which is in the midst of a trip around the world, will take off from Moffett field for a 16-hour flight headed to Phoenix, Arizona. Crewmember Elke Neumann said crosswinds in Phoenix had been too high for the plane's expansive 236-ft wingspan to bear, giving the team cause to stay in the Bay Area a little longer than they had planned. The team was planning on taking off on Friday. All told, the plane and its crew spent a week in the Bay Area after making a 3-day flight from Hawaii across the pacific. The pilot, Andre Borschberg, spent a whopping 62 hours straight inside the small cockpit during the journey. Solar Impulse 2 will make three more stops in the U.S. before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or Northern Africa. A 27-year-old woman was shot and killed at an Antioch Quik Stop on Monday, and a male employee of the same age was shot too, and taken to the hospital, police said. An argument between two customers the slain woman and the alleged shooter turned violent around 7:11 a.m. at the convenience store at 2760 West Tregallas Road, police said. Officers took Thomas John Williams Jr., 34, of Antioch, into custody outside the police department soon after he gunned down Cynthia Flores-Crose, also of Antioch. The pair had a "heated exchange" outside the store, and Williams followed Flores-Crose into the Quik Stop and shot her, police said The employee's father, Tom Payne, said it was his son who was shot in the forearm, and taken to an area hospital. He lives nearby and watched his 27-year-old child, Thomas Payne Jr., get wheeled off in a gurney. "He had a lot of blood on his hands and it wasn't his," Payne said. Payne Jr.'s neighbor Vicki Briggs said the store clerk tried to step in and help when the argument spun out of control "He's just that kind of guy," she said. "He's such a great guy, he tried to de-escalate the situation and ended up getting hurt. Thank God he didn't get seriously hurt." Briggs added that it is "mind blowing" that Payne Jr. didn't suffer a mortal wound, adding, "I'm glad he's OK. It could have been worse." Witness Valerie Hernandez, who said she knows Payne Jr., painted a similar picture of an "outstanding young man." She said he is the type of young man who "always wants to be there for people. That's totally in his nature, to step in." Payne Jr.'s father said he was grateful his son survived, but was shaken because Monday marked the second time the clerk's come face-to-face with a gun since he started working at the Quik Stop two years ago. "I don't think he should be going back to work there ... I mean twice within a year," he said. Briggs expressed disappointment at the sorry state of affairs in a town she calls home. "It's absolutely crazy this town has really gone downhill," she said. "I've lived here all my life, born and raised here ... We can't believe what goes on here." Williams faces charges, including murder and attempted murder, and is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility. A man standing in a San Jose home's driveway was shot Sunday afternoon, police said. Police believe a black truck pulled up outside a residence in the 1600 block of Havana Avenue and someone inside opened fire on the victim. The assailants fled the scene and remain at large, according to San Jose police. The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police have not detained anyone and have not provided information about the incident. Three people were killed and at least 25 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. Most recently, a 21-year-old woman was shot to death early Monday in the Edgewater neighborhood on the North Side, police said. The woman and a male were in a vehicle stopped at a red light in the 5900 block of North Ridge about 12:55 a.m. when another male got out of a gray car nearby and opened fire, according to Chicago Police. The woman was shot in the head and taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where she was pronounced dead, police said. The Cook County medical examiners office could not immediately confirm the fatality. A police source said the male sitting in the vehicles passenger seat is a documented gang member. He was not injured in the shooting. About 1:20 p.m. Saturday, a 36-year-old man was killed in a Washington Park neighborhood shootout on the South Side. Deitrick Stogner and 17-year-old boy were firing on each other in the 100 block of West Garfield, authorities said. Stogner, who lived in the 4600 block of South Prairie, suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and side and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:24 p.m., according to police and the medical examiners office. The boy suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken to the same hospital in good condition, police said. Charges were pending against him. The weekends first fatal attack happened about 2 a.m. Saturday in the North Lawndale neighborhood, where a 30-year-old Southwest Side man was gunned down. Lamar Watson was standing outside in the 2200 block of South Kolin when someone walked up and shot him in the head, authorities said. Watson was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 6:30 a.m. He lived around the corner in the 2200 block of South Kirkland. The most recent nonfatal shootings happened Sunday evening on the West and Far South sides. About 9:40 p.m., a 65-year-old man standing in the backyard of a West Pullman neighborhood home was shot in the lower back and right arm by someone in the alley of the 12100 block of South Wentworth. The man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized, police said. At 7:05 p.m., a 36-year-old man walked into Loretto Hospital after an Austin neighborhood shooting in the first block of North Long Avenue. He told detectives he had been sitting in a parked vehicle when three people walked up and one of them shot him in the chest and shoulder. The documented gang member was transferred to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said. About 5:30 p.m., a 27-year-old woman was shot in the right arm by someone in a silver van while she was driving in the 200 block of North Homan in East Garfield Park. She took herself to the University of Illinois Hospital, where she was listed in good condition, police said. At least 21 more people were wounded in other shootings between 8 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday. The young Chicago boy battling incurable cancer, whose request for birthday cards was shared around the world, passed away Sunday, according to his family. Lucas "Bear" Cervone would have turned 6 in just under a week, and hundreds of people joined in the effort to fulfill his request for cards for his birthday on May 7. In a Facebook post Sunday, the Cervone family asked for privacy, writing, "At 506pm CST, Lucas BEAR took his last breath. He is cancer free and no longer in pain." The family gave Lucas one last birthday party in his final days. Lucas was first diagnosed with pediatric leukemia in August 2012. "He fought through three very long years and very intensive years of treatment and he won, he beat it," said Lucas' father, Anthony Cervone, in an interview this week. But a short time later, he was diagnosed with another form of cancer, this one incurable. After a stem cell transplant in November 2015 and months in the hospital overcoming viruses, Lucas returned home to celebrate Christmas with his older brother, Franco, in February. Then, just a few weeks ago, the Cervone family received the news it had been dreading: doctors found an incurable tumor near Lucas' heart. The family of a little boy battling incurable cancer is hoping the Chicago community can help give him a very special birthday. Lucas Bear Cervone turns 6 on May 7, and all he wants are cards and letters. NBC 5s Katie Kim reports. "It has been decided that there are no further curative options," the family wrote April 25 on a Facebook page set up to support Lucas. "In simplest terms, there is nothing more we can do to fight this. We have started palliative chemo to attempt to slow the growth of the tumor. The tumor is wrapped around the pulmonary artery and is pressing on Lucas' heart." The Cervone family then focused on making Lucas' remaining days his happiest. "I want him to have the best quality of life I can give him until the end," his father said at the time Lucas loved to read cards and received 500 letters from well-wishers for Christmas. His family reached out to supporters to try and surpass that number of his birthday. That call was heard around the world, with hundreds of people, including 'Modern Family' star Ariel Winter, joining in to send cards to Lucas. "He's my hero," said his mother, Rina Cervone. "I don't think I could ever be as strong as him." "What we want to show him is his family will be here with him, as well as everyone else," Anthony Cervone added. News / International by Staff Reporter Jah Redeem Zimbabwe Human Rights Defender and Democracy Activist Nkosilathi Emmanuel Moyo is set to launch a reggae album in exile.The 28 year old activist made headlines for sending a prison uniform as a birthday present to President Robert Gabriel Mugabe early this year before fleeing the country after suspected state agents hounded him over that present.Moyo told Bulawayo24 that he is set to launch a reggae album titled '' which is comprised of seven songs namely;Ras Bob15 BillionThey Wanted Me DeadJah Redeem ZimbabweSet The People FreeCoalition Against The DictatorDemocrats Never Die.'I love reggae and protest music a lot so I would like to express myself this time through reggae music. I am inspired by the late Peter Tosh, he was one of my favourite reggae artists and I can tell you this album am working on is superb' he said. Moyo also authored four political books titled 'Zimbabwe A Revolution Waiting To Happen' 'Robert Mugabe from Freedom Fighter To The People's Enemy' The Rise of Grace Mugabe; The Fall of ZANU PF' and 'Everything Is Possible Without ZANU PF'. The reggae album he is set to launch is his first musical album protesting against the status quo in Zimbabwe.He told Bulawayo24 that he is looking forward to launch it in June this year in Johannesburg, Amsterdam and London.Moyo can be reached on his whatsapp number +263775037579. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday that construction will soon begin on a 95-story skyscraper that will become the citys third-tallest building. The Vista Tower along the Chicago River will house a 5-star hotel with approximately 200 hotel rooms, more than 400 condominiums and approximately 9,000-square feet of retail space, according to a press release from the mayor's office. The building will stand at nearly 1,200 feet tall on Wacker Drive near Lake Michigan, making it the third-tallest. The Willis Tower still takes the city's top spot, reaching 1,729 feet tall to the tip, followed by Trump International Hotel and Tower spanning up to 1,362 feet. Studio Gang Architects Vista Tower is designed by award-winning architect and Chicago native Jeanne Gang at Studio Gang Architects. The building could also reportedly become the worlds tallest building designed by a woman-owned firm. The project will create more than 2,000 construction jobs and more than 500 permanent jobs, city officials said. At a cost of $900 million, the project is China's largest-ever real estate investment in Chicago and one of the largest in the U.S. Parents in Chicago may not have to worry about a teachers strike this school year. The Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey confirmed to NBC 5 Monday that a strike is unlikely to happen this month, but he's not ruling out the possibility of a strike in September. State law allowed teachers to walk off the job as early as mid-May, but the union decided against it because it would result in the loss of their salary and health insurance heading into the summer months. Teachers were also concerned about losing the support of parents who would be forced to find last-minute child care during a disruption to the end of the school year. A more likely strike date would be in September, after teachers get their first paychecks of the new school year, Sharkey said. Summer months would give both CTU and Chicago Public Schools additional time to come to terms on a new contract. It also gives state legislators time to consider additional school funding proposals. The union bargaining committee plan to meet Wednesday to discuss a possible strike date. The union said in a statement released Monday, however, that members have yet to make an official decision. "The Unions members have yet to decide when or if we will go on strike in the coming days or during the next school year. State law requires a 10-day notice to our employer if we intend to do so," CTU spokeswoman Stephanie Gadlin said in a statement. Until such notice is given, the CTU is asking all of its members to continue to show solidarity in CPS buildings by wearing red on Fridays, using lunch breaks to talk about long-term revenue solutions and continuing to work with parents and students as this school year creeps to a close. If CPS ends the school year now, it is because its broke-on-purpose budgeting schemes could not afford to keep the doors open in the first place. A 21-year-old woman was shot and killed as she sat in her car at a red light on Chicagos North Side early Monday morning. The woman was stopped in her Jeep SUV at the intersection of Ridge and Peterson avenues in the Edgewater neighborhood when someone in a gray sedan pulled up alongside the vehicle and started firing shots, police said. She was struck in the head, according to police, but managed to keep driving for nearly a block before coming to a stop a near a train viaduct along the roadway. Officials say a man who was riding with the woman at the time in the passenger seat is a documented gang member, but he was uninjured in the shooting. The silver vehicle could be seen with a shattered front passenger window as investigators combed over the crime scene hours later. Police hope some of the businesses near the busy intersection, opposite the Heart of Chicago Motel and the Barrelman Tavern, may have security footage that can aid them in the investigation. Authorities say they are also looking at video from a nearby red light camera to find the killer. No one is in custody. A historic Manhattan cathedral was gutted in a blaze hours after its Serbian Orthodox parishioners celebrated Easter on Sunday The fire started Sunday evening and quickly engulfed the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava in the Flatiron District, the FDNY said. More than 700 parishioners had celebrated Easter earlier in the day and enjoyed a luncheon, but the cathedral was empty when the fire started. A building caretaker attempted to rush inside when he noticed the fire, but was turned back by the flames, fire officials said. He suffered from minor smoke inhalation. Five other people, including four firefighters, also had minor injuries, according to fire officials. Onlookers watched in horror as flames shot from stained glass windows. "It was apocalyptic. Very frightening. And it's a shame," said tourist Herman Tulp. Members of the Serbian community that worships at the church called the blaze heartbreaking. "It means the world to me and to see it [...] I was just here four hours ago for Easter," parishioner Jovana Djurdjevic said as she cried. "This loss is epic. An epic tragedy," another parishioner said. A church priest, the Rev. Djokan Majstorovic, told The Associated Press that he felt like he was "in a nightmare" as he tried to get to the fire scene that was blocked off by firefighters. "This church brought everyone together, because although there are Serbian churches in New Jersey, this is like the only one in New York," Djurdjevic. "This is absolutely horrible. Absolutely horrible. My heart is completely broken." Fire officials said portions of the roof had collapsed and the structure was unstable and in danger of falling down. The fire continued to burn overnight and crews were still dousing hot spots throughout Monday morning. The blaze was fully extinguished by about 2 p.m. Investigators say the cause is still under investigation, but fire marshals are looking into whether candles might have been to blame. Three other Orthodox cathedrals burned the exact same day around the world -- one in Russia, two in Australia -- but police said there's no evidence they are linked. The fire is not thought to be suspicious in nature. "I just hope it was a candle left out, forgotten somehow," said parishioner Luka Vojdodich. "It was a very old church, it had a lot of wooden pews and carpet, very dry, so it probably went up in flames very quick." The cathedral, formerly known as Trinity Chapel, was designed in 1850 by architect Richard M. Upjohn in the Gothic Revival style. The chapel was an Episcopal Church for several decades until 1915, when the area became more commercial and parishioners decided to relocate. The Serbian Orthodox Church purchased the structure from the Episcopal Diocese in New York in 1943. The church, on West 25th Street was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. And despite the destruction, Vojdodich couldn't help notice Monday the flags out front remained intact. "The flag is still standing, which I think is pretty incredible," Vojdodich said. "I don't even know how that's even possible with all the blaze... That's the meaning I would like to give it." A Hindu man was hacked to death in central Bangladesh in the latest attack claimed by radical Islamists in the Muslim-majority nation, police said. Authorities are investigating whether the killing on Saturday of Nikhil Joarder was connected to a 2012 complaint against him for alleged comments he made against the Prophet Muhammad, said Aslam Khan, a police officer in the district of Tangail, where the attack took place. The Islamic State group-affiliated Aamaq news agency issued a statement saying "elements of the Islamic State stabbed to death by knife a Hindu in Tangail in Bangladesh who was known for insulting Prophet Muhammad." It did not give further details. Joarder was attacked with sharp weapons by two men on motorcycles as he sat in his tailor shop, Khan said. Joarder spent two weeks in prison in 2012, and was released after the complaint against him was withdrawn. The killing was similar to other recent attacks on atheist bloggers, academics, religious minorities and most recently a gay rights activist by Muslim extremists. Five people have been killed this year, including Xulhaz Mannan, a U.S. Agency for International Development employee and gay rights activist, and Tonmoi Mahbub, a theater actor, this past week. Two days earlier on April 23, a university professor, A.F.M. Rezaul Karim Siddique, was hacked to death. Nine others were killed last year. While there have been some arrests mostly of low-level operatives there have been no prosecutions so far and authorities have struggled to make any headway in naming those planning the attacks. Two men were sentenced to death and six others to prison for the 2013 killing of an atheist blogger. Nearly all the attacks have been claimed by international Islamist extremist groups, including the Islamic State group and various affiliates of al-Qaida. The government, however, has refused to accept that these groups have a presence in Bangladesh, and has blamed the violence on the political opposition. San Diego researchers have discovered that some sharks use their fluorescent glow to communicate with other sharks deep under water, and their research has provided some really cool images to show how it works. Scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, working with experts at the American Museum of Natural History, used a custom-built "shark eye" camera to do the research. "This study provides the first evidence that sharks can see the fluorescence of their own species," said Dimitri Deheyn, a researcher at Scripps and co-author of the study. "It's not just beautiful but has an ecological purpose." How does it all work? Well, people and other land animals live in a full-color environment, but fish live in a world that's mostly blue, because water quickly absorbs most of the visible light spectrum the deeper you go. The research team figured out that many fish absorb that remaining blue light, and then re-emit it in neon colors of greens, reds and oranges. Then researchers were able to take their findings a step further. They designed a camera that could capture that fluorescent light and they were able to capture a hidden universe. They focused on two catsharks: chain catsharks and swellsharks. The scientists went on a number of expeditions at Scripps Canyon in San Diego County. They observed swellsharks in their native habitat, about 100-feet underwater. The team stimulated biofluorescence during night dives with high-intensity blue lights in watertight cases. The research team recorded the activity (which you can't see with the human eye) using the custom-built underwater camera. The camera had different sets of filters. "The set of filters we used for the shark-eye had similar effects as if using yellow filters to see fluorescence, as commonly done by divers," Deheyn told NBC7. "The shark eye filter set is just more finely tuned to match the data collected from the eye." The scientists mathematically modeled the images from the camera, and found that the contrast of the patterns on the biofluorescent sharks increases with depth. That suggests the animals cannot only see the light, but are also probably using it to communicate with one another. "This is one of the first papers on biofluorescence to show this connection, and a big step toward a functional explanation for fluorescence in fishes," said John Sparks, a curator in the American Museum of Natural History's Department of Ichthyology and a co-author on the paper. The study was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports. The FBI is digging outside the Manchester, Connecticut, home of Robert Gentile, a reputed mobster who the FBI has accused of being linked to long-sought paintings stolen from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. Officials from the FBI said only that there is court-authorized activity in connection with an ongoing federal investigation, but they had no further comment about what is happening at the home on Frances Drive. "It's like deja vu all over again. It is reminiscent of the second search that they did of the house where they had found guns and drugs," Gentile's attorney, Ryan McGuigan, said on Monday. The FBI believes the 80-year-old Gentile, who has a criminal record dating to the 1950s, knows something about the 1990 theft of $500 million in art from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. "I would have to deduce that they're probably looking for evidence from the Gardiner Museum," McGuigan said. Prosecutors previously said that Gentile told an undercover FBI agent he had access to two paintings and could negotiate their sale for $500,000 each. Gentile has denied any involvement in the thefts and said he's never possessed any of the paintings. His lawyer previously said the FBI believes his client has not been forthcoming with everything he knows about the heist and has set him up for arrests twice in the last three years, but his client is not withholding any information. The 13 pieces of art stolen from the Boston museum have never been found and nobody has been charged in the robbery. The paintings include works by Edouard Manet, Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Govaert Flinck and Edgar Degas. When McGuigan called his client to tell him about the search, Gentile laughed, McGuigan said. Waterbury, Connecticut, police have arrested dozens of people suspected of mid-level drug sales in the city, including heroin dealers, and they are still looking for nearly 20 additional suspects. "Operation Stamp Out" is a multi-jurisdictional investigation that has been going on since 5:30 a.m. and police arrested 38 suspects as of 2 p.m. They said many of them have sold drugs to undercover officers, several times in some cases. Others are believed to be affiliated in the drug trade and felony warrants have been issued for them. During the bust, police seized one shotgun, crack cocaine, heroin and more than $20,000 in drug sale proceeds, according to a news release. Officers are still looking for several people and posting photos of them to the Waterbury Police Facebook page. Delvon Allen, 24, and Ernest Caldwell, 31, are wanted for sale of narcotics and sale in a school zone. Brandon Garcia, 24, is wanted for two counts of sale of narcotics. Jorge Gonzalez, 22, Gilbert Irizarry, 24, Shannon Jones, 36, Teryn Jones, 19, Paul Kinion, 56, Rayshawn Maxwell, 26, Monique Reed, 24, Miguel Soto, 20, and Corey Stakely, 25, are wanted for sale of narcotics and sale of narcotics in a school zone. Tyree Jones, 19, is wanted for sale of narcotics. Lionel Overstreet, 28, and Abraham Vincente, 31, are wanted for two counts of sale of narcotics. Malik Pete, 19, is wanted for sale of narcotics, sale in a school zone and tampering with evidence. Eric Fussell, 21, is wanted for first-degree kidnapping with a firearm and third-degree assault. Willimantic police arrested eight people during Eastern Connecticut State University spring weekend, but said they are pleased with the way the weekend turned out. We are very pleased with how the weekend turned out. The fireworks display at the ECSU ball field was well received by all including city residents who were on hand to view them. The bar crawl Saturday night also went smoothly with a couple of hundred students participating. City police would like to thank all of the students for their fine behavior and to wish the out-going seniors all of the best with the next chapter in the lives, Cpl. Stanley Parizo, Jr. said in a statement. Eight people were charged with breach of peace and released on promises to appear in court. Please help stop the fighting in Syria. That was the plea as a church leader from that war-torn country stops in Connecticut. And it came the same day the governor picked up a prestigious prize for his work to defend Syrian refugees. The Knights of Columbus pushed for the U.S. to call whats happening in Syria and nearby countries a genocide. Secretary of State John Kerry finally did that back in March. Now the question is what do next and thats part of why the Knights of Columbus helped bring an important figure to the state on Sunday. At a place usually seen as a safe haven the talk turned to a dangerous part of the world. I fear for the good people, says Father Edward Kakaty of the Melkite Catholic Church of Waterford. Hundreds of people filled the pews at St. Marys Church in New Haven for a discussion called Witness to Genocide. An archbishop from Syria, Jean Clement Jeanbart, described the killings and brutal treatment of Christians and other religious groups at the hands of ISIS. Its getting much worse than it was before, much worse, says Father Kakaty. The archbishop delivered a similar message to the United Nations last week. We sat down with him to talk about his message there. To do what they can to stop this war, says Archbishop Jean Clement Jeanbart. Many people have fled Syria. Some who tried to find safety in the United States were blocked. After the terror attacks in Paris, many U.S. governors stopped Syrian refugees from resettling in their state last fall. "Suddenly in the middle of darkness there emerged a light," says Fatema, a refugee from Syria. Fatema and her family, who did not want their last name released to protect family in Syria, was prevented from going to Indiana. In their moment of need, Governor Dan Malloy offered them a new start in New Haven. For that he was awarded the 2016 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston on Sunday. "And to raise my voice when people would subjugate other individuals... Would bar them at the door because of the land they came from or the religion they practice. We, as Americans, can not tolerate that, says Malloy. The governor joins previous award recipients including former President George H.W. Bush and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. News / International by Thulani Nkala Chairperson Vice chairperson Sec for Admin Sec for finance Sec for mobilisation Sec for info and publicity Sec for policy and strategy Sec for Security Sec for culture Sec for Education, health and welfare Zawu chair Youth Chair Committee members: On Saturday 30 April 2016, Zapu Europe chose its new provincial executive committee (PEC). Arthur Molife was given a clear mandate to lead this PEC after fighting a strong and spirited challenge from the only other contender, Ms Thembie Mpofu. Ms Susan Ndlovu took over the vice chairperson's position uncontested due to her popularity following her achievements as the outgoing Zimbabwe African Women's Union (ZAWU) chairperson. The women met separately to endorse Ms Sipho Sibanda as the new ZAWU head. Mr Siqhelile Ndlovu came out all guns blazing to reclaim his finance portfolio. The youth were not to be left out as Nkosiphathise Cakes 'Makhekhe' Vundhla snatched the policy and strategy post from two other candidates while Arnold Dube fought a strong field of contenders to make it as one of the new four committee members.Results apart, this AGM was a resounding success. The Church of the Martyrs in Leicester was abuzz with excitement throughout. This is not to say there was not a few tense moments with members from the floor challenging some procedures, what with the ever questioning youth. This writer was impressed with the maturity shown in reaching quick but fair resolutions. The council of elders and its Elections committee showed great skill in navigating the proceedings leading to a peaceful casting of votes. Elders Reginald Mhlanga, Brian Muvirimi, Herbert Mafohla and Mr Lawrence Siziba's team deserve a pat on the back. What was even more striking was the good attendance and good camaraderie shown by the delegates. This was reminiscent of the Milton Keynes days when Zapu was re-launched in Europe after its revival back home. Ms Florence Moyo was quoted as saying,'This is an indication that the party's fortunes are about to change for the better, more people will flock to our next meetings just as in the early years after Zapu's revival'. Colleagues drove all the way from as far as Newcastle while a party of five flew from Northern Ireland just to cast their free vote. A free vote is something that remains a pipe dream in modern day Zimbabwe. 'My vote is my secret and I want to make it count' stated Mr Titus Dongo from Birmingham.The NPC nominee Mrs Sakhile Sibanda kicked off the speeches with a message from the Zapu president, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa who wished the delegates a successful AGM. The outgoing chairman gave a powerful speech beseeching the party in Europe to maintain the unity that had been cultivated in the last four years. Former Magistrate, Mr Johnson Mnkandla challenged the younger delegates in the hall to continue the fight to bring Zanu-pf to account for atrocities committed in the early 80s which are better known as the Gukurahundi atrocities and the current misrule.There was joyful singing, dancing, sloganeering, toyi-toying and for a moment one could be forgiven for thinking that these people were free at last. This continued until the all the cast votes were counted. Below is the full list of those who were voted into the new committee:- Arthur Molife- Susan Ndlovu- Thabiso Mabhena- Siqhelile Ndlovu- Adi Moyo- Bokani M Vundhla- Cakes Nkosiphathise Vundhla- Eckem Ndlovu- Ms Zenzo Siziba- Nomathamsanqa Tholo- Ms Sipho Sibanda- Awaiting Youth Congress1. Rosina Ncube2. Cosmas Sikhosana3. Arnold Dube4. Princess Khumalo"This committee awaits its formal confirmation which should soon follow after we submit our reports about the conduct and results of this elective AGM to the national Zapu structures in Zimbabwe. The people have spoken," stated Mr Mafohla, chairman of the Elections Committee. The University of Connecticut is providing its students with therapy dogs to help relieve the stress of final exams. The dogs will be available for petting at the school's Homer Babbidge Library from Monday afternoon through Friday afternoon. The program, named "Paws to Relax," began in the spring of 2010, when a library staff member suggested that puppies might help students cope with stress during finals week. Registered therapy dogs from multiple organizations including Cold Noses, Warm Hearts; Allen's Angels; and Tails of Joy are taking part in the program. The school says it is keeping the dogs in a space that won't impact students with allergies who may also need to use the library. Willimantic police arrested a woman accused of driving with a breath alcohol content over four times the legal limit Sunday. Police say they responded to Spring Street around 5:10 p.m. for reports of a driver crashing into two parks cars then fleeing. A short distance from the scene on Prospect Street they stopped 39-year-old Jacqueline Steinberg, of Willimantic. Steinburg, who was not injured, was arrested after failing roadside standardized field sobriety tests. Police say her BAC registered at .332 percent. The legal BAC limit in Connecticut is .08 percent. Steinburg is charged with driving under the influence, evading responsibility, and failure to drive right. Her bond was set at $1,500. A BAC this high is fairly uncommon and is one of the top 5 highest I have seen here in the past 19 years. It is irresponsible for anyone to get behind the wheel of a vehicle impaired, but this border lines on egregious behavior with a BAC this high, said Corporal Stanley Parizo, Jr. of Willimantic police. An unsettled weather pattern will grip Connecticut through the upcoming weekend. Showers and possibly even a period of rain will return tonight as temperatures remain in the 40s. The rain will wind down during the morning commute tomorrow, so it will be another soggy drive. However, tomorrow is more murky than it is wet. While there can be drizzle at any point, there shouldn't be any organized rain. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s. Wednesday will be mostly cloudy with a chance for showers, with temperatures again in the upper 50s. The chance for showers continues again on Thursday, with highs in the upper 50s. Organized rain returns Friday to close the workweek. Yet again, temperatures will be stuck in the upper 50s. The next dry day appears to be Saturday, just in time to start the weekend! It will be warmer, with highs in the middle 60s. Apple has created more than 2,000 new jobs in Austin since 2012 and is on track to meet the area hiring goals it promised in exchange for millions of dollars in public incentives, according to documents filed with the city. The technology giant is set to receive $35 million in tax incentives over the next several years from the city of Austin, Travis County and the state of Texas for an expansion of its operations in central Texas, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Under the terms of the incentives package, which was signed in March 2012, Apple Inc. agreed to create more than 3,600 new full-time jobs in Austin in 10 years while retaining at least 3,100 existing full-time jobs year over year. According to the agreement, the average wage for those new jobs is to be $54,000 a year in the first year of the expansion and will stretch to $73,500 in the 10th year. Apple said last year that it was well ahead of hiring projections. A more recent report -- filed in March by Terry Ryan, Apple's senior tax manager -- indicated that the company continues to outpace the requirements. As of Dec. 31, the total number of full-time Apple jobs in Austin was 5,102, according to the company's report. That includes 2,089 new jobs created since 2012, according to the report -- an average of more than 550 a year. The agreement calls for Apple to create 300 new jobs by the end of 2016. Also, report says there were 904 contract employees as of the last day of 2015. If Apple reaches its hiring goals, it will become the second-largest technology employer in Central Texas, behind only Dell Inc. In a written statement, Apple said: "We're incredibly proud that Apple's innovation supports tens of thousands of jobs across a wide range of industries in Texas." Jon Hockenyos, an Austin economist, said the types of jobs Apple is creating at the campus are a key component to the region's economy. "They provide solid middle-class incomes that sustain families," he said. "They're the kind of jobs any city wants to see being created." Giovani Oliva, 30, was swept away by flood waters on a county road after more than 7 inches of rain fell in an hour late Friday evening. Oliva was headed home after a family gathering at a relatives house in Palestine, said Oliva's brother, Marcelino Oliva. "His truck stalled when he was driving through the heavy water. A tree had fallen in the road," said Oliva. "He was just three or four feet away from us. Waters were about waist deep. We had him in our grasp and let him go." Oliva said Giovani exited his truck and tried running for higher ground. "That was the last time we saw him. He got swept away from the current. He was just trying to get home." Giovani Oliva leaves behind a wife and two young children. "Not only did he have a big smile, he had a big heart," said Oliva. "He was a good father, a hard worker and one of the best brothers we had. He'll be missed." The Oliva family is in the process of planning funeral arrangements. At a previously scheduled community meeting Tuesday night, Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa told concerned parents the district is reviewing the policies and procedures regarding the use of metal detectors in Dallas schools. "I doubt if anything changes for this year, but there's going to be a significant review, and I anticipate some significant changes for next year," Hinojosa told reporters. Hinojosa says surveillance video showing the student entering the building will be released, but only at the proper time in the investigation. Dallas ISD police added extra officers Tuesday at an Oak Cliff high school after a shooting at the school Monday morning. [[377823221,C]] Police say a 15-year-old student brought a loaded .22 caliber pistol, a Derringer, to Justin F. Kimball High School with him. The student then accidentally shot himself in the hand and leg in a classroom at about 10:30 a.m. He was rushed to hospital. "His injuries are quite serious," said Dallas ISD Police Chief Craig Miller. "But they are non-life threatening injuries." Officers are still investigating why the 15-year-old brought the loaded gun with him to school in the first place, and also where he got the weapon. He now faces mandatory expulsion. Some parents are demanding security changes at an Oak Cliff high school after a school shooting Monday morning. Police say they haven't decided on any charges yet for the student or his parents. There is a metal detector at the front door entrance to Kimball High School. Miller said the student arrived with a parent Monday morning after the first period bell had already rung to begin the school day, and it appears no one stopped the student as he walked through the detector. "We want to talk to the person who was there monitoring the metal detector stand. We certainly want to make sure the metal detector was working," Miller said. A Dallas ISD statement said that "procedures for use of the metal detectors was not applied" in this case. Our apologies for the typos earlier. We got in a rush. Our revision: pic.twitter.com/of9oT7w9EF Dallas ISD Media (@DallasISDMedia) May 2, 2016 Many parents are outraged. "Having just one metal detector at the door is just unacceptable. The school needs to be brought up to par," said parent Eva Alexandro, who rushed to Kimball after her 16-year-old daughter texted her about the shooting. "She just said, 'Mom, I'm at the gym. I'm hiding. I'm scared, but I'm safe,'" Alexandro said. Miller said the student was in a classroom with about 25 other students when he accidentally shot himself with the small-caliber pistol. "The student came in this morning for a parent-teacher conference. The metal detectors are monitored differently after school starts," he said. "The student, in this instance, came into the school building for this meeting with a parent, and the metal detectors weren't being observed at that point." Many parents said that in light of the shooting, the front-door entrance needs to be monitored all day long. "I'm furious. I'm just furious right now," said parent Lashell Booker, waiting to get word from her ninth grader son. Chopper 5 was above Kimball High School in Oak Cliff shortly after officials say a student inadvertently shot himself Monday morning. She said it's scary that people students, or visitors aren't automatically stopped if they set off the metal detector, regardless of the time of day. "I'm very scared. Because we drop our children off, our students come to school, and we hope they are fairly protected and I come to find out today they are not," she said. One student snapped a photograph of the gun moments after the shooting, after it fell to the floor. It quickly circulated among high school students' social media accounts. Dallas ISD police say they are still taking statements from witnesses about what led up to the shooting, and they still need to review the school's front-door surveillance video. "We want to look at the video and see exactly what took place here and make sure guns don't come onto campuses," Miller said. Many students say security could easily be improved by keeping a staff member or hall monitor at the front door at all times. "There's only one metal detector at the front of the school. It's understandable, but honestly security should have been better," said 10th grader Liberty Pena. "It's pretty scary. I'm fearful of my life because of what happened," she said, being comforted by her parents. Teachers are also upset. "There are all kinds of weapons that can be hidden, and if the detectors are not working then everyone at that campus is at jeopardy in some way," said Rena Honea, with the Dallas Teachers Union. NBC 5's Kevin Cokely, Holley Ford and Brian Roth contributed to this report. A team from Granada Hills Charter High School was welcomed with cheers, awards and lots of praise Monday after winning the 2016 U.S. Academic Decathlon in Anchorage, Alaska -- the school's fifth title in the last six years. The San Fernando Valley school scored 54,195.1 out of a possible 60,000 points to win the overall competition Saturday, where more than 450 students from the U.S., Canada, China and the United Kingdom gathered to compete. Team members Mark Aguila, Julian Duran, Isha Gupta, Joshua Lin, Christopher Lo, Aishah Mahmud, Melissa Santos, Mayeena Ulkarim and Jorge Zepeda returned to school Monday morning, and were greeted with a rally to celebrate their win. "We're really just grateful to be here with everyone who is here to celebrate with us," said Melissa Santos, a junior at the school and member of the decathlon team. "It's an incredible feeling." The victory was not only for the students, but for their teachers, friends and parents. "I don't want to brag," Aida Santos, Melissa's mother said. "She has potential to be a leader." "Congratulations to the decathlon team for a stellar performance throughout the Academic Decathlon season," said Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Michelle King. "The entire L.A. Unified family is extremely proud of your unwavering determination, pride and selflessness. You are all champions." The nine-member team is made up of A, B and C average students who have gained more than medals along the way. "I came into decathlon really shy," said Joshua Lin, a senior at Granada Hills Charter. "These guys have really shown me that I can be myself in front of them." Granada Hills Charter High School has dominated the state and national competition recently. The team beat 68 other schools at the California Academic Decathlon in March, scoring a record 61,149.6 points out of a possible 65,400. It has also won four of the last five national titles -- from 2011 to 2013, and again in 2015. A California school has now won the U.S. title 14 years in a row, and LAUSD schools have won 17 national titles since 1986. City News Service contributed to this report. City News Service contributed to this report. A 44-year-old man who went hiking in Chatsworth was rescued Sunday after braving the elements for two days, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. A LAFD helicopter hoisted the man to safety around 4:45 p.m. after rescue crews found him in rugged terrain near a radio tower. The man's cellphone battery was running low after he had been in the area near 11160 De Soto Avenue for two days, fire officials said. He was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, LAFD said. Authorities on Monday were searching for an inmate who went missing from a conservation camp near Azusa. Wade Anthony Raffaniello, a minimum-security inmate serving time for transporting and selling a controlled substance, was last seen in his dorm at Julius Klein Conservation Camp about 12:05 a.m. during a routine security check, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a press release. When he was discovered missing, staff searched the inmate dormitory area, surrounding buildings and camp perimeter, but he was not found. Local law enforcement agencies have launched a search for Raffaniello. He is described as a 50-year-old white man, about 5 foot 9 and 200 pounds, with a shaved head and hazel eyes. Raffaniello is serving a four-year sentence and had been set to be released in April 2018. Anyone with information on Raffaniello's whereabouts was asked to call the Julius Klein Conservation Camp commander at 626-910-1213 or their local law enforcement agency. News / Local by Staff Reporter A man from Bulawayo's ghetto suburb of Makhokhoba was today found hanging dead from a tree in a suspected case of suicide.In pictures: Bemused residents stampede to catch a glimpse of the deceased man.Police later came and dispatched the onlookers.Residents amongst the crowd identified the late man only as "saNkanyiso".More details to follow... Two bodies recovered from the Los Angeles River are that of two teenage boys reported missing Friday night, coroner's officials confirmed Monday. Police and firefighters found two bodies matching the description of Gustavo Ramirez, 15, and Carlos Jovel, 16, Sunday after family reported them missing. The bodies were positively identified by the Los Angeles Coroner's Office early Monday morning. It was the news that the families of two missing teen boys hoped and prayed they would not hear. The families had been distributing fliers in search of the boys since they disappeared Friday afternoon. Both boys were students at Sotomayor Learning Academy. Police and firefighters launched a search to find the teens after receiving a call about two boys in the LA River about 5 p.m. Sunday. Police weren't sure if the missing child reports were connected to the LA River until Sunday when new information became available. An anonymous call linked the disappearance and the call on Friday, and rescue dive teams immediately went to the water. LAPD media relations posted on social media that crews were searching the water at 6 p.m. Sunday. The first body was recovered at 7 p.m. and the second just 30 minutes later. A member of the citys crisis team gave the news to the families standing on the riverbank. On Friday, four teens were hanging out at the LA River in Cypress Park near San Fernando Road and Granada Street. One of the boys fell into the water, and another jumped in after him to try and help. "We dont have a necessarily strong current here but it doesnt mean there wasnt something moving on that day," Meghan Aguilar with the LAPD said. The LA River is usually shallow however, in the area near Glassell Park, the water reaches 12 feet in depth. The LA River tends to swell around times of heavy downpour, like in the case of three people and dog becoming trapped in a tree in September. Grief counselors were to be on hand Monday morning at Sotomayor Learning Academy, LAUSD Monica Corazo said. John Cadiz Klemack contributed to this report. Thousands of people rallied in the streets of downtown Los Angeles Sunday for annual May Day marches supporting rights for immigrants and improved conditions for workers, while also rallying against what they see as hateful presidential campaign rhetoric. "The housekeepers in the hotels, the cooks and the dishwashers -- they make this nation strong," Maria Elena Durazo of Unite Here said to a crowd. Demonstrators carrying signs and chanting slogans have taken to the streets at two marches that began at 12:30 p.m. downtown. The May Day Coalition of Los Angeles gathered at 11th and Figueroa streets, to march east on 11th Street and north on Los Angeles Street, ending with a rally on Aliso Street northeast of the Civic Center area. The Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition held a march and rally, themed "Build Bridges Not Walls,'' with participants gathering at Broadway and Olympic Boulevard. The group will march north on Broadway and Spring Street, ending with a rally at Grand Park in the Civic Center area. Police urged motorists to avoid the area and plan alternate routes. Organizers spoke out against hateful rhetoric targeting immigrants, workers and women following remarks by leading Republican presidential contender Donald Trump. Trump has called for a wall on the border with Mexico and chided Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton for playing the so-called "woman card." Hundreds of marchers also moved a large inflateable "Trumpzilla" down Broadway. "In addition to fighting for workers' rights, we are fighting for our dignity this time around, our self-respect," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Police said that no arrests were made, and despite a minor confrontation, the marches were peaceful. More than 120 parking tickets were issued, and 60 cars were towed. For more than a century, International Workers' Day has been celebrated on May 1 to mark the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago, when a bomb turned a worker rally into a deadly event. The marches have roots in labor movements calling for worker rights. But it recent years, demonstrations in the United States have taken up various timely causes. Large marches are also planed in Portland, Cleveland, Miami, San Francisco and Oakland. Copyright Associated Press/NBC Southern California Lions rescued from circuses in Colombia and Peru and airlifted to South Africa scratched their manes on trees and explored their new territory in the African bush after being released into a sanctuary north of Johannesburg Sunday. One of the 33 lions, a male known as Zeus, let out a mighty roar before stepping out of his cage into an enclosure where he will spend the coming months being monitored by a vet. The lions arrived at the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary shortly after dawn on Sunday to end a two-day journey from South America. The lions were freed after the use of wild animals in circuses was outlawed in Peru and Colombia. It will be impossible for the lions to survive in the wild as they were bred in captivity and their circus owners mutilated many by breaking their teeth and removing their claws. Because they cannot hunt they will be fed game meat and will have water in their enclosures. "They are remarkably calm after such a long journey," Tim Phillips, the co-founder of Animal Defenders International which led the rescue of the lions told The Associated Press. "It was a dream come true watching them step of those cages into their new homes in the African bush." Ted Cruz responded to a young heckler who yelled out "you suck" during a campaign event in Indiana by telling the child that such an outburst would land him a spanking in the Cruz household. The heckler, described by an NBC reporter as a boy who appeared to be 10 years old, interrupted Cruz as he was speaking in La Porte on Sunday. "Apparently there is a young man who is having some problems," Cruz said. The person could then be heard yelling, "You suck!" "Thank you son. You know I appreciate you sharing your views," Cruz responded. "You know, one of the things that hopefully someone has told you is that children should actually speak with respect." The audience roared its approval as Cruz, a father of two, continued to riff on his parenting views. "Imagine what a different world it would be if someone had told Donald Trump that years ago," he said. "You know, in my household, when a child behaved that way, theyd get a spanking." Cruz faces a key vote in Tuesday's key Indiana primary against front-runner Trump, who has a 15-point lead in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll. There was an overdue reunion for a man who spent half a decade on the streets. He has been homeless and separated from his family for six years. On Monday, he and his loved ones reconnected and NBC 6 South Florida was there for the special moment. "He was just always happy, go lucky, dancing," said Gabby Cordell with the Choose Love Foundation. But a lot has changed since Cordell met Roberto Ulloa six years ago on the streets of Downtown Miami. Ulloa has lived a hard life that would transform that dancing to an assisted, wobbly shuffle. "He had a stroke, then another and then another. He's had three. One right after another," Cordell explained. There were more changes ahead for Ulloa as Cordell plucked him from the streets. Loaded in her car was Ulloa's world: a radio, CD player and a couple coolers. "A folding chair, a walker, a five-gallon bucket," Cordell said. She began trying to reunite Ulloa with his family using the organization, Miracle Messages, along with a YouTube video. After emails and phone calls, Cordell located Ulloa's family in New Brunswick, New Jersey. They made the trip to see the man they haven't heard from in six years. A hug for Ulloa from his uncle's wife; an introduction to a second cousin, who didn't exist when he took off. "I'm so happy. Just between happy and sad, because I never thought something like that," Francisca Salvador said. "I never expected to see him in this condition." All Christina Salvador knew was that her cousin took off for Florida. Three years ago, she found out he was in jail and figured it wasn't the worst thing. "Okay, so maybe he's not on the street, he's there. In prison they feed you and everything. That's what we thought," Christina said. Ulloa then took another car ride; 18 hours to New Jersey with family to catch up on the last six years. Choose Love and Miracle Messages have worked together in the past. It doesn't always work out; the homeless person doesn't want to go home or the family wants nothing to do with that person. They have reunited two other families. A man's planned explosive attack on a South Florida Jewish center was thwarted by the FBI through an undercover operation involving a dummy bomb, authorities said Monday. James Medina, 40, made his initial appearance in federal court Monday following his arrest last week in the alleged plot against the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, which includes a synagogue, school and meeting halls. Medina is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a potential life prison sentence. To read Medina's full criminal complaint, click here Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Anton said the FBI learned in March that Medina, a Muslim convert who said in court he also goes by James Muhammad, planned to bomb the center by placing a device under a car or throwing it over a wall. An FBI undercover operative was used to provide Medina with a fake bomb, and he was arrested after accepting it on Friday near the Jewish center, Anton said. A judge appointed a public defender for Medina, who began his court appearance by announcing "I got a few words of my own.'' U.S. Magistrate Judge William C. Turnoff told Medina he might want to keep his mouth shut. "I urge you to understand that anything you say can be used against you,'' Turnoff said. A bail hearing was scheduled for Thursday. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who represents many of the Jewish center's 800 congregant families, suggested that Medina may have been motivated by anti-Jewish bias. The plot would have struck during the synagogue's Passover celebration last week. "This attempted attack is a harsh reminder that there are many in our community who are motivated by bigotry and violence," she said in an email statement. "As a community and a nation we must work together to confront this kind of hatred." A 17-page FBI affidavit unsealed Monday includes numerous comments allegedly made by Medina about his plan, which initially envisioned use of AK-47-style weapons to shoot up the Jewish center. Several of these conversations were recorded by an informant identified only as a "confidential human source" in the document. According to the FBI, Medina wanted to create a leaflet to be left at the scene in which he would claim the attack was traced to the Islamic State terror group. There's no evidence the group was actually linked to Medina, but he told the informant that leaflet would "make it look like it's ISIS (Islamic State) here in America. Just like that." The plot, Medina said in one conversation, would be to "strike back at the Jews, by going to a synagogue and just spraying everybody ... It's a war man and it's, like, it's time to strike back here in America." Later, Medina called the plan "my call of duty." "When I'm doing this, I feel that I'm doing it for a good cause for Allah," he is quoted as saying. Another undercover FBI employee several times asked Medina whether he really wanted to go through with the plot, which might include killing women and children. "I'm up for it. I really am. This is no joke. This is serious, dog," Medina said on an FBI recording. The Aventura center's Rabbi Jonathan Berkun and Executive Director Elliott Karp released a statement on the center's Facebook page saying the FBI stepped in before any harm could be done. Berkun and Karp said they had been briefed on the case by law enforcement officials. "They assured us that the synagogue and school were never at risk at any time during the investigation and arrest, and that there are no credible threats directed against us at the present time," their statement said. Medina said in court he is unemployed, divorced and has no assets. He has been arrested several previous times on relatively minor state charges, including a 2012 stalking case in which he was accused of threatening a Coral Springs family and their church with violence. The charges were later dropped. A well-known St. Petersburg couple whose bodies were found in their home on Friday died in a murder-suicide, police said. Former St. Petersburg police officer Gerard Joseph Stempinski, 69, shot his wife, Marie Stempinski, then himself, police said. Gerard worked for 25 years as a police officer and detective before becoming a successful financial adviser, The Tampa Bay Times reported. Marie, 72, was president of a communications firm and a frequent business columnist for the paper. A former television reporter, she also taught TV and radio production at St. Petersburg College. A friend told the newspaper that Gerard had seemed depressed recently because of an injury that required him to use a walking cane. Marie had also recently suffered a severe hip injury. "He once told me, 'If you don't have health, then you don't have anything,'"' family friend Hardy Bryan III told the newspaper. "He basically went from someone who was very healthy to almost an old man overnight." Police were called after the couple's daughter alerted friends that she hadn't heard from her parents. People became concerned when Gerard Stempinski did not show up for work at the financial services firm where he was an associate vice president for investments. Former St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster lowered a U.S. flag hanging outside the couple's home to half-staff. "(Gerard) and Marie were a fantastic couple," Foster told the Times. "Both were very involved in the city. They loved St. Petersburg. They were never going to move. I guess I just wanted to honor them somehow." A spiraling Puerto Rico debt crisis reached a new milestone as the island missed nearly $370 million on a bond payment Monday and officials warned of worse to come if the U.S. Congress doesn't help it dig out from a mountain of debt. The default was the largest in a series of missed payments by the struggling U.S. territory since last year and Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla warned it was unlikely to be the last. Puerto Rico has payments totaling nearly $2 billion coming due on July 1, including about $700 million in general obligation bonds that are supposed to be guaranteed under the island's constitution. In an ominous warning directed at Congress and creditors that include U.S. hedge funds, Garcia said the outlook for the next payment is bleak. "We don't anticipate having the money," he told a news conference in the capital, San Juan. The remedy, Garcia warned, is either a restructuring arrangement with creditors or legislation from Congress. U.S. lawmakers left for recess last week while a bill that would restore Puerto Rico's legal authority to restructure as states are able to do and set up a fiscal control board was stalled in committee. Garcia, who inherited the crisis when he took office in January 2013, blamed lobbying by "vulture" hedge funds and what he called "racist" attitudes toward Puerto Rico. "Our worst enemy at the moment is politics," he said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday's default should be another red flag for Republicans in Congress. "This situation requires an urgent response and Republicans in Congress have been dragging their feet for too long," Earnest said. The White House has put forward a plan that would allow Puerto Rico's government to restructure its debt and impose new oversight on finances, among other measures. Earnest said the oversight measures distinguish the proposal from a bailout, a charge Republicans have lodged against the plan. But, Earnest warned, continued delay in Congress "only makes a bailout more likely." Following Monday's default, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew released a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan in which he urged him to work quickly to resolve the "few outstanding issues" on the legislation to help Puerto Rico. "Going forward, Puerto Rico's $70 billion of debt is unsustainable by any measure. It simply cannot afford to pay its debt," Lew said. Garcia has been warning since last year that the island's overall public debt of more than $70 billion is unpayable. On Sunday, he announced the suspension of a payment on debt issued by the island's Government Development Bank, a day before a scheduled $422 million was due on the GDB's $3.8 billion in debt. Puerto Rico managed to reach a restructuring deal with island credit unions that shaved off about $30 million from the total due Monday, and paid $22 million in interest. But that still left it short nearly $370 million, and in default. Garcia said he had no choice but to suspend the debt payment to avoid cutting essential public services such as schools and medical care. The default was expected to trigger investor lawsuits, though Treasury Secretary Juan Zaragoza and Justice Secretary Cesar Miranda told The Associated Press before the news conference that none had been filed so far. It did not cause upheaval in U.S. financial markets, likely because the island's economic troubles have been known for years. Puerto Rican citizens have struggled through a decade of recession, cuts to public services, rising taxes and much higher unemployment than on the U.S. mainland, and it now stands at nearly 12 percent. Many on the island are anxious about the default, but agree there was little choice. "If they pay the debt, they are going to cut health care and that's what worries everybody," said 83-year-old Jose Ugarte as he sat with friends discussing the implications in a plaza in Old San Juan. "This is a debt that isn't ours. It belongs to (former governors) Luis Fortuno and Pedro Rossello. Let them pay it." But 24-year-old Vilmarie Galarza says she isn't so sure. "To me, it's bad because you have to pay," she said as she paused while taking photos in the plaza. Puerto Rico has been suffering through more than a decade of economic decline since Congress phased out tax cuts that had made the island a center for pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing. Garcia's predecessors, with the acquiescence of the island legislature, borrowed heavily to cover over budget deficits. The total debt of the island of some 3.5 million people is greater than any U.S. state except much more heavily populated California and New York. During the 2009-2013 term of Garcia's predecessor, former Gov. Luis Fortuno, some 30,000 public sector workers were laid off in an unsuccessful effort to get the budget under control. Asked if he was considering anything similar, Garcia said that would hurt families and would just ripple across the private sector as it has in the past. He said he would only cut the public payroll if ordered by a court. "It's a very complicated situation. We are navigating waters that no one has ever navigated," he said. "There's no map." A Hallandale woman is facing a number of charges after police say she made threats to kill and blow up Miami Beach Police officers. An arrest report states 39-year-old Johanna Garcia made phone calls and left several threatening messages on the Miami Beach Police internal affairs phone number last week. In the voicemails, Garcia reportedly threatened "I'm gonna kill you all" and said she was going to "blow you up" using expletives to refer to officers. Garcia is also accused of sending an email to Miami Beach's records manager on Sunday, April 17 saying "answer me or watch me blow u up, so u never forget my name!" A Facebook page which appears to belong to Garcia shows her holding two AK-47 assault rifles, police said. She was arrested Sunday and is facing numerous charges, including making written threats to kill or do bodily injury and making bomb threats. In court Monday, Garcia told the judge, "I am suing the state for being sexually assaulted and they don't want to investigate. That is the entire case here." In response to the "blow you up" allegations, Garcia defended herself in court, "I said 'blow up your phone' meaning, 'I'm gonna call you.'" Garcia had several outbursts in court Monday, with the officer eventually cutting off the microphone. On the fundraising website called, Fundly, Garcia wrote how she was raped by police officers. Back in 2009, she sued MBPD, arguing they did not seriously investigate her claim that several officers sexually assaulted her. Garcia was ordered held on $23,000 bond. It's not known if she has hired an attorney. News / National by Stephen Jakes Teachers at Zeda Primary School in Mutare were reportedly forced to contribute $1 towards independence.This was revealed by the Zimbabwe Peace Project which said that on 22 March 2016, in Mutare West Ward 10 at Zeda Primary, every teacher at theschool was ordered by Zanu-PF to pay US$1-00 each towards the Independence celebrations."The instructions were relayed through the school head who passed the message on to the teachers," ZPP reported. "The instruction has affected other schools in the ward including Nzvenga, Mafararikwa, Gwindingwi and Masharu. The instruction has come despite the economic hardships facing the generality of the population."ZPP said on 22 March 2016, at Lydia Chimonyo High School, Chimanimani West, teachers were forced to pay US$1 each towards the Independence Day celebrations by Zanu- PF local leadership."It is alleged that those who refused to pay were told to put that in writing. The majority of teachers complied due to fear," ZPP said."On 22 March 2016, Jane Nzanga (not real name), an MDC-T member of Dangamvura, was physically assaulted by Beaven Kakomwe, a Zanu-PF member. The actor and fellow party members were at a meeting when the victim passed through the venue of the meeting. The actor suspected that the victim was on a spying mission and went to her and began to assault her using clenched fists. The victim sustained a swollen face and broken wrist." The apartment shared by Stanley and Stella Kowalski in the Streetcar revival now open at St. Anns Warehouse sits on a constantly-in-motion turntableone probably not unlike the carousels real streetcars glide onto, when reversing direction. Streetcars may be liberating, because they take us away. But the one Gillian Anderson steps onto, as tragic Blanche DuBois in a stylized update of the Tennessee Williams classic, keeps turning and turning, and getting her nowhere. The smoldering star of TVs The X-Files and The Fall was Olivier Award-nominated for her work as the fading Southern beauty who pays an ill-fated visit to her sister and brother-in-law in New Orleans. Blanches foil, Stanley, here is played by an animal-like Ben Foster, who made his Broadway debut in 2013s Orphans. Aside from the set, this production (a co-effort by the Young Vic and Joshua Andrews) is notable for its modernities: the Kowalskis French Quarter apartment could be a sterile Williamsburg condo. Foster, with his tattoos and tank tops, wears cargo pants that might be from Old Navy; the band of his Under Armour boxer-briefs is exposed when the trousers come off. Not making the trip to the 21st century, however, is Anderson, in a performance rife with mid-20th century assumptions about politesse. Blanche retains a facade of courtliness that may not exist anymore, even among proud Southern families. Andersons interpretation strikes a note of dissonance with the other performances from this castit will surely be a polarizing point for audiences; I liked it. Inarguably, its almost as if she were in an entirely different play from the other performers. Andersons hair is lightened blonde from its usual auburn, lending her face a starkly washed-out appearance. Her Blanche is clearly a woman who has lost all she loved the most: her home, her social standing, her youth and beauty. By the plays devastating final scenes, she looks like a childs makeup-smeared Barbie doll. Foster, the 3:10 to Yuma and Alpha Dog actor, went full-on method for his characterization of the ape-like Stanley, watching YouTube videos of gorillas seeing themselves in mirrors, reports said. Rather than memorializing a simmering Marlon Brando, Foster creates a different Stanley, just a smart-alecky guy in a working class job. For chills in this 3-hour-plus staging, directed by Benedict Andrews (currently helming the film adaptation of David Harrowers Blackbird), theres no better moment than when Stanley slips into the kitchen as Blanche is telling Stella (the excellent Vanessa Kirby) how common she finds her spouse. Never aware Stanley is overhearing the discussion, Blanche steps backward so close to the combustible Foster that I was surprised she couldnt feel his breath on her neck. The two leads have a tantalizing and twisted chemistry. Impressive, as well, is Corey Johnsons Mitch, the articulate fella who hopes Blanche could be the woman to provide him companionship once his mother passes. Mitchs disappointment, when he learns truths about Blanches past, is expressed in a horrifying scene where he nearly smothers her with the full weight of his body. Because the set rotatesmostly, it crawls at about the speed of The View restaurant, atop the Marriott MarquisAndrews must ensure scenes are blocked so that audience members on all sides of the nifty turntable get their big moments with a character. There will be a few times your view is obstructed by a pillar or door (all walls have been removed). Supporting characters often yell from catwalks. Scene changes are noted with jarringly loud songs, among them Chris Isaaks Wicked Game and P.J. Harveys To Bring You My Love. This is an enjoyable interpretation of an American classic, unfrozen from its typical place in time. If Streetcar doesnt expose the emotional crises of its central characters, theres no point watching it. The sterile backdrop here does its job, with all that blankness forcing our attention onto the chaos being played out in its midst. A Streetcar Named Desire, through June 4 at St. Anns Warehouse, 45 Water Street, DUMBO. Tickets: $85 & up. Call 718-254-8779. Follow Robert Kahn on Twitter@RobertKahn A 7-year-old girl with autism was taken to the hospital with injuries Monday morning after she fell two stories from a Bronx apartment building, authorities said. The girl fell from the building on Andrews Avenue near West 183rd Street in University Heights at about 3:30 a.m. Monday, police said. The girl might have been chasing a cat on a fire escape when she fell, according to the NYPD. Authorities initially said that the girl fell four stories, but later said she was on a second-story fire escape when she fell. After lying on the ground for about 15 minutes, she was able to get up and knock on neighbor Sandra Crespo's door, but collapsed again soon after. Crespo told NBC 4 New York she had heard the impact of the girl's fall -- first hearing the knocking, and then groaning. "When I looked out the window, I saw her feet, I thought, 'oh, my God, it's a kid,'" she said. Crespo's 13-year-old son climbed through their first-floor window, she said. He saw the girl bleeding from her mouth, picked her up and brought her to safety. "She was limping a lot. So I just helped her walk a little bit, I put her on over my shoulders and make her walk better," said Daniel Castro. A family that lives in the neighborhood believes it was their cat Black she was chasing. "I can understand why she was trying to go, she loves kitties. She was probably trying to just rescue him," said young Destiny Matthews. The girl was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. She was alert and conscious, but bleeding from her injuries, police said. The girl's sister told NBC 4 New York said she has minor injuries. "She's OK, she's alive and breathing and everything," she said. No criminality is suspected. The building's superintendent claimed the fourth-floor fire window has a safety gate but police are investigating. "It shows how unsafe buildings can be. I do hope that the building can be made safer for kids," said Castro. A historic Manhattan cathedral was gutted in a blaze hours after its Serbian Orthodox parishioners celebrated Easter on Sunday The fire started Sunday evening and quickly engulfed the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava in the Flatiron District, the FDNY said. More than 700 parishioners had celebrated Easter earlier in the day and enjoyed a luncheon, but the cathedral was empty when the fire started. A building caretaker attempted to rush inside when he noticed the fire, but was turned back by the flames, fire officials said. He suffered from minor smoke inhalation. Five other people, including four firefighters, also had minor injuries, according to fire officials. Onlookers watched in horror as flames shot from stained glass windows. "It was apocalyptic. Very frightening. And it's a shame," said tourist Herman Tulp. Members of the Serbian community that worships at the church called the blaze heartbreaking. "It means the world to me and to see it [...] I was just here four hours ago for Easter," parishioner Jovana Djurdjevic said as she cried. Flames shooting from Cathedral of St. Sava on 25th in #NewYork. No word on injuries. pic.twitter.com/pGJRhrLbWO Bob Redell (@BobNBC) May 1, 2016 Witnessing a huge church fire in flatiron. Flames billowing out. Rood pouring the smoke. Completely engulfed. pic.twitter.com/8qJfgc2zcE Mollie Tavel (@MobileMollie) May 1, 2016 "This loss is epic. An epic tragedy," another parishioner said. A church priest, the Rev. Djokan Majstorovic, told The Associated Press that he felt like he was "in a nightmare" as he tried to get to the fire scene that was blocked off by firefighters. "This church brought everyone together, because although there are Serbian churches in New Jersey, this is like the only one in New York," Djurdjevic. "This is absolutely horrible. Absolutely horrible. My heart is completely broken." Fire officials said portions of the roof had collapsed and the structure was unstable and in danger of falling down. The fire continued to burn overnight and crews were still dousing hot spots throughout Monday morning. The blaze was fully extinguished by about 2 p.m. Investigators say the cause is still under investigation, but fire marshals are looking into whether candles might have been to blame. Three other Orthodox cathedrals burned the exact same day around the world -- one in Russia, two in Australia -- but police said there's no evidence they are linked. The fire is not thought to be suspicious in nature. "I just hope it was a candle left out, forgotten somehow," said parishioner Luka Vojdodich. "It was a very old church, it had a lot of wooden pews and carpet, very dry, so it probably went up in flames very quick." The cathedral, formerly known as Trinity Chapel, was designed in 1850 by architect Richard M. Upjohn in the Gothic Revival style. The chapel was an Episcopal Church for several decades until 1915, when the area became more commercial and parishioners decided to relocate. The Serbian Orthodox Church purchased the structure from the Episcopal Diocese in New York in 1943. The church, on West 25th Street was designated a New York City landmark in 1968. And despite the destruction, Vojdodich couldn't help notice Monday the flags out front remained intact. "The flag is still standing, which I think is pretty incredible," Vojdodich said. "I don't even know how that's even possible with all the blaze... That's the meaning I would like to give it." A Brooklyn man was surprised to find that his parked SUV had been moved and even more stunned when shown a video of how it was relocated: with a forklift. Henry Nahrwold says the unauthorized forklift ride, which occurred two weeks ago, caused about $2,600 in damage to his small SUV. "I felt violated," he said. "You just can't touch someone else's property." His vehicle was moved from a parking spot on South 3rd Street in Williamsburg and placed on the sidewalk next to a tree. Nahrwold said he had received no request to move his vehicle. A neighbor showed him a video of the forklift picking the SUV about two feet off the ground and moving it to the sidewalk. A company working on the redevelopment of the former Domino Sugar refinery site blames a subcontractor for damaging Nahrwold's SUV and told NBC 4 New York that Nahrwold will be compensated. Christian Vazquez hit a two-run homer over the Green Monster to break a seventh-inning tie Sunday night, sending the Boston Red Sox to an 8-7 victory over the New York Yankees and a three-game sweep of their archrivals. Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts each had three hits and Travis Shaw homered for Boston, which has won seven of eight to move into first place in the AL East. Alex Rodriguez homered for the third time in four games and added a two-run double for the Yankees, who have lost a season-high five in a row. David Price (4-0) earned the win despite allowing six runs and eight hits in seven innings. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his eighth save. Dellin Betances relieved Ivan Nova (1-1) with one on and two outs in the seventh, but Vazquez hit the first pitch over the left-field wall for his first homer of the year, and just the second of his major league career. Nathan Eovaldi, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Texas in his previous start, gave up hits to the first two batters on Sunday as the Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first. Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the third, then Boston took a 4-3 lead in the bottom half when Hanley Ramirez singled to score two runs before Shaw's single brought in David Ortiz. Rodriguez drove in two more runs in the fifth and then scored to make it 6-4 on Mark Teixeira's single. But Boston again answered, this time on Shaw's two-run homer that tied it 6-all. It stayed that way until Shaw singled off Nova with one out in the seventh. Brock Holt replaced Shaw on the bases with a fielder's choice, then Betances replaced Nova. Police are searching for the man who threw coffee on another man following an argument in Brooklyn. The suspect got into a dispute at Gourmet Deli on Bedford Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant on April 19. At some point during the argument, he allegedly tossed hot coffee on a 32-year-old man. The victim suffered burns to his chest, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. A driver was arrested after she allegedly ran down two children walking to school in New Jersey Monday morning and before fleeing the scene, according to police. The two kids were hit at 7:48 a.m in front of Our Lady of Victories School in Sayreville, according to police. A five-year-old boy sustained head injuries and a broken leg, while his 8-year-old brother suffered abrasions, police said. The boys were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, according to Capt. Glenn Skarzynski. They are expected to survive. The driver, 36-year-old Margaret Cheheli, allegedly drove off after hitting the children but was arrested a short time later, according to police. Skarzynski praised a mother who "whipped out her cell phone" to get a picture of fleeing car and a father who got a good look at the driver and identified her after her apprehension. Authorities are also looking into whether the driver was distracted. "Phones, radios, there's a lot of distractions, so one of the things that will have to be looked at is whether this driver had her on the verge of attention on the road," said Sayreville assemblyman John Wisniewski. Some children attending the school were shaken after seeing the chaos. "She's pretty emotional now, she's pretty scared," parent Milo Pawelczyk said of his 5-year-old daughter Kayla. "As soon as we pulled up, she saw the cop car and started crying and I had to tell her it would be OK," he said. "It was very hectic, lots of police and worried parents," said parent Dianna Ruiz. Additional police arrived around dismissal time Monday to reinforce the crossing guard in front of the school. Police said it's not normally a dangerous crossing, and even parents backed up that assessment. "Most people will stop, but some drivers, if they're in a hurry, they don't stop," said parent Rob Sekarak. Police say they play a sort of whack-a-mole game with speeders as they look for them: put enforcement in one place, and speeders pop up elsewhere in town. Cheheli faces several counts including aggravated assault, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving a serious injury, endangerment and evidence tampering. Authorities say Cheheli allegedly threw here keys after stopping the car. Attorney information for the woman wasn't immediately available. Campus police at Stony Brook University are searching for a suspect accused of groping a female graduate student. The woman told officers she was forcibly touched by the man on Saturday inside the Social and Behavioral Science building, police said. The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Miguel Angel Condori, police said. The university police department notified the campus community about the incident and deployed additional officers at various locations throughout the night. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact the campus police at 631-632-3333. Lehigh University Police told students to avoid Palmer Hall as police investigated a possible device in the dormitory for more than an hour Monday. The university police worked with Bethlehem firefighters to do "full search" of the dorm in the Centennial II Complex around noon Monday, said the campus' Twitter feed. [[377822891, C]] Police told students to avoid the entire Lower Centennial area until giving the all clear after 1 p.m., said students. No word yet on what, if anything, police found while searching the building. It was a Blue Cross Broad Street Run that one local couple will never forget and it had nothing to do with their time of the rain at Sundays 2016 race. Thats because Mike Dziura got down in the middle of Broad Street City Hall in the background and proposed to his girlfriend Paula Barg right in the middle of Broad Street as family and friends watched on both sides of the street. I had no idea, said Paula. All I knew was that I was upset with the weather, that my hair was ruined and I was really into my time so I kept looking down at my watch. The couple was on a 7:40 pace a short distance from their home along Locust Street when some of the signs along the way started to make sense including friends and family along the course calling ahead to the next people. Then Mike and a friend pulled a quick switch with Mikes best friend (also named Mike) right near City Hall. My fiance Mike gave him his sweatshirt and then (other Mike) gave him the ring, said Paula. They then made the turn back onto Broad Street and toward their home at Broad and Locust His family was on one side of the street so we ran to them and they told us that my family was actually on the other side of the street so were trying to cut across to get to them which was part of the plan and then in the middle he got down on one knee. [[377792061, C]] Philadelphia-based photographer Amanda Coe, strategically placed in the middle of Broad Street near Locust Street (about 6 miles into the 10-mile run) captured the moment Paula an expression of shock said yes. Video shot by Paulas family captures the proposal and the cheers of other fellow runners and elated family members some who ran halfway on the course and nearly got ran over in the process. After a kiss and hug, the newly engaged couple ran toward Paulas family tears in their eyes. Paula, who works at Comcast, says she kind of blacked out and doesnt remember exactly what Mike, who serves as an assistance principal at a Center City charter school, told her. Mike filled her in, he said, I love you more than anything and I would love to have the rest of my life by your side, something along those lines. The couple never did finish the race. It was very convenient to be able to stop the race at that point, said Paula. My family must think I was crazy for this, I even said I was going to finish but there was no way, I could barely walk and could have cared less. [[377726131, C]] So will they eventually get back on Broad Street? Paula and Michael often run together and that maybe sometime they will run the final four miles to the Navy Yard. Congrats to the couple. News / National by Stephen Jakes Mthwakazi Republic Party is today honouring the ex-Zipra cadre David Moyo popularly known as Sharp Soot for his wonderful fight against the colonial soldiers during the liberation struggle such that he became known by the enemy as a fight who can not miss.MRP spokesperson Mbonisi Gumbo said the party is excited to announce that on Monday 2 May 2016 will present goodies to Moyo a Zipra cadre popularly known as Sharp shoot, because of his shooting skill and prowess in the manner he fought the war during the liberation struggle even the former White Colonialists recognized him as a brave and a gallant son of the soil."In Kezi, Maphisa there is a Camp which was named David Camp after David Moyo by the Smith regime. The ceremony will be held at Emganwini," Gumbo said."Moyo was born in 1925, he joined Zapu at its formation in 1961 and was instrumental in the liberation struggle during his Youthful days, and he is also a brother to Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo who was a respected Zipra cadre as well," he said. "In the formation of Zipra, Sharp Shoot took part and played a pivotal role in recruitment and training of Zipra Forces Moyo was in the same trenches with Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma the current South African President, Zipra and Umkhonto weSizwe worked hand in hand during the Liberation struggle."He said Sharp shoot as he is affectionately known played a key role in the struggle of this country, but he is not being recognized by theZanu PF Regime probably because he is Ndebele person."We have officially invited Zipra Officials to attend the ceremony in honor of our Hero. Moyo doesn't know Zuma as President but as a Cde in arms, we realize that Zipra forces played a key role in the attainment of Zimbabwe's independence as former Ian Douglas Smith commander General Peter Walls acknowledged that if he could get an army like Zipra and umkhonto wesizwe he was going to conquer Africa from Cape to Cairo within a short space of time," he said. "But they are not recognized in this country. He never mentioned Zanla because they were not a force to reckon with. Moyo is still alive though he is now disabled after he lost his two legs during the struggle."He said but he is not living a befitting life like his counter parts from the Zanla side, he is struggling to make ends meet his situation is more dare considering his condition and age as he is now 91 years."Apart from the role Cde David Moyo popularly known as Sharp shooter played as a Zapu and Zipra official. He is now one of the Key Elders within Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), Sharp Shoot was with us even during the early days of the formation of MRP. We applaud him so much as our Hero and Cadre of repute at his age of 91," he said. "He has been so active and has been giving us the much needed wisdom and information as far as our true history is concerned. Cde Sharp Shoot is a strong advocate of Mthwakazi Restoration, for him the struggle continues. We are yet to achieve true independence as Mthwakazi people." Nearly three years after he was shot and nearly killed in the line of duty, Philadelphia Police Officer Edward Davies returned to work on Monday. Davies, now 43, was a six-year veteran working in North Philadelphia's rough-and-tumble 25th Police District in August 2013 when he was shot and wounded during a violent struggle inside a Feltonville corner store with a man who police said fled a car stop. On Monday, the Philadelphia Police Department shared on its Facebook page a picture of Davies with his son, who is holding up a sign that reads, "993 days later ... First day back to work!" Davies, a father of four, will be working in the Advanced Training Unit at the Police Academy, a department spokesperson said. Davies was shot during a violent confrontation with Eric Torres inside the Almonte Mini Mart at 4th and Annsbury streets the afternoon of Aug. 13, 2013. Police at the time said that Davies and Torres struggled over a stolen gun that Torres had been carrying, and that Torres managed to fire the .45-caliber Glock during the struggle, sending a bullet tearing through Davies' abdomen. The bullet badly damaged one of the officer's kidneys, forcing doctors to remove it, and severed an artery, causing him to lose a dangerous amount of blood. He underwent several surgeries as a result of his injuries, was placed into a medically induced coma and spent more than a month at Temple University Hospital. A jury found Torres guilty in March 2015 of aggravated assault, assault on a police officer and related offenses, but acquitted him on an attempted-murder charge, drawing ire from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 and Davies' fellow officers. Torres is now serving a 66- to 132-year sentence in state prison for the officer's shooting. In 2014, Davies received the police department's Valor Award for "exceptional bravery and disregard for personal safety." When he received the award, Davies told NBC10 that he hoped to "get 100 percent back to where I was before this happened." He added that his youngest son, Justin, helped him in his recovery. "He's my therapy every day," he said. Jury selection in the federal racketeering case against U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah is underway in Philadelphia, setting the stage for one of the most prominent trials of an area politician in a decade. Jury selection is underway in the federal corruption trial of 11-term Congressman Chaka Fattah. Defense attorney Enrique Latoison tells us what Fattahs attorneys will be looking for in a juror. Opening arguments are scheduled to begin May 16, and picking a jury could take several days. Various motions by both Fattah's defense and federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia are also expected between now and the beginning of the trial in two weeks. Fattah, 58, is charged with bribery, racketeering, money laundering, and other charges in an alleged scheme that dates back to a $1 million loan during his failed 2007 run for mayor. Four others, including a wealthy longtime political supporter, are also charged. The congressman, who hails from West Philadelphia and has represented the city-based 2nd Congressional District for 22 years, lost his re-election bid last Tuesday to state Rep. Dwight Evans. Jury selection got underway Monday in the trial of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., who is facing federal corruption charges. . Fattah is most known for his role in establishing a scholarship program for Philadelphia students called CORE, which provided thousands of scholarships to college. His son, Chaka Fattah Jr., was convicted in February for tax and bank fraud and sentenced to five years in prison. He was convicted on 22 of 23 federal charges that he filed false tax returns and stole from the Philadelphia School District. A memorial service was held for a 16-year-old girl who died following a fight with other girls at a Wilmington, Delaware high school. Loved ones of Amy Joyner-Francis offered their condolences to her family Sunday evening at St. Paul UAME Church in Wilmington. On April 21, Joyner-Francis was involved in a fight with at least two other girls in a first-floor womens bathroom inside Howard High School of Technology at the start of classes that day. After the fight, she complained about head and chest pain. A school resource officer called 911 and Joyner-Francis lost consciousness before medics arrived. CPR was performed as she was flown to a nearby children's hospital where she later died. An autopsy was performed, but the results haven't been released because the investigation is ongoing, the coroner said. Three girls who were considered persons of interest in the teens death were suspended by school officials but so far no charges have been filed. "These things take time," Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings said of the investigation. "We are not at a position at this time to file charges." The girl's death left the high school community reeling. Students held vigils and mourned their friend's death and parents flooded school officials with calls about student safety. The school held two nights of parent meetings to allay parent's fears. "It's very, very sad inside," said Wilmington mayoral candidate Steven Washington. "Everybody is hurting. The little kids, the high school students, there's a lot of them in there." Cummings did not say when police may wrap up the investigation, but assured the community that it would be thorough. During Sunday's memorial, friends, family and even strangers gathered to say goodbye. Were all hurting, said Marselino Candelaria, a family friend. For your daughter not to come home or your son not to come home because youre going to get an education and then nobodys been charged yet. Whats going on in Wilmington? All New Jersey public schools will be required to test for lead in their water supplies starting next school year. Gov. Chris Christie asked the legislature on Monday to authorize $10 million to pay for the testing, but will mandate it either way. In March, testing found elevated lead levels in school buildings in Newark. "I think its the right thing to do because theres a public concern about it," Christie said. The governor also announced the state is lowering its lead action level to match the standard set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The action will guarantee state aid to children with lower detectable levels of lead in their blood then previously. "Were going to lower it there so parents have absolutely no concern about the effect lead might have on their kid," the governor said. The governors announcement come one month after he steered $10 million toward ridding his states aging homes from lead paint. This March, the NBC10 Investigators exposed New Jersey diverting millions of dollars from its lead remediation fund to the states general fund. William Miller, IV, a political consultant who helped forge the campaigns of some of Philadelphias most prominent politicians, died at the age of 68 Saturday. Millers family confirmed he died at Abington Memorial Hospital of complications from a stroke. Born in West Philadelphia, Miller served in the United States Air Force and then received his Bachelors degree from St. Josephs University and his Masters Degree in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Miller spent over two decades working in Philadelphias city government in which he held several positions, including the Chief Deputy Register of Wills. He then founded Ross Associates, Inc. in 1981, a Philadelphia-based political consulting firm that directs electoral politics and campaigns. That same year he served under Philadelphia Mayor William J. Green as the architect and Executive Director of a Task Force which worked to increase minority hiring in the Philadelphia Police Department. In 1983 he was the political and field director for W. Wilson Goode, helping him become Philadelphias first African-American mayor. Miller was also the co-founder of former Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Caseys Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs, a founding board member of the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia, and the senior consultant to the Pennsylvania State Democratic Party. As the senior consultant, Miller became the first African-American to lead a state delegation to a national convention during the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. Among his other accomplishments, Miller was also appointed to the Tax Reform Commission in 2003 in which he researched ways to lower taxes and attract businesses to Philadelphia. In 2004 he created Philadelphia Forward, a nonprofit public policy advocacy organization, serving as the groups chairman until December, 2006. Miller also served on the Board of Directors of Allion Healthcare, Inc., Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. Miller is survived by a wife, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and two sisters. A viewing will be held for Miller Friday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Salem Baptist Church on 610 Summit Avenue in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. A funeral service will immediately follow at the church. A New Jersey Institute of Technology student was fatally shot at his Newark fraternity house during a robbery early Monday morning, police say. Shots were fired in a robbery attempt at about 3:30 a.m. at the Tau Kappa Epsilon house on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, police said. The victim, 23-year-old Joseph Micalizzi, was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Micalizzi studied mechanical engineering and graduated from Freehold Township High School in 2011. His best friend from high school, Tyler Gdovian, said that last time he talked to Micalizzi he mentioned not feeling safe at the frat house. Micalizzi told his friend he had been robbed twice that semester. "No one wants to hear this news," Gdovian said. NJIT said that it was "saddened" by the death and that the school is extending thoughts and prayers to Micalizzi's family and friends. The national organization that oversees the TKE chapter at NJIT likewise said it was saddened by the shooting. Streets surrounding the fraternity house were cordoned off Monday morning as police investigated. Students said they woke up Monday to an email alert about the killing. One, junior Asad Ahmed, said he's now worried about his safety. "I can't even walk around the block," he said. "That's how scary this is now." It's the second fatal shooting in Newark involving a college student in the last month. On April 10, Rutgers University - Newark student Shani Patel was shot and killed at his off-campus apartment. Marcus Feliz, 25, was arrested in the Toms River 21-year-old's death. Authorities and the college are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in Micalizzi's death. Anyone with information should call the Essex County Prosecutor's Office at 1-877-TIPS-4-EC. A teenager with just four fingers gained so much attention online for his talent on the piano that he was invited by a renowned international pianist to play at Manhattan's iconic Carnegie Hall. Darrius Simmons, a 15-year-old from Warren, Ohio, was born with three fingers on his right hand and one finger on his left, and no bones below both knees. He taught himself to play the piano at 10 years old when his grandfather introduced him to the instrument, he told NBC 4 New York, and learned to make his prosthetic legs press the right pedal. Recently, Simmons began posting videos of himself playing onto Facebook, and they got the attention of Korean pianist Yiruma, who was about to perform at Carnegie Hall on April 22 as part of his first North American tour, the boy said. "He saw it and invited me to play with him," Simmons told NBC 4 New York over the phone. Yiruma told Simmons during their first meeting, "All those determination and all that, I learn from you, really," reports Ohio news station WFMJ, which followed Simmons to New York for his performance. "I have so many things that can be learned from you." "It's just amazing. How can you do that? All those jumps, you must find it really difficult?" said Yiruma after watching the teen play in person. Simmons replied, "It's not that difficult to me, honestly." New York concertgoer Kirk Aleman told WFMJ that Simmons' performance "blew me out of the water." "It was very exciting," Simmons told NBC 4 New York of playing at the storied venue last Friday. Simmons said he learned to play the piano simply by listening to music and mimicking the notes on the keys. "I listen to a lot of songs repetitively, over and over, and I guess by doing that, I developed an ear. I can play a lot of music by ear," he said. His mother said her son has never been inhibited by not having 10 fingers. She said he's been playing instruments at home, at church and at school. Now that Yiruma has advised Simmons to start working on his own music, "I'm really going to take what he said to heart and compose my own stuff," he told WFMJ. Two men are being held in Hawaii in the killing of a former Encinitas resident who lived in Maui, Maui police confirmed. Maui police arrested Healohaomakanaamekai Akahi Pua, 24, Saturday in the death of Michael Colby, a 39-year-old artist described by friends as an amazing painter. Pua, charged with second-degree murder, was being held on $1 million bail. A 16-year-old male was arrested on Friday by Maui police and turned over to the Sheriffs Department. Colby moved from Encinitas five years ago and enjoyed painting around the island. A beach goer discovered his body on March 18 in the area of Kaa Point, just west of Kanaha Beach. Colbys friends raised money to hold memorial tributes to Colby in Maui and Encinitas. This years annual Breath of Hope walk was dedicated to Craig Blower, the Chief Operating Officer at Balboa Parks Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for more than 15 years. Blower passed away two weeks ago from lung cancer. Hundreds of people came out to Cancer Survivors Park at Spanish Landing for UC San Diego's annual 5K, which helps raise money for lung cancer research and supports people living with the disease. Every year the "Breath of Hope" walk funds at least one clinical trial at UCSD's Moore's Cancer Center. "This is my mom's legacy, Rebeca Enriquez, the "Breath of Hope" Chair told NBC 7. This is what I get to be a part of to honor her every year, her doctors, her nurses, the people who supported us and brought us chemo dinners, the people who gave us a community. Eight years ago Enriquez, along with her mother Maria and several other patients, started the walk. Maria Enriquez, who never smoked, passed away in 2013. Blower, who was diagnosed in 2013, kept an online blog of his journey through the disease. He often used humor to deal with the diagnosis with posts such as To Benign or Not to Benign: No Longer the Question, and another Can a Mole Get a Sunburn? I have two options: focus on the positive or the negative. The negative doesnt do me or anybody else any good, so Id rather stay on the positive side as much as possible and hope thats forever, said Blower in an interview with NBC 7 two years ago. Blower, who never smoked a day in his life, lived in Scripps Ranch and volunteered every Wednesday at Rady Children's Hospital for 25 years. He will be remembered Sunday at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. More than a thousand people are expected to attend the ceremony. NBC 7 was the exclusive sponsor of the Breath of Hope" walk. News / National by Stephen Jakes ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have said they stand in solidarity with workers of Zimbabwe in commemorating International Workers' Day on 1 May 2016.ZLHR says it salutes all courageous working women and men who have sacrificed so much to promote and defend the right to a dignified life free from poverty, a living wage, social justice and human rights for all, regardless of socio-economic status or privilege.International Workers' Day is a day full of history and symbolism for workers' solidarity and the struggle for decent working conditions, and is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of workers in the social and economic spheres."In Zimbabwe, it is dismaying that for those who are still engaged in formal employment, this year's International Workers' Day commemorations is another difficult day on which they continue to grapple with grinding poverty, slave wages in much of the public and private sector, and continued assaults on their fundamental rights and freedoms," said the ZLHR."This is so despite the hollow claims that Zimbabwe has enjoyed 36 years of independence from its oppressors. It is terrifying that a country which was once prospering and even considered the bread basket of southern Africa, can sink to such low levels where workers who were gainfully employed have been left without jobs as a result of forced retrenchments occasioned by massive closure of companies."ZLHR said those workers who are fortunate to be employed in the private and public sector continue to earn slave wages that do not allow them and their families to live above the poverty datum line, while unemployment and inequality is increasing at a shocking pace."Sadly, the government and employers in private enterprise have turned their backs on the working people. The promise that was delivered to Zimbabweans in 2013 of creating 2.2 million jobs has remained a fallacy and a crowd-pleasing pre-election sweetener," ZLHR said."Workers in both the public and private sector have had to endure slashed and delayed salaries while some identified and unidentified heavy weights in the corporate, and indeed some government entities have abused their position, to unjustly enrich themselves."The organisations said while Zimbabwe's constitution now guarantees some key provisions, social and economic rights violations continue on the increase, with more cases being attended to by organisations such as ZLHR since May 2015."Of great concern are violations of the rights to shelter, which has been by far, the biggest challenge from the legal and socio-political perspective as forced demolition of houses and informal sector trading stalls continue. As a result, workers and their families have been left displaced and had their property and livelihoods destroyed," said the ZLHR."With most workers condemned to informal sector trading, it is worrying that those eking out a living by way of informal employment are always at the mercy of government. The never-ending economic decline continues to result in growing formal unemployment and increased informal trading, which the government has attempted to formalise with various challenges, including disrespect for constitutional protections."The ZLHR said these populations are at risk of repression and political manipulation."Running battles continue to be experienced between informal sector traders and the municipal police and ZLHR regrets that at times the action taken by authorities has been arbitrary leading to loss of wares by the informal traders even when the law is clear on how confiscated goods must be dealt with.While the new Constitution has some provisions which protect labour rights, freedom to demonstrate and petition and the right to collective job action and collective bargaining, it is saddening to note that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), a police service sworn to work for the protection of the populace continues to disregard workers' rights through attempting to suppress their legitimate activities in cases where they are not legally mandated to intervene," said the organisation."To prove their unrepentant nature, some members of the ZRP continue to deny workers and other citizens the right to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed and recognised fundamental rights and freedoms of association and assembly.Just in January, police in Harare suppressed a protest organised by Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe while in August 2015, ZRP prohibited the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) from staging street protests over the massive job losses in a move which exposed high levels of paranoia by state security functionaries."ZLHR said the unilateral actions by the police are contemptuous of commitments in the new Constitution, which ensures freedom of assembly, association and freedom to demonstrate and petition."We are perturbed that the police seem not to learn, even after ZLHR has on numerous occasions in recent years fought on behalf of the ZCTU and labour union leaders to secure one court order after another nullifying the ZRP's unlawful use of the offensive Public Order and Security Act to stop workers' union activities," said ZLHR."We reiterate that ZRP should desist from prying into, and destabilising, labour union activities as the police have no business in trade union work. On the remuneration front, ZLHR is disheartened that both private and public sector workers continue to receive slave wages despite endless promises by politicians to review and improve their torrid working conditions, while at some state-run institutions such as National Railways of Zimbabwe and Grain Marketing Board, protests in demand of payment of their outstanding wages and salaries continue to be disregarded."The organisation said it is lamentable that, while workers who have been condemned to slave wages struggle to survive, some privileged people in government, who are enjoying lavish lifestyles, have elected to be blind to the workers' plight because they are covered by the unfair salary structures and the allowances they amass from sometimes superfluous foreign jaunts and other questionable activities including the opaque accounting for the country's mineral wealth."From the unsolicited and shocking disclosures revealing that Zimbabwe could have lost $15 billion in potential diamond revenue, ZLHR calls upon Parliament to launch a probe into the authenticity of such a scandalous revelation and take appropriate remedies in line with its mandate," ZLHR said."The government must end its insensitivity towards workers, implement labour law reforms and the recommendations of the International Labour Organisation's Commission of Enquiry Report on violations of trade union rights, and reduce the high levels of income tax that are a millstone on beleaguered workers of Zimbabwe."ZLHR also called upon all employers and the government to respond to the workers' plight by paying all workers a minimum wage above the PDL, and improving their working conditions including access to life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs and functional health facilities."To us responsibility for the failure to remunerate workers with Poverty Datum Line (PDL) linked salaries and improve their working conditions lies squarely and fully on the shoulders of the government, which has proven that almost three years after presiding over the state of the country's affairs since the last election, it is simply unconcerned with the challenges faced by workers and those outside their ivory towers," said ZLHR."ZLHR remains fully committed to promoting, protecting and defending workers' rights and we stand together with the working and unemployed masses in Zimbabwe in calling for a better and more dignified life for all." Joan Klinke waved the American flag for her 97-year-old husband before his flight landed at the San Diego Airport Sunday. Hundreds of family and friends waited for 76, mostly World War II, veterans on the Honor Flight. The vets returned from Washington, DC after visiting the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and other memorials with Honor Flight San Diego, a non-profit branch of the nationwide Honor Flight Network. Klinke, festively sporting two American flags on her head, has been married to her former WWII pilot for 74 years. Our mom followed him through all the basic training and its just a beautiful story of love, one of Klinkes daughters said. Their father, Ray, was shot down over a German prison camp and held there as a prisoner of war, his other daughter explained. The day my dad was shot down was the day she came home with my brother, the one that [accompanied their father] on the trip, her daughter said. Whatever they say is true, Klinke laughed. Sharon Kocaya and her sister Jane Muntz traveled with their 92-year-old father who served in the Army in the Pacific during WWII on the cross-country trip. The experience is something we wish everyone could experience, Muntz said. Its amazing to be with all these seniors that have had such experiences that we will never know. Private First Class Adam Ballard also waited for his father who served in the Navy in the Vietnam War. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1970 from President Nixon after he fearlessly threw himself upon a lethal hand grenade to save Marines, Ballard said. Fortunately for him the hand grenade didnt go off until after hed thrown it away. Ballard said his father is one of the reasons he joined the Marine Corps himself. Fred Warner served in the Navy in Guadalcanal. I heard about this Honor Flight, and they called me and they treated me like a king. Thats the most wonderful thing Ive ever seen. It was a wonderful weekend. I enjoyed it. ..I cannot believe this crowd. There was a crowd in Washington, DC that couldnt compare with this crowd. I so appreciate it. All my girls are here, my daughter, Warner said getting emotional. It means the whole world to me. I thought everybody forgot about us World War II veterans. Not many of us left. Sheriff's investigators say a man randomly stabbed while walking home alone in Fallbrook in January was a hate crime, and three men now behind bars attacked him because of the color of his skin. Hugh Pettigrew, 33, died on Feb. 9 after succumbing to stabbing wounds suffered on Jan. 22, San Diego County Sheriff's investigators said. Kevin Garcia, Tyler Dean and Ryan Valdez were charged with murder, criminal gang acitivity and hate crime Monday, San Diego Sheriff's deputies (SDSO) announced Monday. Garcia and Dean were in custody on unrelated charges and were rebooked. Valdez was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility. You had three individuals that are known documented gang members that are out on the street late at night they see this individual walking down the street late at night again, based on part of their motive, would have been the race of Mr. Pettigrew and decided to attack him," said SDSO Lt. Kenneth Nelson. The arrests come after months of uncertainty for family members and friends, who pleaded for answer's in their loved one's death. Sheriff's investigators say the 33-year-old man was walking home along the 400 block of Ammunition Road in Fallbrook on Jan. 22 when he was stabbed multiple times. Investigators say the wounded man was able to stumble to his nearby home where he collapsed. SDSO detectives were investigating the death for months. Part of that investigation, they said, was surveillance video from nearby businesses that shows three men--believed to be in their late teens or early twenties--wanted in connection with Pettigrew's murder. Nelson said he believes the three people seen on the surveillance tape are, in fact, the people they arrested. He said there was a myriad of evidence, including witness statements and forensic evidence, and it took a while to put all the pieces together. In the surveillance video, the men are seen exiting a red, 1997 Honda Civic, driven by a woman who parked in an Albertson's parking lot. Homicide detectives say the trio of men headed to the side of the grocery store toward the area where Pettigrew was stabbed around 10:45 p.m. Pettigrew died from his injuries nearly three weeks after the attack. Family members and friends previously told NBC 7 the death was a tragedy, but they were thankful they knew him. He got me through a lot of stuff in life, Sherry Weevie said of her friend through her tears. "Weevie still remembers the dance moves Pettigrew taught her to do whenever she was feeling bad. He looked out for everybody and made sure everybody was okay, friend Sonya Menard recalled. That's why it kind of hurt, I felt like nobody was there for him in his time of need." Lot owners say theyre unhappy with Mount Olivet Cemeterys board of directors after it refused to answer questions following the News4 I-Teams investigation into the cemeterys finances. When you buy a gravesite at the cemetery in Frederick, Maryland, you become a lot owner, and almost two dozen of them showed up demanding answers at the cemeterys first board meeting since a News4 I-Team investigation raised questions about the cemeterys finances. The key issue is to have all records opened up, Carl Thomas, who buried his wife at Mount Olivet in December, told the I-Team during the meeting. To see where money has been spent for non-cemetery use, basically what you reported on." Another lot owner, and former board member, Joe Shelton told the I-Team most of his family was buried at the cemetery. I'm very dedicated to this cemetery, growing up here in Frederick, he said. If it's still mismanaged and a lot of illegal things continue to go on, they're going to bankrupt this cemetery. Media were not allowed inside the chapel used for the meeting. But just before he went inside, Shelton told the I-Team he already filed a criminal complaint with the Frederick City Police Department and Frederick County States Attorney J. Charles Smith after watching how the I-Team pieced together receipts showing questionable spending by the cemeterys Assistant Superintendent Rick Reeder and his stepfather, Superintendent Ron Pearcey. The Frederick City Police Department and the state's attorney both confirmed to the I-Team they launched a formal investigation. Pearcey and Reeder declined to comment as they left the meeting. Unfortunately those who listen to one side of this story may have a preconceived opinion, their lawyer, Dan Loftus, who also represents Mount Olivets board of directors, later told the I-Team. Acknowledging, of course, that we've reached out multiple times to try and get that other side of the story from everyone involved, but we've been told they're not going to make a comment, I-Team reporter Tisha Thompson responded. Well, I still can't make a comment because, you appreciate this, Tisha, I can't talk about something that is a personnel issue, Loftus said. The board could not answer some of the questions brought up by lot owners during the meeting, citing the ongoing investigation, Loftus said. He previously told the I-Team the board took prompt and appropriate action when it investigated the two men but does not wish to discuss its actions publicly. We'll restore the trust, there're no questions about it," Board member Tim Horman then said. But several lot owners, including Thomas, say the board didn't answer any of their questions during the meeting. I'm disgusted, I'm annoyed, I'm mad, Thomas said. I'm at the point now where I will be contacting the State's Attorneys Office. I tried to do this on their terms. They don't want to do it on their terms, so I'm going to deal with it on mine." Reported by Tisha Thompson, produced by Rick Yarborough, shot by Jeff Piper and Steve Jones, and edited by Jeff Piper. Amtrak says two of its trains that travel between Pittsburgh and Washington are being affected by the CSX derailment over the weekend. Amtrak said in a statement Monday that its Capitol Limited train, which runs daily between Washington and Chicago, won't run between Pittsburgh and the District of Columbia. Amtrak will be busing passengers to and from Pittsburgh to complete their journeys. On a normal day, Amtrak has one Capitol Limited train that runs from Washington to Chicago and another that runs from Chicago to Washington. Amtrak's train 29 leaves Washington around 4 p.m. for Chicago and its train 30 leaves Chicago around 6:45 p.m. for the District of Columbia. Amtrak says Monday's train 29 will begin in Pittsburgh, not Washington, and its train 30 will stop in Pittsburgh and not continue to Washington. The suspect who police say killed a pregnant Montgomery County school bus driver is now facing a first-degree murder charge in her death. Thierry Kinshala Nkusu, 33, was previously charged with second-degree murder in the death of 36-year-old Maria Veronica Mbunga. The charge against him was upgraded Monday; he was also ordered held without bond. Takoma Park police announced Nkusu's arrest Thursday, a day after Mbunga was found suffering from multiple stab wounds inside her Houston Avenue apartment. Police said they found Nkusu by an elevator near the lobby; he also had a stab wound. He was taken to the hospital along with Mbunga, but police soon learned his wound was superficial and did not match the story he told officers. Nkusu was later transported from the hospital and taken into custody. Mbunga and her unborn child died at the hospital. Investigators have not commented on the relationship between the two. Police say the investigation into her death is ongoing. Mbunga worked for the Montgomery County Public School Transportation System as a bus driver. Nkusu is scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 27 in Rockville District Court. MARC passengers should expect "major service disruptions" on the Brunswick Line Monday after a CSX freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in D.C., the Maryland Transit Administration says. The Brunswick Line is currently blocked between Union Station and Silver Spring due to the derailment, according to MTA. The Brunswick Line will operate on a very limited service. The following Brunswick Line trains are the only trains that will operate Monday morning. All three trains will make all stops and terminate at Silver Spring. Passengers continuing to Washington may transfer to Metro at Rockville or Silver Spring: Train 892 (6:05am departure from Frederick) Train 878 (6:25am departure from Martinsburg) Train 880 (7:45am departure from Brunswick) The following Brunswick Line trains are the only trains that will operate in evening service on Monday. All three trains will originate at Silver Spring and make all stops: Train 875 It will depart Silver Spring at 4:39pm. Train 893 It will depart Silver Spring at 5:34pm. Train 881 It will hold 30 minutes and depart Silver Spring at 7:04pm. This train will terminate in Brunswick; EPTA buses will meet the train at Brunswick for service to Harpers Ferry, Duffields, and Martinsburg. CSX crews are expected to work overnight to clean up the chemicals spilled after the 175-car train derailed near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station in D.C. Fourteen of the train cars went off the tracks and three of those cars leaked chemicals includng sodium hydroxide, a calcium chloride solution and ethanol. All leaks have been sealed, CSX said. CSX did not have a timeline for how soon the chemicals would be cleaned from the area or how long it would take to move the trains from the tracks. MARC said Brunswick Line passengers should consider alternate options for Monday's commute. Those options include: Metro: Passengers can show MARC tickets to the Metrorail station managers to enter the station. Metro parking charges, however, are not included and must be paid upon exiting the parking lot. Reimbursement is not provided. MTA Commuter Bus is working to add additional buses to the 505 and 515 lines. All MARC tickets will be honored on both routes. These buses operate from Hagerstown, Frederick and Monocacy to Shady Grove Metro. Passengers boarding at Germantown and points east may utilize Ride-On bus service to connect to Washington Metro. Ride-On buses honor all MARC weekly and monthly passes. Amtrak's Capital Limited service, which runs between D.C. and Chicago, also operates on the tracks and is unavailable. Service on Metro's Red Line was suspended between NoMa and Brookland stations Sunday. Metro expects service to resume Monday at 5 a.m. The mother and housemate of a slain 20-year-old University of Mary Washington student gave dramatic testimony as the trial of her accused killer began Monday. Steve Briel is charged with the April 17, 2015, slaying of Grace Mann in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, strangulation and abduction. Police say Briel, a part-time student at Mary Washington, strangled Mann to death in the home they shared with two other women near campus. He was still in the house when the two other housemates came home and discovered Mann's body. Melissa Mann and many in the courtroom were in tears as she testified about getting the call about her daughter's death. "I was pretty hysterical," she said. "I just kept saying, 'She's dead?'" Holly Aleksonis and another housemate returned home to find Briel drenched with sweat and speaking very quickly. Aleksonis testified he stood before a closed bedroom door and said, "Grace and I got in an altercation. She hit me so I had to defend myself ... She bit me. What would you do if she weren't here anymore?'" Aleksonis opened the door and saw her purple comforter on the floor. "I pulled the comforter off," Aleksonis testified, "and Grace was there with a plastic bag over her head. I pulled it off and screamed and ran from the room." As many in the courtroom sobbed, prosecutors played the 911 call from Aleksonis that day. She was so distraught, the dispatcher had trouble getting information until Aleksonis finally shouted, "My roommate strangled her!" Last year, Briel's attorney said an insanity defense would be used for his murder trial. The attorney will try to show his client suffered from severe mental illness and was insane at the time of the crime. In the defense's opening statment, Briel's attorneys said their expert psychiatrist found Briel suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and last April imagined there was a global conspiracy and became convinced Mann was somehow a threat to him. One night while texting with his mother, she told him to calm down and say Hail Marys and he texted back, "So it's Hail Mary Full of GRACE," the defense said. Briel's mother was the first person he texted after the homicide, writing, "I've made a MESS What should I do? Run?" To which Briel's mother replied, "Yes, get out of the there." Briel changed his clothers and shaved his face before leaving, which prosecutors argued is not the act of someone who is insane. Prosecutor LaBravia Jenkins told jurors she'll counter that theory. "What they are going to try to convince you is he was sane, then he was insane for 30 minutes, then he was fine," she said. "I suggest to you that's ludicrous." Mann's female housemates said Briel behaved strangely just before they came home. One of the women said she received a text message from Briel asking when she and another roommate would be home. He allegedly wrote, "I was in [victim's roommate]'s room and I made a mess." When the women arrived at the home, they found the door to that bedroom closed. The two knocked, and a sweaty, fast-talking Briel emerged. The women then described finding Mann's body under a purple comforter; a plastic grocery bag was over her head, and several were stuffed into her mouth. One of the roommates testified that in the days leading up to Mann's death, Briel sent an insistent text message asking for a blanket back. Mann was a well-known activist on campus and helped lead a group known as Feminists United. The exact motive in the case remains unclear, but many have tried to link Mann's killing to her involvement in the group. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education launched a civil rights investigation into the university. Feminists United said that some of its members -- including Mann -- had been threatened on the social media site Yik Yak, and that the university didn't do enough to investigate the threats. Yik Yak allows users to remain anonymous and is popular on college campuses. Mary Washington President Richard V. Hurley has said there is no evidence to support that Mann's killing was linked to the social media attacks. A man driving the wrong way on the inner loop of the Capital Beltway was killed when he struck another vehicle in Fairfax County, Virginia, early Monday morning. Virginia State police say they got a call at 1:35 a.m. Monday about a wrong-way driver in the westbound lanes of I-495 near Eisenhower Avenue. Within minutes, before officers had arrived, another caller reported that the wrong-way driver had collided with another vehicle. Police believe the man was driving 65 mph when he struck a Chevrolet Tahoe head-on. The axle from the wrong-way driver's Honda CR-V struck a third vehicle, a Dodge Caravan, police said. The wrong-way driver has been identified as Francisco Taveres, 37, of the Bronx, New York, Virginia State Police said. Taveres, the only occupant of the Honda CR-V, died at the scene. Three other people -- the driver and a passenger from the Tahoe and the driver of the Caravan -- were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said Tuesday afternoon that the cause of the crash remained under investigation. This story has been updated. What to Know The NTSB said Metro's deadly 2015 smoke incident was probably caused by "a prolonged short circuit that consumed power system components." On Jan. 12, 2015, many riders, including Carol Glover, 61, were stranded when their Yellow Line train stopped in the tunnel. Glover died. The NTSB also found that Metro routinely used trains filled with passengers to look for sources of smoke -- a claim Metro is disputing. The Washington, D.C. Metro often used trains filled with passengers to look for sources of smoke or fire, according to a revelation at a federal safety hearing Tuesday on a 2015 incident that killed an Alexandria woman. It's a claim that Metro is now disputing but earlier Tuesday, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said the practice is no longer in place. Wiedefeld said he didn't know whether such an action was performed Jan. 12, 2015, the day that 61-year-old Carol Glover died and scores of others were sickened when smoke filled a Metro tunnel and trains near L'Enfant Plaza. Wiedefeld said trains with passengers aboard are no longer sent to check out smoke or fire, but an empty train may be sent. Wiedefeld, who took over Metro in November, said he didn't know when the practice had changed. Later, Metro disputed the finding from the National Transportation Safety Board. But the NTSB said it was a common practice at Metro an action the agency called "reprehensible." Metro is now disputing that trains full of passengers were ever sent toward smoke/fire incidents #wmata @nbcwashington Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) May 3, 2016 "[The] investigation found that it was common practice to use trains with passengers to investigate reports of fire or smoke instead of stopping all trains and using a qualified person to follow up on a report," the NTSB said during Tuesday's hearing. A Metro source said the Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC) tells the train operator to perform a "track inspection," usually with passengers on board. With that process, if the train happens to come across a fire, or other hazard in the tunnel, it's too late to perform a reverse. Wow - NTSB found that Metro often used trains w/ passengers on board to pinpoint source of smoke #wmata @nbcwashington Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) May 3, 2016 On Jan. 12, 2015, an electrical malfunction caused a Metro tunnel to fill with thick, black smoke and stranded many riders, including Glover, when their Yellow Line train stopped in the tunnel. Glover died of acute respiratory failure due to smoke exposure. During Tuesday's hearing, the NTSB also released the probable cause of the deadly incident: "a prolonged short circuit that consumed power system components resulting from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) ineffective inspection and maintenance practices." The hearing comes with a familiar line from the NTSB: that safety is not a big enough priority at Metro. Transportation Reporter Adam Tuss has a preview of what the agency plans to say in a hearing tomorrow. The NTSB said Tuesday that whatever could have gone wrong that afternoon did go wrong. If Metro had followed the proper procedures to stop all trains at the first report of smoke, the NTSB said, the train never would have gotten stuck in the tunnel. Instead, 15 minutes elapsed from time that Metro initially reported smoke until the time a call for emergency assistance was made. As time went on, power failed. The NTSB said Tuesday the problems that led to the deadly incident were caused by senior management's failure to proactively deal with "foreseeable safety risks," as well as the "inadequate oversight" of the Tri-State Oversight Committee and the Federal Transit Administration. The NTSB said a strong oversight group is needed to force Metro to make safety its top priority. NTSB Chairman Christopher A. Hart said Metro focuses on safety after an incident, but then takes its eye off the ball. Hart has confidence in the new leadership at Metro, he said Tuesday. During the hours-long hearing, the NTSB issued a list of 43 findings that it says led to the the deadly L'Enfant Plaza incident including improperly secured and covered power cables, water problems, poor training and lack of procedures and proper maintenance. The NTSB said both the tunnel fans during the L'Enfant incident were in "pull" mode, therefore drawing smoke toward the station and over the train. The NTSB also found fault with the distance between smoke detectors during the L'Enfant incident: 2,000 feet, or more than half a football field. Metro needs more smoke detectors, the NTSB said. Glover's family has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Metro, accusing the transit agency of negligence. Patrick Regan, an attorney representing Glover's family, said in everything he's studied about the accident, Metro simply wasn't taking care of its system. "That's absolutely at the top of the list to see just what preventive maintenance they've been doing," Regan said. "Apparently from what we've been told by our experts, they were just ignoring it. They weren't doing any preventative maintenance." "Carol was the heart of that whole entire family," Regan said. "She was a mother, a daughter, a grandmother and a sibling." The lawsuit in federal court was unable to move forward until a cause of the incident was determined, which the NTSB released during Tuesday's hearing. This is the 13th NTSB investigation of a safety incident on Metro and the ninth since 2004. News / National by Stephen Jakes Members of the Zimbabwe National Army have been accused of harassing and assaulting Kariba villagers recently.This was revealed by the Zimbabwe Peace Project in its monthly report.ZPP reported that on 30 March 2016, members of the Zimbabwe National Army from the Wafawafa Training Centre in Chirara, Kariba intimidated people in public places such as beer halls and streets."On the said date they assaulted people in Nyamhunga 2 in Gadzi Road. One of the people who fell victim to the assaults was Henry Musore (not real name). Musore is a young man who already had an existing eye disorder. He had cataract in one eye and so relied on a single eye to see. He resides in Nyamhunga 2 and was brutally assaulted by soldiers who were moving in a white army truck," reads the report. "It is believed to be an issue of mistaken identity. Three army personnel who spoke isiNdebele asked Musore if he was a driver of a commuter omnibus (kombi) who had on some previous occasion taken the possessions of some fellow soldiers who had failed to pay for the ride they were given by the Kombi."ZPP said Musore, who has the same name as the Kombi driver the soldiers were looking for, said he was not a kombi driver but an engineer."But still the soldiers forcibly dragged Musore to some water tanks behind Nyamhunga beerhall where they punched him with fists and a weapon they reportedly alternated in using believed to be an iron bar. More soldiers came to join their colleagues in the assault such that there ended up being 11 soldiers kicking and beating Musore," reads the report. "They left him for dead. His face is said to have been scarred by the military boots that stepped on his face resulting in him losing sight even in the eye that had previously been working well. He also sustained injuries on his back, arms and fingers. Musore sought medical services for the injuries through the assistance of Counselling Services Unit."ZPP said police were notified but nothing has been done to bring the culprits to account."ZPP spoke to Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera who said he would get back to the organisation, but did not. Subsequent calls to follow up further with Kohwera went unanswered," reads the report.. Police in Rowley, Massachusetts, have issued an arrest warrant for an unnamed 16-year-old boy in connection with a shooting near a shopping plaza on Sunday afternoon. According to the Daily News, the suspect is a Rowley resident who is known to police. Police officials wouldn't release the suspect's name because he is a juvenile. The Union Leader reported that police were searching for the Rowley shooting suspect on Monday morning in the area of Harriman Hill Road in Raymond, New Hampshire. The suspect was not found and remains on the loose. Raymond Police said they were following up on information received from the Rowley investigation. They said there is no danger to residents. The shooting was reported around 5:15 p.m. Sunday behind the shopping center at 225 Newburyport Turnpike. While police were searching the area, a man approached them and said he'd been shot in the leg. The victim received treatment at a nearby hospital and has been released. Around that same time, another man entered the Rowley Police Station reporting that someone had shot at him in the area of the shopping center. The second man was not hit. Officials do not think the shooting was random. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Rowley Police Department at 978-948-7644. A young woman, Allison Warmuth, was killed when the motorized scooter she was driving Saturday afternoon collided with a duck boat on Beacon Hill. Warmuth's employer, American International Group, confirmed her identity and said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague Allison Warmuth. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Allison's family and all who were closest to her." The male passenger on the scooter only suffered minor injuries and no one on the tour was injured. Police are still investigating the accident, but so far no charges have been brought against the tour driver. In the last five years there have been several deadly duck boat accidents across the country, but this is a first for the Boston company that started tours in the city. Should duck boats be banned in Boston? [CLICK HERE to vote if you are using the necn app] Attorney Robert Mongeluzzi says it's a tragedy that could have been avoided and he's asking duck boats be banned across the country. "This proves again that duck boats are dangerous on land and on water," he said. Mongeluzzi represented the families of victims in two deadly accidents in Philadelphia. In 2010, two tourists drowned after a disabled "Ride the Ducks" boat was run down by a barge. Last year, a woman from Texas was hit and killed by also by a "Ride the Ducks" boat while crossing a street in Philadelphia. "These were designed in WW2 to invade other countries from the sea they were not designed to be driven on streets where you have pedestrians and cars," said Mongeluzzi. Joe Garcia is visiting from Seattle where last year five people were killed when a "Ride the Ducks" boat veered into a charter bus on a bridge. He supports the tours. "I think they're great for tourists but accidents happen, it's unfortunate but I think they should be around," said Garcia. Boston Duck Tours operates the "Penelope Pru," the duck boat involved in Saturday's deadly collision. They have been in business since 1994 and this is the first time they've been involved in a deadly accident. "I think they are iconic and a great part of the city," said Andrea Vinson of Rockport. "It's just so much fun to go through the city and then go right into the Charles in a vehicle... It doesn't get more fun than that." The CEO of Boston Duck Tours says they are waiting for more details about what happened on Beacon Street before commenting further. The driver of the duck boat that collided with a motorized scooter on Saturday, killing the woman who was driving it, had a lengthy driving record featuring numerous violations, according to information provided by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The driving record includes 10 speeding violations, one accident, and several more minor violations over a 22-year period. In all, 38 incidents are listed dating back to 1994. The driver, identified as Victor Tavares by the RMV, has had his license revoked indefinitely, which the DOT said is standard operating procedure for a fatal accident. Tavares did have a valid license to operate the duck boat at the time of the accident. In a statement, Boston Duck Tours says the company regularly obtains information from the RMV regarding drivers, including when they're hired, and say his most recent driving record check was in March. "Given the discrepancies between the information we received from the DMV and the information reported, we will be contacting the respective agencies... and we will provide any updated information," the statement read. Allison Warmuth, 28, was killed when the motorized scooter she was driving collided with a Boston Duck Tours vehicle Saturday on Beacon Hill. A male passenger on the scooter suffered minor injuries. No one on the tour was hurt. Boston Duck Tours issued a statement Monday defending the company's safety record in the wake of calls from some corners to ban duck boats from city streets altogether. "For 22 years, the people of Boston have accepted Boston Duck Tours as part of the community. We value this unique relationship and take safety very seriously," Boston Duck Tours CEO Cindy Brown said. Brown said Boston Duck Tours have carried more than 10 million guests since 1994, and its drivers go through a "rigorous" 8 to 10 week training period focusing on the operation of the vehicles and safety procedures. All drivers are also subject to random drug testing. She said all drivers must hold a Class B Commercial Driver's License, a Boston Police Hackney Sightseeing License, a Cambridge Jitney License, a United States Coast Guard License and must be trained in first aid and CPR. All duck boats are inspected annually by the Coast Guard and the Department of Public Utilities and daily by Boston Duck Tours mechanics. "Safety has always been our number one priority," Brown said. In the last five years, there have been several deadly duck boat accidents across the country, but this is a first for the Boston company that started tours in the city. Saturday's accident remains under investigation by police, but so far no charges have been brought against the tour driver. Philadelphia attorney Robert Mongeluzzi said the accident could have been avoided and he's asking that duck boats be banned across the country. "This proves again that duck boats are dangerous on land and on water," he said. Mongeluzzi represented the families of victims in two deadly accidents in Philadelphia. In 2010, two tourists drowned after a disabled "Ride the Ducks" boat was run down by a barge. Last year, a woman from Texas was hit and killed by also by a "Ride the Ducks" boat while crossing a street in Philadelphia. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is also speaking out as police continue to investigate the tragic accident. "I think that this is still under investigation this case, we'll see what happens and if an action has to be taken we'll take an action," Walsh said. Walsh said while some may question why World War II-era amphibious vehicles make sense in a city with tight, busy streets and older infrastructure like Boston, he said there are 18 wheelers in the city every day. Boston Duck Tours released a statement Monday on the death of a 29-year-old woman involved in a collision with a duck boat on Saturday. "We know we don't have a big city, we have a small city with small roads, so we ask people to be very careful," he said. But as to whether it makes sense to have the duck tour drivers both giving the tour and driving the vehicle, Walsh wasn't ready to say whether that could have played a role in this accident. "This case hasn't been fully vetted through yet, so until I see a final report of what exactly happened here, then I'll be able to make more comment on it," he said. The Coast Guard says it last inspected the Duck Boat involved in the fatal accident on March 17, 2015. It passed inspection at that time. An elderly woman crashed into a police cruiser on Interstate 495 northbound, according to police in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. Sunday near exit 37. The police officer was in his vehicle working a construction detail when a 71-year-old woman hit him. The officer and woman were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both vehicles were seriously damaged. Chelmsford Police is investigating the incident in conjunction with Massachusetts State Police. A former Vermont police officer convicted of stealing guns, drugs and money from his department's evidence locker has been sentenced to serve prison time. Tyler Kinney, who served as a Colchester police officer, was sentenced to four years in federal prison and three years probation on Monday. He pleaded guilty to heroin distribution, firearms trafficking and theft back in May 2015. Affiliate WPTZ reports his lawyer, Robert Katims, told the court that Kinney suffered from an opioid addiction that led to him stealing from the Colchester Police Department's evidence locker. Kinney may become eligible for compassionate early release if his ex-wife, who is being treated for cancer, dies or is no longer able to care for their children, according to the judge. He must report to prison on June 28 to begin his sentence. A Massachusetts family has been burned out of its new home just hours after moving in. Anthony Rodriguez, his wife Nicole, and three of their five children were spending the first night in their Winchendon home when they were awoken at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday by the sound of fire alarms and the smell of smoke. A neighbor called 911. Everyone escaped safely, but the home sustained heavy damage. Nicole Rodriguez says they closed on the home Tuesday and moved in Saturday, but she's just glad everyone got out alive. Fire Chief Thomas Smith said the cause of the fire is unclear, although it does not appear to be suspicious. It remains under investigation. Firefighters from Gardner, Ashburnham, Templeton and Royalston assisted Winchendon crews. An Ecuadorian immigrant serving prison time for the dragging death of a Milford, Massachusetts, man has appealed his sentence. Nicolas Guaman was sentenced to 12-to-14 years in death of Matthew Denice in 2014. Police say Denice was on his motorcycle when Guaman hit him and dragged him for a quarter-mile in 2011. "I'm fighting for my son. I'm fighting for everybody else's family," she said outside of court. Guaman was living in the country illegally and the incident sparked a debate about immigration enforcement in Massachusetts. The Metrowest Daily News reports that Guaman is appealing his sentence for mental reasons and that he didn't understand the events after the crash. The hearing lasted for about 30 minutes and Guaman's attorney expects a response in about 60 days. An 18-year-old man was shot Sunday behind a shopping center in Rowley, Massachusetts, according to police. Officials learned of a shooting around 5:15 p.m. behind the shopping center at 225 Newburyport Turnpike. While police were searching the area, a man approached them and said he'd been shot in the leg. Around the same time, another man entered the Rowley Police Station reporting he'd been shot at near the shopping center. The victim received treatment at a nearby hospital and has been released. Officials don't think the shooting was random. Rowley Police have identified a person of interest and are trying to locate the individual for questioning. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact them at 978-948-7644. A Taunton man was indicted on charges for carjacking a car and robbing two women in Brockton, Massachusetts, at gunpoint. According to the district attorney's office, Jose Robles, age 33, was indicted on one count of Armed Carjacking, one count of Armed Robbery, one count of Attempted Armed Robbery, and one count of Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle. On February 16, Brockton Police and the Massachusetts State Police responded to a report of a carjacking at 200 Westgate Drive in Brockton. The victim told officers she pushed the unlock button on her car key and walked towards the car with her mother and infant daughter when she noticed a male sitting in the drivers seat. The man, later identified as Jose Robles, told the victim he accidentally entered the wrong car then exited. The victim began buckling her child into the car seat when Robles told her he was going to take the car and instructed her to take the child out of the car seat. Robles pulled back his coat to reveal a firearm then sped off with the car with the woman's purse inside. Police put out a description of the car, a Toyota Camry and pursued Robels to Stoughton where he crashed the car. He attempted to run from officers but was caught. The gun was later determined to be a BB gun. Robles is being held without bail and will be summonsed to superior court for arraignment on the charges. News / National by Pamela Shumba/Auxilia Katongomara CHURCHES said yesterday that the national pledge will not be recited at their schools when schools open for the second term tomorrow. Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku last Thursday dismissed the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights' urgent interdict to stop the reciting of the national pledge paving way for the government to implement the national pledge policy.Chief Justice Chidyausiku in his chambers threw out the urgent application but directed the registrar of the Constitutional Court to set down the main challenge at the earliest convenient date. The government has said it is dismayed by the resistance as the national pledge is meant to instil honesty, hard work and commitment at a tender age.The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said parents should accompany their children to schools tomorrow and hand them gifts after they recite the pledge, a directive that is being resisted by churches.Brethren in Christ Church which runs some of the top schools in Matabeleland region that include Matopo High School, Mtshabezi High School and Wanezi High school, said pupils at its schools will not recite the pledge.In a statement the church said the pledge violates chapter 4 section 60 (2) of the Constitution that says "no person may be compelled to make an oath that is contrary to their rights or belief" as well as chapter 2 section 19 subsection (3) (b) which says the state must take appropriate measures to ensure that children are not required to perform activities that place at risk their morals or spiritual development."As BICC Zimbabwe conference together with like-minded organisations, we are unequivocally against the pledge and its implementation. We therefore appeal to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and government to rescind the decision. Our position as BICC Zimbabwe conference is that we will neither participate nor encourage our institutions, members and our children to participate on matters contrary to our beliefs and conscience," the church said.Reverend Useni Sibanda, the director of Christian Alliance which represents many churches, said those in their religious grouping will also not allow their children to recite the national pledge."Our children will not participate in the national pledge. We reject it on the grounds of our constitutional provisions and our religion. This uproar could've been avoided by the ministry through consultations with parents and the schoolchildren. We would've highlighted that the pledge is against our belief systems and violates our freedom of conscience as Christians," he said."We know countries like India, South Africa, the United States of America and many other countries have similar pledges but here in Zimbabwe there was no consultation before the pledge was imposed on our children. The fact that parents have been asked to present their children with presents means that it's no longer a pledge but a ritual, which is against our Christian values. "The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), the largest teachers' union, has also rejected the pledge which it says is unconstitutional and violates the rights of pupils and teachers.The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Sylvia Utete-Masango said the recital will go on as planned tomorrow and urged parents to support their children."The words in the pledge talk about hard work, commitment and dignity, I don't know if there are parents who don't want honest and hardworking children. The words are derived from the constitution and means those who are saying it's wrong don't support the constitution," said Utete-Masango.She said the national pledge was not a once off thing, and would be recited every day during assembly time after the singing of the national anthem. "So I don't know whether parents who are withdrawing their children from school are withdrawing them forever," she said.Utete-Masango said parents were consulted on the pledge during the curriculum review process. The ZLHR is representing a Harare man who is contesting the constitutionality of forcing his children to recite the national pledge. The father of three school going children says reciting the pledge is against his religious beliefs and is unconstitutional. Authorities in New Hampshire are asking for the public's help with finding a 15-year-old girl. State police say Joyce Gilbert of Salisbury was reported missing on Friday night by her family. Her family told troopers that Joyce had argued with her father in the family's backyard, and then ran away from home after going back inside the home. The investigation traced Joyce's last appearance on Saturday as she left the Tilton Walmart while riding a white mountain bike. She's described as about 5-foot 4-inches and weighing about 115 pounds. She has dark blond/auburn hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray camouflage zip-up hoodie sweatshirt with tan pants, and had her hair up in a brown hair tie. Authorities and her parents are concerned for her welfare due to her age and weather conditions. Foul play isn't suspected. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 603-223-4381. We've arrived at the advertised transition week - an unsettled week as cool, Canadian air that was so dominant in April begrudgingly loosens its grip on New England to allow for our foray into the warmer spring air that's been present across much of the rest of the Eastern United States in recent weeks. The clash between stubborn cool and incoming warm air is rarely a pleasant event, and this week is no exceptions - lots of clouds, periodic showers and rain, and relatively cool temperatures, noticeably below the average high temperature in the mid 60s for this time of the year. So, the biggest challenge becomes timing the periods of showers and rain, and right now we see one slug of rain and thunder impacting us today, another round for Southern New England Tuesday morning through midday, showers Wednesday, particularly inland, and more clouds with showers late in the week! As you may expect, lots of clouds and showers will keep the temperatures down over the coming days, with highs reaching the 60s where sun breaks out, and 50s or even some 40s where it doesn't. By the weekend, breaks of sun will become more prevalent, affording milder temperatures regionwide, and next week it looks right now like our transition to warmer air will be complete, with highs into the 70s if all goes as planned in our exclusive, Early Warning Weather 10-day forecast. A pair of serial thieves has been arrested again. Police arrested Amanda Bean and Lawrence Ritchie, both of South Burlington, Vermont, in connection with a shoplifting case last Tuesday, according to affiliate WPTZ. Bean is accused of stealing hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from a store, and was cited that day. Two hours after that citation, police say she and Ritchie made off with more stolen merchandise from a ski store. Ritchie is being held on bail, while Bean is due in court on Tuesday. Police say that there have been 90 arrests between the two. Police in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, are searching for the people responsible for putting bullet holes in traffic signs and mailboxes over the weekend. "The hole they put through that stop sign that could have killed somebody," said resident Stephen Gnibus. It's an unsettling sight on the stop sign right across from the New Ipswich home where Gnibus has lived for 40 years. "The police said it could be a shotgun, a sawed-off shotgun, wow," he said in disbelief. Police went door to door Monday, trying to get more information about the people who might be responsible for the weekend vandalism. According to resident Clinton Parhiala, it started early Saturday morning. "About 2 o'clock, right after I put my lights out, I heard either a gunshot or loud fireworks," Parhiala said. The use of weapons isn't the only concern. The spray-painted "FTP" on the stop signs is an acronym for an anti-police message often used by protesters. "This to me looks like kids being kids and a stop sign kind of represents authority," said Parhiala. Residents admit they've seen their share of mischief in town, from stolen street signs to tire fires, but they say things are getting too dangerous when they wake up to find bullet holes in private property. "The slug is at an angle that goes off into the woods, that was a little reckless," Parhiala said. "But stupid kids are stupid kids, they probably came from stupid parents." If you know anything, call police. Officials at Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island, say they are investigating after multiple reports of an intruder breaking into student residences. According to necn affiliate WJAR, five students reported a stranger broke into their residences and groped them as they slept. These incidents happened at the university's town houses. Police do not have a description of the victim. "We have reached out to all students and asked for their assistance in sharing any information that might be helpful in identifying the individual responsible for what we believe to be five instances of entering unlocked residences and inappropriately touching students while they slept. When the students were awakened and confronted the intruder he left," John Saddlemire, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, said in a school letter. Eight people were injured when a vehicle crashed outside the Princeton Station restaurant in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon. The restaurant is located at 147 Princeton St. The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Chelmsford Fire said the injuries were minor. An employee at the restaurant said the car did not crash into the building, but struck the exterior. However, a police spokesperson told necn the vehicle did not strike the building. HOLLYWOOD, Calif.When Lyra Louvel visited AVN last year during one of its talent nights (see photos here), she was still just getting started in the mainstream porn game. In just a few short months, she's worked for a wide array of studios and raised her profile at industry events. But in the process of making a name for herself, she's decided to pick a new one. Now working under the moniker Lyra Law, the statuesque performer is rebranding herself in other ways: changing her look, adding additional sex acts to her repertoire, and teaming up with Nexxxt Level Talent Agency for adult booking. And today marks her new start as Lyra 2.0. According to Law, The reason I changed my name is because I did not have complete control over the branding of Lyra Louvel. It was the dynamic duo of Jonathan Morgan and Andre Madness that explained to me the power and control of owning your own stage name, when it comes to porn. Plus, I like the word Law. It's simple and easy to spell but still has an authoritative tone, keeping me still feeling close to my domination roots. Law added, I decided to choose Nexxxt Level because I want to be represented by agents that have real on-set industry experience. I found Jonathan and Andre to be the ideal combination of personality and experience. Complimenting his new client, Nexxxt Level co-owner Jonathan Morgan said, Lyra is one of the most unique performers I have had the pleasure to met in my 26 years in this industry. She talks about sex as an art form and this is why I have given her the nickname The Picasso of Porn. I am excited to watch her blossom into something very special and capture the hearts of both fans and directors alike. Nexxxt Level co-owner Andre Madness chimed in: I had the unique pleasure of shooting Lyra in a Wicked Pictures feature before she reached out to our agency. Her professionalism and extremely positive attitude on set left a huge impression on me back then, and I couldn't be more proud to be her agent today. With the right guidance, training and experience, this fresh new talents future is going to be an amazing journey and both Jonathan and I look forward to sharing that experience with her. Lyra Law is available for booking immediately. Her current info and recent pictures can be found on her model profile here. There will be opportunities to improve your painting skills and indulge in some biblical feasting next month at the Pleasaunce in Overstrand in North Norfolk. There will be opportunities to improve your painting skills and indulge in some biblical feasting next month at the Pleasaunce in Overstrand in North Norfolk. National award for Dereham Christian bookshop The Green Pastures Christian bookshop in Dereham has won a national award for providing boxes of Christian books to 21 local schools. Read more Norma's care home jigsaw challenge complete A resident at Norwich-based care home Corton House has completed an incredible 70 jigsaw puzzles in celebration of the homes 70th anniversary this year. Read more Norwich charity's appeal to support Palestinian students A Norwich educational charity, set up in memory of a Norwich Anglican priest, to support students from a Palestinian refugee camp, is inviting people to support its Christmas appeal to be launched on November 29. Read more Norfolk drug and alcohol charity pays tribute to its founder Andy Sexton, CEO of the Matthew Project, introduces a series of tributes from the charity to its founder, Peter Farley. Read more Cliff look alike at Cromer Church breakfast Cliff Richard tribute performer Will Chandler will be the speaker at a special Mens Breakfast at Cromer Parish Hall next month, and all men are welcome to come along. Read more Heartsease Lane Methodist church to close As part of a reorganisation of the Norwich Methodist Circuit, Heartsease Lane Methodist Church will be closing towards the end of the year. Read more Free Julian of Norwich reflection and prayer day The Friends of Julian of Norwich present a free Quiet Half-Day with Robert Fruehwirth, author and former Priest Director of the Julian Centre, on Saturday November 12, 10.30am-2pm. Read more What it means for us to repent Nigel Fox believes that now is the time for a tide of repentance, and shares his thoughts about what that actually means for our society. Read more Christmas card shop opens in Norwich church Thousands of Christmas cards from around 30 local Norfolk charities have gone on sale today (October 19) at the Original Norwich Charity Christmas Card Shop inside St Peter Mancroft church in Norwich city centre. Read more Revelation Christian Resource Centre and Cafe Revelation in Norwich is a Christian resource centre, offering a bookshop, a meeting place and a welcoming refuge for refreshment open to visitors of any faith or none. Read more Farewell as Yarmouth church leader moves on Captain Marie Burr, the Salvation Army leader in Great Yarmouth, has paid tribute to everyone at the church and charity after she left her post at the end of last month to move to a new role. Read more Norwich Cathedral chorister in BBC final Norwich Cathedral chorister Alice Platten has her sights set on being crowned BBC Young Chorister of the Year after reaching the final stages of the prestigious nationwide competition. Read more Norwich to hear pastor, Policeman and tramp tale Essex Baptist Pastor Dave McDowell has been a Policeman, fed orphans in India and lived under a boat as a tramp. He will tell his remarkable story at the October dinner of Norwich FGB on Wednesday October 26. Read more Pioneer UK leader speaks at Sheringham church Ness Wilson, national leader of the Pioneer network of churches, was the main speaker at a day of teaching and worship held at Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham on 12 October, to be followed up by Word and Worship sessions at October half term. Read more Norwich event to give tips on bouncing forwards St Stephens in Norwich will be hosting an evening in October with Patrick Regan OBE, as he explores themes from his book Bouncing Forwards. Read more Youth for Christ lights a fire in north Breckland North Breckland Youth for Christ will be putting on a mini residential camp this year to coincide with Bonfire Night. Read more Delia Smith interviewed at Norwich church Top TV cook and well-known writer Delia Smith spoke about her faith at SOUL Churchs weekly Chapel gathering on October 11. Read more At the OpenStack Summit in Austin recently, one of the companies invited to keynote on the first day was a cloud, hosting and services vendor from France, OVH. Like most of the people in the room, the name OVH raised my eyebrows. I've been covering the cloud world since it existed, and I'd never come across the company. Maybe they were a new startup or something? It turns out that, far from being a new startup, OVH is a mature and expansive vendor. It's just that they're primarily involved in Europe in general, and France in particular. That looks set to change, however, and I took the opportunity to sit down with Pascal Jaillon from OVH to hear what the company is up to. The OVH product line spans traditional hosting, hosted Microsoft Exchange, domain name provisioning, and, of course, cloud. Who is OVH? First, some statistics about OVH. The company has 17 data centers across Europe, with a single North American facility located in Montreal to service the North American market. OVH has some pretty impressive statistics. Here's a selection: 1,300 employees, the vast majority of which are engineering-related 300 employees in North America (this despite being pretty much unknown in the region) Funded internally, with zero external investment to date 250,000 physical servers in production OVH public cloud introduced in the summer of 2015 and has already scaled to the point where 430,000 production instances were spawned in March alone 18 million web apps hosted by the more traditional OVH business in Europe Has a Dropbox-like offering that has amassed 800,000 customers Those statistics would be impressive for a company with funding and serving the large U.S. market. For a company funding itself and working only in Europe, it is fairly staggering. So, the news from OVH that it is planning an aggressive U.S. market entry is certainly interesting, perhaps analogous to the market entry of AliYun, Alibaba's cloud unit that has proved so successful in China. Last year OVH announced it is committed to building 12 new data centers globally in the next two years. And this isn't a case of leasing a bunch of off-the-rack servers and sitting them in an Equinix data center. OVH own the entire process, even going so far as to design and build its own physical servers. This vertical integration goes even further, however. OVH has an approach that sees it utilizing its new server for a period of time for its primary services. Thereafter, servers get moved, over time, to secondary and tertiary brand offerings. At the economic end of life of the servers, a facility in France disassembles the units entirely and sell components that pass testing protocols. This hyper-focused approach allows OVH to achieve economics not dissimilar from those they would obtain by using commodity OEM hardware. Entering the U.S. market Given that many other non-U.S. vendors have tried to enter the U.S. market and failed dismally, how is OVH going to do this differently? Jaillon explained that the company is well aware of what it doesn't know. This isn't an arrogant organization that thinks it can come and wipe the floor with the local vendors. Rather, OVH is taking a measured approach and taking the time to understand the U.S. market. They are helped in this by an approach that sees them initially servicing their existing European customers' footprints in the U.S. and from there slowly building a U.S. customer base. OVH doesn't plan to embark on a big marketing push within the U.S., rather it intends to spread the word to developers, invest in building its data center footprint and rely on organic growth. The company realizes it needs to do business differently in the U.S. than how it does things in Europe and is building a go-to-market and organizational plan with the more usual U.S. aspects, such as an inside sales team and 24/7 local support. History is rife with companies that have tried and failed to scale outside of their home markets and into the hyper-competitive U.S. space. OVH, with its pedigree, operational excellence and willingness to listen and learn, looks like a contender to not join that long list of failures. Microsoft has tried in the past to make apps communicate, like with Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) in the 1990s. It worked, but in a limited fashion, allowing for linking data between Word and Excel. But if you wanted to share data from non-Microsoft apps, you were out of luck. Now, however, Microsoft has come out with a service (it's not right to call it an app) called Flow, which brings the If This Then That (IFTTT) functionality of the Web to desktop apps. IFTTT is a feature for Web services that generates actions based on conditions. It's how Twitter informs you when someone follows you, likes your tweet or responds to your tweet, for example. Microsoft Flow connects apps and services and automates tasks, so data is automatically moved from one app or service to another and you are notified of changes or updates. This eliminates the hassle of checking for updates in apps or copying and pasting data. Flow connects Office, Office 365 and SharePoint, among other Microsoft apps, to non-Microsoft services such as Twitter, Slack, Google Drive and Dropbox. As part of the launch of Flow, Microsoft is offering a number of templates, such as generating SMS alerts from emails, pulling tweets into Excel or getting Slack notifications when a file is uploaded to a Dropbox folder. Flow went live last week with more than 35 services supported. Some of them are pretty neat, too, such as saving email attachments on Dropbox, getting a text notification if your boss emails you, creating Salesforce tasks based on emails, getting alerts from Twitter based on keywords and creating tweets from Facebook posts. The preview currently supports Office 365 account or a non-Outlook.com email address. For some reason, Microsoft doesn't support its own Outlook.com accounts. You can sign up at the Flow site. The worst part of this mistake other than the pain caused to innocent weasels is that it should have been avoided, at least here. After all, as I was typing last Fridays post about an electrocution-sparked electrical outage at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) the question did occur to me: Is a weasel actually a rodent, as I am about to allege? Unfortunately, I failed to act upon that inquisitive impulse and the answer to the question is no, a weasel is not a rodent. And I am hearing about it from those who know better. Among those stepping up to correct the error via email is Bede McCall: Thank you for a most entertaining post "Weasel Pops Large Hadron Collider." Adds a new dimension to the colloquial term "weasel" and what they can do to you if you don't pay enough attention to them. Many years ago, as one of the newborn World Wide Web Consortium's (w3c.org) Advisory Committee founders, I was at one of our tiny group's earliest meeting receptions: It was held deep underground in the LHC, due to Tim Berners-Lee's connection with CERN. This message, however, is about an outrageous (!), perhaps even species-insulting (!!) error in your recent column: you describe a weasel (Musteloidea) as a rodent (Rodentia). T'ain't so. A quick bite test will confirm. A profound apology to the hundreds of millions of now-aggrieved non-human weasels (other than the profligate homo erectus sub-subspecies of Musteloidea, in approximately equal numbers) on our planet is now required, although I can't begin to suggest an appropriate medium for doing so. ;-) This one will have to do. [For sale: The nuclear fallout bunker of your dreams] R.C., another correspondent sympathetic to the weasel, writes: Ill keep the criticism of the article short and succinct. Weasels are not rodents!! Granted, you are into electronic tech, and are not into biology (though you might dabble a bit into the bionics world). However, wouldnt you wince if you heard biologists repeatedly say that ROM is the same thing as RAM? Well if you put it that way Its worth noting at least to my mind that this blog was not the only media outlet to besmirch the noble weasel by lumping it in with rats, chipmunks and pigeons (aw, cmon, a pigeon is nothing but a flying rat, I dont care what the biologists say). The headline on ABC News read: World's Largest Atom Smasher, the Large Hadron Collider, Reportedly Shut Down by Rodent. The Sydney Morning Herald used the R-word in its story. Maine News Online tried to weasel out by using weasel-like rodent in its headline. Nature World News, which you might think could be held to a higher standard, offered up: Tiny Rodent Shut Down Worlds Largest, Most Powerful Particle Collider. No excuses for any of us, though. Sorry, weasels. Welcome regulars and passersby. Here are a few more recent buzzblog items. And, if youd like to receive Buzzblog via e-mail newsletter, heres where to sign up. You can follow me on Twitter here and on Google+ here. LOS ANGELESBoutique brand B Swish is promoting its Bwild Deluxe Bunny, which continues the companys commitment to affordable luxury. The Bwild Deluxe Bunny satisfies with modern design, body-safe silicone construction and rumbling vibrations at both the curved head and pinpoint-precise ears. Intuitive controls with red backlight and convenient AAA battery operation add to the experience. The Bwild Deluxe Bunny is perfect for solo stimulation or can easily be brought into couples play. The Bwild Deluxe Bunnys natural feel and waterproof engineering is enhanced by its quiet and super powerful dual motors. The Bwild Deluxe Bunny has a MAP of $53.99 and as a member of B Swishs Deluxe Line of personal massagers arrives in sleek packaging and is available in three colors: Raspberry, Jade and Blue Lagoon. Learn more about the Bwild Deluxe Bunny with educational flyers and online marketing support available on B Swishs B2B site at us.bswish.com or email [email protected] Dells planned US$67 billion acquisition of EMC will create a broad collection of businesses called Dell Technologies. Under that umbrella, the pure Dell name will live on in the companys client business, including its PCs, while its enterprise infrastructure division will be called Dell EMC, Chairman and CEO Michael Dell announced on Monday at EMC World in Las Vegas. Dell Technologies will be the only company selling everything from edge devices to core data centers and cloud infrastructure, a mission that rival HP backed away from when it split into Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc., Dell said. He pitched the end-to-end strategy as a boon to customers who want a single partner that can do everything, letting them focus on business growth. You want technology made easier, Dell said. Dell Technologies will include all of whats called Dell today, plus EMCs core Information Infrastructure storage division, Pivotal, Virtustream, the partly public VMware and two security businesses: Dells SecureWorks and EMCs RSA unit. For EMC, owning a collection of semi-autonomous businesses and making them add up to something more is called federation, and it has come under attack from some investors and skeptics. On Monday, Dell called it a family and said Dell Technologies will be able to align its businesses and invest in new technologies at its own pace as a privately held company. The acquisition is on track under its original terms and timeline, Michael Dell said. The deal still needs regulatory and shareholder approvals. EMC Chairman and CEO Joe Tucci received a standing ovation as he addressed the annual conference for what is likely to be the last time, before introducing Dell. Tucci has been CEO since 2001, one of the longest tenures in the tech industry. EMC is joining Dell to take advantage of a revolution in technology brought about by cloud computing, the Internet of Things and agile software development, Tucci said. We have to rediscover the art of writing software, Tucci said. Thats going to take IT to new heights, and youll see IT budgets go up significantly. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 78F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Reporter/Columnist Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth). Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Why am I using Glivec? Glivec contains the active ingredient imatinib. Glivec is used to Glivec is used to treat children and adults who have certain types of cancer and leukemia. For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Glivec? in the full CMI. What should I know before I use Glivec? Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Glivec or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI. Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use Glivec? in the full CMI. What if I am taking other medicines? Some medicines may interfere with Glivec and affect how it works. A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI. How do I use Glivec? Your doctor will tell you exactly how many tablets of Glivec to take Follow the instructions provided and use Glivec until your doctor tells you to stop More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use Glivec? in the full CMI. What should I know while using Glivec? Things you should do Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Glivec. Have regular check-ups to make sure the treatment is working Things you should not do Do not stop using this medicine suddenly (unless your doctor tells you to) Driving or using machines Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Glivec affects you Drinking alcohol There are no known interactions between Glivec and alcohol Looking after your medicine Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight Keep out of reach of children For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using Glivec? in the full CMI. Are there any side effects? Common side effects include headache, dizziness, light-headedness or vertigo, upset stomach, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, rash, eczema, itchy or dry skin, skin darkening or lightening, symptoms of sunburn which happens more quickly than normal, noticeable swelling, stiffness in joints or muscles, pain in bones or along veins, weakness, feeling generally unwell, numbness, tingling in fingers and toes, change in sense of taste, irritated eyes, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, changes in appetite and weight, hair loss, throat pain, cough or cold symptoms, loss of interest in sex, problems with sexual function, breast enlargement, nipple pain, painful periods, slowing of growth in children and adolescents For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI. Why am I using Glivec? Glivec contains the active ingredient imatinib. Glivec belongs to a group of anti-cancer medicines known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Glivec is used to treat children and adults who have certain types of cancer and leukemia, including chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph-positive ALL). Glivec is also used to treat adults for: Myelodysplastic / myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD). These are a group of blood diseases in which some blood cells start growing out of control. Aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM). It is a cancer in which certain blood cells, called "mast" cells, grow out of control. Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and or chronic eosinophilic leukaemia (CEL). These are blood diseases in which some blood cells, named "eosinophils", start growing out of control. Gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (GIST). This is a type of cancer of the stomach and bowels. This cancer affects the tissue that surrounds the stomach and bowels and the cells grow uncontrollably. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). DFSP is a cancer of the tissue beneath the skin in which some cells start growing out of control. Glivec works by slowing the growth of and killing cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone. What should I know before I use Glivec? Warnings Do not use Glivec if: you are allergic to imatinib, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives. If you experience an allergic reaction, stop using the medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body rash, itching or hives on the skin Check with your doctor if you: have any other medical conditions take any medicines for any other condition During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. This medicine may be harmful to your unborn baby. If it is necessary for you to take it during pregnancy, your doctor will let you know. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. It is not known if the active ingredient, imatinib, passes into the breast milk. Breastfeeding is not recommended because this medicine could affect your baby. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of the following medical problems or procedures: kidney or liver problems problems with your heart you have had your thyroid gland removed hepatitis B infection. As during treatment with Glivec, hepatitis B may become active again. Your doctor may want to take special precautions in this case. What if I am taking other medicines? Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with Glivec and affect how it works. St. John's wort, a herbal medicine found in many products that you can buy without a prescription paracetamol, a medicine found in many common pain relievers and cold remedies (e.g. Panadol, Panadeine, Codral, Tylenol) which are known to be associated with liver toxicity. antibiotic medicines such as rifampicin, ketoconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, itraconazole antiviral medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS dexamethasone, a steroid medicine medicines for high cholesterol, such as simvastatin medicines used to treat epilepsy, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbitone warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots some medicines used to treat mental disorders and depression some medicines used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems cyclosporin Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Glivec. How do I use Glivec? How much to take Your doctor will tell you exactly how many tablets of Glivec to take Do not exceed the recommended dose prescribed by your doctor Follow the instructions provided and use Glivec until your doctor tells you to stop Your doctor may direct you to take a higher or lower dose or stop treatment depending on how your body responds to Glivec. Glivec is usually taken as a single dose each day. However, your doctor may want you to take them in two doses, one in the morning and one in the evening When to take Glivec Take Glivec every day; at the same time, with water and food for as long as your doctor recommends How to take Glivec Take Glivec with a large glass of water and food. This will help avoid stomach irritation If you are unable to swallow the tablets: Put the required tablets in a glass of water or apple juice (approximately 50 mL for a 100 mg tablet or 200 mL for a 400 mg tablet) Stir with a spoon to completely dissolve the tablets Drink immediately If you forget to use Glivec Glivec should be taken regularly at the same time each day. If you miss your dose at the usual time, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then continue with your normal schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. If you take too much Glivec If you think that you have taken too much Glivec, you may need urgent medical attention. You should immediately: phone the Poisons Information Centre (by calling 13 11 26), or contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. What should I know while using Glivec? Things you should do Make sure you follow your doctor's instructions carefully and keep all appointments. You will need regular check-ups to make sure the treatment is working. Regular blood tests, weight checks and urine tests can also find side effects before they become serious. Use a method of contraception to prevent pregnancy during treatment and for 15 days after ending treatment. Some children taking Glivec may have slower than normal growth. Growth will be monitored at regular visits by your doctor. Call your doctor straight away if you Become pregnant or think you might be pregnant Think you might be having an allergic reaction to Glivec treatment Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Glivec. Things you should not do Do not stop using this medicine suddenly unless your doctor tells you to Do not give this medicine to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you Drinking grapefruit juice Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while you are being treated with Glivec. Grapefruit juice may interact with Glivec and affect how your body uses this medicine. Treating a headache, cold or other minor aches and pains Try to avoid taking medicines containing paracetamol (e.g. Panadol, Panadeine, Codral, Tylenol) to treat minor aches and pains. Ask your pharmacist to suggest an alternative medicine. Driving or using machines Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Glivec affects you. Glivec may cause dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness in some people. Wear sun protection when outdoors When you are outdoors, wear protective clothing and use at least a 15+ sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds. This medicine may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight than it normally is. Exposure to sunlight may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn. If your skin does appear to be burning, tell your doctor. Drinking alcohol Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. There are no known interactions of Glivec with alcohol. Looking after your medicine Keep your medicine in the original container until it is time to take it Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly. Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it: in the bathroom or near a sink, or in the car or on windowsills Keep it where young children cannot reach it. Getting rid of any unwanted medicine If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date. Are there any side effects? All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention. See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects. Less serious side effects Less serious side effects What to do Stomach and intestine problems: pain or burning sensation in upper tummy area and/or chest (heartburn), feeling sick, vomiting, feeling of fullness and bloating, black-coloured stool (signs of stomach ulcer). Skin problems: skin rash with flaking or peeling (exfoliative dermatitis). blisters on skin (signs of pemphigus). painful and/or blistering skin areas decreased or increased skin sensitivity. changes in skin colour. red bumps or white-headed pimples around the roots of the hair, possibly with pain, itching or burning feeling (signs of swelling of the hair follicles, also called folliculitis). painful red lumps on the skin, skin pain, skin reddening (inflammation of fatty tissue under the skin, also called panniculitis). General problems: feeling dizzy or weak. itching. unusual hair loss or thinning. dry mouth, dry skin or dry eye. hot flushes, chills or night sweats. severe headache felt as a throbbing pain or pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head and often with sick feeling, vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound (signs of migraine). overwhelming urge to move the legs (restless leg syndrome). burping/belching. difficulty swallowing. increased sweating. brittle nails. generally feeling unwell. increase in appetite. nail discolouration. slowing of growth in children and adolescents. Ear problems: hearing noises (e.g. ringing, humming) in the ears that have no external source (tinnitus). Eye problems: discharge from the eye with itching, redness and swelling (conjunctivitis), watery eyes or having blurred vision. Blood problems: nose bleeds. Infection problems: viral infection such as cold sore. swelling of the lips. mouth ulcers. cough, runny or stuffy nose, feeling of heaviness or pain on pressing the area above the eyes or on the sides of the nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, sore throat, with or without headache (signs of upper respiratory tract infection). flu-like symptoms (influenza). pain or burning feeling while passing urine, increased body temperature, pain in groin or pelvic area, red- or brown-coloured or cloudy urine (signs of urinary tract infection). Nutrition problems: anorexia, weight loss or a change in sense of taste. Bone and connective tissue problems: joint pain with swelling. pain and swelling of your joints (signs of arthralgia). Kidney problems: Increased frequency of passing urine lower back pain resulting from kidney problems Muscle problems: joint and muscle stiffness. Nervous system problems: difficulty in sleeping (insomnia). a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops you carrying out your normal activities (signs of depression). a feeling of nervousness and worry along with physical changes such as pounding heart, sweating, trembling, dry mouth (signs of anxiety). sleepiness/drowsiness/excessive sleep. confusion. memory loss. trembling or shaky movements (tremor). Heart and circulation problems: numbness of the hands or feet. reddening and/or swelling on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet with tingling feeling and burning pain. Reproduction problems: breast enlargement (may occur in men or women). dull pain and/or feeling of heaviness in the testicles or lower tummy area, pain during pee, sexual intercourse or ejaculation, blood in urine (signs of oedema of the testicles). unable to get or keep an erection (erectile dysfunction). heavy or irregular menstrual periods. difficulty achieving/maintaining sexual arousal. decreased sexual desire. nipple pain. slowing of growth in children and adolescents. Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. Serious side effects Serious side effects What to do Blood problems: unexpected bleeding or bruising (when you have not hurt yourself). feeling light-headed, dizzy or fainting (signs of low blood pressure). pale skin, feeling tired, difficulty breathing or breathless and having dark urine (signs of low levels of red blood cells). numb or cold toes and fingers (signs of Raynauds syndrome). muscle weakness and spasms with an abnormal heart rhythm (signs of changes in the amount of potassium in your blood). bruising. feeling sick, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, cloudy urine, tiredness and/or joint pain with abnormal blood test results (eg. high potassium, uric acid and calcium levels and low phosphorous levels in the blood). tired, dizziness, shortness of breath, bruises, gum/nose bleeds, minor cuts bleed a lot, feeling confused, sleepiness, seizures, decreased urine, swollen legs, fever (problems with blood clotting). Stomach and intestine problems: severe stomach pain, blood in vomit, stool or urine, black stools (signs of gastrointestinal problems) stomach pain with feeling sick (nausea) feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea, or upset stomach or heartburn General problems: rapid weight gain. Glivec may cause your body to keep water (severe fluid retention). combined widespread severe rash, feeling sick, fever, high level of certain white blood cells or yellow skin or eyes (signs of jaundice) with difficulty breathing, chest pain, severely decreased urine output and feeling thirsty etc. (signs of a treatment-related allergic reaction). headache or feeling tired. swelling such as around your ankles or puffy eyes. weight gain. Skin problems: rash rash, red skin with blisters on the lips, eyes, skin or mouth, peeling skin, fever, raised red or purple skin patches, itching, burning feeling (signs of skin problems) sudden swelling and redness of the skin (signs of a skin infection called cellulitis). Ear problems: difficulty hearing Eye problems: eye pain or worsening eyesight, bleeding in the eyes Liver problems: Feeling sick (nausea), with loss of appetite, dark-coloured urine, yellow skin or eyes (signs of liver problems). Infection problems: Signs of infection such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers. Glivec can reduce the number of white blood cells, so you might get infections more easily. Bone and connective tissue problems: muscle cramps or joint, muscle or bone pain, during Glivec treatment or after you have stopped taking Glivec. pain in bones or joints (signs of osteonecrosis). Nervous system problems: severe headache, weakness or paralysis of arms/legs or face, difficulty speaking, sudden loss of consciousness (signs of nervous system problems such as bleeding or swelling in skull/brain). Heart problems: chest pain, irregular heart rhythm (signs of heart problems). Excretory system problems: feeling sick (nausea) with diarrhoea and vomiting, stomach pain or fever (signs of bowel problems). Muscle problems: muscle spasms with a fever, red-brown urine, pain or weakness in your muscles. Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people. Reporting side effects After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines. Product details This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription. What Glivec contains Active ingredient (main ingredient) imatinib Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) Cellulose-microcrystalline Crospovidone Hypromellose Silica colloidal anhydrous Magnesium stearate Iron oxide yellow CI77492 (E172) Iron oxide red CI77491 (E172) Macrogol 4000 Talc Potential allergens Glivec does not contain sucrose, lactose, tartrazine, azo dyes, or any animal products. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients. What Glivec looks like Glivec 100 mg tablet is a round, very dark yellow to brownish orange tablet with NVR on one side and SA and score-line on the other side; packs of 60 tablets. AUST R 94216. Glivec 400 mg tablet is an oval, very dark yellow to brownish orange tablet with 400 on one side and score on the other side and SL on each side of the score; packs of 30 tablets. AUST R 94217. Radiation therapy not only kills cancer cells, but also helps to activate the immune system against their future proliferation. However, this immune response is often not strong enough to be able to cure tumours, and even when it is, its effect is limited to the area that has been irradiated. Now, however, research to be presented to the ESTRO 35 conference today (Sunday) has shown that the addition of an immune system-strengthening compound can extend the radiation therapy-induced immune response against the tumour sites and that this response even has an effect on tumours outside the radiation field. Ms Nicolle Rekers, MSc, from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands, will describe to the conference how a combination of radiation therapy and L19-IL2, an immunotherapy agent, can increase significantly the immune response when given to mice with primary colorectal tumours. L19-IL2 is a combination of an antibody that targets the tumour blood vessels and a cytokine, a small protein important in cell signalling in the immune system. The researchers found not only that the mice were tumour-free following treatment, but also that when re-injected with cancer cells 150 days after cure, they did not form new tumours. There was also an increase in the number of cells with an immunological memory. "Radiation therapy damages the tumour creating a sort of tumour-specific vaccine," Ms Rekers will say. "It feeds the immune system and ensures that it notices that something is wrong. What is unique about our latest experiments is that we have been able to create a so-called abscopal effect, where a localised radiation treatment has also had an effect on other tumour sites outside this radiation field." The lifespan of mice is quite short - about two years - so 150 days is a relatively long time. "Of course, these mice are models of human disease and can never be 100% comparable with a patient, but the fact that the cured mice never formed new tumours, compared with a 100% tumour formation in untreated mice of the same age, is significant. We will know more after analysing results from the Phase I/II clinical study in human patients that we started recently," says Ms Rekers. L19-IL2 is known to be safe in patients, with only mild side effects limited to injection site reactions. The new trial will look at the combination treatment in patients with oligometastatic solid tumours. "Our ultimate aim is to increase the time during which the disease does not progress by using this combination to bring about an immune response that will attack both the primary tumour and its metastases," says Ms Rekers. Although reprogramming the immune system has only been feasible relatively recently, research to date seems to indicate that it is without damaging long-term effects. "We believe that the risk/benefit equation is likely to come down firmly on the side of benefit. We hope that this treatment will not only destroy tumours, but also enable the immune system to develop a memory that allows it to annihilate them in the future as well," Ms Rekers will conclude. ESTRO President Professor Philip Poortmans commented: "A couple of years after the first breakthrough of immunotherapy in medical oncology, we are now on the verge of an exciting new era that combines this novel approach with radiation therapy. This could open the door to shorter treatment durations, thereby reducing side effects and costs compared to common palliative approaches in mono-immunotherapy, as well as to potentially new curative options where we had none before. It is time to join forces with all partners, including industry, to explore these capabilities." Source: European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) For 10 days in February one hospital's records hung in limbo. At Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in California, a ransomware attack kept health care records in control of anonymous hackers, until hospital officials paid $17,000 to take back their system. Data ransom attacks are today's technological version of kidnapping. It's anonymous, more cost-effective and more appealing to criminal enterprises than taking physical hostages. And it's the reason health care institutions today are taking steps to ensure security. As part of an ongoing conversation, health care professionals and government agencies will meet on May 1-11 in Washington D.C. to discuss health data as part of the Health Datapalooza event presented by Health Data Consortium. At Creighton University, law professor Edward Morse is researching the technological and legal limitations for paying data ransom. "If you can deny access to patient care records, you shut down hospital operations," Morse said. "With HIPAA, a patient's electronic records are protected under law. But, a patient's medical information is only as strong as an institution's weakest link. It can be as simple as a disgruntled employee; someone who is willing to give up a password to a potential hacker, so hospitals are working to increase security and limit the number of employees who can access sensitive data. Adam Kuenning, attorney with Erickson | Sederstrom and a Creighton law professor, teaches HIPAA privacy and security. "Patient care comes first for any medical professional," Kuenning said. "The importance of keeping the information secure, may sometimes be lost while the medical professional is focused on the patient's care." Any HIPAA breach of more than 500 patients must be reported to the media, and the Department of Health and Human Services keeps a record of these cases online. Since 2009, more than 1500 cases have been recorded. For cases affecting less than 500 patients, only a letter sent to affected persons is required. To ensure HIPAA compliance, HHS is conducting audits healthcare companies, but often carelessness is the root cause of a breach. A frequent problem are laptops and thumb drives with private medical information left in an employee's car. "Data that's not encrypted is being stolen somehow," Kuenning said. "People are breaking into your office, stealing your computer, your servers when you didn't encrypt your records that evening." In the California hospital case, an outside hacker stole records by taking over the computer system. In these cases, it's common that patient information isn't actually stolen; rather, hackers freeze the system, making the records inaccessible to medical personnel who need the information to properly care for the patients. Last June, President Barack Obama stated while the U.S. government won't pay ransom for hostages, American families have never "been prosecuted for paying a ransom." In most health care cases, private ransom payments often go unnoticed. Few cases like Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital are publicized. According to Morse, thousands of attacks are attempted, but it's unknown how many are successful. "With this crime, it's embarrassing to institutions, that their systems aren't secure," Morse said. Payouts to criminal enterprises are relatively inexpensive. The black market values each patient's record at $50 or $60, Morse found. According to a Ponemon Institute Survey, hackers only earn about $28,000 annually, but Morse notes that this wage could equate to a lot more with hackers coming from developing countries. Without patient's records, the hospital reaches a standstill, creating the need to comply and pay ransom. "If you can pay, you would do it in a New York minute," Morse said. As the health care industry becomes more invested in technological innovations, institutions must keep privacy in mind, as a data breach can "ultimately, sully the reputation of an institution," Morse said. Mario Miranda's sly sense of humour was evident in all of his illustrations which spoke so much about the society, more than words in fact. 2 May 2016 happens to be Miranda's 90th birth anniversary. And to celebrate the artists and his illustrious life, a Diary is being released. Titled, 'The Life Of Mario 1949', the book captures Diary entries by a young 22-year-old Mario all through illustrations.Five years earlier, Mario's dairies of 1950 and 1951 were published. In 1949, Mario was studying at St Xavier's and often visited Goa. His beautiful illustrated diary entries depict typical Goan village scenes, bars and Sundays at Chruches. The Diary was the centre of his life and it is in the latter half of this diary, that one can see Mario displaying originality which will catapulted him to become a great artist in later years.Gerard Da Cunha, architect and curator of Mario gallery in Goa has says the Diaries of 1950-51 and 49 have lot of similarities. "Mario the artist was evolving very rapidly in terms of story telling and composition in 1949. Mario was just 22 and there was an innocence about him and his life which is compelling," said Gerard who has himself written a book on the artist.The Diary is largely in black and white though he intersperses it with many landscapes of Goa which are in colour. Mario is seen slowly experimenting with colour and most of 1951 and 1952 ( incomplete) are in colour. The diary was originally in Portuguese and has been translated by Nalini Sousa.Gerard, who has personally curated all the images for the diary, is aware of the fact that in the age of digitization, the audience for books is limited. "This extraordinary story must be told and what better occasion than Mario's 90th birthday," reasoned the architect who was in the middle of preparation of the concert that would take place in the evening in Mario's honour.So what new things can a fan of Mario's work expect in the Diary? "Mario's "sociological" studies of the village which includes local elections and the church are fascinating. Mario and his gang are also great dance organisers with mixed results. There is an exodus of his friends moving out of Goa and there are many touching farewells," said Gerard.You can find more of Mario Miranda's work here. One of India's most celebrated cartoonists Mario de Miranda died on December 11, 2011. A few weeks before his death, he gave an interview in which he spoke about his growing years, influences, travels and, of course, Goa.Google has posted a doodle on its home pages in seven countries around the work honouring the late cartoonist on his 90th birth anniversary.Like most cartoonists, Mario de Miranda appeared to be a serious, shy, no-nonsense but soft-spoken person to a first-time acquaintance, but gradually warmed up.Born on May 2, 1926, Mario displayed a keen love and interest in sketching and caricatures - using the walls in his own house in Loutolim for practice! Until his horrified mother brought him a bookThough never formally trained in the fine art of drawing, Mario started making small, cutely illustrated personal postcards for his friends for a token payment - earning him some pocket money in his early days in the 1930s-1940.While studying at the famed St Xaviers College in Mumbai, Mario's eyes were trained on competing for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He went on to study architecture and gave up, before moving to an advertising agency for four years.The restless artist in him finally persuaded him to take up cartooning as a full-time vocation, around the time when stalwarts like RK Laxman, Bal Thackeray and others were also blooming in the field.Way back in the 1960s, he got his first major break with the now-defunctwhere his sketches and cartoons brought him wide recognition and also a job with the now-defuncttabloid.His creations like the bosomy Miss Nimbupani, Miss Fonseca, Khushwant Singh drinking and others became an instant hit - and are remembered till date.Around a year later, he finally got a slot in theedition of, where Laxman had already become a legend. Later, he contributed to other Times group publications likeand other supplements.At this time, he bagged a Portuguese scholarship, the FC Gulbenkian Scholarship, and he lived in that country for a year, which helped him, in his own words, "broaden his horizons."From there, he went to London and spent five years working for various newspapers and television animation, and his caricatures were featured in internationally reputed magazines likeandAfter travelling around many countries, conducting exhibitions or working, he finally decided to make India his home base in the late 1980s.In south Mumbai's famous Mondegar Cafe, Mario was commissioned to paint murals which adorn the cafe's walls even today. His calendars, year-planners for various publications, private and government organisations, illustrated diaries and books continue to be treasured possessions.During his long career, Mario penned and illustrated several books, includingandBesides, he illustrated books penned by the Goan, Dom Moraes (), Manohar Malgaonkar () and Mario Cabral de Sa (), children's books authored by Uma Anand likeandOver his career spanning six decades, Mario conducted solo exhibitions in 22 countries and was decorated with Indian civilian honours like Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.An avid traveller and music lover, Mario married an artist, Habiba Hyderi. The couple has two sons - Rahul, a hair stylist in New York, and Rishad, a cartoonist based in Goa. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday began the questioning of former Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal scam. The former IAF chief has also been issued summons by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. CNN-News18 has accessed the details of the line of CBI questioning of Tyagi. According to sources, the CBI is examining Tyagi on the various meetings he had with Agustas parent company Finmeccanica. Of the various meeting Tyagi had with Finmeccanica, the first was in 2004 while there were two in 2005, wherein one happened at an airshow in Bengaluru where the company had set up a stall. In 2006, Tyagi met the companys representatives at his cousin Julies office in the national capital. Tyagi met officials of Finmeccanica socially as well, said sources. The intention is to understand what went on in these meetings and whether criminality can be established about having favoured Agusta by using official position. The ED had served summons to Tyagi after it was able to track alleged bribe money related to the AgustaWestland deal to two of Tyagis cousins. Tyagi was the IAF Chief when the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal was struck and has been accused of tweaking requirements to favour the company. The agencies will also continue to question former deputy air chief JS Gujral in connection with the case. Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that he will provide a detailed chronology of the AgustaWestland deal in Parliament on May 4. "I will place the detailed chronology, giving facts about the chopper deal before Parliament on Wednesday. I will place the detailed chronology, giving how and when necessary clauses or provisions were relaxed to suit the company," Parrikar had said. "Those who received kickbacks will not leave behind the proof for us to prosecute them, but we will have to prove it (that kickbacks were received)," he said. "It is for us to prove everything now. Since the issue would be placed in Parliament, I would not like to speak in detail to media," the Defence Minister further said. "Why no action was taken against the company till 2014? Why was the company not blacklisted by then UPA government?" Parrikar questioned. "I challenge the Congress to show the UPA government's order blacklisting the AgustaWestland company. Let them reply first why it was not banned. It was during our (NDA) government that we banned it," he said. Parrikar had recently challenged the Congress to show the order by the UPA government confirming the blacklisting. AgustaWestland was not blacklisted during the UPA rule, top Modi government sources had recently claimed, asserting it was the NDA dispensation which had put on hold all acquisition proposals with the VVIP chopper scam-tainted firm. (With PTI Inputs) New Delhi: A makeover for Air India's cabin crew is in the offing soon with an internal committee, mostly comprising the in-flight staff, suggesting various sartorial options for draping themselves. A 10-member committee, set up from within the ranks and headed by the General Manager for Cabin Crew, has suggested various options for patterns, material, texture and colours, among other things for the cabin crew uniform in its report, a senior Air India official said. The options in the report are now being evaluated by the management before taking a final call on the issue, he said. The cabin crew strength in Air India currently stands at around 4,000. "The use of indigenous fabric 'khadi' for draping the cabin crew is one of the several choices suggested by the committee," the official said, not ruling out the possibility of the management looking at this option keeping in view the Prime Minister's flagship project 'Make in India'. Significantly, the cabin crew operating Air India One, the official aircraft of the President, the Prime Minister and the Vice-President, during a recent official trip of Modi to Belgium and the US was all draped in khadi uniform. "This was for the first time that such a committee was set up at the airline with all its members drawn from the cabin crew from across regional bases and also across fleets - wide-body and narrow-body. The idea was to give them a flexibility and freedom to chose the uniform they feel comfortable with," the official said, "Sampling of the clothing based on the committee's suggestions is being carried out currently. Once this exercise is completed, the samples would be placed before the authorities concerned for a final view," the official said. The state-owned carrier had in April 2015 given a makeover to the cabin crew uniform. At that time, while retaining the traditional saree as part of the uniform, it had introduced kurtis, churidars and trousers, besides Western style clothing to give a more contemporary look to its flight attendants. Air India had the uniforms designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. Indias Silicon Valley will be unliveable in the next five years screams an alarmist headline in leading English newspaper "Deccan Herald". It has carried an article based on a study conducted by the reputed Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru which presents a bleak picture for the city.The IISC study claims that Bengaluru has witnessed an alarming growth of builtup area in the last 40 years. The growth has been a phenomenal 525%. It also says that the vegetation of the once Green City Bengaluru has seen a decline of 78%.The city also known as "Lake City" has lost 79% of its water bodies during the same period."These are not just figures, but the lakes and trees that surrounded you have quietly disappeared as a result of the urban sprawl," says the IISC study.According to Professor TV Ramachandra of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the IISc the city is seeing a mad, senseless growth and its consequences can be disastrous in the near future.He warns that Bengaluru, the most sought after city in India till a few years ago, will be unliveable and a dead city within the next five years. A rag picker prepares to pack a sack filled with recyclable materials at a garbage dump in Bangalore. (Photo: Reuters)Till recently, Bengaluru was known as Indias only naturally air-conditioned city because of its pleasant weather all through the year. The British made it a garrison city after the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799.They liked the place so much and even started calling it a home away from home. Bengaluru was a small provincial town till the 1970s with a modest population.Situated 3000 feet above sea level, Bengaluru has no rivers. Over 600 small and big lakes kept the city cool and green.But the economic boom in the last two decades has destroyed most of them. The city gets water from Cauvery river which flows almost a thousand feet below and 100 KM away through giant pipes. If the Cauvery dries up, Bengaluru will turn into a desert.The economic liberalisation of the early 1990s changed the city forever. In the last 25 years, its population has gone up by 150% - from a manageable 40 lakh to unmanageable 1 crore plus in 2016.Many old time city residents lament that "land has become scarce, decent economy has now become hyper and politics is rotten".Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is held responsible for the decline of a great city. BDA is accused of functioning like a real estate agency.According to the Deccan Herald, former principal chief conservator of forests AN Yallappa Reddy, the government should use 40,000 acres of land reclaimed after evicting squatters for community benefits such as creating lung space, water bodies and playgrounds.The IISC study clearly says "decongest immediately or perish forever".The study may be an alarmist one and Bengaluru may not become unliveable in just five years. But it is a fact that the future is bleak for a wonderful city. The weather department has predicted rain for Tuesday in Uttarakhand, which has been battling forest fire that has gutted over 2200 hectares of forest land. This comes as a major relief for the state where the Centre has deployed NDRF and IAF for rescue operations. While the NDRF has claimed that 70% of the affected area has been brought under control, the authorities have said that only 11 fires remain in the state, adding that small fires remain the cause of concern. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation, assuring that the fire would be brought under control in the next three to four days. I immediately sent DG forests. He is there and is leading the operations. The amount required has been released. PMO, NDRF and IAF are working together, I am sure the fire will be brought under control in coming 3-4 days, he said. There was no end to the politics either over the forest fire, with Congress rebel and former CM Vijay Bahuguna blaming the ousted government of having no contingency plan to contain such forest fires. He also blamed late deployment of forces for the tragedy. Meanwhile, there were reports that the fire has spread to neighbouring Himachal Pradesh with outbreaks spotted in rural Shimla. A sporadic fire erupted in a forest of Cheed trees near IIT Nahan on Sunday. The entire area surrounding the forest was engulfed in smoke and fire tenders had a hard time making their way inside the forest due to the terrain. The fire is supposed to have caused heavy losses to the forest. Forest officials suspect the unprecedented fire could be a man-made disaster. Several people have been arrested so far. The fire, which started in the first week of February, has killed seven people and destroyed 2,269 hectares of forested land. New Delhi: Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "doctoring" information on his date of birth and his educational qualifications and threatened to reveal the 'facts' behind his degrees on Tuesday. Party leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters that Modi has been "doctoring information" on his date of birth and educational qualifications. He claimed Congress spokesman Shaktisinh Gohil is coming from Gujarat with all the documents and would be addressing a press conference on Tuesday on the issue of educational qualifications of the Prime Minister. On Sunday, Vice-Chancellor of the University MN Patel said that Modi completed his post-graduation in political science from Gujarat University in 1983 and had scored 62.3 per cent as an external student of the varsity. Patel revealed the information days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Central Information Commission (CIC) of covering up the Prime Minister's educational qualifications. Congress had on Sunday alleged "discrepancies" in Modi's date of birth. "In students' register of MN College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Narendra Modi's date of birth is mentioned as August 29, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950," Gohil had said in Ahmedabad. Gohil had also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modi's Masters degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. New Delhi: Business tycoon Vijay Mallya, facing a case of loan default of over Rs 9,400 crore, resigned on Monday from Rajya Sabha, a day before its Ethics Committee was set to recommend his expulsion. In his resignation letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, he said he does not want his "name and reputation to be further dragged in the mud". "And since recent events suggest that I will not get a fair trial or justice, I am hereby resigning as a member of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect," Mallya said in the letter. Sources however said his letter to Ansari was a scanned copy - which is not proper procedure - and that he may still be expelled from Parliament. This is Mallya's second term in Rajya Sabha and it would have otherwise come to an end on July 1. Welcoming the decision, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shaina NC said, "This will set a precedent. Mallya now must pay back the Rs 9000 crore he owes to banks." The ethics panel of Rajya Sabha, which had taken up the matter, had unanimously decided in its April 25 meeting that Mallya should no longer remain a member of the House and was planning to recommend his expulsion in its next meeting on Tuesday. At the same time, the panel headed by Karan Singh had given Mallya one week time to explain his conduct, which some members described as "procedural formality." The government had over a week ago revoked his diplomatic passport and approached UK for his deportation. Commemorating what would have renowned cartoonist Mario de Miranda's 90th birthday, Google has posted an illustrative doodle on its homepage today.Miranda had not formally studied Art and started his career as a cartoonist for The Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly of India in 1953 and also illustrated numerous books including, andHis works were inspired by the bustling city of Mumbai and often featured complex, multi-layered scenes with each character maintaining its individuality.The beloved illustrator had also been invited to sketch and exhibit in many countries including the US, Japan, Germany, Spain, and France.He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and All India Cartoonists's Association, Bangalore, honoured him with a lifetime achievement award. He was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan on 4 April 2012.Guest doodler Aaron Renier, who is also a comic artist, has created today's doodle. The doodle is inspired by Mario's work and picked on his most popular style - flat with criss-crossing interactions.In honour of the cartoonist, the doodle shows a rich litany of people, each unique in their perspective. Washington: Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Wednesday slammed US President Barack Obama's foreign policy, alleging it is a "complete disaster" and has "weakened" the country. "Our foreign policy is a complete and total disaster. No vision, no purpose, no direction, no strategy," Trump said in his first major foreign policy speech here after he declared himself as a "presumptive nominee" when he won primaries in all the five States. He alleged that Obama has weakened US military by weakening its economy. "He has crippled us with wasteful spending, massive debt, low growth, a huge trade deficit and open borders. Our manufacturing trade deficit with the world is now approaching $1 trillion a year. We are rebuilding other countries while weakening our own," he said. The real-estate tycoon said "the legacy of the Obama-Clinton interventions will be weakness, confusion, and disarray." "We have made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before. We left Christians subject to intense persecution and even genocide. Our actions in Iraq, Libya and Syria have helped unleash ISIS. And we are in a war against radical Islam, but President Obama wont even name the enemy," he said. Attacking his Democratic counterpart Hillary Clinton, Trump said, "She also refuses to say the words 'radical Islam', even as she pushes for a massive increase in refugees." "After Secretary Clinton's failed intervention in Libya, Islamic terrorists in Benghazi took down our consulate and killed our ambassador and three brave Americans. Then, instead of taking charge that night, Hillary Clinton decided to go home and sleep! Incredible," he alleged. "Clinton blames it all on a video, an excuse that was a total lie. Our Ambassador was murdered and our Secretary of State misled the nation and by the way, she was not awake to take that call at 3 o'clock in the morning. And now ISIS is making millions of dollars a week selling Libyan oil," he alleged. Trump said that because of Obama's foreign policies, "rivals no longer respect the US". "In fact, they are just as confused as our allies, but an even bigger problem is that they don't take us seriously any more. When President Obama landed in Cuba on Air Force One, no leader was there to meet or greet him perhaps an incident without precedent in the long and prestigious history of Air Force One," he said. "Then, amazingly, the same thing happened in Saudi Arabia -- it's called no respect. Do you remember when the President made a long and expensive trip to Copenhagen, Denmark to get the Olympics for our country, and, after this unprecedented effort, it was announced that the United States came in fourth place," he said. "He should have known the result before making such an embarrassing commitment. The list of humiliations goes on and on. President Obama watches helplessly as North Korea increases its aggression and expands even further with its nuclear reach," he said. He alleged that Obama has allowed China to continue its "economic assault" on American jobs and wealth, refusing to enforce trade rules or apply the leverage on China necessary to rein in North Korea. "He has even allowed China to steal government secrets with cyber attacks and engage in industrial espionage against the United States and its companies. We have let our rivals and challengers think they can get away with anything. If President Obama's goal had been to weaken America, he could not have done a better job," Trump alleged. Rome/New Delhi: A UN arbitration tribunal has ruled in favour of an Italian marine, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at the Hague. Two Italian marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy in New Delhi. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN Court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi that the Arbitral Tribunal unanimously prescribed that India and Italy would approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of bail conditions of Girone. He said the tribunal left it to the Supreme Court to fix the precise conditions of Girone's bail and noted that while the marine may return to Italy during the present arbitration, he would remain under the authority of India's apex court. The tribunal's order is expected to be made public on Tuesday. Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was "misrepresenting" the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. "While remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, he may return to Italy for the duration of the present arbitration. The Tribunal confirmed Italy's obligation to return him to India in case it was found that India had jurisdiction over him in respect of the incident. "The Tribunal left it to the Supreme Court of India to fix the precise conditions of Salvatore Girone's bail. This could include him reporting to an authority in Italy designated by our Supreme Court, surrendering his passport to Italian authorities and not leaving Italy without the permission of our Supreme Court," Swarup said. He said Italy will have to apprise the Supreme Court of his situation every three months. "Let me also emphasise that the Tribunal placed on record undertakings given by Italy in regard to Girone's return to India. It noted that these undertakings constitute an obligation binding upon Italy under international law. "It has also confirmed that Italy is under an obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India if the Tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him," the MEA spokesperson said. Girone is one of the two Italian marines - on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Swarup said the tribunal considered that provisional measures should not alter the situation where the Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction over Girone. "Government is studying the order which was received today. It would, in due course, approach the Supreme Court for its directions on this matter. "We believe that Government's consistent positions and key arguments in this particular case have been recognised by the Tribunal. The authority of the Supreme Court has been upheld. We remain confident that the issue of jurisdiction will be determined in our favour," the MEA spokesperson said. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. In 2015, Italy had sought international arbitration in the case under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Arbitral Tribunal was requested by Italy to prescribe provisional measures for the duration of the arbitration which is expected to conclude in 2018. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Meanwhile, Italian new agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi)" after the news that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence, as per ANSA. Washington: Nearly 250 delegates short of bagging the Republican presidential nomination, party front- runner Donald Trump has exuded confidence that he would be able to defeat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton very easily in the November general elections. "Every week boom, boom, boom, I knocked them off," Trump told his supporters in California referring to the defeat of other Republican candidates by him. From 17, only three are left in the fray. "She (Hillary) will go down easier than any of the people we just beat. You are going to have an unbelievably good result in November," 69-year-old Trump said. Trump on Friday claimed that he has crossed the 1,000 delegate mark. He needs 1237 delegates to earn the party's presidential nomination. His other two presidential rivals Senator Ted Cruz from Texas and Governor John Kasich from Ohio are lagging far behind Trump in delegate count. In order to prevent him from becoming a party nominee, Cruz and Kasich have reached a strategic alliance to campaign in different States during the rest of the primaries. Meanwhile, the controversial real-estate tycoon had to face public protest in California for the second consecutive day. "That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," he said when he took the stage. According to reports, Trump and his staff had parked their vehicles, crossed a median and entered the building through a side door to avoid protesters. "My wife called and said there were helicopters following you... and then we went under a fence and through a fence. Oh boy, it felt like I was crossing the border, actually," he said. Trump's rival Cruz condemned these protestors alleging that they are trying to silence a voice that they do not like. Cruz is more than 400 delegates away from Trump. The two are battling out in Indiana where the next round of primaries is scheduled. A latest poll suggested that Trump has 41 per cent support followed by 32 per cent from Cruz and 21 per cent by Kasich. Trump told his supporters that he is on his way to be the party nomination. Meanwhile Republican women lawmakers urged Trump to have a women on his vice presidential ticket. "I would suggest a woman, because some of the remarks he has made about women are not going to help him appeal to some of the 53 per cent of the voting populace that are women," Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis said. Trump would be well served by a running mate with more discipline to balance his unpredictability, she said. "He has succeeded on the strength of his personality, so having a regional balance, as frequently happens, is not as important as perhaps having a personality balance," she said. Atop Wintergreen Mountain sits a three-story house with a patio and a steep driveway. Inside is a personal museum of collectibles ranging from beautiful dolls, porcelain breakables, dozens of photographs and themed tables set for the current holiday. The home belongs to 94-year-old Julia Manherz, whose warm and energetic personality is as fierce as her fiery red hair. Manherz sits in her living room, catty-corner from a large portrait of her and her late husband, Jack Manherz. Ive got pictures of Jack everywhere, she said. He was so gorgeous. He looked like William Holden. He was drop-dead gorgeous and so healthy looking. The two were married for 47 years, until he died of pancreatic cancer 15 years ago. At her age, she still gets around, even driving a Cadillac to run all of her errands. She wears blue eye shadow and red lipstick and high heels. A petit woman, she has an elephant-sized memory that includes her career in the film industry as a supporting actress. One of five children one boy and four girls Manherz was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, to parents of Greek heritage who immigrated to America to open a clothing store, Jims Oxford Shop. Manherz still speaks fluent Greek. She longed to be a movie star but with strict parents, there were obstacles, she said. At age 11, during a spat with her sister, Betty, she recalls singing and discovering her soprano voice. And after that, all growing up, all I wanted to do was be in show business, she said. She met her first husband, a pilot named Cecil Dunk Duncan, during an evening out at an officers club with Betty. After he asked her to dance, he looked at her and said, youre just the kind of girl Ive always wanted to marry, Manherz recalled. I got so upset, she said. I said, No, I dont even kiss boys on the second date. He had some nerve, I wanted a career. I didnt want to get married and have children. Dunk was 5 years older than her and, at age 23, he was heading to England in a week to fight in World War II. They married anyway. I was so unhappy during that first week, she said. They say, if youre unhappy, youll either cry and cry and cry or laugh and cant stop laughing. Well guess what? We were at the altar, the priest was about to marry us and I couldnt stop laughing. Her parents didnt speak to or forgive her until a year later, when the two welcomed their son, Tommy, into the world, she said. They also had a daughter, Debbie, who died of breast cancer about eight years ago. She describes Dunk as a wonderful human being who never argued with her and gave her everything she ever wanted. He wrote beautiful love letters but never talked much. Id say, Say something and he would say, Well what do you want me to say and Id say, Anything. Tell me how an onion grows, she said. After 13 years of marriage, Dunk died in a car wreck. While she was living in Inglewood, California, a talent agent took Manherz to see movie studios in Hollywood. 20th Century Fox was the biggest and the best, she said. She had a screen test with one of the other actors to show how well she appeared onscreen. When she met with the manager of the studio, he told her she was a natural-born actress, Manherz said. She signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox and starred in western films and was featured on billboard ads under the name Judy Duncan. She remembers working with film director and producer Harold Lloyd. He opened more doors for me, you would never believe. She knew stars like Vera Ellen, who she worked with on Big Leaguer; Gregory Peck, who she worked with on "Twelve O'Clock High;" and Frank Sinatra. After acting, she went on to modeling in Norfolk and Virginia Beach and even opened her own modeling school called American Beauty Charm and Modeling School. While she was still married to Dunk, Manherz met Jack, who she described as the love of her life. Though the two would only have dinner together once in a while, Jack always told Manherz he was not the marrying kind. After Dunk died, the two began dating and Jack would visit her on the weekends but never told her he loved her. After a jealous spat involving a doctor who was treating Manherz for a concussion, Jack showed up on her doorstep and told her he had decided to get married. I said, Who is she? and he said, Its you, she recalled. When he was dying, he said, Youre the best woman I could have ever married and, just think, I didnt want to get married. She said she misses him every day and when other suitors came along asking to take her out, she said, Im waiting to join my darling in heaven. Now Manherz lives in the large house the couple designed from the ground up. The home is filled with memories and photographs on the walls of beauty shots from Hollywood and her co-stars as well as photos of family members. Tommy Harvey, member of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors and owner of Afton Service Center, said he met both Manherz and her husband when they moved to the area. Harvey worked on their cars. Shes a wonderful person with so much knowledge and excitement in her life, he said. When you talk to her, to be 94 years old, shes just like a 40-year-old. She has a very young soul. Bette Bowman, of Henrico, has been friends with Manherz since 2000. She is the most interesting and intriguing individual Ive ever met in my life, she said She is entertaining and she has more life stories than most people would have in 100 lifetimes. Bowman said she is completely enamored by her loveliness and charm, calling her vibrant, healthy, beautiful, active and can do anything and everything. Like Harvey said she said the 94 year old doesnt look her age by at least 20 years. She doesnt act or move like her age either. She says Manherz is remarkable and is an ageless beauty. She is truly one of a kind, Bowman said. The secret to a long and happy life? Live life with a lot of love, understanding and happiness, Manherz said. Be active and caring. Ive had a wonderful life. Ive had my disappointments; Ive had my happy moments. Stay busy and dont think negative, just be with the Lord. Skeptics of Gov. Terry McAuliffes decision to grant Norfolk Southern Corp. nearly $2 million in state taxpayer money to move jobs from Roanoke to Hampton Roads included officials at the agency that administered the deal. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership discussed reasons to kill the plan in October when the railroad sought last-minute reductions of jobs and other commitments, and officials at the agency repeatedly questioned the grant amount, according to records obtained by The Roanoke Times. Rob McClintock, the partnerships vice president of research, wondered whether the investment was justified. Sort of like when my wife shows me how much we save by going to the outlets, he told colleagues by email. Ultimately, McAuliffe approved $1.925 million in state money for the railroad to ship 165 jobs from Roanoke to Norfolk, a move announced in March, six months after the governor signed off on a grant. In addition to the state money, the railroad expects to receive a $2.25 million break on municipal parking expenses from the city of Norfolk under a performance agreement approved last month by the city council. The agreement, which has all its required signatures, could trigger the release of the state grant to the railroad within a month. That would end a saga that began with Norfolk Southerns bombshell Jan. 27, 2015, announcement that it would close its office tower in Roanoke and ship 500 jobs to Norfolk and Atlanta. The following day, state Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones began a drive to get the railroad tax money as an incentive to keep jobs in Virginia. Inside the partnership, senior staff ran the numbers and wrote reports to assist Jones but questioned the deal. Agency officials angst echoed what some Roanoke-area lawmakers said after learning earlier this year of the planned payout. The state grant would be drawn from the Commonwealths Opportunity Fund, formerly the Governors Opportunity Fund, a pool of tens of millions of dollars in tax money used by governors to entice businesses to add jobs in the state. That incentive and others are being scrutinized by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the General Assemblys investigative arm, as part of a study of the partnership, which has served as Virginias economic development agency for more than 20 years. State law generally prohibits dipping into the opportunity fund to shift jobs from one Virginia community to another. But the move is allowed when the commerce secretary sends a prompt, written justification to the chairmen of the General Assemblys money committees. Agency records include an Aug. 28, 2015, letter addressed to those officials and signed by Jones explaining the Norfolk Southern deal. Compete aggressively Jones has said he decided to compete aggressively to dissuade the railroad from making good on a warning it could move all 500 Roanoke jobs to Atlanta. State officials see any loss of Norfolk Southern jobs from Virginia as more reason to fear the eventual shuttering of the companys headquarters in Norfolk, Jones said. He negotiated with James Squires, who became Norfolk Southerns CEO in June 2015, and Executive Vice President James Hixon, both friends from his days in Norfolk, wrote Liz Povar, vice president of business expansion at the partnership. Jones worked from 2005 to 2012 in the Norfolk area for Landmark Media Enterprises, former owner of The Roanoke Times. He served as publisher of The Virginian-Pilot, a Landmark paper, from 2008 to 2012 and is a Norfolk resident. In a Feb. 3, 2015, email to Jones, Hixon wrote that the railroad had been analyzing the funds available in Georgia under various job programs. I would like to talk with you or someone from your office about possible incentives from Virginia, Hixon wrote. Railroad spokeswoman Susan Terpay said the railroad told Virginia that a number of locations were under consideration for the Roanoke office functions and the jobs they represented. Atlanta and Norfolk were the two finalists, she said. Hixon gave Virginia about 30 days to make an offer. The company wanted to notify Roanoke employees where their jobs were going in the near future, he said. Jones told partnership staff he wanted all the jobs transferred to Norfolk but believed that an even split between that city and Atlanta was more realistic, Povar wrote. Povar recommended Virginia offer the railroad no grant unless all jobs stayed in Virginia. Her colleagues agreed. Agency officials later relaxed that stance and began to formulate a possible offer for a share of the jobs. Sandi McNinch, the partnerships general counsel, wondered about the amount. $3 million sounds like an awful lot The number isnt up to me, but $3 million sounds like an awful lot for jobs that are not net new jobs in Virginia, McNinch wrote in a Feb. 9, 2015, email. Can we get away with a smaller token number? Theyll put the executive jobs where it makes business sense to have executive jobs. Im not sure the size of the incentive will be particularly---. The remainder of McNinchs thought was redacted in the records she provided to The Roanoke Times. The amount of Jones offer to the railroad a short time later and other details of the negotiations also are redacted under an open-records act exception that protects disclosures that could adversely affect state finances. Railroad officials advised that Virginias offer did not blow away Georgias, Povar told the partnership team Feb. 12, 2015. Georgias economic development arm, Invest Atlanta, considered offering Norfolk Southern a financing package to help defray the cost of improving the railroads Atlanta headquarters, according to agency records. That deal didnt go through. Jones said he wanted to save as many jobs as possible. He got some relief when the railroad reduced the number of jobs it planned to move from 500 to 426 after deciding to leave some office staff in place. Among those holding jobs still scheduled to relocate, 135 declined to go. That left about 290 available to move. Pay also mattered, Jones said. The higher the wages, the sooner the state could recover its grant through income tax revenue. The state tries to limit grants to no more than three times the additional income tax revenue it expects to collect annually from new jobs. In the case of the railroad jobs, state officials decided to call any jobs relocated from Roanoke to Norfolk new jobs. Employee number falls However, the number of Norfolk Southern employees in Virginia has fallen by more than a fourth, from 4,530 a year ago to 3,240 after various furloughs related to a cost-cutting plan. Reasoning that all, rather than only some, of the Roanoke jobs could leave the state, Jones pressed ahead. He issued preliminary approval Feb. 19 to offer the railroad $2.5 million for 182 jobs with an average annual pay of $120,807 and an investment by the company of $2 million in its corporate headquarters in Norfolk. That raised eyebrows. This could be an historic occasion where the state investment exceeds the private sector investment! McClintock, a 17-year agency veteran, wrote to colleagues. Virginia has never before awarded a GOF grant for an amount greater than the projects private sector capital investment. If its being considered, its something that [Jones] should consciously pause and reflect on and be comfortable with before moving forward. And I think its our job to raise these issues for reflection in case there are public inquiries about this and the visual optics of it all, once done. On March 16, 2015, less than a month after Jones preliminary approval, the railroad donated $25,000 to Common Good VA, McAuliffes political action committee. During the spring or summer that year, Norfolk Southern increased its pledged investment to $9 million, as the company wound down its Roanoke operations and employees pondered whether to stick with the railroad. That amount met the opportunity funds investment standard. But Katherine Goodwin, a research manager at the partnership, wondered about another standard. State law requires grant recipients to create at least 50 new jobs. Saved versus new The Roanoke jobs bound for Norfolk were described in agency paperwork as saved jobs. Do you know if these are new? Goodwin asked Povar. We called them new to qualify for GOF, because they were slated to go to Atlanta, Povar wrote. Partnership officials calculated income taxes from the relocated jobs as new revenue that would allow the state to recover its outlay. By July, workers in Roanoke had begun moving to Norfolk. McAuliffe approved the grant proposal in September. In an email to Jones a few days later, the governor wrote: Great chat with Norfolk southern folks. Atlanta putting push to move them but not happening. At least as long as I am sitting here! Jones replied, Great. Thanks. Jim is a big advocate for us, McAuliffe added. Yes he is! Jones wrote. The names of Hixon and Squires both were scrawled on notes Povar took during a Jan. 28, 2015, phone conversation with Jones about Norfolk Southern. Hixon donated $10,000 to McAuliffes campaign in 2013, while Squires gave $1,000 to the governors PAC in mid-2015. At the time of the governors exchange with his commerce secretary, officials were readying for an announcement, crafting performance agreements as a public relations officer started work on a news release. Then the deal almost crashed. On Oct. 1, Randal Noe, a lawyer for the railroad, sent revisions that shocked partnership staff. The number of jobs and the anticipated average pay had been cut. Details were redacted. Crap, Povar said by email. Jones wrote, Never a dull moment! Kara Hart, the partnerships assistant general counsel, said: This last minute change is a signal that NS has a full Atlanta consolidation plan underway that may not be reversible. The public relations officer backtracked on the news release, ditching language that mentioned 182 jobs. McClintock recommended two options for reducing the proposed grant and a third option that began gaining traction among partnership officials. Scenario 3: Stop the deal altogether, he wrote. I prefer Scenario 3, he added. McNinch said she could live with giving the railroad a grant, but I prefer scenario #3. Povar summarized the options and said she wanted the decision left in the hands of the Administration. That Oct. 5 email referred to a draft memo that said, In this version the recommendation is made that the COF be rescinded. Jones himself appeared ready to call it off. 10-year commitment? Norfolk city officials, who also were part of the negotiations, wanted a commitment from the railroad to keep the added jobs in town for 10 years. Norfolk Southern balked, countering with a proposal for a shorter duration on the jobs. The length was redacted from agency records provided to the newspaper. No to Norfolk Southern, Jones wrote to partnership staff Oct. 11. Must have 10 years on the jobs. Povar asked her boss if she should stand firm with the railroad. Martin Briley, the partnership CEO at the time, said Jones would do it. This is his deal so I suspect he will follow-up to tell them, Briley wrote. While the railroad committed in mid-October to Jones mandate of 10 years on the jobs, months passed with little progress on negotiations. Finally, in January, almost a year after talks began, Jones told partnership staff that he and Norfolk Southern had a deal. The partnership cut the opportunity fund grant from $2.5 million to $1.925 million, a reduction of 23 percent. That was based on the railroad reducing the number of jobs to 165 and the average annual pay to $97,000. Partnership records indicate Virginia will lose money on the deal, but not as much as the state would have lost had all the jobs gone to Atlanta. How much the state might lose is unclear. That information was redacted. Red Hulk, Ronin, and more: 10 Heroes and Villains whose secret identities were hidden from readers There's a longstanding superhero tradition of hiding the identity of certain characters even from readers A local Chattanooga student is back home after attending a leadership program this spring the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. Victor Cheng, who attends the McCallie School, was selected to join 320 students from 36 countries and 30 U.S. states to participate. The Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy is a scholarship program for children of Honeywell employees, uses interactive technology and science-oriented workshops and team exercises to teach them leadership skills in science, technology, engineering and math. The week-long program runs twice in the spring at the USSRC in Huntsville and is open to all students, ages 16-18, of current full-time Honeywell employees. HLCA provides innovative activities that develop students leadership skills through technology and science-oriented workshops, lectures, and team exercises. Activities are delivered in fun and exciting ways that bring STEM studies to life, said officials. Students meet scientists, engineers and former astronauts who help reinforce core leadership competencies and share their first-hand experience. Students engage in team-building challenges such as designing, building and testing their own model rockets; participating in simulated astronaut training sessions, shuttle missions and a moon walk; and performing scientific experiments and other activities. Each year, several hundred students apply for admission to one of the two week-long sessions. The sessions run consecutively. Entry into the program is granted after an application and review process based on academic achievement and community involvement. Since its launch in 2010, Honeywell, in partnership with the USSRC, has awarded more than 1,770 scholarships to students. For more information about the program, visit http://leadership.honeywell.com/ The supernatural takes on social issues DR GLENVILLE ASHBY HOW VIVIDLY we recall childhood tales of bogeymen ever ready to snatch the souls of the living. We listened with bulging eyes and gaping mouths as we heard of phantoms and other mythical characters bearing names that burrowed into our subconscious only to emerge with the slightest trigger. These stories terrified, at times serving to quiet our incorrigible. indiscipline nature. That is what they were meant to do. In the age of technology ghost stories are still extant but they have gone through a transformative process, a peeling away of old skin to take on a new look in a substantively different world. In The Haunted Tropics a modern-day thriller, there is the unmistakable presence of zombies. deceptive spirits, earthbound. souls, and flawed characters that dabble in the occult, but they never wield the same dread as their counterparts of bygone years. The macabre gives way to a joie de vivre, an optimism and excitability. Here, suspense and darkness trail an ever present feeling of rebirth. A psychological labyrinth weaves through Helen Klonaris Ghost Children, a pulsating, climatic tale of mediumship that challenges religious and social norms. Here, the unquiet dead call for attention; they too have their story to tell. And it is through the protagonist that they find a channel. Secrets, hushed desires, collective judgments against individual will are unearthed. And throughout. sexual femininity yearns for expression. Maybe Renoulas gift isnt a curse after all, but a truth serum, a catharsis for the living and dead. Obeah man, Obeahed is more about respect for the individual spirit than the necromantic wiles of Carmelien who tempts fate by transforming Bella into a zombie upon her passing. Once spurned. he anticipates a better outcome as his lascivious desires simmer uncontrollably. But his ploy backfires. He too is entombed alive. if only for him to fully register Natures retaliation. [H]e was wrapped in a fog. He was incapable of making the slightest movement. but he heard everything. Every sound was magnified and amplified: a beetle that had flown into the room by mistake the evening before banged into the walls seeking a way out; a rat or mouse scratched furiously in the corner. The lesson is lucid: As tempting as it seems we cannot force others to surrender to our will. We risk a tragic outcome if we ignore the law. Geoffrey Philip shines as a raconteur as his poignantly witty expressions litter Dawn of the Dread. a spin-off from the movie, Night of the Living Dead. This time, the scene and culture are all Jamaican. Before my father died, he writes. I used to work [in the shop] but I never liked the smell of mackerel. salt fish and pigtails over my clothes. The kids in school used to tease me and say, Chinee dread. how come you smell like pork? All they see is the colour of my skin and the shape of my eyes But beneath the levity is his uncompromising position on the legalisation of cannabis and the banning of genetic modified organisms (GMOs). His herbs. he boasts are cultivated with care and precision, and more over. with natural fertilisers. And it is his produce that saves many who are transformed into dreadlocked zombies after smoking or inhaling inferior, artificial-laden marijuana. He recalls his daring efforts: I blessed the fire, prayed to Jah that our sacrifice would be worthy and that the smoke of this herb would rise like burnt offering and per Book: The Haunted Tropics: Caribbean Ghost Stories Editor: Martin Munro DR GLENVILLE ASHBY HOW VIVIDLY we recall childhood tales of bogeymen ever ready to snatch the souls of the living. We listened with bulging eyes and gaping mouths as we heard of phantoms and other mythical characters bearing names that burrowed into our subconscious only to emerge with the slightest trigger. These stories terrified, at times serving to quiet our incorrigible. indiscipline nature. That is what they were meant to do. In the age of technology ghost stories are still extant but they have gone through a transformative process, a peeling away of old skin to take on a new look in a substantively different world. In The Haunted Tropics a modern-day thriller, there is the unmistakable presence of zombies. deceptive spirits, earthbound. souls, and flawed characters that dabble in the occult, but they never wield the same dread as their counterparts of bygone years. The macabre gives way to a joie de vivre, an optimism and excitability. Here, suspense and darkness trail an ever present feeling of rebirth. A psychological labyrinth weaves through Helen Klonaris Ghost Children, a pulsating, climatic tale of mediumship that challenges religious and social norms. Here, the unquiet dead call for attention; they too have their story to tell. And it is through the protagonist that they find a channel. Secrets, hushed desires, collective judgments against individual will are unearthed. And throughout. sexual femininity yearns for expression. Maybe Renoulas gift isnt a curse after all, but a truth serum, a catharsis for the living and dead. Obeah man, Obeahed is more about respect for the individual spirit than the necromantic wiles of Carmelien who tempts fate by transforming Bella into a zombie upon her passing. Once spurned. he anticipates a better outcome as his lascivious desires simmer uncontrollably. But his ploy backfires. He too is entombed alive. if only for him to fully register Natures retaliation. [H]e was wrapped in a fog. He was incapable of making the slightest movement. but he heard everything. Every sound was magnified and amplified: a beetle that had flown into the room by mistake the evening before banged into the walls seeking a way out; a rat or mouse scratched furiously in the corner. The lesson is lucid: As tempting as it seems we cannot force others to surrender to our will. We risk a tragic outcome if we ignore the law. Geoffrey Philip shines as a raconteur as his poignantly witty expressions litter Dawn of the Dread. a spin-off from the movie, Night of the Living Dead. This time, the scene and culture are all Jamaican. Before my father died, he writes. I used to work [in the shop] but I never liked the smell of mackerel. salt fish and pigtails over my clothes. The kids in school used to tease me and say, Chinee dread. how come you smell like pork? All they see is the colour of my skin and the shape of my eyes But beneath the levity is his uncompromising position on the legalisation of cannabis and the banning of genetic modified organisms (GMOs). His herbs. he boasts are cultivated with care and precision, and more over. with natural fertilisers. And it is his produce that saves many who are transformed into dreadlocked zombies after smoking or inhaling inferior, artificial-laden marijuana. He recalls his daring efforts: I blessed the fire, prayed to Jah that our sacrifice would be worthy and that the smoke of this herb would rise like burnt offering and perfume the mansions in heaven. In Shani Mootoos The Bonnaire Silk Cotton Tree, Nandita Sharma is an aspiring photographer. We rally behind her. She is unyielding. confident, determined to buck the trend. But the world is unresponsive. She does not quit; she pushes the envelop making a Faustian deal like no other. Her discourse with a harrowing spirit that resides at the foot of the legendary cotton tree could be her ticket to stardom, but there is a far more compelling message. This archfiend embodies the victims of all the murdered souls that roam the island. Bursting at the seams from this carnage. he too craves an outlet - to be seen - to be heard - to be photographed by only Sharma a feat made possible by the power of darkness, And what better time than JOuvert morning in Trinidad to showcase the evils fomenting through that nation. The warning from this demon is telling. provocative: We will make our selves visible to all and sundry Every person who got killed on this island since the beginning of the first injustice to the present-day victims of robberies and drug-related and poverty-related. greed-related and envy-, and jealously and power-related crimesYou think the dead dont bleed? Wait! Youll see! It is a mystical arrangement made in hell. And we are moved to ask: Can good come from evil? And in Travelling. an inscrutable offering by writer Patricia Powell, the indissoluble bond between the living and the dead is spelled out. The ancestors are ever present. guiding, consoling. instructing. They forgive our transgression. serving as a reservoir of psychic and spiritual development. It is an intense journey into consciousness and all its possibilities. And equally engaging are Anansi, The Wedding Photograph. The Voyage of the Centipede. Fantom, and in truth, just about every tale that appears in this captivating delivery. The Haunted Tropics is demonstrative of collective genius; that rare ability to coalesce different occult fantasies around a definitive worldly theme. Editor Martin Munro is proficient in ensuring that every contribution adds to the contextual framework of this unique undertaking. Straddling the phantasmagoria are enduring. ethical admonitions on the environment. violence, human dignity, and ancestral veneration. Therein is an inviting philosophical menu so eclectic that we return for more long after the final tale is served. The Haunted Tropics: Caribbean Ghost Stories Edited by Martin Munro (@) 2015 Publisher: University of the West Indies Press, Jamaica ISBN: 978-976-640- 551-9 Available at Amazon Ratings Sat: Look at age children having sex instead Maharaj made the comments during an interview with Newsday, when asked to comment on comments made by Chief Justice Ivor Archie about the minors marrying. Archie made the comments as a panelist at the NGC Bocas Lit Fests human rights seminar held at the National Library on Saturday. The CJ said at the seminar,We cant talk about the rights of children and have laws which allow people to marry minors. He was also reported to have said a lot of the conversation on gender and child marriage required an open societal conversation about religion. In response to comments made by Archie, Maharaj said under the Hindu Marriage Ordinance a Hindu Girl can be married at the age of 14 with parental consent. If you look at the statistics you will see that none of this took place this year nor last year. The discussion instead should focus on sex outside of marriage, he said to Newsday. Maharaj further said as it currently stands in the legislation it is simply a safety net for the young Hindu girls and boys. Many politicians, he said, were following international organisations who have made similar calls abroad. Instead, Maharaj said, the society needed to focus its attention on the age at which young people commence sexual activity and, encourage our young people to restrain themselves. He added that any change in legislation required a consultative process. A similar sentiment was echoed by Inter-Religious Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (IRO) head, Brother Harrypersad Maharaj in a phone interview with Newsday. He too said the focus of Governments attention should be on the high divorce rates and the disintegration of family life. He said, Each of the different religions have an age at which they allow marriage. It is something that has to be dealt with between the religious bodies and Government. The religious bodies, he added, held fast to their doctrines. There are obvious and specific reasons why people choose to marry at a particular age. That is not the practice today. All cultures practiced arranged marriages, he said. Maharaj said many young people in TT today were choosing who they wanted to marry and that it often resulted in quick divorces as many married for lust. Soon after marriage they have to wait six months to a year before they get a divorce, he said. He, too, said that it there werent many child marriage occurring in TT today. Maharaj said he would not support any move that is irrational. Any legislative change, he said, required due process and consultation. Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General, Stuart Young, said in an interview with Newsday that any such change required consultation. I have not seen the comments attributed to the honourable Chief Justice. However, before addressing any issues related to religion there would have to be a consultative process in part with the religious authorities, from the religious authorities of the respective religions. This process under the current administration has not yet been invoked. But this Government would have such a consultative process considering the addressing of the specific legislation. Wet weather to favour agriculture Kerr noted that for the seven day period, the country is likely to experience light to heavy showers. Rainfall totals are expected to range between 15.0 and 25.0 mm although temperatures are expected to remain warmer with maximum temperatures likely to peak near 34.0 Celsius in Trinidad and 31.0 Celsius in Tobago. He has advised farmers to keep their crops cool and retain moisture in crop root areas, after rainfall and wetting, by covering crops root areas with grass (mulching). Kerr said the forecast for improvement in the rainfall across Trinidad and Tobago will be beneficial for agriculture although there will still be a few dry days during the period. Both islands will still experience high temperatures and warm nights are expected to cotinue. Daytime average humidity percentage values are likely to be in the high 50 to 60 degree Celsius while wind speeds will continue to be moderate with moderate gusts, especially during the early afternoon, he noted. Kerr told Newsday that the wet weather conditions over the next few days will bring shortterm relief for the dry conditions, green up and improve grass fields and benefit farming and livestock operations in general across the country. He also noted that longer-term dryness will impact low water storage levels and drier than usual deep soil zones will remain for a bit longer. Kerr still encouraged farmers to continue mulching and also cautioned that the mixed conditions of wet and dry with high temperatures will favour some agriculture pests and diseases. The Meteorological Service yesterday issued a bulletin advising of inclement weather over a 6-8 hour period, yesterday. The bulletin noted that the islands were experiencing cloudy conditions with periods of rain and showers, some of which were moderate to heavy in intensity, and had been accompanied by strong winds at times. The bulletin went on to state that, Gusty winds were expected in the vicinity of heavy showers or thundershowers and there was the possisibilty of localised street or flash flooding in heavy or prolonged downpours. The weather activity was to the passage of a surface trough of low pressure being enhanced by favourable conditions in the upper levels of the atmosphere, according to the Met Service bulletin. Disband Service Commissions Each ministry should have its own disciplinary and human resource unit to do the work that service commissions do, he suggested on Saturday during the launch of his latest book, Inequality Crime & Education in Trinidad and Tobago: Removing the Masks, at the Radisson Hotel, Port-of-Spain. Referring specifically to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), of which he has been a member, Deosaran said the existing system of monitoring and investigation within service commissions was inadequate. There are teachers on suspension for years and receiving full pay, he told reporters. Some of them are even opening rum shops and driving PH (private hire) cars. We need a new vehicle (for disciplining workers in the public sector). In the absence of the model he is proposing, the former independent senator said the time has come to review the performance of all of the countrys service commissions. All of the service commissions should be reviewed on levels of efficiency and relevance given the manner in which society has evolved since 1962 (Trinidad and Tobagos Independence), he said. Deosaran said the TSC remains hard-pressed to fulfill its constitutional mandate to oversee the nations 14,000 teachers. When you have five people (TSC members) meeting once a month, it cant work. It is like trying to drive a car that is 40 years old up a steep hill, he said. Saying that there were too many persons with disciplinary matters pending for lengthy periods of time, Deosaran also complained about the number of persons in acting appointments in the system. These are injustices being done to good workers and you run the risk of getting them demoralised, he said. Traffic solution for Trincity Vehicular traffic was one of the main topics raised at a consultation meeting at the Bishop Anstey High School East on the construction of a proposed five-storey building by Bhagwansinghs Hardware at Trincity Central Road. Residents repeatedly raise the topic of the current traffic congestion and expressed concern for increased traffic once construction begins, and later because of the increase number of vehicles when the building opens for business. Regis noted that traffic would always be an issue, so it was necessary to apply a long term solution, regardless of the Bhagwasingh development. The issue of the traffic is a long-standing issue and Im well aware of it, said Regis. Based on that and what Im hearing today, I am giving you the undertaking that on Monday I will meet wit the Minister of Works and Transport to ask him and his team to meet with the Ministry of Planning and Development and come up with a solution to the traffic problem in this area. She assured residents that, within two months, she and Hinds would make a definitive statement on the issue. UWI receives $80M during Global Giving Week The cheque was presented by Republic Banks executive director Derwin Howell to outgoing principal of UWI Professor Clement Sankar and President Anthony Carmona during a reception at the Hilton Trinidad, on Friday night. It was also announced that night that Prof Brian Copeland was named as principal designate of the UWI, St Augustine. Vice Chancellor of UWI, Sir Hilary Beckles praised the institution as being one of the best in the world, touted against some of the other major universities. The time has now come for us to say to our graduates, this is the time now for you to come to your support for your university. They are looking to us to find a way to reduce our dependence on them and to find a path where we can be more self reliant. In that self reliance there is the importance of our graduates who have done well and we are proud of them We call upon them to find a way to make significant contribution to the institution that has made you a success. There is no limit to what we will receive from you because there is no limit to what are prepared to give you. We have given you the best can, we are asking you to give the best you can afford Beckles said. This give back week is a strategy to sustain the resources of this university in order to maintain the excellence we have achieved. He said the start of contributions would begin in the first week of August, Emancipation week, which he said symbolised reliance and taking responsibility for ourselves and education for our children. Emancipation week will forever be linked to the jubilation of freedom but also for the education of your families. The time has now come for us to say to our graduates, this is the time now for you to come to your support for our university. We need your support. Government support is having challenges in meeting the social needs of the country. They are looking to us to find a way to reduce our dependence on them and to find a path where we can be more self reliant. No longer Young and Restless But that has not kept Jason (not his real name) from leading one of the most successful businesses in Maloney. For many, his nondescript establishment, an institution in the hub of the eastern housing development, is the preferred choice for residents and visitors alike so much so that he has developed a loyal and respectable clientele over the years I have been around for 25 years. I have the reputation of being the first business on the streets of Maloney where people coulda get things to eat, Jason said with pride during a candid interview on Thursday. But for this laid-back entrepreneur, life in Maloney is no longer the heady, reckless affair he enjoyed as a youth. Rather, Jason said his days are spent at home where he often contemplates ways to ensure the happiness of his eight children, one of whom, a girl, lives abroad. I am proud of their success, he declared. I ask God everyday to bless them. I dont want any blessings for myself. And while some may hold him up as one of Maloneys notable success stories, Jason maintains that he no longer took pleasure in lofty accolades but was simply content to lead a decent life and mind my children. What I do now is feed my family, he said. Jason is a founding member of the notorious Young and Restless gang, which originated in Maloney during the 1980s and 90s and led a virtual reign of terror in communities throughout the country.. However, he revealed that quite unlike the wanton murders, brazen brutality and turf battles which have dominated the news headlines for more than a decade, the Young and Restless, during its heyday, functioned as an unofficial Robin Hood unit, where the focus was on helping the less fortunate in Maloney. We never robbed poor people. We took from the rich to give to the poor, he claimed, adding that many families in Maloney survived because of their concern and influence. I have even sent a few fellas away, back in the day, so that they could avoid making jail. He recalled that bars, groceries and jewel stores were among the businesses the gang often targeted for heists but luckily for me, I was able to get out before I got too deep. Unlike the days of the Young and Restless, Jason said the youths involved in crime were being misled by so-called gang leaders in hotspot communities. In fact, he claimed that the surviving members of the gang do not associate with the youths from the area and elsewhere currently involved in crime The gang leaders of today are really misleaders, he contends. I have never seen them take anybodys child to help build a community. They are just shooters out to build the blocks. Jason claimed that when members of the gang at times numbering up to 300 went to parties, it was more about bling and enjoying themselves than getting involved in any violence. We never used to leave to go parties with guns in we waist like what is happening now, he claimed. Chronic unemployment and overwhelming despair among the youth gave rise to the Young and Restless gang in Maloney in the early 1980s, Jason claimed. It was a lovely, warm weekday and I was out and about downtown, dipping in and out of a few eclectic, local stores. Walking down Market Street, I noticed the porch at Public House, packed with people enjoying the sun and a late lunch. I decided to stop by. With a pale wooden floor and white napkins already set in place at the tables, the vibe inside the restaurant was classy. I immediately understood that it was the kind of place where servers box up your leftovers for youthe kind of place where people order a glass of wine and appetizers in the middle of the day to meet up with friends or chat with business partners. Without even looking at a menu, I also realized Public House was perhaps a little fancier and a little pricier than the typical restaurants Lionel and I frequent, but since it was just lunch, and I was alone, I figured I'd give it a shot. I got a small, wooden table outside where I sat on a long, cushioned bench. The atmosphere was really fantastic, right down to the background music coming in through the speakers and the plants growing over the rails of the porch. I could tell it would be beautiful at night in the summer. The water was served in tall, glass bottles that stayed at your table while you ate. I would have preferred my glass iced, but I didn't bother asking. My server was knowledgeable and attentive. The soup of the day was Southern Vegetable Minestrone with black beans and okra ($5.00), but it was too warm out for me to imagine eating something so hot and hearty. The selection of salads was nice, and there was a whole list of cheese to choose from if that's what you wanted to snack on with your wine. Though there were items as basic as fried chicken ($8.50 included two sides and a cheddar muffin), there was also a decent amount of seafood on the menu, as well as some pretty interesting dishes like Duck Confit ($14.00) or a small plate of Stuffed Quail Andouille with apple and grits ($11.00). I went with a marinated mushroom and goat cheese grilled cheese sandwich, which came with seasoned shoestring fries ($10.00). The fries and the sandwich were both good, but it wasn't a lot of food, and for a grilled cheese there was hardly any cheese at all. I was still a bit hungry, so I decided to order dessert. They happened to have my very favorite dessert of all time so I splurged. I couldn't help it. A couple minutes later, out came an order of creme brulee ($6.00). I have to say, I was a little hesitant to order a dessert that cost almost the same amount as my entree, but I sure didn't regret it. It was delicious, creamy and rich. I always love cracking that brittle caramelized shell, and this one was perfect. The late lunchers finished up around me, and after a while I really had the porch to myself. I used the free restaurant wi-fi to dash out a couple articles as I enjoyed the nice weather. Lionel was going to be very jealous of my creme brulee. Location: Warehouse Row, 1110 Market St., Chattanooga, Tn 37402 Hours: M - Sat 11 am - 2:30 pm , 5 pm - 9 pm Sun - Closed Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. Seems like Redmond giants Microsoft have begun experimenting new ways for storing electronic data. Microsoft are now looking to make their way to tap into the human-based DNA model to implement the same to their data-storage as the amount of digital data has been outpacing the amount of stored data made available. The blog explains that most of the world's data today is stored on magnetic and optical media. Despite improvements in optical discs, storing a zettabyte of data is still a long way probably hundreds of years ahead and use significant physical space. This project enables molecular-level data storage into DNA molecules by leveraging biotechnology advances in synthesizing, manipulating and sequencing DNA to develop archival storage. Microsoft and University of Washington researches have combined in a collaboration to use DNA in high-density and durable medium where it's easy to manipulate in order to make ways for data storage. Microsoft have also said that while this new project has not been made practical due to the existing state of DNA synthesis and sequencing, technologies have helped improving them researches with advancements in bio-technology industry. Given the impending limits of silicon technology, we believe hybrid silicon and biochemical systems are worth serious consideration. Biotechnology has benefitted tremendously from progress in silicon technology developed by the computer industry; now is the time for computer architects to consider incorporating biomolecules as an integral part of computer design" Microsoft said. The firm have now purchased a 10-million long DNA molecules from a San Francisco start-up to carry further their efforts for a new way to store data. The reason for this is being the fact that Microsoft's data might need to be preserved for thousands of years down the lane and this prompted the Redmond based software-giants to look into DNA storage as an alternative. This news goes out to all Microsoft's competitors: Firefox, Google, Opera, Yahoo, and virtually everyone all that competes with Microsoft's very own Bing search engine will be shut off within Cortana digital assistant in the tech giant's latest OS, Windows 10. Recently announced in the company's blog post, Cortana's personalization of search engine results will block third-party searches as a counter-response to Google's sneaky workaround to establish itself as the dominant, if not default, search engine in the Microsoft environment. In plain English, Bill Gate's brainchild is now forcing internet users to switch to Bing with Cortana digital assistant integrated in Windows 10. This means every search a user makes will have to be coursed through its own web browser, Edge. "Unfortunately, as Windows 10 has grown in adoption and usage, we have seen some software programs circumvent the design of Windows 10 and redirect you to search providers that were not designed to work with Cortana. The result is a compromised experience that is less reliable and predictable," Microsoft announced as quoted in their official blog post. "The continuity of these types of task completion scenarios is disrupted if Cortana can't depend on Bing as the search provider and Microsoft Edge as the browser. The only way we can confidently deliver this personalized, end-to-end search experience is through the integration of Cortana, Microsoft Edge and Bing - all designed to do more for you." Despite the recent announcement, this doesn't mean that Google and other search engines will be totally taken off the grid. Users can still access them by means of a conventional browser search. This seemingly vengeful counter-response is quite surprising and even so un-Microsoft in a kind of way. The Silicon Valley giant finally gave in to the demands of the competition while contradicting the principles of digital neutrality. "Both Siri and Android's voice search feature lock users into obscured default search engines, a choice that some have criticized as contrary to the principles of neutral user choice. Still, it is bad news for anyone who had been using the new extensions, and an unusual direction for an operating system that has typically distinguished itself as more customizable than its competitors," observed Russell Brandom of The Verge. For a long time, Microsoft has been keen on nabbing a significant chunk of market share away from Google. As per BBC News, statistical report suggest that more than 90% of the world's digital searches are done through Google. Bing, on the other hand, only has 3% of the share global share. Fifth grader Christopher Ward, Jr. was visually challenged. But electronic eSight glasses helped him to see his mother, Marquita Hackley, for the first time ever. This new wearable technology was being used by the 12-year-old for the first time in his life. The wearable, hands-free headset has a small, high-speed camera that is able to capture a live video and send it to an LED screen before the user's eyes. This can give the user visual clarity. Hackley found her son's experience "overwhelming and exciting." "The very first thing he did was turn to me and say, 'Oh, Mommy! There you are!" Hackley said. "And then to hear him say, 'I saw my mom, and she was very pretty,' was so heartwarming. And aside from pretty, just the fact he could even see me meant the whole world to me." The reason for Ward's visual challenge was optic nerve hypoplasia, stemming from an underdevelopment in the optic nerve that reduced light perception in his right eye and led to low vision. "Something has to be up in his face, almost touching for him to see it," said Hackley. "And even though Ward wears glasses on a daily basis, they're more for protection than vision because there is a strong possibility he could lose the little sight he does have if were to get hurt or hit in the face." The eSight glasses cannot work for 14 percent of the world's sight-impaired population. People who are completely blind or severely sight-impaired cannot use them. However, those who are legally blind and with low vision can see the world once more. The first eGlasses were offered as a free demo by the company for Ward, who travelled from Forest VA to Washington DC for the trial. Though they were priced at $15,000, Hackley was determined that she was going to somehow raise the money to get the glasses. "Whatever it takes to raise the money for it, that's what I was determined I was going to do," Hackley said. A crowdfunding campaign that she set up raised $25,241 from 565 donors before she put a closure to it. She now feels overwhelmed, and said, "All the messages that we've gotten on Facebook and emails, I mean it's just amazing." She has set aside the extra money for a trust to fund his college tuition. Descendants of one of Marion Countys earliest pioneers and members of the Daughters of the American Revolution from across the state of Tennessee will gather at Pine Grove Cemetery in Jasper on Saturday afternoon, May 21, for a grave marking ceremony to honor Alexander Kelly, a captain in the Virginia Militia during the American Revolution. Mr. Kelly, whose family became residents of the Sequatchie Valley in the earliest days of its settlement as part of the state of Tennessee, was one of the commissioners who acquired property from Betsy Pack that became the town of Jasper, and determined that it would be the county seat town of the newly formed Marion County. Prior to his arrival in the newly opened settlement area of present-day Marion County, Mr. Kelly had been an active participant in the establishment of settlements in several areas of east Tennessee. Born about 1755 in County Armagh, Ireland, Mr. Kelly was brought to the American colonies as a young child. By the time of the Declaration of Independence, he was living in the Greenbrier area of Virginia, which is now a part of West Virginia, in the Allegheny Mountains, a scenic area of the United States whose natural setting might be called to mind when one views the Sequatchie Valley. Mr. Kelly enlisted in the Revolutionary forces on July 9, 1776, only five days after the Declaration of Independence. An article in the University of Tennessees UT Alumnus (Winter, 1975), entitled Alexander Kelly: Frontier Lawmaker, Indian Fighter, recounts that Mr. Kellys son, John Kelly was born in Greenbrier County, Va. on June 2, 1779, but that some time between 1779 and 1783, Mr. Kelly took his family southward into Tennessee country. Old records reveal that Mr. Kelly was appointed as assessor in Greene County, N.C. (Tennessee) in April, 1783; and two years later he was named a major of Greene County militia in the short-lived State of Franklin. Mr. Kelly was married to Nancy Robinson, by whom he had at least six children, all of whom became pioneer settlers of the Sequatchie Valley. John Kelly, the eldest son, married Nancy Mayo, and became the first clerk of Marion County when the new county was formed in 1817. He also later owned and operated Kellys Ferry on the Tennessee River near the county line between Hamilton and Marion Counties. Captain Kellys son, Alexander Kelly, Jr., married Sally Prigmore on Feb. 17, 1817, in Roane County, Tenn., and they were also early Marion County settlers and farmers. William Kelly married Ruth Prigmore (daughter of Joseph and Kizziah Prigmore) in Nov., 1809, in Roane County, Tenn., and they also became early residents of Marion County, with many of their descendants also settling in Bledsoe County and Sequatchie County. Viny Kelly married Adam Lamb in 1815, and they became residents of the part of Bledsoe County which intersects with present-day Sequatchie County. Margaret Kelly, known as Peggy, married Ephraim Prigmore (son of Joseph and Kizziah Moore Prigmore) on Nov. 9, 1809, in Roane County, Tenn., and they became pioneer residents of the part of Marion County near the present-day Prentice Cooper State Forest, where they farmed and began a grist mill operation later owned by their Ketner descendants and still known today as Ketners Mill. Annie Kelly married Richard Stone, and they lived in Marion County. The following accounts are taken from the article about Alexander Kelly in the UT Alumnus: By 1792, Kelly had moved his family to Knox County, where he became a farmer and miller. He was appointed a colonel of Knox County militia, and in 1793, he took part in the expedition against the Indians who had attacked outlying stations and threatened the territorial capitol of Knoxville. Under John Sevier, the military pursued the Indians into Georgia and defeated them at the forks of the Coosa and Hightower Rivers, near the present site of Rome, Georgia. In that battle, Colonel Kelly led a maneuver that settled the issue in the militias favor. Finding the river ford obstructed by Indians entrenched on the opposite shore, Sevier sent Kellys party downstream to make a crossing. Kelly and some of his men swam the river, thus getting the attention of the Indians who left their entrenchments and ran down the river to oppose their passage. The main force of militia quickly forded the river and routed the Indians. When the territorial legislators were elected in 1793, Alexander Kelly was chosen a representative from Knox County. In 1795 Knox County was divided and Blount County was formed. Kelly was one of seven Commissioners named to find a site for the county seat and to erect county buildings. The site of Maryville was chosen, and the town was named in honor of Governor William Blounts wife, Mary Grainger Blount. Kelly moved his residence to Blount County about that time, settling in the vicinity of present-day Louisville and building a mill on Lackeys Creek. Appointed commandant of the county militia, Kelly lost no time in fulfilling his responsibility to protect the settlers of Blount County. Early in 1795 Indians came out of their mountain towns and raided isolated homes in the new county. Kelly raised about fifty men and marched across Chilhowee Mountain to Tallassee Old Town. Upon reaching the river and seeing smoke rising from the opposite shore, he sent a detachment across the stream to attack from the rear a maneuver employed so effectively at Hightower. The surprised Indians were routed from the river bluffs, with eight being killed. Kellys company suffered no injuries. The swift action brought peace to the new county. When the first Legislature of Tennessee met on March 28, 1796, 11 counties were represented. Mr. Kelly was the senator from Blount County, serving in that role in the first and second General Assemblies. He was one of the two members appointed to wait on his Excellency John Sevier at his inauguration as governor of Tennessee. According to the Congressional ordinance, for the United States South of the Ohio River the Territorial Legislature was to consist of the governor, Legislative Council, and the House of Representatives. The General Assembly met at Knoxville Aug. 25, 1794. William Blount was the governor. The Legislative Council was composed of Griffith Rutherford, John Sevier, James Winchester, Stokley Donelson, and Parmenas Taylor. The Honorable Griffith Rutherford was unanimously elected president; George Roulstone, clerk; and Christopher Shoat, doorkeeper. The House of Representatives was composed of David Wilson, James White, James Ford, William Cocke, Joseph Harden, George Doherty, Samuel Wear, John Baird, and Alexander Kelly. According to the UT Alumnus article: Sometimes a conflict of interest arose, and Alexander Kelly had to choose between sitting in the legislative chamber and riding against marauding Indians. In those rare instances, military duty took precedence. For example, while the territorial legislature of which he was a member was meeting at Knoxville on Aug. 28, 1794, on motion of Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Hardin, ordered that Mr. Kelly and Mr. Beard have leave of absence to go on a scout against the Indians. A threatened incursion of hostile Cherokees made it necessary for the two militia officers to put aside their legislative duties for days of hard riding through the neighboring hills and valleys. A week later, Mr. Kelly returned and took his seat in the legislative hall just in time to vote on the resolution to create Blount College. Mr. Kelly was a charter trustee of Blount College, which was the forerunner to the University of Tennessee, thus making Mr. Kelly, in the words of the UT Alumnus article, a champion of education in the infant State of Tennessee. Mr. Kellys experience in the settlement of counties in east Tennessee made him well-suited to assist other pioneer settlers in the establishment of Marion County when it was formed. After his participation in locating and naming Jasper as the county seat town, and determining where the courthouse would be located, he was apparently satisfied to have his son, John Kelly, and other descendants take on the duties of civic office. Others of his children and grandchildren became prominent farmers, mill operators, merchants, landowners, and political figures in the parts of the Sequatchie Valley where they lived. Most of them also became active participants and leaders in their churches, particularly the Cumberland Presbyterian churches in the Sequatchie Valley. Although Mr. Kellys descendants have spread throughout the United States and other parts of the world, many of them still live in the Sequatchie Valley. Some time after settling in Marion County, Mr. Kelly drowned in the Sequatchie River, and his remains were apparently lost. Although Mr. Kelly's descendants are buried in family burial grounds and other cemeteries throughout the Sequatchie Valley, Mr. Kelly, Revolutionary War captain and leader of early Tennessee, has had no monument to mark his life until the present day. Recently, one of Mr. Kelly descendant, Edwin Zachariah Kelly, Jr., a retired attorney and lifelong resident of Jasper, instituted a project for Kelly descendants to place a monument at Pine Grove Cemetery, where many Kelly descendants are buried, to honor the life of Mr. Kelly. The monument will be inscribed with information about Mr. Kellys life in the history of Tennessee. The National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, have authorized the Judge David Campbell Chapter of that organization to place a DAR marker at Pine Grove to honor Mr. Kellys service as a captain in Americas Revolutionary War. The ceremony to dedicate the markers and to honor the life of Mr. Kelly will take place on Saturday, May 21, at 3 p.m., Central time, at Pine Grove Cemetery in Jasper, at the intersection of Valley View Highway and Mel Dixon Lane. The Sequatchie River, where Mr. Kelly died, runs through Marion County near that place. All interested people are cordially invited to attend. This Sunday, the White House made the announcement regarding the college selection that many in the nation are debating about---which college would the eldest daughter Malia Obama attend? It turned out to be pretty simple. Just.... Harvard University. However, the 17-year-old Sidwell Friends senior will not be attending it this Fall session. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said that Malia "will take a gap year before beginning school." She will commence her Harvard session in the fall of 2017, as a member of the 2021 class. Last September, President Obama gave some advice to Malia: "Don't worry too much about which school you choose." One simple Stanford University t-shirt that she wore in 2014 immediately began the speculation. Was she planning to join Stanford or one of the more than a dozen other colleges? On Sunday morning, the questions were put to rest when the White House emailed reporters a two-sentence news release on the traditional May 1 deadline, announcing Malia's selection. It had definitely been a much-debated topic in their home. Malia's specific choice of college was regularly discussed during their dinner conversations, while they also shared the advice they gave her, even as she navigated the college-admissions process. "The one thing I've been telling my daughters is that I don't want them to choose a name," Michelle Obama told the editors of Seventeen magazine in an article published in April. "I don't want them to think, 'Oh, I should go to these top schools.' We live in a country where there are thousands of amazing universities. So the question is: What's going to work for you?" Michelle is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She was giving the same suggestion that the president, who has graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law, said he had given Malia. "Just because it's not some name-brand, famous, fancy school doesn't mean that you're not going to get a great education there," Obama had explained to some high school students last September. However, some see her choice of Harvard as actually a kind of rebellion, "sort of". "The challenge of being a first child is to be normal within the context of all the scrutiny, and the challenge of everybody around them is to pretend like they're normal and nothing's out of the ordinary, which puts an enormous amount of stress on both the kid and the school," said Gil Troy, a presidential historian at McGill University and the author of "The Age of Clinton: America in the 1990s." "The larger the institutional ego of the place, the more comfortable you can feel about the ability to cope with that and still have as close to a normal experience as possible." The details of the daughters' activities are a secret, so The White House was not forthcoming with more comments on either her choice of college or her "gap year." However, while Malia's test scores, as well as grade-point average, are not known, her interest in films is well known, as she has been an intern for the CBS series "Extant" and HBO's "Girls." Still, the Obamas have described their firstborn as a scholarly and "avid reader." She is the sort of student who was not satisfied with average grades, said her father. Michelle was wary about 'bratty' moments being caught on the social media and shared with millions, as her daughters have been the first children to have grown up in the White House during the age of the social media. The sisters have been spared the collective scrutiny of the country, as Malia's visit to Brown University was captured in the student newspaper there, which was followed with an editorial titled "Sorry, Malia Obama." "It is a shame that Malia was unable to visit Brown and enjoy herself at a party without several news headlines coming out about it the next day," the editorial read. "Malia did not choose to grow up in the White House, and it is unfair that everything she does at just 17 years old is subject to such harsh scrutiny," said the editorial, agreeing that "the chances of her selecting Brown have probably decreased since the publication of those articles." Michelle too recently noted that the "fishbowl" of living in Washington was enervating for them. "The older they got, the less excited they were about living in a museum, and they just wanted to live in a regular home," she added. Next year, Malia will emerge from her secluded existence when she joins a "regular" college freshman year, but she would perhaps be protected as usual by Secret Service officers. Malia sure does her own laundry, though. As Michelle Obama said in a 2011 interview with Oprah Winfrey: "I don't want her to be that kid who is 15 or 16, and [she's saying], 'Oh, I don't know how to do laundry.' I would cringe if she became that kid." She said she wanted both of them to do "their own business." "And you're not living in the White House forever," the first lady said. "You're going to college." For a long time, scientists have long been puzzled over the nature of sleep across different animal species. A new study, however, cast a new light on how sleep occurs in a group of lizards known as Australian dragons. It seems that dreaming is not just a monopoly of mammals and birds. Apparently, lizards dream too. In recently published study featured in the journal Science, German researchers studying five Australian bearded dragons seem to have uncovered startling evidence that reptiles actually dream which could trigger fundamental revamp of previously held notions about sleep. For the first time, scientists discover that reptiles also experience phases of sleep similarly experienced by people- the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and another stage known as slow-wave sleep. Interestingly, dreaming occurs during the REM sleep stage which begs the question, what do lizards dream about when they sleep? "If you forced me to speculate and to use a loose definition of dreaming, I'd speculate that those dreams are about recent notable events: insects, maybe a place where there are good insects, an aggressive male in the next terrarium, et cetera," said neuroscientist Gilles Laurent of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Germany as quoted by ABC Australia. He jokingly added saying, "If I were an Australian dragon living in Frankfurt, I'd be dreaming of a warm day in the sun." Studying sleep was never the intended goal of the German scientists. Laurent and his team were more actually interested with how the cortex works using lizards as a lab example to study that part of the brain. Throughout their research, the scientists implanted electrodes in the brain of the Australian dragons and record the reptiles' brain activity. "In the middle of some experiments we were doing, we decided to let the recordings go overnight after a day's work, just to see what would happen during the night," Laurent exclaimed as quoted by Live Science. "And upon analyzing the results, there were interesting oscillations of activity that were very regular, that suggested the potential existence of sleep-related patterns of activity in the brain." In the course of the study, the researchers discovered two distinct sleeping patterns among the lizards. One pattern is characterized by high-frequency wave forms of 20 cycles per second. The other one consisted of low-frequency wave forms of just less than 4 cycles per second. What are the implications of the study? From an evolutionary standpoint, this discovery could raise more questions than answers and undermine previously-held notions about sleep as well as its patterns and functions across the animal world. While scientists admit that more studies are required to see any similarity of function of brain wave patterns across different animal species, the provocative results suggest that these REM and brainwave patterns during sleep can be traced all the way back to the pre-ancient common ancestor of all animal species. "There is something that goes on during sleep that is important to the function of all animals," remarked neuroscientist Matt Wilson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge as quoted by the Science Mag. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. New Delhi: Anti-Sikh riots lawyer and AAP leader H S Phoolka today claimed that poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who has been helping the Congress in Punjab, contacted him to seek suggestions on the issue of justice to the Sikhs, Kishors organisation I-PAC, however, dismissed the claims as canard. Maintaining that Kishor wanted his suggestions to incorporate it in Congress manifesto, the noted lawyer trained guns on the Congress leadership on the issue. Before giving any suggestions, Phoolka said the Congress should come out clean on the genocide of the Sikhs. Prashant Kishor contacted H S Phoolka and wanted to have a meeting with him. When Mr Phoolka declined to have a meeting and even refused to meet his mediator, the mediator sent an SMS to Mr Phoolka that Prashant Kishor wants Mr Phoolkas suggestions on the issue of justice to the Sikhs for incorporating the same into the Congress manifesto, the lawyer claimed in a Facebook post. When contacted Prashant Kishor, he was unavailable for comment. Prashant Kishors organisation I-PAC however, dismissed he claim as complete farce and canard. PK contacting @hsphoolka is complete farce and typical AAP canard. We challenge him to present proof else apologise for this publicity stunt, I-PAC tweeted In his suggestions to Kishor, which Phoolka chose to give through the media, the lawyer said Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress Chief Ministerial candidate in the state, should apologise to the victims for giving a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler and should ensure that henceforth he will support the victims in their struggle for justice. Mrs Sonia Gandhi should disclose what all transpired in their house on November 1 and 2, 1984 when one Sikh was killed every minute within the radius of 5 kms of her residence and over 4000 sikhs were killed in a span of 48 hours. She should disclose who was the main conspirator for these killings, the Facebook post said, adding the Congress President should also apologise for the remarks made by her husband Rajiv Gandhi after the carnage that when a big tree falls, the earth beneath it shakes. He said Congress Vice-President should inform the people whether he was aware about the killings going on November 1 and 2, 1984 and deprecate his father for killings of innocent citizens of this country. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Twenty women comprising of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area volunteers and Lowes Heroes employee volunteers will devote the day before Mothers Day to help a mother build an affordable place she can call home on Saturday. This project is part of Habitat for Humanitys National Women Build Week, which takes place April 30-May 8. The project also supports Home for the Holidays, a nationwide initiative launched by Lowes and Habitat for Humanity to work alongside 1,000 families to help them build or repair their homes by December. Habitat for Humanitys National Women Build Week is a week-long event created by its Women Build program that invites women to devote at least one day to help families build strength, stability and independence through housing. The week is meant to spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by women. Lowes donated $2 million to Habitats 2016 National Women Build Week and will provide the support of Lowes Heroes employee volunteers. The home improvement chain will also conduct how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills. Habitat for Humanity and Lowes Heroes celebrating National Women Build Week is helping to build a new Habitat home for a mother of a 2 year old son. The home will be at 1723 Newell Ave. in East Chattanooga. More than 300 Habitat for Humanity organizations across the country are hosting Women Build projects this year. Ahmedabad: Amid a row surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modis educational qualifications, Congress today alleged discrepancies in his date of birth. It also questioned the timing of Gujarat University sharing details of Modis MA degree which it had earlier refused to disclose citing secrecy. In students register of M N College Visnagar (where Modi took admission in pre-science, equivalent to class XII) Sri Narendra Modis date of birth is mentioned as August 29, 1949. In his election affidavit, he did not reveal his date of birth, but mentioned his age. His official birth date, as available in the public domain, is September 17, 1950, senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters. He showed a copy of the purported school register which mentioned the PMs name as Narendrakumar Damodardas Modi, along with his date of birth. We want to know what is the reason behind different dates of birth, what is the date of birth on his (Modis) passport, on the PAN card and on other documents? And what is the reason behind different dates of birth? Gohil said. Modi, in his affidavit filed before the returning officer in 2014 (Lok Sabha polls), had stated that he pursued his BA from Delhi University and MA from Gujarat University. In the same affidavit, he, for the first time, revealed his marital status as married to Jasodaben, he said. Taking a swipe at Modi over his 56-inch chest remarks, the senior Congress leader said, The country does not have much interest in knowing PMs 56-inch chest, but public has interest in knowing his date of birth...where he got his BA degree from, when, and at least names of 10 students who studied with him. Gujarat University today shared details of Modis MA degree, saying he scored 62.3 per cent as an external student of the varsity after Central Information Commission directed it to provide the same to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who had recently criticised the functioning of the transparency panel. Questioning the timing of the disclosure by the varsity, Gohil said, Till today, at least 70 RTIs were filed in GU seeking the same information, but the reply was always information is secret, cant be revealed. After CIC asked GU to give reply, overnight it turned vibrant, progressive, and instead of calling it secret, it decided to give information along with marks. How come GU does not have details of his (Modis) BA degree? Because while getting admission in MA, he should have given his BA details. If you migrated from DU to GU, your migration certificate should also be there with the GU, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Paris: Paris, May 2 (AFP) A French journalist infiltrated a cell of would-be jihadists, filming them with a hidden camera as they plotted an attack in the name of the Islamic State group, before they were arrested, he said. The journalist, a Muslim using the pseudonym Said Ramzi, carried out the investigation for a documentary entitled Allahs Soldiers which gives an insight into the minds of young jihadists, and will be shown in France tonight. Ramzi describes himself as a Muslim of the same generation as the killers who carried out the November 13 terror attacks which left 130 people dead in Paris. My goal was to understand what was going on inside their heads, he told AFP. One of the main lessons was that I never saw any Islam in this affair. No will to improve the world. Only lost, frustrated, suicidal, easily manipulated youths. They had the misfortune of being born in the era that the Islamic State exists. It is very sad. They are youngsters who are looking for something and that is what they found. To make contact with the group, Ramzi said the first steps were easy, following and interacting with those preaching jihad on Facebook. Then, he had to meet the person presented as the emir of the group of about a dozen youths, some of them born into Muslim families, and the others converts. This took place in Chateauroux, a town in the centre-west of France, at an outdoor activities centre that was deserted in winter. The emir was a young French-Turkish citizen named Oussama, and on their first meeting he tries to convince the journalist he knows as Abu Hamza, that paradise awaits him if he carries out a suicide mission. Towards paradise, that is the path, Oussama says, a chilling smile on his face. Come, brother, lets go to paradise, our women are waiting for us there, with angels as servants. You will have a palace, a winged horse of gold and rubies. During another meeting in front of a mosque in the Paris suburb of Stains, a member of the group points to an airplane approaching the nearby Bourget airport. With a little rocket-launcher, you can easily get one of them... you do something like that in the name of Dawla (Islamic State), and France will be traumatised for a century. Some of the gang, like Oussama, try and reach the Islamic State group in Syria. He was arrested by Turkish police and handed back to France where he spent five months in jail before being released. While he had to show his face at the local police station once a day under his release conditions, he stayed in touch with the group via encrypted messaging application Telegram to organise meetings at which plans to launch an attack took form. In January 2015 two brothers attacked the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Rome: Fifteen migrants are missing after their boat sank on Friday, the second shipwreck that day in the Mediterranean, bringing the number of lives lost to almost 100, the UN said today. A boat carrying around 120 people had sunk early Friday, four hours after leaving Libya for Italy, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokeswoman Carlotta Sami told AFP, adding that some 15 persons went missing. Among the missing were four Nigerians, two people from the Ivory Coast, three from Guinea, two from Sudan and one from Mali, she said. Survivors were being disembarked in Pozzallo, Sicily, she said, adding that eight people had been taken straight to hospital due to their serious health conditions, and that two bodies had also been disembarked. The news came a day after the International Organization for Migration said that only 26 people were rescued from an inflatable boat carrying around 110 migrants when it sank off Libya in a separate shipwreck Friday. Sami said Sunday that 27 people, including four women, were rescued from that boat sinking. Survivors had provided harrowing accounts of the tragedy, both UNHCR and IOM said. Due to the very bad conditions of the sea, some two hours after the departure the small boat started to take on water, just a few miles off shore, Sami said in an email. IOM spokesman in Italy, Flavio Di Giacomo, told AFP Saturday that the vessel had been in a very bad state, was taking on water and many people fell into the water and drowned. The boat in the end broke into two parts throwing all the passengers into the waves, Sami said. Rough seas and waves topping two metres (seven feet) hampered attempts to find any other survivors. Sami said the health conditions of several of the survivors were reportedly serious. Survivors say they lost relatives and friends during the shipwreck, she said. The first hint of the tragedy came early Saturday, when Italys coastguard said an Italian cargo ship had rescued 26 migrants from a flimsy boat sinking off the coast of Libya but voiced fears that dozens more could be missing. The coastguard received a call from a satellite phone late Friday that helped locate the stricken inflatable and called on the merchant ship to make a detour to the area about seven kilometres off the Libyan coast near Sabratha. The migrants rescued were transferred to two coastguard vessel and taken to the Italian island of Lampedusa. More than 350,000 people fleeing conflict and poverty have reached Italy on boats from Libya since the start of 2014, as Europe struggles to manage its biggest migration crisis since World War II. The Red Cross also voiced alarm at Fridays tragic boat sinkings, warning that more were likely to come. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Former president of Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS) and veteran RSS leader Balraj Madhok passed away in Delhi on Monday. Madhok (96) was unwell for some time and had been admitted to AIIMS for a month, where he died around 9 AM. The last rites will be conducted in the evening. A two-time Parliamentarian, Madhok represented the NCT of Delhi and South Delhi in the 2nd and 4th Lok Sabha in 1961 and 1967 respectively. Born on February 25, 1920, in Jammu and Kashmirs Skardu area, he was the founder Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). In 1951, he was the convener of the first convention of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and was appointed the national Secretary. In 1966, he was elected as National President of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. (Also read. Ruckus in Rajya Sabha over AgustaWestland Issue) A teacher, he was head of the Department of History in PGDAV College, New Delhi and edited Organiser in 1947-48 and Hindi Weekly Veer Arjun in 1948. He was also Founder Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Praja Parishad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Madhok and said his ideological commitment was strong, had immense clarity of thought and was selflessly devoted to the nation and society. Heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of a stalwart leader of Jan Sangh Shri Balraj Madhok. Balraj Madhok jis ideological commitment was strong & clarity of thought immense. He was selflessly devoted to the nation & society. (Also read. President Pranab Mukherjee wraps up six-day state visit to New Zealand, PNG) Had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions. His demise is saddening. Condolences to his family. RIP, Modi said in a series of tweets. His close associate L K Advani also described him as one who was fully committed to its ideology and principles. I am deeply grieved to learn about the passing away of Balraj Madhok. I mourn Balraj Madhoks passing away and offer my heartfelt condolences to his two daughters. May the departed soul rest in peace, he said in his condolence message. Advani said Madhok led the party in the general elections of 1967, when the party won 35 seats in Lok Sabha. He was fully committed to its ideology and principles. During the Emergency he was detained under MISA for 18 months, he said. (Also read. BJP only alternative in UP, says Union minister Kalraj Mishra) Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan tweeted, Balraj Madhok left for heavenly abode today - India loses a great intellectual, thinker and a social reformer. May his soul rest in peace. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Social media giant Facebook introduced chat bots to developers last month. So Indias first Facebook Messenger bot is here. Lybrate, online doctor consultation platform is among the first ones to announce its Lybrate bot. This Lybrate bot appears on messenger chat list just like another contact. It will allow people to communicate, seek advice on health queries from doctors that will help you stay updated on health-related issues. To make users aware about multiple health issues, a Quiz on Health is also there. You can also use it as a smartphone app. This is the platform where you will find over 1,00,000 doctors from more than 50 specialties from across India. These days social bots are quite popular. Facebook and Microsoft are also betting on social bots. What are these? Chat bots offer a standardized way of connecting with businesses (similar to Twitter handles or email addresses), reducing the complexity of finding the contact info for a company. While we are making doctor availability seamless through our online doctor consultation platform via Messenger, our innovative solution in the form of a health quiz will help in spreading more awareness about health issues, said Saurabh Arora, Founder and CEO, Lybrate. When they integrate with Facebook chatbots allow for automatic verification of personal information. Microsoft will also introduce bots on Skype. New Delhi : Google today honoured renowned Indian cartoonist Mario de Miranda with a doodle on his 90th birth anniversary. The Padmashri and Padma Vibhushan awardee cartoonist was known for his trademark stylish strokes which told detailed colourful stories with shades of humour, largely based on life in Mumbai and Goa. The commemorative doodle was created by another comic artist Aaron Renier known for portraying large crowds. It shows a rainstorm scene in a crowded Mumbai, with the hazy hint of a prominent landmark building and people of various communities that spice up Mumbai in their traditional attire, running around. I approached Marios work by pretending I was drawing with him. I chose his most popular style, very flat with criss-crossing interactions. In this homage to Miranda, we see a rich litany of people, each unique in their perspective, Renier was quoted as saying in an official statement. That is what I liked most about his work, trying to pick out who knows who, whos watching who, whos annoyed by who, whos enamoured by who. Hopefully people will see something of (Mirandas) spirit in it, he added. The doodle depicts people struggling with their umbrellas, newspapers, a spontaneous lovers hug, the typical dog chasing a stray cat and dragging his master on the leash. On a ground floor is someone quietly observing the goings on outside, on the first floor a woman absently empties the bucket of water onto the roads after cleaning her home, while on the left side appears an image resembling Miranda himself struggling with his next creation on the canvas. Miranda died of natural causes at his home in Loutolim in Goa in 2011. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and was conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2012. Mumbai : Honouring Satyajit Rays immense contribution to the film industry, Bollywood directors like Shoojit Sircar and Madhur Bhandarkar have paid their respect to the maverick filmmaker on his 95th birth anniversary. Ray, regarded as one of the finest filmmakers India has ever seen, helmed classics like Pather Panchali, Charulata and Devi. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Honorary Award in 1992. He was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1992. Piku director Sircar tweeted, Today is Ray day. Happy birthday to the Master Satyajit Ray... Happy Birthday to the master of Indian cinema. Satyajit Ray sahab. Respects, wrote Ashoke Pandit. Bhandarkar posted, Master film maker and one of the most influential directors in world cinema, Satyajit Ray, was born on May 2, 1921. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Rome: Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen, will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, Italian Foreign Ministry said today, citing an order of the UNs Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. However, the ruling about the same will be made public tomorrow, according to Italian news agency ANSA. Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India, the Italian ministry said. The Government has been working to submit the whole matter to international arbitration and, in this framework, bringing home the two Riflemen Marina. The announced order paves the way for this result. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to grave violation of his human rights. The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. The arbitration could last at least three or four years which means that Girone risks being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years, Italys representative had told the court. Girone is one of two Italian marines - on board ship Enrica Lexie - accused by India of killing two of its fishermen during an anti-piracy mission in 2012 off the Kerala coast after mistaking them for pirates. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. The other marine, Massimiliano Latorre, is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014. The Italian government has taken the marines case to international arbitration after repeated delays in the trial in India. According to Italian Foreign Ministry, the government will immediately start consultations with India that the conditions to give effect to the decision of the arbitral tribunal are quickly defined and agreed. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Future group chairman Kishore Biyani has resigned from the post of Managing Director of Future Retail Ltd as part of realignment of the groups business. Besides, Rakesh Biyani has also resigned from the post of Joint Managing Director as well as Director of the company as part of a restructuring to execute the merger Bharti Retail with the company announced last year. The resignations would be effective from May 1, 2016, Future Retail said in a BSE filing. However, Kishore Biyani would continue to hold office as non executive director of Future Retail Ltd, it added. In May last year, Future group agreed to merge its retail business with rival Bharti Retail in an all-stock deal worth Rs 750 crore to create one of the biggest supermarket chains with Rs 15,000 crore turnover. The two-tiered deal also involved merger of their respective retail infrastructure business into Future Retail thus creating two separate companiesone the front-end retail and another for infrastructure activities. Riyadh: One of Saudi Arabias most powerful firms, the Saudi Binladin Group, has laid off 77,000 foreign workers, a Saudi daily reported today, citing an anonymous company official. Saudi Binladin Group confirmed to AFP that some staff have been let go, but gave no numbers. The report in the Al-Watan newspaper is the latest alleging tens of thousands of layoffs, unpaid salaries and unrest by employees of the firm which built some of the Gulf countrys landmarks. Sources in March told AFP that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues collapsed over the past two years, have left employees of the kingdoms construction giants struggling to survive while they await their salaries. However, Saudi Binladin Group was also sanctioned by the government after a deadly crane accident in Mecca last September. The size of our workforce is always appropriate to the nature and size of projects and the timeframe they are to be carried out by the group, Yaseen Alattas, a Saudi Binladin Group spokesman, told AFP. He said workforce changes would be normal especially when some projects have ended or are about to end. Most of the jobs eliminated are on specified term contracts for particular projects, Alattas said in an email. We understand that the reduction of the workforce isnt easy on everyone. But the Group will continue to implement its obligations towards everyone including the employees it has let go of. They have received their full dues under the law, said Alattas. The unnamed company official cited by Al-Watan said that as of Sunday 77,000 Binladin Group workers had received exit visas. He added that they were among 200,000 expatriates employed by the company, one of the largest builders in the world. In addition, 12,000 out of the 17,000 Saudis working for the firm as engineers, administrators and inspectors were expected to be let go, the source said. On Friday, Al-Watan reported that 50,000 of the groups staff were refusing to leave the country while their salaries remained unpaid after more than four months. Another newspaper, Arab News, on Sunday cited Saudi Binladin Group employees as confirming massive layoffs. An Arab News report on Monday blamed unpaid workers for torching several Binladin Group buses in Mecca over the weekend. Authorities confirmed seven buses were burned but did not give the cause. Egyptians account for a large percentage of Binladin Group employees. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A Methodist group is planning 33 homes on 16.8 acres on Snow Hill Road. The proposal by Barry Kidwell, executive director of Mustard Tree Ministries, goes before the Planning Commission next Monday at 1 p.m. at the County Courthouse. The site at 9125 Snow Hill Road is owned by the Methodist Committee on Church Extension and Congregational Revitalization. The homes are to be one story. There will be a central green space and community area. There is to be a pond and a large agricultural area on the northeast portion of the site. The Regional Planning Agency staff is recommending approval for the rezoning. Beirut: Syrias military extended a unilateral cease-fire around Damascus and opposition strongholds in the eastern suburbs of the capital for another 48 hours today, as a humanitarian convoy delivered aid to 12,000 families trapped in a government-besieged area in central Syria. In Geneva, US Secretary of State John Kerry today said that several proposals were being discussed aimed at finding a way to restore at least a partial truce in the war-torn country. The latest partial truce in Syria does not cover Aleppo, the countrys largest city and the scene of its worst violence in recent weeks. Aleppo remains on knifes edge as rebels and government forces trade rockets and bombs across the northern city and its outskirts, according to activist monitoring groups. Rebels today lobbed rockets into government-held areas in the western part of the city while government helicopters dropped crude and unguided barrel bombs on opposition-held areas in the city and surrounding villages, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Separately, a car bomb detonated in the rebel-held Salhin neighborhood of Aleppo, appearing to target an Islamic judiciary council. The explosion wounded a lawyer and several other people, according to the Local Coordination Committees, an activist network. The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, which organizes rescue operations in opposition-held areas of Aleppo, said several civilians were killed and wounded, including a judge for the hard-line jihadist faction Ahrar al-Sham. Still, Aleppo was safer Monday and Sunday than it had been in over a week. Fierce violence took the lives of more than 250 civilians over the previous nine days, according to the Observatory, while only six died in violence Sunday. The government declared its cease-fire on Friday around Damascus, the capitals eastern Ghouta suburbs, and the coastal Latakia region, in the wake of two weeks of rising violence that spoiled a previous cease-fire brokered by the US and Russia in late February. Russias Tass news agency quoted Russian Lt Gen Sergei Kuralenko, head of the Russian coordination center in Syria, as saying that the Damascus area cease-fire was brokered by the Russia and the United States, in agreement with the Syrian leadership and the moderate opposition. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Week of May 2 - National Teacher Appreciation Week Cleveland City Schools celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week and the dedicated faculty and staff in all our schools. Show your support and thank a teacher who made a difference in your life. Board of Education will meet on Monday , 5:30 pm at the Administrative Office Building. Cleveland City Schoolswill meetat the Administrative Office Building. Click here to view the agenda. For more information contact Andrea Byerly, abyerly@clevelandschools.org. For more information contact Andrea Byerly, 423-472-9571 Fine Arts Festivalwill be Monday , 6:00-8:00 pm in the Raider Dining Hall and Courtyard. The program features the choral and art departments. Student art work will be for sale, plus hear solos, duets, and dancers from the different choirs. Dresses by Sage, and Plunder Jewelry will also be available for purchase. Admission is $5. For more information Cleveland High School Annualwill bein the Raider Dining Hall and Courtyard. The program features the choral and art departments. Student art work will be for sale, plus hear solos, duets, and dancers from the different choirs. Dresses by Sage, and Plunder Jewelry will also be available for purchase. Admission is $5. For more information click here or contact Shirley Pace, space@clevelandschools.org iMom Celebration on Tuesday, 5:30 pm in the Blythe-Bower cafeteria. There will be a photo booth, pizza and six craft stations for moms and their children. B.E.S.T. Partner South Cleveland Church of God is helping to organize the event. For more information contact Laura Murray, lmurray@clevelandschools.org. Blythe-Bower Elementary will host theon Tuesday,in the Blythe-Bower cafeteria. There will be a photo booth, pizza and six craft stations for moms and their children. B.E.S.T. Partner South Cleveland Church of God is helping to organize the event. For more information contact Laura Murray, 423-479-5121 All Pro Dad Dinner Thursday , 6:00 pm at South Cleveland Church of God. There will be a cookout, games, blow up toys and woodworking. All students and fathers are invited to attend this end of year program. For more information contact Laura Murray, lmurray@clevelandschools.org. Blythe-Bower Elementary School will host theat South Cleveland Church of God. There will be a cookout, games, blow up toys and woodworking. All students and fathers are invited to attend this end of year program. For more information contact Laura Murray, 423-479-5121 Senior Night will be Thursday , 6:00 pm at the North Cleveland Church of God. Senior awards and scholarships will be presented. Students and their families are invited to attend. For more information contact Whitney Harden, wharden@clevelandschools.org. Cleveland High Schoolwill beat the North Cleveland Church of God. Senior awards and scholarships will be presented. Students and their families are invited to attend. For more information contact Whitney Harden, 423-478-1113 Student of the Month Breakfast will be Friday . Class representatives demonstrating Respect will be honored at the breakfast. For more information contact Lisa Earby,learby@clevelandschools.org. E.L. Ross Elementarywill be. Class representatives demonstratingwill be honored at the breakfast. For more information contact Lisa Earby, 423-479-7274 Kindergarten Parent Programwill be Friday , 1:30 pm . In this Mothers Day program, all the kindergarten classes will pay tribute to their mothers. The students will sing to their mothers and then have some refreshments. For more information contact Carolyn Ingram, chingram@clevelandschools.org. Yates Primarywill be. In this Mothers Day program, all the kindergarten classes will pay tribute to their mothers. The students will sing to their mothers and then have some refreshments. For more information contact Carolyn Ingram, 423-479-1723 Screen on the Green Friday starting at 8:00 pm . All Ross and Yates families are welcome to watch the Peanuts movie. Don't forget to bring your chairs and blankets for this free event! For more information contact Lisa Earby, learby@clevelandschools.org. E.L. Ross Elementary and Yates Primary hoststarting at. All Ross and Yates families are welcome to watch themovie. Don't forget to bring your chairs and blankets for this free event! For more information contact Lisa Earby, 423-479-7274 More than 22,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies have been delivered to members of the U.S. armed forces within the local Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians jurisdiction, thanks to patriotic cookie customers and hard-working girls, officials said. Girl Scouts delivered a major portion of those cookies to the U.S. Army National Guard Armory in Chattanooga on April 15. The donation is part of the councils annual Operation: APPRECIATION effort allowing customers to purchase cookies directly for members of the armed services. Our girls are thrilled to have exceeded this years 20,000 box donation goal, said Lynne Fugate, the councils CEO. Cookie customers made a generous decision to support two great causes at the same time. The 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Program sale was proclaimed a success, with girls earning almost $1 million directly for their troop treasuries. Girls use the proceeds to fund troop activities for the upcoming year. The councils portion of proceeds support girls and volunteers. The photos shown were taken Friday, April 15 at the U.S. National Guard Armory at 1801 South Holtzclaw Ave. Gun Store Owner Sues 64 People trying to put him out of Business A gun store owner in Virginia has had it with people attempting to put pressure on him to close. So, the owner of what has been dubbed as the closest gun shop to Washington, DC has filed a civil suit against 64 individuals claiming that they conspired to put him out of business. Guns.com reports: Arlington-based Nova Armory held its grand opening in a strip mall on North Pershing Drive last month, doing what others have failed to do in recent months by becoming the only licensed gun dealer with a storefront in the city. However, they got more than just a cold shoulder from locals including six state lawmakers who penned a letter to Novas landlord on official letterhead urging her to cancel the lease on the store three weeks before it was set to open. In the letter, the group cited concerns that the store could be a magnet for robbery and that it could help create a black market in the area to sell firearms for cash or drugs. One of those behind the letter, local Democrat Delegate Mark Levine, took to social media to blast the store. Are you ready to pay for all the funerals of all the people that your guns murder? And provide reimbursement for all wrongful deaths you cause? If not, then please, we beg you, leave Arlington, Levine posted before advocating for a boycott of the entire strip mall and protests of the store. Actions such as this prompted Broadstone Security, owner of Nova Armory, to name 64 individuals in a conspiracy including Levine and the other lawmakers, in a civil suit filed April 18 in Richmond City Circuit Court, contending the defendants communicated among themselves to cripple the business. According to the complaint, The Defendants used social media to communicate and to post messages to each other and to the public of a defamatory nature intended to smear Plaintiff and destroy his business. Thats not all. Apparently, there were also death threats issued against Novas business managers daughter. The suit seeks more than $2 million in damages and expenses related to the conspiracy. Lawmakers are even cited in the suit. The claim is that they abused their authority by attempting to interfere between the property owner and the store. Thats considered malfeasance in office which is a common law crime, said Nova attorney Daniel L. Hawes. This has absolutely nothing to do with their legislative abilities, but they sent it on official Commonwealth of Virginia letterhead underneath the seal. While gun grabbing communists are attacking the gun store owner and his business, pro-gun Americans have started an online petition, which has since been removed. Levine is clearly an anti-Constitutionalist as he picks and chooses what he wants in the Constitution. While he attacks the Second Amendment and the rights of the people to keep and bear arms, which would also include purchasing them, he claims that the lawsuit is frivolous because he believes he has an absolute First Amendment right to comment any way I want to and to represent my constituents in the way that they want to be represented. The problem for Levine is that he may represent the people, but he may not misrepresent the law, and in this case, the law is opposed to him. This is a common problem for elected representatives as they believe they can enter office and undermine the rights of the people and the established laws based on the laws of God. Submit a correction >> DANBURY - The City Council is set to adopt a $244 million budget for next year that prepares for the worst Hartford can do while hoping for the best. This document prepares us for what is coming from the state of Connecticut, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said during a recent public hearing, referring to state lawmakers fight to close a $900 million budget gap for next year. The reality is from this years operating budget, we have lost almost $850,000, Boughton said, adding that news could be worse if the state discontinues the sales tax sharing plan. The biggest problem, the GOP mayor said, is Hartford continues to underfund the city school district. We receive about $25 million from the education cost-sharing grant, Boughton said during a late April public hearing. New Britain, which has less students, gets $75 million from the state of Connecticut for doing the very same job we do. The citys nearly quarter-billion-dollar budget for 2016-2017 carries a tax rate increase of 1.4 percent. More than $2 million in new spending will go to the city school system, which already has the largest high school in the state and which expects enrollment to increase 1.5 percent in the fall. Other new spending is going for raises to public safety employees. About 90 percent of our budget is salary, benefits and contractual obligations, Boughton said. We of course want to hire more people, have more resources, and pave more roads, but we are proud of this document. The budget carries a tax rate of $28.68 per $1,000 of assessed property value. A homeowner with a house assessed at $270,000 would pay $7,744 in taxes next year, or about $70 more than this year. The City Council held a public hearing on the budget on April 20. Among five speakers who shared concerns during the hearing was school board member Richard Jannelli. He said although the $126 million school portion of the budget is a $2 million increase, it falls well short of the $129.5 million the school system had asked for. I cannot blame the city, Jannelli said. Danbury has a disproportionate share in state (education cost-sharing) money. The city is part of a coalition that is suing the state over education funds that were promised but never paid. City leaders say Danbury is owned more than $30 million. That to me is the only way to solve this problem, Jannelli said. The City Council is expected to vote on the budget during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday at City Hall. We have done everything we can to maintain cost, Boughton said. rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342 HARTFORD In celebration of national Drinking Water Week, the state Department of Public Health has recognized several Connecticut water operators for their contributions to the health and safety of the states drinking water. Judy L. Simpanen, operations manager for the Aquarion Water Company, received the 2016 Educational Public Health Driking Water Merit Award. The department also gave Ron W. Black, president of Water System Solutions & Design, Inc., the 2016 Certified Operator Public Health Drinking Merit Award and the Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority the 2016 Small Community Public Health Drinking Water Merit Award. Connecticut is home to superior drinking water quality, largely due to a robust infrastructure and committed water professionals who monitor and protect water quality and safety, said Lori Mathieu, the departments Drinking Water Section Chief, in a statement. During Drinking Water Week, we take time to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives as well as some of Connecticuts outstanding public drinking water systems and professionals who exemplify Connecticuts high standards for water quality and adequacy, Mathieu added. About 75 percent of the states residents are served by public drinking water systems. National Drinking Water Week, May 1 through May 7, will coincide with a charter signing by the Connecticut Source Water Collaborative, a group of organizations with the goal of protecting states drinking water at the source, on Thursday at the Middletown Water Departments Mount Higby Reservoir and Charles B. Bacon Water Treatment Plant. The charter formalizes member commitment to developing and supporting strategies to preserve, protect and maximize the conservation of the lakes, streams, rivers and aquifers used for drinking water and the land that protects and recharges these sources of water. HARTFORD Legislation that would have allowed luxury electric carmaker Tesla to sell directly to consumers had all but died in the state Senate. But in a last-ditch attempt to win their battle to do business in Connecticut, Tesla Motors Inc. on Monday afternoon sweetened the pot. Company officials said they would build a regional distribution center in Connecticut with 150 new, well-paying jobs, if the bill passes. Tesla is prepared to make a real and lasting commitment to Connecticut, said Will Nicholas, Teslas government relations manager. We want to invest here. We want to create jobs here. And we want to serve Connecticut customers. After weeks of off-and-on negotiations between Tesla representatives, the states new-car dealers and General Motors, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said Monday morning that a compromise deal failed. Without an agreement I couldnt bring it to a vote in the Senate, said Duff, who vowed the revisit the issue next year. New car dealers and GM are powerful lobbyists. The states franchise law requires that manufacturers sell new cars only through dealerships. The proposed bill would have allowed Tesla to open up to three stores in the state, with up to 75 new jobs. The company has a service center in Milford, but cannot sell cars there. But then Tesla raised the ante, promising to create 150 new jobs over the next year and a half as the companys lower-price vehicles hit the production line, in addition to the 25 employees that would staff each Tesla store. In all, the upstart carmaker would create 275 jobs new jobs in the state, with salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000, plus benefits and equity opportunities. Salespeople are full-time employees of Tesla with what the company calls marginal commission supplements. State Rep. Antonio Guerrera, D-Rocky Hill, a co-chairman of the legislative Transportation Committee who favors allowing Tesla to do business in the state, said there remains a slight chance that the bill could be salvaged this year. It was my impression that the Senate was trying to work this out among the members of the Democratic caucus, Guerrera said. In light of the economic situations were enduring right now, I think that its a great opportunity for us to enhance a new business like Tesla to come to the state. Bradley Hoffman, a board member of the Connecticut Auto Retailers Association and an executive with the Hoffman Auto Group, said dealers would welcome Tesla if they were to abide by franchise laws that date back to the early years of the 20th Century in Connecticut. The franchise system has worked very well for nearly 100 years, Hoffman said in a statement. It establishes a fair playing field for us the local dealers, national manufacturers, and customers looking for the best price and customer service. kdixon@ctpost.com; Bellhops, a Chattanooga-based tech-enabled moving company, has added former Atlanta Brave great, Ryan Klesko, to the inaugural Homers for Heroes roster. Though he wont be competing in the home run derby, Mr. Klesko will be taking batting practice and attendees will be able meet him and get his autograph from 2-5 p.m. at AT&T Field. Homers for Heroes is slated to be an annual charity home run derbythis year, featuring teams from 16 local businesseswhich supports a new local hero every year. The 2016 hero is Nathan Sexton, a local man fighting Stage 4 glioblastoma (brain cancer). Were beyond excited that Ryan Klesko will be helping us launch this new family-friendly fundraising initiative, said Event Organizer and Bellhops President Cameron Doody, Hes a champion at the highest level, and we hope hell help us get folks in the stands to raise funds for another champ, our friend Nate Sexton. Homers for Heroes is this Saturday from noon-5 p.m. at AT&T Field. To learn more about the event and buy tickets, visit Homers4Heroes.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Lookout.com. Tickets are $5 each if ordered in advance, or $10 at the event. About Ryan Klesko -- Ryan Klesko played 16 years in the Major Leagues, the first 8 of those with the Atlanta Braves. In 1994 he hit 17 home runs in just 92 games to finish third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. From 1995 through 1999 he averaged 24 home runs per year for the Braves including a career best 34 home runs in 1996 and a career best batting average of .310 in 1995. That year, Ryan helped lead the Braves to their lone World Series victory, batting .313 with three home runs against the Cleveland Indians. Those home runs made him the first player in World Series history to homer in three consecutive games. During his career with the Braves, Ryan hit 10 post season home runs. Ryan was chosen as a National League All Star in 2001, as a member of the San Diego Padres, batting .286 with 30 home runs and 113 RBI. The following year, also for the Padres, he batted .300 with 29 home runs and 95 RBI. For his career, Ryan batted .279 with 278 home runs and 987 RBI. He had a career on base percentage of .370 and a slugging percentage of .500. His .525 slugging percentage as a member of the Atlanta Braves places him third in team history, behind only Hank Aaron and Chipper Jones (and ahead of Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews). TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Dr. Philip Awadalla, Senior Investigator at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and Principal Investigator for the Ontario Health Study has been awarded $2 million by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The award will fund the study of the role of both genes and the environment on the development of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of medical conditions that are common in aging adults, including obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and insulin resistance. These conditions are considered to be both risk factors and causal factors in the development of cancer and chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke and diabetes. A better understanding of how to prevent and treat the conditions of metabolic syndrome could also help in the design of new strategies to prevent these diseases before they develop. Awadalla and his team will use data and samples from the Ontario Health Study, which is part of the larger Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project, to conduct their research. "There are currently no research projects at this scale looking at the genetic and environmental risk factors of metabolic syndrome or related aging-associated traits, which affects close to one quarter of Canada's adult population," said Dr. Awadalla. "This funding will allow us to tap into the vast data holdings of the Ontario Health Study to investigate the interplay among varying environmental exposures, aging, and epigenetic factors across Ontario and Canada. Ultimately we hope to find new ways to better manage these conditions and other linked diseases such as cancer." "The Ontario Health Study is proud to be involved in this important research project that will help us understand a range of health conditions that increase the risk of serious disease," said Kelly McDonald, Program Manager of the Ontario Health Study. "We thank the many Ontarians in communities across Ontario who have participated in the study to date and provided the valuable information that has made this research project and others like it possible." "Congratulations to Dr. Awadalla on this important award," said Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation. "Dr. Awadalla's leadership in the fight against cancer and chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes is commendable. We look forward to the findings of his work, which will pave the way for future advancements that will help people living in Ontario and around the world live longer and healthier lives." The team has partnered with Illumina to assist with genome sequencing, as well as Environment Canada and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Dr. Awadalla was one of eight recipients of funding announced today by The Hon. Jane Philpott, federal Minister of Health. All the teams share a common goal of working to better understand how genes and environmental factors such as air pollution contribute to the development of chronic conditions. The results will provide evidence to guide the development of new treatments and prevention strategies. About the Ontario Health Study The Ontario Health Study is one of the largest long-term health studies in Canada. Since 2010 over 230,000 Ontarians have taken online surveys, provided blood samples or physical measures, to help researchers better understand the causes of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and to develop new ways to prevent and treat them. If you live in Ontario and you're 18 years or older, you're eligible to participate. A small investment of your time today will help to improve public health for generations to come. Visit www.ontariohealthstudy.ca for more information. About the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) OICR is an innovative cancer research and development institute dedicated to prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Institute is an independent, not-for-profit corporation, supported by the Government of Ontario. OICR's research supports more than 1,700 investigators, clinician scientists, research staff and trainees located at its headquarters and in research institutes and academia across the Province of Ontario. OICR has key research efforts underway in small molecules, biologics, stem cells, imaging, genomics, informatics and bio-computing. For more information, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca. SOURCE Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Image with caption: "Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) (CNW Group/Ontario Institute for Cancer Research)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160502_C1064_PHOTO_EN_679521.jpg For further information: Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Christopher Needles, 416-673-8505, [email protected], @OICR_news TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jani Yates to the position of President and CEO effective June 13, 2016. A renowned leader in the Canadian advertising industry, Jani brings over 30 years of industry experience to ASC, most recently at the Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA), where she served as President for the past nine years. In this capacity, Jani served as the ICA's representative on ASC's Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Before joining ICA, Jani held various senior roles within a number of leading Canadian communication agencies. A tireless volunteer both in the advertising and marketing industry and in civic society, Jani is currently Chair of the CASSIES, on the ACTRA Fraternal Benefits Society's Board of Governors, and serves as a member of the Humber Advisory Board. "On behalf of the Board, we are thrilled to welcome Jani on board as President and CEO. Her breadth of experience, energy and drive are a perfect fit for the next chapter in ASC's history," commented Sandy McLeod, ASC Chair of the Board and Chief Operating Officer, Print, Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd. Following the announced resignation of Linda J. Nagel, ASC's long-standing President and CEO of 22 years in November 2015, the Board initiated a national executive search in early 2016. McLeod noted, "Jani is an insightful and ardent proponent of responsible advertising self-regulation. Her rich knowledge of ASC and the complexities of self-regulation, and strong ties with a broad range of industry stakeholders, will certainly continue to advance our mission and mandate in the years to come. We look forward to working with her." About ASC Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) is the national independent advertising industry self-regulatory body committed to creating and maintaining community confidence in advertising. ASC members leading advertisers, advertising agencies, media and suppliers to the advertising industry are committed to supporting responsible and effective advertising self-regulation. A not-for-profit organization, ASC administers the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, the principal instrument of advertising self-regulation in Canada, and a national mechanism for accepting and responding to consumers' complaints about advertising. SOURCE Advertising Standards Canada Image with caption: "Jani Yates (CNW Group/Advertising Standards Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160502_C6730_PHOTO_EN_678510.jpg For further information: Christian Campbell, Communications Coordinator, Tel: 416 961-6311, ext. 227, [email protected] (TSX-V | OYL) TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - CGX Energy Inc. (TSX-V - OYL) ("CGX Energy" or the "Company") announced today the release of its audited consolidated financial results for the year ended December 31, 2015, together with its Management Discussion and Analysis. These documents will be posted on the Company's website at www.cgxenergy.com and SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Dewi Jones, Chief Executive Officer of CGX Energy, commented: "In 2015, the Company's business plan was significantly impacted by the prevalence of low international oil prices and a global downswing in exploration budgets. Despite these difficulties the Company was successful in its ability to dramatically cut costs, deal with its significant payables and move towards monetizing some of its non-core assets. We continue to be very optimistic about exploration and development drilling in Guyana and look forward to a stronger 2016." 2015 Year-End Overview and Highlights On November 16, 2015 , Company issued a convertible debenture (the " Convertible Debenture ") by way of private placement in the amount of $1.5 million (the " Principal Amount ") to Pacific Exploration & Production Corp. (" Pacific "). The Convertible Debenture has a term of twelve months and an annual interest payable of 5% and will be convertible at the option of the holder at a conversion price of $0.335 . The Principal Amount has been funded in full. In the event that the Company fails to satisfy any of its obligations under the Convertible Debenture, Pacific shall have the right to take a pledge of shares in the Company's subsidiaries. , Company issued a convertible debenture (the " ") by way of private placement in the amount of (the " ") to Pacific Exploration & Production Corp. (" "). The Convertible Debenture has a term of twelve months and an annual interest payable of 5% and will be convertible at the option of the holder at a conversion price of . The Principal Amount has been funded in full. In the event that the Company fails to satisfy any of its obligations under the Convertible Debenture, Pacific shall have the right to take a pledge of shares in the Company's subsidiaries. As a result of the continuing decline in oil prices in 2015, the Company obtained a deferral of its commitment well in the Corentyne Block. Currently, the spud date for this well is July 1, 2016 . . On March 4, 2016 , CGX entered into a bridge loan facility with Pacific in an amount up to U.S. $2 million . This facility shall be used to help CGX fund monthly general and administrative expenses and is a drawdown facility that is approved by Pacific on a monthly basis. Pacific has the right to take a pledge of shares of CGX's subsidiaries in an event of default under the facility. As of April 29, 2016 , the Company has drawn U.S. $586,000 on the facility. , CGX entered into a bridge loan facility with Pacific in an amount up to U.S. . This facility shall be used to help CGX fund monthly general and administrative expenses and is a drawdown facility that is approved by Pacific on a monthly basis. Pacific has the right to take a pledge of shares of CGX's subsidiaries in an event of default under the facility. As of , the Company has drawn U.S. on the facility. On February 10, 2016 , the Company announced the resignation of John Cullen as a director. , the Company announced the resignation of as a director. On April 18, 2016 , CGX entered into a term sheet with a potential partner (the " Partner ") in respect of CGX's wharf and logistics yard located in Berbice, Guyana (the " Term Sheet "). The Term Sheet contemplates an initial payment upon signing of the Term Sheet and subsequent payments based upon agreed milestones. The Term Sheet also provides the Partner with a seventy-five day exclusivity period within which to conduct further due diligence and to allow the parties to negotiate definitive documentation. , CGX entered into a term sheet with a potential partner (the " ") in respect of CGX's wharf and logistics yard located in Berbice, (the " "). The Term Sheet contemplates an initial payment upon signing of the Term Sheet and subsequent payments based upon agreed milestones. The Term Sheet also provides the Partner with a seventy-five day exclusivity period within which to conduct further due diligence and to allow the parties to negotiate definitive documentation. On June 19, 2014 , CGX Resources, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered in to: (i) a drilling rig agreement (the " Drilling Agreement ") with Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. (" JDC "); and (ii) a rig sharing agreement (the " Rig Sharing Agreement ") with JDC, Teikoku Oil (Suriname) Co., Ltd (" INPEX ") for the use of JDC's HAKURYU-12 drilling rig (the " Rig "). Upon termination of the Drilling Agreement, the total amount payable to JDC by CGX Resources was U.S. $20.35 million (the " JDC Payable "). Pursuant to the terms of a definitive agreement entered into with JDC effective November 30, 2015 (the " JDC Settlement Agreement "), the JDC Payable will be paid as follows: (i) U.S. $5.5 million payable in Common Shares; (ii) U.S. $500,000 on or before December 1, 2015 ; (iii) approximately U.S. $7.18 million on or before March 25, 2016 ; and (iv) approximately U.S. $7.18 million on or before June 15 , 2016. The total amount of the JDC Payable is subject to adjustment based upon the demobilization fees under the Drilling Agreement. JDC will be issued 16,522,500 Common Shares (the " JDC Settlement Shares ") at a price of C$0.44 per share resulting in JDC owning approximately 15% of the Company on a non-diluted basis. The JDC Settlement Agreement also provides for a parent guarantee from CGX Energy to JDC in respect of the JDC Payable. As a result of the much lower prices for rigs currently available, the Company is of the view that notwithstanding the JDC Payable, drilling the next exploration well offshore Guyana on the Corentyne Block will ultimately cost approximately the same as under the Drilling Agreement. The Company is in continuous negotiations with INPEX and JDC with a view to determining how to address these significant payables in light of depressed oil prices. , CGX Resources, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered in to: (i) a drilling rig agreement (the " ") with Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. (" "); and (ii) a rig sharing agreement (the " ") with JDC, Teikoku Oil (Suriname) Co., Ltd (" ") for the use of JDC's HAKURYU-12 drilling rig (the " "). Upon termination of the Drilling Agreement, the total amount payable to JDC by CGX Resources was U.S. million (the " "). Pursuant to the terms of a definitive agreement entered into with JDC effective (the " "), the JDC Payable will be paid as follows: (i) U.S. payable in Common Shares; (ii) U.S. on or before ; (iii) approximately U.S. on or before ; and (iv) approximately U.S. on or before , 2016. The total amount of the JDC Payable is subject to adjustment based upon the demobilization fees under the Drilling Agreement. JDC will be issued 16,522,500 Common Shares (the " ") at a price of per share resulting in JDC owning approximately 15% of the Company on a non-diluted basis. The JDC Settlement Agreement also provides for a parent guarantee from CGX Energy to JDC in respect of the JDC Payable. As a result of the much lower prices for rigs currently available, the Company is of the view that notwithstanding the JDC Payable, drilling the next exploration well offshore on the Corentyne Block will ultimately cost approximately the same as under the Drilling Agreement. The Company is in continuous negotiations with INPEX and JDC with a view to determining how to address these significant payables in light of depressed oil prices. CGX continues its initiatives to secure a joint venture partner for all 3 Petroleum Prospecting Licences ("PPL") and is actively pursuing this initiative. In the short term, the Company will require additional financing and seek to widen its shareholder base, but still with a view to negotiating farm-out transactions as the primary way to enhance shareholder value. The Company is pleased about ExxonMobil's announcement of a significant oil discovery of more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs on the Stabroek Block located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana . About CGX Energy CGX Energy is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur in the future. These forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by CGX Energy. CGX Energy believes the expectations and assumptions on which it develops forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. In addition, other risks that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release are outlined further in the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 29, 2015 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and CGX Energy undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE CGX Energy Inc. For further information: Michael Galego, General Counsel and Secretary at (416) 843-3858 or [email protected] Food banks across the country are raising food and funds to ensure shelves are stocked for the summer TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - In its second year, the #EveryPlateFull campaign, is once again urging Canadians to address the 26,548,725 summer meal gap that is facing Canadians struggling with hunger. During the month of May, over 120 food organizations are raising much needed food and funds to ensure shelves are full during the summer months. Food donations are at their lowest from June to August, and food assistance organizations find their shelves often close to empty at a time when the need doesn't diminish. The #EveryPlateFull campaign aims to raise awareness of the continued need for support while asking Canadians to help raise the food and funds that food banks and provincial food bank organizations need to get them through this challenging period. "Over 918,000 men, women and children will have a really difficult time accessing enough food during the summer months," says Pam Jolliffe, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. "In turn, food banks will also find themselves under strain to meet the need as food bank shelves slowly get bare." To show support for Canada's hungry and raise awareness of this campaign, Food Banks Canada is asking Canadians to support their local food bank in a number of ways: Spread the word on social media using #EveryPlateFull Start a campaign page at www.everyplatefull.ca to encourage donations from friends, family and peers Make a monetary donation through www.everyplatefull.ca to a participating food bank or provincial food bank association. "The summer is a particularly difficult time for families living with food insecurity as school based meal programs take a break for the holidays often leaving families with fewer supports," says Ryan Noble of North York Harvest Food in Toronto. "We want to ensure that our food bank can meet the need of our community and being prepared for the summer will allow us to do that." About Every Plate Full Every Plate Full (everyplatefull.ca) held its inaugural year in 2015 with the goal of raising much needed food and funds for food banks to cover the summer months. The summer is a time when shelves often go bare when over 918,000 are struggling to put food on the table. About Food Banks Canada Food Banks Canada is the national charitable organization representing and supporting the food bank community across all of Canada. Our network of 550 food banks support 85 per cent of people turning to food banks help. Together, we strive to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow. Visit foodbankscanada.ca for more information. SOURCE Food Banks Canada Image with caption: "#EveryPlateFull (CNW Group/Food Banks Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160502_C8813_PHOTO_EN_679090.jpg For further information: Sonia Prashar, spPR, [email protected], (416) 560-6753; Marzena Gersho, Food Banks Canada, [email protected], (647) 242-5919, (905) 602-5234 x228 OTTAWA, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian forest products industry is pledging to help Canada move to a low-carbon economy by removing 30 megatonnes (MT) of CO 2 per year by 2030 more than 13% of the Canadian government's emissions target. The "30 by 30" Climate Change Challenge was issued today by the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), making the forest sector the first to voluntarily contribute to the federal government's climate goals. Canada has signed the Paris agreement on climate change and is now promising to reduce emissions by 30%, the equivalent of cutting 225 MT of CO 2 a year by 2030. The forest sector has a solid record of reducing greenhouse gases from its manufacturing processes. Since 1990 for example, Canada's pulp and paper industry has reduced GHG emissions by about 66%. "Our industry is uniquely positioned to be a crucial part of the solution to climate change because our renewable forests and forest products all store carbon," says Derek Nighbor, the CEO of FPAC. "We want to step up to the plate and do our part to help Canada reach its ambitious targets". The sector has calculated the 30MT can be reached by such measures as forest management practices that can maximize carbon storage in the forest and spur the growth of trees, by increasing the use of innovative forest products and clean tech to displace materials made from fossil fuels, and by further efficiencies at mill sites. "According to a survey of international customers by Leger Marketing, Canada's forest products industry has the best environmental practices and reputation in the world," says the President and CEO of Resolute Forest Products, Richard Garneau. "The forest sector is already ahead of the curve, for example in significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Now our industry is taking the next step by raising the bar yet again, helping Canada reach its new climate goals." Ted Seraphim, President and CEO of West Fraser, adds "30 by 30 is an important challenge, and one we have the determination to achieve. Our sector, in partnership with governments at all levels, has been able to accelerate our progress to reach our ambitious targets. We are ready to step up again and make a significant contribution to Canada's climate goals." FPAC is now working hard on a detailed road map to further flesh out the details on how it intends to meet the Climate Change Challenge. For more details on the challenge go to fpac.ca/30by30. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna welcomes the plan: "I truly appreciate how the forest products industry has become the first sector to unveil how it can help Canada reach its emissions reduction target. This is the kind of contribution that we need from industry and I would encourage other sectors to show similar initiative" Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, Jim Carr, also welcomed the announcement: "There can be no global solution to climate change without the forest sector, and the 30x30 challenge demonstrates the sector's leadership. Through innovation in sustainable forest management, tall wood buildings, and the development of forest-based bio-products, including biofuels, the forest sector continues to adapt to meet the demands of changing global markets and the goal of a low- carbon economy." The executive director of the Canadian Climate Forum, Deirdre Laframboise: "Canada needs leadership from all sectors if we are truly to become a climate change responsible nation. FPAC has shown such leadership with '30 by 30', and the Canadian Climate Forum applauds and supports this important initiative. The wise management of our forests and their products as proposed by FPAC can have a significant contribution to Canada meeting its domestic greenhouse gas emission targets, as well as those committed to under our international commitments made at COP21, December 2015." FPAC CEO, Derek Nighbor will be holding a conference call at 1:00 pm eastern for media. Conference number is 1-888-289-4573 (North America); Participant passcode 4785306# FPAC provides a voice for Canada's wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. The $65-billion-a-year forest products industry represents 2% of Canada's GDP and is one of Canada's largest employers operating in hundreds of communities and providing 230,000 direct jobs across the country. Follow us on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC Read the Tree Talk blog: http://www.fpac.ca/forestry-news-canada/blog/ SOURCE Forest Products Association of Canada For further information: Simon Tuck, Senior Director, Public Affairs, Forest Products Association of Canada, [email protected], 613-563-1441 x313 TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - As Ontario marks First Responders Day 2016, the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) continues to call on the Premier and provincial government to amend Bill 163 to recognize nurses. ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, says that, "In the legislature today, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services will stand up and pay tribute to the professionals including nurses who are first responders. Yet Bill 163, Supporting Ontario's First Responders Act, has omitted these same nurses." Haslam-Stroud praises Bill 163, passed last month. It provides presumptive coverage for PTSD for first responders under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. However, she notes that while the legislation covers male-dominated professions including firefighters, police and correctional workers, it excludes nurses, a female-dominated profession. ONA has written to the Premier to call for nurses to be covered under the Act. Haslam-Stroud says nurses deserve action by the government to change this oversight. "In the course of our working lives, nurses are witness to and experience many critical and traumatizing events," she says. "Health-care workers, including registered nurses, are among the sickest and most injured professionals of all, including firefighters and police. Nurses suffer not just physical injuries in these attacks, they suffer PTSD as well. Yet this government forces nurses to spend up to a decade or more fighting for coverage for PTSD from the WSIB. It's shameful." Because nurses were excluded from the legislation, ONA will continue to call for their recognition under Bill 163. ONA is the union representing 60,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in hospitals, long-term care, the community, public health, clinics and industry. Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association For further information: Ontario Nurses' Association: Sheree Bond, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2430; cell: (416) 986-8240; [email protected]; Melanie Levenson, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2369; [email protected] MONTREAL, May 2, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of the Emergency Preparedness Week, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) would like to remind everyone how important it is to be prepared for all kinds of natural disasters. Whether it's a tornado, torrential rains or an earthquake, IBC stresses that every household needs an emergency plan, which can make all the difference. In fact, it's not when the roof blows off or the earth shakes that you need to think about it. Every family should have an emergency kit handy with a 72-hour supply of water and other basics, including a radio, flashlight and first aid kit should someone get hurt. There have been more frequent and more extreme weather conditions in recent years. "Extreme weather events which, in the past, occurred every 40 years are now happening every six years in certain regions," explained Pierre Babinsky, IBC's Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Quebec. In 2013 alone, two episodes of torrential rains in Alberta and Ontario caused major damage that forced families from their homes, and cost at least $3.2 billion in insurance claims. "While we can't prevent such occurrences, one can however limit property damage by taking certain preventive measures, and protect one's family with a well-rehearsed evacuation plan", stressed Mr. Babinsky. The infoinsurance.ca site provides a wealth of information about how to prepare your home and family for a natural disaster. You'll find the brochure "Your emergency preparedness guide 72 hours", issued by Public Safety Canada. In addition, IBC has been sponsoring La Grande Secousse du Quebec, an annual international earthquake preparedness drill, during which three simple gestures are practiced that could save lives, namely Drop! Cover! Hold on! This year, the Quebec Great ShakeOut will be held in October 20, at 10.20 am. About Insurance Bureau of Canada Insurance Bureau of Canada, which groups the majority of Canada's P&C insurers, offers various services to consumers in order to inform and assist them when purchasing car or home insurance, or making a claim. SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada For further information: (journalists only): Caroline Phemius, Public Affairs Consultant, Telephone: 514 288-1563, ext. 2232 Canada's largest social enterprise working to bring positive change to end of life journeys through local partnerships, knowledge leadership and community investments MARKHAM, ON, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Saint Elizabeth Community Enterprise is investing $4 million over two years to strengthen end of life care for people and families and the networks that support them. The funding will expand access to residential hospice care and community-based services, in addition to supporting spiritual care and a variety of education and research initiatives. There is a growing national need for hospice palliative care as our population ages. The vast majority of Canadians (96%) support hospice palliative carei, yet many continue to die without access to high quality, coordinated end of life care. "Across the country, there is a groundswell of passionate, committed people who are propelling this issue forward," said Shirlee Sharkey, CEO of Saint Elizabeth. "By leveraging the unique strengths of our organization and working together with communities, we can escalate impact." Saint Elizabeth is currently partnering with a number of local hospices to support innovative models and better access to care. The not-for-profit social enterprise is also collaborating with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario to increase access to online training for thousands of community-based volunteers. In honour of National Hospice Palliative Care Week, May 1-7, 2016, Saint Elizabeth is inviting all Canadians to pause, recharge and remember their experiences with death and dying. Launched online nationally today, the Reflection Room is an innovative research effort that leverages the power of shared storytelling and experiential design to inspire conversations and support advance care planning. In addition to the online space, installations of the Reflection Room will be held in public spaces such as art galleries, shopping malls and libraries, as well as hospice and hospital environments. "Death is something that inevitably touches us all and yet there is a huge opportunity to make the end of life journey more meaningful and accessible," said Nancy Lefebre, senior vice president and the executive lead for Saint Elizabeth's end of life strategy. "The Reflection Room is just one example of how we are tackling tough problems, catalyzing new solutions and delivering impact." Saint Elizabeth teams from coast to coast are also supporting the effort through their participation in the national fundraising event, Hike for Hospice Palliative Care. The Community Enterprise has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar the total amount of funds raised by Saint Elizabeth employees, with 100% of the money remaining in local communities to benefit hospice care. About Saint Elizabeth Saint Elizabeth is a national health care provider that has been opening the door to new possibilities and care experiences for more than a century. Recognized as Canada's largest social enterprise, we employ 8,000 people and visit 18,000 clients every day. With Elizz, our breakthrough brand dedicated to all things caregiving, we are bringing fresh thinking, exceptional services and positive change to caregivers nationally. Through the Saint Elizabeth Research Centre, our Health Career Colleges and the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, we are helping to make the future of health care brighter and stronger. saintelizabeth.com ___________________________ i Data from Harris/Decima survey commissioned by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association SOURCE Saint Elizabeth Health Care Image with caption: "Hike for Hospice: Saint Elizabeth Corporate employees joined their colleagues from coast to coast in raising funds and awareness to support end of life care in their local communities. (CNW Group/Saint Elizabeth Health Care)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160502_C3162_PHOTO_EN_679583.jpg For further information: Media Contact: Madonna Gallo, 905-968-6430, [email protected] Anthony Bourdain's Chicago Episode Had Nary A Deep-Dish Pizza By Mae Rice in Food on May 2, 2016 5:20PM Anthony Bourdain's Chicago episode of Parts Unknown aired at 9 p.m. Sunday nightand Bourdain explained its glaring lack of deep-dish pizza, Chicago dogs and Italian beef in an essay for CNN. "We've done all those things," Bourdain writes, of the classic Chicago dishes. He wanted to try something a bit different with this episode. "It's not a 'fair' show, it's not comprehensive, it's not the 'best' of the city, or what you need to know or any of those things." Instead, the show has its roots at one of Bourdain's favorite Chicago bars: Old Town Alehouse, a dive bar that made our list of the best Chicago dives last month. Old Town's owner, Bruce Elliott, has a blog called Geriatric Genius that Roger Ebert followed loyally while he was alive, Bourdain writes, and Bourdain has taken a shine to it, too. He describes it as an un-PC (and, at times, poorly spelled) portal into the lives of a "spellbinding array of characters." Sample paragraph, from a post called "Cigarettes And Whiskey, And Wild Wild Woman!": Last night the Old Town Ale House was lively. While I was chatting with Lee, Russian Mike came in with a middle-aged fellow he plays cards with. After moving a few stools around Mike and his card playing friend sat down on the other side of me. About a half hour later the Cougar walked in. She looked sexy in a leopard skin dress that showed her perky tits to great advantage. After I complimented her outfit she pointed at her skinned knee and said that she fell down a flight of stairs. "I was texting and not paying attention." Later I found out from Russian Mike she was texting her ex-boyfriend about gold futures. The cast of characters at Old Town is "the beating heart of this [Chicago] show," Bourdain writes, though the episode also featured Lupe Fiasco, chef Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat, and of course, "ass-burning" Sze Chuan food. For more on Bourdain's Chicago episode, check out Eater's round-up of the show's ten best Bourdain one-liners, including: "Bar people do not live as long as vegan joggers. However, they have more fun." Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the increment of the minimum wage in the state as a Greek gift and s... Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the increment of the minimum wage in the state as a Greek gift and something that was coming late.It said Governor Adams Oshiomhole took politics too far when it announced a minimum wage increase for government workers from N18, 000 to N25, 000.The party noted that Governor Oshiomholes action was hasty and a betrayal of trust as it was done at a time the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was negotiating a N56, 000 minimum wage for civil servants.State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who stated this in a press statement issued in Benin City said the real challenge in the state civil service was about recruiting people into the service and not about deceiving the people with unrealistic wage increase.Orbih stated that political appointees of the governor were on the increase while civil servants have continually dwindled owing to death of workers and retirement of existing workers without replacing them.According to him, This is a Greek gift to Edo workers considering the fact that the governor has continually neglected workers welfare and treated them with disdain before now. Who does not know the motive behind this fake gesture that is coming at a time every state in the federation is facing economic recession?As at the time of the windfall, he (Oshiomhole) didnt pay workers for many months. Right now, local government workers are being owed over six months salary. Retirees pensions and entitlements are also not being paid under Oshiomholes watch.We are beginning to see Oshiomhole as a slave driver going by his policy on workers welfare. Here is a governor who has never recruited workers into the civil service since he became governor, but is now talking about salary increase in the twilight of his administration.We challenge the governor to pay outstanding salary arrears, pensions and other entitlements of workers rather than talk about a N25, 000 minimum wage. We challenge him to free the local governments from the bondage he has put them. The Federal Government has been silent over the recent demand by the organised labour for a new minimum wage of N56,000. The Federal Government has been silent over the recent demand by the organised labour for a new minimum wage of N56,000.The issue of the minimum wage was not mentioned by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, at the May Day rally in Abuja.Officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress expressed disappointment at the failure of the President to personally attend the annual event which would have given him the opportunity to address some of the issues raised by the workers.For instance, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel, who doubles as the National Treasurer of the NLC, said that the Presidents absence was a minus as he missed the opportunity to hear directly from the workers.He said that Buhari would have had the opportunity to directly respond to the workers who believed in his cause as President.The last time the President openly identified with labour unions was at the 11th delegates conference of the NLC in February, 2015, shortly before his election.When asked that both the President did not mention the issue of the new proposed minimum wage, he said that the Presidents absence caused it.That is one of the bad feelings we have as workers representatives on May Day. We believe that it was as a result of the absence of Mr. President. There is no way the President of the country would grace an occasion and salient issues like that would be raised, without Mr. President at least responding to them.Khaleel said that while the organised labour did not have the exact reasons for the governments refusal to comment on the issues, it was a fact that labour had always achieved welfare demands for its members through sustained struggle.We cannot say sincerely or talk about the reasons behind the government side not to say anything about it. But we believe that nothing, absolutely nothing, comes to the working class in the history of struggle free of charge, so we are determined and we are ready to pursue our agenda because we believe in our cause, he said.There were high expectations that the Federal Government would comment on the issue of the minimum wage during the event.The expectations of the Presidents personal presence at the even reflected in the address read by the President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, who expressed gratitude to the President for accepting our invitation to personally grace this May Day celebrations.NLCs Deputy Director in charge of Press, Mr. Samuel Olowookere, had told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Saturday to wait for the response of the Federal Government on the issue of the proposed new minimum wage on May Day.In an address read on his behalf by Ngige, the President called on the workers to collaborate with the government in the fight against corruption in the public service.He said, In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the public service in particular requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the government. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, launched a new initiative tagged Zero Hunger to clearl... Former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, launched a new initiative tagged Zero Hunger to clearly articulate what the country needs to do to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).Obasanjo tasked the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, ban importation of vegetables, carrots, cucumber, lettuce and other fruits into the nation.Obasanjo bared his mind at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan at the inaugural meeting of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategic Review Committee comprising an assemblage of representatives of the World Food Program, African Development Bank, members of the Diplomatic Corps, captains of industry as well as technocrats drawn from both the public and private institutions across the country.Addressing the forum, Chief Obasanjo, who is the convener of the initiative called for collective change of mind from all Nigerians insisting that a multi-stakeholder and multi-dimensional approach is highly desirable to achieve the goal of a zero hunger nation by 2025 ahead of the 2030 deadline given by the United Nations.He declared: Although the SDGs are laudable, the key to achieving them depends on implementation and our collective will. Let me reiterate that the task of attaining the SDGs cannot be left for the government alone, neither can it be left for the civil society nor the private sector. It is going to take the collective effort of each and every citizen of this great nation and our partners. It will require our collective change of mindset to at first identify the opportunities that abound. It is in this context that we have invited you to this meeting. We will be looking at the second goal of the SGDs which is Zero Hunger. Our main focus will be to clearly articulate what the country needs to do to achieve the SGDs. At a period the payment of salaries has become a herculean task to most of the state governments in Nigeria, the Governor of Cross River ... At a period the payment of salaries has become a herculean task to most of the state governments in Nigeria, the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, made the issue look like a childs play when he announced the payment of May salaries of workers in the employ of the state government on Sunday.He made the announcement while addressing workers in the state during the 2016 May Day celebration held at the UJ. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.Apart from the payment of this months salaries to the workers, Ayade announced the appointment of labour representative into the state executive council, release of funds for the building of Labour House, and donation of a new Toyota coaster bus to the NLC.Ayade who minutes earlier had been pronounced Best Labour Friendly Governor in Nigeria by the organised labour in the state, said his administration would continue to dignify its workforce by ensuring that they get their dues promptly.No infrastructure is more important than labour that is why in all my programs, I focus on people.Anybody who pulls down labour does not understand the philosophy of existentialism, hence the need for labour to come before infrastructure and skyscrapers, Ayade said. Governor Oshiomhole of Edo State while condoling with the crowned Prince of Benin Kingdom, Eheneden Eradiauwa, on the demise of his father... Governor Oshiomhole of Edo State while condoling with the crowned Prince of Benin Kingdom, Eheneden Eradiauwa, on the demise of his father, Oba Erediauwa, Uku Akpolokpolo, encouraged him to sustain the legacies of the late king.The governor who visited the crowned prince at Uselu on Monday, descried the Oba's transition as a great loss.Though a statement had already been issued by my office on the life and times of the Oba, we are consoled that the vacuum created will be filled by a true royal crowned prince. The crowned prince has sufficiently gone through the rigours of life and royalty.We believe that the late Oba has prepared him as he has what it takes to step into his shoes and face the challenges that may arise. The late Oba was not only a unifying factor to the people of the state, but to the nation in general. I therefore, appeal that the legacies and national respect he commands be sustained, he said.Responding, the Edaiken thanked the governor for the visit, and said that there was not much to say as his heart was heavy and grieving due to the demise of his father. He explained that he was most pained because of the love and closeness he had with his late father which appeared to be the first in the history of the Kingdom.The crowned prince appreciated the governors assistance and contributions to the palace as well as the development achieved so far in the state.The crowned prince further commended the media for their commitment, dedication and objective in reporting of events in the palace.He assured the people and the governor that he would do his best to justify the confidence reposed in him to lift the Kingdom to an enviable height.Edo State Government had on April 29 issued a statement announcing the death of the Oba of Benin. Senator Dino Melaye, Chairman Senate Committee on FCT has addressed media reports on 36 cars purchased by the Senate. Senator Dino Melaye, Chairman Senate Committee on FCT has addressed media reports on 36 cars purchased by the Senate.Speaking with newsmen, Melaye said, I do not have information about the number but I know vehicles were purchased for committee responsibilities. I know we have about sixty committees but only 36 was purchased. The walk in price for those vehicles is about N31 million so it was ridiculous to read on Sahara reporters that the vehicles were bought double the amount.Once you give out contracts, the public procurement acts require that you give maximum 25% profit. But this particular contract had only 10% profit. Senators are higher than ministers. It is possible that we should put into situation, the economic situation.The legislative arm of government is not the only arm of government . Director generals use the same vehicles, NGO of parastatals use the same vehicle, ministers have two or three of such vehicles in their fleets, they all come to the National Assembly and we see what they come with. Because of the economic situation, I can understand that but to say that we are not entitled to it is wrong. I dont even need it. It is not our car, people forget that. It is a government vehicle and at the expiration of your tenure, you must return it or pay for the devalued price.People must understand these issues but because of the misinformation of Sahara reporters, with due respect, Nigerians are gullible. Once you pick a story from there, like wild fire is bring propelled. Let Sahara reporters bring a car dealer that will sell a land cruiser at 17 or 18 million. Even Prado is not 18 million. The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jamaatul Nasir Islam, Saad Abubakar lll, on Sunday, condemned the incessant attacks... The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jamaatul Nasir Islam, Saad Abubakar lll, on Sunday, condemned the incessant attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen across the country and called on the relevant security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.The perpetrators when apprehended, the Sultan said, must be made to face justice and to forestall a recurrence.Abubakar, while condemning the attacks, which he described as unfortunate, however, cautioned some Nigerians and groups against packaging crimes in religious and ethnic garments.Crimes are abominable and whoever commits them is a criminal, he said.He called on security agencies to be proactive and utilise maximally intelligence reports in order to nip in the bud possible eruptions of security problems within and around communities.The Secretary-General of the JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, who issued a statement on behalf of the Sultan in Kaduna on Sunday, said the Sultan was pained over the attacks and the blame heaped on certain ethnic race and Islam.He viewed the fallout of the serial attacks, particularly the taking up of arms against other citizens, as another trend of insecurity that portended grave danger to the Nigerian nation.The monarch said Nigerians must not forget so soon the adverse effects of the Boko Haram menace that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent lives.The Sultan said, Jamaatu Nasril Islam received with great shock and deep concern the news of incessant killings and maiming of innocent lives and the destruction of public and private properties. Of particular concern is the brutal murder of people in Agatu, Benue State, Nnibo, Enugu State and some parts of Nasarawa State.It is indeed alarming that within few weeks, deadly attacks were reportedly unleashed while the perpetrators go un-arrested.We therefore call for a thorough investigation by appropriate agencies in order to fish out the evil perpetrators, bring them to justice and forestall recurrence.It is indeed absurd and most unfortunate that certain groups or people ascribed the incidence to ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria.We must thus be cautious of packaging crimes on religious and ethnic garments.Meanwhile, communities, under the aegis of Conference of Autocthonous Ethnic Communities Association, have appealed to the Federal Government to treat the constant Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes as a national crisis and give it the adequate attention it deserves.The communities also told the Federal Government to forget the idea of a grazing reserve as no ethnic community was ready to relinquish an inch of its land for that purpose.In a communique at the end of its conference in Jos, the communities said the frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers all over the country were sometimes complicated by the involvement of some bad eggs in the security agencies who were sometimes involved in the ongoing conflicts.The communique, which was signed by the Secretary General, Mr. Solomon Sukukum, and made available to our correspondent in Jos on Sunday, said Fulani herdsmen tended to focus their attention on river valleys, highlands, mountain ranges, forests and hills. He said this has a great grave implication on the communities and the nation. He said the vast land belonging to autochthonous peoples, such as the Berom, Tiv in Taraba, northern banks of the River Benue, were later occupied by Fulani herdsmen after dislodging the native population.According to him, the result is that such areas are now Fulani territories as natives are no longer allowed into the places.The communique said, Most of the attacks faced by our communities are not directly arising from farming or grazing activities. Most of the attacks are carried out with the prior knowledge and approval of the Hardos; with clear acknowledgement by Miyetti Allah that they are reprisal. There are clear indications that the conflicts are complicated by religion, ethnicity, crimes and politics.The communities called on the Federal Government to dislodge and relocate Fulani from all occupied areas belonging to the indigenous communities and to ensure the return of the rightful owners.Also, the Nigerian Army has said it will explore all means to combat insurgency in the North-East and stop the incessant attacks by the herdsmen on the farmers in the Middle-Belt and the South.The General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan, Maj. Gen. Laz Ilo, stated this at the annual military training/competition hosted by the 32nd Artillery Brigade, Owena Barracks, Akure, the Ondo state capital, on Friday.He said the issues of insurgency and Fulani herdsmen were being tackled headlong and the army would continue to tackle the menace until there is peace in the affected areas of the country. The Federal Government recently claimed that there is hope for Nigeria as it will soon draw down $480 million (N153.6 billion) looted by f... The Federal Government recently claimed that there is hope for Nigeria as it will soon draw down $480 million (N153.6 billion) looted by fraudulent Nigerians and warehoused in the United States of America.The optimism stems from a recent comparison of notes between top US and Nigerian officials on the looted funds, which were spread in many banks and commercial ventures in America. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, confirmed to Vanguard, weekend, that there had been an appreciable progress between officials of the two nations over the repatriation of the cash to Nigeria. Malami, Minister of Justice, explained that the decision to return the funds followed his recent visit to the US in company of acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, during which they met with the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies over the matter.The money that is due for immediate repatriation is $480 million (N95b) and we are confident that we have reached a point that it will be drawn down before long, the minister said.It was learned that the US had, however, given Nigeria some undisclosed conditions to meet before the money would be drawn down, apparently to prevent a repeat of what happened with such funds during previous administrations.The Abacha cash is said to have been revealed, following the forfeiture hearings against the family and others conducted by the US Department of Justice, DoJ, over the years to track the funds from different banks and entities.The proceedings made it possible for the Abacha family and its associates to forfeit over $550 million and 95,910 in 10 accounts and six investment portfolios linked to them in France, Britain, British Virgin Islands and the United States.On efforts so far made to stem looting in Nigeria, Malami said: I can tell you that the Buhari administration is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that all looted Nigerian funds are retrieved and those found to have aided and abetted same brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to potential looters.Malami was optimistic that the repatriation of the huge cash would send a clear and stern signal to corrupt Nigerians that there was no safe haven anywhere to keep stolen Nigerian funds. A Light Pole Fell On 3 Girls In Hyde Park And Broke One Girl's Leg By Mae Rice in News on May 2, 2016 6:39PM Photo via H. Michael Miley on Flickr Three girls were hit by a falling light pole in Hyde Park on Monday morning, police said. The impact broke one girl's leg. A police sergeant saw the pole fall on the three girls at about 11 a.m., police said, in the 5200 block of South Lake Park. The sergeant and "some citizens" lifted the pole off the girls. One girl, age 16, suffered a broken leg, and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in "serious condition," police said. The other two girls, ages unknown, were taken to University of Chicago Hospitals as a precaution. "They didn't have any visible injuries," a Chicago Police Department spokesperson told Chicagoist. So far, it's unknown why the light pole fell, police said. LONGPORT -- A retired Longport police officer settled his whistleblower lawsuit against his former employer for $70,000. The news was first reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provides a partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them. A Thompson submachine gun. A retired Longport police officer who complained that a rare magazine belonging to a Thompson submachine gun was sold for less than market value settled his lawsuit against the borough for $70,000. Lieutenant William Hewitt's alleges his troubles began when spoke up after the department sold a rare drum magazine of a Thomson submachine gun for less than market value to an antique collector. The magazine was worth more than $3,000, according to the suit. Hewitt said that after he complained he was retaliated against when he put in for 18 hours of overtime after filling-in as the department's top cop while the chief was absent for eight days. He alleged he was stripped of his position of range master and firearms instructor, denied the use of earned personal days off and stripped of his computer access. In agreeing to the settlement, Longport admitted no wrongdoing. Hewitt retired last year and collects a yearly pension of $75,392. He made $113,800 during his final year on the force, according to public records. The Atlantic County borough is home to fewer than 900 people, according to census figures. The department employs 14 police officers, according to its website. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - A 4-year-old boy was found dead in a pool in Egg Harbor Township on Saturday night, police said. The child's parents called police after he slipped out of the family's residence in the London Court Condos in the Farmington section of town, Egg Harbor Township police said in a news release. A 4-year-old boy drowned in a pool in an Egg Harbor Township condo complex Saturday night, police said. Two hours after an intensive search that involved bloodhounds and a State Police helicopter began just after 9 p.m., authorities found the boy in the community pool at the condominium complex. Emergency responders performed CPR on the child. He was flown to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His identity hasn't been released. Police didn't release any other information, but a PressofAtlanticCity.com report said the death was accidental. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. ATLANTIC CITY -- A 63-year-old fisherman in South Jersey was medevaced by the United States Coast Guard Sunday morning and the rescue was caught on video. The fisherman became sick and was in need of medical attention while aboard a scallop boat 60 miles southeast of Atlantic City. A crew member aboard the 90-foot fishing vessel "Linda" contacted the USCG Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia at roughly 3:30 p.m. A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from the Atlantic City air station responded and hoisted the main to safety at 4:50 p.m. The fisherman was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus in Galloway Township. The video of the rescue was released by the Coast Guard. The condition of the fisherman is not known at this time. Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook. P1 Postal Problems A former mail carrier admitted in federal court that he stole IRS checks out of the mail for 50 each. (Seth Perlman | AP) CAMDEN -- The check indeed was in the mail, but a former Burlington County mail carrier admitted in federal court Friday that he didn't deliver the goods. Earl Champagne, 47, of Willingboro, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to a count of theft of U.S. Mail and a count of theft of government money. According to a court document charging Champagne, two unnamed New Jersey residents approached Champagne about handing over IRS checks he was to deliver. Prosecutors said that from March to July of 2014, Champagne, a 19-year veteran mail carrier, was told to look for IRS mailings directed to individuals with "Spanish" names. He was told to pick the checks out of the mail to hand over to them or to notify them that checks were in mailboxes that they could intercept. Prosecutors said Champagne was paid $50 for every check stolen from the mail. He admitted to stealing 72 government checks totaling $442,776, the court record said. If he was paid for each of the 72 checks, Champagne would have made $3,600 in the scheme. The theft of U.S. Mail and theft of government money charges to which Champagne pleaded guilty both carry maximum penalties of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Champagne is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 3. U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited special agents of the IRS-Criminial Investigation unit and the U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook. TRENTON -- New Jersey is considering the potential benefits of pushing back school start times, and the state Department of Education wants to hear what teachers, parents and students think. The state is holding a series of public hearings this week, beginning Monday, and accepting online comments until May 20. The comments will be incorporated into a report the Department of Education will submit to Gov. Chris Christie and the state Legislature recommending whether to establish a pilot program to test later school start times. New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill last year ordering the state to study the benefits and drawbacks of starting middle and high school school no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The bill followed a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics that schools for teens shouldn't start before 8:30 a.m. About 85 percent of New Jersey middle and high schools currently start earlier than that time, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Sleep-deprived adolescents can suffer physical and mental health problems and often experience a decline in academic performance, according to the academy. However, schools face a number of logistical challenges in changing their schedules. Here's how to contribute the debate: Online: Email comments to laterstarttime@doe.state.nj.us In person: 4-7 p.m. Monday Camden County College, Blackwood Campus Civic Hall (CON 105) 200 College Drive, Blackwood Register for the May 2 meeting 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, Room 1 12 Centre Drive, Monroe Register for the May 4 meeting online 4-7 p.m. May 10 Franklin Williams Middle School auditorium 222 Laidlaw Avenue, Jersey City Register for the May 10 meeting Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. PRINCETON -- Princeton University professor Johannes Haushofer's resume, which includes degrees from Harvard and Oxford and numerous prestigious jobs and awards, is pretty impressive. But, it's Haushofer's failures that have made him an internet star. Haushofer, an assistant professor of psychology and public affairs, posted a "CV of Failures" on April 23 on the Princeton website. The document looks like a curriculum vitae or resume, but it lists everything he was rejected for during his academic career, including jobs he failed to get and universities that rejected his applications. "Most of what I try fails, but these failures are often invisible, while the successes are visible. I have noticed that this sometimes gives others the impression that most things work out for me," Haushofer wrote. "This CV of Failures is an attempt to balance the record and provide some perspective." Haushofer's failure resume includes rejections from doctorate programs at Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge and other schools. He was turned down for jobs and fellowships at Harvard, the University of California at Berkeley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also lists nine awards and scholarships he failed to get, five papers rejected for publication by various academic journals and numerous foundations that turned down his applications for research funding. His "CV of Failures," which he linked to from his Twitter account, has gone viral. It has been shared thousands of times on social media and featured in news stories as far away as London and India. Haushofer, who has been at Princeton since 2014, said a rejection resume wasn't his idea. He was inspired by a 2010 article in Nature by a University of Edinburgh lecturer calling on people to list all the things they failed at before they found success. Many other academics have published similar failure resumes online. But, Haushofer's failures are being circulated around the world via Twitter, Facebook and other social media. The professor said the irony is not lost on him. He has added a new line to his rejection resume. "This darn CV of Failures has received way more attention than my entire body of academic work," he wrote, under the heading "Meta-Failures." Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 11.05.49 AM.png Left to right: Orange East Ward Councilman Kerry Coley, Mayor Dwayne Warren and political newcomer Jan Morrell. The trio are vying to earn a four-year term as mayor in a May 10 election. ORANGE - A trio of mayoral candidates will face off in a final debate on Wednesday, less than a week before voters head to the polls. Dwayne Warren, Kerry Coley and Janice Morrell have all confirmed they will take part from 7 to 9 p.m. at the city's YWCA, according to organizers. Jonathan Alston, co-host of the "All Politics Are Local" show on WRNU radio, will serve as moderater. The debate will help cap a heated campaign season, as East Ward Councilman Coley and relative political newcomer Morrell seek to deny Warren a second term as mayor. Warren began attacking Coley in July 2015, calling him a misogynist for allegedly sharing an explicit video via his personal Facebook page. Coley claimed he was hacked and called Warren's attacks little more than dirty politics. Since the campaign began in earnest earlier this year, Warren has faced attacks over his 2013 endorsement of Gov. Chris Christie and ties to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. Meanwhile, a political action committee tied to the mayor has continued to raise issues over the Facebook video and internal affairs complaints against Coley during his tenure as a city police officer, according to Politico. Last month, Coley filed a lawsuit over the allegations he shared the explicit video. Morrell, a retired talent and admissions officer at Rutgers University who has held a longtime seat on the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment, has largely steered clear of any direct attacks. Last month, a spokesman for her campaign denied to PolitickerNJ that she was behind an anti-Coley flier that purported to show Councilwoman Donna Williams sleeping on the job. Warren may have scored a late boost from one of the area's largest labor groups last week, when he appeared along Communications Workers of America representatives at a press conference outlining an ordinance that would regulate Uber and other mobile car-hailing services. Voters are set to decide which candidate will earn a four-year term on May 10. Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEWARK -- A Newark man pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of striking and killing a 3-year-old boy in September during a chase with city police. Troy Ruff, 22, entered the plea through his attorney when he was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler in connection with the Sept. 11 crash that killed Rahmere Tullis. Ruff was indicted on April 1 on aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and related offenses. He remains in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of posting $500,000 bail. During Monday's brief hearing, Ruff's attorney, Angela Guidetta, indicated she needs to review the evidence in the case before pursuing any motions. Ruff is scheduled to return to court on June 20. The crash occurred at about 7:40 a.m. when officers from the Newark Police Department's Fugitive Apprehension Team were attempting to apprehend Ruff on aggravated assault and weapons charges stemming from an incident in May, authorities said. After officers spotted Ruff driving a 2002 Hyundai Sonata, they tried to pull him over, but Ruff continued driving, authorities said. Authorities said Ruff struck a car that was driving on 15th Avenue and then mounted a curb near the intersection with 7th Street, where he crashed into Rahmere as he was standing on the sidewalk with his mother. Ruff was immediately arrested, authorities said. Rahmere was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. As the incident sent shock waves throughout the Newark community, one family friend described Rahmere as "a gift." "He was an adorable child, he touched everyone's heart," said the friend, Latayna Wright, during a Sept. 13 vigil at the intersection where Rahmere was killed. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called the crash "a crime against humanity." "This tragedy touches us on so many levels and the loss of young Rahmere is felt in our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities and throughout Newark," Baraka said in a statement at the time. "The way in which his life was taken is not just a crime against the laws of the land but a crime against humanity." Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEWARK -- The Essex County Prosecutor's Office identified the NJIT student shot and killed Monday morning in a fraternity house as a Freehold man. Joseph Micalizzi was 23. Micalizzi was shot at about 3:22 a.m. in the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house on the 300 block of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, the prosecutor's office said. He was pronounced dead at 5:02 a.m. at University Hospital. Micalizzi was a junior studying mechanical engineering. He transferred to NJIT from Brookdale Community College. He lived at the fraternity house during the school year. Police have not made any arrests and or identified any suspects. NJIT is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting. The Essex County Sheriff's Office is offering another $10,000 on top of that. "This is a tragic time for the student's family, friends and the entire NJIT campus and we extend our thoughts and prayers to all affected," NJIT President Joel Bloom said. About a dozen cars were parked Monday afternoon in front of the Micalizzi home in Freehold. Friends and family members hugged outside. They declined to comment. Diane McCool, a neighbor, knew Micalizzi. "He's a good boy," she said. "He works hard. This is just a horrible tragedy." In Newark, a woman living down the street from the fraternity house said she was good friends with Micalizzi. She did not want to be identified. The two of them were studying until early Monday when he left to go to a local convenience store, she said. Micalizzi's fraternity brothers said someone followed him back from the store and shot him in the fraternity house. Micalizzi was one of 30 current NJIT students who belonged to the TKE chapter, said Alex Baker, chief information officer for at the fraternity national headquarters in Indianapolis, In. Baker said the fraternity is still seeking details about the shooting. "We are saddened to hear about the shooting of a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon that happened at NJIT. Our thoughts and prayers are with the member's friends and family," Baker said in a statement. "We are still working to learn the details of what occurred and both the men at the Kappa-Eta chapter and International Headquarters will fully cooperate with the police investigation," he said. TKE opened its chapter at the Newark school in 1965, Baker said. He said it is one of more than 10 chapters the fraternity has in New Jersey. Anyone with information can call the Essex County Prosecutor's Office tips line at (877) 847-7432. Micalizzi's death comes weeks after the shooting death of Rutgers-Newark student Shani Patel, just a few blocks from campus. Authorities believe Patel, 21, may have been a target of a drug-related robbery. Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tom Haydon, Steve Strunsky and Alex Napoliello of NJ Advance Media contributed to this report. EAST ORANGE -- Three years ago, before the country focused on Flint, Michigan for a water crisis that exposed thousands of children to elevated levels of lead, a New Jersey city was making headlines for a water catastrophe of its own. Two water officials in East Orange were indicted on charges that they knowingly hid elevated levels of toxins in the city's water supply. The state Department of Environmental Protection intervened to control and monitor a remediation of the water supply. About 80,000 people were exposed to elevated levels of an industrial solvent that has been linked to potential cancer risks. But, leaders of the 153-year-old city say they were able to avoid becoming the next Flint, thanks to the foresight of East Orange's founders, and a healthy influx of funding to overhaul its water system. Since 2014, the city has spent about $15 million on capital projects to improve its water system, and is planning another $22 million worth of renovations in the coming years. The fixes, Public Works Director Christopher Coke said, were able to happen swiftly and effectively, because of the century-old water system in place. SETTING THE STAGE The story of East Orange's water supply, Coke said, is as old as the city itself. The city is one of the few in the state, he said, to own and control its own wells, which are located in nearby Short Hills and Florham Park. The town's founders purchased the land and set up the independent system around when the town was founded in 1909. "These guys were really innovative and forward thinking," Coke said, noting that the fixes being made now are possible because the town owns its own water supply. "We're not dependent on anyone else for water." The system suffered a staggering setback in 2013, when elevated levels of the chemical solvent tetrachloroethene were found in the water, and top city officials admitted to falsifying test results that made the water appear safe to drink. Much of the fallout from the East Orange water crisis fell into the lap of the then newly-elected Mayor Lester Taylor in 2014. The mayor replaced most members of the East Orange Water Commission. The commission's former assistant executive director William Mowell was sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to charges relating to a scheme to hide the water contamination, and the city settled a lawsuit with an employee who claimed he was ordered to carry the scheme out. With the city's eyes now on continuing improvements, "that chapter is closed," Coke said this week. ROAD TO RECOVERY In the wake of the scandal, the city was required to enter into an Administrative Consent Order with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which now monitors the city's water quality and system renovation progress on a quarterly basis. "They are in compliance," DEP spokesman Bob Considine said last week. "Sampling continues on a weekly or more frequent basis and the running annual average for the contaminant of concern, tetrachloroethylene, remains below the maximum contaminant level." As part of the agreement, an interim operation, which includes the city supplementing its supply with water purchased from Newark, was put in place while East Orange rehabbed its own system, officials said. Construction happening now includes the installation of airstrippers, which remove volatile organic contaminants from the water supply, and complete well rehabilitation. After this phase is completed at the end of this year, the water commission will request the city council bond another $22 million for additional work, including new piping, measures that will make water delivery more efficient, and the addition of an emergency generator that could run the system in the event of a prolonged power outage. The scandal, officials said, served as a wake up call that they acted upon quickly. "Since I took office in 2014, the East Orange Water Commission has made a substantial financial investment to improve and modernize our aging water infrastructure," Taylor said, calling the city's management of the rehabilitation "aggressive." The renovation may also increase the capacity of the system, Coke said, from its current level, which carries about 10.3 million gallons of water per day. The city has a contract in place through the end of the year to supply water to its neighbor, South Orange. After that expires, the capacity increase could allow the city to sell water to other municipalities, officials said. Some of the improvements being made, the second round of which should be done by 2020, were mandatory, Coke said. But, some were voluntary. "We stepped up," he said. "We have more testing; we stepped up our level of employee training. ... Inaction is what caused a lot of the (past) issues." WHAT ABOUT LEAD? Flint is not the only city that has reignited national attention on lead. In March, East Orange's neighbor, Newark, reported that thousands of children in the state's largest district were being exposed to elevated levels of lead at school. The revelation prompted East Orange officials to work with the city's school district to run its own tests. Samples taken from all 22 public schools, the district administration building, the city's water supply, and the supplemental water purchased from Newark, reported results below the federal safe levels of lead and other contaminants, officials said. The district will continue to work with the city to monitor levels, and address any issues that arise, officials said. "My board colleagues, the administration, and I are very happy with the positive outcome," East Orange Board Of Education President Bergson Leneus said in a statement. "However, we will not rest on our laurels. We are committed to being proactive and strictly monitoring these potential issues in order to safeguard our children, staff and families." Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Logan Square Is Throwing A Party For That Super Old 'Aloha' Billboard By Kirsten Onsgard in Arts & Entertainment on May 2, 2016 4:18PM The Logan Square "Aloha" Billboard, via Kirsten Onsgard/Chicagoist. Its been nearly a year since Logan Square residents said aloha to a billboard plastered with the giant face of Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone. But because it does not seem like they will be saying alohaahem, goodbyeanytime soon, residents are throwing the sign a one-year anniversary bash. On May 29 fans of the Aloha movie billboard are invited to gather at noon near the Logan Square Centennial Monument and celebrate with tropical garb and refreshments. Bring a covert tiki drink or two, wear a tropical-print lQQk (sic) (and) eat snacks (to) honor the anniversary of the longest movie marketing campaign ever, reads the Facebook event. Logan Square tiki bar Lost Lakewhich is only a few months older than the coincidentally on-theme Aloha billboardalso confirmed to Chicagoist that they will be selling walking mocktails to enjoy at the celebration and hosting an after party, which will include cheekily-named drinks. The event was spawned after creators Brian Solem and Cornell Bar were walking past the billboard and realized it was nearing the one year anniversary of the films release. Why not have a party to celebrate? We, as many Logan Square residents, have been perplexed as to why this billboard is still up, Bar told Chicagoist. They invited a few friends, and it spiraled into something much bigger. Even with the more than 350 people who have RSVPd, they hope to keep it loose and community-focused. This very tiny, 20 person hangout has evolved into something that feels very Logan Square right now. People just want to hang out and appreciate the beauty of Logan Square and have an ironic friend gathering, Solem said. It has surprised me every step of the way, but it feels right, in a way. The Logan Square "Aloha" Billboard, via Kirsten Onsgard/Chicagoist. The billboard and its mysterious longevity has gathered a cult fan following over the past year. A Tumblr page created last fall, appropriately titled logansquarealohabillboard.tumblr.com, provides periodic updates on the question, Is the poster for the movie Aloha still on that billboard in Logan Square? Of course, the only answer is yes. One person on Facebook suggested that it has been a part of the Logan Square tapestry long enough to be considered a historical landmark. That idea is presumably a tongue-in-cheek nod to the long legal battle between the billboards company, VisualCast, and Logan Square Preservation about two separate billboards on the building below the Aloha sign. According to DNAInfo, because the historic boulevards and square were designated as a historic district, Logan Square Preservation argued it would compromise the historic look of the neighborhood. However, the Aloha billboard existed prior to its historical designation. But even the billboard is arguably more beloved than the love-triangle romantic comedy dud that premiered last spring. Besides being hated by critics (one called it Cameron Crowes worst film) Aloha was also criticized for being racially incentive toward Asian-Americans and Hawaiians due in part to its very white cast. We still have this billboard up that has this movie that has been critically panned and has these problematic elements in it, and its just kind of funny thats over all of Logan Square, which is exploring its own uncomfortable moments, in terms of racial changes, Solem said. Still, at least its inspired a little tropical fun. Lets just hope they dont decide to take it down quite yet. We want people to come out into the square and enjoy each others company, Bar said. If this silly billboard is the thing that gets people out into the world to experience each other together, thats great. NEWARK - The man killed in the city's South Ward Sunday afternoon has been identified as a Montclair resident. George R. Allen III, 42, was found suffering from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle in the area of 48 Van Ness Place around 2:30 p.m., Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a joint statement. Allen was rushed to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 3:15 p.m., they said. No arrests have been made in the slaying, though an investigation by the prosecutor's office's Major Crimes and Homicide Task Force remains active. Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEWARK -- The NJIT community reacted to the fatal shooting of a fraternity brother Monday with added security and more sorrow than fear, according to university officials and students interviewed on campus. "It was just really heartbreaking," said Vidhi Parekh, 19, a freshman from North Bergen. "When I read the (president's email) messages, I thought, 'Oh, my god,' I hope that's not true.'" Parekh, a sister at Alpha Sigma Tau, said she knew the shooting victim, Joseph Micalizzi, a mechanical engineering student, through recent Greek Week activities that mingled her sorority with his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. Christian Tavares, a Rutgers junior who attended parties at the TKE fraternity house at NJIT, left a bouquet of flowers. "A great bunch of people," he said. The messages she referred to were campus-wide emails sent out by NJIT President Joel Bloom, notifying students and faculty of what had happened, but assuring them that, "there is no imminent threat to the campus." Micalizzi, 23, was shot at about 3:22 a.m. in the TKE frat house on the 300 block of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. The incident remained under investigation, with no arrests made as of Monday evening. Early in the day, NJIT offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting, followed by another $10,000 offer on top of that from the Essex County Sheriff's Office. It was the second fatal shooting of a student in less than a month in Newark's University Heights section, after the death of Shani Patel, 21, of Toms River, a junior economics major at the Rutgers Newark campus neighboring NJIT. Parekh and a friend, Priya Ravi, 18, a freshman from Kearny, were in between classes when they paused to talk about their reaction in a busy NJIT quad between the Campus Center and Fenster Hall, which was abuzz with students and looked as if all was normal on Monday afternoon. Both said they felt safe on campus, and noted that NJIT had provided safety tips during orientation and intermittently throughout the year, for example, don't text while you're walking, which could distract you from potential threats. They also said they were reassured by the president's emails. "It's good because they want everybody to be informed, and it shows that they care," said Ravi, whose parents told her at the start of the year not to leave the campus after 9 p.m. Joe Gedutis, a 20-year-old freshman business major from Hawthorne, said he was "not too concerned" about his safety after the Rutgers or NJIT shooting, and that he tried to follow the advice he got from the school. "They told us walk in twos or threes, don't be on your phone noticeably, mind your own business," Gedutis said, adding that the school did not discourage students from venturing off campus, only to be mindful of their surroundings while doing so. A spokeswoman for NJIT, Lauren Ugorji, said patrols by the NJIT Police Department were being bolstered in the wake of the shooting, and that messages wold go out to students reiterating basic safety precautions, including the availability of off and on-campus escorts or rides by NJIT officers. "Our students can call public safety any time of the night and they can get an escort," Ugorji said. "And we can't emphasize that enough. If they feel unsafe in any way they should call security." Ugorji said plainclothes and uniformed officers patrolled the campus on foot, on bikes, and in patrol cars, watching out for the school's 11,300 students, inlcuding nearly 7,000 undergraduates. She said about 1,800 students live on campus, although many live in private housing within blocks of the school, including the TKE fraternity house. Newark's acting public safety director, Anthony Ambrose, said he would meet with Rutgers Chief of Police Carmelo Huertas and NJIT Police Chief Joseph Marswillo "to work on strategies to increase patrols in the area." Ugorji said that TKE brothers whose house is now a crime scene were being offered free on-campus housing for the two weeks remaining of the semester. Graduation is May 17, and most classes had ended by Monday, before the start of later this week, she said. Students upset or disrupted by the shooting would be given extra time, Ugorji said. "Of course, whenever a student feels they need extra time for anything, they can always toalk to our dean of students, and we can make accommodations," she said. Over the years, Ugorji said NJIT has tried to move fraternity houses onto the campus in order to better police security and other activities, though the issue is a sensitive one because the frats are private organizations that traditionally have resided in private housing. There are now 10 fraternities on campus, and seven off, most on a the same two-block fraternity row along MLK Boulevard where TKE is located. There are actually two TKE frat houses on that row, one of them the Rutgers TKE house on the 400 block, one block north of the NJIT house. Members of both houses declined to comment on the incident. Micalizzi was one of 30 current NJIT students who belonged to the TKE chapter, said Alex Baker, chief information officer for at the fraternity national headquarters in Indianapolis, In. "We are saddened to hear about the shooting of a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon that happened at NJIT," Baker said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the member's friends and family." Like several other local frat houses, each TKE house had its own security measures: an "Emergency" call box outside the Rutgers chapter house front door; and at teh NJIT house, a box with a large red button reading "Help," was well as a sign posted reading, "Warning: Premises protected by 24-hour surveillance." While several students said they were not concerned for their own safety, that didn't mean mothers and fathers weren't worried. Parekh and Ravi, the NJIT freshmen, said some of their classmates had been ordered home for the remainder of the semester. "We have friends whose parents were freaked out about it," Parekh said. "And they said, 'We're going to take you home right now.'" Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook. UPDATE: 23-year-old student killed at NJIT frat IDed NEWARK -- A man shot and killed in a fraternity house early Monday was an NJIT student, authorities said. Rutgers University Police said in an email to students that the man was shot at an off-campus house. The Rutgers-Newark campus is just across the street from NJIT on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The student was shot at about 3:22 a.m., Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly said. The man was shot at a Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house on the 300 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, just north of the NJIT campus. The man was pronounced dead at 5:02 a.m. at University Hospital, Fennelly said. He was later identified as Joseph Micalizzi, 23. The student was killed in a robbery, NJIT president Joel Bloom said in a statement. There was no threat to the campus, he said. The school is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading the successful prosecution of whomever killed the student. "This is a tragic time for the student's family, friends and the entire NJIT campus and we extend our thoughts and prayers to all affected," Bloom said. A woman who lives down the street from the fraternity house told NJ Advance Media she was good friends with the slain student. The woman, who was visibly distraught and did not wish to be identified, said she was studying with the student into the early hours Monday before he left to go to a local convenience store. The student's fraternity brothers told her a man followed the student back from the store and shot him in the fraternity house. Paris Hall, a Rutgers-Newark student, lives a block away from the Tau Kappa Epsilon house during the school year. Hall, who is a member of the Alpha Phi Delta fraternity at Rutgers, said he and his fraternity brothers strive to keep drug activity out of their house. He and his brothers discussed security concerns at the very beginning of the school year. "The first thing we talked about was getting a new door and new cameras and then this happens," Hall said. "It's crazy." Melvin Goldsmith, a student at Essex County Community College, just a few blocks east of the fraternity house, said he avoided taking night classes for safety reasons. He said he was shocked that the shooting had taken place so close to the colleges, "but it's in Newark." Investigators were going in and out of the three-story brick fraternity house Monday morning. Police have closed Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard between Central Avenue and New Street, Newark Police Capt. Derek Glenn said. Parts of Bleeker and Summit streets are also closed. Rutgers University-Newark issued a statement saying the closures would last until 10 a.m. Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Bayonne police headquarters.jpg A Jersey City man wanted out of Pennsylvania for violating his parole was found in Bayonne after he shoplifted about $100 worth of gum from a Rite Aid, police said. (Journal File Photo) BAYONNE -- A Jersey City man wanted out of Pennsylvania for violating his parole was found in Bayonne after he shoplifted about $100 worth of gum from a Rite Aid, police said. On April 17 at 8:40 p.m., William E. Alston Jr., 49, of Virginia Avenue was found shoplifting $95.56 worth of gum from the Rite Aid at 471 Broadway, police said. Police did not provide details about the nature of Alston's alleged parole violation. Police said Alston was arrested on the charges of shoplifting and fugitive from justice. He was taken to the Hudson County jail in Kearny pending extradition on a $10,000 bail with a 10 percent option, according to police. Meanwhile, a Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania man was arrested last month in Bayonne on a warrant for violating his probation out of Williamson County, Tennessee, according to city police. On April 20 at 10:03 p.m., Richard Andino Jr., 23, was arrested in the area of Avenue A and Route 440 South and sent to the Hudson County jail in Kearny on a $100,000 cash-only bail, police said. Police did not provide information about the nature of Andino's probation. Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- The investigation into a large-scale, Hudson County-based drug organization culminated in the seizure of seven kilos of cocaine and $180,000, as well as the arrest of 13 people across several states and Puerto Rico. Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced today that the probe concluded with the execution of search warrants in Hudson County, Puerto Rico, Mississippi and Florida on April 25. The warrants were executed by various agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and several local, state and federal law enforcement entities, said Gene Rubino, acting chief of investigations for the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office. The investigation started in January after law enforcement received information suggesting Carlos Rios, 25, of Union City, headed a local organization that was acquiring kilos of cocaine shipped to the New York/New Jersey area by Victor Noble-Canales, 54, of Puerto Rico, via the U.S. Postal Service, Rubino said. Rios then allegedly used associates, including Ricky Cedeno, 24, and Michael Carrasco, 25, both of Union City, and Xavier Pena, 28, of the Bronx, to obtain the packages when they arrived on the U.S. mainland, Rubino said. Also identified as part of the organization were Yemile Ortiz, 24, of Union City, and Josephine Pacheco, 27, of Florida, who are believed to have participated in laundering proceeds derived from the distribution of the cocaine, Rubino said. Noble-Canales was arrested in Puerto Rico on April 16 by members of the Caribbean Division of the DEA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A 9mm handgun, a large sum of U.S. currency, and a large quantity of cocaine and marijuana were also seized, Rubino said. Rios, Noble-Canales and Johnny Olmedo, 58, of Brooklyn, are charged with leading a narcotics trafficking organization, conspiracy to distribute cocaine in a quantity greater than 5 ounces, conspiracy to commit financial facilitation and financial facilitation, Rubino said. All three face 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge alone. Noble-Canales' bail has been set at $1 million cash only and bail for Rios and Olmedo has been set at $750,000 cash only, Rubino said. Others charged with lesser drug and financial offenses are Cedeno, Ortiz, Pacheco, Pena, Carrasco, Wilfredo Montanez, 34, of Jersey City and Union City residents Carlos Mendoza-Rivera, 25; Jesus Rosario, 24; Jose Lopez, 28, and Jake Rivera, 28, Rubino said. Also involved in the investigation were the Hudson County Sheriff's Office, Hudson County Department of Corrections, and Union City, North Bergen, Harrison, Kearny and Secaucus police. fulop-bertoli resized.jpg A new group headed by an adversary of Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, left, is seeking texts and emails he exchanged with his chief political operative, Tom Bertoli, right. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal (Jersey Journal file photo) JERSEY CITY -- A new group headed by one of Mayor Steve Fulop's chief local adversaries is suing the city in Hudson County Superior Court, saying city officials "wrongfully withheld" emails and text messages the mayor has exchanged with his chief political operative. A lawyer for Jersey City Civic Committee, co-founded by Bill Matsikoudis, the city's top attorney under former Mayor Jerramiah Healy, wants a judge to order the city to provide the emails and texts, requested by JCCC under the state Open Public Records Act. The request was denied by the city for being "overly broad." JCCC is seeking conversations Fulop had with Tom Bertoli between July 1, 2013 -- the day Fulop became mayor -- to March 23, 2016. A longtime Fulop ally, Bertoli helped to engineer Fulop's 2013 election victory. The group also wants emails Fulop and his aides exchanged about Bertoli during that time, a separate OPRA request also denied by the city for being overly broad. The seven-page lawsuit, filed on April 27 by Matsikoudis' law partner, Derek S. Fanciullo, says Bertoli "while not a city employee, allegedly enjoys close ties to -- and may hold undue influence over -- members of the city's mayoral administration." Bertoli told The Jersey Journal he has exchanged no emails or texts with Fulop about development in Jersey City. He said he suspects the city doesn't want to set a precedent "where any nitwit can ask for correspondence between friends." "I have no Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or anything like that and barely text except with my wife and kids," Bertoli said, adding that Matsikoudis is "obviously working for outside political interests." Asked to comment, city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said there "aren't many responsive emails" because Fulop and Bertoli don't typically discuss city business. "In this case we asked for a little more direction from Derek due to the excessively broad request as we wanted to make the city's response entirely complete," Morrill said. "Unfortunately Derek declined." Fanciullo is a former city attorney. He became Matsikoudis' law partner after the two left city government following Fulop's election as mayor. Bertoli has worked for various developers as an expediter, someone who files permits with city departments. Last year, a group of condo owners, including John Thieroff, Fulop's 2013 campaign manager, made similar allegations that Bertoli holds undue influence over city government, which Morrill at the time called "unsubstantiated" and "inappropriate." The Jersey Journal filed an OPRA request for emails related to Bertoli in May 2015 that city officials denied, saying the two emails found that were responsive to the request are exempt from OPRA on the basis that they are "advisory, consultative or deliberative material." Fanciullo says in the lawsuit that the city's response to The Jersey Journal indicates the JCCC request "is not 'overly broad.'" "It objectively appears the city simply does not want to release the requested information -- which is patently impermissible under OPRA," the lawsuit says. JCCC, describing itself as the "loyal opposition," launched in March, founded by Matsikoudis and April Kuzas, a community activist who lives in the Heights. Its website says the group is "committed to making Jersey City the great city it deserves to be," and it has taken positions on some issues -- the stalled property revaluation, the plan to move city elections to November -- that puts it at odds with Fulop. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. d'amore and appice.jpg Authors Jon D'Amore and Carmine Appice will do book readings and signings at the Secaucus Public Library on May 12. Secaucus residents who enjoy hearing tales of rock n roll or Hudson County's history of organized crime are in luck next week. Mob writer Jon D'Amore and drumming-legend-turned-author Carmine Appice will take part in book reading/signing sessions on May 12 at 7 p.m. at Secaucus Public Library. D'Amore, a former resident of Secaucus and Union City, will be reading excerpts from his recently-released "The Boss Always Sits in the Back -- A Memoir." The book is a comedic and suspenseful retelling of what D'Amore says are the true events that led to the downfall to some of New Jersey's mobsters. One section of the original book highlights how the mob swindled millions of dollars out of several Las Vegas casinos over two years. The author has visited the Secaucus Public Library twice before and given two readings of the original version of the book -- "The Boss Always Sits in the Back," a fictionalized tale based on relatives and others he knew growing up. "No need to worry about hearing the same thing over again," D'Amore said in a statement. "I'll be reading different sections guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat -- and laughing." Appice's book "Stick It!" gives readers the high and lows of the drummer's turbulent globe-trotting life. Appice has worked with artists like Rod Stewart --who penned the book's forward -- and Jeff Beck, and was part of groups like Vanilla Fudge, King Kobra, and Blue Murder. The book also features cameos from celebrities like Steven Segal and John McEnroe. Bert Baron, the host of WCTC 1450-AM's weekday morning show "Jersey Central" will also be at the event. He will be accompanied by his station's promo van filled with giveaway prizes for attendees. Both books will be available for purchase. The library's director Jenifer May says that this is the first time the library will have readings by two authors on the same day. "We know from Jon's previous two appearances that he can draw a crowd," May said. "Now to be joined by legendary musician Carmine Appice and Baron, one can only imagined how entertaining the evening will be." Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei delivers a speech at the opening of the first Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Shanghai on February 26 [Xinhua] China will take the G20 presidency for the first time this year and report to other major countries in September regarding its promised accelerated reform on the financial market. Sources revealed that there will be heavy news announced during the G20 Summit which may include the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, the Shanghai-London Stock Connect, and the reforms concerning China's central bank as well as the three financial regulatory bodies. Once the Shanghai-London Stock Connect opens, China's A-Share is more likely to be included in the MSCI Inc.'s global indexes. Financial restructuring is apparently one of the key areas of China's reforms, in which the opening-up of the financial sector has drawn heavy attention from international investors. Therefore, decision makers in China have been mulling over how to accelerate the financial reform so as to make the sector more accessible to foreign capital. Not long ago, the Chinese currency was included in the SDR, a clear sign of the quickening pace of China's financial reform and opening-up policies. With the Chinese yuan's inclusion, there are growing international expectations for China's financial sector. These expectations are reasonable as China has made concrete steps forward in terms of financial reform and opening-up. Beijing has made fundamental breakthroughs in liberating its exchange rate, launching the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, initiating the AIIB and opening the financial sector to private capital. These achievements have reflected higher openness and a marketization of China's financial sector as it docks with international practices. Blessed by its financial reforms, China's finance now enjoys an expanding influence and rising global role, particularly evident in the latest international financial crisis as China played a vital role instabilizing the world's financial market. China joined the SDR last year; the country's AIIB proposal was positively greeted by a handful of countries, especially Western powers like Britain, France, and Germany. This shows that China's financial reform has boosted Beijing's international status and expanded its influence on the global financial market. The Hangzhou Summit will be China's first time taking the G20 presidency, a valuable chance to announce major reform achievements. It, therefore, is highly likely that the summit will be an Open Day for China's financial sector. Foreign governments, international organizations and investors will be mostly concerned about China's reform of the financial regulatory system as the latest international financial crisis caused the world to reflect on the current financial regulatory mechanisms. China, as a country continuing reforms, hopes to improve its own financial regulatory system in order to make it more adaptable to the market economy. Hence, reform plans to be unveiled in Hangzhou will help the world better understand China's financial reforms and help the country's financial sector integrate into the international financial market. To sum up, the upcoming G20 Summit shall play a positive role in helping raise the country's financial efficiency and China will certainly seize the chance to exhibit the progress in the reform and opening-up of its financial sector. To make it happen, agencies across the government should work on perfecting all reform measures, especially those concerning docking with the international regulatory system while considering the actual situation of China's own financial development. The author is a contributor for China.com.cn. The article was translated by Chen Boyuan. Its unabridged version was published in Chinese. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash A U.S. cruise ship started its historic journey to Cuba on Sunday for the first time in 38 years. Carnival Corp.'s Adonia left a Miami port on Sunday afternoon and sailed to Havana, with 704 passengers aboard, including several Cuba-born passengers. During its seven-day journey, the ship will also visit ports of Cienfuegos in south-central Cuba and Santiago de Cuba in the southwest. Carnival's cruises to Cuba will be operated by its tenth and newest line Fathom. According to the company, the Adonia will cruise every other week from Miami to Cuba, with promises to engage passengers "in an ongoing cultural exchange program that gives you the opportunity to interact with the Cuban people." The cruise comes after Cuba loosened its policy of forbidding Cuban-born people from travelling to the country by sea. The last such cruise from a U.S. port to a Cuban destination happened in 1978. The company got the green light from the Cuban government to begin sailing from the U.S. to the island on May 1 during U.S. President Barack Obama's March 20-22 trip to Havana. Obama has relaxed U.S. travel and trade restrictions toward Cuba, allowing Carnival, which touts itself as the world's largest cruise ship operator, to apply and get permission from the U.S. government back in July 2015. The cruises will be part of the thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba after Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro decided to reestablish ties in late 2014. May-Britt Moser Biographical I was born and raised in Fosnavag, a small town on an island on the west coast of Norway, in one of the most beautiful parts of the country (Fig. 1). My parents owned a small farm, although my father worked as a carpenter. My mother took most of the responsibility for the farm and cared for me and my four older siblings, in addition to having small jobs now and then. Before I was born, we had a lot of animals on the farm, with cows, chickens and a horse, but by the time I was born, we only had sheep. Both my father and mother worked very hard all the time, and I learned at an early age that work makes you happy. I was a happy, curious child with a lot of dreams and a lucky star above my head. I was also a tomboy who played with the boys a lot. But because we were five children, we didnt have much money and we didnt have a car, so I would stay home during the summers when my friends would go away. I was the youngest child by 10 years, and had a lot of time to myself to study animals on my own, and I loved it. I would spend time out in our fields where I would play by myself. I even studied the behaviour of snails as they ate grass. As I watched, I would always wonder about the reasons behind what the animal was doing. My mother liked to tell me fairy tales, but she didnt want to frighten me with the scary parts. Instead, she would tell me the parts of the stories that talked about hopes and dreams, like Askeladden, a boy who had nothing, but he used his head, he was kind and he worked hard so he succeeded. I loved it when my mother would read me these fairy tales. It also made me believe that even though you have nothing you can become something it was a bit of the American dream! My mother had her own dreams, too: she wanted to be a doctor. The area where I grew up is somewhat religious, so I also met missionaries who had travelled to distant countries. My mothers dream and the experience of meeting missionaries made me eager to go abroad so I could work as a doctor and save the world. I also loved animals, so I thought perhaps if I didnt study to be a doctor, I could be a veterinarian. My dad had taught me to care for animals, and was a warm, good role model for me. Schoolyears I was not always the best student with the highest grades, but my teachers saw something in me and tried to encourage me. My mother had persuaded the local school officials to let me start school a year earlier than other students because my birthday was in January (the cut-off was the end of December) and because she saw that I was ready. My main primary school teacher would say Wow, you are the youngest child in the class, and yet you still know this! I also had a teacher in high school who would call on me in class and say, Frken Andreassen, you know the answer! I believe in you! And I had a physics teacher who really encouraged his female students by telling us that he wanted us to come back and show him that we had become engineers. There were other teachers, too, like my Norwegian teacher who said she thought my writing was good, but the bottom line is that I felt like I got a lot of special attention, and I was noticed. It made a difference. At the same time, though, I wasnt that motivated in high school, because I spent too much time with friends, and I didnt have the drive to get the grades I needed to get into medical school. But my grades were still good, because my mother warned me that if I didnt work hard I would have to go to school to study home economics and be a housewife. That thought horrified me. The University of Oslo When it came time to go to university, I decided I would go to the University of Oslo, in part because I had two older sisters in the Oslo area. I was also able to live for some time with one sister in Asker, an hour outside Oslo, while I looked for a place to live. I loved university, it was fantastic there was so much freedom, and I was very social. But I still wasnt sure what I wanted to do. I loved mathematics and physics in high school, and thought about studying biology or geology and maybe becoming a teacher, but I didnt see myself as a teacher. I also applied to dentistry school, in part because I had a boyfriend at the time who was studying dentistry. The dentistry school accepted me, but I decided not to pursue that either. It was about that time that I met Edvard with a friend of mine on Karl Johans gate, the main pedestrian mall in downtown Oslo. I recognised him, of course, as the smart kid from my high school. He was visiting before he started at the university, and when I found out that he would be coming back to Oslo to start his studies in January, I told him to look me up so that I could show him around. And he did. We quickly became friends. We decided that we would study psychology together, so we could learn about the brain. That brought me back to my dreams of my childhood, when I was so eager to understand why we do things. I was in heaven. During our first year in the main psychology programme we were in the same social psychology class, called Psychology of Small Groups. We published a paper with several classmates and our teacher, Professor Skardal, as a result of our research from that class. This was our first paper The interactional effects of personality and gender in small groups: A missing perspective in research, published in the International Journal of Small Group Research. Professor Skardal liked us so much he tried to encourage us to study social psychology, but we said, No thanks, we want to study the brain! We simply burned with eagerness to understand the brain. Terje Sagvolden and Per Andersen We started in Terje Sagvoldens lab during our second semester. He was studying hyperactivity in rats. At the same time, our own relationship had changed from a friendship to a romance, and we got engaged on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was a dream place for both of us Edvard loves volcanoes, all volcanoes, and since my childhood encounters with missionaries, I had always wanted to go to Africa. Working in the Sagvolden lab involved studying pure behaviour for two years. It was quite exciting, and it was interesting to work with rats, to try to understand why these animals were hyperactive. He taught us experimental design, especially the need to have controls in an experiment, and we learned a lot of behavioural theory. But we pushed him very hard, we kept asking him, Cant you go into the brain? We had this crazy energy, this drive to know it wasnt just Edvard, or just me, it was the two of us together. Eventually it came time for us to do our masters thesis work and we realised that if we were going to have any opportunity to study the brain directly, we needed to work with Per Andersen in the neurosciences group. This was a problem, because we knew he didnt really like psychologists all the people in the Department of Neurosciences at that time were medical doctors and that his research group was full. When we finally got to talk to him, I decided that I was not going to leave the room until he accepted us as graduate students. I felt like I had been glued to the chair. In the end, I think he just realised he couldnt get rid of us. He finally told us, Fine, if you are going to do your masters research here, you have to read this paper (by Richard Morris on water mazes), see if you understand it, and then build a water maze lab. If that is a success, then you will be allowed to do a masters thesis in my lab. I remember I said, Oh wonderful, because we want to do a PhD with you, too! Building a Water Maze Lab Per wanted us to build a water maze literally from scratch a tank 2 metres in diameter by 50 cm high. When we left the meeting, I said to Edvard, This is crazy! Fortunately my brother-in-law worked at Det Norske Veritas and I called him, and he was able to help us buy a tank. We also had to get a marine pump so we could pump 1,250 litres of water out of the tank we had a hose so we could pump the water into a toilet across the corridor. The water had to have milk in it because it had to be murky. That meant we had to change the water every day or it would smell, because the water temperature had to be at 25 degrees C so that the rats would feel comfortable in the pool when they searched for the hidden platform. So we were psychology students during the day, and then worked in our lab at night. Per had a programmer who helped us write a programme so that we could track the rats as they swam in the maze this was at the point where you couldnt buy anything off the shelf. Early on we realized we had to use hooded rats rather than the albino Wistar rats, because it was easier to track their movement and because they are dark eyed and have better vision than the red-eyed albino rats. Per showed us how to make tiny lesions in the hippocampus, because he had this idea that he wanted to study LTP in the living brain. Long-term potentiation, LTP, is how the connections between neurons in the brain are strengthened, and had actually been discovered in 1966 by Terje Lmo, in Pers group and supervised by Per. We first had to make lesions in the dorsal and ventral parts of the hippocampus so that a hippocampal slice was left on both sides of the brain. Pers idea was that it would be easier to detect LTP in the living brain if the area where such changes could occur was restricted. This was a brilliant idea, but in order to find out how big this slice had to be to support learning we had to make lesions of different sizes, both in the dorsal and the ventral hippocampus. Theodor Blackstad helped us to figure out where the boundaries of the hippocampus and the subiculum were. The challenge for us was that we were psychologists, we didnt know much about the brains anatomy. We first had done one brain dissection on a human cadaver, and that was it. But we learned fast. Looking for LTP Pers idea was to give the animals extensive training in the water maze so after they had learned a lot, we could measure the changes in the tiny hippocampal slice that was left in the brain. He predicted that this slice would have increased synaptic efficiency (LTP) compared to animals who did not learn. He was so excited when he told us about his dream. His excitement was so important for us, and he was a great inspiration. We thought that we first needed to find out if the animals could learn at all if they had these kinds of lesions, and then we also needed to have controls. We needed to know if we left the middle part of the hippocampus untouched, would the rats be able to learn if we removed the dorsal part, and what would happen if we removed the ventral part. Once we did this, we found out that when the rats had a lesion in the dorsal part of the hippocampus they didnt learn, but if they had a lesion in the ventral part they were fine if we made large lesions in the ventral part they could still navigate perfectly well. The hippocampus was known to be involved in this behaviour, but what we found out was that it was only the dorsal part of the hippocampus that was involved in spatial learning and memory, and that the hippocampus was functionally heterogeneous even though it looked like a smooth sausage from the outside. The Pink Poster Per was president of the European Neuroscience Association (ENA) at that time, and so he allowed us to bring a poster of our research to a meeting of the ENA in Sweden. I have to confess that when I made the poster, I made it pink as a way to tease Per a bit. But maybe the pink also helped it to stand out, because when Richard Morris walked past the poster he commented that he thought our findings on the dorsal-ventral difference were interesting, and he also saw that we had used the water maze. But he told us that he didnt like our lesion method, because we had used aspiration, which can cut passing axons. He encouraged us to work with Len Jarrard who had just had a sabbatical in Edinburgh and who was an expert in making lesions without removing the fibres, and he thought that was crucial. Richard gave a plenary talk at the meeting and he mentioned our poster, and I thought that was pretty amazing. Edvard and I were so proud! We published our results in The Journal of Neuroscience. This was also our joint masters thesis we were able to write it together. It was a pretty thick thesis, and a pretty thorough study of the two parts of the hippocampus. We got help from a few external people who came to the lab because Per was an internationally recognised scientist. These visitors included Eric Kandel from Columbia University, who told Per, You really have to publish this with them, and Larry Squire from the University of California, San Diego, who also encouraged Per to let us publish our results. Funding for Two PhDs Our experiment also raised the question, if the dorsal part is involved in memory, what does the ventral part do? So we started to read a lot about anatomy, and wondered about the nature of the connections between the entorhinal cortex and the dorsal and the ventral parts of the hippocampus. That was the first time we wrote to Menno Witter at the Free University in Amsterdam, because he had done a lot of work on hippocampal connections. As we finished our masters thesis, we both wanted to continue with Per on our PhDs, but the challenge was how to get two fellowships to study with him. At the time it was very difficult to get this kind of funding. The Research Council of Norway at the time was concerned about geographic distribution of these grants. Per had one question that he felt certain would be funded, the relationship between long-term potentiation and memory, which was both a timely and very interesting question. Per told us that we would have to decide which one of us would take the topic and get funded for a PhD. I told Edvard that I thought Pers question was a good topic for him, since he was so interested in the question. Then Per told me that he thought I should also get a PhD, and that he would help me find money. His plan was for me to collaborate with a colleague of his, Jrg Mrland, in the Toxicology Department, to study what happened to hippocampal synapses if you gave alcohol to an animal. But I didnt like the topic, because I thought the manipulations were too general to learn anything specific about learning and memory and also because I couldnt see myself giving rats the high, high doses of alcohol that you would need to see an effect. So I found a way to convince him that I couldnt do the project I told him that I was from the Bible Belt of Norway and I simply cant do this. He pushed me but I just refused. But I was very interested in the fact that we could see synapses with a laserscanning confocal microscope. This was very new at the time we had just got the microscope, and it was new enough that people didnt believe that it was possible to see synapses with this equipment. But Per had a dream, and was enthusiastically convinced that it should be possible. Per was still trying to get me to do experiments with alcohol, but I said, no, Im a psychologist, I want to do exactly the opposite instead of trying to see if alcohol will reduce the number of synapses, I want to train the animals to see if there is an expansion of the number of synapses with learning. So I started to read, and I was convinced it was possible. What was interesting was that Per was so sure that this project would be a failure and that it would not be funded that he tried to stop me from sending the grant proposal to the Research Council. I kept going to his office with the application I wrote to see if he had changed his mind, and finally he just gave in he always had to give in, like my dad typically gave in when I insisted. Then I sent in my application, and both Edvard and I got grants a surprising and joyful moment in our lives. PhD Research By then we had gotten married, on July 27, 1985 in Oslo. We had the same supervisor, we were studying the same structure in the brain, but we still both got funded from the Research Council of Norway. It was about this time that I realised how insistent I could be I was always very nice and polite, but if I really wanted something, no one could stop me. My PhD research involved offering an enriched environment to rats, so I made a big animal enclosure that had different floors. By this time I had Isabel, our oldest daughter, so I made all these toys for the animals when she was there with me, and I changed the environment every day and even moved the floors so that it would be a new environment. I had Isabel on my lap when I observed the animals in the large enclosure. After 14 days of 4 hours of daily exposures to the enriched environment I took living slices of the hippocampus and filled individual hippocampal cells with Lucifer yellow to stain them. That allowed me to visualise and count the spines in 3-D. I counted spines blind to the group to which each rat belonged, and found that there was a difference between the rats who lived in the enriched environment and those who didnt. I then trained animals with similar experiences in the water maze, and showed that the animals that had lived in the enriched environment were faster and better at remembering the hidden platform in the water maze. I published two papers on my work on spines, one in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences of the United States) and the other in The Journal of Comparative Neurology. I also published a third paper on dorsal and ventral differences in the hippocampus in PNAS. Children and the Lab Many people ask me how I managed to do all this work with two small children Isabel was born in June 1991, right after we started our PhDs (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), and Ailin was born in 1995 (Fig. 4), right before we completed our PhDs. The answer is that we were so driven to understand the brain that we simply made things work, we could not see any problems nothing could stop us. From the earliest days, we took the girls to the laboratory they were both very good children, very well behaved. Or if I couldnt take them with me, Edvard could take turns watching them. Of course we had nannies and preschool places for the children both of them attended preschool in Edinburgh, but in the afternoon and in the weekends they often played in the office. If people objected, I would ask them what was the harm in what I was doing? It wasnt that I had the freedom I just assumed I could do things, like take my children to scientific meetings and breast-feed them in public, or bring them to the lab. I just didnt see the barriers that others might have seen. We were somewhat naive we couldnt imagine that people would object so people mostly were very nice and didnt try to stop us. Edinburgh and London During our PhD work, Richard Morris had invited Edvard and me to the University of Edinburgh to follow up on our masters research findings on the difference between the dorsal and the ventral part of the hippocampus, but using chemical lesions instead of aspiration. We went there several times during our PhDs, and confirmed our earlier results that the dorsal and the ventral parts of the hippocampus are different. We also conducted another experiment with him on saturating hippocampal synapses with LTP and testing the animals ability to learn to find the platform in the water maze. We later completed this work after we came to Trondheim and published the results in Science. We defended our PhDs in Oslo in December 1995, but by that time we were already in Edinburgh with Richard Morris we even had the girls in a preschool there. In the spring of 1996, Per Andersen and Morris graciously suggested that we go work with John OKeefe at University College London to learn how to do single cell recordings. We had already met John OKeefe in Oslo when we defended our PhDs, because he was the opponent for Ole Paulsen, who was one of Pers six students (including us) who defended our theses in the same week. We had an incredible party after the defences, with all of these top international scientists who served as our opponents, with seminars and sleigh ride! Many of the opponents later became important members of our scientific network, which helped us to win status as a centre of excellence from the Research Council of Norway. The stay in London, in John OKeefes lab, was one of the most learning-rich periods in our lives. John spent an enormous amount of time with us and taught us everything about single cell recordings. He sat with us in the surgery room, showed us how to turn down the tetrodes and do the recordings, how to cluster the data, he talked about the literature it was all absolutely formative for our future. Edvard had three months with John, and I had just one, in part because of the difficulty of finding care for the children. In Edinburgh we had spots in a preschool for them in Edinburgh only, so in London my brothers wife, Olaug Andreassen, came for a month to help care for them. Two Positions and a Lab At the same time, one position had opened up at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and our former supervisor, Terje Sagvolden, encouraged us to apply for it, just for the experience if nothing else. We knew it was a long shot when we applied we were still months away from defending our PhDs, and we really werent thinking that we were ready to settle down just yet. Suddenly we were called in for an interview, in the autumn of 1995. We told the interview committee that we would not be interested in one position, but Sturla Krekling, the individual at the Department of Psychology who was most involved in the process, really pushed for us and so they offered us two positions. They were in the process of trying to build up the department. We then said we need a new lab because we wanted to do research we didnt just want a salary to teach so we came to them with a list of all the equipment we needed, the prices, the suppliers, because we had been through the process with Per to build the water maze in Oslo. We also knew what was required to build a combined electrophysiology-water maze lab, we had the experience, and we basically got it all. The only condition was that we begin in August of 1996 so that we could teach. That completely upended our plans, because we had hoped to stay longer with John OKeefe, or go to the University of Arizona to work with Carol Barnes and Bruce McNaughtons memory and hippocampus group. Both Barnes and McNaughton had been involved with us as PhD examiners, and Arizona was a real neuroscience mecca at the time. We really wanted to go there. But that wasnt possible once we had the offer of positions in Trondheim the prospect of two jobs and a lab just seemed too good an opportunity to turn down. (In fairness, we eventually did get a six-week sabbatical in Arizona in 2001, where we learned to do what is called parallel recordings from many dozens of hippocampal cells. It was a technique that was invented by Bruce in the 1990s in Tucson.) Funding for Collaboration In parallel with teaching we managed to have our lab operating after a half year of set-up, and after a year or so we had the first results. It took a long time to get data because there was only Edvard and me, and we had to do all the technical aspects of the work along with the actual science everything from cutting brains to cleaning the rat cages. Our daughters learned to become real Trndersk, an expression that describes the residents of mid-Norway in the counties of Norand Sr-Trndelag, where Trondheim is located. One of the first questions we started with was how are the place cells that OKeefe discovered generated? What is the basis for the place cells in the hippocampus? To answer this question, we applied for and received a collaborative grant from the European Commission in 2000 that gave us three years of funding (Fig. 5). At the same time, we also applied for funding from the Research Council of Norways Centre of Excellence programme, a 10-year grant for basic research. This was also approved and as of the December 2002, our group became known as the Centre for the Biology of Memory. The Centre of Excellence money allowed us to bring internationally recognised researchers to Trondheim for brief but significant periods. We had Menno Witter from the Free University in Amsterdam, Richard Morris from the University of Edinburgh, Bruce McNaughton and Carol Barnes from the University of Arizona, Alessandro Treves from the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste and Ole Paulsen from Oxford University, all experts in their field, to make a coordinated effort to conduct integrated neural network studies of hippocampal memory. In addition we brought in Randolf Menzel from Freie Universitat Berlin who studied neurobiology and spatial memory in the honeybee. Finding Grid Cells A few weeks after the centre of excellence grant was announced we published a paper that guided us to search for the spatial signal that resulted in place cells in the hippocampus (Brun, Otnss, Molden, Steffenach, Witter, Moser and Moser, 2002, in Science). These exciting data suggested that we should search for the spatial signal in structures upstream of the hippocampus like the entorhinal cortex. That is what helped us to eventually discover grid cells. In the Brun et al. (2002) paper we asked where the signal to the place cells came from. The reason this question was so intriguing is that the place signal is buried so deeply in the brain, it really cant be traced back to any sensory input, so how is it made? We tried to answer this question by making small lesions in the early stages of the hippocampal circuit, in the CA3 area, as a way to interrupt the intrinsic circuit. We then put electrodes in the CA1 area of the hippocampus, which is where most of the place cells had been recorded. If the place cells were a product of processes that happened at earlier stages of the hippocampus, we should have been able to block those signals by interrupting the hippocampal circuit. But what we found was that we still had spatial signals, even after we made the lesions that should have stopped the signal. That led us, together with PhD students Marianne Fyhn and Sturla Molden and our colleague Menno Witter, to go to the part of the entorhinal cortex that few other groups had recorded from, the dorso-medial entorhinal cortex. For many reasons people had not worked in the dorsal part of the medial entorhinal cortex before, partly because it was technically difficult, and partly just because of convention. And this turned out to be the spot, in 2005, where we found grid cells (Fig. 6). Even before we realised that we had discovered a new kind of cell, we realised in 2004 that something was going on in this region with respect to space. The cells there had spatial activity, they had multiple firing peaks and the pattern looked regular but we really didnt understand what was going on until we extended the size of the environment that we let the rats roam around in a 200-cm-diameter cylinder. And finally, there it was, a clear hexagonal pattern, and that was the discovery of grid cells. That last sentence makes our discovery sound very simple, but when we first had our results, they were so clear we almost didnt believe them. We thought perhaps that the hexagonal pattern was an artefact of how we made our measurements. But over time we were convinced that this was in fact how the cells were firing. We did this research with our students Torkel Hafting, Marianne Fyhn, and Sturla Molden. Marianne came to Trondheim in 2004 to work with us, and Torkel was her boyfriend (and later husband). We offered Torkel a position as a technician in our lab so that they could stay together, and we asked him to work with Marianne on the grid cell project. He later became a postdoc with us. The grid cell results were published in Nature in 2005. The Brains Own Internal Code Finding grid cells was exciting because it gave us another piece in the puzzle of how we navigate in space. But the larger significance of the find is that for the first time, we were able to see how the brain takes complex information in this case, information about where we are and how we move in space to generate its own internal code to make use of that information. There is no grid pattern out in the world this is just how the brain makes sense of the environment. The door was opened on this discovery by John OKeefes discovery of place cells, which fire when an animal is at a specific place. In the past, it has been difficult make associations between the firing of neurons deep in the higher parts of the cortex and sensory input, because as the distance between the sensory input and the neuron increases, the firing of the neurons may be triggered by a multitude of converging sensory channels along with intrinsic processes that we dont really understand. But OKeefe and his colleagues found that most hippocampal cells had place fields with distinct firing patterns that collectively allowed the brain to create a map of that environment. Here we had neural activity the firing of the place cell, deep in the hippocampus that was clearly associated with a property of the environment, the animals location. The discovery of grid cells took this a step further and it raised new questions that have continued to shape our research, as we seek to understand how grid cells operate and are generated and how they interact with other cell types and in more distant brain structures. Here, we think, lies a key to unlocking the mystery of how the brain computes. Border Cells and Becoming a Kavli Institute We have made a great deal of progress since our 2005 discovery. In 2006, for example, we and our colleagues, led by Francesca Sargolini, a postdoc, found cells in the medial entorhinal cortex that tell the animal which direction it is facing, called head direction cells. Previously these had been reported in the dorsal presubiculum by Jim Ranck in 1983. In 2007, we were selected by the Kavli Foundation as the fourth Kavli neuroscience institute, an award that provides funding for basic research in perpetuity. This meant our lab had two names, the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and the Centre for the Biology of Memory, and a significant increase in funding and support. In 2008, we and our colleagues, led by then PhD candidate Trygve Solstad, discovered a third type of entorhinal cell type that we called border cells, because they fire at the edges and boundaries of the local environment. We had already seen these kind of cells when Francesca Sargolini discovered the head and conjunctive grid-head direction cells in the medial entorhinal cortex, but we needed a student to search systematically for them and to do the manipulations that were required to call them border cells like inserting a wall in the box and seeing that the cell would fire again, along the new wall. Gamma Oscillations, Map Resolutions and A Protein Parallel with studying border cells, we asked how CA1 cells in the hippocampus were able to cope with receiving what appeared to be conflicting information from the hippocampus itself from CA3 and from the upstream structure, the entorhinal cortex, at the same time. Laura Colgin, our then-postdoc, published a paper in 2009 in Nature showing that the brain uses gamma oscillations to route information between grid networks in the entorhinal cortex and the place and memory networks in the hippocampus, which effectively allows the brain to filter out distracting information and focus on one bit of information. We worked for more than five years to finish this amazing story, which shows that passion and persistence go hand-in-hand to produce ground-breaking results. Also in 2008, with our PhD candidates Kirsten Kjelstrup and Vegard Brun (who were also a couple), we described how the brain makes maps of different resolutions both in the hippocampus and in the entorhinal cortex, thus using place cells and grid cells to create everything from a larger overview map to a finely detailed map. That led the way to the discovery in 2011 led by our colleague Lisa Giocomo that the brains ability to make these detailed maps at fine resolution was controlled by a single protein. This last paper was published in Cell with a companion article in the journal Neuron, published by our sister Kavli Institute in New York, headed by our friend and colleague Eric Kandel, whose laboratories had created the mice used in the experiments. Recording From Many Grid Cells By 2012, with the ability to record from many grid cells from individual rats, and as many as 186 neurons in one rat called Flekken, we were able to describe how the brain shifts between different map resolutions in a step-wise fashion rather than continuously, and that the brain has at least four difference maps of location, where grid cells are organised into different independent modules in which the scale, orientation and phase relationships are all preserved. These results were published in Nature with another fantastic couple and PhD candidates Hanne and Tor Stensola as first authors. It had not been possible previously to record from so many cells, which is why we suddenly could show that the hippocampal maps were independent. What was also exciting about these data was that we showed in 2007 that when cells in the hippocampus formed statistically significant different ensembles of active cells different maps for each environment (Fyhn et al., 2007), this was accompanied with a re-anchoring, or shift of the position of the grid cells relative to the boundaries of the boxes in the different rooms. The models that had already been developed in 2005, just after we discovered grid cells, suggested that place cell activity was the result of the linear summation of grid cell activity (see Solstad, Moser and Einevoll, 2006, for example). Thus, the discovery of different independent grid modules solved the question we faced in 2007, which was to figure out how grid cells could contribute to the activation of several thousands of different ensembles of hippocampal cells if the grid cells were all part of the same map. Independent grid modules suggested that the entorhinal cortex cell activity could trigger the separation of different memories. However, we have not yet been able to prove that this is the way it works. Optogenetics and Viruses To address this issue, we first needed to know that grid cells project to the hippocampus. In 2007, we got an email from Sheng-Jia Zhang that eventually led to us being able to answer this question. He asked if we would be interested in having him come to our lab to set up a molecular lab so that we could use a new molecular tool called optogenetics to address questions we were interested in. He came at a moment when we were very eager to understand the entorhinal hippocampal circuit so we accepted him, his wife Jing Ye and two students he brought with him, Chenglin Miao and Li Lu. They built a molecular lab with the help of a technician in our lab, Alice Bury. In 2013 we were able to use defanged viruses to introduce a gene for a fluorescent marker in addition to a gene for the light-sensitive protein channelrhodopsin. The AAV virus was injected into the hippocampus. It was manipulated in a way so that it would go into the axons of cells projecting to the hippocampus. In this way we could examine which neurons in this part of the brain send axons to place cells in the hippocampus. Thus, when we found grid cells, border cells and other cells in the entorhinal cortex responding to the light at a very short latency (less than 10 ms) coming through an optic fibre that we had inserted into the entorhinal cortex along with the electrodes, we started to believe that these cells sent information to hippocampal place cells. Of course we had to do a set of control experiments to be sure. This is why such ground-breaking data usually takes more than four or five years to write up and get published. This story tells us that the way we like to work is not limited by the lack of methods or tools. Either collaborate with other good labs or set up the method in your own lab to follow your dreams! Remapping We have also worked with cells inside the hippocampus. Since we know from the late 1950s (Scoville and Milner, 1957) that the hippocampus is important for encoding and storing episodic memories, it is exciting to understand how the hippocampus solves problems like not mixing similar information and recognizing an object or an environment with only slight changes. These processes are called pattern separation and pattern completion. In the mid-1980s, Bob Muller and John Kubie showed that small changes in the environment caused large changes in the hippocampal place maps, in a process they called remapping. In 2005, with Stefan Leutgeb, his wife Jill Leutgeb and others, we found that there are at least two types of these kinds of remapping processes. One we called global remapping and the other rate remapping. Rate remapping is recognised by cells keeping their place preference in the test box, but changing the rate when there is a minor change in the environment, such as changed colours on the wall of the test box. In contrast, global remapping was typically seen if the changes in environments were big, for example that the test rooms were different even though the test boxes were almost identical. In CA3 of the hippocampus, different cells were active or if they were active in both rooms the spatial preference would be shifted, for example a cell with a place field in the middle of the box in the first room could then have a place field in one of the corners of the box in the other room. This year we published a study, led by PhD candidate Charlotte Alme, showing that the hippocampus can form ten significantly different new maps when rats were tested in ten new rooms over two days. The ten-room experiment demonstrates that when graduate students are passionate about their work and their animals, impossible data collection is made possible. Teleportation The remapping experiments in the lab led us to ask what happens if there is a conflict in the animals current idea of where it is and the sensory inputs the animals perceives. In order to address this exciting question, Karel Jezek, a postdoc in the lab, ran the animals in a science-fiction inspired experiment. The experiment involved making the animals feel as if they had been teleported from one box to another in a fraction of a second. We were able to create this illusion by training the rats in different boxes that were differentiated only by their lighting schemes. First the rats ran between the boxes, which were connected with a corridor, then the corridor was closed and the rats were tested in only one box where we were able to flip a switch to change the lighting scheme that was associated with one box to the lighting associated with the other box. Thus, while the animal was foraging for chocolate crumbs in one box, we could flip the switch and it would suddenly perceive itself to be located in the other box. This procedure allowed us to see that each map can be represented in chunks of one theta cycle, or 125 milliseconds, and that the brains two maps would compete until one took over, and the hippocampus reliably represented the box that was consistent with the landmarks for that given box. This experiment can typically be compared with a situation we all have experienced: We suddenly wake up in the middle of the night in a hotel room. We are confused, and before we realise that we are not at home but in a hotel, our brains have been switching back a forth between the map for the hotel room and our bedroom at home. Six Research Groups Our centre now consists of six research groups, led by Menno Witter (functional anatomy), Yasser Roudi (statistical physics of interference and network organization), Clifford Kentros (transgenic investigation of neural circuits), Jonathan Whitlock (cognitive motor function) and ours (space and memory). Our sixth and newest research group is headed by Emre Yaksi, who studies sensory computations in zebrafish. The strength of this structure is that we can collaborate across groups. One beautiful example of this was a collaboration between three of the six groups which led us to resolve a question that we had puzzled over for almost eight years. Even with new analyses, new ideas and a lot of discussions of the data both in the lab and at international meetings, we could not figure out what was going on, which is why we did not publish the data. Menno Witters group had discovered that stellate cells did not communicate directly with each other, but with a re-route through inhibitory cells. Thus, the grid cells were surrounded by inhibition. At the same time, Yasser Roudi and some of the people from his group had made a computer model of this network and were able to show that this kind of network could produce a functional grid cell network. The excitation could come from the hippocampus and head direction input. The prediction from this model was thus that by removing the excitation from the hippocampus, the grid cells would change from being grid cells to becoming highly head direction modulated. This is exactly what we found in our lab but could not explain before the collaboration. We submitted two manuscripts to Nature Neuroscience and were lucky enough to get them published back-to-back in 2013. We were so happy and proud to finally be able to publish 8-year-old data that had been so intriguing and yet so difficult to decipher and to be able to work so closely between the different groups at the centre. The Norwegian Brain Centre The Norwegian government recognised the importance of neuroscience in Norway by funding the Norwegian Brain Initiative in 2011, which led to us open the Norwegian Brain Centre in 2012 as a collaboration between our lab and research groups working with medical imaging from St Olavs Hospital. The University of Oslos Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience is a partner in the Norwegian Brain Initiative. We got a new, big, beautiful lab, with the equipment we need to do ground-breaking science. We are also working hard to make sure that some of our most important lab workers, the rats and mice, have the best environment a science lab can offer. Most of the animals live in big enriched cages, with toys and nests and together with their cage mates. We also try to let animals that wear electrode implants live with their siblings, since rodents are such social creatures. We have a veterinarian who works full-time for our centre, and four well-educated animal care-takers who love animals. In order for them to always remember that the animals are individuals, they have their own pet animals in the animal quarter. Our goal is that our animals be as happy as possible. A Second Centre of Excellence Our lab was also awarded funding at the end of 2012 for a second 10-year-long Centre of Excellence by the Research Council of Norway, just as our first decade-long grant ended. Our new centre is called the Centre for Neural Computation, and is directed by me. It was such a relief when we got that grant. We had just ended the first ten year of CoE funding and we were so worried that we could not keep our lab running at the level we had ambitions for if we did not get new funding. The day the second CoE funding was announced we were euphoric, and we celebrated (Fig. 7)! And celebrations are important as motivation and glue for the team. The support made us even more inspired and enthusiastic than we had been before, and I was handed an exciting new challenge to serve as director of a centre that had grown from two people to almost one hundred people from different backgrounds and nations (Fig. 8). The continued support from our colleagues, the Kavli Institute, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Norwegian government, as well as the city of Trondheim and the county of Sr-Trndelag has made it possible for us to pursue our dream of unravelling the mysteries of how the brain computes and makes memories and behaviours. Early on in our careers we realised the importance of bringing in different kinds of expertise in the pursuit of common goals. We also recognise the risks that come from being wedded to only one kind of investigative tool. Were continually looking to expand our neuroscience toolbox. Our six groups are all eager to work together towards our vision: how does the brain generate cognition and mental function. We have an exciting future in front of us. Two Children and a Lab Through hard work and persistence together with fantastic colleagues, I have worked towards my dreams and vision from my childhood: to understand how the neural activity in the brain generates behaviour and cognition. By discovering the grid cell network, we suddenly understood something fundamental about the mystery of the brain how the brain generates a universal map of the environment. The grid cells that do this are located far away from the senses that tell the animal what is out there. In the same deep structure, the entorhinal cortex, we have also discovered other functional cell types that signal the boundaries of the environment, cells that signal the direction the animal is moving in and cells that combine the head direction and grid signals. We have shown that with changes of sensory input the universal grid map is shifted and anchored differently to the environment probably changing the active ensembles of hippocampal place cells. Knowing that the hippocampus contains engrams involved in episodic memories, we have shown that this magic circle of entorhinal and hippocampal cell interactions is part of the mechanism for memory. We are working with findings that are the very essence of being a human being: our conscious memories are what make us who we are, and these memories are anchored in space, in knowing where we are in the environment. Our two daughters have long joked that our lab is like our third child, and in many ways, they are not wrong. We are proud parents to all three of our children. Having real biological children in addition to our laboratory child has brought an amazing happiness to my life. I think that makes it easy for me to do good science. I have been lucky to live a fairy tale life, with a partner and a long-time collaborator, Edvard Ingjald Moser, who has supported me and helped me fulfil my dreams ever since we met. We have two wonderful daughters, Isabel Maria Moser and Ailin Marlene Moser. They are wise and loving human beings. Being an internationally recognised scientist brings a lot of adventures and a large network of friends and colleagues across the world (Fig. 9). We have travelled to so many different places and learned so much. Our children have come to think it is quite normal to live like this. Ailin was still a pre-teen when she asked us: why havent we visited Easter Island yet? She could also have asked; why havent we understood our brains yet? From The Nobel Prizes 2014. Published on behalf of The Nobel Foundation by Science History Publications/USA, division Watson Publishing International LLC, Sagamore Beach, 2015 This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and later published in the book series Les Prix Nobel/ Nobel Lectures/The Nobel Prizes. The information is sometimes updated with an addendum submitted by the Laureate. Copyright The Nobel Foundation 2014 To cite this section MLA style: May-Britt Moser Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2022. Mon. 24 Oct 2022. WASHINGTON (AP) The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all. Businessmen tend to innovate more ideas to cope up with consumer's situation and at the same time, earn money. Now, two Australian entrepreneurs have started to set up their business in selling fresh air from Australia to China. Theo Ruygrok and John Dickinson founded the Green and Clean Air business based in their country home, Australia that puts fresh air in can and sells it to Chinese citizens struggling from air pollution. The business idea came first to Ruygrok when he looked at the Australian skies and was amazed with the air quality which is different from China. "Wouldn't it be great if we can take a bit of this air over to China?" he asked Dickinson. After that, their business began and they have collected fresh air from different Australian sites including, Bondi Beach, Clue Mountains, Gold Coast and Tasmania. They also offer New Zealand air which costs 20 Australian dollars. "We live here, and we love it. You don't have to travel too far in the world to realise we live in paradise here," Dickinson said. "What we are really trying to accomplish is: you know when you go to a pristine location early in the morning and you take that deep, first breath of air and you get that really alive and invigorating feeling? That is what we think we have captured and that is the excitement of it," he added. "They are all becoming very health conscious, they are all exercising, they are all taking supplements, but the reality is: they can't change the air they breathe," Dickinson explained. "That is really one of the reasons we were interested in that market because of that real awareness of health and wellbeing, and it is fair to say that whatever products that they can get their hands on that they associate with health and wellbeing they are quite receptive to." "The air pollution is very heavy now in China so we all love the pure air from Australia," Vivian Zhou, a personal shopper said. "I buy the air from Australia for my clients and I post it back to them." With the pollution that China is experiencing right now, people would take the risk of spending dollars just to breathe fresh air and thanks to all businessman for being innovative. BARABOO Ian Abston, the energetic young co-founder of NEWaukee, began his presentation to Sauk Countys economic development leaders by confronting head-on the question of how people view the millennial generation. Words such as lazy, entitled, spoiled and even useless flashed across the screen as Abston talked about perceptions of his generation, roughly defined as people who came of age at the turn of the 21st century. Some call them Generation Y; others prefer Net Generation; and particularly harsh critics sometimes grumble about The Worst Generation. No matter what theyre called, the rest of us need to get over it: The millennials are Americas workforce of the future and not the distant future. By 2020, they will make nearly half of the U.S. workforce and by 2030, about three-quarters. For a state such as Wisconsin, which skews slightly older than the U.S. average and which faces talent migration issues, the question of how to attract and retain millennials is crucial. Its why the Sauk County Economic Development organized #nextgensaukcounty to hear what communities outside Wisconsins largest cities can do to keep the best and brightest home and to lure other young people from beyond our borders. Abston describes NEWaukee as a social architecture firm that inspires a collision of all Milwaukee has to offer. That means a live-work-play collision that can range from educational events to volunteer activities to nightlife. While some of what motivates millennials in Milwaukee may not apply to smaller communities, much of it does translate especially when it comes to generating a compelling sense of place. In my remarks to about 215 people who gathered in Baraboo for the #nextgen event, I listed my (admittedly Baby Boomer) perceptions of what smaller communities should know about attracting and retaining young people. It aligned almost exactly with Abstons checklist and included: Remembering that young people are often motivated first by selecting where they want to live, then finding a job. Millennials value the elusive life-work balance. That balance is often defined by a diverse nightlife, creative activities and a sense of community that includes them, not just older generations. Because many millennials arent married yet or tend to marry in their late 20s or early 30s, they are often renters. They want attractive, safe places to live that are centrally located, even if the downtown is relatively small. The outdoors is important to most millennials. Parks and proximity to green space and recreational areas are a strong draw. Wisconsin is not a state of big cities. Outside of Milwaukee and Madison, there are no top 100 population centers. It is, however, a state of mid-sized cities, with 10 other cities boasting populations of 50,000 or more, 25 others at 20,000 or more, and 33 of at least 12,000. Economic changes in the United States and abroad mean very few of those cities are one-company towns, as they might have been in the past. Today, to be vibrant, they need to pursue strategies for economic diversity, encourage new business starts, maintain the right infrastructure (which includes broadband), and build an educated workforce that includes internships, apprenticeships and other entry-level positions with a future. Getting students engaged in career choices in high school before they are tempted to leave Wisconsin is crucial. Smaller and mid-sized communities in Wisconsin need not throw in the towel when it comes to attracting and retaining young workers. Those workers will come and stay if they feel connected, digitally and socially; if they can find or make their own opportunities; and if they are encouraged to participate in creating or fostering a sense of place. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this year was the year when millennials outpaced Baby Boomers as a percentage of the American population. They may not be better or worse than any past generation, but millennials have unique preferences that smart communities must recognize in order to prosper. Those workers will come and stay if they feel connected, digitally and socially; if they can find or make their own opportunities; and if they are encouraged to participate in creating or fostering a sense of place. From newspaper front pages to Facebook newsfeeds, the same images will appear in the coming weeks: smiling college graduates adorned in caps and gowns, flanked by proud parents. Unfortunately especially in our part of the state once the gown is back on the rack and dorm room contents are packed into the car, that car is often headed away from employers who need these graduates to stay. Too many of our graduates go back to where they came from or larger metropolitan areas to start their careers, says Steve Jahn, executive director of Momentum West, the organization charged with helping spur economic development in a 10-county area of western Wisconsin. Keeping these graduates here is becoming more critical as the oldest members of the baby boomer generation have just recently started to retire. Last year Momentum West formed a Talent Attraction Steering Committee. James Hanke, manager of economic development at Xcel Energy in Eau Claire, is one of the 10 people recruited to serve on that committee. He explains that the workforce problems we face are much broader than filling gaps in specific skill sets. The real issue is about demographics, Hanke says. We simply arent generating enough people to replace the boomers. Were on the front end of this shortage right now, but it will get much worse. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 10,000 boomers are reaching age 65 in the U.S. every day. Once all of the youngest members of that group have reached retirement age by 2030, more than 75 million people will be eligible to leave the workforce. That is going to empty a lot of cubicles, assembly lines and other work spaces. Workforce study ahead A regional initiative to attract new talent and retain existing talent was given a big boost by the recent awarding of critical funding. A $50,000 grant was given to Momentum West to coordinate a cohesive workforce development effort for west-central Wisconsin by the Otto Bremer Trust. This trust was created in 1944 by Otto Bremer, founder of Bremer Bank, with the mission to build healthy communities. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) matched that funding and another $25,000 is expected from privately-held corporations in the region. The first major task for the committee is to hire a consultant by this summer. The consultant will produce a study of the issues facing our workforce, its future, and what needs to be done to sustain it. Once we have these results from the study, we will implement its recommended action points along with a whole host of partners, says Hanke. These partners include higher-education providers, private employers, and workforce development agencies at both the city and county level. The steering committee will keep a scorecard on how well the studys recommendations are being carried out. As Hanke notes, the region already has two excellent technical colleges, three four-year University of Wisconsin schools, and a two-year UW college in Barron County. The steering committee hopes to develop an orchestrated effort involving all these schools that connects graduates with the job opportunities available in the 10-county area. Workforce development depends on a successful bridging of public- and private-sector efforts, Hanke adds. Our schools are seeing cuts and our communities are having their budgets capped at a time when we need to be focusing these resources on preparing students for the workplace of the future, and (ensuring) that our employers have adequate access to talent. The study will also examine how the region can best connect with the immigrant population in our region and elsewhere to help fill future vacant positions. Appealing to millenials Companies have to determine how to attract, retain and nourish the millennial worker if they are going to fill the void from exiting boomers. This is where the public side of the public-private partnership equation can help. Hanke cites recent activity in Chippewa Falls as helping to appeal to the newest members of the workforce. The new entryway to the downtown has had a tangible impact in helping attract employees there, he says. Millennials want attractive, vibrant urban centers with all the cultural amenities, festivals, and other activities they have to offer. Another advantage communities such as Eau Claire, Menomonie and Chippewa Falls can leverage when attracting new graduates is an easier path to networking. Millennials have a real, sincere interest in making an impact, says Hanke. With a mid-size community they have more ability to do that to make connections and network and be engaged in the community. The WEDC awarded this grant to Momentum West to help create a template for the states other regional economic development organizations to follow. Jahn says there are several individual efforts underway by businesses and schools, but these need to coalesce into a strong, more impactful region-wide campaign. When we started this process, we came to realize there are so many smaller, group efforts, whether it be the STEM programs at the colleges or private employer programs, says Jahn. We need to address the pending workforce shortage on a regional level in order to maximize our impact, eliminate duplicative efforts, and maximize efficiency. Redefined priorities The threat of a depleted workforce is so severe, Momentum West redefined its priorities about a year ago to focus on both business and talent attraction and development. The Otto Bremer Trust and WEDC acknowledge there is a tremendous threat regionally, says Jahn. People may not see it, but this is a global phenomenon that will unfold over the next 15 to 20 years as the baby boomers continue to leave the workforce. Right now, Wisconsin is a net exporter of talent. This hampers our ability to attract manufacturers and for area businesses to realize their potential and grow, says Jahn. If we dont do something now, employers will potentially leave, and I shudder to think of the economic impact. That something has to go beyond job fairs and employment websites. Many area schools and employers are starting to connect via apprentice programs to help fill much-needed demand in IT and manufacturing. These programs often result in the apprenticeship transitioning into a full-time job upon graduation. Also area colleges are allowing high school students to earn college credit for several in-demand degrees, so they can complete their degree earlier and enter the workforce sooner. These are the kinds of efforts we need to emulate on a region-wide basis, says Jahn. More students in our secondary schools need to be cognizant of whats happening in the businesses located here. Our colleges are starting to create more engineering programs that match the job requirements of openings peculiar to our region, says Jahn. We need to align more degrees with the needs of manufacturing, especially in mechanical engineering. Other occupations experiencing employee shortages include the medical fields, engineering, IT, code writing. Very few of these positions in the region are at capacity right now. Community ties A 2015 edition of the Chippewa Valley Business Report examined how revitalized downtowns in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and Menomonie are starting to create the urban centers that attract the younger workers of today. Many of these young professionals are eschewing the cul-de-sac life for one that is more metropolitan. Jahn agrees with Hanke that getting college students out of the campus bubble and connecting them to the community is key to encouraging a lifetime commitment to their college home. We need to involve students with our communities while they live in the region create more internship opportunities and actively involve them in our communities while they are still students, to help stop talent from leaving us at graduation, Jahn says. Because brain drain is a serious problem, it requires communities to think beyond building a bigger jobs base. The Confluence project in Eau Claire is one example of how we are creating an environment that appeals to the lifestyle millennials want, with more access to the arts and events they would otherwise have to travel to a larger city for, adds Jahn. Jahn expects the Talent Attraction Steering Committee to start rolling out initiatives by late summer or early fall of this year. Some of these initiatives will be temporary, he expects, with others taking years to fully implement. Once we hear from the consultant what we need to do to best achieve success in securing a workforce for tomorrow, he says, it will be a matter of following up with all the organizations involved: the schools, the government agencies, and employers. There will be metrics in place to track our progress. Initiatives in the works Some possible initiatives to attract talent may include targeting ex-patriots such as college alumni who have left the area, and youth who departed to attend higher education institutions elsewhere. As the cities in our region prepare for a looming workforce shortage, our smaller towns also want to remain economically viable with job opportunities of their own. During the last legislative session, state Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and state Rep. Warren Petryk (R-Eleva) introduced the GROW Wisconsin initiative that would give grants (matched by counties) to smaller communities located in rural areas. This funding would help communities attract college graduates by paying 20 percent of their student loans with a maximum of $15,000. Local companies would be allowed to pay their countys matching dollars in order to help build the workforce they need. Our proposal is based on recommendations made by the Governors Council on Workforce Investment, which Rep. Petryk and I served on, as well as on Kansas successful Rural Opportunity Zones program, explains Lassa. This Kansas program has helped rural counties attract millennials who are starting families and who want to take positions within their home communities or start new businesses. According to Lassa, the Kansas program, since its start in 2011, has received more than 2,000 applications, from mostly young professionals with children. As a result, new home construction and rising public school enrollment are happening in areas of Kansas that have not seen growth in decades, she says. Wisconsins legislative session ended before this initiative could be scheduled for a vote, but Lassa plans to reintroduce it at the start of the next session. Concern about a workforce shortage may feel out of place right now as the recovery from the Great Recession has been a slow one, and wages have been stagnant for many people for a long time. But as they say, the numbers dont lie, and our region is prudent to be proactive about the pending shortage by figuring out how to retain and attract employees, so our employers can both stay competitive and stay put. Newcastle and Fiji forward Korbin Sims is facing the prospect of missing the Pacific Test after he was cited by the NRL match review committee on Monday morning. Squads for Pacific Tests named Sims was one of three players charged, with Cronulla forward Jayson Bukuya and New Zealand halfback Shaun Johnson also earning the ire of officials. Sims was charged with a grade two careless high tackle and will be suspended for Saturday's Test match unless he successfully fights the charge at the NRL judiciary. Warriors and New Zealand halfback Johnson will escape suspension for his grade one tripping charge and will be available to take on Australia on Friday night at Hunter Stadium with an early guilty plea. Cronulla forward Bukuya was cited for a grade one shoulder charge and is set to miss a week, unless he fights the charge at the NRL judiciary and loses, which would result in a two-match ban. All players will have until midday on Tuesday to enter a plea. The United States imported 2.5 million net tons of steel in March, an increase of 12.9 percent over February though way down compared to 2015. Year-to-date steel imports total 7.4 million tons, a 36 percent drop, while finished steel imports have fallen 34 percent to 6.4 percent, according to preliminary U.S. Census Bureau data. The United States is on pace to import about 30 million net tons of steel, a 23 percent decrease compared to 2015, which was disastrous for U.S. steelmakers. The flood of cheap imports last year led to about 12,000 steelworker layoffs nationwide, as well as the idling of plants like U.S. Steels East Chicago Tin. Imports have captured 25 percent of the market share so far this year, and 24 percent of it in March. In March, most of the steel imports came from South Korea, Turkey, Japan, Brazil and Germany, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Reinforcing bar imports shot up by 35 percent, while sheet and strip rose by 24 percent and cut length plates increased by 21 percent. So far this year, South Korea has sent nearly 900,000 tons of steel to America, more than any other country. Turkey is second with 729,000 tons. Its probably a truism to say that most children dont think too much about the town where they were raised. The streets a person grows up on can be so familiar that they seem mundane. By the time children grow to be young adults graduating high school and college, they are often eager to move on to from their perspective at least greener pastures. That said, it still comes as a bit of a surprise that the majority of graduates from the Chippewa Valleys two four-year universities dont stick around long after receiving their degrees. Granted, the colleges draw students from all around the country, not to mention the rest of the world. But even many of the home-grown students and there are plenty venture beyond the cozy confines of west-central Wisconsin. Many will return some day, but their departure does leave the local economy a bit in the lurch. When many of the areas talented, educated and qualified workers head for the hills, it doesnt leave enough people to fill in the ranks at the Valleys many skill-intensive employers. While 89 percent of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claires Class of 2014 stayed within the Midwest after graduation, a far smaller portion stayed local. Only 25 percent of graduates remained in the Chippewa Valley. In fact, nearly as many graduates (24 percent) went to the Twin Cities alone. The numbers dont get any better when venturing a half-hour west to Menomonie. The entire state of Wisconsin only managed to hang on to some 51 percent of the Class of 2015 from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. A smaller fraction stayed in the Chippewa Valley. Likewise, Minnesota got the next largest share of UW-Stouts graduates at nearly 32 percent. All in all, UW-Stouts career services website declares that the Class of 2014 landed workers in 40 states. It seems as though the Chippewa Valley doesnt suffer from a lack of qualified employees so much as the employees it does have dont stay in town. More than just jobs For better or worse, the availability of jobs isnt the only reason why graduates choose to leave or stay in the Chippewa Valley. Younger generations are putting a higher premium on aspects of their lives besides work. They arent necessarily going to go wherever the jobs are. They are more likely to find a place they would like to live and then find a job, rather than the other way around. Tyler Griggs was one of only a few of his group of college friends who stayed in the Eau Claire area after graduating in 2008. They got their degrees and they went on to the big city they pictured theyd be living in, he said. Griggs studied technical and science writing, and while jobs in that field arent necessarily abundant in the area and he didnt necessarily have plans to stay it just happened to work out that way and he is quite happy it did. After graduation Griggs went on to work for Volume One magazine before taking his current post as public relations manager for Visit Eau Claire. It was while working for the magazine that he came to appreciate the Chippewa Valleys charms that go far beyond mere employment opportunities. At the time (I got the job) all I was thinking was: what a great opportunity to put on my resume, Griggs said. But along the way as I wrote articles about local bands and artists, I started to develop a passion for the community. In recent years Eau Claire has begun major efforts to revitalize its downtown. More venues for nightlife and culture are springing up where there used to be hardly any at all. A metro area such as the Twin Cities offers more job opportunities, but many of Griggs friends who flocked to the Cities following graduation have since told him that the big-city life isnt necessarily what its cracked up to be. Its not uncommon for me to hear: There isnt a place quite like Eau Claire, Griggs said. That re-enforces my decision to stay here. It takes cooperation The career services office at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie doesnt help its students land internships, but the school does offer another avenue. UW-Stouts interim director of career services, Bryan Barts, said the university is heavily invested in co-ops. A co-op is similar to an internship in that a student gets a job at a business away from campus. But where an internship is simply a job, a co-op is a more rigorously structured experience that is typically directly related to a students major. Students in co-ops have to work at least 320 hours at their job per term. When the co-op is over, the student will receive a grade that will be recorded on their college transcripts. Their employer for the co-op will effectively grade the student on their performance, and work with the university to give meaningful feedback to the student. Students are also required to set goals and a written plan of action as to how they are going to achieve those goals. Co-ops, however, share similar employment benefits as internships. They can lead to jobs, Barts said. A lot of companies use co-ops as a pipeline to feed their professional hiring. And many of the co-ops offered by the university keep students squarely in Wisconsin. This year, UW-Stout has more than 1,000 students enrolled in co-ops, and more than half of those are in Wisconsin. Most of the top 10 companies that hire from co-ops are also in-state, including some Chippewa Valley companies such as Menards. It has been pretty consistent like that, Barts said. Keeping it local According to a survey of recent graduates conducted by the career services office at UW-Eau Claire, the No. 1 way that students found their first full-time job was through previous employment. Having an internship or a summer job at a company makes it significantly more likely that a student will get hired by a business. More than 30 percent of graduates who found jobs shortly after graduation fall into that category. Thats why Staci Heidtke, associate director of the career services office at UW-Eau Claire, is excited about a new grant the university received from the Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation. Great Lakes is best known as a large Midwestern servicer of student loans, but the company does have a philanthropic arm as well. Starting last fall, the university will receive more than $300,000 for three years. The money is earmarked to help students land internships. The salary for the interns comes from the grant so the employer doesnt have to pay them, Heidtke said. She hopes the grant will do even more for the students, and the employers, than simply result in a temporary internship. There is a significant skills gap in the Chippewa Valley, Heidtke said. We create the talent that can help fill some of that need. But potential employees and their future employers have to connect somehow if those skill-intensive positions are going to be filled. Things like internships can help. When you look at research, employers hire from their intern pool, Heidtke said. Internships give both parties a chance to try each other out. Employers get a good look at what the intern would be like as a full-time employee, and the intern has a chance to see if the business is a place they would actually like to work. Since internships can lead to full-time employment, getting students into internships right here in the Chippewa Valley could be a powerful tool to help keep home-grown talent here. So far, 23 UW-Eau Claire students are working in internships under this program, with 19 more slated to start internships this summer. Another 98 students are already signed up for the program next year. We hope theyll try out companies in the Chippewa Valley, Heidtke said. Coming full circle Just because people leave the Chippewa Valley doesnt mean they wont come back. In fact, many people who do leave the area eventually make their way back home. It turns out that while the Chippewa Valley may not always be the first choice for young workers just starting out, it is a fantastic place for people trying to raise a family. Sarah French left Eau Claire in 2009 with her husband they are both UW-Eau Claire alumni for the Twin Cities for work and school. A little while later they ended up in River Falls, but when the couple had children it didnt take long for them to figure out where they wanted their family to call home. We really wanted it to be Eau Claire. The area is exploding. People want to come back here, French said. Now French is the executive director for the Eau Claire Public School Foundation, getting her involved in one of the draws back to the city good schools. The organization specializes in private fundraising for the public school system. Interestingly enough, neither French nor her husband are actually from the area. Ray French is from Madison and Sarah French has moved around a bit. Like most students, after graduation they werent too concerned with staying in town. It wasnt a thought at that time. We were fresh out of college. It was like, lets try something new, Sarah French said. It was when we had our daughter (we said): What do we want her life to look like? Theres a life here, she explained. Its not just a great college town. PORTAGE A Kentucky man is facing several charges after an altercation with police early Saturday morning. Ian Shircliff, 25, of Louisville, was charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon, battery to law enforcement, resisting law enforcement, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Police were called to the Portage Mall on Central Avenue about 2 a.m. Saturday on the report of a man causing problems and threatening individuals with weapons at a local bar. Police located Shircliff in the parking lot of the mall. According to the report, when the officer attempted to pat him down, Shircliff became irate and loud. When the officer began to handcuff Shircliff, he resisted by flailing his body and kicking his legs. A second officer arrived and Shircliff was handcuffed. Police said Shircliff continued to resist and at one point was able to grab one of the officer's genitals and squeeze hard enough to cause pain. Employees at two area bars said Shircliff had caused problems and started arguments, brandishing a folding knife threatening patrons at one point. Shircliff registered a 0.26 blood alcohol content level. The legal limit in Indiana is 0.08. He was transported to Portage Hospital for medical clearance before being taken to Porter County Jail. CROWN POINT Police are searching for a Lake County Jail inmate who escaped Saturday after walking away from a laundry area where he was permitted to work, an official said. Its believed Richard N. Campos, 22, of East Chicago, left the jail about noon and got into a vehicle driven by a woman, Lake County Sheriff John Buncich said. The escape likely was planned, he said. Campos had trustee status and was in the laundry area on a work detail, Buncich said. Eight officers were out searching Saturday into Sunday for Campos, he said. Were following up on every lead, he said. Campos may be in East Chicago or Hammond. The Sheriffs Department has alerted police agencies in the area, he said. Online Lake County court records show Campos is on probation in a 2014 misdemeanor intimidation case and is facing several new charges, including misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and operating while intoxicated. If convicted of escape, Campos faces an automatic five-year sentence, Buncich said. Anyone with information about Campos whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriffs Department at (219) 755-3400. VALPARAISO A 22-year-old Portage man was sentenced to four years behind bars followed by work release and probation after pleading guilty to a charge stemming from accusations of injuring his 3-month-old daughter severely enough to cause bleeding in her skull and seizures. Medical care for the child was not sought until a few days later when she was returned to her mother, according to police. Branden White pleaded guilty to a felony count of neglect of a dependent in return for prosecutors dropping a felony battery charge. Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa sentenced White to the prison term followed by one year of work release and four years of formal probation, according to court documents. White already has served 604 days of his sentence. White said the baby rolled off his bed March 14, 2014, but he was able to catch her before she hit anything, police said. Yet after that fall the child began having seizures and was unusually drowsy. Upon picking up the child a few days later and noticing a difference in her behavior, her mother took her to the hospital where officials found bleeding within the child's skull, scratches and bruises on her face, and scratches on her back, according to charging documents. The child also suffered hemorrhages in both retinas, which is commonly the result of being shaken, police said. White reportedly sent a text message later to the baby's mother admitting he did not initially tell the truth and that his daughter had hit her head when she fell to the floor. Yet police said the injuries are consistent with being shaken and not from the fall described by White. VALPARAISO A Portage woman charged with arranging the murder of a business associate is attempting to keep the conviction of her co-defendant away from jurors in her case. Sheaurice Major, 45, said the conviction of Dontaye Singletary is "hearsay, highly prejudicial, has no probative value and is not admissible," according to court documents. "Lack of relevance of the conviction becomes more obvious when the issue is whether the outcome of the trial of Dontaye Singetary would be admissible in Major's trial had he been found not guilty," according to the documents. A hearing on this motion and others, which was originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed until May 11 before Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford. Major is scheduled to go trial June 21 on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the Nov. 1, 2012, shooting death of Carl Griffith Sr., 72, outside his Portage home. Major is accused of hiring Singletary to shoot and kill Griffith because she did not like him. Griffith was an employee of a towing company owned by Major's estranged husband. Testimony in Singletary's trial accused Major of driving Singletary to and from the killing in the 2700 block of Locust Street in Portage, and then later paying him $2,500. Major is also challenging the use of recorded telephone calls from the jail and claims by others that she had made earlier threats against Griffith. Singletary, of Gary, was found guilty in February 2015 and later sentenced to the maximum 65 years behind bars. The Indiana Supreme Court recently refused to hear an appeal in the case. The Indiana Appellate court upheld the conviction in January. MERRILLVILLE The school superintendent for the Catholic Diocese of Gary will retire effective June 30. Barbara O'Block has been superintendent for nine years. She oversees 17 elementary schools and three high schools in the Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. Bishop Donald J. Hying said Monday, "I am very grateful for Dr. O'Block's hard work and dedication to Catholic education, both here in the Diocese of Gary, and in the many places she has served at over the years. I ask the people of our diocese to join me in expressing our gratitude and offering our prayers for Dr. O'Block in the future." The bishop will put together a search committee to look for a new superintendent. The retirement announcement was made public Monday to teachers and schools. Paul Mullaney, president of Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, also said they are grateful to O'Block for her longtime commitment to Catholic education, at all levels, including the past nine years in the Diocese of Gary. "Many of the initiatives put in place at Bishop Noll have received strong support from her and her team at the diocese, and she has been a tremendous advocate for our schools downstate and in the accreditation process," he said. LOWELL The installation of a second phase of solar panels an array of 186 to be added to the existing 90 panels is underway at Lowell Middle School. The Tri-Creek School Corp. board met in special session recently to approve a contract with Midwest Wind & Solar of Merrillville, the firm which handled the first phase last fall. The project will cost $132,500, $100,000 of which is from an Indiana Office of Energy Development grant. It will be a direct feed for the transportation center, Bogathy said of the second phase. It is expected to power 86 percent of the energy needs of the new transportation center on the middle school campus at 19250 Cline Ave. Superintendent Debra Howe said she and the board continues to have the goal of getting off the grid and Midwest Wind & Solar representatives and district personnel recently went through schools assessing needs and problem areas with that goal in mind. Notably, Tri-Creek was the only secondary school district and one of six grantees to win the Community Conservation Challenge from the IOED. The University of Evansville and DePauw University as well as the city of Fort Wayne, Lake County Courthouse Foundation and Hoosier Interfaith Power also won grants. Tri-Creeks solar project is part of a larger alternative and sustainable energy initiative designed to expand curriculum opportunities for students, offset utility costs and decrease the carbon footprint. The solar energy project grew out of a presentation by Lowell eighth-graders on alternative energy sources in 2014. Ground was broken last September and a 90-panel solar array was installed last fall with an assist from Lowell Middle School students. The eighth-graders who couldnt participate in the fall, will be out there now, Howe said. Northwest Indiana early voters spinned the turnstiles this election season in large numbers rarely seen in recent years. As of mid-last week, some 3,300 had cast early ballots in Porter County, and more than 8,300 in Lake County, ahead of the May 3 primary. Lake voters can chose among Democratic and Republican candidates in contested races for U.S. Congress, Indiana General Assembly, Lake Circuit Court judge, two seats on the Lake County Board of Commissioners, county coroner and county recorder. Michelle Fajman, Lake elections director, said the surge in early voting was approaching the pace set in 2008 when voters queued up outside early voting centers, waiting a half hour or more to cast a ballot for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. While Hillary Clinton returned to Lake last week, the long lines haven't. Fajman said, "It's hard to believe we are even comparable to 2008 when voters would be standing in the hallways, sitting on the floors. The biggest difference is, we have increased the early voting locations. There were only four places to vote early that year." Now, Lake has 11: Lake County elections board office, Room A-205, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point; East Chicagos county courthouse, 3711 Main St., East Chicago; Garys county courthouse, 15 W. 4th Ave., Gary; Hammonds county courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond; St. John Township assessors office, 9155 Wicker Ave., St. John; Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville; Winfield Town Hall, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield; Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road, Munster; Wicker Memorial Park, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland; Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell; and Hobart Police Community Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart. All locations close at noon today. Kathryn Kozuszek, Democratic director at the Porter County voter registration office, said, "We don't have long lines. Voting has been slow but steady. We have one more voting location and evening hours two days a week we didn't have before." Early voting continues through noon today at the Porter County Administration Center, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso; North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage; and Chesterton Town Hall, 726 Broadway. Early voting has been pretty steady in Porter County and was picking up steam last week as election day neared, according to Sundae Schoon, Republican director at the county voter registration office. Walk-in voters cast 2,091 ballots by Tuesday, and another 597 had been received by mail, she said. The turnout was comparable to the last presidential primary four years ago, but Schoon said she was surprised this year's ballots were pretty evenly split, with a little edge going to Democrats. She had expected more Republican ballots, considering all the attention the GOP presidential primary battle is attracting at the national level. Republicans also have contested races for county commissioner and county council, as compared to a single judge's race on the Democratic side. "People are more aware of absentee voting," Schoon said. Kozuszek said there is some voter reluctance to taking part in the primaries, because voters have to publicly declare whether they are voting Republican or Democrat. Kozuszek said she interprets the near-even split in this year's primary ballots as further indication the GOP has lost its stronghold in Porter County. By contrast, Patrick Gabrione, the ranking Republican on the Lake County elections staff, said he has noticed the number of voters requesting Republican ballots rising in the heavily Democratic county as the election approaches. "Typically at the beginning of early voting, it's 4-1 Democrats, then it slips to 3-1, then 2.5-1. Last week, there were days where everyone voting in the last hour are all Republicans, and we have never had days like (last Tuesday) when Democrats took 347 ballots and Republicans 308," he said. CROWN POINT The city's Board of Public Works and Safety approved the city's share of a signal modernization project to provide emergency vehicle pre-emption signals for the eight traffic lights on Main Street. The signal modernization project is being done jointly by Crown Point, Merrillville, Schererville and Hobart, and involves state-owned highways, especially U.S. 30. The project received a 90 percent federal grant through the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission in 2015. The contract approved by the board is with Robinson Engineering for the engineering needed to install the signal devices. Crown Point Fire Chief Greg DeLor said it costs about $6,500 for each signal to be upgraded with the devices, which pick up the signal from an emergency vehicle two blocks away and turn a light green for them to pass. That makes the local share $650 per signal. The city already did the signals it owns and all the signals on Broadway, another state road. DeLor said the city is working with NIRPC to get funds, possibly next year, for the signals on Joliet Street, the intersection of I-65 and 109th Avenue and Ind. 55 south of Joliet. There are 18 state-owned signals yet to be upgraded, including the eight on Main Street. The city-owned signals at Indiana Avenue and Summit Street, Indiana and North Avenue and North and Bulldog Boulevard are done, and the signal to be installed as part of the Summit and Merrillville Road intersection improvements will have the pre-emption device. "The safety factor is tremendous," DeLor said. A strobe in the emergency vehicle trips the detector in the traffic light to turn the light green. A strobe in the signal will flash if another emergency vehicle already has triggered the light from another direction to warn the emergency responders to watch out for the other vehicle. The board also approved purchasing two new digital speed signs for a total of $9,380 from All Traffic Solutions, in Pennsylvania. Police Chief Pete Land said the old speed signs were bought in 2009 and were having problems. The company allowed a $4,000 trade-in value but told the city to keep the old ones because it had no use for them. In addition to tracking and displaying approaching vehicle's speeds and providing traffic counts, the new units allow the data to be downloaded via the Internet into the city computers. They also can take pictures of targeted vehicles, if desired. The signs will tell police when most of the speeding occurs to help determine when to increase patrols. The Police Department will split the cost of the new signs with the city's engineering department. CROWN POINT Work to renovate the former nurses home on the city's north boundary into a classical arts center continues, and Gloria Tuohy is about to launch a fundraising effort to complete the project by July 2017. Background The historic 1930 tuberculosis sanatorium nurses home was turned over to Tuohy 12 years ago by the Lake County commissioners to convert into the arts center. The three-story building had fallen into disrepair, but Tuohy has raised enough money to complete most of the exterior renovation, including new windows and roof, tuckpointing and other repairs. She now hopes to raise funds for the interior renovation with the goal of completing it by July 2017. The Indiana Ballet Theatre, which was founded by Tuohy, will occupy the top floor, and the second floor will be rented to several nonprofit arts groups and individual artists. The first floor will have a black box theater, a bistro, a meeting room, a reception area, and a gift shop. What's next The fundraiser, which will be July 21 at the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce, is free with wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres to coax attendees into donating to the cause. Molly the Trolley will shuttle attendees across the street for a virtual tour of what the building will look like if the money and in-kind donations are received. Tuohy hired a fund development director to help the fundraising effort reach the goal of $1 million. Tuohy already has pledges and donations for $500,000. Once the $1 million is raised, a bank has agreed to loan the remaining funds needed to complete the interior work, which the architect estimated will require $2.5 million. The City Council approved an $18,400 facade grant in December for repair of the entrance, and Tuohy said she hopes to get a second grant to help pay the $23,000 cost of renovating a dozen basement window wells. "For all the nonbelievers out there, we are going to get this building done," she said. Have an story idea for us to update? Send tips to newstips@nwi.com with Follow-up File in the subject line. LOWELL The Tri-Creek School Board has changed its next two meetings from its regular schedule. The board will meet next at 7 p.m. Thursday in work session to discuss alternative energy. Tri-Creek currently has an array of solar panels at Lowell Middle School. More are contemplated, and the board is considering a wind turbine as well. The board's regular meeting in May has been changed to 7 p.m. May 11 to accommodate end of the year school activities. At that time, the board will hear a proposal concerning a late start to the school day for middle schoolers and its impact on students and faculty. The culture wars took an expected turn this month when two Republican governors vetoed Bible bills in the reliably red states of Idaho and Tennessee. The Idaho legislation would have permitted the Bible to be used for reference purposes in teaching literature, history, government and other subjects in public schools. To placate critics, amendments had deleted any mention of geology, astronomy and biology, and added other religious texts. In his veto message, Idaho Gov. C.L. Butch Otter wrote that although he has deep respect and appreciation for the Bible as religious doctrine, allowing the bill to become law would violate the Idaho Constitutions prohibition on teaching religious tenets or doctrines in public schools. A week later in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed legislation that would have made the Bible the states official book. In addition to the constitutional issues with the bill, said Haslam, my personal feeling is that this bill trivializes the Bible, which I believe is a sacred text. During the heated debate leading up to Haslams veto, proponents argued that the measure was not an endorsement of religion, but merely official recognition of the great historical and cultural significance of the Bible in Tennessee. Opponents countered that making the Bible the state book promotes one religion over others in violation of both the state and federal constitutions. Both Bible bills suffered from vague, overly broad language that would have undoubtedly led to years of controversy and litigation. What did the Idaho legislature mean by use of the Bible for reference purposes in public school classrooms? Could teachers invoke biblical authority when teaching history, literature and other subjects? If so, that would be unconstitutional. Or did the legislature mean that teachers may refer to the Bible in some objective way when teaching? If so, the bill would be unnecessary because current law already permits academic teaching about the Bible, where appropriate, in the public school curriculum. If the Idaho constitution is currently construed by educators to prohibit objective teaching about the Bible, then the legislature could clear that up by making the distinction between unconstitutional teaching religious tenets and constitutional teaching about religion. The bill Gov. Otter vetoed failed to make that distinction and thus would have only made matters worse. The Tennessee bill was equally murky. Did the legislature intend to designate sacred scripture as the official state book, which would be unconstitutional? Or did the lawmakers merely want to acknowledge the historical and economic impact of the Bible, which ignores the religious meaning and significance of the scriptures? During legislative debates in both states, proponents appeared to want to have it both ways: Elevate the Bible because it is the word of God, but do so with ambiguous, secular language designed to pass constitutional muster. Otter and Haslam, both religious men, wisely rejected these roundabout attempts to use the engine of government to privilege the Christian faith. Ironically, by protecting the autonomy of religion, their vetoes did more to preserve the authenticity of the Bible than legislation could ever accomplish. For many Christians and Jews, when the Bible is co-opted by the state, it ceases to be the prophetic word of God. An official Bible can no longer speak truth to power; it becomes instead an echo of the powers that be. Preventing the entanglement of religion and government the source of much repression and violence throughout history is, of course, the genius of the First Amendment. The vitality of religious life in America is living proof that religion flourishes best in a society where every person is free to choose in matters of faith without government involvement or coercion. Kudos, then, to two conservative, Republican governors who had the courage to stand up for religious freedom, despite the political price. Their vetoes of misbegotten Bible bills are good news for the First Amendment and good news for the Good Book. VALPARAISO As some 400 walkers prepared to set off Sunday on the annual March for Babies, Angelica Guzman blew bubbles with her 3-year-old son Marcos. Because she could. Marcos and his brother Eli, both born prematurely, are now healthy, but Guzman lost another child at four months gestation. She has an incompetent cervix, a condition which leaves her at high risk for miscarriage or premature delivery. So, it was for the Guzman family and many like them who have spent long hours, weeks or months in neonatal intensive care units that friends and supporters joined in the 5K walk. Amelia Kowalisyn had two purple footprints forming a butterfly painted on her cheek before the walk. The footprints were those of her daughter Emma, born at just 31 weeks after suffering a stroke in utero. Emma was airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis while her twin brother Alex went into the NICU at Porter Regional Hospital. The strain of caring for two premature babies in different locations but also the support the family received led Kowalisyn and her husband Joseph to found Emmas Footprints, a nonprofit that delivers about 250 care packages a month to families at NICUs, among many other support services and awareness efforts. Emma passed away at 23 days old. Alex today is a thriving little 18-month-old, Kowalisyn said. According to the March of Dimes, which organizes the March for Babies, premature birth affects 1 of every 9 babies born in the United States. It is the leading cause of death for babies, with 1 in 10 preemies not surviving. Funds raised go to research and family support. Jessica Shanholtzer, a Valparaiso bank teller, walked with the Centier Bank team of a dozen walkers. She worked the support team last year, but Sundays walk was more personal. She took part in memory of Claire, the stillborn daughter of a close friend. Angelica Guzman, because of her multiple premature deliveries, left a career in business and now works in the NICU at Munsters Community Hospital. Guzman did not walk Sunday because she is now 15 weeks pregnant and has surgery scheduled today to reinforce her cervix to prevent another premature delivery. But with her doctors permission, she plans to walk at Lake Countys March for Babies on May 15 at Highland High School. INDIANAPOLIS The last remaining quarantine imposed last winter on southwestern Indiana poultry farms swept by a bird flu outbreak has been lifted, a step officials hope prompts nations that banned poultry imports from the state or entire U.S. to end those sanctions. The quarantine at the farm in Dubois County Indiana's top turkey-producing region was lifted Sunday when it was declared virus-free following the composting and disposal of its euthanized birds and thorough cleanings of its poultry barns. State Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Denise Derrer said the first of the 10 farms where the H7N8 viral strain infected birds in January had its quarantine lifted March 19. The nine other farms saw their quarantines lifted in the intervening weeks. "Everything is off quarantine now all of it," Derrer said Monday. As the 10 farms start restocking their birds, each will be tested 30 days later as an added precaution, she said. The H7N8 virus was found in mid-January at one Dubois County turkey farm before being detected at nine other poultry farms in the county about 70 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky. More than 414,000 turkeys and chickens were euthanized to contain the bird flu outbreak on those farms and others nearby. Derrer said the lifting of the last of the 10 quarantines coincides with Indiana meeting the World Organization of Animal Health's criteria for being state virus-free after going 90 consecutive days with no new cases of the poultry disease. Some nations blocked poultry imports from all of Indiana, or parts of Indiana, while others blocked poultry imports from the entire U.S., said Paul Brennan, executive vice president of the Indiana State Poultry Association. Now that Indiana has met the virus-free criteria, Brennan expects nations such as Mexico a significant importer of U.S. poultry to eventually end their bans on poultry from Indiana, which has the nation's fourth-largest poultry industry. "These are all decisions made by each country, but hopefully some of those decisions will now reverse themselves," he said. One of the farms hit by the virus, Tip Top Turkey Farm in Jasper, had to euthanize its 23,000 turkeys in January. But owner Stephen Sander said his farm is now back in business. Two weeks ago, he filled his brooder house with day-old turkeys and once those birds get a little older they'll move to another barn where they'll grow into adults. "We're really glad this is finally over and everything is back to near normal," Sander said Monday. History in the making: an American cruise has docked in Cuba for the first time in nearly 40 years. Carnival's 704-passenger Adonia ship left Miami Sunday afternoon on a voyage to Havana and several other Cuban ports, restarting commercial sea travel between the U.S. and Cuba. The cruise comes a week after Cuba loosened its ban on Cuban-born people arriving to the country by sea. "You could come in by air if you were Cuban-born, whether you lived in Cuba or somewhere else in the world. But no matter where you lived, in Cuba or elsewhere, if you were born in Cuba, you could not travel by sea. So they were ready to make a change," said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. The last time a U.S. cruise sailed to Cuba was in 1978. A decade ago, Bosnia was torn apart by ethnic cleansing and facing its demise as a single country. After much hesitation, the United States stepped in decisively with the Dayton Accords,which kept the country whole by, paradoxically, dividing it into ethnic federations, even allowing Muslims, Croats and Serbs to retain separate armies. With the help of American and other forces, Bosnians have lived a decade in relative peace and are now slowly strengthening their common central government, including disbanding those separate armies last year. Now the Bush administration, despite its profound strategic misjudgments in Iraq, has a similar opportunity. To seize it, however, America must get beyond the present false choice between "staying the course" and "bringing the troops home now" and choose a third way that would wind down our military presence responsibly while preventing chaos and preserving our key security goals. The idea, as in Bosnia, is to maintain a united Iraq by decentralizing it, giving each ethno-religious group Kurd, Sunni Arab and Shiite Arab room to run its own affairs, while leaving the central government in charge of common interests. We could drive this in place with irresistible sweeteners for the Sunnis to join in, a plan designed by the military for withdrawing and redeploying American forces, and a regional nonaggression pact. It is increasingly clear that President Bush does not have a strategy for victory in Iraq. Rather, he hopes to prevent defeat and pass the problem along to his successor. Meanwhile, the frustration of Americans is mounting so fast that Congress might end up mandating a rapid pullout, even at the risk of precipitating chaos and a civil war that becomes a regional war. Season 2 Episode 4: Blood in the Streets This weeks episode, Blood in the Streets, is all about debt. Owing it. Owning it. Pardoning it, and calling it in. It was Baron Rothschild, the 18th-century nobleman who pronounced The time to buy is when theres blood in the streets, after hed made a fortune buying up property when Napoleon lost at Waterloo. Naomi Klein in her 2007 book The Shock Doctrine, argued that capitalism, in the post-9/11 and Hurricane Katrina era of privatization, monetizes disaster and disproportionately benefits the uber rich. Klein wrote: Its easy to imagine a future in which growing numbers of cities have their frail and long-neglected infrastructures knocked out by disasters and then are left to rot [...]. The well-off, meanwhile, will withdraw into gated communities, their needs met by privatized providers. Left to rot, indeed. While watching the cold opening of this weeks episode, wherein Nick sneaks around a tent encampment, it was impossible not to note the Hurricane Katrina imagery. It wasnt so long ago that Americans watched other Americans spell out Save Us on their rooftops. Nick then finds his way into a luxurious if empty housing development, where a man, Carlos, is waiting for Strand. It was in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that Strand, before the apocalypse and before his good wardrobe, lost his hard won fortune. The son of a strip mall preacher and long-absent mother, Strand came into his own by buying up credit card debt until he had enough to make money in the way people who already have money do: by buying land. It just so happens that he sunk all his money into New Orleans before the city itself was sunk beneath floodwaters. Enter Thomas Abigail. Played by Dougray Scott, whom some of you will recognize from the Cinderella fairy tale Ever After and others from the Tom Cruise fantasy Mission Impossible II, Abigail has what Strand wants: money, power, and more than anything, control. When Abigail catches Strand with his stolen credit cards (lifted during a flirtatious and drunken evening), the businessman proposes something other than jail time to a grateful Strand. But lest you think hes in the clear, Abigail reminds Strand: I didnt pardon you, I obligated you. Season 5, Episode 2: Nev-AD-da President Meyer is more often defined by her ambition, narcissism, salty tongue or barely veiled disdain for her daughter than she is by her romantic relationships. That makes Veep both progressive and refreshing from a gender perspective. She has been vice president or president of the United States for five seasons now: When would she have time to find, or even care about finding, a man? In this weeks episode, a tick-tock of the events on a key day in the Nevada recount, Selina makes the time, reminding her aides that, while she may be president, shes still a woman with certain urges. Im human, she says. I just sometimes need a little banking task force. Only in Washington or, possibly, some corners of Manhattans financial district would the term banking task force be used as a euphemism for sex. In Selinas case, its also coded language for the person with whom she wants to have sex: Charlie Baird, the financial power player portrayed by John Slattery, is a C.E.O. with whom she immediately clicks at the banking task force meeting originally organized by Tom James. Since everything on Veep involves at least 50 shades of awkward, Selinas efforts to flirt with Charlie are less than deft; at one point she tries to telegraph her attraction by showing him a random closet in the White House where Harding fathered a child with his teenage mistress. Wow. What a turn-on. Nevertheless, Charlie and Selina manage to, um, task force, which seems like a terrible idea. Its obvious that their liaison will become public knowledge (it does) and that, presumably, being romantically linked to a 1 percenter from the business world will reflect poorly on Selina. President in Bed, Literally, With Wall Street: The headline-writing is right there on the wall. But Veep, in its brilliance, makes the Selina/Charlie encounter a mistake that politically weakens Selina for unexpected reasons. It turns out Charlie may be tapped by Selinas rival, Bill OBrien, to serve as treasury secretary if OBrien wins the presidency, a fact the silver-haired fox doesnt bother to share with Selina. His failure to fully disclose before disrobing leads to their immediate breakup and hits on the core theme of this episode: rampant miscommunication. Dorothy Ann Johnson Shaw and Jeffrey Bryant Ellis were married April 30. Suanne Bonan, a Universal Life minister, officiated at Frankies Spuntino, a restaurant in Brooklyn. The bride, 30, who will take the name Shaw-Ellis, is the accessories director of Vanity Fair magazine in Manhattan, where she chooses items like jewelry or handbags to feature in the publication. She graduated from Boston University. The bride, who goes by Daisy, is the daughter of Ann Johnson Shaw of Hutchinson, Minn., and Christopher J. Shaw of London, and the stepdaughter of Marcia A. Shaw. The brides father is the chief executive and chairman of the Shaw Corporation, a real estate company in London. Her mother, who is retired, was the admission registrar at South Hampstead High School, also in London. The groom, 31, is a vice president in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs in Manhattan, where he helps health-care organizations with financing and mergers and acquisitions. He graduated cum laude from Northwestern. This is what to expect from the week ahead: ECONOMY Taking the pulse of the eurozone. Tuesday morning, the European Commission will announce its spring economic forecast for growth and employment across the 28 member states of the European Union. The forecast may also shed light on whether the long-awaited recovery in the eurozone may finally be consolidating and on the effects of falling prices and the economic slowdown in China. The commission, which makes the forecasts three times a year, may update its estimates about the costs and benefits of the ongoing large-scale migrations to European nations. James Kanter U.S. job market numbers are due. On Friday at 8:30 a.m., the Labor Department is scheduled to release its report on the nations hiring and unemployment for April. With 73 months of uninterrupted job growth in the private sector, the American economy has already broken a record. In the March report, there were other encouraging gains aside from the impressive addition of 215,000 jobs. Average hourly wages increased by 0.3 percent while the proportion of Americans in the labor force which had been on the decline hit a two-year high at 63 percent. While the economys overall growth rate has been sluggish, the job market has remained a bright spot. Wall Street estimates that employers hired about 200,000 workers last month, and that wages will continue their forward momentum. Patricia Cohen AUTOS Analysts expect new vehicle sales to rise. Automakers on Tuesday are scheduled to report sales of new vehicles in the United States in April, and analysts expect the industry to report an increase over the same month a year ago. The research firm Kelley Blue Book has forecast a 4 percent improvement and a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate for the month of about 17.5 million vehicles. While trucks and sport utility vehicles continue to propel the overall growth of the market, passenger cars made by Honda and Nissan are also selling well. Analysts will be watching which auto companies are increasing discounts and other incentives to improve their sales, and whether Volkswagen can halt its steady decline in the United States since admitting last year that it cheated on diesel emissions tests. Bill Vlasic Tesla to share Model 3 numbers. The electric carmaker Tesla Motors is expected to report its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, and will probably release more details on how much money it raised by taking $1,000 reservations for its forthcoming Model 3 vehicle. The company has said it received deposits for more than 325,000 of its newest electric car, which will not be available for sales until the end of the next year at the earliest. Tesla is preparing to expand its manufacturing operations in California and planning to build a battery plant in Nevada. Bill Vlasic Eggs are not the only commodity suddenly out of kilter. Domestic prices and trading volumes on steel, garlic, cotton, iron ore and other items have all soared. This despite the fact that Chinas economic slowdown has hurt demand for many items. Officials at Chinese commodities markets are now taking steps to cool speculative fervor to avoid crashes, and prices have begun to ease. By mid-April, the frenzy made Shanghai futures contracts in steel rebar, the rods used in construction to reinforce concrete, the most actively traded in the world overtaking trading volumes of two major oil futures contracts, West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, that have helped set oil prices for decades, analysts at Citigroup said in a report last week. There is very little rational or fundamental basis for why prices have gotten as out of hand as they have, or why volumes are so high, other than just irrational exuberance, said Alex Wolf, an emerging markets economist at Standard Life Investments in Edinburgh, who previously worked as an American diplomat based in Beijing and Taipei. Economists blame Beijings new efforts to shore up its economy. Government officials increased lending by state-controlled banks and offered other support measures in the first few months of the year as economic growth slowed and longtime drivers like manufacturing and exports showed continued weakness. Saad Rahim, the chief economist at Trafigura, one of the worlds biggest traders of metals and oil, calculates that China added about $1 trillion in new liquidity in the first quarter of the year an amount that would be roughly equal to the entire quarterly economic output of Germany during the same period. This kind of scale is unprecedented and some of it will leak into speculative investments, Mr. Rahim said. In the short term, the new lending may be good news for global growth, if it works. Chinas first-quarter growth came in at 6.7 percent, about where economists had expected, despite some indications that growth had weakened further. For a year and a half, Halliburton and Baker Hughes, two big oil field services companies, had been focused on their $35 billion merger. That distraction, even as commodity prices deteriorated and their peers cut costs to survive, is finally over. The two companies announced in a statement on Sunday that they had decided to terminate their merger. The news came after an excruciatingly long regulatory review process that culminated in a lawsuit last month by the Justice Department to block the deal on antitrust grounds. While both companies expected the proposed merger to result in compelling benefits to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders, challenges in obtaining remaining regulatory approvals and general industry conditions that severely damaged deal economics led to the conclusion that termination is the best course of action, said Dave Lesar, chairman and chief executive of Halliburton, in Sundays statement. The deal was one that raised eyebrows from the start on whether it would get past regulators. The two companies were seeking to band together to compete with the likes of Schlumberger, and, in the meantime, to erase billions in costs related to operations and research and development. Things changed drastically soon after the deal was signed in November 2014. Oil prices sank to their lowest levels in years, a burden that has affected the entire industry. But, of course, it was more than that. It was about whether they could pull off one of the most intriguing experiments in late-night television history; whether Mr. Colbert, who became a leading voice in American political satire by playing a fictional character on his Comedy Central show holding forth before a cable congregation of the converted could succeed as himself in the big broad tent of network television, whose commercial and corporate imperatives can be homogenizing. CBS and Mr. Moonves have hundreds of millions of dollars riding on the result, not to mention corporate pride. Mr. Colbert has something more personal on the line: his reputation as a comedic actor who used his longtime perch at Comedy Central to show how integrity, grace and wicked intelligence could inject something politically powerful and powerfully funny into the late-night lineup of stupid pet tricks and vapid celebrity interviews. He shared that reputation with his friend Jon Stewart, who left Comedy Centrals 11 p.m. Daily Show several months after Mr. Colbert left his 11:30 p.m. program, The Colbert Report. In their absence there has been a Where is Superman? aspect to this years presidential campaign, especially in Left America, Centrist-Left America and, yes, Media America. If ever there was an election cycle that called for the sharp satirical analysis that Mr. Stewart and Mr. Colbert once provided on a nightly basis, it is this one. Their successors, Trevor Noah (The Daily Show) and Larry Wilmore (The Nightly Show) provide their share of edgy satire, but they are relatively new and just starting to build their followings, just as Samantha Bee is on TBSs Full Frontal. John Oliver and Bill Maher have made their marks on HBO, but their shows are not nightly, and have not alleviated the sense that Mr. Colbert and Mr. Stewart are badly missed in the face of all the Trumpmania. Thats why you see headlines such as Calling Jon Stewart: America Needs You Now More Than Ever (the liberal website Daily Kos) or declarations like the one made by the former Variety editor Peter Bart, who said that at the moment of truth this election Mr. Colbert and Mr. Stewart hid in their foxholes by leaving Comedy Central. New York City is crisscrossed with rivers and bounded by the sea, facts easily forgotten when fighting the swift human currents of the city streets. But the owners of a marina that opened on Sunday off the banks of Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn Bridge Park are aiming to remind New Yorkers of the water that plies this place, and how to enjoy it. Youre on an island, and nobody thinks about the water except as something you need to get across, or over, or avoid somehow, said Estelle Lau, the deputy chief executive officer of the marina at Pier 5, where Joralemon Street dead ends at the East River. The marina, called ONE15 Brooklyn a reference to the coordinates of a marina over 9,500 miles away, in Singapore, where the majority partner of the $27 million project is based will be a private dock with 100 slips for skiffs, yachts and the occasional hulking lightship. It will also devote a portion of its proceeds to community groups that will use the marina for education programs. A historic Serbian Orthodox church in Manhattan that plays an important role in New Yorks Serbian community was gutted by flames on Sunday, just hours after parishioners had filled its pews for Easter services. The New York Fire Department said it received the first report of the blaze at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, on West 25th Street between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas in the Flatiron district, shortly before 7 p.m. It grew to a four-alarm fire that took 168 department personnel to tame, fire officials said. It was not clear if anyone was at the church when the fire started, officials said. The priest had left before the blaze began to go on a bicycle ride after an Easter luncheon that stretched into the late afternoon and capped several busy days of religious celebrations, officials said. A caretaker who arrived after the fire started was treated for smoke inhalation but was not hospitalized, they said. Frank Gribbon, a department spokesman who was at the scene on Sunday night, said the blaze did not appear to be suspicious. He said the department would investigate the cause, but cautioned that the amount of damage could complicate that effort. An off-duty New York City correction officer was arrested over the weekend after she pulled out a loaded gun during an argument over a parking spot in Manhattan, the police said. The officer, Robin Mervin, was arrested on charges of menacing and criminal possession of a weapon after the confrontation late on Saturday, the police said. Officer Mervin, 29, blocked a driver from parking on a Harlem street and then drew a weapon out of a holster and pointed it at the driver, the police said. At that point, the police said, the driver involved in the confrontation with Officer Mervin called 911. It was not clear whether the gun was Officer Mervins service weapon. A spokeswoman for the Correction Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest. ALBANY New Yorks attorney general has the authority to investigate the fatal police shooting of a man in the upstate city of Troy last month, according to an order issued on Sunday by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. The order amended a broader directive issued last year by Mr. Cuomo that empowered the attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, to investigate and prosecute in deadly encounters involving the police. Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, revised the earlier order to authorize Mr. Schneiderman to explore possible unlawful acts or omissions related to the death in Troy of Edson Thevenin. Last week, Mr. Schneiderman sued District Attorney Joel Abelove of Rensselaer County over case files related to the death of Mr. Thevenin, who was fatally shot on April 17 by an officer who the authorities say Mr. Thevenin had trapped between two cars after a chase. A grand jury convened by Mr. Abelove less than a week after the killing of Mr. Thevenin declined to indict the officer. In his suit, Mr. Schneiderman said Mr. Abelove had violated the attorney generals authority in such cases by presenting the case to a grand jury before the attorney generals office had determined whether it would intervene in the matter. Donald Trump has gone from blaming Bernie Sanderss supporters for disruptions at his rallies to making overtures to them saying Sanders has been treated terribly by the Democrats, saying that he would harvest attacks on Hillary Clinton from Sanderss speeches, and even urging Sanders to run as an independent. And, to take it further, CNN reported Friday that Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said the campaign is ready to bring into the fold anyone in the feel the Bern movement who is not inclined to support Clinton in the general election. The network quoted Lewandowski as saying: You have two candidates in Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders which have reignited a group of people who have been disenfranchised and disappointed with the way Washington, D.C., and career politicians have run the country Bernie Sanders has large crowds not as large as Mr. Trumps, but large crowds and so there is a level of excitement there for people about his messaging and we will bring those people in. This is a fascinating political ploy, but rife with folly. First, it is important to acknowledge that both movements are born of the same populist source: white working- and middle-class voters fear, anger, anxiety and disappointment over what they see as a broken political system, beholden to moneyed interests and oblivious to their pain, suffering and rage. FOR all his purported business acumen, it seems the woman card may not be as valuable as Donald J. Trump thinks: In Maryland on Tuesday, Representative Chris Van Hollen beat Representative Donna Edwards in the Democratic primary race for the Senate seat to be vacated by Barbara Mikulski. In her concession speech, Ms. Edwards railed against the hypocrisy of a party that relies on black female votes but has sent only one black woman to the Senate. What I want to know from my Democratic Party is, when will the voices of people of color, when will the voices of women, when will the voices of labor, when will the voices of black women, when will our voices be effective, legitimate equal leaders in a big-tent party? she asked. If Ms. Edwards had gone on to win in November, she would have been the first black woman in the Senate in more than 15 years. She raises a crucial question, and one that Democrats, even as they come closer to nominating Hillary Clinton, have been bad at answering. Democrats and liberals generally agree that representation matters. This is the party that supports affirmative action, that champions diversity, that pays lip service to getting more women and minorities represented in public office. But does representation matter over other factors? To the Editor: Re The E.U.s Dangerous Data Rules, by Daphne Keller and Bruce D. Brown (Op-Ed, April 25): The solution proposed by Google to the European privacy decision about delisting is bad for privacy, bad for freedom of expression and entirely upside down. Rather than remove the link to private information, as required by law, Google has chosen instead to create a system of geo fencing that prevents only those in France from obtaining access to the personal details published by Google that should be delisted. This result make no sense. If a person in the United States went to Google and said there was a link to a site with private bank account details, Google would waste no time in removing the link. And it would certainly not tell the user that it plans to remove the link only in the .us domain or restrict access only to those in the United States. But that is essentially what Google is trying to do when faced with a similar privacy concern in Europe. To the Editor: Re Troubling Rifts in Belgium (April 21): The article on Brussels and its radicals was indeed a more balanced view of the city than the recent, often ill-informed reports in the international media. Brussels has been depicted as seething with discontented radicalized immigrants, and the article did explain the background to these communities. Brussels is far from the hellhole depicted by Donald Trump. It actually has a high quality of life, a modestly priced housing stock, an excellent cultural life and access to the countryside even by public transportation. Like many cities, it has major social problems, especially among immigrants, a tiny percentage of whom are hell-bent on mayhem. These problems are being addressed but not effectively enough. The Belgian authorities have been widely criticized since the March 22 attacks for their ineffective response to the terrorist threat. What has only occasionally been reported is that a substantial number of prominent radicals are in prison and that a year ago a radical cell was dismantled in Verviers in southeastern Belgium. As New York, London, Madrid and Paris have learned, there is no sure defense against terrorism, and mistakes were also made in those cities. A study I led with Wayne State University in 2006, financed by the German Marshall Fund, compared Muslim communities in Brussels and Detroit. The broad conclusion was that the origins and educational levels of Muslims in the two communities was the determining factor in their integration into their host societies. In Brussels, Muslims largely came from poor regions of the Rif in Morocco as reported in your article. In Detroit, the immigrant educational level was higher from the outset. Much more needs to be done in Brussels to raise the educational level and employment opportunities for immigrants, but this can take several generations. North Korea is still defying the international community with its nuclear weapons program, and it now may have enough fissile material for 20 bombs. Its nuclear-related activity has surged this year, part of an effort by its leader, Kim Jong-un, to enhance his influence ahead of a rare congress of his ruling Workers Party. The congress is set to open on May 6. In January, the North carried out its fourth nuclear test, and the following month it conducted a test of a long-range ballistic missile, the kind that could one day carry a nuclear weapon to hit the United States. It claimed to have tested a more powerful rocket engine and to have succeeded at shrinking the size of a nuclear weapon so it can fit on a missile. In April, North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile and also made three attempts at launching a powerful intermediate-range mobile missile called the Musudan. To the Editor: Re Whats a French Liberal to Do? (April 14): As a longtime U.S. feminist journalist now resident in Paris, I see a missing element in the arguments against the hijab and the burqa that Sylvie Kauffmann presents in her article. Mayor Anne Hidalgo of Paris finds modest fashion a little upsetting, yet she has never spoken out against high heels. The pressure on women to wear them may be more subtle than the pressure on Muslim women to cover themselves, but it is equally effective. Now France proposes to ban the hijab in universities. Yet unlike the hijab and the burqa, high heels actually damage women physically. The American Osteopathic Association has called them the perfect storm for permanent health problems, including overworked or injured leg muscles, osteoarthritis of the knee, plantar fasciitis and low back pain. So why the silence about heels, Ms. Hidalgo and others? Perhaps here, as in many ways in which the West sees Islam, the mote in anothers eye looms larger than the one in our own? JUDITH MAHONEY PASTERNAK Paris To the Editor: Re Why Hollywood Wont Cast Asian Actors, by Keith Chow (Op-Ed, April 23): From its beginning, film has had the power both to reflect and to influence society. The Birth of a Nation is an iconic example of how that power can be misused in that case, to perpetuate malicious stereotypes of African-Americans. Although much has improved in the century that followed, Hollywood still dramatically lacks diversity and inclusion, a point Chris Rock brilliantly and bravely delivered home as host of the last Oscars. But in almost the same breath, Mr. Rock, and later, Sacha Baron Cohen, used the momentous occasion for equality to perpetuate enduring and offensive stereotypes of Asian-Americans. Once again, Asian-Americans are excluded from the diversity dialogue. And that has real impact, as we see with the casting of white actors to play the main characters, who are Asian, in Doctor Strange and Ghost in the Shell. Those powerful voices who are courageously demanding diversity and inclusion in Hollywood must be mindful to speak up for all groups that are underrepresented. To paraphrase the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., inequality for anyone is a threat to equality for everyone. LAST October, an American gunship mistakenly launched a devastating attack on a Doctors Without Borders trauma center in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killing 42 innocent people. An investigation released last week detailed a cascade of human and technical errors that led to the bombardment. Now the Pentagon is compounding the tragedy by treating the case as less grave than it is. Kunduz is not the first time aerial bombing has unintentionally killed noncombatants on the ground. In World War II, American bombers repeatedly strayed into Swiss airspace, dropping ordnance and causing significant damage. The Swiss finally registered a strong protest after Zurich was bombed, resulting in a court-martial of some of the crew. (The president of the court-martial was a colonel named Jimmy Stewart the movie star.) The lead pilot and a navigator were acquitted, but at least there was a trial. As matters currently stand, there will be no Kunduz trial. Instead, 16 members of the American military, including a general, have received disciplinary action or adverse administrative action, including letters of reprimand, removal from command, transfer out of Afghanistan and requiring recertification in a job specialty. Given the loss of life and damage to a hospital which, by definition, is a protected site under the law of armed conflict, it is hardly surprising that many view these actions are inadequate. United States Central Command has justified the absence of courts-martial based on the reports conclusion that, in its words, the errors that led to the attack were unintentional and that other mitigating factors, such as equipment failures, affected the mission. Certainly, mitigating factors should be taken into account when deciding on the disposition of charges. But both the process and outcome are open to serious question. If an exposed nerve ending could walk, talk and attend high school, it would surely resemble the title character of the terrific musical Dear Evan Hansen, about a friendless 17-year-old played with such prickly authenticity by the wonderful Ben Platt that you can practically feel his flop sweat on your own brow. Whats Evan so anxious about? Well, what have you got? Even ordering in food a seemingly stress-free transaction, as his mother points out, in the age of online access sends Evan into a tailspin of fear. You have to talk to the delivery person when they come to the door, he explains. Then they have to make change. You have to stand there while its silent and theyre counting the change and His voice trails off, as he envisions the horrific scene in his angst-addled mind. But its primarily the agony of being a misfit facing his first day as a high school senior with a crush on a junior he cant bring himself to approach that gives Evan the jitters. He has been advised by his therapist to improve his self-image by writing himself daily pep notes. A high-ranking official in the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department resigned on Sunday after it was revealed that he had shared a series of racist and sexist jokes from his work email account in a previous job with the Burbank Police Department. Sheriff Jim McDonnell of Los Angeles County said in a statement that the official, Tom Angel, his chief of staff, had resigned on Sunday. His resignation came days after The Los Angeles Times first reported on the emails, which the newspaper said were obtained under the states open records act. This incident is one that I find deeply troubling, Chief McDonnell said. Despite the Sheriffs Departments many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do. Last Wednesday, The Times published 15 pages of email correspondence that contained jokes about Muslims, Catholics, Latinos, African-Americans and women. LAFAYETTE, Ind. It almost resembled Iowa, if you squinted. Senator Ted Cruz expressed gratitude for the common-sense good judgment of Midwesterners. His stump speech had scarcely changed, from a favorite anecdote about a drawling West Texas farmer to a running countdown of the time remaining before the primary. (Fifty-one hours, he said sternly.) He drew a crowd of several hundred at a faith-based community center here, whose cheers at times coaxed the Texas senator to guttural shouts. One woman held a sign: Prayn For Ted. The eyes of the entire country, Mr. Cruz said, now rest on Indiana. But in the end, Malia, 17, a daughter of two academic overachievers who both attended law school at Harvard, gravitated to an institution with not only a well-known name, but also plenty of experience hosting and, to some degree, protecting the children of some of the worlds most powerful people. The challenge of being a first child is to be normal within the context of all the scrutiny, and the challenge of everybody around them is to pretend like theyre normal and nothings out of the ordinary, which puts an enormous amount of stress on both the kid and the school, said Gil Troy, a presidential historian at McGill University and the author of The Age of Clinton: America in the 1990s. The larger the institutional ego of the place, the more comfortable you can feel about the ability to cope with that and still have as close to a normal experience as possible. Harvard has long been a destination for the children of American and foreign leaders as well as those of celebrities and the ultrawealthy; its police force even has a three-person dignitary protection unit. By deferring her start date until 2017, Malia may be maximizing her chances of having an ordinary freshman year, removed from the kind of news media attention and social media chatter her parents have worked to fend off for their daughters throughout Mr. Obamas time in office. Malia had a taste of what life outside the White House might be like during a college tour last fall, when students posted photographs of her at a Brown University party. The degree to which every presidential child is half a millisecond away or a snapshot away or an Instagram away from scandal its really kind of unfair, Mr. Troy said. Once the parent has left office, he added, the kids can get to at least some level of irrelevance that they absolutely cannot get when theyre still in the White House. SAN ANTONIO In a state where everything is big, the 23rd Congressional District that hugs the border with Mexico is a monster: eight and a half hours by car across a stretch of land bigger than any state east of the Mississippi. In 2014, Representative Pete Gallego logged more than 70,000 miles there in his white Chevy Tahoe, campaigning for re-election to the House and lost by a bare 2,422 votes. So in his bid this year to retake the seat, Mr. Gallego, a Democrat, has made a crucial adjustment to his strategy. Were asking people if they have a drivers license, he said. Were having those basic conversations about IDs at the front end, right at our first meeting with voters. Since their inception a decade ago, voter identification laws have been the focus of fierce political and social debate. Proponents, largely Republican, argue that the regulations are essential tools to combat election fraud, while critics contend that they are mainly intended to suppress turnout of Democratic-leaning constituencies like minorities and students. As the general election nears in which new or strengthened voter ID laws will be in place in Texas and 14 other states for the first time in a presidential election recent academic research indicates that the requirements restrict turnout and disproportionately affect voting by minorities. The laws are also, as in the case of Mr. Gallego, reshaping how many campaigns are run with candidates not only spending time to secure votes, but also time to ensure those votes can be cast. BRASILIA They were idealists, united in the struggle against Brazils military dictators. As democracy flourished, so did their careers. One of them, Paulo Ziulkoski, became the leader of an association of Brazilian cities. The other, Dilma Rousseff, rose even higher, becoming the president of Latin Americas largest country. But their friendship soon fell apart. During a contentious meeting with the nations mayors in 2012, Ms. Rousseff rejected pleas for a share of Brazils soaring oil revenues. After the room erupted in jeers, Mr. Ziulkoski said, she stormed up to him, poked a finger in his face and humiliated him with a string of expletives. I never imagined a president could utter such words, Mr. Ziulkoski said, noting that dozens of mayors have abandoned Ms. Rousseff and her party. To Mr. Ziulkoski, the public dressing down was the kind of rupture that symbolized the beginning of the end for her administration. As Ms. Rousseff wages a last-ditch battle to stave off impeachment and save her presidency, she has accused her rivals in Congress of creating turmoil, saying they are orchestrating a coup detat to oust her. MANILA Ten sailors from Indonesia who had been held hostage in the Philippines for more than a month were released on Sunday, officials from both countries said. President Joko Widodo of Indonesia said during a televised address in his country on Sunday night that the sailors were in good condition and would be flown to Jakarta immediately. The 10 men were kidnapped on March 26 from a tugboat that was passing through the pirate-infested waters of the southwestern Philippines. Indonesian officials said shortly afterward that ransom had been demanded from the sailors company, but there was no confirmation from either country on Sunday that money had changed hands. Have the visual art projects blossomed and become a focus of yours? Or are you always working on many projects at once? Theyre all tangled up together, you know. And, in fact, because they use similar procedures, they sort of proceed in a very rough parallelism sometimes something goes ahead a little bit, because I get an interest in it and follow it, but then the other things pick up. If one of the horses Ive got in the race at the moment looks good, then I put a lot of support behind it to see where that one can get to, and then I look back and I think, Oh, these ones are dropping behind a bit, Ill pick up on that one. Using light, youve been making art for hospitals. Have you talked to doctors about the impact your art could have on patients? Certainly. It turns out [the space] in Brighton is used by the staff as much as the patients. It was originally intended for the patients, but actually the staff like going there as well. Theres a heart surgeon there, for example, who goes and sits in there before big operations to chill out a little bit. Less than 48 hours before the Whitney Museums show on portraiture opened last week, Scott Rothkopf was urging an art handler to rotate a hanging Calder wire head 45 degrees to the left. It might seem surprising for a chief curator to concern himself with such minutiae, but intense attention to detail is one of the qualities that catapulted Mr. Rothkopf from an art magazine editor to the top ranks of one of the leading cultural institutions in the country at just 38 years old. There were eyebrows raised when Mr. Rothkopf was appointed last May, given that he had not risen through the curatorial ranks the Whitney, where he arrived as a curator in 2009, was his first museum job (not counting his stint as a summer intern there in 1998). And he replaced the much-beloved Donna De Salvo, a longtime curator who is now the Whitneys deputy director for international initiatives. In the book that first brought him to prominence, Flauberts Parrot (1985), Mr. Barnes also created a novel around the biography of a prominent artist. But whereas he used a collagelike technique in that volume to give us glimpses of his hero from a variety of angles, he opts here to try to take us into Shostakovichs own mind a suffocating place, it turns out, which is part of the problem. Image Julian Barnes Credit... Alan Edwards Through the years, there have been intense debates over both the enduring importance of that composers music (some sing his praises, while others regard him as second-rate, hardly fit to be mentioned alongside the likes of Prokofiev, never mind Stravinsky) and his stance toward the Soviet regime. Some have depicted Shostakovich as a coward who caved to Stalin after the Lady Macbeth episode, and who compromised his aesthetic and moral principles; others have defended him as a brave dissident who lived under constant fear of persecution and who cleverly smuggled a message of defiance into his music. Mr. Barness book internalizes these debates, turning them into conversations within Shostakovichs own head. On one hand, defending his need to survive and protect his family; on the other, cursing himself as a cowardly worm, who compromised all his principles, going so far as to denounce his hero, Stravinsky, as a deviant modernist. One minute, telling himself that he has cleverly used irony to subvert his apparent embrace of the regimes prescription of optimistic, old-fashioned music; the next, filled with self-disgust at having allowed himself to be displayed as a figurehead of Soviet values at a cultural conference in the United States or being bullied into joining the party. By internalizing these debates, Mr. Barnes avoids the polarized either-or, black-or-white characterizations of Shostakovich as noble dissident or spineless government patsy, but he also traps us inside the composers mind, where we soon tire of the narcissistic musings and self-pitying rationalizations. Being a hero, he thinks, requires only a moment of courage when you took out the gun, threw the bomb, pressed the detonator, did away with the tyrant and with yourself as well. Being a coward, in contrast, meant a lifetime of anticipating the next occasion when you would have to make excuses for yourself, dither, cringe, reacquaint yourself with the taste of rubber boots and the state of your own fallen, abject character. And yet he accepts the perks granted by the government to its obedient and favored citizen-artists a nice apartment, a dacha, a car and driver, servants, fame. An Australian entrepreneur claimed on Monday to be the creator of the online currency Bitcoin. Within hours, the skepticism started. Whether the truth is ultimately uncovered, the hunt for the founders identity is part of the new reality of the online age. A vast array of new tools and technologies make it ever easier to hide in the vast digital ocean that is the Internet and all the more difficult to put a face to every screen name. The identity debate is crucial for Bitcoin as those in the virtual currency community take sides over its direction. Some purists want to maintain Bitcoins outsider status, underscored by the mystique surrounding its founder. Others see an opportunity to expand Bitcoin into the commercial realm, making it more vulnerable to speculation and uncertainty. Craig Steven Wright, the computer programmer who claimed in interviews with the BBC, The Economist and GQ to be the currencys progenitor, said that he had come forward to quell the rumors. While Mr. Wright was first identified as Bitcoins founder in December 2015 by Wired magazine and the technology website Gizmodo, he remained silent then. Jacques Brand, the chief executive of Deutsche Banks operations in North America, will leave the German bank, one of the highest-ranking executives to do so during the firms overhaul. Deutsche Bank will announce Mr. Brands successor in due course, said John Cryan and Jurgen Fitschen, the co-chief executives of Deutsche Bank, in a note posted on the companys website on Monday. Mr. Brand is headed to PJT Partners, said two people briefed on his plans, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because that part of the announcement is not public. His departure comes at a crucial time in the banks evolving relationship with United States bank regulators. The Federal Reserve requires that large foreign banks soon place their United States operations into new holding companies that will then be subject to stricter regulation than foreign banks had been subject to in the past. A pain management specialist, Dr. Nathaniel Katz, was stunned in 2012 when the Food and Drug Administration rejected a recommendation from an expert panel that had urged mandatory training for doctors who prescribed powerful painkillers like OxyContin. That panel had concluded that the training might help stem the epidemic of overdose deaths involving prescription narcotics, or opioids. At first, Dr. Katz, who had been on the panel, thought that drug makers had pressured the F.D.A. to kill the proposal. Then an agency official told him that another group had fought the recommendation: the American Medical Association, the nations largest doctors organization. I was shocked, said Dr. Katz, the president of Analgesic Solutions, a company in Natick, Mass. You go to medical school to help public health and here we have an area where you have 15,000 people a year dying. Now, as the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal and state agencies scramble to find solutions to the vexing opioid problem, the role of doctors is coming back to center stage. The Obama administration recently announced that it supported mandatory training for prescribers of opioids. The number of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters in films released by the seven major Hollywood studios held steady in 2015, but many were included only to be the butt of a joke and an overwhelming majority of them were white or male, according to a new report by GLAAD, formerly known as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. While the overall percentage of such characters in films stayed the same, the advocacy group said in its fourth annual report that a closer look at the data revealed 2015 to have been a less inclusive year on the big screen by almost every other measure. The number of female characters dropped while the number of males characters rose, it said, and the amount of racial diversity among L.G.B.T. characters fell sharply after making improvements the year before. Those findings come amid criticism aimed at Hollywood over the lack of racial diversity in film that reached a boiling point earlier this year when no people of color were nominated in the acting categories of the Academy Awards for the second year in a row, spawning the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. Constitutional Scholars May Not Agree with What Daleiden Says, But Defend His Right to Say It Thomas More Society Welcomes Broad Coalition Defending Undercover Journalist's First Amendment Rights SAN FRANCISCO, May 2, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- To date, eight amici curiae (friends of the court) briefs have been filed in connection with the appeal of an injunction entered against undercover citizen journalist David Daleiden prohibiting him from releasing videotapes that he filmed at two abortion industry conferences. Thomas More Society attorneys representing Daleiden are grateful for this broad support for Daleiden's constitutional rights on the part of so many amici. The appeal arises out of a lawsuit in which Daleiden has been sued by the National Abortion Federation for alleged violations of the federal racketeering law, known as RICO, because of his internet postings of videotapes and research exposing Planned Parenthood's and other abortionists' involvement in trafficking body parts of aborted babies as well as other violations of federal law. This includes evidence that partial birth abortions are still being used to harvest "intact fetal cadavers," which command premium market prices. The amici filings come from diverse groups, including those who do not share Daleiden's prolife views, an alliance of state attorney generals, a coalition of U.S. Congressmen, and others. Thomas More Society attorneys Thomas Brejcha, Peter Breen, Matt Heffron and Corrina Konczal represent Daleiden, together with California based cocounsel, in the appeal filed with the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The appeal prays for reversal of a preliminary injunction entered by District Judge William H. Orrick of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which bars Daleiden, his company, Center for Medical Progress, and his confederates from publishing or disclosing undercover videos taken at National Abortion Federation annual conventions in 2014 and 2015. Daleiden argues, among other things, that the lower court decree constitutes an unconstitutional prior restraint on free speech that wrongfully deprives American citizens of access to otherwise hidden facts at the pinnacle of newsworthiness and of surpassing public interest. The friend of the court briefs filed in the appeal include the following: Law faculty from Harvard, Stanford, Cornell and other public and private university law schools have joined in filing a brief insisting that federal courts do not have the power to prohibit the distribution of information relevant to controversial matters of public concern a brief which quotes extensively from another amicus brief previously been filed in the lower court by the Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press, attacking the district court's earlier entry of a temporary restraining order as an illicit prior restraint banning dissemination of the National Abortion Federation videotapes. The law professors' brief asserts that while they "do not agree with one another on all aspects of the controversial issue of abortion," they nonetheless "are united in insisting that all Americans no matter what their views on abortion have an unfettered right in our society to have access to important information about controversial matters, including but by no means limited to abortion." The constitutional concerns expressed include a disagreement with the district court's analysis that Daleiden had engaged in "fraud." Rather, the brief affirms Daleiden's role as a member of the press, as the composition of the Fourth Estate is now "broadly understood at this moment in the digital revolution" and as citizen journalists, equally as so-called mainstream media, play a "vital role" in providing crucial information to the general public. The Attorney Generals of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin have also filed a brief in support of Daleiden, asking for a reversal in the case. An additional amicus filing by the Susan B. Anthony List was also filed on behalf of six U.S. Congress Representatives. This amicus brief notes that, although a Congressional committee had subpoenaed the suppressed National Abortion Federation videotapes, and even though the district court ultimately permitted Daleiden to comply with that Congressional subpoena, viewing of those videotapes was restricted to a very limited audience and were inaccessible to the rest of the American public. Read the appeal brief appeal filed on April 19, 2016 for David Daleiden in National Abortion Federation's RICO lawsuit here About the Thomas More Society In response to growing concern about the presence of lead in drinking water at schools, Gov. Chris Christie on Monday ordered mandatory testing for all New Jersey public schools. Under the plan, the state would provide $10 million to cover the cost of the testing in 3,000 facilities, and the results would be posted by the school districts. People need information so that they can feel safe, Mr. Christie said at a news conference in Trenton. Lead awareness and public anxiety have been running high since dangerously elevated levels of lead were discovered in the water in Flint, Mich., where the citys water supply was contaminated, with possibly devastating public health consequences, especially for children. Members of these groups often represent themselves variously as either liberals, moderate Islamists or nationalist-inclined democrats. They speak of working for fair government, but many have accumulated considerable personal power and wealth by exploiting the recent turmoil. Some of the so-called liberals who like to sound the alarm about Islamist influence have aligned themselves with warlords like General Hifter. Apparently, they wouldnt mind riding to political power on the back of a tank, crushing constitutional democracy along the way. A primary purpose of the unity government is to check these factionalists. Libyas ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Aref Ali Nayed, who is affiliated with the House of Representatives in Tobruk, a body backed by General Hifter, has emerged as a leading voice of those who, making no distinction, portray all Islamists as terrorists. Lumping together organizations as far apart politically as the Muslim Brotherhood and jihadist groups aligned with the Islamic State, he accuses them of tyrannizing the Libyan people under the guise of the United Nations-backed national unity administration. He also says that these belligerents tried to legitimize themselves by resurrecting the General National Congress, after it was supposed to give way to an elected House of Representatives two years ago. What Mr. Nayed and others neglect to mention is that in 2014 Libyas Supreme Court ruled that a constitutional amendment passed by the Congress before the election of the House of Representatives was invalid. This meant that the process by which the House of Representatives was formed was null and the new Parliament had to be dissolved. Amid these disputes, Libyas political sectarianism became ever more entrenched. Contrary to Mr. Nayeds claim of tyrannical Islamist rule, many Libyan leaders, including the president of the Justice and Construction Party, a leading Islamist political party (of which I am a member), have worked hard to reduce tensions and make way for negotiations. The formation of the unity government is a great accomplishment, but the road to democratic order is still uphill, particularly when it comes to ending factional violence. General Hifter, in particular, uses the army formed by the House of Representatives as a power base to compete with his political rivals in Tripoli. As Martin Kobler, who leads the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, has pointed out, that force does not represent all of Libya. To give the new government a monopoly on the use of force, all militias, regardless of ideological background, must lay down their arms; the army must be united under a single command structure. The international community understands that Libya cant be allowed to dissolve into a failed state, which is why the United Nations has thrown its weight behind the Government of National Accords presidential council. The real battle for Libya is between those who prefer to re-establish authoritarian rule and those who want to build a peaceful democracy. To the Editor: Re Obamas Last Chance to End the Forever War (Op-Ed, April 27): Jennifer Daskal is right that President Obama should do more to urge Congress to authorize the use of force against ISIS with appropriate limits. But Mr. Obama need not break through the gridlock in Congress to avoid leaving an undefined forever war as his legacy. He can and should act now, independently, by signing an order that defines the boundaries of the current wars against various terror groups. Defining these boundaries is imperative for protecting human rights and successfully fighting terrorism. In war, governments claim the extraordinary power to kill as a first resort and detain individuals without charge or trial. Invoking this power outside of war threatens basic human rights, and undermines the United States ability to hinder terrorist recruitment and build broad coalitions to defeat terrorist groups. President Obama delivered strong messages during his recent trip to Europe on the importance of European unity and of the trans-Atlantic alliance. In Britain, Mr. Obama weighed in on the question that will be put to British voters in a June 23 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union. The European Union doesnt moderate British influence, he said. It magnifies it. That was music to the ears of those who have argued that the only way Britain can influence the final terms of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T.T.I.P. a free-trade deal between the United States and the E.U. is to stay in the union. Mr. Obama reinforced this thought in Hanover, Germany, on April 25, warning Europeans that, on trade, You cant turn inward. But the T.T.I.P. is a hard sell in Europe. Many Europeans fear it will allow powerful corporations to force governments to weaken European food standards, environmental regulations and social welfare programs. A survey released on April 21 indicated that only 17 percent of Germans believe the trade partnership is a good thing. More than 40 European mayors and municipal representatives have signed a declaration demanding that current negotiations be suspended. Sentiment against the deal is also running high in France which has presidential elections next year. After a slew of pessimistic warnings on T.T.I.P. last week from members of his cabinet, President Francois Hollande declared on Sunday that France will say no to the T.T.I.P. if it is not reciprocal, endangers French agriculture or violates environmental principles. The reaction to the Blaze encapsulates the predicament facing Fitbit, the young company that has been a leader in wearable technology: In many peoples eyes, it lives in the shadow of Apple, the Silicon Valley behemoth whose touch-screen smartwatch could potentially stomp its smaller rival out of existence. This even though Fitbit has been trying to do everything right and has largely succeeded. Fitbit, which went public last year, has been increasing revenue at a rate of more than 90 percent as sales of its fitness trackers soar. Last year, Fitbit sold 21.3 million devices, almost double the 10.9 million it sold in 2014. Fitbit, scheduled to report earnings on Wednesday, is also the worlds largest maker of wearable devices by market share, according to the research firm IDC. Yet the fact that Fitbits products focus on one thing tracking your fitness is not helping the companys image in this era of Swiss Army knife devices, where products like the iPhone and Apple Watch can do multiple things. History has been unkind to single-purpose gadgets, many of which have flopped, like Ciscos Flip camcorder, or have struggled, like the action camera from GoPro. Competing with Apple, whose cash hoard exceeds the size of many countries gross domestic product, is also not easy. Although Apple last week reported its first sales decline ever in iPhones, Apple Watch sales appear to be growing. Apple does not break out sales of the watch, but analysts estimate it has sold 12 million of them since the products April 2015 debut. Image The Fitbit Blaze. As a result, Fitbits stock has fallen about 10 percent since it went public last June. There were concerns around competition, particularly from Apple, Katy Huberty, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, said of investor skepticism around Fitbit. Still, Spanish officials recently said they did not expect the jobless rate to fall below 15 percent until 2019. And theres the matter of the countrys youth unemployment (those under 25): an almost incomprehensible 45.5 percent. A new government in Spain once it is chosen after almost half a year of discord may end up pursuing smarter and bolder policies that reduce joblessness to levels that exist elsewhere in Europe. But the chances of that look slim. Spains unemployment is so high partly because of particular local forces that have existed for decades. Marcel Jansen, an expert on labor markets at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, notes that unemployment above 20 percent is not uncommon in Spain. In fact, it has been at that level in three periods since Spains transition to democracy in the 1970s. And, ominously, from the previous unemployment rate peak in the 1990s, it took 14 years for it to decline to the wider European level, Mr. Jansen notes. One cause of the high rate became embedded in Spains labor market over the last 40 years. A significant proportion of Spains workers emerged from the dictatorship years with ironclad job security. Many of those protections remained, Mr. Jansen said, but much of the new hiring in the democratic era took place through temporary employment contracts. Just before the 2008 financial crisis, around a third of Spains workers were on temporary contracts, far higher than the European average. A doctor who performs abortions at a hospital in Washington filed a federal civil rights complaint on Monday, charging that the hospital had violated the law by forbidding her, out of concerns for security, to speak publicly in defense of abortion and its role in health care. The doctor, Diane J. Horvath-Cosper, 37, an obstetrician and gynecologist, has in recent years emerged as a public advocate, urging abortion providers not to shrink before threats. Last December, her complaint says, officials of the MedStar Washington Hospital Center imposed what she described as a gag order, but what the officials termed a sensible precaution against anti-abortion violence. At odds in the case are sharply conflicting visions of how best to protect abortion providers and patients. The dispute comes at a time when legal restrictions on the procedure are tightening, many clinics are besieged daily by hostile protesters and an extremist fringe has sometimes made murderous attacks. Dr. Horvath-Cosper is part of a national movement of physicians and other medical staff members who argue that silence about their work only feeds the drive to stigmatize and restrict abortion. Similar sentiments among some patients have led to a Shout Your Abortion campaign on social media. But, he added, organizations that target gap-year students often tend to be driven by a sense of mission rather than profit, and many programs, including his, offer at least some level of financial assistance. People who are doing the gap-year programming, right now at least, theyre all really principled people, he said. Then there are those gap-year plans created by students who possess rare initiative. Robert Clagett, the director of college counseling at St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin, Tex., recalled one who spent the first third of her year tending llamas at a monastery in North Dakota. The next third, she worked for a judge in Oklahoma City, and, finally, she volunteered at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Its not unusual for students to spend maybe half their gap year with a job, Mr. Clagett said, maybe living at home, or an internship where they make some money, and then spending the second half of the year traveling or having whatever kinds of experiences theyre hoping for. Which schools offer gap-year programs? More universities have begun formal gap-year programs that take varying approaches to enrollment and the providing of aid, including Princeton, Tufts, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Elon University. At Princeton and North Carolina, for example, freshman-year enrollment is deferred and at least some financial help is provided, while Elon considers participants enrolled and charges its regular tuition. Another program offered by the New School in New York City also treats students as enrolled and offers up to a full year of academic credit. Florida State University is among the latest campuses to start offering scholarships to gap-year students. Late last year, the public institution said applicants could get up to $5,000, and sent an email to the entire incoming freshmen class urging them to consider deferring their freshman year. We wanted to spearhead this effort in higher education and to be a leader, and to showcase gap years as an important part of the educational system, said Joe OShea, the universitys director of undergraduate research and academic engagement. FLINT, Mich. Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan has a question for President Obama: Want to get together? In a rare overture by a Republican governor to the Democratic leader, Mr. Snyder said on Monday that he had made a formal request for a meeting with the president, hoping to sit down with Mr. Obama during his visit to Flint planned for Wednesday. Mr. Snyders comments reversed a statement he made last week during a trip to Europe when he was asked whether he would meet with Mr. Obama. In response, the governor appeared to give the president the brushoff. Ive got a pretty full schedule next week, Mr. Snyder told The Detroit News by telephone from Zurich, adding that he did not plan on being in Flint on Wednesday. As a general rule, Mr. Ross said, he viewed such proposals not with a grain of salt, but a small ton of salt. But he had gotten to know the Omanis through his work on Middle East peace issues in the 1990s, and he knew their ties to the Iranians were genuine. He said he decided to pass along Mr. Ismailys proposal, with a caveat-laden cover memo, to Mrs. Clinton. She told Mr. Ross to keep talking to him. A few weeks later, the Iranian authorities cracked down brutally on antigovernment protesters, dashing Mr. Ismailys hopes to set up a channel and prompting the White House to shift from a strategy of engaging Tehran to one of pressuring it. Mrs. Clinton lobbied China and other countries in the United Nations Security Council to impose harsh new sanctions on Iran, a step widely seen as a crucial lever against the Iranians. Around that time, Mr. Ismaily got another chance to demonstrate his skills as an intermediary. He negotiated the release of three young Americans who had been arrested by Iranian guards while hiking on the border between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan. Oman paid bail for the three hikers, roughly $500,000 each. In December 2010, several weeks after the release of the first American, Mr. Ross and a senior official on the National Security Council, Puneet Talwar, secretly traveled to Oman to hear from Sultan Qaboos himself how he thought a channel could work. They were impressed by what the sultan told them: He had visited the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and was confident of the countrys seriousness in seeking a nuclear deal. The next January, Mrs. Clinton stopped in Muscat, the capital of Oman, for her own briefing. She expressed doubts that the Iranians could negotiate in good faith, but she agreed to put it to a test. Mr. Obama was more intrigued: He called Sultan Qaboos twice over the next few months to ask him about whether he could deliver Iranians who could speak with the authority of the supreme leader. The White House, intent on secrecy, did not disclose the calls. Leaning Forward Mr. Kerry had long nourished the idea of opening lines of communication to Iran, and he saw his chance when he got involved in trying to free the hikers. That put him in contact with the sultan and his emissary. (Mr. Ismaily confirmed this account, but declined to speak on the record about his role in the nuclear talks.) The government, however, says that the trademark law does not bar any speech the Slants are free to continue to use their name. What the law does, the Justice Department said in urging the Supreme Court to hear the case, is merely offer federal benefits on terms that encourage private activity in line with legislative policy. There is some recent support for saying that the First Amendment falls out of the analysis when the government is not acting as a censor, but is merely choosing what speech to adopt or support. In June, in a 5-to-4 decision in Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas could refuse to allow specialty license plates bearing the Confederate battle flag because the plates were the governments speech and were thus immune from attacks on First Amendment grounds. But the government, in its Supreme Court brief in the Slants case, Lee v. Tam, No. 15-1293, did not seem ready to adopt millions of trademarks as its own speech. Rather, it said it could confer its benefits based on whether it approved of the speakers message. The problem with that argument, according to a brief supporting the Redskins from leading First Amendment lawyers, including Floyd Abrams and Rodney A. Smolla, is that the government is not free to attach unconstitutional conditions, such as the surrender of First Amendment rights, to the receipt of government benefits. The Slants, as it happens, say they do not intend to disparage anyone. They say they seek to adopt and reform a disparaging term about Asians, much as some gay people have embraced the term queer. The Redskins, too, say they mean no offense. For a long time, the trademark office agreed, registering Redskins trademarks in 1967, 1974, 1978 and 1990. In 2014, though, it reversed course and canceled six registrations, saying they disparaged Native Americans. Republican lawmakers in Virginia said on Monday that they were considering a court challenge to Gov. Terry McAuliffes decision to restore voting rights to more than 200,000 convicted felons, opening the door to a legal battle that could create uncertainties about their ability to vote in November. Governor McAuliffes flagrant disregard for the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law must not go unchecked, Thomas K. Norment Jr., a Republican and the majority leader of Virginias State Senate, said. On Monday, Mr. Norment and another Republican, William J. Howell, the speaker of the states House of Delegates, said they had retained Charles J. Cooper, a prominent conservative lawyer who argued before the Supreme Court in support of Californias onetime ban on same-sex marriage, to examine the legal options to remedy this Washington-style overreach by the executive branch. Mr. McAuliffe issued an order on April 22 that effectively did away with his states Civil War-era limitations on voting rights for convicted felons, many of whom are African-Americans, by allowing those who have completed their prison and parole or probation time to vote. KANDAHAR, Afghanistan The Afghan security forces began a push to break the Talibans hold on a crucial southern highway through Oruzgan Province, officials said on Monday, hoping to ease the insurgents intensifying siege of an important provincial capital. While the most public and urgent security concerns in the south have been focused on the fighting in Helmand Province in recent months, the insurgency has also been slowly choking the city of Tirin Kot, the provincial capital of Oruzgan. The province next door, where many of Talibans founding leaders hail from, became a softer target for the insurgency last year. Since the mysterious assassination in March 2015 of Gen. Matiullah Khan, the former police chief and strongman who largely kept the insurgents at bay, the provinces security leadership has fallen into chaos. Now, Tirin Kot has been cut off from most of its surrounding districts. Last week, the Taliban overran dozens of outposts on the highway connecting the city to Kandahar, the southern regional economic and military hub, according to Muhammad Karim Khadimzai, the head of the Oruzgan provincial council. HONG KONG An official who oversaw a demolition project in southern China has stepped down, and two others have been dismissed, state news media reported on Monday, after a video showing law enforcement officers beating women and at least one child circulated on social media, prompting widespread criticism. Seven officers who were filmed kicking and hitting residents of the village of Qionghua in Haikou, a city on the southern island province of Hainan, were also detained over the weekend, the Haikou government said. Workers had been trying to remove people from houses that scheduled for demolition. The local government said the houses had been built illegally. BEIJING Chinese Communist Party officials have put an outspoken property tycoon who is a party member on a one-year probation for writing online comments criticizing President Xi Jinpings propaganda policies, according to reports published on Monday by Chinese news websites. The probation means the tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, could be expelled from the party, which has more than 85 million members, if he steps out of line again. The news was announced on a public holiday by party discipline officials in the Xicheng district of Beijing, a sign that the party wanted to get the news out quietly, perhaps because of Mr. Rens popular online presence. Mr. Ren wrote comments on his microblog in February questioning a major announcement that month by Mr. Xi that Chinese news organizations must serve the party. Mr. Ren wrote on his main microblog, which had nearly 38 million followers, that the Chinese news media should serve the people and not the party. Mr. Ren had a reputation for posting contentious statements, which earned him the nickname the Cannon. Censors quickly deleted his posts on Mr. Xis new policy, and a website managed by the Beijing party committees propaganda bureau said Mr. Ren had lost his party spirit and taken up opposing the party. KATHMANDU, Nepal A Canadian man in Nepal who writes frequently about political issues on social media was arrested on Monday afternoon after posting a provocative message on Twitter aimed at spreading social discord, according a Nepalese immigration official. The man, Robert Penner, has been living in Nepal for at least two years. He was arrested at his office in the Lalitpur district by a team of police officers on the instructions of the Department of Immigration, according to Pitambar Adhikari, the district police chief. Mr. Penner was turned over to the immigration authorities, who have held him since then. Mr. Penner has been prolific online, often weighing in on political controversies. After Nepal passed a new Constitution last year, he questioned a citizenship provision that was seen as discriminatory against women. In November, he responded to critics of a Human Rights Watch report about violations in southern Nepal. More recently, he criticized the detention of Kanak Mani Dixit, a journalist who was arrested last month on suspicion of abusing his position as the chairman of a transportation cooperative. SHENYANG, China Not long past the break of dawn, after downing a bowl of hot porridge and dropping off his son at school, Zhang Yuzeng made his way to a street corner near the Nanyun River. There, under the poplar trees, he rummaged through his toolbox. Pliers, check. Club hammer, check. Cigarettes, check. Mr. Zhang hung a sign on his scooter Electrician, carpenter, plumber and pumped a techno mix through his headphones. Then he waited. There is no other way, he said. If you dont show up, you wont be able to make a penny. Nearly every morning for the last two years, Mr. Zhang, 42, has advertised his skills and looked for work here at the Lu Yuan labor market in Shenyang, one of northeast Chinas largest cities. Not so long ago, his prospects were decent: A day of painting walls or fixing toilets could fetch $50 or more. SYDNEY, Australia A Somali woman set fire to herself on Monday on the tiny Pacific island of Nauru, where Australia sends asylum seekers who try to reach its shores by boat. She is the second refugee within a week to burn herself. The woman, 21, who has been identified only as Hodan by refugee activists, suffered critical injuries, the government of Nauru said in a written statement. She was being treated on Nauru by four emergency doctors from Australia and was expected to be moved to an Australian hospital. On Wednesday, an Iranian refugee identified in Australian news reports as Omid Masoumali, 23, set himself on fire. Mr. Masoumali died in Brisbane on Friday. His wife, Nana Masoumali, told Barri Phatarfod, an Australian doctor with Doctors for Refugees, that her husband had been without medical care for two hours and that he had not been airlifted from Nauru for 24 hours. Mr. Masoumali was protesting the conditions on Nauru and his plight. The Australian government refuses to allow asylum seekers to come to Australia to be processed if they arrive by boat or are intercepted at sea. Even those determined to be refugees are not allowed to settle in Australia. They are resettled on Nauru, or in Papua New Guinea, where Australia has another offshore processing center on Manus Island, or in third countries like Cambodia. On a recent day, only one of six kilns at the cement plant was operating. Managers at the plant, owned by a Russian building materials group called Eurocement, declined to be interviewed. Mr. Volkov, who runs the alumina plant, said the cement factorys antiquated equipment and plummeting demand for its products left it no hope of recovery. There is no solution, he said. Even if they get their materials for free, they still could not compete. And this, in a nutshell, is the Kremlins current nightmare: With low global energy prices and Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict crimping Russias prospects of recovery, the economy has hit a wall. It simply cannot compete with China, the United States or even the European nations that Russian state media constantly portray as fading has-beens. The easy and popular fixes the Kremlin used in the past to resuscitate the economy or at least to placate the public have all been exhausted. There are few signs, however, that Russians will take to the streets in protest or flock to the banner of a divided and feeble opposition. Svetlana Antropova, a local trade union leader who helped organize the highway blockade in 2009, cursed what she called the torture inflicted on Pikalevo workers, but she said she saw no point in street protests and has instead filed a raft of lawsuits over alleged violations of the labor code. She also quit Mr. Putins political party, United Russia. She said she had received a call recently from a trade union colleague in Moscow who asked about setting up a Pikalevo branch of Yabloko, a pro-Western liberal party critical of the Kremlin. She said she told him not to bother even trying. Asked who is at fault for Russias economic troubles, she shrugged and said: The world market? The Chinese? The Europeans? Frankly, I dont know. All she knows for sure, she said, is that ordinary people are suffering. LONDON The Dutch chapter of the environmental activist group Greenpeace on Monday disclosed a trove of documents from the talks over a proposed trade deal between the European Union and the United States. The documents, Greenpeace said, showed that American trade negotiators had pressed their European counterparts to loosen important environmental and consumer protections, along with other provisions. But American and European trade officials, while not denying the validity of the materials, insisted on Monday that the documents 248 pages, which Greenpeace said amounted to two-thirds of the latest negotiating text merely represented negotiating positions, and that the criticisms were off base. Still, the disclosures and criticisms are unlikely to speed the talks, which already seem to have little chance of making progress until after the United States elects its next president in November if even then, given how rancorous foreign trade has become in the American political debate. ABC/ Ida Mae Astute(INDIANAPOLIS) -- After his decisive win last week in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump is now beating Sen. Ted Cruz nearly two-to-one among unbound delegates who say they will support him on the first ballot, according to an analysis by ABC News. The GOP front-runner is also showing signs of an increasingly organized delegate strategy. Trump now leads Cruz 43-22 among delegates who are free to vote for any candidate on the first ballot of the Republican convention this July, according to ABC News data. Of the unbound delegates pledging to vote Trump on the first ballot, 41 hail from Pennsylvania. By contrast, only three Pennsylvania unbound delegates said they plan to vote for Cruz, while nine others said they were uncommitted. The data reflects a provisional assessment since unbound delegates may change their minds, and pledges of support dont always carry over to the second ballot and beyond. If Trump wins Indiana Tuesday, his path to securing the 1,237 delegate votes needed to clinch the nomination on the first ballot becomes more likely, in which case the ongoing fight to persuade delegates would become moot. Meanwhile, however, both campaigns are waging an intense grassroots battle to sway delegates in case Trump falls short of a majority before the GOP convention in Cleveland this July. Assessing Trumps performance in a series of state conventions this weekend, a Trump campaign official told ABC News that despite losses in Virginia, overall we turned the corner on delegates this weekend. Trump won Virginias March 1 primary, but won only three of the 13 delegates at stake in the April 30 state convention. Regarding delegates who are bound on the first ballot but become free-agents on a potential second ballot, the Trump official said "on Alaska, we elected 11 Trump supporters in the 11 Trump slots and also had a great weekend in Arkansas, where we delivered six supporters of Trump to fill six delegate slots. With Cruz mathematically blocked from clinching the nomination on the first ballot, his only path to the GOP nomination is through wooing delegates over the course of the convention in case theres a second ballot. But Cruzs task may grow increasingly difficult as some signs suggest the Trump campaign is becoming more engaged in the behind-the-scenes contest to fill both unbound and bound delegate slots with Trump loyalists. Trump campaign staffers in Pennsylvania, for example, helped some supporters gather the signatures they needed in order to appear on Tuesdays ballot. In West Virginia, whose delegates are also bound on the first ballot but can vote for whomever they want on a second ballot, Trump appears to be the only candidate so far to issue a slate of preferred delegates, or guidance to voters on which delegates to select when the state votes May 10. And in Louisiana, the Trump campaign has moved more quickly and invested more time than the Cruz campaign in courting some unbound delegates who are free agents on the first vote. Following Trumps decisive wins last week in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania, the Cruz campaign downplayed the loss, saying it amounted mainly to a victory in Northeastern states that are unlikely to vote Republican in November. Instead, Cruzs chief delegate counter Ken Cuccinelli sought to place the focus on the delegate fight, claiming the Cruz campaigns grassroots efforts outmatch Trumps. Were absolutely destroying them in that contest, and how anyone thinks someone running for president can run a presidential campaign with almost no grassroots effort, is beyond me, Cuccinelli said on a recent episode of ABC News Powerhouse Politics podcast. But Mike Stuart, co-chairman of the Trump Campaign in West Virginia, who is helping lead Trumps grassroots efforts in the Mountain State, took exception to Cuccinellis claim. I think it's as delusional as the Cruz campaign is today, he told ABC News. When I hear this out-of-stater telling me about the grassroots efforts in my state, where I grew up, and have been involved in politics for decades, it's not believable. His comment bears of a lot of wishfulness and hopefulness, but Im dealing with the reality of how to win in West Virginia. Were the only campaign with a slate because we understand how the process works. I believe our slate of delegates will stick with Mr. Trump through the first ballot, the fifth ballot and even the 20th ballot, if we have to go that far, he added. Im comfortable our team is going to stay with us. In Louisiana, despite some reports that the states 10 uncommitted delegates will likely vote for Cruz on the first ballot at the Republican convention, ABC News has identified only one unbound delegate committed to the Texas senator, as he and Trump continue to jockey for delegates there. Kirk Williamson, a delegate formerly bound to Sen. Marco Rubio who is now uncommitted, told ABC News he receives phone calls from staffers in the Cruz and Trump campaigns about once a week. He characterizes these talks as open-ended conversations. I tell them what I tell you, he said. I havent made up my mind at this point. Leslie Tassin, another unbound Louisiana delegate who was allocated to represent Rubio at the convention but now says hes uncommitted, told ABC News the Trump campaign made contact with him before the Cruz camp. The Trump staffer apparently also invested more effort into courting him. We had a Trump person come to my house and spent an hour and a half, Tassin said. Two weeks later, a Cruz campaign staffer in Houston called him on the phone, he said. I said, What took you so long to call? Tassin said, recalling his discussion. They said, We werent organized. Now were organized. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Why Did the Protest End So Quickly? It was a tactical withdrawal. After they jubilantly occupied Parliament on Saturday afternoon, the demonstrators moved by evening to another area of the Green Zone, a former parade ground where Saddam Hussein held military pageants. By Sunday evening, Mr. Sadr had directed an orderly end to the demonstration, saying he would allow the political class another chance to meet and approve a new cabinet. He also gave notice that he would not hesitate to use his influence among downtrodden Shiites to create havoc in the streets if his grievances were not met with government reforms. _____ What Are the Roots of the Political Conflict? The deadliest fault line in Iraqi society is the divide between the majority Shiite Arabs and the minority Sunni Arabs. This is at the heart of the war between the Iraqi state supported by the American-led coalition and Iran and the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State. But the political crisis in Baghdad is largely a struggle among Shiites. The American invasion upended the old order of Sunni dominance under Mr. Hussein, under the monarchy and under the Ottomans before the founding of modern Iraq at the end of World War I and for the first time gave the Shiites power. Yet they have never figured out how to overcome their differences and unify Iraq. As Mr. Abadi has pushed to root out corruption, trim government and end sectarian quotas, he has been opposed by other Shiite factions. The protests both those being led by Mr. Sadr and others that began last summer and at first were largely led by secular Iraqis also reflect a growing anger over corruption and a failure to provide basic services. _____ BEIRUT, Lebanon Negotiations are underway to extend a fragile cease-fire agreement in Syria to the embattled northern city of Aleppo, which a surge of violence has nearly torn apart in recent weeks, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday. In the last weeks, the cessation of hostilities has been put to the test, and it has frayed in certain areas, and it has fallen completely in a few areas, Mr. Kerry said in Geneva after meeting with the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. Mr. Kerry said he was particularly disturbed about air raids on a hospital and three health clinics in Aleppo, for which he blamed President Bashar al-Assads government. The regime has clearly indicated the willingness, over a period of time now, to attack first responders, to attack health care workers and rescue workers, Mr. Kerry said. And the attack on this hospital is unconscionable, under any standard anywhere. It has to stop. He added that both sides the opposition and the regime have contributed to this chaos. More foreign visitors who stay in rented apartments rather than hotels are following the lead of some Parisians who are using new high-quality meal delivery services or even hiring private chefs. Michelin-starred restaurants, particularly those in luxury hotels, are suffering the most. People walk in, see that the dining room is empty, and walk to the bistro across the street, Mr. Faure said. Alain Ducasses signature restaurant at the Plaza Athenee hotel, and Le Cinq, the luxury restaurant at the George V hotel run by the Four Seasons, both with three Michelin stars, are sometimes nearly empty. At 1:30 one recent lunch hour, the Plaza restaurant was serving only two tables of two people each; at the dinner hour one recent evening at Le Cinq, there were only two sets of diners. Its creating an atmosphere of anxiety and stress for everyone the chefs, the owners, the diners, said Francois-Regis Gaudry, the dining critic for the weekly LExpress, who eats at Paris restaurants daily. Mr. Gaudry said that during a recent lunch at Le Gabriel, the Michelin two-star restaurant of the luxury hotel La Reserve, he was stunned to see that only about a third of the tables were occupied; at Chez LAmi Jean, a well-known bistro specializing in Basque cuisine that is featured in many American guidebooks and blogs, it was even worse. I was there with an American food critic, and there was no one except us, he said. Restaurants that once had monthslong waiting lists, like Mr. Ducasses Le Jules Verne at the top of the Eiffel Tower, can now be reserved much more quickly, especially for lunch. Mr. Ducasse can partly cover his losses because he has several restaurants that cater to different budgets and different kinds of customers. Champeaux, his new brasserie at Les Halles, for example, has been full since it opened last month, he said. But he is distressed by the governments repeated extension of a state of emergency. There can be no doubting that tensions existed between the Obama and Clinton camps after the brutal 2008 primary campaign, when Clinton depicted Obama as naive about national security. The Obama loyalist Tommy Vietor, who became a spokesman for the National Security Council, told Landler: The people who went through that campaign manufactured a pretty visceral hatred for each other. You magnify differences and internalize grievances in a way that is ridiculous. Clinton immediately surrounded herself with loyalists at the State Department (though her attempt to install the controversial longtime Clinton aide Sidney Blumenthal on the policy planning staff was swiftly batted down by the White House), and she had difficulties penetrating the Obama inner circle. Landler reports that she emailed two aides on June 8, 2009, saying: I heard on the radio that there is a cabinet mtg this a.m. Is there? Can I go? If not, who are we sending? In the early days of the administration, Landler writes, White House officials on the secretarys plane were sometimes viewed as spies. The angriest Obama became with Clinton, Landler says, concerned the Arab Spring and the uprising in Egypts Tahrir Square. Obama pushed for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, while Clinton was more cautious about parting with a longtime ally and friend of the United States. But Landler also shows that after Islamic radicals attacked and murdered American diplomats in Benghazi, Obama, who had been urged to intervene in Libya by Clinton, drew closer to her personally. For Obama, Landler says, Libya was less a loss of innocence than a confirmation of what he had always believed: that American interventions, more often than not, end in ashes. Landler also shows that Obama and Clinton rapidly altered their stances in responding to unpredictable developments: From Egypt and Bahrain to Yemen and Libya, the president and his secretary of state struggled to reconcile values with interests, democratic hopes with geopolitical realities often wrapping themselves around the axle in the process. Their struggle culminated in the horrors of Syria, where the United States ended up a bystander to the deadliest war of the 21st century. Unfortunately, Landler is not content with ably tracing these events. In his view, Obama and Clinton are more than just two of the most riveting political figures of our time. They are protagonists in a great debate over American power one that will decide not only who sits in the Oval Office but the direction she or he will take a nation that faces a new twilight struggle against the forces of disorder. This is unpersuasive. Any disputes between Obama and Clinton over dealing with issues like Iran, Syria or China are about tactics, not substance. At bottom they are both liberal internationalists. Landler himself notes that in warning about the Islamic State, as was often the case with Clinton and Obama, the differences were less about direction than degree. She wasnt calling for ground troops in the Middle East, any more than he was. Whats more, any conflicts between them pale into insignificance next to the battle over foreign policy in the Republican Party, which is pitting crusading neoconservatives against outright isolationists. To bolster his case, however, Landler puts Clinton and Obama on the foreign policy couch. For him geography is destiny. He says: Obama and Clinton were divided by geography. She was raised in the middle of the country, in a reliably middle-class suburb of Chicago. Clinton had once told an interviewer that my political beliefs are rooted in the conservatism that I was raised with, and Landler writes: That was especially true of her foreign policy instincts. By contrast, Landler says, Obamas heritage left him suspicious of America: Clinton viewed her country from the inside out; Obama from the outside in. Sometime in the 1790s, Jane Austen wrote a wickedly funny epistolary novella about a widow named Lady Susan, whose beauty and charm are matched only by her cunning ability to manipulate the doting men around her. Austen never tried to publish it. The novella, Lady Susan, was finally released more than 50 years after her death, but the story never really caught on with devotees of her other, more famous works. Now, Lady Susan is finally getting some long overdue respect. On Friday, May 13, the filmmaker Whit Stillmans adaptation of the story, starring Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan and Chloe Sevigny as her scheming sidekick, arrives in theaters. And Little, Brown is publishing Mr. Stillmans novel based on Lady Susan, which he retitled, Love & Friendship. In the novel, Mr. Stillman takes the characters and plot from Austens fictionalized letters and narrates the tale from the perspective of Lady Susans nephew, who hopes to counter criticism of his maligned aunt. The 41 letters from Austens Lady Susan are included in an appendix. The book and film both showcase some of the sharpest lines from Austens overlooked work, like Lady Susans complaint that her friends husband is too old to be governable, too young to die! Three years after Auburn Universitys aviation program was slated for potential cancellation, moves are now being made to fortify the course of study to make it stronger than ever. Earlier this week, Auburn University announced an ongoing exploratory initiative that could move Auburns aviation degree programs from the Harbert College of Business to the University College, a move that could provide more opportunities for students that appeal to diverse interests and facilitate the path to obtaining a degree. According to Dr. Bill Hutto, Director of the Auburn University Regional Airport and Aviation Center, the potential move is not being proposed in opposition to the College of Business, but rather, was spurred by FAA and aviation regulation changes in the past few years requiring that a person obtain 1,500 flight hours before he or she can become a commercial pilot. There was not a limit before that, Hutto said. Before that, they were hiring, you know, the industry from time to time will ebb and flow, but they were hiring sometimes pilots at 3 and 400 hours. But as a result of that, Congress passed a law and said you have to have 1,500 hours. Along with the 1,500 flight hours, legislation now also states that if a student has 30 hours of FAA-approved coursework, the number can be reduced to 1,250 hours for university students as opposed to 1,500. If a student has completed 60 hours of coursework, it can go down to 1,000 required hours. Now the challenge that we have in our current structure in the College of Business, and again, its not a criticism, but in addition to the university 42-hour core curriculum, they have a core curriculum as well thats 33 hours for all College of Business students have to take, Hutto explained. Well, from an aviation standpoint, thats kind of a chokepoint, because we cant get the students enough aviation courses to get to the 60 hours. Rather than requiring the 33 hours of core curriculum for the College of Business, Hutto said the University College would allow for a broader base of aviation class offerings and allow for more flexibility to pursue various minor degrees. So well have a university core of 42 hours, an aviation core classes of 45 hours, and then the professional flight students will then focus on their flight ratingstheir classes that are on the books, Hutto said. And the aviation management students can choose, for example, you can get a business minor or public admin minor or marketing minor or journalism or whatever the case is and tailor their degree to what their interests are. Like in aviation, in the airport world that Im familiar with, knowing something about governments kind of important, so somebody interested in working for the FAA or the state government or the airports in the public sector in some way can take public admin as a minor, so it just, the move creates many opportunities for students to be able to chose a path that suits their personal preferences while giving them a strong base of aviation knowledge, he continued. Conversely, if a student still wants to obtain a business degree and minor in an aviation-related field, that option will still be available. And the other thing I think moving to the University College will give us the ability to do is change as we need to change more easily, Hutto said. Like if the FAA comes in with another rule, where the unmanned aircraft systems or whether its a manned flight or whatever, we can tweak the curriculum a little bit easier. Jason Mohrman, Auburn aviation alumnus and captain for United Airlines in Newark, N.J., expressed that he and other program alumni are thrilled at the prospect of moving aviation degree programs to the University College. Were very, very enthusiastic about the tremendous opportunities here with the moving the program underneath the provosts office just has exponential potential really, Mohrman said. We really feel theyll have the proper leadership, resources and support that weve really longed for to have that kind of direct relationship under the provosts office. Auburns aviation programs moved from the aerospace engineering umbrella to the College of Business in 1999. Weve just kind of struggled in engineering and business in just trying to find the right fit, Mohrman said. Here, I just think there are so many opportunities to expand the program and enlarge it and offer even more programs with that direct leadership, so thats really, really positive. Mohrman and fellow Auburn aviation alumnus Lee Mills co-led an alumni-driven effort to rally support for the program three years ago when there was talk of discontinuing it or moving it elsewhere. It took an extraordinary effort of about 4,000 alumni and industry leaders and students from all over and government officials, state, federal and local to really rally support and get things redirected, and that was obviously very successful, Mohrman said. And then it was kind of a matter of OK, where can the program go, where can it grow and where will it fit in. Now, the consensus among those individuals is that the University College will be the right home for the program. Everything (will be) under one house so to speak, Mohrman said. So youll have the aviation academic side and the professional side of flight instruction and flight training all together. That just makes it very helpful for recruiting and corporate partnerships and everything. Also last week, Auburn University announced that it would be partnering with the Alabama Community College System on its aviation degree programs to benefit both students and the state economy. Both Hutto and Mohrman said the proposed move to the University College will facilitate community college students transferring to Auburn Universitys aviation program. The College of Business core was a challenge for some of the two-year students that get here, then they have to do that core before they get into aviation, Hutto said. The university core, a lot of that they can take care of in the two-year system, and then when they get to Auburn they can jump right into the aviation. Funding has also been approved for a new aviation education center to be built at the Auburn University Regional Airport. You think about where its gone from getting rid of (the program) to getting saved to where is it going to go, to the aviation center, now this and the two-year planwe couldnt be happier, Mohrman said. Hutto said that the earliest the move would be implemented would be fall of 2017, considering it is approved by the Board of Trustees in the fall. Keshawna Jackson and her three children have been settling into their new home at Village West Apartments off of Richland Road in Auburn. Their move not only represents a welcomed upgrade in living space with new amenities to enjoy, but also Jacksons completion of a life-changing program that has set her up to live independent of any governmental assistance for the first time in three and a half years. When I first moved to public housing, I was embarrassed, said Jackson, a single mother who moved into Auburns Ridgecrest Apartments in September 2012. Im not going to lie. Its not that I felt I was better than nobody, but I always knew I wanted better for myself, so maybe thats where the embarrassment came. "But then I had to realize, everybody falls on hard times. Im not perfect, but that dont mean you have to be a product of your environment or youre just stuck here and its just life and its where its atthats not how its supposed to be. And when you want better, youre going to do better, and youre going to strive for better and no matter what kind of obstacles coming your way. On Tuesday, the Auburn Housing Authority recognized Jackson as the first graduate of the public housing Family Self-Sufficiency program, through which HUD-assisted families work to eliminate their dependency on rental subsidies, obtain full-time employment and ultimately attain financial self-sufficiency. To graduate from the program, one must have been living subsidy-free for 12 months and hold a full-time job. The Family Self-Sufficiency program started three and a half years ago and currently has 41 participants. It also teaches participants useful skills such as how to balance a budget, write a resume and fill out job applications. Its an excellent program, it really is, Jackson said. For people who really dont know how to fill out job applications, who really dont know how to do resumes, who just, basically learn everything on their own. "And Ill just use me for example because I was a mother at 18. I didnt know nothing. But when you have support around you, its going to always make you feel like you can push, push, push, even when you get grown, you still need a little bit of a push because, you will start feeling sorry for yourself. To give participants the opportunity to get a solid grasp on their financial situations, the program allows for Earned Income Disallowance, which lets a participants rent remain the same despite income increases for a period of time. Then their rent does increase, and when it increases, the money that they put in is actually put in an account form, escrow account, said Charlotte Maddox, FSS program coordinator. So theyre actually paying for themselvesto get their money back. A Detroit, Michigan, native, Jackson moved to the Auburn area in September 2012. She entered the Family Self-Sufficiency program in September 2013 after hearing about it from her aunt. On Tuesday, she received a certificate of achievement for graduating the program and an escrow check for more than $1,200. In addition to putting Jackson in a situation to allow her to move her family out of public housing, through the program Jackson was able to purchase a vehicle in November 2015. She worked in food service at Auburn University before obtaining a full-time job at Heartstrings, where she will celebrate her one-year anniversary on May 11. Jackson said that learning how to balance a budget proved to be one of the most valuable lessons she learned while in the program. The only thing I can say, if you feel you alone, this is a perfect program to join, Jackson said. If you feel like financial-wise, you just not going to never get by, its perfect, because like I said, at least for the first year, you know for sure that you can get yourself on a budget. Because I was not good at budgeting. And Im just being truthfully honest. "So for me, the budgeting part helped me out tremendously to actually see where my money is actually going. Even from writing down getting my daughters hair done, going to eat. Throughout the program, Jackson met with Mattox monthly to discuss her progress and attended various workshops aimed at stressing self-sufficiency. The most beneficial part is the love, and to me that goes a long way, Jackson said. Its not just Mrs. Charlotte sitting behind the desk looking at me like Im somebody who just you know, she coming to work to get a check or somebody with another problem. She truly cares. "And thats a blessing because thats what something so many people dont have, is people that actually take the time out to truly care if you make it or if you succeed. If you have any problems. If you just need to talk. She is always there. For Mattox, witnessing a success story like Jacksons proves uplifting and inspires hope for others to do the same. Thats my heart, Mattox said of helping people like Jackson. Its amazingall of them (our participants) are single moms that are on their own, and they dont have help. As a single mom on their own with all these children, to see a single mom that rises up and beyond and is able to get on her own two feet, its just amazing to me. Now that shes moved out of public housing and into an apartment, Jackson already has her eyes on her next big goalto eventually own a trailer. My daughter wants a house, and I want a trailer, so I told her what wed do is maybe, just maybe flip a coin to see, Jackson joked. But for now, Jackson plans to continue making moves to success, one step at a time. Everything is like really, really looking up for me, and I cant do nothing but thank God, because without him it would not be possible, she said. I dont give myself no credit for none of this, because I dont. Without Him and a stable mind, I wouldnt be able to do none of this stuff. "So I cant complain and I wont complain no matter how hard it gets. ARLINGTON, Texas This time, the Angels hitters picked up Garrett Richards. Richards had not gotten much run support in his first four starts partly because he kept matching up against aces. On Sunday, Richards had a shaky outing, but the Angels also hit Texas Rangers ace Cole Hamels on their way to a 9-6 victory, avoiding a sweep. The Angels, whose offense languished for much of April, combined for 15 hits and five walks. C.J. Cron, whose two-run single in the fifth tied it, had three hits. Kole Calhoun also had three hits. Geovany Soto hit his second homer of the weekend. Westminster High product Greg Mahle picked up first major league victory, with a scoreless inning. Richards was gone by the time the Angels took the lead, having allowed four runs in four innings, including three in an ugly fourth inning. Richards threw 33 pitches in a three-run fourth that could have gone much smoother if hed made a better throw. Richards fielded a Prince Fielder comebacker and just had to make a throw to second to start a routine double play. He threw the ball wide of the bag and it dribbled into center field. Richards gave up three more hits in the inning, and left with a 4-1 deficit. The Angels came right back to tie in the next half inning, a rally built on the strength of three walks and Crons tying hit. Yunel Escobar, who had two hits and a walk, gave the Angels the lead with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly. Contact the writer: jlfletcher@ocregister.com Ever since Amy Biehl died more than two decades ago, her parents have fielded requests from writers, moviemakers and producers wanting to tell the story of the Fulbright scholar from Newport Beach murdered by an angry mob in Cape Town, South Africa. Biehls story was emotional and powerful, not only because of the aftershocks it sent through the community here, but also because of the pain it caused many in South Africa, a country that was struggling to be reborn as a rainbow nation and to reconcile with a dark past in which people were segregated based on skin color. Now, nearly 23 years after Biehls death, her mother, Linda Biehl, has signed on as a consultant with Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios to tell the story of her daughters life and the saga of forgiveness and reconciliation that unfolded between Linda Biehl and her husband, Peter Biehl, and the two men convicted and imprisoned for killing Amy, Easy Nofemela and Ntobeko Peni. Actor and producer Tyler Perry announced in March that his studio had formed a team including Doug Liman, director of blockbusters such as The Bourne Identity to share the tale of Amy Biehls death and her parents journey of reconciliation. Tyler Perry Studios is casting the film and hopes to begin shooting in the fall, Matt Moore, executive vice president, said last week. This is the kind of project that does not come across your desk very often, Moore said of the screenplay, written by Johanna Baldwin of New York. This is a story that has substance, is socially relevant and inspirational. Tyler is very selective about the projects he takes on. But this was such a powerful story so well told. You read it and you cant put it down. THE BIEHLS JOURNEY Peter and Linda Biehl, at the urging of their daughters friends in Cape Town, traveled to South Africa weeks after her death. Amy Biehl died two days before she was scheduled to return home. The media portrayed Amy Biehl as an exchange student. But she was much more a researcher at the University of the Western Cape who was out in the townships attending rallies and meetings during a tumultuous time when apartheid was ending and Nelson Mandela had been released from prison three years before. South Africa was less than one year away from its first democratic election, and Biehl was there to witness, and in her small way to assist, the nations painful rebirth. Biehl was killed the afternoon of Aug. 25, 1993, as a mob of young black men leaving an anti-apartheid rally in the township of Gugulethu saw her mustard yellow Mazda coming down the main road. Viewing her as a settler and unaware of her background, the men stoned and stabbed her to death. Four men Easy Nofemela, Ntobeko Peni, Mongezi Manqina and Vusumzi Ntamo were convicted of the killing and were sentenced to 18 years in prison. But Peter and Linda Biehls testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on July 8, 1997, helped the men receive amnesty under a process set forth by Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The men were released a year after that hearing. About two years later, Nofemela and Peni began working with the Amy Biehl Foundation, developing a close relationship with the Biehls. Nofemela still works as a driver and coordinator for the foundation, and Peni is a senior administrator. After Peter Biehl died in 2002 of colon cancer, the men continued to build their relationship with Linda Biehl, traveling across the United States to tell their story of reconciliation. Nofemela and Peni call her makhulu, which means grandmother in their native Xhosa. A LONG TIME COMING Almost immediately after Amy Biehls death, her parents were swamped by ideas for books, movie scripts and plays. One of the first proposals came from screenwriter Baldwin, who at the time of Biehls death was living in Paris. Amys story touched me right away, Baldwin said. After reaching out to South African producer Anant Singh, Baldwin met the Biehls in December 1995 at Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant in Costa Mesa. It was Amy Biehls favorite restaurant when she visited her parents. The following year, Baldwin traveled to Newport Beach to spend more time with the couple. I sat in a room in their home and went through everything they had of Amys her journals, projects she was working on, her letters, Baldwin said. When I was done, the Biehls asked me what I thought. She said she told them, I think Amy wouldve forgiven the men. The Biehls said they believed that as well. And a relationship was born. Baldwins screenplay didnt come together then, and Linda Biehl spoke with studios, including Universal and Sony, to make the film. At one point, Reese Witherspoon was tapped to play Amy, but she backed out. When Biehls options with Sony expired, Baldwin, who had remained in touch with the family, renewed talks of the film. This time, she brought her boyfriend, producer Russ Stratton, into the project. They got the green light from Tyler Perry Studios early this year. A UNIVERSAL THEME Picking 33-year-old Karzan Kader, an Iraqi-born director and winner of a student Oscar in 2011, to direct the film was a bold and exciting move for Tyler Perry Studios, Moore said. No doubt he has enormous talent, Moore said of Kader. But then, he also has the personal experience and background that uniquely qualifies him to tell this particular story. Kader was 9 when he fled Kurdistan with his family in 1990 and settled in Sweden. He said he and his family survived attacks in Kurdistan under Saddam Husseins regime. I have been shot at, stabbed, robbed, beaten but Ive survived, he said. I truly related strongly to the (Amy Biehl) story and the characters and felt like this was me and my family. As a child who faced injustice and racism, Kader said, he understands what Nofemela and Peni must have endured. I understand their struggles and frustrations, he said. I have scars on my body from the knives of soldiers. I still have nightmares from having witnessed the soldiers killing people I knew. Kader said Baldwins script brought back those memories. This project has challenged me on a very personal level, he said. There are situations in the script that actually happened to me. Kader said he has much respect for the Biehls and their daughter. They are heroes, he said. They not only moved forward but also dedicated their lives to continue helping people. And then, they did the unthinkable by forgiving their daughters killers. Linda Biehl believes Kader is the right person to tell her daughters story. He knows what its like to be a young, oppressed person, she said. Its only appropriate that the films director have an international background because its theme is universal, Biehl said. This is not a story about South Africa or America, she said. There is a need for reconciliation everywhere. And now nearly 23 years after her daughters death is the right time to tell that story, Biehl said. The story was never all about Amys death, she said. Its about what has happened since, this journey of reconciliation and the continuation of the work Amy set out to do. Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com Even as Donald Trump trounced him from New Hampshire to Florida to Arizona, Sen. Ted Cruz could reassure himself with one crucial advantage: He was beating Trump in the obscure, internecine delegate fights that could end up deciding the Republican nomination for president. This is how elections are won in America, Cruz gloated after walking away with the most delegates in Wyoming last month. Now, as he faces a potentially candidacy-threatening contest on Tueday in Indiana where a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll, released Sunday, showed him trailing Trump by 15 percentage points Cruz can take little solace from his vaunted delegate-wrangling operation even if he prevails there. It turns out that delegates like ordinary voters are susceptible to shifts in public opinion. And as the gravitational pull of Trumps recent primary landslides draws more Republicans toward him, Cruzs support among the partys 2,472 convention delegates is softening, threatening his hopes of preventing Trumps nomination by overtaking him in a floor fight. With each delegate Trump claims, he gets closer to the 1,237 he needs to clinch the nomination outright, and Cruzs chances of stopping him even with an upset victory in Indiana shrink. Before Trumps crushing victory in Pennsylvania last week, Cruzs campaign boasted that it had 69 people devoted to acquiring as many as possible of the states 54 unbound delegates who are free to vote as they please on the first ballot, making them potentially decisive players in a contested convention. Cruz won only three. In North Dakota, where the Cruz campaign declared victory after the state Republican convention on April 3 and declared that it had won a vast majority of the states 28 unbound delegates, Cruzs support appears to be weakening. In interviews, delegates said he really had only about a dozen firm commitments to begin with, and some of them appear to be wavering as he falls farther behind Trump. And in states across the South, which was supposed to be Cruzs bulwark, some delegates are now echoing a growing sentiment inside the Republican Party: a sense of resignation to the idea that Trump will be their standard-bearer. Honestly, we didnt think he could get this far. And he did, Jonathan Barnett, the Republican national committeeman for Arkansas, said of Trump. Barnett, who supported former Gov. Mike Huckabees failed campaign, said his focus had shifted to winning in November, even if that meant unhappily falling in behind Trump. The changes of heart have little to do with any epiphany about Trumps electability or his campaigns recent efforts to cast him in a more serious light. Instead, delegates and party officials said, they are ready to move on and unite behind someone so that Republicans are not hopelessly divided heading into the general election. And many delegates cite concerns about whether Cruz is really a better choice. Theres just as many people that would question whether they could get behind Cruz, Barnett said. This gradual acquiescence points up a larger flaw with Cruzs strategy of being the last non-Trump candidate standing in a field that began at 17: It was never as much about him as about Republicans grasping for a more palatable alternative to Trump. But the never in the Never Trump movement is beginning to look more like a reluctantly. Im not in the anybody-but-Trump campaign, said Jim Poolman, a delegate from North Dakota. Im in the anybody-but-Hillary campaign. Poolman said he still planned to vote for Cruz on the first ballot, which he told the campaign he would do. But he said his decision was not set in stone. Im trying to hold on to my commitment but still be pragmatic, he said. Theres a lot of stuff that could happen before Cleveland. And I know that makes me sound squishy, but I dont mean it that way. Delegates like Poolman are emblematic of the Cruz campaigns larger problems holding on to votes at a contested convention. Poolman initially favored Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who withdrew from the race in March. While Poolman was looking for another candidate, he said, local Cruz volunteers asked if they could add his name to the list of delegate candidates supporting Cruz at the state convention. He said Cruzs wife, Heidi, called him and gave him her cellphone number, saying he would always have a direct line to the campaign. And he was elected a delegate. But now, Poolman said, he worries about party disunity and what it could mean for Republicans in November. My goal, personally, he said, is to not let our convention become a circus. The chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, Kelly Armstrong, said Cruzs appeal remained strong there, but put his support among the states 28 unbound delegates at at least 10 not quite the vast majority the Cruz campaign had claimed. Armstrong, who has not taken sides, said delegates also had to consider how denying the nomination to Trump might look to his supporters. We cant have a bunch of people really, really upset about the process and then think were going to be able to gain their support in November, Armstrong said. With the Indiana primary potentially a make-or-break moment for stopping Trump, Cruz can only hope the campaign once again takes an unexpected turn. Trump is very popular in our state, said Alec L. Poitevint II, a longtime Republican leader in Georgia and previously a Rubio supporter, but now uncommitted. He will be a bound delegate on the first ballot, but he has not yet been assigned to a presidential candidate. And if he is required to vote for Trump, who won Georgia with 39 percent of the vote? Fine with me, he said. LOS ANGELES The Dodgers, amid a six-game losing streak, entered the final game of their homestand on Sunday afternoon against the San Diego Padres looking to avoid a certain historical footnote. They had not lost seven straight games at home since 1993. They did not drop another one. Credit Clayton Kershaw. Behind their left-handed ace, the Dodgers defeated the Padres, 1-0, for their first win of the seven-game homestand. They had never, in club history, gone winless during a homestand of more than four games. As they improved to 13-13 overall, they also remained in a first-place tie atop the National League West with the San Francisco Giants, who also won Sunday afternoon. Not only did Kershaw toss a complete game, but he knocked in the lone run in the bottom of the third inning when he singled up the middle to score catcher A.J. Ellis. He was tagged out after heading toward second base, but bringing in Ellis was enough. Over his nine scoreless innings, Kershaw gave up just three hits with 14 strikeouts and no walks. He carried a bid for a perfect game into the fifth inning. It was ended when Alexei Ramirez dropped a single just inside the foul line down right field. But a throw by Yasiel Puig beat Ramirez to second base, and he was out. Only once did the Padres put a runner in scoring position. That came in the seventh inning when Matt Kemp followed Wil Myers with another single, moving Myers over to third base with only one out. But Kershaw struck out Melvin Upton Jr. on four pitches and got Derek Norris to pop up. Kershaws ERA is 1.96 through his first six starts. The complete game was his first since last September. He began Sunday by breezing through the order, striking out the first four batters he faced on 15 pitches. It was a thin line to straddle, as the offense sputtered, tallying only three hits. Only five batters reached base. In seven games against the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres, they put up just 12 runs. Theres plenty of politics in Hollywood. From creative A-listers like Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg and Susan Sarandon, to David Geffen, Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Katzenberg in the corporate boardrooms, showbiz heavyweights are famous for dropping a ton of cash on left-leaning causes and politicians. While its true that there are Republicans who come out of Hollywood, with former President Ronald Reagan and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger being among the most famous, the Democrats outnumber them by a wide margin. In fact, Hollywood Republicans are such a minority that many of them have made the decision that its better for business to just keep their politics private. Thats why over a decade ago actor Gary Sinise and screenwriter Lionel Chetwynd decided to form a secret Hollywood society called Friends of Abe. The idea was to give Hollywood Republicans a safe place to meet up with their peers so they could chat about politics without fear of being blackballed from the industry for their views. Eventually the organization grew to around 1,500 members, and in the early years I was a regular at many of their events. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, the organization revealed it was folding its tent. Speaking to members in an email, FOA executive director Jeremy Boreing said, Effective immediately, we are going to begin to wind down the 501c3 organization, bring the Sustaining Membership dues to an end, and do away with the costly infrastructure and the abespal.com website. Not long after that email, the British paper The Guardian came out with a story speculating that, infighting over Donald Trumps candidacy had drained commitment. Were there quarrels over who should be the 2016 nominee within the organization? Probably. But that happens every time theres a primary and people pick their favorites. And I can guarantee you that support was spread all over the board in the 2008 and 2012 primaries as well. I have a different theory on why the organization really went dark. First, Friends of Abe never had a clear mission. Hollywood liberals arent influential because they sit around talking about politics with one another theyre influential because they raise tons of cash for politicians. FOA never turned into a fundraising operation. It was a glorified right-wing Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where everybody sat around and complained about Hollywood being dominated by liberals. After a while, that gets old. Even for people who believe in the message. Second, they were egalitarian to a fault. Hollywood liberals are elitists to the core and weed out the B-listers by making the cost of admission to their functions so expensive that none of them can afford to go. FOA, on the other hand, kept their prices and standards low. At the end they lost many of their working professionals and attracted only sycophants. People want to be a part of a club thats hard to get into, not something thats easier to get than a Costco membership. They could have used a touch of elitism. And lastly, too many members used the organization as a way to create niche markets for themselves that marginalized them from mainstream culture. FOA gave birth to the conservative comedy night, the conservative documentary, and the conservative funny movie. But branding your product as political propaganda is the kiss of death. At the end of the day Hollywood will always be dominated by liberals, with a conservative minority. That minority shouldnt be silenced. Its too bad FOA wasnt the organization that could make that happen. Staff opinion columnist John Phillips can be heard weekdays at 3 p.m. on The Drive Home with Jillian Barberie and John Phillips on KABC/AM 790. SANTA ANA More than 100 homeless people at a crowded encampment at the Civic Center will be forced to leave Monday morning when the county fences off an area for construction. The work is designed to replace the aging infrastructure of chilled water utility lines for city, county, state and federal buildings. Also, crews will remove concrete and dig underground, according to an OC Public Works notice from January. County officials at a regular meeting of the homeless activist group Civic Center Roundtable on Friday announced that fencing would arrive at 7 a.m. Monday, said Larry Smitty Smith, 61, one of several homeless individuals at the gathering. More than 100 of about 500 homeless people living at the Civic Center will be evicted, Smith estimated, and the impacts will be felt throughout the area the homeless have been allowed to stay, bounded by Civic Center Drive, Flower Street, Santa Ana Boulevard and Broadway. Homeless people there have claimed their own spots not only for their tents and belongings but also what they call their front and back yards, Smitty said. The understanding on the street is to respect and not cross each others boundaries. There are a lot of people there already, said Anna Mae Gonzalez, 66, who for nine years has lived on the grassy area being cleared. Where do they want us to go? In the back yards of (homeless) peoples homes or their front yard? The homeless, Smith explained, have separated themselves. The majority of immigrants and mentally ill people camp east of Ross Street, where construction is scheduled, while older people and some with substance abuse issues tend to congregate west of Ross Street. Smith, who lives west of Ross Street, on Sunday predicted that theres going to be a lot of tension as east side homeless individuals particularly those who are mentally ill must relocate. Theres going to be forced mingling. Were going to have to make room for them somehow without causing problems, because everyones got their spots, Smith said. Santa Ana police Officer Cassandra Hawkins, on the Civic Center Patrol, said she doesnt expect any problems Monday. Construction signs stated that the area around the Hall of Records must be clear through May 23 and through November for the space by the Public Defenders Office. But Smith is skeptical. I think maybe the county might be planning on keeping it empty for a while, Smith speculated. Once they get everybody out, and they can use this as an excuse to keep everyone on the west side. Contact the writer: 714-796-7762, jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong BEIRUT Negotiations are underway to extend a fragile cease-fire agreement in Syria to the embattled northern city of Aleppo, which a surge of violence has nearly torn apart in recent weeks, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday. In the last weeks, the cessation of hostilities has been put to the test, and it has frayed in certain areas, and it has fallen completely in a few areas, Kerry said in Geneva after meeting with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. Kerry said he was particularly disturbed about air raids on a hospital and three health clinics in Aleppo, for which he blamed President Bashar Assads government. The regime has clearly indicated the willingness, over a period of time now, to attack first responders, to attack health care workers and rescue workers, Kerry said. And the attack on this hospital is unconscionable, under any standard anywhere. It has to stop. He added that both sides the opposition and the regime have contributed to this chaos. Kerry said that he planned to talk to his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov, on Monday evening, and that de Mistura would travel to Moscow on Tuesday, all part of an effort to restore a fragile cease-fire that was brokered in February, with American and Russian support, and is now at risk of collapse. Kerry urged Russia to pressure Assad to stop the attacks. This is the moment to try to make certain that what everybody has signed up to is, in fact, being delivered, being lived up to, without hypocrisy and without variation. Kerry said there could be no legitimate political talks until both parties carried out the agreement a full cessation of hostilities throughout the country and the nationwide delivery of humanitarian aid. And yet one party is blatantly violating that agreement, he said, referring to the Syrian government. Speaking at a news conference with de Mistura, Kerry said that the deal was fraying in some areas and had collapsed in others and that legitimate talks on a cease-fire were impossible unless all of the involved parties were committed to it. Kerry said that Russia and the United States would add additional personnel in Geneva so that the cease-fire agreement could be monitored 24/7 a declaration that left the unsettling impression that until now, the agreement, promoted as being of ultimate importance, had not been monitored around the clock by its sponsors. De Mistura added a note of reality, saying he appreciated that while Russia and the United States were developing an improved cease-fire monitoring system, we need the political will; otherwise we would have only a mechanism. Well said, Kerry said. Asked repeatedly whether he trusted the Russian government on the efforts to restore a truce in Aleppo, Kerry declined to answer. In noting that the partial truce had fallen apart in some parts of Syria, Kerry acknowledged what has been clear for more than a week on the ground: The relative respite from violence brought by the two-month reduction in hostilities has come to a resounding end in many areas, especially Aleppo, where more than 200 people have died in the past week, most of them civilians. About two-thirds of those deaths have been on the rebel-held side of town, which is being pummeled anew by airstrikes and by bombs dropped from helicopters, including on a hospital. But both sides have demonstrated a disregard for civilian life, with rebels firing mortar shells and missiles last week toward most of the government-held neighborhoods in Aleppo, in one of their worst barrages in recent months. Yet as Kerry carries out shuttle diplomacy to try to revive the partial truce, it has been renewed in several areas, though not in Aleppo, where it is needed most. The Syrian army said in a statement on Monday that a temporary truce in the suburbs of Damascus and in the coastal province of Latakia would be extended for an additional 48 hours. The TASS news agency in Russia quoted Lt. Gen. Sergei Kurylenko, head of the Russian coordination center in Syria, as saying only that talks about a cease-fire for Aleppo were continuing. The sticking point is apparently an unwillingness on the part of Russia to tell the Syrian government to stop its aerial bombardments on insurgent-held areas there. Kerry, as well as residents and opposition figures, insist that the Syrian governments warplanes, in a campaign aided by Russia, are predominantly hitting areas not controlled by the Nusra Front, which has only a small presence in Aleppo. Instead, they are believed to be striking areas controlled by other insurgent groups, including some backed by the United States and its allies. Maddie Camargo and her mother, Stephanie Dufour, thought the screams for help were just a few Boy Scouts messing around. But then they saw the scene: scouts surrounding a hiker who had taken a gnarly, 20-foot drop in an area near Hoover Dam, a spill that left his right arm with a bone sticking out, a fractured pelvis, and a broken wrist and hand. Then there was the severed artery, right by his bicep, gushing blood and filling the bottom of the canoe. The mother and daughter from Huntington Beach were supposed to be having a fun-filled weekend in early April to celebrate Camargos 17th birthday. But the kayaking trip turned into an emergency lifesaving adventure for the young Orange County lifeguard. They were about a half-mile into their 11-mile river trek down Black Canyon when they pulled onto a sandbar where the canoe was resting. The Boy Scouts, who had called 911, had tied a loose tourniquet around the hikers broken arm to stop the blood from flowing. Camargo knew it needed to be reapplied. She thought back to her lifeguard training, when she was told she probably would never need to do it because it was a last-resort fix. Thankfully, she paid attention during that class. She asked if anyone had a pen or a stick, and one of the guys picked up a branch. She turned the tourniquet, careful not to hit the 4-inch bone sticking out, until it stopped most of the bleeding. Camargo told the hiker: OK, this is gonna hurt. Camargo grew up doing junior guards and had recently taken a CPR and first-aid class as part of her training to become a lifeguard this season with California State Parks at Crystal Cove. Im happy they drilled it into my brain. They didnt let me forget anything, she said. Without them, this guy probably would have died. Camargo thought back to the other lessons she learned: Maintain his vitals. Make sure he stays conscious by asking him questions. I felt accomplished, like I actually did something to help someone, and my studies werent just going to waste, she said. Minutes later, Hoover Dam police Officer Eric Rowe arrived. He credits Camargos quick thinking along with members of Boy Scout Troop 747 from Palmdale for saving the mans life. Officers couldnt release the hikers name because of privacy laws. He was very close to a point of bleeding out, Rowe said. She was a primary factor in saving his life. Camargo helped paramedics get the man out of the canoe and onto a raft operated by Black Canyon Raft Adventures, which then transported him to an area where he could be airlifted to a hospital in Las Vegas. This is something she will never forget, said Stephanie Dufour. Shes been considering her college and future career options and now really feels like the emergency medical field is something that she would enjoy doing. Rowe said Camargo has a promising future in lifesaving. She definitely handled the pressure very well. She didnt freak out or hesitate, so thats a very good sign. She kept very calm and helped me, he said. Rowe said he has spoken with the victim, who is at home recovering. The man was fuzzy about what happened after the fall but grateful for the quick actions that saved him. Im very grateful to be breathing right now and to be alive, he told Rowe. He wanted to reach out to everyone who helped him. Its not the first time Camargo has quickly jumped into action when needed. In 2015 during the Surf City Marathon, she was near a man who dropped at mile 26, Dufour said. She pulled him out of the road and treated him for shock until paramedics arrived. She was just 15. After helping the injured man on the river, Camargo and her mom resumed with their birthday trip. We got to enjoy the rest of the weekend in the canyon totally tripping out on how awesome she was, Dufour said. Contact the writer: lconnelly@ocregister.com California blazed a trail to legalize medical marijuana 20 years ago. But the Golden State is only now confronting the full complexity of regulating consumer safety and business practices in an industry thats ballooned to an estimated $2.7 billion annually. Its no simple task, requiring startup-like coordination and enforcement across a dozen state agencies looking to rein in a sector of the economy that has thrived in a decidedly spotty patchwork of local oversight. Californias lack of control over the industry thus far has not gone unnoticed, according to John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who focuses on marijuana policies. The states medical marijuana program is in many ways the laughingstock of marijuana policies in the United States, Hudak said. Its a significant example of everything that can go wrong, serving in many ways as a proxy system for recreational marijuana. One measure of the challenge ahead? The state is expecting tens of thousands of cannabis businesses from growers to distributors, testing labs to retail shops to begin seeking one or more of 17 types of licenses starting Jan. 1, 2018. And the regulatory challenges for the new system could skyrocket if voters approve the recreational use of pot later this year. Three agencies will actually issue licenses. Nine more have been charged with various oversight and review responsibilities. That includes the Medical Board, which must step up procedures to investigate and discipline doctors who arent adhering to ethical standards in recommending marijuana for patients. The Department of Justice will conduct background checks on all licensees. And the Board of Equalization will issue seller permits to all retailers, oversee tax collections and help develop a system to trace the movement of all cannabis products. The departments that stand to gain the most employees and biggest boost to their budgets in the coming fiscal year are the Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board. Each agency will get more than 30 new positions to help mitigate impacts marijuana cultivation has on the states waterways. All told, the state expects to add 126 jobs and spend $24.6 million on the new regulatory effort in the coming year alone. Overseeing the process is the new Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, created within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The BMMR referred to as Bummer by some in the industry will regulate all transportation, distribution and sales under the direction of Lori Ajax. Ajax will lead information sessions on the state oversight in Santa Ana today. She said shes been meeting at least weekly with other agencies involved in the new regulations. Leaders from each department also have been consulting other states that have more robust policies in place to regulate both medical and recreational marijuana. There are nuances to launching programs involving multiple agencies, Ajax said. But so far, the process has gone smoothly. Everyone is just on board to meeting the 2018 deadline to begin issuing licenses, Ajax said. Heres a look at how several key state agencies are gearing up for the task. CULTIVATING A NEW WAY OF BUSINESS There are an estimated 50,000 cannabis cultivators in California, and thousands of them are expected to apply for growing licenses under new regulations enforced by the Department of Food and Agriculture, according to agency spokesman Jay Van Rein. Cultivation licenses range from allowing outdoor grows under 5,000 square feet up to 20,000-square-foot warehouses. The department is charged with setting limits on the number of grow sites larger than 10,000 square feet. Amber Morris, who spent the past decade overseeing plant health and pest prevention services, was named chief of the departments new Medical Cannabis Cultivation Program. Van Rein said officials are in the early stages of drafting rules for cultivators. Unlike with other types of agriculture his department regulates, Van Rein noted, the cannabis law calls for criminal background checks on applicants. It also requires the department to create a track and trace program that allows authorities to follow cannabis plants through the distribution chain, from their growing plots to their purchase by customers. Although the track and trace requirement is complex, it is helpful that other states have gone before us, Van Rein said, alluding to enforcement programs in states that have legalized recreational pot, such as Colorado and Washington. TESTING FOR SAFETY Businesses producing edibles, concentrates and other marijuana products also will have to answer to the state Department of Public Health. The department is hiring additional staff to oversee manufacturing and laboratory testing of pot products, according to Miren Klein, assistant deputy director for the departments Center for Environmental Health. Under the new system, all marijuana products must be sent to a licensed lab for testing before they can be sold to consumers. Labs will check marijuana flowers for pesticides, mold and other contaminants, along with how potent they are. Extracts will be tested for concentration and purity. Currently, Klein said medical cannabis testing labs are approved by their local city or county. Under the new law, theyll have to obtain state licenses. And she expects many more labs to open in anticipation of the spike in demand for testing. Along with a license for labs, Kleins department will issue two types of licenses for manufacturers. One will be for companies that use nonvolatile chemicals to extract cannabis from plants in concentrated oils. The other is for companies that use potentially explosive chemicals such as butane in the extraction process. The regulations call for a limit on the number of licenses for companies using volatile substances. That cap is being worked out, Klein said. Officials are in the early stages of developing regulations on the methods that labs will be required to use, assessing how much it will cost to license those labs and creating guidelines for regular audits to ensure theyre following protocols. Cannabis is a new oversight area for her agency, but Klein said her department is quite knowledgeable regarding the handling and storage of food that dovetails with this new commodity. KEEPING PESTICIDES IN CHECK For now, there are no clear standards for the types and amounts of pesticides that can be present in medical marijuana. The Department of Pesticide Regulation expects to begin by hiring three scientists to analyze chemical studies and help determine what levels are safe for the public, according to department spokeswoman Charlotte Fadipe. The department has shared general rules about pesticide use with growers, she said. But because federal law doesnt allow for marijuana cultivation, Fadipe pointed out there are no pesticides specifically registered for use on marijuana. At this point, she said its not clear how many cultivators are using pesticides safely or whether major changes in cultivation practices are needed. We are relying on anecdotal information and reports from other states at this point, Fadipe said. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS There are a lot of unknowns about how the new state regulations will work. At least six follow-up bills are pending in the Legislature, covering everything from a training program for industry employees to substituting the word cannabis for marijuana in the law. One ongoing and contentious regulatory issue is whether the cannabis distributor system should be modeled on the states system for the alcohol industry, where beverage makers have to turn their products over to a third party to transport and sell them to stores. Distributors are needed in a state as large as California, said David Weidenbach, who runs the Costa Mesa packaging company Collective Supply and helped draft the new state oversight law as a board member with the California Cannabis Industry Association. But he also said many industry insiders are worried the state will be too restrictive when it comes to distributors, making it more difficult and costly to move products to customers. Overall, Weidenbach said he considers the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act a major victory for Californias cannabis industry. Its a start that was desperately needed, he said especially considering voters approved the sale of medical marijuana in 1996. There has been virtually zero progression since, he said. Contact the writer: 714-796-7963 or bstaggs@ocregister.com The latest round of Orange County restaurant closures includes two popular chains reluctantly leaving long-time locations due to expired leases. Last week, The Original Tommys in La Habra closed after a 30-year run. A new landlord bought the center and opted not to renew the burger chains lease because we didnt fit with their redevelopment plans, said Tommys spokesman Robert Castaneda. Tommys, famous for its chili-slathered burgers, is planning a new La Habra restaurant at the northwest corner of Imperial Highway and Beach Boulevard, he said. The new landlord is Northgate Market, he added. The Anaheim-based Hispanic market plans to open a store at the center, Castaneda said. Another local food institution unable to keep its lease is Original Pancake House in Yorba Linda. The family-run breakfast eatery, which has been operating for 32 years in the city, has had a month to month lease with the Pancake House for four years, Yorba Linda Community Development Director David Brantley said. This has allowed the restaurant to remain in operation for as long as feasibly possible, prior to commencement of the Town Center retail project, he said in an email. The city has sold the Town Center to Zelman Retail Partners, which plans to transform the downtown property into a retail and dining destination hub. Plans call for new restaurants, a specialty supermarket (Bristol Farms) and a luxury cinema. Pancake House owner Gary Hill said he wanted to stay but the new landlord wants a restaurant with a nightlife. We didnt fit, Hill said. However, Hill said he was able to find a new location to open at 1454 North Kraemer Blvd. in Placentia. Hill and his family have been long-time franchise operators of the Original Pancake House restaurants. His brother opened the first one in Southern California in Anaheim in 1958. The Original Pancake House debuted in Portland, Ore., in 1953 under owners Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. Hill hopes to reopen the breakfast eatery later this summer after he finds financing to renovate the former bank space. The Cocos location on Harbor in Fullerton closed in mid-April. The closure comes a year after Zensho Holdings Co., Japans largest operator of restaurant chains, sold Carlsbad-based Catalina Restaurant Group to Food Management Partners of San Antonio. When the deal closed last year, Food Management shuttered dozens of Cocos Bakery Restaurants and Carrows Restaurants. Sarduccis Capistrano Depot closed April 18. The restaurant, at 26701 Verdugo St., is under new ownership. It will reopen later this summer as Trevors at the Tracks. After a long prosperous run, Sarduccis will undergo some new enhancements in the coming months with new ownership. The same landmark location will still keep its iconic, historical charm, yet receive a much needed face lift with some great new additions, according to the restaurants new website. Sarduccis, located in San Juan Capistranos retired train depot alongside the main rail line between San Diego and Los Angeles, was known for its classic Italian dishes, steak and seafood. Baja Fresh at the Oak Creek Shopping Center is closing at the end of the month, a representative for the Irvine Co. said. The location at The Market Place will remain open. The Irvine Co. has not named a replacement tenant. Contact the writer: Got a tip on a restaurant closure or opening? Contact: nluna@ocregister.com The bad news: The U.S. Department of Energy will not add a Southern California stop to its 8-city national tour, seeking public input on where to stick tons of spent nuclear waste. The good news: The DOEs Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy will come to San Juan Capistrano to hear what locals are thinking. John F. Kotek will attend the June 22 meeting of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stations Community Engagement Panel, he said in a letter to Congressman Darrell Issa. The Department is actively working to develop a consent-based approach for siting storage and disposal facilities needed to manage the nations spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, Kotek wrote. A consent-based approach is built on collaborationwith the public, with stakeholders, and with governments at the local, state, and tribal levels. In January, the DOE launched a new push to create temporary nuclear waste storage sites in regions eager for the business, currently in West Texas and New Mexico. Several could be up and running while the prickly question of finding a location for a permanent repository the root of the present paralysis in nuclear waste disposal is hashed out. Getting Kotek to Southern California isnt the formal addition to the DOEs nuclear waste road show that Issa was hoping for, but hell take it. This is encouraging news for Southern Californians, said Issa said in a statement. For many of us, especially those in the San Clemente area, the storage of nuclear waste at (San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station) is really a major source of concern. Until we can either stop the obstruction of Yucca Mountain or find another solution, were going to be stuck with more than 3.6 million pounds of high-level nuclear waste stored in less-than-optimal conditions in a highly populated area. After San Onofre was shuttered in 2013, the fate of decades-worth of spent fuel took on a public urgency that wasnt widely seen while it was operating. Now that (San Onofre) is shut down, the spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials should be removed from the site as soon as possible, Issa said. Kotek might witness the drama that often plays out at these meetings. The San Onofre Community Engagement Panel is a volunteer group of academic, industry, environmental and local government representatives that meets to advise the plants owner, Southern California Edison, on various aspects of decommissioning. I am delighted that he is coming, said David Victor, chair of the Community Engagement Panel and director of the Laboratory on International Law and Regulation at UC San Diego. Making consolidated interim storage a reality requires a big role for the federal government. It is important that we understand what is possible at the federal level, and also how we can shape how that process unfolds. The federal government promised to accept and permanently dispose of spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors by 1998. In return, utilities operating reactors made quarterly payments into a Nuclear Waste Fund to pay for disposal. The fund collected about $750 million a year for a total of some $40 billion but the DOE has not accepted any waste for permanent disposal. Utilities sued the federal government for breach of contract and won: The DOE has had to pay more than $3.7 billion for its failure, and taxpayers could fork over another $21 billion before the problem is solved, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Contact the writer: tsforza@ocregister.com Heres a roundup of restaurant and retail news from across Orange County. Take a look at the slideshow for more details on each. Burger Parlor: After turning down offers over the years to grow Burger Parlor in other parts of Orange County, chef Joseph Mahon is finally expanding his critically acclaimed Fullerton restaurant. On Monday, Mahon is unveiling a Burger Parlor in Old Towne Orange. The new location is at at 149 N. Glassell St. Saavy Naturals: A retailer with national exposure thanks to a successful pitch on Shark Tank has exited its temporary space at Pacific City, a luxury mall that opened last year in Huntington Beach. Saavy Naturals, which makes vegan, soy and gluten-free soaps and body washes, closed April 15. The Original Tommys: On Wednesday, The Original Tommys in La Habra closed after a 30-year run. A new landlord bought the center and opted not to renew the burger chains lease because we didnt fit with their redevelopment plans, said Tommys spokesman Robert Castaneda. Tommys, famous for its chili-slathered burgers, is planning a new La Habra restaurant at the northwest corner of Imperial Highway and Beach Boulevard, he said. The new landlord is Northgate Market, he added. The Anaheim-based Hispanic market plans to open a store there, Castaneda said. Original Pancake House: Another local food institution unable to keep its lease is Original Pancake House in Yorba Linda. The family-run breakfast eatery, which has been operating for 32 years in the city, is vacating before the start of the Town Center retail project. Yorba Linda Community Development Director David Brantley said the restaurant has had a month to month lease for four years. Cocos: The location on Harbor in Fullerton closed in mid-April. The closure comes a year after Zensho Holdings Co., Japans largest operator of restaurant chains, sold Carlsbad-based Catalina Restaurant Group to Food Management Partners of San Antonio. Sarduccis Capistrano Depot: The restaurant closed April 18. The restaurant, at 26701 Verdugo St., is under new ownership. It will reopen later this summer as Trevors at the Tracks. Baja Fresh: The location at the Oak Creek Shopping Center is closing at the end of the month, a representative for the Irvine Co. said. The location at The Market Place will remain open. The Irvine Co. has not named a replacement tenant. Marley Spoon: Do-it-yourself meal-kit subscription service Marley Spoon has extended its services to California, including Orange County, after receiving $17 million in additional funding. Lightopia: Lighting company Lightopia, founded in Laguna Beach in 2006, is moving in June to South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. Sit n Sleep: The chain has opened its 35th location, in Orange. The store, its first in the city of Orange, is at 1634 Katella Ave. Orchard Supply Hardware: The chain will open a store May 14 in Tustin. The 40,000-square-footstore is at 1091 Old Irvine Blvd., the former Tustin Lanes bowling alley. Send any retail updates to hmadans@ocregister.com and any restaurant news to nluna@ocregister.com BRASILIA, Brazil They were idealists, united in the struggle against Brazils military dictators. As democracy flourished, so did their careers. One of them, Paulo Ziulkoski, became the leader of an association of Brazilian cities. The other, Dilma Rousseff, rose even higher, becoming the president of Latin Americas largest country. But their friendship soon fell apart. During a contentious meeting with the nations mayors in 2012, Rousseff rejected pleas for a share of Brazils soaring oil revenues. After the room erupted in jeers, Ziulkoski said, she stormed up to him, poked a finger in his face and humiliated him with a string of expletives. I never imagined a president could utter such words, Ziulkoski said, noting that dozens of mayors have abandoned Rousseff and her party. To Ziulkoski, the public dressing down was the kind of rupture that symbolized the beginning of the end for her administration. As Rousseff wages a last-ditch battle to stave off impeachment and save her presidency, she has accused her rivals in Congress of creating turmoil, saying they are orchestrating a coup detat to oust her. More than two-thirds of Brazils lower house voted last month to approve an impeachment measure on charges that she illegally borrowed from state banks to plug budget holes. (She is not accused of stealing for her personal enrichment.) Many experts say the next step, a trial in the Senate that could begin in the coming weeks, will probably end in her removal. I will struggle with all my might until the coup-mongers are defeated, Rousseff said in an interview. But many political analysts say Rousseffs slow-motion downfall can also be tied to an autocratic persona and a go-it-alone work style that has driven away scores of political allies, former staff members and Cabinet ministers, many of whom have endured searing episodes of public humiliation. Shes alienated so many politicians and squandered the good will of so many people, in part because of her terrible political skills but also because of her arrogance, said Edson Sardinha, editor of Congresso em Foco, a magazine that focuses on government corruption. In her hour of need, very few people are willing to run to her defense. The upheaval goes far beyond Rousseffs leadership style. Brazil is enduring its worst economic crisis in decades, with millions of people falling out of the middle class into poverty. Inflaming their rage, political elites of every stripe have engorged themselves in a multibillion-dollar graft scheme engulfing the national oil company. Rousseff, who has been politically battered by the scandal, said she was the victim of a naked power grab and sexist assumptions of how a woman should lead. She also said she was a convenient scapegoat for something she cannot control: the global plunge in commodity prices that has sent the economy into a tailspin. But her vow to bring millions of Brazilians into the streets in her defense has produced little popular support. Siding with her opponents are scores of onetime allies including five former ministers in her administration the nations vice president and six justices on the Supreme Court who were appointed by Rousseff or her most powerful defender, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In more than five years in office, Rousseff has largely refused to meet with members of Congress, both opponents and allies, eroding the majority support she once enjoyed in the lower house. The aggrieved include Eduardo Suplicy, a former senator and beloved figure in Rousseffs Workers Party, who said she had turned down multiple requests for a meeting. In politics, either you talk or you die, said Alfredo Nascimento, a former transportation minister. In April, he voted for her impeachment. I cant support a president who is incapable of governing, he said. In Brasilia, the capital, most everyone can recount stories about Rousseffs intolerance for dissent and her short fuse. The anecdotes include the time she smashed an office computer in a pique of anger, her refusal to meet with indigenous leaders or gay rights activists and the castigation of aides for the smallest of infractions. She is also finding little sympathy from the Brazilian news media, which has long viewed her as cold and condescending a marked contrast to the charismatic, backslapping approach of da Silva. Some agree that Rousseff is being judged by a double standard that has unfairly tarnished powerful women around the world. Would she be considered so obstinate and uncooperative if she were a man? Or would she simply be called a strong, decisive leader? The president is enduring all the stereotypes and prejudices of Brazils highly patriarchal and oligarchic society, said Rosana Schwartz, a historian and sociologist at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo. Ive even heard people say, We will never again vote for a woman. In recent weeks, at least 135 mayors aligned with the Workers Party have changed their party affiliations about a fifth of the nations mayors who had been elected on the partys ticket. Among them are Joao Paulo Ribeiro, 31, the mayor of a small city who said he had grown weary of the attacks by residents and even friends who questioned his association with Rousseffs party. I have to listen to the people, said Ribeiro, who changed parties last month, hoping to improve his chances for re-election in October. It is not as if the political figures lining up to oust Rousseff are viewed as saviors. Many of them are battling serious accusations of corruption, and they were in positions of great power as the countrys once-enviable economy ran aground. Rising unemployment and the broad unrest over Brazils economy only added to the strains between Rousseff and Congress. Had the economy been ascendant as it was in 2005 when her predecessor, da Silva, became embroiled in a vote-buying scandal she might have emerged unscathed. The end of Brazils bonanza complicated the patronage used to navigate the fractious legislature, in which more than two dozen parties fight for government funding. We have a political system based on extracting money from the economy and transferring it to political parties to finance elections, said Rubens Ricupero, who served as finance minister in the mid-1990s. Many Brazilian economists and policymakers contend that the economic crisis was largely a product of Rousseffs own making. She increased the governments footprint in the economy, spending large amounts on favored industries and corporations to build up national champions. That not only produced an array of big, unfinished projects and bad debt, which now hobbles the state-owned banks, but also opened the door to large-scale corruption. Brazil insisted in carrying out an industrial policy devoid of logic, said Arminio Fraga, a former governor of the Central Bank of Brazil. When the government offers companies all sorts of advantages, through protection, subsidies and contracts, it creates enormous space for this sort of thing. Nearly two-thirds of the 594 members in Congress face serious charges like bribery, electoral fraud, kidnapping and homicide, among them Eduardo Cunha, the speaker of the lower house leading the impeachment effort. He has been accused of stashing $40 million in bribes. Rousseff has not been accused of graft, though many people question her innocence, given her role as chairwoman of the national oil company at a time when the epic kickback scheme was being hatched. In an interview, Rousseff brushed off suggestions that her disdain for retail politics and the horse trading required to pass legislation had contributed to her woes. She defended her decision to ignore members of Congress. There were certain types of blackmail negotiations I would not engage in, she said. For a time, the Brazilian public viewed her steely resolve positively. During her first year in office, Rousseffs popularity stood at 77 percent, among the highest in recent history. These days, that figure is in the single digits. Tangled is not a verb you want to use when youre a skydiver telling the story just one of the stories about the time you nearly died. But there is 71-year-old Luena Garrison Sharma sitting at her dining room table at her stylish home in Coto de Caza, pointing to the white streak of skin encircling her neck from an incident 47 years ago at about 12,000 feet above the Kern County city of Taft. It looks like I tried to hang myself, she said with a smile. But really what happened is we got tangled, she said. Garrison Sharma is one of the newest members of the Hall of Fame of Parachuting, and her name is engraved in rock at the Museum of History in Granite in Felicity, a desert community just across the state line from Yuma, Ariz. She was a pioneer in a sport not known for its female participants, and, on July 27, 1969, she was a part of the first-ever eight-woman skydiving star formation. She is a very charming lady, said Nancy Gruttman-Tyler, a skydiving enthusiast from Anaheim who nominated Garrison Sharma and her seven collaborators for the Hall of Fame. You would never believe she was a pioneer in skydiving. It was considerably more challenging and dangerous than it is today. Garrison Sharma hasnt jumped out of an airplane in more than 45 years. Contributing to her decision to stop was the time her diving partner popped open his parachute sooner than she expected. She was soaring directly above him at the time. And one of his straps wound its way around her neck, leaving a permanent scar. She was able to open her parachute, slow her fall, wriggle free and breathe again. She was a hippie chick who loved the Moody Blues and the Rolling Stones and defied death in 363 jumps from 1964 to 1971. Her parachuting career ended when she began searching for a higher plane. Her last jump June 13, 1971 was done in the presence of Yogi Sharma, who was, at the time, her yoga instructor and later became her husband. He was a passenger in the small plane she was about to jump from and she could see by the way he gripped his seat that he was scared to death. I became interested in finding a more enlightening path, she said. She sold all her gear and took up meditation, which see still does for an hour every day. I want to develop my inner peace, my inner light, she said. Luena Garrison is the little sister of noted skydiver Willard Skratch Garrison, who was a part of the first 10-man formation in U.S. history (1967) and has made more than 3,500 jumps in his career. The Garrisons grew up in North Carolina, but Skratch was always looking for good places to jump. In 1964, Luena asked her brother if she could jump. He took her to the drop zone in Orange, Mass. It looked exciting, she said. It seemed thrilling, and it sparked my interest. It was a wonderful experience. For the seven years she jumped, Garrison Sharma was at the top of her game. The governing body of skydiving, which was in France, didnt even have a category for women in the eight-point-star formation when Garrison Sharmas group made the jump. It was all about the anticipation, the anxiety and the total focus, she said. She dated skydiver/cameraman Carl Boenish, who later died in a skydiving accident and was the subject of the documentary Sunshine Superman. Garrison Sharma broke her leg in a dive in Lake Elsinore in 1970. Her main parachute wouldnt open, and she was dangerously close to the ground when she opened her reserve parachute. Garrison Sharma got a degree in biology from North Carolina State. She moved to California and worked in blood banks at both Kaiser and Hoag hospitals in her 40-year career. Her life changed when she met Yogi Sharma. They were married on Feb. 27, 1985. He died last July. The house they shared in Coto de Caza is full of Hindu trinkets brass elephants, incense holders, pictures of Shiva and Ganesh. She has a meditation room. In meditation, she tries to balance myself and learn to remain calm in times of stress, she said. In March, she got a phone call from Gruttman-Tyler, who informed her that she would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Garrison Sharma, still grieving over the loss of her husband, hesitated before deciding to go to the ceremony. I wanted to reconnect with old friends, she said. So she went. She was offered the chance for one last parachute jump. She declined. Im at a different stage in my life, she said. I dont want to risk breaking a leg. Living by yourself can be scary and daunting, but this Chinese man has managed to survive in complete isolation for 10 long years. Liu Shengjia was recently discovered living all by himself in the completely abandoned village of Xuenshanshe, in northwest Chinas Gansu Province, after his mother and brothers death over a decade ago. Xuenshanshe village was once home to about 20 families, but was slowly abandoned by its residents as resources became scarce. Families ended up moving away to towns and cities in search of work, and those left behind eventually passed away. By 2006, he was left alone to take care of his bedridden mother and younger brother, both of whom died within a year, making him the only inhabitant of the village. Anyone else in his position might have left for better prospects, if only for fear of losing their mind to loneliness, but Liu stayed behind and made a life for himslef. In the beginning, I wasnt able to sleep at night while listening to the howling of wild dogs, he admitted, speaking to the Peoples Daily. But after I started to tend a few sheep and theyve become my companions, I slowly got used to living alone. Liu admits that there are some perks to having a village all to himself, like getting to sleep in whichever house he likes, but the hardships definitely outweigh them. Not only is he completely devoid of human company, but he also has to trek for miles regularly in order to get basic supplies like food and drinking water. He does have cellphone coverage, though, and even a job to keep him busy he works at the local forestry protection station and earns 700 yuan ($108) a month. Despite having become accustomed to a life on complete and utter loneliness, Liu Shengjia says he intends to one day leave his native village behind. Surviving here is not a problem for me, but I still prefer to move to a more populous area when the time comes, he said. As to when that may be, he didnt say. Xuenshanshe is an example of the growing number of ghost villages in China, where vast numbers of rural laborers choose to leave their traditional homes in search of better opportunities in towns and cities. 250 million Chinese citizens are expected to move out of villages and into cities by 2030. Photos: CCTV/Facebook Sources: Mashable, Shanghaiist Laois/Offaly Fine Gael TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has called for immediate internet access to be provided for use by staff, patients and visitors to Tullamore Hospital. Laois/Offaly Fine Gael TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has called for immediate internet access to be provided for use by staff, patients and visitors to Tullamore Hospital. I am aware that internet kiosks have been provided at other hospitals around the Midlands in recent months, and I feel that this very useful and modern service should also be made available, as a matter of priority, at Tullamore Hospital, said Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, who added that internet access is one of the most important and critical pieces of infrastructure in the modern telecommunications age, and one which the public have a right to expect. The local Deputy has received numerous representations from staff in Tullamore Hospital and also from visitors and former patients, who have complained about the lack of access to internet points throughout the building. It is unthinkable in this modern age that any public facility, such as a hospital, would have no Wi-fi access, and I am aware that a Company offered to provide this very service to Tullamore Hospital at no cost whatsoever to the hospital management, and the offer has not been taken up, said Deputy Corcoran Kennedy. The Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar has installed internet kiosks in the public area of the hospital which can be logged onto by staff during their breaks, by patients who are mobile and also by visitors to the hospital. This move has been hailed as a huge success and has enhanced both the visitor and the in-patient experience at the hospital. Tullamore Hospital first opened its doors in 2007 and cost 150 million to build. It is one of the most modern facilities in the country and is one of the few purpose-built, stand-alone hospital buildings outside Dublin, which makes it all the more unbelievable that visitors and patients do not have access to the internet in the building, pointed out Deputy Corcoran Kennedy. By calling on the HSE and the management of Tullamore Hospital to immediately consider the installation of internet points in the main concourse area of the hospital, I am merely echoing the views of the many people who have contacted me on this issue, said Deputy Corcoran Kennedy. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... LOS ANGELES The Takata Corp. air bag recall has become so big that vehicle owners might wait months for repairs, which leaves many struggling to figure out how to get around in the meantime. Dealerships are paying for rental cars, but some need to be pushed into offering them, customers complain. And drivers under age 25 or with weak insurance coverage or credit say they are encountering snags when they get to the rental counter. As the largest automotive recall in U.S. history, the Takata air bag problem is one that owners cant ignore. Takata air bag inflaters in 28.8 million cars can propel metal shrapnel into drivers and passengers. Ten people in the U.S. have died from such explosions; more than 100 have been injured. The recall may expand by 85 million cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles if Takata cant prove that the inflaters in those cars are safe, regulators said earlier this month. Vehicles produced for model years 2000 through 2015 by 16 different automotive brands are among those affected by the initial recalls and the potential expansion. Southern California writer Amanda Biers-Melcher contacted her Honda dealership after receiving a notice in March that her 2012 Fit was part of the Takata recall. She said she briefly thought about borrowing her mothers seldom-used Saab until she found out that it, too, had faulty Takata air bags. Biers-Melcher said she was stunned when a dealership employee told her she could keep driving her car. The letter I got said I could be killed driving it, so that wasnt happening, she said. She said she called up some of her old New York City feistiness and eventually got a referral to a rental car agency, but the process left her upset. The first letter about this problem arrived the Friday before Easter, she said. Why did it take so long to tell us? They should be pro-actively reaching out to customers and making this as easy as possible. In Northern California, Steve Elster said his 16-year-old son, Eli, was denied a rental car even though the familys 2012 Honda Fit, which the son drives, was on the recall list. Rental car companies often wont rent to drivers under age 25, or do so with special surcharges. Elster said he tried out several proposals, including a loaner for his son from the dealerships inventory, but got nowhere. Its very frustrating, he said, We bought a car. We are entitled to a car without a defective air bag, and its incumbent upon Honda to fix the problem and make sure that my son has a safe car to drive. American Honda spokesman Chris Martin said the companys dealers are authorized to provide loaner cars to teen drivers, but only to the registered owners of the recalled vehicles. Elsters son wasnt the registered owner of the problem Fit. After much negotiating, the Elsters were able to rent an SUV that only the parents are allowed to drive; Eli will borrow his mothers beloved, non-recalled Rav4. Still other drivers have complained that they are required by rental car companies to put down a security deposit, which comes directly out of their bank accounts if they use debit cards; people with low credit limits might run into difficulties with a chunk of that amount tied up by the rental car company. Many owners also are griping about being pressured to pay for insurance if their own policies dont cover damage to rental cars. Consumer advocates have watched the still-developing Takata recall with growing dissatisfaction. Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said the recall is a disgrace for the automakers and for the U.S. government. Car manufacturers and their dealers should absolutely adopt standards to make getting a loaner or a rental as easy as possible, Court said. Then there are drivers who have other complaints about the experience: Some luxury car owners are irate over getting less-fancy rental vehicles. Tatianna Klein of Miami took to Twitter to vent when her BMW went into the shop for an air bag replacement: They offered me a Kia loaner. RU kidding me? she tweeted. I pay monthly for a BMW, not a Kia! The severity of the parts shortage depends on a drivers car and location. Parts to repair your vehicle are not currently available, said one typical letter, this one from General Motors to a Saab owner. Federal regulators have set a schedule for completion of air bag replacements ranging from Dec. 31 of this year to Dec. 31, 2019. Moreover, regulators have set up a complicated pecking order to guide who gets their air bags replaced first. The four priority groups are based on the vehicles age, bag failure rate and the amount of time it has spent in areas of high absolute humidity. High humidity makes the air bags more likely to fail in a potentially deadly way. That means a New Orleans resident driving a rusted 2003 Pontiac Vibe has a higher priority on the list than a late model BMW luxury car owner in Southern California. Those at Priority 4, or the bottom end of the list, may have even more reason to be irked. Their air bags were supposedly already fixed but with more defective parts. Those cars arent required to be fixed until the end of 2019. Woman gets 50 stitches on head, hand, leg after pet Pit bull attacks her Shocking accident caught on cam: Speedy car hits bike, kills one on the spot Caught on camera: Cop 'accidentally' fires at at mobile shop employee in Amritsar Amritsar: 18-month-old infant burnt alive by mother! Chandigarh oi-PTI Amritsar, May 2: An eighteen-month-old infant was burnt alive after which the police arrested her mother for allegedly being involved in the incident. SHO Jagjit Singh Chahal on Monday said, during investigation the mother was found involved. She confessed during interrogation that she had plan to set herself ablaze after killing her son with the motive to trap some people over old enmity. After sprinkling kerosene on her infant, she became terrified and couldn't dare to sprinkle kerosene on herself, the SHO said. However, yesterday police said the woman had claimed that the infant was burnt alive by two persons Hari Singh and Billa. PTI Rahul to be CM candidate in UP? Congress needs Mayawati more than him Feature oi-Shubham By Shubham The Congress is likely to project its vice-president Rahul Gandhi as the chief ministerial candidate in the UP Assembly elections scheduled early next year. Top sources in the party said Prashant Kishor, the Congress's master poll strategist, strongly feels that the only way the grand-old party can make itself relevant in the politically crucial state is by backing either Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as its face in the Assembly polls. Rahul is of course the first in the suggestion list, followed by Priyanka. In case both disagree to do the job, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit would be Kishor's third preference. Congress is desperate now to play the Rahul card to stay afloat But the message is clear. If the Congress aims of coming back to power at the Centre in 2019, then it has to show to the world that Rahul Gandhi can lead it to an election victory and no battle can be more crucial than the one in UP to drive home the point. The Congress could bag just 28 seats in the 403-member strong UP Assembly in 2012, finishing last among the four major parties contesting the election. Kishor reportedly has told the party leadership that it is either 20 or 200 for the party in the northern state, adding that if none of the Gandhi family scions lead the party, its tally will remain in the poor 20s. A decisive step, on the other hand, could see it forming the government with 200-plus seats. The Congress's tally has remained below 30 in an Assembly where the two regional parties bagged majority in 2007 (Bahujan Samaj Party) and 2012 (Samajwadi Party). Even in the Lok Sabha election of 2014, the Congress was reduced to such two seats in the state and the two winners were Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi, from Rae Bareli and Amethi, respectively. And the Congress won these two states after the SP didn't field candidates from them. It will be a great boost for the party supporters in UP but that's about it The Congress cadres in UP will find it hugely encouraging if Rahul or Priyanka agrees to be the party's face in the next election, which will be seen as a prelude to the next Lok Sabha election. A number of party leaders from the state even feel that the Congress will eclipse all its opponents if it really happens and even win the 2019 general polls hands down. Kishor even told the Gandhi family that if Rahul Gandhi leads in UP, the party will break all caste and community barriers and the Muslims will vote for the leader. The Congress lost its minority vote-bank in UP to the regional parties like the SP and BSP and this weakened its position in the electorally crucial state over the years. UP has too many players now; to stay relevant, the Congress needs Mayawati's help But is the Congress really in a position to bounce back under Rahul Gandhi's leadership in UP? The state has now three other important parties that have a tasted leadership to project---Mayawati for the BSP; Akhilesh Yadav for the SP and Narendra Modi for the BJP. Though Modi is not connected to the state's politics directly, but the BJP will not spare the chance to fight yet another election with him as the face. The saffron party had won 70 of the 80 seats in the state in the 2014 general election and has not lost the hope to repeat something similar in 2017. Congress needs Muslims, Dalits and upper-cases and the rainbow coalition can only come to its aid if Mayawati befriends it An intense race is on between the BJP and BSP to get hold over the Dalit voters---who had deserted Mayawati to back Modi in the LS polls. The Muslim and Jat voters, too, seem to be orienting themselves towards the BSP due to a dissatisfaction with the SP's rule over the last five years. In this race to win Lucknow, the Congress needs Mayawati more than Rahul. The grand-old party needs the regional parties more to stay afloat, be it Bihar or UP. The Congress can hope to come near to the throne in Lucknow only if its alliance with the BSP kicks off, enabling it to align itself with the rainbow coalition of the Dalits, Muslims and upper castes. If Congress fails in UP in 2017 under Rahul, the mission 2019 will receive a blow If Rahul Gandhi-led Congress loses badly in the 2017 polls, the Congress will have have lost almost all option by the time the next general election arrives. For Rahul Gandhi, repeating something like in 2009 when the Congress had won 20 Lok Sabha seats in UP by consolidating the Muslim votes with the upper-caste Thakurs and Brahmins will not be easy, especially after the pounding it had received in the 2012 Assembly election and 2014 Lok Sabha election. Bengaluru: Army imposter held after Military Intelligence tip off India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Bengaluru, May 02: An ex-serviceman, who has been duping many people with the promise of getting jobs in the Indian Army, has been arrested by the Karnataka Police recently. According to Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials, the Army imposter has been identified as Biju Abraham, hailing from Kerala. He is currently settled in Bengaluru and had earlier worked with the Madras Engineer Group (MEG). According to MoD officials, the arrest was made a couple of days ago by the Halasur police. Based on a tip off from Military Intelligence officials, the police picked him up from outside the Air Force Command Hospital. MoD says the accused had been duping prospective candidates by promising them jobs in the Army with the fake identity as Colonel (Dr) Biju Abraham. He claimed to be a neurosurgeon from Army Medical Corps. He had a forged Identity Card and fake salary certificates to convince unsuspecting candidates. Arrested in 2011 for similar offence MoD says the arrested individual has admitted to having collected around Rs 17 lakh from three candidates from Kerala in 2015. "During interrogation, he admitted cheating many candidates earlier in 2011 also by promising them recruitment in the Army by taking money. Biju was then arrested by the Commercial Street police and later released on bail," says an MoD official. The accused has now been slapped with IPC Sections 420, 468, 471, & 419. An FIR has been lodged against him at the Halasur police station. Meanwhile, Military Intelligence officials have warned the public not to get duped by such touts and imposters promising jobs in the Army. "It is difficult to get into the armed forces (for a job), without coming through a proper channel. Everything is computerized and there are multiple levels of checks. In addition there are a number of committees that look into the recruitment procedures. The public need to be extremely careful and not fall into these traps," an MoD official tells OneIndia. OneIndia News Petrol, diesel new rates: Check the price of fuel in your city today India stands up again, sends 40,000 Metric Tonnes of diesel to Sri Lanka Diesel taxi drivers protest, block traffic in Delhi India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, May 2: In a bid to protest against a Supreme Court decision to ban diesel taxis in the national capital, cab drivers on Monday,May 2 blocked traffic in west Delhi's Rajokri area. The blockage near Rajokri area also obstructed traffic in both the carraigeways from Dhaula Kuan to Gurgaon. "The taxi drivers on Monday morning blocked both the carraigeways on Rajokri flyover near the old Delhi toll booth on Gurgaon to Dhaula Kuan road," a traffic police official said. The blockage eventually led to a massive traffic snarl on the Delhi-Gurgaon route with vehicles lined up behind one another for up to 1 km, an official said. The apex court on Saturday had refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG) and banned the diesel-based taxis to run in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from May 1.The deadline for the change was extended twice. IANS Delhi returns to old liquor policy from tomorrow: All you need to know Delhi govt introduces new app to provide information on liquor vends: Here's what we know Don't issue liquor shop licences along NHs: Centre to states India oi-PTI New Delhi, May 2: Alarmed at "deadly figures" due to drunken driving menace, the Centre has asked state governments not to give licences for liquor shops along the National Highways. In India, around 1,18,840 road accidents have occurred in the last five years due drunken driving. "Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries (Transport) of all states/UTs have been requested to ensure that no licence is issued to liquor vendors along with the National Highways," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed Rajya Sabha today. Though licencing of liquor shops is covered under Excise Policy of the state and enforcement of various provisions of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 is responsibility of states, on account of "deadly figures due to drunken driving menace" the Centre has taken various steps, the minister said. Inceptors with breath analysers have been provided by his Ministry to states to check cases of violations of traffic rules including drunken driving, he added. Section 185 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both for the offence of drunken driving. PTI Prashant Kishor claims Nitish Kumar in touch with BJP says don't be surprised if he joins hands with it again I have no PM ambitions, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar India oi-Shalini Patna, May 2: As reports of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar aspiring to be the prime minister in 2019 are doing rounds, Kumar on Monday, May 2 cleared the air by saying that he has no such ambitions. While talking to a news agency, Nitish said, "I have no PM ambitions, just want a united alliance, which I feel is the need of the hour." On April 21, Deputy Chief minister of Bihar, Tejaswi Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav backed Kumar as prime ministerial candidate and said that "Kumar would be the best candidate for PM post as he is one of the honest politicians with a clear image personality." According to recent media reports, Tejaswi also refuted BJP's baseless allegations that Lalu Prasad was supporting Nitish to pave the way for (Tejaswi) to become the Chief Minister of Bihar. [Paswan mocks possibility of Nitish becoming PM] However, on April 22, Congress, one of the constituent of Bihar's grand alliance struck a discordant note terming the exercise as 'premature' one. [Congress strikes discordant note as RJD backs Nitish as PM nominee] LJP Chief Ram Vilas Paswan mocked at the chances of Nitish Kumar becoming the Prime Minister in 2019, stating "there was no vacancy for the post in the next 15 years." JD(U) leaders have been egging on Kumar to take forward his prime ministerial ambition by describing him as 'PM material' ever since he has taken over the post of the party's national president from Sharad Yadav recently. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, May 2, 2016, 17:21 [IST] Fact Check: This BJP worker from Gujarat is not rooting for AAP in the state AAP to burn effigies of Ravan made of garbage across Delhi today Rs 900 crore fine by Green Tribunal: BJP responsible for it says AAP Iliyas Azmi resigns from 'one man party' AAP India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, May 2: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Iliyas Azmi resigned from the party on Monday stating that it has become a "one man" party. Referring to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Azmi said "the party has become Kejriwal's fiefdom". The resignation comes after his name was not included in the PAC (Political Affairs Committee), the highest decision-making body of the party, at the National Council meeting held last week. Azmi did not attend the meeting. "I was told about the meeting but not about where it will take place. Hence, I chose not to go for the meeting," Azmi told IANS. Azmi has been a member of the AAP's National Executive and PAC. Responding to the allegations, AAP media coordinator Deepak Bajpai said: "I don't know about his resignation yet. But it's his wish whether he wants to remain in the party or not." Azmi won two Lok Sabha elections from Bahujan Samaj Party in 2004 and 2009 before joining AAP in its early days. Azmi had voiced his dissent during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he was not allowed to contest from Lucknow. He was given the ticket from Lakhmipur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh which he later turned down. In November 2015, he had also attended an event organised by Swaraj Abhiyan, an NGO formed by ousted AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and lawyer Prashant Bhushan. IANS Mamata miffed for not being invited to be part of Bangaldesh PM's India visit 'Another feather in cap': Mamata on WB's highest success rate in All India Trade Test 'Is this acceptable?' Mamata Banerjee on Hindu Mahasabha's depiction of Mahatma Gandhi as Asura Mamata has nexus with BJP: Bengal Congress president India oi-PTI Kolkata, May 2: West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury today accused Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee of having an understanding with the BJP, and said it became clear today in the Rajya Sabha where her party fought alongside the ruling dispensation at the Centre against the Congress. "The nexus between Modibhai and Didibhai (Mamata Banerjee) is clear now. In the Rajya Sabha the TMC is fighting along with the BJP against the Congress. They are raising questions on VVIP chopper deal. Those, who themselves have indulged in rampant corruption, are raising questions," Chowdhury said adding "this proved where the TMC stood politically". Addressing a meeting here to protest against "post-poll violence", Chowdhury said, "The TMC is questioning the integrity and honesty of Congress by toeing the line of BJP. It was Congress which had ordered the probe in the VVIP chopper scam. What about the Saradha and Narada scam?" Chowdhury also criticised the TMC supremo for her yesterday's statement charging a section of police officials with "unleashing terror" on the people at the behest of the Election Commission. "She will not like it when the police has performed its duties without being her sycophants. She is threatening everybody - Election Commission, police," he alleged. PTI Protest over non-entry of 'Amritdhari' Sikh students in exam hall India oi-PTI Ambala, May 1: Sikh students and Akali leaders today protested against Haryana Staff Selection Commission representatives for not allowing two 'Amritdhari' students to sit for an examination carrying 'kirpan' (small knife) and sporting 'kara' (steel bangle). The Commission representatives stopped Karamvir Singh and Sukhvinder Singh from entering a Polytechnic institution here for the patwaris entrance examination, police said. They objected to the students carrying 'kirpan' and 'kara' inside the examination hall following which there was an altercation between the two sides. The Sikh candidates tried to convince the representatives by saying that they have to put on five symbols of Sikhism including kirpan, kara, kangha, kesh and kacchera, but in vain. Meanwhile, SGPC member Harpal Singh Pali, senior Akali Dal leaders Sukhdev Singh Gobindergarh, Randhir Singh Fauji, Gurcharan and Sant Singh Kandhari reached the venue and protested against the Commission. SDM Shakti Singh and DSP Raj Kumar Walia also rushed to the spot. After the intervention of the SDM, the students were allowed to sit for the examination, police said. The SDM said the secretary of Staff Selection Commission has been informed about the incident for necessary action. PTI Tamil Nadu: Light to moderate rain in the next few days Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: Jayalalithaa hits out at Karunanidhi India oi-Pallavi Coimbatore, May 2: Branding the DMK-Congress tie up for May 16 elections as a corrupt alliance, AIADMK leader and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who alleged that no election promise was fulfilled by DMK unless it benefitted Karunanidhi. Citing the distribution of free colour televisions worth Rs 2,000 to everyone, she said that he charged Rs 3000 for cable connections run by its family members, thus earning them a profit of Rs 25,000 crore in five years. The unfulfilled promises made by DMK included providing solar energy in remote villages, elections in cooperative societies, setting up a food processing export centre and a memorial for late actor Shivaji Ganesan. She ridiculed both the parties, saying that they were partners in crime and were equally corrupt. Promising to promote tourism and infrastructure, Jayalalithaa said that if the party won, she would promote Munnar. She would also ensure that all the tea estate workers in Devikulam are protected under social security scheme. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, May 2, 2016, 15:32 [IST] Fact Check: Did Trump thank Musk for welcoming him back to Twitter Can't allow China to rape our country, says Donald Trump International oi-IANS By Ians English Washington, May 2: Republican front-runner Donald Trump compared the US's trade deficit with China, which he regularly laments and vows to tackle as president, to rape. "We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing," Trump said during his second rally on Sunday in Fort Wayne, Indiana, referring to China's high number of exports relative to the US. Donald Trump calls California protesters 'thugs, criminals' Trump has repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive on the global market and has claimed that China is "killing" the US on trade, CNN reported. Sunday marks the first time this campaign that Trump has used the term "rape" to refer to what he views as China's dominance in trade with the US. "We're going to turn it around. And we have the cards, don't forget it. We're like the piggy bank that's being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China," Trump said before referring to China's relationship with the US as rape. Will easily defeat Hillary Clinton in November, says Donald Trump Trump added that he is not "angry at China", but with US leaders whom he accused of being "grossly incompetent". Trump previously claimed in 2011 that "China is raping this country" as he toured a defense manufacturer in New Hampshire. Trump's use of the analogy comes as the business mogul is currently under fire for remarks he made about Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton that critics are calling sexist. IANS EU agrees to Ukraine aid, but no gas price cap China pledges, signs climate accord but how green is its promise? Xi Jinping to rule China for record third five-year term China warns of geological disasters due to rains International oi-PTI Beijing, May 2: China's meteorological authority has warned the public of possible geological disasters in the south with heavy rain predicted for the region. Parts of Anhui, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces was expected to see torrential rains, the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) said in a statement yesterday. The NMC said precipitation could reach up to 95 mm in these areas. Lightning and gales will accompany the rain. The centre warned of high risks of geological disasters in the areas, suggesting people affected by the rainstorms to take precautions against possible mountain torrents, mud-rock flows and landslide, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. China has extended weekend as the government has declared public holiday today to celebrate May Day. PTI Is she, isn't she? Is Kate Middleton pregnant with third royal baby?: Reports Golden rattle among gifts for Princess Charlotte International oi-PTI London, May 2: Britain's Princess Charlotte, who turned one today, has received numerous gifts since her birth and among them is an 18-karat white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires worth a whopping 30,000 pounds. A list of gifts released by Kensington Palace on behalf of her parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, shows an 18-karat white gold rattle studded with diamonds, rubies and sapphires made by the Natural Sapphire Company and valued at 30,000 pounds was among her most lavish presents so far. According to 'The Daily Telegraph', the golden rattle won over a silver one given to her by the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, and his wife Senora Angelica Rivera during their State visit to the UK last year. Completing the rattle list is also a simple willow one woven by Scottish basketmaker Ciaran Hogan, given to Prince Charles for his new-born granddaughter. President of China Xi Jinping brought baby Charlotte a set of silk figurines depicting the 'Dream of the Red Chamber', a classic 19th century Chinese novel, when he came for his State visit in October last year. US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle left her a jigsaw and a cuddly toy version of the Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, during their visit last month. The Obamas had also given her a children's rocking chair and a baby blanket when she was born. Schools, community groups and royalists have sent her blankets, clothes, books, toys and plenty of hand-knitted clothes, including a large supply of bootees. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for all the letters, gifts and good wishes they have been fortunate to receive in the year since Princess Charlotte was born." PTI Explained:Why is Kolkata police inducting Belgian Malinois that helped killed Bin Laden and Baghdadi US did not share Osama bin Laden's location with Pakistan due to lack of trust Imran Khan calling Osama bin Laden a 'martyr' was a 'slip of the tongue' UP officer sacked for Best Engineer Osama Bin Laden picture in office Osama bin Laden killing: CIA live tweets US military's raids on fifth anniversary International oi-Jagriti Washington, May 2: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) relived the military operation carried out by US Navy SEAL to kill Osama bin Laden on its fifth anniversary, media reported. CIA decided to tweet the raid in Pakistan's Abbottabad as if it were happening today. Osama bin Laden was killed by United States Navy Seal commandos on 2 May 2011 after a raid on his compound in Abbottabad. CIA used the hashtag #UBLRaid to relive the "Operation Neptune Spear" that resulted into death of Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was the founder of al-Qaeda, the group that claimed responsibility for the September 11 attacks on the United States. Pak was aware of US operation that killed Osama: US Journalist Legendary US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has recently claimed that Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan's detention for years and was killed after the country struck a deal with the US. The US and Pakistan then struck a deal that the US would raid his compound but make it look as if Pakistan was unaware. Major US media outlets also rejected his claim as incorrect. Death of Usama Bin Ladin marked significant victory in US-led campaign to disrupt, dismantle, & defeat al-Qaida.#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Join us beginning at 1:25 p.m. EDT today as we tweet the #UBLRaid as if it were happening today. pic.twitter.com/x8EBpW571f CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 To mark the 5th anniversary of the Usama Bin Ladin operation in Abbottabad we will tweet the raid as if it were happening today.#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 1:25 pm EDT-@POTUS, DCIA Panetta, & JSOC commander Admiral McRaven approve execution of op in Abbottabad.#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/YhvuJVrMVc CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 1:51 pm EDT - Helicopters depart from Afghanistan for compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - 2 helicopters descend on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 1 crashes, but assault continues without delay or injury#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:30 pm EDT - @POTUS watches situation on ground in Abbottabad live in Situation Room#UBLRaid pic.twitter.com/59KPF7eUTr CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm EDT - Usama Bin Ladin found on third floor and killed#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:39 pm 4:10 pm EDT Team retrieves large quantity of materials from compound for intel analysis#UBLRaidhttps://t.co/yl1FjRA0qk CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 3:53 pm EDT - @POTUS receives tentative confirmation of positive identification of Usama Bin Ladin#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 4:05 pm EDT - First helicopter leaves the area to go back to Afghanistan#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 4:08 pm EDT - Assault Team destroys crashed helicopter#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 4:10 pm EDT Backup helicopter picks up remaining team members & materials & leaves Abbottabad#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 5:53 pm EDT - Helicopters return to Afghanistan where Admiral McRaven greets team#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 7:01 pm EDT - @POTUS receives confirmation of high probability of positive identification of Usama Bin Ladin#UBLRaid CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 Daring #UBLRaid was an IC team effort & in close collaboration with our military partners.https://t.co/rklCIRLlgF pic.twitter.com/xZObdGeqPR CIA (@CIA) May 1, 2016 OneIndia News Queen Elizabeth II bans drones over her royal estate in UK International oi-PTI London, May 2: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has banned drones from flying over her Sandringham estate in an apparent bid to prevent terror attacks and protect the privacy of the royal family. The ban covers all 20,000 acres of the estate in north Norfolk in eastern England, making it potentially the largest single area in the UK to ban unmanned aircraft, The Times reported. Pics: Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 90th birthday It comes amid fears that remote controlled drones could carry a bomb or chemical weapon. The ban will also help to foil paparazzi using drones to take aerial photographs over the estate, which also houses Anmer Hall the country home of Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. Last December the Department for Transport made it a criminal offence for low-flying aircraft, including drones, to be flown within 1.5 miles of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's estate. A similar ban is in place within 1.5 miles of Sandringham House from every December to the end of February when the 90-year-old Queen and other members of the royal family are often in residence. The restrictions are similar to the drone bans around military bases, nuclear power stations and airports in the UK. Anyone breaking the restrictions faces a fine of up to 5,000 pounds. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson refused to comment. PTI Trump leads in Indiana; Sanders, Clinton in statistical tie International oi-PTI Washington, May 1: Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump is leading by 15 points in the latest Indiana polls, while the two Democratic aspirants Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are in a statistical tie in this crucial state where the primary is scheduled for Tuesday. A win in this state, would bring Trump closer to become the GOP presidential nominee and make it difficult, if not impossible for his two remaining rivals Senator Ted Cruz from Texas and Governor John Kasich from Ohio to prevent the billionaire real estate mogul from such an eventuality. The NBC-Wall Street Journal poll released today said that Trump is leading against Cruz by 15 points. Trump has support of 49 per cent likely voters and Cruz 34 per cent, followed by Kasich at 13 per cent. Among the Democrats, Clinton (50 per cent) leads Sanders (46 per cent) by four per cent. Sanders said on Sunday his path to nomination is difficult, but not impossible. Trump reiterated that he is the presumptive nominee. "Yes, it's over. I think it's over now, but it's over," he told Fox News. "Cruz cannot win, he's got no highway, he's got nothing, he's way behind. I'm leading him by millions and millions of votes and I'm leading him by 400 or 500 delegates. He can't win," Trump said. PTI With AQI of 259, Delhi's air on day before Diwali least polluted in 7 years Delhi LG and CM greet people on Diwali, ask people to be mindful of pollution UN court seeks bail for Italian marine in Indian jail International oi-IANS By Ians English Rome/New Delhi, May 2: A UN court has said Italian marine Salvatore Girone, jailed in India for the alleged 2012 killing of two fishermen, should be allowed home on bail even as the arbitration proceedings in The Hague carry on. According to the foreign ministry in Rome, the ordinance by the international tribunal "does not affect the continuation of the arbitration proceedings" to decide on the Italian government's plea that it is their jurisdiction and not that of India to proceed against the accused. Girone and fellow Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre allegedly shot dead two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012, reportedly mistaking them for pirates. While Latorre is already back home on health grounds, Italy has been seeking Girone's return also. But India has refused to let Girone, who is housed in the Italian embassy premises in New Delhi, to leave the country. The case has triggered a diplomatic row between India and Italy even as the two countries last year agreed to move to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decisions. Italy argues that the marines should have immunity as they were servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial waters. The foreign ministry said the ruling, which is expected to be officially announced on Tuesday in The Hague, comes after "a constructive attitude of India". The court, according to the ministry, has asked both Italian and Indian governments to agree on the date and modalities of Girone's return home. It said it would get in immediate contact with the Indian government to make sure Girone returns home as soon as possible. But official sources in New Delhi said the order by the arbitral tribunal "clearly recognises that Girone is under India's authority alone". "(The) tribunal order affirms Supreme Court of India's authority," a source said, adding that the order has asked India and Italy to approach "the Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone". The sources said Girone's possible return to Italy was "strictly conditional" on the government in Rome "guaranteeing to return him if required" for court proceedings in India. Girone's father Michele said "I am incredibly happy" to hear about the news "if true". "Now I will have to speak to my son and daughter-in-law to see whether it's true," the father was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency. Italy took the case to the international tribunal after repeated delays in the handling of the case in India. New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy for treatment after he had a stroke in 2014. IANS Bengal polls: Mamata now accuses BJP of looting votes; a tactic, feel observers Kolkata oi-Shubham Kolkata, May 2: Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused the BJP of "looting" votes through the central forces manning the ongoing Assembly election in the state, a report published in Ananda Bazaar Patrika (ABP) said. The Bengal chief minister said this in a couple of rallies in East Midnapore district, which will go to the election on May 5 (Thursday). Assembly Polls 2016 Coverage; List of 25 seats going to polls on May 5 Banerjee also said the local police helped the BJP's cause by allowing the looting of votes, the report added. She said it was done in five constituencies in this election and she named four of them: Nagrakata (Jalpaiguri district), Kalchini and Madarihaat (Alipurduar) and Baishnabnagar (Malda). She didn't mention the fifth constituency. The TMC will benefit if the BJP gets a decent vote-share as it will divide the anti-establishment ballots, as it was the case in 2014 Lok Sabha election. Then why is Banerjee targeting the saffron party? According to the observers, the TMC is playing a mind game by saying the BJP is looting votes. Through this, she is trying to give the Left-Congress alliance a message that the BJP is capable of ruining their prospects, though she chose to do it by means of attacking the saffron party. She also warned the BJP that she would settle terms with it in the next Lok Sabha election in 2019. The BJP did well in the two districts---East Midnapore and Cooch Behar---that are going to the polls on Thursday, in the last Lok Sabha election. In the only constituency in the newly formed Alipurduar district, the BJP got 20 per cent vote-share. According to experts, Banerjee made the BJP an important party to the final phase of this year's eventful Assembly election, the first she is contesting as the ruler. The BJP, on the other hand, said Banerjee was preparing excuses as she knows that the BJP will do good in the four seats that she named. The Left-Congress alliance, on the other hand, said Banerjee's hopes that the BJP will make serious dents into the Opposition's vote will remained unfulfilled. Oneindia News In West Bengal these gun trotting jamais tell you who to vote for Kolkata oi-Vicky Kolkata, May 2: They are referred to as Jamais or sons in law in West Bengal. You would find these jamais in the border areas of West Bengal once campaigning ends. They are extremely active at the time of polling and these men who are hired gun men from Bangladesh are tasked with the job of scaring the voter. Each time there is an election the jamais from Bangladesh land up in West Bengal. They are hired by candidates to oversee the polling process once the campaign ends. Their job is to go around the constituency and threaten the voters so that the candidate who is hired by them gets the highest number of votes. Who are the jamais? Jamai or son in law is a slang or a term used to refer to these goons from Bangladesh. These gun trotting goons from Bangladesh are hired by candidates and are often paid a sum of Rs 40,000. The requirement is that these persons cross over into India with their own weapons. At times when crossing over with a weapon is risky they enter India and purchase a country made pistol which is available at Rs 5,000. There are a few who even sport double barrel guns available at Rs 20,000. Their job is not to kill but scare. These persons make their entry into West Bengal once the campaign ends. They cross over into the border and meet the candidate who has hired them. Further they are given an advance of Rs 10,000 and the remaining money is paid once the polling is complete. Their rates range between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 depending on the size of the constituency. The jamais are meant to go to the voters and threaten them to vote in favour of a particular candidate. In most cases it has worked for the candidates as they tend to target the illegal immigrants who have been issued voter cards. Their targets also include those living in poverty who can easily be threatened. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, May 2, 2016, 8:58 [IST] UP poll 2017 survey: Mayawati most preferred CM candidate; Varun Gandhi third New Delhi oi-Shubham New Delhi, May 2: Former chief minister of UP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati topped the list of the chief ministerial candidates for the northern state which will go to polls early next year, a survey conducted by ASUME Research, an association of social research professionals has said, according to a Mail Today report. The survey, which was carried out between April 12-25 across UP, included a sample size of 25,000 people. CM candidates While 26 per cent picked Mayawati as their favourite, current CM Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party (SP) was the second in the list with 22 per cent. BJP general secretary Varun Gandhi is the third with 20 per cent while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, was the fourth with 12 per cent support. Speaking about chief ministerial candidates in the party, Gandhi, the MP from Sultanpur in UP, topped in the BJP with 45 per cent, followed by Union Home Minister and former UP chief minister Rajnath Singh. HRD Minister Smriti Irani finished with just one per cent. Yogi Adityanath got five per cent while Kalraj Mishra received four per cent votes. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra got the most votes (45 per cent) in the Congress, followed by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi (29 per cent). MLA Rita Bahuguna Joshi got eight per cent, former Union minister Salman Khurshid three per cent, UP unit head Nirmal Khatri two per cent and former Union minister RPN Singh one per cent. When it came to countering Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP's main campaigner for the UP polls, Congress president Sonia Gandhi was picked by 29 per cent as the most effective face of the Congress, said the survey. Priyanka and Rahul came second and third with 24 and 18 per cent votes, respectively. Main issues Law and order, high prices of essential food items and widespread unemployment are the issues the voters are concerned about the most ahead of the UP polls, said the survey. While 25 per cent felt law and order as the biggest problem, 24 per cent felt price rise is the issue to look at. Twenty-two per cent people thought unemployment is the most pressing issue. The fourth and the fifth ranks were taken by communalism (13 per cent) and corruption (10 per cent) while development accounted for just six per cent, the survey said. Party or individual? While 27 per cent of those surveyed felt their votes will be determined by the party, 22 per cent felt the difference will be made by the candidates. At least 15 per cent said the local issues will be the decisive factor while 12 and eight per cent thought caste and religion, respectively, will play a vital role. Performance of the SP government & Centre Forty-two per cent people said the cuerrnt SP govenment's performance was poor while 29 per cent felt it was average. Eighteen per cent said the government of Akhilesh Yadav was just about good while only seven per cent chose to back him completely. Twenty-one percent felt price rise has been the biggest failure of the Centre, followed by communal tension. Media's role While 35 per cent felt the media was influencing the votes' decision, 29 pe cent said it was not the case. Twenty-seven per cent was not sure about it. Oneindia News 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. CBS 13 Sacramento 30 Mar 2020 Lonnie Franklin, the convicted serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper" who preyed on the women of South Los Angeles for more than.. NYTimes.com 21 Oct 2022 Kendall Chamberlin, the towns water superintendent for over 30 years, said he had been lowering fluoride levels well below state.. Conde Nast Traveler 23 Dec 2020 Conde Nast Traveler's own director of marketing and her fiance Ricky hit the road with Needles the camper van. Watch their.. National Chairperson, Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club, Kemi Ogunfuwa has honoured late Coach Stephen Keshi, describing him as pitome of heroic Patriots Kemi who spoke from her hotel room in Asaba in preparation to cheer Super Eagles to victory in a friendly match between Nigeria and Zimbabwe coming up on Saturday said: I think the late Coach Keshi deserves all the accolades from every sports loving Nigerian and we in Nigeria Eagles Supporters club deeply appreciate the contributions of the late hero to the development of Nigerian foootball and we use this occasion to extol his virtues for serving the nation meritoriously. On behalf of Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club, I will like to honour our late Coach Stephen Keshi for his selfless and unquantifiable service he rendered to the nations football. He played for Nigeria, he captained Super Eagles and won many laurels including Nations cup. Keshi was one of the few heroes that won nations cup as a player and also as a coach. Its conspicuously apparent in our national anthem that the efforts of heroes past shall never be in vain, therefore, we give him a well deserved post humus accolades today in his as we celebrate our late hero Coach Keshi who was born on 23rd of January 1962 gloriously left this world on 7th of June, 2016. Big Boss as fondly called earned 60 caps for the Nigerian national football team, making him the nations second-most capped player at the time of his retirement. He represented the country at the 1994 FIFA World cup and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, captaining the Super Eagles to victory in the latter. The Delta-born Manager who also played club football in five different countries, most notably Belgium, where he won the Belgian League Championship with R.S.C Anderlecht in 1991. She prayed for the late hero to continue to leave in the bosom of the Almighty God and urge the upcoming footballers to take a cue from the big boss. Post Views: 48 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), says the directive for the removal of the CEO of Oando Plc and other top management staff of the company and the appointment of an interim management team to temporarily steer the affairs of the company was to protect investors and preserve stakeholder value. The commission in a statement on Sunday said that failure or refusal of the commission to act in the face of the serious issues thrown up by the investigations or to reverse its directive would undermine the Federal Governments agenda to build strong institutions. National Daily recalls that SEC on June 2, following the outcome of its forensic audit constituted an Interim Management team for the company to be headed by Sunmonu for embattled Oando Plc. It noted that Sunmonu would oversee the affairs the company and conduct an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on or before July 1, to appoint new board of directors. But the Federal High Court Lagos on June 3 granted an interim injunction to the embattled management of Oando restraining SEC from executing an interim management in the company. The interim injunction followed an application filed by Messrs Jubril Adewale Tinubu, embattled GCEO and Omamofe Boyo, for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights. It also restrained the commission from imposing a fine of N91.13 million on Tinubu and barring him and Boyo from being directors of public companies for five years. According to the commission, affected persons were given sufficient opportunity of being heard before they were penalised. The commission said in Lagos that there were various opportunities by the company to defend themselves during the investigation by SEC and during the forensic audit. The findings of the commission was communicated to the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Oando Plc by a letter dated July 10, 2017, SEC said in statement by Mrs Efe Ebelo, its Head, Corporate Communications. ALSO READ: Oando replies SEC over decision on Tinubu, others In the course of conducting the forensic audit, Deloitte & Touche held regular sessions with members of the board and senior management of Oando Plc, and afforded them the opportunity to provide explanations on issues relating to the audit. The responses given by Oando Plc, were, however, considered unsatisfactory; prompting, the decision by the Commission to penalise the company and some of the individuals related to it for violations of securities laws. The actions of the commission were properly effected pursuant to the provisions of the Investments & Securities Act (ISA) 2007 and the SEC Rules and Regulations made pursuant to the ISA 2007, SEC said. It added that these facts had been properly articulated in the court process it filed at the Federal High Court in response to the suit instituted by the Group Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc. As the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market, the commission has a mandate to protect investors, it said. Tetsuya, an 84-year-old retired chemistry teacher with no real interest in fashion, managed to become somewhat of a style icon after letting his grandson dress him up for a photo shoot. It all started last month, when Naoya Kudo went home to Akita Prefecture to visit his grandfather, Tetsuya, during Japans Golden Week holiday. During their reunion, Naoya asked his grandfather if hed be willing to model some fresh designer clothes for a couple of offbeat fashion photo shoots, and the 84-year-old accepted. It gave them a chance to spend some quality time together and have some pure unadulterated fun, but none of them imagined the results of their photo shoots would become a social media success story. Kudo told BuzzFeed News that the 84-year-old was quite involved in picking the locations and other things when they planned the photo shoots. They visited the fields and beaches around Tetsuyas home and even the school he used to be principal at, and even those locations probably wouldnt exactly be top of the list for a fashion photographer, they actually made the pics a lot better that Naoya anticipated. In fact, he was so impressed with the results, that he posted some of the photos on Twitter, where they quickly went viral. Youre fresher than the vegetables at my grocery store, one person commented on the photos. I want to be this cool when Im old, someone else wrote. Overwhelmed by the positive feedback, Naoya set up an Instagram account for his grandfather, where he constantly posts new photos of Tetsyua wearing all kinds of fresh outfits, like a fresh-from-the-runway Loewe knit and Drole de Monsieur track pants, or a baby pink Vetements coat. Not exactly they type of stuff you see the average octogenarian in, but thats exactly why people are so intrigued by this fashionable grandpa. Kudo admits that his grandpa has become way more popular than he ever imagined. In just one month, the SLVR.TETSUYA Instagram account has amassed over 99,000 followers, and its growing at an incredible rate. The account is run by Tetsuyas grandson, who said that he has a lot more photos to share with the world, so this foxy grandpa project will continue for the foreseeable future. The next time youre having trouble deciding what to wear, let this 84-year-old grandpa be your inspiration. In the week ending 29 April, 2016, in outlooks, Dan Loeb described the first quarter as "washout" and "catastrophic" for hedge funds and predicted a hedge fund killing field. Meanwhile, in Q1 the number of hedge fund operators in South Korea grew from 17 to 26. Registered hedge funds grew from 46 to 78, and are expected to reach 130 at the end of this year. Former Fortress Investment portfolio manager and managing director Maggie Arvedlund is raising $500m to launch a debt, equity fund; Kyle Bass is raising money to start a dedicated fund for bets in China; Schroders has launched a new fund - the Schroder Alternative Solutions Commodity Total Return program; and John Hancock and Standard Life have launched their third alternative multi-asset fund. Swiss-Asia has unveiled new funds on their fund management platform. Aurora Investment will shut down after a failed takeover bid; and Barry Wittlin is closing his WSC m...................... To view our full article Click here Bangladesh Bank Image from Twitter User sectest9 (Image by Twitter User sectest9) Details DMCA There is a casino twist to the Bangladesh Bank heist case that has pump-primed terrorism financing angle into focus with footprints traced to South-Asia, South-East Asia and China. Most of the $81 million stolen from the apex bank of Bangladesh by hackers using malware has been traced to Rizal Banking Corporation, which has significant presence in the Filipino-Chinese business community, and three large casinos operated by Chinese businessmen in the Philippines. By global standards of money laundering and terror financing, this is a drop in an ocean but investigators are veering round the view that brains behind the Bangladesh heist were simply testing the waters, and were planning for bigger games. Three sets of people/groups have collaborated in the venture of defrauding Bangladesh and bringing the country a bad name in the global financial market, a sleuth familiar with the probe told me on the condition that he not be identified. All the three groups have suffered 'losses' after noted economist Atiur Rahman took over the reins of the Central Bank of Bangladesh and got down to cleansing the corruption-laden banking system of the country. Who are these vested interest groups? What is their identity? About this, a little while later. Being the personal choice of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the job, Dr. Atiur was on full throttle from Day One. And unnerved the entrenched vested interests in the financial sector who have been thriving under indulgent political patronage. His reform zeal and thrust on transparency created panic among obscurantist, fundamentalist, and radical forces as well with their funding sources stifled and their well-oiled financial network under scanner. One such banking channel is the Islami Bank that has been in the eye of a storm after Sheikh Hasina became Prime Minister. Atiur Rehman forced a management change in the Islami Bank and gradually eased out the Jamaat-e-Islami sympathizers and associates from its management silos. This drive coincided with two other developments that have had a bearing on Bangladesh-Pakistani relations and Pakistan's ISI operations aimed at pumping counterfeit Indian currency into India through the porous Bangladesh-India border. Hasina's resolve to bring to justice the perpetrators of genocide during the Liberation War of 1971 has pitchforked her and her Awami League into the front line of attack by Pakistan and its Dhaka-based sympathizers. Every verdict delivered by the International Tribunals increased the intensity of attack and pushed Pak-Bangladesh ties into a deep freeze over the past year. This phase has seen Pakistan withdraw one diplomat and recall a couple of junior functionaries at its Dhaka Mission before they could complete their tenure posting. Pakistan's national carrier, Pak International Airlines, was forced to suspend its operations to Dhaka for a while. Compounding Pakistan misery, as my source puts, Bangladesh security establishment stopped taking kindly to ISI's not-so-covert drive of making Dhaka its peg for Fake Indian Currency (FICN) operation, and anti-India missions. At one time Kathmandu was the preferred outpost of ISI for such ops. I am told Nepal capital still figures on the ISI radar but Dhaka became the preferred centre since the days of Khaleda Zia's second innings as prime minister. My inquiries show that FICN racket is one of the major sources of terror finance for Pak ISI. To its dismay, Bangladeshi security agencies have seized several crores of FICN in the last one and half years from Dhaka International Airport, Chittagong Port and several other busy commercial centres across the country. In other words, the Pak ISI felt the crunch much like the Bangladeshi Jamaat, and its cohorts. The two soon made common cause with Paresh Baruah of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which has been desperately trying to ramp up its funds flow. Though it may amount to slight digression a word about Paresh Baruah will be in order. He is known as an elusive ULFA commander. He today leads the faction that is opposed to talks with the government of India. This group has bases in Bangladesh and Myanmar. About a year ago, Paresh visited Kunming in China in quest of funds but returned disappointed as the Chinese also found Atiur Rehman wall impregnable. And the way Hasina government handed over to India his colleague Anup Chetia, who was nurtured by Dhaka for years as a valued asset, has unnerved Paresh. Chetia is privy to all crucial ULFA financial deals and has first-hand knowledge of their bases. If he spills the beans, Chetia will only make the Bangladesh-India collaboration a benchmark in fighting terrorism. According to reports in the Indian and Bangladesh media, not only Paresh Baruah-led ULFA but also several Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) active across the international border in India's northeast are facing financial constraints as the militancy webbed, and extortion bids did not earn sufficient return. For Baruah, unlike other IIGs, the stakes are high as he has to safeguard his dominance among the IIGs, preserve his cadre strength and attract new members. This urgency made Paresh close ranks with the ISI and China to look to recoup their losses from Bangladesh itself. The February 4 heist was the outcome. Yes, it did not take place on one day. It was carried out in small doses apparently not to attract attention of the in-house vigilantes. This is clear from the fact that the hackers of Bangladesh Bank had made as many as 35 transfer order from its account with the New York Federal Reserve Bank over the past one year. Well, the Bangladesh Bank authorities should have hit the panic button immediately after the matter came to their notice. They did not and by keeping the matter under wraps until the story broke in the Philippines, they have egg on their faces. (to be continued) James Duglous Crickton Social Media Pages: A blogger since July 2008 James Duglous Crickton is a London based consultant working with a consultancy firm focusing on Asia, particularly South Asia and East Asia. Political Research is his functional focus area. While his interests are ( more... The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors. OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help. If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership. Three children wounded by a US bomb in Nangrahar province of Afghanistan. Their parents were both killed. (Image by (From Wikimedia) RAWA, Author: RAWA) Details Source DMCA How is it possible that a hospital is bombed, killing 42 people, including doctors and 2 children burned alive in their beds, and no one is held accountable, punished or has admitted to any wrongdoing? How is it possible that a policeman arrives at a playground, and in less than 2 seconds shoots and kills a 12-year-old, and no one is held accountable? The officer, who had been terminated from another police force for an inability to use firearms responsibly, is still on the job after killing a 12-year-old. No one will be charged, tried, or held accountable in any way. No one has admitted to any wrongdoing. How is it possible that a 12-year-old in a playground is shot dead in two seconds, and the authorities say no one did anything wrong? How is that possible? Let that be your 12-year-old, and have them say no one did anything wrong. How did we get here? This country has dramatically changed its core beliefs since conception. Most Americans are unaware the founding fathers feared, and did not want, a standing military. They were steeped in history and knew full well that strong militaries historically use their power against their own citizens, and the founders fought bitterly over whether there should be any army at all. It was the most bitter argument in the constitutional convention, but finally a small military was created out of fear that Britain would try to reconquer the colony. The military however, was loathed by clear thinkers and viewed as a necessary evil that had to be closely watched, contained, and monitored, which is also the view of this writer. Of course the military has served a useful protective function, but since the end of WWII the public has been led to believe the military must always expand and be honored. We have 1000 bases around the world and the military is out of control. We have lost the ability to solve problems diplomatically and military power is the only tool in our bag. We resort to war as the one solution to all problems. Today, citizens who have no concept of human history revere the military. Every sporting event has a salute to the military. We have "flyovers" and the like, which the founders would have loathed. You have been led to believe the military is a good thing, and you should honor the troops, which would be the last thing the founders would ever have imagined. So that said, here we are. Last October, the US bombed a hospital in Kanduz Afghanistan, and lied about it, then, because of overwhelming evidence, grudgingly admitted it, but called it a mistake. The hospital had given their exact GPS coordinates to the military many times, and had a huge hospital insignia on the roof, but that didn't mean a thing to the US military. The hospital, after the initial bombing, contacted the US military and told them the hospital was being bombed, yet the attack continued for another 45 minutes. Fleeing innocents were strafed. The military made up another pretext, saying there were fighters in the hospital, which also was proven to be false. The hospital and the Afghan government wanted an independent investigation, which the US blocked. We said "we" will investigate ourselves. Guess what they found. It was simply a mistake; no one was charged, tried or severely punished. This, by the way, is not an isolated event. The US has bombed several hospitals in the past, including a pediatric hospital in Iraq. Once might be an accident, but when there is a history of "accidents", something is wrong. Schools have been bombed, entire wedding parties have been obliterated and incinerated. All said to be "accidents", while at the same time bragging about how "smart" our bombs are. No one is ever held accountable for any of these countless horrific murders. The military is now viewed with awe. Years of groundwork have paved the way for the glorification of the military, and they are held high above any kind of law. They can do no wrong. But what happens, for example, to a school teacher who puts his/her hands a child? They are fired immediately and charged in court, as they should be. But police and the military can kill innocents, and not be held accountable. Meanwhile, back to the playground where the 12-year-old was gunned down by a renegade policeman. Our reverence for the military has carried over to anyone who wears a uniform. Most police recruits have a military background, have military weapons, and use military tactics against their own citizens. They can do no wrong; i.e. shooting down a 12-year-old. This is not an isolated example; just follow the Black Lives Matter movement for a few minutes, and you will conclude that blacks are just targets. A young man is simply walking down a stairwell, having done absolutely nothing wrong, and is gunned down by a policeman and no one is held accountable. An elderly man in CT accidentally triggered his Life Alert; the police show up, break down his door and shoot him to dead and no one is held accountable. A man is shot in cold blood while walking down a street having committed no crime. He is shot not just once, but 11 times. A man is shot 41 times by police in NYC. No officer was found to have did anything wrong. Space prevents me from continuing with the senseless slaughter by police. They are viewed as an extension of the military, and so, like the military, can do no wrong. How far we have strayed! It is too bad we have no appreciation for the history of mankind and the history of military forces. The military is so worshipped it consumes most of the available tax money. While cutting every social program possible, the military budget is increased every year. We spend more on the military and security than the rest of the world put together, while slashing all programs for people and infrastructure. This writer will undoubtedly be disparaged for distrusting the military, which proves the point of this article. Next time you watch a sporting event and see a "flyover" by machines that are designed to kill, stop and ask: What is the possible connection between a sporting event and a "flyover" by killing machines? The answer is simple. There isn't any, but it does reinforce the concept of reverence for the military. Most argue that "our" military will never use its power on its own people. Do you see what the police are doing? We are close. Where does it say the US military is an exception to all of human history? Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Wall Street Exchange remittance business grows 10% in 2015 http://newperspectivemedia.com/ Dubai, UAE, May 1, 2016:Wall Street Exchange, UAEs leading comprehensive money exchange service provider and a member of Emirates Post Group, has reported a 10 per cent growth in its remittance business for 2015, driven by its excellent customer service and best currency rates.The Chief Marketing and Support Services Officer of Wall Street Exchange, Sultan Al Mahmoud, said: We recorded a substantial 10% growth in the total value of remittance in 2015 compared to 2014. This indeed reflects the trust and confidence the customers continue to place on Wall Street Exchange.The top five expatriate nationalities in the UAE remitting money using Wall Street Exchange were Indians, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans.One of the primary reasons for growth in remittance is the increase in the number of expatriates sending money to their respective home countries. The weakening of various currencies against the US dollar encouraged more expatriates to remit money. Few currencies reached their lowest level, benefiting the expats by getting higher exchange rate, Al Mahmoud said.The ease of reaching our exchange centres and innovative kiosks, our highly efficient service, and our best currency exchange rates were among the main drivers for more people to come to Wall Street Exchange. They also found it convenient to use our multiple range of services such as credit card and utility bill payments when remitting money to their countries, he added.India took the first place on the list of Top 10 remittance receiving countries, with an estimated remittance of $72.2 billion in 2015, followed by China ($63.90 billion), and the Philippines ($29.7 billion), according to the World Bank Groups Migration and Remittances Fact book 2016. Pakistan was placed eight on the list with remittances of $20.1 billion, while Bangladesh took the 10th slot with $15.8 billion of money received.The World Bank report placed the UAE in the top 10 migrant destinations which included the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Spain and Australia.Al Mahmoud expects Wall Street Exchanges remittance business to record higher growth in 2016, referring to the statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation that states over 252,000 new work permits have been issued in the first two months of 2016.We positively see the trend being sustained as people continue to remit money. Despite the lower oil prices, the economy in the UAE is growing and with Expo 2020 within reach, more job opportunities will be available, he concluded.About Wall Street ExchangeWall Street Exchange, established in Dubai in 1982, is one of the first companies to provide comprehensive money exchange services in the UAE. The company has been providing a wide range of foreign exchange, money transfer and related services in the region for over 30 years.Wall Street's continued growth has allowed it to set up a worldwide network that includes offices in the UAE, UK and Hong Kong. With its global reach, local expertise and dedicated staff, Wall Street is the preferred choice for currency exchange and remittances. In addition, Wall Street provides other services such as credit card bill payments and cash advances, National Bonds, Air Arabia, Etisalat, Du, Ding, SEWA and much more.Ana Margarita EspineliNew Perspective MediaOffice No. 108, Al Owais BuildingAirport Road,Port Saeed, Dubai, U.A.E.Tel: (+971) 4 294 0755Mob: (+971) 56 7634292 Airport Infrastructure Investment in India is set to Grow by 2020 Airport Infrastructure Market http://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/airport-infrastructure-investment-in-india http://www.marketresearchengine.com/ New York, May 1: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Airport Infrastructure Investment in India (Infrastructure Investments, Projects, Airport, Airlines, & Associations) By Five Year Plans (12th Plan - 15th Plan): Trends & Forecast 2015-2020.Airport infrastructures are the part of economic development of the country. Airport transportation not only connects people, but also connects economies to the future development of global economy. The existence of airport infrastructure and associated ground infrastructure is an essential factor in the regional development. Aviation infrastructure needs to be developed to facilitate unconstrained growth of the aviation market. Many companies are looking to capitalize their investment into this emerging market.The Airport Infrastructure Market is a very competitive market, but has a lot of growth opportunities in India as it is set to become developed infrastructure in the next 10 years. The Airport Infrastructure total investment required is estimated to reach US$ 56,709.631 million by 2032 which includes Greenfield and Non-Greenfield Airport projects in India. Non-Greenfield airports hold a major share of 84.6% compared to Greenfield airports.Browse Full Report:Cities are separated by distance, but individual can easily travel between cities using various transportation. Nowadays, air travel for passenger has become more comfortable and cheaper due to growing tourism, increasing passengers and cargo traffic, and number of low cost carriers in India."The aviation industry is rapidly growing in India with increasing in number of visitors and Air traffic management. The passenger numbers are expected to triple over the next decade which will require massive investment in airport expansion and constructions.The Airport Infrastructure market is divided into Airports and Airlines. Again, the Airport market is analyzed by international airport, domestic airport and other operations. The Airlines segment contributes to majority of the market. The passenger and cargo traffic in India is expected to grow in next five years.For huge requirement of funds for the development of airport infrastructure and the financial constraints, the government has invited public private partnership model. With the rise in PPP projects in the next few years will be largely attributed to significant advantages such as better customer service, completion of projects on schedule and within budgets, reduced life-cycle maintenance costs, enhanced efficiency and cost savings including lower construction costs.Market DynamicsDrivers Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model Domestic, International and Cargo Traffic Increased Connecting Routes Across Countries Low Cost AirlinesRestraints Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities Inadequate RunwaysOpportunities Development of New Airports Employment in the CountryAbout USMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States Wind Power Receiving More Exposure after GWEC in April TRV Systems2nd May 2016Wind Power Receiving More Exposure after GWEC in AprilTRV Systems Chief Development Officer Mr Nickika Hasimoto has been looking at the recent developments in the Wind sector and offers up these comments after his attendance at the Global Wind Energy Council last month.Global wind energy capacity will nearly double in the next five years, largely led by further market growth in China, but also as a stronger industry emerges in the United States Cumulatively wind energy capacity was 433 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2015, a 17 per cent rise from the year before.That should nearly double to around 792 GW by the end of 2020 as countries develop more renewable energy to comply with emissions cut targets, prices continue to fall and policies to support wind power in the United States stabilize.Wind energy installed in 2015 reached 63 GW, a 22 per cent increase from the previous year. China alone installed nearly half of that new capacity 30.8 GW.In December last year in Paris, almost 200 countries agreed a landmark deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 with the aim of limiting global average temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.The Paris Agreement requires a fully decarbonized power system by 2050 if not before, if we are keeping temperatures below 2 C above pre-industrial levels, Steve Sawyer, GWEC Secretary General, said in a statement.Mr Nickika Hasimoto of TRV Systems added We are dedicated in our approach to renewable energy. Wind power is one of the most interesting renewables at the moment and should policies continue to change for the better, its a sector that should see much growth.New markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America are also emerging which will be sources of growth in the next decade.Outside of China, the Asian market will be led by India but new markets in Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Pakistan and Mongolia are also developing quickly.TRV Systems was established in 2007 as a solar energy solution, research, design and developmental technology company. They were founded in order to create an environment where innovative concepts could be nurtured and show growth. With the aim of bringing already developed inventions and in some cases already those already in production to the worldwide markets, they have expanded into a platform for entrepreneurs to bring forward their technologies or services to what is already, and continues to be a fast growing market. TRV Systems sources concepts and designs, and indeed conceptual designs, for innovative solar-reliant products. They work with engineers, analysts and development teams to grow, and thereby further incorporate into the present environment, the various forms of solar technology available to them.TRV Systems was established in 2007 as a solar energy solution, research, design and developmental technology company. They were founded in order to create an environment where innovative concepts could be nurtured and show growth. With the aim of bringing already developed inventions and in some cases already those already in production to the worldwide markets, they have expanded into a platform for entrepreneurs to bring forward their technologies or services to what is already, and continues to be a fast growing market. TRV Systems sources concepts and designs, and indeed conceptual designs, for innovative solar-reliant products.Imperial Tower,1-1-1, Uchisaiwai-cho,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 100-0011Japan Marketing Software and Solution Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016 - 2024 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10586 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Marketing software and solutions are software tools used by various enterprises to track the performance of marketing initiatives. Marketing software and solution enables marketing managers to evaluate the their marketing initiatives by measuring performance using important business metrics such as return on investment (ROI), marketing attribution, and overall marketing effectiveness.Features of Marketing Software and SolutionsTrack Marketing Initiative in Real TimeCompare a clients marketing activities with Its competitorsTracks competitors are spending natureComment and suggest measure on optimum utilization of resourceChange in the landscape of information technology industry and advent of social media platforms has created potential market for marketing software and solutions. These software solutions helps marketers to analyze the performance of its products in terms of hits that these products have received on digital platforms and its purchase scenario. In addition to this, marketing software and solutions also measures and analyzes customer lifetime value in the real-time. Although, these software solutions helps enterprise in taking real time decisions, they lack capabilities which can help enterprises to explore root-cause behind the triumph or catastrophe of a particular marketing campaign. To elucidate, these software and solutions can provide predictions and recommendations to a marketing team about a particular marketing campaign, however, does not provide key parameters taken into consideration for these predictions and recommendationsMarketing software and solution market on the basis of applications:Social Media Marketing:Social media marketing is the process of gaining traffic or attention on a website through social media sites. Social media marketing is generally deployed to attract leads of a particular product through various social networking channels. Social media marketing also enables business organizations to understand the consumer behavior.E-mail Marketing :E-mail marketing is about creating awareness about product and services by sending e-mails to prospective customers. This marketing channel is generally used to let prospective customers know about ongoing discount on a particular product of a company.SEO Marketing :Search engine optimization (SEO) marketing is a process of increasing the visibility of a website or a web page on a search engines results.PPC Marketing :Pay per click (PPC) marketing is a way of using search engine advertising is generating clicks for a particular website. Every time a products ad is clicked by users on various search engines, that particular product company pay small fee to search engines.Interested in report: Please follow the below the links to meet your requirements; Request for the Report Brochure:Regional OverviewIn North America region, marketing software and solution are emerging at a rapid pace and are assisting various technology companies in this region. Business organizations that are based in countries such as United States and Canada are aggressively adopting marketing software and solutions.Cloud based marketing software and solution have witnessed traction in its adoption in the Asia Pacific region. IBM is offering its cloud based social media analytics software in this region which provides information about customers sentiment in social media.With the rise of big data in the Europe region, marketing software and solutions are being adopted from many end-user organizations.In Latin America and Middle East and Africa regions, most of the business organizations are still reluctant to deploy marketing software and solution because of the high cost involved in it. In coming future, with increase in cloud based offerings, the adoption of marketing software and solution will also increase as cost associated with deployment of these will come down from cloud based offerings.IBM Corporation, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Accenture PLC, Oracle Corporation, SAS Institute Inc., Harte-Hanks Inc., and Pega-Systems are some of the major players of the market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Hydrogen Storage System Market 2016 Size, Shares, Outlook, Strategy, and Forecasts, 2016 to 2021 http://goo.gl/j6F616 http://goo.gl/nvZeAw http://www.intenseresearch.com/ The Report Titled 'Global and Chinese Hydrogen Storage System Market, 2016-2021 Industry Research Report' is a efficient and comprehensive study on the Present state of the global Hydrogen Storage System Market with a focus on the Chinese industry. The report provides key census on the market status of the Hydrogen Storage System Manufacturers and is a valuable source of instruction and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Get Free Sample Report of Hydrogen Storage System Market:Firstly, the report provides a basic analysis of the market including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report analyse the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product blueprint, scope, production cost, and 2011-2016 market shares for each company. Through the demographic analysis, the report illustrate the global and Chinese total market of Hydrogen Storage System industry including scope, manufacturing, manufacturing cost, value/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country region, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.The report then estimates 2016-2021 industry growth of Hydrogen Storage System industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream requirement, and current market gesture is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Hydrogen Storage System Industry before figure out its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2016-2021 global and Chinese Hydrogen Storage System market covering all important parameters.Get Full Table Of Content (Index) Of Hydrogen Storage System Market:Table Of Content Of Hydrogen Storage System Market:Chapter One Introduction of Hydrogen Storage System Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Hydrogen Storage System1.2 Development of Hydrogen Storage System Industry1.3 Status of Hydrogen Storage System IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Hydrogen Storage System2.1 Development of Hydrogen Storage System Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Hydrogen Storage System Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Hydrogen Storage System Manufacturing TechnologyChapter Three Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers3.1 Company A3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Product Information3.1.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.1.4 Contact Information3.2 Company B3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Product Information3.2.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.2.4 Contact Information3.3 Company C3.2.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Product Information3.3.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.3.4 Contact Information3.4 Company D3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Product Information3.4.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.4.4 Contact Information3.5 Company E3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Product Information3.5.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.5.4 Contact Information3.6 Company F3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Product Information3.5.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.6.4 Contact Information3.7 Company G3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Product Information3.7.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.7.4 Contact Information3.8 Company H3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Product Information3.8.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.8.4 Contact InformationIntense Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Intense Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@intenseresearch.comWeb: Global Visible Light Communication Market: Increased Investment in Research and Development Activities Boosts Market in Asia Pacific http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=5909 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/visible-light-communication-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com According to a recent market research report published by Transparency Market Research, the global visible light communication market is estimated to take a leap at a CAGR of 109.2% during the period between 2015 and 2022. The report, titled Visible Light Communication Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2022, forecasts the global visible light communication market to be worth US$113.2 bn by 2022. The overall market was valued at US$267.6 mn in 2014.Visible light communication technology, better known as VLC, utilizes visible light in the range of 400-800 THz as a communication medium. VLC technology implements light-emitting diodes (LEDs) from a number of sources such as monitors, indoor and outdoor lighting, television, and other consumer electronic devices for the purpose of communication. The report points out that targeted advertisement and location-based services are driving the global visible light communication market. VLC technology is biologically safe and offers higher energy efficiency and lower interference than the usual RF communication channels. These advantages have driven the adoption of VLC network across sectors such as healthcare.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical insights:However, the report notes that technical anomalies in VLC such as non-uniformity in standardization, difficulties in transmitting and receiving at the same time with the same module, and difficulty of upgrading existing LED lighting for VLC compatibility will restrain the growth of the global visible light communication market. The overall market has a huge opportunity to grow with technological advancements. Increased use of energy-efficient LED across various applications and integration of VLC systems in connected devices will boost the markets growth prospects during the forecast horizon.On the basis of end-use application, the report segments the global visible light communication market into underwater communication, retail indoor positioning (location-based services), hospitality, connected devices, automobile and transport, in-flight communication/ infotainment, light-based internet, and other applications. Retail indoor positioning was the largest segment in 2014 and accounted for a 57.5% share in market revenue in 2014. In terms of data rate, the report categorizes the market into data rates up to 1 Mb/s and above 1 Mb/s. Demand for VLC units functioning at data rates up to 1 Mb/s and at distances up to 10 m dominated the market in 2014.Browse Full Research Report With Complete TOC @The report studies the visible light communication market across five key regions: Latin America, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. In 2014, North America was the largest market for visible light communication and held a 43.4% share in the overall market revenue. However, during the forecast horizon, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing market for visible light communication owing to the increased investment in research and development activities in countries such as Korea, Japan, and China.The report profiles some of the key players in the global visible light communication market such as ByteLight Inc. (Acuity Brands, Inc.), pureLiFi Ltd., Nakagawa Laboratories Inc., Axrtek, Inc., General Electric Lighting (General Electric Company), Koninklijke Philips N.V., Outstanding Technology Co. Ltd., Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, LVX System, and Lightbee Corp.Global Visible Light Communication Market has been segmented as:Global Visible Light Communication Market, by End-User ApplicationRetail indoor positioningUnderwater communicationHospitalityAutomotive and transportConnected devicesIn-flight communication/ infotainmentLight based internetOthersGlobal Visible Light Communication Market, by Data RateUp to 1 Mb/sAbove 1 Mb/sGlobal Visible Light Communication Market, by Geography:North AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Mr.Sudip S90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Regenerative Medicine Market Set to Lead in Forthcoming Years http://bit.ly/1MxBXnL http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/regenerative-medicines-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Regenerative medicine consists of several techniques and processes used to rebuild lost tissues in the body. It is a fairly new development in the healthcare sector and has only recently grown to a global scale. Thanks to steady advances in medical technology over the past few years, the growth of the regenerative medicines market has been swift. The increased convenience they present to both patients and doctors has resulted in growing demand for the same.Download PDF Brochure:Transparency Market Research, a leading market intelligence company, has predicted that the global regenerative medicine will reach a total valuation of about US$6.5 bn by 2019, at a 12.8% CAGR from 2013.Currently, North America and Europe lead the global regenerative medicine market, thanks to the strong healthcare infrastructure in countries such as the U.S., Canada, and most EU countries. The affluence of the average consumer in these countries has also helped the regenerative medicines market thrive in these regions.In the coming years, though, Asia Pacific is expected to rise to the forefront in the global regenerative medicines market. The rapid development of countries such as China, India, and South Korea, allied to existing major economies such as Japan and Australia will allow regenerative medicine manufacturers to establish a strong supply chain in this region. Due to the demonstrable benefits of regenerative medicine, governments in several regions have started to provide public support for regenerative medicine programs such as stem cell research, development of biomaterials, and tissue engineering.In July 2015, the city of Gamagori in Japans Aichi Prefecture became the first in the country to have a government-run local hospital with a Certified Special Committee for Regenerative Medicine. This is expected to provide a boost to the rising medical technology sector in the city. Many cities and government hospitals in Japan could adopt the same supportive attitude if Gamagoris venture goes well.Stem cell therapy is a major part of the regenerative medicines market. However, usage of stem cells is shrouded in ethical issues, due to the unfortunate association in public perception between stem cell usage and abortion. As a result, adult stem cells have grown prominent in the stem cell research sector in recent years. Rising acknowledgment of the importance of stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine will help regenerative medicine researchers overcome this barrier.Browse Research Report:The risk of post-implant rejection of biomaterials and engineered tissue is also an important factor in regenerative medicine procedures. Since regenerative medicine is necessarily bioactive, there is a risk of the patients body rejecting the foreign object. This risk has been minimized to a great degree over the years, but still remains a significant restraint on the regenerative medicines market. However, this is expected to be a heavily researched topic in the coming years and a viable solution is sure to be found, ensuring steady development of the global regenerative medicines market in the coming years.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactMr.Sudip SState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Geriatric Care Services Market to Reach US$850 bn by the end of 2019 due to Paucity of Nursing Homes in Developing Countries http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2558 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/geriatric-care-services-market.html Transparency Market Research has published a new research report that offers a holistic view of the global geriatric care services market. According to the research report, titled Geriatric Care Services Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, the market shows a positive growth trend due to several reasons. Research analysts have studied this market using SWOT analysis to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the market. Additionally, the research report uses Porters five forces analysis to shed light on the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitute products or services, the bargaining power of customers (buyers), the bargaining power of suppliers, and the intensity of competitive rivalry.Get Free Sample Research Report:According to the research report, the global geriatric care services market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 5.90% from 2013 to 2019 to reach a figure of US$850 bn by the end of 2019. The global geriatric care services market is expected to grow due to the convenience they offer and the cost-efficient solutions they come with. Furthermore, the lack of nursing home options in developing countries will also fuel the home care services segment in the coming years.The global geriatric care services market is segmented on the basis of type and geography. The types of geriatric care services in the global market are home care, adult day care, and institutional care. The home care segment is further divided into health care and non-medical care. The health care is inclusive of medical care, telehealth, physiotherapy services, palliative care, and hospice care, whereas the non-medical home care sub-segment includes personal care, meals and grocery, home making, rehabilitation, and others. The adult day care segment is composed of non-medical care and health care. The institutional care segment is sub-segmented into nursing homes, hospital-based, assisted living, and independent senior living. The nursing home sub-segment includes hospice care and palliative care.Geographically, this market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Of all the regions, North America is expected to dominate the global geriatric care services market in the coming years. This regions success will be closely followed by Europe.The research report on the global geriatric care services market offers a complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the market. It profiles some of the key players in this market such as GGNSC Holdings LLC, Amedisys Inc., Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Genesis HealthCare LLC, Home Instead Senior Care Inc., Gentiva Health Services Inc., Senior Care Centers of America, Sunrise Senior Living LLC, Kindred Healthcare Inc., Extendicare Health Services Inc., and Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. The research also shares a comprehensive overview of the global geriatric care services market by sharing details pertaining to the financial overview, research and development activities, business and marketing strategies, and investment outlook of the key companies for the near future.Full Research Report on Global Geriatric Care Services Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Global Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals Consumption 2016 Market Opportunities and Growth Drivers http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/713098 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressreleases http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals Consumption 2016 Market Research Report provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"DescriptionThe Global Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals Consumption 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals market.First, the report provides a basic overview of the Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Secondly, the report states the global Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals market size (volume and value), and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies are also discussed.Third, the Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals market analysis is provided for major regions including USA, Europe, China and Japan, and other regions can be added. For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Download Detail Report With Complete TOC at:Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.1 Definition and Specifications of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.1.1 Definition of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.1.2 Specifications of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.2 Classification of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.3 Applications of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.5.1 Industry Overview of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals1.7 Industry News Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals3 3 Global Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales and Sale Price Analysis of NuclearMedicine/Radiopharmaceuticals3.1 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) and Growth Rate of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals 2011-20163.2 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Regions 2011-20163.3 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Types 2011-20163.4 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Applications 2011-20163.5 Global Sales Volume and Sales Revenue of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Companies 2011-20163.6 Global Sale Price of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Regions 2011-20163.7 Global Sale Price of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Types 2011-20163.8 Global Sale Price of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Applications 2011-20163.9 Global Sale Price of Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals by Companies 2011-2016Browse all latest Press Releases of Market Research Reportsat:About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports.MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients.We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated researchreports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and typesof companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. Nachiket90 Sate Street,Suite 700 Albany,NY 12207 USATel: +1-518-621-2074Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Sterilization Technologies Consumption 2016 Industry shared in News Research Report http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/713100 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressreleases http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Sterilization Technologies Consumption 2016 Market Research Report provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"DescriptionThe Global Sterilization Technologies Consumption 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Sterilization Technologies market.First, the report provides a basic overview of the Sterilization Technologies industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Secondly, the report states the global Sterilization Technologies market size (volume and value), and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies are also discussed.Third, the Sterilization Technologies market analysis is provided for major regions including USA, Europe, China and Japan, and other regions can be added. For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Sterilization Technologies industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Download Detail Report With Complete TOC at:Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Sterilization Technologies1.1 Definition and Specifications of Sterilization Technologies1.1.1 Definition of Sterilization Technologies1.1.2 Specifications of Sterilization Technologies1.2 Classification of Sterilization Technologies1.3 Applications of Sterilization Technologies1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Sterilization Technologies1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Sterilization Technologies1.5.1 Industry Overview of Sterilization Technologies1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Sterilization Technologies1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Sterilization Technologies1.7 Industry News Analysis of Sterilization Technologies2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Sterilization Technologies2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Sterilization Technologies2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Sterilization Technologies2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Sterilization Technologies2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Sterilization Technologies2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Sterilization Technologies2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Sterilization Technologies3 3 Global Market Size (Volume and Value), Sales and Sale Price Analysis of Sterilization Technologies3.1 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) and Growth Rate of Sterilization Technologies 2011-20163.2 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Sterilization Technologies by Regions 2011-20163.3 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Sterilization Technologies by Types 2011-20163.4 Global Market Size (Volume and Value) of Sterilization Technologies by Applications 2011-20163.5 Global Sales Volume and Sales Revenue of Sterilization Technologies by Companies 2011-20163.6 Global Sale Price of Sterilization Technologies by Regions 2011-20163.7 Global Sale Price of Sterilization Technologies by Types 2011-20163.8 Global Sale Price of Sterilization Technologies by Applications 2011-20163.9 Global Sale Price of Sterilization Technologies by Companies 2011-2016Browse all latest Press Releases of Market Research Reportsat:About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports.MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients.We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated researchreports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and typesof companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. Nachiket90 Sate Street,Suite 700 Albany,NY 12207 USATel: +1-518-621-2074Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Cosmetic Implant Market : Industry Size, Growth, Share, Analysis and Forecast 2022 Brisk Insights http://www.briskinsights.com/report/global-cosmetic-implant-market-forecast-2012-2022 http://www.briskinsights.com/category/personal-care-industry http://www.briskinsights.com/ According to a recently published report, the Global Cosmetic Implant Market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 7.1% during 2015-2022 and it estimated to be $3.7 billion by 2022. The global Cosmetic Implant market is segmented on the basis of type, industry applications and geography. The report on Global Cosmetic Implant Market Forecast 2012-2022 provides detailed overview and predictive analysis of the market.Globally Cosmetic implant market highly adopted products are metal implant, breast implant, biological implant, ceramic implant and polymer implant. Global cosmetic implants market is expected to grow significantly as the cosmetic surgeries and prevalence rate cosmetic implants are increasing globally. Increase in plastic surgeries rate is the key driver for the global cosmetic implant market globally. Increasing adoption of minimally invasive surgeries are creating high opportunities for the cosmetic implant market globally over the forecasted period. Increasing awareness for the global cosmetic implants will witness high growth in the global market over the forecasted period. However increase in medical tourism is also responsible for the fast growth of cosmetic implant market globally. In the developing countries like India, China, Japan and South Korea is expected to contribute significantly over the forecasted period. APCA is expected to witness fastest growth among all geographies. The demand of cosmetic implants are in application segment is expected to witness high growth over the forecasted period. The increase in 3D printing technology is one of the key factor responsible for fast growth of global cosmetic implant market.Browse Full Report with Toc :The major players profiled in the report include 3M health care, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Technologies (AART) Inc, Allergan, Inc., Carefusion Corporation, DENTSPLY International, Inc., Covidien PLC (Medtronic Inc), GC Aesthetics, Implantech Associates, Inc, Institut Straumann AG, GE healthcare, Mentor Worldwide LLC, Nobel Biocare Holding AG, Sientra, Inc And so on. Innovation and R&D are the key winning strategy of the market.Scope of the Report1. Global cosmetic implant by type market 2012-2022 ($ billion)1.1. Biological Implants1.2. Metal Implants1.3. Ceramics Implants1.4. Polymer ImplantsBrowse here for all category Reports :2. Global cosmetic implant by application market 2012-2022 ($ billion)2.1. Breast Implants2.1.1. Saline-Filled Breast Implants2.1.2. Silicone-Filled Breast Implants2.2. Facial Implants2.3. Dental Implants2.3.1. Titanium Dental Implants2.3.2. Zirconium Dental Implants2.3. Other Implants3. Global cosmetic implant industry, regional outlook 2012-2022 ($ billion)3.3. North America3.4. Europe3.5. Asia Pacific3.6. Middle East & Africa3.7. Central & South America4. Competitive Landscape4.1. 3M health care4.2. Aesthetic and Reconstructive Technologies (AART) Inc4.3. Allergan, Inc.4.4. Carefusion corporation4.5. DENTSPLY International, Inc.4.6. Covidien PLC (Medtronic Inc)4.7. GC Aesthetics4.8. Implantech Associates, Inc4.9. Institut Straumann AG4.10. GE healthcare4.11. Mentor Worldwide LLC4.12. Nobel Biocare Holding AG4.13. Sientra, Inc.4.14. Spectrum Designs Medical4.15. International Biomedical Inc.4.16. Philips Healthcare4.17. Roche Holdings Inc4.18. Siemens4.19. Arion laboratories4.20. CereplasContact Us :Jennifer SmithOffice 1094109 Vernon HouseFriar LaneNottinghamNG1 6DQUnited KingdomPhone : +448081890034 (UK)Email : sales@briskinsights.comWebsite :About Us :Brisk Insights is a global market research firm. Our insightful analysis is focused on developed and emerging markets. We identify trends and forecast markets with a view to aid businesses identify market opportunities optimize strategies.Working in a highly dynamic and multi-dimensional business makes decision making complex. Effective business decisions are a result of the synthesis of market information. Our Research and data analysis is an efficient and cost-effective way of providing robust market analysis and can yield highly valuable intelligence relating to consumers, competitors and markets.Office 1094109 Vernon HouseFriar LaneNottingham Latest Research Report on Anterior Uveitis - Pipeline Review Market Analysis 2016 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=713869 http://www.researchmoz.us/anterior-uveitis-pipeline-review-h1-2016-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=713869 Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Anterior Uveitis - Pipeline Review, H1 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.Anterior Uveitis - Pipeline Review, H1 2016, provides an overview of the Anterior Uveitis pipeline landscape.The report provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Anterior Uveitis, complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The report also covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases. Additionally, the report provides an overview of key players involved in therapeutic development for Anterior Uveitis and features dormant and discontinued projects.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Markets Directs report features investigational drugs from across globe covering over 20 therapy areas and nearly 3,000 indications. The report is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Directs proprietary databases, company/university websites, clinical trial registries, conferences, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources. Drug profiles featured in the report undergoes periodic review following a stringent set of processes to ensure that all the profiles are updated with the latest set of information. Additionally, various dynamic tracking processes ensure that the most recent developments are captured on a real time basis.The report helps in identifying and tracking emerging players in the market and their portfolios, enhances decision making capabilities and helps to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage.Scope- The report provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Anterior Uveitis- The report reviews pipeline therapeutics for Anterior Uveitis by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources- The report covers pipeline products based on various stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages- The report features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which includes, product description, descriptive MoA, R&D brief, licensing and collaboration details & other developmental activities- The report reviews key players involved Anterior Uveitis therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects- The report assesses Anterior Uveitis therapeutics based on drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type- The report summarizes all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects- The report reviews latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Anterior UveitisBrowse Detail Report With TOC @Reasons to buy- Gain strategically significant competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies- Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage- Identify and understand important and diverse types of therapeutics under development for Anterior Uveitis- Identify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic- Develop strategic initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies- Plan mergers and acquisitions effectively by identifying key players and its most promising pipeline therapeutics- Devise corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Anterior Uveitis pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics- Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope- Modify the therapeutic portfolio by identifying discontinued projects and understanding the factors that drove them from pipelineTable of ContentsTable of Contents 2List of Tables 4List of Figures 4Introduction 5Global Markets Direct Report Coverage 5Anterior Uveitis Overview 6Therapeutics Development 7Pipeline Products for Anterior Uveitis - Overview 7Anterior Uveitis - Therapeutics under Development by Companies 8Anterior Uveitis - Pipeline Products Glance 9Late Stage Products 9Clinical Stage Products 10Early Stage Products 11Anterior Uveitis - Products under Development by Companies 12Anterior Uveitis - Companies Involved in Therapeutics Development 13Aciont Inc. 13Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc. 14Delenex Therapeutics AG 15EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 16Kineta, Inc. 17Neuroptis Biotech 18Virogenomics BioDevelopment, Inc. 19Anterior Uveitis - Therapeutics Assessment 20Assessment by Monotherapy Products 20Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.us Blood Collection Tubes Market Continues Unopposed! http://bit.ly/1rN3f09 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research Blood Collection Tubes Market - North America Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023, the North America Blood Collection Tubes market was valued at USD 300.8 million in 2014 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2015 to 2023 to reach USD 632.1 million by 2023.Download PDF Brochure:Blood is a vital component of the body and is used routinely in a wide range of hospital procedures. Every year millions of units of blood are donated globally and used in necessary transplantation, cancer therapies, and accident victims and for patients undergoing other forms of surgeries. Blood plays a unique role in life saving, but can also be a potential vector for infectious diseases and sometimes proves to be fatal. With the increasing prevalence of diseases, blood is a major biological sample for diagnostic purposes across the globe. Thus, blood collection is an important for diagnostics, in surgeries and for transfusion procedures.Considerable amount of blood is collected every year for various medical purposes. It is estimated that in USA every year more than 18 million units of blood is transfused for the treatment of various hematologic diseases such as leukemia, anemia and sickle cell diseases. Blood and its components play a major role during the diagnosis and treatment procedures. Blood component therapy also plays a critical role in early diagnosis of various diseases such as dengue, cancer and thalassemia. It has also been cited that many surgeries get cancelled due to defects in blood collection equipment. Thus, collectively, the demand for blood and blood components have driven the growth prospects for development of improved blood collection equipment including blood collection tubes.The demand for blood collection tubes is continuously increasing in the developed regions such as North America due to rise in aging population and prevalence of diseases, as blood testing is required in diagnostics. Moreover, increasing government initiatives and reimbursement policies have propelled the market for blood collection tubes in North America.The North America blood collection tubes market is segmented by tube type and by geography. The market by tube type includes serum separating tubes, plasma separating tubes, EDTA tubes, heparin tubes, rapid serum tubes and other tubes. The serum separating tubes account for considerable share of the market. Geographically, the market has been studied and estimated for North America region including the U.S. and Canada.Major players in this market are Becton, Dickinson & Company (U.S.), Greiner Group AG (Austria), Sarstedt AG & Co. (Germany), QIAGEN N.V. (Germany), Terumo Corporation (Japan) and FL Medical srl (Italy).About UsTransparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.ContactMr. Sudip. S90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: The Global Cyber Security Market 2015-2025 - Competitive Landscape and Strategic Insights: Market Profile By MarketResearchReports.biz http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/505146 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ MarketResearchReports.Biz announces addition of new report The Global Cyber Security Market 2015-2025 - Competitive Landscape and Strategic Insights: Market Profile to its database.DescriptionThis report shows the leading Cyber Security market segments in various regions across the world. Details of top companies active across the global Cyber Security market are provided, together with market size and forecast 2015-2025 for the main players across those areas.Key FindingsThe report provides a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape of the Cyber Security market. It provides an overview of key Cyber Security companies catering to the Cyber Security sector, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives and a brief financial analysis.ReasonsToBuy"The Global Cyber Security Market 2015-2025 - Competitive Landscape and Strategic Insights: Market Profile" allows you to:Gain insight into the competitive landscape of the global Cyber Security market.Provides detailed company profiles of leading Cyber Security companies and related systems manufacturing companies across the world.Analyse the activity of key Cyber Security companies, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives, and a brief financial analysis.Download Sample Copy of This Report at:List of FiguresFigure 1: Lockheed Martin Corporation Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 2: Lockheed Martin Corporation Operating Profit (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 3: Lockheed Martin Corporation Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 4: Booz Allen Hamilton Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 5: Booz Allen Hamilton Operating Profit (US$ million), 20102014Figure 6: Booz Allen Hamilton Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ million), 20102014Figure 7: CACI Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 8: CACI Operating Profit (US$ million), 20102014Figure 9: CACI Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ million), 20102014Figure 10: Raytheon Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 11: Raytheon Operating Profit (US$ million), 20102014Figure 12: Raytheon Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ million), 20102014Figure 13: Northrop Grumman Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 14: Northrop Grumman Operating Profit (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 15: Northrop Grumman Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 16: Check Point Software Technologies Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 17: Check Point Software Technologies Operating Profit (US$ million), 20102014Figure 18: Check Point Software Technologies Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ million), 20102014Figure 19: General Dynamics Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 20: General Dynamics Operating Profit (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 21: General Dynamics Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 22: Mantech International Corporation Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 23: Mantech International Corporation Operating Profit (US$ million), 20102014Figure 24: Mantech International Corporation Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ million), 20102014Figure 25: Thales Revenue Trend Analysis (US$ billion), 20102014Figure 26: Thales Operating Profit (US$ million), 20102014Figure 27: Thales Net Profit Trend Analysis (US$ million), 20102014About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports.MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients.We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated researchreports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and typesof companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Suisse Trade Holding Trade Seminar in Tokyo in December 2016 www.suissetrade.com Suisse Trade is a full-fledged Forex trading firm that is renowned worldwide for rendering clients with the best assistance in commodity and Forex based trading. The company has been consistently successful in presenting clients with the most formidable instruments to trade in currency and commodities markets. The tasks undertaken by the company also involve spot and cash trades, limited risk options on futures as well as contracts. It has always attended to the requirements and needs of the individual client trader.The company has presented course advice in trading as well as introduction to offshore clearinghouses. As a professional financial advisory, Suisse trade has provided clients with 24-hour market information along with access via state-of-the-art education and trading platform. All quotes rendered by the company are in real time.Commodity trading has never been a fluent process for most investors, primarily due to the volatility involved in the process. As a non-mechanical function in the process of several financial transactions, Suisse Trade has played a prominent part in assisting the clients with optimal services in managing their commodity and foreign exchange transactions. Specialists from this company have demonstrated an unswerving record of accomplishment in rendering clients with the best assistance in managing their financial portfolio.Suisse trade provides its clients access to the largest markets worldwide along with offering limited risk options trading for those who do not want to associate with risks in their futures trading. The company has hundreds of years of combined experience, with the best trading advisors ready to assist clients in entering and exiting the markets. The management will be now be extending their valuable information on its interbank pricing features at the upcoming Forex symposium in Tokyo. The trade seminar will be held in Tokyo Japan on December 11, 2016. Tickets will be available for purchase in early August.At this Forex trade summit, traders will be able to interact with some of the most renowned foreign exchange traders from all over the globe, to learn certain strategies and information on the most formidable trading platforms. Mark Stone will be discussing option trading strategies, whereas Daniel Lloyd, who will be flying from the U.K, will discuss the Euro/US currency pair and will talk about benefiting from the existing volatile scenario in the market. James Brisco will be explaining how to trade in the energy sector safely, whereas Bill Forte and William Davies will be in a live trading demo. Richard Owen and Matthew Redfield would make celebrity appearances and signing autographs. Katrina Moore will be assisting with new account setup and branding for firms looking to expand with Global leaders. James Freudman will be introducing the newest trading platform that will be launched at the seminar.This venue meet will present viewers with several advancements in trading credentials and newly launched charting software. Visitfor further queries.Suisse Trade is a reliable Forex trading firm situated in Costa Rica, catering to a global clientele in providing the most formidable services in Forex and commodity trading. The company is recognized as one of the best financial advisory services on the global domain.Building 7, Oficentro La Sabana,San Jose, Costa Rica,220112Phone : 8444784773Fax : 8444784773 SRMA tackles compliance issues at May Roundtable event The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA) invites its manufacturing members and businesspeople interested in membership to attend its Manufacturers Roundtable meeting focused on compliance issues from 8 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at Storm Smart Industries, 6182 Idlewild Street in Fort Myers.Guest speaker Kristen Chardo, owner of EHS Specialists, LLC, will help attendees sort out the alphabet soup, from OSHA to EPA. What impact does the FDA have in your industry? Is it time for your company to consider ISO certification?Chardo brings 20 years of environmental and safety consulting experience, including service as a former regulator and leadership in automotive and aerospace manufacturing, retail warehousing and power generation. Her company also implements improvements for her clients to reduce injuries and workers' compensation premiums.SRMA manufacturer members will also offer their experiences and insight at this informal learning experience to open an ongoing dialog. The meeting is free to attend, but registration in advance is required. RSVP to Peter Bagwell at peter.bagwell@gmail.com or (239) 362-0385.To discover the many benefits of membership in SRMA for manufacturers and affiliate businesses, visit srma.net.About the Southwest Regional Manufacturers AssociationThe purpose and objective of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association is to bring together manufacturers to encourage the economic development of Southwest Florida through manufacturing, and to act as a forum for the expression and exchange of ideas and information among its members. The SRMA provides the platform to promote the general welfare of our members in relation to economic, civic, and educational challenges. We encourage the cooperative interchange of information and assistance in all matters of mutual interest, fostering social relationships and community involvement among our membership. Visit srma.net for more information.CONRIC PR6216 Whiskey Creek DrSuite BFort Myers, FL 33919 Global Market for MEMS in Medical Applications to Reach US$6.5 bn by 2019, Rising Preference for Home-Based Healthcare to Drive Growth http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1528 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/mems-medical-applications.html A research study on the global market for MEMS in medical applications, recently published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), estimates this market to register an exceptional CAGR of 20.20% during the period from 2013 to 2019 and attain a market value of US$6.5 bn by the end of the forecast period.Download Report Brochure:According to the study, the rising preference of home-based healthcare over hospitals has stimulated the demand for MEMS in medical application significantly over the past few years. The escalating demand for precision, as well as miniaturization of medical devices, and the increasing need for lab automation are also propelling the market for MEMS in medical applications across the world.In this report, the worldwide market for MEMS in medical applications has been studied on the basis of application, sensor, end user, and region. As per the study, therapeutic devices are likely to emerge as the biggest application area of MEMS in the medical and healthcare sector over the forecast period due to the extensive utilization of intrathecal pumps and insulin delivery pumps.Based on the type of sensor, the pressure sensors segment led the overall market with a total value of US$486 mn in 2012. Analysts at TMR expect this segment to post an impressive growth at a CAGR of 18.70% during the forecast period.Home-based healthcare, hospitals, and healthcare research organizations are the prime end users of MEMS in medical applications, states the study.The research report regionally segments the global market for MEMS in medical applications into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. North America dominated the global market in 2012 with an overall value of US$800 mn.Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is projected to witness the highest CAGR of more than 20.0% during the forecast period. The increasing pool of diabetic patients, coupled with the rising disposable income of people in this region and their changing lifestyle, is the key factor, expected to drive the Asia Pacific market for MEMS in medical applications in the coming years.The advancements in the economy and the increasing number of reformative government actions for the betterment of healthcare infrastructure in this region are also predicted to support the growth of this market significantly in Asia Pacific, notes the study.Some of the prominent players operating in the global market for MEMS in medical applications are Texas Instruments Inc., STMicroelectronics, Royal Philips Electronics NV, Measurement Specialties, Honeywell Sensing and Control, GE Measurement and Control, Freescale Semiconductor Inc., and Analog Devices Inc., states the research report.Browse Full Report:The global market for MEMS in medical applications is segmented into:By ApplicationDiagnostic DevicesMonitoring DevicesSurgical DevicesTherapeutic DevicesBy Type of SensorPressure SensorsTemperature SensorsFlow SensorsAccelerometersOptical Image SensorsMicro dispensers for drug deliveryMicrofluidic ChipsSilicon MicrophonesOthersAbout Us:-Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Mr.Sudip.STransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Highly sensitive measurement of ionic residues on electronic PCBAs Ion Chromatography: Highly sensitive measurement of ionic residues on electronic PCBAs Recently, ZESTRON expanded its comprehensive analytical methods by adding Ion Chromatography. This highly sensitive analytical method, provides a detailed report of anions, cations and weak organic acids present on PCBAs according to IPC-TM-650. Thereby, critical substances such as bromide or chloride and their amount can be determined.Compared to simpler measuring methods such as Contaminometer or Omegameter, where only the whole ion content as equivalent to sodium chlorid is built, the ion chromatography provides a quantitative and qualitative measurement of single ions. Potential failures such leakage currents, electrochemical migration or corrosion of cupper contacts can be assessed.The ion chromatography is suitable for both, the evidence of cleanliness after soldering according to guideline and to qualify surfaces after cleaning respectively before coating or bond processes.Headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany, ZESTRON a business division of Dr. O.K. Wack Chemie GmbH, is the globally leading provider of high precision cleaning products, services and comprehensive solutions in the electronics industry. With seven technical centers worldwide, cleaning trials can be replicated to the processes conducted on customer sites.It is ZESTRONs philosophy to develop cleaning products that are innovative and unprecedented in the industry, thereby ensuring that our customers always remain one step ahead. More than 20% of ZESTRONs staff is dedicated to our extensive research and development programs, with more than 10% of profit reinvested in this sector. As the innovation leader, we are fully committed to providing the most cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions while meeting all other aspects of cleanliness, reliability and safety requirements.ZESTRON Europe... a Business Division of Dr. O.K. Wack Chemie GmbHFranz WutzBunsenstrae 685053 Ingolstadt New Upgrades Boost Performance of Print Head Doctor Machines The new Print Head Doctor 13 is the latest model in the line of Connected PHD print head cleaning machines that can be controlled from an Android smartphone or a tablet. Currently available on Google Play, the app connects to the PHD machines via Bluetooth and allows complete remote control of all machine functions, diagnostics, and creation of customized cleaning cycles. It also allows taking pictures of the print head condition and saves the print head cleaning progress log into the cloud for easy access by the users.Now the creators of Print Head Doctor are releasing new upgrades to improve the user experience. Print Head Doctor 11, 12 and 13 are now available with optional high-performance pumps made by the world leader in diaphragm pumps KNF Neuberger, Switzerland. The new pumps increase the flow rate and the maximum pressure of the system, allowing a more efficient print head cleaning. The pumps are extremely reliable and chemically tolerant, with the life expectancy of several years.Furthermore, a 75 kHz ultrasonic tank upgrade is available with a higher sonic frequency that will not damage even the most sensitive print heads while cleaning. With programmable output power from 12-50 Watts, it gives the user a finer control over the amount of ultrasound delivered to the print head.Using Print Head Doctor machines can users save thousands of dollars associated with print head cleaning and replacement fees.Digital Sign Technologies Inc., with over 15 years in the wide-format printing industry, has redesigned its flagship product Print Head Doctor to be controlled from mobile devices and connected to the cloud. They are adding new upgrade options to their machines to improve the user experience.3585 Laird Rd. Unit #8Mississauga, OntarioL5L 5Z8 Kenneth Bae Kenneth Bae, a U.S. citizen who was detained in North Korea for two years, talks during an interview, Monday, May 2, 2016 in New York. The Christian missionary and pastor moved to China in 2006 and began leading tours to North Korea in 2010. He was arrested in 2012 while leading a tour group to a special economic zone and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for alleged anti-government activities. His book, "Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea," is being published by W Publishing Group, an imprint of HarperCollins. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (Mark Lennihan/The Associated Press) Kenneth Bae knew he was in trouble when he opened his briefcase for a North Korean customs official and saw a computer hard drive he meant to leave behind in China. He had no idea how much trouble: He would go on to spend the next two years in detention, including in a labor camp where he was ordered to plant soybeans in sweltering heat and dig sewage lines in frozen ground. As difficult as that time was, he says, it also gave him a greater understanding of the isolated nation. "Even though I was in and out of North Korea 17 times prior to that, I only stayed a short period," he said in an interview ahead of the Tuesday release of his memoir. "By staying as a prisoner for two years, I learned their culture, their way of thinking, how the ordinary people live in their day-to-day lives." "Not Forgotten: The True Story of My Imprisonment in North Korea" is appearing as North Korea holds two other Americans in custody. One, Kim Dong Chul, was sentenced last Friday to 10 years of hard labor on charges of espionage and subversion. North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government. Outsiders say North Korea seeks to use its U.S. detainees to wring concessions from Washington. Bae, 47, of Dallas, was born in Seoul and came to the United States with his family in 1985. After attending the University of Oregon and a seminary in St. Louis, he moved to China in 2006, where he began missionary work. In 2010, he began leading small tour groups into North Korea. The hard drive that landed him in custody contained files about his missionary work as well as a documentary video showing emaciated North Korean children scrounging in the dirt for something to eat -- materials the North Korean officials considered subversive. Agents brought him to a hotel in northeastern North Korea. There, he writes, he was held in seclusion for the next month as officials grilled him about his family, about who had sent him to the country, who had given him the files and why he was in North Korea. He was given little to eat -- generally a few bites of rice and some wilted vegetables, he says -- and was forced to watch government propaganda every evening, but was not beaten, he says. He eventually confessed one of the documents was a plan for what he described as "Operation Jericho," an effort to bring tourists into North Korea to pray and spread the love of God. They would not have openly evangelized, but he had hoped that the "walls" isolating North Koreans from the rest of the world would come crumbling down, as the walls of Jericho fell in the Bible story. North Korean officials did not understand the plan's metaphorical nature, and he struggled to explain that he wasn't trying to actually overthrow the government, he writes. The government sentenced him to 15 years in prison, but his weak health -- including a bad back, diabetes and gallstones -- made it difficult for him to perform hard labor. He spent some of his time resting in a hospital room. Bae said the worst parts of his detention were knowing his family was worrying constantly about him and not knowing what the White House might be doing to try to free him. In 2014, following negotiations handled with the help of the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Klapper traveled to retrieve him, along with another detained American, Matthew Miller. He relied heavily on his faith, reading Bible verses and praying until he came to realize that he could serve as a missionary even while in custody, he writes. He came to know several of his captors and sought openings where he could talk to them about their lives, the U.S. and Christianity. They were astonished to hear of how common it is for Westerners to own cars or their own homes, he writes, and he was amazed at aspects of North Korean life -- such as when his captors drove him across the country to Pyongyang in a snowstorm. Over a stretch of nearly 200 miles, thousands of people lined the gravel road that passed for a highway -- all of them shoveling to keep the road clear. Bae says he still loves the North Korean people and hopes that someday he'll return "not as a threat, but as a blessing." In the meantime, he hopes to open an organization that will work with North Korean refugees in South Korea, helping them adjust to life outside. His book's title, he says, came not only from the fact he wasn't forgotten while he was in custody, but also "because they should not be a forgotten people anymore." -- The Associated Press psu.JPG Portland State University's campus in southwest Portland. (RICK BOWMER/The Associated Press) UPDATE: This story was updated with reaction from the chamber of commerce. A proposed payroll tax on metro businesses that would solely benefit Portland State University cleared a legal stumbling block last week and reported another major campaign check. A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge approved ballot language for the proposed payroll tax last Wednesday. The judge also dismissed a challenge filed by the Portland chamber of commerce challenging the measure's legality. The court ruling means campaign organizers may now start collecting signatures to put the payroll tax on the ballot in November. Supporters need 34,164 signatures by July 26. "It's full steam ahead," said Karen Pelland, spokeswoman for the Yes for PSU campaign. "We're committed to making this a reality." The campaign will hold an all-day signature gathering event May 10 on the PSU campus. Pelland said the goal is to secure 5,000 valid signatures in the next three weeks. The campaign plans to use both paid and volunteer signature gatherers to meet its goal. Thus far, PSU's philanthropic arm is far-and-away the major contributor to the campaign. On April 22, organizers reported another $125,000 check from the PSU Foundation, bringing total campaign contributions from the organization to $375,000. The only other reported campaign contribution of $140 from miscellaneous donors came Feb. 14. Pelland said it's early in the campaign, but she said the foundation is committed to passing the payroll tax. "We're still sort of ramping up support broadly from the business spectrum, student spectrum," she said in an interview. The proposed one-tenth of one percent payroll tax on wages paid by metro business owners would generate an estimated $40 million per year for PSU. Money would pay for need-based scholarships for PSU students, counselors, professors and emergency tuition assistance for students. The payroll tax plan isn't without its critics. Sandra McDonough, the Portland Business Alliance president, fought the payroll tax in the courts, said she continues to hope that PSU finds another way forward. "We hope that PSU will understand that a big public fight over a ballot measure will not serve anyone well, especially the institution they want to make stronger." Pelland said organizers are committed to raising awareness and news coverage about the plan from "all over the state, and frankly, the country." "We believe it's a new model that other states might look to," she said of a dedicated payroll tax for a college or university. Pelland said the campaign has nine staffers and also hired Winning Mark, the campaign consultancy firm run by veteran political operative Mark Wiener. Thus far, the campaign paid Winning Mark $123,802 for big-picture political strategy and marketing support. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen The two women sat in a booth at Logans Roadhouse giggling and telling stories like old friends should. Like a lot of friendships, people can lose track of each other. Hopefully, when friends reunite, they can pick back up where they left off. These two ladies had a break in their friendship, but in their case, it was a bit more than a short lapse. We havent seen each other in 49 years, Deb Sugg of Midland said of her friend Anita Barrett, also of Midland. For many, almost 50 years can be a lifetime. The ladies became friends after meeting in school, and spent their years at Central Middle School hanging out. Barrett said she remembers becoming friends with Sugg, when the two were younger but cant put her finger on the exact time. Nothing specific, but probably in the seventh grade, Barrett said. The two became fast friends, and spent time together in and out of school. And, of course, the big question came up about the topics of their long ago visits and conversations: boys? I dont think it was boys, Barrett said, smiling. I do remember Debbie had a cute little poodle. Angel, Sugg said, laughing. The ladies graduated together in 1965 from Midland High School. Barrett said she had lived out of state for several years before coming back home to the area. Right after high school, Barrett went to Adrian College to earn a degree in art education. After graduation, she taught school for seven years in Southfield. I was an art teacher, she said. I really loved it. Her post-teaching career took her through several different industries. I lived in Florida for almost 30 years, she said. She used her background in art to work in the printing industry, and she said one of her jobs had an unusual title. I was a stripper, she said, laughing. But not that kind. It was a term used in printing. She worked with film negatives, and one procedure in the handling of those materials was called stripping. She also helped create things such as letterheads for companies, business cards and brochures. But as time changed, so did her work. Then computers took over the industry, she said. So I got in to more office work and bookkeeping. She kept the books at a furniture store, worked as a receptionist at a Red Door Spa, and as an office assistant for a financial planner. Unfortunately, I lost that job in 2008 during the downturn, she said. Barrett also said she weathered two divorces. When asked what her favorite job was, Barrett thought for a moment. I liked bookkeeping. But I enjoyed teaching while I taught, she said. She added that she missed teaching over the years, but was happy to try other things in life. I couldnt decide if I was unemployed or retired, she said, laughing. I like having my freedom. Barrett said although she still thinks about going back to work sometimes, she is happy to have enough time to spend with her father and act as his caregiver. Sugg stayed a bit closer to home after graduation. She spent a year at Ferris State University before returning to Midland to come back to work. She spent some time working for a Midland credit union, before her life changed in a big way. I ended up getting married, she said, laughing. And I had three children. She was a stay at home mom for 11 years, and went back to work when her youngest child turned 10. Sugg then worked as a dental assistant for a couple of years, then went in to some other work. I worked for Arbor Drug Store for four years, and then decided to quit to care for my granddaughter, she said. She also went through a divorce, and was remarried. Sadly, her husband passed away in 2004. They were married for only four years. Of all her work during her career, Sugg said she misses her time working with her therapy dog, Binga. She was such a good dog, Sugg said of the late Schnauzer. She knew when I got (her vest) out, she was going to work. Sugg would take her therapy dog to schools and several care facilities, and residential sites, including Riverside. That was my favorite thing to do, she said, smiling. She never barked when we went to work. She said people could not believe that a breed of dog known for being vocal never barked while she was on the job. The two finally reconnected last fall at a high school reunion. When registering for the event, they found that they had both signed up for the party. We just had our 50th reunion in September of last year, Barrett said. I was looking for Deb. I knew to look for a short girl. I was always taller than her. You should have seen us because we were both rubbernecking, looking for each other, Sugg said, laughing. The two said they spent the night talking, and exchanged contact information. It was wonderful to get back together, Sugg said. These two ladies made the promise not to drift from each other again. Since their reunion, the ladies have been having dinner about once a month. They take turns on deciding where to go, and there are plans in place to visit more frequently. I would like us to shop and maybe go to the movies, Barrett said. Yes, that would be nice, said Sugg. Plans to visit resale shops are also on the agenda, but the two might have one issue about a future lunch choice. I wont eat sushi, Sugg said, wrinkling her nose. And I love sushi, Barrett said. We will figure something out. Watching the ladies talk, it appears they have been lifelong friends, with no gaps in their time spent together. We wont lose track of each other again, Sugg said. Definitely not, Barrett added. An international ambassador whose country has ties to Delta College was among the dignitaries who participated in a celebration of developments surrounding a skilled trades program at the school. Ambassador Andre Schaller, consulate general of Switzerland in New York, recently visited the community college and talked about vocation training cooperation between Switzerland and the United States. Officials said Delta is an example of our country partnering with other nations to promote skilled trades programs. Delta College is the first college in the United States to enter into an entrustment program with Swiss-based Rollomatic and the first to begin training in multi-axis CNC grinding, said Terry Morse, event organizer and associate professor of advanced CNC and manufacturing at Delta. The company plans to support the development of educational materials and promote training at Delta College. Rollomatic is a private Swiss company specializing in the design and manufacture of high precision CNC machines for production grinding of cutting tools, cylindrical grinding, and laser cutting of ultra-hard materials. Hass, said Morse, is another major company that has entrusted a piece of equipment to Delta it couldnt afford to purchase on its own. Morse said that about 130 people a mix of educators and manufacturers attended an event that, in addition to marking new partnerships with companies across the world such as Rollomatic, featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Deltas new CNC Machine Tool Lab. Thanks to a state grant, Delta was able to purchase $1.2 million worth of equipment to upgrade this lab. It now offers students a state-of-the art training facility with 36 machines. Prior to the grant, the college had purchased three machines in the past six years, and other equipment was nearing the end of their life cycles, officials said. Complimenting the new equipment are four machines, with a value of $1 million, which have been entrusted to Delta for use in CNC instruction. These machines, Morse said, will later be sold to area businesses at a discounted rate and replaced with a new version of the same machine. The new equipment helps because we now have a one to one ratio of student to machine, Morse said. Prior to this we had four students to one machine (old and outdated). We also now have a good variety of manufacturers in our lab so students will be familiar with more than one manufacture of machine tools. The Delta-hosted event also served as the site of the 14th annual Great Lakes Regional Haas Technical Educators Council. This was an opportunity for educators to gather and discuss best practices, receive training and see the latest in technology through vendor presentations and machining. Morse said the event placed a greater emphasis on partnering with area manufacturers to promote and train students for a skilled workforce in Michigan. The Great Lakes Bay Area Manufacturers Association estimates that in the next few years some 500 CNC machine tool operators will be needed in the area. The outlook continues to look better and better for our students, said Morse, who, in his opening remarks, touched on the success of Deltas Advanced CNC program. Many are employed prior to graduation. They then return as sponsored apprentices or get reimbursed by their employers after they pass the class. LANSING, Mich. (AP) A group of 22 lawmakers backs a bill to require more rigorous medical training for police officers, borne of fear that some rural police are not properly equipped to rescue people undergoing heroin or prescription opioid overdoses. Republican bill sponsor state Rep. Hank Vaupel, a Fowlerville Republican, said current law doesn't require police to stay up-to-date on medical procedures that can save people from a narcotics overdose. But the organization that develops training standards for the state's 20 police academies and another that represents police officers say law enforcement are already trained in practices Vaupel's bill would mandate. Vaupel said he spoke with two police chiefs that he would not name who don't require officers in their departments to be trained to do "rescue breathing," commonly known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Medical experts say heroin overdose victims often need assisted breathing because the narcotic can shut down the respiratory system. But Vaupel said the two departments are only trained to perform chest compressions. He said he fears that puts lives at risk amid growing concern over opioid abuse. State data show that heroin-related overdose deaths tripled since 1999. In 2014, the most recent data available, 1,745 people in Michigan died of fatal heroin or opioid painkiller overdoses. Vaupel said he suspects other small departments also might not stay current on CPR training that includes rescue breathing, which his bill would require. State Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, echoed that concern. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards sets training programs for police in the state, but they don't require police to renew CPR training. Neither that organization nor the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, which represents the state's police officers, keeps statewide data showing how many local departments require their officers to renew CPR training. Jeff Boyd, Livingston County Emergency Medical Services director, said some officers also don't know they're supposed to accompany rescue breathing with anti-overdose drugs in some instances. He said he'd like EMS personnel to help train police to administer the drugs, and testified in a House committee on behalf of Vaupel's measure. George Basar, legislative director for the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, said he sees the bill as unnecessary because recruits trained in the state's police academies are already required to learn rescue breathing as part of their basic training. Wayne Carlson with the state commission that develops those training standards confirmed that. Carlson said police CPR training is based on programs from the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. All state troopers learn the same techniques, said Shanon Banner, a spokeswoman for the State Police. Carlson and Basar said they suspect most departments make their officers renew training, but Carlson said it's possible some don't. Michele Wagner of Fowlerville, a constituent in Vaupel's hometown, helped spark the legislation after her 23-year-old son, Mitchell, died of a fatal opioid overdose the night before Thanksgiving 2014. She said he still had a heartbeat when she found him on the floor of their home, but officers who arrived performed chest compressions without rescue breathing and weren't carrying Naloxone, a drug that can resuscitate people in an opioid overdose. Wagner said she thinks her son wouldn't have died if police had been carrying the drug and helped him breathe. "I don't know how I get through," Wagner said. "One day at a time. That's all I can do. I don't know. I go to therapy. I do community service, try to take it to the community and talk about it." Fowlerville Police Chief Thomas Couling confirmed the date and cause of Mitchell Wagner's death, but declined to say whether officers performed rescue breathing while trying to revive him. Couling said as a general rule, his officers don't perform rescue breathing anymore. "The way they teach you to do CPR these days, is by compressions," he said, noting that all of his department's officers are Red Cross certified in CPR. A spokesman from the American Red Cross said they have programs that include rescue breathing and ones that don't. "She's a grieving mother," Couling said. "And this has been very difficult for everybody. And as much as we care for her and we do, we've done everything that can be done in this case." ___ This story has been corrected to show 22 lawmakers support the legislation, not 20. When it comes to planning vacations, or buying anything that can break, my wife and I know all about bad luck. Not that we are complaining. The truth is we have been blessed in many, many ways, and have always been given the means to deal with whatever bad luck comes our way. Its actually funny for us to look back at our track record with mechanical devices and vacations and see how often things have gone awry. Perhaps you have had similar experiences in your life. Lets see if thats true. Our vacations over the past several years seem to almost always include some type of weather-related adventure. A few years ago, we drove to Ohio for a couple of days and drove home in a blizzard three-plus hours of white knuckle travel. That scenario repeated itself just a couple of weeks ago, when we made a return trip to Ohio only to drive back to Michigan in whiteout conditions on U.S. 23 north of Ann Arbor. The snow didnt let up until we reached Saginaw, and most of the drive was at 30-35 mph on a two-track road made by the snow. But snow isnt the only weather element we have faced. A couple of years go we traveled up to north of Harrisville to enjoy a peaceful time in a rented house on the lake. The quiet in the house was suddenly jolted by a warning coming from my wifes phone a tornado had touched down just to the west of us and was heading our way. We quickly went into the bathroom we thought it would be the safest room to be in to wait out the storm. Fortunately, it missed us by about a mile. And if once were not enough, we also ran into a severe storm with a tornado last year on another trip through Ohio (and, yes, we are getting the impression we are not supposed to visit that state). We felt like we were storm chasers, but in reality the storm was chasing us. Again we were spared, which is one of the reasons we continue to count our blessings. The other issue we face is with mechanical things. I could go on and on with this list, but here are just a few from the past couple of years. We buy a refrigerator and the ice maker quits working. We buy a new oven and the control board stops working. We buy a relatively new used car and the transmission goes out four months after it goes off warranty. We travel up north on another vacation and open the sun roof to enjoy the day. The sun roof, which we hardly ever use, refuses to close, instead popping back open every time we try to close it. We buy a lawn mower and after only three years it blows a head gasket, costing half of what we paid for it new to get it fixed. We buy new windows, and one of them refuses to open so that we can clean both the inside and outside pane. Get the picture? There are more, trust me. And yet through it all, my wife and I have never been hurt, never been stranded in the middle of nowhere, never had a fire or accident or anything else seriously go wrong due to all of this bad luck (knock on wood!). So, really, perhaps these mishaps arent bad luck after all. Maybe they are just inconveniences, or better yet, Gods plan to keep us safe and humble. Yep, looking back on it all, we truly do have a lot to be thankful for. Jack Telfer is editor of the Daily News. The names of the drivers and the details of a motorcycle crash that seriously injured a Midland man last Wednesday have been released. The Midland County Sheriffs Office reported that motorcyclist William Ronald Oswald, 40, was headed west on West Saginaw Road when his 2006 Harley-Davidson and a 2010 Dodge Journey collided at 6:01 p.m. The driver of the van, Lydia Guadalupe Solinski, 61, Bay City, told deputies she was exiting a private driveway onto Saginaw Road near the intersection at Meridian Road when the motorcycle crashed into the side of the van. SPRINGFIELD The annual Illinois Peace Officers Memorial Service to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, including one from Central Illinois, will be May 5 at the Illinois Peace Officer Memorial sculpture on the Illinois State Capitol grounds in Springfield. The annual ceremony at 11 a.m. honors those "who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities, said Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge President Chris Southwood. Two officers killed during 2015 will be recognized, and their names added to the memorial. Deputy Craig Whisenand of the Tazewell County Sheriffs Department died Aug. 10, 2015 and deputy Dwight Maness of the McHenry County Sheriffs Department was killed Sept. 14, 2015. Whisenand, 44, of Tremont, was killed in a single-vehicle accident near Delavan while he was en route to a domestic violence disturbance in Armington. He began his career as a corrections officer at the Tazewell County jail in 2000 and was appointed a sheriff's deputy five years later. Also, officers who were confirmed to have died in the line of duty in the past, but who had not yet been officially included on the memorial will be recognized. These include: deputy Lamont Reid, St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, who died March 26, 2010; Sgt. Thomas Reed, Paris Police Department, Aug. 14, 1938; Constable Earl Dixon, Mounds Police Department, Aug. 11, 1935; officer Austin Fitch, Chicago Police Department, Nov. 24, 1914; officer Bartholomew Cavanaugh, Chicago Police Department, Dec. 15, 1898; and officer William Feeley, Chicago Police Department, July 31, 1894. The day's observance begins with the lineup of squad cars from around the state from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The procession will arrive at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence St., for a memorial church service at 9:30 a.m. The procession will then travel to the State Capitol for the 11 a.m. ceremony that will be held at the Illinois State Library across the street in case of inclement weather. NORMAL Illinois State University administrators will ask the board of trustees to approve a tuition increase of 3 percent for new in-state undergraduate students from what incoming students paid last fall. The board will take up the matter at its quarterly meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. Friday in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center. Under the state's truth-in-tuition law, the tuition rate will remain the same for those new students as they continue at ISU through summer 2020. The recommendation also includes a 3 percent increase in fees for new students and a 1 percent increase in residence hall rates. If approved, the increase would mean that incoming undergraduates would pay $370.25 per credit hour in tuition and $81.84 per credit hour in fees. For a student taking a 12-credit-hour load, that would mean a total of $5,425 per semester. Room and board rates vary according to the type of accommodations and meal plan a student selects. A student in a standard multiple-occupancy room with a seven-day unlimited access menu plan would pay $4,925 per semester. The combined tuition, fee and residence hall rate changes come to an average increase of about 2.1 percent or $491 over what last year's new students paid. If the package is approved, ISU would remain in the same relative position in comparison to costs at other state universities lower than the University of Illinois system and Northern Illinois University, according to Jay Groves, ISU chief of staff. Tuition rates for new out-of-state undergraduates would increase to $740.50 per credit hour under the proposal $120.50 or 19.4 percent higher than what new out-of-state undergraduates paid last fall. Supporting documents in the board meeting packet said having the out-of-state rate at double the rate for in-state students is a more market-appropriate rate when compared to other Illinois public universities. Selected high-achieving/talented out-of-state students or students living in states adjacent to Illinois would be eligible for in-state tuition rates under the university's Enrollment Competitiveness Program. The recommendation came after the board had a budget work session in the Chicago area, its second this month. In between those two work sessions, the state approved a stopgap funding measure for higher education. But the $20.9 million is state appropriations ISU received under that bill amounts to about 31 percent of its fiscal year 2015 appropriation, and the $7.5 million in Monetary Award Program funding is about half of the reimbursement promised, so there's still a shortfall, Groves said. You can't balance it on the backs of college students and families, Groves said Monday, echoing a consistent theme at the university. To cut costs, the university has left positions vacant, delayed maintenance projects and decreased spending on such things as travel. However, he added, you can't completely cut your way to success. Noting that people come to ISU because of its above-average graduation rate and strong national rankings, Groves said the university, to maintain that high quality, needs to replace the lost state revenue while still holding down costs for students and their families. Although the stopgap measure brought a some relief, the work isn't done, Groves said. There is still no state budget for fiscal year 2016, which began 10 months ago, and no state budget for fiscal year 2017, which will begin July 1. BLOOMINGTON A weak cold front is expected to move through Central Illinois this week, bringing a chance for some isolated thunderstorms and cooler temperatures. On Monday, there is a 20 percent chance of some afternoon showers with a high near 59 degrees. On Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 67 degrees, but a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, although the storms are not expected to be severe. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Wednesday with a high near 62 degrees. The remainder of the week looks to be mostly clear with slowly rising temperatures. Thursdays high will be 63 degrees. On Friday, the high will reach 71 degrees and 76 degrees on Saturday. On May 2, 1929, winter made one last appearance in Central Illinois. Springfield reported six-tenths of an inch of snow, which is the latest date that measurable snow has fallen in the city. In 1942, a family of strong tornadoes moved across Central Illinois. Tornadoes touched down in eastern Morgan County, then moved northeast. The tornadoes hit south of New Berlin, then moved across far northwestern Springfield, passing south of Elkhart, and lifting near Waynesville in DeWitt County. In the town of Franklin, 105 homes were damaged or destroyed, with some debris carried four miles. One person died, and 12 were injured. BLOOMINGTON For Nicole and Jennifer Chlebek, graduation day at Illinois Wesleyan University was the day they had been waiting on for four years. Its the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one, said Nicole on Sunday, moments before she and her twin sister received diplomas as part of the 166th graduation ceremony at the Shirk Center on IWU's campus in Bloomington on Sunday. The natives of Lombard had both decided on Wesleyan Nicole getting a double major in environmental studies and sociology and Jennifer earning a degree in biology but having been around each other their entire lives, they also wanted to branch out somewhat on their own before college ended. Weve had separate rooms and separate roommates and all of that, but we somehow ended up with the same group of friends," Nicole said. "We wanted to be a little different, but I dont think we will ever be able to get away from each other. For Bloomington resident and nursing major Molly Lessen, the day served as somewhat of a family tradition. Both of her parents are IWU graduates. I think were going to be taking a lot of alumni pictures, she said. This school means a lot to me. My mom is a nursing professor here as well, and to me, graduating is very big. Its an honor for me and a very special day for my family. For her friend, Molly Jahrling, also a nursing major, the day was special for her parents as well. She is the last of three children to graduate from college. Its a great day and everyone is so excited and the entire family is here, she said. Its been so hard, but this day makes it worthwhile. Accounting major Miriah Burns will be returning to her hometown of Chicago to work in an accounting firm, she said. This day means that my future has arrived, she said. I came in as a baby. Im leaving as an adult. Or at least, my version of an adult. Her friend, Briana Carter, also of Chicago, received a degree in interdisciplinary educational studies. Its an emotional day, she said. Ive overcome so much and Im happy and sad at the same time because I am going to miss a lot of wonderful people. In her speech as class president, Jazmyne Kellogg encouraged her classmates to be proud of what they have accomplished as a class and as individuals. We have made great strides, but we know we will have difficult times ahead, she said. But we cannot stop striving for excellence. IWU alumnus Bill Damaschke, the producer of two Broadway-bound musicals, delivered the commencement address. The ceremony to honor the 421 graduates was the first for Eric Jensen, who took over as IWU president in November. Its really exciting because its my first, but its also everyone elses first, so Im telling them that we have that in common, he said. Its a wonderful way to end the year. Everyone is happy and excited. Its just a lot of fun and a very important day for everyone here. BLOOMINGTON McLean County First Assistant James Tusek has received the Bruce Robert Jacob Award from the Illinois Public Defenders Association. The award is given to an assistant public defender or appellate defender whose efforts "epitomize the selfless dedication to the constitutional precepts which form the basis of the criminal defense of the indigent accused in Illinois," according to the statewide group. Tusek, a 22-year veteran of the McLean County office, was named first assistant in 2014 by Public Defender Carla Barnes. Barnes said Tusek "strives to achieve the best outcome for all his clients regardless of their station or economic standing in the community." First Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist call Tusek "an old-school attorney, both honest and gritty." Tusek, who handles murder and other serous felony cases for the Public Defender's office, "brilliantly balances the need to work together in an adversarial system while steadfastly advocating for his client's best interest," said the prosecutor. The award will be presented at a May 12 event in Springfield. Finland's Forest Industry Expects New Investments to Boost Pulp, Paperboard, Production May 2, 2016 - Growth in the value of Finnish forest industry exports this year is driven by pulp and paperboard exports. Weak price trend is suppressing sawn timber exports. Next year, new investments and increasing demand are expected to raise Finnish forest industry production. Weak outlook for paper demand will continue and exports are forecast to decline both this and next year. Paper production down, paperboard exports increase The production and export of paper in Finland will reduce by 3 - 4 percent this year and 2 -3 percent next year. This is explained by announced or already realized capacity closures and the downward trend in demand. The average export price will rise slightly but a more significant increase would still require more closure of machines in Europe. Despite declining production, paper products still account for about 40 percent of Finnish forest industry's export earnings. Paperboard production in Finland increases significantly this year and next year owing to growing production capacity. The increasing supply of paperboard in Europe will decrease average export price of paperboard from Finland. Increasing supply will decrease pulp's export price This year and next year a number of large, mainly eucalyptus pulp-producing, new factories will see daylight. Pulp exports from Finland will also continue in a positive trend this year and next year because of increasing production capacity. Softwood pulps global supply increase is expected to be moderate. The increased supply of hardwood pulp will, however, decrease the price of softwood pulp as well and therefore decrease Finland's average export price of pulp. Metsa Group's bioproduct factory will start in autumn 2017 and will not affect the price development of pulp for the forecast period. PTT's full, two-page report with graph's is available at: PTT Forest Industry Spring 2016 (400k, pdf). Pellervo Economic Research (PTT) is a non-profit organization that carries out policy-oriented research on general economic development and issues relating to agricultural and food economics and forestry and wood economics. To learn more please visit: http://ptt.fi/ SOURCE: PTT (Pellervo Economic Research) International Paper to Acquire Weyerhaeuser's Pulp Business for $2.2 Billion May 2, 2016 - International Paper announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Weyerhaeuser's pulp business. Under terms of the agreement, IP will acquire five pulp mills and two converting facilities that produce fluff pulp, softwood pulp, and specialty pulp for a number of consumer applications including diapers, other hygiene products, tissue, and textiles. Because the transaction is a purchase of assets, International Paper expects to realize a tax benefit with an estimated net present value of approximately $300 million. Including this benefit, the net price is approximately $1.9 billion. International Paper forecasts annual synergies of approximately $175 million by the end of 2018, which will require the need for one-time costs of approximately $85 million. "Weyerhaeuser's pulp business has an outstanding customer base served from low-cost, well-run assets that complement our existing system and offers significant synergy opportunities," said International Paper Chairman and CEO Mark Sutton. "This transaction will position us as the premier global supplier of fluff pulp and will enhance our ability to generate additional free cash flow. We look forward to working with the talented employees of Weyerhaeuser as we integrate our businesses and create an even stronger company." Weyerhaeuser's pulp business has approximately 1900 employees throughout the U.S. (Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina), Canada and Poland. The combined business will provide the company flexibility to manage a wide portfolio of products to meet customer needs. The acquisition is expected to close in the 4th quarter of 2016, subject to certain closing conditions, primarily the receipt of regulatory approval. International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging along with uncoated papers and pulp. To learn more, please visit: internationalpaper.com. SOURCE: International Paper A new research from Germany has unraveled the inner workings of a mysterious Amazonian bacteria that make their own ice crystals. Atmospheric chemists say the research is a welcome addition to the growing literature on horticulture and climate science. The Mr. Freeze Of The Bacteria World In the study conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research via Live Science, scientists used a laser-based imaging procedure known as sum frequency generation spectroscopy to study the unique abilities of the Pseudomonas syringae bacteria. The technique analyzes the bacteria's water molecules and how these molecules are arranged. Using the technique, scientists found that water molecules tend to organize themselves in an orderly manner when they come into contact with P. syringae. Furthermore, the colder the temperature the more structured the molecules become around P. syringae. Scientists speculated that this phenomenon played a huge role in the bacteria's ice-forming abilities. Scientists further deduced that it was one of the bacteria's protein that was causing the molecular change. Dubbed as "inaZ," the protein was shown to act as a mold for ice crystals. Additionally, its water-repelling and water-attracting properties cause the quick albeit irregular formation of ice. UPI reported that pure water doesn't freeze at 0 degrees Celsius. Pure water droplets only begin to freeze at -37 degrees Celsius. In the case of P. syringae, pure water droplets freeze at -2 degrees Celsius. Findings Improve Understanding On Climate Atmospheric chemists say that the uncovering of P. syringae's ice-forming abilities could broaden the world's understanding on how climate can affect precipitation and cloud formation. Scientists are now going back to the drawing boards to try and replicate the bacteria's proteins for future use. "Basically there could be something like planetary co-evolution," lead researcher Tobias Weidner mused. "The Amazon emits huge amounts of these ice-nucleating bacteria, and they travel to some other place where they cause rainfall, now this rainfall allows plants on a very different continent to grow." Prince Harry is proof that being second in the birth order does not necessarily translate to inferiority. In fact the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge Kate Middleton and Prince William's second born, Princess Charlotte, would do well to learn from Prince Harry. A new family photo - Merry Christmas from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte pic.twitter.com/8d472rlXFW Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 18, 2015 Such savoir-faire as Prince Harry possesses may be in the genes. Hello! magazine points out that Queen Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret, is one exemplary second born, too. No sibling rivalry, as so often depicted among royal relations, existed between Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth. Much like Prince Harry and Prince William, Princess Margaret was a supportive, loving sibling to Queen Elizabeth. Her support for Queen Elizabeth was such that her loyalty and fun-filled company may have made the job easier for the reigning monarch. Certainly Prince Harry has proven to be a successful second born. The royal has earned respect and recognition on his own merit just as well as his older brother Prince William has. Prince Harry gracefully handled both flattering and unflattering media and public attention, especially on his love life. Much like his mother, Princess Diana, the royal family celebrity wisely used the attention to bring support and awareness for his varied charity and humanitarian involvements. Prince George arrives for his first day at nursery in Norfolk earlier today pic.twitter.com/w4BPGNE1H0 Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) January 6, 2016 In this respect, Princess Charlotte and the popular and budding trendsetter Prince George are much in the same boat. As a successor to the throne Prince George is already called on to fulfil obligations here and there, such as photo ops and public appearances. When the new issue of Royal Mail postal stamps came out for Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday, Prince George was in a photo along with Prince Charles and Prince William. Romper interestingly titled an article with a suggestion that Prince Charlotte consult with Prince Harry. "Why Aren't There Princess Charlotte Stamps? She Might Want To Ask Prince Harry," the title read. This is not to say that Prince George is more important than Princess Charlotte. Only that the first-born Prince George has different responsibilities from those of Princess Charlotte. Prince Harry: "Everyone in this room knows the power of sport. We used it to help redefine life after injury" pic.twitter.com/Z8a88dv9v0 Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 28, 2016 Anecdotes on the second born syndrome are plenty. However, whether royal or not, birth order can work up an advantage for second borns. The social and familial dynamics considering birth orders are meant to be empowering rather than limiting as, hopefully, Princess Charlotte will learn from Princess Margaret and Prince Harry. An American writer believes that all women should be given paid maternity leaves -- regardless if they're pregnant or not. The author argued that every woman deserves to have temporary breaks from their jobs and dedicate that time off for themselves. In a recent article penned for the New York Post, Meghann Foye, the author of "Meternity," said that being a parent seems to be the only way that an individual can get temporary breaks from their demanding jobs. The 38-year-old writer said women should be allowed to take time off from their jobs and dedicate their energy to other aspects of their lives. More Women Get Burnout Syndrome Foye said she first developed the concept when she was an editor at a popular magazine, and her other colleagues have been taking breaks away from their job to focus on their pregnancies. Employees who are childless, like her, were supposed to remain at work and shoulder the responsibilities of those who are on maternity leaves. Meghann Foye further acknowledged that men and women equally benefit from a maternity leave, but it is most advantageous for women. She argued that though burnout syndrome can occur among both sexes, women have higher chances of developing mental tiredness because they are overwhelmed by the double duties they have to perform at work and at home. Foye's "Meternity" is about a woman named Liz Buckley, who has a hectic work schedule and decided to fake a pregnancy in order to work out her personal life. The book can be purchased on Amazon and in select stores. 'Meternity' Leave Idea Gets Backlash Some mothers didn't take too kindly of Foye's "meternity" leave concept. They argued that maternity leaves are far from a time-out, but rather a recovery period from giving birth to a child. It is also a time when mothers dedicate weeks and months to cater to their newborn's needs, Yahoo! reported. Foye issued a statement to defend her stance. According to the author, her idea of "meternity" is to prove that all women deserve to practice balance between their work and personal lives - even though they don't have pregnancy as an excuse. Countries That Excel In Maternity Leave Benefits A report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, identified the countries which have generous maternity leave benefits. These are Croatia, Estonia, Israel, Mexico and Poland. These countries all offer 100 percent of earnings to eligible pregnant women, the Epoch Times reported. Japan, meanwhile, is generous to its employees with its 52-week leave at 58 percent compensation for fathers. In the United States, the 1993 Family Medical Leave Act allows eligible employees to have 12 weeks of leave, but the downside is it's unpaid. A mother of six has been charged with child abuse after two children under her watch were discovered chained in their own home. Neighbors helped the children get rescued when they called authorities reporting repeated cries of kids on their neighbor's backyard. Treating Children Like Pets According to Straits Times, authorities raided the house of 34-year-old Porucha Phillips in San Antonio, Texas, where they found a 2-year-old boy with a chain on his ankle and a 3-year-old girl bound to a door with a dog leash. The toddlers were reportedly not Phillips children as authorities continue to look for their parents. Six other kids, aged 10 months to 13 years, were also found inside the house and believed to be all children of the female suspect. Bexar Country Sheriff's Office spokesperson James Keith said the young boy was chained like he was a dog. "There was no slack in the chain. His pants were down. You could tell he'd been here for a while," he added. Keith added that calling the situation of these kids as "disturbing" would be an understatement. He claimed that nobody in their right mind could do such to these young children. Immediate Attention & Response Fox News added that two of the rescued children were brought to the hospital for proper medical care while the six others were placed under a foster home. The pregnant Phillips, on the other hand, has been charged with two counts of injury to a child.The bond for her release was set at $75,000. In a similar report, Daily Mail said Phillips claimed that she was not responsible for chaining the two kids in her yard. She said that their parents intentionally left them there. Phillips also reportedly told authorities that she wanted to take the children to a nearby fire station. The mother said she had no means of taking care of them since she also had her own children to look after. The efforts of the U.S. government to stop the spread of dengue and Zika virus may have been producing another problem - autism. A new study released on Saturday found that mosquito killer sprayed from airplanes has something to do with the heightened incidence of children born with autism. Autism A Result Of Mosquito Killer Sprayed From Airplanes? Newsweek reports that during the summer months, many places in the U.S. are sprayed from airplanes with pyrethroids, a common class of insecticides used as mosquito killer. Steve Hicks, a physician and assistant professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, and his team examined the rates of autism cases in areas where aerial spraying are done every summer. They compared them with those areas where mosquito control is done primarily on the ground. Hicks and his team found that the areas sprayed with mosquito killer from airplanes had 25 percent higher rates of autism diagnoses. Out of 19,000 kids living in the area, 159 of them were born with autism. Tracing The Links Hicks speculated that mosquito killer sprayed from airplanes may not be as precise as the physical act of dispersing pellets on the ground. He, however, added that further research has to be done to determine if the increased rate of autism is due to mosquito killer sprayed from airplanes or due to higher exposure to mosquito-borne diseases. "I want to be careful not to cause a scare that we should be abandoning these pesticide spraying practices," Hicks stated. "We know that autism has a genetic component. It's not something that's caused solely by environmental risk factors." Pregnant Women Affected The recent study stemmed from a previous major research called "Childhood Autism Risks From Genetics and the Environment." The study discovered that pregnant women exposed to pyrethroids and two other common pesticides during their third trimester were more likely to give birth to children with autism. Do you agree with the recent findings that mosquito killer sprayed from airplanes has something to do with the increased number of children with autism? Share your thoughts below. "Descendants of the Sun" series has, unexpectedly, captured the hearts of many during its run in small screen. Now, new reports are claiming that the much-loved show is returning for its second edition via "Descendants of the Sun" Season 2. 'Descendants of the Sun' Season 2 air date, news & update "Descendants of the Sun" creator Jung Sung Ho has confirmed the possibility of season two in an interview with Naver. He even divulged that the "Descendants of the Sun" Season 2 will be aired in 2017. Aside from its success, Jung Sung Ho claimed that the production team of "Descendants of the Sun" do want to give avid fans a treat by giving the show's Season 2. "We want to repay viewers with the next Descendants of the Sun," the show creator said. "We are grateful to viewers, overseas fans, staff, and actors." "The drama was more than a domestic syndrome; it established a third wave of Hallyu. KBS will strive to produce a second Descendants of the Sun to meet expectations and repay viewers," Jung Sung Ho added. "We plan to launch a 2017 Descendants of the Sun project for broadcast in 2017 through negotiations with the cast and production team." "Descendants of the Sun" Season 2 might not be a sequel of the first part. Kim Won Suk, "DOTS" writer, said that he is not sure about coming back for Season 2. He added that he already told the story and he has no plans of stretching it for another season as of yet. 'Descendants of the Sun' actor Song Joong-ki to quit showbiz While several fans have been very excited about the upcoming "Descendant of the Sun" Season 2, recent reports are suggesting that actor Song Joong-ki might quit showbiz very soon. Rumor mills are spreading that the leading man of Song Hye-kyo has already grown tired of fame and publicity as it invades his privacy. Per GamenGuide, Song Joong-ki is said to take a break from showbiz after details of his "S" villa in Bangdae-dong, Seoul have been made public via Woman Sense magazine. The publication claimed that the exquisite pad costs 2.5 billion won ($2.2 million), which has around 226 square meters in terms of floor area. What are the things you expect in "Descendants of the Sun" Season 2? Do you think Song Joong-ki will quite showbiz very soon? What could be Song Hye-kyo's reaction? Share to us your thoughts in the comment section below. The world's largest drug store chain talked about the benefits of medical marijuana and its possible side effects on one's body. However, the outlet cleared medical cannabis will not be easily purchased by everyone as they still have to go proper checkups. Walgreens recently shared the health benefits medical marijuana brings on its fitness and wellness blog, titled "Clarifying Clinical Cannabis." The article tackled the therapeutic claims of marijuana, its side effects and its legitimacy as written by the company's "resident pharmacist," Dahlia Sultan, according to MarketWatch. Benefits Of Medical Marijuana Sultan said the study revealed medical marijuana can work as a pain relief in some ways traditional medicines can't. The research also cited the research of National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Biotechnology Information, saying it can also help cancer patients. "Medical marijuana can improve appetite and relieve nausea in those who have cancer," the report showed. "And [it] may help relieve symptoms such as muscle stiffness in people who have multiple sclerosis." Side Effects Of Taking Medicinal Marijuana The research also noted that medical marijuana might damage the user's "lungs, memory and judgment." Jim Cohn, a spokesman for Walgreen Co. told Huffington Post that their study is firmly educational and they are not taking any sides on the issue of using medicinal cannabis. "It was developed to address some of the questions we've received from patients and customers through various channels," Cohn added. In fact, in the latest survey done by CBS News, 56 percent of Americans were looking forward for the legalization of medical marijuana while half of the Americans already tried it. Who Can Buy Medical Marijuana? 24/7 Wall St. explained that medical marijuana can't be purchased easily by anyone in a drug store compared to traditional medicines. Medicinal cannabis can only be bought from a licensed medical center in an officially permitted country. Also, the patients who are using medical marijuana should be properly assessed by a licensed health specialist. Walgreens clarified the blog was made to enlighten customers who are asking about medical marijuana. What do you think about the benefits and side effects of medical marijuana? Share us your thoughts. Write your comments below! The 17-year-old daughter of US President Barack Obama will attend Harvard University a year after graduating from high school. The eldest child of America's leader is expected to enroll in the prestigious institution by 2017. Malia Obama Goes To Harvard Citing a statement made by first lady Michelle Obama, CBS New York said Malia will go to Harvard by fall next year and will be a member of Class 2021. "Malia will take a gap year before beginning school," the statement furthered. It was explained in the same report that Harvard University would usually encourage students to take a one-year break for them to travel, work or engage in a special project or work. They are, however, prohibited from enrolling for a degree at another college. The New York Times said the US President and his wife also attended Harvard University when they studied law. The first daughter has reportedly visited the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts and other Ivy League schools last March. School Plans For The Obama Kids A trip of the US President with Malia to California started rumors that Obama's daughter will go to Stanford University, in spite of the White House's refusal to comment on where Malia Obama will study. According to CNN, the US President expressed the plan of his family to stay in Washington two years after his term ends to allow their youngest daughter, Sasha, to finish her high school. "Our decision has actually presented a bit of a dilemma because traditionally presidents don't stick around after they're done." President Barack Obama said during the White House Correspondents' Dinner over the weekend. "And it's something that I've been brooding about a little bit." Other Presidential Daughters Malia is another presidential daughter who made a decision about her college plans while her father is still in office. CNN said Bill Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, started studying in Stanford University, three years before her father left the Oval Office. Scientists have found that variations in MC1R gene, which deals with pigmentation, have significant association with a person's perceived age. The scientists' findings were published in the journal Cell. The MC1R association was said to result in looking up to two years older. It was also said to be "independent of wrinkling, skin color and sun exposure, as per Cell. In the research, the make-up free faces of 2,693 people were evaluated independently to see what age people thought they looked and this was compared to their true age. After this, scientists looked for differences or mutations that were more common to those who looked younger than their actual age. Scientists discover that a specific gene variant can make some people look about two years older than others https://t.co/wbsaOGRLWl The Conversation (@ConversationUK) May 2, 2016 Melanin Gene First One To Be Linked To Perceived Age BBC reported that the MC1R gene is essential for making melanin, which has an effect on skin pigmentation while protecting people against the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Many of the gene's variants are said to cause red hair. "This is the first gene we have found for perceived age, and this single gene has an effect of two years," said Manfred Kayser, as per The Guardian. Kayser is a professor of forensic molecular biology at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Kayser said that finding more genes involved in perceived age can lead to better understanding of how old one looks and one's actual health. "It is a different approach to understanding healthy ageing," Kayser added. Questions Arise On Melanin Gene Study According to The Guardian, Edinburgh University geneticist, Ian Jackson said that it was difficult to know whether the role of skin color was properly ruled out in the study. Jackson also questioned the method, as people were asked to rate the age of others. He questioned if it was how old people looked or the psychology of the observer that was being measured. What are your suggestions on how to stay young-looking? Write your comments below. A retired college professor in Pennsylvania has thought of an ingenious, and extremely cute, way to help students ease up before finals week. She is now leading a team of therapy dog handlers as they travel from campus to campus to try and lessen students' anxiety levels. Volunteer Work Mary Jalongo and her Indiana-based therapy dog group started their crusade 3 years ago at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where Jalongo taught for 38 years before retiring. During finals week, Jalongo and company would go to the library and offer their well-behaved pooches to students who badly need a break. Trib Live reported that the therapy sessions were initially held in tents outside the library. It wasn't until later on when the college librarian allowed the dogs to roam inside the library. "We inched our way in. It took a little bit of convincing. I remember saying to Theresa (McDevitt), a librarian who is my partner in crime, that one of my goals was to get dogs in that library before I retire," said Jalongo. "A lot of students will tell us this reminds them of their dogs back home. Then they'll break out their cellphones and show you the pictures." Jalongo added that dogs have a unique way of connecting with students. She said interacting with dogs can reduce stress and lower blood pressure. More Schools Offer Dog Therapy Several other colleges in the US have quickly followed suit. The University of Connecticut now has a therapy dog session at Homer Babbidge Library from Monday afternoon all the way to Friday afternoon, as per Fox 61. Meanwhile, the University of Pittsburgh's Gothic Commons Room of the Cathedral of Learning will be turned into a therapy dog playground every Tuesday evening. Seton Hill University in Greensburg, on the other hand, will soon be offering kitten therapy on top of the school's dog therapy program during midterms and finals weeks. Playground equipment is being blamed for the continuing rise of children with concussions. An increasing percentage of kids get injuries in playgrounds thanks to monkey bars and swings. Around 21,000 (10 percent) out of 215,000 children treated in emergency rooms had traumatic brain injuries like concussions, according to national 2001-2013 statistics obtained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Majority of the injuries were minor, but all concussions can potentially result in severe outcomes, the Washington Post reported (via the Associated Press). The study found concussions occur in children aged five to nine, and are more likely to happen to boys. In 2013, it was reported that around 30,000 children got concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The Signs And Symptoms Of Concussion Those who have concussions display four prominent symptoms: difficulties in thinking, remembering and concentrating; mood changes (exhibits sadness, anxiety, irritability and getting emotional; physical impediments (headache, dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and noise and trouble balancing); and sleeping issues. For some, the symptoms of concussion continue for days, weeks or longer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote. Teens, young children and adults have a harder time recuperating from concussions. People who experienced concussions in the past are also vulnerable to another one. Parents Urged To Be More Watchful The study's researchers advised parents to be more vigilant to prevent their kids from having playground mishaps that can lead to concussions. Parents are urged to ensure the safety and security of playground equipment. The ground should also be covered by soft material (like sand or wood chips), instead of concrete so that blows are lessened should children fall or trip. According to researchers, it is also important that parents check if a certain playground equipment is appropriate for their kid's age. Prolonged Rest Not Advisable To Kids With Concussion It is traditional that children with concussions get rest and avoid physical activity until their symptoms subside. Now, a new research found that kids resuming physical activities immediately recover from concussions faster. The Canadian research found that 58 percent of children resumed doing physical activities after a week of getting a concussion while 76 percent began exercising after two weeks, Financial Review reported. All these children recovered faster than those who underwent prolonged rest. According to the researchers, going back to physical activities could help lessen the more dangerous effects of concussion. Doctors do not recommend rigorous physical activities, but light actions like walking can have benefits. Kate Middleton on the cover of Vogue U.K. has been reaping mixed reactions for the Duchess of Cambridge. A report suggested that Kate Middleton is especially careful with her wardrobe in such shoots as the Duchess Of Cambridge is conscious about appearing too thin. Body shaming and wardrobe issues proliferate and Kate Middleton is not exempt. Most especially because being a member of the royal family automatically tags the Duchess of Cambridge for public attention. Huffington Post reports that Kate Middleton will be on the cover as Vogue U.K. marks its 100th anniversary. The Duchess of Cambridge posed for photographer Josh Olins. The Vogue U.K. special is the first fashion photoshoot for Kate Middleton. As she makes her Vogue debut, chart the Duchess of Cambridge's life in style https://t.co/4EIgqTbLAX pic.twitter.com/wrIeAKoRqH VOGUE.CO.UK (@BritishVogue) May 2, 2016 The media outlet points out that the Duchess of Cambridge walks in the footsteps of Princess Diana who appeared in Vogue four times. The Duchess of Cambridge received support from the Kensington Palace social media account, which displayed a tweet about the impeccably styled Kate Middleton on Vogue U.K. The Duchess of Cambridge kept the Vogue U.K. photoshoot quiet. Kate Middleton appearing in the fashion magazine for Vogue U.K.'s 100th anniversary issue was kept a surprise. The images of The Duchess were shot by British photographer Josh Olins in the Norfolk countryside #Vogue100 pic.twitter.com/iz1rNSf1TH Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 30, 2016 The Daily Mail, however, suggests that the Vogue U.K. cover and photoshoot did not do Kate Middleton justice. The Vogue UK spread depicted Kate Middleton as a countryside beauty rather than a trendsetting Princess. Although beautiful and expensive, the shots did not represent Kate Middleton as the fashion icon that she has become since becoming Duchess Of Cambridge. HRH was delighted to celebrate 100 years of @BritishVogue - a leading champion of British portraiture since 1916 pic.twitter.com/sJjCaghs2h Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 30, 2016 But she has baulked at looking in any way sexy or modern. She has also refused to give up her heavy Scouse brow, not toning down the black make-up that's more Katie Price than Kate Windsor. The Daily Mail suggested that Kate Middleton may also have made the decisions on the clothes in which the Duchess Of Cambridge appeared. Interestingly, the media outlet proposed that Kate Middleton did not want to bare too much skin as the Duchess Of Cambridge feared appearing too thin. Known Marvel's first black superhero, Black Panther made his debut in "Captain America: Civil War" Contrary to what everyone thinks, however, the Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman explained that Black Panther isn't really a superhero. Looking back at his history released by the Marvel website, Black Panther made his first appearance in Fantastic Four Vol. 1 No. 52 which was published in 1966. Black Panther shift from his alter ego known as T'Challa, wherein his superhero persona was not accidental. During one of his interviews, Chadwick Boseman shared his two cents in regards his role as Black Panther. Boseman told the Toronto Sun that Black Panther isn't a superhero, contrary to what everybody thinks. "You could argue that he's not a superhero," Boseman told Toronto Sun. "He's probably the only superhero who's a king of a nation, so he plays politician as well. What makes him special is he's strong, but he's not the strongest. It's more agility and more his wit and more his ingenuity." Chadwick Boseman also explained that one of the things that made Black Panther stand out was the fact that he came from a lineage. Boseman stated that there were several Black Panthers that came before him (looking back at Black Panther's ancestors). Chadwick Boseman mentioned that Black Panther needs to keep up with his legacy. This being said Black Panther has something to prove himself worthy of this lineage, unlike any other superheroes. "If you know the comic, he has to live up to a lineage of other Black Panthers that came before him. It's that same thing as if your dad was a rock star, then how do you live up to being a rock star? How do you live up to being a king? How do you live up to a superhero? That's definitely part of it; that he has to prove himself." This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions The story of Founders Brewing Company is, in general, the sort of tale that exemplifies the excel-or-perish nature of craft brewingespecially in the era that Founders came into being. Born in 1997 as Canal Street Brewing Co., the brewery that became Founders came barreling headfirst into an American market that was just experiencing the burst of its first big craft beer bubble, a downturn in the craft market that persisted until 2002 or 2003 with very slow growth across the entire industry. One could argue that Founders was literally founded at the worst possible moment, and their early offerings didnt exactly set the local beer community on fire, either. Times were tough. Times were so tough, in fact, that the brewery commemorated its 15th anniversary in 2012 by releasing a burly, barrel-aged barleywine called Bolt Cuttera direct reference to the time co-founder Dave Engbers received a call from the bank, threatening to chain the doors of the building if they didnt pay off half a million dollars within the space of a week. Ready to make a stand, he instead bought a set of bolt cutters, which still remain in his office as a memorial of how close Founders came to the brink. In terms of the beer, though, it was fitting that Founders should choose to celebrate that anniversary with a high-gravity barrel-aged offering. It was exactly these kinds of beers that helped the brewery finally realize its true identity, build a rabid fanbase and eventually conquer the American craft beer market with a series of critically and popularly adored releases. Over time, the Founders name has come to be synonymous with several varieties of barrel-aged beerbut notably, not with every style. For all its growth and all its popularity, Founders remains a brewery that seemingly answers to no one. Its brewers have retained the ability to make what they want, rather than what the literati of the beer geek world might demand. These are all observations I was able to make in person when I visited the Grand Rapids brewery in mid-April to attend the 15th annual Black Party, a celebration of Founders many dark beers. At their invitation, I tagged along as a media representative with a small group of drinkers who one might categorize as lucky superfans-just 10 winners among the more than 2,000 who submitted writing prompts about Founders to win a trip to the Black Party. I heard some incredible stories from those lovely folks, who you can see in the video below. You can also read their stories here, featuring tales of young love blossoming over snifters of KBS, among others. The funny thing is, if the same contest had been held eight years ago, I might very well have been one of the people submitting an entry. As a then 21-year-old on the campus of the University of Illinois, Founders was one of the very first breweries I identified as specifically representing my nascent taste in craft beer. I can still recall my first taste of Breakfast Stout (at Champaigns Blind Pig Co.) with crystal clarity, because it was the first time I ever felt more strongly about a beer than liking it. Credit that glass of Breakfast Stout with igniting a craft beer obsession. And so, I naturally jumped at a chance to return to Founders, which Id visited once before years ago while taking a brewery-centric road trip through Michigan. While attending the Black Party and touring the facilities alongside the contest winners, I somehow found time to also sit down with Founders Brett Kosmicki, the brewerys cellar manager and brother of brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. Over pints of porterwhich Paste ranked #1 in a blind taste test, by the waywe discussed the history and future of Founders brewing, and his philosophy on barrel-aging in particular. When we get ahold of a barrel these days, we dont have a defined set of expectations of what we want or even what we expect to happen with it, said the bearded cellarman, now five years into his Founders tenure. We really have a wait-and-see sort of perspective with new barrel-aged projects, because thats the spirit of experimentation. With the trajectory of growth weve had, weve had a lot more freedom to do that. Kosmicki pulls beer for drinkers straight from the barrel. Kosmicki is referring to the continuing experimentation that results in many of the ultra-small batch barrel-aged brews that Founders kicks around as ideas, often in only one or two barrels at a time. The batch sizes are small enough to necessitate taproom-only releases, if those beers ever even see the light of day, but the fact that such experimentation happens at all on this scale is likely something that only a larger regional brewery of Founders size could pull off. After all, your local brewpub down the street likely isnt going to have the resources to acquire spent bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill or Buffalo Trace with the intention of filling them with beer that may never get released. Founders, on the other hand, now has the leeway to truly experiment however they please, which unsurprisingly yields some very heady brews. To cite just one example, look for a cherry beer coming down the pipe one aged in bourbon barrels that have then been used to mature maple syrup. That kind of release is a direct result of those ultra-small batches that quest for what Kosmicki referred to as a home run beer. How easy it is to forget, though, that the phenomenon of barrel-aged beer is still a relatively new one. Despite occasional one-offs from a variety of brewers, commercially released barrel-aged beer was virtually nonexistent before 2003, which is when Bourbon County Stout first appeared at the brewpubs of Chicagos Goose Island. Founders was right on the forefront as well, scaling up their already decadent Breakfast Stout into the barrel-aged recipe for Kentucky Breakfast Stout in 2004. The two beers have inevitably been compared by Midwestern beer geeks ever since, for obvious reasons. Theyre two of the earliest examples of the now-ubiquitous bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, but they could scarcely be more different in character. Of the two, KBS has always been much more reserved, with a character that Kosmicki would characterize as perhaps more refined, compared to the veritable sledgehammer of oak and whiskey in a bottle of BCBS. As much as those two beers are similar, they have a lot of different properties, Kosmicki said, mulling over the requested comparison. We want different flavors to showcase, not just that hard-driving alcohol and huge whiskey presence. The intense oak, I find that overwhelming. We think KBS is really all about the blend of those chocolate flavors, and certainly the coffee addition; it really helped hone in the identity for that beer. Indeed, in Kosmickis mind it was the creation of KBS that truly crystallized the Founders philosophy that has continued on to this day. By 2005, the beer had already built the beginnings of its cult. By the beginning of the 2010s, it had become the sort of thing that people drive across the country to acquire. That goes double for the extra rare maple syrup variant, Canadian Breakfast Stout, which I myself was lucky enough to buy a single bottle of the sole time it was commercially released in 2011. At the Black Party, the afternoon arrival of CBS in the taproom was heralded by a processional of the Canadian flag and national anthem, accompanied by raucous cheering and a crush of human flesh flowing in the general direction of the bar. The Black Party crowd at full strength on the Founders patio. And yet, despite their barrel-aging prowess in beers like KBS or Backwoods Bastard, its important to note that Founders is a brewery that picks and chooses its arenas fairly judiciously. Think of just about any other major regional brewery also known for barrel-agingfrom New Belgium, on down through the likes of Deschutes and Firestone Walkerand the thing they all have in common is a well-developed sour program. As any observer of the beer market would have seen in the last half decade, tart styles and wild ales have fully come into maturity in American craft brewing, and have become all but expected. In 2016, if youre making barrel-aged beers, then youre also making soursbut notably, not Founders, and not by coincidence. All I can say is that so far, a program like that just hasnt fit into the profile of beers we want to make and the identity we want to put out to our customers, Kosmicki said. So far, weve not found a way to have it make sense. The first thing we consider with any beer is How do we make it Founders?, and were never going to do something just because everyone else is doing it. If we do it, it will be because its true to us. And of course, purely in terms of logistics thats a huge step to take for a brewery of this size. Theres an incredible contamination risk, and we regard sanitation so highly that we might not be any good at making sours, quite frankly. I know that sounds funny, but it might be true. In the same vein, the cellarman is also cognizant of how fickle the average beer geek can be in which breweries they choose to support and even in their assessment of the same beer, a year later. More than most hobbies, beer geeks (myself included) at their worst project a wicked sense of entitlement and the attention spans of decadent Roman emperorsoh, its only a barrel-aged imperial chocolate coffee stout? Had a million of em. Yawn. We complain online about a lack of interesting product when five years earlier we might have been losing our minds in ecstasy over beers currently collecting dust on the shelf. But Kosmicki is unfazed. We understand how that goes; oh look, another barrel-aged imperial stout, whoop de doo, he said. Thats the reason why you dont see half a dozen different barrel-aged stouts from Founders. We know what we do well and what people look forward to, and we dont really invest more experimentation into what we already do really well. KBS thankfully has no problem selling out, and I doubt it ever will. If anyone thinks its gotten stagnant, then dont purchase it and let someone just getting into craft beer find that bottle. I mean really, what resources can we devote to control for that sort of perception? Better to simply not chase after what is trendy, or chase the latest style. Of course, the politics of craft beer and brewery ownership are another facet of beer geek interest that Founders can hardly ignore. Since the acquisition of 30 percent of the company by Spanish brewers Mahou-San Miguel in 2014, the brewery has gone through what has now become the standard acquisition cycle in this industry: Assurances that nothing will change, beer geek complaints and vehement criticism, and finally grudging acceptance. Kosmicki, as the employee, naturally assures that nothing is being done differently, but as an outside observer I certainly cant find reason to disagree. Founders has remained Founders, even if the Brewers Association will categorize them as outside the realm of craft beer in the years that follow, alongside the likes of Ballast Point and Lagunitas. If anything, Kosmicki makes it sound like the companys Spanish investors are primarily interested in learning as many secrets of barrel-aging technique as they can, and there arent many breweries more qualified to teach them. What then, does the future hold for the Founders barrel-aged empire, laying in silent, underground rows of oak in the gypsum mines below Grand Rapids? Kosmicki believes that the future of barrel-aging involves an expansion of diversity, of the sort that were already seeing from many small breweries. As the market gobbles up every available liquor and wine barrel, creativity becomes a necessity. Logistically, we craft brewers have been lucky that the popularity of American whiskey grew alongside craft beer, or there wouldnt have been nearly enough barrels to go around, he said. That possibility of running short, though, is certainly a driving force in pushing brewers to experiment with new barrels. Theres a lot of other liquor out there: Gin, tequila, scotch and even rumthats a pretty fun one to experiment with. Certain beer styles may have reached the climax of experimentation, but theres a whole bunch of mediums to age that beer and achieve a variety of unique new flavors. I think that over the next 10 years youll see a whole lot more variety. And with the assurance that yes, there will still be yearly KBS, its a premonition that beer geeks will no doubt anticipate for years to come. Jim Vorel is Pastes news editor, and he could go for a Breakfast Stout right now, regardless of when you might be reading this. You can follow him on Twitter. Here we are, weakly caught in the middle, and it is impossible to choose between evils. Myself, Ive always wanted to somehow or other stop these senseless battles of bad against bad, but were all more or less weak Ive never been able to. And that is why the hero of this picture is different from us. He is able to stand squarely in the middle and stop the fight. Akira Kurosawa on his film Yojimbo The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter. The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett Anybody can lapse into a parody of film noir or detective fiction almost on command. The deadpan worldview and gut-punch prose of the genre have long since joined the song Born To Be Wild among things that used to be revolutionary and now exist only to lampoon themselves. When kid-friendly productions like A Prairie Home Companion and Calvin & Hobbes can play with the grim postwar private eye, we can conclude it has lost its edginess. But despite that, I dont think a lot of people actually engage with the original work. Bill Watterson himself admitted to not having really read any of the detective stories that Calvins Tracer Bullet character spoofs. Tracer Bullet stories are extremely time-consuming to write, so I dont attempt them often. Im not at all familiar with film noir or detective novels, so these are just spoofs on the cliches of the genre, he wrote in The Tenth Anniversary Book of Calvin and Hobbes. Its too bad. Before it was done to death, the hardest of hardboiled detective fiction inspired numerous touchstones of 20th century cinemas treatises on the fatalistic pride of the Wounded Male Anti-Hero. A lot of it began with one thin, sickly man with a pencil mustache. When Toshiro Mifune or Clint Eastwood or Humphrey Bogart stride into a hopeless fight with only their grit and our belief that theyve just got to win, theyre many times following the dance steps of largely forgotten crime writer Dashiell Hammett. Who shot him? I asked. The gray man scratched the back of his neck and said: Somebody with a gun. Red Harvest, by Dashiell Hammett A man (usually a man) rolls into a dust-choked town that looks like little more than a hole in the ground. We dont know who he is, but we sense hes dangerous. The casual cruelty of this town is put on display somehow: A dog runs by with a mans severed hand in its jaws in Yojimbo (1961), a dead man with a sign tacked to his back rides out of town on the back of a horse in A Fistful of Dollars (1964). Akira Kurosawa, Yojimbos director and the father of the samurai picture, cited Hammetts work as an influence on his story of a ronin who rolls into town to find two violent gangs fighting for dominance. In Kurosawas treatment of the story, its an utterly pointless struggle: The town is anemic, the fight itself just posturing between two groups that want nothing more than to be in charge. The nameless, master-less samurai strokes his chin and muses that theres money to be made in this forsaken place. Many people know that Kurosawa influenced the Spaghetti Western films of Sergio LeoneA Fistful of Dollars is a beat-for-beat adaptation of Yojimbobut whats often lost in that conversation is what respect Kurosawa had for Western literature and film to begin with. Westerns have been done over and over again, and in the process, a kind of grammar has evolved, Kurosawa is quoted in Donald Richies The Films of Akira Kurosawa. I have learned from this grammar of the Western. Kurosawa cited a 1942 film adaptation of Hammetts novel The Glass Key as an inspiration on Yojimbo as well, but its a curious thing to cite (apart from one torture scene that very clearly mirrors samurai Sanjuros ordeals). The Glass Keys plot doesnt mirror Yojimbos in the slightest, while the plot of another Hammett novel, Red Harvest, is nearly the exact same story. Equally curiously, Red Harvest was only ever adapted loosely, into the 1930 film Roadhouse Nights. It cant just be coincidence, though. In Hammetts novel, a short, pugnacious detective from the fictional Continental Detective Agency rolls into the California mining town of Personville (pointedly mispronounced Poisonville at times), witnesses the aftermath of a murder, and decides to take money to reclaim the town from the thuggish strikebreakers and vice lords whose fights with one another have turned the streets into a war zone. Like Kurosawas samurai and Leones poncho-wearing gunman, Hammetts Continental Op character smirks as he openly gives people a false name, and proceeds to play both ends against the middle in a desperate game that he could end at any time by simply walking away. Fascinatingly, we dont want him to. All three plotsRed Harvest, Yojimbo and A Fistful of Dollars feature frequent switching of allegiance, corrupt (or completely absent) police, daring gambits that see the protagonist facing down armed adversaries, and a final showdown that sees the two wicked forces gripping the town abandoning the uneasy peace that allowed them to keep thieving and murdering with impunity so they can descend completely into the bestial self-destruction that was there all along. Were meant to believe the hero has done this because of money and opportunism, but there are stirrings of humanity and even bruised morality hidden inside him along the wayusually that result in him getting beaten bloody. After the two sides have completely killed one anotherafter we have seen the logical conclusion of bad against badour hero rolls out of town. We know nothing more about him than we did when he came inbeyond what we read into his actions ourselves. The arc of the story is not his, but the towns. The only real difference between them is that Hammetts bloody original is at least nominally interested in uncovering the circumstances of a murder. It isnt even right to say solve a murder, since the Op clearly isnt going forward under the assumption that hes going to bring anybody to justice in the end. To really get at the heart of how deeply Hammetts work got under the skin of the cinematic imagination, its worth taking a look at the man who crafted the novel in the first place. Hammetts life was in some ways as lurid and dark as the characters of his body of work. Born in 1894 in Maryland, Samuel Dashiell Hammetts tuberculosis spared him from the World War I draft, but its doubtful the thin young man appreciated it. He joined the Pinkerton detectives in 1915, just as the rise of organized labor saw the agency become the infamous private army of choice for corporate leaders hoping to bust unions. He infiltrated labor unions and informed on them for his bosses, but if he thought of himself as a total mercenary, his actions belied it: In Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir, Eddie Muller recounts a time when Hammett was offered $5,000 to kill union leader Frank Little. When Hammett declined, somebody else stepped in to do the dirty deed instead. It would completely reorient his political sensibilities for the rest of his life. Hammett would go on to become an outspoken Communistoutspoken enough that his participation in one group that raised bail money to try to free 11 high-profile political activists ended with his pleading the fifth on the stand and landing in jail for contempt of court. At night, he would join his fellow inmates and listen to a radio show starring the character Sam Spadehero of The Maltese Falcon, the novel which Hammett himself wrote. In essence, Hammett wrote the 1941 screenplay to the film adaptation, too: The director instructed his secretary to take the book and simply turn it into a screenplay. Much of the dialogue and story between the two are, as a result, almost completely unchanged. Humphrey Bogarts roles, time and again, would mirror that same sort of protagonist: World-weary and formidable, but wounded underneath. Hammett might have been principled, but he wasnt a saint. Biographer Sally Cline writes in Dashiell Hammett: Man of Mystery that his physical infirmity left him deeply insecure, and he would drink, use and abuse women physically and emotionally, and generally be an absent husband and father. Despite this, he still had relationships with his daughters, and though the last years of his life were a crushing descent into alcoholism and writers block, even his longtime (and long-suffering) companion Lillian Hellman saw fit to care for him in his last four miserable years. In eulogizing him, she said of his earlier imprisonment that he had come to the conclusion that a man should keep his word. Is it a wonder that the characters his works have inspiredviolent, opportunistic, and cynical as they arestill seem to cling to some essential morality beneath it all? Even the propensity of the samurai and cowboy characters who sprung up in his wake to go about unnamed is textbook Hammett: He once signed his name Peter Collinson, or Nobodys Son, from the carnie slang Peter Collins, which meant a nobody. Cline wrote that he rarely ever signed correspondence with his given name, preferring Sam or Dash. The Continental Op who mean-mugged and bluffed and punched his way through many of Hammetts stories never once gives his name outa Peter Collins himself. Its another telling little detail about the man who would become the father of the cinematic Man With No Name. Viewed just as a literary landmark, Hammetts work signaled a shift in detective fiction from the school of Poe or Doyles impossible locked room mysteries, and toward a world-weariness and grit that rose out of the modern megalopolises that were rising in the early 20th-century United States. Most detective stories that emerged from [that period] followed this pattern, Muller wrote. They had less to do with intricate plots and feats of deduction than they did with the tarnished chivalry and jaundiced attitude of the detective. Thats what cinema latched onto. In Red Harvest, as in Yojimbo and A Fistful of Dollarsand in all the dark and mighty works that truly understand them as an inspirationtarnished chivalry is what the story is truly about. The hero is an opportunist and a jerk, but will you look at these bad guys? The world is a better place without them, even if it means upending the uneasy calm of the place they prey upon. Peace that lets evil strut the streets is no peace at all. Were powerless and meek in the horrible battle of bad against bad. Somewhere inside us, theres the mad urge to punish the wicked, even if it means burning down the world rather than letting the unrighteous have the run of it. Hammett was a man with wounded pride and an acidic view of a world whose darker corners hed seen up close and in Technicolor. Its ironic but not surprising that the work of a slight and in some ways insecure man would give rise to stories and performances that are the definition of cinematic masculinity: Humphrey Bogarts deadpan snark, Toshiro Mifunes swaggering stride, Clint Eastwoods heart-freezing glare. And it makes perfect sense that, compared to the iconic bad men he inspired, his own name largely remains in the shadows. Kenneth Lowe is a media relations coordinator for state government in Illinois. His work has appeared in Colombia Reports, Illinois Issues magazine, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Side with the West Coast in an LA vs. NYC debate, and a New Yorker might go all Trump on ya, but side with the City, and most Angelenos will simply say, Cool, bro. Locals rarely get defensive about the City of Angels because outside opinions carry little weight, but it also means less effort is made to cater to tourists. Among the nicer slams, people say Los Angeles is a great place to live but a terrible place to visit, but within that classic line lies the trick to an enjoyable visit: Ask a local. Sure, the weather, wine and weed all make it a great place to live, but a local can tell you how to take advantage of those perks. For the best non-tourist activities, yes, you will have to drive, but it is usually worth it. Here are nine recommendations that go beyond the museums, parks and tar pits courtesy of a Los Angeles native. Rookies hike Runyon Canyon; the pros head to the Parker Mesa Overlook. The hikelocated in Topanga State Park on the coastal side of the Santa Monica Mountainsascends nearly 1,300 feet in elevation. The payoff? The trail takes you to an overlook with epic views of the Pacific coastline, Catalina Island, surrounding mountain ranges and even downtown. The moderately difficult trek is long (seven miles round trip), but the slope is rarely steep, and the lower part of the trail provides decent shade. From the Pacific Coast Highway, head east on Sunset Boulevard and take your second left on Los Liones Drive. The well-marked trailhead is about half a mile down where the street takes a sharp left turn. (Pro Tip: When in doubt, always go right when descending the mountain trail.) Photo: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board Tour books generally send art lovers to the big guns like The Broad and The Getty, but pop and street art enthusiasts should head to the gallery scenes in downtown (DTLA), Culver City (near La Cienega and Washington Boulevards) and at Bergamot Station (near Michigan Avenue and 26th Street) in Santa Monica. Dozens of galleries populate Bergamot Station, but Corpo Gallery by Juxtapoz co-founder Greg Escalante and run by art vet Gary Pressmanis the top pick with art from Anthony Ausgang, Jota Leal and Geoffrey Gersten. The DTLA art scene has vibrant galleries from Little Tokyo to the Art District, but the 12,000-square-foot Corey Helford Gallery just east of Los Angeles River lands big names like Ron English, Shag and Herakut. In Culver City, check out Fabien Castanier Gallery for artists like Stuart Semple and Gaston Ugalde and Zevitas Marcus for South Park alumnus Eric Yahnker. Check the websites for opening receptions (galleries often time them for the same night) that typically include wine, snacks and a lively atmosphere where the singles like to mingle. Wallys Wine might have a dorky name, but it is arguably the best wine shop in the country. Opened by Steve Wallace in 1968, the shop changed hands in 2013 to an investment group headlined by the founders of Guess, and its chief wine taster is famously the sommelier to the stars. Customers have included Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and Bill Clinton, among others. Yes, name dropping is an LA move, but it helps explain why Wallys has serious clout in the wine industry, and their influence translates into amazing weekly wine tastings that typically cost only $10. Every Saturday, the original Westwood location holds a two-hour tasting from 2pm to 4pm that includes curated cheese pairings from the on-site Cheese Box. Opened in 2014, a second Wallys location in Beverly Hills doubles as a restaurant-vinoteca, and it hosts nighttime tastings about once a month. Wallys also hosts annual eventssuch as the upcoming Grande Marque Champagne Event on June 5that take place in larger venues that have included the Museum of Flying. Obviously youre going to need an Uber. Photo: Courtesy of Original Farmers Market What Los Angeles lacks in elite restaurants it makes up for in food. That is more or less how the saying goes, and while most Angelenos would question the first half of that characterization, the second half is spot-on. Californias Central Valley produces more than half of the countrys fruits, vegetables and nuts. For this reason, even the divest restaurants can arguably claim farm-to-plastic-fork produce. This also means Los Angeles claims some of the best farmers markets. Santa Monica has the better-known markets, but head to the Pacific Palisades (Sundays 8am to 1pm) for gourmet goods like fresh pasta, homemade hummus, local seafood and maybe even black truffles. Hollywood has a lake, really? See, this is why you need to ask a local. Not only does Hollywood have a lake surrounded by a paved 3.3-mile track, the Hollywood Sign is on one side, and DTLA views are on the other. The lake is really a reservoir created by the Mulholland Dam, which went up nearly a century ago. Many runners lap the lake, but it is also a beautiful place to take a stroll and snap Instagrammable pictures of the sign and the DTLA skyline. Photo: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board Malibus image is beaches, celeb homes and Charlie Harper booze hounding, but the Boo (as annoying people call it) also boasts several wine vineyards. Hey, leave it to the rich and famous to want wine delivered straight from the barrell! Several of these vineyardse.g., Rosenthal, Malibu Wines, Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate, Cornell Winery, Church Estate Vineyard and Cielo Malibu Estate Vineyardhave tasting rooms, tours and/or restaurants. Dont expect a Silver Oak cab, but do expect to sip wine in vineyards with incredible Pacific Ocean views. Los Angeles finally took a tourism tip from NYC by naming more ethnic enclaves, and this naturally brought more marketability and foodies to the citys culturally rich neighborhoods. Examples include Thai Town, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Sawtelle Japantown, Filipinotown, Little Ethiopia, Koreatown (or K-town), Cambodia Town and Little Armenia. Though outside the typical tourist zones, the West San Gabriel Valley has numerous Asian enclaves including Little India (Artesia) and the real (yet untitled) Chinatown in Monterey Park, which was nicknamed Little Taipei in decades past. Also untitled is the historic Mexican neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Like the 7 train in New York, the Gold Line can take you to many of these places, but unless you plan a sake binge, youre probably better off driving. Photo: Ben Ledbetter, CC-BY Now here is an activity that most Angelenos dont even know. Sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine, the Case Study House Program (1945 to 1966) commissioned top architects to design and build model homes to meet the needs of the post-war baby boom. Most of the Case Study Houses were built in Los Angeles, and Pierre Koenigs gorgeous Stahl House (Case #22) is arguably the most iconic. Completed in May 1960, the home became famous when photographer Julius Shulman shot an image that came to represent modern Los Angeles architecture in the 20th century. Unlike most of the Case Study Houses, this one offers tours, which include a time slot designed for catching the sunset. The catch? You will need to reserve your spot months in advance for the sunset option. Watts, a two-square-mile neighborhood in South Los Angeles, is best known for the 1965 Watts Riots and the setting for the 1970s show Sanford and Son. Artists, however, typically associate the area with the Watts Towers, one of the most famous pieces of U.S. folk art. Italian immigrant Simon Rodia spent 34 years creating 17 steel and mortar sculptures with the tallest towers reaching nearly 100 feet high. Completed in 1955, the towers are covered in sea shells, pottery, tile, ceramics, broken glasses and other oddities that Rodia scavenged around town. Viewed from a certain angle, the towers collectively resemble a boat pointed in the direction of Italy. Soon after completing the work, Rodia moved north near San Francisco and may never have revisited his creation before passing away in 1965. Cementing the artists folk-hero legacy, The Beatles included an image of Rodia (next to Bob Dylan) on the cover of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. David Jenison is a Los Angeles native and the Content Editor of PROHBTD. He has covered entertainment, restaurants and travel for more than 20 years. May officially marks National Pet Month, 31 days to give thanks to the four-legged family members whose barks, mews, squaks and chitters enchant our lives, even while leaving our furniture doused in urine and bite marks. Novelist Samuel Sattin and illustrator Chris Koehler are also taking the time to honor our pets by casting mans best friend in a harrowing, imaginative new comic from Z2 called Legend, whose first chapter debuts this Wednesday. Channeled through sepia-tinged portraits of post-apocalyptic decay, Legend follows a pack of dogs thriving in a husk of a city without a human to be found. Instituting their own society and leadership structure, the pack deals with the fallout of a confrontation between their alpha, Ransom, and a hellish creature described as Just teeth. And eyes. And cold. As he did in his novelsthe superhero homage The League of Somebodies and the quirky horror of The Silent EndSattin plays inventively with genre, plying anthropomorphic animals with survivalist fantasy. Koehlers illustrations inject the most noble and amiable qualities of canines onto the page, cast with immaculate shading and detail recalling Jae Lee and Charles Burns. Legend is poised to join the company of such lauded animal epics as The Plague Dogs, Watership Down and Pride of Baghdad with its own distinct tone. Check out Pastes exclusive preview below. Legend #1 Promotional Cover by Chris Koehler Legend #1 Cover by Chris Koehler Legend #1 Interior Art by Chris Koehler Legend #1 Interior Art by Chris Koehler Legend #1 Interior Art by Chris Koehler Legend #1 Interior Art by Chris Koehler When Season Two of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt premiered on April 15, it was hard to miss all the Mad Men referencesno matter how quickly you binged through its 13 episodes. But this is hardly the first time Tina Fey has paid tribute to the classic AMC drama, or vice versa. 30 Rock, Mad Men and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt actually have a pretty long history of references, shared cast members and other connections. Here are some of our favorites. Note: this list contains spoilers. In Season Threes The Ones, 30 Rocks Kenneth drops this bombshellan obvious reference to Don Drapers true identityright before he passes out after being poisoned by Jenna. In Season Fours The Moms, Liz Lemon is shocked to learn that her mom settled for her father after turning down a proposal from her true love, Buzz Aldrin (thankfullycan you imagine how thatd complicate Lizs Astronaut Mike Dexter fantasies?). She explains herself by saying, It wasnt that simple, Liz. I had just graduated from secretary school, and I got a job at Sterling Cooper. In the 30 Rock series finale, Liz is briefly concerned that her friend/mentor Jack is going to kill himself and tries to stop him by crying, Wait! Theres so much to live for! Dont you want to know how Mad Men ends? Weirdly enough, when Mad Men did end years later, it featured a similarthough admittedly way more dramaticscene with Peggy concerned that her friend/mentor Don was going to kill himself. Another A+ reference to the Mad Men finalethis time after the fact. In Season Two, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt takes advantage of the fact that Jon Hamm plays the reverend who kidnapped Kimmy and the other mole womenand a thousand internet theories about Mad Men and Kimmy Schmidt existing in the same universe are born. Matthew Weiner was notorious for being a stickler for details on Mad Men, making sure every last prop or reference was historically accurate. So when Mad Men snuck in a subtle 30 Rock reference in Season Sixs To Have and To Hold by having Ted order an Old Spanisha fictional drink invented by Matthew Brodericks character on the show that consists of red wine with tonic water and olivesit was all the more amazing. (Sidenote: Of course its Ted who would drink an Old Spanish.) The Old Spanish made its second appearance in the Tina Fey universe this year on Kimmy Schmidt, with Lillian holding what appears to be a canned version of this gross concoction. Do the olives come in the can, or are they sold separately? On Mad Men, Sam Page played Greg, Joans horrible rapist/husband who abandons her for the Army. On Season Two of Kimmy Schmidt, hes got another redheaded love interestand his character is an Army veteran. That cant be a coincidence, right? Anna Camp is hilarious this season on Kimmy Schmidt as Jacquelines nemesis, Deirdre Robespierre. But Mad Men fans will recognize her as Bethany Van Nuys, the woman Don briefly dates in Season Four after his divorce with Betty. No portrayal of a surly teen on TV was as simultaneously realistic and devastating as Kiernan Shipkas Sally Draper, so of course she was the perfect choice to play Kimmys younger stepsister, Kymmi, in Season One of Kimmy Schmidt. Just look at that scowl. Hes yet to make an appearance on Kimmy Schmidt (fingers crossed for Season Three), but John Slattery stepped out of his Roger Sterling role in a big way when he guest-starred in Season Five of 30 Rock. He played Steve Austin, the insane New England politician running to restore the Founding Fathers America: no paved roads, rum used as an anesthetic, legal slavery. Yikes. Weve already mentioned Jon Hamms role as Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne on Kimmy Schmidt, but he also made many memorable appearances on 30 Rock. Who can forget the dumb-as-a-rock Dr. Drew Baird, one of Lizs love interests, who eventually winds up with two hook hands as a result of his ineptitude? Zosia Mamets probably best known as Shoshanna on Girls, but lets not forget her stint on Mad Men as Peggys hip photographer friend, Joyce Ramsay, in Seasons Four and Five. She also crops up in Season Two of Kimmy Schmidt as one half of a hipster couple from Austin looking to move in and gentrify the neighborhood. 30 Rocks live episode was great for many reasons, but the true highlight was Paul (Will Forte) descending from the rafters to serenade Jenna with Zou Bisou Bisou, an obvious nod to Megans classic Season Five performance of the French song for Dons birthday party on Mad Men. Actor Mike Carlson has popped up both on 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt as Mikey, the catcalling construction worker. He catcalls Liz on 30 Rock, and Kimmy on Season One of Kimmy Schmidtbut in season two, theres a twist. He catcalls (and then ultimately falls in love with) Titus. Things seemed to be getting pretty serious for the two, with Mikey even coming out to his parents and the two eventually talking about moving in together, so heres hoping we see more of Mikey in Season Three. Okay, so this ones not necessarily a Mad Men reference per se, but it is a pretty funny mention of the actress we all know as Betty Draper, made when Jacqueline calls her parents in South Dakota on Kimmy Schimdt and is on the receiving end of this exciting news. Spoiler alert if you havent yet finished Season Two of Kimmy Schmidt, but it ends on a cliffhanger, with the Reverend (again, played by Jon Hamm) calling Kimmy from jail and dropping this bombshell: Kimmy, its Dick. I have the most wonderful news. I met someone and Im getting married. So you and me are gonna have to get a divorce. Sure, Dick is short for Richard, the Reverends first name, but the fact that he introduces himself that way seems like an obvious Dick Whitman reference. This is particularly interesting when you consider how the whole scene is reminiscent of the flashback in Season Two of Mad Men, where we see Don (or Dick, to Anna Draper) ask Anna for a divorce on Christmas Eve so that he can marry Betty, with whom hes fallen in love. This is Lizs attempt at role-playing, but its also a pretty accurate description of her dynamic with Criss. The hilariously terrible Bitch Hunter, a show within the 30 Rock universe, contains this Easter egg of a writing credit. The Sopranos, Mad Men, Bitch Hunter? Nobodys perfectnot even Matthew Weiner. Getting ahead of the Summer Olympics in Rio that starts on August fifth, Apple has just added Rio de Janeiro their transit map app, according to MacRumors. Other major cities that Apple's transit maps cover can be found here. Apple acquired transit mapping companies Locationary and Embark back in 2013. Apple's first granted patent relating to mass transit was awarded back in November 2015. The report notes that Rio's "Transit directions are available for travel by bus, ferry, metro, and train throughout the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, including connections to and from Belford Roxo, Duque de Caxias, Itaborai, Japeri, Mage, Mesquita, Nilopolis, Niteroi, Nova Iguacu, Queimados, Sao Goncalo, and Sao Joao de Meriti." About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that police can search phones with a valid warrant and compel a person in custody to provide physical evidence such as fingerprints without a judge's permission. In a recent case reported by the L.A. Times, authorities obtained a search warrant compelling the girlfriend of an alleged Armenian gang member to press her finger against an iPhone that had been seized. The phone contained Apple's Touch ID for unlocking the phone within a limited time frame without a passcode. Susan Brenner, a law professor at the University of Dayton said the act of compelling a person in custody to press her finger against a phone breached the 5th Amendment's protection against self-incrimination. On the flip-side, Albert Gidari, the director of privacy at Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society says that "Unlike disclosing passcodes, you are not compelled to speak or say what's 'in your mind' to law enforcement." Authorities simply saying "'Put your finger here' is not testimonial or self-incriminating." With Apple not willing to work with the FBI any longer on unlocking older iPhones and with encryption being at a higher level since the iPhone 6, law enforcement will likely to be trained to quickly find a suspect's smartphone, and should it be an iPhone, get the suspects fingerprint on the iPhone's Home Button ASAP so as to obtain possible evidence that could be used in their case. For more on this case and issue, read the full L.A. Times report here. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. We began this morning with a short drive from our hotel in Jericho to the traditional site of Johns baptism of Jesus. I like the site. I think its likely very close to the real place. (Its far better than Yardenit, the popular baptismal location further north, at the lower end of the Sea of Galilee. That site simply cannot be authentic. Besides which, the schmaltzy gift shop through which one must exit Yardenit, which is owned and operated by an Israeli kibbutz that earns a substantial portion of its income from targeting Christian tourists, irritates me quite a bit.) I think that I first visited al-Maghtas, as its called, from the Jordanian side. (Maybe Id been there earlier on the Israeli western bank of the river, but, if so, I dont recall the occasion.) The president of the University of Jordan took me and then-BYU president Merrill Bateman down to it from Amman, and I was immediately taken with the place. Its much better developed now, on both sides of the River Jordan. I think Ill write a column about it someday. Then we drove along the western shore of the ever-shrinking Dead Sea, down to the remarkable place known as Masada. The scenery and the history there King Herod, the Jewish rebels against Rome, the Roman siege, the mass suicide are extraordinarily and equally dramatic. Coming back to the north, we stopped off at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. I was able to tell the folks on my bus about BYUs pivotal role with the publication of the Scrolls. This was a FARMS project, and a great one. When, however, somebody asked what new projects the Maxwell Institute was involved in along those lines, I was unable to answer. The visionary drive of the organization is gone. Its deeply, deeply sad. What a flourishing, exciting organization the old FARMS (Maxwell Institute) was. The morale was high, the enthusiasm was unflagging, the spirit of camaraderie was wonderful, donors and supporters were excited. The sky was the limit, to coin an entirely original phrase. Now, though, there hath passd away a glory from the earth. And the destruction was all so utterly and completely unnecessary . . . Oh well. On to brighter things. Some peeled off from the scheduled itinerary after Qumran to go with Jack Welch for a visit to Bethany (al-Azariyya), the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus (whose traditional tomb is located there), and to drive over to St. Georges Monastery in the Wadi Kelt. My wife was one of them. So was Lou Midgley. I felt obliged, though, to stay with those who wanted to go for a float in the Dead Sea. So I did. Then we made the ascent from the Dead Sea (at roughly 1400 feet below sea level) to Jerusalem (at about 2500 feet above sea level). I love the first glimpse of Jerusalem on that road, coming from the tunnel. I try never to ruin the surprise for the people on my bus, so that theyre stunned when, suddenly and all at once, they see the BYU Jerusalem Center, the Kidron Valley, Mount Zion, the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock, and the Old City. Few views are more splendid or more rich in history and significance. I promised the proprietor of Cruise Lady that I would put a plug in for her company, which has organized this tour. So heres the plug: Im doing a trip to Israel for her come next April or May, perhaps accompanied by a quick visit to Egypt. (Well be talking about that over the next day or two.) And I think were doing a Mediterranean cruise in June of 2017. These trips recharge my academic and spiritual batteries. Posted from Jerusalem Geological fault line in ingvellir National Park, Iceland. Photograph by Jon Connell, 8-5-06 [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] ***** This is an exchange with James Hooper, a Catholic friend, on my Facebook page. His words will be in blue. Words of Catholic friend Margie Prox Sindelar will be in green. ***** You gentleman are heroically defending AL and to some degree the Pope. It really is the only salvageable position for explaining this as an evangelist. But for the sake of argument, wouldnt it be nice if all this was rendered unnecessary by a clear and unambiguous rejection of the Kasper paradigm? It would just throw a bucket of cold water on all of this controversy. I pray we get that re-statement / clarification soon. The very fact that the discussion basically centers around a footnote in a non-dogmatic Apostolic Exhortation shows us what we are here dealing with. Nothing has changed, except perhaps in a pastoral sense: an attempt to be more sensitive to difficult marital situations. Dave the current controversy is solely because people see the Kasper language in Chapter 8. Right or wrong, they see it. Kasper and the German bishops see it. Most people like us can accept the hermeneutic of continuity however a goodly portion of the Church doesnt, including quite a few sane Catholics with great reputations. Despite all that has transpired it would be helpful to the case of pulling these people in to hear an unambiguous, plainly worded rejection once and for all. The same stuff is said about Vatican II all the time, as I note more than once in my post. I dont buy it. Theological liberals will always distort things. That will happen as long as they are around and havent died out yet. Give it 15-20 years and theyll be mostly dead and well be liberated from their sublime wisdom and faith. Those will be glorious days. However, wouldnt it have been nice at the time of Vatican II to have really clear directives as to what the documents didnt mean? Perhaps it wasnt as clear what was happening back then. Its clear now and I hope not a missed opportunity for the Holy Father to help us to help him. Again, I think Vatican II is quite clear and glorious. I think the same about the Bible, which has been distorted by kooks and liberals lo these past 3000+ years. No one knows that better than the apologist. I see how it is done all the time, even by atheists, who ludicrously fancy themselves experts on Holy Writ. They see it because they are looking for it, many of these people are still bemoaning that Burke is not Pope [see related link], and dont trust Pope Francis. Some but not all. Some are sincerely wanting to help the Pope and those souls who will be impacted by these kooks by eliminating the ambiguity. Thats why I said many, and I stand by my opinion that those worried about the Pope will serve the church better by worrying about their own sanctification, and I have the Saints to back up my opinion. If what was appropriate is worrying about our own souls, then none of us would be apologists or evangelists. We have a de facto problem in that very prominent churchmen, not just raving radical traditionalists, see an ambiguity that has the potential to lead people astray. Assuming that isnt the Popes intention at all, suggesting a clarification only helps him and the Office of Pope. As you know, I dont think the only two options are acceptance or silence. Thats why I provide links to 31 articles [as of this writing] that accept and explain Amoris Laetitia. [#198 and after in the list] One can at least read the positive, pro articles if they must read the others, too. I wont go astray sticking with the Pope, but many can and do go astray questioning him. I have seen it and so have you. We need good apologists like Dave because there are very bad apologists, very bad media, and a lot of Catholics that dont trust the Holy Spirit. I see nothing but ugly fruit coming from those who question the Pope nonstop, and it starts innocently enough, with good intentions, but its a huge danger. The section lay people are obsessed with is not ever for laypeople. The biggest crisis in the church right now, in my opinion, is that too many think they are apologists and they are not. Too many think they are popes or Protestants, too. Dave youre kind of moving the goal posts. My comment was on people who misinterpret Vatican II. Those people caused trouble in the last 30-40 years. What I was saying is that it would have been nice to have some clearer interdiction on those people sooner. As we both know John Paul II and Benedict XVI introduced the concept of the hermeneutic of continuity to combat that idea. As I said at the outset, I commend Dave for doing this heavy lifting. It is the job of the apologist to present the voice of the church in the most positive light possible. I have actually reposted Daves collection of articles on my wall for the edification of those who follow me. My quip was tangential I suppose, that given the obvious concern by more than just the usual commentators, but by real and respected theologians and prelates, which comes from a place not of anti Popery or mischief, perhaps a clarification from the Holy Father would be helpful to everyone. In my opinion its not enough to lump everyone together into the kook bucket, or to simply suggest everyone should like it or lump it. Perhaps your focus is the 1 Peter 5 crowd, but there is a lot more being said out there that isnt in bad media. It already has, and on reactionary pages is far worse than the waterboarding fight ever was. My page is civil because I demand that it be so, but the larger fight is very ugly and divisive and the devil has a huge victory. I dont lump everyone together as indistinguishable. What I say is that it is troubling that more and more respectable and non-reactionary voices are jumping on the criticize the pope at every turn bandwagon. I predicted this. The [mostly] secular media / liberal / legitimate mainstream traditionalist + radical Catholic reactionary narrative regarding Pope Francis is now so entrenched that it will probably not go away till we get another pope. I think this is a great tragedy and a huge victory for the devil, who loves nothing more than to divide and conquer, and set Catholics against each other and against their own supreme leader: the Vicar of Christ. He is so happy about it that he is dancing with glee and ecstasy. We will see more and more of this as time goes on. And some who have gone down this road will become traditionalists and some will keep traveling further right into radical reactionary land and worse. Mark my words. Ive watched these trends for 25 years. I agree with you about the devil. He is assuredly delighted. We should seek unity where we can, assisting the Holy Father where we can. Hilary White (Lifesite News / The Remnant) already has a position that there are no orthodox bishops and that the entire non-reactionary Church isnt Catholic at all, but literally another religion that she calls Novusordoism. Its standard practice among reactionaries to call those of us who disagree with their nonsense neo-Catholics and to mock us (as I was at The Remnant [see my reply] and Scott Eric Alt is being mocked currently by Steve Skojec of One Vader Five). [see his reply also] When I critiqued Chris Ferraras trashing of the last document of Pope Francis (Laudato Si) I was roundly mocked and dismissed as a guy who has no readers. Division? There it is. My point was that we cant let our defense of the Magisterium or the Pope contribute to more division, not that there isnt division. Elevating the rancor serves nobody except the aforementioned Devil. Telling the truth, unfortunately, always ruffles feathers. This is why Jesus was murdered, and why they tried to kill Paul and Peter many times, and eventually did. We know Jesus never sinned, yet they accused Him of being filled with a demon, and of blasphemy. Folks get angry even if we present truths as perfect saints and all sweetness and light. Division exists because a proportion of any given crowd accepts falsehood and lies. That is the beginning of it. Well Dave, I personally see the ambiguity that others have pointed out in Chapter 8. I think it opens a door to mischief, and there are plenty of people like Cardinal Kasper who are clicking their heels in celebration of the ambiguity they see to. I dont question the Popes motives and I dont think its appropriate to blend hair on fire criticism with evangelism and I think thats probably the difference. Well see where all this criticism and public confusion and lamentation leads, James. Its nowhere good, in my opinion. I am curious. What do you think is an appropriate response to an honest concern with this kind of non-magisterial document? Is the only acceptable option just complete acceptance, or is there an appropriate route for one to exercise ones obligations under Canon 212? Obviously rants accusing the pope of heresy are not appropriate. What other responses are appropriate in your opinion? Id say the appropriate response is to continue on as we always have, accepting it as part of the hermeneutic of continuity and to stop interpreting the pope as if he is a liberal and revolutionary: for which there is no evidence. Thanks. Id like to propose that there is another position here, that doesnt fit into that binary model of either you accept it as part of the hoc or reject it because you think the Pope is a revolutionary or liberal. I believe one can simultaneously promote the document through the eyes of the hoc and make an observation that many in the church (Cupich, Kasper, Marx, etc.) since the document has been released have announced that they see an opening for communion for divorced and remarried that arent living in continence. I believe that one can simply call for clarity from the Vatican in a concern for souls that may be led astray, without indicting the Pope as a revolutionary or liberal. We have to remember that the synod in part was called to clarify these very issues which are now even more confused. The Pope himself pulled Cardinal Kasper out of retirement to air his proposal, presumably in a spirit of putting the question to rest once and for all. Since the matter has not been put to rest in the eyes of these people by the synod, nor by the exhortation, nor by comments following the release of the synod it doesnt seem unreasonable to simultaneously promote the positive hermeneutic and request clarification where it is obviously needed, all without denigrating the Pope. As I have stated over and over, folks will misinterpret and (I think, dishonestly, or at least erroneously) exploit the document, just as they do the Bible and the Vatican II documents. Nothing can stop that. All the clarifications in the world can be made and it wont help. The more nuanced, and (I think) realistic and practical documents are, the more liberals exploit them in this manner. Moreover, those who are not liberal and anti-pope who think it is so unclear, etc. (with perfectly good intentions), are falling into the hands of liberal goals: and essentially are functioning, under the circumstance, as what Lenin called useful idiots. I just have to respectfully disagree that anyone who is not liberal and who sees shortcomings in this document, while proposing it within the full parameters of canon 212 (respect for the office and speaking their concerns candidly) are in fact useful idiots. I think thats a sad condescension to people who have dedicated themselves to God and the Church. Again I am not speaking about hair on fire reactionaries. The document is not dogmatic, nor does the Pope claim any sort of magisterial voice here. Comparing it to Trent or Vatican II is a mismatch. Thats what I have to say. Thanks. As usual, I have to explain useful idiots. It is not saying that the people are consciously idiots. From the perspective of those with a far more radical agenda, this is how they are viewed. Wikipedia gives a good one-sentence definition: In political jargon, useful idiot is a term for people perceived as propagandists for a cause whose goals they are not fully aware of, and who are used cynically by the leaders of the cause. Thus a person can be perfectly sincere and well-meaning, in this instance orthodox Catholic, love and care about the Church, be wonderful people, etc., and still be a useful idiot in specific ways. The devil is an extremely subtle operator. See C. S. Lewis classic, The Screwtape Letters . . . Of course, reactionaries say the same sort of thing about those of us whom they derisively call neo-Catholics all the time: that we are in bed with modernism, fundamentally compromised (even consciously so in the worst cases) useful idiots. But they will not say the nice stuff about us that I am saying about those who are critiquing Pope Francis with only good intentions. I understand the allusion to useful idiot, and I still dont agree. You are basically suggesting that people such as myself who have a track record of defending the pope but see a problem brewing in the church which could be averted by some Papal clarification are in fact unwittingly promoting reactionaries. I find this ironic because you are equally offended by apparently being accused of unwittingly supporting modernists. Personally I think it is uncivil and unfair to paint someone who disagrees with you on a purely prudential matter as an unknowing agent of Satan. I appreciate your time in conversing with me on this matter. I wish I could say I felt less unsettled. As someone I respect, I am disappointed to see these distinctions being made. Thus its probably best I retire from the dialogue here. Peace. Yes, I believe the devil is extremely clever, and he is exploiting the present divisions to the max. I think whatever legitimate criticisms that can be made (and I dont deny that there are possibly some) should be made in private, with fellow Catholics: not broadcast for all the world to see. But since the criticism is broadcast far and wide, and by increasingly more people and relatively more respectable people, I am duty-bound as an apologist and defender of the pope to speak out against it. Were a laughing-stock among anti-Catholic Protestants now. They are having a field day noting and mocking all these internal divisions. They use it as arguments against the One True Church. They say, see! The nauseating papists are no different than we are, with our own endless divisions, never able to be healed. And this includes speaking out against what I believe to be the grand strategy of Satan to once again divide and conquer: one of his favorite and oldest tricks in his large arsenal. If you disagree, you do. I can only call it as I see it. Ive always been known as a straight shooter, and with good reason: because I am in fact (right or wrong) a straight shooter. Public detraction of the Pope is very different from public discussion of a situation that is developing in the church. Shooting the messenger, albeit straight shooting, without distinction probably isnt helpful to prevent further division. I have taken an oath as well to defend the magisterium. Requesting a clarification along those lines to aid our errant brethren in understanding the limits of praxis is perfectly in those lines and does not presume an attack on the Holy Father. You need not worry that I take anything personal. My feelings are the least of my concern. The souls of those being led astray by errant voices are my concern. My opinion is that positive apologetics would be maximally effective with some straight shooting from the Pope, when he realizes there is trouble brewing. You call for clarification. Cardinal Schonborn has already provided exactly that. The pope expressly stated that what the Cardinal said would clear up the confusion over the controversial portions of the document. And Cardinal Schonborn made it perfectly clear that the document does not overturn existing Catholic tradition, teaching, and practice. So your wish has been granted. ***** Meta Description: Is public massive criticism of a papal document by Catholics a good thing? Is it even necessary? I debate it with a Catholic friend. Meta Keywords: Amoris Laetitia, annulments,apostolic exhortation,Catholics & marriage,Catholics & the family,Divorce, Holy communion,Pope Francis, pope-bashing,Radical Catholic Reactionaries,remarried Catholics, synod on the family Patna: While claiming immunity under freedom of speech and to avoid jail terms, Communist rising star and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student union leader Kanhaiya Kumar, at his maiden rally in Patna on Sunday watched from the podium as his supporters thrashed two students showing black flags to their new-found icon in full view of the Patna police. Identified as Manikant Mani and Nitish Kumar, the two students, apparently opposed to Kanhaiya's extremist ideologies, waved black flags at the JNU leader who, along with his other comrades in Delhi, was recently caught celebrating the 'sacrifice' of terrorist Afzal Guru in the name of ' holding a cultural program' leading to his much-publicized arrest and the outpour of support in his favor from anti-BJP parties and leaders including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP leader and MP Shatrughan Sinha. Kanhaiya and his acolytes took the opportunity to bash Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government at the center engaging in usual anti-Modi rhetoric including how the PM was anti-poor, anti-lower caste, 'jumlebaaz', a liar, communal leader, and a con man who deceived Indian voters into voting him into power a common theme among all Modi-baiters including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and all left leaders. Kanhaiya's supporters justified the thrashing of the two students at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall saying the two belonged to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and were there to disturb the event organized by the All India Students Federation, the student wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI). AISF has denied its involvement in the beating of the students saying its members had nothing to do with the thrashing of the two. Watching the two youths being mercilessly beaten up, Kanhaiya, true to his trademark grandstanding style, said he did not see the black flags being waved and instead saw saffron flags (the mark of the Sangh Parivar) flying on his face. Hours later as criticism against Kanhaiya and his henchmen began to pour on the social media; the youth leader of the anti-Modi brigade condemned the incident on his Twitter account saying violence was not the answer to the voice of the opposition. As reported, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday had rolled out red carpet for Kanhaiya Kumar and his comrades at the Patna Airport as both the Chief Minister and his political ally and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav gave him their blessings to go out and take on the saffron brigade. President Rohani's Allies Score Resounding Win In Second-Round Elections 05/01/16 Source: RFE/RL Rohani Welcomes Results From Runoff Election artwork by Ali Karimi, Iranian daily Arman Iranian President Hassan Rohani has welcomed the success of the moderate-reformist bloc in the second round of parliamentary elections. Speaking on May 1 at a ceremony marking worker's day, Rohani congratulated voters for "choosing the best" in the April 29 runoff elections and the original vote in February. Reformist and moderate politicians allied with Rohani won 42 percent of the total seats, short of an absolute majority. But their conservative rivals were outnumbered for the first time since 2004. There will be 133 reformists and 125 conservative deputies in the 290-seat legislature. The remaining seats went to independents and minorities. A record number of 17 women, nearly all reformists, will become lawmakers, one more than the number of clerics. Although the female lawmakers represent only 9 percent of the total, there are only nine conservative women in the outgoing chamber. The second round of voting took place in constituencies where candidates failed to get 25 percent of votes cast in the first round. The Iranian parliament has no direct control over major policy matters, but it can back the policies of Rohani to bolster the economy. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, BBC, and Reuters Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org Number of female MPs in Iran Parliament reaches record high 05/01/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh With the victory of four more women in the second round of parliamentary elections, the number of women in the 10th Iranian parliament reached 17, which is a record high for the Islamic Republic. source: Iranian daily Shahrvand Iranian media report that Massoumeh Aghapour, Samieh Mahmoudi, Zahra Sai and Khadijeh Rabii managed to win the most votes in their ridings on Friday April 29. In the first round, 14 women won seats in Parliament, although the fate of Minoo Khaleghi, the candidate who won the third-highest number of votes in Isfahan, which has five candidates in Parliament, is still unclear. Khaleghi's votes have been voided by the Guardian Council, but the Ministry of the Interior and President Hassan Rohani have opposed the council's act. Of the 17 new MPs, 14 are reformists and three are independents. Until now, the first Parliament held the highest number of women with 14 female MPs. UN Ready To Help On Iran Assets Dispute With U.S. If Both Sides Ask 05/01/16 Source: RFE/RL The UN says that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is ready to help settle a dispute between Iran and the United States over Tehran's frozen assets if both sides ask for his assistance. Read related article by Ghanoon daily UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York on April 29 that "the secretary-general's good offices are always available should both parties to whatever tensions or issue request it." Iran asked the United Nations on April 28 to intervene to prevent the United States from diverting $2 billion in frozen funds to victims of terrorism under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Iran's Foreign Minister Javid Zarif wrote to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying Ban should use his "good offices" to persuade the United States to "adhere to its international obligations." Zarif also asked Ban to help secure the release of Iranian assets frozen in U.S. banks. Tehran's appeal to the UN comes one week after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sought to assure Zarif that he is doing everything he can to help Iran benefit from the lifting of economic sanctions under its nuclear deal with world powers. Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org Iranian workers cry out against job insecurity 05/01/16 Report by Radio Zamaneh ; photos by Houshang Hadi, ILNA The head of Iran's Workers' House opened Workers' Day events by speaking of the lack of job security for hundreds of thousands of Iranian workers. Alireza Mahjoub said in addition to low wages, the workers' community is in constant turmoil due to the prevalence of temporary contracts. Iranian workers marked International Workers' Day one day early, on April 30, with thousands of workers joining the march, Iranian media report. ILNA reported that marchers chanted: "Dear President, Hear our Call for Help!" Workers called for an end to temporary contracts and demanded payment of their delayed wages. This is the second year after a longtime ban that workers have been allowed to hold a march to mark International Workers' Day. Workers' House, which organizes the events, is registered as an independent labour organization but it is in effect run by a three-person council: Alireza Mahjoub and the former and current labour ministers, Hossein Kamali and Ali Rabii. Self-immolating Iranian migrant dies in Australian hospital 05/01/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh The 23-year-old Iranian migrant named Omid who set himself on fire in Nauru's camp for asylum seekers trying to get into Australia has reportedly died. He reportedly lived in the camp with his wife and was airlifted to Australia to get treatment for his burns. His wife alleges that officials delayed his transfer to hospital. Omid Australia's Guardian daily quoted Omid's wife saying that he was taken to a hospital in Nauru and was only transferred to the hospital in Queensland a day later. She said the hospital in Nauru did not have adequate facilities to provide her husband with the necessary care. Omid reportedly died at night from a cardiac arrest. The Australian immigration minister denied there had been any delay in Omid's transfer to hospital. Omid's self-immolation was carried out in front of officials from the UN high Commission for Refugees, who were visiting the camp, and it was caught on a mobile camera. Refugees at Nauru wear t-shirts with Omid's name as a show of solidarity. Related Article: Nauru refugee who set himself alight dies in Brisbane hospital Australian authorities have stressed that they will not allow any of the asylum seekers into their country. The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court announced on Tuesday that the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island by Australian authorities is illegal. Revolutionary Guards Going after Family Members of Iranian Journalists Living Abroad 05/02/16 Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran Brother of Journalist Sentenced to Five Years in Prison Davoud Assadi In a long-established practice of targeting the family members of Iranian journalists who live outside Iran, the Revolutionary Guards have sentenced the brother of a journalist to five years in prison, on trumped up national security charges. The Guards have long harassed the relatives of Iranian journalists living abroad, in an effort to intimidate foreign-based reporters and silence critical media coverage of the Islamic Republic. In the most recent case, Davoud Assadi, the brother of the well-known Iranian journalist Houshang Assadi who lives in Paris, was sentenced to the five-year prison term for assembly and collusion against national security. Yet Davoud Assadi, while referred to for six months by Iranian news media as a journalist in detention, is neither a journalist nor has he ever been interested or involved in politics. Rather, he is the marketing manager of a private company based in Tehran. He is in his early 30s, married, and has a child. His brother, Houshang Assadi, edited RoozOnline, a dissident news website funded by the Dutch parliament, which operated for 12 years until its closure at the end of 2015. Houshang Assadi was also the author of the critically acclaimed book Letters to My Torturers, which depicted his time as a political prisoner in Iran during the 1970s. Im surprised that all this time my brothers lawyer, Mr. [Mahmoud] Alizadeh [Tabatabaee], has described him as a journalist, Houshang Assadi said in an interview with the Campaign. My brother doesnt even read the newspaper. [The Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization] has accused a man, who has never written a sentence in his life, of being a journalist in order to carry out their own security agenda. Asked why he is speaking out now, Houshang Assadi said he had learned of his brothers arrest from their father, but did not publicize it because Davouds wife was told by Judiciary officials to keep quiet. My brothers wife was summoned to Branch 13 of the Culture and Media Court. They treated her with a lot of respect and told her that Davoud would definitely be freed, but only after the mandatory three-month interrogation period, said Houshang Assadi. They told her that she should absolutely refrain from giving me any information. My brothers wife is not a social or political activist. She is a young woman busy raising a little boy. She believed what they told her, he added. My brothers wife has not had any contact with me during this time (since Davouds detention). I dont blame her, given the atmosphere of intimidation they built around her. But I told my father that being silent about the framing of Davoud would be the worst thing for his situation, continued Houshang Assadi. But [Davouds] wife insisted we should be quiet and comply with the authorities. For this reason, I was silent. But after the verdict was issued, I decided to talk and tell the world about the lies and injustice, he said. Four journalists-Issa Saharkhiz, Ehsan Mazandarani, Ehsan (Saman) Safarzaei and Afarin Chitsaz-were arrested on November 2, 2015 by agents of the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization. That same day the agents arrested a fifth person who was presumed to be a journalist, but his identity was not immediately revealed. That person was Davoud Assadi. Houshang Assadi told the Campaign his brother is faring poorly in prison. He was moved to Evin Prisons Ward 8 last week, but before that he was in solitary confinement in Ward 2-A, run by the [Revolutionary] Guards, said Houshang Assadi. I have heard that in Ward 8 Davoud is often curled-up in a corner and afraid to talk to anyone. He is a young man who has never been involved in social or political activities. Now, after months in solitary confinement, hes so depressed and afraid that he doesnt want to be in contact with anyone, he told the Campaign. This is an obvious violation of human rights. Its the worst kind of treatment when you arrest and punish someone only for your own goals; someone whos not a political activist, he added. Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaee, Davoud Assadis lawyer, recently told the Campaign that his client was convicted because of funds he had received from his brother, Houshang Assadi. Tabatabaee added that Assadi insisted in court that he did not know why his brother was sending him money, but the judge was not convinced. But according to Houshang Assadi, it was always clear that the money was for their fathers medical expenses. Mr. Alizadeh [Tabatabaee] is giving out wrong information. It has been a year and a half since I learned about my fathers illness. As brothers, we agreed to each pay a certain amount for his treatment, said Houshang Assadi. I wired 7.8 million tomans ($2,500 USD) to my brothers account for my fathers medical bills. Sometimes I also shipped pills that could not be found in Tehran, added Houshang Assadi. If the court has evidence that the money I sent was spent on anything other than my fathers expenses, it should publish it. We did not have a secret account and we were not involved in anything clandestine. Why isnt the security establishment showing [evidence that] the money was spent for other things? Because they know the accusation is totally false, said Houshang Assadi. My feeling is that my brothers arrest is a warning to me and other political activists based abroad that [the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization] could intimidate our relatives instead of us. A few months before they arrested these journalists [on November 2, 2015], there was a wave of propaganda against Iranian media operating abroad, including RoozOnline, added Houshang Assadi. There were articles that claimed RoozOnline had sent millions of dollars to Iran on behalf of Western intelligence agencies. They even published a so-called list of how much we paid Iranians, but RoozOnline did not have any reporters inside Iran. It was obvious that [the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization] wanted to frame RoozOnline and other outlets in foreign countries. My guess is that they arrested Davoud just to back up their conspiracy theories, he said. Based on what Ive heard from my family, Mr. Alizadeh [Tabatabaee] told them that [during court proceedings] Davoud had completely rejected the charges against him and consistently stated that the money he received from me was spent on our fathers medical treatment, he added. But the court did not accept his explanation. Houshang Assadi also told the Campaign that he and Davoud Assadi were not in contact very often: We live in different worlds, far apart. I remember when I called to wish him a happy new year and told him that our website was closing down, he asked me what the name of the site was. On the same day that Davoud Assadis five-year prison sentence was issued, newspaper columnist Afarin Chitsaz, who wrote for Iran, the official daily newspaper of the Rouhani administration, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Ehsan Mazandarani, the editor-in-chief of the reformist Farhikhtegan newspaper, was also sentenced to seven years in prison, while Ehsan (Saman) Safarzaei, another reformist journalist who is the international desk editor of Andisheh Pooya magazine, was sentenced to five years in prison. Issa Saharkhiz, a prominent reformist journalist who was arrested at the same time as the other journalists, has not yet stood trial because he has been hospitalized for serious medical illnesses. Iran prepared to attract foreign investment: President Rouhani 05/02/16 Source: Press TV President Hassan Rouhani says there is suitable ground for foreign investment in Iran as he received his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye in Tehran. President Park was accorded an official welcome in Tehran on Monday on the first day of her three-day visit, heading South Korea's biggest-ever traveling business delegation of over 230 executives. Iran's President Rouhani and the visiting South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye attend a press conference at Sa'adabad Palace in Tehran on May, 2, 2016. (photo by IRNA) Iran's President Rouhani and the visiting South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye attend a press conference at Sa'adabad Palace in Tehran on May, 2, 2016. (photo by IRNA) The two presidents then sat for their first meeting since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1962. Later in a joint news conference, Rouhani called for peace on the Korean Peninsula, saying Iran is opposed to the manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction of any kind. He said Iran and South Korea are set to boost their trade volume from the current six billion dollars to $18 billion as the two sides signed 19 cooperation agreements. photo by Islamic Republic News Agency For her part, President Park called for further expansion of ties between Iran and South Korea in industrial, trade and cultural sectors. South Korea has said it is eager to participate in Iran's development projects and expand economic cooperation on communication technology, information, healthcare and culture. South Korea has been a major importer of Iran's crude oil. On Sunday, Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said Iran's oil exports to South Korea have more than quadrupled to 400,000 barrels a day since sanctions were lifted in January. Iran, whose exports to South Korea were less than 100,000 barrels a day before sanctions were lifted, has since worked to quickly boost its output. It has focused on selling to its traditional customers in Asia, but has also shipped cargoes to Europe. According to data from Energy Aspects, global imports of Iran's crude rose in March to 1.90 million bpd, from 1.51 million bpd in February. Zangeneh also said Iran and South Korea were working to resolve difficulties in transferring payments for the oil sales. World leaders have been visiting Tehran after the implementation of the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in July 2015. In a message on his Instagram account on Sunday, President Rouhani said Iran is open to foreign investment. "Our economy will not get well unless we are able to attract investment," he said. "Today, these conditions have been provided and the leaders which travel to Iran bring with them representatives of scores of important trading companies," Rouhani added. East Asian nations are scrambling to boost economic links with Tehran after the country reached a nuclear agreement last year. China's President Xi Jinping visited Iran in January and Japan signed an investment treaty with Iran a month later. The best 2-in-1 laptop 2022: our picks of the best convertible laptops These are the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now Qualcomm has talked about putting silicon brains in mobile devices and is now providing tools to train smartphones to recognize people, objects, gestures, and even emotions. Phones like Samsungs Galaxy S7 and LGs G5 that use Qualcomms Snapdragon 820 chips will get deep-learning capabilities with the Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine software development kit, announced on Monday. The SDK will include a run-time that will exploit chip features so smartphones can accomplish deep-learning tasks like tracking objects and recognizing sounds. The kit could also be used in self-driving cars and autonomous drones and robots. Computers can already recognize people in images, as seen on Facebook. That recognition is thanks to deep-learning systems, which usually require complex neural networks, thousands of servers, and high-performance processors. Qualcomms SDK doesnt need as many resources and is targeted at the tasks and power-consumption levels available to mobile devices. The SDK is part of Qualcomms Zeroth cognitive computing hardware and software platform. In 2013, the company showed a robot with a Zeroth chip and software that was able to make correct navigational decisions on a path after learning and receiving continuous input. Zeroth technology has since been used in mobile devices and is expected to be included in wearable devices, robots, and drones. For now, the SDK is tuned only for the Snapdragon 820. The chip has digital signal processors that can be programmed to fit deep-learning models. A GPU aids in image processing, and the CPU distributes and schedules tasks. A similar deep-learning system is already included in Movidius thumb PC called Fathom Neural Compute Stick, which uses Googles TensorFlow machine-learning software to give vision to robots and drones. Qualcomms SDK could expand to industries like security, where surveillance cameras could track and identify a person committing a crime. It could also be used by health care and insurance companies, the company said. The SDK will support the open-source Caffe deep-learning framework. It will become available in the second half of this year. Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright is bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, he has claimed on his personal blog and in media interviews. Wright was outed as the developer of the cryptocurrency by Wired magazine in December, but would not confirm the magazines claims at the time. Days later the magazine said fresh evidence pointed to another possibility it had raised: that Wright may be a sophisticated hoaxer. But Wright really is Satoshi, he has claimed in interviews with the BBC, The Economist and GQbut not Wired. Some people will believe, some people wont, and to tell the truth, I dont really care, Wright said in a video interview with the BBC. Satoshis identity has been shrouded in mystery in the years since he withdrew from bitcoin development. His reappearance now could influence the future direction of bitcoin, including a key debate about the size of blocks in the blockchain. On his personal blog on Monday he posted what he claims is proof that he is the technologys inventor: a digitally signed message with a signature that matches the private encryption key used to sign the ninth block of the bitcoin blockchain. That block is significant because it contained a transaction transferring bitcoins from Satoshi to the late Hal Finney, a cryptographer and early bitcoin enthusiast. While the private key to the ninth block is extremely likely to have been controlled by Satoshi, Wrights production of a message signed with that key is not in itself conclusive proof that he and Satoshi are one and the same. Someone else could have used the private key at some time in the past to sign the message Wright claims to have signed, a 1964 essay by Jean-Paul Sartre on why he refused the Nobel Prize for literature. Wrights refusal to sign a message chosen by someone else to demonstrate his possession of the key may be a sign that he cannot, The Economist suggested. Zach Copley A Bitcoin sits on top of a $5 bill The ninth block in the blockchain is important for its link to Finney, but the real Satoshi would also have possessed the private keys used to sign still earlier blocks in the bitcoin blockchain, including the all-important first. Wright appeared to sign a message with the private key to the first block in a demonstration for The Economist but, the magazine warned, Such demonstrations can be stage-managed; and information that allows us to go through the verification process independently was provided too late for us to do so fully. Nevertheless, the magazine said, Wright seems to be in possession of the keys, at least for block 9. Wrights claims and demonstration were enough to convince two stalwarts of the bitcoin community, Jon Matonis and Gavin Andresen, who communicated electronically with Satoshi in the early days of bitcoin without ever knowing his true identity. Matonis, the founding director of the Bitcoin Foundation, corresponded with Satoshi in early 2010. He first ran into Wright at a conference on June 4, 2015, and that night told his wife he had this weird feeling of having just met Satoshi, he wrote Monday morning in a blog post entitled How I met Satoshi. At proof sessions in London last month, Matonis wrote, Wright signed and verified a message in his presence using the private keys from newly generated coins in the first and ninth bitcoin blocks. According to me, the proof is conclusive and I have no doubt that Craig Steven Wright is the person behind the Bitcoin technology, Nakamoto consensus, and the Satoshi Nakamoto name, Matonis wrote. As for Andresen, who took over from Satoshi as lead developer of the bitcoin software, Wrights demonstrations were equally convincing: I believe Craig Steven Wright is the person who invented Bitcoin, he wrote on his blog on Monday. Andresen attended the same meetings in London as Matonis and the reporters from The Economist, the BBC and GQ. An initial email conversation convinced me that there was a very good chance he was the same person Id communicated with in 2010 and early 2011. After spending time with him I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt: Craig Wright is Satoshi, Andresen wrote. So what made Wright decide to make his claim now? I didnt decide, he told the BBC in a video interview. I had people decide this matter for me. And theyre making life difficult not for me but my friends, my family, my staff. I have staff here in London, I have staff overseas, and they want to be private, they dont want all of this to affect them. I dont want any of them to be impacted by this. Other news organizations hoping Wright will repeat his claims and his message-signing demonstration on camera are out of luck. Im going to come in front of the camera once, and I will never be on a camera, ever again, for any TV station or any media, ever, he said. Google Apps is getting a new set of tutorials. The tech giant announced Monday that it has acquired Synergyse, a startup that offered businesses a guided tutorial for Google Apps. Synergyses technology allowed businesses to give their users step-by-step interactive guides to doing things inside Google Apps like sending emails in Gmail, setting up appointments in Calendar and getting started with Docs. The tutorials are frequently updated with new features that Google releases, so users can stay current with new functionality that gets added to the different services. Later this year, Google will integrate Synergyses tutorials into Google Apps, so all Googles customers can have access to the services and get their employees up to speed on working in Apps. The reason for the acquisition is pretty clear: Google said that on average, Synergyse customers make 35 percent greater use of Apps compared to other companies that dont have the training service. By extending that capability to more Apps customers, Google should be able to increase adoption of its productivity software and make it less likely for businesses to switch to another service like Office 365. A representative for Google declined to disclose the terms of the deal. Existing Synergyse customers will continue to have access to the service now and after it has been integrated into Google Apps. The move is another sign of the companys increased emphasis on driving adoption of its productivity suite, especially among businesses. A major hurdle that Google faces when it comes to attracting existing businesses is helping administrators manage the transition between Office (or another productivity software suite) and Apps. Offering training for users who arent comfortable with Google Apps may help the company pick up customers who might otherwise have stayed with whats comfortable. A California court has dismissed part of a lawsuit brought by Twitter that challenges U.S. government restrictions on what it can say about surveillance requests on its users. Twitter sued the government in 2014, alleging that the restrictions, which are common to all Internet service providers, infringe its First Amendment right to free speech. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice asked the federal district court in Oakland, California, to toss out the lawsuit. It argued that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) is a more suitable venue to hear the dispute, and that part of Twitters argument didnt stand because the company isnt disputing document classification decisions made by the government. On Monday, a judge agreed with the governments latter argument but denied its request to shift the case to FISC. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers noted that the First Amendment does not allow someone subject to secrecy obligations to disclose classified information, so by failing to challenge the original classification, Twitters First Amendment argument didnt stand up. But she gave Twitter until May 24 to amend its lawsuit and make a case that the surveillance requests are not classified information. The company, like other Internet service providers, is not allowed to disclose the number of national security letters and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court orders received, even if that number is zero. A longstanding ban was slightly relaxed in 2014 after the scope of U.S. government surveillance became clear though leaks by Edward Snowden. Companies are now allowed to report requests on a six-month delayed basis, in aggregate bands of 250 requests, but Twitter sued saying that wasnt enough. The governments attempt to make FISC the venue for the argument failed because Twitter is not disputing an order or decision of the court. Its instead disputing the governments requirement to report the number of requests received in aggregate bands, the judge wrote. In the name of transparency, the city of Riverside is doing a good job exceeding the legal requirements of providing information about upcoming City Council meetings. State law generally requires agenda items be posted 72 hours ahead of the meeting. The city exceeds this minimum by posting council agendas 12 days ahead. On the other hand, Riverside has used obfuscation to promote Measure A. Measure A would shift power for prosecuting misdemeanors from the elected county district attorney to the appointed city attorney. As such, it would dramatically change law enforcement policy in Riverside. Instead of following historical practice of vetting serious City Charter changes through a Charter Review Commission, or at least a City Council committee, the council put Measure A on the ballot without transparent public vetting. The city failed to provide full information in the voter pamphlet. The fundamental purpose of the Impartial Analysis is to give voters the whole picture. Riverside omitted the multimillion dollar cost of creating a new bureaucracy. Plus, a judge found the city-proposed title for Measure A to be so biased that he ordered it rewritten. If the city wants to promote itself as transparent, it should always practice openness, not selectively. The city should also celebrate the effectiveness of citizen input on potential charter changes by following the effective practices of the past. I am voting no on Measure A. Tom Evans Riverside Chair, 2012 Charter Review Commission Logical support for pot Re: P-Es curious support for legalizing pot [Letters, April 26]: Tulvio Durands letter, criticizing the Press-Enterprises excellent advocacy of freedom in the use of cannabis, is a prime example of the confusion of true conservatism (Constitutionalism) with the compulsion to control other peoples lives. Mr. Durand should worry about his children, and Ill take care of mine. The P-E has no need to justify being on the side of logic and liberty. Forest Trowbridge Jurupa Valley Riverside Countys revamped health care network, anchored by the county-run hospital in Moreno Valley, generates $1.6 billion annually for the local economy, according to a new study. County officials are hailing the study as validation for spending tens of millions of dollars to turn around the hospitals finances and invest in new technology. The county Board of Supervisors heard a presentation on the report Tuesday, April 26. But an Inland economist questioned the studys numbers. If the money generated by the health care network comes from internal sources, it blunts the overall economic impact, said John Husing. The Center for Economic Forecasting and Development at UC Riversides School of Business Administration conducted the study of Riverside University Health System, which includes Riverside University Health System Medical Center, a countywide network of 10 medical clinics and the departments of public health and behavioral health. The system represents a reorganization and rebranding of the countys health care services that arose following a financially turbulent period for the 439-bed hospital, previously known as Riverside County Regional Medical Center. A few years ago, the hospital was losing $1 million a week and faced shortfalls approaching $50 million that threatened to siphon money for other public services. County leaders responded by replacing the hospitals management team, hiring an interim CEO who specializes in troubled medical centers and spending $26 million on Huron Healthcare, a private consulting firm that developed a strategy to cut costs and raise revenue. Today, the hospitals finances are stable and the health care system has been reorganized with an eye toward competing for patients business instead of being just a safety-net facility for the countys poorest. To enhance the system, the county is spending $25 million for new equipment, including a da Vinci surgical robot, a cardiac catheterization lab and new CT and MRI scanners. As much as $53 million could be spent on an advanced electronic medical records system. Also, the county plans to turn 32 acres of county-owned land next to the hospital into a medical office campus that could include a skilled nursing facility, doctors offices, an outpatient surgical center, retail and lodging. The campus would be built with the private sectors help. If the report is right, the countys spending would be a fraction of the benefits the regional economy gets from the health care system. According to the report, the systems ongoing operations generate $1.6 billion in annual economic output and support, directly and indirectly, 13,200 jobs. The system generates $107.3 million in state and local tax revenues, and planned capital improvements including a womens center, cancer center and behavioral health facility could lead to another $431.7 million in economic activity, $14.7 million in tax receipts and create 2,934 jobs, the report found. The system trains more than 1,000 medical residents and students and more than 200 nursing students, and behavioral health services reach more than 50,000 adults and adolescents each year, the report added. The hospital treats almost half of all county trauma patients, and its the only facility in the county to have a pediatric intensive care unit, according to the report, which cost $45,000. The report, Supervisor Marion Ashley said Tuesday, shows the importance of the Huron contract Were going in the right direction. Its going to have an enormous impact on the quality of our health and our lives in Riverside County. Arguably, this is the No. 1 I dont know of another one driver of the economy, Ashley said. I dont know of one bigger. (March Air Reserve Base) is about $600 million. But Husing, after looking over the 29-page report, said: I did not see a discussion of the sources of the funds being spent by the system. If the money comes from sources outside Riverside County such as from state or federal grants, Medicare, Medi-Cal or insurance companies then it is an accurate portrayal of the economic impact of the system. But if the money is from more local sources, such as county taxpayers or payments by patients, the economic impact is muted, Husing said. In the Old West, when miners sent gold away and brought dollars to a town, that was a net addition to the economy that supported the miners, he said. However, if the miners who bring the money go to the local doc instead of the saloon, and the doc re-spends that same money at the saloon, the docs spending is not an addition to the town economy but part of the re-use that would have gone on anyway but through different parts of the town economy. Christopher Thornberg, director of the UCR business schools economic forecast center, said Husings comments are misguided because the study was never meant to be a cost-benefit analysis. Were looking at the benefit side, Thornberg said. County spokesman Ray Smith said: By far, the vast majority of funding for the health system comes from state and federal sources. A county statement released around the same time as the study discussed the importance of moving forward with improvements to the health system. We know we can no longer wait for federal and state politicians to fix funding disparities that have shortchanged Inland residents for decades, County Executive Officer Jay Orr said in the statement. By building an outstanding health system with multiple access points, we are allowing patients and their families to get quality health care close to home. At the same time we are building a robust health care economy and keeping our taxpayer investments close to home. Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@pressenterprise.com All too often, government doesnt notice the barn doors open until the horse runs off. Thats exactly the sort of disappearance that prompted legislation by Sen. Bob Hertzberg to improve oversight of state and local government debt. Clarke Howatt, former finance director for the Association of Bay Area Governments, got away for a while with $3.9 million in Bay Area bond proceeds. Mr. Howatt pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court and was sentenced to a year in prison. Sen. Hertzbergs legislation, Senate Bill 1029, would require an existing state commission to track and report on all state and local government debt until it is fully repaid. The bill is sponsored by state Treasurer John Chiang, who appointed a task force on bond accountability in response to the San Francisco criminal case. The task forces recommendations on best practices for fiduciary care of bond proceeds are incorporated in the bill by Sen. Hertzberg, D-San Fernando, chair of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. SB1029 requires the issuer of any state or local government debt to furnish the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission with an annual debt accountability report, and to certify that the issuer has adopted debt policies with which the debt issuance is consistent. No one was watching Mr. Howatt until after his thefts. A trusted, 20-year employee, he admitted he had embezzled $1.3 million in funds for public improvements in San Francisco and another $2.6 million intended for the same purpose in San Ramon. According to prosecutors, he provided false information to the trustees of bond accounts to get them to wire funds to bank accounts that he controlled. Mr. Howatt used the funds to commission a $24,000 sculpture and to buy a $1.5 million mansion on the Oregon coast. Being a bit too clever, he advertised the mansion as a vacation rental called Rincon Hill after he had posed as the developer behind the One Rincon Hill luxury highrises in San Francisco in order to be reimbursed $1.3 million for streetscape improvements that had not been made. Lets get that door closed before another horse gets out. The Legislature should pass SB1029 and send it to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. Firefighters and paramedics responding to a medical emergency Sunday morning in San Jacinto were attacked with bricks and threatened by two relatives of the patient, authorities said. Bobby Henry Jr., 56, of San Jacinto and his brother, Tyrone Henry, 44, of Los Angeles, were arrested, according to a Riverside County Sheriffs Department news release. A Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department captain suffered minor injuries. Authorities didnt say what kind of condition the patient was suffering from, or why the two brothers may have attacked. RELATED: Brick attack on firefighters called a rare example Firefighters and American Medical Response paramedics went to a residence in the 400 block of South Estudillo Avenue before 10 a.m. to aid someone. While they were treating the patient, Bobby Henry Jr. attacked the fire captain, the news release said. Tyrone Henry then came out from the home and threatened to kill the firefighters and paramedics, the news release said. Bobby Henry Jr. started throwing bricks at the firefighters and paramedics, forcing them to retreat to safety. He also threw bricks at an AMR ambulance, the news release said, damaging it. Sheriffs deputies were summoned and arrested the two suspects. Bobby Henry Jr. was booked into jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a firefighter and obstructing emergency medical personnel in the performance of their duties. Tyrone Henry was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and obstructing emergency medical personnel in the performance of their duties. The person the firefighters and paramedics were treating was taken to a hospital. Riverside Countys pension costs will escalate for years to come, according to the 2016 Annual Pension Report of the countys Pension Advisory Review Committee. The report, released this week and set for discussion at Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting, details the current state of the countys pension fund and what the county can expect over the next decade. Pension costs for Riverside County will continue to grow through fiscal year 2023-24 before plateauing for up to a decade. For the pensions of non-public safety employees, costs will grow from $169 million this fiscal year, which ends June 30, to $277 million by 2023-24. In the same period, pensions for safety employees will nearly double in cost from $76.8 million to $142 million. As challenging as these costs might be, the county is expected to yield significant savings in the long-run due to pension reforms implemented a few years ago, which among other things created a new tier of pension benefits for new county employees. Additionally, the county has ended a policy of paying both the county share of pension contributions and the share that is supposed to be paid for by the employees. These changes, according to the report, are expected to yield ongoing savings in excess of $100 million. This is certainly a positive thing for taxpayers, though it speaks to the scale of the calamity that pension costs have represented. Despite these savings, the county will see massive growths in pension costs for many years to come. Meanwhile, it is important that the county eventually get its pension promises fully funded. The pension report indicates the plan for public safety employees is only 74.2 percent funded, while the plan for other employees is 76.9 percent funded. The report curiously reiterates a claim made in a 2008 GAO report that an 80 percent funded ratio was considered sound. The assertion that 80 percent funding is acceptable is on shaky footing at best. According to an issue brief by the American Academy of Actuaries, the idea that 80 percent pension funding is a standard to aspire to is a myth. Left unchallenged, this misinformation can gain undue credibility with the observer, who may accept and in turn rely on it as fact, thereby establishing a mythic standard, the brief argued. While the countys pension system is in better shape than many, there is still work to be done to ensure the plans are sufficiently funded. Moving forward, there ought to be more discussion of how to further rein in pension costs. A fugitive from Riverside was extradited from Mexico last week to face domestic violence and rape charges. Miguel Adrian Villagomez, 21, was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on Wednesday, April 27, jail records show. Hes being held without bail on six felony charges and five misdemeanor charges stemming from incidents that occurred in 2015. When Villagomez failed to appear for a court date in February 2016 for the two separate cases, a warrant was issued for his arrest, said Riverside County District Attorneys Office spokesman John Hall. Riverside Police Department detectives learned that Villagomez had fled to the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico, Hall said, and contacted the Pacific Regional Fugitive Task Force for help. District Attorneys investigators then took over the case, and contacted the U.S. Marshals service requesting Villagomez be arrested. Mexican authorities, in cooperation with U.S. Marshals, arrested Villagomez and flew him to LAX. Thats where U.S. Marshals took him into custody and transported him to the Robert Presley Detention Center. A Riverside County man was sentenced Monday, May 2, to 10 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography his third conviction for the same offense. Following his release from prison, James Gregory ONeill, 58, also will serve 10 years of supervised release, including mental health treatment and computer monitoring, under the sentence issued by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner. ONeill listed as a transient in the state Department of Justices Megans Law sex offender registry declined to make a statement to the court. He pleaded guilty in January in Los Angeles to having almost 100 images of child porn on a memory card on his cellphone, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. ONeills previous two convictions were in Riverside County Superior Court and used a Perris general delivery address. In the first case, ONeill, who was living in San Jacinto at the time, was accused of providing thousands of images depicting child pornography to an undercover postal inspector in July 2001. He was arrested in October 2003 and pleaded guilty that December to a charge of distribution of child pornography. He was sentenced to 40 months in prison and had to register as a sex offender. Then in December 2010, he was arrested after sheriffs deputies served a search warrant at his San Jacinto home and found several hundred images of child pornography and two handguns, authorities said at the time. He was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to two years in prison. The federal case came after a parole agent caught ONeill at a coffee shop in Riverside with nude images of women and pornographic videos on his cellphone, a parole violation, in February 2015, according to court records. When the agent asked why he had the downloaded images, he replied, Because I like it and Im addicted to it! He was sentenced to 135 days in custody on the parole violation, according to court records. A new Riverside County Superior Court case was filed alleging the new possession of child pornographic material violation, but the charge was dismissed after the federal indictment was filed, according to court records. Despite being convicted twice previously for possessing child pornography, Mr. ONeill continued to victimize children by creating a market for child pornography, U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker said. It is one of the highest priorities of my office to prosecute those who would seek to victimize children, and in particular those who do so repeatedly. Because ONeill had twice before been convicted of possessing child porn, he faced a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term and could have been sentenced to as much as 20 years, prosecutors noted. Staff writer Gail Wesson contributed to this story. Danny Brown, U OK? The rapper is currently in Australia for Groovin The Moo, and he seems to be makin friends left right and bloody centre. Nic Kelly, co-founder of PROJECT U and ardent lover of the music industry, made the simple mistake of asking Brown to add a photography credit to an image that he reposted to his Instagram account. The photo was taken for Howls & Echoes, of which photographer Michelle G Hunder is a contributor. Browns response to the request was that if the pair were so butthurt, then he would delete it. And geez, well the shit hath hitteth the fan-eth from there. After Nic & Michelle posted about Browns response to their social media, Brown started tweeting that well, dont take my photo then, which is slightly ridiculous when photography clauses exist in his tour contract. Oh, and his management approved all the photographers at his set. When Nic pointed this out, Brown them began legitimately requesting that Nic come to his hotel to fight him. Yes, seriously. Like a toddler. Hundreds of @xdannyxbrownx fans calling me a pussy, but old mates done a TWEET & DELETE. Cute pic.twitter.com/h4GTAiBsAf NIC KELLY (@nicwkelly) May 1, 2016 PEDESTRIAN.TV spoke to Nic about this totally bizarre situation and why its so important that photographers are properly credited for their work: A lot of PROJECT Us photographers regularly arent credited, and once we ask the artist [to rectify it] its never usually an issue. But this this is unbelievable, like its so simple to do. Music photography is a competitive and political battleground. Crediting can be the difference between surviving in the industry and failing. Creatives need to support other creatives. Danny wouldnt have any problem crediting a musician for a sample this is the same creative respect Michelle is asking for. Shortly after the last series of inane tweets, a friend of Nics told him that Brown had been told to leave Sydneys The Star casino around the same time that the tweet exchange was happening. When Nic posted about this, Brown confirmed it: Heres the takeaway from this story: its really not that difficult to give a photographer proper credit for their work. They deserve it, yo; its their career, livelihood, passion and their income. Adding credit takes 2 seconds. On the other hand, asking media to fight you and publicly giving out details of the hotel youre staying at takes a lot of time, energy and it also makes your incredible lack of brain cells a public matter. Cmon Danny. Source: Twitter / Nic Kelly. Lead image: Scott Dudelson / Getty. Photos: Supplied. The Sydney Opera House is as symbolic as it gets when it comes to Australias identity in the music/arts/ideas/creative realm.The Sydney Opera House has a mission to treasure and renew the Opera House for future generations of artists, audiences and visitors, while always engaging and inspiring people. An awesome opportunity has arisen for a Digital Video Specialist (SYD) to get on board. As Digital Video Specialist, you will have one doozy of a job being responsible for the execution of Sydney Opera Houses digital vid strategy, growing and engaging audiences and keeping on top of monitoring and measurement across digital video platforms to provide insight to future digital marketing channel, campaign and content initiatives. Youll also need to be awesome at driving innovation and best practice in video strategy and production! If this sounds like your dream stint, get to it, apply HERE! Taronga Centre is one high profile AF wedding and corporate events venue in Sydney, situated within the grounds of Taronga Zoo, showcasing some of the wicked views Sydney Harbour has to offer. Taronga Centre is now on the look for a Marketing Manager (SYD) to start working from within this one-of-a-kind office. As Marketing Manager, you will be developing and managing the overall marketing plan and comms strategies across functions and retail business, developing new and current design collateral whilst maintaining brand guidelines, all while managing digi comms strategy covering SEO, SEM, and social media channels. To be ideal for this role youll need to have previous experience in the marketing and/or design industry, have some intermediate Adobe Creative Suite skills up ya sleeve and an intermediate understanding of google analytics and marketing strategies. If you know how to tee up some top-notch marketing and management and wouldnt mind being based at Taronga-freaking-Zoo, then send your CV through HERE! With over a whopping 300 stores across Oz, Boost Juice, Salsas Fresh Mex & Cibo Espresso have become some of our fave brands in the retail realm, making Retail Zoo. Retail Zoo is a vibrant & dynamic company dedicated to people, those who buy the products and those who make em. Retail Zoo is in need of a gun of a Senior Graphic Designer (MELB) to come on board, create killer concepts and create, develop and design campaigns and artwork for all three brands, while maintaining true to brand guidelines. To be suited to this kinda role youll need to be confident in your idea creating and implementing, consider your styling and art direction of the superior sort and be able to emulate your inner mentor to other designers. If youre crazy competent at the Creative Suite, have a min of 7 years studio experience, and youre keen on a creative and fun work environment, then apply HERE! The Billabong Group is one of the largest boardsport and lifestyle brands in the world housing some badass brands including Billabong, RVCA, Element, Tigerlily and Surf Dive n Ski! Billabong Group are seeking Expressions of Interest from Experienced Product Developers/Garment Technicians (GC) as they anticipate opportunities in both permanent and contract roles! As an Experienced Product Developer/Garment Technician youll manage and process the development of garments, accessories and fabrics from design to supplier delivery, as well as request and review fabric templates and ensure all garments are produced according to quality standards. To be perf for these roles youll need to have some practical experience in a garment/accessories technician role, not be phased by that old chestnut of a deadline and have some solid product construction and development knowledge in that noggin of yours. If youre keen on clothes, clothing discounts and your career then do not delay and apply HERE! All deets courtesy of Pedestrian Jobs. Dont let your dream job slip you by Love your work! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and get yourself signed up to our Daily Job Alerts. A politicians mentions are dark + dank at the best of times, and T-minus 30 hours till an election Budget is not the best of times. Malcolm Turnbull tweeted a incongruous pic of the trees outside Parliament House changing colour, and look closely, because this is his big mistake said they had changed colour in time for the budget. Not autumn. The budget. They are #budgettrees and will behave as such. Parliament has resumed and the trees in the courtyard have changed colour in time for the budget #budgettrees pic.twitter.com/fQ7UCeQmBc Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) May 1, 2016 But the mentions OH, the mentions. They are dank, they are dire, they are strong in the extreme. A few made the obvious but appropriate joke of the trees being in the red much like the budget (lololol): @TurnbullMalcolm Because you cant balance a budget they are in red? Should they be in black of Labor were in charge? Chris Walsh (@ChrisWalshie) May 1, 2016 @TurnbullMalcolm Same colour as the deficit in the red WorstGovEver..george (@OverTheHill4) May 1, 2016 A few laboured under the wildly inaccurate belief that the Greens would attribute this to global warming (and yes, inverted commas are necessary when talking about this knuckleheads): @TurnbullMalcolm the Greens will no doubt blame it in climate change! SavourTooth (@Randall1921) May 1, 2016 @TurnbullMalcolm now greens will cry of global warming office of Bhaqt (@ExSecular) May 1, 2016 And there were a few who somehow linked it to Game of Thrones, which might have been a worthy companion during The Killing Season / Red Wedding years, but now seems a bit of a stretch. @TurnbullMalcolm red wedding coming for ur lousy gov i hope boxcar (@boxcar909) May 1, 2016 Changing gears a little here, there are also plenty of responses reminding Turnbull that last week an asylum seeker died after setting himself alight while in detention on Nauru, and Turnbull told us not to get misty-eyed about it. Um. Mate. @TurnbullMalcolm they are so beautiful! Also you are responsible for the torture and deaths of innocent people! Ok bye Ben Pobjie (@benpobjie) May 1, 2016 @TurnbullMalcolm a man set himself on fire and died. ?? Glengyron (@glengyron) May 1, 2016 A similar situation is happening over on FB, fyi crackin jokes and airing grievances. Tbqh this whole situation could have been avoided if Malcolm had just chucked a couplea #nofilter #autumn hashtags on there and been done with it. Source / Photo: Twitter / @turnbullmalcolm. PEDESTRIAN.TV has partnered with CommBank to make your travel dreams a reality. Together, we want you to #DreamFar and to make that happen were giving away three trips to the value of $25K for you and a friend to fulfil your wanderlust ambitions. Keep reading to find out how you can enter this exciting competition before heading to CommBanks website HERE for further information. Think back to when you were a wee kid all rosy cheeked and adorable. You held outlandish ambitions like jetting off to the moon, and those ambitions werent only accepted, but encouraged too. But as you started to grow up and the realities of the world set in, your dreams have often become something you only believe possible while sleeping. Thats not really good enough, yknow? We should be chasing down our dreams to have a crack at making them happen, but often we dont have the means. Well, PEDESTRIAN.TV and CommBank want you help you out on that endeavour by asking you to #DreamFar. Yes good friends, you go right ahead and #DreamFar and dream wide. Our job is to make your dreams a reality. Perhaps your #DreamFar goals will take you To Mexico, where youll swim in the clear, turquoise cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula where the Mayans once prayed to their gods. Photo: Reinhard Dirscherl / Getty. To Naples, where youll learn to cook the regions greatest invention, pizza, from Italian master chefs. Photo: Joseph DeSantis / Getty. To Iceland, where youll bathe in the rejuvenating, geothermal waters of Blue Lagoon. Photo: Blue Lagoon. To America, where an expert photographer will help you master the perfect sunset shot of the Monuments Valley. Photo: UniversalImagesGroup / Getty. To Buenos Aires, where a local bar owner will teach you to tango like a true Argentinian. Photo: Gabriel Rossi / Getty. To Salar De Uyuni, where youll harvest salt from its plains to season Bolivian specialities. Photo: Anna Serdyuk / Getty. If youre game on making your dreams a reality, then go right ahead and enter CommBanks #DreamFar competition. If you win, youll score yourself 1 of 3 trips to the value $25,000 to live out your dreams. Heres how to enter: Take an original photograph that reflects your dream and where youd like to travel to experience that dream abroad (e.g. a beautiful snap of a croissant if you want to learn how to make pastry in France). In 25 words or less describe, What do you dream of doing and why?. Upload your picture to Instagram with your 25 words or less answer as the caption, as well as tagging #DreamFar and @CommBank. BEST OF LUCK, O BEAUTIFUL READERS. For more information about the #DreamFar competition, head to CommBanks website HERE. For full terms and conditions, head HERE. Photo: Mr Hicks46 / Flickr. UPDATE: HARRISBURG- Harrisburg police are trying to identify people who participated in a mob beating of a man who was repeatedly punched, hit in the face with a brick and kicked in the head. The fight--which involved a large group of men and women, both students and adults--was reported about 4:15 p.m. Wednesday near 14th and Swatara streets. The catalyst for the neighborhood fight was a fight from earlier that day at Harrisburg High School after classes ended, police said. DISCLAIMER: This video contains explicit language and violence. Several witnesses recorded the neighborhood fight on their cell phones and shared the video on their social media accounts. Police posted the video on the Dauphin County Crimewatch website Monday in an effort to identify the participants, including the man who picked up a brick and used it to strike the victim before kicking the victim in the head. The neighborhood fight comprised three skirmishes, but the worst one involved the man whose shirt was pulled over his face and attacked by a mob. Harrisburg police are seeking the public's help to identify all participants of a street fight, including a man who used a brick in the attack. (Suspect wearing black t-shirt circled in yellow.) Police had not identified that victim Monday afternoon. He apparently sought medical help at a hospital, according to a relative's Facebook page, but he has not reported the incident to police. School officials said two students had been suspended in connection with the fight on school property. They declined to release any additional information. "District officials have not been contacted by police regarding the report of a community disturbance/fight at 14th and Swatara Streets," Kirsten Keys, the school district spokeswoman, told PennLive in an email Monday morning. On Monday afternoon, police said they were working with school officials to identify all participants of the fight. Anyone with information should call the Dauphin County Police dispatch at 717-558-6900 and ask for a city detective. Mohamed Eldreny of Harrisburg is not only excited to be a new U.S. citizen, but especially in a year he'll get to choose a new president. In Egypt, his native country, he said he could vote, but said the result was usually the same. Mohammed, 27, and his sister, Aya, 24, were among 38 people from 21 countries who became citizens Monday morning in Dauphin County naturalization court. They came here five years ago from Egypt, and join their father here, who has been a chef at Colonial Park Diner for 20 years. Aya wants to become an architect, and is studying at HACC. She also said she will also be registering to vote, saying "I feel like I'm living in America, I can choose." So far, she likes Bernie Sanders for president. Mohamed said he hasn't decided yet who he's going to vote for. "It's my first time - I want to look at each candidate. It's not an easy decision." He works in an Amazon warehouse, wants to earn a degree in computer security and hopes he can get loans or scholarships to help pay for it. "My dream is to travel around the world, and this will help me a lot," he said. Travel is much easier with a U.S. passport, he said. Another new citizen is Fatima Batool of Hershey, who came here four years ago from Pakistan to study public health. Her husband, Syed Raza, was already a citizen and studying here. Batool is a graduate student at Penn State, working on a master's degree in public health. She will be registering to vote, and Hillary Clinton is the candidate she plans to vote for. "I like the changes I see from the Democrats," she said. After living in the U.S. for 25 years, Zvjezdana Sever Chroneos of Hershey is now a U.S. citizen. She has lived in Pennsylvania since 2011, and joins her husband, Zissis Chroneos, as a new citizen. He is originally from Greece and became a citizen last December in Philadelphia. Zvjezdana came here from Croatia to study, and earned her doctorate. She coordinates clinical trials for the department of pediatrics at Penn State Hershey. Asked why she chose now to become a citizen, Zvjezdana said "I was at a good point in my life to do that. It's something I've been looking forward to, and it's a gift to my children," who were all born here. "I will be able to stay closer to them and be part of their lives for a long time," she said. Zvjezdana said she will be registering to vote as a Democrat, and expects Hillary Clinton will be the nominee. There are problems with immigration, she believes, "but there are different approaches." She believes Trump's stance on immigration "is wrong, although I'm sure he will not agree with me." Immigrants are given opportunities in America, but they also give back, she said. "No other country in the world has so many people with so many backgrounds and experiences they can share," she said. Annalissa Garbanzos of Harrisburg, a registered nurse, said she came here 10 years ago from the Philippines, and her two daughters are here. "It's a beautiful country...I love America," she said. Learning English wasn't the hardest part of her adjustment here. "In our country English is a second language," she said. Getting used to the weather, however, was an adjustment, along with "having to do everything by yourself." Annalissa plans to register to vote, and likes Hillary Clinton. "I believe in the way she would run the government, and she's the most fit to be a president," she said, adding she doesn't agree with Trump's views on immigration. Kavshila Dahal, 83, of Bhutan, said she is "happy" she is now a citizen. "She said she wants to buy a house and live here with her family," said her granddaughter, Kabita Adhikiri of Harrisburg. Dahal came here seven years ago with members of her family, who were refugees for religious reasons. Pedro Cortes, Pennsylvania Secretary of State, welcomed the new citizens on behalf of Gov. Tom Wolf. As a native of Puerto Rico, Cortes said he already had U.S. citizenship, but came here at age 18 for college, so he shares the immigrant experience. "It was exciting yet intimidating. The simplest of tasks of daily life became very challenging," Cortes said. "Not speaking the language well enough to articulate your thoughts" can be very frustrating, Cortes said, but he worked hard to succeed. "Immigrants are hard-working, are go-getters, do not take no for an answer. They know what it takes to fight for your dreams. You simply do not give up," Cortes said. He urged them to register to vote and exercise that right in every election. Judge Richard Lewis cited his own family's emigration from Italy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. "We have a special respect for citizens like you, who made a deliberate decision and sometimes despite personal risk chose to become a citizen," Lewis said. "I wish I could tell you exactly what an American is," Lewis said, but added that is "as diverse as one can imagine." The new citizens will join in defining what America and what "an American" is, he added. reward-offered-in-PA-search-for-missing-teen-girl.PNG Leanna Walker's family wants their missing 17-year-old daughter to know she's not in any trouble and they just want her home. The search for the Pa. girl missing since April 18 has intensified with the anonymous offering of a $10,000 reward. (Family photo) Leanna Walker's family wants their missing 17-year-old daughter to know she's not in any trouble and they just want her home. This was the message as the search for the Milford, Pike County, Pa., teen, missing since Wednesday April 18, intensified on Sunday with the anonymous offering of a $10,000 reward and an organized search involving volunteer first responders organized by the group Missing in America. All this, according to reports by the Pocono Record: "We want her to know we love her very much and her family is very concerned," Walker's sister Diane Bostedo told the newspaper in a phone interview Saturday. She added that Leanna should not worry that she is in trouble with her family a she is not, they just want her to come home. Said Trooper Connie Devens of the state police: "She is a missing person originally reported to us as a runaway. We have no evidence to lead us to believe she has been harmed in anyway," the newspaper quoted. However, developments regarding Walker's boyfriend have been troubling, as the Pocono Record reports: Walker's boyfriend, Sky Michael McDonough, 24, also from Milford, was arrested Tuesday on unrelated charges, including active arrest warrants from Sussex, New Jersey for burglary and fleeing apprehension. McDonough was identified as a person of interest in Walker's missing person case, and agreed to take police to the location where he said he and Walker were staying in the woods, a criminal complaint said. However, during this search, McDonough was able to escape from the officer escorting him. A makeshift campsite was later discovered inside a barn on a llama farm, and McDonough was taken back into custody after being found in that area. Anyone with information or leads is encouraged to contact Blooming Grove State Police at 570-226-5718. Update: this post has been updated to reflect the fact that the missing girl's boyfriend has been taken back into custody. After an assault inside a Lebanon bar, several people shot guns in the air from a car as they fled the scene. The incident occurred around 1:38 a.m. Sunday at Vinnie's Good Times on the 700 block of Reinhoel St., according to the Lebanon City Police Department. Police say the incident occurred like this: Police were called to the bar after a report of gunshots being fired. No one was shot, but when officers arrived, they found one victim had been assaulted and required medical attention. Two witnesses who live nearby said they saw the passengers of a car leaving the bar parking lot and shooting in the air. Police found several spent shell casings nearby. No property damage was reported. Anyone with information should call the Lebanon police, 717-272-6611 or Crime Stoppers, 717-270-9800. Donald Trump at West Chester University Donald Trump speaks to a large crowd at West Chester University in West Chester, Pa., Apr. 25, 2016. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com (Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com) GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is taking heat for a recent comparison of the U.S. trade deficit with China to rape. During a campaign rally Sunday in Indiana, the billionaire real estate mogul complained about how China's exports dwarf the U.S. numbers. "We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing," Trump said, according to CNN. He said his presidency would turn it around. "And we have the cards, don't forget it. We're like the piggy bank that's being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China," Trump said. The presidential candidate has repeatedly said China is killing the U.S. on trade, but this week he added "rape" to his description when describing it as the "greatest theft in the history of the world." To use rape to describe anything but sexual violence is to dishonor women and men who have been victims of violent crimes, said Amelia Shroyer, who writes for The Huffington Post. "When I hear the word 'rape,' especially when it is used out of context, it makes me extremely uncomfortable. Often, it can be a trigger, causing fragments of my assaults to come flooding back," she said. "It can make me feel unsafe - either physically or emotionally - in the company of people who've said it." To misuse the word "rape" is to minimize sexual assault, Fiona Elvines, the operations coordinator of Rape Crisis, told The Telegraph. "It takes away from the fact that rape is a crime. It's not a verb you can throw around," she said. Trump's latest use of the word "rape" comes on the heels of backlash for recently touting an endorsement from boxer Mike Tyson, who was convicted of rape in Indiana. After Trump referred to Tyson as a "tough guy," GOP rival Sen. Ted Cruz quickly blasted Trump for touting the endorsement. "I don't think rapists are tough guys. I think rapists are weak, they're bullies and they're cowards," Cruz said during a Sunday interview with "Face the Nation." Trump previously referred to Mexicans and illegal immigrants as "rapists" and "killers." Each time, he has received more media attention and shot up in the polls. "Don't expect Trump to tamp down his language. Once he stumbles up on a new incendiary turn of phrase, he tends to reuse it until he finds his next one," a Slate report said. harrisburg police car Harrisburg police are investigating after a 23-year-old woman was robbed in a church parking lot Saturday, April 30, 2016. (PennLive file photo) HARRISBURG- A 23-year-old woman who was waiting to meet her parents in a church parking lot was robbed at gunpoint Saturday afternoon, police said. The woman had parked her van in the northeast corner of the parking lot at the Derry Street United Methodist Church, at 15th and Derry streets, about 1:30 p.m., police said. She needed to meet her parents to retrieve some paperwork and they chose the church parking lot as the meet-up location, said police Capt. Gabriel Olivera. After she opened her van door in preparation to meet her parents, a stranger accosted her and grabbed her leg. He pointed a silver handgun at her and "demanded that she give up everything," Olivera said. The woman handed over her wallet, which contained credit cards but no cash. The gunman then fled. The parents had not yet arrived when the robbery occurred. Police did not provide a detailed description of the robber. CLIMATE CHANGE CARTOON.jpeg By John Sigle Fraud: The intentional misrepresentation or concealment of an important fact upon which the victim is meant to rely, and in fact does rely, to the harm of the victim. Until fairly recently the oil companies were still publicly denying the science of climate change. John W. Sigle (Dickinson College) More than that, they were funding think tanks, such as the Heartland Institute, that in turn funded scientists and public relations outfits to cast doubt on this science, much as the tobacco industry had done in earlier days. Starting about 10 years ago, the oil companies started to change their tune. In 2007, ExxonMobil first revealed to its stockholders the financial risks of ignoring climate change. At about that time, Exxon and most of the other oil companies quit openly funding the denier think tanks. In 2014, ExxonMobil first issued a public statement acknowledging the reality and dangers of climate change. Most other oil companies did likewise at about this time. For example, here is ConocoPhillips's statement on climate change - "We recognize that human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate." And here is Shell's - "CO2 emissions must be reduced to avoid serious climate change. To manage CO2, governments and industry must work together. Government action is needed and we support an international framework that puts a price on CO2, encouraging the use of all CO2-reducing technologies." So when climate change deniers were asked why the oil companies would acknowledge the reality of climate change, if it were a giant hoax, the answer was usually that this was a PR move required to do business in a world that didn't tolerate political incorrectness. My former congressman from Louisiana told me that about 3 years ago. Not only does that answer not make sense, we now know that it was wrong, and what the real reason was - fear of legal liability for fraud. So now we have the latest salvo in the battle. A number of states' Attorneys General are investigating the oil companies for fraud for not acknowledging the reality of climate change when they knew better. The political right is vociferously proclaiming that this is an affront to our first amendment rights, that the oil companies are being persecuted for what they said or didn't say. They are comparing it to the Spanish Inquisition. At first glance that sounds like a good argument. Indeed, a person, or a corporation should not be prosecuted for stating, or not stating, their opinion. But that misses the point. Just think back to the time when the tobacco executives testified that tobacco products were not addictive and did not present health risks, when they knew otherwise. They knew the facts. These weren't just opinions. This was fraud. They sold products that they knew were harmful to the public. And that caught up with them legally. During a massive lawsuit filed in the 1990's, mountains of tobacco industry internal documents revealed that the companies knew the truth about their products and intentionally misrepresented the facts. They funded scientists and think tanks, including the Heartland Institute, to cast doubt and deceive. Now, back to the oil companies. Their scientists knew that global warming was occurring, that the burning of fossil fuels was a major cause of that warming, and that this warming would cause significant climate change with major impacts. The oil company executives knew this and used this information in determining their business plans as early as 1989. We know this because industry documents showing this have been made public. The ongoing investigation by a large number of states' Attorneys General is likely to turn up many more such documents, as happened as the tobacco case proceeded. So, for well over a decade they were using this information from their own scientists about climate change to make business decisions, while at the same time purposely sponsoring groups to spread doubt about the reality of climate change. Sounds like fraud to me. A retired computer science professor, John Sigle writes from Carlisle. TRUMP INDIANA RALLY SPEECH ART.jpg Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Fort Wayne, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Let the IRS be the IRS "The Republican-controlled U.S. House has passed a series of sniping, counterproductive measures picking on the IRS. One would limit how it spends the user fees it collects. Another would freeze hiring at the understaffed agency until it obtains certification that no one there has major tax debt. The dumbest would mandate that no one at the IRS could get a bonus until customer service improves. "But who is responsible for the decline of customer service at the IRS? House Republicans. The IRS budget is $500 million below its level in 2010, the year that Republicans won control of the House. It has been forced to shed 17,000 workers. Meanwhile, its responsibilities have increased. More people are filing taxes. The agency has to administer key parts of the Affordable Care Act. Cyberthreats have skyrocketed, including instances of identity theft. "Hollowing out the IRS has been one of the most foolish policies the GOP majority has pursued, as our columnist Catherine Rampell has illustrated. Tax cheats are encouraged and rewarded. Performing fewer audits cost the government $8 billion in 2015. "Honest people are harmed, too. Several customer service metrics plummeted for a time, until Congress relented a bit and gave the agency a little more money, after which at least telephone service improved for this tax season. But customer service in some other areas is still astonishingly poor. The agency, for example, admits that it is failing to answer a third of the written correspondence it gets quickly enough, even though the goal is to get back to people within 45 days, which is itself an unacceptably long time. "April is synonymous with taxes, so it is little surprise that Republicans chose last month to harry the IRS, among the least-loved parts of government. But the solution to the IRS's problems is not more punishment, particularly of the sort that is likely to inhibit its ability to hire competent employees. "The answer is for lawmakers to give the agency the money it needs to do its job. The country relies on a mostly voluntary system of tax compliance. If respect for and cooperation with that system decline, the government will lose the very revenue Congress expects the IRS to collect -and on which lawmakers' budgets depend." (Washington Post) Obamacare Needs Surgery - Stat. "News stories of recent days suggest a stabbing pain in the wallet awaiting people who buy health coverage for 2017 through Obamacare exchanges. Insurers in many states will seek major premium hikes. "All of which contrasts with President Barack Obama's victory lap in late March, when he celebrated the sixth anniversary of his signature achievement and crowed about its rousing success. "His verdict looks increasingly dubious. "And looming rate increases aren't the only signs of severe stress. Each week brings new evidence that Obamacare is due for more than a checkup; it needs life-saving surgery. "On April 19, UnitedHealthcare, the nation's biggest insurer, said it would stop offering coverage in many states next year because of heavy losses. The company had expanded coverage to 34 states, but now it says it can't afford to cover hundreds of thousands of people in most of those states. "... In the heart of the 2016 campaign season, there's no impetus for the White House to reopen the law, especially since many Republicans have voted - and vowed - to repeal it. And come January, a president who tries to scrap the law will face sharp opposition from millions of people grateful to now have coverage. "But as insurers raise rates and restrict coverage, the guarantee of access to insurance becomes an expensive, empty promise for millions. "Obamacare is not about the insurance companies," insurance analyst and blogger Robert Laszewski notes. "It is about the consumers that have nowhere else to purchase individual health insurance in the United States and are already finding the offerings - with subsidies or without - lousy deals." "The lousier the deals, the more pressure on Congress to overhaul the law to allow insurers more leeway to tailor their offerings (and prices) to fit the varying needs of people in the market. A new president and a new Congress can't ignore Obamacare's faltering health. Prep the OR." (Chicago Tribune) Quotable: " ... Pessimists still should answer two questions: If the goal is to make America great again, what era should we aspire to return to? And is there any country whose hand you would rather have?" -- school funding.jpg Advocates who are part of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding gathered at the Capitol on Monday to call on state lawmakers to invest $400 million more in basic education in the 2016-17 budget and to distribute the money using the state's new school funding formula. (Jan Murphy/PennLive) With the 2016-17 state budget-making season now upon us, a coalition of advocates from across Pennsylvania came to the state Capitol to call on lawmakers to increase the state's investment in public education by $400 million. And the Campaign for Fair Education Funding advocates want that money distributed using what they hope will become a permanent education funding formula that was used for the first time this year. It distributes dollars based on factors that include student enrollment and need. Among those participating in the rally were school board members and administrators, parents, grandparents, a mayor and others who said dramatic increases in education are needed to close the gap between the wealthiest and poorest school districts, which is widest of any state in the country. The $150 million in additional funding for basic education that was included in this year's recently finalized state budget barely put dent in the need districts have to educate all students to meet the state standards. "If the state continues to limit funding increases to the level approved in this year's budget, infants in their cribs today will be out of high school by the time we achieve a fully funded and fair public school funding system," said campaign member Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. The Rev. Dennis Ritter, a former Kutztown School Board member, said the amount of money a district spends per student alone doesn't make for an excellent program "but lack of funds certainly hurts the development of an excellent program." The advocates' call for more funding for education is shared by House Republicans but House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, steered clear of any commitment of how much more and was equally non-committal about where any additional dollars would be directed. "That could be early childhood education. That could be special ed, basic education or higher education," Reed said. By keeping "everything else minimal throughout the entire budget that gives us more flexibility in education." Election Q&A: Meet the candidates for Emmet County Commission The first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth districts are all contested races on Nov. 8. Rickie Fowler returns to driving iron: In his first start since the Masters, Rickie Fowler shelved his 5-wood for a 21-degree Cobra King Utility 3-iron. The course-dependent club was first spotted in the bag earlier this year during his win in Abu Dhabi. Depending on the course and conditions, Fowler typically goes with either a high launching fairway wood or a utility iron that offers additional accuracy off the tee and a penetrating ball flight. Fowler felt the utility iron was the better option to handle the tight layout and windy conditions at TPC Louisiana. The hollow-body club is comprised of a 455 stainless steel L-Cup face and a 67-gram tungsten weight that's positioned low and back in the head to increase launch and forgiveness. The new L-Cup face design works directly with the tungsten weight to improve speed and launch. Unlike most of today's utility irons, King Utility comes with an adjustable hosel that makes it possible to alter loft between 18 degrees (2-iron loft) and 21 degrees (3-iron). Day back to prototype putter: Prior to his start at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Jason Day made two adjustments to his bag setup at the RBC Heritage, swapping his 16-degree TaylorMade AeroBurner 3HL for a 16.5-degree M2 3HL, and replacing TaylorMade Ghost Spider Itsy Bitsy prototype putter with a Spider Limited Red. The changes continued in New Orleans, as Day replaced the 3-wood with a 17-degree M2 that was bent to 15.5 degrees. The Aussie preferred the slightly shorter 3-wood for multiple holes at TPC Louisiana that required a 280-yard tee shot; he also felt the club offered slightly more accuracy. While the change wasn't a drastic one, Day returned to his trusty Ghost Spider Itsy Bitsy prototype after giving Spider Limited Red a 72-hole test run at Harbour Town. With the exception of the dark red frame and bumpers, the two putters are identical in head shape and performance. Day went back to the mallet with the charcoal grey finish in 2014 and noted the change came down to his ability to see the line from the ball to the hole. Jamie Donaldson's new driver: When Jaimie Donaldson finds something he likes, he tends to stick with it. Case in point: His TaylorMade SLDR driver that, up until New Orleans, had been in play since its inception in 2013. Following some recent struggles off the tee he was losing the ball to the left Donaldson decided to do some driver testing with four different loft and shaft combinations. He ultimately settled on a 9.5-degree M2 with a Grafalloy ProLite 3.5 X shaft. According to TaylorMade Tour reps, Donaldson's shot dispersion improved and the left miss turned into a subtle draw a shot shape he was completely fine with. Divots: Rhein Gibson became the first TaylorMade staffer to put TaylorMade's M2 Tour iron in play on TOUR. The 3-iron (bent to 2-iron loft) was fitted with a Project X HZRDUS black hybrid shaft. Gibson liked the club as a strong-lofted driving iron to use on short, tight par 4's and going for par 5s in two. ... Callaway Tour reps worked with Brian Stuard to dial in the yardage gapping for his hybrids and 4-iron. The 23-degree hybrid was strengthened and flattened to close the gap between his 20-degree Callaway Apex hybrid and Apex Pro 4-iron. Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG The flights will be operated on a daily basis by a 199-seat Airbus A321 aircraft. Fifth freedom rights enable Philippine Airlines to pick up passengers in a foreign country and fly them to another country. The daily flights will originate in Manila and fly onto Taipei, before continuing on to Osaka. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, flight PR896 departs Taipei at 10:10am and arrives in Osaka at 1:55pm. On other days of the week, the flight departs and arrives ten minutes later. The return flight, PR897, departs Osaka at 4:50pm, and arrives in Taipei at 7:10pm. Competition is expected to be intense with twelve other carriers currently offering flights between the two cities. Those carriers include: Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Far Eastern Air Transport, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan, Peach Air, Tigerair Taiwan, TransAsia Airways, V Air, and Vanilla Air. Philippine Airlines is banking on the new route to drive both leisure and business traffic from Taiwan to Japan and the Philippines. Taiwan was one of Philippine Airlines' first destinations. It first flew to Taipei with a Douglas DC-3 aircraft on November 16, 1951. In November, Philippine Airlines will celebrate its 65th year of service to Taiwan. National flag carrier Philippine Airlines is set to begin flights between Taiwan and Japan as it takes advantage of fifth-freedom rights held by the Philippines. PAL will begin operating flights between Taipei and Osaka on June 25. Rousey, who was picked up in York County last summer, with Rocky Mount (Va.) Officer Chris Shelton. Dogs in law enforcement cost thousands of dollars if they are purchased from elite breeders. Read more It was graduation day for Rousey, a stray German shepherd rescued last summer by a Philadelphia-area nonprofit with the goal of making her a police dog. After 10 weeks of training, Rousey officially became a K-9 at a ceremony Saturday in Roanoke, Va. She will serve with the Rocky Mount Police Department, which is just south of Roanoke. It was the end of one journey and the beginning of another for Rousey, who was given a second chance by Throw Away Dogs and its founder Carol Skaziak. "She's definitely home," Skaziak said of Rousey, who is now partnered with Rocky Mount Police Officer Chris Shelton. "I don't have a doubt in my mind that she will be phenomenal," said Skaziak, who attended the graduation in Virginia. It wasn't easy getting to this point. Rousey used to be known briefly as "Hope," the name given her by Char-Will German Shepherd Rescue in rural Schuylkill County. Not much was known about who she was and where she had been before she was picked up in York County last summer. What was evident was that she had protruding ribs and a thinning black-and-tan coat. Skaziak renamed her after the popular mixed-martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey, and with that began a weeks-long rehabilitation with the daring intent of turning an unknown stray into a working police dog. In October, Rousey was delivered to the police department in Winchester, Va., to be trained as both a patrol and detection dog. That didn't work out. The department decided Rousey wasn't suited to be a patrol dog. But through word of mouth in police circles, Rocky Mount said it needed a new K-9 and took Rousey. Kayos, a Belgian Malinois from Throw Away Dogs, was also part of the class of three dogs graduating Saturday and is now serving the Roanoke County Police Department. His handler is Officer William Tars. Adding to the Virginia connection, Tars has agreed to establish a satellite operation for Throw Away Dogs in that state. "There's definitely a need in this area," Tars said. "Money is so tight and the K-9s are usually the first to get cut in the budget." Working dogs in law enforcement cost thousands of dollars if they are purchased from elite breeders - and that is before the cost of training and time invested are factored in. Throw Away Dogs provides K-9 candidates for free. Skaziak cofounded the nonprofit with SEPTA Transit Police Officer Jason Walters in 2014 with a goal of finding suitable dogs in rescues and shelters and donating them to small agencies in need. Through the end of last year, their organization had placed three dogs, in Maryland, Indiana, and Maine. In just the first four months of this year, Throw Away Dogs has placed twice as many, including Rousey and Kayos. "It just took off," Skaziak said. On Saturday, months after Throw Away Dogs took a chance on a gaunt stray, Rousey "looked absolutely perfect," Skaziak said. "Very healthy, very happy." bmoran@phillynews.com 215-854-5983@RobertMoran215 To learn more about Throw Away Dogs, visit www.facebook.com/throwawaydogs. This summer, PennDot's new Sullivan's Bridge - a $9.2 million, 14-foot-wide, pedestrian/cyclist river crossing built in the footprint of the Betzwood - will open. Read more When the dangerously deteriorated Betzwood Bridge was demolished in 1995, the only overwater bike path between the Schuylkill River Trail and Valley Forge National Historical Park disappeared with it. To placate irate cyclists, PennDot bolted a fenced boardwalk four feet wide to the eastbound shoulder of the neighboring Route 422 bridge. The bellyaching got worse. Amanda Lozinak, 24, of Spring City, often leads women's rides on the Schuylkill River Trail with her Bike Chester County advocacy group. "Every time we ride [the bridge] into Valley Forge, it feels so unsafe," she said. "Some of the nails have come out. Some of the wood is loose. When you're on that bridge, I would not suggest looking down." Michael Broennle, 74, a lifelong bicyclist from East Goshen and a founder of Friends of the Chester Valley Trail, described the unnerving passage in which "two bicyclists coming from opposite directions cannot ride past each other. You have the noise of cars whizzing along right next to you at 60 miles per hour." But a sweet ride is just ahead for Broennle and Lozinac. This summer, PennDot's new Sullivan's Bridge - a $9.2 million, 14-foot-wide, pedestrian/cyclist river crossing built in the footprint of the Betzwood - will open, banishing the Route 422 boardwalk bridge forever. Named for Major Gen. John Sullivan, who served under Washington at Valley Forge, Sullivan's Bridge is the 2016 diva of the Circuit Trails, a burgeoning regional network of foot-power pathways to Mother Nature. Funded largely by government agencies such as PennDot and by private grants from the William Penn Foundation and others, the Circuit comprises more than 300 miles of trails in nine Pennsylvania and New Jersey counties. The goal: 750 miles. Permanently installed counters recorded more than 1.2 million pedestrians and bicyclists on 11 major regional trails last year, including 240,182 on the Chester Valley Trail, 208,180 on the Schuylkill River Trail in Phoenixville, and 114,619 on the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Lower Merion Township. The Circuit's summer expansion includes the new Pencoyd Trail and the bike path outrigger on the rehabbed Pencoyd Bridge between Manayunk and Lower Merion. The $5 million project was privately funded for public use by O'Neill Properties Group in exchange for township permission to build 569 riverside apartments in Bala Cynwyd on the old Connelly Container site. Opening in the fall will be a federally funded, $6.5 million, 2.8-mile stretch of the planned 6.7-mile Chester Creek Trail. Though the first part to be built, it is what will be the trail's midsection, from the former SEPTA Regional Rail Wawa station to the 17th-century Caleb Pusey House in Upland Borough. The 10-foot-wide, paved path sits atop the former rail bed of the Pennsylvania Railroad's 19th-century Chester Creek branch line in Delaware County. "It runs along Chester Creek, mostly in Middletown Township," said John Paulson, who lives near the trail and is longtime treasurer of the Friends of Chester Creek Branch Rail Trail. "We beat the bushes up and down and sideways, and Middletown was the first township that said yes." Walkers, joggers, bicyclists, roller-bladers, and "any self-propelled mode of transportation other than a horse" will be welcome, he said. Paulson and his sweat-equity colleagues plan hands-on care of the trail. "I'll be cutting up trees that fall down there as long as I am able to work a chainsaw," he said. Sixteen miles away, a similar can-do spirit infused the 30,000 volunteer hours spent turning a desolate dumping ground into the two-mile Cynwyd Heritage Trail in 2011. Last fall, the $5.7 million rebuild of the Manayunk Bridge extended the trail from Lower Merion across the river to Manayunk. The sparkplug for the Cynwyd Heritage Trail was Chris Leswing, Lower Merion's assistant director of building and planning, who spent 20 years helping Clark Park become a West Philadelphia community oasis before he moved to the suburbs. There, he said, he realized "Lower Merion had ball fields and green spaces with creeks, but no trails and no places people could gather for public events. I wanted to use open space to create civic space." On Good Friday 2005, he hiked two miles along deserted SEPTA tracks from Cynwyd Station to the abandoned Manayunk Bridge, across the Schuylkill and into Manayunk, where he ate lunch, and then walked back. "There were abandoned cars with bullet holes, mattresses, construction debris dumped along the tracks," he said. "It was a forgotten space, but as cool as you can imagine. It had this funkiness of overhead wires, industrial elements, and stone walls mostly overgrown. It had cliffs, elevations. It had really neat bones. You could see making spaces where people could gather. I said, 'Holy wow! This should be a trail!' " Leswing can't recall how many Friday afternoons he spent hiking through his vision with Montgomery County players. "Anybody I could, I would drag out there," he said, laughing. "We'd always walk to Manayunk and have a beer, so on the way back, the trail project suddenly made more sense to them and they said, 'We've got to do this!' " Leswing promoted his imagined trail at public meetings as Lower Merion's recreation and transportation future. At one, he said, "An older gentleman, very reserved, talking very slowly, got up and said, 'You want to build a trail in my backyard? You've heard of NIMBY? I'm a PIMBY - please build it in my backyard.' " Montgomery County ponied up $1.7 million; the township and the state, a combined $1.8 million. Today, thousands enjoy Cynwyd Heritage Trail. As for Sullivan's Bridge, it has a fervid following even before it opens. Michael Broennle, who has biked regional trails since 1973, said he looks forward to riding his recumbent trike from the Chester Valley Trail near his home to Valley Forge National Historical Park, over Sullivan's Bridge, to the Schuylkill River Trail. "I was there for the Sullivan's Bridge groundbreaking in 2014," he said. "I'll be there for the opening this summer. I was the first trike to go across the new Manayunk Bridge when it opened in October. I rode over to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. If it's about trails, it's easy to get me started and hard to get me to stop." geringd@phillynews.com 610-313-8109 THE PENNSYLVANIA Human Relations Commission, created in 1955, is an obscure government agency with a modest budget. Most taxpayers will never need its services. But for victims of discrimination who can't afford a lawyer, the commission might be their best shot at justice. "The reason it was brought into place is because people that had these problems had no place to go," said Homer Floyd, a titan of the civil-rights movement who served as the commission's executive director for 41 years until he retired in 2011. Floyd, who has fought racial segregation and hate groups and once shared a stage with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said the commission is needed today for a simple reason: Discrimination still exists. "It's necessary," Floyd said, "because we still have forms of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and education." But the commission's future is uncertain and its effectiveness has been called into question. Its findings of probable cause have plummeted over the last decade. Last week, the Inquirer and Daily News reported that Gov. Wolf had quietly removed commission Chairman Gerald Robinson, who was named to the post in 2011 by then-Gov. Tom Corbett. Robinson has been accused in federal lawsuits of using racial epithets and tampering with the controversial selection process for Floyd's successor, JoAnn Edwards. Current and former employees - 18 people, from investigators to lawyers - say the agency was practically dismantled under Edwards, triggering a prolonged exodus of longtime staffers amid allegations that clients' discrimination cases were being dismissed without sufficient consideration. "It wasn't good for the workplace and it was horrible for the citizens we were serving," said Lynda Kent, an investigator who left the commission's Philadelphia office in April. "We missed so much." Kent, who worked at the commission for nine years, said Edwards - a former human resources vice president with no direct civil-rights experience - ended the practice of taking walk-in complaints in the Philadelphia office and implemented strict timetables that forced investigators to clear out cases prematurely. As a result, she said, complainants "didn't get a fair dealing." Cecilia Keller, a former investigator in the Philadelphia office who handled the 2009 Valley Swim Club racial-discrimination case, said Robinson and Edwards ultimately forced her to retire early in 2013. "People that never wanted to leave left," she said. "They came in and turned it upside down." Keller said new performance standards were put in place that seemed to discourage discrimination cases from moving forward. "It's like they did everything they could do to keep us from finding probable cause," she said. In 2007-08, the commission recorded 147 probable cause findings, agency records show. By 2013-14, that number had fallen to a low of 40. "We got to feeling like, 'What's the point if you're going to believe everything the respondents say?' " Kent said. "You had to process the case and it wasn't about investigating the matter." Joel Bolstein, the Bucks County lawyer and longtime PHRC commissioner whom Wolf has named interim chairman, said the agency's main challenges have been increased costs and state budget cuts. Staffing has fallen from about 250 in 1999 to 78 people, he said. "You find an agency in state government that has lost more than two-thirds of its staff complement, with the same number of cases and complaints coming in year after year, and tell me how well they are handling things," Bolstein said by email this week. "It's a challenging environment." Edwards said in a statement that a case-management process installed in 2013 led to "increased efficiency and quality of the investigations," with settlement rates up 8 percent and settlements up by nearly $1 million. Probable-cause findings last year increased to 68. Wolf's 2016-17 proposed budget would restore some of the commission's lost funding and enable it to boost its staff to 104 and conduct more training and outreach, Bolstein said. But the commission will likely need more than money, according to ex-staffers who say unfairness is pervasive within the organization. Vivian Lambert, a former investigator in the commission's Harrisburg office, said her former bosses' harassment forced her to retire last year. She filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint. "I could no longer work in a hostile work environment," she said. Lambert recalled her superiors pressuring her to close out a case because of the complainant's sexual identity. They were uncomfortable handling a case involving a transgender person, she said. "They were telling me to close it without the completion of the investigation," Lambert said. A former supervising attorney in the commission's Pittsburgh office, who asked that her name not be printed, recalled a colleague saying she wouldn't work with an intern because she was a lesbian or a Chinese clerk because her English was poor. "When I left each day, I felt I needed to take a shower, that's how disgusting the place was," the attorney said. Karen Pitt, the former employees' union steward in Harrisburg who retired in 2014, asked, "If an agency is supposed to eradicate discrimination, how sad is it that the employees are being discriminated against and harassed?" The agency, she said, is "supposed to be the shining example and here we are one of the worst offenders. There's something wrong with that picture." In an interview, Robinson denied the allegations of racial discrimination leveled by two former workers and said he was not sure why Wolf had removed him. Colleagues and acquaintances liken Robinson, who is black, to Clarence Thomas, the conservative U.S. Supreme Court justice. "We're supposed to enforce the antidiscrimination laws of the state," Robinson said. "It's not a wellness center." Wolf spokesman Jeffrey Sheridan declined to comment on the reasons for Robinson's removal or why he was replaced last week, and not when the governor, a Democrat, took office in January 2015. "There are hundreds of commissions in the Commonwealth, and several where the governor has authority to appoint the chair," Sheridan said. "We did not make changes to each one right away." Sheridan said the decision has not been made whether Bolstein should be named the permanent chairman. benderw@phillynews.com 215-854-5255 @wbender99 2016 EPT Grand Final Main Event Day 1b: Albert Daher Leads After a Huge Second Day May 01, 2016 Remko Rinkema Contributor The 2016 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo Casino EPT Grand Final 5,300 Main Event drew a crowd of 778, and Albert Daher bagged the overnight chip lead on Day 1b, taking 266,600 chips forward to Day 2. More than 223 PokerStars online qualifiers participated on Day 1b alone, and with registration open until the start of Day 2 this event will get very close to 1,100 total entries. Day 1b Top 10 Chip Counts Rank Player Chips 1 Albert Daher 266,600 2 Sebastien Lebaron 234,400 3 Kully Sidhu 231,000 4 Markku Koplimaa 199,900 5 Aleksei Platonov 192,000 6 Tomas Chudomsky 176,100 7 Francesco Di Profio 161,400 8 Vanessa Selbst 155,200 9 Pierre Calamusa 152,200 10 Herve Boulan 150,700 Daher started his day out in the perfect possible way, turning a jack-high flush in a five-bet pot. Daher had four-bet jack-ten suited and his opponent five-bet with pocket fives. Moments later, he had all of the player's chips. A little while later, Daher busted two more players, and he didn't look back after that bagging up a massive chip lead. A ton of Team PokerStars players entered the event today, headlined by team pro Vanessa Selbst with 155,200 and followed by Fatima Moreira de Melo with 149,200. Moreira de Melo had a very entertaining table for most of the day, and we managed to capture one of the big pots she won. Players that didn't see things go their way included [Removed:17], Andrey Zaichenko, Lee Markholt, and Andrew Chen, who were knocked out in the early goings. PokerStars team pro Daniel Negreanu entered the tournament after the dinner break, but he lasted for no more than 35 minutes. Negreanu made top pair top kicker with ace-king, but that was not enough against Markku Koplimaa, who had hit his gut shot straight on the turn. The Estonian player ended up taking 199,900 to Day 2, and that makes him one of the biggest stacks in the room. The chip leader aside, Kuljinder Sidhu (231,000) and Sebastian Lebaron (234,400) are the only two players over 200,000. The other Team PokerStars players that survived the day included Randy Lew (143,000), Naoya Kihara (123,100), Celina Lin (27,300), and Lex Veldhuis (14,300). Play will continue on Monday at 12 p.m. local time. Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! 2016 News Archive This page includes links to all the news articles published on pokernews.com during 2016. For your convenience, the articles are segmented by month. Simon "C Darwin2" Mattsson Once Again is the Top Dog in the PocketFives Rankings May 02, 2016 Jason Glatzer Editor For the second time this year, Sweden's Simon "C Darwin2" Mattsson climbed into the No. 1 ranked online poker player in the world, according to the PocketFives Worldwide Online Poker Rankings. The Swede previously held the top spot for seven weeks this year from Feb. 10 to March 30 prior to fellow countrymate Niklas "lena900" Astedt becoming the top dog for four straight weeks before Mattsson now took over once again. Mattsson, who is closing in on an impressive $4 million in online tournament cashes according to PocketFives, climbed into the top spot with the help of strong performances in three tournaments. First the online poker phenom shipped the Fight Night: High Roller - $100,000 Gtd on partypoker for $24,057 on April 20 before recording two final-table performances in big tournaments on April 24, including taking third place in The $120,000 Mega Deep on 888poker for $15,971 and snagging fifth place in the Super High Roller: $100,000 Gtd on partypoker for $19,338. Two other players also passed Astedt, who now dropped to fourth place in the rankings. Brazil's Joao "joaosimaobh" Simao climbed to second place, his highest ranked position in his online poker career in no small part due to a victory in the $215 Sunday 2nd Chance, $175K Gtd on PokerStars for $37,620 on April 24. Meanwhile, Sweden's "Ariados" jumped into third place helping the country secure three of the top four spots in the rankings. "Ariados" impressively shipped two big tournaments on PokerStars under the screenname "Sasuke234" last week including taking down the $215+R NL Hold'em, $35K Gtd for $12,728 on April 24 before finishing on top of the $109+R NLHE [Turbo], $12K Gtd for $5,303 on April 26. American poker refugee Chris "Big Huni" Hunichen, who was the top ranked player for five weeks early last year, rounded out the top five spots in the rankings with the help of winning the Fight Night: High Roller - $100,000 Gtd on partypoker for $20,863 on April 26. Hunichen, who plays online poker from Costa Rica, is now approaching on $10 million in combined live and online tournament cashes with almost $8.5 million in online cashes according to PocketFives and over $1.2 million in live cashes according to The Hendon Mob. Russia's Artem "veeea" Vezhenkov who has been consistently been in the top ten spots of the PocketFives Worldwide Online Poker Rankings all year long, including being ranked in the top spot for three weeks from Jan. 20 to Feb. 10, resides in sixth place just a few points behind Hunichen. Not too far behind Vezhenkov is Greece's Damianos "damourinio" Aslanidis in seventh place, followed by Spain's Oscar "MendaLerenda" Serradell who now lives in the United Kingdom in eighth place, Russia's "hellohellohello" in ninth place, and American Joel "jbrown8777" Brown who now lives in Canada in tenth place. Here is a complete look at the top 10 in the PocketFives Worldwide Online Poker Rankings: Place Player Country Points 1 Simon "C Darwin2" Mattsson Sweden 7,236 2 Joao "joaosimaobh" Simao Brazil 7,176 3 Ariados Sweden 7,029 4 Niklas "lena900" Astedt Sweden 7,027 5 Chris "Big Huni" Hunichen Costa Rica 6,910 6 Artem "veeea" Vezhenkov Russia 6,688 7 Damianos "damourinio" Aslanidis Greece 6,667 8 Oscar "MendaLerenda" Serradell United Kingdom 6,547 9 hellohellohello Russia 6,520 10 Joel "jbrown8777" Brown Canada 6,504 *Special thanks to PocketFives.com for information used in this article. Want to stay atop all the latest in the poker world? If so, make sure to get PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print While Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is talking about poverty while attempting to slash programs for the poor, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton will be speaking about the real issues that are confronting the poor during a two-day driving tour of Appalachia. In a statement, the Clinton campaign described the tour: On Monday, May 2, Hillary Clinton will launch her Breaking Down Barriers tour with a two-day driving tour (welcome back Scooby van) through Kentucky and West Virginia, culminating on Tuesday, May 3 in the Southeastern Ohio border region with a speech on jobs and the economy. In her remarks in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, Clinton said, I want you to keep imagining a tomorrow where instead of building walls, we are breaking down barriers. We are making it more likely that Americans will be part of a prosperous, inclusive, decent society. On this tour, Clinton will meet with voters, hear their stories, and discuss how she will fight to raise incomes and expand opportunities for them and their families as president. The trip will underscore Clintons focus on the aspirations and needs of families, especially in often overlooked or underserved communities across the country, and what they are looking for in their next president. Clinton will go to Ashland, KY, Williamson, WV, and Athens, OH to discuss jobs and the economy. She will be going to the communities who are underserved, and instead of bringing vague rhetoric about caring, Hillary Clinton has actual policies and plans. Compare what Hillary Clinton is doing to the empty talk of Paul Ryan. Speaker Ryans plan to fight poverty is nothing more than a scam that would take money away from poor people and give it corporations. Nearly two months ago, Ryan announced the creation of a GOP poverty task force that was loaded with Republicans who have voted to cut aid to the poor. Speaker Ryan isnt interested in helping poor people get better jobs. Ryan doesnt want to take steps to raise wages. Instead, the Speaker of the House is talking about poverty while trying to redistribute wealth upwards to make the lives of those who are struggling to get by even more difficult. Paul Ryan says one thing while doing another, but Hillary Clinton is putting Ryan to shame by offering some of the hardest working Americans a path to a better economic future instead of trying to saw the rungs of the ladder of economic success out from under them. PoliticusUSA is looking for bloggers. If you would like to join us, more information can be found here. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* Many Americans have complained over the past eight years that there is no longer such a thing as a regular election cycle in America. Since the election of Barack Obama in 2008, campaigns begin when a Democrat is declared the winner on election night. The current Republican Partys 2016 campaign for the White House began in earnest in 2012 when an anti-Muslim video incited protests and a terrorist attack on an American diplomatic outpost in Benghazi Libya that claimed four American lives. Republicans have admitted, on several occasions by the way, that the House Benghazi committees investigation was a long-term campaign to damage Hillary Clinton even before she announced a run for the White House. The committees chairman, Representative Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) has stated that he found nothing, but still, his committee is busy on a taxpayer-funded Republican campaign against Mrs. Clinton. The cost, according to estimates as of last year was approximately $6.7 million and it was enough of a waste of money to inspire a high-ranking Defense Department official to include the waste of money in a letter criticizing Gowdys tactics on the Benghazi Select committee. The Pentagon is weary of the three-plus years of several committees demands to waste their valuable time, money, and personnel. The top Defense Department official criticizing the Benghazi committees investigation as wasteful, unproductive, unfair and inefficient is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs Stephen Hedger. Hedger charged the Republicans with employing a variety of unproductive tactics including continuous threats against Pentagon employees, multiple and changing requests, and interviews prompting speculation by witnesses. Mr. Hedger also said the Pentagon is openly questioning whether the Republican Benghazi committees final report will be based in fact. It is a serious question that fairly could be translated as calling the Republicans actions criminal. In the Pentagon letter to the committee, specifically addressed to Republican chairman Trey Gowdy and issued Thursday, Hedger wrote, While I understand your stated intent is to conduct the most comprehensive review of the attack and response, Congress has as much an obligation as the Executive Branch to use federal resources and taxpayer dollars effectively and efficiently. (author bold) The Department is working diligently to accommodate your staffs multiple and changing requests; however, we are concerned by the continuous threats from your staff to subpoena witnesses that we are not able accommodate. Mr. Hedger particularly took issue with the committees demand for an interview with an anonymous Sean Hannity radio call-in individual; an anonymous individual Hedger said the Pentagon expended significant resources to locate to no avail. The Department of Defense continues to believe that interviewing these individuals is unnecessary because it is unclear what additional information could be gained from these interviews. Hedger requested a meeting with Gowdy to identify a productive way to help it finish its investigation while respecting the men and women and resources of the Department of Defense. It is noteworthy that the $6.7 million cost as of last year did not include the Pentagons cost in searching out individuals with no clear connection to the Defense Department or the events surrounding the Benghazi attack. It is likely that Republicans will expend any sum during an election to attack Mrs. Clinton even if it robs money and critical assets from the military. In the strongest language possible, the Pentagon is criticizing the Republicans for prompting and encouraging Department of Defense interviewees to go on the record and speculate on hypotheticals posed by Committee members regardless of the interviewees actual knowledge or expertise. Hedger concluded his condemnation by respectfully requesting that you ensure pending interviews remain focused on facts; rather than encouraging speculation. The highest-ranking Democrat on the Benghazi Select Committee, Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) accused the campaigning Republicans of Dragging out their sham of an investigation closer to the election. The Department of Defense has a critical job to do, which is to keep our nation safe from those who would do us harm. But Republicans continue to squander millions of taxpayer dollars chasing right-wing conspiracy theories and forcing Pentagon officials to waste their time on this partisan fishing expedition. Gowdy keeps promising to issue a final report on the committees findings, but as the Pentagon noted, they will certainly not be based on facts. It was telling and prescient that the Pentagon had to inform House Republicans, and Americans, that even the Department of Defense comprehends that the Republicans are using the committee and taxpayers money for a campaign against Hillary Clinton. The speculation about the Benghazi committees investigation and promised report is that it will continue in operation right up to, and likely after, the general election in November; Republicans are that vindictive and that predictable. For dogs sake it has been ongoing without the results Republicans want for two years, and that is in addition to the four separate House committees investigating Benghazi; the Armed Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Intelligence Committee, and Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Those committees, and all those wasted taxpayer dollars, found exactly what the Benghazi Select committee discovered; nothing whatsoever. Still, there is an election looming and with little novel to attack Hillary Clinton on after 23 years of debunked smears, Republicans in the House will continue using taxpayer dollars to fund their general election political campaign. The atrocity is that there is absolutely nothing the Federal Elections Commission can do about congressional Republicans using taxpayer funds for their political campaign. Voters could do something about it, but this is America where a growing class of voters reliably votes against its own best interests. If the past two elections are any indication, even tax-wasting lazy House Republicans are going to easily win re-election and maintain their hold on that chamber. The Benghazi Select committee is not going anywhere soon and a Clinton victory in November informs Republicans will be entrenched in an expensive House Benghazi Select investigation founded on hypotheticals and speculation continuing for several years to come. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print As if the fake VP wasnt a big enough symptom of Ted Cruzs fading grasp on reality, the Senator from Texas is now claiming that Trump will try to encourage riots at the Republican convention in Cleveland. Video: Transcript via Face The Nation: DICKERSON: But if, in Cleveland, your scenario were to go forward, the person who has millions more votes that wont change. He will go to the convention, Donald Trump will, with millions more human being votes, real people, regular folks supporting him. And you are hoping to overthrow that with more delegates. In a situation where delegates over people, wont that lead to riots? CRUZ: No, it wont, although Donald may do everything he can to encourage riots. You know, overthrow is such a loaded spin word as to bring nothing but chuckles. I can tell you, the last contested convention we had, 1976, Ronald Reagan had a million more votes than Gerald Ford. But Gerald Ford got the votes of the majority of the delegates. If you look back to the very first Republican Convention, in 1860, our very first candidate for president, Abraham Lincoln, came in to a contested convention, he was second in the balloting. And on the third ballot, he won a majority. The test is to win a majority. And Donald cannot win a majority. Majorities matter. And its why Donald wants to change the rules and rig the system. Ted Cruz has gotten so desperate that he is using the threat that Donald Trump may try to incite riots if Republicans hold a brokered convention as a reason for a brokered convention? According to Cruzs logic, the easiest way to avoid Donald Trump inciting riots would be to give Trump the nomination outright. How does this help Ted Cruz? Nothing that Cruz tries should be surprising. After all, this is the same candidate who selected a running mate for a presidential nomination that he probably wont win. Cruz is trying anything that he can think of to set up a brokered convention. The problem that most of the schemes that he has thought up are nuts. Sen. Cruz and sanity were never really close to begin with, but watching Donald Trump win the nomination is driving Ted Cruz insane. PoliticusUSA is looking for bloggers. If you would like to join us, more information can be found here. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Obamas job approval rating now sits at 52%. As the President gets more popular by the day, optimism is growing among Democrats for a big 2016 election victory. Here is Gallups Daily Obama job approval rating: Notice a pattern? President Obamas job approval has been a net positive for two weeks. Donald Trumps approval ratings have nosedived since last year. According to Gallup, Since last year, Trumps net favorable rating (% favorable minus % unfavorable) among all adults nationally has worsened, to -35 in March from -17 in August. Trump has a 70% unfavorable rating with women. According to the Harvard IOP Spring 2016 Survey, Trump has a (-57) net favorability with 18-29 year olds. In contrast, President Obama has a 55% approval rating with millennials and an overall net approval rating of (+13). The nations two political parties are heading in opposite directions. President Obama is trending upwards and gaining support from demographic groups that will be important to a Democratic victory in November while Republicans have embraced a likely nominee who repels key voting blocs by the millions. Republicans are making the argument that the nation needs change, but that change argument is a tough sell when the outgoing president is popular. Obamas approval ratings suggest that voters dont want to change back to Republican policies. Of all of the statistics that could inspire Democratic optimism for November, the most significant could be the ongoing rise in popularity of President Obama. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Ever since the United States was pulled kicking and screaming onto the world stage there have been those who couldnt quite figure out how to react to the news that the United States was not alone in the world. Donald Trump seems to be one of those people. You know how you have to correct your kids when they get carried away on some poorly misunderstood point or another? Yeah. Thats Trump. He would be president, however, and so nobody to correct him. You see the problem. There is a reason we have a minimum age requirement for the presidency. We hope people will outgrow most of that. Some, like Trump (and Cruz) dont. And Americans ought to be reacting with the fear shown by foreign leaders to the possibility of a Trump foreign policy. That is, if what Trump is spewing is coherent enough to be called a foreign policy rather than a series of unrelated knee-jerk reactions to what in many cases arent really problems at all, like the idea of rebuilding alliances that arent broken but will be if Trump becomes president. What is astonishing is Trumps claim then, that what he is offering is a new foreign-policy direction for our country one that replaces randomness with purpose, ideology with strategy and chaos with peace. Au contraire, Mr. Trump: CNNs Fareed Zakaria calls Trumps foreign policy speech a mass of contradictions and populist pandering masquerading as a strategy. This is painful because it is true, and Zakaria is not the first to notice (the Wall Street Journal being an obvious exception). Zakaria points out that it is a mistake to assume that because he refrained from vulgarity for 40 minutes that Trump has a coherent foreign policy. Rather, The speech was in fact an embarrassment, a meandering collection of slogans that were mostly pablum. It did not contain his most absurd and unworkable suggestions, building a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border, stopping people from sending their own money to relatives in Mexico, banning all Muslims from entering the United States, and a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods. So, in that sense it was an improvement, I suppose. Pablum, a word you come across in college, but might now become more common, is generally defined as insipid intellectual fare as in this example: pablum for the masses. Which describes Trump and his foreign policy vision to a tee. The Wall Street Journal tells us their reporter Damian Paletta said Trump outlined a policy that represented a big change from decades of US diplomacy. But is this true? No, not really. Historian Meg Jacobs has pointed out that Trumps Middle East policy is old GOP policy. But not real old GOP policy. She reminds us that While Trump often depicts himself as breaking with every president since Ronald Reagan, his ideas about the Middle East have their origins in the early 1990s. But Trumps enacting energy policy by force is an old Republican obsession dating back to the energy crisis of the 70s. An if they wont give it to us, well take it kind of outlook. Zakaria said The most striking aspect of the speech was its repeated contradictions, and this has been true of pretty much all Trumps visions relating to his slogan of making America great again. For example, Trump says China is raping us with their trade policy even while he has his own line of clothes made there (and in Mexico, which he accuses of literally raping us with rapists). The most striking aspect of the speech was its repeated contradictions. We will spend what we need to rebuild our military, he promised, though Washington already spends more than the next seven countries put together. But almost in the same breath he talked about pinching pennies because of the crippling national debt. Trump is against humanitarian inventions, but he implied that we should have intervened to help embattled Christians in the Middle East. Which is it? Trump put Americas closest allies on notice that if they didnt pay their fair share on defense, a complaint, by the way, Washington has made for at least four decades, he would end Americas security guarantees to them. We have no choice, he exclaimed. Then he assured them that he would be a close and reliable ally. Trump promised to be consistent and yet unpredictable. Is your head spinning yet? In other words, we should not be surprised at how bad Trumps foreign policy vision is. It would be more surprising if it were more coherent than the rest of what he says. His grasp of what is going on in the world, and why, seems to be on par like his speech patterns with that of a third grader. The term loose canon seems tailor made for Trump. Here we have a candidate who sounds like an isolationist and even claims he is unless, that is, somebody has something he wants, like oil we dont really need because we have wind power, wave power, solar power and all kinds of power that dont come from oil companies. And as Jacobs says, it seems a safe betthat Donald Trump would indeed do what it takes to make America first by force if necessary. Trumps foreign policy, like all his other policies, are slipshod, haphazard, and terrifying, a reaction to a world Republicans have created in their own heads but which has nothing to do with the world as it actually is. You wouldnt put your third-grader at the helm, and that is what wed be doing if we elected Donald Trump as president. I defy Donald Trump to prove his critics wrong, and in something above a third-grade level, if you please. Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. Rochester's oldest credit union is switching things up in order "to tell its story better." Formed in 1932, First Alliance Credit Union is Rochester's oldest credit union. However, a recent study found that First Alliance is not connecting with that history as well as it should, said President and CEO Kelly McDonough. Example number one is First Alliance's three square logo. "We've had the three squares since the 1980s, but no one remembers what they mean," she said. "Our customers say they look like Chiclets." That insight sent the First Alliance team back to the drawing board to refresh its overall look in a meaningful way. ADVERTISEMENT "We developed a new brand with a new logo, new tagline, new color palette and new look for our facilities," McDonough said. The new logo features an "F" on its back with an upright "A." Together, they represent the Rochester downtown skyline. "The new logo is a better reflection of our history. It is more immediately recognizable and relevant," she said. Signs with the new logo started going up on First Alliance branches last week and staff will be sporting it on their shirts today. The new tagline "All For One" is supposed to remind people that First Alliance is a not-for-profit cooperative. First Alliance has 13,400 members. It has four Rochester branches plus one in Byron . The bottom line is that with many outside banks and credit unions flocking to Rochester, First Alliance is reminding everyone that it always has been local and has deep connections to Rochester. "Our decisions are made locally. We don't have to check with someone in Wisconsin or wherever," McDonough said. Business events and economic reports scheduled for the coming week: Today: BERLIN Germany releases factory orders data for March, a key indicator for Europe's biggest economy. Tuesday: WASHINGTON Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for March, 10 a.m.; Labor Department releases job openings and labor turnover survey for March, 10 a.m. ADVERTISEMENT BERLIN Germany releases industrial production, export and import figures for March. HELSINKI Nokia presents its first-quarter earnings report. TOKYO Japanese mobile carrier and solar power company Softbank reports earnings. The Walt Disney Co. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes. Wednesday: WASHINGTON Treasury releases federal budget for April, 2 p.m. COPENHAGEN, Denmark Danish brewer Carlsberg releases its first-quarter earnings report. TOKYO Toyota reports earnings. ADVERTISEMENT TOKYO Takata, the air bag maker embroiled in a massive recall, releases earnings. Macy's Inc. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens. Thursday: WASHINGTON Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m. TOKYO Nissan reports earnings. Friday: WASHINGTON Commerce Department releases retail sales data for April, 8:30 a.m.; Labor Department releases the Producer Price Index for April, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases business inventories for March, 10 a.m. BERLIN Germany's Federal Statistical Office issues first-quarter growth figure for the economy, Europe's biggest. ADVERTISEMENT TOKYO Japanese automaker Honda reports earnings. SEOULV Bank of Korea sets its monthly policy rate. JC Penney Co. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens. A 26-year-old Rochester woman is behind bars today after authorities say an officer found 283 grams of marijuana and a 2-year-old child in her vehicle. The incident began about 9 p.m. Sunday, when a Rochester police officer initiated a traffic stop at Seventh Street and First Avenue Northeast. As he spoke with the suspect, who was driving the car, the officer smelled marijuana, the report says. A subsequent search revealed more than a half-pound of the drug in a bag on the passenger seat, said Capt. John Sherwin. The child was in a car seat in the back of the vehicle. The woman faces felony drug charges; Sherwin said the report would be forwarded to child protective services. The Post-Bulletin typically doesn't identify suspects until they've been charged. Two animal-related items came into the P-B newsroom last week and we thought we'd share them with you. First, one from Lake City. Kendra Veronen, who owns a hobby farm with her husband, Brian Veronen, between Lake City and Zumbro Falls, said they weren't overly surprised a bit more than a week ago when one of their female fainting goats gave birth to triplets. However, they were startled the next day when there were two more quintuplets. "I was shocked," she said. "We couldn't figure out who they came from at first." Their other female had twins, but the five looked alike and only the one female, the one who had triplets at first, would allow them to nurse so they had to be siblings, Veronen said. ADVERTISEMENT So far, the female has been able to keep up with feeding the five. "I tried to bottle feed them last night but they were not hungry," she said. Eventually, they will have to have some supplemental feeding, she said. They got the goats, known for freezing and even falling over when startled, several years ago when a co-worker of her husband said they were looking to sell some goats. "They are a farm pet," she said. "They clean up our yard; they area a good weed whipper." The goats normally have two young, she said. Give a hoot The next story comes from Houston and includes a warning we see quite often about not picking up what people assume are abandoned baby animals. Only this time, it's owlets. Karla Bloem, executive director of the International Owl Center in Houston, said not many things are cuter than a fuzzy baby owl, with their huge eyes and inquisitive stares. So it's natural to want to help one that's on the ground. ADVERTISEMENT Think twice. Owls aren't the brightest birds when it comes to nest building, so babies do fall out at times. "If they are almost old enough to leave the nest, Mom and Dad will feed and protect them on the ground," she said. "If the owlets are only a week or two old and find themselves on the ground for one reason or another, they need human intervention to survive." Owlets will leave the nest, either by accident or intentionally, in late April through early June and take their first flights when they're covered with fuzz. "They simply look too young to be out of the nest, and often wind up on the ground for a few days until they figure out how this flying thing works," she said. Here are some tips to know whether or not to help: If wing feathers are almost fully grown, they are a fledgling and are old enough to be out of the nest. If they are on the ground, keep cats and dogs away or maybe put them on a low branch by coaxing it onto a stick and put it onto a branch or use gloves and put it up there. If wing feathers are short and the tail barely visible, the owlet needs help. You can put it back into a nest or make a fake nest and put it in a tree where parents will care for it. ADVERTISEMENT If the little owl doesn't look healthy, is bleeding or has an obvious injury, bring it to the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center. For this area, that's the Raptor Center in St. Paul or the Coulee Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Chaseburg, Wis. Dear Answer Man, I heard that a soundboard used at a local church was used at Prince's last concert at Paisley Park. True? True enough. The church was Autumn Ridge in Rochester, and Mike Pruett, CEO of MLT Group and a true friend of this column, said on Facebook last week that he "never got to meet Prince, but the soundboard that was used at Paisley Park for the last concert was really cool all the songs were presented on the computer system when the guys powered it up." That must have been an eerie moment for a Prince fan. The April 22-23 event at Autumn Ridge Church was a women's conference called "Devoted Hearts." The audio mixer was brought in by a musician from the Cities and apparently was used at the Saturday, April 16, event at Paisley Park. Prince made a brief appearance at the event to reassure fans after an emergency medical stop in Moline, Ill., early the day before. Five days later, he was dead. I've heard there may have been another link to Prince at Autumn Ridge as well, which is just to say, during the Minnesota rock star's long career, he made a lot of connections and touched a lot of lives. ADVERTISEMENT Dear Wise One, w hat can you tell everyone about the $3 "Broadcast TV Surcharge" that has been added to our Charter Spectrum bills? What is it for and why doesn't Charter inform customers about adding more fees to our existing bill? Coincidentally, as I was getting ready to respond to this email, I received a similar note by snail mail that ends with this plea: "Rather than calling Charter and going through long waits and multiple transfers, I turn to you for an explanation." That little $3 surprise for Rochester area Charter customers "brings area customers into alignment with other markets throughout Charter's service areas," said Kimberly Noetzel, the Charter communications guru in Rochester. The fee covers the local stations that appear on Charter. Here's how the cable behemoth describes the fee on its webpage: "The Broadcast TV surcharge is a pass-through reflecting charges assessed to Charter by the owners of local broadcast, or local 'network-affiliated' TV stations. While broadcast stations distribute their signals over the air using free spectrum granted to them by the federal government, they charge Charter significant amounts to carry their TV signals. "These signals were historically made available to Charter at no cost, or low cost. However, the prices now demanded by broadcast stations have necessitated that we pass these costs on to customers," Charter says. The cable company is fairly aggressive about who's to blame. It goes on to say, "In effect, taxpayers are subsidizing the distribution of broadcast, or 'network-affiliated, TV signals. These same broadcast TV stations are then allowed by the government to charge for their signals, and if we don't agree to pay, broadcasters can force us to drop their channels, thereby adversely impacting our customers. We are in favor of changes to the law that created this situation, and if those changes are successful, we will remove these broadcast TV charges." Lotsa luck with that, cable companies. ADVERTISEMENT But wait! There's more! Some area Charter customers also have seen a 33-cent increase for an "HD Receiver Upgrade." That one affects fewer than 10 percent of customers, Kim said, so take a look at your bill and see if you're among the happy few. If you have Charter billing questions, call 888-438-2427. Kim says the rate increases were noted on last month's bills, but you may have missed that fine print. Prosecutor in police shooting to enter alcohol program MINNEAPOLIS The prosecutor whose office won a recent conviction in the high-profile case of a Minneapolis police officer who killed an unarmed woman says he will be entering a treatment program for alcohol issues. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman issued a statement Friday saying he was evaluated for alcohol issues and agrees he needs treatment. Hell be entering a program Monday. Freeman announced last week that he was taking a medical leave, but didnt say why. His Friday statement says he has also worked to stabilize his "unacceptably high blood pressure." He says hes determined to reclaim his health and hopes to be back to work in mid-June. ADVERTISEMENT Last month, a jury convicted Mohamed Noor of murder in the 2017 fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia who called 911 to report a possible crime. Minnesota seeks to add Purdue Pharma owners to opioid suit ST. PAUL Minnesotas attorney general is asking a state court for permission to add the owners of drugmaker Purdue Pharma to a lawsuit that seeks to hold the company responsible for the opioid addiction crisis. Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma makes OxyContin and has been the subject of legal action in nearly every state. Attorney General Keith Ellison wants to add eight members of the Sackler family to Minnesotas lawsuit. He says the Sacklers, who own and operate Purdue, were involved in deceptive marketing tactics and strategies to sell more opioids, despite knowing the risks. If a judge approves, Minnesota would become at least the 11th state to take legal action against one or more members of the Sackler family. A family spokeswoman issued a statement denying the allegations, calling the lawsuit a misguided attempt to place blame where it doesnt belong. Man holed up in hotel surrenders to police ADVERTISEMENT BROOKLYN PARK Authorities say a standoff at a Brooklyn Park hotel ended after more than six hours when a man suspected of assaulting his girlfriend surrendered to police. SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were called to the La Quinta Inn early Friday after a woman reported she was being assaulted by her boyfriend and threatened with a gun. Police say the standoff began at 3:30 a.m. and ended when the man was arrested at about 9:50 a.m. Authorities say the woman was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Police say the 31-year-old suspect was not carry9ing a gun but it was unclear if there were any weapons in the room. The suspect, who has not been formally charged, has previous convictions for drug possession, motor vehicle theft, aggravated robbery, making terroristic threats, drunken driving and burglary. Jail inmate accused of running prostitution ring MORA An inmate at the Kanabec County Jail is charged with running a prostitution ring from his cell. Thirty-eight-year-old Daniel Ellington is charged in Washington County District Court with two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of promotion of prostitution. Prosecutors say Ellington communicated with a prostitute by text and "promoted and profited" from her activities in Woodbury last month. ADVERTISEMENT East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force director Imran Ali says Ellington was 100 miles away and incarcerated, yet was promoting prostitution and profiting from it. The task force began investigating after a Woodbury detective found an online ad entitled "Blonde Bombshell." The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Kanabec County Sheriff Brian Smith says Ellington used a jail-issued iPod to text and paid a certain price for each message. Associated Press CHATFIELD A male black bear that apparently had been wandering the St. Charles-Chatfield area for a few days was shot and killed Sunday in Chatfield because it refused to leave and was showing aggression. "Unfortunately, we don't have bear cages or tranquilizer guns," said Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mitch Boyum. "It got a little aggressive, barking and popping its teeth." When it got down from a tree where it was trying to get at a suet feeder, and people tried to get it to leave, it stayed instead of running away like most bears would do, he said. If they had left it alone, it's possible it could have been in town, maybe eating from a garbage can and a pet or person might have startled it '"and that is when bad things are going to happen," he said. He said he couldn't leave the bear to wander the towns. "I sure didn't want to shoot him," Boyum said, but with the circumstances, he felt it was the safest thing to do. ADVERTISEMENT Reports of a black bear, probably the same one, have been coming in for the past few days, he said. It probably weighed 225 pounds, he said. On Sunday, the bear was seen on the edge of Chatfield, probably looking for food, and was on someone's deck, he said. It was scared away at first but was back within an hour, Boyum said. He's sure it was the same bear because a Chatfield police officer noticed it had burrs near the rear and the one seen an hour later had the same burrs, he said. Fillmore County Sheriff Tom Kaase said his department had received complaints about the bear too. When officers tried to scare it off, it growled at the officers. "This is not the first complaint or call of a bear in the area," he said. "There had been other calls of a bear in back yards and on porches in the last few days. Due to the previous reports of the bear in back yards and on porches, and the threat to the citizens in the area, a decision was made to euthanize the bear." Both Boyum and a county deputy shot the bear at the same time, he said. It was turned over the to the DNR, he said. RED WING Repairing a window can be pricey. The Goodhue County Historical Society will offer a hands-on workshop to show attendees how to repair windows on their own. The workshop, Repairing Old Windows, will be 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 14 from the Goodhue County Historical Society in Red Wing. The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and the Minnesota Historical Society created the class to show the tips and tools needed to repair old windows, making them more energy efficient. Attendees will learn to assess windows, repair drafts and fix broken glass. Historical Society and PAM members will pay $42.50 for tickets; nonmembers will pay $50, and each attendee will receive a special tool for helping with their projects. Tickets can be purchased at the PAM website at ww.mnpreservation.org or by following the link under the event description at www.goodhuecountyhistory.org/events. I spent much of my Tuesday morning muttering, "Oh, God," and hoping no one could see how sweaty I was getting. When the morning was over, I was humbled and more than a little grateful. I'd just participated in a mock re-entry exercise at the Federal Medical Center, Rochester, designed to prepare inmates for their release into communities everywhere. It worked even for people who already have jobs, housing, transportation and a stable environment, and who were able to leave the facility 90 minutes later. Me, for example. Michael Weaver, re-entry affairs coordinator at FMC, has facilitated the exercise several times, inviting inmates who are close to their release date. Other employees at the facility play the roles of people the inmates will encounter in society. ADVERTISEMENT The philosophy of the Bureau of Prisons is that preparation for re-entry begins on the first day of an inmate's incarceration, said FMC Rochester Warden Leann LaRiva. Tuesday's re-entry simulation "highlights our goal to prepare inmates to be successful when they reintegrate into society," she said. Life card Each participant is assigned a "life card" that includes information financial and employment status, educational history, housing circumstances and court-ordered appointments outlining the path of a newly released offender. Through four sessions, each representing one week of a month, participants engage in real-life scenarios. The activities highlight the challenges released offenders face while trying to successfully transition back to the community. I was Sarah, who'd served three years in state prison for burglary. I had passed my general educational development test, was on disability and collected $710 per month. I had my birth certificate and Social Security card. We were all able to donate plasma twice a month, for which we would receive $25 each time. I was luckier than most of my peers: I had housing immediately upon my release from prison, but that's where the luck ended and the tasks began. ADVERTISEMENT My living expenses and court-ordered appointments included treatment and probation twice a month, at a cost of $15 each per visit; $25 for food every week; a $5 urinalysis every week; $50 restitution every month and $500 per month for rent. I was also required to check in at vocational rehabilitation every week. Every station required a transportation ticket and a photo ID before any business could be conducted. About 30 FMC inmates joined me. The exercise My panic began immediately. I had $20, a coupon for a $50 microwave I could pawn and four transportation tickets in my packet. The problem: I had probation, a urinalysis and food to pay for the first week, amounting to $60. I needed cash, so I headed first to the plasma booth. I "paid" my transportation ticket, then was asked for a photo ID which I didn't have. Savvier folks were already in line for their ID. I joined them, annoyed that I'd wasted a transportation ticket and got nothing at the plasma booth. When I reached the head of the line, I was asked for my transportation ticket and $15 for the ID. ADVERTISEMENT I was now down to two transportation tickets and $5 cash. I remembered the microwave I could pawn, and headed that way. I paid my transportation ticket, handed her my pawn information and got $25. Pawn shops give customers roughly half of an item's worth. I had $30 and one transportation ticket left, but still had three stops to make and that same $60 to pay. I spent my last transportation ticket at the plasma booth, which gave me another $25. I could at least pay for my probation and urinalysis this week. I'd skip the food. Time was called. My first week was over, and I'd accomplished nothing but getting my photo ID. I was also out of transportation tickets, which meant I couldn't do anything else until I replenished my supply for $1 apiece. The second week went marginally better. I paid $10 for one transportation ticket desperate measures for desperate times and was able to get to the booth to buy more. I also picked up my disability check. I bought food, but failed my urinalysis and was late to probation. I argued a little, and was told it wouldn't help to have "bad attitude" noted on my file. Those are the things that send former inmates to jail, or back to prison. I was one of them: I spent most of the third week in jail, thanks to another late arrival at probation. I was, however, able to pay my rent and restitution, and passed my urinalysis. Those were huge successes, despite the stint in jail. The lesson At the end of week four, I was resigned to partial failure. About two-thirds of the inmates involved in the exercise were now in jail at least I had some cash and housing. The full jail, Weaver told the participants, "is kind of by design, but this is reality. Lots of things can send you back." There were a couple of keys to succeeding, both offered by inmates who figured it out. "A job," one man said. "If I didn't go to my job, I couldn't pay for transportation or my fines." Perhaps even more important: Planning. "I bought more transportation tickets than I needed, so I wouldn't have to stand in line," another man said. "I looked at next week's schedule to see where I needed to go, and made sure I had the money." Businessman and speaker Jim Rohn once said every person is the average of the five people they spend the most time with, said LaRiva, the warden. "But you're grown men; you've got to make the decisions about your own life," she told the inmates. "You may have grandiose dreams, but you have to take those first, simple steps first." The reality One man, whose release date is in less than three weeks, said that while the exercise is helpful, he has to learn to help himself. He's completed the biomedical equipment repair apprenticeship offered at FMC, a 6,000-hour vocational program that trained him how to test, repair and provide preventive and corrective maintenance for all types of medical equipment. Though he knows things may be difficult at first, he's determined to succeed. Every year, about 41,000 inmates return from federal prisons back to neighborhoods and communities in the U.S. The 122 federal prisons around the country offer many re-entry programs including work, education, vocational training, and drug and mental health treatment. Brian Rich, chief security officer at Mayo Clinic, spent more than 12 years in law enforcement. He participated in the simulation, and admitted the re-entry process is "far more difficult" than he expected. "There are things that I take for granted in everyday life that I won't be taking for granted anymore," Rich said after the simulation. "This has taught me that life is challenging for these individuals to get back on their feet, let alone with the hurdles they have to face." But something happened during the exercise that left an impression. "Two times, I dropped my (mock) paycheck" without noticing, Rich said. "And both times, an inmate picked it up and gave it back to me." I had the same thing happen, only it was my precious cash and transportation tickets that fell. They, too, were returned to me. Would that happen in real life? Maybe not, but I'll tell you this much: If it didn't, I'd understand why. ST. PAULThe Minnesota Senate broke a record Monday, introducing a $1,806,549,000 bonding bill. It is, said Sen. Dave Senjem of Rochester, by far the largest bonding bill in Minnesota history. Senjem, the lead Republican on the Senate Capital Investment Committee, said the bonding bill from the DFL-controlled Senate will need a lot of work before it ever matches up with the $600 million bonding bill that is expected from the Republican-controlled Minnesota House of Representatives. "This is three times that," Senjem said, referring to Monday's bill introduced by Sen. LeRoy Stumpf (DFL), chairman of the Senate Capital Investment Committee. "We're probably not going to end up with a $1.8 billion bill. It'll be pared down." The senate bonding bill contains 356 individual items, Senjem said, including $160 million for the University of Minnesota and $173 million for MnSCU. Locally, RCTC is slated for $20.4 million. ADVERTISEMENT Other large outlays in the bill include $70 million for a new facility at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter, $150 million for local roads and bridges and $80 million for wastewater treatment infrastructure. A new wastewater treatment plant in Oronoco was not fully funded but did receive $500,000 in the bonding bill for planning and design. Senjem said the $500,000 is a good sign for the project in Oronoco. "Once the state commits to planning and design money, it'll bond for the rest in coming years." Additional projects that made the initial list in the bonding bill include $1.5 million for The Reading Center in Rochester, $25.3 million for the Winona Education Village, $1.26 million for asset preservation at the National Guard Armory in Rochester and $4.985 million for remodeling at the Rochester International Airport. Rochester Republican Sen. Carla Nelson said there are several items in the bill that have no business on the bonding bill. "There are things setting bad precedents like funding fire halls," she said. "That's not a state prerogative, that's a local. There are swimming pools. There are a number of things like that." Nelson said she is championing the Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota at $1.5 million to help people who have trouble reading. "Reading is the great equalizer," she said. One item she was surprised did not make the bill was the Chester Woods Trail. "It's a completion trail. We've already started it," she said. The trail would join two other trails and complete a project that has been in the works for 20 years. ADVERTISEMENT "It seems to me that would be a high priority for $2.5 million. That's something I hope comes over from the House," she said. Senjem said the bonding bill is just one problem facing the Legislature this late in the session. The transportation committee has just started meeting in full, meaning there is a lot of work to be done on that bill. "There's a legislative logjam in finishing this session," he said. As for the work on the bonding bill, Senjem said the senate version was there to make everyone happy, and senate Democrats will be leaving the hard work up to the Republicans. "There's politics in this bill," he said. "Senate Democrats let it go this high so the Republicans can do the hard work and whittle it down." COLUMBUS A 24-year-old Columbus woman pleaded no contest Monday to stabbing her husband in the arm a wound the prosecutor described as life-threatening during a drunken argument in February in the couples 27th Street apartment. Defendant Nada Vanderpool entered her plea to attempted second-degree assault during a brief hearing in Platte County District Court in connection with the 1:30 a.m. Feb. 26 stabbing of 26-year-old James Vanderpool. Judge Robert Steinke scheduled the defendant for sentencing June 7 in district court. This was a crime of great violence, Steinke told the defendant standing before the bench while she dabbed her eyes with a tissue. Nada Vanderpools plea came after the defendant and Platte County Attorneys Office reached a plea deal to the reduced assault charge. The city woman, who has been in custody since the night of the incident, was initially facing first-degree domestic assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony charges, felonies that could have resulted in up to 70 years in prison. The reduced assault charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, 18 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine. County Attorney Carl Hart told the judge James Vanderpools life was basically saved when a neighbor of the couple used a ligature to slow the flow of blood from the wound to the vascular tissue of the victims left arm. The victim was rushed to Columbus Community Hospital for treatment before being transferred by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after the stabbing. He has recovered from his injuries. On Monday, the defense requested a reduction in Nada Vanderpools $150,000 bond, 10 percent allowed for release. Defense attorney Jerod Trouba asked for the reduction, noting that his client wasnt a flight risk because she has a child custody case pending in a couple of weeks. Hart argued the February incident involved a high threshold of violence and the defendant could pose a danger to the public if the bond was lowered. This crime, committed with a 12-inch kitchen knife, was fueled by anger and alcohol abuse, the prosecutor told the judge. The bond is reasonable, Steinke said simply in his answer to the defense request. Court documents describe a bloody scene at the Columbian Village apartments at 27th Street and 37th Avenue, where the couple lived in a three-bedroom apartment with the their two children and two of her children from a previous relationship. The couples children were asleep in the apartment during the incident. The apartment showed signs of a struggle and blood was found throughout the living room and kitchen areas, Columbus Police Investigator Jaymee Levander wrote in her statement supporting the city woman's arrest. Nada Vanderpool admitted she stabbed her husband after an argument in the residence, Levander wrote in her statement. In the April 25 Post-Bulletin, Jim Hagedorn is cited as attacking Congressman Tim Walz for not working hard enough for veterans. Hagedorn is taking a page out of Karl Rove's playbook: When you don't have a record to run on, attack your opponent's accomplishments. Walz is a 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard, serving as a command sergeant major, the highest-ranking enlisted man in a command. Among his duties are to take care of his men. Walz is still doing this as the highest-ranked enlisted man to serve in the U.S. Congress. He serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Walz has worked with Republican Congressmen Tom Emmer from Minnesota's Sixth District to investigate problems at VA facilities in St. Cloud and Tomah, Wis. He also was involved with the creation of the Veterans Cemetery in Spring Valley and with passage of the Suicide Prevention for American Vets bill. For his actions, Walz has been honored by the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and other veterans organizations. He must be doing something right by veterans. Republicans have a habit of paying lip service in thanking vets and then voting to take away their benefits. Hagedorn's program for vets would weaken our veterans' hospitals and be a disservice to our vets. I encourage my fellow veterans to support Walz's re-election and keep him working for us. ADVERTISEMENT Lance Peterson Kasson Over the weekend, protesters stormed into Baghdads Green Zone, chasing out Iraqi officials. The MSM has portrayed this as a huge blow to the Iraqi government, putting in doubt its prospects for surviving and putting in jeopardy the war against ISIS in Iraq. Im not sure how reliable these assessments are. I also question whether the reporting, which treats the protests as mainly a reaction to government corruption, gets at whats really behind them. Be that as it may, we should remember that this is the Iraqi government President Obama said we needed as a partner to defeat ISIS. In fact, Obama stood by as ISIS advanced before taking any action because, he insisted, the previous government lacked the faith of Iraqis and therefore couldnt effectively combat the terrorist caliphate. Now, it seems, the government Obama pushed for also lacks the faith of Iraqis, and doubts about its ability to fight ISIS persist. Once again, the Obama administration is shown to be clueless in the realm of foreign policy. Once again, ISIS is the beneficiary. What did Donald Trump say this time? Something offensive to indians native Americans? Yes, he said something about going off the reservation. . . Wait, whats that? Hillary said it? And has offered the usual abject apologies? Check: Hillary Clintons staff have apologized for their boss after the presidential hopeful was lambasted by Native American groups for saying Donald Trump had gone off the reservation Friday. After being asked about Trumps offensive comments, Clinton said: I have a lot of experience dealing with men who sometimes get off the reservation in the way they behave and how they speak. That remark, made to CNNs Jake Tapper, kicked off a firestorm that led to an apology by Amanda Renteria, Clintons national political director. Posting on Twitter where complaints about the phrase had accumulated under the hashtag #OffTheReservation Renteria apologized for the divisive language. In the first of two Tweets, she said: About the use of an expression today that has some very offensive rootsDivisive language has no place in our politics. She then added: @HillaryClinton meant no disrespect to Native Americans. She wants this election to be about lifting people up, not tearing them down. Trump showed some of his nimbleness in exploiting the matter: The apology focused on Native American people, but perhaps unsurprisingly, Donald Trump was displeased by Clintons remarks for different reasons. Calling it a horrible expression, Trump told Fox and Friends on Sunday: If I would have used that expression maybe in the opposite form it would have been a front page story. She uses it and gets away with it. Trump was referring to the lack of an immediate outcry in the media something that several Twitter users also noted. He continued: Thats a very demeaning remark to men in my opinion. Was she referring to her husband? I think she was referring to her husband. Heh. I still say, by the way, that James Watt was right back in the 1980s when he said if you want to see socialism in action, check out an Indian reservation, still presided over, even in the age of Obama, by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which several indians Native Americans of my acquaintance have said really said should stand for the Bureau of Ignorance and Arrogance. But that would be just about every federal agency. Meanwhile, at Loyola Marymount College in Los Angeles, ostensibly a Roman Catholic institution, the College Fix reports that expressing a belief that there are two genders is being regarded as a potential hate crime. This almost reads like something from The Onion. Almost. A portion of the wealth owned by former Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Hakeem Belo-Osagie, is domiciled in trusts and shell companies in some notorious tax havens around the world, with some in Jersey in the Channel Islands, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today. The Channel Islands are a tax haven and an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French Coast of Normandy. Mr. Belo-Osagie, now Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, was listed by Forbes Magazine as the 41st richest man in Africa with a net worth of $600 million as at November 2014. One of the tax-haven Trusts in Jersey is known as the Belo-Osagie Trust 2 which actually is a front office for a shell company called Clerkenwell Management Limited. The relationships of these two entities and other offshore subsidiaries are buried in a complex layers of secrecy. This information came to the fore as PREMIUM TIMES continued to scrutinise the over 11 million Mossack Fonseca documents contained in the sleaze dossier now known worldwide as the Panama Papers. Documents show that Clerkenwell Management Limited is an entity 100% owned by the Belo-Osagie Trust 2 (the Trust). However, Mr. Belo-Osagie is not listed as a trustee. The trustee of this Trust is a company named Chesham Limited which registered office is given as 13 Castle Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 5UT, Channel Islands. Chesham Limited was incorporated in Jersey on September 7, 2007, with registered number 98642. It has as its directors Charles Guy Malet de Carteret, Christopher John Blunt, Hugh Duncan Cathcart, Simon Paul Alan Brewer and Wendy Joy Burnett. These people appear to be nominee directors. In tax havens arrangement, nominee directors are usually used as fronts for beneficial owners of entities. Mr. Belo-Osagie of 21 Ikoyi Crescent, Ikoyi Lagos Island, Nigeria is listed in the documents as the settlor of the Trust . The Etisalat chairman and his Ghanaian wife, Myma, are named as beneficiaries of the Trust. But in a convoluted and confusing legal arrangements, the same documents which described the couple as settlor and beneficiaries, state that Mr. Belo-Osagie and his wife are not direct owners and are members of a discretionary class of beneficiaries. The ultimate controlling party is the Trustee (Chesham Limited). That kind of arrangement and claim, PREMIUM TIMES has found, are in line with offshore shell companies practices where things are never straightforward. But further checks by this newspaper revealed that Chesham Limited is in turn 100 per cent owned by Sanne Fiduciary Services Limited. Sanne Fiduciary Services and Chesham Limited share the same land address of 13 Castle Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 5UT, Channel Islands. Sanne Fiduciary is the trustee of yet another Trust known as the Belo-Osagie Purpose Trust. This Trust was established by Mr. Belo-Osagie on November 6, 2007, exactly two months after Chesham Limited was incorporated. The initial property for the entity was provided by Mr. Belo-Osagie. The offshore sister companies are Airport Square Trust in Jersey and Tamerlaine Limited in British Virgin Island. These companies, working with Belo-Osagie Purpose Trust, have business activities such as Investment in Ghana Airport City Development Limited. Myma Belo-Osagie is the beneficial owner of Tamerlaine. If the legal documentations appear a jigsaw puzzle, one piece of paper graciously serves as the smoking gun. On the source of funds transferred to the Trust, the document unequivocally stated that All funds settled into the Trust originated from Mr. Belo-Osagie. The document went further to clarify that: Mr. Belo-Osagie received funds from consultancy work in Nigeria and these were placed in a Liechtenstein structure. A proportion of these funds were invested in UBA, a Nigerian bank. The nature of consultancy undertaken by the businessman was not indicated. The document however added, The shares in the bank were subsequently sold at a substantial profit through Afrinvest, an FSA regulated broker based in the UK. These funds make up the bulk of wealth transferred to the Trust. Tax authorities the world over view Liechtenstein with a certain level of notoriety and suspicion. The Liechtenstein structure or Liechtenstein-based arrangements are generally marketed to wealthy individuals to avoid or evade tax obligations in their home countries. The promoter may provide a paper trail of documents that leads nowhere as the documents do not reflect substance of transactions and the owners interest or involvement in the structure. It was gathered that a special-purpose fund is separate from the assets of its founder and forms the assets of the Trust or Foundation from then on; as such, the owner does not pay tax on them. A Liechtenstein structure has no members, partners or shareholders. The owner directly or indirectly transfers assets to the structure. The assets may include cash and investments in term of deposits, bonds or equities, which may themselves consist of undisclosed income or gains from another country. The structure then uses the assets to generate passive income, which is retained by the structure. The owner and/or his associates ultimately reap the economic benefits from the structure, often in a disguised form. The structure may be used as a holding company for other entities in which the owner has interests. Mr. Belo-Osagies father, Professor Sunmonu Belo-Osagie, was the gynecologist to the family of former Nigerian military president, Ibrahim Babangida. His familys connections with the military in the 1980s was a springboard for his appointments as a Special Assistant to the Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy and later as Special Assistant to the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, positions he admitted in interviews opened for him his first road to fortune. In 1998, he acquired a controlling stake in UBA and became the banks Chairman. But the businessman, who is one of the sponsors of a new $120 million shopping mall currently being developed in Jabi Lake Abuja, was in 2004 forced out of UBA by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) following a complaint by US authorities. In 2002, UBA, under Mr. Belo-Osagie, became the focus of a CBN probe over money laundering and foreign exchange abuses. The sum of $2.5 million had fraudulently been withdrawn from the US Treasury by one Neil A. Smith. The money was laundered in tranches to various banks for further disbursement to designated banks in different parts of the world. Of the sum, $350,000 was wired in September 1999 into the account of a Nigerian company, Zamora Nigeria Limited, at the New York office of the UBA. Investigators by the US Secret Service tracked the money and consequently froze the Zamora account. The Service also uncovered some other fraudulent transfers received by Zamora for further credit to the accounts of some companies in Nigeria. Zamora was found to have been floated by insiders within the UBA. In trying to unmask the owners of Zamora, the CBN discovered that although the name of Mr. Belo-Osagies father did not feature in any of the companys documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission, it came up as a director of the company in money transfer returns of July 8, 1999 to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Five months later, two proxy directors of Zamora, Messrs Ovie Ukiri and Olasupo Sasore, held an extraordinary general meeting, tendered their resignation letters to themselves, accepted their own resignation and in the same breath appointed Mr. and Mrs. Ahonkhai as the new directors, subsequently transferring the companys shares to the couple. The new directors were found by the CBN to be resident in the United Kingdom and were neither aware of their appointments as directors nor of their new status as shareholders in Nigeria. The couples signatures on Zamora documents were found to have been forged. Promoters of Mr. Belo-Osagies activities in Channel Islands admit in the secret documents that the bulk of the wealth transferred to the Trust came from UBA shares sold at substantial profit. Although the UBA Chairman is not known to have ever participated in shares racketeering, shares purchase manipulation was rife in the banking industry leading to a bubble in 2008. Not a few managing directors and directors of banks were found culpable by the Investment and Security Tribunal in the stock market bubble that led to the near collapse of Nigerias capital market. Loans were obtained from foreign banks and with the funds the directors initiated a scheme that resulted in the local banks funding the purchase of their own shares. As artificial high prices of shares set in, unsuspecting investors chase after these shares which are quickly off-loaded leading to great losses to genuine investors. Mr. Belo-Osagie was contacted on Saturday to comment for this story. He initially did not answer or return calls. But he replied a text message on Sunday, saying he would revert. He gave no time frame. When the reporter told him he had a deadline, the businessman said, I have been a private businessman for 30 years. I must have created or used well over 300 or 400 companies abroad and in Nigeria over that period. There is no way I can give you accurate information on two company names over a weekend when I have no access to company or legal records. Your midnight deadline is impossible. The Ogun State Police Command on Monday offered a N5 million reward for information that could lead to rescue of a former minister, Iyabo Anisulowo, who was kidnapped last week. The 65-year-old who served in the military regime of Sani Abacha, has so far spent six days in captivity. She was abducted on Wednesday while returning from her farm in Sawonjo in Yewa South local government area of the state. Officials briefed about the investigation had told PREMIUM TIMES that the abductors demanded N200 million ransom. Police said they were offering a cash reward to hasten Mrs. Anisulowos rescue. The Ogun State Police Command has offered N5m (Five million naira only) reward to any informant(s) who has useful information for the police on the kidnapping of the former senator and minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, who was kidnapped recently at Sawonjo/Iganokoto area of Ogun State, a statement from the police said. The commands Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in the statement that the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, made the declaration after a security meeting with officers of the command, and other security chiefs in the state. Those at the meeting included the Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta, S. Danwalis, and the Director of Department of State Security Ogun State, Kabir Sanni. The Commissioner of Police Ogun State therefore appeals to the general public to support the police and give useful information that can assist in the rescue operation of the kidnapped victim, the statement said. He added the command had dedicated 09020911911, 08081774631, 08081766937 for the public to reach the police, with the assurance that informants would enjoy adequate security as their information would be made confidential. The Nigerian military on Monday said it arrested a man suspected to have murdered the pioneer General Officer Commanding of the Armys First Division, General Mohammed Shuwa (rtd). The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, said the suspect was arrested in Kano by officials of the Nigerian military intelligence. Mr. Usman, a colonel, did not provide details about the identity of the suspect. He only said he would be paraded in Kano where he was arrested. The army spokesperson also did not comment on a separate group of suspects the army earlier said it arrested in connection with the killing, and whether this new suspect has any relationship with those earlier ones. The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order in Borno State had on May 6, 2013 claimed it arrested the suspected killers of the general in Maiduguri. The spokesman for the JTF at the time, Sagir Musa, said in a statement that the arrest followed series of investigations by the task force. It will be recalled that an elder statesman, retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Shuwa, was shot dead by gunmen in front of his house in Gwange, Maiduguri on November 12, 2012. Preliminary investigation by the JTF has identified two key suspected Boko Haram terrorists: Mohammed Ibn Saleh and Abdulkareem Ibrahim, as the masterminds of the killing, Mr. Musa had said. He added that a special operation was carried out by the JTF to get the suspected killers. Consequently, a special operation was conducted on November 15, 2012 by the task force with a view to arresting the culprits, which led to the death of Ibn Saleh during a shootout in a house at Bulabulin Ngarnam. Similarly, on December 2, 2012, Abdulkareem was arrested with a fatal injury that resulted in his death on December 6, 2012. A member of the syndicate, one Bulama Bur died on December 2, 2012 in an encounter with JTF troops, Mr. Sagir said at the time. He said the JTF also arrested four other members of the gang. He said one of those arrested was actively involved in the planning and execution of the plan that led to the killing of Shuwa, while the two others played various indirect roles. The army provided no updates on the arrested suspects since then, and PREMIUM TIMES was unaware that they were ever charged to court. Mr. Shuwa was murdered on November 2, 2012 in his residence in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, by gunmen thought to be members of the terrorist Boko Haram sect. The deadly sect later denied responsibility for the killing. Witnesses had told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that the Nigerian civil war veteran was shot multiple times in front of his home at the lower Gwange area of the troubled city. Mr. Shuwa was, at the time, among residents who declined to vacate their homes following persistent violence around their neighbourhoods. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday that the Federal Government was planning to generate 7, 000 megawatts of electricity within the next 18 months. The vice president stated this at the presentation of a book Nigeria: The Challenges of Growth and Development, an In-Depth Analysis by Experts, held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Mr. Osinbajo said power remains a major challenge the Federal Government had been facing, and which the government was determined to solve. He said the most important part of the budget would focus on ensuring that the weak aspect of the power value chain was restored. Mr. Osinbajo said the nation was faced with the problem of conveying gas to the power plant, adding that the pipeline, which remained the easiest method, was frequently facing vandalism. Early in the life of this administration late last year and early this year, power generation was possibly at its best. Nigeria, for the first time was actually generating 5,000 megawatts, which was the first time it will happen in the history of the country. On February 14, the Forcados Export Terminal was blown off, effectively ensuring that 40 percent of our gas that goes for power is no longer used for the purpose. This situation led to the immediate loss of 1,500 megawatts of power. It is our priority that the pipeline project is completed so that gas will be adequately supplied to the power plant, he said. He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had two weeks ago ordered full mobilisation of the military for the protection of pipelines in the country. The Vice-President said that the Federal Government would, in a few days time, begin the implementation of the 2016 budget, which he described as the most ambitious in the history of the nation. According to him, the budget is not only ambitious in size but also more in its broad range of fiscal policies. The action points cut across six political ties of security, governance, economic diversification, power, road and rail, oil and gas, ease of investments and social investment, he said. Mr. Osinbajo said for the first time in three years, the nation would have 30 per cent of the budget going for capital expenditure, a percentage that was three times higher than the last budget. He said the capital expenditure would take care of several aspects of infrastructure, particularly rail, road and power. According to him, the rail link between Lagos and Kano as well as the one between Lagos and Calabar will be captured. He said the government had budgeted that by July, 65,000 youth would be trained in software and hardware aspects of computer, adding that the governments aim was to build a reservoir of technologists. Mr. Osinbajo also listed the training of 370,000 Nigerians in various vocations, conditional cash transfer to the poor and loan facilities for market women as part of the programmes to be expected. He said that the administration would ensure that corruption has consequences, adding that no public officer who steals would go scot-free. The vice-president described the moment as that which Nigerians must come together to ensure that things work in the building of the nation of everyones dream. Reviewing the book, Prof. Jide Osuntokun, said that the writers have carefully highlighted the various challenges bedevilling the nation and how they could be corrected for national growth and development. Nigerias problem is structural and systemic, and it could be structurally and systematically addressed, he said. Osuntokun said that the book articulates various ideas of the writers aimed at building an egalitarian society. Also, Oba Otudeko, the Chairman of the event, said there was no other better time to discuss the development of the nation than now when they have the company of people who cares. He described the House of Lords, Nigeria as a collection of people whom the interest of Nigeria and the welfare of the citizens were paramount in their minds. Let me tell them that they are on the right path and they should not lose sight of the development of the country. This book presents a compendium of opportunities. I think it is worth having, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 209-page book is a collection of the speeches of 11 writers from various spheres of life. NAN also reports that the House of Lords, Nigeria was founded 50 years ago and presently parades 34 members, with Prof. Ayodele Desalu as the Leader. The event was attended by prominent citizens including investment banker, Fola Adeola; Prof. Idowu Olayinka, the Vice-Chancellor, UI; Prof. Oladipo Akinkungbe and hosts of others. (NAN) UBM India today, announced the 4th edition of the Concrete Show India (19th -21st May 2016) at the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Center, the only show exclusively dedicated to the concrete industry, covering key sectors like roads and highways, housing, airports, ports, power, rail, dams & bridges. Concrete Show India 2016 will showcase latest offerings in categories including Concrete & Construction, Construction equipments & IT systems, Construction Chemicals, Technologies in Machinery, Services and Systems from industry suppliers. The three day show will provide opportunities to architects and engineers, commercial & resident developers and contractors, distributors, government authorities and state corporations to interact and network with exhibitors from across the industry. The show will be marked by over 150 exhibitors including industries players like Cosben Equipments, Elematic India Private Limited, Godrej Construction, Hess Concrete Machinery India Pvt. Ltd., Hyundai Aluminum Co. Ltd., J K Cement, JSW Cement, Masa Concrete Plants India Pvt. Ltd., Perma Construction Aids Pvt. Ltd., PERI India Private Limited, ROTHO - Robert Thomas, Smooth-On, Inc., Sommer Anlagentechnik GmbH, Toyota Forms, WAM India Pvt. Ltd. and WEHRHAHN Gmbh amongst others. The show will also see participation from countries such as China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey, Republic of Korea, UK and USA. The expo has been well received by the industry at large with support from the Indian Concrete Institute (ICI), Builder Association of India (BAI), Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India) (ACCE), Indian Society of Structural Engineers (ISSE), The Institute of Engineers India (IEI), Indian Association of Structural Engineers (IAstruct),Indian Institute of Bridge Engineering (IIBE) & Cement Manufactures Association (CMA). Speaking on the announcement of the 4th edition of the show, Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, The governments mega push for infrastructure and road projects provides a huge potential for stakeholders in the sector. From roadways, railways to airports and other smart-city initiatives, the last few years have witnessed a phenomenal growth in the sector, leading to world-class facilities coming up across the country. Against this landscape, we at UBM India firmly believe that The Concrete Show India 2016 will prove to be a catalyst to the opportunities existing in Indias rapidly growing concrete market. This year also marks a number of firsts for Concrete Show India. The expo will feature international pavilions for the very first time in four editions. The expo has also virtually doubled in size this year through the introduction of the key categories: Concrete & Construction, Construction Equipments and IT and Construction Chemicals. he added. The expo will hold a two day conference which will include a series of presentations and panel discussions to discuss and deliberate on industry topics. The topics for discussion include Advances in Design Techniques for Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Structures, Seismic Design of Multistorey Buildings, Tall Buildings : Current Trends and Future Prospects, Precast Concrete Technology: An Emerging Trend In India, Modern Trends In Design and Construction of Flyovers, Elevated Structures, Underground Structures and Tunnels, Design And Construction of Flexible and Rigid Pavements amongst others. Other unique features Concrete Show India 2016 will include are the Product Launch, Innovative Zone and B2B Speed Meetings. The Product Launch will provide an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their products to a specific target audience. Innovation Zone will allow exhibitors to showcase their technology and highlight its new features to the industry. The B2B Speed Meetings provides a platform for exhibitors to connect with industry decision makers. For further information, please contact: Anagha Raut Anagha@mutualpr.com Tel: 91-9930375203 Mili Lalwani mili.lalwani@ubm.com Tel: 22-61727000 The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday asked four ministers to appear before lawmakers at the National Assembly for a series of debates on how to diversify Nigerias oil-based economy later this week. Mr. Dogara said the initiative, themed: sectoral debate, is part of the legislative agenda of the 8th National Assembly. In a statement posted on his personal website, Mr. Dogara said the sectoral debates will focus on addressing issues of national importance, from communication to social welfare, and will feature ministers and lawmakers. The ministers invited for the first instalment of the debates, which will hold during House plenary sessions, include Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi. The House of Representatives is billed to commence sectoral debate on aspects of the Nigerian economy on Tuesday, May 3rd 2016. The sectoral debate is consistent with the 8th Assemblys Legislative Agenda and Standing Orders, and will address challenges facing different aspects of the Nigerian economy. The first Sectoral Debate shall cover Diversification of the Nigerian Economy: Real Sector Development, Mr. Dogara said. Although Mr. Dogara said the modalities of the debates is still subject to Houses approval, he released proposed schedules for the event on his website. The World Bank looks set to release more information on the spending of recovered loot by late head of state, Sani Abacha, as it has referred portion of appeal by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to the Bank Archives Unit for processing for public access. This development was disclosed today in a statement by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni. This followed the appeal the organisation lodged with the Bank on 5 February 2016 on the ground that the Banks decision on its initial request did not reveal important portions of the information requested on how Abacha loot was spent. According to Mr. Mumuni, the Bank Access to Information Committee (AIC) in its Decision on appeal issued in Case number AI3982-A dated 29 April 2016, and sent to SERAP held that although the appeal by the organisation was not filed within 60 days of the Banks decision as required by its Access to Information Policy, SERAP appeal nonetheless contains a request for additional information, not previously submitted by the requester, and which the Bank has neither considered nor denied. Accordingly, the AIC refers back to the Archives Unit this portion of the appeal for processing for public access. SERAP statement reads in part: The portion of the appeal which the Bank has now referred to its Archives Unit for public access include information on: evidence and list of the 23 projects allegedly completed with recovered Abacha loot, and whether the 23 projects where actually completed; and what became of the 2 abandoned projects; evidence and location of the 8 health centers built with recovered Abacha loot reviewed by the World Bank; and evidence and location of the 18 power projects confirmed by the World Bank. Other aspects of the spending of Abacha loot the Bank referred to its Archives Unit for processing for public access are: information on: how the $50mn Abacha loot received before 2005 kept in the special account was spent; evidence and location of schools which benefited from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program in the amount of NGN24.25bn; and evidence and location of the 13 road projects completed with the recovered Abacha loot, including the names of the 3 of the largest road and bridge projects in each geo-political zone. Reacting to the Banks appeal decision, Adetokunbo Mumuni said, Its trite law that no procedural requirements should ever be made a tool to deny justice or perpetuate injustice. SERAP therefore welcomes the decision by the World Bank not to allow technicalities (regarding its requirement of 60 days within which to file an appeal to it) stand in the way of substantial justice, and truth on the spending of recovered Abacha loot as to do otherwise would have amounted to a miscarriage of justice for millions of Nigerians who are victims of corruption. We now hope that the Bank Archives Unit will move swiftly to allow public access to the information requested, as directed by the Access to Information Committee. Any further delay in disclosing the information will delay justice to the Nigerian people. And justice delayed is justice denied. In this respect, SERAP calls on Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala former Finance Minister who coordinated the Banks report to assist the Archives Unit in its task for speedy disclosure of evidence and locations of projects on which recovered Abacha loot was spent. We also seize this opportunity to call on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately obey the judgment by Honourable Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos which ordered publication of the spending of recovered stolen funds by the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa YarAdua, and former President Goodluck Jonathan. The Nigerian Army says fleeing Boko Haram fighters now hide in foxholes in villages around the North East of the country, as troops regain control over areas that were previous held by the terrorist group. The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, said, in a statement released on Monday, that nine Boko Haram fighters who tried to hide in foxholes in one of the villages, were dug out, identified, and captured alive by troops from 22 Brigade Garrison on Operation Lafiya Dole. Three other terrorists who engaged the troops in a gun battle during the operation in the village were killed, Mr. Usman, a colonel, said. The incident, according to the army, happened on Sunday, and the villages cleared by the troops were Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye. Four hundred persons who were held hostage by the terrorists were rescued, Mr. Usman said. The army spokesman said the troops recovered nine Dane guns, three machetes, one bow with arrows, and six motor cycles. The motor cycles, he said, were used by Boko Haram fighters to ferry slaughtered cow meat to their hideouts. The army said troops recovered 300 herds of cattle rustled by the terrorists from Fulani herdsmen, and that the cattle have been handed over to their rightful owners. Other items recovered included one tricycle, four number Tiger generators, and one solar panel. It is gratifying to state that we have not sustained any casualty to own troops and equipment, and (that) troops morale remained very high, the statement said. The army in an earlier statement had called on Boko Haram fighters to lay down their weapons, and surrender to Nigerias security forces. The army had assured that those who heed the call would enjoy humane treatment. President Paul Biya of Cameroon will at the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari, begin a two-day state visit to Nigeria tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, 2016, the Nigerian presidency has said. A statement, on Monday, by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said President Biya, who will be accompanied by his wife, Chantal, and senior Cameroonian government officials, will be received tomorrow afternoon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja by President Buhari. Both leaders and their officials will confer on issues of common interest to Nigeria and Cameroon, including ongoing bilateral and regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism and cross-border crimes. It is expected that new agreements to strengthen existing ties, as well as trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Cameroon, will be concluded and signed before the end of President Biyas visit. A joint communique on the visit and the talks between the two presidents and their officials will be issued before President Biyas departure from Abuja on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, the statement said. The Nigerian military on Sunday asked terrorists fighting for the extremist Boko Haram sect to give up their ignoble adventure and surrender to the nations security forces. A statement by the military said troops were now conducting operations in the heart of Sambisa forest to smoke out the remnants of the terrorist sect. The statement signed by the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Leo Irabor, said members of the terrorist group who lay down their arms would be humanely treated in line with international best practices and in accordance with the international humanitarian law. Mr. Irabor, a major general, listed the major successes recorded so far by the Nigerian troops against sect, and thanked Nigerians for their support for the military. He said the military was more determined than ever before to secure the nation. Mr. Irabor said the support of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against terrorism was outstanding, and that the direction given by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen T Y Buratai in this operation was unique. We remain absolutely loyal and committed to the cause for which we are assigned to, Mr. Irabor said. The military has in the past year recorded major victories against the Boko Haram sect, which at some point controlled vast territories in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States. The insurgency has caused the death of an estimated 20,000 people since it began in 2009. Read full statement by the military below. UPDATE ON OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE 1. In the spirit of keeping you informed on the activities of troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, I wish to address you today given that you are valued stakeholders in the quest for peace and stability in the North East of Nigeria. Since our last meeting, troops have continued on the path of success in the fight against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs). It is my intention to mention some of the operations and the resulting exploits. Before that however, I wish to inform you that troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE are conducting operations in the heart of SAMBISA Forest. Troops are deep into the forest to smoke out BHTs. We shall bring you the details subsequently. Meanwhile, the outcomes of major operations in other areas are as follows: a. Following a tip-off, troops intercepted 4 female suicide bombers approaching from SAMBISA in the general area of JIMINI-BOLARI village. Two unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices on the suicide bombers were safely detonated by own EOD team. During the incident, 2 women and a baby from NGAWAFETE village were arrested after the blast as they were seen approaching MADIYARI village. b. Also, a suspected BHT training camp at MUDALLAH village in DIKWA LGA was raided by troops on 1 April 16. Consequently, troops made contact and killed a suspected BHT Amir and 6 others while capturing 5 of them. During the raid, 5 BHT vehicles and several BHTs flags were destroyed. Also, over 1,000 civilians held captive were rescued. c. Similarly, on 3 April 16, Operation LAFIYA DOLE troops conducted fighting patrol to BOBOSHE, GARNA, KYARE, GINBA and AJIRI villages. The patrol team recovered 8 industrial gas cylinders and 5 regular gas cylinders at a primary school being used for bomb making. Also, 3 BHTs were captured while 4 motor cycles, 3 bicycles, a solar panel and 2 containers of liquid herbicides were destroyed. d. On 28 April 16, troops embarked on fighting patrols in the general area of BOGORO, DUGUNO 1, 2 and 3. On reaching MBARAKA, they encountered and cleared some BHT elements. The troops proceeded to JADDA village where they engaged and killed 4 BHTs. The patrol team also discovered a big pit where the BHTs used for dumping their victims to die and rot. The patrol team later freed some hostages and recovered an AK-47 rifle, 30 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 12 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 14 Dane guns, a motorcycle, 2 solar panels, 120 litres of AGO, some packets of panadol and a food storage facility. During the operation, one of our troops suffered gunshot wound and was evacuated for medical treatment. I am glad to state that he is in stable condition and responding to treatment. e. Similarly, on 29 Apr 16, our troops busted a BHT logistics Base at Yerwa where rustled cattle are held. The troops also raided Kaluketu and the self styled town of Abuja which is a BHT logistics exchange points. At the end of the operation 4 x BHT were killed, 2 x AK 47 rifles with 29 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one dane gun, bow and arrows among others were captured. In the same operation 2 x laptops computers and 6 mobile phones were also recovered, including a truck and 5 x motorcycles. f. On 30 Apr 16, a major BHT IED making factory was uncovered in Ngala town. Items discovered include 20 x gas cylinders of various sizes already bored for explosive insertion, primers, bolt and nuts to make the IED lethal, gun powder, electrical wires and tape recorders. However, no arrest was made. g. Also on 30 April 16, another fighting patrol was carried out by troops around WUMBI in KALA BALGE LGA. Own troops encountered BHTs at TATAKURA village, 20km south-west of WUMBI. Consequently, 9 BHT were killed in action while 2 motor cycles, 3 AK 47 rifles, 1 FN rifle, 1 GPMG, 1 RPG 7 bomb and 60mm mortar bombs were captured. Sadly, 5 own troops were wounded in action and are currently in stable condition receiving medical attention. h. Air Operation. The Air Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has conducted several missions with series of sorties in support of the general operation within the Theatre. Such include air interdiction missions and armed reconnaissance resulting in destruction of several BHTs hideouts and suspected logistic storage depots. 2. While thanking the general public and members of the press for their untiring support to the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, I wish to request you to reflect on the direction of your support. Insecurity and terrorism know no boundaries. Do you report to support terrorism and insecurity? Is your reportage intended to disparage the noble men and women working to ensure that peace and stability are totally restored to our land? Do you intend to contribute positively or work to destabilize the morale of the courageous troops? These reflections have become necessary in the light of the context of a few misguided ones, working to dampen the spirit of the good work done by the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Some have even, regrettably, reduced the serious issues of national security to comic circles and hang outs. It is necessary for us to lay more emphasis on solution rather than who to blame. Seek to know and understand in order to proffer solutions. Do not seek to know in order to destroy. Given that there is time and season, the current season is value addition. Be a part of it. 3. The range of successes being recorded is not without challenges. We however see those challenges as opportunities. Our leverage on those opportunities has resulted in more successes. I therefore enjoin you to be a part of the progress by contributing positively. In Operation LAFIYA DOLE, we understand the level of trust and confidence reposed in us by good Nigerians. That trust, under God, will not be betrayed. We are closer to where we are going than where we started from. Your continued support and encouragement will get us there faster. 4. Meanwhile, to the misguided BHT elements, I wish to reiterate my earlier admonishment that you give up your ignoble adventure. Once again, you are advised to surrender to the security forces. Let me re-assure you that you would be humanely treated in line with international best practices and in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law. 5. Once again, let me commend the invaluable support and contributions of all stakeholders in this fight against insurgency in the North East. I wish to re-assure you that the Nigerian Military is more than ever determined to secure our great country. The support of President C-in-C, President Muhammadu Buhari is outstanding. We in Operation LAFIYA DOLE are encouraged and remain grateful to His Excellency. The direction given by the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen TY Buratai in this operation is unique, accounting for the gains we have made and reflects the support of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Air Staff as well as the Chief of the Naval Staff. We remain absolutely loyal and committed to the cause for which we are assigned to Operation LAFIYA DOLE. Thank you. LEO IRABOR Major General Theatre Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has said there is no bill on the creation of grazing reserves before the National Assembly. Addressing journalists on Sunday after a meeting of the South East governors in Enugu, Mr. Ekweremadu said the National Assembly would not support the creation of grazing reserves. He, therefore, said the purported bill for the creation of grazing reserves was a hoax, adding that the press should strive to stop such rumours. There is no such proposal or bill on the creation of grazing reserves either in the Senate or House of Representatives. Nobody is considering it; not even at the executive level. I do not think they are considering it but we will not support it even if it has been considered, he said. Mr. Ekweremadu said the meeting was convened in reaction to the attack on the people of Uzo Uwani by suspected herdsmen. He said the meeting reviewed all that happened since then and thanked all Nigerians who had shown sympathy to victims of the attack. On the absence of Imo and Anambra governors, Mr. Ekweremadu said The South East governors proposed to meet today to review these matters but regrettably, the message did not get to Imo and Anambra governors. So you can see mainly the PDP governors are here. So, they had to review the matter and more importantly, ensure that every governor will be in attendance in the next meeting. The meeting is rescheduled within the week where all the governors are expected to be in attendance, he said. Mr. Ekweremadu said the meeting looked at a more regional approach to curbing the menace of the herdsmen so as to ensure that it did not happen again. We are looking at a concrete and more coordinated approach on how to protect our people from this carnage, he said. Also speaking, Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, said there was no disunity among governors in the South East zone. Mr. Umahi said the governors would take a cursory look at the federal budget, when signed into law, so as to ensure that the zone got what was due to it. He said the governors would ensure the rehabilitation of federal roads in the zone if such arrangements were captured in the budget. I am sure the federal governments budget is not yet signed. So when it is signed, it will be the duty of all zones to start agitating for attention, Mr. Umahi said. Governors of Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia States, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dave Umahi and Okezie Ikpeazu respectively attended the meeting. (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested the chief of staff to Adamawa governor, Muhammadu Jibrilla. AbdurRahman Jimeta was detained on Sunday by EFCC operatives who stormed Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Mr. Jimeta also served as chief of staff former Governor Murtala Nyako, whose property along Karewa road, opposite Bekaji Housing Estate in Yola, were sealed off by the EFCC. It was unclear why Mr. Jimeta was arrested. EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached immediately. But PREMIUM TIMES understands the arrest may be connected to a N2.88 billion project for the renovation of Yola Hotel. The project was repeatedly reviewed upwards, a source said. The Taraba State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has given Governor Darius Ishaku of the state the end of May to settle all the deductions made by the state government in the workers salaries. The trade union wants the government to settle the salaries of all underpaid and omitted civil servants from October 2015. The state chairman of the NLC, Peter Gambo, gave the ultimatum on Sunday during the May Day celebration in Jalingo, the state capital. The government should as a matter of urgency settle all deductions and omissions of salaries right from October 2015, and today before the end of May, 2016, the NLC chairman said. The union also advised the state government to initiate a process for settlement of what it called all backlog of pensions and gratuities to retired workers in the state. The NLC also declared as unacceptable the continued refusal of the Taraba government to issue a salary circular for local government and primary school teachers. We also encourage the government to close the gap in the payments of local government staff and primary school teachers salaries, Mr. Gambo said. The union further demanded the immediate transfer of the consultant that is handling workers payments in the state from Abuja to Jalingo. We cannot further tolerate our salaries being prepared outside Jalingo, the NLC chairman vowed. Gunmen on Sunday night killed Bala Madaki, the district head of Fadan Karshi in Numana Chiefdom of Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Mr. Madaki was killed alongside his nephew, Emmanuel Tanko, 19, at his residence in Fadan Karshi. The Sanga Interim Management Committee Chairman, Nuhu Audu, confirmed the killings and called for urgent investigation into their death. He said the community was in need of more security presence in the wake of threat by unknown gunmen. Mr. Audu said the deceased contributed immensely to peace building in the area, adding that his death was a blow to the people. Also, the Etu Numana, Gambo Makama, described the death of Mr. Madaki as a great loss to the entire Sanga community. Mr. Makama appealed to the people, especially the youths, not to take the law into their hands. (NAN) The Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday condemned the killing of a traditional ruler in Fadan Karshi, Sanga local government area of the state. Fadan Karshis traditional ruler, Bala Adamu, was killed alongside his nephew by unknown gunmen who attacked the town on Sunday. In a statement commiserating with the family of the victims, the governor urged the people of the area to be calm and support the security agencies to investigate the attack and apprehend the perpetrators of the murders Mr. El-Rufai said further that security agencies were investigating the attack, and were working to apprehend the culprits. It is a sad development. But we will not relent in our duty of protecting our people. We shall continue to strengthen the security agencies to do a better job, as well as encourage harmonious coexistence across our communities. The gains made in recent months to eliminate violent communal clashes in the area must be upheld. We must all be vigilant and do our best maintain the peace in our communities, Mr. El-Rufai added. Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has approved the promotion of all retiring and some retired civil servants in the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The States Head of Service, Chamberlain Nwele, made this known at a joint news conference he addressed with members of the organised labour in Abakaliki on Monday. Nwele said the governor graciously approved the promotion in the workers interest. He said that by the decision, the government would commence processing of the entitlement of concerned workers retirement. The governor has given a special waiver to appreciate them for their immeasurable contributions towards the enhancement of the civil service and the state in general, he said. The Head of Service also stated that the governor has donated a bus to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to ease their transportation problems based on a request by the NLC. The governor also directed the organised labour to inspect ongoing projects across the state with the authority to stop any that is not in conformity with stipulated terms of execution, he said. The NLC Chairman in the state, Ikechukwu Nwafor, described the meeting as an opportunity to air their views and grievances to the governor. The governor made some serious commitments and responded to our numerous requests as mentioned in our May Day address. We had a good outing with him as he made his views clear on our agitation, which gave us a favourable insight, he said. Nwafor said that the governor urged the union to review the issue of workers promotion, especially the accruing financial implications. He stressed that he did not want to owe workers as that would negate the original intention of approving the promotions, he said. NAN reports that the workers on Sunday at the May Day rally, expressed displeasure over the governments inability to release the results of the 2015 promotion. (NAN) The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) will hold three regional public meetings to get input on the suggestion that school start later at the middle and high school grades. The meeting dates are: May 2, 4-7 p.m. at Camden County College, Blackwood Campus, May 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association office in Monroe and May 10, 4-7 p.m. at Franklin Williams Middle School in Jersey City. Online registration is being taken to present oral testimony. Speakers are asked to bring printed copies of their remarks to the meetings, as testimony will not be recorded. Citizens can provide comments and suggestions through May 20 by email at laterstarttime@doe.state.nj.us or by mailing comments to: New Jersey Later School Start Time, c/o Division of Learning Supports and Specialized Services, New Jersey Department of Education, PO Box 500, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0500. Comments should describe how a school start time of 8:30 a.m. or later would affect them as it relates to their position as a student, parent, teacher, school administrator, coach, counselor, citizen, or other. The public testimony will be included in a to the Governor and Legislature with a recommendation on whether to establish a pilot program to test later school start times. Contact: 609-272-7241 Twitter @ACPressDamico Carmela DiSanti is no ordinary 9-year-old when it comes to being in the kitchen. She knows how to wield a knife and turn up the flames, even though shes just getting started on adding fractions in school. Carmela, of Linwood, also knows how to put her cooking skills to good use. Earlier this year, she sold chicken pasta dinners to raise money for a family friend who had finished cancer treatment. Carmela continues to cook and raise money for various local causes, an effort that gained the attention of another person who knows her way around a kitchen TVs Rachael Ray. Its just so great that she came up with the idea herself, Wendy DiSanti said of her daughter. Its now something bigger than we initially thought. Carmela took an interest in cooking when she was only 5. Shes perfected a number of dishes to make for family and friends. Her favorite is chicken Marsala. Her fundraising efforts were inspired by cooking, but the idea came about in a unique way. Wendy DiSanti went to high school with Amy Schwartz, of Ocean City, and they kept in touch through Facebook. The two drifted apart over the years, but used social media to keep up with each others lives. Schwartz shared her breast cancer diagnosis last year and posted about her ongoing treatment. I started messaging her with well wishes for her recovery, DiSanti said. She was always so positive through this whole process, I personally dont know how. The DiSanti family attended a cancer walk held for Schwartz on the Ocean City Boardwalk in October. DiSantis two daughters, Carmela and Gianna, 12, met their moms friend for the first time. The girls spent more time with Schwartz during her treatment. DiSanti was planning a family trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and saw there was a kids cooking event. It cost $125 and Carmela wanted to do it, so they came up with an idea to sell several kinds of chicken pasta dinners to people and use the money to pay for the event. When it came time to reserve a spot, a Disney representative told DiSanti that the event had been cancelled. Carmela was disappointed, but she quickly came up with another idea. She taped a note on her door to ask her mother if they could give the money to Schwartz instead. After we went to the cancer walk with her, I realized that she might need some help with medical bills, and she had to pay rent on her house, Carmela said. The family created Carmelas Cool Kitchen on Facebook. Through the page, people could submit orders for one of Carmelas chicken pasta dinners. She made dinner for 28 families in December and January, raising $825 for Schwartz. Carmela then found herself invited to be a guest on CBSs The Rachael Ray Show in New York City. We originally just wanted to sign up for tickets to be in the audience, DiSanti said. When I put down her age, they said Carmela was too young, but I told them she loved cooking and I sent in a letter about what she did. A couple weeks later, I got a call. DiSanti and Carmela walked out onto the shows stage, met Ray and answered some of her questions. The host then gave the young girl a check for $5,000 for her fundraising efforts at the April 13 taping. A couple weeks later, the young chef received some Rachael Ray cookware and utensils in the mail. The episode wont appear until sometime in July, DiSanti said, but everyone was excited for Carmela. Her classmates and teacher at Seaview Elementary School in Linwood signed a good luck poster for her before the shows taping. Carmela continues to cook at home and sell dinners at request, donating the money to local organizations like the Humane Society. DiSanti said she couldnt be more proud. Contact: 609-272-7022 Twitter @ACPressNLeonard PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A student was shot and killed Monday during a burglary at a fraternity house near the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the university president said in a statement. The burglary took place around 3:30 a.m. at Tau Kappa Epsilon on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Newark, NJIT President Joel Bloom said. Joseph Micalizzi, 23, of Freehold, was pronounced dead about 90 minutes later at University Hospital, the Essex County prosecutor's office said. "This is a tragic time for the student's family, friends and the entire NJIT campus and we extend our thoughts and prayers to all affected," Bloom said. "There is no imminent threat to NJIT's campus." Micalizzi was a member of the fraternity, and the mechanical engineering major was in his second year at NJIT after transferring from Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County. He made the dean's list in the fall, Bloom said. The investigation was ongoing and no arrests have been made, the prosecutor's office said. NJIT and the Essex County Sheriff's Crimestoppers program each offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of whoever is responsible. Details on a service for the slain student were not yet available. NJIT has 11,325 students who mainly pursue degrees in science and technology. Counselors were made available to students and faculty members. The fraternity is across the street from the Rutgers-Newark campus, near where a Rutgers student was shot and killed in a double shooting last month. Shani Patel, of Toms River, was gunned down inside an off-campus apartment. The 21-year-old's roommate, who graduated last year, was wounded. No arrests have been made in that shooting. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. ODZ, Poland, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Triennial of Tapestry is the oldest, biggest and most prestigious exhibition promoting contemporary fiber art. The exhibition will be open from May 9th, 2016 (1 pm) until October 30th, 2016 at the Central Museum of Textiles in odz (Poland). The Triennial is an exhibition and a competition that takes place every three years. Apart from artistic criteria, all of the works submitted for the competition had to meet the main technical criterion - be made of raw textile materials, or use the interlacing technique. Participants were selected by national consultants from the individual countries involved, and by the Program Committee of the 15th International Triennial of Tapestry. This year's edition includes 135 artists from 46 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Lithuania, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the USA, Hungary, Great Britain and Italy. The international jury consists of world-famous experts and artists engaged in fiber art. The names of the winners will be announced on May 9th, during the exhibition's opening. The 15th International Triennial of Tapestry, odz 2016 is a presentation of the latest developments in the field of artistic textiles all over the world. The exhibition will present a wide spectrum of works, starting from traditional wall-mounted tapestries, through sculptural three-dimensional forms, to woven installations. The fifteenth edition of the International Triennial of Tapestry is accompanied by 96 events taking place in Poland throughout 2016. http://www.muzeumwlokiennictwa.pl/1-triennale?lang=en Contact: Ewa Czesna phone: +48-42-683-26-84 w. 263 e-mail: promocja@muzeumwlokiennictwa.pl SOURCE Central Museum of Textiles in Lodz PEORIA, Illinois, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT / NYSE Euronext: CATR) informs its stockholders a Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2016 was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Form 10-Q filed in respect of Caterpillar can be found on the SEC Internet site (www.sec.gov). Caterpillar files electronically with the SEC required reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 11-K; proxy materials; ownership reports for insiders as required by Section 16(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and registration statements on Forms S-3 and S-8, as necessary; and other forms or reports, as required. All of the forms and reports filed electronically with the SEC are available on the SEC Internet site (www.sec.gov). Caterpillar also maintains an Internet site (www.Caterpillar.com) and copies of its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished with the SEC are available free of charge through Caterpillar's Internet site (www.Caterpillar.com/secfilings) as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant document has been filed with the SEC. Caterpillar Contact: Rachel Potts, Corporate Public Affairs, +1-309-675-6892 This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire. SOURCE Caterpillar Inc. VERONA, Italy, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CROMSOURCE Implements Growth Strategy by Opening New Office in North America and Expands Executive Leadership Team CROMSOURCE, an international contract research organization (CRO) providing a comprehensive portfolio of services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, announced today the appointment of four senior executives to its Management Team. The appointments include: Dr. Troy W. McCall as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Debbie Kent as Global Head of TalentSource staffing solutions, Dr. Kerry Dyson as Global Head of Clinical Research Division and April McCall as Vice President of Commercial Operations. Additionally, CROMSOURCE announced the expansion of its North American presence with the opening of an office in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151005/273774LOGO ) "The addition of such experienced industry executives strongly positions CROMSOURCE for future growth. We are fully committed to offer our clients the expertise and services they need to be successful in their medical product development efforts," stated Dr. Oriana Zerbini, founder and CEO of CROMSOURCE. She added, "Furthermore, our new office in North Carolina will allow us to serve our clients better who are based in, and around, Research Triangle Park." Dr. McCall has nearly 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having worked for more than a decade each in increasingly senior positions in specialty pharma and global life science services companies. He has been a managing partner and/or CEO at four CRO's, including Premier Research, has served as an advisor to private equity firms to support their investment activities, and advises non-profit organizations in a variety of areas to improve the ways in which new drugs are developed and monitored in the post-market setting. According to Dr. McCall, "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to join the CROMSOURCE team. We are well-positioned to execute our growth strategy by expanding our European and North American presence as we build upon the experience and expertise across the global organization." Mrs. Kent has worked in the pharmaceutical industry since 1992 and joined CROMSOURCE as Global Head of TalentSource Life Sciences Unit. Debbie's previous role was Worldwide Director, Functional Services Unit at Parexel where she was heavily involved in staff augmentation and insourcing, strategic management, and development of the Functional Services Department. Debbie has global management experience, leading a large management team throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Since joining the pharmaceutical industry in 1999, Dr. Dyson has worked in roles of increasing seniority within operational clinical development at several pharmaceutical and life science services companies, including Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Innovex. Kerry joined CROMSOURCE in 2008 with responsibility for corporate strategy, as well as leading operations and business development efforts in the UK. He will now lead the Global Clinical Research Division. Mrs. McCall has more than 18 years of Marketing and Business Development experience in the CRO industry covering services that span all phases of drug development. April's previous role was Vice President of Business Development Operations at inVentiv Health Clinical. In addition to marketing and business development operations expertise, she has also had responsibility for strategic planning, sales, and process improvement at various global organizations. About CROMSOURCE CROMSOURCE is an ISO-certified, international contract research organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. Specializing in clinical development and staffing solutions they offer a flexible approach to ensure their clients' unique needs are supported. CROMSOURCE is unparalleled in offering an end-to-end guarantee covering trial timelines, enrollment, and contract price. This guarantees their clients that trials are delivered on-time and within the contract price with no CRO-initiated change orders. CROMSOURCE operates offices across all regions of Europe and North America. For more information, visit http://www.cromsource.com. HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam - The Next Global Apparel Destination Denimsandjeans.com, the creator of denims show in Bangladesh, is now bringing the first-ever denim show in Vietnam with more than 30 exhibitors from Vietnam and different regions of the world including some major global denim mills to bring more focus and attention to this important sector. The denim supply chain show will hit the floor on 16th June, 2016 at Gem Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/802397) Globally recognised denim experts and many reputed denim veterans as well as international denim buyers are expected to visit the trade show and will also share their knowledge during series of seminars and panel discussions. The objective of the show is to bring international mills, local vendors, top brands, retailers and supply chain partners together at the same platform. Denim is an important part of apparel exports from China and Bangladesh. Vietnam also is increasing its strengths in denim and is expected to become important player in this sector. Recession has shaken the entire global apparel industry for the last few years but Vietnam has witnessed a constant growth even in this distressing phase. Growing approximately at 19 per cent compared to 2013, Vietnam's textile and garment exports have crossed US$ 24 billion in 2014, says the largest textile group in Vietnam - Vinatex. Vietnam offers huge potential economic opportunities from future free trade agreements. The Vietnamese textile industry, with more than 3,800 companies, is the country's leading export sector. The country ranks fifth worldwide in textile and apparel exports and has a labor force in that sector of more than 2 million people, of whom 1.3 million are working directly in the industry. According to the recent imports figures, US apparel imports from Vietnam grew by 38.1% in February, 2016. Many textile and garment companies in the region have already begun to move production to Vietnam. Major U.S. retailers such as Sara Lee, JC Penney, Express, the Gap, Macy's, Nordstrom's, Mast Industries and American Eagle source a sizeable portion of their imports from Vietnam. Most of these companies source the imports through their Asian head offices in Hong Kong. The entry to the Denimsandjeans.com Vietnam show is by 'Invitation only' and only for denim professionals. To get the official invitation, visitors need to register on http://www.vmshow.denimsandjeans.com/invite.php For more information, visit http://www.vmshow.denimsandjeans.com/ Media Contact Mr. Sandeep Agarwal mktg@balajiinternational.com +91-11-42828050 SOURCE Denimsandjeans.com SYDNEY, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Garuda Orient Holidays, an Indonesian owned travel arrangement company, will be closing operations in Australia. The decision to close the company's Sydney and Perth office has been based on financial reasons. The airline company, Garuda Indonesia, is not affected by this in any way. Beanca Daluz, General Manager, said that tough business conditions were to blame for the closure. This is due to the changing nature of the industry which has made it difficult for travel companies to survive. Online Travel Agents have permanently altered the business model and more people are making their own arrangements online, forcing traditional travel arrangers redundant. "We would like to assure our customers who have purchased their holiday with us that the travel arrangements they have purchased through us will be honoured or refunded if they wish," said Ms Daluz. "People who have paid a deposit can elect to pay in full before 31st May 2016 or get a refund of their deposit." "We are also working with employees during this difficult time to minimise the impact of the closure," Ms Daluz said. "We are attempting to find jobs for staff in other parts of the Garuda Indonesia Group." Note to editors Garuda Orient Holidays has 17 employees in its Sydney and Perth Office. and Perth Office. Customers with land bookings departing prior to 31 May 2016 will be unaffected. will be unaffected. Any land bookings departing after 31 May 2016 and before 1 August 2016 passengers will have an option to a) Pay in full to finalise their booking prior to 31 May 2016 or b) Cancel their booking and a refund will be finalised prior to 30 June 2016 . and before passengers will have an option to Any land bookings travelling after 1 August 2016 will need to be cancelled and submitted for a full refund prior to 31 May 2016 . SOURCE Garuda Orient Holidays LONDON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Months of speculation about a prototype cryptocurrency ended when UK based company Golden Dynasty Resources Limited announced plans for its very own cryptocurrency, the Gold Dollar, which will be launched in May this year. Golden Dynasty Resources Limited is a globalized gold asset management company. Apart from mainstream investment such as bullion and gold futures trading, the company also participates in physical gold mining projects. The latest acquisition is one that is situated in Zambia with an estimated area of 10 square kilometres. With the emergence of cryptocurrencies since 2009, the global market has witnessed the launch of many altcoins. The Gold Dollar stands out from the rest due to its capability to back its fundamental value with the value of the gold reserves from its currently owned Zambian goldmine. In addition, the market value of the Gold Dollar will be pegged to the gold price. As such the Gold Dollar promises to be a hit because of the current upward trend of gold. Altcoins traditionally face a high entry barrier if they are to garner support of its value through a physical asset. This is not the case for the Gold Dollar as explained by a Golden Dynasty spokesman: "We foresaw the tremendous potential in the cryptocurrency market a few years back and have since commenced plans to make such a launch. We are by far the only corporation in the world currently able to back an asset class (the Gold Dollar) in such a manner. We remain positive that the Gold Dollar shall take the market by storm once it is launched." US market experts have collectively expressed positive reviews about the Gold Dollar and believe this ground-breaking launch will likely start a brand new era in the cryptocurrency arena. Initial assessments rate the value potential of the Gold Dollar at US$500 per Gold Dollar within an investment horizon of one to two years after launch. They are of a general view that if the Gold Dollar is able to conjure up global popularity, it is definitely a new force to be reckoned with within the next two years. The Gold Dollar will officially launch on 18 May 2016. Keen parties may pre-register their interest with Golden Dynasty this month. SOURCE Golden Dynasty DOVER, Delaware, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- High brightness LED market size is projected to be valued at USD 22.46 billion by 2023; as per a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/802557 ) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160418/799556-a ) Rising regulatory concerns regarding conservation of energy is expected to propel global HB LED market growth over the forecast period. These devices offer enhanced effectiveness, longer life span, and are robust as compared to incandescent lights. Their life span ranges between 50,000 and 100,000 hours, with energy considerable energy savings over traditional counterparts. Get sample pages from our latest research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/401 Extended life cycle is projected to lower replacement cost as well as maintenance crew charges to a great extent. Furthermore, industry players are now concentrating on optimizing pricing strategies to boost high brightness LED market share over the forecast period. Absence of IR radiation has led to proliferating application for food and textile illumination, which is forecast propel industry growth over the forecast timeframe. Excessive usage in high temperatures may overheat the equipment package and in turn is likely to cause breakdown, as performance is highly dependent on ambient temperature. In addition, it requires ample heat sinks to enable implementation in numerous applications such as military, medical, and automotive sectors. For Further Inquiry and More Details @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/401 U.S., China and Japan are now taking rigorous measures for energy optimization. China high brightness LED market has witnessed considerable support through immense financial backing, vibrant resources, as well as incentives to improvise manufacturing capacity. Furthermore, the country is also focusing on innovation & upstream of raw materials owing to high dependency of producers on international players for specific upstream MOCVD resources. High HB LED market price trend coupled with high cost per lumen is likely to pose a growth challenge over the forecast period. Key insights from the report include: The lighting segment generated revenue of USD 4.63 billion in 2015 and is forecast to grow at 6% CAGR. Increasing consumer confidence accompanied by uninterrupted growing sales of replacement lamps, downlights, industrial and commercial products has driven segment growth. in 2015 and is forecast to grow at 6% CAGR. Increasing consumer confidence accompanied by uninterrupted growing sales of replacement lamps, downlights, industrial and commercial products has driven segment growth. Mobile applications are forecast to grow at a CAGR 5.1% from 2016 to 2023. Increasing smartphones and related mobile devices demand is forecast to further propel growth over the coming years. Asia Pacific HB LED market is forecast to be the most attractive region and is likely to be valued at USD over 11 billion by 2023. Availability of low priced components paired with encouraging Chinese government policies is expected to justify the growth impact across the region. Europe high brightness LED market is predicted to be driven by the presence of numerous industries. high brightness LED market is predicted to be driven by the presence of numerous industries. Industry participants are now focusing on strengthening their product portfolio, and mergers and acquisitions in order to gain competitive advantage. Notable companies operating in the high brightness LED market include Cree, Broadcom, Samsung Electronics, Seoul Semiconductor, etc. Browse Full Press Release @ https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/high-brightness-HB-LED-market Global Market Insights has segmented the High Brightness (HB) LED market on the basis of application and region: Global High Brightness (HB) LED Application Analysis (Revenue, USD Billion, 2012 - 2023) Related Reports: Digital Signage Market: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/digital-signage-market LED Lighting Market: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/led-lighting-market About Global Market Insights: Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Contact Us: Jack Davis Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1 888-689-0688 Email: sales@gminsights.com Web: https://www.gminsights.com SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc. LEUVEN, Belgium, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncurious NV, an emerging oncology company focused on the development of innovative orphan drugs for the treatment of pediatric cancers, today announces it has initiated a Phase I/IIa study that will evaluate the safety and tolerability and explore the preliminary efficacy of TB-403 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory medulloblastoma, a rare, life-threatening brain tumor that mainly affects children. Today's study initiation follows the earlier announced partnership between Oncurious, its TB-403 project partner BioInvent, and the Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium (NMTRC) in the US. NMTRC is a collaboration of 25 US academic medical centers, teaching hospitals and other entities, with the purpose of facilitating and conducting collaborative research activities and investigations of new treatments for neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and other pediatric cancers. Headquartered at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, USA, NMTRC is the key clinical trial partner for this Phase I/IIa study. The study aims at recruiting a minimum of 27 patients, with first results expected to be reported in 2017. TB-403 is a humanized monoclonal antibody against placental growth factor (PlGF) which is expressed in several types of cancer, including medulloblastoma. A paper in Cell in February 2013 (Cell, 152, 1065-76, 2013), highlighted for the first time that PlGF plays a role in the growth of medulloblastoma. The paper was based on pre-clinical research conducted by Prof Rakesh Jain from the Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard (Boston) and the team of Prof Peter Carmeliet from the VIB/ KU Leuven. Treatment with TB-403 in pre-clinical models for medulloblastoma has demonstrated beneficial effects on tumor growth and survival. TB-403 has been shown to have a favorable safety profile in previous clinical trials in healthy volunteers and adult patients with various types of solid tumors. BioInvent International AB is Oncurious' co-development partner for the TB-403 clinical trial. Patrik De Haes, MD, Executive Chairman of Oncurious, commented, "We are pleased to announce the initiation of this important Phase I/IIa study with TB-403, a key corporate milestone for Oncurious. Given the encouraging pre-clinical data generated with TB-403 in Leuven and Boston, we are hopeful that this novel antibody, targeting placental growth factor, will provide an improved treatment option for children afflicted with this lethal brain tumor." Michael Oredsson, CEO of BioInvent, commented, "The initiation of this study is a key step in the development of this new targeted potential treatment for children with devastating brain cancers. We are looking forward to be working with NMTRC's experienced investigator network to complete this study in a timely manner." Giselle Sholler, MD MSC, Chair of NMTRC, "We are delighted to be starting this study, which is very much in line with our mission to bring forward new therapies that could improve the quality of life and survival of children with medulloblastoma. We believe that with its unique mode of action TB-403 offer could offer an important solution to address this tremendous unmet medical need." About Oncurious NV Oncurious NV is an oncology company focused on the development of innovative medicines for the treatment of pediatric cancers. Oncurious is a venture between ThromboGenics and VIB, a leading life science research institute in Flanders, Belgium. Oncurious plans to initiate a Phase I/IIa clinical program with TB-403 for the treatment of medulloblastoma, a rare, life-threatening brain tumor that mainly affects children. Final preparations to enable opening the study for enrollment are ongoing. BioInvent International is a co-development partner for the planned Phase I/IIa TB-403 clinical trial. More information on Oncurious NV can be found at http://www.oncurious.com About the NMTRC The Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium (NMTRC) is a group of 25 universities and children's hospitals headquartered at the Helen Devos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids. MI, USA that offer a nationwide network of childhood cancer clinical trials. These trials are based on the research from a group of closely collaborating investigators who are linked with laboratory programs developing novel therapies for high-risk neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. NMTRC's mission is to create a national collaborative effort of researchers, oncologists and family advocates to bring forward new therapies for children with relapsed neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma with the goal of improving the quality of life and survival of children with neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. More information on NMTRC can be found at: http://nmtrc.org/ About BioInvent BioInvent International AB develops immune oncology drugs. With one of the world's largest antibody libraries, and a unique, proprietary discovery method, BioInvent can identify the optimal cellular targets and antibodies for the treatment of various tumor types. BioInvent has also considerable experience in and a facility for process development and production of antibodies for clinical studies. This makes it possible to develop proprietary drug projects, but also to supply leading international pharmaceutical companies with effective tools for their drug development. BioInvent currently has three proprietary projects in or close to clinical development and partnership agreements with seven global pharmaceutical and biotech companies. More information is available at http://www.bioinvent.com . Important information about forward-looking statements Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking". Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Company's Annual Report. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of ThromboGenics in any jurisdiction. No securities of ThromboGenics may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws. For further information please contact: Oncurious NV / ThromboGenics NV: Wouter Piepers +32-16-75-13-10 / +32-478-33-56-32 wouter.piepers@thrombogenics.com Citigate Dewe Rogerson David Dible/Sylvie Berrebi Tel: +44-20-7638-9571 david.dible@citigatedr.co.uk SOURCE Oncurious NV It was selected from over 100 finalists in the 36th annual award program, which is sponsored by the global oil services company and is the most generous annual art prize in North America for painting and drawing. Kolander has been a finalist of the competition for the last three consecutive years. The announcement of his win was made during an evening awards gala on Saturday, April 30, at the Friedkin Corporate Campus, Gulf States Toyota, in Houston. "Words cannot express how honored and humbled I am to be chosen as the winner of the 2016 Hunting Art Prize," said Kolander. "Having been a finalist for the last few years makes this moment all the more rewarding. It's a true privilege to be selected from such a remarkably talented group of artists." Dennis Proctor, CEO of Hunting, said, "I couldn't be more pleased to see a longtime finalist like Padaric win this year's competition. He is a remarkably talented individual, and his creative contributions certainly speak for themselves." Kolander's drawings have been described as "intense" and "thoughtful look[s] toward the future." His works explore open-ended themes of ignorance, contradiction, and cynicism, and they often include text that is purposefully juxtaposed, but typically out of context, to be freely interpreted by the viewer. Kolander has participated in a number of group exhibitions in Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. For more information on Kolander, visit http://www.padarickolander.com/. The Hunting Art Prize is open to artists throughout Texas who are 18 years of age or older. This year's competition saw nearly 1,600 entries from a number of cities and towns throughout the state. Submissions underwent a two-tiered jury process, after which nationally respected judges from Florida, New York, and Texas selected Kolander's work as the winner. On behalf of the 2016 competition, Hunting PLC will present a charitable contribution at an upcoming event to Patriot PAWS Service Dogs. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to inspiring and restoring the physical and emotional independence of disabled American veterans and others with mobile disabilities by providing service dogs at no cost. For more information on the prize, visit www.huntingartprize.com. About the Hunting Art Prize The Hunting Art Prize was established in 1981 and emerged as one of the United Kingdom's leading art competitions before relocating to Houston in 2006. Sponsored by the international oil services company Hunting PLC, it has become a premier U.S. competition open to Texas artists who are 18 years of age or older. Its $50,000 prize is historically the most generous annual award in North America for painting and drawing, and has helped to build the reputations, raise the profiles, and support the careers of distinguished artists. For further information, visit www.huntingartprize.com. About Hunting PLC Hunting PLC is an international energy services provider to the world's leading upstream oil and gas companies. Established in 1874, it is a premium listed public company traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: HTG.L). The Company maintains a corporate office in Houston and is headquartered in London. As well as the United Kingdom, the Company has principal operations in Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America. Related Links http://www.huntingartprize.com SOURCE Hunting PLC DHAKA, Bangladesh, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Quatrro Processing Services (Quatrro) today announced that the company has been approved by Visa Inc. as a Global VISANet Third Party Processor with effect from April 2016. This certification will allow Quatrro to connect directly to VISANet and provide issuer and acquirer card processing services to banks, financial institutions, merchants and other service providers located in Bangladesh and worldwide. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160107/320057LOGO ) Banks and financial institutions now can avail Visa End Point services from Quatrro without the need to make upfront capital investments required to operate their end point. Mr. Rajesh Dhuddu, Senior Vice President at Quatrro says, "Financial institutions are actively looking for innovative business models to introduce new products and services, accelerate their time to market and reduce overall total cost of ownership of banking technologies and processing capabilities. Quatrro is uniquely poised to partner with such financial institutions in Bangladesh to accomplish these objectives. We are also delighted to earn the distinction of being a net new Payment Processor over the last several years in the global payments landscape." Mr. T R Ramachandran, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, says, "Third party payment processors are increasingly becoming an important part of the payments ecosystem, helping banks and issuers with a wide array of transaction processing services and providing speed and agility to their processing capabilities. Visa is happy to expand the reach with the support of third party processors who uphold Visa's core values of reliability, security and speed and welcomes Quatrro." About Quatrro Processing Services: Quatrro Processing Services (QPS), a division of Quatrro Global Services, is a Visa and MasterCard certified leading payment processing services provider. The company's core team of over 600 seasoned associates consists of payments/cards transaction processing analysts, risk management professionals and technology experts with a track record of providing card processing services in USA, India, Middle East and South East Asia. QPS' services support issuing, acquiring, Mobile POS, ATM driving, mobile wallets and payment gateways functions of banks using one platform and interface. For more information, please visit: http://www.quatrroprocessing.com About Visa Inc.: Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We operate one of the world's most advanced processing networks - VISANet - that is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and assured payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, pay ahead of time with prepaid or pay later with credit products. Quatrro Processing Services Media Contact: Aman Malhotra Associate Vice President - Market Development Tel: +91 124 4561000 Email: aman.malhotra@quatrro.com Visa Nikita Mascarenhas Senior Director Corporate Communications India & South Asia Tel: +91 22 66884147 Email: nikita.mascarenhas@visa.com SOURCE Quatrro Processing Services SAN FRANCISCO, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The global ultrasound device market is expected to reach USD 11.1 billion by 2024, according to a new report published by Grand View Research, Inc. Major drivers of the sonography market include expanding applications of the technique in therapeutic areas and government recommendations for periodic ultrasound screenings of the breast for breast cancer. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 ) High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is widely used for the treatment of prostate cancer. HIFU has lesser side effects for prostate cancer than the other available treatments. The other use of ultrasound technique for therapeutic purpose includes treatment of kidney stones and gallstones using extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). 2D, 3D/4D and Doppler ultrasound techniques are widely used in diagnostic imaging. 2D ultrasound segment captured the largest market share owing to the wide use of this technique in brain tumor and fetal screening. Most of the hospitals and healthcare facilities in developing countries offer 2D ultrasound as the device cost is relatively lesser and results in increasing the affordability of ultrasound imaging to patients. Along with 3D, 4D sonography has also become popular in obstetrics areas as it provides real-time movements of the fetus. Intensifying competition in the private sector has triggered advancements of the latest medical devices in private hospitals. As a result, demand for handheld imaging devices is swiftly increasing. In addition, the shifting trend to home healthcare and remote patient monitoring is augmenting the adoption of handheld devices. However, the demand for relatively bigger cart/trolley-based devices is escalating with the rising adoption of therapeutic ultrasound, where heavy hardware and large display screens are necessary. Browse full research report with TOC on "Ultrasound Device Market Analysis By Product Type (Diagnostic Ultrasound Devices (2D, 3D/4D, Doppler), Therapeutic Ultrasound Devices (High-intensity Focused Ultrasound, Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy)), By Portability (Handheld, Cart/Trolley-based) And Segment Forecasts to 2024" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ultrasound-device-market Further key findings from the study suggest: The diagnostic ultrasound devices segment captured a market share of 35.80% in 2015. The share of the segment was mainly attributed to government recommendations for routine checkups using ultrasound devices. The rising birth rates and in-vitro fertilization treatments are supporting the growth of the diagnostic ultrasound imaging segment as the imaging technique is widely accepted for fetal monitoring during pregnancy The handheld device segment is expected to exhibit the fastest growth during the forecast period owing to the convenience of portability, affordable price, and user-friendly technologies embedded in these devices North America captured the largest market share of 24.85% in 2015 and is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The presence of a well-defined regulatory framework, recommendations of government and healthcare agencies, and high adoption of remote patient monitoring and home healthcare services are the major factors supporting the market growth. captured the largest market share of 24.85% in 2015 and is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The presence of a well-defined regulatory framework, recommendations of government and healthcare agencies, and high adoption of remote patient monitoring and home healthcare services are the major factors supporting the market growth. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth of 9.6% during the forecast period. Rising disposable income, growing awareness, and booming medical tourism industry are some of the factors expected to drive the Asia Pacific market towards swift growth during the forecast period. is anticipated to witness the fastest growth of 9.6% during the forecast period. Rising disposable income, growing awareness, and booming medical tourism industry are some of the factors expected to drive the market towards swift growth during the forecast period. The ultrasound market is fragmented with the presence of many local players. Thus, market players are adopting strategies such as mergers and acquisitions and distribution partnerships to expand their market share and sustain the competition. Some key players contributing to this market include Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, SonaCare Medical, Analogic Corporation, GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, Hitachi Medical Corporation, Samsung Medison, and Mindray Medical International Limited Grand View Research has segmented the ultrasound device market on the basis of product type and geography. Ultrasound device market by product, 2012 - 2022 (USD Million) Diagnostic Ultrasound Devices 2D 3D/4D Doppler Therapeutic Ultrasound Devices High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) Ultrasound device market by Portability type, 2012 - 2022 (USD Million) Handheld Ultrasound Devices Cart/Trolley Based Ultrasound Devices Ultrasound device market by region, 2012 - 2022 (USD Million) North America U.S. Ultrasound Device Market, by Product U.S. Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability Canada Ultrasound Device Market, by Product Canada Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability Europe UK Ultrasound Device Market, by Product UK Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability Germany Ultrasound Device Market, by Product Germany Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability Asia Pacific China Ultrasound Device Market, by Product China Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability Japan Ultrasound Device Market, by Product Japan Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability Latin America Brazil Ultrasound Device Market, by Product Brazil Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability Mexico Ultrasound Device Market, by Product Mexico Ultrasound Device Market, by Portability MEA South Africa Ultrasound Device Market,by Product South Africa Device Market,by Portability Browse related reports by Grand View Research: Biodetectors and Accessories Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/biodetectors-accessories-market Anesthesia CO2 Absorbent Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/anesthesia-co2-absorbent-market Europe Orthopedic Navigation System Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/orthopedic-navigation-systems-market Tumor Ablation Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/tumor-ablation-market About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Read Our Blogs - mediafound.org, grandviewresearch.com/blogs/healthcare Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: www.grandviewresearch.com SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. Cosmetics and Skin Care Company Enters Into Its Ninth Global Market LEHI, Utah, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapidly becoming a worldwide sensation, Younique, the pioneer in social media-driven direct sales, announced today that it is bringing its groundbreaking cosmetic and skin care brand to Spain. After a number of successful global launches, Younique is excited to introduce the brand to the Spanish market. "Younique is consistently evolving to create products that are not only revolutionizing the beauty industry, but allowing us to grow our brand internationally," said Younique Cofounder Melanie Huscroft. "Spain was a natural choice as the country is comprised of digitally savvy, social media-engaged women who love makeup. We are honored to share our innovations with Spain and welcome the country to join our Younique Family of nearly 450,000 Presenters worldwide." To introduce the brand to the Spanish market, Younique is holding immersion events in Barcelona on May 3 and in Madrid on May 4 where attendees can meet with a professional makeup artist and try out Younique products at a special beauty bar. Attendees will also meet Gema Martin, VP, Spain Market Representative, who will discuss Younique's product offerings and brand mission. As an added bonus, Younique will gift attendees samples including a Moodstruck Opulence Lipstick in Stuck Up and Lucrative Lip Gloss in Luxe. Throughout May, residents of Spain can register as Presenters and purchase the Younique Presenter Kit that contains an assortment of cutting-edge cosmetic and skincare products such as Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes+, Addiction Shadow Palettes, Precision Pencil Eyeliners and Lucrative Lip Gloss. Consumers will be able to purchase products starting on June 1, 2016. With a mission to uplift, empower, validate and build self-esteem in women around the world, Younique provides opportunities for personal growth and even financial reward for consumers interested in starting their own online business marketing their high-quality products. Younique currently operates in the following markets: the United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and, now, Spain! About Younique Nature + Love + Science. Since its inception in 2012, Younique has been committed to developing beauty products that combine innovative science with the best ingredients nature has to offer. Younique is the first direct selling company to pioneer the social media-based business model. Founded by a brother-sister team Derek Maxfield and Melanie Huscroft Younique offers women the opportunity to look and feel great while helping advance the brand's mission of uplifting, empowering and validating women around the world. Learn more about Younique and the opportunity at www.youniqueproducts.com. Related Links http://www.youniqueproducts.com SOURCE Younique "History is what you make it," said Noe. "And, here at Jim Beam, we're proud to make it one barrel at a time. This milestone is cause for celebration both for our employees and bourbon fans around the globe. Fourteen million is a big number, and it says a lot about the success of our whiskey and the growing passion for bourbon around the world." The historic milestone, achieved just two years after the filling of Jim Beam's 13 millionth barrel, serves as a testament to the continued global bourbon boom. "Kentucky bourbon has become not only an American icon, but an international symbol of our proud heritage and craftsmanship," said Governor Bevin. "I'm pleased to toast Jim Beam's impressive milestone, rich history and spirited future." The 14 millionth barrel will join the nearly two million barrels of bourbon currently aging in Jim Beam's rackhouses across the Commonwealth. It will be stored inside the distillery's historic rackhouse D, a nine-story warehouse re-built by Jim Beam after Prohibition on the Clermont distillery grounds. The rackhouse is open to visitors as part of the Jim Beam American Stillhouse tour. According to the Kentucky Distillers' Association, bourbon is now a $3 billion state industry, providing more than 15,000 jobs and generating more than $166 million in tax revenues annually. Over the past five years, the bourbon industry has grown 35 percent. As the producer of more than half the world's bourbon, Jim Beam has played a leading role in this growth. At one time known for primarily one brand, the iconic Jim Beam portfolio now offers a wide range of award-winning expressions including Jim Beam Black, Jim Beam Apple, Jim Beam Single Barrel, Jim Beam Devil's Cut, Jim Beam Honey, Jim Beam Maple, Red Stag by Jim Beam, Jim Beam Bonded, Jim Beam Rye and Jim Beam Distiller's Masterpiece. "When Jacob Beam, Jim Beam's great, great grandfather, filled his first barrel of bourbon in 1795, he had no real idea of what he was starting," said Noe, who has been on hand for the previous six "million barrel" milestones, starting at the filling of the 8 millionth barrel in 1998. "All he wanted to do was make the best bourbon possible. The growth of this company reflects that dedication. For more than 220 years, we've made every barrel count." Beam has continued to expand its operations in Kentucky, fueled by a commitment to innovate and meet surging global consumer demand. Over the next five years, Beam Suntory plans to invest more than $1 billion to make bourbon in the Commonwealth. For more information on Jim Beam, please visit www.jimbeam.com, www.facebook.com/jimbeamus, or @JimBeam. About Beam Suntory Inc. As the world's third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher's, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur. Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com. drink smart 2016 Beam Suntory Deerfield, IL All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362398 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362399 SOURCE Beam Suntory Inc. Related Links http://www.beamsuntory.com WASHINGTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 150 groundbreaking thinkers and leaders will gather at the third annual Spotlight Health to discuss the cutting-edge health issues of our time. Spotlight Health is the opening segment of the annual Aspen Ideas Festival and will take place from June 23-26, 2016, in Aspen, CO. The Festival is a partnership of the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic. EDITOR'S NOTE: A limited number of press passes remain available. To apply, please fill out the form here: http://www.aspenideas.org/festival/press. Featured speakers include: Robert Califf, Commissioner, US Food and Drug Administration; Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Tom Frieden, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sir Andrew Witty, CEO, Glaxo Smith Kline; Nicolas Jammet, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Sweetgreen; Jackie Judd, Special Correspondent, "PBS NewsHour"; Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO, Global Fund for Women; Eric Lander, President and Founding Director, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Jonathan LaPook, Chief Medical Correspondent, "CBS News"; Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Patti Miller, Director, Too Small to Fall, The Clinton Foundation; Vivienne Ming, Co-Founder, Socos; Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General; Tom Vilsack, US Secretary of Agriculture; and six former commissioners of the US Food and Drug Administration. Conversations are moderated by journalists from The Atlantic and dozens of other leading news organizations. The public convocation, which will feature one-on-one interviews, panel conversations, film screenings, and more, is a three-day deep dive into global and domestic health. Spotlight Health 2016 will explore four main thematic areas: breakthroughs, the child, the future of food, and ethics. Back by popular demand is a series of "Medical School" lectures that will challenge attendees to question commonly held medical assumptions. More about this year's program can be found at aspenideas.org/spotlighthealth. Limited passes remain; to register and purchase your pass, please visit aspenideas.org/festival/register. Over the course of Spotlight Health, a robust and diverse audience is expected in Aspen, CO, and many more will be able to join the conversation online. The Atlantic will on report and produce video from Spotlight Health in a special report at TheAtlantic.com. All video and audio clips of on-stage conversations will be on aspenideas.org and TheAtlantic.com/live, and on the Aspen Institute's YouTube channel. Regular updates from the Festival in the run-up and during the event will be on Facebook.com/aspenideas and on Twitter at @AspenIdeas, @Atlantic_LIVE, and with #SpotlightHealth. Additionally, discussions can be followed all year on the Aspen Ideas Festival blog. Presenting underwriters for the 2016 Aspen Ideas Festival Spotlight Health are Booz Allen Hamilton, Mount Sinai Health System, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, SCAN Foundation, and Welltower. Supporting underwriters are Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's National Health System, and Consumer Reports. American Osteopathic Association, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CDC Foundation, Pfizer, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Truth Initiative Foundation are contributing underwriters. About the Aspen Institute The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org. About The Atlantic Founded in 1857 and today one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry, The Atlantic has throughout its history championed the power of big ideas and continues to shape global debate across print, digital, events, and video platforms. With its award-winning digital presence TheAtlantic.com and CityLab.com on cities around the world, The Atlantic is a multimedia forum on the most critical issues of our timesfrom politics, business, urban affairs, and the economy, to technology, arts, and culture. The Atlantic is the 2016 National Magazine of the Year. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130417/DC96489LOGO SOURCE The Aspen Institute The event featured messages from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D) along with Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. Every speaker and every attendee was focused on the current State of Illinois budget impasse and what needs to be done to save Illinois Safety Net Hospitals. "Hospitals can't simply lock their doors until sanity prevails in Springfield," Sen. Durbin said. "Make no mistake, this budget impasse is costing our state additional Federal money. I say enough is enough. It's time for the state to get its act together and pass a budget." Additional speakers included Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims, Illinois State Senator Tony Munoz, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's Political Director John Keller, Shriver Center President and CEO John Bouman and New RCH President & CEO Tim Egan. "In 2015 safety net hospitals Illinois generated more than 70,000 jobs all across the state," U.S. Rep. Duckworth said. "Without your work on the front lines, without your compassion and decency; the people in this community would have nowhere to go. We need to ensure that hospitals like Roseland receive the resources they need to support our most vulnerable communities and I pledge to do my part to help you." While the budget impasse has been a scorched earth battle between party lines in Illinois, one of the brightest leaders from the Republican side of the aisle attended and affirmed his support for the New RCH and Safety Net Hospitals. "I've talked to Tim Egan at length about the struggle that he goes through," IL Rep. Durkin said. "I also put challenges to him and his counterparts to find creative ways to help us help them and they've done that. It's my commitment to help him and safety net hospitals to survive and get through this budget impasse." One creative way Egan and the Association of Safety Net Hospitals and the Illinois Hospital Association have advocated is with House Bill 5750, which could potentially generate $1.6 billion in additional Medicaid funding by implementing a simple .01% assessment on all insurance claims. That assessment would be matched with Federal funding. Additional funding is needed by the New RCH and all Illinois Safety Net Hospitals. "Roseland Community Hospital is an anchor to the Roseland Community," Sen. Durbin said. "It's really a lifeline for thousands of families in that area and boy has Roseland come a long way. Over the last three years under the leadership of Tim Egan, we've seen Roseland return from the brink of bankruptcy to being a functional and important life support institution for the region. In fact, the hospital has come so far it's now being called 'The New Roseland Community Hospital.'" The New RCH is the community's integrated and coordinated healthcare choice, where professional caregivers provide guidance on the path to recovery and overall wellness. SOURCE The New Roseland Community Hospital PROVO, Utah, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- May is Better Sleep Month a time to focus attention on the importance of how sleep contributes to overall physical, emotional and overall well being. A new survey from Owlet Baby Care, makers of the Owlet Smart Sock, uncovers eye-opening information about the shut-eye habits and routines of parents of newborn children, a group who consistently gets less sleep than the general population. Owlet Baby Care According to the survey only five percent of parents of babies zero to six months old are getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night. Forty-three percent report only getting an average of one to three hours of uninterrupted sleep per night, in fact, 17 percent of moms report getting a poor night sleep every single night of the week due to their newborn. According to the Journal of Sleep Medicine, interrupted sleep can be just as detrimental to mood, attention span and cognitive ability as no sleep at all, and several nights of fragmented sleep can have long-term negative consequences. "Owlet conducted this survey to shed light on the sleep related issues that parents of newborns face, especially in the first six months," said Kurt Workman, CEO and co-founder of Owlet Baby Care. "Many of us at Owlet are parents to newborns, so we understand first-hand how having a newborn can have a major impact on parents' ability to get a good night sleep. While striving for a solid eight hours when you have a newborn is pretty unrealistic, we developed our safe sleep system to provide parents with peace of mind while their baby is sleeping so they can worry a little less and get more sleep." The State of (Un)Rest Although a majority of parents share night time responsibilities, moms are getting up far more regularly. In fact, 32 percent of moms report that their spouse or partner never get out of bed to check on baby at night, while only seven percent of dads report that mom never got out of bed. The age old advice of "sleep when baby sleeps" doesn't hold true for today's parents with 41 percent reporting that they are never able to sleep during the daytime hours while their newborn sleeps. To those parents of newborns who are no stranger to sleep deprivation, the survey shows they'd be willing to shell out the big bucks for a solid night's sleep. Half of parents said they would pay at least $100 for a full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, with about one in 10 parents saying they would pay $1,000. As a result of sleepless nights, parents report falling asleep in some pretty interesting places: Close to one-third (30 percent) of new fathers have fallen asleep at work. One in five (21 percent) of new parents have fallen asleep in a parked car. Twelve percent have fallen asleep at the kitchen table. Eleven percent have fallen asleep in the shower. Setting a Routine Parents spend a lot of time trying to get a routine in place to help their little one get to sleep and sleep longer. Ninety-one percent of parents have a bedtime routine for their newborns, and it can take a long time to get through it! Twenty-one percent report that it takes at least 45 minutes to put their baby to bed each night. Worries, Concerns and Tasks that Keep Parents Awake Aside from their newborn keeping them up at night, new parents report a variety of activities and concerns preventing them from getting sleep. Moms are most often kept awake by a practical chorehousework (37 percent) Dads report a more cerebral worry that most often keeps them upproviding a good life for their child (32 percent). New moms are more likely to report being kept awake by social media (30 percent) than dads (18 percent). Parents are still trying to keep the spark alive! About one in five new parents also report that aside from their newborn waking in the middle of the night, sex keeps them up at night. More About The Owlet Baby Monitor The Owlet Baby Monitor is a unique device that leverages pulse oximetry, the same technology used in hospitals, miniaturized into a baby sock designed to alert parents if their baby's oxygen levels and heart rate are out of range. With unintentional suffocation a leading cause of injury death among U.S. children under the age of one, it's no wonder parents often have trouble getting a good night's sleep during baby's first year. Moms and dads can rest easy knowing the Owlet Monitor silently watching over their little one, giving them peace of mind, and maybe even a full night's sleep. About Owlet Baby Care Owlet Baby Care, Inc. was founded in 2013 by a team of passionate parents who wanted to bring themselves, and other parents around the globe, peace of mind and assurance by developing a monitor that tracks a baby's breathing and heart rate. Using pulse oximetry, the same technology used in hospitals, the Owlet Smart Sock is designed to send alerts, to the base station and via WiFi to a smartphone, if a baby were to stop breathing while sleeping. Learn more at OwletCare.com. About the Study Owlet Baby Care commissioned a study of parents of newborns to find out about their sleep habits, what keeps them up at night, and what helps them (and baby) get the best sleep. This study was conducted by CARAVAN ORC International among a sample of 500 parents of children under age 2. The field period was April 6-10, 2016. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362318-INFO SOURCE Owlet Baby Care Related Links http://www.owletcare.com PORTLAND, Ore., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbSci announced today the appointment of V. Bryan Lawlis, Ph.D. to AbSci's Board of Directors. Dr. Lawlis has been the CEO and founder of numerous biotechnology companies and currently serves on the Board of Directors of BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc., Coherus BioSciences, Inc., and Geron, Inc. "Dr. Lawlis brings over 35 years of experience in the biotech industry, where he has been a successful CEO, entrepreneur, scientist, and pioneer in the fields of biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing," said Sean McClain, Founder and CEO of AbSci. "We are honored to welcome Dr. Lawlis to our Board of Directors and we look forward to his input and guidance as we commercialize AbSci's SoluPro technology." "I am very excited about the opportunity to join AbSci's Board of Directors," said Dr. Lawlis. "AbSci's unique SoluPro technology has great potential to enhance speed and efficiency of development of key proteins in our industry. I look forward to sharing with the company my years of experience in the development of technologies for manufacturing of therapeutic proteins, partnering SoluPro and commercialization of products manufactured by this approach." Previously, Dr. Lawlis co-founded and served as President and CEO of Itero Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2006 to 2011. Prior to Itero, he was President and CEO of Aradigm Corporation from August 2004 and served on its Board of Directors from February 2005, continuing in both capacities until August 2006. Dr. Lawlis served as Aradigm Corporation's President and COO from June 2003 to August 2004. Dr. Lawlis co-founded Covance Biotechnology Services, a contract biopharmaceutical manufacturing operation, and served as its President and CEO from 1996 to 1999, and Chairman from 1999 to 2001, when it was acquired by Diosynth, Inc., a division of Akzo Nobel, NV. From 1981 to 1996, Dr. Lawlis was employed at Genencor, Inc., and Genentech, Inc. His last position at Genentech, Inc. was Vice President of Process Sciences. Dr. Lawlis is a board member of the following publicly traded companies: BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc., Coherus BioSciences, Inc., Geron, Inc. In addition, Dr. Lawlis serves on the boards of two private companies, Sutro Biopharma, Inc. and Reform Biologics, LLC. Dr. Lawlis holds a B.A. in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Washington State University. About AbSci AbSci is a global leader in protein production technologies. The company's SoluPro expression platform achieves revolutionary yields of soluble and active protein products. AbSci's unique approach accelerates drug discovery timelines, increases manufacturing efficiencies, and drastically reduces costs for the biopharmaceutical industry. For more information, please visit www.abscibio.com. SOURCE AbSci Related Links http://www.abscibio.com LANSING, Mich., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Accident Fund Insurance Company of America announced the appointment of Dan Hassenzahl to regional director, Southern region. In this role, Dan is responsible for underwriting and marketing in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia. Hassenzahl joined the company in 2005 as a claims examiner and in 2007 moved to Internal Audit. He became a business development consultant in 2009. "Dan has done a tremendous job for us in Business Development over the past seven years," said Mike Seling, vice president, Business Development & Regional Operations. "His energy, experience and expertise in agency relationship management will be a strong asset to Accident Fund in the Southern region." Hassenzahl earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Davenport University. He holds the Certified Authority on Workers' Compensation (CAWC) designation and is currently pursuing Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designations. About Accident Fund Insurance Company of America Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is a member of AF Group. All policies are underwritten by a licensed insurer subsidiary of AF Group. About AF Group Founded in 1912, AF Group (Lansing, Mich.) and its subsidiaries are a premier provider of innovative insurance solutions. Rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best, AF Group is a nationally recognized holding company conducting business through its brands: Accident Fund, United Heartland, CompWest and Third Coast Underwriters. Contact: Bob Lapinski (517) 708-5664 or (517) 331-4890 [email protected] AFGroupInsurance.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160229/338522LOGO SOURCE AF Group DALLAS, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alerian reported index linked product positions of $12.9 billion as of March 31, 2016. Linked products include exchange-traded funds, exchange-traded notes, return of capital notes, variable insurance portfolios, and mutual funds. Below is a full list of energy master limited partnership (MLP) positions, as of March 31, 2016, in products linked to the Alerian Index Series. Ticker Exposure in Alerian Linked-Products ($) Exposure in Alerian Linked-Products (Units) Ticker Exposure in Alerian Linked-Products ($) Exposure in Alerian Linked-Products (Units) AM 142,449,373 6,442,758 MMLP 11,398,190 567,639 APU 58,799,393 1,352,643 MMP 1,227,619,254 17,843,303 ARLP 9,707,381 833,252 MPLX 768,731,904 25,891,947 BPL 956,628,257 14,080,487 NGL 13,697,340 1,821,455 BWP 199,526,265 13,536,382 NS 282,416,050 6,990,496 CEQP 11,182,174 958,198 NSH 224,236 10,817 CLMT 14,072,507 1,197,660 OKS 539,258,624 17,173,842 CPLP 6,225,027 1,969,945 PAA 864,706,503 41,235,408 CPPL 15,645,581 1,071,615 PAGP 1,763,354 202,918 CQP 142,002,417 4,923,801 PSXP 162,953,892 2,603,513 DM 12,688,144 375,945 SEP 339,567,045 7,056,672 DPM 273,477,947 10,043,259 SHLX 250,217,426 6,834,674 EEP 428,711,820 23,401,300 SMLP 11,388,607 670,707 ENLC 395,135 35,123 SPH 35,385,085 1,183,844 ENLK 185,597,193 15,376,735 SUN 16,550,709 499,569 EPD 1,569,553,463 63,751,156 SXL 557,495,349 22,237,549 EQGP 221,643 8,218 TCP 247,360,183 5,129,825 EQM 449,578,230 6,040,283 TEGP 662,688 35,860 ETE 1,829,549 256,599 TEP 25,315,268 660,628 ETP 1,391,919,380 43,040,179 TGP 13,464,486 1,061,868 FGP 23,343,542 1,341,583 TLLP 302,919,582 6,634,244 GEL 327,225,708 10,293,353 VLP 19,835,170 418,817 GLP 7,036,374 521,213 WES 367,112,896 8,456,874 GMLP 12,589,402 857,005 WGP 304,182 8,535 HEP 23,644,219 698,913 WPZ 552,452,961 27,014,815 About Alerian Alerian equips investors to make informed decisions about Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) and energy infrastructure. Its benchmarks, including the flagship Alerian MLP Index (AMZ), are widely used by industry executives, investment professionals, research analysts, and national media to analyze relative performance. As of March 31, 2016, nearly $13 billion was directly tied to the Alerian Index Series through exchange-traded funds and notes, separately managed accounts, and structured products. For more information, including index values and constituents, research content, and announcements regarding rebalancings, please visit alerian.com. SOURCE Alerian Related Links http://www.alerian.com DUBLIN, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company, today launched a bold initiative, "LILETTA Access on the Front Line", aimed at helping to knock down barriers to intrauterine device (IUD) access for women in the military. According to the Veterans Affairs (VA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), including IUDs, currently cost the military in the range of $330 to $650. Beginning in 2016, LILETTA is available at an FSS price of $55.83 to Military Treatment Facilities and VA hospitals nationwide. With LILETTA, Allergan meets the need for an affordable LARC option for women on the front lines, as well as the family members of those in service and our nation's female veterans. Allergan's initiative also includes an educational effort to raise contraception awareness among healthcare providers treating U.S. military servicewomen. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150612/222796LOGO Servicewomen face many challenges when trying to access contraception. According to the Contraception journal article, "Contraception Access and Use Among U.S. Servicewomen During Deployment," 59 percent of women do not discuss contraception with a healthcare provider before deployment. And when deployed, one-third of servicewomen are unable to obtain their birth control method and 41 percent have difficulty refilling birth control prescriptions. "As a leader in women's healthcare, Allergan is taking bold steps to help overcome barriers to patient access to IUDs in order to provide women with affordable, and accessible birth control options," said Aimee Lenar, VP, Women's Healthcare. "This military initiative provides servicewomen with information and access to make educated and cost-effective birth control decisions." LILETTA is a hormone-releasing system placed in a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy for up to three years and is greater than 99 percent effective. LILETTA is not permanent, it is reversible, and can be removed at any time by an HCP, offering the flexibility of use for either long or short term contraception. Allergan believes that all women, including servicewomen, should have access to all contraceptive options that suit their individual needs. In 2015, Allergan launched LILETTA in partnership with Medicines360, a non-profit global pharmaceutical company that provides access to medicines for women regardless of their socioeconomic status, insurance status, or geographic location. About LILETTA Important Safety Information (scroll to see additional Important Safety Information and full Prescribing Information link) Who is not appropriate for LILETTA Use of LILETTA is contraindicated in women with: known or suspected pregnancy and cannot be used for post-coital contraception; congenital or acquired uterine anomaly, including fibroids if they distort the uterine cavity; known or suspected breast cancer or other progestin-sensitive cancer, now or in the past; known or suspected uterine or cervical neoplasia; acute liver disease or liver tumors; untreated acute cervicitis or vaginitis, including lower genital tract infections (e.g., bacterial vaginosis) until infection is controlled; postpartum endometritis or infected abortion in the past 3 months; unexplained uterine bleeding; current IUS; acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or history of PID (except with later intrauterine pregnancy); conditions increasing susceptibility to pelvic infection; or hypersensitivity to any component of LILETTA. Clinical considerations for use and removal of LILETTA Use LILETTA with caution after careful assessment in patients with coagulopathy or taking anticoagulants; migraine, focal migraine with asymmetrical visual loss, or other symptoms indicating transient cerebral ischemia; exceptionally severe headache; marked increase of blood pressure; or severe arterial disease such as stroke or myocardial infarction. Consider removing the intrauterine system if these or the following arise during use: uterine or cervical malignancy or jaundice. Because irregular bleeding/spotting is common during the first months of LILETTA use, exclude endometrial pathology (polyps or cancer) prior to the insertion of LILETTA in women with persistent or uncharacteristic bleeding. If the threads are not visible or are significantly shortened, they may have broken or retracted into the cervical canal or uterus. If LILETTA is displaced (e.g., expelled or perforated the uterus), remove it. Pregnancy related risks with LILETTA If pregnancy should occur with LILETTA in place, remove the intrauterine system because leaving it in place may increase the risk of spontaneous abortion and preterm labor. Removal or manipulation may result in pregnancy loss. Evaluate women for ectopic pregnancy because the likelihood of a pregnancy being ectopic is increased with LILETTA. Tell women about the signs of ectopic pregnancy and associated risks, including loss of fertility. Women with a history of ectopic pregnancy, tubal surgery, or pelvic infection carry a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. Educate her about PID Insertion of LILETTA is contraindicated in the presence of known or suspected PID or endometritis or a history of PID unless there has been a subsequent intrauterine pregnancy. IUSs have been associated with an increased risk of PID, most likely due to organisms being introduced into the uterus during insertion. About 1/3 of women diagnosed with PID developed the infection within a week of LILETTA insertion, while the remainder were diagnosed more than six months after insertion. Counsel women who receive LILETTA to notify a healthcare provider if they have complaints of lower abdominal or pelvic pain, odorous discharge, unexplained bleeding, fever, or genital lesions or sores. PID is often associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs); LILETTA does not protect against STIs, including HIV. PID or endometritis may be asymptomatic but still result in tubal damage and its sequelae. Inform women about the possibility of PID and that PID can cause tubal damage leading to ectopic pregnancy or infertility, or infrequently can necessitate hysterectomy, or cause death. Expect changes in bleeding patterns with LILETTA Spotting and irregular or heavy bleeding may occur during the first 3 to 6 months. Periods may become shorter and/or lighter thereafter. Cycles may remain irregular, become infrequent, or even cease. Consider pregnancy if menstruation does not occur within 6 weeks of the onset of previous menstruation. If a significant change in bleeding develops during prolonged use, take appropriate diagnostic measures to rule out endometrial pathology. Be aware of other serious complications and most common adverse reactions Some serious complications with IUSs like LILETTA are sepsis, perforation, and expulsion. Severe infection or sepsis, including Group A streptococcal sepsis (GAS), have been reported following insertion of other LNG-releasing IUSs. Aseptic technique during insertion of LILETTA is essential in order to minimize serious infections such as GAS. Perforation (total or partial, including penetration/embedment of LILETTA in the uterine wall or cervix) may occur, most often during insertion, although the perforation may not be detected until sometime later. Perforation may reduce contraceptive efficacy. If perforation occurs, locate and remove LILETTA. Surgery may be required. Delayed detection or removal of LILETTA in case of perforation may result in migration outside the uterine cavity, adhesions, peritonitis, intestinal perforations, intestinal obstruction, abscesses, and erosion of adjacent viscera. The risk of perforation is higher if inserted in lactating women and may be higher if inserted in women who are postpartum or when the uterus is fixed retroverted. Partial or complete expulsion of LILETTA may occur, resulting in the loss of contraceptive protection. Delay LILETTA insertion a minimum of 6 weeks or until uterine involution is complete following a delivery or a second trimester abortion. Remove a partially expelled LILETTA. If expulsion has occurred, a new LILETTA may be inserted within 7 days after the onset of a menstrual period after pregnancy has been ruled out. Ovarian cysts may occur and are generally asymptomatic, but may be accompanied by pelvic pain or dyspareunia. Evaluate persistent ovarian cysts. In the clinical trial of LILETTA the most common adverse reactions (5% users) were vaginal infections (13.6%), vulvovaginal infections (13.3%), acne (12.3%), headache or migraine (9.8%), nausea or vomiting (7.9%), dyspareunia (7.0%), abdominal pain or discomfort (6.8%), breast tenderness or pain (6.7%), pelvic discomfort or pain (6.1%), depression or depressed mood (5.4%), and mood changes (5.2%). Teach patients to recognize and immediately report signs or symptoms of the aforementioned conditions. Evaluate patients 4 to 6 weeks after insertion of LILETTA and then yearly or more often if clinically indicated. Please see the link to LILETTA Full Prescribing Information: http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/liletta_pi About Allergan Women's Healthcare Allergan is a leader in women's health care that is dedicated to developing and commercializing best-in-class pharmaceuticals to improve the health and wellness of women. Allergan takes a holistic and a best-in-class approach to women's healthcare as it prioritizes educational partnerships with OB/GYNs. The mission of Allergan Women's HealthCare extends beyond its pharmaceutical products to ensure that all women can make informed decisions about their health and have access to high-quality medications. Allergan is committed to investing in programs that support the education and well-being of all women. About Allergan Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a unique, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative branded pharmaceuticals, high-quality generic and over-the-counter medicines, and biologic products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of best-in-class products that provide valuable treatments for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics, gastroenterology, women's health, urology, cardiovascular and anti-infective therapeutic categories, and operates the world's third-largest global generics business, providing patients around the globe with increased access to affordable, high-quality medicines. Allergan is an industry leader in research and development, with one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry and a leading position in the submission of generic product applications globally. About Medicines360 Medicines360, located in San Francisco, California, is a nonprofit global women's health pharmaceutical company with a mission to expand access to quality medicines for all women regardless of their socioeconomic status, insurance coverage or geographic location. Medicines360 is committed to working with healthcare providers, advocacy groups and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help women around the world have greater access to the medicines they need. For more information, visit www.medicines360.org Forward-Looking Statement Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 (such periodic public filings having been filed under the "Actavis plc" name). Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. CONTACTS: Investors: Lisa DeFrancesco (862) 261-7152 Media: Mark Marmur (862) 261-7558 SOURCE Allergan plc Related Links http://www.allergan.com NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American Media, Inc. (AMI) announced that its digital properties continued their run of record-breaking traffic in Q1, averaging over 50 million unique visitors and over 350 million page views per month across its portfolio of sites. This is the third consecutive record breaking quarter for AMI Digital. AMI's Celebrity Network continues to grow rapidly and now reaches over 28 million readers per month. Radar Online led the group with another strong quarter and OKmagazine.com now reaches over 10 million readers monthly. Starmagazine.com had extraordinary growth, 7x annually, with particularly huge gains in mobile and social traffic. NationalEnquirer.com is growing readership quickly while showing very strong engagement, more than doubling page views over the previous quarter. The Men's Active Lifestyle network, which includes Men's Fitness and Muscle & Fitness digital sites, also delivered record traffic highs - up 8% over the previous quarter. Now reaching 22 million unique visitors per month and over 14 million social followers, these sites have become the premier way to reach fit, fashionable, millennial males. "We are very pleased with another record-breaking traffic quarter for both our Celebrity and Men's Active Lifestyle networks. We remain highly focused on creating engaging, quality content which is clearly resonating with readers across all of our sites as well as distributed, social and mobile platforms." said Chief Digital Officer Brian Kroski. About American Media, Inc. American Media, Inc. (AMI) owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and active lifestyle media brands in the United States. AMI's titles include National Enquirer, Star, OK!, Globe, National Examiner, Soap Opera Digest, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex and Muscle & Fitness Hers. AMI also manages 10 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, MensFitness.com and MuscleandFitness.com. AMI's magazines have a combined total circulation of 2.1+ million and reach more than 37 million men and women each month. AMI's digital properties reach an average of 50 million unique visitors and over 350 million page views monthly. SOURCE American Media, Inc. Comprised of purple passion fruit, Shangri-la peony and vanilla orchid, the timeless fragrance is encased in a gorgeous emerald-cut bottle adorned with classic Victoria's Secret pink stripes and topped off with a black satin logo bow. Perfect for Mother's Day gifting, Victoria's Secret features a variety of prestige fragrances and gift sets. The Bombshell collection includes: Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz. / $52, Eau de Parfum 3.4 oz. / $68; Body Lotion, 8.4 oz. / $25; Body Mist 8.4 oz. / $25 and Rollerball .25 oz / $18. Victoria's Secret will also feature a limited-edition luxe version of the iconic Bombshell bottle. Adorned with hand-cut pink Swarovski crystal embellishments, this collector's item retails for $250. The Bombshell collection is available now online and in Victoria's Secret stores. About Victoria's Secret Victoria's Secret is the leading specialty retailer of lingerie and beauty products with prestige fragrances, body care, celebrated Supermodels and world-famous runway shows. A business of L Brands, Inc. (NYSE: LB), Victoria's Secret serves customers at more than 1,500 Victoria's Secret Lingerie and Beauty stores around the globe and online at www.VictoriasSecret.com, enabling them to shop the brand anywhere and anytime. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361904 SOURCE Victoria's Secret Related Links http://www.VictoriasSecret.com BOSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Arsenal Consulting President Mark Spencer's article in Digital Forensics Magazine (Issue 27, published May 1) describes how his firm uncovered evidence tampering which led to the wrongful imprisonment of Turkish investigative reporter Baris Pehlivan and his colleagues at Odatv. Odatv runs one of the most popular news websites in Turkey and has a reputation for being critical of the current government, controlled since 2002 by the Justice and Development Party. Mr. Pehlivan and his colleagues are currently on trial and accused of supporting the Ergenekon terrorist organization. Ergenekon is an alleged secularist "deep state" in Turkey with ties to the military, academia, NGOs, and the media whose supporters are charged with plotting to overthrow the government. "Arsenal has a great deal of experience identifying evidence tampering, but even we were surprised by the volume and nature of the attacks against Mr. Pehlivan's Odatv computer," Mr. Spencer said. "Unfortunately for Mr. Pehlivan and his colleagues, these attacks were ultimately successful and resulted in their imprisonment." Arsenal used an analysis technique known as "Anchors in Relative Time" to reveal critical details about the attacks - details other digital forensics experts missed. This analysis technique allows digital forensics experts to determine when, in relative time, important events have occurred within electronic evidence, even when all the dates and times associated with those events cannot be trusted. Anchors in Relative Time has become one of Arsenal's most powerful weapons when confronting sophisticated evidence tampering. Mr. Spencer will be discussing the analysis of Mr. Pehlivan's Odatv computer at the Internet Security Operations and Intelligence conference in San Francisco, CA on May 12 and the High Technology Crime Investigation Association's Mid-Atlantic Chapter meeting in Manassas, VA on May 19. About Arsenal Consulting Arsenal provides digital forensics services to law firms, corporations, and government agencies by leveraging battle-tested digital forensics tools and techniques refined through many years of research and development. Using the most powerful tools and techniques, Arsenal uncovers smoking guns that others simply cannot. Arsenal is headquartered in the Chelsea Naval Magazine, a historic military structure in which arms for the celebrated heavy frigate USS Constitution were stored, just outside Boston, Massachusetts. Contact: Mark Spencer 617-277-3625 [email protected] PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12554673 SOURCE Arsenal Consulting, Inc. Related Links http://www.arsenalexperts.com "We are happy to have built this facility in Athens," said Yuji Kobayashi, Vice President, Representative Director, and Executive Officer for Material Business Sector at Asahi Kasei Corporation. "We have found Asahi Kasei's core values as a company to be in line with the city of Athens: forward thinking, open mindedness and willingness to embrace diversity." Asahi Kasei Plastics' second facility in North America will manufacture high performance plastic compounds for OEMs and tier suppliers in automotive, industrial, furniture and trucking markets. "We know our success here is possible when our customers succeed," said Hiroshi Yoshida, President of Performance Polymers SBU and Lead Executive Officer at Asahi Kasei Corporation. "We are committed to contributing to our partners' success by being available in various capacities, through our best-in-class applications development team and technical support." John Moyer, President of Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. and Lead Executive Officer at Asahi Kasei Corporation, also shared a few words, "The folks here in Athens, Limestone County and the state of Alabama have been very welcoming to Asahi Kasei. I want to give a special thanks to all those responsible for constructing this exceptional facility." A third production line that was recently delivered was also on display for attendees, and is expected to be in operation later this year. Asahi Kasei continues to strengthen their position in the battery separator market with their recent acquisition of Polypore International LP. On an international level, Asahi Kasei Plastics recently opened a sales office in Queretaro, Mexico. They are beginning the process to evaluate sites for a new compounding facility in the region. About Asahi Kasei Plastics Asahi Kasei Plastics is a leading international compounder of advanced engineered polymers. As the largest glass reinforced polypropylene manufacturer in North America, Asahi Kasei Plastics provides unique engineering solutions for global markets. Company product lines include THERMYLENE (PP), LEONA (PA66), TENAC (POM, POM-C), XYRON (mPPE), and STYLAC (ABS). If you would like more information about the grand opening, please contact JP Wiese at 517-294-0254 or email at [email protected]. Photos and video are available at: http://bit.ly/1NiE3Ip Website: www.akplastics.com Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362374 SOURCE Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. Related Links http://www.akplastics.com HOUSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the termination of its merger agreement, Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE: BHI) today outlined a series of actions to reduce costs and simplify its business, enhance its commercial strategy, and optimize its capital structure. The steps are intended to strengthen the company's competitive position, financial performance and shareholder returns during the ongoing industry challenges of today and for the additional opportunities that will be available when the market recovers. Baker Hughes Chairman and CEO Martin Craighead said that the company is well positioned to build on its heritage as a product innovator, focusing on the development of products that lower costs and maximize production for operators in the oil and gas industry. "Innovation is what we do best and what our customers need the most. It is an enviable capability that is part of our culture and continues to differentiate us in the market. Baker Hughes also has an experienced and exceptionally talented team of people, a global footprint, and industry-leading products, services and technology expertise," Craighead said. "More than ever, our customers need to lower their costs and maximize production. These objectives align with our strengths in Well Construction, where we have leading capabilities in drilling services, drill bits and completions, and Well Production, where we have a unique portfolio with artificial lift systems, wireline services and production chemicals. We intend to build on our strong foundation and market position by simplifying the structure of our business and evolving our commercial strategy to deliver significant value to shareholders." Actions outlined by the company include: Improving operational efficiency and effectiveness Baker Hughes is taking immediate steps to remove significant costs that were retained in compliance with the former merger agreement. In addition to removing those previously disclosed costs, the company is evaluating broader structural changes to further significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency, which will allow it to better serve the rapidly shifting global market. The initial phase of the cost reduction efforts is expected to result in $500 million of annualized savings by the end of 2016. Evolving the company's go-to-market strategy As it seeks to further capitalize on its leadership position as a product innovator, the company is evolving its go-to-market strategy to align with a changing marketplace and maximize its return on invested capital. The company will be rationalizing where it provides its current full-service model and will build a broader range of global sales channels for select countries, including tailored operating models. These new channels will allow Baker Hughes to take its products to market more efficiently and participate differently in existing markets with lower investment and fewer risks. In an effort to improve its return on invested capital the company has decided to retain a selective footprint in its U.S. onshore pressure pumping business, while preserving the flexibility to expand for the right opportunities. This approach will allow the company to achieve cash-positive operations in a capital-intensive segment that is expected to remain challenging due to overcapacity, commoditized pricing and low barriers to entry. Optimizing the company's capital structure The company also is taking actions to optimize its capital structure to achieve the right balance between returning capital to shareholders, maintaining strong investment grade ratings and having the necessary cash to fund cost efficiency initiatives, while preserving its financial flexibility. As part of these plans, the company intends to buy back shares totaling $1.5 billion and debt totaling $1 billion, from proceeds of the $3.5 billion breakup fee. In addition, the company intends to refinance its $2.5 billion credit facility, which expires in September 2016. "The company will approach these actions thoughtfully, decisively and swiftly to position the company for success and to maximize shareholder value," Craighead said. "As we implement these changes, we remain focused on running the business efficiently while capitalizing on our strengths as a product innovator to create new growth opportunities. We are extremely appreciative of our customers and their loyalty to Baker Hughes, and our employees are energized to turn our technology expertise into the latest game-changing product innovations that create even more value for them." Baker Hughes will provide more details on its plans when Craighead and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Ross host a webcast on Tuesday, May 3 at 7:00 a.m. Central Time (8:00 a.m. Eastern Time). To access the webcast, go to our Events and Presentations page on the Company's website at: www.bakerhughes.com/investor. Forward-Looking Statements This news release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release, including on the conference call announced herein) contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (each a "forward-looking statement"). The words "anticipate," "believe," "ensure," "expect," "if," "intend," "estimate," "project," "foresee," "forecasts," "predict," "outlook," "aim," "will," "could," "should," "potential," "would," "may," "probable," "likely," and similar expressions, and the negative thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2015, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings available through the Company's website at: www.bakerhughes.com/investor or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval ("EDGAR") system at: www.sec.gov. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement. Our expectations regarding our business outlook and business plans; share and debt repurchases; the business plans of our customers; oil and natural gas market conditions; cost and availability of resources; economic, legal and regulatory conditions, and other matters are only our forecasts regarding these matters. Baker Hughes is a leading supplier of oilfield services, products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. The company's 39,000 employees today work in more than 80 countries helping customers find, evaluate, drill, produce, transport and process hydrocarbon resources. For more information about Baker Hughes, visit: www.bakerhughes.com. SOURCE Baker Hughes Incorporated Related Links http://www.bakerhughes.com "Bank of the West is especially proud to have been the first bank ever to offer a HOPE Inside Center in one of our branches. Today, more than 10 years later, the opening of Colorado's first HOPE Inside Center continues our commitment in partnership with Operation Hope to provide financial education to enrich the lives of individuals, families and business owners and promote stronger communities," said Michael Shepherd, chairman and CEO of Bank of the West and member of Operation HOPE's Global Board since 2010. Shepherd is also a member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion. The HOPE Inside Center in Aurora is the bank's third HOPE location, joining a Bank of the West HOPE Inside Center in Pico Rivera, California that opened in 2014 and the nation's first HOPE Inside Center that the bank opened within its Oakland, California branch in 2003. Thousands of HOPE Inside participants have benefitted from this innovative model of housing a financial education nonprofit within the bank's branches including, 20,000 individuals reached with financial education classes focused on personal money management. 10,000 individuals and entrepreneurs who have received coaching on credit, pathways to homeownership, and small business planning. Participants in the 700 Credit Score Communities Program who are being mentored to raise their credit score 120 points in 24 months. The 700 Credit Score initiative began in 2015. "We are grateful to Bank of the West for their support as a strategic partner in opening another installation of HOPE Inside," said Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and CEO John Hope Bryant. "The sustainable model now known as HOPE Inside continues to demonstrate great success around the nation, and we look forward to impacting communities in the Denver area by equipping people with the financial tools and training required to realize their aspirations and ensure their financial well-being." Beyond its collaboration with Operation HOPE, Bank of the West has a long tradition of supporting Colorado communities through community development and philanthropy. Over the past three years in Colorado, the bank has provided 3,000 loans to small business owners, awarded nearly 250 grants to nonprofit organizations, and donated $1.2 million in corporate philanthropy. About Operation HOPE, Inc. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underservedpowering the broadest financial inclusion network in the country. Through its core programs, the nonprofit has provided financial dignity and economic empowerment to over 2.6 million individuals worldwide, and $2 billion in economic activity for the disenfranchisedturning check cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, and minimum wage workers into living wage consumers. Project 5117 is Operation HOPE's multi-year four-pronged approach to combating economic inequality that aims to improve financial literacy, increase business role models and business internships for youth, and stabilize the American dream by boosting credit scores. Operation HOPE recently received its second consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability by the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigatorfurther establishing it as a best-in-class organization. For more information: www.OperationHOPE.org About Bank of the West Bank of the West is a regional financial services company chartered in California and headquartered in San Francisco with $75.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2015. Founded in 1874, Bank of the West provides a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services through more than 600 offices in 22 states and digital channels. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, which has a presence in 75 countries with 185,000 employees. Follow us on Twitter: @BankoftheWest Twitter: https://twitter.com/BankoftheWest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BankoftheWest/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bank-of-the-west Blog: http://blog.bankofthewest.com/ Video - https://youtu.be/bChGYILS9-c Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150226/178001LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160430/362025LOGO SOURCE Bank of the West Related Links http://www.bankofthewest.com This news release contains forward-looking statements. For a description of the related risk factors and assumptions, please see the section entitled "Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" later in this release. MONTREAL, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - BCE Inc. (Bell) (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) today announced that it will divest one-third of the postpaid wireless subscribers of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS) (TSX: MBT) to TELUS Corp. (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) following the completion of Bell's acquisition of MTS announced earlier today. As part of the transaction, Bell will also assign one-third of MTS dealer locations in Manitoba to TELUS. "This transaction with TELUS enhances wireless competition to the benefit of Manitobans while reducing the cost of our acquisition of MTS," said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and Bell Canada. The Bell-TELUS transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The Bell-MTS transaction is not conditional on completion of the Bell-TELUS transaction. Caution concerning forward-looking statements Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the proposed acquisition by BCE Inc. ("BCE") of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MTS Inc. ("MTS") (the "MTS Transaction"), the proposed divestiture by BCE to TELUS Corporation ("TELUS") of a certain portion of MTS's postpaid wireless subscribers and the proposed assignment by BCE to TELUS of a certain portion of MTS's dealer locations (the "TELUS Transaction" and, together with the MTS Transaction, the "Proposed Transactions"), our business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words assumption, goal, guidance, objective, outlook, project, strategy, target and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as aim, anticipate, believe, could, expect, intend, may, plan, seek, should, strive and will. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the Proposed Transactions and their expected impact. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The completion and timing of the Proposed Transactions are subject to customary closing conditions, termination rights and other risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the relevant regulatory approvals. The MTS Transaction is, in addition, subject to court and shareholder approval. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Proposed Transactions will occur, or that they will occur on the terms and conditions, or at the time, contemplated by the parties. The Proposed Transactions could be modified, restructured or terminated. About BCE Canada's largest communications company, BCE provides a comprehensive and innovative suite of broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication services from Bell Canada and Bell Aliant. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out of home and digital media. To learn more, please visit BCE.ca. The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk. Media inquiries: Jean Charles Robillard (514) 870-4739 [email protected] Investor inquiries: Thane Fotopoulos (514) 870-4619 [email protected] SOURCE BCE Inc. Related Links www.bell.ca HOUSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel has signed a license agreement with Assiut Oil Refining Company (ASORC), a subsidiary of Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), for the process design of a delayed coking unit at the Assiut refinery in Egypt. The new delayed coking unit will be part of the US$ 1.5 billion refinery modernization program, using Bechtel's proprietary ThruPlus coking technology to upgrade heavy oil into high-value, light hydrocarbon liquids. "Investment in the Assiut Refinery will increase production of petroleum products to meet Upper Egypt's growing demands, while maintaining important environmental standards," said Nagi Abd El-Ghaffar Kassab, chairman of ASORC. "The addition of a modern delayed coking unit was determined to be the most economical option to allow the refinery to increase complexity and eliminate heavy fuel oil product." "Implementation of Bechtel's ThruPlus technology combined with our delayed coking expertise and extensive experience of our people will increase the efficiency of the Assiut refinery," said Dan Olsen, president of Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions. "We are looking forward to working with ASORC to support their goal of expanding the refinery's capabilities aligned with Egypt's strategic energy and economic goals. The use of ThruPlus technology at the Assiut refinery will also enhance efficiency of EGPC operations as they already use the technology at a refinery in Alexandria operated by another subsidiary, Middle East Oil Refining Co." Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions is a Bechtel subsidiary that provides technology licensing and process consulting services to the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry. Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions acquired ThruPlus technology from ConocoPhilips in 2011. About Bechtel: Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. We stand apart for our ability to get the job done rightno matter how big, how complex, or how remote. Bechtel operates through five global business units that specialize in civil infrastructure; power generation, communications, and transmission; mining and metals; oil, gas, and chemicals; and government services. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Today, our 53,000 colleagues team with customers, partners, and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 40 countries. www.bechtel.com About ASORC: Assiut Oil Refining Company (ASORC) is a subsidiary of Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation. It was established in October 1984 to meet the needs of Upper Egypt for petroleum products. ASORC-owned refinery is located 400 km south of Cairo on over 1037 acres. The grass-roots refinery has the capacity of 4.5 MM T/Y of distillation crude. ASORC is in the process of developing a new Naphtha complex (NHT, CCR and Isomerization unit) with a capacity 660,000 T/Y to provide high value gasoline for Upper Egypt. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130124/SF47758LOGO Media contact: Iva Zagar t. +1-713-235-2088 [email protected] SOURCE Bechtel Related Links http://www.bechtel.com Belmora's legal dispute with Bayer originated from a U.S. Patent and Trademark Trial and Appeals Board which was moved to U.S. District Court, and most recently was before the Fourth Circuit Appeals Court. Belmora has fought Bayer's unusual extension of U.S. trademark privileges to foreign brands that many believe to be unconstitutional an extension for which Bayer is arguing. Key observers worry that if U.S. courts side with Bayer in the matter, many American businesses will be adversely affected, by facing an onslaught of lawsuits against their American trademarks from foreign competitors with similar foreign marks. The Belmora vs. Bayer case may ultimately warrant an appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court. "The notion of a large foreign corporation being allowed to invoke global trademark rights against a small American business is troubling," states Ronald Coleman, Partner with Archer & Greiner, PC. He continues, "The trademark laws were drafted by the U.S. Congress to protect trademarks that are used in U.S. commerce, not as a proxy for other brands based on foreign only use. Anyone interested in protecting the statutory and constitutional basis of our trademark and unfair competition laws should support Belmora's cause." About Belmora LLC: Belmora has developed a line of nonprescription medicine that is bilingually labeled in English and Spanish to address the needs of the U.S. Hispanic community. Belmora products are marketed under the Flanax brand, never before used in the USA, to treat various pain conditions. When measured against other analgesics, Flanax products recorded a measurably longer duration of action, helping to keep consumers pain-free longer. Flanax analgesics are available to the general public throughout the country from retailers including Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS and Wal-Mart and online through Amazon. About Ronald Coleman: A partner in the 175-lawyer firm of Archer & Greiner, PC, Mr. Coleman has been recognized as one of the leading trademark litigators in the U.S. by the World Trademark Review and Super Lawyers. Counsel for Simon Tam in the historic recent ruling in In re Tam, he has represented clients of every size in state and federal courts, bench and jury trials, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), and in arbitrations and mediations throughout the country. He has also been retained as an expert on trademark law and practice in professional liability litigation. Legal Docket Case #'s: 15-1335; 1:14-CV-00847-GBL-JFA Contact for Ronald Coleman: Archer & Greiner PC at 201 498 8544, [email protected] Contact for Belmora LLC: Jamie Belcastro, President at 888-470-1526 SOURCE Belmora LLC DENVER, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bill Barrett Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE: BBG) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to sell certain non-core assets located in the Uinta Basin for cash proceeds of approximately $30 million. The transaction is expected to close on or before June 30, 2016, and is subject to customary closing conditions. The assets produced approximately 1,000 Boe/d (63% oil) during the first quarter of 2016 and had estimated proved reserves of 2 million barrels of oil equivalent (87% proved developed) as of December 31, 2015. Based on the Company's internal estimates, the expected 2016 operating cash flow from the divested properties will be less than $2 million based on current strip pricing. Chief Executive Officer and President Scot Woodall commented, "The sale of another portion of our non-core Uinta Basin assets at attractive sale metrics further streamlines our operational portfolio and improves operating metrics. Given the current outlook for commodity prices and a focus on our core DJ Basin assets, we had no development activity planned for this year. The divestiture will minimally impact our 2016 production and cash flow, while improving our operating cost structure due to the higher-cost nature of the properties. The proceeds from this transaction will be used to strengthen our balance sheet by adding to our cash position." Wells Fargo Securities, LLC advised the Company with respect to the Uinta Basin divestiture process. Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as expects, forecast, guidance, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements herein; however, these are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release relate to, among other things, the closing and anticipated effects of, and proceeds from, the planned asset sale. These and other forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's judgment as of the date of this release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC and other filings, including our Current Reports on Form 8-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, all of which are incorporated by reference herein, for further discussion of risk factors that may affect the forward-looking statements. The Company encourages you to consider the risks and uncertainties associated with projections and other forward-looking statements and to not place undue reliance on any such statements. In addition, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements based on future events or circumstances. ABOUT BILL BARRETT CORPORATION Bill Barrett Corporation (NYSE: BBG), headquartered in Denver, Colorado, develops oil and natural gas in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. Additional information about the Company may be found on its website www.billbarrettcorp.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150317/182406LOGO SOURCE Bill Barrett Corporation Related Links http://www.billbarrettcorp.com - Presentation with live webcast Thursday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET - - Presentation to include Company's recent acquisition of Interactive Motion Technologies, Inc. - TORONTO and BOSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX: BNKL), a global pioneering robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation solutions to individuals with neurological disorders ("Bionik" or the "Company"), announced today that Peter Bloch, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board will present at the inaugural Pioneers 2016 presented by Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC conference on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. ET in New York, NY. Mr. Bloch will provide a corporate update and will discuss Bionik's recent acquisition of Interactive Motion Technologies, Inc. ("IMT"), a Boston, Massachusetts-based global pioneer and leader in providing effective robotic tools for neurorehabilitation. Through the acquisition of IMT, Bionik's product line now includes three upper extremity clinical rehabilitation products currently on the market for clinical use and two lower-body robots available for research use, being developed for clinical release. In addition the Company now has a potential pipeline to other new product candidates based on recent research being done at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ("MIT") by Hermano I. Krebs, Ph.D., M.S., Chief Science Officer of Bionik and Dr. Neville Hogan, who now serves as an advisor to the Bionik team. The clinical products have been characterized as Class II medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and are currently sold in over 20 countries, including the United States. In addition, Bionik will maintain IMT's U.S. manufacturing facility based in Boston, Massachusetts, which is compliant with ISO-13485 and FDA regulations. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on Bionik's IR Calendar in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (www.bioniklabs.com). The webcast replay will be available for approximately two hours after the presentation ends and will be archived for 30 days. About Pioneers 2016 The Pioneers Conference is dedicated to providing a forum where publicly traded companies can network with the investment community. The 2016 Conference will feature presentations by CEOs and CFOs from several principal industry sectors, expert panels moderated by industry leaders, and the opportunity to meet with management of presenting companies on a one-on-one basis. About Bionik Laboratories Bionik Laboratories (OTCQX: BNKL), is a global, pioneering robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation solutions to individuals with neurological disorders. Through the acquisition of Interactive Motion Technologies, Bionik has added a portfolio of products focused on upper and lower extremity rehabilitation of stroke patients. The Company now has three products on the market and three products in varying stages of development. The InMotion Systems - the InMotion ARM, InMotionWrist, InMotion Hand and InMotion Ankle, are designed to provide intelligent, patient-adaptive therapy in a manner that has been clinically verified to maximize neuro-recovery. Bionik is also developing a lower-body exoskeleton, ARKE, designed to allow paraplegics as well as other wheelchair users the ability to rehabilitate through walking. Each of Bionik's products are or are expected to be designed to continually adapt to a patient's ability and provide real time feedback to the physiotherapist through the use of Bionik's proprietary data collection and analytics cloud network through its partnership with IBM. For more information, please visit www.bioniklabs.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the design, development and commercialization of human exoskeletons and other rehabilitation products, (ii) a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) the Company's future financial performance, (iv) the successful integration of IMT with Bionik and (v) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances and may not be realized because they are based upon the Company's current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which the Company has no control over. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the Company's inability to obtain additional financing, the significant length of time and resources associated with the development of our products and related insufficient cash flows and resulting illiquidity, the Company's inability to expand the Company's business, significant government regulation of medical devices and the healthcare industry, lack of product diversification, volatility in the price of the Company's raw materials, and the Company's failure to implement the Company's business plans or strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150817/258751LOGO SOURCE Bionik Laboratories Corp. Related Links http://www.bioniklabs.com DEERFIELD, Ill. and OSAKA, Japan, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) (collectively "Takeda"), and Lundbeck announced today that Brintellix (vortioxetine) will be marketed in the United States under the new name Trintellix (vortioxetine) starting in June of 2016. The vortioxetine product is a prescription medicine approved to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults. The formulation, indication and dosages of Trintellix remain the same as that of Brintellix. This name change comes after receiving reports of name confusion in the marketplace between Brintellix and the anti-blood clotting therapy Brilinta (ticagrelor). In response, Takeda and Lundbeck, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), determined that a name change would be the best way to minimize future product name confusion by patients and providers. "Though the original name was fully screened prior to launch, after learning about name confusion issues with Brintellix and Brilinta, we quickly took action to educate healthcare professionals and pharmacies about the potential for name confusion," said Thomas Harris, Vice President Global Regulatory Affairs at Takeda. "Takeda and Lundbeck then proactively worked with the FDA and decided to change the name of our product as we believe this action will help minimize future risk of patients inadvertently receiving the incorrect medication." "Even though the name of the product is changing, together with Takeda, we will work to ensure providers and patients are aware that the vortioxetine product itself has not changed. It's still the same medication, dosing and expected outcomes," said Gregg Pratt, Vice President, U.S. Regulatory Affairs at Lundbeck. "Patient safety is our utmost priority at Takeda and Lundbeck," said Ramona Sequeira, President, U.S. Business Unit at Takeda. "Together, with our partners at Lundbeck, we will initiate a robust communication campaign and actively work to ensure that patients, healthcare professionals and pharmacies have uninterrupted access to this important medication. We believe these actions speak to our goals of building our business around patients, trust and reputation." During the transition period this summer, healthcare providers can still prescribe, and patients will still have access to, the product under its current brand name. The newly named Trintellix will be available in June 2016. Additionally, markings on the Trintellix tablets will be identical to the markings on tablets prior to the name change. Trintellix will have new National Drug Code (NDC) numbers associated with the product. Individuals and healthcare professionals who have questions about Brintellix, Trintellix and/or the name change, should contact Takeda at 1-877-TAKEDA-7. Errors involving Brintellix/Trintellix or any other products should be reported to the FDA MedWatch program online at www.fda.gov/medwatch. About Brintellix (vortioxetine), now known as Trintellix (vortioxetine), in the United States The mechanism of the antidepressant effect of Brintellix is not fully understood. It is an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake and that is thought to be a mechanism of its action. It is also an agonist at 5-HT1A receptors, a partial agonist at 5-HT1B receptors and an antagonist at 5-HT3, 5-HT1D and 5-HT7 receptors. The contribution of each of these activities to Brintellix's antidepressant effect has not been established. It is considered to be the first and only compound with this combination of pharmacodynamic activity. The clinical relevance of this is unknown. Brintellix was discovered by Lundbeck researchers in Copenhagen, Denmark. The clinical trial program in the U.S. was conducted jointly by Lundbeck and Takeda, and Takeda holds the new drug application for the U.S. market. Brintellix is a trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S and is used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. The World Health Organization has issued an Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code for Brintellix that places it in the category of "Other" antidepressants. The most commonly observed adverse events in MDD patients treated with Brintellix in 6-8 week placebo-controlled studies (incidence greater than or equal to 5 percent and at least twice the rate of placebo) were nausea, constipation and vomiting. Overall, 5 to 8 percent of the patients who received Brintellix 5 to 20 mg/day in short-term trials discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction, the most common being nausea, compared with 4 percent of placebo-treated patients in these studies. Brintellix and other antidepressants may cause serious side effects. See Important Safety Information below. In clinical studies, Brintellix had no significant effect on body weight as measured by the mean change from baseline in 6-8 week placebo-controlled studies. In the 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase of a long-term study in patients who had responded to Brintellix during the initial 12-week, open-label phase, there was no significant effect on body weight between Brintellix and placebo-treated patients. Brintellix has not been associated with any clinically significant effects on vital signs, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, as measured in placebo-controlled studies. The recommended starting dose of Brintellix is 10 mg once daily without regard to meals. The dose should then be increased to 20 mg/day, as tolerated, because higher doses demonstrated better treatment effects in trials conducted in the U.S. A dose decrease down to 5 mg/day may be considered for patients who do not tolerate higher doses. The available doses provide important flexibility for physicians to help address the variability of patient needs. Brintellix is available as 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tablets. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Suicidal Thoughts and Actions and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teens or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions. People who have (or have a family history of) bipolar illness, or suicidal thoughts or actions may have a particularly high risk. Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, impulsivity, trouble sleeping, aggressive behavior or suicidal thoughts are new, worse or worry you. BRINTELLIX has not been evaluated for use in patients under 18. Do not take BRINTELLIX if you: Are allergic to vortioxetine or any of the ingredients in BRINTELLIX Take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid; do not take an MAOI within 21 days of stopping BRINTELLIX; do not start BRINTELLIX if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days BRINTELLIX may cause serious side effects including: Serotonin Syndrome: A potentially life-threatening problem that can happen when medicines such as BRINTELLIX are taken with certain other medicines. Symptoms may include agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status; problems controlling movements or muscle twitching, stiffness or tightness; fast heartbeat, high or low blood pressure; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Abnormal bleeding or bruising: BRINTELLIX and other serotonergic antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or aspirin. Manic episode: Symptoms may include greatly increased energy; severe trouble sleeping; racing thoughts; reckless behavior; unusually grand ideas; excessive happiness or irritability; talking more or faster than usual. Visual problems: May include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood: Symptoms may include headache; difficulty concentrating, memory changes or confusion; weakness and unsteadiness on your feet; and in severe or sudden cases hallucinations, fainting, seizures or coma. If not treated, severe low sodium levels can cause death. Before starting BRINTELLIX, tell your healthcare provider if you have or had liver problems, seizures or convulsions, bipolar disorder (manic depression) or mania, low salt (sodium) levels in your blood, bleeding problems, drink alcohol, have any other medical conditions or if you are pregnant, nursing, plan to become pregnant, or plan to nurse. BRINTELLIX and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects when taken together. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan on or are taking any other prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements including medicines for migraine headaches, such as triptans; medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders such as tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, buspirone or antipsychotics; MAOIs including linezolid (a specific antibiotic); over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's wort; and the following medicines: aspirin, NSAIDs, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), diuretics, rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, quinidine, tramadol or fentanyl. Common side effects of BRINTELLIX include: nausea, constipation or vomiting. These are not all the possible side effects of BRINTELLIX. Do not start or stop taking BRINTELLIX without talking to your healthcare provider first. Suddenly stopping BRINTELLIX when you take higher doses may cause you to have side effects including headache, stiff muscles, mood swings, sudden outbursts of anger, dizziness or feeling lightheaded, or runny nose. Until you know how BRINTELLIX affects you, do not drive, operate heavy machinery or engage in other dangerous activities. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking BRINTELLIX. Talk to your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Indication for BRINTELLIX BRINTELLIX is a prescription medicine used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults. Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide for BRINTELLIX. About Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to strive towards better health for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. The company has a commercial presence covering around 70 countries, with particular strength in Asia, North America, Europe and fast-growing emerging markets including Latin America, Russia-CIS and China. Areas of R&D focus include central nervous system, cardiovascular and metabolic, gastroenterology, oncology, and vaccines. Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. is located in Deerfield, Ill., and is the U.S. marketing and sales organization of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate website, www.takeda.com, and additional information about Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. is available through its website, www.takeda.us. About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda (TSE: 4502) is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to strive towards better health for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate website, www.takeda.com. About Lundbeck Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 70 years, we have been at the forefront of research within neuroscience. The key areas of focus are Alzheimer's disease, depression, Parkinson's disease and psychosis. An estimated 700 million people worldwide are living with brain disease and far too many suffer due to inadequate treatment, discrimination, a reduced number of working days, early retirement and other unnecessary consequences. Every day, we strive for improved treatment and a better life for people living with brain disease we call this Progress in Mind. Our approximately 5,500 employees in 57 countries are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales. Our pipeline consists of several late-stage development programs and our products are available in more than 100 countries. We have research centres in China and Denmark and production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy. Lundbeck generated core revenue of DKK 13.5 billion in 2014 (EUR 1.8 billion; USD 2.4 billion). For additional information, we encourage you to visit our corporate site www.lundbeck.com and connect with us on Twitter at @Lundbeck. Lundbeck in the U.S. In the U.S., Lundbeck employs more than 800 people focused solely on accelerating therapies for brain diseases. With a special commitment to the lives of patients, families and caregivers, Lundbeck US actively engages in hundreds of initiatives each year that support our patient communities. To learn more, visit us at www.LundbeckUS.com and connect with us on Twitter at @LundbeckUS. Brintellix is a trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S, registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Trintellix is a trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S, trademarks are used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. Brilinta is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. Contacts: Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Roseanne Durril Tel: +1-224-554-1474 Email: [email protected] Lundbeck Ashleigh Duchene Tel: +1 847-282-1164 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Related Links http://www.takeda.com Ritchie Bros.' largest Canadian auction ever set new company records for online sales, bidders and number of sellers: CA$140+ million (US$111+ million) sold to online bidders (58 percent) 16,700+ bidders from 55 countries 10,200+ items sold for 1,125+ sellers EDMONTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Selling more than 10,000 equipment items and trucks in five days is a massive undertaking, and last week Ritchie Bros.' Edmonton team showed that it was up for the challenge. From April 26 - 30, 2016, Ritchie Bros. sold 10,200+ equipment items and trucks for CA$240+ million (US$191+ million) at its 200-acre Edmonton, AB auction site, making it the company's largest Canadian auction ever and the second-largest auction in company history. The five-day auction attracted 16,700+ bidders from 55 countriesa new company record, surpassing the previous record by 19 percent. Approximately 84 percent of the equipment was sold to Canadian buyers (by dollar value), including 46 percent sold to Alberta buyers. More than 13 percent of the equipment was sold to buyers from the United States. "We would like to thank all the consignors who put their trust in us to sell their equipment last week," said Brian Glenn, Senior Vice President, Ritchie Bros. "Our ability to attract more than 16,700 bidders from every corner of the world helped us achieve solid results throughout all five days of the auction. In particular, we saw strong pricing on motor scrapers, crawler tractors, wheel loaders, highway transport and gravel hauling equipment. Of particular note, approximately 46 percent of the equipment was purchased by Alberta buyers, showcasing the strength and size of this market even when there are economic challenges." 1,125+ companies sold equipment in the auction, including Newcom Earthmovers Ltd. The Brooks, AB-based earthworks construction contractor sold 400+ items in the Edmonton auction as part of a complete dispersal. "Ritchie Bros. is a one-stop shopthey know the market and they have resources no one can touch," said Harold Ward, president and owner of Newcom Earthmovers. "We've been buying and selling here since we started the company 12 years ago. With the changing landscape here in Alberta we thought it would be a good time for us to sell and we're happy with the result." More than 6,150 people (37 percent) registered to bid in person, while 10,550+ people (63 percent) registered to bid onlineboth of which are new company records. More than CA$140 million (US$111+ million) of equipment was sold to online buyers (58 percent)also a new company record. "We continue to invest in both our live and online experience, welcoming our customers and offering them the best of both worlds," said Trent Vandenberghe, Vice President, Ritchie Bros. "The onsite experience in an auction of this size is particularly special. It's hard to understand the scope unless you see it in person." One highlight of the auction was the charity auction of two classic cars donated by Edmonton couple Reno and Jane Trentini. The cars sold for a combined CA$182,500 with all proceeds donated to two charitable organizations: the MS Society and the Edmonton Community Foundation. Auction quick facts: Edmonton, AB (April 2016) Gross auction proceeds for CA$240+ million (US$191+ million) *New Canadian record for CA$240+ million (US$191+ million) Amount sold to online bidders CA$140+ million (US$111+ million) *New company record CA$140+ million (US$111+ million) Total registered bidders (onsite and online) 16,700+ bidders from 55 countries *New company record 16,700+ bidders from 55 countries Online registered bidders 10,550+ *New company record 10,550+ Number of lots sold 10,200+ *New Canadian record 10,200+ Number of sellers 1,125+ *New company record Ritchie Bros.' next Edmonton auction will be held on June 14 - 16, 2016. Anyone interested in adding their equipment to the auction should contact the auction site at +1.780.955.2486. About Ritchie Bros. Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is the world's largest seller of used equipment for the construction, transportation, agriculture, material handling, energy, mining, forestry, marine and other industries. Ritchie Bros. TM solutions make it easy for the world's builders to buy and sell equipment with confidence, including live unreserved public auctions with on-site and online bidding (rbauction.com), the EquipmentOneTM secure online marketplace (EquipmentOne.com), a professional corporate asset management program, and a range of value-added services, including equipment financing for customers through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services (rbauction.com/financing). Ritchie Bros. has operations in 19 countries, including 44 auction sites worldwide. Learn more at RitchieBros.com. Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media. SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Related Links www.rbauction.com PAWTUCKET, R.I., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The publishers of Marijuana Business Daily will host their annual Spring Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in Orlando, FL May 9-11, 2016. George Jage, President of Marijuana Business Daily asserts, "This is going to be an epic year for the cannabis industry after a nearly two-year lull in state initiatives being passed. Starting with Pennsylvania becoming the 24th state to allow medical cannabis, there is also a surge of state ballot initiatives in place that will open more medical and recreational markets come November. Most notably, we are going to see a big change in the center of gravity of the industry from being west coast focused to nationally-focused with major markets in the Midwest, New England and Mid-Atlantic regions opening for business." The Marijuana Business Conference & Expo will play host to more than 200 exhibitors and 60 speakers. Attendance is expected to exceed 3000 entrepreneurs, executives, and major private investors from all 50 states, Canada and Europe. All seven key industry sectors will be fully represented: dispensaries and rec retailers, wholesale growers, professional and financial services, infused product makers, private equity investors, ancillary products and tech, and testing labs. "It is where the rubber hits the road from legislation to commercial success. I remain amazed at the sheer volume of business deals, partnerships and innovation that is a direct result of the power of the face-to-face interaction that happens at our live events," continued Jage. The Marijuana Business Conference & Expo is the largest gathering of the industry's top talent. Three keynote presentations will focus on generational engagement strategies, medical marijuana legalization and a look at the current state of the industry. Additional programming includes a Marijuana Business Crash Course, roundtable discussions, an Investors Breakfast, the Women's Marijuana Business Breakfast and The #MJBizCon Mixer. For a complete agenda, speaker lineup, or to register, go to http://MJBizConference.com About the Spring 2016 Marijuana Business Conference & Expo Produced by Marijuana Business Daily, a division of Anne Holland Ventures Inc., the Conference is both the oldest and largest national event for the now $3 billion cannabis industry. The Marijuana Business Conference & Expo was recently named one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Shows by Trade Show Executive. Marijuana Business Daily also publishes Marijuana Business Magazine, the annual Marijuana Business Factbook, and the Marijuana Industry Directory. Marijuana Business Conference & Expo Contact: Tess Woods 617-942-0336 [email protected] SOURCE Marijuana Business Daily Related Links http://mjbizdaily.com NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Champlain Housing Trust will be recognized by Mutual of America for its Harbor Place program during a special hometown luncheon and award presentation at the Hilton Burlington in Burlington on Tuesday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m. The program was named a Merit Finalist Award recipient in Mutual of America's 2015 Community Partnership Award competition, which received entries from organizations nationwide. As one of 10 finalists in the competition, Champlain Housing Trust received a monetary award from Mutual of America. The Champlain Housing Trust is the largest provider of affordable housing in northwest Vermont. In 2013, they bought a 59-room motel and partnered with state and local agencies to add on-site support services to provide emergency housing for homeless Vermonters. In doing so, they turned a once-failing motel in Shelburne into a haven of hope called Harbor Place. The Harbor Place program offers homeless guests a path to rebuilding their lives. Families and individuals are provided with a warm, clean and safe temporary place to stay. In addition, they have direct access to vital services, including crisis counseling, health care services, credit-repair counseling and other programs aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness by helping them get back on their feet and into permanent housing. "Harbor Place has provided needed shelter to more than 1,000 individuals," said Brenda Torpy, Chief Executive Officer of Champlain Housing Trust. "Based on this success, the state has asked us to help other service providers in Vermont replicate our unique case-management model by working together to share what we've learned." About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that 10 nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Last year, Mutual of America celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Community Partnership Award. Since 1996, 200 partnerships from cities and towns across America have been recognized. To learn more, visit mutualofamerica.com/cpa. To watch videos of all 20 national award-winning programs, visit the official YouTube channel for the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award. About Mutual of America Mutual of America specializes in providing retirement products and services to organizations and their employees, as well as to individuals. Since 1945, Mutual of America has remained committed to offering plan sponsors, plan participants and individuals carefully selected, quality products and services at a competitive price and the personal attention they need to help build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. For more information, visit mutualofamerica.com . Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121115/NY13778LOGO SOURCE Mutual of America Related Links http://www.mutualofamerica.com SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chegg, Inc. (NYSE: CHGG), the Student Hub, today announced that it has acquired Imagine Easy Solutions ("Imagine Easy"), the provider of popular service EasyBib.com and other essential writing tools with capabilities such as citations, bibliography, writing structure and anti-plagiarism, used by more than 7 million unique users in March 2016. "We know that writing is one of the biggest pain points for students today, with about one quarter of all college freshmen required to take remedial writing courses and employers rating less than 30% of recent graduates as being well prepared written communicators," said Dan Rosensweig, Chairman and CEO of Chegg. "Inability to write at the college level is a leading indicator of which students will eventually drop out, a situation that adversely impacts both the student and the school. With this acquisition, Chegg now has the ability to serve the millions of students who depend on writing help every day, in particular those students required to take remedial writing classes." Chegg has acquired Imagine Easy for approximately $42 million in an all-cash transaction, approximately $25 million of which was paid at closing and $17 million of which is to be paid by April 2017. There are potential additional payments of up to $18 million over the next three years that remain subject to contingencies. These contingent payments may be settled either in cash or common stock, at the discretion of Chegg. Similar to Chegg's existing revenue model, Imagine Easy's diversified revenues are composed of subscriptions and digital advertising. The transaction is anticipated to be accretive to Chegg's fiscal 2016 revenues and earnings. Writing deficiencies have become one of the biggest education issues today and writing is the most frequently requested area for help among high school and college students: Only 27% of employers rated recent college grads are well prepared as written communicators; [i] Nearly 25% of college freshman are required to take non-credit remedial writing courses; [ii] It costs about $7 billion annually to deliver remedial writing services to students and institutions.[iii] Imagine Easy's subscription products include EasyBib, Citation Machine, BibMe, Cite This for Me, and Normas APA, which is available in Spanish. In the last 12 months, students logged more than 240 million individual online sessions, lasting an average of more than 8 minutes per session. Since their launch, students worldwide have created approximately 1.4 billion citations using Imagine Easy's writing productivity tools. "Imagine Easy and Chegg share the same vision and mission to develop and offer leading, student-first tools that help students improve their outcomes," said Neal Taparia, co-CEO and co-Founder of Imagine Easy. "By joining Chegg, we accelerate our plans for delivering a complete suite of writing tools that democratize access to great educational resources and provide students with the academic support they need," said Darshan Somashekar, co-CEO and co-Founder of Imagine Easy. Both co-Founders will be joining Chegg as full time employees. Chegg will address investor questions about the transaction during its upcoming quarterly earnings call on May 2, 2016. To access the call, please dial (877) 407-4018, or outside the U.S. +1 (201) 689-8471, five minutes prior to 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (or 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) on May 2, 2016. More information about the acquisition can be found at by emailing [email protected]. To explore the Imagine Easy platform, visit www.imagineeasy.com. Vista Point Advisors, a San Francisco based boutique investment bank, acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Imagine Easy. Deborah Quazzo of GSV Advisors personally advised the founders of Imagine Easy with consulting services and industry insight. ABOUT CHEGG Chegg puts students first. As the leading student-first connected learning platform, the company makes higher education more affordable, more accessible, and more successful for students. Chegg is a publicly-held company based in Santa Clara, California and trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHGG. For more information, visit www.chegg.com. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This press release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including Chegg's belief that it, through its acquisition of Imagine Easy, will have the ability to serve millions of students in the area of writing; Chegg's belief that the transaction will be accretive to Chegg's fiscal 2016 revenues and earnings; Chegg's belief that acquisition of Imagine Easy will help it grow faster and globally and that Imagine Easy's tools and services will improve to help students; and Chegg's belief that the acquisition of Imagine Easy will accelerate the plans for delivering a complete suite of writing tools that democratize access to educational resources and provide students with the academic support they need. Statements regarding future events are based on management's current expectations and are necessarily subject to associated risks related to, among other things, the potential impact on the business of Imagine Easy due to the acquisition, general economic conditions, competition, and integration risks, among others. Therefore, actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. For information regarding other related risks, see the "Risk Factors" section of Chegg's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 4, 2016 and Chegg's other SEC filings. You can obtain copies of Chegg's SEC filings on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or at Chegg's Investor Relations website at investor.chegg.com. The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof, and Chegg undertakes an obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason except as required by law. Investor contact: Amy Feng, [email protected], or Media contact: Usher Lieberman, [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140116/NY47534LOGO SOURCE Chegg, Inc. Related Links http://www.chegg.com SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chegg, Inc. (NYSE: CHGG), the Student Hub, today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016. "Chegg is off to a great start in 2016 as we saw strong momentum across our businesses, highlighted by 37% subscriber growth in Chegg Services," said Dan Rosensweig, Chairman and CEO of Chegg. "We are also excited to announce the strategic acquisition of Imagine Easy Solutions, a leading provider of online writing tools. With this acquisition, Chegg now has the ability to help students address one of their biggest academic pain points, writing. This issue is underscored by the fact that nearly 25% of incoming freshmen who are required to take remedial writing courses." An updated investor presentation and an investor data sheet can be found on Chegg's Investor Relations website http://investor.chegg.com. Q1 2016 Financial Highlights: GAAP Revenue of $66.7 million , a decrease of 21% compared to Q1 2015; of , a decrease of 21% compared to Q1 2015; Pro forma Revenue of $46.8 million , an increase of 2% year-over-year; of , an increase of 2% year-over-year; Chegg Services Revenue grew 14% year-over-year to $25.6 million , or 38% of total revenues compared to 26% in Q1 2015; grew 14% year-over-year to , or 38% of total revenues compared to 26% in Q1 2015; Required Materials Revenue of $41.1 million compared to $62.4 million in Q1 2015; of compared to in Q1 2015; GAAP Gross Profit was $27.7 million ; was ; Non-GAAP Gross Profit was $27.8 million ; was ; Adjusted EBITDA was $(0.5) million ; was ; GAAP Net Loss was $15.7 million ; and was ; and Non-GAAP Net Loss was $2.8 million . Pro forma revenue and the related year-over-year percentage increase presents revenue as if the transition of textbook inventory investment and textbook logistics and fulfillment functions for Chegg's print textbook business to Ingram Content Group (Ingram) was complete and the revenue from print textbook business was entirely commission-based. For more information about pro forma revenue and a reconciliation of pro forma revenue to revenue, see the sections of the press release titled "Use of Non-GAAP Measures" and "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures". Q1 2016 Business Highlights: 750,000: number of Chegg Services subscribers in Q1; number of Chegg Services subscribers in Q1; 79%: renewal rate for Chegg Study subscribers in the quarter; renewal rate for Chegg Study subscribers in the quarter; 3 million: questions viewed in Chegg Study in Q1; questions viewed in Chegg Study in Q1; 258,000: new students registrations on Internships.com; and new students registrations on Internships.com; and $21 million : remaining Chegg textbook inventory. Business Outlook: Our outlook for the second quarter of and fiscal year 2016 is comprised of two revenue streams: Required Materials revenue which includes print textbooks, eTextbooks, and Ingram commission revenue; and Chegg Services revenue, which includes Chegg Study, Chegg Tutors, Enrollment Marketing, Brand Partnerships and Careers. Second Quarter 2016 Revenue in the range of $48 million and $52 million ; in the range of and ; Pro Forma Revenue in the range of $36 million and $40 million ; in the range of and ; Chegg Services Revenue in the range of $28 million and $30 million ; in the range of and ; Gross Margin between 56%; and 58%; and between 56%; and 58%; and Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $5 million and $7 million . Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the second quarter includes approximately $2.8 million for textbook depreciation and excludes approximately $10.5 million for stock-based compensation expense, $0.6 million for amortization of intangible assets; and $1.0 million for acquisition-related costs. It does not include an amortization for intangible assets of Imagine Easy Solutions as the amount of any such amortization cannot be appropriately estimated at this time. It assumes, among other things, that no additional business acquisitions, investments, restructuring actions, or legal settlements are concluded and that there are no further revisions to stock-based compensation estimates. Fiscal Year 2016 Revenue in the range of $239 million and $257 million ; in the range of and ; Pro Forma Revenue in the range of $179 million and $192 million ; in the range of and ; Chegg Services Revenue in the range of $124 million and $132 million ; in the range of and ; Gross Margin between 48% and 50%; and between 48% and 50%; and Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $13 million and $22 million . Fiscal 2016 guidance includes approximately $7 million in revenue and $2 million in Adjusted EBITDA from the Imagine Easy acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA guidance for fiscal 2016 includes approximately $10.5 million for textbook depreciation and excludes approximately $44 million for stock-based compensation expense; $2.2 million for amortization of intangible assets; credit of $44,000 for restructuring charges; and $5.0 million for acquisition-related costs. It does not include an amortization for intangible assets of Imagine Easy Solutions as the amount of any such amortization cannot be appropriately estimated at this time. It assumes, among other things, that no additional business acquisitions, investments, restructuring actions, or legal settlements are concluded and that there are no further revisions to stock-based compensation estimates. Conference Call and Webcast Information To access the call, please dial (877) 407-4018, or outside the U.S. +1 (201) 689-8471, five minutes prior to 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (or 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) on May 2, 2016. A live webcast of the call will also be available at http://investor.chegg.com under the Events & Presentations menu. An audio replay will be available beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time May 2, 2016, until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time May 9, 2016, by calling (877) 870-5176 or +1 (858) 384-5517, with Conference ID 13634835. An audio archive of the call will also be available at http://investor.chegg.com. Use of Investor Relations Website for Regulation FD Purposes Chegg also uses its media center website, http://www.chegg.com/mediacenter, as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor http://www.chegg.com/mediacenter, in addition to following press releases, Securities Exchange Commission filings and public conference calls and webcasts. About Chegg Chegg puts students first. As the leading student-first connected learning platform, the company makes higher education more affordable, more accessible, and more successful for students. Chegg is a publicly-held company based in Santa Clara, California and trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHGG. For more information, visit www.chegg.com. Use of Non-GAAP Measures To supplement Chegg's financial results presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release and the accompanying tables and the related earnings conference call contain non-GAAP financial measures, including pro forma revenue, adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP gross profit and margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP net loss per share. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the section of the accompanying tables titled, "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA." The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Chegg defines (1) Non-GAAP total pro forma net revenue as revenue as if it had already transitioned to a fully commission-based revenue model with Ingram for its print textbook business, (2) adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, adjusted for textbook depreciation and to exclude stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related compensation costs, restructuring charges, transitional logistic charges and other income, net, (3) non-GAAP gross profit as gross profit excluding share-based compensation and transitional logistic charges, (4) non-GAAP gross margin is non-GAAP gross profit divided by GAAP total net revenue, (5) non-GAAP net loss as GAAP net loss excluding share-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, acquisition related compensation costs, restructuring (credits) charges and transitional logistic charges and (6) non-GAAP net loss per share is defined as non-GAAP net loss divided by GAAP weighted-average shares outstanding. To the extent additional significant non-recurring items arise in the future, Chegg may consider whether to exclude such items in calculating the non-GAAP financial measures it uses. Chegg believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Chegg's performance by excluding items that may not be indicative of Chegg's core business, operating results or future outlook. Chegg management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing Chegg's operating results, as well as when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods and believes that such measures enhance investors' overall understanding of our current financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate comparisons of Chegg's performance to prior periods. As presented in the "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA" and "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" tables below, each of the non-GAAP financial measures excludes one or more of the following items: Pro forma revenue adjustments. Chegg is in the process of transitioning ownership of the print textbook library and print textbook logistics and fulfillment functions for its required materials business to Ingram. Upon completion of that transition, all revenue from its print textbook business will be digital revenue representing an approximately 20% commission from each such transaction. During the transition, Chegg reports print textbook revenue for orders that are fulfilled with textbooks owned by Chegg and commission-based revenue for orders that are fulfilled with textbooks owned by Ingram. Chegg expects the transition to a fully commission-based model with Ingram to be complete in 2017. The pro forma revenue adjustments present revenue "as if" Ingram already owned all textbooks and managed all logistics and order fulfillment. Management believes that presenting revenue as if Chegg had already fully transitioned to the commission-based model with Ingram provides investors with a better understanding of Chegg's results of operations in light of the ongoing changes to its business model by facilitating period over period revenue comparisons during the transition period. The adjustments to GAAP revenue provided below reflect a number of estimates, assumptions and other uncertainties, and are approximate in nature. Share-based compensation expense. Share-based compensation is a non-cash expense that varies in amount from period to period and is dependent on market forces that are often beyond Chegg's control. As a result, management excludes this item from Chegg's internal operating forecasts and models. Management believes that non-GAAP measures adjusted for share-based compensation provide investors with a basis to measure Chegg's core performance against the performance of other companies without the variability created by share-based compensation as a result of the variety of equity awards used by other companies and the varying methodologies and assumptions used. Restructuring charges. Restructuring charges primarily relate to expenses incurred in making infrastructure-related changes as a result of transitioning Chegg's fulfillment obligations for the print textbook business to Ingram, as well as expenses related to the exit of Chegg's print coupon business. These restructuring charges are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures because they are the result of discrete events that are not considered core-operating activities. Chegg believes that it is appropriate to exclude restructuring charges from non-GAAP financial measures because it enables the comparison of period-over-period operating results from continuing operations. Transitional logistic charges. Transitional logistic charges relate primarily to the expected closure of our warehouse and as we transition to Ingram's distribution centers, which results in duplicative logistic charges. The duplicative logistic charges were expected to be incurred throughout 2015 until the transition of our logistics and fulfillment obligations for our print textbook business to Ingram were complete. Chegg believes that it is appropriate to exclude transitional logistic charges from non-GAAP financial measures because it enables the comparison of period-over-period operating results from continuing operations. Acquisition-related compensation costs. Acquisition-related compensations costs include: (1) compensation expense resulting from the employment retention of certain key employees established in accordance with the terms of the acquisitions, (2) the remaining pay-out related to the Bookstep acquisition and (3) adjustments to previously recognized earn-out liability on contingent compensation expense related to acquisitions. In most cases, these acquisition-related compensation costs are not factored into management's evaluation of potential acquisitions or Chegg's performance after completion of acquisitions, because they are not related to Chegg's core operating performance. In addition, the frequency and amount of such charges can vary significantly based on the size and timing of acquisitions and the maturities of the businesses being acquired. Excluding acquisition-related compensation costs from non-GAAP measures provides investors with a basis to compare Chegg's results against those of other companies without the variability caused by purchase accounting. Amortization of intangible assets. Chegg amortizes intangible assets that it acquires in conjunction with business combinations, which results in noncash operating expenses that would not otherwise have been incurred had Chegg internally developed such intangible assets. Chegg believes excluding the accounting expense associated with acquired intangible asset from non-GAAP measures allows for a more accurate assessment of its ongoing operations. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include, without limitation those included in the investor presentation referenced above, and all statements about Chegg's outlook under "Business Outlook." The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "project," "endeavor," "will," "should," "future," "transition," "outlook" and similar expressions, as they relate to Chegg, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and are based on management's expectations as of the date of this press release and assumptions that are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include the following: Chegg's anticipated complete transition to a fully commission-based model with Ingram by 2017; the impact of Chegg's acquisition of Imagine Easy Solutions and Chegg's expectation that such acquisition will be accretive to Chegg's fiscal 2016 revenues and earnings and benefit students; Chegg's ability to attract new students, increase engagement and increase monetization; competitive developments, including pricing pressures; Chegg's anticipated growth of Chegg Services; Chegg's ability to build and expand its services offerings; Chegg's ability to develop new products and services on a cost-effective basis and to integrate acquired businesses and assets; the impact of seasonality on the business; Chegg's partnership with Ingram and the parties' ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the partnership, including the potential impact of the economic risk-sharing arrangements between Chegg and Ingram on Chegg's results of operations; Chegg's ability to effectively control operating costs; changes in Chegg's addressable market; changes in the education market; and general economic and industry conditions. All information provided in this release and in the conference call is as of the date hereof and Chegg undertakes no duty to update this information except as required by law. These and other important risk factors are described more fully in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Chegg's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 2016, and could cause actual results to vary from expectations. CHEGG, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except for number of shares and par value) March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 (unaudited) * Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 41,504 $ 67,029 Short-term investments 20,002 17,800 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $359 and $378 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively 10,955 13,157 Prepaid expenses 8,477 3,117 Other current assets 43,192 31,732 Total current assets 124,130 132,835 Long-term investments 2,878 4,229 Textbook library, net 20,640 29,728 Property and equipment, net 23,361 19,971 Goodwill 91,301 91,301 Intangible assets, net 8,237 8,865 Other assets 4,169 4,427 Total assets $ 274,716 $ 291,356 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 4,307 $ 5,860 Deferred revenue 26,769 14,971 Accrued liabilities 19,274 35,280 Total current liabilities 50,350 56,111 Long-term liabilities Total other long-term liabilities 3,969 4,170 Total liabilities 54,319 60,281 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding Common stock, $0.001 par value 400,000,000 shares authorized; 89,962,865 and 88,099,983 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively 90 88 Additional paid-in capital 565,179 560,242 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (104) (172) Accumulated deficit (344,768) (329,083) Total stockholders' equity 220,397 231,075 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 274,716 $ 291,356 * Derived from audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015. CHEGG, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Net revenues: Rental $ 14,564 $ 37,714 Services 39,362 31,367 Sales 12,728 15,791 Total net revenues 66,654 84,872 Cost of revenues(1): Rental 13,513 38,555 Services 13,475 11,837 Sales 11,935 15,101 Total cost of revenues 38,923 65,493 Gross profit 27,731 19,379 Operating expenses: Technology and development(1) 16,958 16,144 Sales and marketing(1) 14,446 21,392 General and administrative(1) 12,666 11,777 Restructuring (credits) charges (44) 2,514 Gain on liquidation of textbooks (1,005) (4,185) Total operating expenses 43,021 47,642 Loss from operations (15,290) (28,263) Interest expense and other income, net: Interest expense, net (60) (61) Other income, net 65 76 Total interest expense and other income, net 5 15 Loss before provision for income taxes (15,285) (28,248) Provision for income taxes 400 294 Net loss $ (15,685) $ (28,542) Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.18) $ (0.34) Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted 89,118 84,794 (1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of revenues $ 28 $ 134 Technology and development 4,126 4,707 Sales and marketing 1,893 5,054 General and administrative 5,223 5,125 Total share-based compensation expense $ 11,270 $ 15,020 CHEGG, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Cash flows from operating activities Net loss $ (15,685) $ (28,542) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Textbook library depreciation expense 4,496 14,674 Other depreciation and amortization expense 2,577 3,172 Share-based compensation expense 11,270 15,020 Gain on liquidation of textbooks (1,005) (4,185) Loss from write-offs of textbooks 224 2,544 Other non-cash items 23 13 Change in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 2,161 2,434 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (16,816) (5,598) Other assets 258 47 Accounts payable (1,609) (4,938) Deferred revenue 11,798 20,378 Accrued liabilities (16,760) (8,270) Other liabilities (165) (58) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (19,233) 6,691 Cash flows from investing activities Purchases of textbooks (442) (29,142) Proceeds from liquidations of textbooks 6,120 11,979 Purchases of marketable securities (7,633) (6,243) Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 550 Maturities of marketable securities 6,244 12,140 Purchases of property and equipment (4,800) (1,486) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 39 (12,752) Cash flows from financing activities Common stock issued under stock plans, net 6,626 Payment of taxes related to the net share settlement of RSUs (6,331) (4,391) Repurchase of common stock (2,263) Net cash used in financing activities (6,331) (28) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (25,525) (6,089) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 67,029 56,117 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 41,504 $ 50,028 Supplemental cash flow data Cash paid during the period for: Interest $ 19 $ 25 Income taxes $ 402 $ 423 Non-cash investing and financing activities: Accrued purchases of long-lived assets $ 2,310 $ 2,759 Issuance of common stock related to prior acquisition $ 825 CHEGG, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Net loss $ (15,685) $ (28,542) Interest expense, net 60 61 Provision for income taxes 400 294 Textbook library depreciation expense 4,496 14,674 Other depreciation and amortization 2,577 3,172 EBITDA (8,152) (10,341) Textbook library depreciation expense (4,496) (14,674) Share-based compensation expense 11,270 15,020 Other income, net (65) (76) Restructuring (credits) charges (44) 2,514 Transitional logistic charges 2,483 Acquisition related compensation costs 988 795 Adjusted EBITDA $ (499) $ (4,279) CHEGG, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (in thousands, except percentages) (unaudited) ` Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 GAAP total net revenues $ 66,654 $ 84,872 Adjustments (19,855) (39,080) Non-GAAP total pro forma net revenues $ 46,799 $ 45,792 GAAP gross profit $ 27,731 $ 19,379 Share-based compensation expense 28 134 Transitional logistic charges 2,483 Non-GAAP gross profit $ 27,759 $ 21,996 GAAP gross margin % 41.6% 22.8% Non-GAAP gross margin % 41.6% 25.9% GAAP operating expenses $ 43,021 $ 47,642 Share-based compensation expense (11,242) (14,886) Amortization of intangible assets (628) (1,560) Restructuring credits (charges) 44 (2,514) Acquisition related compensation costs (988) (795) Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 30,207 $ 27,887 GAAP operating expenses as a percent of net revenues 64.5% 56.1% Non-GAAP operating expenses as a percent of net revenues 45.3% 32.9% GAAP operating loss $ (15,290) $ (28,263) Share-based compensation expense 11,270 15,020 Amortization of intangible assets 628 1,560 Restructuring (credits) charges (44) 2,514 Transitional logistic charges 2,483 Acquisition related compensation costs 988 795 Non-GAAP operating loss $ (2,448) $ (5,891) GAAP net loss $ (15,685) $ (28,542) Share-based compensation expense 11,270 15,020 Amortization of intangible assets 628 1,560 Restructuring (credits) charges (44) 2,514 Transitional logistic charges 2,483 Acquisition related compensation costs 988 795 Non-GAAP net loss $ (2,843) $ (6,170) GAAP and Non-GAAP weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share 89,118 84,794 GAAP net loss per share $ (0.18) $ (0.34) Adjustments 0.15 0.27 Non-GAAP net loss per share $ (0.03) $ (0.07) Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140116/NY47534LOGO SOURCE Chegg Related Links http://www.chegg.com DECATUR, IL, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - The Midwest Inland Port Strategic Development Coalition ("MIPSDC") announced Monday that CN, one of the nation's largest railroads and one of three providing rail service to Decatur businesses, has joined the group to provide strategic and marketing support to the development of the Midwest Inland Port. Ryan McCrady, President of the Economic Development Corporation said: "Today marks another exciting and significant step forward for the Midwest Inland Port and for all of Central Illinois. The organizations that comprise the Strategic Development Coalition represent a combination of global, national, regional and local perspectives and capabilities that are critical to our ability to realize the full potential of the Midwest Inland Port development." CN is the only transcontinental railroad in North America with a network spanning Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans, and through Illinois and Mid-America to the Gulf Coast. Beyond the rail service connections to Decatur that CN's network provides, the company brings the coalition its domestic and international marketing reach including its overseas markets such as China - and import customs expertise. "We are pleased to join this important coalition and to work with the partners to bolster the supply chain in Decatur and Illinois," said John Orr, CN's Senior Vice President, Southern Region. "CN is a true supply chain enabler built on a strong foundation of operational and service excellence with an end-to-end supply chain approach. We are focused on providing transportation solutions that help to make our customers more competitive in their own markets domestically and around the world." Larry Altenbaumer, Executive Director of the Midwest Inland Port, noted: "We have been working closely with CN for the past year to extend our marketing reach through their international offices and to significantly enhance the rail services and connectivity that can provide significant benefit to our existing and prospective customers. CN has introduced rail connectivity to Decatur from the Canadian ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver in British Columbia, and Montreal, providing direct import lanes that bypass the congested Chicago rail network." Altenbaumer added: "To have a Class I railroad the caliber of CN become part of our strategic development effort is an honor and provides additional industry endorsement and credibility for our efforts. We are thrilled to have them as part of our team. This is a major step forward and will be followed by other exciting developments in the coming months." The Midwest Inland Port Strategic Development Coalition is made up of of exceptional organizations that have a shared vision for what the Midwest Inland Port can become. The other members of the Midwest Inland Port Strategic Development Coalition include locally prominent businesses ADM, Ameren Illinois and Decatur Memorial Hospital. McCrady concluded, "The involvement of Clayco, OmniTrax and now CN provides a significant level of experience and expertise in the type of developmental opportunities we are working to achieve as part of the Midwest Inland Port." The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is also a member of this coalition and provides key support to the joint efforts. About the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County The Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County is a nonprofit public-private partnership responsible for non-retail business attraction, expansion and retention efforts in Decatur & Macon County. Composed of a combination of leading private sector employers, labor, educational institutions and a variety of governmental bodies, the EDC is uniquely positioned to address the needs of Macon County's existing business and employer base along with prospective businesses looking to locate in and around the Decatur, Illinois area. The EDC works with local, state and federal partners to provide economic, technical and training assistance to businesses in the Macon County area. For more information, visit www.DecaturEDC.com. About the Midwest Inland Port The Midwest Inland Port is a multi-modal hub located in Decatur, Illinois that delivers both domestic and international flexibility for companies through a well-positioned transportation corridor, connecting the Midwest to the East, West and Gulf Coasts of North America. For more information, visit www.MidwestInlandPort.com. About CN CN is a true backbone of the economy, transporting more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the Company's website at www.cn.ca. SOURCE Midwest Inland Port LATROBE, Pa., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial National Financial Corporation (OTC Markets: CNAF)(Company), parent Company of Commercial Bank & Trust of PA, has reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. The Company earned $1,246,000 (or $0.44 per average share outstanding) in the first quarter 2016 compared to $1,597,000 (or $0.56 per average share outstanding) in the first quarter 2015. The Company's annualized return on average assets and average equity for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 were 1.26% and 8.84%, respectively, compared to 1.69% and 10.91%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Tier one risk-based, total risk-based, leverage and common equity tier one capital ratios for March 31, 2016 were 22.35%, 23.03%, 13.57% and 22.35%, respectively. First quarter tax equivalent net interest margin was 4.53%. No loan loss provisioning has been needed over the past thirty-three consecutive fiscal quarters. In addition to Latrobe, Pennsylvania where it is headquartered, the Company operates ten community banking facilities in Greensburg, Hempfield Township, Ligonier, North Huntingdon, Unity Township and West Newton, Pennsylvania and also maintains a commercial business development sales force throughout its entire market area. The Company operates an asset management and trust division of Commercial Bank & Trust of PA headquartered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Commercial Bank & Trust of PA also serves its customer base from an Internet banking site (www.cbthebank.com) and an automated TouchTone Teller banking system. As disclosed each year in the Annual Report to Shareholders, on March 31, 2016, the Company employed 110 people in full-time and part-time positions. Fifty-six (56) employees are represented by the United Auto Workers, Local 1799. The Company has had unionized employees since 1972. In 2013, the Company and the bargaining unit entered into a labor agreement that will expire in February 2019. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Labor Relations Board both afford protection to the organized status of pre-existing collective bargaining units. The Company has been advised that bargaining unit status may limit the Company's strategic options relative to those of non-unionized insured depository institutions. The Company continues to consider this as a factor in its strategic and capital management decisions. Safe Harbor Statement Forward-looking statements (statements which are not historical facts) in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "to," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company, and the Company assumes no obligation to update these statements as circumstances change. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including changes in general economic and financial market conditions, unforeseen credit problems, and the Company's ability to execute its business plans. The actual results of future events could differ materially from those stated in any forward-looking statements herein. COMMERCIAL NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) March 31, December 31, March 31, 2016 2015 2015 ASSETS Cash and due from banks on demand $ 4,240 $ 6,092 $ 5,339 Interest bearing deposits with banks 883 3,032 6,371 Cash and Cash Equivalents 5,123 9,124 11,710 Securities available for sale 173,018 184,442 174,242 Restricted investments in bank stock 1,311 992 108 Loans 182,896 182,751 176,138 Allowance for loan losses (1,604) (1,603) (1,617) Net loans 181,292 181,148 174,521 Premises and equipment 3,254 3,298 3,190 Investment in life insurance 18,300 18,181 17,767 Other assets 3,306 2,317 18,037 Total assets $ 385,604 $ 399,502 $ 399,575 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Deposits Non-interest bearing $ 113,801 $ 115,197 $ 114,125 Interest bearing 193,842 204,716 209,270 Total deposits 307,643 319,913 323,395 Short-term borrowings 18,000 22,158 - Other liabilities 3,035 2,311 17,124 Total liabilities 328,678 344,382 340,519 Shareholders' equity Common stock, par value $2 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 3,600,000 shares issued; 2,860,953 shares outstanding in 2016 and 2015 7,200 7,200 7,200 Retained earnings 58,608 58,106 59,107 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 3,662 2,358 5,293 Treasury stock, at cost, 739,047 shares in 2016 and 2015 (12,544) (12,544) (12,544) Total shareholders' equity 56,926 55,120 59,056 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 385,604 $ 399,502 $ 399,575 COMMERCIAL NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2016 2015 INTEREST INCOME Interest and fees on loans $ 1,963 $ 1,933 Interest and dividends on securities: Taxable 687 232 Exempt from federal income taxes 1,026 1,262 Other 14 55 Total Interest income 3,690 3,482 INTEREST EXPENSE Interest on deposits 81 111 Interest on short term borrowings 43 - Total Interest expense 124 111 NET INTEREST INCOME 3,566 3,371 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES - - NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 3,566 3,371 OTHER OPERATING INCOME Asset management and trust income 299 334 Service charges on deposit accounts 196 216 Net Security gains (losses) 469 641 Income from investment in life insurance 119 117 Other income 104 97 Total other operating income 1,187 1,405 OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES Salaries and employee benefits 1,910 1,831 Net occupancy expense 251 231 Furniture and equipment 117 102 Pennsylvania shares tax 128 114 Legal and professional 96 85 FDIC Insurance 47 49 Other expenses 727 689 Total other operating expenses 3,276 3,101 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 1,477 1,675 Income tax expense 231 78 Net income $ 1,246 $ 1,597 Average Shares Outstanding 2,860,953 2,860,953 Earnings Per Share $ 0.44 $ 0.56 SOURCE Commercial National Financial Corporation Related Links http://www.cbthebank.com LONDON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Summary The Make-Up market in Sweden exhibits a higher demand for global premium brands, which will drive higher growth in value terms during 2015-2020, compared to volume. Eye Make-Up is the leading category by value and volume and is also forecast to register fastest growth during the forecast period. Increase in number of consumers will seek Make-Up products with organic and natural claims to mitigate any risks associated with harmful ingredients. Key Findings - The Make-Up market in Sweden will register higher growth both in value and volume terms during 2015-2020 compared to 2010-2015. - The Eye Make-Up category accounted for 42.0% share by value in the Swedish Make-Up market in 2015. - The Swedish Consumers are opting for premium Make-Up products in the country. - Customization and Efficient and Effective are the major trends that are driving the Swedish Make-Up market. - Increase in ageing population in Sweden will drive demand for Make-Up products with anti-ageing benefits among consumers in the Swedish Make-Up market. - Hypermarkets and Supermarkets is the leading distribution channel in the Swedish Make-Up market. Synopsis Canadean's Consumer and Market Insights report on the Make-Up market in Sweden provides insights on high growth categories to target, trends in the usage of packaging materials, types and closures category level distribution data and brands market shares. What else is contained? - Market data: Overall market value and volume data with growth analysis for 2010-2020 - Category coverage: Value and growth analysis for Eye Make-Up, Face Make-Up, Lip Make-Up, and Nail Make-Up with inputs on individual segment share within each category and the change in their market share forecast for 2015-2020 - Leading players: Market share of brands from 2012-2015 - Distribution data: Percentage of sales within each category through distribution channels such as Hypermarkets and Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Health and Beauty Stores and others in 2014 - Packaging data: consumption breakdown for packaging materials and containers in each category, in terms of percentage share of number of units sold. Packaging material data for Rigid Plastics, Glass, Flexible Packaging, and others; container data for: Bottle, Tube, Tray, and others - Consumer level trends: Top four consumer trends which influence Make-Up products consumption - Future outlook: Reviews and recommendations on how the market will shape up from 2015-2020 Reasons To Buy - Identify high potential categories and explore further market opportunities based on detailed value and volume analysis - Existing and new players can analyze key distribution channels to identify and evaluate trends and opportunities - Gain an understanding of the total competitive landscape based on detailed brand share analysis to plan effective market positioning - Identify target consumers based on recent analysis of category volume consumption by gender, age-group, education and urbanization - Access the key and most influential consumer trends driving Make-Up products consumption, and how they influence consumer behavior in the market which will help determine the best audiences to target - Access to analysis on new products launched in the market - Our team of analysts have placed a significant emphasis on changes expected in the market that will provide a clear picture of the opportunities that can be tapped over the next five years, resulting in revenue expansion Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3713792/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com JACKSON, Mich., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy is making good on a five-year commitment to Michigan businesses, announcing today that it has spent over $1 billion in less than a year with employers based in the Great Lakes State. "By investing in our home state of Michigan, we are helping businesses grow. That leads to our state being a better place to work and raise a family," said Dan Malone, Consumers Energy's senior vice president of energy resources. "We are following through on our word and are even ahead of schedule, putting our dollars into Michigan businesses and creating jobs." Consumers Energy committed last spring to spending $5 billion with Michigan businesses over the next five years. Since June 2015, the energy provider has spent over $1 billion with nearly 3,000 businesses in 71 Michigan counties. In addition, Consumers Energy actively encourages its Michigan-based suppliers to use sub-contractors and suppliers based in the state through its "Pay It Forward" program to help stimulate economic growth. Consumers Energy was one of the first members of Pure Michigan Business Connect. The public-private alliance of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., state agencies and major Michigan employers works to connect in-state companies to business resources. As part of that commitment, the energy provider increased its spending with Michigan employers by $1 billion from 2011 to 2015, reaching its goal a year ahead of schedule. Sue Bursteinowicz, president of Aarons Fabrication in Macomb County, said her fabrication shop's relationship with Consumers Energy has made a positive impact. "Based on all my years in this industry, I can honestly say Consumers Energy is the best large company to deal with," Bursteinowicz said. "Consumers Energy reached out and committed to working with small business in Michigan a commitment they take seriously. The company goes out of their way to make your relationship with them a success story." Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com. What They're Saying What Michigan businesses say about Consumers Energy: "Consumers Energy is continually proving their commitment to Pure Michigan Business Connect. Their partnership provides just one example of Michigan-based businesses working together to strengthen and develop our great state's economy and workforce." -- Jim Aiello, vice president of sales, Shelving Inc. (Oakland County) "Consumers Energy is our top customer in Michigan and has had a tremendous impact on our business. We appreciate that Consumers Energy is focusing on working with businesses in Michigan." -- Ted Anton, CEO, Newkirk Electric (Muskegon) "Our family of companies has been doing business with Consumers Energy. Their commitment to us and businesses in Michigan has allowed us to grow and expand our services. The relationship we have with CE can only be defined as a true partnership." -- Michael R. Bigford, president and CEO, Utility Supply and Construction Co. (Reed City) "We are grateful for the opportunities that Consumers Energy has invited us to participate in. The direct result has been more jobs for one of the largest workforces in Northeast Michigan." -- Tom Moran, CEO and founder, Moran Iron Works (Presque Isle County) "The projects we have completed for Consumers Energy have not only benefited Pumford Construction as a company, but have also provided jobs for thousands of Michigan-based men and women." -- James M. Jacobs, vice president, Pumford Construction (Saginaw) Media toolkit LEARN MORE: Learn about Consumers Energy's commitment to Michigan businesses: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/puremichigan PMBC: Learn more about Pure Michigan Business Connect: www.michiganbusiness.org/grow/pure-michigan-business-connect/ Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/consumersenergy Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/consumersenergy SOURCE Consumers Energy Related Links http://www.consumersenergy.com CORONA, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Teamsters who drive for US Foods in Corona began an unfair labor practice strike to protest allegations that the foodservice giant violated federal law that protects workers' rights. Almost immediately, Corona workers extended their picket line to 10 other US Foods distribution centers and resident yards in Southern California and Phoenix, Ariz., where 750 Teamsters have ceased work to honor the picket lines. The picket line extensions are still up today. In all, more than 800 Teamsters employed by US Foods are currently not working because of the strike and extensions. There are 92 drivers represented by Locals 848 and 542 currently on strike in Corona. Meanwhile, about 750 workers represented by Locals 87, 495, 542, 630, 848 and 986 in La Mirada, Calif.; Local 542 in Vista, Calif.; and Local 104 in Phoenix are honoring the picket line extensions. Additionally, warehouse workers in Corona, represented by Teamsters Local 63, have given notice of their intention to honor the picket line thereunder their contract they must wait until Wednesday to do so. The strike in Corona comes just days after 200 Maryland Teamsters began their own unfair labor practices strike at US Foods' Severn, Md. facility for failing to bargain in good faith. In February, more than 200 Teamsters at the Phoenix facility went on a four-day unfair labor practice strike. US Foods is the nation's second-largest foodservice provider. It is owned by Wall Street private equity behemoths KKR and CD&R, which added nearly $5 billion of debt to US Foods' books when they bought it. In January 2016, KKR and CD&R took nearly $670 million in cash out of the company to distribute to shareholders half of it borrowed even though it is already operating under a mountain of debt. Since its purchase by the two private equity firms nine years ago, US Foods has engaged in a systematic campaign of harassment and intimidation against its workers, both union and non-union. Steve Vairma, Teamsters International Vice President and Director of the Teamsters' Warehouse Division, said, "US Foods has a pattern of abusing its workers and being willing to destroy good jobs and local economies. Unfortunately, it's no surprise that the company has provoked three unfair labor practice strikes in recent months. I'm proud of our members who are standing up for their rights and of our brothers and sisters who are honoring their picket lines. Teamsters know that an injury to one is an injury to all." US Foods earned $23 billion in annual revenue in 2014. The company provides 350,000 products and services to 200,000 customers including restaurants, hospitals, schools, military bases and hotels. US Foods has 25,000 employees and 75 distribution facilities. The Teamsters represent 4,300 US Foods employees, with 44 contracts at 29 facilities. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Ted Gotsch, (202) 624-6911 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Related Links http://www.teamster.org ATLANTA, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On a cold winter evening in January 2007, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) employees gathered outside of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the airline illuminated its iconic 'Fly Delta Jets' sign for the first time in years as the airline worked through bankruptcy. "It was the same day that we found out that the creditors were going to reject the US [Airways] hostile takeover and stay with Delta and invest in the people of Delta to let us out of the bankruptcy," said Ed Bastian, who officially became Delta's CEO on Monday. "We relit the light, we celebrated our freedom, and it was a great evening." The re-illumination of the iconic sign was a simple but symbolic gesture that lives on in the memories of Delta people, who bore scars of bankruptcy and a hostile takeover attempt but who bear even more pride for their airline. Now, the story will live on in the archives at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., as Delta, an airline that has forged millions of connections around the world, is partnering with StoryCorps, a nonprofit organization whose mission, similarly, is to build human connections by preserving and sharing remarkable stories. "In our deep history of preserving human stories, Delta is one of the few brands mentioned organically by the people we recorded," said Dave Isay, Founder of StoryCorps. "It's a testament to the impact the Delta culture and its travel experience can have on our society. We are so excited to be working together and have high hopes for the stories that come out of this partnership." Delta and StoryCorps kicked off the first phase of the partnership in April, when StoryCorps' MobileBooth came to Delta's General Offices in Atlanta to record Delta employees' personal accounts reflecting the airline's culture, mission and values. The partnership will expand to include stories from Delta customers, and Delta will also share StoryCorps' larger collection of interviews in-flight through Delta Studio. "We share with StoryCorps a mission to build human connections around the world and are excited to further our mission by sharing employee and customer stories through the StoryCorps lens as well as sharing stories with our 180 million annual customers in-flight through Delta Studio," said Julieta McCurry, Delta's Director Marketing Communications. "We never take for granted the distinct privilege we have of being part of the formative, meaningful moments in the lives of our employees and customers, and with gratitude to them, we share these intimate interviews that show who we are and the culture and values for which we so proudly stand." The first interview is a conversation between Bastian and Glen Hauenstein, who also assumed his role as Delta's President on Monday. Their conversation reflects the paths that led them to Delta, what it took to 'breathe new life' into the airline during its darkest hour, and the transformative career moments that have helped shape the airline Delta is today. From the illumination of the Fly Delta Jets sign, to Delta's annual breast cancer survivor flight, stories of Delta are many. The StoryCorps interviews tell stories of triumph and tragedy, of love, life and loss from Assi and Marco, who met while sitting next to each other on a Delta flight and later married, to Tim and Ron, who forged a bond through their grief over the loss of their children and now help others at Delta who have experienced the loss of a child. Listeners will meet Andrea, who made a promise to herself that she would become a Delta pilot and is now an MD-88 Captain, and Brian, who reveres and cares for fallen service members during their final journeys home as the leader of Delta's Honor Guard. Five interviews will be shared this week as Delta marks the beginning of a new chapter with Bastian's transition to CEO. After the first week, interviews will be shared every Tuesday throughout the summer on Delta News Hub. About Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines serves nearly 180 million customers each year. In 2016, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the fifth time in six years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented five consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 330 destinations in 61 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs nearly 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, Facebook.com/delta and Delta's blog takingoff.delta.com. About StoryCorps Founded in 2003 by MacArthur Fellow Dave Isay, the nonprofit organization StoryCorps has given a quarter of a million Americans the chance to record interviews about their lives, pass wisdom from one generation to the next, and leave a legacy for the future. It is the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. Recording a StoryCorps interview couldn't be easier: You invite a loved one, or anyone else you chose, to one of the StoryCorps recording sites. There you're met by a trained facilitator who greets you and explains the interview process. You're then brought into a quiet recording room and seated across from your interview partner, each of you in front of a microphone. The facilitator hits "record," and you share a forty-minute conversation. At the end of the session, you walk away with a copy of the interview, and a digital file goes to the Library of Congress, where it will be preserved for generations to come. Someday your great-great-great-grandchildren will be able to meet your grandfather, your mother, your best friend, or whomever it is you chose to honor with a StoryCorps interview. With the 2015 TED Prize awarded to Dave Isay, StoryCorps has also launched an app that puts the StoryCorps experience entirely in the hands of users and enables anyone, anywhere to record meaningful conversations with another person. Uploaded interviews are preserved at the Library of Congress and on the website StoryCorps.me. StoryCorps shares edited excerpts of the stories we record through popular weekly NPR broadcasts, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books. These powerful stories illustrate our shared humanity and show how much more we share in common than divides us. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090202/DELTALOGO SOURCE Delta Air Lines Related Links http://www.delta.com LA JOLLA, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DermTech, Inc., an emerging diagnostics company focusing on non-invasive gene expression tests for skin cancer and inflammatory diseases, announced today it has completed contracts for payment with Tricare and America's Choice Provider Network. Additionally, DermTech announced it has received credentialing approval from UnitedHealthcare for participation as a network provider. Tricare provides coverage to nearly 9.4 million beneficiaries in the military health system. ACPN's multi-specialty network provides access to over 24 million Americans. UnitedHealthcare provides health care access to more than 27.5 million Americans. Steve Kemper, the company's CFO, stated: "These agreements support our commitment to growth as an in-network participating provider. We continue to execute our strategy to commercialize our non-invasive test for the detection of melanoma, the first test utilizing our novel adhesive biopsy platform." About DermTech DermTech is a commercial stage molecular dermatology company developing non-invasive gene expression tests to aid the clinical diagnosis of skin cancer and inflammatory skin conditions. DermTech operates a CLIA licensed laboratory located in the company's La Jolla, CA headquarters. DermTech's technology allows the analysis of skin biopsy samples collected non-invasively using an adhesive patch. DermTech provides highly accurate, objective information to the physicians to improve care and reduce costs. Current dermatologic diagnosis is primarily based on subjective visual pattern recognition that is prone to error and results in a substantial number of unnecessary surgical procedures. For additional information visit: www.dermtech.com. About APCN ACPN is an independent, multi-specialty provider network accessed by over 1,400 payers that has developed proprietary network and technology for the purpose of achieving consistency in healthcare transactions, simplifying claims adjudication processes, creating reasonable reimbursement arrangements and establishing reliable healthcare access for all parties; providers, payers and patients. More than 24 million American's and 750,000 international lives have access to ACPN's network through a client base consisting of Insurance Carriers, Third Party Administrators, Health and Welfare Funds, Employer Groups and Self-Insured Health Plans. About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. Contacts DermTech, Inc. Sarah Dennison, MBA VP of Marketing (858) 450-4222 [email protected] SOURCE DermTech, Inc. Related Links http://www.dermtech.com HOUSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) today announced that it has appointed Kelly Youngblood as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to be effective May 3, 2016. Mr. Youngblood succeeds Gary T. Krenek, who is retiring after 33 years of service to the Company and its predecessors. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Youngblood held a variety of managerial positions with Halliburton Company, one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Investor Relations. Mr. Youngblood joined Halliburton in 1988 as a Staff Accountant and served in numerous financial management positions for Halliburton and its subsidiaries, including Senior Director, Finance - Western Hemisphere and Director, External Reporting and Accounting Research. "We are very pleased to have someone with Kelly's industry knowledge, finance and accounting expertise and existing relationships throughout the investment community assume the role of Chief Financial Officer," remarked Marc Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Edwards added, "Gary has made significant contributions to Diamond Offshore over his long career, which includes 18 years as Chief Financial Officer. As the longest serving CFO in the offshore drilling industry, he will be missed, and we wish him well in his retirement." ABOUT DIAMOND OFFSHORE Diamond Offshore is a leader in offshore drilling, providing contract drilling services to the energy industry around the globe. Additional information and access to the Company's SEC filings are available at www.diamondoffshore.com. Diamond Offshore is owned 53% by Loews Corporation (NYSE: L). Contact: Darren Daugherty Director, Investor Relations (281) 492-5370 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130725/NY53104LOGO-b SOURCE Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. Related Links http://www.diamondoffshore.com "Right now is a very exciting time for international growth at Dwyer Group. We are thrilled to add Locatec to the extensive list of trusted Dwyer Group service brands," said Mike Bidwell, president and CEO of Dwyer Group. Locatec is a leak detection business in Germany and Austria, which will pair well with Dwyer Group's Rainbow International operation already making strides in the German market. Locatec currently has 60 franchise locations operating with 120 service vehicles, providing complete coverage of both markets. "While we are always on the lookout for companies whose core business compliments those of our family of brands, we do not take acquisitions lightly," said Bidwell. "Locatec aligns with our business model and values, and is ripe for growth. They have a proven track record of success and the potential to really grow as part of the Dwyer Group family of brands." Under the direction of Hartwig Finger, president of European operations at Dwyer Group, the company plans to operate Locatec in a way that will permit German franchisees to accelerate their growth, improve market penetration, and allow Locatec to expand into other countries. For more information about Dwyer Group's service brands visit www.dwyergroup.com. About Dwyer Group: Dwyer Group, based in Waco, Texas, is a holding company of 12 franchise businesses, each selling and supporting a different franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv, Glass Doctor, The Grounds Guys, Five Star Painting, Molly Maid, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Handyman, Mr. Rooter (Drain Doctor in the UK), ProTect Painters, Rainbow International, and Locatec. Collectively, these independent franchise concepts offer customers worldwide a broad base of residential and commercial services. In addition, Dwyer Group operates glass shops in New England under the Portland Glass brand name. Dwyer Group is a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm. The firm's international portfolio includes more than 75 companies. More information on Dwyer Group, or its franchise concepts, is available at www.dwyergroup.com. Dwyer Group is also on Twitter at @DwyerGroup. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361848 SOURCE Dwyer Group, Inc. Related Links http://www.dwyergroup.com BOSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Eaton Vance Management, a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (NYSE:EV), announced today that Nancy B. Tooke, CFA, Director of Small-Cap Equity at Eaton Vance Management (EVM), will retire on October 31, 2016, the end of the company's 2016 fiscal year. Leadership of EVM's small/SMID-cap equity team will transition to Michael D. McLean, CFA, and J. Griffith Noble, CFA. Ms. Tooke joined Eaton Vance in 2006 as a small-cap equity portfolio manager. Under her leadership, EVM has increased the size and scope of its small-cap equity business and built out the small/SMID-cap equity team. As of March 31, 2016, EVM managed $870 million in small-cap equity assets. Mr. McLean joined EVM in 2001 and has 15 years of experience in small/SMID-cap investing. Mr. Noble has been with EVM since 2012 and has 20 years of experience in small/SMID-cap investing. "During the past 10 years, Nancy has delivered excellent investment results for Eaton Vance's clients. She has also been instrumental in building and growing our small-cap equity capabilities," said Edward J. Perkin, CFA, Chief Equity Investment Officer, Eaton Vance Management. "We are confident in the ability of Mike and Griff to continue to deliver for our clients, with the support of the full organization." Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV) is a leading global asset manage whose history dates to 1924. With offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed $315.1 billion in assets as of March 31, 2016, offering individuals and institutions a broad array of investment strategies and wealth management solutions. For more information, see eatonvance.com. SOURCE Eaton Vance Management NEW ORLEANS, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of ExamWorks Group, Inc. ("ExamWorks" or the "Company") (NYSE: EXAM) to an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of ExamWorks will receive only $35.05 in cash for each share of ExamWorks that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company. If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn ([email protected]) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857. To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC 206 Covington St. Madisonville, LA 70447 SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Related Links http://www.ksfcounsel.com NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts (FCVFC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to resolving family custody cases, has offered support and sponsorship to a heroic African-American Grandmother (Dr. AH) in filing a legal challenge invoking the Federal Civil Rights laws against the State Juvenile Court Judiciary and against the laws of the State of Tennessee (in the Jackson Division of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee). In FCVFC client Dr. AH's civil action case (Case Number 1:16-cv-01065-JDB-egb), the Grandmother sought a Jurisdictional transfer from a State Court into the Federal Court under the provisions of 28 USC1443. A white Judge, Christy R. Little in Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee forbade access to case documents and evidence held (or not held) by the Juvenile Court Clerk's file to prevent the long-time custodial grandmother (who holds a Ph.D. in divinity) from learning the true procedural posture of her case. The judge favored the removal of children from their Grandmother, who has had possession for over a dozen years, to a dangerous and abusive father recently released from Federal Prison. When the Grandmother, Dr. AH, sought to open these files, Judge Little changed case/docket numbers three times for the same case (a procedure completely outside the rules of the Tennessee Courts), and simultaneously renamed the case (without notice, complaint, motion or Petition of any kind). The Judge renamed the moving party, which had been the abusive biological father, to the Guardian ad Litem, Joshua Dougan, Esq., for purposes of making inaccessible information for the litigant to exercise her substantive or procedural rights to due process of law. Judge Little proceeded (under the third case number, created only after Grandmother Dr. AH's April 4, 2016 Notice of Removal) without a hearing, which had been scheduled under the second of the previous two case numbers. FCVFC charges that Judge Christy Little's manipulations possibly constitute fraud in a criminal sense, also implicating the Guardian ad Litem with conspiracy to commit criminal fraud. The Judge may have put herself at risk of being found in contempt of Federal Court and violation of Federal and State Criminal Laws concerning the filing of false, altered or fraudulent documents with the Clerk of Court. Grandmother Dr. AH's Civil Rights Removal also rested on a close look at the Tennessee statutory scheme which permits judges to prefer the biological parents over the best non-parents, and to ignore race-and-culturally specific tendencies, such as the Afro-American Family's historically matrilineal and matriarchal formation. The FCVFC has no lawyer "on the ground" in Tennessee (it is often difficult to find local lawyers who will challenge other local judges), but is supporting and assisting Dr. AH to take the necessary actions aimed at enforcing her Civil Rights Removal and void/vacate Judge Little's post-removal actions and orders, and delineate the limits to Judicial Immunity for violations of the Fundamental Constitutional, Civil and Human Rights of children and custodial parents, as well as to right the astounding injustices done in one single family. The legal excesses of the courts show no penchant for decrease in appetite for control and have in fact created a vortex like atmosphere in which children are spirited out of the hands of protective parents into the hands of their abuser. About FCVFC The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts was created to defend against state judicial, administrative, and regulatory deprivation of rights focused on the deprivation of rights asserted by and belonging to protective parents caught in legal apparatus of courts dealing with child and family matters. Too often modern judicial regulatory policy and "law" are enveloped in a miasma of arbitrary, capricious and over reaching authority. Contact: Jill Jones-Soderman PhD, MSW, MSHS Founder & Director FCVFC 866-553-6931 Email www.fcvfc.org SOURCE The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts Related Links http://www.fcvfc.org/ PHILADELPHIA, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Feldman Shepherd has been retained to represent the family of a 23-month-old Minnesota toddler who was killed on February 14, 2016, when a six drawer IKEA MALM dresser tipped over and crushed him. Theodore "Ted" McGee was found by his parents when they checked on him during his afternoon nap. Although paramedics were immediately called to the scene, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and Ted ultimately died later that day at an area hospital. Feldman Shepherd also represents the families of the two other children who died after they were crushed by IKEA furniture tip-overs. The latest accident comes nearly six months after the July 2015 announcement by IKEA and the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) of a repair program named "Secure it!" for IKEA chests and dressers. Affecting 27 million units of furniture sold by the Swedish retailer, the announcement warned that unless chests and dressers are securely fastened to the wall, they pose a serious and potentially fatal tip-over hazard, particularly to small children. The lawsuits filed on behalf of the toddler's families allege that IKEA designed and sold dangerous and defective dressers, including the MALM dresser line, that do not meet the furniture industry's safety standard for stability. Lead attorney Alan Feldman has explained that "IKEA refuses to design and build its furniture to minimum industry safety standards, and even after three children have died, refuses to issue an official recall, leaving literally millions of unsafe dressers in homes across the country. IKEA knows that small children are at risk and still maintains that their safety protocols are adequate, which as these three families have heartbreakingly learned, is simply not true." A website has been established to report tip-overs and "near misses" in an effort to aggregate similar incidents http://www.furniture-tip-over-accidents.com. Lead attorney Alan Feldman can be contacted directly at 215-567-8300 or at [email protected]. Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig LLP (www.feldmanshepherd.com) has its principal office in Philadelphia, PA and handles significant personal injury and complex civil litigation cases throughout the Country. The firm concentrates its practice in cases involving defective products, medical malpractice, unsafe workplaces, birth injuries, and automotive/trucking accidents. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151111/286430LOGO SOURCE Feldman Shepherd GAINESVILLE, Fla. and BOCA RATON, Fla., March 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research (the Institute) is pleased to announce that Jackson Streeter, M.D. has been appointed as its chief executive officer. Most recently Dr. Streeter served as the CEO of Banyan Biomarkers of Alachua, FL. During his time the company received over $75M in contracts and grants with the Department of Defense and raised $10M in private investment for the development of a first ever blood test for traumatic brain injury. The Institute is a non-profit organization that supports new company and job creation by bridging early funding gaps for companies spinning out of Florida universities. Leveraging a $2B research base, the Institute works collaboratively with technology licensing officers across the state to connect the dots between research, discovery and commercialization, and supports companies whose products are solving some of today's toughest global challenges. Prior to serving as CEO of Banyan Biomakers, Dr. Streeter founded and served as CEO for PhotoThera, Inc. where he raised over $120M in private capital and was responsible for the design and management of five U.S. and international clinical trials. He was also the co-founder of American Veterinary Laser, inventor of over twenty patents and author on multiple scientific publications. Dr. Streeter has served on the following boards and executive committees: Florida Research Consortium, Governor's Life Science Task Force for the State of Florida, FBI counter terrorism south east working group, Walter H. Coulter Center Committee at the University of Miami and the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Dr. Streeter served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy, completing a general surgery internship at Naval Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia and then primary Flight School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. During his military service, he was the first Naval Flight Surgeon selected as a TOPGUN staff instructor, served on several overseas deployments and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal. "Dr. Streeter will be a great asset to the Institute, bringing his extensive experience working with the startup and investment communities to Florida-based companies," said Rick Wassel, chairman of the Institute board of directors. "The Institute is at a critical point in its development and plays a vital role within Florida's innovation ecosystem, and we look forward to Dr. Streeter's leadership and vision." "I am delighted to join the Institute and support the commercialization efforts of Florida's great universities and the new companies and important products that are being launched," said Dr. Streeter. "This is an exciting time in the development of Florida's innovation economy, and working together with our public and private sector partners we will continue to accelerate investment and job growth in Florida to generate prosperity for generations to come." About the Institute Formed by the Florida Legislature in 2007, the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with the technology licensing and commercialization offices of Florida's state universities and private research institutions to leverage a $2B+ research base and form investable companies that create clean jobs in new industries that are driving the global economy. With funding from the State of Florida through the Department of Economic Opportunity, and through the generosity of mentors, advisors and donors, the Institute provides company building services, and seed funding through the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund, to promising Florida startups. Forty-eight companies have been funded to date, and the Institute's economic impact through June 30, 2015 was $379 million, a return on investment of 14 times to the State of Florida. CONTACT: Jane Teague Chief Operating Officer Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research 561-368-8889 [email protected] SOURCE Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research Related Links http://www.florida-institute.com HOUSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- George Fleming, Managing Partner of the law firm of Fleming | Nolen | Jez, L.L.P. in Houston, Texas, has recently joined the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys ("ATAA"), a network group of premier plaintiff trial lawyers experienced in the specialized practice area of trucking litigation. ATAA, based in Toledo, Ohio, seeks to make a difference in highway safety by fighting unsafe practices that lead to truck crashes. Fleming founded Fleming | Nolen | Jez, L.L.P. Here, he established his reputation in mass tort and consumer litigation cases. He was the lead trial attorney in a number of landmark cases, including: Stencel Aero v. U.S., 434 U.S. 882 (1977); Miree v. Dekalb County, Georgia, 433 U.S. 25 (1977); Amstadt v. U.S. Brass Corp., 919 S.W.2d 644 (Tex. S.Ct. 1996); In Re: Polybutylene Plumbing Litigation, 23 S.W.3d 428 (Tex.App.-Hous. [1st Dist.] 2000); and Mathis, et al. v. Exxon Corporation, 302 F.3d 448 (5th Cir. 2002). Fleming has more than 30 years of experience litigating serious truck accident cases. He also practices in the areas of personal injury, aviation accidents, class action, and mass action litigation. "Eighteen wheelers can cause terrible tragedies," said Fleming. "The damages that result can be substantial. Our law firm has successfully represented many families who have suffered life-ending or life-changing injuries." Fleming | Nolen | Jez, L.L.P. is a personal injury law firm based in Houston, Texas, serving clients nationwide. Founded in 1981, the firm focuses on representing individuals in civil trials and appeals. For more information on our trucking accidents practice, visit www.fleming-law.com/trucking-accidents or call (866) 977-6671. SOURCE Fleming | Nolen | Jez, L.L.P. Related Links http://www.fleming-law.com/trucking-accidents NEW YORK, April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Middle East and Africa geo-politics are going through major changes. Following the "Arab Spring", the Iranian backed Shia Sunnie conflict and the proliferation of modern terror weapons, acquired from Iran and failed regimes in Libya and Iraq, the ME&A countries are under a determined attack. The region's regimes very survival is threatened by a deadly combination of ISIS, Iranian-backed Shia terrorism and other ME&A terror organizations. In recent ME&A conflicts (e.g., in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Israel-Gaza, Egypt-Sinai), wherever regional governments' armed forces and internal security agencies had an overwhelming combat power, their adversaries (e.g., Al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, 'Free Syria' movements) resorted to simple and "effective" tactics, based on the use of suicide attacks, on-camera executions, cyberspace ,mass media "marketing" and subterranean warfare. The challenge posed by these insurgency tactics is a key factor to the Middle East and Africa security market growth where the region's governments take dramatic measures. These measures include the following: 1. An "Invest Whatever It Take" policy to defeat foreign and homegrown insurgency to secure the regime (this is especially true for the GCC government's use of their petrodollars) 2. Procurement of state of the art Intelligence systems such as UAVs, SIGINT & C-5ISR systems & services 3. Support and fund foreign allies (e.g., Saudi funding of Egypt El-Sisi regime) 4. Enlarge and equip special forces According to the report, the Middle East & Africa market growth is boosted by the following drivers: 1. The recent wave of ISIS and other insurgency across the Middle East and Africa 2. The region's accelerated security forces and security agencies equipment procurement 3. Premium ME&A prices of new equipment and services 4. The high cost of foreign security services and security technology professionals 5. Replacement and upgrades of outdated systems 6. Growing aftersale revenues 7. Major infrastructure expansion projects in the GCC States 8. Cyber Security 9. Police modernization 10. New security related ICT technologies. 11. Rapid growth of the region aviation sector 12. Replacement and upgrades of outdated security-related systems These lead the Middle East & Africa 2014 HLS & PS market of $ 33.5 billion to grow to $70.8 billion by 2022. The report provides a wealth of information and presents a clear analysis of where the ME&A market is heading. The report is based on diverse aspects and understanding of the market. The report examines each dollar spent in the market via 2 orthogonal money trails: 1. By 8 National Markets: 1. Iraq 2. Israel 3. Kuwait 4. Nigeria 5. Oman 6. Saudi Arabia 7. Turkey 8. U.A.E. 2. By 2 Funding Sources: - Government - Private sector The Global Homeland Security & Public Safety Market to 2022. Focus on Middle East & Africareport is a resource for executives with interests in the industry. It has been explicitly customized for decision makers to identify business opportunities, developing technologies, market trends and risks, as well as to benchmark business plans. Questions answered in this 3 volume 732 page report include: - What will the Middle East & Africa national markets size be in 2015-2022? - What are the main Homeland Security & Public Safety technology trends? - Where and what are the market opportunities? - What are the HLS & Public Safety market drivers and inhibitors? - What are the challenges to the HLS & Public Safety market? The Global Homeland Security & Public Safety Market to 2022. Focus on Middle East & Africareport presents in 732 pages, 117 tables and 174 figures, analysis of current and pipeline technologies and vertical submarkets. The report is granulated into 2 funding source submarkets for each country, presents for each submarket 2011-2014 data, analyses and projects the 2015-2022 market. It presents the HLS & PS: - Business opportunities and challenges - SWOT analysis - Market analysis (for each country and submarket) - National market backgrounds - Current and pipeline Homeland Security & Public Safety technologies in fields of: 1. Security related Big Data 2. Bio-Agents & Infectious Disease Detection 3. Biometrics 4. Security related C2/C4ISR Systems 5. Chemical, Hazmat & Nuclear Detection 6. Cloud Based Security 7. Communication Systems & Devices 8. Counter-IED Technologies 9. Cybersecurity 10. Decontamination of CBRN & Hazmat Incidents 11. Electronic Fencing 12. Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) 13. Intrusion Detection Systems 14. Mass Emergency Notification Systems 15. Metal Detectors 16. Natural & Manmade Disaster Early Warning, Rescue & Recovery Equipment 17. Non-Lethal Weapons 18. Personal (Ballistic & CBRNE) Protective Gear 19. Security Related RFID 20. Standoff Explosives & Weapon Detection 21. Tomographic Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) 22. Vehicle & Container Screening Portals 23. Video Surveillance 24. Video Analytics 25. X-Ray Screening - Vertical Homeland Security & Public Safety sub-markets background: 1. Aviation Security 2. CBRN & Hazmat Security 3. Land Border Security 4. Counter-Terror & Counter-Crime Intelligence 5. Critical Infrastructure Security 6. Law Enforcement, Police Modernization & 1st Responders 7. Maritime Security 8. Land Transportation Security 9. Oil-Gas Industry Security 10. Public Events Security 11. Private Sector Security 12. Safe Cities 13. Diplomatic Corp Security 14. Natural Disasters Mitigation & Relief Equipment & Systems 15. Other Vertical HLS & Public Safety Markets Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03357090-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: c[email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com PUNE, India, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Grease Market, by Type (Metallic Soap Thickener, Non-Soap Thickener, Inorganic Thickener, and Others) and by End-use Industry (automotive, construction & off-highways, general manufacturing, steel, mining, and other) - Global Forecasts to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, The market is estimated at USD 2.04 Billion in 2015 and is projected to reach USD 2.28 Billion by 2021, registering a CAGR of 2.0% between 2016 and 2021. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 110 Tables and 49 Figures spread through 186 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Grease Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/grease-market-88373349.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The market is largely driven by the increased demand from the automotive industry. Grease is highly used in the automotive industry for wheel bearings, universal joints, suspensions, gears, and connectors. "Passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles of automotive industry drive the grease market" Automotive is the largest and fastest-growing end-use industry for grease. The passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles are driving the demand for high performance grease in the automotive industry. In the automotive industry, grease is extensively used in various auto parts such as wheel bearings, universal joints, suspensions, gears, switches, and connectors because of their excellent properties such as mechanical stability, temperature tolerance, water resistance, and anti-oxidants. The need for high performance grease is rising in the increasing manufacturing of machines and equipment for end-use industries. "Metallic soap thickener expected to witness the highest growth" Metallic soap thickener is expected to witness the fastest-growth during the forecast period. This is because of its multifunctional properties that make it suitable to be used in automotive, construction & off-highways, general manufacturing industries. Metallic soap thickener has higher capability of maintaining excellent stability at higher temperature along with other favorable properties such as load bearing, water resistance, shear stability, and rust protection. "Asia-Pacific is the key market for grease" Asia-Pacific dominated the global grease market in 2015. The demand for grease in the Asia-Pacific region is mainly driven by China, India, Japan, and Thailand. The growing automotive industry coupled with the increased demand from the construction segment drives for Grease Market in the region. Moreover, the heavy investment and growing infrastructure are increasing the demand for grease in the region. For More Info Make Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=88373349 Royal Dutch Shell plc (Netherlands), Sinopec Corporation (Shina), Fuchs Petrolub SE (Germany), BP Plc (U.K.), Petronas (Malaysia), and Exxon Mobil Corporation (U.S.) are some of the major players in the global grease market profiled in this report. This report covers the market size, by value and volume, for grease and forecasts the market size till 2021. The report includes the market segmentation based on type, end-use industry, and region. It also provides company profiles and competitive strategies adopted by the major market players in the global grease market. Browse Related Reports: High Temperature Grease Market by Type (Soap Thickener, Non-Soap Thickener, lubricants), Application (Industrial, Automotive), and Region (APAC, EU, NA, MEA, LA) - Global Forecast to 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/high-temperature-grease-lubricants-market-264900326.html Vacuum Grease Market by Type (Fluorocarbon-based Vacuum Grease, Hydrocarbon-based Vacuum Grease, Silicone-based Vacuum Grease), by Application (Laboratory Equipment, Food Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Aerospace/Aviation, Others), by Region - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vacuum-grease-market-200687486.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets HOUSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As it celebrates 100 years of producing and distributing flagship publications, data products and events for the oil and gas industry, Gulf Publishing Company announces today the successful management buyout of its energy information business from its London-based parent company, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. The buyout was led by Gulf Publishing Company's President and CEO John Royall and Houston investor Russell Denson, with financing from Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN.) The new independent company will retain the name Gulf Publishing Company and will continue to publish its three energy magazines including World Oil, Hydrocarbon Processing, and Gas Processing, and will add the London-based oil and gas business and strategy journal Petroleum Economist. Gulf Publishing Company also produces events and data intelligence for the energy industry. "We are now a Houston-based independent company serving the oil and gas industry from the energy capital of the world," said John Royall, who continues to serve as president and CEO. "It is a time of transition for the publishing industry as well as the oil and gas industry, and we are bullish on the future of both. As an independent company, we have a great opportunity to advance our legacy as a venerable Houston institution that has been reporting on the oil and gas business for 100 years." Russell Denson serves as chairman of Gulf Publishing Holdings, the new parent company of Gulf Publishing Company, and is a veteran of the publishing industry. "We are confident that Gulf Publishing Company has a strong future as we serve the information needs of the global oil and gas industry," said Denson. Gulf Publishing Company was incorporated in Texas in 1916 by a team of oil company executives and oilfield equipment manufacturers, as wildcat discoveries were being made in Goose Creek field along the Houston Ship Channel. The company began operating by producing a weekly publication originally entitled Gulf Coast Oil News. It soon found its niche reporting on an exciting and evolving industry, eventually becoming World Oil magazine. "What great timing to restore Gulf Publishing Company to a Houston independent business on the centennial celebration of its formation," said Royall. "We look forward to exciting times ahead for both the energy industry and the energy information business." Gulf Publishing Company will be exhibiting at the 2016 Offshore Technology Conference, May 2-5, at the World Oil booth 2805. About Gulf Publishing Company Founded in 1916, Gulf Publishing Company produces and distributes leading trade journals, industry research, databases, software, conferences and events designed for the needs of the energy industry. Headquartered in Houston, Gulf Publishing Company produces four trade journals for the oil and gas industry: World Oil, Hydrocarbon Processing, Gas Processing and Petroleum Economist. Media contact: Judi Martin, JM Group 713-299-5619 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361924LOGO SOURCE Gulf Publishing Company SAN MATEO, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- HEI Life Sciences (HEI) has been awarded a contract by the University of North Carolina, (UNC) to provide collections of blood samples for subjects participating in an Anorexia Nervosa study. The Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative, (ANGI), https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/eatingdisorders/our-research/angi, is a global study and the largest and most rigorous genetic investigation of eating disorders ever conducted. HEI was chosen based on their past performance of excellence in similar studies to provide collections nationwide. "We are able to provide an easier and convenient solution for their subjects. Our focus is to obtain specimens from clinical research subjects in their own home or in an environment where they are most comfortable," says Robert Dahut, founder of HEI. One of the biggest challenges for a study is to attract participants because typically it is not convenient for a subject to participate in a study. Sometimes a subject is not physically capable of going into a clinic. Furthermore, most clinics do not offer availabilities centered around a working subject's schedule. By mobilizing the study HEI is able to help expand the target subject population. ANGI recently released an article, emphasizing the importance of mobility to the study: "To date we've received a tremendous amount of interest and support, but participants have had to travel to donate a blood sample. We've just made participating in ANGI easier than ever! We can bring the blood draw to you!" HEI does an excellent job of customizing their services to fit their subject's needs and provides availability 7 days a week. "Our company has had phenomenal growth over the years from the bio-tech, pharmaceutical and academia research community due to the mobilized menu of services we provide. Our subject-centered solution offers the unique opportunity to attract and retain study participants," states Robert Dahut. In the past, clinical trials had to rely on their study participants go to a hospital or clinic, which was a challenge and inconvenience for some patient populations because of physical limitations, health conditions and limited schedules. HEI brings the study to their subject's home or office, offering convenience, practicality and ease to their schedule. Subjects enjoy the convenience of having non-traditional options available to them. HEI is a leader in this industry and is emerging as an expert in this field, providing a platform to reach a wider subject population by removing what would normally be their greatest obstacle and into turning it into a solution to benefit life sciences. About HEI: HEI is a national leader in sample collection for academic, bio-tech and pharmaceutical clinical research studies for over 20 years. We provide health professionals nationwide. We offer the convenience of providing research services in the participant's home or other convenient locations. HEI is uniquely equipped to support your study protocols and handle collections that meet your specific study needs. Providing all types of bio-specimen collections and phlebotomy services to a patient's home has been the foundation of our company for the last 20 years. For more information visit us on the web at www.Heilifesciences.com. Media Contact: Robert Dahut (877) 816-3521 Email SOURCE HEI Life Sciences Related Links http://www.Heilifesciences.com HILLSDALE, Mich., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillsdale College congratulates three students who competed in the 2016 Eta Sigma Phi Maurine Dallas Watkins Sight Translation Contests, held during the Eta Sigma Phi National Convention in Monmouth, Ill. Hillsdale students placed first in Advanced Greek and swept the Koine Greek category by taking first, second, and third places. "All three participants performed admirably, especially considering that they are all juniors," said Joseph Garnjobst, chair of the Classics department at Hillsdale College. "The field was very competitive with schools with very strong Classics programs, such as the University of Texas, the University of California, Davis, Washington University in St. Louis, and St. Olaf College. We're proud of our students' accomplishments. These prizes are a testament to their hard work and their dedication." Junior Noah Diekemper took first place in the 67th Annual Greek Translation Contest in Advanced Greek and Koine Greek, receiving The Lawrence Crowson Prize for his finish in the advanced category. He also placed 2nd in the 66th Annual Latin Translation Contest. Juniors Anne Begin and Rachelle Ferguson placed 2nd and 3rd in Koine Greek, finishing Hillsdale's clean sweep of the category. During the convention, Begin delivered a paper titled "Counterfactuals in Thucydides' Pylos Narrative." It was one of four papers from across the nation selected for presentation. Begin, who received a scholarship to study in Italy this summer through the Vergilian Society, will be delivering another paper at the Society for Classical Studies in Toronto next January. Hillsdale began competing in the Eta Sigma Phi translation contests in 2001. Since then, the College has built a 15-year winning streak, winning at least one prize every year of the competition. More about Hillsdale College's nationally recognized Classics program, is available at www.hillsdale.edu. About Hillsdale College Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an educational outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 3.4 million. SOURCE Hillsdale College Related Links https://www.hillsdale.edu La Italia de Lidia en America ( 'Lidia's Italy in America' ) is the Spanish-language version of a program designed to educate and entertain food-loving audiences. Acclaimed chef Lidia Bastianich takes viewers by the hand on an exciting culinary journey through different American cities. "I am so pleased to be joining the HITN family, offering viewers my series, Lidia's Italy and Lidia's Italy in America. I know how important family and cooking is to me, and I know it will resonate with this wonderful Spanish speaking community in America. It's an honor to be sharing my tradition of food, wine, culture and my cuisine with the Hispanic community," said Lidia Bastianich Chef and Entrepreneur. In each episode of La Italia de Lidia en America the chef offers up the ingredients of the cultural fusion between Italy and the United States. In her way, every place she visits is a window on to interesting facts that show viewers how the influence of the rich Italian culture is reflected in various aspects of the culture of the American people, in cuisine, music and artistic expression. "La Italia de Lidia en America is a stellar show hosted by acclaimed chef Lidia Bastianich, who is given to the task of showing our viewers, in a lively and lighthearted way, various facets of Italian culture, while highlighting the great influence that Italian cuisine has had on American cuisine over the years," said, HITN General Manager Eric Turpin. Lidia Bastianich has managed to combine the two greatest passions of her life, her love for her family and her passion for cooking, to develop a successful career in business. The prominent chef is the author of several internationally best-selling cookbooks and, as a successful businesswoman, is the owner of several restaurants in the United States and of a thriving gastronomic enterprise, which she manages with the support of her children. La Italia de Lidia en America premieres on Saturday, May 7, at 4:00 pm ET / 1: 00 pm Pacific. For more information about The Hispanic Information and Telecommunication Network (HITN, Inc.) visit: http://www.hitn.org/en/about-us What: HITN introduces renowned chef and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich to the US Hispanic market When: May 2016 Where: HITN TV Brooklyn, NY Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362207 SOURCE HITN-TV Related Links http://www.hitn.org FMA Live! Forces in Motion is making a stop in Washington for the next two weeks with twelve performances in North Bend (Twin Falls Middle School), Bothell (Canyon Park Junior High School), Granite Falls (Granite Falls Middle School), Bremerton (West Hills STEM Academy), Kingston (Kingston Middle School) and Poulsbo (Poulsbo Middle School). The popular show incorporates hip-hop music and dancers with student volunteers and on-stage, interactive science experiments to demonstrate how physics plays a role in everyday life. Since the program's creation in 2004, the FMA Live! cast has performed before 455,000 students in more than 1,150 schools from all 48 contiguous U.S. states, as well as in Mexico and Canada. "It is critically important to get middle school-aged students aware of and excited about STEM topicsespecially physics. We've seen FMA Live! make the introduction easier," said Donald James, NASA's associate administrator for Education. "Thanks to our collaboration with Honeywell, we're inspiring students to set their sights on future careers in the critical STEM field." Each performance focuses on Newton's Universal Law of Gravity and Three Laws of Motion. Named after Newton's Second Law of Motion [Force equals Mass times Acceleration], FMA Live! uses music videos and interactive scientific demonstrations to teach and inspire students to pursue STEM careers. Honeywell and NASA have joined the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to bring FMA Live! Forces in Motion to military-connected schools on the West Coast this spring. On Monday, May 9, the show will make a stop at West Hills STEM Academy in Bremerton, Wash. as part of a continued commitment to provide STEM focused education assistance to students from military families. The physics-focused hip-hop program complements DoDEA's broader goals to infuse STEM curriculum and instruction across all grade levels. "Many of today's engineering challenges will be solved decades into the future by the next generation of engineers and scientists," said Mike Bennett, president, Honeywell Hometown Solutions. "To prepare students to become tomorrow's innovators, Honeywell invests in programs like FMA Live! to ignite that spark of inspiration in fun and relatable ways." The FMA Live! Forces in Motion experience features an online "Teachers' Lounge" that includes National Science Standards-based teaching resources, downloadable streaming videos, music from the show, and a comprehensive educational guide with lesson plans. This digital tool helps keep the post-show spark alive and can be incorporated into classroom learning objectives. To learn more visit FMALive.com . About FMA Live! Using live actors, hip-hop songs, music videos, interactive scientific demonstrations and video interviews with scientists and engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the show teaches Newton's Three Laws of Motion and Universal Law of Gravity. Honeywell and NASA created FMA Live! to inspire middle school students to explore STEM concepts and careers. The program addresses Forces and Motion learning objectives outlined by the Next Generation Science Education Standards for students in grades 5-8. Through Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company has a number of award-winning programs focused on inspiring students at all grade levels to embrace STEM education. The company chose physics for FMA Live! Forces in Motion because studies have shown that the middle school years of education offer the best window of opportunity to get students interested in STEM careers. Supporting Resources For Educators About Honeywell Hometown Solutions FMA Live! Forces in Motion is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com/. About Honeywell Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. About Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-aged children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Activities throughout the United States that serve children of military families. For more information, please visit http://www.dodea.edu/ Honeywell and the Honeywell logo are the exclusive properties of Honeywell, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other Honeywell product names, technology names, trademarks, service marks, and logos may be registered or pending registration in the U.S. or in other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright 2016 Honeywell. Media Contact: Cecilia Tejeda (973) 455-3450 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361826 SOURCE Honeywell Related Links http://www.honeywell.com SALT LAKE CITY, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In The Event, an event rental and production company based out of Salt Lake City, has expanded their tech offerings with new intelligent lighting inventory. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361965 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361966 Gone are the days of drab PowerPoints unenthusiastically projected behind a presenter. New technology allows In The Event to bring exciting "eye candy" to any event, turning typical presentations into an unforgettable experience. "It gives them what we call 'eye candy' in the room," explains founder and CEO Robert LaSpina. "It's something to look at, something to see, that's unique and moving and changing colors. It's called pixel mapping, and now we can pixel map to all of our lights and everything we do." In The Event uses wireless German-based lights, so the new inventory can communicate seamlessly with the products they were already using to enliven events. With their new ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 board, In The Event is in complete control over their lighting, lasers, and foggers. Of the ChamSys board, LaSpina says, "This board rocks. It's got universes so you can run multiple lights and multiple heads, you control everything off of one console." Another plus? The board integrates with In The Event's Vectorworks program that let's them design events in a 3D map before taking a single piece of equipment to the venue. "When we're building shows out, we're putting our lights in our drawings and we're actually turning them on in the drawing and programing them in the drawing," says LaSpina. This means all event managers or presenters have to do is "hit play." Other technology In The Event purchased includes Rosco foggers and hazers, "The best foggers in the world," says LaSpina, and German Light Products (GLP) moving head lights, moving head consoles, and lasers. "It's our next step in inventory and types of products that we want to rent out," says LaSpina. "Now we consider ourselves a high-end lighting house." The demand for these types of technologies is high. When In The Event found themselves renting these items from other companies regularly, they decided to take charge and bring this technology in-house. Opportunities for innovative lighting technology are endless. Whether a brand wants to display their logo, start up a dance party, or present moving images in crystal-clear clarity, they can with this technology at the helm. In The Event has already marked themselves as innovators in the local and national event industry with their custom-made LED modular furniture, and this step has only solidified that reputation. As more innovative companies and ideas move to Utah, In The Event will be ready to catch these creatives and make their ideas come true. But creative potential aside, as LaSpina puts it, this technology is "just really, really cool." Visit www.InTheEvent.com for more information about the services and rentals at In The Event. Media Contact: Marina Gutierrez In The Event (801) 866-1144 Email SOURCE In The Event Related Links http://www.intheevent.com HOUSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) today announced that it will release its first quarter 2016 financial results on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 after the market closes. In conjunction with the release, ION has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet, for Thursday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time). What: ION First Quarter 2016 Earnings Conference Call When: Thursday, May 5, 2016 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time How: Live via phone - By dialing (877) 407-0672 and asking for the ION call a few minutes prior to the start time. Live over the Internet - by logging on to the web at the address below. Where: http://investorrelations.i-o.com. The webcast, which will be accompanied by a slide presentation, can be accessed from the ION home page or by clicking on the link listed above. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through May 19, 2016 and may be accessed by calling (877) 660-6853 using pass code 13634520#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on the company's website at http://investorrelations.i-o.com for approximately 12 months. About ION ION is a leading provider of technology-driven solutions to the global oil & gas industry. ION's offerings are designed to help companies reduce risk and optimize assets throughout the E&P lifecycle. For more information, visit www.iongeo.com. Contact Steve A. Bate Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer +1.281.552-3011 SOURCE ION Geophysical Corporation Related Links http://www.iongeo.com BETHESDA, Md., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- All across America, Ted Cruz is losing and he is losing badly. Cruz's presidential campaign is in crisis. Even pledged delegates are now renouncing him. "Once Americans learn that Ted Cruz is not constitutionally eligible for the presidency, they quickly reject him," states Washington, D.C. law professor Victor Williams. Ted Cruz was born in Calgary, Canada in 1970, and Cruz held his resulting Canadian citizenship until May 2014. Cruz is not a "natural born [American] Citizen" as Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution requires. Even Cruz's spouse now calls him an "immigrant." Next Comes Nebraska, West Virginia, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota, and California. The Truth Campaign is Not Yet Finished. In mid-March, 2016, Professor Victor Williams registered as a "write-in" candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in several late-primary states. Williams now has unique "competitor candidate" legal standing to challenge Mr. Cruz's ballot eligibility in and out of court. In each state where he is a candidate, Williams has formally challenged Cruz's ballot eligibility with the state's highest election official. (Secretary of State). Victor Williams is described as a "Republican Lawrence Lessig" (the law professor who ran as a Democrat). www.VictorWilliamsforPresident.com Williams argues that now is time to redouble efforts to tell the truth about the constitutionally ineligible Ted Cruz. Adding Texas-born Carly Fiorina to the mix did not make Canada-born Ted Cruz eligible. The message must reach each late-primary states -- loud and clear. Democrats Will Sue and Destroy Ted Cruz in the Fall Election. Williams explains that he is just beating Democrats to the punch. If Cruz is nominated, Democrats have already pledged to challenge Cruz's eligibility in each one of the 50 states. In New Jersey, Professor Williams has already sued Cruz. The litigation is now at the Appellate Division of the New Jersey state courts. Williams seeks to remove Ted Cruz from the New Jersey June 7 ballot. Williams plans to open a California front in the fight soon. Williams' campaign website www.VictorWilliamsforPresident.com -- details the law professor's litigation strategy and his unique policy positions. From Hardscrabble Arkansas to Harvard then Three Law Degrees Victor Williams is long-time attorney, law professor, and prolific scholar in Washington, D.C. A first-generation college graduate from Arkansas (B.A., Ouachita Baptist University), Williams taught primary and secondary school before completing a graduate degree in education (Ed.M., Harvard University). Studying at Harvard with law-trained faculty first introduced him to the transformative potential of the law. Williams went on to earn three law degrees (J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law; LL.M., Columbia University; LL.M.-Law and Economics, George Mason University). Sickened by the corruption, dysfunction, and incompetence of the established political order, Professor Williams launched www.disruptivejustice.org in June 2014 to apply disruptive innovation theory to law and politics. www.VictorWilliamsforPresident.com Contact: Victor Williams or any campaign staff Direct line: 301-951-9045 Campaign Headquarters: 5209 Baltimore Ave. Bethesda, MD 20816 SOURCE Professor Victor Williams Related Links http://www.VictorWilliamsforPresident.com ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, organizers of the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS) unveiled its expert speaker line up for the 35th annual event, which serves as a conduit for introducing early stage and emerging growth companies seeking funding to U.S. investors prospecting deals. The 2016 program will feature keynote addresses from James Flynn, managing director of Deerfield Capital Management and Adam Lilling, founding and managing partner of Plus Capital. MGCS will also feature informative panels on topics ranging from the impact of healthcare reform, medical software startup challenges and a new Tech Transfer "Alley" that will provide a larger platform for Midwest universities to spotlight Tech Transfer offices and their emerging company spin-outs. Hosted by the Ross School of Business' Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies with support from the Michigan Venture Capital Association, this year's Symposium will be held May 17-18, 2016 at the Marriott Resort in Ypsilanti, Mich. More than 450 entrepreneurs, researchers, investment professionals and business executives are expected to attend for networking, company presentations and panel discussions. The conference has a track record of attracting high-quality investors from around the country each year. Influential Industry Speakers The program will kick off with a keynote address from Adam Lilling who currently serves as founding and managing partner of LA-based Plus Capital, a firm that manages early-stage venture capital investing, equity-driven partnerships and start-up operations for top celebrities from Hollywood, music and sporting. Kicking off with the keynote on day two will be from James Flynn, managing partner of Deerfield Capital Management, a New York-based multi-billion dollar venture capital firm with a focus on healthcare investment. Flynn oversees the firm's investment activities as well as the day-to-day management of the organization. The program will also feature high-caliber speakers representing entrepreneurs, researchers, investment professionals and business executives who will lead informative discussions on pivotal industry issues. Confirmed speakers include: V. Kadir Kadhiresan, PhD, Vice President, Venture Investments, Johnson & Johnson JJDC, Inc. Robert Crutchfield , General Partner, Harbert Venture Partners , General Partner, Harbert Venture Partners Michael Liang , PhD, Partner, Baird Capital , PhD, Partner, Baird Capital Jeffery J. Stolte , Partner, Providence Ventures , Partner, Providence Ventures Tom Shehab , MD, Principal, Arboretum Ventures , MD, Principal, Arboretum Ventures Julia Owens , Ph.D. President & CEO, Millendo , Ph.D. President & CEO, Millendo Bob Smith , Senior Vice President, Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer , Senior Vice President, Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Jim Evans , CEO, Socrates Analytics , CEO, Socrates Analytics Martin Felsenthal , Partner, Health Velocity Capital , Partner, Health Velocity Capital Jonathan Murray , Managing Director, Draper Triangle Ventures , Managing Director, Draper Triangle Ventures Kurt Skifstad, PhD, CEO, ArborMetrix David Neustaedter , Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer , Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Mark Woodka , CEO, OnShift , CEO, OnShift Matt Bell , Principal, Cultivian Sandbox Venture Partners , Principal, Cultivian Sandbox Venture Partners Matt Bower , Partner, Varnum , Partner, Varnum Jim Adox , Managing Director, Venture Investors , Managing Director, Venture Investors Kirsten Leute , Senior Vice President of University Relations, Osage University Partners , Senior Vice President of University Relations, Osage University Partners Rik Vandevenne , Director, River Cities Capital Fund , Director, River Cities Capital Fund Karen Spilzewski, RiverVest Venture Partners David Wentzloff , Co-CEO & Co-founder, PsiKick; Professor, EECS, University of Michigan , Co-CEO & Co-founder, PsiKick; Professor, EECS, Manny Stockman , Associate, Osage University Partners University of Michigan Selected to Host 2017 Coulter Investment Forum In related news, organizers of MGCS also announced that as part of the 36th annual Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, May 16 and 17, 2017, the University of Michigan will hold MGCS in conjunction with the Coulter Investment Forum. Each year, the Coulter Investment Forum, sponsored by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, showcases 30 emerging life sciences companies that have originated in Coulter Translational Research Partnerships at one of 16 universities. This one-day event is an exciting opportunity to preview 25 to 30 life science companies seeking seed to early-stage investment. Company participation is restricted to those with innovations that have been vetted through the Translational Research Partnership Program at one of the 16 university partners using the Coulter Commercialization Process. This documented process uses business like processes to accelerate academic innovations to the market to improve patient care. Solutions range from device to imaging, diagnostics to therapeutics. Selecting the University of Michigan and MGCS as the host venue for 2017 underscores the dynamic and growing venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Midwest. In fact, start up and venture capital activity in the Midwest--which boasts talent from prestigious research universities like the University of Michigan and an affordable cost of living--has outpaced the rest of the country in terms of growth. According to a recent report conducted by the Michigan Venture Capital Association, over the last five years, total capital under management has grown 47 percent in Michigan, but fallen 17 percent nationwide and the amount invested in Michigan has grown 295 percent, compared to 97 percent nationwide. "For the past 35 years, the caliber and content at MGCS has evolved from a few people discussing entrepreneurial venture capital trends to a nationwide event that attracts some of the most prestigious investors and budding entrepreneurs in the country," said David Brophy, professor of finance and founding director of MGCS. "We are honored but not surprised that the Coulter Investment Forum, a conference that celebrates university startup companies from across the world, has chosen Michigan to host its 2017 event, and we are looking forward to collaborating with them as we prepare for next year." The 36 companies selected to present at this year's 2016 Michigan Growth Capital Symposium will soon be announced. To learn more or to register, visit www.MichiganGCS.com and follow conversations about the MGCS by tracking #MGCS2016 on Twitter. About the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS) MGCS is the original university-based venture fair, which was first held in 1979. This nationally attended two-day event provides an opportunity for investors to connect with up-and-coming Midwest businesses and learn about emerging technologies. The Symposium offers the opportunity to build relationships with an unparalleled business network of distinguished private equity industry leaders, leading university research faculty and entrepreneurial business professionals. MGCS is presented by the Center for Venture Capital & Private Equity Finance and the Zell Lurie Institute at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with support from the Michigan Venture Capital Association and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. About the Stephen M. Ross School of Business The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a vibrant and distinctive learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change in today's dynamic global economy. The Ross School of Business mission is to develop leaders who make a positive difference in the world. Through thought and action, members of the Ross community drive change and innovation that improves business and society. Ross is consistently ranked among the world's leading business schools. Academic degree programs include the BBA, MBA, Part-time MBA (Evening and Weekend formats), Executive MBA, Global MBA, Master of Accounting, Master of Supply Chain Management, Master of Management, and PhD. In addition, the school delivers open-enrollment and custom executive education programs targeting general management, leadership development, and strategic human resource management. SOURCE The Zell Lurie Institute Related Links http://www.michiganross.umich.edu/ NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Katie Scott Design is pleased to announce the launch of the Katie Scott Jewelry website and the introduction of her "Build Your Soul I.D." Inspiration Collections. Each collection has a unique meaning so the wearer can choose what speaks to her inner spirituality. The Inspiration Collections are: Aura, Faith, Wish, Spirit, and Let It Be. Her new website features an advanced e-commerce platform. www.katiescottjewelry.com The Katie Scott brand reaches beyond the surface of simply creating luxury. It is Katie's desire to inspire soulful living into the world - an infusion of universal beliefs lived in a modern, purposeful, and beautiful way. Katie documented her spiritual journey in her recent book, "Let It Be." In 2013, Katie Scott introduced her fine and fashion jewelry lines. Success and recognition came quickly in the jewelry world. Within the first eight months, Neiman Marcus acquired her new jewelry collections, as well as select retailers across the United States, driving her expansion into an e-commerce platform. Tapping into her desire for something edgy and fashion-forward yet spiritually inspired, Scott was motivated to unite style with inner spirituality. After discovering a lack of modern, upscale pieces in this category, Katie's ingenuity, spiritual life and design worlds evolved. Her resulting jewelry collection references spiritual talismans and messaging that personally relates to the wearer in a contemporary way with diamonds and leather, rose gold and silver, meditation beads and archetypal crosses. Houston-based, Katie is also a nationally renowned interior designer. Katie Scott Interior Design has been featured in magazines such as Elle Decor, Country French, House Beautiful, Modern Luxury, Interiors, Southern Living, Paper city, and Luxe. "I work directly from the heart, as I believe it holds our greatest treasures of truth and enlightenment," explains Scott. "Designing is my canvas, allowing me to capture my own passions, aesthetic and style. I believe one of the greatest gifts I can offer clients is stimulation through your home, environment and jewelry - creating a heightened level of sensitivity to your greatest desires in an effort to expose and explore them." For more details on our jewelry please visit http://www.katiescottjewelry.com Contact: Stanton Scott | Katie Scott Design Phone: 713-973-7384 Cell: 713-248-3141 [email protected] SOURCE Katie Scott Design Related Links https://www.katiescottjewelry.com OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) announced today that its Kansas Gas Service division filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) for an increase in base rates, reflecting system investments and operating costs necessary to maintain the safety and reliability of its natural gas distribution system. Kansas Gas Service is the state's largest natural gas utility, serving approximately 635,000 customers across two-thirds of the state of Kansas. Kansas Gas Service's request, if approved, represents a net base rate increase of $28 million. Kansas Gas Service is already recovering $7.4 million from customers through the Gas System Reliability Surcharge (GSRS), resulting in a total base rate increase of $35.4 million. This request would increase the average residential customer's natural gas bill by $4.34 per month. "Our number one priority is safety. In order to continue to provide a safe, reliable energy choice to our customers, we continually reinvest in our infrastructure and upgrade our technology to maintain the integrity of our system," said Pierce H. Norton II, ONE Gas president and chief executive officer. "We understand the impact rate increases can have on our customers as we manage expenses to keep energy costs at reasonable levels," said Norton. The company will continue to assist customers through offerings such as the Average Payment Plan and Share The Warmth, the company's heating assistance fund, which is administered through The Salvation Army. Customers may also visit www.kansasgasservice.com for energy-saving information and helpful tools. The company's filing also includes a proposed Cost of Service Adjustment (COSA) mechanism that would reset rates annually, based on a review of the previous year's financial results. The proposed rate mechanism is intended to reduce the need to file full rate cases, thereby saving costs associated with these traditional rate cases. In accordance with Kansas law, the KCC has 240 days to consider Kansas Gas Service's filing. Kansas Gas Service provides clean, reliable natural gas to approximately 635,000 customers in 360 communities in Kansas. It is a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a natural gas distribution company and the successor to the company founded in 1906 as Oklahoma Natural Gas Company. ONE Gas provides natural gas distribution services to more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. ONE Gas is one of the largest publicly traded, 100 percent regulated, natural gas utilities in the United States. ONE Gas trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OGS," and is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit the websites at www.kansasgasservice.com or www.onegas.com. For the latest news about Kansas Gas Service, follow us on Twitter @KansasGas. Analyst Contact: Andrew Ziola 918-947-7163 Media Contact: Dawn Ewing 913-319-8642 SOURCE ONE Gas, Inc. Related Links http://www.onegas.com PITTSBURGH, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) today reported results for the 2016 fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2016, with earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.20, compared with the prior year quarter loss per diluted share (LPS) of $0.58. Adjusted EPS were $0.37 in the current quarter compared with $0.46 in the prior year quarter. The company generated year-to-date free operating cash flow of $67 million compared with $143 million in the same period last year. Fiscal 2016 EPS guidance is now $1.05 to $1.15. The current period reported results include restructuring and related charges of $0.18 per share, a net gain on divestiture of $0.03 per share and the current quarter tax impact of the second quarter asset impairment charges of $0.02 per share. The prior year quarter reported results include goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges of $0.90 per share, restructuring and related charges of $0.12 per share and tax redeployment expense of $0.02 per share. "Kennametal's third quarter performance reflects progress from operating results in a challenging environment, and benefited from a favorable tax rate," said Ron De Feo, Kennametal President and CEO. "The 2016 third quarter adjusted operating margin of 7.8 percent is substantially higher than the year-to-date December fiscal 2016 adjusted operating margin of 3.6 percent, reflecting sequential volume growth and lower raw material costs. Infrastructure made progress, posting adjusted operating income of $10 million compared with losses for the first half of the year, and Industrial results reflect better sequential margins as well with adjusted operating income of $30 million. Adjusted EPS, while still lower year-over-year, strengthened sequentially as a result of the higher gross margins and lower operating expenses." De Feo continued, "We have a lot of improvement opportunities within Kennametal to simplify operations, lower costs and drive margin improvements over time. We need to be more customer responsive and grow market share with innovation, entrepreneurship and speed - all things we are working on and plan to discuss with the investment community in the future." Fiscal 2016 Third Quarter Key Developments Sales were $498 million , compared with $639 million in the same quarter last year. Sales decreased by 22 percent, reflecting a 10 percent decline due to divestiture, an 8 percent organic decline and a 4 percent unfavorable currency exchange impact. On a combined basis, pre-tax restructuring and related charges were $14 million , or $0.18 per share, and pre-tax benefits were approximately $20 million , or $0.19 per share in the quarter. In the same quarter last year, pre-tax restructuring and related charges were $17 million , or $0.12 per share, and pre-tax benefits were approximately $9 million , or $0.08 per share. Programs are on track to deliver fiscal 2016 year-over-year incremental savings of approximately $46 million . Operating income was $27 million , compared with an operating loss of $120 million in the same quarter last year. Adjusted operating income was $39 million , compared with $56 million a year ago. The decrease in adjusted operating results was driven primarily by organic sales decline, unfavorable mix, lower fixed cost absorption and unfavorable currency exchange, offset partially by lower raw material costs and restructuring benefits. Adjusted operating margin was 7.8 percent in the current period and 8.8 percent in the prior year period. The reported effective tax rate (ETR) was 24.7 percent and the adjusted ETR was 9.9 percent. The difference between the reported and adjusted ETR was due primarily to the effect of prior asset impairment charges, restructuring and related charges and divestiture. For the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the reported ETR was 64.4 percent (benefit on a loss) and the adjusted ETR was 23.1 percent (provision on income). The change in the adjusted ETR year-over-year is driven primarily by a favorable current period U.S. provision to return adjustment and a favorable geographical mix of earnings. EPS was $0.20 , compared with the prior year quarter LPS of $0.58 . Adjusted EPS were $0.37 in the current quarter and $0.46 in the prior year quarter. The company generated year-to-date free operating cash flow of $67 million compared with $143 million in the same period last year. The decrease in free operating cash flow was primarily attributable to lower cash earnings and higher restructuring and pension payments, partially offset by reductions of working capital. Segment Developments for the Fiscal 2016 Third Quarter Industrial segment sales of $316 million decreased 11 percent from $355 million in the prior year quarter due to unfavorable currency exchange of 5 percent, organic decline of 5 percent and 1 percent due to divestiture. Excluding the impact of currency exchange and divestiture, sales decreased approximately 26 percent in energy, 6 percent in general engineering, 1 percent in aerospace and defense and 1 percent in transportation. Activity in the energy sector continued to adversely affect the industrial economy, particularly in the Americas, however destocking in the indirect channel has been subsiding. The transportation market was mixed with fewer tooling package sales contributing to weaker sales in Asia , partially offset by favorable conditions in Europe and Americas. On a segment regional basis excluding the impact of currency exchange and divestiture, sales decreased 8 percent in Asia , 6 percent in the Americas and 2 percent in Europe . Industrial segment operating income was $25 million compared with $35 million in the prior year. Adjusted operating income was $30 million compared to $44 million in the prior year quarter, driven by organic sales decline, unfavorable currency exchange, lower fixed cost absorption and unfavorable business mix, partially offset by restructuring program benefits and lower raw material costs. Industrial adjusted operating margin was 9.6 percent compared with 12.4 percent in the prior year. Infrastructure segment sales of $181 million decreased 36 percent from $284 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease was driven by divestiture impact of 21 percent, 12 percent organic sales decline and 3 percent unfavorable currency exchange. Excluding the impact of currency exchange and divestiture, sales decreased by approximately 37 percent in oil and gas, 32 percent in mining, 15 percent in industrial applications and 12 percent in processing, offset partially by an increase of approximately 6 percent in construction. Sales in other markets remained relatively flat. Key energy markets, particularly in North America , took a further step down in our fiscal third quarter, with U.S. rig counts declining 38 percent within the quarter, ending down 58 percent year-over-year. In addition, conditions in underground mining in North America declined further, with sales down 58 percent year-over-year. As previously disclosed, this weakness is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Partially offsetting these drivers was improved sales in the construction end market, with year-over-year sales growth realized in all regions led by North America at 9 percent. On a segment regional basis excluding the impact of divestiture and currency exchange, sales decreased 23 percent in the Americas and 11 percent in Asia , while Europe remained flat. Infrastructure segment operating income was $4 million , compared with operating loss of $153 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Adjusted operating income was $10 million compared to $14 million in the prior year quarter. The change in adjusted operating results was primarily due to lower organic sales, unfavorable business mix and lower fixed cost absorption, partially offset by lower raw material costs and the benefits of restructuring savings. Infrastructure adjusted operating margin was 5.2 percent compared with 5.0 percent in the prior year. Fiscal 2016 Year-To-Date Key Developments Sales were $1,577 million , compared with $2,010 million in the same period last year. Sales decreased by 22 percent, reflecting a 12 percent organic decline, 6 percent unfavorable currency exchange impact and 4 percent from divestiture. Operating loss was $200 million , compared with $393 million in the same period last year. Adjusted operating income was $77 million in the current period, compared with adjusted operating income of $186 million in the prior year. Adjusted operating results decreased due to organic sales decline, unfavorable business mix, lower fixed cost absorption and unfavorable currency exchange, offset partially by lower raw material costs and restructuring benefits. Adjusted operating margin was 4.9 percent, compared with 9.2 percent in the prior year. LPS was $2 .00 in the current year period, compared with $4.98 the prior year period. Adjusted EPS were $0.66 in the current year period and $1.55 in the prior year period. Reconciliations of all non-GAAP financial measures are set forth in the tables attached, and corresponding descriptions are contained in the company's report on Form 8-K, to which this news release is attached. Recent Actions to Enhance Liquidity and Further Strengthen Financial Position In April 2016 as previously announced, we took additional steps to enhance our liquidity and strengthen our financial position through entering into an amendment to the company's five-year, multi-currency, revolving credit facility. The amendment extends the tenor for a new five year term to April 2021. The prior facility matured in April 2018. The maximum leverage ratio was increased under the new amendment as defined in the agreement in order to increase operating flexibility. Further, the EBITDA definition was amended to allow for up to $120 million of aggregate cash restructuring payment add-backs through December 31, 2017. The minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio and the other key provisions remain unchanged. Restructuring Programs The previously announced restructuring programs are expected to produce combined annual ongoing pre-tax permanent savings of $105-$125 million. In total, pre-tax charges for these initiatives are expected to be approximately $188-$205 million. RESTRUCTURING AND RELATED CHARGES AND SAVINGS (PRE-TAX) Estimated Charges Current Quarter Charges Charges To Date Estimated Annualized Savings Approximate Current Quarter Savings Approximate Savings Since Inception Expected Completion Date Phase 1 Up to $60M $58M $40M-$45M $10M $62M 6/30/2016 Phase 2 $90M-$100M $4M $42M $40M-$50M $8M $32M 12/31/2018 Phase 3 $40M-$45M $10M $15M $25M-$30M $2M $3M 3/31/2017 Total $188M-$205M $14M $115M $105M-$125M $20M $97M Outlook We now expect consolidated adjusted EPS for the full fiscal year to be in the range of $1.05 and $1.15 per share, an increase from our previous guidance of $0.85 to $1.05 per share. The improvement is driven primarily by our expectations of sales being at or near the higher end of our most recent announced guidance for fiscal 2016. Dividend Declared Kennametal also announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable May 27, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 13, 2016. The company will discuss its fiscal 2016 third quarter results in a live webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time Tuesday, May 3, 2016. This event will be broadcast live on the company's website, www.kennametal.com. To access the webcast, select "About Us", "Investor Relations" and then "Events." A recorded replay of this event also will be available on the company's website through June 3, 2016. Certain statements in this release may be forward-looking in nature, or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. For example, statements about Kennametal's outlook for earnings, sales volumes, and cash flow for fiscal year 2016 and our expectations regarding future growth and financial performance are forward-looking statements. Any forward looking statements are based on current knowledge, expectations and estimates that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, our actual results could vary materially from our current expectations. There are a number of factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. They include: economic recession; our ability to achieve all anticipated benefits of restructuring initiatives; our foreign operations and international markets, such as currency exchange rates, different regulatory environments, trade barriers, exchange controls, and social and political instability; changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including environmental, health and safety regulations; potential for future goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges; our ability to protect and defend our intellectual property; continuity of information technology infrastructure; competition; our ability to retain our management and employees; demands on management resources; availability and cost of the raw materials we use to manufacture our products; product liability claims; integrating acquisitions and achieving the expected savings and synergies; global or regional catastrophic events; demand for and market acceptance of our products; business divestitures; energy costs; commodity prices; labor relations; and implementation of environmental remediation matters. Many of these risks and other risks are more fully described in Kennametal's latest annual report on Form 10-K and its other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We can give no assurance that any goal or plan set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments. About Kennametal At the forefront of advanced materials innovation for more than 75 years, Kennametal Inc. is a global industrial technology leader delivering productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day over 12,000 employees are helping customers in more than 60 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated more than $2.6 billion in revenues in fiscal 2015. Learn more at www.kennametal.com. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended March 31, Nine Months Ended March 31, (in thousands, except per share amounts) 2016 2015 2016 2015 Sales $ 497,837 $ 638,970 $ 1,577,212 $ 2,009,543 Cost of goods sold 340,484 439,500 1,127,828 1,392,516 Gross profit 157,353 199,470 449,384 617,027 Operating expense 121,004 138,025 373,827 423,972 Restructuring and asset impairment charges 7,142 175,435 128,498 565,837 Loss on divestiture (2,557) 130,750 Amortization of intangibles 4,429 6,402 16,315 20,361 Operating income (loss) 27,335 (120,392) (200,006) (393,143) Interest expense 7,113 7,760 20,895 23,929 Other (income) expense, net (1,938) (378) (1,582) 32 Income (loss) before income taxes 22,160 (127,774) (219,319) (417,104) Provision (benefit) for income taxes 5,465 (82,223) (61,499) (23,975) Net income (loss) 16,695 (45,551) (157,820) (393,129) Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 695 678 1,634 1,914 Net income (loss) attributable to Kennametal $ 16,000 $ (46,229) $ (159,454) $ (395,043) PER SHARE DATA ATTRIBUTABLE TO KENNAMETAL SHAREHOLDERS Basic earnings (loss) earnings per share $ 0.20 $ (0.58) $ (2.00) $ (4.98) Diluted earnings (loss) earnings per share $ 0.20 $ (0.58) $ (2.00) $ (4.98) Dividends per share $ 0.20 $ 0.18 $ 0.60 $ 0.54 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 79,871 79,389 79,814 79,282 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 80,224 79,389 79,814 79,282 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands) March 31, 2016 June 30, 2015 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 136,564 $ 105,494 Accounts receivable, net 365,827 445,373 Inventories 485,390 575,531 Other current assets 111,479 132,148 Total current assets 1,099,260 1,258,546 Property, plant and equipment, net 725,535 815,825 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 514,818 704,058 Other assets 152,326 71,100 Total assets $ 2,491,939 $ 2,849,529 LIABILITIES Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases, including notes payable $ 4,140 $ 15,702 Accounts payable 169,332 187,381 Other current liabilities 247,943 279,661 Total current liabilities 421,415 482,744 Long-term debt and capital leases 699,750 735,885 Other liabilities 195,963 255,465 Total liabilities 1,317,128 1,474,094 KENNAMETAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 1,144,160 1,345,807 NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS 30,651 29,628 Total liabilities and equity $ 2,491,939 $ 2,849,529 SEGMENT DATA (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended March 31, Nine Months Ended March 31, (in thousands) 2016 2015 2016 2015 Outside Sales: Industrial $ 316,372 $ 354,810 $ 940,588 $ 1,104,225 Infrastructure 181,465 284,160 636,624 905,318 Total outside sales $ 497,837 $ 638,970 $ 1,577,212 $ 2,009,543 Sales By Geographic Region: North America $ 232,183 $ 301,403 $ 718,979 $ 955,468 Western Europe 130,914 180,173 432,477 554,610 Rest of World 134,740 157,394 425,756 499,465 Total sales by geographic region $ 497,837 $ 638,970 $ 1,577,212 $ 2,009,543 Operating Income (Loss): Industrial $ 24,692 $ 35,311 $ 51,802 $ 121,123 Infrastructure 3,748 (153,100) (242,417) (505,799) Corporate (1) (1,105) (2,603) (9,391) (8,467) Total operating income (loss) $ 27,335 $ (120,392) $ (200,006) $ (393,143) (1) Represents unallocated corporate expenses. In addition to reported results under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), the following financial highlight tables include, where appropriate, a reconciliation of adjusted results including: gross profit and margin, operating expense, operating expense as a percentage of sales, operating income (loss) and margin, net income (loss), diluted EPS (LPS), effective tax rate, Industrial operating income and margin, Infrastructure operating income (loss) and margin and free operating cash flow (which are non-GAAP financial measures), to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. For those adjustments that are presented 'net of tax', the tax effect of the adjustment can be derived by calculating the difference between the pre-tax and the post-tax adjustments presented. The tax effect on adjustments is calculated by preparing an overall tax calculation including the adjustments and then a tax calculation excluding the adjustments. The difference between these calculations results is the tax impact of the adjustments. Management believes that investors should have available the same information that management uses to assess operating performance, determine compensation and assess the capital structure of the company. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most comparable GAAP measures. Investors are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the company may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Reconciliations of all non-GAAP financial measures are set forth in the attached tables and descriptions of certain non-GAAP financial measures are contained in our report on Form 8-K to which this release is attached. THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except percents and per share data) Sales Gross profit Operating expense Operating income Net income(2) Diluted EPS Effective tax rate Reported results $ 497,837 $ 157,353 $ 121,004 $ 27,335 $ 16,000 $ 0.20 24.7 % Reported margins 31.6 % 24.3 % 5.5 % Tax effect of prior asset impairment charges 1,251 0.02 (5.8) Restructuring and related charges 1,456 (5,400) 13,998 14,242 0.18 (4.9) Loss on divestiture (2,557) (1,902) (0.03) (4.1) Adjusted results $ 497,837 $ 158,809 $ 115,604 $ 38,776 $ 29,591 $ 0.37 9.9 % Adjusted margins 31.9 % 23.2 % 7.8 % (2) Represents amounts attributable to Kennametal Shareholders. (in thousands, except percents) Industrial sales Industrial operating income Infrastructure sales Infrastructure operating income Reported results $ 316,372 $ 24,692 $ 181,465 $ 3,748 Reported operating margin 7.8 % 2.1 % Restructuring and related charges 9,346 4,652 Loss on divestiture (3,677) 1,117 Adjusted results $ 316,372 $ 30,361 $ 181,465 $ 9,517 Adjusted operating margin 9.6 % 5.2 % THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015 (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except percents and per share data) Sales Gross profit Operating expense Operating (loss) income Net (loss) income (2) Diluted (LPS) EPS Effective tax rate Reported results $ 638,970 $ 199,470 $ 138,025 $ (120,392) $ (46,229) $ (0.58) 64.4 % Reported margins 31.2 % 21.6 % (18.8) % Restructuring and related charges (3) 336 (658) 16,729 9,686 0.12 3.3 Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges 159,700 71,143 0.90 (40.2) Tax redeployment expense 2,138 0.02 (4.4) Adjusted results $ 638,970 $ 199,806 $ 137,367 $ 56,037 $ 36,738 $ 0.46 23.1 % Adjusted margins 31.3 % 21.5% 8.8 % (3) Includes pre-tax restructuring related charges recorded in corporate of $569. (in thousands, except percents) Industrial sales Industrial operating income Infrastructure sales Infrastructure operating (loss) income Reported results $ 354,810 $ 35,311 $ 284,160 $ (153,100) Reported operating margin 10.0 % (53.9) % Restructuring and related charges (4) 8,673 7,487 Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges 159,700 Adjusted results $ 354,810 $ 43,984 $ 284,160 $ 14,087 Adjusted operating margin 12.4 % 5.0 % (4) Excludes pre-tax restructuring related charges recorded in corporate of $569. NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except percents) Sales Operating (loss) income Net (loss) income(2) Diluted (LPS) EPS Reported results $ 1,577,212 $ (200,006) $ (159,454) $ (2.00) Reported operating margin (12.7) % Restructuring and related charges 37,970 31,978 0.42 Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges 108,456 81,487 1.02 Loss on divestiture and related charges 130,750 98,448 1.22 Adjusted results $ 1,577,212 $ 77,170 $ 52,459 $ 0.66 Adjusted operating margin 4.9 % NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015 (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except percents) Sales Operating (loss) income Net (loss) income(2) Diluted (LPS) EPS Reported results $ 2,009,543 $ (393,143) $ (395,043) $ (4.98) Reported operating margin (19.6) % Restructuring and related charges 37,105 25,628 0.33 Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges 541,700 490,416 6.18 Tax redeployment expense 2,138 0.02 Adjusted results $ 2,009,543 $ 185,662 $ 123,139 $ 1.55 Adjusted operating margin 9.2 % FREE OPERATING CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED) Nine Months Ended March 31, (in thousands) 2016 2015 Net cash flow from operating activities $ 145,414 $ 219,576 Purchases of property, plant and equipment (83,285) (77,620) Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment 5,102 1,300 Free operating cash flow $ 67,231 $ 143,256 SOURCE Kennametal Inc. Related Links http://www.kennametal.com DALLAS, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, Kimberly-Clark celebrates the 24th year of the Bright Futures program and is awarding college scholarships totaling $1.18 million to 59 children of Kimberly-Clark employees across 13 states and Canada. Bright Futures scholarship grants are worth up to $20,000, or $5,000 per school year, for full-time students attending accredited colleges and universities. Since its inception, the program has awarded over $38 million in scholarships to more than 1,900 students. Recipients were chosen based on academic achievement, leadership, work experience and involvement in extracurricular activities. "Every year, our selection committee is very impressed with the scholarship applications we receive from the children of our employees," said Tom Falk, chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark. "We are pleased to be able to offer a program like Bright Futures to help them pursue higher education and achieve their dreams. There is no more important investment we can make than in our next generation of leaders." The average GPA for this year's scholarship class is 3.88, and awardees will attend such top colleges and universities as Southern Methodist University, Cornell University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Notre Dame and Dartmouth College. Past scholarship recipients have gone on to pursue successful careers in medicine, education, the armed forces and engineering. Click here for more information on this year's award recipients. About the Kimberly-Clark Foundation The Kimberly-Clark Foundation is the charitable arm of Kimberly-Clark Corporation and is dedicated to supporting and strengthening families around the world. For more information, visit http://www.kimberly-clark.com/ourcompany/community/kc_foundation.aspx. About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust Kimberly-Clark's brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene, and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in 80 countries. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the Company's 144-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. [KMB-C] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110928/DA76879LOGO SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Related Links http://www.kimberly-clark.com "It's important to our family that King Estate Winery lives its philosophy of respecting our land," says Ed King, winery Co-founder and CEO. "From 10,000 B.C. to 1945 A.D. all agriculture was organic. Our obligation is to future generations." King Estate has been certified organic since 2002 by Oregon Tilth, an internationally recognized certifying body and the third largest organic certifier accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Converting to Biodynamic status is a major step forward in the company's commitment to sustainability. "In conversion" means that King Estate is following biodynamic practices, submitted a successful application, passed an inspection, and has a timeline for full implementation. With 16 Biodynamic vineyards ranging in size from 10 to 286 acres, Oregon is already home to more than 20 percent of the Biodynamic vineyards in the U.S. before King Estate is added. King Estate will increase the number of Biodynamic vineyard acres in Oregon by more than 50 percent. With its longstanding commitment to taking care of the environment, King Estate already boasts a strong record of sustainable practices: No synthetic chemicals herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides are used on its property. chemicals herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides are used on its property. A protected natural habitat composed of 150 acres of marshes, a riparian corridor and a remnant of wet prairie is home to up to 200 species of native wildlife including several listed as rare, threatened or endangered. Within the 150 acres are 40 acres of mostly native oak woodlands, among the most endangered ecological communities in the Pacific Northwest. In partnership with nearby Cascades Raptor Center, the property serves as a release site for orphaned and rehabilitated birds of prey. These native wild raptors also aid in pest control by reducing the numbers of rodents and birds that eat grapes. 4,144 solar panels are installed on four acres, producing enough power to meet the needs of 100 homes a year and eliminate more than 38 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years. Organic certification applies to all 1,033 acres of the estate as well as to the winemaking process, the winery and the grapes. So what is Biodynamic anyway, and what makes it different from organic? Biodynamic holds agriculture to a higher standard. For example, while the USDA, which operates the National Organic Program, allows individual parcels within a farm to be certified organic, Demeter requires that the entire farm be certified. Demeter goes further than the USDA by requiring that: 10 percent of the total acreage be set aside for biodiversity purposes; fertilizers are generated on the farm itself with only a limited amount brought in; to the greatest extent possible, pest, disease and weed control and livestock feed all come from the farm itself. This is accomplished through the use of nine preparations, a hallmark of the Demeter process, that are made from herbs, minerals and animal manures that are used in sprays and compost to: revitalize the soil, stimulate root growth, enhance the development of microorganisms and the formation of humus (the dark organic material in soils produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter), and aid photosynthesis ( the process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen, glucose and water). Named for the Greek goddess of agriculture, Demeter was formed in Europe in 1932 following a series of lectures to a group of European farmers by noted scientist Rudolf Steiner, who also founded the Waldorf School. These farmers had asked Steiner for guidance because they were noticing a rapid decline in seed fertility, crop vitality and animal health that corresponded with the rise of industrial agriculture and factory farming. Steiner urged farmers to think of their farms not as factories but as living organisms: self-contained, self-sustaining and able to meet their needs out of the living dynamics of the farm itself. Today this is called regenerative agriculture. Operating in 50 countries, Demeter remains the world's oldest ecological certification organization. Demeter USA was established in 1985 and is headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon. Demeter's vision is to heal the planet through agriculture. King Estate Winery embraces that vision, and with it a healthier future for the planet and its people. About King Estate: King Estate, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is located southwest of Eugene, Ore., at the southern tip of the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1991 by the King family, King Estate is committed to producing wines of exceptional quality under sustainable farming methods, organic certification with Oregon Tilth, and is in transition to Demeter USA's Biodynamic standards. King Estate focuses on producing world-class Oregon Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, and wines from the inland growing regions of Oregon and Washington under its North by Northwest label. To this day, King Estate is owned and operated by the King Family. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361454 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150205/173895LOGO SOURCE King Estate Winery BOSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- King Fish Media, LLC announced the promotion of Regina Recene as Art Director and welcomed Erin Duffy as Graphic Designer to add critically-acclaimed talent to the team's creative studio. The moves are effective immediately. Regina has worked with King Fish for the past 18 months serving as Associate Art Director, where she conceptualizes and executes work for clients across all mediums. Her expertise is in solving business challenges through immersive design solutions that engage and energize the user experience. She has designed integrated digital and print media creative for clients in retail, food & beverage, financial services, pharmaceutical and technology. Regina will be responsible for leading the internal design team, and also managing external creative partnerships. Erin recently joined King Fish from Trillium Software, where she worked with the sales & marketing divisions on animation, infographics, tradeshow booth designs and marketing automation programs. She was also with the team responsible for redesigning their corporate Website. A high-energy problem-solver, Erin will work with King Fish senior teams on a range of client accounts. "Based on our expanded client base and broad client design requirements, we've identified the best possible creative leader in Regina," said Cam Brown, president of King Fish. "Regina's passion for design and confidence with clients will continue to accelerate her name in the business. Her design acumen is extraordinary and there is no question Regina's gift as a visual storyteller will benefit King Fish clients. Partnered closely with Erin and the entire creative team will insure our clients receive the best of what design contributes to marketing programs, and will continue to raise the creative profile of the King Fish studio." About King Fish Media The company develops integrated campaigns that create an emotional connection between clients and their customers and prospects. Each program is designed to deliver measurable results based on real-world marketing objectives. To effectively deliver branded content, King Fish helps clients Own Their Media Channel by strategically creating media platforms including branded editorial content, responsive web sites, social media campaigns, eBooks, white papers, infographics, online video, as well as live and virtual events. King Fish has created profit-generating programs for companies including Affinion, Ameriprise, Bank of America, BBVA Compass, Boston Market, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Cengage Learning, Fidelity, IBM, Janus Capital, Lightlife, Keurig Green Mountain, New York Life, SUPERVALU, Zappos, and others. For more information, visit www.kingfishmedia.com. SOURCE King Fish Media Related Links http://www.kingfishmedia.com BOSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Honoring America's firefighters for their bravery and commitment to the communities in which they serve, Liberty Mutual Insurance today announced recipients of its 2015 National Firemark Award. Firefighter Shane Harmon of the Fort Worth (Texas) Fire Department in Texas is being honored with the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award for Heroism, and Fire Chief John Thomas of the Hammond City (Louisiana) Fire Department has earned the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award for Community Service and Public Education. To recognize and reward these exceptional firefighters, Liberty Mutual Insurance will present grants of $10,000 each to the Fort Worth and Hammond City Fire Departments. The Fort Worth Fire Department plans to use the grant money to fund community events and outreach, while the Hammond City Fire Department intends to combat firefighter cancer by purchasing cleaning equipment that removes carcinogens from gear materials. Seven finalists were selected from hundreds of submissions, and for the first time ever, the winners of the National Firemark Award were brought to a public vote on Facebook. From April 1-20, America was invited to learn more about all seven finalists on Liberty Mutual's Facebook page and vote for who they thought was most deserving of the national award through compelling video vignettes. You can view the Shane Harmon and John Thomas nomination videos on Liberty Mutual's Facebook Page. All finalists were selected by a committee comprised of fire safety organizations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. "It is an honor to recognize Shane Harmon and John Thomas who have both made such vital contributions to their communities," said Anthony Storm, executive vice president and Chief Marketing Officer, U.S. Consumer Markets, at Liberty Mutual Insurance. "For putting the safety of citizens and the education of others above themselves, we thank them with the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award and also thank the public for their support of all of these deserving nominees." Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award for Heroism Firefighter Shane Harmon of the Fort Worth Fire Department Firefighter Shane Harmon has been with the Fort Worth Fire Department for 10 years. On August 6, 2015, Harmon was heading to his second job in Fort Worth when he witnessed a wrong-way driver collide head-on with the car directly in front of him. Harmon's car then became involved in the pile-up. Without tools or protective gear, Harmon proceeded to check on the other drivers involved in the crash. Noticing one victim's extensive injuries, Harmon focused on the heavily entrapped driver involved in the crash. Not long after, the victim's engine compartment became engulfed in flames and Harmon turned his attention to battling the blaze. EMS later arrived and Harmon helped successfully remove the victim from the car. Harmon later realized he had sustained second degree burns and a serious shoulder injury that would require multiple surgeries. The victim in the crash, who is still recovering, remembers pleading with Harmon to save him from the fire and is forever grateful. "It's a tough feeling, knowing what you need to do and not having access to the right tools to make it happen, but I'm glad I was able to make a difference," said Harmon. "I'm honored to have been part of the Firemark journey, and I'm humbled by the win and the level of community support from Fort Worth to Facebook." Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award for Community Service and Public Education Fire Chief John Thomas of the Hammond City Fire Department Fire Chief John Thomas has worked for the Hammond City Fire Department since 1985. As the Hazmat coordinator for 20 years, Thomas has worked with smaller neighboring communities to train them in disaster response. After Hurricane Katrina left more than 400,000 helpless, he worked to help create a CERT team consisting of 180 volunteers, local firefighters in incident Command, developing an emergency plan and a parish-wide radio system of over 1100 radios in service for emergency responders. Thanks in part to Thomas's efforts, Hammond has been named number 18 of the 26 safest communities in the United States by the National Safety Council. "I'm grateful to have served my community for the past three decades, and I hope this award inspires other departments and cities to be on top of their game for emergency response," said Thomas. "On behalf of the Hammond City Fire Department, we are thankful for the grant which will help make our firehouse a healthier place for our firefighters." About the Liberty Mutual Firemark Award The Liberty Mutual Firemark Award is presented annually to U.S. firefighters who best represent their communities through courageous valor and who best demonstrate the firefighter's selfless spirit. The award takes its name from the firemark, a leaden plate in the form of a Phoenix rising from the ashes, which American fire offices in the 18th and 19th centuries used to mark all the houses they insured. The firemark stood as a guarantee to all fire brigades that the insurance company that insured the house in question would reward them for extinguishing a fire on the premises. The stories of Shane Harmon and John Thomas, as well as past Liberty Mutual National Firemark Award nominees, are celebrated in video vignettes on the Liberty Mutual YouTube channel and on www.libertymutual.com/firemarkaward. The website is also the destination for fire departments and the public to nominate firefighters in their community for a future Liberty Mutual Firemark Award. In addition, nominations can be made by contacting a sales representative within your local Liberty Mutual sales office. About Liberty Mutual Insurance Liberty Mutual Insurance helps people preserve and protect what they earn, build, own and cherish. Keeping this promise means we are there when our policyholders throughout the world need us most. In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today Liberty Mutual is a diversified insurer with operations in 30 countries and economies around the world. The company is the fifth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2015 direct written premium data as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual is ranked 78th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2014 revenue. The company employs over 50,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world. The fifth-largest auto and home insurer in the U.S., Liberty Mutual (libertymutual.com) sells full lines of coverage for automobile, homeowners, valuable possessions, personal liability, and individual life insurance. The company is an industry leader in affinity partnerships, offering car and home insurance to employees and members of more than 14,000 companies, credit unions, professional associations and alumni groups. Press Contact: Glenn Greenberg Liberty Mutual Insurance 617-574-5874 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110607/NE15669LOGO SOURCE Liberty Mutual Insurance Related Links http://www.libertymutual.com In North Royalton, Ohio, the spirit of Teacher Appreciation Week was captured on video when teacher Kami Likovic, an intervention specialist for students with special needs, was surprised with a pizza party and flowers by her class ( https://youtu.be/ewoF_q1_8dM ). Likovic is passionate about helping her students succeed, and was recently named T eacher of the Year by her school district. Inspiring students to achieve comes from inspired teachers. So as part of its community support of teachers, Marco's Pizza created a blog to share stories of what inspires teachers. And for their feedback, they will have a chance to win a pizza party for their class, as well as the grand prize of $2,500 in Apple products or a getaway trip for two to the Big Apple. Teachers can enter the Apples for Teachers Sweepstakes at www.SliceoftheCommunity.com. The National PTA created Teacher Appreciation Week in 1985. It was based upon National Teacher Day, which was initiated by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1953, and proclaimed by the 81st Congress. The National Education Association moved the day to coincide with Teacher Appreciation Week, and is observed on the first Tuesday in May, which is May 3 this year. "Schools are a major part of our communities," said Cathy Hull, chief marketing officer at Marco's Pizza. "And the backbone of great schools are great teachers. Marco's Pizza is committed to supporting schools and teachers, not just during this one week, but throughout the year through school fundraising and programs that promote academic excellence." Marco's was founded by native Italian, Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco in 1978. Today, it's America's fastest-growing pizza company. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate more than 700 stores in 35 states and three countries. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewoF_q1_8dM&feature=youtu.be Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362212 SOURCE Marcos Pizza NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Markets Group's Private Wealth New England Forum is just two weeks away. Taking place May 17th in Boston, this is the leading platform that brings asset managers and investors from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine together to network and analyze the biggest trends affecting the industry, including alternative investing, portfolio structuring and fixed income. To request the agenda click here: Private Wealth New England Forum. 30+ investor speakers including: Stephen Pagliuca , Managing Director, Bain Capital , Managing Director, Jack Ablin , Chief Investment Officer BMO Private Bank , Chief Investment Officer Daniel O'Donnell , Global Head, Private Equity and Real Estate Research and Management, Citi Private Bank Global Head, Private Equity and Real Estate Research and Management, James Waldinger , Chief Executive Officer, Artivest , Chief Executive Officer, Zane Brown , Partner Fixed Income Strategist, Lord Abbett , Partner Fixed Income Strategist, Andy Richman , Director of Fixed Income Strategy, SunTrust Bank Private Wealth Management , Director of Fixed Income Strategy, Greg Miller , Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Wellesley Investment Advisors , Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Shannon Saccocia , Managing Director Search and Selection, Boston Private Wealth , Managing Director Search and Selection, Eric Henderson , Chief Investment Officer, East Horizon Investments , Chief Investment Officer, John Donovan , Head of Trading and Fixed Income, US Trust , Bank of America Private Wealth Management , Head of Trading and Fixed Income, , Meredith Birdsall , Vice President Investment Strategy Specialist Fixed Income, Pioneer Investment , Vice President Investment Strategy Specialist Fixed Income, Jane King , President, Fairfield Financial Advisors Panel topics include: Credit Investing The Opportunity and Risk in Today's Market Accessing Alternative Investments in a Digital World Exploring Opportunities in Fixed Income Investing in Global Equity Markets If your firm is interested in reserving a place, please contact Karishna Perez at [email protected] or +1 646-216-8581. Contributing Partners: Artivest, BlackRock, Columbia Threadneedle, FolioDynamix, Franklin Square Capital Partners, Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners, HSBC Global Asset Management, Lord Abbett, Mercury Capital Advisors, Pioneer Investments, Wellesley Investment Advisors and William Blair. About Markets Group: Markets Group is an executive forum organizer with a track record of 175+ conferences in over 20 countries. Founded in 2009 in New York, NY, Markets Group has grown into one of the largest and most successful conference organizers in the Americas, with over 65 professionals operating out of our headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. We have successfully executed events in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Additionally, Markets Group was recently named one of America's 5000 fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine and distinguished us as the #1 conference organizer and #1 financial services firm based in NYC. SOURCE Markets Group Related Links http://www.marketsgroup.org WASHINGTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, May 30 at 1 p.m., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) and the National Park Service (NPS) will host the annual Memorial Day Observance at The Wall, during which changes to The Wall will be commemorated and all members of America's armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice will be honored. The event is free and open to the public. Captain Dale A. Dye, USMC (Ret.), a decorated Vietnam veteran, will deliver the keynote remarks. Dye is an American actor, technical advisor, radio personality and writer. His company, Warriors Inc., is the top technical advisor to Hollywood with work on Forrest Gump, Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Tigerland, The Thin Red Line, and HBO's Band of Brothers and The Pacific. The emcee for the ceremony will be Major General Mike Nardotti, USA (Ret.), a decorated combat veteran, who served more than 28 years on active duty as a soldier and a lawyer. Nardotti currently serves on the Board of Directors for VVMF. The 2016 Memorial Day Observance at The Wall is generously sponsored by the Xerox Foundation, J.P. Morgan Chase & Company, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Each spring, VVMF works with the Department of Defense to make sure The Wall is accurate. Names are added for those service members who have met the Department of Defense criteria for addition to The Wall, having sustained wounds in Vietnam from which they eventually perished. Those service members who in the last year were returned or accounted for will have their statuses changed from MIA to KIA. The names of eight American service members will be engraved on the black granite walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial over the next week, and the status designations will be changed for nine others whose names are already on The Wall. These changes will bring the total number of names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to 58,315 men and women who were killed or who remain missing in action. Weather permitting, work to inscribe the names and change designations will be complete this week. When names are added, the highly technical procedure requires meticulous work to match the stroke and depth of the surrounding names to within 1/1,000 of an inch. The physical work of adding the names and changing designations will be performed by James Lee of the Colorado-based company, Engrave Write. The Department of Defense sets the criteria for and makes decisions about whose names are eligible for inscription on The Wall. VVMF pays for the name additions and status changes, and works with the National Park Service to ensure long-term preservation and maintenance of The Wall. These eight service members will join 58,307 others who lost their lives or remain missing in action as a result of combat in Vietnam: Jeffrey R. Barber LCPL, U.S. Marine Corps Denver, Co. Oct. 9, 1950 Sept. 6, 2011 Michael G. Frey PFC, U.S. Army Florissant, Mo. Oct. 21, 1949 Sept. 15, 2014 Chester A. Lederhouse Jr. LCPL, U.S. Marine Corps Ransomville, NY Jan. 19, 1947 July 13, 1966 James S. McGough SP4, U.S. Army Fort Dodge, Iowa Feb. 23, 1951 Jan 3, 2014 Leonard E. Outlaw Sr. ENC, U.S. Coast Guard Grandy, N.C. Dec 19, 1936 March 23, 1972 Lee A. Rawn PFC, U.S. Marine Corps Lake Worth, Fla. May 4, 1946 April 24, 1967 Jimmy L. Smith SP5, U.S. Army Wasco, Ill. Sept. 30, 1948 May 24, 2014 John D. Stenhouse LCPL, U.S. Marine Corps Spokane, Wash. April 13, 1949 August 15, 2012 Beside each name on The Wall is a symbol designating status. The diamond symbol denotes confirmed death. The cross represents missing in action. When a service member's remains are returned or accounted for, the diamond is superimposed over the cross. These nine service members will have their status changed from MIA to KIA: Donald G. Carr ; MAJ, USA ; San Antonio, Texas ; Panel 3W, Row 101 ; MAJ, ; ; Panel 3W, Row 101 Richard C. Clark ; LT, USN; Tacoma, Wash. ; Panel 28E, Row 59 ; LT, USN; ; Panel 28E, Row 59 Kenneth L. Cunningham ; SSGT, USA ; Ellery, Ill. ; Panel 17W, Row 33 ; SSGT, ; ; Panel 17W, Row 33 Rodney L. Griffin ; SGT, USA ; Centralia, Mo. ; Panel 11W, Row 85 ; SGT, ; ; Panel 11W, Row 85 Billy D. Hill ; SFC, USA ; Fallon, Nev. ; Panel 35E, Row 6 ; SFC, ; ; Panel 35E, Row 6 James W. Holt ; MSGT, USA ; Hot Springs, Ark. ; Panel 37E, Row 84 ; MSGT, ; ; Panel 37E, Row 84 Edwin E. Morgan ; CMSGT, USAF; Salisbury, N.C. ; Panel 6E, Row 4 ; CMSGT, USAF; ; Panel 6E, Row 4 Bunyan D. Price Jr.; SSGT, USA ; Belmont, NC ; Panel 11W, Row 87 ; ; Panel 11W, Row 87 Dale W. Richardson ; MAJ, USA ; Cashton, Wis. ; Panel 11W, Row 87 About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation's Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF's mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era. VVMF is in the fundraising stages to build the Education Center at The Wall. The Center will be an interactive learning facility on the National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The Education Center will feature the faces and stories of the more than 58,000 men and women on The Wall and honor America's Legacy of Service, including those serving in our nation's armed forces today. Time Warner is the Lead Gift Benefactor in the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall. To learn more about VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall, visit www.vvmf.org or call 866-990-WALL. Contact: Heidi Zimmerman Phone: 202-330-0090 X118 [email protected] SOURCE Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Related Links http://www.vvmf.org "Our aim is to facilitate accelerated drug development and delivery via continued innovation and technical expertise by offering customers a complete end-to-end solution from clone to commercial production," said Udit Batra, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science . " Our unique offering gives customers the choice to transfer their production at any stage with the confidence that we will ensure the most efficient transition into commercial manufacturing at either an existing facility or one we help them design." With this increase in scale and scope, Merck can advance clients' recombinant products from cell line development through to late-stage clinical production. At the point of tech transfer out to a contract manufacturing organization or other facility, clients can also leverage Merck's Provantage End-to-End Services available worldwide to mitigate the risks traditionally associated with upscaling to commercial production. Merck's Provantage End-to-End solution is a comprehensive suite of products and services that include process development, cGMP manufacturing, facility design, manufacturing equipment and consumables, process and equipment training, technology transfer and set-up for commercialization. The offering aims to minimize the risks for customers progressing from early clinical stages to commercial production helping to accelerate time to market and improve productivity and profitability. About Merck Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck generated sales of 12.85 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361766 SOURCE Merck Related Links http://www.emdgroup.com "Our aim is to facilitate accelerated drug development and delivery via continued innovation and technical expertise by offering customers a complete end-to-end solution from clone to commercial production," said Udit Batra, Member, Executive Board, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and CEO, MilliporeSigma. " Our unique offering gives customers the choice to transfer their production at any stage with the confidence that we will ensure the most efficient transition into commercial manufacturing at either an existing facility or one we help them design." With this increase in scale and scope, MilliporeSigma can advance clients' recombinant products from cell line development through to late-stage clinical production. At the point of tech transfer out to a contract manufacturing organization or other facility, clients can also leverage MilliporeSigma's Provantage End-to-End Services available worldwide to mitigate the risks traditionally associated with upscaling to commercial production. MilliporeSigma's Provantage End-to-End solution is a comprehensive suite of products and services that include process development, cGMP manufacturing, facility design, manufacturing equipment and consumables, process and equipment training, technology transfer and set-up for commercialization. The offering aims to minimize the risks for customers progressing from early clinical stages to commercial production helping to accelerate time to market and improve productivity and profitability. About the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 19,000 employees and 72 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $130 billion global life science industry. Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Life Science and Performance Materials and generated sales of 12.85 billion in 2015. Around 50,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361789 SOURCE MilliporeSigma Related Links http://www.emdgroup.com RACINE, Wis., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD) recently won a significant business award from Oshkosh Defense, LLC to produce cooling modules for the company's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) contract, which serves the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The JLTV production contract calls for Oshkosh to deliver nearly 17,000 vehicles, as well as kits and services over an eight-year period with first vehicle deliveries in October 2016. Modine's JLTV cooling module features the latest high performance heat exchanger technology with a significant focus on light-weight component designs which were critical in meeting stringent U.S. Military max weight requirements. The system includes a radiator with integrated transmission oil cooler, charge air cooler, hydraulic oil cooler, auxiliary transmission oil cooler, air conditioner condenser, fuel cooler and steel frame subcomponents. Four different Modine plants in North America are working together to produce this highly complex system with final assembly taking place at Modine's facility in Trenton, Missouri. "We are thrilled to partner with a fellow Wisconsin-based company on this impressive project," said Tom Marry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "The collaboration among multiple Modine groups to deliver these cooling components to Oshkosh Defense showcases Modine's significant engineering and manufacturing capabilities." Given the demands of increasingly stringent government regulations and packaging considerations, Modine Powertrain Cooling global engineering teams work collaboratively with customers to explore cost effective, integrated solutions for current and future powertrains to increase fuel economy, lower emissions and above all, improve durability and reliability. About Modine Modine, with fiscal 2015 revenues of $1.5 billion, specializes in thermal management systems and components, bringing highly engineered heating and cooling technology and solutions to diversified global markets. Modine products are used in light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, off-highway and industrial equipment and refrigeration systems. Modine is a global company headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin (USA), with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. For more information about Modine, visit www.modine.com. About Oshkosh Defense Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For decades Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers' missions. In addition, Oshkosh offers advanced technologies and vehicle components such as TAK-4 independent suspension systems, TerraMax unmanned ground vehicle solutions, Command Zone integrated control and diagnostics system, and ProPulse diesel electric and on-board vehicle power solutions, to provide our customers with a technical edge as they fulfill their missions. Every Oshkosh vehicle is backed by a team of defense industry experts and complete range of sustainment and training services to optimize fleet readiness and performance. Oshkosh Defense, LLC is an Oshkosh Corporation company [NYSE: OSK]. The learn more about Oshkosh Defense, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160129/327361LOGO SOURCE Modine Manufacturing Company Related Links http://www.modine.com SAN JOSE, Calif. and BANGALORE, India, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mphasis, today announced its agreement with Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of news and information, to offer Technology Centric Business Process Services (BPS) for Thomson Reuters BETA customers. The combination of Mphasis' expertise in the Brokerage & Wealth Management sector and Thomson Reuters' market-leading wealth management platform, including the Thomson ONE desktop and the BETA brokerage processing solution, represent a transformational opportunity for the wealth management industry. Under this agreement, Mphasis will offer their back office operations solutions to wealth management firms using the Thomson Reuters BETA platform. This includes services ranging from customer acquisition, account management through trade execution, portfolio management, all the way to settlement and reporting. "We are pleased that Thomson Reuters, an industry leader in the wealth management space, has selected Mphasis to offer its proven operations outsourcing solutions to its customers. Thomson Reuters BETA clients can leverage this agreement to focus on their core; servicing and creating value for their customers. We are confident this agreement will strengthen Thomson Reuters offering in the industry and help its clients increase the rate of customer acquisition and asset retention while improving operations," said Anurag Bhatia, Global Head & SVP, Business Process Services - Mphasis. "We are delighted to enter an agreement with Mphasis to provide wealth management outsourcing solutions to our BETA customers," said David Akellian, managing director, Wealth Management at Thomson Reuters. "Mphasis has the wealth management operations expertise, experience using the BETA platform, scale, and commitment to information security that will allow our customers to focus on serving their clients better rather than managing the day-to-day demands of back-office operations." Mphasis with a rich banking and financial services heritage, has been servicing customers in this space for over fifteen years. Mphasis' marquee customers across the globe include top six global banks, four of the top ten brokerage and wealth management firms and eleven out of fifteen top mortgage lenders. The company with over 24,000 employees across 16 countries is a leader in the wealth management and brokerage BPS market. A significant proportion of the 3,500+ specialists focused on Brokerage & Wealth Management are TR BETA trained. This is a key agreement in addition to initiatives in the areas of AI based Governance Risk and Compliance and Digital Customer Experience solutions. About Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com. About Mphasis Mphasis enables chosen customers to meet the demands of an evolving market place. Recently named by American Banker and BAI as one of the top companies in FinTech and as the "Most Distinguished Digital Company in 2015" by The Economic Times, Mphasis fuels this by combining superior human capital with cutting edge solutions in hyper-specialized areas. Contact Mphasis on www.mphasis.com. Our Social Media Channels: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MphasiSOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/mphasis LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/mphasis YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MphasisOfficial SOURCE Mphasis Related Links http://www.mphasis.com MsgSafe.io expands its communications privacy tools incorporating end-to-end encryption to eliminate the threat of email interception TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - MsgSafe.io, a leader in communications privacy solutions, today announced the latest release of its globally deployed, advanced email privacy platform. MsgSafe.io allows its users to create unlimited 'identity' or 'alias' email addresses protecting the users real identity, email address and location from ever being discovered. MsgSafe.io's end-to-end encryption (E2EE) supports both popular standards, OpenPGP and S/MIME. For the first time in any commercial email service, interoperability is provided between OpenPGP and S/MIME so encrypted information can be exchanged regardless of which standard is used between those communicating. Not even an eavesdropper, Internet service provider (ISP) or MsgSafe.io can read or decrypt user's messages. (LOGO: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361455LOGO) Other email service providers (ESP's), offering end-to-end encryption, still route customer email through potentially untrusted ISP's and email servers before the email reaches its final destination. Customers are left without knowing if their email was accessed by an unauthorized entity and have no way of preventing it in the future. Unlike competing ESP's, MsgSafe.io closes the gap that exists when email is sent unencrypted. Even when unencrypted email is sent to a MsgSafe.io user with email encryption enabled, it's automatically encrypted before being delivered to the user's Inbox, protecting it from being read by the users email service provider (ESP) or other unauthorized entity. "When an airline sends a customer their itinerary, via email, it's sent unencrypted leaving the customer vulnerable to identity theft. However, when you use MsgSafe.io, your emails are automatically encrypted and forwarded to your real email address keeping your contact, financial and travel information private and protected. Other email service providers may use the content of your emails to learn about you and send targeted advertising. MsgSafe.io believes no one should have access to your email except for you." says Rachel McPherson, MsgSafe.io's Director of Operations. MsgSafe.io addresses another problem that exists with encryption that is often overlooked. When the sender does support encryption, like Facebook with GPG, but mail readers, like Apple's iOS and OS X Mail.app or Microsoft's Outlook, only natively support S/MIME, it causes interoperability issues. MsgSafe.io's end-to-end encryption (E2EE) supports both popular standards, OpenPGP and S/MIME, so encrypted information can be exchanged regardless of which standard is used between those communicating. MsgSafe.io's encryption features mean whether it's airline tickets, bank alerts or emails from online retailers, MsgSafe.io's users are protected from prying eyes without any additional setup, truly a first and a major step towards online identity protection. About MsgSafe.io: MsgSafe.io is a collaboration of engineers located around the world, all dedicated to the development of communications privacy tools to protect your data online. Our technical operations are based in Curacao, one of the most secure privacy-oriented jurisdictions in the world, surpassing Switzerland and Luxembourg. We believe nobody should be able to access your email except for you. It's that simple. Regular user accounts and service will always be free of charge, but compelling premium features are also available starting at $3/mo. Sign-up for a free MsgSafe.io account today! Visit us at https://www.msgsafe.io/web/signup SOURCE TrustCor Systems S. de R.L. Related Links www.trustcorsystems.com "Drema's focus is building a team that can reach out to our patients and help them get the treatment they need while removing barriers that may be in their path," said Lee R. Neagle, Rosewood's Executive Director. "She brings compassion and integrity to all that she does and we are extremely lucky to have her on the team." The nation's leader in treating anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and co-occurring substance use and mood disorders, Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of experts offering a comprehensive treatment and recovery program with specialized adolescent and adult eating disorder programs. Intake which includes calling Rosewood's patient and family help line is sometimes the first action someone will take when seeking treatment. "I view intake as a lifeline. Somebody is calling in because they are afraid. They recognize they need to get help for themselves or for someone else," Stroud said. "We do a lot of explaining about eating disorders. We let them know there is hope, there is help, and how we can make that happen for them." Stroud's personal experience with eating disorders during high school inspired her to seek a career helping other people recover. She brings over 20 years of experience as an admissions coordinator and director of admissions to her position at Rosewood. About The Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders is one of the first and most experienced programs in the United States providing comprehensive care for those struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and co-occurring disorders. Our treatment programs are led by renowned experts Dena Cabrera, Psy.D., CEDS, Amelia Davis, M.D., and Nicole Garber, M.D. Clients choose Rosewood for superior medical and psychiatric treatment, innovative therapies, individualized aftercare, alumni support and family involvement. With locations in Arizona and California, Rosewood offers all levels of care for men, women and adolescents, providing individualized treatment to match the unique needs of our patients. Learn more at http://www.rosewoodcenters.com. Media Contact: Amy Bernard [email protected] (678) 813-0497 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362379 SOURCE Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders Related Links http://www.rosewoodcenters.com NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Details Neuromodulation devices your 2016 guide to trends, opportunities and future revenues Discover the future of medical devices to stimulate and treat the central nervous system. Neuromodulation devices hold high, rising sales potential. Now you can explore forecasts and see predicted revenues. Assess the expected gains. Visiongain's updated report predicts those revenues to 2026 at overall world market, submarket and national level. With our new survey you stay ahead in that CNS data and analysis, discovering medical, technological and commercial opportunities and prospects. With that study you explore what the future holds for those companies. Read on now to investigate neuronal devices, also seeing a revenue prediction below. Forecasts and other analyses to help your research, knowledge and influence Do you struggle to find business data on neuromodulation and neurostimulation therapies? Instead today discover potentials of those treatments for brain and other nervous system disorders. Our report analyses the future of that healthcare industry, showing potential gains. With that updated study make your research, analyses and plans easier and quicker. That way you can also benefit your reputation for commercial insight. See what is possible. In addition to multilevel forecasting to 2026, our new study shows you results, growth rates, market shares, opinions and discussions. In that report you gain 65 charts, 30 tables and interviews with two organisations. Our work's purpose is to help you stay ahead. There discover how competition and technological advances shape that industry. Also benefit your knowledge and authority. See what sales are possible from 2016 in the neuromodulators industry and investigate how you can gain. Sections below explain. Forecasting of that world market and its segments what is possible? Our study predicts overall world revenue to 2026 for neuromodulating and neurostimulating technologies. There, in our work, you also find individual revenue predictions to 2026 for six submarkets at world level: - Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) - Deep brain stimulation (DBS) - Vagus/vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) - Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) - Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) - Other techniques (grouped forecast), including trigeminal nerve stimulation, cochlear implants, transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation and ultrasonic neuromodulation. With that analysis you investigate the most promising and lucrative parts of the neuromodulators industry. See how it can progress. Our study predicts high, rising sales. You explore where, when, how and why market expansion can occur. Our investigation also splits its overall world market into geographical revenue predictions. National markets what outlooks for neuromodulators' sales? Our analyses also show you individual revenue forecasts to 2026 for 11 countries: - United States - Japan - Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain (EU5 group) - Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC countries). Healthcare developments worldwide stimulate that industry's revenues. With our data you find countries with highest revenues, demand and potential sales. See needs and opportunities. And explore the expected trends, progress and gains. So how do changes, challenges and technological advances affect that industry and market? Forces, events and issues influencing that medical devices field Our updated report explains policies, trends and R&D shaping that industry and market, including these developments: - Widening applications in treating pain, depression, epilepsy, incontinence, hearing disorders, heart conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, inc. Parkinson's - Market trends ageing populations raising demand, personalised healthcare, regulations and changes in that medical devices segment - Emerging technology cochlear implants, transmagnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and ultrasonic applications. With that work you assess the industry's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, also exploring social, technological, economic and political questions. Those analyses help you assess what stimulates and restrains companies. Explore what the future holds. Neuromodulation technology leading companies and 2020 market value What happens next? From 2016 neuromedical devices hold great potential for investments, medical advances and sales. Our report predicts the world market for those products will reach $9.3bn in 2020, with fast 2016-2026 sales growth. High potentials exist for companies. In particular our study discusses performances, activities and potentials of four leading organisations: - Medtronic - Boston Scientific - St. Jude Medical - Cyberonics. Discussions of rising companies appear too. The survey also shows visiongain's interviews with the International Neuromodulation Society and NeuroSigma. With our analysis you see how that market can develop and perform from 2016, benefiting your insight and authority. See there how you can benefit your research and analysis. 7 ways Neuromodulation Devices 2016-2026 helps you stay ahead of competitors Our new study benefits your decisions, plans and proposals in these seven main ways: - Revenue to 2026 for the worldwide neuromodulation devices industry discover its overall potential - Predictions to 2026 for 6 submarkets investigate product categories at world level, finding the most lucrative and promising opportunities - Forecasts to 2026 for 11 national markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia discover the best regions and countries for revenue expansion - Activities of established and rising companies hear about firms' products, capabilities, advances and outlooks, seeing what is possible - Technological developments investigate R&D progress, exploring technological, clinical and commercial opportunities, seeing what is happening and possible - Interviews with other authorities discover what organisations there say and do, helping you stay ahead in knowledge - Analysis of what stimulates and restrains that market assess challenges and strengths, helping you compete and succeed. In our investigation you find independent business analysis by visiongain's UK-based team. Gain data found only there, information to help your research, analysis and presentations. That way you can benefit your authority and reputation for insight. Stay ahead in knowledge. Trying our analysis now lets you discover sales trends, opportunities and predictions Our independent study shows you data, trends, opportunities and forecasts for neuromodulation therapy. Please avoid missing out. Instead get our new report here now. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03809802-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Florida, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- New Colombia Resources, Inc. (OTC: NEWC) ("New Colombia or the 'Company"), a U.S. company with high quality metallurgical Blue Gem coal mining titles, medical marijuana, and industrial hemp operations in Colombia, is pleased to announce they received notification from the Agencia Nacional de Mineria (ANM) to accept new terms for Contract Application # OG2-10451 for another approved Concession Contract for high quality premium metallurgical coal. On July 2, 2013, New Colombia Resources filed a Form 8K with the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing that Erasmo Almanza, Director of New Colombia Resources, INC., applied for an additional coal and other grantable minerals concession contract totaling 183.3 HA (452 Acres) contiguous to their current Concession Contract # ILE-09551 in Guaduas, Colombia. The new concession contract application number is OG2-10451. On April 15, 2016 the ANM posted a notice for Mr. Almanza to accept new terms for the concession contract within 30 days and adjust the Exploration Program Format A. For a copy of the resolution visit http://www.anm.gov.co/english/. The Company intends to accept the terms and adjust the Format. Although the original application is for 183 HA, the Company believes the area may be reduced since it's considered a strategic reserve for the country. Blue Gem coal is only found on the KY-TN border and central Colombia and is used to produce specialty metals such as silicone to make solar panels, electric car batteries, and many more next generation products. New Colombia Resources has concession contracts and applications totaling 5000 HA of high quality metallurgical coal that will always be needed to produce steel and other specialty metallurgy products. Metallurgical coal miners in Kentucky have shut down operations due to over-regulation and poor market conditions. This has generated a glut of late model mining equipment being made available to New Colombia Resources. Company President John Campo will travel to Kentucky this week to acquire mining equipment to begin met coal production. He will be meeting with potential investors, customers, and partners with state of the art underground mining equipment and experience in extracting metallurgical coal. This equipment can easily be shipped to their property via the Mississippi and Magdalena Rivers. "I'm sad to see the devastation caused by mine closures in small town America, but I'm happy be able to offer veteran mine operators a mutually beneficial opportunity to continue what they know best while providing a much needed product for solar panel production which ironically is in the mix to replace thermal coal power plants. One continuous miner can produce 1000 tons per shift which generates cash flow of at least US$ 1,500,000 per month at today's depressed prices," stated John Campo, President of New Colombia Resources. New Colombia Resources' Work Permit for underground metallurgical coal mining was approved on December 23, 2013. The Company applied for an environmental license in 2014 but decided to halt the process in order to add building material production to the same license. Earlier this year the Company submitted a Work Plan adding building materials to their approved metallurgical coal Work Permit. The Company met with the National Mining Agency at their property last week for a technical visit for the addition of building materials and the Agency verbally gave them comments for clarification of a minor issue. New Colombia Resources will submit the clarification and expects to receive approval in an expedited due course in order to supply material to the massive local road and construction projects. The Work Plan submitted to the Mining Agency estimates revenue of over US$ 3 Million per year from building materials. While in Kentucky Mr. Campo will be scouting hemp processing equipment to bring to Colombia. Kentucky is a major hemp producer with generations of experience. Many tobacco farmers have made the transition to hemp and can offer assistance to New Colombia Resources' major industrial hemp initiatives for a post conflict Colombia. Much more detail will be provided separately about this and other Sannabis developments. To view or purchase Sannabis products visit http://www.sannabis.co. Follow Sannabis on Facebook for photos and testimonials at https://www.facebook.com/sannabis.cannamedicinal New Colombia Resources, Inc. New Colombia Resources, Inc. is focused on the acquisition and development of high-quality metallurgical coal properties and other available resources in the Republic of Colombia. They expect to have several revenue producing businesses including; metallurgical coal mining and rock quarry aggregates for domestic Colombian highway and railroad building projects. The Company owns 100% of La Tabaquera metallurgical coal mine in Colombia with an estimated 15-17 million tonnes of reserves. They have another pending acquisition for 390 ha and a solicitation contract for 184 ha metallurgical coal concession. New Colombia Resources also holds a significant position in Sannabis SAS which legally produces medical marijuana products in the Republic of Colombia, visit http://www.sannabis.co. For more information on the Company visit http://www.newcolombiaresources.com. Forward Looking Statements Forward Looking Statements; This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as "anticipate," "seek," intend," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements might not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include financing, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations. New Colombia Resources, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements. Company Contact: New Colombia Resources, Inc. John Campo President/Chairman +1-410-236-8200 USA [email protected] [email protected] Sannabis SAS http://www.sannabis.co SOURCE New Colombia Resources, Inc. COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Stacey Parrinello, a woman from Manalapan, New Jersey, is paying tribute to her late sister Mel Burrows' memory with a custom- made White Castle cremation urn, designed by Minnesota-based Foreverence, a company dedicated to celebrating the lives of loved ones with individually designed, 3-D printed, urns. Each as unique as the lives they represent. Custom-made White Castle urn by Foreverence. Mel was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2015, and as a special treat after her treatments, she and Stacey would sneak out of the hospital and pay a visit to their local Castle. "Let's treat ourselves," became the catch phrase of the sisters' special trips and is prominently featured on the urn. "It might seem a bit silly to some people, but White Castle provided a sense of normalcy during Mel's treatments. And that was a true gift, because those days were difficult for all of us," said Parrinello. "The time we spent together at White Castle is something I'll always cherish and look back on fondly, because I loved that Mel was able to find such joy in one of life's simple pleasures. The White Castle urn is a way I can honor her and cherish some of the last memories we shared together." To honor Mel's memory and legacy, White Castle is inducting both Burrows and Parrinello into the 2016 Cravers Hall of Fame class. Bonded by unique and compelling commitments to the Crave, the Cravers Hall of Fame encourages White Castle's most avid fans to submit original stories about their relationship with White Castle, and why White Castle is meaningful to them. "We are humbled by Mel's story, and truly honored that our small, two-by-two hamburgers were able to impact her life in such a positive way," said Jamie Richardson, vice president of White Castle. "As a special gift from our family to hers, we are donating $10,000 to the American Cancer Society in her name. White Castle brought joy to Mel during some difficult times, and our mission is to share her story and give back to others on her behalf." Stacey will be invited to the 2016 Cravers Hall of Fame induction ceremony in October at the White Castle headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The deadline for entering the 2016 contest is June 30, 2016. The judges set criteria to evaluate each story based on the following: brand loyalty, creative presentation, originality and magnitude of the Crave. Previous winning entries have included tattoos, epic road trips, moving family traditions that have spanned generations, tributes to fallen friends, two movie stars, the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and one rock legend. Entries are submitted online at whitecastle.com/CHOF, where rules and regulations also are posted. "Our mission is to honor and celebrate the lives of family members and friends in a unique and personalized way. We were touched by Mel's story, and were more than happy to create a custom-made White Castle urn to memorialize the fond memories she had with her sister," said Pete Saari, founder and CEO of Foreverence. For those interested in learning more about the White Castle urns, a link is now available on White Castle's online store. For more information, visit www.whitecastle.com or www.foreverence.com. About White Castle White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain based in Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating 95 years as a family-owned business. The company was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 serving The Original Slider which was named the most influential burger of all time in 2014 by Time. All White Castle Sliders are made from 100 percent USDA inspected beef. Today White Castle owns and operates nearly 400 restaurants in 13 states and has two dedicated Crave Mobiles that attended hundreds of events in 2015. White Castle's commitment to maintaining the highest quality products extends to the company owning and operating its own meat processing plants and bakeries as well as three frozen food processing plants. The retail division markets White Castle signature products in grocery, warehouse and convenience stores across the United States and in a growing number of international locations, including military PX's around the world. WhiteCastle.com is a culture center for Cravers, the chain's loyal and passionate fan base, connecting like-minded Slider enthusiasts from around the globe in a social media setting. For more information on White Castle and to see the Cravers Hall of Fame, visit whitecastle.com. About Foreverence Foreverence helps families and individuals tell the stories of their lives through one-of-a-kind, 3-D printed cremation urns and memorials. The outcome is an exceptional, individually crafted work of art a memento as unique as the life it represents. Find out more at: foreverence.com and on Twitter @foreverence_us. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362612 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030828/WHITECASTLELOGO SOURCE White Castle Related Links http://www.whitecastle.com DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Beverly's compelling novel is timely, educational and worth the read. Raised by a tyrant and a functioning voluptuary with an uncontrolled temper in a country ruled by a dictator with Communistic leanings, there was little chance for personal growth and independent thought in Havana, Cuba in the 1950's for Julian Vida. As a naive teen, he is sent out of Cuba to retrieve smuggled family jewels on the eve of the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361957 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361958 Beverly deftly guides us through Julian's childhood in Havana and his coming of age in New York City during the sexual revolution while we witness the conditions before, during and after Fidel Castro's takeover of the Island and the traumatizing effects it has on Julian's dysfunctional family. As Julian strives for freedom, political and personal, by a twist of fate he begins to lose his liberty when his oppressive parents arrive and refuse to assimilate into American society. The story contains humor, adultery, betrayal, family issues and smuggling. The situations Julian experiences are funny, sad, intriguing and hold your interest throughout. Take the journey and discover why success is not always measured by what one becomes, but often by what one overcomes. Concrete Wings is now available at the following retailers: Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Concrete-Wings-Journey-Personal-Freedom/dp/0997140607/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458318847&sr=8-1&keywords=concrete+wings Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/concrete-wings-beverly-gandara/1123555780?ean=9780997140606 Burlibooks http://www.burlibooks.com/cw.html Books a Million (BAM) http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=6606619510411&query=Concrete+Wings+by+Beverly+Gandara&where=All About Author Beverly Gandara: Beverly Gandara resides in Florida with her husband, Armand. A native of New York City, she attended Brooklyn College and Marymount College. She began her screenwriting studies at the Gotham Writer's Workshop in Manhattan and continued studying in Hollywood and Phoenix. Beverly has written several contest-placed screenplays and is the recipient of the Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay at the 2012 Beverly Hills International Film Festival for her comedy, RENT MONEY. For further information, contact: Beverly Gandara Email 561 270-7807 www.imdb.me/bevgandara http://bevgandara.com SOURCE Beverly Gandara Related Links http://bevgandara.com SANTA FE, N.M., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Given today's cyber security climate, it is no surprise that companies are wary of the risks associated with third party vendors. Unfortunately, these risks are only growing with the increase in disruptive technologies such as the Internet of Things and Cloud technologies. According to a survey released today conducted by the Ponemon Institute, an independent research firm focused on privacy, data protection and information security policy, and commissioned by the Shared Assessments Program, the industry-standard body on third party risk assurance, 70 percent of respondents believe that third party risk in their organization is increasing significantly. In fact, the new report, "Tone at the Top and Third Party Risk," shows that in the past 12 months, organizations spent an average of approximately $10 million to respond to security incidents as a result of negligent or malicious third parties. The Ponemon Institute surveyed 617 executives who have a role in the risk management processes within their organizations to determine the following: The state of third party risk management. The importance of values and a positive tone to effective third party risk management. Third party risk assessment and management practices. The use of technologies and cyber insurance to manage third party risk. "The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and as a result, third party risk is only going to increase," said Dr. Larry Ponemon, Chairman and Founder of the Ponemon Institute. "It has become imperative for organizations to create formal programs for vendor risk management in order to avoid being compromised, and more importantly, business leaders need to set a strong example." In the context of this study, "tone at the top" describes an organization's control environment, as established by its C-Suite and Board. The tone at the top is set by management and affects all employees of the organization. According to the study findings, neither the C-Suite nor the Board are overly involved in third party risk management and, for most companies, there is no clear accountability at all when it comes to handling risk. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that the best way to mitigate third party risk is for organizations to adopt a positive "tone at the top." "If management exemplifies honesty, integrity and ethics, it is much more likely that employees will work to uphold those same values. As a result, there will be a decrease in risks caused by insider negligence and third party relationships," said Charlie Miller, Senior Vice President with the Shared Assessments Program. "This study clearly demonstrates that not only is there a major risk issue stemming from vendor and partner relationships, but the highest level of organizations, the Board and C-Suite, need to better communicate their values across the enterprise, setting a positive tone and creating formal programs to mitigate this risk, ultimately helping companies to improve their risk management practices." The following are some of the other key findings that indicate the primary risks associated with third party vendors: Cloud computing, mobility and mobile devices, and big data analytics will have a significant impact, according to 71 percent, 67 percent and 51 percent of respondents, respectively. 50 percent of respondents do not believe the risk management process is aligned with business goals. Only 8 percent of respondents say improvement of their organization's relationship with business partners is a top risk management objective. 11 percent of respondents say their organizations are very effective at communicating values throughout the enterprise or to business partners, vendors and other third parties. 71 percent of respondents say when tone at the top is part of an organization's risk management strategy, the risk of working with third parties that are not trustworthy is reduced. 81 percent of respondents in financial services say that a strong tone at the top is essential to mitigating business risk. Only 7 percent of respondents in financial services say that improving the organization's relationship with business partners is a top risk management priority. For more information on the report, visit: http://sharedassessments.org/ponemon-study/. About the Shared Assessments Program The Shared Assessments Program is the trusted source in third party risk management, with resources to effectively manage the critical components of the vendor risk management lifecycle that are: creating efficiencies and lowering costs for all participants; kept current with regulations, industry standards and guidelines, and the current threat environment; and adopted globally across a broad range of industries both by service providers and their customers. Shared Assessments membership and use of the Shared Assessments Program Tools: Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP); Standardized Information Gathering (SIG) questionnaire and Vendor Risk Management Maturity Model (VRMMM), offers companies and their service providers a standardized, more efficient and less costly means of conducting rigorous assessments of controls for IT and data security, privacy and business resiliency. The Shared Assessments Program is managed by The Santa Fe Group (www.santa-fe-group.com), a strategic advisory company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information on Shared Assessments, please visit www.sharedassessments.org. About Ponemon Institute Ponemon Institute conducts independent research and education that advances information security, data protection, privacy and responsible information management practices within businesses and governments throughout the world. Our mission is to conduct high quality, empirical studies on critical issues that affect the protection of information assets and IT infrastructure. As a member of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO), we uphold strict data confidentiality, privacy and ethical research standards. www.ponemon.org. SOURCE Shared Assessments Program Related Links http://www.sharedassessments.org NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) today announced that Univision Communications Inc. (UCI), the leading multimedia company serving Hispanic America, has signed an agreement for Nielsen's National and Local Digital in TV Ratings services. Univision and UniMas Networks as well as local affiliate stations will receive audience estimates of linear television content viewing on mobile and computer devices. The audience contributions from the digital devices will be included in the TV ratings. Digital in TV Ratings measurement is a component of Nielsen's Total Audience, an initiative which provides comparable metrics across all linear and digital platforms. Additionally, Total Audience allows broadcasters to monetize their digital audiences over-the-air or online by adding the viewing from computer and mobile devices into the current program telecast-level data. With this agreement, Univision Network and UniMas are the first Spanish-language broadcast networks to include Nielsen's digital audience measurement in their TV ratings. Among all TV broadcasters, regardless of language, Univision Network and UniMas are the second and third networks to deploy Nielsen's national and local TV digital measurement. This addition expands the existing suite of Nielsen national and local data services which provide Univision Network, UniMas and local affiliates with an in-depth look at the habits, trends and characteristics of their viewers. Univision NOW, UCI's direct to consumer, subscription-service available on iOS, Android and web, is the first Spanish-language service to be certified for Nielsen's Digital in TV Ratings measurement. Digital in TV Ratings measurement integrates Nielsen's software development kit (SDK) technology into the Univision NOW app and online video player to measure live viewing of the company's two networks, local stations and programs. The technology is compatible with Android and iOS systems as well as desktops and laptops. Digital in TV Ratings gives UCI unprecedented insights into their mobile and online audiences. The solution offers UCI with a single platform to capture and measure all of their audience's viewing, whether through linear TV, connected TV devices, DVR, video on-demand, mobile, computer or tablet. "In this ever-changing media landscape, it is key for us at UCI to always look at how we measure our audiences and do so comprehensively. This agreement with Nielsen enables the opportunity to extend the work we do to bring together the best audience and be in front of the curve of content consumption habits regardless of platform, linear or digital. We are thrilled to be among the first players to use this level of measurement," said Jed Meyer, Executive Vice President of Corporate Research, Univision Communications Inc. "With Total Audience being adopted by more and more clients, we are delivering on our commitment to ensure the industry has comparable and reliable metrics across linear television and digital content," said Peter Bradbury, Managing Director, National Client Solutions, Nielsen. "Our new agreement with Univision Communications and their support of our digital television measurement solution validates that we are on track and delivering on what we promised. The advancements that we are making with Total Audience will help tell the real story and offer broadcasters and marketers the data that best meet their needs." About Nielsen Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers watch and buy. Nielsen's Watch segment provides media and advertising clients with Total Audience measurement services for all devices on which content video, audio and text is consumed. The Buy segment offers consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers the industry's only global view of retail performance measurement. By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources, Nielsen also provides its clients with analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries, covering more than 90% of the world's population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160121/324711LOGO SOURCE Nielsen Related Links http://www.nielsen.com TULSA, Okla., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) today announced financial results for its first quarter 2016; declared its quarterly dividend; and reaffirmed its 2016 financial guidance. Highlights include: First-quarter 2016 net income was $64.7 million , or $1.22 per diluted share, compared with $60.4 million , or $1.13 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2015; , or per diluted share, compared with , or per diluted share, in the first quarter 2015; Actual heating degree days across the company's service areas were 4,550 in the first quarter 2016, 14 percent warmer than normal and 18 percent warmer than the same period last year; and The board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 35 cents per share, or $1.40 per share on an annualized basis, payable on June 1, 2016 , to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 16, 2016 . "New rates and warmer weather in our service territories impacted first quarter results," said Pierce H. Norton II, president and chief executive officer. "Safety, investing in the integrity and reliability of our systems and delivering excellent customer service continue to be priorities for ONE Gas as we execute on our long-term strategic plan." FIRST-QUARTER 2016 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE ONE Gas reported operating income of $116.1 million in the first quarter 2016, compared with $109.0 million in the first quarter 2015. Net margin increased by $9.6 million compared with first quarter 2015, which primarily reflects: A $13.8 million increase from new rates in Oklahoma and Texas ; increase from new rates in and ; A $1.0 million increase attributed to net residential customer growth in Oklahoma and Texas ; increase attributed to net residential customer growth in and ; A $2.8 million decrease due to lower sales volumes, net of weather normalization, primarily from warmer weather in the first quarter 2016 compared with the first quarter 2015; and decrease due to lower sales volumes, net of weather normalization, primarily from warmer weather in the first quarter 2016 compared with the first quarter 2015; and A $1.9 million decrease due primarily to lower transportation volumes from weather-sensitive customers in Kansas and Oklahoma . First-quarter 2016 operating costs were $121.8 million, compared with $122.4 million in the first quarter 2015, which primarily reflects: A $2.5 million decrease in outside service expenses, fleet and other costs; decrease in outside service expenses, fleet and other costs; A $2.4 million decrease from the deferral of separation costs incurred in 2014 that was approved in Oklahoma as a regulatory asset in the recent rate proceeding; decrease from the deferral of separation costs incurred in 2014 that was approved in as a regulatory asset in the recent rate proceeding; A $1.3 million decrease in information technology expenses; decrease in information technology expenses; A $3.6 million increase in employee-related expenses; and increase in employee-related expenses; and A $2.8 million increase in legal expenses. First-quarter 2016 depreciation and amortization expense was $34.7 million, compared with $31.6 million in the first quarter 2015, due primarily to an increase in depreciation expense from capital investments placed in service. Capital expenditures were $75.3 million for the first quarter 2016, compared with $54.9 million in the first quarter 2015. The company ended the first quarter with $52.7 million of cash and cash equivalents, no short-term borrowings and $1.0 million in letters of credit, leaving $699.0 million of credit available under its $700 million credit facility. The total debt-to-capitalization ratio at March 31, 2016, was 39 percent. > View earnings tables Key Statistics: More detailed information is listed in the tables. Actual heating degree days in the Oklahoma service area were 1,565 in the first quarter 2016, 12 percent warmer than normal and 18 percent warmer than the same period last year; service area were 1,565 in the first quarter 2016, 12 percent warmer than normal and 18 percent warmer than the same period last year; Actual heating degree days in the Kansas service area were 2,120 in the first quarter 2016, 15 percent warmer than normal and 16 percent warmer than the same period last year; service area were 2,120 in the first quarter 2016, 15 percent warmer than normal and 16 percent warmer than the same period last year; Actual heating degree days in the Texas service area were 865 in the first quarter 2016, 13 percent warmer than normal and 22 percent warmer than the same period last year; service area were 865 in the first quarter 2016, 13 percent warmer than normal and 22 percent warmer than the same period last year; Residential natural gas sales volumes were 51.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in the first quarter 2016, down 14 percent compared with the same period last year; Total natural gas sales volumes were 67.1 Bcf in the first quarter 2016, down 14 percent compared with the same period last year; Natural gas transportation volumes were 59.2 Bcf in the first quarter 2016, down 3 percent compared with the same period last year; and Total natural gas volumes delivered were 126.3 Bcf in the first quarter 2016, down 9 percent compared with the same period last year. REGULATORY ACTIVITY Oklahoma In January 2016, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved a joint stipulation and settlement agreement for an increase in Oklahoma Natural Gas' base rates of $29,995,000. The agreement includes the continuation, with certain modifications, of the Performance Based Rate Change tariff, which was established in 2009. Kansas On May 2, 2016, Kansas Gas Service filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) for an increase in base rates, reflecting system investments and operating costs necessary to maintain the safety and reliability of its natural gas distribution system. Kansas Gas Service's request, if approved, represents a net base rate increase of $28 million. Kansas Gas Service is already recovering $7.4 million from customers through the Gas System Reliability Surcharge (GSRS), resulting in a total base rate increase of $35.4 million. This request would increase the average residential customer's natural gas bill by $4.34 per month. The company's filing also includes a proposed Cost of Service Adjustment (COSA) mechanism that would reset rates annually, based on a review of the previous year's financial results. The proposed rate mechanism is intended to reduce the need to file full rate cases, thereby saving costs associated with these traditional rate cases. In accordance with Kansas law, the KCC has 240 days to consider Kansas Gas Service's filing. Texas In December 2015, Texas Gas Service filed a rate case for its Galveston and South Jefferson County service areas requesting an increase in its revenues of $3.1 million. The filing included a request to consolidate these two service areas into a new Gulf Coast service area. Texas Gas Service filed this rate case directly with the incorporated cities and the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) for the unincorporated areas. Texas Gas Service has reached a unanimous settlement agreement with representatives of the incorporated cities and the staff of the RRC on behalf of the unincorporated areas for an increase in revenues of $2.3 million. The agreement is subject to approval by the cities and the RRC. The new rates will become effective upon approval by the cities and the RRC, which is expected to occur in May 2016. On March 30, 2016, Texas Gas Service filed a rate case requesting an increase in revenues of $12.8 million for its El Paso, Dell City and Permian service areas. The filing included a request to consolidate these three service areas into a new West Texas service area. Texas Gas Service filed this rate case directly with the incorporated cities of the El Paso and Dell City service areas and the RRC for the unincorporated areas. If approved, new rates are expected to be effective in October 2016. Texas Gas Service expects to file a rate case in its Central Texas jurisdiction, which includes the City of Austin, on or before June 30, 2016. The filing is expected to include a proposal to consolidate the South Texas service area with the Central Texas service area. 2016 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE REAFFIRMED ONE Gas reaffirmed its 2016 financial guidance, with net income expected to be in the range of $127 million to $137 million, or approximately $2.40 to $2.60 per diluted share. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $305 million in 2016. More than 70 percent of these expenditures are targeted for system integrity and replacement projects. Rate base in 2016 is expected to average $2.9 billion with 43 percent in Oklahoma, 31 percent in Kansas and 26 percent in Texas. EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST The ONE Gas executive management team will conduct a conference call on Tues., May 3, 2016, at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (10 a.m. Central Daylight Time). The call also will be carried live on the ONE Gas website. To participate in the telephone conference call, dial 888-428-9498, pass code 7491599, or log on to www.onegas.com. If you are unable to participate in the conference call or the webcast, a replay will be available on the ONE Gas website, www.onegas.com, for 30 days. A recording will be available by phone for seven days. The playback call may be accessed at 888-203-1112, pass code 7491599. LINK TO EARNINGS TABLES http://www.onegas.com/~/media/OGS/Earnings/2016/OGS_2016Q1Earnings-Zzop$10xp$.ashx ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) is a stand-alone, 100 percent regulated, publicly traded natural gas utility, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OGS." ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States. ONE Gas provides natural gas distribution services to more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. ONE Gas is headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., and its divisions include Oklahoma Natural Gas, the largest natural gas distributor in Oklahoma; Kansas Gas Service, the largest in Kansas, and Texas Gas Service, the third largest in Texas, in terms of customers. Its largest natural gas distribution markets by customer count are Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka, Kan.; and Austin and El Paso, Texas. ONE Gas serves residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and wholesale customers in all three states. For more information, visit the website at http://www.ONEGas.com. Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, liquidity, management's plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this news release identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "should," "goal," "forecast," "guidance," "could," "may," "continue," "might," "potential," "scheduled," and other words and terms of similar meaning. One should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are applicable only as of the date of this news release. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following: our ability to recover operating costs and amounts equivalent to income taxes, costs of property, plant and equipment and regulatory assets in our regulated rates; our ability to manage our operations and maintenance costs; changes in regulation, including the application of market rates by state and local agencies; the economic climate and, particularly, its effect on the natural gas requirements of our residential and commercial industrial customers; competition from alternative forms of energy, including, but not limited to, solar power, wind power, geothermal energy and biofuels; conservation efforts of our customers; variations in weather, including seasonal effects on demand, the occurrence of storms and disasters, and climate change; indebtedness could make us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions, limit our ability to borrow additional funds and/or place us at competitive disadvantage compared with competitors; our ability to secure reliable, competitively priced and flexible natural gas transportation and supply, including decisions by natural gas producers to reduce production or shut-in producing natural gas wells and expiration of existing supply, transportation and storage arrangements that are not replaced with contracts with similar terms and pricing; the mechanical integrity of facilities operated; operational hazards and unforeseen operational interruptions; adverse labor relations; the effectiveness of our strategies to reduce earnings lag, margin protection strategies and risk mitigation strategies; our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet all our cash needs; changes in the financial markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements, particularly those affecting the availability of capital and our ability to refinance existing debt and fund investments and acquisitions; actions of rating agencies, including the ratings of debt, general corporate ratings and changes in the rating agencies' ratings criteria; changes in inflation and interest rates; our ability to purchase and sell assets at attractive prices and on other attractive terms; our ability to recover the costs of natural gas purchased for our customers; impact of potential impairment charges; volatility and changes in markets for natural gas; possible loss of LDC franchises or other adverse effects caused by the actions of municipalities; payment and performance by counterparties and customers as contracted and when due; changes in regulation of natural gas distribution services, particularly those in Oklahoma , Kansas and Texas ; , and ; changes in law resulting from new federal or state energy legislation; changes in environmental, safety, tax and other laws to which we and our subsidiaries are subject; advances in technology; population growth rates and changes in the demographic patterns of the markets we serve; acts of nature and the potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism, including cyber attacks or breaches of technology systems and war; the sufficiency of insurance coverage to cover losses; the effects of our strategies to reduce tax payments; the effects of litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings, including our rate cases, or inquiries; changes in accounting standards and corporate governance; discovery of material weaknesses in our internal controls; our ability to attract and retain talented management and directors; the results of financing efforts, including our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including our credit ratings and general economic conditions; declines in the market prices of debt and equity securities and resulting funding requirements for our defined benefit pension plans; the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans, regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of a merger, acquisition or divestiture, and the success of the business following a merger, acquisition or divestiture; the final resolutions or outcomes with respect to our contingent and other corporate liabilities related to the natural gas distribution business and any related actions for indemnification made pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement with ONEOK; and the costs associated with increased regulation and enhanced disclosure and corporate governance requirements pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and the Consumer Protection Act of 2010. These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise. Analyst Contact: Andrew Ziola 918-947-7163 Media Contact: Jennifer Rector 918-947-7571 SOURCE ONE Gas, Inc. Related Links http://www.onegas.com WASHINGTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The last day for residents in Harris County, Texas, to complete the 2016 Census Test online is fast approaching. Residents can answer the brief questionnaire at www.census.gov/2016censustest. Households that do not complete the questionnaire by May 12 may receive a visit from a census taker to complete the form. Almost 225,000 households in Harris County received a mailed notification from the U.S. Census Bureau asking them to complete the questionnaire. The 2016 Census Test is refining new methods and technologies under consideration for the 2020 Census. Harris County residents may respond to the test in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean by internet, telephone or mail. Additionally, for those who need help completing the form, telephone assistance is available in Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese), Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic and French. Respondents in the following ZIP codes have received a notification from the Census Bureau: 77024, 77036, 77040, 77041, 77042, 77043, 77055, 77056, 77057, 77063, 77077, 77079, 77080, 77082 and 77092. For more information about the test, visit http://www.census.gov/2016censustest . Public Information Office 301-763-3030 / [email protected] census.gov Connect with us on Social media Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau Related Links http://www.census.gov NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Operation Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) market size is estimated to grow from USD 23.95 billion in 2015 to USD 42.81 billion by 2020, at an estimated CAGR of 12.3%. The OSS/BSS market facilitate end users with good competency and enables cost savings and rapid delivery of results for implementation, integration, and projects maintenance thus increasing the demand of OSS/BSS solutions and driving the growth of OSS/BSS market. Telecom enterprises end users contribute the maximum market share in 2015 The telecom enterprises end users are expected to contribute the largest market share in the OSS/BSS market. BFSI, manufacturing, and retail will be the key growing end users during the forecast period. OSS/BSS solutions majorly support functions of network management for the telecom industry. Rise in Billing & Revenue Management is contributing toward the adaption of OSS/BSS models by telecom vendors as it helps to achieve greater agility and flexibility at reduced costs, and improves network management 'Latin America is expected to be the fastest-growing region for global OSS/BSS market during the forecast period' The Latin America region would be the fastest-growing OSS/BSS marketas compared to the other regions; however, the difference is substantially low. The major cause for the growth of the Latin America OSS/BSS market in this region is the increasing number of subscribers and data devices. The developing nations such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico have a large number of subscribers and provide telecom companies with new opportunities to expand in the region. The growing technological advancements in the region are responsible for large system integrators and network equipment providers (NEP) to emerge as dominant primary suppliers to the telecom operators. In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and subsegments gathered through secondary research. Primary interviews were conducted to gather information and primary respondents detail is mentioned below by company type, by designagtion and by regions - By Company Type - Tier 1 55 %, Tier 2 20% and Tier 3 25% - By Designation C level 75%, Manager level 25% - By Region North America - 46%, Europe 31%, APAC 15%, RoW 8% With the growing need for OSS/BSS solutions, the requirement for billing, customer management and order management had a breakthrough growth in areas of telecom enterprises, manufacturing, BFSI, and other retail industry. Technologies such as next-generation OSS/BSS solutions, offers huge growth by optimizing the network potentials, respond swiftly to changing business and lauch new services fast and easily. The various key OSS/BSS vendors and service providers profiled in the report are as follows: 1. Amdocs 2. Accenture 3. HP 4. IBM 5. Oracle Corporation 6. TCS 7. Ericsson 8. Tech Mahindra 9. Huawei Technology 10. Nokia Networks The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market in the following ways: 1. This report segments the OSS/BSS market comprehensively and provides the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall market and the subsegments across different technologies, services, deployment models, and regions. 2. The report helps stakeholders to understand the pulse of the market and provides them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. 3. This report will help stakeholders to better understand the competitors and gain more insights to better their position in the business. The competitive landscape section includes competitor ecosystem, newproduct develpoments, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03572444-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com NEWARK, N.J., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Panasonic Creative Design Challenge celebrated 25 years of inspiring high school engineering students throughout New Jersey. The top three winning schools for this year's final robotics competition included Kinnelon High School, Newark Academy and Teaneck High School, who were awarded first, second and third place, respectively. Ocean Township High School was also recognized as Rookie of the Year. Individual scholarships and Panasonic product prizes were awarded to the winning teams. The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), a long standing partner with Panasonic in the Creative Design Challenge, hosted the final round of the robotics competition and award ceremony. The theme of this year's competition "Nuclear Disaster Pana-Plant Cleanup," created by NJIT honor students, challenged students to design a device that could clean up a nuclear disaster site. The guidelines required teams to build a device that would be able to travel on two aluminum bars, using minimal electrical power, to complete several tasks associated with a nuclear disaster cleanup. In addition to being judged on the performance of their devices, teams were also scored on an oral presentation, the quality of their written reports, and engineering logbook entries. The competition requires the high school student teams to apply mathematical, mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge as well as teamwork and communication skills to be successful. "For 25 years Panasonic, along with NJIT, has challenged some of New Jersey's brightest high school students to develop real-world solutions in the Panasonic Creative Design Challenge," said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman & CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America. "As a company that is concerned about strengthening STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, we continue to be impressed by the level of engineering and science skills demonstrated by these high school students. Beyond the technical expertise of these students, their commitment to teamwork around a common theme is remarkable. I want to congratulate all of the teams for their work and hope that this experience will inspire them to continue to develop their engineering skills." The Creative Design Challenge was founded in 1991 by Mr. Taylor in collaboration with Professor Joel S. Bloom, now NJIT President. "Creating a pipeline of science and technology talent is essential for our future workforce," President Bloom said. "Panasonic, a longtime partner, is to be highly commended for continuing this commitment of encouraging the development of young STEM talent." It is the premier science and technology competition for high school students in New Jersey. For more information on the Panasonic Creative Design Challenge program, please visit http://www.panasonic.com/cdc. About Panasonic Corporation of North America Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and solutions for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In Interbrand's 2014 annual "Best Global Green Brands" report, Panasonic ranked number five overall and the top electronics brand in the report. As part of its continuing sustainability efforts, Panasonic Corporation of North America relocated its headquarters in 2013 to a new facility, adjacent to Newark Penn Station in Newark, NJ. It is the first newly constructed office tower in Newark to earn both LEED Platinum and Gold certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council. Learn more about Panasonic at us.panasonic.com/news. Connect with Panasonic: Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, Facebook, YouTube SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America Related Links http://www.panasonic.com HARRISBURG, Pa., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel announced that 1,000 prison staff members have received Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training aimed at improving response to inmates with mental health needs. "We have made significant improvements to our mental health services and key to all of the services being successful is how our employees respond to a mental health crisis at the onset," Secretary Wetzel said. "We need to be able to respond quickly and appropriately when a mental health crisis happens. Doing so helps to ensure proper care de-escalates a situation so that potential violence and harm to inmates or prison staff is averted." All 26 state prison superintendents finished their training last week. One quarter of all inmates in Pennsylvania prisons suffer from mental illness, while eight percent of those have severe forms of mental illness. "Twenty thousand people leave our prisons every year and we want them to return to their communities healthier than when they arrived," said Wetzel. "Increasing the level of staff training on mental health issues is one important step toward achieving that goal." The training program is part of a system-wide initiative to place an inmate's mental health at the forefront of treatment in prison. Ninety-percent of inmates in the state system are eventually released and the DOC goal is that they return to the community prepared to be productive citizens. "Crisis Intervention Training involves a long-term commitment by an agency, because it is not only a vital training, it is a change in culture," said Superintendent Marirosa Lamas, the department's executive leading and managing this special training initiative. "If you are going to do something right, you must also change your culture to embrace the change, and that is what we are doing through this training." The U.S. Department of Justice recently closed an investigation into the DOC citing significant improvements made to policies and practices intended to protect prisoners with serious mental illness and intellectual disabilities from the harmful effects solitary confinement. The federal department opened its statewide investigation into the use of solitary confinement on prisoners with serious mental illness and intellectual disabilities in May 2013 after finding a pattern of constitutional violations and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Justice Department said in closing the investigation this month that the DOC demonstrated its commitment to reforming its use of solitary confinement by working closely with the department and beginning improvements at the outset of the investigation. Since then, the DOC has worked to ensure that prisoners with serious mental illness and/or intellectual disabilities are no longer subjected to solitary confinement and are instead provided with specialized treatment to meet their individual needs. CIT training, first used to educate police officers to better respond to mental health issues they encounter in the community, was modified by the DOC to encompass an extensive multi-day training course that provides correctional employees with an understanding of the ways in which mental illness may affect the inmates they deal with every day. It also provides employees with skills to de-escalate crisis situations. Training is not limited to corrections officers. Other staff members and volunteers with inmate contact in a wide array of areas also receive training, including counselors, food service workers, chaplains, parole agents, social workers, teachers, as well as employees with community corrections centers and county prison systems. "All new employees who require this training will receive it," Wetzel said. "We are committed to ensuring that our employees have the skills and tools necessary to successfully fulfill their duties." All DOC employees, contractors and volunteers receive training in basic Mental Health First Aid in order to better understand, recognize and respond to the symptoms of mental illness. Media contact: Susan McNaughton, 717-728-4025 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Related Links http://www.state.pa.us PUNE, India, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- New market research report titled "Gastric Ulcers - Pipeline Review, H1 2016" help enhance decision making capabilities and help to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. It strengthens R&D pipelines by identifying new targets and MOAs to produce first-in-class and best-in-class products. Company Profiles discussed in this report includes Astellas Pharma Inc., ChoDang Pharm Co., Ltd., Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kukje Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., PharmaReaserch Products Co., Ltd. and Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd. Drugs Profiles discussed in this report includes (ecabet + ranitidine), anaprazole sodium, ASP-6537, DWJ-206, KJ-14001, PMKS-005, PRD-007 and Small Molecules for Gastric Ulcers. Complete report on H1 2016 pipeline review of Gastric Ulcers with 20 market data tables and 10 figures, spread across 45 pages is available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/gastric-ulcers-pipeline-review-h1-2016-market-report.html . This report provides comprehensive information on the therapeutic development for Gastric Ulcers, complete with comparative analysis at various stages, therapeutics assessment by drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type, along with latest updates, and featured news and press releases. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Gastric Ulcers and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. Scope of this report: The report provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Gastric Ulcers. The report reviews key pipeline products under drug profile section which includes, product description, MoA and R&D brief, licensing and collaboration details & other developmental activities and also key players involved in the therapeutics development for Gastric Ulcers and enlists all their major and minor projects summarizing all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects. A review of the Gastric Ulcers products under development by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources, pipeline products coverage based on various stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages, detailed assessment of monotherapy and combination therapy pipeline projects, coverage of the Gastric Ulcers pipeline on the basis of target, MoA, route of administration and molecule type and latest news and deals relating related to pipeline products. Reasons to buy Gain strategically significant competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage Identify and understand important and diverse types of therapeutics under development for Gastric Ulcers Identify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic Develop strategic initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies Plan mergers and acquisitions effectively by identifying key players and it's most promising pipeline therapeutics Devise corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Gastric Ulcers pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope Modify the therapeutic portfolio by identifying discontinued projects and understanding the factors that drove them from pipeline Order a copy of Gastric Ulcers - Pipeline Review, H1 2016 market research report @ http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=538754 . Another newly published market research report titled on Fecal Incontinence - Pipeline Review, H1 2016 provides comprehensive information on the therapeutic development for Fecal Incontinence, complete with comparative analysis at various stages, therapeutics assessment by drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type, along with latest updates, and featured news and press releases. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Fecal Incontinence and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. The report enhances decision making capabilities and help to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. It strengthens R&D pipelines by identifying new targets and MOAs to produce first-in-class and best-in-class products. Fecal Incontinence Pipeline market research report of 43 pages is available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/fecal-incontinence-pipeline-review-h1-2016-market-report.html . Explore more reports on Gastrointestinal therapeutics. About Us: RnRMarketResearch.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 500,000+ market research reports from over 100+ leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. With comprehensive information about the publishers and the industries for which they publish market research reports, we help you in your purchase decision by mapping your information needs with our huge collection of reports. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. Tel: +1-888-391-5441 [email protected] Connect with Us: G+ / Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/104156468549256253075/posts Twitter: https://twitter.com/RnRMR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/RnR-Market-Research/413488545356345 RSS / Feeds: http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/feed SOURCE RnR Market Research ATLANTA, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE: APTS) ("we", "our", the "Company" or "Preferred Apartment Communities") today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Unless otherwise indicated, all per share results are reported based on the basic weighted average shares of Common Stock and Class A Units of the Company's operating partnership ("Class A OP Units") outstanding. "We believe our first quarter 2016 operating results were a great way to start 2016 for the Company. In the first quarter, our normalized FFO results increased approximately $0.06 per share, which represents a 25.0% per share increase compared to the first quarter 2015," said John A. Williams, Preferred Apartment Communities' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Williams added, "Our adjusted FFO results increased approximately $0.16 per share, which represents a 72.7% per share increase compared to the first quarter 2015. We are very pleased with the success we have achieved in the first quarter and remain comfortable with our guidance for the year." First Quarter 2016 The Company reported Normalized Funds From Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders, or NFFO, for first quarter 2016 of $7,012,574, or $0.30 per share, compared with NFFO for first quarter 2015 of $5,202,103, or $0.24 per share. This represents an increase of approximately 34.8% in NFFO and an increase of approximately 25.0% in NFFO per share. The first quarter NFFO increase was primarily driven by the growth of the Company as described in more detail below. NFFO is calculated by beginning with Funds From Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders, or FFO, as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, and making certain adjustments to FFO, which are either not likely to occur on a regular basis or are otherwise not representative of the Company's ongoing operating performance. The Company reported Adjusted Funds From Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders, or AFFO, for first quarter 2016 of $8,935,867, or $0.38 per share, compared with AFFO for first quarter 2015 of $4,940,346, or $0.22 per share. This represents an increase of approximately 80.9% in AFFO and an increase of approximately 72.7% in AFFO per share. As with NFFO, the first quarter AFFO increase was primarily driven by the growth of the Company as described in more detail below. AFFO is calculated by beginning with NFFO and adjusting for certain items that the Company believes by their nature are not comparable from period to period or tend to obscure the Company's actual operating performance. The items adjusted are discussed below in more detail. The Company reported FFO for first quarter 2016 of $3,949,699, or $0.17 per share, compared with FFO of $3,967,734 for first quarter 2015, or $0.18 per share. For first quarter 2016, there were 23,600,373 basic weighted average shares of Common Stock and Class A OP Units outstanding, compared to 22,094,074 basic weighted average shares of Common Stock and Class A OP Units outstanding for first quarter 2015. At March 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding: (1) 23,070,562 shares of Common Stock, including 7,536 shares of restricted Common Stock, and (2) 886,520 Class A OP Units. NFFO, AFFO and FFO are all calculated after deductions for all preferred stock dividends. A reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders to NFFO, AFFO and FFO is included in the Supplemental Financial Data Report attached to this press release on the Company's website and is available using the following link: http://investors.pacapts.com/download/1Q16_Earnings_and_Supplemental_Data.pdf. The Company reported total revenues for first quarter 2016 of $41,735,781, compared to total revenues for first quarter 2015 of $21,344,515, an increase of approximately $20.4 million, or approximately 95.5%. The Company reported net loss attributable to common stockholders under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for first quarter 2016 of $(11,184,115), or approximately $(0.49) per share, compared to net loss attributable to common stockholders for first quarter 2015 of $(3,934,990), or approximately $(0.18) per share. The increases in NFFO, AFFO and revenue were primarily due to the growth of the Company which included: (1) a full quarter of operating results from the ten multifamily communities and the four grocery-anchored retail shopping centers acquired in 2015, which included additional rental revenue and additional operational expenses; (2) a full quarter of income from additional real estate loans that were originated in 2015; (3) a partial quarter of income from additional real estate loans that were originated in first quarter 2016 and (4) a partial quarter of operating results from three multifamily communities and one grocery-anchored retail shopping center acquired in first quarter 2016, whereas first quarter 2015 operating results did not reflect the effects of the these new investments. However, the increases in first quarter 2016 were partially offset by the payoff of four of our real estate loans in connection with our acquisition of the underlying projects in second quarter 2015 and first quarter 2016 and the payoff of two of our real estate loans in connection with the borrower refinancing or selling the project. While the operating results of the ten properties that were acquired in 2015 provided a substantial portion of the increase in NFFO, AFFO and revenue for the first quarter 2016 when compared to first quarter 2015, the additional depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $7.4 million and additional real estate taxes of approximately $3.1 million resulted in the Company having a larger net loss attributable to common stockholders on a GAAP basis and the additional acquisition costs of approximately $1.6 million resulted in FFO being flat. Multifamily Same Store Financial Data The Company presents same store operating results for the Company's multifamily communities that have been owned for at least 15 full months, enabling comparisons of the current reporting period to the prior year comparative period. Multifamily communities approved for disposition by the investment committee of our Manager (both phases of Trail Creek) are excluded from these results. Additionally, the Company excludes the same store operating results of properties for which construction of adjacent phases have commenced (the Company holds a real estate loan partially supporting a third phase of the Summit Crossing multifamily community, which is excluded as well). For the periods presented, same store operating results consist of the operating results of our Stone Rise, Lake Cameron, Ashford Park, McNeil Ranch, Enclave at Vista Ridge, Stoneridge Farms at Hunt Club and the Vineyards communities. For the Company's same store communities, rental revenues increased 4.2%, total revenues increased 3.8% and operating expenses increased 5.5% during first quarter 2016, all compared to first quarter 2015, resulting in a 2.3% increase in Same Store NOI. Same Store NOI is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of Same Store NOI to net income (loss) is included in the Supplemental Financial Data Report, which is attached to this press release on the Company's website and is available using the following link: http://investors.pacapts.com/download/1Q16_Earnings_and_Supplemental_Data.pdf. Total Assets and Leverage As of March 31, 2016, the Company's total assets, on a GAAP basis, were approximately $1.5 billion compared to approximately $788.9 million as of March 31, 2015, an increase of approximately $748.0 million, or approximately 94.8%. This growth was driven almost entirely by the acquisitions and new loans described above. At March 31, 2016, the Company's leverage as measured by the ratio of its debt to the undepreciated book value of its total assets was approximately 56.6%. Capital Markets Activities The Company's registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-183355) (the "Follow-On Registration Statement"), was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on October 11, 2013. This registration statement allows us to offer up to a maximum of 900,000 Units, with each Unit consisting of one share of Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock and one Warrant to purchase up to 20 shares of Common Stock (the "Follow-On Offering"). The price per Unit is $1,000. The Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company's Common Stock with respect to payment of dividends and distribution of amounts upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up. The Units are being offered by International Assets Advisory, LLC, the dealer manager for the Follow-On Offering, on a "reasonable best efforts" basis. The Follow-On Offering commenced sales on January 1, 2014, immediately following the December 31, 2013 expiration of the earlier registration statement on Form S-11, as amended (File No. 333-176604), related to the Company's offering of up to 150,000 Units (the "Primary Series A Offering"). The Follow-On Offering will terminate on October 11, 2016, as the Company exercised its one-year extension option, unless earlier terminated by us. The Company intends to invest substantially all the net proceeds of the Follow-On Offering in connection with the acquisition of multifamily communities, other real estate-related investments (including necessity retail shopping centers) and general working capital purposes. During first quarter 2016, we issued and sold 101,037 Units resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $101 million. In addition, during first quarter 2016, we issued 196,720 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants issued in these two offerings, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $2.0 million. On February 28, 2014, the Company filed a prospectus supplement to its registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333- 188677) (the "Shelf Registration Statement") to issue and sell up to $100 million of Common Stock from time to time in an "at the market" offering (the "ATM Offering") through MLV & Co. LLC as sales agent. The Company intends to use any proceeds from the ATM Offering to repay outstanding amounts under the operating partnership's $70.0 million revolving credit facility and its $35.0 million term loan facility and for other general corporate purposes, including making investments in accordance with the Company's investment objectives. There were no sales of common stock in the ATM Offering during the first quarter 2016. Dividends Quarterly Dividends on Common Stock and Class A OP Units On February 5, 2016, the Company declared a quarterly dividend on its Common Stock of $0.1925 per share for first quarter 2016. This represents a 10.0% increase in our common stock dividend from our first quarter 2015 common stock dividend of $0.175 per share, and an annualized dividend growth rate of 11.5% since June 30, 2011, the first quarter end following our initial public offering in April 2011. The first quarter dividend was paid on April 15, 2016 to all stockholders of record on March 15, 2016. In conjunction with the Common Stock dividend, the Company's operating partnership declared a distribution on its Class A OP Units of $0.1925 per unit for first quarter 2015, which was paid on approximately April 15, 2016 to all Class A OP Unit holders of record as of March 15, 2016. Monthly Dividends on Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock The Company declared and paid monthly dividends of $5.00 per share on its Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock, which totaled approximately $7.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2016 and represents a 6% annual yield. Multifamily Physical and Average Economic Occupancy For the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, the Company's multifamily average occupancy was 94.2%. The Company defines "multifamily average occupancy" as market rent reduced by vacancy losses. All our multifamily properties are included in this calculation except for properties which are not yet stabilized, which we define as properties having first achieved 93% physical occupancy (Citilakes), properties which are owned for less than the entire reporting period (Baldwin Park, Crosstown Walk and Overton Rise), and properties which are undergoing significant capital projects or are adding additional phases (Summit Crossing, Stone Creek and Sandstone Creek). Retail Occupancy As of March 31, 2016, our retail portfolio was 94.3% leased. We define percent leased as the percentage of gross leasable area that is leased, including lease agreements that have been fully executed which have not yet commenced. 2016 Guidance: The Company currently projects NFFO to be in the range of $1.24 - $1.32 per share for the full year 2016. The Company currently projects total revenues to be in the range of $175 million - $200 million for the full year 2016. Conference Call and Supplemental Data Preferred Apartment Communities will hold its quarterly conference call on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its first quarter 2016 results. To participate in the conference call, please dial in to the following: Live Conference Call Details Domestic Dial-in Number: (800) 860-2442 International Dial-in Number: (412) 858-4600 Company: Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2016 Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time) The live broadcast of Preferred Apartment Communities' first quarter conference call will be available online, on a listen-only basis, at the company's website, www.pacapts.com, under "Investors" and then click on the "Upcoming Events" link. A replay of the call will be archived on Preferred Apartment Communities' website under Investors/Audio Archive. Preferred Apartment Communities also produces a Supplemental Financial Data package that provides additional information regarding the Company's overall financial position. This Supplemental Financial Data is considered an integral part of, and is attached to, this earnings release and is also available on the Company's website at http://investors.pacapts.com/download/1Q16_Earnings_and_Supplemental_Data.pdf, or by contacting Leonard A. Silverstein in Investor Relations at (770) 818-4100. Non-GAAP Financial Measures The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. The non-GAAP financial measures include FFO, NFFO, AFFO and Same Store NOI. The definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures are summarized below. The Company believes that these measures are helpful to investors in measuring financial performance and comparing such performance to other REITs. Funds From Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders ("FFO") Analysts, managers and investors have, since the first real estate investment trusts were created, made certain adjustments to reported net income amounts under U.S. GAAP in order to better assess these vehicles' liquidity and cash flows. FFO is one of the most commonly utilized Non-GAAP measures currently in practice. In its 2002 White Paper on Funds From Operations, which was most recently revised in 2012, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, standardized the definition of how Net income/loss should be adjusted to arrive at FFO, in the interests of uniformity and comparability. The NAREIT definition of FFO (and the one reported by the Company) is: Net income/loss: excluding impairment charges on and gains/losses from sales of depreciable property; plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets and deferred leasing costs; and after adjustments for the Company's proportionate share of unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Not all companies necessarily utilize the standardized NAREIT definition of FFO, so caution should be taken in comparing the Company's reported FFO results to those of other companies. The Company's FFO results are comparable to the FFO results of other companies that follow the NAREIT definition of FFO and report these figures on that basis. The Company believes FFO is useful to investors as a supplemental gauge of our operating and cash-generating results. FFO is a non-GAAP measure that is reconciled to its most comparable GAAP measure, net income/loss available to common stockholders. Normalized Funds From Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders ("NFFO") Normalized FFO makes certain adjustments to FFO, which are either not likely to occur on a regular basis or are otherwise not representative of the Company's ongoing operating performance. For example, since the Company is acquiring properties on a regular basis, it incurred substantial costs related to such acquisitions, which are required under GAAP to be recognized as expenses when they are incurred. The Company adds back any such acquisition and pursuit costs, including costs incurred in connection with obtaining short term debt financing for acquisitions and beginning January 1, 2016, amortization of loan coordination fees to FFO in its calculation of NFFO since such costs are not representative of our fund generating results on an ongoing basis. The Company also adds back any costs incurred related to the negotiations of extensions of our management agreement with our Manager, realized losses on debt extinguishment and any non-cash dividends in this calculation. NFFO figures reported by us may not be comparable to those NFFO figures reported by other companies. We utilize NFFO as a measure of the operating performance of our portfolio of real estate assets. We believe NFFO is useful to investors as a supplemental gauge of our operating performance and is useful in comparing our operating performance with other real estate companies that are not as involved in ongoing acquisition activities. NFFO is a non-GAAP measure that is reconciled to its most comparable GAAP measure, net income/loss available to common stockholders. Adjusted Funds From Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders ("AFFO") AFFO makes further adjustments to NFFO results in order to arrive at a more refined measure of operating and financial performance. There is no industry standard definition of AFFO and practice is divergent across the industry. The Company calculates AFFO as: NFFO, plus: non-cash equity compensation to directors and executives; amortization of loan closing costs, excluding costs incurred in connection with obtaining short term financing related to acquisitions; depreciation and amortization of non-real estate assets; net loan fees received; and deferred interest income received; less: non-cash loan interest income; cash paid for pursuit costs on abandoned acquisitions; cash paid for loan closing costs; amortization of acquired real estate intangible liabilities; and normally-recurring capital expenditures and capitalized retail direct leasing costs. AFFO figures reported by us may not be comparable to those AFFO figures reported by other companies. We utilize AFFO as another measure of the operating performance of our portfolio of real estate assets. We believe AFFO is useful to investors as a supplemental gauge of our operating performance and is useful in comparing our operating performance with other real estate companies. AFFO is a non-GAAP measure that is reconciled to its most comparable GAAP measure, net income/loss available to common stockholders. Same Store Net Operating Income The Company uses same store net operating income as an operational metric for properties the Company has owned for at least 15 full months, enabling comparisons of those properties' operating results between the current reporting period and the prior year comparative period. The Company defines net operating income as rental and other property revenues, less total property and maintenance expenses, property management fees, real estate taxes, general and administrative expenses, and property insurance. The Company believes that net operating income is an important supplemental measure of operating performance for a REIT's operating real estate because it provides a measure of the core operations, rather than factoring in depreciation and amortization, financing costs, acquisition costs, and other corporate expenses. Net operating income is a widely utilized measure of comparative operating performance in the REIT industry, but is not a substitute for its closest GAAP-compliant measure, net income/loss. About Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. is a Maryland corporation formed primarily to acquire and operate multifamily properties in select targeted markets throughout the United States. As part of our business strategy, we may enter into forward purchase contracts or purchase options for to-be-built multifamily communities and we may make real estate related loans, provide deposit arrangements, or provide performance assurances, as may be necessary or appropriate, in connection with the development of multifamily communities and other properties. As a secondary strategy, we may acquire or originate senior mortgage loans, subordinate loans or mezzanine debt secured by interests in multifamily properties, membership or partnership interests in multifamily properties and other multifamily related assets and invest not more than 20% of our assets in other real estate related investments such as grocery-anchored shopping centers, senior mortgage loans, subordinate loans or mezzanine debt secured by interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers, membership or partnership interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers and other grocery-anchored shopping center related assets as determined by our manager as appropriate for us. At March 31, 2016, the Company was the approximate 96.3% owner of Preferred Apartment Communities Operating Partnership, L.P., or the Operating Partnership. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with its tax year ended December 31, 2011. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As a general matter, forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, guidance, goals, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expects," "should," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," "projects," "intends," "believes," "goals," "outlook" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release and in our Supplemental Financial Data are based upon our historical performance, current plans, estimates, expectations and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. The inclusion of this forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: our business and investment strategy; our projected operating results; our guidance and goals; estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future; availability of qualified personnel; local and national market conditions and trends in our industry; demand for and lease-up of apartment homes, supply of competitive housing product, and other economic conditions; availability of debt and/or equity financing and availability on favorable terms; changes in our asset values; our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and economic trends and economic recoveries. Additional discussions of risks, uncertainties and certain other important information appear in our publicly available filings made and to be made with the SEC, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, which we intend to file later this month, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 14, 2016, all under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." All information in this release is as of May 2, 2016. The Company does not undertake a duty to update forward-looking statements, including its projected operating results. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company may, in its discretion, provide information in future public announcements regarding its outlook that may be of interest to the investment community. Additional Information The SEC has declared effective the registration statement (including prospectus) filed by the Company for each of the offerings to which this communication may relate. Before you invest, you should read the final prospectus, and any prospectus supplements, forming a part of the registration statement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering to which this communication may relate. In particular, you should carefully read the risk factors described in the final prospectus and in any related prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in the final prospectus and any related prospectus supplement to which this communication may relate. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Company or its dealer manager, International Assets Advisory, LLC, with respect to the Follow-On Offering, or its sales agent, MLV & Co. LLC, with respect to the ATM Offering, will arrange to send you a prospectus if you request it by calling Leonard A. Silverstein at (770) 818-4100, 3284 Northside Parkway NW, Suite 150, Atlanta, Georgia 30327. The final prospectus for the Follow-On Offering, dated October 11, 2013, can be accessed through the following link: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481832/000148183213000128/a424b3prospectus900m.htm The final prospectus and prospectus supplement for the ATM Offering, dated July 19, 2013 and February 28, 2014, respectively, can be accessed through the following link: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481832/000148183214000015/prospectussupplementatm-20.htm Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151105/284364LOGO SOURCE Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. ODESSA, Texas, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Courtyards Assisted Living and Memory Care is located at 201 Parks Village Drive. The building has 40 Assisted Living Units, and 30 Private Memory Care Units. The Courtyards amenities include a library, movie theater, bistro, and much more. About Prevarian Senior Living, LP Prevarian Senior Living, LP is a national real estate development and investment firm dedicated to the creation of outstanding communities that provide a safe, comfortable living environment for seniors to live and interact with their family and friends. Prevarian currently owns and operates assisted living communities in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Arizona. Additional information can be found at www.prevarian.com. Civitas Senior Living will be the management company for The Courtyards Assisted Living and Memory Care under the direction of Wayne and Misti Powell. Together this management team has more than 30 years of experience operating senior living communities in Texas. At The Courtyards, the goal is to create the opportunity for seniors to enjoy life in a comfortable and relaxing environment, customized just for them. "Civitas is excited to become a member of the Odessa community. I feel our company provides a high quality of service that comes from a Texas company that is passionate about senior living," says Wayne Powell, President of Civitas Senior Living. About Civitas Senior Living Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Civitas Senior Living specializes in development, acquisitions, operational management, and consulting for senior housing properties, including assisted living, memory care, and independent living. To learn more about the Courtyards contact 817-386-8888. www.CourtyardsOdessa.com www.CivitasSeniorLiving.com Contact: Andrea Owen, Director of Advertising [email protected] 817-386-8888 SOURCE Civitas Senior Living Related Links http://www.CivitasSeniorLiving.com SAN JOSE, Calif., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ProTrials Research, Inc., a leader in the clinical research organization (CRO) industry, announced today that it is celebrating 20 years of clinical research excellence. Launched in 1996 by industry veterans Jodi Andrews and Inger Arum, ProTrials is a multi-million dollar global organization dedicated to improving the quality of clinical research. The company's focus is to provide pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies the ability to move a new drug or device from conception to regulatory approval. With a 95 percent repeat customer base, ProTrials maintains a reputation for excellence and was recognized by CenterWatch as one of the fastest growing, quality-focused, specialty CROs in North America. "When we began in 1996, our vision was simple and straightforward: to provide sponsors a team of highly experienced, dedicated and detail-oriented clinical research professionals," said Jodi Andrews, Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "Over the last two decades, we're proud to say that while we've grown our clinical research offerings and expanded into new geographic territories, we've remained steadfast in our original vision and continue to provide top-notch services to the industry." To commemorate their anniversary, the company is launching Twenty for Twenty: ProTrials Celebrates Two Decades of Clinical Research Excellence. The storytelling initiative will profile a company milestone that occurred each year over the last 20 years. Beginning today, profiles will be featured each week on the company's LinkedIn and Facebook pages. "Through all of our endeavors, we strive to offer the highest level of global clinical research services that demonstrate professionalism, experience, quality and integrity, while ensuring career growth and job stability for our employees," said Inger Arum, Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "Our repeat business and high employee retention are the reasons why we experience longevity and success: sponsors keep coming back because of our commitment to excellent service and our employees stay because they believe in our vision. The Twenty for Twenty initiative gives us an opportunity to tell the story of how ProTrials has evolved, while celebrating the hard work that has made our ongoing success a reality." In the 20 years since its launch, ProTrials has gone on to receive numerous accolades and industry awards. The company has been included among the top 2,500 companies identified by Inc. magazine's Inc. 5000, a highly selective list of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. For several years, the Silicon Valley Business Journal designated ProTrials one of the top 50 women-owned businesses in the Silicon Valley. Additionally, the company was awarded top honors in the 5th annual StevieAwards for Women in Business. Since its inception, Andrews, Arum and their team of experts have grown ProTrials into an esteemed organization, servicing sponsors worldwide. In addition to maintaining excellence in its clinical research offerings, the company is currently growing its capabilities in data management and biometrics through key partnerships, while continuing to expand globally. To learn more about the suite of clinical research services offered by ProTrials, please visit www.protrials.com or join the conversation on Facebook or LinkedIn. About ProTrials Research, Inc. Founded in 1996, ProTrials Research, Inc. is a clinical research organization (CRO) headquartered in San Jose, CA, with clinical operations personnel located throughout North America and worldwide. The company works with sponsors in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, providing high quality study management, site monitoring, project management and associated clinical operations services. ProTrials Global Limited, the company's UK-based subsidiary, supports European-based clinical activities. ProTrials also has international partners that offer local support in countries throughout Asia, Latin America and Australia. For more information or to discuss your clinical research needs, please visit www.protrials.com or call 650. 864.9195. Press Contact: Wendy Powers ProTrials Research, Inc. 650.864.9195 Email SOURCE ProTrials Research, Inc. Related Links http://www.protrials.com Mr. Johnston has more than 25 years' experience in the insurance industry in North America, and has held a range of senior business and operational roles since joining American International Group Inc. (AIG) in 1990. From 2011 to November 2015 Mr. Johnson served as President of AIG Casualty in the Americas, with responsibility for all U.S., Canada, Bermuda and London-based U.S. Casualty underwriters. John Neal, Group Chief Executive Officer said of the appointment: "I am delighted to welcome Russ to QBE, bringing his depth of industry experience at some of the most global insurers to build on the firm foundations established by Dave." Mr. Neal added: "Since joining QBE in 2013, Dave has done a remarkable job of transforming and refocusing QBE's North American business, posting three consecutive years of performance improvement. Our business is now built on a sound platform for profitable growth as a specialist insurer and reinsurer. I am pleased we will continue to have access to Dave's energy, skills and enthusiasm as we grow our global business." Mr. Johnston will be based in New York. About QBE QBE North America is part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, one of the largest insurers and reinsurers worldwide. QBE NA reported Gross Written Premiums in 2015 of $4.6 billion. QBE Insurance Group's 2015 results can be found at www.qbena.com. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 43 countries around the globe, with a presence in every key insurance market. The North America division, headquartered in New York, conducts business through its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. QBE insurance companies are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and "A+" by Standard & Poor's. Additional information can be found at www.qbena.com, or follow QBE North America on Twitter. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362609 SOURCE QBE North America Related Links http://www.qbena.com LOS ANGELES, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Read Conmigo, the national award-winning bilingual literacy program sponsored by Infinity Auto Insurance, will celebrate its 3rd Annual Bilingual Literacy Month this May with bi-coastal kick-off events and specially planned activities nationwide all month long. With studies showing that reading is key to a young student's academic success1, Bilingual Literacy Month looks to promote the educational, social and financial benefits of reading in two languages while providing free books to parents at events to create a lifelong love of reading with their children. "Read Conmigo has set out to bridge the resource gap for Hispanic parents by making bilingual storybooks and online resources available to them anytime," said James Gober, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation, the parent company of Infinity Auto Insurance. "During Bilingual Literacy Month and beyond, we will encourage families to incorporate daily reading time into their activities as a means of investing in their kids' long-term educational success." In Los Angeles, Read Conmigo will kick-off the Bilingual Literacy Month festivities alongside the Consulate General of Mexico during its "Dia de los Ninos" (Children's Day) festivities attended by over 320 children, while in Miami, the program will be celebrating with the premiere of the documentary Read Conmigo: A Journey to Bilingual America, which highlights the educational advantages of mastering bilingualism. Other scheduled Bilingual Literacy Month activities include: Saturday, April 30 th & Sunday, May 1 st 2016 San Diego Kids Expo and Fair, Del Mar Fairgrounds & 2016 San Diego Kids Expo and Fair, Del Mar Fairgrounds Saturday, May 7 th Participation at the Discovery Cube Los Angeles for the closing weekend of its bilingual and interactive exhibit Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites Bringing full circle the importance of bilingual literacy in a child's life, Read Conmigo is also launching its search for exemplary bilingual teachers through the creation of the "Bilingual Educator of the Year" Award. Parents, students and school administrators are encouraged to recognize the work and dedication of their favorite bilingual teacher by nominating them for this special acknowledgment and a cash prize for both the winning educators and their nominators. To nominate and vote for an educator: Go to the Read Conmigo Facebook Page Last day to nominate and vote for an educator is May 30, 2016 On May 31st, three winners will be selected: The educator with the most votes The educator with the second most votes The educator chosen by a blue ribbon panel of judges Educators will receive a $200 prize and a Read Conmigo Book Bundle and their nominators will receive a $50 prize and a Read Conmigo Book Bundle. The official rules are available on the Bilingual Educator Contest tab of the Read Conmigo Facebook page. Read Conmigo and Bilingual Literacy Month is supported by the Council of Mexican Federations (COFEM), Discovery Cube Los Angeles, LeaLA, parenting & multiculturalism author Maritere Rodriguez Bellas, children's authors Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein of Lil' Libros, and the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, among others. For more information on Bilingual Literacy Month visit www.ReadConmigo.org or follow Read Conmigo on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Instagram. About Read Conmigo Infinity Auto Insurance is driven to serve others. Read Conmigo represents one of Infinity's largest investments in the community. By providing parents with bilingual storybooks, apps, and online resources, Read Conmigo bridges the gap for many Hispanic parents who hesitate to read to their children in English or Spanish due to language barriers. The program has already distributed more than 1,000,000 free books to classrooms and Hispanic families, and receives support from more than 11,000 educators. The program also creates opportunities for new Hispanic authors and illustrators. For more information: www.ReadConmigo.org 1 NEA, http://bit.ly/1IEA3KX, 9/27/13 SOURCE Read Conmigo Related Links http://www.ReadConmigo.org DENVER, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Rose Community Foundation announced Innovate for Good 2016, a philanthropic challenge focused on making the Greater Denver community a better place to live. And who better to answer this year's Innovate for Good question -- What idea could you bring to life to empower youth to make the community better? -- with fresh perspective and insight, than local youth. Beginning today through May 31, youth (ages 13-18), as well as adults working as equal partners with youth, can submit their ideas through an online platform that will go live, today at 8:00 a.m. MDT, here: rcfdenver.org/innovateforgood. Submissions require written responses, as well as a 60-second video. Innovate for Good 2016 will award up to $250,000 in grants and support to implement the winning ideas. All projects must be: Innovative. A creative or entrepreneurial project that is specific and focused enough to be easily explained and understood, and ambitious enough to be ground breaking and inspire a community. A creative or entrepreneurial project that is specific and focused enough to be easily explained and understood, and ambitious enough to be ground breaking and inspire a community. Empowering. The project empowers youth as community leaders in real and meaningful ways. They recognize their strengths and abilities and act on them to "do good" in the community. The project empowers youth as community leaders in real and meaningful ways. They recognize their strengths and abilities and act on them to "do good" in the community. Poised for Impact. Ready to make a positive difference within one year. Projects should make a difference in the community, not just for the youth involved. Ready to make a positive difference within one year. Projects should make a difference in the community, not just for the youth involved. Just Getting Started. Currently in idea, planning, or pilot stage. We applaud projects that are already up and running, but they should not apply to Innovate for Good. Currently in idea, planning, or pilot stage. We applaud projects that are already up and running, but they should not apply to Innovate for Good. Denver-Based and Denver Serving. Designed, implemented and serving a community within Adams , Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield , Denver , Douglas or Jefferson counties. Designed, implemented and serving a community within , Arapahoe, Boulder, , , Douglas or counties. Consistent with Rose Community Foundation's Mission, Vision and Anti-Discrimination Statement. "More than ever, as the Greater Denver community continues to grow, empowering youth to inspire change can have great benefits for the next generation," says Lisa Robinson, Rose Community Foundation trustee and chair of the Innovate for Good Committee. "They have the energy, talent and potential to share innovative ideas, and we felt it was time to tap directly into their experiences and perspective." The submission deadline is May 31. Following a review process with more than 200 community members, semi-finalists will be announced in July; finalists announced in August; and winners selected and celebrated in September. Please visit rcfdenver.org/innovateforgood for more information, or email Sarah Indyk, director of special projects, at [email protected] , with questions. "We believe Denver's youth can do great things," Robinson continues. "And, through the Innovate for Good project, we are thrilled to give them a voice and the resources to help make our community even better." About Rose Community Foundation Rose Community Foundation uses leadership, grant making and donor engagement to invest in strategic and innovative solutions to enduring problems and emerging issues. The Foundation has granted more than $240 million, since it was founded in 1995. To learn more, please visit rcfdenver.org . SOURCE Rose Community Foundation Related Links http://rcfdenver.org BLOOMINGTON, Minn., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Savigent Software, Inc., a leading provider of event-driven manufacturing operations management software, and Factora, a manufacturing solutions consulting firm, announced that they have formalized a strategic partnership. Factora is now a Savigent Authorized Partner providing solutions consulting, architectural and design services, and professional services on implementation and support of the Savigent technology. As a Savigent Authorized Partner, Factora will provide manufacturers with top-to-bottom Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) consultation, planning, design and implementation using Savigent's suite of products. This work includes identifying areas for improvement, designing solutions to increase quality and efficiency and implementing those solutions to optimize manufacturing operations. "We are excited by the opportunity this new partnership represents," says Charles Horth, Factora CEO. "The Savigent platform allows Factora to deliver enterprise class solutions that ensure reliable, repeatable processes, lower cost of ownership and improved ROI. The timing is perfect Savigent's platform is poised to transform the MES/MOM landscape at a time when many large corporations are in the process of choosing a platform for worldwide rollout. We look forward to playing a key role in that transformation." Factora has worked with some of the world's best-known manufacturers and serves a wide range of industry verticals including consumer packed goods, discrete manufacturing, and food and beverage. The company will help to expand Savigent Software's presence in North America. "Our strategic partnership with Factora will be beneficial to Savigent Software, Factora and more importantly, to the many manufacturers we work with," says David Wicker, President and CEO of Savigent Software. "Factora's deep understanding of the manufacturing landscape, their knowledge and breadth of industry expertise, and their technical abilities to design and implement solutions will provide customers with the capability to meet the challenges and demands manufacturers face in today's operating environment. We believe that our software solutions will complement and enhance Factora's offerings to the marketplace." Both Savigent Software and Factora are sponsors of Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA) International, a community of manufacturers, producers, industry leaders and solution providers focused on improving operations management capabilities through the effective application of Information Technologies, IT-based solutions and best practices. About Factora Factora's manufacturing consultants use sophisticated software to help factories reach their potential on the journey to World Class Manufacturing. Factora's engineers and computer scientists work with Fortune 500 manufacturing companies to improve quality, efficiency and production on the plant floor. With offices in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Costa Rica, the company has delivered more than 500 projects in over 30 countries. Find out more at www.factorasolutions.com. About Savigent Founded in 1994, Savigent Software is a leading provider of event-driven manufacturing operations management software. The company has served manufacturers in a variety of industries including automotive, semiconductor, contract manufacturing, industrial, specialty chemical, food and beverage, energy, consumer packaged goods, plastics and glass, and aerospace and defense. Customers served by Savigent Software are seeking increased efficiencies, agile control of manufacturing assets, and improved process control and product quality. The company also serves OEMs and independent software vendors by providing value-added software solutions for their products. Its Savigent suite of products provides solutions for workflow automation, manufacturing intelligence and systems integration. For more information, visit www.savigent.com. SOURCE Savigent Software, Inc. Related Links http://www.savigent.com DALLAS, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Accomplished attorneys Richard A. "Dick" Sayles and Mark S. Werbner of Sayles Werbner recently notched their eighth consecutive selections to D Magazine's prestigious list of the Best Lawyers in Dallas. The Dallas honors cap a 12-month period in which the respected litigation boutique won two of the most important and precedent-setting cases in recent legal history. Sayles Werbner helped hundreds of victims of overseas terrorist attacks reach a confidential settlement with Jordan-based Arab Bank last September. The settlement followed Werbner and co-counsel winning a jury verdict a year earlier in New York federal court where Arab Bank was found liable for providing material financial support to the Palestinian militant group Hamas for terrorist attacks in Israel and the Palestinian territories, the first such verdict in U.S. history against a foreign bank. Sayles Werbner also prevailed for longtime client Commil USA LLC at the U.S. Supreme Court in one of the highest-profile patent infringement cases to reach the nation's top court in years. In 2011, the firm won a $74 million judgment for Commil against Cisco Systems Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated the judgment in a ruling that was heavily criticized for creating a new patent infringement defense that had no basis in law. The Supreme Court agreed by ruling in Commil's favor. Firm attorneys Robert Sayles and Sawyer Neely recently were named to the annual Texas Rising Stars list of the state's top young lawyers after successfully defending a client in a multimillion-dollar Deceptive Trade Practices Act case last year. Earlier this year, Robert Sayles and Shawn Long were promoted to shareholders at Sayles Werbner based on their successful track record for clients and firm leadership. Other firm attorneys earning recent professional honors include William Snyder, Mark Strachan and Darren Nicholson, who were named to the most recent Texas Super Lawyers list based on their work in business litigation and intellectual property disputes. These three, along with Sayles and Werbner, have been recognized multiple times on the annual listing the state's best attorneys. Read more about the firm's attorneys and their work here: http://www.swtriallaw.com/attorneys/. D Magazine's annual listing of the city's top attorneys is based on nominations submitted by lawyers from throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area, in addition to a review conducted by the publication's editors and a handpicked panel of local legal leaders. A complete listing of this year's honorees is available here: http://www.dmagazine.com. Sayles Werbner maintains an international reputation as a proven trial law firm in complex business litigation, intellectual property matters, life-altering personal injury cases, product safety claims and practically every type of case that requires courtroom expertise. To learn more, visit http://www.swtriallaw.com. For more information, please contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or [email protected]. SOURCE Sayles Werbner Related Links http://www.swtriallaw.com WASHINGTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the third year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching an Accelerator Growth Fund competition for accelerators and other entrepreneurial ecosystem models to compete for monetary prizes of $50,000 each, totaling $3.95 million. The application period is from May 2-June 3 and information about the application process can be found at: www.sba.gov / accelerators or www.challenge.gov . "As we celebrate National Small Business Week this week, it is only fitting that we launch our third annual Accelerator Growth Fund competition to empower more of America's small businesses," said Mark Walsh, Associate Administrator for the Office of Investment and Innovation. "Accelerators provide valuable resources to potential startups: a physical infrastructure to work in their infancy, mentoring, business-plan assistance, networking, opportunities to obtain venture capital, and introductions to potential customers, partners and suppliersall critical elements to ensuring that small businesses flourish and succeed. Last year's competition was so successful, we've added more federal partners including our very own Office of Native American Affairs and Office of Veterans Business Development to help bring more Native-American-owned, veteran-owned, women-owned and minority-owned small businesses into the fold." New to this year's competition, SBA is partnering with several other federal agencies -- National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Education (DoED) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) -- to provide additional prizes to accelerators that assist entrepreneurs with submitting proposals for the Small Business Innovation (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. SBA's Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) is also partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank to provide prizes to U.S. accelerators that assist the African descendant start-up community in Latin America and the Caribbean. Special consideration will be given to these accelerator models which support women-owned or minority-owned small businesses. Similar to last year's competition, several panels containing expert judges from the private and public sector with collective experience in early stage investing, entrepreneurship, academia, start-ups and economic development will select the winners. The competition includes accelerators, incubators, co-working startup communities, shared tinker-spaces or other models. The panel will give particular attention to applicants that fill geographic gaps in the accelerator and entrepreneurial ecosystem space. Through this competition, the SBA is looking to support the development of accelerators and their support of startups in parts of the country where there are fewer conventional sources of access to capital (i.e., venture capital and other investors). In addition, the SBA is also seeking accelerators headed by women and those who support them or other underrepresented groups, 44% percent of last year's accelerator winners were run by women and 41% percent were classified as underrepresented groups. Special consideration will be given to manufacturing accelerator models and models which support the White House Power Initiative during this year's competition, because they are critical to job growth and strengthening the nation's economy. For more information on last year's competition, please read the Report to the Congress of the United States (https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/2014_Report.pdf) on Q1 metrics and results from our first batch of winners:. Please click here for the Accelerator Growth Fact Sheet and specifics on how to apply and the timeline for 2016's competition. For questions or comments, please contact [email protected]. National Small Business Week is an annual event organized by SBA to recognize the achievements of the top small businesses in the nation. Since 1963, the president of the United States has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. This year National Small Business Week will be recognized from May 1-7 with national events planned in Washington, D.C., New York, Denver, Phoenix, Oakland and San Jose, Calif. Events throughout the week will be live-streamed on SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Make sure to check in during the event for live social media engagement, using the hashtag #DreamSmallBiz. For more information on the national events please visit: www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek. Contacts: Tiffani S. Clements (202) 401-0035 Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news Release Number: 16-43 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/DC65875LOGO SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration Related Links http://www.sba.gov NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIIQ) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty by its Board of Directors. To obtain additional information, GO TO: http://zlk.9nl.com/health-insurance-hiiq or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Eduard Korsinsky, Esq. 30 Broad Street - 24th Floor New York, NY 10004 Tel: (212) 363-7500 Toll Free: (877) 363-5972 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120409/MM84375LOGO SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Related Links http://www.zlk.com Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, and the United States Air Force (USAF) hosted a five-day meeting in April to gather stakeholders and key collaborators from government and industry for an in-depth review that demonstrated that the overall design meets the systems requirements setting the stage for the next phase of the program. Review participants included members of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, both the USAF acquisition team and representatives of the USAF operational combat rescue community, as well as the Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin industry team and several other key suppliers. "The successful Air Vehicle PDR confirms the program is on the right track and marks a significant step for the CRH program," said Tim Healy, Sikorsky, CRH Program Director. "Sikorsky and the USAF are well aligned in this collaboration effort and this successful PDR moves us closer to bringing this vital aircraft to the warfighter. Specifically, I am very proud of our team. They are not only operating to an accelerated schedule, but the preliminary design that we have achieved here has well prepared us for detailed aircraft design and subsequent production. Our Training team is also executing extremely well and will be conducting the PDR for the Training System three months earlier than originally scheduled. This will further reduce our risk to achieving the USAF accelerated schedule for CRH and delivering this critical capability to the AF rescue crews faster. We are keenly aware that they are in combat every day, and that every day we can accelerate getting the HH-60W into their hands reduces the risks that they face on our nation's behalf." The U.S. Air Force awarded Sikorsky the Combat Rescue Helicopter contract in June 2014. The $1.2 billion Engineering Manufacturing & Development (EMD) contract includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue helicopter and mission systems, including delivery of four HH-60W helicopters, as well as six aircrew and maintenance training systems. The training suite includes devices that span full motion simulators and discrete aircraft systems used for training, such as hoist and landing gear. The USAF Program of Record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's rapidly aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services. The HH-60W is an advanced variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter design and features increased internal fuel capability, allowing for greater range, and an increase in cabin space. The CRH aircraft will feature GE T700-701D engines, composite wide-cord main rotor blades and fatigue and corrosion-resistant machined aero-structures to sustain maneuverability at high density altitudes. The design includes an advanced Tactical Mission Kit integrating multiple sensors, data links, defensive systems, and other sources of intelligence information for use by combat rescue aircrews. In 2015, the CRH program conducted the Training System Requirements Review (SRR) and System Functional Review (SFR) as well as the Air Vehicle SFR and SRR. J. David Schairbaum, USAF, System Program Manager, CRH, said, "Achieving the Air Vehicle PDR milestone is pivotal for our program. Successful execution of the CRH program is essential to meet the continued demanding personnel recovery mission in today's challenging operational environment. We are working closely with Sikorsky to assure this newly designed aircraft is delivered to the warfighter on schedule and within cost." Lockheed Martin will outfit the aircraft with its mission planning system, defensive systems, data links, mission computers, adverse weather sensors and system integration of all CRH-unique subsystems. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362229 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141118/159313LOGO SOURCE Lockheed Martin Related Links http://www.lockheedmartin.com SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on the expertise of almost three decades serving tier 1 global banks with over 8,000 consultants worldwide, Stefanini a $1B global IT provider with locations in 39 countries is announcing the availability of its Banking and Financial Services for the North American market. Banking & Financial Services are responsible for 33% of Stefanini's global revenue. In Brazil, where Stefanini is headquartered, Stefanini services 20 of the largest banks in the country. Santander, Bradesco, Itau, Citigroup, and HSBC are some examples. Stefanini will leverage this experience and bring best practices to the US market. To support its expansion, Stefanini is also announcing David Castillo as Practice Leader for Stefanini Banking Solutions for North America. With 22 years of experience, Mr. Castillo will leverage Stefanini's Banking and Financial services domain, technical expertise, and best practices to deliver solutions to the North American market. Stefanini has heavily invested in the banking sector with more domain-centric resources out of the US in the financial service hubs such as New York City and Chicago. The company has established a Banking Applications Competency Center out of the NA region. "Our local demand has started to significantly ramp up with many of our US clients a combination of global tier 1 and Regional banks, financial institutions, and subsidiaries in the US market," explained Rakesh Chitradurga, Vice President of Applications and Software Development for Stefanini North America. The solutions are designed to address issues concerning development of new business models and defining new business architecture. "We rationalize technology, upgrade systems, and automate processes with a goal to assist any size of bank in expanding its customer base. We offer better services and provide enhanced customer experience," affirmed Mr. Chitradurga. Stefanini solutions are addressed to retail banking, wealth management, capital markets, residential and commercial lending, and regulatory compliance. Stefanini provides a complete end-to-end banking solutions offer, tailored to any size of bank. The portfolio of solutions includes Stefanini's own core banking platform, end-to-end support for mobile banking, an anti-money laundering solution, and banking analytics. Learn more about Stefanini Banking Solutions, tailored to any size of bank: https://stefanini.com/en/2016/04/8784/ SOURCE Stefanini Related Links https://stefanini.com Stryker re-engineered and restyled its Signature Portfolio components in collaboration with surgeons to fulfill their criteria for power, function and ergonomics. The Signature Portfolio of high speed drills includes electric motors, pneumatic motors and over 90 attachments and cutting accessories, which contribute to optimal surgeon customization. "The Signature Portfolio gives surgeons unsurpassed choice, customization and flexibility so the drill becomes an extension of their own signature style," said Lisa Kloes, Senior Director of Marketing and Medical Education, Stryker Neuro, Spine, ENT and Navigation. In addition to the Signature Portfolio's 100 mix-and-match components, surgeons can further customize the tactile feel, response and performance of PiDrive electric drills through Stryker I.D. Touch software on the CORE Console power unit. The console saves unlimited user profiles so surgeons can quickly retrieve their personal style setting, providing the confidence that comes from having a consistent drill feel and performance. "A surgeon's 'touch' is one of their greatest assets, and our I.D. Touch software maximizes this by allowing surgeons to adjust torque from 0-100 percent to customize how the electric drill feels and responds when pressure is applied, from low to high motor sensitivity," explains Jim Marucci, VP and General Manager of Stryker Neuro, Spine, ENT and Navigation. "Redefining drill performance to their liking, in as many ways as possible, is what the Signature Portfolio is all about." In addition to torque/motor sensitivity, other customizable features of the Signature Portfolio include speed, acceleration and breaking rates, irrigation flow, hand switches, foot pedals and new multi-notch telescoping cutting accessories. Telescoping capability optimizes cost and inventory management by providing up to five choices (up to 10mm) in reach and shaft exposure in just one cutting tool. Stryker's Elite Series cutting accessories are also compatible with Signature Portfolio components, providing an additional 200 telescoping instruments for use and customization. To see the complete Signature Portfolio, visit AANS booth 3611 for a hands-on demonstration at Stryker's in-booth cutting station. Additional Signature Portfolio information is available by emailing [email protected]. About Stryker Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. The company offers a diverse array of innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. Stryker is active in more than 100 countries around the world. Please contact us for more information at www.stryker.com. MEDIA CONTACTS: Jennifer Lentner Jenny Braga Stryker Instruments Stryker Corporation 269 389 3481 269 389 6493 [email protected] [email protected] 9100-004-153 Rev None Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140106/PH40722LOGO Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160501/362093 SOURCE Stryker Related Links http://www.stryker.com WASHINGTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DC's acclaimed Union Market welcomes the 5th Annual Sunday Supper. On June 5th, Washington's culinary stars and special guests will be taking it to the streets for an exceptional evening of food and music to benefit the James Beard Foundation and the Executive Education Program for Women in Culinary Leadership. Beginning at 4:30pm, guests gather outside Dock 5 for a reception of savory bites from Women Chefs & Restaurateurs' members and renowned chefs, Mikala Brennan of Hula Girl, Ruth Gresser of Pizzeria Paradiso and Veloce, Jamie Leeds of Hanks Oyster Bar, Janis McLean of Seasons Culinary Services, Christianne Ricchi of i Ricchi, and Suzanne Simon and Bettina Stern of Chaia. Cocktails are followed by a sit-down family-style meal crafted by a lineup of stellar chefs, featuring Karen Akunowicz of Myers & Chang in Boston and a 2016 nominee for the James Beard Foundation Awards, Amy Brandwein of Centrolina, Jennifer Carroll of Requin, New York City-based chef and author Elizabeth Falkner, Marjorie Meek-Bradley of Ripple, Roofers Union and the upcoming Smoked & Stacked, and Nick Stefanelli of Masseria. James Beard Foundation Board Chair, Award-winning pastry chef and Sunday Supper Chef Chair Emily Luchetti of Big Night Restaurant Group in San Francisco leads the dessert showcase along with DC rising stars Camila Arango and Tom Wellings of Bluebird Bakery, Christina Marie Chambers of Black Pearl Tarts and Union Market's own Violeta Edelman and Robb Duncan of Dolcezza. Throughout the evening guests will be able to sip on a selection of cocktails, wines and beers, including Tears of Llorona and t1 tequilas from master distiller German Gonzalez with a cocktail crafted by Gina Chersevani of Buffalo & Bergen. The best drinks from the region will be on offer from Caboose Brewing Company, Cotton & Reed, Early Mountain Vineyards and select Virginia Wines. This year's Supper is made extra special through the support of culinary artisans such as 'Chups, Gordy's Pickles, Hot Bread Kitchen, Joyce Farms, Manchester Farms, and Videri Chocolates. This year's Supper Jubilee will feature an amazing lineup of live music from Marc Silver & The Stone Throwers, Cottonwood Line & Marc Anderson and Virginia's own bluegrass sensation Jackass Flats. Sunday Supper at Union Market is a major fundraising effort for the Executive Education Program for Women in the Culinary Industry, a collaboration of the James Beard Foundation and EDENSthe developer of Union Market and one of the nation's premier retail real estate companiesto provide important scholarships to identify, cultivate and advance the next generation of business leaders. "Having women in executive leadership roles and women in equity positions, is not just a social good, it's good for business," explains Jodie W. McLean, CEO of EDENS and member of the James Beard Foundation's National Advisory Board. This intensive leadership course will provide the tools, techniques and financial training to support women entrepreneurs in food and beverage. With a strikingly small percentage of culinary leadership positions in America held by women, the Executive Education Program is aimed at experienced female chefs and craftspeople that aspire to top jobs and ownership of restaurants or culinary business. Joining McLean at Sunday Supper will be James Beard Foundation President Susan Ungaro and Executive Vice President Mitchell Davis along with a host committee of culinary greats and avid supporters of women in the culinary industry, including chef Ris Lacoste and author Joan Nathan. "Three years ago we launched our JBF Women In Culinary Leadership mentoring program for junior chefs. Thanks to Jodie McLean's leadership, and WICL's success, we are delighted to take this important initiative to the executive chef level," says Ungaro. TICKETS FOR SUNDAY SUPPER are $250 per person ($200 for James Beard Foundation members). Proceeds benefit the James Beard Foundation and the Executive Education Program: $150 of the ticket price is tax deductible, $125 is tax deductible for the Member ticket. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit www.unionmarketdc.com/sunday-supper. Sunday Supper is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including Whole Foods, CBRE, Securitas, Bohler, rand* construction, MV+A Architects, and TEEL Construction. ABOUT THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation celebrates, nurtures, and honors America's diverse culinary heritage through programs that educate and inspire. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, the late James Beard was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts, instilling in them the value of wholesome, healthful, and delicious food. Today JBF continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City's Greenwich Village as a "performance space" for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit jamesbeard.org. ABOUT UNION MARKET Union Market, located a short walk from the NoMa/Gallaudet metro, is a 45-acre district that is planned for over 8 MSF of development. EDENS has a clear vision to redevelop the district into one of DC's most vibrant, diverse and thriving neighborhoodsa living laboratory for a sustainable urban community. Since opening in September 2012, The Market at Union Market, the acclaimed food market with over 40 local artisans, now averages 15,000 visitors per weekend and has hosted over 400 events. Union Market is a place where businesses scale and grow where neighbors, students, DC transplants, artists and tourists come to find a community they can shape and call their own. For more information about Union Market, please visit www.unionmarketdc.com. ABOUT EDENS EDENS develops, owns and operates community shopping centers in primary markets across the country. Focusing on innovative development and redevelopment together with key acquisitions in urban areas, the company has built an institutional-quality portfolio of 136 retail centers. EDENS has regional headquarters in Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Houston and Columbia, SC. For additional information about the company and its retail real estate portfolio, please visit www.edens.com. SOURCE EDENS Related Links http://www.edens.com ATLANTA, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- An increasing number of women across America comprise the 'sandwich generation' those who are both raising children and caring for aging parents. This dual-caretaker role can be immensely rewarding, but also a source of ongoing financial stress. This Mother's Day, SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI) is offering tips to help women address these financial challenges so they can focus on the moments that matter with their loved ones. Don't cut back on smart spending. Spending less isn't always the answer. Instead, make investments that save you money in the long run. Consider meeting with an advisor to determine whether a parent's life insurance policy or retirement savings are adequate. Make sure you are part of that conversation by discussing your own insurance needs, such as long-term care, to better position yourself and your family for the future. The majority of women feel actively involved in the management of their household finances, but many don't truly own the financial planning conversation until a major life event requires them to do so. Identify your financial stress triggers. Financial stress can be brought on by specific events like receiving an unexpected bill or discussing college tuition costs. One way to counter these stressors is by automating your saving. Make savings automatic by diverting a percentage of your earnings into a savings account for unexpected expenses. Also consider setting your 401(k) or 529 plan contributions to automatically increase by one or two percent each year. These simple steps not only get you on track toward your saving goals, but also can help counter anxious feelings next time you're reminded of future expenses. Open a dialogue with your parents about money. If you are the primary caretaker of an aging parent, your financial situation is likely intertwined with theirs. Should they sell assets to help with costs associated with their care, or should they leave them as an inheritance? Do they have a life insurance policy that will cover funeral costs? Parents don't want to be a burden, and talking about these issues could help prevent costs to you and anxiety for them. Create a Caregiving Account. Open a spending account dedicated to your caregiving expenses. Not only does keeping your caregiving costs separate from your personal spending help you keep your budget on track, it also may help you during tax time. Certain caregiving expenses are tax deductible and a dedicated account can help you stay organized. If your bank offers online bill pay, you can also automate payment of your caregiving bills to help cross items off your to-do list. Make taking care of yourself a top priority. Taking time to focus on yourself now including finding ways to alleviate stress and stay healthy will likely pay financial dividends in the future. Giving yourself a physically fit retirement can reduce your medical expenses and ease the burden on your children as well. "We recognize the heroic efforts of women who are raising children and caring for aging parents," said Leah Wehinger, head of the wealth services group at SunTrust Bank. "The responsibilities that come with this role can be both gratifying and overwhelming. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, we are committed to helping women take purposeful steps toward providing for their loved ones as they achieve their personal financial goals." Financial stress is one of the largest concerns Americans face. SunTrust is leading the onUp movement to help people move from financial stress to confidence. Visit onUp.com to take the first step toward financial confidence and gain access to a variety of budgeting solutions, saving tips, retirement investing strategies and more. SunTrust also shares financial tips on Facebook and Twitter. Visit twitter.com/suntrust and facebook.com/suntrust. To find an advisor near you, visit SunTrust.com. About SunTrust Banks, Inc. SunTrust Banks, Inc. is a purpose-driven company dedicated to Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being for the people, businesses and communities it serves. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company has three business segments: Consumer Banking and Private Wealth Management, Wholesale Banking, and Mortgage. Its flagship subsidiary, SunTrust Bank, operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, along with 24-hour digital access. Certain business lines serve consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients nationally. As of March 31, 2016, SunTrust had total assets of $194 billion and total deposits of $152 billion. The company provides deposit, credit, trust, investment, mortgage, asset management, securities brokerage, and capital market services. SunTrust leads onUp, a national movement inspiring Americans to build financial confidence. Join the movement at onUp.com. SOURCE SunTrust Banks, Inc. Related Links http://www.suntrust.com BOSTON, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GAI News, in collaboration with HighQuest Consulting, just released a free, 26-page report: Global Ag & Food Investment in 2015: A Look at the Deals, the Trends, and What's to Come. With examination of 34 new agri-food funds and over 300 completed deals, accounting for $116.9 billion in transactions, the report showcases a year of possibility born from a new attitude of boldness in the agribusiness investment community. "Last year held surprises, opportunities, and disappointments for the agriculture asset class, all of them demonstrating the fact that ag commerce represents a significant player in the global economy," said Sarah Day Levesque, editor-in-chief of GAI News and lead author of the report. "Venture capitalists, agtech firms, the emerging cannabis sector, and market consolidation all contributed to disruption in this emerging investment sector, while global capital flow remained strong with new regional leaders stepping up, including Africa and Asia." Global Ag & Food Investment in 2015: A Look at the Deals, the Trends, and What's to Come was curated from industry news, financial transactions and influential macro-economic trends across six continents as tracked daily by Global AgInvesting and provided in daily and weekly GAI News Services. A look at some of the intelligence therein includes: Among new funds, the leading subsectors were in agtech (31 percent), agribusiness (31 percent) and cannabis (10 percent). Among the 34 new agri-food funds, venture capital deals led the increase, representing 35 percent of launches. Adding to the $116.9 billion capital flow into the sector are 120 deals of undisclosed amounts, and more than $100 billion in announcements of government intentions for future allocations to agriculture. Mergers and acquisitions in the agri-food sector were up nearly 20 percent from 2014 to 2015, accounting for $86.4 billion in 130 tracked deals. Africa saw the highest investment activity of any other continent with $3.08 billion in 2015. Read the entire report to discover the impact that the 10 closed funds in 2015 had on the sector, and to gain insight into the five trends for ag and food investment in 2016. For a downloadable copy of the report, email [email protected] Global AgInvesting, a brand of HighQuest Group, is the world's most well-attended agricultural investment conference series and leading resource for events, research and insight into the global agricultural sector. www.globalaginvesting.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361654LOGO SOURCE Global AgInvesting Related Links http://www.globalaginvesting.com LOS ANGELES and BALTIMORE, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TruAmerica Multifamily, in partnership with MSD Capital, L.P., has expanded its geographical footprint to the East Coast with the acquisition of a 1,004-unit apartment portfolio in suburban Baltimore, MD, in an off-market transaction valued at $187 million. Los Angeles-based TruAmerica, one of the most active multifamily investors in the United States, has acquired a portfolio that now totals more than 17,000 units with an aggregate value over $3 billion. To date, TruAmerica has specialized in the acquisition and repositioning of mid-tier apartment communities in the Western U.S. but the acquisition of this portfolio is the first for TruAmerica east of Colorado as it expands its value-add platform to include select East coast growth markets. The portfolio is comprised of the 158-unit Bayshore Landing in Annapolis, the 634-unit Sherwood Crossing in Elkridge, and the 212-unit Southfield in Nottingham. Each property is well-amenitized, featuring resort-style pool areas, clubhouses, fitness centers and other recreational facilities. The properties were built between 1984 and 1990. "Similar to the West Coast markets in which we invest, substantially all of the new apartment inventory being built in the greater Baltimore area is targeted for 'renters by choice,' effectively pricing out the working class," said TruAmerica CEO Robert Hart. "This was a major factor in the decision to target the Baltimore and Annapolis markets for our first East Coast investments." "MSD Capital continues to see attractive opportunities in repositioning older multi-family assets," observed Barry Sholem, head of MSD Capital's real estate group. "We are excited to partner with TruAmerica on this portfolio, and look forward to pursuing other business together." The Baltimore metro has experienced 60 consecutive months of positive year-over-year employment growth, which is expected to continue with an average of 19,000 new jobs per year over the next five years. "This puts extraordinary pressure on, and underscores the need for, affordable quality rental housing to support that growth," said Hart. TruAmerica will complete an interior renovation plan initiated by the seller that includes faux-wood flooring, granite countertops, updated cabinetry and new appliance packages. TruAmerica's business plan also calls for thoughtful upgrades to common area amenities. "Baltimore is one of the top performing economies in the Mid-Atlantic and benefits from one of the most educated resident profiles in the United States." said Greg Campbell, Senior Managing Director, Acquisitions. "As a result of these healthy, long-term job drivers, the three submarkets where the assets are located are experiencing tremendous demand from a younger population that prefers to rent rather than own." According to RealtyTrac, a national real estate information provider, Baltimore is the top market in the United States for renting to Millennials. About TruAmerica Multifamily TruAmerica Multifamily is a vertically integrated value-add multifamily investment firm based in Los Angeles. Founded in July 2013 as a joint venture between Robert Hart and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, TruAmerica has been one of the country's most active multifamily investors and manages a $5.4 billion portfolio of more than 27,000 units across prime locations throughout Northern and Southern California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Maryland. For more information on TruAmerica Multifamily, visit www.truamerica.com or call (424) 325-2750. About MSD Capital, L.P. MSD Capital, L.P. is the private investment firm that was established in 1998 to exclusively manage the capital of Michael Dell and his family. The firm utilizes a multi-disciplinary investment strategy focused on maximizing long-term capital appreciation by making investments across the globe in the equities of public and private companies, credit, real estate and other asset classes and securities. MSD Capital's team operates from the firm's offices in New York and Santa Monica. Photo(s): http://www.prlog.org/12554567 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE TruAmerica Multifamily Related Links http://www.truamerica.com BALTIMORE, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Victor R. Ambros, PhD, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Gary Ruvkun, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, have been awarded the 2016 March of Dimes and Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize in Developmental Biology. The Prize recognizes their pioneering co-discovery of an unanticipated world of the tiniest genes, microRNAs (or miRNAs), and the mechanism by which they regulate their targets. This is the 21st annual awarding of the Prize, now newly named in honor of Dr. Johnston, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado and a former Medical Director of the March of Dimes. MicroRNAs play pivotal roles in development and physiology of many organisms, including humans. There now exists a catalog of the thousands of miRNAs produced in animals and plants. Human miRNAs are implicated in heart disease, in how viruses infect our cells, in normal brain function, in the transition from totipotent stem cells to differentiated cells, and in cancer. Human therapies based on microRNA regulation are already in clinical trials for heart disease. Dr. Ambros is the Silverman Chair in Natural Sciences and Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Ruvkun is the Hans-Hermann Schoene Distinguished Investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Molecular Biology and Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. Working independently and also at times together, the two scientists identified microRNAs, the smallest genes ever discovered, and elucidated how these small pieces of genetic material influence the production of proteins from particular messenger RNAs to which they are complementary. Their finding that microRNAs switch off the production of proteins from their target genes has changed our knowledge of various developmental and physiological processes. Dr. Ambros and Dr. Ruvkun published back-to-back studies in the journal Cell in 1993, describing their surprising findings. "Dr. Ambros and Dr. Ruvkun showed us that microRNAs, genes much smaller than ever imagined, are pivotal for governing embryonic development," says Joe Leigh Simpson, MD, Senior Vice President for Research and Global Programs at the March of Dimes. "We now know that microRNAs are involved in a wide range of activities relevant to birth defects, viral infections, cancer, and other disorders. This has revealed exciting new paths for lifesaving diagnostic tools and treatments for mothers and babies." "I am deeply honored to be associated with the March of Dimes Prize because of the high value I place on what it does to improve the lives of babies and children," says Dr. Johnston. "Scientific research has been central to the mission of the March of Dimes since it was founded by President Franklin Roosevelt. The March of Dimes Prize has extended that tradition through its recognition of the very best in the field of developmental and genetic science. Drs. Ambros and Ruvkun have made discoveries in basic science of the highest order, and their discoveries are already being translated into a better understanding of the biologic processes that underlie development of a healthy baby or that can go awry and allow birth defects and prematurity." Victor Ambros earned his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was the first postdoctoral fellow in the lab of H. Robert Horvitz (recipient of the 2000 March of Dimes Prize). At MIT, Dr. Ambros was a colleague of Gary Ruvkun. In 1993, Dr.Ambros discovered the first microRNA in the roundworm C. elegans and later discovered many more microRNAs in C. elegans. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his work, including the 2008 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, shared with Gary Ruvkun and the Breakthrough Prize. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. Gary Ruvkun obtained his undergraduate degree in biophysics at the University of California, Berkeley, and his PhD at Harvard. He conducted postdoctoral research with Dr. Horvitz at MIT, where he was also a colleague of Victor Ambros. Dr. Ruvkun and Dr. Ambros reported the novel microRNA-mediated mode of gene regulation in C. elegans in 1993. Dr. Ruvkun discovered the mechanism of microRNA regulation of target genes: the miRNA shuts down the production by protein from the target messenger RNA via base-pairing. In 2000, Dr. Ruvkun discovered the second miRNA and that it was conserved across evolution in animals, including in humans. Dr. Ruvkun has published more than 150 scientific articles and has received numerous previous awards for his work, including the 2008 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research shared with Victor Ambros and the Breakthrough Prize. Dr. Ruvkun is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Ambros and Dr. Ruvkun will deliver the 21th annual March of Dimes Prize Lectures today at the Baltimore Convention Center during the 2016 Pediatric Academy Societies annual meeting. They will receive the Prize at a gala black-tie dinner and ceremony at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, hosted by CBS sportscaster Greg Gumbel, member of the March of Dimes national Honorary Board of Trustees. The March of Dimes Prize has been awarded annually since 1996 to honor investigators whose research has profoundly advanced the science that underlies the understanding of birth defects. The March of Dimes Foundation created the Prize as a tribute to Dr. Jonas Salk shortly before his death in 1995. Dr. Salk received Foundation support for his work on the polio vaccine. The Prize is a cash award of $250,000. Each recipient receives a silver medal in the design of the Roosevelt dime, honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt, March of Dimes founder. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, mothers and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at marchforbabies.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150409/197662LOGO SOURCE March of Dimes Related Links http://www.marchofdimes.org MEQUON, Wis., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SKYGEN USA announced today that two members of its family of distinguished benefit solutions companies have been recognized as Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2016 Top Workplaces. Wonderbox Technologies, an agile, 21st century benefit administration software company focused on building next-generation technology for the specialty payer market, was named to the prestigious list for the fourth time in five years. Additionally, Vestica Healthcare, a cohesive, 21st century medical administration company focused on bringing next-generation claims management and technology solutions together for healthcare delivery systems, payers and managed care organizations, appears for the first time. The Top Workplace award spotlights companies in Southeastern Wisconsin whose employees feel inspired by their organizations and believe they are given the room to do great things. It is based solely on the results of an employee survey developed by WorkplaceDynamics LLC, a company focused on helping organizations improve their "organizational health" by providing valuable feedback on employee attitudes toward the company. "One of the most important requirements for becoming a high-performing organization is having an employee base that believes deeply in the mission and feels they have the freedom and management support to pursue it enthusiastically," said Craig Kasten, chairman of the board and co-founder of SKYGEN USA. "They also must feel that the work they're doing is meaningful and appreciated. Receiving Top Workplace recognition for a fourth time with Wonderbox Technologies, and now adding Vestica Healthcare, demonstrates the high standards we are setting throughout the SKYGEN USA organization. We are thankful to all those who participated and gave us such high marks, and pledge to continue the approach that has made us one of the most desirable companies to work for in all of Southeastern Wisconsin." The Top Workplace survey asks employees about factors that are proven to have a lasting effect on achieving excellence. Examples include whether employees feel the company executes well and has a culture of high performance; whether it sets a clear direction for its future and how it conducts itself; and whether it creates a strong connection between employees and the company by showing appreciation and by bringing meaning to the work. Wonderbox Technologies and Vestica Healthcare earned high marks from employees in all of these areas. In addition to Wonderbox Technologies and Vestica Healthcare, the SKYGEN USA family of companies includes Scion Dental, American Therapy Administrators, Ocular Benefits, and Hylis Pharmacy Solutions. Together they create an ecosystem that drives improvement in both the technology and the individual organizations' ability to deliver cost-saving, satisfaction-improving benefit management. For example, each of the benefit management companies uses Wonderbox Technologies' Enterprise System, its core administration platform, to power their businesses each day. Their experiences, and the feedback they provide, enables Wonderbox Technologies to deliver a continuous level of field-tested improvements, ensuring the technology helps clients transition more smoothly and easily to the requirements of a 21st century insurance company. For a video that discusses how the insurance company of the future will look, see: http://skygenusatechnologies.com/st/Knowledge-Center/Videos/Kasten-Perspectives-Video-2.htm "Building an outstanding and enduring company requires a workforce that is passionate about what they do and is committed to excellence," said Greg Borca, co-founder and owner of SKYGEN USA. "That doesn't happen by accident. You have to find the right people, then give them the tools to utilize their talents most effectively. That is what we strive to do here, and the results speak for themselves. Not just in being named a Top Workplace but in the value we deliver every day." View the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article here: http://www.jsonline.com/business/2016-top-workplaces-375568411.html#!/sizebandrank.asc.2/ Tweet this: [email protected] and @VesticaHealth named to Top Workplace list. #healthinsurance #benefitmanagement http://bit.ly/1XSp1th About SKYGEN USA SKYGEN USA is a collection of benefit solutions companies that brings a distinguished mix of next-generation claims management and technology tools together for healthcare payers, delivery systems, managed care organizations and employer groups that enable them to drive process improvements and dramatically reduce the cost of delivering benefits. Business units under the SKYGEN USA brand include Wonderbox Technologies, Scion Dental, Vestica Healthcare, American Therapy Administrators, Ocular Benefits and now, Hylis Pharmacy Solutions. Payers may select the comprehensive solution or individual offerings to fit their individual needs. For more information, please go to www.skygenusa.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Christine Rudella Director of Marketing SKYGEN USA Family of Companies 262-834-4145 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150505/213807LOGO SOURCE SKYGEN USA Related Links http://www.skygenusa.com TERRELL, Texas, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Unified Power is pleased to announce that Chui Muro has moved into the role of North Central Regional Service Manager, assuming responsibility for the company's 13-state territory. In this position, he will lead 17 field engineers while ensuring continued service excellence throughout the region. Muro will report to National Field Services Director Joshua Stockwell. "Chui has proven himself as an exceptionally capable leader with regard to customers, field engineers, financials and technology," said Chris Roach, President and CEO of Unified Power. "We are very excited about extending his role within the company and the clear value this will provide for our service customers." Muro came to Unified Power in October 2015 as part of the company's acquisition of Lionheart Power Systems, where he had served as the acting general manager. Prior to joining Lionheart in 2008, he spent 13 years at AT&T as a technician responsible for the operation of multiple remote terminal locations that housed fiber optic and DC power equipment across Wisconsin. In addition to the extensive industry experience Muro brings to Unified Power, he also holds three degrees from the Milwaukee School of Engineering: a Master of Science in Engineering (Data Communications), a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. In his new role, Muro will work closely with several fellow Lionheart alumni, including Service Coordinator Jennifer Kotajarvi and Customer Care Managers Carolyn Zello and Toriene Johnson. "I'm so grateful for the opportunity to expand my role within Unified Power," Muro said. "My team of field engineers, and the company as a whole, embodies an absolute commitment to providing an unparalleled level of service. It's very rewarding to lead a team with that kind of dedication." The vision of Unified Power is to bring together advanced critical power services, sales and testing capabilities to become the premier independent power services company in North America. Under its various brands, the organization has provided thousands of companies across the nation with affordable and reliable critical power services for their UPS and battery systems for more than two decades. The Unified Power brand began in January 2011 when Pfingsten Partners purchased On Computer Services, a national critical power service company located in Terrell, Texas. Other companies under the Unified Power brand include Baltimore-based Power Protection Unlimited, Sun Sales Company of Albuquerque, UPSCO of Glenmont, Ohio and Power Protection Services of Dallas. SOURCE Unified Power Related Links http://www.unifiedpowerusa.com KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) announced today that it has agreed to purchase the minority ownership interests held by a third-party in its six acute care hospitals located in Las Vegas, Nevada. In connection with this transaction, the Company will make an aggregate cash payment of $445 million to the third-party which includes both the purchase price and return of capital. The ownership interests purchased, which range from 26.1% to 27.5%, relate to Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, Desert Springs Hospital, Henderson Hospital (currently under construction), Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, Summerlin Hospital Medical Center and Valley Hospital Medical Center. "This transaction reflects our continued confidence in the performance of our hospitals in the Las Vegas market and, in particular, our enthusiasm for the opening of our newest hospital in Henderson, Nevada later this year," said Alan B. Miller, Chief Executive Officer. UHS is one of the nation's largest hospital companies operating through its subsidiaries acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers located throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It acts as the advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust (NYSE:UHT). For additional information on the Company, visit our web site: http://www.uhsinc.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on the current expectations of UHS and which are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. UHS undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to UHS's filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, for more information on additional risks that could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements made herein. SOURCE Universal Health Services, Inc. Related Links http://www.uhsinc.com NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Through groundbreaking cooperation of Russian and American arts organizations, eleven ballet dancers and teachers from the United States and Taipei, Taiwan arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia to participate and perform in the 10 day International Youth Ballet Festival, April 21 - April 30. The Festival supports emerging ballet dancers striving to become professional ballet artists and ballet teachers who have exceptional professional development opportunities not usually available to them. Oleg Vinogradov, Kirov Ballet Artistic Director Emeritus and Festival Artistic Director/Coordinator of faculty, directs the performances. Dancers performed on April 29 (International Dance Day) at the St. Petersburg University of the Humanities and Social Sciences followed by a Gala Performance on April 30 at the St. Petersburg Music Hall Theater. Performances were made possible through special international cooperation: Oleg Vinogradov Foundation for the Preservation and Development of Classical Ballet, St. Petersburg, Russia; N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory; St. Petersburg University of the Humanities and Social Sciences; St. Petersburg Music Hall Theater and Classical Dance Alliance, Inc., New York, NY USA. Participants study Classical Dance (ballet), Historical Dance, Character Dance to further their knowledge and career opportunities. Teachers included: Ilya Kuznetsov, Director of Kuznetsov's Children Ballet School, former principal dancer, Mariinsky Theater; Georgy Dzevulsky, Konstantin Chuvashev and Natalia Bashkirtseva, all Ballet Masters of the Ballet Theater of the St. Petersburg Conservatory (Vinogradov, Artistic Director). Bashkirtseva is a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation. Designed to take place in both Russia and the United States, the U.S. Festival begins in St. Augustine, FL, June 23 - July 2 with Gala Performance, July 2 and is open to dedicated ballet dancers, teachers and students from any country. About Classical Dance Alliance Founded in 2002, CDA is a New York, NY 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports artistic effort and output by providing pedagogical resources to improve ballet training outcomes. By presenting outstanding teaching artists and authoritative material, CDA makes classical dance more accessible to ballet instructors, performers, creators and spectators of dance. Web Site: www.classicaldancealliance.org SOURCE Classical Dance Alliance, Inc. Related Links http://www.classicaldancealliance.org LONDON, April 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VATBox announced today it has been selected as a finalist for Red Herring's Top 100 Europe award , a prestigious list honouring the year's most promising private technology ventures from Europe. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150811/257582LOGO ) The Red Herring editorial team selected the most innovative companies from a pool of hundreds from across Europe. The nominees are evaluated on 20 main quantitative and qualitative criterion: including disruptive impact, market footprint, proof of concept, financial performance, technology innovation, social value, quality of management, execution of strategy, and integration into their respective industries. VATBox CEO and Co-Founder, Isaac Saft, says: "We are delighted Red Herring selected us as a finalist for this distinguished award. As a technology company helping other companies across the board reduce their costs and boost their returns, we hope to become a defining force in VAT Recovery & Compliance. We automate the entire process and give 100% insight into the VAT spend, leading to a 99% VAT recovery success rate and ensuring companies do not unknowingly incur fines for non-compliance! Looking at the other Red Herring finalists for 2016, we are thrilled to be in such good company and I look forward to meeting so many other pioneering companies at the event." "This year was rewarding, beyond all expectations" said Alex Vieux, CEO of Red Herring. "There are many great companies producing really innovative and amazing products in Europe. We had a very difficult time narrowing the pool and selecting the finalists. VATBox shows great promise and therefore deserves to be among the finalists. Now we're faced with the difficult task of selecting the Top 100 European winners. We know that the 2016 crop will grow into some amazing companies that are sure to make an impact." The finalists are invited to present their winning strategies at the Red Herring Europe Forum in Amsterdam, April 11-13, 2016. The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony. Since 2012, VATBox has been revolutionising the automated VAT recovery marketplace with its cloud-based solution leading the worldwide foreign VAT recovery arena. With offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York & Tel Aviv, VATBox operates globally to give businesses full control over their tax spend. Visit VATBox at http://www.vatbox.com Contact: Liat Arbesman | VP Marketing VATBox | [email protected] | +972-54-6233515 SOURCE VATBox SARASOTA, Fla., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 1, 2016, Visit Sarasota County (VSC) launched a new online quiz aimed at raising awareness of Venice, Florida. Quiz participants are invited to look at images and decipher if they are of Venice, Florida, Venice, Italy or Venice, California. Once an answer is chosen, the participant is alerted if he or she is correct. A description of the image, connecting it back to one of the three Venices, is also included. "The quiz is designed to be a fun way of raising awareness about Venice, Florida," says Erin Duggan, Vice President for Visit Sarasota County. "We often hear that potential visitors, especially those located out of the state and country, don't know Venice is in Sarasota County, let alone in Florida. This is a fun and interactive way to educate potential visitors that there is a gorgeous Venice located in Sarasota County Florida right here on Florida's Gulf Coast." The quiz can be found at VENICEorVENICE.com and is being promoted via VSC's social media channels, laser targeting specifically those outside of the state. Quiz participants can enter to win a three-night stay for two people in Venice, Florida. The contest will run May 1 through May 31, 2016. For more information on Venice, FL and Sarasota County visit www.visitsarasota.org. About Sarasota County Located on Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, Sarasota County offers a vibrant arts and cultural scene, a diverse array of culinary experiences and a variety of opportunities to take advantage of the clear waters and the great outdoors. Sarasota County provides the quintessential, laid-back beach getaway with numerous sprawling, white-sand beaches, including Siesta Key Beach, named the top beach in America by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice in 2015. For more information on visiting Sarasota County, visit www.VisitSarasota.org or call (800) 522-9799. Contact: Lynn Hobeck Bates/941-955-0991 Ext. 103 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Visit Sarasota County Related Links http://www.VisitSarasota.org SAN FRANCISCO, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VIATechnik announces that it will now provide Fabrication CADmep services for Building Information Modeling (BIM) to its clients. The BIM services company, which is headquartered in Chicago, is using Fabrication CADmep to help its clients integrate their fabrication process into the BIM coordination workflow. Autodesk's Fabrication CADmep software supports detailing, fabrication, and installation workflows of MEP contractors by providing tools that create accurate and constructible models of building services systems. By utilizing real-world databases and content libraries, VIATechnik will use this software to extend design-intent models to create new models for MEP fabrication. This service will be particularly useful for MEP contractors who wish to go beyond Revit models that are created with generic content. The detailing software will help contractors create detailed shop drawings and prepare their systems for field installation. VIATechnik's application of this software includes features that allow clients to move to BIM workflows conveniently and at a lower cost. VIATechnik's COO, Anton Dy Buncio, states, "As we started seeing more of our MEP trade partner clients' sophistication in automation and fabrication, it really made sense for us to invest in the technology and training that allows our teams to deliver fabrication detail into the BIM. The skillset needed to do this was quite different from our technology expertise, as we also needed to know how our clients built, assembled, and delivered their product to the field." Features of VIATechnik's new Fabrication CADmep offerings include Revit integration, extending Revit and AutoCAD MEP models, service validation, added manufacturer templates, and shared databases. Ultimately, this new service will allow VIATechnik to help its clients generate better estimates, create more accurate models, and drive the MEP fabrication process. This is just one of VIATechnik's many solutions to today's architecture, engineering, and construction challenges. VIATechnik offers a wide ranges of expert services to industry professionals, including construction estimating, BIM and CAD solutions, and project administration. To learn more about VIATechnik's Fabrication CADmep services and other service offerings, visit the company's website at www.viatechnik.com. About VIATechnik: VIATechnik is a growing virtual design and technology organization that offers a wide variety of services, including virtual reality, BIM, estimating, LEED Coordination, and scheduling for architects, engineers, and general contractors. Founded by two Stanford engineering graduates, VIATechnik leverages a highly-educated, experienced, and professional team with an extensive background in government facilities, oil and gas, commercial establishments, and infrastructure. The experienced team at VIATechnik understands the owner's requirements and specifications, and the company's focus on detail will ensure that their clients' projects are completed on time and within budget. The company brings deep, functional expertise, and is also known for its ability to deliver results. VIATechnik blends the perfect mix of human capital and technology to effect an affordable service delivery model. Media Contact: Victoria Rivera (415) 814-0540 SOURCE VIATechnik LLC Related Links http://www.viatechnik.com LEHI, Utah, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivint Solar (NYSE: VSLR) today announced the appointment of David Bywater as the Company's Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis. Mr. Bywater joins from Vivint Smart Home ("Vivint") where he has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2013. Mr. Bywater succeeds the current Chief Executive Officer Greg Butterfield, who is stepping down from his role. Vivint Solar will begin a search for a permanent CEO in the coming weeks. "We are pleased to have David join Vivint Solar as we move into our next stage of growth," said Peter Wallace, Chairman of the Board. "David is a seasoned executive and a proven operator with more than 20 years of experience consulting and running some of the most innovative and dynamic companies in the world. He has been instrumental in managing the rapid growth at Vivint Smart Home while also improving operations and profitability. We feel strongly that he is well positioned to help guide Vivint Solar forward." "On behalf of the entire Board, I'd like to thank Greg for his many contributions," added Mr. Wallace. "He helped to build Vivint Solar into a leader in the solar industry and established the foundation for continued success." "I'm excited to be joining a stellar team," said Mr. Bywater. "We believe Vivint Solar is a great company that is well positioned to be a leader in the rapidly growing distributed solar sector. I look forward to working with the Board, the management team, and our employees and partners to continue to drive operational excellence and growth as we further the already tremendous accomplishments of this young company." Adds Mr. Butterfield, "It has been an honor to lead Vivint Solar. I'm proud of the company that we've built into a leader in the solar industry. I am confident that Vivint Solar will continue to build upon its strong history of success with the Board and David's leadership." In his previous role at Vivint, Mr. Bywater was responsible for customer operations, human resources, field service and supply chain management for the nation's leading provider of smart home technology, now serving more than a million customers. Before joining Vivint, Bywater spent 10 years working at Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), one of the largest BPO and ITO companies in the world. During his tenure with ACS, he was responsible for the management of several business units, which encapsulated more than 60 different companies. Most recently, Bywater served as an Executive Vice President and Corporate Officer for Xerox and was the Chief Operating Officer of its $1.8 billion State Government Services Business. Bywater holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. About Vivint Solar Vivint Solar is a leading provider of distributed solar energy systems electricity generated by a solar energy system installed at a customer's location to residential customers in the United States. Vivint Solar's customers pay little to no money upfront, receive significant savings relative to utility generated electricity rates and continue to benefit from guaranteed energy prices over the 20-year term of their contracts. Vivint Solar finances, designs, installs, monitors and services the solar energy systems to make things easy for its customers. For more information, visit www.vivintsolar.com or follow @VivintSolar. Forward-Looking Statements Note on Forward Looking Statements Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," "may," "intends," "prepares," "looks," "potential," "possible" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to the Company's succession plan, including the search for a new full-time CEO and the effect that the appointment of Mr. Bywater as interim CEO will have on the Company's future operations, financial performance, business plans, and growth. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in Vivint Solar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to successfully recruit a new full time chief executive officer, the Company's ability to retain key employees, and the effect of management change on employee morale, as well as financial, economic, competitive, political, legal, and regulatory factors. Except as required by law, Vivint Solar does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. You should read the documents Vivint Solar has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the company. These documents are available on both the EDGAR section of the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.vivintsolar.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160502/362498LOGO SOURCE Vivint Solar Related Links http://www.vivintsolar.com SUNBURY, Pa., May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Weis Markets, Inc. (NYSE: WMK) today reported its first quarter net income increased 51.1 percent to $20.1 million while earnings per share increased 50.0 percent to $.75 per share compared to $.50 per share for the same period in 2015. During the same period, the Company's operating income increased 57.4 percent to $31.3 million. For the thirteen week period ended March 26, 2016, the Company's sales increased 3.6 percent to $738.2 million and its comparable store sales also increased 3.6 percent. The incremental sales impact due to the Easter calendar shift was approximately $7.1 million or a 1.0 percent increase in comparable store sales. "Our results continue to benefit from our long-term pricing investments and the refinement of our marketing programs, which spurred increased sales in center store, HBC, frozen, pharmacy and most of our fresh departments," said Jonathan H. Weis, Weis Markets Chairman and CEO. "These investments and refinements were complemented by improved supply chain and store support efficiencies and an increased focus on our store-level customer experience." About Weis Markets Founded in 1912, Weis Markets, Inc. is a Mid Atlantic food retailer operating 162 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia. For more information, please visit: WeisMarkets.com or Facebook.com/WeisMarkets. In addition to historical information, this news release may contain forward-looking statements, which are included pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For example, risks and uncertainties can arise with changes in: general economic conditions, including their impact on capital expenditures; business conditions in the retail industry; the regulatory environment; rapidly changing technology and competitive factors, including increased competition with regional and national retailers; and price pressures. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission. WEIS MARKETS, INC. COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF SALES & EARNINGS First Quarter 2016 (Unaudited) 13 Week 13 Week Period Ended Period Ended Increase March 26, 2016 March 28, 2015 (Decrease) Net Sales $ 738,204,000 $ 712,426,000 3.6% Income Before Income Taxes $ 31,907,000 $ 20,397,000 56.4% Provision for Income Taxes 11,778,000 7,074,000 66.5% Net Income $ 20,129,000 $ 13,323,000 51.1% Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding 26,898,000 26,898,000 --- Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.75 $0.50 $0.25 SOURCE Weis Markets, Inc. PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Wencor Group announced today the signing of a 5-year distribution agreement with Sofrance, a subsidiary of the Safran Group. This agreement gives Wencor semi-exclusive territory rights to sell commercial filter products in Europe, the Americas and Asia. "We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Sofrance. Delivering high performing filtration products through the Wencor channel gives global customers what they need, when and where they need it," said Jason Caldwell, President of Wencor Distribution. Wencor's success in the filters category is largely due to its focus on developing strong strategic partnerships with well-known industry leaders like Sofrance. As partners, Wencor and Sofrance are committed to providing customers with innovative products and excellent customer service. Wencor continues to expand its filter product offering to become one of the largest aftermarket filter distributors in the world. Alain Akoum, Head of Aftermarket and Customer Service for Sofrance, stated "The selection of Wencor as our global distribution partner is based on their industry expertise, strong customer relationships and their extensive footprint of distribution facilities around the world. Customers will benefit from enhanced customer service and Sofrance will further grow its critical role in aerospace filtration." About Wencor Group Wencor Group provides innovative quality solutions to the aerospace industry. Services include OEM and aftermarket parts distribution, PMA design and MRO repair. Corporate affiliates include: Wencor, Aerospace Coatings International, Soundair Aviation Services, PHS/MWA Aviation Services, Flight Line Products, Xtra Aerospace, and Kitco Defense. Wencor Group is headquartered in the Atlanta metro area with additional offices in Utah, Amsterdam, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Miami, Seattle, Alabama, and Southern California. For more information, please visit www.wencorgroup.com. About Sofrance Sofrance develops optimum solutions that purify fluids and protect systems. Sofrance's founding began in the early 1940's with a focus in filtration solutions for automotive and industrial applications. By the late 1950's, Sofrance expanded into the aerospace industry focusing on key programs like the A320 aircraft and the CFM56 engines. Today, Sofrance is part of the Safran Group and has become a leading aerospace and industrial player for on-board fluid filtration systems (fuel, oil, water, air). Investment in research and new technologies are important to Sofrance's strategy, which is why 15% of annual revenue is re-invested back into R&D. To learn more, please visit www.sofrance.com. For more information, please contact Jason Caldwell at 678-490-0140. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150403/196522LOGO SOURCE Wencor Group Related Links http://www.wencorgroup.com At the awards ceremony to be held on May 20 th at Brooklyn Public Library, the city-wide and borough winners and honorable mention recipients of the Bookmaking Competition will be given medals. In addition, the Foundation will give the city-wide winners $500 and the borough winners $100. And this year, in honor of the late author-illustrator Ezra Jack Keats's 100th birthday, each of the educators who assisted city-wide and borough winners will also receive an awarda gift certificate that will allow them to choose 25 children's books (picture, middle school or young adult) contributed by Keats' publisher, Penguin Random House. "These talented young writers and illustrators have worked hard over many weeks, even months, to bring their imaginative ideas to life through their books," says Deborah Pope, Executive Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. "It was at public school that Ezra first received recognition for his talent, which encouraged him to pursue his dreams. Our hope is that this award will inspire these young people to pursue their dreams as well." "Our students' creativity, thoughtful work, and perseverance are demonstrated in these outstanding picture books. Each book is evidence of the exemplary teaching and learning that occurs daily in our public schools," says Karen Rosner, Coordinator of Visual Arts for the New York City Department of Education, and supervisor of the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking initiative. "The exhibition of the winning books at Brooklyn Public Library truly reflects our richly diverse student population and the talent of our public school students." "We are proud to exhibit the books made by some of New York's most talented young people," says Rachel Payne, Coordinator, Early Childhood Services, Brooklyn Public Library, and one of the judges of the Competition. "Books are our business, and highlighting the outstanding work of future authors and illustrators is as fulfilling a job as we at the BPL can have." Brooklyn and Queens Students Take Home Top Awards The Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition is divided into three categories: elementary (grades 3-5), middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Students in District 75 are encouraged to participate, and several are among our winners. The city-wide winners are: Grades 35: "Some Skyscrapers Are," written and illustrated by Roberto Quesada (Grade 5) P.S. 63, Old South School, Ozone Park, Queens Maria Panotopoulou, Teacher; Kathleen Fleischmann-Cavanaugh, Librarian; Diane Marino, Principal The winner says: "I've always loved skyscrapers, so I decided to create a book about them. I decided to give them emotions, so I drew one with a sad face because he was getting demolished and another with a happy face because he was under construction. My favorite page shows old and new skyscrapers together and how they both affect the skyline. I drew in colored pencils, and then my teacher suggested I also try collage. It was hard to do, but worth it! I'm thinking about working on a sequel about my new interest, oceans and ships!" Grades 68: A-Z Inventions Through History, written and illustrated by Sarah Cheung (Grade 8) I.S. 141, The Steinway School, Astoria, Queens Elisa Barresi and Victoria Iocco,Teachers; Miranda Pavlou, Principal The winner says: "I've always been curious about how things came to be, so I decided to write a book about inventions. Coming up with this idea was easier than all the online research it took to choose and write about each invention. Constructing the book and integrating the pop-ups (to appeal to kids) required imagination and the ability to think outside the box. I never thought I'd win, but it shows that the patience, creativity and persistence it takes to express an idea through writing and illustration is worth itas long as you enjoy what you're doing!" Grades 912: My Life as a Dandelion, written and illustrated by Crystal Ng (Grade 10) Brooklyn Technical High School, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Monica Rowley, Teacher; Randy Asher, Principal The winner says: "When we think of dandelions, we usually think of someone blowing the seeds away. To me, this is symbolic of freedom, and I wanted to write a book about that. I made the book small because it's something fun for kids to carry around. I used construction paper, pens, colored markers and pencils, and put a cotton ball in the middle of the dandelion on the cover. There are three pages where you can see the dandelion seeds being blown away, little by little. It shows Michelle, the protagonist, is slowly letting go of her loved ones, and is my favorite part of the book." Guidelines and Judging The annual Bookmaking Competition begins with a full day of professional development at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for art teachers and librarians working in New York City's public schools. Students are then invited to come up with intriguing themes, create engaging text and integrate illustrations created in a range of media. Expressive writing and artwork are encouraged. The process is integrated into classroom instruction with a strong emphasis on the study of picture books. Student books are created under the supervision of a teacher and/or librarian. The judging panel is comprised of New York-based librarians, artists, teachers and others involved in promoting diversity in children's literature. The panel focuses on the quality of writing, illustrations and presentation. This year's panel of judges includes: Elizabeth Naylor Gutierrez , Coordinator, Office of Library Services, NYC Department of Education , Coordinator, Office of Library Services, NYC Department of Education Barbara Ornstein , former Children's Specialist, Central Library, Brooklyn Public Library , former Children's Specialist, Central Library, Brooklyn Public Library Rachel Payne , ex officio, Coordinator, Early Childhood Services, Brooklyn Public Library , ex officio, Coordinator, Early Childhood Services, Brooklyn Public Library Jo Beth Ravitz , Artist/Art Consultant , Artist/Art Consultant Susan Straub , Founder, The Read to Me Program Fourth Annual Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition on the West Coast The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM), Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) joined together to present the fourth annual Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition on the West Coast. The entries were on display at The CJM on March 13, 2016; the awards ceremony followed. The winning books can be seen at the SFPL Main Library through May 8. First Annual Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition in Baltimore The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation partnered with Enoch Pratt Library, The Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Jump In Studio, Inc., and Baltimore City Public Schools to host Baltimore City's first Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition. The awards ceremony will be held at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum on May 14, 2016, during its annual African American Children's Book Festival. School-wide winning entries will be on display at The Enoch Pratt Library May 16June 6. For more information on this exhibition, contact [email protected]. About the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Founded by Ezra Jack Keats, the late Caldecott award-winning children's book author and illustrator, the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation fosters children's love of reading and creative expression by supporting arts and literacy programs in public schools and libraries; cultivating new writers and illustrators of exceptional picture books that reflect the experiences of childhood in our diverse culture; and protecting and promoting the work of Keats, whose book The Snowy Day broke the color barrier in mainstream children's publishing. Keats. Imagination. Diversity. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.ezra-jack-keats.org. Contact: Sheree Wichard 718-788-9585 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160427/360683 SOURCE Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Related Links http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org "WVO is defined by passion, innovation and fun, and this has driven our company's success for the last 50 years," said Franz Hanning, president and chief executive officer of WVO, a timeshare veteran who began his career as a salesperson with the company more than 30 years ago. "The commitment our associates have for serving others has not only enabled us to reach this achievement, but has helped maintain our position as the employer of choice throughout our industry." With the largest resort portfolio and owner base in the timeshare industry, WVO associates maintain an unwavering focus to deliver best-in-class service. Inherent to the Wyndham brand is the companywide service initiative, Count On Me!, which reflects associates' individual responsibility and accountability for consistently delivering great service to owners, resort guests and colleagues with each and every interaction. "Delivering quality service to the largest owner base in the industry doesn't happen without exceptional people, and our focus remains on continuously investing in them," continued Hanning. Over the years, WVO has consistently ranked as an "employer of choice" in various markets for its commitment to providing associates with a rewarding work environment by offering competitive pay, a comprehensive benefits package, continuing education opportunities, and diversity and inclusion initiatives such as associate business groups. "We've developed a culture where people can be who they are, and we continuously strive to create an environment where development is a top priority," said Hanning. "With nearly 2,000 tenured associates who have been with us for 10 or more years, it's a true testament to the culture we've maintained throughout our history one where people want to stay and grow with us." As one of the core values of Wyndham Worldwide, associates throughout the years have been committed to making a positive impact in their local communities through various philanthropic efforts and a commitment to the environment through the Wyndham Green program. In addition, associates receive a "WISH" Day a benefit that provides one day of paid time-off annually for community service. "Our associates are truly the heart of this company, and they go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others it's a big part of who we are," continued Hanning. Throughout 2016, WVO will be celebrating its anniversary with associates, owners and at resort locations nationwide. For more information regarding available opportunities at Wyndham Vacation Ownership, please visit www.wvojobs.com. About Wyndham Vacation Ownership: Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of Wyndham Worldwide's (NYSE: WYN) family of companies, is the world's largest vacation ownership business, as measured by the number of vacation ownership resorts, individual vacation ownership units and owners of vacation ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its seven primary consumer brands, CLUB WYNDHAM, WorldMark by Wyndham, CLUB WYNDHAM ASIA, WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham, Shell Vacations Club, Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham and WYNDHAM CLUB BRASILSM. As of December 31, 2015, we have developed or acquired 213 vacation ownership resorts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America and the South Pacific that represent more than 24,000 individual vacation ownership units and nearly 900,000 owners of vacation ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership is headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and is supported by approximately 17,700 associates globally. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361680 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150416/199211LOGO SOURCE Wyndham Vacation Ownership Related Links http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/category/wyndham-vacation-ownership If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New Delhi, April 27 : Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday made an unusual gesture in welcoming Trinamool Congress member Swagat Roy in the house during the Question Hour. Calling up his name to ask supplementary question, Speaker Mahajan said: "Swagat Royji, aap ka swagat hai (Swagat Roy, you are welcome back)". The Trinamool Congress front bench leaders, including the likes of Swagat Roy, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kalyan Banerjee, have been missing in the session due to ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal. As some members laughed mildly at the chair's special observation on the vocal Trinamol member, the speaker also said, "Bahut mehnat karke ayen hain (He has returned after hard work in elections)". Ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal is locked in a fierce triangular electoral contest with the Left-Congress combine on one side and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the other. The Trinamool Congress had stayed away from last Saturday's all-party meeting convened by the speaker. Meanwhile, the chair disallowed a discussion on the AgustaWestland helicoper deal in the house. The Congress members demanded a discussion on the deal, saying allegations have been levelled against the party's top leaders. As soon as the house took up the question hour, Congress floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge said all newspapers have the news item regarding the VVIP helicopter deal and allegations have been levelled against party leaders. Mahajan said the issue can be raised after the question hour. The Congress has maintained that the UPA government had taken action once reports of wrongdoings and allegations of corrupt practices surfaced in 2012. Meanwhile, BJP members Anurag Thakur and Meenakshi Lekhi have also given separate notices demanding discussion in the house on the chopper deal. BJP leaders have said "truth" must come out in the case. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to make a statement in the Lok Sabha when the issue comes up for discussion. Washington, April 29 : Former US House of Representatives speaker John Boehner called Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh", in an interview at Stanford University. "Lucifer in the flesh", Boehner told Stanford's David Kennedy, a history professor emeritus, according to the Stanford Daily. Boehner said he was "texting buddies" with the other two Republican candidates; front-runner Donald Trump and Ohio Governor John Kasich, CNN reported. The account in the student newspaper is accurate, a source close to Boehner confirmed on Thursday. Cruz in response told reporters that Boehner "allowed his inner Trump to come out". "The interesting thing is I've never worked with John Boehner, I don't know the man," Cruz said. "Indeed, during the government shut down, I reached out to John Boehner, to work with him to get something meaningful done. He said, 'I have no interest in talking to you.' " Boehner and Cruz clashed over the government shutdown and Obamacare fights from the time Cruz took his Senate seat in 2013 to when Boehner stepped down late last year. "When John Boehner calls me Lucifer, he is directing it at you. What Boehner is angry at is me standing with the American people," Cruz added. Boehner also compared Cruz to the devil last month in a talk before financial industry lobbyists and executives in Florida. New Delhi, April 29 : Parliamentarians across party lines on Friday raised concerns over fixing of a timeline by the Supreme Court for conducting the common all-India medical entrance test. The members opposed holding of the first phase of the test slated for May 1, saying it gives little time to students for preparation. The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour by at least three members from different political parties. Raising the issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Dumariaganj Jagdambika Pal demanded that the examination should not be conducted in a phased manner as it will create trouble for the students. "The test must be conducted on July 24 and all the students should be allowed to sit for it, so that equal opportunity is provided to all," Pal said. He said that the two dates of the National Eligibility Entrance Test will give advantage to students taking the exam in the latter phase and the students who have to appear for it this Sunday would be under stress. Congress member Rajeev Satav urged the government to move the Supreme Court and challenge the ruling. "Yesterday's (Thursday) decision of Supreme Court will affect 80 percent students of Maharashtra and mostly rural students. Either this order should be implemented in 2018, or the test be conducted together on July 24. The government should consider moving the Supreme Court with a new petition," he said. Shiv Sena member Arvind Sawant also demanded the test be conducted on one day. He demanded that students must be permitted to appear for the examination in regional languages too. "Students have very little time. The syllabus of CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Examination) and the state boards is different. So, the students preparing for medical examinations are worried. Their issues must be addressed by the government," Sawant said. The demand was supported by other members too. The Supreme Court on Thursday said students aspiring for admission to under-graduate medical courses will have to appear in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), and it declined the pleas for exemption by Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A bench of Justice Anil R. Dave, Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice A.K. Goel gave its nod to two-phase conduct of the NEET by the CBSE on May 1 and July 24, with the declaration of results on August 17, and counselling and admissions later. Mumbai, April 29 : Sending a strong signal against corruption, the Bombay High Court here on Friday upheld a 2011 order of the Ministry of Environment, and asked the Centre to demolish the controversial 31-storey Adarsh Society Building. It also ordered the government to take criminal action against politicians and bureaucrats for "misuse and abuse" of power. On a plea by the Society's lawyer, a division bench of Justice R.V. More and Justice R.G. Ketkar put on hold its own orders for 12 weeks (about three months) to allow the Society and the state government to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. However, Acting Advocate-General Rohit Dev representing the state, opposed the stay on the order sought by the Society. "The high court has upheld the order of the ministry on January 16, 2011, to demolish the building within three months but it was challenged by the Adarsh Society," said Y.P. Singh, one of the lawyers involved in the case. The judges, who conducted the final hearing in the case between September-December 2015, also ordered the state government to probe the involvement of politiciains, ministers and officials in the scam, initiate criminal or civil proceedings against them for "misuse and abuse" of their powers and restore the plot. The demolition would be carried out at the expense of Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society, the court ruled. The judges also directed the defence ministry to conduct a departmental inquiry against its officers for not initiating action early enough when the scam pertaining to the building was exposed. The court verdict came in the open court on a bunch of petitions filed by the Society challenging the environment ministry's 2011 order and the title suit filed by the defence ministry claiming ownerhship of the land where the building was constructed. The court also appreciated the efforts by complainant Simpreet Singh, a member of National Alliance of Peoples' Movement (NAPM) without whose intervention, it said, the gross violations by the Society would have gone undetected. The high court verdict came on the then union minister for environment Jairam Ramesh's order dated January 16, 2011, for demolition of the building within three months as it was unauthorised and violated coastal regulation zone norms, among other things. Later, the defence ministry also moved the court seeking implementation of the environment ministry's orders to raze the 31-storey tower in Colaba, adjacent to the defence establishments in south Mumbai. After the scam erupted in November 2010, with allegations that it had violated various environmental norms and regulations, lacked certain permissions and other issues, it claimed the job of then chief minister Ashok Chavan and several other officials. The building, originally intended to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil War heroes and widows, was later transformed into a 100-metre tall tower in which several politicians, bureaucrats and army officers allegedly conspired to corner flats at cheap rates. The CBI investigations finally resulted in 13 people being charge-sheeted. Among them was Ashok Chavan, whose three relatives figured in the list of the tainted Society's members. The building remains unoccupied, without water and electricity since November 2010. In January 2011, a two-member commission of inquiry consisting retired high court judge, Justice J.A. Patil, and retired chief secretary P. Subrahmanyam, was also constituted but the then Congress-Nationalist Congress Party only partly accepted its recommendations. Kolkata, April 30 : A first information report (FIR) was lodged against West Bengal assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Sonali Guha on Saturday after she was seen giving instructions over phone to "thrash the CPI-M agent". Taking cognisance of the remarks, the Election Commission (EC) ordered lodging of the FIR against Guha, who is defending her Satgachhia assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas. Accusing the EC of not taking remedial measures despite a malfunctioning EVM that disrupted polls in a booth in Kashibati in her constituency for over an hour, Guha staged a sit-in protest along with some of her party activists. "The EVM here has been malfunctioning; it has been more than an hour that polling has been stopped because of that, but the EC has taken no action. "I will continue my sit-in unless the EVM is replaced," said Guha. A little later, talking over her mobile, Guha was shown by TV news channels as saying: "Mere baar kore dis CPM agentder ekdom, ora EVM kharap kore rekhe diye che" (Thrash and drive away the CPM agents from the booth, they are behind the EVM not functioning)." Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma said the FIR was lodged following a specific complaint from the returning officer. "A case has been started against Sonali Guha in Bishnupur police station under 188, 171C and 506 of Indian Penal Code for disobeying order of public servant, interfering with electoral process and criminal intimidation," Sharma said. The charges are bailable. Earlier, both the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Congress condemned her remarks and demanded Guha be arrested immediately. "She should be immediately arrested for her remarks. Not only that, the EC should ensure that such people are barred from contesting the polls," said state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. CPI-M politburo member Mohammad Salim echoed Chowdhury's views and said the party has moved the EC with a complaint. "We have taken cognisance of the remarks by Sonali Guha and the returning officer has been directed to file an FIR against her,aA,A said an EC official. This is not the first time that Guha has hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons. Last August, she was censured by her own party for calling leader of the opposition and CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra "nine months pregnant". In December 2014 she was caught on camera threatening and manhandling residents of an apartment in Howrah district. Her actions had even led to Governor K. N. Tripathi expressing displeasure. In 2008, she allegedly abused a police officer of Nodakhali police station in South 24 Parganas. Manila, May 1 : The Philippines-based extremist group Abu Sayyaf on Sunday released 10 Indonesian sailors it had held hostage. The maritime company for which the Indonesian hostages were working and whose vessel was hijacked towards the end of March, paid a million-dollar ransom to Abu Sayyaf on Friday for their release, EFE news reported. Sources claimed the sailors were handed over to authorities earlier on Sunday in front of the residence of the governor of the island of Jolo. The release comes six days after Abu Sayyaf decapitated a 68-year-old Canadian hostage, John Ridsdel, after the deadline it set to receive a $6.4 million ransom for him expired. Ridsdel was abducted along with fellow countryman Robert Halla, Norway's Kjartan Sekkingstad and a Filipina, Marites Flor, in September last year. The jihadi group carries out frequent kidnappings to secure ransoms with which it finances its operations. It is still holding nine other foreigners captive -- four Indonesian fishermen, four Malaysians and Dutch national Ewold Hurn -- as well as Halla and Sekkingstad. Abu Sayyaf was formed in 1991 by a small group of veterans of the Soviet war in Afghanistan and has been blamed for some of the bloodiest attacks in the Philippines. New Delhi, May 1 : The government cannot abdicate its responsibility towards citizens by doing nothing on predatory airfares and rules must be changed if they are the ones preventing effective curbs on this unhealthy practice, a parliament panel has said. It also asked the civil aviation ministry whose interest it was subserving with such a hands-off approach, to specifically study the rules and regulations that were coming in the way of addressing the issue of predatory airfares, and to spell out the future steps needed to tackle it. "The explanation given by the Ministry of Civil Aviation is purely technical, suggesting they are unable to do anything under existing laws. The committee observes this is amounting to abdicating their basic responsibilities of protecting the citizens of the country," it said. "The committee, therefore, strongly recommends that the Ministry of Civil Aviation should specify the limitations, legal and otherwise, which need to be amended or other measures to be put in place to tackle this problem after consulting all the stakeholders." Chaired by Kanwar Deep Singh of the Trinamool Congress, the panel observed that while prices of aviation fuel fell from Rs.74,204.74 per kilolitre in Delhi as on December 1, 2013, to Rs.35,127 per kilolitre as on March 1 this year, nothing has been done to cut fares. "The committee could understand jet fuel constitutes 40 percent of an airline's operating cost. The committee, however, notes even after 50 percent reduction of prices over a period of time, airlines have not passed on the benefit of reduction to the consumers," it said. "The committee recommends that the ministry should take effective steps to ensure that airlines pass on the benefit to travellers by reducing the air fares and inform the committee about the specific steps taken in this regard and the outcome thereof," it said. "The committee fails to understand whose interest is sought to be sub-served by taking such a stand, that too before a parliamentary committee which is empowered to suggest necessary modification in our rules, regulations that are coming in our way for correcting airfares." Answering a question in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, however, said that barely 2 percent of the higher airline fares were on account of ticketing -- suggesting airlines had not indulged in hiking fares without reason. "We had done an analysis of the whole thing. We find the high side of the fares in the total ticketing is less than 2 percent. So, we realise the prices of tickets have come down in most routes, particularly where the competition is more, it has come down," the minister said. "What is bothering us is where the competition is less, airfares are a bit high. We need strategies to increase capacity there. Capacities and growth in the country have been going up. But if we stifle growth, we will not be able to even attend to this problem." Raju also said it was not as though airlines were not responsive to the government's calls. During the Chennai and Srinagar floods, as also during the Jat agitation, his ministry had given advisories to airlines and some of them did respond. "Capacity does get increased and things do come under control. We want to keep the baby and throw the bathwater out. We do not want to throw the baby along with the bathwater." Baghdad, May 1 : Iraq's Prime Minister on Sunday ordered the arrest of Shia Muslim activists who stormed parliament in Baghdad on Saturday. Haider al-Abadi said those who caused damage and attacked police should be brought to justice. Supporters of cleric Moqtada Sadr broke through barricades of the fortified Green Zone in protest against delays in approving a new cabinet, BBC reported. A state of emergency was declared in Baghdad after the protests. Supporters of Sadr want lawmakers to push through plans to replace ministers with political affiliations with non-partisan technocrats. Powerful parties in parliament have refused to approve the change for several weeks. This was one of the country's worst political crises since the US-led invasion and downfall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Rabat, May 2 : A recently busted Islamic State (IS) linked cell in Morocco planned terrorist attacks in Brussels, local media reported on Sunday. Three IS suspects arrested on Friday in the northeastern city of Nador were planning to attack sensitive sites not only in northern Morocco, but also in Brussels, Xinhua cited Le360 news website as saying. According to an intelligence services source, the suspects coordinated with an IS fighter, who received training in Iraq, to carry out the attack in Brussels. The Moroccan Interior Ministry announced on Friday the arrest of the three IS suspects in the northeastern city of Nador. The suspects have received instructions from IS leaders to establish an emirate north of the kingdom and planned to carry out attacks against state institutions, the ministry said in a statement. They also planned to target "a sensitive site" in the city of Nador as part of their terrorist project, it added. Dismantling the cell is part of Morocco's proactive efforts to face terrorist threats, the ministry added. Morocco has seen a growing threat from the IS. The ministry said it has dismantled 31 terrorist cells since 2013 and foiled "numerous terrorist plans" targeting vital national, Arab and Western interests. Baghdad, May 2 : French and US warplanes launched two separate strikes to destroy "an important logistic site" of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, the French defence ministry said. The strikes were conducted on April 29-30, and targeted a site used by the terrorist group to build large quantities of bombs and vehicles for suicide attacks, the ministry said on Sunday. "The site that was destroyed is situated in Al Qaim at the Iraqi-Syrian border, and it required two separate strikes because of its size," Xinhua news agency reported citing the ministry as saying. France was the first European country to join the US-led coalition in September 2014 to strike IS militants at the request of the Iraqi government. In a previous interview with a French radio, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that an international coalition is fighting IS insurgents, trying to take back by the end of the year Mosul in Iraq and Rekka in Syria, the group's main strongholds in the region. Melbourne, May 2 : Australia's Victoria state has come under fire of softening its stance on youth crime, after introducing laws which make breaching bail no longer an offence for those under 18. From Monday, a new legislation will come into effect in Victoria, making it impossible for the local courts to sentence juveniles that breach bail conditions, Xinhua news agency reported. In 2013, the previous Liberal-National government imposed stricter penalties for those aged under 18 who flouted their bail parametres. But last year, the Labour government turned back the law after taking office. Victoria's Police Association Secretary Ron Iddles told Melbourne Radio that the government had made a grave error rolling back the judicial clause. "The Attorney-General (Martin Pukula) could fix it by going back and saying that if you breach your bail as a child, that's an offence," Iddles said on Monday. News Corp reported that the Victorian government repealed the harsher bail legislation on the basis that it had led to overcrowding of youth detention centres. Mumbai, May 2 : Google on Monday celebrated renowned Indian cartoonist Mario de Miranda's 90th birth anniversary with a doodle honouring the artist. Miranda who developed his own independent style of creating cartoons and characters, is remembered for his lavish works in The Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly of India, besides several other newspapers, periodicals and books. He is known for his trademark stylish strokes which told detailed colourful stories with shades of humour, largely based on life in Mumbai and Goa. The commemorative Google Doodle was created by another comic artist Aaron Renier known for portraying large crowds. It shows a rainstorm scene in a crowded Mumbai, with the hazy hint of a prominent landmark building, people of various communities that spice up Mumbai in their traditional attire, running around. "I chose his most popular style, very flat with criss-crossing interactions," said Renier, of the Indian legend who passed away on December 11, 2011 at his ancestral home in Goa. Renier added that in the homage to Miranda, a rich litany of people, each unique in their perspective, is seen. "That is what I liked most about his work," Renier explained, "trying to pick out who knows who, who's watching who, who's annoyed by who, who's enamoured by who. Hopefully people will see something of (Miranda's) spirit in it." The people on the doodle are depicted struggling with their umbrellas, newspapers, women shown heavy bosomed and large-hipped, a spontaneous lovers hug, the typical dog chasing a stray cat and dragging his master on the leash. On a ground floor is someone quietly observing the goings-on outside, on the first floor a woman (presumably a maid) absently empties the bucket of water onto the roads after scrubbing her home, while on the left side appears an image suspiciously resembling Mario de Miranda himself struggling with his next creation on the canvas. "If you google, why not try Google India today? I did the doodle for the great Indian cartoonist," Renier tweeted. Miranda left a rich treasure of cartoons, sketches, pictorial travelogues on famous cities like London and Lisbon, an illustrated book on history of Goa co-authored with Manohar Mulgaonkar Miranda's friend and curator of Mario Gallery, Gerard da Cunha will release a book later on Monday titled 'The Life Of Mario - 1949', the latest in the series which had '1951' and '1950'. Washington, May 2 : A US cruise ship started its historic journey to Cuba on Sunday for the first time in 38 years. Carnival Corp.'s Adonia left a Miami port on Sunday afternoon and sailed to Havana, with 704 passengers aboard, including several Cuba-born passengers. During its seven-day journey, the ship will also visit ports of Cienfuegos in south-central Cuba and Santiago de Cuba in the southwest, Xinhua news agency reported. Carnival's cruises to Cuba will be operated by its tenth and newest line Fathom. According to the company, the Adonia will cruise every other week from Miami to Cuba, with promises to engage passengers "in an ongoing cultural exchange programme that gives you the opportunity to interact with the Cuban people". The cruise comes after Cuba loosened its policy of forbidding Cuban-born people from travelling to the country by sea. The last such cruise from a US port to a Cuban destination happened in 1978. The company got the green light from the Cuban government to begin sailing from the US to the island on May 1 during US President Barack Obama's March 20-22 trip to Havana. Obama has relaxed US travel and trade restrictions toward Cuba, allowing Carnival, which touts itself as the world's largest cruise ship operator, to apply and get permission from the US government back in July 2015. The cruises will be part of the thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba after Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro decided to re-establish ties in late 2014. New Delhi, May 2 : Protest against a Supreme Court decision to ban diesel taxis in the national capital, cab drivers on Monday locked traffic in Delhi's border areas connecting Gurgaon and Noida. The taxi drivers first blocked traffic near west Delhi's Rajokri area obstructing traffic in both the carraigeways from Dhaula Kuan to Gurgaon. "The taxi drivers on Monday morning blocked both the carraigeways on Rajokri flyover near the old Delhi toll booth on Gurgaon to Dhaula Kuan road," a traffic police official told IANS. The blockage eventually led to a massive traffic snarl on the Delhi-Gurgaon route with vehicles lined up behind one another for up to 1 km, an official said. Several commuters had a harrowing time as they rushed to reach their offices as the drivers also blocked traffic on the Noida side of the Delhi Noida Direct (DND) flyway leading to a massive congestion. "Private commercial vehicle drivers obstructed the traffic just after the Delhi-Noida expressway leading to heavy traffic," a DND official told IANS. "Now the obstruction has been cleared," he added. The apex court on Saturday had refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG) and banned the diesel-based taxis to run in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from May 1. The deadline for the change was extended twice. Moscow, May 2 : Firing Kalashnikovs, flying gunships, stomping about in tanks and sweating it out in army fatigues, that's Russia's cutting edge arsenal of ideas for attracting tourists. Amid the annexation of Crimea and the conflict with Ukraine, "military tourism" appears all set to boom in Russia. Inbound tour operators are offering tourists a quasi-combat experience, be it firing AK-47 assault rifles in underground firing ranges, roaring on in T-90 tanks or an edge-of-the-space flight in a MiG-29. And tourists like Japan's Toshihiro Yokoi and his friend, who are willing to shell out upwards of 15,000-18,000 euros for a spin in the MiG-29, are relishing the opportunity. "The emotions (we felt) during the suborbital flight were both exciting and interesting," Yokoi said, shortly after the flight, where he experienced the 9G (G-force). Next on his agenda is a zero gravity flight experience in a four-engine IL-76 at Nizhniy Novgorod in the Volga federal district. For those who would feel peevish in a fighter jet and more at home close to land, there's Uralvagonzavod, one of the world's largest manufacturers of tanks located around 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Moscow, which has been offering tourists a ride in the mighty T-90 from April this year, or a visit to the armour museum in the national capital, where tanks from the great war, armoury and other military equipment are on display. For those with vintage taste and World War buffs, Russian leader Joseph Stalin's bunker in Moscow is now a tourist attraction too. If one wishes to have a live and feel about what's it to be like in the army, a new tourism circuit allows you to spend a day in a military training camp and train with soldiers in fatigues. The objects of war and the thrill of handling tanks and weapons is catching up as a tourism offering. Three years ago Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu even offered to organise a new sport-military show - a tank Biathlon for tourists, which involves a speed race through manoeuvres and taking precision shots from the tank's canon. "All guests can witness military flight, fireworks, military music and tanks across many models. The military museum is also popular with Russian and China tourists during summer," Marina Solokov of the Moscow-based Indigo Tour told IANS. Paresh Navani of the Russian Information Centre, says Defence Tourism in Russia is just about to zip off the blocks. "Defence tourism is also taking off in Russia with options like MiG 29 flights to the edge of space where passengers are also allowed to control the aircraft, World War II bunker visits, firing Kalashnikov rifles, visits to battle tank ranges with the ability to control the systems. In the region of Crimea tourists can also visit nuclear submarines that are in active service," he said. Chinese tourists, who top the list of tourists visiting Russia with a million of them visiting Russia in 2015, have already cottoned to military tourism and are driving the demands, says Pavel Kretov of Academservice, an inbound tour operator based in Moscow. "It (military tourism) has just started. Chinese tourists are very interested. It was started because of the demand fuelled by the Chinese tourists," Kretoc says, adding that in Moscow there are numerous shooting galleries where one can spray a few live bullets from a pistol to an AK-56. However, while the guns and tanks await, revved up for tourists, there's one issue which continues to niggle the tourism administration, which can prove to be a dampener to takers of such tourism: pricing. It is something which Valery Korovkin, head of the International Development division of the Federal Agency for Tourism, believes will be levelled out over a period of time. "You have to start with something. It's expensive now, but in a year it can go down if there is enough demand," Korovkin said. (This correspondent visited Russia at the invitation of the Russian Information Centre, India. Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be reached on mayabhushan.n@ians) New Delhi, May 2 : The CBI has arrested a Delhi Police inspector along with a man posing as a joint secretary for allegedly demanding Rs.3 lakh in bribe, agency officials said on Monday. The inspector, Kehar Singh, deployed at west Delhi's Janak Puri police station, was arrested on Sunday night by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths for demanding the bribe following a complaint. The CBI is conducting raids on the premises of the accused in Delhi. It has recovered about Rs.40 lakh during the search operation. Jakarta, May 2 : The Indonesian military is engaged in negotiations and intelligence operations to seek the release of four citizens held hostage by the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf terror group, sources said on Monday. The four Indonesians, whose current location is unknown, were crew members on the TB Henry tugboat and Christi barge when they were kidnapped by militants linked on April 15 in the waters between Malaysia and the Philippines, EFE news reported. Army chief Gatot Nurmantyo said the military "will conduct some operations with the coordination of the foreign affairs ministry", which include informal negotiations and intelligence gathering. However, there were no reports of any ransom demands. Ten other hostages abducted by Abu Sayyaf were released and returned to Jakarta on Sunday. They were kidnapped in March. On Friday, the government paid a million dollars to secure their release. Wellington, May 2 : French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Monday said the bombing of the Greenpeace vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland 31 years ago was a huge mistake. Valls -- on the first visit by a French prime minister to New Zealand in 25 years -- said the relationship between New Zealand and France had been patched up since the attack by French secret service agents, Xinhua news agency reported. In July 1985, French spies detonated two mines attached to the side of the Rainbow Warrior as it sat in a dock in downtown Auckland. The ship was involved in a Greenpeace campaign to protest against France's testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. It sank within minutes, drowning Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira and sparking years of outrage after New Zealand police captured two French agents, who were part of a bigger team, and charged them in connection with the bombing. "It's true that 30 years ago, our relationship was quite challenging ... that we had made a huge mistake, but I think that we have now turned over a new leaf, our relationship has changed," Valls was reported as saying. Valls said the two countries were now committed to looking forward, while remembering the past and never committing the same mistake again. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who held talks with Valls in Auckland on Monday, said there was genuine acknowledgement from France that the bombing was a terrible mistake. "I'm sure they would never repeat that, they understand the pain and suffering that was undertaken by New Zealanders and the loss of life as a result of their actions," Key said. "In the end actually the relationship has to be stronger than one thing. That was a big mistake by France; we have to look forward and put those things behind us, and I think the prime minister's visit here is just another way of continuing to build on the relationship." New Delhi, May 2 : India and Pakistan had agreed on a peace and no-war treaty and were on the verge of signing it in July 1984 before Pakistan President Zia ul-Haq, who had even dismissed any need to discuss Kashmir, backtracked on advice of American lawmakers, reveals former Indian foreign secretary M. K. Rasgotra. In his autobiography "A Life in Diplomacy" (Penguin India, Rs.699), Rasgotra, who was foreign secretary 1982-85 and is now in his nineties, recalls ahead of his visit to Islamabad, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was leaving on a visit to the US, gave him a free hand, telling him "..you know it all and you can talk to them about any subject they want to talk about, including Kashmir and the No War Pact they are so keen about". She only wanted to know if "there is a grain of sincerity" in Gen. Zia. As Rasgotra called on him at the President's House in Islamabad, President Zia, with the humility and charm he was known for, was standing in the verandah close to to where he would get out of the car and welcomed him with a big hug. During the talks, to India's willingness to talk about Kashmir, Zia's response was "noteworthy". "Rasgotra Sahib, what is there to talk about Kashmir? You have Kashmir and we cannot take it. I want you and (Pakistani foreign secretary) Niaz Naik to work on a Treaty of Peace and Good Neighbourliness including a No War Pact," he quoted the Pakistani leader as saying. He said progress was made in discussions on the agreement, to the extent that in March 1984, Niaz Naik himself proposed that the Indian draft of a Treaty of Peace and Friendship and Pakistan's draft of a 'No War Pact' should be "merged". By May 1984, there was "full agreement on all the six or seven clauses in the draft treaty's preamble and also on nine out of the eleven articles of the treaty's operative part", and both sides reached agreement on these two too. "Accordingly Naik announced in the final plenary meeting of the two delegations that on clauses IV and V, he and I had reached an understanding to which he would obtain the president's approval on his return from the UAE and we would all meet in Delhi in July to initial or sign the treaty. "But the July meeting never took place." According to Rasgotra, there were two reasons why Zia changed his mind - and the primary one was the advice of his American "well-wishers". "While awaiting the President's return from the UAE, Naik had telegraphed the text to Foreign Minister Sahabzada Yaqub Khan who was on a visit in Washington DC. Khan took the text around to his friends in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, who strongly advised him against signing a treaty of that kind with India". Rasgotra says he learnt of this from a Congressman friend of his, from his earlier stints in the US, and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee "asking me why we were coercing Pakistan into signing an anti-American treaty!" The other reason was India's current troubles in Punjab "in which Zia-ul Haq saw an opportunity to weaken India by supporting a violent secessionist campaign by Sikh extremist groups lead by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale..", says Rasgotra. On Zia himself, Rasgotra said that he reported to Mrs Gandhi after his first visit and meeting that he had "seemed anxious to win India's goodwill, I had my doubts about his sincerity". Rasgotra, in a report of his meeting with then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in 2000 (attached as an appendix to this book) , said this Pakistani ruler was "shrewd, and perhaps also not without cunning but he is not wily like Gen. Zia ul Haq. Nor does he possess the bluff exuberance of Gen. Mod. Ayub Khan". On his recommendations, he said his "gut impression" was that Pakistan will give up sponsorship of violence only when we (India) can demonstrate, in actual deeds, that we can hurt them in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) the same way they are hurting us in the Valley". (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) New Delhi : India will need to generate 280 million jobs between now and 2050, the year when the working-age population (15 to 64) will peak, according to a new report, amid indicators that the country's demographic dividend could be at the cusp of disaster. Over 22 years of unprecedented economic growth (1991 to 2013), less than half the Indians who sought jobs got them, 140 million of 300 million, according to a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report. "In China, the number of jobs grew from 628 million to 772 million between 1991 and 2013, an increase of 144 million, but the working-age population increased by 241 million," the report said. "A wider gap in India than China suggests a more limited capacity to generate employment-a serious challenge given the continued expansion of the workforce in India over the next 35 years." With fears that India is experiencing jobless growth and skepticism abounding that the country may not be able to cash in on its "demographic bonus", the world's largest working-age population-869 million by 2020-because of limited progress on health, education and job skills, we identified five warning signs: 1. Organised sector, offering 10 perccent of employment and steadiest jobs, slows Employment shrank over two quarters of four in 2015, the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, according to the latest data from the Labour Bureau's Quarterly Employment Survey. The first quarter, January to March 2015, added 64,000 jobs, while the third quarter, July to September, added 134,000 jobs in eight sectors that the Bureau surveys on "changes in employment" (not existing jobs): Textiles (apparels), leather, metals, automobile, gems and jewellery, transport, IT/BPO and handloom/power loom. However, in the second quarter, April to June, 2015, 43,000 jobs were lost, and in the last quarter of the year, October to December, 20,000 jobs were lost. These jobs were to be in industries that comprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India programme, a manufacturing expansion meant to offer jobs to the millions moving out of agriculture. The employment generated per quarter slowed since after the relatively short-lived 2008 financial crisis, indicating that the current global slowdown is steadier, as IndiaSpend reported earlier. 2. Up to 93 percent of jobs in unorganised, insecure informal sector by 2017 The informal sector accounted for 90 percent of jobs through the period 2004-05 to 2011-12, said the Economic Survey 2015-16. This is going to increase marginally to 92-93 perceent in 2017, according to a report by the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS). The accelerated growth of the Indian economy over the past two decades is accompanied by increasing informalisation, notes the Report of the Committee on Unorganised Sector Statistics by the National Statistical Commission. 3. As farming recedes, menial rural labour grows 34 perccent; agriculture stays India's largest employer From 2001 to 2011, the number of farmers fell seven percent, from 127.6 million to 118.6 million. Over the same period, agricultural labourers increased 34%, from 107.5 million to 144.3 million, as IndiaSpend reported. Agricultural growth nosedived over the last two years, with three, and possibly four (the data for January to March 2016 are not yet out), quarters registering a contraction. Rural wages are growing at a much slower pace compared to the initial years of India's rural jobs programme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), the wages of which were down at 2005 levels in 2015, as IndiaSpend reported. The construction sector - building roads, bridges and ports - is rapidly becoming India's fastest-growing employment destination. More specialised sectors of the economy cannot absorb those leaving farms because they do not possess the skills needed. Modi's Skill India initiative aims to train 400 million Indians over the next six years-that's a million every week. In 2014, as we reported, no more than seven million were trained; fewer than five of Indians have ever received formal skills training. 4. Under-employment: 60 percent working people can't find a steady job Many Indians who report themselves as 'employed' do not get year-round work, or may have jobs lagging their abilities and expectations, said the Fourth Annual Report on Employment and Unemployment 2014. Only 60.5 percent of the working population (above 15 years) was able to find work through the year. Underemployment affects youth the most. Of 100 persons aged above 30, only two persons report being fully unemployed, while in the 18-29 age group, 13 in 100 are unemployed, noted the survey. Education only appears to increase the prospect of unemployment. 5. As industrial growth slows, company jobs recede, jobs per company fall The growth of eight core industries-coal, oil, oil products, gas, electricity, fertiliser, steel and cement-is now the lowest it has been over the last ten years. Industrial growth of the last decade (represented here by the year-on-year growth in the Index of Industrial Production) shows a slump during the 2008 crisis; it recovers and again goes south till 2015-16. The number of companies registered every year is - after a peak in 2012 - down to 2008 levels, an indication of business uncertainty. In 2014, as many as 70,043 companies were registered in India, marginally less than 70,513 in 2008. Fewer than 2,000 companies were registered in April 2016, the first month of the new financial year, 2016-17, according to ministry data. In comparison, 6,000 companies were registered monthly, on an average, during the last decade. Large corporations are important to India's economy, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said in February, but many are struggling to repay loans and grow, potentially sparking a circle of low growth, low bank credit, job cuts, low output and low growth. So, a paradox unfolds, with many young Indians, many with substandard education, unable to find jobs commensurate with their education, while industry endures a shortage of skilled labour. (In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform, with which Abhishek Waghmare is an analyst. The views expressed are those of IndiaSpend. The author can be contacted at respond@indiaspend.org) Noida, May 2 : Aiming to be in line with the global players, IT solutions provider NIIT Technologies will focus more on digital services and increase its activity in this area, chief executive Arvind Thakur has said. "Following global trends, NIIT Tech has also forayed into the digital services space. It is planning to increase its activities in that. It has launched Digital Foresight for insurance and is focusing on digital experience, digital integration and digital analytics," Thakur told IANS in an interview at the company's headquarters in Noida. "Currently, digital services contribute 15 percent to the total revenues and is expected to grow at twice the rate of traditional services, given the enhanced focus in the next year," he said. Digital Service is defined as an entirely automated service which is controlled by the customer of the service. There are four key industry focus of NIIT Technologies -- travel and transportation, insurance, banking and financial services, manufacturing and distribution. "We are building strong capabilities around it." The company offers infrastructure management services, application development and management, testing services, business process services, geographic information system and software products to its clients. In 2015, the company had launched its Digital Innovation Center (DIC) in Hyderabad along with Incessant Technologies in which NIIT Technologies had earlier picked up majority stake. Thakur said expectations of customers have started changing as there is more consumerisation of technology as well as new emerging technologies. "The biggest challenges now are to change the mindset of the entire workforce from what they are doing now to more value addition. They should transform from problem solvers to problem identifiers," Thakur said. "Another challenge lies in the disruptive nature of emerging services. More and more engagements with the customers are needed in these new technologies. Everybody is orienting themselves to these disruptions," he added. A couple of years back, the company roped in thought leader Ron Kaufman, writer of best-selling book "Uplifting Service", to bring a sea-change in the culture of the organisation. "Two years ago we have appointed thought leader Ron Kaufman so that everybody is educated in service principles." The IT services sector now contributes 10 percent of gross domestic product of the country. Export from this sector was to the tune of $108 billion in 2015-16. It plays a significant role in balance of payment. It is one of the highest urban employers with 3.7 million directly working in the industry. NIIT was established in 1982 for education and training purpose. It diversified into service providing in mid-1990. In 2004, NIIT Technologies demerged from NIIT Ltd. "We compete on the strength of our specialisation. We add around four to five new clients every quarter. There are more than 100 clients." The total turnover of the company is expected at around $400 million in 2015-16. It is growing at the rate of 10-15 percent, which is little more than the industry rate of 10-12 percent. The company's business in the US contributed to 46 percent of overall revenues during the quarter, Europe, the Middle East and Africa - 34 percent, Asia Pacific and India contributed 10 percent each. The company employs around 9,500 people globally. It has five offices in India. It operates in 18 countries across the globe. (Aparajita Gupta can be reached at aparajita.g@ians.in) Damascus, May 2 : The Syrian army on Monday said the state of regime of silence near the capital Damascus will be extended for 48 hours. It is the second time the "regime of silence" truce is being extended in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, Xinhua news agency reported. On Sunday, the army said it has extended the truce for additional 24 hours, just a couple of days after declaring such a system. The Syrian army announced on Friday that a "regime of silence" state will be observed in hotspots near the capital and the northwestern province of Latakia after midnight. "In order to uphold the agreed-upon cessation of hostilities system, a state of regime of silence will be observed on Saturday in areas in the Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus and the northern countryside of Latakia," the army said in a statement. The aim of it, the army continued, is to cut the road before the armed groups, which are trying to continue the state of tension and instability. Also on Friday, Russia and the US have reportedly agreed to enhance truce in northern Latakia and suburbs of Damascus. However, the northern city of Aleppo, which has recently seen an escalation of violence, was not included in the regime of silence while reports said Moscow and Washington were discussing ways to include Aleppo into the cease-fire. Washington, May 2 : A secret section of the 9/11 Commission Report that reportedly details Saudi Arabian funding for the attacks contains "uncorroborated, un-vetted" information and should not be released, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has said. John Brennan, who runs the intelligence agency, voiced his support for keeping the notoriously redacted "28 pages" in the 2004 text from the public domain for fear of fuelling unfounded rumours, the Independent reported. Brennan insisted the section was "thoroughly investigated and reviewed" by the official inquiry into 9/11. He also maintained America had a "very strong" relationship with Saudi Arabia, a country from which 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers hailed. "This chapter was kept out (of the public domain) because of concerns about sensitive methods (and) investigative actions," he said on NBC's Meet The Press. Brennan said the report was "a combination of things that are accurate and inaccurate". He maintained the inquiry into 9/11 "came out with a very clear judgement that there was no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution, or Saudi officials or individuals, had provided financial support to Al Qaeda. "I think some people may seize upon that uncorroborated, un-vetted information... to point to Saudi involvement, which I think would be very, very inaccurate," he said. Meanwhile, the families of the 9/11 victims were awaiting the outcome of legislation that would allow them to bring lawsuits against the Saudi government over attacks, which has not yet been possible. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act bill has gone through the Senate but is yet to gain approval from the House of Representatives. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have voiced support for the proposed legislation, though President Barack Obama remains opposed to it, in part due to Saudi threats to sell US assets if it goes ahead. New Delhi, May 2 : Former Australia skipper George Bailey has been roped in by the struggling Rising Pune Supergiants as a replacement for South African Faf du Plessis, who was forced to cut short his Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign due to a broken finger. Bailey, who earlier featured in the cash-rich league representing Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab, however, went unsold during the IPL auction in February. The right-hander, who had a base price of Rs.1 crore, scored 579 runs from 34 IPL games. Bailey's inclusion will bolster the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led franchise, which is currently languishing at the sixth spot in the points table, with just two wins from the eight matches they have played. After losing ex-England big-hitter Kevin Pietersen and du Plessis, the Pune franchise were jolted after their batting mainstay and Australia skipper Steve Smith was on Monday ruled out of the tournament with a wrist injury. Earlier, the Dhoni brigade lost the services of another Aussie import in the form of Mitchell Marsh. "Smith's (news) been a bummer. He was just coming into his own and this happened," the franchise's chief executive Raghu Iyer was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. "It is a challenging time. Before we could settle down we lost the core group of players around whom you build a team around." "We lost four crucial players, but we are looking ahead. Bailey has tremendous experience and had a very successful season before last. He can contribute to the leadership group," Iyer said. Iyer said the franchise is likely to announce Marsh's replacement in the next two days. They have already signed Australia batsman Usman Khawaja as Pietersen's replacement. Latest updates on IPL 2020 New Delhi, May 2 : There are several challenges to the freedom of the press in India, including threats of violence from vested interests and pressure from political parties, experts have said, calling for greater involvement of civil society in cases pertaining to journalists. Talking to IANS on the issues concerning the media in India on the eve of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the experts, including senior journalists, said that mediapersons also need to adapt to the new challenges by being more bold. The World Press Freedom Day celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, defends the media from attacks on their independence and pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is observed on the anniversary of Declaration of Windhoek - a statement of free press principles put together by newspaper journalists in Africa during a Unesco seminar held in the Namibian city in 1991. Sevanti Ninan, Editor, The Hoot, a website which undertakes research pertaining to the media to strengthen its independence, said there has been a decline in press freedom in the last few years. "The greater vulnerability is for journalists in districts and small towns. One reason for this that many of them are now using RTI to investigate local scams and they pose a threat to the powerful in government and in politics," Ninan told IANS. She cited instances of death of three journalists covering investigative stories over the last year and said there should be a law guaranteeing press freedom, which is different from free speech. She said committees comprising journalists and civil society members should be kept informed of police action against journalist. Ninan said the media community in India has been remiss in protecting its counterparts in the regional press. "There is no pressure group at the national level which maintains pressure on the central and state governments in cases regarding journalists. The Editors Guild and other bodies are not really proactive in this regard. The Press Council publishes reports, but they have no impact," she said. Ninan said that it states like Chhattisgarh, where the state is battling Maoists, journalists who try to report on incidents involving the ultras were becoming victims of state oppression. "There have been four arrests of journalists in Chhattisgarh since july 2015," Ninan said. She said the other issue is defamation. "The state government of Tamil Nadu is very active in filing defamation cases against journalists. There have been several already this year," she said. Ninan said threats to editorial independence "come from proprietors and advertisers among others" while physical threats come from a variety of sources including the state police. Senior journalist and political commentator S. Nihal Singh said the political atmosphere was not very conducive to freedom of press. "There are the usual suspects in terms of the bureaucracy being overzealous on occasions. That is one danger and the other is that the whole climate is not really conducive to press freedom. Because, if you narrow down the national ideal to things like 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and other things in a similar vein, you are constricting the room for free opinion," he said. Nihal Singh said "there was greater amount of self-censorship in India today than before the BJP came to power." "In the current instance, it is not so much what you do but what you imply. So in overall terms I think, the outlook is not so bright," he said. Nihal Singh also said that media was not writing as forthrightly as it normally does or it can do. "Because if you feel these are vindictive characters in power, you would want to be on the safe side. (There is) that impulse," he said, adding that journalists themselves have "to pull up their socks because there is no substitute for journalists standing up." Senior journalist and political commentator Kuldip Nayar said the terms of employment of journalists have changed and this "does not allow journalists to be free". The "sword of the contract system hangs over the head of journalists," he said. Nayar said there were attempts to politicize the news and evils such as "paid news" had cropped up. He said journalists should make use of tools of such as RTI and face the challenges boldly. A.S. Narang, who taught political science at IGNOU, said civil society should be more vocal in taking up cases of journalists who face any form of state pressure. (Prashant Sood can be contacted at prashant.s@ians.in) New Delhi, May 2 : The government on Monday charged the opposition Congress with running away from debate on the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal and said the entire exercise by the Congress party to raise the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) mismanagement issue in the Rajya Sabha was a diversionary tactic. "The Congress is running away from debate and so raising such issues," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in parliament premises after the Rajya Sabha was disrupted thrice over the issue of alleged mismanagement in the GSPC during the tenure of Narendra Modi as chief minister in the western state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders feel the move to raise the GSPC issue has been part of Congress strategy as they feel "nervous" about the debate on the chopper deal that has put the Congress top leadership at the receiving end. The stand-off over the AgustaWestland deal seems to have magnified as the Congress has threatened to launch a 'march to parliament' stir on May 6. The Congress members in Rajya Sabha remained determined to have a debate on the irregularities at the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) as pointed out in a Comptroller and Auditor General report. The government side maintained that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Gujarat assembly will separately examine this. The treasury bench claimed it is in favour of a debate on the AgustaWestland VVIP deal in Rajya Sabha probably on May 4. Naidu also said as the Congress does not have any convincing argument to make during the debate on the chopper deal, it is trying to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "They are only trying to divert focus from AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal," he said. At the Congress briefing, party leader Jairam Ramesh said: "If Venkaiah Naidu has made the statement as reported, we will not allow the house to function." Geneva, May 2 : US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday urged all parties to the Syrian conflict to end violence and restore the cessation of hostilities during his second day of talks focusing on the Syria here. "We're getting closer to a place of understanding. But we have some work to do, and that's why we're here," he told reporters after meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday morning in a Geneva hotel. Kerry said there were a lot of conversations on how to separate Al Nusra from the opposition fighters and stop the fighting in Aleppo. Speaking after meeting with the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, Kerry said that both the US and Russia have agreed there will be additional personnel stationed in Geneva around the clock to make sure there was more accountability and a better ability to enforce the cessation of hostilities on a day-to-day basis. He added that both the Syrian government and the opposition have "contributed to this chaos". Kerry arrived in Geneva on Sunday for discussions with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in an urgent effort to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities across Syria and seek more support for a political transition. In the previous talks with Judeh on Sunday, Kerry said that they both wanted to emphasise the seriousness of the situation with respect to the cessation of hostilities. "The United Nations Security Council resolution calls for a full countrywide cessation and also for all of the country to be accessible for humanitarian assistance. Obviously, that has not happened and is not happening," he noted. Over the past several days the US Secretary of State also conveyed to the related sides, including main Syrian opposition's General Coordinator for the High Negotiations Committee, Riyad Hijab, his deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Aleppo. Kerry made clear that ending the violence in Aleppo and returning the situation ultimately to a durable, nationwide cessation is a "top priority". New Delhi, May 2 : The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) will observe a hunger strike on Tuesday against the university administration on various issues, including slapping fine on Kanahiya Kumar and rusticating three other students. The JNUTA called a general body meeting on April 28 and decided to hold one-day hunger strike to protest "non-responsive attitude of the administration" on the current situation on the campus, the teachers association announced late Sunday in a statement. "We are forced to take this step without a response on major issues, including on continuation of the seniority-based rotation system in appointment of Deans and Chairpersons, on intimidation of colleagues, victimisation of elected representatives, unsupportive attitude towards wardens and IHA officials when attacked by motivated elements, non-implementation of HLEC Report on harassment of Dr. Burton," the JNUTA said. The association also slammed the administration and the High Level Enquiry Committee for the penalties handed down to the students accused of involvement in the Feburary 9 incident, saying the punishment was awarded without a credible inquiry. The committee, constituted on February 11, fined Kanhaiya Kumar Rs.10,000 and rusticated students Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and Mujeeb Gatto for their involvement in the event. Anti-national slogans were reportedly raised during an event held on the JNU campus to commemorate parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's death anniversary. "Our students are on indefinite hunger strike against arbitrary penalties imposed without a credible inquiry. Instead of bringing back normalcy, the administration is busy provoking the students by digging up old complaints, sending Proctorial Punishment declaration to special cell of Delhi Police, denying striking students access to bathroom and toilet facilities etc.," the JNUTA said. Two of the accused students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, were recently served fresh notice by the administration for their alleged involvement in a screening of "Muzaffarnagar abhi baqi hai" which was held last August. JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Khalid and 18 others began their indefinite hunger strike on April 27, rejecting the findings and recommendations of the HLEC that probed the February 9 event on the JNU campus. New Delhi, May 2 : The government will not give in to pressure in resolving arbitration disputes with companies such as Reliance Industries engaged in oil and gas exploration, parliament was told on Monday. "There is no compulsion for the government with any private company. Now, the country's Prime Minister is Narendra Modi and the rest is assured," Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha in reply to a query by BJP member Bhola Singh on delays in resolving oil field disputes with private petroleum companies, including Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). Pradhan said the NDA government has inherited some problems from the previous UPA, which is causing the delay in resolving the disputes. The minister said further that the government has in the recently approved gas pricing policy offered to give higher rates to undeveloped gas discoveries provided they withdraw arbitrations they have initiated. RIL has launched four arbitrations against the government, including one seeking higher gas price for its existing fields in KG-D6 block in the eastern offshore. Another RIL arbitration is contesting penalty imposed by the government in the form of disallowance of cost recovery, and a third for taking away of KG-D6 area on expiry of contractual timelines, Pradhan said. He also said the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) had given various suggestions to improve the dispute resolution mechanism such as encouraging conciliation proceedings, examination by multi disciplinary teams on potential litigations and timely appointment of arbitrators. The minister said arbitrators and counsel are being appointed timely, contractors are being provided a forum in the ministry for resolving disputes and meetings are being held at various levels to sort out the issues related to gas balancing abandonment obligations etc. Last week, parliament's Public Accounts Committee held that RIL is entitled to recover all costs incurred on unviable gas discoveries since the DGH had allowed the company to retain the entire KG-D6 block area in the first place. The PAC report has thus gone against India's official auditor, which in 2011, had criticised the petroleum ministry for allowing RIL to retain its entire eastern offshore KG-D6 block, in contravention of the production sharing contract (PSC) under which only the area where discovery is made is permitted to be retained after the exploration period. Kathmandu, May 2 : Nepal Police on Monday said they have arrested Canadian national Robert Penner from near Kathmandu for his provocative posts on Twitter against Nepal's "social harmony". Though his arrest was requested by the Department of Immigration for some interrogation, the exact reason behind his arrest was not clear. "Nepal Immigration says they are holding me overnight. I repeatedly asked Nepal Police to tell me under what charges they are taking me in but they won't say," Penner tweeted. According to Lalitpur district police chief Pitambar Adhikari, Penner was arrested after complaints were filed that his posts on the social networking site would incite social discord. Immigration Department Director General Kedar Neupane acknowledged that police were requested to arrest Penner. The Canadian has been living and working in Nepal for the past three years as principal scientist at Cloud Factory, which provides on-demand, digital workforce to various enterprises. Recently, he had been posting tweets on various issues of Nepal, including the Terai/Madhes agitation. He also posted a controversial tweet over the arrest of journalist Kanak Mani Dixit by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. (Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com) Kathmandu, May 2 : Nepal's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit who was in custody of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in a disproportionate assets case. There was pressure from national as well as international circles on the CIAA to release him unconditionally. Dixit was in custody since April 22. Opinions were divided over his arrest as many saw it as a vendetta by CIAA chief Lokman Singh Karki. Dixit had opposed Karki's appointment as the chief of one of the most powerful constitutional bodies in Nepal. Karki comes from royal background and served as chief secretary of former king Gyanendra Shah. Dixit was on Monday presented before the Supreme Court following a habeas corpus writ filed by his wife Shanta. The apex court had also directed the CIAA to present Dixit before it. Earlier, a special court had granted permission to the anti-graft body to take Dixit into custody for investigation. The CIAA had sought 30-day custody of Dixit to investigate the corruption case. Dixit was arrested on April 22 from Patan Dhoka by CIAA for amassing property disproportionate to his known sources of income. After his arrest, Dixit complained of uneasiness and was admitted to a hospital for treatment. According to his brother Kunda Dixit, who is also a journalist, Kanak was admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering from high blood pressure and hypertension after the arrest. (Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com) New Delhi, May 2 : Sanitation workers of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) on Monday claimed before the Delhi High Court that about 50 percent of them were yet to receive salaries for March. A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was, however, informed by the Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, who appeared for EDMC, that salaries for March have been paid to all employees. "As far as the EDMC is concerned, we have paid all the salaries till March 2016," Anand said. The Delhi government's counsel, too, informed the Bench that funds have been released for paying salaries to EDMC employees. The bench has fixed the matter for hearing on May 10, asking the employee unions to file affidavit if salaries were not paid to them till then. During the hearing, the bench told the Aam Aadmi Party government and the three municipal corporations that they were responsible for paying salaries to the employees of civic bodies and could say they lacked funds. The court on April 19 had directed the civic bodies to ensure that the wages for March be paid to all the sanitation workers within a week without fail. It had directed civic bodies to pay regular salaries to the sanitation workers on or before 7th of every month for smooth functioning of the corporations. Bengaluru, May 2 : Mexico is India's largest Latin American investor, with an FDI of over $800 million from 2009 to 2015, said Mexican Ambassador Melba Pria. "Trade between the two countries grew 387 percent between 2004 and 2014 to $6.4 billion. (As much as) 85 percent of Mexico's exports to India are oil related and 15 percent are manufactured items," said Pria on Monday at the CII Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Outreach Programme where 14 ambassadors and senior officials from the region participated. In response to the Mexican interest in doing business with India, nearly 60 Indian companies, mainly from automotive, pharma and IT sectors set up base in Mexico, she said. Talking about the past relationship between India and LAC and the potential for the future, Ecuadorian Ambassador Mentor Villagomez said in two decades, the partners have reached a level of growth which cannot be reversed. "India perceives the LAC region as a long term contributor to its energy and food security and the county now has a growing presence in the LAC region in remarkably diverse sectors," said Villagomez. The envoy said Indian companies have invested about $12 billion in the region in sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals, mining, energy, manufacturing and many other verticals mostly driven by private companies. Inviting Indian investments in their country, Venezuelan Ambassador Augusto Montiel promised uninterrupted oil supply to meet the entire nation's demand. Noting the shifting economic trade landscape, CII Karnataka's former chairman T. Parabrahman said Mexico overtook South Africa in 2015 as the largest importer of cars from India. "Brazil imports roughly 47 percent of its diesel from India while Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador have recently started exporting gold to India. India is amongst the top five buyers of copper from Chile and the largest buyer of soybean from Argentina. There are more than 130 Indian companies in LAC region," he said. Another past CII Karnataka chairman S. Chandrasekhar highlighted India's imports from Venezuela were more than imports from Japan or Australia while its exports to Brazil have overtaken those to France or Italy. "Off late more and more Indian companies have started looking to LAC region to diversify their business. Indian companies from sectors like pharmaceuticals, oil, automobiles and IT are already nearshoring and use the region's growing talent base to grow," said Chandrasekhar. Signifying rising trade and importance, CII is planning to organise its first large scale India-LAC conclave in Mexico and launch an Indian Business Forum for LAC countries. Ambassadors and top officials from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela among others deliberated in the outreach programme. Mumbai, May 2 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Monday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for espousing the cause of a separate state of Vidarbha. Fadnavis had voted in a 2013 referendum favour of separating Vidarbha from Maharashtra, and hence, "has lost the moral right to continue to as chief minister of the state", Thackeray said, displaying pictures of the referendum. "Vidarbha is just the beginning; later, they will demand a separate Marathwada, and so on to break up the state into pieces. Their final intention is to sever Mumbai from the state," Thackeray alleged. Speaking to media persons, he said persons like former state advocate-general Srihari Aney, who quit in a cloud following his demands for Vidarbha state, and former RSS former spokesperson M. G. Vaidya "are propped up by the BJP-RSS lobby in Nagpur" to divide and break up the state. "For the first time, the Hutatma (Martyrs) Chowk memorial in south Mumbai was not decorated on the occasion of Maharashtra Day yesterday (on Sunday). This was insult to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. But the ruling ally, Shiv Sena, did not even raise a protest," Thackeray said. Asking the government "to tender an apology" for this insult, he challenged the Shiv Sena to display guts and walk out of the government, as it was playing "a dual role of both opposition and ruling party ally". Thackeray also accused the BJP of bandying out "lies" and misleading the people of the state on various counts. Citing examples, he said the government had claimed to have dug 33,000 wells for farmers in the state, but letters and RTI queries revealed nothing. "Most of the proposals are only on paper. All the funds have been gobbled up by the contractors. So what's the difference between BJP and Congress?" he said. He claimed fudging of figures of investment proposals received during the the recent 'Make In India' conclave in Mumbai mid-February this year. "I can provide evidence on all this. Let Fadnavis reply to the issues I have raised," Thackeray demanded. New Delhi, May 2 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday greeted the people of Israel and Poland on their National Day. Sending his greetings to Israel President Reuven Rivlin, President Mukherjee said: "Our common commitment to the safeguarding of our democratic institutions and our shared values of liberty, freedom and equality have helped in forging a deep friendship between our two nations." Mukherjee, who first visited Israel in 2015, expressed confidence in the discussion between the two countries, saying it would contribute to reinforcing ties and building new bonds of trust and partnership between people of the two countries. "I am confident that our two countries will continue to achieve new heights in our bilateral cooperation for the benefit of our two peoples in the years to come," he said. Sending greetings to Poland President Andrzej Sebastian Duda on the country's national day, the India president said the friendship between India and Poland is historic and time-tested. "India is committed to further strengthening our bilateral ties in all spheres of collaborative activity. "As our economic cooperation increases, we will be able to realise the great potential that exists in our mutually beneficial bilateral partnership," Mukherjee said while conveying progress and prosperity for Poland that celebrates its National Day on May 3. New Delhi, May 2 : The CBI on Monday questioned former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi over alleged corruption in the Rs.3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Tyagi arrived at the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters around 10 a.m. and was questioned till 8 p.m. The investigating agency had issued him summons on Friday. CBI sources said Tyagi will be questioned again on Tuesday. Tyagi has been named in the FIR in the chopper deal along with 13 others including his brothers -- Sanjeev, Rajeev and Sandeep -- and European middlemen Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. Sources said Tyagi's brothers will soon be summoned for questioning along with Gautam Khaitan, another accused in the case. The allegation against the former IAF chief is that he had reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres (15,000 feet) so that AgustaWestland was included in the bids. Tyagi maintains the decision was reportedly taken in consultation with officials of the Special Protection Group (SPG) and the Prime Minister's Office. Twelve helicopters were to be bought by India. The CBI says the reduction of the service ceiling, which is the maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally, allowed the Britain-based firm to get into the fray. Otherwise its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. The chopper deal resurfaced after an Italian court last month referred to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh among others in connection with the chopper deal but gave no details of any wrongdoing by the two leaders. The CBI, which has received a copy of the Milan court order, has now prepared a fresh set of questions for Tyagi, who has denied the bribery allegations. The Milan court has also given details of how alleged bribes were paid by AgustaWestland's parent company Finmeccanica as well as AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal. The order mentions Tyagi's name in several places. The investigating agency had quizzed former IAF deputy chief J.S. Gujral on Saturday. Both Tyagi and Gujral were questioned in 2013 but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after the recent order of the Italian court. AgustaWestland's Rs.3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force was scrapped by the then UPA government over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents. In January 2013, India cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate the matter. The CBI on March 13, 2013 registered a first information report against Tyagi and others in the case. Firms Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech Ltd (India) and Aeromatrix India were also booked as accused in the case. Islamabad, May 2 : A top Pakistani foreign affairs advisor on Monday regretted that the US was not duly appreciating the country's struggle against the militants. Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, conveyed the complaint to a two-member professional staff delegation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Congress in Islamabad. The remarks came just days after the US halted financial aid to Pakistan for procurement of its eight F-16 fighter jets. "During the meeting, a range of important issues were discussed and the Special Assistant particularly highlighted the fact that there was lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan's whole-hearted efforts it was undertaking jointly with the US administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism," the foreign ministry said. Topics concerning reduction in US defence and civilian assistance to Pakistan and Congressional hold on some already approved funds were also deliberated upon, a statement said. Reduction of the US assistance was discussed after Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee stopped aid to Pakistan to get eight fighter aircraft. The Obama administration planned to arrange $700 million for Pakistan to purchase eight F-16 from the US, the notification for which was made by the State Department to the US Congress in late 2015. "The government and people of Pakistan also desired that Pakistan's sincere efforts and sacrifices in confronting the serious security threats, in an increasingly complex regional situation, should be appreciated, at all levels," Fatemi told the US lawmakers. The US delegation did not directly mention halt to Pakistan aid but "reiterated that the efforts by the US to strengthen Pakistan's capacity in its counter-terrorism efforts, through continued provision of military equipment and assistance with approval of the US Congress, was a testimony to the strength of Pakistan-US bilateral relations." Panaji, May 2 : Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Monday said he would welcome the return of his predecessor, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, to state politics if he so wished. "If he wants to come to Goa, I welcome him," Parsekar said when asked for his reaction to reports in the media that quoted Parrikar, a former chief minister, as saying that he wants to return to state politics ahead of the 2017 assembly elections. Parrikar was the chief minister of the BJP-led coalition government from 2012 to 2014, when he was elevated as defence minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Parsekar was appointed as his successor as the chief minister. Parsekar was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function during which the state government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Software Technology Park in India, a society registered with the union ministry for communication and information technology, to promote software exports from India. Moscow, May 2 : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday urged the conflicting parties in Syria to strictly abide by the cease-fire regime. In a phone conversation, the two sides stressed the need to ensure Syria's cessation of hostilities with the exception of the fight against terrorist groups in the war-torn country, the Russian foreign ministry said in an online statement. Moscow and Washington, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, vowed to take further steps to prepare for the next talks aimed at finding a political settlement of the five-year-long crisis, the statement added. The Russia, US backed plan for cessation of hostilities took effect late February. The truce has been kept despite sporadic violations until the last few weeks, when the truce regime has been put to test and even collapsed in certain areas in Syria. Earlier in the day, Kerry during his trip in Geneva, Switzerland, called on all parties to the Syrian conflict to end violence and restore cease-fire in a bid to salvage the regime in Syria. The latest round of negotiations, which ended on Wednesday with progress being made on certain points, were bogged down by deep-seated differences of participating partners. The exact date for the next round of talks was expected be announced late this month. The Oklahoma House of Representatives approval of Senate Joint Resolution 4 is another example of lawmakers in Americas heartland doing what lawmakers in Washington, DC have proven unable or unwilling to do. On Monday, April 18, the Oklahoma House of Representatives approved by a 5733 vote Senate Joint Resolution 4 (SJR 4), a combined application for an Article V convention. The legislation was backed by the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force (BBATF) and Convention of States. The application includes a call for an Article V convention for the purpose of creating a balanced budget amendment, term limits on members of Congress, and reductions in federal regulations. SJR 4 contains language asking Congress to count separately the applications backed by the BBATF and Convention of States. The proposal now goes to the Oklahoma Senate for approval. The Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force is an organization dedicated to pursuing a single-subject Article V Convention for a balanced budget requirement to the U.S. Constitution. Convention of States is a project of Citizens for Self-Governance, an organization promoting greater citizen involvement in government. The Heartland Institute does not endorse a particular effort for an Article V convention. The following statements from constitutional reform experts at The Heartland Institute a free-market think tank may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Donald Kendal, new media specialist at The Heartland Institute, at dkendal(at)heartland.org or 312/377-4000. The Oklahoma House of Representatives should be applauded for taking a major step toward demanding constitutional reform for the national government of the United States. Oklahomans, along with the vast majority of Americans, want Washington to get its fiscal act together when the national debt is running at $20 trillion and counting. The Oklahoma Senate has a great opportunity in front of them to continue a strong tradition of demanding reform at all levels of government. Kyle Maichle Project Manager, Constitutional Reform The Heartland Institute kmaichle(at)heartland.org 312/377-4000 The Oklahoma House of Representatives approval of Senate Joint Resolution 4 is another example of lawmakers in Americas heartland doing what lawmakers in Washington, DC have proven unable or unwilling to do. Convening a convention of the states through the process laid out in Article V of the U.S. Constitution would help retake the power grabbed by Washington, DC over the centuries and put it back in the hands of the people and the states. Lawmakers in other states should look to Oklahoma as a guide for real leadership on the burgeoning federal deficit and out-of-control spending and take heed of what Oklahomans have done on this important issue. Jesse Hathaway Managing Editor, Budget & Tax News Research Fellow, The Heartland Institute jhathaway(at)heartland.org 312/377-4000 The Oklahoma House did a wonderful thing by combining the efforts of the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force and Convention of States Project into one piece of legislation. This helped to pass the application for an Article V convention of the states and sets an example for how the different movements can work in the future. David Guldenschuh Policy Advisor for Constitutional Reform The Heartland Institute dfg(at)GuldenschuhLaw.com 706/346-3693 The Heartland Institute is a 32-year-old national nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our website or call 312/377-4000. Rodan Energy Solutions Our residential DR offering maximizes consumer choice by enabling multiple DR technologies to enroll onto Rodans EnerVu platform..." Rodan Energy Solutions was selected by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) as Ontario Wide Aggregation Operator & Dispatch Administrator to operate the peaksaverPLUS Demand Response Program for Ontarios Local Distribution Companies (LDCs). As the incumbent aggregation operator, Rodan Energy will continue to efficiently dispatch, support and manage approximately 320,000 Load Control Devices currently enrolled in the residential and small commercial peaksaverPLUS Program. To-date, the program has delivered approximately 160 MW in energy savings in the Province of Ontario when activated. As the Province Wide Aggregation Operator for the IESO, Rodan Energy will continue to provide support for enrolled peaksaverPLUS participants together with the local LDCs to ensure devices can communicate effectively with our multi-vendor Control System. The Dispatch Administrator responsibilities include coordinating communication with the IESO and participating LDC operators with respect to demand response activations. Rodan Energy will remotely activate load control devices to reduce the electricity demand of enrolled appliances and/or equipment on the Ontario electricity grid. In addition, Rodan Energy will provide the IESO with new, forward-thinking methods for safe and efficient operations. As a leading North American provider of demand response and energy intelligence solutions, Rodan Energy is pleased to leverage its world-class Network Operation Centre to support the IESO and Ontarios LDCs by operating a reliable, vendor-neutral and efficient DR platform, stated Paul Grod, Rodan Energys President. Our residential DR offering maximizes consumer choice by enabling multiple DR technologies to enroll onto Rodans EnerVu platform. We are pleased to deliver a full suite of DR and EMIS solutions to commercial, industrial and residential consumers throughout North America. About Rodan Energy Solutions Rodan Energy is a leading smart grid integrator delivering innovative energy solutions to electricity consumers, distributors and power producers. Combining our expertise in metering, demand response, energy information systems and analytics, and engineering we help our clients reduce their total energy spend. Rodan Energy is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario with an Innovation Hub in Kitchener-Waterloo and a Western Region office in Calgary, Alberta. For more information, please visit http://www.rodanenergy.com or contact us at Rodan Energy Solutions, Tel: (866) 999.5006 Financial support will allow us to grow our vision to thread global peaceful connections. with cutting edge technology to expand our one of a kind online platform . On May 1, Sim Shalom launched a one month May fundraising campaign to bolster its ability to provide spiritual services and interactive events that foster peace and connections for its growing global community. The fundraising theme "Give Peace" highlights the central theme of inclusion and acceptance of Jewish Universalism for which Sim Shalom is built. Throughout the month of May, poems, songs and inspirational quotes centered on peace will be featured daily on Sim Shalom's Facebook page. The name Sim Shalom is derived from the Hebrew words to give peace. According to Sim Shalom founder, Rabbi and Cantor Steven Blane, "Sim Shalom requires no membership or fees, we rely solely on donations. Financial support will allow us to grow our vision to thread global peaceful connections with cutting end technology to expand our oneof a kind online platform and community. " To make a tax deductible contribution and view the specially designed "Give Peace" gifts of appreciation, please visit Sim Shalom's Facebook page for more details. You may also access the donation page on the website. Each weeknight Sim Shalom Congregants connect online from around the world building relationships through uplifting song, music, live chat and prayer. In Judaism the Torah asks that one give tzedakah. The tradition is practiced in many conventional synagogues which in addition to temple memberships, asks for building funds for upkeep of buildings, grounds and maintenance. Sim Shalom exists virtually so it has reduced many of those type of expenditures, however investment in production technology to provide state of the art interactive services are essential for the upkeep of the online community. In appreciation to those who participate in the fundraiser "Give Peace" items will be given. The gift giving is based on the numerical 18 which signifies the Hebrew chai or life. There are four levels of suggested contributions named after Judaic biblical foremothers; Sarah donors- contributions of $216 will receive a reusable shopping tote filled with all of the other following gifts: Rebecca donors at a contribution level of $108 will receive a set of 8 inspirational Sim Shalom note cards printed on recyclable papers; Rachel donors at $54 an embroidered kippah, and Leah contributors at $18 -a car decal. Tax deductible contributions at these and other levels will be greatly appreciated. About Sim Shalom and JSLI: Sim Shalom is an interactive online Jewish Universalist synagogue which is liberal in thought and traditional in liturgy. Created in 2009 by Rabbi Steven Blane on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Sim Shalom offers a means of connecting the unconnected. Rabbi Blane leads accessible and short Kabbalat Shabbat services every Friday night using a virtual interface and additionally Sim Shalom provides online education programs, Jazz concerts, conversion and life-cycle ceremonies along with weeknight services at 7:00PM EST led by Rabbis and students of this online community. Rabbi Blane is also the Founder and Dean of the Jewish Spiritual Leader's Institute, a rabbinical school for professionals. Sim Shalom, a non profit 501 (3) tax-exempt organization, nurtures a Jewish connection through its mission of innovative services, creative education and dynamic outreach to the global community. For more information visit http://www.simshalom.com or call 201-338-0165 MedaCheck, a leading medication and disease management platform used to improve adherence, transition of care and quality outcomes, has announced its partnership with GrandView Health Services. With decades of experience, Grandview Health Services is an innovative, independent pharmacy that provides over the counter and prescription drug pharmacy services to thousands of residents. Serving Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and the surrounding region, GrandView Health Services provides comprehensive pharmacy services and consulting to long term care communities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living communities, group homes, and more. Were thrilled to launch this partnership, which continues to show the dedication GrandView Health Services has towards improving the patient experience with progressive product offerings, says William Vollmer, MedaChecks VP of Business Development. In particular, our efforts with this partnership are focused on using innovative and effective technology to improve and better support the transition of care while lowering the risk of hospital readmission. MedaCheck provides a reminder and management device for patients, delivering real-time alerts and messages so that patients take the right dose, at the right time, every time. Helping patients manage all their ongoing prescription and over the counter medications, MedaCheck is available via standalone tablet or app (iOS and Android). Combining technology with behavior support, MedaChecks progressive reminder system includes add-on functionality tying in their clinician, care team and/or caregivers. If a patient does not indicate they have taken medication as prescribed, a follow-up call can be placed to the patient, as well as her clinician, care team, and/or caregiver. With their most recent product release, the platform will now offer additional devices like glucose monitors and blood pressure cuffs to help support chronic conditions like diabetes or CHF. The partnership between MedaCheck and GrandView Health Services will focus on improving transitional care. With access to MedaCheck, patients will be able to use telehealth technology that can provide them with real-time, actionable information that can help them self-manage their health and stay independent. With the inclusion of new quality indicators/quality measures to the CMS 5 Star Rating system for skilled nursing facilities related to successful care transitions and prevention of hospital/SNF readmissions, the need to monitor high risk populations, in the community, has never been greater, says GrandView Health Services Chief Executive Officer and Group President, Mark Prifogle. Affordability is still a key factor to the adoption of telehealth devices. We chose to partner with MedaCheck for our comprehensive transitions of care and hospital readmission mitigation program, not only its robust platform and Bluetooth compatibility, but its inexpensiveness compared to other similar monitoring systems, adds Prifogle. If the home health, hospice or patient refuse to pay for a solution, it has no value because it will not be used. This is not a concern with MedaCheck. Its awesome to see what Jeffrey Shepard and his team have built at MedaCheck by taking advantage of the entire ecosystem of #StartupCincy, adds Wendy Lea, Chief Executive Officer of Cintrifuse, a public-private partnership that enables high-growth startups to prosper in Cincinnati, Ohio. From the seniority span of his staff, to how hes been able to leverage various sources of fundingeven the locations of his offices have been a credit to the diversity of services for startups here in Greater Cincinnati. As a growing number of patients seek digital health solutions to help improve their health, innovative pharmacies, hospitals and other care facilities are turning to affordable, effective, community-based ways to better support at-risk and/or costly patient populations. About MedaCheck MedaCheck is a medication management platform, delivering real-time alerts and patient-specific messages so patients take the right dose, at the right time, every time. Helping patients manage all their ongoing prescription and over the counter medications, MedaCheck is available via standalone tablet or app (iOS and Android). Combining technology with behavior support, MedaChecks progressive reminder system includes the ability to place a follow-up call or text to a patient if they do not indicate they have taken their medication as instructed. Add-on functionality also includes the ability to place calls or texts to the clinician, care team, and/or a patients caregiver if a patient misses a dose. MedaCheck is partnered with Mercy Health, Verizon, The Chris Hospital Network, Home Instead Home Care, Berger Health System, Cardinal Health, the FSA Store, TriHealth and more. Find out more at http://www.medacheck.com About GrandView Health Services With decades of experience, Grandview Health Services is an innovative, independent pharmacy that provides over the counter and prescription drug pharmacy services to thousands of residents. Serving Indiana and the surrounding region, GrandView Health Services provides comprehensive pharmacy services and consulting to long term care communities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living communities, group homes, and more. Our continued success and recognition is due to our enterprise clients trusting Riptide as a technology partner in modernizing their learning technologies Riptide Elements, a configurable LMS offering that delivers training content to any device in any language, was recognized by The Communicator Awards in Social Features Innovation for Mobile and Social Collaboration Community Building and Engagement. With over 6,000 entries received from across the US and around the world, the Communicator Awards is the largest and most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. Elements uses xAPI and a Learning Record Store(LRS) to support social collaboration, gamification, learning goals, and profiles. Elements is helping clients in a non-disruptive way to realize the full potential of the enterprise training ecosystem either enhancing or replacing any existing legacy learning management systems (LMS). The Communicator Awards are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), a 600+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current AIVA membership represents a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including: AirType Studio, Conde Nast, Disney, Keller Crescent, Lockheed Martin, Monster.com, MTV, rabble+rouser, Time Inc., Tribal DDB, Yahoo!, and many others. The work entered in the 22nd Annual Communicator Awards serves as a benchmark in gauging the innovative ideas and capabilities of communications and marketing professionals around the world. Each year, our entrants continue to amaze by reinventing the ways we communicate and market in an ever-changing industry. noted Linda Day, executive director of the Academy Interactive and Visual Arts. Nick Washburn, Director Riptide Learning Division stated, The Elements team is thrilled to be recognized by AIVA and Riptide is grateful to our clients. Our continued success and recognition is due to our enterprise clients trusting Riptide as a technology partner in modernizing their learning technologies. About Riptide Learning The Riptide Learning Division brings Riptide Elements learning products to the web/mobile international market. Elements is a flexible, scalable, and configurable platform of learning services (courseware, LRS, authoring, curriculum management, reporting & analytics, and hosting). Riptide staff members are active participants in the community developing xAPIthe benchmark in learner experience tracking. About The Communicator Awards: The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for communication professionals. Founded by communication professionals over a decade ago, The Communicator Awards is an annual competition honoring the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and identity work for print, video, interactive and audio. This years Communicator Awards received thousands of entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world. The Communicator Awards is sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms. Everything went like clockwork and as planned. AcctTwo, a leading consulting firm and provider of cloud-based financial management solutions, announced that Production Associates has moved to the Intacct financial management and ERP platform. Production Associates (PA) is a live production and broadcast services company specializing in planning, executing and delivering events to audiences worldwide via broadcast, advanced media and in live environments. Over the last thirty years PA's production team has been involved in some of the most interesting Broadcast and Live Event projects ever accomplished. After a rigorous software evaluation, PA chose Intacct over other on-premises and cloud solutions as the best fit to meet the needs of the organization. Previous Business Challenges Faced by Production Associates: Production Associates has multiple entities, some outside the US. Different entities were using different systems for financials, making consolidation of financial information difficult. The finance and accounting team did not have the level of visibility into each entity that they needed. Inter-company transactions were difficult and required manual effort. Vendor comparisons were difficult, and determining project profitability in different currencies was a challenge. Reasons for Selecting Intacct: Implementing Intacct has allowed Production Associates to move all of their financials from different systems for each entity into one system, with consolidated reporting and multi-entity consolidations. Intacct's multi-currency capabilities will simplify and streamline the finance and accounting team's processes. Intacct will provide the company with real-time, automated reports across all entities, giving a much fuller picture from which to make strategic business decisions. Highlighted Comments from Production Associates' Founder & CEO: "Being on one platform has been a huge improvement for us," said Michael Thuney, Founder and CEO at Production Associates. "Intacct will allow us to integrate our financials with our own proprietary software and gives us access to real-time information via easily customizable reports. "As far as AcctTwo's implementation goes, I dont see anything that could have been done better or more efficiently. Everything went like clockwork and as planned." Additional resources: Visit Production Associates on the web Visit accttwo.com Follow the AcctTwo Blog About AcctTwo: AcctTwo is a leading consulting firm and reseller of cloud-based accounting and ERP software. Our sophisticated systems solve the issues growing middle market companies face today. AcctTwo also provides Business-Process-as-a-Service solutions, allowing clients to focus on the core competencies of their business. We provide the people, processes, technology, and office facilities to perform these functions, while allowing clients to collaborate interactively through an on-line portal. AcctTwo is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.accttwo.com or call 713-744-8400. Contacts: Peter Wagner Director of Marketing AcctTwo Cell: 512.415.6846 Email: pwagner(at)accttwo.com Chris Wailes VP, National Media Relations Pierpont Communications Direct: 713.627.2223 Email: cwailes(at)piercom.com Seyem Qwantlen Business Group of the Kwantlen First Nation, and award-winning augmented reality tech company, QuestUpon, held an event on April 15th, 2016, to launch the very first interactive First Nations storytelling quest, titled The Tireless Runner. The event was held at the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster, part of the Traditional Territory of the Kwantlen First Nation. Attendees and witnesses included Chief Marilyn Gabriel, Kwantlen Elders, and others from the Kwantlen community. Also in attendance were dignitaries from the City of New Westminster, representatives from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Tourism New Westminster, and New West Chamber of Commerce. This is an important event for us, as our history is given a new voice. Our storytelling has always been shared orally, which we see is being lost in these modern times. We saw a need to adapt how we can share these stories and history," said Brenda Fernie, Chief Operating Officer and V.P. of Seyem' Qwantlen Business Group. "The majority of people use smartphones, so using mobile technology made sense to us. Working with QuestUpon's innovative technology brings our stories to life and gets people engaged, while they learn and are entertained. This is especially important for our youth, but also helps to raise a greater awareness of our culture and history in the modern world. The event began with a Traditional Welcome Ceremony, followed by a presentation from QuestUpon. After a question and discussion period, Kwantlen First Nation blanketed the founders of QuestUpon, Miles Marziani and Tammy Meyers. This is a ceremony of highest honour and signifies respect for those who have made an important contribution to the Kwantlen First Nation. We were beyond words in receiving this honourable ceremony. Its truly rewarding and inspiring to have our work appreciated in this way, said Tammy Meyers, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of QuestUpon. This ceremony showed us once again how unique and important First Nations culture really is. The quest launched at this event, "The Tireless Runner", (translated from the hnqminm word qa:nn, or 'Kwantlen), starts out in the 1800s by meeting the narrator and historic figure Chief Whittlekainum of the Kwantlen First Nation. Its a historical tour that takes the user on a self-guided path along the New Westminster Quay. On this quest they will learn about the Kwantlen Traditional Territory, interact with characters of the past, see animals of importance, learn about pivotal stories with Simon Fraser, time travel, embark on a scavenger hunt, and more. The Tireless Runner quest is ready to take you on this historical walk. Get started by downloading the free app, QuestUpon, on iPhone or Android. As an educator of veterans, we are fortunate to be able to witness the contributions that military service members make in Corporate America on a daily basis and we salute the employers who are the 2016 honorees. CivilianJobs.com, where America's military connects with civilian careers, announced the winners for the Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military today. Marking the eighth year of its publication in 2016, the MVE recognition serves to help military-experienced job seekers and veterans identify the top employers to target for civilian careers. DeVry University is honored to be able to help recognize the companies who value the contributions of military-experienced employees, said Russell Gill, Vice President, Military Affairs. As an educator of veterans, we are fortunate to be able to witness the contributions that military service members make in Corporate America on a daily basis and we salute the employers who are the 2016 honorees. The 2016 MVE Winners are: -Accenture -AECOM -aetna -AlliedBarton Security Services -Archer Daniels Midland Company -Bank of America -BNSF Railway -CACI International Inc. -Capital One -Capstone Corporation -Charles Schwab & Co. -CSX Corporation -DaVita -Deloitte -Devon Energy Corporation -Domino Amjet, Inc. -Eaton -Edward Jones -Exelon Corporation -FDM Group -First Command Financial Services, Inc. -First Data -Fluor Corporation -Frontier Communications -G4S Secure Solutions, (USA) Inc. -GE -Halfaker and Associates, LLC -Heavy Equipment College of California -Hilton Worldwide -Hyundai Motor America -Intel Corporation -Jdog Junk Removal and Hauling -JPMorgan Chase & Co. -Kaiser Permanente -Leidos -Lendmark Financial Services, LLC -Level 3 Communications -Lockheed Martin Corporation -ManTech International Corporation -Marsh & McLennan Companies -Navy Federal Credit Union -OMNIPLEX World Services Corporation -Ortho Clinical Diagnostics -Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC -Pratt & Whitney -Puget Sound Energy -Ryder System, Inc. -Schneider -Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) -Southern Company -Southwest Airlines -Sprint -STANLEY Security -Summit Technical Solutions, LLC -The Boeing Company -The Home Depot -TMC Transportation -Union Pacific -United Rentals, Inc -Vinnell Arabia -Werner Enterprises -Xcel Energy I congratulate the employers recognized as MVEs today and further thank all of them for their commitment to our countrys veterans and military personnel, said Tim Best, CEO, Bradley-Morris, Inc., parent company of CivilianJobs.com. This years list of Most Valuable Employers for Military winners is a testament to the variety of companies and industries that make it an annual goal to hire transitioning military and veterans. These companies truly embrace and value the level of talent that is ingrained in each military-experienced job seeker. The 2016 Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military presented by DeVry University was open to all U.S.-based companies. The winners were selected based on surveys in which employers outlined their recruiting, training and retention plans that best serve military service members and veterans. In addition to being recognized in the May issue of Military Transition News, CivilianJobs.com's worldwide military base newspaper, winning employers will also be displayed on the CivilianJobs.com web site. To be included on the 2017 award submission deadline notification, companies should send an email request to MVE(at)CivilianJobs(dot)com. About MVE The CivilianJobs.com Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military serves to help military-experienced job seekers identify the top employers to target for civilian careers. MVEs are selected annually based on those employers whose recruiting, training and retention plans best serve military service members and veterans. The MVE recognition is produced by CivilianJobs.com, where America's military connects with civilian careers. CivilianJobs.com, with parent company Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S., together deliver the largest military-to-civilian footprint available to companies seeking to recruit and hire from the military talent pool. BMI is based in metro-Atlanta, Georgia. About Military Transition News (MTN) Published since 2005, Military Transition News is a bi-monthly multi-media publication (print / email / web) featuring practical information for job seekers, including resume and interviewing tips, transition planning and strategy recommendations, company profiles, and advice from transition experts. MTN is distributed to military bases worldwide via military transition classes, through Military Transition Offices (TAP and ACAP), military hospitals, USO centers and email distribution. Karla Jo Helms, CEO of JoTo PR, spoke at the 2016 National Land Conference about PR and it's importance to the industry. PR is about reaching minds: It manages emotions and directs attention. Karla Jo Helms, CEO of JoTo PR, spoke on March 11th, 2016 at the National Land Conference held in the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas regarding the importance of public relations in the real estate industry. The conference for land professionals is hosted by the Realtors Land Institute (RLI), and is available for industry professionals with backgrounds in all segments of the land business to network and build their respective businesses. The National Land Conference engaged Ms. Helms to speak to land professionals not just on the subject of public relations, but also on the broader subject of communications: and how to better connect with their customers, clients, and even politicians that rule the lifeblood of the land. Very importantly, in this relationship building era that we find ourselves, public relations is about relations. Helms is highly touted as the progenitor of an applied public relations technology that does more than just write press releases but actually leads the marketing charge, informing customers and creating demand. The purpose of her presentation was to convince land professionals that utilizing public relations strategies will make a huge difference in how they deal with their market and on their bottom-line, when properly implemented. Furthermore, public relations is vital to forward positive legislation. Creatively implemented, PR creates a favorable market and legislative environment. PR is about reaching minds: It manages emotions and directs attention, Helms stated. As a land professional, public relations technology really is your ultimate weapon. You are dealing with the most basic commodity on Earth Earth and you are living in a time of unprecedented attention on how we manage our natural resources. Your efficient use of PR can help you get ahead of non-optimum legislation before it happens. Helms presentation was very favorably received. It complemented an article she wrote for the winter issue of Terra Firma, RLIs biannual publication, entitled Public Relations: The Land Professionals Ultimate Weapon, which is featured on page 52. About JoTo PR: Based in Clearwater, Florida, JoTo PR is an established Tampa Bay public relations agency headed by public relations veteran and innovator Karla Jo Helms. The PR firm was launched in 2009 to meet a growing demand for new media expertise. JoTo is a hybrid PR agency, blending proven traditional approaches with the latest technology to deliver the best advantages of both worlds. JoTos holistic approach to business PR and marketing begins with strategic planning and leads to a fully integrated program that is designed to optimize communication, improve return on investment (ROI) and expand business opportunities. JoTo PR primarily serves the real estate, healthcare, finance and IT industries. For more information, visit JoTo PR online at http://www.jotopr.com/ About Karla Jo Helms: Karla Jo is the CEO and visionary behind JoTo PR. She has patterned her agency on a combination of her hard-won Public Relations experience, uncompromising high standards and exacting nationwide market research of a cross-section majority of more than 5000 CEOs across multiple industries. She is a hands-on executive who hand picks the PR professionals who work on her team to ensure client results always meet client expectations. Astute in recognizing industry changes, Karla Jo utilizes new established patterns to create timely PR campaigns comprising of traditional and the latest proven media methods. This unique skill enables her to continue to increase the markets reach for clients year after year. About The Realtors Land Institute: The Realtors Land Institute provides the education, tools, advice and networking opportunities that are the foundation for all land professionals to become the best in the businessto become an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC). The Institute continually strives to maintain its status as the association for a global network of land professionals through providing members with the tools and benefits they need to build their business and exceed. AdminaHealth Chief Operations Officer Robert Bull AdminaHealth is revolutionizing the way companies administer their self-funded healthcare plans. We are turning the repetitive and labor-intensive HR functions of self-funded healthcare plans into an easy-to-use single platform with our partners at YASH. AdminaHealth, a comprehensive productivity tool that centralizes, integrates and automates all information related to self-funded benefits plan administration, will unveil its new platform at the SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference held from May 17-19 in Orlando, FL. Hosted by SAP and ASUG, the conference is the largest global business technology event of the year. AdminaHealth COO Robert Bull will present Think Big, Grow Bigger with a Platform That Supports Innovation geared toward small and mid-size companies. SAP invited Bull to speak along with Amit Chaurasia of YASH Technologies following AdminaHealths unprecedented speed to market with a robust and user-friendly platform. AdminaHealth is revolutionizing the way companies administer their self-funded healthcare plans, said Bull. We are turning the repetitive and labor-intensive HR functions of self-funded healthcare plans into an easy-to-use single platform with our partners at YASH Technologies. AdminaHealth is a scalable self-funding platform that enables companies to work with as many vendors as they want medical, Rx, dental, vision, wellness and other voluntary benefits under one simple and intuitive platform without increasing the administrative burden on the HR team. Bull continued, AdminaHealth debunks the myth that bundling all of your services through one integrated vendor saves money. The reality is that while you may save on administrative costs, you lose on competitive rates, flexibility and transparency. When you unbundle services your company invites competition. You can choose the best vendors with the best features at the best rates. AdminaHealth compiles a companys plan, enrollment and payment related functions in one place, along with historical tracking and trending data. The platform serves as a repository of all bank transfers, deposits, payments and healthcare plan-related charges. Employers can quickly view current balances, scheduled payments and any anticipated funding needs in real time. Automated notifications provide the HR team with weekly and monthly reminders, as well as notifications on all exceptions to normal processes. AdminaHealth was built around the idea of improving administrative efficiency and accuracy while reducing time and manpower for repetitive manual processes, said Arthur Jonokuchi, the companys founder and CEO. AdminaHealth revolutionizes healthcare expense administration by providing companies who self-fund an entire healthcare expense management solution on one platform. It takes less than five minutes a week to log-in to AdminaHealth to view and approve claims submitted for payment each week, see reimbursements from stop-loss, and view bank balances. At the end of the month, the platform calculates monthly payments owed to TPAs, the stop-loss provider and other vendors based on each clients plan tiers and rates as well as vendor headcount enrollments. AdminaHealth automatically calculates, reconciles and reports monthly true-ups and issues electronic payments, typically reducing the HR teams end-of-the-month time commitment to less than fifteen minutes. AdminaHealth was developed with participation from Salus Finance, a nationally recognized health and benefits insurance brokerage firm and an actuarial product development team. The platform is powered by SAP HANA, partnered with YASH Technologies for quality and dependability assurance. AdminaHealth is open for on-boarding any time during the year. For more information, visit http://www.adminahealth.com or call 203-973-7520. To request a demo, contact demo(at)adminahealth(dot)com. About AdminaHealth AdminaHealths automated expense management platform helps companies administer their self-funded healthcare plans. AdminaHealth is a comprehensive solution that provides HR and Finance teams with real-time reporting and facilitates all payments on stop-loss, medical, Rx, dental, vision, wellness, and other voluntary benefits. AdminaHealths one-of-a-kind technology offers greater efficiency, transparency and analytics while reducing the time and manpower required for repetitive manual processes. ### SAP, SAPPHIRE, SAP HANA and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE (or an SAP affiliate company) in Germany and other countries. See http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. The Global Student Challenge, powered by the Supply Chain Finance Community, is an annual challenge for students across the globe who are interested in supply chain finance. This Challenge is based on The Cool Connection, a simulation specifically designed around bridging the physical and financial supply chain. The challenge is to make the best strategic and tactical decisions to save the virtual company, The Cool Connection, from financial ruin. The best students can win a trip to the Netherlands and a total of 20,000 in cash prizes! The Global Student Challenge addresses the need for knowledge and product development in the area of Supply Chain Finance (SCF) and aims to bridge the gap between the academic world and the corporate sector. The Challenge is aimed at stimulating interaction between corporates, banks and knowledge institutions. Part of this is a new talent program: The Talent Connection. The Talent Connection facilitates companies in finding the best students for both internship and job opportunities. By participating in the Challenge, students are assessed based on their performance, skills and capabilities, which create a unique profile of each student. Starting today the Qualification Phase is open and students can register and form teams to start the Challenge. Starting out with only needing to obtain a positive Return on Investment (ROI), the students can qualify. Later on they need to distinguish themselves as one of the best in their region in order to be able to proceed to the next rounds. From this year on, some universities will also organize a Regional Final on site. Winners of these Regional Finals have a guaranteed spot in the Global Final! Any university interested in organizing a Regional Final, can report to the organizing committee: info(at)globalstudentchallenge(dot)org For registration and more information please visit the new website: http://www.globalstudentchallenge.org ____________________________________________________________________________ Notes for editors The Global Student Challenge is organized by the SCF Community, a not-for profit organisation dedicated to sharing experience, best practice and new research on Supply Chain Finance. This interdisciplinary community bridges Finance, Treasury, Supply Chain Operations, Logistics and Procurement functions. The SCF Community was founded by universities and business schools from more than 25 countries and supported by a range of companies and banks. Its mission is to share the opportunities, challenges, benefits, costs, methodologies, tools and instruments of Supply Chain Finance. For further information, please see http://www.scfcommunity.org or http://www.dinalog.nl. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences is hosting the grand final of the student competition in April 2017. With 20.300 students, thousands of other study participants and more than 1.800 members of staff, Windesheim is one of the biggest universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. Supply Chain Finance is one of the focus areas of the Strategic Entrepreneurship Research Centre and headed by Michiel Steeman, Professor of Supply Chain Finance. Please visit http://www.windesheiminternational.nl for more information. The Cool Connection is a web based learning experience and business simulation launched by Inchainge B.V. with a focus on the connection between the physical and financial supply chain. Inchainge specializes in web based learning experiences including The Cool Connection and The Fresh Connection. Together with its partner network spanning all continents its simulations are incorporated in the learning programs of companies, banks, universities and business schools around the globe. Please visit http://www.thecoolconnection.org or http://www.thefreshconnection.biz for more information. For more information, contact: Global Student Challenge support team info(at)globalstudentchallenge(dot)org For more information on the SCF Community contact: Mike Hewitt, Managing Director, Adaugeo Media: mikeh(at)adaugeomedia(dot)com Tel Mob: +44 7824 829147 Office: +44 20 3086 7753 "Even if they come with a glowing review from your sister-in-law, you still need to check the credentials of every professional on your short list, said Dan DiClerico, Consumer Reports home and appliance content specialist. Homeowners have to be vigilant in selecting the right team for that next renovation project, as the demand for remodeling work could outpace the supply of quality professionals, says Consumer Reports in its recent Home Remodelers Survival Guide. The construction industry is in the throes of a massive labor shortage, having shed more than 2 million jobs since 2007. A recent survey of 300 general contractors from around the country conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center suggests there are still less experiencedand less scrupulouscontractors out there. Among the potential shady industry practices that general contractors reported to CR about their peers were winning jobs with lowball bids and then jacking up the cost later with unforeseen problems (35%), using unskilled or inexperienced laborers (31%) to carry out their work, and taking on more jobs than they could handle at once. In addition, 24 percent of contractors reported that other pros overcharge for materials. While 69 percent of the contractors in CRs survey reported they are licensed, registered and insured, 31 percent said they were not; almost a fifth of general contractors lacked either a state license or the proper insurance, and 9 percent lacked both. Though proper credentials arent a guarantee of quality, theyre a good sign that the general contractor runs a reputable business. Whats more, CRs survey found that fully accredited general contractors are better at holding down costs when unexpected problems arise. Even if they come with a glowing review from your sister-in-law, you still need to check the credentials of every professional on your short list, said Dan DiClerico, Consumer Reports home and appliance content specialist. Proper planning is the best predictor of satisfaction, and helps to minimize costly changes once the work is underway. For more information on Consumer Reports Home Remodeler's Survival Guide, including reviews of home-services directory websites such as Angieslist.com, Checkbook.org, Homeadvisor.com, Houzz.com, and Porch.com, visit ConsumerReports.org starting May 2, or pick up a copy of the June issue of Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports survey also found homeowners should always negotiate the costs of a renovation project. There may be more wiggle room in an estimate than most people think. Only 4 percent of the general contractors in CRs survey said they are never willing to negotiate the price of a job (66 percent are somewhat willing, and 30 percent are very willing). According to CRs survey, the median profit margin that contractors build into their estimates was 25 percent. Keeping the business of a repeat customer was the biggest reason to haggle, cited by 75 percent of general contractors, who reported offering a median discount of 10 percent. So if theres more work coming down the line, be sure to mention that during negotiations. Combining projects could also save in the long run: Two-thirds of general contractors said they offer discounts on jobs involving more than one room. Even with the best plans in place, Consumer Reports survey suggests homeowners should be prepared for surprises. When CR asked general contractors about job-related problems that lead to delays or cost overruns, they said that many of the culprits are hidden behind wallsstructural damage. Among the contractors in CRs survey that experienced such problems, the most common that lead to costly overruns were existing structural damage (42%), materials arriving broken or different from what was ordered (31 %) and getting permits (30%). More information on the survey, tips on selecting the right team for the next renovation project, and CRs guide to renovation without aggravation can be found on ConsumerReports.org starting May 2 or in the June Issue of Consumer Reports. About Consumer Reports Consumer Reports is the worlds largest and most trusted nonprofit, consumer organization working to improve the lives of consumers by driving marketplace change. Founded in 1936 Consumer Reports has achieved substantial gains for consumers on health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other issues. The organization has advanced important policies to cut hospital-acquired infections, prohibit predatory lending practices and combat dangerous toxins in food. Consumer Reports tests and rates thousands of products and services in its 50 plus labs, state-of-the-art auto test center and consumer research center. Consumers Union, a division of Consumer Reports, works for pro-consumer laws and regulations in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace. With more than eight million subscribers to its flagship magazine, website and other publications, Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, payment or other support from the companies whose products it evaluates. 30 2016 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports is an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports, ConsumerReports.org and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent commercial use of its materials, its name, or the name of Consumer Reports. Native Rank, Inc., a highly-revered industry leader in digital marketing, web design, and online search solutions, has been named an American Express Member Favorite for the second consecutive year. The American Express Member Favorite program acknowledges reputable companies that their card members choose to visit and conduct business with time and time again, rendering it a credible organization so you can rest easy knowing youre protected and in good hands. Being an AMEX Member Favorite indicates a business integrity and allegiance to their respective community. It is an honor to be recognized by American Express and their Member Favorite Program for the second consecutive year. As an organization, customer rapport and satisfaction is always at the forefront of each and every one our business initiatives. Ensuring a quality product, while uniquely understanding and solving our customers needs, is at the core of Native Ranks business philosophy. Being strategically aligned with American Express has only helped to corroborate those efforts, and for that we are truly grateful, Native Rank CEO, George Avery, offered on being selected for American Express 2016 Member Favorite program. Native Rank was established six years ago on Averys insight of the significance of having a strong search presence for all businesses- from mom and pop shops to Fortune 1,000 firms- in the ever-evolving digital space, as well as his ambition to change the virtual landscape for companies on a national scale. In recognizing the importance of having a tenacious online presence in todays digital climate, Native Rank facilitates greater online visibility for their clients by utilizing innovative and strategic digital marketing solutions. ABOUT NATIVE RANK, INC. Founded in 2010, Native Rank is a performance-driven digital marketing company with a history for generating great results in an array of industries across the globe. With services in both local and national SEO, PPC, web design, social media, and more, Native Ranks ambition to be the worlds most innovative, customer-centric, and comprehensive digital marketing company is second to none, as exemplified by their recent alliance with Google as an AdWords Premier SMB Partner. By achieving this milestone, Native Rank has proven to be an industry leader in meeting and exceeding the highest standards of clients advertising experiences and expectations. The customer transparency and rapport they possess, the high-performance local and national campaigns they execute, and the expertise they have in more than generating traffic towards your business, but also accruing you actual customers has set the benchmark for the digital marketing industry. To find out more about Native Rank and their digital solutions, visit http://www.nativerank.com. Health Technology Forum (HTF) will hold the fifth annual Innovation Conference at Stanford on May 22-23 highlighting new models, technologies and ideas that are transforming healthcare. This years conference theme, Common Good will feature one and half days of programs designed to spark collaboration and thought leadership amongst those bringing innovation to the healthcare sector. The conference brings together leading service providers, entrepreneurs, researchers, policy makers, physicians and academics to share ideas and innovations in the quickly changing healthcare horizon. The conference will be focusing on advancements in Population Health, Applications bettering the Underserved and showcasing new delivery models for enabling Home and Community Based Care. This years conference promises to be exciting and thought provoking as the pace of ideas in the health technology space is quickly accelerating, says HTF founder Pronoy Saha. Its especially an honor to bring our community to Stanford on our 5th year anniversary where more than 60 speakers will take the stage. The conference offers keynotes, panels, demos, workshops, and expo. The conference will aid collaboration, knowledge sharing and networking amongst enthusiastic participants from industry, startups, providers, government, NGOs, funders, sponsors and members. We see this as a great opportunity to connect our faculty members, researchers, and students who are passionate about improving care, as well as collaborating with this dynamic community of thought leaders who are so determined about improving the care for all globally, commented Dr. Todd Ferris, MD, Chief Technology Officer, Stanford School of Medicine. About the Health Technology Forum The Health Technology Forum is an association dedicated to improving access to affordable healthcare by promoting the development and adoption of innovative technologies to transform health. Founded in 2010, HTF promotes the intersection of healthcare and technology by connecting people worldwide who have common interest in making healthcare better, more accessible and affordable for everyone. There are currently 17 chapters worldwide across 3 continents. Healthcare for the people, by the people. For more information, visit http://www.healthtechnologyforum.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Press Contacts for Health Technology Forum: Karin Bauer 408-594-9224 kedana01(at)gmail(dot)com Griffin Damron 414-305-1923 gdamron96(at)gmail(dot)com The Sixth Annual Lifestyle Intervention Conference (LIC), an American Addiction Centers (AAC) event, will be held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV from October 1719, 2016. The Nevada Chapter of the National Association of Social Work (NASW) will be co-hosting the event. This years conference will offer presentations featuring new treatment tracks, industry exhibitors, best practice workshops, and networking opportunities. Of the 72 million Americans facing addiction, many also struggle with undiagnosed process addiction, which can be just as debilitating as chemical dependency. The Lifestyle Intervention Conference is the fastest growing event in the nation to address this specific issue. LIC began with the desire to build a network of resources for the community of providers who serve those struggling with addiction. This annual event has grown into the most critical, industry-changing event to impact the health and wellness communities in decades. Conference attendees will have an opportunity to receive Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for their professional credentials. In addition to the educational aspects of the conference, the conference provides a relaxed but professional atmosphere for networking and building relationships with Addiction Professionals, Social Workers, Case Managers, Interventionists, Nurses, Physicians, Therapists, Professional Counselors, and Psychologists. About American Addiction Centers American Addiction Centers is a leading provider of inpatient substance abuse treatment services. We treat clients who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate 26 substance abuse treatment facilities. Located throughout the United States, these facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and treatment solutions. For more information, please find us at AmericanAddictionCenters.org or follow us on Twitter @AAC_Tweet. About the National Association of Social Workers NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with a national membership of over 132,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards of the profession, and advance sound social policies. For more information, please contact us at naswnv.org or follow on Twitter @naswnv American Addiction Centers Brentwood, TN 37027 AAC Media Contact: Cynthia Johnson (615) 587-7728 Mediarequest(at)contactAAC(dot)com NorthWinds top-notch technical resources helps strengthen our capabilities in the delivery of advanced automation, performance management and orchestration tools for our clients. Sirius Computer Solutions, Inc., a leading national IT solutions integrator, has entered into a business transition agreement with NorthWind Consulting Services, LLC, wherein NorthWinds leadership team and all technical resources will become employees of Sirius, forming a new practice within Sirius Software Solutions and Services organization. The agreement, which was finalized on April 30, allows Sirius to deliver advanced IT service management (ITSM) and application performance management (APM) solutions and services to clients. NorthWind Consulting, located in Issaquah, Washington, was founded in 1995 by Michael Todd. Over the last decade, NorthWind has grown its business and reputation in the IT operations management space focused on ITSM and APM solutions. As an IBM Premier Business Partner, NorthWind specializes in providing IT service management solutions that include IBM Tivoli, Security and Control Desk products. Sirius continues to invest in software solutions and services skills, and gaining NorthWinds top-notch technical resources helps strengthen our capabilities in the delivery of advanced automation, performance management and orchestration tools for our clients. We also extend our expertise in IT service desk, IT operations and network management, and cloud services, said Rick Bailer, senior VP of Software Solutions and Services at Sirius. We have partnered with NorthWind on many projects in the past, and have seen firsthand its commitment to delivering best-of-breed technologies and excellent service quality. We are excited to grow our ITSM and APM services practice with the addition of the NorthWind team. I am thrilled to be joining the Sirius family. Sirius is known for investing in technical resources and expertise, and I am excited our team has the opportunity to grow its ITSM practice within the Sirius organization, said Michael Todd, owner and chief technology officer of NorthWind. As IBMs largest solution provider in the world, Sirius has deep access to IBM resources that will benefit our clients. Additionally, Sirius partnerships with other leading technology manufacturers will help propel our combined business growth strategy in other emerging ITSM technologies. The NorthWind employees will be immediately integrated into the Sirius Software Solutions and Services organization. About Sirius Computer Solutions: Sirius is a national integrator of technology-based business solutions that span the data center and lines of business. Built on products and services from the worlds top technology companies, Sirius solutions are installed, configured and supported by our dedicated teams of highly certified experts. Sirius is focused on helping organizations of all sizes reduce cost and complexity, improve service levels, and minimize risk through the implementation of strategic solutions that include cloud, analytics, mobility, security, IT infrastructure optimization and more. For more information about Sirius, visit http://www.siriuscom.com. Contact Information: Vin Tugade, Director, Corporate Communications, Sirius Computer Solutions Phone: 801-964-4906; E-mail: vin.tugade(at)siriuscom(dot)com All brand, service and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Insurent Agency Corporation (Insurent) on April 27, 2016 filed a copyright infringement lawsuit (Civil Action No. 16-CV-3076) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., The Hanover Insurance Company, Inc. and The Guarantors Agency (theguarantors.com), collectively the Defendants. The Insurent Lease Guaranty Program, developed by Insurent and underwritten by Argonaut Insurance Company, is the first and leading guarantor of residential leases in the country accepted by landlords and owners representing over 375,000 rental units. The Complaint alleges the following: *The Defendants committed copyright infringement by copying word for word the original and copyrighted legal documents for use with owners, landlords and prospective tenants that Insurent created and registered with the United States Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. *The Defendants are using an exact copy of Insurents copyrighted documents titled the Lease Rental Bond Policy and the Tenant Participation Agreement without permission or authorization from Insurent. *Defendants' copying and use of Insurent's copyrighted documents constitutes an illegal shortcut to gain entry to the lease guaranty market, a market uniquely developed by Insurent. *The Complaint seeks damages and injunctive relief. *Plaintiff Insurent has also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with the Court, seeking to enjoin the Defendants from copying or distributing the infringing insurance documents during the pendency of the lawsuit. About Insurent The Insurent Lease Guaranty Program was created to serve renters, landlords, condo/coop owners, and brokers and relocation specialists by offering the first institutional guarantor of residential leases. It is now accepted in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, and Washington D.C. The Insurent Lease Guaranty Program has been featured in the New York Times, The Real Deal, The New York Real Estate Journal, Real Estate Weekly and Multi-Housing News. The Insurent Lease Guaranty Program is underwritten and issued by Argonaut Insurance Company, a property and casualty insurance company rated A (Excellent) by A. M. Best. IBE draws Buyers, Consumers and Press from all over the world seeking to discover the next unique beauty brand. This years Indie Beauty Expo (IBE) will kick off in Los Angeles at the historical Shrine Expo Hall. The event will be broken up over two days this year. The first day will cater to consumers, whereas the second day will be dedicated to retailers in the beauty world. Airelle is excited to participate among other independent beauty, lifestyle, and wellness brands. Launched in 2015, IBE presents the largest collection of independent beauty brands from North America, Europe and Asia. In 2015, Airelle Skincare was officially launched to the physician market. Through the launch, the two founders, Stephen and Kasey DAmato, fulfilled their goal of bringing an all-natural line of anti-aging products to the market. Many of the top Beverly Hills, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists/ Medspas have been early adopters of the Airelle brand and are excited to recommend the products to their patients. Airelle's mission is to improve and protect the skin with its unique all natural formula much like the IBEs mission is to improve the market for independent beauty brands. "It is a pleasure to be a part of such an amazing movement like the IBE. Their mission to nurture the success of the indie community by building a powerful and internationally-relevant platform from which indie entrepreneurs can showcase their brands is an exciting event to be a part of." said Kasey D'Amato, Co-Founder of Airelle Skincare. Airelle Skincare is proud to participate in this event and support the IBE. The full product line will be sold at special event pricing. The event takes place on Wednesday May 4th and Thursday May 5th at the Shrine Expo Hall. Tickets are available for consumers to purchase at http://www.axs.com/events/308177/indie-beauty-expo-consumer-event-tickets. About Airelle Airelle Skincare, LLC is a company that produces high quality natural anti-aging skin care. The Airelle Skincare photoprotective philosophy of skin care is a result of innovative ideas from its two founders; a television first Assistant Director and his wife, an aesthetic dermatology PA. The two collaborated with leading dermatologists from around the world to develop a modern product line that helps slow the aging process through unique photo protective science. Airelle Skincare is a living testament to the unique collaboration of Hollywood and science, as well as the founders' passion for helping people protect and beautify their skin. For more information visit airelleskin.com. Walker Zangers new Sketchbook collection combines organic inspiration with unique paint-strokes. Our new collections offer designers and contractors a wide range of options for commercial spaces, whether that be practical wall tile for a new restaurant, or 3-D elements for a bold statement wall in a luxury hotel Walker Zanger will attend the Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo) from May 4-6 in booth #8095. The company will showcase its newest tile offerings for commercial design and hospitality including Kaza, Sketchbook, and a debut of the Architek collection. Our new collections offer designers and contractors a wide range of options for commercial spaces, whether that be practical wall tile for a new restaurant, or 3-D elements for a bold statement wall in a luxury hotel, said Walker Zanger Vice President of Design and Marketing Jared Becker. TWEET THIS: New @WalkerZanger tile collections for #hospitality & commercial use displayed at @hdexposhow booth 8095. #hdexpo16 http://bit.ly/24jak9U Walker Zangerthe worlds most comprehensive stone and tile companydeveloped the new Architek collection specifically for larger trade and commercial projects as a utilitarian wall covering, combining practical design aesthetic with durability. Architek is a glazed porcelain tile suitable for both walls and flooring, and comes in a variety of blue hues. It provides architects access to a more affordable wall covering option backed by the Walker Zanger brand. Other notable new tile collections on display at the show include: --Kaza: Striking an impeccable balance of artistry and technology, the Kaza collection incorporates tactile 3-D elements for bold accent walls, with a sensitive balance of style and innovation for the modern home. --Sketchbook: Combined with organic inspiration, artisans bring the new Sketchbook collection to life with unique paint-strokes in every tile. Carefully hand-painted, the bold black lines reflect the work of the artisans who create them. No two tiles are exactly alike, giving homeowners a personalized design that cannot be replicated anywhere else. To set up an interview with Jared Becker during the show, please contact Luis D. Sosa at 916-285-9835. To learn more about Walker Zanger and its line of products, please visit walkerzanger.com. About Walker Zanger For more than 60 years, Walker Zanger, the worlds most comprehensive stone and tile company, combines traditional tile-making techniques with a modern sophistication that transcends any singular design style. A leading choice for design professionals and consumers, Walker Zanger natural stone and tile products can be found in luxury homes, trendy boutiques, lavish spas and resorts, famed museums and fine restaurants around the globe. Walker Zanger is available through 14 beautiful showrooms and more than 150 authorized dealers nationwide. To learn more about Walker Zanger and its line of products visit http://www.walkerzanger.com. About Hospitality Design Exposition HD Expo is the premier trade show and hospitality conference for its industry. Presented by Hospitality Design, it remains at the forefront by offering the newest and most innovative products and services, encouraging and sharing ideas, providing inspiration and connecting hospitality professionals. HD Expo is dedicated to bringing the interior design industry, architects, owners/operators, developers, specifiers and purchasers the best available resources for their projects. This includes the most informative conference sessions led by top specialists pertinent to todays industry. Last Name Brewing Call us whatever you want. Were still the same people, making the same great beer. On May 1 this year, Upland-based microbrewery Dale Bros Brewery will change its name to Last Name Brewing. Established in 2003 by Brewmaster Curt Dale, Dale Bros Brewery, known for its flagship amber lager Pomona Queen, was one of the founding breweries of the Los Angeles-area craft beer movement. In 2007, Curts brother Andy Dale joined the company to head up business development and help with the brewerys first substantial expansion. The two brothers picked up a love of brewing in their 20s, winning ribbons at the LA County Fair for their home brews. Being two brothers with the last name Dale, it seemed like calling the company Dale Bros Brewery was a natural, said Curt Dale. As the brewerys popularity grew, the owners decided to trademark their name. However, the United States Patent and Trademark Office turned down the application. It turns out theres another Dale in craft brewing, and in all fairness, he was here first, Andy Dale said. Curt Dale said, While it was really hard to think about giving up our companys name, we knew it was the right thing to do. Our brewery was growing and everything just kept pointing back to the business necessity of operating under a unique name that would be protected in the marketplace, said Andy Dale. The Dale Bros team brainstormed options for a new name with their Pasadena-based branding and advertising agency Echo-Factory. We wanted something that we could transition our existing branding to easily and that captured the feel of who we are, said brewery co-owner, Karen McMillen, who heads up Dale Bros marketing. Wed been working with Echo-Factory for a few years to develop our existing branding. Theyre both amazingly creative and they really get us, so we knew right away theyd be the right people to help us through this process. Branding is the ultimate expression of a company as an entity... So it takes a lot of effort, dedication and affection to do it right. Weve worked with Dale Bros for many years to develop this right kind of branding something that perfectly captures their unique black sheep personality. So, of course, it was bittersweet working with them to come up with a new name. But, in the end, we believe we found a name that holds true to the brand that weve all worked so hard to develop, said Dea Goldsmith, Chief Creative Officer at Echo-Factory. With the boom in the craft beer industry over the last decade, trying to come up with a new name that both fit us AND that we could trademark was a challenge, McMillen said. It is extremely important that as craft breweries grow and expand their footprint they have a trademark for their brewery name. The effect of someone to be able to force you to change your name once you have spent money on packaging and distribution could be devastating to a small company. That said, it is also quite difficult to find a name that someone else hasnt already used in connection with alcohol, says Candace Moon, Craft Beer Attorney. Together, Echo-Factory and Dale Bros decided on the new name Last Name Brewing. There was something about it that we just really liked. Its fun in that it refers back to our companys origins, but its also inclusive in a Your Name Here kind of way. Weve been called the Cheers of breweries a comfortable place where everyone feels at home so it works on that level, too, said McMillen. One of our brewers jokes that we chose it because it was the last name available for trademarking in beer, said Curt Dale, Were hoping its the last name well ever have to give our company. With the new name in place, Last Name Brewing will continue to supply beer to craft beer lovers both in its Upland tap room and in restaurants, bars and retail stores in the Inland Empire. The brand is now poised to grow outside the hyper-local area as well. Andy Dale said, Call us whatever you want. Were still the same people, making the same great beer. For more information about Dale Bros Brewery / Last Name Brewing, go to http://www.dalebrosbrewery.com/ Facebook: dalebrosbrewery Instagram: @dalebrosbrew Twitter: @dalebrosbrewery You Tube: DaleBrosBrewery By every measure, GMS has been a resounding success, changing the lives of the students whose education it has made possible. - Larry Griffith, UNCF SVP of Programs and Student Services UNCFs high-impact scholarship initiative, the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, today announced its final class of high school recipients. Each of the 1,000 students, who must demonstrate financial need, will be awarded a scholarship that can be used to pursue a degree in any undergraduate major and selected graduate programs at accredited colleges or universities of his or her choosing. The GMS program is known for its recipients high graduation rates across the nations top institutions: a six-year graduation rate in excess of 90 percent, more than 50 percent higher than the national graduation rate for students of color and comparable to the success rate of students from much more prosperous families. GMS provides recipients with leadership development opportunities, mentoring, academic and social support as well as financial support. In addition, continuing Gates Millennium Scholars can request a fellowship for a graduate degree program in one of the following academic disciplines: computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science. The class of 2016, selected from a pool of 53,000 applicants, will be the final cohort of Gates Millennium Scholars, as the program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation meets its goal of selecting 20,000 students from low-income backgrounds. UNCF will administer the GMS Program through its conclusion in 2028-29. The dividends from the foundations investment in the Gates Millennium Scholars Program have reached far beyond the students who have participated directly, said UNCF President and CEO Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. It has strengthened UNCFs capacity to create the next generation of leaders and allowed us to leverage other substantial gifts that will also positively impact deserving students of color from low-income backgrounds. Further, by changing deeply rooted perceptions about the educational potential of these young women and mennot just Gates Millennium Scholars, but all high-achieving students of colorthe GMS program has greatly enhanced the value society places on them, not only as students, but as professionals, citizens and leaders. We heartily welcome the class of 2016 into the GMS family. Established in 1999 with the goal of developing Leaders for Americas Future, the GMS program is funded by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making it the largest single gift to a scholarship provider. Each year, the program enables more than 5,000 students who must be African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander or Hispanic American to attend and graduate from more than 1,100 of the most selective private and public schools in the country. These include Ivy League colleges, flagship state universities, UNCF-member historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions. This years cohort represents 45 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Gates Millennium Scholars have been chosen for the Marshall Scholars, Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, Gates Cambridge Scholars and White House Fellows programs. We are excited to welcome the class of 2016 Gates Millennium Scholars, said Larry Griffith, senior vice president of programs and student services for UNCF. Their GMS program peers have already demonstrated that students from these backgrounds are rich in talent and that they excel at the highest levels in any of the nations colleges and universities they choose to attend. I am confident that this cohort of extraordinary students will add to the depth and breadth of the GMS program and continue to carry out a long-standing legacy of academic excellence. By every measure, GMS has been a resounding success, changing the lives of the students whose education it has made possible. We look forward to the positive impact the program will have on the lives of these new Gates Millennium Scholars and, in turn, how they will enhance the communities of their choice. UNCF annually awards more than $100 million via 10,000 scholarships each year. Through GMS, UNCF has partnered with the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund to select and provide service to Gates Millennium Scholars. Click here to view the Class of 2016 Gates Millennium Scholars listed by last name. Click here to view the Class of 2016 Gates Millennium Scholars listed by home state/U.S. territory. About GMS The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding low-income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose. Continuing Gates Scholars may request funding for a graduate degree program in one of the following discipline areas: computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence by providing thousands of outstanding students, who have significant financial need, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Learn more at http://www.gmsp.org. About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org. For continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter, at @UNCF. It is crucial that top performing companies obtain the competitive benchmarks and best practices reported in CCBS. - Joni Thomas Doolin | Founder, People Report The 2016 People Report Corporate Compensation and Benefits Survey (CCBS) has been launched by TDn2K. This annual survey reveals decisive information about competitive compensation and how restaurant companies can craft attractive benefit packages in order to improve recruiting and retention The labor market for professional workers as well as operations managers has tightened significantly since last year," said Joni Thomas Doolin, CEO of TDn2K. "We are already observing shifts in hiring practices, as time to fill open positions and vacancy rates are steadily increasing. It is crucial that top performing companies obtain the competitive benchmarks and best practices reported in CCBS. The objective of this research is answering key questions for leaders in the restaurant industry regarding the latest trends in employee compensation and rewards practices. The CCBS is available for participation now. The survey is open to all chain restaurant companies and there is no fee to participate. Participating People Report members receive a complimentary copy of the results*. Our research has shown that pay and benefits can be and are often tied to employee retention and key business metrics like sales and traffic growth. Knowing what the market is saying regarding those rewards practices is crucial for high-performing organizations when setting and evaluating their rewards strategies. CCBS is designed to deliver that key market knowledge, said Victor Fernandez, Executive Director of Insights at TDn2K. The 2015 Corporate Compensation and Benefits Survey provided some of the most compelling industry insights on salary, benefits and payroll costs for restaurant brands across all segments including: On average 68% of restaurant managers and 42% of hourly employees received a base pay increase in 2014. The average merit base pay increase for restaurant level employees and managers was 3.2%. The corporate office function that represents the largest percentage of payroll costs on average is Finance and Planning. The average bonus earned in 2014 by corporate office managers represented 8% of their base salary. Restaurant managers in quick service tend to receive a lower number of vacation days on average than managers in other industry segments. 80% of casual dining companies offer a dental plan for their full time hourly employees. This years survey includes the following new additions: Compensation analysis for corporate office positions will include first and third quartile metrics along with data on the number of direct reports per position. Over 20 additional positions including: Chief Development Officer, Manager/Director Field Human Resources, Head of Risk Management, Manager of Employee Relations, Manager Field Marketing, and more. Free results webinar in late summer to unveil and discuss results for participants. Results will be shared in aggregate form only; no individual companys results will be shared publicly. In order to learn more about participating, please visit http://bit.ly/24u6LKH or contact Sarah Atkinson Higgins (sarah(at)atkinson-higgins(at)tdn2k(dot)com). TDn2K (Transforming Data into Knowledge) is the parent company of People Report, Black Box Intelligence and White Box Social Intelligence. People Report provides service-sector human capital and workforce analytics for its members on a monthly basis. Black Box Intelligence provides weekly financial and market level data for the restaurant industry. White Box Social Intelligence delivers unparalleled consumer insights and reveals online brand health. Together they report on over 36,000 restaurant units, over 1.5 million employees and $61 billion in sales. They are also the producers of two leading restaurant industry conferences: Summer Brand Camp and the Global Best Practices Conference each held annually in Dallas, Texas. *There is a fee to receive results for non-members and companies who do not participate in the study. While we honor our past, we must also look toward the future and focus on reaching more people with resources to escape the complex realities of poverty and homelessness. St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore is celebrating 150 years of serving Baltimore area residents facing hunger, homelessness, unemployment and poverty. Started just after the end of the Civil War at Baltimores Basilica of Assumption, the first members sought to live their faith by caring for others, becoming pioneers in the development of social programs to help the poor. They attended to the basic needs of the poor, providing food, clothing and coal for heating homes. For most of its history, St. Vincent de Paul consisted of three principal functions: parish conferences, the summer camp, and the collection bureau thrift store. In the decades since, the organization significantly expanded its community services, adding programs focused on housing, homeless services, employment training and counseling, early childhood education, and services that focus on assisting individuals and families in need with a goal of breaking the cycle of poverty. Since our founding, St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore has always sought to meet the challenges of poverty faced by Baltimore, said St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore President & CEO John Schiavone. While we honor our past, we must also look toward the future and focus on reaching more people with resources to escape the complex realities of poverty and homelessness. One hundred fifty years later, the organization has grown to be one of the largest human service nonprofits in Maryland, reaching thousands of city and county residents annually through 13 programs, and a yearly operating budget over $20 million. Maryland, with its world-renowned universities, hospitals, corporations, and historic attractions, ranks first in the nation in median household income, yet on any given night more than 3,500 men, women and children are homeless in the Baltimore area, with one in four people living in poverty, said Schiavone. St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore seeks to break the cycle of poverty, providing early childhood education, employment training and resources, shelter and housing to give the people and families of Baltimore the best opportunity to reach their full potential. As part of commemorating the 150th years of serving Baltimore, St. Vincent de Paul will launch a new event, Flashlight, a one-night sleep out to raise awareness and financial support for their programs that serve families and individuals struggling with homelessness. The event will be held Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Timonium Fairgrounds infield, featuring live bands, food trucks, games and more in solidarity for the homeless. For more information, visit Flashlightevent.org. Recognizing the need to invest in the future, the organization has launched the For Your Love Alone 150th Anniversary Capital Campaign with the goal to raise $10 million for the expansion and renovation of the Sarahs Hope, Mount Street family shelter and to update the organizations information technology and infrastructure. St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore is proud to play a part in supporting the thousands of Baltimoreans who are working hard to move beyond the challenges of poverty and achieve a better future for themselves and for our community, said Schiavone. We look forward to building on our strong foundation for the next 150 years providing resources to help people escape poverty and homelessness and improve their quality of life, Schiavone added. St Vincent de Paul of Baltimores highlights of 2015 accomplishments include: Homelessness: 754 individuals placed in housing 264 families sheltered 10,517 households helped with eviction and utility assistance Hunger: 1,276,002 meals served to children and adults 50,791 individuals provided assistance with groceries Childhood Poverty: 809 low-income children provided early childhood education 760 low-income families provided supportive services 416 homeless and low Income children attended summer camp Unemployment: 338 individuals enrolled in occupational skills training 620 individuals received employment counseling 309 individuals placed in jobs To see more from the 150 years of St. Vincent de Paul, visit the 2015 Annual Report at http://www.vincentbaltimore.org. St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore is a leading provider of community services to people suffering from the effects of homelessness, hunger, unemployment and childhood poverty in Baltimore, Maryland. With an operating budget of over $20 million per year, 13 programs, 243 staff members, and more than 3,500 volunteers, St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore works to move its clients and the community beyond poverty. http://www.vincentbaltimore.org The Civilian Corps of the U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) recognizes National Nurses Week as a time to honor the civilian nurses that care for its uniformed service members, the retired service members, their families and other eligible beneficiaries every day. President Nixon signed a proclamation in 1974 designating May 6th through May 12th National Nurses Week. It acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the millions of nurses in the United States. We recognize National Nurses Week as a time to celebrate the civilian nurses that are an integral component of Army Medicine Family, states Dr. Joseph Harrison, Jr., Chief, Recruitment and Retention, Headquarters U.S. Army Medical Command, Civilian Human Resources. Our nurses work tirelessly in our medical treatment facilities worldwide. We extend our deepest gratitude to them. The nurses in the U.S. Army Medicine Civilian Corps work alongside their military counterparts to care for our uniformed service members and other eligible beneficiaries. MEDCOM continues to actively recruit nurses and other medical professionals to staff Army medical treatment facilities across the globe. To learn more about nursing opportunities in the U.S. Army Medicine Civilian Corps, please visit http://www.civilianmedicaljobs.com. ### Civilians make up approximately 60% of the total Army Medicine workforce and provide day-to-day care for uniformed service members, beneficiaries and their families at Army hospitals and clinics worldwide. The Civilian Corps provides rewarding career opportunities for civilians to serve those who serve their country. Employees are not subject to military requirements, such as enlistment or deployment, and receive excellent benefits, including flexible work schedules, competitive salaries, health and life insurances and access to state-of-the-art training and equipment. Jerry Stouck, chair of the Federal Regulatory and Administrative Law Practice at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, will be speaking on a panel at the 28th Annual Judicial Conference hosted by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The conference will take place Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. Stouck will be participating on the panel, Developments in ADR & Pro Bono Representation from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The panel will discuss best practices in ADR cases involving the federal government and support for the Bar Associations pro bono attorney referral pilot program, among other new initiatives. Stouck will be speaking on ADR best practices. Stouck has a wide-ranging trial and appellate litigation practice. He has particular experience in complex business, regulatory, and environment disputes with government agencies. Stouck regularly handles environmental and land use litigation, including related contract/commercial disputes, and has extensive experience with eminent domain and Fifth Amendment regulatory takings claims. He appears frequently in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and Federal Circuit, and in the D.C. federal district court and D.C. Circuit. For more information, please visit the conferences website. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 1900 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No 1. on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, third largest in the U.S. on the 2015 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com/. Give a Note Foundation Board Chair/President Beth Slusher announces schools that received grants from 21st Century Fox and Give a Note Foundation. These students will take the valuable lessons learned in his music classroom with them for the rest of their lives. Albert Bouchard has truly earned this recognition by the White House as a Great Educator. What does a successful rock band member do after retiring from performing and touring? In Albert Bouchards case, he enters the classroom to bring music into the lives of students who might not otherwise experience it. What might seem like a challenging transition was a natural move for Mr. Bouchard. For more than 25 years, Albert Bouchard, a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), has been working as an administrator and teaching music at Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School, a Title I school in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan, NY. Last fall in collaboration with 21st Century Fox, the Give a Note Foundation presented Reynolds West Side High School a $3,000 grant for their exemplary music program. Mr. Bouchard mostly funds this program out of his own pocket. He understands the significant difference music makes in the lives of studentsand many students at Reynolds West Side High School are there to make a fresh start in their education. Mr. Bouchard helps ensure they get a strong start on life. Now, on May 3, along with many other educators from around the nation, Albert Bouchard will be honored as one of the Great Educators in a White House ceremony taking place on National Teacher Appreciation Day. This honor is greatly deserved by Albert Bouchard, said NAfME CEO and Executive Director Michael A. Butera. His daily, sacrificial work in the lives of those New York students will help ensure future success when they leave the classroom. We are excited to see him honored at the national level. Seeing firsthand what Albert Bouchard does in the classroom at Reynolds West Side High School was truly impressive, said Jane Mell Balek, Give a Note Foundation COO and NAfME Assistant Executive Director. These students will take the valuable lessons learned in his music classroom with them for the rest of their lives. He has truly earned this recognition by the White House as a Great Educator. Albert Bouchard knows that all students need more than more cowbellthey need a high-quality, classroom music education where they can express themselves and launch successfully into life. NAfME celebrates this great honor bestowed upon him by the White House. ### National Association for Music Education, among the worlds largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century. With more than 60,000 members, the organization is the national voice of music education in the United States. Follow NAfME on Twitter (twitter.com/nafme) and on Facebook (facebook.com/nafme). For additional information, contact Catherina Hurlburt at catherinah(at)nafme(dot)org or 703-860-4000, ext. 242. Marcia H. Langley, a Shareholder in the Boca Raton Real Estate Practice of international law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., has been named Woman of the Year by Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options (JAFCO), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1992 to provide services to abused and neglected children in South Florida. Langley will be recognized at the organizations 14th annual Mothers Day Luncheon, to be held May 5 at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton. She currently serves on the board of trustees of JAFCO. I am humbled and truly honored to have been named Woman of the Year, Langley said. I am incredibly proud and privileged to be a part of this wonderful organization. Langley joined Greenberg Traurigs Real Estate Practice as a shareholder in April of 1998 after seven years at Atlantic Gulf Communities Corporation where she served as vice president/general counsel. Prior to Atlantic Gulf, Langley served as general counsel and secretary to the Board of Directors of Gulfstream Housing Corporation, a large real estate development company based in Jacaranda and Tampa, Florida. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 1,900 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No. 1 on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, third largest in the U.S. on the 2015 Law360 400, on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com. CalSTRS CEO Jack Ehnes In 2015, much of our growth focused on increasing the value of our clean energy investments and expanding engagement efforts with our stakeholders and business partners. CalSTRS CEO Jack Ehnes The California State Teachers Retirement System today announced the release of its second annual Global Reporting Initiative sustainability report: Fostering a Secure Future. The report provides an overview of CalSTRS sustainable practices and performance, including overviews of stakeholder, employee and member engagement; a description of the alignment between CalSTRS values and those of its business partners; and, examples of workforce activities promoting sustainable economic, environmental and social business practices, which guide its long-term strategy. A new feature of this years report is the addition of seven short videos featuring a variety of CalSTRS programs, staff and stakeholder perspectives on the organizations sustainability practices. The videos add a dynamic interactive component and engaging content to the already information-rich report. In 2015, much of our growth focused on increasing the value of our clean energy investments and expanding engagement efforts with our stakeholders and business partners. The results were impressively positive, indicating that the shift to embrace sustainable business practices is more than just a trend, said CalSTRS Chief Executive Officer Jack Ehnes. This past year was a productive one in further establishing our long-term sustainable practices and confirming a secure retirement future for Californias educators. A few key investment numbers from the report: $264 million in green bonds investment. 68 percent LEED-certified office buildings in the Real Estate Portfolio. $103.7 million in green investments in the Infrastructure Portfolio. 56 companies held in our Global Equity Portfolio (valued at approximately $4.6 billion) were engaged regarding risks associated with hydraulic fracturing. CalSTRS employees also embrace this commitment by participating in a variety of workplace activities, including exploring clean air transportation and commuting options; supporting community-focused charitable campaigns; and making a concerted effort to conserve water in response to Californias severe ongoing drought. In fact, since 2014, water usage at our LEED-Platinum headquarters in West Sacramento has dropped 9.3 percent, said Mr. Ehnes. Year after year, CalSTRS employees increasingly, and impressively, demonstrate they truly value, embrace and share a strong commitment to the principles of sustainability, he added. About CalSTRS The California State Teachers Retirement System, with a portfolio valued at $186.8 billion as of March 31, 2016, is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. CalSTRS administers a hybrid retirement system, consisting of traditional defined benefit, cash balance and voluntary defined contribution plans. CalSTRS also provides disability and survivor benefits. CalSTRS serves California's 896,000 public school educators and their families from the states 1,700 school districts, county offices of education and community college districts. Follow us on Twitter @CalSTRS Read Conmigo, the award-winning bilingual literacy campaign for children sponsored by Infinity Auto Insurance, is celebrating the third annual Bilingual Literacy Month. Bilingual Literacy Month raises awareness about the importance and benefits of raising bilingual kids. Read Conmigo kicked off the month with the premiere of the new documentary Read Conmigo: a Journey to Bilingual America on Sunday, May 1, at the historic Tower Theater, located in the heart of Miamis bustling Hispanic neighborhood, Little Havana. In its first-ever documentary, Read Conmigo explores the changing landscape of mainstream America and highlights the educational advantage of mastering dual literacy. At the core of the film is the importance of parental and guardian involvement in the development of a childs reading ability. This exciting new documentary furthers the message and significance of supporting bilingual education and literacy as it relates to the proven success of our nations students. We are proud to celebrate Bilingual Literacy Month with Read Conmigo, said James Gober, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation, the parent company of Infinity Auto Insurance. Infinitys purpose to serve others extends beyond affordable auto insurance. By supporting bilingual literacy, Read Conmigo brings families closer together and strengthens communities. Read Conmigo will host a series of school activities throughout the month. Most notably, the campaign will partner with the Miami Marlins for a special reading at one lucky school by a current player. Additionally, Read Conmigo will participate in two events with The Childrens Trust as part of the Read to Learn Books for Free Book Drive. There also will be additional classroom read-aloud sessions with community leaders and local celebrities at select schools across the district. Throughout the month, the campaign will also be looking for its next superstar author. Aspiring authors will have the opportunity to win $1,000 should the manuscript be selected. To enter, choose a theme that is relevant to todays youth and select one of the current Read Conmigo characters or create a new one. Each manuscript must be submitted in both English and Spanish. In addition, the Read Conmigo campaign will inaugurate a new award honoring a Bilingual Educator of the Year. The social media driven contest will celebrate outstanding bilingual educators. Three winners will be selected first and second place will be selected via the most votes on Facebook and third place will be selected by a judges panel. Nominations, which can be submitted through a special tab on the Read Conmigo Facebook page, opened on April 11th and will remain open through May 30th. Read Conmigo provides parents with bilingual storybooks, apps, and online resources to read with their children in English and Spanish. Parents have access to one of the nations few completely bilingual online libraries, with more than thirty downloadable e-books to share with children. By providing parents with a plethora of online resources, Read Conmigo bridges the gap for many Hispanic parents that hesitate to read to their children in English and Spanish due to language barriers. For more information on Bilingual Literacy Month news and events, please visit http://www.ReadConmigo.org. # # # About the Read Conmigo Bilingual Literacy Campaign: Read Conmigo, sponsored by Infinity Auto Insurance, is a parent-focused bilingual literacy campaign that encourages Hispanic parents to read to their children at home through the distribution of free English-Spanish children's books. The program has already distributed more than 1 million free books to classrooms and Hispanic families, and receives support from more than 11,000 educators. The campaign creates opportunities for new Hispanic authors and illustrators. Infinity Auto Insurance employees, along with Read Conmigo authors and illustrators, engage their communities at special events, schools and libraries to foster bilingual literacy in young readers. About Infinity: Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation is a national provider of personal automobile insurance with a concentration on nonstandard auto insurance. Its products are offered through a network of approximately 11,200 independent agencies and brokers. For more information about Infinity, please visit http://www.infinityauto.com. People's Trust & Rapid Response Team volunteer at Rebuilding Broward Its amazing what a transformation and difference we can make in the lives of people who need it the most when we get together as a community. In celebration of National Rebuilding Day on April 30, Peoples Trust Insurance Company and its affiliate, Rapid Response Team, joined forces with the Rebuilding Together Broward organization to help make critical home improvements and provide safe and sanitary living conditions to homes of those most in need. Rebuilding Together Broward is a nonprofit organization that provides home repair assistance to low-income, elderly and veteran homeowners in Broward County, Wilton Manors, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and Miramar. Its very important to Peoples Trust that we are engaged in helping our community know the comforts of safe and secure homes, said Brooke Gold, Director of Corporate Relations. Its a true honor to continue our partnership with Rebuilding Together Broward and share our home repair resources and expertise with those who need a helping hand. This April will mark the second year that Peoples Trust and Rapid Response Team have participated in Rebuilding Together Broward. Last year, Rapid Response Team Roofing, a division of Rapid Response Team, worked with Rebuilding Together Broward to completely re-roof the home of Fort Lauderdale resident Alfreda Echols, free of charge. This year, Peoples Trust and Rapid Response set their sights even higher for National Rebuilding Day. More than 25 employees came out and donated their time and skills to the Griffin household of Fort Lauderdale. Major improvements included replacing all kitchen cabinetry, helping fix plumbing issues, building a shed to house the water heater, landscaping, painting and several other major repairs. Ms. Griffin said "she had dreamed about this for 15 years and is so thankful to have the help to make repairs on her home." Peoples Trust CEO George Schaeffer attended the event and said, Its amazing what a transformation and difference we can make in the lives of people who need it the most when we get together as a community. ABOUT PEOPLES TRUST INSURANCE Founded in 2008, Peoples Trust Insurance has emerged as one of Floridas top 10 home insurance companies, providing homeowners with affordable rates and benefits not available anywhere else. Honored with the 2013 Enterprise Florida Governors Innovators in Business Award, Peoples Trust provides a Better Way for more than 150,000 Floridians to insure their homes. With more than 600 employees in its family of companies and an affiliation with Floridas largest residential insurance restoration general contractor, Peoples Trust is Floridas best-prepared home insurance company and a full partner in policyholders recovery after loss. ABOUT RAPID RESPONSE TEAM Rapid Response Team is the largest insurance restoration general contractor in Florida. A proud affiliate of Peoples Trust Insurance, the Rapid Response Team provides 24/7 emergency water mitigation, high-quality restoration services and managed repair coordination exclusively for Peoples Trust policyholders. With a full-time staff of more than 350, the company operates a fleet of more than 150 repair trucks and other vehicles ready to deploy at a moments notice. The Company operates 12 Response Centers throughout the state that contain supplies that may be needed in the event of a loss or disaster, such as water mitigation equipment, tarps, plywood and generators. ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER BROWARD Rebuilding Together Broward provides home repair assistance to low-income, elderly and veteran homeowners in unincorporated Broward County, Wilton Manors, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and Miramar. GI Go Fund Executive Director Jack Fanous working with members of Carl Sandburg Middle School at the new Habitat for Humanity homes being constructed for veterans in Newark, NJ GI Go Fund, New Jersey's largest Veterans organization, along with over 20 teachers and faculty members from the Carl Sandburg Middle School in Old Bridge, NJ, took time on a Saturday morning to work together and build a home for a veteran in Newark, NJ with Habitat for Humanity. This home is the second to be built by Habitat for Humanity and GI Go Fund for a veteran in Newark, with the first home being completed in 2015. The veteran home is one of several being built at Habitats Harmony Point Complex, which will feature 23 new homes for families in need in Newarks South Ward. Volunteers included teachers and faculty from Carl Sandburg Middle School, who for over three years have raised over $50,000 with the students at their school to benefit GI Go Fund and the veterans they serve during their Steps for Vets Fundraising Drive. Carl Sandburg will also have its students construct a wall for one of these homes at the school later in the year. The students and staff of Carl Sandburg Middle School are committed to supporting our returning veterans and to assisting GI Go Fund in their efforts, said Carl Sandburg Middle School Principal Dr. Martha Simon. As a State School of Character we feel compelled to set the example for our students, demonstrating what it means to truly serve your community. On Saturday we came together to donate our time to Habitat for Humanity and in return we will share this experience with our students so they see how their support of GI Go is directly helping a veteran. Other organizations will be working with GI Go Fund to participate help build these homes later in the year, including AXA Equitable and Greater Media NJ. Jack Fanous, Executive Director of GI Go Fund, expressed his appreciation to both Habitat and Carl Sandburg for their involvement in the project. Today was a great day to show our veterans how much we want to help, said Fanous. I could not be more proud of Dr. Simon, Gary Sapir, and the entire Carl Sandburg Middle School for coming out today and building these homes, providing a great example to their students of how to show their appreciation for our veterans. I am also grateful to be partnered with Jeff Farrell and Habitat for Humanity NJ, giving us the opportunity to volunteer for our veterans in such a meaningful way. I cannot wait for our other partners to volunteer at this house and help give some local veterans the opportunity to live in a new home - one built by their fellow, caring neighbors. About GI Go Fund GI Go Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that provides assistance to all military veterans, with a focus on veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, by helping them find employment, access housing, and secure their educational and health benefits. GI Go Fund is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2016, helping thousands of veterans and their families with all of their needs since its founding in 2006. Learn more at http://www.gigofund.org The Colorado Oil and Gas Association praised todays state Supreme Court decision that upheld the Associations long-held position that local fracking bans and moratoriums are illegal in Colorado. COGA President and CEO Dan Haley released the following statement: COGA has always maintained that these bans and moratoriums on responsible oil and gas development are illegal, and were pleased that today the Supreme Court of Colorado has agreed with us. This is not just a win for the energy industry but for the people of Colorado who rely on affordable and dependable energy and a strong economy. It sends a strong message to anyone trying to drive this vital industry out of the state that those efforts will not be tolerated. Bans and moratoriums on oil and gas are not a reasonable or responsible way to address local concerns. "With this legal battle over, we look forward to working with Longmont, Fort Collins and other local communities to find a balance that allows for responsible oil and gas development while still meeting the needs of local communities under Colorados already rigorous regulations. COGA Board Chairman Brad Holly added: "For COGA, and for the broader oil and natural gas industry, these lawsuits were an unfortunate, but necessary action, as it is imperative for our state's economy and its citizens that we strongly support the thousands of people we directly and indirectly employ, as well as their families, and the essential energy we responsibly provide. Our state and our business environment thrive when the oil and natural gas industry is allowed to operate and innovate. "With this litigation behind us, we're excited to continue doing what we do best - safely producing the oil and natural gas we all need and working collaboratively and constructively with the state, local governments, and communities to ensure that responsible energy development continues in Colorado." Todays ruling upheld lower court rulings that asserted the Longmont ban and Fort Collins moratorium on hydraulic fracturing violated state law. The first case was the City of Longmont v. COGA and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). The case involved a challenge to the Longmont ban on the use of hydraulic fracturing within its borders as well as the storage of hydraulic fracturing waste. The appeal is from Judge Dolores Mallard's decision in Boulder County court that state law operationally preempted Longmonts ban. The Longmont case before the Colorado Supreme Court is No. 15SC667, and the decision can be read here: https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/Supreme_Court/Opinions/2015/15SC667.pdf The second case was the City of Fort Collins v. COGA. In this case, COGA challenged the validity of Fort Collins' five-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing and the storage of hydraulic fracturing waste within Fort Collins. Judge Gregory M. Lammons in the Larimer County District Court held that Fort Collins' moratorium was operationally preempted because it conflicted with state law. The Fort Collins case before the Colorado Supreme Court is No. 15SC668, and the decision can be read here: https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/Supreme_Court/Opinions/2015/15SC668.pdf ### Frequently Asked Questions: 1. Can this be appealed to the US Supreme Court? It cannot. These cases dont involve a question of federal law. 2. What does this decision mean for Broomfield, Boulder, and other jurisdictions? For Broomfield, it means that its moratorium is illegal. Broomfield would either stop enforcing it or we would sue it for a preliminary injunction. Regarding Boulder the existing moratorium is as long if not longer than the Ft. Collins illegal moratorium. 3. What impact does this have on shorter moratoriums? See above 4. What impact will this decision have on the local control movement? First, it clearly states that bans are illegal and that by pursuing them they are attempting to force their political will in an area that has clearly been deemed illegal and harmful. However, that does not change industrys approach of working with local governments to find reasonable and now clearly legal solutions for local concerns. 5. How much did this lawsuit cost taxpayers? We can only assume Longmont spent several hundred thousand dollars and Fort Collins spent a similar amount but that would be best asked to the cities. 6. How much did this lawsuit cost COGA? Over one million dollars. 7. What impact will this decision have nationally? The decision will have no direct impact on other states because each state has its own law of oil and gas, local government control, and preemption. But the reasoning of the Court could have a substantial impact on other courts because so few cases have been decided on these issues nationally. 8. What do you hope the anti-fracking movement takes away from this decision/experience? With this decision behind us, we hope we can all the state regulators, local governments, industry, and concerned citizens - continue to work in good faith, like in more than 30 other communities, to find reasonable solutions to address local concerns. 9. Are the courts now viewed as a friendlier avenue than the ballot box? Can we expect more lawsuits in the future? The Colorado Supreme Court is the rule of law and not political. 10. What would happen if the local government ignores the courts ruling? We would have to file a preliminary injunction/complaint to get an expedited hearing in front of a court. If the ban or moratorium in question is very similar to Longmonts or Fort Collins, we would move for fees and argue that the local government is operating in bad faith. Lauren Waller Never Were An angel in the City of Angels The iconic Rock Radio Hall of Fame inducted World Famous KROQ alternative rock radio station in Los Angeles has now added artist Lauren Waller,to the stations Passport Approved syndicated radio-programming playlist. The Play Us Your Hits panel of music industry global experts at MUSEXPO 2016, critiqued Lauren Wallers song, Never Were, featured on her 2016 EP Perhaps. Lauren Wallers compelling tone and story telling lyrics received an extraordinary positive panel review and widespread audience approval. Lauren Waller originally debuted and performed the song live on RTE, Irelands national television. Influential DJ, music supervisor and tastemaker, Nic Harcourt, moderated the MUSEXPO 2016 Play Us Your Hits panel. Joining him on the panel were Andrew Gould, SR.VP Creative, BMG, Aton Ben-Horin, Global Director A&R, Warner Music Group, Chris Price, Head of Music, BBC Radio1 & 1Xtra, Katie Welle, Vice President, A&R, RCA Records, Mio Vukovic, Sr. VP A&R & Head of Creative, Disney Music Group. The panel listened to selected songs before visually seeing any of the artists, and when sharing opinions on the music reviewed they were direct and business minded. Emmanuel Legrand, U.S. editor and journalist for Music Week, covered the MUSEXPO event and noted that the Play Us Your Hits panel expresses themselves very freely and openly about the music that is played to them. Lauren Wallers newly released song, Never Were, was a stand out at the event, garnering positive commentary and numerous likes from the prestigious panel and received audience wide approval. MUSEXPO is a key annual worldwide music industry business event where the most respected minds in the global music industry converge at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel to keep abreast of the state of the music industry and to nurture emerging artists. Veteran music and media industry panels consisting of the worlds most influential music supervisors, executives in A&R, publishing, touring, branding, and technology, share insights with event attendees on a wide range of topics. The event draws attendance from artists and leading executives from dozens of countries around the world including Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe, as well as Scandinavian territories, India, Australia, South America and Asia. The global music industry event included insights from veteran TV personality, Larry King, and, ABC televisions late night show host Jimmy Kimmel. Event attendees included Australian media personality Byron Cooke and one of the most recognized names in Asian television and radio, Dom Lau. Artist Lauren Waller is currently pursuing a college degree in Theatre with an emphasis in stage management; she has previously shared the stage with world-renowned performers. Her commitment to making the City of Los Angeles a better place in which to live, work, and play was recognized this year by the City of Los Angeles, State of California, and the Los Angeles City Council when she was honored as a stellar example of a great civic leader and as an angel in the City of Angels! Listen now to Never Were on Sound Cloud, (also available on iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify). The photograph "Bike," by Sarah Sinford, is just one of many pieces of art created by students that will be on display at the Robert E. White Gallery at Husson University through May 3. These showcases are designed to give students an opportunity to share their work with the public. Its also an opportunity to highlight some of the exceptionally talented students at Husson University. Husson University announced today that it will be hosting two exhibitions of student artwork at the beginning of May. The works displayed at these exhibitions are some the finest examples of student creativity. Art lovers throughout the Greater Bangor area should make it a point to visit Husson and see what our students have created, says Kathi J. Smith, an assistant professor of studio arts and art appreciation at Husson University. The fine arts faculty and I have selected the best student work produced during the semester for inclusion in these exhibitions. The first exhibit is a "Selected Student Work" show at the Robert E. White Gallery in Hussons Campus Center. Located in Peabody Hall, the exhibition in the Campus Center will run through May 3. In addition, the Bi-Annual Hart Open Studio Event - Open House/Student Showcase is scheduled for May 2 from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. in the Hart Studio (basement of Hart Hall). Light refreshments will be served at 4 p.m. Both of these events feature the creative expressions of Husson students in arts-related courses. The show is a collaborative effort by the School of Science and Humanities and the New England School of Communications. The showcase in Hart Studio is also serving as a Grand Opening event where members of the public and Hussons campus community can see the newly renovated space. A wide variety of creative mediums will be represented at these exhibitions. Student drawings, paintings, pastels, photography, graphic design, set design, collages, assemblages and batik prints will be on display. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. These showcases are designed to give students an opportunity to share their work with the public, continued Smith. Its also an opportunity to highlight some of the exceptionally talented students at Husson University. Public exhibitions are a valuable part of the art educational experience. They serve as venues where students can exchange creative ideas with their peers and receive feedback from members of the public. Students who are contributing the creativity to these shows participated in one or more of the following courses: FA 101 - Art and Human Experience FA 205 - Painting 1 FA 299 - Art and Childhood Development FA 120 - Drawing 1 FA 299 - The Art of Cartooning CT 245 - Photography MC 245 - Graphic Design I MC 335 - Graphic Design II EP 448 - Final Portfolio & Proficiency Review About the Robert E. White Gallery at Husson University Artists who work in every possible medium including watercolors, still lifes, oil paintings, pastels, sculptures, acrylics, photographs and etchings, are featured at the Robert E. White Gallery. With a new show approximately every eight weeks, the gallery provides students with a glimpse at how artists with ties to Maine express themselves, giving them added insight into the place where they've chosen to go to school. The gallery was established in 1992 and named for, and endowed by, Husson alumni and former Board of Trustees Chair Robert E. White '65. The Robert E. White Gallery is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It is located in Peabody Hall on the campus of Husson University at 1 College Circle, Bangor, ME. For additional information contact: robertewhitegallery(AT)husson.edu. For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells, and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies; science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu The values of The ESOP Association are at the heart of our company culture, and we take great pride in the talent and contributions of our employees. Koops, Inc., a systems integrator company offering custom automation solutions, has received the distinction of being named ESOP Company of the Year by The ESOP Association of Michigan. Winning the ESOP Company of the Year award is an honor based on a few specific criteria. Most importantly, the winning company must demonstrate a commitment to encouraging a sense of employee ownership, as shown by the company's involvement with The ESOP Association, the way the company communicates with employees and the way it values employee participation and individual dignity. In addition, the company must be financially solvent, and it must have a record of more than two years of sponsorship in The ESOP Association. Koops, Inc. CEO Paul Brinks recently shared his positive reaction to receiving this award. "Teamwork is the foundation for our success as a company," he stated. "The values of The ESOP Association are at the heart of our company culture, and we take great pride in the talent and contributions of our employees." As a winner, Koops, Inc. will also be entered as one of The ESOP Association's candidates for the 2016 national awards. The winner of this national award will be announced to the public on May 18, 2016. Koops, Inc. also receives one free registration to The ESOP Association's 39th annual ESOP conference, which will be held May 1920, 2016. For more information about robotic technology, factory automation or employment opportunities, interested parties are encouraged to visit koops.com. The company is also available by phone at 616-395-0230 or in person at 987 Productions Ct. Holland, Mich. 49423. Koops, Inc. is a machine design company that supplies custom factory equipment to manufacturers in a wide variety of industries. State-of-the-art technology enables the company to assist its clients with automation processes and innovative solutions to enhance production. Koops, Inc. has been in business as a full-service engineering and design company since 1989. SC Future Makers is designed to answer manufacturing's talent pipeline challenges. "If we can break down geographic boundaries and provide young people with the ability to showcase themselves and connect with opportunities earlier in their areas and beyond - it can be a real game-changer." In its latest efforts to address the growing national skills gap, Mount Pleasant-based STEM Premier has partnered with the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance to power SC Future Makers. This initiative is designed to increase the skilled workforce pipeline entering advanced manufacturing and technical-related careers. Through partnerships with multiple school districts, the SC Future Makers initiative is reaching young persons, parents, and educators to inform those audiences of the opportunities, rewarding careers, and proper education pathways to earn skills necessary for a technical career, said James Richter of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance. This public-private effort was created in response to the growing workforce challenges facing manufacturers and related fields in recruiting associates skilled in science, technology, engineering, and math. "Technology is the great equalizer," says STEM Premier co-founder and former superintendent Dr. Donald Tylinski. "If we can break down geographic boundaries and provide young people with the ability to showcase themselves and connect with opportunities earlier in their areas and beyond - it can be a real game-changer." While this is the first announced state-specific partnership, the STEM Premier platform already boasts over 120,000 students from 12,500 schools in all 50 states, as well as partnerships with national powerhouses such as the ACT testing company. STEM Premier is creating a world of possibility by being at the crossroads where students, colleges and corporations meet, said Mount Pleasant, SC Mayor Linda Page. Theres a real need locally and nationally to connect the dots between industry and talent, so its no surprise to see this innovative company taking off. The STEM Premier platform is a constantly evolving online ecosystem assisting all levels of STEM talent in identifying career pathways, educators in recruiting top talent, and employers in developing a stable, continuous talent pipeline. Students, age 13 or older, can create a free profile on STEM Premiers website highlighting prospective colleges and careers, course transcripts, test scores, resumes and letters of reference, work samples, videos and more. ABOUT STEM Premier Founded in 2013 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, STEM Premier is an online solution that assists academic and technical STEM students (age 13+) in identifying and designing a career pathway, educators in recruiting top talent to their schools, and employers in developing a stable, continuous talent pipeline. For more information, go to http://www.stempremier.com Contact: Shea Tighe, National Director of Engagement stighe(at)stempremier(dot)com | 855.765.7836 x705 ABOUT the Town of Mount Pleasant, Office of Business Development The mission of the Town of Mount Pleasant Office of Business Development is to advance the Towns quality of life by fostering an economic environment that is vibrant, favorable to job creation, and promotes the general prosperity of the community. For more information on the Town of Mount Pleasant, visit us online at http://www.tompsc.com, view our videos on the Media Channel, subscribe to our news with Notify Me, like us on Facebook, follow us @MtPleasantBiz and download our Apps Experience Mount Pleasant and ConnectMP. If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. After winning a key copyright decision, attorneys for Georgia State University want the publishers who brought the suit to pay more than $3.3 million dollars in fees and costs. But in the latest wrinkle, the publishers have renewed their call for new evidence in the case. In a detailed filing last month, GSU attorneys asked for $3,236,235.02 for their attorneys fees, and an additional $85,746.39 in costs. The request comes after GSU in March defeated the publishers' lawsuit over the universitys use of digitized e-reserves for a second time, following a reversal and remand by the Eleventh Circuit, in 2014. GSUs latest request marks an increase of $374,886.31 over the $2,861,348.71 in attorneys fees awarded in 2012, following their first court victory. And, the bill could rise yet again, GSU attorneys told the court, pending more legal action in the coming weeks. First filed in April, 2008, by three academic publishers (Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Sage Publications, with support from the Copyright Clearance Center and the AAP) the suit alleges that GSU administrators systematically encouraged faculty to offer unlicensed digital copies to students as a no-cost alternative to traditionally licensed coursepacks. Notably, even though the publishers succeeded on a handful of infringement claims in the case, Judge Orinda Evans once again named GSU the prevailing party, which entitles them to recover attorney fees and costs. In her first order, in 2012, Evans explained that GSU was designated the winner (despite losing on some counts) based on the publishers failure to narrow their individual infringement claims which significantly increased the cost of defending the suit. In another twist in the long-running case, however, the publisher plaintiffs have renewed their bid to "refresh" the evidentiary record. The move comes as the publishers filed with the court their proposed order for injunctive relief for the four infringements Evans did find in the case. "Additional fact-finding is reasonable and appropriate because the evidence before the Court concerning copyright compliance practice at GSU and digital license availability is indisputably stale," the publishers argue, stressing that any injunction issued by the court must be "tailored to current conduct at GSU." The motion echoes an unsuccessful bid by the publishers to renew the record in February of 2015. And in their latest filing, the publishers note that the new evidence they seek is the same as described in their 2015 motion to reopen the record: essentially, the publishers want GSU officials to furnish a list of all online e-reserve readings at GSU from the "most recent academic terms," from which the publishers would then identify readings they believe to be infringing. Although Evans denied that request last year, deeming it unnecessary and burdensome, she suggested it could be revisited once a new verdict was reached in the case, which has now happened. It remains to be seen, however, whether Evans would order new evidence to be gathered (and argued over) to remedy just four infringements, three of which involve the same work. Briefs from both parties are due in the coming days, and after Evans has dispatched with these motions, the case could then be ripe for a possible appeal. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University faculty and staff who developed the crop-saving bags that have improved food security for millions in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the livelihoods of impoverished farm families are the 2016 recipients of the College of Agriculture's TEAM award. TEAM, an acronym for Together Everyone Achieves More, is given annually to a Purdue team of professionals for their interdisciplinary achievements. This year's honorees are members of the research and development team of the Purdue Improved Crop Storage program known as PICS. A ceremony to recognize the team will be held 2-4 p.m. May 9 in Pfendler Hall's Deans Auditorium on the Purdue's West Lafayette campus. The event is open to the public. The hermetic triple bagging - a chemical-free storage method - enables farmers to store a variety of major crops for more than one year after harvest. The technology helps improve food availability and increase income of smallholder farmers. Before PICS, impoverished farmers needed to sell their crops soon after harvest when prices are lowest or use insecticides, most of which became ineffective or might not have been safe because of improper use. When using PICS bags, farmers no longer need chemicals to control grain storage pests such as weevils, and they can store their crops for later in the year when prices are better for them. "The work of the PICS team is making a difference in the lives of millions of people in Africa by helping to increase farmer income as well as improve food security," said Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Purdue Agriculture. "The passion and commitment they demonstrate for putting the PICS technology into the hands of those who can benefit is both exemplary and inspirational. They are eminently deserving of the TEAM Award." PICS technology was developed in the late 1980s by Purdue faculty, students and staff and partners in northern Cameroon with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Efforts under the initial PICS program, which began in 2007, focused on using the technology to store cowpea - known in the U.S. as black-eyed pea - in West and Central Africa. Later, a second phase - PICS2 - involved research into how the bags could be used to store other crops. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also funded the initial PICS and PICS2 projects. PICS3, funded by the Gates Foundation, extends the program to commercialization involving multiple crops and to countries in Eastern Africa. Team members, by department, are: * Agricultural Economics: Joan R. Fulton, Jess M. Lowenberg-DeBoer, Jacob E. Ricker-Gilbert and the late Corinne E.N. Alexander. * Botany and Plant Pathology: Charles P. Woloshuk. * Entomology: Dieudonne Baributsa, Larry L. Murdock and Scott B. Williams. * Food Science: Lisa J. Mauer. * International Programs in Agriculture: Carole L. Braund, Heather P. Fabries and Katy Ibrahim. * Purdue Extension: William E. Horan, Amanda M. Mosiman, George M. Okantey and Maria H. Restrepo-Turner. * Youth Development and Agricultural Education/Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Natalie J. Carroll. The team will receive a commemorative plaque to be displayed in the Agricultural Administration Building and a $10,000 cash prize to continue its work. Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu Source: Jay Akridge, 765-494-8391, akridge@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-2722; Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page ROCK ISLAND Even in the face of pain and loss, we must move forward with boldness and courage, the senior pastor of Heritage Church said Sunday during the annual Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service. "Life is an adventure to be lived," the Rev. Shawn Cossin an Army veteran and former Pennsylvania State Trooper said at Heritage, in a solemn service attended by many officers and relatives of area officers who died in the line of duty. "Most of us are just one bold move away from a breakthrough in life." "God wants us to do more in our lives than we readily believe we can do," Rev. Cossin said, noting we often settle for less and "limit ourselves to the probable out of fear of the possible," he said. When faced with challenges, we can sit, wait and do nothing, he said. But "living with brokenness, you're struggling with wounds, you don't understand that God wants you to overcome the impossibilities in your life." "I have witnessed the evil depravity of man in this world," Rev. Cossin said. "Each of us has moments in life that change us and they leave an indelible mark." We often ask "why?" when we should ask "what if?" not looking back, but forward, he said. The pastor cited one of his favorite Bible passages, from 1 Samuel, when Israel was at war with the Philistines. Israel's King Saul sat while faced with a huge number of Philistines, but his son, Jonathan, and his armor bearer stood to fight. "I love this moment there's courage in it, boldness in it, but what I like most about it is, Jonathan did not do what most of us would do in the face of opposition," Rev. Cossin said. "He didn't limit himself to the probable out of fear of the possible." "What Jonathan planned to do was fundamentally ridiculous," he said, noting they were outnumbered. As he approached the enemy, Jonathan said, "Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf." They defeated 20 enemy warriors, which engaged the Israeli army, and led them to victory. That story has to do with "us knowing how to live, honoring the sacrifices of others by living life to the fullest," Rev. Cossin said. "What I love most is the beauty of what God does in the possibility of life, when we trust in Him with all we have. Far too many people want to live like Jonathan, but live like Saul." Whether you succeed takes trust and faith in God, he added. "It depends on whether you're willing or waiting, willing to risk, like Jonathan. Are you willing or waiting?" During the service which preceded the placing of white carnations on a wreath honoring 46 officers in the Quad-Cities who died while serving Deputy Travis Bulman, Scott County Sheriff's Office, recalled his great-grandfather, Sheriff Leonard Bulman, of Allamakee County, Iowa, was killed in the line of duty in 1946 while attempting to serve an insanity warrant on a man in Postville. As Sheriff Bulman and other deputies entered the room, the man opened fire with a shotgun. Leonard Bulman's grandson felt that tragic day "was still present, more than 60 years later," he said. In 2015, 128 law-enforcement officers in the U.S. died in the line of duty, and so far this year, 32 have, including two in Illinois and two in Iowa (none in the Quad-Cities). In Sunday's service, retired U.S. Secret Service agent Bill Albracht, of Moline, said law enforcement is unfairly targeted "when an arrest turns bad," and there may be loss of life. Instead, the arrested or accused should be scrutinized as to how they got to that point. "There are those in our society who see police as a huge hindrance to their chosen path," Mr. Albracht said. He called criminals "wolves," whose goal is to "hamstring law enforcement." "The only thing that stands between the wholesale slaughter of the sheep by the wolf is the sheepdog," he said of the public and police. "The sheepdog, they're tolerated by the sheep, but not completely trusted." "When the wolf cries out he's been unjustly attacked by the sheepdog, it awakens a deep, primal fear in the sheep," Mr. Albracht said. Some not many align with the wolf. When the wolf cries foul, that's news, he said. "How does this happen? Generally, it's the media." Some media put "more value on the headline than the value of the facts," Mr. Albracht said. "For some, it's easier to shape the news to their agenda than report the facts," he said. "We have officers who face wolves every day, and on a very bad day, interactions with a wolf can be extremely dangerous, sometimes fatal," Mr. Albracht said. We must respect police who continue to tirelessly work to serve and protect, he said, and follow a John Wayne saying: "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." Instead of at the actual Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (where names of those honored are etched in stone) at Rock Island County Justice Center, the wreath ceremony took place in another part of the church because of Sunday's rain. ROCK ISLAND -- Boetje's "Dutch" Stone Ground Mustard has been named the grand champion of the 2016 World-Wide Mustard Competition. Held under the direction of National Mustard Museum Curator Barry Levenson, the competition drew nearly 300 entries in 18 flavor categories from as far away as Germany, Norway, Sweden, France and Japan. Judges tasted the mustards "blind," not knowing if they were tasting popular international brands or small boutique mustards. Judging took place during several weeks at the Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wis., where chefs, food writers, restaurateurs and mustard aficionados gathered to pick the medal winners and the grand champion. Judges tasted sweet-hot, sweet-mild, honey, whole-grain, classic hot, pepper-hot (medium and scorching), horseradish, herb, garlic, fruit, spirit, American yellow and deli mustards, as well as mustard-based dressings and barbecue sauces. "The competition shows how varied the flavors and style of mustard are," said Mr. Levenson. "It proves that there's more to mustard than yellow, brown and Dijon." Boetje's also won the gold medal in the whole-grain category and is the first whole-grain gold medalist to earn the grand champion award in the competition's 22-year history. "Texture was obviously key to Boetje's success," said Mr. Levenson. "But what impressed the judges most was the bold bright flavor of the mustard, often lacking in whole-grain mustards." The mustard has been made in Rock Island since 1889. Will Kropp, Boetje's current owner, said he continues to make the mustard the same way as its founder, Fred Boetje, using the same simple recipe consisting of all natural ingredients: mustard seed, water, vinegar, sugar and salt. Despite his abysmal showing on the latest Super Tuesday -- he won only in Rhode Island -- Bernie Sanders insists that he will keep campaigning through the last contest. But political analysts already are discerning a change in Sanders rhetoric consistent with reality. One sign of that recalibration is Sanders focus on leveraging his support in the service of a progressive Democratic Party platform. After Tuesdays voting, Sanders issued a statement saying that he would go to the national convention in July with as many delegates as possible to fight for a progressive party platform. Please. Shifting attention to the platform may be a necessary waystation on the way to admitting that he has lost, but who cares about party platforms? Certainly not presidential nominees, who arent bound by them, and probably not the voters either. Even delegates dont think its a big deal. On Tuesday night I struggled to think of a recent platform battle, and all I could come up with was a kerfuffle at the 2012 Democratic convention over the temporary omission from the platform of a boilerplate reference to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (The Guardian reported that the dispute plunged the convention into chaos. A bit of an exaggeration.) In the past, its true, platform fights have involved a lot of emotion and energy. I cut my teeth as a teenage political junkie following the fight over a Vietnam plank at the 1968 Democratic convention. But in recent years platform fights have been few and far between -- and the platforms themselves have proved insignificant both electorally and in terms of how a successful nominee governed. President Obama, who intervened to have the Jerusalem reference restored to the 2012 platform, pointedly hasnt moved the U.S. Embassy to that city from Tel Aviv. Maybe it will be different this year and Sanders political revolution will result in a new prominence for a party platform and Hillary Clinton pledging loyalty to a document promising free college, Medicare for all and throwing the book at Wall Street crooks. But dont hold your breath. Are Illinois lawmakers once again trying to bolster up neighboring states economies? With newly proposed tobacco legislation that would drive consumers to purchase goods across the border, it sure seems that way. The proposed legislation, SB 3011, would change the existing minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, and if passed, Illinois would be the only state in the Midwest to raise the minimum age from the federally regulated age of 18. Not only is there no evidence that raising the minimum age prevents smoking, but doing so would also hurt Illinois communities, particularly those right on the border. Our communities are already starving for economic opportunity, but instead of providing an environment for growth, lawmakers continuously create higher taxes that in turn make businesses less competitive. Having to deal with high fuel and sales taxes and already high tobacco taxes, local gas stations and convenience stores routinely watch as sales bypass them completely for more friendly prices in other states. We need laws that strengthen Illinois businesses and communities, instead of hurting them with more legislation that has not been proven to be effective. If this tobacco legislation were to pass, it would just be another move to hurt local businesses and would lead to even fewer sales. Consumers are always looking for the easiest, most convenient way to obtain goods, and if that means crossing into neighboring states, Illinois misses out. When consumers purchase tobacco outside of Illinois, what is stopping them from purchasing other household goods, such as lottery tickets, food, candy and gas across the border as well, especially if theyre less expensive? The fact is this proposed legislation doesnt take our states financial well-being into account. This measure would advance the interests of other states that use the federal minimum age and allow them to have an even larger advantage over Illinois than they already have. And when its all said and done, we lose out on more than just sales, but much needed tax revenue. The federal minimum age is set at 18 because there has been no indication that raising it would prevent individuals from smoking. Additionally, the Federal Tobacco Control Act of 2009 requires the FDA to study the public health implications of raising the minimum age, and their findings have just been submitted to congress. Before Illinois moves on this issue, lawmakers should first see what the federal government determines from the report, especially seeing as how moving the age from 18 to 21 seems like an arbitrary leap. In our society, we entrust 18-year-olds to serve in our military, participate in elections and sit on juries. But by passing this law, Illinois would be stating that they should not be trusted to make the decision on whether to smoke or not. The age of adulthood is set at 18, but moving up the age seems to suggest otherwise. It is important to support tobacco prevention methods, but the fact is that this measure does not tackle the issue in the right way. Instead of focusing on the minimum age, our state needs to focus on comprehensive underage access prevention legislation and invest in organizations that provide programs designed to promote healthy development. Through these tactics we have seen cigarette smoking among eighth, tenth and twelfth graders decline from a peak of 28 percent in 1997 to a record low of 7 percent in 2015. In Illinois alone, tobacco use among 12 to 17-year-olds has declined from 13 percent in 2007 to less than 7 percent in 2014. So again, I ask why Illinois lawmakers intend to pass this legislation. It seems the only ones that benefit are businesses right across the Illinois border who are more than happy to take our business. I recently had a brief conversation with a school principal from Rock Island School District 41 regarding the 2015 PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College Careers) results. It is one of the assessment tests given throughout the district to determine if students met or exceeded expectations during the year. That is, the results indicate if the students are likely to be on track for the next grade level and ultimately for college and career readiness. The principal said the PARCC scores are a one-day "snapshot." He said it does not give a complete understanding of an individual student's achievement. The information was compiled from the Illinois State Board of Education 2015 Report Cards: Twelve schools, including the high school, were tested. Less than 17 percent of the high school graduating class are prepared to move to the next level (college). Rock Island Academy (Prekindergarten through 6th) had the least ready at 6.8 percent, while Eugene Field (kindergarten through 6th) has the highest number of students with 24 percent ready to move to the next level. There is a correlation: The higher the number of minority children in a school, the lower the expectation the student is ready to move to the next level. According to the PARCC results, Rock Island Academy, has 70.2 percent nonwhite students compared to Eugene Field which only has 12.8 percent nonwhite children, categorized as black, Hispanic and Asian. Most of the children in the district are from families with low incomes as were those in this principal's school. He also observed some of his students were in need of mental health services. But trying to connect the children and families with appropriate social service agencies is difficult. There is one school social worker (once a week) and one school counselor (once a week). Apparently the school board does not see support services for the families and students a priority. Studies have shown that poverty has a direct effect on the early educational development of a child. But more importantly, regardless of their own family background, kids do better in schools where the other kids come from affluent, educated homes. Quantitative and qualitative studies indicate that there is a correlation between poverty, student grades and ability to learn. Several books have been written on the subject including "Unequal Childhoods" by Annette Lareau; Our Kids, "American Dream in Peril" by Robert D. Putnam; "Within Our Reach" by Elizabeth Schorr; and "The State of America's Children" by Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund. Some Realtors, developers and officials, have been saying in private for years, the city needs to purge lower income residents. They claim the poor and minorities, especially African Americans and the newly arrived refugees and immigrants drive property values down. The percentage of minorities in Rock Island is nearly 25 percent of the city's population, the highest of any city in the Quad-Cities area. There has been a steady decline in the city's population, from a high of 50,000 in the 1970s, to 38,019 in 2010. Four elementary schools and a junior high school have been closed in the largely working-class and minority neighborhoods. More than 200 units of public housing units have been demolished. The PARCC scores understates eliminating low-wage earning families from the city improves our student scores. For any aspiring entrepreneurs, Basson said to make sure you have a product or idea that retailers want to sell and consumers want to buy. 1 hour ago The Swiss rail freight operator's new locomotives, which will be known in future as the Re 475, will undergo extensive testing before entering service in July. Three more units will be delivered by the end of the year, followed by another five in 2017 and the remaining five in 2018. The fleet will be certified for operation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and it is expected that licensing for Italy and the Netherlands will follow in mid-2017. The new units, manufactured at the Siemens plant in Allach, Munich, will gradually replace BLS Cargo's older Re 425 units and will initially be used for traffic from Basle and on the Lotschberg axis. Once authorisation for operation in Italy and the Netherlands is obtained, BLS Cargo will be able to make full use of the Re 475s on the Rotterdam-Genoa corridor. "We are happy that we have been able to acquire the new locomotives in such a short time," said BLS Cargo CEO Mr Dirk Stahl. "They are the ideal addition to our fleet and will bring us even closer to our clients along the Rotterdam-Genoa corridor." The Re 475s will be the first Vectron locomotives to be equipped for use in all five countries along the north-south axis. Aurora, Ill., voted no on one of the more contentious railroad issues of our automated times: Should freight trains be allowed to operate with one-person crews, with technology taking the place of a second crew member? The city sent its resolution to the Federal Railroad Administration on April 29, 2016. The FRA is collecting comments until May 16 on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking mandating two-person crews, and reports an above-average number of comments. Railroads are opposed to the measure. Its not a comforting thought, Mayor Tom Weisner is on record as saying in supporting two-person crews. One man is only one man away from zero. If that one has a couple of drinks, or a heart attack, or is just having a bad day, the results could be disastrous. Aurora is situated on one of the major rail lines into Chicago, with a population of nearly 200,000. The FRA is encouraging other communities, and individuals, to submit public comments HERE before May 16. Editors note: Mayor Weisner may not be aware that the railroads will only deploy one-person crews on lines equipped with Positive Train Control. The line through Aurora is a BNSF main that also hosts Metra passenger operations, and thus under federal law will be equipped with PTC. A safety overlay, PTC is designed to prevent overspeed conditions, enforce civil speed restrictions (such as on curves) and prevent train-to-train collisions. Under PTC, an engineer having a bad day is basically of little consequence, as PTC is designed to prevent operating mistakes caused by human error, such as lack of concentration. With or without PTC, locomotives are equipped with safety devices designed to automatically stop a train should an engineer become incapacitated by, for example, a heart attack. In terms of alcohol consumption, there are severe penalties, including dismissal and criminal prosecution, for train and engine crew employees who test positive for alcohol or drugs following any incident. So-called Rule G is a prohibition against railroad employees working while intoxicated. It was originally a near-universal provision of individual railroads operating rules, and is now part of the universal code of the Association of American Railroads. In addition to prohibiting the use or possession of drugs and alcohol, the rule also provides for reasonable suspicion, wherein a rail carrier may require an employee to submit to a breathalyzer or urine test if he or she is suspected of being under the influence. A refusing employee is considered to be in violation and may be suspended or terminated with no further procedure. Download a PDF of CFR-2003-title49-vol4-sec219-803 at the link below for further information.William C. Vantuono The members New Jersey Transits two largest unions, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and SMART Transportation Division-United Transportation Union (UTU), have voted against the tentative agreement reached in March between NJ Transit and a coalition of its 16 railroad unions. NJ Transit and its 4,200-member rail unions narrowly averted a strike on March 11, 2016, when the coalition accepted NJTs offer, a 7-1/2 year contract that includes 21% in wage increases, with retroactive payments for current employees and those who have retired since the last contract expired in July 2011. BLET and UTU are the only holdouts, as members of the other 14 unions voted to accept the deal. NJ Transit has been advised by the two unions representing its conductors and locomotive engineers that the membership has failed to ratify the recently negotiated agreements, said spokeswoman Nancy Snyder. Both ratifications failed by narrow margins. Although NJ Transit is disappointed in these two rejections, it is heartened that all 14 of the other unions ratified their contracts by significant majorities. These 14 contracts have been finally approved by the Board of NJ Transit and are now final and in effect. The two unions representing the conductors and engineers have the right, under the Federal Railway Labor Act, to request the resumption of negotiations. In the event the two unions make that request, NJ Transit will meet with them. Under the earlier agreements, there is an additional 60-day cooling off period in effect now, through the end of June, that precludes strikes or lockouts. The new contract requires railroad workers to contribute $130 to $160 a month toward medical insurance coveragecompared to the U.S. average of $412with a $250 to $500 deductiblecompared to the U.S. average of $1,300. It is widely believed that this requirement is the only sticking point for the BLETs and UTUs rejection of the contract. However, that may not be the case, as Railway Age Contributing Editor and former UTU official Frank N. Wilner points out. It is an equality issue, whereby the conductors have decided among themselves that, notwithstanding the long-existing patternand patterns are sacrosanct in labor relationswhereby Long Island Rail Road workers have a higher pay scale, it is time to correct the inequality and put NJT train crews on the same wage scale as the highest-paid of the regional/commuter railroads, Wilner points out. Also an issue is the fact that the proposed contract includes two years in which workers receive no raise at all. The BLET and UTU ultimately will most likely end up with the agreement NJTs other 14 unions have accepted. It is undoubtedly a fools errand to think that two truculent unions can upset decades of labor contract patterns that, when examined, link every commuter, freight and passenger railroad in some manner, says Wilner. Congress will be in no friendly mood if forced to end a work stoppage on the eve of political conventions rife with their own political difficulties simply because two unions wish an immediate rewrite of labor history. The near-certain outcome is that legislation will impose the same contract that all of the other NJT unions accepted with positive votes of between 81% and near 100%. Frank Wilner is the author of Understanding the Railway Labor Act, available through Simmons-Boardman Books. The Pardee RAND Graduate School (PardeeRAND.edu) is home to the only Ph.D. and M.Phil. programs offered at an independent public policy research organizationthe RAND Corporation. Five years ago, U.S. special operations forces killed Osama bin Laden in a raid on his hiding place in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Although al Qaeda had been dispersed from its bases in Afghanistan and its support networks had been largely dismantled, nearly 10 years after the 9/11 attacks al Qaeda was still viewed as a terrorist threat. Bin Laden's death was seen as a strategic blow to the organization. But what effect did killing bin Laden have on al Qaeda's ability to pursue its jihadist goals? Does high-value targeting contribute to counterterrorist strategy more broadly? Aside from the legal and even more profound philosophical debates: Does killing terrorist leaders work? Today, al Qaeda is still a global enterprise pursuing violent jihad and remains dedicated to attacking its far enemy, the United States. Decapitation clearly did not terminate al Qaeda's armed jihad, which, in response to new developments and internal dynamics, morphed into new forms. Meanwhile, high-value targeting continues to be an important component of U.S. counterterrorist strategy. Should it be? Research draws varying conclusions. Some analyses show that terrorist organizations may be able to replace their losses, as al Qaeda did with Ayman al-Zawahiri, also a long-time jihadist. But leadership is a precious commodity, which high-value targeting degrades although in some cases the replacements for terrorist leaders killed proved to be more effective than their predecessors. As a strategic tool, high-value targeting does not simply eliminate terrorist leaders but sends them deeper underground, impedes their ability to communicate, and degrades their ability to function. Obviously, it adversely affects morale. While al Qaeda's terrorist capacity has declined, the loss of bin Laden was just one factor. Many of its most effective operational planners and commanders also have been eliminated; either captured or killed before or since bin Laden's death. Still, the demise of bin Laden cost al Qaeda its most charismatic and effective communicator. His successor, al-Zawahiri, certainly has the experience and ability to lead al Qaeda, but he lacks bin Laden's moral authority and motivational skills. Since bin Laden's death, Zawahiri may have come to fear that communications can be risky business for terrorist leaders. Over the last five years, Zawahiri has issued fewer than half the number of audio and video messages that he issued in the five years before the raid on Abbottabad. Osama bin Laden was wary of relationships beyond his immediate control and resisted franchising al Qaeda's operations. Zawahiri has adopted a different course. As a result, the jihadist enterprise is more decentralized. Its organizational survival now heavily depends on its Taliban allies in Afghanistan, on its affiliates, and on its ability to inspire homegrown terrorists. Decapitation efforts have had a significant negative impact on terrorist organizations but not a decisive effect. Some studies show that decapitation decreases the number of attacks and success rates. And there are case studies that indicate the violence plummets, but others show that while the frequency of attacks may decrease, their severity does not. Overall, successful decapitation efforts have had a significant negative impact on terrorist organizations and insurgencies but not a decisive effect. Other case studies show that the elimination of terrorist leaders affected neither the rate of terrorist attacks nor the likelihood of organizational collapse. And however careful the targeting, such strikes can produce civilian casualties, provoke anger, and incite further terrorist attacks in revenge. The jihadists vowed revenge for bin Laden's death, but there have been no centrally directed attacks in the United States since 2011. In fact, the jihadists weren't gaining many adherents anyway. Local jihadist terrorist plots still occur but, apart from drawing inspiration from al Qaeda's exhortations via the Internet, these have not been connected directly to al Qaeda. Today's al Qaeda is clearly a diminished threat and the killing of bin Laden certainly contributed to that, but the emergence of the Islamic State has in many ways filled the terrorist void. With thousands of Western nationals in its ranks, the Islamic State supported the most recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels and now poses the bigger immediate threat. Homegrown terrorists seem indifferent to the division. Some declare their attacks on behalf of al Qaeda (like the assault on the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo in January 2015), while others declare them to be on behalf of the Islamic State (like one of the attackers in last December's attack in San Bernardino). Was al Qaeda hurt by the demise of its charismatic leader? Certainly. Is the world a safer place because of it? Probably not. Brian Michael Jenkins is a senior adviser to the president of the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and author of numerous books, reports, and articles on terrorism-related topics, including Will Terrorists Go Nuclear? This commentary originally appeared on The Cipher Brief on May 1, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Modern medicine has a problem. It can fix a damaged heart, battle cancer into remission, and operate on the deepest recesses of the human brain. Yet it continues to struggle with the everyday anguish of an aching back. Americans now spend billions of their own dollars seeking relief from such chronic conditions in alternative schools of health, such as acupuncture or chiropractic. RAND researchers have started to examine what it would takeand what it would meanto more fully integrate such practices into the medical mainstream. The obstacles are forbidding; the insurance questions alone might require an actual act of Congress to solve. But the benefits could transform health care as we know it, expanding its scope from sickness and trauma to whole-body wellness. Unconventional medicine, once dismissed as quackery by the medical establishment, might be the missing piece of modern health care. How do we take two parallel systems and bring them together? asks Ian Coulter, a senior health policy researcher who holds the RAND/Samueli Institute Chair in Policy for Integrative Medicine. That, he added, is the future. Photo by mykeyruna/Fotolia A Different Model Arnie Hagler came to integrated medicine by way of the floor at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. He was in between flights when the pain in his lower back finally laid him out. Prescription drugs couldn't touch it. And so Hagler, now 74, a biophysicist who spent his career working with the pharmaceutical industry, took a chance on a chiropractor. Saved me from surgery, he says now. He's come to see integrated medicine as a way to stack the deck for his own health and well-being. After all: You can't solve a problem with the 15 minutes that you get in a standard medical service these days. That's a common refrain from the millions of Americans who now balance their care between medical science and the healing arts. Practices such as acupuncture, naturopathy, and therapeutic massage were once considered New Age; now, they're more often called complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. What they share is a focus on holistic wellness, on helping the body heal itselfon making the patient as much a partner in health as the practitioner. Photo by Yanik Chauvin/Fotolia Photo by Lisa F. Young/Fotolia Photo by Serena Carminati/Fotolia Americans spent nearly $34 billion out-of-pocket on CAM treatments and products in 2007, the most recent year for which reliable data are available. Most of that went toward treating quality-of-life conditions such as chronic pain, and lifestyle conditions such as obesity or high cholesterolthe soft spots of clinical medicine. Complementary approaches to back pain alone accounted for nearly $9 billion of that spending, one study found. There's something going on. People appreciate these kinds of visits, said study coauthor Patricia M. Herman, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND and a licensed naturopathic doctor. The health care system is built for trauma, she added. The big things that are killing us now and affecting quality of life are those chronic conditions and lifestyle diseases, and those require a different model. Policy Hurdles To get a sense of why those different models of medicine remain a step outside the mainstream, start with a mild October day in 1893, when medical students lined the streets of Philadelphia to jeer at a parade of homeopaths. Sugar pill, sugar pill, they chanted, never cured, and never will. The U.S. Veterans Health Administration now makes such routine use of chiropractors that it no longer considers them alternative. The medical establishment spent decades deriding most other practitioners as dangerous charlatansunconscionable quacks, according to a pivotal paper in 1910 that set the tone for generations of doctors. The American Medical Association tried to run chiropractors out of business until 1980, dismissing their practice as an unscientific cult; a federal judge later ruled its boycott amounted to an illegal conspiracy. We've come a long way, said John Scaringe, a professional chiropractor and the president of Southern California University of Health Sciences. Its students of Eastern medicine and chiropractic will soon share their classrooms with future physician assistants, a pioneering attempt to integrate even the training of health care professionals. We're not looking at it as holistic versus traditional health care, but contemporary health care, Scaringe said. We're hoping that in the future, we don't have those distinctions. Mainstream medicine has started to reassess the potential of some CAM treatments to relieve health problems ranging from headaches to depression and PTSD to the chronic pain of fibromyalgia and cancer. The U.S. Veterans Health Administration, for example, now makes such routine use of chiropractors that it no longer considers them alternative. Georgetown University offers its medical students a course in mind-body techniquesto help them cope with the high stress of medical school. Yet the road from here to fully integrated health care, uniting the best of modern medicine and its alternatives, remains a long one, full of barriers, RAND researchers have found. Some states, for example, still forbid medical doctors from partnering with complementary health providers; naturopathy is entirely outlawed in South Carolina and Tennessee. Many states license CAM practitioners but limit the scope of their practice and don't treat them as primary health care providers. Then there's the tangle of insurance regulations. No insurance codes even exist for some CAM specialties. Government-sponsored health plans, including Medicare, also don't include most CAM providers, a situation that in some cases only Congress can change. One section of the Affordable Care Act seemed to open the door to greater coverage of CAM practices and providers; but another section allowed insurers to quietly nudge it closed again. Photo by Elaine Thompson/AP Photo Toward an Integrated Vision of Care The result has been what one RAND paper called siloed chaos, with mainstream and complementary medicine practicing independently ofand sometimes wholly unaware ofeach other. It also has built a double standard into America's health care system, with the full suite of treatment options available only to those who can afford to pay out of pocket for them. We have evolved into a dangerous situation, said Dr. Mimi Guarneri, a cardiologist who once placed hundreds of coronary stents a year but now helps run a fully integrated health clinic in La Jolla, Calif. Its exam rooms and blood lab are just down the hall from a massage room, a yoga studio, and soft easy chairs for vitamin infusions. We're trained to treat every ill with a pill, Guarneri said. We translate the science of disease into practice. But what about the science of health? If you have a sick tree with bad fruit, do you just cut off the branches? Eventually, you look at the soil. It's the same thing with health. We know that patients appreciate CAM. We should start paying attention to this. Ian Coulter RAND researchers have started to champion a new way of thinking about medicine in all its forms, one not necessarily based on the double-blind clinical trials that have become the gold standard of modern health care. The question should not always be whether a treatment can outperform a placebo under the strict controls of a clinical trial, they argue, but whether real patients get real relief from it. What those patients want to know, RAND's Coulter says, is not so much how a specific spinal realignment performed in a clinical trial, but whether it's safe to go to a chiropractor in the first placeand whether the visit will help that aching back. We know that patients appreciate CAM, we know they give it very good satisfaction scores, we know they're willing to pay for it, he says. We should start paying attention to this. This is worthy of attention. RAND has some history here. It helped pioneer modern health insurance with a groundbreaking experiment in the 1970s and '80s that enrolled thousands of people in test coverage plans. At a time when the medical establishment still disavowed most outside treatments, those early RAND plans offered participants a rare benefit: full coverage for chiropractic care. Doug Irving Spanish-language TV network specialist Olympusat is to launch a range of culturally relevant programming for the Cinco de Mayo festival. The slate is designed to take viewers on a journey, connecting them to their roots and heritage, and will include what Olympusat says are some of the best works in Mexican cinema.In addition, the audience will be able to watch films that examine Mexicos history, people, culture, national identity and scenic landscapes. There will also be drama, romance and comedy programming.Inside Olympusats family of Spanish-language networks - Ultra Docu, Ultra Cine, Ultra Mex, Ultra Fiesta, Gran Cine and Cine Mexicano - will each have their own special line-up in the afternoon, evening and night time slots, with an array of films, documentaries and music videos. Olympusat is deeply committed to offering a rich diversity of programming that is both entertaining and educational, said Arturo Chavez, the companys senior VP of Hispanic Networks and a Mexican-born leading expert on Spanish-language films in the US market. Olympusats leading role in the Spanish-language television industry, as well as our strong bonds with Hispanic audiences, inspires us to honour traditional Mexican culture, and the vast contributions of Mexican Americans to the United States. Today, we are proud to present a thoughtful collection of films that viewers might not find anywhere else, as we do all year round. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate HOME > The Amazing Race > The Amazing Race 28 'The Amazing Race' eliminates frontrunners Brodie Smith and Kurt Gibson after U-Turn By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/02/2016 eliminated "Best Friends" Brodie Smith and Kurt Gibson during Friday night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition's 28th season. ADVERTISEMENT Brodie and Kurt became the seventh team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's tenth Pit Stop at the Bajra Sandhi monument in Bali, Indonesia in last place. "We ran as hard as we could; This leg was tough," Kurt said following his team's ouster. "We knew that we were going to get U-Turned, but [Burnie Burns and Ashley Jenkins] definitely threw us for a loop today. We definitely did not see that coming. They made it so we couldn't U-turn anyone. Kurt and I have lost our fair share of games. This is a little harder though because we didn't have control, but we'll learn from it and hopefully become better people from it," Brodie said, adding that he planned to go on a date with Blair Fowler once he returned to Los Angeles. leg began with all of the teams waking up on a sailing boat in Denpasar, Bali. "Best Friends" Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl departed the Pit Stop in first place at 7:45AM, and they were then followed by "Dating Couple" Ashley and Burnie in second place at 7:52AM, "Mother and Son" Sheri LaBrant and Cole LaBrant at 7:53AM, "Dating Couple" Dana Borriello and Matt Steffanina at 7:54AM, and finally Brodie and Kurt at 7:58AM. The teams' first set of clues instructed them to proceed to Nusa Lembonganan, an island located southeast of Bali, and search for their next clue underwater in a bay. They were also warned a U-Turn was ahead. Tyler and Korey noted Brodie and Kurt were U-Turnable because they had finished the prior leg in last place. When the teams went snorkeling to find their clues underwater, Brodie and Kurt managed to jump ahead of Dana and Matt because the couple got confused about the fact their clue was tightly enclosed inside of a canister. Afterward, the teams learned they must make their way to Pura Puseh Stairway and find the dancing monkey in order to receive their next clue. The teams arrived at the stairway in the same order they had left the last clueboxes. It then became time for the teams to complete one of two possible Detour tasks: "Haul" or "Harvest." "Haul" required the teams to dodge oncoming traffic and safely deliver 50 coconuts and four chickens to the other side of a rickety suspension bridge in order to receive their next clue. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "Harvest" required the teams to use a traditional canoe, propel themselves along a marked course and then harvest enough seaweed to cover a large tarp on the beach. Once enough seaweed was laid out properly to dry, the pairs would earn some face cream and their next clue. All of the teams opted to take on the "Haul" task. Dana could only handle one chicken at a time when everyone else could carry two, but transporting all of those coconuts was enough of a struggle in itself. The teams appeared to exhaust themselves walking back and forth on the bridge. Tyler and Korey loved how everyone chose to do the same Detour task because they were certain about being in first place. Tyler and Korey finished the Detour before any of the other teams. They were then followed by Burnie and Ashley, Brodie and Kurt, Sheri and Cole, and finally Dana and Matt. The teams then made their way to Warung Sunrise. At this point, host Tyler and Korey arrived at the U-Turn board in first place and realized it was a Double U-Turn. The guys therefore decided to U-Turn Brodie and Kurt, saying no one really had a shot in the finals if Brodie and Kurt made it all the way. Brodie and Kurt were obviously a huge threat since they won so many legs. Tyler and Korey discussed how it would be smart for another team to U-Turn them, because if Brodie and Kurt were U-Turned with another team, the Frisbee guys would still have a chance to survive in the Race. If Brodie and Kurt were the only team U-Turned, their elimination fate would pretty much be sealed. ADVERTISEMENT The teams were then required to go to a paddleboard shop called Pande Curly for their next clue. Meanwhile, Brodie and Kurt headed off to the "Harvest" Detour task. The Frisbee guys were very surprised Ashley and Burnie chose to screw them over, but they figured Tyler and Korey might make a "sucky move" like that. Tyler and Korey got to the paddleboard shop in first place, and they were then followed by Burnie and Ashley, Sheri and Cole, Dana and Matt, and Brodie and Kurt. It then became time for one member from each team to complete a Roadblock task. The participating Racers were required to leap off a four-story rock cliff into the Blue Lagoon. Tyler opted to jump as well as Ashley, Cole -- who is deathly afraid of heights but didn't realize what would be expected of him before he decided to do the task -- Matt and Brodie. Tyler and Korey and Ashley and Burnie were worried Cole would stand at the top of the cliff and hesitate jumping off, ultimately allowing Brodie and Kurt to catch up to them. However, Cole got the job done right away. Tyler and Korey, maintaining their lead, finished the Roadblock first. They were soon followed by Burnie and Ashley, Sheri and Cole, Dana and Matt, and finally Brodie and Kurt. Burnie and Ashley had finished four legs in a row in second place, so they were hoping for a win this leg. They definitely had a chance because they were pretty much neck and neck with Tyler and Korey heading to the Pit Stop at the Bajra Sandhi monument. Tyler and Korey met Phil on the Pit Stop mat in first place. They won a trip for two on an Alaskan cruise. Burnie and Ashley got there in second place, and then Dana and Matt secured third. After Sheri and Cole got to the Pit Stop in fourth place, Brodie and Kurt finally arrived in fifth -- and last -- place. About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS eliminated "Best Friends" Brodie Smith and Kurt Gibson during Friday night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition's 28th season.Brodie and Kurt became the seventh team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's tenth Pit Stop at the Bajra Sandhi monument in Bali, Indonesia in last place."We ran as hard as we could; This leg was tough," Kurt said following his team's ouster."We knew that we were going to get U-Turned, but [Burnie Burns and Ashley Jenkins] definitely threw us for a loop today. We definitely did not see that coming. They made it so we couldn't U-turn anyone. Kurt and I have lost our fair share of games. This is a little harder though because we didn't have control, but we'll learn from it and hopefully become better people from it," Brodie said, adding that he planned to go on a date with Blair Fowler once he returned to Los Angeles.leg began with all of the teams waking up on a sailing boat in Denpasar, Bali."Best Friends" Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl departed the Pit Stop in first place at 7:45AM, and they were then followed by "Dating Couple" Ashley and Burnie in second place at 7:52AM, "Mother and Son" Sheri LaBrant and Cole LaBrant at 7:53AM, "Dating Couple" Dana Borriello and Matt Steffanina at 7:54AM, and finally Brodie and Kurt at 7:58AM.The teams' first set of clues instructed them to proceed to Nusa Lembonganan, an island located southeast of Bali, and search for their next clue underwater in a bay. They were also warned a U-Turn was ahead.Tyler and Korey noted Brodie and Kurt were U-Turnable because they had finished the prior leg in last place.When the teams went snorkeling to find their clues underwater, Brodie and Kurt managed to jump ahead of Dana and Matt because the couple got confused about the fact their clue was tightly enclosed inside of a canister.Afterward, the teams learned they must make their way to Pura Puseh Stairway and find the dancing monkey in order to receive their next clue.The teams arrived at the stairway in the same order they had left the last clueboxes.It then became time for the teams to complete one of two possible Detour tasks: "Haul" or "Harvest.""Haul" required the teams to dodge oncoming traffic and safely deliver 50 coconuts and four chickens to the other side of a rickety suspension bridge in order to receive their next clue."Harvest" required the teams to use a traditional canoe, propel themselves along a marked course and then harvest enough seaweed to cover a large tarp on the beach. Once enough seaweed was laid out properly to dry, the pairs would earn some face cream and their next clue.All of the teams opted to take on the "Haul" task.Dana could only handle one chicken at a time when everyone else could carry two, but transporting all of those coconuts was enough of a struggle in itself. The teams appeared to exhaust themselves walking back and forth on the bridge.Tyler and Korey loved how everyone chose to do the same Detour task because they were certain about being in first place.Tyler and Korey finished the Detour before any of the other teams. They were then followed by Burnie and Ashley, Brodie and Kurt, Sheri and Cole, and finally Dana and Matt.The teams then made their way to Warung Sunrise. At this point, host Phil Keoghan revealed there are only two legs remaining.Tyler and Korey arrived at the U-Turn board in first place and realized it was a Double U-Turn. The guys therefore decided to U-Turn Brodie and Kurt, saying no one really had a shot in the finals if Brodie and Kurt made it all the way. Brodie and Kurt were obviously a huge threat since they won so many legs.Tyler and Korey discussed how it would be smart for another team to U-Turn them, because if Brodie and Kurt were U-Turned with another team, the Frisbee guys would still have a chance to survive in the Race. If Brodie and Kurt were the only team U-Turned, their elimination fate would pretty much be sealed.Burnie and Ashley got to the U-Turn board in second place and opted to U-Turn Tyler and Korey, which is exactly what the guys had been hoping for. The other teams soon learned Brodie and Kurt had been targeted.The teams were then required to go to a paddleboard shop called Pande Curly for their next clue. Meanwhile, Brodie and Kurt headed off to the "Harvest" Detour task. The Frisbee guys were very surprised Ashley and Burnie chose to screw them over, but they figured Tyler and Korey might make a "sucky move" like that.Tyler and Korey got to the paddleboard shop in first place, and they were then followed by Burnie and Ashley, Sheri and Cole, Dana and Matt, and Brodie and Kurt.It then became time for one member from each team to complete a Roadblock task.The participating Racers were required to leap off a four-story rock cliff into the Blue Lagoon.Tyler opted to jump as well as Ashley, Cole -- who is deathly afraid of heights but didn't realize what would be expected of him before he decided to do the task -- Matt and Brodie.Tyler and Korey and Ashley and Burnie were worried Cole would stand at the top of the cliff and hesitate jumping off, ultimately allowing Brodie and Kurt to catch up to them. However, Cole got the job done right away.Tyler and Korey, maintaining their lead, finished the Roadblock first. They were soon followed by Burnie and Ashley, Sheri and Cole, Dana and Matt, and finally Brodie and Kurt.Burnie and Ashley had finished four legs in a row in second place, so they were hoping for a win this leg. They definitely had a chance because they were pretty much neck and neck with Tyler and Korey heading to the Pit Stop at the Bajra Sandhi monument.Tyler and Korey met Phil on the Pit Stop mat in first place. They won a trip for two on an Alaskan cruise. Burnie and Ashley got there in second place, and then Dana and Matt secured third. After Sheri and Cole got to the Pit Stop in fourth place, Brodie and Kurt finally arrived in fifth -- and last -- place. THE AMAZING RACE 28 MORE THE AMAZING RACE 28 NEWS << PRIOR STORY Adam Levine reveals sex of baby on the way with wife Behati Prinsloo! NEXT STORY >> Carrie Underwood wins Female Vocalist of the Year and dedicates award to young girl killed by drunk driver Get more Reality TV World! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add our RSS feed. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Page generated Mon Oct 24, 2022 9:57 am in 0.81398701667786 seconds In this Tuesday, March 22, 2016 photo filmmaker Patrick OBrien, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2005 at age 30, sits for a portrait in Chelsea, Mass. His film "Transfatty Lives" won the audience award for best documentary at the Tribeca and Milan film festivals and a screening is slated for for Sunday, April 3, 2016, at the Showcase Cinemas in Revere, Mass. When O'Brien was no longer able to speak or move, he finished the film using a computer system that detects his eye movements so he can type out words on a screen. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) SHARE By PHILIP MARCELO, Associated Press CHELSEA, Mass. (AP) Patrick O'Brien was a young, budding New York City filmmaker and DJ known as "TransFatty" when his legs suddenly started trembling uncontrollably. Walking became a struggle. He'd lose his balance and often fall down. Then, in 2005, came the diagnosis: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The 30-year-old native of Kensington, Maryland, was given two to five years to live. But rather than let it defeat him, O'Brien whose DJ name came from his love of junk food turned the cameras on himself and wrote, directed and produced an acclaimed new documentary. "TransFatty Lives" captures O'Brien's rapid deterioration and the unexpected turns his life took over the next decade, including a whirlwind relationship that led to the birth of his son, Sean, and his eventual breakup with Sean's mother. No longer able to speak or move, O'Brien finished the documentary by communicating to his family and film collaborators Lasse Jarvi, Doug Pray and others using a computer system that lets him type out words through eye movements. The film won the audience award for best documentary at last year's Tribeca and Milan film festivals. It had a short theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles, and is available for download on digital platforms. A screening is slated for Sunday at the Showcase Cinemas in Revere, Massachusetts. O'Brien, now 41 and living in a center for ALS patients in nearby Chelsea, Massachusetts, said the response has been his "wildest dream come true." "We knew we had a story to share," he wrote to The Associated Press this week using the same typing system that allowed him to complete the film. "Witnessing friends, family and strangers come together to help shoot, edit and produce the film is just as much a part of the story as is my getting ALS." The film unflinchingly captures how O'Brien lost control of his legs and arms, needed a feeding tube after losing the ability to swallow, and was placed on a ventilator when he could no longer expand and contract his diaphragm. O'Brien balances those emotionally wrenching moments with an impish sense of humor. He has beers poured into his feeding tube. He sits in his wheelchair naked in front of the White House to raise awareness about ALS. He takes the now-famous "ice bucket challenge" surrounded by young women. "I know how difficult it was for him to make that movie, both emotionally and physically," said Barry Berman, CEO of the Chelsea Jewish Foundation, which runs the ALS home where O'Brien now lives. "Hopefully, Patrick will inspire others to keep moving through their own adversities." Steve Saling, who also has ALS and encouraged O'Brien to join him at the Leonard Florence Center for Living, said the film shows the "harsh reality" of ALS, a gradually debilitating disease affecting motor neurons that allow the brain to control voluntary movements. The rate and progression of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, varies. But loss of speaking, eating and breathing functions is common. Senses like sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell aren't generally affected. O'Brien's mother, Bonnie O'Brien, said it was hard for the family during the filming, but they never once considered asking him to stop. "This kept him going," Bonnie said from her home in College Park, Maryland. "It's our life on that film." The roughly 1 1/2-hour-long film is framed as a letter from father to son. "I don't want you to be afraid of me," O'Brien says at the film's outset, using his computer-generated voice. "I want you to know your dad, who I used to be and who I am now." He expresses hope he'll be there when his son is older. "We have a lot to talk about. Trust me," O'Brien says at the film's close. "I've had an amazing life so far, and I'm thankful for all the people that have helped me through it most of all you." But it's been years since O'Brien has seen his son. He's not even sure Sean, now 8, has seen the film. The boy lives in Largo, Florida, with his mother, a family friend named Laura Silverthorn, according to Bonnie O'Brien. "People tell me Sean is a little too young for the film, but I'm not sure. Sean is tough," O'Brien wrote to the AP. "Maybe Sean will hate the film. He doesn't have to love it. The one person I was hoping would like it is Laura. If she liked it, I just might die with a smile on my face after all." The couple broke up not long after Sean's birth. O'Brien and his family say the breakup wasn't acrimonious; it just became too much for Laura to care for both O'Brien and a new baby. It was O'Brien's decision to return to his family as his health worsened, they say in the film. Since moving to Massachusetts in 2010, O'Brien has found a measure of comfort. During a recent visit, he sported flaming pink hair that matched his room's hot pink paint. His wheelchair console let him control everything in the room, from the television to the window shades, temperature and lights. But O'Brien's time is limited. Lately, he fears his eyesight is failing him, possibly robbing him of his last means of contact. "I'm worried about getting locked in," O'Brien wrote. "I have to tell myself to not be afraid." Until then, he's looking for new stories to tell. "I have a few ideas brewing," he wrote. "One is about a disabled superhero." SHARE By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer the rights of parents to raise their own children due to concerns about abuse and neglect. All states resort to this step when deemed necessary for a child's well-being, but there are wide state-to-state disparities in the rate of terminations and the extent of support services to avoid foster care placements. According to federal data, some states terminate parental rights at a rate 25 times higher than states at the low end of the scale. Calling for reforms to help more families stay together are many child welfare officials and academics, and also some parents who've faced the threat of termination proceedings themselves. Among them is Denise Moore of Des Moines, Iowa, a mother of seven who nearly lost her parental rights after her arrest in 2003 for conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine. Caseworkers allowed the children to remain in their home in the care of their grandmother, but ordered Moore to vacate the house and follow a regimen that would end her addiction to meth. Over an 18-month span, Moore failed to accomplish this, but her caseworker gave her one last chance at a meeting where all seven of the children were present. Grateful for the reprieve, Moore overcame her addiction, enrolled in college and is now working with a state-backed program that assists families during their initial contacts with the child welfare system. Moore says her children, ranging in age from 12 to 27, are all thriving; one son hopes to become a family-law attorney. But she says the support she and her family received was the exception, not the rule. "I think we terminate too easily," she said. "I always believe that families can change, and we just need to find the right intervention to help them get there." Each state has its own system for dealing with cases in which termination of parental rights is considered. Federal law spells out certain conditions and timelines, but states interpret and apply them differently. An Associated Press analysis of data compiled by federal officials shows some striking variations. Maryland, for example, had a rate of 10.5 parental rights terminations for every 100,000 children in 2014; at the high end of the scale, the rate per 100,000 children was 283 in neighboring West Virginia and 252 in Oklahoma. Even looking only at the children placed in foster care, there are pronounced differences. Children affected by a termination order accounted for about 30 percent of the 30,358 youths in the Texas foster care system; Maryland tallied only 142 children affected by termination orders about 3.5 percent of its foster care population of 4,032. Economic, cultural and political differences among states partly explain the variances. In West Virginia and Oklahoma, the high termination rates are fueled to a large extent by severe drug abuse problems. West Virginia has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths, and Oklahoma has the highest rate of incarcerating women many of them single mothers who are the sole caregiver for their children. Both states have struggling economies, and advocacy groups say there is inadequate funding for services that might help fragile families stay together, such as quality child-care programs, mental health care and drug treatment programs. "The money is just not there," said Terry Smith, executive director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. "Services get cut, and the result you get is abuse, neglect and termination." Across the country, the availability of effective support services is viewed as crucial in helping reduce the need for foster care placements and parental rights terminations, both of which are considered undesirable outcomes for most children. Professor Martin Guggenheim, a child welfare expert at New York University School of Law, is among those contending that too many parents lose their rights and too many children go into foster care. Parents' legal prospects vary widely from state to state when it comes to challenging termination, he says; many who are indigent are represented by court-appointed lawyers with heavy caseloads. Too often, Guggenheim said, terminations produce "legal orphans" young people who are separated from their parents, then do not receive a successful adoption placement, and eventually age out of the foster care system on their own. "They've lost their family and gained nothing in return," he said. Nationwide, according to federal figures, the number of children affected by parental rights terminations declined from 85,525 to 64,398 between 2005 and 2014, mirroring a broader drop in the number of children placed in foster care. Arizona and Texas were among a handful of states bucking the trend, with more terminations and more children in care. Figures from Arizona show how difficult it is for a parent to block a termination order once it's requested by child-welfare officials. In a six-month period last year, 2,232 termination petitions were granted and seven were denied. Under federal law, states are required to file for termination of parental rights after a child has spent 15 of the previous 22 months in foster care. However, there are exceptions for example, in cases when the state agency documents a "compelling reason" why termination is not in a child's best interest, or when a state has failed to provide services necessary for a family's reunification. States have taken widely divergent approaches to the federal timeline, said Christopher Church, a policy expert with the Children's Law Center at the University of South Carolina School of Law. In some states, he said, there's strong interest in handling cases on an individualized, family-specific basis in deciding if and when a termination should be sought. In other states, "it's like an alarm clock that goes off," Church said. "They feel they have to file for termination regardless of a family's current situation." In Texas, the high rate of parental rights terminations has developed against a backdrop of major problems for the state's child-welfare system. There has been turnover in senior leadership, a class-action lawsuit alleging pervasive flaws, and controversy over the deaths of some foster children. Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, cited several factors behind the termination rate: rampant drug abuse, lack of engagement on the part of some parents, and the inability of other parents to address risk factors under the timetables that govern foster care and adoption placements. For legal reasons, children in foster care can be adopted only after a termination of parental rights. Critics of the Texas system say it is sometimes too quick to conclude that adoption is the best outcome for a child, and doesn't give biological parents an adequate chance to address problems so their child could stay with them. "We give up on parents very quickly in Texas," said Will Francis, government relations director at the Texas chapter of National Association of Social Workers. "We believe adoptions are much more of a cure-all than they really are." Johana Scot of the Austin-based Parent Guidance Center said many parents are unable to reunify with children taken into foster care because of lack of legal and other services that could help them. Once termination proceedings begin, she argued, "there's a culture of bias against the biological parent." Crimmins, in an email, said his department works toward family reunification in all cases where a child is removed from home, "unless the court finds aggravated circumstances." He cited several initiatives aimed at promoting reunification, such as a program arranging for biological parents to visit with their children when they're in foster care. In the San Antonio area, District Judge Peter Sakai has been spearheading an initiative aimed at resolving child-welfare cases more quickly, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary foster-care placements and terminations. "For the most part, our cases are tied to poverty, drugs, lack of mental health services," Sakai said. "If we empower the families, we can reunify them." Oklahoma and West Virginia also are taking steps to reduce terminations. West Virginia recently launched a program that seeks to reduce the number of 12-to-17-year-olds in foster care, supporting services so they can stay with their families or elsewhere in their community. Katelynn Burns, a spokeswoman for Oklahoma's Department of Human Services, said 700 child-welfare positions have been added in the past four years, easing workloads so caseworkers have more time to interact with parents. Hiring more caseworkers in New Jersey was cited by Allison Blake, commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, as helping lower that state's rate of terminations now 44 per 100,000 children, roughly half the national rate. In Maryland, where the rate of terminations has been among the lowest for a decade, the Department of Human Resources cites two initiatives as key factors. One is the Guardianship Assistance Program, which places at risk-children with relatives who get ongoing financial assistance while seeking to become the child's legal guardian. The program, which has encompassed more than 2,800 children at a time, allows relatives to take full legal responsibility for a child without terminating parental rights, so children can maintain contact with their biological parents. The other initiative, called Alternative Response, seeks ways to work with at-risk families to keep children in their own homes, rather than remove them, after a report of suspected abuse or neglect is received. "Children remaining safely at home or with family is always preferable to placement in foster care," said Katherine Morris, a human resources department spokeswoman. Through organizations such as the Birth Parent National Network , some parents who've lost children through termination orders have become forceful advocates for keeping at-risk families together. Among them is Kimberly Mays, a mother of 10 from Washington state, who lost parental rights to nine of her children during years of drug abuse and criminal conveictions. She kicked her drug habit, prevailed in a bid to raise to raise her 10th child, earned a master's degree, and now works with the Parents Representation Program of the state's Office of Public Defense. She recalls being deceived and belittled during her multiple termination proceedings, and wishes caseworkers would take an approach that's supportive rather than punitive. "Take the time to get to know the parent's real story, and not be judging them or looking down on them," she said. "You need to understand that people can change. The past doesn't dictate a person's future." ___ Online: Federal data on terminations: http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/TPRs-All-2005-2014.zip SHARE By Alayna Shulman The American Civil Liberties Union has sent a letter to Foothill High School in Palo Cedro demanding the school revoke its "plainly illegal" stance on a same-sex couple trying to run for prom royalty together. ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Gill said in the letter that the school preventing senior Hayley Lack from being nominated with her girlfriend "violates the constitutional and statutory rights of gay and lesbian students and must be rescinded immediately." Principal Jim Bartow's position on the issue is one of gender equality, he has said. Bartow said the school should continue nominating individuals for prom court instead of couples because having a same-sex couple on the court would be unfair to the gender that's not represented. But Gill said gay students' court-recognized right to bring a same-sex date to the prom extends to the prom court, citing a federal case from Mississippi. "The expression courts have found inherent in bringing a same-sex date to the prom -- the expression of sexual orientation, the statement of equality for same-sex couples, and the challenge to traditional gender roles -- is no less true of a student and her female prom date seeking the titles of prom king and queen," Gill wrote in the letter. Gill went on to say it's "plainly illegal" to discriminate based on sexual orientation, noting how some Foothill students have said that couples have been nominated together before. But Bartow has denied couples ever were nominated together other than by proxy, when the male winner and female winner happen to be in a relationship. Gill requested Bartow respond to the demand by Tuesday, since prom is Saturday. Bartow said in an email Monday afternoon that he and other employees are discussing the request. Check back for updates on this story. Nathan Solis/Record Searchlight Teri Zanni talks about homeless issues Sunday during a forum at Redding Pilgrim Congregational Church. SHARE By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight A forum looking to dispel myths about the homeless population in Redding was held at Pilgrim Congregation Church on Sunday. Teri Zanni began her forum with a word cloud related to the current online tone surrounding the local homeless population. The graphic grabbed words from local blogs, social media and other articles related to homelessness in Redding. The jumble of words in various sizes and colors said "felons," "hate," "tweakers," "transients," "choice," "crime," "trash," "dangerous" and "park" among other adjectives, city leader names and locations. Zanni, a social worker who served an internship with the Redding Resource Center community organization, presented five myths or misconceptions she discovered while doing outreach with homeless people in Redding. "I'm counting on you to be ambassadors to spread this," said Zanni, who spoke to about 20 people about a model discussing homelessness from the bottom up, meaning a community approach to the issue. "Get uncomfortable," said Zanni, remarking that if people want to see change they have to build a broad social justice movement, speak out for housing as a basic human right and call elected officials to prioritize low income housing programs, among other points. The Redding Resource Center is a local group attempting to spearhead a homeless supportive center. One myth presented at the forum: People choose Redding as their destination to be homeless. That mentality is one shared by most communities across the country, said Zanni. Another myth: the homeless are addicted to drugs. "There are addicts everywhere. Do you get to perform your coping method in private or out on the street? The non-homeless also use substances," said Zanni. The forum was an attempt to bridge the gap of what people view as the local homeless population. What about those who bring it onto themselves by not getting a job? The city of Redding's sit-lie ordinance makes it illegal to be homeless, said Zanni, creating a cycle of criminalization as most people living on the street cannot afford to pay $400 infractions from the police. That can lead to a criminal record, which then impacts someone's job opportunities or housing options down the road. The general stigma of homeless people plays a large role in finding a solution. Dale Ball, volunteer with the Shasta Support Service, has participated in a number of community events in Redding, including community cleanups of homeless camps. Ball attended the forum and though he does not agree with every point Zanni touched on, he thinks the conversation is important. "We want the same end-goal. People might have different opinions than me, but I like to hear those. I'm hopeful for the future, or else I wouldn't keep going to meetings about the homeless population," said Ball, who is in favor of addressing different groups of homeless people within the community with different solutions. A number of agencies have their own models when discussing the homeless population in general, with various degrees of success, said Zanni. "Collaboration is the most important aspect. The key is finding those who agree on the core issues. Right now the community is more divided than united," said Zanni. SHARE Defendant in stomping murder outof prison, paroled in Shasta County By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight A former defendant in one of Shasta County's most infamous murders ? the stomping and beating death of a former Cottonwood man ? is out of prison. Although Catherine Elaine Tuschen ? a key figure in the brutal death of Christopher Robert Hoff-McAuliffe ? was sentenced to the maximum of three years in prison in September 2006, she was released about six months ago, after serving a little more than one year of her term, Shasta County Assistant District Attorney Dan Flynn said Friday. Tuschen, 49, had pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact and destroying evidence. Flynn said he does not know where she now lives, but she does reside in Shasta County. Her parole officer could not be reached Friday. Tuschen was to have been eligible for parole after serving half her prison sentence, with time taken off for good conduct and credits for time served in jail. She will remain on parole for about 2A years. During her sentencing, Superior Court Judge Stephen Baker gave Tuschen the maximum term, calling her a "ringleader" in directing the destruction of evidence to try to cover up Hoff-McAuliffe's murder. Additionally, Baker said then, Tuschen's behavior at the time of the murder, as well as afterward, showed to him that she lacked true remorse and that much of her testimony on the witness stand during the murder trial of her two sons was "unresponsive, evasive and untruthful." Tuschen is the mother of Timothy Thomas Stayer, 29, and Robert Lee Stayer, 28, who were both convicted in 2006 of first-degree murder in the death of Hoff-McAuliffe, who lived in Galt. During their murder trial, Flynn and then-Deputy District Attorney Josh Lowery argued that Hoff-McAuliffe was beaten, drenched with insecticide, stomped upon and left to die at an Anderson River Park boat ramp on Nov. 21, 2004. The beating occurred after Timothy Stayer found Tuschen having sex with Hoff-McAuliffe at their Driftstone Drive home. A seven-woman, five-man jury also convicted the Anderson brothers of conspiracy to commit torture, torture, kidnapping, destruction of evidence and a special enhancement that they murdered Hoff-McAuliffe while committing a kidnapping. That special allegation automatically required them to serve life in prison without parole. The men's convictions are being appealed. Although Timothy Stayer said at his sentencing that he was sorry that Hoff-McAuliffe died, he said he had no remorse because he did not murder him, nor did he intend for him to die. "Nobody wanted this," he said, also expressing disgust about the judicial process and calling the prosecution team "liars." Timothy Stayer also said he did not understand why prosecutors did not seek the death penalty. "I would be cool with that," he said. "I'm willing to do the death penalty." Two other co-defendants ? Kevin Charles Skelton, 28, of Anderson, and Daniel Patrick Coyne, 22, of Redding ? took plea bargains in the case and remain in prison. Skelton was sentenced in 2006 to 14 years, eight months in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and other related crimes, while Coyne was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other related crimes. Reporter Jim Schultz can be reached at 225-8223 or at jschultz@redding.com. India is capable of developing GM crops, Randy Hautea, global coordinator for International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, tells Kanika Datta. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the commercial adoption of genetically modified crops, a period in which steady growth has been accompanied by persistent controversies over its health and environmental impact. In an email interview with Kanika Datta, Randy Hautea, global coordinator for International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, the GM crop advocacy group founded by Norman Borlaug, answers some of the charges. Edited excerpts: One of the claims by supporters of biotech/GM crops is that it can solve malnutrition problems in developing countries. Though developing countries are among the major adopters of GM crops, there is no firm evidence to support this claim. So how is this assertion being made? The first generation biotech crops occupied 179.6 million hectares in 2015 and delivered broad-based agronomic, economic, social and environmental benefits in the last two decades since they were first commercially planted on a wide scale in 1996. Additionally, it is estimated that farmers in up to 28 countries have reaped more than $150 billion in benefits from biotech crops since 1996. Most of these additional benefits accrued to 16.5 million small farmers and their families totalling about 65 million people, who are some of the poorest people in the world. India is a major beneficiary of genetically improved Bt [Bacillus thuringiensis] cotton commercially introduced in 2002. Bt cotton delivered benefits at both macro and micro levels. India is now the worlds largest producer of cotton, and produces a quarter of the worlds cotton. About 7.7 million small-holder cotton farmers adopted Bt cotton over 95 per cent of total cotton area, and have continued to plant it season after season, which by itself is convincing testimony of the farm-level success of Bt cotton. In the last 13 years, cotton farmers in India gained an additional farm income of $18.3 billion, which is one of the best yardsticks to measure the performance of Bt cotton technology in the hands of Indian farmers. Access to adequate, diverse, nutritious and safe food is largely a function of family income, and improved incomes of farm families as a result of biotech crops most certainly contribute to household food security. Opponents of GM crops say such foods are causing a rise in food allergies. How valid is this? In two decades of wide-scale planting of biotech crops and consumption of biotech crop products, the technology has yielded positive results wherever it was approved for commercial cultivation and/or consumption irrespective of the country (developing or industrial countries) or the people. There isnt a verifiable report on the alleged ill-effects of GM crops and products. The regulatory oversight of GM crops by stakeholders has made this technology rigorously and thoroughly tested and closely monitored. There is no scientific evidence to suggest any link to food allergies caused by biotech crops. On the contrary, there are plenty of examples showing substantial reduction in mycotoxins in biotech corn, which is now planted in over 53.6 million hectares in 17 countries. It is also said that GM technologies encourage the kind of monoculture that could eventually make these crops vulnerable to pests and disease and could lead to the creation of superbugs. Indeed, there is an example of Bollgard II, developed by Monsantos Indian subsidiary, which cotton farmers complain is less effective against the pink bollworm but is more expensive. How do you explain this? GM technology imparts new traits to existing crop varieties such as insect resistance, herbicide tolerance and/or drought tolerance, and hence doesnt create a new system of agriculture. Bt and herbicide tolerant (HT) traits have dominated the global biotech crops acreages since their inception in 1996. Regulatory compliance and stewardship are a must to prolong the life of Bt/HT technology. In the case of India, Bt cotton technology continues to be effective against its major pest Helicoverpa armigera. However, in some areas, we have received reports of pink bollworm developing resistance to Bt cotton. It is paramount for the country to continue with effective stewardship, introduce new generation and multiple-mode insect resistance Bt cotton, and strictly implement refuge management practices. Detractors of GM technologies say oversight and regulatory mechanisms in most adopter countries are too weak or prey to lobbying by the multinational seed tech developers to protect consumers against the possible dangers of GM crops. This is one of the major arguments why countries should be wary of adopting such technologies. In India, for example, the introduction of a host of GM crops -- brinjal, tomato and so on -- have been kept in abeyance on grounds that the science and safety are yet to be established. On the basis of two decades of wide-scale global use of GM crops and products, we completely disagree with this view. Biotech crops are one of the most rigorously tested products. Multiple regulatory agencies are involved in risk assessment of biotech crops. Each deregulated biotech event undergoes a close scientific scrutiny, safety assessment and field-testing in a rigorously designed bio-safety programme, which not only meets the demanding standards of international protocols but also satisfies the safety requirements of each countrys bio-safety regulatory framework. It is said that the continuing and long-standing controversies over GM crops is really a case of business rivalry between GM seed companies and pesticide manufacturers (for whom greater GM use diminishes the demand for their product). Also, how do you explain the fact that 20 years after the commercial adopting of GM crops, the technology is open to such fierce controversy worldwide? We believe the controversies over GM crops are beyond the mere assumption or contrived rivalry between GM seed companies and pesticide manufacturers. Biotech crops complement crop protection tools to produce better and healthy crops. In 2015, the global market value of biotech crops is estimated at $15.3 billion, that represents 20 per cent of the $76.2-billion global crop protection market in 2014, and 34 per cent of the $45-billion global commercial seed market. What would be interesting to look at instead is the role of the organic crops industry in the so-called continuing controversies. The danger of monopolies (and therefore future misuse) among suppliers of GM technologies is also large. For instance, in India, although several technologies have been licensed, Monsanto holds considerably more than half the market share. Would you agree? One of the noticeable trends in 20 years of commercial cultivation of GM crops is the rapid development of home-grown GM crops by public sector institutions and local private seed companies, particularly in developing countries. Remarkable numbers of home-grown GM crops are either deregulated or are at the advanced stage of regulatory approvals in Brazil and Argentina in South America; India and China in Asia and South Africa in the African continent. In addition, we have also seen tremendous progress on public-private partnerships (PPP) between multinationals and public sector institutions in developing countries to field-test globally deregulated biotech events for the benefits of small-holder farmers. Major PPP projects include Bt brinjal, Bt chickpea, LBR (late blight resistant) potato, GM mustard and Bt cotton in India; drought tolerant sugar cane in Indonesia; Bt brinjal, LBR potato, Bt cotton and Golden rice in Bangladesh; drought tolerant maize in Africa; IR (infra-red reflectance)/HT soybean in Argentina and HT soybean and VR beans in Brazil. This feat of promoting home-grown GM crops through PPP is effective in developing and delivering GM crops to farmers, and this could not be achieved without strong government support and political will. The scientific community in India is capable of developing GM crops that are relevant to India, and the PPP mechanism is an ideal proposition to overcome the danger of monopolies, provided the government of India recognises and facilitates PPP to achieve the desirable outcome in agriculture. Image: File photograph of a protest against GM crops in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters. Evasion is not the same as tax planning. If a manufacturer does not show his production in the register and thereby avoids tax, it is evasion, pure and simple Panama Papers disclosures now and earlier dealings of Vodafone through Cayman Islands are stories of famous tax havens, which evoke discussions of how tax evasion takes place. These are all direct taxes, mainly corporate tax, and not indirect tax. These are cases of tax planning that come to the fore whenever such disclosures take place. In the Vodafone case, the Supreme Court held that we have to look at the transaction as a whole and take into consideration various factors such as the duration of time during which the holding structure existed, the period of business operations in India, the generation of taxable revenue in India, and the continuity of business, among others. Considering all these factors, the Supreme Court held that the transaction was genuine and not sham. The Vodafone judgment has discussed two previous judgments namely McDowell vs Commercial Tax Officer -- AIR1986SC649, and the UOI vs Azadi Bachao Andolan -- (2000)263ITR706. The substance of all these judgments is that tax planning can be done provided it is permitted within the law and the activity to avoid the tax is not just a sham (a colourable device) but a genuine transaction. Interpretation to be given by a judge should not be to encourage evasion but it can allow avoidance within the law. It has to be judged on the basis of facts in each case. What I want to stress here is that tax planning is a feature of direct tax and not indirect tax. In the case of indirect tax, the taxable event is an act of manufacture, act of import and act of providing service, which are quantifiable. The detailed reason is the following. There is a difference in the nature of their taxable events of different taxes. The taxable event in income tax is the act of generation of income, which is measured in terms of net profit. It is an accounting concept. The taxable events in the case of indirect taxes are transaction-based. In the case of customs duty, it is the act of import or export. In the case of excise duty, it is the act of manufacture. In the case of sales tax, it is the act of sale. In the case of service tax, it is the act of providing service. These are all precise and physical concepts. Thus, we find that the taxable events on indirect taxes are much more precise. Either they are physical or easily identifiable. On the other hand, net profit can be shown as less or more due to manipulation of accounts. There are very many provisions in the income tax law to provide for bad debts or other receivables, which can suitably lead to a lesser net profit. But a tax adviser on the indirect tax side cannot reduce the amount of indirect tax by manipulation of the production or manufacture or import etc. He can only correctly interpret the law to come to the proper taxable amount. Evasion is not the same as tax planning. If a manufacturer does not show his production in the register and thereby avoids tax, it is evasion, pure and simple. It is not tax planning. In income tax, some people argue that legal avoidance is different from evasion. I, however, hold that there is no such concept. There is nothing like legal avoidance. Legal avoidance is a contradiction in terms. If it is legal, it is compliance to law. If it is illegal, it is evasion. In the legendary judgment known as the McDowell case, judges Chenappa Reddy and Ranganath Misra observed that the notion that tax avoidance is legal is wrong. This judgment has been quoted by many subsequent judgements even on the indirect taxes side only to emphasise that interpretation should not encourage evasion. It is important to clarify that availing of an exemption is neither evasion nor tax planning. An exemption for opening a factory in a designated area such as Uttarakhand or for using some special types of input is clearly available to the manufacturers. The conclusion is that tax planning can be done on the direct tax side by manipulating net profit but there is no such scope on the indirect tax side as it is transaction-based. Image: A company list showing the Mossack Fonseca law firm is pictured on a sign at the Arango Orillac Building in Panama City. Photograph: Carlos Jasso/Reuters The Tata Group had acquired its UK steel operations as part of a 6.7 billion pounds acquisition from Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2009. Indian-origin businessman Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty House group has confirmed that it will be submitting its bid for Tata Steel's loss-making UK businesses by Tuesday, according to a media report. The commodities trading firm, which emerged as an early front-runner for Wales-based Port Talbot steelworks, had said last week that its team was evaluating the bid. "We can confirm that Liberty will submit a letter of intent to Tata Steel on Tuesday and has put in place a strong internal transaction team and panel of leading external advisers to take the bid forward," a Liberty House spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Financial Times. Gupta is being advised by several former Tata Steel executives including Jon Bolton, who until last year was the head of Tata's Long Products business in Europe, the report said. Bolton joined Liberty House last month to run its steel business in Scotland, also bought over from Tata. Liberty House is reportedly working with Macquarie Capital, which is prepared to support the bid with funding, and the State Bank of India. Deloitte and Grant Thornton are among other firms involved which, among other issues, will advise Liberty House on dealing with the nearly 500 million pound funding deficit in Tata's pensions scheme, considered the biggest stumbling block in clinching the sale. Gupta, a Punjab-born graduate in economics and management from Cambridge University, has in the last week completed the acquisition of Tata's Scottish plants in a back to back transaction, which saw the Scottish government acquire the two plants of Dalzell and Clydebridge in Lanarkshire and immediately sell them to Liberty House. "Our team are continuing to evaluate the opportunity to make a bid for other Tata UK assets," Gupta had said. Other bidders for the remaining Tata Steel UK assets include Albion Steel, a UK start-up business with industry veteran Tony Pedder on the board. It is believed to be eyeing Tata's speciality steels unit based in Sheffield, northern England. A Tata management team buyout is seen as the other serious contender at this stage. The Tata Group had acquired its UK steel operations as part of a 6.7 billion pounds acquisition from Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2009. The firm has blamed structural disadvantages in the UK, such as extremely high energy costs, as the reason for the crisis in the steel industry. "If we were at the same electricity costs as Germany, then (Tata Steel UK) would be 40 million pounds better off -- we would not be having negative numbers. We would not be selling the business if we were not losing money," Tata Steel UK CEO Bimlendra Jha told the House of Commons Business Select Committee last week. He had also indicated that the firm wants to ideally sell all its UK assets together, rather than splitting them up. "We would not deal with somebody saying leave alone Port Talbot and give us the rest. That is not a solution that's acceptable," Jha had said. The UK government has indicated that it is willing to take a stake of no more than 25 per cent to help secure a deal. Photograph: Reuters Last updated on: May 02, 2016 15:45 IST To tap business opportunities that the proposed payments banks will bring in, global technology company Microsoft plans to offer back-end support to these players. The company is in talks with some of these banks and hopeful of bagging projects. Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik told Business Standard that a host of companies from various sectors, including banking financial services and insurance, health care, e-commerce are either being powered by Microsofts cloud platform or would soon come on board. We do plan to have customers from the upcoming payments bank segment. It is not just the new payments bank but also existing banks which have all kinds of payment systems. The talks have already started with various clients. Whether it is the new banks or payments bank, we are talking to everybody, he said. Microsoft plans to offer solutions around data, security applications and analytics, for handling the large number of small transactions which would be made via these banks. Microsoft offers analytics at a huge scale, machine intelligence capabilities and higher degrees of security. BFSI customers who are used to having their own data centres, have for various reasons, whether its for capacity purposes or workload they have, actually chosen to come to Microsoft, added Pramanik. In August, 11 firms got the Reserve Bank of Indias in-principle approval to set up payments banks. Of these, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company opted out in March. The other 10 are a Reliance-SBI combine; Aditya Birla Nuvo (Idea Cellular); Airtel; Vodafone; Department of Posts; FINO PayTech; Tech Mahindra; National Securities Depository Ltd; Paytm; and Dilip Shantilal Shanghvi. As far as Microsofts foray into the small and medium business space is concerned, the company said it had around 150,000 customers of which 50,000 SMBs were brought in the past two years alone. Last year, the software giant launched a cloud adoption programme for SMBs in India called 'Cloud Solution Provider'. SMBs can adopt value-added solutions and offerings supporting their specific requirements on the cloud through Microsoft CSP. Microsoft's productivity offerings on cloud has been further integrated and strengthened with Windows 10 and Office 2016 features that boosts collaboration and efficiency of the workforce. According to the company, its cloud service business has posted a healthy double-digit growth in the country. The company recently collaborated with Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry to assist around 200,000 SMBs across Karnataka to adopt technology with cloud computing. While, the company does not give country specific investment numbers, it has spent $15 billion on cloud computing over the last five years. Microsoft has 46 per cent market share as far as software-as-a-service is concerned. Overall cloud share, which includes infrastructure platform and software, the company has about 30 per cent of the market share. Our ambition is to get around 40 odd per cent by the next fiscal, Pramanik added. The company also caters to a long list of e-commerce clients which includes Snapdeal, Meru Cabs, Just Dial, Pepperfry on its cloud platform. BJP-ruled states push through amendments to laws, aim to get larger share of FDI pie Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya invoked B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, on International Labour Day to highlight various pro-worker steps taken by the government. He spoke of minimum wages and extending of social security schemes to unorganised workers. He also launched a programme to consolidate multiple provident fund accounts. But, Dattatreya was silent on long-pending reforms to archaic labour laws. "As a founding member of the ILO (International Labour Organization), India is committed to the principle of tripartitism," he said. "The ministry has made the best efforts to reach a consensus on all issues and many tripartite discussions have been held before taking decisions." The government, however, has put the ambitious plan for labour reforms on hold after coming under fire from trade unions. While the Centre has dragged its feet, states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, have moved swiftly to usher in reforms as they aim to take larger share of the foreign direct investment pie. Rajasthan has been the pioneer by relaxing provisions of the Factories Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Apprentices Act and Contract Labour Act. Madhya Pradesh has amended at least 20 labour laws, including the Industrial Disputes Act, Factories Act, and Shops and Establishments Act. Experts said the central government was working to foster a competitive environment among states, while simultaneously attempting to unseat Opposition parties in state Assemblies. "If the Union government is unable to introduce comprehensive investor-friendly labour laws at the national level because of political resistance, it will remain incumbent on India's states to decide if they want to take the political risks necessary to enact difficult reforms such as deregulating labour laws," said Owen Jolie, a researcher with Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The central government has often returned to the drawing board, realising that it required more consultations with the unions after they opposed the changes. "We will call for a tripartite discussion after this Parliament session ends," Dattatreya said. Many meetings have been planned over the next few months to incorporate changes to the draft reforms, said an official in the know of the developments. The Centre also plans to move swiftly on the proposed social security schemes for the workers. According to labour ministry officials, there has been a consensus that the government wants to portray itself as pro-worker as it completes the second year in office. Of the many regulations that the government is trying to push is the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, which aims to provide National Pension System (NPS) as an alternative to the Employees' Provident Fund, which is now compulsory for establishments with 20 workers. "The law ministry has already approved the amendment Bill to change the Employees' Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The labour ministry has circulated the Cabinet proposal," the official said. Besides that, the government is waiting for Cabinet approval for the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961, which mandates to increase maternity leave to 28 weeks from current 12 weeks. The government is also planning to soon bring out an executive order to halve the threshold for coverage of firms to 10 workers the official added. "We will give notice for consultations by first week of the next month." The trade unions are of the opinion that the government needs to reverse some of the "anti-worker" decisions it has taken (see chart for status of some amendments). "The government is on the back foot. It is unlikely to push anything afresh. It has already taken enough unilateral anti-workers decision; those need to be reversed first," said D L Sachdeva, secretary, All India Trade Union Congress. Photograph: PTI It has been 400 years since Shakespeare died, but his legacy lives on. Shakya Mitra lists three prominent places associated with the Bard. Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet's House, is a museum dedicated to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in Verona, Italy. Photograph: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters London This is where Shakespeare spent much of his working life. Today, Declan McHugh, a former actor, conducts the Shakespeare in the City Walk here. Revisit Shakespeare's life on the north bank of the Thames through this walking tour, which is about one-and-a-half-hours long. Though the tour does not include a visit to the Globe Theatre, it takes you through many other lesser known places associated with Shakespeare's life. These include Blackfriars Theatre, Mermaid's Tavern, believed to be Shakespeare's local pub, and St Helen's Bishopsgate, which is believed to be his local church. The public walking tour starts from the Blackfriars tube station at 11 am every Friday and costs 9.5 (approximately Rs 900) for those above 15 years and 7.5 (approximately Rs 700) for those below 15. There is also a private walking tour of up to a group of 15 that costs 180 (for every additional person, it costs an extra 12). The tour is conducted on Wednesdays every half an hour, from 9 am to 5 pm. Stratford Upon Avon IMAGE: Tourists watch actors perform at the house where Shakespeare was born during celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright's death in Stratford Upon Avon. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters The birthplace of Shakespeare, this town in the county of Warwickshire is located about 160 km north of London. The Stratford Upon Avon walking tour takes you through places associated with Shakespeare. It covers Shakespeare's birthplace, Mary Arden's Farm, where his mother was brought up; Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where Shakespeare's wife grew; Hall's Croft, which was owned by Shakespeare's daughter and her husband; and the Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried. The approximately two-hour long tour starts at 11 am (Monday to Friday), while on Saturday and Sunday, there are two tours starting at 11 am and 2 pm. The tour costs 6 for adults; 5 for students and those above 65; 3 for those below 16; and is free for children below eight. US President Barack Obama tours the Globe Theatre in London to mark the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, April 23, 2016. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Verona This city, located 160 km to the east of Milan in north-eastern Italy, has a population of around 260,000. It has also been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. It is also the location for three of Shakespeare's plays: The Taming of the Shrew, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Romeo and Juliet. It is for the last one that Verona is considered worth visiting. Juliet's house where Romeo promised Juliet eternal love is a big draw. It is believed to be a sign of good luck where young people touch Juliet's statue in the hope of finding the love of their life. Juliet's house is open all seven days of the week and a visit to it costs Euro 6 (Rs 450). Romeo's house is also located in Verona, but it is not open to the public. There is also the tomb of Juliet. The information and broadcasting ministry's business-like and result-oriented handling of several issues has set a template for other ministries to follow, says A K Bhattacharya. The Union ministry for information and broadcasting usually maintains a low profile and draws little attention even from within the government. It is a ministry that is responsible for communicating to the people what the government is doing for them and for the country. Largely because of the nature of its primary responsibilities, it meets the same fate as that of messengers in any system. If things go right, everybody showers praise on the top leadership. Unfortunately, however, when things go wrong, the blame squarely falls on the messenger or the communicator for having failed to either convey to the people the right messages in the right context or anticipate how things were going wrong and alert the leadership about the problems in advance. The fate that the Union ministry for information and broadcasting has had to suffer for many years is largely similar. The predicament, obviously, gets worse if there are some problems that need to be resolved within the domain of the ministry, as has happened in the last several months of the Narendra Modi government. Consider the following. The appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the head of the Pune-headquartered Films and Television Institute of India or FTII had kicked up a storm of protests that quickly snowballed into a national political controversy which was fuelled in no small measure by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi taking active part in the agitation. The appointment of Chauhan was seen as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's attempt at gaining political control over national institutions of art and culture. Even as the government showed no signs of buckling under any pressure on the question of appointing Chauhan as the chairman of FTII, the ministry of information and broadcasting quietly began its work to defuse the crisis. It was a difficult task as Sunil Arora, who took charge of the ministry in September last year, soon found out. His first response was to try to keep politics out of the controversy that arose out of Chauhan's appointment and the Congress decision to fuel it further. Thus, he focused on the governance structure of FTII and took a series of steps to fix that. As many as four former students of FTII were inducted into the governing council of the institute and he made sure that all the new names had credentials in the industry that few could doubt. One of them was asked to head FTII's academic council and oversee its syllabus and pedagogical issues. The idea was simple: Since Chauhan's appointment had become politicised and any backtracking on that would be politically costly for the ruling party, the ministry under Arora decided to focus on beefing up the institute's governing council and administration through names that were credible. The FTII crisis may not be over, but certainly it is no longer attracting the kind of negative media attention it did eight months ago. Yet another move that the ministry took under Arora was to appoint a committee under the chairmanship of well-regarded film director Shyam Benegal to reform the functioning of the Central Board of Film Certification. Remember that the functioning of this body too had got politicised recently. Before accepting the responsibility of chairing the committee, Benegal is believed to have told Arora that the way forward for CBFC was to move away from using "scissors", a suggestion to which Arora gave his tacit approval. Now, the Benegal committee's recommendations that CBFC should not impose excision and instead act as a certifier look set to be accepted by the government and the laws would be suitably changed, ushering in long-awaited reforms in this field. Similarly, a more streamlined functioning of all central ministries to communicate the government's programmes and achievements has been put in place under the broad direction of the information and broadcasting ministry. More significantly, revised advertisement rates for communication material issued through the directorate of audio visual publicity are to be released soon. The new rates, whose review was overdue for some years, would recognise the new market realities. A lot of these initiatives were either launched or speeded up when Arora was at the helm of the ministry as its secretary. The ministry's approach to these issues became more business-like and result-oriented, probably because Arora had earlier run Indian Airlines successfully as its chief executive, recording commendable performance in a tough market. If only more secretaries in the central ministries imbibe the spirit demonstrated by Arora, who completed his tenure in the ministry last week, governance from the many Bhawans in New Delhi would witness a sea change for the better. Political commentators say the final outcome of the West Bengal assembly elections would depend on how some crucial factors play out this time. Mayank Mishra explains. Hadda Haddi (close contest) is the expression frequently used by the people of West Bengal when asked to comment on which way the wind is blowing this time. Ebar eto sohoj hobe na, a retired Indian Administrative Service officer who dabbled in politics for a while said to a reporter in Kolkata. A range of people whom this reporter spoke to in seven districts spoke on similar lines. They said with the coming together of the Left parties and the Congress, the electoral battle in the state had become too close for a call. However, political commentators say the final outcome would depend on how some of the factors play out this time. One of the major ones is how urban areas in the state vote. In the 2011 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress-led alliance swept the urban areas, with a vote share in excess of 50 per cent. The alliance won all the 52 urban seats with an impressive vote share of 57 per cent, according to Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. It won 65 of the 66 seats considered to be part of Greater Kolkata. Moreover, of the 45 semi-urban seats, it won 39 with a vote share of nearly 51 per cent. "I had covered the last elections. The slogan of poriborton (change) had really appealed to the people in the urban areas. There was an unprecedented surge for Mamata Banerjee. I have toured the state this time, too. The buzz is missing. If at all, there is some disappointment with the promised poriborton," a Kolkata-based political commentator said. What he is hinting at is that the verdict in urban areas this time is expected to be mixed. If that happens, it would be tough for the TMC to maintain the kind of lead it did in urban centres the last time. Another factor is the geographical concentration of the seats TMC won last time. The retired IAS officer said: "If you analyse the last assembly elections carefully, you will realise that TMC won maximum seats in six districts. What will decide the outcome this time is how the two Parganas (North and South 24 Parganas) vote." They account for 64 of the 294 seats in the state and the alliance won 56 of these in 2011. North 24 Parganas, the most populous district in the country with a population in excess of 10 million, alone has 33 assembly seats, which in itself is a record of sorts. Other districts where the TMC had done exceedingly well in 2011 were Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah and Purbo Medinipur. The sense one gets after talking to the people and political commentators is TMC might have a tough time doing an encore in these regions. "We had a real tough time after the shocking defeat in 2011. However, with Jot becoming a reality, we hope to retrieve some of our lost grounds," Anand Chakravarty, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) activist said in North 24 Parganas district. What gives him and his colleagues hope, he claims, is the consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of the Jot. Muslims account for more than 25 per cent votes in the two Parganas. "TMC's unique selling point in the two Parganas is a leader like Abdul Razzak Molla. He is considered to be an influential Muslim leader and was a powerful minister in the Left government. All his life he was a communist. Now he has joined TMC. Do you think Left supporters will vote for him? To me, it seems unlikely. He is unlikely to bring incremental votes to the TMC in this region," a dhaba owner in Bantala, South 24 Parganas district observed. One more crucial factor which would have a decisive impact on the outcome is how the Muslims vote. Of the 87 seats where Muslims account for 30 per cent more votes, the TMC-led alliance won nearly 61 seats in the last elections. Muslim-dominated constituencies include some in the districts of Murshidabad and Maldaha, which have been a traditional Congress stronghold. The Congress, which was an ally of TMC in 2011, has an understanding with the Left this time. "The feedback I am getting from the ground is that there is going to be dilution of support for TMC among the Muslims. But, it might still get a sizeable section of the Muslim votes," another Kolkata-based commentator remarked. According to CSDS data, the alliance had a vote share of 45.3 per cent in the Muslim-dominated areas compared to the Left Front's 41.8 per cent. A marginal swing may alter the equation in these constituencies. 'The Modi government knows that much cannot be expected of Pakistan till the Kulbhushan Jadhav issue is resolved,' says Rajeev Sharma. The Narendra Modi government still has stars in its eyes in its dealings with Pakistan despite no concrete action on the ground by Islamabad that justifies New Delhi's optimism. Is it genuine optimism on the Modi government's part? Or is it a put on show considering that a government which has made such a huge political investment in reaching out to Pakistan can hardly do anything else? Two key government officials expressed optimism about the India-Pakistan engagement last week. Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup, in his weekly briefing on April 28, described the April 26 talks between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in New Delhi as 'positive' and 'frank, but constructive.' This is what the MEA spokesman said: 'I think the very fact that the two foreign secretaries met, you know there was speculation for a long time, is the dialogue process between India and Pakistan suspended, are the foreign secretaries never going to meet and things like that.' 'So the very fact that they met, I think has the message in itself. Both sides have described the meeting as "frank, but constructive." You would have seen the comments made by the Pakistan foreign secretary and he also described the talks as being positive, we also would use the same adjective to describe the talks.' A day later, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met six former Pakistani high commissioners to India -- Humayun Khan, Riaz Khokhar, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Aziz Ahmad Khan, Shahid Malik and Salman Bashir -- and expressed satisfaction at the Pakistani Joint Investigation Team that visited India a month ago. Doval and Swarup's observations should be seen as diplomatese and nothing more. The truth is gradually sinking in as far as the Modi government is concerned that Pakistan is proving a much harder nut to crack than it had previously imagined. When Modi stunned the world by suddenly diverting his home-bound plane from Kabul to Lahore on December 25 to greet his Pakistani counterpart on his birthday to launch his government's most decisive peace effort vis-a-vis Pakistan, the Kulbhushan Jadhav episode had not occurred. The dynamics have now changed substantially with the 'arrest' of Jadhav, a former Indian Navy commander who has been accused by Pakistan of being a Research and Analysis Wing spy. The Pakistanis are currently on an overdrive in major world capitals trying to project how India fans terrorist and subversive activities against Pakistan, showcasing Jadhav to the international community to that end. The Modi government now knows that much cannot be expected of Pakistan till the Jadhav issue is resolved. But how to do it? The Modi government can do precious little as all the levers are in Pakistan's hands as far as the Jadhav episode is concerned. Though it is not know when Jadhav was 'arrested' in Balochistan, the development first came to light in March. Since then the India-Pakistan peace process has been headed nowhere despite India permitting the Pakistani JIT to visit the terror-hit Pathankot airbase. But there are still some bright spots in the India-Pakistan engagement. First, the two foreign secretaries did meet, even if the meeting was on the sidelines of a multilateral event, he Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan. The fact that the two foreign secretaries met punctured the claim of Abdul Basit, Pakistan's high commissioner to India, that the peace process between India and Pakistan is currently 'suspended.' In a way, the Pakistani envoy has been rebuffed by his own government. Second, the Pakistani side itself described the foreign secretaries' talks as 'positive.' This is a forward-looking move. Having said that, this is grossly inadequate to carry forward the peace process. While symbolism constitutes an important part of diplomacy, symbolism alone is not enough and needs to be followed by concrete deliverables on the ground. The April 26 foreign secretaries talks have thrown up symbolism but nothing more to further a constructive and meaningful engagement with Pakistan. Rajeev Sharma is an independent journalist and strategic analyst who tweets @Kishkindha IMAGE: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry after a meeting at South Block in New Delhi, April 26, 2016. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo 'We will continue to ask why Modi and his government were benefactors to this AgustaWestland company, why within 40 days they overturned the ban?' Randeep Surjewala, the Congress' communication chief, speaks to Kavita Chowdhury about the fallout of the AgustaWestland issue. By raking up the AgustaWestland deal, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, it appears, has put the Congress on the defensive. The Congress may have strongly refuted the charges with detailed documents, but it hasn't quite succeeded in countering the perception war... All that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are doing is muckraking. Speaking a lie a hundred times doesn't make it the truth. The truth is that the Congress government cancelled the defence contract, it ordered the registration of a corruption case, it referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation. For two years, the Modi government is in power, we ask them why have you not identified the bribe takers and taken action against them, why have you not proceeded against the bribe-giving company? Why have you become protector and benefactor of a company, which you call corrupt -- AgustaWestland? And, after the company was banned on July 3, 2014, why do you issue orders within 40 days -- the then defence minister Arun Jaitley permits this company to participate in defence contracts with Indian partners or as a vendor of equipment. Thereby, you undo everything against a company accused of being corrupt. Why did the Modi government allow this company to enter into a joint venture and then gave them Foreign Investment Promotion Board permission? The defence ministry now has tried to mislead the country claiming no such permission was given; but as per a Press Information Bureau release of October 8, 2015, the Modi government proceeded to give Agusta Westland FIPB permission. The government claims that it was they who finally blacklisted the company on July 3, 2014, but it was the Congress government which had started the process on February 10, 2014 and the Modi government came to power in May 2014. There is no magic wand. We were the ones who had started the process of blacklisting. The Congress image has taken a beating with this AgustaWestland scam and more so that of its top-party leadership... It is a conspiracy by the BJP and the Modi government to tarnish the image of Congress leaders through false allegations. The prime minister forgets he is not the Leader of the Opposition. He and his government are following the policy of shoot and scoot. None of these allegations will hold water. We will fight it out politically. And we will continue to ask why Modi and his government were benefactors to this AgustaWestland company, why within 40 days they overturned the ban? What is the connection between former Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, who has been part of the Vivekananda International Foundation, and Ajit Doval (the National Security Advisor), and Nripendra Mishra (the personal secretary to the prime minister). We believe the Modi government was scared of being confronted with the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation scam, where banks were defrauded of Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion). Modi as Gujarat chief minister was directly at the helm then, and the Comptroller and Auditor General had severely indicted the GSPC. In order to divert attention from all this, they are making the false allegations in the AgustaWestland issue. But it is the recent verdict of the Italian court that has brought the AgustaWestland issue into the limelight and the references made therein to Congress leaders... There is not even one line in the Italian court judgment, which is an indictment of the Congress and Congress leaders. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, one after another Union ministers, have been levelling allegations. I have seen the judgment of the Italian court. This is the double game being played by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. In the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley says they are 'yet to identify the bribe takers' and yet they are accusing senior Congress leaders. The Congress had entered this Parliament session on an aggressive stance, but that seems to have petered out a week into the session... That is not correct. We in the Congress have nothing to hide. On the contrary it is the Modi government that is shielding the corrupt and is the benefactor. The Modi government has failed on multiple fronts. Be it the flip-flops on foreign policy, the Gurdaspur and Pathankot terror attack and then inviting the Pakistan investigation team, which turned out to be a huge embarrassment. With the subjugation of an elected government in Uttarakhand, they have egg on their face. Industry and employment figures are dismally low, there is a severe rural and agricultural crisis -- to deflect attention from all these, the Modi government is indulging in mudslinging and they are resorting to these false allegations and insinuations. We are and will be on the front foot and raise these real issues like the murder of democracy in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, both within and outside Parliament. IMAGE: Children walk miles to fetch water in drought-hit Maharashtra. Photograph: Santosh Hirlekar/PTI 'There is no food to eat and water to drink and people are migrating in hordes.' 'Chief Minister Fadnavis must shift his base to Marathwada.' 'If you do not help during a drought, then when will you help?' When the Narendra Modi wave swept across Maharashtra in May 2014, Rajeev Shankarrao Satav defied the odds and won the Lok Sabha election from Hingoli, one of only two Congress MPs to win from the state, the other being former chief minister Ashok Chavan from Nanded. Satav, below, left, is currently highlighting the drought in his constituency and Marathwada in Parliament. The 42-year-old MP, who has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit the drought-affected areas in Maharashtra, spoke to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com Why do you want the prime minister to visit the drought-affected areas in Marathwada? For the last four years Maharashtra is facing a drought. This year's drought has been the worst. If Modi visits these areas it will send a message that he cares for the drought-affected people. Why am I asking Modi to visit? Because last year we asked for help, but the central government only partially helped us. This year the central government has not helped at all. In Parliament, questions about the drought are replied to by the agriculture minister (Radha Mohan Singh) who does not have any power. Nobody follows his instructions on the ground. The National Disaster Relief Fund comes under the home ministry and if you want to procure food then it is related to the food ministry. Some issues (regarding the drought) are related to the finance ministry. We don't need a reply only from the agriculture minister in Parliament. The home minister must reply, the finance minister must reply, the food minister must reply. Instead of every minister replying I want the prime minister to reply. The agriculture minister states that the banks will give farmers loans. The banks say that unless the finance minister instructs them they will not give farmers loans. Last year farmers got some help from the central government, but they have not got it this year. Is that correct? Last year they got only 50 per cent of what was promised. Most importantly, Modi travels everywhere in the world, but not to Marathwada. In Marathwada, except Ashok Chavan and me who visit the region, no Member of Parliament from the Shiv Sena or BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is visiting (Marathwada). The BJP-Shiv Sena has 42 out of 48 MPs in Maharashtra. The people of Maharashtra gave the BJP-Shiv Sena a mandate, but they are not doing anything to tackle this drought. How many times has Modi visited Marathwada to know about the problems of farmers? Two years ago Modi had come to Marathwada and Vidarbha for Chai Pe Charcha. Some of the farmers who participated in that Chai Pe Charcha have committed suicide. The state government in Maharashtra has failed very badly to tackle the drought situation. I did not demand the prime minister's visit alone, but also for a loan waiver to the farmers. What is the situation in your constituency, Hingoli, which is in Marathwada? For the last three months, I have been requesting the district administration in Hingoli that they must start work under MNREGA (the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). I have been following this up for the last three months, but the administration is not interested because there is no push from the government. In my constituency, 35 per cent of the people have migrated to other parts of the state. This is the situation in every constituency of Marathwada. There is no food to eat and water to drink and people are migrating in hordes. Why don't you speak to the state government and highlight this issue? I have conducted meetings with ministers and also with collectors in my individual capacity, but unless the government forces the administration things will not move. This is not the case of Hingoli alone, but all the districts of Marathwada. In 1972, when there was a famine in Maharashtra, then Congress chief minister Vasantrao Naik himself went and checked on the EGS (Employment Guarantee Scheme, an earlier incarnation of MNREGA). Naik used to be in the field. If you recall during the Killari earthquake in 1993 in Maharashtra, then chief minister Sharad Pawar was in the field within 12 hours. I am surprised to see these (BJP-Shiv Sena) ministers travelling only for 6 to 8 hours to the drought areas and leaving the place. I feel every minister must sit in the headquarters of the drought-affected areas, but that is not happening. Why do you think BJP-Shiv Sena ministers are unable to connect with rural issues in Maharashtra? It is a very city-centric government. They do not know the problems of the rural areas in Maharashtra. I feel Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis must shift his base to Marathwada in such times. If you do not help during a drought, then when will you help? Where has the Maharashtra government failed? Six months ago we knew this situation would come. We all spoke about the coming water crisis, but they (the BJP-Shiv Sena government) were just not interested in doing any execution. In an earlier interview you said the Modi government is arrogant. Why did you say so? There is such a big crisis in Maharashtra and there is not a single tweet by Modi on the issue. Nobody is thinking about the basic issues of life. Do you feel the Modi government is arrogant in its attitude? Yes, they (the Modi government) are absolutely arrogant. What about the Maharashtra government's Jal Shivir programme? There were no rains, so you tell me how will they conserve water? There is no food to eat and no way to survive. What they are doing is building water reservoirs. Some water can be collected, but that will not solve the water crisis. How many people are affected by the drought in Maharashtra? 4 crore (40 million) people are affected by the drought. The prime minister does not speak of visiting Marathwada. In Parliament, BJP leaders like Venkaiah Naidu and Rajnath Singh just listen to me, but do not get up to talk about this issue. Other MPs from other parties too have spoken about this issue, but nobody discussed it in Parliament. What do you think is going on in the government's mind about the drought situation in the country? This (Modi government) is not a rural-centric government, but an urban-centric one. This is their problem. They have no idea about farming issues. Elected representatives don't know what the problem is, so how will they address the issue (drought)? In a major measure, Mumbais municipal corporation has sent legal notices to 249 private primary schools asking them to shut down. The step threatens to disrupt the already inadequate educational scenario in the city, reports Hepzi Anthony. IMAGE: Salim, 8, son of a migrant taxi driver, waits for his father at a taxi stand, as he prepares to go to school in Mumbai. PHOTOGRAPH: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters. In a major clampdown, the Mumbai municipal corporation has sent legal notices to 249 private primary schools, asking them to shut down. Most of these schools that have been threatened with being declared unauthorised are small schools that mostly run in the slums and cater to children from the poorer sections of society. The notices have also threatened them with fines up to Rs 1 lakh, or Rs 10,000 for every day that they continue to function 'illegally', according to Prakash Charate, deputy director (private primary schools ) in Mumbai municipal corporation's education department. This is a drastic step that threatens to alter and disrupt the already inadequate educational scenario in Mumbai. There are 1,100 private schools in Mumbai reaching out to a student community of over 4.5 lakh. This is apart from the 3.9 lakh students that study in Mumbais municipal schools. These notices were sent after our beat officers surveyed and found that these schools lacked basic facilities such as proper 360 sq ft classrooms, Diploma in Education-trained teachers, a compound wall or even a playground, explains Ritu Tawde, former chairperson of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's education committee Taking into consideration the problem of shortage of open spaces in Mumbai, we have decided to ignore the provision for requirement of a playground for a school. We are now saying that if a school has an open space within the range of a kilometre, where the students can be taken to for playing, then it can be considered as a school facility, she adds. Schools are also expected to provide drinking water, toilet facilities and a library. Despite overlooking the lack of a playground, these schools still did not fit the bill of being called a school, as per the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009. When this Act was enacted by Parliament, it had allowed schools three years to meet the criteria listed. It has been six years since, and still many of the 672 private unaided schools in Mumbai have been found wanting on many counts. But, how did the number swell so much? Earlier, people would start a school and only if they reached the required student strength and facility, would they be expected to apply and seek recognition from the municipal corporation. Many schools came into operation earlier like this, but now with the emergence of the RTE Act in 2009 the entire system turned topsy-turvy and the schools were caught off-guard, says an education department official, who is not authorised to speak to the media. Many of these schools facing de-recognition are run in slums, and they cant even find the space to build a compound wall around them, he adds. The schools are yet to face the heat, as Maharashtra is still debating whether the penalty amount should be pocketed by the state government or the local self-government authorities. Twenty-five years ago, P Ayyadurai started his school, the Little Flower, at Jari Mari in the slums adjoining the Mumbai international airport, to educate the poor children in his neighbourhood. What started off as a small social initiative turned into a proper school with classes up to Standard X. He would provide free education to the handicapped and even enroll Tamil medium students and help them appear for Standard X examinations. Even now, he claims that his fees of less than Rs 500 per month is nominal and the lowest among other English medium schools in his area. But now he has been informed that his school should be shut down. A common ground nearby serves as a playground for three other schools like his. IMAGE: Ironically, many of the schools facing de-recognition continue to take in admissions for the next academic year. Photograph: Hepzi Anthony. Kamlesh Pandey runs the Kamlesh Pandey High School at Sakinaka in Andheri east. His school adjoins the footpath of the 90-ft Road on DSouza Nagar, and the schools flagpost has been built right on the footpath. Vehicles are parked right in front of the school. I will build a wall around the school and clear the space downstairs to provide for a play area for the students. Most of my documents have been cleared except one, and I hope to get recognition for my school soon, Pandey says confidently. Former corporator from Jari Mari, S Annamalai, raises a question: When the BMCs own educational facility is so pathetic, why are they insisting on shutting down even the sparse private educational network that exists here? It is so difficult to run schools in these slums. This cannot be allowed to happen. He details the sad state of affairs at the local municipal schools. Even today, the Jari Mari Urdu municipal school is in such a bad shape that 40 students study in a single 10X10 sq ft room. The students are made to sit on the floor and study, since it would be impossible to accommodate them all if benches were to be put there, he says. The civic schools do not even have their own premises in this area. I provided space in my own house at Jari Mari for two years without charging rent, so that the poor students in my area could study. Later, we constructed the school ourselves so that the children could study more comfortably. Ironically, many of the schools facing de-recognition continue to take in admissions for the next academic year. Many of the parents are unaware that the schools are in danger of being de-recognised. The list of such schools is not available on any public forum or even on the BMCs own website. People will have to file a query under the Right to Information Act in the local municipal ward office to find if their childs school is recognised or not. Schools are expected to display the Certificate of Recognition. Parents should be more alert and insist on seeing the certificate. Otherwise, there is no other way to find out about the status of their childs school, cautions Tawde. Member of Legislative Council (Teachers Constituency) Kapil Patil feels that the emphasis should be on education and not on the facilities. Providing education for all is a state responsibility and the government should extend support to private schools in propagating that role, rather than clamp down on it, he says. IMAGE: A school displays its fees on the notice board, seeking admissions for the next year. There is, however, no mention of the derecognition threat it faces. Photograph: Hepzy Anthony He questions the states motive in clamping down on small schools and accuses the government of weeding small players out of the educational system. I got Rs 34 crore sanctioned to provide toilets in 634 schools. Its almost three years now and the government still refuses to let out the sanctioned funds for the purpose. How do you expect schools in slums that share walls with houses to come up with compound walls? he says. Farida Lambay, founder-president of Pratham, a non-governmental organisation working for children, feels that things work both ways. Some private schools have become profit-making initiatives where the infrastructure is not good and teachers are not paid well. They have come up because of the huge demand for private schools. The point is that these private schools are doing well; the reason being, that the government system has really failed them and second, because parents have no choice of another school in that particular area. Implementation of the RTE Act has to be considered in its totality. One of the things that the government can do is by keeping its own house in order, ie, by really upgrading its own schools, so that people dont have to go to the private ones. The other way could be to provide aid to the existing good schools to help in the task. Like for example in Maharashtra, most of the Christian missionary schools are aided, and they are really reaching out to the poorest of the poor, says Lambay. She feels that the entire school education of the child right from preschool to Standard X should be brought under the purview of the RTE Act. Its ultimately the poor, who look at education as a means of economic upliftment, who have got caught in this quagmire. A parent whose child studies at one of the schools facing de-recognition explains, I studied only till Standard V in a vernacular school. I wanted my children to study at an English medium school. I used to pay Rs 800 a month, along with a one-time admission fee that has to be paid at the beginning of an academic year. This school displays its fees on the board and tells us clearly that we should take admission only if we are able to afford it. Even though the higher standard is aided by the state and is meant to be free for us, the school charges a hefty fee of Rs 7,000 as admission fee, he says. When asked about the prospect of de-recognition of her childs school, she says: This is the closest primary school for us. We cant take our kids far in a bus. And no, the free vernacular municipal school nearby is no option for her, because she wants English education for her children. The good news,. though, is that the BMC is gearing up with more semi-English medium schools. Kalvari, Indian Navys first indigenous Scorpene-class stealth submarine, on Sunday sailed out of Mumbai Harbour for sea trials even as the plan to purchase heavy-weight torpedos for the vessel remains stuck due to the VVIP chopper scam. Kalvari is the first of the Indias six Scorpene-class submarines being built under the much-delayed Project 75. The vessels are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited in collaboration with French company DCNS. In October 2015, Kalvari had been set afloat. The sea trials of Kalvari have begun today. It is a proud moment for us, a navy official said. However, the plans to acquire heavy-weight torpedoes for the submarine is stuck in the defence ministry even though the navy had been pushing for it, citing national security imperatives. WASS Italy, a Finmeccanica company, had emerged as a successful bidder in the procurement for the torpedoes for Project 75 submarines. Subsequently, because of the groups alleged involvement in the VVIP helicopter case, the procurement was put on hold in July 2014. Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan, while stressing on the importance of getting heavy-weight torpedoes, had said that the defence ministry will take a final call on it. India may to go in for two more Scorpene-class submarines after the first six are delivered to the navy. Kalvari is expected to enter service by September end. The remaining five submarines are scheduled to be rolled out every nine months. The navy has, at present, 14 operational submarines, including nine Russian-made and four German HDW vessels. Chakra, a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, is on lease with the Indian Navy. Indias first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant is already undergoing sea trials and is expected to be inducted shortly. PHOTOGRAPHS: @SpokespersonMoD/Twitter "Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, and a terrorist whos responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children... " announced US President Barack Obama after the daring raid at Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Photograph: Pete Souza/White House Five years later as his term is about to end, Obama relived Operation Neptune Spear that took out the dreaded terrorist, with television channel CNN's Peter Bergen at the Situation Room or the John F Kennedy Conference Room of the White House. The small conference room in the Situation Room complex was immortalised by the iconic photo of the President and his staff watching as events unfold during the raid on Osama's hideout, intense looks on everyone's faces and a hand over then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's mouth. Fourteen people crammed into the room, the President sitting in a folding chair on the corner of the table's head. They sat in this room until the SEALs returned to Afghanistan. Bergen's interview marks the first time Obama has sat down with a journalist in the Situation Room to go through the events of that day. Obama said opportunities to strike Osama bin Laden were so rare that he was willing to risk failure and international embarrassment in May 2011 rather than wait for another chance to send Navy SEALs after the world's most wanted man. Obama said the small team of people looped into the possibility of a strike against bin Laden was acutely aware of the stakes. "We knew that it was going to cause some significant blowback within Pakistan," Obama said. And beyond the diplomatic fallout, there was the risk of failure. "If it wasn't bin Laden," Obama added, "we would lose face internationally, because there was probably going be a lot of difficulty keeping it secret once the operation started." Despite the risks, the President told Bergen he felt sure the crack team of 23 Navy SEALs who flew into Pakistan on that moonless night would return. "I had confidence that I could get our guys back," Obama said. During the interview, Bergen noted that "the last person that bin Laden saw on Earth was an American." Obama responded, saying, "and hopefully, at that moment, he understood that the American people hadn't forgotten the some 3,000 people who he killed." After the raid ended, the President went to work on his statement to the nation in the Oval Office. When the statement was ready, he walked down the Colonnade -- the outdoor walkway between the West Wing where his office is located and the East Wing, which is where the residence is. Obama was the Cross Hall, where he approached the waiting camera to announce: "... tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it's the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place." How the CIA zeroed in on Osama From the time that it first recognized Osama as a threat, the CIA gathered leads on individuals in his inner circle, including his personal couriers. Detainees in the post-9/11 period flagged for us individuals who may have been providing direct support to bin Laden and his deputy, Zawahiri, after their escape from Afghanistan. One courier in particular had CIA's constant attention. Detainees gave the CIA his nickname and identified him as both a protege of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of September 11, and a trusted assistant of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, the former number three of Al Qaeda who was captured in 2005. Detainees also identified this man as one of the few Al Qaeda couriers trusted by bin Laden. They indicated he might be living with and protecting bin Laden. But for years, the CIA was unable to identify his true name or his location. In 2006, the CIA uncovered his identity. The agency also identified areas in Pakistan where the courier and his brother operated. Still they were unable to pinpoint exactly where they lived, due to extensive operational security on their part. The fact that they were being so careful reinforced CIA's belief that it was on the right track. Then in August 2010, the CIA found their residence, a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a town about 35 miles north of Islamabad. The area is relatively affluent, with lots of retired military. Its also insolated from the natural disasters and terrorist attacks that have afflicted other parts of Pakistan. The CIA came across an extraordinarily unique compound. The compound sits on a large plot of land in an area that was relatively secluded when it was built. It was roughly eight times larger than the other homes in the area. When the compound was built in 2005, it was on the outskirts of the town center, at the end of a narrow dirt road. By 2011, some residential homes had been built nearby. The physical security measures of the compound were extraordinary. It had 12- to 18-foot walls topped with barbed wire. Internal wall sections -- internal walls sectioned off different portions of the compound to provide extra privacy. Access to the compound was restricted by two security gates, and the residents of the compound burn their trash, unlike their neighbours, who put the trash out for collection. The main structure, a three-story building, had few windows facing the outside of the compound. A terrace on the third floor has a seven-foot wall privacy -- has a seven-foot privacy wall. It was also noteworthy that the property is valued at approximately $1 million but had no telephone or Internet service connected to it. The brothers had no explainable source of wealth. US President Barack Obama talks with members of the national security team in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011. Photograph: Pete Souza/White House How the mission was planned: In the beginning of September 2010, the CIA began to work on a set of assessments that led it to believe that in fact it was possible that Osama may be located at a compound in Pakistan. By mid-February 201, through a series of intensive meetings at the White House and with President Obama, there was a sound intelligence basis for developing courses of action to pursue Osama at this location. In the middle of March 2011, Obama began a series of National Security Council meetings that he chaired to pursue again the intelligence basis and to develop courses of action to bring justice to Osama. Obama is reported to have chaired no fewer than five National Security Council meetings on the topic from the middle of March -- March 14, March 29, April 12, April 19, and April 28. Obama gave the final order to pursue the operation on April 29. The city groaned under traffic woes on Monday as hundreds of cab drivers blocked National Highway 8 and ring road, protesting against action by enforcement agencies following the Supreme Courts decision to ban diesel taxis in Delhi. In the early hours, a group of protesters blocked both carriageways near the Rajokri toll booth on National Highway 8, which led to a long tailback stretching over a kilometre in the area, traffic officials said. The situation turned worse around 11.30 am when the protesters blocked both carriageways on the Ring Road stretch at Maharani Bagh, close to Ashram Chowk. In no time, traffic was thrown out-of-gear in Dhaulakuan, Kapashera and Mehrauli, and the chaos continued for hours. The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon, linked by NH-8, and the traffic helpline was bombarded with calls from distressed commuters, officials said. The second blockade directly hit traffic in areas including Sarai Kale Khan, Ashram, near PGDAVCollege in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Moolchand stretching up to AIIMS. With people taking alternative routes, several stretches including Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Defense Colony and Mathura Road also got clogged within an hour, officials said. The protesters included the diesel cab drivers with All India tourist permits, who are exempted from the ban provided they operate outside NCR. On Sunday, over a hundred diesel-run cabs, including many with AITP, ended up getting impounded after they were found plying within the city limits, following which the drivers alleged harassment by enforcement agencies. We will continue our protest until the authorities forbid police and transport department officials from penalising us as we have an All India permit which is exempted from the ban. We are only asking for exemption which we have already been given, said Sanjay Samrat, President of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association. After extending the deadline twice, the Supreme Court had on Saturday refused to give more time to cab operators to convert to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1. The court exempted taxis with all-India tourist permit from switching to CNG if they operate outside NCR. According to Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital of which 27,000 run on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months. Monday marks the five year anniversary of Osama bin Ladens death. Few Americans will forget where they were when they heard the news. Reports of bin Ladens demise broke on Twitter that Sunday night. Then, United States of America's President Obama officially announced his death in a live address to the nation. Newspapers across North and South America ripped up their front pages and splashed huge stories. Take a look back at how they covered the big news. After keeping aloof from public glare for months following his release from prison, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt turned up at an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party at a Mumbai suburb on the Maharashtra Day on Sunday, surprising many in political circles. Dutt's presence at the function at suburban Dindoshi evoked critical comments from sections in the opposition Congress, a party with which the 56-year-old actors family has close association. Finding fault with the BJP for inviting Dutt to the function, a local Congress leader said, This is a classic case of anti-nationalism, which is not new to the saffron party. It is nothing bizarre. Giving and taking protection from such elements has been in the DNA of the party. This had to happen one day, said Nizamuddin Raeen, spokesperson of the Mumbai Congress. The event at Dindoshi was organised by BJPs youth wing leader Mohit Kamboj, where Dutt and others present made an appeal to local residents to elect Kamboj in the next assembly elections. Ironically, many in the BJP were critical of repeated paroles and furloughs granted to Dutt while he was serving the sentence at Yerwada jail in Pune. Dutt, who was granted remission and released in February, donned an orange Maharashtrian pagdi, spoke in filmy style and pledged to do everything for his friend Kamboj. Shiv Sena leader and former Mayor of Mumbai Sunil Prabhu, who defeated Kamboj in the 2014 assembly polls, said, Had they (BJP leaders) loved Maharashtra truly, then they would not have even thought of inviting Dutt to the event. The critics also recalled the long association of Sanjays father Sunil Dutt and sister Priya Dutt with the Congress, both of whom were elected to the Lok Sabha on party tickets. Dutts parents Sunil Dutt, mother Nargis Dutt and sister Priya Dutt have been staunch Congress loyalists who stood by the party through all odds, but why and under what circumstances, Sanjay Dutt shifted his loyalty, only he knows, Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Nawab Malik said. When contacted, Kamboj said, I have a long and friendly association with Dutt. I wanted to invite him and got permission from senior party leaders. And what is wrong, if I invited him to be part of the Maharashtra Day celebrations. Seeking to play down the issue, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said: Dutt had attended the Maharashtra Day celebrations at the invitation of Kamboj. It should not be seen politically. Nursing political ambitions, Dutt had initially flirted with the Shiv Sena and then joined Samajwadi Party in 2009 as its state general secretary but quit that party after two years. New Delhi says Italy was misrepresenting the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Courts authority over the matter. A United Nations arbitration tribunal has ruled in favour of an Italian marine, held in India on murder charges, by allowing him to return home pending the arbitration proceedings at the Hague. Two Italian marines -- Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone -- are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast. Latorre is back in Italy after a stroke in 2014 while Girone is staying in Italian embassy in New Delhi. The two countries have agreed to arbitration by the UN court. Reports from Rome said the UN tribunal court has ruled that pending arbitration proceedings, Girone may be permitted to return home. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi that the arbitral tribunal unanimously prescribed that India and Italy would approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of bail conditions of Girone. He said the tribunal left it to the Supreme Court to fix the precise conditions of Girone's bail and noted that while the marine may return to Italy during the present arbitration, he would remain under the authority of India's apex court. The tribunal's order is expected to be made public on Tuesday. Sources in New Delhi denied reports that marine has been ordered to be freed, saying Italy was "misrepresenting" the order which actually affirms the Indian Supreme Court's authority over the matter. "While remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, he may return to Italy for the duration of the present arbitration. The tribunal confirmed Italy's obligation to return him to India in case it was found that India had jurisdiction over him in respect of the incident. "The tribunal left it to the Supreme Court of India to fix the precise conditions of sergeant Girone's bail. This could include him reporting to an authority in Italy designated by our Supreme Court, surrendering his passport to Italian authorities and not leaving Italy without the permission of our Supreme Court," Swarup said. He said Italy will have to apprise the Supreme Court of his situation every three months. "Let me also emphasise that the tribunal placed on record undertakings given by Italy in regard to Girone's return to India. It noted that these undertakings constitute an obligation binding upon Italy under international law. "It has also confirmed that Italy is under an obligation to return sergeant Girone to India if the tribunal finds that India has jurisdiction over him," the MEA spokesperson said. Girone is one of the two Italian marines -- on board ship 'Enrica Lexie' -- accused by India of killing two of its fishermen. He has not been able to leave India, aside from a few brief permits, since the incident. Swarup said the tribunal considered that provisional measures should not alter the situation where the Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction over Girone. "The government is studying the order which was received today. It would, in due course, approach the Supreme Court for its directions on this matter. "We believe that government's consistent positions and key arguments in this particular case have been recognised by the tribunal. The authority of the Supreme Court has been upheld. We remain confident that the issue of jurisdiction will be determined in our favour," the MEA spokesperson said. Italy in March had asked the PCA judges to order India to release its detained marine Girone, saying otherwise he risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights". The PCA is hearing oral arguments by the two sides. "Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said. Last year, Italy had sought international arbitration in the case under the UN convention on the law of the sea. The arbitral tribunal was requested by Italy to prescribe provisional measures for the duration of the arbitration which is expected to conclude in 2018. The arbitration "could last at least three or four years" which means that Girone risks "being held in (New) Delhi, without any charges being made, for a total of seven-eight years", Italy's representative had told the court. Meanwhile, Italian new agency ANSA quoted Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as saying that he was sending a message of "friendship and cooperation to the great people of India and to the Indian prime minister (Narendra Modi)" after the news that marine Salvatore Girone is to return to Italy. "We are always ready to cooperate," Renzi added in Florence, as per ANSA. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has accused China of raping the United States, the sharpest criticism of the Communist giants trade policies by him. Trump, a billionaire businessman, compared the USs balooning trade deficit with China, which he regularly laments and vows to tackle as president, to rape. We cant continue to allow China to rape our country, and thats what theyre doing," Trump said during his second rally on Sunday in Fort Wayne, Indiana, referring to Chinas growing exports to the US. Trump, 69, has repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive on the global market and has claimed that China is killing the US on trade. Sunday marks the first time in this campaign that Trump has used the term rape to refer to what he views as Chinas dominance in trade with the US, CNN reported. Were going to turn it around. And we have the cards, dont forget it. Were like the piggy bank thats being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China, Trump said before referring to China's relationship with the US as rape. Trump added that he is not angry at China (sic), but with US leaders whom he accused of being grossly incompetent. Latest figures from the US government show the trade deficit with China reached an all-time high of $365.7 billion (About Rs 24 lakh crore) last year. By February this year, it had already reached $57 billion (About Rs 4 lakh crore). Trump had claimed in 2011 also that China is raping this country. Trumps use of the analogy comes as he is under fire for remarks he made about Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton that critics are calling sexist and for touting the endorsement of boxer Mike Tyson, who was convicted of rape in Indiana. Trump has claimed that Clinton -- a former secretary of state, senator and first lady is using the woman card to get elected and that she would not have a shot at the presidency if she were not a woman. More than 25,000 classrooms of between 10,000 to 15,000 schools were destroyed by the deadly earthquake. M I Khan reports from Nepal. IMAGE: Most towns in Nepal are dotted with makeshift schools like these. All photographs: M I Khan A year after thousands of schools were destroyed or damaged in the April 25, 2015 earthquake in Nepal, most of them are yet to see reconstruction. Different organisations have estimated that more than 25,000 classrooms of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 schools were destroyed by the deadly earthquake. Hundreds of undeterred children now study in makeshift schools, being run in temporary tents, or classrooms built with thin metal sheets or wood poles, tarpaulins and bamboo. Sudip Karki and his friend Nikesh Karki were students of the Sri Jalpa Higher Secondary School -- a now destroyed government school at Kothe village in Sindhupalchowk district. IMAGE: The school that once was the pride of Kothe village is now just rubble. "Our school was completely destroyed. Nothing was left except rubble," says Sudip. "The school is not re-built so we are attending classes," he says pointing to a metal sheet shelter. Mohan Karki, an elderly villager, tells me the school was a symbol of pride for the village. "Now only debris remain. It is so sad," he says. IMAGE: The devastated schools have been rebuilt on a temporary/make-shift basis using materials like bamboo, wood and tarpaulin. "It was one of the few big school buildings in the area," says Sita Karki, another villager. "The children are not being deprived of education and are attending classes in temporary classrooms." The Keystone Public School in Sindhupalchowk bazaar was destroyed and now runs classes in tents. "We have no option but to manage with tents," says Sumina Lama, the school principal. "We have 270 students and 16 teachers at present. We are struggling to run the school," she adds. "It is a big challenge." Six schools -- two government schools and four private schools -- were destroyed near Sindhupalchowk town, says Lama. "We built temporary classrooms from bamboo to run the school," says Sarita Shrestha, a school teacher from Kavre district. Laxmi Shrestha, a student, complains that the temporary arrangement provides little protection against difficult weather conditions. 'The kind of losses the nation is facing are incalculable.' Rashme Sehgal reports for Rediff.com on how fires are blazing across Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and have reached the doorstep of Himachal Pradesh's capital city Shimla. The Himalayas have turned into a veritable inferno. Fires are blazing across Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and have reached the doorstep of Himachal Pradesh's capital city Shimla. The rare oak forest stretching from the verdant hills of Mashobra to Anandpur in Himachal are ablaze and though desperate municipal corporation officials of Shimla have pressed the fire brigade into service, acute water scarcity has rendered the fire tenders ineffective. "I brought my family to Shimla for a vacation. We came here to escape the heat of the plains and now we find ourselves trapped in this situation made worse by the erratic wind patterns and rising temperatures," says chartered accountant Harish Malhotra who had booked himself and his family into a hotel in Anandpur facing Shimla. The situation is even worse in Uttarakhand where the Char Dham Yatra is at its peak between the months of April to end June when the rains start. This year, lack of winter rains had seen forest fires start as early as the month of February. The state administration's failure to take effective action has seen this wall of fire stretch from Rudraprayag, Pauri, Almora, Chamoli, Nainital, Chakrata and Dehra Dun districts. The situation is so alarming that these fires have stretched to the sparsely populate remote hill areas which lack accessibility and where the local population is not in a position to tackle such a major fire. A thick pall of smog has spread across these districts right down to Rishikesh frightening thousands of tourists who are in the process of cancelling their visit to the shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath right up to Gaurinath. Tour operators warn of heavy cancellations by tourists triggered by reports of the devastating fires. "These forest fires are bound to impact tourism at a time when we were hoping that we would see a much larger footfall," says C Ravishankar, managing director, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam which oversees tourism in this state. Already, over 3,000 hectares of pristine forest comprising deodars, chir trees and oak have been destroyed. Along with this, an entire eco-system of rare medicinal plants have been lost. The impact of these fires will be felt on the fragile water systems of these hills which provide the catchment area for all our major rivers. If this was not enough bad news, the forest department of Jammu and Kashmir has confirmed that the fires have spread to the state's Rajouri district with fires having erupted in and around Bathuni and Gambhir areas. With no chief minister to take responsibility for the situation, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul has reviewed the rescue efforts through video conferencing with officials in the field. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who is also in charge of forests, told the media on Sunday that the Centre and he were taking the issue of controlling these fires 'very seriously.' 'Over 6,000 people are presently deployed fighting these fires. We have also granted Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million) to the state,' said Javdekar who had not visited the areas at the time of filing this report. The environment ministry also started trial runs Sunday for a pre-fire alert system that will issue warnings via SMS regarding the location of a fire to every state government, the Met department and other concerned organisations. Javadekar also pointed out that the Union government would study the reasons behind such major fires and prepare an action plan on how to control such fires in the future. The home ministry has deployed three National Disaster Response Force contingents, army jawans and officers and two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters to help douse the fires, but the thick layer of smog is causing a major visibility problem not allowing the choppers to function. Ecologist Dr Yogesh Gokhale of The Energy and Resources Institute believes the state governments have failed to follow simple management practices including the cleaning up of the forest floors of the accumulated pine needles. This, Dr Gokhale pointed out, is highly combustible material and if it had been cleared by the local people themselves, this problem would not have arisen. These pines can be used for a variety of purposes including preparing biomass briquettes and so provide an incentive for the local people to use them. Dr Anil Joshi, who heads the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation, believes the time has come to revoke the Forest Conservation Act 1980. "Earlier, the local communities in a spirit of collective responsibility were in the forefront of controlling the fires," Dr Joshi said. "This was because they had a stake in the forests. But after the passing of this Act, the forests have been handed over to the ministry of environment and forests, thereby not allowing the local people to enter these reserved forests." The MoEF, Dr Joshi maintained, lacks the resources to handle the situation on the ground. "Under the present regime, there is a forest guard posted after every 80 km and there is also a fire watcher who issues an alert in case of a fire. But the local guys hired to be fire watchers in 2015 have not been paid their emoluments to date, so what motivation would they have to give alerts or to put out the fire?" Dr Joshi did concede that the cause of these devastating forest fires could be the handiwork of either the timber mafia or the lack of rain during two successive winters, which have resulted in a lack of moisture both in the soil and in the air. Environmentalists agree about the role of the timber mafia. Uttarakhand's Forest Development Corporation is entitled to auction trees which have dried up or are dead. "They now have crores worth of dried trees which can be auctioned and from which they can earn a lot of money," an environmentalist pointed out on condition of anonymity. "This huge fire shows a complete lack of preparedness on the part of the administration who should have played a much more pro-active role," felt Dr Ravi Chopra, director, Dehra Dun People's Institute. "Till 30 years ago," he added, "there was an intense relationship between the community and the forest land. Today the alienation is so high that I have seen villagers living at the edge of a forest who will make no effort to douse a fire. They say the land belongs to the forest department so let them put out the fire." "We need to get local communities involved with forests as was the case 150 years ago," Dr Chopra said. Peter Smetacek, the Bhimtal-based lepidopterist who is a member of the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Advisory Board, has warned that these fires would have destroyed an entire ecosystem of insects, butterflies, reptiles and thousands of larger animals. "In 2009," Smetacek said, "we were witness to a major fire and it took two to three years for the population of insects and butterflies to recover. But this time, the situation is much worse and this will have terrible consequences because we all belong to one ecosystem." Dr Chopra pointed out how in 1991, he along with other environmentalists had calculated the worth of a forest in Jharkhand. "We found that the net present value of a typical tree was between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. And this did not include the worth of its timber. Today, the cost of each tree in these forests would have multiplied several fold so the losses caused by this fire run into thousands of crores of rupees." "Even worse is that this fire will result in the soil becoming very dry. Climate change is resulting in fewer spells of heavier rainfall which will see huge amounts of soil erosion," Dr Chopra added. "All this eroded soil is going to end up in our rivers and dams," he warned. "This will reduce the life span of our dams including the Tehri Dam. The kind of losses the nation is facing are incalculable." A year after Nepal quake, villagers rebuild from the ruins Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 25 April 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), A year after Nepal quake, villagers rebuild from the ruins, 25 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5727005e4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] In this rubble-strewn hamlet perched on the edge of a hill in northeast Nepal, a constant hammering on corrugated iron sheets breaks the calm as 40-year-old Jagat Lama fixes a roof over his newly built home. "I'm planning to move into the new house before this monsoon," said the father of two, who is among thousands in Nepal still remaking their lives a year after a deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck. When the earth shunted violently back and forth around noon local time on April 25 2015, Jagat and his wife, Dawa Sangmo, were planting maize in the field a kilometre from the village. When they rushed back home, they were horrified by what they found. "My two-story house was gone. There was so much panic. People were shouting, crying and running. I could hardly see beyond a few metres as a cloud of dust covered the entire village and the hill," said Jagat. "In a matter of a few seconds, my beautiful village looked as if it had been bombed." About 8,500 people were killed by the quake and more than half a million homes were demolished, most of them in rural areas like Baramachi Village that were cut off from emergency or medical care. Just as Nepalis were starting to recover in May, a second major quake struck killing a further 153 people. In the months that followed, homeless families faced tough challenges. These included heavy monsoon rains - which drench the country from June through August - as well as shortages of essentials like food and medicines due to protest blockades on the Indian border. Then, the harsh Himalayan winter set in. In the first few nights after their house rattled down, Jagat and his family slept in the forest on a mattress stuffed with brush and straw. They subsequently moved to an open terraced field near their collapsed home, where they spent three months sleeping under plastic sheeting provided by UNHCR. Following the earthquake, the UN Refugee Agency distributed 42,000 tarpaulins to nearly 210,000 displaced people. Additional aid included 8,000 solar lamps, 5,000 blankets, 450 shelter roof kits and 175 temporary schools. "With our own supply of tarps and solar lights already in country, UNHCR was a first responder in several earthquake-affected districts," said Craig Sanders, UNHCR's representative in Nepal, recalling the relief operation that ramped up to help families like Jagat's to start rebuilding. "As relief efforts scaled up, we switched gears to focus on using innovative techniques in the reconstruction of homes and schools using locally-resourced materials. Despite the logistical challenges, difficult terrain and widespread devastation, we were able to reach some communities with much-needed support." In the weeks after the disaster, Jagat was among the quake homeless who received shelter roof-kits from UNHCR. As he prepares to move back home, he says he is "very happy. I wouldn't have been able to build such a nice house without the support" from UNHCR." He has taken a loan of Rs.50,000 (US$475) to put windows and doors in his new house. He hopes to repay the loan by working in a neighbor's field and laboring for other people rebuilding their homes. "The aftershocks still continue and we are always scared," he says. "Moving to my new house will be such a relief and I am really looking forward to it." By Deepesh Das Shrestha in Baramchi Village, Nepal Greek couple offers a welcome haven to Syrian family Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 27 April 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Greek couple offers a welcome haven to Syrian family, 27 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572700dc4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] The experience of one refugee mother from Syria, who fled war in her home country with her two young children, is typical of many Syrian families who have arrived in Greece to be greeted with warmth and hospitality by the Greek people. A few months ago, Fatima Alsulayman, 34, lived in the north-eastern Syrian city of Al-Qamishli and worked in a chocolate factory. Now, she and her children are living as the guests of a retired Greek couple, Georgia and Christodoulos Miliotis, in a middle-class suburb of Athens, and their application for asylum is being processed. ''My husband left Syria 18 months ago, as the conflict spread to our home town, and made his way to Germany through Bulgaria," Fatima said. ''He did this in order to find a job and send us money to flee from Syria, where things got worse by the day.'' He found a job in construction and managed to send cash to help Fatima escape the nightmare of war. She reached the Greek island of Lesvos with three-year-old Kharuan and Karine, two, in late February, a month before the EU-Turkey agreement came into force. From there the family, who are Kurdish Muslims, crossed the Aegean in a flimsy boat and reached the Athenian port of Piraeus. Fatima had only ever seen the sea on television and had never learnt to swim. ''When I saw it for the first time I was really scared," she said, speaking through an interpreter at the Miliotis's home in the suburb of Chalandri. The journey through Syria and Turkey cost them 800 euros and the boat trip to Lesvos another 1,200 euros. After arriving on the Greek mainland, she decided to try to cross into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to continue the journey westwards. However, the border crossing at Idomeni was closed and they returned to the port of Piraeus in Athens. By this time, all were ill and in need of medical attention. Fatima had a fever and fainted continually and the children were suffering from diarrhoea. Elena Miliotis, a dentist who in her spare time worked as a volunteer among the refugees in Piraeus, saw they were in desperate need. She asked her mother, Georgia, for help. "I was not at all prepared for what I saw," said Georgia, a retired architectural engineer. "I have never seen such wretchedness. They didn't even have a set of spare clothes to wear. We gave the little ones a bath, and I found a few of my grandchildren's old clothes, which I had kept as souvenirs, to keep them warm." The children were unable to eat at first, so she gave them tea with honey. Her home became a makeshift hospital. "Luckily, my son-in-law is a doctor, and so we knew what we had to do," she said. The family has the use of one room with two double beds and their own bathroom. 'PEOPLE OPENED THEIR ARMS' When they began to recover their strength, Georgia and Christodoulos, a retired economist, took them to the Greek authorities so they could apply for asylum. Fatima has also formally requested a family reunion with her husband in Germany. "This is yet another example of how the Greek people all over the country opened their arms and gave a warm welcome to refugees, just like that, spontaneously," said Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR representative in Greece. "It is amazing." According to Greek government figures, there were almost 54,000 refugees in the country on 20 April. Some were living in official reception centres, but many were living in unofficial sites, at the Idomeni border crossing, in Piraeus port and at the former site of the 2004 Athens Olympics at Hellenikon. After a month of using sign language and drawings, Georgia and Fatima are now able to communicate better thanks to Lebanese artist Eliane Choucair, who lives in Greece and volunteers as an interpreter for UNHCR. With Eliane translating, an emotional Fatima said the generosity and warmth of the Miliotis family had deeply touched her, although her relatives back home in Syria were less sympathetic. When she spoke to her cousins and sisters by phone, "they asked her how on earth she is staying in a house that belongs to some Christian strangers," Eliane quoted her as saying. Fatima's response made it clear that, based on her experience, friendship can be stronger than the barriers that divide communities. "They are such good people. They welcomed strangers into their home. If you think about it, they had no idea who we were and they took us in. I will never forget that." The Miliotis family are trying to find more permanent accommodation for Fatima and the children. Their apartment is rather cramped and everyday communication remains a challenge. Georgia is full of admiration for the young mother and the efforts she has made to take her children to a safe place, away from the bombs of Al-Qamishli. She said a strong bond had grown between them, telling Fatima: "You have a new family here in Greece. Our house will be always open for you and your children." By Maria Daliani in Athens, Greece Sahrawi women to get behind the wheel at new driving school Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 27 April 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Sahrawi women to get behind the wheel at new driving school, 27 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5727017a4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] When Mana Mustafa suddenly went into labour, getting to the hospital with her elder sister Ghalia was not a problem - a neighbour drove them. But getting home over the Sahara Desert to pick up some much-needed baby items was. "Because of our sudden departure, there was no time to bring anything to the hospital: no bedding, no clothes, and no swaddling clothes for the baby," 22-year-old Mana explains. Unable to drive, Ghalia, 31, had little option but to walk several kilometres back to her home in Dakhla camp to pick up the items, which proved too bulky to lug back to the hospital on foot. She had to wait hours before she could get a ride back to the hospital as, like many Sahrawi women, she could not drive. But rather than give in to frustration and helplessness, she and Mana stepped into gear. Motivated by the experience, they came up with a plan to found a driving school at Dakhla just for women, for whom getting behind the wheel is still considered uncommon, although conservative Sahrawi attitudes have started to shift. "This perception is already changing quickly, as the need for women to drive is being recognized by the community - many families do not have a constant male presence, and so women within such families are dependent on others for transportation," Ghalia said. Dakhla is one of five camps in south-western Algeria where thousands of Sahrawis have settled since the mid-1970s when fleeing conflict in Western Sahara Territory. Forty years on, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, continues to assist 90,000 vulnerable Sahrawi refugees, who rely on humanitarian assistance. Their protracted displacement and limited prospects, particularly for younger people like Ghalia and Mana who were born and raised in the camps, fuels frustration. It is further aggravated by the isolation of Dakhla, which is the furthest camp from Tindouf, the only city of any size in the sparsely populated area. Ghalia and Mana's project - which they pitched along with two other women from the camp - is one of several selected late last year by UNHCR and OXFAM Belgium that aim to empower young people and foster community spirit. It is set to open in the fall, and will be developed by the women themselves, with guidance and training from UNHCR and its partner. "The driving school is exactly the type of project we need to improve the livelihoods of Sahrawi refugees, especially the youth, who have no shortage of great ideas and who know what they need," explained Isabel Selles Zaragozi, the Head of UNHCR's Tindouf sub-office. "Together with our humanitarian partners, we have been providing for basic needs such as food, water and health. It's high time we invested as well in opportunities to empower the community and to create sustainable livelihoods projects, especially for the young generation - and this is what we have started to do over the last several years," she added. Mana will be the school's director and Ghalia her assistant. They plan to enroll 100 women students in the first eight months and already have an instructor selected. Once it opens, the school will provide jobs for five people. Mohamed Abdelhay, who heads up these youth projects for OXFAM, is himself a Sahrawi refugee. He said: "The younger generation has a lot of education and experience gained from outside the camps, but have not yet had the opportunity to apply their talents constructively, or to realize their potential. Establishing projects targeting real social needs will help them to do so." Asked about how she will feel when she sees the women graduates driving, Mana is clear: "I will be very happy," she says. "Women will be free to move without depending on others." By Russell Fraser in Tindouf, Algeria. Despite booby traps, Iraqis risk all on return to Ramadi Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 29 April 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Despite booby traps, Iraqis risk all on return to Ramadi, 29 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572701d14.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Iraqi father-of-two Khairallah Farhan fled his home in Ramadi when it was overrun by extremists in 2015. But despite the fact that it was retaken by Iraqi forces at the end of last year, he is in no rush to go home. Not only was his house severely damaged, but two close relatives who hurried home to rebuild their lives were killed by exploding booby-trap devices left behind by militants. "I'm very cautious about returning. I will not rush back yet," says the 30-year-old, who is among 1,200 displaced Iraqis living at the sprawling Al Salam camp in the capital, Baghdad. He is among thousands of people from Ramadi weighing the risks of returning home. The Iraqi government announced at the start of the year that it had re-taken the city from extremist forces, although it has not yet declared the city, Iraq's third largest, "clear" for return. UN assessment teams found "staggering" destruction in the city. Thousands of buildings in Ramadi and its outskirts had been damaged, and the city was also littered with improvised explosive devices. According to estimates, several dozen people have been killed in recent weeks since they returned to the city, which sprawls along the banks of the Euphrates River west of Baghdad. Having lost relatives to blasts, Farhad is looking for greater assurance before going home. "If the government can declare the city safe and offer us help, we will return," he says. The upsurge in casualties has prompted the Iraqi authorities to issue a temporary directive, telling civilians not to return for the time being - and to wait until the deadly booby traps and explosives in the city can be cleared. Some 3.4 million Iraqis are internally displaced by the conflict. Despite the lingering hazards, many families are risking all to head home. Hikmat Jassim, manager at Al Salam camp, shows photographs taken days earlier on his cell phone of farewell ceremonies for families in the camp as they prepared to set off on the uncertain journey to the once-bustling city of nearly half a million residents. "Around 200 families have left here to go back to Ramadi," he says. "We do not encourage them to go, but we do not prevent them from going either." In fact, many departing families had been allowed to take their tents with them, if their homes had been damaged, and were given food parcels by well wishers. The photos showed trucks lined up, laden with blankets and other basic necessities for the families, with people crying and being hugged on departure. Amer, a father of 10, from Ramadi's Al Jamhuria neighbourhood, is among those who have returned to the city. "We celebrated leaving the camp," he said when UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, contacted him in the city by phone. "Everyone was very excited to return home. We were crying at the prospect of going back, we were so happy." He returned to a house that was habitable, although the second story had been destroyed, leaving 16 family members to live crammed into two rooms. Amer has also reopened the small hardware shop that he ran. And, in a city that needs extensive rebuilding, he said business is brisk. "My work is very good; better than before because every family wants cables for electricity, motors for fridges and other building materials." While there was no power, leaving families to rely on generators, he said most services were functioning in his neighbourhood and schools were opening again. He has no regrets about returning. By Caroline Gluck in Baghdad. Work permit boost gives hope to Syrian refugees in Jordan Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 19 April 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Work permit boost gives hope to Syrian refugees in Jordan, 19 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5727026f4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] In the four years since they fled from Hama to Jordan, 22-year-old Syrian refugee Khaled has been the sole wage earner for his family of eight. With no valid work permit for his farm-laboring job, Khaled has lived with the ever-present fear that he would be caught and his family's financial lifeline severed. When he received an SMS last week from UNHCR informing him of new measures introduced by the Jordanian government to make it easier for Syrian refugees to get work permits, he wasted no time. Together with his Jordanian employer, Khaled went to the nearest government employment office to apply, and within days was issued with a permit valid for one year. "It feels great," said Khaled, proudly holding the blue credit card-style permit with its official government crest. "Now I can go anywhere and work in comfort without the fear of being stopped. I feel like my efforts are worth something." Under the new measures, employers in the informal sector have a three-month grace period to obtain work permits for Syrian refugees and regularize their employment. During this time, the usual fees for obtaining the permit - which range from US$170 to US$1,270 depending on the sector - have been waived. The move will potentially put Syrian refugees on the same footing as migrant workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, service industries and food and beverages. This would provide a much-needed economic boost to the roughly 630,000 registered Syrian refugees in the Kingdom, the vast majority of whom currently live below the poverty line and rely on humanitarian aid for survival. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, estimates that the measures could potentially see up to 78,000 Syrians able to work legally in the short term and many more thousands in years to come. The change will also benefit Jordanian employers of Syrians, allowing them to legalize their employees and avoid steep fines of between US$280 and US$2,100. Since the beginning of March, Jordanian authorities have also allowed Syrian refugees to use Jordanian Ministry of Interior identity cards and UNHCR-issued asylum-seeker cards to obtain work permits. Previously, the only way to do so was using a passport and proof of legal entry into the country. Jordanian Abu Mustafa runs the large farm in the lush Jordan Valley where Khaled works and lives in several tents with his parents and siblings. He said he was happy to help Khaled get his work permit and pay the small fee for his medical exam. "Khaled is a good worker, but he and his family are very poor. This was a good way for me to help out a man who works for me," Abu Mustafa said. "It's also good for me. Now all of my workers are legal, and nobody can say anything or accuse me of breaking the rules." Khaled, who earns one Jordanian Dinar - equivalent to US$1.40 - per hour for planting, harvesting and other physically demanding work, says he is fortunate to have a supportive employer who agreed to sponsor him in order to get his permit. "Not all landowners or employers are willing to sponsor Syrian workers, so that will be the main challenge for refugees who want to become legal. I'm one of the lucky ones, because now I have peace of mind for me and my family." For more details on recent measures improving access to Jordan's labor market for refugees, please click here. By Charlie Dunmore in the Jordan Valley Massive loss of life reported in latest Mediterranean tragedy Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 20 April 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Massive loss of life reported in latest Mediterranean tragedy, 20 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572702a24.html [accessed 24 October 2022] A UN Refugee Agency team has interviewed survivors of an overcrowded boat that sank in the Mediterranean in what could be one of the worst tragedies involving refugees and migrants in the last 12 months. If confirmed, as many as 500 people may have lost their lives when the large boat went down in the Mediterranean Sea at an unknown location between Libya and Italy. The 41 survivors - 37 men, three women and a three-year-old child - were rescued by a merchant ship and taken to Kalamata, in the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece on April 16. Those rescued include 23 Somalis, 11 Ethiopians, 6 Egyptians and a Sudanese. The survivors told UNHCR staff that they had been part of a group of between 100 and 200 people who departed last week from a locality near Tobruk in Libya on a 30-metre-long boat. "After several hours at sea, the smugglers in charge of the boat attempted to transfer the passengers to a larger ship carrying hundreds of people in terribly overcrowded conditions," UNHCR said in a statement. "At one point during the transfer, the larger boat capsized and sank." The 41 survivors include people who had not yet boarded the larger vessel, as well as some who managed to swim back to the smaller boat. They drifted at sea possibly for three days before being spotted and rescued on April 16. UNHCR visited the survivors at the local stadium of Kalamata where they have been temporarily housed by the local authorities while they undergo police procedures. So far this year 179,552 refugees and migrants have reached Europe by sea across the Mediterranean and Aegean. At least 761 have died or gone missing attempting the journey. UNHCR continues to call for increased regular pathways for the admission of refugees and asylum-seekers to Europe, including resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes, family reunification, private sponsorship and student and work visas for refugees. These will all serve to reduce the demand for people smuggling and dangerous irregular sea journeys. Displaced by war, Syrian tailor starts over in a rented van Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 20 April 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Displaced by war, Syrian tailor starts over in a rented van, 20 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572703444.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Inside an orange van crammed with mounds of clothes, Syrian tailor Mazen sits at a sewing machine mending a shirt. The whirr of the motor mixes with music from the radio as he sips tea. Forced out of his home and thriving tailor's business by fierce fighting, the 46-year-old has started over in the rented van parked up in a side street in the ancient Syrian capital, Damascus, in a determined effort to support his family. "I am working to feed my three children," says Mazen, as he attends customers wanting repairs and alterations to their clothes. "Imagine your child asks you to buy him something and you are powerless to do anything about it." The tailor from Al-Zablatani, a war-ravaged neghbourhood a few miles from Damascus, is among 6.6 million people who have been displaced within Syria during more than five years of conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people and created extreme hardship. Before war broke out in 2011, his bustling workshop employed 25 people, running up linen shirts for both the local and export markets. But as the war closed in on his home a few months later, Mazen, his wife and three sons hastily packed their lives into a few bags and fled to Damascus. "I left when I heard the first gunshot in our neighborhood. I thought it would be a few days and we would return home," he said. "We still don't know what happened to our house." For the first few months he survived by cleaning staircases in an apartment building, and then began selling clothing on the streets of Damascus. But with the backing of his family, he was anxious to get back to the job he knew best: tailoring. As commercial rents in the capital are high, a friend advised him to rent a van instead. He now works in the back of a Volkswagen Kombi, running two sewing machines from a car battery in a neighbourhood where power cuts are frequent. "Sure I make money, but it is very difficult to work here, space is tight and business is slow, whatever I make is barely enough to make ends meet," said Mazen with a shadow of a smile on his tanned face. The fact that he is offering quality tailoring, right on the street, is appreciated by his customers. One of them, who declined to give his name, said: "Mazen is a professional tailor and he can repair the clothes in the shortest time, at a reasonable cost." Seeking to support Mazen in his efforts to start over, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, directed him to the Damascus-based Al Nada Association, a non-profit partner which offers startup grants of up to US$1,500 to small businesses. The Association hopes to help more than 100 families in 2016 to find a source of income, and aims to be flexible in its approach. It works with families that have lost breadwinners and even supports business partnerships to help the displaced "open a carpentry shop, restaurant or grocery shop," said Nour Sultan, the small business grant manager at Al-Nada. Mazen applied for a grant and this week received word that it had been approved. He now plans to rent a shop with an uninterrupted power supply, sufficient space to rebuild his tailoring business, and the peace to focus on work without the distractions of the street. "I just wish that I could move from this van to a small space with a roof where nobody could bother or ask 'what are you doing here?'" he says. By Vivian Toumen in Damascus, Syria Despite 'positive atmosphere,' Government of Yemen suspends participation from joint peace talks Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 1 May 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Despite 'positive atmosphere,' Government of Yemen suspends participation from joint peace talks, 1 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572703a340b.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 1 May 2016 - Despite the positive atmosphere of the Yemeni peace talks which prevailed during the past few days, the United Nations envoy for Yemen announced today that the Government's delegation suspended its participation in the plenary sessions because of reports received from Amran governorate. We understand the reasons that lead to this decision; however we urge all the parties to engage in good faith and demonstrate wisdom in their participation in the talks, Yemenis are counting on them, said UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in a statement. We believe that all difficult issues should be discussed at the negotiating table in a transparent manner, in order to reach a comprehensive agreement which will put an end to this kind of incidents. We are not underestimating the importance of what happened or what is happening, he stressed, adding that the only path to a solution is through a peaceful dialogue with full adherence to Security Council resolutions. Mr. Cheikh Ahmed further noted that the UN is in constant contact with the De-escalation and Coordination Committee (DCC), and through it with the local committees, to investigate and halt all breaches of the cessation of hostilities. On 10 April, both parties had committed to adhere to its terms and conditions, which the UN envoy had presented. After communicating extensively with the delegation of the Government of Yemen and meeting the leaders of Ansar Allah and the General People's Congress delegation this afternoon, the envoy confirmed that he had received assurances from the parties regarding their commitment to resolve the outstanding issues without convening joint sessions. According to the statement, United Nations political experts are currently reviewing the documents presented by the two delegations in order to identify common ground between them; the world body hopes to resume the talks and build on the tangible progress achieved during the past two days. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and thanked him for his country's constant support to the UN in the Middle East and for hosting the peace talks. The PLA's Forthcoming Fifth-Generation Operational RegulationsThe Latest "Revolution in Doctrinal Affairs"? Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The PLA's Forthcoming Fifth-Generation Operational RegulationsThe Latest "Revolution in Doctrinal Affairs"?, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572704ab4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website Based on reports in official media, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) appears to be preparing for the official release of its fifth-generation of operational regulations (). The PLA's operational regulations, which are approximately equivalent to doctrine, provide guidance for the PLA at the campaign () and tactical () levels of warfare, based on two components: campaign guidance () and combat regulations (). [1] Since the prior announcement of the PLA's "new-generation operational regulations" () in January 1999, which were the fourth generation of operational regulations issued during the PLA's history, there has not been a fifth generation officially released, despite the references to a revision process that dates back to 2004 (PLA Daily, January 25, 1999). [2] Although the fifth-generation operational regulations were reportedly finished and had been submitted to the Central Military Commission (CMC) for approval as of March 2008, their release was never announced (Xinhua, March 13, 2008). Indeed, according to the PLA's official newspaper, the PLA has only "formally issued four generations of operational regulations" [emphasis added] (PLA Daily, February 16). Given references to the process, the revision () of operational regulations has apparently been either continued through or perhaps restarted in recent years without an officially announced conclusion, despite the release of a revised Joint Campaign Guidance () and other regulations in 2008 (e.g., PLA Daily, July 6, 2014; PLA Daily, March 18, 2009; PLA Daily, October 31, 2012). [3] In July 2014, the PLA's General Staff Department organized an "all-military research and discussion activity" that was intended as "preparation for the revision of operational regulations" (PLA Daily, July 6, 2014). As of February 2016, official PLA media reported that a new book, Introduction to Operational Regulations (), written by the Academy of Military Science (AMS) Operational Theories and Regulations Research Department (), had recently been evaluated and approved by military experts and would serve as a "cornerstone" for the PLA's revision of its operational regulations (PLA Daily, February 16). In April 2016, there was further commentary in official PLA media expressing concern that the PLA's construction of operational regulations was "rather lagging behind" (), relative to the revolution in military affairs and evolution of warfare towards informationization, and calling for innovation in the "joint operational regulations content system" () (PLA Daily, April 12, 2016). Despite the limitations of available information, such references to the continuing revision allow for an initial examination of this protracted process, as well as potential doctrinal changes about which additional details could be revealed in the coming months. Certainly, the timing of this latest "revolution in doctrinal affairs" is not unexpected, given the PLA's recent strategic shift and ongoing organizational reforms. [4] The focus of the revised operational regulations is likely consistent with the new military strategic guideline on "winning informationized local wars" (), as outlined by "China's Military Strategy," the PRC's latest national defense white paper (SCIO, May 26, 2015; China Brief, June 23, 2015). They will likely also mirror the PLA's prioritization of advancing its capability to engage in joint operations. Looking forward, the PLA's forthcoming fifth-generation operational regulations will probably reflect its longstanding attempts to advance its capability to engage in joint operations and could deeply influence its approach to future warfare. Prior Generations of Operational Regulations A review of prior generations of the PLA's operational regulations is necessary to contextualize this latest revision appropriately. It seems somewhat unusual that the PLA has not formally issued a new generation of operational regulations in over seventeen years, since successive generations of doctrine had previously been issued approximately every decade throughout the PLA's history, typically after three to four years of revision. The PLA's first-generation operational regulations were issued around 1963, and the second and third generations were issued in the early or mid- 1970s and 1980s respectively (Xinhua, March 13, 2008). In January 1999, the PLA officially announced "new-generation operational regulations" (), which were the fourth generation of operational regulations since the PLA's founding (PLA Daily, January 25, 1999). At the time, there was an inaugural campaign guidance () published for each service, as well as for joint operations and logistics (PLA Daily, January 25, 1999). This revision was the result of about four years of intensive work by the PLA Operational Regulations Compilation Committee and probably driven by the need to develop new operational concepts in response to the 1993 military strategic guideline of "winning local wars under modern, high-technology conditions." [5] After the adoption of the updated military strategic guideline of "winning local wars under conditions of informationization," the PLA started working on the revision of its fourth-generation operational regulations around 2004, based on a process of "rolling development," such that new regulations could be issued individually as needed. [6] Although the fifth-generation operational regulations were reportedly complete and only pending CMC approval as of March 2008, their official release was never announced and evidently did not occur (Xinhua, March 13, 2008). However, certain components of the PLA's operational regulations were issued in 2008, including a "newly revised" Joint Campaign Guidance () (Xinhua, April 16, 2008; PLA Daily, March 18, 2009). [7] The fifth-generation operational regulations have not been approved or released to this day, and their revision was apparently resumed again in subsequent years. The Future of the PLA's Fifth-Generation Operational Regulations? Although the reasons for the PLA's failure to issue fifth-generation operational regulations cannot be determined based on the available information-it is clear that the PLA has remained dilatory in actualizing ongoing strategic changes and theoretical frameworks into doctrinal guidance. While it is unclear whether this continued revision should be considered an extension of the process that dates back to 2004 or a distinct revision that was (re)started, there have been multiple references in official PLA media, especially since 2012, to the need to advance and accelerate the revision of operational regulations. Perhaps, the initial alterations to the fourth-generation operational regulations were deemed inadequate in achieving sufficient progress toward true "jointness," given allusions in official PLA media to continued challenges in joint training and achieving "joint culture" (e.g., PLA Daily, August 23, 2012; PLA Daily, December 23, 2015). For instance, an article published in PLA Daily in the summer of 2012 urged that the PLA "should strengthen joint operational regulations" and also "revise and issue joint operational regulations and joint campaign guidance" (PLA Daily, August 23, 2012). As of the summer of 2013, according to articles at the time, "new operational regulations hadn't yet been issued," and there was a need to "accelerate the transformation of theoretical outcomes toward operational regulations" (PLA Daily, July 18, 2013; PLA Daily, July 4, 2013). By the spring of 2014, another article urged, "the revision of regulations should be conducive to guidance for warfare" (PLA Daily, April 29, 2014). At that point, there was apparently extensive study and consultation occurring across the PLA in support of that revision process. Notably, in July 2014, the PLA's General Staff Department organized an "all-military research and discussion activity" that was intended as "preparation for the revision of operational regulations" (PLA Daily, July 6, 2014). The event focused on "the innovation and development of operational theories," as well as the "resolution of important operational difficulties [and] problems," in order to provide "theoretical support" for the revision of operational regulations. [8] In particular, the content covered had three areas of focus: "the mechanism for victory in informationized warfare, basic problems of joint operations, and models for operational tactics" (). This joint evaluation of the results of studies undertaken for the revision process was reportedly intended to "avoid tactical innovation 'behind closed doors'" (PLA Daily, July 6, 2014). Perhaps, this consultative process and discussion might have been intended to make the revision more inclusive of stakeholders throughout the PLA and to build a broader consensus on certain issues that might have proved contentious in the previous attempt at revision. Currently, it seems that the PLA might finally be progressing toward the official issuance of fifth-generation operational regulations. The drafting of the AMS text, Introduction to Operational Regulations (), started in January 2015, and the book has "guided the all-military revision of operational regulations" and also "provided strong academic support and methodological guidance" to the revision process (PLA Daily, February 16). Similarly, an April 2016 article in official PLA media also alluded to progression towards a new generation of operational regulations, characterizing the current operational regulations as insufficient and requiring expansion in accordance with the PLA's new duties and missions (PLA Daily, April 12, 2016). In particular, the author alluded to the need to improve certain aspects of the operational regulations, including regulations for the coordination of joint operations and management of airspace in joint operations, as well as potential new areas of focus, such as maritime rights defense operations regulations () and border area rights defense operations regulations (), seemingly a reflection of the PLA intensified focus on potential maritime and border contingencies (PLA Daily, April 12, 2016). In addition, given the complexities associated with the revision process, the PLA should learn from the experiences of other militaries in editing doctrine, including the establishment of a professional editing contingent and further systematization of the process (PLA Daily, April 12, 2016). Although the approval of this text by military experts as of February 2016 does not necessarily offer a clear indication of the status of the revision process itself, this recent development does offer an indication of its continued progression. To Win Informationized Wars? Despite the ambiguities associated with the evolution of the PLA's operational regulations, among the primary impulses for this ongoing doctrinal revision would appear to be the PLA's strategic imperatives of winning future informationized wars and successfully engaging in joint operations. This latest revision likely corresponds with the PLA's recent adjustment of its military strategic guideline, from "winning local wars under informationized conditions" to "winning informationized local wars" (China Brief, June 23, 2015). The revision has also corresponded with a high-level directive emphasis on the need for "military innovation." In particular, in an August 2014 speech, Chinese President and CMC Chairman Xi Jinping urged the PLA to advance innovation, including of military strategy, military technology, operational thinking, and operational forces (People's Daily, August 31, 2015). In particular, Xi called for changes in "single services' operational mindsets" () and the establishment of the "ideological concept of integrated joint operations." In this context, his phrasing implies the need to overcome narrower, service-oriented mentalities and instead develop a shared approach to joint operations. Looking forward, it seems reasonable to expect that the revised operational regulations will inform the PLA's approach to future campaigns and training at the service level and for joint operations. This revision might be accompanied by the editing of the campaign outlines of each of the PLA's services and could include the formulation of the inaugural campaign guidance for the Strategic Support Force (SSF), the PLA's new information warfare service (China Brief, February 8). Despite the limited information on the official documents, analysis of available PLA literature-especially that associated with scholars from the AMS Operational Theories and Regulations Research Department, given their extensive involvement in the revision process-might provide further insights into the operational thinking associated with these pending, non-public doctrinal documents. For instance, it is possible that the SSF's operational regulations could reflect key aspects of the strategic guidance () articulated by AMS information warfare theorist, Ye Zheng, who was involved in the original 2004-2008 revision process, in his authoritative 2013 text, Lectures on the Science of Information Operations: "[engage in] integrated operations; emphasize offense, take defense seriously; seize and preserve the battlefield information advantage" (, , ) (Xinhua, March 13, 2008). [9] Perhaps, the operational regulations might also draw upon precedents and lessons learned from the U.S. approach to joint operations, as one article implies (PLA Daily, April 29, 2014). Conclusion Despite the PLA's lack of transparency about its operational regulations, it appears that a new "revolution in doctrinal affairs" has been gradually occurring. Although the apparent lengthiness of the revision process-and the unexpected and unprecedented delay in the issuance of fifth-generation operational regulations-presents a puzzle that merits further consideration, the above analysis constitutes an initial attempt to assess this continuing doctrinal evolution. Despite multiple indications of recent progress, it is difficult to predict when the official release of the PLA's new operational regulations might be announced. Perhaps, the revision process was continued or resumed in response to the planning for and now implementation of a historic agenda of organizational reforms that includes measures to advance "jointness" (China Brief, February 4). It is logical that such significant changes, first to the PLA's military strategy in 2014-2015 and recently to its organizational structure, would be accompanied by concurrent alterations to its doctrine, especially with regard to joint operations. Regardless of the unknowns, the ongoing revisions to the PLA's doctrine merit additional analysis, since the eventual issuance of fifth-generation operational regulations certainly will deeply impact the PLA's approach to winning future informationized local wars. Elsa Kania will be a 2016 graduate of Harvard College, where she has majored in Government and wrote her thesis on the PLA's strategic thinking on information warfare. Elsa was a 2014-2015 Boren Scholar in Beijing, China and is a 2015-2016 undergraduate associate of Harvard's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. She has worked at the Belfer Center, the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center, the Department of Defense, and FireEye, Inc. Notes: 1. For analysis of the PLA's operational regulations, see also: David Finkelstein, "Thinking About the PLA's 'Revolution in Doctrinal Affairs,'" James Mulvenon and David Finkelstein, The Revolution in Chinese Military Doctrinal Affairs, Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND Corporation, (2005); or Roger Cliff, China's Military Power, Cambridge University Press, 2015. "" might also be translated as "operations regulations" or simply as "doctrine." could also be translated as "campaign outline." 2. A special thank you to Dr. Roger Cliff both for sharing his insightful perspectives on the topic and for his comments on this article. 3. There are not active links available for certain of the PLA Daily articles cited in this article, which I accessed through the East View database. 4. My use of this term is in reference to Dr. Finkelstein's examination of the PLA's prior revision of its operational regulations. See: David Finkelstein, "Thinking About the PLA's 'Revolution in Doctrinal Affairs.'" 5. David Finkelstein, "Thinking About the PLA's 'Revolution in Doctrinal Affairs.'" For more information about the military strategic guidelines, see: David M. Finkelstein, "China's National Military Strategy: An Overview of the" Military Strategic Guidelines," Asia Policy 4, no. 1 (2007): pp. 67-72. 6. Roger Cliff, China's Military Power, Cambridge University Press, 2015. 7. There was also a "new generation" of Guidelines/Outlines of Military Training and Evaluation (OMTE, ) issued at that time. OMTE appear to be influenced by higher-level doctrinal guidance. 8. The event took place at the AMS, and a total 130 experts on operations and training from GSD Departments, military educational institutions, and scientific research organizations participated in the evaluation of the outcomes of sixty different studies. In attendance were Chen Yong, the assistant head of the General Staff Department, and Chen Rongdi, the deputy head of the AMS Operational Theories and Regulations Research Department. 9. Ye Zheng []. Lectures on the Science of Information Operations []. Military Science Press []. 2013. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Ingush Authorities Offer Rosy Picture of Fight Against Terrorism Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 22 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 79 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Ingush Authorities Offer Rosy Picture of Fight Against Terrorism, 22 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 79, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5727055e4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website In his recent speech, the head of the Republic of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, said that several terrorism-related draft bills are under consideration in the Russian State Duma. He noted that it was important to provide a legal definition of a new type of crime-international terrorism. "It is the type of threat that our country has encountered for the past 20 years, but we have not given it a legal definition," Yevkurov said (vestikavkaza.ru, April 8). The new legislation will specify the penalties for helping terrorists and financing terrorism, which will allow the government to use the law on fighting terrorism more widely, including the prosecution of relatives of those convicted of terrorism. Given Russia's realities, the government frequently uses legislation to punish political opposition along with actual terrorists. The authorities, for example, can specify any action by rights activists as "supporting terrorism" and crack down on organizations that try to protect people from violations of their rights by the government. In another speech, Yevkurov said: "We have not seen significant activities of the Islamic State (IS) in the republic yet. Two years ago we destroyed one group of militants. Since then, we have not seen any noteworthy manifestations of the rebel groups and their members" in Ingushetia (tass.ru, April 11). According to Yevkurov, the recruitment of terrorists transitioned into Internet-based social networks, with recruiters trying to attract more young people from the North Caucasus. Ingushetia's governor said the republic's security services had registered 97 suspected militants, of whom 54 "have been, or are, on the territory of the IS, or were killed." The security services closely monitor the remaining individuals, Yevkurov asserted. It is an optimistic view of the problem, because it is highly unlikely that the security services managed to locate everyone who visited Syria from Ingushetia. Relatives of young people who immigrated to Europe are forced to appear on Skype to convince the authorities they are in Europe, not in Syria. To do so, they show themselves with the Eiffel Tower in the background or hold up the latest local newspapers when talking to an FSB (Federal Security Service) officer on Skype. However, after the government has ascertained that the person they are looking for is in Europe, that person could still travel to Syria and the government will be unable to follow him there. The fictitious nature of the fight against terrorism can be observed everywhere. For example, Andrei Strizhov, acting deputy of the head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee, announced with great pomp that the number of criminal cases related to Islamic State increased almost two-fold in 2016 compared to the previous year (gazeta.ru, April 14). While some might assume that means police started to solve IS-related crimes at twice the rate as the previous year, in fact, investigators had three such cases in 2015 and launched five more during the first three months of 2016. This allowed them to speak of "doubling" the criminal cases even though they total only five cases. In North Caucasian republics like Ingushetia, there are dozens of IS-related criminal cases. At the end of March, Ingushetia's authorities launched two criminal cases against individuals suspected of participating in the war in Syria on the side of IS (kavkaz-uzel.ru, March 28). Russia's Investigative Committee in Ingushetia said in a statement that a 22-year-old resident of the republic had voluntarily joined the illegal armed group Qatiba Ahmada, which was part of IS, in July 2013. Subsequently, the suspect reportedly "took an active part in the clashes with the government forces of Syria." The investigators apparently forgot that it was unlikely this resident of Ingushetia participated in the war back in the summer of 2013 because the first North Caucasian fighters to announce their loyalty to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi did so a little later, in the fall of 2013. Umar Shishani (Tarkhan Batirashvili) was among the first to leave Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar (the Army of Emigrants and Helpers) and join the IS (kavkaz-uzel.ru, March 22). Ingushetia's authorities launched an investigation targeting one of the best known Chechen commanders in Syria, Muslim Shishani (Murad Margoshvili) (twitter.com, April 16), who is actually a Georgian citizen, not a Russian citizen. Overall, in the past several months, the Ingush authorities ramped up a public relations campaign trumpeting their fight against terrorism. A "Wanted in Ingushetia" section has been placed on every known social media network in Russia. Someone identified as 25-year-old Tamerlan Mankiev, who reportedly joined the rebel group in 2014, is also among the people wanted for their involvement with the IS, as is 30-year-old Osman Dobriev (rozysk06.livejournal.com, April 13). Officially, the Ingush authorities are looking for three people, but they have already detained several dozen. Even when participants of illegal armed groups abroad voluntarily turn themselves in, they still face up to 10 years behind bars. Thus, Ingushetia's police are unlikely to convince anyone to give up his freedom for 10 years in a Russian prison. Those rebels who return from the Middle East to the North Caucasus using forged passports do not expect to be pardoned by the authorities but are hoping to join local insurgent groups. That is the main threat they pose to Russia. The current relative calm in the North Caucasus could end at any time if those who return from Syria continue fighting in the region. The only question is whether the flow of Russian citizens from Syria to the North Caucasus will be sufficiently large for that. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Ukraine's New Concept Paper on Security and Defense Reform Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Maksym Bugriy Publication Date 22 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 79 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Ukraine's New Concept Paper on Security and Defense Reform, 22 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 79, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572705b04.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website On March 16, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko approved the "Concept for the Development of the Security and Defense Sector" (President.gov.ua, March 16). The document lays out the "Western" vision for Ukraine's security and defense sector reform and specifies the goals for this process. The concept paper also shows that security sector reform is likely to develop at a slow pace and that it will take substantial time to be implemented. The paper further details the inherent risks to reform from problems arising from economic solvency and sustainability. The concept paper suggests a centrally managed and coordinated system of reforms for the security and defense sector. Yet, some reform plans for specific institutions laid out in this paper look as if they have different designs, showing that the overall reform process is at different stages across several institutions. The document itself is also uneven in its coverage. Its section on the Ministry of Interior appears most comprehensive, while the parts covering the Ministry of Defense and Ukraine's intelligence and counterintelligence institutions appear to be less developed. The slow pace of Ukraine's defense and security sector reforms is obvious. The Ukrainian National Guard-the military-law enforcement "dual force" under the Ministry of Interior-leaves a better impression of overall readiness than the actual Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defense. The stumbling blocks that have popped up along the way toward defense reform generally include issues of culture and mentality, which are slow to change, as well as a lack of political will and senior leadership issues in the government and presidential administration. Ukraine's defense and security reform process has been rather sporadic since the 2013-2014 "Revolution of Dignity" (EuroMaidan). As early as spring 2014, the emergent post-Maidan parties that formed the "European Ukraine" coalition jointly pledged to reform the security and defense sector (Rada.gov.ua, November 27, 2014). A comprehensive security sector review also started that spring but soon fell behind schedule. Security institutions thus proceeded with reforms on their own. On March 3, 2015, a new National Security Strategy and Military Doctrine of Ukraine (NSDCU) came into force, which mentioned the Russian Federation as a military threat and stated that Ukraine's goal is to meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) specific membership criteria (Razumkov.org.ua, 2016). The new concept paper recently approved by President Poroshenko (President.gov.ua, March 16) builds on last year's NSDCU in several ways. First, it provides a detailed "Threat Assessments" section, in which it identifies the main sources of security threats to Ukraine. These include: Russia's subversive economic, societal, military and hybrid warfare measures. Temporary occupation of Crimea and selected areas in Donbas. Destabilization of the situation in the Baltic-Caspian-Black Sea region. Sabotage and subversive operations by Russia and unspecified "other states" to stir up interethnic, religious, social, separatist and terrorist activities. Moscow's support for the breakaway "statelets" in Russian-occupied areas of Donbas. Militarization of borders and the possibility of Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Crimea. Ukraine's territory being used as a battleground for an armed conflict between NATO and Russia. Furthermore, the March 2016 document defines security challenges that currently exist below the level of a threat, but which could elevate into a more robust military threat. Most of these challenges are also related to Russia and include: The destabilization of the international security system due to the Russian Federation's aggressive actions and the insufficient effectiveness of world security structures. Russia's subversive interference in Ukraine's domestic affairs and other similar issues. Unfinished border demarcation processes in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov as well the unfinished delimitation of borders with Russia, Belarus and Moldova. Global-level security challenges such as terrorism and transnational crime. Aiming to explain the need for reform, the concept paper pinpoints several "unresolved issues" in the security and defense sector. Among such issues are inefficiencies in the "mechanism of prevention and neutralization of contemporary threats to Ukraine's national security," a legacy of insufficient resources devoted to this sector, coordination issues, as well as imperfect crisis management and defense planning among central and local governments. Importantly, the document attempts to clarify the roles and chains of command within Ukraine's security and defense sector. In particular, it seeks to address the problematic idiosyncrasies of Ukraine's parliamentary-presidential system in which the Cabinet of Ministers also has autonomous command of portions of the security forces-mainly through its control over the Ministry of Interior-thus forming an unwieldy "three-headed dragon." The concept paper proposes overcoming these problems by introducing a "unified system of planning and resource management," based on modern European and Euro-Atlantic practices. Also importantly, in its "Strategic Analysis" section, the concept paper specifies the following strategic goals, to be accomplished in the "medium term": the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and the creation of a national crisis management system. The reform of Ukraine's security and defense sector has been slow. But the ever-present Russian threat, unrelentingly high expectations from domestic civil society and international donor countries, as well as the need to reassure the Ukrainian public and maintain internal security all apply pressure on the government to keep moving forward. Meanwhile, financial solvency and the continued sustainability of Ukraine's reform efforts remain in doubt. Specifically, the government has increased military expenditures and legally stipulated to spend no less than 5 percent of GDP on the security sector as a whole; and the new concept paper calls for defense spending to reach 3 percent. But Ukraine's GDP actually fell by 10 percent in 2015. And the economy is not set to resume sound growth this year due to persistently low global commodity prices, the continued occupation of Donbas, as well as Ukraine's military and economic conflict with Russia. For now, the fiscal situation is still manageable. But rising populist politics in Ukraine could, at some point, increase pressure on the government to freeze military expenditures in favor of social spending. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Russia's Aggressive-Repressive Policies Bring No Long-Term Gains Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Pavel K. Baev Publication Date 25 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 80 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russia's Aggressive-Repressive Policies Bring No Long-Term Gains, 25 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 80, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572706174.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website Claims of "stability" and "confidence" shaped President Vladimir Putin's answers to the carefully selected questions posed during his annual 220-minute-long live TV call-in program, which aired on April 14. Since then, however, Russian foreign and domestic policies have zigzagged so much that the notion of "stability" has become irrelevant, while discord among the top figures in the Kremlin and the government has undermined any pretense of confident leadership. During his televised question-and-answer program, Putin concentrated heavily on domestic affairs, seeking to restore the image of an attentive and caring master. But his apparent lack of understanding of the grim reality of protracted crisis has only become more obvious (Carnegie.ru, April 14). Putin also tried to downplay the theme of confrontation with the ever-hostile West, but tensions and direct hostilities have since reached a new level of intensity. The resumption of dialogue between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was supposed to mitigate these tensions. However, last week's (April 20) meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, in which the Russian ambassador faces the Alliance, only added to the spirit of mutually assured mistrust (Novaya Gazeta, April 21). On the eve of that meeting, initiated-to the great satisfaction of Russian diplomats-by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Moscow found it opportune to stage a series of military provocations in the Baltic theater (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 18; see EDM, April 21). These undeniable violations of elementary rules for prevention of military incidents on the sea and in the air included the provocative flyover by Russian Su-24s of the USS Donald Cook, which was visiting Poland and Lithuania. Yet, the Russian Ministry of Defense tried to present the visit of the United States' warship to Klaipeda, Lithuania, as an attempt at putting "military pressure" on Moscow (Rbc.ru, April 20). Such crude provocations undercut Russia's efforts to ease the sanctions regime by showing restraint in Ukraine; and at the same time, Moscow's aggressive behavior on NATO's eastern flanks will not be able to prevent cuts to the Russian defense budget, because the country's economic decline continues unabatedly. The only positive score, for the Kremlin, from the risky fake attacks on the US Navy destroyer was that they took attention away from the crash of a Mi-28N Russian helicopter near Homs, Syria, in which two pilots perished (Gazeta.ru, April 12). The Russian intervention in Syria is in limbo, and while the forces of Bashar al-Assad's regime prepare for a new offensive, Moscow is reluctant to commit to a new deployment as the risk of casualties keeps growing. US Secretary of State John Kerry is trying to consolidate the ceasefire by drawing lines that would keep the moderate opposition safe from Russian airstrikes, while admitting irreconcilable differences on Moscow's support for al-Assad: "Obviously, we're not stupid about it" (Rbc.ru, April 23). There have also been dangerous encounters in the Syrian sky involving Israeli fighters, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on preventing further incidents in his talks with Putin last week (Kommersant, April 22). The most painful setback for Russian maneuvers in the Middle East, however, happened in Doha, Qatar, where multilateral talks on possible cuts in oil production resulted in an entirely predictable failure, since Iran is firmly set on increasing its output (Carnegie.ru, April 18). Moscow's hopes that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would find a way to push up the oil prices are, indeed, totally misplaced. Russian economists now describe long stagnation as Russia's "new norm", which could well be interrupted by a series of sharp contractions (Polit.ru, April 21). Seeking to uplift this hopeless trajectory, Putin has called back his old loyalist Alexei Kudrin to design a new reform package; but there is no way around the fact that every proposal for liberalizing the business environment directly contradicts official guidelines for tightening state control over the damaged economy (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 20). Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, meanwhile, is far from thrilled with Kudrin's rehabilitation and has quickly produced his own proposal for reorganizing the government, which retains, in his view, too many Soviet features (Rbc.ru, April 22). This confusion destroys the illusion of stability. In a recent opinion poll about Russia's situation, only 2 percent believed the country is "stable"; 41 percent of respondents saw "temporary difficulties"; 14 percent saw Russia undergoing "stagnation"; 17 percent feared a "coming crisis"; while 16 percent acknowledged "deepening chaos" (Levada.ru, April 20). Putin's approval ratings may remain sky high, but his lieutenants fear the accumulation of discontent to an unknown critical mass. These fears were highlighted by Aleksandr Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee, who blames the escalation of internal instability on the "hybrid war" waged by the US against Russia for the last decade (Kommersant, April 18). He is one of the most influential figures among Putin's security services personnel (siloviki), and his assessment of quickly increasing Western-sponsored extremism certainly stands in sharp contrast with Putin's message of reassurance in stability (Vedomosti, April 20). Bastrykin's proposals for Chinese-style controls over the Internet and criminal punishment for "falsifications" of history elaborate his key point: "Enough of the fake democracy games." It is, in fact, an appeal to Putin to upgrade the repressive machine (Forbes.ru, April 18). The newly-formed National Guard, for that matter, has already started training for dispersing street protests against an increase in communal tariffs (Newsru.com, April 23). This attempt to influence Putin's choices is a sign of bafflement rather than determination in the siloviki camp-but its chances for success are slim. Putin is no more able to repress mass discontent than to launch liberal economic reforms. He can neither reinvent his corrupt rent-seeking regime as a "police state," nor as a developmental semi-democracy. He is trying to combine pressure on the disunited opposition with targeted generosity in the form of distributing dwindling resources; and he relies heavily on propaganda to amplify such palliative measures. Much the same way, in foreign policymaking, Putin seeks to swing back and forth between showing toughness and flexibility-testing NATO's resolve to build up its capabilities for defending the Baltic states and demonstrating prudence in keeping the war zone in Donbas under control. On each turn, the surprise generated by his latest move may register as a tactical success, but this trademark unpredictability signifies a lack of direction in his leadership. Each aggressive step requires a corresponding upturn in domestic repression; and each about-face calls for a relaxation of restraints. But Russia does not stand still as a result of these incoherent jerks-it keeps going down. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Kaliningrad as a 'New Ideological Battlefield' Between Russia and the West Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Sergey Sukhankin Publication Date 25 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 80 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Kaliningrad as a 'New Ideological Battlefield' Between Russia and the West, 25 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 80, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572706634.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website Claims of "stability" and "confidence" shaped President Vladimir Putin's answers to the carefully selected questions posed during his annual 220-minute-long live TV call-in program, which aired on April 14. Since then, however, Russian foreign and domestic policies have zigzagged so much that the notion of "stability" has become irrelevant, while discord among the top figures in the Kremlin and the government has undermined any pretense of confident leadership. During his televised question-and-answer program, Putin concentrated heavily on domestic affairs, seeking to restore the image of an attentive and caring master. But his apparent lack of understanding of the grim reality of protracted crisis has only become more obvious (Carnegie.ru, April 14). Putin also tried to downplay the theme of confrontation with the ever-hostile West, but tensions and direct hostilities have since reached a new level of intensity. The resumption of dialogue between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was supposed to mitigate these tensions. However, last week's (April 20) meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, in which the Russian ambassador faces the Alliance, only added to the spirit of mutually assured mistrust (Novaya Gazeta, April 21). On the eve of that meeting, initiated-to the great satisfaction of Russian diplomats-by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Moscow found it opportune to stage a series of military provocations in the Baltic theater (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 18; see EDM, April 21). These undeniable violations of elementary rules for prevention of military incidents on the sea and in the air included the provocative flyover by Russian Su-24s of the USS Donald Cook, which was visiting Poland and Lithuania. Yet, the Russian Ministry of Defense tried to present the visit of the United States' warship to Klaipeda, Lithuania, as an attempt at putting "military pressure" on Moscow (Rbc.ru, April 20). Such crude provocations undercut Russia's efforts to ease the sanctions regime by showing restraint in Ukraine; and at the same time, Moscow's aggressive behavior on NATO's eastern flanks will not be able to prevent cuts to the Russian defense budget, because the country's economic decline continues unabatedly. The only positive score, for the Kremlin, from the risky fake attacks on the US Navy destroyer was that they took attention away from the crash of a Mi-28N Russian helicopter near Homs, Syria, in which two pilots perished (Gazeta.ru, April 12). The Russian intervention in Syria is in limbo, and while the forces of Bashar al-Assad's regime prepare for a new offensive, Moscow is reluctant to commit to a new deployment as the risk of casualties keeps growing. US Secretary of State John Kerry is trying to consolidate the ceasefire by drawing lines that would keep the moderate opposition safe from Russian airstrikes, while admitting irreconcilable differences on Moscow's support for al-Assad: "Obviously, we're not stupid about it" (Rbc.ru, April 23). There have also been dangerous encounters in the Syrian sky involving Israeli fighters, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on preventing further incidents in his talks with Putin last week (Kommersant, April 22). The most painful setback for Russian maneuvers in the Middle East, however, happened in Doha, Qatar, where multilateral talks on possible cuts in oil production resulted in an entirely predictable failure, since Iran is firmly set on increasing its output (Carnegie.ru, April 18). Moscow's hopes that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would find a way to push up the oil prices are, indeed, totally misplaced. Russian economists now describe long stagnation as Russia's "new norm", which could well be interrupted by a series of sharp contractions (Polit.ru, April 21). Seeking to uplift this hopeless trajectory, Putin has called back his old loyalist Alexei Kudrin to design a new reform package; but there is no way around the fact that every proposal for liberalizing the business environment directly contradicts official guidelines for tightening state control over the damaged economy (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 20). Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, meanwhile, is far from thrilled with Kudrin's rehabilitation and has quickly produced his own proposal for reorganizing the government, which retains, in his view, too many Soviet features (Rbc.ru, April 22). This confusion destroys the illusion of stability. In a recent opinion poll about Russia's situation, only 2 percent believed the country is "stable"; 41 percent of respondents saw "temporary difficulties"; 14 percent saw Russia undergoing "stagnation"; 17 percent feared a "coming crisis"; while 16 percent acknowledged "deepening chaos" (Levada.ru, April 20). Putin's approval ratings may remain sky high, but his lieutenants fear the accumulation of discontent to an unknown critical mass. These fears were highlighted by Aleksandr Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee, who blames the escalation of internal instability on the "hybrid war" waged by the US against Russia for the last decade (Kommersant, April 18). He is one of the most influential figures among Putin's security services personnel (siloviki), and his assessment of quickly increasing Western-sponsored extremism certainly stands in sharp contrast with Putin's message of reassurance in stability (Vedomosti, April 20). Bastrykin's proposals for Chinese-style controls over the Internet and criminal punishment for "falsifications" of history elaborate his key point: "Enough of the fake democracy games." It is, in fact, an appeal to Putin to upgrade the repressive machine (Forbes.ru, April 18). The newly-formed National Guard, for that matter, has already started training for dispersing street protests against an increase in communal tariffs (Newsru.com, April 23). This attempt to influence Putin's choices is a sign of bafflement rather than determination in the siloviki camp-but its chances for success are slim. Putin is no more able to repress mass discontent than to launch liberal economic reforms. He can neither reinvent his corrupt rent-seeking regime as a "police state," nor as a developmental semi-democracy. He is trying to combine pressure on the disunited opposition with targeted generosity in the form of distributing dwindling resources; and he relies heavily on propaganda to amplify such palliative measures. Much the same way, in foreign policymaking, Putin seeks to swing back and forth between showing toughness and flexibility-testing NATO's resolve to build up its capabilities for defending the Baltic states and demonstrating prudence in keeping the war zone in Donbas under control. On each turn, the surprise generated by his latest move may register as a tactical success, but this trademark unpredictability signifies a lack of direction in his leadership. Each aggressive step requires a corresponding upturn in domestic repression; and each about-face calls for a relaxation of restraints. But Russia does not stand still as a result of these incoherent jerks-it keeps going down. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Instability in Dagestan's Tabasaran District Linked to Corruption and Lack of Opportunities for Youth Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 25 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 80 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Instability in Dagestan's Tabasaran District Linked to Corruption and Lack of Opportunities for Youth, 25 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 80, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572706bb4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website On the night of April 20, unidentified militants attacked the village of Juli in Dagestan's Tabasaran district. The attackers robbed a local grocery store and shot up and set fire to several buildings. According to some accounts, the group consisted of four or five militants (Novoe Delo, April 21). Other sources said that the group consisted of at least 20 people, even though security cameras only captured the images of six individuals. The assailants reportedly held the village school principal and his family as hostages for a brief period but then let them go unharmed (Chernovik, April 22). Southern Dagestan has become another hotspot in the republic in the past several months. The so-called "Southern" ("Yuzhnaya") militant group launched several attacks in Derbent and surrounding areas while managing to avoid casualties. The group is affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group based in the Middle East. It is unclear, however, whether the relationship between the IS and its subsidiaries in the North Caucasus is something more than a "franchise," whereby the latter uses the label of the former to garner public support and raise some funds locally. Given the difficulties the IS faces in the Middle East, it is probably not in a particularly good position to fund militants in the North Caucasus. Throughout the 2000s, Tabasaran district was a relatively quiet agricultural area within volatile Dagestan. However, in the 2010s, the situation there started to change. Tensions in the district, according to some observers, started to rise after a respected Tabasaran Sufi sheikh, Sirazhutdin Khuriksky, was killed in 2011. Cousins Nazim, Murad and Sabir Rashidov, who themselves came from Tabasaran district, were charged with killing the Muslim cleric. Ethnic Tabasarans comprise about 80 percent of the district's 53,000 people. Azerbaijanis are the only other significant ethnic group, comprising about 18 percent of the total population. For a long time, Tabasarans had high birthrates, which may have created the district's so-called "youth bulge"-i.e., large number of young men-which is often associated with a higher risk of conflict. According to some estimates, Tabasarans currently comprise the bulk of members of "Southern," the most active militant group in Dagestan (Onkavkaz.com, April 22). Some Dagestani observers assert that the long-brewing conflict in the Tabasaran district has economic rather than religious roots. The Dagestani independent newspaper Chernovik warned that "the situation in Tabasaran, slowly but surely is drifting toward a serious escalation." The reason, according to the paper, is the republic's unbridled corruption and the economic deprivation of the local population. The newspaper pointed to a telling example of the new school that should have been built in the village of Juli in 2012. Now that the militants destroyed the old school, the village's school children cannot attend school anymore, because the new school was never built (Chernovik, April 22). The militant attack on the village took place amid the ongoing counterterrorism operation in southern Dagestan, which raised the question about how effective that regime is. Official accounts of the attack and its consequences are quite upbeat, despite the government's failure to protect the villagers and their property. The police said that a resident of Juli, Rasmin Magomedov, was behind the arson attack on the school. The police immediately proceeded to Magomedov's house in the village, found a bomb and detonated it, destroying the house. Destroying houses of suspected rebels and claiming the rebels' own bombs had detonated has become a widespread practice among Dagestani police. Magomedov's family had to be sheltered by their relatives since they had nowhere else to stay (Onkavkaz.com, April 22). A large-scale attack on a village at the time of the ongoing counterterrorism operation regime may indicate that the rebels in southern Dagestan feel quite confident in the area. At the same time, the rebels' target-grocery stores-may show that they do not have much local support and have to confiscate food supplies by force. In any case, it is remarkable that the assailants managed to retreat without being challenged by the police and apparently suffered no losses. The attack indicated that groups of militants in Dagestan may have little support among the general population, but the state is often inept and also lacks popular support. The lack of legitimacy of the state among the population creates opportunities for the militants. Instead of addressing the deep political causes of insurgency, such as a lack of popular representation in the republic's political life, the Dagestani government is dealing with its consequences-fighting an unending war with insurgents. Apparently, it is essentially "cheaper" for the government to fight insurgents than to reform itself. If external conditions do not change-the situation in Moscow being the most indicative of those conditions-a low-grade insurgency could continue for a long time in Dagestan. The government itself appears to be part of the problem of the insurgency, and it is unlikely to reform itself any time soon. This could have a major impact on the renewed militancy in southern Dagestan should the insurgency in other parts of the mountainous republic come to a head. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Putin's Secret Force Multiplier: Special Operations Forces Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Roger McDermott Publication Date 26 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 81 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Putin's Secret Force Multiplier: Special Operations Forces , 26 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 81, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5727073a4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website One in three questions posed to President Vladimir Putin during his recent annual live phone-in show covered issues of national security. Public interest in events in Donbas has apparently shrunk substantially, and the only concerns expressed about the Islamic State (IS) were limited to worries about fighters possibly returning Russia. Putin clarified that the Syria withdrawal was never intended to mark a pull-out of all Russian forces, adding that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is capable of further successes. The level of air power Russia deploys and uses in Syria depends on the success of its military advisors in conducting the intense train-and-equip program for the SAA. Some of these advisors are personnel belonging to Russia's most secretive military organization: the Special Operations Forces Command (Komandovaniye Sil Spetsial'nykh Operatsiy-KSSO). These forces are acclaimed for their roles in seizing Crimea and, more recently, for their involvement in operations in Syria. They constitute an important force multiplier in the Kremlin's efforts to apply small numbers of military personnel and assets to achieve maximum impact toward political-military objectives (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, April 19). The KSSO-probably numbering no more than 1,000 personnel in total-is a relatively new organization in Russia's military toolkit, but a recent article in Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer sheds fresh light on its origins, development and purpose. The received narrative about the creation of the KSSO attributes its formation to the new defense leadership in early 2013: Defense Minister Army-General Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff (CGS) Army-General Valeriy Gerasimov. Indeed, announcing the creation of the KSSO in March 2013, Gerasimov confirmed that it resulted from extensive study of the experience of the structure of special forces in foreign countries, with Russia's defense ministry forming such a command in addition to the existing various types of special forces across the power ministries. However, Gerasimov's predecessor Nikolai Makarov had also expressed this interest much earlier, with an experiment in 2009 to create an office of special operations subordinate directly to the CGS. By early 2012, Makarov was talking about forming a KSSO, with plans for up to nine special-purpose brigades and expansion of the existing system of military intelligence special forces (GRU Spetsnaz) (RIA Novosti, March 6, 2013). Indeed, the original plans to form the KSSO were designed to integrate existing special forces centers, forming a single command that would be accountable to the defense minister. These plans were devised by the General Staff and GRU Spetsnaz and submitted to the then-defense minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov, in October 2012. But Serdyukov flatly rejected the proposals. These were later resubmitted after the change in defense leadership, with supporting arguments advanced that it aimed at optimizing and reorganizing existing structures (Izvestia, November 27, 2012). It is precisely this context that is addressed by Alexei Mikhailov in his article in Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer. Mikhailov notes the role played by these special operations forces in Syria: namely, guiding and correcting air strikes, including the use of cruise missiles, and acting in other capacities. His starting point in tracing the origins of the KSSO are not in 2009 and Makarov's interest, but rather a decade earlier, pointing out several developments under CGS Anatoliy Kvashnin. Mikhailov noted that, in 1999, a specialist training center was formed in Solnechnogorsk, to report directly to the CGS. The center was known as "Senezh," with its operatives referred to as "podsolnukhami." It drew heavily on the experience of counter-insurgency and special operations in Chechnya (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, April 19). Mikhailov discusses the fact that until the KSSO resolved such issues, there were, in effect, four distinct and disparate areas for special forces training. These stemmed from sources of recruitment through to mission type. Airborne Forces rehearsed difficult jumps in order to fulfill a special role during operations. Others were trained in mountain warfare, with specialist training at the Mount Elbrus training center "Terskol." Additional requirements were linked to the need to storm buildings or seize various enemy targets in difficult conditions or terrain. Finally, maritime specialist skills training was needed by forces operating at sea to capture or sabotage enemy ships of off-shore facilities. Some also argued that the experience in Chechnya yielded an additional niche area for the special forces-providing protection for senior military personnel-but this never really succeeded. In other words, the reformists in the General Staff had come to identify problems in the use of special forces that were rooted in preparing highly trained specialists operating in several different areas. Despite this, the Senezh Center was marked out by building a culture of teamwork among its trainees, and this was increasingly a factor in recruitment-namely, the ability of each candidate to work in a team. According to Mikhailov's interlocutors, this principle is strictly followed in the KSSO (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, April 19). "Podsolnukhami" from the "Senezh," were extensively deployed and saw action in Chechnya, and more recently in anti-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa; understandably, their activities are classified as top secret. However, it appears that the experience of operations in Chechnya and abroad revealed that the subordination of the Senezh operatives was not optimal. Serdyukov made changes leading to the later creation of the KSSO. The defense ministry Senezh Special Operations Center reported directly to the CGS, while Serdyukov frequently visited the Center and took an interest in its development. He is credited, for example, with placing Il-76 transporters at its disposal 24/7 (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, April 19). By 2010, the Russian defense ministry had a second Special Operations Center, in Kubinka, subordinated to the chief of the GRU. Its creation was overseen by Serdyukov's aide Lieutenant-General Alexander Miroshnichenko, who previously headed the Federal Security Service (FSB) Special Operations Center (Tsentr Spetsial'nogo Naznacheniya-TsSN FSB). Relations between these centers soon deteriorated as they promoted competing views on how the special forces should develop. It is suggested that the FSB "Alfa" approach concentrates on encouraging individualism, in contrast to the Senezh Center (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, April 19). The resolution to this internal conflict came in March 2013, with the formal creation of the KSSO. And with it, these structures were subordinated in a more cohesive manner. Major-General Alexey Dyumin was appointed commander of the KSSO, seen by many as a compromise figure. Miroshnichenko, continues to attract into the new structure his former subordinates from the TsSN FSB (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, April 19). It appears, therefore, that its recruits are mainly a mixture of former members of the GRU Spetsnaz and FSB Alfa. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Central Asia's 'Karabakhs' May Be Even More Dangerous Than the Original Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 26 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 81 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Central Asia's 'Karabakhs' May Be Even More Dangerous Than the Original, 26 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 81, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572707914.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website The renewed violence in Azerbaijan's separatist region of Karabakh (see EDM, April 6) is attracting attention to three larger problems in other parts of the former Soviet space: the existence of ethnic exclaves in neighboring countries, the continuing failure of the states of the region to agree on borders, and problems of national identity among those who were forced, in Soviet times, to declare one ethnicity when, in fact, they felt themselves to be members of another. Nowhere are these problems greater than in the five countries of Central Asia-Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Indeed, there are compelling reasons to believe that precisely because-rather than in spite-of their common Islamic heritage, these conflicts may prove even more explosive than the Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes in the Caucasus. And such potential clashes in Central Asia may end up involving a variety of outside powers and forces, overwhelming the capacity of the states there to control the situation. The extent and possibly explosive nature of all these problems has been largely ignored by the West, with most observers assuming that because all the countries in the region are Muslim, they will not fight over enclaves or borders the way that the Christian Armenians and the Muslim Azerbaijanis have. The Islamic heritage of Central Asia is important. But there are three reasons why it is less able to prevent the emergence of such conflicts. First, national identity is stronger than Islam in many cases (see EDM, May 28, 2013; August 11, 2015). Being an Uzbek or being a Kyrgyz is simply more important for many of the people in those two countries than being anything else. Second, these countries have moved into different geopolitical spaces and are being armed by different outside powers. Thus, Uzbekistan receives most of its military needs from the West, while Kyrgyzstan obtains almost all of its weapons from Russia. Consequently, the national divisions are reinforced by broader geopolitical forces. Some outside powers believe this reality actually gives them leverage to prevent conflicts in the region. But such multi-vector arms trading may, in fact, provide certain outside powers with a greater opportunity to promote regional instability when it suits their purposes (Stoletie.ru, April 18). And third-and this is by far the most important factor, although also the least recognized-the rise of Islamist influence in Central Asia, while nominally supranational, is in fact exacerbating national tensions. Indeed, groups coming from Afghanistan or the greater Middle East, either for tactical or strategic reasons, are exploiting local national disputes to win supporters. Consequently, the fact that Uzbeks and Kyrgyz are both Muslims may make the likelihood of conflict between them greater, at least in the short term, if some members of the former nationality are attracted to one Islamist trend, while some members of the latter are attracted to another. That is clearly the lesson of Iraq and Syria, although it is seldom extended to Central Asia. This third aspect of what might be called the "Karabakh" problem in Central Asia seems likely to be the most worrisome in the coming months and years. When Joseph Stalin drew the borders in Central Asia in the 1920s, he not only included many Tajiks in Uzbekistan and Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan but required, by force, that those so included identify not as they thought themselves to be but as members of the titular nationality. Thus, Uzbeks living in Tajikistan were required to register as Tajiks and Tajiks in Uzbekistan as Uzbeks. Because the Stalinist and, indeed more broadly, the Soviet system of ethnic management was based on language rather than culture, this was less of a problem than it might seem. Most of the people involved were bilingual or multi-lingual and thus were forced to choose between or among their languages rather than give up one and choose another. But with the demise of the Soviet Union, many of those whose parents or grandparents or even great-grandparents were forced to re-identify are now seeking to recover their roots and are looking back to their original identities. Conflicts over exclaves-like the ones that have heated up in recent months in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (see EDM, August 11, 2015)-and over unsettled borders (see EDM, March 31, 2016), which are problems across the region, are by their very nature "ethnicizing." In other words, such conflicts make people on both sides more sensitive to their nationality-original or imposed. One sees that in Azerbaijan and Armenia, where the Karabakh conflict is for many at the core of the definition of what it means to be a member of one nationality over the other. In the case of the countries of Central Asia, as Aleksandr Shustov suggests in his essay on "Karabakh, Central Asian Style," the consequences of this intensified or recovered ethnic identity could have fatal consequences for the existing states, calling into question not only their existing borders but also their very existences (Stoletie.ru, April 18). If that should come to pass in even one or two instances in that region, then the Central Asian "Karabakhs" truly would be more dangerous than the original. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Karachaevo-Cherkessia's Leadership Sidelines a Popular Politician Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 27 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 82 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Karachaevo-Cherkessia's Leadership Sidelines a Popular Politician, 27 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 82, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572708234.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website A large-scale scandal was unleashed in Karachaevo-Cherkessia, after the republican branch of the United Russia party refused to register a popular politician, Aliy Totorkulov, as a candidate in the party's primaries. Totorkulov is the chairman of the Russian Congress of Peoples of the Caucasus and the founder of Elbrusoid, a foundation for the development of Karachaevo-Cherkessian youth. According to the politician, the governor of the republic, Rashid Temrezov, did not want him to run in the primaries of the United Russia party's republican chapter, because he wanted a fully pliant figure in the Russian parliament rather than an independent candidate like Totorkulov (Kommersant, April 26). United Russia is trying out the mechanism of primary elections as a way to select the strongest possible candidates. However, the party appears to be blocking popular candidates to protect the power of the existing clans. Since United Russia is the country's ruling party, which receives the vast majority of votes and the support of President Vladimir Putin, nearly every politician who wants to make a career in the government or have an impact on the country's politics by using the political machinery of the United Russia party for such goals. However, the swelling of the party's ranks has led to numerous internal rifts; many divergent political forces are competing against each other within United Russia. The effect of the conflict inside United Russia is particularly profound in multiethnic republics like Karachaevo-Cherkessia. Elections to the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, are scheduled to take place in September 2016. On May 22, United Russia is holding primaries across the country. The primary process is not limited to United Russia party members: civil activists and supporters of the party can also promote themselves as candidates. Totorkulov, who was not formally a member of United Russia, was one such candidate. The party chose to have relatively open primaries because its popularity is diminishing and is searching for "new blood," including the search for popular public figures who were not members of United Russia but willing to run on its list. Still, the elites in Karachaevo-Cherkessia have been fighting hard to exclude politicians like Totorkulov, who was kept off the party's list for alleged actions that "discredit United Russia and the political interests of the party" even though he was not a party member. Totorkulov is still planning to take part in the elections, but as an independent candidate or a member of a different party (Politika09.com, April 15). Sulieta Kusova-Chukho, a well-known journalist in the northwestern Caucasus, noted with irony that it was quite hard to discredit the United Russia party more than the party itself had done. In order to undermine the party's credibility further, "one would have to sneak into the ranks of the party as a terrorist or a cannibal," he wrote (Kavkazskaya Politika, April 20). United Russia's reputation has, indeed, been significantly tarnished in the past several years. Arguably, the most damage to the party was done by civil activist and anti-corruption campaigner Aleksei Navalny, who exposed corruption inside United Russia and coined the name "Party of Swindlers and Thieves," which stuck to United Russia for a while. However, since political power and information are monopolized in Russia, other parties find it hard to compete with the ruling party. Practically the entire government apparatus, at all levels, works in favor of the United Russia party. For example, in Moscow, the local administration puts up special "information boards" at every entrance of the apartment block, each featuring a United Russia candidate. These boards remain untouched because they are officially approved while the flyers of other parties are regularly removed by the janitors (Navalny.com, April 24). When relatively "soft" measures do not help, the government reverts to the overt persecution of the opposition, including Navalny's Fund for Combatting Corruption (Navalny.com, April 20). Meanwhile, the experts warn that the continuing economic decline in the country is likely to produce popular protests, and the government has to have some people to communicate with the protesters. The existing political institutions and political figures have become so detached from the actual life that they will be unlikely able to manage the upcoming crisis. The sense of an impending crisis in relations between the state and the population in Russia can be observed in the writings of analysts (Kavkazskaya Politika, April 20), as well as in the Russian government's preparations for dispersing crowds of people protesting against economic hardship (Ekho Moskvy, April 23). The disconnect between the government and the population is arguably the worst in the North Caucasus because Moscow handpicked the leaders of the region's republics and excluded people from the political process for such a long time. This puts the North Caucasus regional authorities in a precarious state. Ironically, President Vladimir Putin recently called on United Russia to promote the inflow of "new blood" into the party to improve the party's leadership positions (Rbc.ru, April 20). However, as the jockeying within the elite of Karachaevo-Cherkessia indicates, United Russia is highly resistant to change. Indeed, Russia's ruling party is likely to remain immune to internal political changes because it is essentially the party of the bureaucracy-a reincarnation of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union that can be removed from power only through a large-scale political crisis. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Ukraine's New Government Expected to Continue Reforms Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Oleg Varfolomeyev Publication Date 27 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 82 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Ukraine's New Government Expected to Continue Reforms, 27 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 82, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572708904.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website On April 14, Ukraine's parliament replaced the cabinet of unpopular Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk with one headed by Volodymyr Hroysman, who had served as parliament speaker since November 2014. A former mayor of President Petro Poroshenko's electoral and business stronghold of Vinnytsya, Hroysman has always been in Poroshenko's political shadow. His political experience is no match to that of Yatsenyuk; and a new wafer-thin majority in parliament would not have appointed his cabinet but for the votes, at the eleventh hour, from two factions reportedly linked to oligarchs (Tsn.ua, April 15). In short, the starting position is not impressive. But there are signs that the new cabinet will further reforms. Hroysman's is neither a technocratic cabinet, which was wanted by the US-born former finance minister, Natalie Jaresko, and some Western creditors, nor does it represent a wide political spectrum. It is dominated by politicians, career bureaucrats and former investment fund managers from Poroshenko's camp, and it includes several ministers from Yatsenyuk's party-the People's Front-which has formed a new coalition with the Poroshenko Bloc. Both camps were tainted by corruption allegations recently. Nevertheless, as long as it needs foreign assistance, the new government is likely to continue the reforms started by the previous one, under pressure from the creditors who, in exchange for reforms, pledged some $30 billion in assistance in 2014, following the ouster of the kleptocratic government of former president Viktor Yanukovych. Although the economy bottomed out recently, it remains weak, so support from creditors-first and foremost the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United States and the European Union-is essential. However, the IMF has been delaying the allocation of the third $1.7 billion tranche of its Extended Fund Facility loan since last fall, first because of differences with the government over tax policies, later on because of uncertainty over the ruling coalition and the government, and most recently the IMF was disappointed with the Yatsenyuk cabinet's failure to increase gas tariffs for households from April 1, as agreed with the IMF last year (Epravda.com.ua, March 31). US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland told Hroysman, on her visit to Kyiv, on April 26, that Ukraine would receive $1 billion in loan guarantees promised by Washington only when the laws needed to resume cooperation with the IMF are adopted (Zn.ua, April 27). The EU, which suspended assistance recently, also requires re-engagement with the IMF, visiting European Commissioner Johannes Hahn said (President.gov.ua, April 20). Poroshenko's economy aide Dmytro Shymkiv noted that the parliament would need to pass 19 bills to meet IMF requirements (Liga.net, April 19). This may be an uphill struggle, given the thin majority backing Hroysman and the unpopularity of the measures supported by the IMF. Against the odds, the Hroysman team appears determined to meet its obligations to the IMF. The new minister of finance, Oleksandr Danylyuk, said in an interview immediately after his appointment that cooperation with the IMF would be his priority number one (Gazeta.zn.ua, April 15). Hroysman said the government would have to hike gas tariffs for households, both because it had been agreed with the IMF and because artificially low tariffs are conducive to corruption (24tv.ua, April 20). Hroysman's first deputy, Stepan Kubiv, said the government hoped to receive the $1.7 billion from the IMF by July (UNIAN, April 19). Presenting his cabinet's action plan to the parliament, Hroysman pledged to continue adopting EU legislative and international accounting standards as well as international management standards for state companies, ensure a transparent privatization, crack down on corruption at the fiscal service, approve a new tax code, and introduce a moratorium on changes to it (Rbc.ua, April 14). All of this is required by both creditors and the provisions of the Ukraine-EU association and free trade deal, which is yet to formally come into force. There are no more expats among government ministers, such as Jaresko or former economy minister Aivaras Abromavicius, from Lithuania, whose accusations of corruption against the Poroshenko team triggered the government crisis last February. But the new government continues to seek expertise from foreign economists and managers. It has appointed Wojciech Balczun, who used to manage successful Polish state firms, to head the state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia (112.ua, April 20). Three former executives of multinationals, including BP and ConocoPhillips, were appointed to the five-member supervisory board of the state oil and gas behemoth, Naftohaz Ukrainy (Naftogaz.com, April 22). Ihor Smilyansky, who has worked for the KPMG consultancy in the US for many years, will head the notoriously inefficient state postal company, Ukrposhta (24tv.ua, April 20). They had been selected by the Abromavicius team, but will work under Hroysman. Finally, Poroshenko appointed Leszek Balcerowicz, the architect of the successful Polish reforms in the 1990s, as his representative in the Hroysman cabinet. Balcerowicz will also co-chair with former Slovak Finance Minister Ivan Miklos the newly established group of advisors to support reforms (President.gov.ua, April 22). Incidentally, Miklos advised also to Jaresko and Abromavicius. It had long been rumored that Balcerowicz, who is greatly respected by pro-Western and pro-free market forces in Ukraine, would be invited to Kyiv. Ukraine faces the formidable challenges of withstanding the hybrid war waged by Russia and turning around the economy, which is nowhere near its pre-2008 level. For the time being, the country appears on the right track, but the Hroysman cabinet has yet to make sure that deeds match words. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Fortress Russia: Pushing Foreigners Back Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Pavel Felgenhauer Publication Date 28 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 83 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Fortress Russia: Pushing Foreigners Back, 28 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 83, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5727093a4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website This week marked the 30th anniversary of the April 26, 1986, Chernobyl reactor meltdown-a nuclear disaster that saturated northern Ukraine, southern Belarus and parts of western Russia with radioactivity in the worst fallout in human history. But in the present atmosphere of acute anti-Western sentiment in Russia, even Chernobyl is being used by Moscow as a pretext to attack the Ukrainian government and the United States. Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin published an official Chernobyl anniversary statement in which he accused the West of ignoring the threat of Ukrainian nuclear power stations being badly managed and open to possible terrorist attacks. Naryshkin called on European countries to discontinue following commands from Washington and start pursuing their true vital interests: "The US is across the ocean, while a possible future nuclear disaster could affect hundreds of millions of Europeans" (Duma.gov.ru, April 26). Moscow is annoyed by Ukrainian plans to stop buying Russian nuclear fuel and replace it with US sources, which, according to Naryshkin, may lead to disaster. At present, Russia supplies reactor fuel to Ukraine and takes spent fuel rods back for storage and reprocessing. The newly appointed Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Hroysman announced plans to assess the possibility to produce and reprocess nuclear fuel within Ukraine, cutting ties to Russia. A facility to store undamaged fuel rods from the reactor that exploded in 1986 is being built in Chernobyl, using Western grants. Ukrainian authorities hope the same facility may be used to store used rods from other Ukrainian nuclear power plants long term, diminishing dependence on Russia. Moscow of course, does not want to lose either its influence or its premier position in a nearby a nuclear services market (RIA Novosti, April 25). Russia has used blunt military force, armed hybrid war subversion, acute propaganda, trade sanctions, natural gas shipment cuts and an overall trade blockade to force Ukraine into submission. Yet, none of it seems to have had a desired effect for Moscow: Ukraine is clearly in turmoil and disrepute, but still struggling to break out of Moscow's grip. Of course, the Kremlin is sure that all its failures are the result of Western (US) plotting and scheming to deprive Russia of its self-declared right to dominate Ukraine. On April 25, speaking to a regional gathering of activists of the All-Russian People's Front (ONF) in Yoshkar-Ola-the capital of the Mari El Republic in the Volga region-President Vladimir Putin declared that Western diversions were the core reason of Russia's problems: "There is an information standoff, initiated by Western opponents jealous of Russia becoming strong." According to Putin, "information attacks" against him, like the attempt to link the Kremlin to the so-called "Panama Papers," are in fact attacks aimed at Russia. "If we nodded and agreed with the West, relations would have been good," continued Putin, "But then we would have lost our standing and, after that, our sovereignty, which is absolutely unacceptable." Putin announced: "We are ready to seek compromises, we do not want anything from anyone, but only what belongs to us." Apparently, Crimea and the rest of Ukraine all "belong" to Russia. "They [the West]," continued Putin, "in the last 15-20 years have forgotten what are our interests; and now when we are forcefully manifesting them, they are trying to push back" (Kremlin.ru, April 25). Putin used the occasion to issue an unequivocal warning: "This is the logic of fighting for interests, and we must not step over designated red lines, but we will not allow others to step over our red lines-we demonstrated that recently." Apparently Putin was referring to Russia's use of military force in conflicts in Syria, Ukraine and possibly Georgia. In an additional twist of apparently growing xenophobia, Putin told the ONF activists: "Some foreign foundations are attempting to impose themselves in our schools and kindergartens. We are, of course, open to everything new, but this is very dangerous-our traditions and culture may suffer" (Kremlin.ru, April 25). Putin's subordinates follow the chief's lead without hesitation, and there seems to be something of a contest regarding who can accuse the "treacherous West" of worse crimes. Prosecutor General Yuri Chayka, speaking at a Federation Council session, announced that the Panama Papers expose was a "special operation"-the work of an unnamed foreign intelligence service, under orders from an unnamed foreign state, as part of the information war against Russia (Interfax, April 27). The same day, at an international security conference in Moscow, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu denounced the West and its "uncompromising information war against Russia." According to Shoigu, European security is in tatters, and last week's session of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels was a failure. "Old arms control agreements are obsolete and are often misused by the West," continued Shoigu, "while a new security architecture of conventional arms control in Europe is hard to build because of acute lack of mutual trust." Shoigu complained that Moscow is falsely accused of threatening European countries while the North Atlantic Alliance is considering armed deterrence. In fact, according to Shoigu, "it is the other way round"-NATO is advancing its military infrastructure to Russia's borders. "NATO must show Moscow respect, if it wants to restore relations," announced Shoigu (Interfax, April 27). Arms control agreements that ended the Cold War are indeed turning dysfunctional. These agreements were primarily intended to build mutual trust, which is now absent. Moscow left the 1989 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, in December 2007, as it was preparing for the August 2008 war with Georgia. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Vienna document on trust building is constantly violated by massive Russian snap military exercises, held without prior warning or foreign observers. The Open Sky Treaty is faltering. Moscow does not want Western prying as it prepares for possible military action, and the West could begin to respond in kind. Moscow has officially rejected any further nuclear arms control talks with Washington (Interfax, February 6). The defense ministry has published footage of the launch of long-range (450 kilometers), land-based cruise missiles using the Iskander-M missile launcher (Tvzvezda, April 23). The range of the Iskander cruise missile apparently could be easily increased, so the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty seems in danger, as well. In 1987, the INF, signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, signaled the beginning of the dismantling of the Cold War standoff. Now, all seems to be in freefall mode back to pre-Gorbachev times. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Kabardino-Balkaria's Governor Says Militants Returning From Syria Represent Real Threat Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 28 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 83 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Kabardino-Balkaria's Governor Says Militants Returning From Syria Represent Real Threat, 28 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 83, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572709d44.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website In Kabardino-Balkaria, as in other republics of the North Caucasus, public debate intensifies from time to time regarding republican residents going off to fight in the Syrian civil war on the side of the rebels. But at the same time, the republic is still dealing with the remaining members of Yarmuk, Kabardino-Balkaria's home grown Islamist opposition group. According to the head of the republican branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Oleg Usov, the security services killed one leader and three active members of the armed underground movement in the republic since January 2016. From the beginning of this year, the police have been cracking down on sympathizers and secret supporters of the armed underground movement. Overall, 29 people have been detained (Vestnik Kavkaza, April 19). But the authorities are more concerned about the flow of young people from Kabardino-Balkaria to Syria, to fight against President Bashar Assad's forces, than they are about the rebels at home. Official reports say that the authorities prevented two people from leaving Kabardino-Balkaria for Syria. The authorities claim that the flow of recruits from the republic to the Middle East has dried up in 2016, and the FSB has not found a single person who wanted to go to Syria this year. The primary flow of radicals to Syria took place in 2014-2015, when about 140 people from the republic went to the Middle East, according to the officials (Rusplt.ru, April 20). The figure includes only those identified by the government as militants and put on the wanted list. The republican branch of the FSB reported that since the start of this year, it has detained two people who returned from Syria and killed another suspect (RIA Novosti, April 19). It appears that the flow of the militants has changed direction, with militants now returning to the North Caucasus from Syria and causing concern on the part of the authorities in Moscow. The governor of Kabardino-Balkaria, Yuri Kokov, says that the threat of militants returning from Syria is real. "The increased activities of the international extremist and terrorist groups to recruit Russian citizens for participation in armed conflicts demand coordinated actions for the timely discovery and blocking the outward routes of Kabardino-Balkarian residents who are preparing to participate in terrorist and extremist activities," Kokov said (Interfax, April 20). While terrorism-related crimes have declined, "the level of the terrorist threat in the republic remains high," Kokov said. The Kabardino-Balkarian governor signed a decree establishing a commission for the adaptation of ex-militants to civilian life. The head of the Council for the Economic and Public Safety of Kabardino-Balkaria, Alik Yemkuzhev, was named head of the newly established commission (Kavtoday.ru, April 22). The government can set up commissions for the adaptation of militants, as it has done in the past, but few militants have been willing to surrender. For example, since the start of 2016, the commission for the adaptation of militants received two appeals from two female residents of the republic who were accused of helping members of the illegal armed groups. After a careful examination of material from the criminal investigation and talking to the applicants, the commission asked the court to pass a sentence on the applicants that would not involve detaining them. The court listened to the commission for adaptation in both instances. However, those were cases of women who had not been involved in the actual activities of the militants, but rather had committed minor offenses, such as failing to report militants to the authorities, providing food to the militants, speaking favorably about the militants, and so on. In any case, it was unlikely that those women would have received anything more than probation, rather than incarceration, as long as they complied with the authorities' demands. However, the intervention of the commission for adaptation allows its members to claim that they are useful. The commission for adaptation is part of the government's repressive apparatus and cannot be a mediator between the militants and the courts. Hence, the commission for adaptation is a stillborn child of the government. Moscow's plan for countering the armed resistance in Kabardino-Balkaria also has a role for the republic's Spiritual Board of Muslims. The official clerics, however, receive little respect from the local Muslims because they are perceived as puppets of the authorities. The opinions, actions, and calls of the official clerics are aimed at impressing the government, which pays their salaries. For example, the Spiritual Board of Kabardino-Balkaria decided to deliver a sermon to all of the republic's mosques. The subject of the officially approved sermon was the harmful nature of the outflow of young people to Syria. On April 19, the mufti of Kabardino-Balkaria, Khazrataliy Dzasezhev, held a session of the Council of Ulema (Muslim scholars) during which all the participants unanimously adopted an appeal to the residents of the republic. The appeal was then broadcast in lieu of Friday prayers on April 22 (Interfax, April 22). In the opinion of the official Muslim clerics of Kabardino-Balkaria, some Russian citizens, "including some Muslim youth, are attracted to the Islamic State." The appeal also states that "practically all Muslims reject the interpretation of religion that is accepted among members of the Islamic State." The clerics called on the residents of the republic to be "more attentive to the religious information" they receive and noted that "the recruiters act according to the well-known methods of totalitarian sects that are seeking followers" (Kavkazsky Uzel, April 22). Thus, the Kabardino-Balkarian authorities will report that from April 19 to April 22, they held mass events to prevent young people in the republic from joining the local armed underground movement and the Islamic State. This report, however, is unlikely to stem the spread of jihadism among the young generation of Muslims in the republic. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Libya: Islamic State forced out of Derna Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 29 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Libya: Islamic State forced out of Derna, 29 April 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57270d470.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website Islamic State (IS) appears to have suffered a setback in Libya after they were pushed out from the city of Derna this month (al-Arabiya, April 21). The victory was claimed by both the Libyan military under General Khalifa Haftar and the local "Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Derna and its Outskirts," or SCMD, which released a two and a half minute-long video entitled "The joy of the people after liberation" via its al-Sabeel Media Foundation (North Africa Post, April 22). The film consists of aerial footage of the city, apparently filmed using a drone and overlaid with the sounds of congested traffic. IS found a foothold in Derna in May 2014 with the return of members to the city of the Syria-based but Libyan-led al-Battar Brigade (Terrorism Monitor, April 1). These militants formed the Islamic Youth Shura Council, which mounted highly visible street patrols but never quite managed to take control of the city from their Islamist rivals. In fact, the groups behind the SCMD had already pushed IS forces out of central Derna into the city's eastern outskirts of Al Fatayih as early as last year. Meanwhile, there is no love lost between the SCMD and Haftar, whose Operation Dignity fought Libya's Islamists for more than a year until a ceasefire in 2015 and his official appointment as head of the military. The SCMD, for its part, is an umbrella group of local Islamist militias that includes the Abu Slim Martyrs Brigade and was formed in opposition to Haftar in 2014 (Al Jazeera, December 13, 2014). In the days following the IS retreat from Derna, the SCMD accused Haftar of ordering airstrikes on the town that killed at least three people (Libya Observer, April 23). Mohamed al-Mansuri, the SCMD's media spokesman, also accused Haftar and the military of cooperating with IS, calling the parties "two faces of the same coin" (Libya Herald, April 24). IS fighters appear to have retreated towards Sirte about 370 miles away following their defeat in Derna. The military can be expected to pursue them, but clashes in Derna are likely to continue. Additionally, with IS gone, the remaining al-Qaeda-linked groups will be dominant but General Haftar will be unwilling to let them regain free reign of the city. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Jahba East Africa: Islamic State Alters the Dynamic of Somalia's Conflict Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Sunguta West Publication Date 29 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Jahba East Africa: Islamic State Alters the Dynamic of Somalia's Conflict , 29 April 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57270e334.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website With the emergence of a group in Somaliland calling itself Jahba East Africa, it appears Islamic State (IS) is becoming an independent entity in Somalia's insurgency. This development will likely complicate the conflict both for the African Union forces in the country and the indigenous al-Qaeda-linked Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahedeen, or al-Shabaab. IS already had a presence in Somalia following a split within al-Shabaab itself, but the extremist group has slowly become more autonomous, supposedly carrying out its first attack in Somalia in April via an unnamed affiliate. IS Makes Its Entrance In April, an unnamed pro-IS group claimed responsibility for an attack on troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The group claimed to have detonated an improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the outskirts of the capital, damaging an AMISOM vehicle. Although both AMISOM and Somali government officials have acknowledged the attack, they have refused to accept that IS was behind it (Horseed Media, April 26, 2016). This is the first time a pro-IS group has made an official claim of an attack in Somalia, a country dominated by al-Shabaab. For many, the incident is a confirmation of the emergence of IS in Somalia and underlines a change in the fortunes of al-Shabaab, which- although controlling large swaths of southern Somalia-has been weakened by AMISOM's superior firepower. The supposed pro-IS attack in Mogadishu comes at a critical juncture for al-Shabaab. The group has been in seeming retreat recently, abandoning strategic territory it has held since 2006 when it swept largely unchecked across southern Somalia while promoting its radical form of sharia. While it has suffered major setbacks, al-Shabaab remains a deadly force, continuing to carry out strikes on targets in Somalia and neighboring Kenya. It is now also proving itself willing to combat IS. Al-Shabaab Hits Back In recent years, al-Shabaab has proven to be a resilient force with the ability to mount devastating attacks against better armed forces, often inflicting heavy casualties. In January, its fighters overran a Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) camp in El Adde in southern Somalia. There has been no official confirmation of the number of Kenyan troops killed in the attack, but it is thought to be high-possibly as many as 200-although Kenya has denied that figure (Kenya Daily Post, January 26, 2016). Al-Shabaab is now attempting to ease the pressure in central and southern Somalia by moving further north into the semi-autonomous states of Gulmudung and Puntland, as these areas are presently outside of AMISOM's zone of operations. Reports indicate that the militants have been planning attacks in Puntland, using fishing boats to move arms and ammunition up the coast (Wardheer News, March 21, 2016). In March, senior al-Shabaab leaders were reported to be delivering fiery sermons from the coastal village of Garmaal after secretly entering Garacad, a historical fishing town in Puntland State (Garowe Online March 15, 2016). Garmaal residents identified senior al-Shabaab leader Saacid (Mahan) Karate, who reportedly urged them to cooperate with the militants because they were promoting the Islamic faith. The fighters hoisted their flag in the village, but later retreated. Al-Shabaab has staged other similar temporary takeovers of a number of villages; the moves have led to a new and unprecedented security challenge for Puntland President Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji (Garowe Online, March 15, 2016). Internal Divisions Al-Shabaab has encountered some resistance to its northern push. In late March, fierce fighting in Gulmudung left at least 115 al-Shabaab fighters dead, with more than 100 others captured by the state's security forces (Ethiopian News Agency, March 28, 2016). The more significant challenge to al-Shabaab's operations, however, comes not from external resistance or even from AMISOM forces and the Somali national army (SNA), but from the emergence of IS in Somalia, which has forced a split, thereby weakening the group. In November 2015, there were clashes between the two factions after al-Shabaab attacked bases belonging to its pro-IS faction. Then in December came the first reports of a clash between the two factions in the remote region of Bari, in semi-autonomous Puntland State (Horseed Media, December 24, 2015). The clashes have made it difficult for Sheikh Ahmad Umar (alias Abu Ubaidah), the al-Shabaab leader since the killing of Sheikh Ahmad Abdi Godane, to keep the group united. Godane was killed in a US airstrike in August 2014 (Daily Nation, September 5, 2014). When Umar took control of al-Shabaab, he pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Now threatened by a major split in the group, Umar has allegedly detained, tortured, and even killed those attempting to abandon their allegiance to al-Qaeda in favor of IS (Intelligence Brief, November 2015; The Star, April 28). It would appear, however, that such actions have only helped boost IS recruitment. Indeed, the emergence in April of Jahba East Africa-which pledged its allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi-is a significant indication that IS is becoming an independent entity in Somalia (Shabelle News, April 9, 2016). Jabha's strength and military capabilities are still unknown, but an official indicated that the group had militants from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania among its ranks (Horn Affairs English, April 17, 2016). The group is believed to be headed by former high-ranking al-Shabaab military and spiritual leaders, who pledged allegiance to IS in October 2015 (Citizen TV, October 25, 2015). A key actor among them is Abdulkadir Munin, who once lived in London but moved to Puntland in 2010 to join al-Shabaab. When he announced his allegiance last year, Munin, a charismatic preacher, had a following of about 100 fighters (Radio Dalsan, October 23, 2015). Changing Conflict Dynamics From the outset, Jahba has criticized al-Shabaab over what it describes as a failure to fully appreciate the ideal of the Caliphate. According to Jahba leadership, al-Shabaab has become a physical and psychological prison from which all Somalis should free themselves (Tuko, April 7; Twitter, April 9). Reeling from recent successful operations by AMISOM and the SNA, al-Shabaab appears to feel the pressure from the emerging IS presence in the region, a threat it appears unable to contain. With the establishment of Jahba East Africa and the growing divisions within al-Shabaab, Somalia's insurgency risks becoming a three-way conflict between al-Qaeda loyalists, fighters linked to IS, and the 22,000-strong AMISOM force that continues to try to bring a decisive end to the conflict. Sunguta West is an independent journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Iraq's Shia Militias: Helping or Hindering the Fight Against Islamic State? Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Zana K. Gulmohamad Publication Date 29 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Iraq's Shia Militias: Helping or Hindering the Fight Against Islamic State?, 29 April 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57270e9a4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website The rise of Islamic State in Iraq has contributed to the increasing prominence of Iraq's Shia militias. However, while the militias are united in their desire to defeat IS, there are nonetheless clear divisions among them arising from narrow self-interest, differing ideologies and political loyalties, and Iranian interference. There is additional competition between some militias over aid and salaries (al-Monitor, September 8, 2015). The al-Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group for majority Iraqi Shia militias, was established in June 2014 in response to the IS seizure of nearly one-third of Iraq. PMF forces are combating IS in southern Iraq and the Shia shrine cities (Karbala, Najaf and Samara). The PMF spearheaded the military campaign alongside the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in the Baghdad belt, Salah al-Din, and Diyala governorates. Compared to the less effective ISF, the PMF have been both active and eager in the fight against IS, due in part to their ideal of Shia jihad in a conflict between two rival religious doctrines. In February, in a move to tighten control over the disparate groups that make up the PMF, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi installed Muhsan al-Kaabi, a former senior Iraqi army officer, as his administrative deputy to the PMF. Al-Kaabi's appointment was intended to limit the PMF deputy chairman, the pro-Iranian Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (Iraqi News Network, March 3). Efforts at reform, however, have a long way to go. Establishment of the PMF The PMF was created on the order of Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq's then-Prime Minister, in 2014 with the unanimous backing of the Council of Ministers. Recruitment was aided substantially by a historic fatwa from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest marja ("Source of Emulation") of the Shias, which called on "all able-bodied Iraqis" to defend their country (Terrorism Monitor, April 17, 2015). The number of active PMF members is unclear, but unofficial estimates range from 80,000 to 120,000 (The World Weekly, February 26, 2015; al-Hashd al-Shaabi, August 3, 2015). The group falls under the authority of the prime minister, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the defense ministry. Its supporters have been lobbying for the group to gain full legal status as part of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) (al-Mada, February 25). While the Iraqi Council of Representatives (ICR) has approved and allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to the PMF from the 2015 and 2016 budgets (Rudaw, January 6), however, debate continues among Iraqi officials over what its exact legal framework should be (al-Jazeera, March 10, 2015). Categorizing the Militias The militias can be divided into three major unofficial blocs, based on similar objectives rather than formal alliances, with a fourth constituting affiliated non-Shia militias that include Sunnis, Yazidis, Christians, and other minorities (Niqash, June 20, 2015; al-Bayan, July 7, 2015). The first and most influential bloc is the pro-Iranian militias, established by the Iranian regime. Of these, the Badr Organization, headed by Hadi al-Amiri, is the largest and best equipped, manned by approximately 20,000 fighters (al-Jazeera, June 10, 2014). Others include Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), Kataib Hezbollah (KH), Saraya al-Khorasani, and Harakat al-Nujaba, that follow the Iranian supreme leader's doctrine, wilayat al-faqih, and have political aspirations. They have also been the most effective against IS, with the Badr Organization dominating Diyala governorate (Hatha al-Youm, May 25, 2015). They have access to rockets, heavy weaponry, and intelligence both from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and the Iraqi government, as well as benefitting from the expertise of Iranian military advisors (Kitabat, March 5, 2015; Fars News Agency, July 17, 2015). The second bloc are the pro-Sistani militias, the Hashd al-Sistani, made up of the Liwa Ali al-Akbar, Furqat Imam Ali al-Qitaliyah, and Furqat al-Abbas al-Qitaliyah (Shabakat Imam Ali, May 18, 2015; Imam Hussain, January 3, 2015; Imam Hussain, November 1, 2014; al-Kafeel, March 1). They are close to Prime Minister Abadi and have gradually increased to approximately 20,000 fighters, though they have the potential to reach 50,000 (al-Jazeera, June 10, 2014). Their recruits are largely volunteers who signed up in response to Sistani's fatwa and most have no political ambitions. They are backed by pro-Sistani institutions or Shrine Foundations such as Ataba Al-Abbasya, Ataba al-Alawyyia al-Muqadasa, and Ataba Al-Hussaniya al-Muqadasa (al-Sumaria, September 26, 2015; Wakalat al-Nnabaa, February 5). They are fewer in number than their pro-Iranian counterparts, but have the support of the Iraqi defense ministry and increasingly fall under the ISF's command (al-Jazeera, February 26). Furqat al-Abbas al-Qitaliyah and Liwa Ali al-Akbar have a relatively high percentage of Sunni fighters among their number; in Liwa Ali al-Akbar's case, the number is as high as 16% (Middle East Eye, December 1, 2015). The third bloc is made up of loyalists of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and militias supporting the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), led by Ammar al-Hakim. These are two powerful Shia political factions with complex links to Iran. Despite their rivalries, they are categorized together due to their loose adherence to the federal government in Baghdad. Such pro-Hakim militias include Saraya Ansar al-Aqeeda, Liwa al-Muntathar and Saraya Ashura, while the main pro-al-Sadr militia is Saraya al-Salam (Saraiaalaqeda, March 1; al-Hurrya, March 14, 2015). The leaders of both factions have said their forces will follow the ISF's instructions in the battle against IS (al-Hayat, March 30, 2015). The Shia militias are disorganized and undisciplined, however, as well as prone to confrontation with each other and occasionally the Iraqi government. There were clashes between Saraya al-Salam and AAH in Baghdad in 2015 and in al-Muqdadia in 2016 (Sqqur al-Arab, February 6; Baghdad Center Human Rights, 2015), while Saraya al-Khorasani has clashed with police in Balad in Diyala (Baghdad Center Human Rights, April 3, 2015). AAH's leader Qais Khazali denounced Iraq's parliamentary political system, calling for a presidential system to be put in place instead (The New Arab, August 17, 2015). Khazali's demands should be interpreted in light of his support of al-Maliki. Further, when Operation Conquest "Fatah," the preparatory Mosul operation intended to liberate the areas surrounding the city, was launched on March 24, it coincided with some of the PMF militias-notably those with strong ties to Iran and Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr-rejecting the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition in Iraq (Iraq Krama, March 18; al-Mustaqbal news, March 26). Consequences for the Fight Against IS The political divisions between the Shia militias have had significant consequences in regard to their effectiveness on the ground and their coordination with other anti-IS forces, particularly with the U.S.-led coalition. When the Iraqi government operation in Tikrit launched on March 1, 2015, headed by Iran's Qud's Force Commander Qassem Soleimani, faced a stalemate, Abadi ordered the militias to pull back to pave the way for US air strikes. However, the pro-Iran militias who were leading the fighting refused, angry at U.S. involvement (Fars News Agency, March 11, 2015; al-Etejah TV, March 29, 2015). The pro-Iranian militias then announced their withdrawal from the battlefield, leaving the pro-Sistani and al-Sadr militias to back the ISF and continue the operation. This marked the first apparent split on the battlefield between the prime minister's allies and the pro-Iranian militias (al-Araby al-Jadeed, March 28, 2015; al-Jazeera, March 30, 2015). Then, once Tikrit was liberated on March 31, the pro-Iranian militias returned to carry out revenge attacks and have subsequently been accused of human rights violations (Human Rights Watch, September 20, 2015). Pro-Iranian militias in Amerili in Salah al-Din governorate and in Jurf al-Sakhaer (southwest of Baghdad) have faced similar accusations (Alalam, October 26, 2014; Herak, December 17, 2014). Pro-Iranian militias were sidelined during the operation to free Ramadi, which fell to IS in May 2015, because the central government wanted to tread delicately in Sunni tribal areas. The city's liberation in December that year represented a success for the ISF, particularly the counter terrorism forces of the elite al-Firqah al-Dhahabiya, or "Golden Division," and hundreds of local Sunni tribes. But smaller groups of pro-Iranian militias tacitly infiltrated the Ramadi operation to avoid being marginalized in the operation (Sky News Arabia, September 23, 2015; Rudaw, December 29, 2015). The buildup to operations in Mosul was beset by a heated political dispute over the PMF's proposed involvement. While the PMF insisted on being part of the Mosul operation, many Iraqi Sunni politicians-among them a Sunni bloc in the ICR known as Tahaluf al-Quaa and council members from Ninewa province (of which Mosul is the capital)-refused to agree to it (Iraq Network, February 20). Instead, the Sunnis supported the participation of Arab Sunni tribes (Hashd al-Watani and Hashd al-Ashaari) and the ISF (al-Hayat, February 21; Donia al-Watan, March 21). They joined the ISF, Peshmerga, and local Sunni fighters, along with U.S. advisors and marines based at Fire Base Bell in Makhmour in the vicinity of Mosul (Rudaw, March 8; Kurdistan 24, March 9). It is still possible Shia militias will join the operation or smaller units may participate covertly in order to fight IS (Nahrain Net, March 21). Looking Forward While Iraq's Shia community has praised the role of the PMF in defending Baghdad and liberating parts of the country from IS, the indiscipline and division between the various Shia militias will ultimately hamper Iraq's ability to effectively tackle IS and poses a risk to the country's future political stability. Greater understanding between major anti-IS factions should be encouraged. Pro-Iranian and Muqtada-aligned militias should also be kept out of the Mosul operation and other military operations in non-Shia areas. Ultimately, all of the militias will need to be dismantled and integrate into the ISF. Zana K. Gulmohamad is a PhD Candidate in Politics at the University of Sheffield where he is researching Iraq's politics, security and foreign relations. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation How Islamic State Gained Ground in India Using Indigenous Militant Networks Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Animesh Roul Publication Date 29 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, How Islamic State Gained Ground in India Using Indigenous Militant Networks, 29 April 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 9, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5727136c4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website A series of arrests this year in India has highlighted how India has been unable to escape its overtures as Islamic State (IS) continues its attempts to expand its geographical and online reach beyond Iraq and Syria. While IS propaganda has so far struck a chord with only a small number of India's Muslims, reports have emerged that the group's jihadist ideals spread via web forums and social media have inspired many individuals formerly affiliated with indigenous militant formations such as the Indian Mujahideen and the Student Islamic Movement of India. Following sporadic incidents over the last couple of years-such as the appearance of IS graffiti and the group's black flag in Kashmir and Tamil Nadu, and even reports of masked men dressed in fatigues bearing IS insignia-India seems to be waking up to the reality that IS has made both a real and virtual footprint in the country (Daily Excelsior, June 18, 2015; The Hindu, August 7, 2014). Radicalization The call of IS has not only resonated with South Asia's myriad militant groups, but has also reached new individuals, galvanizing support and fomenting radicalization through effective use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook. The oft repeated exhortations of IS are based on the supposition that all "true Muslims" should be part of its brand of jihad and serve the Caliphate. This has resonated relatively well across South Asia, including India with its 170 million-strong Muslim population. IS began its efforts to infiltrate India with the aim of acquiring resources and manpower. Several Muslim youths from India have reportedly traveled to fight under the IS banner in Iraq and Syria since June 2014. The official "guestimate" suggests that so far, over 25 young people of Indian origin have joined and fought alongside IS forces in Syria. Of those, seven fighters have been killed and a number of others have returned home and undergone rehabilitation (The Hindu, December 27, 2015). Overall, the statistics suggest a relatively poor performance by IS in India, but the interdiction of many young IS aspirants at the exit points of the country and the unearthing of the IS-inspired extremist network the Junud-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (JKH, or Soldiers of the Caliph in India) in late January 2016 demand serious attention (DNA India, January 27). India's National Investigating Agency (NIA) and Maharashtra State police, along with other domestic intelligence agencies, made a total of 14 arrests of JKH members in the final week of January 2016 (Asian Age, January 24). Among those arrested were Muddabir Mushtaq Sheikh (alias Abu Musab), the apparent leader of IS in India. He was apprehended in Thane in Maharashtra, while four followers were apprehended from Uttar Pradesh's Haridwar locality. The rest were apprehended from different parts of the country as a result of a nationwide search and sweep operation covering at least five states: Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. Muddabir's arrest brought IS and its systematic online recruitment drive in India into the limelight. As a result, it emerged that JKH was planning to carry out terror strikes at installations in major cities across India as part of an IS network, although the alleged plot appears to have only been in its early stages. Army of the Caliph The remnants of the indigenous Indian Mujahideen, which is now in disarray, have developed linkages with the IS leadership in Syria and Iraq. This can be seen in the establishment of Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (AuT), an India-centric militant group based on the Afghanistan and Pakistan borders. Shafi Armar, a former Indian Mujahideen militant and one of the founders of AuT, along with his elder brother, Sultan Armar, were the first to pledge support to IS. By joining with IS and pledging bayat to its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, they hoped to unite IM and sympathizers of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The Armar brothers fled to Pakistan to set up AuT in the wake of the countrywide crackdown on the IM network in 2008. Via its media arm called al-Isabah Media, AuT has focused on recruiting Indian-origin fugitives in Pakistan to participate in fighting in both Syria and Afghanistan. Sultan Armar died in March 2015 on the Syrian battlefields fighting alongside IS forces Indian Express, March 20, 2015). When his elder brother was killed in Kobani, Syria, Shafi Armar took the reins of the AuT and al-Isabah Media, with the intention of expanding the group's network inside India. He pumped money and online resources into recruiting operatives to form JKH, using internet chartrooms and messaging applications such as Trillian and Facebook to recruit mostly former IM cadres and members of SIMI. Before forming JKH, Safi Armar had attempted to raise another IS-linked unit. Known as the "Ratlam Module," it was led by an individual named Imran Khan Muhammad Sharif and four others in Madhya Pradesh, but all of its members were arrested in April 2015 (The Pioneer, May 7, 2015). Shafi Armar is believed to have died in a U.S.-led drone strike against IS forces in Syria in late April 2016 (The Hindu, April 25). Use of Online Resources JKH's use of the internet was significant. Following the NIA-led raids in January, the intelligence agency confirmed that those arrested were connected online, and that their online involvement had led subsequently to physical meetings at different locations in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Tumkur, Saharanpur, Lucknow, and Pune. Nafees Khan of Hyderabad and Rizwan of Uttar Pradesh were recruited via Facebook and accessed bomb-making knowhow from publishing platforms like "justpaste.it" (The Quint, January 29). From the social media accounts of Obeidullah Khan of Hyderabad, investigating agencies found IS videos and images that were frequently shared by him with his followers. It is also clear the group's members used the internet to connect with Shafi Armar who was based in Syria at the time. The last secret meeting of JKH, according to the NIA investigation, was held sometime in the first week of January. The arrested men were instructed not only to plan terror attacks in India, but also to recruit and strengthen the group's cadre base. Under the guidance of Shafi Armar in Syria and Mudabbir in India, JKH's objectives were to carry out attacks with the intention of establishing the rule of sharia in India and encouraging submission to the Islamic Caliphate. In addition, JKH has been working to spread IS propaganda and recruit young Indians to travel to Iraq and Syria (Indian Express, February 8; Economic Times, February 9). While Mudabbir served as the chief of the JKH in India, he identified Rizwan Ahmed Ali (Khalid) of Uttar Pradesh as the group's deputy chief. Meanwhile, Najmal Huda, originally of Uttar Pradesh and later resettling in Karnataka (Mangalore), was identified as the military commander of the JKH. He acted as a recruiter for aspirant youths, communicating to them the activities and ideology of the IS. The Hyderabad-based Nafees Khan (also known as Abu Zarrar), originally from Mumbai, has been identified as JKH's logistics and finance chief (Economic Times, February 10). Mudabbir and his lieutenants had amassed nearly INR 10 lakhs (approximately $15,000) in different banks. He received nearly INR 6.50 lakh ($9,000) through the hawala informal banking channels from Shafi Armar or Yousuf Al Hindi. Substantial amounts of those sums were distributed among the members of the group for planning and logistics purposes (Economic Times, February 9). Another concerning development was that the JKH leadership was planning to set up a central media wing with subsidiary units in almost all of India's major cities, including the capital of New Delhi and the financial capital of Mumbai. JKH also made use of the teaching and sermons of senior Islamic scholars like Mufti Abdus Sami Qasmi, a resident of Delhi and an alumnus of the infamous Darul Uloom Deoband Islamic institution in Uattar Pradesh. As a preacher of the IS ideals, Qasmi often gave incendiary, anti-India sermons and lectures on Islamic affairs at madrasas across India (Indian Express, February 7). In addition, the group also engaged Mohammed Abdul Ahad (also known as Bada Ameer), a U.S.-educated computer professional who was deported from Turkey, along with his family; Turkish officials arrested them as they attempted to travel to Syria in January 2015. Ahad reportedly helped the group by sharing his knowledge of Syrian terrain and IS ideology (The Hindu, January 25). The discovery of JKH and the arrests of its members in January have brought to light the threat of IS-inspired extremism in India. While the bulk of the Indian Muslim population has rejected the group's ideals, a small number of extremists were able to organize themselves to a worrying degree simply by using the internet and social media to tap into existing indigenous militant networks. Despite cracking down successfully on the Indian Mujahideen in 2008, the Indian authorities cannot afford to be complacent. Animesh Roul is the Executive Director of Research at the New Delhi-based Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC). Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Islamic State Continues to Gain Influence in Southern Russia Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 29 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 84 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Islamic State Continues to Gain Influence in Southern Russia, 29 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 84, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572713d14.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website Karachaevo-Cherkessia, a mountainous republic in the northwestern Caucasus, has long been out of the news when it comes to attacks by the armed Islamist underground movement against government forces. Russia's security services effectively destroyed the Karachay jamaat in 2005-2007 (Agentura.ru, 2007). The Karachay jamaat has since been unable to resume operations, even though the Karachay jamaat was the first in the post-Soviet space at the start of the 1990s. The remaining forces of the jamaat joined the Kabardino-Balkarian jamaat at the time of the Caucasus Emirate, and the unified organization was called the Velayat of Kabarda, Balkaria, and Karachay (Kavkazcenter.com, May 11, 2009). News of possible insurgent activities in Karachaevo-Cherkessia unexpectedly started to emerge at the end of 2015. A group of young people announced through social networks that they had taken an oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The statement was spread via the WhatsApp application, which is intensely monitored by the Russian security services for the purposes of locating all suspicious individuals. According to Russian National Antiterrorist Committee (NAK) spokesman Andrei Przhezdomsky, at the end of December, the authorities launched a criminal investigation into the militants of Karachaevo-Cherkessia who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. He said the investigation was being conducted in accordance with Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code, covering terrorist activities. The authorities are investigating ten individuals in connection to the case. Thus, while experts and analysts consider Karachaevo-Cherkessia free of militants, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Ministry of Interior have quietly worked to neutralize a group that declared itself part of the international jihad. Przhezdomsky said that "those people gathered together in some place, video-recorded their fealty to ISIS [the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-since renamed the Islamic State, IS] and sent it via WhatsApp to Syria. In their message, they said they were prepared to fight a 'holy war.' " The NAK spokesman said that the Karachaevo-Cherkessian Islamists managed to establish contact with one of the leaders of the Islamic State and received instructions about preparing terrorist attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation (Uinp.info, January 29). Government forces killed three militants and detained six more during a special operation (Rosbalt.ru, December 24, 2015). Is it possible that the emergence of the group is an isolated case in the republic? That is unlikely, because an ethnic Karachay, Abu Jihad (Islam Atabiev), serves as the "right-hand" to the most notorious leader of the Islamic State from the Caucasus region, Umar al-Shishani (Tarkhan Batirashvili). Abu Jihad, 33, comes from the village of Ust-Jeguta, in Karachaevo-Cherkessia, and has been on the United Nations Security Council's list of the most wanted members of the IS in Syria since October 2, 2015. The fact that someone of Karachay origin has such a high rank within the IS would sooner or later have prompted some Karachays to try to contact him. In recent months, there have been regular reports of various individuals in Karachaevo-Cherkessia being detained or arrested for expressing sympathies for the Islamic State or attempting to join the group. In 2015, the authorities launched a criminal investigation against two locals in Karachaevo-Cherkessia for making public calls in the media to carry out terrorist attacks. The authorities also accused 31-year-old Mussa Shardan and 25-year-old Rustam Suyunchev of calling to violate the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. In November 2015, Shardan and Suyunchev, using the pseudonym Amr Amri, published a video titled "The IS Threatens Putin." The authorities said that the two men called for terrorist and extremist activities, and justified terrorism (Ekhokavkaza.com, April 15). In March 2016, the North Caucasian District Military Court sentenced a resident of Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Temirzhan Eslimesov, to two and a half years in prison for involvement in a terrorist organization. The court determined that Eslimesov flew from Mineralnye Vody airport in Stavropol region to Turkey with the intention of traveling on to Syria, for training by the militants there in the use of weapons, military tactics, sabotage and terrorist methods. Eslimesov then planned to engage in armed actions against the Syrian Arab Republic within the Caucasus Emirate international terrorist organization. However, for reasons beyond his control, the aspiring militant's plans failed, as he was arrested by the Turkish authorities and handed over to the Russian security services (Regnum, April 19). The desire to participate in the jihad in Syria has also spread to women in Karachaevo-Cherkessia. Several nurses from the republic flew from Stavropol, Krasnodar and Makhachkala to become members of the Islamic State. According to a North Caucasian website, these four females work at a hospital in Syria, where they helped wounded IS militants. The Russian Investigative Committee's branch in Karachaevo-Cherkessia launched a criminal investigation against the four nurses who allegedly help the IS-23-year-old Dana M., 27-year-old Alina Ch. and two sisters, 25-year-old Madina B. and 26-year-old Marina B. The authorities said they determined that the four suspects repeatedly flew from Stavropol, Makhachkala, and Krasnodar to Istanbul and back in 2014 and 2015. In Turkey, locals helped them to cross the border into Syria and reach Al-Raqqa. The authorities assert that the four suspected females share an extremist religious ideology and voluntarily joined the Islamic State's affiliate organization, the Abu Hanif jamaat (Donday.ru, April 4). The publicly exposed ties of the Karachaevo-Cherkessian radicals to the Islamic State are only part of the actual magnitude of such ties. The real situation is probably much worse because Karachaevo-Cherkessian officials try to hide such incidents in order to avoid scaring off tourists from the republic, give that tourism is one of Karachaevo-Cherkessia's major sources of revenue. The situation in Karachaevo-Cherkessia indicates that southern Russia is becoming increasingly radical, as the ideology of the Islamic State spreads. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Critics Question Decision of Georgian Minister of Defense to Abolish Conscription Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Giorgi Menabde Publication Date 29 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 84 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Critics Question Decision of Georgian Minister of Defense to Abolish Conscription , 29 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 84, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572714124.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website Georgia's Minister of Defense Tinatin Khidasheli stated, on April 20, that she was prepared to end conscript service and fully transition the country's army to a professional military force. "The defense ministry of Georgia has already made this decision, and legislative support is required. We will remove the conscription system starting in 2017. Naturally, this does not signify the process will be over in 2017. Our mission is to start establishing the voluntary military service system in 2017, and this system works in many NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] member countries," the defense ministry head stated (Cbw.ge, April 20). Khidasheli is considered one of the most pro-Western politicians in Georgia. She is also this South Caucasus country's first female minister of defense. Khidasheli has built a reputation for herself as a proponent of the greatest possible integration of Georgia into NATO. She backs deep reforms in the armed forces to make them more compatible with Euro-Atlantic standards (see EDM, March 11). Minister Khidasheli is convinced that reforms in the Georgian military will bring Tbilisi closer to NATO, thus making the country's integration into the Euro-Atlantic security system more realistic. It is not an accident that she made her announcement about the professionalization of the army in the run up to the next NATO summit, which is scheduled to take place in Warsaw, in July. In Warsaw, Georgia may receive a new status-an associated partner of NATO, which some are interpreting as an intermediate step on the way to receiving a Membership Action Plan (MAP) from the Alliance (Kommersant, April 17). A number of Georgian experts consider the transition to a fully professional army to be an important step toward reforming the Armed Forces and the final departure from their "Soviet legacy." However, Vakhtang Maisaya, a doctor of Military Sciences, says that Minister Khidasheli is not the sole author of this idea. "The transition to a professional army was actively discussed several years ago. As of today, the Georgian army is already predominantly professional. About 90 percent of the armed forces are contracted individuals. Conscripts make up 10 percent of the total, but they do not engage in combat operations," Maisaya said. According to the expert, the majority of conscripts do not serve in the army but in "specialized armed structures," such as the State Protection Service, State Security Service, Penitentiary System, and so on. Conscripts are practically absent from the army and its combat units (Author's interview, April 22). Defense Minister Khidasheli intends to increase Georgia's credentials in the West by showing her country is prepared to reject its Soviet-era conscript system in order to reach higher compatibility with NATO standards. Conscript service, however, persists in many Alliance member states, even though "such influential NATO countries as the United States, the United Kingdom and some others" have moved to all-professional forces. "Abolishing military conscript service will become an important progressive step that will signal the quick development of our country," Maisaya argued (Author's interview, April 22). According to Maisaya, forming robust military reserve forces after the military draft is abolished will be the most important and challenging step in the army reform. "Currently, the main objective should be to make use of the reserves and work out mobilization plans that signal the defensive strength of the country. The government has worked out the concept, and it fully corresponds with NATO standards," the expert asserted (Author's interview, April 22). It is noteworthy that in the same statement about the transition to a fully professional army, Defense Minister Khidasheli introduced the "Armed Forces Mobilization and Reserve Concept Project." "We are talking about three main directions-army reserve, professional reserve and territorial reserve. We sent the initial draft version to NATO experts. The mid-term version, elaborated as a result of public discussions, and the corrected version will be introduced to them during the Georgian Defense and Security Conference that will be held in Tbilisi, on May 24-25. By that time, we will have the final and collated version, and we plan to submit it to the parliament of Georgia in June and then publish the document" Khidasheli said. According to the minister, "An effective and accessible mobilization and reserve system is very important for the effective functioning of the defense system" (Newsday.ge, April 20). The editor-in-chief of the military-analytical journal Arsenali, Irakly Aladashvili, thinks that the transition to an all-volunteer army is quite risky and challenging from a financial standpoint. Abolishing the conscript service means losing personnel that provide auxiliary services in the army for free. "Currently, conscripts carry out many duties in the army, including logistics, service, guarding objects, etc. If the mandatory conscript service is abolished, the government will have to hire people to carry out the same duties but for material compensation, and that will become a heavy burden for the military budget. As far as I know, the budget for this year does not envisage such expenses" Aladashvili said (Author's interview, April 22). Furthermore, he noted that the Ministry of Interior and some other government agencies disagree with Khidasheli's initiative to abolish mandatory military conscription out of the concern that they would also have to transition to all professional servicemen. "Overall, in the Armed Forces [], conscripts make up no more than 10 percent of the personnel; but that 10 percent will have to be replaced with hired employees with minimal salaries of 1,000 Georgian lari [$440]," Mr. Aladashvili pointed out. Another serious risk is the "possible disconnect between society and the army, when the majority of citizens start to think that serving in the army concerns others but not them," the expert warned. According to existing legislation, every male Georgian citizen who reaches 18 years of age must serve in the army for a minimum of 15 months. However, there is a system of deferments in place. A potential conscript may defer military service by 18 months if he pays 2,000 lari ($885), but he can do so only twice in the period between the ages of 18 and 27 (Ambioni, February 28, 2013). In 2015, the overall manpower in the Georgian military was 37,000 (Radiotavisupleba.ge, September 24, 2015). Since conscripts only make up a tenth of the Georgian army, and since the abolishment of the draft is tied to multiple financial challenges, the Ministry of Defense's initiative is little more than a political move. But this move is designed to signal to Georgia's allies the country's high resolve for further Euro-Atlantic integration. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Experts Warn Dagestani Authorities' Crackdown on Salafists Could Backfire Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 20 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol North Caucasus Analysis Volume: 17 Issue: 8 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Experts Warn Dagestani Authorities' Crackdown on Salafists Could Backfire, 20 April 2016, North Caucasus Analysis Volume: 17 Issue: 8, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572715134.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website On April 15, the Dagestani newspaper Novoe Delo reported that police had cracked down on mosque parishioners in Makhachkala. According to the newspaper's sources among the congregation of the mosque on Vengerskikh Boitsov Street, the police randomly detained up to 200 people. Dozens of police officers reportedly surrounded the mosque and arrested people without any obvious reason (Novoe Delo, April 15). On April 14, the police searched the Vostochnaya ("Eastern") mosque in Khasavyurt. They confiscated computers but did not find any forbidden content, according to parishioners (Kavkazsky Uzel, April 14). Earlier, on April 8, the imam of the mosque in Khasavyurt, Magomednabi Magomedov, was placed under arrest. Witnesses said that Magomedov went to the local police station, where he demanded the release of Bolnichnaya ("Hospital") mosque parishioners who had been detained earlier. The police detained about ten persons on April 8, and later released all but one. The parishioners of the mosque claimed that the police beat up some of the detainees (Kavkazsky Uzel, April 8). Since September 2015, two imams have been killed in Dagestan and three forcibly removed from their offices. The Dagestani authorities signaled that they intend to treat all Salafists with suspicion, regardless of how moderate they are. The authorities started the process of conspicuously shutting down mosques and replacing mosque imams in 2015. The republican government is apparently under the impression that like the armed insurgency, the Salafist movement in Dagestan is also waning or can be curbed with sufficient effort by the state. However, experts warn this is a dangerous path that could further destabilize the republic rather than pacify it and finally resolve the insurgency issue. Besides, the government's crusade against the Muslims who do not belong to the officially approved branch of Islam looks like a political persecution campaign rather than a counterinsurgency campaign. Russian human rights activists are acutely aware of the shift in the government's policies. The Moscow-based Memorial human rights center strongly spoke out against the detention of Magomednabi Magomedov. The authorities charged the cleric with public calls to carry out terrorist attacks, justifying terrorism and inciting hatred and animosity. On April 9, a court in Makhachkala sentenced Magomedov to two months of preliminary detention. Memorial said that the authorities' actions against the moderate Salafist leader were a "conscious provocation that was designed to destabilize the situation in the republic." Rights activists said that Magomedov had consistently condemned violence and spoken out against Muslims joining insurgencies in Dagestan or Syria. Memorial's statement noted that a logic of suppression may be at work. "Apparently, there are forces among the security services of Dagestan that can operate only in extreme circumstances, and only within the paradigm of state terror," Memorial said. "Confrontation, repression of any dissent-civil and religious-is a familiar and desirable operating environment for them. They reject the idea of a constructive dialogue between the authorities and society. As a result-insane actions, attempts to shut down a number of mosques, repeated mass arbitrary detentions of mosque congregations after Friday prayers, and prison sentences of imams on trumped-up charges" (Ekho Moskvy, April 10). The independent Dagestani newspaper Chernovik warned that counterproductive government actions could increase the radicalization of the republic's Muslim community. According to the newspaper's analyst Islam Abdullaev, the Dagestani authorities paint as Salafists all Muslims who do not conform to the standards of the official Muslim body in the republic. The author also claims that a large portion of the Salafi youth dislike the insurgents as much as government officials do. Referring to the Russian-Caucasian war of the 19th century, Abdullaev points out that in the past it was the Sufis, not the Salafists, who fought the Russians. The analyst warned that the radicalization of Muslims in the republic has been an artificial process driven by the Muslims' reaction and overreaction to unjustified pressure by government agencies. The recent decline in violence in Dagestan should not be overestimated, as it is tied to the outflow of Dagestani radicals to the Middle East, according to Abdullaev. The outflow of Dagestani radicals to the Middle East has ended, as the idea of an "instantaneous caliphate"-the Islamic State-is less appealing now, and the border with Turkey is less transparent and harder to cross. If the government continues its policies, they will backfire, causing a surge in the domestic insurgency, the author wrote. He asserted that the radicals, in fact, dislike the Salafist mosques because they teach their congregations to stay away from violent groups. Abdullaev concluded with a rhetorical question, asking whether the police in Dagestan is actually interested in peace or if it is consciously working to destabilize the republic (chernovik.net, April 15). As the Dagestani authorities ramp up their campaign of intimidation against Muslim communities they do not control, their actions essentially turn into political persecution. Even though the government officials claim that they are fighting potential or actual terrorists, it appears that they are, in fact, using counterterrorist rhetoric to clamp down on their political foes. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Murder of Chechen in Turkey Just Latest in Series of Apparent Russian Killings Abroad Publisher Amnesty International Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 21 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol North Caucasus Analysis Volume: 17 Issue: 8 Cite as Amnesty International, Murder of Chechen in Turkey Just Latest in Series of Apparent Russian Killings Abroad, 21 April 2016, North Caucasus Analysis Volume: 17 Issue: 8, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572715774.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website According to open media sources, over the past five years, five representatives of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the Caucasus Emirate have been killed in Turkey. All five were actively involved in the ongoing armed conflict in the North Caucasus (Kavkazsky Uzel, April 15). After one recent such assassination, the Turkish authorities detained an ethnic Chechen from Georgia's Pankisi, Temur Makhauri. The Turkish authorities suspected Makhauri of ties to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and involvement in the assassination of a high-profile representative of the Caucasus Emirate in Turkey, Ali Osaev, who was killed on February 26, 2009 (Lenta.ru, February 19, 2014). The Turkish security services arrested two Russians, 52-year-old Yuri Anisimov and 55-year-old Aleksandr Smirnov, in Istanbul. The authorities suspect the two arrested Russian men of killing a Chechen, Abdulvakhid Edilgeriev, in Turkey, on November 1, 2015. Edilgeriev was mostly known for his role as the administrator of the website of the North Caucasian militants, Kavkazcenter. Edilgeriev was married to Movladi Udugov's niece, which was the primary reason for the widespread media coverage of his killing in Turkey. The authorities arrested the suspects on April 8, but the media reported their arrest only five days later, which was probably not an accident. Against the backdrop of the strained relations between Russia and Turkey, the Turkish security services most likely organized the leak of information about the arrest (Informnapalm.org, April 13). Russian authorities quickly responded to the arrests in Turkey. According to the Russian side, Aleksandr Smirnov is actually Valid Lurakhmaev, who is not a spy but a Chechen criminal wanted by the Russian authorities in connection to a series of murders. The newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported that Lurakhmaev had ties to high-profile officials in Russia (Novaya Gazeta, July 9, 2012). Thus, Russia immediately sought to portray Lurakhmaev as an ordinary criminal rather than a possible spy. At the same time, the Russian consul general in Istanbul showed an unusually high interest in the suspects, having met them the same day the Turkish authorities made their arrest public. Moreover, the Russian consul general was present at the preliminary court hearing the day after he visited them, and reported that the suspects pleaded not guilty and refused to answer the investigators' questions (RIA Novosti, April 15). Meanwhile, Turkish media are convinced that the suspects have provided evidence of their spying activities to the Turkish authorities (Hurriyet Daily News, April 13). Chechen immigrants do not feel safe in Turkey. The Russian security services closely watch local activists who represent the North Caucasus armed Islamic underground movement in Turkey. Many militants who fought in Chechnya and went for medical treatment in Turkey often remain in the country. The wives and relatives of former militants, the former leadership of Ichkeria, representatives of the Caucasus Emirate, and supporters of the virtual caliphate all ended up in Turkey. Today's Chechen community in Turkey is made up of several thousand people who are divided into multiple factions that do not cooperate but compete with each other. A large group also exists of Chechen businessmen who engage in legitimate business activities but who distance themselves from the political refugees in Turkey. The Russian security services are interested in the processes going on inside the Chechen diaspora in Turkey. Hence, more assassinations and arrests of killers are likely to follow. The Russian security services have killed Chechens not only in Turkey. For example, Zelimkhan Yandarbiev was killed in Qatar's capital Doha in 2004 (Newsru.com, February 13, 2004). The police in Qatar quickly arrested the perpetrators-two officers of the Russian military's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), Anatoly Yablochkov, and Vasily Pugachev. Moscow managed to convince Qatar to hand over the suspects to Russia. Then-Russian defense minister Sergei Ivanov personally met them on a red carpet at the airport, and they were immediately set free (Onkavkaz.com, April 14). Another notorious murder of a Chechen abroad and outside Turkey took place in Austria. In January 2009, a former bodyguard of Ramzan Kadyrov, Umar Israpilov, was killed in broad daylight in Vienna (Gazeta.ru, April 26, 2010). Kadyrov's rival Sulim Yamadaev was killed in Dubai in March 2009 (Lenta.ru, January 2012). Former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who was closely connected to the Chechen issue and received political asylum in the United Kingdom, died of a lethal dose of radioactive polonium-210, in London, on November 22, 2006 (Vedomosti.ru, January 21, 2016). Unlike the notorious killings in Qatar, Russian security services almost always use ethnic Chechens to carry out the assassinations of other Chechens, while Russian diplomats have practically always provided support to the killers (Rfi.fr, May 19, 2011). The middlemen between the killers and the Russian government are usually ethnic Chechens employed at Russian embassies. Russians use the middlemen to establish trust among members of the local Chechen diasporas. The Russians usually sacrifice the killers, while the Chechen middlemen are evacuated to Russia. Moscow regards the existence of a Chechen diaspora abroad as a threat and wants to neutralize it or, at least make it apolitical. However, the trend is that the Chechen diaspora, especially that part of it connected to the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, is becoming increasingly active in politics, which attracts Russian attention. This means that there will likely be new victims among Chechens who live abroad. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Resistance to Re-Imposition of Russian Draft in North Caucasus Growing Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 19 April 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 76 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Resistance to Re-Imposition of Russian Draft in North Caucasus Growing, 19 April 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 76, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572715db4.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website No region of the Russian Federation has a greater number of young men who could qualify to serve in the Russian military than does the North Caucasus, the combined result of rapid demographic growth and the absence of a Russian military draft there for most of the last 20 years. Chechen officials say there are 86,000 young Chechens ready and able to serve. While in many ethnically Russian areas, officials are struggling to meet their draft quotas (Kasparov.ru, April 14). Nor does any Russian region have a leadership more committed to the idea that having their young men serve in the military is a good thing. Indeed, North Caucasian leaders tend to see this not only as a solution to massive unemployment but also as a means of integrating the restive region into the rest of the Russian Federation. The heads of Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia have all campaigned for a revival of the draft for those reasons as well as to demonstrate their personal loyalty to the Kremlin (see EDM, September 25, 2014). But the restarting of the Russian military draft in the republics of the North Caucasus over the last two years is, at times, sparking resistance among the population there, leading many young men to go into hiding or even to join militant groups rather than to serve. Reports are even beginning to proliferate that the draft could be suspended in Chechnya. Two years ago, Moscow ended its post-Soviet-era policy of not drafting North Caucasians, a policy it had first begun to impose during the Chechen wars at the insistence of the military, concerned about ethnic conflicts within the services and about the risks of providing military training to people who might use those skills against Russian forces in the field (see EDM, July 10, 2012). Vasily Tonkoshkruvo, the head of the section of the Russian General Staff responsible for manpower, announced in April 2014 that there would no longer be any "limitations" on the number of Chechens, Ingush and Dagestanis who may be drafted. Instead, they would be treated just like everyone else (Bigcaucasus.com, April 2, 2014). While there is no indication that Russian commanders were in favor of this change, political leaders in both Moscow and the North Caucasus recognized that the previous policy of excluding North Caucasians from the draft was counterproductive in at least three ways: First, the earlier policy suggested that Moscow did not view them or their region as fully equal to any other Russian locale, which made their integration more difficult. Second, it infuriated many ethnic Russians who resented the fact that their sons had to serve while North Caucasians did not, exacerbating anti-Caucasian attitudes at home. Meanwhile, this angered many North Caucasians, who found themselves excluded from jobs in the security services that require military backgrounds (see EDM, November 4, 2015). And third, this policy made it increasingly difficult for Moscow to meet its draft quotas because of the ever-smaller draft-age cohorts among ethnic Russians. But now that Russia has begun to draft North Caucasians again, it has faced problems not only within the Russian army, where ethnic tensions remain high (see EDM, November 20, 2014), but also in the North Caucasus republics themselves, where the Russian draft is turning out to be as unpopular-or even more so-than it is in Russian regions. In Chechnya, rumors have been circulating that the Russian military will cancel the draft there. The authorities in Grozny have disputed such assertions, but in ways that suggest there is local opposition to service in the Russian Armed Forces and anger about Moscow's continuing discrimination against Chechens. Akhmed Dzhairanov, the republic's military commissar who oversees the draft, implied as much when he said the rumors were incorrect, that 500 Chechens were already serving in the military, and that the draft in Chechnya should take in not that number but rather "tens of thousands," because so many young men had not had the chance to serve earlier. Were that to happen, Moscow would meet its draft quota easily; but it would likely face other problems with Chechens and with Russians (Newizv.ru, April 12). Meanwhile, in Dagestan, the military commissariat announced that the Russian military would take in approximately 1,800 young Dagestanis in the spring draft, a third more than it had drafted a year ago. But as the draft has returned and is now expanding, the Makhachkala commissariat pointed out that so, too, has resistance. At present, and despite the enthusiastic support for the draft by Dagestani leaders, "more than 2,000" men subject to the draft cannot be found: they have fled their homes, and it is entirely possible that they have joined the anti-Russian underground (Vestnik Kavkaza, April 5). Such reports suggest that Moscow is going to have to move cautiously in re-extending the draft in the North Caucasus lest it provoke what it most fears-a new round of violent resistance to Russian rule across that region. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Halloween is nearly here. Find out when Trick-or-Treat is happening in Martinsville. The leaves are changing, the evenings are getting cooler and excitement is building as Halloween draws closer. GARY BOMAR/BIG COUNTRY AG Medical helicopters can cut the response times in emergencies. SHARE Randy Teague, chief of the Lake Coleman Volunteer Fire Department, was called to an auto accident in rural Coleman County a few years ago. A woman received medical attention, and Teague then called for transport to the nearest trauma center via helicopter. The victim survived, and weeks later called Teague to thank him for his help. In the discussion, she stated that she had no insurance, and in addition to the large medical bill, there was an air ambulance fee for $38,000. This began Teague's search for some coverage for the rural area in the case of an emergency which requires air transportation. He located Air Med Care, a membership service, which covers the cost of flights due to medical emergencies. For the past four years, Teague has been in the position of Sales Membership Director. Since ag producers are often in some very isolated area when they had emergency medical situations, air flight is the only way for transport to a Level I medical facility. "For example, a 50-mile transport response time is approximately 20 minutes, and time is extremely important at this time," said Teague. The cost of this flight to a Level I Trauma center could exceed $40,000. The AirMed Care Network is an alliance among several related providers, creating America's largest air ambulance membership program. Statewide, it has 38 helicopters on call, and one or more calls per day per unit are normal. Typically, 70 percent are transfer from hospital to hospital, plus many deal with situations in rural remote locations. Air Med has more than 1.7 million members, nationwide. With the alliance, coverage is statewide, several other states and additional locations are being added. In the Big Country, several ranches are taking a proactive approach in dealing with guests and hunters in the case of a medical emergency. Rural landowners ask Teague to make a site visit to determine a proper landing site. He will also conduct a training program, and if time permits, the helicopter will make a practice run to the location. In addition, GPS coordinates will be loaded into a database, and dispatcher will provide to pilot. In the event of an emergency, the person requesting the transportation will be patched in directly to the pilot via cellphone, and will be in constant contact until arrival. Many commercial hunting operations have taped emergency contacts to AirMed inside of deer blinds. A 911 call will connect to the air service providers. In our region some situations may require this service, dealing with snake bite. A majority of helicopters in West Texas carry antivenin on board. Membership cost is very reasonable with plans beginning at $65 annually for a household. Special ranch or business plans are available. After the medical bills arrive after an accident, AirMed Care will cover all costs of the helicopter service. Not just the cost, the time and proactive planning could be a major factor in surviving an accident according to Teague. Teague can be contacted at 325-201-6278 or randy.teague@amgh.us MONDAY Lib-Con The third annual Lib-Con, celebrating sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comics, games and more, will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all three Abilene Public Library Locations. A movie and craft will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Main Library, 202 Cedar St., followed by Harry Potter Triwizard Night for children age 13 and up from 4-8 p.m. For a full list of events, go to www.abilenetx.com/apl/LibCon. College students de-stress A de-stress day for college students will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Food trucks, free coffee and relaxing activities will be available. Admission is free with college ID. Square dance workshop TYE The Key City Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Dance SWEETWATER A dance featuring the Jamie Tollison Band will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Nolan County Coliseum Annex in Sweetwater. Admission is $6. Other ... Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112. Schizophrenia Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. Blood drive, 1-6 p.m., Fisher County Chronicle, Rotan. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Anorexics Bulimics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673. Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society of Abilene, 7 p.m., 7607 Highway 277 South. 325-692-0063. Abilene Toastmaster's Club 1071, 7 p.m., Conference Center, Texas State Technical College, 650 E. Highway 80. 325-692-7325 or abilene.toastmastersclubs.org. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007. Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304. Memory Men (4-part a cappella singing), 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1165 Minter Lane. Park on east side, enter through kitchen. 325-676-SING. Taylor County Libertarian Party, 7 p.m., Winery at Willow Creek, 4353 S. Treadaway Blvd. 325-675-0266. Abilene Community Band rehearsal, 7:30 p.m., Bynum Band Hall, McMurry University. 325-232-7383. South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave. Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Avoca United Methodist Church. 325-773-2611. Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group. 325-676-1400. TUESDAY Lib-Con The third annual Lib-Con, celebrating sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comics, games and more, will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all three Abilene Public Library Locations. Events will include Super Storytime: Angry Birds from 10:45-11:45 a.m. at the Main Library, 202 Cedar St; Minecraft Mania Night from 6-7 p.m. at the South Branch Library, 1401 S. Danville Drive; and a Star Trek craft and movie from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. For a full list of events, go to www.abilenetx.com/apl/LibCon. Business workshop Texas Tech Small Business Development Center Abilene will conduct a workshop in which Abilene city staff will answer questions about small business from 6-8 p.m. in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300. Square dance workshop TYE The Wagon Wheel Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Other ... Veterans benefit meeting, 10 a.m. to noon, Disabled American Veterans, 2555 Grape St. 325-793-9699 or 325-480-6175. Mission on the Move Soup Kitchen, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church, 3025 Southwest Dr. Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. High Noon Al-Anon, noon, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road (south end; follow the yellow signs). Blood drive, 1-4 p.m., Lauren Engineering, 901 S. First St. Stroke/Aphasia Recovery Program support group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3535. Betty Hardwick Center Board of Trustees, 5:15 p.m., Betty Hardwick Center, 2616 S. Clack St., Suite 150. Dystonia Support Group, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Not Without Us, 3301 N. First St. Suite 117. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 5:30 p.m., Brook Hollow Christian Church, 2310 S. Willis St. 325-232-7444. Legacies Al-Anon Family Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-280-7584. Dining For Women Abilene Chapter, 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 1420 N. Third St. Family (of Mental Health Consumers) Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Mental Health Association in Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. MHAA Bipolar/Depression Peer Support Group, 6-8 p.m., Ministry of Counseling & Enrichment, 1502 N. First St. 325-673-2300. Free certified nurturing parent class (pregnancy to toddler), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398. Abilene Star Chorus, 6:15 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1333 N. Third St. 325-829-1470. Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Exodus Metropolitan Community Church, 1933 S. 27th St. Al-Anon Parents Group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. Use Church Street entrance. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Doug Meinzer Activity Center, Knox City. 940-658-3926. Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 7-8:30 p.m., 2043 N. Second St. Parents, Family, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of the Big Country, 7-9 p.m., Unity Church, 2842 Barrow St. 325-232-4726, www.pflagbc.weebly.com. Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. WEDNESDAY Lib-Con The third annual Lib-Con, celebrating sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comics, games and more, will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all three Abilene Public Library Locations. Events will include Super Storytime: May the 4th Be With You at 10:45 a.m. at the Main Library, 202 Cedar St.; and May the 4th Be With You Gaming from 4-5:30 p.m. a the Mockingbird Branch Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. An after-hours fan fiction workshop will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Library. For a full list of events, go to www.abilenetx.com/apl/LibCon. Other ... Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St. Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St. Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815. Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd. Clearly Speaking Toastmaster Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570. Blood drive, noon to 6 p.m., Sweetwater Lions Club, 1201 Lamar St., Sweetwater. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818. Mid-week Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995. Advanced Square Dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007. DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200. THURSDAY Lib-Con The third annual Lib-Con, celebrating sci-fi, fantasy, anime, comics, games and more, will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all three Abilene Public Library Locations. Events will include Super Storytime: Superheroes at 10:45 a.m. at the Mockingbird Branch Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane; and a special effects makeup challenge from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Main Library, 202 Cedar St. For a full list of events, go to www.abilenetx.com/apl/LibCon. Interfaith service The Abilene Interfaith Council will conduct its 12th annual 'Service of Prayer and Peace' at noon at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. Several different faiths will be represented. Prayer ceremony ANSON The Anson Ministerial Alliance will conduct a ceremony observing National Day of Prayer at noon at the Anson Opera House. Members from several congregations will lead prayers. Mother's Day crafts 'DIY: Mommy & Me Workshop,' featuring Mother's Day crafts, will be 4-6 p.m. at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Projects range from $5 to $10. Scholarship and honors recital The Tri-Collegiate Scholarship and Honors recital will begin at 7 p.m. at Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. Music students from Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University will perform. Admission is free. Dance A dance featuring Joe Nelson and the Double Luck Band will begin at 7 p.m. at the Rose Park Senior Activity Center, 2625 S. Seventh St. Admission is $5. Other ... Veterans Association Club, 10 a.m., Rose Park Senior Citizens Center (in Rose Park, South Seventh and Barrow streets). Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300. Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road. Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092. Blood drive, noon to 5 p.m., Eastland Memorial Hospital. Retired Military Wives Club business meeting, 1 p.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center, 2625 South Seventh St. 325-677-9656 or 325-793-1490. Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Center. Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St. Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Gambler's Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575. Key City Coin Club, 6:30 p.m., Rose Park Senior Citizens Center, Room B. 325-675-0266. Round Dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517. Old Town Abilene Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., Shining Star Baptist Church, 302 Palm St. 325-676-4068. Big Country Audubon Society, 7 p.m., Rose Park Senior Citizens Center. American Legion Post and Auxiliary 661 meeting, 7 p.m., Lueders Legion Hall, Highway 6, Lueders. South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave. Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. Fun in the summer sun Registration for the city of Abilene's summer playground camps is underway. The program offers sports, games, arts and crafts, field trips, swimming, afternoon snacks, special events and more for children ages 6-13. Sessions will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays during three sessions at several sites around town. Session I is set for June 6 through July 1; Session II for July 5-29 and Session III for Aug. 1-12. Cost for sessions I and II is $150 per child; cost for Session III is $70. The fee includes one T-shirt per child and an afternoon snack. The Abilene Independent School District will provide breakfast and lunch for the first two sessions. Early bird registration, which offers $10 off per child per session, continues through Friday. Regular registration runs May 7-20 and offers $5 off per child per session. Register at www.abilenetx.com or stop by the Community Services Building, 633 Walnut St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For camp locations and other information, call 325-676-6217. Let's get together again The Abilene High School Class of 1956 is making plans for its 60th reunion. The fun will take place Oct. 21 and 22. Help is needed, however, in locating some classmates. If you have information, call Johnnie Lou Boyd at 325-793-9286. Dollars for scholars The Megan Gilbreath Memorial Scholarship was founded in 2010 for students pursing a career in nursing or another heath care field. Since then, 12 $1,000 scholarships have been awarded. Graduating high school seniors or current nursing or health care students in Texas with an overall GPA of 3.0 are encouraged to apply at www.megangilbreath.org. Application deadline is Friday. Cover-To-Cover Book Club The Abilene Public Library's Cover-to-Cover Book Club gathers monthly on the third Thursday to discuss popular fiction and nonfiction. The next meeting will begin at 7 p.m. May 19 in the auditorium at the downtown Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. The featured book for May is 'At Home' by Bill Bryson. With his signature wit, charm, and seemingly limitless knowledge, Bryson takes readers on a room-by-room tour through his own house, using each room as a jumping-off point into the vast history of the domestic artifacts we often take for granted. Mail information to Jan Woodward in care of 'Around Town,' Abilene Reporter-News, P.O. Box 30, Abilene, TX 79604. Email jan.woodward@reporternews.com or fax information to 325-670-5242. Deadline for submission is noon seven working days before publication. SHARE Unlawfully Carrying Weapon and DWI, 1600 block of North Treadaway Boulevard, Saturday A 59-year-old male was arrested and charged with DWI and unlawful weapons carry after being stopped by police for leaving the scene of an accident. The individual failed a field sobriety test and, after a K-9 dog alerted on his vehicle, a .22-caliber handgun was discovered in his car. Possession of Marijuana and DWI, 1000 block of South Second Street, Sunday A 32-year-old male was arrested and charged with DWI and possession of marijuana after he had been involved in a traffic accident. The individual refused to perform a field sobriety test. Police discovered the marijuana during a impound inventory of his vehicle. Possession of Marijuana and Public Intoxication, 2600 block of North First Street, Saturday A 63-year-old male was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and public intoxication after police discovered him sleeping on the ground. Resisting Arrest and Failure to Identify, 1500 block of Highway 351, Saturday A 21-year-old male was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and failure to identify after police stopped him. He attempted to run from the officer, and continued to fight after being taken to the ground. The police officer was forced to pepper spray and taze the individual. Assault, 4400 block of North Tenth Street, Saturday A 44-year-old female was arrested and charged with assault, after police responded to a call and saw the woman yelling at and kicking a man in the legs multiple times. Theft, 1600 block of Highway 351, Saturday A 25-year-old female was arrested and charged with theft after allegedly attempting to shoplift more than $300 worth of items from a local business. Robbery, 1000 block of Chestnut Street, Saturday A 23-year-old male reported he had been hit over the head and his cellphone stolen. Aggravated Assault, 600 block of Westmoreland Street, Saturday A 61-year-old male and a 44-year-old male reported that a 17-year-old male had threatened them with a gun after an argument over money. Assault-Family Violence, 3000 block of West Lake Road, Saturday A 37-year-old male reported he had been punched by his boyfriend during an argument. SHARE Today in history: On May 2, 1924, rubber gloves become standard in policework. On this date, Patrick Mahon is arrested at the Waterloo train station in London. He had come to claim a bag that contained a murder weapon, a knife that he had used to carve up the body of his mistress. Police went to a Sussex bungalow to find what was left of Emily Kaye. In trying to determine the cause of her death, police handled her body parts with their bare hands, prompting the suggestion to use protective gloves. Mahon was executed in September. Around two years ago I moved back to London after spending 12 years living in a remote farmhouse on the north coast of Exmoor. Pretty much every day for those 12 years my wife Victoria and I would go for at least an hours walk along the coastal path. It was a supremely beautiful stretch: we rambled 500 feet above the sea and on a clear day we could see the coast of Wales across the Bristol Channel. Gorse, smelling of coconut, and oak trees grew on the steeply sloping cliffs, and in spring every day was different, as primroses gave way to foxgloves and then whortleberries in the summer. We would often see deer and sometimes find a dead mole. We were going to miss our daily walks, that was for sure. Shepherds Bush could not compare with the wilds of Devon when it came to beauty. But I soon came to realise that there is a different kind of beauty to be had in London: architectural beauty. The beauty of crowds and bustle. And its free to walkers. My old friend Marcel rang up to suggest that we take a Friday off and go for a walk around town. At first I said that I could only take half a day, citing work pressures. Then I changed my mind: surely one of the advantages of being a freelance-journalist-stroke-entrepreneur was that I could take a full day off if I wanted to? So we met in Patisserie Valerie on Piccadilly at 9.30am for an espresso. Then at ten we set off, flaneurs of the 21st century, without any particular plan in mind. We walked down to The Mall and then across St Jamess Park, which always makes me think of James Boswell and his indiscretions next to trees with women of the night. Then across Parliament Square, where we paused to look at Big Ben. Thats not actually Big Ben, said Marcel. The bell is called Big Ben. But the tower is called Elizabeth Tower. A bit of a pedant, is Marcel. Then we walked over Westminster Bridge, and who could not be reminded of another romantic rambler, William Wordsworth, and the lines he wrote describing the beauty of London in the early morning? Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its majesty. And this was surely bliss, to be wandering without purpose around old London town with an old friend? At a cost of nought pounds we brought our own sandwiches to save on cafe prices: such are the little acts of thrift that must be made in middle age we were enjoying ourselves immensely. This felt like a terrific indulgence. And of course it is a treat that could be given to yourself in any city: all cities have hidden treasures to offer, things to see, places to dawdle. On we went. Past the London Eye and along the river by the South Bank, where a sandcastle artist sat in his creation and played the ukulele. Eccentricity lives. Past the skateboarders, past those men who paint themselves grey and stand on one foot for money, past the Globe theatre, past magnificent yuppie flats, past run-down housing estates with young mums pushing prams and old men drinking cans of beer in the entranceways. Past the oddly amateurish-looking statue of Peter the Great and his dwarf in Deptford. Marcel translated the Russian text, before we realised that there was a translation provided on the other side of the statue. On and on, past a city farm yes, pigs and sheep in the city! where we sat on a bench to eat our sandwiches. Then on again till we reached the great tunnel at Greenwich where the river widens. Lazily, I suggested that we catch the ferry back to the Tate Gallery in Pimlico, but hardy Marcel would hear none of it, so on we walked. We walked through the tunnel and took some silly photographs halfway along. We had a chat with the man who runs the kiosk as you emerge on the other side. Then along the river on the other side, past the old pubs of Wapping. We stopped at a Chinese supermarket and paused on a set of steps that led down to the river. Our legs were starting to ache. We walked along the river as much as we could; often the riverside path stops and you have to detour inland a bit and find your way back. We had to wait and watch as a road bridge was winched into the air to let a boat into a marina from the river. Is it my imagination, or is the river being used a little more once again? It should be. We walked on past the Tower of London, where a polar bear was kept in the late 13th century. Marcel told me who the king was at that time. I forget now. Edward? We were very lucky indeed with the weather: the sun shone warm and bright all day, though it was October. I even got tanned. We went slightly north past St Pauls Cathedral and found an old-fashioned sweet shop. I spent two pounds on a bag of sweets the only outlay of the day. To think that bankers spend a thousand pounds a night in Mayfair nightclubs to snatch a bit of pleasure before returning to their toil in the morning! To walk is to taste sweet freedom. It is of course a real tonic to get out of the city and into Nature, but it is equally a tonic to get out of the countryside and into the city. We walked that day for seven hours and covered 15 miles. We saw beautiful and unusual things. We talked non-stop. I would have traded years of therapy for those hours. I returned home in a cheerful mood. This beautiful act of walking in cities: it is democratic, available, luxurious. Anytime, anywhere. Try it in your own city. I am continuing to walk in London. Marcel and I took my 15-year-old son on a three-hour ramble through town the other day, and Victoria encourages me to walk with her to our office, which is about an hours walk from our house. Londoners may with good reason object to the money that has poured into the capital lately. But even the most ornery must concede that, aesthetically speaking, the money has been a good thing. The parks and streets have never looked grander and cleaner and more beautiful. There is a lot of joy on offer, and its free if you choose to take it. Tom Hodgkinson is the editor of The Idler. Features "It's not right. We need more time." Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Cambodian men use a net to catch fish in a nearly dried pond at a village in Kandal province, April 27, 2016. Cambodian authorities in Battambang province have started canvassing villages to convince residents to stop illegally burning forest areas that have dried up because of the heat wave, leading to the deaths of more wild animals. Authorities in the northwestern province are trying to raise villagers awareness about the illegal clearing of previously flooded forest areas around Tonle Sap, a freshwater lake and 120-kilometer (75-mile) long river system that connects to the Mekong River. Long Poeun, governor of Ek Phnom district, said only local people are able to preserve the flooded forest areas that have dried up. The district has reported that nearly 5,300 hectares (20 square miles) of previously flooded forest in three communes have been burned. More than 100 wild monkeys there have died from the forest fires, authorities said, in addition to about 30 other monkeys that perished late last week along with birds and reptiles when the flooded forest dried up. Hor Sam Ath, deputy of the Rohal Sous fishing community, applauded the canvassing activities but said authorities should send forces to prevent illegal clearing and burning around Tonle Sap on a regular basis. Weather conditions in Cambodia this time of year tend to be extremely hot with no rain, causing lakes to dry up, until the rainy season begins in late May. The ongoing heat wave pushed temperatures as high as 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit) last week in central Cambodias Kampong Thom province. Cambodia is among several Southeast Asian nations suffering from a heat wave and droughts that meteorologists blame on the El Nino effect, a warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean that elevates global temperatures. Oddar Meanchey water shortages Villagers in Oddar Meanchey province in Cambodias remote northwest have urged government officials to dig water storage facilities as a relief measure for thousands of villagers affected by severe drought. Sok Lang, a resident of Pol village in Samroang district, said she and her neighbors have had to rely on bottled water for a month because Lake Kandek, on which they depend for their water supply, has dried up. I urge Prime Minister Hun Sen to restore Lake Kandek because we dont have any water, she said, adding that she must now spend more than 10,000 riel (U.S. $2.50) a month to buy water. Khin Nhien, chief of the water resources department in Oddar Meanchey province, said water resources have also dried up in Banteay Ampil, Trapang Prasat and Onlong Veng districts. On April 26, Hun Sen ordered all authorities nationwide to mobilize to help supply water to people as the country dealt with the worst drought in at least 40 years, which has left about two-thirds of Cambodias 24 provinces and special administrative area of Phnom Penh short of drinking water, the Associated Press reported. Natural disaster for birds Authorities in northeastern Cambodias Stung Treng province said that animals inhabiting the conservation areas are at risk because of the drought, and wildlife groups are brainstorming on long-term strategies to bring water into affected areas should the drought continue throughout the year. Environmental conservation groups in the province have reported finding hundreds of water buffaloes that have perished from the drought, saying it is a sign of a natural disaster to come for endangered birds. Bou Vireaksak, program officer for international conservation organization BirdLife International said local water buffaloes are very important to maintain the sustainability of endangered birds because they kick up insects when they walk through the mud, creating a food source for birds. The number of water buffalo owned by locals in the provinces Siempang district has decreased this year, he said. Bou Vireaksak created three man-made ponds in a conservation area for wild and domestic animals as a test project during the drought season to provide some relief for the wildlife. But he expressed concern that hunters could use the areas as opportunities to kill the animals when they gather near the ponds. Provincial authorities last week were investigating the deaths of at least 200 cows and water buffaloes in the area from the drought, and were helping villagers who faced water shortages by digging new wells and transporting water. Meanwhile, the number of dead fish found in Kampong Thom provinces protected Lake Chhmar has reached nearly 70 during the weekend since April 23 because of a lack of oxygen, low water levels and rising water temperatures, the Khmer Times reported. Reported by Chamroeun Hum, Savyuth Hang, and Chanthy Men for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sarada Taing. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Cambodian opposition party deputy leader Kem Sokha (L) smiles as he walks into the Phnom Penh municipal court for questioning over a July 2013 demonstration after the general election, April 8, 2015. A Phnom Penh court charged six people on Monday for allegedly attempting to hush up a woman who is at the center of a sex scandal involving a top official with the opposition party. Officials accused four members the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), a member of the countrys election commission and a UN worker of instructing the woman to deny her alleged relationship with Cambodian National Rescue Party lawmaker Kem Sokha. ADHOC staffers Ny Sokha, Nay Vanda, Yi Soksan and Lim Mony were detained at the notorious Prey Sar prison, while NEC Deputy Secretary-General Ny Chakrya is in custody of the Phnom Penh Police commissioner, officials told RFA. The fate of UN staffer Sally Soen is unknown, but Cambodian Anti-Corruption Unit chief Om Yentieng said a warrant was issued for her arrest. Court officials said the ADHOC workers were charged under Article 548 of the criminal code for bribing a witness, whereas Ny Chakrya and Soen are charged as accomplices. While the court is seeking charges under the Article 548, it is unclear what grounds there are for the charge. Attorneys for the ADHOC staffers and Ny Chakyra told RFAs Khmer Service the governments case looked thin, as prosecutors have not said any bribe money changed hands. Political attack While Hun Sen and the Cambodian Peoples Party have ruled Cambodia for three decades, the CNRP has made inroads in the recent elections. Opposition party officials and human rights workers see the moves as an attempt by Hun Sen and his followers to quash any potential rivals. Hundreds of government security forces were deployed outside the Phnom Penh courthouse in an effort to keep at bay the hundreds of protestors demanding justice on Monday. "The charges brought against the six human rights defenders are blatantly politically motivated and a direct attack against those serving the people who fall prey to Cambodias government, said Naly Pilorge, director of the Cambodian human rights group LICADHO. These mounting attacks represent an alarming tightening of the noose around civil society and those who work to uphold human rights, and clearly show that the governments ultimate aim is total control ahead of the upcoming elections, she added. Defamation suit Questions about the governments motives in the sensational case are being reinforced by attempts by a top official to sue government critic Ou Virak, who heads the Future Forum think tank. In reference to the sex scandal Ou Virak said on an RFA radio program that the ruling partys strategy is to put pressure Kem Sokha and his finances. Sok Eysan, the CPPs spokesman demanded 4 hundred million riel ($100,000) as a compensation for defamation. The suit was filed soon after Prime Minister Hun Sen posted a message in his Facebook page saying: The CPP has sued Future Forum Ou Virak in Phnom Penh Court. Ou Virak told RFA that he was waiting for the court summons before deciding what to do, but said he was worried more about the chilling effect the governments actions will have on young people. Earlier this month prosecutors told local media that Khem Chandaraty admitted that it was her voice on leaked audio recordings of conversations between herself and Kem Sokha. The recordings were posted on her Facebook page, which she said was hacked. Although she previously denied that the voices belonged to her and Kem Sokha, she recanted her story last week under questioning by police on charges of prostitution and false testimony. Kem Sokha has refused to address the allegations. UN immunity Wan-Hea Lee, the UN High Commission for Human Rights representative in Cambodia, told RFAs Khmer Service that the UN has asked the government for an explanation, saying UN workers receive a degree of immunity. UN officials have immunity from legal processes arising from their actions undertaken in the line of duty, she said. The UN seeks to find together with the Royal Government a mutually agreeable way to cooperate with the proceedings. While the UN was taking a measured approach, Wan-Hea Lee said the arrests were a concern. The handling by the courts of the cases against the staff of Adhoc and NEC is an important test of judicial integrity and independence, with too much having already been aired that would contravene the principle of presumption of innocence, she said. My office will be following these cases closely and hopes to see proceedings fully respect fair trial rights standards, she added. Politicians take sides On Sunday, Hun Sen rejected the UNs immunity defense, telling port workers at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port yesterday, that immunity wont help anyone if they had committed a crime. Please, all NGOs or workers at United Nations, do not depend on immunity, the Phnom Penh Post reported. You may have the mother or father of all immunities, but when it comes time to arrest you you will be jailed. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, called the ruling party a stupid group for using the Anti-Corruption Unit to ill-treat civil society groups and the opposition likening it to treatment meted out by Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, according to an article in the Phnom Penh Post Now there are more and more new events showing clearly that they [the government] do not have any different way of getting rid of us besides provoking us continuously, said Rainsy according to the report. Sam Rainsy has been staying in France or traveling since an arrest warrant was issued for him in November over a 2008 defamation case and he was removed from offices and stripped of his legislative immunity Please do not be afraid at all, he said. On the contrary, [we] must strengthen our spirit and unite together. Reported by Tha Thai and Khe Sonorng for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Sarada Taing. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Hundreds of people protested outside the offices of Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper on Monday over the sacking of a respected editor last month. Around 400 people, including journalists, rights activists and ordinary citizens, gathered outside the headquarters of the Ming Pao, which fired former chief executive editor Keung Kwok-yuen on April 20 after the paper ran a front-page story linked to the Panama Papers leak. Carrying banners that read: "They can't fire us all," and carrying pieces of ginger as a pun on Keung's name, the protesters called for Keung's reinstatement, highlighting fears for press freedom in the former British colony. "We want them to know that a lot of people still support the staff [at the Ming Pao]," a protester surnamed Au told RFA on Monday. "I am here to show that support." A Ming Pao journalist surnamed Lam said he had joined the protest while he was off duty. "I thought the reasons given by the Ming Pao [for Keung's sacking] were ridiculous," Lam said. "They said they were trying to cut costs, but staff at the paper said they would accept a salary freeze." "This could have been achieved in any number of ways." Self-censorship, attacks Keung's ouster sent shock waves through the city's media industry, which is already reeling from a string of violent attacks and concerns over growing self-censorship in the city under the watchful eye of Beijing. It came after the paper ran a front-page report in its April 20 edition based on files leaked from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The story detailed offshore accounts held by politicians and tycoons in the former British colony, including former second-in-command Henry Tang and multibillionaire magnate Li Ka-shing, who controls the conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings. Lam said the decision had alienated many of the Ming Pao's editorial staff. "Of course we have to come out in protest, because it's not just Keung Kwok-yuen who is under attack, it's press freedom generally." A Ming Pao employee surnamed Choi said the protest over Keung's sacking is about more than just the internal running of the newspaper. "I am very moved that everyone is willing to come out in protest, because ... this isn't just about commercial decisions and the way a company treats its staff," Choi said. "We are here because of the way we have been trained, and because we have a responsibility towards our readers, towards the people of Hong Kong," she said. "We won't let this drop; we will keep fighting it." Call to reinstate Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) chairwoman Sham Yee-lan called on the Ming Pao management to reinstate Keung, in what is now being dubbed the "ginger" protests, because Keung's name sounds similar to "ginger" in Hong Kong's lingua franca, Cantonese. "The fact that 400 people have turned out today shows that this incident has made them feel that press freedom is under threat," Sham said. "Protecting journalists means that we are also protecting the public's right to information." Phyllis Tsang, spokeswoman for the Ming Pao staff association, said staff are still discussing the possibility of industrial action in response to Keung's removal. "There have been suggestions from staff that we might prepare for industrial action, but we have to make certain preparations, and there are different approaches we could take," Tsang said. "However, we will wait for a clear response from management before we decide on whether to take action, and what kind of action to take," she said. Monday's protest follows a number of blank spaces in lieu of columns by three of the newspapers prominent commentators, prompting a stand-off late last month between editor-in-chief Chong Tian Siong and editorial staff. Regular Ming Pao columnists Eva Chan, a journalism lecturer; Audrey Eu, a pan-democratic politician; and journalist Sam Ng all left their columns blank in protest over Keung's departure. Notes citing the Ming Pao management's explanation for Keung's dismissal were added to the columns after Chong stopped the presses to try to prevent the blank spaces from appearing, the Economic Journal newspaper reported last week. Fears for press freedom Journalists and pan-democratic politicians have issued a number of warnings over Beijing's growing influence in Hong Kong, which was promised the continuation of its existing freedoms as a separate legal jurisdiction under the terms of Hong Kong's 1997 handover from Britain to China. Richard Choi, of the Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, said the blank columns were a symbolic representation of growing public fears for press freedom. "I think there has been an attack on the editorial system, and on editorial independence at the Ming Pao," Choi said in a recent interview. "Everyone is concerned, not just staff at the newspaper." "The blank column protests alone lasted for more than a week ... People in Hong Kong are worried about press freedom." Self-censorship is regarded as the biggest threat to Hong Kong's formerly freewheeling media, many of which rely on advertising revenue from companies with huge business interests in China. Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau said Beijing is "exerting a lot of pressure on media, and many news organizations are willing to comply." "Hong Kong people have to stick together to defend editorial independence," she told Agence France-Presse. Reporters have said the decision to sack Keung was made by Chong Tien Siong, who is seen as a pro-Beijing editor brought in two years ago to replace veteran investigative journalist Kevin Lau as chief editor, a move which also sparked protests by newspaper staff. Lau was later stabbed in broad daylight in an attack that left him with severe injuries. Reported by Lam Kwok-lam for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Xin Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Two monks attached to a large Tibetan monastery in southwestern Chinas Sichuan province were detained and beaten by police last month after they attempted to mediate a traffic dispute between a Tibetan and a Han Chinese driver, sources said. Lakyab and Tsering Gyurme, both monks at the Palyul monastery in Palyul (in Chinese, Baiyu) county in the Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, were released on April 29 after being held for ten days, a local source told RFAs Tibetan Service. While in custody, both monks were severely beaten, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Lakyab and Gyurme had attempted to intervene in a dispute between two drivers, one a Tibetan and the other a Han Chinese, whose cars had collided, the source said. When police arrived on the scene, the monks became involved in an argument with them, and they were then detained and taken away, he said. In similar incidents in Palyul in the past, the authorities have usually tended to blame the Tibetans, he said. [In China], it is often said that all nationalities, including the ethnic minority groups, will be treated equally and fairly, but really there is no fairness to be had. Protests against Chinese authority have been rare in Palyul, a scenic mountain region where thousands turned out in July 2014 to welcome a young child identified as the reincarnate leader of the Palyul monastery. Resistance to Chinese mining operations in the county has occasionally flared, though, and in October 2013 hundreds of Palyul monks marched to a police station to demand the release of a colleague detained for spreading word of a fatal police crackdown in a neighboring region, sources said in earlier reports. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. A Tibetan monk enrolled in Sichuans restive Kirti monastery was taken into custody by police on Monday after staging a solo protest in nearby Ngaba town, sources in the region said. Lobsang Thubten, believed to be in his 20s, was detained shortly after launching his protest at about 3:30 p.m. on May 2 on a street known locally as Heroes Road in the main town of Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) county in the Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, a local resident told RFAs Tibetan Service. He walked in the road with a photo of [exiled spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama and called for his long life and for freedom for Tibet, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Not long afterward, he was detained by local police and taken away, he said. Police snatched the Dalai Lamas photo away from Thubten, handcuffed him, and covered his face with his robe before pushing him into a police vehicle and driving away, he said. No word was immediately available regarding where Thubten had been taken or on his present condition, though Tibetan protesters are frequently beaten when being taken into custody by Chinese police or other security forces. More police arrive Tibetans present in the area at the time that Thubten was seized attempted to pursue the vehicle taking him away but were unable to stop it, a second local resident told RFA. Afterward, the town was left quiet, as if nothing had happened, the source said, also speaking on condition he not be named. Four more vehicles carrying police arrived in the town during the evening. It is difficult to say what will happen tomorrow, the source said. Thubtens Kirti monastery has been the scene of repeated self-immolations and other protests by monks, former monks, and nuns opposed to Chinese rule in Tibetan areas. Authorities raided the institution in 2011, taking away hundreds of monks and sending them for political re-education while local Tibetans who sought to protect the monks were beaten and detained, sources said in earlier reports. Sporadic demonstrations challenging Beijings rule and calling for the Dalai Lamas return have continued in Tibetan-populated areas of China since widespread protests swept the region in 2008. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. Protesters in downtown Hanoi demonstrate against Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa which operates a steel plant which they claim is causing mass fish kills due to pollution in Vietnam's central coast, April 1, 2016. Vietnamese authorities arrested two people on Monday for inciting public opinion over the way the government is handling an environmental disaster that has seen tons of dead fish wash up on the countrys Central Coast. Minh Tam, 46, and Chu Manh Son, 27, were arrested on Monday after they visited the provinces hit hardest by the disaster, RFAs Vietnamese Service has learned. According to state television Tam and Son had gone to interview local people, produce TV reports and post them on anti-state web sites. The arrests come as people took to the streets in major cities over the weekend in a rare show of protest over the way the government is handling the disaster. There were demonstrations reported in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau and Da Nang. In Da Nang, police were reported to have intervened and broken up gatherings. Rare protests Protests are extremely rare in Vietnam, and the government appeared to signal that it is ready to crack down on demonstrations. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered authorities to investigate and apply necessary measures to those who incite people to gather and disturb the public order or adversely affect political security, jeopardizing the economy social order and the investment environment, state media reported. Protestors told RFA they were shadowed, harassed and beaten. Former prisoner of conscience Pham Thanh Nghiem told RFA the governments reaction wasnt unusual. I can assure that what tam and son did was nothing more than to bring the truth to the public, she said. What they did was not useless; on the contrary they have a great significance especially at this time of environmental disaster. According to VnExpress express, Tam admitted that he joined the Vietnam Path Movement, collected sensitive political information, interviewed dissidents in an effort to spread information on Facebook of the organization in an effort to criticize the Vietnams government. The Vietnam Path Movement, an unregistered civil society organization that campaigns for human rights. Police confiscated documents related to Tams activities in association with Vietnam Path Movement including a chit for a $400 monthly salary. Police say they found evidence that Tam and other members of the organization have received about $3,000 sent from abroad. According to authorities Son was arrested after he went to Quang Binh province to collect information and pictures to post on reactionary websites to incite people. Tam was sentenced to 12 months in prison in 2013 with charges of fraud to steal money, while son, was sentenced to 30 months in prison in 2011 on an unspecified charge. Thorough investigation While the streets filled up with protesters, Phuc and his government were trying to prove they were making a thorough investigation that would punish the responsible parties. Any agency or organization, individual violated laws will have to be subject to investigation based on science evidence and nobody should cover up the issue, he said according to a report by Vietnamnet. That includes the Formosa Plastics Corp. steel plant located in the Vung Ang industrial zone. The huge facility is at the center of speculation over the causes of the environmental catastrophe. Tons of fish have washed ashore in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces along a 200-kilometer (120-mile) stretch of the central coast of Vietnam. The dead fish washing up on beaches along the country's central coast include rare species that live far offshore in deep water. While Formosa denies that there is a link between the fish deaths and the steel mill, the company has been the center of attention during the disaster. A mile-long waste pipe that runs from Formosas $10.5 billion steel and port facility. While Formosa admits it owns the pipe, it is unclear if they had the authority to build or use it. According to a Rueters report Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha declared the pipe illegal and ordered Formosa to dig it up, even after it found no evidence tying its discharge to mass fish deaths that have triggered health fears and public anger. "We propose to have measures in place to monitor this system after it is elevated, for easy access and surveillance," Ha told Formosa officials and reporters on Thursday. We will examine all facilities, including Formosa. We will not exclude anyone, Phuc said according to a TuoiTreNews report. Reported for RFA's Vietnamese Service by Gia Minh. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. A presenter on Russian state-controlled RT media has been suspended after he said Ukrainian children who saw Russians as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been drowned. "For now, I'm stopping our collaboration as neither I nor the rest of the RT team can afford to even think that any of us are capable of sharing such a view," the broadcasters editor in chief, Margarita Simonyan, tweeted late on October 23 in announcing the suspension of presenter Anton Krasovsky. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. In a show broadcast last week, RT presenter Anton Krasovsky said children who criticized Russia should have been "thrown straight into a river with a strong current." Krasovsky -- a pro-war commentator who has been sanctioned by the European Union -- was responding to an account by Russian science fiction author Sergei Lukyanenko about how, when he first visited Ukraine in the 1980s, children told him they would live better lives were it not for Moscow occupying their country. "They should have been drowned in the Tysyna (River)," Krasovsky said in response. "Just drown those children, drown them." Alternatively, he said, "they could be shoved into huts and burned. In a short segment of the interview, which was shared on social media, Krasovsky also laughed at reports that Russian soldiers had raped elderly Ukrainian women during the invasion. "Anton Krasovsky's statement is wild and disgusting.... It is hard to believe that Krasovsky sincerely believed that children should be drowned," Simonyan added. Krasovsky's comment also sparked outrage in Ukraine and the West, feeding allegations that Russia is intent on eradicating Ukrainians on the whole. "Governments which have still not banned RT must watch this excerpt," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that linked to a clip of the interview. "Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Ban RT worldwide," Kuleba said. "This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries." Early on October 24, Krasovsky apologized for the comments, saying he was "embarrassed" by them. WATCH: Anton Krasovsky's soaring career as a Russian television journalist came to an abrupt end in 2013, when he announced live on air that he was gay. Now barred from Russian screens, Krasovsky has nonetheless chosen to stay in Russia -- a society he says is doomed to ruin. (Originally published in 2015) Krasovsky gained some Western recognition when he announced live on Russian TV in 2013 that he was gay to protest against Kremlin-backed legislation imposing harsh fines and jail terms for the distribution of homosexual "propaganda" to minors. Krasovskys public announcement brought his soaring career as a Russian television journalist to a temporary end as he was barred from state media. He returned as a presenter for the Russian state-controlled broadcaster in 2020. In stark contrast to his comments regarding Ukrainians last week, in 2013 -- when a 22-year-old man from the southern Russian town of Volgograd was brutally murdered by neighbors for being gay -- Krasovsky penned an opinion piece in The Guardian criticizing the Kremlin for targeting a select group of people. How did it come about that today in Russia a good gay person is a dead gay person?. As far as the [Russian] deputies are concerned I am scum by the fact of my birth, and it was criminal negligence not to have made a note of that in my birth certificate. What seemed like a bad dream only a couple of years ago has now become reality. And it is terrifying to imagine what could happen tomorrow, he wrote. With reporting by Reuters A bomb inside a parked car in Baghdad on May 2 killed 13 Shiite pilgrims who were commemorating the death anniversary of a revered imam. There was no immediate claim for responsibility for the attack in Baghdads southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood, but it bore the hallmarks of extremists who call themselves Islamic State. Tens of thousands of Shi'ite faithful have been making their way during the past week to the northern Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhimiyah, where the 8th-century Imam Moussa al-Kadhim is buried. Security forces have blocked major roads in Baghdad in anticipation of attacks against pilgrims who traditionally travel on foot from different parts of Iraq. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP For years, activists in Vladikavkaz, capital of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, have staged sporadic pickets to demand the closure of the Elektrotsink metallurgical plant, a major source of environmental pollution. Until recently, both the republican and the federal authorities have ignored those demands and consistently downplayed the alleged threat posed to public health by mass-scale toxic emissions from the plant, which ecological activists say vastly exceed the permitted maximum. Visiting the republic this week, however, federal envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District Sergei Melikov announced that the authorities have reached agreement with Elektrotsink's owners, the Urals Mining-Metallurgical Group, on ending the production of zinc (of which Elektrotsink is reportedly the second-largest producer in the Russian Federation) this summer in light of the huge amount of toxic waste that has accumulated over the years. The production of sulfuric acid is to be totally modernized by the end of 2017. That statement represents a clear volte face. Less than 18 months ago, Melikov claimed that regular monitoring of the levels of lead and zinc at schools and kindergartens in Vladikavkaz had failed to identify "any negative factors affecting [people's] health." He dismissed the ongoing protests calling for the closure of the plant as "a totally destructive policy." Two possible factors may have influenced the federal authorities' belated decision to take action against Elektrotsink. The first is the changes in the North Ossetian leadership following the expiry last June of longtime republic head Taymuraz Mamsurov's second term in office. Mamsurov was on record as saying that it was more harmful to inhale the fumes from a barbecue than the toxic emissions from Elektrotsink. Vyacheslav Bitarov, who served as prime minister under Mamsurov's successor, Tamerlan Aguzarov, and whom Russian President Vladimir Putin named acting republic head in late February following Aguzarov's untimely death, announced in late December that Aguzarov was insisting the plant be relocated beyond North Ossetia's borders. Experts calculated that doing so would take five years. In early April, Bitarov again said he would raise with Elektrotsink's owners the possibility of relocating the plant, and also of it acquiring the necessary equipment to monitor constantly the level of toxic emissions. It is conceivable that the Russian leadership recognized the potential benefits, in the run-up to the State Duma elections in September, of a concession to North Ossetia's electorate, especially one that would not entail spending from the federal budget. But there is also a second reason why Moscow should have decided to take a closer look at Elektrotsink's operations: Melikov disclosed that the taxes the plant paid did not find their way into the republic's budget. For that reason it will be required to pay at least 300 million rubles ($4.58 million) this year. (In 2014, the plant paid 142 million rubles into the municipal and republican budgets.) At the same time, although Melikov did not say so outright, it seems unlikely that the federal authorities would back Bitarov's demand to relocate all Elektrotsink's operations outside North Ossetia. Melikov stressed the need to find a balance between two priorities: reducing the negative ecological impact of the plant's operations, while minimizing the number of staffers made redundant. He calculated that the termination of lead production would result in the loss of more than 200 jobs, of a total workforce of some 2,000. The most qualified personnel would be offered the chance of transferring to the Urals Mining-Metallurgical Group's main plant in the Urals, according to the enterprise's deputy general director, Yevgeny Bragin, but it is not clear how many would be prepared to relocate there. Even the loss of 200 jobs from Elektrotsink would exacerbate North Ossetia's chronic unemployment problem. Of the republic's estimated total workforce of 340,000 people, 8.6 percent were unemployed as of July 2015. A further 300 people have already lost their jobs this year. One topic guaranteed to inflame passions in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan is land and China. China has taken land from Central Asia and farmers from China are already working rented fields in Central Asia and that has not sat well with locals. It's playing a role in the recent widespread protests in Kazakhstan. Personally I'm inclined to agree with those who see Kazakhstan as a simmering pot at the moment. There are many issues right now that are causing discontent in Kazakhstan. The issue of privatization of land and suggestion Chinese might acquire, even temporarily, some of that land just turned up the heat a bit under the simmering pot. Which makes it the more surprising that Kazakhstan's government, faced with its worst economic crisis in some 20 years, would choose at this time to bring up land privatization and not make crystal clear from word one that foreigners, including Chinese, could not own any of Kazakhstan's land. Officials are paying for that and now are working overtime to explain the privatization plan and soothe the tensions that erupted when rumors spread that Chinese workers would be coming for Kazakhstan's farmland. Such concerns on the part of people in Kazakhstan, and in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also, are not without foundation. And to see why, we need to go back some 20 years to an agreement aimed at easing tensions. In late April 1996, the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan met in Shanghai to sign an agreement to pull back military forces from the former Sino-Soviet, now Sino-CIS border. It was a confidence-building gesture. The deal was cemented with a decision to form the Shanghai Five, which five years later and with the addition of Uzbekistan, became the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Many Central Asian analysts have noted the SCO became China's vehicle for entering Central Asia economically and now China is at least a, if not the, leading trade partner of all five Central Asian states. The Shanghai Five agreement also opened the door for China to make claims on land along its borders with Central Asia. The 1996 deal essentially scrapped the line that was the Sino-Soviet border and necessitated new demarcations. Then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in July 1996 to discuss the delimitation. Jiang skipped Tajikistan, which was three years into its civil war at the time. By early 1999, Kazakhstan was prepared to cede nearly half of the 34,000 square kilometers of what China claimed was disputed territory. It was a very unpopular decision in Kazakhstan. There were legitimate opposition deputies in parliament back then, and there were also social movements and an independent media that, compared to today, had far more room to maneuver. These groups criticized the move. State media repeatedly focused on the fact Kazakhstan had received "56.9 percent" of the disputed territory but critics pointed out that the remaining 43.1 percent had been Kazakhstan's land until the new deal with China. The Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, passed the border treaty with China on February 3, 1999; the Senate passed it on March 10 and President Nursultan Nazarbaev signed it on March 24. The Sino-Kyrgyz border agreement was more complicated. The deal for Kyrgyzstan to hand over 1,250 square kilometers of its land to China was signed in 1999. There was ample, vocal opposition at the time, including calls to impeach then-President Askar Akaev, and it lasted for several years. The demarcation process started in June 2001. Within days the parliament's Legislative Assembly, the lower house (Kyrgyzstan had a bicameral parliament then), voted to stop demarcation and then prepared a draft law denouncing the agreement. It was not until late May 2002 that President Akaev finally had an agreement to sign and he left the next month to China to formalize it with Chinese officials. Even as late as February 2003 some Kyrgyz parliament deputies were demanding the agreement be rescinded. Tajik Disputes Tajikistan and China also signed a border-demarcation agreement in 1999, but it was not until 2002 that Tajikistan acknowledged it was prepared to cede some 1,122 square kilometers of disputed territory to China. As was the case in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, there were many opponents to the agreement in Tajikistan, including people in Tajikistan's eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The land to be given to China was in Gorno-Badakhshan and the region's autonomous status technically demanded local approval of the deal. Tajikistan's parliament did not finally approve the deal until January 2011 amid renewed criticism, particularly from the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), which still had two seats in parliament at the time. IRPT Deputy Chairman Saidimir Husayni said at the time that "there should have been a referendum on the issue, as this area has never belonged to China. Tajikistan is recognized as an independent country by the UN." As for China's claim, Husayni dismissed it. "Such claims exist all over the world and they cannot be regarded as proof." Local authorities in Gorno-Badakhshan were not consulted. The issue resurfaced in April 2013, when the leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, Rahmatillo Zoirov, gave an interview to Iran's Radio Khorasan and said the Tajik government had given up more land than it admitted. The Tajik government rejected Zoirov's statements, but then canceled the accreditation of three Radio Khorasan correspondents. Less than one week after Tajikistan's parliament approved the controversial demarcation agreement with China, the Tajik government had other news. Some 2,000 hectares of land in the Khatlon region, vacated by migrant laborers who headed to Russia, was to be leased to Chinese farmers. 'Renting' No Better And that brings us back to Kazakhstan and the possibility of Chinese farmers tilling Kazakhstan's soil. At the end of 2009, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev said China had requested renting up to 1 million hectares of land. That idea sparked protests and Kazakh officials spent the next many months denying Kazakhstan planned to "give" land to China. So Kazakh officials should have known what would happen when land privatization was brought up in 2016. Qualifying the proposal by saying foreigners could only rent the land for up to 25 years is unlikely to assuage the population's fears that China intends to devour Kazakh lands. Why would that work when China has already acquired 16,000 square kilometers of what was once Central Asian land in just the last 15 years? RFE/RL's Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik services contributed to this report CIA Director John Brennan says the Islamic State (IS) group in a phenomenon that will "challenge us" for a long time as he marked the five-year anniversary of the killing Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Brennan said on NBC television on May 1 that taking out the head of the IS would make a "great impact" in defeating the extremist Islamic group. The IS is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose whereabouts are unknown. "He is important, and we will destroy ISIL, I have no doubt in my mind," said Brennan. "We have to remove the leadership that directs the organization to carry out these horrific attacks." U.S. special forces killed bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011. "We have destroyed a large part of Al-Qaeda [but] it's not completely eliminated," he said. "So we have to stay focused on what it can do." "Now, with the new phenomenon of [IS], this is going to challenge us for years to come," he said. He added that the IS group is large and is "not just an organization, it's a phenomenon." Based on reporting by AFP and nbcnews.com Russia's opposition is divided, ineffectual, and has been rendered largely irrelevant. And yet the Kremlin and its proxies continue to attack it ruthlessly. Just to name a couple of examples: Last month, a sex tape featuring Mikhail Kasyanov was shown on national television; and last week, Aleksei Navalny was attacked outside his office and splashed with a blue chemical liquid. And in between, Navalny was featured in a hit-job documentary accusing him of being an agent of U.S. and British intelligence. Kasyanov can barely appear in public without having eggs thrown at him. With the opposition so marginalized already, one has to wonder: Why do they bother? And the answer, I believe, is that the Kremlin is haunted by the ghosts of December 2011. In the State Duma elections that month, the opposition stole the narrative -- and did so without even being allowed to participate in the election. Navalny effectively and memorably rebranded the ruling United Russia party as "the Party of Swindlers and Thieves." The opposition launched a campaign to persuade people to vote for any party other than United Russia -- even if it was the Communists or Vladimir Zhirinovsky's nationalist LDPR. And it worked. The Kremlin was forced to falsify the results in such a flagrant manner that it sparked massive street protests. One of the Kremlin's main legitimation rituals ended up undermining the regime's legitimacy. And now Duma elections are just four months away, and they're taking place in the worst recession Russia has experienced during Vladimir Putin's rule. So now the regime is deploying all of its heavy-handed and over-the-top tactics to assure that December 2011 not repeat itself. Navalny, Kasyanov, and the rest of the opposition need to brace themselves for a very hot summer. Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page. Iran has passed a law allowing the government to grant citizenship to the families of foreigners killed while fighting for the Islamic republic. Irans official IRNA news agency reported on May 2 that the parliament in Tehran authorized the government to grant Iranian citizenship to wives, children, and parents of foreign fighters who were killed on a mission for Iran during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988 and afterwards. Afghans and some Iraqis fought alongside Iranian forces during Irans war against the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. The law also could apply to "volunteers" from Afghanistan and Pakistan who have been fighting in Syria and Iraq against Sunni extremists from the so-called Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda-linked groups. Shiite Iran provides financial and military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime. Tehran says its Fatemiyoun Brigade, comprised of Afghan recruits, are volunteers defending sacred Shiite sites in Syria and Iraq against Sunni extremists. Based on reporting by AFPe and IRNA The head of Tehrans nuclear program, Iranian Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, is visiting Prague on May 2 to talk about possible business deals in the Czech Republic following the lifting of sanctions under a nuclear accord with world powers. Salehis schedule for May 2-3 included meetings with the Czech prime minister, foreign minister, industry and trade minister, and the head of the Czech nuclear watchdog. The Czech Foreign Ministry said Salehis two-day visit would focus on developing bilateral nuclear cooperation. The Czech government said such deals would contribute to better international control of Irans nuclear program. Iran is seeking help from European nations to better its civilian program. Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers lifted painful economic sanctions in exchange for steps by Tehran to curb its nuclear activities. Iran denies it has ever sought to build nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear program is only for peaceful, civilian purposes. Based on reporting by AP and IRNA Iraqi military forces have reportedly retaken the predominantly Turkoman town of Bashir from Islamic State (IS) fighters. Kurdish officials said on May 1 that Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Shi'ite paramilitary forces backed by U.S.-led coalition air strikes had completed taking the northern Iraqi town after first surrounding it. The Kurdistan Regional Security Council and a Turkoman Shi'ite military commander had also confirmed that Bashir was no longer controlled by the IS group. Turkoman units from Iraq's Shi'ite Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization) militia group also took part in the recapture of Bashir. Asso Mamand, an official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, said several nearby villages were also recaptured from IS fighters, including Albu Mafraj and Mazargay Imam on April 30. Iraqi officials had said that Bashir was used by IS fighters in March to launch what officials said was a chemical attack on the nearby town of Taza that killed at least three people and injured many others. Based on reporting by AFP, Rudaw, and NRTTV U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on May 2 that talks with Russia and anti-Islamic State coalition partners were getting closer to a place of understanding to reestablish a cease-fire in Syria -- including the area around Aleppo. But Kerry told reporters in Geneva ahead of talks with Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir that there was still some work to do. Speaking after those talks with Jubeir, Kerry said Syria was still "in many ways out of control." He said legitimate political talks on Syria cannot take place unless government forces and rebels both sign up to a cease-fire deal. Jubeir condemned an escalation of fighting in and around Aleppo in the midst of a cease-fire as a violation of all humanitarian laws. He blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for air strikes that have killed hundreds there during the past week, saying Assad would have to either step down in a political deal or be forced from power. Russia said at the weekend that it would not urge Assads forces to halt air strikes on Aleppo. Moscow claimed they were targeting Islamic militants not covered by an internationally brokered cease-fire. Kerry arrived in Geneva for talks with Arab counterparts and Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, and said Washington is looking to Moscow for cooperation. "The hope is we can make some progress," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Jordan's foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, shortly after his arrival. "These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation, and we obviously look for the regime to listen to Russia and to respond." Fighting in the city of Aleppo -- which is 360 kilometers north of the capital, Damascus -- on May 1 left six dead and more than 40 wounded. Opposition forces in control of part of Aleppo shelled government-held positions while Syrian forces reportedly also carried out at least one dozen bombing raids. More than a week of fighting in Aleppo has killed several hundred civilians and darkened the prospects of a UN-backed peace process. Russia appeared to shift its position earlier on May 1. "At present, there is an active negotiation process taking place to establish a regime of calm also in Aleppo province," said General Sergei Kuralenko, the head of Russia's cease-fire monitoring center in Syria. While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was not slated to arrive in Geneva for the talks, Kerry said that "we are talking directly to the Russians, even now." The Kremlin announced on May 2 that Lavrov would meet de Mistura for talks on Syria in Moscow on May 3. The Syrian Army announced a "regime of calm" late on April 29 in the province of Latakia and Damascus suburbs. Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, was excluded from the plan, and heavy fighting continued in the city even after the truce was signed. The Syrian Army confirmed a Russian announcement on May 1 that a "regime of calm" around Damascus has been extended for another 24 hours, but did not mention Aleppo, state television reported. This pertains mainly to the Eastern Ghouta, suburbs of Damascus. The U.S. State Department said Washington wanted Moscow to pressure Assad to end what it calls indiscriminate aerial attacks in Aleppo, which has long been divided between government- and opposition-held areas of control. The Britain-based the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of monitors inside Syria, says both sides have bombarded residential areas for more than a week, killing more than 250 people including at least 40 children. "I hope that in the course of the conversations I have here tonight, tomorrow, and the work that the teams are doing, [we can] zero in and pin down the modalities of reaffirming the cessation," Kerry said. Judeh described called the situation around Aleppo "quite alarming" and said halting hostilities was crucial for the resumption of Syrian peace talks and humanitarian aid deliveries. "We have to address the situation on the ground today asserting a nationwide cessation of hostilities that will lead to a better and more conducive environment for the political track," Judeh said. The UN says more than 250,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011. Millions of others have been displaced or have sought refuge outside of the country. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and Interfax Kyrgyz authorities have confirmed reports that two foreigners who are vice presidents of the Kumtor Gold Company have left Kyrgyzstan after their firm came under investigation. Sources in the Prosecutor-General's Office told RFE/RL on May 2 that Kyrgyz authorities will call the two company managers back for questioning over the alleged illegal transfer of millions of dollars of the company's assets to foreign banks. On April 29, media reports in Kyrgyzstan said the company's vice presidents, Mark Burton and Leslie Louw, left the country after the company's headquarters in Bishkek were raided and searched by authorities. A majority of the Kumtor Gold Company is owned by the Canadian mining company Centerra Gold, which operates Kyrgyzstan's largest gold field -- Kumtor. Local residents have staged several protests since 2012 to demand the nationalization of the Kumtor mine. Talks between Centerra Gold and Kyrgyzstan's government on a possible share trade have been stalled since December. Moldovas government says about 200 U.S. soldiers will arrive in Moldova on May 2 for military exercises scheduled to last for more than two weeks. The Defense Ministry in Chisinau said the U.S. troops would arrive from Romania in dozens of armored vehicles. About 165 Moldovan troops also are scheduled to take part in the exercises. The U.S. Embassy in Chisinau said the May 3-20 training exercises would include basic demolition operations, medical treatment and evacuation, and field maintenance. Moldovas pro-Russian opposition says it will stage protests against the exercises. Moldova joined NATOs Partnership for Peace program in 1994. Russia has had about 1,500 soldiers stationed in Moldovas breakaway eastern region of Transdniester since a cease-fire deal brought an end to the separatist conflict there in 1992. About 380 of those Russian soldiers are deployed under an international peacekeeping mandate while the rest are soldiers from Russias 14th Guards Army. Based on reporting by AP and AFP Demonstrations in Kazakhstan spread over the weekend when events that were intended to be celebrations of National Unity Day instead turned into protests against the planned privatization of land in the country. Despite prohibitions against unsanctioned rallies, since April 24 Kazakhstan has seen demonstrations against the proposed privatization of land in the major cities of the east (Astana and Almaty ), in oil towns in the west (Atyrau and Aktau), in towns in the north (Aktobe and Semey), and in the south (Shymkent). But on National Unity Day, May 1, there were also demonstrations in Zhanaozen, the scene of a violent protest on Kazakhstan's Independence Day in 2011 that left 17 people dead, and in Kyzylorda, an agricultural region in south-central Kazakhstan. Videos of the demonstration in Zhanaozen showed some heated exchanges between demonstrators and local officials, although aside from that the protest was peaceful. Footage posted on the Internet of the demonstration in Kyzylorda, however, showed police there forcibly dispersing protesters. A video on the website of RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, known locally as Azattyq, shows Kyzylorda Province Governor Serik Kozhaniyazov addressing a group of several dozen demonstrators inside a theater. WATCH: Kazakh Protests Spread But a video posted on YouTube shows a group of young men who appeared to be taunting a line of police in riot gear. Police finally charge at the group and people scatter in different directions. No shots were fired, but the images are similar to those seen during the 2011 fiasco in Zhanaozen. WATCH: Police Clash With Protesters In Zhanaozen Some people in Kazakhstan are concerned that the planned privatization of land will lead to either the country's elite buying up the prime property, or worse, China will opt to lease land for 25 years, the maximum allowed to foreigners under Kazakhstan's legislation. China already requested permission to lease up to 1 million hectares of farmland from Kazakhstan in 2009 and send Chinese farmers to tend the land. Some of the people who spoke to Azattyq said they were not against the sale or even the leasing of land to foreigners, in principle. But these people, especially the younger individuals, questioned whether it should be done now, noting the country's leadership -- specifically 75-year-old President Nursultan Nazarbaev -- will not be around in 25 years, so privatization should wait until a new leader comes to power. Based on material from RFE/RL's Kazakh Service. Iranian President Hassan Rohani has praised the record number of women who were elected to the country's parliament. "For the first time we have 18 women in parliament, and it is a record that makes us very happy," Rohani said on May 1 in Tehran, adding that he hopes more women will be inspired to get involved in politics. A total of four women were elected in the runoff elections held on April 29, joining the 14 who were elected in the first round of voting in February. In the previous parliament, only nine of the assembly's 290 members were women. All 18 of the female lawmakers are either from Rohani's reformist faction or they ran as independents. None of the hard-line women candidates was able to win a seat. Despite setting a record, the small percentage of women legislators in Iran pales in comparison to those in Western countries. There are currently 104 women in the 538 seats in the U.S. Congress, 19.4 percent of the total. Based on reporting by dpa and ISNA Fire destroyed a historic Serbian Orthodox cathedral in Manhattan on May 1, just hours after worshippers celebrated Orthodox Easter there. The blaze at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava began shortly before 7 p.m. The fire completely destroyed the roof of the 160-year-old Gothic Revival style building, and firefighters were still fighting pockets of fire early on May 2. Alex Velic, the stepson of the churchs caretaker, said that once the flames started coming out of the top of the church, people were going crazy and were in shock. The Serbian Orthodox Church purchased the building from the Episcopal Diocese in New York in 1943, and the building was designated as a city landmark in 1968. City officials in New York said the fire was a huge loss for the community and have called for a full investigation into the cause. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters South Korean President Park Geun-hye has arrived in Iran for the first bilateral summit since Seoul and Tehran established diplomatic relations more than 50 years ago. Park's office said the three-day visit will focus on business and trade issues between the two countries as well as on ways to promote bilateral ties. Park is reportedly bringing more than 230 business leaders within her delegation. Iran's state news agency IRNA said President Hassan Rohani will hold a welcoming ceremony for Park on May 2. South Korea is the world's fifth-largest importer of crude oil and was one of the largest purchasers of Iranian oil before the sanctions were imposed on Iran. IRNA said trade turnover between Tehran and Seoul is currently at some $6.1 billion, and that Iran is looking to increase that amount to $17.4 billion. South Korea and Iran established diplomatic ties in 1962 but their presidents had never held bilateral talks. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh says Iran has raised its oil and gas exports to South Korea to 400,000 barrels per day, a fourfold increase since the sanctions were lifted. Based on reporting by AP and ISNA Many shops in Uzbekistan have begun rationing Coca-Cola amid a shortage of the beverage and unseasonably hot temperatures. Many local shops in Tashkent were refusing to sell more than a single, one-liter bottle of Coca-Cola to each customer. Some shops had stopped selling the drink altogether. A manager at Coca-Cola's Ichimligi Uzbekiston Company told RFE/RL that the bottling of Coca-Cola had been suspended as the firm's production lines have been undergoing reconstruction for about a month. Retailers in Tashkent say the Coca-Cola producer has started asking a price that is nearly 60 percent higher than before the reconstruction began. Some complained that Coca-Cola's Uzbekistan branch was forcing retailers to also buy Bonaqua mineral water and bottled ice tea in order to receive deliveries of Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has been produced in Uzbekistan since 1993. 16 Two Moldovan men try to restrain a pig on the side of the road as a column of U.S. armored vehicles passes through the village of Gherman, 140 kilometers east of Chisinau. U.S. and Moldovan military forces are taking part in joint, two-week-long exercises. (epa/Dumitru Doru) Metro is the largest U.S. transit system without a dedicated revenue source, such as a tax, to support operations. On March 15, Paul J. Wiedefeld, general manager of the Washington Metro, ordered the unprecedented shutdown of the entire rail system which includes 91 stations, 117 miles of track and provided 206 million trips last year for emergency safety inspections. The cause was an early morning electrical fire in a tunnel at McPherson Square Station that he said was disturbingly similar to a fire more than a year prior at LEnfant Plaza that killed one passenger and injured 90 others. That fire was the result of arcing electrical cables that had been improperly installed without sealing sleeves, according to Christopher Hart, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Hart testified April 13 at a hearing on what Rep. John Delaney, D-Md., called Metros almost unimaginable scale of failure, a downward spiral that has claimed 18 lives over the past three decades, and produced service outages and delays. The problems have resulted in declining ridership and have been marked by mismanagement and financial travails that have turned the system into what Delaney and others called a national embarrassment. For a glimpse into the calamities that face Metro, consider that more than 15 months after the fatal fire at LEnfant Plaza, passengers who ride the system, operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority, still face the risk of faulty cable insulation. About 35 percent of the cables have yet to be addressed, Wiedefeld told legislators, drawing an apoplectic response from Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. Wiedefeld has been general manager since November. Youre the new kid on the block and were counting on you. But I want people fired. I want something done, Mica said. Weve got to resolve the arcing. The arcing causes smoke and people die. And the thing is in chaos. You closed it down for 29 hours. You have falling ridership and you have increasing operational costs. Against that backdrop, the U.S. Department of Transportation is pushing Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to create a new safety oversight agency in the next year or risk losing millions in federal funding. The two states and the District formed the authority in 1967 and each appoints two voting members and two alternate members to the WMATA board of directors. The federal government also appoints two voting members and two alternate members to the board. But Virginia officials, including state transportation secretary Aubrey Layne, say creating a new multijurisdictional agency is easier said than done, if it actually has the legal power to force Metro to address what its own board and leaders have been thus far unable to. And any legislation that creates it is sure to trigger a bigger political conversation about Virginias financial role in supporting a system that WMATA Chairman Jack Evans says needs $18 billion for deferred maintenance. *** In a Feb. 8 letter to the governors of Maryland and Virginia and the mayor of Washington, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said it was unexpected and disappointing when it was reported that the jurisdictions would not implement legislation this year to create the new agency. The Metro Safety Commission would replace the existing Tri-State Oversight Committee. The existing committee, called the TOC, was created in 1997, has three full-time employees and does not make independent inspections of equipment and infrastructure, though it did make numerous recommendations to improve safety at Metro. The Federal Transit Administration said in a letter that 217 such recommendations issued since 2008 remained open as of February. FTA finds that the inability of the TOC to enforce its findings demonstrates that it remains incapable of providing adequate safety oversight consistent with prevention of substantial risk of death or personal injury, the letter says. As a temporary measure last year, Foxx ordered the FTA to take over safety oversight of Metro, against the recommendation of the NTSB. That board called for Congress to transfer oversight of WMATA to the Federal Railroad Administration because of its robust regulatory and enforcement powers and hundreds of highly trained professional railroad inspectors. Foxx, however, said there was as faster and more effective way to address the problem: using the FTAs enhanced safety oversight authority included in a 2012 transportation bill and its ability to regulate such state safety oversight agencies until Metros parent jurisdictions replaced the existing oversight committee with a federally compliant agency. That makes Metro the first and only transit system of any kind for which FTA has assumed temporary and direct safety oversight, a federal Transportation Department spokesman said. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, blasted that decision in the April hearing, grilling FTA Administrator Carolyn Flowers about the level of oversight the agency provided during the March 16 systemwide shutdown. Connolly represents a swath of Northern Virginia that runs from Quantico to Herndon. Flowers said the FTA was providing guidance to Metro over the telephone as it conducted emergency inspections. The FTA, which claimed authority, overruling the NTSB by the secretary of transportation, you were not there, Connolly said. And were supposed to have confidence in your ability, while youre lecturing Maryland, D.C. and Virginia to get their act together on the (Tri-State Oversight Committee). Youre nowhere to be seen, on the day in question when were trying to deal with a major, imminent, potential life-threatening safety issue. Foxx was evidently unmoved. On Thursday, he announced the appointment of three new federal members to the WMATA board, each with lengthy transportation safety experience, and reiterated his call for Maryland, the District and Virginia to get busy. I met with each of the jurisdictions a year ago and urged them to stand up a new safety oversight office. They have not done so. Given the continued urgency, we will be forced to use every available lever at our discretion to force action as soon as possible to improve safety for the traveling public, Foxx said in a news release. No more excuses. *** Jennifer Mitchell, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, pointed out that the FTA just published its final rules on setting up such organizations in March and noted that other states have three years to comply. Nonetheless, she said she had been meeting regularly with her counterparts in Maryland and Washington, as well as with legal advisers, to work out a host of issues, including the number of board members, staffing and financing. Last week, a certification work plan, an outline for how the agency will be created, was delivered to the FTA. I dont think any of us should be here to make excuses, Mitchell said. Heres where we are now and what do we do going forward. We werent happy about the fact that FTA threatened to withhold part of our statewide transit funds. We wish they had come and talked to us before they laid down that marker. Still to come are meetings with legislators and draft versions of bills that must be identical in all three jurisdictions. Were taking it seriously. We want to give this organization more teeth than it has today, Mitchell said, noting that its pointless to create an organization that cant force the kind of action needed to ensure WMATA keeps passengers safe. Were making really good progress and were working together very collaboratively. This is a really complicated thing to set up and do it right. Steven Kulm, a U.S. Transportation Department spokesman, said the departments final rule requires state safety oversight agencies to adopt and enforce relevant federal and state safety laws and assume investigatory powers. A new SSOA with these powers can compel action from WMATA, he said. *** The dust-up over the creation of the new agency comes as Metro faces a perfect storm of challenges, Mitchell said. I wouldnt say this is the worse Ive ever seen WMATA at, she said, but I think everyones recognizing that WMATAs at a place they havent been in a long time: safety issues, a backlog of maintenance needs and an unclear funding future. WMATA, which had a $3.1 billion budget for the fiscal year that ends in June, gets $150 million a year from the federal government for capital needs, matched by $50 million from each of its three jurisdictions, including Virginia, though that agreement expires in 2018. The state, which provided an additional $152 million this year to Northern Virginia jurisdictions for Metro, is facing what Layne, the Virginia transportation secretary, calls a fiscal cliff in 2018 when roughly $3 billion in bonds used to finance transportation projects runs out. Layne also noted that WMATA is the largest transit system in the country without a dedicated revenue source, such as a tax, to support operations, which the federal government does not contribute to, even though estimates show that roughly half the federal workforce uses the system. I think its really coming to a head. As with so many things, when things go bad, thats when you see if the governance is set up correctly, Layne said. Virginia is dedicated to being part of the solution, but the answer isnt letting the states and local governments sort it out. Prodded by the discovery of a gun-smuggling operation between the Atlanta airport and New York at the end of 2014, ongoing terror threats after the Brussels attacks in March, and other criminal activity such as drug smuggling, the government is finishing a vulnerability assessment of U.S. airports. The assessment is aimed at reducing risks posed by baggage handlers, airline and concession employees, and other workers who have access to secure areas. However, Jon Mathiasen, president and CEO of Richmond International Airport, warned the Capital Region Airport Commission last week that there are widespread concerns about a top-down, one-size-fits-all mandate from the Transportation Safety Administration that might prove unnecessarily restrictive. I think our industrys going to have quite a discussion on it, Mathiasen said. That means an argument. A 2015 report by the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security also found that although the TSAs process for vetting aviation workers for links to terrorism was generally effective, testing showed the TSA did not identify 73 individuals with terrorism-related category codes because TSA is not authorized to receive all terrorism-related information under current interagency watchlisting policy. The report also found that the TSA had less effective controls for criminal background checks and ensuring that workers were authorized to work in the U.S. and that the TSA often relied on airport operators for those checks. TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger told a Senate committee last month that the agency was focused on the insider threat posed by employees with access to transportation facilities and infrastructure and is looking to strengthen background check requirements and screening of workers, including creating an expectation that every employee could be stopped and inspected every day. In response to questioning by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who called the gun-running operation by a Delta employee in Atlanta evidence of tremendous vulnerability in airport security, Neffenger said he had ordered an assessment of weaknesses across the entire system of U.S. airports that was to be finished in April. TSA officers screen travelers at about 440 airports nationwide. There has been a lot of movement in terms of reducing security access points across the system. Theres been a lot of movement to greatly enhance the oversight of that insider population both by TSA and the employers, Neffenger said. Once we evaluate all of these ... thats going to drive us to add requirements to aviation security plans for each of those airports. Though Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokeswoman, could not say Friday whether that review had been finished or when any recommendations or policy prescriptions for airports might emerge, Mathiasen said discussion has focused on limiting access and mandating that all workers go through a screening portal similar to what passengers endure. Only three U.S. airports require such screenings: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Miami International and Orlando International. If such changes were to occur, it needs to go through a due-diligence process, Mathiasen said in an interview, suggesting a federal rule-making process that would solicit extensive comment, rather than just an edict that comes in. A report last year solicited by the TSA in response to the Atlanta gun smuggling and compiled by the Aviation Security Advisory Committee explored the feasibility of 100 percent physical screening of employees. The report concluded that such a measure would not be a silver bullet solution and that there were other, more effective and less costly methods of securing the sterile areas of airports, including random screenings. Mathiasen said Richmond has issued about 2,500 security badges for workers. Hartsfield-Jackson issues nearly 40,000, as was revealed last year by media reports that about 1,450 of the badges had gone missing over a two-year period. We really need to investigate the merits. I think they will hear from airports across the country that one size doesnt fit all, that what works in Atlanta may be an egregious error in Richmond, Mathiasen said. He added that badgeholders already are subject to an FBI background check that can take three weeks and that badges give workers different levels of access. Mathiasen warned the board last week that any new TSA mandates would come with costs, including potentially increasing the size of the airports 29-member police department. I dont want to budget something unless they do it, he said. Farbstein said the TSA currently performs random screening activities at access points to the secure areas of the airport operating area as well as along the airports perimeter seven days a week. Those screenings include identification checks and personal property inspections of employees bringing items into secure areas. The airport could take additional measures to enhance security by requiring all airport employees to be screened before entering any secured area on the AOA (airport operations area), she said. The airport could create an employee-only checkpoint, or they could establish a program to conduct additional random screening of airport employees to supplement what TSA already does. Other airports have taken the initiative to take some of these additional steps in an effort to lessen the vulnerability of insider threat activities, but there is not a requirement to do so at this time. Chesterfield had the most teacher resignations in the Richmond area, with 538 in the past five Junes, followed by 363 in Henrico, 333 in Richmond and 131 in Hanover. Chesterfield County police are looking for a suspect after a gas station was robbed late Sunday. According to police, a man entered the Exxon station at 2708 Buford Road about 10:20 p.m., showed a handgun and demanded money. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect left in a waiting dark-colored Hyundai. The suspect is described as a black male with an average build, 22 to 30 years old and about 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He had a beard and was wearing a red hat, dressed in all black and carrying a back pack. A jury has been seated in the trial of Stephen Vander Briel. The trial, which started today in Fredericksburg, will determine whether Briel is responsible for the death of fellow University of Mary Washington student Grace Mann. The trial is scheduled to resume at 2:45 p.m. Attorneys for the a 31-year-old New Jersey native said they will pursue an insanity defense on the murder charge that Briel faces in the death of one of Mann, one of his housemates, a little more than a year ago. Briel is accused of tying up, strangling and killing Grace Mann on April 17, 2015, just a few months after moving into an off-campus house with her and two other women who were also UMW students. Briel attended Mary Washington from 200207, when he dropped out. He re-enrolled in the spring of 2015. The political science major and one-time member of the university rugby team was set to graduate the month after Manns killing. Mann was a history and American studies major who was active in the Feminists United on Campus and People for the Rights of Individuals of Sexual Minorities. On the afternoon of the killing, Mann attended a PRISM-sponsored Day of Silence vigil, then went to the Washington Avenue house she shared with Briel to fix her hair before another campus activity, according to court records. Her roommates returned to the home a short time later to find Briel leaving one of their rooms. According to court records, he made odd statements to the roommates and said he and Mann had gotten into a fight. The other roommates went into the room and discovered Mann bound with a belt and a sweater, a plastic bag over her head and plastic bags stuffed in her mouth, according to court records. Authorities determined that she died by asphyxiation. Briel left the house, but was arrested along Fall Hill Avenue after a two-hour manhunt. Republican leaders in the Virginia General Assembly have hired a top conservative lawyer to guide an expected lawsuit against Gov. Terry McAuliffes executive order that restored voting rights for about 206,000 felons. Charles J. Cooper a former assistant attorney general under President Ronald Reagan who once was named Republican lawyer of the year will lead the effort to challenge the Democratic governors order, GOP leaders announced Monday. It is the obligation of the legislative and judicial branches to serve as a check on overreaches of executive power, House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, said in a news release. To that end, we are prepared to uphold the Constitution of Virginia and the rule of law by challenging Governor McAuliffes order in court. Cooper, who defended Californias ban on same-sex marriage before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013, is a former partner in the D.C. office of McGuireWoods. He practices civil litigation at Cooper & Kirk PLLC, a Washington-based firm he helped found in 1996. We have retained Mr. Cooper to examine the legal options to remedy this Washington-style overreach by the executive branch, said Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City. Mr. Cooper is an extremely qualified attorney, and we have every confidence he will proceed prudently, judiciously and expeditiously. Taxpayer funds will not be used to fund a lawsuit, Republicans said. McAuliffe has said he has the legal and constitutional authority to restore voting and civil rights for all felons who had completed their sentences, probation and parole by April 22. McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said Monday that the governor is disappointed that Republicans would go to such lengths to continue locking people who have served their time out of their democracy. These Virginians are qualified to vote and they deserve a voice, not more partisan schemes to disenfranchise them, Coy said. The specific plan of attack against the order is unclear. Two key issues will be finding a plaintiff and determining the proper legal venue. A challenge likely would focus on whether McAuliffe has the authority to go further than previous governors by restoring rights for nonviolent and violent felons en masse rather than doing so on an individual, case-by-case basis. McAuliffe has highlighted language in the Virginia Constitution that grants the governor power to remove political disabilities for felony convictions. Constitutional expert A.E. Dick Howard has backed McAuliffe and says the executive branch has unqualified authority on the matter. To argue the governor must follow a more individualized process, a legal challenge could point to other constitutional language that says no person convicted of a felony can vote unless his civil rights have been restored. An advisory committee convened by then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli reported in 2013 that governors lack the power to enact automatic, self-executing restoration of rights for all felons. While the Constitution of Virginia does confer on the governor the power to remove political disabilities consequent upon conviction for offenses, a court likely would find it difficult to sustain a governors exercise of this clemency power in so sweeping a manner that the Constitutions general policy of disenfranchisement of felons is voided, the committee wrote in its report. McAuliffes order does not create an automatic restoration of rights. Going forward, he plans to sign similar orders monthly to restore rights for those transitioning out of the criminal justice system. Republicans have argued that McAuliffe overstepped by issuing a blanket order that applies to all ex-offenders regardless of whether they submitted an application. Coming in a presidential election year, Republicans have accused McAuliffe of playing politics by adding thousands of likely Democratic voters to the rolls as a boost to longtime friend Hillary Clinton, who is seeking the partys presidential nomination. McAuliffes order has received national acclaim in progressive circles. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search? Search for: Search A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. CHRISTIANSBURG A Blacksburg man accused of chasing an acquaintance of his ex-wifes through her front yard with his truck and then on foot with what was described as a machete was found guilty of assault and battery Monday. But a judge dropped more serious charges due to what he ruled was a lack of evidence. Circuit Court Judge Robert Turk sentenced Christopher Brumfield to six months in jail suspending another six months. Brumfield should get credit for roughly six months he has already served awaiting trial, said one of his lawyers, Fred Kellerman. Witnesses on Monday described a frantic scene on Oct. 24 in which Brumfield, 32, showed up at the house of ex-wife, Samantha Brumfield, and spun his truck around in an attempt to run over Dennis Linkous. Linkous testified that Christopher Brumfield showed up around 11 p.m. during a get-together at the home following a Virginia Tech football game. Samantha Brumfield and Christopher Brumfield had been married for seven years, but divorced two years ago, Samantha Brumfield testified Monday. She said they had two children together, and she said Christopher Brumfield did not like them spending time with Linkous. Linkous said he ran as the truck pulled up, dodging the vehicle, hiding behind trees and throwing rocks to try to get Christopher Brumfield to leave. Samantha Brumfield and Linkous son also testified they were throwing objects at the truck during the chase. Linkous testified he had been hit by the truck at least once, hurting one of his elbows. Linkous testified he ran over an embankment to get away, and thats when Christopher Brumfield got out of the truck with what witnesses described as a large blade or a machete. He said he could hear the large blade scraping on rocks as it was swung at him. I tripped and looked back one time and it was right there, Linkous said. Witnesses said Christopher Brumfield wasnt able to catch Linkous, so Brumfield eventually got back in his truck and left. Police responded the following day, and Brumfield was arrested a short time later. Brumfields lawyers, Kellerman and Ryan Hamrick, suggested Monday the supposed weapon had only been a plastic childrens toy. When asked if he was sure it had been a blade, Linkous said I know thats what it was. Around the same time as the Oct. 24 incident, Linkous testified Monday, one of his cars was damaged with scratch marks and a broken window. Linkous also testified that his trucks engine blew out on Oct. 25. Christopher Brumfield later sent Linkous a message asking how his truck was running, Linkous testified. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Carolyn Watson presented little evidence Monday beyond the witness testimony. In delivering his verdict, Turk said there wasnt enough proof to show the actual size of the blade, and whether or not it was just a toy. He said there may be enough evidence to prove the damage to Linkous truck in a civil case, but the prosecutors case didnt meet the higher standard the commonwealth is held to in criminal court. Turk found Brumfield guilty of assault and battery, an amended charge he downgraded from malicious wounding. The judge dismissed charges of brandishing a machete, attempted unlawful wounding and two counts of destruction of property. The nature of the relationship between Samantha Brumfield and Linkous was not made clear during Mondays hearing, and attempts by The Roanoke Times Monday to get additional information were unsuccessful. RICHMOND Democrat Justin Fairfax, a former federal prosecutor and 2013 attorney general candidate, is running for lieutenant governor. He is the first Democrat to officially jump into the statewide contest, while Republicans already have a crowded field including Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, and Del. Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach. The candidacy of Fairfax, 37, an African American, would inject diversity and an energetic style into a Democratic ticket that includes the comparatively low-key Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring. I am passionate about creating and protecting economic security and opportunity for all Virginians, Fairfax said in a statement. As a former federal prosecutor, I know just how fragile security and stability for hard-working families can be. Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, and longtime federal prosecutor Gene Rossi have each said they are considering running for lieutenant governor as Democrats. Fairfax, over the weekend, filed the paperwork to run, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Virginia Republicans jumped on Fairfaxs announcement as proof state Democrats have moved further to the left than the electorate. The 2017 Democrat primary is going to feature views on policy more consistent with the City of San Francisco than with the Commonwealth of Virginia, state GOP chairman John Whitbeck said in a statement. When Justin Fairfax ran for Attorney General he was defeated by the most extreme left politician in Virginias history. We expect him to run a Bernie Sanders-like campaign even further to the left to ensure he doesnt lose this time. In Virginia, the job is technically a part-time post with responsibility for overseeing the state Senate and breaking tie votes a task that can help some officeholders build a statewide profile and name recognition. As co-owner of a dental practice with his dentist wife in Fairfax County and a father of two, Fairfax said he would work to strengthen the state economy. As lieutenant governor, I will fight for Virginias families and make sure every child across the commonwealth has the same opportunities I had to succeed, he said. Fairfax was co-chair of U.S. Sen. Mark Warners 2014 re-election and is part of an effort to increase diversity on the bench in Northern Virginia. He graduated from Duke University and Columbia Law School. Vallourec SA (VLOWD.PK,VLOUF.PK), a French producer of premium tubular solutions, announced Monday that it finalized the disposal of Vallourec Heat Exchanger Tubes or VHET to American Industrial Acquisition Corp. or AIAC on April 29. This decision is in line with the company's transformation plan and, in accordance with the agreement's terms, all the employees will be integrated into AIAC. By joining industrial holding company AIAC, VHET will be in an optimal position to ensure its growth. From now on, the company will market its products and services under the "Neotiss" brand. In Paris, Vallourec shares were trading at 4.39 euros, down 3.09 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Canadian dollar lost ground against the other major currencies in early European trading on Monday, following a decline in oil prices on increased oil production in Iraq in April, adding to signs over supply glut in market. Crude for June delivery fell $0.32 to $45.60 per barrel. Iraqi exports rose to 3.36 million barrels a day in April, from March's 3.29 million barrels a day, which were near the record 3.365 million in November, Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said on Sunday. Data released over the weekend showed that China's manufacturing and service sector activities expanded less than the previous month in April. Even though the data reinforced signs of a tepid economic recovery, it raised doubts about the effect of recent stimulus measures. European stocks are mixed, with trading thin amid public holidays in Greece, Ireland, Russia and the U.K. The loonie showed mixed performance in Asian deals. While the loonie held steady against the greenback, euro and the aussie, it declined against the yen. The loonie weakened to 0.9563 against the aussie, off its early near 6-month high of 0.9524. The next possible support for the loonie may be seen around the 0.97 zone. The latest survey from National Australia Bank showed that Australia's confidence ebbed in April, with an index score of +5. That's down from +6 in March. Reversing from an early high of 1.2529 against the greenback, the loonie edged down to 1.2559. The loonie is seen finding support around the 1.28 mark. The loonie declined to 1.4415 against the euro, its weakest since April 21. This is lower by 0.3 percent from last week's closing value of 1.4367. If the loonie slides further, 1.46 is likely seen as the next support level. Final data from Markit showed that Eurozone manufacturing growth improved marginally in April. The factory Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 51.7 in April from 51.6 in March and above the flash score of 51.5. It was also over the long-run survey average of 51.4. The loonie eased back to 84.70 against the yen, heading to pierce its early 2-week low of 84.52. The loonie is likely to challenge support around the 82.00 mark. Looking ahead, U.S. manufacturing PMI reports for April and construction spending for March are due in the New York session. At 10:00 am ET, the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi speaks at the Asian Development Bank's 49th Annual Meeting, in Frankfurt. The Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan will deliver a speech about the euro and Swiss monetary policy at the Europa Forum in Luzern at 12:30 pm ET. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News MyoKardia, Inc. (MYOK), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company for the treatment of heritable cardiovascular diseases, announced Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted the company Orphan Drug Designation for MYK-461 for treatment of symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or oHCM, a subset of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM. MYK-461, an orally administered small molecule, is the Company's lead product candidate and the first therapy designed to target the underlying cause of HCM. MyoKardia's proposed initial indication for MYK-461 is oHCM. Three Phase 1 clinical trials have been initiated to assess MYK-461's ability to modulate cardiac myosin by measuring reduction in cardiac muscle contractility via echocardiography. The FDA Office of Orphan Products Development grants orphan status to support development of medicines for underserved patient populations, or rare disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. The company noted that orphan drug designation provides it with certain benefits, including market exclusivity upon regulatory approval if received, exemption of FDA application fees and tax credits for qualified clinical trials. There are currently no approved therapeutic products indicated for the treatment of HCM. Patients are typically prescribed one or more drugs indicated for the treatment of hypertension, heart failure or other cardiovascular disorders more generally. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Canadian stocks fell Monday, as crude oil prices tumbled on profit-taking after a furious rally in April. WTI oil settled at $44.78/bbl on Nymex, down $1.14, or 2.5%. Oil last week touched a yearly peak near $46. The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 85.82 points, or 0.62 percent, to 13,865.63. The Energy Index lost 2.77 percent. Gold and other mining stocks also fell as metals trimmed recent gains. In big merger news, BCE Inc. (BCE, BCE.TO) said Monday that it will acquired Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MBT.TO) in a transaction valued at about $3.9 billion. Bell plans to invest $1 billion in capital over 5 years to expand its broadband networks and services throughout Manitoba. BCE shares were little changed. Michael Armstrong will succeed the retiring John Taft as CEO of Minneapolis-based RBC Wealth Management-U. S. later this month. RBC (RY.TO) shares were flat. Valeant (VRX.TO) activist investor William Ackman said Warren Buffett was wrong to suggest the drug maker was a flawed investment. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News SurModics, Inc. (SRDX) announced the company now expects full-year revenue to be in the range of $63.0 million to $66.0 million, an increase in the previous range of $62.0 million to $66.0 million. SurModics reaffirmed its previous GAAP earnings range of $0.30 to $0.35 per share. Non-GAAP earnings per share is expected to be in the range of $0.75 to $0.85, up from a range of $0.66 to $0.75 per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report profit per share of $0.68 on revenue of $63.78 million. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company noted that its fiscal 2016 revenue, GAAP earnings per share and non-GAAP earnings per share guidance ranges exclude the impacts of a $2.9 million, or $0.14 per share after-tax, royalty payment from a customer for the period from fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2016, that was reported to the company subsequent to March 31, 2016. This royalty revenue will be recognized in the third quarter of fiscal 2016. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News